RTHK: Australian Covid travel ban challenged in court

Australias drastic Covid-19 strategies of preventing its citizens leaving the country and returning from India were challenged in court Thursday.

The government is resisting growing pressure to lift the Indian travel ban imposed last week until May 15 to reduce infections in Australian quarantine facilities.

A challenge to the ban by Gary Newman, one of 9,000 Australians prevented from returning home from India, will be heard by a Federal Court judge on Monday, Chief Justice James Allsop said.

The ban was ordered by Health Minister Greg Hunt under the Biosecurity Act, which carries penalties for breaches of up to five years in prison and fines of up to 66,000 Australian dollars ($51,000).

A libertarian group LibertyWorks took its case to the full bench of the Federal Court on Thursday against a separate order under the Biosecurity Act that has prevented most Australians from leaving the country without compelling reasons since March last year.

The government hopes to maintain Australias relatively low levels of community transmission of the virus by preventing its citizens from becoming infected overseas and bringing variants home.

Travel to and from New Zealand has recently been exempted.

LibertyWorks argues that Hunt does not have the power to legally enforce the ban, which has prevented thousands of Australians from attending weddings and funerals, caring for dying relatives and meeting newborn babies.

A win by LibertyWorks is likely to lead to a surge in citizens wishing to travel internationally. The three judges said at the end of Thursdays hearing that they will announce their verdicts at a later date.

LibertyWorks President Andrew Cooper said after the hearing that he expected Australians could be free to fly again by the end of May.

By the governments own records, theyve rejected 74,000 applications to travel, Cooper said. So we would anticipate thered be hundreds of thousands of Australians that do want to travel.

The challenge to the Indian travel ban will be heard by Justice Michael Thawley five days before flights could potentially resume.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the pause was working in reducing infection rates among returned travelers within Australian quarantine facilities.

The early evidence indicates that that temporary pause to May 15 is on track and that we are very hopeful and confident that on the other side of May 15 well be able to start restoring those repatriation flights, Morrison said.

Newmans lawyer Christopher Ward told a preliminary hearing on Thursday that the legal team wanted a verdict before May 15. The lawyers argue that it is important that the ministers power was reviewed by the court even if the travel ban was not extended.

Indias Deputy High Commissioner Palaniswamy Subramanyan Karthigeyan said the travel ban had not damaged bilateral relations, but India hoped it would be lifted as soon as possible.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said Indian-Australian community leaders had been understanding of the governments reasons for the travel ban during a nationwide online meeting on Wednesday.

None of the community advocates believed that the government "'made a decision based on race, Hawke said.

But one of those leaders, Amar Singh, founder of the Sikh charity Turban 4 Australia, said the government would face a voter backlash over the Indian travel ban at the next election due within a year.

In my opinion, its a ban without a plan. Its a knee-jerk reaction to this situation, Singh said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the governments response to Indias pandemic crisis has been regrettable, has been short sighted and hasnt been thought through.

If anyone thinks that our relations with India have been improved in the last week, then theyre kidding themselves, Albanese said. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2021-05-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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The Entrepreneurship Training Centre (ETC); an initiative led by the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society (BSMEs) in partnership with Tamkeen has announced its new edition of the Business Plan Competition 2021.

The competition is open to all students part of the ETC programme accepting applications until Monday, May 10.

The Entrepreneurship Training Programme Business Plan Competition aims to stimulate global entrepreneurship among young individuals in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Participants are challenged to conceive of a viable new product or service, and then prepare a business plan and video aimed at convincing potential investors to invest in the business.

Post registering for the Business Plan Competition, students will go through a qualifying round which consist of submitting a written business plan. Entries with a weighted score of 60/100 or higher will progress to the second round where they will submit a 5-8 minute pitch video describing the market opportunity and proposed product / service. Finalists will be selected for the final round and will present their business plan to a panel of judges.

By participating in the competition, students will gain experience in several areas such as Identifying business opportunities, developing a business model, and writing a formal business plan, performing market research and feasibility studies using primary and/or secondary data, pitching their idea to an international panel of business professionals and academics developing communication and organisational skills and working as part of a team. Additionally, students will get access to mentorship workshops that will support them in developing their business plans, perfecting their pitches and presentations and much more in partnership with various organisations.

President of the Bahrain Society for Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Ahmed Sabah Al Saloom commented: The Entrepreneurship Training Centre serves as a stepping stone for future entrepreneurs, especially in a critical time, where initiatives such as this are needed for the kingdom. The Business Plan Competition allows students to be part of a vigorous practical experience where they will get to experience the entrepreneurial journey firsthand learning all the necessary elements to creating successful and sustainable ideas. We look forward to the new ideas and plans being presented to us this year, and hope they can inspire others to take the same path, and create alternative sources of income and potentially a business they can run that will contribute to the economy and its various sectors.

The Entrepreneurship Training Centre is in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour where a total of 50 Bahraini jobseekers registered with the Labour and Social Development Ministry are trained to become owners of entrepreneurial projects as an alternative option to employment. The Training programme is held in cooperation with Tamkeen which focuses on the basics of entrepreneurship, including operational, marketing and developmental skills. -- TradeArabia News Service
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By Isla Binnie

MADRID (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.

(Reporting by Isla Binnie,; Additional reporting by Maiya Keidan in Toronto; Editing by Pamela Barbaglia and Barbara Lewis)
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

Story continues

"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?
By Timothy Aeppel

(Reuters) - North American companies boosted spending on industrial robots in the first quarter as they scrambled to keep up with surging demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Companies ordered 9,098 robots in the first quarter, a 19.6% increase over a year ago, according to the Association for Advancing Automation, an industry group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The orders were valued at over $466 million in total.

Robots were once concentrated in the auto industry but are now moving into more corners of the economy, from ecommerce warehouses to food processing plants. For the first time last year, most of the robots ordered by companies in North America werent destined for auto factories or their parts suppliers.

The strongest growth in the latest quarter was to metal producers, where orders surged 86%. Orders to life science, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies rose 72%, while orders to consumer goods companies increased 32%.

The strong economy obviously helps, said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, It gives companies the confidence to invest in more things  including in more automation.

Burnstein said the pandemic froze many businesses, as operations shut down to protect human health. But ultimately it accelerated the adoption of automation, because companies recognized if they were going to do it, now would be the time.

Tyson Foods Inc, the U.S. meat company, is among those looking to use more robots on its production lines. In 2019, the company opened a 26,000 square foot automation research center near its headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas.

For the most part, its still too soon for some of the really innovative and proprietary systems were developing, said Marty Linn, the centers director of engineering. Automating jobs such as deboning chickens is extremely difficult, he noted, because the size and shape of each chicken can vary greatly. Robots work best when they can handle uniform items.

With that in mind, Linn said, Tyson has already started installing at its plants robots that sit at the end of production lines and automatically stack and wrap boxes on pallets - a process that involves standard shapes and the repetition of precise movements.

(Reporting by Timothy Aeppel; Editing by Dan Burns and Andrea Ricci)
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This is a health insurance welfare program, he said. Anyone that cant be honest about what it is, why are we even talking about it then?

Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, who said she did not have health insurance until she became a state lawmaker, said expansion would provide much-needed coverage to some of the states poorest residents.

This is about making sure that human beings have medical coverage, she said. So welfare or not, these are still people.

The amendment to keep discussions open surrounding Medicaid expansion ultimately failed along party lines.

Republicans also nixed the governors proposals to increase the states minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.15 by 2024; to scale back a manufacturing tax credit, which would have provided $487 million more in revenue over two years; and to repeal the states right-to-work law, which prohibits employers and unions from requiring the payment of monthly dues from nonunion members at unionized worksites.
Huawei Cloud will provide ubiquitous cloud and intelligence to Middle East enterprises following Huaweis partnership with Bespin Global, a leading cloud technology consulting and management company.

Bespin Global has been Huawei Cloud's strategic system integration partner globally since 2019. Under this new agreement, the companies are now extending their partnership to the Middle East, combining their capabilities to better serve the burgeoning GCC cloud market. Bespin Globals professional services delivery capabilities, coupled with their multi-cloud management platform OpsNow, will play a strategic role in delivering the highest quality experience for Huawei Clouds customers.

Countries across the GCC have witnessed an acceleration in cloud adoption, primarily due to the rise in remote work. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), the GCC public cloud market is expected to more than double in value, touching $2.35 billion by 2024 at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25%. In line with the growing demand for cloud services across the region, Huawei launched its cloud service in the Middle East in 2020 to provide ubiquitous cloud and intelligence for all scenarios, which includes smart public services, smart enterprise development, and smart city governance.

Huawei Cloud customers in the Middle East will be able to benefit from Bespin Globals position as a world leader as per Gartners 2020 Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Infrastructure Professional and Managed Services. Combined with Bespin Globals OpsNow multi-cloud management platform, enterprises across the region can manage all of their public cloud infrastructure in one place as well as ensure agility by solving a organisational challenges quickly and easily.

Omar Akar, Managing Director and VP of Cloud and AI Business Group, Huawei Middle East, commented: "Our strategic partnership with Bespin Global will enable Huawei Cloud to provide our Middle East clients with value-added services with the highest levels of performance, economic efficiency, security, support and cloud management. Huawei is the world's fastest-growing major cloud service provider, and with our alliance with Bespin Global, we are now better positioned to meet the growing demands of our regional customers."

Mouteih Chaghlil, CEO, Middle East & Africa, Bespin Global, said: "We are pleased that our partnership alliance with Huawei is extended to the Middle East and includes Huawei Cloud which will further empower enterprises across the region. The transformation businesses have experienced in the past year have opened the options for more agile and flexible infrastructure including multi-cloud solutions. Our partnership with Huawei Cloud allows to better serve our customers and fulfil the long-term strategic visions of governments across the region by further enabling digital transformation across industries.

Huawei Cloud has launched more than 220 cloud services and 210 solutions. The company works with more than 19,000 partners and has brought together 1.6 million developers. The Cloud and AI Business Group further strengthens Huawei's position as a partner of choice in enabling enterprises' digital transformation journeys, by offering focused products which enable cost reduction and increased business efficiency via modern infrastructure solutions. The BU portfolio also offers next-generation multi-cloud strategy to increase agility via the automation of service delivery. -- TradeArabia News Service
(CNN)  Wine and wheat. Lobsters and logs. Beef and barley. If Australia exports it, China has likely put up barriers to entry over the past year, as diplomatic relations between the two countries rapidly deteriorated.

Now, one commodity is almost single-handedly keeping the trade relationship afloat: iron ore.

Australia is the world's largest producer of iron ore, mining more than 910 million metric tonnes in the 2019-2020 financial year, according to the Australian government, almost twice as much as its nearest competitor Brazil.

Iron ore is a vital component in the production of steel, and with China embarking on a $500 billion infrastructure spending spree to help the economy recover from the pandemic, Beijing's need for it has never been greater.

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China fell into a deep chill one year ago, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic which threatened to challenge Beijing's narrative of the viral outbreak.

The Chinese government said Morrison's request was "political manipulation," and since then Australian exports to China have faced growing barriers to entry. Overall Chinese investment in Australia plunged 62% in 2020.

But experts said that unlike wine and coal, it would be tough for China to find new sources of iron ore any time soon. That means Australia's largest source of trade revenue may be secure.

"Australia is the largest iron ore producer in the world and on the other hand China is the largest steel producer in the world," said Heiwai Tan, professor of economics at Hong Kong University Business School.

"It isn't that easy for them to get into a new round of trade wars over this particular product."

The mining boom

For more than two decades, China and Australia have helped rapidly grow each others' economies through a soaring trade in raw resources, especially iron ore and coal.

In 2000, at the beginning of China's economic boom, Australian exports to the country were just over 6 billion Australian dollars ($3.6 billion). Fifteen years later, China is Australia's largest trading partner by far in terms of exports and total value of trade -- overtaking Japan, the US, South Korea and New Zealand -- with exports of almost 92 billion Australian dollars ($74 billion).

Some economists claim the mining boom in Australia helped the country avoid recession during the global financial crisis in 2008.

The trade has remained strong over the years, despite rising political tensions between Beijing and Canberra  including new legislation designed to limit foreign interference, introduced by Australia in 2017.

By 2019, almost two-thirds of China's iron ore came from Australia, more than it imported from Brazil, South Africa and India combined, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

At the same time, iron ore made up almost a quarter of Australia's entire exports in 2019, 81.7% of which went to China.

The lack of diversity in Australia's exports leaves it vulnerable to any major impact on its main sources of revenue, experts said. And while there could be other markets for the country's iron ore, they might take time to develop.

"China's making up around four-fifths of Australian iron ore exports, so what that tells me is we don't have too many other destinations that we do business with in a big way," said Sean Langcake, principal economist at BIS Oxford Economics in Sydney.

But economists said while Australia may eventually locate new buyers for its iron ore, it would be much more difficult for China to find new sources of iron ore to power its economy.

Alternate sources

Experts said Australia's iron ore has two main advantages for Chinese buyers: it is high quality and reliable.

Australia produces a higher amount of hematite iron ore than any other country, which contains a larger quantity of usable iron than itabirite or magnetite. According to lobbying group the Minerals Council of Australia, hematite usually contains more than 50% iron compared to as low as 16% in magnetite.

Economist Langcake said it was easier and cheaper to process ore with a higher iron content, making it more attractive to steel producers.

In a report released in February 2021, the Minerals Council estimated that Australia has more than three times as much magnetite resources as its nearest competitors Brazil and India. China is believed to have none.

"With China still experiencing significant growth and new frontiers expanding in South and East Asia, Australia's standing as a low-cost, reliable supplier of quality iron ore puts it in a strong position to continue as a provider of choice for global steel makers," Minerals Council chief executive officer Tania Constable said in a statement.

At the same time, experts said Australia was a regular and reliable supplier of iron ore to China, partly due to its stable political system and economic environment.

A report from the United States Geological Survey in 2017 found that while Brazil and India's iron ore production has risen and fallen over time, Australia's has reliably grown every year from 2000 to 2015.

While Brazil seems like it would be a natural alternate source for China's iron ore, its production has been damaged over the past decade due to a series of disasters which have disrupted major mines.

In 2015, mining company Samarco had to pay $6.2 billion to the Brazilian government after a dam collapsed at one of its sites, burying a village and killing 19 people. Four years later, another dam burst at an iron ore mine in southeast Brazil, killing 270 people when it flooded the workers' cafeteria and dozens of homes under a wave of toxic sludge.

Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital in Australia, said Brazil's poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has also set back production, while Australia had mostly brought the disease under control.

"It is virtually impossible for China to replace Australian iron ore in the short term," Oliver said. "They'd still have a short fall ... It took a long time for Australia to build up so it will take a long time for other countries to do [the same]."

'Economic losses and political gain'

Even the valuable trade hasn't been able stop calls from both countries to diversify their iron ore business.

In March, an Australian parliamentary committee released a report calling on the government to prioritize finding "opportunities for Australia to diversify its export markets."

"India, Vietnam and Indonesia, in particular, present valuable opportunities for Australian businesses. As such, ensuring access to these markets should continue to be a priority for the Australian Government," the report said.

Over the past year, Chinese state-run media has been pushing for Australia to be cut out of the iron ore trade. In April, the state-run tabloid Global Times reported that Chinese companies were exploring opportunities to export iron ore from Africa.

It quoted an expert who said that Australia's move to help the United States "contain China" had "seriously lowered Chinese companies' favorable assessment of Australia."

Both Langcake and Oliver said it was likely both China and Australia would look to diversify their trade relationships slowly over the coming decades, given the growing political divide between the two countries.

But with the iron ore trade likely to continue as a major driver for economic growth in both China and Australia, the two countries might be stuck with each other for the foreseeable future.

Tan, from Hong Kong University, said diplomatic ties between the two countries could only deteriorate so much when they were still linked by iron ore.

"It's really a calculation between economic losses and political gain ... I think there would be some overall constraints on how far they can go," he said. "I remain optimistic."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Iron ore is saving Australia's trade with China. How long can it last?".
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is pushing for realignments in the 2021 budget as lawmakers work on passing another COVID-19 stimulus package that is also facing funding issues.

Drilon told CNN Philippines' The Final Word that the only way to provide funds for the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3 is through realigning some items under this year's national budget.

"Our analysis of the budget would indicate that there are number of projects which you can defer to next year and use the funds for the items that would basically provide assistance," he explained, adding that the current budget "was not crafted in response to the pandemic."

Some billions of pesos had to be borrowed just to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, but the 19-billion allocation for anti-insurgency programs was easily released, he added.

Drilon also said some assets can also disposed of like the Bilibid prison, while military camps in Metro Manila can be moved so these assets may be used to generate additional cash.

"It needs about P400 billion... but we need to look for funds and to me the only way is to review the 2021 Genera Appropriations Act and realign those items in the budget which can be postponed," he reiterated.

On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the stimulus package amounting to 405.6 billion. The draft measure proposes to allot 216 billion for cash aid in order to give 108 million Filipinos - regardless of social status - a total assistance of 2,000 each.

RELATED: Each Filipino may get 2,000 'ayuda' under the proposed Bayanihan 3, solon says

This also seeks to allocate 30 billion to the Social Welfare Department for another financial assistance of up to P10,000 per household with a member who caught COVID-19.

The Labor Department will be given 25 billion to help displaced workers and 20 billion for wage subsidies, while some P30 billion will be set aside for the agriculture sector.

For the Education department, 5.6 billion will be used to provide teachers and students with gadgets or internet connectivity needed for distance learning. Some 54 billion will also be allocated for the pension of retired military and police officers.

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 6)  State auditors flagged the government of Davao City for the questionable existence of assets amounting to 9.48 billion, as well as the legality of its purchases for COVID-19 response, according to a 2020 audit report.

In a report on Davao City dated February 28, the Commission on Audit gave a "qualified opinion" on the city government's financial statements.

This means that while the Davao City government's financial reports were fairly presented, the auditor noted its failure to provide adequate disclosures on its property, plan, and equipment accounts.

The report stated that 9.48 billion, or 40.10% of the 23.66 billion total assets recorded as of end-December "could not be ascertained to its validity, correctness, and existence due to the absence of an actual count..."

The local government also failed to submit a Report on the Physical Count of Property, Plant and Equipment or RPCPPE resulting from the COVID-19 community quarantine restrictions, COA said.

The audit report added that the inventory accounts amounting to 97 million were also "doubtful and unreliable."

"There had been no actual count conducted nor an RPCI was submitted to validate such recorded balances, neither a reconciliation was made possible between the supply records and accounting records, again due to the constraints brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic," it explained. RCPI refers to Report on the Physical Count of Inventories.

The report also raised the "legality" of pandemic-related procurements including goods and grocery packs worth 1.32 billion.

For instance, deals intended to procure goods in response to the pandemic amounting to 309.93 million were directly negotiated with suppliers by representatives from the mayor's office without a written delegation of authority from the head of procuring entity.

Other transactions such as goods for Davao City's constituents, COA noted, were "not properly supported with the required documents" and "inconsistent with the laws, rules, and regulations..."

It also highlighted the distribution of over one million grocery packs worth 469.39 million during the lockdowns in 2020.

"[It] was not properly documented and reported which hindered the timely and complete audit of the funds, hence it cannot be ascertained whether the relief goods were actually and properly distributed to the intended beneficiaries."

COA also said the city government wasnt able to observe procedural rules on the use of its Peace and Order Council or POC funds for COVID-19 response.

The report stated the POC realigned over 830 million of its budget for pandemic-related expenditures despite not passing any resolution that should contain guidelines on the supposed reappropriations. It added there was no itemized list of the proposed COVID-19 projects and services covered by POC funds. Instead, these were all lumped under Emergency Crisis Intervention in the local governments Peace and Order and Public Safety plan.

These cast doubt on the citys compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Governments directives, COA said.

The commission also listed observations on the 18.5-million worth of cash donations Davao City received for its pandemic response.

For one, it said these were wrongfully listed under the Other Payables account of the Trust Fund instead of the supposed Trust Liabilities - DRRMF account, thus resulting in an "inaccurate presentation in the financial statements.

Additionally, although the post audit of disbursement vouchers showed the city used these donations to purchase relief items and pay for funeral services, these were not fully supported with other documents as prescribed by COA. This deprives its donors and other concerned stakeholders of the necessary information on how the money was utilized, it said.

In response, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, in a statement issued late Thursday, said the city government "sufficiently expounded on its earlier-submitted written comment and justification" during the COA Exit Conference in February.

"The General Services Office undertook to submit compliance on or before February 28 of the current year but physical/actual counting was not possible. These matters arose because of the Covid-19 community quarantine restrictions and the strict constraints brought about by the COVID-19 regulations prohibiting gatherings and meetings as well as the implementation of other alternative work arrangements," she explained.

On issues about the legality of some COVID-related deals, the city government has yet to reply for comments.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano on Wednesday urged senators not to defund the anti-communist task force, saying government efforts to clear several areas of insurgency threats will go to waste if the budget for the development of affected communities is removed.

He said defunding the task force will leave those villages hanging after being freed from the clutches of communist insurgents.

"We, therefore, appeal to our senators not to deprive these barangays of government support and assistance now that they need us most, Ano said in a statement, adding that the very reason the areas were "misled and influenced" by communist rebels was because the people never felt the presence of the government.

"For the first time, they will get the government attention and assistance that they deserve, Ano added.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF-ELCAC has a 19-billion budget for 2021, of which 16.44-billion was earmarked for infrastructure and development projects in 822 villages nationwide that have been "cleared of communist influence by government forces since 2019," said the DILG, a member agency of the task force.

The DILG vowed transparency in the implementation of the multi-billion program to end the over five-decades old communist rebellion. The Communist Party of the Philippines and its military arm, the New People's Army, have been waging one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.

A number of senators earlier suggested defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF-ELCAC and realign its current budget to provide more cash aid to pandemic-hit Filipinos after causing another controversy due to its alleged profiling and red-tagging activities against organizers of community pantries, which started popping up in April. In the past, the task force has also been accused of red-tagging critics of the Duterte administration without proof.

NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade earlier admitted that they have been conducting background checks on community pantry organizers, including leftist groups, which may have been "engaging in propaganda" through their initiatives.

In another controversial remark, the general also compared Ana Patricia Non's single-handed effort to establish the first community pantry to Satan deceiving Eve with the forbidden fruit.

Parlade also called senators "stupid" for their proposal to defund the task force, arguing they were the ones who approved the NTF-ELCAC budget.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has said he has issued a gag order on Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, also an NTF-ELCAC spokesperson, to prevent them from issuing statements on community pantries.

But more than a gag order, Parlade must be removed as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson, saying it's unconstitutional for an active military officer to hold a civilian position, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon noted last month. In March, the Senate adopted a committee report recommending the removal of Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson over the same reason cited by Drilon.
(Reuters)  A coastal town in western Japan has drawn ire on social media for using some of the coronavirus relief funds it was given by the government to build a statue of a giant squid in the hopes of boosting tourism.

The town of Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture was awarded 800 million yen ($7.3 million) in grants from the central government as part of an aid program aimed at boosting local economies amid the pandemic, according to domestic media.

From that amount, Noto used 25 million yen ($229,000) to cover part of the cost of building the statue, which is 13 feet high and 29.5 feet long, domestic media reported. Total construction costs were around 30 million yen ($274,000), they said.

Japan is battling a fourth wave of coronavirus infections and the cabinet approved a $708 billion stimulus package in December to help the economy recover from the pandemic-induced slump.

Squid is a local delicacy in Noto and building the statue was part of a "long-term strategy" to raise awareness about the town's fishing industry and increase tourism, a local government official said, according to domestic media.

Reuters called Noto's government but the person who answered was not authorized to speak with the press. Japan's government buildings were closed on Wednesday for annual Golden Week holidays.

The grants were not specifically earmarked for spending related to treating coronavirus patients, and Ishikawa Prefecture's infection rate is low compared with other parts of Japan, according to local media.

However, some people took to Twitter to question whether those funds should have been used for other purposes.

"No matter how you look at it, this is wrong. They have to return that money," one Twitter user said.

Construction of the pink cephalopod began in October 2020, and the finished statue was finally moved to its current home in March of this year, local media reported.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Japanese town spent Covid-19 relief funds on building a statue of a giant squid"
Editor's note: Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is vice provost of global initiatives and a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Follow him on Twitter at @ZekeEmanuel. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN.

(CNN)  Facebook's Oversight Board has upheld the site's decision to restrict former President Donald Trump's access to posting content on his Facebook page and Instagram account, given that "the risks of allowing President Trump to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." However, Facebook and the Board should go farther and institute a permanent ban of Trump's account. The risks inherent in allowing Trump to have a Facebook account remain: if he uses it to stoke Covid-19 misinformation his postings could indirectly contribute to hundreds  if not thousands  of deaths.

The issue at hand is "misinformation"  false information that is spread regardless of the intent of the person. We know how business incentives and the technological structure of social media, combined with the innate human tendency to seek novelty, can lead to greater amplification of false information. Consequently, the real question for the Oversight Board is whether Trump has done real harm with his social media presence  regardless of his intent.

Throughout the pandemic, variously emulating a physician, epidemiologist and public health expert, Trump was a fount of misinformation. Probably his worst bits of misinformation were suggesting researchers study the injection of bleach to fight coronavirus (which he later said was just sarcasm), that Covid would "just disappear" with warmer weather and that hydroxychloroquine might prevent Covid-19. This latter claim led some uninfected people to hoard the drug, take it, and tragically caused at least one person to die from an overdose.

Throughout the pandemic, variously emulating a physician, epidemiologist and public health expert, Trump was a fount of misinformation. Probably his worst bits of misinformation were suggesting researchers study the injection of bleach to fight coronavirus (which he later said was just sarcasm), that Covid would "just disappear" with warmer weather and that hydroxychloroquine might prevent Covid-19. This latter claim led some uninfected people to hoard the drug, take it, and tragically caused at least one person to die from an overdose.

In the case of the pandemic, Trump's misinformation does not have benign consequences. Applying a method I published in JAMA in October, I calculate that between May 2020 and when Trump left office in January 2021, the US had over 200,000 more per capita deaths than Israel, 176,000 more deaths than Germany, and 130,000 more deaths than France. These excess deaths are a result, at least in part, of the way the Trump administration handled the virus  and shared misinformation about it.

The US is in a race to get enough people vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. The easy part is done  those eager and willing to do almost anything to get vaccinated mostly have been. Now we are confronting the "last mile" problem. We probably will not convince a portion of the 26% of Americans that a CNN poll found won't take the vaccine. And, critically, there are still many Americans who are skeptical and worried about side effects. And then there are others who are making decisions based on convenience, thinking the vaccine's benefits aren't worth an hour of time and a potential day of being under the weather. Both groups could be swayed by misinformation to delay getting their shot.

According to the experts, it's the critical groups that need to get vaccinated who are especially susceptible to misinformation, such as rural Trump supporters. While Trump is on the record encouraging people to get vaccinated, he continues to cast doubts by invoking conspiracy theories such as the FDA's "love for Pfizer" leading to the suspension of the J&J vaccine.

When one person is exposed to a false claim about the vaccines, it spreads within his or her social network, sowing suspicion and more hesitancy. This could help to explain why vaccination rates have dropped from 3.4 million per day in early April to under 2.3 million now. Meanwhile, we are seeing increases in cases in Alabama, Missouri, Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and other states in the south and west. Mortality rates are still elevated, with about 700 Americans dying per day, and younger people increasingly getting more severe illness. Any setbacks that increase vaccine hesitancy have the very real effects of increasing Covid-19 cases and deaths.

We can see the Trump misinformation effect in the political divide among those interested in vaccines. Polling shows that about 33% of the general public won't get the vaccine or are unsure if they will. But when looking at Trump supporters, that number increases to 49%. Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who has done focus groups and polling on Covid-19, found resistance among Trump supporters hardening against being vaccinated. "(Trump) wants to get the credit for developing the vaccine," Luntz told the Washington Post. "Then he also gets the blame for so few of his voters taking it."

Nothing has suggested that Trump has changed his misinformation activities since being excluded from Facebook after the January 6 riot at the Capitol. If part of the Oversight Board's criteria for screening and prohibiting certain individuals from Facebook is their habitual tendency to spread dangerous, life-threatening misinformation, then surely Trump has doomed himself. For the sake of the health of the country  speeding vaccination of the country and thereby reducing Covid-19  we urgently need to end misinformation. And that means Facebook should make Trump's ban permanent.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Facebook should make Trump's ban permanent."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  As the battle in the telco game is expected to intensify with a new player now making rounds in the market, business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is set to finally quit as president and chief executive officer of PLDT, Inc.

At the PLDT's financial briefing on Thursday, Pangilinan bared that Alfredo Panlilio, the group's chief revenue officer, would be the next in line to lead the telco giant.

Panlilio is currently president and CEO at PLDT's wireless arm, Smart Communications.

The changing of the guard may be formally announced during the company's annual shareholders meeting next month, he noted.

"I will retire as president and CEO of PLDT and pass the baton over to Al..." Pangilinan said, "so I will stay as chairman, of course, subject to shareholders consent to do that."

It was in March when the tycoon hinted anew at the possibility of stepping down sooner once PLDT becomes financially stable.

This, as the company was able to dodge financial ruin in 2020 amid the raging COVID-19 situation in the country.

Last year, its net income went up by 8% to 24.3 billion against the 22.5 billion it posted in 2019.

PLDT's consolidated service revenues in the period also jumped by 9% to 171.5 billionits highest full-year revenue yetas demand for internet connectivity spiked.

"As years pass by, you are physically less effective as you were when youre young," the popular tycoon said. "I simply wish my successor all the best. Its a great company but it does need a lot of care and feeding."

Its a hungry animal and it's hungry for capex which means you have to generate a lot of cash to feed the requirements of the business, particularly on network build," he added.

'Pretty good' Q1 results

Earnings in January to March period slightly fell by 2% to 5.80 billion versus the 5.91 billion it posted in the same period last year due to higher expenses, which stood at 37.75 billion, up 16%.

Pangilinan, however, remained pleased with the first-quarter performance of the telco.

The group's telco core income jumped by 9% to 7.5 billion against the 6.87 billion a year earlier.

PLDT's total revenues also climbed by 10% to 47.92 billion compared to 2020's 43.65 billion.

"The first quarter results are pretty good," he said. "We are on target in terms of our telco core income for the year of 29 billion to 30 billion."

Pangilinan is optimistic PLDT will continue to record good numbers in the second quarter.

He said strong demand for data continued to be the growth driver of PLDT as many Filipinos remain confined to their homes amid coronavirus fears, and with businesses banking on quality internet connectivity to keep their operations.

PLDT shares in the local bourse went up 14 or 1.12% to finish at 1,264 apiece on Thursday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  Art Fair Philippines is going virtual this year.

Viewers do not need to go around a multi-level car park to check different galleries and exhibitions. This time, the festival which will run from May 6 to 15 can be accessed within the confines of your own home. But what else is in store?

Viewers do not need to go around a multi-level car park to check different galleries and exhibitions. This time, the festival which will run from May 6 to 15 can be accessed within the confines of your own home. But what else is in store?

An introduction to crypto art

Speaking to CNN Philippines' New Day on Thursday, Art Fair Philippines co-founder Lisa Periquet said the ninth edition of the art festival will feature discussions on non-fungible tokens or digital assets such as drawings or images that can be bought and sold online with cryptocurrency.

"In line with our mission to educate the people about the new trends in art, we are actually producing a showcase of NFTs. You can attend a virtual tour, you can attend several talks on the different aspects of NFTs," Periquet shared.

NFTs, which Periquet described as a "disruptor" 'in the art market, will be discussed by select crypto artists in a webinar, as part of the festival's NFT 101 Showcase campaign.

Artworks from 43 exhibitors

There are 43 participating exhibitors from the Philippines and abroad who will feature artworks in their respective online viewing rooms.

A messaging platform has also been set up to allow viewers to send their queries or insights about the pieces.

"Since we're not in a physical fair allowing the viewer to interact with the gallery, you can send messages via Viber Messenger, Whatsapp and email," Periquet said.

Residency program for artists

Art Fair Philippines is also launching a residency program for artists across all disciplines who would like to immerse themselves in a new environment out of their routine.

In partnership with Don Papa Rum, the residency program is set in five art spaces in different parts of the country  Linangan Art Residency in Alfonzo, Cavite; Emerging Islands in San Juan, La Union; The Orange Project in Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Barrio Butanding in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and the Manila Observatory in Quezon City.

"They all do different things so the one in Palawan, for example, is more of an environmental type of residency. In Manila Observatory, we're hoping that science and art will somehow intersect," Periquet said.

Artists can send their applications through the website until June 15.

Open studios, virtual tours

The festival will also hold a series of workshops with respected practitioners in various fields.

Some of the workshops include a demonstration of the collodion process, collage-making, watercolor techniques, bookmaking with visual artist Carina Santos, relief printmaking, and mug making.

Viewers can also participate in virtual tours and studio visits showcasing the private art collection of some artists.

Access Art Fair Philippines through their website https://artfairphilippines.com/
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  Education officials are considering opening classes for the next school year sometime in September.

"Ang io-offer namin na isang option  within September. Although sa level pa lang ito ng aming strat, ang idea namin hindi pa final," Department of Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio told CNN Philippines on Thursday.

[Translation: What we are offering is one option  within September. Although this is still wiithin the strategy group, and the decision is not yet final.]

San Antonio said only President Rodrigo Duterte can make the final decision on class openings and the September resumption would depend on whether he thinks students and teachers need more time for rest.

The DepEd initially proposed classes to begin by Aug. 23. If this pushes through, summer vacation will be cut short to six weeks instead of the usual eight.

The current academic school year will end on July 10.

"Bakit kailangan magbukas tayo kaagad? Huling-huli na po tayo. Alam naman natin mababa tayo sa international large scale assessment. Hindi pwedeng ugali ng huling naghahabol yung pahinga nang pahinga," San Antonio said.

[Translation: Why should we open immediately? We are extremely delayed. We know that we ranked low in the international large scale assessment. Laggards should not be resting when they need to catch up.]

Preparations ongoing

In preparation for the next school year, San Antonio said they are now taking inventory of available resource materials or printed modules.

Learning materials distributed to millions of public school students who lack access to gadgets and the internet will be reused in the next school year.

Materials damaged by typhoons and those found to contain grammatical or factual errors will have to be replaced.

Public school students are supposed to return the modules to their teachers when they pick up new materials for the next lesson.

San Antonio believes the next school year will run smoothly as stakeholders have adjusted to distance learning.

"Ang nakikita namin marami naman yung sabi ng teacher proficient ang bata. Generally, while maraming hamon, nairaraos naman yung ating pagpapatuto sa mga bata," San Antonio explained.

[Translation: What we see is that a lot of teachers are saying the children are proficient. While there were a lot of challenges, we managed to educate the children.]

Meanwhile, the DepEd is still pushing for limited face-to-face classes in areas consistently categorized as low risk for COVID-19.

But it would also be up to the President if this will be allowed this year.
GE Research, the technology development arm of General Electric (GE), has launched two projects that will involve creating smart warehouse facilities at two separate US military bases.



The projects, being led by Dr SM Hasan, GE Researchs 5G Mission Leader, and Michael DellAnno, a Principal Engineer at GE Research, are part of the US Department of Defences (DOD) recently announced $600 million 5G initiative.



One of these projects will be for the Naval Base in San Diego, California, which houses resources and supplies for naval unit operations. The other project will be for the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia, which sends critical resource and supplies to Marines performing various missions around the world.



20X faster than the current 4G or Advanced LTE networks, 5G is the next generation network that can achieve the speed and low latency at scale required to dynamically manage major projects like the smart warehouse transformations with the Marines and Navy.

The superior network speed and capacity of 5G networks will allow us to take full advantage of a multitude of digital technologies to transform industrial assets and operations, Hasan, Principal Investigator on the two projects, said. Through our projects with the DOD, we will be demonstrating the ability to track and manage thousands of assets in real-time that support critical military missions on land and at sea. Operations that previously took several days or weeks could accurately and reliably be prepared and deployed in less than 24 hours.



DellAnno, a co-principal investigator with Hasan on the DOD projects, said the two teams are pushing to develop a just-in-time inventory scenario, where new supplies are deployed as soon as they arrive.



The most efficient factory or ideal warehouse is one that is essentially empty,  DellAnno says. It would basically signal that you are able to time the delivery and shipping of supplies, so perfectly that inventory never sits.



Smart warehouse concept



To build these smart warehouses at the Navy and Marines bases, Hasan and DellAnnos teams will create digital twins, or digital replicas of these warehouses that can account for their entire inventory and floor footprints. They will integrate real-time asset tracking and autonomous robots that are able to virtually walk the warehouse floors to validate and inspect warehouse inventory.



We will be able to get a snapshot of the entire warehouse inventory every 15- minutes, Hasan said. What we are talking about is providing these bases with unprecedented visibility to their inventory that will allow them to be much more responsive and faster with decisions.  TradeArabia News Service
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  The Department of Health on Thursday issued an update on the status of nearly 150 passengers from India who recently entered the country.

DOH clarified in a statement that five passengers  not six as earlier announced  have tested positive for COVID-19. The patients include four Filipinos and one foreigner.

One of the five remains in isolation while the four others have recovered, DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Their samples are being checked if it can be subjected to genomic sequencing to check if they are carrying new COVID-19 variants, including the "double mutant" B.1.617 variant first found in India.

The health department said 149 passengers with history of travel to India entered the country in April before the 15-day travel ban imposed by the Philippines on April 29. The 129 returning overseas Filipinos and 20 foreign nationals were all quarantined upon arrival then tested on the 6th or 7th day.

DOH also clarified its earlier report that six patients are still "being located." It is now saying the test results of seven travelers from India are undergoing verification.

Vergeire said there's missing data from the Bureau of Quarantine, but what is known is that three of them are Filipinos while four are foreigners. She said they hope to get complete information on all the seven travelers within the day

The Philippines has imposed an entry ban until May 14 on inbound passengers who traveled to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to prevent the entry of the COVID-19 B.1.617 variant first detected in India.

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."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police to arrest and investigate individuals who are not wearing face masks properly.

Duterte said that wearing a face mask is a critical need to control the number of COVID-19 infections in the country. He warned that violators could be detained for nine hours.

My orders to the police are those who are not wearing their masks properly, in order to protect the public...to arrest them and detain them, investigate them why they are doing it, said Duterte on later Wednesday. You have nine hours...Kapag hindi ko higpitan, walang mangyayari (If I will not be strict, nothing will happen).

The President said the government faces dwindling funds as the number of cases pile up.

Eh kapag ganun at ako dito hirap na hirap, pawala na yung pera natin sa banko at sige pa rin kayo na galaw nang galaw nang hindi tama, mapupunta talaga kayo sa istasyon, said Duterte.

[Translation: If thats the case and Im here worrying while our funds are running low, but you are still being careless, you will really end up in the police station.]

This is not the first time that he made such warning regarding violations of health protocols. Duterte earlier said that local chief executives will be held liable if violations of COVID-19 health protocols occur in their respective jurisdictions.

During the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces last April, the Philippine National Police noted that the failure to wear face shields and face masks topped the list of the most violated health measures.

The country now has 1,073,555 coronavirus infections with the addition of 5,685 new cases on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 survivors in the country is nearing one million with 993,042 total recoveries.

Marami nang namamatay, marami pa sa ospital. Sabi ng mga experts, bumaba na daw yng mga infection, pero ang mga ospital ay puno pa rin. Kung nagi-isip ka, sundin mo yung utos ng gobyerno, said Duterte.

[Translation: Many people are dying; many are still in the hospital. The experts said that the number of infections is declining, but the hospitals are still full. If you are thinking, follow the government orders.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  President Rodrigo Duterte can still complete his COVID-19 vaccination if his order to return all Sinopharm doses to China because the vaccine has no emergency use authorization (EUA) yet from Philippine regulators, an infectious disease expert said on Thursday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the Vaccine Expert Panel under the Department of Science and Technology, said Duterte can receive another Chinese manufactured vaccine Sinovac four weeks after he received his Sinopharm shot.

"Kung halimbawa hindi na pwede ang Sinopharm, meron namang isang bakuna na magkahawig sa Sinopharm na nabigyan ng approval natin, ang Sinovac," he said in a forum by the DOH.

[Translation: If Sinopharm can no longer be used, there is a vaccine that is similar to Sinopharm that has been given approval, that is Sinovac.]

Solante said it is "possible" to use different brands since Sinopharm and Sinovac are both inactivated vaccines wherein the disease-carrying virus were killed using chemicals, heat, or radiation.

Duterte received flak after he was inoculated on Monday with Sinopharm, which has not yet applied for emergency use in the Philippines but granted compassionate special permit.

On Wednesday, he apologized for taking the vaccine, asking the Chinese government to withdraw its donation of 1,000 Sinopharm vaccines.

Solante stressed that the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) is against distributing vaccines without an EUA since such vaccines have not gone through the review of medical and regulatory experts.

He added the Chinese state-owned vaccine manufacturer can still apply for emergency use in the Philippines.

"Ang Sinopharm walang sinusubmit na documents sa VEP para maassess namin. Kung meron sana noon bago nagpabakuna ang presidente, pwede namin i-review and we can give our recommendation to the FDA," the infectious disease doctor said.

Solante added, "Ang second dose pwede ipahabol, but Sinopharm has to produce the data and submit it to VEP and FDA."

[Translation: Sinopharm has not submitted documents for the VEP to assess. If they submitted before the President's vaccination, we could have reviewed it and given our recommendation to the FDA. Sinopharm can still make it in time for the President's second dose, but it has to submit the data to the VEP and FDA.]

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said they will keep Duterte's second Sinopharm dose so he can still complete his vaccination.

He said the VEP has been studying the possibility of mixing-and-matching different vaccine brands. There is an ongoing major trial in the United Kingdom to examine whether different coronavirus vaccines can safely be used for two-dose regimens.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  The Department of Health said the proposed Center for Disease Control and Prevention should be institutionalized under the agency.

The DOH presented a proposed structure that placed the CDC below the DOH Office of the Secretary.

"By institutionalizing the CDC in the DOH-OSEC we will improve our capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies to protect lives and allow development to proceed even in the worst of times," Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography on Thursday.

However, Senator Richard Gordon - author of the Philippine CDC bill - opposed this, saying the new body should be independent from the DOH, subject to certain controls by the President and an advisory board.

"I most vigorously oppose that," he told the panel, referring to the DOH's proposal. "The reason why you have a Center for Disease Control is that you would want to be able to get doctors who are independent-minded, not to tip-toe their way into a political minefield."

"There are always minefields floating around and certainly, not even for most politicians... there are certain demands that are made upon them that sometimes may not be the best interest of our country," Gordon added.

The World Health Organization, through country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe, welcomed the proposal of a national CDC.

"The establishment of the Philippine CDC will be an informed step in enhancing the preparedness and response capacities of the national government," Abeyasinghe said in the same hearing.

He added that the WHO earlier proposed the creation of a CDC since recommendations of the DOH in pandemic response efforts were not implemented quickly enough.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  On April 27, the Philippine Coast Guard challenged at least seven Chinese maritime militia vessels anchored at the Sabina (Escoda) Shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

On Wednesday, the PCG issued a video featuring a female crew member of BRP Cabra sending a radio communication to the Chinese vessels at the shoal located 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan and east of Ayungin Shoal.

"To [the] unidentified foreign vessel at Sabina Shoal, this is Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409). You are within Philippine exclusive economic zone. You are requested to provide the following: name of vessel, intention, last and next port of call on Channel 1 and 6," the crew member can be heard saying in the video.

RELATED: Chinese militia vessels leave PH-claimed Sabina Shoal

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the challenge lasted for about 20 minutes before his crew approached the vessels. He recalled how the encounter took place while they were conducting maritime exercises under Task Force Pagsasanay, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the area.

"On April 27, nagkataong nandiyan ang ating personnel malapit sa Sabina Shoal and we got information from the Western Command na meron ding mga foreign fishing vessels sa area," he said.

[Translation: On April 27, it so happened that our personnel were near Sabina Shoal and we got information from the Western Command that there were also other foreign fishing vessels in the area.]

Balilo said after his team approached the Chinese militia, the vessels just "turned on their engines, retrieved their anchor, and started to go away." The PCG even escorted them as they left the area until no other vessels were in sight.

"Siyempre meron ding pangamba ang mga tao natin. Lagi namang kasama 'yan everytime na magpa-patrol, lalo na 'pag nagkakasalubungan ang Philippines at China Coast Guard dito sa West Philippine Sea," he added.

[Translation: Of course, it always comes with anxiety on the part of our crew. It's always there especially when conducting patrols, and when the Philippines and China Coast Guard would chance upon each other in the West Philippine Sea.]

In 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague unanimously ruled in favor of the Philippines in the case against Chinas claims in the South China Sea, which the latter has consistently refused to recognize.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has always been soft on China's incursions, said in his recent public address that the arbitral ruling affirming the Philippines' sovereign rights in its EEZ is simply "a piece of paper" which he could simply "throw in the waste basket."

But Balilo said the PCG will continue its monitoring activities to establish their presence in the West Philippine Sea and raise the country's flag. There will also be a second leg of maritime exercises where they will deploy their 84-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea also repeatedly said the country will continue law enforcement activities in Philippine waters to assert our sovereign rights.
(CNN) -- Tensions have hardly dissipated in Colombia after President Ivan Duque withdrew a controversial fiscal reform proposal this weekend. More than a week of violent protests have seen at least 24 people killed, the country's Ombudsman Office reported Wednesday, and the demonstrations have evolved into a broader popular show of anger.

Thousands of people are still taking to the streets to protest against police brutality and the economic cost of the pandemic amid Colombia's extreme inequality. And with both issues common across South America -- and exacerbated by the pandemic -- many international observers are watching Colombia's cycle of protest closely for signs of deeper regional effects.

An economic cautionary tale

Duque was the first president in the region to launch a tax overhaul to help his country's pandemic-ravaged economy get back in shape. But rigid opposition from Colombia's workers' unions and social movements is a cautionary tale for any other president who plans to follow a similar route.

While both the European Union and the United States have pursued enormous investment plans to rebuild their economies post-pandemic, many countries like Colombia, where the economy is dependent on exports and already burdened by a ballooning foreign debt, do not have the capacity to undertake a similar expansion plan.

Such countries need to increase revenues through taxes in order to be able to spend -- and even to maintain vital social programs like cash support for the unemployed and credit lines to businesses struggling with the pandemic.

Before he withdrew his tax reform plan, Duque stressed it was of pivotal importance for the state to increase its fiscal revenues. "The reform is not a whim, it's a necessity to keep the social programs going," he said.

But critics argued the tax hikes -- like a proposed VAT increase on everyday goods -- would disproportionally impact middle and working classes and escalate inequality even more.

Their concerns took root in an economy already decimated by Covid-19, where frustration has been mounting as record increases in cases and deaths prompt authorities to impose new lockdowns, stifling the country's vast informal labor market. More than 3.6 million Colombians fell back into poverty during the pandemic according to recent figures released by the country's statistics authority, while the number of families that cannot afford to eat three times a day tripled in the same period of time.

But the now-withdrawn tax hike will leave a big hole in the state finances, and Duque's government will have to look for alternatives to try and pass reforms to repair the very inequality that currently fuels much discontent.

Human rights concerns

Colombia's ongoing protests have also prompted fear and outrage at law enforcement's handling of demonstrators -- a concern echoed by rights organizations and foreign observers.

"We're here because it may seem a paradox, but in the middle of a pandemic our government is literally attacking our lives," Joana Ivanazca Salgado, a 43-year-old artist who took part in Bogota's protests last week, told CNN.

Ivanazca was referring to the spiraling death toll that the protests have left behind: according to Colombia's ombudsman on Monday, at least 19 people -- including a policeman -- have been killed since the start of the protests and at least 89 people have disappeared.

Videos of anti-riot policemen using teargas and batons against protesters have gone viral on social media, spreading beyond big cities and across the country. Far from curbing the protests, alleged police brutality has become a focal point for the demonstrators, who, after putting the fiscal reform plan to rest, are now calling for a thorough inquiry into the deaths.

Human rights NGOs say the real death toll could be much higher and have called for the president to restrain police from using any excessive use of force.

But the Colombian government has so far defended the actions of the police and blamed the violence on groups of rioters and organized crime. In particular, the military has been deployed to the city of Cali, which has seen the worst of the violence so far and where a team of the UN Human Rights Committee said they encountered police fire, although they did not believe they were directly targeted. The Cali police department says they are investigating claims of excessive force.

Multilateral organizations, foreign ambassadors and even Colombian pop star Shakira have issued statements of concern over law enforcement's response -- on Tuesday, the US State Department publicly urged "the utmost restraint by public forces to prevent additional loss of life."

In the early hours of Wednesday, Bogota's mayor, Claudia Lopez, made a tearful plea to all sides to abandon violence: "I beg Bogota and Colombia to stop. It's been eight days of frankly, by miracle, that we don't have a death [in Bogota] so far," said Lopez.

At least 30 civilians and 16 policemen were injured late Tuesday, she said, in an ugly escalation of violence on both sides. According to Lopez, rioters set fire to one police station, where 15 policemen managed to escape.

Major General Oscar Antonio Gomez Heredia, the chief of police in Bogota, said during the same briefing that a total of 25 police stations had been attacked.

The political fallout

By late Tuesday, Duque called for a "national dialogue initiative" and while he said police forces are guaranteeing the right to protest, he pledged a thorough investigation into any possible abuse.

Should Duque cede to public pressure and open up an independent inquiry into police practices, it could give momentum to protest movements demanding police accountability across the region. Police brutality is a hot button issue in several Latin American countries: Colombia's own National Police, which answers to the Defense Ministry, have previously come under fire for its response to protests in 2019 and 2020. In Chile in 2019, carabineros were accused of deliberately shooting rubber bullets at the eyes of protesters resulting in hundreds of injuries. And in Peru, at least two men died in a recent wave of protests in November of last year.

Looming over all these political calculations for the Colombian government are next year's presidential elections: While Duque himself is barred from running, the conservative coalition that brought him the presidency is keen to project strength and control, capable of dealing with both the pandemic and the wave of protests. After withdrawing the fiscal reform plan, further concessions to demonstrators could weaken that image.

But Ivan Briscoe, Latin America program director for the International Crisis Group, believes it would be misguided not to learn from protesters' outrage. "The government must look beyond other parties and other political forces with which it has been negotiating its tax reform and take into account the demands of the Colombians in the streets," said Briscoe.

For now, Duque is resisting calls from his own party to impose a state of emergency to curb the protests -- but at the same time, he is standing by the police accused of escalating the violence. All of which has contributed to the image of a president disconnected from many of his citizens.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Colombia's bloody protests could be a warning to the region"
(CNN)  As India's Covid-19 crisis tipped past breaking point last month, dozens of countries pledged critical aid.

Planeloads of ventilators, oxygen supplies and antiviral drugs began arriving last week, with photos showing massive parcels being unloaded at New Delhi airport.

There's just one problem: for many days, much of the cargo sat in airport hangars as hospitals on the ground pleaded for more provisions.

Medical workers and local officials are still reporting the same devastating shortages that have strained the health care system for weeks now -- raising questions, even among foreign donors, of where the aid is going.

In a US State Department news briefing on Friday, a reporter asked where the US aid was, demanding "accountability for US taxpayers' money," according to the briefing transcript. "Is there anything being done to check on how it is being distributed, the aid that we are sending?" the reporter asked.

The Indian government issued a strong denial of any delay on Tuesday evening, saying it had installed a "streamlined mechanism" for allocating aid. Nearly 4 million donated items, spanning 24 categories, have already been distributed to 38 health care facilities across the country, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

But on the ground, many state and local authorities claim there has been little to no communication from the central government on how or when they would receive relief.

"We sent delegations to (the government) for clarity on supplies of (oxygen), drugs and vaccination drive but were not spoken to in clarity from the Union Government," said Raghu Sharma, health minister of Rajasthan state, on Tuesday. "Regarding the import or foreign aid, no information or supply details have been shared with the state government."

The central government has "kept states in the dark during the pandemic," he added, calling for a more "transparent environment."

The Health Ministry said on Tuesday that it had distributed aid to two hospitals in Rajasthan, in the cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur.

There are a number of feasible reasons for the delay: unnecessary bureaucracy, human error, or time-consuming protocol. But to those on the ground, such possible explanations matter little; all they want is for the government to take quicker action and get the aid to their ICU wards, where thousands are dying every day.

India reported 382,315 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and 3,780 virus-related deaths, according to the Health Ministry. The country has now recorded more than 20.6 million cases since the pandemic began.

Oxygen shortages are particularly pronounced in the union territory of Delhi, which does not produce its own oxygen and relies on the central government to send allocations from different manufacturers and states.

"It's the duty of the government to provide us oxygen," said Dr. S.C.L. Gupta, director of Batra Hospital in the capital New Delhi.

At least 12 patients, including a doctor, died at Batra Hospital on Saturday after it ran out of oxygen. Gupta said hospital staff spent the day telling authorities they only had a few hours of oxygen left; toward the end, they had to rely on oxygen provided by patients' families.

"Patients are dying in front of us," Gupta said. "I'm sorry we cannot save you."

A logistical nightmare

One distribution problem highlighted by Indian media is simply that the government did not have protocols in place before receiving the aid, and had to quickly cobble together guidelines on allocation and coordination.

It took the government seven days to create a mechanism to distribute supplies to states, the Health Ministry said in a news release on Tuesday. They began working on the plan on April 26, and only issued their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) -- guidelines on how to distribute aid -- on May 2. The release did not state what day the distribution of aid began.

In those seven days, more than 23,000 Indians died of Covid-19.

Even with the SOP issued, the process of distribution is complex, with room for further delay.

Once the aid arrives in India, it is received by the Indian Red Cross Society, which works closely with the government. The Red Cross works with customs to approve the goods, the Health Ministry said, adding that customs is "working 24 x 7 to fast track and clear the goods on arrival."

After being cleared, the items are handed to the ministry and a government-owned health care product manufacturer called HLL Lifecare, which handles transportation of aid to its final destination.

But it's a massive logistical undertaking because "the materials from abroad are currently coming in different numbers, specifications and at different times," the ministry said in its Tuesday release. A number of problems might arise, it said: "in many cases," the type or number of aid supplies don't match the inventory list provided by the foreign donor.

Authorities then have to waste precious time "reconciling (discrepancies) at the airport" while the aid sits idle, according to the release. Only when the paperwork is updated with the correct details can authorities move forward with distribution.

India is a huge country, home to 1.3 billion people, and most of the foreign aid is being flown to New Delhi -- meaning much of it then has to be redistributed to far-flung states. The military has been deployed to help with this process, with the air force flying supplies to various cities and making overseas flights, too.

States with high caseloads, or those that are regional medical hubs, will be prioritized, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. Donations are also allocated to states with fewer resources or those in remote areas.

It's unclear how much aid is still being processed, but images began emerging this week of supplies finally arriving on the ground.

The air force airlifted the "first batch" of 450 oxygen cylinders from the United Kingdom to Chennai on Tuesday, according to the city's customs authority. Meanwhile, 350 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong are being sent to Mumbai on Wednesday.

These supplies will only provide a modicum of relief, however. As of Tuesday, Chennai had more than 32,000 active cases, while Mumbai had over 56,000. Hospitals in both cities are so under-resourced and the situation so dire that patients are dying by the dozen.

Desperate patients wait for oxygen

As the government scrambles to get backlogged aid to desperate states, it is also working to increase domestic oxygen production. And at every turn, federal authorities have claimed they have enough supplies to meet states' demands.

"The (daily) production of oxygen in the country was 5,700 metric tons (6,283 tons) on August 1, 2020, which has now increased to around 9,000 metric tons (9,920 tons)," a Health Ministry spokesperson said at a news conference on Monday. Last month, the ministry said it had 50,000 metric tons (55,115 tons) in surplus oxygen stocks.

On Monday, the ministry spokesperson again asserted, "There is enough oxygen available in the country."

But doctors, officials and desperate patients tell a very different story.

In a hospital in Meerut, a city in Uttar Pradesh, one family has worked around the clock to care for their 55-year-old mother in the intensive care unit. The family told CNN this week she had been in the hospital for six days before getting a ventilator, and they had to bring their own oxygen cylinder.

At one point, her vitals began dropping dangerously; her sons pumped her chest frantically, crying out and clutching her hands as family members wailed next to the bed. A doctor was able to help stabilize the woman -- but later, she flatlined again. This time, she could not be revived; her body was left in the ICU for nearly an hour before it was moved.

The same scenes are playing out in nearly every major city. In New Delhi, the situation has deteriorated so badly that India's Supreme Court ordered the central government to address the oxygen shortages there by the end of Monday.

Similar hearings have taken place in the Delhi High Court. "Do you mean we will shut our eyes to the people dying in Delhi?" the court told the central government on Saturday, according to CNN affiliate CNN-News18. "Enough is enough."

Some state authorities, too, have come under fire for their handling of the oxygen crisis. A high court in Uttar Pradesh demanded "immediate remedial measures," pointing to specific instances of patients dying due to oxygen shortages.

"Death of Covid patients just for non supplying of oxygen to the hospitals is a criminal act and not less than a genocide by those who have been entrusted the task to ensure continuous procurement and supply chain of the liquid medical oxygen," the court said on Tuesday.

The central government has responded by ramping up emergency measures.

Two of five on-site oxygen plants earmarked for Delhi hospitals would be operational on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said on Twitter. The government plans to set up 500 plants across the country within three months, according to a ministry statement.

This week, some of these increased oxygen supplies are being sent to various hard-hit states by rail, in what has been dubbed the "oxygen express."

But until these supplies arrive, either from domestic plants or foreign donors, patients have no choice but to wait, terrified for their lives.

This story was first published on CNN.com The world sent India millions in Covid aid. Why is it not reaching those who need it most?
(CNN)  A Hong Kong court has sentenced Joshua Wong and three other activists to between four and 10 months in prison for participating in an unauthorized rally last year to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

This is the first time prominent activists have been jailed over the peaceful candlelight vigil, which has been held annually in Hong Kong's Victoria Park since 1990. Police banned the event for the first time last year, citing coronavirus risks, but thousands staged a peaceful rally in the usual place.

Among the 26 charged over the rally, Wong and three district councilors  Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung  pleaded guilty and were sentenced Thursday. Other defendants are scheduled to appear in court in June, while two  Nathan Law and Sunny Cheung  had fled Hong Kong prior to the charges.

Wong received a 10-month sentence for his role in the June 4 rally, to run consecutively with a 17.5-month sentence he is serving over his role in two unauthorized assemblies during anti-government unrest in 2019.

Shum was handed a six-month sentence, while Yuen and Leung each received four months.

During Thursday's sentencing remarks, District Court judge Stanley Chan said police had banned the vigil to protect public safety and order, but the defendants could be seen entering Victoria Park and chanting slogans despite repeated police warnings.

He said while Hong Kong's constitution protects freedom of assembly, such rights are not absolute. "From the very beginning, the public meeting was unauthorized," Chan said. He criticized participants of the vigil for believing "they can enjoy more freedom than others."

Chan also said Wong, as a prominent activist, did not have a passive role in the vigil and added the court must impose a penalty with a deterrent effect.

Ahead of Thursday's sentencing, dozens of supporters and journalists were seen queuing for a seat in the public gallery. The court also opened an extension room to accommodate the crowd.

Iconic commemoration

Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where a mass annual vigil has been held to mark the bloody crackdown in and around Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

The event remains one of the most tightly censored topics in mainland China, with discussions of it scrubbed from mass media. Chinese authorities have not released an official death toll, but estimates range from several hundred to thousands.

That any commemoration could be held in Hong Kong was often seen as iconic of the city's autonomy from China, a litmus test for political freedoms in the special administrative region.

However, the introduction last year of a national security law  which criminalizes secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment  has threatened the future of the candlelight vigil. The law came into force less than a month after the last June 4 vigil.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organizes the annual event, has been calling for an end to one-party rule, a slogan that may fall foul of the national security law.

On Wednesday, the alliance posted on Facebook that authorities have rejected its application to rent Victoria Park for the candlelight vigil this year, citing the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Hong Kong court jails Joshua Wong and other activists over Tiananmen rally"
(CNN)  Two British offshore patrol vessels will be sent to the island of Jersey "as a precautionary measure" amid an escalating row over fisheries with France, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The decision was the result of a discussion between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and local officials about "the prospect of a blockade" of Jersey capital Saint Helier, the statement read.

It comes after French maritime minister Annick Girardin threatened to cut electricity to the self-governing island of Jersey -- which is off the coast of France and receives 95% of its electricity from there -- as a "retaliatory measure" for restricting fishing boat access.

French local authorities also shut down their representation in the island's capital Saint Helier on Monday.

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.

France has accused the Jersey government -- which issued 41 fishing permits to French vessels on April 30 -- of placing "unilateral" restrictions on the trawlers.

"Regarding Jersey, I'll remind you, for example, of electricity transportation via undersea cable," Girardin said Tuesday. "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."

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.
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.

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."
DP World, a leading global provider of end to end logistics solutions, and the Ministry of Transport of Ethiopia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of developing the Ethiopian side of the road linking Ethiopia to Berbera into one of the major trade and logistics corridors of the country's international trade routes.

The MoU, which was signed in Addis Ababa today (May 6) by Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, follows a decision by the two parties to explore the potentials for developing logistics infrastructure and the provision of end to end logistics services along the corridor to unlock major economic benefits for Ethiopia, a statement said.

In terms of the MoU, it is proposed that the parties would establish a joint venture logistics company to perform logistic operations from origin to destination. It is intended that for export, DP World will offer services from origin in Ethiopia up to Berbera Port, while for imports, it will offer from the port of loading to the delivery of shipments in one of the dry ports in the hinterlands or the final destination of the consignees.

DP World and its partners envisage investing up to $1 billion over the next ten years in developing the supply chain infrastructure along the corridor. This will include dry ports, silos, warehouses, container yards, cool and cold chain depots, freight forwarding and clearing activities. The infrastructure investment will be in parallel with the implementation of the latest IT infrastructure and technology to ensure the efficient functioning of the corridor, and smooth, secure and transparent transfer of cargo throughout the entire transportation journey.

The MoU also envisages that the Ministry of Transport will see to it that a review and resolution of regulatory obstacles facing the Ethiopian side of the Berbera Corridor are exercised with a view to ensuring competitive arrangements for logistics companies so that they could be able to use the Corridor on a common user basis.

Speaking at the signing, Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, said: "As we kick off the journey towards prosperity, aiming at unlocking Ethiopia's development potentials designed to propel the country into becoming an African beacon of prosperity, the transformation of the logistics industry is expected to play the leading catalytic role. Ethiopia aims to diversify its port access facilities and services to improve its trade corridor access routes; utilizing the Berbera corridor will surely have a potential to make Ethiopia a front runner in logistics operations, boosting the competitive advantage of delivering our products to the world market. The development of this Corridor will not only meet with the growing demand of Ethiopian's international trade, but it would also enhance our Nation's capacity in utilizing our existing major corridor both in terms of volume of trade and efficiency."

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: "As a leading global provider of trade and logistics solutions, we strongly believe that developing the Berbera Corridor into one of the major trade and logistics corridors will unlock huge economic benefits for Ethiopia, and support its ambitious development plans. It will create new jobs, attract new businesses and investment along the corridor, as well as diversify and strengthen the country's access to international trade by having a direct, seamless and efficient link between Ethiopia and Berbera Port."

The road infrastructure that will connect Berbera Port to Wajaale at the border with Ethiopia, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the UK's Department for International Development, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. The road will link to the existing modern highway on the Ethiopian side and will further position Berbera as one of the key trade gateways in the region and will be one of the fastest and most efficient routes for Ethiopian transit cargo.

DP World has committed to investing up to $442 million to develop and expand Berbera port, with the first phase nearly completed. Further work is already underway on expansion of the quay to 1000 metres which will increase capacity to two million TEUs, operated by 10 key cranes.TradeArabia News Service
Here in the Cornhusker State, agriculture and conservation go hand in hand. Nebraskas farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists. Agricultural families in our state have been growing crops and tending livestock for generations. They know their land and animals better than anyone else and care deeply about them. Their livelihood depends on ensuring the land remains fertilethats why they are always working to improve it so that the next generation can continue their way of life.

Despite this close connection to the land, the Biden-Harris Administration does not trust Nebraskans to responsibly manage our natural resources. They want greater federal government control over our land and water. On January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order on the climate which set a goal of restricting at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 (30 x 30). Right now, only 3% of land in Nebraska is publicly owned. Achieving the goal of the Presidents 30 x 30 program would likely require far-reaching interventions by the federal governmenteither to take away private property or to subject landowners to intrusive regulations.
Ernst practiced by himself at Columbus General Surgery until 1998, when Morse joined the practice. Ernest hired Albin in 2014 and Oran in 2021.

Albin said Ernst taught him that the best qualities a doctor can possess are humility, equanimity and availability to patients, partners and other doctors.

"I didn't know what to expect coming out of residency and joining an established practice, but from the moment I arrived, Dr. Ernst took me under his wing and showed me the ropes," Albin said. "I knew that I had the requisite skills to be a general surgeon, but Dr. Ernst helped me to refine them even further and allowed me to develop the confidence required to excel. He taught directly and by example. He was never pushy or dogmatic but always assertive."

During his career, Ernst was instrumental in opening the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Health Center in the Healthpark Medical Office Building at CCH.

"Over the years, Dr. Ernst and Mrs. Ernst showed each of us such hospitality with so many wonderful memories within and outside of the hospital walls," said Jen Fjell, WOC Clinic nurse manager. "Each day was different, but Dr. Ernst always took each day and was up for the new challenge. The clinic is what it is today because of the compassion and expertise of Dr. Ernst, and our community will be forever grateful."
The holiday is also known as Yom ha-Moreh, the day to honor teachers such as Rabbi Simeon Ben Yochai, who would not be deterred by the Romans from teaching. This year Yom Ha-Moreh is extra important, because our teachers have been working extra hard to teach over the last year, this pandemic year, despite great disruption and stress. Many people now much better appreciate the value of our teachers!

The counting of the Omer continues for 50 days (seven weeks) and ends on the holiday of Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, which this year will start Sunday evening, May 16.

Shavuot is a holiday with two meanings. First, it is a day to celebrate the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. Second it is the festival to celebrate the grain harvest and the first summer fruits. In ancient days, two loaves of bread, made from the newly harvested grain, were brought to the Temple as a gift to God. Also the first fruits of the landsuch as grapes, figs and honey  were brought to the Temple for God.

At Shavuot we express our gratitude to God for the fruits of the earth that sustain our bodies, and for Gods Teaching, the Torah, that sustains our lives and souls. Spring is finally here, and we have much to be grateful for. New vaccines are available and being administered that gives us hope for the future.
The Cumberland Valley School District approved several items this week for building construction/upgrade projects at the Cumberland Valley Ninth Grade Academy (CV9) at Good Hope, Eagle View Middle School and Hampden Elementary School, as well as presenting an update on project constructions.

On Monday night, the school board unanimously approved an equipment proposal for the ninth grade weight room to Websters Fitness Products Inc., out of Westmoreland County, for $54,129 that will be funded through the districts Bond Construction Fund. The purchase will include various dumbbell weights and racks, agility ladders, rowers with magnetic resistance, and many other related items.

The board also awarded a contract for track resurfacing at CV9 and Eagle View Middle School to Tru Track Industries LLC in Mechanicsburg, for $49,400. This also will be financed through the districts Bond Construction Fund. The project will refurbish, level, grade and re-cinder the track areas at CV9, Hampden Elementary School and Eagle View.
Dear Editor:

I, along with my wife and three children, am proud to call Hampden Township our home. If you are a Hampden resident as well, you might have noticed how business is adapting to COVID-19.

Our business owners are tenaciously striving to succeed. In almost every open space, buildings are slowly rising or being re-developed. While this growth and redevelopment presents many exciting opportunities, it also brings new challenges  over-crowding, increasing traffic congestion, and failing infrastructure.

I am running for Hampden commissioner because I am concerned about how this growth and the changing tax base will impact those of us who make Hampden Township our home.

As one who is invested in the long-term health and sustainability of our community, I believe the township must communicate with residents and neighbors before community altering decisions are made. Decisions to allow increased development or approve waivers to environmental protections should only be made after timely and appropriate two-way communication with residents, giving the community members opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns. As our Board of Commissioners looks to the Plant Hampdens Future, I believe we must work collaboratively to support residents of varying backgrounds and experiences.
"Its basically to maintain voltage support in the next decade as the area continues to grow. If we had no growth in that area, we wouldnt need the substations. The modeling suggests that the load growth will continue in that area, and we are going to need two substations to balance the load. This is to benefit the citizens in Kinsey and Sprott areas where weve identified that theres going to be some voltage issues as things continue to grow as they have been, we are going to have to do something in the next five years. We cant do these things overnight, we have to be planning these years in advance.

Elsea admits that the whole situation did start out on the wrong foot with the subcontractor hired to do the original surveying.

We fumbled it at the beginning, he said. Admittedly, the company that was hired, they flunked charm school. We tried to step back and that company is no longer retained. A new company, Emerald Energy will be the land agent conversing with the landowners along the preferred route. Emerald has also indicated that they are going to open an office for the public in Bloomsdale.

Another rumor that Elsea says is unfounded is the possible uses of the easements for other utilities in the future such as pipelines or underground cables.
The World Government Summit Organization (WGS) has launched a new report highlighting 21 critical priorities for the worlds governments as they rebuild and recover from the disruption caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.



While dealing with the pandemic has absorbed the attention of governments around the world over the last 18 months, underlying societal issues such as mental health challenges and the climate crisis are set to intensify if governments do not adopt a holistic and proactive approach to the recovery effort, the report suggests.



The report highlights that almost 50 percent of the global cost incurred by the pandemic will fall on developed economies. Even if these countries are able to vaccinate their entire population and developing nations succeed in vaccinating 50 percent of their population, the world economy could take an economic hit of up to $3.8 trillion, with half of that cost absorbed by the wealthiest countries, the report asserts.



The 21 Priorities for Governments in 2021 report was drafted after the first World Government Summit Dialogues event that was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.



Mohammad Abdulla AlGergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs  UAE and Chairman of the World Government Summit Organization(WGS), said: 2020 will be remembered by history as the year of great disruption. While the world was woefully unprepared for the velocity and voracity of the virus, 2021 needs to be the year that defines humanitys future and reshapes societies to become stronger and more resilient.



Dealing with the economic, social, political and public health challenges posed by the pandemic over the last year has been a true test of the infrastructural, legislative and regulatory resilience of government models around the world. These challenges have forced us to reconsider our priorities and ways of managing future disruptions.



With great change comes great opportunity. Valuable lessons emerged over the past year, which we must heed as we recover. The most important of those is our interconnectedness with one another and with nature. 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 to one another, he added.



The WGS report identifies five critical areas of focus that require the immediate attention of government leaders. In addition, it outlines new mechanisms and approaches to make the global transition and adaptation to the new normal inclusive, productive and innovative.



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 and Securing the Future.



Recognizing the immense value of embracing multilateralism for the greater global good, the report highlights how government leaders can navigate the new normal while delivering on the needs and interests of their the global citizens.



Speaking on the report, Rudolph Lohmeyer, Kearney Partner and Head of the firms National Transformation Institute, said: The world is clearly at a critical juncture in which we face both deep uncertainties and remarkable opportunities in many policy domains.



For government leaders, the decisions made this year will have exceptionally long-term consequences. By taking anticipatory action on these 21 priorities, leaders have an opportunity to harness this transition in the service of their citizens through building societies that are more inclusive and innovative.



Reimagining and reinforcing key public institutions

1. Alleviate Fiscal Overhangs

2. Reimagine the Role of Cities

3. Transform the National Portfolio of Capabilities



Competing in a Transformed Economy:

4. Prepare for the Coming Regulatory Shock

5. Rebalance Self-sufficiency and Competitiveness

6. Drive Radical, Inclusive Upskilling at Scale

7. Reinvent the Task Structure of the Workforce



Navigating a Transformed Geo-Technical Order:

8. Navigate the Global Competition for Allegiance

9. Prepare to Navigate a Reordered Technology Market

10. Build Deep Data Alliances

11. Prepare for the New Multilateralism



Repairing the Social Fabric:

12. Reactivate Critical Global Health Initiatives on Enduring Threats

13. Heal the Mental Health Overhang

14. Protect the Development of Our Youngest Minds

15. Restore and Expand the Empowerment of Women

16. Defend the Sovereignty of Citizens Minds



Securing the Future:

17. Eliminate Viral Breeding Grounds Globally

18. Adapt to the Grey Zone

19. Counter Criminal Exploitation of the Crisis

20. Activate Whole-of-Society Circular Resilience

21. Harness Warp Speed Policy Approaches  TradeArabia News Service
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
It was later revealed that the investigation was actually part of an annual audit that was conducted on behalf of Jaunt by the firm Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates.

Schillings request for documents under Virginias Freedom of Information Act were denied by Jaunt, which claimed the organization was not subject to FOIA, prompting the months-long legal battle.

Despite the fight, Schilling said he was pleased with the results and said he received a copy of the documents he requested Wednesday afternoon.

Im disappointed that it took this much effort and that they were not forthcoming with the information as a publicly funded organization, which I think everybody knew they were, he said. I believe they should have been upfront about it, however, they chose to take a different path, but Im pleased that the judge saw it the same way that my attorney and I did and that we will have access to this information.

Filed in Charlottesville General District Court soon after Jaunts refusal, Schillings lawsuit claimed in part that Jaunt is subject to FOIA because it is a public body that is wholly or principally supported by public funds.
Widespread vaccination is the only way we will eventually end the pandemic and help our country reopen, Pegus said. And we dont want anyone to get left behind as we enter this new chapter in our fight against COVID-19.

Dr. Danny Avula, the states vaccine coordinator, said Friday that as Virginia reaches a peak in demand, convenience will be a critical factor in vaccinating as many residents as possible. Shifting more vaccines toward primary care providers or walk-in and mobile clinics could help with the access barring an unknown number of people from getting a dose, he said.

On Wednesday, Chesterfield Health District opened its community vaccination clinic at Virginia State University to walk-ins. The clinic, which is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., will continue this strategy until May 29 when the site closes.

Richmond and Henricos health district held a walk-in clinic at George Wythe High School on Wednesday that will be a weekly event from 11 to 4 p.m. Both events are administering the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which like Moderna, is only available for people 18 and up.
A free community college education has been the goal of some activists for several years now.

Piedmont Virginia Community College is actually offering that option  for the short term, at least, while the money holds out.

PVCC will be eliminating tuition and fees for qualifying students for the fall semester and into the spring.

Under the programs eligibility guidelines, almost all students will qualify.

We recognized that [this] is a very unique circumstance coming out of the pandemic, said college President Frank Friedman.

Many people have lost their jobs and, with businesses closing, they might not get those jobs back. Former employees may need to retrain to find new jobs. But the financial hardships imposed by the pandemic may make that especially difficult just when they need it most.

A lot of people for whom college would have been affordable a year or two ago are in different financial shape and it is no longer affordable, Friedman said.

We sat down and said: What can we do about this? This is the program we came up with.
Abu Dhabis Yas Marina Circuit has announced an extension to its partnership with Pirelli, one of the worlds leading tyre manufacturers. The existing partnership, which was initially forged in 2017, will now run until 2023.



The relationship between the home of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Pirelli is one which continues to blossom following a successful four-year period to date, during which time Yas Marina Circuit has delivered numerous events for Pirelli throughout each calendar year, including their annual PZERO Track Day.



As well as being Yas Marina Circuits Official Tyre Partner, Pirelli is the Title Partner of both Yas Track Days, in which guests can take their car or bike out onto the track, and the venues Pit Stop Team Building Challenge, where individuals are tasked with working together to complete a pit stop tyre change in the fastest possible time.



Saif Al Noaimi, Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said: We are delighted to announce the extension of our strategic partnership with Pirelli, one of motorsports most recognizable names. The partnership, which began in 2017, has been a huge success to date, bringing fantastic value to both parties over the course of the past four years.



As Official Tyre Partner of Yas Marina Circuit, and Title Partner of both Yas Track Days and the Pit Stop Team Building Challenge, Pirelli plays an integral part in everything we set out to achieve, and we now look forward to continuing what has been a fruitful relationship to date for an additional two years.



Alberico Avogadro, Managing Director - Middle East & GCC, Pirelli said: The UAE has cemented its position as a global hub for motorsport through creating world-class destinations such as the Yas Marina Circuit that provides unique experiences for automotive fans. At Pirelli, we value such platforms and strive to bring in our motorsport expertise and utilise it in creating driving experiences for local communities which enhance adrenaline levels in fun and safe environments. We are happy to extend our partnership with Yas Marina Circuit and look forward to bringing more exciting activations and experiences to the UAE motorheads over the coming years.



Yas Marina Circuit and Pirelli are dedicated to implementing a number of ground-breaking motorsports, driving experiences and fitness events throughout the year, including the recently launched Premium Car Track Day, where guests can enjoy seven hours out on the track and dinner in the iconic Shams Tower.



During Ramadan, the upcoming Car Track Days will take place on 14 May (Novice), and 21 May (Intermediate).



The Bike Track Day, meanwhile, is scheduled to take place on Friday 7 May.



To celebrate the partnership renewal, Pirelli has launched their cross promotion activation where customers that purchase 4 Pirelli tires will receive a complimentary driving experience at the circuit.  TradeArabia News Service
National Iced Tea Day is coming up! We'll publish the results of this poll in the Thursday, June 10 edition of The Kerrville Daily Times.

You voted:
Gujarat: Pakistan to hand over Gujarat fishermans body at Wagah border today

by Gopal Kateshiya

May 06,2021 | Source: The Indian Express

Mortal remains of Gujarat fisherman Ramesh are likely to be handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan at Wagah border in Punjab on Thursday, 40 days after his death in a Karachi jail. The fisherman had died on March 26 in a prison and his body has been lying in a morgue in Karachi since. The autopsy was completed on Wednesday. Indian officials had reached Karachi on Tuesday to complete formalities of repatriation of Rameshs mortal remains. As part of the procedure, Rameshs autopsy was conducted in Karachi and Pakistan authorities are likely to hand over the fishermans mortal remains to India at Wagah border in Punjab on Thursday, sources said.



Officers of the fisheries department of Gujarat said they are anticipating to receive his mortal remains Thursday. Our two officers are flying to Amritsar tomorrow to receive the body. Once the Punjab government completes formalities and hands the body to our officers, they would try to find a suitable air route to bring it to Gujarat, a senior officer of the fisheries department said. Ramesh was apprehended by Pakistan in May, 2019, for allegedly violating territorial waters of Pakistan while fishing.

 2021 The Indian Express [P] Ltd.
Myanmar: Coast Guard apprehends 4 Myanmarese fishermen in Andaman and Nicobar for illegally fishing in Indian waters

May 06,2021 | Source: The Hindu

The Coast Guard on Wednesday said it had apprehended four Myanmarese fishermen fishing illegally in Indian waters off the Barren Island, in Andaman and Nicobar. In the early hours of May 2, ICGS Rajshree, during a routine patrol, sighted a boat operating off the Barren Island close to the coast and as it tried to establish communication with the boat it did not respond, a Coast Guard statement said. Instead, the poachers carried out forced ditching of their boat on the rocky shores of Barren and tried to flee into the island. The manoeuvre by a Coast Guard boarding party resulted in the apprehension of two poachers, while others managed to escape into the dense forest on the island, the statement said.



The boarding party also recovered fish catch, including sea cucumber, turtle skull and conch shells from the boat, it stated. Two of the missing fishermen were apprehended a day later on May 3 and were handed over to the police at Port Blair on Tuesday for further investigation, the Coast Guard said. It is suspected that some of the poachers were still hiding in the dense forest on the Barren Island. The Coast Guard, in coordination with the local police, is carrying out a joint search operation for the missing poachers, the statement added. This is the second apprehension by the Coast Guard in 10 days.

 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD.
Bangladesh: Lucrative fish farming leading to loss of land and livelihoods of farmers in Rajshahi division

by Anwar Ali

May 06,2021 | Source: The Daily Star

A farmer in Rajshahi's Paba upazila, Motahar Hossain sees his land waterlogged most part of the year preventing him from cultivating paddy with water even encroaching into his home. This, however, is not a result of climate change or seasonal flooding. In Rajshahi division, low agricultural land including vast stretches of beels is being converted into fields of ponds for fish cultivation. Experts said the high banks of these ponds block natural water flow, leading to severe waterlogging in nearby areas during the rainy season and beyond, affecting crop fields mostly three-crop yielding ones and delaying paddy cultivation. "Arbitrarily dug without prior assessment of requirements and environmental aspects, these ponds have put lives and livelihoods at stake," Prof ABM Mohsin of fisheries at Rajshahi University told The Daily Star. Farmer Motahar said the waterlogging has deprived him of both rice and straw for cattle as he cannot cultivate paddy. "We don't need these ponds. These are the roots of our destruction." The local administration has turned a blind eye as there is no law against pond digging and influentials in the region -- including some politicians have investments in these ponds, activists and farmers alleged.



Md Ayeen Uddin, lawmaker from Rajshahi-3 constituency (Paba-Mohonpur), admitted to this correspondent that he had been running at least three ponds on 150 bighas of leased land for the last five years. During a visit to these areas five years ago, this correspondent first observed ponds being dug on crop fields, which villagers said were leased by the local lawmaker. The MP, in February, claimed that his ponds were not affecting anyone. However, several locals in Paba, requesting not to be named, recently told this newspaper that the lawmaker's ponds cause waterlogging on their cropland and homesteads every year. "We hear about an understanding between the local administration and investors in ponds," said SM Mizanur Rahman, member secretary of the Chalan Beel Protection Movement in Sirajganj. Though affected villagers staged protests from time to time, the local administration kept silent in the end and influentials continued to dig ponds, he said. Ponds have scarred Chalan Beel, which is divided into around small 100 beels, by converting previously three-crop offering land to lone-crop one, he added. Contacted on April 12, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Humyun Kabir said, "There is no specific law against pond digging." He, however, agreed that causing waterlogging on someone else's land or blocking natural water flow is an offence. "We are conducting drives but the practice is so widespread that it has become difficult to check when the ponds are being dug overnight," he added. The divisional administrative boss added that they wrote to the land ministry for issuing an executive order against the practice. The ministry is likely to respond soon. Conversion of land types are prohibited by land and environment protection laws and in addition, the Bangladesh Water Act of 2013 strictly prohibits hindering natural water flow, said Tanmay Sanyal, Rajshahi regional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela). The draft of the Agricultural Land Protection and Land Use Act which prohibits the conversion of agricultural land in clearer terms is yet to be finalised, he added.



Ponds Taking Over



On visits to Natore and Rajshahi from December till last month, this correspondent saw tractors busily breaking the silence of the otherwise tranquil rural roads, carrying earth from the newly dug ponds to brick kilns. In mid-February, farmers in Natore's Boraigram and Rajshahi's Paba, Mohonpur and Tanore upazilas were seen planting Boro seedlings when the sowing season was nearing its end. They said it should have been done earlier but they had to wait for water to recede after their land was waterlogged because of the unplanned ponds. The trend of digging ponds began in Chalan Beel areas in Natore district in the early 2000s. It spread to other districts in the last ten years, according to data from the Department of Fisheries. At least 17 upazilas in five districts Rajshahi, Natore, Bogura, Pabna, and Sirajganj witnessed the greatest increase in the number of ponds dug for lucrative fish cultivation. In Rajshahi division, the Department of Fisheries recorded an increase of 24,651 hectares of pond areas since 2001-02. Its data also showed around 12,000 new ponds were dug in the nine years till 2018-19. Fisheries and agriculture officials, however, said the official data does not reflect the actual picture as ponds elsewhere have also been filled up and river chars brought under crop cultivation. Besides, no proper survey has been conducted in recent times. They roughly estimated the number of new ponds in the five districts to be more than 36,000 in the last 20 years. New ponds are necessary for fulfilling the growing demand for fish, said Md Tofazuddin Ahamed, divisional deputy director at Department of Fisheries. "But that doesn't mean we have to turn three-crop yielding land into ponds. We discourage it," he said.



Crop Fields Converted



"Unplanned digging of ponds is affecting agriculture," said Md Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Rajshahi regional office. This is echoed by local farmers who The Daily Star spoke to in these areas. Nawshad Ali, of Beel Nepalpara, is one of the farmers planting Boro paddy late as his land remained waterlogged for longer than normal. He said farmers lease out their cropland for ponds when they suffer losses in their yearly crops. Pond diggers offer them around Tk 20,000-Tk 30,000 per bigha a year. In the initial years, the farmers were offered more than Tk 50,000 for a bigha. "The lease money comes easily whereas farming paddy involves investment and labour and no guarantee of profit," he said. Nawshad leased out one bigha, of his three bighas in the beel, for a pond to be dug three years ago. "That one bigha in the pond fetches me annual lease money, which is half the price of what I used to get cultivating paddy on three bighas," he said. Farmer Rohidul Islam said, "The recent increase in paddy prices have made us enthusiastic, but we have no cropland left. Some crop fields were converted and other fields remain waterlogged for the whole period of Aman paddy and mustard cultivation." He alleged that pond diggers are "tricking" villagers by digging ponds at the lower corners of beels, causing waterlogging on adjacent land and then forcing the owners of the waterlogged land to lease it out for ponds. "When farmers see their land becomes one or no-crop yielding from three-crop, they find no way out but to lease it to pond diggers," Rohidul said.



Local farmers said Boro Beel, Nepalpara, Faliar, Anulia, Piarpur, Dhuroil, Kantar, Ratoal, Pompara, and Fariar in Rajshahi's Paba, Mohonpur and Durgapur upazilas, as well as Chakoler Beel, Beel Dhahar, and Chinidanga Beel barely have any farmland left. Most fields in seven mouzas -- Moharajpur, Achariya Chapila, Gozendra Chapila, Paikpara, Chapila, Bripathuria, and Sadhupara out of 27 mouzas of Natore's Gurudaspur have been turned into ponds. A local of Moharajpur in Gurudaspur upazila said he and many others have to move to their relatives' houses in higher areas or to the city during the monsoon as their homes get filled with water. "Those who don't have anywhere to go, make a macha [an elevated bamboo platform] to take shelter," he said. During a visit to Harian union in Paba upazila on April 12, this correspondent saw one pond was already dug while four excavators were digging another in the Nolkhola-Digori beel. Locals said the land where the pond was dug has been laying fallow for five years because of ensuing waterlogging while the land where the new pond is being dug yielded paddy and other crops till a month ago. They added hundreds of ponds have dotted the beel stretching four kilometres to Parila from Nolkhola. Although ponds have become a major cause of woe for farmers, the upside is that these have been hugely profitable for fish farmers as demand for fish remains high and rising. Fish farming on a pond of ten bighas can fetch a tidy profit of at least Tk 5 lakh against a Tk 10 lakh investment on land lease and fish cultivation, Amjad Hossain, a fish farmer in Mohonpur. But Md Belal Hossain, a fish trader, expressed his anxiety that these new ponds will bring fish prices down. He said the number of ponds being dug this year is higher than that in previous years. "Pond diggers are taking the opportunity of coronavirus outbreak when the administration is very busy and has other priorities."



Loss Of Livelihood



Mainul Islam and his three brothers used to earn from three crops a year cultivated on their four-bigha land in Paschim Beel in Paba upazila. Their land has been yielding only one crop, Boro paddy, since ponds were dug around it three years ago. The family's financial situation has accordingly deteriorated. "We have to move to towns looking for jobs to survive the crop-less period," he said. Farm labourers are losing their livelihood with crop fields decreasing as ponds don't need as many labourers. The entire process of producing crops on a bigha of land, he said, requires around 30 labourers. But two caretakers are sufficient for a pond, be it on 10 or 50 bighas of land, according to local farmers. The number of jobless farm labourers is increasing, and jobs in towns have become scarce too, said Habibur Rahman of Parila village in Paba upazila. Habibur is one of hundreds of farm labourers who brave cold, rains, and summer heat travelling to Rajshahi city seven days a week for work. This correspondent met him at the Qamaruzzaman square in the city one morning recently. "I didn't find any job today. Usually, I get a job twice or thrice a week. Sometimes, I go through two weeks without a job," he said. "My family and I have to endure half-fed days in those weeks."

 2021 / thedailystar.net
Cloud

Lawmakers seek new probe into AWS JEDI collusion

Two Republican lawmakers want the Departments of Defense and Justice Departments to reopen a probe into conflicts related to the Pentagons $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud computing program.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), leaders on antitrust subcommittees in their respective chambers, sent letters on May 4 to Attorney General Merrick Garland and acting Defense Department Inspector General Sean ODonnell as well as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking for information, documents and, in the case of the Justice Department, a probe into possible anticompetitive behavior on the part of Amazon Web Services.

The letters detail allegations of interference by former defense officials with ties to Amazon that were the subject of a DOD OIG investigation and circulated in press reports after the JEDI request for proposals was released and before the eventual award to Microsoft in October 2019.

The JEDI contract remains the subject of litigation. AWS is pursuing a lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims seeking to overturn the award to Microsoft. AWS alleges that political and personal animus on the part of former President Donald Trump toward Bezos led procurement officials to award the contract to Microsoft. Just last week, the judge in the case ruled against DOJ and Microsoft in their bid to dismiss the charges of interference and uphold the award. DOD officials have signaled that a lengthy litigation process could lead them to rethink their enterprise cloud strategy.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to Defense Systems.
Cloud

Court will hear JEDI political interference case against Trump

A complaint of political inference by former President Donald Trump in the Defense Departments award of a massive cloud computing contract to Microsoft in 2019 may now get its day in court.

The lawsuit filed by Amazon Web Services, alleging that Trump actively steered the 10-year, $10 billion award of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract to Microsoft, can go forward under a ruling issued by U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, who denied the governments motion to dismiss the claim.

If the U.S. continues with the case, it will have to continue to argue that Trump did not act improperly during the lengthy and contested solicitation process.

DOD has consistently stated in all court filings, and public discussions, that the allegation of improper influence is not supported, Pentagon spokesman Russell Goemaere said just over a week after the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The DOD [inspector general] considered these allegations and found no evidence that improper influence occurred or affected the procurement process or award decision."

Attorneys for AWS have argued that the decisions to award Microsoft the contract, and to reaffirm that award in September 2020 after allowing for revisions to the original bid, reflected long-standing animus of Trump toward Jeff Bezos, founder of AWS parent company Amazon.

The court at least is willing to listen to evidence to the contrary, and that could mean a change in direction for DOD's cloud plans.

"The record of improper influence by former President Trump is disturbing, and we are pleased the Court will review the remarkable impact it had on the JEDI contract award," an AWS spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "AWS continues to be the superior technical choice, the less expensive choice, and would provide the best value to the DOD and the American taxpayer."

In January, DOD's CIO told Congress that it could move on from JEDI if the litigation continues to drag on. The program has been under a stop-work order because of the lawsuit since February 2020.

The "prospect of such a lengthy litigation process might bring the future of the JEDI Cloud procurement into question," the unsigned DOD communication to Congress stated. "Under this scenario, the DOD CIO would reassess the strategy going forward."

According to Microsoft corporate vice president Frank X. Shaw, the ruling "changes little."

"Not once, but twice, professional procurement staff at the DOD chose Microsoft after a thorough review. Many other large and sophisticated customers make the same choice every week," Shaw said. "We've continued for more than a year to do the internal work necessary to move forward on JEDI quickly, and we continue to work with DOD, as we have for more than 40 years, on mission critical initiatives from supporting its rapid shift to remote work to the Army's IVAS," a reference to the military's $22 billion augmented reality headset program, which recently scaled up from a pilot to production.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to Defense Systems.
We must tackle facilities to maintain the long-term viability of the city and our delivery of services, Shepard said.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

As an example, Shepard noted that the city did not have an appropriate facility to run its emergency operations center for tackling the pandemic. Instead, the city shared makeshift space with county officials, first at the Corvallis Fire Department training facility and later in a Benton County building on Southwest Research Way.

Shepard said that he has hired a consultant to prepare an analysis of city buildings and facilities over the short term and looking 20 years out. He said he hopes the City Council will receive an initial report by this summer.

Shepard noted that the city will be eligible to spend $13.8 million in federal funds from the most recent relief bill during the next two years. He said that he would recommend that all of those funds be spent on facilities.

Ultimately, as with the 2021-22 budget, that decision will be one made by the City Council.

The spending plan will take effect July 1 after review by the Budget Commission and the City Council.

Contact reporter James Day at jim.day@lee.net or 541-812-6116. Follow at Twitter.com/jameshday or gazettetimes.com/blogs/jim-day.

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Dr. Sami Al-AbdRabbuh has been a big advocate for Planned Parenthood. He believes women should have reproductive rights with regards to their bodies, just as men have reproductive rights to theirs.

Sami believes that women are intelligent enough to make their own choices about their bodies, and that the government should not be able to have control over a womans uterus. He is firm on this and other civil rights issues.

As Sami has been on the Corvallis School Board, he has supported the right policies, budget priorities and quality education for our children.

Most importantly the endorsements to reelect Sami speak volumes: Sen. Sara Gelser, Rep. Dan Rayfield, all Benton county commissioners, the Corvallis Education Association, Stand for Children, Corvallis Showing Up for Racial Justice, Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson and Corvallis City Councilor Ed Junkins, M.D.

With regards to equity, diversity and inclusion, Sami knows its important always to include people with disabilities, children, elders, folks who are homeless, LBGTQ+ folks, and people of different cultures and religions.
UK-based SDX Energy, a Mena-focused energy company, has announced the commencement of the first, three well, phase of its 2021 drilling campaign in Morocco, which will comprise up to five wells over the year.



Mark Reid, CEO of SDX, said: "I am pleased to announce that the Company has commenced its 2021 drilling activities of up to eleven wells across our portfolio of assets with the spud of the OYF-3 appraisal/development well in Morocco. This is the first of three wells to be drilled in the coming months with a further two planned for later in the year.



The objective of these wells is to add reserves to allow us to continue to deliver gas to our customers in line with their contractual requirements. The commencement of this campaign has been delayed by approximately one month due to covid-19 related travel restrictions delaying the mobilisation of equipment and personnel into Morocco.



We would particularly like to thank our partner ONHYM for providing invaluable assistance in enabling us to obtain the necessary Government authorisations to mobilise the equipment and people into the country to commence the campaign last week, he added.



The Company's Egyptian drilling activities are expected to commence in June with the first of four development wells in West Gharib and the start of our very exciting two well campaign in South Disouq where the second well, the Hanut-1X exploration well planned for mid-Q3, will be targeting gross unrisked mean recoverable volumes of 139bcf with a 33% chance of success.



I look forward to updating the market in the coming months on what is looking to be a very busy and exciting period of activity, Reid concluded.



Moroccan drilling campaign



This first phase of the Morocco drilling campaign will consist of three appraisal/development wells, which management estimates will target a total of 1.3 bcf of P90/1.8 bcf of P50, gross unrisked prospective recoverable resources, in its operated Gharb Basin acreage in Morocco (SDX: 75% working interest).



The first well, OYF-3, which spud on April 30, 2021, is targeting the Guebbas reservoir at approximately 1,160m. The second well, KSR-17, will target the Hoot reservoir at approximately 1,720 metres and the third well, KSR-18, is a dual target well, with the first in the Guebbas reservoir at 1,600m and the second in the Hoot reservoir at around 1,790 metres.



All three wells are looking to encounter shallow, biogenic gas accumulations near to the Company's existing infrastructure, thus enabling tie-ins to be completed quickly and at low cost. The Company will utilise the drilling rig that is already stacked in its yard in Morocco, thereby incurring minimal mobilisation cost.



The campaign is expected to complete in July 2021, at which point the Company will update the market on results, an SDX statement said.



The second phase of the Moroccan drilling campaign will commence in September/October 2021.  TradeArabia News Service




Recently the ghost town of Silver City, Idaho, has been making headlines for nonspecter but definitely spooky reasons. The off-the-grid city in Owyhee County (about two hours southwest of Boise) has been invaded by billions of the creepiest crawling things you may ever have the misfortune to see.
Kelly, chairman of MAC Leasing, a Michigan-based and minority-owned equipment lease financier, said students need three specific attributes to be successful.

Like a young eagle, to fly from the nest, you need the virtues or values of what I call the Three Cs: Confidence, Challenges and Character, said Kelly, who also holds an MBA from the University of Alabama. Always remember, the loudest cheers come from being in the most challenging situations where you need the most confidence. You must challenge yourself if you expect to grow. Auburn has challenged you, and you have risen to the occasion and demonstrated the work ethic and skills needed for success.

Remember, it is the wind in the face of the eagle that allows it to soar effortlessly higher beyond the risk of pesky burdens. Your character reflects what you value. It is the essence of being the Auburn Creed, by answering Who are you? and, most importantly, how you will contribute to the Auburn legacy.

Chairman of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineerings engineering council, Kelly urged students to appreciate their accomplishments, recognize what Auburn has given them and acknowledge the sacrifices they and their families have made to set the stage for them to excel.
The Houston County Commission moved a request to approve a donation of equipment to the Houston County EMS Association to its Mondays agenda at Thursdays meeting.

The commission previously approved a purchase of new no-touch chest compression and defibrillators and other accessories using funds from the Cares Act. Since the commission has been reimbursed it will now be transferring the equipment title to the EMS Association.

The commission also heard two privileges of the floor speakers today, including Jerry Dillard and Gary Knight, both longtime Houston County residents. Commission Chairman Mark Culver preceded both statements by saying the commission would hear the items presented and take them into consideration for future action if deemed necessary, but would not provide comment or discussion at that time.

Dillard spoke about alleged voting irregularities he experienced in the March 2020 primary elections. Dillard said he had concerns about having to vote at a different location than previous elections and possible ballot irregularities.
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According to Scholarship America, 70 percent of Dream Award scholars are the first in their families to attend college; 80 percent contribute financially to their families income; and nearly one-third serve as caregivers in addition to being students.

After the pandemic began in March of 2020, two days before she was set to leave on a study abroad trip to Belize, Blank found herself kicked out of her dorm and back in Enterprise. This began a long summer of constant movingeight moves total between Troy to be with her fiance, and multiple moves throughout Ohio to help family members during the height of the pandemic.

Like many all across the world, Blank has experienced loss and hardship throughout the past year. She has been working to get back to normal since accepting a position as a Resident Assistant and moving back on campus.

This year has been unfortunate all around, Blank said. Getting this scholarship and knowing I can take a breath of fresh air and relax a little bit knowing this will basically cover my junior and senior year is all I could have asked for.

Blank said she feels validated by receiving the Dream Award, in that all her endeavors and hardships, as awful as they are, have paid off in enabling her to create the life and future she wants.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a global leader in luxury hospitality, is making it easier to bring people together by combining in-person and virtual settings in a reimagined meetings and events offering.

Hybrid Meetings by Four Seasons combines creative design with the latest audio-visual technology, and an unwavering commitment to health and safety, to enrich every meeting with human connections wherever in the world attendees may be.

Four Seasons has long been a leader in creating unforgettable meetings and events, helping planners create customised, one-of-a-kind experiences that make lasting impressions on attendees. While the meetings and events landscape has changed as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Four Seasons remains more committed than ever to creating innovative and engaging meetings and events.

We have adapted to a world where we are connecting virtually more than ever before. Until we can gather safely again, we are creating ways to combine advanced technologies with a human approach that is distinctly Four Seasons, said Ben Trodd, Senior Vice President, Sales and Hotel Marketing. Time apart from colleagues, clients, friends and family has only reinforced the importance of meetings and events and the need to connect in meaningful ways. Hybrid Meetings offer the service excellence, innovation and creativity that Four Seasons is known for, while elevating the safety and care required to bring people together in the current environment.

Trodd added: While the format of these meetings and events may look slightly different, our ability to foster deep connections and create exceptional experiences for our clients and guests remains. Each event is brought to life through industry-leading technology, a focus on health and safety through Lead With Care, and by our incredible people who are dedicated to making each meeting and event spectacular.

A Trusted Partner, Every Step of the Way

Whether hosting an annual conference, delivering a keynote address to a large audience of clients and customers, celebrating a landmark anniversary, or simply working from a new setting, Four Seasons teams are ready to support throughout the planning journey, providing expertise on hosting a Hybrid Meeting and customising programming to address and overcome the needs and challenges of connecting in the age of Covid-19.

Four Seasons industry-leading technology solution partners form an integral part of the Hybrid Meetings planning process, providing personalised consultations and expert guidance, ensuring seamless meetings and events, no matter the format.

To immerse and engage attendees in the meeting or event, Four Seasons talented conference services and catering teams can craft unique experiences that will delight attendees, whether in-person or remote, from bespoke local activities to curated culinary surprises that are served on-cue across multiple global venues. Four Seasons offers elevated dining options created by award-winning chefs and mixologists, while maintaining the highest safety standards throughout preparation, presentation and packaging.

Planners and attendees can also take comfort that their wellbeing is the highest priority through Four Seasons enhanced global health and safety program, Lead With Care, which is implemented at every Four Seasons hotel, resort and residence worldwide, and is adhered to by all third-party vendors. Commonplace measures such as screening, increased sanitation, physical distancing and mandatory use of masks or face-coverings are in effect, while Four Seasons will also manage attendee flow, room set-ups and food and beverage experiences, suggesting outdoor venues wherever possible, to ensure heightened health and safety at every stage of the event.

Whether as a departure requirement, for added safety at in-person gatherings, or simply for peace of mind, all Four Seasons properties globally can facilitate access to Covid-19 testing for guests through a third-party provider. Property teams will work with planners to understand their specific needs and provide guidance and recommendations on end-to-end testing options and costs.

Trodd continued: Guided by leading healthcare experts, we ground all planning and decision-making in expertise and the latest knowledge and best-practices, while training our on-property teams not only about how to adhere to the strictest of protocols, but also why they matter.

Coming Together from Near and Far: About Hybrid Meetings

No matter the purpose or destination, Four Seasons can customise an array of Hybrid Meeting solutions to suit every unique need.

Organisations looking to deliver an important message can benefit from the multi-broadcast meeting solution, which provides a compelling and professional backdrop, stage and technology to engage audiences and bring the message to life. Perfect for keynotes and leadership addresses, this unique format takes speakers out from behind a desk to present in front of their global online audience. For example, Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto offers the first and only hotel-based Virtual Events Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area, equipped with an LED stage, allowing for studio-quality lighting, broadcast-quality cameras and audio, bespoke backdrops, a green room for presenters, and more.

For those able to meet in smaller gatherings, the innovative Hub & Spoke solution is thoughtfully designed to promote new ideas and spark global discussion, connecting several regional groups across multiple Four Seasons properties to create a single hybrid event, enabled by cutting-edge technology. One central Four Seasons contact will coordinate across multiple properties, providing a cohesive and consistent experience for attendees from anywhere in the world. With more than 100 Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the globe, each and every guest will enjoy Four Seasons signature service and quality excellence.

Guests can turn a luxury Four Seasons room or suite into a personal office, or enjoy spacious meeting rooms with small groups, creating a quiet space for video conferencing with wi-fi, AV support, and room service available at the touch of a button through the Four Seasons App and Chat.

Celebrations no longer need to be put on hold through the Gala to Go offering, helping to create a fundraiser, gala or other celebratory event, bringing together a small group of in-person attendees with a wider audience of friends, family, colleagues and loved ones joining remotely. Custom packages and onsite programming help create special moments of surprise and delight. For example, Four Seasons properties from Las Vegas to Langkawi are offering micro-wedding packages, providing options for intimate onsite celebrations, with added details such as custom cocktail kits, mini cupcakes, a wedding day agenda, spa products, and more delivered to those tuning in from afar.

Whether virtually or in-person, Four Seasons teams are ready to welcome back guests through Hybrid Meetings, bringing people together to strengthen connections and create memorable meeting and event experiences. With Global Meetings Industry Day (#GMID21) on April 8, 2021, Four Seasons celebrates the continued importance and resilience of the meetings and events industry. - TradeArabia News Service
Workers fix electric cables in the southern province of Bac Lieu. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyet Nhi.

The Vietnamese government has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to complete the 2021-2030 energy development plan and submit it by mid-June this year.

It has also tasked the ministry with evaluating more carefully the capability of the national grid to prevent the problem of energy oversupply and make needed changes to the proposed Power Development Master Plan VIII.

One example is that the plan proposes to have 167,000 megawatts of generation capacity nationwide by 2030 while maximum demand is projected at 86,500 megawatts, it said.

Commenting on the draft plan, national power utility, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), said that the large amount of planned renewable energy could pose challenges if grid infrastructure is not upgraded as well.

EVN has proposed that the plan provide more specifics on the ratio of electricity imports and the imports of liquefied natural gas and coal.

For its part, oil and gas giant Petrovietnam has proposed that the plan includes a large-scale planning for LNG plants and position them near existing ports.

The draft master plan projects a price tag of $320 billion for Vietnam to develop the countrys energy sector for the 2021-2045 period. It forecasts an average annual growth rate of 8.6 percent in 2021-2025 and 7.2 percent in 2026-2030.
A pack of ST25 rice is seen at a store in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The U.S. has published the application a company seeking to trademark the worlds best rice ST25 from Vietnam and awaits opposition from relevant parties.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 4 published the ST25 rice trademark on its official gazette for California-based I&T Enterprise, Inc.

Any party who believes it will be damaged by the registration of the mark may file a notice of opposition within 30 days from May 4.

The party can also request for an extension of time to 90 days to file the opposition. If there is no such request, a certificate of registration should be issued in 11 weeks from May 4.

Ho Quang Cua  the farmer scientist who led a team to develop the rice  and his sons company have filed a notice of opposition and at the same time registered the ST25 trademark to USPTO, said a spokesperson for law firm TDL which assists Cua in the case.

ST25 rice is the result of 25 years of work by Cua and his colleagues who cross-bred the premium fragrant rice of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, described as having a sweet taste and a hint of pineapple flavor.

In 2019, ST25 rice was named the winner of the World's Best Rice Contest in the Philippines, marking the first time a Vietnamese rice variety had won the title in the contests 11-year history.

At least six companies have registered to trademark the ST25 overseas, including five in the U.S. and one in Australia.
Early morning on March 7, 2019, Jacob Dang was woken up by a knock on the door of his house in Wyoming, Michigan.

Half asleep, he opened the door. There were a group of officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of them told him: "Come with us, we have enough papers to deport you to Vietnam."

In shock, Jacob numbly followed their orders, bidding to goodbye to his wife Kaylynn Dang, who was crying her heart out.

Two years in Vietnam, the deported man is still struggling to get along with a life that he has had little idea about, to deal with his worsening depression, and returning to the U.S. remains his ultimate goal.

Jacob, 30, a green card holder, has a Vietnamese name  Dang Thanh Trung. He was 10 when he came to the U.S. from Vietnam with his Vietnamese father, half Vietnamese mother and an elder brother.

In 2008 Jacob was sent to prison as a minor on an offense he doesn't want to dwell on.

He served his time, but was unexpectedly asked by ICE to return to jail for one more year while they decided if he "qualified" for deportation or not. Late 2011, the agency freed him, citing a lack of documents. However, Jacob had to drive more than 220 km (140 miles) from Grand Rapids to Detroit in Michigan every three or six months and meet with ICE officials for checking his status.

He couldn't apply for the United States citizenship because the minimum age for the test is 18, and after he got convicted at 17, he's not eligible for it any more.

Jacob said he strictly abided by all the orders he was given, but never imagined "that day" would really come.

"I was so scared. I deeply regret what I did. But I served my time. Now, being apart from my wife and our six dogs is hurtful. I have left them in anxiety," Jacob told VnExpress International.

In April 2019, the plane deporting Jacob landed in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Luckily, he could call his aunt from Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh Province to pick him up. He has his paternal grandmother and relatives living in the south central coastal town.

Sitting alone in a private house built by his parents in Quy Nhon, Jacob, is not able to figure out why his parents did not try to prevent his deportation, though they were on talking terms after a big fight.

He found it difficult to adjust to life in Vietnam. He can't read or write in Vietnamese. The weather was too hot, the food was strange, and Jacob did not know what to talk to his grandmother and cousins, because he had lived far away from them for a long time, he said.

He took refuge in talking on the phone to his wife of Spanish origin. They were friends for over 10 years before getting married in 2016.

Jacob Dang and Kaylynn, then his girlfriend, in Chicago in 2014. Photo courtesy of Jacob Dang.

Jacob and Kaylynn manage a private business that packaged over-the-counter medication. When the deportation happened, they decided to focus on getting him back to the U.S. So Jacob has not been looking for work in Vietnam and Kaylynn has been sending money to meet his living expenses.

Recalling the day Jacob was suddenly arrested by ICE officials, Kaylynn said she felt "her world was crumbling."

With her husband away, Kaylynn has been trying to do things on her own, but this has been difficult because the couple had been doing things together since she was 18. She had to start learning how to drive because she hadnt bothered to do so until Jacob was taken away.

"Doing things on my own is very hard, mentally," she said.

Kaylynn has also become used to staying in an "awake state" day and night so that her husband can contact her whenever he wants.

Besides, she worries about Jacob's health because he suffers from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and without medication he was receiving in the U.S., he struggles with everyday task. Jacob also suffers from chronic depression which can make getting out of bed unbearable some to most days.

Jacob and Kaylynn in their engagement party in Michigan, 2015. Photo courtesy of Jacob Dang.

In the first six months after Jacob's deportation, they could not figure out a possible plan for his return to the U.S despite trying constantly. It was only in summer 2020 that they got an idea of what should and could be done.

A Canadian lawyer suggested that they file a petition asking that his status be reconsidered. They are looking into the possibility of him going to Canada, where it is "much closer to the U.S." compared to Vietnam. Kaylynn could reach Canada from Michigan in two hours. In March 2021, Jacob and Kaylynn contacted a Southeast Asian nonprofit group in New Jersey for help but there is not much they can do.

So far, the legal process has not cost them much because there is major delay in the immigration system for both the U.S. and Canada for immigration cases like Jacob. However, since the attempt to get back "may take a couple of years,'' Kaylynn expects to spend around $15,000.

In case things get more difficult, Kaylynn plans to sell their house in Michigan and go to Mexico and see if they can meet there.

"I'm willing to leave everything behind here and meet him in another country."

The only thing she is worried about with such a move is she would have to live far away from her parents. While they are fully supportive of Jacob and Kaylynn, they are worried that she would struggle in a different place. She has never left the U.S.

For now, Jacob is waiting to see if a new bill called "New Way Forward Act" will be passed by President Biden's administration. The act was introduced by a group of Democratic representatives led by Rep. Jesus Garcia of Illinois in December 2019.

If it is passed, the bill could overturn the draconian immigration law, allowing people like Jacob to return to the U.S with "100 percent" surety, he said.

Over nearly two years in Vietnam, Jacob has been trying "new" things. He is learning to cook some Vietnamese dishes, going out to exercise and visiting relatives' houses to chat. However, he remains focused on his only goal.

"All I am trying to do is return to my wife in the U.S."
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot by AstraZeneca at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital, May 6, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long got a shot of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital Thursday morning.

Some health ministry workers were also vaccinated, and all are being monitored. Everyone is doing well so far.

Vietnam is expected to receive 1.6 million doses through global vaccine access mechanism Covax on May 10, Long said.

His ministry is considering adding groups like students and workers seeking to go abroad to work to the existing list of prioritized groups like frontline medical workers.

The vaccination campaign using the AstraZeneca shot has been going at a good rate, with 74 percent of the doses being given and the rest to be given "within the next few days," he said.

As of Thursday over 675,000 people in 48 cities and provinces have been vaccinated. Vietnam has received about a million doses so far, either through commercial contracts or Covax.

The country aims to secure 150 million doses to cover 70 percent of its population by next year.

It is experiencing its fourth wave which has seen 64 cases of community transmission since last week in Hanoi, Da Nang and HCMC and the provinces of Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Hai Duong, and Yen Bai.
Medical workers collect samples for Covid-19 testing at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport, May 6, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

Vietnam recorded 56 community transmission cases in nine cities and provinces Thursday night, including 40 linked to a locked down hospital in Hanoi.

Among the domestic cases, 20 were recorded in Hanoi, 12 in Bac Ninh, 11 in Vinh Phuc, five in Thai Binh, three in Da Nang, two in Hung Yen, and one each in Hai Duong, Lang Son and Quang Ngai.

Da Nang is in central Vietnam while the rest are in the north.

The Hanoi cases are patients, family members, a medical staff, and people who have come into contact with previous cases at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which has been put under lockdown after the frontline hospital for the Covid-19 fight became a coronavirus hotspot.

All the patiens in Bac Ninh are also all linked to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. They are either patients there with other diseases, family members of patients at the hospital or people who have had contact with such people.

In Thai Binh, the patients got infected from taking care of family members at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. They are now being treated at the Thai Binh Province General Hospital.

In Hung Yen, the two patients have come in contact with a coronavirus case at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. They are being treated at the same hospital.

The Lang Son case is a 26-year-old woman who had received treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

In Vinh Phuc, the patients aged 20-53 were associated with outbreaks at either a local health center or a karaoke parlor.

The Hai Duong case is a 32-year-old man who sought coronavirus tests after suffering from heavy coughing. Hes being treated at the Hai Duong Province Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

The Da Nang cases are two women, 25 and 56 years old, and a 61-year-old man.

The Quang Ngai case is a 26-year-old man linked to the outbreak at a bar in Da Nang.

Four imported cases were recorded in Thai Nguyen, Ha Tinh and Khanh Hoa.

Nationwide, Vietnam has recorded 120 Covid-19 community transmission cases since last week as a fourth coronavirus wave swept through the country. Cases have been recorded in 14 localities: Hanoi, Da Nang and HCMC and the provinces of Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Hai Duong, Yen Bai, Thai Binh, Bac Ninh, Lang Son and Quang Ngai.

The nation's infection tally is 3,090, including 2,560 recoveries.

Over 675,000 people in 48 localities have been vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Wednesday. Over 40,000 are in quarantine.
A volunteer receives a Nanocovax Covid-19 vaccine shot as part of its second phase of human trials in February 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Several countries have stated they would transfer technologies to Vietnam for Covid-19 vaccine production, Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health is still trying to secure more vaccine sources, he told a press meet Wednesday. Certain countries, for example Japan, have agreed to transfer Covid-19 vaccine production technologies to Vietnam, he added.

"I will visit Japan while the deputy minister Truong Quoc Cuong will go to Russia to negotiate over vaccines," Thuan said, without sharing specific schedule.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have also agreed to transfer technologies for vaccine production to Vietnam, and the ministry is set to discuss the matter further with WHO within this month.

Domestically developed Nanocovax by Nanogen, set to enter its third phase of human trials, may receive the health ministry approval halfway through this trial should Covid-19 resurface in Vietnam, Thuan indicated.

Late last month, it was announced Nanocovax would undergo its third phase of human trials from May 5 to the end of June, involving around 10,000 volunteers.

Thuan said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has further instructed the health ministry to deploy coronavirus prevention measures once "vaccine passports" go online.

"Some people believe vaccine passports should only be used once herd immunity is achieved by vaccination," Thuan noted, adding the ministry would inform the government on what should be an appropriate timeline to apply such passports.

Vietnam is currently experiencing its fourth wave that has seen 64 community transmissions since last week in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Hai Duong, and Yen Bai.

As of Thursday, over 675,000 people in 48 cities and provinces have been vaccinated. Vietnam has received about a million doses so far, either through commercial contracts or Covax.

The country aims to secure 150 million doses to cover 70 percent of its population by next year.
Medics arrive at a village in Hanoi on May 3 for mass testing of Covid-19. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

With an ongoing community outbreak in Vietnam, local authorities have come up with their own solutions to limit public gatherings.

Starting April 27, Vietnam has suffered a new Covid-19 community outbreak with different clusters from north to south. Previously, the nation had gone over a month without community infections.

By Thursday morning, 64 locally-transmitted cases have been recorded in 10 localities, including 27 in Hanoi and 14 each in northern Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc provinces.

Following those confirmed cases, different localities have now reported the first positive test results of people that had come into close contact with Covid-19 patients, prompting action.

Hanoi has called on its citizens to not go out unnecessarily or form large gatherings in public, even for exercising and other sporting activities.

The capital city and Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest metropolises, have since the end of last month closed karaoke and massage parlors, bars, and dance clubs, and suspended sporting events.

The same move to suspend such non-essential services has been applied by Da Nang City and Nghe An Province in the central region, as well as Lao Cai Province in the north.

Da Nang has recorded two Covid cases, HCMC one while Nghe An and Lao Cai have none.

Northern Thai Binh Province has applied social distancing across the region starting Thursday noon after five contracted the novel coronavirus. The social distancing model bans gatherings of over 20 people in a place and gatherings of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals. It also requires a minimum distance of two meters between people in public.

Northern province Bac Ninh, with six people testing positive Thursday, has also told its people not to go out if it is not necessary, and stopped all non-essential services while nearby Yen Bai Province has isolated a district of 6,100 residents after reporting five Covid patients.

By Thursday morning, 18 cities and provinces, including Hanoi and Da Nang, have let students stay home to study online. A few of them have planned to let students return to school next week but most have decided to maintain home-schooling until it is safe enough to resume class.

Ho Chi Minh City has planned to let its more than 1.7 million students from kindergarten to high school levels to stay home from next week, by pushing for the final school year exams to be finished this week, one to two weeks earlier then previous schedule.

All tourism services have been put on hold at top attractions in Quang Ninh, including Ha Long Bay, and in Quang Nam, home to Hoi An ancient town.

In a similar move, the northern port city of Hai Phong has decided to stop receiving visitors for now.
Talks in Vienna over a mutual return to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, are ongoing. Under the Trump administration, the United States exited the deal in 2018, reimposed sanctions on Iran, and added new ones. Since then, Iran has not upheld its own commitments under the deal, leaving the JCPOA in flux.

Now both Iran and the United States have expressed a shared objective of returning to mutual compliance with the terms of the JCPOA.

Chaired by the European Union, the current discussions on how to accomplish that goal include Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia, with indirect, but crucial, participation by the United States.

At a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price called the discussion businesslike and positive. He said, There has been some progress, but there remains a long road ahead. And I think its fair to say that we have more road ahead of us than we do in the rearview mirror.

The Joint Commission of the JCPOA, which oversees the talks, recently announced a third expert working group, to start looking into the possible sequencing of respective measures needed for the possible return of the US to the JCPOA and its full and effective implementation. The other two working groups are addressing sanctions lifting and Irans return to compliance with its nuclear commitments.

Spokesperson Price welcomed that announcement, noting that U.S. Special Envoy Robert Malley has been leading the U.S. delegation, exploring concrete approaches concerning the steps both Iran and the United States would need to take to return to mutual compliance.

Mr. Price made clear that as U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said recently in an interview, The United States is not going to lift sanctions unless we have clarity and confidence that Iran will fully return to compliance with its obligations under the deal, that it will put a lid on its nuclear program, that it will expand its breakout time, that it will reduce the level of enrichment and the scope of enrichment in its country.

Spokesperson Price declared, Compliance for compliance. That is what the team in Vienna is focused on right now.
Flag carrier Oman Air has signed a codeshare agreement with EgyptAir, the national carrier of Egypt.

The codeshare agreement on flights between Muscat and Cairo was signed as part of both airlines commitment to work toward a strong restart for air travel to overcome the effects of the spread of Covid-19 on the aviation sector and to expand their destination offering to customers.

The agreement means that guests on both airlines can now benefit from a wider choice of destinations in both countries, and beyondtravellers from Muscat have easy access to EgyptAir domestic destinations - Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan, and Hurghada, as well as Casablanca (Morocco) on the airlines international network; travellers from Cairo have easy access to popular Oman Air domestic destination Salalah as well as international destinations Karachi (Pakistan), Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Engineer Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer Oman Air said that the challenges facing all airlines since the onset of the pandemic have led to new strategic partnerships which ultimately create a stronger network ecosystem with more options for passengers. EgyptAir has a remarkable, long-standing history in the Mena region and enjoys a strong international presence as a Star Alliance member. The codeshare agreement with Oman Air offers guests from Muscat more options for discovering Egypt, whether for business or leisure, and plays a vital role in the travel restart endeavours of both airlines.

On the other hand, Pilot Amr Abu El-Enein, EgyptAir Holding Chairman & CEO, said that cooperation with partners is essential for sustainability during this critical period, therefore, signing this agreement between two partners with special attributes like EgyptAir & Oman Air will further add more benefits for both airlines customers. Captain Amr added, EgyptAir was the first airline in MENA to join IATA and our deep industry expertise has allowed us to successfully overcome many obstacles throughout our history.

Flights are currently available for booking. - TradeArabia News Service
Thankfully, in 2019, Senator Nicole Cannizzaro commissioned an actuarial study to look at Nevadas health insurance market and what could be done to insure Nevadans and to ensure we have access to healthcare. From that data and input from medical professionals and community leaders from across the state, Sen. Cannizzaro has produced SB 420; one of the most comprehensive and robust public health insurance plans in the country. And unlike so many ideas  whether they be Republican or Democratic  that come from other parts of the state, this is a great deal for rural Nevada that guarantees our families access to health insurance.

For the first time ever, Nevadans in rural areas of the state would be guaranteed access to affordable coverage through a statewide public option. This means providers and hospitals are also guaranteed reimbursement for residents enrolled in the Nevada Public Option; critically important because in 2020 alone, rural hospitals provided nearly $30 million in uncompensated care to Nevadans. That bad debt on hospital balance sheets has been crushing rural hospitals and its why weve seen so many rural providers forced to close their doors. Now, those hospitals well get compensated for the care they give.
We can see this at play almost anywhere we look today. It is in our common interest, for example, that as many people as possible be vaccinated against the coronavirus  thats the best way to protect everyone. But there are plenty of people who dont want to get vaccinated. Whether and how to respond is a topic of hot debate among businesses and state governments. Indeed, the entire course of the pandemic has laid bare the tension many people see between public health and individual rights.

Similarly, we can probably all agree that it is in the common interest that Americans be able to live up to their economic potential. But when you get down to brass tacks, as in the Biden administrations huge infrastructure package, pretty much every interest group in the country will be pushing its own interests  and couching them as for the common good. So who stands back to look at what actually is in the best overall interest of our nation and its long-term economic future?
Early in the pandemic, masks were politized in the United States. The implications of that politicization have cost lives and are still being felt more than a year later.

In recent weeks, many Republican-led states have opted to lift mask mandates. Eleven governors from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, used their executive power to lift the restriction.

In Kansas, the legislature repealed the mask mandate only hours after the Democratic Governor Laura Kelly had extended it through executive action.Utahs legislature also used its power to get rid of their mask mandate, and in Wisconsin, the order was struck down in the courts.

Regardless, in states where state-wide mandates are and are not in place, the landscape can be confusing. Some states who do not have state-wide mandates still could have local orders or business-specific rules. At the same time, states who have implemented mandates may have different requirements depending on age or vaccination status.

Which states do not have a state-wide mask mandate?

Of all fifty states and the District of Colombia, twenty-four statesdo not currently have state-wide mask mandates in place.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Many of these states do still encourage mask-wearing in public when surrounded by people outside of your household.

In some states, like Indiana there are indications that the lifting of the mask mandate may have contributed to an increase in cases. Before 6 April, Indiana had a state mandate for mask-wearing, which was then converted to a mask advisory. From 18 March to 6 April, the average number of new cases reported in Indiana was 890. From 12 April to 2 May, that average increased to more than 1100 new cases per day.

Limiting the power of local governments

Arizonas governor Doug Ducey used his executive authority to lift the states mask mandate on 25 March 2021. Also, he barred cities and counties from enforcing their mandates had they chosen to implement. Arizonas overall average number of new cases did not increase after the order was lifted, but the state added over 1,000 new cases for the first time since 12 March on 1 May. A similar law was passed in Arkansas, and beginning this summer, local governments will not have the power to enforce mask mandates covered under their jurisdiction.

Vaccine Passports -- Who is in favor and who is opposed?

Some states are thinking about developing vaccine passports better to control the flows of vaccinated versus unvaccinated people. Many Republican leaders have voiced their opposition to the idea, and Floridas state legislature passed a law this week that would outlaw their use in the state.

Only one state has implemented the use of a covid-19 passport, New York. The state government unveiled its Excelsior Pass last month. Once New Yorkers are vaccinated, they can participate in a voluntary program called the Excelsior Pass.

The Excelsior Pass supports a safe reopening of New York by providing a free, fast and secure way to present digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results. The pass is a mobile application available for free for both Apple and Android. The pass aims to help businesses reopen, and if in the case that testing or vaccination requirements exist, individuals have an easy way to show that they comply. Passholders should be advised that they will still need to follow State and CDC guidance regarding social distancing, face coverings, and hand hygiene.

Where are masks required?

In the following states, the governments have implemented a state-wide mandate. The mandates differ based on age and vaccination status.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia
When the American Rescue Plan was passed in March, it included several measures to help struggling American families. One of the measures that households began seeing immediately were the $1,400 stimulus checks of which around $386 billion worth have been distributed.

The $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief bill also includes an enhanced Child Tax Credit that will send parents monthly direct payments for each child 17 and younger they claim for tax purposes.

On 5 May, the IRS restated their intention to begin sending payments related to the enhanced child tax credit this summer, posting on the IRS website that "Advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit will be made regularly from July through December to eligible taxpayers who have a main home in the United States for more than half the year."

How will the child tax credit payments be made?

The exact specifics of how the payments will be made have yet to be announced by either the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the US Treasury. In testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, Commissioner Chuck Rettig stated that the IRS expects to have the online portal for the program up and running for the July launch. Soon thereafter the agency will begin sending families their payments. The IRS will automatically sign families up based on the information the agency has even if they didnt claim the credit when they filed.

Families who do not normally submit a tax return are encouraged to do so this year, to ensure the information the IRS has on hand is up to date. The IRS has urged families with children to "file their 2020 tax returns as soon as possible to make sure they're eligible for the appropriate amount of the CTC as well as any other tax credits they're eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)." The tax authority is also promoting use the use of electronically filing and direct deposit which "can speed refunds and future advance CTC payments."

Through the online portal families will be able to decide whether they wish to receive half the total credit as monthly payments and claim the remainder on their 2021 tax return, or if they wish to receive the lump sum as a tax refund, minus any taxes owed, when they file in 2022. Families will also be able to change their status as their economic or family situation changes.

How much is the 2021 Child Tax Credit?

The new system provides a refundable tax credit of $3,000 for children aged from 6 to 17 and $3,600 for children who are under the age of six for the 2021 fiscal year. During President Biden's first joint address to Congress, he unveiled his third major legislative proposal of the year, called the American Families Plan which extends the enhanced child tax credit through 2025.

In releasing the proposal, the White House touted that the "expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan benefited nearly 66 million children, and it was the single largest contributor to the plans historic reductions in child poverty."

Families could receive a payment of $300 per child under 6 and/or $250 per child under 18 per month. The legislation envisioned the payments starting in July and running through December covering half the credit. The remainder, $1,800/$1,500 per child, would be available to families as a rebate credit when they file their 2021 tax return in 2022.

Families with older children could benefit from a $500 tax credit. Dependents that are 18 years old and those between the age of 19 and 24 who attend college full time will qualify.

Who is eligible for the enhanced Child Tax Credit?

With the new changes for the 2021 fiscal year all families who have Social Security Numbers and are under the income eligibility threshold, regardless of whether they have income, will have access to the federal checks and the remainder of refundable credit when they file their 2021 income tax returns in 2022. This will allow those on unemployment to access the credit as well with the earnings floor removed. The enhanced child tax credit also includes 17-year-olds, who before were not eligible to claim as dependents.

Individuals will qualify for the enhanced Child Tax Credit if their annual earnings are below $75,000; or a joint income of up to $150,000 for married couples. If your earnings are above those limits, you will receive a reduced credit which gradually phases out and end for individuals earning $95,000 and married couples earning $170,000 filing jointly.
Headlines:

- IRS confirms payments for child tax credit are slated to begin this July (full story)

- IRS 2020 tax filing extended date of 17 May looming

- President Joe Biden on American Families Plan promotional tour, seeks bipartisan support

- IRS has yet to distribute around 4% of stimulus checks (full story)

- New batch of stimulus checks provides 585,000 additional plus-up payments, worth an estimated $1.2 billion

- 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)

- You can track your third stimulus check by using the IRS' Get My Payment tool

- US covid-19: 32.6 million cases / 579,410 deaths (live updates from JHU)

Check out some of our related articles:
Debris from a Chinese space craft is expected to come crashing back down to earth in the coming days as scientists scramble to pinpoint the expected location of the impact.

The 100ft-long piece of space junk is thought to be from a rocket used in the building of Chinas new Tianhe space station, which began construction last year.

The debris is currently orbiting the planet at a rate of roughly once every 90 minutes, giving it an average speed of about 17,324 mile per hour. The matter was fired into orbit using a 46,000-pound Chinese rocket, known as Long March-5B, but the rockets core has deviated from the planned path on its return to earth.

Where will the Chinese rocket land on earth?

The most recent projections from the Aerospace Corp suggests that the rocket will likely land in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday 8 May, at around 11pm Eastern Time. But with so many factors dictating the rockets dissent others have given a time range between Friday evening and Sunday night.

Currently the rockets orbit is covering a huge area and experts have been unable to pinpoint an exact landing spot. The European Space Agency believes that any debris that survives re-entering the earths atmosphere will land in a strip between 41 degrees north and 41 degrees south, a vast area covering southern Spain and Portugal, right down to parts of Australia.

However with such a vast area as a potential landing spot experts believe that there is little danger to human life, given that a fairly small proportion of the earths surface is habited. Roughly three-quarters is sea and the vast majority of land mass is not home to people.

What has the White House said about the Chinese rocket?

In response to the news the White House struck a cautious tone, calling for responsible space behaviours. Diplomatic ties with China will be a key focus of the Biden administration and with another ten similar trips expected to be undertaken by the Chinese space programme to complete the space station, this issue may rear its head again in future.

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, told reporters on Wednesday: The United States is committed to addressing the risks of growing congestion due to space debris and growing activity in space and we want to work with the international community to promote leadership and responsible space behaviours.

The US Defence Department has echoed the predictions made by the Aerospace Corp and believes that the debris will land some time on Saturday evening. However a statement from the Pentagon said that the landing location cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its re-entry.
On Wednesday the Biden administration confirmed that it would support the move to waive patents on covid-19 vaccinations in an effort to get the life-saving pharmaceuticals to developing nations.

A White House statement announced their intention to support a proposal made by India and South Africa last October, which has been promoted by 100 developing countries. In the statement, President Bidens Trade Representative Katherine Tai said "extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures".

If the proposal is adopted the World Trade Organization (WTO) would allow pharmaceutical companies around the world to develop their own versions of covid-19 vaccines without fear of legal action.

What happens next for the covid-19 vaccine waiver?

The United States announcement is perhaps the most notable voice in support of the proposal to date. But while the US is willing to ease the legal restrictions, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union have all opposed the initiative.

For now the US support makes no material difference and it is not until the WTO decides to adopt the patent waiver that any change will be seen. However the global trade body just acts on the wishes of its participant members, and if many major nations continue to oppose the waiver it is unlikely that it will be made law.

The main hope is that, now that the US is on board, the remaining opposition nations will be persuaded to compromise. There are reportedly around 100 of the WTOs 164 states in favour, and the matter will be discussed by a panel on intellectual property next month.

We do not yet know what a potential compromise could look like, but it is possible that moving forward there could be reduced restrictions on the manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccinations to aid emerging nations.

How will a patent waiver affect the vaccine effort?

The patent waiver will prevent other pharmaceutical manufacturers in other parts of the world from being taken to court for using a previously registered patent, but more will be needed to make a substantive difference to the global vaccination effort.

There have been growing calls for developed nations to share the knowledge and expertise that makes both vaccine development and rollout more efficient. Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at Yale University said that the waiver alone will not be enough.

This is a start, he told the New York Times. 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.

The 'tech transfer' refers to the dissemination of vital resources like information and personnel which would be vital to recreate the conditions that the US is benefitting from with their vaccine effort. However this would require a good deal more cooperation from the world's leading powers than a relatively simple patent waiver.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a rolling review of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, the EU's top drug regulator announced Tuesday, and experts said that once the vaccine is approved, China will further fulfill its international responsibilities as a major power and provide support to the international community in the pandemic fight.

Sinovac and another China-produced COVID-19 jab, Sinopharm, are also under WHO assessment for emergency use, and results are anticipated in a week.

The EMA said the decision on whether Sinovac can be marketed in Europe will be based on preliminary results from laboratory and clinical studies.

According to the EMA, a rolling review is to speed up the assessment of a promising medicine during a public health emergency, allowing data to be reviewed as they become available from ongoing studies. A specific timeframe for the review is not provided, but the EMA said the process should "take less time than normal."

Sources at Sinovac told the Global Times on Wednesday that since there are many COVID-19 vaccines awaiting EMA approval, the process is not expected to be completed soon. The previous four vaccines took two to three months to be approved after rolling reviews began.

The agency has ongoing rolling reviews of three other vaccines, Sputnik, CureVac and Novavax.

The EMA has previously approved four COVID-19 vaccines, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen. If approved, the Sinovac vaccine will be the first non-Western COVID-19 vaccine to receive marketing authorization in the EU.

In April, Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine received a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate from Hungarian authorities, the first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to receive such a certificate from an EU country and a step forward for Chinese vaccines to become a global public good.

Vaccine experts pointed out that the issuance greatly enhances the competitiveness of China-produced vaccines in Europe and the confidence of smaller European countries in Chinese vaccines given the uneven distribution of vaccines in Europe.

"With reference to this certificate, it is also more likely that the EMA will approve the Chinese vaccine market license more quickly," Tao Lina, a Shanghai-based vaccine expert told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Sinovac and Sinopharm are also under WHO assessment for emergency use, and the results are anticipated in early May.

According to data posted on the WHO website, the Sinopharm vaccine had an overall efficacy of 78.1 percent in multi-country Phase III trials and 78.7 percent efficacy in preventing hospitalization.

"No safety concerns identified from pre-clinical or repro/tox studies," the report summarized.

Although some critics have pointed out that the Sinopharm vaccine-related data released by the WHO is inadequate in terms of its effectiveness in the elderly, experts said this is a normal case for inactivated vaccines and deemed that the lack of data on the elderly group would not hinder the process.

In theory, the effect of inactivated vaccines on the elderly might be lower than that of other populations, experts noted to the Global Times.

"According to the Phase I and Phase II clinical data released by Sinovac and Sinopharm, which is also an inactivated vaccine, we can also see this trend," Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based doctor with expertise in immunology, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"That Sinopharm has not released sufficient data regarding the vaccines's effectiveness on the elderly does not mean that there are any problems with safety," Tao said.

Experts pointed out that after approval, a large number of vaccines can be provided to the COVAX program, the global platform that supports the research and development as well as manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine candidates co-led by the WHO. China officially joined COVAX in October 2020, playing a positive role in demonstrating the importance of international cooperation to the world.

China is already the world's largest supplier of vaccines, providing about half of the world's vaccines and more than 200 million doses to other countries. The Sinopharm vaccine has been authorized by 45 countries and jurisdictions for use in adults over 18, and more than 65 million doses have been administered through emergency use programs, while the Sinovac vaccine has been authorized by 32 countries and 260 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed to the public in domestic and overseas markets.

Experts said the expected approval of Chinese vaccines by the EU and the WHO will be a major boon for the world, especially for developing countries that are in dire need of vaccines, given that the US, another major vaccine supplier, refuses to assume international responsibility.

China is also further increasing its support to other regions. On April 27, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired a video conference with the participation of five foreign ministers from South Asia, expressing willingness to set up emergency supply reserves with South Asian countries in the fight against COVID-19. On Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Argentina announced that China will cooperate with Argentina in the production of Sinopharm vaccine, further expanding regional cooperation.
A tourist takes photos of an ice cream in the shape of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

China saw a total of 230 million domestic tourist trips during the five-day May Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Wednesday.

Tourism revenue reached 113.23 billion yuan (about 17.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 138.1 percent from last year, according to the ministry.

The May Day holiday lasts from May 1 to 5 this year.

Tourists visit Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped lake in Dunhuang City, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the site of the Zunyi Meeting, a watershed event in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Zunyi City of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 3, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Tao Liang)

Children learn the technique of porcelain carving in Mengzhuang Town of Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)

A martial artist performs in Suning County of Cangzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, May 2, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

In this aerial photo, tourists visit Qinhu Lake national wetland park in Taizhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 2, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Photo by Gu Jihong/Xinhua)

Tourists try transplanting rice seedlings at a scenic spot in Jiangjin District of southwest China's Chongqing, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Vehicles proceed slowly on the expressway around Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

[ Editor: WPY ]
https://flv1.gmw.cn/gma/20210506/20210506151144865_8677.mp4

China on Apr. 29, 2021 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.

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. (Beijing Time).

Tianhe will act as the management and control hub of the space station Tiangong. The station will operate in the low-Earth orbit at an altitude from 340 km to 450 km, able to support six astronauts at most at the same time.It is the largest spacecraft developed by China.

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.

In 1992, China started the manned space program with a three-step strategy.

The first step was to send astronauts into space and return safely.

The second step was to test key technologies needed for a permanent space station, including extra-vehicular activity, orbital docking, and in-orbit propellant refueling.

The third step is to assemble and operate a permanently crewed space station.

It will mark a new high in China's space technology.

[ Editor: WXY]
The Indian Company Limited (IHCL), part of the Tata Group, continues to stand by the Indian community in the fight against the pandemic, establishing quarantine facilities in collaboration with Partner Hospitals at select Taj, Vivanta and Ginger branded hotels across the country.

A total of 11 hotels are involved, with a total room count of over 5,000 in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai and Pantnagar. Available for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients, these rooms are offered at the sole discretion of the partner hospital, who provide an on-site doctor and nurse to monitor vital parameters.

As we speak, we are making available around 900 MT of oxygen per day, that is Tata Steel alone. Our people in Tata Steel identified that the bottleneck is in transportation. We need special cryogenic containers. India doesnt have it. So, one just has to find then outside and get them airlifted."

"We have identified and are under process to bring almost about 60 such containers. About 14 of them have already come in, and there are more on the way. In this, we are working with our partners like Linde with whom we have a very good relationship," Tata Sons President Infrastructure, Defence & Aerospace and Global Corporate affairs, Banmali Agrawala told PTI.

Sunil Sinha, Tatas Resident Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:  As one of Indias oldest conglomerates, it is our duty to strongly stand by our community in this incredibly challenging time. I am grateful that the Tata Groups companies are in a position to provide such vital aid across a range of sectors, from hotel beds to the provision of liquid oxygen and the transportation of medical supplies including vaccines.

The solidarity show across the MENA region has also been remarkable. I am confident that the continued concerted action from governments and businesses will help restore India to a healthy and prosperous nation.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis challenging the Indian population, Tata group companies have put tremendous efforts to set up Covid critical care infrastructure by pooling funds and resources to set up thousands of hospital beds, arranging oxygen and training healthcare staff.

Group companies such as Tata Steel, Tata AutoComp Systems, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata International, Voltas and Tata Projects are consolidating efforts for Covid-19 relief efforts. Some of these companies already helped in procuring life-saving equipment after the pandemic started last year.

Some other recent initiatives undertaken by the Group include:

 Import of 60 cryogenic containers to supplement critical supply of liquid medical oxygen

 The provision of 900 tonnes of oxygen by Tata Steel on a daily basis from its steel plants

 The setup of 450 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) or on-site oxygen generator units by Tata Advanced Systems for the government of India

 Offering free of cost flights for medical staff of government organisations on Covid duty and also for transporting medical supplies, PPE kits, vaccines, etc.

 Supporting vaccination drive for all its stakeholders - TradeArabia News Service
CHICAGO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- University of Michigan (UM) alumnus William Weese recently gave a gift of art and endowment with a combined value of around 5 million dollars to UM Museum of Art (UMMA).

Part of the gift Weese gave to UMMA, which is valued at 3.35 million dollars, are more than 1,000 ceramics and decorative arts from China's Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties, with some pieces dating back to as early as 3,000 BC.

Another part of the gift is a 1.7-million-dollar William C. Weese MD Endowment for Ceramic Arts, which is aimed to "develop, promote and implement programs to further the education, appreciation and understanding of ceramic arts."

"I have been studying and collecting Chinese art and ceramics since the early 1980s-the craftsmanship and history of the works has fascinated me my entire life," Weese said. "My goal in gifting this collection to the University of Michigan is both to preserve it for generations to come, but also to help foster that same love and passion for the exploration of technique and history that I've developed over the years. I hope students embrace this love. I hope the community comes out to see it as well."

Having works of art that span such a vast time period will allow the museum not only to tell the progression of techniques, trends and tastes in Chinese ceramics, but how those trends and techniques filtered into the broader, more global ceramic arts scene, UM exclaimed in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Weese family for their generosity," said Natsu Oyobe, curator of Asian art at UMMA. "I just know that the passion and love they felt for these pieces will continue to live on at UMMA and inspire a new generation of interest and scholarship for ceramics."

The gift will greatly strengthen UMMA's place as a leader in ceramic arts and continue to build its nationally renowned collection of Asian art, Oyobe added.

Select pieces from the Weese's collection will be on exhibit at UMMA as early as fall 2021. Enditem

[ Editor: JYZ ]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains in negotiations with Ukraine and expects more progress for the allocation of the second tranche under the Stand-By Arrangement.

At a traditional briefing in Washington on Thursday, IMF Spokesperson Gerry Rice said that the talks continue.

He recalled that among the main topics are the preservation of the independence of the National Bank and the continuation of the flexible exchange rate policy, medium-term fiscal stability, the fight against corruption and improvement of corporate governance.

On June 9, 2020, the IMF approved a new 18-month Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine for SDR 3.6 billion (about $5 billion) with an immediate allocation of $2.1 billion of the first tranche.

After the allocation of the first tranche, four revisions of the Stand-By Arrangement were planned: following the results of June, September and December of this year, as well as June 2021  with the completion of these revisions, respectively, on September 1 and December 1 of this year and on May 15 and October 15 of the next one. The amount of the second and third tranches  $700 million, the third  $560 million and the final fourth  $980 million. It was assumed that the virtual mission for the first revision of the Stand-By Arrangement would work from July 13 to July 23, but this plan was breached.

The virtual mission on the first revision of the Stand-By Arrangement, which started from the end of 2020, ended in mid-February without recommending the allocation of the second tranche, and IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman announced the need for additional discussions and more progress on the part of Ukraine.

According to Interfax-Ukraine, in particular, the adoption of the law on the High Council of Justice and the removal of IMF fears regarding interference with the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) remain among the problematic issues. For a positive result, it is also necessary to adopt new amendments to the law on the National Bank already submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, as well as greater clarity regarding budget plans for 2022 and the audit of the COVID-19 fund.

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko expects to receive the second tranche in September this year, and the Servant of the People party expects to adopt all the laws necessary for this in May.
Over the past day, May 5, Russian-occupation foces in Donbas opened fire 19 times at Ukrainian positions, as a result of which two servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were wounded. From the beginning of the current day, one shelling of the enemy was recorded, the press center of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) headquarters said.

"Over the past day, on May 5, some 19 ceasefire violations were recorded in the area of the Joint Force Operation [...] As a result of enemy shelling, two Ukrainian defenders were wounded. The soldiers were promptly provided first aid and evacuated to a hospital. The health of the defenders is satisfactory," the headquarters said in the statement on Thursday morning.

The Ukrainian servicemen said the enemy opened fire using hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms, 152 and 122 caliber artillery mounts, 120 and 82 caliber mortars and grenade launchers of various systems.

It is also noted that at Novozvanivka, the enemy used anti-tank missile systems and anti-tank grenade launchers.

"The servicemen of the Joint Forces opened fire on the shelling of the invaders," the JFO said.

"As of 07:00 on May 6, one violation of the ceasefire regime was recorded. Near the settlement of Novhorodske, the enemy opened fire from 82-caliber mortars. Our defenders opened fire on the enemy shelling," the headquarters said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Kyiv.

"Wheels down in Kyiv as we look to strengthen the U.S.-Ukrainian partnership. This will be an important opportunity to discuss continued Russian aggression and to underscore the need for maintaining both the pace of and focus on reforms with our Ukrainian partners," Blinken said on his Twitter on Thursday night.

The plane landed at the Boryspil international airport at about 00:20 Kyiv time.

As reported, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba; Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal; other officials and representatives of Ukrainian civil society to reaffirm the U.S. unshakable support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.
By June 1, the Verkhovna Rada will adopt all the necessary laws to continue cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia said.

"June 1 is the deadline for us. Both the government, the parliament, and the President's Office intend to adhere to this date," the Servant of the People quoted Arakhamia as saying on its website on Thursday, citing Reuters.

The head of the faction explained that he was talking about the adoption of a law [at the second reading and in the whole] on the criminal punishment of officials for providing false information in declarations, on amending the law on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. According to him, the parliament also plans to amend the law on the National Bank to strengthen its independence.

As reported, on February 13, 2021, Goesta Ljungman, the IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine, announced the completion of the mission on the first review of the Stand-By Arrangement, which had lasted since the end of 2020, without recommendations on the issue of the second tranche. According to him, additional discussions and more progress on the part of Ukraine are needed.
During the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba plans to discuss with the official a list of military support.

In particular, the Ukrainian side will request air defense systems and anti-sniper technology, Kuleba said in an interview with CNN released Wednesday.

"I want to make it clear that it is not only about receiving it from the United States, but also about buying it from the United States. We want this partnership to work in both ways. It should be mutually beneficial," the minister said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that the purpose of his visit to Ukraine is to confirm partnership and cooperation between the countries.

At a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Thursday, Blinken said that he is am happy to return to Ukraine again and he is here for a very simple reason to represent President Joe Biden. According to the Secretary they want to reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Ukraine, as well as the U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, to show their dedication to working with Ukraine while it strengthen its democracy, build institutions and fight corruption.

After the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Blinken, together with Kuleba and Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, approached the wall of memory of the heroes of Ukraine who died in the struggle for the country's independence, and honored their memory.

Earlier on Thursday, Blinken also met with Ukrainian MPs.
Police in the Spanish city of Pusol (Valencia province) detained a wanted person in Ukraine for killing two police officers during protests in Kyiv in 2013.

"Agents of the National Police arrested a fugitive in the city of Pusol (Valencia), he is on the international wanted list of the Ukrainian authorities, on charges of killing two police officers during the protests in Kyiv in 2013," the Spanish police said in a statement on the website.

According to Spanish police, the man was hiding from law enforcement in a hut in the remote countryside of Pusol.

Interfax-Ukraine has not yet been able to obtain official information on this matter from the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. At the same time, the sources of the agency confirmed the fact of the detention of a Kharkiv resident Dmytro Lypovy in Spain.

Ukrainian journalist, editor-in-chief of the Internet publication "Censor.NET" Yuriy Butusov wrote on his Facebook page that on March 31, 2020, Pechersky District Court of Kyiv decided to arrest Lypovy. "This decision is illegal, since it directly contradicts the law on amnesty for protesters on the Maidan," he said, adding that the request for Lypovy's extradition from the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) was also illegally executed.

"I ask Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova to understand the situation and prevent the execution of the illegal decision on the detention and extradition of Dmytro Lypovy, as well as to challenge the decision of Pechersky court and cancel the absurd prosecution of the participants in the Revolution. If Lypovy is brought to Ukraine as a criminal, this will disgrace the state and call a large-scale protest action," the journalist wrote.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine from the United States and the G7 countries.

At a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, Blinken said that the United States supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. The Secretary of State is very pleased that this position is shared by all the members of the G7, from which he just returned from London.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meaningful and believes that 2021 will be fundamental for relations between Ukraine and the United States.

"In general, the meeting is meaningful, and we believe that this will be a fundamental year in relations between Ukraine and the United States," Zelensky said at a general press conference with Blinken on May 6.

He also said he had already invited the President and Vice President of the United States to the Crimean Platform summit.

"I am impressed that the American side is well versed in what is happening in our country, knows all the details, the situation in Donbas. I am grateful that we are supported and not only in words our sovereignty, our territorial integrity. Frankly speaking, many steps have been taken to stop the escalation that was recently along our borders, it could have occurred from temporarily occupied Donbas and our temporarily occupied Crimea peninsula," Zelensky said.
The successful face-to-face gathering of more than 370 delegates ahead of Expo 2020s opening in October shows the next World Expo is set to become one of Dubais greatest success stories. It will be a global experience that will demonstrate the emirates confidence, safety and openness to all visitors and further boost its thriving leisure and business tourism industries.

Speaking after the two-day International Participants Meeting (IPM), which welcomed delegates from 173 of Expos 190-plus participating countries, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai and Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and member of the Higher Committee of Expo 2020 praised Dubais confidence and vision and its unwavering commitment to host the next World Expo, with Expo and DTCM working closely to create an Expo that would excite and inspire visitors from all around the world.

Al Hashimy, said: Since the planning stages, we have worked hand-in-hand with DTCM to deliver an Expo that will attract visitors from across the planet and make Dubai and the UAE proud. As the world changed, we too have adapted, and thanks to our collaboration with DTCM, we have created an Expo that will delight and inspire explorers and entrepreneurs, children and grandparents, casual tourists and the curious who want to experience the future  now.

Al Marri said: Since inception, Dubai has exemplified what it means to succeed against all odds, rising with dignity and determination to become an economic engine and a vibrant hub for travellers from all over the world. Setting new benchmarks is engrained in our ethos, and to this end, we see Expo 2020 Dubai as a global pivot given where we all are today.

No one could have anticipated how Covid-19 would alter our realities so definitively, and yet, like the rest of the world, Dubai and Expo 2020 paused, reflected and persevered through unprecedented challenges, with our innate indomitable spirit, to re-emerge stronger and more optimistic for our collective future.

Implementing a phased economic reopening, Dubai began welcoming tourists once again in July 2020  when the citys first in-person, post-lockdown event was held  and has since remained open to the world, reinforcing the renewed need for global business and leisure travel.

He added: Dubai has successfully deployed its phased economic reopening that prioritised safety while minimising the impacts of the pandemic  an approach that sees us well-positioned to lead a post-pandemic recovery. As a thriving tourist destination and a global centre for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, we look forward to welcoming more of the worlds business and leisure travellers to Dubai over the coming months.

The new Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai, which hosted its inaugural event at the recent meeting of Expos international participants, will be a signature venue during Expo 2020 and through its legacy, providing new-age connectivity and networking opportunities for a global audience, catalysing industry, business and markets and driving economic growth in our region and the world.

Testament to Dubais future-focused strategies, Expo 2020 Dubai will galvanise the regions thriving tourism and events industries, and DEC  a 45,000 sqm, state-of-the-art, multipurpose venue that is already 80 per cent booked for the duration of Expo  will play a fundamental role in attracting domestic, international and business travellers.

A significant symbol of Expos long-term business and tourism legacy, DEC is among the permanent buildings that will be retained after Expo 2020 closes its doors, forming part of District 2020, a new urban innovation ecosystem and model global community of the future.

Running from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, Expo 2020 will coincide with the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the UAE, and highlight the countrys role as a global connecting hub for people, ideas and innovation. Visitors from across the globe are invited to join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet. -- TradeArabia News Service
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited U.S. President Joe Biden to pay an official visit to Ukraine.

"I have invited the president and the vice president of the United States to pay a visit this year, which is fundamental to Ukrainians as the year of the 30th anniversary of independent Ukraine and which will see our important Crimean Platform, the first venue addressing assistance to Crimea and de-occupation of our peninsula. We have no doubt the United States will be together with us and will pay official and unofficial visits this year, which is so symbolic to Ukraine," Zelensky said at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kyiv on Thursday.
The Ukrainian people want to see not only the adoption of laws, but also their implementation, which includes the fight against corruption, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

At a press conference after the talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, Blinken said that laws are very important, but their implementation is no less important, and what the United States have heard is that the Ukrainian people want to see not only the adoption of laws, but also their implementation, which also includes the fight against corruption.

He said that he discussed in detail with the Ukrainian president the issue of reforms and how important they are.

The Secretary of State said that Ukraine faces two challenges. One is external  from Russia. There is also a threat from within, this is corruption, oligarchs and other persons who put their interests above the interests of the Ukrainian people. These two elements are interconnected, because Russia also uses corruption and persons who will help it advance its interests against the interests of the Ukrainian people, Blinken said.

According to him, in this context, he and Zelensky spoke about the importance of continuing to work towards corporate governance.

Blinken also said this issue is extremely important, in particular with regard to Naftogaz, but not only to Naftogaz. This concerns the main institutions. He talked with Ukrainian president about the importance of a strong and independent anti-corruption council, as well as about the reforms of the judiciary, how judges are elected. They discussed the work that the Verkhovna Rada carried out on the reform of the States Security Service. The first reading of the law has already passed. As the president said, it is very important to understand that significant challenges remain. According to Blinken, there is also significant progress in land reform. This is a very important issue, a new law, which concerns illegal income, the new law on parliamentary immunity is all very important.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak said that during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the U.S. side fully supported Ukraine's receipt of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).

"Today we received another confirmation of full support for Ukraine's possible receipt of NATO Membership Action Plan. It is worth noting that there are many participants in the North Atlantic Alliance besides the United States, so the work continues. The United States is our strategic partner and fully supports our entry into NATO," Yermak told Interfax-Ukraine, following a joint briefing by the U.S. Secretary of State and the President of Ukraine.

At the same time, according to the head of the President's Office, there is no confirmation of Zelensky's participation in the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14.

"Currently, there is no confirmation of the participation of the President of Ukraine in the NATO summit, which will take place in Brussels on June 14, within the framework of which it is planned to discuss Ukraine's receipt of an Action Plan for joining the North Atlantic Alliance," he said.

In addition, at the meeting, Blinken and Zelensky discussed in detail the issue of building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, Yermak said. "There are specifics. It consists in full support from the U.S. of Ukrainian interests regarding Nord Stream 2. The United States is categorically against its construction," he said.

The President's Office head also said the Ukrainian and U.S. sides discussed at the meeting the issue of strengthening cooperation in the Black Sea. "This issue has been discussed and is being discussed. We are considering various forms of our cooperation, including geopolitical and military ones. More specific details may become known to the public, I hope, soon," Yermak said.
There are more Russian troops at Ukraine's borders now than during first escalation, Alliance must be vigilant  NATO Secretary General

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Russia has now concentrated more troops at the border with Ukraine and in the occupied territories than it was initially during the recent escalation, forcing the Alliance to closely monitor the situation.

He said this on Thursday in Brussels before participating in a meeting of the defense ministers of the EU member states, which will be held in Brussels under the chairmanship of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

"We have seen some reduction in the number of Russian troops, but tens of thousands remain, and we are also seeing that Russia has kept a lot of weapons [] and equipment, and they're also imposing restrictions in the Black Sea, including restricting access to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, and therefore NATO needs to stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments. Overall, there is a significant Russian presence, and there are many more Russian troops now, in and around Ukraine, than before the recent increase in tensions," Stoltenberg said.

The Alliance Secretary General noted that the pattern of "aggressive Russian behaviour, from dangerous intelligence operations in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, but also the significant military build-up in and around Ukraine" will be the subject of discussion at this meeting.
The Venice Commission's conclusion on the bill on the High Council of Justice (HCJ) will pave the way for the establishment of a selection procedure for the High Qualification Commission of Judges, as well as guide ongoing discussions on reforming the High Council of Judges and a new law on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas has said.

"This very important opinion hopefully paves the way to establishing the selection procedure for the High Qualification Commission of Judges [draft law 3711-d] and also gives direction to the ongoing discussions on reforming the High Council of Judges and on the new NABU law," Maasikas said on Twitter on Thursday.

The Ambassador pointed out that the conclusion on the (temporary) participation of international experts in the selection bodies is especially important. "Venice Commission [...] considers it necessary that, following a repeat vote, the vote of the group with at least two votes by international experts should prevail. This is not only important to establish trust in the Ukraine's judiciary, but it is also acceptable from the viewpoint of national sovereignty [...] the current members of the HCJ [...] would only be suspended and the decision on dismissal would remain with the appointing body," the Ambassador quoted the text of the Venice Commission's conclusion.

He also cited a fragment of the conclusion that all decisions of the Ethics Council, both concerning candidates and current members of the HCJ, can be appealed to the Supreme Court. Therefore, the final decision remains with a national body in all cases, the diplomat added.

"Following this advice would give certainty also to international partners like the EU and others who will be invited to propose experts," Maasikas said.
Blinken assures U.S. will not negotiate with anyone about Ukraine without it  Kuleba

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised that the United States will not negotiate with anyone regarding Ukraine without it, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"He [Blinken] said a very important thing that Ukraine should never doubt the United States, and that the United States will never negotiate with anyone about Ukraine without Ukraine," Kuleba said in a Facebook video message on Thursday.

He said that the promise not to do so was aired very clearly by the Secretary of State.

According to Kuleba, in turn he told Blinken that Russian aggression against Ukraine would fail and end only after Moscow clearly realizes that the collective West perceives Ukraine as an integral part of it.

"Not as a balance, not as something in the middle between the West and Russia, not as a part that broke away from the 'Russian world,' or there are such popular concepts as 'a bridge between Russia and the West,' or, as some say, 'a buffer between Russia and the West'. Only a clear signal to Moscow that Ukraine is part of the West, an integral part of the democratic world  this will be the beginning of the end of Russian aggression against Ukraine," Kuleba said.
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved today a $200 million project to support the Government of Ukraine's efforts to strengthen efficiency, quality, and transparency of the countrys higher education system.

"The project  Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results  will help boost the quality of the higher education sector, as well as its relevance to labor market needs, while also promoting resilience and continuity of learning in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic," the WB's press release says.

According to it, the project will finance investments in the modernization of teaching and research facilities and digital learning infrastructure of higher education institutions (HEIs) to ensure learning continuity through remote learning modalities and to support resilience and change management over the longer term. It will also support the development of modern digital infrastructure for distance learning and creation of advanced teaching and research laboratories and learning support facilities. Another objective of this project is to improve transparency of Ukraines education sector through modernization of the Higher Education Management Information System and establishment of a National Student Survey and unified information system on competitive research funding of HEIs.

"As Ukraine recovers from the pandemic, we also strongly support Ukraine's higher education system in its efforts to be better technically and digitally equipped for providing learning in the post-COVID-19 world," Arup Banerji, World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe, is quoted in the press release.

The Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project will be implemented over a five-year period by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES) of Ukraine. The MOES will have overall responsibility for project coordination and monitoring of the implementation progress.

The project documents indicate that the network of 231 state higher education institutions (there are 327 higher education institutions in Ukraine) is too large and ineffective given the shrinking population and creates problems for both financial sustainability and the quality of services. About 60% of academic higher education institutions have less than 5,000 students. There are also more than 300 state colleges and technical schools in Ukraine, with an average of 550 students. Most universities and colleges/technical schools (about 75%) are legally subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science.

The World Bank's current investment project portfolio in Ukraine amounts to just over $3 billion, in nine ongoing investment projects and one Program for Results operation, and is expected to grow to around $3.6 billion over the next two months. The investments support improvements in basic public services that directly benefit ordinary people in areas such as water supply, sanitation, heating, power, energy efficiency, roads, social protection and healthcare, as well as private sector development.

Since Ukraine joined the World Bank in 1992, the Bank's commitments to the country have totaled approximately $13 billion in about 70 projects and programs.
Ukrainian Startup Fund to finance startups to receive grants of $25,000, $50,000

The Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF), based on the results of the 23rd and 24th Pitch Days, has identified another 13 startups that will receive grants totaling $425,000, the fund's press service said on Thursday.

Teams of 24 projects took part in the pitching. Following the meeting of the fund's supervisory board, it was decided to finance nine of them at the pre-seed stage (they will receive a grant of $25,000):

GeronCore - a living heart (Kyiv) - a new generation of cardio implants for children with congenital heart ailments;

AGRO BI (Kyiv) - Business intelligence platform for managing risks and increasing yields in agribusiness, providing information on plant growth and the presence of weeds based on high-precision aerial photography by drones and using its own neural networks;

Harmix (Kyiv) - an intelligent service that automatically selects music for video;

Erudito (Kharkiv) - a mobile application for teaching children school subjects in a playful manner;

Ademrius (Lviv) - a web platform for automating the work of medical institutions through the introduction of online appointments with a doctor and an electronic patient history;

Librarius (Kyiv) - a mobile application for the selection, purchase, rent and free reading of literature in electronic and audio formats;

Artera (Kyiv) - marker pen that can write or draw in any color;

Supplio (Kyiv) - integrates cosmetics suppliers with their customers, thus providing automated order management based on actual inventory;

AutoBI (Kyiv, Lviv) - a system for the automotive and related areas for setting up and optimizing fleet of vehicles management processes.

In addition, it was decided to finance four startups at the seed stage (they will receive a grant of $50,000):

Effa (Kyiv) - environmentally friendly disposable hygiene products made from 100% recyclable and renewable materials;

CareTech.Human (Kyiv) - an automated, non-invasive and affordable solution for daily health screening, early detection and monitoring of diabetes;

SmartReader (Rivne) - classes on speed reading and memory development for children 6-16 years old using a gamified online platform;

Fiway (Kharkiv) - Internet for transport, which works in any country in the world.

The press service recalled that during the pitching, projects are evaluated according to a number of criteria, namely: team, market, appropriateness of financing, idea and development strategy.

As reported, on average, the Ukrainian Startup Fund allocates funding for every 25th application.

Ukrainian Startup Fund is a state fund created at the initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers. Its purpose is to provide financing to technology companies in the early stages of development (pre-seed and seed).
6 May 2021 - The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has provided a EUR 15 million loan for the Midia Gas Development Project (MGD) to develop the Ana and Doina gas fields offshore Romania. The loan is provided to three Romanian companies, namely Black Sea Oil & Gas S.A., Petro Ventures Resources S.R.L and Gas Plus Dacia S.R.L.

The BSTDB financing for the MGD Project is part of an existing financial package put together by international and domestic banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale, Banca Comerciala Romana, Raiffeisen Bank International and BRD Group Societe Generale.

Being the first gas production facility in the Romanian Black Sea offshore built after 1989, the project will diversify the sources of gas supply in the country.

We are glad to be associated with this project helping Romania tap its offshore reserves to promote more environmentally friendly solutions and enhance its competitive physical infrastructure. We hope our loan will create business opportunities for local entrepreneurs and provide long-term revenue flow for the country., said Dmitry Pankin, BSTDB President.

Black Sea Oil & Gas SA is a Romanian based independent oil and gas company, targeting exploration and development of gas resources. Current portfolio is made up of XV Midia Shallow Block concession (the "Concession") in the Romanian Black Sea where it is the operator and holds a 70% interest.

Gas Plus is the 4th largest producer of natural gas in Italy active in the main sectors of natural gas industry (e.g. exploration, production, purchase, distribution, sale to retail customers); holds 10% interest in the Concession.

Petro Ventures a private investment group, holds 20% interest in the Concession.
The Youth Union of Long An Province also sent 30,000 medical masks, 2,500 litres of antiseptic sanitizer and four antiseptic sprayers to the youth unions of Svay Rieng and Prey Veng.

In addition, the Peoples Committee of Long An Province presented 400 gifts, including rice and instant noodles, to Vietnamese Khmer in the two provinces.

* The Vietnamese community in Laos has joined hands with Lao authorities to overcome the current COVID-19 outbreak by raising fund and donating cash, necessities and medical supplies to the country.

On May 3, LaoVietBank, a joint venture between the two countries' banks, has presented the Health Ministry of Laos with medical supplies worth more than 100 million kip (over US$10,000).

Branches of LaoVietBank in Laos provinces such as Oudomxay, Champasack, Savannakhet and others have also launched donation programmes aiming to donate medical equipment and food to local people in these provinces.

* Star Telecom (Unitel), a joint venture of Viettel in Laos presented the Lao Government with over 5 billion kip (nearly US$538.000) in cash along with technology solutions to improve the efficiency of COVID-19 prevention and control.

Unitel also assisted Laos Health Ministry in operating a national vaccination information system worth more than US$200,000.

In addition, the company transferred over 500 million kip to the Lao Ministry of Health's steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control and over 1 billion kip to the bank accounts of frontline medical staff in the capital city of Vientiane and the provinces of Champasak and Luang Prabang.

Venerable Thich Minh Quang and Buddhist dignitaries and followers in Phat Tich Pagoda in Laos as well as the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane provided free meals in some charity facilities in Vientiane.

* The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City announced on May 5 that it will spend VND2.5 billion (over US$108,000) from its COVID-19 prevention and control fund to support Vietnamese people in Cambodia and Laos who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About VND1.5 billion will be sent to Vietnamese Cambodians and disadvantaged people in Cambodia and VND1 billion be sent to Vietnamese expats and Lao people.

Ho Chi Minh City previously handed over VND1.6 billion to Cambodia to assist the country in dealing with the pandemic.
UNWTO has served as tourisms global voice as the Tourism Ministers of the G20 nations met to devise a way forward for an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery for the sector.

Upon assuming Presidency of the G20, Italy has drawn on UNWTO data to highlight the impact the pandemic has had on tourist numbers globally and how this translates into lost jobs and revenues, as well as lost opportunities for social development.

Addressing the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, stressed the continued need for coordination at the very highest level, in order to advance common, harmonised criteria for the easing of travel restrictions, and for increased investment in systems that support safe travel, including testing on departure and on arrival.

With the crisis far from over, the Secretary-General welcomed the G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism and called for schemes aimed at supporting the survival of tourism jobs and businesses to be sustained and, wherever possible, expanded, especially as millions of livelihoods continue to be at risk.

Italys Minister of Tourism, Massimo Garavaglia, outlined the G20s priorities, including safe mobility, supporting tourism jobs and businesses, building resilience against future shocks, and advancing the green transformation of the sector. Furthermore, the Tourism Ministers recalled that the current crisis represents an opportunity to rethink and restart tourism, with an emphasis on guiding the sector towards greater sustainability.

Rethinking tourism

In addition to ensuring the safe restart of international travel and supporting jobs and businesses, the G20 Tourism Ministers committed to taking action in driving the digital transformation of the sector, with particular reference to ensuring everyone has fair access to the opportunities that will come from greater innovation, and in promoting more investment in green tourism infrastructure.

The new UNWTO Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy, developed in partnership with the G20 Tourism Working Group, were identified as a key resource for advancing progress in the policy area of Green Transformation of the worlds leading economies. The Recommendations present the main lines of action and showcase frontrunning initiatives of tourism businesses and destinations leading the way in achieving greater sustainability while also outlining steps that can help tourism recover from the worst crisis in its history safely and responsibly.

UNWTO will continue to work with the Italian G20 Presidency as well as the previous and forthcoming presidencies, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, in advancing the contribution of tourism to the G20 objectives. - TradeArabia News Service
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Joe Skipper)

Facebook Inc's oversight board on Wednesday upheld the company's suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump but said the company was wrong to make the suspension indefinite and gave it six months to determine a "proportionate response."



Trump called the decision and his banning across tech platforms "a total disgrace" and said the companies would "pay a political price."



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The much-awaited board verdict has been watched for signals on how the world's largest social media company will treat rule-breaking political leaders in the future, a key area of controversy for online platforms.



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 Trump supporters.



Facebook indefinitely blocked Trump's access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts over concerns of further violent unrest following the Jan. 6 riot. It enacted the suspension after removing two of Trump's posts during the Capitol riot, including a video in which he said supporters should go home but reiterated his false claim of widespread voter fraud, saying "I know your pain. I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us."



But the board said Facebook should not have imposed an indeterminate suspension without clear standards and said the company should determine a response consistent with rules applied to other users. It said Facebook could determine that Trump's 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 an interview with Reuters, board co-chair and former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said public figures should not be allowed to incite violence or create harm though their posts, but that Facebook "can't just invent new sanctions as they go along."



In its decision, the board said Facebook refused to answer some of the 46 questions it posed, including those on how its news feed affected the visibility of Trump's 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.



The board said Facebook's existing policies, such as deciding when material is too newsworthy to remove, need to be more clearly communicated to users. It also called on Facebook to develop a policy that governs how it handles novel situations where its existing rules would be insufficient to prevent imminent harm. See takeaways from the board's decision.



Facebook's business has thrived during the controversy and its main source of revenue, advertising, has boomed as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions begin to ease in the United States, but lawmakers across the political spectrum have raised concerns about the power of Facebook and other social media, many calling for new regulations and some calling for breakups of big tech.



Trump called the move "an embarrassment to our Country," and 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, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before."



At a Financial Times conference after the verdict, Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communication, said the company would hope to resolve the matter "considerably faster" than six months.



Tech platforms have grappled in recent years with how to police world leaders and politicians that violate their guidelines. Facebook has come under fire both from those who think it should abandon its hands-off approach to political speech and those, including Republican lawmakers and some free-expression advocates who saw the Trump ban as a disturbing act of censorship.



Facebook was one of a slew of social media sites that barred the former president, including Twitter Inc, which banned him permanently, a move welcomed by some civil rights groups and social media researchers. Political leaders from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders expressed concern that private companies could silence elected officials on their sites.



At the time of the suspension, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said "the risks of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." The company later referred the case to its recently established board, which includes academics, lawyers and rights activists.



The binding verdict means Trump will not for now be able to return to Facebook's platforms, where he had a combined 59 million followers across Facebook and Instagram. His campaign spent about $160 million on Facebook ads in 2020, according to Democratic digital firm Bully Pulpit Interactive's campaign tracker.



On Tuesday, Trump launched a web page to share messages that readers can then re-post to their Facebook or Twitter accounts. A senior adviser has said Trump also plans to launch his own social media platform.



Wednesday's decision marks a milestone for the oversight board, which Facebook financed with $130 million. The body has been hailed as a novel experiment by some researchers but criticized by those who have been skeptical about its independence or view it as a PR stunt to deflect attention from the company's more systemic problems.



"This verdict 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," said a group of academics, experts and Facebook critics known as the "Real Facebook Oversight Board."


A protester flashes a three-finger salute during a march to protest against Myanmar military coup, in Taipei, Taiwan, (Photo : REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo)

Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), set up by opponents of army rule, said on Wednesday it had formed a "people's defence force" to protect its supporters from military attacks and violence instigated by the junta.



Since the military seized power and ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, Myanmar has seen daily protests and a surge of violence with security forces killing hundreds of civilians.



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The NUG said the new force was a precursor to a Federal Union Army and that it had a responsibility to end decades-old civil wars and deal with "military attacks and violence" by the ruling State Administration Council (SAC) against its people.



The unity government, established last month by an array of groups opposed to the junta, among them ethnic minority militias, has pledged to end violence, restore democracy and build a "federal democratic union".



Among the NUG's supporters is the Karen National Union (KNU), the country's oldest rebel force, whose Brigade 5 on Wednesday told the Karen Information Center media group its fighters had killed 194 government troops since hostilities resumed in late March.



A spokesman for the junta did not answer a call seeking comment.



The military ruled Myanmar from 1962 to 2011, before launching a tentative transition to democracy and sweeping economic reforms.



The coup halted that, angering many people unwilling to put up with another phase of military rule.



Myanmar's well-equipped army, known as the Tatmadaw, is one of the region's most battle-hardened forces.



Despite that, its opponents have in some places been using crude weapons to fight troops, while others have sought training with ethnic armies who have battled the military since independence in 1948 from remote border areas.



A young activist in Mandalay on Wednesday told Reuters he was planning to join the federal army to "help fight against the Tatmadaw" and that networks of activists had mobilised to train in the jungles.



There have been reports of some of those being arrested and imprisoned by the military, including on April 30 in Kayah state in eastern Myanmar, a family member of one of those detained told Reuters on Wednesday.



Myanmar has in recent weeks seen small blasts in cities and towns, some targeting government offices and military facilities.



There have been no claims of responsibility, but the military has blamed people bent on destabilising the country.



'DETERMINED TO DESTROY'



State media on Wednesday said five people killed in an explosion this week, including a former lawmaker for Suu Kyi's party, had been building a bomb, and wire, batteries and a damaged phone were found at the scene.



Dr. Sasa, a minister and spokesman for the NUG, on Wednesday said the explosion in the Bago region was the work of the military leadership, who would face justice in international courts.



"The killings and crimes against humanity were well-planned and well-coordinated by the highest level of the military generals in Myanmar," he told Reuters.



"The SAC determination is clear and loud, they want to kill the people of Myanmar as many as possible and destroy the country of Myanmar as much as possible."



A woman was killed while in a vehicle by a stray bullet in the second-biggest city Mandalay on Wednesday, after soldiers opened fire on a motorcycle rider who ignored orders to stop, local news organisation Khit Thit reported.



The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) rights monitoring group says security forces have killed 769 people since the coup. The junta disputes that but has acknowledged about a third of that number of fatalities.



Reuters is unable to verify casualties because ofcurbs on media. Many journalists are among thousands of people detained.



The independent Tachileik news agency, based in Shan State in the northeast, said on Facebook its licence had been revoked, the latest of eight such news outlets shut down by authorities.



Junta-controlled MRTV state television announced on Tuesday a ban on satellite television receivers, saying outside broadcasts threatened national security, and violators risked jail.



With mobile internet access largely cut off to try to thwart protests, Myanmar has increasingly appeared headed back to a state of isolation under the last era of military rule.


U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley gives remarks during the 19th annual September 11 observance ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Erin Scott/File Photo)

The world may be entering an era of "potential international instability" with the rise of China and the advent of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics that could prove decisive to warfare, the top U.S. general warned on Wednesday.



Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, compared the current era to other major geopolitical shifts in world history, including the fall of Rome and the collapse of the Soviet Union.



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"We are entering a period of potential international instability," Milley said in an address at Howard University. Milley said that China's rise was changing the status quo after decades in which the United States essentially was "the unchallenged global military, political and economic power."



He warned that the geopolitical change was being accompanied by technological innovation in robotics, hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and other technologies.



"And they are extraordinarily disruptive and potentially decisive in the conduct of war," Milley said.



Milley's remarks came just days after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the United States needed to prepare for a potential future conflict bearing little resemblance to "the old wars" that have long consumed the Pentagon.


A man mourns as he sits next to the burning pyre of a relative, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during his cremation, at a crematorium in New Delhi, India (Photo : REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)

A top scientific adviser to the Indian government warned on Wednesday the country would inevitably face further waves of the coronavirus pandemic, as almost 4,000 people died in the space of a day.



With hospitals scrabbling for beds and oxygen in response to a deadly second surge in infections, the World Health Organization said in a weekly report that India accounted for nearly half the coronavirus cases reported worldwide last week and a quarter of the deaths.



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Many people have died in ambulances and car parks waiting for a bed or oxygen, while morgues and crematoriums struggle to deal with a seemingly unstoppable flow of bodies.



The government's principal scientific adviser, K. VijayRaghavan, warned that even after infection rates subside the country should be ready for a third wave.



"Phase 3 is inevitable, given the high levels of circulating virus," he told a news briefing. "But it is not clear on what timescale this phase 3 will occur... We should prepare for new waves."



Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been widely criticised for not acting sooner to suppress the second wave, after religious festivals and political rallies drew tens of thousands of people in recent weeks and became "super spreader" events.



"We are running out of air. We are dying," the Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy wrote in an opinion piece that called for Modi to step down.



"This is a crisis of your making," she added in the article published on Tuesday. "You cannot solve it. You can only make it worse....So please go."



India's delegation to the Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in London is self-isolating after two of its members tested positive for COVID-19, Britain said on Wednesday



Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who is in London, said in a Twitter message that he would attend virtually.



GOVERNMENT RESISTING LOCKDOWN



Deaths rose by a record 3,780 during the past 24 hours, health ministry data showed, and daily infections rose by 382,315 on Wednesday. The number has been in excess of 300,000 every day for the past two weeks.



Medical experts say India's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies. The country has added 10 million cases in just over four months, after taking more than 10 months to reach its first 10 million.



The opposition has urged a nationwide lockdown, but the government is reluctant to impose one for fear of the economic fallout, although several states have adopted social curbs.



In the latest move the eastern state of West Bengal, where voters dealt Modi's party a defeat in an election last week, suspended local train services and limited working hours for banks and jewellery shops, among its steps to limit infections.



The central bank asked banks on Wednesday to allow more time for some borrowers to repay loans, as the crisis threatens a nascent economic revival.



FALL IN VACCINATIONS, TESTING



The surge in infections has coincided with a dramatic drop in vaccinations because of supply and delivery problems, despite India being a major vaccine producer.



At least three states, including Maharashtra, home to the commercial capital of Mumbai, have reported a scarcity of vaccines, shutting down some inoculation centres.



Lengthy queues formed outside two centres in the western city that still have vaccine supplies, and some of those waiting pleaded for police to open their gates earlier.



The government said production capacity for the antiviral drug remdesivir, used to treat COVID-19 patients, has trebled to 10.3 million vials per month, up from 3.8 million vials a month ago.



But daily testing has fallen sharply to 1.5 million, state-run Indian Council of Medical Research said, off a peak of 1.95 million on Saturday.



OUTBREAK SPREADING



Two "oxygen express" trains carrying liquid oxygen arrived in the capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday, railways minister Piyush Goyal said on Twitter. More than 25 trains have distributed oxygen supplies nationwide.



The government says supplies are sufficient but transport woes have hindered distribution.



Meanwhile, the outbreak continues to spread.



In the remote state of Mizoram bordering Myanmar, beds in its biggest coronavirus hospital are in such short supply that all victims of other diseases have been asked to leave, said government official Dr Z R Thiamsanga.



Just three of a total 14 ventilators were still available.



"In my opinion, a complete lockdown is required to control the situation," he told Reuters from the state capital, Aizawl.



Neighbouring Nepal is also being overwhelmed by a surge of infections as India's outbreak spreads across South Asia, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.



With 57 times as many cases as a month ago, Nepal is seeing 44% of tests come back positive, it added. Towns near the border with India are unable to cope with the growing numbers seeking treatment, while just 1% of its population was fully vaccinated.


U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S (Photo : Jim Watson/Pool via REUTERS)

Ninety minutes before President Joe Biden took office on January 20th, the United States signed a $23 billion dollar deal to sell F-35 jets, drones and advanced missiles to the United Arab Emirates.



It was part of flurry of last minute deals President Donald Trump had told Congress were coming in his last two months in office, forcing the Biden administration to make quick decisions on whether or not to stick with the geopolitically sensitive weapons sales.



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To the surprise of some Democratic allies, Biden has so far kept the lion's share of Trump's more controversial agreements. Executives at five large defense contractors who requested anonymity to speak freely were also surprised by the speed of the Biden administration's deliberations.



Longer-term, however, those executives and five more people in and around the administration told Reuters that Biden's policy will shift to emphasize human rights over Trump's more commercial approach to exporting military equipment.



Biden's posture towards arms exports - specifically around reducing weapons used to attack others - could shift sales at Boeing Co, Raytheon Technologies Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp. That means fewer bullets, bombs and missiles, while security products like radars, surveillance equipment and defenses against attacks get the green light.



In an interview last week, Raytheon's CFO Neil Mitchill said that offensive munitions exports, "going forward, the kinds of sales that we were talking about have been declining," adding there has been a multi-year downward trend of offensive weapon sales to foreign customers.



Boeing and Lockheed declined to comment.



In the early days of the Biden administration, officials paused weapons sales to Middle East allies, including sales of Raytheon's and Boeing-made precision guided munitions to Saudi Arabia.



Eventually a determination was made to only sell the Kingdom "defensive" arms, while limiting weapons that could be used to attack out of concern over casualties in Saudi Arabia's war with Yemen.



Biden's team ultimately decided to stick with the massive UAE deal. The move spurred criticism from the human rights group Amnesty International which immediately bashed the decision and drew complaints from lawmaker Robert Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.



One former U.S. official familiar with the Biden transition team's thinking noted that many aspects of the F-35 sale still need to be negotiated, giving them leverage as the Abraham Accords between UAE and Israel are implemented. The F-35 sale was a side deal to the accords.



PIVOT TO DEFENSE



But arms deals like Trump's UAE agreement, and others with governments that have poor records on human rights records look far less likely from the Biden White House.



"While economic security will remain a factor" when reviewing weapons sales, the Biden Administration will "reprioritize" other factors including U.S. national security, human rights and nonproliferation, a U.S. official has told Reuters.



"I'm hopeful that as we hear statements that support human rights as being front and center in arms transfer deliberations, we'll see that play out through actual decisions, and not just words," Rachel Stohl, vice president at the Stimson Center in Washington said.



During the transition period from election day in November to Biden's inauguration, Trump's team sent notification of $31 billion of foreign arms sales to Congress. Congressional notifications occur for most foreign military sales before a contract can be signed to sell a weapon.



On average, foreign military sales under Trump amounted to $57.5 billion per year, versus an average of $53.9 billion per year for the eight years under his predecessor Barack Obama, in 2020 dollars, according to Bill Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy think tank.



Biden's approval of several late-Trump deals will ease the political and diplomatic transition from one administration to another, according to a State Department official. In the case of the UAE deal, the official said, it helps the two nations "meet our mutual strategic objectives to build a stronger, interoperable, and more capable security partnership."



As Lockheed's CEO Jim Taiclet put it to Reuters late last year, "alliances are really important... Foreign Military Sales are part and parcel of that."



The Biden administration inherited a backlog of more than 500 weapons export deals teed up by the Trump administration, one person briefed on the State Department's backlog said.



Going forward, the Stimson Center's Rachel Stohl said Biden's State Department team is "looking at countries, at individual weapons systems, as well as individual sales." But as more appointees take their posts at the State Department she said there could be a "paradigm shift on the way in which arms sales are considered as part of holistic efforts to develop and build partnerships and capacity."


Traffic on the A-3 motorway in Spain.

The Spanish government is planning to introduce a payment mechanism on the countrys high-capacity roads beginning in 2024, according to the national recovery plan that Spain has sent to the European Commission in Brussels.

Drivers would pay to use the network of autopistas (highways that charge a toll, although some have partially been made toll-free in recent years) and autovias (high-speed motorways that are free of charge). The plan furthermore opens the door to charging a fee on other national and regional roads. So far, the Spanish government had been moving in the opposite direction, making some sections of the AP-7, AP-4 and AP-1 highways toll-free after concessions expired.

According to the plan, which seeks to adapt to the EUs principle of polluters pay, tolls would first be charged on the 12,000 kilometers of state-run high-capacity roads, which include autopistas and autovias, and the model would later be scaled up to the 14,000 kilometers of national single-lane roads that are part of the states infrastructure. The government would also open negotiations with regional authorities to introduce the system in high-capacity roads controlled by the latter, according to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan sent to Brussels by the government of Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE).

In a scenario of 0.04/km, motorists traveling from Madrid would pay 9 to go to Burgos, 12 to Zaragoza, 14 to Valencia, 15 to Cordoba, 16 to Badajoz and 22 to A Coruna

Sources at the Transportation Ministry said that the project only targets high-capacity roads, not local ones. They added that Spains proposal is part of a wider plan to converge with the rest of Europe, where the largest economies have extended tolls to many of their motorways.

The same sources said that the plan will not be rolled out for now due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. They also insisted that the measures will only be implemented with political consensus and hand in hand with the transportation sector.

Despite recent statements by members of the executive, the plan appears to target all road users, including passenger cars and trucks, and regardless of nationality. The plan suggests offering discounts to financially underprivileged groups or regular road users on certain road sections. As for transportation professionals, the government has pledged to seek payment formulas that would place the financial burden on the freight contractor, not the truck driver.

Aware that this will be a very unpopular measure, the government is planning an awareness campaign aimed at the transportation sector and the general population.

The executive argues that Spain has the most extensive high-capacity road network in Europe, and that growing maintenance costs cannot be covered directly by the national budget. This is generating a cumulative maintenance deficit, leading to a loss of value and a deterioration of quality of service, which has consequences for road safety, reads the plan. The introduction of a pay-per-use system would guarantee maintenance of the road network, and generate incentives for a more efficient use of this mode of transportation, which in turn would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Pere Navarro, the head of Spains traffic authority DGT, on Wednesday told the Senate that there would be exceptions to the payment rule. When you introduce a toll of any kind, normally you exclude a few cases such as daily travel for work purposes. Asked by Popular Party (PP) senator Jose Julian Gregorio whether senior citizens going to the doctor would also have to pay, Navarro replied: It could perfectly be added that when grandma goes to the doctor, she does not have to pay either.

The PP senator noted that in many Spanish villages, the only way out of town is the autovia. He asked the government to reconsider a measure that, he said, will make a lot of people take less safe roads in order to save money.

Tolls are expected to end in August on the Barcelona-La Junquera section of the AP-7

The executive said that the fees will be affordable, but enough to guarantee financing. The exact amounts have not been specified, although industry associations have offered some ballpark figures. The infrastructure maintenance association Acex said that a fee of 0.03 to 0.05 per kilometer on average would be enough to end the 8 billion deficit the government has racked up on road maintenance. And the construction company industry association Seopan, which supports the idea of a fee, has suggested 0.03 per kilometer for light vehicles, and 0.14 for heavy vehicles.

In a hypothetical scenario of 0.04 per kilometer, motorists traveling from Madrid would pay 9 to drive to Burgos, 12 to Zaragoza, around 14 to Valencia, 15 to Cordoba, 16 to Badajoz and 22 to A Coruna.

Free of charge in Germany

Unlike other proposals sent to Brussels, the road-fee system is more that a document: it is a legislative bill that is already at the draft stage and affects several ministries. A draft is expected to reach the Cabinet for first reading in the first half of this year, and could be approved in the second half. If so, the law could go into effect in 2024.

Following the financial crisis of 2008, neighboring Portugal introduced tolls in its entire high-capacity road network, for both light and heavy vehicles. In France and Italy, tolls are the norm on the highways, whereas in Germany they are free of charge. But no European country charges a fee on single-lane roads.

Until now, the Sanchez administration had been moving in the opposite direction: it did not renew several expiring concession contracts, ending toll collection on the Burgos-Arminon section of the AP-1 highway in December 2018, the Tarragona-Alicante section of the AP-7 in January 2020, and the Seville-Cadiz section of the AP-4 on the same date. Tolls are also expected to end in late August on the Barcelona-La Junquera section of the AP-7, and on the Zaragoza-Mediterraneo section of the AP-2. This represents over 1,000 kilometers of newly freed up roads. The state has also bailed out eight other turnpikes  including Madrids radial roads  that went under in recent years.

English version by Susana Urra.
With the end of the state of alarm set to end on Sunday, many of Spains regions  which are in charge of controlling the pandemic in their territories  are increasingly worried about what impact this will have on efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. For the past six months, the emergency measure has given the regions the authority to introduce restrictions that curb fundamental rights, such as the nighttime curfew, without facing challenges in the courts. But there is concern that could all change on May 9, when the state of alarm comes to an end.

In a bid to ease these fears, the Spanish government  a coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and junior partner Unidas Podemos  has approved a royal decree that gives the Supreme Court the final word on coronavirus restrictions. The new rule, published Wednesday in the Official State Bulletin (BOE), aims to prevent the legal chaos that occurred last year between June and October, when judges from lower courts reached contradictory decisions on coronavirus restrictions affecting fundamental rights. This situation led to confusing situations whereby on the same day a court in Barcelona rejected limiting public and private meetings in LHospitalet to fewer than 10 people, while another judge in Lleida permitted such a restriction in the area of Segria.

Under the new decree, if a lower court refuses to authorize a coronavirus restriction that affects fundamental rights, a region can appeal the decision to the Supreme Court  something that has not been possible until now. The goal of this is to enable the countrys top judges to set down uniform criteria for when regional governments and the central administration itself can and cannot limit rights and under what conditions. In other words, regions can restrict fundamental rights to curb the coronavirus pandemic without a state of alarm if they have the backing of the courts.

A sidewalk cafe in Valencia. Monica Torres

The decree also expedites the appeals process to ensure that disputes are resolved in a maximum of two weeks. In the case that a coronavirus restriction is struck down by a lower court, a region has three days to appeal. The public prosecution and the defendants then have another three days to present their arguments. Once this is done, the Supreme Court must reach a ruling within five days. As such, it is hoped that the court will have reached a decision on the most controversial coronavirus restrictions  such as the nighttime curfew and limits on social gatherings  within a few weeks.

But the decree, which comes into effect on Sunday, has been criticized by several regions and the court itself. Judge Cesar Toloa, the president of the Administrative Bench of the Supreme Court, told the Spanish news agency EFE: Judges are not here to govern, these decisions correspond to public authorities.

The premier of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, of the conservative Popular Party (PP), told EL PAIS that the measure was a sign of the judicialization of the pandemic, and accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of washing his hands of the management of the health crisis. He argued that requiring regions to get the support of the courts in order to maintain coronavirus restrictions will lead to weeks or months of uncertainty. Feijoo is one of several regional leaders who have called for the state of alarm to be extended beyond May 9  an option that the central government has ruled out.

The spokesperson for the Andalusian regional government, Elias Bendodo, also of the PP, was equally critical of the decree, arguing the government is showing it has no intention of assuming its responsibilities. At Wednesdays meeting of the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System, which brings together health officials from the central and regional governments, Andalusia called for the Public Health law to be modified to give regions more power to introduce restrictions. But the central government does not consider this to be a viable option, given that such a reform could be unconstitutional.

The state of alarm is considered for exceptional situations, not for it to be sine die, said Health Minister Carolina Darias. We believe that the measures available to the regions in accordance with ordinary legislation and in accordance with the royal decree approved yesterday [on Wednesday] are enough to fight the virus.

What restrictions will remain in place?

With just days to go until the end of the state of alarm, regions are now rushing to work out formulas to keep coronavirus restrictions in place.

The regional government of Navarre is planning to sign an order once the emergency situation expires that lifts the perimetral lockdown of the region, but extends the nighttime curfew and the six-person limit on social gatherings between two households.

The Balearic Islands have called an extraordinary session to approve measures to maintain the regions curfew, restrictions on social gatherings in private spaces, security controls on travelers and limits on capacity in places of worship. These measures will then be sent before the Supreme Court of the archipelago for approval.

A police checkpoint at the exit to Barcelona on April 9. Albert Garcia / EL PAIS

The Catalan regional government has said that it does not plan to extend the nighttime curfew, but has asked the High Court for authorization to extend the six-person limit on social gatherings and restrictions on capacity in places of worship.

Authorities in Castilla-La Mancha, the Canary Islands and the Basque Country have indicated they are likely to maintain the restrictions enabled by the state of alarm, but are still looking for the right legal framework. Other regions, such as Cantabria, Galicia and Castilla y Leon, told EL PAIS that they assume all restrictions on fundamental rights will expire after May 9. Madrid and La Rioja have not yet announced plans for after the state of alarm, while regional authorities in Extremadura have said they do not plan to extend the strictest coronavirus measures, but will maintain a degree of control over capacity in the hospitality sector and stores.

Meanwhile, Andalusia is preparing an action plan that would confine municipalities where the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants is above 500 or 1,000, upon approval of the courts. And in Valencia, the regional government has said it is planning to lift the perimetral lockdown of the region next week and push back the curfew, which currently starts at 10pm.

Concern among epidemiologists

Epidemiologists have expressed fears that the disparities between Spains 17 regions when it comes to introducing restrictions will be exacerbated without the state of alarm. There is also concern that delays due to legal or administrative processes will hurt the effort to control the pandemic.

We still have an epidemiological situation that is not entirely comfortable, explained Alberto Torres, the spokesperson for the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene. The key problem is time: there are measures that must be taken immediately and every day counts.

While the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants has fallen to 205, it is still far from the 25 to 50 benchmark the government has set as a measure to indicate that the pandemic is under control.

The situation is not under control until it is controlled around the world, warned Torres. We have to understand this as a war-like situation where there are no deadlines. Every day that a measure is delayed is a problem.

Magda Campins, the head of preventive medicine at Barcelonas Vall dHebron Hospital, agreed. The virus continues to spread and there is the possibility that [the end of the state of alarm] is wrongly interpreted as a sign we can return to normality, she said. People have to be aware that the virus is still out there.

With reporting by Eva Saiz, Guillermo Vega, Lucia Bohorquez, Ferran Bono, Bernat Coll and Juan Navarro.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
The collapse of a raised section of Line 12 of Mexico Citys metro system has become the capitals biggest tragedy since an earthquake hit in September 2017. With a death toll of at least 25 and dozens injured, the public has been left gripped by anguish and indignation, and is demanding answers. The authorities have promised an investigation and two official expert reports, one from the Attorney Generals Office and the other from a foreign company, but these will take time. So how did this vast structure costing 26 billion pesos to build  around $1.8 billion or 1.57 billion  collapse in a matter of seconds when its inauguration was celebrated only nine years ago? The terms negligence, corruption and lack of maintenance are currently dominating the public discourse.

One of the girders gave way as the train was passing, explained the citys mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, at around midnight on May 3 from the scene of the incident. The girders are horizontal and support the platform on which the metro vehicles run, joining it to the columns that raise it up. The description of what happened by the authorities goes no further, stopping short of explaining why the girder gave way.

Sergio Alcocer, a researcher at the School of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, points out that expert reports take time and should not be synonymous with seeking out the guilty parties; it is a matter of finding the most probable cause.

According to Alcocer, one of the issues to be analyzed involves structural failures  the technical term for a structure failing to fulfill the function for which it was designed or for a structure compromising stability. These types of flaw can be caused by design faults, errors in its execution and general wear and tear, and are not necessarily mutually exclusive. But pinpointing the mistakes is a crucial step toward determining where the responsibility for the tragedy lies.

What we have witnessed is a chain of unfortunate events, says Francisco Garcia Alvarez, former president of the Mexican Association of Structural Engineering. Garcia Alvarez maintains that no single factor can account for the collapse, but he is inclined to think the culprit lies within the construction itself. Having visited the disaster zone at street level, he sees problems in the assembly process rather than in the design or quality of the materials used.

This preliminary hypothesis is based on the manner in which the overpass collapsed, caving in like a half-open book. The V-shaped split in the platform may have been due to a problem in the welding of the steel girders, which are shorter than the distance between the bridge columns, meaning they need to be joined. If there was a lack of proper reinforcement in the joint between the two girders, the structure would have a high chance of collapsing in the middle. Garcia Alvarez points out that samples of welded joints from various sections of the platform are checked rather than each and every one, which could have meant the risk was not adequately assessed.

Civil engineer Uriel Perret, from the National Technological University of Argentina, believes that a possible failure in the welding of the girders could have been compounded by a problem in a number of the bridges columns. If a column changes position due to some kind of failure, it will affect the position of the whole structure, says Perret, who believes the collapse was caused by a construction defect or fatigue failure  perhaps the result of negligence and corruption.

Structural engineer Fernando Zamorano also indicates errors in the construction process as the possible culprit. It did not fall from an earthquake or a natural disaster, but while fully operational, he says. Zamorano maintains that many construction projects undertaken by the Mexican government in recent years are poorly executed, and mentions, by way of example, the sinkhole that opened up under the Mexico-Acapulco highway in 2017. When the golden line [Line 12s nickname] was built, there were problems from the beginning, he says. This was the straw that broke the camels back.

Line 12 was inaugurated in October 2012, while Marcelo Ebrard, now foreign affairs minister, was still mayor. Shortly after the inauguration, it was closed again when a study detected faults in the tracks, rails and curves, culminating in a risk of derailment, and recommended urgent corrections. In March 2014, the 13 kilometers of line running on the overpass that includes the section where the accident happened were again closed for multiple repairs and reopened at the end of 2015. Two years later, the line suffered the greatest damage of all the lines in the citys metro system from the 2017 earthquake, according to a Senate report. The line had endemic problems from the start that will never be solved, Jorge Gavino, the then-director of the metro, said at the time.

According to Fernando Espino, secretary of the National Union of Workers of the Collective Transportation System, we have been making our dissatisfaction with our working conditions clear to the authorities of different governments since 2012. Espino blames the construction materials used as well as the use of heavier and wider metro vehicles than originally planned.

During an interview, the union leader said that one of the possibilities, according to union technicians, is that the train derailed and hit one of the platforms, which would have shifted the structure. But this is not a majority view  Alcocer, for example, does not think it feasible that there was a derailment. Espino also points to the fact that an elevated section was chosen over a tunnel because it was cheaper and that the track is full of curves that exacerbate the wear and tear of the network due to increased friction. Other experts, however, believe the guidelines always leave a margin for a weight variable carried by the structures in order to avoid these kinds of incidents and are not convinced this was a factor in the accident.

When the 2017 earthquake caused severe damage to some parts of the bridge, the authorities spent 15 million pesos  around $1 million or 700,000  on repairs during the subsequent four months. A column was reinforced at the Nopalera station, less than one stop away from Olivos station where the accident occurred. In that area, locals had been reporting cracks in the structure, saying that it was not fit for purpose; they now declare that the deadly incident was a tragedy waiting to happen.

Given the information available, Garcia Alvarez rules out the possibility that the collapse was a consequence of the 2017 earthquake while according to Alcocer, too much time had passed for the earthquake to be a factor, but if that had been the cause, the columns would have collapsed. The current director of the metro system, Florencia Serrania, stated in a press conference the day after the tragedy that the allegations linked to the earthquake were not based on fact and that in June 2020, when the last review was made of damages caused by this disaster, no damage to the section that collapsed was found.

Perret, meanwhile, says that existing problems in sections close to the incident could well have had repercussions on other parts of the bridge. The images of cracked columns that people have shared on social networks are due to a compression rupture and that type of rupture would force the disabling of this stretch of metro, because it could cause a chain failure; a decompensation of the structure, as we have seen, he says. The girder on that column is also deformed and the weight is no longer supported in the same way as was calculated during the initial project.

Meanwhile, there is a lack of consensus regarding maintenance. I dont see it being a maintenance issue because the work is relatively new, says Garcia Alvarez. But Leonardo Nunez, researcher at Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity, stresses that, based on official figures, the budget allocated to the metro for 2021 is the lowest in nine years, with a 25% reduction in real terms compared to 2018. This makes it very clear that the government has other priorities, he says, despite claims from the authorities that there have been no such cuts. The systematic cuts are not a direct cause of what happened, but they are relevant because for years there were already complaints about this section of Line 12, adds Nunez.

Forensic engineering expertise will focus on what happened and why  from the design to the construction materials in a bid to explain the collapse of the structure. There is no date as yet for the results of the investigation, but the engineers consulted agree that a reasonable time frame would be six to eight weeks; a long time for a country anxious to know the truth and see justice done.

English version by Heather Galloway.
KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 12:46 | News, All, Japan

Japan's transport ministry said Thursday a no-fly zone will be set up above venues of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from July 21 through Sept. 5 as part of measures to prevent terrorism.

Regular flights departing from or arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport will not be subject to the restriction, according to the ministry.

The ministry said the no-fly zone will be in place from two hours before the start of competitions to an hour after they finish, covering flights of all altitudes. The same restrictions will apply for the opening and closing ceremonies at the National Stadium, the main Olympic venue.

The no-fly zone will cover about a 3-kilometer radius from venues during competitions but be extended to a 46-kilometer radius from the National Stadium for the ceremonies.

Events held outside of Tokyo, such as the marathons to be held in Sapporo, will also be subject to a no-fly zone.

The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to be held between July 23 and Aug. 8 following the one-year postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Paralympics will follow from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

Related coverage:

Japan to decide on virus emergency extension on May 7: sources

Organizing committee vice president "sure Olympics will go forward"

Divers facing myriad challenges in last-chance Olympic qualifier
KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 19:00 | All, Japan

A group of former "comfort women" in South Korea appealed Thursday a local court ruling that dismissed their damages lawsuit against the Japanese government over their treatment at Japanese military brothels during World War II, their lawyers said.

In dismissing the suit, the April 21 ruling at the Seoul Central District Court 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 the case.

The lawyers said in a statement released Thursday that the plaintiffs made the appeal as the ruling blocked their right to pursue compensation over Japan's inhumane wrongdoings.

Lee Yong Soo, a 92-year-old former comfort woman and one of the 20 plaintiffs in the latest case, criticized the ruling and said, "We expect justice and human rights will prevail" in the appeal trial.

In another case in January, the same court but a different panel of judges made a contrary ruling, ordering the Japanese government to compensate 12 former comfort women, including those who have died since filing the suit.

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.

Japan has taken the position that all claims related to its 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula were settled under a 1965 bilateral agreement that provided South Korea with financial aid with the understanding the compensation issue was settled "completely and finally."

Lee has also called on the Japanese and South Korean governments to have the comfort women issue resolved at the International Court of Justice.

Related coverage:

Ex-"comfort women" to appeal South Korea court ruling dismissing case
Strengthening its presence in the GCC, Swiss-Belhotel International will soon welcome yet another stunning hotel in Bahrain - Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair - that is undergoing final finishing touches.

Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President  Operations & Development, EMEA & India; Senior Vice President  Group Human Resources & Talent Development, Swiss-Belhotel International, stated: During this period of unprecedented challenges our growth is testament to the strength of the value proposition of Swiss-Belhotel International brands. We are looking forward to the opening of the upscale Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair in May 2021 which is in the final stages of development and perfectly complements our strong portfolio of hotels in Bahrain. This well-appointed urban property is thoughtfully designed for guests who seek functional spaces, luxe amenities and unforgettable experiences. It will deliver unmatched value to our customers with memorable experiences in feel good surroundings.

Centrally located in the vibrant heart of Juffair on the street adjoining the popular American Alley (Al Shabab Avenue) opposite the American Naval Base, Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair is a beautiful four-star hotel. Featuring 174 stylish and spacious suites equipped with top-notch facilities, distinctive dining venues, a trendy bar, and fabulous recreation and meeting spaces, this exceptional hotel lies merely 11 km from the Bahrain International Airport.

Congratulating the pre-opening team Laurent stated: I would like to thank our Cluster General Manager Alban Dutemple and his team for their tremendous hard-work, dedication and support during this pre-opening phase to ensure Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair is perfectly aligned with the brand standards. - TradeArabia News Service
By Keiji Hirano, KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 14:15 | Japan, All

When Rie Koriyama read a highly acclaimed book during her college days on Minamata disease, a mercury-poisoning ailment that ravaged a small coastal city in southwest Japan, she was astounded that the mother she thought she knew so well could act with such callousness toward a sufferer.

"Kugai Jodo" (Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow), written by the late Michiko Ishimure, a writer and activist who did much to publicize the victims' plight, quoted a member of a sufferer's family as saying that a general store operator in Minamata refused to physically handle money from the victim's mother for fear of contagion.

The tiny store, located in the community that was the disease's epicenter, was run by Koriyama's mother at the time. The sufferer was a neighbor.

"I had no choice but to leave (the money) on the floor. Maybe the operator picked it up later with chopsticks to boil it (for disinfection). I will never forget it," the neighbor explained of the encounter in the book.

Koriyama, 72, who has been working for the past decade to support victims of the illness, partly as a result of finally coming to terms with her mother's act, spoke to Kyodo News ahead of the 65th anniversary of the initial diagnosis of Minamata disease.

"My mother was a thoughtful person," Koriyama said. "But I became aware that she stood on the side of those who discriminated against Minamata victims."

Related coverage:

Minamata disease patients oppose release of Fukushima water into sea

Minamata disease, caused by mercury-tainted water dumped into the sea by chemical maker Chisso Corp., affects the central nervous system. It was initially believed to be communicable, partly because it appeared to spread among family members and neighbors, with birth defects sometimes occurring.

The Japanese government finally recognized it as a pollution-caused disease in 1968, around 12 years after the disease was recognized.

As a Minamata native, Koriyama belonged to a study group on the Minamata issue while a student at Kagoshima University from the late 1960s to early 70s, helping arrange lecture sessions and taking those who wished on tours of her hometown.

But she tried, whether consciously or not, to conceal the heartache that she had felt in reading "Kugai Jodo," which chronicles Ishimure's interactions with Minamata disease victims.

"Maybe it was too painful for me to preserve this memory about my mother," she said.

After graduating from college, she married and began raising a family in the Tokyo area, far away from her hometown, and after taking a job at a welfare facility, left the Minamata issue behind.

During this time, the Minamata victims sought damages from Chisso as well as the state and local governments by filing lawsuits against them, while their supporters established a nonprofit organization called Minamata Forum in Tokyo with the aim of educating the public about the issue.

Living in the vicinity of the capital, Koriyama was well aware of these developments but did not dare to join them, feeling awkward at having been unable to do anything for the victims and for her hometown.

In 1996, she tried visiting the first large-scale Minamata exhibition in Tokyo, which displayed the damaged brains of deceased sufferers and hundreds of portraits of victims among other items, but quickly left the venue, feeling she "could not stand my own passivity."

The turning point for Koriyama came in 2012, when she happened to attend a screening of the documentary film "Minamata -- The Patients and Their Worlds," directed by Noriaki Tsuchimoto, who died in 2008 but is known for his numerous works on Minamata disease.

The film showed another afflicted neighbor of Koriyama's mother accusing her of refusing to directly accept money out of a fear of infection.

Koriyama has tried to explain to audiences who watched the film the angst her mother must have felt as she hoped to protect her own family when the cause of the illness was still unknown.

Authorities had been sterilizing areas in the epicenter in the wrongful belief that the disease was infectious and relatives have told her that her parents, both of whom are now dead, had been considering evacuating their four children.

"I became aware by that time that my mother had tried to prevent her store from becoming a source of infection," she said.

Minamata disease sufferers not only endured awful pain from the sickness but were stigmatized, Koriyama said, by her mother's and other's discriminatory behavior.

"But I wanted the audiences of the screening to know my mother, for her part, was caught in unavoidable circumstances."

"I also told them I was concerned about whether she had explained the desperate situation and made apologies to her customers," she added. "I did not ask her about it before her death, but if she had done so, it would have led to restoring relations" with the afflicted customers.

As Koriyama's case exemplifies, Minamata disease drove a wedge between people in the community.

Some condemned the victims' moves to seek compensation and combat the stigma, saying they had damaged the reputation of the city, which had historically benefited from the employment Chisso provided. Even among the sufferers, antagonism was rife between those who were officially recognized as patients and those who were not.

As for Koriyama's family, her father was employed by Chisso, while her grandmother was officially recognized as a Minamata disease patient. "My father earned paychecks from the offender, but he was also a victim as his mother was sickened by his employer."

Her grandfather, a fisherman who showed Minamata disease-like symptoms, was deprived of his livelihood by the dumped mercury.

Since the 2012 screening of Tsuchimoto's film, an event sponsored by Minamata Forum, she has supported the group's activities as a commissioner, welcoming "the great opportunity to be involved in Minamata again."

Minamata disease first came to light when a doctor in Minamata reported finding four patients with unexplained neurological disorders on May 1, 1956, around the beginning of Japan's postwar high economic growth phase.

Minamata Forum held a lecture on Minamata disease in late April, marking the 65th anniversary of the disease's confirmation, at a Tokyo auditorium, and Koriyama attended as a receptionist.

"I started undertaking my long-standing challenges 10 years ago, and I hope I can continue doing what I can to keep alive the legacy of my hometown as long as my health allows me to."
KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 15:58 | World, All

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and three other activists were sentenced by a Hong Kong court Thursday to up to 10 months in prison for attending an unauthorized rally held on June 4 to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Wong, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung were handed down the sentences after pleading guilty to the charge at the same Hong Kong court last Friday. They were found to have participated in the rally even though it had been banned by police citing public safety and health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

District Court judge Stanley Chan said the defendants knowingly took part in the unauthorized assembly and posted photos on social media. Chan added their participation was premeditated, and that the harsh sentences were due to their lack of genuine remorse and to deter others from attending such assemblies.

Wong, who is already serving time after receiving a prison sentence of 13 and a half months and another for four months over two pro-democracy assemblies in 2019, will serve the 10 months' prison term consecutively for being a repeat offender, the judge said.

Shum was sentenced to six months in prison, while Yuen and Leung were handed down prison terms of four months.

The annual June 4 candlelight vigil at Victoria Park was banned by police for the first time last year, but thousands of people reportedly attended it nonetheless.

Nearly two dozen other activists, including organizers of the event, former lawmakers and media mogul Jimmy Lai, were also indicted for hosting, taking part in and inciting others to join the rally.

Wong, Shum, Yuen and Lai are separately charged with violating the sweeping national security law, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Related coverage:

H.K. activist Joshua Wong convicted of attending June 4 rally

Ex-H.K. lawmaker imprisoned after losing appeal over police assault

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai denied bail on security charge
Mumbai:

Two days after parents of a 21-year-old youth lodged a non-cognisable offence against their son for assaulting them, the boy allegedly committed suicide by setting his house on fire at Mumbais Kalwa township.

The deceased has been identified as Ajinkya Nikalje, a hotel management student. Police said Nikalje set the hall and his bedroom of his house on fire and then hanged himself from the ceiling fan on Wednesday late evening.

According to police, the youths parents were not at home at the time of the incident. Thane Municipal Corporation had launched an operation to douse the house on fire after they received an cry call from the neighbourhood.

The rescue team and neighbours to their shock found the youths body hanging from the ceiling fan when they broke open the door.

Also read: MP: Sehore farmer hangs self; Congress says 13th suicide in Shivraj's district



Police have sent the body of the deceased for postmortem. According to a police personnel Nikalje was a hotel management student and was in depression after he failed in his exams. "His parents had lodged a complaint against the boy after he had attacked them on questioning about his studies two days back," said a police officer.

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New Delhi:

In schools we are taught that humans originated from apes, but a recent discovery of two 145-million-year-old new eutherian species suggest that homo sapiens lineage comes from rats, suggests a new study.

The fossils discovered on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset is believed to be remains of the oldest mammals. The two teeth are from small, rat-like creatures that lived 145 million years ago in the shadow of the dinosaurs.

The study was detailed in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica by the scientists and made online on November 7.

Grant Smith, a undergraduate student of the University of Portsmouth, who made the discovery said that the discovery is undisputedly the earliest fossils of mammals belonging to the line that led to humans. These rodents are also ancestors to maximum living mammals including blue whale, added Smith.

Study lead author Steven Sweetman, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth in England, in a statement said, Smith found not one but two quite remarkable teeth of a type never before seen from rocks of this age. The discovered fossils are definitely the oldest eutherians known yet in the fossil record. The teeth are highly evolved. As soon as I saw them I realised straight away I was looking at remains of Early Cretaceous mammals. 

The scientists have named the species as Durlstotheriunm newmani and Durlstodon ensomi. The researchers said Durlstotherium was likely about the size of a mouse, while Durlstodon was as big as a juvenile rat. The teeth are highly advanced type which can pierce, cut and crush food.

The discovered teeths are also very worn, which suggests the rodents lived to a good age for their species, added Sweetman.

Also read: Video | Aliens living on Mars breathe CO2, claims Russian youth; says he lived on Mars, killed in a war then born on Earth

According to the researchers both the creatures were likely nocturnal. Durlstotherium fed on insects and Durlstodon ate plants. The duo animals lived in Mediterranean type climate.

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New Delhi :

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday pulled up the Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations and neighbouring states regarding deteriorating air quality; while asking them to witness the pitiable condition of people in hospitals and the way their lives are being played with.

NGT has lashed out at the Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Government while asking it to explain steps taken to curtail pollution, challans issued to violators and the number of construction sites where work has been stopped.

Further, the tribunal sought an explanation from the Arvind Kejriwal led government as to why artificial rain hasn't being triggered using helicopters.

#AirPollution matter: NGT pulls up Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations and neighbouring states, asks them to see the pitiable condition of people in hospitals and the way their lives are being played with. Hearing continues  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

The tribunal further said that the CPCB's report has shown the extent of danger lurking in the air in Delhi NCR.

#AirPollution matter: NGT observed "Even construction work taking place openly isn't being stopped, and when such a situation has ensued now action is being promised".NGT further slammed neighboring states of Delhi & raised question on their seriousness on the grievous situation  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Referring to the Central Pollution Control Board's report, NGT said that the air quality should have been PM 10 levels which is supposed to be 100, had touched 986.

ALSO READ: Delhi smog: CM Kejriwal says decision on Odd-Even formula soon



The air quality in Delhi-NCR has also significantly gone down and the the PM 2.5 levels which were supposed to be 60, had reached 420.

NGT said, CPCB's report has shown the extent of danger lurking in the air in Delhi NCR. Yesterday PM 10 levels, supposed to be 100, had touched 986, while the PM 2.5 levels, supposed to be 60, had reached 420. This has been the situation since the past week  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

NGT has observed that "It is shameful for all the parties in this matter on what they're passing on to the next generation". The tribunal further slammed neighbouring states of Delhi & raised question on their seriousness on the grievous situation.

"All the constitutional authorities and statutory bodies measurably failed to perform their duties. So far pollution is the concern, it is a joint responsibility of all the stakeholders" said NGT.

READ: Delhi: Kejriwal 'requests' Sisodia to shut schools for few days

Moreover, the NGT observed that: Articles 21 & 48 of the Constitution mandate that it is the responsibility of governments to make sure that citizens get a clean and conducive environment. Right to life is being snatched from people since they're not getting a clean environment.

Industrial activities to not be carried on in Delhi, till the next hearing directs NGT. NGT also directed, all the public authorities should depute an officer to monitor the polluting activities  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

The tribunal has also ordered all industrial activities to be immediately stopped in Delhi, till the next hearing. NGT has further directed, all the public authorities to depute an officer for monitoring the polluting activities.

The tribunal has strongly rebuked all the concerned states' while asking their pollution control boards to monitor all parameters.

Delhi High Court directs emergency meeting be called by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change secretary with Chief Secretaries of NCR states & pollution control agencies within three days on pollution.  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

The Delhi High Court has directed that an emergency meeting should be called by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change secretary with Chief Secretaries of NCR states & pollution control agencies within three days. Further, the court also directed the govt. to consider the possibility of cloud seeding as a measure to control pollution.

Delhi High Court observes: Odd even scheme last year had unclogged the city, asks Delhi govt to consider implementing "odd even vehicle movement scheme" as a short term measure.  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

Delhi High Court also observed that the 'odd-even vehicle movement scheme' in 2016 had unclogged the city while asking the Kejriwal govt to consider implementing as a short-term measure. The court has also raised questions on the decision of increasing parking fees by four times to control pollution.

Air pollution matter: Next hearing on 14th November, NGT asked all concerned authorities and pollution control boards to file status report by then  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

NGT also said that diesel vehicles which are 10 years old and petrol vehicles which are 15 years old, should be prohibited to enter Delhi. The Tribunal also said that trucks carrying construction materials should be banned in Delhi-NCR.

NGT says vehicles more than 10 years, in case of diesel and 15 years in case of petrol, should be prohibited to enter Delhi. The Tribunal also says "ban trucks carrying construction materials in Delhi-NCR"  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

The NGT has directed that the next hearing will be held on 14th November. Further, the tribunal has asked all concerned authorities and pollution control boards to file a status report by then.

Air pollution matter: Next hearing on 14th November, NGT asked all concerned authorities and pollution control boards to file status report by then  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

National Human Rights Commission too is alarmed over the life-threatening pollution in Delhi-NCR. The NHRC has also issued notices to the Centre and Governments of Punjab and Haryana on their action plan to tackle it.

NGT has also directed Delhi government to sprinkle water wherever PM 10 is found to be in excess of 600 micrograms per cubic meter.

MoS Environment, Mahesh Sharma said, "This matter shouldn't be politicized, it is the time for everyone to come together and fight this problem."

Alarmed over life threatening high level pollution in Delhi-NCR, notices issued to the Centre and Governments of Punjab and Haryana on their action plan to tackle it: NHRC  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017 This matter shouldn't be politicized, it is the time for everyone to come together and fight this problem: MoS Environment, Mahesh Sharma #AirPollution #smog pic.twitter.com/dvJ0ByJins  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

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New Delhi:

The Congress gave three options to the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Sndolan Samiti (PASS) on how reservation will be provided to the Patidar community in educational institutions and government jobs at a late night meeting in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal conveyed the three options to PAAS members in a meeting which started around 11:30pm and ended at about 2am.

Dinesh Bambhania, a PAAS convener, soon after the meeting talking to media said, The Congress party gave us three options on how reservations in educational institution and government jobs will be provided to us.

Bambhania denied revealing the details of the meeting or the three options given to them by the Congress. We will keep the options confidential till we discuss it with Hardik, senior leaders, legal experts and social leaders of our community, added the PASS convener.

He further added that the proposal given by the Congress has not touched 49 percent reservation for SC, ST and OBC which exists in the state. The options provided are over and above current 49 percent quota.

Bambhania also added that they have rejected Congresss reservation offer under the Economically Backward Class.

Sibal in a press conference said, Todays meeting between Congress and PAAS has brought hope than something can be worked out. We have discussed all the aspects and will do things to provide reservation to the Patidar community as per the constitution.

The Congress leader further added that he will meet the Patidar leaders in the next two-three days. We expect that things will become more clear in the next meeting.

Also read: Gujarat elections: Patidar movement leader Nikhil Savani quits Bharatiya Janata Party, accuses party of bribery



The meeting was held between Congress and PASS to discuss the modalities of providing reservation to Patidars if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat.

Also read: Gujarat elections: Congress demands judicial enquiry into bribery of Patidar leaders by BJP



Hardik Patel had set November 7 as the deadline for the Congress to make its stand clear on the Patidar reservation issue.

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New Delhi:

The security forces on Thursday launched a cordon and search operation in around 13 villages of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.

As per reports coming in, a few terrorist might have taken shelter in the area.

Similar search operations were also conducted in months of August and October in Pulwama and Shopian.

In August, security forces had launched multiple cordon and search operations spread across 10 villages of Shopian district in south Kashmir as part of the latest offensive against militancy, officials had said. Dangam, Wangam, Zainapora, Mantribug and several other adjoining villages were cordoned off following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official had said.

#FLASH Security forces launched cordon and search operation in around 13 villages of Shopian district (J&K)  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

He had said searches were in progress but no contact has yet been established with the militants in these villages.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Thursday told that Odd-Even to be enforced from November 13 to November 17 in the national capital.

While talking to PTI, he shared the information, saying that Odd-Even to be enforced from November 13 to November 17.

Odd-Even will be implemented from November 13-17. Request people and all agencies to cooperate. Exemptions will be same as last time, said Kailash Gehlot, Delhi Transport Minister.

"We are calling a meeting of cabs and taxis on Friday and we will ensure that there will be no surge pricing this time", added Kailash Gehlot.

Earlier in the day, speaking on deteriorating air pollution conditions in the national capital, Kejriwal urged all government to unite for the cause, saying that the entire Northern India would turn into gas chamber if steps are not taken.

The Delhi chief minister said the issue of crop burning must be addressed.

#Odd-even to be enforced between November 13-17 in Delhi: Tranport Minister Kailash Gahlot to PTI.  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 9, 2017

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New Delhi:

A major road mishap happened in Pakistan's Punjab province when a speeding bus carrying over 100 passengers fell into a ravine killing at least 24 people and injuring 69 others, police said on Thursday.

The overloaded bus was going from Kohat to Raiwind when the accident took place in Kallar Kahar town last night. "The passengers were going to Raiwind to attend an annual religious congregation," said Muhammad Afzal, the Station House Officer of Saddar Police Station.

Confirming that 24 people had been killed, Afzal said that all the passengers belonged to Kohat area, the Dawn News reported.

Thirteen of the injured were rushed to Rawalpindi because of their serious condition while many injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, the report said.

The cause of the accident was not known but apparently overloading was the reason as it was carrying around 100 passengers, the police said. The bus originally was to go to Raiwind via Islamabad- Lahore Motorway but it opted for another route.

"The motorway is closed after 10 pm due to smog and overloaded buses are fined on the motorway because of which the driver opted to go through Grand Trunk Road," Afzal said.

"The driver was unfamiliar with this area and he was driving the bus at high speed. The bus fell into the ravine while it was passing through a slope," he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and sought a report of the accident. He also ordered the authorities to provide immediate medical treatment and relief to all those injured in the accident.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan. Most of them are caused by careless driving, bad roads and faulty vehicles.In April 2014, some 15 people were killed in a bus crash in Kallar Kahar, the same area where last night's accident had occurred.

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New Delhi:

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said government agencies have detected 17.73 lakh "suspicious transactions" since demonetization and are assessing the quantum of black money.

He also said the Centre has detected "suspicious amount" worth Rs 3.68 lakh crore in 23.22 lakh accounts in various banks.

"The money deposited in banks post-demonetisation and earlier transactions in those accounts...the details submitted by the bank account holders and their earlier tax returns are not matching hence these are suspicious transactions.

The government agencies found 17.73 lakh suspicious transactions due to demonetisation," the Road Transport and Highways Minister told a press conference here.

"We think it is black money", he added. Gadkari said necessary inquiry of account holders is on and a lot of information is expected to come out after the investigation.

"For the first time, something like this has happened. Those people had no option but to deposit their money in banks because of demonetisation," the minister said, adding the Income Tax department is carrying out the investigation.

"This is a huge task and the government agencies are working on it," Gadkari said. Hailing noteban, Gadkari said it not only helped unearth blackmoney, but also kickstarted the beginning of the new economy.

He said the government agencies found that accounts of 28,000 companies out of 2.97 lakh closed companies were accessed after demonetisation.

"(Separately) out of 1,50,000 bank accounts, Rs 10,200 crore were withdrawn after November 2016. We found one company having 2,134 bank accounts. There are many companies which were having more than 100 bank accounts. Now we found the route of the money that came to these companies and where it went because of the decision of the demonetisation," Gadkari said.

Listing various benefits of note ban, Gadkari said the Gross Disposable Income has gone up from 9 per cent to 13.3 per cent. "The business of mutual funds has also gone up 45 per cent. Demonetisation has helped in industrial and infrastructural growth. Post-November 2016, the demand for personal insurance and first year premium has gone up by 46%," he said.

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Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is encouraging residents to start planning their summer getaway with the launch of its latest sale. Date or destination changes can be made for free.

An Eid gift for UAE residents, travellers can jet off with never seen before summer prices of up to 50 per cent off. Lay back on sun-drenched beaches in the Seychelles or explore ancient ruins in Athens. The sale ends on May 12 and is valid for travel until November 20.

Fares from Abu Dhabi to Casablanca start from just AED995 ($270.8), Moscow from AED1,495 ($406.9) and Zurich from AED1,895 ($515.8). The sale extends across all of Etihads cabins, with return Business fares starting from AED2,495 ($679.1) from Abu Dhabi to Colombo.

Travellers can even enjoy quarantine free travel on arrival into Casablanca, Geneva, Zurich and Moscow, and back into Abu Dhabi. For vaccinated residents and citizens returning to the capital from countries not on Abu Dhabis green list, the quarantine period has been reduced to five days.

As part of the airlines Year of the 50th programme, three lucky guests will win 50 times their flight fare in Etihad Credit. This can be used to pay for flights, upgrades and extras any time within two years.

That means, if a guest buys a ticket for AED1,000 ($272.1) during the Summer Sale, they could win AED50,000 ($13,609.8) to spend on flights in the future. To win, travellers need to book a flight between now and May 12 from Abu Dhabi to any destination on Etihads worldwide network and fly before November 20.

Flying to, from, and via Abu Dhabi is supported by the airlines fully redesigned sanitisation and safety programme, Etihad Wellness, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey.

This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and confidence. All passengers travelling with Etihad receive complimentary Covid-19 insurance, which is valid for travel until September 30.

Etihad was the first airline in the world to announce it is operating with 100 per cent of its crew on board vaccinated. To give guests peace of mind, Etihad is the only airline in the world requiring 100 per cent of its passengers to show a negative PCR test before departure, and on arrival in Abu Dhabi. - TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi:

Online social media, Facebook is finding out a solution to stop revenge porn that requires you to send your own nudes to yourself via the social network's Messenger app.

This will help Facebook to create a digital fingerprint for the picture and mark it as non-consensual explicit media.

So, it is said that if your relationship goes sour, you could take proactive steps to prevent any intimate images in possession of your former love interest from being shared widely on Facebook or Instagram.

In order to solve such image-based abuses, Facebook is partnering with an Australian government agency to prevent it, the Australia Broadcasting Corp reported.

"It would be like sending yourself your image in an email, but obviously this is a much safer, secure end-to-end way of sending the image without sending it through the ether," e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told ABC.

Once the image is sent via Messenger, Facebook would use technology to "hash" it, which means creating a digital fingerprint or link.

"They're not storing the image, they're storing the link and using artificial intelligence and other photo-matching technologies," Grant said.

"So if somebody tried to upload that same image, which would have the same digital footprint or hash value, it will be prevented from being uploaded," she explained.

Australia is one of four countries taking part in the "industry-first" pilot which uses "cutting-edge technology" to prevent the re-sharing on images on its platforms, Facebook's Head of Global Safety Antigone Davis was quoted as saying.

"The safety and wellbeing of the Facebook community is our top priority," Davis said.
New Delhi:

The Congress on Thursday demanded the removal of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani over the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) slapping fine on his firm for alleged manipulative share trade.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also took a dig at the ruling party on the issue, saying the revelation was another tale of na khaoonga, na khane doonga.

He was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise of not allowing corruption under his watch.

Referring to allegations against BJP chief Amit Shahs son Jay Shah and NSA Ajit Dovals son Shaurya Doval, Gandhi said the case involving Rupanis entity belonged to the series of irregularities. Both Jay Shah and Shaurya Doval have denied the allegations against them.

Na Khaoonga, na khane doonga ki kahani; Shah-zada, Shaurya aur ab Vijay Rupani (the tale of not allowing corruption; Shah-zada, Shaurya and now Vijay Rupani), Gandhi tweeted.

Another Congress leader, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, accused Modi of being tight-lipped on the issue involving Rupani. He asked the prime minister to come clear whether the BJP would face the coming Gujarat Assembly polls under a chief minister fined by the capital market regulator.

Gujarat is going to poll in two phases on December 9 and December 14.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said, The people who talk about zero tolerance against corruption should show zero tolerance in this case. We demand Rupanis resignation. If he doesnt, the prime minister should sack him.

Singh further said that under Modis watch the ease of doing business policy comes with a rider of only for the friends and family of BJP (leaders).

He alleged the country is witnessing a father-son/daughter culture of favouritism and malpractices and listed names of BJP leaders and their sons/daughters as he levelled the charges.

Congresss chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, who accompanied Singh, said the SEBI had given Rupani repeated opportunities to reply to its notices before it fined the firm concerned.

Surjewala claimed Rupani refused to reply to the notice a couple of times.

Then the chief minister said he is on bed rest for six months. Very interesting! The chief minister of Gujarat tells SEBI he is on bed rest...after a few notices and a proceeding that has gone on for close to two years, the SEBI has proceeded to indict him, he added.

According to media reports, the SEBI charged 22 entities, including Rupanis Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), for manipulative trade in a little-known company, Saran Chemicals. The HUF has been asked to cough up Rs 15 lakh.

The Securities Appellate Tribunals (SAT) order published on its website today, however, said that the Sebi will pass a fresh order in the case of alleged manipulative share trade involving Rupanis HUF and 21 others.

In its order, the SAT said Sebi shall pass fresh order after giving an opportunity of hearing to all the parties.

The tribunal has set aside the penalty order, dated October 27, after hearing an appeal filed by Akash Harishbhai Desai, one of the 22 entities penalised by the regulator for alleged manipulative trading in the shares of Saran Chemicals Ltd during the January-June 2011 period.

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Jammu:

Terrorists attack a police patrolling party near district commissioners office in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag. One police personnel critically injured in the attack.

A senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir Police told News Nation that a platoon of state police personnel were patrolling near the district commissioner office, when militants on bikes opened fire at the patrolling party.

Another police officer said, the militants several rounds of bullets were shot at the patrolling team by semi-automatic rifles, possibly a Ak-47. The terrorists escaped the incident site as police personnel took positions to retaliate.

The officer added that all security forces in the region have been alerted and a cordon operation is being conducted to nab or neutralise the terrorists.

The injured Jammu and Kashmir security personnel was rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

No militant group has yet not claimed the attack.

Earlier on September 9, a police personnel was killed and two others were seriously injured in a terrorist attack in Anantnag, a few meters away from a meeting venue that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to attend on September 10.

(More details awaited)





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Patna:

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who is also a member of the GST council, on Wednesday said tax rates on 80 per cent items of top 28 per cent slab are likely to be slashed at the councils meeting starting Thursday.

Tax rates on 80 per cent of 227 items falling in top slab is likely to be reduced from 28 per cent to 18 per cent in the next GST council meeting. The GST fitment committee has also recommended reducing tax rates from 18 per cent to 12 per cent on a number of goods, Sushil Modi said at a function at the Bihar Chamber of Commerce in Patna.

So far, tax rates have been slashed on more than 100 items, he added.

The GST Council will meet on November 9 and 10 in Assams capital Guwahati.

Sushil Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, was interacting with representatives of associations formed by traders involved in businesses like food, textiles, consumer goods, real estate etc.

Noting with concern that GST returns had dropped in September to 46.4 per cent from 58 per cent in the preceding month in Bihar, Sushil Modi said directions have been issued to conduct a survey and find out what are the problems that businessmen may be facing.

Sushil Modi said like demonetization, GST too aimed at achieving a clean, transparent and honest economy and claimed the common people have no problems with the new tax regime per se. Though there may be anxieties over procedural complexities.

The new generation of traders is rapidly moving towards digitization. They want to change the way business is done and are not willing to continue with the kachcha bill system, the Bihar Deputy CM said.

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New Delhi:

As India marks the first anniversary of demonetisation the Narendra Modi-led government is selling it as a remedy for everything from black money to terrorism, while the opposition terms the move as biggest scam in Indian history.



Till date, sudden appearance of Prime Minister Narendra on television reminds people of evening when he announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were no longer legal tenders and the government will introduce new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.

demonetisation move

The legal tenders were to go void after midnight but many shopkeepers and business houses had denied accepting old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes soon after the prime minister announced his demonetisation move.

notes

Everyone across the country started scratching their houses in search of all hidden notes to deposit them in the banks as Modi had announced last day to deposit the notes was December 31.

ATMs

The second Wednesday of November witnessed a mad rush to the ATMs, which continued for next few weeks till new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes were available. People were seen standing like zombies in front of banks to get the banned notes exchanged for new one.

standing in bank queues

The lined extended to more than kilometers in certain parts of the country. In Delhi and adjoining areas people were seen standing in bank queues even before first light of the day fearing bank may run out of cash.



According to opposition more than 100 people were killed between October 18 and December 31. However the government figures claim the numbers to be 38.



Deaths reported post demonetisation



# A businessman in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, and a man in Kanpur reportedly died of severe chest pains immediately after PM Modi's 8 November announcement.



# An 8-year-old girl died in Uttar Pradesh after being allegedly deprived of medical attention. According to reports, the minor's father was turned away from a petrol pump after he tried to pay them with an old note of Rs 1,000 and was delayed while on his way to the hospital.



# An employee of the Kerala state electricity board, fell from the second floor and died while trying to deposit slip for Rs 5 lakh



# A 73-year-old man, Vishwanath Vartak died after he collapsed waiting in a queue at a State Bank of India branch at Navghar.



# An 18-month-old girl died in Vishakapatnam after a private hospital refused to accept old notes.



# A farmer died in a bank queue at Gujarat's Tarapur town, while he was waiting to withdraw money to pay his workers.





# A 70-year-old retired school teacher died after waiting for eight hours at the State Bank of India's Madhogarh branch to withdraw money for his daughter's wedding. He suffered a cardiac arrest.



# A 70-year-old retired government employee collapsed and died while waiting in a queue at an Andhra Bank branch in Secunderabad.
Shimla:

Amid tight security, polling began on Thursday morning in 68 Assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh spread across 12 districts, with all eyes on the Shimla and Kangra.

The election commission to avoid any untoward incident during polling hours and post polling has deployed more than 15000 security personnel in the state. The commission to ensure fair and peaceful voting in the state Assembly elections have kept around 96 areas under CCTV surveillance.

Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Somesh Goyal informed the media that more than 11,000 security personnel of the state, 6,400 home guards. Uttrakhand has supported us with a battalion, added the top cop.

Around 65 companies of paramilitary forces have been pressed into service in various strategic locations. Each and every security personnel have been deployed strategically to thwart any untoward incident, added Goyal.

The DGP further added that they have taken special measures in the border areas. Security personnel have been deployed in the border areas according to their sensitivity.

Goyal added that in the last few days police seized 71 thousand litres of liquor, 400 types of narcotics and Rs 1.66 crore.

Total of 337 candidates including 62 MLAs fate will be decided by 50.25 lakh electorate, including 19 lakh women and 14 transgenders. The results will be announced on November 18.

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New Delhi:

A massive anti-corruption drive that began on Saturday revealed that funds worth at least 100 billion dollar were misused through systematic corruption in the recent decades, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said.

At least 201 people which reportedly include senior prices, ministers and other influential businessmen were being held for questioning over embezzlement and corruption.

Without naming who is being held, Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said the government has a very strong evidence for this wrongdoing.

While Saudi Arabia is still reeling from monumentals changes that are taking place under new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, a major anti-corruption drive was started on Saturday.

The Attorney General said that normal commercial activities were not affected by the crackdown and only personal bank accounts of these suspect were frozen.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman himself is heading this newly-formed supreme anti-corruption committee and its investigations were progressing very quickly, the BBC quoted Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb as saying.

Princes, ministers and a billionaire business tycoon were among dozens of high-profile figures arrested or sacked at the weekend, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidates power.

The purge comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia and Iran facing off over a missile attack from Yemen and a political crisis in Lebanon after prime minister Saad Hariri's shock resignation announced from Riyadh.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

In INX Media case, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter till November 16 on Thursday. Karti Chidambaram will not be allowed to travel abroad in near future.

The Supreme Court asked CBI to respond whether Karti Chidambaram could be allowed to travel abroad for 4-5 days and what can be the conditions imposed on him so that he does not escape.

The CBI will respond in the next hearing.

The apex court read the documents sent by CBI carrying evidences against Karti. The court indicated that the documents carried details of 6 bank accounts belonging to Karti.

However, the CBI advocate Tushar Mehta requested Judge to not make the documents public.

Kartis advocates Kapil Sibal and Gopal Subramanium strongly objected to the Mehtas requests. They said that unless Karti would come to know what CBI has presented, how come he will be answering it.

The advocates said that they are ready for questioning but CBI is not calling them. After courts order, CBI called him for two days and questioned for 5 hours.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

A new passenger train, Bandhan Express, to run between Kolkata and Bangladeshs southwestern industrial city Khulna was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee through video conference on Thursday.

Bandhan Express, a fully air-conditioned weekly passenger train, will run between the two cities on Thursday. Modi, Hasina and Banerjee also inaugurated two bridges over river Meghna and river Titas in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Modi during the inaugural run of the train said, The ties of friendship between India and Bangladesh will further strengthen.

Modi speaking in Bengali said, Aaj ei shubho uplokkhe dui desh bashider amar abhinandan janai. Aaj amader moitreyee, bandhon aro sudriro holo (Today I congratulate people of both the countries on this auspicious occasion. Our ties of friendship got more strengthened today.)

Hasina said, The train service is a dream come true for people on both sides of the border. Relations between India and Bangladesh will strengthen with inauguration of the train and bridges.

While Bengal chief minister described the launch as a remarkable moment for India and Bangladesh.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The toxic smog has engulfed Delhi over the last three days and is choking people in the national capital region. The air quality index in the city has fallen under the hazardous category.

The air quality has crossed 450 on a scale that maxes out at 500. According to doctors, health experts inhaling toxic air shall trigger a plethora of health problems like Asthma, lung diseases and cardiac problems. If you are dwelling on your health and trying to find ways to protect yourself from the air poison, we have compiled a few tips for you.

DOS Buy a good quality air pollution mask: An air mask with ventilation outlets and a nose clip so that it does not move from its place. The masks are available in the price range of Rs 100 and Rs 5000.

Do not go for cheap masks as they might not provide you with enough protection. Outdoor activity can be limited: The best defense mechanism against the deadly smog is to curtail your outdoor activity.

Inhaling the polluted air for a long time can lead to lung infections, pneumonia and TB. Unless it is a real emergency, it is advisable not to venture out unnecessarily as this is certainly not the time to be outdoors. Protect your kids too as they more prone to respiratory diseases.

If you suffer from respiratory ailments, do not forget to carry inhaler/sprays with you. Air purifiers inside your house: Use air purifiers enabled with HEPA filters inside your home to purify the air. Also, try to keep the windows and doors shut to prevent the smog from entering your house. Wear sunglasses/full sleeved clothes. In order to avoid burning of eyes and skin, keep yourself fully covered. Take care of your eyes too and wear shades before stepping out.

DONTS: Do not smoke: As per doctors, the air quality is that bad that inhaling the air at present is equal to smoking 50 cigarettes. Hence, one should avoid smoking cigarettes.

Avoid street food. The time is not appropriate to indulge in your favourite street food at the moment. Food log exposed to air pollution can cause severe illnesses at this juncture.

Do not wear surgical masks: It is important to be aware of the different types of masks available in the market. Surgical masks are different from pollution masks and do not protect from microparticles like PM2.5, which happen to be the primary cause of ailments in the human body.

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Help India!



The term hate speech has not been formally defined in any of the Indian legislations, however, it is a term created out of social context and generally refers to any speech which a certain portion of the society disapproves of.

Dr Farrukh Khan and Somya Mishra, TwoCircles.net

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Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or control the Right of another; and this is the only check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know  Benjamin Franklin

For years, a lot has been said about free speech and ones freedom of expression. The debate goes on from human rights to fundamental rights. In India, free speech is protected under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. However, with the gradual passage of time, free speech has faced certain obstructions from the State in terms of defamation, sedition and hate speech.

When we talk about hate speech, we refer to any form of speech or reference which reflects a certain extent of hatred towards an individual or a community, etc. The term hate speech has not been formally defined in any of the Indian legislations, however, it is a term created out of social context and generally refers to any speech which a certain portion of the society disapproves of. According to Blacks Law Dictionary, Hate Speech is Speech that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred for some group, such as a particular race, especially in circumstances in which the communication is likely to provoke violence.

In the well-known case of Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India, the Supreme Court did not penalize hate speech as it does not exist in any of the pre-existing legislation in India. Instead, the Supreme Court requested the Law Commission to address this issue in order to avoid its stepping into the forum of judicial overreach. This is primarily why the responsibility was handed over to the Legislature.

In the case of Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Taylor, the understanding and determination of hate speech was laid down as follows:

Three main prescriptions must be followed. First, courts must apply the hate speech prohibition objectively. The question courts must ask is whether a reasonable person, aware of the context and circumstances, would view the expression as exposing the protected group to hatred. Second, the legislative term hatred or hatred or contempt must be interpreted as being restricted to those extreme manifestations of the emotion described by the words detestation and vilification. This filters out expression which, while repugnant and offensive, does not incite the level of abhorrence, delegitimization and rejection that risks causing discrimination or other harmful effects. Third, tribunals must focus their analysis on the effect of the expression at the issue, namely whether it is likely to expose the targeted person or group to hatred by others. The repugnancy of the ideas being expressed is not sufficient to justify restricting the expression, and whether or not the author of the expression intended to incite hatred or discriminatory treatment is irrelevant. The key is to determine the likely effect of the expression on its audience, keeping in mind the legislative objectives to reduce or eliminate discrimination.

The above reference was made in the case of Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India. After making the above reference and analysing the available laws regulating hate speeches in India, the Court held that:

The statutory provisions and particularly the penal law provide sufficient remedy to curb the menace of hate speeches. Thus, the person aggrieved must resort to the remedy provided under a particular statute. The root of the problem is not the absence of laws but rather a lack of effective execution. Therefore, the executive, as well as civil society, has to perform its role in enforcing the already existing legal regime.

A recent example is the case of Amish Devgan v. Union of India and Ors. wherein the petitioner, while hosting a debate, had described Pir Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti, also known as Pir Hazrat Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz, as aakrantak Chishti aya aakrantak Chishti aya lootera Chishti aya uske baad dharam badle. This case focused on various necessary aspects of law in order to determine the understanding of hate speech. Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code was interpreted which talks about the spreading of enmity between groups and doing acts prejudicial to harmony. The Apex Court also examined the validity of FIR to decide upon the FIRs filed against Amish Devgan. Although the plea for quashing of FIRs was rejected, the Apex Court provided the petitioner with interim protection based on his apology for not intending to spread hatred and his co-operation in the investigation.

Subsequently, there was the case of Vinod Dua which took Amish Devgans case as a citation. Several FIRs were filed against Vinod Dua for apparently making seditious comments against the Government. The court granted him protection against arrest based on sedition whereas the investigation continued based on the FIR. This case also held a lot of importance in determining the meaning of hate speech. This case majorly focused on free speech inclusive of criticism.

If we focus on the above-cited portions from the cited judgments, we understand that hate speech is basically made against a particular group or individual and it is entirely immaterial whether there was an intention to hurt the sentiments. As far as we consider intention to be irrelevant, we cannot pull down the provisions of the Indian Penal Code into this issue because the basis of Criminal Law is mens rea which translates to ill intention. Subsequently, we are left with the Constitution of India. All that can be done is hate speech can be included under the objections to Article 19(1). Our Indian Constitution also underlines the concept of Utilitarianism coined by Jeremy Bentham and this concept refers to maximum happiness for maximum people. Maximum happiness rests with the freedom of speech and expression which also includes criticism. Such criticism can either be positive or negative. Criticism is considered to be hate speech when it affects the sentiments of a certain group. However, if we entirely focus on the effects upon sentiments, then it will turn out to be a huge attack on free speech guaranteed under Article 19(1).

Dr Farrukh Khan is an Advocate and Managing Partner of the Law Firm- Diwan Advocates. Somya Mishra is an Advocate, working with Diwan Advocates.
Riyadh: Photos of the first-ever black stone from the Kaaba in Mecca, the holy shrine of Muslims based in Saudi Arabia, has been released in the media. The Saudi administration itself has released these photos. The Saudi government has released these 49,000-megapixel photos. This is the same stone that Haji kisses during haj pilgrimage.

In Arabic, this black stone is known as al-Hajar al-Asad, which means siah or black stone. It's taken about 50 hours to develop these photos. A total of 1050 photos have been used in making these photos. Each picture was 160 gigabytes. The mosque administration has assisted its engineering agency to release tan photos. Focus stalking technology has also been used for this purpose. Through this technology, photographs taken from different angles are added, and then a sharp and high-quality photograph is made from them.

Afifi al-Akiti, a researcher for Islamic Studies at Oxford University, has said that this stone is not really black, as I have understood. He said this is the first time that this stone picture has been magnified. This stone has been planted in the eastern part of the mosque. It is surrounded by a pure silver border. People who have arrived on the haj pilgrimage try to kiss it during parikrama. However, it is not possible for each Haji.

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Sri Lanka on Thursday announced that, with immediate effect, all arrivals from India will be banned due to the record rise in COVID-19 cases in the neighbouring country.

Many countries like the UAE, UK, Singapore and Australia have already banned travellers from India as well as other South Asian countries.

The Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday said that travellers from India will not be allowed to arrive in port in Sri Lanka. The decision has been taken as the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in India.

The Director-General Civil aviation in a letter to the CEO of the national carrier Srilankan Airlines has said, "in accordance with instructions received from health authorities of Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, it is hereby directed that passengers travelling from India will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka with immediate effect."

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, nearly 2,000 new cases have been reported during each of the last 5 days up from average 200 per day up until mid-April.

Sri Lanka had functioned as a transit hub for Indians visiting other destinations like West Asia and Singapore prior to which they needed to be quarantined for 14 days. This was an arrangement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The Sri Lankan tourism authorities were to continue receiving Indian tourists under a travel bubble for which special facilities were set up. This was despite the current difficult situation in India.

Centre grants conditional approval to 20 entities for conducting BVLOS flights of drones.

Air India in demand of vaccination, pilots threaten to 'stop work'

US flights arriving with Covid medical supplies for India delayed
Post -Poll violence is continue to increase in west Bengal, Expressing extreme anger over it telangana BJP State chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar lashed at Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. To oppose this post poll violence, Bandi Sanjay has launched one-day protest against the attacks and violence on BJP cadre and people in that State.

In a Media He said that "The 17 crore BJP cadre across the country and the Hindu society in the country stand solidly behind the BJP cadre and Hindus in West Bengal. If need be, the BJP cadre is prepared to do Karseva in West Bengal to bring accountability, if the Mamata Begum and Mamata Khan fails to stop looting, arson, molestation of women, attacks on Hindu institutions, BJP cadre and offices,". Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that the one-day protest is being observed across the country and in all the mandals in Telangana to express solidarity to the BJP cadre and Hindu society in West Bengal by strictly following Covid norms.

Further He said the BJP has been cautioning the people by placing the facts before them as to how the left parties and TMC have been encouraging illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Rohingyas. 'The BJP had contested in the election in West Bengal not for power. But, to protect democracy and to save that State from illegal immigrants, who were used as vote banks by the pseudo-secular parties mortgaging the national interests,' he pointed out.

Telangana CM appointed Ministers and party leaders as observers for Mayor election

Maratha reservation: Supreme Court cancels verdict, Uddhav says this

CM Mamata announces all local trains will be stopped from tomorrow amid corona crisis

PM Modi praises Kerala's left government over no wastage of corona vaccine
Kathmandu, May 6

As a critical shortage of medical oxygen due to the lack of sufficient cylinders is feared in Nepal due to the surging number of Covid-19 cases across the country, China is donating 20,000 oxygen cylinders.

Of that, the first lot will arrive within the next one week, according to a plan made public by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

However, it is not yet certain how many cylinders are there in the first lot.

The Office of the Prime Minister has assigned the ministries of finance and foreign affairs to make preparations to import the cylinders whereas the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has been asked to coordinate.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to import medical oxygen from India also, it has been learned, although India itself is struggling hard to manage the needful life-saving gas for its citizens.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister has also finalised a plan, according to which it will confiscate oxygen cylinders being used in the industrial sector and distribute them among the hospitals.
Kathmandu, May 6

Locals of Baijanathpur rural municipality-5 of the Banke district in southwestern Nepal took their 46-year-old neighbour to the Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital in the district headquarters after she felt difficult to breathe.

Before they reached the hospital in the late afternoon on Wednesday, the hospital had already posted a notice at its entrance saying it could not provide services to new Covid-19 patients and other patients with similar symptoms for the want of sufficient oxygen supply.

Nonetheless, the neighbours hoped that the hospital administration would reconsider its decision looking at the status of their patient.

With the same hope, they kept the patient on the hospital premises for two long hours, begging for a hospital bed.

But, the hospital officials did not heed.

Then, they took her to an isolation centre operated by the local government in their own village, where she breathed her last after a few minutes.

Dr Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary, the coordinator of the hospitals isolation centre, says the woman was given oxygen support after his oximeter did not read the level of oxygen in her body.

We learned that she was ill for the past three to four days but was taken to the hospital on Wednesday only, Dr Chaudhary says.

Hospitals saying

Meanwhile, the hospital has clarified that it refused admission as its oxygen plant does not produce the oxygen required for a high number of patients whereas importing it from other places is also immediately impossible.

Dr Nitesh Kanaudiya of the hospital says there are 133 patients on oxygen support currently.

On average, the hospital currently needs 800 cylinders of oxygen for a day or one liquid oxygen tank every five days, according to him.

The deceaseds swab sample had also been collected for a PCR test for the coronavirus, and the report is awaited.
As the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic surges across Nepal with an alarming rise in infections and deaths, a huge amount of misinformation about the contagion is circulating on the internet. Over the past few days, social media users have been sharing a picture containing various pills and capsules along with a handwritten list of medicines with a caption that they are some basic medicines for Covid-19. The handwritten Covid tablets list, which is circulating on Facebook and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger among others, contains the names of various medicines and recommended daily dosages.

According to Ramesh Lamichhane, the owner of Samyukta Pharmacy at Manamaiju in Kathmandu, many people have been visiting his pharmacy with the list in order to buy the medicines.

Within a span of three to four days, six to seven people came to me with an identical list of medicines. At first, I thought some doctor might have prescribed them, but I learnt about their origin later when one of my relatives sent me a picture of the same list saying he found it on Facebook and asked me if the list was reliable, he says.

Lamichhane tells South Asia Check that after learning about the reality of the list, he has stopped dispensing the medicines to those who come with the list.

The list includes 7 types of medicines:

Name of medicine Description Doxy 100 mg Doxy 100mg is an antibiotic drug. It is useful in treating various forms of bacterial infections of the eyes, skin, respiratory tract, urinary tract, etc. Zincovit Zincovit is a multivitamin and multimineral supplement useful in treating and preventing vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Azithral 500 mg Azithral is an antibiotic drug useful for treating various forms of bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, ear, nose, throat, lungs, skin, and eye. It is also used to cure typhoid fever and some sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea. Limcee 500 mg Chewable Limcee is a vitamin C supplement. It is used for vitamin C deficiency as well as for treating certain conditions caused by vitamin C deficiency. Shelcal 500 mg Shelcal 500 is a vitamin and mineral supplement. It is used to treat vitamin D and calcium deficiencies and bone-related problems. Ivermectin This medication is used to treat certain parasitic roundworm infections. Dolo 650 mg Dolo is a paracetamol-based drug used to treat fever, pain and ache.

Among these, Zincovit, Limcee and Shelcal are vitamin and mineral supplements while Doxy and Azithral are antibiotics. Similarly, Dolo is paracetamol and Ivermectin is medicine for roundworm.

Although vitamin and mineral supplements may be useful for patients with Covid-19, their effectiveness in such patients still remains unproven. An article published by the Harvard Medical School advises using vitamin and mineral supplements as per the prescription and suggestion of a physician. The supplements will only help those Covid-19 patients who are infected with vitamin C, D and zinc deficiencies, according to an article in the ScienceNews. Although complementary medicine is generally safe, it should be used according to the doctors advice to avoid infection, says ScienceNews.

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The list also includes two antibiotics. According to Healthline, an American health website, researchers believe antibiotics can do more harm than good if taken incorrectly. They can cause bacteria to become increasingly resistant to treatment, can damage immune cells and can damage the ability of white blood cells to fight infections. The US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warns against the unnecessary use of antibiotics saying this can make a person sicker or induce various side effects. It recommends using only the prescribed antibiotics and against using the antibiotics prescribed for others.

These drugs can have very bad effects if taken without doctors advice, Dr Arun Upreti, a resident doctor at Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, tells South Asia Check. On the other hand, if everyone starts taking these medicines arbitrarily, this could cause a shortage in the market and genuine patients could suffer.

Dr Kalyan Subedis Facebook post warns against taking medicines without consulting doctors.

According to Dr Upreti, although it is normal to give these medicines to hospitalised Covid-19 patients under the supervision of doctors, others should not take these medicines without consulting doctors. Similarly, Dr Kalyan Subedi, on his Facebook page, has advised against taking any medicines other than those prescribed by the doctor.

Dont fall for that list, he said. One should not take any other medicines except for any fever-reducing drugs for high fever and any cough suppressant for cough.

Since it is inappropriate or harmful to take any medicine without consulting a doctor, the drug list circulating on social media is misleading.

The article first appeared on South Asia Check.
Kathmandu, May 6

Nepal Tourism Board has formed a crisis cell in order to help foreign tourists who might have been stuck in various places of the country during the Covid-19-induced prohibitory orders and other restrictions.

The cell was active in the lockdown in 2020 also.

The cell has already begun its operation and 11 foreigners including five Poles from Langtang, four Ukrainians from Pokhara, and two Americans from Lukla were rescued to Kathmandu on Wednesday, according to the board.

The board has appealed to the foreign nationals to contact the following addresses if they need any support:
JUNEAU, Alaska, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Re: $144,730,000 Alaska Student Loan Corporation Taxable Education Loan Backed Notes, Series 2013A (LIBOR-Indexed Notes) CUSIP: 011855CM3

As issuer of the 2013A Notes (the "Notes"), the Alaska Student Loan Corporation (the "Issuer") today announced the commencement of a consent solicitation seeking consent from the holders of the Notes to amend the indenture governing the Notes to permit the early redemptions of the Notes at a price of 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Pursuant to its terms, the applicable provisions of the indenture governing the Notes may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in collective aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

The solicitation period ends at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Thursday, May 13, 2021, unless otherwise extended or terminated.

The solicitations are being made pursuant to a Consent Solicitation Statement for the Notes dated May 6, 2021, and are distributed through D. F. King & Co., Inc. as Information Agent at (toll free) +1-877-297-1746 or (collect) +1-212-269-5550 or by email to alaska@dfking.com. The Solicitation Agent for the Notes is RBC Capital Markets at (toll free) +1-877- 381-2099 or (collect) +1-212-618-7843 or by email to liability.management@rbccm.com. Neither the Information Agent nor the Solicitation Agent nor their respective affiliates are making any recommendation as to whether holders of the Notes should deliver a Consent in response to the Consent Solicitation Statement. Holders of the Notes must make their own decision as to whether to participate in the Consent Solicitation and, if so, the principal amount of Notes that they hold in respect of which to deliver a Consent.

As more fully provided in the Consent Solicitation Statement, following the satisfaction of the conditions to the consent solicitation, owners of Notes who deliver consents in favor of the amendment in accordance with the consent solicitation prior to the expiration date (and who do not validly revoke their consent) are eligible to receive a fee equal to 0.10% of the currently outstanding principal of the Notes for which the consent is submitted.

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This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy or an offer to purchase or sell securities. The Consent Solicitation is being made only pursuant to the Consent Solicitation Statement and only in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. In any jurisdiction in which the Consent Solicitation is required to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Consent Solicitation will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Issuer by the Solicitation Agent, or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of that jurisdiction.

Contact:

Salim Mawani

salim.mawani@rbccm.com

and

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

Banks and Brokers Call Collect: (212) 269-5550

All Others Call Toll Free: (866) 856-3065

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SOURCE Alaska Student Loan Corporation
SEATTLE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amperity, the #1 enterprise Customer Data Platform for consumer brands, today announced the release of its latest major platform update, Amperity 3.5.

The release brings several product updates and platform improvements that enable enterprise consumer brands to turn first-party data into differentiated customer experiences. Amperity 3.5 also brings improved self-service features for IT professionals and analysts, as well as powerful marketing capabilities and integrations that unlock enhanced personalization options.

"We have new functionality, namely the ability to segment our offers and integrate systems we couldn't before. It used to take us eight days to meet our goal  now it takes us one day," said Carolina Kennedy, senior director digital lifestyle marketing at Tapestry.

"These upgrades bring a wave of new value for our customers who are navigating multiple business shifts, including re-engaging their businesses post-covid, accelerating customer personalization, and the deprecation of third-party identifiers. These are massive challenges facing today's enterprises and Amperity's top priority is ensuring we continually innovate on behalf of our users," said Chris Jones, chief product officer at Amperity.

Amperity 3.5's new capabilities include:

More omnichannel personalization use cases & channels

Upgraded connectivity to Google, Facebook, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Snowflake, as well as over 120+ additional new connectors across popular channels and personalization systems, including Adobe Experience Cloud, Oracle Responsys, Azure, AWS, Attentive, and more

New joint solutions with

New multi-step campaigns and triggers based on customer transactions, behaviors, and campaign activities

Rapid segment insights with new visual segmentation tools and dashboards

Improved analytics & identity capabilities

Additional privacy-compliant anonymous identity capabilities to expand and manage audiences with no third-party cookie reliance

New Amperity-managed data warehouse that allows limitless creativity across popular BI tools such as Tableau and Looker

Workflow and auto-data labeling enhancements to make the Customer 360 even more turnkey for analysts and data administrators

Increased self-service & improved usability

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Upgraded sandboxes to facilitate easier testing and experimentation outside of production, for IT professionals.

More ways to ingest data, up to real-time streaming (Parquet, Avro, streaming JSON, XML), with additional data normalization and auto-formatting, labeling for rapid unification onto the Customer 360

Simplified drag and drop omnichannel orchestration for point and click data sync across hundreds of systems with no code required

The addition of 190 data source integrations that enable data to be brought in from the majority of systems where customer data is collected or stored. Find the full list here

All Amperity 3.5 product updates and features are available today. To schedule a demo or to learn more about Amperity CDP, go to Amperity.com .

About Amperity

Amperity's mission is to help companies use data to serve their customers. The company has revolutionized the way brands identify, understand, and connect with their customers by leveraging AI to deliver a comprehensive and actionable Customer 360. This unified view improves marketing performance, fuels accurate customer insights, and enables world-class customer experiences. With Amperity, technical teams are freed from endless integration and data management, and business teams have direct access to the comprehensive data they need to build long-term customer loyalty and drive growth. Amperity serves many of the world's most loved brands, including Wyndham, Alaska Airlines, Michaels, Lucky Brand, Kendra Scott, Planet Fitness, Patagonia, Kenneth Cole, Tapestry, Crocs, Servco, First Hawaiian Bank, and many more. To learn more, visit Amperity.com.

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SOURCE Amperity
Acquisition expands Berlin Packaging's offering for cosmetics and personal care products

MILAN, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging, the world's largest hybrid packaging supplier, announced today the acquisition of Raepak Limited, a leading supplier of plastic packaging for the cosmetics and personal care end-markets.

Berlin Packaging Logo (PRNewsfoto/Berlin Packaging)

Based in Norwich, England, Raepak offers a wide variety of pumps, sprayers, dispensers, airless bottles, tubes, roll-on bottles, and other packaging containers and closures for the beauty industry. Raepak has a wealth of innovation and design experience to complement its product offering, which includes a range of recyclable and eco-friendly packaging.

"The acquisition of Raepak will enable Berlin Packaging to further extend its offering in the cosmetics and personal care sectors," said Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging Europe. "Raepak has strong customer and supplier relationships and deep experience in the UK beauty sector, which will create significant business opportunities for our group."

"Raepak has experienced incredible growth over the last several years," said Andrew Paterson, Managing Director of Raepak. "We are thrilled to be joining Berlin Packaging and believe strongly this will benefit our employees, customers, and suppliers."

"All 14 companies that Berlin Packaging has acquired in Europe and the UK since 2016 add strategic value to our enterprise with their product, geographic, and end-use market expertise," said Bill Hayes, CEO and President of Berlin Packaging. "Raepak is no exception, given the breadth of their plastic offering, sustainability and design experience, and knowledge of the beauty and personal care sectors in the United Kingdom."

All Raepak employees and locations will be retained.

Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services.

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See BerlinPackaging.com for more information.

About Bruni Glass, a Berlin Packaging Company

Bruni Glass, the largest packaging distributor in Europe, has 40+ years' experience supplying premium and specialty glass packaging to the wine, spirits, food, and gourmet markets. Headquartered in Italy and with locations across Europe, Bruni offers thousands of custom-designed products along with popular standard items. The company has a world-class design studio, a network of high-quality manufacturing partners, a team dedicated to thrilling service, and is certified by CISQ-IMQ (Italian Institute for the Quality Mark) to ISO 9001 standards.

See BruniGlass.com for more information.

For more information:

Press Office  Omnicom PR Group Italy

Barbara Papini,

barbara.papini@omnicomprgroup.com,

+335 6113555

Ilaria Sala,

ilaria.sala@omnicomprgroup.com,

+39 335 8112968

Berlin Packaging

Elena Franzetti,

Elena.Franzetti@BruniGlass.com,

+39 02 48436611,

+39 3401204145



Julie Saltzman,

Julie.Saltzman@BerlinPackaging.com,

+1 312 869 7554 for North America

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SOURCE Berlin Packaging
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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. is listed for trading in United States dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CUP.U".

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (TSX: CUP.U) ("CUC" or "the Company") announced today its consolidated unaudited results for the First Quarter ended March 31, 2021 (all figures in United States dollars).

Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd Q1 2021 Interim Results (CNW Group/Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.)

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 ("Q1 2021" or "First Quarter 2021"), net earnings decreased $0.5 million from $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 ("Q1 2020" or "First Quarter 2020") to $3.3 million in Q1 2021. The decrease in net earnings is due primarily to higher general and administration and depreciation costs. These items were partially offset by higher electricity sales revenues and lower finance charges.

After the adjustment for dividends on the preference shares of the Company, earnings on Class A Ordinary Shares for Q1 2021 were $3.2 million or $0.09 per Class A Ordinary Share, compared to earnings on Class A Ordinary Shares of $3.7 million, or $0.11 per Class A Ordinary Share for Q1 2020.

Electricity sales revenues were $21.4 million for Q1 2021, an increase of $0.2 million when compared to electricity sales revenues of $21.2 million for Q1 2020. Electricity sales revenues for Q1 2021 increased when compared to the same period last year due to a 6.6% base rate increase effective June 1, 2020, partially offset by a 6% reduction in kilowatt hour ("kWh") sales.

Sales for Q1 2021 totalled 143.8 million kWh, a decrease of 8.5 million kWh in comparison to 152.3 million kWh for Q1 2020. The decrease in kWh sales for Q1 2021 is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic which began to impact the Cayman economy in March 2020.

In spite of the continued challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic on the Cayman Islands' economy, the Company continues to focus on providing a safe, reliable and sustainable electricity service to its customers.

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There were no lost-time injuries recorded during First Quarter 2021. The safety of employees, and that of the public, remains top priority and the Company continues to improve its work processes and increase employee training, safety management and leadership, to drive lost-time incidents to zero.

The reliability of service to customers has also remained a major focus for the Company throughout the pandemic. The Average Service Availability Index, the percentage of time power was available to customers, was 99.97% for First Quarter 2021.

President and CEO, Mr. Richard Hew, says, "I am very pleased that during First Quarter 2021 there were no lost-time injuries or significant recordable safety incidents. During the period the Company also successfully completed the re-registration of its environmental management system to the ISO 14001 standard. The Company is committed to the advancement of renewable energy and continued its discussions with the Utility Regulation and Competition Office ("OfReg") to pursue a number of initiatives under the 2017 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)."

The IRP is a roadmap to meeting the electricity needs of Grand Cayman while complying with the CO 2 reductions mandated by the Paris Accord.

Mr. Hew also stated that, "Presently there is a 5 megawatt ("MW") utility scale solar plant in Bodden Town and 8.2 MW installed on customers' premises and a further 3.4 MW under development on customers' sites. During the most recent billing month (March 2021), these existing systems generated 3.9% of the energy consumed on Grand Cayman. In September 2020, CUC proposed a solar plus battery storage project to OfReg that would provide 20 MW of renewable energy capacity onto the grid during the day and be capable of serving peak loads at night. The cost of energy from this project would be significantly less than rooftop solar costs and current fuel factor rates and would lead to savings for customers. The project would provide 11% of Grand Cayman's energy needs while reducing CO 2 impacts of the sector by a corresponding amount."

The Company has also proposed projects to OfReg to relocate two of the main transmission lines from overhead infrastructure to underground ducting. The primary benefits of these projects would be to add resilience to critical infrastructure that serves the main business and tourism sectors of Grand Cayman.

CUC's First Quarter results and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the period ended March 31 2021 are attached to this release and incorporated by reference and can be accessed by clicking the link at the end of this release.

The MD&A section of this report contains a discussion of CUC's unaudited 2021 First Quarter results, the Cayman Islands economy, liquidity and capital resources, capital expenditures and the business risks facing the Company. The release and First Quarter MD&A can be accessed at www.cuc-cayman.com (Investor Relations/Press Releases) and at www.sedar.com.

CUC provides electricity to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, under an Electricity Generation Licence expiring in 2039 and an exclusive Electricity Transmission and Distribution Licence expiring in 2028. Further information is available at www.cuc-cayman.com.

Certain statements in the MD&A, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations with respect to the Company and its operations, including its strategy and financial performance and condition.

Forward looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon future events or conditions, or include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "schedules", or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may", "will", "should", "would" and "could". Forward looking statements are based on underlying assumptions and management's beliefs, estimates and opinions, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally that may cause actual results to vary from plans, targets and estimates. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward looking statements are described in the MD&A in the section labeled "Business Risks" and include but are not limited to operational, general economic, market and business conditions, regulatory developments and weather. CUC cautions readers that actual results may vary significantly from those expected should certain risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. 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.

SOURCE Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FINN Partners, one of the largest independent communications agencies in the world, announced today that Robert J. (Bob) Martineau, veteran environmental attorney and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), has joined the agency as Senior Partner, leading the agency's burgeoning environment, energy and sustainability practice in the Southeast.

Former TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau Joins FINN Partners as Senior Partner to Lead Environment, Energy & Sustainability Practice in Southeast

Martineau will support the agency's global Sustainability & Social Impact Practice, leading a team of communications strategists for clients prioritizing sustainability throughout the 11-state Southeastern region. This Nashville-based environmental practice group counsels corporations forging leadership positions in the interrelated environmental, energy, social justice and sustainability areas that are shaped by rapidly evolving policy and climate issues. A national policy expert, he also will work closely with the FINN Global Health Practice at the intersection of public and environmental health. Martineau's specific experience includes representing companies in the areas of environmental protection, energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and innovation.

Martineau brings to FINN and its clients a wealth of experience that integrates many facets of the sustainability landscape. In addition to his cabinet-level position in Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's administration from 2011 to 2018, he led the environmental practice group at Waller, one of the Southeast's leading law firms; was a senior attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and co-edited the Clean Air Act Handbook.

"Bob's depth of expertise in environmental policy as it impacts a spectrum of business and industry sectors is unparalleled," said Beth S. Courtney, Managing Partner of FINN Southeast. "As our clients strive to navigate these issues and opportunities, we are delighted that Bob's knowledge and experience will help them maximize and communicate leading-edge environmental initiatives. Having collaborated with Bob on many projects and issues over the years, we also could not be personally more excited that he is joining our team at Finn Southeast."

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Martineau also is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and a former Board Member of The Climate Registry. Additionally, while leading TDEC, Bob served as President of the Environmental Council of the States, the group that unites the commissioners of environmental agencies for the 50 U.S states.

"Bob's capacity to bring to clients his depth of expertise in environmental policy and regulatory compliance greatly enhances the scope of FINN's global Sustainability Practice," said Jane Madden, Managing Partner, Global Sustainability & Social Impact.

Martineau is recognized nationally as among the "Best Lawyers in America" (Woodward White, Inc); Chambers International Best Lawyers; International Who's Who of Environmental Lawyers; and Best Lawyers in the Mid-South. He was named Best of the Bar by Nashville Business Journal.

Martineau was named CEO of the Year by the Nashville Business Journal during his tenure as Commissioner of TDEC and received the Good Guy Award from the Women's Political Cooperative. He has long-standing roots in the Nashville community and is a graduate of Leadership Tennessee and Leadership Nashville; past president and board member of the Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and Cumberlands; past president of First Steps Inc; past president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Tennessee; and past president of Community Health Charities of Tennessee.

A published author, Martineau graduated from St. John's University and received his law degree from University of Cincinnati College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Ohio and is a member of the American Bar Association.

About FINN Southeast

Based in Nashville, FINN Southeast is part of FINN Partners, a full-service marketing and communications company and one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. FINN Southeast's talented public relations, marketing, advertising, creative and digital professionals provide local, regional, and national clients with exceptional reach and results. FINN Southeast incorporates team members across the southeastern United States from offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.com or @finnpartners.com/southeast.

About FINN Partners, Inc.

Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has more than quadrupled in size during the past 10 years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With almost 800 professionals, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. In addition, FINN provides its clients with access to top tier agencies around the world through its membership in the global network PROI. Headquartered in New York, FINN's other offices are in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Southern California and Washington, D.C. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.

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SOURCE FINN Partners
Boston-based Fintech Company Recognized for Excellence in Customer Service, Helps Small Business Customers Make It Through Pandemic

BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Forward Financing, a fintech company that provides working capital to small businesses, was named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Best Customer Service Department category in the 19th Annual American Business Awards. More than 3,800 nominations - a record number - from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration.

"We are truly honored to receive recognition for the fantastic job our Account Servicing team does every day to help our small business customers," said Justin Bakes, Forward Financing's co-founder and CEO. "Particularly in 2020, that help was needed more than ever before to help small business owners get through the most difficult months of the pandemic. At Forward Financing, we have always sought to put small businesses first and this award is a testament that we are demonstrating that every day."

In the spring of 2020, thousands of customers reached out to Forward's Account Servicing Department (ASD) to request payment relief. To improve response times, the company trained 18 team members from different departments to join ASD, nearly tripling the size of the team. Between March 2020 and December 2020, ASD helped over 5,100 small business customers pause or reduce their payments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners. One judge commented on the Forward Financing nomination, "Wow. Just Wow. Teamwork, proactivity, putting your customers first. You truly seem more dedicated to your clients' businesses than you are even to your own bottom-line. That's inspiring!"

Customers agree that ASD's dedication to listening to the customer, understanding their needs, and finding solutions that will help them grow has helped many small businesses stay afloat.

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"The Director of Accounts Servicing, Gabe Miller, has been both flexible regarding adjusting payments during the lockdown and instrumental in making sure we had the cash flow we needed to weather this unprecedented time," said Aaron Bowdoin, a marketing agency owner, in a recent Trustpilot review. "Not only did he reduce our payments, [but] his proactive measures helped us navigate these financially uncertain times. I cannot recommend these folks enough. It is a refreshing change to work with a capital organization that truly cares about the financial health of your business. Gabe has secured our business for life with his compassion and leadership. We consider Forward Financing a real partner as we continue to grow our business."

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2021 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About Forward Financing

Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company that provides fast, flexible working capital to small businesses nationwide. Our dedicated account representatives and advanced proprietary technology help our customers spend less time finding capital and more time growing their businesses. With a simple online application, business owners can trust that Forward Financing works to get them approvals within minutes, funding within hours, and personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward Financing has expanded MainStreet's access to capital by providing over $1 billion in funding to more than 26,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and consistently receives top ratings across all major customer review platforms. Inc. Magazine and the Boston Business Journal named Forward Financing as one of Massachusetts' fastest-growing companies each year since 2017. Forward Financing is committed to helping more small business owners succeed and achieve their full potential. To learn more, visit www.forwardfinancing.com.

About the Stevie Awards

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. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Media Contact

Lauren Groccia

Forward Financing

617-379-6289

lgroccia@forwardfinancing.com

Related Images

justin-bakes-co-founder-ceo.jpg

Justin Bakes, Co-Founder & CEO

Justin Bakes co-founded Forward Financing in 2012.



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SOURCE Forward Financing
TUCKER, Ga., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A team from Georgia Transmission was recently honored with the 2019 Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) Walter Elmore Best Paper Award at the institute's 2021 Protective Relaying Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier recognition was delayed. The prestigious award recognizes the technical paper presented at the conference that receives the highest voting score from conference attendees. More than 40 papers are presented at the conference annually.

A team from Georgia Transmission was recently honored with the 2019 Georgia Institute of Technology Walter Elmore Best Paper Award at the institutes 2021 Protective Relaying Conference. The Georgia Transmission team included Addis Kifle, supervisor, system protection and control.

The Georgia Transmission team was comprised of Jeff Brogdon, manager, system protection and control; Sadel Fetic, principal engineer, system protection and control; and Addis Kifle, supervisor, system protection and control. Their paper, titled "Analysis of Microprocessor Relay Response on Surge Arrestor Protection Schemes," discusses the benefits of installing surge arrester protection schemes in certain situations.

"We are excited that Jeff, Sadel and Addis have received this well-deserved peer recognition," said Vice President for System Planning Joe Sowell. "Innovation, research and collaboration are core principles at Georgia Transmission, and we encourage all of our associates to pursue innovative solutions in their field. We believe that by constantly pursuing continuous improvement activities, we remain well-positioned to provide our members with the best in reliable service that they expect and upon which millions of Georgians rely. Receiving peer recognition for your research is not only a huge honor but a great report card on your research activities. Congratulations team!"

Surge arrester protection schemes, also known as fault bus protection, are used by utilities to extend the transformer zone of protection, shorten the duration of line outages and improve system reliability. This scheme typically consists of an instantaneous overcurrent element utilizing one or more current transformers connected in the earth fault path. In the paper presented by the Georgia Transmission team, they discussed the overall benefits of installing the scheme and provided best practices for setting a microprocessor relay to perform. The team further supported their discussion by providing readers with data from simulated scenarios.

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About Georgia Transmission

Georgia Transmission Corp., a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), owns more than 3,500 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 760 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia's EMCs, providing electricity to more than 4.3 million Georgians. For more information, visit gatrans.com.

A team from Georgia Transmission was recently honored with the 2019 Georgia Institute of Technology Walter Elmore Best Paper Award at the institutes 2021 Protective Relaying Conference. The Georgia Transmission team included Sadel Fetic, principal engineer, system protection and control.

A team from Georgia Transmission was recently honored with the 2019 Georgia Institute of Technology Walter Elmore Best Paper Award at the institutes 2021 Protective Relaying Conference. The Georgia Transmission team included Jeff Brogdon, manager, system protection and control.

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SOURCE Georgia Transmission Corporation
YARMOUTH, NS, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's forest sector is a vital source of revenue and employment across the country for Indigenous communities. The Government of Canada is investing in projects to equip them with the tools needed to promote further economic opportunity in the forest sector and within their communities.

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South ShoreSt. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today announced $48,000 in funding for Acadia First Nation to:

Create a standing timber inventory to track present and future sales of hardwoods, softwoods and value-added products, including silviculture recommendations;

Purchase a firewood processor to increase the safety and efficiency of the community's production of firewood.

This project will help the Acadia First Nation build capacity and support the transfer of knowledge through their forest management plan and understanding of potential sales of timber in their woodlot. It will further benefit the diversification of wood products available in Nova Scotia's forest sector.

Funding from Natural Resources Canada is provided through the Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program, which supports Indigenous-led economic development opportunities in Canada's forest sector. By investing in forest sector technologies, we provide greener solutions that tackle climate change and build a low-carbon economy.

Today's announcement builds on Budget 2019 funding of $12.6 million for the IFI program to support Indigenous-owned forest businesses that build capacity and create jobs in communities increasing and diversifying forest sector opportunities.

The forest sector brings value, both economically and spiritually, to Indigenous communities. This project builds a stronger Indigenous forest sector that thrives and sustains its economic resilience.

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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

"When Indigenous Peoples can participate more fully in Canada's economy, our entire country benefits. This investment will help Acadia First Nation use their traditional lands to grow a forestry business that is sustainable and profitable. That means good jobs, more revenue for their community and a stronger, more diversified forest industry in Nova Scotia."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Member of Parliament for South ShoreSt. Margarets

"Through Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program, we will continue to invest and support sustainable forest resource management practices while providing meaningful training and employment in the Forestry Sector."

Deborah Robinson

Chief, Acadia First Nation

"The activities supported under Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program will assist Acadia First Nation's strategic management decisions in enhancing economic return from harvesting while promoting the concept of Netukulimk  achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity or productivity of our environment and enhancing forest health."

Jeff Purdy

Councillor, Acadia First Nation

"This program administered by Natural Resources Canada assists Acadia First Nation to navigate through these uncertain times with strategic planning toward sustainable markets while practising management that will create employment and promote forest ecological well-being."

Rachel Stevenson

Director of Economic Development, Acadia First Nation

Associated Links

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.canada.ca/en/news.html.

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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QUEBEC, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Andree Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Chantal Rouleau, Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and Montreal Region, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, and Valerie Plante, Mayor of Montreal, announced that the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada are granting an additional $100 million to the Office municipal d'habitation de Montreal (OMHM) to renovate 517 unitslow-rental housing units (LRH), several of which are currently boarded up.

Canada (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Depending on the scope of the renovations required in the various buildings, the work would be carried out over a three-year period based on a schedule to be established by the OMHM. The households affected by this work will be notified in the coming weeks as to what comes next. Personalized support will be provided by the OMHM.

This announcement stems from the Canada-Quebec Housing Agreement signed in October 2020 by the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec. This will be followed by other initiatives that are just as important for Quebecers in all regions.

It should be noted that the Societe d'habitation du Quebec and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will also provide a $75-million grant to the OMHM in 2021. This amount will fund renovation work on other low-rental housing projects on its territory.

Quotes:

"For several years now, units in LRHs are boarded up.. Today, I am especially pleased to announce that 517 units will be renovated and that, over the coming months, 517 Montreal households will be able to live in renovated units thanks to this $100-million investment. Today's announcement is significant and fits within our vision of housing. We need to increase the housing supply quickly and to take care of our existing rental housing stock, and we will continue to take concrete actions to do so. I am well aware of the current situation and rest assured that we are there to support Quebecers in need.

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Andree Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister Responsible for the SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean Region

"Every Quebecer deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This funding will help some 500 Montreal families by providing safe and affordable housing and giving a boost to the local economy. At the same time, we are improving the quality of life of those who need it most."

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

"The government is committed to increasing the housing supply in the Montreal area and is doing everything it can to do so. I applaud this initiative that will make living environments that have been abandoned for many years livable again. This investment will improve the quality of life of the future residents of these LRHs and will rehabilitate part of Montreal's real estate heritage. We're proud of this announcement."

Chantal Rouleau, Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and Montreal Region

"Families know the housing situation in Montreal all too well. To address this shortage, all levels of government must play a part. Today's announcement shows what can be done when all stakeholders commit to working together. With this investment, 500 Montreal families will have a better, safe and affordable place to call home."

Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga

"Housing is a priority for our government. For several years now, we have had a significant need for social and affordable housing in Montreal, a need that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. The $100-million investment that will help renovate over 500 units in low-rental housing projects and benefit more than 500 Montreal households in need is therefore very good news. I welcome the contribution from the governments of Canada and Quebec and their work alongside the City of Montreal and its partners to make housing a crucial issue. Our government will continue working to improve access to quality housing that meets the needs and budget of Montrealers."

Valerie Plante, Mayor of the City of Montreal

"I am pleased to see that the OMHM and tenant representatives' recent call for reinvestments in major work was heard. This additional invested amount in renovating the low-rental housing stock will allow for the rehabilitation and leasing of a good number of boarded-up units, to the great benefit of Montrealers who have been waiting for subsidized housing for many years. In the coming weeks, we will prioritize occupied buildings that will also be renovated and will notify the residents affected by this good news on a priority basis."

Danielle Cecile, General Manager of the Office municipal d'habitation de Montreal

Highlights

Including the most recent Budget, the Government of Quebec has invested more than $660 million over the past three years to develop housing projects that were promised but never delivered. In addition, $70 million was also announced in the recent budget for 500 new housing units and $50 million was allocated to municipalities to advance stagnant projects.

In the past year, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have also signed major agreements for housing construction in Quebec, such as the Canada-Quebec Housing Agreement and one concerning the Rapid Housing Initiative .

The decision to board up LRHs in Montreal is usually made by the Office municipal d'habitation de Montreal in collaboration with Public Health. This decision is made for the health and safety of the tenants when structural or fungal contamination problems are identified.

About Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

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. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the Societe d'habitation du Quebec (SHQ)

As a leader in housing, the SHQ has the mission to meet the housing needs of Quebec citizens, by providing affordable and low-rental housing and offering a range of assistance programs to support the construction, renovation and adaptation of homes and access to homeownership. Moreover, the SHQ fosters the development of partnerships with communities, collaboration among sector stakeholders and innovation. To find out more about its activities, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.

SocietehabitationQuebec

HabitationSHQ

Quebec (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

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LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Reuters, the world's largest multimedia news provider, announced today the launch of an agenda-setting leadership forum, which will place climate action at the heart of the mainstream business discussion.

From 4-7 October, 2021, Reuters IMPACT will bring together more than 25,000 attendees to hear from the world's leading political figures, scientists, CEOs and activists to explore how mainstream business can drive the innovations and investments needed to change our future and deliver a clean and inclusive tomorrow. Developed in collaboration with Reuters award-winning newsroom, Reuters IMPACT will be broadcast live and will share strategies and perspectives on how businesses can play a role in averting the impacts of climate change.

The virtual summit is built upon five central, interlinked themes: Energy, Built Environment, Food and Land Use, Transportation and Finance. Leading speakers at the first annual summit include:

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Secretary for Transport, France

Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas, Minister for Infrastructure, Brazil

Gilbert Houngbo, President, IFAD

Tony Juniper, Chair, Natural England

Anna Konig, Mayor, Stockholm, Sweden

Jennifer Morgan, CEO, Greenpeace

Grant Reid, CEO, Mars

Fiona Reynolds, CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment

Remy Rioux, Chief Executive, French Development Agency

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, UK

Adina Valean, Secretary for Transport, European Commission

Secretary Wong, Climate Minister, Hong Kong

Kongjian Yu, Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Landscape Architecture - Peking University

Josh London, Chief Marketing Officer, Reuters, and Head of Reuters Professional, said: "I'm delighted that Reuters IMPACT is able to create a forum where global leaders from business, government, science and sustainability convene to tackle climate action head on. Our industry-driven agenda, breaking news and networking sets the stage for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), just weeks later."

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Reuters IMPACT follows the success of the inaugural Reuters Next leadership summit in January, which attracted more than 40,000 professionals from over 150 countries who came together to discuss future opportunities for change and growth, as well addressing the rifts and problems that our world and our societies face. Reuters Next returns 1-3 December, 2021.

The inaugural Reuters Next speakers included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg; Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai; European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde; BBC Director General Tim Davie; Filmmaker Waad al-Kateab; Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes.

Notes to Editors

About Reuters Events and Reuters Professional

Reuters IMPACT is produced by Reuters Events and powered by Reuters award-winning newsroom. Reuters Events delivers high-end conferences and exhibitions to diverse sectors including energy, sustainability, insurance, pharmaceuticals, transportation, travel, strategy and technology. Its offerings help senior business professionals stay at the forefront of change through insight sharing and networking with peers.

Reuters Next and Reuters Impact follow the launch of Reuters Professional  offering of global news coverage, commentary and industry-leading events to help professionals make smart decisions.

About Reuters

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider. Founded in 1851, it is committed to the Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias. With unmatched coverage in over 16 languages, and reaching billions of people worldwide every day, Reuters provides trusted intelligence that powers humans and machines to make smart decisions. It supplies business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Reuters: The Real World in Real Time.

Follow news about Reuters at https://www.reutersagency.com/en/media-center/ and @ReutersPR.

Media contact:

Joel Ivory-Harte

Communications Manager

Reuters Europe, Middle East & Africa

Joel.ivory-harte@thomsonreuters.com

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SOURCE Reuters
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Twitter logo is pictured in front of a Russian flag in this illustration

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is seeking an additional 24 million roubles ($321,586) in fines from U.S. tech giant Twitter for failing to remove content banned in Russia, the TASS news agency cited a court as saying on Wednesday.

State communications regulator Roskomnadzor said last week that Twitter was complying with a demand to remove banned content, but taking too long to do so. A punitive slowdown on the service has been extended until May 15.

TASS said six reports concerning Twitter, each carrying a possible fine of up to 4 million roubles over a failure to remove content, had been lodged with a Moscow court under Russia's Administrative Offences Code.

No date for the hearing has been set, TASS said. Roskomnadzor, Twitter and the court did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In April, a court issued three separate fines against Twitter, totalling 8.9 million roubles, over accusations it had failed to delete banned content.

Roskomnadzor has said it wants Twitter to delete content that contains child pornography, drug abuse information or calls for minors to commit suicide.

Twitter denies allowing its platform to be used to promote illegal behaviour, says it has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual exploitation, and prohibits the promotion of suicide or self-harm.

Russia has in recent months taken steps to exert more control over the operations of foreign social media platforms and tech companies. Russian authorities are suing Google, Facebook and others for allegedly failing to delete posts urging children to take part in illegal protests.

The cases were opened after protests nationwide over the jailing in February of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin.

Separately, Apple was last week fined $12 million for alleged abuse of its dominance in the mobile applications market.

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Alex Richardson)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you.

Root, Inc (NASDAQ:ROOT)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/root-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=15565&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 18, 2021

This lawsuit is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Root Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about October 28, 2020.

Allegations against ROOT include that: (i) Root would foreseeably fail to generate positive cash flow for at least several years following the IPO; (ii) accordingly, the Company would foreseeably require significant cash infusions to meet its cash flow needs; (iii) notwithstanding the Defendants' touting of Root's purportedly unique, data-driven advantages, several of the Company's established industry peers in fact possessed significant competitive advantages over Root with respect to, inter alia, telematics data and data engagement; and (iv) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein.

Ebang International Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:EBON)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/ebang-international-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=15565&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 7, 2021

Class Period: June 26, 2020 - April 5, 2021

Allegations against EBON include that: (1) the proceeds from Ebang's public offerings had been directed to an low yield, long term bonds to an underwriter and to related parties rather than used to develop the Company's operations; (2) Ebang's sales were declining and the Company had inflated reported sales, including through the sale of defective units; (3) Ebang's attempts to go public in Hong Kong had failed due to allegations of embezzling investor funds and inflated sales figures; (4) Ebang's purported crytocurrency exchange was merely the purchase of an out-of-the-box crypto exchange; and (5) 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.

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Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS)

If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/credit-suisse-group-ag-loss-submission-form?prid=15565&wire=1

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 15, 2021

Class Period: October 29, 2020 - March 31, 2021

Allegations against CS include that: defendants concealed material defects in the Company's risk policies and procedures and compliance oversight functions and efforts to allow high-risk clients to take on excessive leverage, including Greensill Capital ("Greensill") and Archegos Capital Management ("Archegos"), exposing the Company to billions of dollars in losses.

To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140.

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Vincent Wong, Esq.

39 East Broadway

Suite 304

New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212.425.1140

Fax. 866.699.3880

E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com

SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/645389/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-ROOT-EBON-CS-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines




TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Sinai Health Foundation is celebrating motherhood and its world-class team of women's and infants' health specialists in its latest public campaign hitting airwaves this month.

Sinai Health Foundation (CNW Group/Sinai Health Foundation)

Shot by award-winning cinematographer Goh Iromoto and commissioned by Sinai Health Foundation, Care for the Strongest features two mini-documentaries highlighting the power of motherhood, while showcasing Sinai Health's renowned high-risk pregnancy program that is uniquely positioned to treat some of the most complicated pregnancies in Canada.

"Being a mother can be the world's most rewarding job, but also the toughest," said Dr. Cindy Maxwell, division head of the Maternal Fetal Medicine program at Sinai Health. "The campaign offers an inside look at the resiliency of parents during a high-risk pregnancy. We hope that through it all, Sinai Health's world-leading care provides some comfort as they navigate through these challenging times."

As home to one of the busiest labour and delivery wards in Canada, Sinai Health welcomes more than 7,000 babies each year and houses one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the country. More than two-thirds of all pregnancies seen at Mount Sinai Hospital are high-risk. The Frances Bloomberg Centre for Women's and Infants' Health also helps provides compassionate and comprehensive medical care for women of all ages.

The third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario has also highlighted the critical need for this form of specialized care, as Sinai Health continues to treat pregnant women in its ICU.

"It is especially poignant to be launching the next phase of our See What Care Can Do campaign during the pandemic," said Louis de Melo, CEO of Sinai Health Foundation. "Life around us has irrevocably changed, but babies continue to be welcomed into families. This latest wave has presented parents and our care teams with so many challenges, but we want everyone to know that our dedication to helping families will always endure."

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Care for the Strongest will run in May and June on television, social media and out of home. Both spots were created by Huge with UM handling the media buy. Visit SinaiCares.ca to learn more about the campaign and how philanthropy fuels the discovery and delivery of life-changing care at Sinai Health every day.

Follow @sinaihealthfoundation on Instagram/FaceBook and @SinaiHealth on Twitter for news and use the hashtag #SinaiMoms and #SeeWhatCareCanDo.

About Sinai Health Foundation

Sinai Health Foundation takes the vision of Sinai Health's physicians, clinicians, scientists, and healthcare providers and helps turn it into a reality. Philanthropy is essential for advancing research, care, and outcomes for those facing cancer, a high-risk pregnancy, stroke recovery, and other conditions and diseases. Thanks to philanthropy, SHF helps fund world-class facilities and offers patients access to some of the most impactful clinical trials and studies that have taken place over the past 30 years.

The Care for the Strongest campaign celebrates mothers who have been carrying double the worry these last fourteen months - being pregnant during a global pandemic. (CNW Group/Sinai Health Foundation)

SOURCE Sinai Health Foundation

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/06/c2738.html
TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Unifor is hopeful about the future of skilled trades training and development following the announcement of Skilled Trades Ontario, a new, streamlined crown agency.

Ontario legislative building. (CNW Group/Unifor)

"Since the provincial government first announced its intention to replace the Ontario College of Trades, Unifor has been deeply engaged in this process," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "I look forward to continuing to work together as we move to the next phase and implement these changes for the next generation of skilled tradespeople that our province will rely on."

The announcement of the new crown agency comes after two years of stakeholder engagement, consultation, and marks the start of additional, public consultation.

"The union supports the changes including the decision to maintain compulsory trades and scopes of practice for tradespeople," said John Breslin, Unifor National Skilled Trades Director. "More importantly, Unifor supports new initiatives to attract young workers and workers from marginalized communities into the trades."

Unifor's own National Skilled Trades Council regularly engages in outreach and education with young workers, racialized and Indigenous workers, and women, all who are underrepresented in the sector.

"Ontario will need 100,000 new skilled tradespeople in the next decade alone, so now is the time to update our training, and make the process more accessible to young workers and to workers interested in re-training and learning a trade," said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director.

The Union further supports the new crown agency's intention to support apprentices and tradespeople with digital, integrated access to apprentice registration, issuance of certificates and renewals, and equivalency assessments.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. Unifor represents more than 50,000 skilled trades workers and apprentices in 63 types of skilled across Canada working in over 20 sectors. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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SOURCE Unifor

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/06/c1180.html
The Biden administration appears to be highly motivated to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) system that has been long considered to be "broken" by experts.

"We need to do better with Public Service Loan Forgiveness  about 98% have been rejected, of the claims that are put in," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on Wednesday. "To me, this really needs a very critical look to make sure that the intention that you have in Congress is followed through on, and that we're doing everything to put our students at the center of the conversation."

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona during the hearing. (Screenshot)

The PSLF program, created by Congress in 2007, enables government and non-profit employees with federally-backed student loans to apply for forgiveness after proof of 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) had asked about the $800 million Congress provided to the Education Department (ED) in 2018 to fix PSLF through the creation of the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program.

Both programs have weak track records: As of November 2020, according to data from Federal Student Aid, PSLF had a 2.2% approval rate (6,493 applications out of 296,340) while TEPSLF had an approval rate of 6.3% (2,330 applications out of 39,318).

"A lot of attention is going to be placed on this moving forward," Cardona assured the House hearing. "We're bringing folks on board that have that mentality to make sure that we keep the students at the center of the conversation."

PSLF

'More must be done'

Lawmakers led by Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) separately called on Cardona to strengthen PSLF.

We urge you to take action to waive or modify counterproductive restrictions, barriers and donut holes in PSLF," the lawmakers stated in a joint letter sent on Wednesday. "We also urge the [ED] to take proactive steps to simplify the process, provide more transparency and bolster oversight of the program and loan servicers to ensure that the PSLF program is implemented in accordance with congressional intent.

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The letter also asked Cardona to invoke the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003, which provides authority to waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title IV during a period of national emergency to "take action to waive or modify counterproductive restrictions, barriers, and donut holes in PSLF."

Some of these recommendations include things like expanding the definition of an eligible loan under PSLF to include all federal student loans and waiving the restriction that a borrower be employed in public service at the time of forgiveness.

"Now is the time to fix PSLF," the letter concluded, "and finally allow the program to benefit the millions of dedicated teachers, nurses, first responders, service members, and other public servants who have depended on this relief.



Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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FILE- In this Aug. 6, 2020 file photo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James takes a question at a news conference in New York. The Office of the New York Attorney General said in a new report, Thursday, May 6, 2021, that a campaign funded by the broadband industry submitted millions of fake comments supporting the 2017 repeal of net neutrality. The Federal Communications Commissions contentious 2017 repeal undid Obama-era rules that the broadband industry had sued to stop. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. broadband industry agreed in 2017 to fund a campaign that generated millions of fake comments during the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality proceeding, the New York Attorney General's Office said Thursday.

The office's investigation showed the broadband players spent $4.2 million to generate and submit more than 8.5 million fake comments to the FCC "to create the appearance of widespread grassroots opposition to existing net neutrality rules." The FCC adopted landmark net neutrality rules in 2015 that barred internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic, or offering paid fast lanes  rules that were overturned under President Donald Trump. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
ViSi Mobile patient monitoring system was utilized in three rounds of COVID-19 Alternative Care at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA to help save lives.

San Diego, United States, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, a humanitarian medical services organization, chose ViSi Mobile patient monitoring system for use in their collaboration with the State of Georgia and Grady Memorial Hospital for the Atlanta, GA COVID-19 alternative response care facility. ViSi Mobile, from Sotera Wireless, is an advanced wireless patient monitoring solution that not only saves lives but is also greatly helping with staff shortages in the face of the pandemic.

For more details please visit: https://www.soterawireless.com

ViSi Mobile was utilized through 3 rounds of alternative care at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA in order to support their efforts with caring for COVID-19 positive patients. The results were incredible. The focus was to rapidly deploy a vital sign system that would provide lifesaving insight to clinicians and reduce the cost of the patients care. The need for speed, closer monitoring of the patients condition, and a reduction in treatment expense was met by Sotera Wirelesss ViSi Mobile system.

The ViSi Mobile monitoring system offers the ability to continuously and remotely monitor all core vital signs including heart rate, respiration, SpO2, skin temperature, and continuous noninvasive blood pressure (cNIBP). Additionally, ViSi Mobiles advanced capabilities such as recognition of life-threatening arrhythmia (V-Tach, V-Fib, Asystole, Atrial Fibrillation, and RVR) as well as patient posture were other key features that elevated the vital sign monitoring system into a class of its own.

A small wrist-worn device that works on a wireless backbone, along with Soteras ability to rapidly deploy the technology, allowed for immediate monitoring of patients. The ViSi Mobile system allows for seamless integration with the patients medical record and alarm routing notifies the clinician of patient deterioration and assists in a timely intervention of the patient event. Charles Jones from AMI shares some of the incredible ways that ViSi helped save lives.

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Across all three iterations, we had 131 clinical days that we had patients on the floor. We had a total of 332 patients that we treated and saved the hospitals around this area 2600 bed-days. So tremendous burden relieved off of some of the infrastructure here in Atlanta. There are two statistics, though, that I am by far the proudest of, one of those is that we had zero patient deaths, not a single one. And I include that, not only did no one die at our facility here but including the ones that we recognized deterioration and were able to get them to a higher level of care. Now, many of them went on the vent as soon as they got to Grady, but we had none that died and I attribute a large part of that to the fact that we were able to spot issues with these patients as quickly as we could  100% due to the ViSi solution. No doubt about it.

The other one that Im very, very proud of is that we had 1,100 staff members come through 25,000 zone entries. And throughout that entire time, not one single staff member was diagnosed with covid. I attribute a large part of that to ViSi because through the ViSi solution with many of these patients, we reduced our touches of a patient from 6 to 12 times a day down to 2. Thats pretty significant when youre spending that entire shift in PPE as we were. And all of the frustrations that come with that and the tendencies for mistakes to happen. It was an amazing number. So zero deaths, zero staff transmissions. All in all, I think it was probably one of if the not the, most successful alternative care sites nationwide.

AMI Expeditionary Healthcare works with the state to identify locations to address gaps in vaccine access and support vaccination efforts. Factors including population demographics, local health capacity, operations, and concentration of other vaccine providers are taken into consideration when planning for clinics.

Sotera Wireless is a San Diego, CA-based healthcare technology company dedicated to producing the most accurate, comprehensive wearable monitoring system in the industry. The ViSi Mobile System enables ICU-level continuous monitoring to the general ward and beyond. The system is a wearable platform that continuously monitors all patient vital signs (Pulse Rate, Heart Rate (3 ECG Lead and 5 ECG Lead), SpO2, cNIBP (Continuous Non-Invasive Blood Pressure), MAP, Respiration Rate, Skin Temperature, Posture, Fall Detection, and Life-Threatening Arrhythmias (AFIB, AFIB RVR, VFIB, Asystole) and wirelessly communicates data to clinicians. System alerts can be tailored to notify clinicians of fluctuations that signal deterioration in a patients health. This use of surveillance monitoring promotes reduced Rapid Response Team activations, reduced Length of Stay (LOS) for transfers to the ICU, and early detection and prevention of adverse events. https://www.soterawireless.com

CONTACT: Name: Matt Bacino Organization: Sotera Wireless, Inc. Address: 10020 Huennekens St, San Diego, CA 92121, United States Phone: +1-858-373-4824




Malmo ZetaDisplay AB (publ) (Nasdaq Stockholm: ZETA) has signed an additional contract with Swedish Match within the current framework agreement. The company has been customer since 2015 and the additional contract comprises screen installations during the coming five months. The installations are dedicated to the retail network of Swedish Match in Sweden, comprising of shop in shop solutions as well as flagship stores. The hardware order value is estimated at SEK 3.8 million leading to additional annualized SaaS revenues of SEK 0.6 million.



We are very happy about the continued trust from Swedish Match. We will deliver new functionalities and advanced software integrations based on our own CMS platform. Digital communication at the point-of-decision has become even more critical in todays retail environment. We are very pleased to team up with Swedish Match being able to facilitate a meaningful encounter with the consumer at the point-of-decision through the power of Digital Signage, comments CEO Per Mandorf.

About Swedish Match

Swedish Match is a global company with market leading brands of tobacco and non-tobacco products for adult consumer enjoyment, as well as matches and lighters. Some of its well-known brands include: General, Longhorn, ZYN, Game, Red Man, Fiat Lux, and Cricket, with sales concentrated to Scandinavia, Europe and the US, as well as certain other markets.

Malmo, 6 May 2021

For questions, please contact:

Per Mandorf, President & CEO

Phone +46 704-25 82 34

Email per.mandorf@zetadisplay.com

Jacob Stjernfalt, CFO

Phone +46 768-75 41 77

E-mail jacob.stjernfalt@zetadisplay.com

Daniel Oelker, CCO

Phone +46 708-45 80 54

E-mail daniel.oelker@zetadisplay.com

About ZetaDisplay

ZetaDisplay acts at the heart of digital transformations in physical environments. We contribute to nudging peoples behaviour at the point-of-decision in retail environments, public spaces and workplace environments. Our solutions are known as Digital Signage that we develop and offer as SaaS-solutions. We are a European leader and intend to drive the further consolidation of the market organically and through acquisitions.

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ZetaDisplay has its head office in Malmo. The company generates revenues of approximately MSEK 450 and employs 200 staff at ten offices in six European countries and the USA. In total, the company handles more than 70,000 installations on over 50 markets. The share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm [ZETA]. More information at ir.zetadisplay.com.

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When Chuck Frye Jr. was a third-grader growing up in Fredericksburg, he witnessed a homicide that still haunts him many years later.

I didnt know how much it affected me until I got older and was raising my kids, Frye said. Then I realized how much of an impact it had on me.  Just seeing a life taken, it does something to you.

So when Frye was elected to Fredericksburg City Council seven years ago, one of his first initiatives was to combat gun violence any way that he could.

The Mayfield native is now the vice mayor and since hes been on council hes coordinated with the Fredericksburg Police Department and the citys Sheriffs Office to host an annual gun giveback. This years event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Police Department at 2200 Cowan Blvd.

The voluntary program allows gun owners to dispose of unwanted weapons with the police department, no questions asked. All firearms turned over to the police will be destroyed or donated to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science to assist with research. No ammunition will be accepted.

Frye said some have protested his event in the past with the belief that its designed to infringe on their Second Amendment right to bear arms.

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A King George County man who killed another young man last year in a Fredericksburg shooting pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Thursday.

Jordan Allen Reed, 20, also pleaded guilty in Fredericksburg Circuit Court to shooting in the commission of a felony and malicious wounding. He will face a maximum penalty of 35 years when he is sentenced July 6.

In exchange for his guilty pleas, charges of second-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding were reduced, and a firearms charge was dropped.

Reed killed 18-year-old Connall Mullins on Sept. 16 outside a home in the 2500 block of Carriage Lane in Fredericksburg. Mullins was there that day visiting a friend, Emmanuel Killeen, who was also shot during the incident.

According to the evidence presented by prosecutor Steve Eubank, Mullins arranged for Reed to come to the townhouse complex that day for a proposed drug sale. Eubank said the real reason Mullins contacted Reed was so Reed could be robbed of his drugs. Mullins was irked because Reed had supposedly ripped off other acquaintances of his in the recent past.

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Killeen and Mullins were in the parking lot when Reed drove up, displayed a gun and said, run your [expletive]. Eubank said the phrase was street talk that meant Reed was intending to rob the victims.
A man who pulled a gun last year during a dispute in Spotsylvania County involving some mismatched socks was convicted Thursday of attempted robbery.

Howard Thomas Waugh, 63, of Rhoadesville, entered the guilty plea in Spotsylvania Circuit Court. As part of a plea agreement, five other charges were dropped, including a second attempted robbery charge.

According to court records, deputies responded to Durangos in the 4200 block of Plank Road the afternoon of Aug. 27 after a young woman complained that Waugh had pulled a gun on her and another young woman.

The women, both in their 20s, told deputies they worked for C Events and were selling bags containing socks and other items. Waugh used his credit card to make a $20 purchase from the women, according to the evidence. Waugh had just purchased a round of drinks for patrons at the bar, but there were conflicting stories about whether the women were among those being treated.

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Court records state that Waugh followed the women into the parking lot and told them they needed to give everyone their money back. He said the mismatched socks that were in his bag was not what he was expecting.
Spotsylvania County Branch NAACP is hosting a community-wide listening session via Zoom on Saturday at 11 a.m. to discuss the shooting of Isiah Brown by a county deputy.

Brown, a 32-year-old Black man, was shot multiple times at 3:18 a.m. April 21 near his residence in the 12200 block of Catharpin Road in Spotsylvania. Brown was talking to a 911 dispatcher at the time he was shot and a recording of the call indicates that the deputy who shot Brown apparently mistook Browns cordless phone for a firearm.

NAACP President Moe Petway will facilitate the conversation, along with branch members Gary Holland and Dondrae Maiden. Representatives from law enforcement, the faith community and elected officials are also scheduled to participate.

The community can access the conversation through the Zoom link bit.ly/Isaiahbrown2021. For more information, email info@naacpspotsylvania.org.

The deputy who shot Brown has been placed on administrative leave while the Virginia State Police conducts an investigation. Fredericksburg Commonwealths Attorney LaBravia Jenkins has been appointed special prosecutor.
That roller coaster left sociology major Ashton Ledbetter, standing near Mounie in line, unsure about whether it was worth it to come back to his alma mater.

At first, I was done with it, he said. I was just tired. But I started thinking about how many people have invested in me, like my grandma. She really wanted to see me walk, and I couldnt deny her that.

So Im taking it back, Ledbetter continued.

Though different from the traditional UMW commencementno lining up along Campus Walk, no professors in full doctoral regalia, no guest speakerThursday mornings 40-minute ceremony had UMW President Troy Paino going off script during his remarks to tell graduates, This is one of the most emotional commencements Ive ever been at, including those of my daughters.

This commencement, while unusual, will be perhaps the most meaningful, he said. It will memorialize what you have gone through.

Lillian Luster, the Class of 2020 treasurer, told her classmates that the only thing I could feel last year was anger.
"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.
Additionally, to execute the SIOP at the existing shipyards, some degree of maintenance disruption will take place as new facilities are built to replace outdated ones and dry docks are expanded. As such, the Navy will need excess maintenance capacity now for its submarines and aircraft carriers, and to handle a larger fleet in coming years.

Bottom line: The Navy needs more shipyard capacity both in commercial and public shipyards to ensure a ready fleet today and into the future.

Efforts to address the shortfall should be supported, especially given the fact that the decommissioning of the USS Bonhomme Richard after a severe fire last summer was due to an inability to make repairs of the ship without jeopardizing critical maintenance or new construction.

The Navy had eight shipyards as recently as 1996 for a fleet of 359 ships (103 of them nuclear powered), and decisions to close those facilities were meant to realize a post-Cold War peace dividend. Now the U.S. geopolitical outlook has changed, and the calculus for proper amounts of ship maintenance capacity should change in kind.

A new Navy shipyard, perhaps on the West Coast, would be particularly important to make timely maintenance a top priority for Pacific operations.
Methodist Fremont Health has announced a new medication access resource for the most vulnerable. Through a new partnership with the Dispensary of Hope, patients that qualify can gain access to medication at no cost. Patient eligibility is determined by insurance status and income level.

Our pharmacy, with help from the Fremont Health Foundation, has offered a medication assistance program for years to help get patients enrolled in manufacturer programs, but it became apparent that a need existed for patients on medications not covered by those manufacturer programs, Pharmacy Director Nick Hummel said. When we did some checking, we discovered the Dispensary of Hope, a nationwide program that pairs charitable pharmacy programs with manufacturers willing to donate their generic medications on an ongoing basis.

For an annual fee, which is paid by the Fremont Health Foundation, the pharmacy is able to maintain a robust supply of the most common generic medications and dispense them at no cost to qualifying patients.

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Although Scribner City Administrator Elmer Armstrong thanked Andrews and the board for their work, he said he wasnt satisfied completely with the regulations, which he said didnt include gypsum.

Additionally, Armstrong said the regulations didnt include a definition of moisture content and believed they should require biomass to be immediately incorporated into the soil.

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They would get the most benefit out of it, and they could have it in, the smell would be gone, and it would satisfy everybody, he said. Thats something I think that should be put in the regulations.

Although the board didnt approve these changes, it did approve Armstrongs request to make the distance requirements the same for residences and wells.

Missel said the board wanted to take everyones input on the regulations, including those who use the biosolids, and believed the bigger issue was its storage and how it was mishandled.

I hope that these regulations at least move us in a direction to address that, and I think its a start at a minimum, and I would remind you as well that this is an amendment that could be done again and anything could be changed going forward, he said. So are we done? I dont know, but is it a good step forward? I believe it is.
Those are the options that were looking at depending on how much more time we need to spend working with the citizens committee in terms of the scope amount of the project that were going to bring to the voters, Dahl said.

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Before any bond issue can go to the public for a vote, it must first be passed by the FPS Board of Education. Dahl said he is hoping to introduce a resolution regarding the bond issue to the board as early as June or as late as August.

Dahl added that FPS must notify the Dodge County Election Commission 50 days prior to the special election.

The timing of the education meeting and then notifying the county has to be done sequentially, he said. So we can have a board meeting, the board can say: Yes, we want to go forward with it. Then we have to notify the county.

The contents of the bond issue have been at the center of the past three committee meetings. Several potential projects remain on the table, including:

Constructing three new elementary schools to replace Washington, Howard and Clarmar Elementary Schools.

Renovating Milliken Park Elementary School.

Constructing an addition to Johnson Crossing Academic Center.

Renovating or potentially replacing Fremont High School.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that falling international donor support to Afghanistan has reduced women's access to essential health care, and that it expects further cuts in the coming months as foreign forces prepare to withdraw from the country.

In a report published on May 6, the New York-based human rights watchdog outlines the barriers Afghan females face in trying to obtain health care, as well as the health-care system's deterioration due to falling support from international donors.

The drop in funding "has already had a harmful -- and life-threatening -- impact on the lives of many women and girls, as it affects access to and quality of health care," it said.

"International donors are locked in a waiting game to see whether the withdrawal of foreign troops will result in the Taliban gaining greater control of the country," Heather Barr, interim co-director of women's rights at HRW, said in a statement.

"But this is no excuse for cutting funds for essential services that aid groups have managed to deliver in insecure and Taliban-controlled areas."

Over the past two decades, the Afghan government has relied on international-donor funding for essential services.

But HRW said this support has been falling for years and "will likely continue to do so, perhaps precipitously" following President Joe Biden's announcement in April that the United States will withdraw all of its forces from Afghanistan by September 11. NATO has said it will follow the same timetable.

In 2013, member countries of the OECD Development Assistance Committee contributed $141 million to health and population assistance in Afghanistan, HRW noted, adding that by 2019 the figure had dropped by more than one quarter to $105 million.

And with more than 75 percent of its budget coming from international donors, the Afghan government has little ability to move toward self-sufficiency in the short term.

For its 39-page report, titled "I Would Like Four Kids -- If We Stay Alive": Women's Access to Health Care in Afghanistan, HRW said it had interviewed 56 people in Afghanistan in March and April, including 34 women and 18 other Afghans working in the health sector.

Among the barriers Afghans face in obtaining health care, it cited a lack of funds for hospitals, which meant that they are charging for supplies that previously were free, and the fact that many patients cannot afford transportation to a health facility that may be far away.

Afghan women and girls "struggle to get even the most basic information about health and family planning," according to the report, while "there is an unmet need for modern forms of contraception, and prenatal and postnatal care is often unavailable."

"Modern cancer and fertility treatment and mental health care are largely unavailable. Routine preventive care such as pap smears and mammograms are almost unheard of; and a large proportion of births are still unattended by a professional."

In addition, women "face risky pregnancies because of lack of care" and undergo procedures that "could be done more safely with more modern techniques," leading to "very high" maternal and infant mortality.

HRW urged donors to "prioritize meeting the urgent needs of Afghans, including those of women and girls for health care."

And the United States and other countries with troops in Afghanistan should "not use political and security developments to justify disengaging when the need for international assistance is greater than ever," it said.

Barr insisted that international funding for the health system "is a life-and-death issue -- and whenever cuts are made women will die."
Taliban fighters have captured Afghanistan's second-biggest dam and two Afghan Army bases, militants and officials said, as fighting escalates amid the ongoing pullout of U.S. and international forces from the war-wracked country.

Dahla Dam, also known as Arghandab Dam, is located in the Shah Wali Kot district of the southern province of Kandahar, some 40 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Kandahar City.

The dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for Kandahar City, is now under Taliban control after months of fierce fighting in the militants' former stronghold of Kandahar.

"We have seized the Dahla Dam in Arghandab," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told the media.

Haji Gulbuddin, governor of an adjacent district, confirmed the dam "is now in the control of the Taliban."

"Our security forces ... asked for reinforcements but they failed to get it," he said.

Dahla dam was built by American engineers almost 70 years ago to provide irrigation for about seven districts of Kandahar.



The militants last month blew up a bridge that connected the dam to adjacent districts.

The capture of the dam comes after heavy fighting erupted in the neighboring province of Helmand this week just days after the U.S. military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan.

Up to 3,500 U.S. troops and some 7,000 NATO soldiers are to leave Afghanistan by September 11, ending two decades of foreign military presence.



The pullout will be a test for Afghan security forces, with U.S. generals and other officials expressing concerns in recent weeks that it might lead to the collapse of the Afghan government.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on May 6 that the U.S. military may continue to train Afghan security forces, but do it in other countries after American forces leave Afghanistan



The United States has not settled on a plan yet to continue supporting the Afghan Air Force, which is heavily dependent on the U.S. for maintenance, training, and repairs, Milley also said.



He added that some U.S. aid may have to be implemented from outside the country.



Speaking at the same press conference, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged that continuing without American support on the ground will be a challenge for the Afghans as they try to hold off Taliban attacks.



Earlier this week in Helmand, thousands of people fled their homes in the face of a large-scale Taliban offensive against the Afghan Army.

U.S. fighter jets have been providing air support for the Afghan forces despite the drawdown of foreign troops.

Meanwhile, local officials and the Taliban said two government bases fell to the militants in the northern province of Baghlan.

The militants launched the attacks on the bases in the Baghlan-e-Markzai and Nahrin districts of the province late on May 5, the officials told TOLOnews.

Four Taliban were killed, and six others were wounded, unnamed Baghlan police officials said, adding that the government forces had been pushed back.

In a separate development, a former journalist was killed in Kandahar City on May 6, TOLOnews reported, quoting his relatives.

Nemat Rawan, a former TOLOnews journalist who had joined the media division of the Finance Ministry, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen, his relatives confirmed.

Ghorzang Afridi, a security official at Kandahar police, confirmed the information.

The attackers have also stolen his phone, he said.

The number of targeted attacks against media workers has been on the rise in Afghanistan since the start of the year.

With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, and TOLOnews
Severe hunger affected at least 155 million people last year as a result of conflicts, the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and weather extremes and the outlook for this year is equally harsh or worse, a report by 16 organizations says.

Two-thirds of the people in those crisis levels were in 10 countries -- Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Congo, northern Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Haiti.



The 155 million people faced crisis," emergency," or catastrophe/famine" levels of food needs, an increase of around 20 million people from 2019, it said.

The number of people facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihoods assistance is on the rise, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote in the forward to the 307-page Global Report on Food Crises.

There is no place for famine and starvation in the 21st century, Guterres said. We need to tackle hunger and conflict together to solve either.

The report, which covers 55 countries that account for 97 percent of humanitarian assistance, also said that 133,000 people in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Yemen needed urgent food to prevent widespread death from starvation last year.

World Food Programs chief economist Arif Husain said at a UN news conference that the biggest driver of food crises is conflict, which accounted for 99 million people in 23 countries facing a food crisis last year.

Unless we start finding political solutions to conflicts, the number of people needing humanitarian assistance will keep increasing, Husain said.

According to the report, 40.5 million people in 17 countries faced acute food insecurity last year because of economic shocks including the fallout from the pandemic.



The report said 75.2 million children under 5 years old living in the 55 countries were stunted in their growth and 15.8 million were wasted, or underweight for their height.

It said, food crises are becoming increasingly protracted and the ability to recover from new adverse events is becoming more difficult this year.

Conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and large-scale economic crises are expected to extend food-crisis situations in 2021, necessitating continuing large-scale humanitarian assistance, it said.



The report forecast that more than 142 million people in 40 countries will face food crises, emergencies, or catastrophes this year.

Some 155,000 people are likely to face catastrophe/famine" through mid-2021  around 108,000 in South Sudan and 47,000 in Yemen, the report said.

WFPs Husain said that the most critical needs remain funding and humanitarian access.

As an example, Husain said that providing one daily meal for a year for 34 million people would cost about $5 billion.

With reporting by AP
If you go

What: "Uprooting a Mountain: Norse Mythology Reimagined," works by Darla Slee, with music by Jeremiah Walter

When: First Friday Downtown opening reception 5-9 p.m. Friday, runs through May 28

Where: Kreuser Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St.

Price: Free; 464-5880, kreusergallery.com

Other works in the gallery: "Motherhood is Forever" by Lupita Carrasco; "Alvarez Squared" by Chris Alvarez, both run through May 28

Something else: Artist talk, 5:30 p.m. May 19
If you go

What: "An Iliad," by Theatreworks

When: Runs 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, through May 23, virtual performances available

Where: On the lawn outside Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.

Price: $15-$21; 255-3232, entcenterforthearts.org
The husband of Chaffee County resident Suzanne Morphew, who was reported missing Mother's Day weekend last year, has been arrested on suspicio
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, graduations are subject to change. Some graduations are requiring advance tickets and some are not allowing in-p
A Colorado Springs substitute teacher wants the Confederate flag banned from her districts classrooms, and thousands of people appear to agree.
A man whose sister vanished in May after going on a bicycle ride near her Colorado home is organizing a search of the mountainous area, saying that his family has waited long enough.
Barry Fagin is a Senior Fellow at the Independence Institute in Denver. His views are his alone. Readers can contact Dr. Fagin at barry@faginfamily.net.
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Cardinal Pell's Prison Journal, Vol. 2, Details Crushing Rejection of Appeal High-ranking Catholic cardinal details spiritual reflections of time spent in solitary confinement while unjustly accused of wrongdoing



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Carmel Communications

May 6, 2021



SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /



PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 2: THE STATE COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL covers the time period of July 14, 2019, through November 30, 2019. In this second of three volumes, Cardinal Pell receives the terrible news that his first appeal is rejected. With the same grace, wisdom and calm perseverance displayed in Volume 1, he continues his quest for justice by appealing to the Australian High Court. Glimmers of hope emerge as more legal experts, including non-Catholics, join the chorus of those demanding that this miscarriage of justice be reversed.



Cardinal George Pell, as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, which had been newly created by Pope Francis to manage the finances of the Vatican, was accused of sexually assaulting choir boys in his former cathedral during the 1990s. So sure that the charges were false, the cardinal voluntarily left Rome for Australia to stand trial. The trial ended in a hung jury, but when the case was retried, Cardinal Pell was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. He spent 404 days in solitary confinement until his appeal was unanimously overturned by the Australian High Court.



"Two lessons emerge from this astonishing work. The first lesson is the length to which a hate-filled judicial process will go against an innocent man  a process redeemed ultimately by Australia's High Court, but not before soiling the credibility of a nation's legal system," said Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia. "The second is the power of a good man's endurance in the face of humiliation and poisonous deceit. Cardinal Pell is a superb writer and an articulate witness to an inexcusable abuse of law, but also to the triumph of God's grace. His journal is a marvel."



For more information, to request a media review copy or to schedule an interview with Cardinal George Pell, please contact Lisa Wheeler (866-777-2313, ext. 700 or



SOURCE Carmel Communications



CONTACT: Lisa Wheeler, 866-777-2313 ext 700,



Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYMay 6, 2021SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 / Christian Newswire / -- In the second volume of Cardinal George Pell's prison journal trilogy, PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 2: THE STATE COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL (Ignatius Press), the incarcerated Cardinal learns that his appeal was rejected and he must remain in prison. The unprecedented work chronicles Cardinal Pell's life in an Australian prison as he continues to prove his innocence against unjust accusations of sex abuse. The first volume, PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 1: THE CARDINAL MAKES HIS APPEAL, was released last year.PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 2: THE STATE COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL covers the time period of July 14, 2019, through November 30, 2019. In this second of three volumes, Cardinal Pell receives the terrible news that his first appeal is rejected. With the same grace, wisdom and calm perseverance displayed in Volume 1, he continues his quest for justice by appealing to the Australian High Court. Glimmers of hope emerge as more legal experts, including non-Catholics, join the chorus of those demanding that this miscarriage of justice be reversed.Cardinal George Pell, as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, which had been newly created by Pope Francis to manage the finances of the Vatican, was accused of sexually assaulting choir boys in his former cathedral during the 1990s. So sure that the charges were false, the cardinal voluntarily left Rome for Australia to stand trial. The trial ended in a hung jury, but when the case was retried, Cardinal Pell was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. He spent 404 days in solitary confinement until his appeal was unanimously overturned by the Australian High Court."Two lessons emerge from this astonishing work. The first lesson is the length to which a hate-filled judicial process will go against an innocent man  a process redeemed ultimately by Australia's High Court, but not before soiling the credibility of a nation's legal system," said Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia. "The second is the power of a good man's endurance in the face of humiliation and poisonous deceit. Cardinal Pell is a superb writer and an articulate witness to an inexcusable abuse of law, but also to the triumph of God's grace. His journal is a marvel."For more information, to request a media review copy or to schedule an interview with Cardinal George Pell, please contact Lisa Wheeler (866-777-2313, ext. 700 or LWheeler@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.SOURCE Carmel CommunicationsCONTACT: Lisa Wheeler, 866-777-2313 ext 700, LWheeler@CarmelCommunications.com
Open-source tool helps spot gerrymandered districts

To help ensure voting districts are equitably redrawn after the 2020 census, researchers have developed an open-source tool that can help congressional redistricting observers spot unusual configurations.

GerryChain uses mathematical and computational models to generate a representative collection of maps that would meet legal voting rules and priorities for new districts. It can be used as a baseline for comparison in the evaluation of newly proposed plans and can indicate outlier configurations that may be the result of partisan goals.

The software was first developed by a team led by Daryl DeFord, an assistant mathematics professor at Washington State University (WSU), as a part of the 2018 Voting Rights Data Institute. In 2018, GerryChain was used in Virginia to analyze maps proposed to remedy House of Delegates districts that a federal court ruled were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.

It has already been downloaded 20,000 times, and the updated version will likely play a role in the upcoming redistricting based on 2020 census data.

We wanted to build an open-source software tool and make that available to people interested in reform, especially in states where there are skewed baselines, DeFord told WSU News.

A new paper, authored by DeFord along with Moon Duchin of Tufts University and Justin Solomon of MIT, describes how GerryChains models can be used to put proposed redistricting plans into context by creating large samples of alternative, but still legally valid maps for comparison.

Many states have hundreds of thousands of census blocks as well as rules and goals for how voting districts should be structured. Districts, for example, should be compact, geographically contiguous and leave counties and cities intact. Additionally, many states also like to protect communities of interest, which is often interpreted to mean areas with minority voters, while attempting to achieve political neutrality.

Even with all these rules, voting maps can still be drawn in billions of ways.

There are more feasible plans in a lot of states than there are molecules in the universe, DeFord said. Thats why you want this kind of mathematical tool that can produce an array of representative maps.

GerryChain uses a method called a spanning tree recombination or ReCom for short. It involves taking two districts, merging them together before splitting them apart again in a different way. This creates a greater change with multiple voting blocks changing at a time, WSU News explained.

The software can create alternative voting maps within a matter of hours, but the researchers stressed that GerryChain is a tool for analyzing baselines and evaluating alternatives and shouldnt be relied on to create the voting plan that is ultimately adopted.

This is not some sort of magic black box where you push the button, and you get a collection of perfect plans, DeFord said. It really requires serious engagement with social scientists and legal scholars. Because the rules are written and implemented by people, this is a fundamentally human process.

GerryChain is freely available for use by voting reform groups or anyone who has knowledge of Python, the data software behind it.
"I kept saying to myself, 'We do that, we have that,' and all these things are suddenly adding up for me," Putnam said. "This is what we need to bring our region together."

This isn't just a pie-in-the-sky idea. It's really more like do-or-die. The employment gap between urban and rural areas nationwide -- around 10 million jobs -- is as large as it has ever been, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Innovation is where most of the job growth lies, and it's not happening in rural areas. For example, 97 percent of all computer- or math-related jobs have been created in metro areas, and the economy that surrounds innovation has outstripped the rest of the economy in growth by 4.3% in the last 20 years.

"One of the first comments we get after we make the presentation is 'we can't do that here'," said Chad Schreck, president and CEO of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation. Schreck also helped put together the grant application. "And my response is we have to do it here. We know what will happen if we don't."

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Putnam and his team partnered with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) out of Vermont, which has a demonstrated track record of success in helping organizations win federal grants to build support systems for scalable tech/innovation startups.
Born in Mason City in 1924 to Eldist S. and Jewette E. Lewis Walls, Madelyns family included one sister, Esther, a librarian for the New York Public Library. Eldest and Jewette arrived in Mason City in 1918.

Her grandparents arrived in Iowa about 1870 from Mississippi and Virginia on the Underground Railroad. Madelyns father and grandfather worked in the mines in southern Iowa before the mines wore out and then continued on to North Iowa.

Graduating from Mason City High School in 1942, Madelyn continued her education at NIACC, graduating again from the University of Iowa where she received a degree in education with a major in English. Teaching for one year in Keyesville, Georgia she returned to Mason City accepting a position at the Public Library.

Hired in 1946 by the-librarian Miss. Lydia Barrette, Madelyn began as a general assistant. In a 1965 interview Madelyn stated, I wouldnt exactly say that I quit teaching to go into library work. I just started working here and liked it.

madelyn walls.jpg In this photo, which appeared in the Globe Gazette on March 6, 1970, Madelyn Walls carefully examines a book at the Mason City Public Library.
Its sad what our country has come to with the deep division and the continued name calling by many on both sides of the aisle but mostly those on the left.

As a Republican who very much respected and admired Martin Luther King,  judge a person by the content of their character not the color of their skin, and that goes with sexual orientation... Its maddening how were labeled as racists, bigots, simply for being a President Trump supporter. Wow!

Lets review some history to remind those on the left they are not without sin.

The Democratic Party was the party of the slave owner and the party of the Confederacy. They formed the KKK and even recently have had ties to their leadership including Hillary Clinton. After the Civil War they passed Jim Crow legislation and enforced it through Democrat Governors.

More recently, former President Obama spent twenty years in a church that honored Louis Farrakhan. We watched Obama turn his back on Israel for the eight years he was in office, and it looks like President Biden will do the same.

Even more recently, weve watched Democrat Governors and Mayors allow Marxist/Communist organizations such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter loot, burn, and terrorize their cities.
The rush to get leftover doses at CVS or wait for a new round of vaccine appointments to drop on the pharmacys website at 6 a.m. are in the past for 342 Virginia locations now offering walk-ins.

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.

As of 4 p.m., only 38 of the 118 localities with CVS stores offering vaccinations were fully booked.

While Richmond, Henrico and Chester had vaccines available, there are currently no locations offering vaccines in South Richmond or along the Route 1 corridor, which has one CVS pharmacy. Both are areas with major Black, Latino and immigrant populations that have consistently experienced high COVID rates in the past year.
I hope Ted Cruz enjoyed Danville as much as he enjoyed Cancun, Yarmosky said via email Thursday, taking a jab at Cruzs trip to Mexico while there were power outages in his state following winter storms earlier this year. I would note that Virginia is currently the number one state in the nation for business [over Texas], has the lowest unemployment rate in the mid-Atlantic, has vaccinated 60% of all adults [its actually 46% of the population having at least one shot and 33.3% fully vaccinated], has among the lowest COVID-19 case and death rates in the nation, and has brought in over $10 billion in capital investment during 2020  at the height of the pandemic. Like most Americans, I have no idea what Ted Cruz is talking about.
But he said that any discussion of a settlement should be guided by video from officer-worn cameras that show how police interacted with Smith that night in September 2018.

Leaders should and must lead and thats being guided by the actual merit. Period. Full stop, Outling said. That should be viewed on whether the officers violated the law. Here I dont see it and that is my guide.

Outling, who is a candidate for mayor against incumbent Nancy Vaughan, said any settlement in the case should be tempered by whether council believes the police did something wrong to cause Smiths death.

The officers in the video were exercising great patience in trying to help Mr. Smith, which is totally different than what happened in the case of George Floyd, Outling said. I didnt see anything close with Marcus.

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In the past, Vaughan has sometimes been reticent to discuss the Smith case. Wednesday was no different. She declined to say what aspects were discussed behind closed doors on Tuesday.

On the night of Sept. 8, 2018, an agitated Smith approached officers who were working a downtown festival and asked for their help.
But it's not yet clear to me how different campus life will be in the fall. Only four N.C. schools (Duke, Wake Forest, Brevard College and the Charlotte campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary) are requiring students to be vaccinated; nationally, it's somewhere around 6 percent of all colleges and universities. (The UNC System won't require shots.) If new cases dwindle to almost nothing over the summer, even without required vaccinations, then campus life probably will look and feel mostly like it did before the pandemic. If the coronavirus sticks around, well, now you see why both A&T and Elon have Plan Bs to go along with their Plan As for the fall.

I'm going to put the "COVID-19 on campus" on hiatus for the summer. I really hope I don't have to bring it back for the fall.

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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PRESS RELEASE  The partnership is sponsored by club owner Roman Abramovich and will support the expansion of the Museums Jewish Hidden Heroes project which will feature a new Bomber Command exhibition at both the London and Cosford sites, launching in 2023.

The new displays will help the Museum to continue to raise awareness of the previously untold story of the Jewish personnel in the RAF during the Second World War and the vital role they played in defeating the Luftwaffe in the famous Battle of Britain, preventing the Nazis from invading Britain, the last democratic stronghold in Europe. These heroes joined the RAF from all over the world, to fight against tyranny, racism and antisemitism, fully aware that they risked torture and execution if captured. Their fascinating stories are a powerful window to the past through which we can make links to today and inspire future generations.

The London exhibition is already home to an iconic Avro-Lancaster which was adopted in 2020 by Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea Foundation to commemorate the many Jewish Hidden Heroes of Bomber Command. This year the Museum is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first test flight of the Avro Lancaster.

New additions to the exhibition will include in-gallery screens exploring the contributions of the personnel to Bomber Command, a small object display with links to the Hidden Heroes, RAF Museums online display of objects commemorating both the Bomber Command and Jewish Hidden Heroes and the Avro-Lancaster will be accompanied by an Augmented Reality interactive experience, sharing the stories of Jewish RAF personnel.

The partnership will also bring to life the Jewish Hidden Heroes Community Outreach Programme, which will extend to the wider community through school networks in London, sharing the positive narrative of the Jews fighting for their country and the survival of their race. It will also support the continuation of recording Jewish Hidden Heroes stories for the Jewish section on the RAF Stories website and the Community Programme of Jewish Hidden Heroes presentations for Key Stage 2 and 3 audiences.

Bruce Buck, Chelsea FC Chairman: We are delighted to announce a further three-year extension to our partnership with the Royal Airforce Museum. This will see the continuation of the Hidden Heroes project and enable the Museum to expand upon it and introduce new educational tools. Chelsea FC is committed to tackling antisemitism through education and the Jewish Hidden Heroes tells important stories about the bravery of Jewish RAF personnel during the conflict.

Maggie Appleton, RAF Museum CEO: More than ever we need to challenge prejudice in all its ugly forms, and more than ever we need to educate young minds as to the experiences of previous generations  those who suffered as well as those who fought back. I am incredibly proud of our partnership with the Chelsea Foundation and the Jewish Hidden Heroes project and hope that it goes some way to challenging the rise of anti-Semitism and wider racism in society. These are inspiring stories of courage and human spirit which will endure and resonate.

You can find out more information about the RAF Museum, including how to purchase tickets here. The Museum will be ready for take-off when it reopens on 17 May.

To find out more information about the clubs Say No to Antisemitism campaign, visit the new website here. If you would like to keep up to date with the clubs latest antisemitism updates and key events, you can register for the newsletter here.
With the Biden administration crossing the arbitrary but still meaningful threshold of 100 days in office, theres no question that President Joe Biden has been successful.

Recent polls show that a surprisingly high percentage of Americans  roughly 53%  approve of his job performance so far, with the highest marks coming for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy. He even has a 63% favorability rating among college students who are registered to vote.

Not bad for a 78-year-old grandfather who was once dismissed as out of touch by Americans on both sides of the political aisle.

However, Im convinced that much of Bidens success never would have happened without Vice President Kamala Harris by his side. As a child of immigrants, as well as the first woman, first Black person and first South Asian person to hold the job, the California Democrat has turned out to be the right politician, in the right position, at the right tumultuous time in Americas history.

At a time when the nation is being pulled apart by racists and rocked by racial injustice, Harris, just because of who she is, has been able to connect with Americans in a personal and powerful way. I dont envy her.
Lady Bird (2017): Much of the pleasure of Greta Gerwigs luminous coming-of-age tale is in watching the relationship between California teenager Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) and her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf)  each teems with simultaneous love for, and irritation at, the other. The movie begins with the two practically as one (sharing a hotel bed on a college trip); by its end, they are geographically separated as Lady Bird has begun to fly away, but you see the beginnings of their adult relationship, expressed in a sweet, tentative phone call back home. Watch on Netflix.

The Namesake (2007): Based on Jhumpa Lahiris novel, this film, about two generations of a Bengali American clan, has the parents first arriving in New York from Calcutta as newlyweds and near-strangers. Ashima, the mother (played by the actress Tabu), undergoes a gradual, moving transformation; falling in love with her young husband (Irrfan Khan, who died last month, leaving this as one of many indelible performances), and creating over the years a warm home in a place that once felt so terribly cold. Watch on Amazon Prime.
Clancys 1993 Without Remorse was set in 1969-70 amid the Vietnam War, dealing also with Kellys rebound relationship, after losing his wife in a fatal car accident, with a stateside prostitute ensnared in the international drug trade.

All thats gone now. The script, credited to Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Wind River) and game alum Will Staples, begins in Syria, with a Navy SEALs hostage rescue. This involves Kelly, fellow SEAL Karen Greer (Jodie Turner-Smith, most welcome) and their comrades, working with limited intel provided by shifty CIA agent Robert Ritter (Jamie Bell, playing a Who Can You Trust? game of his own with the audience). They learn soon enough that the bad people are Russian, not Syrian. And Something is Definitely Up.

From there Without Remorse jumps to a three-months-later series of retaliatory assassinations on members of the SEALs operation, bringing the war home and making it personal. Who can Kelly rely upon? The military? The CIA? The U.S. Secretary of State, played by Guy Pearce?

As the movie moves from Aleppo to D.C. to Russia (played by Germany, where the film was shot, mostly in Berlin), director Sollimas facility with violent mayhem mitigates the dumbness. Veteran cinematographer Philippe Rousselot gives it all an impressive sheen, slightly above its medium-budget pay grade.
The film includes performances from four dancers and portrays the filmmakers experience growing up in a predominantly white school  and how that has shaped who he is now.

North Carolina Shorts  10 films over 84 minutes  will be shown on May 12 outdoors at Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem. The virtual screening of the shorts program opens at midnight May 13.

At Red Cinemas in Greensboro, viewers can see before/during/after thanks in part to sponsorship from Downtown Greensboro Inc. and Restoration Med Spa.

The dramedy focuses on a middle-aged New York City theater actress, whose seemingly perfect marriage comes to an end after she catches her husband cheating. She is suddenly forced to figure out the kind of person she wants to portray in real life.

Steeves, its star, is best known for her work as inmate Beth Hoefler on the Netflix show, Orange Is The New Black. This is her first feature film as a writer and producer.

Kopkowski drew on her own experiences as she selected Jakes Diner for the subject of her film.

A native of Atlanta, she grew up frequenting Southern diners. She even waited tables at one in Georgia.
Matson said Eastern High was selected for a few reasons. The school is a major hub for the districts transportation staff, which will allow them a convenient way to get vaccinated. Also, its one of the schools farthest away from the vaccination site at Four Seasons Town Centre. Because of that, administrators hope it can help serve the surrounding community.

We know transportation can be a barrier for some, especially in our more rural locations, so this is one way we can make it easier for our community to have access to COVID-19 vaccines and bring us closer to the end of this pandemic, Superintendent Sharon Contreras said in a news release.

There are plans to hold another clinic at Eastern before school ends so people can get the needed second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Later this month, Andrews High School in High Point will host a clinic. Matson said the district expects to have clinics at other schools as well.
For more than a century, chickens have roosted in the building that houses Patsy and Lawrence Wards Happy Chicken Eggs. On their farm in McLeansville, North Carolina, about 10 miles outside of Greensboro, the Wards refurbished original structures to provide shelter for their cage-free flock of 650.

The Wards sold their eggs, along with fresh pork, at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market for many years. But after Lawrence suffered a stroke that requires him to use a wheelchair, the couple scaled back their operation to just eggs. COVID-19 further impacted that business, forcing them to leave the farmers market due to concerns for their health.

They struck a deal with Maxie Bs more than 15 years ago when owner, Robin Davis, decided to locally source the bakerys ingredients. Now they also supply the bakery with eggs both for use in their baked goods as well as for sale via their Pantry, an online marketplace created after the onset of the pandemic. The Pantry connects their suppliers, who found themselves with an overabundance of product, with Maxie Bs customers desperate for basic grocery staples.

That was really a blessing for Lawrence, because his passion is farming and he loves the chickens, says Patsy. It gives him a purpose to get up every morning.

The Feast and Field team took a trip to Wards Happy Chicken Eggs, and Patsy offers a few of her best egg tips and explains why happy chickens make for better, fresher eggs.

How are your chickens raised?

We give them quality feed with no antibiotics or growth hormones  we buy it from an 86-year-old man in Liberty, says Ward. The chickens are in a house and a fenced in area  theyre free to go in and out so theyre not crowded. Three times a year, in order to keep egg production high, we rotate out and sell older chickens that are laying fewer eggs and replace them with younger chickens.

When it comes to baking, the quality of egg matters. And farm-raised is your best bet.

Youre assured of the freshness, and the quality is better. You can tell a difference when you taste one of our eggs  its a richer flavor, says Ward.

But how can you tell this guaranteed freshness? Ward explains:

When you crack it, the egg should be intact, and the yolk should stand up and not melt down into the white of the egg. Before cracking, you can put eggs in a pot with water over them. If they float, you should throw them away, and if they stay in the bottom of the pan or stand up, theyre fresh.
HIGH POINT  High Point University intends to add a dental school to a long list of recent additions to its academic portfolio  and more programs could be coming.

The university announced Wednesday that it plans to launch the School of Dental Medicine and Oral Health in fall 2023 pending approval from two accrediting agencies.

This is a new chapter ... in the life of High Point University, President Nido Qubein said at an event announcing the new dental school. But it is not the last chapter in the life of High Point University.

High Points dental school will be only the third in the state and the first among private North Carolina universities. The states other two dental schools are at UNC-Chapel Hill and East Carolina University.

Qubein said he expects HPUs dental school to open with 32 students and grow eventually to 180 students. Dental school typically takes four years to complete, and graduates earn a doctoral degree.

The school will be housed in a new campus building. High Point plans to build it on a parking lot adjacent to Congdon Hall, which is home to High Points health sciences and pharmacy schools and part of the universitys science- and tech-focused Innovation Corridor.
Unaccompanied minors in such a center could live there between a few weeks and a few months as they await being reunified with their parents, guardians, relatives or sponsors living in the United States.

Greensboro officials said in a prepared statement that neither the city nor county solicited the federal government to set up a site here. And any such site would not be part of the school system or social services.

"This will also come without incentives or any cost to the City or County," the city said in the statement, adding that DHHS "will solely make the decision what facilities it selects across the country."

The Greensboro site would serve as a way station that is better than the holding centers at the U.S.-Mexico border, Alston said. The U.S. government under both the Trump and Biden administrations has been criticized for operating centers that have held children in cage-like rooms and crowded conditions.

Alston said the site would be a temporary home for these children who need good living conditions while they seek their families.
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.

Taylor and Fridley also each were charged in Alleghany County with possessing a Schedule I or II drug.
RALEIGH  Republican lawmakers who are concerned about what students are being taught in class could require schools to post online what materials their teachers are using.

The state House passed the Academic Transparency bill on Wednesday. It would require school districts and charter schools with 400 or more students to list online what instructional materials they used in the past school year.

Some GOP lawmakers say they feel the legislation is necessary because parents are concerned about what their children are learning.

This will help the parents going to the next grade be able to look and see what that teacher taught the year before, state Rep. Jeff McNeely, an Iredell County Republican, said at Tuesdays House Education Committee meeting. Were not going to try to indoctrinate them or teach them in a certain way to make them believe something other than the facts, the knowledge, the ability to write, the ability to read.

House Bill 755 was passed on a 66-50 vote, with all but one Republican in support and all Democrats in opposition.

We have to be very careful when trying to micromanage for no reason, because thats what this is, said Rep. Kandie Smith, a Pitt County Democrat.
by Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot, 185th Air Refueling Wing

The National Guard paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa revealed a remarkable heritage paint scheme which they completed this week on an Idaho Air National Guard (ANG) A-10 Thunderbolt II. The 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho ANG conceived this new livery for their A-10 in celebration of the units 75th anniversary and their lineage to the WWII-era 405th Fighter Group, which flew Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.

The 405th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces fighter-bomber unit during World War II. They flew P-47 Thunderbolts in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), starting with the buildup to the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day) and continuing through to the end of the war in Europe. The 405th was a unit within the Ninth Air Force, IX Fighter Command, IX Tactical Air Command, 84th Fighter Wing. They operated some 73 aircraft, spread between the 509th, 510th, and 511th Fighter Squadrons, plus headquarters elements, and primarily carried out support missions for Pattons Third Army.

The 405th Bombardment Group (Dive) first organized on February 4th, 1943 at Drew Field near Tampa, Florida, and activated on March 1st, 1943. The group was initially equipped with a few Douglas A-24 Banshee and Curtiss A-25 Shrike dive-bombers, although they gained some P-39 Airacobras before they leaving Drew. The 405th BG became redesignated as the 405th Fighter Bomber Group on August 15th, 1943, moving to Walterboro, South Carolina that September. In Walterboro, the group received their first P-47 Thunderbolts, these being the earlier razorback variants. In February 1944, the group moved by train to a point of embarkation (POE) camp near New York City, and soon embarked aboard the RMS Mauritania for transport to England. After six days at sea, two of them in hurricane conditions, the group finally arrived in Liverpool, traveling from there by train to Southampton, then via lorry to Christchurch, Dorset.

From March to 29 June 1944, the 405th operated out of the RAF Christchurch. After setting up camp and training over England, the group began combat operations over France. During this period their primary task was ground attack ahead of the coming Operation Overlord invasion of Normandy. The group disrupted German positions and transportation infrastructure. Train locomotives were a favorite target. The group destroyed the Seine River bridge at Mantes-Gassicourt, northeast of Paris, just before the invasion, to inhibit movement of German materiel. The group was grounded during the June 6th invasion activities because Allied command was concerned that inexperienced anti-aircraft batteries would mistake P-47s for the German FW-190. The 405th resumed flying on 10 June, providing close air support to the beachhead. On June 18th, 1944, the group was redesignated to the 405th Fighter Group. A few weeks after the invasion, the 405th packed up and moved to a POE near Southampton.

While encamped at Christchurch, the Groups officers bivouacked in Bure Homage, an English manor house, adjacent to the airfield, which the British Ministry of Defence had requisitioned for military use during the war.

The groups most notable action was the destruction of an entire German armored division near the town of Avaranches [sic], France on July 29th, 1944. After immobilizing leading and trailing elements of the 3 mile long column, the rest of the tanks and trucks were trapped, and systematically destroyed during multiple sorties.

The 405th also accepted the surrender of the highly decorated Luftwaffe Stuka-ace, Hans-Ulrich Rudel, and his officers at the end of the war. (405th historic information provided by www.americanairmuseum.com)

The WWII-themed livery for the newly-painted A-10 Thunderbolt gets down to the details with a white nose, period U.S. Air Force roundels on the fuselage and wing, along with D-Day Invasion stripes all painted over an olive drab base coat. The 8N painted on the side of the aircraft indicates the aircraft code for the 405th Fighter Squadron.

It is not just the unit, but the aircraft which share a common linage; the original P-47 Thunderbolt was manufactured by Republic Aviation during World War II as a multi-role air-to-air and ground attack aircraft. After the war, the P-47 remained in service in the U.S. Air National Guard through the early 1950s where it was used as a cost-effective way to train new aircrew. During the war, Britains Royal Air Force adapted their P-47Ds to become primarily ground attack aircraft, similar to the mission of the A-10 today.

The P-47s younger sibling, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, was manufactured by Fairchild Republic, and designed specifically for close air support. With its heavy 30mm rotary cannon, it is commonly known as the tank killer.

The 340th heritage paint scheme on this A-10 is one of several similar heritage schemes which the ANG paint facility has created in the past several years. Units of the Air Force and Air National Guard can get permission to temporarily paint non-standard markings on aircraft as part of unit heritage and moral. The aircraft will likely appear at air shows this year to show, reminding audiences of the units WWII heritage.
She pointed to toxins in cosmetics, food and other products and asked if we have a source of information about which products contain which toxins  and which are clean, that is, free of toxins.

We do. The Environmental Working Group has an exhaustive, easily accessible database of just that.

In addition, we have a local source of clean, sustainably sourced food and other grocery products in our full-service grocery co-op, Deep Roots Market. I talk with staff there often and I know their food and grocery ethic. They are completely focused on ensuring that they carry only the cleanest, most environmentally-friendly products available. And if customers find out differently, they appreciate your feedback and are happy to make changes when possible.

We are truly fortunate to have the EWG nationally and Deep Roots Market locally to help us protect our health and our environment.

Lyn McCoy

Greensboro

Greener schools

Climate change is upon us, and we must make drastic changes to stem the tide of crippling droughts, torrential rains and increasingly destructive storms.
Dirk Holkeboer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tulare/Kings Counties, stands outside the organization's new ReStore, located at 415 W. Lacey Blvd. in this 2018 file photo.
" " Georgios Nikolaou Papanikolaou presented the findings of his first cervical smear tests in 1928, forever changing the course of female reproductive health screening and cancer prevention protocols. traveler1116/Getty Images/HowStuffWorks

For better or worse, few of us have inherently positive associations with routine medical exams. But while you'd be hard pressed to find any woman super stoked to receive a cervical cancer screener known as the Pap smear (or Pap test), learning about the procedure's game-changing introduction into modern medicine might give you a newfound appreciation for its significance. And behind the unprecedented test is a man who collaborated with his wife in an effort to save women's lives: Georgios Papanikolaou.

Born on the Greek island of Euboea in 1883, Papanikolaou followed in his doctor dad's footsteps and graduated from medical school with top honors at the age of 21. Compassion played a major role in Papanikolaou's professional endeavors from the start; after working as an assistant surgeon in the military, he spent two years caring for socially isolated leprosy patients outside of his hometown. In 1910, he received a Ph.D. in zoology from Germany's University of Munich and married Andromache Mavroyeni (Mary), the daughter of a famous military family, soon after. The couple moved to the U.S. in 1913 and desperate to make ends meet, Papanikolaou temporarily strayed from medicine to sell carpets and play violin in restaurants while his wife sewed buttons for $5 a week.

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It didn't take long, however, for Papanikolaou to land a research position in the pathology department of New York Hospital and the department of anatomy at Cornell University. With his wife by his side as a technician and sometimes-test-subject, Papanikolaou began studying sex determination in guinea pigs, and quickly found that some cells in the vagina and uterus changed throughout the menstrual cycle. Curious to know if the same changes could be observed in humans, he performed the same examinations on his wife and several (clearly very trusting) female friends, collecting cell samples from the outer opening of each test subject's cervix. After scraping a few cells from the area, Papanikolaou smeared the samples onto a glass slide and examined them under a microscope.

What the doctor observed through his lens changed the landscape of female health care: One of the friend's samples was made up of mutated, malignant cancer cells. In 1928, Papanikolaou presented the findings at a medical conference, a year after a Romanian scientist named Aurel Babes had demonstrated a similar technique. But because Papanikolaou implemented the method first and introduced a unique way of applying the cells to slides, he's the one credited with the innovation (although in Romania, the test is called Methode Babes-Papanicolaou).

Scientific circles weren't quick to accept Papanikolaou's modern ideas, though  due to widespread skepticism, it took a full decade for a clinical trial to take place at New York Hospital. The results of the study, however, were undeniable: Papanikolaou was able to detect a significant number of early cancers with his method, and in 1952, the first mass screening program launched in Tennessee (773 of 10,000 women were diagnosed with cancer thanks to that test).

The Pap smear remains an important staple of female health care, typically performed every three years for women ages 21 to 65. During the short and simple test, a doctor gently inserts a speculum into the vagina to hold the vaginal walls apart and expose the cervix before using a soft brush and flat scraping device to painlessly swab cervical cells. The whole procedure is completed within minutes, but the impact can be profound: the test is the only way to detect cervical cell changes that may indicate the development of future cancer. According to research, women with cervical cancer who were diagnosed via Pap smear had a 92 percent cure rate, while those diagnosed by symptoms alone only had a 66 percent cure rate.

Although it took years for the medical community to widely accept Papanikolaou's groundbreaking work, his contribution to medicine (and the contributions of his wife and friends) continues to affect the lives of patients and their loved ones to this day.

Learn more about the Pap test in "Your Cervix Just Has a Cold: The Truth About Abnormal Pap Smears and HPV" by Dr. Brandie Gowey. HowStuffWorks picks related titles based on books we think you'll like. Should you choose to buy one, we'll receive a portion of the sale.

Now That's Interesting Before becoming a doctor, Papanikolaou felt drawn to the arts, studying French and later violin for eight years.
Each week, bureau reporters Seaborn Larson and Sam Wilson, along with deputy bureau chief Tom Kuglin, bureau chief Holly Michels and host Thom Bridge, will take their work off the printed and digital page.

Theres only so much that can fit into a report, and theres always much more tell.
Montana voters spoke clearly last November. They elected Republicans up and down the ticket, giving legislative Republicans a clear mandate to make good on our campaign promises of protecting the Montana way of life, improving economic opportunities, protecting Montanans rights, and preventing government overreach.

The fear mongering about the 67th legislative session started up shortly after the election with certain folks making dire predictions about COVID-19 at the Capitol and demanding the Legislature not meet. We responded that grocery store workers, law enforcement officers, our dedicated health care professionals, and so many others had shown up and done their jobs during the pandemic. We promised wed do the job voters elected us to do and wed take precautions to do it responsibly and safely.

We made promises during our campaigns and promises about how wed run the Legislature. Now that the 67th legislative session has concluded, were proud to say: Promises Made, Promises Kept.

The first in-person and virtual hybrid legislative session in Montana history took place with only a few isolated COVID-19 cases, zero outbreaks, and minimal interruptions to normal business. The public had more access and opportunities to weigh in than ever before due to the remote participation option.
DECATUR  The remains of Korean War soldier Cpl. Asa Vance will return to his hometown of Decatur on Monday, May 10.

His body is expected to arrive at St. Louis Lambert International Airport around 3 p.m. A Patriot Guard procession will escort the family and the remains to Decatur, Illinois Route 48 from Taylorville, through Stonington and Blue Mound, into Decatur. The procession will continue to Pershing Road and to the Tanzyus-Logan Funeral Home on North Kandy Lane.

The funeral will be Friday, May 14, at the Central Christian Church, Springfield, with the burial at Camp Butler Cemetery, Springfield.

Vance enlisted in December 1949 and went to training in Kansas and Georgia before serving in Japan.

Vance was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.

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The Army listed him as presumed dead in 1954.

Following a meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un in 2018, the North Korean government turned over more than 55 boxes of war-dead remains to the United States. Some boxes of remains were recovered from Sinhung-ri, consistent with where Vance was reported missing in action. Analysts eventually identified Vance among the remains.

Vance remains were found through the work of the Defense Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency.

PHOTOS: The Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor is dedicated at the Decatur Civic Center

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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CVS Health is now allowing walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations at more than 300 stores in Illinois, joining Walgreens, Walmart and Sams Club in no longer requiring appointments.

People may also still schedule appointments for shots at all four retail chains.

Walgreens also began offering walk-in vaccinations Wednesday. Walmart and Sams Club stores in Illinois had already started accepting walk-ins, they said.

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Walgreens, which is offering the shots at more than 500 Illinois stores, is encouraging walk-in clients to call their local stores ahead of time to make sure they have enough supply, spokeswoman Kris Lathan said.

Walmart and Sams Club are offering walk-in vaccinations at all of their 175 pharmacies in Illinois, as supply allows. People do not need to be Sams Club members to receive vaccinations at Sams Club stores.

Marianos has not yet fully transitioned to walk-ins at all of its 40 pharmacy locations in Illinois and continues to experience high demand for appointments, spokeswoman Amanda Puck said in an email. Marianos expects to begin offering walk-in vaccinations in the next week or two, she said.

A spokeswoman for Jewel-Osco did not respond to questions about when or whether its stores will allow walk-in vaccinations.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as President, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) PHOTO:AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Facebook Board Upholds Trump Suspension

By The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - 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.

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.

The board, which has 20 members and will eventually grow to 40, did not reveal how it voted. It said a minority of members emphasized that Facebook should require users who seek reinstatement after being suspended to recognize their wrongdoing and commit to observing the rules in the future.

Trump has also been permanently banned from Twitter.
SPRINGFIELD  Legislation addressing shortcomings in the Department of Child and Family Services following the tragic death of 2-year-old Ta'Naja Barnes has now officially been named in the Decatur child's honor.

The Illinois House on Wednesday adopted a resolution renaming House Bill 1551, signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August 2019, "Ta'Naja's Law." The girl died of extreme neglect and abuse in February 2019, four months after her case with DCFS had been closed.

"It's a very heartwarming day to rename the bill in Ta'Naja's honor, and yet it's also a sad day because it reminds us of what she and so many other children have been through," said state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, the resolution's sponsor. "And it shows us that we have more work to be done, but it also shows us that HB 1551 has made some true differences in children's lives."

Police found the 2-year-old's cold, lifeless body wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket in a Decatur home officers described as filthy and rodent-infested.

Ta'Naja's mother, Twanka L. Davis, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. Davis' boyfriend, Anthony Myers, was convicted of first-degree murder last year and was sentenced to 30 years.

Watch now: Pritzker talks about Ta'Naja Barnes in March 2019

DCFS first made contact with the family in December 2017, when Ta'Naja was removed from the home. She was later placed with her father, Dartavius Barnes. After another call alleging abuse, she returned to DCFS custody in June 2018.

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Two and a half months later, she was returned to Davis and Myers' custody. A judge ordered the cast closed in October 2018, based upon the recommendation of Webster Cantrell Hall, the Decatur agency that acted on behalf of the state to oversee her care.

Her case is one of several high-profile deaths of children who had been in custody of DCFS, prompting lawmakers and advocates to call for reform.

Under the law, DCFS caseworkers must now check in all areas of the home, rather than just the living room. Immunizations of children who have been returned to their parents must be up to date.

If multiple children are returned home at different times, each individual child must receive a minimum of six months of aftercare services from the date that he or she returns home.

In Ta'Naja's case, aftercare services continued for six months after her younger brother was returned to the household in March 2018, but Ta'Naja was returned months later and did not receive six months of services in that home.

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Toss a rock in Illinois and youre bound to hit a unit of government. Mosquito abatement districts, townships, drainage districts, joint water agencies, housing authorities, sanitary districts  Illinois has them all, in abundance. The official tally is 6,918, higher than in any other state.

But that might be a serious undercount. A recent report by the Civic Federation found the actual total to be 8,923. Only one other state has more than 5,000. We have more special purpose units than Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin combined.

If the total tax burden on residents is ever going to be reduced, some of those government bodies have to go. The Lake County Board noted in 2018, in reference to the Lakes Region Sanitary District, Every time customers of the LRSD flush their toilet, they pay four taxes and fees to three different government entities.

Cost is not the only consequence of the profusion. Voters cant possibly keep track of all the elected and appointed officials who run such bodies and have so much effect on the lives of ordinary people. In the April 6 election, 345 offices appeared on ballots in Lake County  and 220 races were uncontested. It makes a sham of democracy.

Fortunately, there are glimmers of hope on this front. In recent years, the General Assembly has passed measures making it easier to consolidate or dissolve government bodies  merge and purge. Last year, Lake County voters agreed to get rid of the office of recorder of deeds, assigning its tasks to the county clerk. Ela Township residents voted to dissolve their road district.

In 2018, the Lake County Board adopted a plan aimed at eliminating duplicative and unnecessary units of local government. It scrapped the LRSD and a drainage district in Mundelein and Vernon Hills, and its now taking steps to close the Lake Bluff Mosquito Abatement District, which has spent some $900,000 over the past decade.

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Board Chair Sandy Hart said her constituents worry about the environmental risks of spraying, and she thinks the county can handle any needed tasks at a lower cost. What are other municipalities doing? she asked. Are they spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on eradicating mosquitoes? I dont think so.

DuPage County says it has saved $145 million since 2011 by dissolving such entities as the Highland Hills Sanitary District and consolidating the election commission into the county clerks office.

Decisions like this are a welcome change in a state whose residents pay among the highest property taxes in the nation. As Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says, Especially at a time when local governments are facing severe revenue shortfalls as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, streamlining redundant services makes financial sense and would put Illinois governments in line with best practices.

And House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch should free House Bill 2994 from his Rules Committee. Sponsored by Tim Butler, R-Springfield, the bill would allow a vote on government consolidation in his district. Last week, when the bill appeared to be dying in committee, he chastised Welch for sitting on the bill for political reasons.

Move the bill, Mr. Speaker. Voters in Butlers district should be able to decide whether to combine their governments.

The elimination of any one of these tiny entities doesnt amount to much by itself. But a sustained drive to reduce their number would pay off in the long run. It brings to mind what Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu of South Africa said: There is only one way to eat an elephant  a bite at a time.

Chicago Tribune.

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They married in September of 2012. As a result, their bond in music strengthened in the aftermath of matrimony.

Music enhances our marriage, Daniel Boss, 50, said. We have that in common. It connects us. We have a really fun life.

Slowly but surely, The Bosses morphed from a duo who performed cover songs to one who created their own material. By 2019, they had written enough to record a full album, which resulted in the organic Smell the Dirt.

Recorded in Kingsport, all 11 adventurous tracks on Smell the Dirt were penned by The Bosses.

Momma Molasses did the cover art. Its beautiful, Kimberly Boss, 47, said. Each song on the album is totally different than the others. We wrote them at different periods in our lives.

For instance, they composed Growing Up about Daniels son, while another, Embrace, was created for their daughter. Soft in tone, the album touches upon a range of aspects culled from the lives they live and from observation.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Students, staff and faculty within the Bristol Tennessee City School District will be required to wear masks as well as follow all pandemic operational procedures for the remainder of the year despite rollbacks on the state and Sullivan County level.

We appreciate the cooperation of students, parents, staff and community members in following our safety protocols throughout the school year, a statement from the district reads. We firmly believe these measures have been crucial in keeping students and staff healthy and our schools open for in-person learning.

Director of Schools Annette Tudor made the announcement during a Bristol Tennessee City Council meeting Tuesday after Councilman Vance Turner asked about it.

Mask mandates in Sullivan County expired last Friday, and the Sullivan County Board of Education voted Tuesday to revoke all its pandemic guidelines.

Mask mandates in most Tennessee counties have also ended.

A district spokeswoman said school administrators have not yet determined safety procedures for summer school or the next school year.

City schools operate with safety procedures outlined in the board-approved 2020-21 in-person learning guide.
More than 254,000 people have been fully vaccinated, Chief Infection Prevention Officer Jamie Swift said. But I feel every vaccine dose is a reminder this is not enough.  Our vaccination centers are open almost every day, and we welcome walk-in appointments at all of our centers now. If scheduling is an issue, just walk right in, and well get you taken care of.

Deaton remains optimistic that the region can meet President Bidens goal of vaccinating 70% of American adults by July 4. He also urged people to do their own research or speak with their doctor if they have concerns or questions about the vaccines.

Cases continue

On Wednesday, Ballad treated nearly 200 COVID cases with 110 hospital inpatients, including 28 in intensive care units and 19 on ventilators, plus another 80 treated at home through telehealth. That is an increase compared to Monday but slightly less than one week ago.

Ballad has treated more than 1,600 with in-home monitoring, Deaton said.
What makes Amtrak investment especially attractive now is that it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If the U.S. is to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions, as the Biden administration has promised, the transportation sector is going to have to provide a big chunk as it produces more than one-quarter of all U.S. emissions. Taking gas guzzlers off the road is a start, but where do the passengers go? Fuel-efficient vehicles and the various forms of public transit can help, but you cant get more energy efficient (or lower carbon emitting) than trains. Studies have shown that passenger trains have the lowest carbon footprint of all modes of travel with air transportation causing the biggest. Even electric vehicles cant compete with train travel, although they do come the closest (aside from people who walk onto ferries). Oh, and did we mention trains are also far safer than cars and trucks?
By refusing to give up her seat on a city bus in 1955, Ms. Rosa Parks became a mother of the Civil Rights Movement. What began as a simple act of defiance led to a bus boycott in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. People walked to work or shared a carpool in order to protest the citys bus segregation laws. After more than a year, the Supreme Court of the United States declared Montgomerys bus ordinance unconstitutional. Parks mother was a teacher.

Through the course of the last year, I have witnessed many teachers mothering their students in some way or other, online or in person. Teachers have always done so. There have been times for compassion and times for tough love. How many of our individual mothers share these qualities, too?

The same year Ms. Parks refused to give up her seat, a 14-year-old Black child was murdered in Mississippi. His story transformed the Civil Rights Movement. His mother kept telling his story. She started a troupe of puppet performers to tell about the movement and spoke to audiences. She counseled children for the rest of her life. During the dedication of the National Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery in 1989, she said, We must teach our children to weather the hurricanes of life, pick up the pieces, and rebuild. We must impress upon our children that even when troubles rise to 7.1 on lifes Richter scale, they must be anchored so deeply that, though they sway, they will not topple. When she died, she was remembered not only as the mother of Emmett Till but also as a woman who became a passionate spokeswoman for poor children in tough neighborhoods. In The Death of Innocence, Mamie Till Bradley Mobley recounts the many decisions she made to both grieve the loss of her son and protect other children. She is another mother of the movement.
Just as in human medicine, antibiotics can serve as a useful treatment tool when a dairy animal becomes sick. Still, just as in human medicine, we must do our best to avoid the overuse of specific antibiotics which could lead to the development of resistant bacteria.

Using antibiotics appropriately on the farm also has implications for keeping residues out of milk and meat. Further, dairy managers must consider the cost of the treatment and if it will provide maximum effectiveness for the animals condition. All of these factors lead to a question farmers face often: Do I treat or not?

Richard Pereira, an assistant professor at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Management, described how to think through this decision during the Golden State Dairy Management Conference.

Diagnosis decisions

First, he stressed the importance of an early diagnosis to maximize the animals chances of recovery and application of an effective treatment. This requires training and teaching of all employees so they know what symptoms to be aware of.

Perhaps more importantly, though, the diagnosis needs to be accurate. Employees must know how to interpret the symptoms they are witnessing, and again, training is key. Pereira shared the example of teaching nasal discharge scores to calf workers. If everyone understands how to apply this evaluation, earlier and more complete diagnoses can be made.

Once the root of the issue is identified, a manager can decide if nonantibiotic treatment options will work for the condition. Supportive care, such as electrolytes, could be used instead.

If nonantibiotic treatments dont seem to be the best choice, its still important to consider how effective an antibiotic will be if used, Pereira said. Is it allowed in the class of animals you need to treat? Is it the right choice for the animals stage of condition?

Treatment that works

After the decision is made to use an antibiotic, Pereira reminded to follow your veterinarians specific recommendations and adhere to the drugs dosage, treatment route, and duration. This is vital for the antibiotic to be effective, as well as to prevent residues remaining in meat or milk after the stated withdrawal period.

Finally, Pereira advised working with your vet to have a follow-up plan for after the treatment to ensure the condition is cured. Also, include what the next steps might be if the antibiotic doesnt work and the animal requires further care.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

May 3, 2021




Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G arrives in Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam

06 May 2021: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G arrives in Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S20 FE 4G in some new markets, including Germany, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This is the Snapdragon 865-powered model and not the older version that came with an Exynos 990 processor.

As for the key highlights, the S20 FE 4G comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display, triple rear cameras, and a 4,500mAh battery.

Here's our roundup.

Design and display: It flaunts a 120Hz Super AMOLED display

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G features an IP68-rated aluminium-plastic body, a punch-hole cut-out, slim bezels, and an in-display fingerprint sensor. On the rear, it packs a triple camera unit.

The handset bears a 6.5-inch Full-HD+ (1080x2400 pixels) Super AMOLED screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support.

In Malaysia, it is offered in Blue, Orange, and Violet colors.

Fact: It has a 32MP selfie camera

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G sports a triple rear camera setup which comprises a 12MP (f/1.8) primary sensor, a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP (f/2.4) telephoto camera. For selfies and video calls, it has a 32MP (f/2.2) front-facing snapper.

Internals: The phone supports 25W fast-charging

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G draws power from a Snapdragon 865 processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

It runs on Android 11-based One UI 3.0 and packs a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast-charging support.

In terms of connectivity, the device offers support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, and a Type-C port.

Fact: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G: Pricing and availability

In Malaysia, the Snapdragon 865-powered Galaxy S20 FE 4G carries a price-tag of MYR 2,299 (approximately Rs. 41,000) for the 8GB/128GB model. It is listed on the company's official retail partner Shopee Mall.

Also see: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE to go into production in July

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G, with Snapdragon 865 chipset, revealed

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G tipped to be discontinued

Read more on Science by NewsBytes.


The Cabarrus County Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday to approve the Internal Planning Teams realignment recommendation for the new middle school set to open in 2022. Carolyn Carpenter was the lone member who opposed the motion.

Id like to thank the staff and everyone involved for the commitment that they made to try to get this right, said Tim Furr, vice chair of the Board of Education.

The realignment also applies to high schools and elementary schools in the area, but the hot topic of discussion was the middle school over the last several months. One group of community members whose children live in the Christenbury and Highland Creek neighborhoods organized a petition opposing the IPTs recommended realignment plan  also called Option BLUEr. That petition ultimately amassed more than 1,800 signatures.

This group even formulated its own alternative plan that went through several changes and ultimately ended up going by the Green+ Plan. The group presented its plan to the Board of Education over the span of multiple meetings, including at the regular meeting two weeks ago.

Community group proposes alternate rezoning plan for new middle school Members of the public addressed the Cabarrus County Board of Education at Mondays business 
When the girls and Kluge approached the school system social worker about the snack pack idea, they said the social worker was overwhelmed and overjoyed. When the pandemic forced schools to close, many students lost their one guaranteed meal a day. The school systems worked hard to deliver meals and snack bags to CCS and KCS students, but other organizations like 1Can Inc. helped fill the gap as well.

After seeing the need, Kluge said, she approached the six pageant girls about coming together to collect food for Back to School Snack Packs again. This time, though, the goal is 1,000 snack packs. The girls arent strangers to 1Can Inc. Over the last two years since Kluge has formed the network of Cabarrus Blessing Boxes supported by 1Can Inc., the girls have helped hold food drives and keep the boxes filled.

Everything that we have done through the last two years, at least half of them have participated in every event, Kluge said. They have been vital to 1Can; we wouldnt be able to do what we do without these girls.

The girls will be collecting food items throughout the summer. And the snack packs will be delivered to the school systems either the week before or during the first week of school in August.

Jennifer Williams, mother of Addison Williams, said she was excited when Kluge approached the girls.
The ISV is based on the award-winning 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture and features 90% commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including Chevrolet Performance race components proven to perform under tough off-road conditions. The vehicle is designed to help provide rapid mobility and limit on-foot travel.

At the opening, GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, announced that Steve duMont will be the new president of GM Defense. He previously was with Raytheon Intelligence and Space. For duMont, the racing technology and fast-paced environment meshing with GM Defense on this project was a success.

General Motors has such a deep capability to reach back into for design, manufacturing and the reliability of the vehicles, duMont said. The thing that Hendricks brings to us is, much like General Motors, their long history in motorsports, the long history, lines up. Hendricks has the capability to move very quickly, too. One of the hallmarks of GM Defense is we are able to deliver products quickly with the appropriate liability.

Tillis said he was excited for the speed at which GM Defense and its partners were able to produce the vehicles and what it could mean for future contracts.
Advocates say RGGI is North Carolinas least expensive and most efficient option  and the only action the Governor can take without the legislature. They fear the legislature will let Duke Energy adopt a less ambitious carbon-reduction plan.

The threat to North Carolina from global climate change is real, it is present, and it is getting worse. Sea levels have risen and continue to rise. Extreme precipitation has become more common and will be even more common in the future. The intensity of hurricanes and the frequency of other severe storms will increase. Flooding will increase, but so too will droughts and wildfires. Each of these changes will hit our most vulnerable residents hardest. Unabated, climate change will exact substantial costs on our environment, our economy, and the lives of all North Carolinians.
If you pass on having a strong password that you regularly update, and if you pass on using a password manager, then you wont get a pass mark in the test of life, so please dont fail yourself or the digital twin that is your online existence - please take passwords as seriously as you take locking your house, car or anything else you value.

The first Thursday of May is World Password Day, and this year its today, 6 May 2021. First celebrated in 2013, this day is meant to serve as a reminder of the importance of good password hygiene.

It has never been more important to have long and strong passwords which are managed for you using a password manager, especially in the face of escalating password breaches, cyber attacks and leaks of personal information.

A series of top security companies have provided me with a treasure trove of excellent advice which Im sharing below for individuals, IT admins and enterprises, from CyberArk, LogMeIn/LastPass, Check Point Software, McAfee, Thales, Nuance, Auth0, Ping Identity, Barracuda Networks and Snowflake so please read on - and share this article!

CyberArk:

Lets start with CyberArk VP of Solution Engineers, Jeffery Kok, who notes the forced acceleration of digital transformation and the news ways of working, collaborating and communication have created challenges for security and IT professionals.

Kok notes: Every new corporate application or tool becomes a new identity silo, with unique password management requirements, such as complexity or how often they should be rotated.

And because we are pretty bad at using and remembering strong passwords, we often use weak ones, or re-use them. In fact, 84% of remote workers admitted to re-using passwords in our survey. Added to this, passwords are still often the only verification method in use. Because of this, IT professionals consider passwords to be amongst the weakest links in their companys defences.

Kok says World Password Day 2021 provides a timely opportunity for IT admins and security teams to reinforce best practices, and shares four top tips to reducing password-related risk:

1. Mandate the use of a strong password

Strong passwords contain several different types of characters and, consequently, require more effort and time for an attacker to hack. Passwords should contain at least 10 characters and include a combination of character types, such as commas, percent signs and parentheses, as well as uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers.

2. Enforce the use of one unique password for each service and account

If employees re-use passwords on multiple sites or accounts, even if the password is complex enough and long, all it will take is for one of their accounts to be compromised to make all of their other accounts vulnerable.

3. Use multi-factor authentication

This means that multiple types of authentication  not just a password  are required to unlock the account. The first part of the authentication process requires something the user already knows, like a password. The other part of the authentication process involves something the user doesnt already know, such as a code sent to the mobile phone by authentication software or created by a designated application on the phone.

This code becomes the other half of a users login authentication. Now, even if attackers manage to get a password, they still dont have access to the account without the other part of the authentication.

4. Address the risk of local admin accounts on workstations

Weak passwords and end users with local admin rights on their workstations represent a significant security risk for organisations. Many attacks start on endpoints where attackers initially gain access through a phishing attack or when an employee inadvertently downloads and executes a malicious application. In many cases, an attackers aim is to compromise the privileged credentials that reside on workstations.

Privileged credentials  such as admin rights  can allow attackers to move laterally until they can secure credentials to your system with sensitive PII (personal identifiable information) or intellectual property. To reduce this risk, organisations should rotate local admin credentials (including the OS build in local account) on a periodic basis as an important security measure. Over time, organisations should consider removing local admin rights from end user workstations altogether to further reduce the risk of attacks from the endpoint.

LogMeIn:

Lindsay Brown, Vice President of Asia Pacific and Japan at LogMeIn, shares three tips on simple, but effective ways people can help organise their digital selves online:

1. Stop reusing passwords

Its tempting to use the same password because we like to think we can remember everything, but we all know thats not always the case. In fact, 91% of us know that using the same or a variation of the same password is a risk but 61% do it anyway, and 54% keep track of passwords by memorising them. A quarter (25%) of us reset passwords at least once a month because weve forgotten them.

2, Say goodbye to words, and hello to phrases

Did you know it takes hackers only a few seconds to crack an easy 6-character password? Theres always strength in numbers: consider using a phrase to not only lengthen your password, but also make it unique. For example, ThisIs4str0ngP4ssw0rd_!

3. Round up your important information Theres already so much we have to organise and sometimes it can be hard to keep up with the times. Its important to keep track of all sorts of information from passcodes, to PIN numbers, security questions and account ID numbers. Having a password manager will save you the headache and keep everything secure with bank-level encryption.

LogMeIn acquired LastPass back in 2015, with a LastPass special offer available.



LastPass is excited to celebrate World Password Day and promote cybersecurity education and awareness by supporting Coder Dojo, a global, volunteer-led community of free programming workshops for young people.

When you purchase LastPass products from now until World Password Day (May 6th), youll receive 25% off while supporting cybersecurity education: $1 from every purchase will be donated to Coder Dojo.



Please see here for more information.

Check Point Software:

Check Point Software Technologies is providing top five tips to help Aussies create a strong password and stay cyber-safe.

According to Check Point Softwares latest security report, the world faces over 100,000 malicious websites and 10,000 malicious files each day, all seeking to steal, cause disruption or damage. A large portion of this malicious activity often involves bypassing password protections.

Ashwin Ram, Cyber Security Evangelist at Check Point has provided the following security tips on how to create strong passwords and improve password hygiene:

1, Make your password long. Hackers often use a technique called brute force attack. In this technique, a computer program runs through numerous possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols as fast as possible to crack your password. The longer and more complex your password is, the longer this process takes. Passwords that are three characters long take less than a second to crack.

2. Dont use dictionary words. Password-cracking tools freely available online often come with dictionary lists that will try thousands of common names and passwords.

3. Include numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters. Randomness is more difficult to crack. For example, you could substitute a zero for the letter O or @ for the letter A. Avoid using simple adjacent keyboard combinations: For example, qwerty and asdzxc and 123456 are bad passwords that can be easy to crack.

4. Don't use obvious personal information. Do not choose passwords based upon details that may not be as confidential as youd expect. Examples are your birth date or phone numbers, or names of family members. These only make your password easier to guess. If you are required to choose security questions and answers when creating an online account, select ones that are not obvious to someone browsing your social media accounts.

5. Do not reuse passwords. Lists of compromised email addresses and passwords are often leaked online by hackers. If your account is compromised and you use this email address and password combination across multiple sites, your information can be easily used to get into other accounts. Constantly choose unique passwords. Change your passwords regularly.

McAfee:

Raj Samani, Chief Scientist and McAfee Fellow at cybersecurity firm McAfee, has written on the importance of password safety following the post-pandemic surge in online activity, and how Aussies can create secure passwords this World Password day, to protect their accounts and devices.

When it comes to online safety, password hygiene has never been more relevant. Over the past year alone, weve seen a massive surge in online activity, with the pandemic leaving many Australians reliant on conducting daily activities such as shopping and banking online.

Passwords are of course a key part of our digital lives, enabling people to gain quick access to a variety of online platforms, accounts and devices. However, it can be easy to take them for granted and forget the basics of password hygiene during our busy lives, particularly now as we have so many accounts to keep on top in order to get on with our day-to-day activities.

Passwords which include personal information, such as your name, or pets name, make them easier to guess. This is especially true when we share a lot of personal information online, making it easier for online criminals to make guesses about your password. You should also never share a password, even with a close relative. While this may seem harmless, sharing these details could result in critical personal information falling into the wrong hands. In fact, McAfee recommends changing your passwords about every three months at a minimum. This is so that if a password has been shared or compromised, the safety of your online information has a higher chance of being kept safe by making this change.

World Password Day is an excellent time to highlight the importance of password safety to consumers. But it is just as important to ensure password hygiene remains top of mind at all times and not just for one day. Weve shared our top-tips and tricks below.

McAfees top tips for creating secure passwords:

1. Password sharing  passwords should never be shared with anyone else, even trusted family and friends. Sharing a password could result in critical personal information falling into the wrong hands. McAfee advises against this and encourages consumers to keep all passwords to themselves. Even more importantly, never share a password over text, email, or any other online communication channel.

2. Keep it impersonal. Passwords that include personal information, such as your name, address, or pets name, make them easier to guess. This is especially true when we share a lot of personal information online. But, you can use personal preferences that arent well known to create strong passphrases.

3. Never reuse passwords. If you reuse passwords and someone guesses a password for one account, they can potentially use it to get into others. This practice has become even riskier over the last several years, due to the high number of corporate data breaches. With just one hack, cybercriminals can get their hands on thousands of passwords, which they can then use to try to access multiple accounts.

4. Employ a password manager. If just the thought of creating and managing complex passwords has you overwhelmed, outsource the work to a password manager. These are software programs that can create random and complex passwords for each of your accounts, and store them securely. This means you dont have to remember your passwords  you can simply rely on the password manager to enter them when needed.

5. Employ multi-factor authentication. You can double check the authenticity of digital users and add an additional layer of security to protect personal data and information.

Tricks include:

 Try making your password a phrase, with random numbers and characters. For instance, if you love crime novels you might pick the phrase: ILoveBooksOnCrime

 Then you would substitute some letters for numbers and characters, and put a portion in all caps to make it even stronger, such as: 1L0VEBook$oNcRIM3!

 If you do need to use personal information when setting up security questions, choose answers that are not easy to find online.

 Keep all your passwords and passphrases private.

 Use unique passwords for each one of your accounts, even if its for an account that doesnt hold a lot of personal information. These too can be compromised, and if you use the same password for more sensitive accounts, they are also at risk.

 If a website or monitoring service you use warns you that your details may have been exposed, change your password immediately.

Thales:

Over the last year, cybersecurity has been stretched to the limit with no site or service immune to attack. Facebook and LinkedIn are just two of dozens of recent examples of our precious passwords falling into the wrong hands. And with so many of us working from home, there doesnt seem to be an end in sight.



Rana Gupta, APAC Regional Director for Access Management solutions, at Thales shares his views:

With more employees working remotely than ever before due to COVID-19, businesses are at greater risk from a cyber-attack with workers accessing systems outside of the usual company network.

As such, this years World Password Day is in fact a timely reminder for businesses to drop passwords forever  they are no longer good enough and are the prime resource for hackers to gain access. Instead, companies should rollout access management solutions such as passwordless authentication which verifies users through other methods like their IP address or if they are accessing through a device or operating system associated to them. This will overcome the inherent vulnerabilities of text-based passwords, while improving levels of assurance and convenience.

No single solution is enough though, so organisations should also be looking to adopt a Zero Trust model in their approach to authenticating users and certifying their authorisation to access data. This strategy, based on the principle, Never Trust, Always Verify, views trust as a vulnerability and requires employees to only access data theyre authorised to do so, while ensuring they verify who they are each time they want access.



Nuance Communications:

Brett Beranek, Vice-President & General Manager, Security & Biometrics, at Nuance Communications provides the following commentary:

World Password Day represents a reminder that PINs and passwords are an archaic tool, no longer fit for purpose. Passwords are being sold on the dark web, exploited for fraudulent activity and have even cost unfortunate individuals vast sums of money in terms of forgotten passwords to safeguard cryptocurrencies.

Indeed, new Australian research from Nuance has found that over a quarter (28%) of consumers have admitted to relying on the same two or three different passwords or similar variations of them. A similar number (28%) say they receive notifications their passwords have been compromised at least every two or three months. This could leave those individuals at an increased risk of fraud, and it is the enterprises that must take responsibility to address this by strengthening their customers security with more modern solutions.

Given the same poll has found that on average victims of fraud lost over $2,400 each in the last 12 months, it is high time PINs and passwords are confined to the history books, so that technology  such as biometrics  can be more widely deployed in order to robustly safeguard customers. Biometrics authenticates individuals immediately based on their unique characteristics  taking away the need to remember PINs, passwords and other knowledge-based credentials prone to being exploited by fraudsters and providing peace of mind, as well as security, for end-users.

Auth0:

To mark the occasion of World Password Day, the identity management experts at Auth0 are releasing the first in a series of international surveys. The research, commissioned by Auth0 working with YouGov, asked more than 1,200 business leaders and 8,000 consumers around the world about their expectations for online login and sign-up experiences.

Nine in ten consumers reuse password

According to the Australian consumers surveyed, when using a new website or online service, the main frustrations are creating a password that has to meet certain requirements (56%), entering private information such as a passport number, tax file number, medicare number, etc. (54%), and having to fill in long login or sign up forms (50%).



This frustration leads to 90% of Australian consumers reusing passwords for more than one account  and more than half (53%) admitted to doing so frequently. And its not just Australia. Across the world, password reuse is still alive and well, with nearly nine in ten consumers (88%) admitting to the practice.

Consumers deserve safe and convenient alternatives to passwords

Richard Marr, General Manager, APAC at Auth0 says: Consumers are frustrated with the standard password and username method of authentication. As humans, we arent suited to remembering long, complex alphanumeric combinations, and need easier, faster and more secure forms of authentication, and its partly because of this that were seeing a rise in successful cybercrime. Its time we consider the role of businesses in promoting a safer internet by offering more secure and convenient alternatives to passwords.

For businesses

For businesses, this is an opportunity to listen to their customers and make changes to the login process. Technologies exist to stop users from getting frustrated, while protecting them against fraud.

Passwordless and biometric security are already mainstays of multifactor authentication, and adaptive technologies are already on the market that can offer that security without the friction.

We need to see technology adapt to humans, not the other way around. Passwords will inevitably make way for alternatives that are driven by the adoption of the WebAuthn standard, but businesses need to prepare for that transition now.

For consumers:

These findings show that for many of us, the password hygiene message simply hasnt yet sunk in deeper than the frustrations we feel. This means our personal data, often across multiple platforms and accounts, could be at risk. World Password Day is the perfect reminder for all of us to take stock of our apps and online accounts, and carve out a bit of time today to download a password manager across our devices and develop strong, unique passwords.

Dr. Catarina Katzer, a leading cyber psychologist, also adds: "The majority of online users are now well aware that there are security problems with using the same username and password combination to register for multiple services. But we try to suppress that psychologically in the brain. The more extensive a registration process appears, the less inclined we are to go through with it. Convenience and simplicity play a major role here, which means we need to rethink security [in a way that doesn't compromise the customer experience]."

Ping Identity:

Ashley Diffey, Head of APAC and Japan, Ping Identity, says that World Password Day falls in National Privacy Awareness Week here in Australia, a timely reminder that the biggest issue today in privacy is caused because so many people and organisations holding onto data with several copies made as backups and stored in several places.

"While this process may be to ensure that data isnt lost, in fact it provides more complexity around the management and protection of that data. To create better security or privacy we need to give people the right and control to create and delete their data when there is no real need for this information to be stored.

"To enable this we need to move to a decentralised identity model whereby your identity can be verified, time stamped and then deleted.

Barracuda Networks:

Fleming Shi, Chief Technology Officer at Barracuda Networks adds, When organisations collect data, they must assume responsibility for the safekeeping of the data. By implementing legislation to penalise incompetency, this will raise awareness and change human behaviour.

"In the meantime, I think that this can also work the other way around by rewarding those who have done an excellent job in protecting data. I believe Australia will continue to raise the bar in this area and hopefully do so with penalties for the weak and rewards for the best practitioners.

Snowflake:

Jonathan Sander, Security Field Chief Technology Officer at Snowflake, added, The network used to be king in terms of security, and the jealous prince was identity. For years, identity management specialists have said that identity is the new perimeter.

"This has taken a long while to become true for most organisations, however now it will be the primary layer of security, and a network location will become just another attribute to identify the users.
CHICAGO  The head of the agency that investigates shootings by Chicago police officers and allegations of officer misconduct announced her resignation Wednesday.

Sydney Roberts departure as chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability comes as Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters she was extraordinarily unhappy with how the agency handled some issues during her three-year tenure, especially the Anjanette Young case, which took nearly a year and a half for COPA to conclude.

Young was the subject of an errant police raid at her Near West Side home in early 2019, and COPA after 16 months announced just last week that it found nearly 100 allegations of wrongdoing against more than 12 officers who played roles in the raid. The case is still pending a review by Chicago police Superintendent David Brown.

On Wednesday, Lightfoot said she did not seek Roberts resignation, but lamented some of the work the agency did under her leadership.

A lot of that time, nothing happened. Thats not acceptable, Lightfoot said. Ive been very candid both in public but also directly about the fact that I think COPA needs to be much more responsive, much more mindful about the fact it carries a very important position and role in police accountability. Weve got to make sure they move forward in a thorough but expeditious way because as everyone knows, justice delayed is justice denied.

Roberts will remain head of COPA through the end of next week, according to her spokesman. In a statement, Roberts touted how COPA has established the essential investigative legal foundation, as well as the capacity to deliver thorough investigations supported by comprehensive analyses and sound findings and disciplinary recommendations.

Although I leave with a heavy heart, I am confident that COPA will continue to advance meaningful police reform and accountability through objective investigations, a commitment to transparency, community engagement and policy recommendations, all of which will improve policing outcomes in our communities,

Roberts resignation also comes on the heels of the agencys especially swift release of video and some police reports related to its investigations of the fatal shootings by police of 13-year-old Adam Toledo on March 29, and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez two days later.

COPA regularly releases video of shootings by police as part of the citys video-release policy, which requires the agency to publicize body camera and other video footage within 60 days of each incident, with wiggle room for a 30-day extension. Footage in the Toledo and Alvarez cases were showcased within a month from the time those shootings occurred  17 days for the Toledo case.

Releasing video for COPA that soon after a shooting by police was rare for an agency that more often posts videos right before the 60-day deadline. Police accountability advocates have questioned the length of time it has taken COPA to release such footage under Roberts tenure and have called for a review of its video-release policy.

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In September, Roberts responded to criticism from the citys inspector generals office for its report suggesting COPA has not released video or other investigative material in a number of police use-of-force cases within a required 60-day period. The IG found that of 122 cases that were posted on COPAs website over three years, 33 were posted after the 60-day deadline. In 14 of those cases, the IG found, COPA employees relied on the notification date of the use of force rather than the date it occurred, which COPA has said was an oversight, according to the IGs findings.

At a public meeting, Roberts sought to downplay the delays cited by the city inspector generals office by trying to provide context. For instance, Roberts said, those 14 cases cited by the IG were only delayed by one day, and she insisted there hadnt been any deliberate or intentional delay of video in any officer-involved shooting or investigation that qualified for release.

We own our actions and have and will make necessary corrections, Roberts said at the meeting. Thats the essence of responsibility on which we hold ourselves accountable.

In 2018, a panel of civic and community leaders picked Roberts to lead COPA. She previously led the Illinois Secretary of State Police as its director beginning in 2010. Roberts was picked to finish out the term of Sharon Fairley, who left COPA in the fall of 2017 in an unsuccessful bid for Illinois attorney general.

A few months into Roberts COPA tenure, she wrote then-police Superintendent Eddie Johnson a letter criticizing him for his decision to release snippets of body camera footage a day after the fatal July 2018 shooting of Harith Augustus, who was running from police in the South Shore neighborhood when an officer shot and killed him as he appeared to break away from officers and move his hand toward his waistband, where he appeared to have a holstered gun.

Johnson at the time indicated the Police Departments decision to release the footage was to quell the tension between police and protesters, even though there was much more video to review. Immediately after the shooting, there were initial reports on social media that Augustus did not have a gun.

In this particular instance after seeing what transpired last night, I have an obligation to this city, to the community and to these police officers to make sure this city is safe and calm, Johnson told reporters at the time. And last night after what I saw on video, you know, bottles being thrown, urine being thrown at the police officers, we cant have another night like that.

In the letter, Roberts told Johnson his department shouldnt be releasing any video while the shooting was still under investigation.

This piecemeal and arguably narrative-driven video release breeds suspicions, which may ultimately undermine COPAs ability to successfully investigate allegations of misconduct and officer involved shootings  an outcome inconsistent with the Citys efforts at reform, Roberts wrote. The Department electing to release video in an effort to quell public concern in this instance has the real potential to undermine the accountability process by establishing a dangerous precedent in which video is released only when it serves to justify the actions of Department members.

That would be a step backward, not forward, for Chicagos transparency efforts, Roberts continued.

In 2019, the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based group that examines government accountability, co-authored a story that uncovered how more video existed in the Augustus case than Chicago police and COPA had previously released, further questioning the police narrative about the case. COPA is still investigating the shooting.

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The real-estate arm of Cook Out Inc. has bought another Forsyth County restaurant property, this time a former Burger King site.

2897 Reynolds Road Inc. has spent $1.15 million to purchase the property at 2897 Reynolda Road. The deal closed Friday.
Netanyahu's mandate has failed. Coalition with the religious Yamina nationalist party is under consideration. With his seven seats, Naftali Bennet could prove decisive. Clashes south of Nablus. A young Palestinian shot dead, as tensions rise.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Opposition leader Yair Lapid has received the mandate to try to reach the parliamentary majority - 61 seats out of 120 in total in the Knesset - and form a new government, after the failure of the interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli political scene, a few weeks after the fourth political elections in less than two years, remains characterized by a picture of profound uncertainty, while the violence between Israelis and Palestinians is not subsiding.

President Reuven Rivlin announced yesterday that he had entrusted the task to the leader of the opposition, after having consulted with the various party leaders to find out which parliamentarian could have sufficient support to achieve the goal.

Lapid, with a centrist orientation and a television career behind him, could focus on a rotation in the government (as in the failed experiment between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz) by entrusting the first part of the mandate to a colleague in the Knesset.

In a note Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, assures that he will do "everything to guarantee Israel a government of unity as soon as possible", which can "work for the good of its people". Among the first leaders with whom he could share the leadership of the government is Naftali Bennett, head of the nationalist religious party Yamina who could be decisive with his seven seats.

Commenting on the decision, President Rivlin believes Lapid "can form a government capable of gaining the trust of the Knesset, although there are difficulties" in the post. According to the Constitution, Netanyahu had 28 days to try to form an alliance, but the time ran out at 9 pm on May 4th. The failure of the outgoing Prime Minister is a further confirmation of the fracture within the Israeli political landscape and it is not excluded that the country may return to the polls for the fifth time in the summer.

Having failed to form the government, Netanyahu now has to face political survival and a corruption trial which he has eluded thus far thanks to his role as premier. In order to strengthen his position, he had recently tried - unsuccessfully - to appoint a loyalist to justice, a choice rejected by the Supreme Court and the Attorney General.

Meanwhile, violence continues between Israelis and Palestinians, which has flared up with renewed vigor in this period of Ramadan, the holy month of Muslim fasting and prayer. Last night the army with the Star of David opened fire and killed a young Palestinian of 16 years during the clashes between the two factions in the West Bank. News has also come in these hours of the death of an Israeli boy who was seriously injured earlier this week by a bullet exploded by a Palestinian.

The Israeli army opened fire on a group of Palestinians intent on throwing Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, in the clashes that broke out last night near the village of Beita, south of Nablus. A military spokesman said that "the troops acted to stop some suspects, firing in their direction".

The inhabitants of Beita and Odala say that the clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli army in the area have been going on for several nights. A second Palestinian youth was shot in the back and is now hospitalized. At the origin of the latest violence, the Israeli army manhunt to capture the perpetrators of the shooting in which some Israelis were injured, one of whom died in the night.
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The lawsuit said that surveillance video shows Rajjob walking out, going to his car and pulling out a semi-automatic weapon.

Foster said he got into position and started firing the gun toward the convenience store.

According to the lawsuit, he stopped firing and then moved closer to the store and then started firing his gun again. Then he got into his car and drove away, Foster and the lawsuit alleges.

Spivey was shot in his pelvis and Gallow was shot in the side and in the back, the lawsuit alleges.

Foster said that four hours after the shooting, Rajjob was in South Carolina where he crashed his car. When law-enforcement officers encountered him, he was speaking strangely, and that led him to being involuntarily committed for about two weeks, she said.

Then he made his way to California and later to Texas, Foster said. He was finally taken into custody in August 2019. He had been wanted on a fugitive warrant from Lycoming County, Pa., on a charge of making terrorist threats. Detective Steve Sorage of the Lycoming District Attorneys Office told the Winston-Salem Journal that Rajjob was accused of making a threat to commit a crime of violence against his aunt and uncle and their children.
I had been living in what they call the hood in the Bronx and moved to a middle-income neighborhood in Queens. It was like moving from one country to another. I didnt fit in. I had an accent. She took me under her wing. She said, I know it seems hard now, but youll get through this, and you are smarter than you think you are. Those words resonated with me, even at that young age, and I will never forget her.

I still remember that day. I was walking down the hallway with my head down.

She had a big class, but she recognized the fact that a few kind words would make a difference in my life. I have to credit her with me going to college. She believed in me.

MALISHAI WOODBURY

The board chairwoman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Malishai Woodbury has deep roots in the school system, graduating from Carver High School in 1992. A former teacher in local schools, she now is an instructor in the history and political science department at N.C. A&T State University. She traced her interest in social studies to her 10th grade civics and economics teacher, Avon Ruffin.

Avon Ruffin had the most obvious impact on me. She was my social studies teacher at Carver and I became a social studies teacher.

Although I never thought Id be a social studies teacher, once I decided to become a teacher she became very intentional about knowing that I had transitioned. She reached out to me. She enabled me to get to travel to Ghana as part of a North Carolina Teacher Experience. She became a great model for students at Carver and young Black women as a whole.

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Wellpath had come under fire from some in the county because five inmates died in jail-related incidents during the companys tenure. A Wellpath employee was among five people, including four deputies, who face charges in connection with John Nevilles death in late 2019.

That death sparked public protests during 2020 that included calls for Wellpath to be dropped as the countys jail health provider.

Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said that he worked constantly with Wellpath to improve services and hopes to do the same with NaphCare.

I hope that the Board of County Commissioners adequately prepared NaphCare for the challenges and realities of providing health care within the Detention Center, Kimbrough said. At the end of the day, we accept what is given to us. We look forward to building a relationship with NaphCare that will benefit the residents of the detention center and Forsyth County.

A speaker for the Triad Abolition Project, a group critical of law enforcement spending, told commissioners during the public comment period that it has no faith in NaphCares ability to do any better than Wellpath, and called on the county to shift spending from law enforcement to mental health needs.
Krawiec has said that non-COVID-19 patients are being adversely affected by the visitor restriction as well.

There are a multitude of cases where residents are still not allowed to have visitors, Krawiec said. It should never happen again where patients are dying alone in facilities.

There are also those who have diminished cognitive abilities who dont understand why they are abandoned without loved ones or caregivers being allowed to visit them.

Isolation is a reason many residents in facilities fail to thrive,  she said.

SB191s primary focus remains on concerns that emergency visitor restrictions can keep family members from being with loved ones and hampering their ability to serve as an advocate with hospital staff.

Family members are defined as a spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild, spouse of an immediate family member, stepparent, stepchildren, stepsiblings and adoptive relationships.

The patient can designate the visitor if they have the capacity to make decisions.
Our restaurants and other retail thrive because downtown is viewed as a safe and family friendly area.

I dont believe we need this legislation to attract people to the downtown area.

Bill details

Alcoholic beverages sold and consumed in the social district would have to contain the identification of the ABC permittee and a logo or mark unique to the social district.

Glass containers would not be permitted, there would be a 16-ounce limit on a single alcoholic beverage, and only one alcoholic beverage per customer at a time.

Cities and counties could authorize allowing those ABC permittees to extend their licensed premises for the purposes of maintaining social distancing.

The social districts would have to be clearly designated with signs posted that indicate the days and hours that alcoholic beverages could be consumed in the social districts.

Consumers would be able to carry their alcoholic beverages off the premises where they were purchased, but not out of the social district.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officers-involved shooting at the home, which is standard protocol, Tollie said.

Wednesday night, police Lt. Gregory Dorn said that police officials would not release additional details about the incident.

Dark smoke rose from the house fire in the afternoon, and it drifted over the neighborhood along West Academy Street. Soot and leaves burned from fire fell on the West Academy Street and other streets in the area.

During the incident, police used their armored personnel vehicle, their bomb squad robot, members of their SWAT team, and at least one police dog.

Neighbors gathered on sidewalks and on their porches and looked toward the standoff as it lasted for more than two hours. During the incident, police blocked traffic on surrounding streets near where the standoff happened.

John Duell of Winston-Salem said he saw many police cars travel to the area during the incidents early stages.

Its the most action Ive seen go down in Winston, Duell who works at the NAPA Auto Parts store on Peters Creek Parkway. It looks like the whole police force is out here.
The Central Intelligence Agency is always looking to recruit new agents and advertising is one way it has done so in the past. The difference this time is in a newly created series of recruitment videos that reflect the spirit of the age in which we live, rather than appealing to abilities and patriotism.

The videos seem to suggest that the super-secret agency has been infiltrated, not by spies from Russia, China or al-Qaida, but rather a subtler and nearly invisible enemy.

That would be the infiltration by woke liberals, whose primary goal appears to be the undermining of every tradition and institution  from Disneylands Snow White ride (the famous kiss scene by the Prince has been deemed sexually aggressive because Ms. White is unconscious and cannot give consent, so it will be re-imagined)  to Americas foremost intelligence agency.

The latest CIA video features a Latina officer who identifies as a cisgender millennial. Even the word cisgender is so new that my spellcheck does not (yet) recognize it. The video is part of a new series called Humans of CIA designed to attract a more diverse pool of candidates.
Actual commitments

A recent email from Sen. Thom Tillis makes some bold claims but provides no examples to support it:

"There are plenty of Republicans like me who are willing to work with President Biden and even put some of our supporters out of their comfort zone for the good of this nation. In fact, when he was sworn in, I said I would work to find common ground on areas where we may agree and vigorously oppose policies where we do not. Unfortunately, there has been little opportunity to do the latter. The willingness to negotiate has only been a one-way street on the part of Republicans."

What exactly is he willing to work with Democrats on? Where has he done that recently? Tillis doesn't have a record of bipartisanship, so I would love for him to make actual commitments to his constituents about what he would support.

North Carolina needs the programs Biden is discussing now: We need jobs and infrastructure. We need health care. We would also love to see parental leave. These are basic, foundational needs of North Carolinians regardless of political party and affiliation.
"All very basic, reinforcing what some plants already are doing," Vargas said.

Sen. Julie Slama of Peru led opposition to the measure, suggesting that some provisions might conflict with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards while other proposals could be impossible to achieve.

Workers already have access to COVID-19 vaccines, she said, and "the majority of them have been fully vaccinated."

Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair expressed some concerns about "how far is too far" to go in proposing restrictions, suggesting he would like to "err on the side of liberty."

A number of opponents said meatpacking plants in their districts already are complying with recommended new safety standards while the rate of positive coronavirus cases has dramatically slowed down.

On the other hand, a number of proponents pointed to the new challenges that may be raised by variants of the virus and a reduction in precautions.

"We are not out of the woods yet," Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said.

"No one is demonizing the industry," Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha told his colleagues.
by Sumon Corraya

The faithful of seven Catholic villages in Bonpara recite the evening rosary in a home or the parish church. Margaret has a daughter healed through rosary prayers. We can pray for our country, but also for the people in India, where thousands of people die every day as a result of COVID. Hymns to Our Lady bring inner peace.

Natore (AsiaNews)  The Catholic church in Natore (picture 2) is one of a group of churches in Bonpara (Diocese of Rajshai). Some 3,900 Catholics live in seven Catholic villages, employed mostly in farming or as migrants in cities.

This year everyone was called to pray the rosary during the month of May to end the coronavirus pandemic, as requested by Pope Francis.

May is the month of Mother Mary, said Fr Bikash H Reberio. In this month we need to pray the rosary. She is our model of holiness, simplicity and obedience.

This year Pope Francis also asked everyone to pray the rosary at home and in the parish to ask for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Margaret Cruze lives in Bahimaly. In her family, Every day, in the evening we pray the rosary. This year the intention is to end the pandemic. When you ask Our Lady, you always get an answer.

Margaret, 45, is a mother of two. Once, she said, my daughter had a chronic skin disease. After praying to Mary, she was fully healed. I hope that God will accept our prayers and end this pandemic.

So far no cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Margarets village. But hundreds of Catholics in Dhaka and other cities have been infected.

We pray for them, for their relatives and for all the peoples of the world that humanity may be saved from this deadly virus.

Rinku Palma, another Catholic, says that in her village, on 1 May they started praying the rosary all together. We gather in someones home and pray, she explained.

This increases our fraternal relations. We can pray for our country, but also for the people in India, where thousands of people die every day as a result of COVID. We ask that God save them.

Fr Bikash has given instructions for all the villages to recite the rosary every evening. Praying is interspersed with chanting and singing.

I love so much the hymns for Mother Mary during the rosary, Rinku Palma said. It gives me inner peace. I trust that Our Lady will convey our prayer to her Son Jesus to end the pandemic.
Police are warning residents that they're seeing an uptick in counterfeit pills on the streets of Lincoln, specifically pills that appear to be oxycodone but really are fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Narcotics Capt. Ryan Dale said people have overdosed on as little as half of one pill.

"Moreover, were also seeing methamphetamine laced with fentanyl, which is causing overdoses as well, he said.

Police say, depending on the amount, just touching a pill or powder containing fentanyl can cause an overdose.

Officer Luke Bonkiewicz said the same troubling trend is being seen across Southeast Nebraska, not just Lincoln.

So far, here LPD has seen an increase in total overdoses, with 50 so far this year, compared to 34 at the same point last year or 32 in 2019, he said.

The illegally pressed pills range in color from blue to green and have an M imprinted on one side and 30 imprinted on the other side. The pills are intended to mimic a 30 mg dose of oxycodone.

If you or someone you know experiences a drug overdose, call 911 immediately. And if you come across pills, don't touch them.
Police say they arrested a convicted sex offender Thursday after he tried to meet a 15-year-old for sex.

Officer Luke Bonkiewicz said the investigation started April 27, when investigators learned that a Snapchat user, later identified as 39-year-old Travis Warnsing of Lincoln, had been communicating with a juvenile.

Warnsing has been a registered sex offender for 25 years for first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Bonkiewicz said investigators posed as the 15-year-old and say Warnsing, in snaps, set up a meeting to pick up the juvenile for a sexual encounter.

At about 3:40 a.m. Thursday, when Warnsing arrived at the meeting spot, uniformed officers in marked police vehicles attempted to stop his vehicle, but he sped away.

Investigators tracked Warnsing back to his residence, where they arrested him on suspicion of child enticement and fleeing arrest.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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A 13-year-old Walnut Middle School student has been arrested after a sexual assault was reported to have occurred on campus.

The male student and female victim are both students at Walnut. The complainant was a 14-year-old girl, according to Grand Island police.

The incident was reported on April 30, but it allegedly occurred on April 22.

This alleged incident was reported by a separate student, according to a news release from the school district. Grand Island Public Schools thanks that student for coming forward with this information. GIPS staff responded swiftly when it was made aware of the report and is cooperating with the Grand Island Police Department at this time."

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When Martin talked to Council Bluffs police about six months ago, he was rerouted to Doty.

"I was born in 1983. I wasn't familiar with the case and didn't 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 couldn't believe it," said Martin, who's 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 doesn't 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.
A judge has dismissed a legal malpractice lawsuit filed by the owners of Whiteclay's four former beer stores who lost their liquor licenses in 2017, forcing them to close.

The owners of the Arrowhead Inn, State Line Liquor, D&S Pioneer Service and Jumping Eagle Inn sued their former attorney, Andrew Snyder, for $2.1 million saying they lost their appeal because he hadn't notified citizen objectors.

Before they were shuttered, the four stores had sold about 3.5 million cans of beer each year to the Oglala Lakota people of South Dakotas nearby Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned.

Without the liquor licenses, they argued, the stores were effectively worthless.

Snyder considered it an issue that hadn't been decided yet in Nebraska. After all, there was no case law that said people who had testified against the licenses were necessary parties to a review of a Liquor Control Commission decision.

In an April decision, Sheridan County District Judge Travis O'Gorman said the ultimate question was whether an attorney of "ordinary skill, prudence, and diligence, utilizing reasonable care," would have concluded that they were not necessary parties to the appeal.
Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte blasted the proposal, saying the involvement of educators would result in "socialist" recommendations to increase spending, begin educating 2-year-olds and raise property taxes.

"You really think, rural senators, you're going to get something out of here that's good for property taxes?" Groene asked.

Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston said DeBoer's bill should be a legislative resolution, where it could be studied by lawmakers themselves, while Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said the proposed size of the commission was too large to accomplish anything, and Sen. Julie Slama of Peru questioned if the commission could finish a report by the end of the year as required in the bill.

Near the end of Wednesday's session, Lathrop said he was confused why the biggest critics of the state's over-reliance of property taxes for education were unwilling to give LB132 a try.

"If we're going to do anything different, then we've got to do something different," Lathrop said.

That means engaging with education organizations that oppose bills in committee hearings, Lathrop said, as well as senators who vote against property tax reform bills on the floor.
by Trung Tin

An outbreak was reported in a bar in Vinh Phuc province. People tested positive after coming into contact with Chinese. Yesterday 35 new cases were reported. The authorities are on alert, but official figures are far from what is seen in countries like India.

Hanoi (AsiaNews)  Coronavirus cases are rising again in Vietnam due to illegal immigrants, mainly from China, this according to Vietnamese authorities.

An outbreak was reported yesterday in a karaoke bar in Vinh Phuc province, involving nine people, six members of the staff and three customers .

According to the local health department, the people infected at the Sunny Bar had come into contact with Chinese who later tested positive.

The provincial authorities found 52 people who had entered illegally from China. A few days ago, the authorities in Hanoi found another 62, living in various city districts, like Cau Giat, Nam Tu Liem, and Ha ong.

Urgent preventive measures have been taken at all levels, said anhg Quang Tan, director of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vietnams Health Ministry.

Although rising, official figures are far from the tragic levels seen in countries like India.

Yesterday, Vietnamese health authorities reported 35 new cases. Over the last week, the daily average was 24. In total, Vietnam has had 155,000 cases with 3,240 deaths.

In addition to the 14 cases in Vinh Phuc, the other most affected province is Ha Nam (16 cases). More have been reported in Hanoi, Hung Yen province, a Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Yen Bai province.
State election officials said Wednesday that Nebraska dodged "major problems" in preparing for the 2022 election after getting word that U.S. Census figures needed for redistricting will arrive by mid-August.

Census figures, because of COVID-19 issues, had been expected to arrive as late as Sept. 30  six months later than normal  which Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen and his deputy for elections, Wayne Bena, said would have caused major problems in preparing for the 2022 elections.

But Wednesday, the two officials told a state legislative hearing that the Census Bureau recently pledged to deliver the needed figures by Aug. 16. That date, they said, should allow the State Legislature to hold a special session and get needed population information to county election commissioners by the end of September.

"As a practical matter, we can live with that (Aug. 16) date," Evnen said.

Bena said it would avoid a "heart attack" of problems. Though, he added, the start of filing by candidates for elective offices for 2022 will be moved back from December to Jan. 5.
The compromise was praised by some senators as charting a way forward.

Sen. Jen Day of Gretna said the formation of a new legislative committee to study school finance "should have been done a long time ago."

"The whole point of this is to get us in a room to discuss the problem and come to some kind of an agreement so we can move forward and stop arguing on the floor," Day said.

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion said the compromise between DeBoer and Linehan "is really going to put this issue where it belongs and that's in our hands."

"We've had some success around the edges," Briese said, "but the lesson is in the failures we've had. Meaningful and substantial property tax relief and reform is a really tough nut to crack."

The proposed compromise wasn't without detractors from either side of the political aisle.

Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said he didn't think senators would be able to accomplish the purpose set out by LB132 and advocated the Legislature hire an "outside, independent economic firm" to study the state's school funding formula and make recommendations.
We might even be above where we used to be under the Petersens ownership, said former Vise-Grip and current Eagle Grip employee Lyle Fink, 55. These tools are the strongest on the market.

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 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.
Last week, Donna Wolff of Northeast Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition visited YFFC to speak to Columbus Middle School students 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, 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.
Nebraska continues to grow steadily as it nears 2 million residents, according to 2020 census figures released last week.

Yet, despite seeing its population rise at the second-fastest clip in the states history, the state is still struggling to fill jobs in many fields, with manufacturing, agriculture and hospitality among those with the greatest needs at a time when Nebraska has returned to nearly full employment.

Without the proper investment in keeping existing Nebraskans and attracting new ones, the states economy could stall out  particularly with a wave of baby boomer retirements in the next decade forecast to hit this state harder than most.

Accordingly, immigration must continue to be viewed as an economic imperative into the 2020s and beyond, meaning smart policies are a must to keep Nebraska growing well into the future.

Employers are hiring in this state. The jobs are there. Yet there simply arent enough people to fill them.

Take the restaurant industry, for example  one thats present in and vital to nearly every Nebraska community, regardless of its size, and employs one in 10 Nebraskans.
Nebraskans prize those who work hard and those who work to support their families and communities. We recognize that the Good Life comes when we can count on each other. We take pride that Nebraska provides healthy food to people across our nation and throughout the world.

The good people of Nebraska also expect that every Nebraskan is able to come home from work safe and healthy. But, sadly, hardworking Nebraskans and their families are put at risk or injured in assuring our states economic success.

We lost 27 lives to COVID-19 from working in meatpacking and poultry plants. Hundreds more workers were infected and thousands of family and community members were put at risk. Some plants even shut down, which further harmed farmers and consumers. All because the meatpacking and poultry industry put profits over people, refusing to implement reasonable measures to protect Nebraskans working there. This is not the Nebraska way.

Meat and poultry plants are already extremely dangerous workplaces with high rates of cuts, amputations, chemical hazards, ergonomics injuries and death.
MADISON  As promised, Republicans on the states powerful budget committee voted Thursday to strike hundreds of items proposed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for the next state budget, including Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization.

The move by Republicans to eliminate 384 items from Evers spending plan leaves the 2019-21 budget, which was opposed by Democratic lawmakers, but signed by Evers, as a starting point for the 2021-23 biennial budget discussion.

The Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4, along party lines, to remove the items.

In a letter to Republican leaders Thursday, Evers said the decision to strip so many items from his budget proposal was ill-advised and well-opposed. The governor also on Thursday encouraged residents to contact their elected officials regarding the budget.

The elimination of about $1 billion in taxes and Medicaid expansion that would have provided the state $1.6 billion in federal funds, among other measures, strikes roughly $3.4 billion of revenue sources from the governors proposal.
RACINE  Kids as young as 12 may soon be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and doctors are saying they should both for their own safety  in the cases of rare instances of severe illness  and to prevent youths from spreading the novel coronavirus to older people who may be more likely to get severely ill from the virus.

Pfizer recently announced it has applied for an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds and said it could apply for an EUA for younger children as early as September.

In advance, the medical community has begun reaching out to parents and guardians to answer their questions. On Wednesday, medical professionals from Milwaukee-based Advocate Aurora Health took to Facebook for a livestreamed question-and-answer program, addressing the publics concerns about vaccinating children and teens.

Jim Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Aurora Health, opened the session with the good news and the bad news. While half of US adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, he noted, demand is beginning to slow.

The COVID cases in Illinois and Wisconsin remind us were not out of the woods yet, he added.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, as of Wednesday, 43.7% of Wisconsinites and 40.1% of Racine County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

More security for vulnerable

Pfizer in March released preliminary results from a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, showing there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated children compared with 18 among those given dummy shots.

That is welcome news for Robin and Aaron Perry of Sun Prairie, who have five boys, ages 5 to 17. Their oldest, Cooper, has been battling leukemia and contracted COVID-19 in November, in what his mother described as a terrifying time for the family. The disease spread to the rest of the family.

They all pulled through, and Cooper and his parents have all since been vaccinated. But his mother cant wait for her 15-year-old, Reece, and 12-year-old, Tucker, to get their shots so their brother is as protected as possible.

It feels like more security around Cooper with a compromised immune system, Robin Perry said. Its just being part of the solution. Thats what excites me the most. Its an added level of protection. Maybe you can take a deeper breath.

Eligibility

The first question concerned eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccination. Dr. Frank Belmonte, chief medical officer for Advocate Childrens Hospital, pointed out that about a month ago, most states lowered the eligibility age for the vaccine to 16; that occurred in Wisconsin on April 5.

At about the same time, Pfizer filed for emergency use authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds, Belmonte said. So were waiting on that and we hope that any day now, the FDA will OK the vaccine for that age group as well.

Skogsbergh said: Everybody wants to know if its safe.

It is safe, responded Dr. Markeita Moore, pediatrician with Advocate Childrens Medical Group. We highly recommend it  us and the AAP (American Association of Pediatricians).

The reality is that children can get COVID-19.

In April, 22% of all COVID cases were pediatric cases, she said. In Wisconsin, about 7,500 per 100,000 juveniles will get COVID, according to Moore.

Belmonte reminded the audience the issue was not just kids getting COVID, but it was also a matter of where they took it. He explained in the 12-18 age range, there was a 20% transmissibility rate.

So even if they dont get really sick from the virus, they can spread it to family members and other folks, he added.

When asked if they were both all-in for immunizing children against COVID-19, both Moore and Belmonte answered with an emphatic yes.

Belmonte noted, from an inpatient viewpoint, there have been children hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic  some who have been quite ill.

Rare but scary syndrome

Belmonte and Moore took the opportunity to point out there are concerns other than COVID.

For example, since June 2020 there have been cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

According to the CDC, MIS-C is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.

Although doctors do not know what causes MIS-C, there was an uptick in cases in children who had the virus that causes COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus.

Moore noted that in October there were about 1,000 cases. By February, that number had doubled, and by April it had tripled.

Vaccine hesitancy

Belmonte and Moore also addressed the hesitancy that some feel about the vaccine, especially when it comes to their children. These patients are oftentimes not anti-vaxxers  that is those who refuse to use any vaccines for reasons based not on any real science  but those who are just holding back in a sort of wait and see. As Skogsbergh noted, this has been especially true in communities of color.

Moore agreed she has experienced the hesitancy in her office. Its understandable why they are hesitant because of the mistrust, Moore said.

She added there simply exists mistrust between communities of color and the medical community  so the medical community must build that trust.

Moore said: Its my job to instill trust, and just to listen, and to see what their fears are, and to give them everything that Ive learned, so they can see that its safe.

Belmonte added that some people are just nervous about getting the vaccine because they do not understand the science.

Moore added there are other parents who are willing to have their children vaccinated  as soon as the FDA approves the shot for people younger than 16 years old.

So we do have a demand, she said.

Reporting from Heather Hollingsworth and Todd Richmond of the Associated Press contributed to this story.

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During a Nov. 11 press conference at the Sauk County Law Enforcement Center, Det. Lt. Chris Zunker said investigators thought Schmutzer, who had been visiting other area parks over the week, did not know the suspect.

The man suspected of stabbing Schmutzer would have shown signs of distress both before and after the homicide. People close to him would likely see an exacerbation of mental health issues or substance abuse.

The suspect also likely carries a knife and engaged in erratic behavior in the weeks after the stabbing, possibly even changing his appearance or the car he drives. He may have also shown an increased interest in news stories about the homicide.

Zunker said the suspect was likely triggered by a stressful life event which led to his violent actions. The suspect could also have moved out of the area without explanation.

Meister released information asking anyone who may have been near the park around the time of the 11:30 a.m. Oct. 14 homicide or who may know who the suspect is to call Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-847-7285, email tips to tipsubmit.com or send them via text with the message tipsauk to 274637.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.
by Emanuele Scimia

Political conditions unfavourable for the ratification of the agreement. New legislation proposed to curb (Chinese) state investors. The EU aims for reduced dependence on Chinese imports in key sectors. China and pro-Beijing European governments yet to respond.

Brussels (AsiaNews)  Over the past three days the European Union has sent three clear signals to China  the suspension of the ratification of the investment agreement; a new law clamping down on state subsidized foreign investors; a review of the industrial strategy to reduce dependence on imports in strategic sectors.

Relations between Europe and Beijing became strained in March after European sanctions were imposed on Chinese officials held responsible for human rights violations in Xinjiang. The Asian giant responded to the EU's move with countermeasures against MEPs, academics and European institutions.

EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis explained that the political conditions are no longer favourable for the ratification of the investment agreement with China.

On December 30 the two sides had reached an agreement in principle under the auspices of Germany and France. The deal is opposed by most of the groups in the European Parliament, which is called upon to approve it definitively. Resistance from MEPs increased after the announcement of Beijings counter-sanctions.

One key point contained in the draft agreement limits Chinese state subsidies to home grown industries, which the EU claims tips the market balance damaging European companies. With the new bill, the European institutions have decided to unilaterally resolve the matter.

In the future, the European Commission will be able to investigate and, if necessary, block foreign investments in European companies with profits exceeding 500 million, made by investors who have obtained state subsidies above 50 million. The measure applies to every foreign company, but Chinese state giants are the real target.

The EU also has imports of raw materials (especially rare earths) and pharmaceutical items from China in its sights. There are 34 products in these two sectors that the bloc is forced to import  half of them are of Chinese origin. The new industrial policy aims to decrease this dependence.

"It is all about level playing field, but on our turf," Joerg Wuttke, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, told AsiaNews. He argues that the new legislation has some good features, especially the fact that only the European Commission will be responsible for enforcing it. According to Wuttke, the instrument put in place by the bloc will not be protectionist: "The notification thresholds for subsidised concentrations and public procurement procedures are set high to capture the most distortive subsidies."

Several analysts note that while the investment agreement has a more political value for China (weakening the Euro-Atlantic link with the US) than an economic one, limits on the operations of its state-owned enterprises in Europe could lead to retaliatory measures. Much will depend on how the Commission applies the new rules, whether rigidly or more flexibly.

Then there is the behaviour of individual member states. Their collaboration will be needed to allow the European authorities to carry out checks on Chinese activities. Pro-Beijing governments like that in Hungary could "sabotage" the process. Last month Budapest already blocked a declaration of joint condemnation and the imposition of sanctions for the repression of the democratic movement in Hong Kong. According to the South China Morning Post, such an obstructionist policy is still being pursued.
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

View Results
La Crosse, Tomah and Vernon County physicians were among the 33 statewide chief medical officers and hospital leaders to sign an open letter to the public Thursday, urging all eligible individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Robyn Borge of Gundersen Health System, Dr. Joseph Krien of Mayo Clinic Health System, Dr. Jeffrey Cavaness of Tomah Health, Dr. Esteban Miller of Black River Memorial Hospital and Dr. Jeffrey Lawrence of Vernon Memorial Healthcare were included in the collaborative drafting of the following message:

COVID-19 has been with us now for more than a year. Weve been through a lot togetherillness, death, economic hardship and the disruption of the lives we cherish, including the close personal interactions that we as humans need to thrive. And while weve shown collective resolve in fighting the disease and adapting to its threat, what we all really crave is getting back to the people and things we miss. Vaccines offer us precisely that hope.

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Opponents of the line say it would deliver minimal if any ratepayer savings while the total cost to ratepayers, including maintenance and utility profits, would be more than $2 billion. They argue small, local renewable energy projects would provide greater value with less impact on the landscape.

The high-voltage line would use 14 towers  up to 20 stories high  to carry wires along a 260-foot-wide corridor through the refuge from the Turkey River bottoms in Iowa to the site of a former power plant north of Cassville.

The project would disturb about 39 acres of the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Construction of the line is expected to begin this fall barring a court injunction.

Learner said hes working with the federal government to expedite the legal proceedings.

Were going to ask the court to provide a reasonable opportunity to consider the merits of the plaintiffs complaints before damaging construction begins on the transmission line, Learner said. Thats just plain common sense.
This will be the first time in Wisconsins history that we have a facility like that that will be able to help women and young girls, said Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, a budget committee member.

I think that investing in this now will not only save the state taxpayers money, which is very important, but more important and the ultimate goal of this is to give our youth, some whove had the most horrific starts in their lives, it will give them a chance and an opportunity to come back and hopefully have a happy, healthy and productive life as they move forward.

Borrowed funds

In approving the request from the Department of Health Services to expand the facility, lawmakers are making use of borrowing already outlined in the last state budget. Republican lawmakers and Gov. Tony Evers already approved about $44 million in borrowing for the project, and Evers, through a veto, was able to shift $15 million in borrowing authorized for another mental health facility in northern Wisconsin that Republicans wanted to Mendota instead. Still, more will be needed in the state budget.
Convicted of participating in the Tiananmen Vigil. Six months also to District Councilor Lester Shum; four months for Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung. Wong is already serving a double sentence, and is awaiting a retrial for a crime against national security.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A district court yesterday sentenced democracy activist Joshua Wong to another 10 months in prison for having participated last June 4 in the vigil in memory of the Tiananmen massacre, banned for the first time by the authorities with the justification of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the same case, District Councillor Lester Shum received six months in prison; inflicted four months on her colleagues Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung. The four convicts are among a group of democratic personalities - including the publishing magnate Jimmy Lai - on trial for organizing or taking part in the annual demonstration commemorating the killings in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989: on that occasion thousands of Chinese students were massacred for asking for freedom and democracy.

Judge Stanley Chan did not accept the argument of the defence lawyers that the four Democrats had a "passive role" during the event, which, like every year, took place peacefully. He stressed that everyone's sentence was reduced by one third thanks to their having pleaded guilty.

Wong is already serving a sentence of 13.5 months for taking part in a police station siege in 2019 and another four months for taking part in an unauthorized demonstration on 5 October 2019. He protested against the extradition bill (later withdrawn) and the ban on wearing masks during a public demonstration.

Together with Shum and Yuen, the young democratic leader also faces a trial for organizing or taking part in primary elections in July to select democrat candidates for the September parliamentary elections (later postponed). According to the authorities, if the Democrats compete in the elections to obtain a majority in the Legco (the local parliament) they will violate the law on national security.
A proposed expansion of Rock Lititz Studio  the original building in the Rock Lititz business campus for the live-event industry  appears to be back on track, albeit in a smaller form.

The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority on Wednesday approved a $2.0 million low-interest loan to help fund the $12.0 million addition on the 96-acre campus, a block west of Route 501 in Warwick Township.

PIDA also approved a $2.0 million loan for Messick Farm Equipments relocation and expansion to Rapho Township and a $1.5 million loan for Flex-Cell Precisions expansion at its Lancaster city address.

The original Rock Lititz Studio is the first building in the world built specifically to house technical rehearsals of rock bands before they go on tour. Tech rehearsals include operating a shows audio systems, lighting and staging.

Opened in 2014, the 52,000-square-foot building also is notable for its appearance and height. The big black cube stands 100 feet high, to replicate the height of arenas where major bands perform. The addition will be 44,000 square feet, according to PIDA.

Rock Lititz initially announced plans to add both a second studio and a multi-tenant section to the original studio, plus a standalone building for concert audio leader Clair Global, in summer 2019, winning a $4.0 million loan from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

However, construction was postponed by the pandemics arrival in March 2020, which has nearly shut down the live-event industry. Wednesdays PIDA funding is limited to the addition of a second rehearsal studio.

A Rock Lititz spokeswoman declined to immediately provide a timetable for the addition.

The PIDA announcement is just the first step in the process of resuming expansion. It's therefore premature for Rock Lititz to make any announcements about construction plans, said spokeswoman Jill Brown, adding that a timetable would be disclosed in about two weeks.

Construction of the multi-tenant space to be added to the studio building and a standalone building for Clair Global, now located next door to Rock Lititz, are on hold temporarily, she said.

Messicks Farm Equipment intends to construct a 264,000-square-foot building at 1475-1575 Strickler Road, Manheim, to replace its 100,000-square-foot building at 187 Merts Drive, Elizabethtown, as LNP | LancasterOnline has previously reported.

The $21.9 million project along Route 283 near the Esbenshade Road exit will provide showroom, office, service, light manufacturing and storage space, while retaining 100 jobs. The site is where Walmart tried unsuccessfully to develop a 200,000-square-foot store in 2004.

Flex-Cell, a contract machining manufacturer, plans to enlarge its 17,500-square-foot facility at 1151-1155 S. Duke St. to 41,000 square feet. The $3.5 million project, to be completed by year-end, will allow Flex-Cell to add at least 10 people to its 45-person workforce over the next three years.

All three local loans were secured with the assistance of Lancaster-based EDC Finance, a nonprofit that helps businesses obtain state financing.
After it was delayed for more than a year, a Bhutanese restaurant is opening later this month in downtown Lancaster.

Norbu Lancaster will debut May 22 at 38 N. Christian St., the former home of Characters Pub, which closed in February 2019. The new restaurant is owned by Tenzin and Sanya Norbu who own Yak n Yeti restaurants in Carlisle and New Cumberland and were ready to open their Lancaster restaurant in April 2020, when their plans were delayed because of the pandemic.

To deal with a labor shortage that was a major part of the Lancaster restaurants delayed opening, the Norbus will temporarily close their New Cumberland restaurant and shuttle those employees to work in Lancaster. The Norbus live in New Cumberland and will personally drive the handful of employees to Lancaster.

Tenzin Norbu said he hopes to be able to reopen the New Cumberland restaurant in the fall, after the expiration of the $300 enhanced federal unemployment payments he says are making it difficult find employees.

Like the Norbus other restaurants, the Lancaster location will feature a Bhutanese and Nepalese cuisine amidst traditional decor as well as some traditional seating on floor cushions. It will initially just be open for dinner, but will also offer Sunday lunch. The Lancaster restaurant has a different name than the couples other restaurants because of a legal notice from Disney, which operates a Yak & Yeti Restaurant at its Animal Kingdom theme park near Orlando, Florida.

In an overflow space of the Lancaster restaurant, the Norbus operate Norbu Fine Jewelry, which they opened in January as their restaurant plans were delayed. The Norbus previously worked in the jewelry industry in New York City.
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.
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.
When: New Holland Borough Council meeting, May 4.

What happened: Council recognized Clete Stone for 47 years of employment with the borough from May 1974 to May 2021. He will retire Friday, May 7, as supervisor of the New Holland Water Department, a position held for 25 years.

Honors: In recognition of Stones service, council is dedicating the new Groff Park water well under construction at Railroad Avenue and Conestoga Street in Stones honor. The plaque on the well building will identify it as The Cletus H. Stone Jr. Building. Council members praised Stones work ethic and leadership.

New well: Jeff Bologa of Becker Engineering LLC, Lancaster, showed an artists rendition of the new well building. Bologa said it is the fifth well to be built in the borough and will likely be in operation by November. The other wells are located as follows: Well No. 1 and Well No. 2  Hoover Avenue, built in the 1950s; Well No. 3  Custer Avenue, built in 1996; Well No. 4  Jackson Street, built in 2002.

Quotable: The new well is one of the largest in the county capable of pumping a million gallons a day. It will put New Holland in the top five municipalities with available public water supply, Bologa said.

Vehicle replacement: Council approved the $17,896 purchase of a 2018 Subaru Legacy from New Holland Auto Group for the police department to replace a 2009 Ford.

Remembering Officer Metzler: Todd Burkhart, police committee chair, requested a moment of silence to remember Police Officer Wendell Metzler who died April 21 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a 20-year member of the New Holland Police Department.
A popular food truck event that moved from Lititz Springs Park to the Lancaster Airport could be moving to Wrightsville this summer.

Food Truck Frenzy, sponsored by the radio station Fun 101.3, will likely move to Riverfront Park or nearby in the York County borough. Ronnie Ramone, Fun 101.3s program director, spoke at Borough Councils May 3 meeting and said the event outgrew Lititz Springs Park after three years and moved to the Lancaster Airport.

We like that the nightlife is growing by leaps and bounds here, he said.

The event was popular with downtown businesses in Lititz because it drew a crowd of customers, some of whom patronized restaurants and bars afterward.

We think we can bring some more people to the town, Ramone said of moving to Wrightsville.

Borough Council has suspended the towns open container law during the pandemic in an effort to promote business for local bars and restaurants. Council President Eric J. White did not respond to a question about how that might impact what Ramone called a family friendly event.

In other business, Borough Council discussed payment of workers compensation insurance for the Wrightsville Fire Department. The borough pays for the policy and receives a portion from Hellam Township for the fire departments coverage there.

In October last year, the borough discovered that no one had sent invoices to the township for several years, totaling more than $20,000 in payments. After sending the invoices, borough Treasurer Keith Brenner said it appeared the township was ignoring the invoices.

But in a phone interview, Hellam Township Manager Corina Mann said the township never received invoices, which council President White confirmed in a phone call after the meeting. And Mann said the township didnt have the funds budgeted this year to pay for the older invoices without getting approval from the township supervisors.

We pride ourselves on being a nice community that gets along with all our neighbors, Mann said.
THE ISSUE

India has seen more than 20 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 226,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The New York Times reported this Wednesday: Official estimates of the nationwide infection toll  well above 300,000 a day  are probably undercounted, epidemiologists say. The reported figure will mostly likely rise to 500,000 cases a day by August, they say, leaving as many as one million of Indias 1.4 billion people dead from COVID-19.

Lancaster County is still considered an area of high risk for coronavirus transmission, but trends appear to be moving in the right direction.

As LNP | LancasterOnline reports, infection rates remain high and spread of the virus remains a major concern, but case and hospitalization rates are now showing improvement as more than half of the countys adult population is now at least partially vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Gov. Tom Wolf will lift the states COVID-19 mitigation measures, except for the public mask mandate, on Memorial Day. Ballparks, movie theaters, restaurants and other public spaces soon will be able to return to full capacity.

Across the globe in India, the picture is far different. The situation there is dire. As The New York Times reported Wednesday, Hospitals are full, oxygen supplies are dwindling, and sick people are dying as they wait to see doctors. As workers leave locked-down cities for their home villages, experts fear that the exodus could accelerate the spread of the virus in rural areas, as a similar one did last year.

For members of the South Asian Association of Lancaster, sitting by as tragedy unfolds in India was not an option.

As LNP | LancasterOnlines Aniya Thomas reported in Wednesdays edition, Manish Jhunjhunwala is among many in Lancaster County worried about their relatives in India as the country continues to be ravaged by COVID-19.

The president of the South Asian Association of Lancaster said, of his parents, Im far from them, and I cant see them with everything going on.

This is hard, Jhunjhunwala said, but thats why were working to do what we can to help.

What the South Asian Association of Lancaster is doing is raising $30,000 to purchase 30 oxygen concentrators to send to India. As Thomas reported, these machines remove nitrogen from the air to deliver pure oxygen to people.

So far, the association has raised about half the money. According to its Facebook page, Local organizations in India will be contacted to ensure that this help reaches those who need it most.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tweeted Wednesday that the United States has sent four planes to India containing rapid diagnostic COVID-19 tests, oxygen concentrators, N95 masks, oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeters and other medical supplies. This is great news.

But again, India is a country of 1.4 billion people. It needs all the help it can get.

Which is why we hope readers will consider, if theyre able, donating to the South Asian Association of Lancasters fundraiser.

One of the organizations founding members is Dr. Maulik Patel, a pulmonologist, critical care physician and medical director of critical care at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

Dr. Patel  like countless Americans who have parents and other relatives in India  has been working long and grueling hours caring for fellow Americans sickened by COVID-19 over the past 13-plus months. As a physician who specializes in respiratory disease, Patel has been on the front lines of the battle against this lethal disease in Lancaster County.

And as the medical director who oversees Lancaster General Hospitals intensive care unit, Patel has been at the very front of the front lines.

He and the South Asian Association of Lancaster also organized a vaccination clinic to ensure more Lancaster County residents are protected against COVID-19. Patel and others have given up their Saturdays since February to administer some 18,000 vaccine doses so far.

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, Jenni Leister of the South Asian Association of Lancaster told LNP | LancasterOnlines Thomas in an email.

The contributions of members of the local South Asian community to the fight against COVID-19 here have been invaluable.

Now they are trying to help the people of India. As Leister told Thomas, Another step, now, is to help countries like India battle COVID-19 so that together, as a world, we can rebuild.

Helping our fellow county residents in this effort would be an excellent way of thanking them for what theyve done to help this county in this pandemic.

Indias health care system is overwhelmed and needs help from the worlds community, from the (central Pennsylvania) community, to get the much-needed medical materials, Leister said.

The truth is that countries and people are interconnected. What happens in another part of the world affects us, too  and it affects some of our fellow Americans directly. Which is why we were heartened to read a statement from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Wednesday declaring the Biden-Harris administrations support for waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines  an important step toward getting more people around the globe vaccinated.

According to The Washington Post, developing countries have sought this waiver, as it will allow them to more quickly produce their own generic vaccines.

This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, Tai stated.

Indeed.

Extraordinary measures already have been taken on our behalf by Dr. Patel and his colleagues. We only can imagine the frustration, exhaustion and anguish of battling this protracted pandemic in Lancaster County, and now having to worry about family members and friends in India.

The distribution of resources in India has been so haphazard that people there have been scrambling, searching and pleading for medical oxygen to keep their loved ones alive. People there are dying for lack of oxygen.

Please contribute if you can.

HOW TO HELP:

Donations can be made online at saal.us/a/ and facebook.com/saalpa or by mailing a check to the South Asian Association of Lancaster, 719 Farnum Road, Lititz, PA 17543. (Write India COVID Relief in the memo line.)
by Vladimir Rozanskij

A Russian-Chinese project aims to "expose the Western lie". Russian media publish interviews with satisfied workers from Xinjiang. Secretary of the Shanghai Group: "There are no violations of human rights", no religious discrimination or "racial genocide". Moscow delegates control of troubled Central Asia to China.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Kremlin has sided with China against the West in the "fake news" war on Xinjiang. On May 4, a Russian-Chinese project to "unmask the Western lie" on the Uyghur genocide, prepared by the joint efforts of the Russian and Chinese media, appeared in Rossiyskaja Gazeta. A mobile information application Rossija-Kitaj-glavnoe "Russia-China-current affairs" has even been proposed. In the reports, "the love for the work of the people of Xinjiang" is exalted on the occasion of the May Day celebration, "which deserves the respect of the whole world". It is claimed that Uyghurs "voluntarily work in local industry".

The campaign against "fake news" has been going on for some time. On April 4, Vladimir Norov, secretary of the Shanghai Group, visited several locations in Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Kashgar, Aksa and other centres. With him was a delegation of Uzbek and Russian diplomats (photos 1 and 2).

On his return, he stated that in Xinjiang "there are no violations of human rights", much less religious discrimination or "racial genocide".

During the May holidays, the Russian and Central Asian media gave space to the testimonies of Xinjiang workers, mostly of Kazakh ethnicity, going against the "Western propaganda" on forced labour in the region, claiming instead of enjoying conditions very satisfying work.

The claims in media and those of Norov contrast with what many NGOs, experts and states in the West claim: that in Xinjiang the Chinese authorities hold or have detained more than one million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in concentration camps. The United Nations has also confirmed the existence of labour camps in the region, where hundreds of thousands of people are reportedly employed by force. Independent researchers even claim that the Chinese government is conducting a local forced sterilization campaign to control the growth of the Uyghur population. Beijing has always denied any accusation, branding it "fake news", but has always refused "unscheduled" and "unguided" visits by experts, politicians and UN members.

Moscow's support for "fake news" masks closer collaboration and taking China as an example to control the regions of Central Asia, which are increasingly restless and increasingly authoritarian.

In an investigation by Idel.Realii, information recently appeared on the spread of control technologies in the cities of the Oltrevolga, where the expansion efforts of Chinese investors have recently concentrated. The Chinese manufacturer Hikvision is systematically installing facial control cameras in both Xinjiang and Tatarstan, justifying them with the necessary security measures in relation to the recent unrest and conflicts in various areas of Central Asia.

Meanwhile, the border conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been provisionally suspended with the May Day agreements. According to the website fergana.ru, during the clashes around the Golovnoj aquifer, 36 people died on the Kyrgyz side, with 183 injured and 33,000 displaced.

The Asia-plus website instead reported 19 victims and 88 injured on the Tajik side. The president of Kyrgyzstan declared May 1 and 2 days of national mourning. The various authoritarian regimes of the countries of Central Asia seem less and less capable of controlling the situation, and the risk that many observers perceive is the destabilization of the entire region.

Russia itself appears rather powerless in the face of the disintegration of post-Soviet spaces, and seems to increasingly leave the field to the influence of the People's Republic of China, already economically present and active in the area.
The picture of the 9-year-old girl holding an anti-mask sign on the front page of Tuesdays LNP | LancasterOnline (Solanco mask protest) was puzzling, to us at least.

We have two granddaughters, ages 10 and 13, who go to school in Delaware. They wear masks all day and seem to do fine. They dont complain. We are glad that this anti-mask article was followed Wednesday with an excellent editorial (Much ado about masking).

One parent said children are being conditioned to be compliant and to do what they are told. We thought that was the point of raising children. We try to teach them all kinds of things. We teach them that they are not alone in this world. We share the world with a lot of other people, which means no one can do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it.

We try to teach children to love their neighbor as they love themselves, to do unto others as they would like others to do to them. We do some things for our own good and some things for the good of others. Its how the world works.

Our grandchildren know they will be able to take their masks off when we all can take our masks off. If we all cooperate, we can win this war.

Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience compared to a lot of other rules and regulations we all live by, and we should be glad to put a mask on, knowing that we are making the world a better place.

Dennis and Rose Ernest

Stevens
This article appears in the May 7, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this article]

China Briefs

China Launches the Core Module of Its Space Station

With the successful launch on April 28 of the Tianhe core module of its Tiangong space station, China begins to carry out the third phase of its manned space program. That series of missions has been a 30-year program, culminating in the operation of an Earth-orbiting space station in 2021, a bit later than the target year of 2020.

The first phase had the goal of demonstrating that manned space flight was safe. That was accomplished in 2003.The second phase, which lasted from then until now, demonstrated many of the technologies needed for long duration spaceflight, such as extravehicular activity and refueling, using Chinese equipment.

The station, Tiangong-2 (Heavenly Palace), is scheduled to be finished in 2022. There will be a total of eleven launches this year for station construction. The next launch in May will be a cargo ship, followed by a launch with three astronauts who will live in the module and deal with the construction of the station. Then the other modules, Tianmeng (Heavenly Dream) and Wentian (Questions of Heaven) will be sent and mounted on the core module. The station is scheduled to last at least 10 years, but it may continue much longer. While not as large as the ISS, it is similar in size to the Russia Mir station. Astronauts from other countries are also invited to participate in the program.

Tiangong-2 will be utilized for conducting experiments in microgravity. The space station will carry out nine experiments submitted by 17 countries. China has worked very closely with the United Nations to provide experiments which are for the benefit of developing countries. The station will also be used for gaining experience for future travel to the Moon and to Mars.

CRS Calls on U.S., Japan, and EU to Stop Sales of Semiconductors to China

A report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) urges Congress to place increasing restrictions on the export of semiconductors and the capital equipment needed for semiconductor manufacture. China, whose domestically produced semiconductors are still behind the standard required for the most advanced uses, is working overtime to develop its own capabilities, because of the possible loss of access to the semiconductor markets in the U.S., Japan, and European Union. Ironically, the report frantically warns that if China succeeds in become a major player in semiconductors, it could control the market.

China is increasing its purchase of semiconductors from Taiwan, which is also a major producer of advanced semiconductors. While Taiwan could conceivably be pressured to stop these sales, it is at the moment largely dependent on the Chinese market, and any retaliatory measures would have serious effects on the Taiwan economy. China is said to be two or more years behind Taiwan and the U.S. in semiconductor technology, but it could quickly catch up with a major effort. High-end semiconductor development is writ large in Chinas latest Five-Year Plan.

Xi Sends Condolences to Modi, Promises More Aid for Combating COVID

President Xi Jinping sent condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in India and promised that China stood by to help in combating the pandemic. The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard, Xis statement said. I believe that under the leadership of the Indian Government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the pandemic.

China has already sent aid to India, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin, who said that according to incomplete statistics, since April, China had already exported more than 26,000 ventilators and oxygen concentrators, more than 15,000 monitors, and nearly 3,800 tons of medicinal materials and drugs to India.

Chinas Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, told Global Times on May 1 that Chinese companies have been accelerating production of at least 40,000 oxygen generatorsorders placed by the Indian side, and they are working around the clock to deliver them as soon as possible. Many Chinese firms and private organizations are also using their own channels to provide various [forms of] help to India.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had a phone conversation with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyan Jaishankar, on April 30 and promised to increase Chinese production of medical supplies and send them to India. He also proposed to set up a phone hook-up between Indian and Chinese medical personnel to assist in fighting the epidemic. Jaishankar expressed great appreciation for the Chinese offer, which comes at a time of political tensions between the two major powers in Asia.

Foreign Minister: U.S. Has Still to Find Right Pathway to Engage China

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations on the subject of U.S.-China relations via Zoom on April 23, at the invitation of its President, Richard Haas.

The increasingly shrill discussion of China among U.S. political layers and the attempts by Congress to pass totally unacceptable resolutions which threaten Chinas development have undoubtedly created great concern in Beijing that the U.S.-China relationship can quickly go off the rails and lead to military conflict.

Wang Yi began by warning that the United States has not yet found the right way to engage with China. He reiterated what China has continually said, that it is not interested in achieving some sort of hegemony. Wang also explained that such a view was not consistent with the way China sees itself and the world, based on the fundamental Confucian ideal that motivates most of what China does. The wisdom from Chinas millennia of history teaches that countries going after hegemony are bound to fail, and that not all countries fight for hegemony when they grow stronger. China pursues development and rejuvenation through its own hard work, instead of aggression or expansion. In everything we do here in China, we do it for a better life for the Chinese people, rather than replace or outcompete anyone.

The right approach, he said, is to step up dialogue, deepen cooperation, narrow differences and avoid confrontation. He noted that the fundamental issue was whether the United States was prepared to recognize a major power with a different system like Chinas. And that question remains unresolved.

Wang Yi also presented a strong defense against the many different accusations that have been drummed up in the West, with regard to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and human rights. He invited his interlocutors (there were 500 people on this call) to come to Xinjiang and see for themselves what was happening there. But he also made clear that there was a limit to what China was willing to bear, and that was particularly the case with regard to Taiwan, agreements about which were fundamental to establishing the U.S.-China relationship, but which are now being called into question in the context of the heated anti-China atmosphere in Washington. Any attempt to play the Taiwan card, Wang Yi warned, is like playing with fire. The Q&A was off the record so that the questioners could speak freely, but given the large turnout, there is no doubt great concern among some political layers in the U.S. that the U.S.-China relationship is heading in the wrong direction.

CCP Political Bureau Discusses Post-COVID Situation

The 25-man Political Bureau chaired by President Xi Jinping discussed the economic situation in the country on April 28, now that COVID is largely under control. While there may be a sense of optimism, there is also concern that many problems still remain, and it is an open question what effect the various restrictions on China that are coming out of Washington will have on the countrys economy.

The South China Morning Post reports that while there will continue to be funding for infrastructure, there will also be a closer monitoring of the financial situation, particularly with regard to the outstanding debt of the local governments.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Politbureau said, Currently, the economic recovery is uneven and its foundation is still not solid. Efforts should be made to guard against and defuse economic and financial risks, strengthen and improve the supervision of the platform economy, and promote fair competition. There are ongoing investigations of Tencent and the ride-sharing company Didi Chuxin to see if they have created a monopoly situation, while Jack Mas giant Ant conglomerate was forced to end its lending practice. There was also a significant discussion of the problem of housing speculation, which in many places has become something of a bubble, particularly in areas which are deemed to have good school systems.

To better deal with the financial risks, the government is planning to set up a bad-debt disposal mechanism that will be operated by the local Communist party organizations and the local governments.
This article appears in the May 7, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Is Anyone Paying Attention to Putins Stern Warning?

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Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation/Mikhail Klimentyev

April 30In the days following Russian President Vladimir Putins National Address on April 21, which he stated was meant to send a stern warning to those out to destabilize Russia, Schiller Institute Chairman Helga Zepp-LaRouche sounded an alarm. In describing the allegations from both Belarusian and Russian intelligence agencies of the direct involvement of long-time Biden crony Michael Carpenter in a coup plot against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenkowhich included a plan to assassinate Lukashenkoshe said:

I find this absolutely incredible, because if this turns out to be the case, we could be closer to World War III than anybody realizes: Because this is exactly the kind of stuff which happens in the forefront of world wars.

She identified Carpenter as a collaborator of Biden in organizing the Maidan coup in Ukraine in 2014, serving as Bidens National Security adviser on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Carpenter has ties to the ultra-nationalist Nazi wing of those who ran the coup, through his collaboration with leading fascist Andriy Parubiy. Carpenter is presently the director of the Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania.

In his address, Putin described western support for the flight-forward by Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the plot for regime-change in Belarus, as moving toward crossing a red line, which would provoke a Russian response, which he said would be asymmetrical, swift, and tough. He added, Unfortunately, everyone in the world seems to be used to the practice of politically motivated, illegal economic sanctions and to certain actors brutal attempts to impose their will on others by force. The failure of western leaders to condemn such flagrant provocations demonstrates the danger of what Zepp-LaRouche has described as sleepwalking into war, a reference to the delusions that preceded World War I.

Putin lamented,

Nobody seemed to notice. Everyone pretends nothing is happening. But such actions will have consequences. Those behind provocations that threaten the core interests of our security will regret what they have done in a way they have not regretted anything for a long time.

His warning was reiterated in an interview given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Dmitry Kiselev of the Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya on April 28. Asked if the situation today is worse than that between the two superpowers during the Cold War, Lavrov acknowledged that if provocations continue,

... we will be living in conditions of a Cold War, or even worse.... In my opinion, tension did run high during the Cold War and there were numerous high-risk conflict situations, but there was also mutual respect. I believe that this is lacking now.

The deterioration of relations, he added, began under Obama, continued under Trump, and now we can see that the Biden Administration continues to go downhill.

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Twitter Account for Tulsi Gabbard

Some Voices of Sanity

There have been some notable exceptions to the overall silence from the West about the danger of war arising from western actions. Former Congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard gave a graphic warning to a national television audience on the Tucker Carlson show on April 12:

[A war with Russia] would come at a cost beyond anything that we can really imagine. This war is not a game.... [It] could exact a cost on every one of us that would result in excruciating death and suffering beyond comprehensionhundreds of millions dying and suffering, seeing their flesh burned from their bones.... Its a cost that we will all pay.

After Putins speech, Gabbard tweeted toward President Joe Biden:

Are we prepared to see our loved ones burn alive in a nuclear holocaust in a war with Russia over Ukraine? If not, cut out the macho saber rattling and de-escalate before its too late.

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U.S. Navy/John F. Williams

U.S. Naval War College analyst Lyle J. Goldstein also warned of the danger of crossing red lines:

Americans should ask the uncomfortable question: Why do the U.S. and its allies appear to be encroaching upon so many different Russian red lines in so many situations simultaneously? We should not be touching the red lines of the other major nuclear armed powers on a daily basis.... We must learn to live amicably with Russia or risk a continuing succession of showdowns on the pattern of the Cuban missile crisis.

Accelerating Anti-Russia Escalation

A new flank against Russia was opened with the allegation that Russian GRU (military intelligence) operatives were behind an explosion at an ammunition depot in Vrbetice in the Czech Republic, which explosion occurred in October 2014. The apparent source of the allegation is Bellingcat, a British foreign intelligence, MI6-sponsored open-source, citizen journalist website, which has published numerous unsubstantiated anti-Russian stories, including accusing Russia of overt military intervention in Ukraine, facilitating and then covering-up Syrian government use of chemical weapons, and deploying a chemical weapon against London-backed Russian dissident Alexey Navalny. Incredibly, the story on the Czech arms depot claims that the explosives were placed by the same two individuals Bellingcat accuses of poisoning the Skripals in March 2018.

This story was immediately seized upon to spark new demands for sanctions against Russia. Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the British Parliament, called the explosion a direct attack on a NATO country, while British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it exposes how far Russias intelligence services will go to conduct dangerous and malign operations in Europe. The fallout from these allegations has included the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Czechia, as well as from several eastern European NATO members.

Two British warships are scheduled to enter the Black Sea in the next few days. Ben Wallace, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, said this will demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraines territorial integrity. It follows a visit to Kiev by British General Sir Stuart Peach, the Chairman of NATOs Military Committee, who promised British and NATO support to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.

Adding his voice to the attack, MI6 Chief Richard Moore said in an interview with Times Radiothe first ever given by a sitting MI6 chiefthat Russia would pay a huge price if it invaded Ukraine. The Russians are in absolutely no doubt of where the UK stands on this issue, adding that they are completely in line with the Biden administration. He described Russia as a declining power economically and demographically.

On the British role in the attacks on Russia, Lavrov said in an April 28 interview with Sputnik:

I still believe that the U.K. is playing an active and very serious subversive role.... They are trying to influence European Union member states approaches to Russia.

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UK Ministry of Defence

Think-Tanks Mobilize for War

One measure of how committed the global oligarchy is to carry out regime change against Russia, China and other sovereign nations, can be gleaned from a quick survey of articles published by, and public events organized by leading trans-Atlantic think-tanks, with programs designed to create an enemy image of those nations to justify provocations that could lead to war. These think-tanks, funded by corporations that are part of the broadly-defined Military Industrial Complex (MIC), and by trust funds of wealthy families, provide a home for former government officials, as well as a launching pad for opportunists auditioning to become a part of the shadow government.

In the next days, events are scheduled by the Atlantic Council, which includes Michael Carpenter on its board. These include Putins Mediterranean Gambit; Putins Pressure PointsNavalny and Cyber Warfare; and The Impact of Sanctions on Russia. Chatham House, home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA, British intelligence), which published a paper on April 23, Europe Must Admit Russia Is Waging War, is sponsoring a roundtable on World Order in the 21st Century, featuring a study done by the Lloyd George Study Group on World Order, and comments by speakers from Georgetown University and the RIIA-sister organization, the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Others involved in this escalation include the neo-con Jamestown Foundation, which will sponsor a workshop and webinars on The Growing Importance of Belarus on NATOs Eastern Flank; and the Center for a New American Strategy (CNAS), which posted a video, NATO, China and Russia: A Balancing Act. This features Ian Brzezinski, the son of Zbigniew Brzezinski, who promoted the British geopolitical design of the Arc of Crisis during the Carter administration, introducing U.S. involvement in the forever wars in South Asia as a strategy to break the southern republics away from the Soviet Union. CNASs past chairman was Victoria Nuland, who played a lead role, along with Joe Biden, in the February 2014 coup in Ukraine. Nuland was just confirmed to the number-three position in the Biden State Department.

An example of the role played in shaping policy by these think-tanks is an article in the May-June 2021 issue of Foreign Affairs, the journal of the CFR. In Russias Weak Strongman, author Timothy Frye provides a blueprint for undermining the authority of Putin to fuel the prospects of a coup. In describing him as a personalist autocrat, Frye writes that Putin faces the dual threats of a coup from elites around him and a popular revolt from below, as in the western-sponsored regime change efforts currently centered on Navalny. Frye issues a veiled threat to Putin, that when such leaders lose power, they have tended to end up in exile, in jail, or dead, adding that Putin is surely aware of this danger. Fryes article is coherent with the publication by the Atlantic Council in January of The Longer Telegram, which offers a purported profile of power struggles within the Chinese government. The anonymous author of that document suggested these struggles be exploited by western intelligence agencies to undermine President Xi Jinping, as part of a broader effort to contain the alleged aggression coming from his government.

The Case of Belarus

The attempted color revolution coup in Belarus, identified by Putin as one of Russias red lines, provides another example of how western intelligence agencies run regime-change coups. Western intelligence and political leaders claim that the election of August 9, 2020, won by Lukashenko, was riddled with fraud, and should be overturned. Demonstrations by pro-democracy groups led to clashes with security forces, with western governments decrying the violence used to put down the protestsan attempt to repeat the operation behind the Maidan coup in Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas admitted providing millions of euros to support the protests.

The narrative of the heroism of the protestors, spontaneously arising to take on a Russian-backed authoritarian regime, was promoted nonstop, as sanctions were imposed on Belarus and threats made against Russia in case Putin intervened to aid Lukashenko.

Left out of this narrative is the pre-planning that went into the attempt to remove Lukashenko, and open the way for Belarus to be brought into NATO. Donald Trumps Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played a role in this during 2019-20, when he intervened in a dispute between Russia and Belarus over oil deliveries. Pompeo said:

The United States wants to help Belarus build its own sovereign country, [and wishes to make sure that] they should not be forced to be dependent on any one partner.

Pompeo visited Belarus in February 2020, pushing this version of a beneficent U.S. commitment to aid the process of democratic transformation.

His intervention had been scripted in a 2019 report by the RAND Corporation, another long-time participant in the MIC. That report provided a strategy for the destabilization of Belarus, through an effort to woo it away from Russia with offers of western financial support and, if that failed, backing forces fighting for democracy, to unleash a color revolution. As the intensity of the protests by citizens of Belarus has dwindled, the passion for regime change from trans-Atlantic forces has not.

One final example of the insanity of western allegations against Russia is a bizarre story, covered in Politico, which claims that marines in Syria who became ill with flu-like symptoms may have been targeted by Russian directed energy weapons, according to sources in the Pentagon. Politico reported that Pentagon officials had done in-person briefings to Congress members on this charge, leading war-hawk Republican Senator Marco Rubio to assert that this is another example of Russian aggression in the Middle East. Unfortunately for the narrative-spinners of regime- change, further investigation showed the story was false. Investigators discovered that the sickness was the result of bad food served to the soldiers; they were experiencing food poisoning. Nevertheless, Bidens Director of National Intelligence told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the intelligence community members are focused on this issue.
This article appears in the May 7, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

The Chorus for Peace and Development Continues to Resound

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Schiller Institute

May 2On Sunday, April 25th, the Schiller Institute choruses presented a live-streamed concert that featured a profoundly soul-searching selection of Classical compositions, performed both live and virtually. The concert, titled Beethovens Credo: Believe in the Futurea World Without War, was dedicated to the Spirit of the Elbe and was a continuation of the Beethoven 250th Birthday celebration. The concert featured a virtual performance of Beethovens Credo (from his Missa Solemnis, Opus 123), which you can watch here, Mozarts Ave verum corpus available here, as well as a selection of African-American Spirituals and songs by Handel.

While many choruses and arts organizations were forced to pull back during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus pushed ahead, despite the challenges, because of the importance of singing beautiful and profound music in times of crisismusic, which connects us at the higher level of humanity as a single immortal species. The concert began with remarks by Schiller Institute NYC Chorus Chair, Jen Pearl, followed by an introductory video on the Spirit of the Elbe, the 76th Anniversary of which was April 25.

This joyful and beautiful concert was occurring in the context of a world fraught with crises, including an increasing potential of world war, and starvation in Yemen and Syria. Solving these crises requires a change of heart and soul from the Western world (Europe and the United States). We need to rapidly reject the moral indifference that has dominated our culture for decades. While you certainly cannot outlaw bad culture, a commitment to optimism and the future by working with other nations on economic development and science and Classical culture, can quickly reverse the current paradigm. Confucius is famously quoted saying that the state of a country can be seen in the quality of its music. Immersing your mind and soul in the works of great Classical composers can lift the human soul and spirit.

As Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Schiller Institute founder and President, stated in her recent Open Letter to Classical Music Lovers in the Year of Beethoven:

Where else, other than in Classical music, can one strengthen and deepen the passion needed to look beyond ones own concerns and to address the great objects of humanity? Or where can one educate the sensibility needed to fulfill Schillers demand, as stated in his speech on universal history, A noble longing must glow within us to add from our own resources our contribution to the rich legacy of truth, morality and freedom, which we have received from former ages, and must deliver richly increased to the ages to come; and to fasten to this imperishable chain, which winds through all the generations of men, our own fleeting existence.

The beautiful concert program reflected the very best of mankinds creativity, with Classical compositions sung by soloists and the chorus. But, they were performed within a world where the very worst actions being done by the hand of human beings, toward entire nations and populations of children. Beethoven once said that if people understood his music, there would be no war. We are at a point in history where the population should not and cannot settle disputes with violence.

On April 25th, 1945, American and Soviet troops met from the west and the east at the Elbe River near Torgau, Germany, south of Berlin, ensuring an early end of the war, and thus was born what has become known as the Spirit of the Elbe. Now more than ever, is that spirit of brotherhood and peace needed.
This editorial appears in the May 7, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this editorial]

EDITORIAL

MAY 8 INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE

Our Moral Collapse Cries Out for

A New Paradigm

May 3Can we effectively get people alerted to the fact that we are much closer to the outbreak of nuclear war than at any moment since the Cuban Missile Crisis? The Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov, just gave a long interview in which he said that he thinks that the situation is much more dangerous than during the Cold War, mainly because there no longer is any mutual respect among the nuclear powers, Helga Zepp-LaRouche pointedly told the audience at a live broadcast of The LaRouche Organization on Saturday, May 1. This is a very worrisome aspect, because it comes on top of the fact that many of the normal back-channel mechanisms and emergency telephone lines which existed even during the Cuban Missile Crisis no longer really exist; or if they exist, they have become much more dubious and questionable.

The Schiller Institutes upcoming May 8 international conference, convened by Zepp-LaRouche, is designed to address precisely that danger and the other processes of devolution feeding into it. She elaborated:

Why are people so absolutely numb? Why are they not worried about that? When you had the medium-range missile crisis at the beginning of the 1980s, it was at a time when you still had NATO and the Warsaw Pact operating as two military blocs divided by the Iron Curtain. In Europe, there were the SS-20s on one side of the Iron Curtain, and Pershing 2 missiles on the other side. If by accident, or intention, the launching of just one of those missiles would have appeared on the radar of the other side, the entire arsenal would have been launched, because the time to react was just a few minutes. So therefore, these missile systems were on launch-on-warning alert the whole time.

Many people were concerned that there might have been an accidental World War III. There were hundreds of thousands of people in the streets, even Helmut Schmidt, who was the Chancellor of Germany at that time, spoke many times about the danger of World War III.

Now, the situation is much more dangerous, because there are much more advanced systems of nuclear weapons. We have the de facto expansion of NATO into the Indo-Pacific. China is arming, according to some sources, with some missiles on launch-on-warning alert, because they are worried that in an emergency, they wouldnt have enough time. So, we are sitting on a powder keg, but the population is completely indifferent; doesnt seem to care.

That conference will, in its second panel, address the inexorably linked, and underlying crises that accompany this war threat. Zepp-LaRouche described some of those elements:

We now have the unbelievable outbreak of the pandemic. Look at India; actually, the last figure was more than 400,000 people in one day. The crematoriums are completely full; they have been burning people outdoors just because they had to do something.

We have that crisis and famine. Famine which, according to David Beasley from the UN World Food Program, threatens the potential deaths of 300 million peoplethis yearby starvation. But has that been an issue of discussion? Where is the public dialogue to consider how we remedy that? How can we address that?

The urgently required dialogue, the debate about solutions, has not been taking place. The very question of human survival, of the survival of civilization is now called into question. That is why the Schiller Institute is holding such a conference, and has chosen to title the upcoming May 8 conference, The Moral Collapse of the Trans-Atlantic World Cries Out for a New Paradigm. Participation is open to citizens of all continents, starting at 9 a.m. EST. It will broadcast live on the internet and can be accessed through the Schiller Institute here .
Blinken Taking Nuland to Ukraine with Him

May 5, 2021 (EIRNS)U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Kiev today with Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland by his side. The Associated Press admitted that Nulands presence is likely to irritate Russia, given her history and orchestration of the 2014 Maidan coup, including coordination with openly neo-Nazi leaders and networks in the country. AP presented this as Nulands advocacy for reform-minded, pro-Western Ukrainian politicians incurred the Kremlins wrath.

Other media sources point out there will be tension in Blinkens trip, because of his focus on fighting corruption and institutional reform. Money from the IMF will be dependent on Ukraine carrying out the reforms the U.S. demands, UNIAN Ukrainian news agency warns, and reporting that Blinken will demand results.

Unnamed State Department officials, briefing reporters on the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London on background yesterday, said that during the plenary session, the ministers spent an hour-and-a-half on Russia, including Ukraine and Belarus. Ukraine was also discussed in the bilateral meetings that took place on the sidelines. Were all in agreement and stand in solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression, one of the officials said.

Viktor Medvedchuk, the head of the political council of the Opposition PlatformFor Life party in Ukraine, warned yesterday that the main U.S. interest in Ukraine is in the confrontation with Russia. The world leaders who supported [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky made the right choice. But in this chorus of support the United States sets the tune. It wants Ukraine to be a stronghold of confrontation on the border with Russia that benefits U.S. interests above all, Medvedchuk tweeted on May 4, reported TASS.

Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda, with support from his counterparts in the Baltic states, seems to be doing everything to keep the Ukraine pot stirring. He hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw on Monday (May 3), after which the Ukrainian President declared that Poland is ready to fully support Ukraines European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Ukraines prospective membership in both the EU and NATO were on the agenda. Our bilateral meeting ended today with the signing of a joint declaration on the European prospect for Ukraine, i.e. belonging to the EU. In this issue, Poland has always supported Ukraine, Duda said at a joint briefing on the results of bilateral talks, reported Zelenskys presidential website.

As for NATO, Duda promised that a roadmap for Ukraines entry into the alliance will be discussed at the NATO summit in June. It is well known that Moscow considers Ukraines membership in NATO a casus belli. According to Duda, at the June summit, the heads of state and government of NATO countries will discuss the security of Ukraine, and in this regard, the security of all of Central Europe. Secondly, this issue will also formally indicate to Ukraine the path it should take towards membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, a roadmap for membership, which is now a fundamental matter and for which Ukraine is fighting, he said.
G7 Ministers Fixate on China, Stick with Imperial Rules-Based Order, not the BRI

May 5, 2021 (EIRNS)The May 3-5 summit of Group of Seven Foreign and Development Ministers in London had one purpose: to craft a unified attack on China, all the while proclaiming that containment is not a goal, but demanding that China adhere to the rules-based international orderwhich rules are written by the same imperial geopolitical forces determined to crush China. Particular focus was placed on the danger of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which as top State Department officials warned in a May 4 briefing to reporters, uses its development strategies to make countries dependent on them and compromise their sovereignty.

One of these officials proclaimed that there was complete unanimity among the ministers, describing them as the most like-minded group on the planet. One Biden administration official enthusiastically told Bloomberg thered been a sea change in European thinking, coming on board the U.S. stance on China. And, he commented,

that change could get more pronounced if the [German] Greens convert their opinion poll lead into a strong showing or even victory in September.... The Greens have a harsher line on China than the current administration, calling for an end to Beijings blatant human-rights violations and for closer European and trans-Atlantic coordination on China.

A second Bloomberg article cited unnamed State Department and other diplomatic sources, who reported that prior to the May 4 meeting, the U.S. submitted a document that proposed setting up a consultation mechanism involving the G7, as well as other stakeholders, to ensure a coordinated response to Chinas actions, to bolster the resilience of G7 nations. At yesterdays opening session, the first 90 minutes were reportedly dedicated to China. Discussion included U.S. warnings about how China tries to use the Belt and Road Initiative and economic coercion to get nations and individuals to do what it wants. A second proposal reportedly involved setting up a group called Friends of Hong Kong to allow for sharing of information about the former British colony, according to one diplomat who attended.

State Department officials insisted the rules-based order and the need to shape open societies were key themes of debate, but discussion always came back to China. It was the most important agenda item for us, said one of the officials, who warned that if China wants to be an integral member of the international order, it has to play by the rules of that international order. Of course, he said, governments arent being asked to choose, to be either for or against China, but rather its a question of ensuring that China is abiding by those rules and competing fairly with us.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated that it would be possible to change Chinas behavior, If countries around the world that feel aggrieved by some practice that China is engaged in, come together. He pointed out that the U.S. by itself is only 25% of world GDP, but if all these aggrieved nations get together, thats 40, 50, 60% of world GDP. Then it will be much harder for China to ignore them.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021

Steering Past Scylla and Charybdis

May 5, 2021 (EIRNS)The world is careening, nearly out of control, towards the twin deadly dangers of nuclear war between superpowers, and a systemic economic breakdown crisis which threatens to sweep away millions upon millions of human beings, or even swallow up entire nations in the maelstrom.

Bidens Secretary of State Tony Blinken arrived in Ukraine today to prod and jack up that nation into a confrontation with Russia. He was accompanied by none other than Victoria Nuland, the hands-on operative who oversaw the 2014 Nazi coup in Ukraine on behalf of the Obama administration and the British.

Before that, Blinken was at the G7 meeting in London May 3-5, where he tried to bludgeon Europe with a simple message: Thou shalt not cooperate with China, or else. He reserved special venom for the Belt and Road Initiative, which the State Department denounced as economic coercion which compromises the sovereignty of those countrieswhen in fact it is those nations only hope of survival in the middle of a physical economic breakdown crisis.

If you want to know what systemic economic breakdown looks like on the ground, take India, which is being torn asunder by the COVID pandemic unleashed by 50 years of international economic policies of looting and speculation. There are officially 20 million COVID cases and over 222,000 COVID deaths in that nation of 1.4 billion people. But sober Indian sources in the medical community estimate the actual death toll to be 5-10 times greateri.e., between 1 and 2 million Indians have already died of COVID. And it is spreading like wildfire, completely overwhelming the countrys medical system. New variants of the virus are reported to be appearing with such rapidity that they are outpacing the ability of vaccination to contain the firestorm.

Is this Indias problem? Half of the planets new COVID cases and a quarter of the COVID deaths are now happening in India, population 1.4 billion. The head of the Africa CDC a few days ago expressed his grave concern, both because of what was happening to India and also because India has been the major exporter of vaccines to the continent of Africaexports which will now cease almost entirely. Africas population is over 1.2 billion. And in Brazilpopulation 211 million, out of Latin Americas 650 millionthe pandemic is almost as badly out of control as in India.

And yet, with this gravest of existential threats facing humanity, the British Empire and its Wall Street and City of London financial hitmenthe very forces responsible for the COVID catastropheare accelerating their drive for a Green New Deal and a Global Reset. At every opportunity, they are demanding earlier and earlier deadlines to meet their so-called carbon net zero goals, a form of green insanity that will predictably bring about the deaths of hundreds of millions of people.

This is beyond an economic breakdown, Helga Zepp-LaRouche commented yesterday. This form of collective suicide reflects the mass breakdown of reason itself, and we have to take the gloves off to stop this Malthusian insanity.

The pandemic, the war danger, the economic breakdown can all be stopped and reversed; but it will require an international mobilization of all nations and political forces on the planet to do so, with a programmatic focus long specified by Lyndon LaRouche.

Interested in being part of that historic process? Participate in the Schiller Institute international conference, The Moral Collapse of the Trans-Atlantic World Cries Out for a New Paradigm, this Saturday, May 8, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT.
$6.2 Billion Cal Fund Will Shield Small Businesses from COVID-Related Taxes

California lawmakers have approved Assembly Bill (AB) 80 legislation spearheaded by Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood). The legislation will give a $6.2 billion tax cut to small businesses across the state that received loans under the federal governments Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

California lawmakers approved the bill, they say, to safeguard the financial future of small businesses as a supplement to the American Families Plan proposed by President Joe Biden in March this year. AB 80, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom protects small businesses that received PPP loans from the federal government by ensuring that the loans will not count as taxable income. Expenses covered by the federal funds are also tax deductible under this legislation.

State legislators passed a unanimous vote on the tax, marking it as one of largest tax cuts in state history, Burke said on Facebook.

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My bill will provide assistance to businesses who were financially harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing them to deduct all expenses paid for using forgiven PPP loans, she said.

Small businesses play a key role in the economic recovery of the state especially since the state plans to reopen on June 15 this year.

Californias small businesses have been hampered and hammered by this pandemic, and we are using every tool at our disposal to help them stay afloat, Gov. Newsom said.

Also, This small business tax relief is exactly what is needed to keep businesses open so they can continue paying their employees, he said.

Maria Salinas, the president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, supported the states efforts to allow major tax cuts for small businesses that employ people from Black and Brown communities.

We know that small businesses are what fuels the economy not only in Los Angeles but across the state of California and across this country, said Salinas.

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Despite small businesses receiving PPP loans to soften the financial blow of the pandemic, the tax bill also aims to remedy, the tax burden that we saw in the differences between the federal and the state, said Salinas.

According to state officials, in addition to the tax bill, California also legislated $2.5 billion in relief funds to support small businesses across the state earlier this year. Eligible businesses can receive grants up to $25,000 to make up for financial loss incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tax relief bill comes at a critical moment in Gov. Newsoms time in office as state officials prepare for recall efforts his Republican opponents initiated.

But the Governor remained optimistic.

Were going to defeat the recall, he said.

Despite the optimism, the state has validated over 1.6 million signatures exceeding the number of signatures required for California to move forward with a re-election.

Were going to focus on getting people back to work, said Gov. Newsom.

Learn More about the petition to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom

According to the California Association of Clerks and Elections Officials, a bipartisan government agency, a reelection could cost the state $400 million based on previous election data and the current economic factors.

Were going to get this economy moving again and more important than anything else, were going to get vaccines in peoples arms so we can do all of that faster, said Gov. Newsom.

Dr. Shirley Weber, the California Secretary of State, is leading efforts to prevent the projected fiscal setback expected to be triggered by the prospective re-election. According to the Secretary of States office, there is an allocated time period for people to withdraw their signatures from recall petitions in their respective counties.

State economic strategy for American Families Plan

State officials are combining federal and state initiatives to boost efforts to reopen by mid-June this year. The state is initiating programs to provide relief funds for individuals  some of them grants  for small businesses and organizations, including $600 stimulus checks for Californians who have low incomes.

Right here in California, our stimulus programs have provided tax relief for small businesses and money in pockets for struggling families, and weve expanded childcare and made community college free, said Gov. Newsom.

According to state officials, relief programs have helped more than 40,000 small businesses and nonprofits across California so far.

These strategic investments, which are complemented by President Bidens American Families Plan, will bolster Californias equitable economic recovery and bring us roaring back, he said.

State officials are set on achieving their goal to reopen and to restore job losses for small businesses and academic setbacks for schools across California.

California Black Medias coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
Chauvin Is Guilty. Our Work Is Cut Out for Us.

Just a few days have passed since Derek Chauvins conviction in the murder of George Floyd. But the images from that moment are seared in our memories forever: the murderer, led away in handcuffs. The Floyd family, Philonise Floyd speaking through tears, at the microphones after the verdict. The crowds outside the courthouse erupting in cheers when the verdict was read.

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Our gratitude for this measure of accountability is soul-deep. And now we ask ourselves, will things really be different this time? The answer is that they can be, if we seize this moment.

Washington has sent encouraging signs that it is serious about addressing police violence and systemic racism. Congress should pass the imperfect but important George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The Justice Department is forging ahead with investigations of police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, and the shooting of Anthony Brown in North Carolina.

We have work to do in our own neighborhoods, too.

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Policing is a local function, controlled by city, county and state governments. These governments answer directly to us, the citizens. And there is a lot we can do to insist on change.

One of the most inspiring examples today is in Ithaca, New York, a college town led by a dynamic young Black mayor. There, Mayor Svante Myrick and the city council approved a plan to do away with their traditional police department and replace it with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety, in which some personnel would carry weapons  and, importantly, some would not.

Instead, unarmed social workers would respond to the many calls in which an armed response is unnecessary and even dangerous. The new department will have a civilian supervisor. It will focus on de-escalating situations in which people are at risk, and restoring trust among the citys communities of color, homeless residents, LGBTQ residents and residents with disabilities.

The plan came together with input from local residents as well as city and county officials. It is the kind of innovative thinking we want in communities across the nation, and the energy around the Chauvin trial helped get it over the finish line.

We all can harness that energy where we live. Our year of speaking out and taking to the streets will serve us well; we can organize, and demonstrate, and show up in the places where local lawmakers meet to do their work. We can contact our local representatives directly; they might live next door or down the street.

And while the task of changing thousands of police departments, one by one, seems huge, think of this: more than half of Black Americans live in 25 metropolitan areas. We can get serious about saving Black lives by starting in those metro areas. And we can build a movement that inspires others to act.

One of the most emotional moments after George Floyds murder last year came when his daughter Gianna, then six, said, Daddy changed the world. If we want her to be right in the long run, we can do our part to make her words come true. And each of us can start right here at home.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation. Jealous has decades of experience as a leader, coalition builder, campaigner for social justice and seasoned nonprofit executive. In 2008, he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.
Pope sends a message to Card Gracias expressing solidarity and spiritual closeness. He writes that he is praying for the healing and consolation of those affected by the pandemic, and is grateful to the Catholic community for its work of charity and fraternal solidarity. Italy sends oxygen plant for 100 beds to a hospital in Noida.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis sent a message to Card Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, as a sign of communion with the people of India.

In it the pontiff says: At this time when so many in India are suffering as a result of the present health emergency, I am writing to convey my heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people.

In the message the Holy Father goes on to say that he is praying that God will grant healing and consolation to everyone affected by this grave pandemic.

The Pope's thoughts are addressed all to the sick and their families, to those who care for them, and in particular to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Likewise, Francis mentions the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those working tirelessly.

To the Catholic community he expresses his gratitude for the[ir] work of charity and fraternal solidarity citing the faithful as well as the priests and men and women religious who lost their lives.

By way of conclusion, the pontiff writes: these days of immense grief, may we all be consoled in the hope born of Easter and our unshakeable faith in Christs promise of resurrection and new life. To all I send my blessing.

Meanwhile, for the second time in a week, the number of new coronavirus cases in India exceeded 400,000 in a single day. The latest figures mark in fact yet another record. In the last 24 hours, 412,262 people have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with 3,980 deaths for a total death toll since the start of the pandemic of 230,168.

Among the nations that have responded to Indias request for help, Italy has provided an oxygen plant to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) hospital in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The plant, which arrived a few days ago and was set up in a record 48 hours, will provide oxygen to about a hundred beds at the medical facility, which caters primarily to the personnel of various police and paramilitary organisations, their families, veterans of these forces that operate under the command of the Union Home Ministry.

At todays inauguration ceremony, Italian Ambassador Vincenzo De Luca switched on the plant and thanked the Indian government for the assistance provided to 17 Italian citizens currently in India who tested positive to the virus and were in need of care.
WATCH: City of L.A.  What You Should Know About the Coronavirus

City of L.A. : What You Should Know About the Coronavirus

Mayor Eric Garcetti Statement to Public:

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Hi,

I hear you. I know theres uncertainty and anxiety right now in our communities about the novel coronavirus outbreak. Everyones feeling on edge, and I want to make sure you have everything you need to stay informed, prepare yourself, and take action to help limit the risk of spreading the virus.

Heres an overview of the latest steps the City is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19, remain vigilant, and keep Los Angeles safe and healthy.

First of all, I encourage you to sign up for NotifyLA, our Citys emergency alerts system, which we are using to push out updates about COVID-19 prevention. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same.

On Wednesday night, the Governor announced a new California Department of Public Health policy to cancel or postpone all gatherings of 250 people or more, along with other important guidance on protecting public health and stemming the spread of COVID-19.

We are implementing statewide guidance in our City policies, in addition to employing strategies to protect our Citys workforce, outlined in a directive I sent to the heads of all City departments this morning. We are also continuing to work alongside the County Department of Public Health and other local, state, and federal partners to further strengthen our response to COVID-19 and empower our families and communities with vital public health and safety information.

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And were collaborating with scientists like Dr. Anne Rimoin, a COVID-19 expert at UCLA, to share what you need to know about the virus and how to protect yourself. Watch our video and share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Here are a few key parts of my directive to all City departments:

Public events: All non-essential public community events or group activities with 50 or more participants  or that require close contact between vulnerable individuals  will be postponed or cancelled in order to limit the risk of exposing staff and the public to the virus. This includes all events or conferences on City-owned properties that are anticipated to attract more than 50 people.

Entry to city buildings: The City will stagger entry for visitors in public buildings to no more than 50 at a time  including City museums, libraries, parks, pools, and community centers. Transit locations and similar facilities, including LAX and the Port of Los Angeles, as well as all City shelters, are exempt from this requirement at this time. The Los Angeles City Hall complex, including City Hall East, City Hall South, and Van Nuys City Hall, will be temporarily closed to members of the public, except for public meetings of the City Council.

Sanitation protocols: Hand-washing and sanitizing stations will be available in City-owned public buildings, and extra steps are being taken to clean facilities regularly and thoroughly.

More about what the City is doing:

Prevention and preparedness: Were working to get the word out with the latest information about COVID-19, and ways to protect yourself and your family, including practicing social distancing. Learn more from the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

Homeless Angelenos: Our Unified Homelessness Response Center (UHRC) is closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among Angelenos experiencing homelessness. The UHRC is coordinating with the L.A. Homeless Services Authority and the L.A. County Department of Public Health to ensure unsheltered Angelenos have information about the virus and resources to protect their health and safety.

Homelessness outreach teams and shelter providers are receiving additional training on best practices for addressing a coronavirus outbreak and referring individuals experiencing illness to medical professionals. Were adding new hygiene stations throughout the city, as well as providing hand sanitizer to homeless Angelenos.

Public transportation: Metro, Metrolink, and LADOT are closely monitoring the current situation. Each agency is vigorously cleaning buses, trains, stations, and facilities on a regular basis and will continue to review and update cleaning protocols as needed.

Public schools: The L.A. Unified School District Board of Education voted this week to delegate emergency powers to the Superintendent in the event that action needs to be taken swiftly as the COVID-19 situation unfolds. LAUSD is coordinating with and following the guidance of the CDC and the County Department of Public Health should school closures be required at any point. In the meantime, the District has implemented several new policies  including cancelling all large gatherings of staff and/or students, and all off-campus visits by students and staff to public places where crowds may gather. At this time, student competitions are allowed to proceed without spectators.

Here are steps you should take:

Know the symptoms: COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath  and may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Person-to-person spread mainly occurs via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, like the flu. A less common form of transmission can take place from objects or surfaces that become infected.

Take precautions: If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Cover your cough or sneeze. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. If you have recently traveled in an area with COVID-19 infections or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 and are showing symptoms, monitor your health and contact your doctor.

Plan ahead: Make sure you have extra food, medical supplies, and emergency kits in your home. Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors to develop emergency plans  particularly for children, seniors, and anyone with chronic medical conditions that may make them particularly susceptible to illness. And remember, L.A. City tap water continues to be of the highest quality and is 100-percent safe to drink. LADWPs treatment processes are specifically designed to protect the public from all viruses and harmful bacteria.

Stay informed: Stick with trusted and official sources for accurate and timely updates, including CDC.gov, PublicHealth.LACounty.gov, and LAMayor.org/Coronavirus. And dont forget to sign up for NotifyLA, our citys emergency notification system. For more questions, you can call 211, the Countys hotline, which is available 24/7.

Share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues, so we can all do our part to protect our community and our city.

This is a moment for preparation, not panic. A moment to be kind and generous and to show the very best of the Angeleno spirit. And I know that each of us will do our part to stay vigilant, stay informed, and help limit the spread of this virus.

We will get through this together  in Los Angeles, we always do.

Eric Garcetti

Your Mayor
Communities of Color and Other Buyers, Beware of Bold Promises from Health Insurers

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought issues of healthcare equity to the forefront of discussions of racial justice. Even when controlling for factors like age and income, communities of color have been much more severely impacted that White Americans.

A recent report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that older Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults were nearly twice as likely to die of COVID-19 as older White adults, and cases among Black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries were 1.6 times higher than the rate observed among White beneficiaries.

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Access to healthcare and health insurance is a vital issue for African Americans. And its important to be on the lookout for healthcare companies that make big promises but fail to deliver.

In this context, lets take a look at Oscar Health, an insurance company that tries to appeal to consumers by positioning itself as a tech company. But its track record is questionable at best.

The company has been investigated and fined by the NY State Department of Financial Services. During its expansion in New York, Oscar cut the number of doctors in its network by more than half.

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The company also has connections to former Trump Administration officials. It was founded by Jared Kushners brother Josh, and its parent company, Thrive Capital, was partly owned by Kushner until he took a job at the White House. And the company is run by serial Wall Street investors who seem primarily interested in flipping companies for a profit.

Even more concerning, Oscar has been expanding into the Medicare Advantage program, where they can leverage taxpayer money to provide health coverage to our seniors. That means one of our most vulnerable communities could be opting into a company that has questions hanging over it.

African Americans clearly need better health insurance. But we cant get lured in by companies that are more interested in taking money than providing real healthcare benefits.

So, before you make a decision about health insurance, please get more than one opinion or option. There are healthcare insurance companies that are considerably more equitable and beneficial. Healthcare for all is both a fundamental civil and human right.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Executive Producer and Host of The Chavis Chronicles (TCC) broadcast weekly on PBS TV stations throughout the United States.
DPSS Launches Annual CalFresh Awareness Month Campaign in the Fight Against Food Insecurity

The Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) has launched its annual CalFresh Awareness Month campaign to publicize the CalFresh Nutrition Program and acknowledge community partners throughout the month of May for helping to raise public awareness year-round.

Hunger impacts all aspects of human life from healthcare to education, and it is essential that we increase awareness of CalFresh, said DPSS Director Antonia Jimenez. Families who were just barely getting by paycheck-to-paycheck before the pandemic have been hit even harder by the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, food insecurity has impacted many L.A. County residents: older adults, working people, students, children and youth. DPSS is so proud to promote CalFresh because it truly is an effective anti-hunger program.

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This years campaign comes at a time when many households are experiencing continual food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, food insecurity hit an all-time high in Los Angeles County with an estimated 873,000 households experiencing at least one instance of food insecurity. In 2020, the County utilized $137 million in CARES Act funding to distribute 10 million pounds of food at more than 100 drive-through events. While this funding was temporary, CalFresh offers a long-term solution for everyone.

Couple shopping in the grocery store during COVID timeOn May 11 at 9 a.m., Jimenez will host a CalFresh Virtual Town Hall to promote the benefits of CalFresh and answer community questions. The event will be livestreamed via DPSS Facebook account at @LACoDPSS. She will be joined by Michael Flood, President and CEO of the L.A. Regional Food Bank, and Amy Zhao, Project Lead at the Chinatown Service Center. A special video message from Hilda Solis, Chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, will be featured. Representatives from local news media outlets, community-based organizations, and the general public are all invited to join the virtual community gathering.

During the month of May, DPSS urges all County residents to support the CalFresh Awareness Month campaign by sharing CalFresh information with those in their community who need it most. The department is also encouraging the public to follow DPSS on social media and share the hashtag #ChooseCalFresh on their social media platforms.

For more information about the CalFresh Program please visit https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/food.html?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
LOS ANGELES NATIVE & NEW ORLEANS MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL PREPARES FOR RE-ELECTION WITH SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENT

Polls Show Mayor Will Crush All Competition Vying for Seat

New Orleans Mayor, LaToya Cantrell who grew up here in Los Angeles was recently honored by a group of local and national business leaders in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event which was organized by New Orleans business leader Ronnie V. Burns, Sr. was held at the historical Dooky Chase Restaurant on March 30, 202. Also in attendance at the event was New Orleans native and the Los Angeles Sentinels Chairman and Executive Publisher Danny J. Bakewell, Sr.

As Cantrell prepares for her re-election in October, she is credited for her bold and effective efforts to protect her constituents from during the COVID pandemic. Today, New Orleans has one of the lowest rates of infection and one of the highest rates of vaccination in the country.

LaToya Cantrell came to New Orleans in the early 1990s to attend Xavier University-The only Black Catholic University in the Nation. She is quoted as saying she found her soul in the rich African-American culture of New Orleans. Cantrell earned her bachelors degree in Sociology in 1995 from Xavier and after graduation began with a local education non-profit. She also met and married New Orleans attorney Jason Cantrell in her then newly adopted home city.

Like many New Orleanians, Cantrell was uprooted from her Broadmoor neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, undaunted by nefarious plans to declare Broadmoor a flood zone that should not be rebuilt, she returned to her home and neighborhood and led efforts to revitalize her community as president of her neighborhood association. Not only did she lead her neighborhoods efforts to rebuild, but she also led the way for a robust rebuilding effort throughout New Orleans.

Bolstered by her success in saving her Broadmoor neighborhood, Cantrell ran for and won the city council seat in that district. She served as councilperson during much of the early days of the post Katrina efforts to rebuild and restore New Orleans. She gained citywide acclaim for her efforts to restore affordable housing throughout the city. She also garnered citywide support for her leadership efforts in bringing forth a No-Smoking ordinance that prohibited smoking in most public buildings throughout the city.

Mayor Cantrell has proven herself to be an effective leader of the city. The care and concern she has demonstrated for both the local residence of our city along with the attention to detail and support she has provided our local business community is unprecedented. She understand the pulse of the city and the people she serves and I am honored to call her a friend and bring together such an illustrious group of leaders to support her re-election efforts. Stated Ronnie Burns, Sr., President of Burns Management Group and organizer of the event.

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By 2017 Cantrell had established herself as one of New Orleans premier political leaders, garnering overwhelming support from the citys residence as well as the business community. She had developed an impressive reputation of being an No Time For Nonsense, Lets Get It Done leader. With the urging of friends, political activist and community leaders Cantrell decided to run for mayor. While New Orleans, in its own parochial way had never elected a woman or non-native New Orleanian, Cantrell who had worked in the hospitality industry during her college years, built a grassroots army by meeting people where they are. She conducted a historical campaign kickoff, going to 12 different neighborhoods in 14 days all to announce and launch her bid to become the next mayor of New Orleans. She led all competition during the primary, shocking many of the New Orleans old-guard political forces. With a steady forward looking platform and an energetic campaign team, Cantrell won the mayors race with over 60% of the vote.

Since becoming the mayor of New Orleans, Cantrell has delivered additional funding to upgrade New Orleans crumbling and aged infrastructure. She has had a laser focus on improving the lives of working families and youth throughout the city. She has right sized the citys budget allocating city service, resources and funding where most needed, including making major improvements in policing in some of the citys toughest crime areas.

Read about a Muted Mardi Gras in the Midst of COVID 19

As 2020 dawned, New Orleans was on the verge of major growth and development. Then like many cities in America COVID-19 hit the city and hit it hard. COVID started infecting people and with the worldwide attraction of Mardi Gras in February of that year, New Orleans became an epicenter for the disease. Cantrell imposed a shut-down of the city and despite strong opposition from segments of the tourist dominated business community of New Orleans, she held her ground and is recognized today as one of the most effective COVID managers in the country.

A child of Los Angeles County (Straight Out Of Compton), we salute Mayor LaToya Cantrell and heartily offer our endorsement and support of her re-election bid in October 2021.
Many Black Renters, Hit Worst By COVID, Remain in Dark About Billions in Relief Funds

California is in the process of rolling out a massive billion-dollar rental relief program. It is designed to help people who fell behind on their rent due the global coronavirus pandemic recover.

But many renters, including Black Californians who lease residential property, may not know about the states new CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program or they may not have details on how to apply for the available assistance. Other advocates say some renters could simply be confused because there are multiple rental relief programs at the county or city level to help renters.

One of the many factors that may complicate the confusion and low awareness in communities about the states rental relief program is the fact that the state is under-investing in the public awareness campaign, say some critics who have been following the states rollout of rental assistance. Typically, they say, state-run awareness campaigns are executed by public relations and advertising agencies. They then create and deploy campaigns to let state residents know about taxpayer-funded, government-administered programs created to benefit the target audience.

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A number of people watching the state process that awarded Prosio Communications, a Roseville firm, the $3.2 million contract to get the word out to Californians about rental relief, say the winning firm slashed its media budget by more than half to submit the lowest bid to win the contract.

Read about the Rent Eviction Ban extended by the Biden Administration

A total of eight companies applied that is scheduled to begin in June and end in December. All of them proposed budgets of about $4 million, unlike the wining contractor.

The bidding process was troubling on several fronts, but here are some examples, said one source who spoke to California Black Media but asked to remain anonymous. First, the company that won the bid did not cut their own fees. Instead, they slashed the money that the federal government provided  thats taxpayer money  to inform people of this critical help.

The source said even though the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) allotted $6 million for public awareness, Prosios budget for outreach to Californians has been dwindled down to a mere $2 million.

There is no way on earth, $2 million could successfully inform Californians about this program. Theres just no way in a state of 40 million residents, the source said.

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The federal government has so far authorized $25 Billion to support rental assistance programs in states across the country. Of that money, California is expected to receive $2.6 billion.

A total of $1.5 billion will go directly to the state and another $1.1 billion will be allocated to counties and cities with populations of 200,000 people or more.

Black renters accounted for the highest number of Californians  about 23 %, of Golden State residents last July  who could not pay their rent on time, according to a UCLA report.

Black renters also had the highest rates (29%) of being behind on housing payments in general due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among homeowners with a mortgage, Black households also had the highest rates of missed or partial payments at 22 %, according to Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS).

An estimated 1.5 million California families, front-line workers and low-wage earners are behind on their rent due to the economic fallout of this pandemic, said California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH) Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramirez.

They have accumulated significant debt and their landlords are struggling to meet their financial obligations, Ramirez continued. The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program will be a lifeline to renters and landlords. It clears accumulated rental debt, keeps families hardest hit housed and will lead to a more equitable economic recovery.

California has the highest number of people in the country who are housing insecure. According to Tenants Together, a renter advocacy organization, more than 22 million people are renters, about 55% of the population, in a state where about half of its residents live at or near the poverty line.

Among Black Californians, 3 in 5 Black people live in renter households, according to the California Budget and Policy Center. Of that number, about 6 in 10 Black individuals are classified as housing cost-burdened  that is households that spend 30 % or more of their income on a rent or mortgage.

According to Ramirez, since the state launched the rental assistance programs, there has been an underrepresentation of minority applicants.

Adding to the states housing woes, is the unavailability of affordable homes and an enduring homelessness crisis, the worst in the nation.

The average price of a home in California is more than seven times higher than the average income.

In the midst of a global pandemic, the homeless population in Los Angeles  where the twin crises of homelessness and housing affordability are worst in the state  has gone up 13% over the course of a year. Reports indicate that there have been about 41,000 homeless people in Los Angeles.

State housing officials say the rental program is designed to provide California residents in select cities with income-based financial relief by paying landlords the money owed.

The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program will reimburse landlords up to 80 % of an eligible renters unpaid rent accrued between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, if they agree to forgive the remaining 20 %, said Kimberly Brown, a spokesperson for HCD. Eligible renters whose landlords choose not to participate in the program may apply on their own and receive 25% of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Paying this 25% by June 30, 2021 can help keep you in your home under the extended eviction protections in SB 91.

During a recent HCD webinar, speakers came together to discuss various plans and proposals in the Legislature aimed at solving Californias housing crisis.

Gustavo Velasquez, director of the HCD, believes it is the duty of the California Legislature to set the standard for housing issues. However, according to Velasquez, local partners are the greatest weapon in the states war on homelessness.

As elected leaders, local agency staff and local government officials, you are really the most important partners in California in addressing this unsustainable housing crisis, Velasquez said in the webinar. The state can set the standards but success or failure ultimately rests on the local level in communities that are struggling today to meet the housing demands of so many.

Brown detailed some of the qualifications for rental relief through the program.

For all applications received, the state will first review and commit funds to applicants who are eligible and meet the priority requirement having income at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) to ensure those most in need receive assistance, Brown stated.

Brown told California Black Media how many applicants have applied for the program.

So far, there have been 48,175 applications submitted, Brown said. Another 96,000 applications are in progress, according to the BSCH.

Get more information on the California rental assistance program.
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI  Leads Los Angeles Through the Pandemic and Strives to Build a Better and More Inclusionary City

As Los Angeles begins to recover from the devastation of the pandemic, Mayor Eric Garcetti took time out of his very busy schedule to sit down with the Los Angeles Sentinel to directly address those issues which are impacting the lives of African Americans, communities of color, and those most severely affected by COVID-19.

To say that the past 15 months have been a roller coaster ride for Mayor Garcetti and his office would be an understatement. For the mayor of Californias largest and most populated city, every decision is picked apart, criticized, and no matter what decision he makes, there surely will be someone or some group that will disagree with that decision. But Garcetti has weathered this storm as he has done so many times before by staying focused and following his commitment to make the decisions, he believes are in the best interest of all of Los Angeles, and not just attempting to subdue the loudest naysayers in the room. As Los Angeles begins to re-open and we return back to some level of normalcy, the mayor finds himself rising in popularity throughout the city. A recent poll shows Mayor Garcettis approval ratings are hovering somewhere between 65% and 69%, primarily due to his guidance of Los Angeles through a horrific pandemic.

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BASIC INCOME PROGRAM

While Garcettis approval ratings are high, he continues working to envision an even better L.A. He recently launched a guaranteed basic income program which will provide some of Los Angeles poorest neighborhoods and families with a guaranteed income for at least the next 12 months.

While other cities, including Compton and Stockton, have launched similar programs, it is the Los Angeles program launch that will serve as the bench mark for all programs to follow throughout the nation. Los Angeles is by far the largest city to launch a program of this nature and obviously will also have the largest budget. The mayor believes that launching the Basic Income Program will have a dramatic effect on the lives of its participants. This launch will be the biggest program launch in America. Three-thousand households and 10,000 Angelenos will get a $1,000 basic income. He says the idea, which comes right from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s vision that the poor in America should receive a guaranteed basic income, will empower and inspire communities. You will see graduation rates go up, salaries and wages will go up. Youre going to see housing stability be better and were going to see that small investments have big payoffs, stated Mayor Garcetti.

REPARATIONS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS

The mayor, along with the other African American Councilmembers, such as Curren Price, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Mark Ridley Thomas, is looking to form a commission to study reparations for African Americans in Los Angeles. We are looking at how we can inspire the national conversation around HR-40 that Congresswoman Lee in Texas has called for a national commission. The mayor says this is not a new conversation for him. He originally had a discussion with Congressman John Conyers of Detroit about this concept and has supported this idea for over 15 years. But now the conversation is beginning to get traction. He is leading a group of mayors from around the country who are willing to get behind this idea of reparations and pilot a program that will demonstrate to national leadership what happens if we were to give Black Americans the financial resources, the educational guarantees, bring an end to housing discrimination, and address everything that has piled on Black people for centuries. He says through this initiative, We can begin correcting racial injustice and not just play around the edges but actually do something lasting that would put Black Americans on equal footing with non-Black Americans.

VACCINATIONS

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Recovering from the COVID Pandemic is the largest issue that has ever faced this state, the nation, and in fact the world. But the mayor has taken great steps in navigating the vaccination into arms. The city has taken the administering of vaccinations out of the hands of FEMA and is now partnering with local organizations like the Brotherhood Crusade to ensure that those who want the vaccine can receive the vaccine. Early on, you had the eager volunteers who would go to Dodger Stadium or folks who had cars, people who can get the vaccine. But there are also people who dont drive in L.A. or who dont have laptops, or who just simply dont trust the vaccine. To address these issues, the mayor implemented a local program he refers to as the 4  Ts (Truth, Trust, Technology and Transportation): 1) Speak the truth. Let the people know exactly whats going on; 2) Work with trusted partners such as Brotherhood Crusade; 3) Use technology where people are; if people dont have computers, contact them and set up appoints on the phone; 4) Transportation. Make it easy for people to get to the appointments which is why the city has partnered with Uber and LYFT, as well as established mobile clinics to take away any reason for not having access to the vaccine.

Using and implementing Garcettis 4-T strategy, which Dr. Fauci says has helped Los Angeles to be identified as one of the strongest equity programs in the country, the mayor says, Using the 4-T strategy has allowed us not to just brag about our numbers overall, but we can brag about our numbers in Leimert Park, we can brag about them in Boyle Heights, we can brag about them in Pacoima, we can brag about them in communities that are always the last and need to be the first because they have been the hardest hit.

The citys mobile clinics have delivered the vaccine to about 90% people of color. We have been able to go where they live, into the communities they call home and that is what has made us most effective. If we dont do that, we wont get past COVID across the entire city, Garcetti said.

BUSINESS

The city has led a huge effort to pump city dollars into community businesses like Dulans Soulfood Kitchen and Harold and Belles, who operated senior feed and meal delivery programs delivering much needed meals to seniors during the pandemic. But the mayor says that business recovery is going to be a huge part of making the African American business community whole. Black businesses have been so disproportionately affected by the pandemic. But the mayor also says that the pandemic has shed light on unfair and unequal financial and business practices which operated long before COVID-19. COVID finally shed a light on justice on race and economic opportunity in America. Many of us already saw that division, we saw that inequality, but now, all of America could feel it. You could see it by who was dying, by which businesses were closing down, by who was losing their jobs. So, to me, this justice budget we established in the city was all about putting these dollars we got from the federal government and those dollars we found in our own budget in the hands of Black and Brown Communities and Black and Brown Businesses.

The mayor is happy to discuss how he has not only been able to support Los Angeles existing businesses through the LA Cares program, but also wants to focus some attention on the $3million dollars they have put towards youth jobs and youth programs. The mayor says Remember todays youth workers are tomorrows entrepreneurs. He is proud of the fact that he and his administration have found ways to support so many local businesses at every level. From administering loans and grant programs to local Black and Brown businesses to amending zoning ordinances to make outside dining available to businesses who previously did not or could not operate outdoors. The mayor clearly has demonstrated a commitment to assisting our local businesses to stay afloat and/or start a new business venture as we put COVID in the rear-view mirror. We are in the midst of experiencing a Renaissance of Black and Brown owned businesses in this city and this is our moment to do it, said Mayor Eric Garcetti.

HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The homelessness or unhoused problem here in Los Angeles has reached unimaginable levels, but the Mayor sees the recent ruling by the courts and the judges orders to clean up Skid Row as more of a positive than he sees as a negative. The judges ruling reinforced the biggest commitment in the City of Los Angeles history to fight homelessness. We have allocated over $1 billion to address this issue. I welcome the initiative and embrace the need to urgently house people, as we have done over this past year. But I meant what I said when the judge made the ruling Stay out of our way. Anything that helps us accelerate Im all for, but anything that slows us down is not wanted. Stay out of the way. The mayor says Los Angeles has about 5000 new units of housing in the pipeline for 2021 and over 3000 beds of shelter that did not exist a few years ago and this along with our $1 billion commitment demonstrates we are and intend to remain committed to addressing this crisis. Its not the city of Los Angeles that is not doing its part, can the state and the fed match us? We know how to do this work now. We have doubled the amount of people we have taken off the street each year for the past 5 years. But we have to stop people from becoming homeless, stated Garcetti. This was the mayors message to his friend and then candidate Joe Biden and now President, Joe Biden. But he says it is also the message he is taking to the Governor and to the State Legislature to take the states $50 billion surplus and put at least 1/3 of that to permanent solutions for homelessness now.

The mayor explains that he is leading a 12 big city mayors committee in California. This committee has asked for $4 billion a year from the state which is 4x more than they have spent in the past several years. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house have already endorsed the program and now we just need Governor Newsom to sign off. The mayor says that this legislation will pump $20 billion into resolving the homeless crisis over the next 5 years which will help the state match the local dollars and that will help us to be off to the races in addressing the homeless crisis that is plaguing our state.

The cost of housing in general is also a huge challenge, especially for those here in Los Angeles. The mayor believes that unfortunately the cost of housing here in Los Angeles and throughout the state have gone way beyond the middle-class price range, let alone the working class. But the mayor knows that homeownership is the basic goal of the American Dream. Not only has the mayor worked with HHH to bring forward about 11,000 new homes. But he is also working with the city to amend zoning ordinances to allow for more units as long as some of these units are built and priced to be affordable. The mayor is also a big proponent for the building of ADUs, which allows current homeowners to build additional units on their existing property to create a rental unit and help Los Angeles achieve a sense of affordability. The mayor says that not only must you look at what you are building inside of cities, but you also have to look closely at how you zone areas to make the building of new units easier, more affordable and more accessible to everyone.

JUSTICE REFORM

The mayor acknowledges George Floyd and so many others have lost their lives at the hands of our law enforcement officers. This points out how far we still have to go. The mayor also believes that we have to stop throwing so much on to the shoulders of our police department and assume that we are going to receive the outcomes we want.

If something doesnt need a gun dont send a gun. The mayor says look at how effective our gang reduction youth development ambassadors program has been. These are former gang members working with youth in our communities who have reduced crime an additional 40% beyond what officers have been able to do on their own. Right now, who do we call at 2am if someone is going through a mental health crisis? He says we no longer need to send police or fire to address a non-violent situation because, we now have a 24-hour mental health response team who can actually help that person get well. He points out that we have to co-own public safety. If we think just reforming the police department is going to solve the problem then we are abdicating our collective responsibility. We are being affective because we are using this method for homeless outreach, suicide prevention, domestic violence, as well as sexual assault. So now have civilians who can roll out and address these issues and make the community safer. We have boosted our intervention by adding 80 peace ambassadors in the street of L.A. Its not just the responsibility of the police department its the responsibility of all of us.

One bad shooting is one too many. It is time to daylight those police officers disciplinary hearings. Right now, we have a police chief who wants to fire bad police officers, but that decision gets overruled by a civilian board and we cant even see the reasons why the decision has been overturned. This law has got to change.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and his administration have about 18 months remaining before he is termed out. He feels that he has accomplished a lot during his tenure. But he also believes that he can do so much more. He envisions a better city for us all and he remains committed to the promise of inclusion and equity for every Angeleno. He believes that is what a leader does.
NAACP Joins National #Unityagainsthate Rally to Combat Increased Hate Attacks Against Asians Living And Born In America

Community Against Hate, a diverse coalition of community organizations and leaders have teamed up with the national civil rights organization NAACP in a clear stance to address hate directed toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In a direct response to the increased verbal and physical attacks against Asians living and born in America, the #UnityAgainstHate rally will be held on Saturday, May 15, at 11 a.m., in multiple cities across the nation. The rally will echo the voices of many who have experienced hate crimes against them based on their race, nationality and identity.

To garner the support of the NAACP was imperative in our quest to unify a nation torn by racism and discrimination, says Yen Marshall, Asian Pacific Islander Public Affairs (APAPA) Nationwide Rally Coordinator. Its a fight that theyve been at the forefront of for many years, one that many Asian communities have supported. While some may point out past strained relationships among Black and Asian communities, we want to display the unity we can achieve when rallying against hate.

The rally is planned across 16 cities, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Washington D.C, New York, Columbus (Ohio), Houston and many others. From the physical and verbal attacks, to the heightened strain from the pandemic, many Asian Americans have experienced an increase in hate incidents. According to AAPI Data, its reported that some 2 million Asian Americans have been victims of hate incidents.

Dozens of organizations have committed their support to the Unity Against Hate Rally including, California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (APILC), Asian Pacific Islander Americans Public Affairs Association (APAPA), NAACP, League of Women Voters, National Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), LGBTQ+ Equality Sacramento, Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC) and many more. For more information on the planned rally, visit www.communityagainsthate.org.

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Nationwide Rise Above COVID Movement Seeks to Represent the Countrys Diversity in COVID-19 Clinical Trial

Rise Above COVID is raising awareness of ACTIV-2, a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments for early COVID-19. The study is enrolling adults within eight days of experiencing symptoms and 10 days of their positive COVID-19 test result. ACTIV-2 is working to enroll people of color to ensure that the nations diverse population is represented in the trial.

The U.S. Black population has experienced 10 percent more COVID-19 cases, nearly 300 percent more hospitalizations, and 90 percent more deaths (CDC, March 2021) than non-Hispanic whites. Historically, the Black community has had the lowest clinical trial participation rates of any racial group and only 8 percent participation in clinical trials of drugs that were approved last year (FDA, 2020).

Historical events like Tuskegee have understandably left many feeling that clinical trials shouldnt be trusted, said Lance Okeke, M.D., M.P.H. assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and ACTIV-2 Principal Investigator, Duke University. However, the National Research Act was signed into law in 1974 to ensure the highest ethical standards and conduct are met during clinical research. From my view on the frontlines of COVID-19 research, it is vitally important that we ensure treatments are safe and effective for the communities most impacted by this pandemic. Diverse clinical trial participation key to this effort.

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My entire household tested positive, including my children, and we all experienced different symptoms, said Mike McDaniel, a Black ACTIV-2 clinical trial participant in Los Angeles. The impact on my family was painful. Participating in this clinical trial allowed me to make a valuable contribution to my community and I encourage others to do the same.

While some in the Black community mistrust clinical trials, many deeply trust their barbershops and beauty salons. Rise Above COVID is partnering with more than 200 Black barbershops and beauty salons across New York City, Chicago, Chapel Hill, and Durham to engage patrons in real talk about COVID-19 and raise awareness of the ACTIV-2 clinical trial, which has multiple sites in each of those locales. These community-based safe spaces, which have long been epicenters of honest dialogue, are the ideal settings to candidly discuss topics ranging from the historical mistrust of clinical trials to the present-day devastation COVID-19 has had on the Black community. Barbershop and beauty salon customers receive detailed information about the study, along with complimentary facemasks and hand sanitizers from Rise Above COVID.

ACTIV-2 is being conducted to identify therapeutics that can prevent people who get COVID-19 from progressing to severe disease and hospitalization. The clinical trial is taking place in more than 140 nationwide sites including Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and others.

I lost five family members to COVID-19 in 14 days and personally feel the devastation our Black community is experiencing, said Tony Wafford, member of the Rise Above COVID Community Advisory Board. Our community is being hit hard, and we need research that reflects our population. The time to join this movement is now.

ACTIV-2 is conducted by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, with support from the Federal COVID Response  Therapeutics, the U.S. governments multi-agency effort to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

About the ACTG

Founded in 1987, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) was the worlds first HIV research network. The ACTG conducts groundbreaking studies to improve the treatment of HIV and its complications; reduce new infections and HIV-related illness; and advance new approaches to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure HIV. ACTG studies have helped establish current paradigms for managing HIV disease, and have informed HIV treatment guidelines, resulting in dramatic decreases in HIV-related mortality worldwide.
New?! Is It Normal? New and Change Not always Better.

Samuel of Israel and was chosen by God and used him as judge to travel around to Bethel and other places for the rest of his life. At Gods direction he appoint Saul, first king of Israel, as monarch. Samuel was born to Hannah and Elkanah. She had been barren for many years, but, of course during those times and even as is now longed for a son. God answered their prayers and gave them Samuel, the great judge and prophet. If Samuel spoke it, it was known that he only spoke truth and it would happen. Samuel grew old. His two sons, Joel and Abijah were greedy and corrupt. The elders confronted Samuel, You are old and your sons walk not in your ways.

They were greedy and took bribes and did corrupt things. The people did not want Samuels sons to rule over them. Their solution to this dilemma was not to wait on the LORD, but to use their own human judgement without consultation with God. Rather, they demanded to have a king. They figured what they wanted was to have a king and do things the way the nations were doing, We want a king like the nations. They desire a strong centralized government. Samuel warns them against changing over to a different kind of government and they would have the violation of individual rights and liberty of the people. They made a big mistake. Samuel didnt like it either and being a prophet, he already knew it was not the wisest move to make and not the best thing to do. Samuel was caught in a difficult situation. God told Samuel, they have been disobedient all along, every since I brought them out of Egypt. They have forsaken me and served pagan gods and idols. So God said, okay, I will give them a king. Keep Samuel, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting me. It appears that Gods divine rulership (1 Samuel 8:1-22; Exodus 15:18; Judges 8:23; 1 Samuel 8:1-22) is conflicting with human kingship. The people were always ungrateful to God and ungrateful to Samuel. Samuel told the people all the practices they could look to have by having a king to rule over them. The king would take their sons and appoint them for himself, to be his horsemen, as charioteers. Some will run before the chariots. He will appoint himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties and will set them to cultivate his ground, reap his harvest, make instruments of war and instruments of chariots. They will serve as outrunners for his chariots. Then he goes on to tell the People, along with telling the People: they will take your daughters too, who will be forced to be confectionaries, cooks and bakers. The king will seize your choice fields, your vineyards and oliveyards, and give them to his servants and you will be forced to plow his fields. You shall become his slaves. He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give them to his officers and to his servants. He will take your maidservants and your menservants your very best young men and women and put them to his work to become slaves. He will take a tenth of your sheep and everyone will be working for him, because he will take away your individual rights and liberties. We can see Biblically and therefore truthfully what the future holds if we continue following along this path. Now, we can ask, What was the result of their wayward, disobedient choice? 1 Samuel 8:18 fills in the blanks for us. You will be miserable and cry out to this king for relief and cry out to me. In that day,. You will think back on your bad choice. God will not hear you. You were warned not to do this, but you would not listen. You rejected me. I told Samuel, okay, I will yield to their desires. So, now I will not hear you in your miseries. You refused to hear the wise advice of Samuel. You said, No! we want a king to go out before us like the nations. We want to be like the nations to have a king go out before us and fight our battles.

God had been fighting their battles all along. But, that was not good enough for them anymore. They were overtaken in fear and boasting and wanted to make it on their own and do it their way. Well, we see their way, your way is not the best way. What greater wisdom can we have than His wisdom. There is none. Totally, none. It may be difficult sometimes to discern the voice in your mind. If you cant figure it out, just take it slow, wait and listen for His voice. Your mind can play a tug of war with you. Wait! Wait on the Lord.

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Thanks for reading!

Jeanette Grattan Parker, Founder-Superintendent Todays Fresh Start Charter School 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org; [Ask Dr. JeanetteTM & Ask Dr. Jeanette ParkerTM (registered trademarks) www.askdrjeanetteparker.com [email protected] tm

Inquiring Minds Want to Know. All rights reserved references:Holy Bible;[1 Samuel 8:1-22]
The Lookout: Dems in Sacramento Take Steps to Make Voting Easier

Watching your tax dollars, elected officials and legislation that affects you

The electoral process is foundational to the durability of Americas democratic structure.

And as the battle for fairer voting laws rages on, politicians and activists on the political Right claim they are responding to allegations of widespread voter and election fraud. Those on the Left say they are rallying to fight a coordinated political offensive to restrict access to the polls and increasing reports of voter suppression.

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Recently, in some states, most notoriously Georgia and Florida, lawmakers have taken steps to restrict voting access and rights for many Americans.

But in California, policymakers and legislators are doing the opposite, making proposals to simplify the voting process and expand access to the polls.

Invoking the violent history of voter suppression in the South that her parents endured, which sometimes involved murders  California Secretary of State Shirley Weber says it is a priority of hers to ensure the right to vote.

I tell people all the time that no number is good unless its 100% in terms of voter participation, Weber told the Public Policy Institute of California. Why didnt 5 million go to the polls? We need to figure out where they are and what stopped them from going.

In the California Legislature, an amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 29, which passed earlier this year, was one bill in a broader legislative effort to secure the right to vote in vulnerable communities.

Before that amendment passed, California law dictated that a ballot would be mailed to all eligible voters for the Nov. 3 statewide general election in 2020 as well as use a Secretary of State vote-by-mail tracking system to ensure votes are counted.

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SB 29, which the governor signed into law in February, extended those requirements to any election proclaimed or conducted prior to Jan. 1, 2022.

2020 saw a record number of voter participation in California. Some political observers attribute that spike to the vote-by-mail system instituted last year.

To maintain a healthy democracy in California, it is important to encourage eligible voters to vote and to ensure that residents of the state have the tools needed to participate in every election, the bill reads.

Senate Bill (SB) 583, introduced by California State Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) would require the Secretary of State to register or preregister eligible citizens to vote upon retrieving the necessary paperwork from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Citizens who do not wish to be registered can opt-out of the process altogether.

Read about Voter Fraud Investigation in South LA

Newman stressed the importance of access and simplifying the voter registration process.

In our state there are an estimated 4.6 million U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote who have not yet registered, Newman said. Our obligation as the peoples elected representatives is to make the process simpler and more accessible for them.

On April 27, the Senate Transportation Committee passed SB 583 with a 13 to 3 vote. The Appropriations Committee has set a hearing for May 10.

Senate Bill (SB) 503, introduced by Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), proposes that if a signature shares enough characteristics with a previous signature from the same voter, then it would be recognized as official on voting paperwork.

Current law dictates that a signature has to match exactly for it to be considered valid.

Disability Rights California (DRC), a non-profit advocacy organization that advances and protects the rights of Californians living with disabilities, has come out in support of SB 503.

Studies have shown that signature matches disproportionately impact voters with disabilities, Eric Harris, director of public policy for the DRC wrote in a letter.

Voters with disabilities, including seniors, are more likely to vote by mail and would have to sign their name on their ballots, Harris argued. A voters signature changes over time and for people with disabilities, a signature can change nearly every other time one is written. Some people with disabilities might have conditions that make it difficult to sign your name the same way multiple times.

For now, the Senate Appropriations Committee has tabled SB 503, placing the bill in what the Legislature calls a suspense file, where it awaits further action by lawmakers.

At the federal level, lawmakers have introduced two bills in the U.S. Congress to expand voting rights, the For The People Act of 2021 and the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Read More about voter suppression tactics in the U.S.

The For The People Act, or H.R.1, proposes a three pronged approach to expanding election access: Voting, campaign finance, and ethics.

Hilary Shelton, Director to the NAACPs Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy, compared the current voting rights battle to that of the Civil Rights Movement in a press conference about H.R.1 and the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

If you look at some of those 1960s shots of the C.T. Vivians of the world, of the Joe Lowerys and so many others that helped lead Americans to those registration sites, youll see them actually literally being beaten to the ground, Shelton said, referring to well-known Civil Rights Movement activists.

The John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, or S.4263, would amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to restore the powers it lost after the Supreme Courts 2013 ruling in Shelby v. Holder. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws requiring states and local communities to first clear any changes to voting their local laws with the feds, was unlawful.

Well, weve become more sophisticated in our disenfranchisement, Shelton continued. We want to make sure that we stop that disenfranchisement all along the way and thats why were convinced that a bill named for John Lewis and a bill that speaks for the people are bills that need to pass.
Message of Francis for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. "The Catholic faithful are called to commit themselves, each starting from the community in which he lives, so that the Church becomes ever more inclusive". "Our societies will have a colourful future, enriched by diversity and by cultural exchanges".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Borders that are no longer walls, but privileged places of encounter " between all the components of a "colourful" society, capable of "dreaming together" to build a common future through "more sustainable development, balanced and inclusive.

This is the vison of Pope Francis contained in his message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees - which will be celebrated on Sunday 26 September 2021 - entitled "Towards an ever wider we", made public today.

The title chosen for the message, explained during the presentation of the document Father Fabio Baggio, CS, under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for integral human development, is "an appeal to ensure that" there may be more 'others', but only one 'we' "(Fratelli tutti, 35). And this universal 'we' must become a reality first of all within the Church, which is called to make communion in diversity ".

It is an invitation to everyone, because we are committed to restoring our human family. Thus the Pope, in the video on the next day, shown for the first time today in the Vatican press office on the occasion of the presentation of the message. "We are like many grains of sand, all different and unique but which together can form a beautiful beach, a true work of art".

The "we", Francis writes, is that of God's creative plan who "created us male and female, different yet complementary, in order to form a we destined to become ever more numerous in the succession of generations. ".

The present time, however, shows that this we willed by God is broken and fragmented, wounded and disfigured. This becomes all the more evident in moments of great crisis, as is the case with the current pandemic. Our we, both in the wider world and within the Church, is crumbling and cracking due to myopic and aggressive forms of nationalism (cf. Fratelli Tutti, 11) and radical individualism (cf. ibid., 105). And the highest price is being paid by those who most easily become viewed as others: foreigners, migrants, the marginalized, those living on the existential peripheries.

"In reality, we are all in the same boat and we are called to commit ourselves so that there are no more walls that separate us, no more others, but only one us, as big as all of humanity".

Hence a twofold appeal. The Pope asks believers to commit themselves to making the Church more and More Catholic, to "all men and women of the world" to transform walls into bridges.

"The Catholic faithful are called to work together, each in the midst of his or her own community, to make the Church become ever more inclusive ". In our day, the Church is called to go out into the streets of every existential periphery in order to heal wounds and to seek out the straying, without prejudice or fear, without proselytising, but ready to widen her tent to embrace everyone. Among those dwelling in those existential peripheries, we find many migrants and refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking, to whom the Lord wants his love to be manifested and his salvation preached. The current influx of migrants can be seen as a new frontier for mission, a privileged opportunity to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel message at home, and to bear concrete witness to the Christian faith in a spirit of charity and profound esteem for other religious communities. The encounter with migrants and refugees of other denominations and religions represents a fertile ground for the growth of open and enriching ecumenical and interreligious dialogue (Address to the National Directors of Pastoral Care for Migrants, 22 September 2017)".

To all men and women of the world the appeal is "to recompose the human family, to build together our future of justice and peace, ensuring that no one is excluded. The future of our societies is a 'colourful' future, enriched by diversity and intercultural relations. This is why we must learn today to live together, in harmony and peace.

"To achieve this ideal, however, we must make every effort to break down the walls that separate us and, in acknowledging our profound interconnection, build bridges that foster a culture of encounter. Todays migration movements offer an opportunity for us to overcome our fears and let ourselves be enriched by the diversity of each persons gifts. Then, if we so desire, we can transform borders into privileged places of encounter, where the miracle of an ever wider we can come about.
The Time has Come to Cast Your Vote for Heather Hutt

As Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Assembly candidate, Heather Hutt, walked the 54th Assembly District, the Congresswoman, who is never shy, lets everyone they come into contact with know, It is time to cast your vote for Heather Hutt.

In a time when recovery from the pandemic is at the forefront of issues facing the 54th Assemblys residents, and for that matter, all of California, Heather Hutt is the most qualified and most experienced candidate for the assembly seat.

Hutt was born and raised in Los Angeles and has dedicated her life to Democratic activism, public service, and her community. She is a single mother who raised three young boys in the district and has first-hand knowledge and experience to address the most pressing issues facing the voters today.

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Heather recently served as the first Black U.S. Senate State Director in Californias history, and in her capacity serving then, Senator Kamala Harris, she was the principal representative among constituents and elected leaders throughout California. She used her position to stand up for women by bringing together healthcare professionals to discuss implicit bias in health care, especially for women and women of color as well as advocating for DACA recipients and fighting against the Trump Administrations assault on Dreamers and immigrants.

She has worked hand-in-hand with both labor and business to address the vital resources needed to keep Californias economy moving and championed environmental justice policy changes for Watts and South Los Angeles while serving as the district director for California State Senator Isadore Hall.

She also organized the Assembly Select Committee on Community Resources Impacted by AB109 Re-Entry, as well as the Assembly Select Committee on Human Rights, and Diversity and Race Relations.

Through her work as a California Democratic Party delegate and treasurer of the CDP Black Caucus, Heather has been an activist and organizer, working tirelessly to ensure civil rights, human rights, womens rights, equality, economic and social justice for all people. In addition, she launched the VOTE LA campaign, the LA Cities Clean Air-Clean Water campaign, and helped critical outreach to take shape, helping pass the Durbin Bill which provided aid for small businesses.

Heather also has built a strong and broad coalition of support from womens organizations throughout the area, many who have advocated that we must elect another woman to fulfill Kamlager-Doves seat because of the extreme lack of representation by African American women in the California Legislature (currently there are only two seats held by African American women in the entire state of California).

Congresswoman Maxine Waters in announcing her support for Heather stated:

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I am proud to endorse Heather Hutt for State Assembly. Heather is a mother of three, a lifelong Democrat, and a leader who has worked in both the state and federal government and delivered for working families, women, young people and seniors. I know that Heather is the best choice for State Assembly, and that she will be a fighter on a range of issues, from criminal justice reform to addressing homelessness, combatting climate change, making healthcare a right and rebuilding our economy. I urge the voters of the 54th District to join me in supporting Heather Hutt for State Assembly.

The time has come to cast your vote for Heather Hutt for the 54th California Assembly.
Timmin, Tommin and Talkin Bout Racism: Dealing with Americas Acute Denial

And there was Sen. Tim Scott (R) of South Carolina responding to Pres. Bidens address to the nation, dismissing the seriousness of racist encounters, trying to reason away racism, and calling for a common sense and common ground he failed to show or share. He referenced his Christian credentials to strengthen his argument, but the spirit was not there, for his speech lacked both reason and rightfulness. I might have missed something, but it sounded a lot like what my father, a Christian minister, speaking from biblical insight, called walking in step with the wicked, standing in the way of the wrong-doers and sitting in the seat of the scornful. He had been assigned to carry the water and waste of his Trumpized party, to deny truth, lift up the lie and try to sell as many air sandwiches about racism as the irrational mind, unrepentant heart and current market for social madness would bear.

It would be too harsh to call what he did tommin, but we can call it timmin which seems on its face to be a similar species of speech, thinking and practice. He does not want us to think race, even though it is imposed by society as a social construction used to assign human worth and social status using White people as the paradigm. He talks of color coding and our oppression based on color as a hundred years ago. And he has the strange gut and gall to suggest a moral equivalency between identifying White oppressors and indicting and oppressing Black people. No, the racial coding and oppression is not long ago, but a daily reality in countless constraining, disabling and deadly forms. And it is not only in the graphic and barbaric violence of the police, but also in the savage violence of systemic racism itself in virtually every institution and social space.

Hear me clearly, he declares. America is not a racist country. But its not that we dont hear Sen. Scott, its that we cant in good faith accept his irrational assertion of loyalty to party line and betrayal of the truth of our oppression. President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have expressed agreement with this position and they will need to distinguish their rationale and version of this from Sen. Scotts. For if racism is not systemic, then any correctives they offer to end the savagery of our racial oppression will only be superficial and self-deluding.

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Scott peddles the patriotism of his party, camouflaging the pathology of oppression imposed on his people. And he says, I know firsthand our healing is not finished. But this is a wrong and misleading focus. The central issue is not our healing, but our freedom from the oppression that injures and kills us. If the gross and grievous injuries are conceded and halted, then we could begin to heal. And if we acquire the healthcare, housing, education, income and the reparations we need and merit, our healing and health would greatly improve.

A dedicated defender of the racist realm, Scott makes reference to his race to bolster his partys fake claims, not to support his peoples real demands of freedom, justice, and equality. He talks of voter suppression as if it is freedom to vote and defends unjust laws that limit and prevent democracy, not enhance and expand it. Indeed, it raises Min. Malcolms critique of racist conceptions of democracy which are herrenvolk, master race, and deformed versions of democracy masquerading as real. Thus, he calls it a victimizing democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy.

Talking the double-speak they usually assign to their enemies, he says efforts to correct and prevent future voter suppression are not about civil rights or our racial past. Its about rigging elections in the future. So, voter suppression is freedom to vote and a proposed federal initiative to stop and prevent it in the future is defined as a Washington power grab. Lets face it; it is about the racial past as well as the racial present, for racial here is also a substitute for racist. And it is the racial and racist past and present which cannot be wished away or defined away by self-deluding claims of a post-racial society.

Scott tells us that Race is not a political weapon to settle every issue the way one side wants. Its far too important. But there is a problem here. First, this is a lesson he should teach his party cohorts, allies, associates and supporters. Its an understanding we have held at the center of all our struggles. We said it in the Holocaust of enslavement during the Jim Crow period and the Black Freedom Struggle and reaffirm it in the defiant and dignity-affirming assertion that Black Lives Matter.

Also, it is Europe that developed and weaponized the concept of race, employing it in determining superiority and inferiority, in denying our humanity and human rights, in the distribution of social goods and social services, and enhancing or diminishing life conditions, capacity and chances. Scotts affirmation that race is important is an uncredited and bad faith concession to the battle cry Black Lives Matter. But because its an uncredited appropriation used to pretend valuing Black lives rather than actually protecting them and helping to create conditions for their survival, development and flourishing, it is left hanging without associated programs or proposals.

In weaving the artificial cloth of American mythology about its goodness, greatness and unplausible perfection seeking to be more perfect, he repeatedly stumbles over the large rocks of reality and racist lies placed on his path. And thus, he embraces and becomes hopelessly engulfed in the acute denial of the wrongdoing, wrong headedness, gross evil, and savage oppression that accompany the founding and development of this country.

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Plodding on doggedly and determinedly, he tells us We are all in this together, as if we knew what this was and what is the nature, reason and basis of this imagined togetherness in a context of systemic racism. Moreover, he says, we get to live in the greatest country on Earth. But the phrase get to live in hides a monstrously horrid history of the Holocaust of enslavement. And racially and humanly speaking, it wasnt about getting to live, in America, but being forced, being enslaved, being dominated, deprived and degraded here.

Moreover, to talk about it as if American society simply opened up to us so we could move from cotton to Congress is again lifting up a lie and illusion of an unfought for freedom and justice for all. Every inch and iota of progress made, Frederick Douglass told us in the midst of the Holocaust of enslavement, is gained and sustained in righteous and relentless struggle. For power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. So, it was then and so it is now.

Scott closes trying to spiritualize a material problem, a social, economic, political and cultural problem, i.e., the systemic pathology of oppression. As Nana Fannie Lou Hamer says, America is a sick society, sick with racism, classism, sexism and other pathologies of oppression. And we cannot confuse or conflate spiritual redemption with social liberation. I dont doubt the role or reality of the power of his mothers prayer or all our mothers and fathers prayers. But they taught us too that faith without work is dead, that God helps those that help themselves, that struggle, righteous and relentless struggle  internally and externally, opens the way to a whole nother world of justice, caring and other varieties of goodness. Let us set aside all illusions about race, racism and reality, then, intensify the struggle, bear witness to truth and set the scales of justice in their proper place, and build the good world we all want and deserve.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.


France joined the United States on Thursday in support of easing patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines. The action could help poorer countries get more shots and quicken the end of the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the U.S. government changed its own position and supported removing the protections. It brought cheers from health activists and complaints from drug companies.

During a visit to a vaccine center on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron added, I completely favor this opening up of the intellectual property.

Despite his support for removing protections, Macron also said it would not solve the problem of getting more vaccines to more people around the world. He noted that places like Africa were not equipped to make COVID-19 vaccines. He said vaccine donation should be most important.

While the backing from two countries with big drug making companies is important, many problems remain to be solved.

The idea of removing patent protections was first floated by India and South Africa in October.

Some 80 countries, mostly developing nations, have supported the Indian and South African idea, an official who was not permitted to give his name said.

However, if one country in the World Trade Organization (WTO) votes against the plan, it will block efforts to make the change.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the U.S. announcement great news, but did not answer a question about whether his country would make the same decision. South Korean officials said they were also watching the Biden announcement, but did not say they would do the same.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would support it.

The drug industry says that a faster answer to the lack of vaccines in some parts of the world would be for rich countries to start sharing their vaccine supply with poorer countries.

The industry argues that production of coronavirus vaccines is difficult and cannot be increased by easing intellectual property protections. Instead, it says that reducing problems in supply chains as well as the lack of vaccine ingredients are the most important problems right now.

A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem, said the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. The organization added that the idea will not increase production nor provide practical solutions to the health crisis.

Intellectual property expert Shyam Balganesh is a professor at Columbia Law School. He said a WTO waiver could help but it would only go so far because of other problems in the manufacturing and shipping of vaccines.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

patent  n. an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time

summit  n. a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments

waiver  n. an official document indicating that someone has given up or waived a right or requirement

complex  adj. not easy to understand or explain : not simple

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Rhino poaching is rising again in South Africa. Wildlife parks say that poaching has increased since the government eased pandemic restrictions.

Limits on international travel had the benefit of keeping poachers away. In 2020, 394 rhinos were poached, 30 percent fewer than 2019 and the fewest since 2011.

In November, South Africa began easing international travel restrictions.

Jo Shaw is the Africa Rhino Lead for the World Wildlife Fund International Network. She said that since November and December of last year, there has been a serious increase in the number of poachings, especially at Kruger National Park. The park is located in northeast South Africa, and is one of the largest wildlife reserves on the continent.

She did not say how many total poachings had happened this year.

"There is a very real  threat as poaching pressure has increased since lockdown, perhaps to meet the demand from the international markets," she said.

The WWF says rhinos are poached for their horns. The horn is used in many Asian traditional medicines. The horn is also a sign of wealth.

Rhino poaching often involves both local poachers and international crime groups. Poachers smuggle the highly priced horns across borders, often to Asia.

Rhinos are sometimes shot with a tranquilizer gun before their horns are cut off, Save the Rhino said on its website. The animal is then left to bleed to death.

Julian Rademeyer works to fight organized crime in Africa at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. He said other rhinos are killed with high-powered hunting rifles.

Beacause of the pandemic, nature reserves have had fewer visitors than usual. Budget cuts have forced reserves to shrink their anti-poaching security operations.

But some reserves are taking the step to keep poachers away by safely dehorning rhinos.

Veterinarians cut the horn at the base, rather than removing it all, which prevents the rhino from bleeding to death. One nature reserve in Kruger National Park has de-horned 100 rhinos since April 2019.

Frances Craigie is the head of enforcement at South Africas environmental ministry. He says there are about 16,000 rhinos living in the country. The ministry is expected to release the South Africas 2021 half-year poaching numbers at the end of June.

Poaching and droughts in the northeast region of South Africa have badly hurt the rhino population. In Kruger National Park, the number of rhinos has gone down by more than two-thirds in the past 10 years. A South African National Parks report showed that in 2008, there were 11,800 rhinos. In 2019, there were just 3,800 left.

Im Caty Weaver.

Akhona Matshoba reported this story for Reuters. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

__________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

poach v. to hunt or fish illegally : to catch or kill an animal illegally

reserve - n. an area of land where animals and plants are given special protection

pressure-n. the force that you feel when people are trying to persuade or force you to do something by using arguments, threats, etc.

smuggle v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

tranquilizer-n. a drug that causes a person or animal to become very relaxed and calm

veterinarian  n. a person who is trained to give medical care and treatment to animals

drought-n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain


The United Nations says the effects of Myanmars political crisis and the coronavirus could push half the countrys population into poverty by 2022.

The warning came in a report released last week by the U.N.s Development Program (UNDP). It said as many as 25 million people, or nearly half the population, is in danger of dropping into poverty.

Both COVID-19 and the countrys ongoing political crisis are pushing the most vulnerable back and more deeply into poverty," the UNDPs Kanni Wignaraja told Reuters. She is Assistant U.N. Secretary-General and leads UNDPs operations in Asia.

The report noted that from 2005 to 2017, Myanmar was able to reduce its poverty level by about 50 percent. But those development gains are now being erased in a matter of months, Wignaraja said.

Without a working democracy, Myanmar faces a tragic and avoidable backslide towards levels of poverty not seen in a generation, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement.

Myanmars political crisis began when the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. The government has used deadly force against individuals protesting against the military overthrow. Activist groups say more than 750 civilians have been killed in demonstrations across the country.

Before the military takeover, Myanmar citizens were struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic. The report showed that by the end of 2020, about 83 percent of families reported their incomes had been cut nearly in half because of the health crisis.

The report estimates that the number of people in Myanmar living below the poverty line increased 11 percent by the end of 2020. It adds that the countrys poverty rate could rise an additional 12 percent.

Among the reasons for expected increases in poverty include Myanmars worsening security situation and threats to human rights since the military takeover of the government. The report said poverty in the nations cities was expected to increase by 200 percent.

Wignaraja said women and children are most affected by the countrys continuing health and political crises. "Half of all children in Myanmar could be living in poverty within a year.

The report said security issues have severely restricted the movement of people, services, and goods, including agricultural products. In addition, pressure on Myanmar's currency, the Kyat, has increased the price of imports and energy.

The countrys banking system is also weak. This has resulted in money shortages and limited availability to government assistance payments and remittance services.

The U.N. said that before the latest crises, nearly 1 million people in Myanmar had already been identified as needing humanitarian assistance and protection.

"As stated by the U.N. secretary-general, the scale of the crisis requires an urgent and unified international response," Wignaraja said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English, with additional information from the U.N. Development Program report. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

___________________________________________________

Words in This Story

vulnerable  adj. able to be easily hurt, influenced or attacked

erase  v. to remove from existence

backslide  n. to return to a worse condition

remittance  n. an amount of money that you send to someone

scale  n.
It's one of nature's 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 it's quite a show.

Raupp presents the narrative of cicada's lifespan with all the verve of a Hollywood blockbuster:

"You've 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. They're going to try to best everything on the planet that wants to eat them during this critical period of the nighttime when they're just trying to grow up, they're just trying to be adults, shed that skin, get their wings, go up into the treetops, escape their predators," he says.


remaining of

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By Alison Crowther, Senior Lecture in Archaeology, The University of Queensland

Mohammad Javad Shoaee

Africa is often referred to as the cradle of humankind  the birthplace of our species, Homo sapiens. There is evidence of the development of early symbolic behaviours such as pigment use and perforated shell ornaments in Africa, but so far most of what we know about the development of complex social behaviours such as burial and mourning has come from Eurasia.

However, the remains of a child buried almost 80,000 years ago under an overhang at Panga ya Saidi cave in Kenya is providing important new details.

Working with a team of researchers from Kenya, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, we studied the burial. Our results, published in Nature today, reveal valuable insights into human cultural evolution, including how Middle Stone Age populations interacted with the dead.

A child called Mtoto

Around 78,000 years ago, a small child of 2.5 to 3 years of age was carefully placed on their right side in a shallow pit in a cave near Kenyas coast. Their legs were raised to their chest in a flexed position, and their body wrapped in a special cloth, perhaps an animal skin.

The childs head was placed gently on some kind of perishable support - a pillow in readiness for the long sleep. As a final act, the child was deliberately covered over with dirt from the cave floor and left for thousands of years, slowly becoming buried under another 3 metres of soil.

Our team later nicknamed this person Mtoto, meaning child in Kenyas Swahili language.



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Fernando Fueyo, Author provided





Unearthing Africas oldest burial

Panga ya Saidi is roughly 15 kilometres from the Kenyan coast. Our team first visited in 2010 as part of an archaeological project on the origins of East Africas Indian Ocean trade.

When we first entered the cave with our colleagues from the National Museums of Kenya, we knew the site was special. The limestone walls towered some 20-30 metres above us, creating a cool microclimate for forest plants to thrive and humans and animals to take shelter. The cave is sacred to the Mijikenda people who occupy the area today.





Read more:

Ancient eggshells and a hoard of crystals reveal early human innovation and ritual in the Kalahari





With permission from the local community to conduct our research, we embarked on what has become a decade-long process of discovery at the cave. We quickly realised the site held far greater significance for understanding human evolution than we originally thought.







Find other ways to listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast here.

Our excavations uncovered a deep series of occupation layers bearing thousands of stone tools and animal remains, as well as shell beads and ochre fragments. These finds revealed more than 78,000 years of early human cultural, technological and symbolic activities.

But our most exciting find came in our third field season in 2013, when the shallow pit containing Mtotos burial was exposed some 3 metres below the cave floor.

The remains were so fragile, our team had to cover them in plaster and remove them intact with the block of sediment in which they were buried. The block was sent first to the National Museum in Nairobi, then to our collaborator Maria Martinon-Torres at the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) in Spain, who is a leading expert in hominin palaeobiology.



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Jorge Gonzalez / Elena Santos, Author provided





Martinon-Torres and her team spent months painstakingly excavating and documenting the remains in her laboratory, revealing not only that the remains belonged to a modern human (Homo sapiens), but a small child.

Mtotos preservation was remarkable. The skull and face bones, including the jawbone, were still articulated. Based on the shapes of the teeth, Martinon-Torres was able to determine that the child was just 2.53 years of age.

Microscopic analysis of the bones and surrounding soil confirmed that the body was rapidly covered after burial and that decomposition took place in the pit. In other words, Mtoto was intentionally buried shortly after death.

Furthermore, the position of Mtotos flexed body, found lying on the right side with knees drawn toward the chest, suggests it was a tightly shrouded burial with deliberate preparation. The position of the head and the way it had collapsed in the pit suggested a pillow of some kind may have been used, indicating the community may have undertaken some form of funerary rite.





Read more:

The revolution that wasnt: African tools push back the origins of human technological innovation





Our next big question was the age of the burial. The bones were too old for radiocarbon dating, which only works well on organic remains from the past 40,000 years or so.

We turned instead to a method called luminescence dating, which measures when quartz grains in the sediment were last exposed to light (that is, when they were buried). The luminescence dates securely placed Mtotos burial at 78,000 years ago, making it the oldest known human burial in Africa.

Implications for human cultural evolution

The Panga ya Saidi burial is a major breakthrough for understanding how early populations in Africa treated their dead, allowing us to start situating these behaviours alongside what we know about how culture developed in other regions.

Child and juvenile burials are not uncommon in the Eurasian record, and now we have definitive evidence for not just intentional burial at 78,000 years ago in Africa, but the burial of a young child. This suggests a kind of special treatment of the young, with complex emotions of mourning linked to complex social behaviours.

Interestingly, the burial was not accompanied by any grave goods or personal ornaments, as have been found with early burials elsewhere in Africa and Eurasia.



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Louise Cooper / University of Sydney, Author provided





In fact, the earliest symbolic ornaments at Panga ya Saidi, in the form of cone snail shell beads, only appear some 10,000 years after Mtotos burial. Associated with the burial, though, is a fragment of Giant African land snail shell that bears evidence of incisions from a pointed instrument or tool. While we cannot interpret this evidence symbolically, it does show some form of human modification.

The burial is also significant because of its association with stone tools belonging to the Middle Stone Age tradition, which has been linked to more than one hominin species, including both modern and archaic Homo sapiens. At Panga ya Saidi, we can definitively state that modern Homo sapiens manufactured these stone tools, providing some clarification on the nature of early technology and tool use.





Read more:

Why are humans unique? It's the small things that count





We can also derive new information about the anatomical evolution of our species. A comparison of Mtotos teeth with a representative sample of Neanderthal teeth as well as those from recent and fossil Homo sapiens showed that, although they were clearly modern human, they also have some primitive features.

This supports recent archaeological and genetic research suggesting our species didnt evolve from a single population in one region of Africa. Rather, modern human populations living in different parts of Africa looked different to one another and followed different evolutionary trajectories.

The authors would like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our research partners at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) in Nairobi, Fort Jesus Museum in Mombasa, and the Coastal Forest Conservation Unit in Kilifi, Kenya, particularly Dr Emmanuel Ndiema, without whose support and involvement this research would not have been possible.

Alison Crowther receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Patrick Faulkner receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Originally published in The Conversation.
CULDESAC  From her perch behind the counter of Jacques Spur Junction Cafe along U.S. Highway 95 west of Culdesac, Jean Ballard had a spectacular view of the goings-on in the area.
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission is poised to uphold an appeal and deny a permit for a homestay at a 5-acre ranch off North Refugio Road at its June 9 meeting, after continuing the hearing Wednesday so staff can develop findings to support the decision.
This week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the first step in phasing down the use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, common refrigerants that also happen to be greenhouse gases thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Among the new groups registered in support of the bill this session are ones that represent law enforcement: the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Wisconsin Professional Police Association and Milwaukee Police Association.

Steffen said that backing, which he characterized as "stronger and broader" compared to prior sessions, is crucial because in the past lawmakers had expressed concerns about the lack of public support from law enforcement.

Beyond that, Steffen said he and other bill leaders have spent the last few years working with lawmakers and outside groups to craft a bill everyone could agree to.

"We have been very flexible during this process to strengthening parts and adjusting language where necessary to ensure that we were able to secure additional support while never compromising the end goal of the initiative, which is to give people these opportunities to get back into the workforce," he said.
Lawmakers also did away with Evers' efforts to repeal the July 1 deadline to close the two prisons; under his budget proposal, those would have closed after replacement facilities had been secured.

Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, co-author of the original bipartisan bill to close the youth prisons, said in an interview he's still committed to closing the state's youth prisons but he doesn't anticipate lawmakers would add another 18 months to the timeline, a period he said would potentially give the state enough time to wrap up the transition.

"I still think that we can get something done," he said. "It's not going to happen by July 1 and I do not see any appetite in our caucus for extending that date. I'm not saying it won't, that it can't happen, but I think there would have to be a serious conversation between the governor and the speaker and the majority leader of the Senate."

Progress on Mendota expansion

Despite the apparent lack of interest to extend the statutory deadline, lawmakers on Thursday showed support for expanding Dane County's Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center, a step that's crucial to the state's existing multi-pronged approach to replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake.
Until small businesses and midmarket firms can improve their security posture, theyll remain prime targets for attackers, said Kyle Hanslovan, Huntress founder and CEO. Were seeing evidence of that every day ... via the constant barrage of normal malicious tactics hackers use to infiltrate businesses that are unprepared to launch a counter-response.
For the first time in five years, Madison-area residents could be paying higher electricity rates next year.

Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy each filed applications this week asking regulators to approve electric and gas rate hikes for 2022.

MGE is requesting a 5.9% increase for its electricity revenue, which the company proposes to offset with excess collections that resulted from lower than expected fuel costs in 2020. If approved, that would add about $4.91 a month to the typical residential bill, according to MGEs estimates.

The company is also seeking annual increases of about 3% and 1.7% for natural gas rates in 2022 and 2023, which the company says would cost residential consumers an additional $17.75 next year and $8.30 in 2023.

MGE, which serves about 157,000 customers in the Madison area, says the rate increase is needed to begin paying off new investments in renewable energy resources, including the companys one-third share of the $400 million Badger Hollow solar farm under construction in Iowa County.

Alliant Energy notified regulators Wednesday that it has agreed with consumer and environmental advocates on elements of a rate case that include a 6.2% increase to electricity revenues and an 8.4% increase in gas revenue.

Environmental groups sue Corps of Engineers over power line permit; project faces 4 lawsuits Environmental groups sued the Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday in federal court over its permitting of the $492M project known as Cardinal-Hickory Creek.
Diners' scorecard

Restaurant: Mediterranean Cafe

Location: 625 State St.

Phone: 608-251-8510

Website: medcafemadison.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Online ordering: Yes

Dine-in: Yes, at 75%

Curbside carryout: Yes, in Hawthorne Court alley between parking ramps, also Frances or Lake Streets. Some people also pull up on State Street.

Outdoor dining: May offer it soon

Delivery: Yes. Their own, and through third-party apps

Prices: Appetizers $4.75 and $9, sandwiches $7, soup $2.25, Greek salad $8.50, entrees $11.50 to $12.50.

Credit cards: Accepted

Drinks: No alcohol

Gluten-free: A few

Vegetarian offerings: Many

Kids menu: Can accommodate

Service: Excellent

Bottom line: Long-standing State Street favorite hung on through the pandemic and is as good as ever.
I think that investing in this now will not only save the state taxpayers money, which is very important, but more important and the ultimate goal of this is to give our youth, some whove had the most horrific starts in their lives, it will give them a chance and an opportunity to come back and hopefully have a happy, healthy and productive life as they move forward.

Borrowed funds

In approving the request from the Department of Health Services to expand the facility, lawmakers are making use of borrowing already outlined in the last state budget. Republican lawmakers and Gov. Tony Evers already approved about $44 million in borrowing for the project, and Evers, through a veto, was able to shift $15 million in borrowing authorized for another mental health facility in northern Wisconsin that Republicans wanted to Mendota instead. Still, more will be needed in the state budget.

The project would also need to get final approval from the state Building Commission.
Wisconsin health officials said Thursday that theyve ordered only a fraction of the COVID-19 vaccine doses the federal government had set aside for the state for next week, another sign of plateauing interest in the shots.

Interest in the vaccine has been waning across the country. President Joe Bidens administration announced Tuesday it would shift doses from states with lower demand to states with more interest.

The federal government has allocated 86,580 first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 65,900 first doses of the Moderna vaccine and 10,200 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the week starting Monday. Wisconsin Department of Health Services spokesperson Elizabeth Goodsitt said the agency has ordered 9,120 Pfizer doses, 2,070 Moderna doses and just 2,100 Johnson & Johnson doses.

Demand for the vaccines in Wisconsin is softening, Goodsitt said, noting that one in three Wisconsin residents are now fully vaccinated. She added that vaccinators are working through their existing inventories before ordering more doses, she said.
One of Chicago Public Schools great success stories announced Monday she will leave the job when her contract is up in June. CEO Janice Jackson said it was time to hand the baton to someone else after four years of overseeing the district.

This is a loss  for students, teachers, taxpayers. For the city.

Jackson was not only a product of Chicago schools, she guided the district through near-constant turbulence with the leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union and a pandemic that forced every school district across the country to reinvent learning.

Kids need to be in school every day, Jackson repeated during a news conference Monday. We all pushed hard to get our kids back sooner ... and here we are today. As we look to the fall, we know a lot more about this disease. We have the money to do this safely.
The law, among other things, creates a new felony crime of aggravated rioting that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a new crime of mob intimidation, which makes it unlawful for a person, assembled with two or more other persons and acting with a common intent, to use force or threaten to use imminent force, to compel or induce, or attempt to compel or induce, another person to do or refrain from doing any act or to assume, abandon, or maintain a particular viewpoint against his or her will.
I think of those citizens in Idaho who have struggled the most with the shutdowns during COVID, its been our children, Troy said.

The $70 million in federal relief funding earmarked for child care stabilization grants (HB 395) can be used by providers to pay personnel costs for any employee; rent or payment on a mortgage obligation; utilities, facility maintenance or improvements, or insurance; for personal protective equipment, cleaning/sanitization supplies/services, or training related to health and safety practices; purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency; purchases of goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services; and mental health supports of children and employees.

I hope this means we are now valued and that Idaho recognizes the important role we play on a daily basis, said Robin Findl, owner of Kids Choice child care centers in Boise and Meridian. We look forward to focusing on whats most important  the children and partnering with families through quality care.

In another win for the industry, Senate Bill 1212 passed by a vote of 26-7 on Monday and includes $3,125,000 for an increase to the child care entitlement to the state in its welfare division. The bill passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 41-24 and now heads to the governor.

House Bill 369 appropriates $33,763,900 for child care, but those funds run out on Dec. 31, 2021. That money was part of the federal relief package passed last year, as was the SB 1212 funding.

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Hogan said that such challenges, categorized as adverse childhood experiences by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, could affect a childs sense of safety and stability. Theyre also linked to health problems, mental illness and substance abuse in adulthood, and can hinder job opportunities later in life, Hogan said.
For months, Rep. Simpson has been speaking with us about his sweeping dam-breaching proposal, touting transparency and an open process while telling us it was simply a legislative concept for the Northwest delegation to consider, the lawmakers, who oppose breaching the dams, said.

What he didnt tell us was that he has been coordinating for months with Oregon Governor Kate Browns staff behind the scenes to shepherd his proposal through Congress with little to no support from Pacific Northwest representatives  Republican or Democrat, the lawmakers said.

Its clear this proposal is not just a starting point, but rather a radical and fully-baked plan he is actively seeking to put into law, they said.

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The three Republicans also suggest Simpsons discussions with Brown could hurt an agreement signed last year by the governors of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana to work together on solving an issue that has bedeviled the Northwest for decades.

The documents were released in response to a public information request by the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group that opposes Simpsons plan.
Before Idaho Gov. Brad Little was for the Legislatures bill to stop so-called indoctrination in the schools, he was against it.

After the Idaho GOP-led Legislature followed its marching orders from the Idaho Freedom Foundation to stall on must-pass public school and higher education budgets until critical race theory and social justice had been banished from the classroom, the governor offered his assessment:

l  ... The claim that there is widespread, systemic indoctrination occurring in Idaho classrooms is a serious allegation. Most worryingly, it undermines popular support for public education in Idaho.

l Curriculum is a local decision, made by parents and educators. If parents or teachers spot an example of instruction that concerns them, they should bring it to the attention of the teacher, principal, superintendent or school board trustees, and root out the problem locally. ...

l Both under the state constitution and state law, the State Board of Education has responsibility for governance. It will look into the IFFs claims, but we must be focused on facts and data, not anecdotes and innuendo.
BOISE  Fish stocking is in full swing as the weather continues to warm up across the state. About 420,000 catchable sized rainbow trout are headed to Idaho waters in May  nearly twice as many as April.

With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, we asked Fish and Game hatchery staff to highlight some stocking events.

Many of the waters highlighted below are easy to access, family-friendly fishing destinations. All you need to get started is a fishing license and some basic tackle. Annual adult fishing licenses cost around $30, junior licenses (ages 14-17) cost $16, and youth under 14 fish for free.

Fishing for stocked rainbow trout, particularly in community ponds, is a great way to introduce new anglers to the sport by using simple (and relatively thrifty) set-ups like worm/marshmallow combinations or commercial baits like Power Bait or Crave, either near the bottom or below a bobber.
BOISE  The Boise branch of a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities donated special wheelchairs to three Idaho children on Saturday, opening up opportunities for them recreate outdoors.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation gifted Jaxon Palmer, 5; Zella Egan, 5; and Clara Longoria, 8, with GRIT Junior wheelchairs, all-terrain chairs meant to allow users to travel on trails, beaches and more. Clara is from Boise, while Jaxon and Zella are from Twin Falls. Both Jaxon and Clara have spina bifida, and Zella has cerebral palsy.

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Its a huge deal for us to get this chair, said Zellas mom, Sara Egan. After her diagnosis, we decided as a family that we would do everything we could to let her enjoy the things that we enjoy.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation presented the kids with the GRIT Junior chairs at Camels Back Park on Saturday morning, where the families explored nearby trails in the Foothills.

Several other Idahoans affiliated with the foundation were in attendance, including 4-year-old Teddy Wallace. Teddy was the worlds first GRIT Junior wheelchair user and regularly uses it on trails around Boise.

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PHCC President Angeline Godwin, who is slated to retire in July, has developed a great foundation already, so I dont see myself veering away from that foundation, Petty said. She said she would align programs to the needs of programs and industry and remain in touch with those partners.

Her last institution held an industry roundtable where we would bring all of our business and industry partners in addition to the chamber of commerce  to the table so that we could have robust conversations about the needs for them as well as the college, she said.

The second question was how to get more K-12 students engaged. She would encourage relationships with those partners, she said, and aim to increase the number of students coming through the pipeline for dual enrollment. The one thing I would love to see is every high school student graduated with some type of credential.

Next was how to partner with schools to demonstrate that PHCC is a resource to underrepresented populations.

Effective communication, not only with school districts but our community at large to let them know what resources are available, she said. That would include promotion on a large scope, and I didnt see that as she was coming into Virginia, she said.
Two nonviolent protesters must spend a day in jail for every day they spent in tree stands blocking the path of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a Montgomery County judge ruled Wednesday.

For Alexander Samuel Parker Lowe, who occupied the so-called Yellow Finch tree-sit from Nov. 16, 2020, to when he was removed by state police March 24, that worked out to a 254-day jail sentence.

For Claire Marian Fiocco, who went up on Jan. 3 and was extracted March 23, the sentence was 158 days.

In sentencing the two, General District Judge Randal Duncan said he was trying to apply some common sense to this ruling. The jail sentences were double the time Lowe and Fiocco spent in the trees, taking into account a good-time credit of one day for each day served in jail.

The tree-sit blockade of Mountain Valley Pipeline began in September 2018, making it the longest blockage of the natural gas pipeline since work began more than three years ago.

Although multiple people occupied the tree stands off Yellow Finch Lane, Lowe and Fiocco are the only two found accountable to date. A Circuit Court judge ordered them down Nov. 16, instructing police to remove them if they did not comply.
He said that of the $6.2 million in coronavirus relief that the town received from the Japanese government last year, it had spent about $2.5 million on infection control measures and $1.3 million to promote local businesses and employment, and still had money left over after purchasing the squid statue. The town has recorded fewer than 30 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
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.
A youth leader at the church where a Giles County, Virginia 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, Virginia 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, Virginia 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.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officers-involved shooting at the home, which is standard protocol, Tollie said..

Dark smoke rose from the house fire in the afternoon, and it drifted over the neighborhood along West Academy Street. Soot and burned leaves fell on streets in the area.

During the incident, police used their armored personnel vehicle, their bomb squad robot, members of their SWAT team, and at least one police dog.

Neighbors gathered on sidewalks and on their porches and looked toward the standoff as it lasted for more than two hours. During the incident, police blocked traffic on surrounding streets near where the standoff happened.

John Duell of Winston-Salem said he saw numerous police cars travel to the area during the incidents early stages.

Its the most action Ive seen go down in Winston, Duell who works at the NAPA Auto Parts store on Peters Creek Parkway. It looks like the whole police force is out here.

The neighborhood where the standoff and shooting happened is mostly safe and quiet for its residents, Duell said.

Crazy things happen, and crazy people happen, Duell said.

336-727-7299 @jhintonWSJ Journal photographers Walt Unks and Andrew Dye contributed to this story.
According to a new study published in the journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program provide more medication access serviceswhich are services that help remove barriers to accessing necessary medicationsthan comparably sized non-340B hospitals.

The University of Illinois Chicago researchers who conducted the study, which included a survey of available services sent to a nationally representative sample of hospitals across the U.S., suggest that 340B participating hospitals may be better positioned to create and administer programs that support patients who are uninsured or underinsured and those who may have job, transportation and other social insecurities.

"Medication access services are an important way that hospitals support patients whose health and wellbeing are dependent on medications but who otherwise may struggle to afford or access drugs. This includes patients with a range of illnesses, from chronic health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension to people who have required life-saving transplants," said Sandra Durley, a clinical assistant professor at the UIC College of Pharmacy in the pharmacy practice and pharmacy systems, outcomes and policy departments.

According to Durley, a contributing author of the study, for low-income patients, the availability of medication access services like prior authorization assistance and provision of free or discounted drugs, for example, at their site of care "can mean the difference between receiving prescribed drug therapy and going without, due to delays or unaffordability of medications."

For the study, researchers collected primary questionnaire response data from pharmacy directors at non-federal acute care hospitals from March 2019 to May 2019. They then assessed the availability of nine medication access service offerings.

There was a significant difference in the average number of services offered between 340B and non-340B hospitals. 340B hospitals offered, on average, 6.2 services while non-340B hospitals offered 3.9 services, after an adjustment for hospital size.

For all nine services that were assessed, a higher percentage of 340B hospitals reported providing the service compared to non-340B hospitals. This difference was statistically significant for six out of the nine services: assistance with prior authorizations (89.7% for 340B hospitals vs. 63.0% for non-340B hospitals), discharge prescription services (85.3% vs. 44.4%), free immunizations (58.8% vs. 33.3%), free or discounted outpatient medications (83.8% vs. 48.2%), medication therapy management (52.9% vs. 11.1%) and patient assistance programs (83.8% vs. 51.9%). There was no statistically significant difference for the other three services: free prescription delivery, free medications from the emergency department and transitions of care.

In addition, the researchers looked at general health care services. For the four services analyzed, an equivalent or higher percentage of 340B hospitals compared with non-340B hospitals reported providing the service. The difference was statistically significant for two of the services: the provision of drug/alcohol outpatient treatment services (37.5% vs. 9.5%) and HIV/AIDS outpatient services (39.3% vs. 9.5%). There was no significant difference for providing free or discounted transportation to health services or providing housing support for homeless patients.

Durley said the data published in this study provides important information for policymakers about how participation in the 340B program translates into expanded services for patients who seek care at safety net and public hospitals.

The authors write, "At a time when 79% of Americans believe that the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable, and 19% of Americans report not filling a prescription at least once in the last two years due to cost, services that facilitate medication access are imperative for favorable health outcomes. While the 340B Program is not designed in its intent as a direct patient benefit program, its savings can be utilized in a variety of different ways to provide more comprehensive services. The findings of this study suggest that 340B hospitals play a critical role in facilitating medication access."

Durley says that while the survey was conducted before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the data presented in the study is likely just as relevant, if not more relevant, today.

"We've seen increased job loss and social insecurity over the last year that has essentially compounded the barriers experienced by underserved communities who are also bearing the brunt of COVID illness. The pandemic is highlighting that there is a greater need for services that support vulnerable communities, not a lesser need," said Durley, who also is senior associate director of ambulatory care pharmacy services at the University of Illinois Hospital, which participates in the 340B program as a disproportionate share provider.

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More information: Isha Rana et al, A comparison of medication access services at 340B and non-340B hospitals, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy (2021). Isha Rana et al, A comparison of medication access services at 340B and non-340B hospitals,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.03.010
Nur Fatihah Azmi. Credit: Eindhoven University of Technology

Cyanosis, a blue coloration around the mouth and lips area, always relates to a low level of oxygenated blood in the body. Newborn infants normally have cyanosis between three to five minutes after birth and become pink when the oxygen saturation rises above 85% when measured by the pulse oximeter. A fast and accurate cyanosis evaluation and further treatment need to be taken as a cyanosed baby is potentially in a critical situation. Ph.D. candidate Nur Fatihah Azmi developed a cyanosis baby mannequin, that can change color, to optimize the quality of cyanosis recognition in neonatology's training in the near future.

Medical trainees utilize a color-assessment scoring system known as the Apgar scoring method introduced by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952. However, when the instrumental measurement is inaccessible, unreliable, or not reproducible, a skin color evaluation in training sessions is needed. The training in assessing cyanosis coloration is important in newborn's simulation research. The envisaged cyanosis baby simulator can be part of a simulator for resuscitation. If resuscitation is succeeded, the cyanosis will disappear. Otherwise, the cyanosis stays.

Measuring cyanosis from baby images in the hospital

Azmi developed a cyanosis baby mannequin, which can change color from cyanosis to non-cyanosis, within the correct color ranges between three to five minutes, in a correct dimensions and shape, including the safety issues of an actuating working principle. She based the observer model of cyanotic skin on the optical properties of human skin layers. The incoming light will propagate into the skin layers, hit the blood cell which comprises of oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin. The light will be reflected and reach human eyes and the brain will interpret the color.

Because of this theoretical approach, which has high uncertainties and too many assumptions, in the next approach Azmi measured the cyanosis from baby images in real setting in the hospital. She quantified the cyanosis color from the photographs of babies right after the C-section by photographing the calibrated MacBeth colorchecker next to the baby on the procedure table under the same lighting condition. She computed the correction matrix and gathered the color values of the cyanosis and non-cyanosis baby in CIELAB color space.

Optimize neonatology's training

Azmi explored the first cyanosis actuator mannequin by the actuation method of the 3D print photochromic PLA using a low-voltage ultraviolet LED. She based the final design on the Heuristic Design Principle which turned the 3D printed head into a practical cyanosis simulator using the Philips Hue as the cyanosis actuator. She developed a dynamic and adaptive cyanosis actuator and simulated the 3D printed baby's head with a correct color in a correct timing, demonstrated both in real-time and in a screen visualization.

The efforts in integrating technologies, medical experts and designers for a physiologically realistic cyanosis simulator can optimize the quality of cyanosis recognition in neonatology's training in the near future. According to Azmi, the training in assessing cyanosis colouration is important in newborn's simulation research and it's important to be aware of the subjectivity of human visual perception.

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More information: Nur Fatihah Binti Azmi defended her PhD thesis titled Designing Colour Changing Actuation for Realistic Cyanosis in a Baby Manikin on 3 May 2021. Supervisors were: Prof. L.M.G. Feijs (TU/e), dr. ir. F.L.M. Delbressine (TU/e) and dr. P. Andriessen (MMC, Veldhoven). Other main parties involved: UTEM, Maleisie and Ministry of Malaysia Education.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Gyms, theatres and cinemas on Thursday welcomed Danes back thanks to a new round of COVID-19 restriction easing and a reliance on a "corona pass".

Armed with the pass people in Denmark can already visit restaurants, museums or the hairdresser.

Now the new certificate confirming that they have either tested negative in the past 72 hours, been vaccinated, or recently recovered from COVID-19will also give them access to other places that have been off limits due to the pandemic.

"I don't mind showing the corona pass at all. I think it's very good, you feel safe while everything is reopening," 22-year-old student Ottilia, told AFP as she stopped by to buy tickets for an upcoming show at the Falkoner cinema in central Copenhagen.

"I'm very excited, I have missed going to the cinema. I'm looking forward to seeing a movie on a big screen again," project manager Stina, who had arrived with a group of few friends to watch a new Danish movie, said.

Anything for a beer

Launched in early March, as zoos reopened, the use of the pass has been a requirement for each new stage of Denmark's reopening.

"It's a major success because it has combined the reopening of the economy and has boosted testing," Lars Ramme, head of tourism at the Danish Chamber of Commerce, said.

Bars, cafes and restaurants have been using it since April 21.

"I honestly think that after four, five months of lockdown, at least in Copenhagen, people will do anything to go and grab a beer and get some food," Mikkel Bjergso, founder of micro-brewery Mikkeler.

In one of his pubs, Warpigs, he has installed a self-testing booth for customers without a valid certificate.

Primarily digital, the health pass is currently available through a mobile phone application which accesses your personal health data, but it also comes in a paper version.

"Right now it's a good idea. Carl Kronika, a 21-year-old entrepreneur, told AFP.

Like his friends, who had met up to share a few beers, he gets tested twice a week at one of the many sites set up around Copenhagen.

With only 12.7 percent of Danes fully vaccinated, the pass relies heavily on testing.

In the centre of the Danish capital, the company Copenhagen Medicals has transformed a concert hall into a makeshift testing centre where up to 3,000 people can be tested every day.

Up to 500,000 tests can be performed daily, and the activity has become almost part of everyday life in the Nordic country of 5.8 million inhabitants.

"It's the new normal. I put it in my schedule that every third day I go and get tested," Maibrit Dener-Madsen, supervisor at the cinema, told AFP.

Significant effect

In the country where trust in authorities is generally high the adoption of the corona pass has met little or no resistance.

However, among the objectors is the protest movement "Men in Black", which regularly conducts protests around Copenhagen.

While one in three Danes thinks the restrictions have been too severe, just over 10 percent support the protests, a recent survey by the University of Aarhus found.

In its recommendations, Denmark's Ethics Councilan independent bodycalls for "a gradual reduction in the use of the corona pass so that it is only used as long as it has a significant effect on the fight against the epidemic".

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

 2021 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Scientists examining the remains of 36 bubonic plague victims from a 16th century mass grave in Germany have found the first evidence that evolutionary adaptive processes, driven by the disease, may have conferred immunity on later generations of people from the region.

"We found that innate immune markers increased in frequency in modern people from the town compared to plague victims," said the study's joint-senior author Paul Norman, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Personalized Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "This suggests these markers might have evolved to resist the plague."

The study, done in conjunction with the Max Planck Institute in Germany, was published online Thursday in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

The researchers collected DNA samples from the inner ear bones of individuals in a mass grave in the southern German city of Ellwangen which experienced bubonic plague outbreaks in the 16th and 17th centuries. Then they took DNA samples from 50 current residents of the town.

They compared their frequency spectrathe distribution of gene variants in a given samplefor a large panel of immunity-related genes.

Among the current inhabitants, the team found evidence that a pathogen, likely Yersinia pestis which causes bubonic plague, prompted changes in the allele distribution for two innate pattern-recognition receptors and four Human Leukocyte Antigen molecules, which help initiate and direct immune response to infection. An allele is a variant form of a gene.

"We propose that these frequency changes could have resulted from Y.pestis plague exposure during the 16th century," Norman said.

The findings are the first evidence that evolutionary processes, prompted by Y. pestis, may have been shaping certain human immunity-relevant genes in Ellwangen and possibly throughout Europe for generations.

And since the plague tormented Europe for nearly 5,000 years, the study suggests that these immunity genes may have been pre-selected in the population long ago but recently became selected through epidemic events.

"Although the lethality of the plague is very high without treatment it remains likely that specific individuals are protected from, or more susceptible to, severe disease through polymorphism in the determinants of natural immunity," the study said. "In this case, any change in allele frequencies that occurred during a given epidemic crisis could be evident as genetic adaptation and detectable in modern day individuals."

Later simulations showed that natural selection likely drove these allele frequency changes.

"I think this study shows that we can focus on these same families of genes in looking at immunity in modern pandemics," Norman said. "We know these genes were heavily involved in driving resistance to infections."

The study also demonstrates that, so far, no matter how deadly the pandemic there are always survivors.

"It sheds light on our own evolution," Norman said. "There will always be people who have some resistance. They just don't get sick and die and the human population bounces back."

Still, he doesn't want people to get the wrong message, especially in the era of COVID-19.

"I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from taking a vaccine for the current pandemic," Norman said. "It's a much safer bet than counting on your genes to save you."

Explore further How do epedemics come to a stop? Scientists consider genetic mutation of the pathogens as a possible cause
A man sits in his car as he is vaccinated with AstraZeneca in a tent on the parking lot of a supermarket in Pforzheim, southern Germany, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A doctor who could not get rid of her AstraZeneca vaccine in her doctor's office decided to offer some 250 doses in drive-in location at the supermarket. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany is making the AstraZeneca vaccine available immediately to all adults in a push to get as many people inoculated against COVID-19 as quickly as possible, Health Minister Jens Spahn said Thursday.

Millions of doses of AstraZeneca have been safely administered in Europe, but concerns linger over a rare type of blood clot seen in an extremely small number of recipients. That has prompted some people in Germany, even those in high-risk groups, to hold off on getting the shot, preferring to wait for another vaccine.

Spahn said many people in lower-priority groups waiting for a vaccine appointment would be happy to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Therefore, the government has decided to allow doctors' offices to vaccinate any adults with it.

"It's very, very important to be more pragmatic and flexible," he said.

He suggested some people may have been deterred by the waiting time between AstraZeneca's two vaccine shotscurrently 12 weeks in Germany, compared to half that for the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, the most popular in the country.

AstraZeneca says the second vaccine shot can be given between four to 12 weeks after the first. Spahn said the government would now leave it "in the hands of the doctors" to decide when to give the second vaccination within the four to 12 week timeframe.

A woman sits in a car as she is vaccinated with AstraZeneca in a tent on the parking lot of a supermarket in Pforzheim, southern Germany, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A doctor who could not get rid of her AstraZeneca vaccine in her doctor's office decided to offer some 250 doses in drive-in location at the supermarket. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Cars with people waiting for AstraZeneca vaccination queue in front of a tent on the parking lot of a supermarket in Pforzheim, southern Germany, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A doctor who could not get rid of her AstraZeneca vaccine in her doctor's office decided to offer some 250 doses in drive-in location at the supermarket. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Medical staff prepares Moderna vaccination in a vaccination mobile on a square at the district Chorweiler in Cologne, Germany, Monday, May 3, 2021. The city of Cologne started a program to bring COVID-19 vaccination to people living in this neighborhood with a high corona incidence. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Chancellor Angela Merkel is driven away in her limousine after her vote in the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, May 6, 2021. In a roll-call vote, one item of the amendment to the Infection Protection Act was voted on. Earlier, the Bundestag decided on relief for vaccinated and recovered persons. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

The European Union's drug regulator has approved four coronavirus vaccines: two-shot vaccines from AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer and a one-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

Germany's vaccine rollout was much criticized for its slow start. but has dramatically picked up pace, with 15 million shots given in April, as many as in the three previous months combined, Spahn said.

On April 28, Germany administered more than 1 million doses in a single day for the first time.

Germany has counted over 84,000 COVID-19 deaths in the pandemic.

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

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Clinical practice guidelines for dealing with the physical and mental health of transgender people highlight the current lack of a solid research base which must be improved, according to a new study published in the journal BMJ Open.

A team of researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and King's College London searched world literature for all international clinical practice guidelines on the healthcare needs of gender minority and trans people.

Results showed that higher quality guidelines tended to focus mainly on HIV, and most others were on transition-related interventions. There were noticeable gaps in the topics of guidelines, with none addressing primary care or more general health needs of gender minority and trans people. There was little information on mortality and quality of life, and there was no patient-facing material.

Sex hormones in trans people can affect susceptibility to some conditions, including various cancers. However, the authors found little research on how much these hormones affect rates and treatment regimens. There was also no advice on how these hormones affect rates, hospitalizations and mortality due to COVID-19.

Researchers concluded that gaps can be filled by better research, resulting in improved healthcare guidance for gender minority/trans people.

This was the first review of its kind to examine international clinical practice guidelines addressing gender minority/trans health.

Catherine Meads, Professor of Health at ARU and senior author of the paper, said: "We were pleased to find high quality guidelines on HIV from the World Health Organisation, but disappointed there was little else on the long term physical and mental health of trans people.

"There are clear gaps in clinical practice guidance related to gender minority and trans people, and as such clinicians should proceed with caution and explain any uncertainties to patients, who should also be engaged in the process of updating practice guidelines. More needs to be done to ensure that patient-facing material relevant to trans people is made available.

"We've presented the study at the main international specialist societies, who are due to update their guidance, and we hope this will encourage them to aim as high as the WHO."

Sara Dahlen, of King's College London, who co-ordinated the project, said: "We didn't know what we'd find until we looked. We hope future guidelines for trans and gender minority people will look to the examples of high-quality so they can improve healthcare."

Explore further Trans youth are coming out and living in their gender much earlier than older generations

More information: Sara Dahlen et al, International clinical practice guidelines for gender minority/trans people: systematic review and quality assessment, BMJ Open (2021). Journal information: BMJ Open Sara Dahlen et al, International clinical practice guidelines for gender minority/trans people: systematic review and quality assessment,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048943
A transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (UK B.1.1.7 variant), isolated from a patient sample and cultivated in cell culture. Credit: NIAID

India saw record new jumps in COVID-19 cases and deaths on Thursday, dashing tentative hopes that a catastrophic recent surge that has stretched hospitals to the limit might be easing.

Health ministry numbers showed 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 230,168, and 412,262 new cases, taking India's caseload since the pandemic began over 21 million.

Many experts suspect that with low levels of testing and poor record-keeping for cause of deathand crematoriums overwhelmed in many placesthe real numbers could be much higher.

The rise follows several days of falling case numbers that had raised government hopes that the virus surge may have been easing.

Having hit a high of 402,000 last Friday, the daily number of cases eased to as low as 357,000 before creeping up again on Tuesday.

Senior health ministry official Lav Aggarwal had told reporters on Monday that there was a "very early signal of movement in the positive direction".

The sharp rise in cases since late March has overwhelmed hospitals in many places, with fatal shortages of beds, drugs and oxygen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has resisted imposing a new lockdown although several regions including the capital New Delhi, Bihar and Maharashtra have imposed local shutdowns.

Until now the worst-hit areas have been Delhi and Maharashtra but other states including West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka are now reporting sharp rises.

Kerala's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Twitter Thursday a week-long lockdown in the southern state of 35 million people, which has one of India's best health care systems.

West Bengal, which controversially just completed an eight-phase election, on Wednesday announced tighter curbs including a suspension of local trains. Weddings are still allowed, however, with a maximum of 50 people.

K. Vijay Raghavan, the Indian government's principal scientific advisor, said Wednesday that the country of 1.3 billion had to be ready for another wave of infections after the current one.

"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 outside hospitals, consignments of oxygen and equipment have been arriving from the United States, France, Britain, Russia and other countries in recent days.

But India will need yet more oxygen from other countries to fight the surge until numbers stabilise, another government official said Monday.

"We did not and do not have enough oxygen," the top government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If we could get more oxygen more lives would be saved."

Overnight, 11 people died in a hospital near the southern city of Chennai after pressure dropped in oxygen lines, the Times of India reported, the latest in a string of similar incidents.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 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.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Wednesday meanwhile that the UK strain of COVID-19 was declining but that the Indian variant known as B.1.617 was being increasingly detected.

It stopped short of saying the Indian variant was to blame for the current rise.

"The current surge in cases over the last one and a half months in some states show a co-relation with the rise in the B.1.617 lineage", local media quoted NCDC chief Sujeet Singh as saying.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the B.1.617 variant has now been reported in more than a dozen countries.

But it has not said whether the variant is more transmissible, deadlier or able to evade vaccines.

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

 2021 AFP
In his first year in office, Olszewski raised the countys income tax for the first time in almost 30 years to cover an $81 million budget shortfall. This year the former Baltimore County Public Schools teacher has touted a proposal that would increase school funding by $40 million more than the state-mandated minimum as the countys largest hike in school funding.
Family members of COVID-19 victims leave as their funeral pyres burn at an open crematorium set up at a granite quarry on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Infections in India hit another grim daily record on Thursday as demand for medical oxygen jumped sevenfold and the government denied reports that it was slow in distributing life-saving supplies from abroad.

The number of new confirmed cases breached 400,000 for the second time since the devastating surge began last month. The 412,262 new cases pushed India's official tally to more than 21 million. The Health Ministry also reported 3,980 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 230,168. Experts believe both figures are an undercount.

Eleven COVID-19 patients died when pressure in an oxygen line dropped suddenly in a government medical college hospital in Chengalpet in southern India on Wednesday night, possibly because of a faulty valve, The Times of India newspaper reported.

Hospital authorities said they repaired the pipeline last week, but the consumption of oxygen had doubled since then, the newspaper said.

Demand for hospital oxygen has increased sevenfold since last month, a government official said, as India scrambles to set up large oxygen plants and transport oxygen. India created a sea bridge on Tuesday to ferry oxygen tankers from Bahrain and Kuwait in the Persian Gulf, officials said.

Most hospitals in India aren't equipped with independent plants that generate oxygen directly for patients, As a result, hospitals typically rely on liquid oxygen, which can be stored in cylinders and transported in tankers. But amid the surge, supplies in hard-hit places such as New Delhi are running critically short.

Workers arrive with a container of fuel as funeral pyres of COVID-19 victims burn at an open crematorium set up at a granite quarry on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said India has enough liquid oxygen but it's facing capacity constraints in moving it. Most oxygen is produced in the eastern parts of India while the demand has risen in northern and western parts.

K. Vijay Raghvan, a principal scientific adviser to the government, said this phase of the pandemic was "a very critical time for the country."

The United States, Britain, Germany and several other nations are rushing therapeutics, rapid virus tests and oxygen, along with materials needed to boost domestic production of COVID-19 vaccines to ease pressure on the fragile health infrastructure.

India's vaccine production is expected to get a boost with the United States supporting a waiver of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccine components from the U.S. that have arrived in India will enable the manufacturing of 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, said Daniel B. Smith, the senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

Street dogs sleep at a market as shops remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Dharmsala, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. India's government is facing calls for a strict lockdown to slow a devastating surge in coronavirus infections. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Family members wait to cremate body of a COVID-19 victim at an open crematorium set up at a granite quarry on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

A worker sprinkles fuel on burning funeral pyres of COVID-19 victims at an open crematorium set up at a granite quarry on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Homeless people queue up for free food being distributed by a charity in view of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

An Indian health worker checks body temperature of a vegetable vendor during a door-to-door survey being conducted as a precaution against COVID-19 in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

An Indian health worker checks body temperature of a woman during a door-to-door survey being conducted as a precaution against COVID-19 in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Last month, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest vaccine maker, appealed to President Joe Biden to lift the embargo on U.S. export of raw materials, which he said was affecting its production of COVID-19 shots.

The government meanwhile described as "totally misleading" Indian media reports that it took seven days to come up with a procedure for distributing urgent medical supplies that started arriving on April 25.

The statement sad a streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation of the supplies received by India has been put in place for effective distribution. The Indian Red Cross Society is involved in distributing supplies from abroad, it said.

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

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
French cafes and bars are set to reopen their terraces on May 19

A return to enjoying drinks with friends on a cafe terrace, so eagerly anticipated after seemingly interminable closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, still poses a relatively small risk of contagion, experts warn, suggesting a variety of safeguards.

After months of on-again, off-again lockdown, many countries have reopened their bars or plan to do so soon.

Italians led the way in late April, followed by Greece on Monday, with France set to reopen its trademark sidewalk cafes on May 19.

Even with strict COVID safety measures in place, the reopenings are hugely symbolic for millions of people, holding out the hope of a return to normalcy just as spring ushers in warmer weather.

"I feel like I am living again, I've come back to life!" said Greek pensioner Andreas Riminiotis as Athens reopened on a sunny Monday.

But is it safe?

"The main message is still that (outdoor terraces) are far less risky than poorly ventilated interior spaces," epidemiologist Antoine Flahault told AFP.

Nearly 18 months after the start of the pandemic, experts agree that COVID-19 is largely transmitted through aerosolstiny droplets that hang in the air.

They are produced "through infected people breathing, speaking, shouting or singing," said Flahault, head of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva.

Greece has banned music on its newly reopened terraces, arguing that talking louder carries a higher risk of Covid transmission

Overhanging clouds

"In a poorly ventilated space, an aerosol cloud can hang for several minutes or even hours before dissipating," he said. "But on the terrace, it dissipates rapidly into the atmosphere," he said likening it to cigarette smoke.

He estimated the risk at 18 to 20 times lower outdoors than in.

Still, Babak Javid, an infectious diseases expert at the University of California in San Francisco, said: "I do think bars, even outdoor terraces, are potentially problematic, and that's because those environments are associated with loud speech, people being close to each other, and, by definition, not wearing masks."

But he added: "Having said that, being outdoors will substantially reduce risks of transmission compared with indoors."

Behind closed doors, aerosols can remain dangerous for those sharing close quarters with an infected person, as the germs can be inhaled before they have a chance to dissipate.

Julian Tang, an expert in respiratory viruses at the UK's University of Leicester, agreed, saying: "It is the aerosols that are the main danger, especially those produced just by talking and breathing."

He added: "This is why distance between people is the most important factor, even outside, especially when you are eating and drinking and therefore cannot wear a mask."

Covid-19: Risks of transmission

In the long run, the best protection lies in the vaccines, he said.

"Universal COVID-19 vaccination will be the best way to reduce infections in this situationas in all other situations."

In a study recently posted online, French researchers also noted a "short-range aerosol risk" and suggest the use of large fans.

"The more these fans induce turbulent fluctuations, rather than an average flow, the better they are," said the authors, who are students of experimental physics at the University of Paris.

They concluded that the risk varies with the direction of the wind and declines with distance from an infected person.

The study has been submitted for publication by the magazine Indoor Air, their supervisor Bruno Andreotti said on Twitter.

No sputtering please

Flahault mentioned another "theoretical risk", which he called the "direct contamination (or) ballistic route".

Italy hopes its latest easing of Covid restrictions will mark the start of something like a normal summer

This could happen when an infected person "sputters while speaking, coughing or sneezing directly on the eyes, nostrils or mouth of the person across" the table a short distance away, who is not wearing a mask or glasses.

But he said this form of contagion is "more anecdotal than frequent".

Seeking to limit the risks, guidelines have been issued in various countries such as limiting the number of people at a table to six.

The authors of the French study said that besides giant fans, devices could be placed on individual tables that would suck in and filter out the ambient air.

Greece has a novel measure: banning music on the terrace, an idea that drew scorn from the opposition.

But experts say it may be well founded, since music requires people to speak more loudly, which turns up the volume of sputter and air-borne germs.

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

 2021 AFP
Samer Elbabaa, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Orlando Health, shows expecting parents Jocelyn and Jared Rodriguez a 3D-printed model of their developing baby. Orlando Health surgeons are using the models to prepare for an in-utero procedure to correct spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord fails to close normally during development. Credit: Orlando Health

A state-of-the-art in-utero procedure allows surgeons to correct a birth defect on developing babies inside the womb. But operating on a mother and her unborn child at the same time can be challenging and unpredictable. To give their world-class surgeons even more information ahead of surgery, Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is using MRI and ultrasound imaging along with 3-D-printing technology to create a first-of-its-kind detailed model that allows surgeons to plan procedures ahead of time, identifying potential obstacles and reducing the risks of surgery.

The models are currently being used to plan for an in-utero surgery that repairs spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord fails to close normally during development. The condition can cause a lifetime of neurological disabilities, including an inability to walk.

"The 3-D reconstruction of the fetus can really educate the surgeon on the real-life shape, size and location of the spinal lesion, as well as prepare the surgeon to have the appropriate equipment ready to treat this condition surgically," said Samer Elbabaa, MD, medical director of pediatric neurosurgery at Orlando Health. "It's a level of detail that we are not able to see in traditional imaging, but that is extremely valuable in these cases where we cannot actually see the defect ahead of surgery."

To create the models, Orlando Health works with the expert 3-D printers at Digital Anatomy Simulations for Healthcare, LLC (DASH) who developed the technology. While many have seen crude, single-colored items that have been 3-D printed, DASH has taken the process to the next level, developing technology to enhance MRI and ultrasound images taken throughout the pregnancy to reconstruct accurate curves and edges. They are then able to print a high-resolution model with multiple colors and materials, allowing surgeons to see details such as skeletal structure, nerve and vascular anatomy and fluid sacs in the spine and brain caused by spina bifida.

Dr. Samer Elbabaa, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Orlando Health, holds 3D printed models of fetuses. The models allow surgeons to review, visualize and prepare for a complex procedure normally supported only by MRI and ultrasound imaging. Credit: Orlando Health

The models are currently being used in the hospital's open fetal surgery program, which has performed 25 procedures since it began in 2018. Orlando Health is one of only 12 facilities in the U.S., and the only one in Florida, that is able to perform this kind of surgery.

"The fetal models not only help surgeons plan for things like where to make an incision and how to repair the defect, but also helps reduce the duration of the surgery to limit the developing baby's exposure," said DASH President and CEO Jack Stubbs. "We are able to create models that are extremely realistic by using a stack of two-dimensional images taken throughout the pregnancy and enhancing them to reconstruct a better visualization of what the fetus truly looks like."

The 3-D-printed models are giving surgeons a clearer picture for what to expect during a fetal surgery and also allowing surgeons to better explain the baby's condition to parents and show them how it will be treated. For first-time parents Jared and Jocelyn Rodriguez, it made them more confident about moving forward with surgery.

"At first, we just thought it was a model showing the same kind of condition that our baby was diagnosed with, but then Dr. Elbabaa told us that it was made using the 20-week MRI of our daughter," Jared Rodriguez said. "We could see the brain and the spine and I looked down at it and thought, 'I'm holding my daughter right now? That's pretty awesome.'"

Credit: Orlando Health

The Rodriguezes say although they are prepared for the challenges their daughter may face, they're glad this technological development is helping to give her a healthier future.

"Every appointment we go to, we just keep getting more good news and she's already showing how strong she is," Jocelyn Rodriguez said. "We know that this surgery will give her the best shot at a normal lifestyle and we're excited to see the positive results as she grows."

Surgeons are seeing successful results from fetal surgery for spina bifida. Most babies who undergo the procedure experience significantly fewer health concerns and better functionality than those who receive surgery after they're born, with some of the first patients now learning to walk on their own. Experts hope to expand the program to model other types of birth defects in utero that may be treated through fetal surgery in the future.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A program that provides ongoing support to patients with painful conditions and complex medication regimens may also help them avoid using potentially risky opioid pain medications, or reduce the amount they use, a new study finds.

The study looked at people with a wide range of autoimmune disorders, including arthritis and psoriasis, who were taking an injected biologic medication to treat their symptoms and prevent painful flare-ups. Such treatment involves frequent self-injections on a strict schedule, special disposal of used supplies and often high out-of-pocket costswhich is why drug companies have started patient support programs to keep patients on track and even reduce their costs.

Using anonymous data from autoimmune disorder patients with private non-Medicare insurance, the researchers looked at treatment adherence and opioid prescription fills for nearly 2,000 new biologic patients who took part in a PSP at least for a short time, and 728 who did not. None had received an opioid in the three months before they started on the biologic, and most were women in their 50s.

In addition to being much more likely to stick to their medication regimen, and stay on it longer, the patients in the PSP were 13% less likely to start taking opioid pain medications, and 26% less likely to fill two or more opioid prescriptions, than the others. Even so, 38% of the patients in the support program filled at least one opioid prescription, and 19% filled two or more. Opioids carry a risk of long-term dependence, as well as risky interactions with other medications and alcohol.

Among all patients who did fill at least one opioid prescription, those in a PSP were less likely to use them for an extended time. The differences persisted even after the researchers took into account income and checked for past cancer diagnosis; cancer-related pain is a CDC-recommended use for opioid pain medication, while autoimmune disorders are not.

When the researchers zeroed in on patients with specific types of conditions, the strongest evidence of difference between the PSP participants and non-participants was among the group that took the biologic for a digestive system autoimmune disorder such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

"This research demonstrates that the addition of a multi-faceted patient support program along with specialty medication led to better patient-centered outcomes when compared to the use of medication alone," says first author Mark Fendrick, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan and director of the Center for Value Based Insurance Design. "As more and more Americans are prescribed complicated medication regimens, the availability of additional resources is likely to lead to higher rates of medication adherence, and healthier, more satisfied patients."

Explore further Treating dental pain with opioids linked to higher risk of overdose in patients and families

More information: A. Mark Fendrick et al, Higher Medication Adherence and Lower Opioid Use Among Individuals with Autoimmune Disease Enrolled in an Adalimumab Patient Support Program in the United States, Rheumatology and Therapy (2021). A. Mark Fendrick et al, Higher Medication Adherence and Lower Opioid Use Among Individuals with Autoimmune Disease Enrolled in an Adalimumab Patient Support Program in the United States,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s40744-021-00309-9
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Research conducted by the University of Birmingham shows in order to have an effective COVID-19 vaccination rollout it has to be widely accepted by the entire population.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the NIHR Clinical Research Network West Midlands and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was published in the journal Trials involved an anonymous cross-sectional online survey across the UK involving 4884 participants of which 9.44% were Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME). Overall, 2020 (41.4%) respondents were interested in participating in vaccine trials, while 27.6% of the respondents were not interested and 31.1% were unsure. The most interested groups were male, graduates the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups and those with no health issues. The least interested groups were BAME those from villages and small towns and those aged 70 and above.

Currently, the UK registry has a very low trial participant uptake on the elderly and BAME participants which are two high-risk priority groups. The study concludes there is a need to design interventional and public health strategies to engage and encourage trial participation from these specific demographic groups as the research data provides unique insights into participation interest geographically and can be used to target ongoing and future campaigns in rural and core inner city populations.

Dr. Anandadeep Mandal, lecturer in finance from the Birmingham Business School and one the lead authors who carried out the research design involving enhanced text mining and non-linear estimations said: "This study has key importance with COVID-19 mutant (VOC) B117 acquiring mutant E484 and the need for continual trials. The study examines the various factors affecting participation in trials, including geographical locations in England. The results indicate the lack of interest in trial participation among the BAME community even though they score high on importance of vaccine trials. Further, respondents from small town and villages fail to address the need for vaccine trials. Therefore, a joint effort is required engage various ethnic communities and people from different geographical locations to participate in vaccine trials to help the society in need."

Even though 50% of the UK population has the first dose of the vaccination current COVID-19 vaccination trials are not adequately representing a diverse participant population in terms of age, ethnicity and backgrounds which is becoming a challenge in clinical trial management. The study highlights how it is crucial to recruit patients which are representative of the target population which can help in drug development. The aim of this study was to provide possible interventions to increase the uptake for COVID-19 vaccine trial participations with the overall goal to acquire a safe and effective vaccine. This can provide useful in future trials that will continue on for 2021, such as human challenge trials, phase 3 trials and non-inferiority COVID-19 vaccine studies.

The study could not ascertain the reasons to why people did not want to partake in vaccination trials but they were to deduce their general perception towards COVID-19 and vaccines, as well as extracting demographic and geographical data. Being able to understand the key reasons would be beneficial in targeting educational campaigns to tackle specific barriers to trial recruitment.

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

More information: Sonika Sethi et al, The UPTAKE study: implications for the future of COVID-19 vaccination trial recruitment in UK and beyond, Trials (2021). Sonika Sethi et al, The UPTAKE study: implications for the future of COVID-19 vaccination trial recruitment in UK and beyond,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05250-4
Internationally known Lyme researchers Sam Telford, a Cummings School professor, and Linden Hu, a professor at the School of Medicine, demonstrate how fabric flags are used to collect ticks for studies. Credit: Alonso Nichols

As people weary of being cooped up during a pandemic winter look forward to a summer outside, residents across the northeastern United States are once again confronted with a familiar virulent pathogen lurking in the woods and fields. Unlike coronavirus, however, this dangerous microorganism doesn't float through the airit enters the body through the bite of a tick.

Lyme disease has been a constant scourge since it was identified five decades ago on the Connecticut coastline, before spreading across the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (and its cousin Borrelia mayonii), the disease has long baffled scientists with its strangely stealthy manifestations.

While Lyme can sometimes be diagnosed early from its telltale bullseye-shaped rash, it often goes unnoticed for weeks in a person before it starts leading to complications including arthritis andin severe casesattacks on heart and brain tissue. While it can often be resolved with antibiotics, some 10 to 20 percent of patients see infections persist, with fatigue, joint pain, and mental impairment lasting months and even years. Sometimes doctors who treat such long-suffering patients aren't even able to definitively pinpoint Lyme as the cause. All of those complications make the mission of the new Tufts Lyme Disease Initiative even bolder: "Eliminate Lyme Disease by 2030."

"Many of our approaches are currently designed to see if we can get rid of Lyme disease at its source," said physician Linden Hu, the Paul and Elaine Chervinsky Professor of Immunology at Tufts University School of Medicine and one of the initiative's two co-directors. That means bringing together a multidisciplinary team of scientists who can deal with all aspects of the disease, from animal behavior to human health. "Our work spans a range that includes ecology, epidemiology, population health, genetics, and clinical intervention," said Sam Telford, an epidemiology professor at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and a board member of the initiative.

If any institution can unravel the intertwined mysteries of Lyme, it is Tufts, which has been on the forefront of study and treatment of the disease for nearly half a century. Among the pioneers who first identified Lyme disease in the mid-1970s were David Snydman, an infectious disease specialist at the Centers for Disease Control, and Allen Steere, a rheumatoid physician at Yale University, who believed that such illnesses could be traced back to bacterial infection. When a cluster of several dozen supposed cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis broke out in Lyme, Connecticut, they were skeptical of the diagnosis, believing it may have been caused by a pathogen instead. Eventually, they were among the scientists who helped identify the tick-borne Borrelia as the cause of the disease.

Snydman became chief of geographic medicine and infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center and a professor at Tufts School of Medicine. Steere became chief of rheumatology at the medical center and a professor of rheumatology and immunology at the School of Medicine, positions he held until 2002. During that time, he gathered a team of doctors and scientists around him to study the strange new disease, creating a nucleus of knowledge that would eventually grow into the current initiative. Hu was recruited by Mark Klempner, an infectious disease physician who made early discoveries on the biology of Borrelia; Hu found studying the pathogen the perfect intersection between basic science and clinical work. John Leong, now Edith Rieva and Hyman S. Trilling Professor and chair of Molecular Biology & Microbiology at Tufts School of Medicine, was a postdoctoral fellow at the school with Professor Ralph Isberg when he started studying Lyme and was recruited by Steere to Tufts Medical Center. He was joined by rheumatologist Robert Kalish, now associate professor of medicine at Tufts and director of the medical center's Lyme Disease Clinic, and Jenifer Coburn, now at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a recognized leader in the study of Lyme.

"It's not just Linden and methe institution should be proud of its place in the history of Lyme disease," said Telford, who began working on Lyme at Harvard School of Public Health before coming to Tufts in 2002. "People who have done work here in the past have been involved in all of the seminal discoveries," added Hu, "of the disease, of the bacteria, of a vaccine, of testsit was all Tufts or Tufts people."

Wipe It Out in the Wild

Any effort to snuff out Lyme disease has to start with its eight-legged bloodsucking hosts. "Until you get rid of it in the environment, you've got to keep investing in prevention in humans," Hu said. "Whereas if you wipe it out in the wild, it's one and done, right?" Eradicating Lyme in the ecosystem, however, is easier said than done. While the bacteria that cause the disease live in ticks, the ticks don't pass it down to their offspring directlyinstead, they feed on a vertebrate host, such as a white-footed mouse, and pass the pathogen to it. When another tick feeds on that same host, it too picks up the bacterium.

Many of the efforts by Hu and other scientists have been focused on breaking that chain. One promising technique Hu developed, for example, was to vaccinate mice by leaving out vaccine-infused food for them. The oral vaccine contained a virus that would express a Borrelia antigen that would make the mice immune to Lyme. "The idea was to feed it to mice in the wild, and have fewer infected mice, which would translate into fewer infected ticks, and fewer human cases," Telford said. While the scientists insist the technique is safe, however, it's been held up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is leery about releasing a virus in a world beset by a pandemic. "We got stuck in regulatory purgatory," Hu said. "No one wants to put a live virus out in the wild right now."

Another technique Hu has proposed is putting an antibioticthe standard treatment for Lyme into mouse food left at bait stations. Doxycycline, for example, has been shown in mice to get rid of more than 90 percent of the pathogen. While those studies were done more than a decade ago, however, that technique too has been stalled, for fear that disseminating an antibiotic widely used in humans could lead to more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing the drug's effectiveness. "No one is willing to take that risk," said Hu.

He and Telford recently received a $3.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the use of a more narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which would target only Borrelia and a small number of similar bacteria. Along with Kim Lewis of Northeastern University, Hu's lab has identified a handful of compounds that could do the trick, including one that, he said, "looks very, very promising," and which he hopes to begin field studies on in Maine and Massachusetts soon.

One potential complication to all of these techniques is pinpointing just which vertebrate species carry the Lyme bacteria in the wild. "If you look at all the literature, it's all white-footed mouse, white-footed mouse, white-footed mouse," said Telford. A new technique developed by his wife and collaborator, Heidi Goethert, J93, however, calls that dogma into question. Goethert, who majored in biology at Tufts, met Telford while she was completing a doctorate at Harvard School of Public Health, where the two often partnered on monitoring field sites for ticks on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. "When you spend two nights at every field site from April to October, you get to know a person quite well," she said.

She joined him at Tufts, where she is now an assistant research professor at Cummings. Goethert argues the reason Lyme is so often associated with white-footed mice is that they are relatively easy to catch compared to other animals. Instead of looking for Lyme in rodents, she has gone straight to the source, catching ticks and grinding them up to examine what they've fed on. The technique has been used with mosquitos and malaria for decades, allowing scientists to identify bits of animal DNA from mitochondrial genes in their stomachs. Ticks, however, eat much less frequently than mosquitos. "You're trying to find bits of digested DNA from a host a tick might have fed on a year ago," Goethert said. Instead, she searches for retrotransposons, remains of ancient viruses that are distinct for each species and prevalent in the genome, maximizing chances that enough copies will remain to detect. "With this new technique, you are actually measuring what a tick has fed on, instead of making an assumption," she said.

Her data, published in January, shows that in some years and at some sites, ticks are feeding on white-footed mice 100 percent of the time. At others, however, they are feeding on shrews, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, and even birdsall of which can harbor the Lyme infection and pass it on. "A lot of the control measures people are investing in are focused on white-footed mice," said Goethert, who hopes her findings will help ecologists cast a wider net. "It helps to know what you are actually trying to target so you can develop appropriate techniques."

One animal that has been targeted successfully to stop Lyme disease is deer. While they don't contract the disease, they serve as an abundant food source for ticks, which attach themselves to their hides by the hundreds. "I am the nation's biggest advocate for killing deer as a means of controlling tick abundance," Telford sighs, "but sadly, killing deer is a very sociopolitically difficult thing to convince people to do." He's achieved some success in working with Robert Smith, an infectious disease physician who has led a Maine research team focused on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases since1988. Smith is now a professor of medicine at Tufts, as well as director of the Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute, and the other co-director of the Tufts Lyme Disease Initiative.

Together, Smith and Telford conducted studies on Maine islands that were then just beginning to report cases of Lyme; it was a way to better understand the progression of the disease in the environment. "By coupling studies and comparing northern and southern New England, we can learn a lot from ecological differences in the northern emerging area versus the more established southern area," Smith said. They were able to show the importance of deer to the tick's life cycle with a project on Monhegan Island, 12 miles off the coast. Deer were not native to the island, and when island residents decided to eradicate them, researchers showed the tick population also crashed.

"We learned on Monhegan that without the deer, the ticks don't do well," said Smith. While most communities are reluctant to kill deer, the Monhegan research has led to other experimental methods of severing ticks from the deer they need to survivesuch as feeding stations equipped with insecticide-coated rollers. "It's like a deer car wash that rolls the pesticides onto the deer as they feed," Smith said. While such techniques aren't the sole answer, they could be part of a multipronged effort to fight the disease in the wild. "There is no magic bullet, but the hunt is on to find and combine methods to get at the ticks on rodents, deer, and in the environment to see if we can break the cycle and stop the disease."

The Vaccine You Never Knew About

A more direct way of controlling Lyme disease, of course, would be to vaccinate people to stop the infection from jumping from ticks to humans. Telford and Smith were both involved in studies in the early 1990s, led in part by Allen Steere, to create a vaccine called LYMErix. It worked by spurring the body to create antibodies to Borrelia's outer surface protein lipid A (OspA)a technique shown in trials of around 15,000 patients to be about 80 percent effective in preventing Lyme infection. "It would have prevented hundreds of thousands of cases," Telford said.

The vaccine ran into several hurdles, however. For starters, it was difficult to administer, requiring three separate doses to be effective. At the time, Lyme was also a much rarer disease, and so the company making it was concerned about its ability to make a profit. "It was looked at as something that would be nice to have, but not really essential," Smith said. The biggest problem, however, came from the community of people with Lyme. Some patient advocates complained about side effects from the vaccine, even claiming it was causing Lyme disease in people who received it, and sued the company, which stopped production in 2002. "They looked at it and said, we're not making any money on this, and we don't want to defend ourselves, we're just withdrawing it from the market," Telford said.

In part, that skepticism by patients may have stemmed from the frustration that many of them were initially misdiagnosed. Lyme disease is difficult to distinguish from other, similar ailments. "The disease is a chameleon, and can even change day to day or week to week," said Robert Kalish, a rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center who worked on Lyme disease with Steere in the 1990s, when he participated in a follow-up study of some of the original patients from Lyme, Connecticut. The one telltale sign of a Lyme disease infection is a bullseye-shaped rash. However, not all infected people have that symptom. "One person gets a rash but feels great otherwise," said Kalish, who currently runs a Lyme disease clinic, "another doesn't get a rash, but has chills and severe fever and headache and meningitis; the next person is fine until suddenly their heart goes slow and they have heart block," a problem with the heart's electrical signaling.

Some 20 years ago, Smith led a study looking at the rashes of patients who were proven to have early Lyme disease, and found a wide variation even in that marker. At the same time, diagnostic tests for the disease work well four to six weeks after infection, but are often ineffective before that. "They're only about 50/50 in the first couple of weeks," Smith said. The other problem with diagnosis is that once a person has tested positive for the disease, they tend to stay positive. "You can't tell if someone has been cured, and you can't tell if somebody has been reinfected," said Hu. That means doctors must often rely on guesswork and intuition to diagnose the disease, based on clues and past experience. "Lyme causes a large array of symptoms that differ from person to person," Kalish said. "So it's a disease that can look like other things and be missed."

The good news is that once Lyme disease is diagnosed, it is usually treatable with just a short round of doxycycline, which can clear up the infection in as little as 10 to 14 days. A small number of people take longer to get over the disease, requiring several months to recover. A smaller subset of those, however, develop a more chronic syndromesometimes called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome to distinguish it from the active infection by the pathogen. Kalish compares it to chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, a chronic musculoskeletal condition accompanied by fatigue and cognitive issues.

"About 15 percent of people will have prolonged symptoms for years," Hu said. "The most controversial part of Lyme disease is just what is causing symptoms in these people." In animal studies involving mice, dogs, and monkeys, biologists have shown that Borrelia DNA can be found in tissues long after antibiotic treatment is completeimplying that some part of the bug lingers on in the patient whether or not live bacteria are there. "People argue over the meaning of these animal studies," said Hu. "No one has been able to show that you can pull out live bacteria." At the same time, the biggest contributor to Lyme disease symptoms seems to come not from the bacteria itself, but from the body's own response.

"Borrelia as an organism doesn't produce toxins," said Hu. The body, however, usually responds with inflammation in an attempt to eliminate the intruder. In most people, that inflammation eventually goes away. "Over time, all the symptoms go away, even if you don't treat it," Hu said. In the small percentage of people who develop a chronic syndrome, however, something seems to go wrong with the immune system, which continues attacking the remnants of the bacteria.

"One of our theories is that patients who continue to have symptoms have a genetic difference in the way they are able to control their own inflammatory responses and disengage from attack mode," Hu said. "So they continue to have immune responses, whether it's to live bacteria, or to dead parts of the bacteria after it's been cleared."

Among the projects of the Tufts Lyme Disease Initiative is a deep dive into just how the bacteria operates within the body in hopes of finding a way to prevent the body's over-the-top responses. Hu, along with Klemen Strle of the Wadsworth Institute, recently received a $3.1 million grant from the NIH to examine how genetic mutations affect the body's ability to develop tolerance for Lyme pathogen. "We've been asking, how do the bacteria adapt to their hosts? And how do the hosts adapt to the bacteria? And what goes wrong that could be responsible for the people who have persistent symptoms?" said Hu.

Skirting Immune Defenses

Borrelia belongs to a class of bacteria called spirochetes, named for their long, spiral shape that makes them look like microscopic fusilli pasta. For the past 30 years, microbiologist John Leong has been investigating how they infiltrate and colonize the body using a range of clever tricks to skirt the immune system's defenses. A first line of that defense is known as the complement system. "It consists of a large set of proteins devoted to killing microbes in the blood," Leong said. Those proteins recruit leukocytes, which also kill pathogens. The spirochete is able to disarm this process, however, by using surface proteins that attract the body's own proteins that signal the complement system to stand down. The body thinks, "Hey, we don't need to worry about these, because they've got this regulatory protein on the surface," said Leong.

About 10 days after infection, the adaptive immune system kicks in, sending out specialized T- and B-cells that attack what should be now-recognized intruders. Borrelia has other ruses to confound these assailants, however. One is through a technique called rapid antigenic variation, where the bacterium creates a constantly shifting terrain of highly variant proteins on its surface, preventing antibodies from latching onto any particular target. "That's one reason why you can get Lyme disease one season, and then the next season, go out and get Lyme disease again," Leong said.

Once the spirochete evades the immune system, it can attach and invade the walls of blood vessels to take up root in different areas of the bodyoften the joints, but in more serious cases the heart or brain. Which system it attacks has to do again with its unique surface proteins. Collaborating with Medical College of Wisconsin's Jenifer Coburn and George Chaconas of the University of Calgary, Leong has manipulated those proteins through genetic modification. "We've identified two or three of these proteins that if you tweak the sequence, it alters which sites they colonize in the body," he said.

Understanding how Borrelia defeats the body's defenses and takes root in tissues could eventually help biologists develop more specialized treatments to fight it and eradicate it, he said. By identifying these components of the Borrelia spirochete, Leong said, we might develop treatments that target specific proteins, both neutralizing the harmful effects of the bacteria and promoting its clearance from the body.

One such treatment is being investigated by Tanja Petnicki-Ocwieja, a research assistant professor of molecular biology and microbiology at Tufts School of Medicine, who has studied the receptors produced by Borrelia that allow it to evade the innate immune system. "If we could translate this research into a treatment, we'd find a way to modulate the immune system response," she said. "Ideally we would want to select for inflammation that is useful to get rid of the pathogen but limit the type of inflammation that is going to do damage to ourselves."

Recently, she obtained a $160,000 grant from the Global Lyme Alliance to examine the use of ozone, which has seemingly helped some longtime sufferers of post-Lyme syndrome, who administer it intravenously. Ozone, she explains, can create reactive oxygen species, molecular compounds that have been shown to modulate immune system response. "If people are using this as a treatment, we should give them a scientific basis for itand if it doesn't work, we should let them know that as well," she said. So far, her preliminary data has shown some support for the treatment, suggesting it calms the immune response, which could lead to a resolution of symptoms.

Long-haul Lyme

Sufferers from untreated Lyme disease can eventually develop Lyme arthritis, in which joints get inflamed. "The knees can get truly damaged, to the point where they can suffer from early deterioration and potentially require knee replacement," Kalish said. Another serious complication is Lyme carditis, seen in less than one percent of patients, in which a change in heart rhythm called heart block can lead to dizziness and fainting. "It's probably the rarest but most serious complication of Lyme disease," said Smith, who recently completed an observational study of some 20 people who have suffered from the condition, which can require use of a temporary pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm. "The biggest takeaway is the importance of being aware of the disease and making the correct diagnosis early on," he said. "These cases could have been prevented by a diagnosis of early Lyme disease when they first walked through the door."

Unfortunately, there is no clear treatment for long-term cases of post-Lyme syndrome, said Kalish, who compares it to the new phenomenon of long-haul COVID. "Whenever you have people sufferingwhich they truly areyou want to say, here's something that will make this better," he said. "But we can't just make things up and say there's a treatment when there's not." Sufferers have tried everything from long-term courses of antibiotics to high doses of vitamins and supplements in an attempt to flush the disease from their system. "It's open to both honest efforts that are not going to be the answer, and quackery," Kalish said.

The most important thing, he said, is for practitioners to validate to patients that the syndrome is real, and not just something they are imagining. "The worst thing is when patients are sent home and told they don't have Lyme anymore and not provided with alternate explanations for their symptoms and guidance on steps they might take that might help their condition," said Kalish. Secondly, he stresses the importance of staying healthy while the body continues to fight the disease. "It's healthy living, physically and emotionallygetting good sleep, exercising, treating depression, making sure your family and loved ones understand what you are going through," he said. "Anything you can do to live healthy is going to slowly help you gradually get better."

Hu said the narrow-spectrum antibiotic he is developing to kill Borrelia in the wild might also be used in humans to better clear the infection when it first appears, with less disturbance to "good bacteria." "It's the exact opposite of how drug companies have tried to develop antibiotics for the last 50 years," he said, noting that usually pharmaceutical firms create antibiotics to attack as wide a spectrum of germs as they can. "Although they aren't as profitable as broad spectrum antibiotics, narrowly targeted drugs may cause less resistance among other bacteria and may be the wave of the future as we work to combat antibiotic resistance."

Giving doctors and scientists more hope, a new vaccine, VLA15, is also under development by the French company Valneva, targeting both North American and European versions of Lyme disease. "Ironically, it's almost the exact same vaccine we worked on 20 years ago," Telford said. With the growth of Lyme disease as a threat and the increased public confidence in vaccines to tackle COVID, scientists hope this time a vaccine might succeed in the market within three to five years. At the same time, former Tufts Medical Center doctor Mark Klempner, who is now executive vice chancellor of MassBiologics at UMass Medical School, is among those developing another treatmentan injection of antibodies that can provide prophylactic protection against Lyme.

Such treatments, combined with other techniques to disarm the pathogen's potency, new treatments for current sufferers, and ongoing efforts to remove it from the wild, could finally give scientists the upper hand on the insidious disease, and accomplish the Tufts Lyme Disease Initiative's ambitious goal to eradicate it entirely. If and when that happens, it could make all of us heading outside breathe a little easier.

Explore further Tick behavior and host choice explains geographical patterns of Lyme disease prevalence
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new study from the University of Bath School of Management, TED University in Turkey and Wayne State University in the United States has identified how to radically improve the delivery of chemotherapy treatment to cancer patients while reducing the burden on nursing staff with a new scheduling model.

Dr. Melih Celik, senior lecturer at the School of Management in Bath, said the new mathematical model reduced patient waiting times by 80% at a chemotherapy day unit of a university hospital in Turkey, and cut nursing overtime by more than 30%. Importantly for hard-pressed front-line medical staff, the model delivers useful results in minutes, compared to the hours taken by more complex tools.

"Cancer Research UK statistics show around 1,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every day. The number of global cancer patients is expected to increase to more than 23 million by 2030 from 17 million currently, underlining the need for the more efficient delivery of chemotherapy treatment and to improve the patient's experience in a clinic," Celik said.

Celik and his colleagues studied the chemotherapy delivery process. Typically a patient needs to go through a number of steps, including blood tests, X-rays and oncological evaluations. The patient then waits for a nurse and a chemotherapy chair to receive the treatment after further blood pressure and fever checks. Pre-medication drugs are administered to avert potential side effects from the chemotherapy, which then commences.

"Chemotherapy day units operate with extremely limited resources and under tight schedules so the design of the schedule is crucial for the most efficient use of resources. Day units take a two-step approach: first, patients are assigned appointment days based on their initial assessment or required infusion frequency. Then, specific appointment times are determined based on the estimated time it will take for the chemotherapy drugs to be fully infused (that is, delivered into each patient's bloodstream)," he said.

The research team conducted a time study of the actual infusion times for more than 200 cancer patients to see how they compared with the times that medical staff estimated would be needed when they set their appointment schedules.

"The actual results showed significant deviations from the estimates. For example, of the 39 patients with an estimated infusion time of 150 minutes, actual times ranged between 61 and 196 minutes. We also observed that shorter infusion durations were underestimated, whereas longer ones were overestimated," he said.

Celik said he and his fellow researchersDr. Serhat Gul of TED University, and Nur Banu Demir from Wayne State University, were conscious of the need to create a scheduling model that could be used in situations where time was of the essence, ruling out the use of complex mathematical models that could identify the 'best' set of decisions but which would take too long to be of practical use in a hard-pressed medical environment.

"To overcome this, we built a simpler approach which provides 'near-best' schedules in only a few minutes and which also outperforms the existing schedules of the chemotherapy unit by a long margin; patient waiting times were improved by 80%, nurse overtime was reduced by more than 30%, and chair utilization was increased by 5%," he said.

Celik said the model could improve the experience of both medical provider and patient. The former wanted to balance nurse workloads and avoid overtime were possible, and to ensure that chemotherapy chairs were used as efficiently as possible. The latter chiefly wanted reduced waiting times at the clinic.

Celik said the chemotherapy unit in the study used a 'functional care delivery' approach, which assumed any nurse could help treat any cancer patient. However, he said other hospitals took a more personalized approach, with each chemotherapy nurse treating only a specific set of patients, and that he and his colleagues were developing a scheduling model for that scenario.

"We are extending this work to look at primary care delivery, where each chemotherapy nurse has a specific group of patients that only they treat. The benefit of this is that nurses know the specifics of the patients betterbut limiting the set of patients for each nurse also makes the system less flexible. Our aim is to compare and quantify this trade-off between the two delivery systems," he said.

The study is titled "A stochastic programming approach for chemotherapy appointment scheduling."

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More information: Nur Banu Demir et al. A stochastic programming approach for chemotherapy appointment scheduling, Naval Research Logistics (NRL) (2020). Nur Banu Demir et al. A stochastic programming approach for chemotherapy appointment scheduling,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/nav.21952
The discovery by CSI Singapore researchers will likely improve the understanding of how normal stem cells function, and could possibly lead to insights into disease. Credit: National University of Singapore

The living organism is kept alive and healthy by an intricate network of biochemical processes. These are remarkably resilient in responding to changes in the environment, but they can sometimes go wrong. A key tenet of medicine is to understand these pathways in order to treat disease more effectively.

Now a research team, led by Professor Daniel Tenen of the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), has found a major molecular "switch" that controls how cells turn their genes on and off. This process ensures the cell correctly and adequately performs its assigned tasks in the body.

The scientists used hematopoietic stem cells as a case study. These are vital cells that replenish the body's blood cells throughout life.

A cell's genes are encoded in long DNA strands, which are coiled up into highly elaborate structures called chromosomes. For the correct genes to be expressed at the correct times and in correct amounts in the cell, the shape of the chromosomes must be adjusted constantly. This is done by a protein called CTCF, which binds to parts of the DNA that have a particular sequence of codes and makes a loop in the DNA that activates the necessary gene.

However, the scientists found another protein called ZF143 that controls the activity level of CTCF. This so-called "zinc finger protein" has a protruding molecular appendage that holds a zinc atom and gives the protein the desired chemical properties.

The scientists deactivated ZNF143 by locating and deleting its gene using molecular markers. They found that hematopoietic stem cells without ZNF143 were unable to make new blood cells. In this case, it could cause serious diseases like anemia.

The team's findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Their discovery will likely improve the understanding of how normal stem cells function, and could possibly lead to insights into disease. Prof Tenen said, "Findings from this study has advanced our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of CTCF-DNA binding and gene expression. It will be of great interest to investigate whether these findings have relevance to developmental disorders and cancers."

Moving forward, the team plans to study the molecular structure of the proteins involved to further understand the process and how it can be modified.

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More information: Qiling Zhou et al. ZNF143 mediates CTCF-bound promoterenhancer loops required for murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Qiling Zhou et al. ZNF143 mediates CTCF-bound promoterenhancer loops required for murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20282-1
A Sri Lankan worker using pesticides without any protection. Credit: University of South Australia

Scientists are calling for more stringent pesticide bans to lower deaths caused by deliberately ingesting toxic agricultural chemicals, which account for one fifth of global suicides.

A NHMRC funded study, in which the University of South Australia analyzed the patient plasma pesticide concentrations, has identified discrepancies in World Health Organization (WHO) classifications of pesticide hazards that are based on animal doses rather than human data.

As a result, up to five potentially lethal pesticides are still being used in developing countries in the Asia Pacific, where self-poisonings account for up to two thirds of suicides.

In a paper published in The Lancet Global Health, UniSA Research Chair of Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical Science, Professor Michael Roberts, says while deaths from pesticide poisonings have fallen dramatically in recent years, it is still a common cause of global suicides.

Each year, more than 150,000 people die from deliberately ingesting pesticides, although this number was much higheraveraging 260,000 a yearbefore specific chemicals were banned.

Prof Roberts was a member of a team of international researchers who used Sri Lanka as a case study, in which they compared the number of deaths from pesticides in a rural area between 2002 and 2019.

Of 35,000 people (mainly men aged in their late 20s) hospitalized for pesticide self-poisoning, 6.6 percent died.

The three most toxic agents were paraquat, dimethoate and fenthion, which were all banned by 2011, reflected in much lower fatalities after that date. Since then, five other common pesticides still allowed by the WHO were disproportionately responsible for 24 percent of fatalities, the team found.

"If human data for acute toxicity of pesticides was used for hazard classification and regulation worldwide, it would prevent many deaths and have a substantial impact on global suicide rates," Prof Roberts says. "Australia is fortunate in that its regulations properly balance good pesticide use versus public health concern."

He predicts that fatal poisonings across Asia could fall by more than 50 percent, and total suicides in the region could fall by at least a third.

"Instead, the WHO classifications are largely based on animal median lethal doses. This method ignores the differences between species and how they respond to treatment, and the formulations used."

Fatalities from pesticide poisonings also differed greatly from that predicted by the WHO classification.

The researchers have called for the WHO to eliminate all pesticides with fatality rates above five percent.

"Setting a global benchmark and relying on human data is critical to reducing suicides, particularly in countries such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Bangladesh and China, where agriculture is still a dominant industry."

"We also found evidence that some banned agents were still in circulation due to illegal importation, so there is still a need to tighten existing regulations," Prof Roberts says.

"Case fatality of agricultural pesticides after self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: a cohort study" is published in The Lancet Global Health.

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More information: Case fatality of agricultural pesticides after self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: a cohort study, The Lancet Global Health. Journal information: The Lancet Global Health Case fatality of agricultural pesticides after self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: a cohort study,
A transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (UK B.1.1.7 variant), isolated from a patient sample and cultivated in cell culture. Credit: NIAID

Sydney health authorities were on Thursday hunting the source of their first local COVID-19 cases in more than a month, as New Zealand paused a quarantine-free travel bubble with the city.

A man in his 50s and his wife have tested positive for the virus, triggering warnings for almost two dozen locations around Sydney that they visited while believed to be contagious.

The couple are the city's first recorded cases of coronavirus transmission outside hotel quarantine since the start of April.

New South Wales state premier Gladys Berejiklian said from 5 pm on Thursday, Sydney's five million residents would again have to wear masks on public transport and in indoor venues.

"We believe this is a proportionate response to the risk we have ahead of us," Berejiklian told reporters.

Sewage testing revealed traces of the virus in the city's inner west.

Following the announcement, New Zealand said it would put a travel bubble with the state on hold until the source of the infection was better understood.

"Now, this isn't a decision we take lightly," said Chris Hipkins, New Zealand's minister for COVID-19 response.

"But we indicated when we opened up the trans-Tasman travel bubble that we would continue to be cautious."

Travellers on either side of the Tasman Sea who visited Sydney locations flagged by New South Wales health authorities would have to isolate where they were, he added.

According to the state's top health official, genomic testing linked the man's infection to a returned traveller from the United States who had been staying in one of the city's quarantine hotels.

How the virus leaked into the community is being investigated.

Australia has no widespread community transmission of COVID-19, but has seen several outbreaks emerge from hotel quarantine facilities, causing disruptive city lockdowns.

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 2021 AFP
Thomas said as long as the infrastructure supports it, they should grow. Tomlin said he does not like seeing residential growth at all. Zolman said he appreciates growth as long as there is a comprehensive plan. And Barrett said some residential growth is needed; that it has been stagnant for years and as the community ages, more housing is needed.
Credit: Zayna Sheikh, Broad Communications

Cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors boost the immune system's ability to find and destroy tumor cells, but they don't work for most patients. Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified a protein, called SETDB1, that helps cancer cells evade the immune system. When the team blocked this protein in mouse models of cancer, immune cells increased their cell-killing activity, and tumors shrunk when the scientists treated the animals with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The findings, published in Nature, suggest that the protein is a promising target for cancer drug development. Inhibiting SETDB1 could make immunotherapy more effective in more patients.

"One of the reasons immunotherapies don't work for many cancer patients is that there aren't enough targets on the tumor cells for the immune system to recognize," said study co-senior author Bradley Bernstein, director of the Broad's Gene Regulation Observatory, and a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and Mass General. "If we can introduce new targets on the cancer cells that the immune system can see, that could expand the number of patients who respond to immunotherapy drugs, like those that block PD-1."

Hide and seek

Cancer cells use a variety of molecular tricks to conceal themselves from the immune system, including switching off certain genes by changing how DNA is packaged in the cell's nucleus. Such epigenetic changes have been linked to tumor immunity, but scientists are only beginning to understand the mechanism.

To determine which genes might be involved, Bernstein and colleagues collaborated with Broad's Tumor Immunotherapy Discovery Engine to systematically delete almost 1,000 epigenetic regulators individually in tumor cells. They then injected the cells into mice, and treated the animals with immune checkpoint inhibitors to assess which gene deletions made the cells more sensitive to immunotherapy. They found that very few cells with SETDB1 deletions survived the drug treatment, suggesting that SETDB1 may help cancer cells evade immune detection. Data from cancer patients provided further evidence that SETDB1 also protects human tumors from immunotherapy.

Viral relics

Next, the team explored how SETDB1 could have such a potent effect on tumor cell immunity. They found that deleting SETDB1 caused many transposable elements to produce RNA and proteins. Transposable elements are segments of DNA that are often remnants of viral genetic material that got embedded in the human genome during our evolutionary history. Healthy cells normally hold these viral relics, once termed junk DNA, in check.

In collaboration with Susan Klaeger, Steven Carr, and others in the Broad's Proteomics Platform, the team found that blocking SETDB1 in tumor cells increased expression of proteins encoded by these viral elements. These proteins then attracted immune cells to the tumor.

"Viral proteins are easy for the immune system to recognize because they're seen as foreign invaders, not human proteins," said Broad associate member Robert Manguso, a co-senior author of the study. "We didn't necessarily expect that these ancient sequences could produce targetable antigens for the immune system. If tumors start expressing them, the immune system is going to recognize and potentially eliminate the tumor." Manguso is also a principal investigator in the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research, and co-director of the Tumor Immunotherapy Discovery Engine project within the Broad's Cancer Program.

The researchers were also surprised to find that deleting SETDB1 activated immunity-related genes, many of which were located near the viral relics. These genomic areas undergo rapid evolution, so this finding suggests that SETDB1, may also help the immune system evolve and adapt to new infectious challenges.

"It was unexpected that an epigenetic regulator that silences transposable elements would also affect so many immune genes in the neighboring regions," said Gabriel Griffin, co-first author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar at Broad and Brigham and Women's Hospital. "The upshot is that SETDB1 loss has two separate and profound effects, both of which help the immune system detect and kill cancer cells."

The authors say their findings suggest ways to reveal new targets for cancer immunotherapy. "What other regulators of immune recognition and response are hiding undiscovered in the genome of cancer cells?" said Manguso.

Explore further Study: New approach may boost prostate cancer immunotherapies

More information: Gabriel K. Griffin et al. Epigenetic silencing by SETDB1 suppresses tumor intrinsic immunogenicity, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Gabriel K. Griffin et al. Epigenetic silencing by SETDB1 suppresses tumor intrinsic immunogenicity,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03520-4
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus S.Aleinik meets the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus

On May 6, 2021, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik met with UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus Ioanna Kazana-Vishnevetsky.

The parties discussed topical issues of interaction between Belarus and the United Nations and the UN offices and UN agencies in our country.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the progress in coordinating the Framework Program of Belarus and the United Nations in the field of sustainable development for 2021-2025, as well as on the interaction on sustainable development goals, the cooperation in the field of human rights and on the restoration of Belarusian regions affected by the Chernobyl accident.

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'Captured alive on May 8, killed on May 17 in alleged clash with Sabah police' FIVE ABU Sayyaf terrorists were killed following an a...
The facility has served 283 individuals since it opened in April 2020 and officials said the program has helped place 10 people in permanent housing.

Operations costs, which include a lease on the hotel paid by Missoula County to the city, are at $1,138,810, of which $929,531 has been reimbursed by FEMA. Beck said the expectation is federal funds will end up covering the whole amount.

Jaeger said he is convinced the Sleepy Inn saved "hundreds" of lives and that other communities saw 70 to 80% COVID-19 positivity rates in their shelters. Missoula, he said, never saw anything close to that.

"The death count for COVID amongst the homeless population in Missoula would have been significantly higher if that place did not exist," Jaeger said.

While food, water and security were included in FEMA guidance, case management was not considered an eligible expense by the federal agency. In order to work around this, the health department was able to access Community Development Block Grant funding to hire a social worker.

"I've often said, looking in a rearview mirror, that a non-congregate shelter just does not work without that dedicated social worker position," Beck said.
Toria Niemeyer Rice

The heavens have gained the brightest, most beautiful angel who ever walked through those gates. Toria Niemeyer Rice passed away May 1, 2021, due to complications from surgery. Tori will always be remembered for her warm, welcoming nature, ready-to-help attitude, and her unending courage and loyalty.

Tori was born Aug. 25, 1982, in Colorado Springs. At the age of seven, her family moved to Butte where she grew up, graduating from Butte Central High School. Tori was always proud of her hometown and her Butte Tough attitude served her well throughout her adult life.

After a brief stint at Montana Tech, Tori joined the United States Air Force where she attained the rank of staff sergeant, serving as a Command and Control Battle Operations Manager. In her position, she worked with top commanders and members of Congress and was honored to meet one past and two sitting presidents: Clinton, Bush and Obama. She was stationed in Alaska, Idaho and New York, as well as Iraq and Qatar.

After 10 years of service, Tori left the military in order to raise her two daughters. She returned to Butte and worked for Community, Counseling and Correctional Services as a drill instructor at the Treasure State Correctional Training Center.
Asked in an April committee meeting for the purpose of SB 402, Smith said the new arrangement would give conservatives more representation in the courts by way of Gianforte's appointment.

The same plaintiffs challenging SB 140 filed an amended petition in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking to add SB 402, the backup bill. The governor hasn't signed the bill yet, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

Plaintiffs' attorneys Cliff Edwards and Jim Goetz contend the court should allow the broader challenge because the two bills deal directly with the Judicial Nomination Commission.

In a statement provided to the Montana State News Bureau, Edwards and Goetz said the bills' sponsors have "apparently concluded that they will lose on the challenge to the elimination of the Judicial Nomination Commission and have resorted at the last minute to a fallback plan to pack the commission."

"This is yet another unconstitutional effort to politicize the courts, and it must be checked," the attorneys wrote.
The money, the revenue that this fee would generate are dedicated, they can only be used for the authorized expenses, Campbell said. We do not have legal discretion, if you will, to use them for other reasons so they are very bound for this very important purpose.
Each of these bills, on its own, is cruel and unnecessary. Together, they are alarming. The tired rhetoric that was repeated time and again during hearings for these bills is that wolves are destroying game populations and wolves are destroying the livestock industry. Both claims are false.

In fact, a quick search on Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website shows that, at least since 2013, no region of the state has had an elk population below the objective. In fact, as far as elk go, population numbers are consistently over objective in regions 3-7. While mule deer populations are decreasing in some areas of the state, this cannot be attributed to wolf predation as there are numerous other, habitat-related factors that contribute to deer mortality such as forage production, forage quality and winter severity.

Wolves are not destroying the livestock industry, either. According to the Montana Livestock Loss Board, there were 60 cattle deaths confirmed as wolf depredations in 2020. The state of Montana had approximately 2.5 million cattle in 2020. This means wolves only killed 0.0024% of Montanas cows in 2020. There also were 49 sheep confirmed to be killed by wolves. This is out of the 200,000 sheep raised in Montana in 2020, or approximately 0.025%. Even an inflated estimate recently released by the United States Department of Agriculture, claiming 400 sheep and lambs were killed by wolves in 2020 in Montana, still only amounts to 0.2% of all sheep and lambs in the state. By contrast, non-predator losses such as disease, poison and weather killed 10% of Montanas sheep in 2020. With generous reimbursement programs for livestock producers that lose livestock to wolves and substantially higher livestock losses attributed to weather and disease, it can hardly be said that wolves are destroying the livestock industry.
 2020 was the seventh straight year when the elk harvest in Idaho was more than 20,000 elk and it was the sixth-highest of all time. Idaho Fish and Game calls this "the golden age of elk hunting" in Idaho.

 The Idaho elk population has not appreciably changed since 1995, when wolves were reintroduced.

 Mule deer harvest was 24,809 in 2020. More than in 2019 but below the 10-year average, likely due to recent harsh winters, says Idaho Fish and Game.

 White-tailed deer harvest was 24,849 in 2020; 15% above 2019 and even with the 10-year average; seven of the 10 top harvest years have been in the last 10 years.

Similar points for Montana:

 Average number of cattle and sheep lost to wolves in Montana is approximately 110/year (2018-2020). Ranchers are compensated for every documented wolf kill.

 There are 2.65 million sheep and cattle in Montana (not counting feedlot cattle).

 The three-year average wolf kill is 0.00415% of the sheep and cattle in Montana.
As we continue to witness the changes underfoot here, we can rest assured people are our greatest resource. We have a lot of work to do and those who are struggling need us all to be good neighbors. I am convinced many of Missoulas newcomers, who are arriving with new jobs or new intentions for how they want to live, have chosen this place for the same reasons many of us came and stayed or have always been here. And in the last couple of weeks, I acquired some proof of my conviction.

A mutual friend introduced me to a woman who recently moved here with her husband. She is thrilled to be in Missoula, excited to participate and interested to learn more about opportunities to serve and connect. Another individual tracked me down through the Missoulas Neighborhoods program to learn more about neighborhood councils. And just last week, a Missoula businesswoman told me the new folks on her street are the very people bringing the neighborhood together for dinner.
Its easy to see why so many are fed up with modern politics and the us versus them rhetoric.

Thankfully, a trip up the Blackfoot Valley puts this chaotic world into perspective with stunning mountains, clean waters, expansive ranchlands and people who still wave as you pass by.

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is common-sense policy and represents what Montana politics can get right: collaboration, broad support and a mentality of "we."

The benefits of the BCSA have been touted tirelessly. Local ranchers, hunters, snowmobilers, fishermen, bikers, timber harvesters and more helped shape and would all benefit if the BCSA were to become law, which is why an unheard-of 75% of Montanans support it.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester introduced the BCSA for the third time. This long overdue legislation would be a much-needed shot in the arm for Montanans like me who are fed up with polarizing politics, who enjoy trout in our waters, and who want to protect the last best place.

I, as a member of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Montana Wilderness Association, implore U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale to join Tester to finally pass the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act.
A recent Associated Press article in the Missoulian, Clean megaprojects divide environmentalists, points out that environmental groups, while agreeing on the need for clean power, have disparate opinions about the trade-offs.

I moved to Montana for its environment, so I can relate to their concerns. However, I encourage these groups to consider that we have already made trade-offs, and clean power will begin to remedy that.

For example, since 2000, an annual average of 70,600 wildfires burned an annual average of 7 million acres in the U.S. Clearly, some of these wildfires have an ecological benefit, but many burn hotter and faster than normal, resulting in significant loss of trees and wildlife habitat. A 2019 Science article described a steady decline of nearly 3 billion North American birds since 1970, primarily as a result of human activities. On the other hand, with these projects, we can control where they are and how they are implemented, such as including funds for restoration.
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.
The names in the book may be of the most value to history.

"You would find in it many of the big movers and shakers in early Butte at a time where membership in a fraternal lodge was kind of a status symbol. So if we go and look through these names, I know that we will find a lot of them that were really important in Butte's early history, Crain said.

Those present wondered at the mysteries left behind.

Were the engravings done by hand or using a tracing machine? Why did the entries stop in 1926?

I would wonder if the jeweler had died, Crain said, rapt on the metallic script.

LeGrant studied the framed photographs of the lodges past exalted rulers to see if they matched the books entries.

Crain delicately turned the pages, noting the last name Heilbronner, a family known for their stationary business in Buttes early days.

The entry for Patrick Daly caught her eye, and Crain wondered if he was the Patrick associated with Marcus Daly, another of Buttes three Copper Kings. It would take some research, she said, but the timeframe matches up.
Global investors flock to China amid improved business environment

Xinhua) 09:31, May 03, 2021

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows the Haizhu wetland and the Canton Tower in the distance in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo by Xie Huiqiang/Xinhua)

Global investors' enthusiasm for the Chinese market seems unstoppable despite the COVID-19 pandemic, as the latest data showed that China successfully navigated the economic fallout in the turbulent year and became the top investment destination worldwide.

In 2020, global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows plummeted by 38 percent from a year before to 846 billion U.S. dollars, the lowest level since 2005, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said.

The global FDI flows represented only 1 percent of world GDP, their lowest level since 1999, the OECD said.

OECD's FDI figures echoed a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development earlier this year, which also found China became the largest FDI recipient in 2020.

China's appeal to foreign investment has extended into 2021, as the Chinese economy sustained positive performance in the first quarter, and foreign companies expected a promising future in the country.

A recent survey by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) shows that 96.4 percent of foreign-invested enterprises are optimistic about their business prospects in China.

The figure represents a 2.1 percentage-point increase compared with the beginning of the year, the survey of over 3,200 foreign-funded firms said.

MOC data also showed FDI into the Chinese mainland surged by 39.9 percent year on year in actual use to 302.47 billion yuan (about 46.74 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter.

Liu Xiangdong, a researcher with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, attributed the robust first-quarter FDI growth to a low base last year, sound economic fundamentals, and increasing attractiveness to foreign capital.

Considering the short-term low base and uncertainties ahead, the high growth rate of China's FDI may not sustain, said Liu. "Yet China will remain attractive to foreign investors as the country continues to push forward reform and opening-up."

Looking ahead, China has made great efforts to lure more global investors to its massive domestic market by widening market access and improving the business environment.

In January, a revised industry catalog that opens up more sectors for foreign investors came into effect, encouraging more foreign capital to pump into high-end manufacturing.

Other measures included further implementing the pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list management system, accelerating the implementation of salient foreign-funded projects, and strengthening protection for foreign investment.

(Web editor: Zhange Wenjie, Bianji)
How has your municipality in particular been affected by COVID-19 and what you like to see done to help in recovery? COVID-19 has impacted both New Windsor residents and small businesses in ways never expected. Businesses were forced to shut down, residents lost their jobs and childrens education and extracurricular activities were canceled. Covid-19 has been devastating to residents and businesses of New Windsor. In a time when people are struggling to recover I think it is crucial we do not proceed with the scheduled water rate increase. Under my administration I will lead the fight to freeze and lower water rates. With the same breath Ill also mention that many residents have expressed to me positive gains during the pandemic. Many residents were happy to have the opportunity for extra family time. Bikes, fishing poles and so much more were difficult to find because families were spending so much time together. Our town really supported small businesses during these difficult times. Supporting the businesses in this town is not just something I will encourage during a pandemic but during my entire time in office. Lastly, I think education goes far. I think educating the residents and small businesses on Covid-19 will be very beneficial to keeping everyone safe.
The workers claimed that because they were forced to take a half hour lunch unpaid, they lost that time and their work day was extended a half hour. Because of that, they wanted an hour of back pay for each day they did that from November 2014 through May 2017.

A hearing officer for the state Department of Labor rejected the claim, saying the workers could go anywhere or do anything they wanted on their lunch breaks and were not owed pay for that idle time. When they were called out during a lunch break, the officer said, that time was reflected on their time cards and they were paid for it.

The hearing officer also said claims that Schultz wrongfully changed the workday policy without any input from employees or their union was not a wage issue but one involving unfair labor practices. Those are considered by a different division in the department.

The Dahoods then sought judicial review in District Court in Butte in October 2019 and after hearing arguments in the case a year ago, Judge Robert Whelan affirmed the hearing officers decision. The workers appealed that to the state Supreme Court.

Its ruling this week backed findings from the hearing officer and Whelan.
NorthWestern Energy will start replacing electric meters and upgrading gas meters in Butte this coming July as part of a statewide project to enhance technology and communications with customers.

The power company will install about 590,000 new meters and modules in Montana over the next three years, and started sending brochures detailing specifics about the project to Butte customers this week. The work should be done in Butte by the end of the year.

Paul Babb, community relations manager for NorthWestern Energy, gave a brief presentation on the project to Butte-Silver Bow commissioners Wednesday night.

We want to make sure that were giving our community and our customers enough notice so if they have questions, they can get can get those answers 60 days out, said Babb, who served two terms as the countys chief executive ending in late 2012.

NorthWestern has been reading existing electricity and gas meters remotely since 1998, but it still required a vehicle with a reader to pass by homes and businesses.

Soon, 13 antennas placed throughout the area will do the reading remotely, and other functions such as turning on power for an individual customer can be done from afar.
But, Gallagher said, the donor would only put up money for the incentive side if the county spent $500,000 on the education side.

I can tell you, this donor has specifically told me that this is an all or none deal, Gallagher said.

Before Sullivan spoke on the proposal, she thanked the council for supporting the county health departments efforts over the past 14 months. She didnt mention it Wednesday night, but previous restrictions and actions have drawn intense criticism and even threats by some.

Sullivan said a little over 49% of people in the county eligible for vaccines are now fully immunized, and Butte-Silver Bow is second only to Missoula County in vaccination rates.

But she said the goal is to reach at least 70%, and right now, there are new variants of the virus that could get ahead of us unless more people are vaccinated.

Im asking from the bottom of my heart for this county to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from the private donor, she said.

Commissioner Bill Andersen said he had COVID this past December and as someone who works at St. James Healthcare, he has seen firsthand the devastation it had caused for so many. He is a security official at the hospital.
Christie Weseman, a certified nurse midwife at FamilyBorn Maternity and Womens Health in Kalispell, said she sees a lot of perinatal mood disorders in her practice.

When we have somebody walk in the door for the first time that has something that is clearly a much more complicated case, we know that we need psychiatric care for this person thats beyond the scope of our practice, Weseman said. What is really challenging was often it would take months to get this person into the appropriate care.

The new helpline, Weseman said, addresses that problem.

To be able to call somebody, get somebody that specializes in perinatal mood disorders to really help these women on the spot, is just amazing for us, Weseman said.

Though things are improving over the last few months, Weseman said the pandemic made things even more challenging because of the increased isolation, leading to lack of connection to social support networks.

Over the last few months Weseman has used the service a handful of times when someone comes into her office with risk factors or a history of symptoms that require higher psychiatric care.
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.

The Montana Housing Coalition, Montana Chamber of Commerce, Montana Building Industry Association, Montana Association of Realtors, and Montana League of Cities and Towns all recognized the importance and merit of this legislation and supported HB 397 through the legislature. Please contact Governor Gianforte and urge him to sign HB 397 so Montana has homes our workforce can afford.

Andrea Davis is vice-chair of the Montana Housing Coalition.

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ARCHIVED - King of Spain opens the Roman Forum museum in Cartagena



Felipe VI visits the museum at the largest city centre archaeological park in Europe

King Felipe VI of Spain visited Cartagena on Thursday to officially open the Roman Forum Museum, the latest addition to the long list of important archaeological sites and monuments related to the Roman city of Carthago Nova.

The opening ceremony began at 11.30 and despite restrictions on the number of people attending dozens of members of the public gathered outside to welcome the monarch. Accompanying him were various dignitaries including the president of the regional government, Fernando Lopez Miras, and the Mayoress of Cartagena, Ana Belen Castejon, and the King dispensed with pandemic protocols to chat briefly with staff at the neighbouring medical centre, greeting them with his hand on his chest rather than handshakes.

Displays at the new museum include over 350 items of great historical and artistic value, telling the story of the Molinete hill in Cartagena over the last 2,200 years. Roman marble and mosaic flooring has been restored within what is now the largest city centre archaeological park in Europe, occupying 26,000 square metres, although the area considered to be on display is rather smaller, on the southern side of the hill.

The main part of the hill has been converted into a large, open air archaeological park, with public walkways and shaded areas opening up the top part of the site to the general public and more excavations on the southern face of the Molinete. The elements included are the thermal baths complex, the atrium building, a temple dedicated to the worship of the deities Isis and Serapis and part of the Decumanus Maximus, one of the main streets of Carthago Nova.
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.
Guam lawmakers and other island and off-island participants attend a public hearing that discussed the Insular Cases via Zoom on April 5, 2021.

Photo by Kevin Milan/The Guam Daily Post
1. The Pandemic: President Bidens highest priority. Nothing has been more important than moving from a non or inept response to the pandemic to a well-planned logistical strategy. The president pledged to have 100 million vaccines administered. We have far surpassed that expectation. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Cases and deaths are way down. At this point, over 90 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. Most important, vaccinations have become available to virtually all citizens over the age of 16.
The independence of Vietnam was considered to be one of the major event in the aftermath of the World War II. In fact, the President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh announced in 1945 that the country was independent from the bondage of the French colonialism. Ultimately, in 1954 the Vietnamese people got their independence over the victory of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

However, during the Second World War, the Vietnamese supported the allied forces and France to win over the Japanese fascism. As a matter of fact, during the Second World War the Vietminh League assisted the colonial French government in order to defeat the mighty Japanese. In fact, after the defeat of the French in Vietnam, the Vietminh League helped the French people to cross the border and get a safe place (Minh, 1920). Moreover, they also rescued most of the French prisoner of war captured by the Japanese military. Furthermore, the Vietnamese also protected many French lives and properties but did not get the same treatment from the French end. On the contrary the French colonialists massacred a number of Vietnamese people specifically the members of the Vietminh League who were the political prisoners detained at the Yen Bay and Caobang prison (Nguyen, 2015).

On the quest for independence in his speeches Ho Chi Minh had argued that it was the right of the Vietnamese people to get freedom and taste the liberty as much as they could. In order to justify his claims Minh derived the ideas from the American Declaration of Independence and the Rights of Man and the Citizen evoked during the French Revolution. As far as the Declaration of Independence is concerned, it claimed that every person is equal by birth and has a right to live (Minh, 1920). On the other hand, according to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen it can be argued that the mainstay of the declaration was related to the freedom and equal rights of all the people. It can be stated that these two ideas are the cornerstone of the democratic principles prevalent in the world. Moreover, one of the major reason behind the beginning of the Second World War was to emancipate the world from the bondage of exploitation and fascism and in place of this installed the principles of democracy (Painter, 2014). Therefore, those ideas and manifestations were the mainstay of Ho Chi Minhs cry for the independence of Vietnam.

In his speeches regarding the freedom of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh mentioned some crimes done by the French Colonialists in the country. Among all the crimes mass killing was the most infamous practice. Many members of the Vietminh League were massacred by the French colonial government. Besides this, the French government literally sold out the country to the fascist Japanese power (Rosen, 2015). As a result of that more than two million people were died out of starvation in the Northern Vietnam territory.

Therefore, it must be concluded that the rights and principles of equality that the French and US people were declared during their independence, became a hypocrisy on the question of the independence of Vietnam. Finally, through a long drawn battle the Vietnamese got their independence under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.

References

Minh, H. C. (1920). Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh, Selected Writings, 1969, 53-56.

Nguyen, M. D. (2015). Economy for Independence: A Reappraisal on Economy of Resistance of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the Period 19451954. ??????? ????, (1), 13-25.

Painter, M. (2014). Myths of Political Independence, or How Not to Solve the Corruption Problem: Lessons for Vietnam. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 1(2), 273-286.

Rosen, E. (2015). The Vietnam War, as seen by the victors. The Atlantic, 16.
France says it will do everything it can to ensure Amazon is subject to minimum global tax

UN warns of likelihood of mass deaths from hunger and disease in Myanmar

Beijing accuses Washington of paranoid mania

Stanislav Zas: There are still risks of escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Trump supports Nigerian government decision to block Twitter access

Erdogan announces visit to Shushi with his family

Armenia ruling party MP Hamazasp Danielyan drops mandate

Armenia ex-president shares promised record about acting PM

Armenia acting PM ends campaign meeting in Gyumri with march, accompanied by many security officers

"Armenia" bloc holding rally in Yerevan

Opposition Bright Armenia Party leader inviting Nikol Pashinyan to a debate

Nagorno-Karabakh issue discussed within the scope of Russian-Turkish consultations in Moscow

168.am: Armenia acting PM in Gyumri, snipers on roof of city council

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
The 2021 police deform legislation provides absolutely no incentive, and in fact constitutes a clear disincentive, for folks to either remain in law enforcement, or to start a career in that realm in the first place. By taking away personnel protections that have been afforded to police officers in Maryland since 1974 (known as the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights LEOBR), the police will have little protection at all. Its never a good sign when Maryland is first, and it is the first state to repeal LEOBR.
More than 60% of adults 18 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, and teens 16 and older are currently eligible for the two-shot Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, according to Schrader. Officials also are preparing to get younger teens vaccinated, pending the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations granting of emergency authorization to Pfizers vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds.
Never stop looking for opportunities, because in every one of those buildings there are cool things going on that you should be taking part in. You have to know what you want to do, Mishra said. Always set goals first and then act. As you take initiative and begin to pursue your goals, it gets easier. Always remember the road to your success is not a highway. You will have to create it on your own as you go.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 06.05.21:

- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on a two-day visit.

Russian FM has already met Armenian acting FM Ara Aivazian.

On Thursday morning, the two also visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

Later the Russian FM held a joint news conference with Aivazian in Yerevan.

During the briefing, the Russian FM answered the question on unblocking transport and economic communications in South Caucasus.

According to him, 'it is easier to solve political issues when people live as normal, on a land where both Azerbaijanis and Armenians have lived side by side for many decades and centuries.'

"There is no need to politicize the process now; it is quite complicated," he added.

Asked to comment on Azerbaijani territorial claims from Armenia, Lavrov said that 'we have dedicated our talks exclusively to the issues of trilateral cooperation on the matter of unblocking of economic ties.'

"Any issue that may contradict the agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan cannot be accepted as an alternative to what was agreed upon," he added.

- Armenian Ombudsman's office has carefully studied the speeches of the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

The office also analyzed about 300 videos capturing tortures of Armenians, translated them into Russian and English, and sent all the videos to international organizations, said human rights chief Arman Tatoyan.

- The parliament of Latvia recognized, with 58 votes in favor, the Armenian Genocide.

Armenian ex-ruling bloc spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov took to his Facebook to share the news noting that the vice-chairman of the Latvian parliament, Andrejs Klementjevs, briefed him on this matter.

"I thank my friend Andrejs Klementjevs and all my Latvian MP friends," he noted.

- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have released a statement Wednesday reiterating their call for the return of all POWs in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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.

- As of Thursday morning, 425 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 218,325 in the country.

14 more deaths from COVID-19 were reported, making the respective total 4,192 cases.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 714, the total respective number so far is 202,273.
Once again, we feel the cordiality of the Armenian people and our friends right from the first moment of the visit to Yerevan. We thank you for the attention that you are showing to our delegation. This is what Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov said during his meeting with acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today.

In his speech, Lavrov particularly stated the following: Today we held very thorough, substantive and reliable talks about our bilateral ties, regional issues and cooperation within international organizations and emphasized once again the special significance of the allied ties and strategic partnership in all sectors of our cooperation.

The political dialogue between you and the President of the Russian Federation is rather intensive, even in this year of the pandemic. Vladimir Putin transmits the most cordial wishes to you, wishing you success in the implementation of actions for the countrys development and the agreements reached with respect to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

This year we are marking the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which is a key document that lays down our long-term relations and is consistently implemented in all directions.

Russia is committed to ensuring the security of its ally, that is, the Republic of Armenia. This has been discussed during your talks with President Putin and the regular and intensive contacts between the two countries defense ministries.

Russia highly appreciates the agreements reached with respect to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and thanks you for underscoring the role of Russia and President Putin in the efforts that helped stop the hostilities and agree on the sustainable framework of actions of all the parties.

We most actively support the activities of the trilateral task force at the level of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan who are involved in the unblocking of economic and transport infrastructures which will allow to put an end to Armenias blockade and ensure mutually beneficial cooperation of all the states in the region.

Unquestionably, Russia will continue its peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh. The trilateral agreement ensures the powers of our peacekeepers to ensure the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the operation of the Lachin corridor. Our peacekeepers will do everything to solve the remaining issues (determination of the specific line of contact and ensuring of mutually beneficial agreements on passage), and the delimitation and demarcation of the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be possible when all these steps are taken.

We continue to support the solution to all humanitarian issues and completion of the process of returning all detainees along with the other Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. We understand the symbolic and psychological significance of this and are certain that we will be able to solve the issue soon. Russia will do everything it can to support the solutions to these issues in all ways and formats, with respect to implementation of the trilateral agreements reached in November 2020 and January 2021 and will do everything to promote the activities of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the formation of an atmosphere that will be as positive as possible.

Once again, I thank you for this reception hosted by you. I am certain that the results of my talks with you and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will allow us to advance our allied relations in all directions. Thank you.
We are not only having a very intentional marketing campaign, but just helping people understand that we have resources like right here at the mall, Ball said. When these young people are coming to The Mall in Columbia and theyre doing their shopping or what have you, its very convenient to just get their vaccine.
Visitors to Deep Water Bay Beach told to get tested

Anyone who visited Deep Water Bay on April 25 or May 1 must get tested for Covid before Saturday. File image: Shutterstock

Priscilla Ng reports

The Centre for Health Protection has issued a compulsory Covid-19 testing order for anyone who visited Deep Water Bay Beach on April 25 and May 1, as it tries to combat the spread of a more infectious strain of coronavirus.



A variant with the N501Y mutation is believed to have been brought into Hong Kong recently by a man who flew in from Dubai and then passed on the virus to a female friend.



Health officials said on Thursday that relatives of this friend held gatherings on Deep Water Bay Beach on April 25 and May 1. They said anyone who was on the beach on either of those two days must take a Covid test before Saturday.



Meanwhile, Hong Kong reported two new imported coronavirus cases on Thursday, involving people flying in from the Philippines and Indonesia.
German broadcaster expands agreement with long-time partner SES; migrates to flexible cloud video services for special-interest TV channels

LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--German pay-TV broadcaster Motor Presse TV GmbH, a subsidiary of Motor Presse Stuttgart, announced it has extended its long-term partnership with SES by migrating to the leading content connectivity solutions providers cloud-based video services.

Motor Presse TV will start using SESs end-to-end video cloud services, including the new Cloud Playout solution, to manage and distribute its two channels to Germany and Norway  Auto, Motor & Sport TV and its Norwegian counterpart Auto, Motor og Sport TV. Motor Presse TVs move from on-premise services to cloud-based services enables the broadcaster to streamline its operations while providing the best viewing experience to its audiences.

As part of its robust cloud infrastructure, SES offers cloud playout solutions for reliable TV channel origination, rundown and monitoring based on efficient, automated workflows via a unified media platform  SES 360. SESs Cloud Playout, either self- or fully managed, provides inherent flexibility, scalability and cost advantages, allowing broadcasters, including Motor Presse TV, to set up their content for transmission in a matter of minutes, without on-premise hardware being required.

"Our content must reach our platform partners  and thus our viewers and users  reliably, flexibly and with the highest viewing quality. This applies to our linear TV channel, but also to our Video on Demand content that is seeing dramatic growth in its consumption. By switching to cloud-based video services, we are positioning ourselves to reduce our costs while streamlining operations and optimising the viewing experience. We look forward to this successful cloud expansion in our partnership with SES, said Silke Marx, Managing Director of Motor Presse TV.

With our video cloud services, we offer our customers and partners a flexible and highly scalable broadcasting solution that is not only reliable, but also guarantees the highest level of security for their video content and related assets. This agreement with our long-standing customer Motor Presse TV underscores the important value of new innovations in cloud services in broadcasting, said Christoph Muhleib, Managing Director of ASTRA Deutschland, a part of SES.

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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 worlds 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 worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs 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.
SIU to honor May 2021 graduates, all 2020 graduates May 7-9

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The academic achievements of about 2,000 Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates will be celebrated in person during outdoor commencement ceremonies at Saluki Stadium, Friday through Sunday, May 7-9.

Following protocols of the Restore Illinois Plan, social distancing will be required for all participants, guests and staff. Ceremonies over the three-day celebration for undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be for spring 2021 graduates along with 2020 graduates. All 2020 graduates will be feted in ceremonies on May 9, except for the SIU School of Law, which will recognize 2020 graduates with this springs class on May 7.

As of April 28, there are 1,948 candidates for degrees, including 1,468 candidates for bachelors degrees, 346 candidates for masters degrees, 46 candidates for doctoral degrees, 54 law degree candidates and 34 candidates for associate degrees. In May, August and December 2020, the university awarded 3,720 degrees. Organizers anticipate between 200 and 250 of the 2020 graduates will participate in each of Sundays ceremonies.

These special ceremonies are a testament to our students hard work, perseverance and resilience during unusual and challenging times, said Chancellor Austin Lane. I am grateful for our faculty and staff, who found innovative ways to teach and support them. I am proud we can celebrate this special day with my fellow Salukis, their families and their friends.

The ceremonies will also be livestreamed at commencement.siu.edu/videos.

Here is the ceremony schedule and honorary degree and distinguished service award recipients where applicable.

Friday, May 7

2 p.m.  SIU School of Law. Former Illinois State Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, is the keynote speaker.

6 p.m.  College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Science. Pamela J. Wilson, an SIU alumna who has devoted her career to protecting public health through her work with the Texas Department of State of Health Services, will receive an honorary Doctor of Community Health degree.

Saturday, May 8

9 a.m.  College of Liberal Arts and College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. Jacquelyn D. Spinner , SIU alumna and former Washington Post reporter and now associate professor of journalism and Columbia College Chicago and documentary filmmaker, will receive an honorary Doctor of Media Arts degree.

, SIU alumna and former Washington Post reporter and now associate professor of journalism and Columbia College Chicago and documentary filmmaker, will receive an honorary Doctor of Media Arts degree. Noon  College of Applied Sciences and Arts. Ngozi Ezike , director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will receive an honorary Doctor of Community Health degree.

, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will receive an honorary Doctor of Community Health degree. 3 p.m.  College of Business, College of Engineering and School of Medicine. Harry L. Crisp II, an active philanthropist, chairman and CEO of Pepsi MidAmerica and SIU alumnus, will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. Pamela K. Pfeffer , an SIU alumna and co-founder, vice president and corporate secretary of Treemont Capital Inc., will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

an active philanthropist, chairman and CEO of Pepsi MidAmerica and SIU alumnus, will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. , an SIU alumna and co-founder, vice president and corporate secretary of Treemont Capital Inc., will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. 6 p.m.  College of Education and Human Services. Harold R. Bardo Jr., an SIU alumnus and former faculty member and director of the universitys medical/dental education preparatory (MEDPREP) program will receive a Distinguished Service Award. The family of Seymour L. Bryson, an SIU alumnus who served the university in academic and administrative positions for 40 years, will accept a posthumous Distinguished Service Award on his behalf.

Sunday, May 9

Noon  Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Sciences and Arts, Engineering, Science and School of Medicine.

3 p.m.  Colleges of Business, Education and Human Services, Liberal Arts and Mass Communication and Media Arts. Carolyn F. Donow, an SIU alumna who spent her professional career at the university prior to retiring as associate director of the Office of Research Development and Administration, will receive a Distinguished Service Award.

Medallions, honor cords and veterans cords

A total of 1,521 students from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 who are participating in commencement exercises will wear special medallions and honor cords during the ceremonies that reflect significant academic achievement.

Among the 1,521 students earning recognition:

709 will receive Cum Laude distinction, signifying a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.749.

399 will receive Magna Cum Laude distinction, signifying a cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 3.899.

305 students will receive Summa Cum Laude distinction, carrying a cumulative GPA of 3.9 to 4.0.

108 students will receive gold cords as recognition for participation in the University Honors Program.

In addition, graduating students who are military veterans will wear red, white and blue cords provided by the university in recognition of their sacrifice, commitment and service to our country.
SIU Chancellor Austin Lane (seated, left) and Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 Superintendent Daniel Booth (seated, right) sign a memorandum of agreement that provides additional educational and mentoring opportunities for students in the district as representatives of SIU and District 95 look on. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIU will provide educational opportunities for Carbondale elementary, junior high students

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  An agreement between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 will provide mentoring and educational opportunities, summer camps and collaboration between the university and the 1,500-student district.

SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane and Daniel L. Booth, Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 superintendent, today (May 6) signed a memorandum of agreement during an event at Carbondale Middle School.

This partnership demonstrates how students in our own neighborhood are welcome and wanted at SIU, Lane said. The early exposure to our university, and community service from various SIU student groups that are assisting us, is key to our success. We are committed to planting the SIU seed early and engaging often with our local elementary and middle school students in District No. 95.

Were excited about the opportunity for local elementary and middle school students to learn more about the first-rate university education they can get in their own backyard.

Other SIU representatives included Meera Komarraju, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Lori Stettler, vice chancellor for student affairs; Amanda Sutton, director of admissions; Jen Phillips, associate director, admissions recruitment; Todd S. Bryson, associate chancellor for diversity; M Cecil Smith, dean, School of Education; Jyotsna Kapur, University Honors Program director; LaShonda Stewart, Chancellor Scholarship program director; Marc Morris, director and associate professor, School of Accountancy, and Sarah Marbes, coordinator, Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism. Joining the ceremony from Carbondale was Booth; Rachel Lathrop, Carbondale Middle School principal, school board President Catherine Field, Vice President John Major, Secretary Angela Waters and board members Markida Roper and Erin Connelly. Students from the university and the district also attended.

Agreement contains several features

Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 comprises Carbondale Middle School, Lewis School, Parrish Elementary School and Thomas School. The agreement with SIU is similar to those with Girls Inc. of St. Louis and the East St. Louis school district.

The agreement involving students in the Carbondale district includes:

SIU will provide virtual or in-person educational and mentoring opportunities for Carbondale district elementary students in any academic areas of interest.

School district students will have opportunities to attend summer camps on campus.

The chancellor will meet with and speak to students and parents about SIU.

An admissions coordinator will also speak in person or virtually to students and their families regarding SIU admissions.

Students in third through eighth grade will participate in on-campus opportunities such as shadowing SIU students, attending classes as guests and touring the campus.

Student leaders and administrators at SIU will have opportunities to speak in person or virtually to school district members.

The school district will allow virtual or in-person visits with seventh- and eighth-graders one to three times a year.

A two-degree SIU Carbondale graduate, Booth earned a bachelors degree in health education and his masters degree in educational administration, and he is working on his doctorate in educational administration. Booth will return to Carbondale Community High School in July and begin duties as superintendent there.

Agreement is pivotal for students, community

Booth noted that the university is the cornerstone of our community and exposing students to SIU will be pivotal for the future of our students as well as our town.

This partnership will be great for both organizations, and I believe that each of us will equally gain from working together in this capacity, he said. Our students look up to SIU students, and it will be important for our educators to lean on the researchers and professors at SIU as we continue to work to serve our students in the coming years.

The agreement will extend to pre-kindergarten and lower grades where SIU students come in and read to or tutor children, Booth said. Elementary students will have access to engage with the university regardless of grade level. For older students, that can mean coming to campus to interact with professors and researchers.

Exposure is key to helping students to dream, Booth explained. Many students cant imagine what they can't see or feel. This partnership will help elementary-aged students to learn about different majors and careers and learn firsthand from college students about what it takes to be successful when pursuing their degrees. This sort of discourse not only helps students to learn what they want to do in life, but equally as important, what they dont want to do.

As we continue to work with SIU, we look forward to also giving our students opportunities to have on-campus experiences that will help them to learn more about what the campus has to offer and a chance to truly learn about their passions for learning.
Two college students from California were found guilty on Wednesday of killing an Italian policeman in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison.

Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, were accused of stabbing to death 35-year-old Vice Brig. Mario Cerciello Rega while they were vacationing in Rome. On the night of July 25, the men  friends from high school  had been ripped off by a drug dealer, and they stole the backpack of a middleman who gave them an over-the-counter pain medicine instead of cocaine. Elder and Natale-Hjorth set up a meeting to give the man his backpack in exchange for their money, but instead encountered Cerciello Rega and his partner, Andrea Varriale.

Elder said he thought Cerciello Rega was a drug dealer who was trying to "strangle or choke me," but Varriale testified that both officers showed Elder and Natale-Hjorth their badges. Cerciello Rega was stabbed 11 times, and Varriale said that blood was pouring out of his body like "a fountain."

In a statement, Elder apologized to Cerciello Rega's family and friends, adding that if he could "go back and change things, I would do it now, but I can't." Elder's attorney, Renato Borzone, has promised to appeal, saying it is "unheard of" to give two young men life sentences. "Italy's justice is strong with the weak, and weak with the strong," Borzone added.

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- By GF Value





The stock of American Woodmark (NAS:AMWD, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be fairly valued, 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 $98.9 per share and the market cap of $1.7 billion, American Woodmark stock shows every sign of being fairly valued. GF Value for American Woodmark is shown in the chart below.





American Woodmark Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

Because American Woodmark is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth, which averaged 15.7% over the past five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

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American Woodmark Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

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Story continues

American Woodmark Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

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One can also evaluate a company's profitability by comparing its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, American Woodmark's ROIC is 6.36 while its WACC came in at 11.25. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of American Woodmark is shown below:

American Woodmark Stock Is Believed To Be Fairly Valued

To conclude, the stock of American Woodmark (NAS:AMWD, 30-year Financials) shows every sign of being fairly valued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks better than 82% of the companies in the industry of Furnishings, Fixtures & Appliances. To learn more about American Woodmark stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Authorities said Shende filed forms with the IRS showing Medicare and Social Security withholding taxes for employees but failed to pay the employment taxes to service. Shende also failed to pay the employers portion of employment taxes to the IRS, they said.
The Daily Beast

via YouTubePolice made an arrest Tuesday in the murder of a 10-year-old Queens boy who was gunned down at a family barbecue just a few days shy of his 11th birthday.Jovan Young, 29, was charged with murder and two counts of criminal position of a weapon for the June 6 shooting that left Justin Wallace dead and his 29-year-old relative, Kyle Forrester, injured, according to an NYPD spokesman. Young was processed out of NYPDs 101st precinct.Wallace was celebrating his first beach day since the st
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is disappointed with China's decision to "indefinitely" suspend all activity under a China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, Trade Minister Dan Tehan said on Thursday.

"We remain open to holding the dialogue and engaging at the ministerial level," Tehan said in a statement.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Australia's competition regulator on Thursday said it would block a pricing, code-sharing and scheduling deal between Qantas and Japan Airlines because it would likely mean higher fares for passengers.

Qantas had claimed the five-year agreement -- proposed in late 2020 -- would speed the pandemic recovery and "better serve customers" by improving connections between 29 smaller cities in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in reality cooperation would cause "severe harm to competition" and "eliminate any prospect of Qantas and Japan Airlines competing for passengers".

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Qantas and Japan Airlines had dominated the market for flights between Tokyo and Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.

The world's major airlines have seen profits plunge since the pandemic began, with many receiving taxpayer bailouts to survive.

As international travel slowly returns and airlines have tried to claw back profits, at times bumping up against rules designed to protect passengers.

Australia's regulator said it was open to granting exceptions to aid airlines' recovery, but not at the expense of reducing competition in the long term.

"The ACCC can only authorise these agreements if the public benefits from the coordination outweigh the harm to competition," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

"At this stage, we do not consider that Qantas and Japan Airlines' proposal passes that test."

The airlines have until 27 May to make their case before the ACCC makes its final determination.

arb/jfx
BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian judge on Wednesday suspended a police probe into a top Indigenous leader who had criticized the government of President Jair Bolsonaro for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis, which has had a devastating impact on native peoples.

Federal Judge Frederico Botelho de Barros Viana halted the investigation into Sonia Guajajara, head of Brazil's largest Indigenous umbrella organization, APIB, saying there was no indication a crime had been committed, court documents show.

The federal Indigenous agency, under Bolsonaro's control, had requested the investigation related to Guajajara's documentary series that denounces the lethal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazil's 850,000 Indigenous people and accuses the government of genocide for not protecting them.

Viana said in the court documents that the police investigation was a clear attempt to suppress the work being done by APIB.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito; writing by Jake Spring; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Wikimedia Commons

School officials in Piedmont, California, are in full damage-control mode after their plans for a support circle for white students in the wake of the Derek Chauvin verdict sparked major backlash.

A day after the white former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty last month of murdering George Floyd, who was Black, the assistant superintendent of the Piedmont Unified School District reached out to students and staff offering the chance to engage in dialogue about the nation-changing trial.

But there was one problem: The restorative community circles on offer were all segregated, and the white students, bizarrely, were seemingly treated as if they had personally been victimized by the Chauvin trial.

According to an email obtained by SFGate, the message from assistant superintendent Cheryl Wozniak invited white students to a support group where they could discuss how the trial, verdict, and experiences related to the George Floyd murder are impacting you.

Two counselors would be available for our White students to process [and] share to one another, Wozniak said.

While the school district also offered separate support circles to Black and BIPOC students, Wozniak was forced to concede in a second email just a day later that the notion of holding a white support circle had left our students of color...feeling hurt and disrespected by district administration, reported SFGate.

The plan for the white support circle was quickly scrapped, but not before some students took to social media to share their outrage about it.

One Piedmont High student told SFGate that they were baffled by the schools decision to even consider a white support circle, but said that it likely came with good intentions. Yet, the unnamed student added, the Piedmont Unified School District had never properly dealt with race issues.

In response to the outcry, Superintendent Randall Booker posted a mea culpa on the district's website.

A poor choice of words in the subject line of the invitation to white students led to the perception that white students needed the same kind of support as our BIPOC students, the message said. Students of all racial backgrounds rightfully pushed back on that idea. We agree, and we want to affirm in the strongest terms that our commitment is to give all students a place to express their feelings and to learn how to engage in important issues.

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PUSD board President Cory Smegal doubled down on that sentiment in comments at a recent board meeting where he acknowledged that the district had received a lot of public attention due to the invite.

Poor phrasing in an email 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. The leadership response was swift and directan apology, an explanation. But we understand that all of these caused harm that needs repair. Tonight we confirm our commitment to racial justice and continuing the work of anti-racism, Smegal said, according to the East Bay Times.

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TOPEKA - The Kansas Senate has rejected  for now at least  a resolution that on its face would call for a constitutional convention to rewrite the nations highest law.

But the real purpose of the resolution was not to put the state on record as supporting the constitutional rewrite. It was to provoke a federal lawsuit over how many votes in the Legislature it would take to do that.

The Senate debated more than three hours before finally voting 21-19 to send Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 back to the Federal and State Affairs Committee from which it came.

The convention of states is an idea supported by a faction of the conservative movement nationwide seeking a rewrite of the Constitution.

The issue has divided the ordinarily monolithic Republican majority that dominates the Kansas Senate on controversial issues.

Senate Democrats mostly sat out the debate that raged between avowed conservatives on the other side of the aisle.

Supporters want to place additional limits on federal authority, require a balanced federal budget and establish term limits for federal officials  and they believe that they can limit the discussion to those three topics.

Opponents argue that such a gathering could make its own rules and warn of a potential runaway convention with unforeseen results.

No one really knows how it would all work. A constitutional convention hasnt been held since the first one in 1787, when our current Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, the nations original founding document.

Supporters of the Kansas resolution were clear that they didnt expect it to pass this year.

In fact, it wasnt even expected to go before the House of Representatives, which would be required for Kansas to officially apply for a convention to be called.

The real intent was creating a vehicle to challenge the constitutionality of Article 2, Section 13 of the Kansas Constitution.

That section requires a two-thirds majority of both houses to ratify any amendment to the Constitution of the United States or to make any application for congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

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Before Wednesdays debate, Senate president Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said a vote in favor of the resolution would likely fall between the 21 needed for a simple majority and the 27 required for a two-thirds supermajority.

He had planned to declare the resolution passed if it got 21 votes.

That would have almost certainly triggered a federal lawsuit challenging whether the Legislature is bound by the Kansas constitutional requirement for a two-thirds vote.

That hurdle was inserted into the state Constitution in 1974 when the Legislature put an amendment before voters and 68% said yes, said Sen. Richard Hildebrand, R-Galena, who led the charge against the SCR 1611 with a speech that ran more than 1 1/2 hours.

End-run around Congress

At issue is whether the state amendment conflicts with the federal Constitution, or the two can coexist.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows for a constitutional convention to be called upon the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. It is silent on what kind of majorities would be needed state to state.

Proponents claim to have gotten resolutions passed in as many as 28 states, although its not clear whether all of those would be counted as official applications.

A convention of states would be an end-run around Congress, which can approve constitutional amendments with a two-thirds vote.

As with Congress-proposed amendments, any proposed changes originating in a convention of states would have to be approved by three-fourths of the states to take effect.

The resolution entered the Kansas Statehouse via Convention of States, a Texas-based organization that has pushed the idea for years.

Hildebrand said he agreed with grassroots supporters of the idea when they say the federal governments out of control, its a disaster.

But he was critical of the Texas organization  which has called him a traitor to the United States and the state of Kansas for opposing their convention proposal.

Now, he said, Were being asked to violate our oath of office and to violate our Kansas Constitution.

Supporters came armed with a legal opinion by Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who wrote in 2019 that a simple majority would suffice.

He opined that requesting a constitutional convention is a federal power granted to the Kansas Legislature by the federal constitution which cannot be constrained by the people of Kansas through the text of their state constitution.

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, framed it as an issue of legislative prerogative. He lamented constitutional amendments going back to the Woodrow Wilson administration that have whittled away at state legislative powers.

He was most harshly critical of the 17th Amendment that established direct popular election of U.S. senators.

Prior to 1913 . . . the states had the ability to recall our senators, Thompson said. Thats where we appointed those senators and if we didnt like what they were doing, our constituents could come to us and say, Hey, this guys doing a terrible job, recall him. Thats when the state Legislature really had power.

Weve lost states rights and if we dont recognize that, then were more blind than we realize, he said.

Referral to committee seemed to be the one outcome no one expected.

Federal and State Affairs is one of a handful of blessed committees, meaning the panel can meet and process legislation up to the last day of the session.

But it was not clear late Wednesday whether the committee will try to revive the resolution in the waning days of this session or wait until next year to take it up again.
CareDx (CDNA) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.14 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.01 per share. This compares to break-even earnings per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 1,500%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this molecular diagnostics company would post earnings of $0.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.08, delivering a surprise of 700%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

CareDx, which belongs to the Zacks Medical Services industry, posted revenues of $67.4 million for the quarter ended March 2021, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.91%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $38.38 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four 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.

CareDx shares have added about 2.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 10.9%.

What's Next for CareDx?

While CareDx has underperformed 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.

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Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for CareDx 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 $0.03 on $63.59 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.18 on $261.08 million 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, Medical Services is currently in the bottom 18% 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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May 6CHEYENNE  The owner of two dogs found starving and dehydrated in October will be evaluated for his mental fitness to proceed with the case.

Roy Castrun Burnett Jr. of Cheyenne will undergo an outpatient evaluation, as requested by his attorney, Ross McKelvey, Monday afternoon in Laramie County District Court.

Assistant District Attorney Rachel Berkness did not object to the motion, and the evaluation was ordered by Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell.

The order removes Burnett's case from the court's trial schedule and postpones it indefinitely until a report is completed by a designated medical expert.

Burnett is charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals (undue suffering) in district court. He pleaded not guilty in December.

McKelvey said during court proceedings that he'd been having trouble communicating with Burnett, prompting him to set a must-appear status hearing. Burnett then reached out to McKelvey and has been in contact with him since, McKelvey said, but an in-person meeting Monday morning with Burnett gave him "some concerns about going forward" with the case.

After his not-guilty plea, Burnett's trial was originally scheduled for April 12, but it was later reset to May 10 because of continued criminal trial delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two dogs, Karma and Kru, have been in the care of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter since October. Shelter CEO Sue Castaneda said her biggest concern at the moment is the length of time the dogs have had to stay at the shelter, waiting in limbo for the case to be adjudicated.

"The longer they stay, the less adoptable they're gonna be, and they're very iffy right now," Castaneda said. "We are reaching out to two or three rescues to try to see if anyone would take them. But really, unless Roy gives them up, I can't do anything."

Now that the trial is postponed indefinitely, Castaneda said the shelter would push for a court hearing to get custody of the dogs.

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When Karma and Kru were first taken into care, the shelter raised $3,000 online, Castaneda said. The money was used to help save the leg of one of Karma and Kru's puppies, which were seized by animal control in November.

The accusations

At 1:21 p.m. Oct. 10, the manager of a mobile home park located at 316 Central Ave. reported to the Laramie County Sheriff's Department that he'd discovered two dogs "that appeared to be in extreme malnutrition," according to court documents.

Cheyenne Police officers responded to the scene later that afternoon. After repeated attempts to contact Burnett, Cheyenne Fire Rescue was called in to open the mobile home door, and animal control was called for assistance with the dogs. When the door opened, both dogs appeared and tried to get outside, and an officer slipped leashes on both.

Three to four weeks prior to the dogs being discovered, a neighbor said she ran into Burnett while shopping and expressed concern about the dogs obviously losing weight. She said Burnett assured her they were "doing OK."

After being impounded Oct. 10, the dogs were given immediate care at the animal shelter. Medical examinations and the rate at which the dogs regained weight over the following days indicated there were no underlying medical conditions that contributed to the dogs' dehydration and starvation, a veterinarian said.

Both dogs had a history of being picked up for "dog at large," according to the shelter. Two previous pickups in May and October 2019 showed both at healthy weights and body conditions.

On Oct. 10, however, Karma, the female dog, weighed 24.4 pounds, less than half of the expected 52 pounds for dogs like her. Kru, the male dog, weighed 36.3 pounds, versus an average weight of 57 pounds for dogs like him. Both belong to a French mastiff breed known as Dogue de Bordeaux.

When contacted at his ex-wife's residence on Oct. 16, Burnett told an animal control officer he thought someone had tried to poison the dogs. He said he'd seen them two weeks prior and "they did not look like that." He said someone named "India" had been responsible for the dogs. Because Burnett couldn't provide India's last name or contact information, the animal control officer cited him for two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

At an Oct. 21 meeting with the animal control officer, Burnett reasserted someone may have tried to poison the dogs. He said he loved the dogs and that they were like his kids. He said he had a job that required him to leave the state for two weeks at a time, and that he had paid India on several occasions to take care of the dogs. Burnett then provided a physical description of India.

Records for the business Burnett said he worked for could not be found. He also could not provide the officer with information about the bank his payments to India had supposedly gone through.

Later that day, the animal control officer met with Burnett's ex-wife at her workplace. The woman said she had last seen the dogs Sept. 23, and that she had petted the dogs "through a break in one of the windows" at the mobile home, which prevented her from seeing their bodies. She said Burnett had taken a large bag of dog food from her home that day, but she did not remember him going into the mobile home.

When asked if she knew someone named "India," the woman said she had given India $150 in cash in April to take care of the dogs, and that was the only time she had met with him. The woman said she had no other information about India, but he supposedly lived at the Stage Coach Motel.

When the animal control officer inquired about India at the motel, the manager and several residents said they'd never seen someone that matched his description. The manager of the mobile home park also said India was never a resident there, according to their records.

In addition to his Nov. 7 arrest for the two animal cruelty charges, Burnett was also arrested Nov. 19 by the Laramie County Sheriff's Department for failure to comply with bond conditions, which barred him from having any contact with animals. According to court documents, a Laramie County Animal Control officer received a call Nov. 14 that three puppies had been left outside in the cold at Burnett's ex-wife's residence. The officer went to the home and saw the puppies outside. He then made contact with Burnett, who was present, and told him the puppies could not be left out in the cold.

Burnett was released on bond Nov. 20, according to court documents.

A second petition by the state to revoke Burnett's bond was filed Jan. 14, saying he had again been in possession of dogs on Dec. 22. According to a probable cause affidavit, a business owner located near Burnett's home contacted animal control and reported an employee of his had seen a dog in a vehicle Burnett frequently drives.

On March 10, a condition was added to Burnett's bond that said he not be within 25 feet of any dog, with the exception of a police dog.

Hannah Black is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's criminal justice reporter. She can be reached at hblack@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3128. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahcblack.
Juan Rivera spent some of his 20 years in prison learning at the facilitys barber college. Now, hes teaching 32 students the trade.

Video Transcript

- What you're seeing is what Juan Rivera dreamed would happen while he served a sentence for rape and murder he did not commit. 20 years of his life spent behind bars.

JUAN RIVERA: I used to walk around the prison facility angry and upset and his words of wisdom was that no one is going to see an angry individual. Bees get honey not vinegar.

- While in prison Rivera's correctional officer, Bobby Mattison, made the prison's barbershop one of the state's first licensed barber colleges in a maximum security state prison. And that's where Rivera learned how to cut.

BOBBY MATTISON: Just coming together to get a common good to empower people is even better.

JUAN ROBLES: It's my hair right here-- it's sticking up.

- Rivera's sentence was overturned in 2012 and he was granted a $20 million settlement three years later.

JUAN RIVERA: But I kept the hopes. You know my family was strong and supportive. I have an amazing group of attorneys, you know, from Northwestern.

- In 2016 Rivera and Mattison opened a barber college, but the pandemic closed it down last year.

BOBBY MATTISON: The pandemic hit everybody hard. And you know when we kind of closed the doors, it was like, man what are we going to do now?

- Now Legacy Barber College in West Howard Street had opened in April. A classroom full of students learning cutting and life skills.

JUAN ROBLES: His story is very inspiring. Yeah, he's a-- he's came up a lot. He could have spiraled down coming out, he could have been mad at the world, but he came up and he's just nothing but positive. Motivates me in many ways.

JUAN RIVERA: I feel it's important that I give back and educate my community as to what can happen in the wrong place at the wrong time or tunnel vision. So I wanted to educate them not just in the aspect of what the law is and what the constitutional right is, but what they can do for the community in the--
Four men in their 30s were shot late Wednesday as they stood on a porch in South Shore, Chicago police said.

Officers were called to the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue just after 10:15 p.m., according to a police media notification. Police learned the men had been standing on the porch when three males approached on foot and fired shots.

A 39-year-old man was shot in the leg and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, according to the statement.

A second man, 37, was shot in the upper chest and was in fair condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

A 33-year-old was shot in the chest and arm and he was in critical condition at the University of Chicago.

The fourth man, 31, was shot in the leg and he was in fair condition at the University of Chicago.

Police did not release a detailed description of the attackers. No one was in custody as Area One detectives investigated.

Check back for updates.

kdouglas@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @312BreakingNews
I felt that he had done so much work on his own in solitary by the time we got to 2016 to try and understand  to own the harm that hed done, to try and make some reparations  that he was in a moment where he was just really looking inward. There was no bravado in it. I thought it was a very genuine attempt to understand, she said.
The chief judge of Maryland District Courts has banned all court employees, bailiffs, commissioners, constables, clerks, staff and judges from wearing face masks with the law enforcement symbol of the thin blue line.

Chief Judge John P. Morrissey sent an email ordering staff to cease wearing the masks across the 34 District Court sites statewide. His order Wednesday does not apply to courthouse visitors.

In the email provided by the judiciary, Morrissey wrote that the court had been made aware of an issue of perceived bias and that staff had been wearing masks and other items of clothing with the thin blue line.

The Judiciary must maintain itself as an unbiased and independent branch of Maryland state government, he wrote. Employees of the District Court wearing any clothing item or apparel which promotes or displays a logo, sticker, pin, patch, slogan, or sign which may be perceived as showing bias or favoritism to a particular group of people could undermine the District Courts mission of fair, efficient, and effective justice for all and call into question the Judiciarys obligation to remain impartial and unbiased.

Morrisseys order applies only to District Courts, the lower of the states two trial courts, and not the Maryland Circuit Courts, which handle felonies, among other duties. A spokeswoman for the judiciary said no similar mandate has been given to staff at the Circuit Courts.

The thin blue line, a reference to the blue of police uniforms, is a symbol worn to show support for law enforcement. Its commonly worn on masks and T-shirts, displayed on flags, and shown on bumper stickers. More recently, the image has become politically charged and used by counterprotesters at rallies for racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement.

We certainly understand what the judge is trying to accomplish here, said Clyde Boatwright, president of the statewide Fraternal Order of Police. But the concern we would have is, is this type of restriction for all advocacy groups?

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The judge took action at the request of Maryland Public Defender Paul DeWolfe. In a letter Tuesday, DeWolfe urged judges to ban the symbols in courthouses. The judiciary provided his letter Thursday.

DeWolfe wrote that public defenders have observed thin blue line masks, pins and other clothing at courthouses in 15 jurisdictions.

It has been adopted by the Blue Lives Matter movement, which launched in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and has been associated at times with white supremacist groups DeWolfe wrote. The wearing of this mask politicizes a space that is, at its core, supposed to be the very essence of fairness and impartiality.

To allow these masks to be worn by courtroom staff during the hearings and trials of our clients, a large swath of them Black, denies to them the appearance that their hearing is being conducted fairly and without bias.

In an email to The Baltimore Sun Thursday, DeWolfe applauded Morrissey and wrote that he hopes the Circuit Courts follows suit.

Debate swirled in 2019 when Democratic Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich banned a police station in Germantown from displaying a thin blue line flag, the gift from a boy for National First Responders Day. In response, Gov. Larry Hogan wrote on Twitter that he was offended and disgusted.

The governor posted photos of himself on Twitter standing before thin blue line flags.

We are proud to hang these Thin Blue Line flags in Government House to honor our brave law enforcement officers. A local elected official prohibiting police from displaying a flag given to them by a grateful child is disgraceful, he wrote.

Morrisseys order went into effect immediately.

We do this as professionals who have been called upon to represent the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary and to uphold our duty of presenting a neutral and unbiased image to the public.

He declined to comment beyond the order.
By David Kirton

BEIJING (Reuters) -China condemned on Thursday a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers that expressed support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan and cast Beijing as a bully, saying it was a gross interference in China's internal affairs.

G7 foreign ministers said in a communique after a London summit that China was guilty of human rights abuses and of using "coercive economic policies", which the G7 would use collective efforts to stop.

In an unusual step, the G7 also said they supported Taiwan's participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assembly - and expressed concern about "any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions" in the Taiwan Strait.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin condemned the statement saying it made "groundless accusations" that were a gross interference in China's internal affairs.

"This is the wanton destruction of the norms of international relations," he said.

The G7 as a group should take concrete action to boost the global economic recovery instead of disrupting it, he added.

Wang also attacked G7 countries for hoarding COVID-19 vaccines and having a "wishy-washy" stance towards helping other countries.

"They should not criticise and interfere in other countries with a high-and-mighty attitude, undermining the current top priority of international anti-pandemic cooperation," he said.

China regards Taiwan as its own territory and opposes any official Taiwan representation on an international level. China has also stepped up military activities near Taiwan in recent months, trying to assert its sovereignty claims.

The G7 statement was warmly received in Taipei, where the government said this was the first time the foreign ministers had mentioned the island in their joint communique.

Taiwan's Presidential Office thanked the G7 for its support.

"Taiwan will keep deepening the cooperative partnership with G7 member countries, and continue to contribute the greatest positive force to global health and people's well-being, as well as the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region," said spokesman Xavier Chang.

(Reporting by David Kirton; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; editing by John Stonestreet, Robert Birsel)
China expressed concern on Wednesday over Indias move to not grant any Chinese firm permission to participate in 5G trials in the worlds second-largest internet market as the two neighboring nations struggle to navigate business ties amid their geo-political tensions.

Indias Department of Telecommunications earlier this week approved over a dozen firms' applications to conduct a six-month trial to test the use and application of 5G technology in the country.

Among those who have received the approval include international giants such as Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung that will collaborate with Indian telecom operators Jio Platforms, Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL for the trial.

Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese companies that have been operating in India for several years, havent received the approval from the Indian government to participate in the upcoming trial. The Indian ministry said earlier this week that it granted permission to those firms that had been picked by the telecom operators.

Wang Xiaojian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, said in a statement on Wednesday that the nation expresses "concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers in India.

Relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution 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, added Xiaojian.

Last year, Airtel (Indias second-largest telecom operator) said that it was open to collaborating with global technology firms, including those from China, for components. Huawei, over the last 10 or 12 years, has become extremely good with their products to a point where I can safely today say their products at least in 3G, 4G that we have experienced is significantly superior to Ericsson and Nokia without a doubt. And I use all three of them, Sunil Mittal, the founder of Airtel, said at a conference last year.

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In the same panel, then U.S. commerce secretary Wilbur Ross had urged India and other allies of the U.S. to avoid Huawei.

The geo-political tension between India and China escalated last year with skirmishes at the shared border. India, which early last year amended a rule to make it difficult for Chinese firms to invest in Indian companies, has since banned over 200 apps, including TikTok, UC Browser and PUBG Mobile, that have ties with China over national security concerns.

Indias move earlier this week follows similar decisions taken by the U.S., U.K. and Australia, all of which have expressed concerns about Huawei and ZTE and their ties with the Chinese government.

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," wrote Xiaojian.

Last year, China expressed "serious concerns" and "firmly opposed" India's charges that Chinese apps posed national security concerns. The Chinese Embassy had alleged that by banning apps with links to China, New Delhi was engaging in "discriminatory practices" that "violated WTO rules."
At the start of May, China assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council  an unexceptional responsibility, but one that comes at an extraordinary time. At this particular moment, the Chinese Communist Partys bid to reshape the U.N. dovetails with its increasingly blunt assertions of power on the world stage.

The Security Council presidency is a mostly ceremonial role, which mainly entails setting the councils agenda and planning extraneous events. The presidency rotates every month among the permanent member states, each in alphabetical order; roughly every 15 months, each member presides over these sessions.

So, in itself, Chinas presidency this month means little. But Beijing will almost certainly use it as an opportunity to elevate its diplomatic priorities, as it always has, and to shamelessly push back against any politically inconvenient narratives. Thus its a useful point of reference for just how confident the Party feels about its ongoing campaign to co-opt the way we talk about the international order and thereby to reshape the very institutions and ideas that underpin it.

Take its most recent Security Council presidency, in March 2020. Zhang Jun, Chinas U.N. envoy, started the month with a roundtable event at which a Uyghur activist challenged him on the Chinese Communist Partys mass-detention facilities. He replied, your comment is full of bias, and said that Xinjiang is not an issue of human rights. Chinas diplomats then spent the rest of the month rebuffing U.S. efforts to take unified action at the U.N. to deal with the rapidly worsening COVID pandemic. (Accordingly, China never missed an opportunity to play up its own, overinflated efforts to deliver faulty medical equipment to countries facing a sharp rise in cases.)

Expect more of the same brazen posturing in coming weeks. At a press conference on Monday to mark the start of Chinas presidency, Zhang explained his countrys priorities for this month, which include focusing on multilateralism, the post-pandemic recovery in Africa, peacekeeping, and emerging technologies. Each of these topics alone plays a role in Chinas political agenda. Although the Security Councils relevance to emerging technologies is unclear, for instance, the discussion is sure to be imbued with Beijings self-interested priorities; talking about Africas post-COVID recovery is just an excuse to bring up its vaccine diplomacy.

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What makes presiding over the council so different this time, however, is that Beijing, more than at any point in recent history, is rejecting the assumptions that underpin the world order defended by the U.S. and its allies. It is doing so because it thinks years of crisis have permanently weakened our ability to resist the Partys attempts to reshape international affairs.

The Party-state has believed the West to be undergoing an inevitable decline since the 2008 financial crisis, a view that has been buttressed by the U.S. governments handling of COVID. In a January 11 speech that was not reported on until this week, Xi said: Judging from how this pandemic is being handled by different leaderships and political systems around the world, we can clearly see who has done better. (To be sure, much has changed since then, as the American vaccination campaign has been massively successful, though theres little indication that this has changed Beijings calculus.)

Chinese officials who once discreetly held that view of the Wests decline, however, now say this in front of the cameras: The United States isnt qualified to speak to China from a position of strength, said Yang Jiechi, the CCPs top foreign-affairs official, during an outburst at the U.S.China summit held in Anchorage in March.

With the Partys centennial and the 50th anniversary of its replacement of Taiwan at the U.N., officials are more than eager to prove that Beijings time to rise to the top of the international pecking order has come. Now, more than at any previous point, the Party-state appears to be confident in its ability to define the terms within which international organizations work, and to be taken seriously for it. Its emphasis on multilateralism, though an oft-beaten drum, takes on a newly significant meaning this month.

China has been always abiding by the policies and the principles of the U.N. Charter, Zhang said at the press conference, winding up a meandering twelve-minute answer that stressed Beijings advancements in economic development, urged patience on its efforts to meet commitments on climate change, and peddled falsehoods about the Partys human-rights record. And China has been really builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and defender of international order.

The Party-state positions itself as a defender of multilateralism, international law, and the principles sketched out under the U.N. Charter, but this is no defense of the status quo. At various points over the past few years, Xi has garnered headlines for delivering this message, including at Party conferences, Davos, and, a few weeks ago, at the Boao forum. Global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape, said Xi at the forum, in an address extolling multilateralism and warning the U.S. and its allies against decoupling their economies from Chinas.

This call for change has only intensified recently. Yang again in Anchorage: What China and the international community follow or uphold is the United Nationscentered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called rules-based international order.

These subtle differences might seemingly matter only to international-relations scholars and those who follow the minutiae of the Partys politics. They have, however, pronounced political ramifications. In a remarkable study of the Partys view of the international order last year, Nadege Rolland, a former French defense official and China expert, explained how the Chinese leadership views the connection between material strength and its articulation of that order, a concept that she calls discourse power. Drawing this concept from her study of official and scholarly Chinese texts, she explains it thus:

Words are not simply instruments of communication used to facilitate exchanges and discussions; they convey concepts, ideals, and values that are the foundational basis for the norms on which the international architecture is built and command how the world order is run: whoever rules the words rules the world.

These distinctly Chinese efforts to refashion the concepts invoked by diplomats to describe international order are about more than cultivating sway in an abstract sense; discourse power is about transforming the ways in which international institutions discuss, and therefore take action on, issues. The goal, according to Rolland, is to provide a soft pulp of peacefulness and benign intentions relentlessly applied on top of  though barely concealing  a hard core that is mostly about the partys unhampered power and aura.

The Partys power play at the U.N., malign at its core, has been only thinly disguised. It has also been massively successful. When her report was published in 2019, Rolland already counted five resolutions with the Partys preferred diplomatic newspeak adopted across the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Human Rights Council over the previous two years.

Meanwhile, Beijing has put these concepts into action through the co-optation of the U.N.s specialized agencies and mechanisms. This is where backroom dealing over legislative language meets political power and influence cultivated over decades. China has placed well over 250 junior professional officers (JPOs), essentially young staffers, in the U.N. system and provides funding for them; the U.S. has funded considerably fewer posts for its own citizens at the U.N. China has also fought to install officials in top leadership posts, and four Chinese nationals currently run U.N. agencies. Throughout the organizations secretariat, Chinese nationals occupy several high-level posts, including the assistant secretary-general for the U.N. Development Programme, which is held by Xu Haoliang, a former JPO.

And as Western countries fell asleep at the switch, Chinas allies in the U.N. system worked to inscribe the Belt and Road Initiative into the U.N.s sustainability agenda. One overarching strand of this discourse-power push elevates the right to development. This concept excludes, notably, individuals and civil society actors as rights holders and participants in the defense and promotion of human rights, according to Andrea Worden, a human-rights lawyer and expert on the topic.

This is why Zhang, during his press conference at the start of this week, described Beijing as a protector of human rights, and its why that lie has been somewhat effective. Zhangs claim possesses a semblance of truth, if by human rights one is referring to the reduction of extreme poverty in China over the past several decades: We know that some, some friends that have different views, but as a Chinese I have I witnessed that remarkable progress we have made in protecting and the promotion of human rights, especially the promotion and protection of human rights of vulnerable groups, of women.

Such a statement is obviously false, if one understands human rights to mean the ability of individuals to live free of violence perpetrated by the state, such as arbitrary detention, torture, and genocide. That Chinese diplomats at the U.N. and other fora position Beijing as a champion of multilateralism and human rights is, if not necessarily a lie, a farce.

Zhang and his colleagues are achieving something more dangerous, by willing into existence a framework in which mass atrocities can be overlooked in favor of focusing on economic development. And so China does lean on its form of multilateralism, one which suits the Partys interests. The human-rights abuses perpetrated by the Party-state are so offensive as to be capable of galvanizing an international response that could diminish Chinas international ambitions and even threaten the Partys survival.

As the U.S. has moved to confront Beijing over its malign behavior, including through the Biden administrations implementation of a sanctions campaign coordinated with U.S. allies, China has corralled a remarkable level of international support for its position. At the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva two months ago, Cuba presented a letter signed by 64 countries (including China) calling on other countries to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues, [and] refrain from making unfounded allegations against China out of political motivations. The message echoed several previous such letters that have been issued over the past couple of years, including one in October with 45 signatories. In July, 53 countries supported Chinas Hong Kong crackdown. According to Beijing, multilateralism is that which advances its standing abroad, and therefore helps to ensure the survival of the Communist regime at home.

The first priority will be firmly upholding and practicing multilateralism, to support the United Nations in playing a central role, said Zhang on Monday, of Chinas Security Council presidency. He announced a high-level meeting to be held tomorrow, with the theme of maintenance of peace and security, upholding multilateralism and the U.N.-centered international system, chaired by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. Invitations, he said, had been extended to foreign ministers, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will be returning from a visit to Ukraine following his attendance at a G7 meeting in London. Zhang thinks Blinken might attend and said to the press, I hope your coverage will not make him to rethink about that. (A State Department spokesperson didnt rule out Blinkens attendance at the meeting, only telling National Review, I dont have anything to announce at this time.)

It would, of course, be a mistake for the U.S. to send such a high-level official to play along with a Chinese-convened meeting on multilateralism. During the previous administration, observers interpreted Chinas paeans to the international system as a direct consequence of President Trumps actions eschewing certain international agreements. But Chinese efforts to influence the U.N., its agencies, and other similar bodies far transcends the political skirmishes of the Trump years. Failing to distinguish between Chinas discourse-power campaign and a U.S. approach that prizes coalition-building toward advancing U.S. aims is a luxury that has long since been squandered. With this in mind, the U.S. should instead send a lower-ranking official to explain Washingtons efforts to drive multilateral action as a counter to Beijings mass atrocities and malign influence.

U.S. diplomats must take every opportunity this month to reveal to the world how Beijing is seeking to remove obstacles to wider acceptance of its depravity. Failing that, this otherwise inconsequential Security Council presidency will help the Party continue to warp the words, concepts, and institutions that would stand in its way.

More from National Review
Colombia's government on Thursday invited protest leaders to a dialogue in a bid to defuse tensions following more than a week of deadly demonstrations.

At least 26 people -- mostly demonstrators -- have died in clashes with security forces while hundreds more have been wounded.

The unrest began last week over a tax reform proposed to address economic consequences of the pandemic. While the plan was scrapped, the marches have continued, driven in part by security forces' heavy crackdown.

Thousands of Colombians -- including indigenous people, union members and students -- are joining the protests to express anger over the government's policies on health, education and inequality.

With violence escalating, Presidential advisor Miguel Ceballos said the government would meet protest leaders, including the National Strike Committee, on Monday.

"We have to listen to all sectors of the country but the country also has to listen to the government," Ceballos told Blu Radio.

"That includes those marching but also those not marching."

Ceballos later tweeted that President Ivan Duque and Vice President Lucia Ramirez would attend the meeting.

- 'Demilitarization' demand -

Protest leaders have said they would be prepared to talk directly with Duque, but not with intermediaries.

Labor leader Francisco Maltes said in a video sent to news media that talks will begin "following the demilitarization of the countryside and cities where young people peacefully protesting have been massacred."

Demands of protest leaders include improved working conditions, improving the pension system, an end to the assassination of human rights activists and full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement reached with the FARC guerrillas.

In the meantime "we will continue the national strike," Maltes warned.

If the talks take place under the current terms "they will noisily collapse," said Sandra Borda, a political scientist at the Universidad de los Andes.

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"They are meeting with the same people they've always met with," Borda told AFP.

- Accountability -

Duque, whose approval rating is just 33 percent, has faced occasional mass protests since taking office in August 2018.

Although the current round of demonstrations largely been peaceful, there have been violent clashes in different parts of the country.

Demonstrators have set fire to buses and police stations, while trucks carrying fuel and medical supplies have required military protection to get through as the country battles another coronavirus wave.

The government blames the violence on armed groups including left-wing rebels and drug traffickers.

The United Nations, European Union, United States and NGOs have urged security forces to exercise restraint.

Speaking to journalists in Washington on Thursday, Interior Minister Daniel Palacios said various government agencies were collaborating to determine who was responsible for the violence.

"If there has been any use of excessive force for them to be held accountable," Palacios said.

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A Hong Kong journalist who was prosecuted over investigating an attack on democracy supporters by government loyalists won a prestigious press prize on Thursday, even after her employer backed out of the awards.

Bao Choy, a former producer with Hong Kong's public broadcaster RTHK, was found guilty last month of "knowingly making a false statement" to access number plate ownership records -- a conviction that was decried by media groups as an assault on public interest journalism.

On Thursday, Choy and five colleagues won the Chinese-language documentary award at the annual Human Rights Press Awards for their work "Who Owns the Truth?".

The awards recognise human rights reporting across Asia and have been running for 25 years.

Judges praised the RTHK documentary for "chasing the smallest clues, interrogating the powerful without fear or favour", and described the 23-minute documentary as "an investigative reporting classic".

The July 2019 attack in the district of Yuen Long by a gang of men armed with clubs -- and the police's failure to respond quickly enough -- was a turning point in the huge and often violent pro-democracy protests that year, further hammering public trust in the police force and city leaders.

RTHK used footage from witnesses and security cameras -- as well as number plate searches and interviews -- to piece together events.

It uncovered new details about the alleged attackers, some of whom have links to politically influential rural committees that support Beijing.

It also said that police failed to respond to the build-up of stick-wielding men, ferried into the district by specific vehicles that evening hours before the attack.

Police have rejected any accusation their officers failed the public that night and senior officers have since sought to recast the ambush as an evenly matched melee between two opposing sides.

- Changing news landscape -

Hong Kong maintains a publicly accessible licence plate database long used by journalists, including pro-Beijing news outlets.

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But authorities introduced a rule change that meant journalists were no longer allowed to make searches.

Choy, 37, faced up to six months in jail but was ultimately fined HK$6,000 ($770). She plans to appeal her conviction.

Beijing has made no secret of its desire to see Hong Kong's critical media tamed and the city has slid down press freedom rankings in recent years.

RTHK has found itself a government target. Authorities have ordered an overhaul of the broadcaster, including the recent appointment of a career civil servant as its new head who has since pulled multiple shows for "one-sided views" and "inaccuracies".

RTHK suspended Choy after her November arrest and did not contribute to her legal defence.

It also announced it had withdrawn from all press award entries but many award organisations, including HRPA, declined to accept the withdrawal.

"During the transition period, RTHK decided not to nominate programmes for awards, would also withdraw their entries from those competitions, and would not accept related awards," a spokesperson said Thursday.

The station's Twitter account -- which has developed an irreverent outspokenness under the new management -- hinted at disquiet within the newsroom.

"#RTHK picks up more prizes, despite management's best efforts," the account wrote. "Bao Choy and Nabela Qoser, who've both been given their marching orders, are recognised in this year's Human Rights Press Awards."

Earlier this week, RTHK fired reporter Nabela Qoser who had become famous for her aggressive questioning of officials at press conferences.

A report she helped produced on the policing of protests won a commendation in the same category as Choy.

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Transport Canada has confirmed that two air travellers have been fined for presenting fake COVID-19 pre-departure tests when arriving in Toronto.

One individual "altered" a COVID-19 test documentation and boarded a flight from the U.S. to Toronto on April 3, and was fined $2,500.

The second traveller was fined $6,500 after altering a COVID-19 test document and also making a false declaration to the air carrier about their health status when travelling from the Dominican Republic to Toronto on Feb. 8.

Air travellers are prohibited from knowingly providing false or misleading COVID-19 test documentation under the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19.

Travellers to Canada must get a negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of boarding a flight to Canada.

"The Government of Canada continues to strongly advise Canadians that this is not the time to travel," information from the federal government reads. "Transport Canada will continue to investigate incidents reported to the department and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where it is warranted."

Anyone who fails to comply with the Interim Order could be subject to fines of up to $5,000 per violation.

Previously issued fines under the Interim Order include:
If Florida wont allow Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for passengers and crew, the companys CEO says it will take its ships elsewhere.

CEO Frank Del Rio made the threat during an earnings call Thursday, just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill passed by the Republican-controlled state Legislature that bans businesses, schools and government entities in Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is the worlds third largest cruise company, parent to cruise brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Miami-Dade County spent $263 million building a terminal for Norwegian at PortMiami that finished construction last year.

At the end of the day, cruise ships have motors, propellers and rudders, and God forbid we cant operate in the state of Florida for whatever reason, then there are other states that we do operate from. And we can operate from the Caribbean for ships that otherwise wouldve gone to Florida, Del Rio said.

Del Rio reiterated the companys commitment to guarantee that everyone on its cruise ships will be vaccinated when cruises restart in the U.S. Competitors Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation will require 100 percent vaccination for upcoming cruises in other countries like the United Kingdom and Israel but have not yet announced whether U.S. cruises will have the same requirement.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cant require 100 percent vaccination and is leaving that decision to cruise companies. The agency recommends that all crew members, passengers and port workers be vaccinated. It is allowing cruise ships that prove at least 98 percent of its crew and 95 percent of its passengers are vaccinated to skip test cruises and proceed directly to revenue cruises. The thresholds allow for those with medical conditions preventing vaccination or religious objections, a spokesperson said.

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The CDC is waiting for cruise companies to submit agreements with local ports and health authorities before they can begin test cruises; revenue cruises can resume if the company meets the vaccination thresholds. As of Thursday, the CDC has not received any agreements, a spokesperson said.

During the Thursday call with Wall Street analysts, Del Rio said the company has been communicating with Gov. DeSantis office. At a press conference last month announcing his lawsuit against the CDC, DeSantis said he would object to cruise companies requiring vaccinations.

On Fox News Laura Ingraham show on April 29 shortly after legislators passed the restriction for businesses, schools and government, DeSantis said, You have a right to participate in society without them asking you to divulge this type of health information like just to go to a movie, just to go to a ball game.

Given the 90 days needed to get a ship operational, Del Rio said he doesnt think U.S. cruises in July will be possible for the companys brands. He criticized the CDC instructions for restarting cruises in the U.S. released on Wednesday, calling them onerous. He questioned whether an executive order that requires masks on public transportation, including cruise ships, is necessary if everyone is vaccinated.

Even though everyone on board would be vaccinated, in between bites of your meal and in between sips of your beverage, you have to put on your mask, take off your mask, he said. So nobody should order soup because your mask might get sloppy. So that to me is just preposterous.

In August, Norwegian Cruise Line plans to launch six-night cruises on its Norwegian Joy ship from Montego Bay, Jamaica, visiting its private beach in Belize; Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and six-night cruises on its Norwegian Gem ship from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, visiting Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Antigua.

Cruises leaving from ports outside U.S. waters are not subject to its safety oversight.

The CDC has a Level 4 travel warning in place for cruise travel  the agencys highest  citing the increased risk of getting COVID-19 on a cruise ship.
May 5EAU CLAIRE  An Eau Claire man has the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction in connection with a road rage incident on Clairemont Avenue in January.

Colten T. Baggs, 20, 2720 W. Folsom St., pleaded guilty Wednesday in Eau Claire County Court to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Misdemeanor counts of pointing a firearm at another person and hit and run attended vehicle were dismissed.

As part of a one-year deferred agreement with prosecutors, the disorderly conduct charge will be dismissed if Baggs pays a $250 fine and an undetermined amount of restitution, commits no new crimes, performs 40 hours of community service and has no contact with the victim.

According to the criminal complaint:

An Eau Claire police officer went to a restaurant on Truax Boulevard on Jan. 13 to meet with a teen about a hit-and-run crash that occurred minutes earlier in the 900 block of West Clairemont Avenue.

At the same time, dispatchers broadcast a report of a reckless driver near Clairemont Avenue and Menomonie Street. The make and model of the suspect vehicle in the reckless driver case was the same as the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run crash. The vehicle was registered to Baggs.

The teen said he and his female passenger were westbound on West Clairemont Avenue when Baggs' vehicle passed him and then changed lanes in front of him, which caused Baggs' rear bumper to hit the front passenger side bumper of the teen's vehicle.

Baggs did not stop. The teen's passenger was able to take a picture of the rear license plate on Baggs' vehicle.

The teen said he was scared and didn't know what to do, so he called his father. The teen's father told him to call the police.

The teen pulled his vehicle over when Baggs then displayed a handgun.

After speaking with the teen, the responding police officer then went to Baggs' residence.

The officer saw a black pistol tucked between the front passenger seat and the center console of Baggs' vehicle. It appeared to be a pellet pistol.

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The damage on Bagg's bumper was consistent with the damage on the teen's vehicle. Baggs first denied he had been involved in a crash. He also denied displaying a gun.

When the officer told Baggs he believed he was lying, Baggs said the teen was the one who instigated the incident by the way he was driving.

Baggs then admitted to displaying the pellet pistol. Baggs said he did this to intimidate the teen for following him.

Baggs said he just wanted to be left alone.
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.
Eric Yuan admitted that he too battles Zoom fatigue and that he no longer schedules back-to-back meetings. FILE (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

The CEO of Zoom has admitted he is struggling with Zoom fatigue.

Discussing the tyranny of virtual meetings more than a year into working from home during the pandemic, Eric Yuan said he admitted 19 consecutive online meetings in a day last year.

I do have meeting fatigue. I am very tired of it, he told a group of top American CEOs at the Wall Street Journal CEO Council Summit on Tuesday.

In a CNN article, Mr Yuan also admitted: It is incredibly hard to abruptly pivot from a social, in-person work environment to a world where we only see images of faces on a screen.

My personal record is 19 Zoom meetings in a day. Its a record that some may be able to beat, but Ill admit it was a struggle to make it through.

He also recommended a few tips to overcome Zoom fatigue which included suggestions like end meetings early to give everyone a buffer to recover mentally between meetings and Use chat or email in lieu of a meeting.

Other CEOs also agreed, with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, adding: I am about to cancel all my Zoom meetings. I am done with it.

A report released by Upwork, titled Future of Workforce Pulse Report released in December 2020, said at least 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025  an 87 per cent increase from pre-pandemic levels.

Upworks chief economist, Adam Ozimek, said Our research shows the long-lasting impact that remote work and COVID-19 are likely to have on how hiring managers think about their organisations.

He added: As businesses adapt and learn from this remote work experiment, many are altering their long term plans to accommodate this way of working. On work marketplaces like Upwork, we can already see this shift underway with increased demand for remote professionals.

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Meanwhile, during the WSJ CEO Council Summit on Tuesday, both Mr Yuan and Mr Dimon said that they have plans to bring their employees back into their offices at some point.

Mr Yuan indicated that the company might ask employees to return to the office for two days a week and work from home for the rest of the week.

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Ellen Kullman, CEO of Carbon Inc, a 3-D printing startup, said: I might be old school, but Im a believer that over time it will migrate back to a more in-person environment. She also expressed concern about how comfortable people have gotten with remote and hybrid work.

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Zoom fatigue was a term coined during the global lockdowns last year.

Last month Stanford University released a study that revealed women reported higher levels of Zoom fatigue than men.

The study pointed out that there are many gender effects in nonverbal communication that may be related to the other nonverbal mechanisms in video conferencing.

It said: Women, for example, tend to display more facial expressions than men such as smiling more with evidence suggesting that this difference is associated with awareness of being observed and feeling self-consciousness.

The Stanford study also said: Video conferencing may increase the cognitive load associated with these nonverbal mechanisms more for women than for men.

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It said video calls disturb the natural flow of interactions, forcing everyone to stare at each other with what it called the hyper gaze.

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Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of Stanford Universitys Virtual Human Interaction Lab told The New York Times: From an evolutionary standpoint if somebody was very close to you and staring right at you, this meant you were going to mate or get in a fight. And constantly being on high alert creates stress.

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US downplays prospect of post-Brexit trade deal with UK
PHOENIX  Authorities said they arrested a recently retired Border Patrol agent suspected of being a serial rapist who assaulted women in Arizona.

John Daly III, 57, was arrested in Sierra Vista, Arizona, on Tuesday, the Mesa Police Department said in a statement.

He is accused of being what Mesa police are calling "the East Valley Rapist." Eight cases of sexual assault between July 1999 and October 2001 were connected by similar suspect behavior and three were connected by DNA, Mesa police said, though no leads were established at the time.

An Arizona Republic article from November 2000 says police at the time believed a serial rapist was stalking and attacking white women between 21 and 41 years old through open doors and windows in single-family homes in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona.

The Arizona Republic is part of the USA TODAY Network.

Mesa police said the new lead was made possible in February thanks to funding from the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, a program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice.

An investigation led to Daly, and "a history check showed that John had residency near each of the sexual assaults at the time they occurred," Mesa police said. In April, DNA linked Daly to two of the sexual assaults in Mesa and Gilbert, Mesa police said.

USA TODAY Network: The National Guard welcomes and promotes women. That is, until they report a sexual assault

This is America: Why it's totally normal for Gen Z to use humor to cope with sexual assault trauma

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Arizona spokesperson Rob Daniels confirmed Daly was a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent at the Douglas Station in southeast Arizona from November 1999 until he retired in December 2019.

"CBP does not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we cooperate fully with all criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our current or former personnel," the agency said in a statement.

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Mesa police said they worked with officers from the Gilbert, Chandler and Bisbee police departments as well as with the FBI and Border Patrol.

The U.S. Marshals Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force and other agencies took Daly into custody in Sierra Vista on Tuesday.

Mesa police said Daly was booked on charges related to three of the eight cases, while Bisbee police will submit charges for their case and the other four cases require additional investigation.

Daly was booked into the Cochise County Jail and faces four counts of sexual assault, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of burglary, and three counts of sexual abuse, according to Mesa police.

Authorities ask that anyone with additional information about Daly to contact the Mesa Police Department.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).

Follow Kaila White on Twitter @kailawhite.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Border Patrol agent arrested on suspicion of being serial rapist
The Federal Election Commission in a rare unanimous vote has urged Congress to ban a campaign donation tactic reportedly used by former President Donald Trump's team last year.

The FEC on Thursday unanimously voted to recommend Congress ban political campaigns from using prechecked boxes to steer supporters toward making recurring contributions by default, The New York Times reports.

"It's important that donors be able to exercise their choices freely," Democratic FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub told the Times. "If their money is being taken from them because of some reverse checkoff option they didn't notice, then they are not giving their money freely. It's almost like theft. I don't want to see donors tricked."

The Times previously reported that Trump's campaign in 2020 "deployed prechecked boxes to enroll every donor in weekly withdrawals  unless they unchecked the box," describing this as an "intentional scheme." The Trump operation also reportedly prechecked an additional box that doubled an individual's contribution unless it was unchecked, and they ended up having to refund over $122 million to supporters, according to the Times. This tactic has also been used by Democrats, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, The Hill notes.

The FEC said in its recommendation that "many contributors are unaware of the 'pre-checked' boxes and are surprised by the already completed transactions appearing on account statements." Adav Noti, who formerly served in the FEC's general counsel's office, told the Times that for the FEC's Republican and Democratic commissioners to come to a unanimous agreement on a "substantive campaign finance law" recommendation like this is "pretty rare."

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May 6A federal judge has denied a request from a group of Cobb Schools parents that would have paused the school district's enforcement of its mask requirement for students, COVID-19 contact tracing policy and quarantine requirements.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. denied the parents' request at a virtual hearing Wednesday, according to court documents.

The parents in the case  Caryn Sonderman, Matt Gill, Andrei Marcu, Gretchen Brocard, John Hanson and Erin White  were seeking a temporary restraining order barring the school system from continuing its enforcement of the mandate, which has been recommended by federal, state and local public health officials.

Thrash's decision does not end the case. For the case to be dropped, the Cobb School District would have to file a motion to dismiss and a decision would have to be made on that ruling.

Mitch Skandalakis, co-counsel with attorney Robert Madayag in representing the parents, told the MDJ the court simply chose to ignore their evidence and "bow down to the school system."

"Obviously we're extremely disappointed in light of the fact that the ruling apparently was made without any evidence presented by the school board that there was science behind their decision-making," Skandalakis said, adding that the school district said it was following Centers for Disease Control recommendations. "The CDC has not produced any statistical analysis when it comes to how the wearing of masks by children for eight hours a day affects them."

Skandalakis said he and the other attorneys representing the parents, on the other hand, provided "direct evidence through affidavits" that the plaintiffs' children were being harmed "physically and mentally by the wearing of these masks."

Some of those filings included examples of the effects that prolonged use of N95 and surgical masks could have on an individual's health. One study they cite found that most adult health care workers who used the masks for an hour suffered headaches, rash, acne, skin breakdown, and impaired cognition.

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"Now, imagine what this is like for a child or teenager after 8 hours!" a May 3 filing states.

Another concern for the plaintiffs, Skandalakis said, was that some of those children who couldn't attend school "due to this ridiculous policy," had individualized education plans and were denied access to extra academic help.

The complaint filed on behalf of the parents also cites studies that detail the negative effects of increased screen time.

District students who do not want to wear a mask must attend virtually rather than in-person. Virtual learning is substandard, the attorneys argue; as such, the mandate has created "two separate, segregated and unequal classes of students," the complaint reads, invoking Brown v. Board of Education.

A school district spokesperson only provided the MDJ with a statement in response to the Wednesday ruling:

"While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we are confident the facts and law will speak for themselves."

In an April 29 filing, the district's attorneys said the parents are trying to block efforts to "protect its students and employees from the deadly virus" that has killed 3 million people worldwide and more than 19,000 in Georgia.

"Armed with a scattershot collection of articles, tweets, and online postings cherrypicked from the internet, Plaintiffs ask for an 'emergency' temporary restraining order to halt a mask mandate and contact-tracing protocols that CCSD began implementing over six months ago to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in its schools," the district's response states. "In filing this motion, Plaintiffs favor their own interests over the public's wellbeing, ignore recommendations from health experts at every level of government, and disregard months of court decisions upholding the legality of COVID-19 safety measures across the country."

In their response, the district rejected the notion its mask mandate is discriminatory, in particular the plaintiffs' comparison of the mandate to Jim Crow-era racial segregation.

"Plaintiffs' claim that Brown (v. Board of Education) prohibits CCSD from offering face-to-face and virtual instructional options to students on a race-neutral basis stretches Brown beyond recognition and ignores its importance as a landmark ruling for racial equality," the response reads.

The response also includes language from various health departments, at local, state and federal levels that show the district was acting on the recommendations of health experts.

The bottom line, according to the district's response, is that the plaintiffs' claims hinge on their personal disagreement with mask mandates and the efficacy of masks in protecting against COVID-19 transmission.

"But their non-expert opinions on this issue are irrelevant."

Skandalakis said his team is examining whether they'll appeal the judge's decision. He also said he did not know when a filing from the Cobb School District might come.

Follow Thomas Hartwell on Twitter at twitter.com/MDJThomas.
This is part one of a series reported as a collaboration between The Missouri Independent and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. Read part two.

Ten days after Michael Brown, it was 25-year-old Kajieme Powell. Two months later, it was 18-year-old VonDerrit Myers Jr. All in the St. Louis region.

Had it not been for the Ferguson uprising, the deaths of these Black men would have likely gone unnoticed, except for a small, dedicated group of activists who have been tracking police shootings since the 1960s.

Theyd long been troubled by the local polices treatment of Black residents and its culture of impunity, the opaque investigations and the often mind-boggling conclusions  such as the finding that the killing of 25-year-old Cary Ball Jr., shot 25 times at close range in 2013, was justified.

After Browns death on Aug. 9, 2014, the activists saw an opening.

They began drafting legislation to create a Civilian Oversight Board that would review the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments internal investigations into officers accused of excessive force, abuse of authority and discrimination. The group of seven city residents would also scrutinize the departments investigations into officer-involved shootings and killings.

Theyd gotten this bill passed in 2006, but the mayor had vetoed it.

This time, the reformers had some powerful new supporters  Ferguson protest leaders.

For months after Ferguson, people were marching to City Hall and shutting down busy intersections almost daily, demanding police reform. Young, Black Ferguson frontliners chanting into bullhorns were soon joined by people whod never protested before  teens marching alongside their teachers, mothers wheeling babies in strollers.

This time, the mayor not only refrained from opposing the bill, he added his name as a co-sponsor.

The Civilian Oversight Board bill passed April 20, 2015. Exactly six years later, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd; that same day, criminal justice reformer Tishaura Jones was inaugurated as St. Louis mayor, becoming the first African American woman to lead the city.

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While the young Ferguson activists cheered at the bills final vote, many of the longtime Black activists  who had been advocating to pass this legislation for three decades  were more sedate.

I was almost moved to tears, even though I know there is a hard road ahead of us, said Jamala Rogers, co-chair of the Coalition Against Police Crimes & Repression, who helped write the bill.

Since 2015, St. Louis police officers have shot 53 people, killing 27 of them, according to the Police Department. Yet the Civilian Oversight Board hasnt reviewed a single one of those cases. And the Police Department has withheld nearly all of the complaints it receives against officers, leaving the board unable to fulfill its basic function.

We dont know what the nature of the complaint was, said Kimberley Taylor-Riley, the oversight boards commissioner. We dont know who it was against. We dont know any of that information about any of those complaints.

Its been more than six years since Browns killing made St. Louis the epicenter of the most promising civil rights movement since the 1960s. Yet despite stacks of studies and seemingly unprecedented public support for change, St. Louis has not seen a single substantive victory for police reform, thanks in large part to an influential police union and a larger police apparatus that has stymied accountability.

Today, St. Louis continues to have the highest number of police shootings per capita in the nation and is home to a roiling public showdown over racism in policing.

The trajectory of the Civilian Oversight Board shows just how difficult it is to reform police departments from the outside, in St. Louis and across the United States.

But the challenges for the board and the hurdles faced by a long list of other police reforms have also provided a revolutionary lesson to the new generation of activists who came of age during Ferguson. Theyre leading a new movement, one being watched around the nation, with a more ambitious agenda for confronting structural racism: Rather than trying to push reform from the outside, theyre audaciously taking control of the citys institutions from the inside.

As a 24-year-old, Kayla Reed threw herself into activism after Browns killing, eventually becoming one of the reform movements leaders. In the beginning, she hunted down solutions to the problems she saw in each individual case of police brutality. And she quickly saw every reform she pushed for fail to fix anything.

In Mike Browns case, there was no camera. And so people asked for body cameras. The officers were white. So people asked for more diversity, she said. There was no consequence for the officers. So people asked for a civilian oversight. But each of those solutions  more training, diversity, cameras, civilian oversight  only add more money to the police and can be derailed or controlled by the police union.

Jones ascension to the mayors office stands as the movements crowning victory and is already leading to significant changes. Jones first executive order tackled the problems at the civilian board head on: She demanded that all complaints against police officers over the last five years be turned over to her office.

I will never see your complaint

When the architects drew up the Civilian Oversight Board, they had a principal mission: to ensure the department was properly investigating complaints about police misconduct and excessive use of force that citizens regularly file.

Its mostly unable to do that because the Police Department has not followed protocols outlined in the ordinance.

If people feel mistreated by a St. Louis police officer, the ordinance stated that they could find a joint civilian complaint form at all police facilities, which would be used by the Police Department and the board.

The police had only been providing people with an Internal Affairs Division complaint form, which stays at the Police Department.

By not using the proper form, the Police Department has effectively thwarted the intent of the oversight law. I will never see your complaint, said Taylor-Riley, the boards commissioner.

The department did not respond to requests to comment for this story. The department did tell The Missouri Independent and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting that it does not track the overall number of complaints.

However, theres a way to get an idea of how many are actually filed. When a person fills out a joint civilian complaint form, a copy goes to both the Police Department and the Civilian Oversight Board, where each is stamped with case numbers from both entities. So, for example, the last complaint the board received in 2016 had the case numbers: COB 16-0017 and IAD 16-0407. That suggests it was the 17th case of the year for the board and the 407th case handled by the Police Departments Internal Affairs Division.

Using that method, from 2016 through 2019, the board saw a total of 125 cases; the Police Department received more than 3,000 complaints in that time.

Put another way, the oversight board reviewed less than 5% of residents complaints against St. Louis police.

In that first executive order, Jones not only demanded to get all the withheld complaints, but she also took steps to ensure that the Police Department followed the law. She ordered the Police Department to use the joint civilian complaint form that the bill had called for, effective immediately.

In a report obtained by The Missouri Independent and Reveal, the Civilian Oversight Board found that the vast majority of complaints it has received are made by Black men ages 25 to 49 against white officers. The board found that the Police Department has been interviewing fewer numbers of complainants and officers in recent years.

In 2019, the board received 25 complaints. Of those complaints, the police interviewed only one person. Board members are supposed to be invited to these interviews, but the board says members werent invited to that interview.

In the past, when board members were able to sit in on the departments interviews with the complainants, they were able to change the tone of the interviews, said John Chasnoff, co-chair of the Coalition Against Police Crimes & Repression, who also helped write the bill that created the board.

Early on, they were able to see that the police were treating complainants more like they were suspects and interrogating them to poke holes in their story, instead of being more receptive, Chasnoff said.

Demands for police accountability

Many activists saw the boards true potential as a check against polices self-investigations into police shootings. The endeavor has been a total failure in that regard.

From 2015 through 2020, there were 53 cases in which a city officer shot someone in the line of duty, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Police killed 27 of those people. Not a single one of those shootings has made it to the Civilian Oversight Board in the nearly five years its been up and running.

When a shooting like this happens, the Police Departments Force Investigation Unit opens an investigation. The civilian board was supposed to review the units investigation once its completed. Did the police talk to all the witnesses? Is all of the evidence there?

But right now, the investigations arent getting past Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner, the citys top prosecutor and one of the leading criminal justice reform prosecutors in the country.

She can rarely close investigations, she said, because some of the cases she receives from the Police Department are so incomplete.

She says the investigations first need to be moved out of the Police Department and into an investigative unit in her office. At that point, her office would prepare a report for the civilian board and the public.

Where is it in our criminal justice system that a defendant commits a crime and all his friends, whether theyre well meaning or not, get to investigate whether theyre going to hold them accountable? Gardner said.

In 2017, she told the Board of Aldermen that members of the Force Investigations Unit had instructed an officer not to speak with her prosecutors about a shooting case. Additionally, one of the units members told prosecutors that he had a duty to protect his fellow officers, Gardner said.

Oftentimes when theres a shooting, Gardner said in an interview, her office gets notified hours after the officers union attorney is called.

The police union lawyer is already on the scene before the Circuit Attorneys Office, Gardner said. That is not appropriate.

Thats why Gardner has been pushing for legislation to establish an independent investigative unit within her office, to give prosecutors more authority at the crime scenes in these cases. The new unit would take officer-involved shooting investigations completely out of the Police Department.

The police cannot investigate themselves, she said.

Taking the reins of power

Gardner first pushed legislation to move investigations out of the Police Department back in 2018, and its been strongly supported by the activists who wrote the Civilian Oversight Board bill.

In a hearing, the police unions attorney, Brian Millikan, warned that an independent investigative unit would have a hard time earning the trust of the police officers or persuading them to give voluntary statements, which are crucial in criminal investigations. Officers always volunteered to give statements to the Police Departments internal unit, he noted.

For these officers to continue to cooperate in the fashion that they do, they need to trust the system in which they are operating under, Millikan said. I understand the public needs to trust the system as well. But its not just the public.

The measure never got past the first round of hearings. The same thing happened to another bill, proposed by Alderwoman Megan Green, aimed at curtailing the Police Departments use of chemical munitions at protests and establishing protocols for how police should respond to protestors.

The union then ran an aggressive campaign against Green, labeling her a communist. In one Facebook post targeting her, the union declared: BETTER DEAD THAN RED. Another alderwoman took it as a death threat.

The union also fought the creation of the Civilian Oversight Board. At a raucous public hearing for the bill, dozens of officers stood in unison to oppose the watchdog measure, calling it anti-police legislation.

Officers then refused to provide their voluntary statements to the board once it was created. The union sued to try to prevent the board from having access to the statements officers gave to Internal Affairs investigators, but ultimately lost the suit.

Jay Schroeder, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, said the union is unfairly accused of being anti-reform and of protecting bad officers.

The purpose of the police union is to advocate for all its members, he said. Our mission statement for years was to obtain a union contract, collective bargaining rights and due process rights. Thats always been kind of our focus.

Meanwhile, he couldnt recall a single instance when the union has publicly denounced a police officer for misconduct.

Terry Kennedy is the longtime aldermen who championed the civilian oversight bill and led the Black Aldermanic Caucus for many years. He grew up hearing stories about his enslaved great-grandparents  what they did in the struggle to move the needle for his generation.

Kennedy has spent his life trying to do the same for this new generation of activists, like Kayla Reed. And he understands that they have to come up with new tactics to meet the moment.

Racism and white supremacy is adaptable, Kennedy said. As opposed to being so overt, it became more institutionalized. So the fight has to change.

As Reed watched reform after reform die, she began to see where power truly resided and decided shed been doing it all wrong.

She drew up a whole new plan back in 2016. Reed would build a movement that would become as politically powerful as the police union. Any prosecutor, alderman or mayor who wanted to get elected would need the movements endorsement. If they didnt support reform legislation, theyd have to think about how it would impact her support.

They would take control of the reins of power. They would change policing as we know it. So police stop killing Black people.

We spend too much money on police, Reed said, and its not keeping us safe. What does it mean to spend that much money on people? Thats not radical. Thats not revolutionary. That is common sense to me.

Reveal reporter Trey Bundy contributed to this story. It was edited by Andrew Donohue, Jason Hancock and Nina Martin. Kenya Vaughn was a contributing editor. It was fact checked by Liz Boyd and copy edited by Nikki Frick.
A bomb blast injured former Maldives president and current parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Thursday, officials and residents said.

The 53-year-old pro-democracy pioneer was about to get into his car in the congested capital when a bomb rigged to a motorcycle was detonated, officials said.

"Nasheed escaped an assassination attempt," a Maldivian government official told AFP by telephone. "He is injured, but his condition is stable."

Armed police units and security forces cordoned off the area where the attack took place.

The Indian Ocean nation of 330,000 Sunni Muslims is known for its regular political turmoil as well as its luxury holiday resorts.

Police confirmed that Nasheed sustained injuries but did not give details. They said he was being treated at the ADK Hospital in Male.

Officials said the Maldivian parliament, which was in recess, called an emergency meeting following the attack.

The blast came just before a night curfew was due to go into effect in the capital as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. The archipelago of 26 atolls is battling a surge in infections concentrated on Male.

A family member said Nasheed had sustained several wounds.

"They have put him under anaesthesia. There is a deeper cut on one of his arms," the family member told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said Nasheed was responsive and spoke with doctors as he was taken in with shrapnel injuries. One of his bodyguards was also taken to hospital.

Residents in Male said the blast was heard across the capital.

Nasheed is a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience who became the country's first democratically elected president in the first multi-party elections in 2008.

He was toppled in a coup in 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years prison in 2015 on terrorism charges slammed as politically motivated by civil rights groups.

President Abdulla Yameen let him leave for medical treatment and Nasheed went into exile in Britain, but he returned home in 2018.

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Nasheed has opposed heavy borrowing from China under Yameen's administration, accusing the former strongman of mortgaging the island paradise to Beijing for infrastructure projects.

Nasheed became parliament speaker, the nation's second most powerful position, following 2019 polls.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid strongly condemned the attack in a Twitter statement.

"Cowardly attacks like these have no place in our society. My thoughts and prayers are with President Nasheed and others injured in this attack, as well as their families."

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he was "deeply concerned" at the attack on Nasheed.

"Wish him a speedy recovery. Know that he will never be intimidated," Jaishankar said on Twitter.

str/aj/jm
May 5A former Northern Oklahoma College theater professor faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being charged Tuesday with first-degree rape and other felony sex-related charges.

Anthony Lee Luetkenhaus, 37, was charged Tuesday in Kay County District Court. He faces 5 years to life without parole on the first-degree rape charge; up to 20 years on a kidnapping charge; up to 10 years each on two counts of sexual battery; and up to a year in prison and/or a fine up to $1,000 on a misdemeanor charge of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images.

He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court at 9 a.m. Friday.

According to a charging sheet provided by Kay County District Court, the rape charge stems from an incident at the NOC campus in Tonkawa in which Luetkenhaus is accused of having sex with the victim "where force was used ... by restraining (the victim) with rope and refusing to free (the victim) from the restraints." The time frame listed is Jan. 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018.

The kidnapping charge accuses Luetkenhaus of "unlawfully confining (the victim) without lawful authority and with the intent to confine (the victim) against her will," also on the NOC campus. The time frame listed also is Jan. 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018.

The two counts of sexual battery involve a second victim. They accuse Luetkenhaus of "intentionally touching the body of (the victim), a person over 16 years of age, in a lewd and lascivious manner and without the consent of (the victim)." The time frame for one count is Aug. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2018, while the time frame for the second count is Jan. 1, 2019, through May 31, 2019.

The misdemeanor charge accuses Luetkenhaus of "intentionally disseminating images of identifiable individuals whose intimate parts are exposed with the intent to harass the individuals."

NOC officials announced in an emailed press release Tuesday that Luetkenhaus' employment was terminated Monday. Additionally, NOC President Cheryl Evans said Luetkenhaus was banned from the campus for the protection of the NOC community.

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In a campus announcement sent out Monday, Evans provided resources from both NOC and the area communities. Professional counselors were on campus Monday, and the college hs arranged for counseling support for any victims traumatized by the situation. Students and employees are encouraged to contact Jason Johnson, vice president for student affairs/Title IX coordinator for counseling referral information.

"Our campus community is heartbroken for the victims in the allegations against Tony Luetkenhaus and are fully cooperating with the Tonkawa Police Department in the investigation," Evans said in her announcement. "We are doing everything we can so justice is served and we can begin the healing process. We want to thank the courageous people who stepped forward to report their experiences. Our college is a safer place because of your bravery."

Late on April 28, NOC administration became aware of allegations against Luetkenhaus, and law enforcement was invited to campus early Thursday morning to investigate, according to NOC.

In a Facebook post made Tuesday afternoon, Tonkawa Police Department said interviews were made April 29 with "numerous students" based on sexual offense allegations made against Luetkenhaus. Additionally, police officials "were presented evidence and disclosures during the course of this initial investigation." Luetkenhaus was arrested and jailed on $150,000 bond. NOC also suspended Luetkenhaus on Thursday.

Following Luetkenhaus' arrest, Tonkawa Police Department, with the assistance of the 8th District Attorney's Office, filed for and executed search warrants on Luektenhaus' residence in Stillwater and his office on the NOC Tonkawa campus, according to the TPD Facebook post. Evidence was collected and seized.

"We have reached out to additional state agencies for assistance in this developing investigation," the Facebook post states. "Since the arrest, new alleged victims inside and outside of Oklahoma continue to come forward who are present or past students of Luetkenhaus. As this investigation continues, we anticipate additional charges and additional victims."

According to the website anthonyluetken haus.com, Luetkenhaus was at NOC since 2016 as director of technical theater and professor of theater.

His teaching experience also includes Culver-Stockton College, Canton, Mo., 2010-2013, and Western Illinois University, Macomb, Ill., 2008.
A suspected Aryan Brotherhood member who was sentenced to life in the 2005 shooting death of a Fort Worth police officer has died at a prison hospital, according to a state official.

Stephen Lance Heard, 54, of Texarkana, died Tuesday at Hospital Galveston, said Robert Hurst, a spokesman with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, in a Thursday email.

Hurst said TDCJ officials do not release prisoners cause of death.

Heard arrived in prison on Dec. 28, 2007, according to TDCJ records.

Heard was found guilty of capital murder in November 2007 in the killing of Fort Worth Officer Henry Hank Nava and sentenced to life in prison.

Nava and two other officers had gone in November 2005 to a mobile home in the 7000 block of Seth Barwise Street in search of Heard, who was wanted on a parole violation warrant. Nava was shot by the wanted man and died two days later.

Shortly after the fatal shooting, Bill Read, his patrol captain, ordered that Navas patrol car be parked at the corner of Ellis and 25th streets, and mourners left stuffed animals and notes on and around it.

Police officials said they did not have a suitable location to display the car and in 2007 loaned it to the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, Florida.

Fort Worth officers went to Florida to retrieve the car in 2019, and authorities have since parked it and left it on display in the Felix Street police and fire administration building lobby.

In May 2018, KayLeigh Nava, Navas daughter, graduated from Texas Christian University. She was 9 when he died.

She had a message for the daughters of Officer Garrett Hull, who was shot and killed that year. Id tell his girls that as a child, we dont get a say-so in our parents careers, she told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

We dont get a say how our daddies fight to save other peoples lives  but sometimes they cant save their own.

At the hospital in 2005, as her father lay dying, she wrote a heart-rending letter to his killer: You are going down and my dad is going to Heaven.

Since then, she and her brother, Justin, and their mother, Teresa, have hosted 5K runs and blood drives to help survivors in other police families.

This report contains information from Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new bill Thursday morning to change mail-in voting in Florida, the only television cameras allowed to capture the moment belonged to FOX News.

Outside, reporters and videographers from local news outlets were told the ceremonial bill signing was an exclusive for FOX & Friends, the conservative networks morning show. DeSantis confirmed as much later in the day.

But FOX says it never asked for the special treatment. In a statement to the Tampa Bay Times, the network said, FOX & Friends did not request or mandate that the May 6th event and interview with Gov. Ron DeSantis be exclusive to FOX News Media entities.

Later, the network clarified that its producers werent aware that DeSantis was going to sign the bill on camera. He was booked on Thursday for an interview and not as a live bill signing.

About five minutes into the interview, FOX & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade probed DeSantis about the details in the election bill and asked, What are you about to sign?

I have what we think is the strongest election integrity measures in the country. Im actually going to sign it right here, DeSantis said as he put a blue Sharpie to paper.

There you go, another co-host, Steve Doocy said. Its official.

DeSantis then held up a poster board that outlined the bill, prompting Doocy to exclaim: He came with graphics!

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The First Amendment

Just before his appearance, DeSantis posted on Twitter that he was joining FOX & Friends to sign the bill. Local Republicans advertised the governors appearance on Wednesday night.

The governors office did not respond to FOX News characterization of how Thursdays event transpired. In Panama City Beach later that morning, DeSantis defended only letting Fox & Friends in the room because it was aired on national television.

We did a wonderful bill signing for this great elections bill, DeSantis said. It was live on national television. We were happy to give them the exclusive on that. Thats broadcast to millions of people.

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People who dont have a cable subscription or who dont watch that network, though, wouldnt have seen it.

Aside from the optics, theres also a question of whether DeSantis violated the First Amendment by shutting members of the press out of a public event, experts told the Times. A federal court in Ohio upheld that a public official cannot discriminate against journalists based on perceived bias, said Clay Calvert, a University of Florida law professor and director of the schools First Amendment Project.

In addition to DeSantis, several elected officials joined him in West Palm Beach for the bill signing, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and the bills sponsors, Rep. Blaise Ingoglia and Sen. Dennis Baxley. Members of a local fan club for former President Donald Trump were also in attendance.

If this is a public proceeding, he should not have discriminated against journalists based on their perceived stance on political issues, Calvert said. A bill signing typically is a public proceeding.

Edward Birk, a Jacksonville-based First Amendment attorney, said elected officials can grant exclusive arrangements with certain news organizations but they cannot exclude media to a public event.

Regardless whether it violates the First Amendment, which it may, its bad government, Birk said.

Backlash to the bill signing

Backlash to the staged event was immediate. Democrats accused DeSantis of hiding behind a friendly network as he signed one of his more contentious priorities. The legislation DeSantis signed, Senate Bill 90, requires people to request mail-in ballots every two years instead of every four, curbs the use of drop boxes and limits the ability for someone to turn in a ballot for non-family members.

The sequence of events also provided a potential line of attack for future political opponents of DeSantis.

This is the difference between Gov. Ron DeSantis and me, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democratic candidate for governor, tweeted. He locks out the public and caters to Fox News. When I was governor, I invited everyone in.

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Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat and another potential gubernatorial candidate, compared DeSantis bill signing event to the actions taken by leaders in Venezuela and China.

Authoritarian regimes have state run presses, not here in America, Fried said.
There could only be one Fred Tasker and, for more than 40 years, Miami Herald readers were exposed to the mad genius of his brilliant mind.

Tasker could explain everything you need to know about wine in his Herald column to the latest breakthrough in brain surgery. He charted Miamis growth, covered the areas burgeoning arts scene, chronicled chefs in the kitchen, wine makers in their vineyards and even weighed in on the eternal battle over the toilet seat  should it be left up or down?

These things were important to readers so they became important to Tasker.

For eons, womens first criterion for judging a man has been how he leaves the lavatory lid. Its like a red flag. If its up, hes a cad; if its down, it was probably a mistake but he might be semi-OK assuming hes also good to the kids and helps with the dishes, Tasker wrote in a 1994 column.

Fredric Cloise Tasker, died on Monday at 79 from complications of Parkinsons Disease, his wife Katharine Westie said from their northern Michigan home. The couple had moved from Miami to be near family in Michigan when he retired from the Herald in 2012.

But even in retirement from his daily newspaper assignments, Tasker kept enchanting listeners. Yes, he did radio, too.

The Wine Guy

Fred Tasker, a former Miami Herald reporter, was a professional wine judge for national and international wine competitions and served on the tasting panel of Wine News magazine.

For 17 years, from 1999 to 2016, Tasker was known as the wine guy on Food News and Views, a weekly radio show hosted by Linda Gassenheimer on WLRN, the South Florida NPR affiliate and a Herald news partner. He continued to do the hour-long show after his Herald retirement remotely from Michigan until 2016, when Parkinsons Disease took away his radio voice.

On the program, WLRNs retired producer and Topical Currents host Joe Cooper recalls the joie de vivre Tasker infused in their broadcasts.

I could not believe how versatile Fred was in his reporting. Any topic you could think of hed be an expert on soon. I remember the coverage on the Arsht Center and he covered that extensively. He was just a joy to work with. I never heard him say a discouraging word. He was so easy to get along with, Cooper said.

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Born in Michigan

Tasker was born in Lake Odessa, Michigan. He earned his bachelors degree from Michigan State University  Honors College and his masters from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, which included a year of study in Bologna, Italy, on a Fulbright grant. He also earned a masters degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Tasker served for three years as an officer in the U.S. Army that included a tour of duty in Vietnam.

His Herald career

Fred Tasker in a September 1985 file photo.

After his tour of duty, Tasker joined the Miami Herald in 1969. Hed stay for 43 years.

The paper tried him out as an editor, once, but Tasker cringed. He wanted to be out in the field and tell the stories, as a reporter or as a columnist.

He loved what he did and he said he had the best job in the world and I get to learn something new every day, his wife said.

A relief effort for victims of a gas explosion in Bhopal, India, in 1985 got its start in Hialeah after Tasker wrote about the tragedy in one of his Miami Herald Living section columns.

When dolls and stuffed animals used in therapy were stolen from the Pediatric Orthopedic Rehabilitation Unit at Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1987, doctors and therapists were incensed. Tasker wrote about the toys theft in a 1987 story. Readers responded.

Suffice it to say, every child on the unit got the coveted Cabbage Patch doll that year, his wife said.

Westie and Tasker would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 30.

Wine adventures

Fred Tasker with an oversize Polaroid that featured his image made by artist William Wegman.

For two decades Tasker wrote a wine column for the Herald that was picked up by papers around the country. He was a wine judge for national and international wine competitions, from the Sonoma Harvest Fair to the Banco dAssagio in Italy. He served on the tasting panel of Wine News magazine.

When asked to name his favorite wine, he would say, The next new wine I try, his wife said.

She offers a theory as to why Tasker thrived for so long as a communicator.

He was someone who was curious about everything and good at a lot of things. ... He could build an addition on our house; he could fix anything. He was a gourmet cook and he just did a lot of things well, Westie said.

In one of his wine features for the Herald in 2001, Tasker found himself in Tokaj, Hungary, 60 feet underground in a dark tunnel so narrow only one can pass at a time, so low we have to stoop, he wrote. Its 51 degrees and 85 percent humidity; icy water drips down our necks from the two-inch-thick slime of mold that lines the cave.

Fred, with his insatiable curiosity and his love of learning, took readers around the world, whether to teach them about a prized Hungarian wine to covering the International AIDS Conferences in Bangkok and Barcelona. Freds prose took you there, said Joan Chrissos, a Herald editor who worked with Tasker.

Fred Tasker assumes the classic position of the Thinker for an illustration to go with a Jan. 1, 1994, story he wrote for the Miami Herald about toilet thinkers. The toilet was courtesy of the Bath Collection in Miami.

Survivors, service

In addition to his wife, Taskers survivors include his daughter, two grandchildren and a sister.

An outdoor family service will be deferred until Michigan weather warms up and because of the COVID pandemic, his wife said.

Westie said the family would very much welcome any memories or Fred stories that friends, colleagues or readers would like to send, to be read at the service. These may be sent to kswestie@gmail.com.
The letter Im referencing could have been written by Tucker Carlson, Fox News prime time racist. But it was actually taken from a rant written by the parent of a girl at an elite prep school in New York City. In fact, a lot of the prose is the same as the New York dads, but customized for Gilman and Bryn Mawr.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  The sheriff was already running late to the office when a woman pleaded for him to stop. She wanted to pay her respects to the families of Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox, but didn't have much to offer.

Less than a week ago in Boone, North Carolina, two deputies had been killed in the line of duty while performing what was supposed to be a routine welfare check. They were met with gunfire and killed after entering the home.

It isnt much, but I would like for them to have it,' the woman told Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman on Tuesday.

She handed the sheriff a crumpled-up dollar bill, three quarters and a nickel, proudly noting it was her money. He seriously considered not taking it, realizing she was the one who needed it more.

Then it hit him.

Her gifts worth is not measured by the tactile touch of paper nor that of coin," Hagaman said. "It was, after all, her gift  a gift that cannot be identified by ink and paper, nor that of forged metal. Its worth transcends any worth that we could ever ascribe. It is, however, the quiet and simple gift of hope, faith and love. These are the three attributes of our two fallen brothers.

The deputies may have saved lives, Hagaman said in an interview last week. The gunman who killed his mother, stepfather and the two deputies owned a lot weapons, which may have been intended for a mass shooting, Hagaman said. The gunman is also suspected of taking his own life during the 13-hour standoff with police.

Had (the shooter) gotten out of the house, the neighborhood would have been in extreme danger, Hagaman said in the interview. He did not say anything about targeting law enforcement, just humanity in general.

On Thursday, members of the Boone community and beyond attended the funeral memorializing Ward and Fox. Dozens of family members, law enforcement officials and complete strangers gathered at Appalachian State Universitys Holmes Convocation Center to mourn the deputies, with hundreds more watching a livestream of the event from their homes.

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Overwhelmed by the mix of sadness for their loss but gratitude for the support they've received since their sons died on April 28, the deputies' fathers walked on stage and choked up, but had a clear message.

America, dont wait for when this happens to show our law enforcement we care, said Rev. David Ward, Chris' father.

Family members remember Ward as a loving son, husband and father of two daughters. He cherished hunting, fishing and being outdoors. The Watauga High School alum started his career at the Beech Mountain Police Department in 2013 and joined the Watauga County Sheriffs Department in 2018.

Fox planned to spend the rest of his life with his high school sweetheart, whom he had been with for seven years. He was long dedicated to serving others, winning the Community Service and Impact Award from his hometown of Beech Mountain at the age of 14. The Ashe County Sheriff's Office recruited him in 2017 and promoted him to K-9 deputy. He then moved to the Watauga County Sheriffs Office in 2019 to continue his passion.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, a Christian evangelical leader and president of Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, sought to console the families during the service.

Im asked from time to time, Why? Why does God allow pain? Suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why? Graham said. I dont know. I cant answer that question. But I do know this: I know that God loves us. I know that for sure. The Bible tells us right here, Gods word. ... I dont understand it all, but I do believe it all.

Hagaman, the county sheriff, vowed to be there for the families well beyond Thursday.

Theres a brotherhood that is there for each and every one of us," he said. Your heart hurts. You have a void that cannot be filled easily, but I want you to know that we love you, were here for you after this ceremony and months and weeks ahead. Thank you for allowing us to have these two brave men protect the citizens of Watauga County.

At 36 and 25, Chris Ward and Logan Fox died as they lived each day since taking their oath to serve the community they so loved: Heroes, the fathers declared.

___

Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

___

Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Alamy

George Chakiris loves the question, What was it like?

What was it like to film West Side Story? What was it like to win an Oscar for his performance as Bernardo?

What was it like to work with legendary choreographer and director Jerome Robbins? What was it like to be a dancer in the Golden of Age of Hollywood?

What was it like to be in the Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend number with Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

Rita Moreno Almost Quit Original West Side Story Because It Was Racist

West Side Story is celebrating its 60th anniversary this fall. Its a milestone that has garnered renewed interest in the original film thanks to a recent Broadway revival and a remake of the film set for release later this year from Steven Spielberg. Suffice it to say, the 86-year-old actor has been answering the question a lot.

Hes participating in a cast reunion alongside Russ Tamblyn, who played Riff, and Rita Moreno, his screen partner and the iconic Anita, that premieres Thursday night as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival on TCM and HBO Max. He recently published a memoir, My West Side Story: A Memoir, about that time in his career. Especially with the recent trailer for Spielbergs West Side Story eliciting nationwide goosebumps, people are asking more than ever, What was it like? Gifted the opportunity to look back, hes taking delight in remembering himself.

I think I have the same fascination and interest, Chakiris tells The Daily Beast in a recent interview. When hes had the opportunity to work with someone who has a connection to the romanticized Hollywood of yore, its a reflex for him, too, to ask the question.

George Chakiris poses with his book next to his handprints during the ceremony unveiling the new plaque honoring all the 100+ Oscar winners who got their handprint-footprints at the TCL Chinese Theater, April 21, 2021, in Hollywood, California. Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty

More than anything, hes tickled that people have that same instinct when it comes to him. Its nice to revisit all the nice things that happened in my life, and the wonderful people I got to know and work with, he says. Ive loved being able to revisit all the good things.

Chakiris was born in Ohio, the son of Greek immigrants and one of six siblings. Early memories involve dancing with his sister in their family home. When the brood moved to California, he began taking dance classes, grateful for a lack of judgment on behalf of his parents when their son wanted to study ballet in the 1940s.

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After dropping out of college and moving to Hollywood, he worked a desk job at a department store and took dance classes at night. He eventually landed roles as a chorus boy singing and dancing in a slew of 50s musicals: Stars and Stripes Forever, Call Me Madam, White Christmas, Brigadoon, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Spot him lithe and dapper dancing behind Marilyn Monroe while she, in her hip-hugging pink dress and solar-flare charisma, makes cinematic history performing Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend.

One of my favorite credits, to use that word, is being able to say that I was one of the guys behind Marilyn Monroe in that number, he says. I love being able to say that because everybody remembers that and loves Marilyn Monroe.

His big break came courtesy of a publicity photo. He was hired as a dancer for White Christmas, but marketing materials featuring him next to star Rosemary Clooney started to earn him fan mail at Paramount, which then signed him to a studio contract.

It feels so good to have been part of all that in whatever way I was, he says. I was just a chorus dancer, but I loved being a chorus dancer. I danced behind Rosemary Clooney and Marilyn Monroe and so on. Those were great days.

For all the storytelling about his time on West Side Story over the decades, there are still surprising things to learn. For example, the Oscar-winning Bernardo had previously played Riff in the stage musical that preceded the movie.

Disillusioned with his Hollywood career, Chakiris moved to New York, where he auditioned for legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins. Robbins cast him as the leader of the Jets, sending Chakiris to London, where he earned rave reviews for his West End performance as Riffand would pal around with Peter OToole, Albert Finney, and Julie Andrews in his free time.

When word spread that a film version of the musical was in the works, the stage cast assumed they would be passed over for movie stars. But sure enough, Chakiris was offered a screen test, though he was surprised to be asked to read for Riff and Bernardo, the Puerto Rican leader of the Sharks. (Chakiris, again, is of Greek heritage.) After Natalie Wood was cast as Maria, Chakiris, because of his swarthy complexion, was thought a better fit for Bernardo than Riff.

You know, its funny how picky you can get as a young person and be like, Oh, I dont want to play that, I dont want to play this Chakiris says. Because I was playing Riff in the theater every night, that was what I knew. And so I was hoping that I would be cast as Riff.

Still, he admits with a chuckle, being cast as Bernardo worked out pretty well for him. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work and, because the film version incorporated Bernardo and the Sharks into its tour de force America number alongside Anita and the girls, he is part of what may be the greatest musical scene in film history.

In the theater version of the show, the song Cool is sung by Riff, so the role of Riff has more meat on the bone, so to speak, Chakiris says. In the film version, because the guys are included in America, Bernardo has more meat on the bone. So I kind of had the best of both worlds playing Riff in the theater and playing Bernardo in the film.

When production wrapped on the film version of West Side Story, by the way, he went right back to playing Riff on stage.

In talking about West Side Story over the years, there are oft-repeated stories that he likes having the opportunity to correct.

First among them is the increasingly, he says, exaggerated report that Robbins, whose choreography for the show changed the way dance is used in musical-theater storytelling, was too domineering and caustic to endure.

A lot of the dancers hated him but loved him, Moreno once said about working with Robbins on the America sequence. He would think nothing of making us do one step over and over until we broke down in tears or pulled something. Shin splints for days. He was a tough and demanding daddy, but if you got a smile out of him, you floated on air for days.

West Side Story lyricist Stephen Sondheim has said, Hes the only genius Ive ever met, but he was demanding and easily offended. You came out scarred, but you came out with good work.

Chakiris speaks highly and defensively about Robbins.

Jerry has a tough reputation, which Im sure hes earned, he says. But there is the other side of Jerry that people dont stop to consider when they talk about him. Theres this almost cliche kind of reputation that he has about being difficult and all that, and he could be. But he was a perfectionist, and he was a perfectionist with himself first.

It was hard, I think, to be him, and to be the artist that he was, because he couldnt settle for anything less than the best, and thats hard, he continues. He was hard on himself because of that. But thats what makes him tick, and thats how he achieved what he achieved.

The years have also brought a deserved reconsideration about the way the Puerto Rican population is portrayed in the film.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Moreno spoke about how she nearly quit the movie when she realized how denigrating some of the lyrics in America were to Puerto Ricans. (Of the films leads, she was the only one actually of Puerto Rican descent.) The lyric was eventually changed.

Spielbergs version of the film, which works off a screenplay adaptation from Tony Kushner, corrected many, many of the wrongs, if not all of them, she said. Steven and Tony Kushner really worked their asses off to get it right.

Both Moreno when we spoke then and Chakiris now are careful to point out that while evolutions and updates to the storys racial politics are to be celebrated, that shouldnt be at the expense of acknowledging, for its flaws, how bold and, in large part, unimpeachable their film still is.

Steven Spielberg has the blessing, so to speak, of being able to look at something that exists and thinking how he might do this or that to change things, Chakiris says. But thats not the same as creating something.

The years have also given Chakiris the opportunity to reflect on what, from todays perspective and after much-needed discourse about representation, diversity, and inclusion, would never happenat least not without controversy. The fact that Moreno is the only Puerto Rican lead cast member is somewhat shocking from a modern point of view.

I totally understand and get the conversation thats going on today, Chakiris says. If somebodys going to play Puerto Rican, it would be nice if they were actually Puerto Rican. But to me, the most important thing in casting is, putting ethnicity aside, you need to have the freedom to hire the personnot the background, but the personwho is best suited to play the role the way you envision it as a producer or a director.

He stresses how important that conversation is today, and how vital the practice of representational casting is. But its also a very different time in the industry than it was 60 years ago.

Thinking back, if that had been the national or worldwide conversation at the time, that would have been taken into consideration, he says. But that wasnt what was going on in the United States and in the world. People were free to cast without being quote-unquote politically correct. I think its good to be politically correct, especially now. Because we have so many more people in the business now, you have so many more people to select from. So its really possible to be politically and artistically correct at the same time.

On the topic of casting white actors to play Puerto Ricans, he would also like to correct something his good friend and co-star Moreno has said in the past.

TCM

As she told the Beast, she was mortified while in the makeup chair about how much dark foundation and tinted paint was being put on her and her co-stars to make them read more ethnic on screen. Poor George Chakiris always looked like he had been dipped in a bucket of mud, she said.

Chakiris swears the makeup never looked wrong to him, and felt it was correct for the project they were all doing. He brings up that Moreno has also said in the past that Puerto Rican people can have a range of skin tones.

In her saying that, that means that any shade in between is acceptable because shes saying that all those colors, all those shades apply, he says. So the makeup never occurred to me because I wasnt wearing heavy makeup. I wasnt! I would like to stop that rumor from going on because it isnt the truth.

When asked if revisiting all those storiesand clarifying all those rumorsever leads to rewatches of the film, Chakiris has a surprising answer. He estimates the last time he watched it was a decade ago at a 50th anniversary celebration at Los Angeles Graumans Chinese Theatre. Before that was likely at the 40th anniversary soiree at Radio City Music Hall.

He only ever wants to see it on a big screen. So Ive only seen it, believe it or not, maybe five or six times in all these 60 years.

At the beginning, I think, well, I dont think Ill sit through all this, he says. But I end up sitting through the whole thing because it grabs me like it grabs anybody. Once its started, I cant leave the theater. I love following it to the end and that beautiful last scene which is so, so moving. As much now as it was then.

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Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday ordered all state employees back to their offices in less than two weeks time, prompting protests and concern among workers who said they were blindsided by the decision.

About 15,000 Missouri employees with office jobs have been working from home since the coronavirus pandemic began last March. With COVID-19 vaccines now more readily available, Parson said Wednesday workers will all be called to return to their department buildings by May 17.

We are confident that it is safe to return to pre-COVID-19 work settings and schedules, he said in a statement. As public servants in state government, it is important that we maintain a front-facing presence for those we serve, and its time we take this step towards normalcy for ourselves and the people of Missouri.

The decision appeared to upend some state agencies own plans for a slower return to the office. Several employees across four state departments  education, labor, health and social services  told The Star that as recently as last week their departments plans called for them to continue working on a mostly-remote basis until at least July.

The Wednesday announcement sent workers scrambling to find someone to watch school-age children who will still be home attending classes online. Others worried about returning to the workplace with just a third of the states population fully vaccinated.

It just came out of nowhere, said Amy Gavin, of St. Louis, who processes disability determinations for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Even supervisors, she said, were so blindsided by this they have no answers.

Gavin, who is legally blind and unable to drive, relied on her partner to take her to and from the office. She said working from home was life-changing.

Last year, she said she applied for an accommodation to work from home permanently, as part of plans each state department had separately been drawing up for months to increase remote and hybrid work even after the pandemic. Those proposals had not been finalized, but slides from a DESE staff meeting dated Monday show the department expected its plan to go into effect in July for some divisions.

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Under that plan, the slides show, workers would have been called to the office one or two days a week, and required to work in-person more often if their performance was suffering.

When she saw Parsons order, Gavin said she asked Human Resources about the status of her request, and was told the governors order superseded the other plans.

This announcement had completely undercut all of that, she said. It overrode what all these independent agencies were doing, they had specific plans in place.

Parsons spokeswoman Kelli Jones said departments could still propose remote work plans, but for now, all state personnel must be back in the office on May 17, and that wont change before July.

Governor Parson never approved remote work as a permanent option, she said in a statement. The plan was always to return to pre-COVID-19 work settings.

Cabinet leaders were notified of the directive two full weeks in advance and provided with a plan to communicate to the workforce, Jones said. State workers adapted quickly to remote work at the start of the pandemic, and we expect the transition back to be the same.

There will be no mandates on mask-wearing or other preventive measures, though such precautions are encouraged, Jones said.

In a recorded meeting with department staff on Wednesday after the announcement, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven said she found out about the order on Monday.

I just think the sense was, If were ready to go, were ready to go, and 10 days is plenty of time, Vandeven told staff.

One Kansas City-area DESE employee said he was worried the decision had been made rashly. His wife has an immune system disorder, and though they are both vaccinated, under the departments plan he would have only been required to work in the office once a week starting July.

I also wanted to remain at home as much as my agency would approve me, he said. We still dont want to take the risk she could be exposed. Theres so little data available about the effects of COVID on a vaccinated person with lupus, and we dont know what the complications are yet.

A Department of Social Services customer service center employee in Southeast Missouri said as recently as last week, she was told to come to the office just two days per month in May. With daycares full and school ending, the single mother is asking family members if they can watch her children.

I didnt plan for child care, she said. Its just a bit of a shock.
Grand Canyon officials wanted a dozen skilled volunteers to kill bison within the park. They got tens of thousands of applicants.

More than 45,000 people from across the country applied to kill and remove bison from Grand Canyon National Park, park spokesperson Kait Thomas told McClatchy News.

Grand Canyon seeks volunteers to kill bison within the park. Heres why

I just thought it would be a cool experience, James Vasko, a 27-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, told the Associated Press. Im an avid fisher, hunter. Going to the Grand Canyon to hunt bison would be absolutely awesome.

Like Vasko, most applicants dont live near the Grand Canyon. Only about 15% of the applicants are Arizona residents, Thomas said. More than 11% live in Texas, and about 9% are from California.

All 45,040 people applied with the Arizona Game and Fish Department during a 48-hour window. People were then selected in a lottery draw.

The lottery  will send applicants to the park for provisional selection, the National Park Service said. Final selection will be contingent on meeting the volunteer qualification criteria.

During the 2021 season, there will be four five-day periods when volunteers will remove bison. Volunteers have to complete training on the first day and cant select which week they participate in.

People who are chosen are then responsible to gather three to five support volunteers to help them during the week. They can be family members or friends.

Volunteers also need their own camping equipment, firearms and non-lead ammunition.

Grand Canyon officials want the volunteers to be skilled and serious about the operation. Every volunteer is required to pass a firearms safety course and a marksmanship proficiency test.

You must show that you can handle your rifle safely and follow directions from a range master, the National Park Service said.

Volunteers also will need to haul bison carcasses, which can be very heavy. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. They will need to do this on foot.

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Additionally, volunteers must meet a number of other requirements, including:

Be a U.S. citizen 18 years or older;

Provide a photo I.D.;

Prove they are physically fit;

Pass a background check that shows no history of criminal or wildlife violations.

The volunteers are part of a five-year plan to reduce the parks bison population. The population has grown to about 600 bison in the North Rim, according to the National Park Service. Officials are hoping to reduce that number to less than 200 by killing or relocating them.

This action is necessary due to the rapid growth of the bison population and the transition from the herd using state and U.S. Forest Service lands into almost exclusively residing within Grand Canyon, National Park Service officials said. Impacts from grazing and trampling on water, vegetation, soils, and archaeological sites, as well as on visitor experience and wilderness character also necessitate action.

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KABUL (Reuters) -A former journalist who worked for Afganistan's finance ministry was shot dead by gunmen in the southern city of Kandahar on Thursday, provincial officials said, as violence mounted across the country amid a U.S. troop withdrawal.

No group immediately claimed responsibility but government officials and Western powers usually blame Taliban insurgents for such attacks, which they deny.

Nimat Rawan, a former news anchor at ToloNews, Afghanistan's largest private television station, was shot dead on Thursday morning, provincial police spokesman Jamal Naser said. Police were investigating, he said.

Many similar killings have taken place in recent months, often targeting journalists, civil society activists, government officials, and judges.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the militant group was behind the shooting of Rawan in Kandahar. In tweets on Wednesday, Mujahid had warned against "propaganda and one-sided broadcasts" by some media outlets.

"If this continues, the responsibility for the next steps will fall on the media officials and its staff themselves," he said.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack and said the militants could not the silence the people's freedom of speech.

Afghan security forces are locked in daily combat with the Taliban, which has waged war to overthrow the foreign-backed government since it was ousted from power in Kabul in 2001.

The United States has begun to pull out its forces under an agreement reacjed with the Taliban in talks last years, although it has missed a May 1 withdrawal deadline. Critics of President Joe Bidens decision to bring the troops home say the Taliban will try to sweep back into power.

In just two days, the Taliban captured a second district in the northern province of Baghlan on Thursday, provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat said.

Six Afghan security forces were killed in a Taliban night-time attack on their outpost in the central province of Ghazni, a local official said.

The Afghan government says the Taliban have killed and wounded more than 50 troops in attacks in at least 26 provinces during the last 24 hours, while its forces killed dozens of Taliban over the same period.

(Reporting by Sarwar Amani, Sardar Razmal and Mustafa Andalib; Writing by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Angus MacSwan)
The Formula One circus pitches up in Barcelona this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull's tantalising tilt at prising the spotlight away from showstoppers Mercedes topping the bill.

Three races in and against pre-season predictions it is Lewis Hamilton who leads Max Verstappen by eight points arriving at the fourth leg of the championship.

Wins last Sunday in Portugal and in the opener in Bahrain leave the seven-time champion in his customary habitat at the top of the F1 drivers' tree.

Barcelona is a track the teams know intimately as the usual venue for pre-season testing, and with its reputation as a circuit where overtaking opportunities are few and far between the onus will be on Saturday's qualifying to command a prime front row seat on Sunday's grid.

Hamilton is seeking his fifth consecutive win in Catalonia, with three of his last four victories delivered from pole.

Should he top the time sheets on Saturday he will celebrate his 100th pole position, after being denied that honour by his teammate Valtteri Bottas last weekend in Portimao.

Verstappen and Red Bull's emergence as serious title contenders not only has F1 fans gripping their sofas' arm rests or smart phones -- Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he's enjoying the same sensation he felt at the first signs Mercedes could muscle in on the then Red Bull roadshow seven years ago.

"When we were behind in testing and in Bahrain, it's a buzz that I have not felt in the team since 2013 when we had that first sniff that we could be there," said Wolff. "The whole place is excited and continues to be excited. I'd like to be happy after Abu Dhabi at the end of the season but for the time being, we'll take it one step at a time."

While the 2021 Hamilton continues to display all the hallmarks that have turned him into a serial champion - often flawless race craft, consummate professionalism and steely focus, Verstappen this season has changed.

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The Dutch driver seems to have his eye on the bigger picture, as F1's managing director Ross Brawn pointed out.

"It's clear that Max Verstappen is approaching this championship in a different way because he finally has a title-winning car," said Brawn.

"And it had to change because when you're a title contender, the focus has to be on consolidating when you're not the fastest and when opportunities such as a mechanical issue for a rival or a Safety Car present themselves, you must be in a position to strike."

Verstappen's boss at Red Bull Christian Horner is like his Mercedes counterpart Wolff lapping up the first proper inter-team title battle for some time.

"The picture is starting to clarify. Red Bull and Mercedes are the two standout teams, and Lewis and Max are the two standout drivers.

"It's incredibly tight. The biggest winner for that is Formula 1  and if it goes like this for 23 races, it's going to be nip and tuck."

One driver who has special reason to approach this weekend's race with a spring in his step is Fernando Alonso.

The two-time champion is finally finding his feet with Alpine, formerly Renault, after his return to F1, scoring points for the second straight race in the Algarve sunshine.

"It was good, it was fun," said the veteran Spaniard ahead of his home grand prix.

"We were fighting with one McLaren, one Ferrari - things that were unthinkable in Imola or Bahrain. So I think we made a big step forward in terms of the car performance."

Alonso is in 12th in the drivers standings, nine places and 32 points behind Lando Norris, who has enjoyed a sensational start to 2021 for back-in-business McLaren with three top-five finishes.

Sensational is not how even Nikita Mazepin's most loyal followers would describe the Russian rookie's three first appearances in the fast lane.

A lap one crash in Bahrain, spins at Imola, and a dangerous block on Sergio Perez last Sunday suggest the young Haas driver will be just happy to reach Sunday night having crossed the line without any further mishaps.

nr/mw
Summer is around the corner, and a new tool can help make your visits to North Carolina beaches safer.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations new forecast model can predict the hourly risk of rip currents on beaches in the United States, including along the North Carolina coast, up to six days in advance, the agency said in an April news release.

For the first time, NOAA is launching a national rip current forecast model, aimed at saving lives of beach-goers around the country, the release says.

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water, NOAA says. They can move up to eight feet per second, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer.

How the model works

The model  created by NOAAs National Ocean Service and National Weather Service  uses wave and water level information from the weather services Nearshore Wave Prediction System.

Its able to predict the likelihood of seaward currents on a scale of 0% to 100%.

An experimental forecast map can be found here and the full rip current model output can be viewed here.

Users can zoom in on the model and click on the area for which theyre interested in seeing the forecast. Clicking rip current time series will then show the probability of a rip current occurring for the next six days.

The model currently covers most of the East Coast, most of the Gulf Coast and parts of California, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. But NOAA says additional coastline coverage will be expanded in the future.

Rip currents in North Carolina

Seven surf-zone fatalities were reported in North Carolina in 2020, according to the National Weather Service. Of those, four were related to rip currents.

Two rip current deaths were reported on Emerald Island, one each was reported at Kitty Hawk and Ocracoke Island on the states Outer Banks and one was reported on Topsail Beach.

The number of fatalities reported in 2020 was lower than in past years.

In 2019, the state reported 17 fatalities, 10 of which were related to rip currents, and in 2018 the state reported 16 fatalities, nine of which were related to rip currents, the weather service says.

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Nationally, lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents each year, NOAA says, but there are roughly 100 deaths blamed on rip currents annually.

Prior to the new model, NOAA says forecasters were manually predicting rip currents on a large section of the ocean twice a day and only a day or two into the future.

But Gregory Dusek, a NOAA scientist who developed the model, says predicting rip currents earlier has potential to substantially increase awareness and reduce drownings.

Safety for beach-goers and boaters is taking a major leap forward with the launch of this new NOAA model, Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAAs National Ocean Service, said in the release. Extending forecasting capabilities for dangerous rip currents out to six days provides forecasters and local authorities greater time to inform residents about the presence of this deadly beach hazard, thereby saving lives and protecting communities.

How to stay safe in the water this summer

To avoid getting caught in a rip current, beachgoers should check water conditions before getting in.

Dont assume! Great weather for the beach does not always mean its safe to swim or even play in the shallows, the NWS says. Rip currents often form on calm, sunny days.

If you do get caught in a rip current, stay calm. NOAA says it will not pull you underwater, just away from the shore.

Dont try to swim against the current, as it will just tire you out, NOAA says. Instead, float and call and wave for help. To get out of a rip current, swim parallel to the shore then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle.

Always let a lifeguard make a rip current rescue, because often, the people that try to make rescues themselves end up being the ones who drown. Instead, the best way to help is to throw them something that floats and immediately get a lifeguard for help, NOAA says.
Violence against Asian Americans and Asians has grown despite increased national attention and political action against anti-Asian hate, experts said.

There was a more than 164% increase in anti-Asian hate crime reports to police in the first quarter of 2021 in 16 major cities and jurisdictions compared with last year, according to a report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

More than 6,600 hate incidents have been reported in the year after the pandemic began in the United States, Stop AAPI Hate announced this week. More than a third of those incidents were reported this March alone, according to the organization founded last year in response to increased targeting of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the pandemic.

The new data comes after several high-profile attacks. A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stabbing two Asian women in an unprovoked attack in downtown San Francisco. Over the weekend, two Asian women were attacked in New York City by a woman who demanded they remove their masks, then struck one of them in the head with a hammer, according to police.

The assaults are the latest in a series of brutal crimes against Asians and Asian Americans, including the fatal shootings in March of eight people in Atlanta, that left six women of Asian descent dead.

'Stop killing us': Attacks on Asian Americans highlight rise in hate incidents amid COVID-19

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, is joined by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., third from left, at a news conference to discuss an Asian-American hate crime bill, Monday, April 19, 2021, in New York.

"It's not going to be likely to decrease any time soon unless we are very vigilant about it," said Van Tran, an associate professor of sociology who studies the experience of Asian Americans at the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. "We have yet to create and engender institutional change and behavioral change at the largest scale."

Russell Jeung, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said it's hard to tell from his data whether hate incidents are occurring at a higher rate or if the community is reporting more incidents because of increased awareness and media attention.

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"I think the racism is pretty deeply felt and anger directed towards Asians is still pretty high," he said.

Despite federal action, rise is 'accelerated and sustained'

The uptick in anti-Asian violence was first reported in March 2020 as COVID-19 began spreading across the nation and some politicians, including President Donald Trump, blamed China for the pandemic.

Since then, lawmakers have advanced legislation, police departments have created task forces and hotlines, and community members have organized demonstrations and neighborhood watch programs.

A woman wearing a Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg face mask holds a sign during a vigil and rally against Asian hate crimes, Friday, March 26, 2021, at Chicago's Horner Park. The event is organized by local Chicago organizations led by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar) ORG XMIT: ILSA105

Last month, the Senate passed legislation aimed at fighting hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with overwhelming bipartisan support.

If the House passes the law, it would be a "very strong first step," but more structural changes are needed to eradicate the racist attitudes underlying these crimes, Tran said. He noted there are already hate crime laws that need stronger enforcement.

President Joe Biden signed an executive action condemning racism and intolerance against Asian Americans and has repeatedly expressed concern about the rise in violence.

Bidens change in tone from the previous administration probably helped, but political rhetoric is not enough to quash the rise, according to Brian Levin, author of the CSUSB report and a professor of criminal justice.

Hateful mass shootings terrorize the USA: Why aren't more shooters charged with hate crimes or terrorism?

Even with President Biden and Congress making admirable efforts, theres still a subculture that is vulnerable to either a shallow level of prejudice or a very deep level of prejudice, he said. Even people with low, shallow prejudices can act violently based on situational factors.

Levin, who has tracked hate incidents for nearly 30 years, said the rise in anti-Asian hate crime reports may get worse as COVID-19 restrictions lift.

We had a 146% increase in 2020, and that is now being accelerated and sustained, he said. This is a historic surge and it requires immediate action by civic leaders, educators and policymakers and law enforcement particularly in the area of outreach.

Better data needed to combat 'massive underreporting'

Although solving the issue requires a "whole society" approach, Levin said, the "most urgent" issues lie with law enforcement. Although part of the increase he's observed may be due to increased reporting, there is massive underreporting of hate incidents. Better data is needed to evaluate the scope of the problem.

Fewer than half of the victims of a hate crime report it to the police, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Levin said some places such as New York City, which created an Asian Hate Crimes Task Force, do a good job of counting these crimes; in other places, they fall through the cracks. He pointed to Alabama, which was the only state to report zero hate crimes in 2019.

A boy holding a sign takes part in a Stop Asian Hate rally in Oakland, California, on April 3, 2021. (Photo by Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty)

Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise: Here's what activists, lawmakers and police are doing to stop the violence

"We really have to have concrete data collection," he said. "If were getting delays  the FBI data comes out in mid-November  thats not going to help the communities that are experiencing this now."

The FBI collects national hate crime data, but data for 2020 and 2021 has not been released. In 2019, 216 anti-Asian hate crimes were reported, according to the latest data available.

Levin suggested tying federal funding to data collection. He pointed to a bill in California that would create a permanent commission tasked with creating a yearly comprehensive accounting of hate crime activity statewide and offering recommendations as a possible model.

He said police departments must do a better job of determining when a crime is a hate crime and suggested departments implement a two-tier review system that includes a community liaison or outside board.

'Culturally competent resources' needed for victims

More needs to be done to educate the community about how to report hate incidents  particularly if they don't rise to the level of a crime  and to connect victims with support resources, said Evangeline Chan, a co-chair of AAPI Affinity Group at Safe Horizon, which provides support to crime victims.

People stand in solidarity during a vigil and rally against Asian hate crimes, Friday, March 26, 2021, at Chicago's Horner Park. The event is organized by local Chicago organizations led by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar) ORG XMIT: ILSA106

Chan, like many experts, said there may be cultural or language barriers that prevent Asians and Asian Americans from reporting incidents.

She said in New York City, where her organization is based, many community members don't know they can report violations civilly to the NYC Commission on Human Rights or access mental and physical health resources even if they decide not to report.

Stop Asian hate: Asian American activists demand equal civil rights, better education in schools after Asian hate attacks

Hate in America: Millions are victims of hate crimes, though many never report them

What we would like to see is really a little bit more of education, outreach and awareness centered around the resources that already are available," Chan said.

Chan's organization places victim advocates at police precincts in New York to offer resources in a variety of languages. Because of the pandemic, it lost several of these advocates and some government funding was affected.

"All of this takes funding," she said. "It is really important that there are culturally competent resources invested into dealing with and addressing this issue."

Stopping Asian hate through education and training

One of the many ways to prevent these kinds of crimes is education and "understanding the root causes of racism," Chan said.

"Violence against AAPI-identifying individuals is really nothing new," she said. "It's been going on way before the pandemic, and it's deeply rooted in this nations history."

Part of that education should include teaching students in K-12 and at the college level about the "integral role" of Asian Americans in American history, said Anne Cheng, a professor at Princeton University in New Jersey whose work focuses on race, gender and literature.

"We are part of this country," Cheng said. "We are part of its history. We have contributed from the 19th century onward."

'Harsh reality': Asian leaders urge US to stop AAPI violence as citizens reexamine pro-American views

Stop Asian hate, Stop Black hate, stop all hate: Many Americans call for unity against racism

Leaders of Stop AAPI Hate advocated for increasing ethnic studies education to prevent crimes, implementing community-based violence protection programs and expanding civil rights protections to end harassment in business.

"We want to get at the long-term solution to the racism, there's no quick fixes," said Jeung, the group's co-founder and a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. "We want to stop the cycle of violence, and we can do that with restorative justice models where we hold perpetrators accountable but we dont necessarily criminalize them."

Chan suggested more bystander training to help residents and businesses learn what to do if they witness a crime.

She said it was "really disappointing" to see how many high-profile attacks took place in broad daylight, pointing out the two New York City doormen who failed to help an Asian American woman who was brutally attacked last month.

"We certainly don't advocate for anybody to put themselves in harm's way," she said. "We expect community members, storefront owners to at least step in or call for help."

Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Racism in US: Anti-Asian hate grows despite Biden speech, activism
Jailed Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong was handed an additional 10-month sentence on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to taking part in an "unlawful" protest last year over the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Hong Kong has regularly marked the anniversary of Beijing's deadly 1989 repression of protests in Tiananmen Square with huge candlelight vigils.

But last year's event was banned for the first time, with police citing the coronavirus pandemic and security fears following huge democracy protests that roiled Hong Kong the year before.

Tens of thousands defied the ban and massed peacefully at the vigil's traditional site in Victoria Park.

Since then prosecutors have brought charges against 24 prominent democracy activists who showed up at the vigil, the latest in a string of criminal cases that have ensnared the city's beleaguered democracy movement.

On Thursday, four of those activists -- Joshua Wong, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Janelle Leung -- were handed jail terms after pleading guilty to unlawful assembly charges last month.

Wong -- one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement -- is already serving a 13.5 month jail sentence for taking part in a protest during the 2019 unrest.

Judge Stanley Chan handed him a consecutive 10 months jail for the new conviction which will start once his first sentence is finished.

"The sentence should deter people from offending and reoffending in the future," Chan said.

Shum was given six months while Yuen and Leung were handed four months.

Wong, Shum and Yuen have also been charged under a new national security law Beijing imposed on the city last year.

Ahead of Thursday's sentencing they were being held in pre-trial detention and face up to life in prison if convicted under the new security law.

yan/jta/jah/oho
Washington is the master of coercive diplomacy

Xinhua) 08:31, May 06, 2021

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.

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.

(Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Liang Jun)
Rewind one year, and the ethics of mask wearing was distinctly black and white. Back then, it was perfectly justifiable to lambaste someone for not wearing a mask within an indoor public space. In fact, it was almost a civic responsibility. For example, take the Uber driver who arrived at a pickup, mask dangling beneath the chin and air teeming with their own respiratory fingerprint. Or the person in the Dunkin Donuts line sans mask and without so much as an effort to stretch their shirt to cover their nose and mouth. And what about the guy running maskless on the treadmill in the small gym in your apartment buildings basement? If they received a bit of a verbal shakedown, they deserved it!
Jailed Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong was handed an additional 10-month sentence on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to taking part in an "unlawful" protest last year over the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Hong Kong has regularly marked the anniversary of Beijing's deadly 1989 repression of protests in Tiananmen Square with huge candlelight vigils.

But last year's event was banned for the first time, with police citing the coronavirus pandemic and security fears following huge democracy protests that roiled Hong Kong the year before.

Tens of thousands defied the ban and massed peacefully at the vigil's traditional site in Victoria Park.

Since then prosecutors have brought charges against more than two dozen prominent democracy activists who showed up at the vigil, the latest in a string of criminal cases that have ensnared the city's beleaguered democracy movement.

On Thursday, four of those activists -- Joshua Wong, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Janelle Leung -- were handed jail terms after pleading guilty to unlawful assembly charges last month.

Wong -- one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement -- is currently serving a total of 17.5 months in jail for two convictions linked to the 2019 protests.

Judge Stanley Chan handed the 24-year-old a consecutive 10 months of jail for the new conviction which will start once current sentences are finished.

"The sentence should deter people from offending and reoffending in the future," Chan said.

Shum, 27, was given six months while Yuen, 27, and Leung, 26, were both handed four months.

Wong, Shum and Yuen have also been charged under a new national security law Beijing imposed on the city last year.

- Will this year's rally go ahead? -

Ahead of Thursday's sentencing they were being held in pre-trial detention and face up to life in prison if convicted under the new security law.

The other defendants -- who include some of the city's most prominent activists, many of them also jailed or in detention -- will be tried later this summer.

Story continues

The annual Tiananmen vigil remembering victims of the 1989 suppression of pro-democracy protests has taken on particular significance as many Hong Kongers chafe under Beijing's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Crowds grew in size in recent years, often chanting slogans like "End one party rule" and calling for democracy in China.

But it is unclear if Hong Kong will ever see another legal Tiananmen vigil.

Beijing has rolled out a sweeping crackdown against critics in the finance hub, with scores of opposition figures in detention, facing prosecution or fleeing overseas.

As well as the security law, a new campaign dubbed "patriots rule Hong Kong" will ensure everyone standing for public office is vetted for political loyalty first.

Officials have already signalled that this year's Tiananmen vigil will be refused permission both as a security risk and because of the coronavirus.

Some have also suggested that chanting "End one party rule" -- as well as the vigil itself -- could now be illegal under the new law, which criminalises a wide array of acts deemed to be subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

Chow Hang-tung, a barrister and a member of the coalition that organises the annual vigil, criticised Thursday's sentencing.

"The court has failed to draw a line between what is really unlawful, that is violence activities and what is completely within our rights  peaceful assembly," she told reporters.

But Judge Chan said the four defendants' attendance at the vigil was "deliberate, premeditated... and openly defied the law."

Protests can only go ahead in Hong Kong with police permission, something that has been routinely denied since the 2019 protests and subsequent coronavirus outbreak.

Chow said Hong Kongers would still mark each Tiananmen anniversary, even if the traditional vigil is banned.

"We will find a way to remember this and we will find a way to publicly do this," she said.

yan/jta/jfx
By Kate Lamb and Agustinus Beo Da Costa

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has deployed 400 more soldiers in the easternmost region of Papua, an army spokesman said on Thursday, as an exiled separatist leader warned that the military looked set to launch its biggest security operation in the area in decades.

Last week, President Joko Widodo ordered a crackdown on separatists after an intelligence chief in Papua was shot dead in an ambush.

The battle-hardened 315/Garuda Battalion, whose soldiers got the nickname 'Satan troops' after taking part in bloody conflicts in East Timor, are being brought in after a breakdown in dialogue with separatists, said army spokesman Brigadier General Prantara Santosa.

"They are only trained infantry troops, not special forces," he said, without specifying where they would be sent and describing their deployment as a routine rotation.

The deployment to the region, where there has been a low-level insurgency for decades, comes after Indonesia recently designated armed Papuan separatists as "terrorists", a move that activists said could boost the security response in the region.

Benny Wenda, a British-based independence leader who has declared he leads an interim government from exile, warned that it appeared Papua was facing the largest military operations since the 1970s.

"The internet is being cut off, hundreds of troops are being deployed, and we are receiving reports that West Papuan civilians are fleeing from their villages, Wenda said in a statement.

Rights activists say internet services have been disrupted in the provincial capital of Jayapura and nearby Sentani since April 30.

Dedy Permadi, a spokesman for the communications ministry, said on Thursday internet services had been disrupted in Papua due to damage to an underwater communications cable.

The government has previously throttled the internet in Papua during times of heightened political tension, including during mass demonstrations in 2019.

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"Jokowi is burning the bridge for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in West Papua, and more displacement will take place," said Indonesian human rights lawyer, Veronica Koman, of the move to send in more troops and using the nickname of the president.

"There are at least 40,000 internally displaced people in Papua due to armed conflict already, she said.

(Reporting by Kate Lamb in Sydney and Agustinus Beo Da Costa in Jakarta; Editing by Ed Davies)
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

The Washington Post is in the closing stages of the hunt for its new top editor, and looks set to finalize a decision in the coming weeks.

The Daily Beast spoke with seven knowledgeable people inside and outside the paper, including several with direct insight into the selection process. Over the past few weeks, these industry insiders said, a consensus has emerged that the internal favorite to replace long-time executive editor Marty Baron is Post national editor Steve Ginsberg, whose name has been floated as a potential successor in various outlets over the past year. Others believe the job could still go to New York Times assistant managing editor Marc Lacey, who insiders claimed is viewed as the strongest external candidate.

Both of those candidates have strong credentials but come with some drawbacks.

Ginsberg is broadly well-liked in the Washington Post newsroom, insiders said, at a time when there has been increasingly public tensions between many staffers and the papers management. But he is not seen as a major player in the broader media business and selecting Ginsberg, who is white, would buck the trend of powerful news outlets like CBS News, ABC News, MSNBC, and the Los Angeles Times making diverse hires for their top positions.

Lacey is a prominent Black journalist held in very high regard at the Times. A member of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams, the former Times national editor and foreign correspondent would represent the kind of splashy big-name (and diverse) hire that insiders said Post publisher Fred Ryan may be interested in. However, Lacey is further down the managerial line at the Times and, insiders suggested, his hire would potentially irk some editors at the Post who may be viewed as more qualified than him.

Other names like interim editor Cameron Barr, National Geographic editor Susan Goldberg, and New York Times deputy managing editor Carolyn Ryan have been floated as potential successors in previous reporting. Media insiders have also noted that the papers process around this hiring has been unpredictable and intensely guarded.

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Neither Ginsberg nor Lacey responded to requests for comment. A Washington Post spokeswoman labeled this story wild speculation but declined to address specific parts of the reporting.

Inside the Battle to Run CBS News

Since Baron announced his departure early last year, the Post has cast a wide net in the hunt for his successor. At one point, the search included now-former ESPN executive Kevin Merida, who reportedly removed himself from the race and was named as the Los Angeles Times new top editor earlier this week. Multiple people familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast that Post staffers had privately expressed frustration that Merida, who is Black, was not courted more heavily for the job amid an industry-wide push for more diverse leadership.

Another name that had been touted for the gig was New York Times media columnist and former BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, though sources said discussions never reached a serious level on either side. (Smith is currently writing a book about digital media in the blogging heyday of the late aughts, The Daily Beast has learned, including accounts from Gawker founder Nick Denton and BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti.)

To the chagrin of some staffers, much of the newsroomincluding some relatively senior leadershave been kept in the dark on the hiring process.

Multiple people familiar with the matter told The Daily Beast that unlike other major news outlets like ABC News, which put together a group of staffers to find a new network president earlier this year, there has been no official search committee for Barons replacement. Insiders at the paper said that Ryan, the publisher, has largely conducted the search himself, with some assistance from Wayne Connell, the Posts human resources vice president.

Ultimately, Ryans decision could also have major implications for another newsroom that is also poised to begin its search for a new editor in the coming months. New York Times editor Dean Baquet is set to turn 65 later this year, the age when top Times masthead editors are typically expected to step down. Lacey, who is among the candidates primed to replace Baquet, would almost certainly increase his chances of getting the executive editor job should he turn down a possible offer to run the Post.

Meanwhile, Baron has not been involved in his own succession. One person familiar with the matter told The Daily Beast that the former executive editors interest in the Post at this point is almost entirely limited to a book he is currently writing about his time at the newspapers helm.

Earlier this year, the Posts employee union sent a letter to the publisher seeking some input in the hiring process and noting that members hoped Ryan would hire a new top editor specifically committed to publishing work about underrepresented communities and the local D.C. area, fostering a more positive work environment, and tackling some lingering, thorny questions about social media policies.

Ryan said in response that while some of the requests were consistent with our vision for this position, he would not agree to hold an employee town hall on the matter. Given the confidential and sensitive nature of the executive editor search, however, we do not plan to broadly address the search process with employees, he wrote in a reply email.

Washington Post Braces for Top Editor Marty Barons Retirement

The next editor will have to gear up for contract negotiations with a larger, more emboldened staff union under the NewsGuild, which represents a number of media unions including ones at The New York Times and The Daily Beast. People with knowledge of the situation told The Daily Beast that the unionwhich, unlike other newsroom unions, is voluntary, but includes editorial and many non-editorial commercial staffhas increased membership substantially over the past several years from around 30 percent of staff to nearly 60 percent.

Selecting Barons successor will prove to be one of the biggest decisions Ryan has made since becoming the Posts publisher in 2014. People familiar with the situation said that Ryan was envious of Barons close relationship with the papers owner, Jeff Bezos, and tried to edge Baron out of some meetings with the Amazon founder. A Washington Post spokeswoman hit back, calling the allegations categorically false.

In many ways, the next top editor will inherit an easier job than the one Baron stepped into. Bezos purchased the paper in 2013, providing a financial lifeline that allowed the paper to expand and invest in ambitious projects that have reversed the papers fortunes. The size of the newsroom nearly doubled under Baron, boosting web traffic and digital subscriptions, and opening up more diverse revenue streams including a successful content software licensing business.

But the next newsroom leader will also have to contend with growing tension in the ranks about the handling of sensitive newsroom issues. Both Barr and Ginsberg were actively involved in implementing the decision to prohibit Post reporter Felicia Sonmez from covering stories related to sexual assault, essentially arguing that she was biased because of her own experience as a survivor. The decision was widely criticized internally, and the paper reversed course after it became public and sparked outrage online.

Others were upset about the recent decision to host Republican Sen. Josh Hawley for a live discussion, noting his key role in denying the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.

That Tuesday afternoon chat became contentious when Hawley complained the paper was trying to censor, cancel, and silence me here. But in a now-viral moment, reporter Cat Zakrzewski fired back: Senator, were hosting you here.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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MADRID (AP)  Interpol posted on its website Thursday the photographs of two Spanish children who allegedly were taken by their father from the Canary Islands off West Africa.

The international criminal police issued so-called yellow notices for the girls, ages 1 and 6. That step is taken to help locate missing persons, often minors, or help identify people who are unable to identify themselves, according to Interpol.

The girls, Anna and Olivia, and their father, Tomas Gimeno, went missing on April 27 in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands.

Their mother, who is divorced from their father, alleges he told her she would never see him or her daughters again.

An official search began the following day on land and sea after Gimenos boat was found drifting in a Tenerife harbor with nobody on board.

The girls mother, Beatriz Zimmermann, earlier this week posted a video of her daughters in an effort to help find them.

A judge has ordered an information blackout on the investigation.
By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN (Reuters) -The Irish government has urged Britain not to seek to shield former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the sectarian conflict from prosecution, describing reports of such plans as deeply alarming.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported late on Wednesday that the British government is set to introduce a ban on prosecutions of its veterans who served in the UK province under new legislation to be announced next week.

Dublin had strongly advised London "against any unilateral action on such a sensitive issue," a spokesman for Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said ministers were "deeply alarmed" by the reports and would not support such a move.

It would also breach a 2014 agreement between Dublin, London and the parties in Northern Ireland that sought to deal with legacy issues by establishing an independent investigation unit to re-examine all unsolved killings, he added.

A UK government spokesperson did not respond directly to the report but said the current system was "not working for anyone, failing to bring satisfactory outcomes for families, placing a heavy burden on the criminal justice system, and leaving society in Northern Ireland hamstrung by its past."

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, whose Irish nationalist Sinn Fein party heads up the devolved power-sharing government with their former pro-Britain foes, said a ban on prosecutions would be "a cynical move that will put British forces beyond the law."

The nationalist SDLP party also said they would strongly oppose any legislation.

Allegations over unresolved crimes from Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' - three decades of sectarian confrontation between Irish nationalist militants, pro-British "loyalist" paramilitaries and British military that killed around 3,600 people - remain a contentious issue 23 years after a peace deal was struck.

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A ban on prosecutions could add to tensions in the British-run region, where young pro-British loyalists rioted in recent weeks, partly over post-Brexit trade barriers that they feel have cut them off from the rest of the UK.

A murder trial of two ex-British soldiers accused of shooting dead an Irish Republican Army commander collapsed this week.

A separate trial of a soldier accused of murdering 13 unarmed Catholic civil rights marchers in Londonderry in 1972, when British paratroopers opened fire on the group on what became known as on "Bloody Sunday", is ongoing.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin, additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper in London; editing by John Stonestreet, Alexandra Hudson)
Israel carried out air strikes overnight in the southern Syrian province of Quneitra, Syrian state media and a war monitor said Thursday, though there were no reports of casualties.

The strikes came a day after one civilian was killed and six others injured in similar attacks in the northwestern region of Latakia, a bastion of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite minority.

Official news agency SANA said there had been "an Israeli attack led by a helicopter in one of Quneitra's zones" not far from the border with Israel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported there had been "Israeli strikes".

The Britain-based war monitor, which relies on an extensive network of sources on the ground, said the strikes targeted the Syrian Army's 90th Brigade and regime military positions in north Quneitra, near the Israel-occupied Golan Heights.

Israel rarely confirms specific strikes in Syria, but since the beginning of the conflict there in 2011, it has launched hundreds of strikes across its border.

Its military has said it hit some 50 targets in 2020 alone.

Israel says it is trying to prevent Iran, which has been one of the Syrian government's key allies in the decade-old civil war, from gaining a permanent military foothold on its doorstep.

Thousands of Shiite militias, recruited from a variety of countries but whose first allegiance is to Iran, have been deployed across Syria in support of the government.

The war in Syria, which began when the government bloodily repressed pro-democracy demonstrations 10 years ago, has left more than 388,000 people dead.

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The IRP did not conclude that the officers were not guilty, and West deserves a trial for his death in police custody, even if the cause of death might be a close call for the jury. Watching the experts testify about causes of Floyds death made clear to me the need for public prosecutions, if we are to have any hope of the necessary reform to address the deadly way some police officers handle arrests. The Maryland Attorney Generals decision to review all cases from the time David Fowler was the chief medical examiner reinforces the need for public prosecutions. Dr. Fowler, who testified on behalf of Mr. Chauvin during his trial, had years earlier determined that police werent responsible for Wests death, as well.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The head of Israels Mossad intelligence agency visited Bahrain for talks with officials on Thursday, the Bahrain state-run news agency reported.

The trip came amid heightened tensions in the region over Iran and followed Israel's recent deal to normalize relations with the island kingdom.

The brief statement carried by the news agency said only that Yossi Cohen met with Bahrains heads of national intelligence and strategic security to discuss the most prominent security topics, regional developments and issues of common interest. It did not elaborate.

The two countries opened diplomatic ties last fall in a U.S.-brokered deal under the Trump administration and following the United Arab Emirates' decision to normalize relations. The pacts, rejected by the Palestinians as a betrayal of their cause for statehood, signaled an increasingly explicit alliance between Gulf Arab states and Israel against mutual archenemy Iran.

Indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over a return to Tehrans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which former President Donald Trump abandoned, are now gaining traction in Vienna.

Israel and Gulf Arab sheikhdoms previously have voiced concern over a generous American rapprochement with Iran that doesn't address the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program and support for regional proxies, in addition to its nuclear program.
Finnegan Lee Elder, left, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth arrive for a court hearing in Rome on Wednesday. (Associated Press)

The man knocking back an espresso outside a cafe in Rome had no doubt the two Californians had earned their life sentences in prison for the stabbing death of a police officer.

The proof was overwhelming and for once, justice in Italy has worked, Enrico Papa, a local fashion entrepreneur, said Thursday, a day after a jury convicted Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, for the officer's 2019 killing.

Many Rome residents and Italian politicians applauded the sentencing of the two men from Mill Valley, north of San Francisco, who scuffled with two plainclothes police officers on a hot night in Rome two years ago after a drug deal went wrong.

At the end of the tussle, one of the officers, Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, lay dead after being stabbed 11 times by Elder, according to testimony during the 14-month trial.

The two Americans later told authorities they thought the officers were criminals and that they failed to identify themselves. They said the officers assaulted them and Elder said he acted in self-defense as Cerciello Rega sat astride him and choked him.

The surviving officer, Andrea Varriale, told the court the opposite was true  that the officers did identify themselves and it was the tourists who leaped on him and his colleague.

The jury late Wednesday handed down the longest sentence possible, prompting a tearful thank-you from Cerciello Rega's widow, Rosa Maria Esilio, outside the court.

His integrity was defended, Esilio said.

That drew praise from Giorgia Meloni, the head of the hard-right Italian opposition party Brothers of Italy, who said Esilios words strike at the heart.

In a tweet, Meloni wrote: We hope the assassins serve out their sentences right to the last day, without time off.

News of the ruling, which made the front page of every major Italian newspaper, also drew applause from Matteo Salvini, leader of the hard-right League party, which is part of Italys governing coalition.

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Two years ago, as huge crowds attended Cerciello Rega's funeral  which was broadcast live on television  Salvini said Elder and Natale-Hjorth deserved forced labor in prison.

On Thursday, after the verdict, he tweeted, Honour and justice for Mario Cerciello Rega.

The evening leading up to Cerciello Regas death started when Elder and Natale-Hjorth  former schoolmates vacationing in Rome  purchased drugs from a street dealer, only to discover they had been sold ground-up aspirin.

They took a bag of personal items from a man they believed was an accomplice of the dealer, demanding their money back for its return.

The man alerted the paramilitary Carabinieri police, who dispatched the two officers to meet the Americans near their hotel in the upscale Prati district.

Varriale initially told investigators he and Cerciello Rega were armed when they met the Americans, but later admitted to investigators that they were not.

On Thursday, Craig Peters, a lawyer representing Elder, said the verdict was based on the testimony of Varriale, even though he had lied about carrying arms.

I am confounded by this verdict that lacks both reason and compassion. It lays all the blame with two young boys, while holding blameless the Carabinieri who failed to follow basic police procedures which, had they been followed, would have Cerciello Rega with us here today, he said.

The life sentences were better suited to unredeemable, career criminals that commit premeditated killings, he said.

The message sent by these judges is loud and clear. Those in a position of power, the Carabinieri and the prosecutors, can lie and mislead and they will not be held responsible.

The verdict was reached by six lay jurors, a presiding judge and a second judge. Within 90 days, the judges will issue the reasoning for the sentence, and Peters said defense lawyers would then mount an appeal.

The defendants, who were held in jail during the trial, remained in custody after the verdict.

I look forward to having the appellate court, with experienced, rational judges, objectively review the facts to determine a just outcome in this case for these two young boys, Peters said.

The case has drawn comparison with the 2007 arrest in Perugia, Italy, of American student Amanda Knox, who was accused of murdering her flatmate, convicted after a controversial investigation, then acquitted following a series of trials in 2016.

The murder probe in Rome was also questioned by the families of the defendants: A photo was leaked of Natale-Hjorth being interrogated while handcuffed and blindfolded and Elders father has claimed his son was slapped, kicked and spat on during questioning.

Police wiretapped statements made by Elder and then mistranslated them, just as Perugia police misunderstood messages they found on Knoxs phone.

Carlo Dalla Vedova, a lawyer who represented Knox, said, however, the comparisons ended there.

In the Knox case the facts were not clear, while here the facts cannot be denied," he said. "I am very sorry for these boys, but 11 stab wounds is a lot."

Kington is a special correspondent.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Residents in Overland Park are angry at the citys choices for repairing streets, saying they produce uneven roads that damage cars and injure children.

Video Transcript

SHANNON O'BRIEN: Sheila Rodriguez has been a vocal opponent of chip seal, because of injuries suffered by children who play in the streets, and damage to cars.

SHEILA RODRIGUEZ: We've received a different explanation as to why chip seal will continue, depending on who we speak with within the city. But the one thing that's been consistent, with each person we've spoken to, has been that they did not believe that this was a citywide issue-- that it was just isolated to my neighborhood.

DAVID DUNTZ: This is much larger than individual voices. And we are very experienced of the dangers and the problems that chip seal poses. David Duntz is one of 24 Overland Park HOA presidents who signed a letter to the city, asking that the 2021 budget be revisited so the 151 lane miles scheduled for chip seal this summer be repaved with an alternate material.

CURT SKOOG: The benefits of chip seal are that they-- we can-- we can protect lane mile after lane mile for an economic and efficient rate.

SHANNON O'BRIEN: OP City Council President Curt Skoog supports using chip seal. And says he is aware of residents' concerns. City council has voted to start a public works advisory council.

CURT SKOOG: One thing I've learned on the city council is I can't make everybody happy. It's a balance. And that's why we started this infrastructure advisory group-- is to take a fresh look at how we're maintaining and building our residential streets.

SHEILA RODRIGUEZ: And it's an issue that needs their immediate attention. It's not one that we can wait for this advisory council they formed to come back with some sort of a proposal 12 plus months from now.

SHANNON O'BRIEN: The 24 HOA's that so far have joined the push to stop the use of chip seal represent over 5,000 residents. Now, while the majority of the city council did vote to continue this project, there are some on city council who say they do not want the chip seal movement to move forward.
Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, pictured last year. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

With the election for Los Angeles mayor one year off, the list of City Hall politicians seeking the job remains exceedingly short  just City Atty. Mike Feuer and Councilman Joe Buscaino.

The field of elected officials who are leaving the door open, on the other hand, is growing. On Wednesday, a representative of Council President Nury Martinez said she is weighing a run to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti in the June 2022 election.

Martinez political consultant Roy Behr said the councilwoman, who has represented part of the San Fernando Valley since 2013, began examining the idea after spending the last year helping families recover from "the devastating effects of the pandemic."

"People who have watched her help lead the city through the last year are asking her to run for mayor," Behr said. "As someone committed to advocating for the working families, women and children of L.A., its something she is seriously considering."

The election talk at City Hall intensified this week amid reports that Garcetti, who faces term limits, is being considered by the Biden administration as a possible nominee for U.S. ambassador to India. Garcetti's second and final term is scheduled to end in December 2022.

Councilmen Mark Ridley-Thomas and Kevin de Leon repeatedly declined to rule out a mayoral bid on the campaign trail last year. Councilman Paul Krekorian also hasn't dismissed the possibility, an advisor said.

Jessica Lall, president and chief executive of the Central City Assn., is also considering a run for the post, as is real estate developer Rick Caruso.

Martinez represents the Valley neighborhoods of Van Nuys, Arleta, Sun Valley, Panorama City and Lake Balboa. A former school board member, she became the council's first Latina president in January 2020 and spent the last year heading the council's ad hoc committee on COVID-19 relief.

That panel allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid to help Angelenos pay their rent, cover their utility bills and find housing, among other things.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An LAPD officer has been arrested on child pornography charges, Long Beach police said Wednesday. (Los Angeles Times)

A veteran Los Angeles police officer was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing child pornography and distributing obscene images of a minor, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Officer James Diamond, 52, a 25-year veteran of the LAPD most recently assigned to the department's personnel division, has had his police powers suspended, an LAPD spokesman said. An internal LAPD investigation has also been launched.

Diamond could not be reached Wednesday, and it was unclear if he had retained counsel.

Long Beach police said detectives first launched their investigation in October, after the department's Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about materials showing child sex abuse being distributed online.

Detectives were then able to identify Diamond as the suspect and "develop probable cause for an arrest," Long Beach police said.

Diamond was arrested on Wednesday in Huntington Beach, and warrants were subsequently served at his Long Beach home and at the LAPD, Long Beach police said.

Capt. Stacy Spell, the LAPD spokesman, said the LAPD is cooperating with and supportive of the Long Beach investigation.

Long Beach police said Diamond was booked on two felony possession counts and two felony distribution counts. His bail was set at $100,000, police said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A massive police operation against drug traffickers in a Brazilian favela Thursday left 25 people dead, turning the impoverished Rio de Janeiro neighborhood into a battlefield and drawing condemnation from rights groups.

A policeman was among those killed in the early morning raid on Jacarezinho, on Rio's north side, where residents awoke to explosions, heavy gunfire and helicopters overhead.

Police confirmed the toll -- and investigators said it was the deadliest police operation in the history of Rio de Janeiro state.

Police identified the other 24 dead as "suspects" and said all protocols had been followed before officers opened fire, but rights groups and academics cried foul.

"Who are the dead? Young black men. That's why the police talk about '24 suspects.' Being a young, black favela resident automatically makes you a suspect to the police. They just keep piling up bodies and saying, 'They're all criminals,'" said Silvia Ramos, head of the Security Observatory at Candido Mendes University.

"Is this the public security policy we want? Shootouts, killings and police massacres?" she told AFP.

Large groups of heavily armed police could be seen streaming into the favela as frightened residents tentatively went about their business once the gunfire died down, AFP journalists said.

Residents reported seeing corpses lying on the pavement in pools of blood, and numerous bodies being taken out in an armored police vehicle, a local community leader told AFP, asking that his name not be published for safety reasons.

At least two people were wounded when the subway car they were riding in was apparently caught in the crossfire during the operation, news site G1 reported.

TV network GloboNews showed aerial images of armed suspects fleeing from one residence to another in the densely packed neighborhood during the raid, passing what looked like high-powered rifles from hand to hand.

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"Unfortunately, there were many clashes in the area. There is nothing to celebrate with this toll," one police official told a press conference, adding that the officer killed was shot in the head.

Rights groups and residents later inspected the houses targeted -- some had blood stains and damage from the shootout.

- Child foot soldiers -

Police said the operation targeted a gang suspected of recruiting children and teenagers for drug trafficking, robberies, assaults and murders.

They said the sting grew out of a surveillance operation that obtained a warrant to wire-tap suspects' communications.

That led them to identify 21 gang members "responsible for ensuring the gang's territorial dominance," they said.

The group "had set up a war-style structure with hundreds of 'soldiers' equipped with rifles, pistols, grenades, bulletproof vests, camouflage fatigues and other military accessories," they added.

The neighborhood is considered a base for the Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, the iconic beach city's biggest drug gang.

However, rights activists questioned why recruiting minors -- a common practice among Brazilian gangs -- would lead to such a deadly operation.

There were also questions about the timing: The operation came despite a Supreme Court ruling barring police from carrying out raids in Brazil's impoverished favelas during the coronavirus pandemic except in "absolutely exceptional circumstances."

One resident told AFP that a young man had been killed in her home, where he had sought refuge after being wounded.

"The boy had been shot when he arrived here, and as no resident of this community will kick out another, he stayed. But the police saw blood and came in shouting: 'Where is he? Where is he?'" the woman said.

"I only had time to take my children out back... they killed him in the room."

- 'Predictable outcome' -

Rio, a city of 6.7 million people, is notorious for its violence.

Rio de Janeiro state was placed under military intervention in 2018 in a bid to rein in the violence, which includes a troubled history of deadly police shootings.

Last year, at least 1,245 people were killed by police in the state, according to ISP, Rio's public security institute.

That was down from a record 1,814 police killings in 2019, but still higher than, for example, the 1,127 people killed by police last year across the entire United States.

"It is unacceptable that Rio de Janeiro's public security policy continues to bet on killing as a strategy," said the Igarape Institute, a think tank.

Robert Muggah, the institute's co-founder, said the deadly raid was "the predictable outcome of years of belligerent tough-on-crime rhetoric" from pro-gun, far-right leaders including President Jair Bolsonaro and Rio's recently impeached governor, Wilson Witzel.

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The Republican Party is at a turning point, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) writes in an opinion article published in The Washington Post on Wednesday evening, and members must "decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution."

Cheney is receiving backlash from the GOP for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, as well as pushing back against his false claims of election fraud. Trump, she writes, is "seeking to unravel critical elements of our constitutional structure that makes democracy work  confidence in the result of elections and the rule of law. No other American president has ever done this."

Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, called herself a "conservative Republican," and said the "most conservative of conservative values is reverence for the rule of law." The Electoral College "has spoken," she added, and "more than 60 state and federal courts 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."

Republicans now have to decide whether to join "Trump's crusade to delegitimize and undo the legal outcome of the 2020 election, with all the consequences that might have," Cheney said. He 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," she continued. "This is immensely harmful, especially as we now compete on the world stage against Communist China and its claims that democracy is a failed system."

The path forward is clear, Cheney said. Republicans need to back the Justice Department's criminal investigations of the Jan. 6 attack, support a bipartisan review by a commission with subpoena power, and "stand for genuinely conservative principles, and steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality." Trump is trying to "undermine the foundation of our democracy," Cheney said, and with history and our children watching, "we must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process." Read more at The Washington Post.

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Thanks in large part to pandemic-related lockdowns, revenues at Zalando zoomed 46.8 percent in the first quarter, marking one of the best starts to the fiscal year for Europes largest online fashion retailer. Revenues hit 2.24 billion euros in the first three months of this year.

In the first quarter of 2021, Zalando delivered the strongest growth ever since going public in 2014, chief financial officer David Schroder said in a statement. We see our platform business unfolding at increasing speed.

More from WWD

Over the last four years, the company had been averaging quarterly growth of around 23 percent. Even when compared to the first quarter of 2019, the last normal year for fashion shoppers, Zalando still managed revenue growth of close to 40 percent at the beginning of 2021.

Gross merchandise value, or GMV  how much stock Zalando has shifted, as opposed to income it has made from services like logistics and marketing  grew 55.6 percent to hit 3.15 billion euros. In the first quarter of 2019, it was 1.75 billion euros.

The company credited its partner program, through which brick-and-mortar stores can sell products they have in-store. Given that many stores were forced to close due to the pandemic, many more opted to sell through Zalando.

Zalando also increased its number of active customers to 41.8 million over the quarter, an increase of 30.9 percent versus last year. Site visits rocketed 50.2 percent to hit 1.7 billion.

Shoppers were also buying more, with each active customer making 4.9 orders over the three months and spending, on average, 57.90 euros. The company described this as an all-time high. During the same period last year, shoppers were only making 4.7 orders and the average spend per purchase was 56.30 euros.

The Berlin-based firms expansion into other parts of Europe also continued. In previous years, sales in Zalandos home markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland had always been around the same as sales in the rest of Europe. That changed in 2020, when sales in the rest of Europe overtook those in German-speaking territories.

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This trend continued over the quarter, with Zalando recording sales of 921 million euros in German-speaking territories and 1.09 billion euros on the rest of the continent. Zalando has bold ambitions to account for more than 10 percent of the continents entire fashion market, worth 450 billion euros, in the longer term.

As a result of all this demand, the company is also spending large: It is adding five more logistics centers to its existing network of 10. Centers in the Netherlands and Spain will open this year and construction will begin on new centers in France, Germany and Poland.

Zalando revised its outlook upward yet again by several percentage points. The company now expects revenue growth of between 26 and 31 percent for the full year. It anticipates GMV growth of between 31 and 36 percent.
(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

An out of control hearing for a suspect in the 6 January US Capitol riot was abruptly cut short after the defendant reportedly unleashed a stream of obscenities over the phone at the court and then hung up.

It was the initial remote appearance before a judge of Landon Copeland of Utah, whom federal investigators say assaulted and toppled police during the violent insurrection on 6 January.

At its crescendo, Mr Copeland screamed at the judge Im a vet. You owe this to me. Youve all f***ed this up.

Washington-based investigative reporter for NBC Scott MacFarlane live-tweeted the hearing as the defendant continuously disrupted proceedings.

Initially, Mr Copeland reportedly shouted at the courtroom clerk while the call was being established. Things apparently began to go swiftly downhill from there.

This is getting out of control, tweeted MacFarlane with the hearing still minutes away as the defendant reportedly yelled at the judge: Is any of this negotiable? I used to be a free man ... until you locked me up.

During the hearing for another defendant, Mr Copeland apparently screamed: I object! when a defence lawyer criticised Donald Trump.

His phone was silenced, but he interrupted again when a lawyer for another defendant blamed Fox News for alleged radicalisation of the insurrectionists, MacFarlane reported.

It was at this stage that Mr Copeland reportedly screamed: How long can I postpone this? Im a vet. You owe this to me. Youve all f***ed this up. Youre a robot to me. You cant come get me if I dont want you to!

He continued to scream: F*** all of you. F*** all of you.

MacFarlane reports that he then warned the judge: You cant get me if you want me. You cant kill me if you want to.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

At this point, the defendant was apparently placed in a breakout room on the call and the hearing was paused.

As proceedings resumed, Mr Copeland reportedly screamed F*** all, yall, while arguing with the judge over the case number. MacFarlane reports that attempts to mute him were unsuccessful as he kept unmuting himself.

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Havent seen this before, writes the NBC correspondent. Defendant just hung up on hearing. His lawyer says Copeland is in distress. Copeland has screamed vulgarities at judge, complained about the taxes taken from his $15/hour paycheck, and complained about the case number assigned to him.

Mr Copelands attorney acknowledged that his client has previously expressed amusement at the charges against him.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Upon reentering the hearing the defendant reportedly told the judge: Im not just gonna listen to what you have to say. It doesnt work that way...

The court muted him again and he responded by once again hanging up.

A discussion ensued as to whether a competency exam, if ordered, could be conducted in Mr Copelands home state of Utah, or if it must happen in Washington, DC.

MacFarlane reported that Mr Copeland appeared rattled by pretrial detention.

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AP FACT CHECK: Yes, Trump lost election despite what he says
By Mohamed Junayd

MALE (Reuters) - Maldives will begin a night-time curfew from Thursday to control a doubling of daily coronavirus infections that was fuelled by crowds at a local election and family gatherings during the ongoing Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The Health Protection Agency announced the curfew on Wednesday after government data showed daily cases grew to 734 from 318 a week ago. Most of the cases reported on Wednesday were in the crowded capital Male.

Restrictions have been placed on movement between islands, although there are no curbs on tourists headed to private island resorts if they can produce a negative COVID-19 test. The health agency also ordered mandatory physical distancing in mosques.

"The numbers are very high. If we are not able to significantly lower these numbers, we are going to face very difficult days. So we have to get ready," said Mabrook Azeez, the spokesman for the President's Office.

There were large gatherings during the council elections held on April 10, and mass groupings have only increased during Ramadan, with communal prayers being held without any physical distancing in the capital Male.

Australian cricketers and staff involved in the Indian Premier League are headed to the Maldives after the tournament's abrupt suspension over the coronavirus crisis in India. They will quarantine there before heading home.

Vaccination queues in the Maldives have also lengthened during Ramadan due to shortened hours, with thousands lining up without any physical distancing to get their shots.

Azeez said the government is looking for foreign medical workers and local volunteers to staff the main public hospital in Male.

(Reporting by Mohamed Junayd; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Tom Hogue)
The college teacher of history should revisit their books, regarding the basic reason for the Civil War. It was, not slavery but the issue of states' rights, of which the slavery issue was the main concern. Slavery was deplorable, but, at the time, the states had the right to choose to be free or slave. Only the states assembled in a Constitutional Convention could vote to override the federal law of the land. This was done years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which only freed the slaves in the states which had seceded from the Union. On that date, January 1, 1863, slavery was still legal in Maryland and Missouri; only to be eliminated by the Constitutional Amendment which was ratified by the states on December 6, 1865, almost a year after being introduced on January 31, 1865.
(REUTERS)

Firebrand US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed her congressional colleagues in an interview with Tucker Carlson on Wednesday, saying that many members are not qualified to be there.

Speaking to Mr Carlson on his Fox News primetime programme Tucker Carlson Today, Ms Greene said congress is a business that is failing America.

Its because most of the people who are there are not qualified to be there, she said.

The freshman lawmaker, who was stripped of her committee assignments after spouting conspiracy theories and endorsing violence against Democrats, made a curious case against her fellow members of Congress despite her own limited credentials.

At one point in the interview, Ms Greene and Mr Carlson discussed the relationship between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who has been critical of former president Donald Trump.

Mr McCarthy recently admitted that he rented a room in Mr Luntzs DC penthouse for a couple of months. Mr McCarthy rented room in the palatial enclave for the low price of $1,500, which the congressman claimed was market rate.

Were you shocked to learn they share a toothbrush or are roommates or whatever? Mr Carlson asked.

I was more curious, like, who gets the top bunk and who gets the bottom bunk, Ms Greene responded.

Mr Carlson added Do we have any clarity on that? to which Ms Greene said: Somebody should find out, right?

Later in the interview, Ms Greene boasted about her divisive political tactics. She said that her colleagues on the other side of the aisle cant even look me in the eye because I think theyre intimidated by me.

Mr Carlson asked the conservative firebrand what Democrats do when they see her in the halls of power.

They always have these looks on their faces which is usually very amusing to me, she said, adding: Its anything from oh, there she is, to straight-up hatred, stare down hatred.

Ms Greene also went after President Joe Biden, saying he doesnt deserve to be president and that hes absolutely pathetic.

Story continues

She argued that articles of impeachment should be introduced against Mr Biden and every single Republican should be driving that message home, she said.

Read More

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US tech giant Microsoft pledged Thursday to process and store all European cloud-based client data in the European Union amid unease in the region over the reach of US legislation on personal data collection.

Microsoft's European clients have long been concerned over the legal status of data they store with US companies in the cloud and the extent to which they could be scrutinised by US authorities.

Those worries came to a head last July when the European Court of Justice struck down the EU-US Privacy Shield, a framework allowing firms to transfer personal data to the United States in compliance with Brussels' General Data Protection Regulation.

The court found the mechanism did not adequately protect EU data from US authorities over which Europe has neither control nor right of redress.

In a blog post on Thursday, Microsoft president Brad Smith said: "If you are a commercial or public sector customer in the EU, we will go beyond our existing data storage commitments and enable you to process and store all your data in the EU.

"In other words, we will not need to move your data outside the EU."

Smith said the commitment would apply across all of Microsoft's core cloud services - Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365 -- and would take effect by the end of next year.

The initiative is dubbed the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud.

Smith stated Microsoft cloud services "already comply with or exceed EU guidelines even before the plan we're announcing today".

"We defend our customers' data from improper access by any government in the world," he added.

"We hope today's update is another step toward responding to customers that want even greater data residency commitments," Smith wrote, pledging to continue to consult with customers and regulators on the issue and respond to their feedback.

- US-dominated cloud -

It remains to be seen, however, if Smith's announcement will sufficiently assuage lingering European fears on the issue.

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"The location of Europeans' personal data in US providers' European data centres does not always guarantee their security as they can still be subject to US law," owing to the extra-territorial reach of the latter, financial auditors KPMG noted in a white paper on the European cloud market drawn up with French IT firms including Microsoft rival OVHCloud.

Smith stressed Microsoft was committed to the EU's vision for a "Europe Fit for the Digital Age" and pledged compensation to customers were any of their data to be disclosed data in violation of European data protection rules.

Cloud services allow firms to store immense quantities of data on remote servers according to their needs but the sector is largely dominated by US providers -- notably Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google.

The sector is growing exponentially.

According to KPMG, the European market alone, currently estimated to be worth 53 billion euros ($63.8 billion), could grow by a factor of between five and ten times by 2030.

The US market is projected to grow from a current $76.4 billion to $390.3 billion by 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights research.

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Once again, the Epic Games v. Apple court fight is revealing inside information about the gaming industry. Microsoft testified at the trial yesterday as a witness for Epic, and explained how iOS rules essentially blocked its xCloud gaming service, as Bloomberg, Ars Technica and others reported. It was also justified its own 30 percent commission on Xbox Store apps and explain why console store rules need to be different from those on PCs or smartphones.

Epic questioned Microsoft's business development head Lori Wright on its fight with Apple to get its xCloud streaming service listed on the iOS store. The problem from Apple's point of view is that it allows users to essentially bypass iOS store in-app purchases for individual games. Wright said that Microsoft proposed various technical fixes and financial arrangements to make it possible for Apple to get a share of game sales.

Microsoft argued that other apps like Netflix and Shadow (a Windows 10 PC simulator) offered similar "interactive" functionality to xCloud, yet were not barred from the store. "We were showing two examples where a game or an application was able to exist, and we didnt understand why we couldnt," she said.

It eventually gave up on getting xCloud onto the App Store and instead released an iOS web browser version in beta. However, "the challenge is people don't play games over browser on the iPhone. Look at the data  all the gameplay is through the App Store. People are not playing games on the browser on iPhone," she said.

The business model is set out to be an end-to-end gaming experience. Hardware is critical to delivering that experience. We need gamers to be able to have a console. We make money back in the long run on game sales and gaming subscriptions. Part of that [30 percent] commission goes to make it possible for us to build a console. It's required for us to even build the console.

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Citing critics, Apple countered that the xCloud is actually a "super-solid" and "remarkably polished" experience on Safari. It added that Apple provided free developer support to help Microsoft bring xCloud to the iOS store. However, Wright countered that it took Microsoft "a lot of work we had to go through to deliver that polish. We had to start from scratch and re-deliver."

Another of Apple's main arguments against Epic is that if its App Store is a monopoly, then most major game consoles  including Microsoft's Xbox consoles  are monopolies as well.

Microsoft now charges a 12 percent commission for PC games on the Xbox store, but it charges 30 percent for games sold from the Xbox console. Wright justified that discrepancy by arguing that PCs are "general-purpose" devices, much like an iPhone, while the Xbox and other consoles are "special-purpose."

That difference is key, she said, because gaming is just one application of many on a PC or smartphone. To that end, Microsoft allows multiple stores (including Epic's game store) on Windows 10, plus other ways of installing apps and games.

However, Microsoft believes that the Xbox and other consoles are different. "The Xbox is designed to give you a gaming experience. People buy an Xbox because they want to play games," she said.

Wright added that it has never made a profit on the sale of an Xbox console because it's just one part of an end-to-end experience. "Part of that [30 percent] commission goes to make it possible for us to build a console," Wright said. "[The fee] is required for us to even build the console. We make money back in the long run on game sales and gaming subscriptions."

Apple responded that the Xbox allows other apps and services including Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and others, giving it more than one purpose. It also noted that the Xbox console store essentially violates Microsoft's own principle for its Windows store. However, Wright countered that people don't buy an Xbox to watch Netflix and again noted that the difference in principles between the devices is based on "how they're used and how many people they reach."
RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco recalled its ambassador to Berlin for consultations on Thursday in protest at what it described as Germany's "destructive attitude" towards Rabat's position on the Western Sahara issue.

It accused Germany of engaging in "antagonistic activism" after the United States in December recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, which is also claimed as an independent state by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front movement.

Washington's decision, part of a deal that also involved increasing diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel, prompted Germany to call a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the issue.

In March, Morocco ordered all governmental departments and bodies to abstain from any cooperation and contacts with the German Embassy and German political organisations.

Morocco also said on Thursday that Germany had disclosed sensitive information provided by Moroccan security services to a convicted jihadist, without elaborating.

In a statement, it also repeated a previous complaint that Germany had not invited it to a 2020 Berlin conference on Libya. Morocco has over the past year played a role in Libyan diplomatic negotiations by hosting talks between members of the rival parliament groups.

The German Foreign Ministry said it was not informed in advance about the ambassador's recall, adding it could not understand the accusations in the communique from the Moroccan ministry and had asked for an explanation.

"We are all the more surprised by this measure because we are making constructive efforts with the Moroccan side to resolve the crisis," said a ministry official.

(Additional reporting by Madeline Chambers; Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Frances Kerry)
Forget Google Maps -- sharks can read the Earth's magnetic field like a GPS navigator to find their way, a study in Current Biology showed Thursday.

Lead author Bryan Keller told AFP the paper vindicates a decades-old theory about how the aquatic predators are able to migrate vast distances, swim in arrow-straight lines, and return to their precise point of origin.

Sharks are also known to have a fine-tuned electrosensing ability that helps them detect prey.

All these factors led scientists to believe that sharks -- like sea turtles and certain other species -- can glean their position and orientation using the magnetic field generated deep within our planet.

But there had been no way of proving it, until now.

For their research, Keller, project leader of Save Our Seas Foundation Florida, decided to study a small member of the shark family, called bonnetheads, that are native to the Gulf of Mexico.

"The bonnethead returns to the same estuaries each year," said Keller, a biological oceanographer at Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory.

"This demonstrates that the sharks knows where 'home' is and can navigate back to it from a distant location."

The team caught 20 juvenile bonnetheads then exposed them to a device called a Merritt coil -- a wooden cube with vertically and horizontally arranged copper wiring running along it, and a shark tank at the center.

The device was used to simulate magnetic field conditions that corresponded to different locations on Earth, hundreds of kilometers from where the bonnetheads were caught.

As predicted, the sharks oriented themselves northward when the magnetic conditions simulated a position south of where they were caught.

They didn't orient themselves in any direction when the coil told them they were already at their home.

"This work provides clarity for how they maintain navigational success," said Keller.

He added that it was unlikely that bonnetheads evolved this ability independently of other sharks, and the finding illuminated impressive feats among its cousin species.

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"The great white, for example, has been shown to migrate from South Africa to Australia, returning to the same tagging site the following year in South Africa," he said.

This movement was over 20,000 kilometers over nine months with the animal displaying an "incredibly straight swimming trajectory."

Keller said in future studies he'd like to explore the effects of magnetic fields from human sources, such as submarine cables, on sharks.

ia/jh
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference on Thursday that the Navy is "looking into" the case of a SEAL acquitted of murder in 2019, reports the Washington Post.

Driving the news: On an episode of The Line podcast that aired Tuesday, retired Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who was accused of war crimes, told the host that an Islamic State fighter who had been imprisoned in Iraq in 2017 died from "medical treatments" he received.

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What he's saying: I didnt stab that dude, Gallagher said on the new Apple podcast this week. That dude died from all the medical treatments that were done. And there was plenty of medical treatments that were done to him.

We killed that guy. Our intention was to kill him. Everybody was on board."

Flashback: Gallagher was accused of stabbing the Islamic State fighter and later acquitted.

A military jury acquitted the Navy SEAL on the murder charge, but convicted him for a photo he took in 2017 with the corpse of an ISIS fighter. The jury sentenced Gallagher to a demotion in rank.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper later said in 2019 that then-President Trump had ordered him to allow Gallagher to retire with his Trident Pin.

Why it matters: Austin's comment "marks the first time that defense officials have left the door open to reviewing the case," the Post writes.

Austin provided no further details.

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North Carolina Republican lawmakers who are concerned about what students are being taught in class could require schools to post online what materials their teachers are using.

The state House passed the Academy Transparency bill on Wednesday. It would require school districts and charter schools with 400 or more students to list online what instructional materials they used in the past school year.

Some GOP lawmakers say they feel the legislation is necessary because parents are concerned about what their children are learning.

This will help the parents going to the next grade be able to look and see what that teacher taught the year before, and hopefully were just going to teach the kids, Rep. Jeff McNeely, an Iredell County Republican, said at Tuesdays House Education Committee meeting.

Were not going to try to indoctrinate them or teach them in a certain way to make them believe something other than the facts, the knowledge, the ability to write, the ability to read. So I like this bill.

House Bill 755 was passed on a 66-50 vote, with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition.

We have to be very careful when trying to micromanage for no reason, because thats what this is, said Rep. Kandie Smith, a Pitt County Democrat. We have teachers teaching in schools for years and all of a sudden for this to come up as an issue at the same time that weve had a lot of racial situations and people are trying to say now that we dont have any systematic racism and we dont want things to be taught.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

The legislation comes at a time when conservatives have grown increasingly suspicious about what is being taught in public schools. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson created a task force to collect complaints from parents, students and teachers in public schools across the state about indoctrination in the classroom, the News & Observer previously reported.

Instructional material would be posted online

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Under the legislation, schools would be required to post on their website what lesson plans were used by teachers the prior school year. This would include any material used for instruction, including all textbooks, other reading materials, videos, digital materials, websites and other online applications.

Schools would also have to post information on each event and activity that took place outside individual teachers classrooms during school hours. Required information would include a list of each person who spoke, what organization they represented and what instructional materials were presented.

Schools wouldnt be required to post copyrighted material online. But theyd be expected to post enough details that parents could see what was used and come in-person to review the materials.

Rep. Hugh Blackwell, a Burke County Republican and the bills primary sponsor, said the bill will help promote parental involvement.

The idea is to make a way for parents, without having to go to the schoolhouse, without having to go to school officials to be able to go online and see what is being offered in their students classes, Blackwell said Wednesday.

But Rep. Abe Jones, a Wake County Democrat, said parents can always contact the teacher about whats being used. He said that posting it online means teachers will have to input the material.

Im just concerned that this is another additional load on classroom teachers that perhaps the timing and the resources for it havent been well thought out, Jones said.

Blackwell said that the state Department of Public Instruction can develop a template to help make it easier to input the material.
North Carolina officials are searching for a tool with radioactive materials that was stolen Thursday in Durham, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported.

If mishandled or broken open, the gauge poses a potential health and safety risk, DHHSs Radiation Protection Section said in a news release. The tool was clearly marked as containing radioactive materials, which is uses to test conditions of materials during construction.

The theft was reported to the NC Radiation Protection Section and local law enforcement. DHHS did not said where the tool was stolen from.

The gauge has a stainless-steel handle coming out of its top with a radiation symbol on it, and the radioactive material is sealed in stainless-steel capsules.

It was in a Type A transportation container when it disappeared, according to the release. The yellow plastic case is marked with Radiation tri-foil (Radioactive  7), USA DOT 7A, Type A Radioactive Material, and Cargo Aircraft Only labels.

If the gauge is spotted, DHHS advises not to touch or move the device and to stay at least 10 feet away from it until authorities secure the area and the device. An individual could face adverse health effects if directly exposed to the radioactive material for a prolonged amount of time.

Contact Travis Cartoski, NC Radiation Protection Section, at 919-621-4797 or a local law enforcement agency with any information.
Lawmakers tried many times to abolish or alter the song, but always got hung up on details, such as whether any parts of Maryland, My Maryland could be salvaged or what song should replace it. Last summer, House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat and the first person of color to lead a General Assembly chamber, said the song was extremely offensive.
- By GF Value





The stock of Nektar Therapeutics (NAS:NKTR, 30-year Financials) shows every sign of being fairly valued, 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 $18.52 per share and the market cap of $3.4 billion, Nektar Therapeutics stock is believed to be fairly valued. GF Value for Nektar Therapeutics is shown in the chart below.





Nektar Therapeutics Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Fairly Valued

Because Nektar Therapeutics is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its 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. Nektar Therapeutics has a cash-to-debt ratio of 7.07, which which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Biotechnology industry. The overall financial strength of Nektar Therapeutics is 5 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Nektar Therapeutics is fair. This is the debt and cash of Nektar Therapeutics over the past years:

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Fairly Valued

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. Nektar Therapeutics has been profitable 1 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $152.9 million and loss of $2.49 a share. Its operating margin is -248.45%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Biotechnology industry. Overall, the profitability of Nektar Therapeutics is ranked 1 out of 10, which indicates poor profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Nektar Therapeutics over the past years:

Story continues

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Fairly Valued

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 Nektar Therapeutics is -24.3%, which ranks worse than 71% of the companies in Biotechnology industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is -104%, which ranks in the bottom 10% of the companies in Biotechnology 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, Nektar Therapeutics's ROIC was -63.07, while its WACC came in at 9.71. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Nektar Therapeutics is shown below:

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Shows Every Sign Of Being Fairly Valued

In summary, The stock of Nektar Therapeutics (NAS:NKTR, 30-year Financials) appears to be fairly valued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is poor. Its growth ranks in the bottom 10% of the companies in Biotechnology industry. To learn more about Nektar Therapeutics 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.


May 6WASHINGTON  A feud broke out Wednesday between Northwest Republicans in Congress after public records revealed Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson coordinated with Oregon's Democratic governor before unveiling his proposal to restore salmon runs by breaching dams on the lower Snake River.

In a joint statement, Washington Reps. Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz accused Simpson of misrepresenting the proposal he released in February as merely a starting point for negotiations, and communicating with aides to Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon "under wraps and out of the public eye."

"For months, Rep. Simpson has been speaking with us about his sweeping dam-breaching proposal, touting transparency and an open process while telling us it was simply a 'legislative concept' for the Northwest delegation to consider," Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers and Bentz wrote.

"What he didn't tell us was that he has been coordinating for months with Oregon Governor Kate Brown's staff behind the scenes to shepherd his proposal through Congress with little to no support from Pacific Northwest representatives  Republican or Democrat."

The correspondence in question is contained in hundreds of pages of emails  mostly between Simpson's chief of staff, Lindsay Slater, and aides in Brown's office  released through a public records request filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmentalist group that opposes Simpson's framework.

The emails show a wide-range, cordial back-and-forth over the proposal and how best to present it to other officials and the public. The emails don't discuss specific legislation and don't criticize other politicians.

While congressional offices are not subject to public records laws, state governments are.

In a statement of his own, Simpson said there was nothing unusual about his staff being in contact with other officials before releasing the proposal and called his fellow Republicans "dead wrong" for saying he is not open to feedback.

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The Northwest Republicans' spat broke out just as the GOP prepares for a public battle that could oust Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, from the party's No. 3 leadership position.

"My staff has had discussions with nearly every governor, Member of Congress, and U.S. Senator in the Columbia Basin on this proposal," Simpson said. "Most politely listened. Others engaged. From the start, I have said I wanted this to be a regional solution to a regional problem.

"I expected pushback when this all started," the statement continued. "What I did not expect was colleagues with whom I have worked for a number of years on a number of issues to question my integrity, to insinuate I have lied about my motivation and in fact have nefarious intentions  to  what? Sabotage the economy of my own state? I have a strong record of public service to the State of Idaho that does not need to be listed here to prove the absurdity of that notion."

In several emails, aides to Simpson and Brown say their discussions should be kept "confidential" until the proposal was unveiled. In one email, Slater tells Jim McKenna, an adviser to Brown on natural resource issues, "I'd be very happy to touch base and would like to keep it under the radar for the time being if that's all right with you given many moving pieces and dynamics."

In his statement, Simpson said private communication about a not-yet-public proposal is normal and suggested the Washington Republicans' complaints were in bad faith.

"I did not want to release the Columbia Basin Initiative until all the extremely complicated aspects of the plan came together," he said. "As I have mentioned, I have been working on this for THREE YEARS. How is that secret? I told everyone who would listen, including Reps. Newhouse and McMorris Rodgers, that I was working on this.

"I knew there would be a lot of questions about the concept when it was released, so I wanted to have as many answers as possible before going public. The emails released show this.

"Anyone who has ever worked on solving a complex issue knows that to release a plan before it is complete is to lose credibility before you have even started."

The Center for Biological Diversity, which requested the correspondence under Oregon public records law on April 9, opposes Simpson's proposal over pollution concerns and a provision that would freeze dam-related lawsuits for 35 years and agriculture-related lawsuits for 25 years.

"We rarely agree with Rep. Newhouse, but when it comes to removing the Snake River dams, we too insist that there must be a transparent, open process that involves all stakeholders," said Brett Hartl, the group's government affairs director. "A deal made behind closed doors with just the good ol' boys will be worse for salmon, worse for the river and worse for the region."

In his statement, Simpson called the Center for Biological Diversity "one of the extreme environmental groups that is opposed to my concept because it would end their business model of keeping the stakeholders in the region in perennial litigation over the four Lower Snake River dams."

Simpson has said he hopes to include the $33.5 billion his proposal calls for in a forthcoming infrastructure package President Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass. While the Idaho lawmaker has emphasized he has not written legislation and he has continued to solicit feedback, Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers and Bentz called the proposal "not just a starting point, but rather a radical and fully-baked plan he is actively seeking to put into law."

Simpson brushed off that accusation, pointing to an email in which Slater wrote to McKenna, "Regarding specificity, as you have seen, we are keeping it at a fairly high (broad) level describing the issues that need to be addressed with some form of general solution  knowing that very important decisions like these will need to be made and determined by the governors, delegation and a number of varied interests."

In other emails, McKenna refers to conversations Brown had with Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, who have so far released only a noncommittal joint statement with Washington Democratic Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell calling for more dialogue to restore Northwest salmon runs.

The three Republicans also suggest Simpson's collaboration with Brown could undermine an agreement signed last October by the governors of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana to work together on the decades-old conundrum of dams contributing to declining salmon runs.

A spokesperson for Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In response to the three Republicans' claim that his coordination with Brown had "harmful impacts on our regional dialogue," Simpson snapped back, "I would argue that nothing undermines regional dialogue more than refusing to talk."

"In my travels around Idaho, I have found people to be more open to listening, more thoughtful, and frankly more interested in solving these issues together than some of my colleagues," Simpson said. "While I am deeply disappointed in the destructive approach by some, I continue to be encouraged by those who actually want to protect agriculture, end frivolous lawsuits, give salmon their only fighting chance to avoid extinction, and create certainty and security for generations to come."

------

Orion Donovan-Smith's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
Happy the elephant strolls inside the Bronx Zoo's Asia Habitat in New York on October 2, 2018. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File

An animal rights group has brought a habeas corpus case on behalf of an Asian elephant.

The group says Happy has been "imprisoned" at the Bronx Zoo for decades and should be moved to a sanctuary.

The New York State Court of Appeals said it would hear the case after many dismissals in lower courts.

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New York's top court said Tuesday it would hear a case brought on by animal welfare activists over Happy, an elephant who they say has been "imprisoned at the Bronx Zoo for over four decades."

"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 response to the news.

Habeas corpus, translated from Latin, means "show me the body," and typically relates to cases of unlawful imprisonment, though usually of a human person.

The Nonhuman Rights Project, which first brought Happy on as their client in 2018, says they are "seeking recognition of her fundamental right to bodily liberty." They say she should be granted a writ of habeas corpus and transferred to an elephant sanctuary. They have also gathered more than 1 million signatures on a petition demanding her release.

Read more: Etsy is awash with illicit products it claims to ban, from ivory to dangerous weapons and mass-produced goods

Happy, a female Asian elephant, was brought to the zoo in the 1970s along with another elephant, Grumpy, who lived with her for 25 years, according to The New York Times. After her longtime companion died in 2002, Happy has mostly lived alone since. In 2006, Happy became the first elephant to demonstrate self-recognition, when a study found she was able to recognize herself in a mirror, joining the ranks of humans, chimpanzees, and dolphins, NPR reported at the time.

The New York State Court of Appeals agreed to hear Happy's case after more than two dozen New York judges in lower courts had dismissed it, according to a statement from the Bronx Zoo.

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In December, an Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court rejected the case in a unanimous decision, rejecting the characterization of Happy as a "person."

"A judicial determination that species other than homo sapiens are 'persons' for some juridical purposes, and therefore have certain rights, would lead to a labyrinth of questions that common-law processes are ill-equipped to answer," the opinion said, adding the decision is "better suited to the legislative process."

The Bronx Zoo has celebrated the past rejections of the case and has accused the Nonhuman Rights Project of "erroneous arguments," spreading false information, and exploiting Happy for their activism.

"Happy is not kept in isolation; Happy is not languishing; Happy is not kept indoors for half the year," the zoo said. "In essence, the lawsuit was never about what was best for Happy but has been a vehicle used by NhRP to generate funds to advance its philosophical cause."

Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.

Read the original article on Insider
May 6If Maryland residents have grown tired of hearing Gov. Larry Hogan encouraging citizens to get vaccinated against coronavirus, take it from Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., who had much of the same to say when he joined the governor and other officials Wednesday for a tour of the mass vaccination site at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

Ripken, who owns the minor league Aberdeen IronBirds team that plays at the stadium, said he was happy to help the vaccine effort there and encouraged more people to get their COVID shot.

While walking through the tents, several clinic workers jumped at the opportunity to get Ripken to sign a baseball and Orioles hats, which he happily did. But Ripken was there with a message: Marylanders need to get vaccinated.

The process is quick, easy and  for those getting their shot at the stadium  conveniently located off I-95, the baseball Hall of Famer said.

"We still cannot stop; we still need to get everyone vaccinated," he said.

The continued push comes as Hogan announced that any of the 13 mass vaccination clinics in the state will be open to walk-ins for eligible Marylanders, no appointment required. Vaccine seekers can still get an appointment to guarantee a spot.

"We are not through this yet, we have just got to get those last few people vaccinated," Hogan said. "Our goal is to try to get these shots done, wind down these mass vax sites and to get everybody who wants a shot to get one."

Hospitalizations are dropping, the governor said, as is the positivity rate and cases per 100,000 people as the state rounded the corner of 5 million total vaccinations given.

Periodic cheers and whoops of encouragement went up from the clinic's workers as cars rolled through the tents set up in the parking lot or Ripken Stadium. They cheered for birthdays, people who were apprehensively getting the shot and other occasions to keep spirits high. Hogan joined in one cheer.

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"Everybody who has not gotten their vaccine needs to come here, hang out with Cal Ripken," he joked.

County Executive Barry Glassman thanked the governor, health department and the Ripken family for the clinic and said he placed a pre-recorded call to county residents to remind them that the vaccination site at the stadium was open.

About 34% of Harford County residents have had both shots, Glassman said, and figures from the Harford County Health Department show about 46% have received at least their first shot.

County Health Officer David Bishai said he was grateful to have the mass vaccination clinic, but more yet need to get their shot. He called for doctors to spread the word about the vaccine to their patients.

"We have asked all of the doctors in Harford County, all of the health providers, therapists, even the dentist ... there is no [better] health advice you can give, doctors, than to tell your patient 'go get vaccinated,'" he said. "This is the best thing we can do for our health right now."
A New Orleans vape shop owner has been charged with murder after killing a man he said was threatening and harassing him after being banned from the store.

According to NOLA.com, Khutbi Abdelkader, the co-owner of Smoke Sum, a shop near the French Quarter, was charged with second-degree murder after shooting Anthony Francois. Abdelkader told investigators after the shooting that Francois was harassing and threatening him every day after Francois was banned from the store last week.

Francois allegedly came up to the store and started banging on the glass Wednesday afternoon. When Abdelkader went outside to confront him, Francois allegedly reached for something in his pockets at which point Abdelkader shot him twice several storefronts away.

Paramedics rushed Francois to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A witness later told police that Abdelkader followed and then confronted Francois after he walked past the store with the witness. Surveillance from a passing city bus corroborated the witnesss description of the incident.

Police noted in their report that neither Francois or his companion were in possession of any weapons. The circumstances behind the mens original feud are unknown.

Abdelkader would receive a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
Child care providers, parents and children filled Idahos Capitol Rotunda on Monday and sat in on Tuesdays Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting.

Their presence was impossible to ignore, and on Wednesday, lawmakers took favorable action on more than $100 million in COVID-19 relief funds that Idaho Gov. Brad Little recommended go toward support of the states hard-hit child care industry. That money comes out of the nearly $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act money that Idaho received from the federal government after ARPA was signed in March.

House Bills 369, 395 and 400 are now headed to the governors desk after passing easily in the Senate on Wednesday evening. HB 369 passed by a vote of 30-5, HB 395 by a vote of 32-3 and HB 400 by a vote of 33-2.

It is wonderful to know the Legislature listened to us and understands the importance of passing (these bills), said Melissa Buck, owner of Vista Montessori School in Boise. The child care industry provides a service essential to our economy. Early childhood education is often overlooked in Idaho. This is a huge step in the right direction.

JFAC advanced HB 400 and HB 395 on Tuesday morning, and by late afternoon, both bills cleared the House, by votes of 50-15 and 38-27, respectively. The vote on HB 369 in the House also was 38-27.

Rep. Colin Nash, D-Boise, said the funding is critical moving forward. The relief funds from ARPA provided by HB 395 and 400 are for fiscal year 2022.

I just cant overstate the need for this, Nash said during a JFAC meeting Tuesday morning. We already had a child care crisis before COVID hit. ... I dont think our economy can sustain losing another 200 providers in this state.

As of June 2020, about 7,918 families in Idaho received some form of child care assistance, according to data provided by the Idaho Legislative Service Offices Budget & Policy Analysis Division. There are nearly 900 licensed child care providers in Idaho, and 220 were forced to close over the past year.

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Rep. Caroline Nilsson Troy, R-Genesee, said that without child care providers, working families are put in the difficult position of choosing between employment and taking care of children at home.

We just cant afford to lose any more day care, Troy said. Not everybody can afford to have somebody come to their home and take care of their children. Not everybody can afford to stay home.

Troy said lawmakers intend to focus the $36 million set aside for development grants on children between the ages of 5-13 and on ways to provide in-person learning through community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club or 4-H. That bill, HB 400, exceeded the governors original recommendation of $26 million for these grants.

I think of those citizens in Idaho who have struggled the most with the shutdowns during COVID, its been our children, Troy said.

The $70 million in federal relief funding earmarked for child care stabilization grants (HB 395) can be used by providers to pay personnel costs for any employee; rent or payment on a mortgage obligation; utilities, facility maintenance or improvements, or insurance; for personal protective equipment, cleaning/sanitization supplies/services, or training related to health and safety practices; purchases of or updates to equipment and supplies to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency; purchases of goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services; and mental health supports of children and employees.

I hope this means we are now valued and that Idaho recognizes the important role we play on a daily basis, said Robin Findl, owner of Kids Choice child care centers in Boise and Meridian. We look forward to focusing on whats most important  the children and partnering with families through quality care.

In another win for the industry, Senate Bill 1212 passed by a vote of 26-7 on Monday and includes $3,125,000 for an increase to the child care entitlement to the state in its welfare division. The bill passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 41-24 and now heads to the governor.

House Bill 369 appropriates $33,763,900 for child care, but those funds run out on Dec. 31, 2021. That money was part of the federal relief package passed last year, as was the SB 1212 funding.
Tech investments in emerging markets have been in full swing over the past couple of years and their ecosystems have thrived as a result.

Some of these markets like Africa, Latin America and India, have comprehensive reports by publications and firms on trends and investments in their individual regions. But there's hardly a report to compare and contrast trends and investments between these regions and rightfully so. Such a task is Herculean.

Well, a report released today by data research organization Briter Bridges and global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund is punching above its weight to offer a holistic representation to the darling sector of these three markets: fintech.

The report "State of Fintech in Emerging Markets Report" has three objectives -- to evaluate the investment, product and inclusivity trends across emerging markets.

The team surveyed over 177 startups and 33 investors across Africa, Latin America and India. Though this sample size used is minuscule, the key findings are quite impressive.

Let's dive in.

Fintechs have raised $23B across the regions since 2017

There's no stopping emerging markets' favorite. The sector has continued to receive the largest share of investments year on year for the past five years.

More than 300 million unbanked African adults account for 17% of the world's unbanked population. So it's not difficult to see why in 2019, the continent witnessed five mega-deals in Branch, Tala, World Remit, Interswitch and OPay that amounted to a total of over $775 million. While this dropped last year to $362 million, companies like Flutterwave, TymeBank and Kuda have raised sizable rounds during this period.

fintech funding five years emerging markets

Image Credits: Briter Bridges & Catalyst Fund

Latin America is home to a growing base of digital users, enabling regulation and reforms, and vibrant small businesses. Just like Africa, the percentage of unbanked people is high at 70%. Fintechs in the region have seized the opportunity and have been rewarded with mega-rounds that companies like NuBank, Neon, Konfio and Clip have enjoyed. Collectively, fintech startups have raised $10 billion in the past five years.

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In 2019 alone, Indian fintech startups raised a record $4.8 billion, per the report. Then last year, the sector brought in $3 billion. Over the past five years, they have totaled $11.6 billion with notable big names like CRED, Razorpay, Groww and BharatPe, among others.

Africa's average seed rounds stand at $1M, India and Latin America average $4M

Per the report, early-stage deals in Africa have been increasing over the past five years totaling over $1.6 billion. Their average size, especially for seed rounds, has grown from $750,000 in 2017 to $1 million in 2020.

For Latin America, the average seed deal in the last five years was around $5.7 million while India did approximately $4.6 million. The report says the data for the latter was skewed because of CRED's $30 million seed round.

Image Credits: Briter Bridges & Catalyst Fund

Latin America is IPO-hungry, India breeds unicorns while Africa is just getting started with M&A

Last year, Stripe's acquisition of Paystack was the highlight of Africa's M&As because of its size and the homegrown status of the Nigerian fintech startup. Other larger rounds that made the headlines include the $500 million acquisition of Wave by WorldRemit (which happens to be the largest from the continent) and the DPO Group buyout by Network International for $288 million.

Unlike the African fintech market that has noticed mega acquisition deals and many undisclosed seven-figure deals, the Latin American fintech market is a sucker for IPOs. Per the report, fintechs in the region have several $100 million rounds (Nubank, PagSeguro, Creditas, BancoInter and Neon) and M&A activity is sparse. But a number of them have gone public recently including Arco Educacao, Stone Pagamentos and Pagseguro.

On the other hand, India has more than 25 billion-dollar companies and keeps adding yearly. Just last month, the country recorded more than eight. These unicorns range from established companies like Paytm to new ones like CRED.

Payments, credit and neobanks lead fintech activity

The report shows that payments companies are the creme de la creme for fintech investment across the three regions. Within that subset, B2B payments reign supreme. The next two funded fintech categories are credit and digital banking.

In Africa, payments startups have seen more investments than credit and neobanks. Flutterwave, Chipper Cash, Wave, Paystack and DPO come to mind.

most funded fintech categories emerging market

Image Credits: Briter Bridges & Catalyst Fund

Latin America's most funded fintechs are neobanks. And it is the only region with all three product categories closely funded at $2 billion-$3 billion each. Some of these companies include NuBank, Creditas and dLocal.

India's top-funded fintech startups are in payments. But it has notable representation in credit and neobanks, some of which have raised nine-figure rounds like Niyo, Lendingkart and InCred.

Investors are enthused about the future of insurance, payments and digital banks

From the handful of investors surveyed in the report on their view on future trends in fintech products five years from now, most of them chose insurance, payments and digital banking models.

Investment platforms and embedded models are also areas of interest. They were less keen on agriculture and remittances while wealth tech platforms and neobanks were also ranked lower in priority. How is it that digital banking and neobanking are at two ends of the spectrum of investor choice? I can't say for sure.

investors appetite in the coming years emerging markets

Image Credits: Briter Bridges & Catalyst Fund

Parts of the report talk about underserved consumers in these regions and how fintech startups are serving them. It also discusses whether these fintech startups promote financial inclusion and what features and products would get them to that point.

In all of this, the glaring fact, which is no news, is that Africa is lagging years behind Latin America and India. Talking with Briter Bridges director Dario Giuliani, he pointed out that he'd lean on five years for the continent to get to where Latin America and India are at the moment. He added that what makes India a better market at this stage is because it isn't a continent like the other markets and operations are uniform across board.

"It is easier to manage one country than 54 countries in Africa and 20 in Latin America," he said to TechCrunch. "In Africa, we use the label 'Africa,' but we're very much talking about 4-6 countries. Latin America is basically Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia who are seeing massive companies rise. India is one."

One key detail the report mentions is that most fintechs across emerging markets are crossing over to different sectors like crop insurance, credit lines for distributors and vendors, KYC, e-commerce payment gateways, medical finance and insurance. Guiliani says he expects this to continue.
Vallarta Living



Luis Alberto's Art Cards Now Available at Arte Viviente



Luis Alberto's cards can now be purchased at Arte Viviente in their fabulous new location at the corner of Libertad and Matamoros in downtown Puerto Vallarta. All proceeds will help fund his college tuition. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.



Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.



The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC continues to make a difference. Here's the latest news from the AFCC:



A Budding Artist



Luis Alberto is a budding artist with a dream to attend college. Last year, he had surgery to remove a stent that was put in place when he had a cancerous tumor removed three years ago. Following that surgery, he lost the ability to walk as one foot is now disabled. Luis Alberto also has one hand disabled. Due to the surgery last year, he missed the first semester. And during recovery, he fell and hurt his leg because he has difficulty getting up and down from buses.



Luis Alberto loves painting and can only use one hand, but this hasn't stopped him! His work is so professional. We've reproduced some of his paintings into blank greeting cards and packaged them into packets of 5 or 10 along with envelopes.



These cards can now be purchased at Arte Viviente in their fabulous new location at the corner of Libertad and Matamoros, in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Thanks to owners Marcia and Kim, all proceeds from the sale of Luis Albert's cards will go directly to him to help fund his college tuition.



The family of a child with cancer needs continuous help and support from medical, other professionals, relatives, friends and community from the very moment of making a diagnosis and throughout the treatment. We are now providing assistance for 22 families and they depend on us to continue with that support. We need your help to keep giving these families the care that they need. Help us continue our support to each of the families by donating through - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC continues to make a difference. Here's the latest news from the AFCC:Luis Alberto is a budding artist with a dream to attend college. Last year, he had surgery to remove a stent that was put in place when he had a cancerous tumor removed three years ago. Following that surgery, he lost the ability to walk as one foot is now disabled. Luis Alberto also has one hand disabled. Due to the surgery last year, he missed the first semester. And during recovery, he fell and hurt his leg because he has difficulty getting up and down from buses.Luis Alberto loves painting and can only use one hand, but this hasn't stopped him! His work is so professional. We've reproduced some of his paintings into blank greeting cards and packaged them into packets of 5 or 10 along with envelopes.These cards can now be purchased at Arte Viviente in their fabulous new location at the corner of Libertad and Matamoros, in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Thanks to owners Marcia and Kim, all proceeds from the sale of Luis Albert's cards will go directly to him to help fund his college tuition.The family of a child with cancer needs continuous help and support from medical, other professionals, relatives, friends and community from the very moment of making a diagnosis and throughout the treatment. We are now providing assistance for 22 families and they depend on us to continue with that support. We need your help to keep giving these families the care that they need. Help us continue our support to each of the families by donating through GoGetFunding.com.



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In the film Shawshank Redemption, an elderly character named Brooks gets released after 50 years in prison. Instead of celebrating his release, however, he is tentative  and shortly after experiencing the freedom of the outside world, he hangs himself.

These walls are funny, Morgan Freemans character Red explains to his fellow prisoners as they process the news. First you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. Thats institutionalized.

As the vaccine has brought the promise of liberation from a year of masks, lockdowns, canceled travel plans, and forgone family visits, there is a contingent of Americans who are simply not prepared to move on. They have somehow gotten used to the restrictions and are wary of returning to their pre-COVID-19 lives. In short, theyve become institutionalized.

Last week, somebody wrote into the New York Times advice column Tripped Up, mulling when they could travel again:

My husband and I are both fully vaccinated, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that were good to travel  with some modifications, of course.

But I am faced with a dilemma. Alaska, where we live, has been on the forefront of vaccinations. But until everyone we might encounter on a trip has been vaccinated, I am struggling with the idea of getting on a plane unless its absolutely necessary . . .

The writer goes on to ask whether she should travel if theres some chance, however small, that it could endanger others.

In reality, a growing body of evidence suggests that vaccines are highly effective at preventing transmission, meaning that it is unlikely that a vaccinated traveler is going to pass on COVID-19 to somebody else  and the most vulnerable Americans have had the opportunity to get vaccinated for months. About eight in ten U.S. COVID-19 deaths occurred in those 65 and older, and 70 percent of that population is now fully vaccinated, with 83 percent having received at least one dose. Furthermore, given the large percentage of vaccine-hesitant Americans, deferring plans until everybody one may encounter on a trip is fully vaccinated would effectively mean never traveling again.

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In another story, the Wall Street Journal quoted a woman from the Washington, D.C., suburbs who was concerned about letting her vaccinated parents make an overdue visit to see their grandchildren, because she was concerned about her children getting infected. After considering various measures, such as testing and quarantine, eventually the grandmother said shed likely wait until the children are fully vaccinated.

Again, the likelihood of somebody who is vaccinated transmitting COVID-19 is low. But on top of that, children who have gotten the virus are at extremely low risk of developing severe symptoms. Waiting until children are fully vaccinated would mean delaying any sort of visits until at least this fall, or potentially until 2022.

It would be one thing if these attitudes were confined to a few random risk-averse people. But their approach is a reflection of the message being sent by leaders and public-health officials. The vaccinated President Biden is often seen wearing a mask outside, and he said recently that it was a patriotic responsibility for Americans to wear masks indefinitely, regardless of their vaccination status. Anthony Fauci, who has been fully vaccinated for months, has said he wont go to restaurants or movie theaters. I dont think I would  even if Im vaccinated  go into an indoor, crowded place where people are not wearing masks, he said. He also said, I dont really see myself going on any fun trips for a while.

There are those who may argue that if some people are being extra cautious or government officials are making non-binding statements, it doesnt directly affect those who want to ease up on the precautions. But the problem is that we are in the midst of a destructive feedback loop. Leaders make statements that overstate the current risk of COVID-19, which ends up guiding the decisions of local officials, and it also makes people more nervous about returning to normal. The people who are nervous remain less likely to pressure local officials to change irrational policies.

More than a year after schools shut down, they have not fully reopened in many places  and it still is an open question whether all schools will be back to normal in the fall. In Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is now allowing weddings to take place  as long as they dont allow dancing. She would not commit to considering easing up the rule so that vaccinated people would be able to dance at their own weddings. In Brookline, Mass., and Montgomery County, Md., local officials decided to maintain outdoor mask requirements even after their states mostly ditched them. The CDC, despite revising mask guidance, has maintained recommendations that childrens summer camps require everybody to wear masks outside unless eating, drinking, or swimming. This, even though outdoor transmission is rare at best and again, children are incredibly low risk. Particularly in areas where it can get brutally hot and humid during the summer, forcing children to wear masks all day is simply inhumane. This particular recommendation is so absurd that Fauci himself couldnt maintain a straight face when asked to defend it in a television interview.

The common thread in the institutionalized concept of COVID-19 is a disproportionate emphasis on low probability events and unknowns. People always take on some degree of risk in their lives. They could die in a car accident, but they still drive. They could drown, but they still swim. In 2019, there were 93,700 preventable injury deaths occurring in Americans own homes.

It is true that when it first arrived, COVID-19 presented an unacceptable risk, especially to many vulnerable populations. But with the exceedingly high vaccination rates among the most vulnerable, the situation is dramatically different today. Drastic measures that may have once been justified no longer make any sense, because the risk calculus has changed. Forgoing travel when youre unvaccinated because you dont want to transmit the virus to somebody vulnerable and unvaccinated is a lot different from traveling when vaccinated, and when most vulnerable people are vaccinated.

Its true that vaccines are not 100 percent. Its true that there is always a risk that a variant could develop that can get around the vaccine. And its true that we dont know whether there are long-term health effects of COVID-19 to children who had mild cases. Yet while the risk of COVID-19 may never be zero, in normal times, we take many actions that entail at least some risk. Furthermore, it could take decades before we have an understanding of various unknowns, such long-term health effects. We cannot put our lives on hold while we wait for answers.

Instead, people should celebrate the miracle of these vaccines, embrace their liberation from COVID-19 prison, and get on with their lives.

More from National Review
By Will Dunham

(Reuters) - Under the cover of darkness in desert habitats about 70 million years ago, in what is today Mongolia and northern China, a gangly looking dinosaur employed excellent night vision and superb hearing to thrive as a menacing pint-sized nocturnal predator.

Scientists said on Thursday an examination of a ring of bones surrounding the pupil and a bony tube inside the skull that houses the hearing organ showed that this dinosaur, called Shuvuuia deserti, boasted visual and auditory capabilities akin to a barn owl, indicating it could it hunt in total darkness.

Their study, published in the journal Science, showed that predatory dinosaurs overall generally possessed better-than-average hearing - helpful for hunters - but had vision optimized for daytime. In contrast, Shuvuuia (pronounced shu-VOO-ee-ah) loved the nightlife.

Shuvuuia was a pheasant-sized, two-legged Cretaceous Period dinosaur weighing about as much as a small house cat. Lacking the strong jaws and sharp teeth of many carnivorous dinosaurs, it had a remarkably bird-like and lightly built skull and many tiny teeth like grains of rice.

Its mid-length neck and small head, coupled with very long legs, made it resemble an awkward chicken. Unlike birds, it had short but powerful arms ending in a single large claw, good for digging.

"Shuvuuia might have run across the desert floor under cover of night, using its incredible hearing and night vision to track small prey such as nocturnal mammals, lizards and insects. With its long legs it could have rapidly run down such prey, and used its digging forelimbs to pry prey loose from any cover such as a burrow," said paleontologist Jonah Choiniere of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, the study's lead author.

"It's such a strange animal that paleontologists have long wondered what it was actually doing," added paleontologist Roger Benson of the University of Oxford in England, who helped lead the study.

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The researchers looked at a structure called the lagena, a curving and finger-like sac that sits in a cavity in the bones surrounding the brain and is connected to the part of the ear that lets reptiles and birds keep balance and move their heads while walking. Acute hearing helps nocturnal predators locate prey. The longer the lagena, the better hearing an animal has.

The barn owl, a proficient nocturnal predator even in pitch-black conditions, has the proportionally longest lagena of any living bird. Shuvuuia is unique among predatory dinosaurs with a hyper-elongated lagena, almost identical in relative size to a barn owl's.

The researchers also looked at a series of tiny bones called the scleral ring that encircle the pupil of the eye. It exists in birds and lizards and was present in the ancestors of today's mammals. Shuvuuia had a very wide scleral ring, indicating an extra-large pupil size that made its eye a specialized light-capture device.

The study found that nocturnality was uncommon among dinosaurs, aside from a group called alvarezsaurs to which Shuvuuia belonged. Alvarezsaurs had nocturnal vision very early in their lineage, but super-hearing took more time to evolve.

"Like many paleontologists, I once considered that nighttime in the age of dinosaurs was when the mammals came out of hiding to avoid predation and competition. The importance of these findings is that it forces us to imagine dinosaurs like Shuvuuia evolving to take advantage of these nocturnal communities," Choiniere said.

Benson added, "This really shows that dinosaurs had a wide range of skills and adaptations that are only just coming to light now. We find evidence that there was a thriving 'nightlife' during the time of dinosaurs."

(Reporting by Will Dunham in Washington, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Mike Pompeos first appearance in front of a hometown crowd since his time in the Trump administration is a closed-door, anti-abortion fundraiser.

Pompeo is scheduled to accept an award Wednesday night in downtown Wichita at a sold-out fundraiser for Kansans for Life, one of the states most influential conservative groups and Kansas leading anti-abortion organization. News reporters were barred from attending or asking questions of the nations former top diplomat.

The trip follows a similar banquet Tuesday night near Kansas City.

The former Secretary of State, CIA director and congressman has opted to stay in Washington, DC, rather than return to his adopted hometown of Wichita, fueling speculation that hes gearing up for a run at the White House.

Since January, Pompeo has stayed in the spotlight, often criticizing the Biden administration and recently joining Fox News as a contributor.

The Wichita trip comes a day after McClatchy reported on a whistleblower complaint raising concerns about the use of State Department staff to prepare for an event with a Wichita company.

An inspector general investigation released two weeks ago found Mike Pompeo and his wife, Susan Pompeo, misused State Department resources and staff for personal business and detailed over 100 instances of misconduct that had no apparent connection to the official business of the Department.

A spokesman for Pompeo declined to comment for this story.

Danielle Underwood, spokesperson for Kansans for Life, said the Wichita banquet was closed to reporters at Pompeos request.

Secretary Pompeo will not be made available for any inquiries or questions from media, Underwood said, adding that the group is excited and honored that Pompeo chose to come back to Kansas to attend their event.

Its a banquet to support KFL and the work we do, and its also an opportunity to honor Secretary Pompeo and his work as Secretary of State, specifically his support of women worldwide and his work in human rights, Underwood said.

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Kansans for Life offered different levels of sponsorship and sold individual tickets at $150 a person. Estimated attendance is 400 people, Underwood said.

Money for the banquet goes to Kansans for Life, not Pompeo, she said.

Secretary Pompeo has been a stalwart defender of human rights on the international stage and he believes that the current threat of an unlimited abortion industry in Kansas is a true danger to both women and babies in our state. He offered to stand beside Kansans for Life at this critical moment, Underwood said.

Pompeos visit is expected to help the rally the states anti-abortion base ahead of a 2022 vote on whether abortion rights should be included in the Kansas Constitution, Underwood said.

The legislature moved to place the Value Them Both amendment on the August 2022 primary ballot. It will ask Kansas voters whether the state constitution should be amended to say it doesnt guarantee the right to an abortion, laying the legal groundwork for severe restrictions or a future ban on the procedure if the federal right to an abortion is ever abolished.

The Kansans for Life banquet also gives Pompeo face time with an influential political group as he flirts with a presidential run in 2024. Pompeo has already visited Iowa and recently donated $155,000 from his U.S. House campaign fund to a newly formed political action committee that shares a treasurer and Kansas-based bank with his U.S. House committee fund.
Publix has signed on for another store in south Charlotte, as the battle for the local grocery market share flares.

The Florida-based grocer signed a lease at Publix at Arboretum, at the southeast corner of Providence and Pineville-Matthews Roads, company spokeswoman Kimberly Reynolds told the Observer on Thursday.

An opening date has not been set, she said. No other details were available.

The announcement comes as several other grocery stores are expanding their reach in Charlotte, from newcomer Farmstead to longtime regional grocer Food Lion.

Publix has plans to open at least four other Charlotte-area stores:

Publix supermarket chain is opening another Charlotte store at Arboretum. Its latest store is headed for south Charlotte.

 A 48,387-square-foot store will anchor North Creek Village at Sam Furr and Davidson Concord roads in Huntersville. Construction is expected to begin in late spring. The store is expected to hire about 130 people.

 A 28,000-square-foot store will open at 10 Tryon building on the northwest corner of Tryon and Ninth streets in uptown. No opening date has been set.

 A 68,000-square-foot store is planned at the corner of Sharon and Colony roads in South Park. There is no opening date set.

 A 55,000-square-foot store with a drive-thru and a proposed private drive at 11525 Carmel Commons rezoning request has been filed. No additional information is available.

Based in Lakeland, Florida, Publix has 22 stores in the Charlotte region. Publix opened its first North Carolina store in Ballantyne in early 2014.

Grocery stores growing

Walmart remains No. 1 in market share in the Charlotte region, followed by Harris Teeter and then Food Lion, according to the latest report released by Chain Store Guide, a sales tracking firm. In the midst of the grocery wars, these stores also recently announced plans to expand in the Charlotte region.

 Specialty grocer Earth Fare, based in Asheville, has returned to the area opening stores in Concord, SouthPark, Ballantyne, Fort Mill, S.C., and Rock Hill. Another store is expected to open soon in Davidson. It will be the sixth store opening in the Charlotte area and No. 22 company wide.

Story continues

 Last month, online-only grocer Farmstead expanded its services to offer free delivery to North Carolina homes within an hours drive of its distribution hub in west Charlotte. Charlotte was the Silicon Valley grocers first expansion out of the San Francisco area. Farmstead also opened in the Raleigh area and has plans to grow in other U.S. markets.

 Salisbury-based Food Lion last month opened a Charlotte store at 1620 Ashley Road with 75 workers. That store is not included in the 62 Bi-Lo and Harveys Supermarkets in the Carolinas and Georgia that Food Lion acquired in the fall and has begun reopening, like in York and Chester, S.C.

 Lidl also opened a store last month at 11225 S. Tryon St. in Steele Creek. The discount German grocer plans to open at least three others this year on South Boulevard, Carmel Commons and Mallard Creek Church Road. The latter is expected to open this summer.

 Aldi, another German low-cost grocer, recently opened stores in Cornelius, Indian Land, S.C., and Rock Hill.

 Matthews-based Harris Teeter also said it will open a 64-000-square-foot store at Fort Mill Parkway in Fort Mill. The company reopened its 34,000-square-foot Park Road Shopping Center grocery store after a year of renovations.
- By GF Value





The stock of PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM, 30-year Financials) gives every indication of being 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 $61.12 per share and the market cap of $16.1 billion, PulteGroup stock gives every indication of being significantly overvalued. GF Value for PulteGroup is shown in the chart below.





PulteGroup Stock Gives Every Indication Of Being Significantly Overvalued

Because PulteGroup is significantly overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be much lower than its future business growth, which averaged 13.6% over the past three years and is estimated to grow 12.01% annually over the next three to five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

It is always important to check the financial strength of a company before buying its stock. Investing in companies with poor financial strength have a higher risk of permanent loss. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great way to understand the financial strength of a company. PulteGroup has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.90, which is in the middle range of the companies in Homebuilding & Construction industry. The overall financial strength of PulteGroup is 7 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of PulteGroup is fair. This is the debt and cash of PulteGroup over the past years:

Story continues

PulteGroup Stock Gives Every Indication Of Being Significantly Overvalued

Investing in profitable companies carries less risk, especially in companies that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. Typically, a company with high profit margins offers better performance potential than a company with low profit margins. PulteGroup has been profitable 9 years over the past 10 years. During the past 12 months, the company had revenues of $11.5 billion and earnings of $5.58 a share. Its operating margin of 16.72% better than 85% of the companies in Homebuilding & Construction industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks PulteGroup's profitability as fair. This is the revenue and net income of PulteGroup over the past years:

PulteGroup Stock Gives Every Indication Of Being 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 PulteGroup is 13.6%, which ranks better than 76% of the companies in Homebuilding & Construction industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 27.4%, which ranks better than 81% of the companies in Homebuilding & Construction 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, PulteGroup's ROIC was 21.05, while its WACC came in at 8.80. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of PulteGroup is shown below:

PulteGroup Stock Gives Every Indication Of Being Significantly Overvalued

In closing, The stock of PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM, 30-year Financials) appears to be significantly overvalued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks better than 81% of the companies in Homebuilding & Construction industry. To learn more about PulteGroup stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

To find out the high quality companies that may deliever above average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The LA City attorney reportedly determined there was no likelihood of a conviction for either party.

According to recent reports, Quavo and Saweetie will not face charges after their now infamous physical altercation in an elevator.

As theGrio previously reported, video footage leaked in late March showed Quavo and Saweetie in a physical altercation. In the video, the two were seen swinging and grabbing each other, both ending up on the elevator floor. At the end of the video, the two exit the elevator, with Saweetie limping out of the frame.

While the couple was no longer together when the video made its way to the internet, the altercation became big news and was all over social media. Now, it is being reported that the former couple will not face charges after the now-infamous fight.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA  DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Saweetie and Quavo attend the 2019 GQ Men of the Year at The West Hollywood Edition on December 05, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Read More: Saweetie reveals how she felt after getting heart broke by Quavo

According to Page Six, the LAPD originally decided to investigate after the footage surfaced in March. Now, over a month later, it is reported that LA City Attorneys Office declined to file criminal charges to Quavo and the Best Friend rapper.

Per Page Six, the LA City Attorney determined there was no likelihood of a conviction for either party.

As theGrio originally reported, Saweetie originally announced her split from Quavo in a now-viral tweet. She wrote at the time, Im single. Ive endured too much betrayal and hurt behind the scenes for a false narrative to be circulating that degrades my character.

In a feature cover for W Magazines music issue, the rapper dived even deeper into the details of her relationship, her outlook on her skyrocketing career and more.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY  JUNE 02: Saweetie, and Quavo of Migos perform at Summer Jam 2019 at MetLife Stadium on June 02, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Read More: Saweetie responds to elevator altercation with Quavo, LAPD may investigate

Breaking the news about her breakup during the actual photoshoot for W, the rapper told the magazine, Ive learned that the world doesnt stop for anybody, and its for sure not going to stop for me just because I got my heart broke. I was grateful to be doing the photoshoot. I was like, I can deal with all this later.

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She also opened up about her work ethic and focusing on positivity, even during an incredibly hard moment like a break-up. The rapper explained, Work is what I love most. What separates the greats from the pack is endurance. And resilience. She continued, I could give my attention to something that could drain me, or I could focus on what would empower me. And that is this shoot.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

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The post Quavo, Saweetie will not face charges after physical altercation appeared first on TheGrio.
France has threatened to cut off Jersey's electricity, as it says fishing licences are being granted with conditions not agreed.

Video Transcript

MILENA VESELINOVIC: The feud between the UK and France over-fishing rights escalated after French fishermen threatened to blockade Jersey's main port. In response, two Royal Navy ships were ordered to waters off the Island. On Wednesday night, the PM spoke to Jersey's chief minister and the minister for external relations, and in a statement Downing Street said, 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 to offshore patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

France accuses Jersey of imposing extra conditions on fishing licenses, which it claims is in breach of the Brexit agreement. But Jersey authorities say that some French vessels simply didn't have the correct documents to get their permits.

IAN GORST: We believe that the licenses we've issued are respectful of the Brexit agreement. The question is whether those French vessels have provided the full amount of evidence that they need to, to respect their historic rights. In some of these boats it's now become apparent that they've not provided all of that evidence, and we are absolutely prepared to give those vessels extra time to provide that evidence.

MILENA VESELINOVIC: On Tuesday, the French Maritime minister threatened to cut electricity supply to Jersey, which gets nearly all its power from France. But Island authorities say that's likely an empty threat because they have a commercial contract with an energy company and could fire up the island's own power station. But this row continues to brew, and it seems that neither side is willing to back down yet. Milena Veselinovic, Sky News.
Trump attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Noam Galai/Getty Images

Rudy Giuliani has reportedly sacked most of his entourage to cut costs as his legal troubles - and fees - mount.

Politico reported that Giuliani fired as many as five people since the FBI raided his properties.

Giuliani also pays as much as $42,000 per month in alimony, which may have factored into his cost-cutting decisions.

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Rudy Giuliani has drastically reduced the size of his entourage and reportedly fired as many as five people since the FBI raided his properties last week, Politico reported.

Citing three sources familiar with the former New York City mayor's actions, the report said Giuliani has found himself in a precarious financial position as legal fees mount following the FBI raids. He also pays as much as $42,000 per month in alimony to one of his ex-wives, which Politico said may have factored into his recent cost-cutting actions.

Giuliani, who serves as former President Donald Trump's longtime personal defense attorney, typically moved around Manhattan with a squad of up to five associates. Now, he relies solely on a part-time driver who was recently enlisted, Politico said.

He has also previously complained about his financial troubles; in 2019, he accidentally butt-dialed a reporter and was heard saying, "The problem is we need some money."

These days, Giuliani's legal costs are ratcheting up as he fends off a growing federal criminal investigation into whether he violated foreign lobbying laws.

Last week's FBI raids marked an aggressive new phase in the investigation, which is being spearheaded by the Manhattan US attorney's office and has been going on since at least 2019.

The feds executed search warrants on Giuliani's home and office and seized his electronic devices. Agents also seized a computer belonging to his personal assistant, Jo Ann Zafonte, served her with a grand jury subpoena, and raided the Washington, DC, home of Giuliani's associate Victoria Toensing.

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Executing a search warrant on a lawyer is an extraordinary step that requires high-level approval and a sign-off from a federal magistrate judge. To secure such a warrant, prosecutors would have had to prove they had reason to believe Giuliani's home and office contained evidence of a crime.

According to The New York Times, investigators had been trying to secure a warrant against Giuliani for months, but Trump appointees at the Justice Department quashed their efforts. The probe resumed in earnest in March, and the department lifted its objection to the warrant after Merrick Garland was confirmed as attorney general.

The full scope of the criminal inquiry is unclear, but its central thread appears to be focused on Giuliani's longrunning effort to dig up dirt on the Bidens. Specifically, prosecutors are examining if he was working solely in his capacity as Trump's lawyer, or if he was also working on behalf of foreign interests who believed they would benefit from Trump's reelection.

If Giuliani was working on behalf of foreign interests, it could violate a law known as the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Put simply, FARA requires that American citizens notify the Justice Department of any contacts they have with foreign governments or officials, and if they interact with the US government or media at the direction of those officials.

Giuliani has not been charged with a crime, and he has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer, Robert Costello, called the FBI's raids "legal thuggery" and said in a statement that they reflected a "corrupt double standard" at the Justice Department.

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Negotiations over embattled Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcies separation agreement stalled Wednesday over a provision in his contract that could add another $400,000 to his payout when he leaves office, which could bring his total severance to more than $700,000.

The $400,000 stems from a clause in Runcies contract that calls for the district to pay him the money he gave up from the Chicago school district by coming to Broward as superintendent in 2011, providing Runcie stayed with the Broward district for 10 years.

Runcie, indicted by a statewide grand jury last month on a perjury charge, was chief of staff to the Chicago Board of Education before the Broward School Board hired him in the fall of 2011.

Combined with the years hes already vested in under the state retirement system in Florida, the School Board could be responsible for paying Runcie the $400,000 related to his Chicago pension, plus roughly $137,000 in severance and $196,000 in unused sick and vacation time, according to his contract, which runs through June 2023. That would bring his total severance package to $733,000. Runcies annual salary is $356,000.

Runcies attorney, Sherry Culves, stated during negotiations with the Board Wednesday that under the proposed deal, Runcie would cease his official duties as superintendent immediately. But, since his contact calls for 90 days notice of termination, he would stay on as an employee helping the next interim, acting or permanent superintendent transition to the job.

He would stop going to work on Aug. 4, Culves said. But, every business day from then until Oct. 5, he would use accrued sick time, which would take him to his 10-year anniversary with the district, qualifying him as a 10-year employee under the Florida Retirement System.

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The exact dollar figure Runcie is owed in retirement benefits, however, is unknown since his account with the Florida Retirement System, the pension program for public employees, is frozen due to the indictment, Culves said.

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Because the account is frozen, the School Board doesnt know how much it would have to pay for Runcies total severance. Thus, it postponed its next meeting about Runcies severance until Tuesday, instead of Thursday.

Im not comfortable with making any type of recommendation or decision without knowing what that number is, said School Board Chair Rosalind Osgood. Im not comfortable going to the board without that number.

The board has tasked Osgood with negotiating a termination agreement with Runcie, 59, who has been accused of lying to the grand jury in his testimony, and with Barbara Myrick, 72, the districts general counsel, also indicted by the grand jury. She has been accused of disseminating confidential information about the jurys proceedings.

The board is expected to meet Thursday to discuss Myricks proposed exit deal.

Myrick, who earns $220,000 a year, is asking for $91,740 in severance and $115,067 in unused sick and vacation time. She has been the districts general counsel since 2016.

Broward County Public Schools General Counsel Barbara Myrick speaks during a School Board meeting Thursday, April 29, 2021.

Negotiations with Runcie and his lawyers are scheduled to resume Monday, with Miami-Dade County School Board Attorney Walter J. Harvey serving pro bono as legal counsel to Osgood. He has taken a temporary leave from the Miami-Dade school district.

Miami-Dade School Board attorney Walter J. Harvey looks on during a meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The Broward County School Board unanimously approved Miami-Dade County School Board Attorney Walter J. Harvey Tuesday, May 4, 2021, to help in the separation agreement negotiations between the board and its superintendent, Robert Runcie. Harvey is taking a two-day leave to work pro bono on the case.

On Tuesday, Osgood is scheduled to present the final negotiations with Runcie to the board.

One of the sticking points is the payout related to his Chicago tenure. His contract states that if Runcie were to make it 10 years as Browards superintendent, the School Board would pay him up to four years worth of retirement benefits stemming from his time employed by the Chicago public school system. How the 10 years is calculated is also up for discussion.

The statewide grand jury, authorized by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February 2019, was tasked with investigating whether fraud was committed when school districts accepted millions of dollars from a state bond issue contingent on implementing school safety measures. It also investigated whether on-campus crime was under-reported by the district. It wrapped up on April 17.

The Legislature enacted school safety laws in the wake of the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Seventeen people were killed and 17 others were wounded by gunman Nikolas Cruz that day.

Runcie, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of contacting at least one person who was a witness in another case the grand jury was investigating. Prosecutors said he lied to the grand jury when asked about that conversation.

Prosecutor Richard Mantei, who works for Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, said he has phone records that show Runcie contacted someone on the grand jury witness list on March 30, the night before he gave his testimony to the grand jury on March 31 and April 1.

That other case resulted in the January indictment of the school districts former technology chief, Tony Hunter, who was charged with buying $17 million worth of flat screen monitors for the district from his friends company in Georgia and circumventing the bidding process.

Hunter is charged with one count of bid tampering and one count of unlawful compensation in the pending case. He pleaded not guilty.

Mantei said Myrick also contacted someone on the witness list for Hunters case before she testified to the grand jury last month.

Runcie has said he would be vindicated by the time the case against him plays out.

When he agreed to step down during the April 27 School Board meeting, he said he was doing so not as a result of the indictment, but because so many people, including several family members of Parkland victims, continue to blame him for cultivating a climate within Broward schools that led up to the tragedy.

The original story incorrectly stated the amount of Barbara Myricks unused sick and vacation time as $204,405. The combined cost is $115,067.
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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia was considering supplying 1 million shots of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Armenia, the RIA new agency reported.

Russia had already sent 15,000 doses of the vaccine to the former Soviet republic last month, Lavrov was quoted as saying at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart.

Armenia's population is fewer than 3 million people.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Alex Richardson and Alex Richardson)
May 6NIAGARA FALLS  With a backdrop of one green-light lane and four red at the Rainbow Bridge, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer on Wednesday called for the reopening of the United States/Canada border as soon as possible.

In the New York Democrat's first visit to the Cataract City since he became the Senate Majority Leader, he called for the creation of a four-part data-driven plan based on common sense and science, after stepping to the podium and lamenting he'd misplaced his Dyngus Day mask.

"It is well past the time for the American and Canadian decision makers to plan to open the border back up as soon as possible," Schumer said.

The border has been closed for 14 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent closure extension expires May 21 but it's expected the closure will be extended again.

Schumer's four-part plan calls for decision makers to:

1) Reach a binational agreement on opening criteria.

2) Re-examine and expand the criteria for essential travel to include anyone with familial, educational, medical or property interests.

3) Allow boaters to cross the border in the water as long as they have no intention to dock.

4) Demand the federal government make an immediate priority of making personal protective gear available, as well as testing and vaccination, for every federal employee at the border.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino was present with other dignitaries to greet Schumer and talked about the importance of the border. He even brought along a Niagara Falls mask for the Senator.

"So many of us look at Canada not as a foreign country but as another neighborhood," Restaino said. "We really do want to connect again with our Canadian friends and neighbors."

Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO Dottie Gallagher was there to throw her organization's full support behind Schumer's plan.

Gallagher brought special focus to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which, pre-pandemic, counted 40% of its travelers as Canadians. She also mentioned how frequently travelers from New York use Pearson Airport in Mississauga, outside Toronto. In fact, she said, she had personal plans to fly from there this fall.

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"We've worked all these years to make this border crossing just a river," Gallagher said, "and it's incredible how integrated we are."

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission CEO Ken Bieger pointed out that just 3% of Ontario residents have been vaccinated while the number in New York tops 50% and wondered whether a special policy could be advanced to advocate for the vaccination of Canadian truck drivers, as has been occurring in North Dakota.

At the end of his press conference, Schumer took a few off-topic questions and said:

He is against a Canadian proposal that would levy a 1% tax on "underutilized property," due to fears the tax could have consequences for people who haven't been able to visit their Canadian vacation property over the past year.

He's in favor of the Blue Jays playing in Buffalo, adding, "it's great as long as they lose."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Efrem Lukatsky/Getty Images

Blinken on Thursday warned Russia the US will respond if it behaves "recklessly."

The warning came as Blinken visited Ukraine as a show of support against Russian aggression.

Russia recently amassed roughly 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today Program on Thursday warned Russia that the US "will respond" if it behaves "recklessly."

The top US diplomat said the US was zeroing in on Russian actions such as the SolarWinds hack, election interference, and the treatment of Alexei Navalny - Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic. The Biden administration has issured sanctions against Russia over all of these matters, as part of an escalating diplomatic tit-for-tat between the two countries.

Blinken also added that the US prefers "a more stable and predictable relationship" with Russia.

"If Russia chooses that path, there are areas where we can cooperate in our mutual interest," Blinken said.

Blinken's comments came during a trip to Europe, including a visit to Ukraine to demonstrate US support against Russian aggression.

Russia recently amassed roughly 100,000 troops along Ukraine's eastern border and in Crimea, sparking fears of an invasion. But in late April, Russia abruptly announced it would begin withdrawing troops from the border.

Units of Russian mountain air assault division hold exercise in Crimea in March 2021. Sergei Malgavko/Getty Images

Blinken in Kiev on Thursday said the US is still monitoring the situation closely, given not all Russian troops have been withdrawn.

"Russia has pulled back some forces, but significant forces remain on Ukraine's border," Blinken said during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, per the New York Times. "And so Russia has the capacity on fairly short notice to take aggressive actions if it so chooses." The US is watching this space "very, very carefully."

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Tensions between the US and Russia have reached historic heights in recent years, largely stemming from Putin's unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014 as well as Russian election interference. An ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Kremlin-backed rebels in the eastern Donbass region has exacerbated the contentious dynamic. The war has claimed over 13,000 lives.

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President Joe Biden has taken a far more critical tone toward Russia than former President Donald Trump, who often showered Putin with praise and once controversially appeared to side with the Russian president over the US intelligence community.

With US-Russia relations at such a low point, Biden and Putin have both expressed a willingness to hold a summit in the near future. Biden first proposed such a summit during an April phone call with Putin. And it appears the two could meet when Biden takes his first trip abroad as president in June.

Biden is set to visit the UK for a G7 summit followed by a visit to Brussels for EU talks and a NATO summit. Nothing is set in stone, but Austria, Czech Republic, and Finland have all offered to host the potential Biden-Putin summit.

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May 6A South Toledo man accused of shooting his girlfriend's three children did not complete an initial court-ordered psychological evaluation and must be interviewed a second time, a Lucas County judge decided Thursday.

Kevin Moore, 27, who remained in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $5 million bond, was previously referred to undergo an evaluation at the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center after he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to accusations he fatally shot his girlfriend's sons, Gabriel Phillips, 1, and Ahmir Phillips, 6, at the Byrneport Apartments in the 800 block of Byrneport Drive on Feb. 5.

Ashtan Phillips, 4, was also shot and injured, but he has since been released from a hospital, prosecutors said. Girlfriend Crystal Philips and a fourth child, Gracieana Phillips, 2, were unharmed.

The report was expected to be reviewed in court Thursday, but Moore did not cooperate with the interview required for an insanity-plea evaluation, Judge Eric Marks said.

The judge ordered Moore to be again interviewed so Dr. Gregory Forgac could provide the court with a decision regarding the defendant's mental state at the time of the offense, and told Moore his cooperation would be necessary.

Moore's next court appearance is scheduled for June 22 to review the doctor's findings.

A March 19 report from the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center found Moore is competent to stand trial. But competency is an evaluation of a person's understanding of legal proceedings, not the state of mind at the time of an offense.

Besides the murder and attempted murder counts, Moore also faces two counts of felonious assault, both with firearm specifications, for allegedly shooting at the children's aunt and grandmother during the incident.

First Published May 6, 2021, 12:12pm
LONDON (AP)  Millions of British voters were casting ballots Thursday in local and regional elections, and the choices of Scottish voters in particular could have huge repercussions for the future of the United Kingdom.

On what has been dubbed Super Thursday, around 50 million voters were eligible to take part in scores of elections, some of which had been postponed a year because of the pandemic that has left the U.K. with Europe's largest coronavirus death toll.

At stake is the make-up of devolved governments in Scotland and Wales and the next mayors for England's big cities, including London and Manchester. Thousands of council members, police commissioners and other local authorities are also seeking seats. No elections were taking place in Northern Ireland.

A special election will also fill the U.K. parliamentary seat of Hartlepool in the north of England. The vote there could show whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party is still making inroads into parts of the country that the Labour Party has dominated for decades.

The result of that race is expected early Friday, but the outcomes of the other elections will take longer, with some possibly not emerging until Sunday, partly because of restrictions related to the pandemic.

More voters than usual were expected to cast postal ballots, while those still going to polling stations were encouraged to bring their own pen and wear a face mask. With traditional doorstep campaigning restricted because of the pandemic, there are concerns about low turnout in many of the races.

The election that could have the biggest U.K-wide implications was taking place in Scotland, where the governing Scottish National Party is looking for a renewed mandate that could speed up the prospect of a second independence referendum.

The party's leader, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, says she's is looking to push for another referendum if her party wins a majority in the parliament in Edinburgh, but only after the pandemic has been dealt with and the economic recovery from it is on track.

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Scotland has been part of the U.K. since 1707 and the issue of Scottish independence appeared settled when Scottish voters rejected secession by 55%-45% in a 2014 referendum. But the U.K.-wide decision in 2016 to leave the European Union ran against the wishes of most Scots  62% voted in favor of staying within the bloc while most voters in England and Wales wanted to leave. That gave the Scottish nationalist cause fresh legs.

I hope the SNP win because were looking for a second independence referendum, especially since weve now left the EU," 18-year-old student Emily Blair said while lining up to vote in Edinburgh.

As U.K. prime minister, Johnson has the ultimate authority to permit another referendum on Scottish independence. So far he has refused, setting up the possibility of renewed tensions between his government and Sturgeon's devolved administration if the SNP wins a majority in the 129-seat assembly in Edinburgh. The nationalists are expected to win the most seats but polls before the election indicate it's not clear if they will get a majority.

I think it will be extremely close," said Roddy Millar, a 53-year-old businessman in Edinburgh. "I suspect the SNP might edge it, but Im hoping not, because I think it just leads to much more dislocation and uncertainty and instability.

It's also an important Election Day for the Labour Party, a year into the leadership of Keir Starmer, whose left-wing predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, led the party in 2019 to its worst election performance since 1935.

Starmer has impressed as the leader of the opposition within the British Parliament but has been unable to go out on the stump to generate enthusiasm around the country because of the pandemic.

Labour Party candidates Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are expected to easily win second terms as the mayors of London and Manchester, but a Labour defeat in the special election in Hartlepool would be particularly disappointing for the party. Labour has held the seat since the constituency was created in 1974. Losing it would show that the opposition party is struggling to hold onto support in the red wall in north England, which has been its bedrock base for a century.

Although the U.K. has recorded Europe's highest virus-related death toll at more than 127,500 and witnessed one of the world's worst recessions over the past year, Johnson's Conservatives are hoping to find support in the traditional Labour heartlands of central and northern England due to the success of Britain's vaccine rollout.

Britain has given two-thirds of its adults at least one vaccine dose, raising the prospect of a return to some type of normal life and summer holidays over the coming months. According to the Bank of England on Thursday, the British economy this year could be headed for its highest annual growth rate since 1941.

___

Jo Kearney in Edinburgh contributed to this report.
A Taiwan court ruled in favour of a Taiwanese-Macanese gay couple on Thursday in a legal test case greeted by activists as a first step towards getting full recognition of same-sex unions with foreigners.

Taiwan is at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia and became the first place in the region to legalise marriage equality in 2019.

Over 5,700 same-sex couples have wed since then but there are still some restrictions that heterosexual couples do not face.

Under current rules, Taiwanese can marry foreigners -- but only those from countries where same-sex marriage is also recognised.

On Thursday, the Taipei High Administrative Court revoked a government office's 2019 decision to reject the marriage registration of Ting Tse-yen and his partner Leong Chin-fai from Macau. Activists hailed the reversal as an "initial success".

In Taiwan, marriages must be recorded at local household registration offices to be deemed legal.

It is the first time a court has directly ordered the household registration office to record an international same-sex marriage, according to their lawyer Victoria Hsu.

While the ruling sets a precedent it will not apply to other international same-sex couples, Hsu said, as she urged the government to amend the law to avoid multiple legal battles.

"The freedom of marriage is a basic right that should be fully protected instead of having to go through a case-by-case review," Hsu said.

Leong, 33, and Ting, 29, co-founded a group to assist Taiwanese whose partners are from countries where same-sex marriage is not legal, including Japan, Thailand, China and Vietnam.

"Today's ruling is not the end, it's a process and a small milestone," Leong told AFP.

"We hope in the future all international same-sex couples can register their marriages directly rather than having to go to courts."

Taiwan is home to a thriving LGBT community and a record 200,000 people attended a pride march in Taipei in 2019 to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

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That legalisation came about after Taiwan's top court ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

But the issue of same-sex marriage proved deeply divisive and the law contained restrictions pushed for by conservatives, including more limited adoption rights.

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A high school teacher in Alaska has been put on administrative leave after a video showed her telling a class that George Floyd would still be alive if he had complied with police orders.

In a 15-minute YouTube video posted Apr. 29, a Lathrop High School teacher in Fairbanks is seen having a conversation with her class about black people being killed by police, including the death of Floyd, KUAC reported.

Im an old white lady and if the cops came up to me and said maam, put your hands behind your back, youre going to jailIm putting my hands behind my back, she said.

The teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave for racially insensitive comments and the incident is being investigated by the district, Principal Carly Sween said Friday, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Sween said she and Assistant Principal Clarice Mingo met with the students to talk about the incident and provide opportunities for them to reflect on the situation, the newspaper reported.

The teacher has not been publicly named by the school but is referred to in the video as Ms. Gardner.

In the video, the teacher also spoke about avoiding problems with the police by dressing a certain way.

Look at how you guys are dressed. Youre dressed nicely, she said. You dont look like thugs. You dont have your pants down around your knees.

Later on in the video, a parent interrupted the class and said she disagreed with the conversation in whole.

I feel like this is something that, you know like Ms. Gardner, I dont feel like youre really able to address with you being a white woman. You know I am a woman of color, the parent said.

Thats where youre wrong, the teacher responded.

I am a woman of color who has lived in the south, who was born and raised in the South, who has experienced racism firsthand, the parent said.

Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who is white, was found guilty last month of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd.

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Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died while in police custody on May 25, and his death sparked an avalanche of protests across the nation. He died after Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck for more than nine minutes, as three other officers didnt intervene.

A 17-year-old bystander took video of the incident, in which Floyd can be heard saying, Please, please, please, I cant breathe.

Floyd was arrested after being accused by a store employee of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy a pack of cigarettes at a Minneapolis grocery store.

Following Chauvins conviction, other teachers have been suspended or put on leave due to their comments on Floyd and policing.

Howard Zlotkin, a science teacher at William Dickinson High School in New Jersey, was suspended after calling Floyd a criminal and having Black students write a paper on why Black lives matter, CNN reported.

The bottom line is, we make (Floyd) a f**king hero? Hes not a hero; hes like a criminal, Zlotkin said in the clip recorded by one of his students.

A Cypress College professor in California was also put on leave after challenging a student who called police heroes, KTLA5 reported.

In the video posted on YouTube, Braden Ellis said during a presentation: I think cops are heroes and they have to have a difficult job. But we have to have 

All of them? the teacher responded.

Id say a good majority of them, Ellis said, adding that there are bad people in every business.

A lot of police officers have committed an atrocious crime and have gotten away with it and have never been convicted of any of it, she said.

Youll never be white. Woman harasses Latino deputy in California traffic stop video

Teacher hit child with disabilities in the head three times during class, Utah cops say
By Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court on Thursday granted bail to student protest leader Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul, who has spent eight weeks in detention on charges of insulting the country's king, even as six fellow leaders remain in jail.

Bail conditions require Panusaya, 22, to stay in Thailand, attend court sessions when summoned and refrain from offending the monarchy, Krisadang Nutcharat, one of her lawyers, told Reuters.

Panusaya has been on hunger strike during her detention along with another jailed protest leader, Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 22, who was hospitalised last week. Parit's bail hearing was postponed on Thursday, according to his lawyers.

Earlier on Thursday, authorities confirmed that another activist accused of royal insult, human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, had been infected with the coronavirus in custody.

Panusaya, Arnon and five other protest leaders have been in detention for several weeks on charges of insulting King Maha Vajiralongkorn, a crime in Thailand that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for each violation.

The groundbreaking demonstrations by tens of thousands of mostly students last year made once-unthinkable calls for reforming Thailand's monarchy, considered by many conservative Thais to be sacrosanct.

The protests also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army chief who first came to power in a 2014 military coup.

Some student leaders have accused Prayuth and his military backers of using their alliance with the monarchy to retain political power.

Some also said the king had amassed powers beyond those of a constitutional monarch since he took the throne in 2016 after the death of his father, who reigned for 70 years.

Prayuth's allies say his party won free and fair elections in 2019 and have said any criticism of the monarchy for political gain is against the law. The palace has repeatedly declined to comment on the protests.

Panusaya is expected to be freed on Thursday evening.

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Ed Davies, Martin Petty)
ICMs senior employees are accused of asking Black assistants to participate in a trainee video to provide an illusion of racial diversity.

ICM Partners, a prominent Hollywood agency that has served talents such as Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Regina King, Shonda Rhimes, and more, is facing criticism for a toxic environment rife with misconduct, including workplace racism.

Over 30 former and current ICM Partners (previously known as International Creative Management) employees have testified to the mistreatment, bullying, and harassment that women and employees of color were subjected to, according to an Los Angeles Times expose.

In response to the allegations, ICM said it does not tolerate harassment, bullying or other inappropriate conduct. HR investigates all reports received and addresses each with appropriate disciplinary measures up to and including dismissal, in a company statement sent to the Los Angeles Times.

Read More: Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry and more partner on new documentary Number One on the Call Sheet

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Among the many incidents of verbal abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, and two reports of sexual assaults, senior agency employees were also accused of trying to stage employee diversity.

In 2019, Black staffers claimed that they were asked to participate in a promotional video meant to debut for Black History Month to make the agent trainee program appear more racially diverse than it really was, according to the Los Angeles Times.

You wouldnt have to use Black assistants as props if there were enough Black people here that could naturally be here in this program, said then 29-year-old Jabari McDonald. The situation could have been mitigated if they pay people more and if they stopped giving priority to nepotism hires.

McDonald worked at ICM as a media assistant and was asked to pose in the video along with two other Black support staffers. Footage of Black staff was not used in the final video edit.

In 2020, ICM fired 40 of its assistants and announced that it was making changes through a diversity initiative. In addition to raising the assistance pay rate to $20 an hour, the company pledged to make every effort to hire diverse candidates for at least half of all open positions going forward, a plan first recommended by Diversify/ICM, the recently empowered internal group headed by board member Lorrie Bartlett.

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However, its company statement did not specify what those efforts were.

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Read More: Golden Globes announces reforms following HFPA diversity issues

The Diversify/ICM launch followed a demand brought forward by a group of assistants within the company for an investment in fixing the systematic exclusion of Black people from this office through pay increases, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In 2019, ICM appointed its first Black board member, Lorrie Bartlett. The company currently has four Black partners and managing directors out of 60.

Its a lot of talk and very little action, McDonald told the Los Angeles Times. Theyre putting on the performance that they are putting in the work, and behind the scenes they are not.

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Twitter just made a change to the way it displays images that has visual artists on the social network celebrating.

In March, Twitter rolled out a limited test of uncropped, larger images in users' feeds. Now, it's declared those tests a success and improved the image sharing experience for everybody.

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On Twitter for Android or iOS, standard aspect ratio images (16:9 and 4:3) will now display in full without any cropping. Instead of gambling on how an image will show up in the timeline  and potentially ruining an otherwise great joke  images will look just like they did when you shot them.

Twitter's new system will show anyone sharing an image a preview of what it will look like before it goes live in the timeline, resolving past concerns that Twitter's algorithmic cropping was biased toward highlighting white faces.

"Todays launch is a direct result of the feedback people shared with us last year that the way our algorithm cropped images wasnt equitable," Twitter spokesperson Lauren Alexander said. The new way of presenting images decreases the platform's reliance on automatic, machine learning-based image cropping.

Super tall or wide images will still get a centered crop, but Twitter says it's working to make that better too, along with other aspects of how visual media gets displayed in the timeline.

For visual artists like photographers and cartoonists who promote their work on Twitter, this is actually a pretty big deal. Not only will photos and other kinds of art score more real estate on the timeline, but artists can be sure that they're putting their best tweet forward without awkward crops messing stuff up.

Twitters Chief Design Officer Dantley Davis celebrated by tweeting a requisite dramatic image of the Utah desert (Dead Horse Point  great spot!)

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We regret to inform you that the brands are also aware of the changes.

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The days of "open for a surprise" tweets might be numbered, but the long duck can finally have his day.
Last month President Biden announced plans to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan ahead of the 20th Anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Reasonable people can and have disagreed about the wisdom of the withdrawal. What isn't up for debate, however, is this: as the United States brings its sons and daughters home from Afghanistan, we have a moral and practical obligation to protect the thousands of Afghan interpreters and other critical allies whove supported our military and diplomatic efforts there.

The risk is critical. If America does not develop a strategy to safeguard our soft networks, the Taliban will ruthlessly hunt down and butcher them, as they have done for years. In turn, the United States will have compromised not only existing friends and allies, it will have compromised future relationships with allies elsewhere whose interests align with our own. Make no mistake, the world is watching how we treat those who sacrificed and suffered alongside our service men and women for nearly two decades.

Do not abandon our allies

I spent months serving in Baghdad with the U.S. Army, and as a commander during a 2006-2007 deployment, I personally experienced the loss of interpreters and friends who were targeted and executed by insurgents and militia thugs who painted them as traitors and collaborators with the American enemy.

Later, after serving in the Obama White House as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council, I welcomed the Presidents decision in 2011 to withdraw from Iraq. In the months and years that followed, however, I witnessed our former interpreters, their families, and other allies in a fight for their lives. Some of them were forced into hiding in Iraq by ISIS, Iranian-sponsored militia, and other bad actors. Others languished as refugees abroad, men and women without a country. Untold numbers didnt make it. To this day, I dont know what became of many of my friends.

U.S. Army soldiers return from Afghanistan on Dec. 10, 2020, in Fort Drum, New York.

Service members take seriously the oath to leave no one behind. Our interpreters arent just allies, theyre brothers and sisters. They help keep us safe, and  in many cases  save our lives. We owe them and their families safe refuge.

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I welcome President Bidens decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, just as I did President Obamas decision to end U.S. engagement in Iraq. As a country, we have asked our service members and their families to bear the brunt of conflict for two decades as the American public has become increasingly disillusioned.

Many Americans recall the iconic footage of South Vietnamese clinging to helicopter skids over Embassy Saigon in 1975. We can leave gracefully and prevent a human tragedy on a large scale by taking care of our closest partners from the conflict in Afghanistan.

Leaving Afghanistan: I became a quadruple amputee in Afghanistan. It's time for America to leave.

Standing by those who stand by us is not only the right thing to do, it also reinforces relationships with interpreters in other conflict zones, builds trust during terrorism investigations where witnesses and informants can be vital, and galvanizes our uniformed service members who live by a code of leave no one behind. Do we want our young men and women leaving their time in service feeling as if they violated an oath and feeling ashamed of their countrys failures and broken promises?

Standing strong to protect our soft networks

Time is of the essence. A 2019 State Department Office of the Inspector General found 18,800 Afghan SIV applicants in the backlog. Of course, many of these allies have family members who are at risk and would also need to be relocated. If an interpreter makes it to safety alone, family members quickly become extortion targets, or worse, theyre used to force the interpreter back on honor.

Of course, nobody in the national security community wants to rush the process of vetting and drop our guard, letting a potential threat into the country. Threats from former interpreters, however, are statistically nonexistent. The government could relocate the tens of thousands to a safe third country location to complete screening. Or we could send a special interagency task force to accelerate in country screening in Afghanistan. It is only a matter of political will.

COVID: I went to war in the Middle East. I know the haunting look in the eye of nurses battling COVID.

Our adversaries use ruthlessness to undermine our values. We need to stand strong behind those values. Protecting soft networks is one of the cases where theres an overlap between doing whats right and doing what best serves our national security interest.

If we dont honor a commitment to our closest Afghan partners, who will stand by our young men and women in uniform in the next conflict?

Steve Miska, Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army, is a leading advocate for Iraqi and Afghan military interpreters and the author of the upcoming book Baghdad Underground Railroad: Saving American Allies in Iraq.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghanistan: withdraw but still protect our allies there
LONDON (Reuters) - Two British Royal Navy vessels located off the British Channel island of Jersey will prepare to return to port in the United Kingdom after French fishing boats left the area following protests over post-Brexit fishing rights.

A government spokeswoman said the country remained on standby to provide any assistance Jersey requests over the escalating standoff with France.

"The (Brexit) Trade and Cooperation Agreement brought in changes to fishing arrangements between the UK and the EU," she said. "Jersey authorities have a right to regulate fisheries in their waters under this agreement and we support them in exercising those rights."

(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Chris Reese)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washingtons support for Ukraine at a meeting Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of Kyivs heightened tensions with Russia, fueled by Moscows recent troop buildup near their border.

The top American diplomat met with Zelenskyy during his one-day visit and reiterated the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, while also underscoring the importance of Ukrainian efforts to tackle widespread corruption and carry out reforms.

Ukraine is facing two challenges: aggression from outside, coming from Russia, and in effect aggression from within, coming from corruption, oligarchs and others who are putting their interests ahead of those of the Ukrainian people, Blinken told a news conference after meeting with Zelenskyy.

By visiting so early in his tenure, before any trip to Russia, Blinken signaled that Ukraine is a high priority for President Joe Bidens foreign policy. His visit was highly anticipated in Ukraine, with hopes for increased military aid and strong support for NATO membership being voiced on the front lines of the battle against Russia-backed separatists in the east and in the halls of government in Kyiv.

Ukraine has seen an increase in hostilities in the east in recent months. Ukraines military says 35 of its soldiers have been killed by rebel attacks this year, a significant rise from the latter part of 2020. Russia, which claims it has no soldiers in eastern Ukraine, fueled the tensions this year by massing troops and conducting large-scale military exercises near the border.

Zelenskyy has made it clear that he wants significant action  a clear signal about the European and Euro-Atlantic prospect, as he said Monday on Twitter, referring to Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. Postponing these issues for later, some day, (in) 10 years has to end.

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Blinken said Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations were discussed with Zelenskyy and that the U.S. was actively looking at strengthening its security assistance to Ukraine, but didn't give details.

Zelenskyy also said the military support and the financial support from the U.S. is increasing, but didn't elaborate.

Both noted that while Russia has pulled back some of its forces from the border, a significant number of troops and equipment is still there. Blinken said Washington was watching the situation very, very closely," as Russia has the capacity, on fairly short notice, to take aggressive action if it so chooses."

I can tell you, Mr. President, that we stand strongly with you," Blinken said.

In Brussels on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said the 30-nation military alliance needs to stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments in and around Ukraine. We have seen some reduction in the number of Russian troops, but tens of thousands remain, and we also see that Russia has kept a lot of weapons, prepositioned equipment, and theyre also imposing restrictions in the Black Sea, Stoltenberg told reporters.

Efforts have stalled to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 14,000 people since it broke out in 2014. Zelenskyy has called for the U.S. to try to push these efforts forward by joining the negotiations of the Normandy Format that consists of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. Russia is almost certain to oppose any U.S. involvement in the negotiations.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine also was worried about Russias announcement last month that it was redeploying warships from its Caspian flotilla to the Sea of Azov, an extension of the Black Sea that borders Ukraine and Russia. There is now a big threat in the Sea of Azov; it is unprecedentedly large, Kuleba said.

Zelenskyy said he discussed security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov with Blinken, but wouldnt reveal any details.

He also said he invited Biden to visit Ukraine this year, and Blinken said the U.S. president would welcome the opportunity at the right time.

Earlier in the day, Blinken met with Kuleba, and they both joined Metropolitan Epiphaniy  head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which split from Russias Orthodox Church. They laid flowers at a memorial to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict in the east and toured St. Michaels Monastery.

Blinken also met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who tweeted that his visit to Kyiv was a manifestation of firm support and a high level of relations of two states, and with Ukrainian lawmakers.

Blinken's visit to Kyiv comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine, imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and accusations of hacking and election interference.

Last month, Biden suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for talks in a third country in an effort to defuse tensions. The Kremlin has been considering the proposal.

Asked by the Russian state news agency Tass on Thursday whether there was a list of possible places for the meeting, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had still nothing to tell about the possible meeting.

Kyiv-based political analyst Vadym Karasev said Washington was trying to avoid sharp and loud statements in order not to thwart the (possible) meeting of Putin and Biden, during which the issue of de-escalation near Ukrainian borders should be resolved for good.

That's why Blinken used the whole arsenal of a sophisticated diplomat in order to becalm Kyiv on one hand by promising to increase military and financial support, and on other had not to force the question of Ukraine's NATO membership, Karasev said.

Both Washington and Kyiv need one thing today  to avoid a hot war with Russia and to make Russian troops pull back from the Ukrainian border, Karasev said. If diplomatic methods are exhausted, only then one should expect vivid metaphors and loud accusations from loudspeakers.
University of Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger was found dead Thursday afternoon, police said.

Ehlinger, 20, was found in a residential neighborhood less than a mile off the University of Texas at Austin campus after police responded to call at about 12:18 p.m., Austin police said.

The cause of death is unclear. Police said that his death is not considered suspicious and that there were no signs of foul play.

Ehlinger, who joined the football team as a walk-on in 2019, was a sophomore majoring in business, according to the school's roster.

His older brother, Sam Ehlinger, was drafted last week by the Indianapolis Colts after a prolific collegiate career as a Longhorns quarterback.

In a statement to NBC affiliate KXAN, athletics director Chris Del Conte wrote: "Jake was an amazing young man from an extraordinary family with such a bright future ahead of him. Its just such a tragedy that we are all really struggling with. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones and friends, especially the Ehlinger family and our entire football program. Jakes family  Sam, Jena and Morgen  are such vital parts of our Longhorn family, and we will be here to support them in any and every way we can during this very difficult time.

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Head coach Steve Sarkisian called Ehlinger a tremendous person and everything you could ask for in a student-athlete."

"Being a Longhorn meant everything to him, and he truly embodied all that it means to be one," Sarkisian said in a statement to KXAN. "In the short time we were able to get to know him, he always was a joy to be around and gave everything he had in workouts, meetings, practice and in life.
Mr Blinkens remarks will be seen as encouraging because one stumbling block to settling the debt is believed to be US sanctions against Iran - Getty Images North America

The United States would not oppose Britain paying off a decades-old debt it owes to Iran in order to bring home jailed dual nationals including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, the US Secretary of State said.

Anthony Blinken has said the choice to pay the 400 million debt was a sovereign decision for the United Kingdom, in remarks that apparently lift a key barrier to any agreement to bring the prisoners home.

Speaking on Radio Fours Today programme, Mr Blinken said he would not comment on the details of that case, but emphasised that the US was seeking to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that Donald Trump quit in 2018.

Weve been engaged in Vienna for some weeks with our European partners, Russia and China, and indirectly with Iran, he said.

Weve demonstrated our seriousness of purpose in terms of wanting to get back into the so-called JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. Compliance for compliance. What we dont yet know is whether Iran is prepared to make the same decision and move forward.

British Iranian-dual nationals currently jailed in Iran including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker from north London; Mr Ashoori, a London-based businessman; and Morad Tahbaz, the co-founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage foundation, who also holds US citizenship.

All have faced opaque charges of espionage or contact with foreign governments, which they deny.

The families of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori say they are innocent and being held as political hostages to force the UK to pay the debt, which dates back to an unfulfilled 1970s arms deal and which Britain has acknowledged in court that it owes.

Mr Blinkens remarks will be seen as encouraging because one stumbling block to settling the debt is believed to be US sanctions against Iran, which have deterred many international banks from facilitating trade with the country.

On Sunday, Iranian state media cited an anonymous official source saying a deal to release the prisoners in exchange for payment of the debt, alongside a similar deal with the US to release Americans in exchange for unfreezing of Iranian assets, was close to being agreed.

Story continues

The report was later denied by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Iranian foreign ministry.

Iran and Britain have never officially admitted a direct link between the debt and the charges against the British dual nationals, although relatives say it has been made clear to the prisoners themselves.

Mr Blinken flies to Ukraine to meet president Volodymyr Zelenskiy

Mr Blinken was speaking after a three-day summit with fellow G7 leaders in London, and shortly before he flew on to Ukraine for talks with president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Speaking in Kyiv, he warned that the United States may ramp up security assistance to this country in the aftermath of Russias worrying military build-up.

In April Moscow amassed some 80,000 troops and military equipment along the Ukrainian border and in occupied Crimea in the strongest show of force since the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014, killing more than 13,000 people.

Ukrainian officials have since been pushing for Washington to expand its military aid in the face of possible Russian aggression.

Well continue to strengthen our security partnership and in-flux collaboration with you to make sure Ukraine can defend itself against aggression, he said, urging Russia to cease reckless and aggressive actions, Mr Blinken said at the meeting.

He also said that although Russia had withdrawn some troops from the border, significant forces remain there" and Russia appeared to be signalling that it has the capacity on a fairly short notice to take aggressive action if it so chooses.

President Zelenskiy told Mr Blinken of a persisting threat from Russia, adding that Ukraine has intelligence of about 3,500 Russian troops being pulled back while an estimated 75,000 are still stationed not far from the border.

Mr Blinken, the first top US official to travel to Ukraine since President Bidens election, on Thursday morning visited Kyivs memorial to fallen Ukrainian soldiers who died in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed separatists.

President Zelenskiy tweeted ahead of the visit that Ukraine needs a clear commitment about Ukraines future membership in Nato and the EU.

Postponing these issues for later, some day, in ten years, has to end, he said.
After she endured a brutal attack in front of a luxury apartment building in Times Square in New York City, which drew widespread outrage after video of the assault went viral, Vilma Kari, the Filipino American victim, and her daughter, Elizabeth, are making their story heard.

Vilma Kari, 65, who was knocked to the ground and repeatedly stomped on as she was on the way to church in March, agreed to speak to NBC Asian America via email and Elizabeth Kari spoke over the phone in hope of drawing attention to the racism Asian Americans have withstood during the pandemic. Vilma, who was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis and said she is "still processing the full spectrum of what has happened," called for greater attention to violence against people of Asian descent.

Vilma Kari, right, with her daughter Elizabeth. (Courtesy Vilma Kari)

"I feel that there is now more awareness and consciousness that has developed after my attack," she wrote. "But there needs to be more support and education about what the AAPI community is facing at this moment, especially since there are cases that have not been reported and classified as hate crimes."

Her attacker is alleged to have yelled, "F--- you, you don't belong here, you Asian," before attacking Vilma, according to the Manhattan district attorney's office. A suspect, Brandon Elliot, was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree assault as a hate crime and one count of first-degree attempted assault as a hate crime.

Elizabeth said Vilma, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines in the 1980s, has been cautious about giving interviews and has largely shied away from media attention in part because of shame, a pervasive concept in the Asian American community.

"I think, generally, the AAPI community is very fixated on staying in line, working really hard, gaining respect. That idea of respect is so ingrained in culture and family, in our community. It doesn't lend itself to managing our pain and suffering in an open way. So I do believe a lot of our own pain and suffering does get minimized," Elizabeth said. "If it's shameful or embarrassing, we don't want to be connected to it. We just want to deal with it, move past it, downplay it. ... And that's definitely something that my mom had been thinking about."

Story continues

Elizabeth said that if the incident hadn't been so public, her mother probably would have dealt with it even more quietly, as "she wouldn't have wanted to draw the type of attention that we've received to it."

Shame, or loss of face, has been so bound up in cultures across Asia that clinical psychologist Stanley Sue wrote in the Journal of Community Psychology that many languages have terms for the concept and that it has become a major barrier when it comes to openly seeking help.

"'Haji' among Japanese, 'Hiya' among Pilipinos, 'Mianzi' among Chinese, and 'Chaemyun' among Koreans are terms that reveal concerns over the process of shame or the loss of face," he wrote. "Many Asian Americans tend to avoid the juvenile justice or legal system, mental health agencies, health services, and welfare agencies, because the utilization of services for certain problems is a tacit admission of the existence of these problems and may result in public knowledge of these familial difficulties."

Such concerns around shame and stigma often add a messy layer of emotion in the context of hate incidents, Dj Ida, executive director of the nonprofit National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, has said.

"The thing that makes a hate crime really, really dangerous is it's not that you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's you're being perceived as being the wrong person, all the time, everywhere. ... You can't escape," she said in December. "That's the shame that the children of people who've been incarcerated for being Japanese Americans, for being seen as immigrants, that's the shame that we bear that we should not have to bear."

Moreover, Ida said, talking about such violence or similarly upsetting issues can be further suppressed, as Asian Americans may feel pressure to gloss over or ignore the problem to avoid burdening or worrying relatives, given what they've had to go through to make it in America. Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of the policy and research nonprofit AAPI Data, said that in addition to factors like fear of retaliation and a lack of confidence in the criminal justice system, many Asian Americans may opt against reporting incidents to avoid unwanted attention.

A study in March revealed that Asian Americans were among the least likely to say they are "very comfortable" reporting hate crimes to authorities.

Elizabeth said the unease around the attack was further amplified by the way the graphic video was so rapidly disseminated across the internet. She said the video, which caught the attention of several mainstream media outlets and large social media accounts, was spread widely before her mother saw it or was even verified to have been the victim. Elizabeth, who was with her mother on the day of the incident, was alerted to the virality of the video by friends later in the night.

"My friends started sending me the posts of the video and asked me, 'Is this your mom?' I just had the most sinking feeling watching the video," Elizabeth said. "Actually watching the person walking and seeing that's her walk, that's her outfit  putting all the pieces together and actually understanding that that's my mom ... for me that was incredibly hard. And I was beyond terrified that she was going to see it when she was at the hospital without me."

Vilma saw the video about a week later, as her daughter carefully monitored her well-being and prepared her for the onslaught of attention. Elizabeth said her mother's name was released before the family could decide whether they wanted to maintain their privacy.

"It is a very strange feeling to know that the entire world is talking about you and not raise your hand," she said.

But Elizabeth said she is now grateful to be able to raise awareness about anti-Asian violence. While she asks media outlets to be more respectful in such circumstances and to check their facts, she said aspects of the experience have been "incredibly moving."

"I've received so many inquiries from reporters in different countries asking for my perspective, because they're trying to learn more about what's happening in America and this issue that we're facing," she said. "It was really incredible."

Vilma wrote that she is still healing, both physically and mentally. She has mostly stayed indoors since the attack, Elizabeth said, and the family has yet to unpack the emotional toll of being in public around others. Hearing about the continued attacks on Asian Americans has been particularly painful for the family, as well, she said.

But as difficult as the journey has been, Elizabeth, who launched a project encouraging Asian Americans to share their stories of racism and belonging, hopes survivors can open up to their families or lean on their communities.

"Even if someone doesn't have that family unit, there are people around that can talk, that can support," she said. "The issue is if we keep hiding it and brushing it under the rug, it's never going to get the light that it needs to be fixed."

Vilma said she has received "immense wishes of good health and prayers from thousands of people  it has made me feel very supported and consoled during this recovery process." She said it has proven to her that "goodness exists in the world."

"We need to look out for one another, not only as the AAPI community, but as human beings. One Good Samaritan is all it takes to set an example. If you see someone in trouble at least call for help or try to distract," she wrote. "We need to be on the lookout for each other. No one should be targeted because of the color of their skin or how they look. I belong. We all belong."
A health worker administers the Covishield vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca Plc. at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, India - Bloomberg

Leading health experts have conflicting views on whether it is the right move to strip pharmaceutical companies of the intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) welcomed the decision by the US on Wednesday to waive its IP rights - calling it a watershed moment - some scientists warn the move could backfire.

Dr Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, has pushed back against the global calls, warning it may not be the best way to actually improve vaccine access.

In an interview this week Dr Fauci, the head of the USs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was agnostic about the idea of waiving rights as it may not be the fastest and most efficient way of getting shots in arms.

If you take too long, people are going to die, he told the Financial Times. There are other ways to ramp up vaccine production around the world."

With Covax, the WHO-led vaccine-sharing programme, struggling to gain momentum because of vaccine shortages, pleas have been growing to do something about what rights groups term vaccine apartheid.

Wealthy countries have secured more than half of nearly nine billion doses locked up in purchase agreements to date. Developing countries that are most in need, such as virus-beleaguered India, meanwhile, have struggled to get their share.

The waiver, which would affect firms like Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, would give other companies across the world access to the information needed to make their own vaccines and remove legal barriers stopping them from doing so.

Advocates say this would enable more manufacturers across the globe to produce vaccines and help combat dwindling supply.

Surely in this once in a hundred years moment of crisis, we can find it within us to forget about profits and think about humanity, Dr Ayoade Alakija, co-chair of the Africa Union Vaccine Delivery Alliance. The argument has to be for these big pharma to release the formula so we can save lives across the world.

Story continues

But while Dr Fauci said he supports efforts to boost vaccine supply, he warned that a waiver could potentially end in a protracted legal battle as it needs to be agreed by the World Trade Organisation.

Going back and forth, consuming time and lawyers in a legal argument about waivers - that is not the end game, he said. People are dying around the world and we have to get vaccines into their arms in the fastest and most efficient way possible.

President Joe Biden speaks, flanked by White House Chief Medical Adviser on Covid-19 Dr. Anthony Fauci (R), during a visit to the National Institutes of Health - AFP

While Biden's backing adds political impetus to get a deal done, other countries with big pharmaceuticals sectors, including Britain, Japan, Switzerland and in the European Union, are opposed to the waiver and have the ability to block the proposal.

"What this decision will do, if it goes forward, is benefit countries like China that are aggressively trying to obtain US technology to bolster their own domestic champions," Republican Senator Mike Crapo said in a statement.

Pharmaceutical companies also strongly oppose any efforts to do away with intellectual property rights. Companies argue that without the money patents bring in there is little incentive for them to undertake the expensive task of developing and bringing drugs to market.

This decision will remove the incentives and rewards for the innovators on who our very lives depend, Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said on Wednesday. If rights can be 'waived' away, they arent really rights. This is the wrong decision.

Big companies also argue that they are already operating at full capacity and that they have already taught manufacturers in other countries how to make their vaccines.

While this so-called tech transfer has worked well during the pandemic so far, it uses up considerable resources.

Industry experts say companies may not be able to produce the drugs quickly even without patent protections, pointing to supply chain issues and the wider technological know-how that is not included with patents.

Scientists test the procedures for the manufacturing of the mRNA for the Covid-19 vaccine at German company BioNTech's headquarters - Getty

Thomas Cueni, the head of the pharmaceutical lobby group IFPMA, said at a panel recently that making vaccines isnt like following a Mary Berry recipe. It is a far more complex process - and even if you do follow it recipe it does not always go to plan.

Following the US announcement the IFPMA aded that the waiver is a distraction from the real challenges in scaling up production and distribution of vaccines globally: "namely elimination of trade barriers, addressing bottlenecks in supply chains and scarcity of raw materials and ingredients in the supply chain, and a willingness by rich countries to start sharing doses with poor countries".

Meanwhile, countries like India, which is now battling the worlds worst outbreak of Covid and has only fully vaccinated two per cent of its 1.4 billion population, need help now. Even campaigners for the waiver admit that it will not mean vaccines will be available overnight.

Dr Fauci suggested that companies in the West should instead be encouraged to increase production and export excess doses, and countries should also donate any surplus, as some, such as Norway and Sweden, have begun to do. Pfizer has shipped some 10 million doses to Mexico, while the White House has promised to export 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Many suggested that regardless of the effectiveness, such a decision would send a powerful message from richer countries and pharmaceutical firms that they are willing to forgo some profit for the greater good.

Arguably the strongest argument for a temporary waiver is that patents were never designed for use during global emergencies such as wars or pandemics, wrote Nature magazine in a recent editorial.
Image via U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CBP arrested a 21-year-old woman at the Atlanta airport who smuggled three pounds of cocaine in the soles of seven pairs of shoes.

According to a CBP news release, the street value of the substance was approximately $40,000. The unidentified woman was traveling back to the U.S. from Jamaica on Sunday. Shoes are made for walking and not smuggling narcotics, CBP said.

Agents flagged her for further inspection after her arrival, though it wasnt revealed why. Officers then discovered a white powdery substance in the bottom of the shoes, which ranged from sandals to sneakers and wedges. The substance later tested positive for cocaine. CBP shared images of the shoes and of an agent taking them apart on the table. A pack of cocaine can be seen stuffed into the shoes sole.

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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. On an average day, CBP seizes 3,677 pounds of drugs from people traveling in the U.S.

In fact, smuggling drugs in the soles of shoes has almost been a tried-and-true method. Back in December, a CBP drug-sniffing dog found over a pound of fentanyl that was duct-taped in shoes in Yuma, Arizona.

CBP handed the woman over to the local police department for state prosecution.

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A woman ate raw chicken in a TikTok video. Emma Woodward/TikTok

A woman went viral for posting a TikTok of herself eating raw chicken.

In the video, which has over 800,000 views, she claimed it was the reason she never got sick.

Insider spoke with two medical professionals who both said eating raw chicken is "a bad idea."

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A woman went viral on TikTok after she posted a video that appeared to show herself eating raw diced chicken - and baselessly claimed it was why she never got sick.

In the video posted by @emmawoodward16, a man picks up what he calls "natural chicken," and asks the woman if she'd like some. She then eats it. "Why I'm never ill" appears as text over the video, which was posted on Monday.

The video has over 868,000 views and 43,000 likes as of Thursday afternoon.

Though the video's creator claimed that eating raw chicken kept her from being "ill," that is false, and it can actually cause illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and two doctors interviewed by Insider.

Dr. Snehalata Topgi, an emergency room physician in New York City, told Insider that raw chicken has harmful bacteria that can "change the flora in your colon," which is the "good bacteria" found in a person's stomach.

Topgi and Dr. Mel Kramer, an infectious disease epidemiologist, both told Insider the same thing: consuming raw chicken is a "bad idea."

Raw chicken is "usually" bad because "it's highly susceptible to bacteria like salmonella or campylobacter," Topgi told Insider. Salmonella is a pathogen that lives in the intestinal tract of humans and animals and is excreted through animal feces, according to the CDC. It can also cause food poisoning symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC's website says.

Kramer, who is also the CEO of EHA Consulting Group, an environmental and public health consulting firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, told Insider that in addition to food poisoning, there is a possibility of death or long-term illness. Raw chicken may contain bacteria that could lead to septic arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, or Guillain-Barre syndrome, a chronic condition that can lead to partial paralysis. Those who are immunocompromised or have underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk for these diseases and even death, Kramer said.

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Kramer and Topgi both encouraged following CDC guidelines when handling raw chicken, such as cooking it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and not washing it, because if the chicken is contaminated, salmonella particles can end up all over the kitchen sink.

While the video does not appear to be part of a trend, many TikTok trends do involve consuming dangerous foods. Last year, the platform struggled to remove videos of creators participating in the nutmeg challenge, as users ate excessive amounts of nutmeg, which can lead to a dangerous high.

Insider reached out to the TikTok user for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Read the original article on Insider
A 911 call released by police Thursday gives details on an overnight shooting that left a 45-year-old man fatally wounded.

Officers responded around 9 p.m. Wednesday to the shooting on Lynnberry Place, where they found Sean Michael Wishart suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the Raleigh Police Department. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive.

Police charged Wendy Sue Wishart, 41, with murder in the shooting in the Brier Creek neighborhood. She is being held in Wake County Detention Center without bail.

Police did not specify how the pair were related. Court records show the couple got divorced in 2019.

Wendy Wishart had been a substitute teacher with the Wake County Public School System since April but had been suspended from working at the district, according to ABC11, The News & Observers newsgathering partner.

911 call released

In an edited 911 call released Thursday, a woman asks a dispatcher to send an ambulance to the townhouse on Lynnberry Place.

Shot him when he was in the ... in the chest, she says. The gun is on the table.

The caller says Sean Wishart was in the bathroom area hallway.

The dispatcher asks the woman to come out of the house with her hands up and to make sure she is visible to the police, who are on the way.

I just want you to step out there, the dispatcher says. Dont make any sudden moves.

Domestic Violence Protective Orders

Wendy Wishart filed two domestic violence protective orders against her ex-husband in March. In the orders, she accuses him of stalking her and finding her address despite being in an address confidentiality program.

He has written a creepy poem and been in contact with my family after repeatedly asking him not to, she wrote.

Wishart also accused her ex-husband of harming their children. The couple has four children, aged 17, 15, nine and eight. They share custody.

Wendy Wishart accused Sean Wishart of feeding their son foods he is allergic to.

She wrote that he has a revolver, a pistol and a rifle with access to multiple other firearms.

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Wendy Wishart wrote that she previously filed claims for custody of the children, support and alimony in Orange County. Sean Wishart was charged with violating a domestic violence protective order in Orange County in 2018, court records show.

Wendy Wisharts claims were voluntarily dismissed, court records show.

2nd shooting in Raleigh

The incident in Brier Creek was one of at least two shootings overnight in Raleigh, according to police.

At 10:04 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting in the 1400 block of East Jones Street. They did not find any victims, but minutes later an adult arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds, a news release stated.

Anyone with information is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at 919-834-HELP or go go raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
A firefighter throws a flare to start a back fire as the Delta fire burns along Pollard Camp Road north of Redding in 2018. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A woman has been charged with starting the 2018 Delta wildfire in Shasta County, which quickly tore through more than 63,000 acres and destroyed dozens of properties.

Cynthia Ann Leroux, a 57-year-old resident of Mountain Gate in Shasta County, was arrested Wednesday and has been charged by the Shasta County district attorneys office with 20 felony counts of arson and two special-circumstance allegations of arson with aggravating factors.

The charges related to the Delta fire include two counts of arson that caused great bodily injury during a state of emergency and 16 counts of arson of a structure, property or forest land during a state of emergency.

At a media briefing Wednesday, Shasta County Dist. Atty. Stephanie Bridgett said Lerouxs actions had left a truck driver hospitalized with burns and another truck driver with a head injury.

Leroux also faces two counts of arson in connection with two much smaller fires shes accused of starting in December 2018 and March 2020. She has not been arraigned, and it was unclear who was representing her.

With the drought that California is in and fire season that is upon us, this announcement is a timely reminder of the consequences of setting fires, Bridgett said.

Leroux is accused of starting the Delta fire when the county was already in a state of emergency due to the July 2018 Carr fire, which killed eight people and burned almost 230,000 acres in Shasta and Trinity counties.

The Delta fire began Sept. 5, 2018, north of Redding and was fueled by warm weather and strong winds. At the time, officials were also battling the Hirz fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, which charred more than 46,000 acres.

Authorities evacuated several small mountain communities. At one point, drivers on Interstate 5, which was closed for several days, were forced to abandon their vehicles to flee the blaze.

Kari Otto, a deputy forest supervisor for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, said the Delta fire destroyed more than 45 structures.

Leroux was being held on $1-million bail Wednesday and faces a maximum sentence of more than 55 years in prison.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

BOSTON (Reuters) -David Swensen, who spent more than three decades managing one of the world's best performing college endowments as Yale University's chief investment officer, has died of cancer, the university said.

"David served our university with distinction. He was an exceptional colleague, a dear friend, and a beloved mentor to many in our community. Future generations will benefit from his dedication, brilliance, and generosity," Yale President Peter Salovey said in a statement.

He was 67 and was first diagnosed with cancer in 2012.

Over three decades Swensen helped the university's endowment grow to $31.2 billion, making Yale one of the world's richest universities. The endowment helps fund salaries and financial aid.

Salovey said Swensen "revolutionized" institutional investing by shifting the university's money into less liquid asset classes and helped prepare a new generation of investors who have gone on to lead other large endowments.

Swensen, who earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale, returned to his alma mater in 1985 after having worked on Wall Street for several years. He took a significant pay cut to lead the investment office and found an endowment valued at $1 billion.

By focusing on a longtime horizon, Swensen pioneered investments in hedge funds, private equity and real estate, creating an investment model now known as the "Yale Model."

His record is one of the most admired in the industry. Yale returned 9.9% a year over the 20 years ending June 30, 2020, while other college and university endowments earned an average 5.6% return. In 2000, when the tech bubble burst, Yale's endowment posted a 41% return, thanks largely to a hedge to dampen its exposure to technology investments.

Swensen also trained a new generation of investors in his classes at Yale and in the investment office who went on to lead endowments at Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford.

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"In addition to his transformational impact, David was generous in sharing insights and guidance," Mohamed El-Erian, who once ran Harvard University's endowment, wrote on Twitter.

On Monday, Swensen and his long-time colleague Dean Takahashi taught the last class of the term for "Investment Analysis", a seminar they taught for 35 years, Yale's Salovey said in the statement.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-BaylissEditing by Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry)
NY AG FCC Net Neutrality Fake Comments (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Conservative activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman face fines up to $2.75m over 2020 election robocalls the New York attorney general alleges were made to "disenfranchise Black communities".

Letitia James on Thursday filed a motion to intervene in an existing federal lawsuit over the calls to about 5,500 New Yorkers, seeking a penalty of up to $500 for each violation, or $2.75m in total.

In this country, our vote is our voice  it is one of the most important parts of our democracy. Any attempt to discourage communities from voting is as illegal as it is un-American, Ms James said in a statement.

Wohl and Burkman used misinformation to try to disenfranchise Black communities ahead of the election, in a clear attempt to sway the election in the favor of their preferred presidential candidate. No voter should ever be subjected to such harassment or intimidation when exercising their fundamental right to vote."

According to the attorney generals office, the robocalls in the summer of 2020 violated state and federal laws by claiming that mail-in voters would have personal information disseminated to law enforcement, debt collectors, and the government.

A text of the recording released by the attorney general said:

Hi, this is Tamika Taylor from Project 1599, the civil rights organization founded by Jack Burman and Jacob Wohl. Mail-in voting sounds great, but did you know that if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts? The CDC is even pushing to use records for mail-in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines. Dont be finessed into giving your private information to the man, stay home safe and beware of vote by mail.

Manhattan Federal Judge Victor Marrero ordered the pair to send follow-up calls in October before the presidential election took place.

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Mr Wohl and Mr Burkmans attorney, David Schwartz, said they would fight the case in court and they look forward to challenging the fictional claims, according to the NY Daily News.

"This case is nothing more than a furtherance of the cancel culture movement and that only people holding a certain opinion have a right to be heard, he said.

Read More

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YouTube is putting Asian and Pacific Islander (API) creators in the spotlight of its platforms in honor of Heritage Month.



In a blog post on Monday, Go-To-Market Shows Lead Dennis Chiu said YouTube could not be more proud of the global API community, whose work "influences the cultural fabric of America and the world beyond."



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Amid all of the talent, Chiu acknowledged the increased racism and violence towards APIs in the past year and noted that "for many in this community, words arent enough."



Throughout Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), YouTube will showcase the stories and creativity of API creators and artists across its platforms to educate, uplift and inspire people.



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For one, YouTube has dedicated an APAHM playlist in its Spotlight channel, which features videos about the lives of creators such as Anna Akana, Steve Aoki, Hasan Minhaj and Amanda Lee.



NextShark's 2016 interview with Aoki, in which he talks about the struggles of growing up Asian American, is currently at the top of the list.





YouTube Music has also created a flagship playlist called "Celebrating APAHM." On this week's cover is rising artist Audrey Nuna, while the rest of the playlist features tracks from Olivia Rodrigo, Eric Nam, Dumbfoundead, Jay Park, Amber Liu and Hayley Kiyoko, to name a few.



Chiu said fans will be able to enjoy several other YouTube Music playlists throughout the month that showcase artists from across Asian diasporas. The Spotlight channel's "RELEASED" playlist, updated on Thursdays at 11:45 p.m. ET, will also feature "some special API programming."



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Meanwhile, YouTube Kids will feature AAPI Storytime videos from The Conscious Kid and Wong Fu Productions, with childrens books on AAPI heritage to be read aloud by celebrities like Harry Shum Jr. Videos will be released every week on The Conscious Kids YouTube channel and in the learning section of the YouTube Kids app.



YouTube Learning will launch two playlists: "Explore AAPI History" will honor API communities who have helped shape modern U.S. history, while "Asian American Heroes" will celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of noteworthy Asian Americans.





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Finally, YouTube Originals will release a docuseries called "Recipe for Change" (working title), with executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter, according to Deadline. Available on June 16, the series will "bring together Asian American celebrities, chefs, activists, and creators to celebrate API culture and discuss the recent and historic acts of hate and violence against the API community."



"Its undeniable how rich and expansive the API communitys body of work is  so were just here to surface it even more," Chiu wrote. "Were so grateful to the API community for what they bring to YouTube! The stories, the creativity and all the heart. Thank you."



Feature Image via Anna Akana (left), NextShark (right)

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WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand has halted quarantine-free travel to Australia's state of New South Wales while it investigates the source of infection of two cases announced in Sydney, Chris Hipkins, the minister for COVID-19 response, said on Thursday.

Hipkins said the government would continue monitoring the situation in Australia and act accordingly. The cases in the southeastern state were announced in the last two days.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon)
Steve Crandall, co-founder of Devils Backbone Brewing Company and a pioneer of Virginias craft beverage industry, has died following a three-year battle with cancer, the Nelson County-based brewery announced Wednesday. He was 64.

Crandall was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. According to a statement from his wife and Devils Backbone co-founder Heidi Crandall, Steve Crandall always maintained hope through his treatment and surgeries.

Steve was a loving husband, father, grandfather, community business leader, scout master, entrepreneur, custom home and commercial builder, and founder of Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Heidi Crandall said in the statement. But this is just a tiny part of who Steve was.

Crandalls leadership and his efforts to lobby for legislation helped transform the brewery and the craft beverage industry into the juggernaut it is today.

In an email to the Nelson County Times, Director of Economic Development and Tourism Maureen Kelley said Crandall made many contributions as a member of the Nelson County Economic Development Authority. Devils Backbone was the first location of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, she said.
The owner of Lighthouse Properties of Virginia, a Campbell County-based real estate management company, has pleaded guilty to fraud in what prosecutors said was an embezzlement scheme involving theft of more than $550,000.

Timothy Darrell Penick, 38, of Forest, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court in Lynchburg by way of video conference Wednesday  the same day the charge was filed against him, according to online court records.

Penick founded the company in 2011 and started a scheme to defraud several clients, which included homeowners associations and property owners, in mid-2018, according to a Thursday news release from the United States Attorneys Office of the Western District of Virginia.

He directly accessed bank accounts of the companys clients and transferred money to other accounts he controlled, the news release states. Hed then create fraudulent bank statements for those clients that concealed those transfers, which werent individually authorized and didnt benefit the clients.
The contrast between President Bidens first address to Congress last Wednesday night and the Republican response delivered by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., 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.
2. Will you support a constitutional amendment to end disparity in Virginia schools? House Democrats this year killed both a Republican version (from state Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin) and a Democratic version (Del. Chris Hurst, D-Blacksburg). Of the five candidates on the stage tonight, one  state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond  gets credit for voting for Stanleys version in the Senate. As for the other four, if you dont back this, how do you justify Virginias constitutionally-sanctioned school disparity?

4. Should the state expect poor localities to raise their taxes to pay for schools? During a debate on possible state support for school construction during the recent General Assembly session, one Democratic legislator from Fairfax County  Mark Sickles  singled out Lee County for criticism, saying I dont see why people cant take initiative, even in rural and small town Virginia, to solve their own problems. Do you believe rural localities need to do more to raise their own funds? If so, when did Democrats start calling for more taxes on the poor? Bonus question 1: Which of 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?
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.
The Japanese government is considering stricter travel restrictions for incoming travelers from India as new cases swamp the South Asian country, Nikkei has learned.

The government looks to extend the self-quarantine period required for those travelers to six days, aiming to keep out a coronavirus variant thought to be highly infectious.

Since April 28, Japan has required arrivals from India and certain other coronavirus hot spots to self-quarantine at government-designated facilities for three days. They can leave the facilities afterward if they test negative but must remain isolated at home or elsewhere until after 14 days from their arrival in Japan.

India has logged over 300,000 new COVD-19 cases a day of late, and its health care sector is struggling with acute shortages of oxygen and hospital beds. The U.S. has banned most travel from India as multiple variants drive infections there. - Nikkein
The Davenport man accused of kidnapping and shooting Breasia Terrell, 10, will be represented by a public defender, a Scott County judge ruled Thursday.

Judge Cheryl Traum also decided that Henry Earl Dinkins will be held without bond in the Scott County Jail.

Dinkins demanded his right to a preliminary trial Thursday, which is scheduled for May 14 via a Zoom hearing. Dinkins' next court appearance is May 10.

Dinkins is charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree murder in the case of Terrell, who was missing from July 2020 to March 2021, when her remains were found in a pond outside of DeWitt.
The Pottawattamie County Public Health continues to reach out to new age groups to with opportunities to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

The department administered initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine to students 16 and older at Abraham Lincoln High School Tuesday and at Thomas Jefferson High School Wednesday, according to Matt Wyant, who oversees the department. One hundred thirty-one students took advantage of the opportunity at Abraham Lincoln, and 83 students at Thomas Jefferson did, he said.

I think all the kids that came (to get vaccinated) were happy to have had the (opportunity) to get vaccinated and get things back to normal, he said.

Public health workers will return to the two high schools on May 25-26, respectively, to provide second doses to the students, Wyant said.

We appreciate the willingness of the health department to deliver the vaccine at school for those who are interested, Diane Ostrowski, chief communications officer for the district, said when the visits were announced.

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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.

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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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.
Homeowners interested in the rehab option should call the Lincoln County Community Development Corp. at 308-534-5095, Person said. LCCDC will administer the pilot project.

Single-family home rehabilitation incentives are limited to $25,000 per home and must include matching funds from the developer.

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Person said owners of those homes also can apply for the states new microTIF program for homes at least 60 years old once the City Council officially enables its use in North Platte.

MicroTIF, approved by the Legislature last August, offers refunds of property taxes generated by increases in a homes taxable value from a rehabilitation project.

Once the June 1 application deadline has passed, Person said, the chambers Shot in the Arm Committee will review them and make final incentive awards.

Preliminary demand for applications is quite high, he said, so the committee will try to be as fair as possible in distributing funds.

Criteria will include a projects merit, its developers experience and financial capability, and their ability to complete work by Phase 3s deadline of June 30, 2023.
Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Kimberly Backer, chairwoman of the Sutherland Village Board, said many in her town would gladly pay the EEA tax at the mall on top of the current combined 7% state and city sales taxes.

The EEA tax would be a tax of choice ... that they feel they have the right to use and shop where they want, Baker said.

The hearing testimony failed to sway council members Woods, Ed Rieker and Donna Tryon, who said they like Revs vision but not its owners call for city help.

Im 100% in favor of this project, Rieker said. But it seems we have so many factors in our culture that are guiding us toward more and more government involvement. That troubles me immensely.

Woods agreed with his Ward 4 colleague and North Emory Street neighbor. I know this is the way development is done nowadays, he said. And it bothers me.

But the EEA ordinances advancement was assured when Councilman Jim Carman opposed tabling the measure and then forcefully declared himself in its favor.
He referenced what he described as a Nebraska trait.

Were kind of humble about not telling our story because we dont want to brag, Carter said. I think we need to do more to get our story out, even outside our Nebraska border, to the nation and even the globe.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

WCRECs impact has grown because of the number of students from abroad, he said.

Thats part of whats so great about having the international students here, Carter said. Theyre going to tell those stories.

Carter said his love for Nebraska has grown since he took the presidency a little more than one year ago.

For the reason I said yes to come (to Nebraska), every day is a validation because of the people, Carter said. The people of Nebraska are really terrific, theyre genuine, theyre sincere, theyre hardworking, they want to get stuff done.

He said that is also a part of his makeup.

Even though I never lived in Nebraska, maybe I had a little bit of Nebraska in me all along, Carter said. I feel like Im right where Im supposed to be.

Carter said hes optimistic about the future for the university system.
A 13-year-old Walnut Middle School student has been arrested after a sexual assault was reported to have occurred on campus.

The male student and female victim are both students at Walnut. The complainant was a 14-year-old girl, according to Grand Island police.

The incident was reported on April 30, but it allegedly occurred on April 22.

This alleged incident was reported by a separate student, according to a news release from the school district. Grand Island Public Schools thanks that student for coming forward with this information. GIPS staff responded swiftly when it was made aware of the report and is cooperating with the Grand Island Police Department at this time."
Affordable housing and workforce housing have become hot topics in rural Nebraska these past few years  and as we know, the North Platte area has been no stranger to this discussion. As the entity charged with developing affordable housing, Lincoln County Community Development applauds the attention to the issue and the local efforts to build and rehabilitate homes.

In the meantime, over the past 25 years, this nonprofit organization has been in the background, slowly and methodically developing affordable workforce housing in Lincoln County.

The result of this work has been 29 new homes constructed and 99 rehabilitated. In addition, 139 rental units have been constructed and 57 residential lots developed (Parkland Estates). Our partnership with the city of North Platte has resulted in the demolition of 22 condemned properties. The total investment tally for these projects is over $30 million!

We could not do this alone and are incredibly grateful to our partners who have supported us! Almost $9.8 million has come to us through grants from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Other significant support has come from the city of North Platte, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation and FNBO (First National Bank Omaha).
China-produced vaccines await approval by EU and WHO, will be 'major boon to the world'

Global Times) 09:57, May 06, 2021

Foreign recipients get registered for Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination site in Tsinghua University, Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2021. Beijing has recently started COVID-19 vaccination for foreign nationals in the city. Foreign nationals aged 18 and above may, following the principle of voluntary participation, giving informed consent and assuming personal responsibility for risk, take the COVID-19 vaccine. (Xinhua)

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a rolling review of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, the EU's top drug regulator announced Tuesday, and experts said that once the vaccine is approved, China will further fulfill its international responsibilities as a major power and provide support to the international community in the pandemic fight.

Sinovac and another China-produced COVID-19 jab, Sinopharm, are also under WHO assessment for emergency use, and results are anticipated in a week.

The EMA said the decision on whether Sinovac can be marketed in Europe will be based on preliminary results from laboratory and clinical studies.

According to the EMA, a rolling review is to speed up the assessment of a promising medicine during a public health emergency, allowing data to be reviewed as they become available from ongoing studies. A specific timeframe for the review is not provided, but the EMA said the process should "take less time than normal."

Sources at Sinovac told the Global Times on Wednesday that since there are many COVID-19 vaccines awaiting EMA approval, the process is not expected to be completed soon. The previous four vaccines took two to three months to be approved after rolling reviews began.

The agency has ongoing rolling reviews of three other vaccines, Sputnik, CureVac and Novavax.

The EMA has previously approved four COVID-19 vaccines, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen. If approved, the Sinovac vaccine will be the first non-Western COVID-19 vaccine to receive marketing authorization in the EU.

In April, Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine received a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate from Hungarian authorities, the first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to receive such a certificate from an EU country and a step forward for Chinese vaccines to become a global public good.

Vaccine experts pointed out that the issuance greatly enhances the competitiveness of China-produced vaccines in Europe and the confidence of smaller European countries in Chinese vaccines given the uneven distribution of vaccines in Europe.

"With reference to this certificate, it is also more likely that the EMA will approve the Chinese vaccine market license more quickly," Tao Lina, a Shanghai-based vaccine expert told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Sinovac and Sinopharm are also under WHO assessment for emergency use, and the results are anticipated in early May.

According to data posted on the WHO website, the Sinopharm vaccine had an overall efficacy of 78.1 percent in multi-country Phase III trials and 78.7 percent efficacy in preventing hospitalization.

"No safety concerns identified from pre-clinical or repro/tox studies," the report summarized.

Although some critics have pointed out that the Sinopharm vaccine-related data released by the WHO is inadequate in terms of its effectiveness in the elderly, experts said this is a normal case for inactivated vaccines and deemed that the lack of data on the elderly group would not hinder the process.

In theory, the effect of inactivated vaccines on the elderly might be lower than that of other populations, experts noted to the Global Times.

"According to the Phase I and Phase II clinical data released by Sinovac and Sinopharm, which is also an inactivated vaccine, we can also see this trend," Zhuang Shilihe, a Guangzhou-based doctor with expertise in immunology, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"That Sinopharm has not released sufficient data regarding the vaccines's effectiveness on the elderly does not mean that there are any problems with safety," Tao said.

Experts pointed out that after approval, a large number of vaccines can be provided to the COVAX program, the global platform that supports the research and development as well as manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine candidates co-led by the WHO. China officially joined COVAX in October 2020, playing a positive role in demonstrating the importance of international cooperation to the world.

China is already the world's largest supplier of vaccines, providing about half of the world's vaccines and more than 200 million doses to other countries. The Sinopharm vaccine has been authorized by 45 countries and jurisdictions for use in adults over 18, and more than 65 million doses have been administered through emergency use programs, while the Sinovac vaccine has been authorized by 32 countries and 260 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed to the public in domestic and overseas markets.

Experts said the expected approval of Chinese vaccines by the EU and the WHO will be a major boon for the world, especially for developing countries that are in dire need of vaccines, given that the US, another major vaccine supplier, refuses to assume international responsibility.

China is also further increasing its support to other regions. On April 27, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired a video conference with the participation of five foreign ministers from South Asia, expressing willingness to set up emergency supply reserves with South Asian countries in the fight against COVID-19. On Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Argentina announced that China will cooperate with Argentina in the production of Sinopharm vaccine, further expanding regional cooperation.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
Indianapolis, IN (46208)

Today

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Simply amazing, is how Robin Davis, owner of Maxie Bs, describes these unique bars that are on her Greensboro, North Carolina, bakery menu all year long. They are both gluten-free and vegan, which delights many of our customers. We really developed them for this purpose  to provide a wonderful dessert item for people looking for either something vegan, gluten-free or both. If you dont need a vegan or gluten-free bar, you can also use all-purpose flour and butter instead, Davis says.

The crust and topping each have the same ingredients in the same amounts with a slightly different technique. Simply measure them out at the same time, but place the crusts dry ingredients in a food processor bowl and the toppings dry ingredients in a separate large bowl before proceeding as directed in the instructions.

Jam Crumble Bars

Yields: 8 bars

Crust

 cup gluten-free or all-purpose flour

 cup old-fashioned oats (do not use quick oats)

 cup chopped pecans

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp granulated sugar

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp packed brown sugar

 tsp baking soda

 tsp salt

 cup melted coconut oil or butter

nonstick cooking spray

Topping

 cup gluten-free or all-purpose flour

 cup old-fashioned oats (do not use quick oats)

 cup chopped pecans

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp granulated sugar

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp packed brown sugar

 tsp baking soda

 tsp salt

 cup melted coconut oil or butter

1 cups of your favorite berry jam

Preheat oven to 325F.

Set up food processor with knife blade attached. Measure out dry crust ingredients and place in food processor bowl; measure out dry topping ingredients and place in large bowl.

Prepare Crust: Pulse dry ingredients in food processor bowl to combine. Add oil and pulse just until ingredients are moistened.

Spray 8-by-8-inch metal, glass or ceramic baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper going in opposite directions so that parchment extents 1 inch over all sides of pan. Spray parchment generously with nonstick cooking spray. Press crust mixture into bottom of pan.

Prepare Topping: Stir dry ingredients until well combined. Drizzle in oil and stir with fork just until a crumble topping is formed, but not a paste.

Spread jam evenly and almost to the edges on top of crust. Sprinkle topping evenly over jam to cover; lightly press topping into jam. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until edges are golden brown (center may still appear loose). Cool completely on wire rack. Use parchment to lift bar out of pan and onto cutting board. Cut bar in half, then cut each strip into 4 bars. Store bars in airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
I completely forgot this show was back. Last season was a mess but I'll probably end up watching this season anyways.

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I have a bad feeling Janine wont make it through this.

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I fear you could be right, they might wait with it for the last episode of the season for a finale gut punch. Though I'll happily be wrong and see her get to Canada and see Emily again.

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I could also see June sacrificing herself or dying and Janine making it. Someone has to make it lol.

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She is so dead. They are fattening up her tragic characterization for an epic slaughter. June will gasp and stare in slow motion. Then she'll get really mad and kill some people, but accomplish nothing meaningful.

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yeah :(

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I don't think anyone left in Gilead barring children will make it out alive

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I've been waiting for a discussion post. Last weeks episode with the train scene was sad.



also Janine was someone who I did not like at first but I've grown to love her as a character.







I've been enjoying the Rita content we've had. I hope she screws over everyplan the waterfords have to gain freedom

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I'm not over Alma and Brianna. The beginning of the season had me wishing June had left or died so we can finally see the other handmaids rise as characters.



I really like how Janine starts calling out June, she is not a confrontational character but is coming into her own after all the shit she has been through and I love that she is doing her best to stand up for herself.



Rita was the best, I want her to tank the Waterfords too.

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Rita has grown into such an interesting character. I like how they're portraying her struggle to adjust to freedom, and that she's taking her power back.

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the scene where she ate the sushi was so powerful

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Rita's arc this season has been soooo cathartic

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with the rate Gilead is killing women that have made any contact with June there will be none left for season 5

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Probably only Aunt Lydia, I swear if they try and redeem her I will scream. I saw a short bts video and someone said that Lydia loves the girls (which I'd say yes though it's in a very wrapped way) and that June loves Lydia and I'm just ??? why would June have any warm feelings for this woman?

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Damn, yeah. I can see Lydia loving the girls and still loving June in a weird way, but June loving Lydia too? Why???? How???? Lol

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If y'all are into spoilers (major, beyond this season), check out my post on page 2. (I have the spoilers tagged appropriately.)

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the only way Lydia would "redeem" herself to me is if she sacrificed herself to get the handmaids out

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It's just funny that this show and Xenu were Emmy darlings and now nobody cares 

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right im glad! i dislike scientologist girl. succession >>>>>

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For real. This show had everybodys attention. They shouldve stopped at 1 season

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The way they keep finding ways to not kill her is beyond ridiculous tbh. Viable uterus or not, she has caused way too much trouble to not be dead at this point. I hope we finally see some different shit this season. I could NOT at her being captured AGAIN lol.

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I don't find her that compelling as lead anymore either so I wish they had the guts to let her die and another character take up the fight.

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right, i watched the first couple of episodes this season somehow thinking it would be different from "june gets captured, is tortured, then Kate Bush plays in the background while June acts with her face"

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I mean she can't get captured again after this. She just can't. It'll be too fucking ridiculous.

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Lol the face acting/ face close ups has become TEW MUCH this season

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her plot armor is making this hard to watch ia



Edited at 2021-05-07 08:11 am (UTC)

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Dumping my feelings on ep 1-4 hereXD



I'm still weirded out by the handling of Esther Keyes. Like what the fuck was that "make me proud" moment June???



The farm felt really rushed and I would've rather seen the other women getting the spotlight and not June, let her rest and heal.



I hope the women from the Jezebel house got away.



Fuck Nick, I just don't like him and I wish June would've figured that the others got away and to keep them safe sacrificed herself so no one can find them in the new safe house and we start following them. Also that goodbye on the bridge? Biggest fuck you Nick, just join the fucking resistance to make up for your part in everything since the very beginning.



I hope Serena and Fred tear each other apart and suffer till the end of their days.



I want more Moira and Emily working through their own trauma and helping refugees from Gilead and to take it down from Canada. Rita too.



I felt so sorry for the little boy Moira visited, but damn do I not want the Gilead parents to get any of those children back. They are all enablers and can rot.



I wish June would've presented her lie about the library better. Say that's where you had plans to go and be all confused when they are not there. I'm just mad they got recaptured and ultimately all killed expect for Janine.



Aunt Lydia is making my blood boil, I wish June had just wacked her unconscious in the van, her hesitation cost precious moments running, Alma and Brianna could still be there!



Not sure what Com. Lawrence plan is besides not dying (though he seemed content to be sentenced to death in the beginning?). Either way he is a man on this show so fuck him, may he die for the pain he caused with his involvement in Gilead.



Not sure if Luke will ever see June again but I sure hope he will see Hannah and can introduce Nicole (who should be called Holly, still wtf June Serena has no right to name that baby) to her. And keeps Nicole as far away from the Waterfords as possible.



Loved Rita in ep 4, you go girl fuck over the Waterfords every chance you get, they deserve it! I hope she can live her best life and that her family will be found alive and she can reunite with them.



Why didn't June just hide in one of the bloody trucks??? Going into that tank was so stupid, Janine should've torn her apart more for that.

The resistance leader guy...I get being hesitant to trust June and Janine but ranting about sex slavery and a second later going all "one of you stays with me, nothing is for free", fuck that guy.

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Nick is useless and that super dramatic kissing scene was so dumb. He was literally escorting her to a breeding farm, and was just going to leave her there. "I love yew" oh STFU.

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all of this. if he survives I hope he will be held accountable and nothing June says can keep him from prison cause that's where he should end up if he doesn't die.

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yeah them trying to frame it as some kind of demented ~fairy tale was....a choice

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Rita eating that sushi was like the ONLY good scene in a season of misery so far

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I also hate Nick. He's a coward and I've always thought so. He'd do anything to protect himself and his interests. He's a passive player and complicit in all the evil imo.



Esther could've been really cool as a character all season, but they had to go and ruin her arc. The "make me proud" felt like an echo of Aunt Lydia, of June becoming her abuser. It was interesting but a little eh.



I want June to kill Serena and Fred but I know that probably won't happen. Her husband can help them rot, though. I need him to get his revenge somehow.

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june been had the cheat code for invincibility and i am TIRED miss hilly, how and why is she still alive and kicking idgi



i'm more interested in rita atp tbh, i hope they give her more interesting and iconic things to do

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same I'd love if Rita ultimately took down the Waterfords

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nahh this show has become some sort of weird torture fetish porn. im taking a pause after this season's episode 3. ugh....

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I haven't watched past season 2 because it was just utterly depressing - is it worth catching up? It's just miserable to watch.

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I don't actively watch it, someone in my house does, and I honestly don't know how they do it. The display of overwhelming violence against women* seems very gratuitous.



*edited to add



Edited at 2021-05-06 12:38 pm (UTC)

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Yes that was my problem with it at the time - after the first season it felt very gratuitous.

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I feel like the display has become less both in quantity and gratuitousness, but considering the show deals with a country that is build on violence against women a handmaids robe could already be seen as a display for that.

It's in any case a valid reason not to start or continue watching, I honestly can't explain really how I do it. The only parts I'd comfortably say I enjoy are the few light moments and when characters can get a bit of revenge on Gilead and the people who build it/kept it up.

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If that's why you stopped I'd say don't return until it's really done and you can know if the payoff will be worth it.

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The first three episodes were total shit. I nearly threw my laptop when



*spoilers*



June just get captured again?? tortured again??? Those side characters brought back just to be killed off within 15 mins? For fucks sake.



I just watched ep 4 and it was slightly* better, but jesus it needs to tighten up.

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I liked the Canada scenes in the first 3 epsxD



But yeah reading it again put together like this the recapturing was for nothing relevant but to have the other handmaids be killed in the escape basically. They could've just have them leave and show them all on the road getting to Chicago without the deaths.

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exactly. I may be showing my ignorance here, but killing off four main side characters... to replace them with who exactly?

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The first three episodes were garbage, I felt like i was watching a different show or watching without sound, it felt bland and rushed AF. The stuff with Esther was *maybe* a little interesting but not much. Why are they killing so many characters? Why did we have to watch waterboarding and that steel box? UGH

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this show is so bad and it keeps getting worse every season.

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I dont know if its because of the Pandemic but the show just isnt playing with my feelings anymore? At least the first two episodes were kind of blah to me. It just to shock me every week but now I almost feel like I got used to bad things happening there? Dont know how to explain it. It should end after season 5 with an epilogue flash forward at the end

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They are focusing on the wrong characters for me to play much with my feelings. If they would've switched the lense away from June I imagine it could be different.



Totally with you on season 5 should be the last with an epilogue.

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it's because everything is confusing, the logic of the world doesn't make sense, and nothing feels at stake (we know June will survive, etc)

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I'm just hate-watching at this point. This show ran out of steam in season 2, when it no longer had a book to follow. It's getting as bad as The Walking Dead. Most of the characters are cardboard flat plot devices, introduced only to kill off. And WHY do we still have to watch the Waterfords? I don't give a SHIT about them. It's absolutely absurd that Serena is suddenly preggo. She probably won't even get the baby taken away. And don't even get me started on Aunt Lydia. She is so much more interesting in the books. (But Ann Dowd is spectacular at working with what she's got.)

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I do want to see the Waterfords...suffer. But that can be done in a short scene or two so they don't have to show them too much.

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Thank you for saving me the watch honestly

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Elon Musk and Grimes step out for dinner on their son X  A-Xii's first birthday



Read more: https://t.co/NVMIj9301c pic.twitter.com/tTLJDqFohE  Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) May 5, 2021

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.

Musk was mobbed by fans near the restaurant and ended up signing multiple autographs:

They're also seeing arriving in New York with baby X  A-XII:

Elon Musk arrives in New York with partner Grimes and baby X  A-XII ahead of SNL hosting gig https://t.co/FBUXNMnB2f  Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) May 5, 2021

Source1 2 3
Hell yeah!! Im here for anything she brings.

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Yay! Congrats to her.

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I will take off my pirate patch to support this her and this film.

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I love her and I can't wait to support this. The premise is super intriguing

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Gabby! I love her so much. Stay brilliant, successful and giving people the finger on private jets, you absolute beaut.

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While I'm too scarey to do/watch anything horror related I'm glad black people are asserting themselves in the genre in a renewed way.

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Yes! Gabby has been winning so much over the past years, I really do love to see it. Can't wait to support this film!

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This sounds really interesting!

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aw, congrats to gabby! so glad to see so many black actors get new opportunities to branch out

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YES! And the producer Effie Brown is the brilliant woman behind this moment:





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Someone had fancast her as Penelope in Bridgerton and even though I'm pretty sure the age doesn't fit I now am curious to see her in a period piece.



Also wonder if this project will cast a lesser abled actress for the Naia role.

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gabby, i'll write something for you to direct! call me! i know you're lurking <3

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Yes yes yes!! I'm ready and down to watch!

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Happy for her but surprised from the title that it's not the Agatha Christie novel.

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Me too!!!



But as a disabled woman, I'm excited to see where this goes!

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Federal Judge Finds Florida Behavioral Healthcare Center Exposes Employees to More than 50 Attacks

UHS of Delaware Inc. and Premier Behavioral Health Solutions of Florida were both fined for not protecting workers.

Workplace violence exposure was determined by a federal administrative law judge at a Bradenton behavioral healthcare center. The center and its management company exposed its workers to more than 50 attacks in a two-and-a-half-year period when residents kicked, punched, bit, scratched, pulled and used desk scissors as a weapon, and that both entities deserve to be sanctioned for destroying surveillance videos, according to a press release.

In a 170-page decision, the U.S. Department of Labor Law Judge Dennis Phillips found UHS of Delaware Inc., a hospital management company, and Premier Behavioral Health Solutions of Florida Inc. exposed employees to workplace violence and allowed destruction of videos showing evidence of violence at the facility. Premier operates while UHS manages Suncoast Behavioral Health Center in Bradenton as well as more than 300 other behavioral facilities nationwide.

The judges decision follows the OSHA investigation at Suncoast in 2017 when a patient stabbed an employee with scissors. OSHA came to the conclusion that both UHS of Delaware and Suncoast exposed employees to workplace violence that included physical assaults and attacks on staff. OSHA cited Premier Behavioral Health Solutions and UHS for proposed penalties of $71,137.

Violence, particularly against healthcare workers, is a leading cause of injury in the workplace. The U.S. Department of Labor will pursue all available legal actions to hold employers accountable and ensure they take all feasible steps to keep employees safe, said Regional Solicitor Tremelle Howard in Atlanta.
Chinas crude oil imports in April fell by 11 percent, according to energy analytics firm OilX, to 10.41 million bpd.

While lower than March volumes, the April average was more than 5 percent higher than the April average for 2020, OilX also said, as quoted by EnergyVoice.

In March, crude oil imports into China surged to 11.69 million bpd ahead of the start of refinery maintenance season. While considerably higher than the year-ago figure, the March average was lower than the February figure, which stood at 11.73 million bpd.

The consequent decline as refiners filled up their storage tanks and prepared to begin maintenance operations was expected. In fact, even a further slowdown in imports is on the horizon, according to OilX and others.

Higher prices are one reason for the expected slowdown in imports as China has already stocked up on cheap crude and can wait for prices to moderate.

Another reason is Beijings recently struck massive investment deal with Tehran that many expect will lead to higher imports from the U.S. sanctioned OPEC member, even if the sanctions remain in place.

Not all agree about the slowdown in imports, however, or at least its length. Energy Voice this week quoted Fitch Solutions as saying it expected imports of crude to China to remain robust.

The outlook for the remainder of the year for Chinese crude demand is bullish, the ratings agency said. 2021 is expected to see a strong recovery in domestic refining activity and internal, external demand, resulting in an annual growth in crude imports of 11% after Covid-19 restrictions curtailed growth in both in 2020. That said, near-term upside momentum may be slowed in Q2 as maintenance season looms.

If prices continue to go higher, however, this may have a more durable effect on Chinese crude oil imports this year.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A shortage of tanker truck drivers in the United States made headlines recently, sparking fears that Americans may face higher prices at the pump this driving season, just as traveland gasoline demandbegins to really recover. Yet not all agree there are good reasons for this fear.

In an article for Forbes, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher noted several experts' opinions that were on the calm side. According to these experts, the tanker truck driver shortage was a temporary problem, not a dramatic event that would send prices at the pump soaring.

The American Automobile Association said in a statement that while it expected a bigger jump in gas prices this month, the tanker truck driver shortage would not lead to higher summer season prices.

"Last week, media reports surfaced that a shortage of fuel tank truck drivers may impact gasoline availability this summer," spokeswoman Jeanette McGee said. "As gasoline demand increases, gas stations are working to adjust delivery schedules to keep pace. However, deliveries may be delayed in a small number of markets this summer causing select stations to see low to no fuel at some pumps for short periods, one or two days."

According to the National Tank Truck Carriers, however, as much as 20-25 percent of its fleet was parked because of a shortage of qualified drivers. This, according to CNN, is more than double the level of idled tanker trucks this time in 2019.

"We've been dealing with a driver shortage for a while, but the pandemic took that issue and metastasized it," the executive vice president of the NTTC, Ryan Streblow, said. "It certainly has grown exponentially."

Related Video: Good Luck Getting Gas This Summer

Another industry insider said, as quoted by CNN, that some tanker truck drivers had taken last year's collapse in fuel demandand the resulting loss of workas a hint to take early retirement. The workforce in the tanker truck driving business is aging, and schools where new tanker truck drivers are trained were closed early in the pandemic, cutting off new supply. So, while energy experts are brushing off the shortage of drivers, the driving industry itself appears to be a bit more concerned about the situation.

And it's not just driver shortage that will be affecting prices this summer. The cold spell that froze Texas in February brought a lot of refining capacity offline, and not all of it has fully recovered to normal production rates. The Texas Freeze shut down as much as 6 million bpd in refining capacity on the Gulf Coast, which made up a third of the national total.

These two factors, coupled with the expected surge in demand as vaccinated Americans take to the roads in droves, have caused some market observers to expect substantially higher prices this summer. However, some expect drivers will have no problem absorbing the additional bill.

"If we get to that herd immunity, I don't think $3.50 for gasoline is going to stop anyone," John LaForge, head of Wells Fargo's Real Asset Strategy division, told Reuters at the end of April. "That's why you can probably see higher prices into the summer, because for the last year, a lot of people have not been driving... and people want to get out, so they'll absorb it."

"If people look at what they were paying for gasoline last year, it was extraordinarily cheap," U.S. energy policy expert Jay Hakes told Forbes' Rowan Kelleher, "because we had the biggest drop off in oil demandprobably in history, certainly in modern historywhere all of a sudden, within a week or two, people weren't flying and they weren't driving."

So, prices at the pump will likely jump during the summer, which is not so extraordinary as they tend to do that every driving season. Even if the jump is higher than usual, it is unlikely to discourage travel after a year of lockdowns.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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"Dark energy is not only terribly important for astronomy, it's the central problem for physics. It's been the bone in our throat for a long time." --Steven Weinberg, Nobel Laureate, University of Texas at Austin.

More than three years into its quest to solve the nature of dark energy and illuminate the origin, evolution, and fate of our universe, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) project remains on track to complete the largest map of the cosmos ever.

HEDTEX, a project by Penn State University scientists, aims to create a three-dimensional map of 2.5 million galaxies that will yield valuable insights into the byzantine puzzle of why the expansion of the universe is speeding up over time, a property attributed to the so-called dark energy.

But first things first, what exactly is dark energy?

Dark energy in an expanding universe

Source: NASA.org

The observable universe consists of three known components: normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy. Dark energy is the most abundant at 68%, with dark energy making up another 27% of the universe while ordinary matter constitutes just 5%.

Today, there is consensus among astronomers that the universe we inhabit is expanding despite the presence of gravity, and that its expansion is accelerating, giving rise to the notion of a repulsive force that astronomers have dubbed 'dark energy,' though the concept has only been around for a little more than 20 years. Generally, astronomers and astrophysicists assign the prefix 'dark' to concepts they have little or no clue about. Related: Hedge Funds Bet On Higher Oil Prices



Dark energy is the name given to the mysterious force that's causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate, rather than to slow down and go out in a Big Crunch as it ages. That's contrary to what one might expect from a universe that was birthed by an event like the Big Bang.

Back in 1917 when Albert Einstein came up with the general theory of relativity that laid the foundations of the Big Bang and the universe as a whole, he and most leading scientists were convinced that the cosmos was static and non-expanding. Einstein introduced the Cosmological Constant to help explain why the universe was not collapsing under the attractive force of gravity.

It wasn't until 12 years later when Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is in fact expanding, with galaxies farther away from our planet moving away faster than those that are closer. The model of a static universe was finally abandoned, forcing Einstein to quickly modify his theories and come up with two new distinct models of the expanding universe, both of them without the cosmological constant, just a year later.

However, it would be decades later--1998 to be precise--before astronomers discovered that the universe was dominated by dark energy and not normal matter as earlier thought.

Solving dark energy

More than two decades after the discovery of dark energy, astronomers remain in the dark regarding what it's all about.

However, several theories have been advanced to attempt to explain dark energy.

Ironically, Einstein's previously abandoned cosmological constant is one of the frontrunners, which modern-day physicists describe as vacuum energy.

"The vacuum in physics is not a state of nothing. It's a place where particles and antiparticles are continuously created and destroyed. The energy produced in this perpetual cycle could exert an outward-pushing force on space itself, causing its expansion, initiated in the big bang, to accelerate," says Penn State University Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Donghui Jeong.

Related Video: The Pentagon Just Captured Sunlight, From Space

But here's the rub with the concept of vacuum energy: The theoretical calculations of vacuum energy diverge from actual observations by a factor of as much as 10120.

Clearly this is a massive discrepancy that could necessitate a reworking of the current theory.

Another possibility: Einstein's theory of gravity is wrong from the get-go hence leading to erroneous conclusions.

Nonetheless, the cosmological constant in the form of vacuum energy remains the leading candidate that explains dark energy.

HETDEX ambition

Obviously, mapping 2.5 million galaxies is no mean undertaking and requires quite a bit of elbow grease. This is not made any easier by the fact that whereas other comparable studies measure the universe's expansion using distant supernovae or a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, HETDEX is focused on sound waves from the big bang, called baryonic acoustic oscillations.

Luckily, HETDEX has secured more than $40 million in funding and a set of more than 150 spectrographs called VIRUS (Visible Integral-Field Replicable Unit Spectrographs), that gathers light from far-away galaxies into an array of some 35,000 optical fibers where it is split into its component wavelengths.

Another perk: HETDEX is the first probe to try to do a whole lot of spectroscopy and then figure out what they will see by observing broad swaths of sky instead of specific, predetermined objects, meaning they will end up collecting an insane amount of data. Who knows, that treasure trove might yield unexpected insights that might help mankind in its quest to eventually colonize the universe.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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The cold spell that paralyzed Texas in February benefited companies that produce, distribute and trade natural gas, Reuters has reported, citing interviews and quarterly earnings reports.

Among the biggest winners were commodity trading major Vitol, pipeline operators including Kinder Morgan, Enterprise Products Partners, and Energy transfer, and lenders including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Macquarie Group, the report said.

The cold wave that swept through swathes of the U.S. in February paralyzed Texas, freezing millions of barrels in oil production and sending electricity prices on Texas independent energy market sky-high.

The Freeze also caused outages at gas-fired power plants and a shortage of the commodity as demand for energy soared. This, in turn, led to blackouts that left millions of Texans without power for days in some cases and some of them with much fatter than usual electricity bills.

Given the price jumps in gas and power, it is unsurprising that some benefited from the crisis that was blamed on several factors, chief among them the general unpreparedness of the Lone Star States energy system for below-zero temperatures.

While some of those who stood to profit from the crisis have raked in fatter profits, others may not see much of the money they made as lawsuits started pouring in soon after the end of the Freeze.

According to a Wall Street Journal report from mid-April, some of the lawsuits accuse natural gas suppliers of price-gouging and overcharging utilities for the gas they supplied. One group of suits, filed by San Antonio-based utility CPS Energy, alleges that gas suppliers were profiteering from scarcity during a declared disaster, with some hiking their prices by a staggering 15,000 percent.

Gas suppliers are also suing: ConocoPhillips and others have accused utilities of not paying their bills. Yet others allege that gas suppliers need to be relieved of their responsibility to supply the commodity to utilities with a backdate for the period of the Texas Freeze.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently reviewing gas and electricity markets for evidence of manipulation.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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As the indirect talks between the United States and Iran are making some progress but not major breakthroughs, diplomatic shuttles of U.S. officials and senators in the Middle East in recent days have intensified reports that there could be a breakthrough soon.

A deal is in the works that will only collapse if Iran decides not to play ball, officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and from the U.S. say, The Dispatch reports.

The talks in Vienna resumed this week, while U.S. and Iranian officials are shuttling around the Middle East, The Hill reports, noting that this could signal a breakthrough in the negotiations for the U.S. and Iran to return to the so-called nuclear deal, or as it is officially known, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Currently, the U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump Administration are preventing Iran from exporting all of its oil, as many buyers around the world dont want to risk their U.S. assets by doing business with Iran. Despite the sanctions, Iran has been exporting part of its crude oil, and exports have been estimated at around 500,000 bpd recently.

U.S. President Joe Biden has signaled a willingness to return to the nuclear deal, but only if Iran returns to full compliance in its nuclear activities.

During the weekend, Iranian diplomats said there was progress made in the ongoing talks in Vienna.

Iran will be able to raise its crude oil exports to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) after the U.S. sanctions on its oil industry are lifted, a top Iranian official said this weekend.

But U.S. diplomats say, at least publicly, that there is no imminent breakthrough they can talk about.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, we welcome a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA, as the talks in Vienna resumed.

Compliance for compliance. What we dont yet know is whether Iran is prepared to make the same decision and move forward, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told BBCs Radio 4 Today program on Thursday, quoted by The National.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Efforts to get youths vaccinated against COVID-19 are taking two tracks: preparing for emergency approval of one vaccine for those ages 12 to 15, and conducting clinical trials aimed at pushing the age even lower.

Food and Drug Administration approval of the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds is expected by early next week. Preliminary trial results released by Pfizer found no COVID cases among fully vaccinated youths, compared with 18 cases among those given placebo shots.

Locally, the Douglas County Health Department this week alerted parents to the anticipated FDA approval so they can prepare to vaccinate youths in that age group.

Dr. Anne OKeefe, the health departments senior epidemiologist, said the department is working with pediatricians offices to make sure the vaccine is available in as many offices as possible. Health officials know many parents will want to speak with their kids doctors about the shots and that many will prefer that their children be vaccinated in those offices.
This is not a case that we will stop investigating before we take it to trial, Wilber said.

Wilber declined to provide additional facts about the case, including whether officials think Dehghanpour was abducted from the UNO campus or was sexually assaulted. Doty did say, however, that investigators dont think Dehghanpour and Christensen were acquaintances.

Hadley Mikovec, a Pottawattamie County Sheriff crime scene technician who helped on the case, said DNA technology has advanced significantly in the past four decades and advised law enforcement authorities to reconsider physical evidence they have and how a second look could be helpful in solving cases.

I would like to encourage the family and friends of homicide victims to never give up hope and to continue to work diligently with law enforcement agencies handling our investigations, she said. Let Firozehs case be an example that it is never too late to seek answers.

Wilber noted that its difficult to figure out what is valuable to test from the bags and boxes full of evidence officials may have and that the state crime lab is busy with several cases.
Instead of Back the Blue events, we need to see Blue Lives for Black Lives events, with representatives from all levels of leadership, she wrote.

Omaha must also address issues such as the over-policing of lower income neighborhoods, the racially biased traffic stops record, (and) the lack of independent oversight (that would be made possible with a police auditor), Watkins wrote.

Sgt. Anthony Conner, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, said any reallocation of money away from the police department would lead to less safe streets, something that he said would disproportionately affect Black and brown communities.

In every city  every city  where they have cut funding to police departments, they have seen a major increase in violent crime, Conner said. When you see fewer police on the beat, you see more violence.

Conner, who is Black, said he doesnt buy the argument that Defund the Police is a way to address racial concerns about policing.

The first thing they point to is racism, yet the people who are disproportionately affected by violent crime are Black and brown people, he said. Furthermore, if the Omaha Police Departments budget is reduced, the cuts would have to come from personnel.
Tuesday, May 6, 1975, started out hot and hazy. The first signs of what was to come that day occurred near Pierce, Nebraska, about noon, according to meteorologist Jim Zoller. By midafternoon it started to rain. The churning in the sky that came later was caused by the lethal mixing of the hot, humid air with a new front of cool, dry air coming in from the north.

Anyone who lived in Omaha 46 years ago today probably still remembers where he or she was when the sirens began to wail and the terror touched down.

For those who found themselves in the midst of the storm's fury, the date holds even more memories and meaning.

Three people were killed that day. Even more remarkable was the number of people spared.

It was estimated that 30,000 people lived, worked or went to school in the path of the deadly storm, which ripped a nine-mile scar into the heart of the city. They heeded the sirens and huddled in basements, under tables or wherever they could find cover.

At 4:14, the National Weather Service reported a possible tornado.

At 4:29, a resident reported a funnel cloud descending west of 96th and Harrison Streets, and the civil defense alarms sounded.
But OGorman tossed out the lawsuit by the liquor stores, ruling that Snyder had exercised reasonable care in representing his clients.

Omaha attorney Bob Sherrets, who was hired by the beer stores for their malpractice lawsuit, said he was absolutely shocked by the ruling, and promised an appeal.

It seemed to be a pretty clear liability issue, Sherrets said.

He pointed out that the attorney for citizens who had objected to the liquor license renewals, Dave Domina, had notified the Supreme Court that his clients needed to be named as parties to the appeal and be notified, but that Snyder had disregarded the notice.

Steven Olsen, an attorney for Snyder, said that attorneys regularly must exercise judgment in deciding how to handle a case, and that other lawyers in the past had made the same decision as his client, given the lack of case law. He added that the statute concerning which parties must be included in the appeal of an administrative decision was recently clarified by the Legislature.

The judges ruling Thursday stated that Snyder had researched past legal rulings and consulted with more than one colleague about whether the citizen objectors needed to be formally named in the appeal of the Liquor Control Commissions ruling.
He said the consumption tax would be applied to a much broader base than the current sales tax. It would apply to all new goods  but not used ones  and all services. The current excise tax on fuel would remain, however.

People would pay the tax on many items not now covered by the sales tax, such as food, medicine and new homes. They would pay it also on services such as vehicle repair, legal advice and haircuts. But used cars and existing homes would not be taxed.

Businesses would not have to pay taxes on their inputs, such as farm machinery, raw materials or accounting services.

To relieve the tax burden on low-income Nebraskans, all residents would get monthly checks from the government. The amount of the checks would be based on the consumption tax rate and the federal poverty level for each size of family. The checks would go to families no matter their income level.

Local governments would have to submit budget proposals to the state for approval through the Legislatures budget process. School budgets would go through the State Department of Education.
"We will not be able to truly recover (from the pandemic) until everyone, everywhere, has equal access to the vaccine," the couple said in a statement on the Archewell website, a charitable organization they founded last year. "And with that intention, we are inviting you to contribute whatever you can  if you have the means to do so  to bring vaccines to families in the world's most vulnerable places."

Each donation of $5 will be matched with a further $15 by other organizations, they said.

"We cannot think of a more resonant way to honor our son's birthday."

Megan revealed earlier this week that she has written a children's book, inspired by Harry and Archie. Titled "The Bench," the 40-page illustrated book will be released on June 8 and tells the story of a "special bond" shared between a father and son, as viewed through a mother's eyes.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in February that they were "overjoyed" to be expecting their second child.
Climate change is real. So is the need for our country to pursue sound conservation measures, building on current achievements. The Biden administration rightly emphasized those goals in a Jan. 27 executive order. But it needlessly created uncertainty and concern for agricultural producers by asserting an ambitious goal  putting 30% of the nations land and water in conservation status by 2030  without providing any practical guidance on how it would be accomplished.

The resulting information vacuum on this 30x30 proposal has enabled critics to claim that a supposed federal land grab lies ahead. The administrations silence on the issue has placed Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in a difficult position as he tries to explain a policy that at this point is little more than an abstraction.

Vilsack, a former Iowa governor who also served as agriculture secretary in the Obama administration, did provide needed reassurance when he publicly stated that the federal government will not seize private land. He also noted that U.S. ag producers are already using conservation measures in many cases.
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Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, has assured the Region of its share of District hospitals promised by the government.



He said discussions and consultations were ongoing on the projects, which would give priority to districts without major hospitals.



The projects will be delivered. I was even engaged on this recently and the project would be delivered in phases. Some districts will be prioritised, the Regional Minister told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).



The Minister was reacting to a statement in which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) called on the government to furnish the Region with the nine hospitals it promised.



The statement signed by Mr Kafui Agbleze, Regional Secretary of the NDC and copied to the GNA, said none of the nine hospitals promised by the President for the Region was delivered.



Our search in all districts without hospitals in the region has revealed that absolutely no work has begun to build any hospital, not even a block has been laid anywhere to show any semblance of commitment to the promise made by H.E. the President, Mr Agbleze said.



He noted that districts, including Adaklu, Akatsi North, Ho West, Afadzato South, North Dayi, North Tongu, Agortime Ziope, Anlo and South Dayi were in dire need of hospitals.





Source: GNA









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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II yesterday at the Manhyia Palace recalled the guidance and pieces of advice he gave to Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Managing Director of State Housing Company Ltd Mr Kwabena Ampofo Appiah during their childhood urging the duo not to depart from them in their current portfolios.



The Asantehene said he was happy to have "seen the upbringing and progress" especially of Hon Francis Asenso-Boakye who is now the Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency, the heartbeat of Kumasi politics.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed optimism that the pair of the Works and Housing Minister and the State Housing Company Manager would work around the clock to decrease the prevailing housing deficit.



The Works and Housing Minister was at Manhyia to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene as he embarked on a working visit in the Ashanti Region.



He expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for his guidance in the formative stages of his life as a 'Bantama Boy' saying "I'm very grateful to you Otumfuo".



Hon. Asenso-Boakye took the opportunity to thank the Asantehene for the support Manhyia has been giving to the Ministry in terms of releasing land for the utilization of Agencies under his Ministry especially the State Housing Company Ltd.



He was accompanied by the MD of State Housing Company Ltd Mr Kwabena Ampofo Appiah and other dignitaries.



Whiles in Kumasi, the Works and Housing Minister has been touring projects under his Ministry starting with the John Agyekum Kufour Estate and Dedesua Affordable Housing Project being undertaken by State Housing Company

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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has asked the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, to be proactive in addressing the issues responsible for the recurrent flooding in the country.



The construction of illegal structures on waterways, indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage systems and other unsupervised human activities, he said, had led to the challenges currently faced by the country.



You must demonstrate tenacity of purpose, resilience and patriotism in dealing decisively with these issues, the Asantehene said.



A lot is expected of you as the Minister of Works and Housing. You should, therefore, not disappoint the President and Ghanaians in general in your new portfolio, he advised.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when the Minister paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi, as part of his three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region.



Mr Asenso-Boakye is in the Region to inspect ongoing development projects, especially housing facilities and the drainage systems, and identify with the factors leading to the recurrent flooding in some areas within the Metropolis.



He is also expected to interact with the agencies and departments under the Ministry to be abreast of the challenges militating against their effective work.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu entreated workers at the Ministry, especially the technical men, to offer the Minister expert advice in the discharge of his duties.



That, he said, would help him to be armed with the relevant information and the realities on the ground as he sought to chart a new course of action to bring growth to the sector.



It is your responsibility as technocrats to offer the new Minister the needed help because teamwork is the way to go in achieving your objectives, the King noted.



Mr Asenso-Boakye expressed gratitude to the Asantehene for granting him the audience, saying he had taken his advice in good faith.



He called for all hands on deck to achieve the Ministrys mission and objectives.





Source: graphiconline.com









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The Eastern Regional Police Command has transferred 14 people, reportedly National Security operatives, to the Police Headquarters in Accra for further probe after they were arrested for illegal mining in the Atewa Forest.



The suspects were among 19 persons arrested by some youth last Tuesday at Akyem Akanteng in the West Akyem Municipality in the Eastern Region.



The suspects were initially questioned at the Eastern Regional Police Command before being brought to Accra for further interrogation.



Confirming the incident, the Kade District manager of the Forestry Commission, Kwabena Adu-Bonnah, said though armed, the suspects were overpowered by the angry youth before the arrest was made.



Mr Adu-Bonnah said the suspects, onboard a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, with sophisticated rifles on the dawn of last Tuesday, invaded the reserve in Akyem-Akateng under the guise of clamping down on illegal miners.



They reportedly tried to scare the residents and forest guards who tried to prevent them from getting into the forest.



The unrelenting youth in a bid to restrict the suspects movement, reportedly deflated the tires of the five V8 vehicles they used for the operation and called for back up and eventually managed to arrest them.



At around 8: 30 p.m. on Monday, an informant from Akanteng informed us about the presence of some people in military outfit entering the galamsey area so we mobilised and around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, we went to the community, by then they were coming down so with the help of the community we were able to arrest about 19 and later 11 more, he stated.



More arrests



Mr Adu-Bonnah said the latest arrests bring to 65 the number of persons who claim to be members of the state security embarking on illegal mining in the Eastern region.



In a matter of 10 days, weve been able to arrest 65 people who are either in military or police outfits claiming to be national security officers.





Last week we arrested some, this week, we arrested four, 19, and 11 on some galamsey sites in the region. They have all been handed over to the police for further action, Mr Adu-Bonnah explained.



Background



The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), has relaunched the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.



As part of the fight, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has issued a directive for the suspension of all reconnaissance and prospecting in forest reserves.



It has also directed the Minerals Commission not to, with immediate effect, accept, process and recommend the granting, including renewal and extension, of reconnaissance and prospecting licences in forest reserves.



The directive is part of actions being taken to safeguard and ensure the sustainable management and utilisation of the nations natural resources.



Also last week, 200 military personnel were deployed by the government to flush out illegal miners from Ghanas water bodies and forest reserves.



The exercise, dubbed Operation Halt, resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals at Attieku, near Twifo Praso, in the Central Region for illegally mining in a forest reserve.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation ended 2020 in a good note with seventeen coveted awards.



As the sustainability arm of GNPC, the Foundation (GNPC Foundation) scooped some top awards last year for their enormous contribution to the development of the country despite the coronavirus challenges.



In the prestigious Sustainability and Social Investment Awards, the Foundation scooped twelve awards last year including the SSI Project of the year in education.



The Foundation was also adjudged excellence in corporate social responsibility of the year at the last edition of the Ghana Business Awards, beating competition from other notable organizations to win the enviable award.



It also won the corporate social responsibility of the year in the last years edition of the Western Regional Business Awards for contributing immensely to the development of the region.



Three awards at the Fontomfrom Amandze Awards made it seventeen for the Foundation in last year despite the devastating disease which slowed businesses and even led to some collapsing.



Below are the awards



1. Sustainability and Social Investment Awards



 Best company in Educational sponsorship project



 Best company in community development and infrastructure project



 Best company in project promoting art and culture



 Best company in livelihood empowerment project



 Best company in providing health facilities



 Best company in providing educational facilities



 Best company in Covid-19 institutional support project



 Best company in project promoting and supporting STEM education



 Best company in quality healthcare delivery



 Best company in long term health support project



 Best company in economic empowerment



 SSI Project of the year (Education)



2. Ghana Business Awards



 Excellence in corporate social responsibility of the year



3. Western Regional Business Awards



 Corporate social responsibility company of the year



4. Fontomfrom Amandze Awards



 Corporate social responsibility of the year



 Humanitarian company of the year



 True leadership award (Executive Director).







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The Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye as part of a working visit to the Ashanti Region inspected some drainage facilities in Kumasi.



The visit was to afford the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency first-hand information on the drainage situation ahead of the rains.



Upon inspection, Hon. Asenso-Boakye indicated that some of the drainage facilities are unable to contain the current volumes of water due to population growth, urbanisation and climate change.



He said in the interim, the drainage facilities that require desilting will be done while the Ministry takes steps to expand their capacity to contain the rains.



He urged the public to play their part by desisting from disposing of solids waste into the drains in order to collectively mitigate the flooding in the country.



Some of the projects the Minister inspected included Danyame River, Adiemera drains, Samad Hotel drains, Atafoa-Owabi drains, Kumasi Zoo drains, Sisan and Wiwi drain.



Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, the Mayor of Kumasi, who expressed the joy of the Ministers visit requested that the projects be extended to other communities.

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Atik Mohammed has fired shots at the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Illegal Mining that was set up by the Akufo-Addo government to oversee operations in the mining sector some three years ago.



The Inter-Ministerial Committee for Mining (IMCIM) was chaired by Prof. Frimpong Boateng, former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.



It was tasked to regularise and reform the activities of small-scale miners as well as work to resolve the illegal mining menace.



In line with fighting the menace, an anti-illegal mining taskforce Operation Vanguard whose members were primarily soldiers was established to facilitate the work of the IMCIM.



Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme Thursday morning, May 6, Atik Mohammed branded the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Illegal Mining as a "useless Committee".



Atik held that the Committee did nothing fruitful but only wasted the Ghanaian taxpayer's money.



"If there is any bogus Committee ever set up in this country, it is that Committee. They wasted our money. You see, an intervention is cost-efficient to the degree that the money you invested compared to the outcome is small. What I mean is that the input is less than the output in terms of value so that, the money we invested compared to the work they did, we could say they did a good job. But the money we gave to that Committee or taskforce, what useful thing did they do with it? They have not been able to stem the galamsey tide," he stated, stressing "it was a useless Committee'".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B) has issued a strong caution to Ghanaians, especially those in his party to desist from illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey that have caused serious destructions to forest reserves and pollution of water bodies in the country.



Speaking to peacefmonline.com , Nana B emphatically stated that the NPP will not come to the aid of anybody who is apprehended by the task force for engaging in any form of illegal mining activity. The point must be made, without equivocation, that the NPP will not be a shield for anybody including NPP members who disregard the law and indulge in galamsey to pollute our water bodies and destroy our forest reserves Nana B has said.



The government through the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resource has renewed the fight against galamsey, with some bold and audacious measures taken in this short period. It would be recalled that 200 military officers were deployed to sweep water bodies and forest reserves that have been taken over by illegal miners over a week ago. This exercise led to the burning of 9 excavators, over 120 shanphans and the confiscation of other equipments.



The government is not against mining. In fact, the government encourages sustainable mining activities that are done within the confines of the legal regime and regulatory framework. Its on this premise that, in time past, the government took steps to formally train over thousand miners at the George Grant University of Mines and Technology in sustainable mining Nana B added.



He therefore admonished the youth to go through the legal process to obtain proper license and other authorizations in their quest to do mining in the country.

Source: Peacefmonline









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Dr Alidu Seidu, Senior Lecturer, Political Science Department, University of Ghana, says he supports Professor Ransford Gyampos call for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to adopt a "One-Man, One-Vote" principle in selecting its flagbearer for the 2024 presidential elections.



He said that principle would mean that the person who emerged as the flagbearer of the Party was somebody the majority of the Partys supporters had trust and confidence in.



Dr Seidu said that would translate into massive votes by supporters of the Party for the candidate in the national election.



If everybody within the Party has the means to vote for that particular person that they think can lead the Party and is competent enough to do that, then it translates into continuous loyalty and voting capital for that particular flagbearer moving forward, he said.



Prof Gyampo, Senior Lecturer, Political Science Department, University of Ghana, in an open letter to the NPP leadership, urged it to adopt a "One-Man, One-Vote" principle in the selection of flagbearer for the Partys 2024 general election.



Dr Seidu noted that Professor Gyampo's letter was informed by the fact that there was over monetisation of the processes when a few delegates were given the opportunity to select the flagbearer.



He said the call made by Prof Gyampo was a call that was grounded in the internal institutions of the NPP as a political party and said it was important the Party heeded it.



"... That principle is actually provided for by Article 3 (1) of the NPPs Constitution, which provides that at the Partys polling station and in the office of the Party, a constituency register of all membership, which should be updated every six months and sent to the Partys regional office.



My initial reaction to his submission is the fact that it is not technically an imposition, he (Prof Gyampo) is not advocating for something new to be done within the NPPs rank and file. But he is just calling for an implementation of a specific provision of the NPPs Constitution, Dr Seidu stated.



He said the principle, if adopted by political parties in the country, would go a long way to deepen their internal democracies and enhance Ghanas democratic dispensation; adding that it was actually a fundamental principle and foundation towards building a more prosperous democratically consolidated party system in the country.



Dr Seidu, however, cautioned that executing the "One-Man, One-Vote" principles for the selection of a flagbearer, there were the likelihood of challenges such as infiltration by non-party members and expensive cost of implementation to both the Party and the candidates seeking to be elected as flagbearer.



He said internal democratic dispensations within political parties served as the functioning block to achieving democratic consolidation and democratic development within the state; because political parties were the vehicles through which electoral democracy was built.



So, if we are able to achieve that level of decency and that level of openness and that level of inclusivity within political parties, it then translates into a national level project that imbibes the democratic and underpinnings of the democratic process that we have in this particular State.



He indicated that this was not the first time the principle of "One-Man, One-Vote" was being advocated, and that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had attempted implementing.



Dr. Seidu said the principle was worth pursuing and encouraged the NPP to embrace it.

Source: GNA









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" " President Joe Biden joined Amtrak executives April 30 for a ceremony to pay homage to the past and share Amtrak's bold vision for the future. Amtrak

At one time in American history, trains were the future. They brought prosperity, allowed for a new kind of freedom, and caused not a small deal of disruption, to a vast continent, helping to stitch together the pieces of a far-flung and fledgling nation.

People still use the train these days. In 2019, Amtrak, America's long-distance train service, hosted more than 32 million trips, a record for the quasi-public company. But outside of some crowded corridors on the East Coast and some localized commuter services in scattered big cities, train travel to most people in the United States now generally seems an anachronism.

The American Jobs Plan, President Joe Biden's audacious and wide-ranging infrastructure push, offers up a multi-billion-dollar infusion of cash that aims to change that. In short, Biden's plan is designed to bring train travel back to the future.

Amtrak, for one, says it's about time.

"We were created for the country to have a national rail network," says Amtrak representative Kimberly Woods. "We want to continue to build and grow on what we have and offer the country more. That's why we have this vision that we're talking about now."

" " Amtrak released its map of what the rail system might look like in 2035 with the right kind of investment. Included are routes connecting Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Savannah, and Montgomery, Alabama  services that at this point do not exist. Amtrak

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The New Plan for Trains

When Biden made his announcement of the American Jobs Plan late in March 2021, it included $80 billion "to address Amtrak's repair backlog; modernize the high traffic Northeast Corridor; improve existing corridors and connect new city pairs; and enhance grant and loan programs that support passenger and freight rail safety, efficiency and electrification."

Also new to the plan that Amtrak says could boost ridership by 20 million trips by 2035: Routes from Phoenix to Los Angeles; from Los Angeles to Las Vegas; and Houston to Dallas. More than 30 extra routes could be added. Many existing ones would be expanded. Every state but South Dakota would have at least one stop.

The $80 billion figure, just part of the $2.7 trillion Jobs Plan, was eye-popping. It's also far from guaranteed. Biden's plan is just that; a plan. It's up to Congress to settle on the final figures.

As bold as the $80 billion, though, was what Amtrak says it can do with that kind of financial boost. The company  it's celebrating its 50th anniversary, created by Congress when other railroads abandoned the passenger side of the business for more lucrative freight trains  this year released a map of what the rail system might look like in 2035 with the right kind of investment. Included were routes connecting Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Savannah and Montgomery, Alabama,  services that at this point do not exist.

Adding routes and improving the ones already in existence, both the Biden administration and Amtrak claim, will provide more Americans with more opportunity for travel, especially many who are shut out of more expensive means of transportation. The plan also checks off two more of Biden's campaign promises: to create more jobs and to attack the climate crisis. Traveling on Amtrak, the company claims, means some 83 percent fewer greenhouse gases emitted than driving and up to 73 percent fewer than flying.

"We believe it will address the global climate crisis, it will get people out of their vehicles and onto the trains for more travel, whether it's for work, a weekend trip or a vacation trip," Woods says. "We just believe that better rail service means cleaner air, less traffic and happier people."

" " The first of Amtrak's 28 new Acela trains is seen here testing out of the Northeast Corridor. The Acela trains are the country's fastest, all-electric intercity trains. Marc Glucksman/Amtrak

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The Challenges Ahead

Ahh, but the cost. For years, Amtrak, which already is heavily subsidized by federal and state governments, has struggled to get the funding it says it needs to carry out its mandate to connect America. Building out train service in a country as huge as the United States  laying down rail, buying equipment like the new high-speed trainsets that run on the popular Boston-New York Acela route, maintaining the system, making sure it's safe  is expensive. Some think prohibitively so.

Even the $80 billion, many say, is not nearly enough to do what Biden and others envision.

The libertarian Cato Institute  a group opposed to big government spending  compared a desire for America to be among the leaders in high-speed rail to "wanting to be the world leader in electric typewriters, rotary telephones or steam locomotives, all technologies that were once revolutionary but are functionally obsolete today." According to Cato, investing in rail is much more expensive than airlines or highways with much less chance of making that money back.

As it is, the $80 billion money earmarked for Amtrak will be hard to push through Congress, even though both the House and the Senate are currently controlled by Democrats who are behind Biden's plan. Many politicians agree with the need to improve infrastructure. Many agree on the rail system's potential to fight the climate crisis, and to provide transportation solutions to some of the neediest people in the country.

But that cost ...

For Amtrak's part, the money  whatever figure Congress finally lands on  would be money well-invested, in America and its future.

"Our vision is to connect new city pairs across America," Woods says. "We believe that our vision rises to the urgent challenges of our times."

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Amtrak has the right to use any and all of America's rail infrastructure. Many of those rails, of course, are being used now by private, freight railroads. But the relationship between freight and passenger trains is not always a symbiotic one. In 2019, freight trains caused more than 1 million minutes in passenger delays  all illegal. By law, passenger trains are supposed to be given preference over freight trains.
Simplified schematic picture of the studied device, showing electrical and thermal generation of spin currents in a bilayer graphene/CrSBr heterostructure. The magnetic Co electrodes are used to determine the degree of proximity induced spin polarization in the bilayer graphene, where the magnetization of the outer-most layer of CrSBr (MCSB) allows for higher conductivity of the spin-up electrons (red arrows). Credit: Talieh Ghiasi, University of Groningen

In spintronics, the magnetic moment of electrons (spin) is used to transfer and manipulate information. An ultra-compact 2D spin-logic circuitry could be built from 2D materials that can transport the spin information over long distances and also provide strong spin-polarization of charge current. Experiments by physicists at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and Colombia University (U.S.) suggest that magnetic graphene can be the ultimate choice for these 2D spin-logic devices as it efficiently converts charge to spin current and can transfer this strong spin-polarization over long distances. This discovery was published on 6 May in Nature Nanotechnology.

Spintronic devices are promising high-speed and energy-saving alternatives for the current electronics. These devices use the magnetic moment of electrons so-called spins ('up' or 'down') to transfer and store information. The ongoing scaling down of memory technology requires ever smaller spintronic devices and thus it seeks for atomically thin materials that can actively generate large spin signals and transfer the spin information over micrometer-long distances.

Graphene

For over a decade, graphene has been the most favorable 2D material for the transport of spin information. However, graphene cannot generate spin current by itself unless its properties are appropriately modified. One way to achieve this is to make it act as a magnetic material. The magnetism would favor the passage of one type of spin and thus create an imbalance in the number of electrons with spin-up versus spin-down. In magnetic graphene, this would result in a highly spin-polarized current.

First author Talieh Ghiasi (right) and second author Alexey Kaverzin at the laboratory of Physics of Nanodevices, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials. Credit: University of Groningen

This idea had now been experimentally confirmed by the scientists in the Physics of Nanodevices group led by prof. Bart van Wees at the University of Groningen, Zernike institute for advanced materials. When they brought graphene in close proximity to a 2D layered antiferromagnet, CrSBr, they could directly measure a large spin-polarization of current, generated by the magnetic graphene.

Spin-logic

In conventional graphene-based spintronic devices, ferromagnetic (cobalt) electrodes are used for injecting and detecting the spin signal into graphene. In contrast, in circuits built from magnetic graphene, the injection, transport and detection of the spins all can be done by the graphene itself, explains Talieh Ghiasi, first author of the paper. "We detect an exceptionally large spin-polarization of conductivity of 14% in the magnetic graphene that is also expected to be efficiently tuneable by a transverse electric field." This, together with the outstanding charge and spin transport properties of graphene allows for the realization of all-graphene 2D spin-logic circuitries where the magnetic graphene alone can inject, transport and detect the spin information.

Moreover, the unavoidable heat dissipation that happens in any electronic circuitry is turned to an advantage in these spintronic devices. "We observe that the temperature gradient in the magnetic graphene due to the Joule heating is converted to spin current. This happens by the spin-dependent Seebeck effect that is also observed in graphene for the first time in our experiments," says Ghiasi. The efficient electrical and thermal generation of spin currents by magnetic graphene promises substantial advances both for the 2D spintronic and spin-caloritronic technologies.

The spin transport in graphene, furthermore, is highly sensitive to the magnetic behavior of the outer-most layer of the neighboring antiferromagnet. This implies that such spin transport measurements enable the read-out of the magnetisation of a single atomic layer. Thus, the magnetic graphene-based devices not only address the most technologically relevant aspects of magnetism in graphene for the 2D memory and sensory systems but also provide further insight into the physics of magnetism.

The future implications of these results will be investigated in the context of the EU Graphene Flagship, which works towards new applications of graphene and 2D materials.

Explore further Highly efficient charge-to-spin interconversion in graphene heterostructures

More information: Electrical and thermal generation of spin currents by magnetic bilayer graphene, Nature Nanotechnology (2021). Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology Electrical and thermal generation of spin currents by magnetic bilayer graphene,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00887-3
Archaeologists believe the humans who arrived in the Karonga district started burning down the forest to open the landscape for hunting. Credit: Og Mpango/Unsplash.

As far as we know, humans as a species have been around for at least 300 000 years. Recently, we have come to realize that our impact on the climate and earth's ecology is unsustainable. Landscape change driven by humans is nothing new, however.

In a new study, archaeologists suggest that we have always altered the ecology and landscape to our benefit. At least they can now prove that we did so, almost 100,000 years ago.

"This is essentially what we call the earliest anthropogenic landscape on Earth," says David Wright, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oslo.

Together with his colleagues Jessica Thompson from Yale University, Sarah Ivory from Penn State University and an international, interdisciplinary team, he is now presenting new findings about human-driven climate change in the current issue of Science Advances.

"We can see that early humans significantly altered ecology and landscapes using fire," Wright says.

The earliest evidence that humans burned the landscape and changed the environment so far was found in Australia. But whereas that appears to have happened 40,000 years ago, this study proves that the technology goes back more than double the time, to 92 000 years ago.

92,000 years ago: humans arrive at Lake Malawi

Let us travel with Wright to the Karonga district in Malawi. This area, northeast of Lake Malawi, has an ancient history and a long archaeological tradition. One of the methods archaeologists use to figure out what humans have been doing in earlier times is to take lake cores from deep in the earth's surface and use those to interpret how the climate has changed.

"The lake core we are using was drilled in 2005, and extends 636,000 years into the past," Wright explains.

What they found in the lake core was charcoal that they interpreted to stem from humans burning forests around 100 000 years ago. Over time, the charcoal tapered off, but the forests never grew back as before during similar wet periods.

The researchers analyzed the geological data from this lake core together with long archaeological records from the area and the evolution of climate, to understand the relationship between climate and landscape formation before and after humans showed up in the area.

They made two important discoveries about what happened when humans came around.

"Hunter-gatherers who go after hooved mammals can find it hard to hunt prey when it's in a closed tree environment. So we suspect the humans who arrived in the Karonga district started burning down the forest to open the landscape for hunting. It may also have provided new foods like starchy tubers that like to grow in open areas."

The Stone Age in Africa

In Europe and North-Africa, the earlier phases of the Stone Ages are divided into the Lower-, Middle- and Upper Palaeolithic.

As for Sub-Saharan Africa, it is common to divide the Palaeolithic into:

Early Stone Age (2,6 million  230 000 years ago)

Hominins including Homo habilis and Homo erectus, the predecessors to Homo sapiens, developed and used simple tools to open nuts and process starchy tubers.

Middle Stone Age (315 000  20 000 years ago)

Homo sapiens, modern humans, appear. They develop projectile weapons, like spears, to use for hunting. They traded ostrich egg shell beads and other items over hundreds of kilometres with each other.

Late Stone Age (50 000  2000 years ago)

Tools are made of small rocks (microliths), trade networks are vast and people left Africa to explore new continents.

The findings by Wright and his colleagues are from the Middle Stone Age.

Rain and alluvial fan formation

As a consequence of the burning, the landscape started to erode.

Professor David Wright has discovered that early humans altered the landscape and ecology in Northern Malawi using fire. Credit: D. Wright

"The Rift Valley along Lake Malawi is bordered by really steep mountains, and so you get big alluvial fans, essentially big sediment packages. We interpret these as human artifactsbecause they weren't there before humans came around," says David Wright.

The other important discovery was that human activity changed the overall ecology in northern Malawi.

"The period after humans arrived is actually one of the wettest in the last 636,000 years."

The lake level has been steadily increasing over the last 100,000 years, and the area has been quite wet compared to the long record. However, the researchers saw a disconnection from the plant communities to the natural climate signal. According to the archaeologist, it is natural to have big forests of trees that are not tolerant of fire when lake levels are high, because there is not a lot of natural burning.

"But after humans came into the area, you see a totally different species complexion, with very fire tolerant trees and lots of grass. That is totally anomalous compared to the previous 515,000 years," says Wright.

Simple toolssophisticated people

Archaeologists have been confused by the fact that Stone Age people used the same methods over long stretches of time. Archaeologist J. Desmond Clark, for instance, mistakenly interpreted an elephant butchery site in Karonga to be 200,000 years old. Wright and his colleagues, primarily Dr. Jeong-Heon Choi at the Korea Basic Science Institute, were able to correct this using modern dating techniques, concluding that the excavation site was from 30 000 years ago, in the later part of the Middle Stone Age (see fact box).

"For a very long time there is no obvious technological change," Wright points out.

"Stone Age people may have seemed fairly simple in terms of their tools and technology and their ways of communicating with each other. But in fact, they were using the landscape in really novel ways. They burned and managed the landscape in ways that are really sophisticated and that benefited them."

Wright believes that the methods people used in this part of Malawi allowed them to survive there for 70 000 years, even as there were obvious technological changes going on in other parts of Africa.

"For several thousand years, the rest of the continent experienced an extremely dry period, and in many places the lakes completely dried up. This did not happen in Malawi. We believe the people who lived in this area, defended it by managing the landscape the way they did."

Humans learned how to modify the environment to our benefit

Today, humans are masters of the universe and inhabit almost every corner of the earth. However, 92 000 years ago, our relatives shared the earth with other hominin species such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, who lived in Europe and Asia, even though current science believes that our species had not yet left Africa.

A first step toward inhabiting the rest of the world was learning how to modify the landscapes in Malawi to our benefit.

"We learned the tools of how to populate the planet in Africa. With a set of tools developed under challenging environments in Africa, we could later go to more inhospitable climates like northern Europe, northeastern Asia and eventually North America, South America, Australia."

Today, human-forced climate change has accelerated to an unsustainable level, and the climate crisis threatens to make parts of the world inhabitable for humans. However, changing landscapes and adapting to them is a hallmark of our species, according to the archaeologist.

"We are pretty defenseless in the natural world, but we use our tools, technologies and ability to cooperate with each other, to plant, to manage landscapes and to cooperate in hunting and trading. We learn from our ancestors and evolve continuously."

Adding nuance to the Anthropocene

In the humanities and social sciences, the geological term "Anthropocene" is used to describe how human beings are the major geological force of our epoch. Wright and his colleagues' study adds nuance to the understanding of the Anthropocene.

"Wherever humans are, we transform landscapes because of our natural vulnerabilities as a species. We cannot manage landscapes without changing them."

Therefore, it is difficult to decide on a beginning of the Anthropocene, which he argues goes back tens of thousands of years on local levels.

"I also feel like we are going to find earlier instances, the more we look for it."

He thinks learning from the ancient past can help us take a broader view of the relationship between culture and nature.

"Ninety-nine percent of our history has been as hunter-gatherers. The ecology of this planet has evolved with us as hunter-gatherers, and we have co-evolved with it."

With our historical records we can also project where we are going in the future and make decisions as a species.

"The Earth has no agenda, it is just going to do what it does. It does not care if we are here or not. So it is on us to decide what we want to do with our society in relation to the environment."

Explore further Study offers earliest evidence of humans changing ecosystems with fire

More information: Jessica C. Thompson et al. Early human impacts and ecosystem reorganization in southern-central Africa, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Jessica C. Thompson et al. Early human impacts and ecosystem reorganization in southern-central Africa,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf9776
This photo provided by the National Park Service shows what appears to be a smoldering tree in Sequoia National Park, Calif., on April 22, 2021. A giant sequoia has been found smoldering and smoking in an area of Sequoia National Park burned by one of the huge wildfires that scorched California last year. The National Park Service said Wednesday, May 5, 2021, that the cause of the tree fire appears to be the 2020 Castle Fire, which burned more than 270 square miles in the Sierra Nevada. (Tony Caprio/National Park Service via AP)

A giant sequoia has been found smoldering and smoking in a part of Sequoia National Park that burned in one of California's huge wildfires last year, the National Park Service said Wednesday.

"The fact areas are still smoldering and smoking from the 2020 Castle Fire demonstrates how dry the park is," said Leif Mathiesen, assistant fire management officer for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California. "With the low amount of snowfall and rain this year, there may be additional discoveries as spring transitions into summer."

The smoldering tree was found recently by scientists and fire crews surveying the effects of the blaze, which was ignited by lightning last August and spread over more than 270 square miles (699 square kilometers) of the Sierra Nevada. It took five months to fully contain.

Most of California is deep in drought, with severe to extreme conditions in the mountain range that provides about a third of the state's water. On April 1, when the Sierra Nevada snowpack is normally at its peak, its water content was just 59% of average, according to the state Department of Water Resources.

The dryness could set the stage for a repeat of last year, when wildfires, many of them ignited by thousands of dry lightning strikes, burned a record 6,562 square miles (16,996 square kilometers) in the nation's most populated state.

This photo provided by the National Park Service shows what appears to be a smoldering tree in Sequoia National Park, Calif., on April 22, 2021. A giant sequoia has been found smoldering and smoking in an area of Sequoia National Park burned by one of the huge wildfires that scorched California last year. The National Park Service said Wednesday, May 5, 2021, that the cause of the tree fire appears to be the 2020 Castle Fire, which burned more than 270 square miles in the Sierra Nevada. (Tony Caprio/National Park Service via AP)

With drought conditions dire across the American West, AccuWeather predicted an above-average 2021 wildfire season in a forecast released Wednesday.

According to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Samuhel, fires are projected to burn 14,844 square miles (38,445 square kilometers) of land across the Western U.S.

"Unfortunately, in a nutshell, it looks like it's going to be another busy season," he said in a statement. "We're seeing a lot of drought. Almost half of the country is experiencing drought, and the bulk of that is to the West."

A possible exception could be Southern California, where lack of rain has stunted spring growth that would eventually dry out and can become fuel for fires.

"Since it was a dry winter there, that means there wasn't a lot of new grass that grew," Samuhel said. "So that could reduce the wildfire threat a little bit, at least in that area."

In Sequoia National Park, officials said the burning giant sequoia is well within fire lines and there are no threats to life or property. The tree is in the Board Camp Grove, and there is no direct access via any trail system.

Explore further Wildfires threaten California's treasured Sequoias

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Young people need additional support and protection in the criminal justice system because they are more susceptible to pleading guilty when innocent, a new study argues.

The study says differences in children's brains, which affect their sensitivity to pressure and rewards, and differences in the way they process information, make it more likely they will admit to crimes they didn't commit when incentivized to do so.

These developmental vulnerabilities mean solicitors and barristers should get extra support to help them better support young people deciding whether to admit guilt.

Dr. Rebecca Helm, from the University of Exeter, who led the research, published in the Journal of Law and Society, said: "The criminal justice system relies almost exclusively on the autonomy of defendants, rather than accuracy, when justifying convictions via guilty plea. But children don't necessarily have the capacity to make truly autonomous decisions in this context, where they face a variety of really compelling pressures. Children are likely to misunderstand information, not admit they don't understand and agree with statements, or succumb to pressure from others and the system. They may be unsure whether they have committed a legal offense, or whether there is a defense they can rely on.

"The incentives offered to encourage guilty pleas, and time pressures associated with them, are likely to interact with developmental vulnerabilities in children to create an environment in which innocent children are systematically pleading guilty."

In England and Wales, the majority of defendants plead guilty rather than contest their guilt at trial. In 2019, 61 per cent of child defendants in the Crown Court pleaded guilty (with 58 per cent pleading guilty at their first hearing), and 47 per cent of child defendants in the Youth Court pleaded guilty at their first hearing.

Children who enter a guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity to do so can get a reduction in their sentence of up to a third compared to what they would receive if convicted at trial, or receive a referral order or a youth rehabilitation order when they would face a custodial sentence at trial. The study says that these reductions are not appropriate in children and have the potential to create pressures to plead. It would be better to award tailored reductions to children based on less prescriptive guidelines and individual case circumstances, including defendant age.

Dr. Helm said: "We now have a fairly good understanding of decision-making in children, and how it differs from decision-making in adults. It is therefore not appropriate to continue to put children accused of criminal offenses in situations where it is predictable that they will 'admit' guilt even when innocent, and then punish them as if they are guilty. Ensuring children have appropriate and tailored protection when deciding whether to plead guilty is really important."

Explore further New research warns incentives to plead guilty can undermine the right to a fair trial

More information: REBECCA K. HELM, Guilty pleas in children: legitimacy, vulnerability, and the need for increased protection, Journal of Law and Society (2021). REBECCA K. HELM, Guilty pleas in children: legitimacy, vulnerability, and the need for increased protection,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/jols.12289
The Kordofan giraffe is one of seven subspecies within giraffes. Researchers have now sequenced its genome for the first time. Credit: Fiona MacKay, Pretty Fly Photography

Visually, they are hardly distinguishable, but genetic analyses show: There are four distinct species of giraffe and seven subspecies. This result was obtained by an international team led by Prof. Dr. Axel Janke from the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics. According to their comprehensive genome analyses, the four giraffe lineages have been evolving separately for thousands of years. Relationships within the genus of giraffes have been debated before. For a long time, it was assumed that there was one, then four and later three species. The study published in the scientific journal Current Biology provides new insights into the evolution of giraffes and relevant information for their adequate conservation in Africa.

"New mammal species are only rarely discovered and described," says Prof. Dr. Axel Janke, head of the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), professor of evolutionary genomics at Goethe University and scientist at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F) in Frankfurt (Main). "Genomics, that is studying all genetic information of a living being, opens up new possibilities and can broaden our perspective on species and their evolutionas now happened in the case of giraffes."

The African mammals with the long neck should be a single species, the giraffethat was generally accepted for a long time. However, 2016 initial genetic studies from Janke's laboratory indicated that there is not one, but four different species of giraffe. This revolutionary result, which was obtained together with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), is subject of controversial debate among researchers and conservationists. Now, the genome analyses support the model of four species.

The analysis of about 200,000 positions on DNA from a total of 50 giraffes confirm four species, namely northern giraffe, southern giraffe, reticulated giraffe and Masai giraffe. They comprise a total of seven subspecies. The data also show that the four giraffe lineages began to evolve separately of each other between 230,000 and 370,000 years ago. There is little or no gene flow and admixture between them. This means that different species do usually not mate in the wild. In captivity, however, this is possible under certain circumstances.

"The results of the genome analysis have great significance for giraffe conservation," says Dr. Julian Fennessy, GCF director and co-author of the study. The populations have declined sharply in the past century to around 117,000 wild giraffes. Fennessy: "It now becomes clear now that the remaining giraffes belong to four different species. This further exacerbates the situation. For example, we estimate that there are less than 6,000 northern giraffes remaining in the wild. As a species, they are one of the most threatened large mammals in the world."

Giraffes occur in the savannahs of Sub-Saharan Africa from Niger through Kenya and Namibia to South Africa. With up to six meters in height, these herbivores are the world's largest land-dwelling mammals. Their livelihoods are being decimated in many places by the growing demand for farmland. Illegal hunting and politically difficult conditions complicate their protection. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies giraffes as "endangered" in their Red List of Threated Species. The model of four species model has not been taken into account so fara fact, that could change now.

"The data available is more informative than ever before," says Raphael Coimbra, researcher at SBiK-F and study author. "Our genome analyses are based on significantly more genetic data than previous studies." In their analyses the researchers compared genomes of giraffes from all previously considered species and subspecies coming from a total of twelve African countries and zoos. Thereby, genome of the Kordofan giraffe, a critically endangered subspecies of the northern giraffe, was completely sequenced for the first time.

"In the case of giraffes, we can see that we do not yet sufficiently understand the genetic basis of biological diversity," says Janke. "The genomes contain invaluable information, for example about adaptations to climatic conditions or the evolution of species. We are only at the beginning. But one day we will fully understand the genome and its wealth of genetic information."

Janke and his colleagues at the LOEWE-TBG in Frankfurt, Gieen and Marburg are investigating and documenting the genetic basis of biological diversity. The research center, which is funded by the state of Hesse, is currently building up an extensive genome collection. Researches have already sequenced more than 349 genomes of various species from worms to whales. 46 genomes of which are of particularly high quality. The data is also available to other researchers to use for concerns of society, such as nature conservation and species protection.

Explore further Genetic analysis uncovers four species of giraffe, not just one

More information: Raphael T.F. Coimbra et al. Whole-genome analysis of giraffe supports four distinct species, Current Biology (2021). Journal information: Current Biology Raphael T.F. Coimbra et al. Whole-genome analysis of giraffe supports four distinct species,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.033
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The COVID-19 crisis has thrust a largely unseen part of Australia's population firmly into the national spotlight.

These are the Australians who live and work abroadour diaspora.

For more than a year, we have been hearing harrowing stories of Australians unable to get home. Most recently, there is the distress of those in India, currently banned from even trying to return.

But despite increasing awareness of this group, there is still much we don't know about our diaspora. The bottom line is, we don't have precise or up-to-date information about Australians overseas.

This lack of knowledge and understanding highlights the need for a national diaspora policy that truly reflects contemporary, multicultural Australia.

What do we know about Australians overseas?

Australia's diaspora is estimated to include around one million people, but this would be significantly higher if former residents, such as international students, were included.

Large-scale studies in 2003 and 2006 told us Australians overseas tend to be highly educated and highly valued by employers. Many also retain links with family and friends in Australia. They continue to identify as Australian and intend to eventually come back.

In 2004, without putting a number on them, the Lowy Institute identified five sub-groups of expats.

The who's whopeople at the pinnacle of their careers in significant international positions

Gold collar workershighly-skilled, well-paid Australians developing their careers on the international stage

Other professionalsincluding nurses or teachers

Return migrantsfirst or second generation Australians, going to their family's original country for family or professional reasons

Rite of passage travelersyoung Australians living or working overseas.

Organizations such as Advance (which is supported by federal government funding) work to connect Australians overseas with each other and Australia. The focus here is on high-profile or very successful expats and how we can leverage their skills and networks to Australia's advantage.

Traditionally, the majority of departures from Australia have been to Europe, the United States and New Zealand. This has lead to a narrative that doesn't necessarily reflect the make-up of Australia's population living overseas and Australia's multicultural story.

We know from immigration and short-term travel data (those away for less than a year) that Asia, and in particular countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan, are increasingly important for Australians.

Long-term departure data present a similar picture. Our analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows India saw a 54% increase as a destination for Australian residents between 2007-08 and 2016-17.

So, the idea that Australia's diaspora is largely made up of young Aussies backpacking in Europe, or hyper-successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley is an outdated one. There is every indication today's diaspora is complex, and largely made up of everyday Australians doing everyday things.

Yet, we don't have comprehensive or up-to-date data on where Australians are overseas, what they are doing and whether they are planning to come back.

Why don't we have a clearer picture?

At a broader level, Australia's national focus has been on our immigrants, for whom detailed data are recorded and available from the Department of Home Affairs and Bureau of Statistics.

Emigrants have long been an understudied element of Australia's migration story.

One of the reasons for our limited and outdated information on our diaspora is the voluntary nature of registration with the Department of Foreign Affairs' SmartTraveller program.

In 2017, Australia also stopped collecting information on intended destination and reasons for travel on outgoing passenger cards. This was to improve the "traveler experience" and streamline the border clearance process.

Meanwhile, despite recommendations from Senate committees in 2005 and 2013, Australia has not set up a dedicated diaspora policy and monitoring unit within government.

Why do we need a diaspora policy?

At a basic level, a diaspora policy would provide a formal commitment to strengthen links and maintain connections with Australians abroad.

Aside from taking advantage of the knowledge and skills of Australians overseas (which can influence bilateral trade, business and investment opportunities), a diaspora policy should also foster engagement by attending to the welfare of Australians overseas.

COVID-19 has shown us how important it is to understand where Australians are and their circumstances in a time of crisis.

This lack of information makes it difficult to plan and help people quickly. A holistic, consistent and ongoing dataset would tell governments where the pressure points are in times of crisiswhere are most of our citizens? How old are they? How vulnerable might they be?

How can we do it better?

A commitment to deeper engagement with our diaspora is fundamental. In addition to a diaspora policy, a relatively easy way to get a better grip on Australians overseas would be to improve how Australians interact with SmartTraveller, so it becomes second nature for travelers to register and update their movements when overseas.

Another alternative is to use census data from destination countries. This requires greater synchronization among national censuses as suggested by the United Nations. However, this also means we are relying on other countries' data collection, not our own.

We could also look at regular large scale "census-like" surveys of Australians living overseas.

Getting a better grip on Australians overseas will have huge benefits in terms of planning, our economy and national identity. Bringing our diaspora back into our national population and migration story will help us understand its true character, nature and value.

Importantly, it will also move beyond the narrative of Australians overseas as either a "burden" or an "asset."

Explore further Significant drop in Australians who will get COVID jab

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: SBS

It may be a familiar statistic, but it is still shocking and unacceptable. In Australia, almost every week a woman dies at the hands of her partner or ex-partner.

In a much-anticipated three-part documentary, See What You Made Me Do, investigative journalist Jess Hill exposes the glaring questions our nation must address if we are to keep women safe.

Why does he do it? And how can we stop it?

For the first time, Hill's documentary explores the complexity of family violence in visceral detail, from understanding how coercive control works, to the failure of policing and courts, and families' gut-wrenching stories of how daughters, grandchildren, mothers or friends were murdered by their partner.

But this is not just about making TV content, it's about making change. So, where do we need to focus our efforts and resources?

A national crisis

As Hill says, domestic and family violence is a "national crisis".

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in six women, and one in 17 men, have experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

Our national helplines are overrun with calls, while police respond to a domestic violence call-out at least every two minutes.

The federal government has a long-term plan to address the gender inequalities that set up the conditions for violence. When women are not equal to menwhen our attitudes and behaviors assert male dominance over womenit enables some men to abuse and it prevents women from seeking help.

Australian governments increasingly recognize the need to do more to protect women and children, from improving police responses, to providing crisis accommodation, resourcing support workers and better connecting women with support services. Yet many women are left waiting, with victim support and housing services critically underfunded to meet the demand. Clearly this needs to change.

But there is another area that remains woefully underdeveloped in Australia.

We need to urgently change how we work with men

Many state and territory policy responses talk about holding men accountable for their use of violence. This is primarily through intensified policing and court responses and there is indeed evidence these can help reduce reported domestic violence.

But we still know surprisingly little about men's pathways into perpetration, and how we might work therapeutically, socially and culturally to intervene earlier.

For the most part in Australia, the professional response for perpetrators is a men's behavior change program. Yet many such programs have long waiting lists, are typically short-term (usually 20 weeks), and are often ordered by a court when a man's violence is so severe as to reach the attention of the criminal law.

Nationally our interventions with men have largely relied on a patchwork of funding and various pilot programs. Some pilots show promise, like projects providing tailored responses to the needs of a diversity of men, or providing perpetrator accommodation with behavior change support, or programs that intervene early with fathers at risk of using violence in the home.

In Victoria, a pilot intensive case management model that integrates a family violence social worker with police family violence specialists has been shown to reduce recidivism. The pilot has now been extended to include a social worker focused specifically on working with male perpetrators.

Each of these pilots are promising and, if properly resourced and evaluated, will help improve our knowledge of working better with men who use violence. But there is a lot more we can be doing.

Lessons from overseas

Australia is well behind other countries in terms of coordinated responses to work more holistically with perpetrators and address their use of abuse over the longer term.

Episode three of See What You Made Me Do looks at how Scotland has legislated against coercive control. But this isn't the country's only innovation.

In Scotland the "Caledonian system" is an integrated model that, along with a women's and a children's program, engages men for a minimum of two years. It includes six months of individual assessment (including engagement and motivation sessions), a 22-week group work phase, and post-group case management and support.

The two-year time frame is more realistic for achieving personal change over time and may provide some protective factors when families are engaged in family court or when a man repartners in a new relationship. This system was developed in 2004 and following an evaluation in 2016 is now offered in 19 councils, covering 75% of the Scottish population.

With Australia currently undertaking development of its next national plan to reduce violence against women, now is the time to draw on the Scottish experience and advance our policy approaches for perpetrator interventions.

Australia needs a national network of coordinated perpetrator interventions that engage men intensively, over time, and in a timely manner.

Protection, prevention and intervention

For decades, our national response to domestic and family violence has been to try to protect women at the point of crisis. And while we must continue to support and train police, as well as properly resource crisis accommodation and support services for women and children escaping violence, we know we need to act sooner in the pathways of violence if we are to save lives. Indeed, our national policy recognizes that prevention is also key to a long-term future Australia without violence against women.

But we must also intervene with men earlier, more intensively, and for longer, to stop their use of violence. Given the high risk of repeat perpetration of domestic abuse, when we don't work well with perpetrators we risk the cycle of abuse continuing in their current and future relationships.

See What You Made Me Do makes for confronting viewingit is a problem that involves people all around us in the community. As Hill tells us, there are three million Australian adults and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

Yet we need to do more than acknowledge the scale and reach of domestic violence. The critical message is we must take immediate and innovative action to address it. This is going to take a shift in our approach to domestic violenceone that draws on international best practice and develops a national approach that supports men to change, while holding them to account.

See What You Made Me Do premiered on May 5 on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Researchers created high-intensity pulses using the petawatt laser (pictured) at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS) in the Republic of Korea. This high intensity laser will allow scientists to examine astrophysical phenomena such as electron-photon and photon-photon scattering in the lab. Credit: Chang Hee Nam, CoReLS

Researchers have demonstrated a record-high laser pulse intensity of over 1023 W/cm2 using the petawatt laser at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS), Institute for Basic Science in the Republic of Korea. It took more than a decade to reach this laser intensity, which is ten times that reported by a team at the University of Michigan in 2004. These ultrahigh intensity light pulses will enable exploration of complex interactions between light and matter in ways not possible before.

The powerful laser can be used to examine phenomena believed to be responsible for high-power cosmic rays, which have energies of more than a quadrillion (1015) electronvolts (eV). Although scientists know that these rays originate from somewhere outside our solar system, how they are made and what is forming them has been a longstanding mystery.

"This high intensity laser will allow us to examine astrophysical phenomena such as electron-photon and photon-photon scattering in the lab," said Chang Hee Nam, director of CoReLS and professor at Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology. "We can use it to experimentally test and access theoretical ideas, some of which were first proposed almost a century ago."

In Optica, the researchers report the results of years of work to increase the intensity of laser pulses from the CoReLS laser. Studying laser matter-interactions requires a tightly focused laser beam and the researchers were able to focus the laser pulses to a spot size of just over one micron, less than one fiftieth the diameter of a human hair. The new record-breaking laser intensity is comparable to focusing all the light reaching earth from the sun to a spot of 10 microns.

"This high intensity laser will let us tackle new and challenging science, especially strong field quantum electrodynamics, which has been mainly dealt with by theoreticians," said Nam. "In addition to helping us better understand astrophysical phenomena, it could also provide the information necessary to develop new sources for a type of radiation treatment that uses high-energy protons to treat cancer."

A laser-matter interaction chamber for proton acceleration, in which the focal intensity over 1023 W/cm2 was demonstrated by tightly focusing a multi-petawatt laser beam with an F/1.1 off-axis parabolic mirror. Credit: Chang Hee Nam

Making pulses more intense

The new accomplishment extends previous work in which the researchers demonstrated a femtosecond laser system, based on Ti:Sapphire, that produces 4 petawatt (PW) pulses with durations of less than 20 femtoseconds while focused to a 1 micrometer spot. This laser, which was reported in 2017, produced a power roughly 1,000 times larger than all the electrical power on Earth in a laser pulse that only lasts twenty quadrillionths of a second.

Measured 3-D focal spot image showing the laser intensity of 1.4x1023 W/cm2. Credit: Institute for Basic Science

To produce high-intensity laser pulses on target, the generated optical pulses must be focused extremely tightly. In this new work, the researchers apply an adaptive optics system to precisely compensate optical distortions. This system involves deformable mirrorswhich have a controllable reflective surface shapeto precisely correct distortions in the laser and generate a beam with a very well-controlled wavefront. They then used a large off-axis parabolic mirror to achieve an extremely tight focus. This process requires delicate handling of the focusing optical system.

"Our years of experience gained while developing ultrahigh power lasers allowed us to accomplish the formidable task of focusing the PW laser with the beam size of 28 cm to a micrometer spot to accomplish a laser intensity exceeding 1023 W/cm2," said Nam.

Layout of the CoReLS petawatt laser and the experimental setup to achieve the laser intensity of over 1023 W/cm2. BS, beam splitter; DM1-2, deformable mirrors; EM, energy meter; OAP, f /1.1 off-axis parabolic mirror; OL, objective lens; WFS1-2, wavefront sensors. Credit: Institute for Basic Science

Studying high-energy processes

The researchers are using these high-intensity pulses to produce electrons with an energy over 1 GeV (109 eV) and to work in the nonlinear regime in which one electron collides with several hundred laser photons at once. This process is a type of strong field quantum electrodynamics called nonlinear Compton scattering, which is thought to contribute to the generation of extremely energetic cosmic rays.

Panoramic view of the CoReLS PW laser. Credit: Institute for Basic Science

They will also use the radiation pressure created by the ultrahigh intensity laser to accelerate protons. Understanding how this process occurs could help develop a new laser-based proton source for cancer treatments. Sources used in today's radiation treatments are generated using an accelerator that requires a huge radiation shield. A laser-driven proton source is expected to reduce the system cost, making the proton oncology machine less costly and thus more widely accessible to patients.

The researchers continue to develop new ideas for enhancing the laser intensity even more without significantly increasing the size of the laser system. One way to accomplish this would be to figure out a new way to reduce the laser pulse duration. As lasers with peaks power ranging from 1 to 10 PW are now in operation and several facilities reaching 100 PW are being planned, there is no doubt that high-intensity physics will progress tremendously in the near future.

Explore further Optimising laser-driven electron acceleration

More information: Jin Woo Yoon et al, Realization of laser intensity over 10 W/cm, Optica (2021). Journal information: Optica Jin Woo Yoon et al, Realization of laser intensity over 10 W/cm,(2021). DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.420520
This illustration depicts a conceptual Lunar Crater Radio Telescope on the Moons far side. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky

After years of development, the Lunar Crater Radio Telescope (LCRT) project has been awarded $500,000 to support additional work as it enters Phase II of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. While not yet a NASA mission, the LCRT describes a mission concept that could transform humanity's view of the cosmos.

The LCRT's primary objective would be to measure the long-wavelength radio waves generated by the cosmic Dark Agesa period that lasted for a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, but before the first stars blinked into existence. Cosmologists know little about this period, but came the answers to some of science's biggest mysteries may be locked in the long-wavelength radio emissions generated by the gas that would have filled the universe during that time.

"While there were no stars, there was ample hydrogen during the universe's Dark Ageshydrogen that would eventually serve as the raw material for the first stars," said Joseph Lazio, radio astronomer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and a member of the LCRT team. "With a sufficiently large radio telescope off Earth, we could track the processes that would lead to the formation of the first stars, maybe even find clues to the nature of dark matter."

Radio telescopes on Earth can't probe this mysterious period because the long-wavelength radio waves from that time are reflected by a layer of ions and electrons at the top of our atmosphere, a region called the ionosphere. Random radio emissions from our noisy civilization can interfere with radio astronomy as well, drowning out the faintest signals.

But on the Moon's far side, there's no atmosphere to reflect these signals, and the Moon itself would block Earth's radio chatter. The lunar far side could be prime real estate to carry out unprecedented studies of the early universe.

In this illustration, the receiver can be seen suspended over the dish via a system of cables anchored at the craters rim. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky

"Radio telescopes on Earth cannot see cosmic radio waves at about 33 feet [10 meters] or longer because of our ionosphere, so there's a whole region of the universe that we simply cannot see," said Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, a robotics technologist at JPL and the lead researcher on the LCRT project. "But previous ideas of building a radio antenna on the Moon have been very resource intensive and complicated, so we were compelled to come up with something different."

Building Telescopes With Robots

To be sensitive to long radio wavelengths, the LCRT would need to be huge. The idea is to create an antenna over half-a-mile (1 kilometer) wide in a crater over 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide. The biggest single-dish radio telescopes on Earthlike the 1,600-foot (500-meter) Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China and the now-inoperative 1,000-foot-wide (305-meter-wide) Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Ricowere built inside natural bowl-like depressions in the landscape to provide a support structure.

This class of radio telescope uses thousands of reflecting panels suspended inside the depression to make the entire dish's surface reflective to radio waves. The receiver then hangs via a system of cables at a focal point over the dish, anchored by towers at the dish's perimeter, to measure the radio waves bouncing off the curved surface below. But despite its size and complexity, even FAST is not sensitive to radio wavelengths longer than about 14 feet (4.3 meters).

With his team of engineers, roboticists, and scientists at JPL, Bandyopadhyay condensed this class of radio telescope down to its most basic form. Their concept eliminates the need to transport prohibitively heavy material to the Moon and utilizes robots to automate the construction process. Instead of using thousands of reflective panels to focus incoming radio waves, the LCRT would be made of thin wire mesh in the center of the crater. One spacecraft would deliver the mesh, and a separate lander would deposit DuAxel rovers to build the dish over several days or weeks.

As shown in this illustration, DuAxel rovers could anchor the wire mesh from the craters rim. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky

DuAxel, a robotic concept being developed at JPL, is composed of two single-axle rovers (called Axel) that can undock from each other but stay connected via a tether. One half would act as an anchor at the rim of the crater as the other rappels down to do the building.

"DuAxel solves many of the problems associated with suspending such a large antenna inside a lunar crater," said Patrick Mcgarey, also a robotics technologist at JPL and a team member of the LCRT and DuAxel projects. "Individual Axel rovers can drive into the crater while tethered, connect to the wires, apply tension, and lift the wires to suspend the antenna."

Identifying Challenges

For the team to take the project to the next level, they'll use NIAC Phase II funding to refine the capabilities of the telescope and the various mission approaches while identifying the challenges along the way.

One of the team's biggest challenges during this phase is the design of the wire mesh. To maintain its parabolic shape and precise spacing between the wires, the mesh must be both strong and flexible, yet lightweight enough to be transported. The mesh must also be able to withstand the wild temperature changes on the Moon's surfacefrom as low as minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 173 degrees Celsius) to as high as 260 degrees Fahrenheit (127 degrees Celsius)  without warping or failing.

Another challenge is to identify whether the DuAxel rovers should be fully automated or involve a human operator in the decision-making process. Might the construction DuAxels also be complemented by other construction techniques? Firing harpoons into the lunar surface, for example, may better anchor the LCRT's mesh, requiring fewer robots.

Also, while the lunar far side is "radio quiet" for now, that may change in the future. China's space agency currently has a mission exploring the lunar far side, after all, and further development of the lunar surface could impact possible radio astronomy projects.

For the next two years, the LCRT team will work to identify other challenges and questions as well. Should they be successful, they may be selected for further development, an iterative process that inspires Bandyopadhyay.

"The development of this concept could produce some significant breakthroughs along the way, particularly for deployment technologies and the use of robots to build gigantic structures off Earth," he said. "I'm proud to be working with this diverse team of experts who inspire the world to think of big ideas that can make groundbreaking discoveries about the universe we live in."
Hoopoe. Credit: MathKnight and Zachi Evenor, CC BY-SA 4.0

A team of researchers from Universidad de Granada and Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas, both in Spain, has found that male hoopoes provide more nourishment to female mates who paint their eggs well. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of hoopoes in the wild.

Prior research has shown that hoopoes, a type of zebra-striped bird, have long mating seasons, lasting from February to July. The males woo their mates by singing to them and by fighting with competitors. Once they pair, they mate, and the female lays her eggs in a nest. As the female roosts, the male forages for food and brings it back to his mateher only source of nourishment. Interestingly, the hatchlings, unlike most other birds, have developed a defensive strategyif an invader appears, all the chicks point their butts skyward and shoot excrement into the air. Prior research has also shown that shortly after she lays her eggs, the female will begin "painting" them, using her beak to pull an oily substance from her uropygial gland (located beneath the base of her tail) and spreading it over the outer shell. She will continue to do so until the shell is completely covered. When laid, an egg is dark blueafter she finishes painting, it will be light gray. Prior research has shown that the oil (which has a very strong cheese-like odor) serves to fill the pores in the shell, preventing disease. In this new effort, the researchers have found that the males appear to have an awareness of the benefits of well-painted shells and respond by providing their mate with more food.

To learn more about the reaction of males to the painted eggs, the researchers monitored 61 nests. They waited for the females to paint the eggs and then switched some in and out based on huelighter-colored eggs meant more paint and thus less chance of sick offspring. Meanwhile, they also monitored the amount of food the male brought the female. After the eggs hatched, the researchers found that the males provided slightly more food to the females when they were sitting on better-painted eggs.

Explore further Hoopoes' eggs show their true colors

More information: Silvia Diaz-Lora et al. Cosmetic coloration of cross-fostered eggs affects paternal investment in the hoopoe ( Upupa epops ), Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Silvia Diaz-Lora et al. Cosmetic coloration of cross-fostered eggs affects paternal investment in the hoopoe ( Upupa epops ),(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.3174

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Maxar Technologies

NASA is one step closer to robotically refueling a satellite and demonstrating in-space assembly and manufacturing thanks to the completion of an important milestone.

In April 2021, NASA and Maxar Technologies successfully completed the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) mission spacecraft accommodation Critical Design Review (CDR). This milestone demonstrates that the maturity of the design for the OSAM-1 spacecraft bus is appropriate to support proceeding with fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing.

OSAM-1 will, for the first time ever, robotically refuel a U.S. government satellite not designed to be serviced. The spacecraft will consist of a servicing payload, provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with two robotic arms that will be attached to the spacecraft bus. The bus will also incorporate a payload called Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot (SPIDER) that will demonstrate in-space assembly and manufacturing. SPIDER will use a third robotic arm to assemble a communications antenna and an element called MakerSat built by Tethers Unlimited to manufacture a beam. The spacecraft bus and SPIDER are being built by Maxar Technologies.

This image, taken by Maxar in their Palo Alto, California, facility, features the OSAM-1 spacecraft bus under development. The 14-foot-tall bus will provide OSAM-1 with power and the ability to maneuver in orbit. To make these maneuvers possible, inside the main cylinder are two large bi-propellant tanks, and the upper and lower deck of the spacecraft feature thrusters. The two silver spheres are filled with mono-propellant fuel that will be used to provide OSAM-1's target client satellite, Landsat 7, with more fuel to demonstrate that robotically refueling a satellite is possible.

Upon completion of the OSAM-1 spacecraft bus and related testing at Maxar's facilities in mid-2022, it will be sent to Goddard. NASA will complete the integration and testing of the OSAM-1 components, including the spacecraft bus, servicing payload, and SPIDER, in preparation for launch.

OSAM-1 is funded by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate through its Technology Demonstration Missions program.

Explore further SPIDER mission will assemble and manufacture a communications antenna in space
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When you save an image to your smartphone, those data are written onto tiny transistors that are electrically switched on or off in a pattern of "bits" to represent and encode that image. Most transistors today are made from silicon, an element that scientists have managed to switch at ever-smaller scales, enabling billions of bits, and therefore large libraries of images and other files, to be packed onto a single memory chip.

But growing demand for data, and the means to store them, is driving scientists to search beyond silicon for materials that can push memory devices to higher densities, speeds, and security.

Now MIT physicists have shown preliminary evidence that data might be stored as faster, denser, and more secure bits made from antiferromagnets.

Antiferromagnetic, or AFM materials are the lesser-known cousins to ferromagnets, or conventional magnetic materials. Where the electrons in ferromagnets spin in synchronya property that allows a compass needle to point north, collectively following the Earth's magnetic fieldelectrons in an antiferromagnet prefer the opposite spin to their neighbor, in an "antialignment" that effectively quenches magnetization even at the smallest scales.

The absence of net magnetization in an antiferromagnet makes it impervious to any external magnetic field. If they were made into memory devices, antiferromagnetic bits could protect any encoded data from being magnetically erased. They could also be made into smaller transistors and packed in greater numbers per chip than traditional silicon.

Now the MIT team has found that by doping extra electrons into an antiferromagnetic material, they can turn its collective antialigned arrangement on and off, in a controllable way. They found this magnetic transition is reversible, and sufficiently sharp, similar to switching a transistor's state from 0 to 1. The results, published today in Physical Review Letters, demonstrate a potential new pathway to use antiferromagnets as a digital switch.

"An AFM memory could enable scaling up the data storage capacity of current devicessame volume, but more data," says the study's lead author Riccardo Comin, assistant professor of physics at MIT.

Comin's MIT co-authors include lead author and graduate student Jiarui Li, along with Zhihai Zhu, Grace Zhang, and Da Zhou; as well as Roberg Green of the University of Saskatchewan; Zhen Zhang, Yifei Sun, and Shriram Ramanathan of Purdue University; Ronny Sutarto and Feizhou He of Canadian Light Source; and Jerzy Sadowski at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Magnetic memory

To improve data storage, some researchers are looking to MRAM, or magnetoresistive RAM, a type of memory system that stores data as bits made from conventional magnetic materials. In principle, an MRAM device would be patterned with billions of magnetic bits. To encode data, the direction of a local magnetic domain within the device is flipped, similar to switching a transistor from 0 to 1.

MRAM systems could potentially read and write data faster than silicon-based devices and could run with less power. But they could also be vulnerable to external magnetic fields.

"The system as a whole follows a magnetic field like a sunflower follows the sun, which is why, if you take a magnetic data storage device and put it in a moderate magnetic field, information is completely erased," Comin says.

Antiferromagnets, in contrast, are unaffected by external fields and could therefore be a more secure alternative to MRAM designs. An essential step toward encodable AFM bits is the ability to switch antiferromagnetism on and off. Researchers have found various ways to accomplish this, mostly by using electric current to switch a material from its orderly antialignment, to a random disorder of spins.

"With these approaches, switching is very fast," says Li. "But the downside is, everytime you need a current to read or write, that requires a lot of energy per operation. When things get very small, the energy and heat generated by running currents are significant."

Doped disorder

Comin and his colleagues wondered whether they could achieve antiferromagnetic switching in a more efficient manner. In their new study, they work with neodymium nickelate, an antiferromagnetic oxide grown in the Ramanathan lab. This material exhibits nanodomains that consist of nickel atoms with an opposite spin to that of its neighbor, and held together by oxygen and neodymium atoms. The researchers had previously mapped the material's fractal properties.

Since then, the researchers have looked to see if they could manipulate the material's antiferromagnetism via dopinga process that intentionally introduces impurities in a material to alter its electronic properties. In their case, the researchers doped neodymium nickel oxide by stripping the material of its oxygen atoms.

When an oxygen atom is removed, it leaves behind two electrons, which are redistributed among the other nickel and oxygen atoms. The researchers wondered whether stripping away many oxygen atoms would result in a domino effect of disorder that would switch off the material's orderly antialignment.

To test their theory, they grew 100-nanometer-thin films of neodymium nickel oxide and placed them in an oxygen-starved chamber, then heated the samples to temperatures of 400 degrees Celsius to encourage oxygen to escape from the films and into the chamber's atmosphere.

As they removed progressively more oxygen, they studied the films using advanced magnetic X-ray crystallography techniques to determine whether the material's magnetic structure was intact, implying that its atomic spins remained in their orderly antialignment, and therefore retained antiferomagnetism. If their data showed a lack of an ordered magnetic structure, it would be evidence that the material's antiferromagnetism had switched off, due to sufficient doping.

Through their experiments, the researchers were able to switch off the material's antiferromagnetism at a certain critical doping threshold. They could also restore antiferromagnetism by adding oxygen back into the material.

Now that the team has shown doping effectively switches AFM on and off, scientists might use more practical ways to dope similar materials. For instance, silicon-based transistors are switched using voltage-activated "gates," where a small voltage is applied to a bit to alter its electrical conductivity. Comin says that antiferromagnetic bits could also be switched using suitable voltage gates, which would require less energy than other antiferromagnetic switching techniques.

"This could present an opportunity to develop a magnetic memory storage device that works similarly to silicon-based chips, with the added benefit that you can store information in AFM domains that are very robust and can be packed at high densities," Comin says. "That's key to addressing the challenges of a data-driven world."

Explore further Catching electrons in action in an antiferromagnetic nanowire

More information: Jiarui Li et al. Sudden Collapse of Magnetic Order in Oxygen-Deficient Nickelate Films, Physical Review Letters (2021). DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.187602 , Journal information: Physical Review Letters Jiarui Li et al. Sudden Collapse of Magnetic Order in Oxygen-Deficient Nickelate Films,(2021). DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.187602 , journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/  ysRevLett.126.187602

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

For millennia, humans in the high latitudes have been enthralled by aurorasthe northern and southern lights. Yet even after all that time, it appears the ethereal, dancing ribbons of light above Earth still hold some secrets.

In a new study, physicists led by the University of Iowa report a new feature to Earth's atmospheric light show. Examining video taken nearly two decades ago, the researchers describe multiple instances where a section of the diffuse aurorathe faint, background-like glow accompanying the more vivid light commonly associated with aurorasgoes dark, as if scrubbed by a giant blotter. Then, after a short period of time, the blacked-out section suddenly reappears.

The researchers say the behavior, which they call "diffuse auroral erasers," has never been mentioned in the scientific literature. The findings appear in the Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics.

Auroras occur when charged particles flowing from the suncalled the solar windinteract with Earth's protective magnetic bubble. Some of those particles escape and fall toward our planet, and the energy released during their collisions with gases in Earth's atmosphere generate the light associated with auroras.

"The biggest thing about these erasers that we didn't know before but know now is that they exist," says Allison Jaynes, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Iowa and study co-author. "It raises the question: Are these a common phenomenon that has been overlooked, or are they rare?

"Knowing they exist means there is a process that is creating them," Jaynes continues, "and it may be a process that we haven't started to look at yet because we never knew they were happening until now."

The famed northern and southern lights have been studied for millennia, but they still hold secrets. In a new study, physicists led by the University of Iowa describe a new phenomenon they call "diffuse auroral erasers," in which patches of the background glow are blotted out, then suddenly intensify and reappear. Credit: Riley Troyer, University of Iowa

It was on March 15, 2002, that David Knudsen, a physicist at the University of Calgary, set up a video camera in Churchill, a town along Hudson Bay in Canada, to film auroras. Knudsen's group was a little disheartened; the forecast called for clear, dark skiesnormally perfect conditions for viewing aurorasbut no dazzling illumination was happening. Still, the team was using a camera specially designed to capture low-level light, much like night-vision goggles.

Though the scientists saw only mostly darkness as they gazed upward with their own eyes, the camera was picking up all sorts of auroral activity, including an unusual sequence where areas of the diffuse aurora disappeared, then came back.

Knudsen, looking at the video as it was being recorded, scribbled in his notebook, "pulsating 'black out' diffuse glow, which then fills in over several seconds."

"What surprised me, and what made me write it in the notebook, is when a patch brightened and turned off, the background diffuse aurora was erased. It went away," says Knudsen, a Fort Dodge, Iowa, native who has studied aurora for more than 35 years and is a co-author on the study. "There was a hole in the diffuse aurora. And then that hole would fill back in after a half-minute or so. I had never seen something like that before."

The note lay dormant, and the video unstudied, until Iowa's Jaynes handed it to graduate student Riley Troyer to investigate. Jaynes learned about Knudsen's recording at a scientific meeting in 2010 and referenced the eraser note in her doctoral thesis on diffuse aurora a few years later. Now on the faculty at Iowa, she wanted to learn more about the phenomenon.

"I knew there was something there. I knew it was different and unique," says Jaynes, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. "l had some ideas how it could be analyzed, but I hadn't done that yet. I handed it to Riley, and he went much further with it by figuring out his own way to analyze the data and produce some significant conclusions."

Troyer, from Fairbanks, Alaska, took up the assignment with gusto.

"I've seen hundreds of auroras growing up," says Troyer, who is in his third year of doctoral studies at Iowa. "They're part of my heritage, something I can study while keeping ties to where I'm from."

Troyer created a software program to key in on frames in the video when the faint erasers were visible. In all, he cataloged 22 eraser events in the two-hour recording.

"The most valuable thing we found is showing the time that it takes for the aurora to go from an eraser event (when the diffuse aurora is blotted out) to be filled or colored again," says Troyer, who is the paper's corresponding author, "and how long it takes to go from that erased state back to being diffuse aurora. Having a value on that will help with future modeling of magnetic fields."

Jaynes says learning about diffuse auroral erasers is akin to studying DNA to understand the entire human body.

"Particles that fall into our atmosphere from space can affect our atmospheric layers and our climate," Jaynes says. "While particles with diffuse aurora may not be the main cause, they are smaller building blocks that can help us understand the aurora system as a whole, and may broaden our understanding how auroras happen on other planets in our solar system."

Explore further Image: The Aurora and the Sunrise

More information: R. N. Troyer et al, The Diffuse Auroral Eraser, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics (2021). R. N. Troyer et al, The Diffuse Auroral Eraser,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2020JA028805
Shuvuuia deserti artist's reconstruction. Credit: Viktor Radermaker

Today's 10,000 species of birds live in virtually every habitat on Earth, but only a handful have adaptations enabling them to hunt active prey in the dark of night. Scientists have long wondered whether theropod dinosaursthe group that gave rise to modern birdshad similar sensory adaptations.

A new study led by University of the Witwatersrand scientist, Professor Jonah Choiniere, sought to investigate how vision and hearing abilities of dinosaurs and birds compared. The international team of researchers used CT scanning and detailed measurements to collect information on the relative size of the eyes and inner ears of nearly 100 living bird and extinct dinosaur species.

To measure hearing, the team measured the length of the lagena, the organ that processes incoming sound information (called the cochlea in mammals). The barn owl, which can hunt in complete darkness using hearing alone, has the proportionally longest lagena of any bird.

To assess vision, the team looked at the scleral ring, a series of bones surrounding the pupil, of each species. Like a camera lens, the larger the pupil can open, the more light can get in, enabling better vision at night. By measuring the diameter of the ring, the scientists could tell how much light the eye can gather.

The team found that many carnivorous theropods such as Tyrannosaurus and Dromaeosaurus had vision optimized for the daytime, and better-than-average hearing presumably to help them hunt. However, a diminutive theropod named Shuvuuia, part of a group known as alvarezsaurs, had both extraordinary hearing and night vision. The extremely large lagena of this species is almost identical in relative size to today's barn owl, suggesting that Shuvuuia could have hunted in complete darkness.

3D model of a Barn owl skull illustrating the scleral ring and lagena. Credit: Jonah Choiniere/Wits University

The large lagena of Shuvuuia came as a surprise discovery to Dr. James Neenan, the joint first author of the study, and Choiniere's former post-doc at Wits. "As I was digitally reconstructing the Shuvuuia skull, I couldn't believe the lagena size...I called Prof. Choiniere to have a look. We both thought it might be a mistake, so I processed the other earonly then did we realize what a cool discovery we had on our hands!" I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I got theredinosaur ears weren't supposed to look like that, "said Choiniere.

3D model of a Shuvuuia deserti skull illustrating the lagena. Credit: Jonah Choiniere/Wits University

The eyes of Shuvuuia were also of note, as they had some of the proportionally largest pupils yet measured in birds or dinosaurs, suggesting that they could likely see very well at night.

Shuvuuia was a small dinosaur, about the size of a chicken, and it lived in the deserts of what is now Mongolia. Shuvuuia's skeleton is among the most bizarre of all dinosaursit has a fragile, bird-like skull, brawny, weightlifter arms with a single claw on each hand, and long, roadrunner-like legs. This odd combination of features has baffled scientists since its discovery in the 1990s. With the new data on Shuvuuia's senses, the scientific team hypothesizes that, like many desert animals, Shuvuuia would have foraged at night, using its hearing and vision to find prey like small mammals and insects, using its long legs to rapidly run that prey down, and using its strong forelimbs to pry the prey out of burrows or shrubby vegetation.

Shuvuuia deserti artist's reconstruction. Credit: Viktor Radermaker

Prof. Jonah Choiniere holding a 3D printed model of the lagena of Shuvuuia deserti. Credit: Wits University

"Nocturnal activity, digging ability, and long hind limbs are all features of animals that live in deserts today," said Choiniere, "but it's surprising to see them all combined in a single dinosaur species that lived more than 65 million years ago."

Explore further Rare intermediate fossils give researchers insight into evolution of bird-like dinosaur

More information: J.N. Choiniere el al., "Evolution of vision and hearing modalities in theropod dinosaurs ," Science (2021). Journal information: Science J.N. Choiniere el al., "Evolution of vision and hearing modalities in theropod dinosaurs ,"(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.abe7941
Elephant tusks seized by the National Parks Board of Singapore, Singapore Customs, and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore. Credit: Marcus CHUA

A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Hong Kong and one in Singapore has found that socioeconomic inequality is driving existing trade patterns in the global wildlife market. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes comparing data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) with socioeconomic data from multiple countries around the world.

Prior research has shown that the global wildlife marketwhere wild animals are captured or killed and then sold to entities in other countrieshas a negative impact on endangered species. It also leads to the spread of diseases such as COVID-19. Unfortunately, such issues have not led to reductions in animals involved in the global wildlife market. As just one example, researchers from the NGO, Traffic, found recently that 1.3 million live animals and plants were exported from Africa to Asia over the years 2006 to 2015. In this new effort, the researchers looked at a way to reduce such numbersby having rich importing countries pay poor exporting countries to preserve their wildlife.

The work by the researchers involved pulling data from CITES, which keeps track of global wildlife sales and then comparing the numbers with socioeconomic data for the countries involved. They found that approximately 420 million wild animals were traded around the world over the years 1998 to 2018, involving 226 countries. They also found that the bulk of trades involved the transfer of animals from poor countries to rich countries. And they found, too, that certain pairs of countries account for a large percentage of the wildlife market.

The researchers suggest that current efforts to slow the global wildlife trade are not sufficient. They suggest that the only way to make a dent in the market is to pay those countries that are exporting the most animals to protect them. They note also that the global pandemic has slowed the trade in wildlife, but suggest the lull is only temporary unless other measures are put in place.

Wild animals on sale in a local market. Credit: Marcus CHUA

Explore further Legal wildlife trade needs monitoring to reduce risk of a new pandemic

More information: Jia Huan Liew et al. International socioeconomic inequality drives trade patterns in the global wildlife market, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Jia Huan Liew et al. International socioeconomic inequality drives trade patterns in the global wildlife market,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf7679

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Students struggling academically benefited most when schools around the world transitioned from classroom teaching to online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the switch also didn't negatively impact higher achievers.

A new study has analyzed the impact of online learning during the pandemic by crunching data at three middle schools in China, which administered different educational practices for about 7 weeks during the country's Covid-19 lockdown.

Online learning was shown to have a positive impact on overall student performance when compared to not receiving any support from school during lockdown, and the best results were achieved by higher quality teachers preparing content for both rural and city students, regardless of their location.

Senior Lecturer in Economic at Flinders University, Dr. Rong Zhu, says the study results show online delivery of education materials can help narrow the achievement gap between struggling students and their higher-achieving peers to improve academic performance despite the COVID-19 lockdowns.

"Our findings have important policy implications for educational practices when lockdown measures are imposed during a severe pandemic like what we have witnessed around the world due to COVID-19,"

"First, when physically shut down, schools should create distance learning resources for students given the beneficial influence of online education with low-ability students shown to be the biggest beneficiaries."

"Our study also highlights that the quality of teachers who design and deliver recorded online lessons has a positive impact on academic performance. Local government can organize top quality teachers to prepare online lessons in advance, complying with local curriculum standards and then make them available when necessary."

Students who used a computer as a remote learning device instead of a smartphone also achieved more improved academic results.

Dr. Zhu says online programs are a cost-effective method with great potential to generate substantial economies of scale, since each school does not have to prepare its own version of online classes if a system in setup in advance to facilitate online learning.

"Governments should ensure all students have the resources necessary to access online education, potentially through joint efforts with the telecommunications sector."

"If resources available are constrained, priority should be given to low-achieving children as they benefit the most from distance learning. Since students with access to a computer as the online learning device can benefit more than those using a smartphone, government can play a more active role in providing or subsidizing investment in computers for students having no access to one at home."

Explore further The online learning needs of students across different grades during the COVID-19 pandemic

More information: Andrew E. Clark et al, Compensating for academic loss: Online learning and student performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, China Economic Review (2021). Andrew E. Clark et al, Compensating for academic loss: Online learning and student performance during the COVID-19 pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101629
Sulfur dioxide from human activities follow various chemical paths to form hazardous sulfate particulates. The multiphase path (inside the shaded box) becomes more important under less acidic conditions, resulting in a weaker response of sulfate to reductions in SO2 emissions. Credit: Tokyo Institute of Technology

The air in the United States and Western Europe is much cleaner than even a decade ago. Low-sulfur oil standards and regulations on power plants have successfully cut sulfate concentrations in the air, reducing the fine particulate matter that harms human health and cleaning up the environmental hazard of acid rain.

Despite these successes, sulfate levels in the atmosphere have declined more slowly than sulfur dioxide emissions, especially in wintertime. This unexpected phenomenon suggests sulfur dioxide emission reductions are less efficient than expected for cutting sulfate aerosols. A new study led by the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hokkaido University and the University of Washington explains why. The open-access paper was published May 5 in Science Advances.

When concentrations of acidic sulfate from fossil fuel emissions decrease while the concentration of more basic ammonium molecules in the atmosphere stay constant, liquid water droplets in clouds become less acidic. This makes conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfate more efficient. So, even though air quality regulations have reduced the supply of sulfur dioxide from power plants and shipping, the total amount of sulfate particulates that harm human health has dropped more slowly.

"It does not mean that the emissions reductions aren't working. It's just that there is a reaction which partially mitigates the reductions," said co-author Becky Alexander, a UW professor of atmospheric sciences. "We need to understand this multiphase chemistry in the atmosphere to make an efficient strategy to manage air pollution and accurately predict future air pollution and climate change impacts."

During most of the 20th century, sulfur dioxide emissions increased with industrialization in many parts of the world. But recently that trend has reversed in response to regulations, while ammonium emissions from animals and agriculture continue at the same rate. These trends are expected to continue.

The researchers in the drilling operation (left) and the drilled samples (right). Credit: Hokkaido University

Data from an ice core in Greenland that preserves past years' atmospheres show that the proportion of sulfate containing oxygen with one extra neutron, or oxygen-17, increased in the 1980s after countries began to regulate emissions. The authors' analysis shows this is due to faster sulfate formation in the liquid phase in the atmosphere, which occurs largely within clouds, under less-acidic conditions.

"After the SO2 emission control, relatively lower atmospheric acidity promotes the efficiency of sulfate production in the atmosphere, which weakens the response of sulfate level to the SO2 reduction," said lead author Shohei Hattori at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. "Our unique isotopic techniques applied for the Greenland ice core records identify the key process of the weakened response of sulfate to SO2 emissions reduction."

The data came from an ice core drilled in southeast Greenland (SE-Dome) as part of a project led by Hokkaido University. The oxygen trapped in this ice provided evidence of sulfate composition from 1959 to 2015, without contamination from local pollution.

"Based on a continuous and high-resolution ice core record from SE-Dome, we could obtain reliable records for atmospheric aerosols without second modification after deposition," said co-author and leader of SE-Dome ice core project Yoshinori Iizuka at Hokkaido University. "We plan to drill a second ice core at the same location this year, and try to reconstruct the aerosol history back to the 1750s."

The ice core does not contain separate data for summer and winter, but models show that other, gas-phase chemical reactions for sulfur dioxide become more important in summer, reducing the summertime impact of changing cloud acidity. Knowing how these molecules react will help improve the atmospheric models used to forecast air quality and project climate change.

Explore further Air pollutant reductions could enhance global warming without greenhouse gas cuts

More information: Shohei Hattori et al. Isotopic evidence for acidity-driven enhancement of sulfate formation after SO2 emission control, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Shohei Hattori et al. Isotopic evidence for acidity-driven enhancement of sulfate formation after SO2 emission control,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd4610
A map illustrating the occurrence of mollusks in marine shelf environments between 1700 and 2020, with darker hexagons indicating fewer and lighter indicating more. By compiling and analyzing mollusk fossil data from the past 145 million years, Nebraska's Will Gearty and colleagues have shown that temperature largely explains the diversity of aquatic life in the tropics. Human-driven global warming is expected to reduce that tropical biodiversity in coming centuries. Credit: Adapted from figure in Current Biology / Cell Press

The bulging, equator-belted midsection of Earth currently teems with a greater diversity of life than anywhere elsea biodiversity that generally wanes when moving from the tropics to the mid-latitudes and the mid-latitudes to the poles.

As well-accepted as that gradient is, though, ecologists continue to grapple with the primary reasons for it. New research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Yale University and Stanford University suggests that temperature can largely explain why the greatest variety of aquatic life resides in the tropicsbut also why it has not always and, amid record-fast global warming, soon may not again.

Published May 6 in the journal Current Biology, the study estimates that marine biodiversity tends to increase until the average surface temperature of the ocean reaches about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, beyond which that diversity slowly declines.

During intervals of Earth's history when the maximum surface temperature was lower than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the greatest biodiversity was found around the equator, the study concluded. But when that maximum exceeded 80 degrees, marine biodiversity ebbed in the tropics, where those highest temperatures would have manifested, while peaking in waters at the mid-latitudes and the poles.

Marine life that could travel considerable distances likely migrated north or south from the tropics during periods of extreme heat, said co-author Will Gearty, a postdoctoral researcher of biological sciences at Nebraska. Stationary or slower-moving animals, such as sponges and sea stars, may have instead faced extinction.

"People have always theorized that the tropics are a cradle of diversitythat it pops up and then is protected there," Gearty said. "There's also this idea that ... there's lots of migration toward the tropics, but not away from it. All of that centers around the idea that the highest diversity will always be in the tropics. And that's not what we see as we go back in time."

Gearty, Yale's Thomas Boag and Stanford's Richard Stockey went back about 145 million years, compiling estimated temperatures and fossil records of molluskssnails, clams, cephalopods and the likefrom 24 horizontal bands of Earth that were equal in surface area. The trio chose mollusk records for multiple reasons: They live (and lived) around the globe, in large enough numbers to accommodate statistical analyses, with hard enough shells to yield identifiable fossils, with enough variation that their diversity trends might generalize to fish, corals, crustaceans and an array of other marine animals.

That data allowed the team to derive the temperature-diversity relationship across 10 geologic intervals that covered most of the elapsed time from the Cretaceous period through the modern day.

"Temperature seems to account for a lot of the trend that we see in the fossil record," Gearty said. "There are certainly other factors, but this seems to be the first-order predictor of what's going on."

To investigate why temperature might be so influential and predictive, Stockey took the lead in developing a mathematical model. The model accounts for the fact that higher temperatures generally increase the amount of energy in an ecosystem, theoretically raising the ceiling on the biodiversity an ecosystem can sustain, at least to a point.

But it also factors in metabolism and the small matter of oxygen, which, by dissolving in water, makes aquatic life possible in the first place. Colder waters dissolve more oxygen, meaning that elevated temperatures naturally reduce the amount available to marine life and, by extension, potentially limit the biodiversity an ecosystem can support. Higher temperatures also raise the metabolic demands of organisms, increasing the minimum oxygen needed to sustain active marine animals.

"That means you require more oxygen in warmer waters," Gearty said. "And if the amount of oxygen available is not satisfying that increase in metabolism, you won't survive in that environment. So, to survive, you'll need to move to another environment where the temperature is lower."

The team applied its model to numerous marine species with varying metabolisms. As expected, metabolism influenced how the population of a given species would respond to a rise in temperature, along with the temperature threshold beyond which that population would decline. When the researchers averaged the effects of metabolism and oxygen availability across those species, they discovered that the resulting temperature-diversity relationship resembledand, in doing so, supportedthe one they derived from the fossil record.

"It shows a similar trend of this (biodiversity) increase and then decrease," Gearty said. "After many a day at the whiteboard just trying to figure out how to make it work, it all just came together very nicely at the endyou know, a nice little bow on top."

Collectively, the study indicates that human-driven global warming could hit the inhabitants of tropical waters especially hard. The average surface temperature of tropical waters could jump by as many as 6 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2300, according to one projection. And according to the fossil records analyzed for the study, similar temperature increases during the past 145 million years have sometimes permanently driven mollusk species from tropical waters. There are worrying signs that the expected trend is already underway, Gearty said.

Though the team had difficulty narrowing down the projected magnitude of the decline in biodiversity, Gearty said the worst-case projection called for the tropics losing up to 50% of their marine species by 2300. Some of the loss will take the form of migration. Yet the warming could spell doom for, say, corals and the thousands of marine species that they support, he said, as seen in the oft-fatal bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

"This (biodiversity loss) is already happening, and it will only keep happening unless we do something," Gearty said. "We can't really take back the buildup of carbon dioxide (in the atmosphere) that's already happened, so it's going to keep happening for some amount of time. But it's up to us to determine how long until it'll stop."

Explore further Climate change driving marine species poleward
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Proteins are the workhorses of cells, responsible for almost all biological functions that make life possible.

Understanding how specific proteins work is key to disease prevention and treatment, allowing us to lead longer, healthier lives.

Yet scientists still know nothing or very little about thousands of proteins that exist in our bodies and their role in keeping us alive.

Now researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have uncovered a new protein analysis toolcoined the Bacterial Growth Inhibition Screen (BGIS)that could fast-track the process of assessing proteins. The tool allows for quick and efficient basic characterisation of protein function with no special equipment or cost involved.

Dr. Ferdinand Kappes of XJTLU's Department of Biological Sciences says while it won't replace more complex and established protein analysis methods, the BGIS tool offers a viable 'pre-screening' method that could save scientists significant time in the lab, in turn accelerating basic science and medical discoveries.

"Many proteins have multiple 'business areas', and finding out these different functions and how they are regulated is essential to understanding how biological processes work," he says.

"Identifying and then manipulating the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, for example, was crucial in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"We know misfunction or mis-regulation of proteins often results in diseases, but a large portion of human proteins still remain a mystery to us.

"One of the main reasons for this is that proteins are often difficult to study, as each new protein is like exploring a foreign city without a map for the first timethere are often no similar proteins to offer clues or even a starting point.

"The work is time-consuming, and results can be hard to come by, so many researchers avoid studying unknown proteins altogether.

"The tool we have developed provides researchers with a 'compass' of sorts. It allows them to quickly work out if they are on the right path by determining whether a protein has a function worth exploring."

The new tool could substantially facilitate the study of many proteins, according to Dr. Kappes, and makes use of an unpopular side effect common in biology labs.

"Our tool uses recombinant protein toxicity, a well-known effect that happens when bacteria are used for the production of human proteins, such as insulin for medication," he says.

"Essentially, we force the bacteria to produce a foreign protein, but this often interferes with the natural biology of the bacteria and causes a number of stress scenarios.

"As we usually only use bacteria as a surrogate for protein productionthe negative 'stress scenarios' on the bacteria are considered a burden and are typically not looked at further.

"What we have highlighted is that these negative effects can be harnessed and used as an easy way to gain fundamental functional information by seeing how the bacteria responds to the expression of foreign proteins.

"If bacteria growth is affected by the foreign protein, we know there is some sort of function coded in the protein that warrants further investigation. The BGIS also allows for quick manipulation of the protein at hand exploring the same principle.

"After our initial discovery, we applied this technique to every protein we could find in our labs. It worked every time. It really is like turning lemons into lemonadeit's a byproduct of biological experiments researchers dreaded, but we've been able to turn into a tool to aid discovery.

"In addition, the BGIS allowed us to substantially advance our own research on the oncoprotein DEK, which is a longstanding interest in our own laboratory."

Explore further New chemical tool sheds light on how proteins recognize and interact with each other

More information: Haihong Guo et al, Bacterial Growth Inhibition Screen (BGIS) identifies a lossoffunction mutant of the DEK oncogene, indicating DNA modulating activities of DEK in chromatin, FEBS Letters (2021). Journal information: FEBS Letters Haihong Guo et al, Bacterial Growth Inhibition Screen (BGIS) identifies a lossoffunction mutant of the DEK oncogene, indicating DNA modulating activities of DEK in chromatin,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14070
The region got a look at fatality rates by age Wednesday, with data released by Saratoga County on its 164 COVID-related deaths out of nearly 15,000 cases.

The data only reflects one county, in which the majority of the people who died were not living in nursing homes. In Warren and Washington counties, where the main outbreaks have been in nursing homes, the data would be substantially different.

But Saratoga Countys data, released Wednesday on a new website run by the county, offers some answers to the question of how dangerous COVID is to people who are living independently but happen to be elderly.

The new data shows that the majority of those who died in the county lived in the community, not a nursing home or other facility. The statistics show that 95 people who died lived independently before catching COVID, while 44 lived in a nursing home, two lived in an adult care facility and 23 lived in an assisted living facility. (That adds up to 162 deaths. There have been 164 deaths in the county, but its not clear where the other two people who died resided.)

No one who died was younger than 30 in Saratoga County.
Not to say that there are zero roads or bridges in the United States that could use a little repair.

But theres just no reason to believe that the existing surface transportation funding levels in the United States are inadequate.

Kevin Drum had a similar reaction, writing that U.S. bridges are in  sort of OK shape. This new pundit view highlights data showing that the quality of U.S. infrastructure has not deteriorated recently and that our international infrastructure ranking is middling (to use Drums phrasing), not rock-bottom. Robert Krol from the Mercatus Center at George Mason came to this view earlier, noting last year that The condition of major highways and roads is stable. Furthermore, there are fewer bridges in poor condition today than there were five years ago.

There are two problems with this: the data and the backward-looking nature of the analysis. Take bridges, for example.

The new pundit view is correct that official measures suggest the share of bridges in poor condition has declined. Roughly 60,000 of the nations more than 600,000 bridges were in poor condition in 2009, according to Federal Highway Administration data. By 2020, that number had fallen to 45,000  even though the number of bridges in the country had grown slightly.
Red Bank  In coordination with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, OceanFirst Bank has helped 17 local 501C3 organizations, who have been impacted by the ongoing pandemic crisis, obtain a COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant (SBRG).

The COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program, made available through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, has provided flexible funds to benefit FHLBNY members small-business and non-profit customers.

OceanFirst Bank was proud to facilitate another round of the Small Business Recovery Grant opportunity, primarily focusing on art organizations in the Banks footprint that have been impacted by COVID-19. The Bank is excited to announce that the following organizations have each been awarded a SBRG:
MAYS LANDING  The Atlantic County Institute of Technology is excited to announce that Safia Glover, Antonelly Reyes and Dominic Roberts participated in a virtual scholarship class audition at the N.J. High School Dance Festival on Saturday, March 13, and received scholarships to attend both the Rutgers Summer Conservatory Dance Program and the Nimbus Arts Center Intensive.

The Rutgers Summer Dance Conservatory invites high school dancers to sample the rigorous schedule of ballet and modern technique classes that Mason Gross School of the Arts collegiate students participate in daily. Participants develop skills under the guidance of Mason Gross faculty, and guest artists offer special workshops on topics such as dancer health, strength & flexibility, college admissions, and dance career path exploration.

In addition, Roberts has been chosen by Dance New Jersey and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts adjudication committee as a New Jersey state level honoree for excellence in the dance arts. Roberts also received an honorable mention for the 2021 National Dance Education Organization Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award. The National Honor Society for Dance Arts serves to identify those honor students of junior and senior high school age for nomination for the NDEO award, the highest student dance award in the nation. State affiliates of the NDEO may elect to offer a state-level award. All applicants are then forwarded for adjudication at the national level. There are national winners, finalists and honorable mentions.
WILDWOOD  The Pour Into Summer Wine Festival will take place noon to 5 p.m. May 22 and 23 at Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Ave.

Sample the fruits of some of New Jerseys best wineries as they kick off the summer season at the first socially distanced wine festival for 2021.

Health protocols will be in place:

 Masks must be worn at all times except at winery tasting stations or when seated in the festival field

 Access to winery tasting stations will be via socially distanced queue lines

 6-feet of social distance between all groups

 Groups 8 or less at winery tasting stations

 Festival layout reconfigured for social distancing

 Festival following consistent sanitizing protocols

Tickets to the Pour Into Summer Wine Festival are limited and on sale now for $25. Tickets can be purchased online only at newjerseywineevents.com. Attendees must be 21 or older to purchase tickets and attend the festival. All guests must have a paid ticket. Price includes a sampling glass. Tickets are good only for the date purchased.
The 420-unit village on Adriatic Avenue was built in 1937 and expanded in 1951, making it the oldest public housing complex in New Jersey.

Talk of redeveloping the property has been on the table for years, along with complaints from residents about the conditions of the units.

+3 Atlantic City Housing Authority picks Stanley Holmes redeveloper ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Housing Authority has chosen the Michaels Organization, of

It is scheduled to finally begin after the Choice Neighborhood process, which included a two-year, $450,000 planning grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, is completed in December 2022.

The grant, which was awarded to the authority in December 2020, will allow the authority to create a redevelopment plan for the village and the Westside neighborhood.

In May 2019, the authority selected Michaels Organization, of Camden, as its co-development partner for the project.

City Council recently approved a land exchange agreement for the authority to receive two large parcels in the inlet section of the resort. Residents of Stanley Holmes Village will be relocated to these parcels while many of the original units are demolished.
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.
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Clarke said that while many of the positions are seasonal, summer jobs, such as for Moreys Piers and Gateway 26 arcade, there are opportunities for post-high school professional positions like customer service representatives at J. Byrne Agency or social media assistant and web designer at Guppi.

This year, among the 12 businesses participating, there were 55 positions open, with multiple openings per position.

DuFault is waiting to hear how many students in total were hired, but said shed heard positive reviews from the participants.

Nick Cripps, 17, of Wildwood, already has a job managing a hot dog cart, but he also interviewed with some of the employers. He said he and his peers learn so much from the interviewing process.

Like any student, it helps them to be able to talk with adults, he said. This is a way that kids have to show that theyve grown up.

Jennifer Desiderio, 18, of Wildwood, said she was happy the school offered to help students find employment. Desiderio, who works at a juice company in Stone Harbor, said she was planning on interviewing at a restaurant later in the day.

Working at her age has taught her so much, she said.
Combining competent and certified firefighters from Minotola Fire Company, with noncertified or adequately trained remaining members and management from the Landisville Fire Company will just re-create the issues experienced by Landisville Fire Company and places our trained and certified firefighters at risk, said the letter signed by commissioners Steven LaPorta, Anthony Abriola, Jeff Pace, Brian Ewan and Justin Lilla.

James said he has lived in Buena most of his life. A former Northfield police chief, he retired two years ago to Florida, but he still has family here and is concerned about the community.

I started right out of high school as a volunteer fireman (in Landisville), James said. I hate seeing this. It doesnt have to be that way.

Whatever the borough does, James said, More research should be conducted before the borough blindly gives away over $300,000 and millions of dollars of equipment without objectively giving the LVFC a fair chance to rectify the issues at hand so that they may continue with their community service.

James said Landisville cannot remedy all of the violations until the borough allows it to reopen, but the borough has suspended it at least until June.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP  The Township Committee on Monday introduced a $22.9 million budget for 2021, which includes an increase in the local property tax rate.

As introduced, the budget includes a tax rate hike of slightly over 2 cents per $100 of assessed value, which would mean the owner of a property assessed at $500,000 would owe an additional $100 in municipal taxes this year.

Like so many others, Middle Townships revenues took a hit in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials hope the increase will be eased by federal stimulus money. New Jersey was slated to receive billions of dollars in federal aid. How that money will be distributed is still being worked out.

Its a long-overdue introduction, township auditor Leon Costello said Monday. He said the township delayed the introduction to await more information about the amount of stimulus money it could expect and how it would be allowed to be spent. Hopefully, it will be out soon.

Some of the stimulus will likely offset the tax increase, Costello said.

We dont know exactly what the rules are going to be yet, but were pretty confident were going to be able to offset a good portion of that, he said.
Life President. Gen. Museveni

[View From Uganda]

When you here regime officials speak sometimes if you pretend you didnt know the truth you might believe they are making sense.

At the 5th National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Suppliers Forum held last week, the Funds procurement plan, key projects and how technology has enabled best-in-class procurement practices at the Fund and government as a whole were discussed.

The Funds managing director and chief executive officer Richard Byarugaba said, Our call today is for partnerships, shaping a future with the Fund all together. The key drivers of our business today are data and technology. Suppliers who remain analogue cannot do business with us. Public procurement accounts for 13% to 20% of global GDP. Fifty-five percent of Uganda's budget is spent on public procurement but an estimated 10% to 25% is lost as a result of inefficiency and corruption.

To avoid such shortfalls in the current procurement process, Byarugaba unveiled business opportunities for local suppliers in real estate and information technology for the next financial year. His plans are hinged upon a coherent information and communications technology (ICT) plan being rolled out by government.

Instead, government has introduced a 12% tax on internet data, thereby ratcheting up prices for online access in a country where consumers are already paying some of the worlds highest internet costs.

With rising data costs and slow internet penetration, the key drivers for business that Byarugaba identified namely data and technology are going to be hampered by yet another tax under the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2021. In the shadow of Covid-19 restrictions, Ugandans have to rely on online services in order to do business, but this tax will impede access to online activity even though the internet plays a dominant role in economic production and productivity.

Clearly the ruling National Resistance Movements (NRMs) policies are ruinous to the countrys economic relations. The predatory regime disrupts economic productivity by taxing economic relations such as internet access.

The regime, under dictator of 35 years Gen. Yoweri Museveni, does not want people to work independently since the elite want to and do in fact monopolize the means of production. As the government becomes more corrupt, it will thus exploit the Ugandan worker for the benefit of the corrupt leader. Gen. Museveni, seems determined to impose punitive taxes on Ugandans for not voting for him in the last presidential elections.

Another nightmare is Ugandas debt crisis.

On April 26 Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said Uganda will approach international creditors, including China and the World Bank for suspension of interest payments on loans. The total public debt was $18 billion by the end of 2020 with $12 billion owed to external creditors.

''Even me, I don't like borrowing but in this case, we don't have any options, but to borrow to finance some of these projects,'' Kasaija said. The total debt is now $18.2 billion yet the national budget stands at $12.6 billion.

Kasaija can say whatever he wants but in the end will shut up and do what his master, Gen. Museveni wantswhich is to borrow more in order to keep his neo-patrimonial state afloat. How has the regime arrived at this excessive debt burden? Was it spending on first-class education for Ugandans and state of the science healthcare?

Here are some examples of the spending: $11 million to upgrade the existing security system in Parliament and installation of a new block which will have 8 floors, chambers, an archive center, press gallery, a spacious members' lounge, offices for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, a library, dining hall, and committee rooms.

This is all for a parliament packed through election rigging by NRM Members of Parliament (MPs) who, Gen. Museveni publicly said, may sleep through parliamentary debates if they want as long as they wake up to vote on NRM bills geared to entrench Musevenis misrule.

The monthly pay check for a member of Parliament in Uganda is about $6,700 before tax and peaks at about $8,000 when all possible allowances are added. All this in a country with per capita income of about $800. This would be akin to an American senator earning $650,000 per month; the U.S. per capita income is about $65,000.

If we assume that every one of Ugandas 529 MPs get the maximum emoluments possible, it would come to $4.2 million per month or $50.8 million yearly.

At independence in 1962 there were 16 districts, 17 ministers, and 11 parliamentary secretaries. Today we have 111 districts whose bureaucracies exist simply to employ regime sycophants. At one point the regime had 31 ministers and 49 ministers of state.

Now we see why a dying regime is taxing the citizenry to death.

Columnist Matogo can be reached via mugashop74@gmail.com
Fight for yourself

People should not be fighting their politicians fights, they should be fighting their politicians over the U.S. tax code.

Millionaires should not be paying less taxes than their employees. Warren Buffet said this years ago, that he pays at a lower rate than his secretary.

Corporations should not be allowed to hire part-time workers at $15 an hour without providing them affordable health care. These companies are making a killing on those savings.

The rich are not paying their fair share of taxes. Income tax is set up differently for them than the rest. Trickle down has never worked. Congress has done nothing for the taxpayers in years because they took pork belly away from their bargaining table. They have done nothing to earn their paychecks and health care. What happened at the Capitol was appalling and should have never happened, but when the going got tough they were removing their pins and hiding. As Cindy McCain said, John McCain would have been out there trying to stop them.

Congress passed the first COVID bill quickly, helping corporations and small businesses and the people got less than $2,000. A second bill aimed to help schools, towns and states, and with another check less than $2,000 took months.
TOMMY DREAMER DISCUSSES 24+ DAY COVID-19 BATTLE

Tommy Dreamer revealed on the latest edition of his podcast that he tested positive for COVID-19 after contracting the disease during a tour of Alaska for WrestlePro and has been battling it for over 24 days.

Dreamer noted that he had taken the booking in order to be able to wrestle in his 50th and final State in the United States but it was a mistake. He called himself selfish for taking the booking, noting he hadn't been doing independents but wanted to work the date and get a good payday for himself. He noted that he didn't take photos with fans unless he was wearing a mask but still tested positive.

Dreamer made it clear that WrestlePro wasn't responsible for what happened and that everyone on the tour had been tested before the shows. Dreamer stated that he "did it to himself" and that he was upset he passed the disease onto his wife, former ECW star Beulah McGuillicuty and one of their daughters as well.

Describing his symptoms, Dreamer stated that he had non-stop pain that felt like a "massive concussion" for 17 days. He needed to change his sheets daily as he was going between chills that required heavy blankets and heavy sweats where he felt as if he was freezing for hours on end. While recording the podcast, Dreamer said he was on day 24 after testing positive and has only had three good days as every time he felt like he had finally gotten past COVID-19, it would rebound and hit him all over again.

Dreamer told a story of one night being in so much pain that he believed he was going to urinate all over himself because he couldn't walk to the bathroom. He noted that as someone who was once set on fire (in ECW, obviously), he felt that his elbows and hips were on fire and was in so much pain at one point, he couldn't use his arms. He also told of hurting so badly, he had to stand against a wall for hours because it was too painful to lay in bed.

Dreamer noted that during the last several weeks, he was worried his life was over and remains worried about a varicose vein in his leg and blood clots due to pain that remains in his leg. Dreamer noted that he fears the disease is going to cause long term issues with his health. You can listen to the entire on his podcast linked above.

Dreamer missed the Impact Wrestling Rebellion PPV due to COVID. During the PPV, announcer Matt Striker shouted out both Dreamer and Beulah and wished them well.

Obviously, everyone at PWInsider.com sends our best to the entire Dreamer family.

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!
DeVine said Scott and the woman had at least one child together.

Bettendorf officers said the unnamed woman and her Mazda CX-9 were missing when they arrived.

Roughly 90 minutes later, dispatch received a call from Georgian Square about a vehicle idling in the apartment building parking lot, 985 Lincoln Road, Bettendorf. Scott and the unnamed woman were in her vehicle. After the woman got out of the SUV, she told officers Scott had a gun concealed in the car.

After an amicable conversation with Scott that included an officer complimenting Scott's coat, officers asked him to step out of the SUV. Scott responded by rolling up the SUV windows and ceasing the conversation.

After several requests, Scott is seen putting on his seat belt, at which time an officer drove a Bettendorf Police SUV in front of the Mazda to block it. The situation escalated as Scott refused to step out of the car and Thomas struck the driver's side window with a baton, smashing the glass on the third strike. Scott fired his handgun at almost the same moment Thomas made the third strike on the window.

DeVine said Thomas broke the window because he knew Scott had a gun, and even though Scott's escape was blocked by the police SUV, he still posed a significant threat.
"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."
A Chicago police marine unit sergeant is accused of taking a bribe from a diver who gained fame when he fished out Chicago Cubs player Anthony Rizzos wedding ring when it flew off his finger into Belmont Harbor last year, officials said.

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown recommended Sgt. Eduardo Beltran and Officer Michael Michalik be fired for violating police rules, according to a Chicago Police Board filing dated April 18.

According to police spokesperson Sally Bown, Michalik is no longer a member of the police department and Beltran is on no-pay status.

A Police Board audio conference on discipline is scheduled for May 18, according to the Police Board.

Beltran accepted approximately $1,000 for personal use from a professional diver and used his official CPD position to gain access to the Chicago Harbor Lock to recover a lost boat propeller, Brown wrote to the Police Board.

Additionally, Beltran is accused in the filing of failing to properly document details of the recovery of the propeller, and the filing says he knowingly approved misleading or false dive reports written by Chicago police Officer Michael Michalik.
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 states attorneys office were simultaneously conducting separate investigations into what happened that night.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday announced plans to scale back COVID restrictions.

The entire state on May 14 will move into the "bridge phase" of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, which includes higher capacity limits on a wide range of businesses and activities.

Businesses in a wide range of categories, from offices to retailers to gyms, will be allowed to operate at 60% capacity, up from 50%. Amusements parks, museums and zoos would also rise to 60% capacity from the current 25%.

Ticketed and seated spectator events, as well as theaters and performing arts, also would have a 60% capacity.

Additionally, indoor social events would have a maximum capacity of 250 people, while outdoor event capacity would rise from a maximum of 100 to 500 people. Festivals and general admissions for outdoor spectator events would increase from 15 people per 1,000 square feet to 30.
"Well, as I said, I will veto an unfair map. I have also said that in order for us to have an independent commission, we needed to have a constitutional amendment, something that would actually change the way the process operates today in the Constitution. That did not happen. So now, as we reach the end of this session and I look to the legislature for their proposal for a redistricting map, Ill be looking to it for its fairness. And thats something thats vitally important for our state, as an effect on the next 10 years and representation throughout the state."
He added that beyond the infrastructure changes needed there has been no discussion about any tax breaks or other financial incentives for the company Seefried represents.

"This city, this community, this Quad-Cities is all about economic development ... and continuing to bring good-paying jobs to the Quad-Cities, and specifically Davenport. And we're hoping this prospect works out also," Matson told reporters after Wednesday's council meeting. "It's a great feeling, and this region is ready to run and come out of this (pandemic). The recovery (and) the work that's been done by many people to position this region, this city to be ready for when something happens, we're there. And this is going to be be a big part of that. And we're not done. We're continuing to bring prospects here."

Both Matson and Alderman Kyle Gripp, at-large, said they expect details to be finalized and announced within the next month or so.

Gripp serves on the Greater Davenport Redevelopment Corporation Board, the public-private partnership tasked with marketing industrial sites in the business park at Northwest Boulevard and Interstate 80.
The United Way, KWQC and the Quad-City Times are sponsoring the event.

Achieving the other goals will require boosting job training efforts to the unemployed and underemployed to obtain the skills required to secure available, high-paying and in-demand jobs, as well as securing additional funding for community health centers, Gellerman said.

"It's going to be about enhancing those programs that work. It's going to be looking at innovative approaches to some of our challenges," she said. "We can't do the same things and expect different results. And, it's going to be about uplifting those organizations working on the front line. ... How do we build the capacity of those organizations ... and aligning efforts?"

Wilson, who benefited from United Way-supported programs growing up in the Quad-Cities and was raised by a single mother, said she shudders every time she turns on the news to the violence occurring in the Quad-Cities.
"You can't watch these scenes from the 1950s and the 1960s, in the civil rights movement in the United States, and not think about the marches and the protests that we've seen in the United States and internationally over the last year and a half," said Mark Katrikh, who is the director of operations and experience for The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. "Unpacking that, and helping us understand what that means and how that impacts each and every one of our lives is sort of the final piece to the conversation."

On Tuesday morning, Katrikh led a conversation with a group of local high school students who stopped by the mobile classroom. Even though the same materials are often used to facilitate discussions on the bus, the takeaways are often different and based on the lived experiences of those who are taking part.

Simply asking a group what the word tolerance means to them can serve as an entry point into a deeper conversation for those on board.

"That word means different things to different people," Katrikh said. "It's everything from this idea of putting up with something  to tolerate, to forbear  all the way over to acceptance and understanding, which are very different things. Even being able to unpack that part of it gives us a little bit of insight into how we can have these conversations. Then we go from there."
He has concerns about the totality of the compromise being asked of House Republicans. Accelerating the reduction of rates approved in 2018 tax cuts was not a priority for them. But knowing its importance to Senate Republicans, Grassley said his caucus has reached a position where we felt that could be part of a compromise  to try to help accommodate that in these negotiations.

In enacting faster tax cuts, the Reynolds-Senate plan includes the state takeover of the mental health system funding and eliminating the inheritance tax and the property tax backfill for local governments. Grassley indicated that despite the concessions, House Republicans are being asked to make more accommodations.

Legislative Democrats, who are in the minority, had no comment other than to say they had not seen any details.

In calling for action on her tax proposals, Reynolds said the state has never been in a better position to take tax burdens off the backs of Iowans and invest state revenue to sustain critical and important services

Lifting the 2018 income tax cut triggers to reduce rates faster would decrease state revenue collections by $155 million in fiscal 2023, $160 million the following year and $30 million the third year, according to a Legislative Services Agency analysis.
We have concerns about the growing number of mandates, as well as implementing an entirely new curriculum, Zach Messersmith, representing IASB, said.

According to Messersmith, school districts would need to hire new faculty or fund more training for staff in order to satisfy the new sex education standards.

Given the states flat funding for education and the ongoing teacher shortage, Messersmith said many school districts would be unable to meet the mandate.

Under the bill, parents can opt their students out of sex education with no penalty to the student by submitting a written objection.

The committee voted to advance SB 818 in an 11-6 vote along partisan lines.

HIV transmission

The Executive Committee also advanced an amendment to House Bill 1063, filed by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago. It passed through the committee in an 11-4 vote to advance to the Senate floor.

Current Illinois law allows for individuals to be charged with criminal transmission of HIV, while also allowing for law enforcement to compel criminal defendants to test for HIV/AIDS in order to determine whether to charge them for the crime.
But get this: What Biden is proposing now, while an expansion of governments role in our society, is a plan that doesnt purposely shove the cost onto our kids and grandkids the way all those other plans did. It tries to raise the revenue to pay for it  with taxes on corporations and the well-off.

Sure, there are arguments about whether Biden was straight about who it would affect. Was it families or individuals making $400,000 or more? (That seems to be one of the latest snits in Washington, D.C. But, ask yourself this: Are you in either of those categories?)

Yeah, I'm not either.

We also could argue about whether raising taxes on the rich for this spending is fair, but that's not an argument congressional Republicans want. Which is why you see them complaining about the debt. But know this: Their concern isnt really about the debt. Because if Republicans again take control of Congress and the White House, they wont do anything to tackle the debt. (Putting out press releases touting phony reports about "wasteful spending" in some obscure part of the federal budget doesn't count.)
China's iconic sedan brand Hongqi sees rosy sales in Jan-April

Xinhua) 10:15, May 06, 2021

CHANGCHUN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Hongqi, an automobile brand under China's leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd., posted rising sales in the first four months of the year.

A total of 91,900 Hongqi-branded vehicles were sold from January to April, up 132 percent year on year, according to FAW Group.

The group plans to double its 2020 sales of Hongqi vehicles to 400,000 units this year. The brand has rolled out multiple high-end models as well as new energy vehicles.

Hongqi, meaning "red flag," is China's iconic sedan brand. Established in 1958, the brand has been used in parades for national celebrations.

Founded in 1953 in the northeastern city of Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, FAW Group is regarded as the cradle of China's auto industry.

(Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Liang Jun)
Duluth, MN (55816)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 68F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm late. Low 57F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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Because Medicaid expansion will obligate the state for as much as $20.8 million more a year in spending, it would be subject to the three-fifths hurdle, making its passage as a ballot measure more difficult.

Critics of HJR 5003 objected to placing it on the primary ballot, when fewer people vote. The bid by Dakotans for Health to refer it to the general elections could have, if successful, delayed its vote to the general election.

Supporters of HJR 5003 argue that the Legislature cant raise taxes without a three-fifths majority, and the same hurdle should apply to ballot measures.

Currently, there are three different petitions drives seeking to put Medicaid expansion on the November 2022 ballot.

Medicaid is a government medical program where the federal and state governments share its costs. Historically, the program was created to help impoverished children, the elderly and people with disabilities. But the Affordable Care Act, or Obama Care, expanded eligibility to include more adults. The federal government promised to pay for a greater share of that expanded pool.
And of course, no visitors are allowed, except on very rare occasions. Such an occasion happened in 2017 when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin were allowed inside the facilities.

It has been reported that there is more than 147 million ounces of gold, virtually all of which is in the form of 27-pound gold bars. The gold is held as an asset of the United States at book value of $42.22 per ounce. That comes out to around $6.2 billion.

Some conspiracy theorists contend that there is no gold at Fort Knox at all. Instead, the government has painted a bunch of tungsten bricks to look like gold bars to fool anyone who looks inside the vault.

Fort Knox has its own police force. The Mint Police was established in 1792.

Today, each member of the Mint Police must go through a three-month training course, followed by a five-week specialized training regimen in the field.
Were all aware of how large this problem is for all Native women  the abuse, the violence, the injustice that we have to face on a daily basis, Melinda Harris said. We know how the justice system fails many families and this is not acceptable. Federal, state and tribal governments must work together with all of us, especially those of us that have lost daughters, sisters, mothers. They must work together to strengthen, to respond to our missing and murders Indigenous women and girls.

Melinda Harris was one of several members of victims families that came to Helena to share their stories.

Paula Castro spoke in heartbreaking detail about her daughter, 14-year-old Henny Scott, from her 2018 disappearance to the discovery of her body near Lame Deer to her frustrations with authorities that she says have left many of her questions unanswered.

Rena Frank spoke about the abduction and murder of her sister, 16-year-old Beverly Brien in 1977, whose body was found near the rodeo grounds in Hardin. The family has spent 50 years trying to get answers but have often felt invisible in the eyes of investigators, she said.

Rose Harris, Hanna Harriss sister, also came to the Capitol to speak out and encouraged others to do the same when it comes to reporting crimes.
Recently Gov. Greg Gianforte sent House Bill 702 back to the Legislature with proposed changes of his own. Hours later, the House voted 65-35 to accept those changes. The amendment submitted by Gianforte appears to address a number of concerns expressed this week about the bills potential impacts on health care facilities.

While the governors actions to amend, in order to accommodate the health and safety of vulnerable patients in Montanas health care facilities as well as to protect our hospitals, workers, patients and public, should be acknowledged, the basis of the governors rationale is flawed and typical of the anti-science posture of the Republican right.

The governor states that, employers must not discriminate or take punitive action against employees who opt out of immunizations, but instead should work to provide well established, reasonable accommodations that protect the health and safety of all involved.
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.
One in four wanted to wait to see how the vaccine is working, and almost 1 in 5 planned to get their child vaccinated if the schools required it.

Northam, whos a pediatric neurologist, said there are no plans in the near future to mandate vaccines on the state level or in schools and would prefer to opt for outreach and conversations instead. A measure like this would also require action from the General Assembly.

Parents intentions for vaccinating their children largely lined up with whether theyve received a dose or are wanting one, but Black parents  60% of whom have reported having or wanting a vaccine as soon as possible  were the most likely to report they would not vaccinate their child with a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the KFF tracker. Hispanic parents were the most likely.

In the five months of the vaccine rollout, skepticism has dwindled among Black and Latino populations, with trusted messengers and access being among the factors that swayed opinion.

Richmond-area schools have large Black and Latino populations, and Avula noted that in Richmond Public Schools  one of the few districts in the state that didnt open back up this past year due to high COVID-19 risk  both families and teachers are reporting a lot of concern.
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.
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Sears in 2001 became the first Black Republican woman elected to the Virginia General Assembly. She emigrated from Jamaica at age 6, is a Marine veteran and lives in Winchester, where she owns a plumbing, electrical and appliance repair business.

She served one term in the state House, and lost a race for Congress in 2004 to Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd. Sears also ran a write-in campaign for U.S. Senate in 2018 to provide an option for Republican voters unhappy with party nominee Corey Stewart.

One of Sears focuses in her campaign is convincing Republicans she can win a general election because shes the only GOP candidate who can speak to and win votes of Black voters, including Democrats. Thats what she said she did when running for the General Assembly, saying she proved herself to Black voters and asked for their votes.

She said other candidates arent looking for minority votes and would lose in November. Theyre going to keep doing the same thing that theyve always done and were going to get the same results weve always got ... and that is losing.

Rival candidate Davis has attacked Sears on gun issues. Sears Facebook profile photo shows her holding a large firearm.
The Democratic lawmaker challenging Attorney General Mark Herring in the June 8 primary aggressively critiqued him in their first debate Wednesday evening, calling out the incumbents reluctance to use his office to investigate police shootings and saying Virginians are tired of inaction on police accountability.

Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, launched his attacks in Arlington, where he and Herring debated in the studios of WJLA-TV.

Jones portrayed himself as a progressive who would move the office into a new direction by prioritizing criminal justice reform and reining in police abuses.

All the experience in the world doesnt mean a thing if youve got to be pushed to do the right thing, Jones said. This office can do so much, and we have to look ahead to this new Virginia decade.

Herring, with nearly eight years in the office and seeking a third term, has a long list of accomplishments hes citing in his bid, including litigating against policies of then-President Donald Trump, support for gay rights and legalizing marijuana, fighting white supremacy and testing of a backlog of rape kits.

Herring said he righted wrongs as attorney general, transforming the job from the top cop to the peoples lawyer.
Estimates suggest that 12 million K-12 students  more than 20% of the 55 million students in the United States  live in homes without internet access. Without access to sufficient computing devices and adequate internet access, students are not able to meaningfully engage in remote learning.

To achieve digital equity in education, though, the focus needs to be not just on access, but also on use of and outcomes related to technology. We also need to consider disparities by race, sex, geography and disability status.

Putting all of these variables together yields a range of questions to consider. Are girls getting the same STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education opportunities as boys? How might lower broadband service rates and higher smartphone dependency rates in the homes of Black and Hispanic Americans result in different outcomes? Are educational websites accessible to students who are hearing-impaired or visually impaired?

Addressing these questions will require policy solutions at all levels of government. At the federal level in 2019, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced the Digital Equity Act that proposed to authorize more than $1 billion for grants allowing states to build broadband capacity and to support targeted programs.
With seniors health in mind, community organizations donated senior-friendly, Wi-Fi enabled devices with larger fonts and buttons. Students and clinicians affiliated with the Richmond Health and Wellness Program at Virginia Commonwealth University facilitated seniors use of technology to reduce social isolation during the pandemic. This is one example of real-time innovation that the pandemic spurred.

As health care builds a postpandemic normal, the architecture should be built on our collective experiences. We should consider more than payment parity to make telehealth equitable. We should consider accessible devices and improving the digital literacy of seniors to make access possible.

While the future of telehealth accessibility in Virginia has yet to be determined after 2021, we know that the digital divide extends beyond physical access and, as such, we have an obligation to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left out of the telehealth revolution. Payment reform to support assisted telehealth is one possible solution.

We have an opportunity to reconceptualize what health care services could look like. Using telehealth allows clinicians a glimpse into a persons home life and potentially offers the patient the convenience of aging in place. As a society, we should consider innovative solutions to make this efficient care delivery model available to those who need it most: our seniors.
McAuliffe sets agenda

to pass many policies

As Virginia deals with the many challenges resulting from this once-in-a-century pandemic, we need a governor who is prepared on day one. I am supporting candidate Terry McAuliffe because he has a unique understanding of the challenges we face. As Virginias 72nd governor, elected in 2014, he made a record $1 billion investment in education and restored voting rights to 173,000 Virginians. In other actions, he signed a domestic violence gun-safety law that kept families safe, created 200,000 good-paying jobs and raised personal incomes by 14%. He extended health care coverage to tens of thousands of Virginians and took on the Republican-led legislature to lay the groundwork for Medicaid expansion.

McAuliffe has bold plans to move Virginia forward. To create a more equitable Virginia, he has put forth proposals to strengthen Virginias education system and increase teacher pay, reform the criminal justice system and lower prescription drug prices. He will confront the gun violence epidemic and ensure that every Virginian has access to high-quality health care. He will confront climate change and secure Virginias clean energy future by 2035. Based on his prior achievements as governor, I know McAuliffe can get the job done. Given what he accomplished in his first term with a Republican legislature, I cannot wait to see the bills he will pass with unified Democratic control in Richmond.
Later during the symposium, panelists further discussed the implications of so much funding, and where it needs to be spent. Andy Kegley, executive director of Helping Overcome Povertys Existence, said the needs his human services organization caters to were exacerbated by the coronavirus.

Our budget for people in sheltered emergency housing prior to last March was about $30,000 a year, Kegley said. We would use a local motel to house homeless folks.

By late summer, HOPE was serving 45 households in three different motels throughout its service area of Galax and Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth and Wythe Counties.

We had one motel, a little 16 unit motel here in downtown Wytheville, it was absolutely full, Kegley said. We were exploring some of the CARES Act money being able to be used to actually purchase that motel.

But problematically, people could not find anywhere affordable to move out of the motel from, prolonging their stays 90 days or more, and increasing the costs associated to HOPE, he said. That issue further underscores the need for affordable housing,
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.
Kingsley Ngange, co-Editor of book on Anglophone crisis Facebook

Kingsley Lyonga-la-Ngange, Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication is Cameroons best journalism trainer, awards committee of The Scoop Media Group said on Monday.

Following a poll organized by The Scoop Media Group for Cameroonians and other nationals, the Head of the University of Bueas Department of Journalism and Mass Communication was overwhelmingly acclaimed as the 2020 Best Journalism Trainer.

Bagging home the 2020 Best Journalism Trainer Award Monday, May 3, 2021, at WDC Aparthotel, Prof. Ngange delivered an epic lecture on Information as a Public Good", the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day.

We are now in the 21st century where you can win a war without firing one shot. It is at the level of the communication, the propaganda  Since information should be for the public good, said Prof. Ngange. We should as from this moment start thinking of how we should be able to use the gadgets in our hands  I say this because all of us have been partisan. We have been part of the crisis going on. In one way or the other, we have shared information that we should not have shared. And by doing so, we have escalated the conflict to where it is. We should start repenting and making sure that the information we share is of the public good.

Prof. Ngange called on Cameroonians to make good use of communication gadgets in a bid to construct the country.

His words: It is time to repent and start sharing information that builds the society. Share information that constructs instead of information that destroys. We should stop playing the role of the Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines that masterminded the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. We should start playing a more constructive and positive role with all the communication gadgets that we now have available. We have in one way or the other promoted hatred through hate speech. If you do not have anything good to say, we quiet. An unspoken word does no harm.

Stop hate speech, stop kongossa, stop dividing people with all the skills that you have. If your skill is talking from morning to evening, use it to build the nation and not to destroy it.

Ngange, a shrewd scholar

Prof. Ngange worked at the Public Relations and Alumni Office of the University of Buea before joining the state-owned broadcaster, Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) from where he was recruited to teach at the University of Buea.

He was the first student to successfully defend a Ph.D. thesis from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) of the University of Buea(UB) in December 2012. He was also the first ex-student of the same department to become a lecturer after obtaining his Masters degree in Europe.

His Ph.D. thesis was titled, "Redefining Journalism Roles in Democracy: In Search Of Evidence from Elections Coverage Using Mobile Phones and Internet in Cameroon"

On June 23, 2012, Junior Chamber International, JCI University of Buea, recognized the one-time broadcaster on State radio during the Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Awards.

He is the winner of a Pan-African award for excellence as a journalism trainer.

Dr. Ngange has published and contributed to several books such as Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strikes in Cameroon (2016-2019): A Multidimensional Perspective, which he co-edited with Emeritus Professor of Literature, Kashim Ibrahim Tala.

In 2020, he published three books.

Ngange, K L. (2020). Social Media use in the 2018 Presidential Election in Cameroon. In M N Ndiela and W.Mano (Eds), Social Media and Elections in Africa, Volume 1: Theoretical perspectives and election campaigns (pp.119-146), Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillian

Ngange, K L. (2020). Mass Media and Society: Cameroon.In D.L Merskin(Ed).The Sage International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (pp.245-249), Thousand Oaks. CA: Sage

Ewusi, S K & Ngange ,K L(2020).Peace, Governance, and Security in Africa: Getting it right, In F.R Aravena(Ed). The Difficult Task of Peace: Crisis, Fragility, and Conflict in an uncertain World (pp.37-57).Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
As a longtime political activist who truly believes in a competitive, two-party system, Ive never before witnessed a situation where one party has done all it can to court its own destruction.

Even after a four-year political acid trip with Donald Trump, which included two impeachments, blatant corruption and massive amounts of lying, Republicans still cant seem to sober up from the Kool-Aid they drank in his name.

In Arizona, for example, state party leaders have made it clear that if youre not a Trumpster, you just dont matter. Many other state party organizations, such as Georgia and Florida, are entirely run by Trumpsters. Wyoming Republicans have done all they can to punish Rep. Lynne Cheney for voting to impeach Trump.

Even as The Great Leader marinates in his own decay and decline in Florida, GOP donors and strategists are flocking to his doorstep, stupidly encouraging his belief that the party still belongs to him.

Its clear that they cant see the real legacy of Trump: the mob violence of Jan. 6 that he encouraged and enjoyed and, politically, electoral defeat after defeat. It all adds up to a serious decline in the reputation and credibility of the Republican Party all across the country.
The five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor do something tonight that Democrats hardly ever do anymore: Theyll appear in Southwest Virginia.

The occasion is a debate hosted by WCYB-TV in Bristol, the second of four the Democratic candidate are having before the June 8 primary  which is already underway thanks to Virginias early voting rules. Democratic voters may be few in Southwest Virginia but the states electoral reality is one of the candidates on that debate stage will on June 9 be the front-runner so even Virginians who dont plan to vote for any of them ought to pay attention to what they have to say.

Before the Democrats debated last month in Richmond we posed three questions for them, two of which they didnt address and one which they talked around. So well re-up those three questions and add some more.

1. What will you do about the parole board? Dont tell us its under investigation; we all know thats a dodge.

E-mails now show the former head of the board  now a judge in Virginia Beach  told a subordinate Wave that wand of power, and lets cut them loose. There needs to be a silver lining to all this! Give me more!!!
Recently, the Virginia General Assembly voted to pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in Virginia.

Research shows that policies created as a result of marijuana legalization put many people of color in prison all over the country.

Although Im glad the legislature voted to pass the bill legalizing recreational marijuana, I want to know how this bill will impact those who are currently incarcerated due to marijuana charges.

As someone who has lived in Virginia for most of my life, Ive seen the harm done to Black communities by the criminalization of marijuana. I went to high school with people who are in jail for actions that are now legal.

On July 1st, this bill will allow people to legally possess and grow marijuana in Virginia. However, people serving jail and prison sentences related to marijuana will remain in jail.

When the current bill was proposed, there was a provision that included granting resentencing hearings to individuals who were incarcerated on marijuana charges.
BlackRock has been accused of inconsistency in its approach to sustainable investing over its backing of a shareholder protest against Procter & Gambles sourcing of palm oil.

The worlds biggest investment group, which has made ambitious commitments to environmental, social and governance standards, joined an investor rebellion at P&G in October over the consumer goods groups wood pulp and palm oil supply chain, which extends into Indonesia.

P&G has since asked its Singapore-based supplier Wilmar International to investigate Astra Agro Lestari, a palm oil subsidiary of Indonesian conglomerate Astra International that activists have accused of seizing land from local farmers, among other poor environmental standards.

Rights groups and sustainable investment advocates have turned their attention to BlackRock, which is a significant shareholder in Astra International, the parent company of Astra Agro Lestari. According to Bloomberg data, the US fund group is Astra Internationals third-largest investor, with a holding worth almost $350m. It also has a small direct holding in Astra Agro Lestari.



Green finance groups said BlackRock had been inconsistent in its approach to ESG considerations by not openly pressing Astra over its environmental record. The $8.7tn fund house has come under increasing pressure to live up to its 2020 pledges regarding ESG and sustainable investing.

Its incoherent that BlackRock is pushing P&G to clean up its value chain while simultaneously continuing to profit from this same value chain, said Lara Cuvelier, sustainable investments campaigner at Reclaim Finance, an investor lobby group.

BlackRock should make time-bound and detailed requests to the company . . . and commit to divesting if the requisite changes are not forthcoming, Cuvelier added.

Wilmars probe into Astra Agro Lestari stemmed from a request made in October by Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia, an environmental group, to P&G to look into claims that three subsidiaries of the palm oil company were involved in land grabs from local farmers. The alleged seizures took place in seven villages in Central Sulawesi, a remote part of Indonesia.

Astra International is majority-owned by Hong Kong trading house Jardine Matheson through its Singapore-listed unit, Jardine Cycle and Carriage. BlackRocks shareholding, which has gradually increased over nine years, is mostly held through mutual funds and ETFs, according to Bloomberg data.

Astra International did not respond directly to the allegations but said it was working with its subsidiaries on sustainability and the livelihood of local communities. Astra Agro Lestari has in place a comprehensive sustainability code . . . and has been working with independent experts to further strengthen its sustainability performance, Astra International said.



P&G said Astra Agro Lestari sells palm materials to Wilmar, one of the consumer goods groups suppliers. We asked Wilmar to take steps to investigate further with their supplier Astra Agro Lestari and address the case, P&G said. Wilmar, which has disclosed the allegations through its reporting processes, said Astra Agro Lestari had so far been forthcoming and open in its investigation and was awaiting supporting evidence from environment groups.

BlackRock said it was well aware of the concerns and was continuously engaged with companies over sustainability concerns. Where we believe companies are not moving with sufficient speed and urgency, our most frequent course of action will be to hold directors accountable by voting against their re-election, it said.

According to environmental campaign group Mighty Earth, a gold mine in Sumatra overlaps with the habitat of Tapanuli orang-utans, which are on the brink of extinction  Aditya Sumitra for Image Dynamics/Mighty Earth

At Astra Internationals 2020 annual meeting, BlackRock voted against a motion regarding board changes and director remuneration over disclosure issues.

Benjamin McCarron, managing director at Asia Research and Engagement, said: If investors want to be consistent, they should challenge palm oil producers to improve.

Mighty Earth, another environmental campaign organisation, has also pressured United Tractors, an Astra International subsidiary involved in thermal coal, over its investment in Indonesias Martabe gold mine. According to Mighty Earth, the mine, which is located in Sumatra, overlaps with the habitat of Tapanuli orang-utans, which are on the brink of extinction.

Astra Agro Lestari is not a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an industry body that commits companies to sustainable standards.

Capital Group, the second-largest shareholder in Astra International, declined to comment. The US-based fund manager has previously said ESG considerations were woven into its investment approach.

UBS and Vanguard Group, which also hold Astra International shares, declined to comment. A unit of Norways central bank, Norges Bank, that manages the countrys sovereign wealth fund and also holds shares, has placed Astra International on an exclusion watchlist in 2015 due to the risk of severe environmental damage.

Financial Times
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Assemblymember Marie Waldron, a Republican from Escondido, represents Assembly District 75, assemblymember.waldron@assembly.ca.gov. She is the Republican leader of the Assembly. Assemblymember Vince Fong, a Republican from Bakersfield, represents Assembly District 34, Assemblymember.Fong@assembly.ca.gov. He is vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.
Rice followed with a tour through Main Street Marion. He then made appearances for Coffee with Your Congressman meetings at the Marion County and Magnolia on Main. He said it was good to be back meeting with the public again.

I love it so, he said. I used to do a lot of town hall meetings. I got out and seen the people but this last year weve been locked up doing Zoom meetings. Its good to be out here, shake hands, pat people on the back and see smiles.

Rice said the Farmers to Families Food Box Program helps farmers and prevents food from going to waste.

This month were going to distribute thousands of food items and were partnering with Marion County Coordinating Council to get this food distributed.

Mayor Ashley Brady said he was happy to have Congressman Rice in town.

This program is going to help feed a lot of people during this time and we appreciate them coming to Marion, Brady said. We also appreciate him coming to spend time with us and see how pretty downtown is looking. I told we will keep on working and need his assistance in the future.

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Adrian is the very definition of an ideal team player and the living, breathing personification of the McLeod Health core values, said Charity Gerald, nursing director for 8 Medical. Adrian exhibits compassion to everyone he encounters. He constantly checks on his patients and provides them with what they need and also anticipates needs they didnt know they would have. There have been several patients who have notified management upon discharge how much they appreciated him. He has received letters mailed back to the floor to thank him for the care he provided. One letter called him friendly, warm and a breath of fresh air. We have had patients request to take him home with them. They always remember his name. One of his peers said, He is one of the best people I know here at McLeod. He deserves all the recognition he can get. We need more Adrians.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  South Carolina is one of 13 states looking to defend the public charge rule.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Thursday morning that he is one of 13 state attorneys general seeking to intervene in a suit before the Supreme Court challenging the so-called public charge rule.

The other states asking to intervene are Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.

The rule basically states that people seeking to permanently immigrate to the United States cannot do so if theyre likely to be dependent upon government programs like Medicaid, supplemental security income, temporary assistance to needy families or supplemental nutrition assistance. In 2019, the United States Immigration and Customs Services issued a final ruling establishing the public charge rule. That rule was successfully challenged in the Southern District of New York  New York City is a common port of entry for immigrants  but the Second Court of Appeals, which includes New York, upheld the rule on appeal. The ruling of the appellate court has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
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.
Jodie Foster stars in The Mauritanian as sage defense attorney Nancy Hollander, who takes on the real-life case of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim).

Held for years, without charge or trial, in a detention camp on the island of Cuba, thousands of miles away from his island home of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, Slahi is languishing with little hope of anyone believing in his innocence. Accused of being the principal recruiter for the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Slahi faces a death sentence. Who would take on that case?

Nancy Hollander would, and did, guided by firmly-held personal principles. As for Slahi, one wonders how he could maintain his sanity, much less his respectful demeanor, despite years of abuse. As Hollander, Jodie Foster gives "a profoundly satisfying, genuinely sincere performance that rings entirely true," as I wrote in my original review, so it's no surprise that she won a Golden Globe for her performance.

Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, director Kevin Macdonald's earlier The Eagle) was less familiar to my eyes on my first viewing of the film, which eased his believability as he plumbed hidden emotional depths to make Slahi's terrible plight something that becomes profoundly poignant.

Our exclusive interview footage features Tahar Rahim talking about the most challenging scenes, namely, the ones in which Mohamedou is tortured. The scenes are not easy to watch, so what was it like to enact them? First, Rahim notes that he wanted to respect his director, Kevin Macdonald, by offering an authentic performance. Beyond that, though, he felt a tremendous obligation to be as genuine as possible, "out of respect" to Mohamedou.

Watch the complete interview footage below. Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi also star. The Mauritanian is now available to own on digital, and will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on May 11.


 "Prisons and jails will separate millions of mothers from their children in 2021" | Main | New Urban Institute resources on FIRST STEP Act prison particulars 

The question in the title of this post is promoted by this notable new Hill article headlined "Biden set to flex clemency powers." The headline is a bit more encouraging than the full article for those eager to see some action on this front, and here are some of the details:

White House officials are signaling that President Biden is prepared to flex his clemency powers as officials wade through a large backlog of requests behind the scenes, according to advocates with whom the White House has consulted on criminal justice reform. The White House held a Zoom call last week to discuss criminal justice reform with advocates and formerly incarcerated people, some of whom are pressing Biden to use his powers to free people jailed on drug offenses and sick and elderly people who pose no threat to society.

While the White House did not signal any imminent moves, officials indicated that Biden will not hold off until later in his term to issue pardons or commutations. It was clear that they are working on something, said Norris Henderson, founder and executive director of New Orleans-based Voice of the Experienced, who participated in the call. They are looking at that right now as an avenue to start doing things.

The White House declined to comment for this report when asked about Bidens plans for clemency grants or his timeline. Asked at a briefing Wednesday whether the Biden administration has a timeline for pardons or commutations, White House press secretary Jen Psaki answered: I dont have any previewing of that to provide and probably wont from here.

Biden disappointed some advocates by not granting clemency to anyone in his first 100 days in office and has faced pressure to take action to reform the criminal justice system and address racial injustices. Given Democrats slim majorities in Congress, the broad clemency powers afforded to the president could be an attractive way for Biden to show he is taking action on reforming the justice system. The Justice Department faces a backlog of some 15,000 petitions for clemency.

DeAnna Hoskins, president and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA, said officials communicated on the call last week that Biden is not waiting until the end of his presidency to issue pardons or commutations. It was very promising because he already, from the White House perspective, has staff working on this, Hoskins said.... Vivian Nixon, executive director of the College & Community Fellowship, described the White House as more noncommittal, saying there was not a promise to do anything but that officials acknowledged that they are looking at this issue very closely.

Bidens record on criminal justice is mixed. He has faced backlash for his role in passing the 1994 crime bill that critics say contributed to mass incarceration and had a disproportionate impact on communities of color. As part of the criminal justice platform he unveiled on the campaign trail, Biden promised to use his clemency power to secure the release of individuals facing unduly long sentences for certain non-violent and drug crimes if elected....

The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls spearheaded a campaign to pressure Biden to grant clemency to 100 women in his first 100 days in office, but that milestone came and went last week without action from the White House. The American Civil Liberties Union has petitioned Biden to grant clemency to 25,000 people as soon as possible, calling mass incarceration a moral failure and racial justice crisis.

White House officials including domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, senior adviser Cedric Richmond and counsel Dana Remus convened the call last Friday to hear criminal justice reform recommendations from advocates, and clemency was among the topics discussed....

One thing that was very clear from the conversation was there will be a process, Desmond Meade, president and executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, said of Fridays White House call. At the end of the day, they know that there are changes that should be made, but there should be a process there that makes it fair for everyone....

Fridays call was the first in what is expected to be a series of White House engagements with criminal justice reform advocates and individuals who have been directly impacted by the prison system.... Participants expressed optimism that the White House is serious about addressing criminal justice reform and giving those who have been impacted by the justice system a seat at the table.
 Might Prez Biden use his clemency power relatively soon? | Main | Federal prison population holding steady at just over 152,000 through first 100 days of the Biden Administration 

May 5, 2021

New Urban Institute resources on FIRST STEP Act prison particulars

I learned today via email about two notable new resources from the folks at the Urban Institute engaging with some of the intricacies of the prison reform elements of the FIRST STEP Act.

First, this posting by Emily Tiry and Julie Samuels, titled "Three Ways to Increase the Impact of the First Step Acts Earned Time Credits," suggests how this piece of the Act could be improved. Here is a snippet:

The 2018 First Step Actthe first major federal criminal justice reform legislation in nearly a decadeestablished earned time credits (ETCs) to provide early release opportunities for people incarcerated in the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). But to date, implementation of the ETC program has fallen short of expectations. No one has been released early via ETCs, it remains unclear how many  or if any  have actually received any ETCs, and BOPs proposed rules for accruing and applying credits are restrictive and incomplete. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has interfered with ETC implementation plans by severely disrupting available programming, without changes now, the outlook for ETCs having a meaningful impact on opportunities for early release is bleak.... Although the progress so far has been disappointing, we suggest three ways to maximize the ETC systems impact. The first would require congressional action; BOP could make the other two changes on its own.

Second, this new resource, titled "The First Step Acts Risk Assessment Tool: Who is eligible for early release from federal prison?," walks through the risk assessment instrument now applied to all federal prisoners. Here is how the resource is set up (links from original):

The First Step Act offers people incarcerated in federal prison the opportunity to earn credits toward early release. To help determine who is eligible (after excluding people with certain prior offenses), the US Department of Justice created the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs (PATTERN), a risk assessment tool that predicts the likelihood that a person who is incarcerated will reoffend. This interactive version of PATTERN shows how each risk factor raises or lowers a persons risk score and can estimate whether they qualify for early release.

May 5, 2021 at 09:55 PM | Permalink

Comments

Given the significant weight criminal history category plays in the guidelines, the heavy weight it has here feels like double counting.

Posted by: Jason | May 5, 2021 11:30:09 PM

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Shane Pow finally addressed the drink driving charges that cost him his job with the nations largest broadcaster, apologizing to his fans today via social media.

The 30-year-old actor, who was fired by Mediacorp last week after being charged last month for his second such offense, chalked it up to a regretful mistake and vowed to not get into any more criminal trouble.

Many things have happened in the past few weeks and it has been really rough for me [] I made a mistake and I regret it deeply with all my heart. I am sorry that I let you down, he wrote today. But [I] will make certain that this is the last of it. It is [a] hard lesson, but I will better myself and come out stronger than before.

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He added that he deserves and accepts whatever punishment comes his way. Pow was charged after police found he had a .094% blood alcohol level, over the legal limit of .08% when he was driving along Java Road in September. Mediacorp said in its announcement last week that Pow failing to inform them of his offense was one of the reasons why they fired him.

He was previously busted for drink-driving in 2014 and late last year was involved in an illegal birthday party that drew a public backlash.

Seems like there was no bad blood as Pow also gave a shout out to his former colleagues from the broadcasting company where hed worked for close to a decade and swore to become a better role model.

I also would like to thank Mediacorp and my managers for all the opportunities that you have given me all these years. Im truly grateful. I sincerely apologise for the trouble Ive caused, and I should have known better, he wrote.

Other stories you should check out:

Mediacorp sacks actor Shane Pow after second drink-driving incident

Mediacorp drops DJ Sonia Chew from NYE show for attending birthday party

This article, Former Mediacorp actor Shane Pow apologizes for drink-driving trouble, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company.
In 1965, astronaut Edward H. White became the first American to walk in space during the flight of Gemini 4, and more events that happened o
SIOUX CITY -- Already sentenced to 60 years in prison for breaking into a home and killing the owner, Gary Dains Jr. received another 10 years Thursday for biting a fellow jail inmate while awaiting trial.

District Judge Duane Hoffmeyer tacked on the extra prison time for Dains, who pleaded guilty last month to willful injury causing serious injury, increasing his total prison sentence to 70 years.

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Dains was sentenced April 26 in Woodbury County District Court to 60 years in prison after a jury in March found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter, commission of a specified unlawful activity, second-degree theft and first-degree burglary for the July 16, 2019, beating death of Paul Smith, who had caught Dains breaking into his Sioux City home for a second time. Dains, 46, of Carroll, Iowa, had been charged with first-degree murder, but jurors found him guilty of the lesser charge, sparing him from a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
SIOUX CITY -- The former Holiday Inn in downtown Sioux City, now an independent hotel called the Riverside Plaza Hotel, is trying to land a new national brand and is planning renovations.

Heather Fields, vice president of sales, marketing and revenue management with Phoenix, Arizona-based Reliance Hotel Group, said the hotel ceased to be a Holiday Inn as of April 1. Reliance Hotel Group has been managing the property for a little more than a year.

Holiday Inn branding has been stripped from both the interior and exterior of the hotel. New signage has gone up.

Dates have not been set for the renovations at the hotel. Fields said there should be more clarity on the renovation timeline once a new brand has been found.

Fields said the hotel's owner is looking at Hilton, Best Western and Wyndham as possible new flags for the property. She didn't specify what exactly prompted the switch from the Holiday Inn affiliation, which the hotel had carried for 20 years, other than to say the hotel's ownership "was just looking to make a change and look for different opportunities."
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- After a year when healthcare (and its heroes) were vaulted to an unprecedented degree of prominence globally, a group of Sioux City nurses were honored Wednesday evening at a ceremony at the Marriott Riverfront in South Sioux City.

It was the third "Nurses, the Heart of Health Care" event. Last year's event went virtual because of the pandemic.

Five nurses were honored: Jackie Barber, the dean of nursing at Morningside College; Joni Greder, a nurse at June E. Nylen Cancer Center; Jennifer Kuiken, the director of nursing with the Happy Siesta Health Care Center; Shelby Petersen, director of operations with Siouxland Community Health Center; and Chantelle Prins, a nurse at Family Health Care of Siouxland - Northside clinic.

Wendy Lindley, chief nurse executive with UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's, was a guest speaker. Journal editor Bruce Miller was the emcee.

A panel of judges selected the winners, except the readers' choice, who was selected by the public.

Petersen was instrumental in setting up COVID-19 testing early in the pandemic. Their very first day, they tested 30 patients. Soon they were testing 450 in a day. Nurses with Siouxland Community Health Care were soon testing patients whose spouses had recently died of the virus.

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"It's absolutely contributing to a shortage of housing," he said.

'This can only last for so long'

And because the housing market is on fire, the lumber shortage is costing many prospective home buyers even more money.

Surging lumber prices alone have pushed the price of an average new single-family home $35,872 higher, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders.

"While lumber prices have gone up, we have been able to pass it on to the consumer with higher prices for homes," Jeffrey Mezger, the CEO of KB Home, told CNN Business. "And there is still far more demand than there is supply."

But builders can't jack up prices forever.

"This can only last for so long before affordability becomes pinched and demand pauses," John Lovallo, lead home builders analyst at Bank of America, said in an email.

The median sale price of existing homes surged by a record 17.2% in March to $329,100  the highest since the National Association of Realtors began tracking prices in 1999.
He also told the board about their vision for virtual learning in the future  a vision that predates COVID, he said. The option would be available for a limited number of students who need to learn remotely for a medical or personal reason, he said. Securing funding has been the issue, and the system recently was rejected for a $1 million grant from the state for the program.
This newspaper has been consistent in its condemnation of looting or other violence during protests, as have mainstream protesters themselves  here in St. Louis and around the country. Those who are serious about seeking societal change understand that peaceful protest is the only legitimate path. And indeed, the vast majority of last summers protests in the wake of Floyds death were peaceful, according to a Washington Post analysis of police reports and other data. It found that police made arrests in just 5% of the thousands of public protests examined, with property damage in less than 4% (generally not by protesters themselves but by looters who use protests as cover) and injuries in less than 2%.
All five members of Nebraska's Republican congressional delegation teamed up with the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Thursday to voice their opposition to federal tax hikes proposed by the Biden administration and some members of Congress.

Discussions in Washington have "centered around ramping up capital gains, estate (death) taxes and corporate taxes," the newly formed coalition called Nebraskans for Tax Truth said.

Raising taxes in those areas "would have far-reaching impacts that not only threaten Nebraska's family businesses and primary economic sectors," the coalition said, but also "Nebraskans who rely on those businesses for employment."

Sen. Deb Fischer said "those extreme tax increases would be devastating for Nebraska's families, ag producers and the economy as a whole."

Rather than focusing on "efforts to tax and spend, and then tax and spend more," Sen. Ben Sasse said, the Biden administration "should be finding more trade markets and cutting red tape so we can keep feeding the world."

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said the decision is "whether we stand with the American farm family ... or watch as large corporations and trust funds gobble up more land, all because of tax considerations."
Musicians Jordan Sokel, Kristi Allen, Jonathon Stone are among those taking part through the evening. An auction of donated works and items from artists and arts organizations, as well as special experiences such as fitness equipment and personal services, trips and other items, will raise funds for the organization.
When it comes to indiscriminate junk food munching, we are ready to replace Chester Cheetah with a red, sweatband-wearing octopus.

That's right, we're saying ta-ta for Frito-Lay's Cheetos' longtime mascot, subbing him out for snackage, which is even more addictive.

We currently can't get enough of Calbee's Takoyaki Balls, a crispy and airy corn-based snack which mimics the sweet and savory taste of Takoyaki, a street food sold in Japan.

Think of Takoyaki as a deep-fried corn dog. Only, instead of using a battered sausage, switch it up with a ball-shaped portion of octopus.

Yeah, we know what you're thinking. Calbee's Takoyaki Balls do not contain even a sliver of octopus. However, they do have a Worcestershire-type of seasoning which makes these melt-in-your corn snacks a meaty taste.

This got us thinking Asian snacks, like the Japanese-produced Calbee's, are a heckuva lot more interesting than their American counterparts.

That's why Weekender taste testers ventured over to Hong Kong Food Market, 501 West Seventh St., not only to stock up on Takoyaki Balls, but to see what other weird chips we could find.

Suffice it to say, we were not disappointed.
I am a 31-year-old woman, and I can't figure out why I'm having such a hard time finding a man. I am attractive (in good shape and considered pretty); have a master's degree; am successful in a competitive business; and I love to read and talk about news, history, and ideas. I have wonderful friends; I've worked hard to resolve my issues; and I do my best to be a kind person. I just want my match: someone who's smart, highly educated, equally successful or more so, attractive (tall  at least 6-foot-1  and masculine), passionate, well-read, and a good person. What's wrong with me that, even with online dating, I rarely find men even in the ballpark of what I want?

Miserable

Grocery shopping's easy when your list has generic items  "beer," "chips," and "cheese"  and not "cheese from free-range Albanian yaks raised by monks, whispering positive affirmations to them as they graze": "You are loved, loving, and lovable, and you manifest perfect health by making smart choices."

You're looking for "that special someone," not "that random anydude." You've developed yourself (advanced degree, cool job, and smartgirl interests), which sharply narrows the pool of equally achieving men you have to choose from. Being a woman likely adds another layer of difficulty, through "hypergamy." This is the strong evolved female motivation to "marry up"  or at least date partners of a higher socioeconomic status (the guy in the corner office over the corner barber).

Women, in general, are the vastly choosier sex in the mating market  in online dating and beyond. This aligns with evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers' 1972 theory of "parental investment." Trivers predicted that the members of a species  typically the lady ones  who have the greatest possible costs from having sex (pregnancy and offspring to provide for) would be the most selective in choosing partners.

Countless scientific findings  across species  support Trivers' theory, including recent research delving into the ratio of heterosexual male versus female "super-likes" on Tinder. (A super-like  by swiping up on a profile  unlike a simple swipe-right "like," triggers an automatic notification to the up-swiped person.) Belgian economics doctoral candidate Brecht Neyt, with his adviser, Stijn Baert, found that women on Tinder super-liked only 4.5% of the men's profiles, while men super-liked 61.9% of the women's. This is effectively digital beer goggles  worn by a big chunk of the straight male population.

And recall hypergamy, women's preference for partners of higher status: a sign a man's likely to have continuing access to resources to provide for any children. Neyt found women liked profiles of men with a master's degree 91% more often (over those with a bachelor's), while men liked women with a master's only 8% more often.

Unfortunately, there's been a higher-ed "gender gap" for decades, with fewer men applying to and graduating from college. In 2003, for example, four-year colleges in the U.S. graduated 1.35 women for every dude who found his way out. As of 2013, women outpaced men in college enrollment 1.4 to 1, and the gap has continued to widen  translating to an increasingly shrinking supply of those highly desired men with master's degrees (or Ph.D.s).

This is a problem because evolved female emotions are your mate-choice watchdog, motivating you to go for high-status men and making you feel bad about dating a man who's a kind but ambitionless slacker, or even one who's just moderately achieving. (Male evolved psychology, on the other hand, works to ensure that men don't shove aside hot, fertile 20-year-olds to go hit on that very attractive grandma with a lovely personality.)

In other words, you can't just tell yourself you shouldn't care about the job or education level a man has: make yourself be as hot for a successful plumber as you are for a successful lawyer. However, you could give your "list" of man minimums a hard look: see whether there are any you could live with cutting, thus increasing your pool of possibilities. For example, because height  tallness  is one of the strongest female preferences for male appearance, there's probably an undertapped stock of sexy, successful, really good men who are on the shorter side: uh, "condensed, dark, and handsome."

If you can't scale back your standards, you should make peace with the likely outcome: You'll probably continue to have a tough time finding the sort of man you want. Like other women looking for love who are high climbers on the career ladder, you might eventually come to the conclusion that you have two choices: a nice, loving, hardworking guy a few rungs below you or one of those body pillows that you draw a face on and name Ted.
The American Jobs Plan, President Joe Bidens proposal to bolster U.S. infrastructure and modernize the economy, is also a plan to fulfil the administrations commitment to affordable, safe, and fair housing. In terms of housing, the centerpiece of the proposal is $213 billion to produce, preserve, and retrofit houses and apartment buildings. If well-managed and strategically invested, these funds could go a long way toward increasing the supply of affordable housing in this country, a desperately needed change. But improving housing stability and addressing the ongoing eviction crisisonly temporarily held in check by an unprecedented array of federal, state, and local protections for rentersrequires more: an investment in the data infrastructure necessary to root out discrimination, ensure tenants rights, and target hazardous housing conditions.

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In 2016, with the economy growing and the unemployment rate below five percent, 3.7 million eviction cases were filed across the U.S. To put that in perspective, there were 2.8 million mortgage foreclosure starts at the height of the Great Recession. If these millions of eviction filings were strictly an economic phenomenonthe inevitable result of rents that were too high and wages that were too lowthen increasingly the supply of affordable housing would play a key role in reducing eviction rates. That perspective, however, misses the other dynamics that drive the eviction crisis. A federal eviction database is critical in addressing those factors.

Social inequalities and racial and gender discrimination profoundly shape eviction patterns. For example, 70 percent of eviction filings in Boston originate from neighborhoods in which the majority of residents are people of color, yet only half of Bostons rental housing is in these neighborhoods. Nationwide, we have shown that Black rentersespecially Black womenare far more likely to be evicted than their white peers. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits racial discrimination in housing. Yet, to our knowledge there have been no attempts to hold landlords accountable for disproportionately targeting Black tenants with eviction. Without data, lawyers struggle to make the case that this is a systematic problem and to prove discrimination in court.

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Landlords routinely turn to housing courts to outsource basic tenant management. They use eviction as a tool for rent collection, as well as a way to exert power over tenants and to escape their own obligations. As Phil Garboden and Eva Rosen argue, the daily threat of eviction subjugates poor tenants, stripping them of their consumer rights. Constantly at risk of being kicked out of their homes, tenants are less likely to report landlord abuse or substandard housing conditionsthereby making property management that much easier. Renters who speak up or exert their rights to withhold rent until repairs are made often face eviction, at which point the landlord slaps on a fresh coat of paint and finds a new tenant. Building code enforcement agencies that would be able to address unsafe or substandard housing conditions are blind to the problem because they lack the data necessary to identify a pattern of abuse.

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Many of the renters who become homeless because of eviction pass through a very small set of neighborhoods, blocks, and even buildings. In recently published research, we demonstrate that a small percentage of buildings account for a wildly disproportionate share of evictions, and that these buildings evict large numbers of tenants year in and year out. To take one example, 295 buildings in Tucson, Arizona, routinely account for two thirds of all evictions in the city. The other third come from 8,752 buildings that evict much less frequently. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, just 69 buildings in Columbus, Ohio, have accounted for fully a quarter of all eviction filings in the city. Organizations that provide rental assistance or re-housing services can stem the tide of eviction and homelessness if they target resources to these concentrated hotspots. But again, they lack the data needed to create that type of efficient and precise intervention.

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All of this suggests that a small number of landlords routinely abuse the legal system to intimidate and displace a large number of tenants, especially Black and brown tenants. If so, part of the solution has to be more robust enforcement of fair housing law and targeted interventions against large-scale evictors. Its encouraging that the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau has signaled their intention to enforce the current CDC eviction moratorium. The Biden administration needs to extend this effort beyond the current crisis if they are serious about furthering fair housing and ensuring stable, safe homes for more Americans.

Problems that cant be measured dont get solved.

What would that require? To start, the federal government needs to begin collecting eviction data. At this point, an almost-total lack of data collection at the federal level stymies any attempt to address the eviction crisis. Problems that cant be measured dont get solved. The CFPB may want to aggressively enforce the CDC moratorium, but they dont currently have any way of assessing who may be violating it.

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What we do know about eviction in America is largely thanks to organizations such as the Eviction Lab, a research group led by Princeton University sociologist Matthew Desmond (we are both affiliates). The Eviction Lab has assembled a national database of eviction records between 2000 and 2016 and also tracks eviction filings in real time. Other organizations collect eviction data around the country, including but not limited to the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project, the Urban Displacement Project, the Richmond Eviction Lab, the Atlanta Region Eviction Tracker, and the Housing Data Coalition in New York City.

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What all of these groups have in common is that their data collection is incomplete. County courts typically handle evictions, but these courts vary in terms of what data they systematically record, whether they digitize data, and how they archive or make the data publicly available. Research by New America found that one in three counties have no publicly available eviction data.

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The process of developing a federal eviction database wont be easy, but we know how to do it. It requires sustained and robust federal funding and technical assistance aimed at improving state and local capacity to systematically collect and assemble eviction data. That involves the creation of eviction data standards, assistance to jurisdictions with limited technical capacity, and clear incentives for the collection, standardization, and distribution of data. These data also need to be properly safeguarded so that the records of previous eviction cases do not continue to be used to deny renters future housing.

Building a federal eviction database entails the creation of state and local eviction databases, which potentially provides even the smallest city governments and local organizations the tools to promote stability in their communities. A clearer picture of eviction patterns would allow aid organizations to better tailor outreach efforts, and state attorneys general and local housing departments to target enforcement actions.

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Strong bipartisan support for a federal eviction database already exists. Sens. Michael Bennett, Rob Portman, Sherrod Brown, and Todd Young introduced the Eviction Crisis Actwhich would produce such a databasein December 2019, and the idea has support in the House of Representatives as well. Congress could take up legislation independent of the infrastructure debate, but the space for bipartisan policymaking is limited, and most meaningful federal legislation this year appears likely to be streamlined into a small number of large spending bills. It would be a mistake on the part of Congress and the Biden administration to miss the opportunity that the American Jobs Plan represents to improve housing stability. Doing so requires an investment in housing data infrastructure.

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American renters need more affordable housing options. They also need enforcement of existing laws, an end to abusive landlord behavior, and empowerment of tenant support groups. The Biden administration can advance equity, safety, and affordability in rental housing if they work with the existing coalition of housing advocates, legal aid attorneys, service providers, and tenants. All too often, these groups are playing catch-up as they attempt to make the most of limited resources. More data would go a long way toward allowing them to target communities in greatest need and ensure that people arent falling through the cracks.
After my mothers death, I found a folder among her files labeled Rejection Letters for Novel. Preserving the end of her creative hopes in a carefully labeled manila folder was peak Mom, and inside it, a small sheaf of typewritten responses from editors all said the same thingthat while my mother was a beautiful writer, her story did not feel compelling enough to publish.

The novel my mother had writtena thinly fictionalized, funny, often sad account of her childhood growing up in a super-WASP family in the Northeastwas the story I believe she had to tell first, the one that would have made way for others. But she didnt get the chance. After her manuscript failed to find a publisher, my mother picked up the pieces, donned her Manhattan career girl suits, and went back to a job editing academic journals. She died eight years later.

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Did she consider that year she spent writing a failure? I dont know. I still remember the night at dinner when she told me she wasnt going to pursue any more publishers for her book. The first three times I read it, I cried, she said. And then the fourth time, I thought it was sort of boring.

But it was not a failure to me. For a year, while she typed away on an old IBM in her tiny office off the kitchen, her story inching out from a printer my older brother was constantly being called upon to fix, I had a mother who was writing a book. In a moment of rare and glorious impulsiveness, shed quit her job after her first cancer surgery and decided, Screw it, Im going to follow my dream. And in doing so, she made her dream my dream as well. I was 8 years old, and someday, I told myself, I would write a book too.

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Perhaps I thought I was writing this book for everyone, when I was only writing it for her.

In the fictionalized version of this tale, what happens is that when I grow up, I take my mothers words, wrap them around my own, and write a book that means something to people. I bring back her voice with my own. But that is not what happened at all.

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When my son was borntiny, premature, needing oxygen to breatheI missed my mother with a sort of violence. The night my husband and I brought our baby home, too tired to operate a toaster but in charge of a small human being, I sat holding him for hours, imagining her words, who she would be as a grandmother. I needed her quiet, imaginary presence.

And so I started to go through my mothers papers, the journals and letters and articles and unpublished manuscripts, the unopened boxes I had lugged from New York to San Francisco after I got married. And when I did, a story started to take shape in my mindmy story of becoming a mother without my mom, of having pages and pages of words but not her. I began to write that story.

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What I didnt realize is that I was doing exactly what my mother didtelling a story that felt essential to me, but not to others. When my own rejection letters arrivedthoughtful, kind emails forwarded from my agent instead of creamy typewritten pagesthey read almost exactly as hers did. Beautiful writing. Moving. Too inward. Not urgent. A small book, not a big book.

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As a magazine editor, and then as a freelancer writer, I am used to rejection, both receiving it and giving it. But this kind of rejection is different. The mix of vulnerability and ambition that goes into writing a memoir, the agony of trying to believe that your story matters so you can write it, and then to failwell, it stings. But I did it because I thought I could pull it off, that I could bring this homage to my mother and her hopes and dreams across the finish line. I failed.

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I happen to live in a town that mythologizes failure, if not the kind I went through. In San Francisco, failures are embedded in the origin stories of startups and tech companies, emblematic of the bumpy journey that ends in the IPO promised land. But writing failure, creative failure, is a lonely thing here. Im not sure what meaning Im supposed to take from it, other than the knowledge that, like my mother, I told the story I needed to tell. And in doing so, the role my mothers absence has always played in my life became clearer.

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Halfway through my manuscript, I recount the night before my son was born. My liver enzymes are skyrocketing to some point of no return, and the doctors are trying to hold off delivery until the lung steroid for my baby can take effect. I am 33 weeks pregnant.

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By 3 in the morning, they have taken my blood so many times that the veins in my arm have bloomed into a delicate purple skein. We are out of time, the doctors say. They will perform a C-section as soon as it is safe to administer a spinal. If my blood stopped clotting, they would need to deliver immediately, under general anesthesia.

My husband and I are then left alone, lying together on the jackknifed hospital bed. Ive spoken to the doctors, he says. Youre so calm, theyre worried you dont understand whats happening. I laugh. I feel flushed, hyperalert, but unafraid. Im perfectly aware of how bad things are.

Im not sure how other teenage girls internalize watching their mothers die, but for me, it convinced me that at some point my body would enact its own furious, silent betrayal. That this is occurring on the cusp of my own motherhood feels almost fitting.

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No doctor would credit this medical theory of mine, but the reason I was able to hold on that night is because of my mother. I wasnt afraid because I was used to receiving bad medical news; my mother never sugarcoated things for us. I could dig for the kind of unflashy, everyday courage she had because she modeled it for us. And I wasnt panicked because I had been waiting for this moment, expecting it, my entire adult life. At last, we had found the slumbering, broken thing inside of me.

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This is what I wrote about in my book that many admired but no one wanted. I failed in that endeavor, and in my lowest moments, I feel that I failed my mom as well. She has been dead now for 25 years, and not a year goes by that I dont look at myself and wonder how much of the woman I have become is because she is gone. What stories would I want to tell if I wasnt drawn, always, back to her memory?

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As the Mothers Day marketing machine roars into place, awash in books about motherhood and profiles of successful moms allegedly doing it all, I feel an anguish so sharp it embarrasses me. Could I have told her story, my story, in a smarter, more marketable way? Maybe my mother was too generous to go at her writing with everything she had, and now I have held back too. Or perhaps I thought I was writing this book for everyone, when I was only writing it for her.

I set out to write about becoming a mother without my mom, and I did. But there is another story, the mirror of that one, that unfolded as well. It is, perhaps, the more important tale. My mother often wrote about her fear of dying on her kids, of leaving us half-orphans. As a child, I thought my parents could solve anything, protect us from anything, but after reading her journals, here is what I know. My mother was afraid. I know how afraid she was. You go on anyway.

I am only a few years younger now than she was when she was first diagnosed. As I approach that strange milestone, I know the fear that something will happen to me, that I will leave my own son and daughter motherless, will never go away. But writing this bookunpublished or nothas reduced its power.

It is enough.
As the coronavirus continues its creep into communities around the world, while raging through others in India and Brazil, the global push to head off the virus very clearly depends on our collective ability to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. In the U.S., the benefits of mass and rapid vaccination are plain to see, but much of the rest of the world is still mired in lockdowns and grappling with swamped emergency rooms. To boost the rate of global vaccination there is growing momentum behind the idea of temporarily waiving patent rights for the drugmakers that developed the vaccines, a call that the Biden administration came out in support of Wednesday. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the U.S. would move forward with international negotiations on how such a waiver might look and work.

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The White Houses support is a shocking development given the countrys history as grand protector of private enterprise at all costs and provides a huge boost to the campaign to waive patent rights as a means of supercharging global vaccination. The proposed World Trade Organization waiver of intellectual property protections for the vaccines was first proposed by India and South Africa last fall and summarily rejected by the U.S. and Europe, still grasping to come up with shots of their own. The waiver would, in effect, allow anyone around the world to start producing vaccines on their own rather than waiting and waiting for the supply chain of the global economy and geopolitics to link them in. For much of the developing world, that wait will surely take many months and even years.

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The U.S., as home to a wide array of companies, from tech to pharma and beyond, is obviously a strong supporter of intellectual property protections. When it comes to the coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccine makers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are all American companies. So its hard to overstate the significance of the American government getting behind the idea of temporarily waiving patents as a seismic first step in it actually happening. The World Health Organization has come out in support of the idea that has been signed onto by 60 other nations. Th E.U. and U.K. have not pledged similar support, though Europe has indicated a willingness to entertain the notion that will require significant negotiation to get the unanimous agreement required to alter the WTOs intellectual property rules.

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Opponents of the patent-waiving idea cite a number of reasons that its bad policy with myriad unintended consequences and, perhaps most importantly, that it wont actually get safe, effective vaccines into the arms of underserved people any faster. Some of the complaints, from the pharmaceutical industry and some Republicans (formerly the champions of free trade before Trump), are tried and true, straight out of the big pharma playbook: It will stifle innovation, disincentivize private companies from taking great risks and making big investments in life-saving drugs in the future. Others are more technical, notably, that it wont actually help to just hand over the recipe, because building production capacity is unbelievably complex and ramping it up could itself take years. Another complaint is that a surge in producers of variable quality worldwide will make it harder to get the components to make the drugs. Such a scenario, the thinking goes, could set off a global race that could make it more difficult for established producers to make drugs for a marketplace that will likely see an increase in substandard vaccines, even counterfeit ones.

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Who will make the vaccine next time? Brent Saunders, the former chief executive of the pharmaceutical company Allergan wondered aloud on Twitter in response to the news of U.S. support for the waiver. When it comes to the economics of vaccination, given that the leading COVID vaccine manufacturers are set to do tens of billions of dollars in sales this year alone, generating billions in revenue, its not like the economic incentive for making the vaccines wasnt realized. And the R&D risk taking, so often cited by drugmakers, doesnt exactly apply here, as the U.S. government pre-paid for many of the companies initial doses, giving them the opportunity to take a moonshot without the severe financial disincentive of failing to make a successful shot. Most American drugmakers rely heavily on publicly funded resources anyway, like labs at public universities, taking taxpayer-fueled innovations the final mile before selling them back to the public in pill form at a huge markup. The argument here is complicated by the fact that Pfizer and Modernas vaccines use novel technologies in the form of messenger RNA platforms, which they hope to use to create a wide range of vaccines and other drugs in the future.

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There is clearly a moral imperative to getting more people vaccinated as fast as humanly possible, because it will save countless livesand restore livelihoods. It is also in the U.S.s national interest to get the world vaccinated, as the longer the virus lingers in the human population, the more opportunity there is for variants to emerge, one of which might be worse than the first, sending the U.S. and the world back into isolationor worse. Viewed cynically, these variants, which will likely require booster shots, thus new tweaked vaccines, could provide a revenue stream for drug companies for years. So the free market incentive, if thats what pharmaceutical companies want to appeal to, perversely isnt actually to snuff out the virus.

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Will waiving patent rights actually help? Maybe, but its complicated, and all involved seem to agree its only a first step in a wider solution. [A]ctivists said a waiver alone would not increase the worlds vaccine supply, the New York Times reports. It must be accompanied by a process known as tech transfer, in which patent holders supply technical know-how and personnel. Activists are also demanding that Mr. Biden use his leverage to ensure that manufacturing is scaled up around the globe, and not just by the pharmaceutical companies that now hold the patents.

Vaccines often have far fewer patents than drugsbut they are trickier to manufacture, so it is the availability of expertise that is holding back production, Robin Jacob, chair of intellectual property law at University College London, told the Financial Times. Johnson & Johnson, for example, said it has had difficulty finding production partners, and after considering 100 potential partners, concluded only 10 had the capability to produce the its shot.

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Whether or not the waiver actually comes to fruition, in the near-term, the economic threat of releasing the formulas into the wild has generated new incentives for drug companies to find ways to get their vaccines to parts of the world that were not previously prioritized by the global economy. Now that the U.S. has all the vaccines it could ever need, theres no excuse not to do more to help people in need elsewhere. Finding the best way to do that will require collaboration and negotiation. But lets not get distracted by drug companies fretting about government ruining their incentive to save the day the next time a pandemic rolls around. The house is on fire now, use every ounce of water available to put it out.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of humanitys first exploration of space, when the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth for approximately 48 minutes aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. In the years since, going to space has become part of humanitys day to day reality. But that reality isnt the same for everyone; its dominated by the United States, Russia, China, and Japan. For decades now, Latin American countries have been battling for their own slice of the space cake. Their latest attempt is the creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency, or ALCE.

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In October 2020, Mexico and Argentina agreed to lead the creation of ALCE, a regional space agency that will seek to unite resourcesbudgetary, human, and technological. Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Paraguay will also be involved, and although Colombia and Peru wont be actively participating for the moment, they will be part of the group as observers. The initiative, born of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, was first proposed in 2006 at the Americas Space Summit, but now is finally underway, and it hopes to have its first satellite in orbit by the end of 2021, or 2022 at the latest.

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Getting satellites into space might seem like a small goal when compared with SpaceX ferrying astronauts, NASAs Perseverance missions to Mars, and Chinas Change-5 mission to the Moon. But satellites are central to many technological commodities in the 21st century, such as telecommunications, weather and environmental monitoring, and GPS navigation systems, not to mention all the scientific developments that come out of space research. In 2019, the satellite industrys worldwide revenue amounted to $271 billion, making up 74 percent of the space economy. That includes not only satellite services but also satellite manufacturing, the launch industry, and ground equipment manufacturing. Meanwhile, the Union of Concerned Scientists reported in January that of the 3,372 satellites orbiting Earth, only 51 were owned by a Latin American countryall Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, or Chileand most had a primary purpose of communications or Earth observation. Yet Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador are closer to the equatora geographically strategic point for satellite launching than the U.S. Space Coast from which some of the largest rocket companies launch their satellites and spaceships.

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Latin America is no stranger to space, as Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and Bolivia have national space agencies, and Argentina and Brazil have even built space launch sites. But until the end of the last century, Latin Americas only successful space projects were those conducted with the Soviet Union or the United States. Even now, other countries still depend on the technical expertise and equipment of the U.S., Russia, and Europe. For example, when Mexico needed to coordinate the response operations to the passage of Hurricane Eta through the south of the country in November 2020, it needed to buy images from the European Space Agency.

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Taking this into consideration, ALCEs creation means the opportunity for technological independence in the region, and the chance to develop technology-based industries that could transform national economies. Some of the agencys longer-term goals include launching satellites for satellite imagery, increasing investment in space research, and the creation of projects to boost satellite internet. However, they are also setting their eyes on a more ambitious endeavor: to participate in major space projects such as humanitys return to the Moon in 2024 and the human missions to Mars. However, although these ambitious goals are exciting, many things have to happen before the region can be a strong player in these projects.

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None of the participating countries could afford to compete individually in a global space race that has been getting more and more expensive, especially with the participation of private investors. And as the Mexican chancellor of foreign affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, has pointed out, most Latin American nations will need to invest significantly in scientific and technological advancement down on Earth to be competitive in space. And if these countries lag behind and dont get involved in the space race, they will have more and more disadvantages in scientific and technological matters that translates into weakness and translates into inability to solve the problems we have in terms of social welfare and other issues, Ebrard said. Still, there are many steps between this starting place and being able to compete and equitably collaborate with its biggest players.

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First off, theres money in itself. Even if the ALCE countries decided to combine all of their independent space research budgets toward one centralized agencytogether, the funds allocated to space research from Mexico, Argentina and Bolivia amount to approximately $95.5 million, of which $81.5 million belongs to Argentinahow much can be accomplished when they are competing with a space industry that received $20 billion of government investment worldwide in 2019?

Moreover, budgets in Latin America are on a downward trend. In 2018 the Ecuadorian Space Institute was shut down as part of the governments economic measures, and Mexico continues reducing its investments in science and space research. Still, this doesnt seem to be a primary concern for Efrain Guadarrama, director of the Regional Organizations and Mechanisms of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, who says that there is no need for big budgets, only political will.

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Yet will is another issue in itself. ALCE faces internal diplomatic challenges. The participating countries still need to define how they will collaborate, how much money and resources each will contribute, where the main headquarters will be, which exchange currency will be used, and many other details. Mario Arreola, director of dissemination of space science and technology at the Mexican Space Agency, said, I think it could take about three years, if not more until the agency is fully formed.

Furthermore, as Guillermo Rus, the former vice president of ARSAT, a telecommunications company owned by the Argentine government, pointed out in 2016, some countries are further along in technological advancement than others, and its difficult to work together when technical, political, and institutional capacities are lacking.*

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Finally, 21st century space exploration is distinguished by the involvement of private investors. If ALCE wants to be more than just the combination of government national budgets, itand the participating countries on an individual basisneeds to consider the role of the private sector. There are already some space technology companies in the region that show the benefits of this approach. The Argentinian company Skyloom seeks to deploy a network of satellites with laser links to Earth to transmit the data obtained by them in low orbit, and the Puerto Rican company Instarz designed a fully equipped, self-assembling, and self-sustaining lunar ecosystem called Remnant that could allow astronauts to live and work on the moon for at least a year.

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Humans are driven by our fascination with the universe but also our need to have a better life on Earth. As Arreola noted, countries that have space agencies and access to space are also countries that have technological development and innovation. Everything that is bought to send to space is bought on Earth, all the people who work in the field of space work on Earth.

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ALCEs take-off will mean more than participating in the exploration of Mars and the moon. It will be an assertion of the regions scientific and cultural identity. With that, it is poised to establish a sustainable space-research economy that could make Latin America a strong contender in the space race, bringing valuable contributions not only to the region but to the world.

*Correction, May 14, 2021: Due to an editing error, this article originally misstated where Guillermo Rus, the former vice president of ARSAT, made a point about the challenges of Latin American space cooperation. It did not happen at the International Astronautical Congress of 2016 in Mexico.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ARCHIVED - 11.4 per cent of residents in Spain are now fully vaccinated



Spanish residents aged between 50 and 59 could soon receive the Janssen vaccine as the country begins to inoculate its latest age group.

The latest Ministry of Health figures published on Wednesday, May 5 revealed that 11.4 per cent of Spains residents have now been fully inoculated, with 485,756 doses administered in the latest 24-hour period.

In Spain, 17,916,566 vaccines have now been administered, representing 84.9 per cent of the 21,092,475 doses that have been sent to the countrys regions. In total, 5,394,315 people in Spain are now fully vaccinated with either both doses or with the single-dose Janssen jab and 12,686,341 have been given at least one jab, representing 26.7 per cent of the population.

The Ministry of Health announced plans to next begin inoculating those aged between 50 and 59.

The age group will be given the Pfizer and Moderna jabs and may also soon be vaccinated using the one-shot Janssen vaccine after health officials said they planned to widen the number of people who receive the jab.

Currently, the Janssen vaccine is only being administered to those aged between 70 and 79 in Spain, but the government said it plans to offer the jab to those in their fifties before later rolling out the shot to those aged in their sixties.

Health Minister Carolina Darias reported during her presentation of the latest figures that 2.5 million vaccines have been administered in Spain during the last week and that 1.2 million have received their second vaccine in the last seven day period.
ARCHIVED - 6,317 new covid cases and 167 deaths across Spain in last 24 hours: May 5 Covid update



Spains pandemic continues its decline, according to the latest government figures published on May 5.

The latest figures published by the Spanish health ministry reveal that Spains accumulated incidence rate and hospital admissions have dropped once again as the number of new cases continue to decrease across most of the countrys regions and the vaccine rollout speeds up.

A further 6,317 new cases and 167 deaths were reported across Spain on May 5, an increase from the previous day (May 4), but representing a large drop in the countrys accumulated incidence rates.

Spains 14-day accumulated incidence rate now stands at 205.2 cases per 100,000 people, dropping from 235 cases per 100,000 10 days before, while the countrys seven-day incidence rate has also decreased by 6.3 per cent.

The latest figures bring the total number of cases reported to date in Spain to 3,551,262 and the number of deaths to date to 78,566.

The data showed that only two Spanish regions saw infections rise; La Rioja, which reported an increase of 4.8 per cent, and Aragon at 0.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the areas with the largest drop in cases included two areas with high levels of contagion at the moment; Catalonia, whose rates fell by 3.7 per cent, and Madrid at 4.1 per cent.

Andalusia also saw cases decrease by 4.2 per cent, while Asturiass fell by 6.8 per cent, and Navarras by 4.1 per cent. The region of Castilla y Leon reported a large decrease after officials removed 1,273 cases included in error on May 4.

The overall drop in Spains cases has also seen the number of people hospitalised with the virus fall. There are now 9,132 people admitted to hospital in Spain, 460 fewer than the day before, and 2,231 patients in intensive care units, 61 fewer than on Tuesday.

The fall is the largest daily decrease in both figures in almost two months, however the number of intensive care beds being used to treat the virus remains high across Spain at 22.3 per cent. Madrid remains the region with the highest intensive care unit occupancy rate at 41.9 per cent.

Spains Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, said the figures showed a, a gentle downward trend at the national level.
We see this as one more way to recognize the front-line workers, especially in the lower-paid categories, said Kevin Sowers, president of the Hopkins health system. This is a moment of investment in our people and also a step towards ... a healthier and more equitable community. We all know that paying higher wages to entry-level employees not only betters them financially, but it also makes our communities healthier.
Intelligence agency has a new director

President Zuzana Caputova appoints Michal Alac to lead the SIS.

President Zuzana Caputova appointed new SIS director Michal Alac on May 6. (Source: SITA)

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The Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency will be led by Michal Alac.

A nominee of the Sme Rodina party was appointed to the post by President Zuzana Caputova on May 6.

Its obvious what the most important task will be  to make the public believe that the agency acts as an intelligence service of the democratic state, observing rule of law principles, Caputova said, adding that SIS should inform the public about its findings, if possible.

Intelligence agency director taken into custody Read more

She also stressed the need to strengthen external control of the intelligence agency.

Alac is replacing Vladimir Pcolinsky, currently in detention for corruption-related charges. He was arrested on March 11 and soon after he resigned from the post.

Who is Alac?

Alac was born in 1985 in Detva. He studied at the law faculties in Trnava and Kosice.

He joined SIS in 2009, but left when it was led by Anton Safarik, a nominee of the Slovak National Party (SNS), from 2016-2020.

In December 2020, Alac became the deputy director of SIS.

6. May 2021 at 11:16 | Compiled by Spectator staff
This is the Thursday, May 6, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. Learn about politics, business, and other notable events of the day in Slovakia in less than five minutes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

Matovic announces tax reforms, but without many details

Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) summoned a press conference to introduce his tax and levy reform plans. He did not reveal many details, though.

It will be based on three pillars: fair taxes, a single tax and single levy and benefits of 200 per child. He denied some media reports which claim he plans to increase value-added tax (VAT) from the current 20 to 25 percent.

Slovakia inevitably needs a decent reform of taxes and levies that will be family-oriented, will simplify the tax system and will ensure that all entities paying taxes have the feeling that it is fair, said Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) on Wednesday, May 5, while promising to present the final draft of the tax and levy reforms soon, probably in a couple of weeks.

Matovic introduces tax reform Read more

SIS intelligence agency has new director

Milan Alac has become the new director of the Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency, after being appointed by President Zuzana Caputova on May 6. He was nominated by Sme Rodina.

He replaces Vladimir Pcolinsky, who was detained in mid-March on corruption-related suspicions.

Its obvious that the most important task will be to nurture public belief in an agency that acts as an intelligence service of a democratic state and that observes the principles of the rule of law, Caputova said, adding that the SIS should inform the public of its findings, whenever possible.

Intelligence agency has a new director Read more

Pfizer and Moderna for 50+

Given the higher supplies of the vaccines and the increase in vaccination capacity, the Health Ministry has allowed the administration of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to people aged 50 and over who register via its online form.

At the same time, it has changed the form to enable the registration of people who accompany applicants older than 70 years. When registering the older person, there is now the opportunity to fill in the birth number of the attendant who should then register within 24 hours. Those who are already registered will receive an appointment automatically. The date and the place will be assigned based on the application of the older person and so will be the type of vaccine.

Up until now, attendants could be vaccinated without registration, but this will no longer be possible.

Registration form for Covid vaccine has new features Read more

Other Covid and vaccination developments

343 PCR tests out of 6,268 carried out on May 5 came back positive (5.47 percent), while of the 73,202 antigen tests, 295 were positive (0.40 percent). 34 people died of Covid, increasing the total number to 11,920.

out of 6,268 carried out on May 5 came back positive (5.47 percent), while of the 73,202 were positive (0.40 percent). of Covid, increasing the total number to 11,920. The agreement on the Sputnik V vaccine is more advantageous than the contracts signed between the EU and pharmaceutical companies, commented former health minister Marek Krajci (OLaNO) who signed it in the name of Slovakia. He also claimed there is the possibility for Slovakia to terminate the contract if Russia fails to deliver at least 50 percent of the contracted vaccines in a given month.

is more advantageous than the contracts signed between the EU and pharmaceutical companies, commented former health minister Marek Krajci (OLaNO) who signed it in the name of Slovakia. He also claimed there is the possibility for Slovakia to terminate the contract if Russia fails to deliver at least 50 percent of the contracted vaccines in a given month. Pregnant women should be given preference for Covid-19 vaccination, according to the Slovak National Human Rights Centre, citing the potentially more serious course of the disease due to pregnancy as a reason. (TASR)

Picture of the day

Five 12-metre plane trees delivered from the Netherlands were planted on Trnavske Myto in Bratislava on May 6. They are part of the revitalisation plan for the space near the market hall.

Feature story for today

With billions of euros coming its way from the special fund the European Union set up for post-pandemic recovery, Slovakia could become a more resilient and innovative country with a greener economy and better education and health care systems. Just how much of this appealing vision it can turn into reality will be down to the state's ability to draw money from the fund.

Our colleague Jana Liptakova looked at the final version of the plan and what observers think of it.

Slovakia sent its 600-page plan to Brussels on becoming a better country Read more

In other news

The number of deaths in March increased by 48 percent compared to the five-year average. Still, the excess mortality was lower than in the previous two months , the Statistics Office reported.

compared to the five-year average. Still, the excess mortality was , the Statistics Office reported. The state hospitals have generated debt of nearly 700 million . The Health Ministry plans another phase of debt elimination in 2021-2022, while the state should tell the health insurers how much they should pay for hospital or outpatient care.

. The Health Ministry plans another phase of debt elimination in 2021-2022, while the state should tell the health insurers how much they should pay for hospital or outpatient care. Opposition MPs have initiated a special session for Monday, May 10 to remove Maria Kolikova (Za Ludi) from the post of justice minister , giving the suspicions concerning the business of her family company as reason. The representatives of the coalition party Sme Rodina have admitted supporting the removal if Kolikova fails to explain the claims.

to remove (Za Ludi) from the post of , giving the suspicions concerning the business of her family company as reason. The representatives of the coalition party Sme Rodina have admitted supporting the removal if Kolikova fails to explain the claims. Trnava-based carmaker Stellantis Slovakia has restored production after it had to halt it on May 6 morning due to a lack of components. Bratislava-based Volkswagen meanwhile decided to prolong the suspension of its production of SUV models for another week . The remaining two carmakers are not reporting any problems for now.

has restored production after it had to halt it on May 6 morning due to a lack of components. meanwhile decided to prolong the suspension of its production of SUV models for . The remaining two carmakers are not reporting any problems for now. People handed in altogether 1,615 illegally possessed weapons and 53,025 pieces of ammunition to the police during the gun amnesty, lasting from November 2020 to late April 2021.

More on Spectator.sk today

Real estate prices continued to climb at the beginning of the year, especially in Bratislava Read more

Zoom University: The pandemic stripped studying abroad of much of its allure and benefits Read more

A pilgrimage destination for many Jews from around the world Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
My mother and father are getting up in age  this is the best use of the land right now, they can get some benefit out of it  this is the best project we have seen  we support it as landowners and taxpayers and ask you to approve the project, Willie Crenshaw said. It will be a benefit.

Melissa Crenshaw added it was very disturbing to hear people tell her parents what they can and cannot do with their land.

This is the landowners property and they want to put solar panels on it, she said. Its not going to harm anybody.

Alex Foshay said the solar plant would have a horrifically detrimental effect on the local environment, its history and neighbors. He, like others, pointed out that landowners are not free to do whatever they want, that there are rules and zoning classifications to follow.

I dont envy you the decision, Foshay said, addressing the board, adding it would likely set a precedent for more large scale solar projects looking to locate along the Dominion power line in Culpeper. Theyre all comingget through this one, move onto the next.

Neighbor Mike Baudhuin, owner of Sumerduck Farm, another 19th century estate in the area, added his voice to the opposition Tuesday.
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.
SCOTTBLUFF  The Nebraska State Patrol conducted tobacco compliance checks as part of the Panhandle Prevention Coalitions comprehensive plan to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco products. Officers with the assistance of youth under the age of 18, completed 24 checks including convenience stores, grocery stores and liquor stores throughout the counties of Box Butte, Morrill and Scotts Bluff.

During a compliance check in Scottsbluff, one establishment out of 18 sold tobacco to a minor: ZY Glam, 1127 East Overland Ave., Scottsbluff.

Seventeen out of 18 establishments passed the checks and did not sell tobacco to minors.

National research shows that when communities consistently conduct compliance checks and keep failure rates below 10%, children in those communities are less likely to use tobacco products, Jessica Davies, Tobacco Free in the Panhandle Coordinator with Panhandle Public Health, District, said.
It wasnt until her early 20s that Verch would begin singing as part of her performance.

Her shows include performances of music from her childhood, traditional music from Scandinavia or old time American and classic country from the 1950s and 1960s.

Through the past year, Verch and her husband Cody Walters have performed various live stream events, but their performance Friday will be their return to the stage.

Its going to feel so good to have people in the room that are responding because you can kind of read comments when youre streaming, but its just not the same, she said. Im not sure how its going to feel, but Im guessing it will be kind of emotional.

During their streamed performances, Verch performed her dance routines on a step board in her living room. She looks forward to getting back on a stage.

There are certain steps that you just cant do without moving more, she said. Then there are steps that you can do them, but you cant do them the way you want because of the space constraint. Im a lot more free to do whatever comes to mind on a stage.
One of the cheapest sources of energy is now solar. Here are the reasons why solar energy is better than coal or natural gas. Source by: Stringr

WAHOO, Neb.  OPPDs hoped-for solar farm near Yutan is headed to the Saunders County Board with a strike against it.

On Monday evening, after two hours of public testimony, the Saunders County Planning Commission voted 5-1 against a conditional-use permit for the project. Commissioner Jake Mayer was the sole supportive vote. The County Board, which isnt bound by the Planning Commissions vote, is scheduled to take up the issue May 11.

The solar farm would be on 500 acres of farmland in a rural area south of Yutan. Some residents have objected because the site is adjacent to a cemetery. A Pennsylvania company, Community Energy Inc., would develop the project and sell the electricity to the Omaha Public Power District.

The 81-megawatt solar farm would be the largest solar project in Nebraska and is the first step toward OPPDs hoped-for 600 megawatts of solar power.

Several planning commissioners said they felt the process was being rushed.
Nebraska is the least indebted State in the country because our state government, like our people, lives within its means. We take a common sense approach to finances. We pay as we go for new projects instead of taking on debt. This approach has helped us to build high-quality infrastructure and to grow Nebraska without mortgaging our future.

Last week, President Biden unveiled his administrations new $2.3 trillion spending plan. Its clear the President doesnt share Nebraskans approach to managing finances. In 2020, the federal government had its largest budget deficit since World War II. In the midst of a historic pandemic, emergency spending made sense, but as we emerge from the pandemic a return to normalcy must include a return to fiscal discipline.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) monitors the condition of our nations finances. In December, the CBO reported that publicly held federal debt is on pace to reach the highest level in U.S. history by 2023. The growing debt burden...raises borrowing costs, slowing the growth of the economy and national income, and it increases the risk of a fiscal crisis, the CBO warned.
The rights guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution and the Nebraska State Constitution are currently under assault. A very factious and contentious spirit has arisen in our country and in our culture today which seeks to undermine our most basic rights as children of God and as American citizens. This attempt to undermine our constitutional rights emanates from both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government in Washington, D.C., and so it demands a response from our state.

Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte has decided to rise up to this challenge by crafting and introducing a response in the form of a legislative resolution. LR 107 was written to protect Nebraskans against government overreach at the federal level. Sen. Groenes resolution has already been co-signed by at least 31 Senators in the Nebraska State Legislature, so today I would like to tell you about what that resolution says.
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.
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.

Cal Thomas Cal Thomas, a columnist with Tribune Content Agency. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.

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.
Growing populations are giving two additional seats in Congress to Texas and one to Florida. New York and California are each losing a seat, not because their head counts are falling but because theyre not rising as fast.

Do these population changes also alter the states politics? In many cases, yes, and that generally does not bode well for Republicans. Texas, for example, voted for Donald Trump in 2020, but many of its urban areas did not -- and those are the parts of Texas booming with transplants from outside the state.

FROMA HARROP Froma Harrop is a syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate and contributor to CNN Opinion. Follow her on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be 

The capital, Austin, one of Americas hottest cities attracting newcomers, is a liberal supernova in what was a securely red Texas. Austin is the No. 1 destination for tech workers leaving San Francisco. Another is Georgia, a former Republican stronghold that just shocked the world by favoring Joe Biden for president and sending two Democrats to the U.S. Senate.

Austin and the surrounding Travis County gave President Joe Biden 72% of its votes. Nearly every officeholder in Travis County is now a Democrat.

Apple will soon open a $1 billion Austin campus with 5,000 workers. Alphabet (Googles parent), Amazon and Facebook, meanwhile, are expanding their footprints in the city. Suffice it to say, Austin is unlikely to become less liberal -- or less important in Texas politics.
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There didnt appear to be any loafing on the job at a new Panera Bread location on Glenway Drive in Statesville on Wednesday.

Were very happy with the business were seeing. Weve had a steady stream of business, Amy Ducat, regional director of operations at Covelli Enterprises, which operates several dozen restaurants along the east coast, said.

Where once a Wells Fargo Bank stood now holds Panera and Aspen Dental, which make for an interesting combination considering how the restaurants bakery could indulge someones sweet tooth.

While several owners of local restaurants have said theyve struggled to hire new employees, Ducat said she was pleased with their hires so far.

The market is tight. Were very pleased with the associates we were able to hire and the quality of the associates, Ducat said.

The Statesville location will feature:

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A variety of coffee offerings, pastries, bagels, and breakfast wraps and sandwiches available in the morning, as well as soups, salads and sandwiches in the afternoon and evening.

For eat-in guests, the bakery-cafe offers various seating areas, comfortable chairs, free WiFi internet access and an outdoor patio.
On Nov. 23, 2020, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper signed N.C. Executive Order 180, mandating masks for North Carolinians. He was able to mandate masks by using the Emergency Powers Act granted to him under the N.C. State Constitution. Months later on April 28, 2021, Cooper signed an Executive Order outlining safety measures for the month of May. Executive Order No. 209 took effect April 30 and is set to expire June 1. Under the new Executive Order, masks are still required indoors but are no longer mandated outdoors. Masks are still strongly recommended outdoors by N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) in crowded areas and higher risk settings where social distancing is difficult.

According to the NCDHHS, masks are still required indoors in all public and non-public schools. Adults (workers, teachers, guests, other adults) and children five (5) years and older at public and non-public schools in North Carolina are required to wear a face covering when indoors, at all times unless an individual has a mask waiver. For more information on school guidance please refer to StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.

Through our work with the Iredell County Health Department and the ABC Science Collaborative, we were able to be among the first public schools in N.C. to return to school for face-to-face learning. We have been aggressive in exploring safety protocols that would allow us to get students back into our school buildings. Believe me, when we know it is safe to unmask students, well be the first to let you know. However, we rely on our relationships with the Health Department and others in the healthcare profession to guide us as to what is safe for our school buildings. We very much appreciate the collaboration of the Iredell County Health Department, our local hospitals, NCHHS and the ABC Science Collaborative. Weve learned so much over the last 14 months, and we are committed to keeping our kids safe, educating them, focusing on their mental health, and getting students back into a routine.
They were very nice, at least no one was ugly. No one was overt. It was covert racism. No one spoke to us, she recalled. We were all in different classes, so we werent together. I was alone for eight months. Nobody shared their notes, there were no social activities, none of the things that go along with high school. None of the things that you know, no sports, no friends that you go shopping with or anything like that. Nothing.
Caribbean

More than two dozen citizens gathered in West Tampa on Sunday to call for an end to the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba.



After gathering in MacFarlane Park in West Tampa, the group then drove in a caravan to Ybor City before departing for DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, all part of what was billed as the Bridges of Love Caravan.



The blockade against Cuba that is done by the United States, in the names of the citizens, is illegal and immoral, declared Graham Sowa, a Brandon-based physician who attended the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana. Were not here to take a political position of whether whats happening in Cuba is right or wrong. Were here as Americans, saying that we will not starve people into submission in our name.



The U.S. first imposed economic sanctions against the then Fidel Castro-led government nearly 60 years ago. President Barack Obama took steps to normalize the relationship between the two neighboring nations and restore full diplomatic ties with Cuba in late 2014, but most of those moves were subsequently reversed by President Donald Trump.



Were hoping with this new administration that well have a voice and that they will hear us, says West Tampa community historian Maura Barrios, who has fought to reverse the sanctions for decades.



Tampa resident Jack Lubka says that the blockade has not promoted democracy in Cuba.



It promoted the exact opposite, he said. If youre going to be for something, itd be wise to be for something that provided a solution and didnt create problems.



Sundays caravan was part of the nationwide Puentes de Amor  Bridges of Love  movement calling for normalizing relations with Cuba. Its led by Carlos Lazos, a Seattle-based Cuban-American activist who attended the first Tampa-based caravan last month in person.



This movement has spread to more cities around the U.S. in recent months, but not surprisingly, not all Cuban-Americans in Tampa are on the same page when it comes to liberalizing relations.



We dont want that embargo to get lifted, because in that case theres going to be oxygen for the dictatorship, said Tampa resident Eduardo Darna, who said that he was initially optimistic when Obama announced the diplomatic breakthrough with then Cuban President Raul Castro in Dec. of 2014, but believes that the Cuban regime did virtually nothing in offering more freedom for Cuban citizens in return.



The Cuban people are suffering, said Michael Marquez, another Tampa resident calling for maintaining the sanctions. And the reason that theyre suffering because Cuba is under a dictatorship. It cannot manage any economy.



Raul Castro stepped down from serving as Cubas leader this month, and has been succeeded by Miguel Diaz-Canel, who has been president since 2018. Diaz-Canel is not expected to change course from the policies led by the Castro brothers. Raul Castro had led the Cuban government since 2008. Thats when he replaced Fidel Castro, who took power in 1959, and formally became head of the Communist Party in Cuba in 1965.



Organizers of Sundays caravan say that they intend on holding similar events on the last Sunday of the month for the foreseeable future.






DAMASCUS, Va.  A local couple has created an innovative tourism gift shop in Damascus as their way of giving back to the community.

John and Susan Coleman opened the doors to Discover Damascus on Main Street this past weekend. The business is catering to local crafters, providing an outlet for them to display their goods.

The couple had no idea theyd become business owners after moving here from Christiansburg, Virginia, two years ago.

It really was something that just fell into place, said John, who believes divine inspiration had a lot to do with it.

Susan and her husband John, who served as a pastor in the New River Valley area, have helped with many community service projects throughout the years, including turning a former Bible college into the CrossPointe Conference Center in Christiansburg.

We love to see things revived, said John.

We were looking for a new season, and Damascus was the place for us.
Bloomfield said the committee hopes to have the budget ready for a first reading on May 10.

According to town documents, the proposed revenues are projected to be $22,515,925 with $24,347,759 in appropriations, for a difference of $1,831,834. The difference includes the proposed tax hikes. Without the tax increases, the deficit would be about $2.6 million, Moore said.

The town manager said there are several reasons for the increases, including a decrease in meals and lodging taxes collected over the past year because of the pandemic. In past years, the meals and lodging tax revenues were enough to keep other taxes from being raised, Moore said, adding that real estate and personal property taxes have not been raised in years.

Included in the proposed budget is a 2 percent raise for employees, $35,000 in matching funds for a possible dog park, $140,000 for a 20 percent match for Heritage Walk Phase III, and $53,000 for health insurance premiums increase.
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At the Jan. 14 Longview City Council meeting, Sacha suggested reviewing the bathroom designs after speaking with state Sen. Jeff Wilson outside of a council meeting. Wilson helped secure funding for the improvements.

Sacha said the new buildings will include an open room with several stalls. He said the city spent time and money fixing the current bathrooms over the years, and the new restrooms would be industrial strength, with stainless steel toilets instead of porcelain.

The current park restrooms have a sink and toilet in each room.

People lock themselves in the individual rooms of the existing structure to shelter, use drugs or have sex, said Councilman Chet Makinster, who also said he has seen sinks and pipes ripped from the bathroom walls.

Its really a shame, Makinster said. We try to keep them clean, but they are a mess.

Sidewalk, dock

Sacha said the sidewalk at Hemlock Street has deteriorated because of high traffic of people and food carts during special events such as Fourth of July celebration and Movies in the Park.

Martin Dock has cracks and is sloping toward the water. The dock houses bands and movie screenings during special events.
KALAMA  The Port of Kalama set a new record for soybean exports, shipping out more than any other West Coast port in the country last year, according to a report from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

The ports two privately-owned grain elevators, TEMCO and Kalama Export, exported nearly 5 million metric tons of soybeans, according to the release. The shipments totaled 33% of all U.S. West Coast soybean exports, just above the Northwest Seaport Alliance Ports of Tacoma and Seattle at 32%, the release states.

Both TEMCO and Kalama Export are the absolute workhorses of the port, Commission President Randy Sweet said in a statement. Every year we continue to be amazed at how well they perform, and it speaks volumes about their operations and hardworking employees.

The Port of Longview exported about 10% of West Coast soybean exports. The Ports of Kalama, Longview and Vancouver collectively handled 51% of the West Coast soybean export trade in 2020, according to the Shipping Association report.

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The soybeans come to Kalama from farms in the upper Midwest, including North and South Dakota and Minnesota. They are shipped to mostly Asian countries, particularly China, and are used for livestock feed and human consumption, according to the port.
Most Cowlitz County school districts moved forward with brining students back to in-person classes. The guidelines are not requirements and each district is making decisions that balance needs of students and faculty with protecting their overall health and safety, according to the countys data report.

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According to a state report released Friday, five COVID-19 outbreaks with 16 associated cases have been reported in Cowlitz County K-12 schools between Aug. 1 and March 31.

The state defines an outbreak as two or more laboratory-positive COVID-19 cases among students or staff that are epidemiologically linked, with symptoms that began within 14 days of each other, do not share a household and are not identified as close contacts in another setting.

Statewide, 18 counties reported more than 708 cases connected to 182 outbreaks in K-12 schools from Aug. 1 to March 31, according to the report. About 69% of all outbreaks involved two or three cases.

Spokane County reported the most outbreaks and associated cases, 38 and 185, with a median of four cases per outbreak, according to the report.

Lincoln County had the highest number of median cases per outbreak at 23 cases. The county reported two outbreaks, with 46 total cases.
David Schinagl in front of three shots from the perspective of shoes. The algorithm developed by TU Graz (excerpts of which are on the far right of the screen) recognizes and marks areas that can be walked on without danger. Credit: LunghammerTU Graz

A shoe that tells you where to go: The Lower Austrian company Tec-Innovation has developed an intelligent shoe for detecting obstacles. The shoe, known as InnoMake, has recently been put on the market as an approved medical device and is intended to make the personal mobility of blind and visually impaired people safer.

"Ultrasonic sensors on the toe of the shoe detect obstacles up to four meters away. The wearer is then warned by vibration and/or acoustic signals. This works very well and is already a great help to me personally," says Markus Raffer, one of the founders of Tec-Innovation and himself visually impaired.

The team led by Raffer and his founding partner Kevin Pajestka determined early in the development phase that two pieces of advanced information are extremely important to usability: the nature of an obstacle and its directional path, especially if it is downward facing, such as holes or stairs. "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," says Raffer.

The Innomake 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. Credit:  Lunghammer - TU Graz

AI recognizes walkable areas

After an active search, Tec-Innovation was able to win over Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) as a cooperation partner in 2016. Since then, the Institute of Computer Graphics and Vision has been working on a camera-based addition to the first version of the product, as computer scientist Friedrich Fraundorfer explains: "We have developed state-of-the-art deep-learning algorithms modeled on neural networks that can do two main things after detecting and interpreting the content of the image. 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 recognize and distinguish objects." The algorithms trained using machine learning can already be operated on a specially designed mobile system. Thanks to the latest powerful special processors, mobile use of the complex AI algorithms is now also possible. "This can be attributed to the enormous processor development of the past few years," adds Fraundorfer's colleague David Schinagl. The TU Graz algorithm is patented and has been transferred to Tec-Innovation.

A camera shot from the perspective of shoes: the area that can be walked on without danger is delimited by color, recognized and interpreted by the image recognition algorithm of TU Graz. Credit:  TU Graz

Merging data into a navigation map

Tec-Innovation is now working on integrating the system into a prototype; the camera plus processor must be robustly and comfortably integrated into the shoe. Friedrich Fraundorfer and his team at TU Graz, in turn, have already turned to the next stage as the logical continuation of the project. They want to combine the information collected while wearing the shoe in terms of swarm knowledge 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. It would be much more sustainable if this data could also be made available to other people as a navigation aid," says Fraundorfer.

For the conception and prototypical implementation of such a street view map for blind and visually impaired persons, a funding application is currently being submitted to the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG. Because of the enormous challenges it faces, this type of navigation support is still in the distant future. According to Fraundorfer, the biggest sticking points are the continuously needed updating and expansion of the map, linking it with previous data, and the IT connection of the shoe system. For the researcher at TU Graz, however, one thing is certain: "We will definitely continue to stay on the topic. After all, in our highly innovative world, an alternative to the 70-plus-year-old cane for the blind must also be possible."

Explore further Support system to help the visually impaired navigate tactile paving
Australia's competition regulator said it would block a pricing, code-sharing and scheduling deal between Qantas and Japan Airlines because it would likely mean higher fares for passengers

Australia's competition regulator on Thursday said it would block a pricing, code-sharing and scheduling deal between Qantas and Japan Airlines because it would likely mean higher fares for passengers.

Qantas had claimed the five-year agreementproposed in late 2020would speed the pandemic recovery and "better serve customers" by improving connections between 29 smaller cities in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in reality cooperation would cause "severe harm to competition" and "eliminate any prospect of Qantas and Japan Airlines competing for passengers".

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Qantas and Japan Airlines had dominated the market for flights between Tokyo and Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.

The world's major airlines have seen profits plunge since the pandemic began, with many receiving taxpayer bailouts to survive.

As international travel slowly returns and airlines have tried to claw back profits, at times bumping up against rules designed to protect passengers.

Australia's regulator said it was open to granting exceptions to aid airlines' recovery, but not at the expense of reducing competition in the long term.

"The ACCC can only authorise these agreements if the public benefits from the coordination outweigh the harm to competition," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

"At this stage, we do not consider that Qantas and Japan Airlines' proposal passes that test."

The airlines have until 27 May to make their case before the ACCC makes its final determination.

Explore further Qantas probed over allegedly using crisis to try to sink rival

 2021 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Face recognition has come on apace from a cliched trope of science fiction to a reality of the modern world with widespread use in photography databases, social media, and the security world. However, as with any tool, there are those who would abuse it for nefarious ends. New research published in the International Journal of Biometrics investigates one such aspect of face recognition where a third party might "spoof" the face of a legitimate user to gain access to systems and services to which they are not entitled and offers a suggestion as to how such spoofing might be detected.

Sandeep Kumar, Sukhwinder Singh, and Jagdish Kumar of the Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, India, explain how biometrics, including face recognition, has come to the forefront of security in all sorts of realms from the simple accessing of a person's smartphone to securing sensitive premises. The key to precluding face recognition spoofing lies in the determination of whether the face being presented to the security camera or device is "live" or a static photograph or video rather than the actual person.

The team has turned to an improved SegNet-based architecture that can measure "blur" on the basis of local minimum and maximum left and right edges and calculate blur of horizontal and vertical edges. A flat image such as a photograph or video display presented to a security camera or device would be wholly in focus whereas "depth-of-field" comes into play. With a three-dimensional object, such as a real face, presented to the camera, the eyes would be sharply in focus assuming the camera focused on that part of the face, but the curved sides of the head would be slightly out of focus because they are not in the same plane relative to the camera lens as the eyes. Regardless, it is technically impossible for the whole of a three-dimensional object presented to a camera to be in focus, detecting the blur of parts of the object in front of or behind the focal plane is key to discerning whether a real face is in front of the camera or a flat image.

The team's proof of principle offers up to 97 percent accuracy, which is an improvement on earlier algorithms when tested against standard benchmarks. Moreover, it can determine the "liveness" of a presented face within about one second. The researchers are now working on improving their system's speculation abilities by looking at shading, another characteristic of a real face that is is obvious to a person looking at a face but difficult for a computer to detect via a camera.

Explore further Tightening up facial biometrics

More information: Sandeep Kumar et al. Face spoofing detection using improved SegNet architecture with a blur estimation technique, International Journal of Biometrics (2021). Journal information: International Journal of Biometrics Sandeep Kumar et al. Face spoofing detection using improved SegNet architecture with a blur estimation technique,(2021). DOI: 10.1504/IJBM.2021.114639
The Judiciary must maintain itself as an unbiased and independent branch of Maryland state government, he wrote. Employees of the District Court wearing any clothing item or apparel which promotes or displays a logo, sticker, pin, patch, slogan, or sign which may be perceived as showing bias or favoritism to a particular group of people could undermine the District Courts mission of fair, efficient, and effective justice for all and call into question the Judiciarys obligation to remain impartial and unbiased.
Facebook said it is targeting deceptive online campaigns

Facebook said Thursday that it had taken down nine deceptive online campaigns as marketing firms make a business of using fake accounts to sway opinions.

The campaigns aimed posts or comments at people in Azerbaijan, Central African Republic, Mexico, Palestine, Peru, and Ukraine, according to the leading social network.

"All of the organizations targeted primarily or exclusively audiences in their own countries," Facebook head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher said during a briefing.

"Ukraine is an interesting example; it is a top source of coordinated inauthentic behavior activity removed from the platform in the past few years."

Facebook disrupted two separate campaigns in that country using fake accounts.

One of the campaigns was uncovered as a result of a tip from the FBI, and was linked to Ukrainians sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for a separate campaign to influence the presidential election here, according to Gleicher.

"While someone was targeting the US election, this separate campaign was running in the Ukraine promoting anti-Russian content," said Facebook global threat intelligence team leader Ben Nimmo.

The Ukraine operations promoted positions of various politicians and parties, indicating they were the work of hired ad or marketing firms, according to Nimmo.

"Think of these operations as would-be influence mercenaries, renting out support," Nimmo said.

Ukraine has become a "hot spot" for inauthentic online campaigns, according to Gleicher.

As Facebook cracks down on fake accounts, culprits have been trying their luck at direct messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram, executives said.

Over the past year there has been a steady trend of "threat actors" trying to get to people directly on messaging platforms at Facebook and beyond, according to Gleicher.

"Despite this shift, they are still getting caught," he said.

A total of 1,656 Facebook accounts and 141 Instagram accounts were removed in April for violating rules about coordinated inauthentic behavior, according to the California-based company.

Explore further Facebook halts small Iranian group targeting U.S. users on social network

 2021 AFP
Credit: Google

With many indigenous languages worldwide becoming endangered due to a dwindling number of native speakers, Google has introduced the app Woolaroo which focuses on learning these languages. The idea for the app stemmed from the situation of Yugambeh, an Indigenous Australian language of southeast Queensland.

As with many other ancient and indigenous languages whose vocabularies have traditionally emphasized the outdoors but might lack terms for certain modern items and concepts, many children struggle to learn Yugambeh in such a contemporary world. For example, Yugambeh has no natural word for "refrigerator" or "telephone," meaning speakers of the language must substitute terms that describe those items, such as "cold place" and "voice thrower," respectively.

Now, Yugambeh will be the first indigenous language featured on the Google Arts & Culture experimental Woolaroo app, a trial using Google Cloud Vision API. With its starting point at the Yugambeh Museum, the app utilizes three decades of cultural and local language research to help preserve Aboriginal languages, as they adapt to an evolving Australia, including updates in technology.

Having observed local frontline worker Allan Lena, a native speaker of Yugambeh, the CEO of Yugambeh Museum Rory O'Connor has high hopes for how an app like Woolaroo can both help safeguard a small language such as Yugambeh as well as introduce more young people of many backgrounds to the culture and language. He says that given how few people still speak this language fluently, Woolaroo can share this crucial knowledge with the newer generation.

In order to allow community members to make their own changes and add their own vocabulary to the app, Woolaroo is open source, emphasizing word lists as well as audio recordings to assist with accurate pronunciation. Currently, the app supports 10 global languages including Calabrian Greek, Louisiana Creole, Maori, Nawat, Tamazight, Rapa Nui, Sicilian, Yang Zhuang, Yiddish and Yugambeh.

A main advantage of Woolaroo remains the ability of users to add and edit the app's content for the most up-to-date quality of material. That means that if a user or any family members speak even just a few words in any of these languages, they stand to make a significant contribution to Woolaroo.

An additional benefit of this application offers users who wish to learn an indigenous language the opportunity to dive right in. That way, people of many different backgrounds and living around the world can discover more about the minority and native communities in the region where they live.

Explore further Learning a new language recruits the right side of the brain

More information: "Woolaroo: a New Tool for Exploring Indigenous Languages." "Woolaroo: a New Tool for Exploring Indigenous Languages." blog.google/outreach-initiativ  ndigenous-languages/

 2021 Science X Network
Microsoft's European clients have long been concerned over the legal status of data they store with US companies in the cloud and the extent to which they could be scrutinised by US authorities.

US tech giant Microsoft pledged Thursday to process and store all European cloud-based client data in the European Union amid unease in the region over the reach of US legislation on personal data collection.

Microsoft's European clients have long been concerned over the legal status of data they store with US companies in the cloud and the extent to which they could be scrutinised by US authorities.

Those worries came to a head last July when the European Court of Justice struck down the EU-US Privacy Shield, a framework allowing firms to transfer personal data to the United States in compliance with Brussels' General Data Protection Regulation.

The court found the mechanism did not adequately protect EU data from US authorities over which Europe has neither control nor right of redress.

In a blog post on Thursday, Microsoft president Brad Smith said: "If you are a commercial or public sector customer in the EU, we will go beyond our existing data storage commitments and enable you to process and store all your data in the EU.

"In other words, we will not need to move your data outside the EU."

Smith said the commitment would apply across all of Microsoft's core cloud services - Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365and would take effect by the end of next year.

The initiative is dubbed the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud.

Smith stated Microsoft cloud services "already comply with or exceed EU guidelines even before the plan we're announcing today".

"We defend our customers' data from improper access by any government in the world," he added.

"We hope today's update is another step toward responding to customers that want even greater data residency commitments," Smith wrote, pledging to continue to consult with customers and regulators on the issue and respond to their feedback.

US-dominated cloud

It remains to be seen, however, if Smith's announcement will sufficiently assuage lingering European fears on the issue.

"The location of Europeans' personal data in US providers' European data centres does not always guarantee their security as they can still be subject to US law," owing to the extra-territorial reach of the latter, financial auditors KPMG noted in a white paper on the European cloud market drawn up with French IT firms including Microsoft rival OVHCloud.

Smith stressed Microsoft was committed to the EU's vision for a "Europe Fit for the Digital Age" and pledged compensation to customers were any of their data to be disclosed data in violation of European data protection rules.

Cloud services allow firms to store immense quantities of data on remote servers according to their needs but the sector is largely dominated by US providersnotably Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google.

The sector is growing exponentially.

According to KPMG, the European market alone, currently estimated to be worth 53 billion euros ($63.8 billion), could grow by a factor of between five and ten times by 2030.

The US market is projected to grow from a current $76.4 billion to $390.3 billion by 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights research.

 2021 AFP
Now you see it, now you dont: tomographic printing using the goopy index bath. The green light in the vial is fluorescence  a by-product of the 3D printing process that conveniently highlights the path of light in the vial. Credit: University of Waterloo

Tomographic 3D printing is a revolutionary technology that uses light to create three-dimensional objects. A projector beams light at a rotating vial containing photocurable resin, and within seconds the desired shape forms inside the vial. The light projections needed to solidify specific 3D regions of the polymer are calculated using tomographic imaging concepts.

The technology was first demonstrated by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Labs in 2019, and a Swiss group at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2020. It is significantly faster than traditional 3D printing in layers, can print around existing objects, and does not require support structures.

Though incredible, the technology can get messy in the lab. The vial's round shape makes it refract rays like a lens. To counter this, experts use a rectangular index-matching bath that provides a flat surface for rays to pass through correctly. The vial of resin must be dipped in and out of the bath for each usecreating a slimy situation.

New equations and code cut technology loose

It was slimy, that is, until a student from the University of Waterloo joined the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) for a virtual co-op term in 2020. Kayley Ting, who is doing a bachelor of applied science (BASc) degree in biomedical engineering, worked with machine vision and 3D printing experts from the NRC's Digital Technologies and Security and Disruptive Technologies Research Centres.

Together they developed a technology that computationally corrects for optical distortions. New equations compensate for the vial's round shape and eliminate the need for the goopy, square bath, while still enabling the nearly instant production of precise polymer shapes using light.

The team also developed new code to program the printer so that it could produce complex objects and be easily used by non-experts. They recently published their new method and findings in Optics Express, an open-access scientific journal, and revealed a few dazzling shapes they produced.

Credit: University of Waterloo

Virtual co-op term generates real progress

Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Kayley could not access the lab in Ottawa where objects are printed. But that didn't stop her from innovating at a distance. To print complex objects using STL files, Kayley wrote the code that imports the 3D object file, slices it, and converts 2D slices to the light projections that will be shone on the vial. Intensive computations are required at this step.

"While it used to take about an hour to process a print file, Kayley's version of the code usually takes less than a minute to execute," says Antony Orth, research officer from Digital Technologies and Kayley's supervisor.

The progress made by Kayley during her virtual work term at the NRC will have practical applications in the future.

"Kayley also produced a simple user interface with buttons and menus that enables people to use the printer without knowing how to code. This is a huge deal for us as it will make the technology much more usable at the NRC and for others interested in tomographic 3D printing," says Chantal Paquet, research officer from Security and Disruptive Technologies.

Explore further New materials help expand volumetric 3-D printing

More information: Antony Orth et al. Correcting ray distortion in tomographic additive manufacturing, Optics Express (2021). Journal information: Optics Express Antony Orth et al. Correcting ray distortion in tomographic additive manufacturing,(2021). DOI: 10.1364/OE.419795
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She said most issues were due to dehydration and waterborne diseases.

A lot of the suggestions we gave them was to drink more water, to wash their clothes more, to clean their babies, and then we got to learn that they dont have the access to water to drink it when they wanted, and when they do find water, its usually in a creek somewhere and its highly contaminated, she said.

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She said that attendees will be encouraged to carry a bucket or gallon jugs of water a mile around the Merrill Green Stadium track to simulate what some people have to do to get water  and that water is sometimes still not safe to drink.

We dont think about how deadly water can be for places where theyre dying of thirst, so they drink whatever they can find, and it can be deadly, Soto said.

Vitha said it can be difficult for people in Bryan and College Station to imagine putting so much energy and time into walking miles for water when it is so accessible locally.

Your lifestyles pretty much stagnant if all youre doing is walking every day, multiple times a day, for water, she said.

In the past, there have been educational booths about water conservation and what it takes to make water clean and safe to drink and use.
Int'l businesses eyeing China's resilient consumer market

Xinhua) 10:20, May 06, 2021

Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in south China's Macao, on May 3, 2021, the third day of China's five-day May Day holiday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

As China's early recovery is gaining momentum, observers believe that China holds promise for global businesses.

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.

A staff member presents the goods to be sold during a live video stream during the 14th China Shijiazhuang (Zhengding) International Commodities Fair 2021 in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, April 30, 2021. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

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."

A delivery sorter of ZTO Express works during her shift in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

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.

File photo taken on Aug. 30, 2019 shows a Blackmores exhibition zone during the Alibaba E-commerce Expo in Sydney, Australia.(Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

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.

Undated photo provided by Weleda, a natural organic health, wellbeing and beauty company based in Switzerland, shows one of its production line near Stuttgart in Germany. (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.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
In opening statements Barrett said shes been a Hampstead resident since 1992 and has been employed as an accountant for 30 years. She added serving Hampstead has been her calling since 2015 when North Carroll High School was closed and she and others fought against it. She also serves on the towns board of zoning appeals and and recently joined the towns zoning commission. She said shell strive to attract new businesses to Hampstead and she fully supports police officers.
The responsibility for enforcing the ban on encampments will rest with the city manager, whose office is working with the Austin Police Department to create a strategy by May 11.

Staff will be evaluating options for how to best implement the new ordinance. We will start with education and outreach, and will focus first on individuals living in situations that present higher health and safety risks, city spokesperson Andy Tate said in an email. Outreach will be ongoing as we continue to assess encampment sites and coordinate with our service providers.

On Sunday, interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon sent a letter to his department explaining that officers will be given training and guidance on how the ordinance will be enforced.

This change will require a city-wide effort and APD is part of a cross-departmental team of City staff who are working together to look for ways to implement the changes in order to address the concerns of all residents in the least disruptive way possible and in line with our Citys mission, Chacon said in the letter.

The uncertainty about how the new ban will be enforced concerns advocates for people experiencing homelessness.
In Texas, HB 9 would make blocking a roadway a state jail felony if the offense also prevented the passage of an emergency vehicle or blocked a hospital entrance. Currently, the offense is a misdemeanor that could result in up to six months in jail. A state jail felony carries a punishment of up to two years in the Texas prison system plus a lifelong brand as a felon, making it harder to get a job and secure housing. The bill would also require those convicted to spend at least 10 days in jail, even if they are sentenced to probation.
Although the visibility of homeless encampments has increased in Austin in recent years, both the Dallas and Houston areas have more people living in the streets, according to 2020 data.

Regulations and enforcement related to camping in public places vary greatly among cities.

Some dont have a universal ban, but camping is not allowed in places like public parks. Others, like Dallas, dont have a ban but will remove encampments if there are safety concerns.

In Houston, a city that has been touted as a national model for how to handle the homelessness crisis, tents and makeshift structures are banned, but the city does removals only when there is available housing for the people involved.

The removal of Austins camping ban in 2019 was quickly criticized by Abbott, who promised to take action against Austin and in his budget priority list asked the Legislature to withhold state grant money from cities that dont ban such encampments.

The bill was filed before the Saturday election, in which 57% of Austinites voted to reinstate the ban  an initiative added to the ballot through a petition signed by at least 24,000 people.
Scrabble Game Night returns and is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Primrose Assisted Living, Capital Avenue and North Road.

The group usually meets the second Monday of each month in the Pub on the second floor at Primrose. All Scrabble players are welcome; bring a board if you have one. There is no registration required and there is no fee to play. Masks are required at Primrose.

For more information, call La Vonne Catron at 308-382-2663.

Local church to host Concordia Chamber Choir Saturday

Trinity Lutheran Church will host the Concordia Chamber Choice in concert at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The concert will take the place of the regular Saturday worship service.

The Chamber Choir strives to perform music at a high artistic level  music which inspires, instructs and entertains, said Kurt E. Von Kampen, the choirs conductor and music department chair. But the mission of the choir goes beyond mere artistry. The University A Cappella Choir exists to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in song and to honor God with the musical talents the students have been given.
May is National Get Caught Reading Month.

I would love to get caught but unfortunately we are working our tails off getting reading for the 2021 Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program at our library.

The summer reading program is an annual tradition that has taken place for many, many years. Even during COVID lock-down, the library provided  and continues to provide  virtual programming.

This summer there is a new slide in town, the COVID slide that has joined forces with the summer slide (where reading scores drop during the summer when kids are not in school). The Association for Library Service to Children has some great information that spells out the hard facts.

I know Grand Island Schools have been over-the-top keeping kids safe, and in the classroom, or virtual school the past year. To help stop the slide there are some great links for parents, including https://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-tips-parents-multiple-languages/. Click on Parent Engagement for tips for parents, for different age groups and different languages. Reading is the answer.

The library is the number one spot for children to visit with their families to stock up on great resources to keep their reading scores up or even to improve their scores this summer.
These are areas where the majority of residents do not have access to or the ability to subscribe to broadband service with a minimum of 25 mbps download and 3 mbps upload.

With the grant funds, 17,600 Nebraskans now are connected to reliable, affordable internet.

Reiner called fiber optic cable a technology of the future.

If youre going to invest a lot of money, why dont you invest in something thats going to be relevant in 10 years? she said.

The program requires community support to access the funds.

Projects can be done quickly, Reiner said, through permits and rights of way, and pairing cable installation with road projects.

Nebraska is well on its way, she said. We need leaders in the community such as you to put this out to everyone else. If you want to see your community grow, if you want to see median income increase, if you want to see your kids or grandkids stay in the area, this is going to be the cornerstone of that.

As if to emphasize the timeliness of the discussion, the meetings virtual guests were kicked out of Zoom because of unstable internet.

For more information about NDED programs, visit getnebraskagrowing.nebraska.gov.

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Both of the dogs were anxious to get into the plane to subdue the suspect, Elliott said.

When a subject is barricaded, sending in a canine is an option because a dog is a less-than-lethal tool in our toolbox, so to speak, he said. The same is true of the chemical irritants that were sent into the plane to get Caudill to surrender.

If the suspect hadnt cooperated, its possible a dog would have been sent in, Elliott said.

Officers have a leash thats 40 to 50 feet long. The leash is attached to the dog and once the animal grabs hold of a suspect, police drag the canine out, and the suspect along with him.

Elliott praised the great teamwork by everybody in the response to a potential barricaded gunman.

Local officers and the State Patrol work and train together, he said. Theyve had training sessions at the airport in the past.

Olson said both airport personnel and the law enforcement agencies worked well together in this.

It was potentially a very serious situation, he said.

The officers responded well and diffused the situation as well as they could have, Olson said.

He has nothing but high praise for their work.

This article contains material from The Associated Press.

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Teachers really dont know what theyre getting into on a daily basis when they come into the building. They expect the best and theyre prepared to take care of every student that walks into their classroom, he said.

Bartels indicated that in the relatively short time she has been at Trinity, she has observed similar situations.

I have observed some fantastic teaching, respectful students, and cooperative learning and teaching, she said. Not only do the teachers work hard for the good of the kids, the kids pick up on this and show respect for each other and for the work that is expected of them.

Teacher Appreciation Week helps remind those affected by educators of the role their teachers play in their lives, Hubbard said.

Its a time so we can celebrate all the work that our staff put in to support our students and make sure they have what they need, he said.

Kramer said she has noticed that sentiment.

They realize how much we do every day, she said. Throughout this whole year teachers have proven how resilient we are.

It shows through their students.
Vanessa Bright, director of the nonprofit group, said the club meets at the Eastport Terrace Housing Community in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. She introduces young people to entrepreneurship ideas in hopes of showing them opportunities to break the school-to-prison pipeline that exists for many Black teenagers.
What would the steps be? Obermier asked. Thats what I think we need to decide. Do we rely on our maintainer operators to watch while they are out there and then contact us? Or do we rely on the public? And then what do we do to make this stop? Do we want to see the county attorney send these landowners a letter when there is a problem? I think thats what we need to decide.

Well, once we have been made aware that they are piling garbage or planting crops in the right-of-way, doing things in the ditches that shouldnt be done  if we dont do something, and something bad happens, who will pay for it? It all will fall squarely on all the county taxpayers. Again, of the hundreds of good producers, probably only a dozen do this. And they should do whats right, just like all the others do. Plus, remember, they arent paying taxes on that land they are planting, in the county right-of-way.

I think its best if we contact them in a proper way, first, Obermier said.

Yes, if something needs to be done, we can contact them and let them know, Bulgrin said. Then if something doesnt get done, the problem isnt fixed, then we can call them and tell them that we are coming out to do something to remedy it. Communication is going to be key.
The plane, owned by Menards, arrived in Grand Island Tuesday morning. The aircraft, which seats eight, was scheduled to depart Tuesday night. But as of Wednesday, the plane was at the airport, still being checked out.

Caudill, 19, tried to gain entry to Kearney High School on Monday. Reportedly, Caudill went to KHS to meet with a female student, said Sgt. Tony Cordova, Kearney Police Department investigations sergeant. Upon learning that Caudill allegedly had taken a family vehicle and rifle from his home, Kearney officials placed the school in lockout on Tuesday.

After Caudill was taken into custody, he admitted to police that his intent was to fly the aircraft.

Police observed Caudill sitting in the captains chair, donning headphones and manipulating switches, which is why the plane was being checked out Wednesday.

Caudill was arrested for first-degree criminal trespass, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, attempted theft, resisting arrest and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Two canine units responded to the scene  one from the Grand Island Police Department and the other from the Nebraska State Patrol.

Both of the dogs were anxious to get into the plane to subdue the suspect, Elliott said.
KEARNEY  A Kearney man faces two felonies after allegedly attacking a woman inside a temporary restroom at Kearneys Target.

Bryan L. Morales-Contreras, 23, of Kearney was charged today (Wednesday) in Buffalo County Court with first-degree false imprisonment and assault by strangulation or suffocation, both felonies related to the incident. Contreras, known in court records by three other aliases, is being held at the Buffalo County Jail on a Homeland Security detainer.

Kearney Police Department Investigations Sgt. Tony Cordova believes the incident was random.

Court records outline the case against Contreras:

Around 3 p.m. Tuesday a female Target employee left the store to use a temporary restroom outside on the north side of the store. The in-store restrooms are being remodeled.

The woman entered the restroom stall and heard the door open and someone enter the restroom with her. When she opened the door a man entered the stall with her and pushed her back into the stall.

The woman tried to get by the man and he grabbed her around the neck and started squeezing her throat. The man didnt speak to her, and she had never seen him before.
Community outreach

Last week, Donna Wolff of Northeast Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition visited YFFC to speak to Columbus Middle School students 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, 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.
KEARNEY  Teaching too much about sex and gender identity could hurt young Nebraskans.

That was the message today from the Protect Nebraska Children Coalition, which has thrown up a red flag about elements of comprehensive sex education in the Nebraska Department of Educations proposed overhaul of health education standards.

Its clear this approach to sexuality is far from what Nebraskans would want for their children, said Jenna Derr, a family medicine physician from Kearney during a press conference at Kearneys Ramada Inn.

Four people attended the press briefing, which was one day before the Nebraska Board of Education meets in Kearney. The meeting will be 9 a.m. Friday at Holiday Inn, 110 Second Ave.

The sex education portion of the proposal attracted an overflow crowd Monday night at the Kearney Public Library.

Gov. Pete Ricketts warned at that gathering the sex education standards are dangerous, but they can be halted if people speak out against them.

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, Ricketts said.
When it comes to her readers, Vierk wanted the book to appeal to the general public as well as experts.

One of my first chapters is a short course on cougars, she said. I go through what theyre about and all of their characteristics. But I think the biologists might want to read it just to see if I know what Im talking about. Its not a highly scientific book because I wrote it for a general audience.

Vierks interest in mountain lions started early in her life.

Ive been fascinated with cougars since I was a little girl, she said. In the introduction I wrote about walking home in Ravenna at night. We used to have these big elm trees hanging over the streets. I remember looking up and thinking I saw a cougar in the limbs  and screaming. It was only in my mind but for a second or two that cougar was on that limb.

After all her research and after spending years on this project, Vierk learned about the complexity of mountain lions.

I learned that we can live with them if we want to, she said.

She also learned about the resilience of the animals and how they add to our understanding of nature and the natural world.
The big story on Fox News recently was Joe Bidens purported war on meat  a breathless disclosure that the president plans to limit every American to 4 pounds of steaks a year. Republican politicians jumped on the issue, defiantly promising to defend your right to consume hamburgers. Not gonna happen in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott declared.

There was only one problem: The story was nonsense, a work of imagination concocted by a British newspaper after Biden pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sharply. Fox later quietly admitted that the story was wrong, but that didnt stop House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy from repeating it. Biden wants control of your life, the California Republican charged. Hes gonna control how much meat you can eat. Can you imagine that?

Actually, no.

On one level, the GOPs crusade against fictional meat rationing is just one more sign of Donald Trumps lasting imprint on his party: Why let the truth get in the way of a good attack?

But it also reflects a serious problem for Republican leaders as they try to organize a coherent opposition to Bidens ambitious  and largely popular  economic proposals: Some of the loudest voices in their party remain focused on waging a Trump-style culture war.
Over time with the passage of the blueprint and Kirwan funding, we will begin receiving less unrestricted funding from the state in the years going forward and more (in the) restricted category, he said. As is typical with our county, because the amount of support we get from the federal government and the state is inversely proportionate to our relative wealth here in the county, we are expected and reliant more on our local county government for funding the Board of Education.
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Second-generation beekeepers Doug and Rose Leedle are apiculture ambassadors. Not only do they maintain their own colonies of bees and sell beekeeping supplies and equipment at their Mulkeytown farm, but they share the love and knowledge of all things bee with those considering getting hives of the own.

The couple, along with with their sons and their families, are all part of the family enterprise. Rose Leedle said her husband, a certified master beekeeper, has been working with bees his entire life.

Hes been in beekeeping since he was little, she said. His father was a beekeeper and Ive been doing it since we got married 47 years ago.

The family currently has 120 hives  with bees numbering in the thousands. Leedle said the goal is obviously honey production, but they also to cultivate bees for others looking to get started with beekeeping.

We sell everything, Leedle said of the retail portion of the business. Of course, there is honey and creamed honey (used as a spread), but we also sell everything needed for beekeeping: protective gear, wooden boxes, tools, medicines that bees might need and more.

The store, called Leedle Houme Bees, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
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Fisher didnt want to go into specifics about how his or other cannabis businesses handle banking right now. But he said it is all in high volumes of cash and instead of getting a traditional loan when it wants to expand, it has to seek out wealthy investors to fund the project.

Out of all the laws theyve done, this is probably the most significant for the industry, Fisher said.

Social equity was a big part of the legalization push in Illinois  cannabis laws have disproportionately impacted communities of color and the new law was supposed to give members of these communities a leg up in the new industry.

However, the majority of the initial recreational licenses given in the state went to majority-white owned medical cannabis companies. A recent news report from NBC Chicago said many in minority communities are still waiting for their shot.

Fisher said he hoped that if the SAFE Banking Act were to become law it would level the playing field for non-white business owners to jump in. Gone would be the hurdle of having a rich benefactor to back your plan.
(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.

After the release of video showing that Toledo wasn't holding a gun when he was shot, Murphy was placed on leave and Foxxs office launched an internal review of what happened. In her news release, Foxx said Murphy had been reinstated and that it was determined that he did not intend to give the impression that Adam Toledo was holding a gun when shot.

She said the review placed the blame on a breakdown in communication at the top levels of her office. Although Foxx's news release didn't go into detail about that breakdown, prosecutors in her office were notified by email shortly before the review's findings were announced that her second-in-command, Jennifer Coleman, had resigned, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The release didn't mention Coleman's resignation and Foxx declined to discuss personnel matters during an interview with the Tribune. But she explained to the newspaper that her first assistant was the only person in her office who had detailed knowledge of both the investigation into whether to charge Roman and a separate, walled-off investigation into the police shooting of Toledo.
It is Pittmans wealth and privilege that allows him to take these hypocritical positions in his public and private lives. But he can also afford the economic impact that his policies and his legal actions are going to have on the county. If Pittman were to be successful with his lawsuit, the county would ostensibly receive damages from the fossil fuel manufacturers. Those costs of course will be ultimately borne by average taxpayers trying to buy vehicles or buy fuel to get on with their daily lives.
Raoul said his office has also set up a hotline for residents who may have concerns about the breach to receive answers to their questions while the investigation is ongoing. The hotline can be reached by calling 1-833-688-1949 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Pana Republican, asked Raoul why his agency wasnt properly prepared for and had not anticipated such a cybersecurity attack.

I'm just curious what we're doing, why we didn't anticipate this, why we didn't have redundant systems in place to be ready to roll in case something happened like this? Halbrook asked.

Raoul said, moving forward, his office has reached out to internal IT experts to improve its network and technology.

I don't know what the satisfactory answer that you'd want to your question. But our staff, and Im proud of my staff, have continued to work hard during a very difficult circumstance, Raoul said.

Raoul was also asked about a state auditor generals report released in February that found the attorney generals office had not implemented adequate internal controls related to cybersecurity programs and practices.
Morris said that many students chose not to enroll because of financial or technological limitations, though the school started a laptop loaner program and offered financial aid through federal relief funding, he said.

Many students that typically go to school here are in professions that were most impacted by the pandemic, whether that be retail or restaurants or working at Amazon, Morris said.

Hes optimistic that more students will return for the fall but doesnt expect a complete rebound. Students will only come back if they see the professional benefit of earning a college degree, he said.

I think the pandemic has really caused people for the first time to calculate the value of going to college, he said. Everyone is taking a much more closer look at their own situation.

The situation for community colleges remains precarious nationwide. In prior recessions, community colleges saw steady or increased enrollment from adults who wanted to increase their skills during a shaky job market, but the pandemic has exacerbated economic challenges, Castillo Richmond said.
Bamberg County Council meetings will be re-opened to the public beginning in August, council members decided Monday.

Council has been holding virtual meetings because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Council meetings will continue to be held virtually while also giving citizens - and council members - an option to attend face to face.

"Were trying to get there, and were trying to definitely come back face to face. It's not that were not trying to come back face to face, but we know that this pandemic is still out there. Weve still got to be safe, and weve still got to do the things that we need to do to continue to be safe," Council Chairman Larry Haynes said.

The lone public comment at Mondays meeting came from county resident Sue Clayton, who wrote that it was time for council to return to face-to-face meetings, particularly so citizens can have their questions adequately answered.

Face masks will be required and arrangements for social distancing and other safety measures are being worked out.
With a deeply personal vision to help address the unmet and underserved emotional needs of Black people worldwide, Charlamagne founded Mental Wealth Alliance (MWA) with a goal to raise $100 million and provide free mental health treatment to over 10 million Black people within five years.

Continuing to expand his multimedia footprint, Charlamagne launched Black Privilege Publishing  his joint venture with Atria Books at Simon & Schuster  which will bring culturally relevant content to the marketplace from emerging and renowned Black voices from around the world. Black Privilege Publishing will focus on opening new doors in the publishing marketplace by amplifying Black and brown narratives while rethinking traditional approaches to the publishing industry.

Charlamagne is the outspoken, well-informed, and charismatic co-host and driving force of the hottest radio show in the U.S., The Breakfast Club, entering its second decade on air as the most successful hip hop show in radio history. His transformative culture-shifting perspective has catapulted him to become one of the worlds most highly coveted and trusted voices, distinguished by his brilliant ability to transform and steer culture, ignite movements, and activate heightened levels of philanthropic engagement.
This allowed to leave her enlisted assignment at Fort Carson, Colorado, in an active-duty status, pursue her masters degree and complete the two-year ROTC program.

I was primarily interested in this program because it allowed me to focus mainly on school while receiving leadership skills in the ROTC program, McCoy said.

On Thursday, May 6, she will be one of 10 cadets from SC State and neighboring Claflin University commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in the U.S. Army. And on Friday, she will receive her masters degree in rehabilitative counseling, which fits right into her service goals.

After graduation, she will return to the Army as an officer in branched Medical Service. Having ranked second among her class of cadets, she received her primary choice for her career.

She will attend the Basic Officer Leader Course in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before heading to her duty station at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The Green to Gold program required McCoy to complete another eight years in the Army, but since a career in service was always her objective, the requirement was never a concern.
In the case of Melinda and Bill Gates, neither applies, since their three children are grown and they are among the richest people in the world.

The couple has worked together toward shared humanitarian values, and plan to donate a large portion of their wealth to philanthropy as part of the Giving Pledge, which they created in 2010 with Warren Buffett. Under the pledge, the world's wealthiest individuals commit to giving away the majority of their assets.

Don't expect to learn who gets what

What exactly is in the Gates' separation contract is not known and likely never will be, the attorneys who spoke to CNN Business said.

In cases where a high-profile couple wants to keep matters private, beyond opting to keep various documents under seal, there are procedures that allow them to simply not file their most telling documents in court.

Instead, the separation contract will likely be referenced frequently in the final divorce papers, but without any details, Cassady said. When it comes to indicating who gets what, he noted, the documents may simply say "see separation contract."

CNN's Clare Duffy contributed to this article

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Several world leaders Thursday praised the U.S. call to remove patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help poor countries obtain shots. But the proposal faces a multitude of hurdles, including resistance from the pharmaceutical industry.

Nor is it clear what effect such a step might have on the campaign to vanquish the outbreak.

Activists and humanitarian institutions cheered after the U.S. reversed course Wednesday and called for a waiver of intellectual property protections on the vaccine. The decision ultimately is up to the 164-member World Trade Organization, and if just one country votes against a waiver, the proposal will fail.

Heres a look at what patents do and why they matter:

In other developments:
The complexities surrounding the coronavirus seem to be growing daily.

First there is the matter of convincing more than a third of Americans that receiving a vaccination is necessary to defeat the pandemic. Our very own leaders have given people reason to question what long was espoused by the experts: Vaccination will end the pandemic and return Americans to a life without masks and social distancing.

Yet now the president says it will be July before we can gather in group settings. We should continue to wear masks and social distance even if fully vaccinated, health officials say, though it is now OK to go maskless when outside.

It seems to be going unnoticed that Americans arent listening to constantly changing guidance. Fewer people are wearing masks and social gatherings are being held. Whether this will prove problematic or even disastrous remains to be seen, but Americans have strong opinions about what government and officialdom should and should not be doing.

The American Bar Association commissioned a national survey that asked the public about COVID-19 policies and restrictions.
That said, affluent parents who still believe that college degrees are an automatic ticket to the middle class and beyond may wake up to their kids still living in their basement. World class educations, whether academic or technical, are the path to success. The Blueprint is grounded in sound investments in five key policy initiatives.
"At the current time, there are 81,684 open positions in the state of South Carolina. The hotel and food service industries have employee shortages that threaten their sustainability. However, no area of the economy has been spared from the pain of a labor shortage," said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Director Dan Ellzey. "While the federal funds supported our unemployed workers during the peak of COVID-19, we fully agree that reemployment is the best recovery plan for South Carolinians and the economic health of the state. Last weeks initial claims numbers were the lowest since the pandemic began, and employers around the state are eager to hire and anxious to get South Carolina back to business."
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Casper police shot and killed a man the department says was fleeing a traffic stop with an officer still inside the vehicle early Thursday on Interstate 25.

The Natrona County Coroners Office confirmed Thursday that the person killed was 42-year-old Casper resident Thomas Joseph Roeber.

The shooting happened shortly before 4 a.m. when officers stopped a vehicle in the area of East H and North Elm streets in Casper, according to a police statement. Two officers approached the vehicle, which had two people inside.

At some point during the encounter, the driver tried to get out of the car. Roeber, meanwhile, moved from the passenger side into the drivers seat and tried to flee the scene, police said.

One of the officers tried to stop the fleeing vehicle, but Roeber reportedly drove quickly from the scene with the officer inside, according to police. The other officer was occupied with the second person from the vehicle.

The vehicle drove onto I-25 and into oncoming traffic. At some point, the officer shot Roeber, then stopped the vehicle on the side of the road, according to the police statement.

Police did not say how long the officer was in the car before shooting.
CHEYENNE  A group of local health care providers is asking Wyomings largest school district to keep its mask mandate in place through the end of the year.

In a letter sent to Laramie County School District 1 last month, several doctors and other health care professionals who work for the Cheyenne Childrens Clinic said they feel that masks have been a necessary and effective means to decrease the community spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has killed more than 700 Wyomingites and more than 578,000 total Americans.

As a clinic, our clear message to the LCSD1 school board is that masks and social distance have been helping, the letter reads. These measures have not caused unnecessary or permanent harm to students any more than the stress of the pandemic as a whole. In order to keep our community safe, we ask that you keep the K-12 mask requirement in place through the current school year and re-evaluate in the fall to determine ongoing need for masks at school based on current outbreak and data science.

Since schools reopened for in-person learning last fall, LCSD1 has required students and staff who are unable to social distance to wear masks as part of its broader COVID-19 safety plan. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon recently lifted the mask requirement for many other public spaces, but kept it in place for K-12 schools.
The Crisis Intervention Team within the Anne Arundel County Police Department has been recognized as the best unit of its kind working in the nation today. It was started in 2014 and works with the county Mental Health Agency and Crisis Response to help people in crisis stay out of the criminal justice system. The number of county officers trained to respond to mental health emergencies is growing.
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.






Whiteplume, who traveled to the event with her 17-year-old daughter, Zariah Whiteplume, has talked about the issue extensively with her daughter.

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As a teenager I had no idea about this, Candace said. Now, shes spreads awareness to the next generation.

Zariah always lets her mother know where shes at, and who shes with.

But the classification of missing can be hard to diagnose, according to Northern Arapaho Chairman Business Council Jordan Dresser, who has experienced nieces and nephews voluntarily running away.

You never know until its serious, he said.

Despite being only 3% of the population, Indigenous people in Wyoming make up 21% of homicides, and homicide rates are significantly higher for Indigenous people  eight times more likely overall, and six times more likely for Indigenous women  than white people, according to the University of Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center.

Still, LeBeau is optimistic about the future. The FBI, the Division of Criminal Investigation, local police, Homeland Security and other departments are all collaborating with the tribes to expand efforts within the missing and murdered Indigenous people movement.
State governments, like the federal government, could not, by definition, enjoy the attributes of sovereignty since they were created by the Constitution, which is the lone source of their respective powers. Moreover, the Supremacy Clause of Article VI subordinates states to the Constitution, treaties and federal laws, a legal arrangement that would be impossible if states were sovereign. Chief Justice John Jay brought clarity to the matter in Chisholm: Here we see the people acting as sovereigns of the whole country; and in the language of sovereignty, establishing a constitution by which it was their will, that the state governments should be bound, and to which state constitutions should be made to conform.

In truth, some or much of the confusion associated with the term, sovereignty, lies in its use or misuse. It is cast about, as Justice Joseph Story said, in different senses, which often leads to a confusion of ideas, and sometimes to very mischievous and unfounded conclusions. We should, in our public dialogue, speak a little more precisely when the issue of federalism is before us. Properly speaking, the federal government has limited authority or jurisdiction or dominion over particular matters, but certainly not sovereignty. We can say the same for state governments.

If we employ in our discourse such precision, or something close to it, then we can examine the real question that puzzles Americans: Which powers are granted to the national government, and which to the states? We turn next week to that great question.

David Adler, PHD, is a noted author who lectures nationally and internationally on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Presidential power. His scholarly writings have been cited by the US Supreme Court and lower courts by both Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress. Adlers column is supported in part by the Mellon Foundation and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. He can be reached at david.adler@alturasinstitute.com

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So, these deliberations by Biden, his supporters and his critics are more than academic or exercises and political talking points. They are life and death decisions that affect every community in our nation.

If anyone knew precisely the right move to make on U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, then it would have been made a long time ago, and the crises there would have been resolved, or at least improved.

Our most reliable but unknowable judge of current actions  the future  eventually will tell whether pulling out of Afghanistan late this summer will succeed. Even that word is subject to interpretation.

For the moment, the main interpreter of if is Biden, a man who was critical of the nature of U.S. involvement there from his days as a U.S. Senator and through two terms as vice president.

He has his strong point of view, it is an informed one, and now he is commander in chief. This, finally, is his decision to make. And, after 20 years, he says enough is enough.

What we can say, without predicting anything else, is that at least this is something different, and it might prevent more Fremont County boys from being injured or killed over there.

Certainly, there is something to be said for that.

Steven R. Peck is publisher of the Riverton Ranger, the newspaper of record in Riverton.

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America is completely overwhelmed with preventable deaths, serious injuries and trauma caused by firearms. And yet, Americans are also set to continue buying firearms at astounding rates.

Gun sales increased when the pandemic began. Gun sales also went up in correlation with the unrest that surrounded some of the Black Lives Matter protests last year.

When people are fearful, they arm themselves. They also become less prone to think rationally.

About 40% of the nation either owns firearms or lives with someone who does. That equates to about 390 million guns, the highest per capita rate in the world.

Plenty of evidence exists that proves arming ourselves does not keep us safer. Rather, it achieves the opposite. The presence of more guns makes crimes more violent. Women are more likely to be killed when a gun is present in domestic violence attacks, and people who have access to firearms at home are nearly twice as likely to be murdered as people who do not.

And yet, the majority of gun owners say they keep a gun in their home or in their car or seek a concealed carry permit primarily as a means of protection, according to Pew Research Center.

America has already bought the NRAs message wholesale. And this message can be expected to hold strong for the foreseeable future, even as the messenger has been revealed as a fraud  and not even adept with the guns that they love so much.

Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at msanchezcolumn@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn

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These new technologies are far more minerals-intensive than the systems theyre replacing. An EV uses six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car. And an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired power station.

Unfortunately, the United States is now heavily reliant on China and other nations for these raw materials. In fact, Americas mineral-import reliance has doubled in just the past two decades. And thanks to aggressive, mercantilist policies, China now controls 70 percent of the worlds lithium supplies, 80 percent of rare earth metals, and roughly 70 percent of the worlds graphite.

A key concern is that China utilizes extremely toxic practices to extract these resources. In Inner Mongolia, Chinese mining operators have poured refining waste into a poisonous artificial lake large enough to be visible on Google Earth. And Chinas Bayan-Obo dumping site consists of dangerous sludge roughly three times the size of Central Park.

In contrast, Americas mining operators adhere to the worlds most stringent environmental standards. However, the permitting process for new U.S. mines can often take up to a decade. Countries such as Australia and Canada typically approve new mines in only two to three years, though  even while imposing equally strict environmental controls.

To meet soaring demand and reduce imports from China, the United States must start mining more of these resources at home. The good news is that the U.S. possesses more than $6 trillion in mineral reserves. Its time for federal policies to change in favor of U.S. mining and materials processing. Otherwise, President Bidens clean energy agenda could fall short of its goals  and leave the U.S. dependent on Chinas reckless mining industry.

Michael Stumo is CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. Follow him at @michael_stumo

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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.
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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Ryan Allard, this is Ancil Dennis. I am forming a Recovery Committee for Tobago and would like you to be the vice-chairman.

This was how my phone call started on an otherwise typical Saturday evening in May 2020, a few months into the pandemic.
I think that its usually considered a side dish by Mexican cooks, but I find that a bowl with lots of garnishes  avocado, crema, red onion, cilantro  can stand alone as an entree. If I have leftover cooked steak or beef, pork, or chicken, I might add a little as an additional garnish. More commonly, however, I eat it as a meatless meal. Kids really like this, Ive found.

Because the ingredients are so simple, its an important step to char the vegetables before pureeing, which intensifies their flavor.

Incidentally, toasting the noodles before cooking is an unusual step. My Armenian friends taught me to do this before preparing their version of pilaf, which is the dish on which Rice-a-roni is based.

The Mexicans may have learned about fideo from the Spanish and Italian priests who were stationed in Mexico, but Im not sure how the step of toasting the fideo arrived in the recipe.

I guess Ill ponder that some more the next time I make this.

Sopa seca de fideo





Makes 6 servings
Garaventa, who lives in California, said her son was a fitness buff who started taking walks around his neighborhood three times a day when his gym closed during the pandemic.

They had not seen each other in over a year because of travel restrictions, so he often called her and other family members to chat as he walked, she said.

On the day he was shot, two nurses came from nearby houses to give him first aid but could not stop the blood loss, she said. Shes grateful they were there, she said, so her son did not die alone.

After earning a bachelors degree in English and a masters in education with 4.0 averages, Anderson taught for two years at Sahuaro High School before he decided about 18 months ago to go back to the UA to study computer sciences. He was due to start a prestigious internship with American Express on June 7, his mother said.

Garaventa said she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support shes received from people in her sons adopted city and plans to hold some sort of memorial service.

He has a community of love here that is unbelievable, she said. He touched so many people.

Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or calaimo@tucson.com . On Twitter: @AZStarConsumer

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According to Humble, the program's rules were laid out to be as medical (and as far from recreational) as possible.

Because of that, and even in the face of state-wide legalization, there remain some regulatory and purchasing guidelines that are different for medical patients than for recreational clientele.

Medical Marijuana Guidelines

First, and most obvious, is that medical patients require a license or green card. The cards aren't green, but look similar to an Arizona-issued drivers' license or ID. If you are just looking to purchase recreationally, you won't need one of these cards.

In order to obtain a green card, however, a prospective patient must be at least 18 years old (or, if younger, have a parent or guardian registered as a caregiver); possess an Arizona Drivers License or Identification Card; and have one of a number of qualifying conditions listed here.

By contrast, recreational customers just need to be 21 years old and present a state-issued ID at the point of purchase.
It gives them 48 hours to address any issues raised. And that agreement says if the issues can't be resolved, the plaintiffs in that case, which now include Hobbs, are entitled to go back to court to seek compliance.

Bennett dismissed her complaint as no big deal.

"I think that most of the things in her letter are completely unfounded,'' he said. "And the ones that have a little bit of legitimacy can be dealt with pretty easily.''

Bennett did not identify which complaints fall into that category.

But if Hobbs succeeds in sending the case back to court, it could bring to at least a temporary halt the counting process that Bennett already has admitted won't be done by the May 14 deadline.

But sending the case back to court could bring to at least a temporary halt the counting process that Bennett already has admitted won't be done by the May 14 deadline.

It also could potentially force a discussion in open court of the practices being used by the controversial Florida firm hired by the Senate to review the ballots.
Rep. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, said he sees the legislation as simply an extension of existing law which declares that parents have a right to direct the education of their minor child without obstruction or interference from this state.

So this is for the parents and this is for the children to be able to stand up against the bad actors, he said, meaning teachers who dont honor that law.

And Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, compared all this to the move by some to remove monuments because of what they represent.

Thats called rewriting history, he said. Whether you like that monument or not, that monument exists as a marker in time to provoke thought which, of course, provokes critical thinking.

Even the method that Udall used to bring the issue to the full House for a vote was itself controversial.

Rather than going through the full process, which would have guaranteed at least one public hearing, she attached it to a semi-related measure which would make it illegal for teachers to use school resources to organize, plan or execute any activity that impedes or prevents a public school from operating for any period of time.
The Sikh Coalition and the San Carlos Apache would not appear to have much in common at first glance, but they have found a shared interest in the fight over a patch of land in southeastern Arizona.

Thats where the federal government is considering whether to turn sacred Apache land over to a mining company, whose plans for the site would obliterate the ability of tribal members to worship there, in the words of one federal judge.

The prospect has turned an environmental fight over the mine into one over religious rights and drawn a diverse cast of supporters to the Apache cause. In addition to the Sikh Coalition, court briefs supporting the tribe have been filed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, among others.

It seemed that our interests were really closely aligned here, as a civil rights organization that seeks to protect a religious community, said Cindy Nesbit, senior staff attorney for the Sikh Coalition. We were definitely concerned by the courts interpretation.
A demonstration was staged in front of the Chinese Embassy here in the Netherlands by Hague based non-profit group Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and World Uyghur Congress (WUC), as part of Doppa Day celebrations on May 5.

Every year Uyghur Community around the world celebrate Doppa Day. Doppa is a traditional hat worn by the Uyghurs to protect their cultural heritage. As many as 65 persons participated in the protest which included Uyghurs wearing Doppa hats, and some Dutch nationals.

Slogans were shouted for boycotting the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 and condemning the genocide of the Uyghurs. Other slogans included 'Free Uyghur Now', 'Fascist China ', and 'No Rights No Games'.

WUC President Dolkun Isa also took part in the demonstration and addressed the gathering in which he called for a boycott of the Olympics.

Along with the demonstration a van was mobilised with an electronic banner in support of Tibet. The van was deployed in front of the Chinese Embassy and later moved around the Parliament, ICJ and Embassies of Western countries.

The demonstration was followed by a press conference in which the WUC President was present along with a few others. The highlight was the address by Dolkun regarding atrocities against Uyghurs and the boycott of the Winter Olympics.

A camp survivor also narrated her experience in the 're-education camps' and instances of sexual abuse, rape and forced sterilisation faced by Uyghur women.

(ANI)

Also Read: G-7 countries back Taiwan's observer status in World Health Assembly
OPINION: "I am disheartened by our current administrations pattern of blanket giveaways, as opposed to judiciously allocating the funds to where they are most needed," writes Tucsonan John Newport.
Limco Airepair is located at 5304 S. Lawton Ave., just southeast of the Interstate 44/U.S. 75 interchange in west Tulsa.

I am thrilled to welcome TAT Technologies to Oklahoma, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement.

Our aerospace sector continues to grow and this announcement is even more exciting as it includes the growth of one of our own  Limco. Oklahoma is a premier location for aerospace operations, and I am proud that TAT has chosen our state for this investment.

TATs customers include companies such as Boeing, Embraer, Collins, Lockheed Martin, Delta and Lufthansa.

Limco has been a staple of Tulsas aerospace and aviation maintenance hub for decades , Geoff Camp, state director for aerospace and defense for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said in statement.

TAT realized what aerospace and defense companies around the world are noticing; Oklahoma provides them unbeatable business economics, unmatched access to appropriately skilled talent and an extremely supportive environment to operate a successful business. We look forward to supporting their transition and helping them prosper in Tulsa.

Arthur Jackson is senior vice president of economic development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
After the screenplay was completed, first-time producers Davis and Hartley realized they needed an expert, visionary storyteller to bring the film to life, according to a news release. That person was McIntosh.

Ive always wanted to make an action-comedy, McIntosh said. With that said, Stick Up is undoubtedly the most fun Ive ever had making a movie, and I think it shows in the film. Its not much different from when we played cops and robbers on the playground as kids  except now, the guns actually go boom.

McIntoshs family/fantasy film Movie Magic and heist comedy micro-short Ballbusted screened at deadCenter in previous years.

Stick Up is anchored by a gun-toting, rock n roll-loving female protagonist who finds herself in an increasingly sticky situation.

It was so exciting to dive into a character that is strong, but doesnt know her strength yet, Hartley says. Its all about her discovering what shes really capable of. Plus, we need more female leads in action films, right?
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals previously ruled in another death-row case, that of Shaun Michael Bosse, that jurisdictional claims can never be waived and can be brought up at any time.

A Stephens County jury convicted Bench in 2015 of first-degree murder in the beating death of Braylee Henry, 16.

Henrys body was found in June 2012 on the Bench family property after she told others that she was going to a convenience store.

Bench was arrested while driving Henrys car in Custer County.

Attorneys for Bench claim that he was mentally ill at the time of Henrys death.

Bench claimed in his post-conviction relief application that the state of Oklahoma did not have the right to try him for murder because he is a member of the Choctaw Nation and the crime occurred within the Chickasaw Nation reservation.

Last summers McGirt Supreme Court ruling that the Muscogee Nation reservation had not been disestablished means crimes involving American Indians that occurred within much of eastern Oklahoma were not the jurisdiction of the state but rather federal or tribal authorities.
The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission last month unanimously approved a rezoning application for the property to allow for the new use. City councilors, who have final say over whether the project goes forward, discussed it during a Wednesday committee meeting.

Councilor Lori Decter Wright, who represents the district where the senior housing project would be located, said she supports it 100%. She reminded her colleagues that the citys Affordable Housing Strategy has identified the need for at least 4,000 more affordable housing units.

If you think of that from an economic standpoint, thats at least 170, or if there is a couple living there, even twice as many folks to shop at the grocery stores, and frequent the restaurants, use the gas station, use public transportation, Wright said. So I think it is a very good use.

Councilor Jayme Fowler said city officials often talk about making data-driven decisions and questioned Wright about whether that same approach was used in vetting Exact Capital.
Oklahomas multicounty grand jury on Thursday issued a wake-up call to the public, state policymakers and Epic Charter Schools parents themselves about the financial practices of the founders and operators of the states largest school system.

In a rare, inside look at an ongoing criminal inquiry, the grand jury filed in Oklahoma County District Court an interim report outlining the need for new safeguards and greater transparency requirements before even more taxpayer dollars are allocated to Epic.

The grand jury report blasted Epics own governing board for failure in fiduciary duty to its students and in accounting to the state of Oklahoma.

It detailed the shifting of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars for school expenses into the private accounts of Epic Youth Services, the for-profit school management company that has reportedly made millionaires of Epic co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris, who themselves hand-picked school governing board members.

As designed this system is ripe for fraud, the report states.

It also called for potential policy changes to be considered by the Oklahoma Legislature and greater oversight by Epics school sponsors and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Zumwalt said about 50 were waiting outside when the doors opened early for veterans.

The hospitality industry ... restaurants, hotels ... theyve been hit really hard, Zumwalt said.

I get emails nearly every day from employers every day saying were trying to hire people, can you help us.

Right now its an employee market, Zumwalt said. I dont think that will be the case in a couple months.

In March, Tulsas preliminary unemployment rate was 4.2%

She said the job fair was the OESCs opportunity to give back to workers and job seekers alike.

Were trying to do our part to connect employers and our claimants so the claimants arent waiting until the very end of this benefits cycle when the job market is probably going to be different than it is now, Zumwalt said.

Temporary federal unemployment benefits are scheduled to expire the first week of September, Zumwalt said. Those benefits include a temporary $300 weekly payment, on top of regular unemployment benefits.

I think theres definitely a case to be made where that money is de-incentivizing people to return to the workforce, Zumwalt said.
President Joe Bidens desire to have universal early childhood education would give the nation what Oklahoma has offered for 25 years.

The state is a national leader in early education expansion that includes options for parents, a research institution and higher education credentials for pre-K teachers.

In 1998, the state education department added 4-year-olds to the per-pupil funding for public school districts to develop voluntary programs. It became the second state in the U.S. to offer free pre-K to all parents.

Now, nearly every Oklahoma district has a pre-K option with more than 75% of the states 4-year-olds enrolled in those public programs.

Early education is meant to better prepare children for elementary classrooms. Before Oklahomas universal pre-K, many children were arriving for kindergarten and first grade without basic skills such as writing their name, recognizing letters or holding a book.

This was particularly so in low-income neighborhoods. Children starting out behind have a much more difficult time accelerating.

Rather than target early education to specific groups, state officials decided all children would benefit. That has proven correct.
The last four years have put Oklahomas ugliness on full display.

Conservative Oklahomans would rather see their neighbors die than be inconvenienced by masks or social distancing or vaccines. They would rather vote for a known liar and con artist to own the libs than pursue a course of action that would benefit them.

They would rather support lesser gun restrictions and persecute minorities than repair our crumbling infrastructure and educate our children.

It seems that they would rather hurt anyone and destroy anything than admit that their views are wrong.

Sadly, not much has changed.

I frequently see people lamenting how Oklahoma used to be a better place, and I wonder what state theyre talking about.

Ive seen this ugliness my whole life: an unending desire by the so-called Moral Majority to force people to conform to a perverse view of Christianity, to hand the keys of government over to the greediest and least-qualified, to oppress anyone who is different.

Thats the spirit of Oklahoma that Ive known my whole life. Its just become more openly vulgar and willfully ignorant.
By choosing traditional Vietnamese paper to complete his new Origami models, Nguyen Nam Son has put Vietnam on the global map.

Like other people who have a passion for Origami, which is the Japanese art of paper folding, Son started to fold horses, cranes, and simple flowers when he was a newbie.

After eight years of practice, he was able to create various and unique models of Origami.

One thing that makes Sons models unique is the paper material from which he creates the models.

Son uses do paper, which is a kind of material made from the inner bark of 'do' trees traditionally produced in many villages in Vietnam, to fold Origami models.

There are many ways to make Origami models, but I figure out one way for myself," Son, a 27-year-old employee working in Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

"I only fold a model in a square of paper, without using scissors and glue to make it unique.

Despite not being the first Vietnamese mastering the Origami art, I hope my creative models will inspire other young people to pursue the passion."

Origami models reflect ones characteristics

Son learned about Origami for the first time eight years ago thanks to reading the comic series 'Origami Fighter.'

After reading the series, he began learning to fold the models of Origami from the instructions in the book series.

Son was also preparing for a university entrance exam at that time so he spent around 30 minutes every day folding Origami models as a way of relaxing after hours of hard study.

On top of that, the art of paper folding helped him learn better, especially in geometry, imagination, and logic, and equipped him with patience and carefulness.

Son applied knowledge from mathematics, literature, and history to become better at mastering Origami.

As an Origami newbie, Son chose to fold simple models, including many popular existing types.

He then looked for information on the Internet and set about creating his own models.

Like the art of painting, when you create an Origami, the model would reflect your personality very clearly," said Son.

When you fold a model, it will show what your personality is.

"As for me, I am good at folding animals and mythological animals."

Son is interested in folding fantastic animals in ancient myths such as the horse, dragon, phoenix, unicorn, and deer.

The more complicated the models are, the more enthusiastic and eager he becomes.

Folding an Origami model goes through many stages: designing a folding model, making a scratch on a designing application, folding the model for testing, preparing 'do' paper, and then folding the final model.

The most important phase is setting a proper proportion on a paper, according to Son.

The model could become a failure if the proportion is not set exactly.

At the stage of folding for testing, Son has to check again whether the proportion is correct or not.

He would have to start from scratch again if the proportion is not perfect at this stage.

There were some complicated types that made me fold again and again, Son said.

"They forced me to fold for testing around six to eight times before having a successful model."

Among the diverse types of models that have been made for the last eight years, what Son likes most is the model of a European dragon that is inspired by the blockbuster 'Lord of the Ring,' Greek mythology, and Norse mythology.

To map out the way to fold the dragon, Son uses a sheet of paper, measuring 1m x 1m, that would be divided into 128 equal parts.

It took Son around two months to figure out the idea of designing and produce the model.

The finishing phase then cost him another month.

Sons model of the dragon has been displayed at the museum of Zaragoza in Spain.

I am so proud that a Vietnamese Origami model gets a warm welcome abroad," the young man told Tuoi Tre.

"I required the organizers to show my full name in the Vietnamese style, which is written Nguyen Nam Son.'

Many people offered to buy my work of art, some asking me to fold models for them.

Thanks to the competition, I had a chance to meet with many foreign friends in the art of paper folding."

The secret of 'do' paper

With the aim of creating Origami models on just one sheet of paper and without the use of glue or scissors, Son finds the most important challenge he must address is to find out a suitable material.

According to Son, there are four most important criteria he must meet when it comes to choosing a kind of paper for folding.

They are durable, foldable, easy to color, and shape.

Son has tried to use various kinds of paper material that exist in Vietnam in vain.

He found 'do' paper by chance when he was reading about the traditional paper used to draw ancient paintings in Dong Ho Village, located in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

Given the fact that Dong Ho paintings remain intact after hundreds of years due to using this kind of paper, Son went to villages in the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Bac Ninh to get to know about the production of 'do' paper.

At first, Son found that 'do' paper is thin, easier to tear, and has a plain white color.

He tried to combine various kinds of glue to create natural colors and varied patterns that he wants to have for Origami models.

The models Son posted on Facebook and Instagram have caught the attention of the people who share the same passion.

Many of them were so curious about the kind of paper Son had used that they contacted him to place an order for the material.

Despite having a big love for Origami, Son considers it as a hobby apart from his main career.

He must find ways to balance between them.

He spends from 45 minutes to one hour per day immersing himself in Origami creation.

Son intends to continue to take part in Origami international competitions in the future.

He plans to join some of his friends in publishing a book giving instructions on folding Origami.

In 2016, Nguyen Nam Son secured the second prize at the Global Creative Jongie Jupgi Contest held by Jon le Nara Museum, South Korea. In 2017, Son contributed his model to the exhibition held by Zaragoza Museum in Spain.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A top scientific adviser to the Indian government warned on Wednesday the country would inevitably face further waves of the coronavirus pandemic, as almost 4,000 people died in the space of a day.

With hospitals scrabbling for beds and oxygen in response to a deadly second surge in infections, the World Health Organization said in a weekly report that India accounted for nearly half the coronavirus cases reported worldwide last week and a quarter of the deaths.

Many people have died in ambulances and car parks waiting for a bed or oxygen, while morgues and crematoriums struggle to deal with a seemingly unstoppable flow of bodies.

The government's principal scientific adviser, K. VijayRaghavan, warned that even after infection rates subside the country should be ready for a third wave.

"Phase 3 is inevitable, given the high levels of circulating virus," he told a news briefing. "But it is not clear on what timescale this phase 3 will occur... We should prepare for new waves."

Healthcare workers and relatives carry a woman from an ambulance for treatment at a COVID-19 care facility, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mumbai, India, May 4, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been widely criticised for not acting sooner to suppress the second wave, after religious festivals and political rallies drew tens of thousands of people in recent weeks and became "super spreader" events.

"We are running out of air. We are dying," the Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy wrote in an opinion piece that called for Modi to step down.

"This is a crisis of your making," she added in the article published on Tuesday. "You cannot solve it. You can only make it worse....So please go."

Indias delegation to the Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in London is self-isolating after two of its members tested positive for COVID-19, Britain said on Wednesday

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who is in London, said in a Twitter message that he would attend virtually.

Relatives are seen next to the body of a man who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as they wait for a grave to be prepared for his burial at a graveyard on the outskirts of Srinagar May 4, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Government resisting lockdown

Deaths rose by a record 3,780 during the past 24 hours, health ministry data showed, and daily infections rose by 382,315 on Wednesday. The number has been in excess of 300,000 every day for the past two weeks.

Medical experts say India's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies. The country has added 10 million cases in just over four months, after taking more than 10 months to reach its first 10 million.

The opposition has urged a nationwide lockdown, but the government is reluctant to impose one for fear of the economic fallout, although several states have adopted social curbs.

In the latest move the eastern state of West Bengal, where voters dealt Modi's party a defeat in an election last week, suspended local train services and limited working hours for banks and jewellery shops, among its steps to limit infections.

The central bank asked banks on Wednesday to allow more time for some borrowers to repay loans, as the crisis threatens a nascent economic revival.

Pranav Mishra, 19, reacts next to the body of his mother Mamta Mishra, 45, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), before her cremation at a crematorium ground in New Delhi, India, May 4, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Fall in vaccinations, testing

The surge in infections has coincided with a dramatic drop in vaccinations because of supply and delivery problems, despite India being a major vaccine producer.

At least three states, including Maharashtra, home to the commercial capital of Mumbai, have reported a scarcity of vaccines, shutting down some inoculation centres.

Lengthy queues formed outside two centres in the western city that still have vaccine supplies, and some of those waiting pleaded for police to open their gates earlier.

The government said production capacity for the antiviral drug remdesivir, used to treat COVID-19 patients, has trebled to 10.3 million vials per month, up from 3.8 million vials a month ago.

But daily testing has fallen sharply to 1.5 million, state-run Indian Council of Medical Research said, off a peak of 1.95 million on Saturday.

Lilaben Gautambhai Modi, 80, wearing an oxygen mask, sits inside an ambulance as she waits to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ahmedabad, India, May 5, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Outbreak spreading

Two "oxygen express" trains carrying liquid oxygen arrived in the capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday, railways minister Piyush Goyal said on Twitter. More than 25 trains have distributed oxygen supplies nationwide.

The government says supplies are sufficient but transport woes have hindered distribution.

Meanwhile, the outbreak continues to spread.

In the remote state of Mizoram bordering Myanmar, beds in its biggest coronavirus hospital are in such short supply that all victims of other diseases have been asked to leave, said government official Dr Z R Thiamsanga.

Just three of a total 14 ventilators were still available.

Beds are seen inside a Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) converted into a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) care facility amidst the spread of the COVID-19 in New Delhi, India May 5, 2021. Photo: Reuters

"In my opinion, a complete lockdown is required to control the situation," he told Reuters from the state capital, Aizawl.

Neighbouring Nepal is also being overwhelmed by a surge of infections as India's outbreak spreads across South Asia, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

With 57 times as many cases as a month ago, Nepal is seeing 44% of tests come back positive, it added. Towns near the border with India are unable to cope with the growing numbers seeking treatment, while just 1% of its population was fully vaccinated.
The Vietnam Fisheries Society (Vinafish) has strongly rejected Chinas fishing ban in the East Vietnam Sea, affirming that Beijing has no right to impose such a prohibition in the Vietnamese waters.

Vinafish released its vehement opposition on Wednesday after China announcedon April 27 its 2021 fishing ban, effective from May 1, an action that the society deemed unilateral, unruly, and wrongful.

The ban, which is scheduled to last until September 16, applies to certain areas in the East Vietnam Sea that encompass a part of the Gulf of Tonkin and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago under Vietnamese sovereignty.

The objection was sent to the Government Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations on the same day, the society reported.

In its objection, Vinafish asserted that such a fishing embargo is a serious violation of Vietnams sovereignty over its waters and archipelagos in the East Vietnam Sea.

It added that the proscription has not only infringed upon Vietnams rights and interests related to the country's exclusive economic zone, but also breached international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and ran against the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC).

The enactment of the prohibition can cause the risk of clashes between Vietnams law enforcement forces as well as its fishing vessels and Chinese maritime forces, hindering the normal activity of Vietnamese fishermen in waters under Vietnamese sovereignty, Vinafish warned.

China's ban on fishing in Vietnam's waters is void," Vinafish asserted.

"China has no right to impose any veto on fishing in Vietnams waters."

The society requested that China immediately terminate its fishing ban in the East Vietnam Sea, including the Vietnamese waters.

Vinafish also asked agencies concerned to strongly oppose Chinas fishing prohibition and take drastic measures to immediately prevent the bar in order to protect Vietnams sea and island sovereignty, marine resources, and Vietnamese fishermen at sea.

The society will closely coordinate with local fisheries societies and other relevant agencies in supporting fishermen and putting their mind at rest so that they can continue fishing at sea, contributing to the protection of Vietnams marine sovereignty.

Several days before the societys objection, Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had emphasized Vietnams opposition to Chinas recent fishing ban and pointed out that the embargo has violated Vietnamese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and infringed the 1982 UNCLOS.

Viet made the statements at the ministrys regular press conference in Hanoi on April 29.

This unilateral veto also runs against the DOC and is not in line with the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, Viet said.

Vietnam resolutely objects any acts harming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as the countrys sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over its waters, the Vietnam News Agency cited the diplomat as saying.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

COVID-19 Updates

-- Vietnam recorded eight local COVID-19 cases at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi on Thursday morning, bringing the national tally to 3,030 patients, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.

-- On Wednesday afternoon, Dong Nai authorities cordoned off a small alley on Ngo Quyen Street, Xuan Thanh Ward, Long Khanh City for the next 21 days after a new case of COVID-19 infection was identified in the neighborhood.

-- Vietnam has extended its concentrated quarantine duration from 14 to 21 days for both international arrivals and people who come into contact with COVID-19 patients.

Society

-- Police in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Phuoc detected six Chinese people suspected to enter Vietnam illegally on Wednesday afternoon.

-- A blaze that broke out at Phu Bai Industrial Zone in Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam on Wednesday evening heavily destroyed a 1,000-square-meter textile company.

-- A woman in Hanoi has been tricked into losing VND420 million (US$18,000) to a person who claimed to be an employee of the Government Office.

-- Police in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong have found a Taiwanese and a Vietnamese man who appropriated VND34 billion ($1.4 million) from online game players.

Education

-- Dong Nai Province authorities demanded on Wednesday that K-12 schools in the southern locality be shuttered from Wednesday until further notice to prevent COVID-19 spread.

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China's tourism market embraces robust recovery over May Day holiday

Xinhua) 10:28, May 06, 2021

-- 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.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Hanoi authorities are calling for increased vigilance against the spread of COVID-19 and requresting local residents to refrain from leaving their homes unless out of necessity.

Following last weeks re-emergence of COVID-19 in Vietnam, Chu Ngoc Anh, chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, urged city officials of all levels to guard against the risk of widespread outbreaks in an official letter issued on Wednesday.

City authorities have also been tasked with taking the lead in complying with Vietnams official COVID-19 prevention mandates.

The official document also urged city residents to refrain from leaving their homes unless necessary, as well as to file health declarations, don face masks, avoid large crowds, and socially distance in public spaces.

Chairman Anh charged health authorities with remaining vigilant against COVID-19 transmission in health facilities in order to continue treating the sick and minimize human loss.

Contact tracing must also be prioritized, with all direct contacts of local infection cases to be tested and quarantined and indirect contacts put under scrutiny, he said.

Epidemiological investigations should focus on specific areas in order to minimize disruption to businesses while effectively containing outbreaks.

Areas isolated following the detection of COVID-19 cases should be thoroughly cordoned off and households inside such areas instructed to maintain social distancing.

With legislative elections slated for May 23, the Hanoi chairman called on all voting venues in the city to remain diligent in their efforts to uphold COVID-19 prevention measures.

On Wednesday, Vietnams Ministry of Health announced 14 new coronavirus cases at the Dong Anh District branch of the local National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a central-level hospital that tends to COVID-19 patients. The hospital has since been placed on lockdown.

Vietnam has confirmed 3,030 coronavirus infections, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to health ministry data.

The government has so far vaccinated almost 676,000 individuals since rolling out its first immunization campaign on March 8, according to a statement posted to Facebook via a verified health ministry account on Thursday.

The campaign was restricted to medical staff and 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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The B1 basement of the Ba Son metro station belonging to the first metro line project, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, in Ho Chi Minh City has been completed 31 days ahead of schedule, according to the municipal Management Authority for Urban Railways.

Construction of the basement was initially planned for completion in June this year.

This is one of the two floors of the Ba Son station, which is built underground at a depth of about 20 meters, covering an area of 240 meters long and 34.5 meters wide.

The B1 basement features a wavy design to resemble the waves on the Saigon River and houses the lobby, ticket vending machines, electronic toll gates, and information guide kiosks for passengers.

The B2 basement accommodates the metro platform, where trains stop and park to pick up and drop off passengers.

There are five entrances and exits at the station, including one on the sidewalk next to VPBank Tower Saigon, one on the sidewalk on the side of Ba Son Company, one located on the bank of the Saigon River, and the other two connected to the Saigon - Ba Son commercial office building complex project.

Inside the B1 basement of the Ba Son station under the Ben Thanh  Suoi Tien metro line in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Previously, the first basement of the Municipal Theater station of metro line No. 1 was also finished earlier than schedule.

The underground section connecting these two stations of the urban railway project has also reached 95 percent completion, according to Sarashina, director of the construction package, despite the COVID-19 challenges.

The Ba Son and Municipal Theater metro stations are among the three subterranean stations of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro route project, which runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City and is 19.7km long, including 2.6km underground railways and 17.1km elevated railways.

The project includes 11 stations above the ground.

An escalator inside the Ba Son station under the Ben Thanh  Suoi Tien metro line in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Construction started in August 2012, and about 85 percent of the work has been finished.

The Management Authority for Urban Railways said it was working with relevant units to accelerate the construction of other parts of the metro project, including rails, electromechanical systems, signal and information systems, and stations.

Two more trains for the metro route are expected to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City from Japan on May 9, before being transported by road to Long Binh Depot, the metro lines technical and service station in Thu Duc City, from May 10 to 12.

A birds-eye view of the Ba Son station under the Ben Thanh  Suoi Tien metro line in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

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Areas throughout Ho Chi Minh City, particularly near bridges, empty land plots, and roads, have gradually turned into big landfills due to indiscriminate dumping over the years.

With waste, old furniture, broken glass, and discarded toilets piling up at the end of the Rach Chiec Bridge in Thu Duc City and plastic waste, packaging, and construction cluttering the area under the Saigon Bridge in Binh Thanh District, it is clear Ho Chi Minh City is battling a litter epidemic.

On Luong Ngoc Quyen Street in Go Vap District, local residents often wake up to heaps of garbage in front of their houses though street sweepers regularly clean the area.

According to X.M., a 27-year-old local, many people who visit Luong Ngoc Quyen Street for morning exercise have recently complained that the area has become too polluted with trash.

[Litterers] throw away trash at night to avoid attention, M. said.

Trash is dumped on the sidewalk of a street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Indiscriminate dumping remains rampant across the city despite regulations declaring littering and burning trash in public carrying fines of VND5-8 million (US$217-347).

Nguyen Duy Khanh, a street sweeper with 14 years of experience in Ho Chi Minh City, complained that he and his colleagues have become increasingly frustrated with indiscriminate trashing.

There are several cleaning sessions a year carried out to handle indiscriminate dumping, with most of them on public holidays and the Lunar New Year, Khanh said.

The longer trash is left untouched, the more it stinks and the more difficult it becomes to clean.

The street sweeper added that cleaning litter entails many risks, such as injury and illness due to suffering from pollution or other types of waste of unknown origin.

Construction waste is dumped on vacant land plots in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Like Khanh, Thuan, another street sweeper in District 6, said that trying to prevent people from indiscriminate dumping was like water off a ducks back.

I asked them to avoid dumping trash but they didn't listen, Thuan complained.

Trash is dicarded everywhere, from vacant land lots to right in front of peoples houses.

To tackle indiscriminate dumping, Nguyen Kien Trung, deputy chairman of Ward 5 in Go Vap District where this issue has been prevalent, said that local authorities will coordinate with the ward police and other units to beef up inspection and install surveillance cameras in the vicinity.

Construction waste is dumped next to a sign banning dumping in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Ut / Tuoi Tre

An old toilet is discarded along a road in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Ut / Tuoi Tre

Trash is dumped along National Highway 1 in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Ut / Tuoi Tre

Trash is dumped at the foot of the Rach Chiec Bridge in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Ut / Tuoi Tre

Trash is dumped at the foot of the Rach Chiec Bridge in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Kim Ut / Tuoi Tre

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Vietnams Ministry of Health has decided to extend the countrys mandatory quarantine period to 21 days following several cases of people testing positive for COVID-19 after completing their 14-day quarantine.

The 21-day quarantine has been applicable to all international arrivals and direct contacts of COVID-19 patients from Wednesday.

Each quarantined individual will have to undergo COVID-19 tests on the first, 14th, and 20th days of their quarantine stay.

Following their release from quarantine, they will have their health monitored by authorities at their place of residence for another seven days, rather than the 14 days of monitoring stipulated in previous regulations.

Those under monitoring will be tested for COVID-19 a fourth time on the final day of their home quarantine period.

The health ministry had consulted epidemiology and virology experts before making the decision, according to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Health departments and centers for disease control in localities throughout the country have been tasked with imposing strict prevention and control measures at local quarantine facilities in order to prevent transmission within these venues.

Minister Long also requested all localities review cases of foreigners who recently entered Vietnam and conduct COVID-19 tests on high-risk groups of people such as employees at discos, bars, karaoke shops, and massage parlors.

He also called on the public to continue following the five rules of COVID-19 prevention and control, namely wearing face masks, disinfecting, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, and filling out health declarations.

Vietnam had documented 3,030 COVIDD-19 cases as of Thursday morning, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the health ministrys statistics.

Sixty-four local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27.

Vietnam recently detected several cases of people testing positive for COVID-19 after completing their 14-day quarantine.

In late April, a Vietnamese national returning from Japan was found to be infected with the novel coronavirus after finishing 14-day quarantine and causing a cluster of infections in the northern province of Ha Nam.

Earlier this week, an Indian expert tested positive for COVID-19 after finishing his quarantine period and returning to his apartment in Hanoi.

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Vietnam recorded a whopping daily increase of 64 domestic coronavirus infections on Thursday, one-third at a hospital in Hanoi, according to the Ministry of Health.

Twenty-four of the cases were registered at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, 11 in Vinh Phuc Province, five in Thai Binh Province, 12 in Bac Ninh Province, four in other venues in the capital city, one in Hai Duong Province, two in Hung Yen Province, and one in Quang Ngai Province, the health ministry said in a report on Thursday.

Hanoi is at very high risk of COVID-19 spread as the latest patients have visited many places and had contact with a lot of people, Hoang Duc Hanh, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, said the same day.

The Vietnamese capital has logged 47 community cases since Tuesday, including 42 infections at the said hospital, which is also designated as a COVID-19 treatment facility.

At least 52 patients in 15 provinces and cities can be traced back to the hospital in this latest outbreak, which started hitting Vietnam on April 27 after the country had spent over a month detecting zero local cases.

A total of 120 domestically-transmitted cases have been confirmed since then.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces have closed non-essential services such as karaoke parlors, nightclubs, discos, and online game centers to curb the virus.

The health ministry also announced four imported cases on Thursday, all having been quarantined since their arrival in Vietnam.

The 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 has been applicable from the same day.

Vietnam has logged 3,090 coronavirus patients, including 1,690 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.

Vietnam has recorded no virus-related fatalities for months on end.

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Police in Vietnam's Binh Duong Province are offering VND100 million (US$4,300) to anyone who can provide information that leads to the capture of a man who killed a local dentist early this week.

The criminal police under the provincial Department of Public Security announced the cash reward on Wednesday evening, two days after 33-year-old P.V.T., a dentist of a private clinic, was stabbed by a man during an attempted motorbike theft.

The fatal assault occurred at around 10:00 pm on Tuesday at a local pool hall near the dentists, when the victim saw a man attempting to steal a motorcycle parked in front of the dental clinic, located on D37 Street in the Viet Sing residential area, An Phu Ward, Thuan An City.

T. then ran back to his clinic to stop the man from stealing the vehicle.

The thief then stabbed the dentist.

After the stabbing, the attacker fled the scene on a motorbike driven by his accomplice.

The victim was taken to hospital for emergency aid but did not survive.

Security camera footage of the event depicts the murderer as a 1.7-meter-tall man in a dark green T-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, a black cap, and a blue medical mask.

Local police are seeking help from the public in their hunt for the murderer by asking anyone with information about the killer or his whereabouts to step forward and report their findings to police officers.

Police will protect any informants by keeping their personal identity absolutely confidential, the department said, adding that anyone who can provide information that leads to the capture of the perpetrator will be rewarded with VND100 million.

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Spreading misinformation on Da Nangs COVID-19 situation is a violation of Vietnamese law and will be punished accordingly, the municipal Department of Information and a Communications stated in a recent announcement.

According to Nguyen Quang Thanh, director of the department, several sources have disseminated misinformation regarding Da Nangs coronavirus situation on social media in recent weeks.

Several accounts have doxed COVID-19 patients, violating their privacy, as stated in Article 8 of Vietnams Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.

Meanwhile, several other sources are accused of spreading false statements regarding epidemic transmission in the city, an act also considered unlawful in Vietnam.

Violators could be penalized with fines as high as VND30 million ($1,300), according to a decree on penalties for legal breaches in communications and information technology.

The Da Nang Department of Information and Communications also called on residents to refrain from spreading news from unofficial sources, as well as unverified information and the private details of patients.

The city is stepping up prevention measures to prevent another outbreak.

Over two dozen people had been fined a total of VND34 million (US$1,474) for failure to wear face masks in public in Da Nang as of Tuesday.

Director Thanh stated that authorities will continue patrolling public and crowded locations to ensure that residents comply with COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Authorities in Son Tra District also asked residents to refrain from swimming at local beaches in light of a prohibition on the activity declared by the municipal administration from 0:00 on Tuesday.

Vietnam has confirmed 3,030 coronavirus infections, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to the health ministrys data.

Sixty-four local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27, including two cases in Da Nang.

The government has vaccinated more than almost 676,000 people since its roll-out of mass immunization on March 8, it said in a report via its verified Facebook account on Thursday.

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 stall the coronavirus.

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Tonight on Back Roads guest presenter Kristy OBrien heads out to north-west Queensland and big cattle country, Cloncurry.

The ABC News and Landline reporter was born and bred in the Sunshine state.

Mitakoodi Country and Kalkadoon Country.

She knows drought and hard times are all part of the landscape and lifestyle in the outback. But in early 2019, mother nature unleashed a whole other level of natural disaster on the region. At first, a tropical monsoon was met with joy by people living in the lower gulf and north-west Queensland. Graziers welcomed the drenching rain after a brutal seven-year drought but then, the deluge kept coming. Flooding rain and freezing winds battered northern Queensland for a week.

By the time the slow-motion disaster had rolled out, more than 500,000 head of cattle had perished, and graziers struggled to deal with the enormity of the devastation. Kristy asks the question, how do people out here keep getting back up?

In Cloncurry, she found the community rallied together. Professional photographer and grazier Jacqueline Curley put out an urgent call for help from the isolated region. Her heartbreaking photos went viral, and help flooded in. I think it brought the best out in everybody for a long time, just trying to help each other, she said.

Susan and Peter Dowling launched an online fundraising campaign and Australians responded, donating $1.3 million within weeks. People who were in drought themselves were donating just to help the cause, says Susan. That was phenomenal.

Support came from all areas as government, individuals and organisations swung in to help with financial and practical assistance. The regions Flying Padre, David Ellis, says people right through the community were impacted. He uses a light plane to visit his community, which spans an area three-times the size of Victoria. These are great salt of the earth people, theres a genuineness and integrity, a wholeness about their lives thats just amazing.

It is a community that pulls together in the tough times. From a saddle bronc riding school supporting mens mental health to an outback spirt lifting paint and sip session, Kristy finds the people of Cloncurry know how to look out for their mates and that getting back on the horse is a way of life.

Executive Producer, Brigid Donovan. Story Producer, Kathy McLeish

8pm tonight on ABC.

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2015 Block contestant Suzi Taylor, who has attracted numerous headlines around conduct, will be released from custody after more than 70 charges against her were dropped.

Taylor pleaded guilty almost 30 charges, including possessing small amounts of cocaine and cannabis.

Last month, the District Court cleared Taylor on more serious extortion charges, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault after she was accused of attacking a man at her apartment in October 2019.

Dozens of charges were dropped in Brisbane Magistrates Court today, with the prosecutor offering no evidence on more than 70 offences.

She has already spent some 202 days in custody with more than a month in solitary confinement, the court was told.

Lawyer Michael Gatenby said Taylor was set up by Channel Nine while on bail in what he described as an outrageous stitch-up that led to assault charges for which she escaped punishment.

My client was portrayed as a piece of trash, Gatenby said.

She was vilified and crucified in an outrageous stitch-up, and all contributed  she has gone downhill rapidly.

Gatenby added Taylor had significant mental health issues including seizures, panic attacks, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Magistrate Stephen Courtney said her story was a sad one.

There has been a real deterioration of your position and mental health, he said.

When one really drills down to it, while there are a lot of charges  the charges each and of themselves do not reach a high level of seriousness. apart from unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

You will be released today because you have things in place, particularly to deal with your mental health  I urge you to do so, otherwise this cycle will continue.

If you hadnt done 202 days [in custody], it may well have been a suspended sentence or community service  good luck.

Source: Seven News, The Age

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EXCLUSIVE: Veteran TV host Johnny Young believes Young Talent Time deserves the title of Australias longest running variety program, a title which arguably lays with Hey Hey its Saturday.

Daryl claims that Hey Hey was the longest running variety program. It wasnt because halfway through his run on Channel Nine, he left and went to Channel 10. So he never had the run we were on air for 18 years, he tells TV Tonight.

Hey Hey its Saturday ran for 29 seasons starting from 1971  1977, then 1979  1999, plus revivals in 2009  2010. It will mark its 50th anniversary in October, which YTT has coincidentally just celebrated. Alas for Young, even Hey Heys 1979-99 run it outstrips YTT by two years.

I say this with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek (because) Daryl and I, the morning after the Logies, always used to go and have lunch in Kew. We both lived near each other. We were mates, Young insists.

He was on Saturday mornings but they nearly got the arse because they werent going anywhere. They put them up against Young Talent Time and it killed us. The kids liked the duck. John Farnham got Whispering Jack and it took them nearly two years to kill us. But it killed us.

Young also said 10s YTT revival failed because producers didnt understand the shows true appeal.

They hired a production company full of producers from England, who had no idea what Young Talent Time was about. They thought it was a teen program and it wasnt. It was for young kids and old people.

10 CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the revival when he was CEO in 2012 with host Rob Mills.

They tried to make it to be like Glee. They paid me a lot of money. The first episode got 1.7 million, which was great because it had lots of nostalgia in it, Young insists.

But the Murdochs said, We want Glee. They just got it all wrong. They thought it was too hokey.

Its a view that Rob Mills agrees with.

What happens when they do that is they take away the heart from it all. The kids were fantastic. I really enjoyed mentoring the kids, Mills also tells TV Tonight.

Glee is not what Young Talent Time is all about. But its still a fond memory. I still catch up with the kids and Id love to mentor some others.

Young Talent Time 50th Anniversary Reunion is streaming at Epicentre TV

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Skilling South Australia, a $200 million initiative, sees the South Australian Film Corporation and the federal government set to bolster local crew.

Twenty-five skilled workers from adjacent industries such as performing and visual arts, festivals and events, accountancy, trades, construction and more will undergo training to join the screen industry for the first time, while 25 existing crew will also be upskilled.

SA Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said, Its an exciting time for our states screen industry as we become an attractive destination for Australian and international productions.

SAFC has identified there are skill gaps within the following crew departments  Assistant Directing, Camera, Art Department, Production Office and Production Accounting.

They are specialised roles in the industry that rely on industry-led training and on-the-job exposure for workers to build suitable skills and competency.

The Australian Film Television Radio School will deliver industry-specific and tailored training for those roles.

This project will assist in meeting the increasing demand and deliver more jobs for South Australians.

It also contributes to the Creative Industries Strategy that sets a target average of five per cent growth per annum to 2030.

South Australia has welcomed an influx of film productions, including Mortal Kombat, the Stan original production, Gold, starring Zac Efron, and the See-Saw Films produced thriller, The Unknown Man, starring Joel Edgerton, as well as Stan, HBO and BBC series The Tourist, currently filming in the Flinders Ranges with Jamie Dornan.

South Australia was one of the first locations in the world to resume film and television production amid COVID delays, Pisoni said.

The South Australian Film Corporation has done a wonderful job facilitating a consistent pipeline of production for the state.

The economic benefits of local screen production extend to the construction, hospitality, transportation and retail sectors.

South Australian Film Corporation Chief Executive Kate Croser said, Interest in South Australia as a filming and production location is at an all-time high, and the opportunities for growth are simply enormous.

With so much production on the horizon and a growing demand for crew, the SAFC is constantly exploring ways to expand the states skills base such as through our

Attachments programs, which give up-and-coming screen practitioners priceless on-the-job training alongside professionals on productions, and our Master/Apprentice program, run in partnership with Mercury CX, the inaugural edition of which saw 15 crew members paired with experienced local Heads of Department for career mentoring across various departments of screen production, from camera, lighting and sound to costume and even accounting, with more than 60% of the participants already achieving paid work in the industry as a result.

The huge level of interest in our recent Technical Screen Careers Open Day, which attracted more than 140 registrations from skilled workers across the state wanting to learn more about screen career pathways, shows the huge potential for sector growth and employment opportunities.

www.safilm.com.au

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Southern Cross Austereo and Network 10 are still expecting to formalise a new affiliate deal from July 1.

The Australian Financial Review reports SCA chief executive Grant Blackley at the Macquarie Australia Conference, said discussions with Network 10 are proceeding well.

Southern Cross is already selling advertising packages for Network 10 programs in regional areas.

We are proceeding well with our negotiations for a three ad market affiliation in regional Queensland, south NSW and regional Victoria, he said.

We have a series of workflows and workstreams operating at this time and started selling on a post-July 1st basis yesterday for our new affiliate.

The news follows WIN Corporation returning to Nine from July.

Blackley is also a former 10 CEO.

Related
Bitso, a regulated crypto exchange in Latin America, announced today it has raised $250 million in a Series C round of funding that values the company at $2.2 billion.

Tiger Global and Coatue co-led the round, which also included participation from Paradigm, BOND & Valor Capital Group and existing backers QED, Pantera Capital and Kaszek.

The news caught our attention for several reasons. For one, it comes just four months after the startup raised $62 million in a Series B round. Secondly, the company believes the funding makes it the most valuable crypto platform in Latin America. And lastly, it also makes the company one of the most highly valued fintechs in the region.

Last year was a good one for Bitso, which says it processed more than $1.2 billion in international payments -- including remittances and payments between companies -- during 2020 alone. Bitso says it also has surpassed 2 million users. These two milestones, the company argues, is evidence of the growing use of crypto as an everyday financial tool in the region.

Demand for crypto assets and crypto-enabled financial products have soared in popularity both for individuals and businesses in the region, according to Bitso, which aims to be the safest, most transparent, and only regulatory compliant platform in Latin America. The company also says its the only player in the region to offer crypto-insurance for its client's funds.

"The growth of the crypto ecosystem this year has been remarkable. It took Bitso six years to get its first million clients. Now  less than 10 months later  we have reached the 2 million mark, said Bitso co-founder and CEO Daniel Vogel. But the metrics he is most proud of are that Bitso has also more than doubled the assets on its platform in the last five months and that its transacting volume during the 2021 first quarter exceeded the transaction volume it did in all of 2020.

Story continues

Bitso was founded in January 2014 and acquired its first customer in April of that year.

Bitsos mission, put simply, is to build next-generation borderless financial services for consumers and businesses alike. Cryptocurrencies are the future of finance and Bitso makes the future available today, the company says.

Bitso offers products and services for individuals and businesses to use crypto in their everyday life, Vogel said. In some parts of the world, crypto is associated with speculation. Bitsos customers rely on the technology for everyday uses from receiving remittances to engaging in international commerce.

Image Credits: Bitso

Bitso says its global-minded product offerings fit the needs of local customers in Mexico, Argentina and now Brazil, where it just launched its retail operations. The company plans to use its new capital toward broadening its capabilities and product offering. It also plans to expand its operations in other Latin American countries in the coming months. In January, the Financial Superintendence of Colombia announced Bitso as one of the authorized companies in its Sandbox and crypto pilot program.

Bitso's upcoming products include a crypto derivatives platform and interest bearing accounts for crypto.

This is a pivotal moment for the future of finance in Latin America, Vogel told TechCrunch. We see a significant amount of traditional financial infrastructure in the region being replaced by crypto. We plan to use this funding to continue that trend by expanding our product offering for individuals and businesses.

Naturally, Bitso's investors are bullish on the companys potential.

QED Investors co-founder and managing partner Nigel Morris admits that in the past he was a crypto denier.

For the longest time, we didn't see a way [that] crypto fit [into our portfolio]. It wasn't clear until recently that the use cases for crypto expanded much beyond speculative trading. There are now a whole series of conventional banking products that we can wrap around it, Morris told TechCrunch.

Bitsos mission, he said, is to make crypto useful and QED believes the company is succeeding at doing just that.

Daniel and the entire Bitso team is passionate about taking the mystique out of crypto. Crypto is not going away; its going to be here for the future, Morris said. By sitting at the intersection of crypto and traditional financial institutions, Bitso has a promise to provide lower-cost, friction-free financial services to entire populations of individuals who otherwise would be excluded -- a laudable and unique mission indeed.

Bitso, he added, is learning from the crypto experience in the U.S. and around the world.

Not making the same mistakes and leaning into the emerging regulatory landscape has been a competitive advantage to Bitso's success in Mexico, Morris said. As Bitso grows throughout the regions, they certainly have a leg up and might even leapfrog crypto adoption in the U.S.

"Crypto is rapidly gaining adoption in Latin America, said Tiger Global Partner Scott Shleifer, in a written statement. We are excited to partner with Bitso and believe they have the right team and platform to increase share in this growing market."

Founded in 2014, Bitso has more than 300 employees across 25 different countries. That compares to 116 employees last year at this time. In particular, its growth in Brazil is increasing exponentially.

Weve gone from 1 to 26 Bitsonauts already based in Brazil, with many more working from abroad, and plan to 3X our number of hires in Brazil by the end of the year, Vogel said, who acknowledged that the pandemic really impacted his company via the shift to remote work. As we expand our reach into new territories, it has become a lot easier to meet staffing needs when the requirements are based on knowledge over geography.

Bitsos leadership is mostly based in Mexico, but the company also has offices in Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo and Gibraltar.
Passengers are escorted through the arrivals area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport towards coaches destined for quarantine hotels. (Getty)

The governments red list travel policy has been branded ridiculous following reports of Britons flying home via Turkey to avoid quarantine costs.

According to the BBC, some travellers returning from red list countries, usually those with high coronavirus rates, are opting to detour so that they dont have to pay expensive hotel costs once back in the UK.

Stephen Reicher, a professor of social psychology and a member of the Sage subcommittee advising on behavioural science, criticised the governments policy for allowing the loophole.

He tweeted: Well surprise surprise! Of course the travel policy is ridiculous when you can go to a red list country and fly back via a green list country, or go to a resort in a green list country where you mix with other tourists from red list countries.

British citizens who have visited a country on the red list in the last 10 days must pay to stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel.

The cost for a single adult is 1,750, while it would cost 3,700 for a family of four with teenage children to stay at the hotel.

Travellers returning from countries not on the list must isolate for 10 days at home.

Watch: India added to UK travel red list as COVID cases spike

The BBC reports that some travellers returning from countries including Pakistan and India  where coronavirus rates and deaths have spiked dramatically in recent weeks  are flying to Istanbul, Turkey, to stay at hotels for a cheaper cost.

They are then flying back to the UK from Turkey  which is not on the red list  and avoiding the need to pay to stay at a quarantine hotel.

Travel agent Ascher Khawaja, from Bradford, told the BBC that some of his customers cant afford to come back.

Mohammad Saad, a businessman from Bradford who flew to Pakistan on 23 March to attend his nephews funeral, was due to fly home on 10 April  the day after Pakistan was added to the red list.

He told the BBC that he flew to Istanbul and paid 450 to stay for 10 days with his teenage son when he couldn't change their flights.

Story continues

He said: "It's like an extra holiday. Then you can fly back into the UK from Istanbul without any hotel quarantine.

Yahoo News UK has contacted the Department for Health and Social Care and the Foreign Office for a comment.

A quarantined traveller holds a sign up to the window of her room at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow Airport, a government-designated quarantine hotel. (Getty)

There are currently 40 countries on the UK red list, including India, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

The UK government website says that if you have been in or through any of the red list countries in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.

It adds that if you are a British or Irish national, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter but must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

A man holds a sign against a window at the government-designated quarantine hotel, the Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel. (Getty)

The ban on foreign holidays is expected to be lifted for people in England from 17 May as part of the next easing of coronavirus 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 quarantine, while those returning from somewhere on the amber list must self-isolate for at least five days.

Watch: How England will leave lockdown
FILE PHOTO: A cupboard is pictured in debris in Bento Rodrigues district, which was covered with mud after a dam owned by Vale SA and BHP Billiton Ltd burst, in Mariana

By Kirstin Ridley

LONDON (Reuters) - London's Court of Appeal will hear a request to revive a 5 billion pound ($6.95 billion) lawsuit against Anglo-Australian mining group BHP over a 2015 dam failure in Brazil, a court order showed.

Judge Nicholas Underhill has agreed to an oral hearing that could help to overturn a previous Court of Appeal decision which denied a 200,000-strong Brazilian claimant group permission to appeal against a judgment to strike out the landmark case.

"I am satisfied that, exceptionally, an oral hearing is appropriate in this case," the judge said in the order, which was signed on May 4 and seen by Reuters on Thursday.

No further details were immediately available.

The order comes less than two months after the Court of Appeal refused permission for a lawsuit over Brazil's worst environmental disaster to proceed in English courts.

The Court of Appeal said in March it agreed with a lower court that the case was an abuse of process, that claimants could - and were - making reparation claims in Brazil and that the lawsuit would be "irredeemably unmanageable".

The collapse of the Fundao dam, owned by the Samarco venture between BHP and Brazilian iron ore mining giant Vale, killed 19 and sent a flood of mining waste into communities, the Doce river and the Atlantic Ocean, 650 km (400 miles) away.

Samarco has since filed for bankruptcy protection.

PGMBM, the law firm representing the Brazilian claimants, said it had been contacted by many clients to "express their gratitude in respect of the consideration being given by the Court of Appeal to their application."

BHP, the world's largest miner by market value, said it was aware of the application.

"Previous (court) rulings ... have supported our position that the civil claim proceedings were unnecessary as they duplicated matters already covered by the existing and ongoing work of the Renova Foundation and are, or have been, the subject of ongoing legal proceedings in Brazil," a BHP spokesman said.

Story continues

The Renova Foundation is a redress scheme established in 2016 by BHP's Brazilian division, Samarco and Vale.

The case is the latest battle to establish whether multinationals can be held liable for the conduct of subsidiaries abroad.

The UK Supreme Court in 2019 allowed Zambian villagers to sue miner Vedanta in England for alleged pollution in Africa and in February permitted Nigerian farmers and fishermen to pursue Royal Dutch Shell over oil spills in the Niger Delta.

($1 = 0.7196 pounds)

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley. Editing by Jane Merriman)
An Indian tourist rides on a horse back at the Pangong Lake high up in Ladakh region of India, June 17, 2016. AP Photo/Manish Swarup

India and China have both invested in their armored forces since the 1962 war on their disputed border in the Himalayas.

The armor that both sides fielded during another recent period of heightened tension on that border show that a future war could be more destructive.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Two months ago, the Indian and Chinese militaries pulled back their forces stationed around Pangong Lake, on their disputed border in the western Himalaya mountains.

The pullback, described as a "disengagement" by India's Defense Ministry, was meant to be a first step to ease tensions on the disputed border - swaths of which have been heavily militarized since 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers died in a medieval-style brawl in the nearby Galwan River Valley almost a year ago.

An Indian Army photo purportedly showing Chinese troops dismantling their bunkers at Pangong Tso region, in Ladakh along the India-China border, February 15, 2021. Indian Army via AP

The Indian Army released photos, videos, and aerial images of the pullback, showing Chinese troops dismantling bunkers, removing tents, and evacuating the area.

The most interesting images, though, were the ones that showed the large number of tanks and armored vehicles. Indian media reported that China alone withdrew 200 tanks from the area.

The sheer sizes of the armored forces indicates that both sides were quite serious about their military buildups, and that the next violent incident on the border could escalate into something far more deadly.

Armor in the Himalayas

Military trucks carrying supplies toward forward areas in the Ladakh region, near Pangong Lake, September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

In general, large-scale armor deployments in mountainous and high-altitude regions are rare, especially in the Himalayas.

The low air pressure, freezing conditions, and rough terrain make operating and maintaining such vehicles difficult and often lead to losses from wear and tear or mechanical failure.

Watch: China 'strongly condemns' G7 rights criticism

Tanks and armored vehicles have to be restarted for up to 30 minutes every two or three hours to prevent them from freezing, according to one retired Indian general.

That operational challenge is believed to have been a significant factor in both countries' decisions to pull back their armor from Pangong Tso.

Story continues

Indian and Chinese army officers meet in the Pangong Lake region of Ladakh as both countries pull back front-line troops from disputed portions of their border, February 10, 2021. Indian Army via AP

"These operational issues simply cannot be ignored either by Beijing or Delhi for a variety of operational reasons that are common to both forces," a high-ranking Indian Army officer told The Wire.

That is also the reason armor - and aircraft, for that matter - played a very limited role in the month-long war India and China fought in the region in 1962. During that war, India airlifted six AMX-13 light tanks to an area just south of Pangong Tso, but the feat was extremely difficult, and there were no large-scale tank battles.

The 1962 war itself was an embarrassment for India, which had over 8,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured, or missing and lost the territory Aksai Chin to China. China lost 722 soldiers killed and 1,697 wounded.

Modern tank forces

India's Arjun Mark II main battle tank during a demonstration on a beach on the coast south of Chennai, April 12, 2018. Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images

Both India and China set about building up their militaries after the 1962 war.

Today, India's tank force is made up primarily of three models. Two of them, the T-72 "Ajeya" and T-90 "Bhishma" main battle tanks (MBTs), are built in India using Russian designs. The third, the Arjun, is of Indian design.

The Russian tanks, designed to operate in the cold, make up most of India's fleet of about 4,000 tanks. The Arjun has had a troubled rollout, and only 124 are in service.

China's People's Liberation Army, or PLA, maintains a large number of legacy models from the Cold War, like the Type 59, Type 69, and Type 80/88 tanks, but China's tank force is centered on three modern models: the Type 96 and Type 99 MBTs, and the new Type 15.

While the Type 96 and Type 99 are MBTs, the Type 15 is one of the few light tanks developed this century.

China's Type 99 (ZTZ-99) tank during an event at the 2017 Army Games in Russia, July 29, 2017. Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images

The Type 96 and Type 99 weigh about 42 tons and 54 tons, respectively, and are armed with 125 mm guns, whereas the Type 15 weighs just 35 tons and has a 105 mm gun.

By comparison, India's T-72, T-90, and Arjun tanks weigh about 41 tons, 46 tons, and 68 tons, respectively. The T-72 and T-90 are armed with 125 mm guns and the Arjun with a 120 mm.

Despite being smaller and under-gunned, the Type 15 is far more capable in the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas than its Indian counterparts.

The Type 15 is just one of the PLA's numerous new weapon systems designed with mountain operations in mind, and China has shown it off in a number of live-fire drills in Tibet.

Both the PLA's Xinjiang and Tibet military commands have received Type 15s. They have also been deployed to the Sino-Indian border, as have India's T-72 and T-90s.

At the 'roof of the world'

Tanks pull back from the banks of Pangong Lake region, in Ladakh along the India-China border, February 10, 2021. Indian Army via AP

The images and a video released by the Indian military appear to indicate that the pullout around Pangong Tso was a coordinated event in which tanks were purposely shown to withdraw one at a time.

Indian T-72 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) can be seen on the Indian side of the border, as can a number of small fighting positions and foxholes.

The Chinese armored force that can be seen is more diverse. A few of the tanks appear to be legacy models, likely Type 80/88s. There also appear to be several modern models, most likely Type 96s or Type 99As.

Another image shows at least 12 Chinese ZBD-04 IFVs and three other armored vehicles, possibly tracked variants of the HQ-17 short-range surface-to-air-missile system, Type 09 self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery units, or a combination of both.

It's unclear if the tanks and IFVs were always deployed so close to one another or if they were only brought forward for verification during the disengagement.

What is clear is that both sides are far more mechanized, capable, and lethal than they were in 1962.

The pullback from Pangong Tso has not been followed by additional pullbacks in other contested areas, as was originally hoped. Recent reporting suggests some Indian officials may regret pulling back from a strategically important area with little to show for it.

Despite the difficult conditions in a region known as the "roof of the world," flare ups along the border are still a real possibility.

With so much heavy hardware present, future fighting in the area could be much deadlier than before.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Watch: HK activist Joshua Wong jailed for further 10 months
Hellmuth Beats Negreanu Again; Remains Undefeated on 'High Stakes Duel'

May 06 2021 Mo Nuwwarah

Daniel Negreanu versus Phil Hellmuth I on "High Stakes Duel" on PokerGO proved to be one of the most memorable heads-up matches ever televised as "The Poker Brat" put together an astonishing comeback to win after being down to his last few chips.

About a month later, they met for Round 2 as Negreanu exercised his rematch option at double stakes, each player posting $100,000 for the 30-minute-level live sit-n-go.

It could hardly be expected to live up to the first match, which had been preceded by months of hype and went down in the wildest fashion possible. But arguably an even higher level of poker was on display as both players executed daring bluffs and turned up the aggression considerably compared to their prior meeting.

Once again, Negreanu looked to be in control, but once again, he failed to put Hellmuth away and paid dearly as Hellmuth engineered another, albeit less epic, comeback. Afterward, Negreanu could only compliment his rival's strong play while vowing to dance one last time for Round 3.

Remember, an annual subscription to PokerGO costs $99.99, but you can save $10 off by using promo code PokerNews at checkout. Once you're signed up, the entire saga of Negreanu vs. Hellmuth can be viewed on PokerGO.

Negreanu Digs Out of Early Hole

Negreanu dug himself a bit of an early hole with two decent-sized bluffs. On the first, they saw for the minimum with Negreanu checking out of the big blind holding . Hellmuth turned two pair and bet 300 into 400 with only for Negreanu to bluff his draw with a raise to 1,300. Hellmuth called and the river was the . Negreanu bet 2,000 and was met with a quick call.

Then, it was Negreanu on the button but playing more aggressively with a raise to 500 on . Hellmuth defended with . He check-called 400 on and the gave Negreanu a combo draw. He fired pot, 1,800. Hellmuth called to bring the river, where he faced an overbet of 8,000 that he snap-called.

"I've got the low again," Negreanu acknowledged, dipping to about 84K in chips.

However, Negreanu made boat-over-boat on a two-paired board to get things close to even, then a huge hand went down. Hellmuth limped for 300 with and called a raise to 900 from Negreanu, who had . The flop paired Hellmuth and he called 1,200. On the turn, Negreanu put another 3,100 that was instantly called.

On the river, Negreanu overbet with 13,000. Hellmuth came back with 28,000 and Negreanu clicked right back to 43,000.

"What the f***?" Hellmuth uttered softly.

He used a couple of time extensions, called, and saw the bad news as Negreanu went up about 144K to 56K.

"I told myself you could never reraise cuz I'm repping the five-seven of clubs," Hellmuth said.

"You musta had a good hand there," Negreanu said as he stacked newly won chips.

"I had nothin," Hellmuth said as he stewed a few moments. "Ah, f*** that's my fault. Shoulda just called him on the river."

Negreanu Controls Middle Stages

Action slowed from there even though Hellmuth picked up his aggression level. Negreanu simply didn't have many hands with which he wished to contest big pots, either via bluffing or for value, and Hellmuth got several bluffs through to creep closer.

He had a shot to get close to even when he opted to limp and Negreanu checked . Negreanu check-called 600, half the pot, on . He check-called 1,500 more on the and river was the . Negreanu checked, Hellmuth bet 4,000. Negreanu made it 17,000 and Hellmuth pretty much snap-folded. Had he called, he'd have been down only about 107K to 93K.

Hellmuth didn't even consider a call.

"Bluff?" he asked.

Negreanu nodded.

"Let's see it."

"I can't show you," Negreanu said with a laugh. "You're too good. You're gonna do the white magic stuff."

A big spot came up for Hellmuth when he faced an open to 2,000 preflop and made it 8,000 with . Negreanu came along with and flopped top pair against big draw on . The flop checked through and then Hellmuth bet 9,000 on the . Negreanu peeled for the river. Hellmuth fired 18,000 and Negreanu paid off to find himself at a small deficit for the first time in a couple of hours.

Negreanu pulled back in front after Hellmuth got out of line preflop three-betting the nine-five offsuit, then another huge pot went down. Hellmuth defended the big blind for 2,000 with and Negreanu held . Hellmuth check-called 1,600 on the flop and saw a disastrous turn. He check-called another 3,600, bringing a river. Negreanu potted 14,400 and got snap-called to go up about 2-to-1 again.

The swings continued though as they exchanged big bluffs. Negreanu got picked off blasting into Hellmuth's kings up, then Hellmuth dusted right back with the nut flush draw when Negreanu had top-top on a paired board. The end result was Negreanu back in front about 120K to 80K.

Negreanu won another decent pot flopping quads with against pocket twos, getting two streets before Hellmuth folded river.

Related: Using a VPN to Play Online Poker? Daniel Negreanu Says "No Problem!"

Huge Bluff Turns the Tide

The first utterance of "all in" came after Hellmuth had inched back ahead and raised with only for Negreanu to pick up a dominating and call. They checked to and Negreanu bet 5,500. Hellmuth made it 12,500 and Negreanu came back with 28,000. Hellmuth called but folded to a river shove on the , falling back to 86K.

The tables turned when Negreanu opened for 4,000 with and Hellmuth went for a three-bet to 14,000 with . They saw a flop for that price and Hellmuth continued for 13,000. Negreanu peeled and the improved both players. Negreanu called another bet worth 28,000. Hellmuth only had 31K left with 110K on the river. He shoved and Negreanu snap-folded to cede the lead right back, putting Hellmuth in his strongest position yet.

Down to a little over 50K, Negreanu raised to 4,000 with and Hellmuth leaned forward to get a look at his stack. He moved in with .

"It would be pretty outrageously foolish of me to fold this hand," Negreanu said. "All right."

They showed down and Negreanu said he was "nervous" despite his lead. The couldn't make him feel good as Hellmuth picked up more outs. The turn had Negreanu looking away, and sure enough the consigned him to another L.

Negreanu had the nervous sweats.

High Stakes Duel II Round 3 to Come

"Good job, buddy, you played well," Negreanu said. "This one, I thought you played a lot better than the first one.

"So, we'll have to see you in Round 3."

"That's an official challenge, all right," Hellmuth replied. "Ah, I got lucky on this one."

So it is that Round 3 will be scheduled and the two combatants will go to war once more. By the rules of the format, this is the last allowable rematch for Negreanu, and he'll have to pony up $200,000 this time. Should he falter once again, Hellmuth will have the option to cash out his winnings once again  he already thrashed Antonio Esfandiari 3-0.

Schedule for the next round will be announced in the coming weeks by PokerGO, but if it's anything like the break between the first two rounds, expect the trilogy to conclude in early June. PokerNews will bring another report when the time comes, but until that day, Hellmuth remains king of the mountain.

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People interact often with the Internet of Things (IoT), but they know it by a different name. Voice-activated technology used to control lights and other functions in a home is a prime example.

A pair of faculty members in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Mike Cottrell College of Business are taking advantage of a Presidential Incentive Award to expose students to the workings of internet-connected devices. Dr. Mingyuan Yan and Dr. Jianjun Yang, associate professors of computer science, have incorporated IoT research into their teaching and partnered with two student researchers.

Grayson Smith and Justus Whitmire have constructed a robot car with a Raspberry Pi brain. The robot uses a small camera to gather data and sends it back to the researchers via the internet for analysis.

Yang said these types of technologies rely on sensors to collect information, then funnel it through a single internet-connected sensor that transmits what it captures.

"Since IoT is a hot topic right now, we want to bring our research to the students. They have this talent, and we want to give them an opportunity," Yan said. "It connects what students learn in classes and brings it all together."

The work with students builds off a peer-reviewed article Yan and Yang published in May 2020 about wireless sensor networks.

One of the most tangible benefits of the research is that it gives Smith and Whitmire experience with hardware, as most of UNG's computer science classes are software-based.

Smith, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in computer science, has enjoyed building the robot car from the parts Yan ordered and seeing how it works. This research opened up a new opportunity.

"I had never worked with physical hardware in computer science," Smith said. "I'm very thankful that we are able to try something new."

IoT devices like the one the faculty and students are exploring can monitor agricultural crops, report environmental phenomena, or help keep loved ones safe. For their current project, the robot car's camera can send an alert and live video to a parent inside a house if children playing outside go past a pre-set point.

Yang also asks students in his class to construct communication algorithms for these technologies to show their understanding of the processes.

"This makes the classes and the projects more interesting," Yang said.

Yan enjoys seeing the lightbulb go off for her students.

"They learn and they enjoy it. After they finish a project, it helps them see computer science isn't just about coding," Yan said. "We want our teaching to extend beyond the theory to the new concepts in the field."

Whitmire, a senior from Canton, Georgia, pursuing a degree in computer science, is thankful to be part of such an innovative project.

"It furthers my critical thinking so I can apply what I've learned in classes at UNG to a real-world situation," he said.
Saudi Arabia lowered oil prices for customers in its main market of Asia as a surge in coronavirus cases crimps demand in India, the worlds third-largest crude importer

(Indias COVID-19 crisis threatens a global oil recovery).

According to Yahoo Finance, the kingdoms state energy firm, Saudi Aramco, reduced pricing for June shipments to the continent by between 10 and 30 cents per barrel. The key Arab Light grade for Asia was cut to $1.70 a barrel above the benchmark from $1.80 for May. Thats the first reduction in official selling prices for the grade since December, signaling weakness in Asian oil markets.

The reductions had been anticipated in the market. 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 markets. 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.

Aramco raised pricing to the U.S. by 20 cents a barrel for all grades. The nation is adding jobs amid economic growth and a push for widespread vaccinations. The company cut pricing for all shipments to Northwestern Europe and the Mediterranean, where efforts to bolster the economy and ease lockdowns have met with mixed results.

Brent crude has climbed almost 35% this year, closing in on $70 a barrel as vaccination rollouts enable the U.S., Europe and some other major economies to reopen. Aramco 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 country is now reporting around 400,000 cases every day.

Most Middle Eastern countries set monthly prices as a premium or discount to a benchmark. Aramcos OSPs serve as a bellwether for oil markets and often lead the pricing trend in the region. Abu Dhabi issued its first OSP based on trading in crude futures this month, a step in its efforts to establish its oil as the regional benchmark
This year, the Azerbaijani government will spend $1.5 billion on the restoration of the territories liberated from the Armenian occupation. In addition to agriculture and the mining industry, it is planned to develop tourism in the region. However, while many areas have not yet been cleared there, U.S. political analyst Peter Tase is giving a tour of other Azerbaijani regions for Eurasia Review.

"Azerbaijan is both European and Asian at the same time. Azerbaijans importance is much greater than its small [territorial] size," Polish historian, specialist on the history of South Caucasus and Azerbaijan, professor Tadeusz Swietochowski said. Azerbaijan is a cradle of civilization, home of Gulustan Monument, Noahs Mausoleum and of Momine Khatun Mausoleum. The Land of Fire has become a special place where visitors appreciate unique urban developments, a synergy of western and eastern architecture, natural beauty and impressive hospitality in Azerbaijans oldest cities, carpet museums while tasting some of the traditional wine of Kurdamir and the creamy goat cheese of Jalilabad. While sitting in front of the statue of Sabir in Baku, a highly courageous XIX century Azerbaijani poet; it is impossible not to write about some of the historic landmarks, cities and districts that reflect a deeply rooted multiculturalism environment and impeccable Architecture in the Azerbaijani society.

The historic city of Ganja is the second largest urban metropolis of Azerbaijan; it is the capital of poetry and lyrics in Eurasia. Ganja is the birthplace of Nizami Ganjavi (the icon of Azerbaijani multiculturalism and religious tolerance); Meskheti Ganjavi (the most important lyrical poet of antiquity); Hasan Mashadi Huseyn oghlu Aghayev (the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic) and Nigar Khudadat qizi Rafibeyli (a distinguished Azerbaijani writer).

Ahmed Razi, a XV century Persian geographer would write the following about Ganja: I have not seen a place such as Ganja anywhere else in the world. It has always a fresh look and an attractive musky scent. Its water is rosewater and its land is equal to saffron. The advent of Islam and its powerful influence in the architecture, visual arts and literature have made Ganja a special town, a genuine tourist destination, where the Sasanian Empire of Iran and Eastern Mediterranean World have concocted with Islamic Culture certain salient historic and architectural landscapes that were inspired by the predominant faith in the region. Moreover, the architecture environment of Ganja, shaped by religious and contemporary monuments; the Juma Mosque of Ganja, Six Large Ancient Gates of Ganja, Ganja Regional Scientific Center, Ganja Central Mosque paired with the striking natural beauty of Goygol Lake.

Tourists will find comfortable accommodations at the Ganja Hotel, one of the oldest destinations in the city. This hotel is equipped with 45 comfortable rooms including: two VIP rooms, seven suites, five premium and 60 standard rooms. The hotel has a top-level restaurant were special European and National cuisine have earned an international reputation.

The Kurdamir District, founded in 1930, has an extensive territory of steppes where a diverse animal habitat includes: wolves, foxes, jackals, pheasants, ducks and geese. The word Kurdamir means Kur (in reference to Kura River) and Damir (Iron), this is a region (known in the earliest times as Shirvan Province) with deep historical roots of Azerbaijan (189 km north-west from Baku). Kurdamir has a majestic and a fertile soil; it has been a very attractive site for visitors with an emphasis on tourism of adventure. Summer in Kurdamir is hot and dry, it has a steppes climate, while it is located at the left banks of the Kur River. It is worth mentioning that the Vineyards of Kurdamir are very famous, its most famous grape vine is Shirvanshahly. Moreover, Kurdamir has earned a great reputation with its centuries old tradition of carpet-weaving, making Shilyan the most popular carpet in the world; that is woven in the village of Shilyan. Some of the most traditional plates are served at the Garabag Restaurant, only 5 km west of the city center.

Passing the Kura River banks, the visitors eyes will be enlivened by the beautiful landscape of Naftalan, with a worldwide reputation for its oil based medical treatments that have been carried out since the 1920s. More than two thousand research papers and books have proved the effectiveness of Naftalans natural resources of healing and treatment of many diseases. According to Archaeological sources the city has been a major commercial center in the XI Century AD. Marco Polo has visited Naftalan while its oil has garnered a special reputation from the Near East all the way to China and India. In the early 1900s a German company was established to export Naftalans oil to Europe. Further research on the oil of Naftalan is currently taking place at the Azerbaijan Medical University and the National Arthritis Center. Today, the number of hotels and resorts in this region has grown thanks to the dynamic tourism policy.

The City of Gazakh is a special place where visitors will appreciate listening to traditional Azerbaijani songs. Only a few years ago Gazakh was established as the capital city of Azerbaijani Folklore. The City of Gazakh was founded in the VIII Century by a Military Commander Marvan ibn Mahammad. Documents written in the IX  X centuries make a reference to Gazakh that the city had existed 1,270 years ago. In late XV Century, Gazakh Sultanate was established and it included Garabag beylerbeyi, under the rule ofthe Safavid Dynasty. The District of Gazakh is also known for its carpets; they are absolutely beautiful and certainly decorate the royal palaces of Norway and Denmark. The designs and patters of these carpets are included in the paintings of famous Italian renaissance artists, including: Pinturicchio, Carlo Crivelli and Domenico di Bartolo and in the works of Dutch painter Jan van Eyk. The carpets of Gazakh are exhibited in major museums around the world, the Hermitage, the New York Metropolitan Museum, the Berlin Museum of Art, the Budapest Museum of Decorative Arts and many others.

While going further south the nature becomes brighter and more colorful; the steppes of Salyan District have many interesting attractions. The district is home to the Shirvan National Park which is inhabited by 20,000 gazelles and many other rare mammals. Next along the way is Bilasuvar with its ancient fortress of Shahriyar.

Tthe district of Jalilabad is very famous for its organic cheeses and wines. The district of Masally has an abounding land with springs of fresh and healing waters. The well-known resort Istisu (hot water) will persuade international visitors to fall in love with Masally District of Azerbaijan. Not far from here is Lankaran, Azerbaijans fruit capital. Special climate conditions provide to the locals the opportunity to grow subtropical crops such as tangerines, persimmons, pineapples, guavas and lemons. In Lankaran District there are also located the famous plantations of tea that have no difference in quality and flavor from classical Indian or British brands. Lankaran lands were part of the ancient Atropatena, the surroundings of Lankaran are ideal for those who want to go back in time, as it is the only place in the world, where tourists will visit forests that have taken shape 13 million years ago.

Nearby Lankaran there are many natural attractions: Yanar  Bulag (Burning Water), Yanardag (Burning Mountain) and Lake Vilash. The fantastic iron trees, chestnut oaks, the Caucasian hornbeams, alders, figs, boxwoods, ferns  make this district a special place where more than a thousand species of unique plants have been growing for centuries.

Lerik District, a land of centenarians, is located only 40 km from Lankaran. It is home to fifty people who have crossed the century old age. Scientists explain this phenomenon by unique conditions provided by the Caucasian highlands. As a matter of fact, in Lerik there is also a museum of those who lived for over a hundred years, where the guides will mention the local shepherd Shirali Muslumov who lived for 168 years.

Each cultural and natural domain in these districts of Azerbaijan represents unique pictorial languages, cultural peculiarities and architectural masterpieces. In Azerbaijan, tourists will experience a reflection of a wealth of literary works including those of Nizami Ganjavi, Hafiz and Sadi, who have provided a tremendous symbolic expression of Azerbaijani multiculturalism and culture.
Russias Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences has proved the efficacy of its polio vaccine against the novel coronavirus, the Centers director, Aidar Ishmukhametov, said.

"We inoculated <> volunteers with a live polio vaccine and observed a dramatic slump in [coronavirus] incidence in this group. We have proved that," he said in an interview with the Vesti daily news roundup on the Rossiya-1 television channel.

"So far, we have left aside this matter [the efficacy of a polio vaccination as an anti-Covid measure] as, so to say, an emergency option," TASS cited him as saying.

According to Ishmukhametov, the study involved more than 600 people in the city of Kirov.

The Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products was created on the basis of the Institute of Poliomyelitis and Virus Encephalitis of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. Academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences Mikhail Chumakov was the Institutes founder and first director (until 1972). Today the Chumakov Center is a leading world research organization in the sphere of medical virology.

The Center has developed its own dead whole-virion vaccine against the novel coronavirus infection (CovviVac). Whole-virion vaccines are based either on artificially weakened viruses incapable of causing a disease or killed (inactivated) viruses. The CoviVac vaccine was registered with the Russian health ministry on February 19.
Top diplomats of the G7 countries have stressed that they will continue cooperating with Russia in settlement of regional crises, reads the joint statement adopted on Wednesday following the first in-person G7 meeting in two years.

The meetings were held in London between May 2 and 5 under the UK Presidency and involved representatives of the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, the U.S., France and Japan as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

"We will continue to engage with Russia in addressing regional crises and global challenges of common interest such as climate change; arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; and peaceful, sustainable economic development and environmental protection in the Arctic," the statement reads.

"We reiterate our interest in stable and predictable relations with Russia. We nevertheless will continue to bolster our collective capabilities and those of our partners to address and deter Russian behaviour that is threatening the rules-based international order, including in the areas of cyberspace security and disinformation," TASS cited the G7 statement as saying.

The chief diplomats also mentioned "the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraines borders" as part of "the negative pattern of Russias irresponsible and destabilising behaviour."
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned eight inmates earlier today, on St.Georges Day.

Three of the eight pardoned will be released today, while the remaining will have their prison terms commuted.

One of the five convicts is a woman, Agenda.ge reported.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has substantially normalized and Russian peacekeepers are settling minor incidents promptly and effectively, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"We are observing positive trends in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. The situation on the ground has substantially normalized. The Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed along the engagement line and the Lachin corridor is acting as a guarantor of security," Russias top diplomat said at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ara Ayvazyan.

"Minor incidents that perhaps cant be avoided in any operation are being ironed out by our peacekeepers promptly and effectively," TASS cited him as saying.

A trilateral working group at the level of deputy prime ministers "is working very actively and smoothly," the Russian foreign minister pointed out.

"We are interested in this work to proceed further and contribute to building a dialogue between Baku and Yerevan to ensure the sustainable development of the South Caucasus," Lavrov stressed.

He also warned against attempts to politicize the process underway in Nagorno-Karabakh to establish peace.

"This process must not be politicized now. It is moving along with difficulties, because among the issues that are being ironed out are the routes to connect this region, as well as ensuring what is now called the connectivity of inter-regional relations," Lavrov said.

"The issues regarding the line of contact, boundary delimitation and demarcation are being settled. These are practical, understandable things that must be solved so that the region could breathe again and leave peacefully," the minister explained.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commenting on EU threats to impose new sanctions against Russia said that Brussels is obsessed with impunity and that this is a road to nowhere.

"The fact that the European Union has declared that out actions lack legitimacy and international legal justification means only one thing  that the European Union believes that it can do anything. And when the European Union begins to threaten us with new sanctions, I start to think that in addition to this feeling of permissiveness and infallibility, the EU is beginning to be overwhelmed by another mania  I mean complete impunity," Lavrov said.

"This is a dead end road ... Aggressive Russophobic lobby in the EU is doing its job... We cannot leave this hostility unanswered," Sputnik cited the minister as saying.

Lavrov also said that the architecture of foreign relations between Russia and the European Union was destroyed by Brussels amid the events in Ukraine.

He noted that it should have been the other way around - Moscow should have held the support of the coup in Ukraine against Europe.

Lavrov also said that Russia would not leave without a response any new western sanctions against Russian government, MPs, and the companies "which are only guilty of being registered in a country that the European Union decided to illegitimately and without a reasonable basis declare an aggressor," the minister said at a press conference after talks with his Armenian counterpart, Ara Aivazian.
Politico has published a list of possible venues for hosting a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Earlier, the newspaper noted that the authorities of a number of European countries have already come up with a proposal to host the summit.

According to former American officials and experts interviewed by Politico, a meeting between the Russian and the U.S. leaders could take place in Baku, Reykjavik, Prague and Ljubljana.

The newspaper notes that holding a meeting of heads of state in Baku would be an out-of-the-box choice.
Armenia's ex-president Robert Kocharyan will head an election bloc of the nationalist Reviving Armenia and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF/Dashnaktsutyun) parties to contest the early parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place on June 20, the Reviving Armenia party said in a Facebook post today.

"In view of the need to act together with like-minded political forces, the Reviving Armenia party decided to take part in the early parliamentary elections in an electoral alliance with the ARF/ Dashnaktsutyun party that will be headed by the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan," ARKA cited the party as saying.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is one of the oldest ultra-nationalist Armenian political parties.
In addition to recommending against an increase in wages this year, many experts and businesses have also opposed proposals to change the timing of regional minimum wage changes from January 1 to July

in order to protect businesses and avoid operational issues as they attempt to wade through the pandemic period.

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.

VIR
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hang, CEO of Sunshine Group, has become the youngest leader in Vietnams banking industry after being appointed chairwoman of KienLongBank.

In recent years, many businesspeople who were born in the 1980s and even 1990s have joined the management boards of local banks.

Hang, born in 1985, was appointed chairperson of KienLongBank to replace Mr. Le Hong Phuong at the banks recent meeting of the Board of Directors for the 2018-2022 term. Hang is the youngest female banking president.

Hang holds a master's degree in banking and finance from National Economics University and is currently the CEO of Sunshine Group and Chairwoman of SIPT Investment Joint Stock Company.

Earlier, Hang used to be LienVietPostBank's Head of Large Corporate Customer Department, and Director of Corporate Relations at Maritime Bank (MSB).

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hang, CEO of Sunshine Group, has become the youngest leader in Vietnams banking industry after being appointed chairwoman of KienLongBank.

Over the past two years, Hang held important positions such as Vice Chair of Sunshine Homes JSC, General Director of Sunshine Tech Trading Investment Joint Stock Company, Director of Sunshine AM Joint Stock Company, and Director of Sunshine Sky Villa JSC.

Hang joined KienLongBank's Board of Directors as Vice Chair early this year, when the bank made major changes related to the participation of real estate giant Sunshine Group.

In recent years, banks have appointed many young leaders. In March, Mr. Duong Nhat Nguyen (1983) was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of VietBank. Nguyen was Vietnam's youngest banker until Hang officially assumed her new position.

Nguyen is a representative from Hoa Lam Group. Before joining VietBank, he held executive and managerial positions such as Investment Director of Hoa Lam Investment and Development Joint Stock Company; and Chairman and Director of Hoa Lam Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Ms. Le Thi Thuy, 38, daughter of tycoon Nguyen Thi Nga - Chair of the Board of Directors of BRG Group - has been CEO and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of SeABank for the past few years.

At Ocean Bank, Ms. Trinh Thi Mai Anh (1992) is a member of the Board of Directors. She holds a bachelor's degree of science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) and used to work at HSBC London Bank, Vietnam International Securities JSC, VinaCapital Group, Singapores Temasek Group.

The transition of the 1st generation of entrepreneurs to the 2nd generation, and the rejuvenation of the leadership is blowing a new wind into the Vietnamese business community. The new generation of entrepreneurs is expected to contribute a lot to the economy.

V. Ha

Bankers remain optimistic about 2021, ambitious business plans Following the prosperous year of 2020, commercial banks have devised more ambitious business plans for the new year. Meanwhile, bank share prices have hit a decade high.
Unlike regional competition, Vietnamese branding approaches of well-established rice varieties could still see some improvements because of existing ambiguities in the product development strategies of the responsible government agencies.

Nevertheless, the renowned ST25 rice could still participate in next years World Rice competition, and thus secure fame for one of the most important export goods of the nation.

ST25 was voted Worlds Best Rice at the award ceremony of the same name in 2019.

It is currently not possible to determine whether the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will approve which company as the rightful owner of the ST24 and ST25 rice trademark in the US. On its trademark registration system, the USPTO on April 22 stated that five dossiers for the registration of trademark protection of ST25 rice are currently being examined, which means that the applying businesses have at least met the minimum requirements for filing a trademark application, though the USPTO has not gone through the review process yet.

The fact that four US companies registered trademarks for the ST24 and ST25 rice variants before the private company Ho Quang Tri Company, the legal owner of the ST25 rice variety, raised the latters fears of losing the trademark to an American business.

If a US companys trademark registration is approved by the USPTO, every time a Vietnamese business exports this type of rice to the US market, it would need to pass the trademark owner there. Should Vietnamese companies then not follow this procedure when exporting ST24 and ST25 rice to the US, they will be accused of violating US intellectual property rights.

Contrary to the feelings of many other stakeholders, Ho Quang Tri Company stated that it is not too worried as rice is a non-exclusive product. The company also believes that the fact that US businesses register trademarks for ST25 rice does not affect the ownership of the rice variety. Instead, these businesses could even be the importers of Vietnamese counterparts.

No exclusivity required

The ST25 rice variety was granted a protection certificate last March by the Department of Crop Production under Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The holder of the certificate is Ho Quang Tri Company, with the creators of this rice variety named as Ho Quang Cua, Tran Tan Phuong, and Nguyen Thi Thu Huong.

An individual or organisation cannot register for exclusive protection of ST25 rice in the US or other countries, so there is no loss of trademark, said Nguyen Van Bay, deputy director of the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology last week.

In Vietnam, as ST25 is the general name of a plant variety, here rice, it cannot be registered as a trademark under the provisions of the Trademark Appraisal Regulation.

Dinh Thi Hoang Nhung, CEO of HNLaw & Partners, told VIR that domestic businesses can still register their trademarks as these will be associated with the name of that business. However, the protected content of later registration must be different from that of previous ones.

Vietnam has been a signee of the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization with more than 50 member countries. Procedures for trademark registration abroad are carried out in accordance with relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory. Lawyer Nhung believes that this is a good condition for Vietnamese enterprises to promote their export activities and improve production value.

Kieu Anh Vu, executive lawyer at KAV Lawyers, explained that if Ho Quang Tri Company wants to protect its interests on a global scale, it needs to register its claims according to the regulations of those countries or international agreements. This will likely be expensive, but businesses should consider implementing it to protect their brand as intellectual property rights are territorial, Vu warned.

Unclear strategies

ST25 rice has become renowned for its value and quality and has earned a significant trust from customers around the world through several competitions. More than 20 years ago, Ho Quang Cua and his colleagues tried their best to find genetic resources to breed new rice varieties that are delicious and aromatic. The now existing variety is the result of research with another rice variety, the fragrant Tam Hai Hau rice, which was examined during a project funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It was not until last year that Vietnams ST25 rice was mentioned among the worlds best rice varieties, which was a result of analyses and testing after each harvest, as well as domestic and global examinations.

The distinctive factor for ST25 rice that made it surpass Thai Hom Mali rice to become the top rice in the world was that the Thai rice variant only has the fragrance of pineapple leaves.

Meanwhile, ST25 rice has both the aroma of pineapple leaves and of com, the immature rice kernels roasted over low heat which are then pounded in a mortar and pestle until flattened and typically enjoyed with bananas.

Industry analysts at The Rice Trader every March announce new contests. Cua said he would still participate with the ST24 and ST25 rice variants to confirm the position and brand of Vietnamese rice, based on domestic examination results and with consensus of the Vietnam Food Association.

Even if a fragrant rice variety wins an international prize, if it lacks growth potential, the product cannot generate sales in the market  a fact that Hoang Trong Thuy, an independent analyst of agricultural affairs, pointed out, adding that, Currently, Vietnam has very few protected agricultural brands.

Thuy, who has more than 40 years of research experience on Vietnamese agriculture, said that the Ministy of Industry and Trade and the MARD are responsible for supporting companies like Ho Quang Tri to develop a national brand for their products. We could for instance learn from the Thai competition on how to develop Thai Hom Mali rice brand into a national brand, Thuy suggested.

VIR

Vietnam moves to protect ST24, St25 rice trademarks in Australia A representative of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia has said the office is deploying emergency measures aimed at protecting Vietnamese rice trademarks
Through the annual UCC Coffee Quality Contest, UCC Group has been contributing to promoting and improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee, towards the goal of sustainable development.

The competition was first held in Brazil in 2001, when coffee prices hit historic lows, only $41.5 cents per pound. At that time, the production cost was $70-80 cents, the farmer life became more difficult as they carried on.

In such situation, farmers limited activities such as fertilization, or land reclamation to cut costs, or shorten the time of costly harvesting operations. Those jobs in turn led to poor quality of coffee beans, making the producers' income even less, creating a vicious cycle. Low coffee prices make the coffee market less attractive, and farmers would eventually quit farming and cultivating other agricultural products.

Realizing the rising danger, UCC Group has made efforts to improve the quality and price of coffee beans through the annual UCC Coffee Quality Contest. Till now, the competition has been going on for 20 consecutive years in 6 countries around the world and this year is the 7th in Vietnam.

The 7th UCC Coffee Quality Contest in Vietnam

As the second largest coffee exporter in the world, Vietnam is also one of the countries with "gold" resources, suitable for growing rare Arabica coffee varieties that the world needs.

To help farmers have the opportunity to learn from each other as well as improve the quality of coffee which meets international standards, UCC Group has organized the Coffee Quality Contest in Vietnam. This year's competition with strict standards, in addition to assessing the quality of delicious coffee beans, UCC also aims at the criteria of sustainability in the farming process.

When participating in the contest, farmers always make great efforts to achieve high rankings. Since then, the coffee quality and farmers income have also been significantly improved, creating an incentive for farmers to continue pursuing coffee cultivation.

Farmers attend this years coffee quality contest online awards ceremony

In addition, through the contest, UCC Group aspires to build a win-win relationship and long-term cooperation in purchasing high quality coffee in a stable manner, working together to achieve criteria of SGDs (sustainable development goals).

In Vietnam, UCC always develop different types of coffee and brews that are suitable for each of our customers. No need to go far, you can enjoy typical Japanese coffee in the place where you live. More specifically, UCC is an invisible rope connect better working relationships in the present and the future, in Vietnam and around the world.

PV
Multinationals corporations and foreign-invested enterprises increasingly focus on sustainability in their cooperation with local suppliers,

aiming at providing long-term support for small- and medium-sized enterprises to become part of global supply chains.

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.

VIR
Vietnamese people and businesses are still struggling with administrative procedures and are being held back by an unstable business environment.

In August 2020, Mrs. Hien (name has been changed) sold her piece of land in the northern province Ha Nam. She came to the local Land Registration Office to fulfill related formalities and was shocked to know that there was another red book (land ownership certificate) for her plot of land besides the one that she was holding. This "red book" was issued by the local authorities but Hien, the land owner, did not know about it.

The red book she was holding was the old one, which was issued in 2006, and the other was issued later. The problem is the area of land certified in the new red book was smaller than the old one. Therefore, Hien could not complete the deal. It took Hien six months to complete the land transfer procedure, after the local authorities issued a decision to abrogate the second red book.

Mrs. M.T.T from Hanoi bought a plot of land in the city of Hoa Binh. Receiving her documents for the land ownership transfer formalities, the land registration office said it would return the results on February 5, 2021. However, it was Friday, so on Monday morning she took a bus from Hanoi to Hoa Binh to pick up her red book according to the appointment.

However, she did not receive her red book because it was not completed yet as she heard from a public servant at the land registration office, who made another appointment. Because it was the Lunar New Year holiday two days later, she received her red book, which was delivered by a delivery service, one week after the holiday.

According to the law, 10 days after signing the land contract, if people do not perform land transfer procedures, they will be fined. However, there is no problem if the government agency breaks its appointment, she said.

In 2018, the Tax Department of Lam Dong province collected tax arrears worth over VND10 billion from a local enterprise, arguing that its project was not eligible for corporate income tax incentives, although the investment incentive decision was noted in this companys investment license.

After more than two years of making complaints to local and central agencies, even filing a lawsuit to court, in late 2020 Lam Dong tax agency agreed to cancel the tax arrears collection decision when the court intervened as the mediator. At that time, the director who issued the wrong decision retired.

Reform

These stories show that Vietnamese people and businesses are still struggling with administrative procedures, and are being held back by the unstable business environment.

When the Minister of Planning and Investment held a meeting with enterprises to listen and propose solutions to support businesses hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, only a few firms asked for support and incentives. Meanwhile, many businesses emphasized the desire for an improved business environment and open administrative procedures. That is what businesses need most, more than any "aid package".

The chairman of a steel company said that Ministers and senior officials are always enthusiastic about dealing with difficulties for businesses, for the economy. But there is insensitivity in many local civil servants.

Over the years, the Government has stepped up reform of administrative procedures and business environment. Initial improvements have been noted.

According to the administrative reform index of ministries and provinces and the administrative service satisfaction index in 2019: the average administrative reform index of ministries was 85.63%, and of provinces 81.15%, which are higher than those in 2018; 62/63 localities and 16/17 ministries had an increased index. The satisfaction of people and organizations with the service of state administrative agencies reached 84.45%, the highest in the last 3 years.

Vietnams business environment ranking increased 12 places from 82th in 2016 to 70th in 2019 (according to the World Bank - WB). On the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI 4.0) of the World Economic Forum, Vietnams position increased 10 places from 77th in 2017 to 67th in 2019. Vietnams innovation capacity ranking also improved 12 places, currently standing at 47th out of 127 economies. These are the highest ranking achieved by Vietnam.

Vietnams Global Competitiveness Index in 2019 continued to increase but it is showing signs of slowing down.

The Global Innovation Index (GII) of Vietnam in 2019 increased three places compared to 2018, ranking 42nd out of 129 countries, bringing Vietnam to first place in the group of 26 low middle-income countries and 3rd in ASEAN after Singapore and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations report on e-Government development from August 2017 to July 2019, Vietnam ranked 86th out of 193 countries (up 2 spots), 24th out of 47 Asian countries in terms of e-Government development. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranked 6th out of 11 countries. Vietnam's combined index in this area is 0.6667, which is higher the average index of the world and the region, and belongs to the group of countries at a high level of e-Government development.

These assessments by international organizations show Vietnam's efforts in reforming administrative procedures and improving the business investment environment. But compared to the expectations of people and businesses, this goal is still distant.

To ensure transparency and enhance efficiency of administrative procedures, and minimize bottlenecks caused by the human factor, the Government is promoting the construction and application of e-Government and e-Government platforms.

On that direction, the National Public Service Portal has been launched, connecting all localities and ministries on a unified national database. On that basis, ministries, branches and localities have strengthened the restructuring of administrative procedures to integrate into the National Public Service Portal; and promoted connection and online payment to facilitate people and businesses.

The development of e-government and digital government is a fundamental change in quality. Accordingly, all Government activities are safe in the digital environment; able to provide quality services, make faster and more timely decisions, issue better policies, effectively solve major issues in socio-economic development and then provide high-quality public services to the people; mobilize the participation of people and businesses widely; operate state agencies optimally based on digital technology; and effectively solve major problems in socio-economic development.

Luong Bang

Administrative reform saves VND6.3 trillion each year Administrative reform has been thoroughly implemented at all levels and helped save more than 18 million working days each year, equivalent to over VND6.3 trillion ($274.32 million) of social expenditure, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh has said.
Experts said that it is necessary to carefully consider the sample collecting techniques used for Covid-19 tests.

Over the past week, Vietnam has recorded four Covid-19 patients who had completed 14 days of quarantine at concentrated quarantine centers with 2-3 consecutive negative tests for Covid-19.

The first case was patient 2899, a man who had returned home from Japan. After 14 days under quarantine in the central city of Da Nang, he returned home to the northern province of Ha Nam on April 22. The two other cases were Chinese experts in a group of five Chinese people who entered Vietnam for work. These experts were under quarantine in the northern province of Yen Bai from April 9-24. The fourth case was patient 2986, an Indian expert, who was quarantined in the northern port city of Hai Phong from April 17 to 30.

These patients have spread the disease to many others.

How did this happen?

Experts have pointed out three main causes: they were infected during the time they were in quarantine centers; they were infected abroad but the incubation time was more than 14 days; they were infected during the time they traveled from the quarantine center to their residence or from other people they met in the community.

Dr. Tran Viet Nhung, Director of the Central Hospital of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, said that it is necessary to check and tighten the operation of quarantine centers, especially hotels being used as quarantine sites, which may have loopholes and restrictions may have been relaxed.

Dr. Nhung emphasized the problems related to testing, especially the collection of samples. Notably, all four cases mentioned above gave samples for Covid-19 tests at hotels where they were under quarantine, not at quarantine centers.

He said that a sample for SARS-CoV-2 test was in fact positive but the testing result was negative for three reasons: First, the sample quality did not meet standard; second, the sample handling process was substandard; third: there was a machine malfunction.

Dr. Nhung said that machine-related problems rarely occur, if at all, and might occur at only one site. Regarding sample handling, the Ministry of Health has a standard process and employees have performed this more than a year, so the operation is thorough.

"In the cases of those with several consecutive tests of negative results, but then were later found infected, the sampling collecting stage is the most worrying," Dr. Nhung said.

He also excluded causes related to biological products and test kits because these products have been approved and licensed by the Ministry of Health.

As a person who directly performs Covid-19 tests, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, Deputy Head of the Laboratory Ward of Hanoi Medical University Hospital, said that there are at least four causes of PCR negative results.

The first could be the procedures or techniques, or the preservation method of the patient's oropharyngeal fluid. If samples are taken from the wrong spot and samples are preserved at the wrong temperature or transported in a wrong way, there will be inaccurate results.

Second, a negative PCR test may be due to the fact that the amount of virus in the patient's body has not multiplied enough to be detected, or the patient has never had or had Covid-19 but had recovered by the time the sample was collected.

Third, if the virus mutated, the PCR test may not detect it. Fourth, it might be related to chemicals and testing equipment.

As for the sampling technique, Dr. Lan said that taking samples in the right positions and with the right techniques plays an important role in determining the quality of the test.

PCR is currently the standard test method for Covid-19 in Vietnam, with 123 units licensed to perform PCR tests.

Thuy Hanh

Compulsory quarantine period extended to 21 days The compulsory concentrated COVID-19 quarantine period in Vietnam has been officially extended to 21 days.
Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on May 5 voiced grave concerns over Chinas unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the East Sea, during a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in London, the UK.

At the meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in London, the UK. (Photo: VNA)

Earlier, during a sideline meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the two ministers shared their concerns over Chinas new Coast Guard Law that took effect last February, saying it would harm security in regional waters.

Japan released the 2021 Diplomatic Bluebook on April 27, which states that Chinas covert military expansion and increasing unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the East Sea raise strong security concerns in the region and the international community.

China has recently continued to take action that triggers tensions in the East Sea, including the announcement that it would guarantee the enforcement of the fishing ban that took effect on May 1, 2021, on the sea area covering part of the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and continue to deploy ships to Bai Ba Dau in Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Speaking at a press conference on April 29, Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet said that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as its legal rights and interests towards sea areas identified in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He again declared that any act harming Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as the countrys sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over its sea areas, is valueless and not recognised./. VNA
The Vietnam Fisheries Association vehemently opposes Chinas wrong, unilateral act of a fishing ban in waters under the sovereignty of Vietnam.

On May 4, the Vietnam Fisheries Association sent an official dispatch to the Government Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Central Foreign Affairs Committee regarding their opposition to Chinas unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea.

Recently, the Chinese media reported that China had issued a fishing ban in the East Sea from May 1 through September 16, 2021. The fishing ban ranges from the northern waters of the East Sea to 12 degree north latitude, including part of the Gulf of Tonkin and the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago under Vietnams sovereignty.

The Vietnam Fisheries Association believes that this is a unilateral, unreasonable action by the Chinese side, which seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty, the rights and interests of Vietnam in Vietnams exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In addition, it also violates international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other legal documents, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

The enactment of the fishing ban and prolongation of fishing ban in the East Sea creates a risk of clashes between Vietnamese law enforcement forces and Vietnamese fishing vessels and Chinese maritime forces and hinders normal activities of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in the waters under Vietnamese sovereignty.

The Vietnam Fisheries Association strongly opposes Chinas unilateral, wrongful actions.

"Chinas fishing ban is worthless. China has no right to ban fishing in the waters of Vietnam's sovereignty. China is requested to immediately end the fishing ban in the East Sea," the Vietnam Fisheries Association stated.

The Vietnam Fisheries Association also asked the authorities to strongly oppose and take drastic measures to immediately stop Chinas fishing ban, in order to protect marine resources, protect the safety of Vietnamese fishermen when they fish in Vietnamese waters, and maintain national defense and security, and national sovereignty over the sea and islands.

The Vietnam Fisheries Association will work closely with local fisheries societies, seafood associations, and related agencies to actively propagate information for fishermen to comply with the law when they go fishing at sea, support fishermen to feel secure to go to sea for fishing, and contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the waters and islands of the country.

Responding to the unilateral declaration of China, Deputy Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Doan Khac Viet stated that Vietnam protested and resolutely rejected this unilateral decision of China.

This ban violates Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, violates international law, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, is contrary to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and is contrary to the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of problems at sea between Vietnam and China.

Thanh Nam
Given special geographical and job conditions, many constituencies nationwide have been allowed to hold early voting so that their voters can exercise citizens rights and responsibilities.

Naval officers and soldiers seal ballot boxes in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province on May 4 before leaving to organise early voting for the forces working at sea (Photo: VNA)

According to Article 72 of the law on election of deputies to the National Assembly (NA) and Peoples Councils, in special circumstances that call for the voting date to be delayed or early voting to be held, election committees will propose the National Election Council (NEC) consider and make decisions.

Basing on the proposals submitted by local election committees, the NEC has permitted certain constituencies in 12 provincial-level localities, namely Hai Phong, Can Tho, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Dinh, Ca Mau, Dak Nong, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, and Nghe An, to conduct voting ahead of the scheduled date for the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level Peoples Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure on Sunday May 23.

Plans quickly made to prepare for early voting

Right after the NEC gave the green light to the early voting, the election committees of the 12 localities and their agencies and organisations have promptly made plans to organise advance polling and step up communications about the elections.

The time for advance polling has been set in line with Article 71 of the law on election of deputies to the NA and Peoples Councils.

First five constituencies to conduct early voting

On May 4, the Election Committee of southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau province organised voting for officers, soldiers, and workers of local units of the navy, coast guard, and fisheries resources surveillance forces, along with staff on oil rigs, and fishermen working for a long time at sea.

On the days morning, the voting took place solemnly and seriously in five constituencies in the province, all in Vung Tau city, which were also the first to hold voting in Vietnam.

Also on May 4 morning, at the terminal of Naval Brigade 171, Naval Region 2 and the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Election Committee held a ceremony to see off two delegations leaving to organise advance voting at offshore economic, scientific and technical service stations on the southern continental shelf, also known as DK1 platforms, and vessels on duty at sea.

The Election Committee said the province has more than 3,120 voters casting ballots ahead of the official election date. The voting was carried out in line with regulations with the participation of all of those in the voters lists. COVID-19 prevention and control measures were also implemented at polling stations./. VNA

74 non-Party members run for National Assembly election The National Election Council has announced the official list of candidates for the 15th National Assembly election.
Under the coordination of VTA, the three largest mobile network operators are working togetjer to implement a plan on managing subscribers information, aiming to stop the existence of junk simcards and ready-activated simcards.







Implementing Decree 49/2017, the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VTA) in the last two years has been taking measures to deal with ready-activated simcards.

The agency reported that mobile network operators have taken back 26 million junk simcards, a result praised by the National Assemblys Committee for Science, Technology and the Environment.

The number of ready-activated simcards available in the market has decreased and the telecommunication sector successfully prevented the development of junk simcards.

However, the problem occurred in the first four months of the year. This prompted the three network operators to add measures to strengthen the fight against junk simcards.

This action aims to increase the effectiveness of the plan on managing subscribers information and preventing junk simcards that the network operators signed in 2019.

Under the plan, activation of subscribers will be implemented on systems of enterprises and by the officers of enterprises themselves. Meanwhile, sale agents will only work as supporters to the sale and enter information if necessary.

The three telecom carriers will also use technological solutions, such as making video calls to authenticating clients before activating subscriptions. The new plan clearly shows the responsibility of individuals and divisions of enterprises in case they allow violations to occur.

Mobile network operators understand that the settlement of junk simcards will create a premise to develop new services, including Mobile Money, thus helping create space for new development.

Telecol carriers all show determination in improving the efficiency of mobile subscribers information and preventing junk simcards.

The telecommunications sector has been struggling with junk simcards for many years and has gained some achievements, but the problem has not been fully cleared.

Agencies have found messages from overseas via the internet sent to domestic subscribers via junk simcards. VTA has discovered that junk simcards and ready-activated simcards have returned. The number of new subscribers in the first three months of the year increased by 10 percent, far higher than the average growth rate of 6 percent in the entire 2020.

Ready-activated simcards still exist in the market and they have been found as legally registered, which shows the holes in pre-paid subscription management.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) Phan Tam affirmed that the efforts of telecom carriers alone wont be enough to settle the problem. State management agencies will also have to take responsibility for this by perfecting the legal framework.

Trong Dat

Report on quality of mobile telecommunications services released Infrastructure indicators are part of the criteria to assess national competitiveness.
VinGroup's investment in the auto industry is a great challenge, coming from high aspirations and showing a sense of responsibility to the country.

VietNamNet would like to introduce an article by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung about businesses successful commercial switch to the field of technology.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung

Vietnam aims to become an industrialized country by 2045, after 100 years of independence, and the country must rely on technology and industry businesses.

Vietnam technology enterprises and the Make In Vietnam program aim to solve the problem of technology and industrial development in Vietnam. In May 2019, the Government held a forum to spread this message. The Prime Minister will issue instructions on developing Vietnamese tech-firms and Make In Vietnam.

The large commercial and service companies, once they have the financial, market, management and human resources potential, must take on the technological and industrial mission of the country. VinGroup is one of the first trade-service groups to announce the strategy to become a technology - industry - and service trade group. The Government supports, encourages and calls for more Vietnamese businesses to develop in this direction.

VinGroup's investment in the auto industry is a huge challenge stemming from a great aspiration, showing the sense of responsibility to the country of an entrepreneur and a business. But only big challenges create great entrepreneurs and businesses.

The Vietnamese market is the cradle for Vietnamese technology businesses, but in order to grow and compete, they must go global. Global competition is the best test for technology and industry businesses. VinFast has to compete globally - this is a requirement the Government has set for VinFast. But Vietnamese people also have to give priority to using Vietnamese goods, and of course, the quality must be good and the prices reasonable. That is an expression of patriotism, helping Vietnam to rise and reach out.

Make In Vietnam is the master of the design, the core technology, the integration into commercial products. Without mastering these important stages, it is simply an assembly process. VinFast can go from assembly, but it must be a Vietnamese technology company with the Make In Vietnam ability, with Vietnamese cars, to be the pride of Vietnamese industry. Let's put our trust in VinFast, but it is also necessary for Vietnamese management agencies and Vietnamese customers to assess VinFast's operation strictly, because that is the best way for VinFast to mature.

VinFast has an advantage of being behind but can go first because of this. This means that it can immediately invest in manufacturing electric cars, building factories with the latest, smartest technology, the highest level of automation. Another advantage of VinFast is gathering global talents. If Vietnam wants to develop in the era of innovation, it must be a place of convergence of global talent. But the biggest advantage of Vinfast, of Vingroup, is that it is led by a talented businessman who has national aspirations and part of the F1 generation of entrepreneurs, while global competitors are mostly of a very far time.

With the opening of the VinFast auto factory, we want to convey a message to Vietnamese businesses, especially those with financial potential: Lets invest in the development of technology and industry in the country, not only for the future of Vietnam but also for the future of these businesses, when technology and industry are the answers to the sustainable development of the country and businesses.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung

Vietnam in good position to start electric-car industry Vietnam has the opportunity to manufacture electric cars more easily than other countries with already well-established auto industries because Vietnam has no auto industry that would need to to sacrificed, experts have said.
Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh has ordered drastically implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures amid the complex and unexpected developments of the pandemic.

Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh has ordered drastically implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures amid the complex and unexpected developments of the pandemic.

Since the new outbreak hit Vietnam on April 27, the capital city has detected 27 cases, including 22 in the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the outskirts district of Dong Anh.

In a directive issued on May 5, Anh asked local administrations at all levels to consider the COVID-19 fight an important, urgent and top priority task in the time ahead, stressing vigilance must be maintained.

The official urged stepping the communication work and promoting the role of community-based anti-COVID-19 groups to encourage the public to join the pandemic combat.

Health declaration and mask wearing are mandatory, Anh said, adding that large gatherings at public places are banned and the physical distancing of at least 1m must be kept.

Anh urged localities to draw up plans in order to ensure safety at medical facilities and make greater efforts in contact tracing, testing and quarantine, and suggested conducting tests at high-risk areas like industrial parks and the areas where many foreign experts are living.

The official also ordered tightening the management at concentrated quarantine establishments, particularly hotels, to prevent cross-infections and pandemic spread among the community.

Eight more cases of COVID-19 recorded at Hanoi-based hospital

Vietnam reported eight new cases of COVID-19 over the past 12 hours to 6am on May 6, all being patients of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois outskirts district of Dong Anh.

The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois outskirts district of Dong Anh has been put under lockdown.

As of May 6 morning, the countrys caseload stood at 3,030, including 1,634 domestically-transmitted cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

Sixty-four cases have been recorded since the latest outbreak hit the country on April 27. The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh district, the frontline facility in the COVID-19 fight, has recorded 22 cases in the new outbreak.

As many as 2,560 patients have been given the all-clear. Among the patients under treatment, 24 have tested negative for the coronavirus once, 12 twice and 38 thrice.

A total of 40,736 people are under medical monitoring nationwide, with 560 at hospitals, 21,733 at State-designed quarantine establishments, and 18,443 at home or residences.

The ministry said additional 90,417 people were given COVID-19 vaccine shots on May 5, raising the total number of vaccinated people to 675,956./. VNA
The latest COVID-19 wave to hit Vietnam is more complicated to deal with than previous ones as there are various sources of infection,

according to Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, former director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health.

Massive testing is underway in Vinh Phuc, a coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam.

Vietnam has recorded 64 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the virus recurred in Ha Nam Province on April 28.

Over the past eight days, the virus has since spread to 10 cities and provinces nationwide and is now expected to impact a greater number of localities, for infected patients have used public transport, visited crowded locations, and met lots of people.

The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi has become the latest COVID-19 hotspot after detecting 22 cases on May 4 and 5, including 17 patients who are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

At present, Vietnam has swiftly identified a number of infection sources, with outbreaks occurring in Vinh Phuc and Ha Nam provinces originating from quarantine cases.

The source of infection at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases remains unknown, although doctors insist that it comes from the department for inpatient treatment. In addition, Da Nang City in central Vietnam has also confirmed several cases, although experts have yet to identify the source.

Dr. Nga believes it is becoming harder and more complicated than ever for Vietnam to deal with the fresh COVID-19 waves as the latest infections are not localised cases. The recent major sources of infection have tended to come from large gatherings, patients traveling back and forth between destinations across the country, whilst the resurgence of the virus coincided with the four-day public holiday which began on April 30.

Most notably, genome sequencing done on the latest clusters of infection in Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc indicate that Vietnamese patients have carried both the mutated variant B.1.1.7 which originates from the UK and the variant B.1.617.2 from India. Both mutations are believed to be more transmissible than previous strains.

This means that the virus is almost certain to spread to more localities throughout the country, with additional cases expected in the coming days, says Dr. Nga.

The health professional also warns of the potential threat of a new outbreak in southwestern border localities due to acts of illegal entry, as well as lax management of concentrated quarantine facilities.

Dr. Nga says the tightening of quarantine areas must be carried out by the health sector with the support of relevant agencies in localities. Quarantine facilities must therefore be placed under strict scrutiny in accordance with regulations set out by the Ministry of Health.

Clusters of infections at Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc show that those who violate quarantine rules at home and cause the virus to spread to the community must be sanctioned according to the law. Supervisors will also have the joint responsibility, stresses Dr. Nga.

He also underlines the necessity of tightening the monitoring of individuals who move from quarantine facilities back to their residence, as well as their time undergoing self-isolation at home following the mandatory quarantine period.

Paid quarantine facilities like hotels reveal shortcomings in management, therefore we must review, adopt stricter regulations, and have a stronger commitment of hotels to comply with quarantine rules, notes Dr. Nga.

The virus recurred in Ha Nam in late April through a local resident returning from Japan who violated self-isolation rules at home following his 14-day mandatory quarantine. The man, who was later diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, travelled and met friends in various places, with more than 10 cases confirmed to have close links to the man.

Similarly, a group of Chinese experts violated self-isolation rules in Yen Bai province by travelling to several localities, including Vinh Phuc Province, where a cluster of infections was later detected.

VOV

19 new COVID-19 cases reported Vietnam has 19 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the past 12 hours to 6pm of May 3, according to the Health Ministry.
Hospital autonomy is proving to be an optimal solution to enable state-run hospitals to increase their operational efficiency, thus better benefiting locals.

Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Minister of Health, discussed the solutions and lessons from other countries, as well as any complexities in the way.

Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Minister of Health.

Hospital autonomy is performed successfully in many countries, but others still encounter issues. How has the policy on hospital autonomy been performing in Vietnam, and what are the advantages and problems of doing so?

According to the prevailing rules, hospital autonomy is being performed in four groups with different levels of financial autonomy. The higher financial autonomy a hospital reaches, the higher autonomy in professional performance, apparatus, and personal recruitment it gets, and vice versa.

The four groups are units self-guaranteeing regular spending and funding activities; units self-guaranteeing regular spending (no state budget allocation for their regular spending); units that get part of their state budget allocation for operation (part of state budget allocation for their regular spending); and units that get state funding for all operations.

During the performance of hospital autonomy, there are some advantages. Hospital autonomy prompts hospitals to increase the number and quality of services for the people, while changing peoples mindset about selection of public services. They are more willing to pay for high-quality services in the fields of investment socialisation.

In addition, hospital autonomy creates more favourable conditions for hospitals in ultilising financial resources of regular spending, saving costs, increasing incomes for staff, and setting up funds for investment and development, thus preventing them from reliance on state budget.

In spite of these, hospital autonomy still causes some difficulties for hospitals. Specifically, in regard to performance of the assigned professional duties, many hospitals, especially those in districts, have infrastructure and equipment that fail to meet the requirements so as to fulfil the state assignment.

In line with 2017s Resolution No.19-NQ/TW on enhancing quality and efficiency of public service providers, and Resolution No.20-NQ/TW from the same year on enhancement of citizens health protection, cities and provinces are developing health centres and hospitals at district-level into multifunctional institutions to carry out medical examination and treatment, preventive healthcare, food safety, management of commune-level health units, and more. As a rule, most of these measures are funded by the state.

However, many localities grant autonomy of regular expenditure to district-level health facilities. As a result, they have to use revenues from medical examination and treatment to cover the other areas. This causes difficulties for their operations.

Regarding organisation of apparatus and workforce, the regulations on establishment and insolvency of constituents of state-owned units are not clear. Therefore, they do not dare to carry out restructuring for fear of breaking rules.

Worse still, due to unclear regulations on recruitment, many units doing autonomy in regular expenditure are still asked by provincial peoples committees to receive staff assigned by them, while reducing their workforce. Moreover, there are some units capable of covering 80-90 per cent of payroll, but all of their workforce still receive state payroll so that they have to cut the so-called state staff, leading to a shortfall of manpower to increase service quality.

While hospital autonomy could offer some advantages, the details of this approach still need discussion. VIR Photo: Duong Ngan

How does the performance of hospital autonomy impact the quality of examinations and treatment at state-owned hospitals, and what can the health sector do to prevent such drawbacks during implementation?

Locals now increasingly pay due attention to their health and their families health, thus increasing demand for medical examination and treatment. As grassroots health clinics are yet to meet those demands, they have often tended to visit central-level hospitals. To ease the situation, health facilities have to provide diversified services to meet such demands.

Hospital autonomy allows health facilities to take action to increase their sources of revenues by increasing numbers and service quality to satisfy varied needs.

However, hospital autonomy might highly prompt hospitals to pay attention to only service performance, and development of customised high-tech services to increase revenues; as well as examination and treatment, while less concentrating on preventive healthcare, grassroots healthcare, and others. Moreover, autonomy may lead to arbitrary decisions by the board of managers. In some cases, to increase revenues, it is possible that hospital directors order use of services over necessity, or a possible cut of technical and economic norms from services over acceptance, leading to poorer quality of services.

In order to ease the pressures for hospitals during the autonomy process and prevent possible negative phenomena, some work needs to be done. First is classifying health units to ensure that hospital autonomy is performed in line with their financial capacity. Those not capable of their own regular expenditure for normal operations should not be subject to hospital autonomy.

For multi-functional district-level health centres, the state must continue spending on preventive healthcare, health improvement, food safety, population, and operation of communal-level clinics. Second is continuing to perform by roadmap of correct and full calculation of medical service prices so that hospitals have sufficient financial sources to increase revenues and quality of services.

Thirdly, hospital-related regulations and the guidelines on professional knowledge and technical processes must be completed. Last is intensifying checks and inspections on enforcement of professional specialised processes, quality indexes, and financial management, while strictly handling possible violations.

Many countries make hospital autonomy a success. What lessons should Vietnam learn from them to increase implementation efficiency?

Regarding autonomy performance, while prices are not yet fully accounted for in hospital fees, units should differentiate kinds of services: providing services as requested by the state, and customised services, which they can make correct and full calculation of hospital fees.

In terms of organisation of apparatus, it is necessary to have regulations and detailed guidelines on mergers, establishment, and insolvency of units of state-owned hospitals. These units can practice autonomy when they are able to ensure regular expenditure, or regular expenditure and investment capital.

It is also necessary to have specific regulations on the number of people in and out of state payroll, making it the foundation to reduce the number of people in state payroll in line with Resolution 19, while allowing public hospitals having the financial resources to decide the number of staff not in state payroll to have capable manpower for normal operation and development.

Continuing the roadmap of carrying out correct and full calculation of medical service prices to ensure that medical staff receive appropriate payment is also crucial. In addition, there should be specific guidelines on establishment of joint ventures and cooperation investment contracts among hospitals, including state-owned ones, or between state-run hospitals and private ones.

VIR

Bach Mai Hospital: staffers departure is the price of reshuffling Bach Mai Hospital Director Nguyen Quang Tuan has affirmed that the departure of 28 doctors will not affect the hospital's operations.
Vietnam will support quarantine fees for its citizens who return from neighbouring countries by road.

A concentrated quarantine area

The information was released by Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son at a press conference after the Governments April regular meeting on May 5.

Specifically, the State budget will be used to cover the expenses of transportation, screening tests, food and accommodation at compulsory concentrated quarantine establishments, Son said.

He stressed that the Government asks the public to continue raising their awareness and responsibility in disease prevention and control, and not to cover up for any violators.

Those who enter Vietnam illegally or do not abide by quarantine regulations may face criminal punishments depending on their violations, Son noted.

The Government also requests the strict implementation of quarantine regulations, especially for those entering the country as well as the supplementation and completion of regulations to fight the pandemic, deal with consequences and ensure socio-economic development.

Vietnam reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on May 6 morning, raising the tally to 3,030 with the death toll related the disease remaining at 35./.VNA
With Vietnam-Republic of Korea relations having been tightened over recent years, demand for studying Korean in Vietnam and vice-versa has increased accordingly.

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Join us to see how Vietnamese language classes have gained in popularity in the Republic of Korea.

The Hankuk University of Foreign Studies has had a Vietnamese Studies Faculty since December 1966. Students are not only taught the Vietnamese language but also learn about Vietnams economy, culture, and history, among other things.

For most South Koreans, learning the Vietnamese language is quite difficult, as it has six different tones and multiple accents. To help them overcome such difficulties, the faculty has invited native-speaking lecturers with both northern and southern accents to teach. South Korean lecturers, meanwhile, only teach subjects relating to Vietnamese studies.

According to Professor Jung Nam Song, Head of the Vietnamese Studies Faculty at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, learning each others language is very important in boosting mutual understanding and thus further promoting Vietnam-Republic of Korea bilateral ties.

The faculty has a high graduation rate, and the majority of students find employment upon graduation, mainly at large enterprises. The faculty has trained thousands of students to date./.VNA
By 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Cadet Q team had begun filling the campus of Connally High School with the delicious smell of hickory-smoked meat.

Team members Isaiah Carter and Alyson McCollum, both 16, and Dalvin Rubio, 19, were not just making lunch. They were representing Connally in a National High School BBQ Association competition, going up against a school in Missouri in an virtual showdown.

Cadet Q started its morning by serving strawberry shortcake, which was prepared on a grill, to the 10 judges who had been nominated and selected from Connally ISD staff to judge the barbecuing portion of the competition. The Missouri school also had 10 judges rating their submissions.

On the menu was strawberry shortcake, steak, chicken, burgers and ribs.

Jill Bottelberghe, chief human resource officer at Connally ISD, was one of the judges selected for the event.

The judges had forms to rate the teams presentation on taste, tenderness and an overall category. They also had a section for comments on whether the food needed more seasoning or if anything was over- or under-cooked, Bottelberghe said. The judges submitted their scores to the association, which will use them as part of the teams overall score in the competition.
Walkowicz, who prefers the pronoun they, is a TED senior fellow at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. They spent much of their career with NASA and have lectured extensively on Mars exploration. Walkowicz alleged in the lawsuit that the similarities included the purple streak in the dolls hair and its holographic shoes.
Just as concerning is the free pass given to YouTubers who directly promote such behavior in their content. Boston University student Yvonne Tang recently published an opinion piece in which she described how, as a young fan, she enjoyed a video in which Dobrik tricked fellow vlogger Seth Francois into intimately kissing Jason Nash, a man twice his age. Tang had realized as an adult that what she had been amused by as an impressionable teenager was a serious act of abuse.

Dobrik has received unprecedented backlash recently, after a Business Insider investigation (which Dobriks lawyers attempted to bar from publication) revealed new testimonies from those involved in a 2018 video in which Dobrik jokes about his roommate and colleague Dom Zeglaitis participating in sexual acts with two intoxicated women, now accusing Zeglaitis of rape. After weeks of accumulating scandal, Dobrik only published a video after lucrative sponsorships began to withdraw from partnerships with him. Many Dobrik stans took to the internet to praise his apology, despite the cynical timing. No doubt his dedicated fan base will continue to insulate his career once this scandal is forgotten about. But the real question is why the careers of so many of these highly problematic characters continue to thrive alongside consistent and credible accusations of abuse or the direct enabling of sexual and psychological abuse.
Both TrailHead and Holling House had served their purpose for many years, but needed to be replaced, Gerdes said. He and the other NLOM executives determined that it was time to build a new structure that encompassed housing and dining facilities. Sampson Construction, the company that has built all of the major projects at the camp, was hired.

The 12,000 square foot lodge will house and feed campers in the summer and will host events, meetings, conferences and retreats during the rest of the year.

The kids are going to have the best first experience at Carol Joy Holling Camp that theyve had in a very long time because of your generosity and your time and all the ways you participated, Gerdes told the crowd.

The $3.2 million facility is the major piece of NLOMs current campaign. The Trailhead Shaping the Faithful Leaders campaign also includes two endowment funds. An endowment of $1.5 million will subsidize camp for children whose family cant afford the fee. Gerdes said nearly a third of the children who attend summer camp are subsidized.

We want to make sure that no child is ever turned away because of what they can pay, he said.
Its crushing their dream, Akeson said.

Akeson noted several reasons the project should be denied by the planning commission, including the fact that the application did not include all of the documentation that it should have, in her opinion.

If nothing else, you need more time to review the documentation, she said.

Akeson had previously presented an informal petition to the planning commission with 278 signatures of people against the solar project. She said she has about 50 more signatures since she gave a copy of the petition to the commission.

Im sure that will grow over the next few weeks, she added.

Mike Heldt, a farmer and livestock produce from the Yutan area, pointed out that the project developers have included landscaping to soften the view of the solar panels.

Why would we want something in our county that we want to soften the view on? he asked.

David Levy with Baird Holm law firm in Omaha, representing Community Energy, said the conditional use permit application meets the requirements set by the county.
"We're all trying to work in a very small, confined space in an airplane, which is pretty challenging. But the teamwork was great," Glenn said.

The delivery was also the subject of a viral TikTok, which racked up more than 11 million views as of Sunday night. The video shared by Julia Hansen shows the announcement of the birth on the flight, with the plane landing three hours later.

Hansen and a friend she was flying with, Siearra Rowlan, told The Washington Post the situation initially caused a commotion, but other passengers were pretty "casual" about it by the end of the flight.

"Everyone just kind of got up, got their carry-on and left," Hansen said of the scene after Mounga and her son were escorted off first.

Medical crews were waiting at the airport in Honolulu to help get the mom and baby to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

The three nurses from the flight were able to visit Mounga and the baby on Friday and said it was an emotional reunion.

"We all just teared up. She called us family and said we're all his aunties, and it was so great to see them," Ho said.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly dropping another man on his head and kicking him.

Police said the victim, Derrius Hollis, was unconscious and was taken to the hospital with a brain bleed. He later underwent an operation to remove part of his skull, according to court records.

On Wednesday, police arrested Michael Thomas Heggebo, 25, of 608 Ardmore St., on charges of willful injury causing serious injury. Bond was set at $200,000.

Authorities alleged Heggebo went to the home of an ex-girlfriend on West Third Street on Monday and became involved in an altercation with Hollis. During the fight, Heggebo allegedly dropped Hollis on his head on a concrete surface and repeatedly kicked him while he was on the ground, according to court records.

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Hollis was taken to a local hospital by private vehicle where he underwent emergency surgery.

Court records show Heggebo is also being held in jail on a parole violation. He was released from prison in April 2020 after serving time for theft and forgery.

In December 2020, he was arrested on marijuana charges after he and another person were seen wearing all black and acting suspicious around another former girlfriends home on Kern Street.
The future of work is flexibility, CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in an email to employees that was also posted on Googles website. The changes above are a starting point to help us do our very best work and have fun doing it.
It would also mandate independent military prosecutors for sexual assault and domestic violence cases. Currently, unit commanders decide which allegations to prosecute, which has resulted in a fraction of cases resulting in convictions.

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Im praying we have it done this year through the NDAA and get it implemented right away, Ernst said.

The senator made her comments after touring Full Circle Services, which helps clients in the areas of mental and behavioral health. It recently moved to a new location.

This is a site that is needed and capabilities that are needed in this community, she said. We have to destigmatize the mental health issue and just encourage people to seek services when they need to reach out.

Cody Brickman, executive director at Full Circle, told Ernst his business hasnt utilized telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic because in-person is what people want. But he asked her to keep the telehealth doors open as an option, which she agreed was needed.

Hes been surprised to see an increased number of school-aged children needing his services, and noted Full Circle is now working with area school districts to help.
Does President Joe Biden have a mandate to rebuild the United States? To remake American capitalism? To reshape the role of government? The presidents Democratic supporters say yes. But the results of the election that brought Biden to office say no.

Biden advocates argue that he can bring change to America in the style of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the New Deal and Lyndon Johnson during the Great Society. Will Joe Biden take his place alongside FDR and LBJ? asks a news analysis on CNN.com. Authors Stephen Collinson and Caitlin Hu seem optimistic  if Biden can pass his massive infrastructure bill, they write, he will lay claim to a spot in the Democratic pantheon alongside Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson who used vast government power to reorient the economy and benefit the poor with their New Deal and Great Society programs.

Can Biden Join FDR and LBJ in the Democratic Partys Pantheon? asks National Public Radio. Biden, Like FDR and LBJ, Sees Opportunity in a Moment of Crisis, says historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Biden is planning for a Great Society 2.0, writes Washington Post columnist James Hohmann.
We are delighted to announce that Orn Bodvarsson has agreed to join Willamette University as the next dean of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Bodvarsson is currently dean of the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business and professor of economics at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. He has served in leadership roles at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he served as the founding dean of the School of Public Affairs, and at California State University, Sacramento, as dean of its College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Dean Brian Gallini, Willamette University College of Law, chaired the search committee and shared the committee's enthusiasm for Bodvarsson's record of collaborative and forward-thinking leadership. "We are thrilled that he has agreed to join the senior leadership team and are confident that hell make an immediate contribution to our institution.

Bodvarsson holds a PhD in economics from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he specialized in labor economics. His BS in economics with honors is from Oregon State University as is his MS in agricultural and resource economics. Among his many accomplishments, he has taught at University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he won multiple teaching awards, serves as a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn, Germany, was vice president of the Chinese Economics Society and was associate editor of the Social Science Journal. He is widely published, with recent articles on migration theory, and, with Hendrik F. Van den Berg, a volume that is in its second edition, The Economics of Immigration: Theory and Policy.

Bodvarsson is married to Mary Bodvarsson, a consulting educational psychologist. Outside of his profession and family, his passions are playing classical piano, Rotary and community service, investing in the stock market and enjoying the outdoors, especially in Oregon.

In accepting this appointment, which begins July 1, 2021, Bodvarsson said, "Joining the Willamette University community and the Atkinson School as its new dean is truly a dream come true for me. Having grown up in Oregon, I've known about Willamette for most of my life and have always admired the university's commitment to student success and everything it does to enhance the quality of life for the state, nation and world. I really look forward to leading work in Atkinson to welcome our first cohort of undergraduate business majors this fall, collaborating with the Atkinson team and campus leaders to develop innovative cross-disciplinary programming, building external relationships and resources, promoting global engagement and continuing to provide the very high-quality business education for which Atkinson is known around the world."

Many thanks to the campus community, trustees and alumni who participated in the search and to the search committee, which included Romana Autrey, Susan Chiapella, Will Fruhwirth, George Gu, Andrew Kach, Erin McNicholas, Emily Self and Jon Thompson. Jan Asnicar and her team at Summit Search Solutions guided the search. Ashley T. Stovin and Honey Wilson provided support.
At the end of every day, cafes, restaurants and grocers around the world are left with unsold perishable food. Some businesseslarge grocery stores and wholesale suppliers, for examplehave a large volume of leftovers that can be donated to food banks and homeless shelters. But the smaller guysneighborhood businesses with a few leftover sushi rolls or what remains of the soup-of-the-daymore often than not, their excess ends up in the garbage.

This week, an app launching in San Francisco and Oakland will leave that equation forever changed. Too Good To Go offers users the opportunity to purchase available surpluses at local bakeries, markets, and restaurants at a major discount. In the process, everybody wins: The business recovers more of their costs, the eater fills their fridge for a song, and excess food is no longer sent to rot in a landfill.

Too Good to Go, which began in Europe in 2016, is now in 15 countries around the world. It landed on the U.S. East Coast in 2020 and this week's launch in the Bay Area marks its arrival on the West Coast. Within just a couple weeks, Too Good to Go will also be available in Seattle and Portland, and founder Lucie Basch says that's just the start.

"We plan to be in many of the major U.S. cities by the end of 2021 and eventually hope to be everywhere in North America, from big cities to small towns," she explains.

In SF and Oakland, Too Good to Go has already enlisted more than 100 local partners including Gracias Madre, Mission Chinese, Daily Driver, Mochica and La Boulangerie. Neighborhood corner stores, pizza joints, coffee shops, and other food purveyors have also joined the platform. Whenever they expect to have a surplus, these local businesses update the app to display how many "surprise bags" they have available. Users can browse the options and reserve one for themselves.

A surprise bag from To Good to Go partner La Boulangerie. (Courtesy of Too Good to Go)

Although you never know what exactly will be in a surprise bag, the cost, typically between $3 and $6, is displayed up front. "Stores can also update the amount of surplus they have in real time based on how sales are going throughout the day," explains Basch. "This is where we fill the gap in the food rescue ecosystem, and our strategy of launching in high-density urban areas makes it easy for consumers to pick up the surplus."



Since launching in the U.S. last year, Too Good to Go has saved 250,000 meals at more than 2,000 food businesses. With California alone throwing out more than 10 million tons of food annually, the app could help to make a dent in the environmental impact of food waste here, too.

"The response in the U.S. market has been incredible," says Basch. "Americans have really embraced the concept of fighting food waste while supporting local and acting sustainably in a fun way. We've seen faster growth here than in any of the European countries we've launched to date."

Too Good To Go founder Lucie Basch. (Courtesy of Too Good to Go)

As Too Good to Go continues to grow, Basch is already setting her sights on other ways to improve the sustainability of national and global food systems. In the U.K., they've recently partnered with influential food brands to raise awareness about the difference between "use by" and "sell by" labels on perishable products, a point of confusion that contributes to food waste. Basch hopes to kickstart a similar campaign here.



"We want to start thinking about how we can have a greater impact beyond our app here in the U.S.," she says. "We truly dream of a world without food loss or waste. We believe we will get there one day."

// Too Good to Go launches in the Bay Area on May 5th. The app is available for iOS and Android; toogoodtogo.org.
Now that the vaccine is easily accessible to everyone and is expected to soon be available to children as young as 12, its reasonable to assume that adults who are still unprotected prefer it that way. The rest of the country, however, isnt waiting around for them to change their minds.
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More Information Morgan Stanley research note on the United Arab Emirates, .

Lawyers & Legal Consultants, .



Doing Business in the UAE

The UAE business environment can be very lucrative and even predictable if care is taken to understand the influences working on an individual market at any one time. Keeping an ear to the ground and maintaining a steady physical presence is invaluable.

Visiting business people are advised to consult the many sources of commercial intelligence, including embassy lists, the chambers of commerce, official gazettes and tender lists. UAE national businessmen are the best source of information, and the ideal man in a business development role will usually be the one with excellent contacts in the local business community. Given the right high-level contacts it is possible to hear of projects ahead of the rest and long before tender documents can be officially purchased. The UAE is one of the most open and freely competitive markets in the world and although the authorities want to do business on the basis of quality and value for money, much still depends on this inside knowledge.

Personalities play a significant role in contract award. The knowledge, accessibility and reputation of one's local associate is often a vital factor in determining the outcome of fierce bidding between large numbers of international companies.

RSM is a world-leading provider of audit, tax, and consulting services to entrepreneurial growth-focused organizations globally. RSM is a powerful network of audit, tax, and consulting experts with offices all over the world including the UAE.

Business is Distinctive

Business in the UAE is complicated by the distinct character of each emirate. The commercial aspirations of Dubai Emirate mean that in most quarters there is a definite will to conduct business at a Western-style pace. This does not mean that traditional courtesies are waived. Business visitors will find that in Abu Dhabi, where there are fewer commercial pressures, the pace is more measured and the atmosphere more traditional. In the smaller emirates, except Sharjah, the pace of business is altogether more traditional. Sharjah, with its rapidly growing industrial sector, to a great extent follows the Dubai mode. So lessons learned in one emirate are not necessarily applicable in another.

The application of uniform federal standards and regulations, which started in the 1980s, has increased in speed in the first half of the 1990s. But discrepancies and procedural differences still persist.

Business Law is evolving

In the UAE, business activity is regulated by individual emirates as well as by the federal government. In practice, the detail of business registration is the responsibility of each emirate, while the laws that govern that activity come from the federal authorities.

Since 1993, there have been a number of legal reforms aimed at creating a framework able to accommodate the country's commercial aspirations. Most notable is the commercial code which came into effect at the end of 1993 and covers a wide range of banking and commercial activities. Also significant are new laws on copyright, patents and trademarks which came into force in 1993. They are:

Commercial transactions law. The commercial transactions law (federal law number 18 of 1993) covers banking and commercial transactions on a scale unprecedented in prior legislation. It contains provisions on who may lawfully conduct business in the UAE; subject to certain exemptions for GCC nationals or companies operating in free zones. No one other than UAE nationals may do so unless in conjunction with UAE partners in line with the requirements of the commercial companies law which stipulates a minimum 51 per cent local ownership.

The commercial code also introduces a new legal basis for mortgages over a wide range of assets, both tangible and intangible and contains detailed provisions concerning bankruptcy and receivership.

Banking transactions are fairly comprehensively covered including current accounts, bank loans and guarantees, the discounting of commercial paper, trust receipts, deposits of securities and detailed rules on cheques, bills of exchange and promissory notes. In addition, the commercial code permits lenders to receive interest on commercial loans subject to certain limitations, a clarification welcomed by banks.

Companies Law, Federal law number 8 of 1984, came into effect in its amended form in January 1989 and has been applicable to all companies formed since that date. In particular, the companies law requires all companies to be at least 51 per cent owned by UAE nationals and to take one of the seven forms specified by the law.

Companies formed prior to 1989 did have the benefit of a number of grace periods to give them time to comply with the provisions of the law. The last grace period expired at the beginning of 1994 and has not been renewed. The companies law is now unequivocally applied to all local companies irrespective of when they were formed. A number of substantial amendments to the companies law were under consideration as the practical guide was being published, although it is not clear when they will be introduced, if at all. Foreign investors who are unsure of how the companies law now affects their interests should seek advice from their local legal advisors.

The professional companies law. This was due to come into effect at the end of 1994. Professional companies - companies where the knowledge of the partners is the main asset (for example, lawyers, engineers, accountants, hairdressers) - are not covered by the commercial companies law. The new law provides that UAE nationals must own at least 25 per cent of professional companies. The law will be applicable immediately to all new professional companies formed after it has come into effect. Professional companies already in existence will have a grace period of five years to adjust.

National Ownership is Required

Under the companies law, at least 51 percent ownership by UAE nationals is required for all UAE establishments, except where the law requires 100 per cent local ownership as in the case of, for example, commercial agencies. The companies law is not applicable to Free Zone Entities or branches established in the free zones generally. As mentioned, it is not applicable to professional companies, which, in due course, will need to be 25 per cent owned by UAE nationals.

The Categories of Company

The law sets out the requirements for shareholders, directors, minimum capital levels and incorporation procedures. Mergers, conversions of licenses and the dissolution of companies are also covered. The seven categories of business organisation permitted are:

General partnership. General partnership companies are limited to UAE nationals.

Simple partnership

Joint venture

Public joint stock company. Companies engaging in banking, insurance and financial activities should be run as joint stock companies. But foreign banks, insurance and finance companies can set up branches or representative offices. For joint stock companies, the minimum capital requirement is $2.725 million. The chairman and the majority of board directors must be UAE nationals and there is less flexibility regarding profit distribution than with a limited liability company.

Private joint stock company. The minimum capital is $545,000 for a private company.

Limited liability company. In limited liability companies, the profit and loss distribution is negotiable. A limited liability company is for between two and fifty people and the liability of shareholders is limited to their shares in the company's capital. In Dubai the minimum capital requirement is $82,000. In Abu Dhabi and all other emirates the minimum capital requirement is $41,000.

Share commandite company.

The Dubai government does not presently encourage the establishment of simple partnership and share commandite companies. Otherwise, all entities formed under the companies law must be at least 51 per cent owned by UAE nationals.

Jebel Ali Free Zone

Jebel Ali Free Zone has special legal status allowing companies established there to be offshore, or outside the UAE for legal purposes. Incentives include 100 percent foreign ownership, no corporate taxes for 15 years renewable for an additional 15 years, 100 percent repatriation of capital and profits, no personal income tax, no currency restrictions, no recruitment or administration problems, abundant energy, excellent facilities at Dubai Ports Authority's two modern terminals, no import or export duties payable within the zone, first class communications and an attractive working environment.

Four different types of licence are available

Special Licence. Special licenses are issued to companies established outside the UAE. Ownership may be 100 percent foreign and a license from the Dubai Economic Department is not required. A company with a special licence may undertake any activity permitted in the zone, but may only operate in the zone or outside the UAE. However, business can be conducted in the UAE through agents and distributors.

General Licence. General Licences are issued to companies already holding a valid licence from the Dubai Economic Department permitting them to do business within the UAE. In the Free Zone, holders of a general license must comply with federal and municipal requirements relating to their operations in the rest of the UAE.

National Industrial Licence. A National Industrial Licence is for manufacturing companies registered inside or outside the UAE. The company must be at least 51 per cent UAE or GCC-owned. At least 25 per cent UAE ownership is required for a certificate of origin issued by the Ministry of Economy & Commerce, as well as the requirement for the UAE value-added input to be at least 40 per cent of the total value of the relevant products. The holder of a National Industrial Licence who manufactures goods which are eligible for a UAE certificate of origin therefore qualifies for customs duty exemption if its products are exported to other parts of the UAE or to other GCC countries.

Free Zone Entity Licence. Free Zone Entities (FZEs) have been allowed since 1992. A FZE is 100 per cent foreign-owned and is similar to a limited liability company. The main difference is that a FZE can have only one shareholder which is of interest to foreign companies wishing to have a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Free Zone, rather than simply a branch. The minimum capital requirement is $ 272,500 and liability is limited to the amount of paid up capital.

All licences are issued by the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) and are valid for the period the company holds a lease from JAFZA, but are renewable annually.

Intellectual Property

Other recent legal developments of note relate to intellectual property. The key pieces of legislation are:

Patents. Regulations governing the registration of patents, industrial designs and models are covered by Federal Law number 44 of 1992 and came into effect in 1993.

Trademarks. These are covered by federal law 37 of 1992 which came into effect in February 1993.

Copyright and censorship. These are covered by federal copyright law 40 of 1992 and deal with the procedures for obtaining permission for the printing, publication, display, sale and registration of works in the UAE. These regulations have been enforced since September 1994 and pirated computer software and video cassettes are no longer easily available in the UAE.

This article was prepared with the assistance of Clifford Chance, Dubai which specialises in corporate, commercial and banking matters, shipping litigation, oil and gas transactions, UAE offset programme work and arbitration.

Customs

Imports can only be undertaken by importers with the appropriate trade licence. In 1994, the federal government introduced a uniform 4 per cent customs duty across the seven emirates covering a wide range of imported goods. Previously, customs charges were one percent or nothing, depending on the emirate. A list of 70 foodstuffs are exempt from tariffs, as are medicines, agricultural machinery, pesticides, fertilisers, periodicals, wood, unstrung pearls, unworked silver and gold, iron and steel for use in construction, and raw or partially worked materials for use by local manufacturers. Goods produced within the GCC are also exempt. There is no duty payable on goods destined for Jebel Ali Free Zone. For a product to qualify as a national product and receive GCC customs exemption, at least 40 percent of the product's final value added must be made locally. The factory must be licensed by the Ministry of Finance & Industry and there must be 100 per cent or minimum 51 per cent UAE national or GCC ownership of the producing plant. An appeals desk has been established at the federal customs directorate to hear claims from importers for goods to be classified as duty free, chairman of the UAE customs council and director-general of Dubai customs Obaid Busit said in December 1994. Busit said that the UAE had successfully resisted pressure from other GCC states for a 5 percent minimum duty. The increase in tax on tobacco to 50 per cent is to be implemented later in 1995, he added. A federal law raising tobacco tax was passed on 2 November but only comes into effect when it is published in the official gazette (MEED 25:11:94). Computerisation of customs services to cut the time to process papers from 45 minutes at present is due to take place in January. Taxation in the UAE There is no corporate tax in the UAE. The only exceptions are oil producing companies and branches of foreign banks. It is highly unlikely that direct taxation will be introduced in the UAE in the near future. However, it is possible that one day Dubai emirate may introduce some form of direct taxation as its oil reserves dwindle. Exchange Controls There are no exchange controls and the UAE dirham is freely convertible. The dirham is linked to the US dollar and the rate is $1=Dh 3.67. Agency Law Foreign companies may sell goods to companies in the UAE by concluding transactions directly with importers and traders who are already established in the market. However, in the case of high volumes of business, a more permanent form of representation may be desired. Companies wishing to sell to the UAE without establishing an office may prefer to appoint a commercial agent. This is covered by Federal Commercial Law 18 of 1981 as amended by Law 14 of 1988. The law states that the agent must be a UAE national or a company 100 per cent owned by UAE nationals. He must be registered in the Commercial Agency Registry kept by the Ministry of Economy & Commerce.

The procedure is as follows:

A commercial agency agreement is drawn up specifying the products and territories covered by the contract. The agreement should be signed by both parties (principal and agent) and, if signed in Dubai, be legalised before a court notary. The agreement is then translated into Arabic by a sworn translator licensed to operate in the UAE.

If the agency agreement is signed outside the UAE: It must be authenticated by a local notary public.

The local Ministry of Foreign Affairs must then certify and authenticate the signature and seal of the notary public;

The agency agreement must be certified by the UAE embassy or consulate.

When the documents arrive in the UAE, they should be taken to the Foreign Ministry so that the stamp of the UAE embassy or consulate may be authenticated, and translated into Arabic by a sworn translator. The agency should be registered at the Federal Ministry of Economy & Commerce.

A sole UAE agent may be appointed in each emirate or defined area of the country. A commercial agent is entitled to territorial exclusivity enforceable by infringement commissions.

Although the term of the agreement may be limited to a specific period, it is not permissible for the principal to terminate the agreement without the agent's approval, except for reasons considered valid by the commercial agencies committee of the Ministry of Economy & Commerce.

Failure to renew an agreement without justifiable reason may require compensation for the former agent.

Setting up a Business

There are various procedures for setting up corporate entities: Limited liability companies (Dubai). To do this, the following procedure should be followed:

Get the company's commercial name approved by the Licensing Department of the Economic Department. Draw up the company's memorandum of association and have it notarised by a Notary Public in the Dubai courts. Seek approval from the Economic Department and apply for entry in the Commercial Register. Once approved, the company will be entered in the Commercial Register and have its memorandum of association published in the Bulletin of the Ministry of Economy & Commerce. The company should then be registered with Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Branches and representative offices of foreign companies (Dubai). To establish a branch or representative office in Dubai, a foreign company should:

Apply for a license from the Ministry of Economy & Commerce, submitting an agency agreement with a UAE national or 100 per cent UAE national owned company. Before issuing the license, the Ministry will: forward the application to the Economic Department to obtain the approval of the Dubai government,

forward the application specifying the activity that the office or branch will be authorised to undertake in the UAE to the Federal Foreign Companies Committee for approval. Once this has been done, the Ministry of Economy & Commerce will issue the required Ministerial license specifying the activity to be practised by the foreign company. The branch or office should be entered in the Economic Department's commercial register and the required license will be issued. The branch or office should also be entered in the foreign companies register of the Ministry of Economy & Commerce. The branch or office should be registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Branches and representative offices of foreign companies (Abu Dhabi). Individual expatriates and foreign companies wishing to do business in Abu Dhabi have to enter into agreement with a UAE national according to one of the following options:

An agreement with a non-participant sponsor (individual establishments and foreign firms). An agreement with a national partner participating with 51 per cent or more of the capital (obligatory for all trading companies).

The procedure is as follows:

Sign agreement with UAE sponsor before the notary public. Submit the mother company's articles of association and a copy of the resolution by which the competent authority decided to open a branch in Abu Dhabi. Provide certification from the country of origin that the company is not insolvent or bankrupt. Obtain an official power of attorney in favour of the proposed representative in Abu Dhabi issued by the mother company in the country of origin. Obtain a letter from the Abu Dhabi Israeli Boycott office certifying that the company in question is not blacklisted. Ensure all documents required for 2-5 are duly attested in the company's mother country. All foreign documents must be translated into Arabic by a sworn translator.

A non-participant UAE sponsor does not have a share in the capital and is not liable for any loss or obligation towards others. He or she shall be entitled to 25 per cent of the annual net profit if the activity undertaken is trade. Commission on income from contracting companies is fixed according to the size of contracts.

Trade license (Abu Dhabi). The procedure is as follows:

Sign a sponsorship agreement with a UAE national. There is no minimum capital requirement in Abu Dhabi. Secure approval for the selected business location from the municipality in order to obtain a provisional trade license. Licenses are issued in five categories, namely commercial, commercial (Local without import), vocational, professional and industrial. Submit a copy of the partnership agreement authenticated by the notary public, a copy of the provisional trade license, the lease contract for the business premises, and a photograph of each partner to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry. There is an initial Dh 2,000 fee and a Dh 2,000 annual fee for each economic activity. Once approved, the Chamber will issue a certificate of approved membership. The certificate of approved membership is taken to the municipality. The license fee depends on the amount of capital invested in the business. The final license broadly specifies the type of product to be imported. The trade license must be amended if the company wants to expand into other lines.

Special, general or national license from the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA). All procedures can be completed within 30 days where no environmental issues are concerned. The process is as follows:

Applicant submits completed questionnaire (available from JAFZA). JAFZA reviews questionnaire, then sends application form, electricity supply & planning documents, and E form (on environmental issues) if applicable. JAFZA reviews documents and determines whether Environment Impact Statement (EIS) is required. If yes, a full report is requested by JAFZA. The EIS is reviewed and, if applicable, the application is progressed. If not, the applicant is informed. JAFZA accepts application and sends provisional approval letter. The presentation of company documents is requested. This includes notarised certificate of registration, articles of association, a list of board directors, a copy of board resolution setting up branch and appointing manager, a statement by company as to amount of capital set aside for company's operation in the free zone, the branch manager's photograph and a specimen signature. If company documents are in order, JAFZA accepts application and a lease profile is signed. JAFZA sends a conditional approval letter and requests the applicant to sign the lease and the pay rent and license fee. The lease and license is issued to the applicant. The license for land is issued only after a building completion certificate has been issued.

For a general license, the following documents are also required: a valid trade license from Dubai Economic Department, and a Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry membership certificate (if applicable).

Free zone entity (FZE). The procedure is as follows:

Applicant submits preliminary questionnaire. JAFZA reviews the project. If approved, it forwards FZE Application and other documents. JAFZA forwards official approval of the applicant's incorporation as a FZE and requests documents to be completed. Issues letter to blank enabling applicant to open local bank account and to postal authority for registered addresses to be given. Applicant signs lease profile, forwards it to JAFZA and pays capital sum required. JAFZA issues certificate of formation, applicant signs lease. JAFZA issues lease and license.

Costs

Special Licence: $954.

General License: $545.

National Industrial License: $1,360.

Registration of FZE: $2,717.

Processing of FZE license: $1,358.

The Chambers of Commerce in the UAE

The establishment of any business or industrial activity must pass through the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the relevant emirate. The chambers represent the private sector and protect its interests.

Their role is to organise commercial and industrial affairs, collect relevant information and statistics, produce publications, and organise conferences and exhibitions within each emirate.

The chambers' affairs and performance are supervised by a board of directors composed of 21 members appointed by the relevant government. Five board members are on the executive board and the other members form various sub-committees.

Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry is situated in the Chamber Tower on the Corniche Road. The chamber was established in 1969 and has had a branch office in Al Ain since 1978.

Under Law 6 of 1976, all nationals and foreign persons, be they individuals, companies, or establishments practising commercial, industrial, financial or contractual activities within the emirate, whether they are branches or agencies, temporary or permanent, shall have to join the chamber.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The opening of a purpose-built building in the spring of 1995 is the highlight of the decade for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The magnificent new head office is opened to mark the 30th anniversary of the chamber's foundation. The Dubai Chamber's work falls under the following headings: foreign relations, registration and documentation, industrial affairs, administration and finance and legal affairs.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry

This is situated in Al-Boorj Avenue. By late 1994, it had 9,902 professional members, 9,340 commercial members and 495 industrial members.

Useful Addresses

Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry

PO Box 3014, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Tel: +9712 214144. Fax: +9712 339210.



Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 662, Abu Dhabi.

Tel: +9712 214000. Fax: +9712 215867



Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 1457, Dubai.

Tel: +9714 2280000. Fax: +9714 2211646.



Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 580.

Tel: +9716 5541444. Fax: +9716 5541119.



Fujairah Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 738.

Tel: +9719 2222400. Fax: +9719 2221464.



Ras Al-Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 87.

Tel: +9717 333511. Fax: +9717 330233.



Ajman Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 662.

Tel: +9716 7422177. Fax: +9716 7427591.



Umm Al-Qaiwain Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

PO Box 436.

Tel: +9716 7656915. Fax: +9716 7657056

Canadian Business Council Dubai & the Northern Emirates

P.O. Box 52472. Dubai, U.A.E.

Tel: +971-4-359-2625. Fax:+971-4-359-1026

Website: www.cbc-dubai.com

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More information about dental services in Dubai you can find at mydubaidentists.com, a useful online resource.
Most manufacturers have dealerships in Abu Dhabi. Relative to most countries cars are cheap and, in general, there are no problems with parts or service, but maintenance costs can be high when maintained by the dealer.

There is currently no road tax but there is an annual registration fee of approx. Dhs. 200. At each re-registration the police inspect the car for road-worthiness.

The Abu Dhabi traffic rules are based on the UK traffic code but cars drive on the right, and overtaking must be carried out on the left-hand side of the vehicle ahead of you. Roads are excellent, but driving is of an indifferent standard.


I was getting so much feedback from people about how sorry they were to see the store close, Kirschbraun told me Thursday. It made me grateful for the impact the store had, but also very sad. Then all of a sudden I got this email from this person saying, Would you be interested in selling the store? It was like this light that I didnt even expect to be at the end of the tunnel.
Application forms for residency visas are available from the Immigration Department, and they must be typed in Arabic. Submit the application along with the essential documents, medical certificate and Dhs.100. All visa payments need to be done with e-Dirhams, which can be bought online at www.e-dirham.gov.ae, at vending machines inside the Immigration Department, or at typing shops. Alternatively, you can complete applications online at www.moieserv.ae . It is essential that you fill out the names of your parents (including your mothers maiden name) in the specified section. Once the application is approved (this may take up to a month), you will be issued with a permit of entry for Abu Dhabi and you must exit and re-enter the country. When you arrive back into Abu Dhabi airport, you submit the entry permit to passport control and your passport will be stamped. Alternatively, you can pay an additional fee of Dhs.500 to avoid the visa run. You may be required to have an iris scan, which will be done by the Immigration Department at Abu Dhabi airport. You should then submit your original passport to the Immigration Department, along with the original passport of your nominated sponsor, your medical certificate, four passport photos and Dhs.300, in order to get your permanent residency stamp. This can take anywhere from 10 days to two months or longer. Once you have your residency stamp in your passport, your sponsor or employer may insist that they need to keep your passport. However, this is illegal as your passport is a personal document that belongs to the issuing government, and you should keep it with you at all times. Unfortunately though, some employers insist on holding your passport and there is little you can do to assert your right to keep it, apart from complaining to the Ministry of Labour.

To work in the UAE you are legally required to have a valid labour card. The labour card can only be applied for once you have residency, but for employees on company sponsorship the process starts way before that. Before you are even granted an employment visa to enter the country, your company will have to get approval from the Ministry of Labour. You then enter on an employment visa, get a health card, take the medical test, and get the residency stamp in your passport. The company PRO then takes all of the relevant paperwork to the Ministry of Labour where the actual labour card will be issued (even though it has work permit printed on the back).



The card features your photo and details of your employer. Youre supposed to carry the card with you at all times but it is highly unlikely that you will ever be asked to produce it. The process can also be quite slow, and its possible you may not receive your card for a few weeks, or even months, after starting work. The labour card costs Dhs.1,000 (paid by your company) and is usually valid for three years. It must be renewed within 60 days of expiry. Failure to do so will result in a fine (which your company will be liable for) of Dhs.5,000 for each year the card has expired.



If your employer is arranging your residency you will need to sign your labour contract before the labour card is issued. This contract is printed in both Arabic and English. Its not necessarily your agreed contract as such  most employees will sign a more comprehensive contract. Unless you read Arabic it may be advisable to have a translation made of your details, since the Arabic is the official version in any dispute.



However, if there is any discrepancy, the judge would want to know why your company got the details wrong in the first place.



Work is in progress to integrate the UAE National Identity Card with the Ministry of Labour and Health sector, which will enable card-holders to use it for a Labour Card, as an e-signature service for companies, and as a health insurance card.



To find out more about the application process, visit www.mol.gov.ae or call 02 665 1890.



Working On Family Sponsorship



If you are on a family residency and then decide to work, your employer, not your visa sponsor, will need to apply for a labour card. Youll need to give your employer the usual documents including a letter of no objection (NOC) from your sponsor (usually your husband or father), your passport with residency stamp, attested certificates (if appropriate), passport photos, and usually a photocopy of your sponsors passport. The Labour Card will cost your employer Dhs.1,000, and must be renewed annually.



Holiday Jobs



Expat students who wish to work during the summer holidays should apply to the Department of Naturalisation & Residency for a permit allowing them to work legally.
YouTube Celebrity

The 'Midnight Sky' actor shows up at a random guy's house and stays there during lockdown, bringing with him posters and pillow with Brad Pitt's face printed on it.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - George Clooney is a Brad Pitt super-fan in a hilarious Omaze fundraising clip.

Clooney and his lawyer wife Amal are giving a fan the chance to stay with the couple at their home in Lake Como, Italy, to raise funds for the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which advocates for justice through accountability for human rights abuses around the world.

And to promote the competition, "The Midnight Sky" star recorded a funny video titled "World's Worst Pandemic Roommate", which sees him standing in a bedroom plastered in posters of the "Fight Club" star and even holding a pillow with his face printed on it.

He begins, "One of my favourite things about meeting new people, is that you never know when a lifelong friendship is going to blossom."

"In fact, by total dumb luck, I actually spent most of last year rooming with some random guy and we're basically best friends now, but don't take my word for it, just ask him."

However, Bryon, who had just expected Clooney to pick up the Batman figure he had purchased from him online and not have to quarantine with him, responds, "Do I recommend hanging out with George Clooney? No, I do not. So, basically, George Clooney swung by my house to pick up something he was buying from me on Craigslist and the stay-at-home order hit and he never left. Moral of the story is, don't use Craigslist."

The Oscar-winner can then be seen hugging his Pitt cushion.

He says, "Can you believe Amal wanted me to throw this away? Not throwing this out, no way, man. Thank you for giving me a place. Me and Brad."

However, Clooney had a different view on their time living together.

He adds, "It was an unforgettable time. We laughed, we learned, we lived, so naturally when the stay-at-home order was finally lifted, Byron and I knew we had a tough decision to make."

Byron then quips, "I told him to get the f**k out."
WENN TV

The 'Trainwreck' actor is looking forward to the upcoming episode which will see the Tesla boss as a host although some of his co-stars are seemingly not happy with the casting.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Funnyman Pete Davidson was so nervous during a recent phone chat with rap hero Eminem, he hung up as soon as he could.

The "Trainwreck" star called the "Without Me" hitmaker after impersonating him on "Saturday Night Live", hoping he hadn't offended him in any way.

"It went, I think, as good as it could go," Davidson said during an appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers". "Eminem said a couple nice things, like, about me. And I, of course, heard them and I reached out and I was like, 'I would just like to say thank you.' "

"I just hit him up and I said, 'Thanks.' And he was like, 'Yeah, man you really did that'... I then hung up as quick as possible."

Pete also played down reports the "SNL" cast is upset about Elon Musk's upcoming hosting stint on the sketch comedy show, insisting he can't wait to meet the Tesla tech mogul.

"I'm really excited, man," Davidson said. "I'm gonna ask him for, like, a Tesla or some s**t... That guy's a (genius). I don't know why people are freaking out."

Musk will host Saturday's (08May21) "SNL" with Miley Cyrus as the musical guest.

Meanwhile, the tech mogul insisted everyone was nice to him at rehearsals although some of the cast members were seemingly not happy with his casting.

"What the f**k does this even mean," Bowen Yang previously responded to news that Elon Musk was coming to "SNL". Andrew Dismukes also questioned the decision to hire the businessman. "Only CEO I wanna do sketch with is Cher-E Oteri," he wrote, referring to former "SNL" star Cher-E Oteri.

Aidy Bryant, meanwhile, shared a tweet by Bernie Sanders which read, "The 50 wealthiest people in America today own more wealth than the bottom half of our people." She added, "Let me repeat that, because it is almost too absurd to believe: the 50 wealthiest people in this country own more wealth than some 165 MILLION Americans. That is a moral obscenity. (sic)"
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Deepwater Horizon' actress has decided to sever ties with a Taiwanese company after a number of employees accused bosses of sexual and physical abuses.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kate Hudson and her Fabletics partners have severed ties with a manufacturing plant in Lesotho amid claims of sexual and physical abuse against bosses.

Almost 40 employees have come forward, accusing Hippo Knitting officials of abuse, with female workers alleging they were often stripped naked during routine daily searches, while three accusers claim male supervisors sexually assaulted them.

Another worker claimed she was forced to urinate on herself when a supervisor wouldn't let her use the bathroom during her shift.

Hudson, who co-founded the activewear brand, insists she had no knowledge of what was going on and has cut ties with the Taiwanese company behind the factory in Maseru, following the Time Magazine expose, published on Wednesday (05May21).

"The allegations against Hippo Knitting are absolutely horrifying," a Fabletics statement reads. "Immediately after receiving the report, Fabletics suspended all operations with Hippo Knitting. One of our senior leaders is now on the ground in Lesotho and is running a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with an independent investigator."

"These workers' accounts demand strong action and today we're contacting the organizers of the Lesotho Agreement to discuss the process of joining and expanding the binding, worker-led program that targets gender-based violence and harassment in Lesotho."

"Fabletics' commitment to the people of this region remains resolute, and we're paying these workers their full wages while we investigate."
WENN/John Rainford Celebrity

In other news, the Duchess of Sussex is accused of plagiarizing British author Corrinne Averiss and Gabriel Alborozo's 2018 book titled 'The Boy on the Bench' for her yet-to-be released children's book 'The Bench'.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle once again came victorious in her legal battle against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online. According to a new report, the Duchess of Sussex won the last round of copyright claims over her personal letter to her father Thomas Markle.

A remote hearing at the High Court in London on Wednesday, May 5 ruled that the wife of Prince Harry was the sole copyright to the letter. She wrote the letter to her father in August 2018, months before her royal wedding to the British prince.

Prior to this, Associated Newspaper claimed that former Kensington Palace communications chief Jason Knauf owned part of the copyright as he co-wrote the letter. The tabloid also alleged that Jason saw an early version of the letter in addition to playing a role in its drafting. Jason, however, "emphatically" denied the co-author claims. On Wednesday, lawyers representing "the Keeper of the Privy Purse, acting on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen" also denied that the letter belonged to the Crown.

"Mr. Knauf did not draft, and has never claimed to have drafted, any parts of the electronic draft or the letter," Meghan's lawyers stated in official court documents released Wednesday. The docs also stated that the 39-year-old expecting duchess wrote the letter using the Notes application on her iPhone "around the first week of August 2018."

In the docs, however, it was revealed that Meghan shared the draft with her husband and Jason "for support, as this was a deeply painful process that they had lived through with her and because Mr Knauf was responsible for keeping the senior members of the royal household apprised of any public-facing issues." It was also said that while Jason gave "general ideas" of the letter, the correspondence "was the Duchess's letter alone."

Meghan filed a lawsuit against Associated Newspaper in 2019 for publishing extracts of the "private and confidential" letter to her dad in February 2019. In February of this year, High Court Judge Mark Warby ruled that Meghan "had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private," adding "The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation."

In other news, Meghan was accused of plagiarizing British author Corrinne Averiss and Gabriel Alborozo's 2018 book titled "The Boy on the Bench" for her yet-to-be released kids book "The Bench". People also noted that the storyline was similar, while the artwork bore resemblance with the one artwork from Christian Robinson.

However, Corrinne quickly dismissed the claims. Defending the Duchess, she wrote on Twitter, "Reading the description and published excerpt of the Duchess's new book, this is not the same story or the same theme as 'The Boy on the Bench.' I don't see any similarities."
Instagram/LinkedIn Celebrity

The Microsoft founder reportedly transferred $1.8 billion worth of stocks to his estranged wife on the same day they announced the end of their 27-year marriage.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Melinda Gates lost a husband but gained a lot of wealth at the same time. The philanthropist reportedly has become a billionaire after Bill Gates transferred nearly $2 billion worth of stocks to her on the same day of their divorce filing.

Per TMZ's report, the Microsoft founder transferred millions of shares in two companies to his estranged wife on Monday, May 3, the day they announced the end of their 27-year marriage. Bill's investment firm Cascade Investment LLC handled the transfer, with more than 14 million shares of Canadian National Railway Co. and more than 2.9 million shares of AutoNation Inc going to Melinda's pocket.

Based on Wednesday's stock prices, the shares are worth north of $1.8 billion. The Canadian National Railway shares are valued at $1.53 billion, while the AutoNation shares are estimated at around $310 million.

The ex-couple reportedly did not have a prenuptial agreement, but they signed a separation agreement ahead of the divorce filing. The stock transfer suggests that they had the asset division arranged ahead of their divorce announcement.

Meanwhile, a translator who works for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has spoken up amid wild speculation that suggested she was involved in the divorce. Zhe "Shelly" Wang, who has worked as an interpreter for the foundation since March 2015, denied that she had a special relationship with Bill or Melinda.

Taking to Chinese social media site Weibo, she wrote, "I thought that the rumors would go away by themselves, but I did not expect the rumors to become more and more crazily spread." The 36-year-old interpreter added, "How many books can I read, so why spend time on the unfounded rumors?"

"I would like to thank everyone for their concern and help in dispelling the rumors through private messages in the past 24 hours," Shelly thanked her supporters, before sharing a link to a story titled "#Gates divorce, some vicious people rumor to vilify an innocent Chinese girl."
Twitter Celebrity

While he is not allowed to return to his family home, the former '19 Kids and Counting' star is reportedly granted unlimited contact with his six children as long as his wife Anna Duggar is present.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Josh Duggar won't spend time behind bars as he awaits trials in his child pornography case. Despite allegations of him possessing 65 child porn images, the "19 Kids and Counting" alum was said to have been granted bail and is set to be released from prison on Thursday, May 6.

In the Wednesday, May 5 court hearing, Arkansas Judge Christy Comstock ruled that the 33-year-old will be released with several conditions, one of which he can't return to his family home. "I will tell you that your own children, and your siblings, children, and your minor brothers and sisters, they're all part of the larger society that the court must consider in protecting from you," the judge said.

"I cannot in good conscience, send you home," Judge Christy continued. "There are six minor children that live in your house. There are other minor children, in and out of their grandparents' house on a regular basis. And I'm not going to return you there."

Though so, Josh reportedly has unlimited access with his six kids as long as wife Anna Duggar is present. Still, he is not allowed to be around any other children. Additionally, his travel is restricted as he cannot leave the Western District of Arkansas without permission from the court.

Upon his release, the reality star will be placed at home confinement at pastor LaCount Reiber and wife Maria Reiber's house. He also can leave the place just to go to see his family, go to church, employment, medical care and legal appointments under monitoring via GPS.

Josh, who was arrested on April 29, is prohibited to possess or view erotica of any kind at any time and cannot have electronic devices where he can access the internet. Furthermore, he cannot possess control substances, firearms and not obtain one. If he violates any of those conditions, he will face an additional prison sentence up to 10 years.

In the Wednesday hearing, Special Agent Gerald Faulkner from Homeland Security divulged what authorities found on Josh's electronics. "In May of 2019, [an Arkansas police officer] identified a computer participating in the known sharing of photos and videos of child pornography," Gerald first stated.

Gerald further claimed Josh had one two-minute clip on his computer of two underage females and a male who performed sexual acts on the children. 65 images of a female "consistent with child pornography" were also found on the latter's device.

Josh reportedly admitted he had a TOR browser on his computer, which he can use to access dark web anonymously. However, Gerald said there was "no evidence" the TV personality was the one that downloaded the TOR.
WENN/Sheri Determan/Avalon Celebrity

In a since-deleted post on the photo-sharing site, the 'Halloween' actress joins 'The Pursuit of Happyness' actor to discuss body positivity and health issue.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jamie Lee Curtis has shared a motivational response to Will Smith's social media posts about his dad bod. Inspired by "The Pursuit of Happyness" actor's bravery in proudly showing off his untoned belly, the "Halloween" actress reinforced his positive message by reminding people to set their own realistic self-acceptance goal.

In a since-deleted Instagram post, the two-time Golden Globe winner shared an unedited photo of herself from an old More Magazine photoshoot side-by-side with the 52-year-old actor's shirtless image. To accompany the picture, she noted a lengthy caption that began with, "Acceptance of the way things are is the first step to any change.

The "Freaky Friday" actress went on to explain, "My old MORE @_moremagazine story was both a testament to 'The way things were for me' as well as a way to show the artifice of magazine advertising and airbrushing but also a chance to look in the mirror and make some changes." She then pointed out, "None of us should be unhealthy. We ALL have fallen into bad habits."

"The GOAL is self acceptance, self love. Realistic, attainable self acceptance. In recovery we say 'Compare and despair.' 'Nothing changes unless something changes,' " the 62-year-old quoted sayings she got from her drug and alcohol addiction recovery. "MANY people don't have the luxury of oodles of time and money to focus on their training. Mostly it should be a discussion starter."

Near the end of her message, Jamie shared, "Happy to be a part of an ongoing conversation and sell my four word self help book here! EAT LESS (BETTER), MOVE MORE!" She additionally tagged Will and included a hashtag that read "eat less move more."

Jamie's body positivity message came shortly after Will offered a look at his post-pandemic body on Instagram. On Monday, May 3, the "Aladdin" actor let out a clip of him posing in black shorts, slippers, and unzipped hoodie. In the caption of the post, he wrote, "I'm gonna be real wit yall - I'm in the worst shape of my life."

The following day, the "I Am Legend" actor shared an Instagram boomerang of him putting his tummy in full display. "This is the body that carried me through an entire pandemic and countless days grazing thru the pantry," he wrote, before noting though he loves his body, he "wanna feel better." He added, "No more midnight muffinsthis is it! Imma get in the BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE!!!!!"
DC Comics Movie

The upcoming Man of Steel project is said to be standalone like Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' and Todd Phillips' 'Joker', with a possibility of being a period piece.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - A black Superman is apparently also on the brain of Warner Bros. execs. Amid social media's chatters that tout Michael B. Jordan as the next incarnation of the superhero, the studio is reportedly considering to feature a black Man of Steel in the new movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, WB is currently looking for a black actor to portray the titular character in its next Superman movie. No name is being mentioned as a possible candidate to take on the role, but the star could be a relative unknown.

Additionally, sources tell the site that "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 that in mind, one source notes that it would be "tone deaf" to put J.J. Abrams, who is also attached to produce, as the helmer.

Steven Caple Jr. ("Creed II"), J.D. Dillard ("Sleight", "Sweetheart"), Regina King ("One Night in Miami...") and Shaka King ("Judas and the Black Messiah") are allegedly among potential candidates to direct the movie. Some of them have reportedly met with the studio, while Marvel is said to be vying for same names on the list for its "Blade" movie.

The report further states that the new Superman movie will likely be standalone, much like Matt Reeves' "The Batman" and Todd Phillips' "Joker". Thus, a period piece with a 20th century setting is said to be under consideration to separate it from other DC films.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is currently penning the script and isn't expected to deliver his script until mid-December. He is reportedly "crafting a Kal-El in the vein of the original Superman comics and will have the protagonist hail from Krypton and come to Earth."

Abrams and Coates have previously spoken up on being tapped to revamp the Superman franchise. "There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told. We couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we're beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity," the "Lost" co-creator said in February.

Coates added, "To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor. I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America's most iconic mythic hero."
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Blue Girls Club' star cites her Christian faith as the reason why she didn't fight back when the model slapped Chrisean's phone out of her hand at a party.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Blueface's artist Chrisean Rock has been involved in a situation with Slick Woods at a party. The YouTube star, who has gained popularity since starring on the rapper's OnlyFans series "Blue Girls Club", got into an altercation with the model after the latter snatched her phone when they ran into each other on Tuesday night, May 4.

In footage filmed by Chrisean herself, the Baltimore native was on Instagram Live at what looks like a party when she spotted Slick. Apparently awestruck by the model, Chrisean gushed, "Oh look at her, she's so pretty." She continued to film the model with her camera, but the latter seemingly wasn't feeling it and slapped Chrisean's phone out of her hand.

People were heard trying to calm both women down with one shouting, "Chill, chill, chill...," before Chrisean got her hand on her phone again. Visibly pissed off, Chrisean ranted, "She just tried to wreck my phone... I was just trying to show love."

While Slick apparently tried to keep her distance from Chrisean following the confrontation, the latter suggested that they "can have a clean fight, yo." She angrily shouted, "She slapped my phone!" and alleged, "Shawty, you're drunk! You disrespect me."

Chrisean later addressed the fight in another Live session on Wednesday. As things didn't turn physical between the two, the "Blue Girls Club" star explained what stopped her from fighting back. "This Christian thing is like one of those things, like how can you be a gang member and still be a Christian, not a gang but being true to yourself," she said in the video. She added that if she had stayed true to herself, she would have been frivolous.

Later, Chrisean noticed that people defended Slick in the comments, saying she is sick. "I took a quick second to look at her viewers' comments, and some of them indicated that Slik was sick," she pointed out. She, however, didn't take that as an excuse for the model's behavior to her at the party, saying, "Everyone is constantly saying that Slik is sick. I never give f**k about anyone who's sick, brother. If you're so sick, why are you at a drunken party and slapping phones with their hands?"

Slick revealed in November 2019 that she was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma cancer. She underwent chemotherapy for it, but did not want to be treated "like a victim."

The 24-year-old fashion model has not spoken up on the altercation, but Rolling Ray has weighed in on it and he wasn't being nice to Slick. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "Slick Woods too bald-headed to be playing soo much. Uh b***h who head shaped like uh apple would wanna apple products."
Artopolis owners Andre Papantoniou and Reveliotis, who bought the cafe in 2019, plan a $500,000 renovation to their space later this year. The makeover will include menu changes to appeal to more customers, Reveliotis said. The owners are set to travel to several areas of Greece to make note of contemporary restaurant trends, Reveliotis said.
WENN/Daniel Deme Celebrity

SFGate reviewers want the scene of Prince Charming kissing Snow White to be removed from the ride because he kisses her while she is sleeping and 'without consent.'

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Piers Morgan wasn't having it after critics took issue with the revamped Snow White ride. SFGate reviewers wanted the scene of Prince Charming kissing the princess to be removed from the "Enchanted Wish" ride because the kiss happens without her consent. Upon learning the report, the British TV personality urged them to "shut the f**k up."

The former "Good Morning Britain" host expressed his condemnation via Twitter on Wednesday, May 5. "For the love of God... Can the woke brigade please just shut the f**k up? You're pathetic & exhausting, and nobody in the real world agrees with you. Thanks," he tweeted.

Piers Morgan slammed journalists criticizing the revamped Snow White ride.

Not stopping there, Piers slammed the journalists' complaint by writing a lengthy essay for the Daily Mail. "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," he stated.

"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," the broadcaster added. "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," the 56-year-old continued."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."

Piers went on to fume, "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." He then emphasized, "I refuse to let this happen. I stand with the chivalrous Prince and won't let the wokies kill Snow White."

Piers' argument came after two journalists for SFGate wrote on the website, "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?" They added, "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."
Instagram Celebrity

'The Suite Life on Deck' alum is photographed with her son when going for a walk with her mother in Los Angeles, one month after welcoming her first child with the 'Home Alone' star.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Brenda Song has been seen with her son in public for the first time, one month after she became a mom. The actress was spotted with her newborn baby boy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 5.

In photos obtained by Daily Mail, the 33-year-old was taking her baby while going for a walk with her mother Mai Song. Wearing an oversized gray-and-white plaid blouse teamed with soft beige linen trousers, she held her son close to her chest in a leopard print carrier.

The London Tipton on Disney Channel's comedy series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and its spin-off "The Suite Life on Deck" completed her look with a pair of Golden Goose trainers and a black purse hung from her shoulder, while she protected her face from the sunlight with a black round hat and shades.

Both Brenda and her mother went maskless for the outing, but they had a blue face mask each on their hand in case they needed to wear it. The girlfriend of Macaulay Culkin also shielded her son from the sunlight with a colorful plaid hat.

Brenda Song was spotted with her baby boy Dakota for the first time in Los Angeles.

Brenda and Macaulay welcomed their first child on April 5. The couple shared the news in a feature piece published by Esquire on April 12. The baby, whom they named Dakota Song Culkin, weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces at the time of his birth.

To the magazine, the "Home Alone" star revealed that he picked Dakota as his baby boy's moniker in honor of his late sister. She passed away at the age of 29 after stepping in front of a moving vehicle outside a west Los Angeles bar in 2008.

In February 2020, the "Richie Rich" actor expressed his desire to start a family with the former Disney Channel star. "We practice a lot," he told Esquire at that time. "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.' "
WENN Celebrity

The disgraced Hollywood producer has filed a lawsuit against a lawyer, who dropped him as a client back in 2019 amid sexual assault allegations against him.

May 7, 2021

AceShowbiz - Harvey Weinstein is suing his former attorney Jose Baez.

The disgraced movie producer filed a lawsuit against Baez, who dropped his New York criminal case in 2019, and his partner Michelle Medina - demanding a refund of $1 million (720,000) plus interest.

"Baez refused to provide any substantive or meaningful legal services to Weinstein in contravention of (their) Engagement", the lawsuit claims.

According to the legal papers, Baez had agreed to be paid on a "work on a fee-for-service with co-counsel Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. through the end of all trial and post-trial basis proceedings" once joining Weinstein's legal team in January 2019. He was to receive $2 million (1.4 million) in monthly payments of $200,000 (144,000) as part of his contract.

Weinstein claims that during Baez's time on his team, he was "regularly unavailable to communicate to Weinstein, and not directly involved with the compilation, investigation, research, and drafting of various high priority substantive legal work which was substantially delegated to other non-Baez Law Firm attorneys such as Ronald S. Sullivan Jr."

In May 2019, Weinstein asked Baez to produce a document accounting for the time and work he'd spent on the case, but claims the lawyer refused. Baez then started to threaten his withdrawal from the case, according to the lawsuit, and demanded to be paid the $1 million outstanding.

However, by summer 2019, Baez had officially withdrawn from Weinstein's team.

A year later, following Weinstein's conviction for rape and sexual assault, the producer was invoiced for $1,028.227.50 (739). His attorneys claim that while they have asked for a refund several times, Baez and Medina have yet to give them "any meaningful response."

Responding to the lawsuit, Joe Tacopina, an attorney for Baez and Medina, told Fox News, "Harvey Weinstein's lawsuit against Jose Baez and his firm is nothing more than yet another predatory act by a vile fiend, utterly lacking in credibility..."

"In yet another legal blunder, Weinstein's lawsuit has opened the door to disclosure of damning statements by him which would otherwise have been shielded by the attorney-client privilege. Despite Weinstein's penchant for bullying, Jose Baez is an upstanding pillar of the legal community who will not be pushed around and looks forward to exposing Weinstein's claims for what they are, audacious lies."
A man suspected of double murder and the infant son he kidnapped were killed Monday after an interstate car chase ended in a police shootout in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The murder suspect, identified by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office as 30-year-old Eric Derell Smith, died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.

The infant was injured and taken to a hospital in Alabama, where he died from a single gunshot wound, according to the Harrison County Coroner's office.

The incident began Monday at 11:30 a.m. when the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 hang-up call at a home in Baker, Louisiana. There, deputies found Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew, Brandon Parker, 26, fatally shot, the sheriff's office said.

Smith, who was Parker's ex-boyfriend, according to the sheriff's office, reportedly fled the scene with his and Parker's 4-month-old son in a blue Nissan Altima with dark tinted windows, the office said.

Just before 3 p.m., the Biloxi Police Department received information that Smith had been located on Interstate 10 in Mississippi driving east and nearing Gulfport, Biloxi Police Maj. Christopher De Back said in a statement. Multiple law enforcement agencies were trying to stop the suspect, and the highway pursuit entered into Biloxi, police said.

CNN Affiliate WLOX, which viewed the pursuit on state traffic cameras, showed dozens of law enforcement vehicles from multiple agencies all following behind Smith's blue vehicle. Authorities closed off exits along the highway and used spikes to try to safely stop the vehicle, WLOX reported.

At mile marker 40 on I-10 -- about a 140-mile drive from the Louisiana home where the shooting occurred -- the suspect's vehicle was bumped by a police car and came to a stop in the grassy median, video from WLOX shows.

A massive shootout ensued, and both Smith and the infant were killed, authorities said.

'As the suspect exited the vehicle, shots were fired,' Biloxi Police said in a statement. 'Medical attention was given to the suspect but he died as a result of injuries sustained.' The infant 'did receive injuries,' police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and later died.

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said the infant was taken to Mobile, Alabama, for care.

Upon further questioning, De Back declined to clarify who fired shots, saying that was part of the investigation. He said even once that is determined, police would not be able to release the information.

'Once a thorough investigation is completed the details will be released to the District Attorney's Office for review,' he said in a statement.

Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Maj. John Poulos said the troopers involved in the incident have been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave.
Thank you for almost 40 years of serving in Northern California.

I started my career in television as a paid intern at KCRA in Sacramento in the 80's. While attending Chico State University, I was hired to work part time on the presidential elections during the Reagan era, which worked into a full-time reporter job.



Congressman Doug LaMalfa presents Action News Now Anchor Debbie Cobb with a proclamation, thanking her for her nearly 40 years of service in the media. Congressman Doug LaMalfa presents Action News Now Anchor Debbie Cobb with a proclamation, thanking her for her nearly 40 years of service in the media.

I covered the crime and courts beat in Butte County for more than a decade.

I covered many notable stories, including the floods of '86. I followed the murders of Dr. William and Katherine Chiapella in 1987 and was able to follow the case through Steven Crittenden's confession.. weeks ago.

I was honored to be the first reporter to go live (for CBS 12 at the time) from the crash site of a U-2 reconnaissance plane in Oroville in 1996.

I will never forget covering the Carr Fire in Shasta County and the Camp Fire in Butte County. The gut wrenching stories of the loss of life and the horror for those trying to escape with flames.

Reporting stories was what I enjoyed the most in my journalism career, out in the field with the people of Northern California. And I can tell you every story I covered tugged at my heart in some way.

I have tried to pay my fortune of having such an incredible job forward, volunteering and serving on various boards.

I would want everyone to know I took my job reporting and delivering the news very seriously. Every day my goal was to present a fair and balanced, complete story.

I will treasure the lifelong friendships, and the daily stops from viewers on the street. I am honored the people of Northern California allowed me into their living rooms for almost four decades.

I will leave this industry with my head held high, with gratitude and thanks. It has been a true privilege to serve you.

Thank you for allowing me to have the most incredible career ever. I don't know what the future holds, but I can assure you, I will not forget this adventure.

With Fondness and a grateful heart,

Debbie Cobb

Anchor Reporter

Action News now
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif.  CAL FIRE said there have already been 1800 wildfires this year across the state which is worse compared to this time last year.

With the upcoming fire season, they want to remind everyone to do their part to stay vigilant and stay safe and update things like defensible space.

Wednesday different agencies came together for Wildfire Preparedness Week at Loafer Creek Recreation Area in Oroville to let people know they're ready to help but want community members to do their part.

CAL FIRE Director and State Fire Chief, Thom Porter said CAL FIRE has already hired 1200 firefighters ahead of the regular season and increased the number of firefighters through peak season.

RELATED: CAL FIRE gearing up ahead of fire season

"With the extra activity this year and being today 700% above where we were at this time last year in numbers of acres burned across the state, we know that's critical for what we're going see later, said Porter. "Defensible space, do it, you know what it is, do that first then do the low-cost retrofit to harden your home. This is the time of year we are transitioning into the peak season, this is the chance for all of you to take care of your properties, your communities."

Tools that firefighters use like Black Hawk Helicopters are critical when it comes to wildfires and helping stop the spread of flames. CAL FIRE said we're going to be seeing a lot more of these helicopters this fire season all across the state.

"We're going have more firefighters on fire engines, on hand crew configuration, so we are making a big investment in the paid professional firefighting force that CAL FIRE is," said Porter. "Every single acre in California can and will burn someday and it just depends on what day that's going to be, where and whether you're in its sights."
OROVILLE, Calif. - Two Oroville men admitted to their participation in a 2020 drive-by shooting in South Oroville, according to the Butte County District Attorney, Mike Ramsey.

Garrett Berry, 25, pled Wednesday to a felony count of Shooting at an Inhabited Residence. Billy Phianemanh, 25, pled to a felony count of Unlawfully Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Ramsey said.

Berry faces seven years in state prison for this case when he is sentenced on June 2, 2021, according to Ramsey. Judge Jesus Rodriguez also found Berry in violation of a prior misdemeanor DUI probation and in violation of parole for a prior felony domestic violence case on Wednesday. He remains in custody in the Butte County Jail with no bail.

RELATED: Man fires shots into home with stolen handgun, police say

Phianemanh faces a maximum of three years in county jail for this case when he is sentenced on June 30, 2021. Ramsey said Phianemanh has no previous record and remains out of custody pending his sentencing.

The drive-by shooting happened on June 11, 2020.

Oroville Police received 911 calls reporting a young man, who had been let out of a maroon-colored SUV, was standing outside of and shooting toward a residence in the 3400 block of Roseben Ave, Ramsey said. The man then got back in the passenger side of the SUV, which fled the area.

Within minutes after the shooting, Oroville Police officers located the maroon-colored SUV less than five blocks away outside of Berrys residence. Phianemanh was found in the drivers seat of the vehicle registered to a family member. Berry was detained just outside his residence.

After the vehicle was searched, officers said they located a semi-automatic handgun with a loaded magazine under the drivers seat. Ramsey said investigators learned the gun was stolen. Phianemanhs fingerprints were later found on the weapon. Evidence indicated after the shooting Berry had passed the gun to Phianemanh.

Back at the scene of the shooting, officers discovered the home on Roseben Ave. was struck four times and was occupied at the time. Fired casings found outside the Roseben residence were matched to the recovered gun. Bullets penetrated the door of the residence, but luckily hit no one inside. Ramsey said the shooting was not random and officers suspected a gang motivation for the shooting.
UPDATE: 12:52 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 2021 - The mountain lion spotted in the city of Alturas Wednesday morning has been safely tranquilized and will be relocated, according to the Modoc County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities were able to track the mountain lion early in the morning. The cat was found close to the city of Alturas.

The Mountain lion has been safely tranquilized and will be relocated. Credit: Modoc County Sheriff's Office Facebook

The Modoc County Sheriff's Office shared this photo to Facebook on Wednesday, warning residents of a mountain lion spotted near the city of Alturas. The Modoc County Sheriff's Office shared this photo to Facebook on Wednesday, warning residents of a mountain lion spotted near the city of Alturas. The Mountain lion has been safely tranquilized and will be relocated. Credit: Modoc County Sheriff's Office Facebook

The sheriff's office thanked the Department of Fish & Wildfire staff, along with a state trapper and a retired trapper.

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UPDATE: 10:00 p.m. - The mountain lion was located and Fish and Wildlife and Modoc County deputies are on the scene.

Deputies ask people to stay out of the area of West C Street, Nagle Street and 12th Street as traffic will interfere with tracking.

If you live in the area, please stay inside your home and keep pets indoors.

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MODOC COUNTY, Calif. - The Modoc County Sheriff is urging everyone to be on the lookout for a mountain lion in the Alturas area.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and local law enforcement are searching for this lion, spotted several times throughout the day in Alturas, as early as 11 a.m. near an elementary school.

Sheriff Tex Dowdy said this is particularly concerning since mountain lions are typically reclusive and do not usually show up in populated areas in broad daylight.

If you see the lion, call 911 and keep close tabs on kids and pets for the time being.
REDDING, Calif. - A woman has been arrested for starting Shasta Countys 2018 Delta Fire, according to the District Attorneys Office.

Cynthia Ann LeRoux, 57, was arrested in her Mountain Gate home and booked into the Shasta County Jail Wednesday morning. Her bail is set at $1 million and faces over 50 years in prison, according to the Shasta County Sheriffs Office.

Cynthia Ann LeRoux Cynthia Ann LeRoux

The Delta Fire broke out on Sept. 5, 2018, and burned a total of 63,311 acres and destroyed 45 structures in Shasta and Trinity counties.

LeRoux faces 20 total counts, three of which are for starting other fires. One in December of 2018 in the same property where the Delta Fire started, an RV was destroyed in this fire. The other two were in March of 2020 and December of 2020 respectively.

LeRouxs faces two counts of arson of forest land causing great bodily injury. Authorities said her actions severely burned a truck driver and caused major head injury to another truck driver.

Her remaining charges are for the destruction of homes, starting a fire during a State of Emergency, and for arson of an inhabited dwelling.
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
South Africa: Concern raised at expenditure patterns

Government needs to urgently address its expenditure patterns if it is to turn the tide against unsustainable debt levels, says the National Treasury.

This was the shared sentiment by Deputy Finance Minister, David Masondo, and Department Director-General, Dondo Mogajane, during the opening session of the two-day Savings@Work: Government Spending Reviews Conference on Thursday.

The inaugural conference is hosted by the National Treasury and its agency, the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC).

Mogajane said government needed to scrutinise its debt, saying it was currently spending R270 billion a year to service its liabilities.

Our debt is too high and we are burdening future generations with the debt that we currently accumulate, he said.

The non-performing economy and low tax collection have largely been cited as contributing factors to the accumulation.

We cannot continue to indefinitely borrow because future generations will be impacted. It is something that we need to focus on, he said, adding that something needed to be done on expenditure to achieve this.

You have to [do] something on the expenditure side when you have data that you can use. We dont have credible data, we still cant understand what we are spending on, he said.

While the National Treasury had over the years undertaken expenditure review exercises, he said these also needed to inform government as which favourable frameworks were needed.

The tide of debt would not turn into growth and prosperity until it was redirected, he said.

Currently, he added, government expenditure was largely on programmes that may not produce the goods needed to improve or expand the production sectors of the economy.

We are spending on consumption  we need to change that. Weve been doing that in the last few years but we need to [change] more, said the DG.

In turn, this would lead to increases in production sectors of the economy and a reduction in consumption spending.

As it stood, he said, the state was spending a lot on its compensation budget. In this regard, government was currently engaging union needs but Mogajane warned that the state may not meet required standards.

Government, he said, needed to consider its options on expenditure. These included social spending and decreasing the compensation budget, both of which was no desirable.

We have to be realistic and ask ourselves questions: what is it that will take us forward? he said.

Addressing inefficiencies

Mogajane said the countrys economy needed to return to the seven years of plenty (2000  2007), when the country recorded sustainable economic growth and debt-to-GDP was at its lowest.

Debt of more than 90% is unsustainable in an economy like ours; we cant get to that, he emphasised.

Lets look at what is possible, lets build the skills and experience around our ability to look at spending that we currently have. Lets make sure that whatever we spending money on [is value for money].

The DG, however, admitted that this process would not be easy, saying it would be painful.

It is important that we closely look at the spending data that we have. We have to rigorously link spending to the policy choices that weve made so that we are able to address the needs of our people, he said.

Currently, he added, there were areas of inefficiencies that needed to be zoomed in on.

His sentiments were echoed by Masondo.

This is a problem that emerged before the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has its roots in the large, structural gap that we have between tax revenues andgovernments spending commitments, said the Deputy Minister.

These, however, have since been exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Over the years, government had employed strategies aimed at closing the gap between spending and revenue, increased taxes, including VAT.

But this has not really worked because economic growth has continued to fall, [meaning] tax revenues kept coming in lower than we expected. In fact, we now have to worry that raising taxes may even contribute to the growth slowdown, which is why this years budget offered some tax relief, he said.

This was no longer feasible, said Masondo.

Balancing act

Due to the challenges, he said, government would have to spend less than it intended to respond to everyones needs.

We have to spend much better. That is the only way that we will make progress against poverty and inequality and slow economic growth.

If we as a government are going to spend our scarce resources better, we need a much better understanding of how we spend them now, what we achieve with the money, and whether there are ways to spend more efficiently and effectively. The only way to do that well is not by telling stories and making nice documents, but to crunch a lot of numbers so that we can see where all the money goes, he said.

Spending reviews, he added, currently being undertaken by the National Treasury and the GTAC have helped government reduce the costs of delivering public services.

While reviewing (office rental leases), we found that 60% of leases were above the current market rates, and that the average premium being paid on these leases was about 45%.

Extrapolating to the full lease portfolio, which means of the R3 billion that was being paid to lease office accommodation in 2015, as much as R700 million might have been saved if the rents had been at market rates, said the Deputy Minister.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-05-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Rocket debris 'common, likely to fall in intl waters' despite Western hyping of 'China space threat'

Global Times) 10:28, May 06, 2021

The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, April 29, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)

Debris from China's Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket, which sent the first section of China's space station into orbit, is very likely to fall in international waters and people needn't worry, Chinese space analysts told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Wreckage from rocket launches falling back to Earth is common in the aerospace field, and the Pentagon's reported claim that the rocket wreckage will fly back "out of control" and "may cause damage if it hits inhabited areas" is nothing but Western hype of the "China threat" in space technology advancement, observers noted.

The Long March 5B rocket is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere around May 8, and the US Space Command is tracking the rocket's trajectory, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from US Defense Department spokesperson Mike Howard.

Despite "worries" from the US Defense Department, industry insiders believe the situation is not worth panicking about. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, was quoted by CNN as saying the risk of being hit by the falling debris is "incredibly tiny."

Song Zhongping, an aerospace expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday that it is "completely normal" for rocket debris to return to Earth.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, added that the development of rocket debris falling was carefully considered by China's space authorities from the initial rocket design phase and the choice of a launch site, to the rocket's liftoff attitude and its trajectory.

"Most of the debris will burn up during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, leaving only a very small portion that may fall to the ground, which will potentially land on areas away from human activities or in the ocean," Wang told the Global Times on Wednesday.

As China's launch vehicle is mainly made of lightweight materials, most of it will be easily burned up by the dense air in the atmosphere following its high-speed re-entry, space insiders explained.

Song noted that China's space monitoring network will also keep close watch on areas covered under the rocket's flight course and take necessary measures if any damage would occur to passing ships.

Song further elaborated on the environmentally friendly fuel used by China's Long March-5B Y2 rocket, which would not cause water pollution if the debris falls into the ocean.

"In all, it is another hyping of the so-called 'China space threat' adopted by some Western forces," Song noted. "It's an old trick used by hostile powers every time they see technological breakthroughs in China, as they are nervous."

As long as China stays open and transparent to the international society, such rumors will be naturally smashed to pieces, Song said.

China kicked off an intense construction phase of the country's first space station project with the launch of the Tianhe core module cabin on April 29. A busy schedule of 11 launches has been set for the next two years, and by 2022, the space station is expected to be operational.

Marking the final phase of China's three-step manned space development, the extendable T-shaped station is set to be operational for 10 years and its life can be extended to 15 years with proper repair and maintenance, according to the China Academy of Space Technology.

It is expected to be the only operational station in orbit that will be open to foreign partners following the retirement of the International Space Station.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun)
Harper, who still uses deodorant and does a daily wash of the parts that need to be done at the sink, said she was confident she was not offending anyone. Her 22-year-old daughter, who is fastidious about bathing and showers twice a day, has not made any comments regarding her new hygiene habit. Nor have the children at her school.
BBDO Bangkok, Kunana and The Mirror Foundation have worked together to put the AI technology Deepfake to very good use with the impressive and important project THE MISSING PERSON REPORTERS.

For the first time, a missing person is reported by the missing person themselves.

But it is actually Deepfake AI technology that has been finally put good use and for a deserving cause.

To give some context for this pioneering technology, Deepfake is an advanced and powerful AI technology that enables us to replace anyones face on an existing image or video of a person. For the past few years, Deepfake technology has been known for its misuse in pornography, fake news and hoaxes. Isnt it time for us to finally put such advanced technology to good use?

Introducing The Missing Person Reporters. For the first time, missing person news is reported by the missing person themselves using Deepfake technology. A special project created by BBDO Bangkok, Kunana and The Mirror Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Thailand with a mission of searching for and finding missing persons.

So, how is using Deepfake to modify a reporters face to appear as a missing person beneficial?

Studies show that the human brain remembers and recognises moving images better than still ones. Using this research, to make a missing person more recognisable to the public and therefore increase their chances of being found, Deepfake technology has been used to change the faces of news reporters to the faces of missing persons. The missing persons appear to read their own news and appeal to the public to help find them. Through this stunning technology, The Missing Person Reporters project creates a massive impact and impression on the public, beyond any ordinary missing-person report could. It ensures whoevers watching remembers the missing persons faces and looks out for them in public, helping with the search to bring them home.

Client : The Mirror Foundation, Kunana

Agency : BBDO Bangkok
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.
Crisis management and employee welfare have never been more important that the current pandemic times. Since March 2020, our lives have changed forever and we have been adapting to new norms, new behaviour and new work modes ever since.

For corporates, these have been extra tough times  arresting falling business amid lockdowns, managing the workforce working remotely and keeping them motivated and productive, ensuring the safety especially in the far more virulent second wave of COVID-19.

Also read: Driving CSR initiatives during pandemic times  India Inc shows the way

Recently Cheil India had come under severe flak from the industry after two of its employees died due to COVID-19. Mostly the former employees of Cheil took to social media to cricitise the agencys work culture. This is not an isolated case. There have been several reports of employees in various organisations working under severe stress, long work hours, facing a threat of exposure to COVID-19 infection.

At the same time, organisations across sectors have also undertaken several measures for their employees wellbeing  both physical and mental. These include letting them continue to work from home, shortening the days of work, virtual sessions to let off steam, and more importantly, arranging for getting their employees and their families vaccinated against the virus.

Dentsu India is letting its employees to power off from work this Friday (May 7) to let them spend more time with their families during the longer weekend. The network is also giving dedicated pandemic leave to its employees for 10 days, with the option to extend to a further 10 days if required. It had also upgraded the health insurance policies last year to include COVID-19 coverage. dentsu has arranged for an in-house doctor to provide tele-consultations to the employees and their families. It has partnered with a pharmaceutical chain to provide discounted medicines for its employees.

Independent digital consulting firm ARM Worldwide has gone a step ahead to enhance financial, medical & mental wellness of the team during the current second COVID wave. #ARM is offering an extra 15 days paid leave to recover completely, ensuring financial & mental wellbeing for all in their family as well. #ARM will be acknowledging a Mental Wellness Month starting from 15th May till 15th June where the employees will work (WFH) for 4 days a week.

On such groundbreaking developments, Co-founder & Managing Director of #ARM Worldwide, Ritesh Singh, said, Times are tough for both, the business and the people running the business, and people any day come first. Our HR team has been relentlessly working and fortunately for us, HR has also been a key part of our business. Therefore, we were able to stay together & do good last year during the first wave of the pandemic. Now with the second wave, it has thrown new challenges and we are determined to come out strong as a team.

Speaking about the steps taken in her organisation during the pandemic times, Upasana Raina, VP & Head Human Resources, GI Group India, said, At GI, we constantly strive towards improving psychological safety at work. we always believed that the mental well-being of everyone in the organization is key to each persons individual success that finally ties up into the success of the collective. This cornerstone in the Organizations philosophy has built a community that is always available to support each other and in these difficult and unprecedented times, we have gone the extra mile to make sure that every employee feels like they can lean on the organization and their colleagues for support. Apart from ensuring the safety of everyone by planning for 100% of the workforce to work from home, we are also encouraging our employees to take time for themselves to strike a healthy balance between work and family. Many that have fallen sick or are finding themselves caring for their loved ones are advised to take days off before they are fully recovered or available. Considering that each person will have differing circumstances and different recovery periods the company adopted a policy of being versatile and allowing each person as much time as they need, rather than specifying a specific time. Gi Groups philosophy to nurture mental well-being has been caring for its staff through the EAP affiliate by consistently holding seminars and facilitating personal touch points at individual team members. Considering that more than 50% of our workforce comprises women, we are extremely flexible with respect to working times allowing greater opportunity for each of our staff to manage their additional personal responsibilities in such difficult times.

While India will come together and get through this, PFT encourages all its stakeholders (Employees, Investors, Customers, Partners, and Society) to get vaccinated and build their defense against the deadly virus. PFT will reimburse COVID vaccination for its employees across all locations in India.

85% of our employees have been working remotely even before the second lockdown was imposed. They can visit the nearest hospital to them and get vaccinated and, on producing the vaccination certificate, PFT will reimburse them, said Mangesh Pathak, Chief Strategy Officer, PFT. In these extremely challenging situations, we have stood together as one team to support each other and our stakeholders at large. This initiative is a continuation of that spirit, he added.

As the country looks forward to starting its youth vaccination drive from 1st May 2021 onwards, the Indian fast-food chain of restaurants Wow! Momo in the favour of their employees safety and welfare has made this announcement.

Sagar Daryani, CEO WOW! Momo added Vaccination begins at home; its our attempt to give our Wow! employees a completely safe working condition and a reassurance that we will stick with them come what may! This is also a reward for their resilience and passion; they have been with us through thick and thin last year and this is the least we would want to do"

In an attempt to extend support to their employees, Sona Machinery Pvt Ltd., a leading manufacturer, exporter and supplier of milling equipment in agro-processing industry, conducted extensive employee engagement program to get a better insight into the concerns amongst the employees and at the same time render a cooperative environment for progressive work.

On the occasion, Vasu Naren, the CEO of Sona Machinery Pvt. Ltd. said, We at Sona Machinery believe that employee welfare is very important for an evolving working environment. It encourages freedom to work innovatively where employees can learn and hone their skills and be supportive and cooperative with each other.

For more updates, be socially connected with us on

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Working in the agriculture/ farm industry as a communicator, you learn a few things about simplifying your message. In this episode of Mrigashira, Charu Raizada speaks to Bhavna Imran, communication leader at Corteva Agriscience. Bhavna is a Communication specialist with over two decades of experience in developing consistent and powerful brand messaging across regional markets, distribution channels and customer segments.

Listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MtcRoe3pSczQWlpeHmVTY?si=6456a918194e4761

Are the tried-and-true ways of communicating with farmers still the preferred pathways or has the communication landscape evolved?

I used to watch my father, who used to run an advertising agency. He used to service a big multinational tea brand, the target segment for which was rural India. Watching him from the sidelines as his team designed some campaigns, it was phenomenal to look at the channels they used to communicate their messages then. Theres a folk art form called Burrakatha, in this part of the country in South India. This is a dance drama format and performed at village fairs. So typically, when they had to communicate anything about the tea brand, they leveraged this particular channel quite heavily. But from then I think to now, the landscape is certainly evolved, I would rather say transformed. The farmer audience, I think, can very comfortably access technology and that has made the difference. Emerging technologies have definitely leapfrogged and with the adoption of telephone communications in India, the point has moved from zero point to a completely mobile state. We have totally skipped the landline generation.

Today, the communication format and channels have evolved and I think the farming community has sort of picked up speed. Farmers are being communicated through by mobile phones, not just for reaching out on calls, but leveraging the apps  there are some very interesting apps which talk about smart and precision agriculture. We interact with our farmers on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Today, as communicators, its not just about interacting with the media to relay some of the messages, but working with various channels to raise awareness and educate the farmers. For example, imagine our interaction with the farmers through regional channels and regional media communications to help tell the entire message around how it is becoming critical to use the best agronomy practices, so that the output per hectare increases for farmers.

Talk about trends in terms of mechanisation  we have done some very interesting conversations with our farmers, where we have told them about the advantages of using mechanised tools to help them increase their output and to also reduce the labour drudgery. These kinds of messages are not just helping the company, but the industry at large.

What do you think of the role of influencers? Can they help bond with farmers, introduce new sustainable practices, what could be their role going forward?

With growing social media, the farmers are keenly looking at learning various methods to make their farm produce better, basically more output per hectare. Interestingly, they have started using social media to educate themselves about the tools and techniques. I think of late, the entire salience of sustainable agricultural practices has come up right. Farmers and most of us in our community are trying to understand what these sustainable practices are. They are constantly grappling with what works for them, as well as what positively influences their environment. Here, we are not talking about large farmers. In India and actually most of APAC, the farmlands are very small, what we call the small farmer holders. So for them, it is about understanding what is sustainable, and what is good in terms of agronomy practices and choose from the trends which are happening.

They listen to and understand people who are able to tell them more effectively and empathise with them. Hence, I think that is where the social media influencers, your YouTubers, come into play. Their credibility with the farmers is very high. The YouTube influencers are able to share their own story, are able to do a show and tell and hence, the farmers are able to understand better. So for us, I think this is a community that we need to be engaged with.

Also, the farmers want to see the benefits, but they are still the traditional kind, who want to go by hearsay. So, the YouTube influencers are providing the great balance of the friendly neighbourhood trust builder, and at the same time as somebody who is able to show the brush stroke, the big picture of sustainability and climate changes.

The cancel culture in agriculture is kind of becoming very real, its painful, and its corrosive to the agriculture industry. As a PR professional, what should we do to minimise the impact on reputations and safeguard farmers livelihoods?

The problem with cancel culture is theres no reason or rhyme as to why it happens. What is the criteria for cancellation? So, I think it is definitely more painful for some industries than others. But I think all of us as PR professionals are learning how to actually work on this and ensure that we are effectively communicating, especially in an industry like agriculture. Today, food has suddenly become an intimate part of everybodys lives, the growing conversations, understanding and tapping into passions  very energised conversations about what is happening from the entire value chain, the farm-to-fork intelligent eating. There are folks who are trying to talk about a certain trend or a certain message. As a communicator, I believe a lot of our peers do too, which is keeping the conversation open. It is when we shut the door on any conversation and dialogue that the problem arises.

I think cancel culture can be definitely mitigated by smooth and more open information flow. Keep the communication channels open between the brand and the customers, and keep it very transparent. It is important that all our content is very closely knitted. And if companies are able to guide better and communicators are able to use purpose-driven communication, we can navigate to build that trust. And the trust can be only built by showing the big picture as well as addressing the concerns in a more open and transparent way.

The best way to predict the future is to create it. And what does that mean to you in the context of the agriculture industry?

Two things  responsible communication and proactive communication. I think the engagement in the industry has been a lot more, not just with people who are directly related to the farm enterprise, like farmers, retailers, and agro companies, but everybody who wants to talk about food  theres a lot of knowledge and a lot of interest. We need to leverage this democratisation of conversation in a much more efficient manner. We as communicators need to help raise awareness, talk about trends like sustainability, agronomy practices, and things like that. It is important that we are able to set the trends and draw a great picture which will benefit farmers. Like Peter Drucker says: the most important thing in communication is hearing what isnt said. So, I think as great communicators it may sound cliched, but we need to tell that story, land the messages effectively so that the audience hears the intent, and also the larger purpose and ultimately, the brand messages that bring the trust.

Edited for length and clarity

(Mirgashira is a podcast for Indian PR and Communication professionals anchored by Radha Radhakrishnan and Charu Raizada. To listen to all episodes visit https://www.digitales.co.in/industry-insights/mrigashira-podcast/)
Publicis Medias dedicated bespoke unit platform HMCL is built to cater integrated media offerings for its client Hero MotoCorp. The unit consists of a team that manages media planning and buying, along with providing dynamic content, analytics, data, activation, performance and programmatic solutions.

Having 13 years of rich experience in the media industry, Linu John is assigned to lead Platform HMCL. As per the mandate, she would be driving the business and managing the entire team of the unit. In her career span, Linu has served some esteemed brands like Google, Pepsi, Shell, Nissan, Samsung, to name a few. Before Joining Publicis Media, she has worked with OMD, Essence, Maxus, Mediacom, Starcom and Mindshare in lead roles.

Speaking on Linus appointment, Jai Lala, CEO, Zenith India said, Platform HMCL aims to deliver strong business outcome and grow brand impact. Given the dynamic nature of media environment it will be crucial to continue driving experimental solutions backed by data, technology and analytics to provide business outcomes. Known for her extensive skill sets and experience, we are confident that Linu will lead the mandate by concentrating on integrated planning, business growth of HMC and digital transformation for HMCL.

Linu expressed her joy in joining Platform HMCL, Being agile in learning helps people to evolve in life and overcome difficult situations. Its the mantra that helps me to be competitive and impactful. With the same aim, I join the Hero MotoCorp business at Publicis Media. I look forward to expanding Platform HMCL capabilities and drive high momentum for the business.
Federal Office of Public Health

Bern, 06.05.2021 - The federal government has signed another contract with the biotech firm Moderna. This will ensure a sufficient supply of mRNA vaccine for the Swiss population in 2022. The new contract provides for the delivery of a total of 7 million doses in early 2022. The federal government also has the option of acquiring an additional 7 million doses during the course of 2022.

The federal government is working hard to ensure the continued supply of COVID-19 vaccine for the Swiss population. This new contract means Switzerland is well equipped to tackle future virus mutations. Moderna is currently researching a booster shot that will also target emerging virus strains to ensure a high level of protection next year too. This is subject to a modified Moderna vaccine being reviewed by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products Swissmedic and authorised for use.

Highly effective and well tolerated

The federal government is currently focusing on mRNA vaccines to protect the Swiss population. These vaccines are proving to be highly effective and well tolerated. The Moderna vaccine is based on this technology. Switzerland was one of the first countries to sign a contract with Moderna back in 2020. Because vaccine production and availability involve a great deal of uncertainty, the federal government continues to consider different vaccine technologies from different vaccine manufacturers. It is still in talks with a number of vaccine manufacturers.

Broad portfolio of vaccines

To date, the federal government has signed contracts with five vaccine manufacturers: Moderna (13.5 million vaccine doses for 2021 and 7 million for 2022), Pfizer/BioNTech (approx. 6 million doses), AstraZeneca (approx. 5.3 million doses), Curevac (5 million doses) and Novavax (6 million doses). At present, the Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines are in use in the cantons; the other COVID-19 vaccines are still awaiting authorisation. Procuring vaccines from different manufacturers is designed to guarantee a sufficient supply of authorised vaccine, even if there are supply problems.

Switzerland has enough vaccine in 2021 to allow children and adolescents to be vaccinated too  provided the vaccines are authorised for this target group. It has also secured a sufficient number of vaccine doses for 2022 to offer the entire population a very high level of immunisation protection.

The federal government will consider sharing vaccines with other countries if they are not needed in Switzerland.

mRNA vaccine technology

Like BioNTech and Curevac, Moderna relies on a novel technology called mRNA. mRNA is a type of messenger molecule that carries instructions on how to make proteins. These instructions provide the bodys cells with the information they need to produce a virus protein. As soon as the protein is produced in the body, the immune system recognises it as foreign and produces antibodies to fight the virus. The immune response prepares the body to fight the virus if it encounters it in future.

Address for enquiries

Federal Office of Public Health, Communication, media@bag.admin.ch



COVID-19 vaccination infoline: +41 800 88 66 44 (alternative number +41 58 377 88 92), daily from 6am to 11pm

Publisher

Federal Office of Public Health

http://www.bag.admin.ch




The United Soybean Board has cleared the road for a new soybean use. One of the latest soybean checkoff dollar investments is a new soy-based dust suppressant for roads, construction sites, farms and businesses.

Its a green solution to keep dust down, said Dan Farney, United Soybean Board chair.

It was developed between the United Soybean Board and the North Dakota Soybean Council.

They have more dirt roads there than in Illinois, but it is something we could use here too, said Farney, a Morton, Illinois, farmer.

He gave the example of the central Illinois elevator where he delivers his grain. The dust suppressant would be helpful in the high traffic areas, he said.

A North Dakota State University research engineer, using soy checkoff support, created the base chemistry for BioBlend Renewable Resources EPIC EL suppressant.

Marketing for the new product, made from soybean oil as well as glycerin, a coproduct of biodiesel production, started in April. The use of soybean oil qualifies EPIC EL for federal procurement under the USDA BioPreferred Program.

When we look at vehicles going down the road, and we see dust going up, that dust is about a ton of material per vehicle per year per mile that we lose, Dale Heglund of North Dakota State University and North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program (NDLTAP) director said in a USB news release.

It goes onto the crops. It goes into the homes. It goes off the roadway, and we have to replenish it, he said. When you use products like EPIC EL dust suppressant that hold that surface together, were not only improving the safety of the roadway, but were improving the gravel preservation. Were keeping it in place. The investment that we made stays there longer.
The idea of a carbon market is alive and well in Congress, but the timeline and direction are still up in the air, according to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees.

Several Congressional leaders spoke to members of the North American Agricultural Journalists last week, and while Republicans and Democrats expressed support for some of the Biden administrations ideas regarding paying farmers for carbon sequestration, they did not necessarily agree how to get there.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the Growing Climate Solutions Act that has been proposed has bipartisan support in Congress. It passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. She described the bill as having wide and broad support.

Stabenow said the amount of money specifically directed to agriculture in the Biden administrations infrastructure proposal is not nearly enough. Calling the $1 billion figure in that proposal woefully inadequate, she said she and other agricultural state lawmakers of both parties would be working to increase that figure.

But Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he is still skeptical of the idea of a carbon bank and said the Biden administration doesnt have the authority to establish such a program without approval from Congress. Some Democrats had said the administration could use the Commodity Credit Corporation program to fund such a bank just as the Trump administration used the CCC to fund the MFP payments to farmers.
Double-crop wheat may be creeping northward in Illinois and the rest of the Midwest.

An increasing number of growers are planting soft red winter wheat, the variety grown nearly exclusively in Illinois and surrounding states. Traditionally, the major portion of the crop is as part of a double-crop system with soybeans and is produced in the southern third of the state, south of Interstate 70. But several factors may be pushing the geography northward.

Dave Milligan, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, farms in Michigan, just south of Detroit, and says it is moving into his area.

A couple things have driven it, he said. Obviously, economics is one. If you can grow a crop of wheat and get a crop of soybeans behind it, you can make some money. We saw more wheat several years ago when the price of soybeans reached a substantial level. I think well see it again this year, with the markets we have.

University of Illinois wheat breeder Jessica Rutkoski doesnt have concrete evidence that double-cropping is being embraced by more farmers outside the typical geographic band. But she believes short-season cultivars being developed at the University of Illinois and other places are making it more practical.

Its a combination of environment and the genetics, she said. Were getting earlier varieties. Its impressive when we run the trials in the farmers fields and were typically ahead of their varieties. Thats a good indication of where things are headed.
Already a century old, the Severtson farm in southwestern Minnesota has taken on a familiar role of bringing up the next generation of family farmers.

Sterling and Denise Severtson, along with their two kids Andrea and Kris, will be the Tri-State Neighbor Minnesota Crop Watchers for the 2021 growing season. The farm, which was purchased in 1913 by Sterlings great-grandfather, a Norweigan boat captain, is located in Kenneth, Minnesota, just north of Luverne.

Ive just been a lifetime farmer, Sterling said during a visit around the operation.

The Severtsons have been grain farmers for as long as Sterling can remember. Back when he took over his familys operation, the Severtsons were raising half soybeans and half corn on their 1,100 acres. While there may be less hogs on the property, the grain side remains steady.

Sterling and Denise met back in 1989 at a dance party in the area and got married in 1991, around the same time Sterling took over the farm. The South Dakota State University alum said coming into farming off of the back of the 1980s farm crisis was certainly not ideal, but hes made it work.

The Severtsons first order of business was to raise more cattle, something Denise was familiar with, having grown up on a dairy in Little Rock, Iowa.

I didnt want to milk the cattle, and this is how we kept cattle without milking, Sterling joked.

The Severtsons are a Case IH family. A long-time user of Northrup-King seeds, the family typically goes for a corn-soybean rotation with reduced tillage due to the black soil thats typical for the area.

While hes has tried out some cover crops, the next step for Sterling and his family will be to explore more of the precision side of agriculture  a step that his daughter, Andrea, has already taken on the operation.

Andrea followed in her fathers footsteps at SDSU and graduated in three years to return to the farm. During a brief stint working with livestock monitoring systems, the Severtsons began using feed tracking software to quickly be able to change rations and checkup on the cattle. Denise and Andrea manage the cattle, but its still on Sterling to feed  something he said is more tolerable with the new software.

Andreas other passion involves mixing fitness with agriculture. She began her own company called That Fit Agvocate to advocate on behalf of agriculture while showing the health benefits.

Just combating all the negativity and false information out there, Andrea said.

Andrea married Nathan Fleming in September 2020, and the couple moved a mile and a half away from the Severtson operation shortly after. As farm family as farm family gets, the Severtsons used the extra labor in town for the wedding to do some chores around the farm. With three days to go to the wedding, the Severtsons chopped silage and needed a bit of extra help covering it up.

We used some of the wedding party to cover the silage pile, she said.

Kristoffer graduated from welding school and has come back to the family farm as the jack of all trades. Whenever a chore needs to be done, Kris steps in.

I am more of a shop body than a cattle worker, he said.

While welding and repairing equipment is his main focus, Kris is currently waiting out the skyrocketing prices for steel and lumber to begin his passion project of starting his owning welding business.

While Andrea manages the cattle, Kris manages the shop and their dynamics work well together, they said.

When the gates go I just yell, Kris! Can you come help before they get out!? Andrea joked.

When the weather is nice and the kids are available to manage the operation, Denise and Sterling take their camper up to Lake Benton to get away and relax. Just a county away, Denise said they are close enough to come running back home if there is a problem, but just far enough away to feel like they are escaping.

Were the only county in the state of Minnesota without its own lake, Sterling joked.

Rock County is literally just that - rocks, Andrea added.

The Severtsons credited their area with good soil and timely rains to keep up their crop. Having suffered no major setbacks during the 2019 flooding and the 2020 dry period, the Severtsons are continuing on as normal, even with a bit of drier weather heading into planting in 2021. Sterling said no matter what the weather is like, he usually expects a flood on Fathers Day to set things right.

When the Severtsons arent camping, ranching, or farming, they also raise fainting goats to sell as pets. What started as a hobby in seventh grade for Andrea has now turned into a business with 40 goats running, jumping, and, of course, fainting around the property.

Reach Reporter Jager Robinson at 605-335-7300, email jager.robinson@lee.net or follow on Twitter @Jager_Robinson.

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While the industry has received $21 billion in federal funding under the CARES Act as part of congressional efforts to help health care facilities during the pandemic, nursing homes are lobbying for more federal aid to cover the higher cost of personal protective equipment, testing and staffing at their facilities. They say that they are losing tens of billions of dollars in revenue because of the pandemic and that many homes are at risk of closing.
While the 2020-21 school year has been rough on students of all ages, it has been particular
This is Alabama is once again looking for healthcare heroes whove made an impact in your life.

In 2020, they asked Alabamians to tell them about nurses who have went above and beyond, and they received more than 500 nominations from all over the state, from small towns to the larger metros. With the help of a panel of healthcare experts and the Alabama Nursing Association, This is Alabama named Alabamas Top Nurses for 2020.

And now, This is Alabama is accepting nominations for Alabamas Top Nurses of 2021 until June 10th. When all of the entries are received, the Alabama State Nursing Association will judge them and determine the top 10 nurses in the state. And in the fall, these nurses plus all of the finalists will be honored on This is Alabama. There will also be a special Lifetime Achievement Award given away.

Head on over here to nominate an Alabama nurse today, and find out more details here.
Greg Wood, 51, is uncertain about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Like many people who share his reluctance about the shot, Wood is nervous about the unknowns.

Im not always skeptical, but most things take time to work through the system. This was done real fast and that does tend to make me worry about it.

In Alabama, vaccine hesitancy is driven by many factors, and the wider reluctance is complicating the effort to combat the virus. Vaccination rates have slowed in the last few weeks in Alabama, as throughout the country, raising questions about whether it will be possible to end the pandemic.

Wood, who lives in West Blocton and works for Amazon, also fears hell have side effects and will need to call in sick. Thats something he cant afford right now.

Amazon, theyll give you the vaccine there, and theyll give you time off, but its not paid time off.

Still, hes leaning toward getting the shot. At some point.

Slowest in the nation

President Biden announced Tuesday he is pushing for 70 percent vaccination nationally by the 4th of July. But slowing vaccine uptake in states like Alabama may make that difficult to achieve. In Alabama, according to the CDC, just 24 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.

The state is still ranked last nationwide for the percentage of residents with both shots.

The Biden administration this week also said vaccines could be taken from states that cant give them out fast enough. Gov. Kay Ivey urged Alabamians to talk to their doctors and to get the shot.

If we dont use it, we could lose it, Ivey said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris told the Legislature that there have only been 400 breakthrough cases in Alabama, where vaccinated people have gotten COVID-19, and none have been severe.

This is our ticket back to normal, said Ivey this week. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life.

The desperate and the willing

Bibb County Doctor John Waits, CEO at Cahaba Medical Care, has conversations about the vaccine with patients in his predominantly white and rural region of Alabama. In a state already trailing the nation, Bibb County has some of the lowest vaccination rates in Alabama.

Weve vaccinated the desperate, weve vaccinated the willing, he said, and now here we are.

Just 20 percent of the eligible population, meaning 16 and older, has had two shots in Bibb County, compared to about 29 percent of people 16 and over across Alabama.

Many of Dr. Waitss patients say they will be fine without a vaccine. Some have religious or other objections to getting the shot.

Ive had some private questions from people, the most stark was this one, My pastor says that the vaccine is the mark of the beast in Revelation, he said.

But mostly his patients want to put off the shot for another day, or even wait a few years, until more is known about vaccines.

This morning, I had a patient that just, you know, I dont think I need it. (Hes) 70 years old. I never get my flu shot, I dont think I need this, Ill be okay.

John Waits, CEO of Cahaba Medical Care

Hesitancy is multifaceted

Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said a return to a semblance of normalcy depends on vaccination rates.

Thats how the economy recovers, thats how peoples jobs are more secure, thats how hospitals are protected, thats how our family members live in nursing homes are protected, he told AL.com on Friday.

Nationally, public health experts are now questioning whether it will ever be possible to achieve herd immunity, a point at which enough people in the population are protected and unable to spread the disease.

Dr. Harris said regardless, the states health department is exclusively focused on the day-to-day goal of increasing vaccinations.

While some states, like West Virginia, have started to offer financial incentives for people to get vaccinated, Dr. Harris said Alabama has no plans to pay people to persuade them to get a shot.

Instead, the department is partnering with a group going door to door to speak with about 20,000 Alabamians about the vaccine. The state is also asking doctors to call their patients about the shots.

Harris recognizes the reasons for vaccine hesitancy vary from group to group.

There is this misconception that among the partisan, that the vaccine is more dangerous than the actual disease, which is completely false, but thats still a narrative out there we have to combat, said Harris.

Harris noted the historic distrust of medicine among some African Americans following the infamous syphilis study at Tuskegee.

We are doing our best to try to think about how we communicate and how we educate and what kind of outreach would be helpful and what kind of trusted voices can be found in individual communities.

Dr. Stephanie McClure, an anthropologist at the University of Alabama is leading a team gathering data on vaccine hesitancy among communities of color so they can tailor public outreach.

(Hesitancy) can come out with everything from, I think my body is strong enough to fight it off, to Ive had COVID, so my immune system is strong enough to fight off, to I dont trust the government or the pharmaceutical companies or foreign objects in my body

Some people dont like feeling they are being told what to do by someone outside of their community, she said. Others lack transportation or time off work to get a vaccine.

Its all of those (reasons). And its going to be a mixture, so the answer to hesitancy, like the answer to life, the universe and everything, its not one answer. Its not 42.

Demand drops, no-shows rise

At Cahaba Care Clinic, Dr. Waits has seen a dramatic drop in the demand for vaccines at mass clinics since February.

We would prepare to vaccinate 500 and 700 or 800 would show up and people would be turned away, he said.

By April, he started having massive no-show rates.

Dr. Waits said its often his younger patients who are less willing to get vaccinated, despite the fact that studies show that younger people are far more likely to spread COVID-19 to others.

His group is now winding down mass vaccination clinics to make the shots available in more convenient locations. President Biden called for a similar shift in approach on Tuesday.

But smaller clinics are struggling as well.

By the time our clinic actually was able to get the vaccine to distribute, most of the people in area that qualified or wanted the vaccine have gotten it elsewhere, said administrator Shannon Whigham at Millry Family Care in Washington County.

She said most people call to ask which vaccine they are giving out, as if they are shopping for their preference. Her office has Moderna, which presents some logistical challenges. Theres only one nurse to give vaccines, and once a vial of Moderna is opened, 10 shots must be used or go to waste, so the clinic must wait until it can schedule 10 vaccinations at a time.

As of late April, Whighams clinic had given out about a third of its initial 600 doses.

Everybody is still just hesitant towards the vaccine, she said.

Distrust of experts

Key to understanding what is happening in Alabama, is the degree of healthcare literacy, peoples longstanding relationship to science, medicine, and their doctor, said Dr. Waits.

In a pandemic, society needs everybody on board, and its like we instantly need to become virologists and epidemiologists and trust the medical system and the scientific system, and sometimes its just not in the cards.

In his 18 years working as a doctor in Bibb County, Dr. Waits has built relationships with numerous patients who decline routine procedures, like colonoscopies and mammograms. In some of those relationships, he convinces people to follow medical guidance, he said, but sometimes he cannot.

He said he feels like COVID-19 is a similar challenge, with a much shorter deadline.

And the experience of the pandemic itself may have alienated Alabamians further from science.

The unknowns about COVID-19, inherent in any new disease, have added to the distrust towards experts, said Dr. McClure, the UA anthropologist.

If people arent used to the idea that uncertainty accompanies this systematic approach, then it seems as though (experts) just dont know what theyre talking about, and that theyre making it up, she said.

If the scientists are making it up, then why cant I make up my own story? Why cant I just do what I think is reasonable?

Dr. Harris, the State Health Officer, noted that the states with the slowest vaccination campaigns are the same ones that fall to the bottom of other health indicators.

We just have high levels of poverty, we have a lot of access to care problems, we also have these hesitancy issues, which maybe arent unique here, but are certainly concentrated here, he said.

Experts point to historically low flu vaccination rates in Alabama, at 48.4 percent, to explain aspects of Alabamians relationship with vaccines and with healthcare in general. Habit is a key variable.

Being rural, being poor, being under-insured or uninsured, being distant from healthcare, all of that brings about a culture of people who havent had access to good health care, Harris said, so they dont have a pattern of getting engaged with the healthcare system.

Ongoing pockets

If there is a resurgence in COVID-19, variant strains of the virus will have a greater chance to spread and further mutate, experts say. Worldwide, COVID-19 cases hit an all-time peak this month, as the pandemic raged in India and Southern America, increasing the risk that a mutation could form beyond U.S. borders that would better elude existing vaccines.

Dr. Jessica Justman, a professor of medicine at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, said COVID-19 is likely to be with us for a long time.

I do think that COVID-19, unfortunately, is going to become endemic, and we will have ongoing pockets of it, particularly in locations where vaccination uptake is (less), she said.

Regional differences in vaccine uptake may cause any future outbreaks to be concentrated more regionally, said UABs professor of Medicine Dr. William Curry, who added it has been hard to predict what would happen with this virus.

For people who have not been vaccinated, they need to be really careful, he said. Unfortunately, many of the people who refuse to get vaccinated are also skeptical about the precautions that get recommended, so I think thats why its unpredictable as to whats going to happen here.

Rejecting the shot

Anne Marie Wallace, 29, on Monday visited Dr. Waitss Centreville clinic in her first trimester of pregnancy. She said her doctor told her it would be safe to get a vaccine, but her feelings about being a Mom are leading her to a different conclusion.

They kind of encouraged me to do more research and look into it more but they said it was pretty safe, but Im just not sure yet.

She said the recent pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccines due to rare cases of blood clots worried her.

Im definitely putting it off further because of that, she said, adding that maybe she will get the shot in her third trimester because she read that antibodies can be passed from a mother to a baby.

Dr. Waits said there is no known risk to mothers from vaccination, and the risk of blood clots from contracting COVID vastly outweighs the risk from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Still, there are some emotions around motherhood that he cannot counter.

If youre someone whos struggling with infertility already, if youre someone whos had a miscarriage and really wants to get pregnant, these things are much more of a touchstone for you personally, he said.

Similar worries abound for young women who work at several of his clinics. In two Cahaba Medical Care Clinics, vaccination rates among staff remain at about 40 percent. Dr. Waits has been surprised by conversations with his employees who reject some basic facts about the pandemic.

Ive got to back up five steps and really build up why we can trust the death, the mortality numbers of this (disease), he said.

He points to misinformation on social media. He believes the misconception that the vaccines harm pregnant women began with a meme.

The biggest thing Im nervous about (with the pandemic) is just our seeming inability to communicate and reason together.

Moving forward

In Alabama, some counties are doing notably more vaccinations than others. Lowdnes County, for example, has nearly double the vaccination rates of Bibb County. Dr. Curry said for each of the counties with higher rates, there is a story of local leadership, be it a medical system, public officials, or church leaders, taking initiative to communicate and coordinate about vaccines.

Dr. Jessica Justman, the Columbia professor, said her work on stemming the spread of HIV in African countries showed her the importance of grassroots outreach by church leaders, local leaders, and others.

This is a perfect time to say, Okay, lets dig in and come up with some new ideas. Hesitancy is not so entrenched, like its been on the downward slope for six months and well never change, she said. This is not the time to despair. Not at all.

Its important to understand peoples reasons for rejecting a shot and to keep the conversation going, said Dr. Curry, the UAB professor.

For those of us who feel very strongly that the vaccines are a good thing, theyre a necessary thing to end this pandemic and getting back to normal, I think we have to show some respect for people who see it differently, he said.

I think the last thing we need to do is polarize ourselves even more over this.
An Alabama state trooper arrested last week on charges he raped an 11-year-old girl had been kicked out of the FBI amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations but was hired by the state agency with the apparent help of a fake bureau letter that scrubbed his record clean.

An Associated Press investigation found Christopher Bauer was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBIs New Orleans office in late 2018  effectively fired  amid allegations that included a co-workers claim that he raped her at knifepoint.

But Alabama authorities either overlooked or were unaware of that history. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the state police, told AP that it conducted a full and thorough investigation into Bauers background when he applied to be a trooper in 2019 and that no derogatory comments were uncovered by former employers.

Bauer indicated on his application that he was still employed by the FBI and had never been dismissed or forced to resign because of disciplinary action. And the states law enforcement credentialing commission provided AP a copy of a letter  purportedly from FBI headquarters  that makes no mention of Bauers ouster, confirms his decade of creditable service and deems him eligible for rehire.

The letter is not legitimate, the FBI said in a statement to the AP on Wednesday. Bureau officials would not say who they believe forged the letter.

This image provided by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission shows a letter dated Nov. 1, 2019 which claimed to confirm Christopher Bauers decade of creditable service to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and deemed him eligible for rehire. A senior FBI official told The Associated Press on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, that the letter is not legitimate. An Associated Press investigation found Bauer was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBIs New Orleans office in late 2018 -- effectively fired -- amid allegations that included a co-workers claim that he raped her at knifepoint. (Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission via AP)AP

Bauer, 41, was arrested last week in Montgomery on charges including sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12. The AP is withholding some details of the allegations to protect the girls identity.

Bauer remained jailed Wednesday on $105,000 bail, and court records do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf. An attorney who represented Bauer in challenging his ouster from the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

The FBI declined to say whether it was asked for any information about Bauers suitability to be hired by the state police.

Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys office referred questions on the matter to the state police, which did not respond to repeated queries about the details of Bauers hiring.

You have to ask yourself why an agent from the FBI would want to leave after 10 years, said Lou Reiter, a policing consultant and former deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police Department. They obviously didnt do any kind of due diligence with their background check.

There have to be phone calls, added Michael Avery, a retired professor at Suffolk Universitys Law School and an expert on police misconduct.

Bauer resigned from the state police following his arrest, citing personal reasons.

Bauer is the latest  and perhaps most extreme  example yet of an FBI agent accused of sexual misconduct moving on. An AP investigation last year found a pattern of FBI supervisors avoiding discipline  and retiring with full benefits  even after claims of sexual misconduct against them were substantiated.

Nobody wants to take responsibility, the former co-worker who accused Bauer of rape told the AP, which does not typically identify those who say they are the victims of sex crimes. I didnt want this to happen to anybody else.

An Air Force veteran, Bauer was a member of the Montgomery police force before joining the FBI in 2009, working a number of high-profile cases in the New Orleans field office. He has disputed the sexual misconduct claims made by his FBI co-worker, telling colleagues the acts were consensual.

FBI brass considered the misconduct case to be egregious, according to a former senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the matter. Internal investigators interviewed several female FBI employees about their dealings with Bauer and believed the truth to be somewhere in the middle of what Bauer and the co-worker claimed, the former official said. The internal inquiry found Bauer violated FBI policy, including by having sex in an FBI vehicle.

He flat-out needed to lose his job, and he really should have been charged criminally, said the former official, who wasnt authorized to discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bauers co-worker told AP that Louisiana authorities had been pursuing criminal charges in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans, but she didnt believe she had enough evidence to go forward.

The allegations also played out in a restraining order obtained by the co-worker that names Bauer and had been in the public record in Louisiana for a year when Alabama hired him as a trooper. In it, the woman accuses the lawman of choking her, adding she was scared for my life.

Bauer was ordered to surrender his firearms, weapons, swords and knives as part of the case.

I couldnt see any more and felt my legs go out from under me, the woman wrote in her application for the order. He told me many times if I went to war with him I would lose. He told me many times he would destroy me.

The woman told AP that Bauer sexually assaulted her so frequently her hair began to fall out.

It was a year of torture, she said. He quite literally would keep me awake for days. I couldnt eat. I couldnt sleep, and in six months I went from 150 pounds to 92 pounds. I was physically dying from what he was doing to me.
The most recent batch of stimulus payments is in the process of being distributed by the Internal Revenue Service. Whether there will be a fourth stimulus payment remains to be seen and is up to Congress, according to White House officials.

The IRS announced Wednesday it is disbursing more than 1.1 million payments in the eighth batch from President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan. Americans have previously received two other stimulus payments - $1,200 in March 2020 during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and $600 in December 2020. The latest payment, approved in March 2021, includes up to $1,400 for single people and dependents and $2,800 for married couples.

Of the latest batch of payments, 580,000 went to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a tax return. Another 570,000 payments were plus up checks, paid to people who were eligible for additional money based on their recently processed tax returns.

More of the stimulus checks will be paid in the coming weeks, the IRS said.

Fourth stimulus check?

Discussions of a fourth stimulus check have continued but the White House indicated it will be up to Congress to move forward with another round.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked this week if another round of direct payments was a possibility in Bidens latest proposals  either the American Jobs Plan or the American Families Plan.

Well see what members of Congress propose, but those are not free, Psaki said of stimulus checks.

The president has acknowledged the direct payments are helping people but has stopped short of endorsing another round.

We kept our commitment and we are sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85% of all American households. Weve already sent more than 160 million checks out the door. Its making a difference, Biden said last week.
Teacher pay in Alabama is going up this fall  2% across the board, and more for middle or high school math or science educators.

Gov. Kay Ivey first proposed the main raise in her state of the state address, and lawmakers made it final last week. The increase comes as teachers finish what many called the most challenging school year ever.

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it reinforced what we already knew  teachers are vital to our students learning, and our state employees keep government services operational for the people of Alabama, Ivey said in a news release Tuesday.

The last teacher raise was 4%, in 2019, which pushed the starting salary for a teacher with a bachelors degree over $40,000. With the new 2% pay raise, starting pay rises to $41,690 for a new teacher with a bachelors degree for the 2021-22 school year. The image below shows current and new pay amounts for teachers holding bachelors and masters degrees.

A look at Alabama's current minimum teacher salary schedule and next year's salary schedule, reflecting a 2% raise.

Teachers with additional credentials, specifically those who have obtained National Board Certification, are paid an additional $5,000 each year. And board-certified teachers in schools with high poverty who teach certain subjects can earn an additional $5,000 per year.

Under a new program, called the Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS), math and science teachers in grade 6-12 could get paid on a new salary schedule. That pay scale ranges from $46,690 for new teachers with a bachelors degree to $94,829 for teachers with 27-plus years of experience with a doctorate.

Read more: Alabama hopes outside the box approach attracts more teachers

And National Board Certified Teachers -- who may have already qualified for two $5,000 bonuses mentioned previously can earn yet another $5,000 if they teach in a hard to staff school in the TEAMS program. The list of hard to staff schools will be developed by the state education department.

Related: Alabama lawmakers hope outside the box approach attracts new math and science teachers

Teachers hoping to move to the TEAMS pay schedule must give up the protections of tenure in exchange for the higher pay and must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Given the changes ahead, AL.com took a look at the average teacher salary by district for the current school year.

Districts across the state paid teachers an average of $51,995 during the current school year. These amounts do not include one-time bonuses or stipends paid to teachers this year due to the challenging work conditions.

Related: Mobile County OKs bonuses for full-time teachers, staff

That amount differs from district to district, with Vestavia Hills City schools paying the highest average of $61,022 and Chilton County paying the lowest at $43,948.

Keep in mind that average teacher salary is a function of two things: years of experience and the college degree obtained. For example, a teacher with 10 years of experience who hold a masters degree is paid higher than a teacher with the same amount of experience who holds a bachelors degree.

In other words, higher average pay could be a reflection of a more experienced, higher-degreed cohort of teachers.

While most teacher salaries are based on the states minimum teacher salary schedule, those with higher local tax support often pay their teachers more, making those districts more attractive for teachers to work in.

The table below includes not only the average teacher pay but also the average years of experience of the teachers, the total number of classroom teachers in the district and the median income of families with children under 18 within the school districts geographic area.

No administrator salaries are included in the averages. These amounts represent gross pay before deductions or benefits. Benefits add another 18% to 20% to total compensation.

Teacher salary data came from the Alabama State Department of Education. Median family income came from the Census Bureaus American Community Survey 2019 data.

Sort the table by clicking on the columns label.
Huntsville police officer William Ben Darby testified on Wednesday that he shot and killed Jeff Parker three years ago because he feared for his own life and the lives of his fellow officers.

Darby testified that Parker, who was sitting on a couch with a gun to his own head, posed an imminent threat to the police officers who were at his west Huntsville home on the afternoon of April 3, 2018. Darby testified that because Parker did not comply with orders to drop his gun, he had no choice but to shoot and kill him.

That is a threat to my life, to not put the gun down after Ive told him, Darby testified.

Darby was the third officer to arrive at Parkers home in west Huntsville that day. Parker called 911 and said that he was suicidal and armed. Jurors in Darbys murder trial watched body camera video that shows Parker sitting on a couch with a gun to his own head, while the first arriving officer stands in the front doorway and asks him why he wants to hurt himself. A second officer is seen on the video standing just outside the home on the front stoop.

When Darby arrived, he grabbed a shotgun from his patrol car and sprinted to the house. Less than a minute later, Darby shot Parker in the face. He fired the fatal shot 11 seconds after entering the house, bodycam footage shows.

Prosecutor Tim Douthit, a Madison County Assistant District Attorney, asked Darby why he believed he needed to take over the scene from two senior officers just seconds after he arrived, without asking any questions or assessing what was happening.

At the end of the day Mr. Parker didnt obey you, so you killed him, isnt that right? Douthit said.

Darby testified that he killed Parker because of the totality of the circumstances. He said that after he ordered Parker to drop the gun, he heard Parker say no and saw him shrug and shake his head. Darby testified that when Parker shrugged, his gun moved. He also testified that Parker made eye contact, a move that Darby said he interpreted as a threatening behavior, a signal of imminent danger.

Imminent is a keyword in Darbys murder trial because he is arguing that the killing was legally justified, that he shot Parker in self-defense. Under Alabama law, a person is only allowed to shoot someone if he reasonably believes the person is using or about to use deadly physical force. In other words, the use of deadly force has to be happening or imminent.

Darby was the last of nine witnesses called to the stand by his defense team.

The jury went home for the day after both the prosecution and defense rested. Closing arguments are slated to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Dewayne McCarver, a Huntsville police captain, testified that Darby acted appropriately when he shot and killed Parker. McCarver was the head of the Huntsville Police Departments training unit when the shooting happened.

He testified that Parker was an imminent threat to the officers who were called to his home and that Darby did what he was supposed to do.

McCarvers testimony set up a contentious exchange with Douthit, one of the prosecutors on the case.

Douthit repeatedly asked McCarver whether it is Huntsville police policy to shoot every armed person who doesnt drop their weapon. McCarver said no, that officers have to consider the totality of the circumstances in deciding whether to use force.

From the beginning of the case, the county prosecutors and the city saw things differently.

Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussards office questioned whether the shooting was justified and took the case to a grand jury for consideration of indictment.

Huntsville police Chief Mark McMurray and Mayor Tommy Battle publicly defended Darby. The City Council voted to use public money to pay up to $125,000 toward Darbys criminal defense. And Darby still works for the police department, where hes assigned to desk duty.

The Huntsville Police Departments internal review cleared Darby of wrongdoing, and the officer wasnt disciplined. But the first two other officers on the scene that day, Genisha Pegues and Justin Beckles, were sent for remedial training. Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate ruled that witnesses and attorneys arent allowed to tell the jury about the conclusion of the police departments internal review.

Darby and his defense team have cast blame for the shooting on Pegues, saying she put herself and the other officers in danger by talking to an armed man without having cover (something between her and Parker that could protect her from a gunshot) or concealment. Body camera video shows that Pegues was at least partially covered by the front door frame during her initial interaction with Parker. She testified on Tuesday that she moved further into the house, where she didnt have any cover, once Darby showed up because she had to make room for his shotgun.

To me it never seemed like she had control of the situation and it was just getting worse, Darby told the jury.

Prosecutors on the other hand say that Pegues was de-escalating the situation before Darby arrived. Pegues and Beckles had about 10 combined years of policing experience compared to Darby, who was 25 years old and had about 18 months of experience at the time of the shooting.

Dr. John Blair, a criminal justice professor at Texas State University and a police trainer, testified about police reaction time, how officers have to make split-second decisions about whether to use force.

He said a study found that police are at a disadvantage when confronting armed people. He said in about 60 percent of the instances studied in his research, an armed person fired at the same time or faster than a police officer could return fire.

Ron Kiker, the assistant police chief in Snead, a town of about 900 people in Blount County, Alabama, testified that it takes an officer twice as long to return gunfire as it takes for a person to raise a gun and shoot an officer.

Darby is represented by Robert Tuten and Nick Lough. Douthit is prosecuting the case with Madison County Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann.

After closing arguments on Thursday morning, Judge Pate will tell jurors about Alabamas murder statute and self-defense law and send them to deliberate.

Itll be in your hands tomorrow, the judge told the jury before sending them home on Wednesday afternoon.
Judson College, the fifth-oldest womens college in the United States, is closing after 183 years.

The Judson board of trustees voted today to close the Baptist-affiliated school for women in Marion, The Alabama Baptist reported.

Judson College was founded in 1838.

The school had asked for help in December to remain open after declining enrollment and financial difficulties caused by COVID-19. In January, the college announced it had raised $1.3 million and that it would open for the spring semester.

But today, the board voted to suspend academic operations and move toward filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the school faced mounting debt pressure. New donors did not materialize, student retention is much lower than expected, President Mark Tew told The Alabama Baptist.

About 80 students were registered for the fall, down from 145 in December and only 12 new students had been recruited for the fall.
Huntsville police Officer William Ben Darby violated his oath to serve and protect when he shot and killed Jeff Parker, prosecutors told jurors today.

The public trust has been violated in this case, said Tim Gann, the Madison County chief trial attorney, in his closing argument at Darbys murder trial. Jeffrey Parker called for help. As a police officer it was (Darbys) responsibility to help your fellow man.

Parker had called police, saying he was going to kill himself. Officers were talking to Parker, who held a gun to his head. When Darby arrived, he shouted at the first responding officer to raise her gun. Darby told Parker to put down his gun before he shot him.

An innocent man was murdered, Gann told the jury. He called for help and he got Ben Darby.

Jurors did not reach a verdict Thursday evening. They will resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. Friday to decide whether Darby is guilty of murder or whether there was no crime at all.

Darby argued that he shot and killed Parker in self-defense. He testified on Wednesday that he feared for his life and the lives of his fellow officers.

Ben Darby is not a murderer, said Robert Tuten, Darbys lead defense attorney. He is a police officer, an honorable person doing an honorable profession.

Darby killed Parker on the afternoon of April 3, 2018. Parker called 911 that day and said he was armed and suicidal. Body camera video shows Parker sitting on a couch with a gun to his own head.

Genisha Pegues, the first officer at the scene stood in the front doorway and asked Parker why he wanted to hurt himself. The second officer, Justin Beckles, stood just outside the home on the front stoop.

[Related: Dangerous is the job: Fellow officer testifies against Huntsville cop in murder trial]

Darby was the third officer at the scene. He grabbed a shotgun from his patrol car and sprinted to the house. Less than a minute later, Darby shot Parker in the face. He fired the fatal shot 11 seconds after entering the house, bodycam footage shows.

Darby several times shouted for Parker to drop his gun. The officer testified that Parkers failure to drop the gun was an imminent threat.

Imminent is a key word in the case because Darby is arguing self-defense. In Alabama, someone is justified in using deadly force if they reasonably believe another person is using or about to use unlawful deadly force.

There are no special rules in self-defense for police, Tim Douthit, an assistant district attorney told the jury. Under Alabama law, police are accountable to the same standards as the public.

If it was OK for Officer Darby to kill that man, it was OK for you or me to do it, Douthit said in his closing argument.

Tuten said that Darby had no choice. He said if Parker had decided to shoot, it would have taken an officer twice as long to respond.

You have all the time you need to make a decision this man had to make in a matter of seconds, Tuten told the jury. If youve never been in a self-defense situation, had to take somebodys life, you have no idea what its like.

Douthit told the jury that Darby wasnt legally justified because he was the initial aggressor. He said that Darby was the first person to yell, curse or make threats.

Who made this situation aggressive? Douthit asked. If you come up with anyone other than Jeff Parker, then this is murder.

Updated at 5:42 p.m. to report that jurors will resume deliberations on Friday morning.
The three-month-old 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 LaMello 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.

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.

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 Smiths blue Nissan Altima stopped in the median just west of the Woolmarket exit in Harrison County.

The footage shows Smiths 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 Smiths car.

Biloxi police said Smith was getting out of his car, but it isnt clear in the video, since the drivers side door is on the opposite side of the car from the camera.

Smoke suddenly appears from Smiths 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.

___

(c)2021 The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.

Visit The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La. at www.theadvocate.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Between now and next years midterm elections, were going to make sure every voter remembers how Republicans tried to stand in the way of this economic boom and our return to normalcy, said DNC spokesman Ammar Moussa. And you can count on Democrats to call Republicans out for their hypocrisy when they try to tout the same programs they voted against.
A bill to legalize and regulate medical marijuana, with backing from lawmakers in both parties, has moved closer to becoming law.

The Alabama House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 68-34 after about two and a half hours of debate this morning.

The bill returns to the Senate, which had passed it earlier. Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, the sponsor of the bill, said he will ask the Senate to concur with the House changes. If the Senate agrees, the bill would go to Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign it into law.

Representatives had discussed the bill for about nine hours Tuesday but took no final vote as about a dozen Republican opponents of the bill spoke during a filibuster.

But there was no filibuster today. Members of the Republican majority favored the bill by a vote of 42-34. The vote by Democrats was 26-0.

The House sponsor, Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, had said he expected a vote on the bill today.

A former state trooper and state investigator, Ball wiped tears from his face as he talked about how he came to support medical marijuana and how minds have changed in the House, which in 2013 gave medical marijuana legislation the Shroud Award as the deadest bill of the year.

This is just a happy day for me and a great burden has been lifted, Ball said.

Ball said legislators tended to associate marijuana with a comedy duo that rose to fame in the 1970s with an act that was mostly about getting high.

I knew that there was so much preconceived notion and bias about this issue, Ball said. And when people think of marijuana they thought of Cheech and Chong. And so, I knew that people, in order to understand what this is about, they needed to see the people.

Ball said that happened when parents of children suffering from severe epilepsy successfully lobbied the Legislature for the passage of Carlys Law in 2014 and Lenis Law in 2016 to allow the use cannabidiol, a marijuana derivative, for treatment.

Before passing the bill today, the House adopted an amendment to name it after the son of Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville. Hall sponsored a medical marijuana bill about 20 years ago because of her experiences caring for her son, who died of AIDS. On the House floor today, Hall talked about that experience and said she believed medical marijuana might have helped her son.

The House voted to rename the bill the Darren Wesley Ato Hall Compassion Act.

It doesnt make any substantive changes to the bill, but it sure does have a sweet spirit, Ball said in support of the amendment. The House approved the amendment 87-3.

Alabama would be the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The bill would set up an intrastate system for the cultivation, processing, usage, and sales of medical cannabis. Doctors could recommend the products for a wide range of symptoms and conditions, including chronic pain, nausea and weight loss from cancer, Parkinsons, Crohns, PTSD, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell, autism, Tourettes Syndrome, and terminal illnesses.

Patients with a medical cannabis card and a doctors recommendation could get the products at licensed dispensaries. The law would allow up to 12 locations.

Melson is a physician and medical researcher who says Alabamians should have a chance to try medical cannabis for those conditions that havent been relieved by traditional medications. He said that conclusion is based on research and experiences in other states.

Opponents to the bill raised several main concerns. They say medical marijuana is not FDA-approved, that there is conflicting or incomplete information about its effectiveness, and that the bill would create bureaucracy. They also say legalizing medical marijuana would help bring about legalization of recreational marijuana in a few years. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use for adults, according to the NCSL.

Ball and Melson both oppose recreational use.

This is the way that medical cannabis should be dealt with in a state that has no desire to do recreational, Ball said.

The final vote was not a surprise because several procedural votes had indicated the bill had bipartisan support. This morning, the House adopted an amendment the bills sponsors supported by a vote of 72-26.

Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, noted that the bill would not require health insurance plans to cover medical marijuana. She said that means many Alabamians wont be able to afford it. Moore reiterated the position of the Democratic caucus on a another health care issue, support for Medicaid expansion. Alabama is one of 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, reinforced Moores point about many people not being able to afford medical marijuana if its not covered by insurance.

Its not going to help the people that I represent because theyre going to still get theirs on the corner, Rogers said.

But Rogers said he supported the bill because it would be a step toward making medical marijuana available to more people and would promote research.

Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, offered an amendment to limit the amount of a delta-9, a psychoactive chemical in marijuana, in oral doses of medical cannabis products. Ball opposed the amendment. The House approved Balls request to table the amendment by a vote of 53-38.

Rep. Wes Kitchens brought an amendment to make it illegal to drive with any amount of THC in the bloodstream. Ball said that was impractical because people who use CBD oil would have THC in their system. Ball opposed the amendment, and the House voted to table it at his request, 51-42.

Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, offered an amendment that would require the state to revisit the medical marijuana law if the federal government removed marijuana from the list of Schedule 1 drugs, saying it could eliminate an unnecessary bureaucracy. Ball opposed the amendment. But Balls motion to table it failed by a vote of 47-53. The failure of the tabling motion meant the House continued to debate Simpsons amendment.

House President Pro Tem Victor Gaston, R-Mobile, said he had respect for those on both sides of the medical marijuana debate. But Gaston, a supporter of the bill, urged representatives to follow Balls guidance on the proposed amendments.

I am of the firm opinion that we all respect Mike Ball and where hes got us at this point I time, Gaston said.

Ball asked for a second tabling motion on Simpsons amendment and the vote changed. The House approved the tabling motion 60-39.

Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, proposed an amendment to remove depression from the list of conditions that could be treated with medical marijuana on a recommendation from a doctor. Jones said the inclusion of depression made the list of conditions too broad because such a large number of people could be considered to suffer from some level of depression. Jones said he was following CDC guidance that a depressant, such as marijuana, should not be used to treat depression.

Ball opposed the amendment but did not try to block a vote on it. The amendment failed by a vote of 48-51.

Rep. Rich Wingo, R-Tuscaloosa, an opponent of the bill, proposed an amendment to say that if any part of the bill was found to be unconstitutional that the entire law would be invalidated. Ball moved to table the amendment. The House tabled Wingos amendment by a vote of 67-29.

Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, proposed an amendment to say that dispensaries would need approval of the governing body of the city or county in which they would be located. Ball did not oppose the amendment. It was approved 99-3.
An armed soldier who ran off Fort Jackson was arrested Thursday morning after he boarded a bus full of elementary school children, Richland County, South Carolina Sheriff Leon Lott said.

None of the students were injured, and neither was the school bus driver, Lott said at a news conference held at the intersection of Alpine and Percival roads in Columbia.

It was a very scary situation this morning, Lott said.

The soldier, whose name has not been publicly released, was armed with a rifle when he got on a bus headed for Forest Lake Elementary School, in the Richland 2 district.

At about 7 a.m., a trainee in his third week at the U.S. Army installation left the base dressed in PT clothes, escaping military officials, according to Lott.

Initially, he tried to flag down cars on Interstate 77, before heading to Percival Road where he saw a bus picking up children at a bus stop, Lott said.

Along with the children, the trainee got onto the bus and told the driver he didnt want to hurt anybody and wanted to be taken to the next town, according to Lott.

The trainee soon had the driver stop and let the kids and driver off, the sheriff said. The trainee drove off but soon abandoned the bus and left his rifle on board.

Lott said the area was quickly flooded by officers from his department, in addition to Columbia police officers and South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers, and the trainee was taken into custody.

All the kids are safe. The bus driver is safe, and the bad guy has been apprehended, so theres not any threats anymore, Lott said.

Information on how and where the trainee was located was not made available.

He is facing multiple counts of kidnapping and other charges, according to Lott. There were 18 students on board the bus, the sheriff said.

Fort Jackson officials are aware of the incident involving a trainee this morning. We are working closely with Richland County Sheriff Department to respond to this incident, Fort Jackson spokeswoman LA Sully said in a news release.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

___

(c)2021 The State (Columbia, S.C.)

Visit The State (Columbia, S.C.) at www.thestate.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Authorities have released the name of a man killed in a shooting in Birminghams Kingston community.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Perry Lee Mixon. He was 62.

Birmingham police responded shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday to the 800 block of 46th Street North on a report of a person shot, said police spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Mixon was found unresponsive in a parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, Fitzgerald said. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced Mixon dead at 9:02 p.m.

No arrests have been announced in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A man killed more than a week ago in a Midfield house fire has now been identified.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office Thursday identified the victim as Saxton Thomas Davis Jr. He was 52.

Davis died Tuesday, April 27, in the blaze at his home on Freda Drive. Midfield firefighters, assisted by Fairfield Fire and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, responded to the home shortly before 11:30 a.m. When they arrived, there was heavy fire coming the from the basement, and that quickly spread to the rest of the home.

There were three people inside the home when the fire broke out, but two were able to escape. The remaining resident  Davis  was pronounced dead on the scene.

The Alabama State Fire Marshals Office is investigating, along with Midfield fire officials.
Birmingham police are conducting a homicide investigation Wednesday night after a man was shot dead in the citys Kingston community.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, South Precinct officers responded to the 800 block of 46th Street North on a report of a person shot, said police spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Officers found the adult male victim lying unresponsive in a parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, Fitzgerald said.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced the man dead.

No suspects were in custody as of 10:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Fitzgerald urged nearby residents with information on the deadly shooting to call police at 205-254-1764. Those wishing to remain anonymous can instead call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Mobiles administration now says a global microchip shortage is partly to blame for an ongoing delay in trash pickup.

Severe weather earlier in the spring meant more limbs and other debris being put out for Mobiles regular biweekly curbside pickup rotation. Some trucks used in the service were out for maintenance, and pickups lagged. As far back as April 15, the city notified the public that crews were working to catch up. Administration officials also said new equipment was being purchased.

Meanwhile, production slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a shortage of microchips as global economies have accelerated and demand has increased. Numerous automakers have cited it as a problem for that industry, with Hondas plant in Alabama one of many forced to slow production.

In a Thursday announcement, Mobiles administration said that the shortage has prolonged the City of Mobiles procurement of new trucks used to collect curbside trash.

Our Public Services Department has crews working nine-to-ten hours a day, six days a week collecting curbside trash, and we are also working to supplement some of the needed equipment through short-term rentals, said Thursdays announcement. The City of Mobile will also not be issuing any citations for trash piles placed on the curbside more than 48 hours ahead of their scheduled collection until we are back on our regular trash schedule.

Six new trucks will be in operation by the end of the month, according to the city. In the meantime, officials will provide regular updates on the city website and social media accounts about what areas will be served the next day. Additionally, Mobile is setting up drop-off points for bagged yard debris starting Monday, May 10: These will be at Medal of Honor Park, Langan Park, Seals Park and Community Center and Trimmier Park.

The situation affects only curbside trash pickup. Regular household garbage pickup has not been disrupted.
A 25-year-old west Alabama man who shot and killed another man two years ago has been sentenced to prison.

Zocimo Hernandez, also known as Zosmino Hernandez, pleaded guilty in the 2019 slaying of Hernan Diaz Diego. The victim was killed, and his body left in the middle of Pickens County Road 2.

Hernandez enter the plea and was sentenced by Pickens County Circuit Judge Samuel Junkin at a hearing in Carrollton earlier this week. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Diego and Hernandez knew each other and became involved in an argument. This was purportedly Diego believing that Hernandez had placed a voodoo curse on him, said 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin.

A driver called 911 around 10:30 p.m. April 6 to report a man in the road. Investigators identified the victim as Diego, a 34-year-old from Mexico City, Mexico, who was reported missing the following morning by his boss who had become concerned when he uncharacteristically failed to show for work at the chicken processing plant in Brooksville, Mississippi where he was employed.

Investigators located Diegos vehicle, parked abandoned near Walmart in Northport. There was blood in the vehicle. After an extensive investigation, investigators developed Hernandez as a suspect.

He was later interviewed by investigators, one of whom acted as an interpreter, where he confessed to the murder and the theft of Diegos vehicle. Investigators later recovered the handgun used in the murder, near Hernandezs residence in the Moundville area.

Investigators with the 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office/ Criminal Investigations Division, Pickens County Sheriffs Office, Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, and the 17th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.

This was a complete team effort. This investigation was a who done it when it was initiated,' Hamlin said. The fact that the defendant, victim, and most of the witnesses were Hispanic immigrants, made it very difficult to locate witnesses and communicate with them. We realized this early on and developed ways to overcome these issues.
A state tax incentive program credited for assisting in the revitalizations of downtown Birmingham and Mobile but criticized for not doing enough for smaller cities is poised to get a five-year extension.

The Alabama Legislature this week endorsed HB281, which extends the historic preservation tax credit another five years, taking it to 2027. The Alabama Senate endorsed the legislation on Tuesday, with the House authorizing its final version Thursday. It now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey for final approval.

The program had been set to expire by the end of the year.

This is a great day for preservation of history in our state, said state Senator Clyde Chambliss Jr., R-Prattville. Many projects have been completed, many are on the Alabama historic tax credit program fuels growth, sparks debate way, and Im excited for those that are to come.

Related: Alabama historic tax credit program fuels growth, sparks debate

Chambliss sponsored an amendment to the legislation on Tuesday that aimed to bolster the program for rural areas, extending the amount of time smaller counties have to participate in the program from six to nine months.

His amendment also required that the Alabama Historic Commission stop accepting applications when the cap of tax credits is reached, which is $200 million for the overall program between 2017 to 2027. As of December 2020, more than $13.5 million in tax credits have been either spent or claimed for projects in Alabama in recent years, according to data compiled by the Alabama Historical Commission.

HB281 also removed residential properties from state tax credit eligibility, meaning only income-producing properties are eligible for the state incentive.

Alabama is one of about 30 states in the U.S. with its own historic tax credit program. The program allows the developer or owner of a property that is at least 60 years old to be eligible for a state tax credit of 25% of qualified rehabilitation expenses. The state credits can be in addition to a 20% federal historic tax credit offered to income-produce programs.

The state incentive began in 2013, and has fueled investment in revitalizing older and abandoned structures mostly in larger cities like Birmingham and Mobile. Iconic buildings like the Lyric Theater, The Admiral Hotel and the Pizitz Food Hall have been renovated within the past decade thanks, in part, to the support from the tax credit. Other urban redevelopment projects in Alabama boosted by the tax credit have resulted in a host of new mixed-use building projects showcasing contemporary office spaces, chic apartment complexes, and industrial buildings transformed into lofts and trendy restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

In Mobile, the tax credit has helped with the extensive revitalization of Barton Academy, built in 1836 and became Alabamas first public school. In recent years, the downtown Mobile school building sat largely empty with limited use.

The projects developers are set to get $3.4 million in state tax credits for a revitalization project that will culminate in a reopening in August as The Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies.

Its made a huge difference in Birmingham and all over this state in restoring and bringing back historic facilities, said state Senator Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills.

The program fueled 52 projects and $334 million in investments during its first iteration, which ran from 2013-2016, according to state records. The program was last renewed through legislation in 2018, and state officials estimate another 93 programs will get the incentive by the end of 2021, that will add more than $500 million in historic building renovations in 15 counties.

Exterior work is underway at 200 St. Emanuel St. in downtown Mobile, Ala. The building, constructed in 1869, was placed on the "Endangered Properties List" by the city of Mobile in 1999. Today, it's poised to become a part of the expanded Fort Conde Inn and will include two hotel units and a restaurant. The $1.4 million project will be aided with $300,000 in state historic tax credits. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Stephen McNair, a historic preservation tax credit consultant based in Mobile, said the program is a rare win-win incentive that creates jobs, raises local tax revenue and preserve Alabamas oldest architectural assets.

The program more than pays for itself and without question is the leading catalyst for economic development in not only historic urban centers like Birmingham and Mobile, but also smaller Main Street communities across the state, said McNair. The renewal of this program will ensure another five years of continued progress in the restoration and development of historic structures that would otherwise be blighted, vacant or underperforming.

The legislation also maintains opportunities for rural areas of the state to compete for the incentive. Statistics provided by the state show the rural investment is still lacking. Of the tax credits reserved since 2018, 16.6% or $16.6 million are for projects in 21 rural counties. Non-rural counties were rewarded with $57.7 million or 57.6% of the credits issued that year.

Criticism about the program in recent years focused on its lack of support for rural projects and led to changes in 2018 that sets aside 40% of the state credits for counties with 175,000 or fewer people. That excluded Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Baldwin, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties.

The newest legislation places a time frame for developers of a project in a small town to act. If a state tax credit application is not received and credits are not allocated for projects within nine months, then any project  regardless of location  can compete for the remainder of the credits during that year.

Smaller city projects have occurred with the assistance of the tax credit in Wetumpka, Heflin, Atmore, Camp Hill and Monroeville. In Dothan, $1.6 million in state tax credits were allocated toward a $12.5 million renovation of a 119-year-old school building  Dothans first elementary school. The end product was a newly-renovated 55-unit senior living facility, and an increased value of the property from $247,300 to $3.1 million.

McNair said he believes the past legislation dedicating credits for rural projects has resulted in a more equitable method of administering the program. From 2013-2017, almost all of the credits went to project in the large cities.

Related past stories:

Which Alabama building received the largest tax credit for historic preservation?

Why discontinuing Alabamas historic tax credit has developers, cities freaked out

Could a new historic tax credit provide the push downtown Mobile needs?
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Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark offers look at 'new Georgia economy'

Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher Georgia Chamber President/CEO Chris Clark talked to southwest Georgia business leaders about the states post-COVID economy at the Chehaw Education Center Wednesday. Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher Georgia Chamber president/CEO Chris Clark talks to southwest Georgia business leaders about Georgias new economy at the Chehaw Education Center in Albany Wednesday, part of a tour across the state during which chamber officials will seek guidance on setting policy for its programs.

ALBANY  Georgia Chamber President/CEO Chris Clarks intent may not have been to frighten the business leaders who gathered Wednesday at the Chehaw Education Center for the Reimagined New Georgia Economy seminar.

But after listening to Clarkes presentation, many of those leaders left with a clear understanding that there is no more business as usual for those who want to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape.

There were a lot of things we saw coming, prior to COVID, in the next 10 to 15 years, Clark told the gathering. But COVID has accelerated those changes to 5 ... 7 ... 8 years.

The Georgia Chamber CEO offered the audience a look at the good and the bad of the current economic picture. Some of the former:

 An 18.7% decrease in employment for low-wage workers; (That bothers me because a lot of those jobs were held by younger workers; half of the whole Zoomer generation lost their jobs.)

 A 32% decrease in small business revenue;

 A 41% decrease in black-owned business revenue; (And those businesses are not re-opening at the same rate of other businesses, Clark said.)

 A 50% loss of jobs in the hospitality industry;

 A stunning 8,741% decrease in retail locations.

In 2019, there were more retail closures in Georgia than there were in 2017 and 2018 combined, the state Chamber head said. And in 2020, there were more closures than in 2019.

This is a scary trend. There are, right now, a million square feet of vacant office space within a block of my office (in downtown Atlanta).

But, Clark noted, the news is not all bad. He pointed out that:

 Georgia had the second-highest job creation numbers in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Texas was first);

 Georgia had the nations fourth-best job loss rate through the pandemic;

 The Peach State has been named the top state in which to do business for eight consecutive years;

 The state has increased its number of announced new projects by 40% compared to this time last year;

 The state has seen an increase of 47% in total economic investment.

After a look at the good and the bad, Clark offered his audience a glimpse at the future. And while the snapshots of our country in 2025, 2030, 2040 and 2050 were by no means all bleak, they pointed out that, as the Chamber president said, Those who are not already planning for e-commerce and other dramatic changes are way behind.

Clark said the economic future of Georgia includes:

 6 million jobs unfilled by 2025;

 A global water crisis by 2040;

 Climate change by 2040 that will leave southwest Georgia with a year-round climate that is much like Key West, Fla., right now; (Farmers must start looking now at what crops will grow in that kind of weather, Clark said.)

 20% of all work home-based by 2025;

 50% increase in food demand by 2030;

 95% of all retail carried out via e-commerce by 2040;

 96% of all vehicles will be electric by 2050.

And if you as a business person are not focused on China today, youre soon going to wake up and regret it, Clark said. China has five plans in place right now to dominate certain economic sectors throughout the world in an effort, I would guess, to become the world leaders for in-demand goods. Theyre pouring money into designing specific goods that they hope will replace American-made products by a specific time. And they want to set the standards of infrastructure.

By 2040, China is expected to be the worlds largest economic power ... some people say they are already.

Clark told audience members the reason for the New Georgia Economy Tour, which has been conducted by his office online twice but kicked off in person in Albany Wednesday, is to get response from elected officials and business leaders on how the state can meet the challenges that it faces in this new economic reality.

That feedback is important, he said. Its what will drive our strategy as we meet the challenges that we now face in this new Georgia economy.
To prepare for the influx of younger patients, Cook County Health will expand hours at its mass vaccination sites to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Those changes go into effect Tuesday at all locations with the Pfizer vaccine, which are: Matteson, Triton College, South Suburban College, Des Plaines and Forest Park. Tinley Park, which only offers Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, will remain open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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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LGBTQ+ representation has always existed in films, but how much has it evolved? A great deal, Stacker notes, as we revisit key moments in queer movie history. Click for more.
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In an April 28 speech to Congress, President Joe Biden highlighted the need for cancer research, saying, Lets end cancer as we know it. Its within our power. Within the federal budget for cancer research, only a tiny slice is for kids; their parents have long been sounding the alarm on the need for more kid-centered research and treatments.
Demand for natural gas and specifically for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is increasing as the world looks for lower cost and lower polluting fuel sources. Southwest Louisiana is a player on a national scale. Driftwood LNG will soon become part of that picture.
Planned Parenthood leadership is trying to rebrand their organization because they know they can no longer hide what their eugenicist founder, Margaret Sanger, stood for. The trouble for Planned Parenthood is that the abortion behemoth hasnt adjusted course or reckoned with Sangers legacy, because it carries on her dream today. And, as the nations largest abortion enterprise, Planned Parenthood today eliminates far more of the so-called unfit than Sanger could have ever imagined possible.

Margaret Sangers legacy cannot be hidden or covered up by mere words of apologies, or simply by acknowledging her racist roots. But this is how Planned Parenthoods president, Alexis McGill Johnson, seems to think she will deal with the eugenic legacy of her organizations founder -- and thats what she tried to do in a recent New York Times op-ed that missed the mark.

In the piece, McGill Johnson dismisses Planned Parenthoods evildoing as a remnant of the past, stating that, We dont know what was in Sangers heart. While its true that we cannot determine what is in Sangers heart, we do know what actions Sanger took and what words she said. And we know who her friends were -- very dangerous, racist friends like Lothrop Stoddard, Clarence Gamble, and Harry Laughlin. Sangers views on the value (or lack thereof) of human life were no mystery when she was alive, and they have been carried on long past her death by the organization she founded.

When asked by CBS if there was a scenario where Planned Parenthood would discontinue abortion services in order to makes everything else that they do easier, better funded, and easier for their patients, Alexis McGill Johnson responded without hesitation: NO. She explain that when she was on the abortion businesss national board that she voted to ensure that abortion was one of their core services. That every center affiliated with Planned Parenthood would provide

The Planned Parenthood boss wants to have her discriminatory abortion cake and eat it, too. She tells us via her Times op-ed that Planned Parenthood renounces the discrimination of Margaret Sanger, while she promises via CBS to continue carrying out everything Sanger could have ever wished for by suggesting the organization will continue operating killing facilities at the heart of the nations low-income, heavily-minority communities, where Planned Parenthood abortion facilities are disproportionately located.

These communities need help -- and thats not what Planned Parenthood is there to offer. Instead, the abortion goliath profits off of the despair of Black mothers and the fact that young people are alarmingly uninformed about the actual resources that can help them through pregnancy and parenting.

In a Washington Times op-ed this week, Dr. Ben Carson quoted abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass, who said, What I ask for the Negro is not benevolence, not pity, not sympathy, but simply justice. And today, we know that justice for the Black community is incompatible with the targeted destruction of Black children in the womb.

Carson also acknowledged that, when we focus on equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome, everyone wins. And equality of opportunity begins with the equal right to life for all children, regardless of their race or ability. Planned Parenthood currently stands athwart that equality.

For years it has been my goal to wake up the black community on the genocide that we are facing. I can personally say that the conversation on how abortion is affecting the Black community is the most difficult conversation for me to have.

The number one killer in the Black community is not black on black crime, police brutality, guns, drugs, heart disease, or even cancer. It is the direct and intentional killing of a human life in the black womans womb.

This is exactly what Sanger wanted. To control and eliminate populations she and her white supremacist friends considered unfit to live. And we are still seeing the results of her choices.

I often quote the powerful words of Pastor Clenard Childress, Jr. who said, The most dangerous place for an unarmed black person to be is in the womb of their black mother.

If Planned Parenthood really wants to move away from Sangers agenda, it wouldnt just take Sangers name off of buildings (though that is an effort Students for Life -- not Planned Parenthood -- is spearheading). Rather, Planned Parenthood would assess the damage it has done to America, particularly its minority populations, and correct course so that the unspeakable harm of abortion violence does not continue into the future. If Planned Parenthood wanted to reckon with its immoral past, it would cease committing abortion violence immediately. Taking Sangers name off a building doesnt help the child Planned Parenthood is dismembering as you read this. Putting down the forceps and repenting of its brutal injustice is the only path forward if Planned Parenthood wants to do justice and promote peace.

Toni McFadden serves as Minority Outreach and Healthy Relationships Director with Students for Life of America and is an international speaker and founder of the programs Pro-Life speaker and Relationships Matter.

Image: Planned Parenthood

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Despite its flaws, the United States is the greatest country the world has ever known. We dont need fences to keep people in America and there are no flotillas of refugees escaping to Cuba. Its greatness stems from its foundation of freedom and liberty for everyone.

But in recent years were seeing the convergence of some very dangerous societal trends which threaten America. Intersectionality is encouraging divisiveness. The rule of law is transforming into mob rule. Finally, a growing grievance industry is pitting citizen against citizen.

Throughout much of human history, people have organized into tribes. Tribal membership provided a means of survival against predatory animals, natural calamity, and aggressive rival tribes. As a means of personal survival, it worked. However, tribal societies became unnecessary once law and order were codified into civilized society.

Once rules of behavior were defined, and the infrastructure for enforcement was established, individuals no longer needed the protection of the tribe -- they were protected by the rule of law. In America, the rule of law ensures fair treatment, and law enforcement provides protection from threats. With that, tribal identities dissolved and America proudly became the great melting pot. Our national identity emerged. Citizenship in America became our shared identity. Tribal membership became a relic of the past -- and that was a good thing.

Our Constitution provided the framework for us to correct our own flaws. In pursuit of the ideals expressed in the Constitution we defeated slavery and systemic racism. By the late 20th century, we were well on our way to realizing the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Unfortunately, for some years now, weve begun throwing away this hard-earned progress. The ideology of intersectionality is encouraging tribalism. In addition, the diversity training industry is encouraging people to embrace their various tribal identities over their national identity. People are being encouraged to segregate by race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Were no longer simply Americans. Now were hyphenated Americans.

Just as alarming as our movement back towards tribalism, the rule of law is disappearing before our very eyes. The Supreme Court is busy inventing things in the Constitution that arent there. At the same time, theyre ignoring their duty to defend the Constitution. Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the Constitution is fading in relevance. Soon, the foundation for law and order in America will simply crumble.

Elements of law enforcement are selectively targeting political opponents. Kyle Rittenhouse is being charged with a felony for defending himself. Yet the Antifa thugs who attacked him are free to go about their nightly ritual of vandalism and intimidation.

Rudy Giulianis apartment was raided by the FBI searching for evidence of a FARA violation. Yet the FBI declined to take the evidence of Hunter Bidens criminal activity that Giuliani offered them.

Now we have news that the FBI is again illegally accessing the NSA database in a search for right-wing extremists. Is it possible that their definition of extremist might be just a bit political?

Even the notion that one can get a fair trial in America has become a mockery. When the Justice Department dropped charges against Michael Flynn, Judge Emmet Sullivan continued the trial using his own private prosecutor. This was a violation of both the Constitution and numerous court precedents. But he was apparently on a mission with a higher priority than due process.

The Derek Chauvin trial was a graphic illustration how due process is being corrupted. Defense witnesses were intimidated by mobs. Jurors needed National Guard protection to enter the courthouse each day. Yet the judge refused to sequester the jury or grant a change of venue. Even the jury pool was tainted. One juror was photographed wearing a BLM Get Your Knee Off Our Necks t-shirt eight months before his selection for the jury! Is this what the Constitution means by a jury of peers?

When due process dies, mob rule replaces justice. When the mob becomes the enforcer, tribal affiliation becomes essential. A citizens only safety is through membership in a tribe powerful enough to protect him.

At the same time that tribalism and mob rule are on the upswing, agitators are encouraging hatred and division among the citizenry. The 1619 project, critical race training, and white privilege seminars are big business. Unfortunately, theyre also teaching our fellow Americans to hate and distrust each other.

Why is saying all lives matter considered offensive? BLM isnt demanding equality. Theyre demanding fealty. Do you remember the FBI kneeling before the BLM protestors last summer? Even the demand for reparations seems more like a tax on inferior tribes than actual restitution for past wrongs. The demand seems to be, Pay us and we wont make trouble for you. I believe thats called protection money. One could say theyre behaving a bit like an aggressive tribe -- no?

Politicians are also stoking the hatred. Mad Maxine Waters went to Minnesota to demand more confrontation in the streets during the Derek Chauvin trial. President Designate Harris and her staff put up money to bail out BLM and Antifa rioters. Theyre picking sides -- and the side theyve picked isnt that of law-abiding citizens. Is it any surprise that hatred and divisiveness is on the upswing?

We have three very dangerous trends converging:

Mob rule is replacing the rule of law

Tribalism is replacing nationalism

The grievance industry is generating tension between the emerging factions

Take away societal protections and mob rule will be the only rule. When mobs rule, tribes become the only source of security. Throw in a little hatred and weve got all of the ingredients for Balkanization -- Satans playground.

Just 30 years ago, Yugoslavia split apart because of hatred and distrust between competing factions. Its Balkanization resulted in 140,000 deaths and 2.4 million refugees. Is this the future we want for America?

The 2022 elections will be here soon. Its time for all Americans to stand up and say no. We will not tolerate the Balkanization of America.

Image: Pixabay

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
United States voter fraud is a nationwide crime perpetrated locally, mostly by Democrats. Republicans either do not do it or when they do, they get caught. It is no coincidence that only Democrats fight voter ID laws, ballot audits in Maricopa County, and investigations in New Hampshire.

This month Matt Braynard, Trumps data guy, issued a comprehensive report on Georgia voter fraud. Read it? If you did, you are the eleventh person after friends and family.

People, look, we cannot fight industrial, sovereign, large-scale, election fraud with reports, press releases, and webinars. That stuff creates a false sense of progress to the committed while nothing changes for the masses. The narrative remains but there was no provable voter fraud. We need hip technology delivered on a phone showing electoral fraud in current data rolls -- that drives citizen outrage.

When one Millennial looks across the sushi table at his bud and shows her 5,435 dead people registered in her county, via an iPhone, we are pretty much there. Or scroll to the 643 people registered on a vacant lot. Look, heres a Google Maps pix of the open field!

Only outraged citizens can stop voter fraud before it happens, not chase it afterward.

The goal is a crowd-sourced national database, visible to anyone, showing who votes, what their addresses are, cross searched against death records, change-of-address files, UPS mailboxes, and a dozen other available data sources, going back as far as digital records exist.

Since our first article in American Thinker, over a thousand people contacted us concerning the fraud they personally experienced, either on election day or currently doing personal investigations. None claims to be a Democrat. These outraged citizens formed ad hoc groups to crowdsource election fraud hidden in voter rolls. Their wise goal is to create enough citizen outrage, locally, to force recalcitrant governments to clean voter rolls and tighten voter integrity regs. They get the digital marketing thing! They just dont have the tools.

Democrats have built-in advantages salting voter rolls with the fake and the dead. Election data are hard to get. Some states hide it. There is no way to cross-search whether someone voted in several places. If you try to eliminate the dead, the fake addresses, the people who moved to another state, you are accused of voter suppression. Its hard.

Often the secretary of state is in on the scam. They will not cleanse voter rolls; they oppose voter integrity regs.

Citizens are stepping up.

There is good news coming for these hardy souls. Democrats and leftists overplayed their hand in the 2020 election. We hear from mild-mannered citizens who never heard of their secretaries of state now sending us detailed .CSV files in which they are expert.

We set up a Dropbox file transfer to handle the larger data sets. Local fraud patterns in Colorado, New Hampshire, Virginia, Wyoming, Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California and Washington have been identified by citizen groups and individuals and they are gathering data any way they can get it. Several focused on a single county or town, like Arlington, Virginia, or Harris County, Texas. Industrial scale, sovereign election fraud happens differently in each state, county, or city. We must enable local citizens to dig it out. Our goal is to give them digital nuclear weaponry to even things up. (Note to Chris Wray, this is a metaphor: Do not send the Chris Wray turreted terror-mobile to my house at 5:00 a.m. Youll wake the dogs.)

Some blocks are falling into place. Electoral fraud is being uncovered, data collected, innovative search technology deployed. It is the beginning of a digital marketing response, not another report.

We are currently training one of the countrys most gifted fraud experts in a new database technology; the same person who masterminded the creation of the worlds most sophisticated criminal profile database. He is working with commercial record sets in the trillions, which process in nanoseconds, on a computer you hold in your hand. We have begun working with a dozen data collectors in as many states. They are doing the analytical work; we provide the computational horsepower with technology that dwarfs current commercial search. By mid-summer we will be running their data -- and cross-searching it -- as far back as digital data are collected.

No reports, webinars, fund raising; just exploring how to make electoral fraud a digital experience.

When your obnoxious uncle Ned who believes in UFOs and thinks Ted Cruzs father hung with Lee Harvey Oswald can pick up his phone and show you the vacant lot at the end of the street has 303 registered voters, and they all voted, several voted multiple times, even he becomes credible. By accessing a crowd-sourced election fraud database, even Uncle Ned can generate outrage -- using his iPhone and indisputable data.

Should make for a fun Thanksgiving dinner.

Jay Valentine led the cyber fraud team that built the eBay fraud detection system, the U.S. No Fly List and broke some of the largest fraud rings in the insurance industry. Jays web site is JayValentine.com and ContingencySales.com

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Among the biggest elephants in the White House briefing room is the border. Until recently, press secretary Jen Psaki just told the truth about it. There is no crisis at the border, she said. And of course there isnt, from where she stands. Its all going according to plan: encourage as many immigrants as possible to enter U.S. illegally, where they will eventually become citizens (or not), and vote reliably Democrat for two generations. Pretty simple, really. The only problem is many Americans do see a crisis -- more than one, in fact.

The first is a crisis of national security and personal safety. When candidate Trump asserted Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people, I wished hed said it differently. Most illegal immigrants probably are the good people he spoke of last. To be fair, nobody knows. Terrorists, spies, drug dealers, gang members, sex offenders, and human traffickers dont need a legal means of entry to the United States -- only a ticket to Mexico. Border Patrol agents have caught enough of them to know more are coming. By the time we find the ones who slip through, itll be too late.

The second crisis is economic. No nation with a comprehensive network of social welfare programs can accommodate infinite numbers of immigrants. When limits set by Congress are overruled by a macabre episode of Survivor set in the Mexican desert, the impact on entitlement programs, as well as schools, hospitals, and law enforcement is immediate. An impact on jobs is a given. The only question is how great it will be.

The third crisis is humanitarian. Its unfolding before our horrified eyes. Word went round quickly in Mexico and Central America that the new sheriff in Washington was no sheriff at all. The surge of illegals is said to be the worst in decades. Many are unaccompanied minors: perhaps innocent grade-schoolers, perhaps teenage MS-13 thugs. Our government makes no distinction. Some are trafficked into prostitution or slavery. Vicious drug cartels collect their pound of flesh for safe passage. Rape is par for the course. So is COVID.

Arrival on American soil doesnt end the nightmare. In late March, Project Veritas showed us Mylar-wrapped human burritos cramming the floors of filthy holding pens. We heard about the shipping containers used as housing. The media, the propaganda arm of the Democrat Party, muted their Trump-era indignation, but this most human aspect of the border crisis got some traction. They needed a plausible storyline to maintain even the thinnest facade of objectivity. The administration decided to deploy some spin. It was laughably inept.

U.S. senators were barred from filming at border facilities. Our President promised access to the criminally-overcrowded detention centers, after his plan is very shortly underway, when he is in a position to implement what were doing right now. Translation: when the illegal immigrants are gone. When? He didnt say. Where would they be sent? It was none of the medias business, and certainly none of ours.

Biden appointed Kamala Harris to stem the migration, noting that she wouldnt need to check with him before taking action. She didnt. The next morning, Harris changed her mission altogether: she would instead be addressing root causes. Seven weeks later, historys most autonomous vice-president hadnt visited the border, but had already determined the root cause of illegal immigration: climate change. Also, corruption, violence, and poverty. The people, she told us, had lost hope. Her job was to bring hope back, so they wouldnt want to leave and come here.

All set, then: fix that pesky climate change, eliminate corruption, violence and poverty in eight nations, and get the hope-y change-y thing going there, like we did here, before Trump ruined everything, causing a border crisis. Which Joe Biden finally also called a border crisis, one Sunday in late April. By Monday the White House (whoever that is) had corrected him -- no crisis here. He was referring the crisis down there, with all those root causes.

So the plan hit some turbulence, but, after a few modest tweaks, is back on course. The vice-president will buy as much time as needed for the administrations open-border policy by tilting endlessly at Central American windmills. The media have a story to peddle. Illegal immigrant children, the photos of their plexiglass prisons now fading in memory, will be sent to families somewhere -- heaven knows whose. Adults who are detained will be released to settle as they please, or transported to red states of the administrations choosing, where they will be registered as Democrats. HR1, the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics, will soon remove any obstacle to them voting. The relocation of Somalis to Minnesota got us Ilhan Omar. Imagine the possibilities in Texas or Ohio.

Some illegal immigrants are legitimate asylum-seekers. Under Obama, only 5% of were approved; under Trump, 12%. Most come to the U.S. because they can. Its a far better place than the nation they left. Unlike their counterparts who fled Cuba, they are not repulsed by the evil of socialism. They are a key component of a plan that also includes dismantling fair elections, packing the Supreme Court, eliminating the filibuster, and admitting Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states. It will guarantee the American Left power in perpetuity.

Their suffering is meaningless to the administration and its media minions. Rape, murder, lifelong trauma, and separation of families are mere collateral damage. The stinking holding pens devoid of sunlight, with a Mylar wrapper for comfort, were a minor problem of optics.

Like slaves in the new territories before the Civil War, immigrants are pawns in a cynical political stratagem. The powerful benefit from their powerlessness. Their votes matter. Their lives dont.

Image: Martin Leveneur

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
The Black Lives Matter movement has already made it clear that, to paraphrase George Orwell, while Black lives matter, some Black lives matter more than others. Al Sharpton, in his endless quest for political power, this time through Big Tobacco, just sent that very message to American Blacks.

Nobody is saying the name of David Dorn. He's the retired Black police officer who was (allegedly until proven in court) murdered during a violent rampage in purported support of Black lives. The life of Ma'Khia Bryant, whom a police officer shot while she was on bodycam video menacing another Black person with a knife, mattered; that of the other Black person, not so much. Had the police officer not fired, the woman in the pink outfit would be just another violent crime victim but, as matters stand, the extreme Left has yet another name to say while it bashes those whom it calls "pigs."

Now we have Al Sharpton, the "civil rights leader" who comes across as subordinating Black lives to Big Tobacco in exchange for the latter's support of his National Action Network. "Recently, R.J. Reynolds funded the National Action Network, a civil rights organization founded by Reverend Al Sharpton, to conduct community forums to build opposition to local action to prohibit menthol cigarettes."

Most African-American leaders agree that the government should ban menthol cigarettes because of the carnage these products wreak in their communities (as well as among Caucasian and other smokers), and with good reason. Menthol is a topical anesthetic that makes it useful in sore throat remedies and arthritis creams. Using menthol to suppress discomfort from a sore throat is a desirable feature. Using menthol cigarettes, however, to suppress warnings from the smoker's respiratory tract that he is inhaling a dangerous mixture of nicotine, particulates, and carcinogens is decidedly undesirable.

In addition, "[d]espite starting smoking later and smoking fewer packs per day, African American menthol smokers successfully quit at a lower rate than non-menthol smoking African Americans." The CDC adds, "African American adults have the highest percentage of menthol cigarette use compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Menthol in cigarettes is thought to make harmful chemicals more easily absorbed in the body, likely because menthol makes it easier to inhale cigarette smoke."

Al Sharpton, of Tawana Brawley, Crown Heights, and Freddy's Fashion Mart infamy  the same Al Sharpton with whom prominent Democrats including Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Schumer, Merrick Garland, and Hillary Clinton appear regularly  contends, however, that it "would be discriminatory to outlaw a product that is especially popular among African Americans." It's really woke of Al Sharpton to support a product that kills tens of thousands of Black people annually (along with menthol smokers of every other race) so he can be the civil rights hero he wants everybody to believe he is. But it gets even worse.

Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip features Mr. Butts, a giant talking cigarette who personifies the tobacco industry. We have already seen that Al Sharpton's National Action Network is on Mr. Butts's payroll ("His National Action Network has long received big donations from R.J. Reynolds, the maker of Newports, the nation's top-selling menthol brand"). Salon, which is hardly a right-wing source, adds, "Tobacco giant uses Al Sharpton, other black leaders to combat menthol restrictions" and names former Florida congressman Kendrick B. Meek as another participant.

Sharpton and his associates argue that a menthol ban will give police another excuse to arrest Black people. However, the bottom line is that, if menthol cigarettes are made illegal, tobacco companies will not be able to mass-produce them at a low cost. That means that users of all races will have to buy them on the black market at a high cost. This will discourage their use and reduce the annual death toll from tobacco. Legislatures and government agencies could also construct laws and regulations to penalize only the sellers and not the buyers.

The defenders of menthol cigarettes are therefore citing a phony issue while facilitating the deaths of tens of thousands of people whose Black lives seem to mean less than Big Tobacco's money means to Sharpton and the NAN. In the meantime, I encourage Garry Trudeau to depict Al Sharpton arm in arm with Mr. Butts to show where the good "civil rights activist" really stands  and it is not with the well-being of African-Americans.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image: Man smoking (cropped) by Dapo Abideen from Pexels.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
White males go to the back of the line in applying for funds to rescue their bars, restaurants, and other venues eligible for federal relief for the impact of the coronavirus lockdown. This violates the equal protection under the law requirements of the United States Constitution, but it is nonetheless ongoing right now.

John Binder of Breitbart writes:

As part of Biden's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is opening the application process by which owners of restaurant, bars, and other venues can apply for federal relief to help make up for the loss of revenue as a result of economic lockdowns spurred by the Chinese coronavirus crisis.(snip) The relief, though, is being prioritized based on race, gender, and whether or not business owners are considered "socially and economically disadvantaged individuals." White men, for example, who are not Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, are not eligible for "priority period" processing and funding. Under the guidelines of the RRF, the SBA is giving priority processing and funding to "small business owned by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals."

Screen grabs from the SBA.gov website reveal the blatant discrimination:

Here is what it takes to be "disadvantaged" under Biden's program and thereby become advantaged over white males, who are thus disadvantaged.

The Biden administration is defining businesses owned by "socially and economically disadvantaged" individuals as those who are: Part of an "economically disadvantaged Indian tribe"

"Subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias"

Black American

Hispanic American

Native American, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian

Asian Pacific American

Subcontinent Asian American

This ought to, and probably will, be challenged in court. But unless the plaintiffs are able to find a judge willing to issue a restraining order, their businesses may well fold and vanish before the case is finally adjudicated. And if victory is obtained, what then? The advantaged-disadvantaged minority owners who got preference will not be forced to pay back their funds. The White males who lost their businesses will not be able to keep them alive  too late for that.

So what is the goal of Biden's plan?

I suppose it is an understanding of "equity" that involves penalizing White males and driving them out of business as competitors to favored groups.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Arwady didnt elaborate on whether the rollout for those children will entail walk-ins  which have been the status quo since late last month when the city at last had enough vaccine supply to meet demand  or whether it will at first require online or phone appointments to avoid long waits. But Arwady said she was confident that the groundwork was there for immediate inoculations. Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for 16- and 17-year-olds in the U.S.
Proving their irrelevance, proving their weakness, Facebook's Oversight Board voted yesterday morning that:

Facebook was justified in banning then-President Donald Trump from its platform the day after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, but it needs to reassess how long the ban will remain in effect, the social network's quasi-independent Oversight Board said Wednesday.

Is Donald Trump (R) worried "how long the ban will remain in effect"? Hmmmm. Understanding that in so many ways Facebook is so last decade and so many alternatives exist, Trump quickly responded on his new platform, in his old blunt prose.

Donald J. Trump 11:21am May 5, 2021 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.

Other Republicans also eagerly pounced on the Oversight Board's decision. Quickly capitalizing on this flagrant example of Democratic suppression of diverse, pluralistic, and multicultural voices, of Democrats' inability to be inclusive, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), and Republican candidates for local and national office immediately shot out fundraising solicitation email appeals to support their (re)election campaigns, warning of potential future attempts to silence the diverse, pluralistic, and multicultural Republican voices.

For instance, this email from the NRSC landed in my inbox immediately after Facebook's announcement:

BREAKING NEWS: Facebook BANS Trump permanently Facebook took final steps this morning in conservative censorship and announced its TOTAL BAN on President Donald Trump is upheld! We need to send a strong message that Conservatives will not stand for this kind of censorship! If you support free speech and President Donald Trump, we need 10,000 patriots to stand with Trump BEFORE MIDNIGHT! (snip) (money plea here) Please , if there was a time to take a stand the TIME IS NOW! If you support free speech and the right of Conservatives to speak freely, then you must take a stand! Thank you for your support, Senate Republicans

Reacting to the reaction of the Oversight Board's ruling, Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, who is part of Facebook's management as distinct from the separate, "semi independent" Oversight Board, quickly spouted Facebook's soothing response.

[W]e're pleased the board has recognized that the unprecedented circumstances justified the exceptional measure we took. However, while the board has not required Facebook to immediately restore Mr. Trump's accounts, it has not specified the appropriate duration of the penalty. 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 board's decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate. In the meantime, Mr. Trump's accounts remain suspended. The board also made a number of recommendations on how we should improve our policies. While these recommendations are not binding, we actively sought the board's views on our policies around political figures and will carefully review its recommendations.

In other words, as Clegg smoothly reveals, the independent Oversight Board was merely carrying out Facebook management's "standardless" rules; it is Facebook's management's responsibility to set standard rules. Oh. If not, Facebook management realizes that government will. As I noted here yesterday:

Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation titled The 21st Century Free Speech Act, designed to curtail this modern suppression of free speech.

The 21st Century Free Speech Act seeks to stop censorship by companies like Facebook and Twitter by declaring the platforms "common carriers," a term also used for companies like railroads that must transport goods without discrimination.

Hagerty's bill also would require transparency in moderation practices and repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which grants internet companies immunity for most third-party content.

More proposed restrictive legislation is sure to be forthcoming. Facebook, as Clegg stated, "will carefully review its recommendations" on "political figures" with whom they, uhm...disagree.

Carefully, very carefully to keep government  and Trump and his supporters  at bay.

Meanwhile, in other related news, violent, murderous, racist, insurrectionist, but oh, so peaceful patriots in Portland, Oregon continue to post helpful instructions on Twitter on how to avoid being caught by cops. And most of their Facebook accounts are still up.

As Trump wrote, "The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price ..."

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Another chapter is being written in the book known as "I don't recognize my country anymore." The latest entry is the leftist jihad waged against Dr. Joseph Mercola for daring to contradict the left's agreed-upon narrative about preventing and treating COVID.

Up until COVID hit, Dr. Joseph Mercola was a well respected osteopathic physician and bestselling author whose specialty was natural health  that is, maintaining good health through smart nutrition and healthy living. Since the left was long about natural health, he was even featured in such leftist media outlets as Time, Forbes, and CNN.

With the coming of COVID, Dr. Mercola was interested in ways to ward off the virus, lessen symptoms, and even cure it. To that end, he wrote articles about Vitamins D and C, both of which are necessary for a robust immune system, and zinc, which seems to have operated as both an immune response and an aid to recovery.

In a country dedicated to freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas, Dr. Mercola would have been unmolested for his ideas. People who disagreed with him would have been free to say so and advance their own opinions, but he would not have been threatened both personally and professionally. What we discovered in the last 14 months is that America is no longer a free country.

On Tuesday, Dr. Mercola announced that not only would he cease writing or speaking about Vitamins D and C, and about zinc, but he would also remove all of his old articles on the subject. The reason he gave for doing so is that he has no alternative but to remove the information. He's come under attack from HealthGuard, a service of NewsGuard. NewsGuard, in turn, gets funding from Publicis Groupe, which Dr. Mercola claims is a public relations company that pharmaceutical companies fund. Per Dr. Mercola:

HealthGuard is also partnered with Gates' Microsoft company, and drug advertising websites like WebMD and Medscape, as well as the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH)  the progressive cancel-culture leader with extensive ties to government and global think tanks that recently labeled people questioning the COVID-19 vaccine as a national security threat.

These organizations, working with tech tyrants and the drive-by media, are relentlessly attacking and silencing anyone who dares counter the vaccine narrative:

The CCDH has published a hit list naming me as one of the top 12 individuals responsible for 65% of vaccine "disinformation" on social media, and who therefore must be deplatformed and silenced for the public good. In a March 24, 2021, letter1 to the CEO's of Twitter and Facebook, 12 state attorneys general called for the removal of our accounts from these platforms, based on the CCDH's report. Two of those state attorneys general also published an April 8, 2021, op-ed2 in The Washington Post, calling on Facebook and Twitter to ban the "anti-vaxxers" identified by the CCDH. The lack of acceptance of novel gene therapy technology, they claim, is all because a small group of individuals with a social media presence  myself included  are successfully misleading the public with lies about nonexistent vaccine risks. "The solution is not complicated. It's time for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to turn off this toxic tap and completely remove the small handful of individuals spreading this fraudulent misinformation," they wrote.3 Pharma-funded politicians and pharma-captured health agencies have also relentlessly attacked me and pressured tech monopolies to censor and deplatform me, removing my ability to express my opinions and speak freely over the past year.

And that's only the beginning. In paragraph after paragraph, Dr. Mercola details the effort to shut him down. A doctor from an institution that Bill Gates funds has even demanded that cyber-warfare tactics be used against Mercola and others who advocate alternatives to vaccination.

In addition to the attacks against him, Dr. Mercola has also suffered from cyber-attacks against his website. He was willing to deal with the above described threats. However, he's now facing extremely personal threats:

These threats are not legal in nature, and I have limited ability to defend myself against them. If you can imagine what billionaires and their front groups are capable of, I can assure you they have been creative in deploying their assets to have this content removed.

Note, please, that I'm not using this post to advocate for Dr. Mercola's position when it comes to general health and dealing with COVID. Instead, I'm pointing out that we are living in a totalitarian era that sees woke mobs, billionaires, and corporations control public discourse. Drunk with power, they unhesitatingly hurt people's reputations or even threaten them, silencing all voices that challenge their narrative.

Image: Joseph Mercola. YouTube screen grab.

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The document, entitled "Guidance for Operating Youth and Summer Camps During COVID-19," has no force as law. However, it creates a standard that protects camps nervous about being sued should anyone connected with the camp end up getting COVID. That means that camps will rely on the guidelines.

Before I get to the guidelines, think about summer camps. Camps have a harried, minimum-wage staff that usually consists of college and high school students, who are responsible for as many kids as possible. Otherwise, camps would be prohibitively expensive for most parents.

Unless you live in the fog belt of San Francisco, the fact that summer camps are held during the summer means it's hot and humid. Kids, being kids, still manage to run around like crazy in that weather. Camp counselors put a lot of energy into keeping kids hydrated and protecting them from sunstroke.

Also, camps are all about group activities. Sing-alongs. Play-alongs. Run-alongs. Everything is done alongside everyone else. That's part of the fun.

I'd also like to remind you, again, that young people aren't part of the whole COVID ecosystem. They don't get it, and they don't give it. Airlines and governors who impose masks on little children are sick sadists, punishing both the children and their parents. In New Jersey, Erin Pein, a school nurse, was so outraged that she stood up to her school, which suspended her when she pointed out the abuse:

'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. 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.

The guidelines are long, but a few things stand out. The CDC encourages "Engaging in outdoor activities whenever possible." That's what kids want and what parents want, so it's a good idea  but keep in mind my point about heat and humidity. You see, another guideline is that "All people in camp facilities should wear masks at all times with exceptions for certain people, or for certain settings or activities, such as while eating and drinking or swimming."

Moreover, these can't be skimpy, pro forma masks. They must be "well-fitting cloth masks with two or more layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric or disposable masks." In other words, the kind of mask that caused a runner to faint in relatively cool Bend, Oregon.

The CDC also wants camps to be divided into "cohorts"  that is, pods of the same people all day long. Campers must keep three feet of distance within the cohort and six feet of distance with anyone outside their cohort. There go all the "along" things in camp. That's also not how children play. They're close contact animals. And of course, there's the fact that there's no basis whatsoever for this ridiculous requirement, especially outdoors.

If there's one thing we've learned in the past five years, it's that our government institutions are corrupt, ineffective, and tyrannical. This bit of nonsense made even Fauci balk. The CDC's consistently wrong, and always harmful, guidance in the past year is an excellent argument for radically slimming down this agency.

Image: Summer camp in Indiana. Public Domain.

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How is it that foreign nationals are in a position to prevent any American political figures, up to and including a former president, from communicating with fellow Americans? Yet the mysterious semi-independent "Oversight" Board of Facebook comprises 20 people, only 5 of whom are Americans. Both co-chairs are foreigners.

Here is the board:

Foreign interference in American elections? Hampering political speech seems like interference to me.

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Why liberalism will always be coercive and authoritarian is really not too difficult to understand. Equality must be enforced by a political entity, which by definition is an unequal playing field that exerts power from above on those below. It's a fake equality the left envisions versus the organic equality envisioned and implemented by the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Ours was and in some ways may still be an imperfect system, but it reflects in a nearly perfect way an invisible structure that allows the individual to live out what he wants to do based on personal interests and skills that are infinitely diverse and unequal throughout the population. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn sums it up nicely in his quote: "Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free."

The premise of the book Homo Americanus: The Rise of Totalitarian Democracy in America is the way in which the United States is on a path toward tyranny because of Liberalism's insidious thought manipulation and control in the form of cultural Marxism, political correctness and now "wokeness" that's been going on for the last fifty years.The following is a passage that describes how the left uses language to abolish hierarchical differences in virtually everything while masking the real intent of seeking and maintaining political power and control. This also explains why the liberalism has succeeded to a large extent in politicizing nearly every area of American life:

Socialist Newspeak was created for the purpose of maintaining political power and imperialist expansion. Even its economic part was important only in so far as it served politics. American Newspeak is an ad hoc creation of a liberal-democratic ideology, and it creates even more strange words and grammatical rules as the movement discovers new hierarchical obstacles on the way. To many such rules and changes seem absurd, but the world without hierarchy is absurd, and we should awaken to it. Hierarchy is an essential component of excellence, nobility, virtue, and the good life. In a word, hierarchy is the highest aspiration of human nature. As Aristotle put it, philosophical or intellectual life is possible in so far as there is something divine in us. Without it the world looks like an open and flat terrain. It is vast but uninteresting. So is newspeak. Language that does not reflect the wide world which is diverse and therefore interesting, cannot be beautiful, either. It is, as it is in Orwell's 1984, an instrument of ideological oppression.

With liberalism, the focus is on the collective, where the state anoints itself as the arbiter of which categories of citizens are allowed to advance themselves  basically a power given to itself to pick society's winners and losers, which is the exact opposite of the way the Founding Fathers intended the country to work. The paradox inherent in liberalism of using power, which is also by definition unequal, in order to create equality can only lead to authoritarianism and dictatorship. This is the lesson of Soviet Russia that was birthed out of the most idealistically egalitarian political philosophy in history, Marxism.

Lenin's name for his socialist movement of Bolshevism was called the Vanguard of the Proletariat, more commonly known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat that led to the Russian Revolution and the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist States (USSR). The intrinsic contradiction of this oxymoronic term is self-evident  that an entity from above thinking it can mandate equality, and somehow this magical thinking will lead to authentic equality, is absurd on the face of it. What you end up with, as proven by the historical record, is a synthetic equality that falsifies reality since it leads to the exact opposite of Bolshevism's goals and ideals.

Soviet Russia was for most of its existence ruled by Joseph Stalin, who was one of the most notorious mass murderers of his own citizens, exceeding that of another 20th-century mass murderer, Adolf Hitler, but exceeded by his fellow Marxist, Mao Tse Tung. What is going on in the United States by contemporary liberalism is really not different, but it's obviously on a scale much more limited, thankfully, because of the checks and balances in the Constitution. Take away those checks and balances, and you will see the United States ramp up into a socialist dictatorship in the blink of an eye.

And for those paying attention, this is the purpose behind the Democrats' efforts to federalize elections  packing both the Supreme Court and the Senate by making Washington, D.C. a state, the end result being a one-party country with nearly total power.

The Founding Fathers were truly geniuses in seeing the need for so many checks and balances, including federalism, built into the American democratic experiment they created. It was James Madison who said: "If men were angels, then government wouldn't be necessary."

Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

Correction: The first sentence in the third paragraph was corrected for clarity.

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Joe Biden is living up to Bob Gates's dictum as being "wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades."

What's he up to now? Well, after claiming credit for Operation Warp Speed to develop COVID vaccines, his latest bad idea is his plan to end patent protections on them. He's declared he wants to give them away for free, to help with the COVID crisis in India.

According to the New York Times:

WASHINGTON  The Biden administration came out on Wednesday in support of waiving intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines, siding with international efforts to bolster production amid concerns about vaccine access in developing nations. The United States had been a major holdout at the World Trade Organization over a proposal to suspend some of the world economic bodys intellectual property protections, which could allow drugmakers across the globe access to the closely guarded trade secrets of how the viable vaccines have been made. But President Biden had come under increasing pressure to throw his support behind the proposal, drafted by India and South Africa and backed by many congressional Democrats.

It's a terrible idea, which will put a damper on innovation everywhere. Big Pharma is one of the very few industries left that consistently innovates in the U.S. with its life-saving meds. But when companies cannot profit from their innovations, they don't make them.

Where's he getting this bad idea from? One place to look is in the writings of Chelsea Clinton, an essay of which ran with curious timing. Here's what she wrote in the leftist Atlantic Monthly, dated May 5:

President Joe Biden must help, by removing patent barriers and making vaccine technology available to other countries.

...and...

The path forward is clear. First, the U.S. government can support a proposal made by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organization to temporarily suspend intellectual-property rights. The proposal has been languishing at the WTO since October, despite overwhelming support from developing countries, because of opposition from the U.S., as well as from Canada, Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom. (The diktat of a few giant corporations, it would seem, takes precedence over the will of the people, even in a global emergency.) The Biden administration should reverse course at the WTO meeting this week and reject claims by the pharmaceutical industry that the proposal is merely a thinly veiled attempt to boost the Indian drug industry, never mind the crisis ripping through the countryor that a suspension of intellectual-property rights risks giving China and Russia the ability to "exploit" lifesaving technology, as though that were somehow a bad thing.

Sure, lifting patent protections may help India in the short term. India has been hard hit by the virus, but India is also a country that has money. There is no reason India and its private companies can't pay at least a small royalty to the actual innovators who took the risk and delivered the result. Joe thinks that giving it away for free will actually be better. But to think it can be done by destroying America's patent protections is idiocy.

Big Pharma put a Herculean effort into reaching its big goal of developing COVID vaccines in record time. Now that that big goal was reached, Joe rewards it by giving it away for free to others who didn't bother. For Joe, it's always easy to give away other people's stuff. The consequence? No more Operation Warp Speeds come the next pandemic. Because who would want to spend billions on developing a miracle vaccine only to have a clown like Biden declare it his to give away?

Who the heck was giving him this bad idea sure to have big reverberations on U.S. innovation?

One place to look is in the writings of the vaunted Chelsea Clinton, sinecure consultant extraordinaire, married to a hedge fund manager. With curious timing, she wrote this piece dated May 5 in the Atlantic Monthly, arguing that Biden has "the power" to "vaccinate the world."

This is lunacy, put out by a pampered princess who played corporate consultant for a while yet still has no idea how the world works. She doesn't understand energy, and she sure as heck doesn't understand patents.

For Big Pharma, whose ox is gored in this, it's got to be a revelation. After all, hadn't they been good to Joe? Pfizer, for one, withheld news of its vaccine breakthrough in order to prevent President Trump from claiming credit before the 2020 election and halt his re-election. They wanted to help Joe, and we hope they're happy with their decision. They were last seen protesting vigorously, with Joe following Chelsea's lead like a lost lamb.

Some may think Big Pharma deserves this for all its electioneering from the top. But this isn't about Big Pharma; it's about business certainty. There has been a concerted attack on intellectual property from leftists (and Islamists, who abhor progress and change). Intellectual property is the foundation of innovation and productivity gains. Without it, the advantages of capitalism fade. Manufacturing vaccines requires a lot of expertise beyond the formulas  and that process knowledge is applicable to many products. Once it's lost, it's gone. And pharmacy innovations are one of the very few fields left where the U.S. is a leader. Joe's claim that this will be "temporary" is another ignorant lie. I bet it involved a lot of foreign lobbying.

When anyone's hard won innovation can be given away to lower-cost, cheaper-labor, environmentally indifferent rivals in China (which is one country that will benefit in addition to India), innovation isn't going to be attempted. Innovation relies on guarantees. It's not about bad-behaving corporate Pfizer; it's about all the innovation that would otherwise come after it, from any and every company. Joe's flip support for an attack on American technological innovation will ensure that that, along with a lot of other stuff he's devalued  citizenship, hard work, rule of law  ends up gone.

Thomas Lifson contributed to this article.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

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Want to know what's driving the border surge? The root cause that Kamala Harris says she's looking for? Ask her buddies at Facebook. They're the ones turbocharging the big-dollar human-smuggling operations, through the unchecked freedom to use their platform. Too bad about you, President Trump  you're the bad guy who's deplatformed, not them.

So charges Rep. Kat Cammack, a Florida Republican, who has laudably made this problem an issue.

Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., sent a scathing letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Wednesday for trying to "silence" conservative views on his platform while allowing human smugglers and cartels to "openly" operate on the social media site. The Florida freshman, fresh off a visit to the southern border, accused Facebook and other social media companies of perpetuating the border crisis by providing a means for drug cartels and coyotes to post paid advertisements that encourage migrants to cross into the United States illegally. "Facebook's role in the crisis at the border is urgent and must be addressed immediately," Cammack wrote Zuckerberg in a letter first obtained by Fox News.

She's right. I wrote about what she describes in her letter and materials last April 6 here, and I can see that in her materials, she cites the same Facebook page, Inmigrantes Centroamericanos, that I did, where I went through it post by post.

Facebook makes huge money from this kind of advertising made by human-smuggling rackets, and their role is vital. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is openly proopen borders, so it might just be intentional.

As I cited in my piece, from the research of the Federation for Immigration Reform, Joe Biden put out some radio ads to dissuade migrants from patronizing cartel human-smuggling rackets, but the vast majority of would-be illegals don't get their information from radio; they get it from social media. That's the root cause that Biden border surge czar Kamala Harris is still looking for.

And it's not just human-smugglers, promising "100% safe" illegal journeys breaking into America on Facebook and other social media. It's the cartel drug crime operations, too.

Here's a horrifying report from the Alliance to Counter Crime Online, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, which investigates these things:

Seriously. Twitter banned President Trump but still has the actual Sinaloa cartel on its site? Facebook still has a page for Los Zetas with 47,000 members, but it just did its pious "tribunal" thing to silence President Trump?

Care to be sick? Who needs the dark web when they've got Twitter and Facebook, covering their backs and letting them operate openly? Cartels and human-smuggling rackets don't need the dark web when they've got Facebook happy to serve them. And Facebook is protected by the Democrats, don't forget that, because the cartels sure as heck don't.

Cammack is a very young freshman congresswoman who has hit the bulls-eye on a major issue that hasn't gotten any attention. She is from Florida, home of all things good, sanctuary state from Joe Biden's lunacy-America.

Where is the Republican leadership to support her in her bid to shut down these evil merchants of misery?

It's true that the news is just out, but she needs all the muscle of the GOP rallying behind her instead of fighting about Liz Cheney (who should simply be thrown out with hands dusted off) because her issue is big, significant, the actual key to why there's a border surge. Where's Kamala Harris on this, since we know she's not at the border, looking for all those root causes? Here's a root cause for her: shut these monsters down, and sanction their Facebook enablers, or watch these surges multiply.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

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In the mid-1980s, during my first-year torts class, the case at issue somehow revolved around the word "vagina." The professor called on a shy young man who stumbled every time he had to say "vagina." The professor admonished him that, as a lawyer, he needed to be ready to hear and say whatever words were necessary to represent his client.

Fast-forward to Rutgers Law School in 2021: Black students were so horrified to hear through the school grapevine that another student, while reading aloud from a 1993 decision, uttered the infamous "N" word in its entirety, that the whole school descended into a Maoist struggle session.

According to the New York Times, here's what happened: after a first-year criminal law class at Rutgers Law School, a professor held a videoconference with three students. A middle-aged White woman who had gone back to law school as a second career  and, apparently, was insufficiently woke  repeated a line from a 1993 opinion that contained the epithet.

The other White student later scolded the middle-aged woman for reading the word in its entirety. The middle-aged woman, who has since gotten a lawyer for herself, therefore reached out to the third student to agonize over the problem. When word got out to the Black students, they dug up the recorded meeting (which is no longer available); got offended; and talked to a professor who talked to a dean, David Lopez.

Black students then circulated a petition, says the Times, "calling for the creation of a policy on racial slurs and formal, public apologies from the student and the professor, Vera Bergelson." The petition, which has since been circulated to law students and campuses nationwide, states, "At the height of a 'racial reckoning,' a responsible adult should know not to use a racial slur regardless of its use in a 1993 opinion." The petition adds, "We vehemently condemn the use of the N-word by the student and the acquiescence of its usage."

All this percolating and petitioning took five months before bubbling up to Bergelson. An accomplished linguist, she has been steeped in academia long enough to understand the language of the mob. She promptly announced that she didn't hear the student quote the case with that word, but if she'd heard, she would have put a stop to it.

Bergelson then convened a meeting of her entire criminal law class and other first-year students to discuss what happened and publicly apologize. The middle-aged White woman apologized as well. Next, Dean Lopez apologized for failing to understand how serious it was that Black students had to dig through digital files to find a classmate quoting an old decision so they could get offended.

Lopez also asked that, even if something icky is in a judicial decision, nobody should have to say the words out loud.

A few sane people have spoken up:

Among the professors who have signed a statement in support of Professor Bergelson and the student are some of the school's most prominent faculty members, including John Farmer Jr., a former New Jersey attorney general, and Ronald K. Chen, the state's onetime public advocate. Both are former deans of Rutgers Law School.

"Although we all deplore the use of racist epithets," said Gary L. Francione, a law professor who also signed the statement, "the idea that a faculty member or law student cannot quote a published court decision that itself quotes a racial or other otherwise objectionable word as part of the record of the case is problematic and implicates matters of academic freedom and free speech."

The problem for Bergelson and that middle-aged woman is that, if you don't apologize, you lose everything: you lose your job, your place as a student at Rutgers, your friends, your ability to get a new job or attend another school...everything. While what we're seeing isn't yet as violent as the Cultural Revolution under Mao, the consequences for those whom the leftist mob targets are, in their own way, severe.

At some point, this must stop. The presidents of every college and university in America should get together and make a pact: they will absolutely resist the mob. No matter what the mob demands, even if there's an element of sense to it (although it's hard to imagine the mob making sensible demands), academia's only response should be "no, and if you say another word about it or do another thing you will be summarily expelled from this institution." That kind of collective action, not from the mob, but from the people cowering before the mob, may be sufficient to keep America's institutions from sliding ever deeper into struggle sessions that do turn deadly.

And one more thing: If you have a young lawyer, you might delicately want to inquire into that person's level of wokeness. When those young lawyers are very woke, remember that they will never truly represent you; they will always represent only themselves.

Image: Rutgers Law school. Public Domain.

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(Image source from: Ndtv.com)

Coronavirus Indian daily tally stands at 4.12 lakhs:- As per the reports coming from the Union Health Ministry, a total number of 4,12,262 new cases for coronavirus are reported in the last 24 hours in India. The total tally of coronavirus cases reached 2,10,77,410 and the total number of recoveries climbed to 1,72,80,844. 3980 deaths are reported in India in the last 24 hours and the total death toll stands at 2,30,168. There are 35,66,398 active cases for coronavirus in India and most of them are in recovery mode. As a part of the massive vaccination drive, the total number of people who took up the vaccination for coronavirus are at 16,25,13,339. The government of Kerala announced a complete lockdown from May 8th to 16th.

Kerala reported 41,953 new cases for coronavirus which is huge. The Centre submitted a detailed report to the Supreme Court about the procurement of oxygen. The Supreme Court asked the Centre to come up with a proper plan in handling the oxygen crisis. The Centre also warned about a possible third wave of coronavirus and the country should be prepared for the pandemic. As per the study from the Indian Council of Medical Research, the total samples tested in India till yesterday are said to be 29,67,75,209 and the samples tested yesterday are said to be 19,23,131. Indian neighboring country Sri Lanka banned travellers coming from India after a huge rise in the coronavirus cases in India.
(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

21,954 new coronavirus cases reported in Andhra Pradesh:- A total number of 1,10,147 tests for coronavirus are conducted in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours and 21,954 people are tested positive for coronavirus. The total coronavirus tally of cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed to 12,25,291. The total number of discharges in the country stands at 10,34,516 and the total number of deaths climbed to 8446. There are 1,82,329 active cases for coronavirus in the state. 72 people passed away in the state in the last 24 hours and the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, East Godavari, Guntur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam reported high number of cases.

The total number of samples tested in Andhra Pradesh in total are said to be 1,70,60,446. A total number of 10,141 people recovered from coronavirus in the last 24 hours in the state. As per the reports coming from the Union Health Ministry, a total number of 4,12,262 new cases for coronavirus are reported in the last 24 hours in India. The total tally of coronavirus cases reached 2,10,77,410 and the total number of recoveries climbed to 1,72,80,844. The new strain of coronavirus is spotted in Andhra Pradesh and the officials asked to be extra cautious. The government of Andhra Pradesh imposed a curfew from 12 PM to 6 AM every day and the borders are closed during this time.
Marianos has not yet fully transitioned to walk-ins at all of its 40 pharmacy locations in Illinois and continues to experience high demand for appointments, spokeswoman Amanda Puck said in an email. Marianos expects to begin offering walk-in vaccinations in the next week or two, she said.
Team RRR raises their voice against the Pandemic:- RRR happens to be the most awaited Indian film for release and the project got delayed several times for various reasons. SS Rajamouli is the director and NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Shriya Saran played the lead roles in this periodic action drama. The shoot of the film got stalled because of the second wave of coronavirus. The climax portions along with couple of songs are pending currently. There are lot of speculations about the release date of the film and Rajamouli will take the final call only after the shooting portions of RRR will get completed.

Wear a mask always

Get vaccinated when available ....



Let's #StandTogether to Stop The Spread of #COVID19 in India pic.twitter.com/yEWvniO6LH  RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) May 6, 2021

The entire team of RRR shot a special video about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They urged the people of the country to strictly follow the social distancing rules and the guidelines. They asked the people to wear facemasks and practise social distancing guidelines. Ajay Devgn spoke in Hindi while Alia Bhatt surprised everyone in Telugu. Ram Chran selected Tamil and NTR spoke in Kannada. The film's director SS Rajamouli delivered the message in Malayalam. RRR is made on a budget of Rs 450 crores and the film is expected to release in summer 2022.
Andover, MA (01810)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Andover, MA (01810)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
Samsungs Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the best smartphone cameras right now, if not the very best. So its successor, which should be called the Galaxy S22 Ultra, will have big shoes to fill in. And as per some early leaks, Samsung already has one major camera upgrade planned for its next flagship.

Reliable industry insider Ice Universe has claimed that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will feature a new type of periscope camera with continuous zoom (via). Samsung Electromechanics and Samsung LSI (system large-scale integration) have reportedly jointly developed this in-house zoom camera for the upcoming phone.

Galaxy S22 Ultra will pack a continuous zoom camera

The current generation of periscope and telephoto zoom cameras has one major limitation  they have fixed lenses. As such, they can only offer one optical zoom level. Thats why the Galaxy S21 Ultra has two telephoto zoom lenses (3x and 10x). For other zoom levels, say 5x, the phone combines the 3x lens with digital zoom.

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The same goes for any other device with or without a dedicated zoom camera. For capturing a scene at non-native zoom levels, the device has to digitally zoom the shot either through the dedicated zoom camera or through the primary camera. It essentially results in a cropped image of poor quality.

Samsung is now looking to fix this issue with a new type of periscope camera that boasts continuous zoom capabilities. This means the camera shouldnt have a fixed lens but instead, the lens should be able to move freely, delivering optical zoom at all levels up to its maximum zoom level. This will allow users to capture scenes with the same quality at any magnification level, without showing any artifacts or losing clarity and sharpness.

DSLR cameras already use this technology but its now coming to smartphones as well. Sony showed a glimpse of this technology with the recently launched Xperia 1 III. However, its periscope camera doesnt quite offer continuous zoom but two native zoom levels at 3x and 4.4x. Samsung is now seemingly taking this implementation to a whole new level. This smartphone camera battle between Samsung and Sony is nicely heating up.

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There are more upgrades in tow

Apart from a continuous zoom camera, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is also said to feature the Exynos 2200 SoC with an AMD Radeon GPU. The two companies joined forces a couple of years ago but nothing has come to fruition yet. It appears the Exynos 2200 will now debut AMDs mobile GPU. An alleged benchmark result recently showed that the chipset crushes Apples latest A14 Bionic in GPU performance.

Last but not least, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will also likely feature an under-display selfie camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 might debut this technology in Samsung devices but its coming over to the conventional flagship lineup as well.

These are all unconfirmed reports, so we advise you to take them with a pinch of salt. However, from what it appears, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is already shaping up to be an exciting proposition from Samsung.
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(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 6 - A 28-year-old man from Messina who allegedly fought for pro-Russian rebel groups in Ukraine has been arrested outside Italy, sources said on Thursday.

The man left Italy in 2016 to carry out "illegitimate combat" activities, investigative sources said.

He used Russian weapons during combat in the Donbas region, wore a Russian army uniform and was also part of a criminal group active in several countries, the sources said.

Investigators believe the case confirms the existence of an organization to finance and recruit mercenaries to fight for pro-Russian separatists that came to light during a similar probe in 2018.

A Livorno native, Andrea Palmieri, is suspected of being a middle man in the recruitment ring.

He is a wanted man and is probably in Ukraine at the moment.

Photo: a file image of pro-Russian separatists. (ANSA).


I wish I could fully express my gratitude and happiness about joining the US99 team, McGurren said in an emailed statement. I love Chicago and country music and Ive never been more confident in an opportunity or my team. I know this is exactly where Im supposed to be, and I couldnt be happier to make this new move in my career.
(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 6 - A Rome court on Wednesday gave two young American men, Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Natale Hjorth, life in prison for the homicide of Carabinieri police officer Mario Cerciello Rega in July 2019.

Elder killed Cerciello Rega with 11 stab wounds inflicted by a combat knife he had brought over from the US while Natale Hjorth assaulted the slain officer's partner at the end of a chain of events sparked by a drugs deal that went wrong.

Cerciello Rega , a 35-year-old who had recently returned from his honeymoon when he as killed, was a well-liked and cheerful character.

He was considered a hero for his work on and off duty.

He did volunteer work for the Order of Malta, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto, and he also regularly went to Rome's Termini train station to feed the needy.

Cerciello Rega's widow, Rosa Maria Esilio, broke down in tears when the sentence was read out.

"It has been a long and painful trial," she told reporters.

"This will not bring Mario back to me.

"It will not bring him back to life.

"It will not give us back our life together.

"Today the first stone of a new justice was laid.

"Mario's integrity was demonstrated even though, as a dead man, he was subjected to many insinuations".

The tragic chain of events started when Elder and Natale Hjorth, who were in Rome on holiday, were conned by a dealer when attempting to buy drugs.

The dealer sold them crushed up medicine instead of narcotics.

The young Americans snatched a bag belonging to a middle man who had put them in touch with a dealer and subsequently contacted him, demanding money and drugs in return for the bag.

The middle man called the Carabinieri, saying the pair were trying to extort money from him.

As a result, Cerciello Rega and his partner went to a rendezvous in the middle of the night that had been arranged for the exchange.

When the policeman, who were unarmed and in lain clothes, confronted the pair, they were attacked.

The defence lawyers said the young men though they were faced with criminals, not police officers. (ANSA).


The EU has accused Jersey of breaching the terms of the UKs post-Brexit trade deal in the bitter stand-off over fishing rights in the Channel islands waters.

The European Commission complained the authorities were imposing additional conditions on French fishing boats operating there, in breach of the terms of the agreement hammered out on Christmas Eve.

But in a call with Jerseys chief minister John Le Fondre, Boris Johnson again voiced his unequivocal support for the actions taken by the islands government.

He said two Royal Navy patrol boats despatched to the area on Wednesday would remain in place as a precautionary measure.

Around 60 French fishing boats gathered off the islands main port St Helier early on Thursday to protest against the new licences they have been required to obtain from the Jersey government to carry on operating.

Local fishermen reported flares were let off and that some boats entered the harbour for around an hour, with footage posted online apparently showing a French boat ramming the rear of a Jersey vessel.

The French maritime authority for the Channel sent a pair of police patrol boats to the area to ensure the protection of human life at sea.

(PA Graphics)

The protest leaders denied they were seeking to impose a blockade and the flotilla eventually headed back to France.

In an attempt to defuse the row, representatives of the Jersey government met the fishermen, with their boat pulling alongside one of the French vessels so they could talk ship-to-ship while observing Covid restrictions.

External relations minister Ian Gorst said the discussions were positive but some of the fishermen were reported to be unhappy, complaining there had been little progress.

The row erupted after the Jersey government said French boats would be required to obtain licences to carry on fishing in the islands waters under the terms of the trade deal with the EU which came into force last Friday.

French fishing vessels outside the harbour at St Helier (Gary Grimshaw/Bailiwick Express/PA)

The move provoked a wave of anger among French fishing communities who complained that boats which had operated there for years were suddenly having their access restricted, because they could not prove their historical links with the waters.

In Brussels, a spokeswoman for the European Commission said additional conditions attached to the new licences represented a breach of the trade deal.

She said they had indicated to the UK that we see that the provisions of the EU/UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, that we recently agreed, have not been met there, have not been respected.

Mr Gorst said the Jersey authorities were extremely grateful to the UK Government for its prompt deployment of the patrol boats HMS Severn and HMS Tamar following warnings French fishing boats could try to mount a blockade.

Boris Johnson has said HMS Tamar will remain as a precautionary measure (MoD/PA)

However he insisted that they wanted to find a diplomatic solution to de-escalate the situation.

Its important that we respond to threats, but the answer to this solution is to continue to talk and diplomacy, he told BBC News.

Earlier this week, French maritime minister Annick Girardin said Paris would cut off electricity to Jersey  which gets 95% of its power supply from France  if the dispute was not resolved.

The Jersey government has said that of the 41 French boats that applied for licences last Friday, 17 had been unable to provide the evidence needed to enable them to carry on as before.

Mr Gorst said: Its really important that we are able to work with those fishermen to help them provide the necessary evidence so that, if required, their licences can be amended.

External Relations Minister Ian Gorst has said Jersey wants a diplomatic solution (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Nevertheless, there was concern on the island that the French action could escalate if the dispute was not resolved.

Fisherman Josh Dearing said the appearance of the French boats had been like an invasion, and welcomed the presence of the Royal Navy ships.

Were completely unprotected in Jersey. Weve got nothing except for a few police officers. We dont have a police boat, we dont have a navy boat, we dont have anything to protect us, he told the PA news agency.

The French can be hostile. All of our livelihoods are in that harbour and if they wanted to they could cause damage.

They can blockade their own harbours  they wouldnt think twice about coming and doing it to us.
Nine in 10 people in England aged 70 and over are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, figures suggest.

An estimated 90.0% of people in this age group had received both doses of the vaccine as of May 2.

For people aged 65 to 69 the figure is 50.5%, while for 60 to 64-year-olds the estimate is 26.1%.

(PA Graphics)

People aged 70 and over were in the top four groups on the priority list for vaccines, with initial doses offered to over-80s from early December.

Second doses must follow within 12 weeks of the first, meaning any people in these age groups yet to have a follow-up jab should receive it within the next few weeks.

The figures for vaccinations were published by NHS England, and have been combined with population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

They suggest 21.6% of 55 to 59-year-olds have had both doses, along with 17.9% of 50 to 54-year-olds and 14.7% of 45 to 49-year-olds.

Some 9.1% of people aged 16 to 44 are also likely to have received both jabs.

(PA Graphics)

Analysis by the PA news agency shows that at local authority level, the highest estimated proportion of people aged 70 and over to be fully vaccinated is in Stroud (98.9%), West Devon (98.2%) and Daventry (97.6%).

The lowest proportion is in the London borough of Westminster (58.4%), the City of London (61.5%), and the London borough of Tower Hamlets (62.5%).

Meanwhile around three-quarters of people in England aged 45 to 49 have now had their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

An estimated 74.7% of people in this age group had received their first jab as of May 2, NHS England said.

The figures also suggest 89.5% of people aged 50 to 54 have had their first dose, along with 95.3% of 55 to 59-year-olds, 98.0% of 60 to 64-year-olds and 94.4% of 65 to 69-year-olds.

Some 97.7% of people aged 70 and over have had a first dose.

(PA Graphics)

As of May 5, 66.0% of adults in England are estimated to have received one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 30.8% have had both doses.

Wales continues to record the highest proportion of adults who have received one dose (74.7%) and both doses (31.7%).

The equivalent figures for Northern Ireland are 65.9% and 31.6%, and for Scotland they are 64.5% and 31.6%.
The leaders of Scotlands political parties are heading to the polls to cast their own votes in the Scottish Parliament election.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar voted at his local polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow on Thursday morning.

Mr Sarwar is standing against First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Glasgow Southside constituency, which includes Pollokshields.

Nicola Sturgeon and SNP candidate Roza Salih were at a polling station in Glasgow (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

Flanked by his wife and four-year-old son, Mr Sarwar was in a buoyant mood, chatting with voters and answering questions from journalists.

He said he used both votes for Scottish Labour and urged other voters to do the same.

Ms Sturgeon has already voted by post but joined SNP candidate Roza Salih at Annette Street Primary School polling station in Govanhill, Glasgow, to lend her support and meet a Syrian family as they cast their ballots.

Alba Party leader Alex Salmond voted in Strichen, Aberdeenshire (Andrew Milligan/PA)

This years poll is the first in which people with refugee status are entitled to vote, and the SNP leader said it is great weve got everybody who lives here able to vote, adding it is an exciting and special thing to do.

She also posed for a photo with a dog called Elsa outside the school and recorded a video message for the interpreter for the Syrians, whose mother is unwell with Covid-19.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie cast his ballot at Notre Dame Primary School in Glasgows west end.

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Arriving on his bike, Mr Harvie posed for press photographers before entering the polling station, wearing a face mask bearing the LGBT rainbow flag.

After casting his vote, and at the behest of the photographers, Mr Harvie rode a bike pulling a small billboard adorned with his face.

His fellow Greens co-leader Lorna Slater voted at a primary school in Edinburgh.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross arrives with his wife Krystle and son Alistair to cast his vote at Alves Hall in Moray (Paul Campbell/PA)

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross voted in Moray, while Alba Party leader Alex Salmond cast his ballot in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has already voted by post.
Science, to some degree, is the art of being wrong for a while and course correcting until you arrive at what is actually happening, and there is a nod to that in the film  that theres pressure to come up with an answer and pressure to come up with solutions  but I think if I had it to do over again, I would have leaned more into the tension around that. That we rely on science in these moments when we dont understand whats happening in our world, and then we get very upset and toss science overboard at any given moment in time when it doesnt have a full understanding because that understanding is evolving.
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Thirty-year-old Travis Stackhouse had been on trial this week for first-degree reckless homicide in the June 2019 death of his son, Sir Amer Stackhouse. After two days of testimony from the states witnesses, Stackhouse on Wednesday agreed to plead guilty to second-degree reckless homicide, child abuse and child neglect.
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Sources said that the health condition of EAM Jaishankar as well as other members of the Indian delegation was normal

Another worry is that Jaishankar had met both US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and British Home Secretary Priti Patel in-person in London in the past two days.  By arrangement

New Delhi: In a major embarrassment to India, two members of the official Indian delegation in London ahead of the G-7 meeting reportedly tested Covid positive on Wednesday, according to international media reports that quoted a British Government official.

Soon after the news broke thereafter, external affairs m inister (EAM) S. Jaishankar tweeted that he had been informed on Tuesday evening about exposure to possible Covid positive cases and that he would now attend the G-7 meeting in Virtual mode out of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others.

British media reports also said the entire delegation was in isolation and that Jaishankar had tested negative.

But interestingly, sources said all members of the Indian delegation had tested negative before their departure from New Delhi. This would then mean that two of these Indian delegation-members in that case seem to have tested positive in London after testing negative initially in New Delhi.

Another worry is that Jaishankar had met both US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and British Home Secretary Priti Patel in-person in London in the past two days raising questions now on whether they need to be in precautionary self-isolation as well.

Sources said that the health condition of EAM Jaishankar as well as other members of the Indian delegation was normal. Sources added that the Public Health authorities in the UK would take a decision as per rules on the future course of action regarding the Indian delegation.

Two delegates (of the Indian delegation) tested positive so the entire (Indian) delegation is now self isolating. The (G-7) meeting had been enabled by a strict set of Covid protocols, including daily testing of all delegates, a British official was quoted as saying in media reports. EAM 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.
China sees 230 mln domestic tourist trips during May Day holiday

Xinhua) 10:31, May 06, 2021

A tourist takes photos of an ice cream in the shape of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China saw a total of 230 million domestic tourist trips during the five-day May Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Wednesday.

Tourism revenue reached 113.23 billion yuan (about 17.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 138.1 percent from last year, according to the ministry.

The May Day holiday lasts from May 1 to 5 this year.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Me and my classmate were just in class with our teacher  we were doing work  and then all of a sudden, here was a loud noise and then there were two more loud noises. Then there was screaming, 12-year-old Yandel Rodriguez said. Our teacher went to check it out, and he found blood.
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Services for Mabel McCrackin McGee, 92, of Tyler were held Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel in Tyler and Rev. Brandy Stevens officiated. Burial followed at Goodgame Cemetery near Athens under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mabel McGee passe
4 C8 Chevrolet Corvette Drag Races C7 Z06, Leaves It in the Dust Until It Doesn't

2021 Chevrolet Corvette Production Will End This August

The Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky will bid farewell to the 2021 Corvette this summer. According to consensus notes, orders placed by dealers for the next two months will be produced through August. 10 photos



The allocation process for the 2022 model year will being in July according to the cited publication, but not much will change in terms of customization. The Stingray will soldier on with a familiar small-block V8 and dual-clutch transaxle, albeit with three new colors for the exterior. These are Amplify Orange, Hypersonic Gray, and Caffeine, which replace Sebring Orange, Shadow Gray, and Zeus Bronze. Stingray customers will be further treated to a



The head honchos of the C8 program have been eerily quiet about the Z06 thus far, but General Motors will spill the beans on the performance-oriented variant this July. Bowling Green doesnt allow people outside of GM to enter the facility at the present moment, most likely because the assembly line is making preparations for the noticeably wider Z06 Vette.



Expected to be revealed in July 2021, the go-faster variant is closely related to the C8.R in terms of engine technology. Instead of pushrods, two valves per cylinder, and one camshaft, you can look forward to a high-revving V8 with a DOHC valvetrain, 5.5 liters of displacement, and natural aspiration.



Estimated to belt out 617 horsepower, the DCT modified for higher engine speeds. The dual-clutch transaxle in the Stingray, for reference, has a maximum input speed of 7,500 revolutions while the flat-plane crankshaft V8 of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 cuts off fuel at 8,250 revolutions. Corvette Action Center reports that allocation numbers are based on the current manufacturing rate, which is bad news for expecting customers because production has been disrupted on many occasions. Be it supplier issues, the health crisis, or the chip shortage, plenty of things may go wrong until the 2021 model year will be phased out in favor of the 2022 Corvette.The allocation process for the 2022 model year will being in July according to the cited publication, but not much will change in terms of customization. The Stingray will soldier on with a familiar small-block V8 and dual-clutch transaxle, albeit with three new colors for the exterior. These are Amplify Orange, Hypersonic Gray, and Caffeine, which replace Sebring Orange, Shadow Gray, and Zeus Bronze. Stingray customers will be further treated to a low-profile spoiler that General Motors teased during the NCM Bash.The head honchos of the C8 program have been eerily quiet about the Z06 thus far, but General Motors will spill the beans on the performance-oriented variant this July. Bowling Green doesnt allow people outside of GM to enter the facility at the present moment, most likely because the assembly line is making preparations for the noticeably wider Z06 Vette.Expected to be revealed in July 2021, the go-faster variant is closely related to the C8.R in terms of engine technology. Instead of pushrods, two valves per cylinder, and one camshaft, you can look forward to a high-revving V8 with avalvetrain, 5.5 liters of displacement, and natural aspiration.Estimated to belt out 617 horsepower, the flat-plane crankshaft V8 known as the LT6 will be complemented by a TR-9080modified for higher engine speeds. The dual-clutch transaxle in the Stingray, for reference, has a maximum input speed of 7,500 revolutions while the flat-plane crankshaft V8 of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 cuts off fuel at 8,250 revolutions.
With the objective of reducing carbon emissions to 70 percent of their 1990s levels by 2030, Denmark is encouraging foreign investments for innovative projects, through the Invest in Denmark governmental agency. This is how the two companies began their collaboration for a green harbor.The main concept of their project is to help logistic companies select the mode of transportation and the route with the lowest carbon footprint, for any shipping . This way, all sea, truck and rail logistic companies can opt for alternatives that are best for the environment and contribute to decreasing the negative impact of transportation.In order to achieve this, Atos will use artificial intelligence components, such as machine learning and algorithms that mimic the way the human brain works, for high-performance data analytics. The integrated solution will use this data selection to gather all cargo requests into a single digital platform. This platform will not only show all available routes, but also calculate carbon footprint based on the selected route and transport mode.By incorporating this digital platform, the Port of Esbjerg then becomes a central logistic location that promotes carbon neutral shipping alternatives for transport companies. Also, this solution is equally beneficial for logistic companies, because it allows them to choose the best route in terms of cost and time, as well.The Port of Esbjerg is Denmarks largest port on the North Sea and the main port for the countrys oil and gas industry. It is particularly known for shipping offshore wind turbines throughout Europe. And, its a leader in environmental initiatives, being the first harbor in the world to launch an extensive climate project, in 2020.After improving the monitoring and management process of carbon emissions from the port through their initial project, the Port of Esbjerg is now taking another important step towards becoming carbon neutral.
The good folks over at the Driving Line channel on YouTube decided to catch up to their latest work and arranged a meeting with the company owner CJ Breaux. Yes, there are serene parts as well... but only when the stand-out features (Hellcat, Dana 60s, huge suspension kit, 40-inch Nittos, or the KMC beadlocks) dont go to work.Imagine the perspective, as Ford and Stellantis (PSA plus Fiat-Chrysler, in case anyone forgot) heat up their 2021 Bronco and Wrangler teams for all-out war later this year. But theres one contender to the midsize off-road game that seems to stay one step ahead of everyone else with ample support from the aftermarket segment.Its the JT Jeep Gladiator, of course, and when its not going for 6x6 conversions it seems the LED headlights are firmly pointed toward Houston, Texas. There, if you dont want the HPE treatment, you can still go for a Hellcat Hemi V8 swap if youre willing to pay $58,995. But why stop there, when you can go all-out on the truck, as showcased by the latest build from Tactical Off-Road.By the way, the Driving Line video (embedded below) is neatly arranged in chapters, so we can easily focus on the aspects were most interested in knowing about. For us, the whole package seems worthwhile (until you hear about the total $150 - $170k costs), meaning we can also bring on the dune-bashing podium the highlights were most interested in.Sure, the Hellcat conversion would be a prime contender, but it turns out the company has something even better  a $68,995 Demon swap! Instead, we got mostly mesmerized by the balanced mix of crazy off-road components. We simply love the way the Gladiator proudly wears those Ultimate Dana 60 axles, the EVO suspension lift kit, the huge Nitto Trail Grapplers wrapped around the KMC wheels, as well as all that additional body armor.
SUV

We all know that today most of the automotive world is all about anything even remotely connected to SUVs, crossovers, and trucks. There are a few great exceptions, though. And most of them are present in this video (embedded below) from the Drag Racing and Car Stuff channel on YouTube.While everyone is all the rage about the 2021 Ram TRX and Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat , the quarter mile battles are best fought with something that has a little more experience, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Case in point, theres a trio of these monsters ready to wage war on the former stars.Of course, the fact that Americas quarter-mile sun has already set for the traditional coupe form is always up for debate, especially since the Detroit Three still have a bunch of models to signal the battle isnt over yet. And, as long as Ford churns out Mustangs, Dodge continues to instill the Demon spirit into the Challenger, and GM allows Chevy to play with the Corvette as it pleases, it probably never will.Still, this feature gives us a series ofvs coupe thrills as the high-performance armed forces line up. The initial battle sees a silver Trackhawk (with a Texas plate, of course) face off against a blue S550 Mustang GT and we can easily feel its just the warmup round following their tame 12.33s to 12.75s results (SUVs one, coupes zero).Next up (from the 1:10 mark) comes a fully camouflaged Grand Cherokee that goes up against a stealthy-gray Mustang to try and solidify the lead. The Blue Oval does its best to recoup the initial loss but its 11.53s run is nowhere near the level of performance exhibited by the 10.45-second Jeep (so, its two nil).From the 1:53 mark we see the coupe team cycle through the warriors and the next two rounds have the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye take the spotlight . They do so with elegance and poise. Kidding, theyre furiously out for a vengeance, which is swiftly enacted via a couple of great ETs (10.49s and 9.72s, respectively).Because you cant have an equality result when an all-out war is involved, the bonus battle sees a black Trackhawk race Chevys C7 Corvette from the 4:30 mark... and this run finally settles the case for the SUV faction with an 11.46s to 11:65s victory.
Flat-plane crankshafts also change the aural qualities of any engine, which is why the V8 in a Ferrari sounds different from the V8 in a Hellcat. Not long now, General Motors will blur the lines between the Corvette and Italian exotica thanks to a race-proven mill with 5.5 liters of displacement.LT6 is how the powerplant in the Z06 is called, and in stark contrast to the LT5 used by the C8.R endurance racer, federal regulations dont force Chevy to use a restrictor plate. Coupled with the double-overhead cam, this is the reason the direct-injected V8 belts out approximately 617 horsepower.Spied by Road & Track while testing the Launch Control system on wide-open throttle, the Z06 sounds awfully similar to the 458 Italia with a little bit of C8.R for good measure. Its a very different exhaust note from the LT4 small-block V8 of the previous generation, and its very different from the 5.2-liter mill that Ford Performance used in the Shelby GT350 as well.Based on the upshifts, the prototypes in the following video arent pushed to their full potential. The Voodoo engine of the Shelby GT350 is much obliged to keep climbing until 8,250 revs, and Americas no. 1 automaker isnt likely to let that slip because the Z06 is a supercar-killing drivers car.Yes, its not as potent as the previous generations 650 horsepower. Yes, the supercharger whine is missing as well. But on the upside, the Z06 will corner like its on rails thanks to ultra-wide tires out back. 345/25 by 21-inch rubber from Michelin should give the 2022 model the edge in the twisties, and the grip from the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs will also help the Z06 accelerate to 60 mph (97 kph) quicker than the 2.9-second C8 Stingray Z51.
Tami Donnally, vice chairwoman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party and a past candidate for the Florida Legislature, said the new law is critically needed. I believe that there has been fraud in elections in the past  local elections, national elections  over the years, and I think we need to get a handle on it, she said. We need to have this election law to make sure every legal vote is counted.
The Oversight Board's decision Wednesday to uphold Facebook's suspension of former President Trump found few fans in Washington and exposed the company to a new round of attacks.

Why it matters: While the board urged Facebook back to the drawing board to better define its rules and processes around political speech, political actors on both left and right agree that the social media giant already has too much power.

Democrats argue that no matter what the Oversight Board determined about the validity of banning Trump indefinitely from Facebook, federal regulation is needed to make sure disinformation doesn't spread unchecked on the social network.

Energy & Commerce Committee chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) argued the structure of the Oversight Board ignores the role Facebook plays in amplifying disinformation. Its clear that real accountability will only come with legislative action.

House consumer protection subcommittee chairwoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) called the ruling a "distraction by Facebook to deflect responsibility" and said she intends to introduce legislation soon that would alter a key online liability protection statute, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the decision upholds a minimal marker for truth and decency.

Republicans took aim at Facebook's power in the social media sphere to de-platform Trump, and said the lack of transparency and consistency in the company's decision-making warrants congressional action.

House Energy & Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) questioned the purpose of the Oversight Board after it punted questions back to Facebook. This is unacceptable and only underscores the need for Congress to step up our work to bring much-needed reform and oversight to Big Tech.

Ken Buck (R-Colo.), the top Republican on the House antitrust subcommittee, called for aggressive antitrust reform to break up Facebooks monopoly," echoing Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a call to break up the company.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, called for legislation to bring accountability to the industry. "This decision further illustrates the concentrated control Big Tech exerts over speech and why Congress should act to curb its dominance."

Many tech critics view the Oversight Board itself as a sideshow or a distraction.
He said Pashinians reelection would spell further trouble for the country reeling from its defeat in last years war with Azerbaijan.

In an article posted on Ilur.am, Ter-Petrosian revealed that he proposed such an electoral alliance at a March 25 meeting with Sarkisian and Kocharian. He said Kocharian rejected the offer on the grounds that it would upset a Kocharian-backed alliance of Armenian opposition parties trying to topple Pashinian.

As regards Serzh Sarkisian, he did not express any opinion, wrote the 76-year-old politician who had served as Armenias first president from 1991-1998.

Today I am publicly repeating my proposal to the second and third presidents of Armenia, he said, calling it probably the only way to avoid new disasters.

It is incumbent on all Armenians to realize that the reproduction of Pashinians regime is much more dangerous for Armenia than even possible or hypothetical threats emanating from Azerbaijan and Turkey, he said.

The offer is significant given the long history of mutual antagonism between Ter-Petrosian on one side and Kocharian and Sarkisian on the other. Ter-Petrosian ran in a disputed 2008 presidential election in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the handover of power from Kocharian to Sarkisian. He was highly critical of their policies and track records.

The three ex-presidents met in October for the first time in decades to discuss ways of stopping of the Karabakh war. Ter-Petrosian and Kocharian offered to jointly travel to Moscow for urgent talks with Russian leaders.

Pashinian reportedly refused to authorize them to negotiate on behalf of his administration. He later questioned the sincerity and seriousness of the ex-presidents initiative, prompting angry reactions from them.

Kocharian turned down Ter-Petrosians proposal through his chief spokesman, Viktor Soghomonian.

As regards the proposal to jointly participate in the pre-term parliamentary elections, we have already chosen a different format of participation, which we will announce very soon, Soghomonian wrote on Facebook.

Soghomonian confirmed that Kocharian also rejected the idea during the March 25 meeting with Sarkisian and Ter-Petrosian. He criticized the latters unilateral disclosure of details of the non-public meeting.

Kocharian is expected to form and lead an electoral alliance with two opposition parties. He makes no secret of his desire to return to power.

Sarkisian did not immediately react to Ter-Petrosians extraordinary appeal. His Republican Party of Armenia is planning to join forces with the Fatherland party of former National Security Service Director Artur Vanetsian to participate in the snap elections expected in June.

A draft joint statement by the three ex-presidents which Ter-Petrosian claimed to have proposed on March 25 says that none of them is aspiring to hold any position in Armenias next government.

Like other opposition figures, all three men blame Pashinian for Armenias defeat in the six-week war. Ter-Petrosian said in March that Pashinian must step down and at least temporarily leave the country to end its post-war political crisis. The prime minister reacted scathingly to that statement.

Pashinian scoffed at Ter-Petrosians latest initiative when he spoke in the Armenian parliament later on Wednesday. He claimed that his former political mentor is now hoping to carry out a kleptocratic revolution in the country.

The only thing that Levon Ter-Petrosian succeeded in doing with great precision during his political career was to bring Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian to power and to keep them in power, he said.

Pashinian played a major role in Ter-Petrosians 2008 opposition movement and spent nearly two years in prison as a result. He subsequently fell out with the ex-president and set up his own party.
The resolution was drafted by the parliaments foreign affairs committee and approved by 58 votes to 11, with 7 abstentions.

It says that the mass killings and deportations of Armenians, which began with the April 1915 mass arrests of Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople, constituted a genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman government. It notes that the European Parliament first recognized the genocide in 1987.

The resolution also says Latvia believes that condemnation of all crimes against humanity is important for preventing a repeat of such tragedies in the future.

Armenias outgoing ambassador to the Baltic state, Tigran Mkrtchian, hailed the development and thanked Latvian lawmakers for addressing this issue extremely important for the Armenian people.

What was hard to imagine years ago became a reality today, Mkrtchian wrote on his Facebook page.

Predictably, the Latvian resolution was condemned by Turkey, which continues to strongly a deny a premeditated government effort to exterminate the Ottoman Empires Armenian population. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it is devoid of any legal basis.

The vehement Turkish denials are dismissed by most scholars outside Turkey.

The Armenian genocide has also been recognized by the parliaments and/or governments of three dozen other countries, including Latvias Baltic neighbor Lithuania as well as the United States, Russia, France, Germany and Italy.

U.S. President Joe Biden used the word genocide in his April 24 statement on the 106th anniversary of the World War One-era slaughter of Ottoman Armenians.
We are not reducing our efforts at returning all detainees to their homes, demining, preserving cultural and religious heritage as well as launching the work of relevant international organizations in Nagorno-Karabakh, Lavrov said after talks with his Armenian counterpart Ara Ayvazian.

In that context, he stressed the importance of Russian efforts to get Armenia and Azerbaijan to open their transport links after decades of conflict. He said a trilateral working group formed by the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani governments for that purpose is helping to further stabilize the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone.

The success of this work will be decisive for normalizing the overall situation and laying the groundwork for creative cooperation in the post-conflict period, added Lavrov.

He further stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan are now also engaged in a demarcation and delimitation of their internationally recognized border. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other Armenian officials have repeatedly made statements to the contrary.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Lavrov, Ayvazian reiterated the official Armenian line that the conflict cannot be deemed resolved until the conflicting parties agree on Karabakhs status, the main bone of contention.

Yerevan says such an agreement must reflect peace proposals made by the OSCE Minsk Group co-headed by Russia, the United States and France.

Lavrov, who is due to visit Baku early next week, said the groups chief priority now must be to create an atmosphere of mutual trust.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the Minsk Group co-chairs called for concrete steps to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace. They urged the 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 statement came the day after Azerbaijan released three more Armenian prisoners of war.

Baku remains reluctant to set free more than 100 other Armenian POWs and civilian captives believed to remain in Azerbaijani captivity. Yerevan regards this as a gross violation of the November 9 truce accord brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meeting with Pashinian later on Thursday, Lavrov said Russia will spare no effort to secure the release of the remaining Armenian prisoners. We are confident that we will manage to solve this issue soon, he said.

Lavrov also assured Pashinian that Moscow remains committed to ensuring the security of our ally, Armenia.
We will soon make a joint statement on the formation of the alliance, its name, electoral list and other tasks, Ishkhan Saghatelian, the head of Dashnaktsutyuns governing body in Armenia, said in a video address posted on Facebook.

Saghatelian said the Dashnaktsutyun leadership has decided to team up with Kocharian and the newly established party called Resurgent Armenia because they have similar visions for Armenias future.

Dashnaktsutyun, which also has branches in Armenian Diaspora communities around the world, was allied to Kocharian when he ruled the country from 1998-2008. It is not represented in the current parliament, having garnered only about 4 percent of the vote in the last elections held in December 2018.

Resurgent Armenia announced the creation of the alliance in a separate statement. It said the alliance will be led by Kocharian.

The party, which held its founding congress earlier this week, is led by Vahe Hakobian, a former governor of Armenias southeastern Syunik province. Most of its senior members are elected local government officials and other well-known residents of the region sandwiched between Iran, Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave.

They have angrily challenged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in recent months, blaming him for Armenias defeat in the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh which left Syunik facing serious security challenges.

The Resurgent Armenia statement said the grave situation in Armenia and Karabakh is what necessitates the partys electoral alliance with like-minded political forces.

Kocharian did not immediately comment on the announcements made by the two parties. But he did say last month that he will lead a bloc comprising at least two opposition parties. He expressed confidence that it will be Pashinians main election challenger.

The announcements came the day after Levon Ter-Petrosian, who had served as Armenias first president from 1991-1998, publicly urged Kocharian and another ex-president, Serzh Sarkisian, to team up with him and try to unseat Pashinian in the upcoming polls. Ter-Petrosian said the incumbent prime ministers reelection would be much more dangerous for Armenia than even possible or hypothetical threats emanating from Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Both Kocharian and Sarkisian were quick to turn down the proposal. Sarkisian reaffirmed his Republican Partys decision to form an alliance with another opposition group led by Artur Vanetsian, a former head of Armenias National Security Service.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Arizona is giving new parents more time to safely surrender their baby if they think they won't be able to parent them. The Safe Haven Baby law now lasts for one month after a baby's birth, rather than just a few days.

Nicole Olson and her family didn't even know what the Safe Haven Baby law was until it beautifully changed their family forever. They had already begun the adoption process, and got an urgent phone call. Of course, we assumed there was a birth mother involved just starting the process, but no, there was a baby who was dropped off, she said.

That's how they got Porter, their precious, Safe Haven baby, and it's why Nicole is so excited that it's been updated to give parents 30 days -- not just 72 hours -- to surrender their unharmed baby off at a hospital, police or fire station, adoption agency, or other designated safe place.

I think that they need a little bit more time, a little bit more space, a little bit more clarity in their brain, Nicole said of birth mothers faced with an unimaginable choice.

While the 72-hour safe haven law has been on the books for a while, it seems not a lot of people know about it. Advocates are hoping to help more people learn about the new, 30-day age limit. What we're showing is that we actually want to support these parents and I think that there's not a better way to do that than to say, 'We want to support you we want to give you this time to make an educated decision,'" said Heather Burner, executive director of Arizona Safe Baby Haven Foundation. She points out that many mothers havent even been discharged from the hospital within 72 hours of their baby's birth.

The law had bipartisan support at the Statehouse,, and the change will likely go into effect sometime around July.

I think the 30 days is going to help more children get their forever homes and their forever families, Olson said.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Volunteers working the Arizona state senate's audit of Maricopa County's ballots are looking for bamboo in the ballot paper, claiming some may have come from southeast Asia. Contractors conducting the audit have offered no evidence to support their multiple claims of election fraud in Maricopa County, specifically surrounding former President Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election.

John Brakey is with the group called "AUDIT" which he says is an acronym for Americans United for Democracy, Integrity, and Transparency in Elections. "There's accusations at 40,000 ballots were flown in in to Arizona and it was stuffed into the box OK, and it came from the southeast part of the world Asia, and and what they're doing is to find out if there's Bamboo in the paper." Brakey said.

Organizations are using a 5K camera to take pictures of the ballots so they can look at the paper to find out if the ballot is hand-marked paper.

"You can see the folds in the ballot because 92% of all the ballots here should have been folded because they came in through an envelope, and so they're doing all sorts of testing to prove if it was or wasn't, and that's very important, because the only way you could persuade people on changing is having facts, and we're on a mission for facts." Brakey said.

FACT CHECK:

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, forest products are the third-largest export from the United States to China for a variety of paper products.

Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that more than 50% of the recyclable paper in Chinese paper mills came from exports of recyclable material from nations like the United States and Canada.

A study published by three students at Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Economics found in 2001, Bamboo pulp accounted for only 1% of the nation's paper production. In comparison, the students found 23% of demand for paper products came from domestic and imported wood pulp.

Brakey says this isn't his first time contesting an election. "We've been around 17 years. We worked all over the country for the last five years. I'm litigation of Florida. I've sued Alabama. I negotiated in Virginia. I sued in Ohio, and I've been in 18 states, just working elections, and I all started because of the Bernie Sanders election in 2016 with Hillary Clinton. I'm the guy who sued the whole state."

While the claims are baseless, advocates say they are dangerous to the Asian-American community that's already under attack. "This is disgusting. On behalf of the AAPI community, we are so offended. This is racism 101," said Leezah Sun.

Sun is the founder of Strength in Unity, a group that fights for racial equality in Arizona. She says the conspiracy theory only fuels hate, especially during a time when anti-Asian violence is on the rise. "It is almost like the last straw," she said. "It is so baseless. We want to know who came up with this?"

And while sun pushes for accountability, she says the damage is already done. "To pull this is almost a sign of severe desperation," she said. "It just looks so foolish and pathetic."

"After the shock wears off, you can't help but feel anger. Anger that is well-placed," continued Sun. "This is a clear sign of injustice."
James said the report was not complete as of 7 a.m. so she did have other details, including whether the driver of the Fusion was a man or woman, or how much time elapsed from the beginning of the dispute until the 19-year-old was shot.
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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

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Sunny. High 79F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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Clear skies. Low 51F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Officers were called to the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue just after 10:15 p.m., according to a police media notification. Police learned the men had been standing on the porch when three males approached on foot and fired shots.
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In addition, 89% of all high school applicants were matched with one of their top three choices of selective enrollment schools, an increase of around 9 percentage points from 2020, and 95% of those who applied received an offer, according to CPS.
President Trump is moving toward his 2024 candidacy as per all indications from his enlightening address to the NC GOP on June 5, 2021. Considering this political vector as a distinct possibility: What is your electoral pleasure as an integral cog in this Representative Republic?

No Vote: Mr. Trump will never be president again as we boldly march toward a Socialist society.

Yes Vote: Mr. Trump was the best president since Ronald Reagan, and we need a real leader, who is fully cognitive of that responsibility in these tumultuous times..
Jasper Countys move from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments to the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission became official last week in a transfer approved by Gov. Greg Abbott. Both groups are cooperatives that allow regional governments to jointly plan and execute various projects and programs that benefit the citizens of the entire region.

While the transfer is now official, it will take time to move programs and services from DETCOG to SETRPC.

Over the past two years, we have participated in several meetings and workshops conducted by SETRPC to determine the benefits, feasibility and challenges that a move of this nature would bring, Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said.

As Allen and the members of the Commissioners Court looked further into SETRPC, it was noted that when it comes to commerce, employment migration, medical and veterans services, and higher education availability, Jasper County was more aligned with SETRPC counties than with DETCOGs.

Ongoing need for close disaster evacuation coordination, as well as response and recovery training and planning with the SETRPCC jurisdictions, has been evidenced by Hurricanes Rita, Ike, Harvey and most recently Laura and Delta in 2020, Allen said.

Jasper County will be working with both groups during the ongoing transition.

While lamenting Jasper Countys departure from DETCOG, Lonnie Hunt, the councils executive director, acknowledged the goals of the move.

We respect the right of Jasper County officials to decide where they are best served, said Hunt, who endorsed the move to the state. We will do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition as we hand off existing programs in Jasper County to SETRPC.

SETRPC Executive Director Shanna Burke described cooperative efforts between the two groups to assist Jasper County in finding its best path forwar.

SETRPC and DETCOG have already been working cooperatively as Jasper County explored this move and submitted the transfer request and we will continue to work together to ensure as smooth a transition as is possible, Burke said.

The SETRPC is honored to welcome Jasper County, the cities of Browndell, Jasper, Kirbyville and other special districts as new member governments. We look forward to and are excited about the opportunity to provide services to each of these communities and their citizens.

Allen thanked Abbott, DETCOG and SETRPC, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan and stat Reps. James White and Joe Deshotel for their assistance in moving the matter through to the transfer.
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The City of Jasper and the Jasper Independent School District held elections on Saturday with several positions and a bond election on the ballot for voters to decide. Officials were pleased with the turnout in early voting as 541 votes we cast for the mayors race and 824 votes were tallied for the $18.5 million dollar school bond issue. The numbers from election day were also encouraging to officials as more than 800 voted in the mayors race and more than 1,200 cast ballots on the bond issue.

In the city elections, the mayor and two at-large city council seats were on the ballot and for the school it was two board trustee seats and the bond election to be decided.
Shortly before 6:15 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a report that shots had been fired at a Mobil gas station at Glenwood Dyer Road and Torrence Avenue, according to a statement from Lynwood police Deputy Chief Lawrence Weinbrecht. They found one person injured, who was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
The final investment decision for the Port Arthur LNG export facility proposed in the Sabine Pass community could be delayed again, according to the company.

Executives from Sempra Energy told investors and analysts during a Wednesday investors call that impacts to the natural gas industry and demand for more environmentally friendly projects from global customers will likely lead the company to delay the decision another year while it continues to refine plans.

A representative for the company confirmed to the Enterprise a delay into 2022 was probable as it continued to adjust to the needs of its partners and customers, but market trends still looked favorable for the projects future.

We remain confident in our view that the market will need additional supplies of LNG in the coming years and believe Sempra LNG projects are the leading candidate to supply this need, Paty Ortega Mitchell, a spokesperson with the company, wrote in an email.

The company previously moved its financial investment decision last year from the third quarter of 2020 to sometime in 2021 after the global COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted economies and business sectors.

Mitchell said there wasnt currently a timeline for when the company might officially announce a delay in their decision.

Sempra LNG has other projects currently in the works, including an expansion at the Cameron LNG facility just across the border in Louisiana and Energia Costa Azul in Mexico, but executives said the sheer scope of the Port Arthur project makes it a different matter.

I dont see any scenario that we would probably take FID without having it fully contracted, CEO Jeffrey Martin said on the call, according to S&P Global.

So far, the only announced deal directly related to Port Arthur LNG is a 2 million metric ton per year agreement with PGNiG in Poland. Saudi Aramco signed a preliminary agreement for a 25% piece in the facility and 5 million metric tons per year of product in the spring of 2019, but it still hasnt been finalized.

Those agreements would account for at least 70% of Port Arthur LNGs projected export capacity.

Unlike some of Sempras other projects, or the Golden Pass LNG project being completed for ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum, Port Arthur LNG would be a greenfield project, meaning it would have to be built from the ground up.

The work on Port Arthur LNG would be more expensive and intensive that some previous projects, but part of that work has already been underway.

The company broke ground in 2019 on a project to relocate a 3.5 mile stretch of Texas 87 along the coast that would create stable land for the Port Arthur LNG facility.

Crews have since installed about 956,000 tons of crushed rock, laid 81,000 feet of pipeline and added almost 12,000 feet of silt fencing, according to a recent update from the company.

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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.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a New York Times story published Tuesday that he does not support Gov. Greg Abbott, a fellow Republican, as Abbott runs for reelection, the latest  and most revealing  sign that some state GOP leaders are on a collision course ahead of the 2022 election.

The way this typically works in a primary, is its kind of everybody running their own race, Paxton told the Times. I dont think he supports me; I dont support him.

Within hours of the story's publication, Paxton bashed it as "fake news" and insisted he supports Abbott. "He's a great Governor and a Great Texan," Paxton tweeted.

Abbott is up for a third term in 2022, and for months he has faced heat from some on his right, most notably over his response to the coronavirus pandemic. Paxton told the Times that he wished Abbott had reopened the state "a little bit earlier."

A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released Tuesday found that 43% of Texas voters said they approve of the job Abbott is doing, compared to 45% who said they disapprove. His approval rating was 77% among Republicans, a number that has slowly ticked down throughout the pandemic. It was 88% in April 2020.

Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Texas GOP Chairman Allen West have not ruled out challenging Abbott. Miller has also raised speculation that he could run against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. And Land Commissioner George P. Bush is looking at a bid against Paxton.

READ MORE: Paxton sues in effort to force Biden administration to deport more people convicted of crimes

While Abbott has taken hits from his right recently, Paxton has his own political problems. He has been indicted on state securities fraud charges for most of his time as attorney general, and the FBI is now investigating allegations he used his office to benefit a wealthy donor. Paxton has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

Abbott, a former attorney general, has dealt cautiously with Paxton and his legal woes over the years. Abbott declined to say whether he voted to reelect Paxton in the 2018 primary  Paxton was unopposed  though Abbott went on to voice support for Paxton in the general election.

Abbott said the latest allegations against Paxton "raise serious concerns" but declined further comment until any probe is complete.

Paxton was a top ally of former President Donald Trump among attorneys general, and especially so during Trump's final weeks in office, when Paxton launched a lawsuit challenging Trump's reelection loss in four battleground states. Abbott expressed support for the lawsuit, which the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up.

Through his legal troubles, Paxton's campaign has insisted he intends to run for a third term as attorney general in 2022. If he sticks with that plan, he could face Bush, who has said he is "seriously considering" a run against Paxton.

In the latest UT/Tribune poll, Paxton's approval rating among Texas voters was 32%, with 36% saying they disapproved of the job he is doing and 31% saying they had no opinion. Paxton got a 59% approval rating among Republicans.

An Abbott spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Paxton's comments to the Times.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
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.
John McKeegan, left, president of Mount Aloysius College, and Jan Fisher, right, president of UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford, sign an affiliation agreement on May 4 to launch the Future Heroes Nursing Scholarship initiative, which offers incoming qualifying nursing students up to $54,000 in educational funding plus guaranteed employment and incentives at UPMC Bedford, UPMC Altoona or UPMC Somerset.


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The incident happened in late April 2017, and the $1,000 was apparently used so that the professional diver Yohei Yamada could help a client find their lost boat propeller. Beltran, who was on duty at the time, hauled it out of the water, using police equipment, personnel and resources, according to the filing.
Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, speaks during a United India rally attended by the leaders of Indias main opposition parties, in Kolkata, Jan. 19, 2019.

Indias opposition may finally have a leader capable of challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level in Bengal Tigress Mamata Banerjee, who handed the Bharatiya Janata Party chief a major defeat in a key state election this week, political commentators said.

The emphatic victory by Banerjees party in the West Bengal polls has rekindled hope among the opposition that Modi can be challenged and held accountable for what they say are the Hindu nationalist leader's failures  especially his mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic  analysts and other political parties said.

Mamata Banerjee is now a national-level alternative for the UPA, commentator Sanjay Jha said on Twitter, referring to an earlier alliance of opposition parties and national elections scheduled for 2024.

She has not only stopped the huge BJP juggernaut but has pushed it back.

Banerjee is now speaking for all of India, not just Bengal, said a spokesman for the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party.

Because of her decisive victory, Mamata can now lead the charge against the BJP and the center that other parties will follow, Manoj Kumar Jha told BenarNews.

In the West Bengal polls, the results of which were announced Sunday, Banerjees Trinamool Congress (TMC) party won 215 of 292 seats in the state legislature. Modis BJP won only 77.

The TMC leader was sworn in as chief minister on Wednesday for a third consecutive term, in a ceremony she kept low-key because of the raging pandemic. Top health experts have laid the blame squarely on Modi for ignoring warnings about a second wave of COVID-19 in South Asias largest country.

Banerjees victory will give her a platform to lead an opposition demand to make coronavirus vaccines free for all Indians, said Jayanta Ghoshal, a political analyst and one of Banerjees current media advisors who is also close to a former top BJP leader.

Mamatas current focus is on battling COVID-19. Had the BJP won in Bengal, Modi would have used the victory to try and sweep all his governments failures under the carpet. Mamata is familiar with national politics, but will not make an immediate move to grab power, Ghoshal told BenarNews.

That said, the COVID-19 crisis provides her with an opportunity to pressure Modi to deliver, on behalf of all non-BJP states. Who knows where that can lead?

For widely read columnist Shobhaa De, that road leads to New Delhi and the Prime Ministers office. She called Banerjees win Indias jhaal muri moment. She was referring to a snack that is popular in West Bengal, especially its capital.

Learn to love Kolkatas favorite street side snack quickly, for soon it may travel to Delhi, De wrote in her column on The Print news website.

BenarNews contacted two BJP members in Kolkata but they declined to comment.

But Dilip Ghosh, the West Bengal chief of the BJP, has not tired of reminding everyone that his party made big gains compared with the last West Bengal election in 2016.

If you compare the result with the one five years ago, in the 2016 state elections we won only three seats and this years number is almost 80  that is a huge difference," Ghosh told a news conference after the results came out.

Banerjee, meanwhile, has already begun to act on behalf of all of Indias states.

On Wednesday, she sent a letter to Modi, which was released to the media. In it, she said that states have inadequate supplies of vaccines currently, which makes the central governments directive to vaccinate all adults an unrealistic target.

At the very outset, I would again like to emphasize free vaccination for all, she wrote, making it clear she was speaking for all of India and not just West Bengal.

On Wednesday, India logged close to 400,000 new COVID-19 cases and almost 4,000 virus-related deaths. The country has recorded more than 20 million cases and more than 226,000 deaths.

I am a street fighter

Banerjee, the only woman to hold the rank of chief minister in India, is known for mincing no words.

She spoke about the 2024 general elections, when asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether she would again try to forge an opposition alliance.

I am a street fighter. I can boost people so that we can fight against BJP, Banerjee said.

One cannot do everything alone. I think all together, we can fight the battle for 2024. But lets fight COVID first.

She had earlier referred to her electoral victory as a battle won not just for Bengal but for India.

The BJP needed to win in West Bengal to establish a pan-India presence, but also to defeat Banerjee, who is a thorn in its side.

She has twice attempted a secular coalition of regional parties across India to form a front against Modi and his belligerently Hindu nationalist party.

Many opposition leaders who have criticized Modi, for what they describe as Modis authoritarian style of governing, say Banerjees victory is a win for the country.

Jairam Ramesh, an economist and an MP from the Congress party, with which Banerjee had attempted an anti-BJP alliance, said Banerjees victory came as a breather.

The West Bengal poll result is a life-saver for the time-being. Though liberal democracy in India continues to be in ICU [intensive care unit], Ramesh told BenarNews.

The Shiv Sena, another party that opposes the BJP, explained why it didnt matter that the BJP gained some seats. It was Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena central lawmaker, who called Banerjee the "Tigress of Bengal."

The results have proved that despite having all the machinery and technology at their disposal, Modi-Shah are not invincible, the party said in an editorial in its newspaper "Daink Saamana," the executive editor of which is Raut.

Mamatas TMC also gained seats, and more importantly, increased its vote share, while the BJPs vote share decreased in contrast to how it polled in the 2019 general election, when it first made inroads into West Bengal, said Manoj Kumar Jha, of the opposition RJD party.

This is the first state election in which the BJP has lost so heavily since coming to power at the center, he said, referring to 2014.

If it has happened in Bengal, it can happen everywhere.

Shailaja Neelakantan contributed to this report from Washington.
President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to the Philippine public after he was criticized for being inoculated this week with an unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine which food and drug regulators have not approved for local emergency use.

In a late-night address on Wednesday, Duterte said he told the Chinese envoy to Manila to take back the 1,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine that Beijing had donated to the Philippines. The government had released photos of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III giving Duterte a shot of the vaccine on Monday.

So we are sorry. You are right. We are wrong, Duterte said. By tomorrow or the next day, Sinopharm will be gone.

We accept responsibility. I myself had already been injected upon my doctors suggestion. Anyway, its my life, he said.

The Food and Drug Administration had permitted the Sinopharm vaccine donated by the Chinese government for compassionate use but the agency has not approved it for emergency-use among the general population.

You withdraw all Sinopharm vaccines, 1,000 of them. I said just send the Sinovac that everyone is using, Duterte said, referring to another Chinese-produced vaccine, millions of doses of which have been sent to the Philippines.

Duterte said he received the Sinopharm shot because his doctors had advised him to get vaccinated.

Despite Dutertes order to get rid of the vaccine, spokesman Harry Roque said on Thursday that the president would receive his second Sinopharm dose in three to four weeks.

Duterte acknowledged that opposition politicians, including Sen. Leila de Lima, were right to question him about receiving the Sinopharm vaccine.

Is it too much to ask for our president to obey the law, de Lima asked in a Twitter post on Tuesday. There are other vaccines available, but he had to use the ones that were smuggled.

In January, Duterte quashed investigations to determine how members of his bodyguard team had received the Sinopharm vaccine in September and October 2020 when no vaccine had been approved or procured in the country.

To Congress, do not tinker with the PSG. Dont force my hand, Duterte said in a nationally televised address at that time, referring to the Presidential Security Group.

He said the guards received the Sinopharm vaccine because they wanted to protect him and themselves from the coronavirus disease.

In his Wednesday evening address, Duterte also ordered police to arrest people who do not wear their facemasks properly during the pandemic.

My orders to the police are, those who are not working their masks properly, in order to protect the public  arrest them and detain them, investigate them to determine why they are doing it, Duterte said.

If I dont not tighten the rules, nothing will happen. Im having a hard time here, he said. Our funds are running out and yet you continue to act recklessly. You will really end up at the police station.

Millions of doses

Chinese firm Sinovac has a contract with the government to supply vaccines. It has delivered 3.5 million doses and another 1.5 million are expected to be delivered this week, according to Philippine health officials.

The total doses of vaccines already delivered to the Philippines is slightly more than 4 million, of which about half have been administered, officials said.

Along with the 3.5 million Sinovac doses, the Philippines has received 525,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the World Health Organizations COVAX facility and 15,000 doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine.

On Thursday, the health department reported 6,637 new COVID-19 infections and 191 deaths  pushing the totals to more than 1 million infections and nearly 18,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

On April 27, the government banned travelers from India where a highly contagious strain of COVID-19 originated. In a news release on Thursday, the health department reported that five people who had traveled from India in April tested positive for COVID-19 but made no mention about the variant.

The strain, known as the B.1.617 Variant, was reported in October and has led to a massive surge of cases in India in recent weeks.

India has recorded more than 21 million infections  second only to the United States  and more than 230,000 deaths, according to disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. In the past day, South Asias largest nation recorded more than 400,000 new infections.
A Thai court ruled Wednesday that a senior government official can retain his cabinet post despite having served a prison sentence in Australia for heroin smuggling during the 1990s.

While Thai law bars drug offenders from holding public office, the overseas ruling is not binding in Thailand, the Constitutional Court said. Wednesdays ruling in the case of Thammanat Prompao, the deputy minister for agriculture and cooperatives, drew swift condemnation from a political opposition leader and others who suggested that the court had allowed a convicted criminal to remain in the cabinet unpunished.

Though the factual information convinced us that the accused [Thammanat] was convicted by New South Wales courts before he became a member of parliament, those were not Thai courts rulings. The accused is not prohibited by the Constitution of becoming a member of parliament nor serving in the ministry, said Noppadon Theppitak, one of the nine-member judicial panel, in a statement on the courts YouTube channel.

Thammanat, a member of the ruling blocs Palang Pracharat Party, was exposed in a 2019 report by the Sydney Morning Herald about his past arrest, when Australian police seized heroin valued at U.S. $4.2 million from a local hotel in 1993.

According to the sovereignty principle and international laws, the ruling of a certain state is effective in that state.  Based on the integrity principle, the Constitution recognizes Thai courts rulings only, while other countries rulings have no legal binding unless there is a treaty to say otherwise, Noppadon said.

The court noted that Thammanat had admitted that a court in New South Wales had convicted him, but the Thai judges did not give more details about the Australian case. It said the petitioner [the Thai parliament] and the foreign ministry could not obtain the notarized copies of the verdicts.

Thammanat did not attend the court hearing and did not respond to media requests for comment.

In September 2019, when the Sydney Morning Herald broke the story, Thammanat denied the allegation of his links to the drug trade. Opposition lawmakers then called on parliament to petition the court to determine his status.

The Australian media reported that a young soldier named Manat Bophlom had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import 3.2 kg (7 pounds) of heroin to Australia. The soldier was released from prison in April 1997 and deported to Thailand, where he changed his name to Thammanat.

I never pleaded guilty. I have never done anything wrong, Thammanat told reporters at that time.

He also challenged the report that he had spent four years behind bars, saying he was jailed for eight months.

The former army captain had previously described himself as the main blood vessel of advisers to former junta chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha because of his skills in binding coalition parties.

In the March 2019 general election  the first one after a 2014 coup that drove out Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and brought Prayuth to power  Thammanat won his race for a house seat. Four months later, he joined Prayuths cabinet.

Ruling ridiculed

On Wednesday, opposition leaders and human rights advocates criticized the courts ruling.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a billionaire who was removed from office and saw his Future Forward Party dissolved over loans he made to the party in the run-up to the election, said he had concerns about the verdict.

Is todays ruling a new standard for the Thai society? It doesnt matter whether they are criminals or prisoners from abroad, Thailand welcomes them to be ministers? Thanathorn said on his Facebook page. From now on, arms merchants and drug dealers can use their money to buy administrative posts in Thailand, cant they?

In a post on Facebook, Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), also spoke out against the ruling.

The bottom line is he is confirmed as a criminal and liar, Robertson said of Thammanat. No surprise at all that the Thai Constitutional Court found a work around to let him get off, just as everyone expected they would ...

Robertson also posted comments from Sunai Phasuk, the Thai HRW researcher.

This outrageous ruling nonetheless confirmed that he was sentenced [to prison] in Australia, which means his parliamentary testimony denying it is a lie, Sunai said.

With this shocking ruling by the Constitutional Court, now all sorts of criminals convicted in foreign courts could run for a public office in Thailand without a worry. Crimes committed outside of the motherland, no matter how serious they are, dont count in the Thai realm of justice.

The latest ruling also shows that Prayuth, a former army chief, has not taken steps to reform the country  a promise he made while overthrowing an elected government in 2014, an analyst told BenarNews.

The court ruling reflects the Prayuth did not stage a coup and retain his power to reform and make the country better as he always says, but to protect his cronies interests, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the political science faculty at Ubon Ratchathani University.

This ruling was not based on the principle of justice as it should be. The military took power, but failed to make government transparent and to fight corruption.

Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok contributed to this report.
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Today, though, such crossing signals are installed at 18 intersections, with only seven added since the announcement in 2019, according to information provided by the city to the Tribune. The seven new signals were added as part of the modernization work. Though the city has identified intersections for the pilot project, those signals have not yet been installed.
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Jennifer Huberdeau is the acting features editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow.
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.
Berkshire Mantiques owner Joe Prince, a cancer survivor, stands behind the counter of his Lanesborough store, which will host a fundraiser Saturday toward the fight against cancer. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.
Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle. Scott can be reached at sstafford@berkshireeagle.com, or at 413-496-6301 and on Twitter at @BE_SStafford.
A New York man suffered severe injuries Wednesday, after his bicycle collided with a truck at East and Housatonic streets in Lenox.
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Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
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.
A man holding a Colombian flag sits in the middle of a street during a strike to protest a government-proposed tax reform as police stand behind him in Bogota, Colombia, on April 28.
PITTSFIELD  Moved by months of reports of illness near a new cell phone tower, Pittsfield health officials voted Wednesday to hire a company to test radiation levels from the installation, while acknowledging that there are limits to the citys ability to curtail its use.

After hearing from experts in the field, who appealed to the city to act, the Board of Health voted to procure help in gauging whether the Verizon Wireless tower that went into operation late last summer near Alma Street is in compliance with federal limits on radio frequency radiation.

We should be advocating for peoples health as far as we can, said member Brad Gordon, who moved to conduct the tests. Thats a great starting point for our community, so we know what we can and cannot do.

The unanimous vote came after plans by the board to enlist help from the state Department of Public Health fell apart over the past month.

Gina Armstrong, the Pittsfield health director, told the board and residents, during the Zoom session, that she had believed the DPHs environmental toxicology program would help assess health consequences from the Pittsfield tower.

The state declined to provide that level of assistance, or to supply its in-house experts for a forum on the issue that had been promised at the boards April meeting.

We were incredibly disappointed in the lack of options that the Mass. Department of Public Health could provide, Armstrong said.

We had hoped that Mass. DPH would compile information from our city and use that to advocate for additional studies on [the] health impact of cell towers, she said.

Unhappy neighbors await ruling on Pittsfield cell tower (copy) Jocelyn Coco Gilardi, left, and her sister, Amelia, stand last spring at the top of Alma Street in Pittsfield, near the project site with sign

Steve Smith, the boards vice chair, told residents that he was disappointed to learn that the DPH would not be sending toxicology experts to investigate, a development The Eagle reported Tuesday.

Like we had been told, Smith said. The panels chairman, Dr. Alan Kulberg, did not attend the meeting.

A spokeswoman for the DPH said this week, in response to questions from The Eagle, that the agency is not conducting the kind of epidemiological study outlined for residents at the boards April meeting.

Armstrong said the city will move now to shape its own forum, enlisting help from what Gordon said should be a range of expert perspectives, including some of those who logged on to Wednesdays meeting.

Those experts included people the board did not allow to speak at its April meeting, when it limited public comment to local residents.

Several of those people joined the Zoom meeting by video or audio, including Dr. Paul Heroux, a physicist and toxicologist who spoke from Quebec, Canada, where he works with McGill University.

Heroux said it is well established that exposure to electromagnetic radiation can make people sick.

This question is increasingly being taken seriously around the world  and I wonder why it is not being taken seriously in this case, he said, speaking of Pittsfield.

Michael Muadin, of New Lebanon, N.Y., a 40-year resident of Pittsfield, told the board he was made sick by radiation from a cell base station on the roof of Berkshire Community College, where he worked. He said he developed microwave radiation syndrome in 2017.

Muadin urged the board to test the area of the new Pittsfield tower for evidence of excessive radiation, citing cases elsewhere in which telecom companies go beyond Federal Communications Commission limits.

Most towers have never been tested, he said. Please open an investigation into this outbreak of microwave radiation syndrome.

Sheena Symington, director of the Electrosensitive Society, offered help to the city as it navigates a complex subject.

Symington said her group has been contacted by people from around the world, including those who live near cell towers and report negative health effects. She said towers should be located away from neighborhoods.

Its been well-documented that they have a negative impact on kids and adults, she said.

Children, she said, can be affected by electromagnetic radiation even within allowable FCC levels.

Its real, and it really needs to be accommodated and addressed in the best ways possible, Symington said.

Several neighborhood residents urged the board to take steps, with one, Courtney Gilardi, recounting her long wait for the city to examine possible health consequences of the tower.

We are begging you to act on this and to do it faster  and start this conversation tonight, she said.

Gilardis 13-year-old daughter, Amelia, said that, since August, she frequently has felt nauseated.

People should not have to choose between the house and their health, she said.

The forum on electromagnetic radiation and human health might be held as soon as a board session June 2.

We want to assure the community that although Mass. DPH is not going to be one of the presenters, we are going to pursue that information session, Armstrong said.
In the Berkshires on Thursday morning, coronavirus vaccine appointments were available at CVS pharmacies in Lanesborough and North Adams, but the companys outlets in Great Barrington, Lenox and Pittsfield, shown, were booked fully.
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.
Kindergarten teacher Kim McNeil finalizes the bus list for her students in her classroom at Williams Elementary School in Pittsfield
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The report examined the electronic records of 8,400 search warrants, most of them residential, issued between 2017 and 2020. In one reporting gap noted in the report, in a quarter of the residential search warrants where an apartment was listed as the target location, no specific number or unit was listed. Some of the warrants also lacked details on the subject of the search.
A video surfaced of a French journalist pleading for his release since being abducted by Islamist militants in Mali last month, reported The Washington Post.

Im Olivier Dubois. Im French. Im a journalist. I was kidnapped in Gao on April 8 by the JNIM, he said in the 21-second clip released Wednesday.

Olivier Dubois was kidnapped in the northeastern city of Gao on April 8 by an al-Qaeda-linked affiliate known as Jamaa Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), or the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, according to the video and Paris-based press freedom watch dog Reporters Without Borders.

The exact day of the video is unclear and the footage has yet to be verified. The video shows Dubois sitting cross-legged on the floor in what appears to be a canvas tent while birds can be heard chirping in the background, per The Washington Post.

Im speaking to my family, my friends and the French authorities for them to do everything in their power to free me, Dubois said in the video.

Dubois abduction was not made public while authorities worked quietly to secure his release, Christophe Deloire, secretary general of Reporters Without Borders, said Wednesday on Twitter.
U.S. ICBM test aborted prior to launch

Xinhua) 10:53, May 06, 2021

Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command said the cause of the ground abort was under investigation, and the command "is assessing the potential to reschedule the launch."

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Air Force said on Wednesday that it aborted a test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) before the launch, adding the cause was under investigation.

"An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, experienced a ground abort prior to launch," Air Force Global Strike Command said in a release.

The release said the cause of the ground abort was under investigation, and the command "is assessing the potential to reschedule the launch."

The aborted mission came amid an ongoing debate in Congress on whether to develop a next-generation ICBM to replace the aging Minuteman III, which has been in service since the 1970s.

The Minuteman III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States. In 2018, an unarmed Minuteman III was destroyed in flight due to a safety issue during a test launch.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
So this jar of 16 minnows from Illinois, this is like a time capsule. We can go back to this spot in Illinois and see if we get the same species. But what we cannot do is go back to this spot in 1976. We can look at change over time, not only for the fish but in this context the environment as a whole, based on this little time capsule. So thats whats really exciting about this project.
1. Pray for the leaders of America to come together to provide strategic leadership that will lead to righteous and peaceful living in America.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Father, we appeal to You for our President and Vice President, members of the Cabinet, along with the members of both the House and the Senate, to make decisions that will lead toward a more righteous, peaceful, and orderly America.

Lord, we also ask that these leaders lead us to ways that represent You and Your ways; including decisions that will lead toward the dignity and sanctity of all human life from conception until death.

Lord God, may these leaders provide ways for our nation to be secure from terrorism inside and outside of the borders of America.

Sovereign Eternal God, miraculously give unity of thought and strategy for the good of our nation between the White House, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate.

Photo Courtesy: Thinkstock
BELLEVUE - The suspension of an Idaho cop who mocked LeBron James in a video on TikToc has reportedly has come to an end. According to a report from KTVB, Officer Nate Silvester returned to work Thursday. Silvester also said in a social media post this week that he has signed a book deal. The book's working title is "Never Off Duty".

After Silvester's LeBron mocking video had been viewed millions of times, and following a formal citizen complaint, the Bellevue Marshal's Office said the matter was "being dealt with internally" and temporarily suspended Silvester.

Meanwhile, as of Friday afternoon, a crowdfunding effort that was launched by a friend of Silvester on GoFundMe reached over $510,000.

The fundraiser is located at this link - https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-officer-nate-silvester-recover-his-pay

The fundraising page says Silvester will donate a portion of the funds to the First Responders Childrens Foundation, a charity for the families of fallen officers and first responders.

The Bellevue Marshal's Office released this statement on social media last week:

"The Bellevue Marshals Office is aware of the extreme controversy regarding Deputy Marshal Silvesters viral TikTok. The statements made do NOT represent the Bellevue Marshals Office. The Bellevue Marshals Office always demands that our Deputies engage with our citizens in a friendly and professional manner. This is NOT how we expect our Deputies to act on duty or use city time. This is a personnel issue that is being dealt with internally. We would like to thank everyone that took the time to reach out to us. We greatly value our relationship within our wonderful community."

In the video, posted on TikTok, Deputy Nate Silvester pretends to call James for advice. Silvester's video was in response to a tweet by James, who posted a photo of the officer who fatally shot Makiah Bryant - with the caption, "You're next!"
Philips Future Health Index 2021 report reveals that Singapores healthcare industry is prioritizing investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and home care delivery over the next three years

Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, on May 5, 2021, announced the publication of its Future Health Index (FHI) 2021 Singapore report: A Resilient Future: Healthcare leaders look beyond the crisis. Now in its sixth year, the Future Health Index 2021 report is based on proprietary research across 14 countries, including Singapore.

Representing the largest global survey of its kind to analyze the current and future priorities of healthcare leaders worldwide. With a focus on patient-centred healthcare enabled by smart technology, their vision is shaped by a fresh emphasis on partnerships, sustainability and new models of care delivery, both inside and outside the hospital.

An optimistic outlook

Although still grappling with the pandemic, 84% of Singapores healthcare leaders are confident in their hospital or healthcare facilitys ability to deliver quality care in the next three years  which is higher than the confidence levels of healthcare leaders in Australia (66%), China (58%) and the average of those in the 14 countries that Philips surveyed (75%).

The vast majority (93%) also feel that Singapores healthcare system has shown resilience in how it has coped with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The past year has undoubtedly taken a significant toll on Singapores healthcare system. Frontline healthcare workers have faced greater pressure than ever before, while senior leaders have been tasked with leading their institutions in the most trying of times, said Caroline Clarke, Market Leader and EVP, Philips ASEAN Pacific. Yet the Future Health Index 2021 report highlights just how skillfully the country has risen to the challenge. It is encouraging to see Singapore emerging with such resilience and confidence for the future.

Bold ambitions for shifting care from hospital to home; AI is a major focus for the future

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated radical shifts in care delivery for both patients and providers around the world and the report reveals that, as Singapores healthcare leaders consider what comes next, they are pragmatic about where and how care is delivered.

Healthcare leaders anticipate that, three years from now, on average about a quarter (26%) of routine care delivery will take place outside the walls of Singapores hospitals and healthcare facilities, up from around 20% today.

Singapores healthcare leaders are also highly ambitious about shifting care delivery to home settings. While those surveyed said that just 19% of routine care being provided outside of the hospital is currently delivered in the home, they predict that 45% will be delivered at home three years from now  a bold target, which is far higher than any of the other countries that Philips surveyed (17% 14-country average) and the APAC[1] average (18%).

Singapore is leading the way in championing AI, too; nearly three in four of Singapores healthcare leaders (71%) say that this is one of the digital health technologies that they are currently investing in  again far above the average healthcare leader across the 14 countries surveyed (36%) and in APAC (46%).

AI investment in Singapore is currently focused primarily on administrative tasks like automating documentation, scheduling appointments and improving workflow, above clinical and diagnostic applications. However, this looks set to change in the near future, as Singapores healthcare leaders plan to invest in AI for clinical decision support (35%), to predict outcomes (33%) and to integrate diagnostics (28%).

Skills gaps must be addressed to achieve digital transformation

Despite these bold ambitions, staff inexperience and staff shortages could impede progress if not urgently addressed.

Philips research found that staffs lack of experience with new technologies ranks among the top internal barriers to future planning in Singapore, with around half of Singapores healthcare leaders (52%) citing it as a current impediment, whilst one in four (25%) say that staff shortages are also holding them back.

Lack of training is also cited as the biggest barrier to the wider adoption of digital health technologies by nearly half of Singapores healthcare leaders (47%), followed closely by difficulties with data management (43%) likely relating to high volumes of data and a lack of clarity around ownership.

The pandemic has confirmed the viability of remote care, and it is equally encouraging to see that Singapore is placing such a big focus on AI for the future. However, it is vital that the countrys hospitals and healthcare facilities invest in adequate training and address staff shortages to move beyond purely administrative applications of these game-changing technologies and unlock their full potential, added Caroline Clarke.

Industry poised for unprecedented move on sustainability

Philips Future Health Index 2021 report also finds that implementing environmental sustainability practices is set to become a dominant trend in Singapore, and globally, within the next three years.

While not a current concern for many, 49% of Singapores healthcare leaders expect to prioritize the implementation of sustainability practices in their hospital or healthcare facility three years from now, up from just 2% today, and in line with the trend seen across healthcare leaders in the 14 countries surveyed (58% three years from now, up from 4% today globally).

Since 2016, Philips has conducted original research to help determine the readiness of countries to address global health challenges and build efficient and effective health systems.

Future Health Index 2021 report
To facilitate voluntary licensing for scaling up production of Covaxin, Covishield and other vaccines to meet COVID-19 vaccination demand in India

As the second wave of COVID-19 has struck with a devastating impact throughout the country, with cases rising continuously, there is an urgent need to ramp up the production of Covaxin and Covishield through voluntary licensing, said Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Voluntary Licensing refers to the authorization given by the patent holder to a third party to manufacture and sell the patented product on the basis of mutually agreed terms.

"The second wave is spreading faster than the first wave and affecting almost every household in India. At this critical juncture there is a need to urgently provide licensing of production of Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik.

Compulsory Licensing is another way of granting a license by the Government to a third party to use the patent, however, this may not be very useful in the case of manufacturing of technologically advanced COVID-19 vaccinations.

At this juncture, the Government should facilitate and encourage Bharat Biotech, Oxford-Astra Zeneca and RDIF to grant Voluntary Licenses alongwith transfer of technology, even if for a limited period of one year, for the production of Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik to more and more pharmaceutical companies in India on mutually accepted terms so as to maximise the production and supply of vaccines in the country", he added.
MALARIA DENGUE TB PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO COVID-19

Although India has worked relentlessly towards developing innovative testing solutions for COVID-19 throughout last year, the timely detection of a number of other infectious diseases has been sidelined. In India, the range and burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, leprosy, HIV infection, typhoid, hepatitis etc., are enormous. In fact, inadequate containment of the vector has resulted in recurrent outbreaks of dengue fever and re-emergence of chikungunya virus disease and typhus fever. If India can develop more than 20 different diagnostic tests or devices in a single year to fight COVID-19, many more such innovations can be brought to effectively detect other infections looming in our country.
Multinational brewing giant Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev) has elected Michel Doukeris, president of AB InBev's North America zone, to succeed Carlos Brito as chief executive officer, effective 1 July 2021. Brito will step down after 15 years as CEO and 32 years at the company.

Carlos Brito

In Britos 15 years as CEO and 32 years at the company, his commitment and passion transformed AB InBev into the leading and most profitable global brewer. pic.twitter.com/LrHNvd0gzj  Anheuser-Busch InBev (@abinbev) May 6, 2021

Leading next chapter of growth

Michel Doukeris

Michel, with 25 years at the company, will continue to drive innovation with a commitment to excellence, quality, consumers and communities in this next chapter of our growth. pic.twitter.com/yTAyIVAt7c  Anheuser-Busch InBev (@abinbev) May 6, 2021

SOUTH AFRICA Italtile CEO Jan Potgieter to retire, Lance Foxcroft named successor Italtile's chief executive officer, Jan Potgieter, will be retiring on 31 December 2021 and emigrating to Europe...

AB InBev board chairman Martin Barrington commented on Brito's departure: We are grateful to Brito for his tremendous service and leadership. Among his many accomplishments, Brito was the architect who led and built AB InBev into the worlds leading beer company and a leading global consumer packaged goods company by masterfully integrating the many businesses that comprise AB InBev today."He has always been a role model of the companys successful ownership culture. The board thanks Brito for his dedicated service, passion, caring and commitment to making our company dream big and delivering.Brito said: I am very proud of being part of this team of 164,000 colleagues around the world that have been on our journey. It has been an honour and privilege to work with such a talented group of individuals as we built this global company based on strong values and our unwavering commitment to excellence, quality, consumers and communities. I am very excited about the future of our business under Michels leadership and congratulate him on the appointment as CEO of this amazing company.The brewer of Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and hundreds of other beer brands, said that its board of directors unanimously elected Doukeris as Brito's successor.AB InBev said in a statement that Doukeris is uniquely suited to accelerate the company's transformation and lead its next chapter of growth, adding that throughout his career at AB InBev, Doukeris has consistently delivered strong results while serving in key leadership roles in Brazil, China and the United States, three of the companys largest markets.As president of the North America zone, the U.S. business has delivered consistent topline growth and led the beer industry in innovations for the last two years, the company said. Prior to leading the North America zone, Doukeris was the companys global chief sales officer.Prior to that, he was president of the Asia Pacific zone where he accelerated top line, volume and EBITDA growth and implemented the High End division in China, a transformational route-to-market initiative focused on building premium brands. He also successfully implemented the companys first direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform.AB InBev board chairman Martin Barrington said, After conducting a rigorous and robust selection process, the board is delighted that our next CEO comes from our deep bench of leadership talent. Michel is the right leader to take the company into its next phase of organic growth and success."He has a proven track record in innovation, multi-category brand building in beer and adjacencies, consumer insight, and expanding premium brands in both emerging and developed markets. The board is excited to continue to work closely with Michel as we grow the company.Commenting on his appointment, Doukeris stated: I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead AB InBev and to continue our companys legacy of exceptional leadership and value creation. Throughout my career at AB InBev I have had the privilege to lead our business in different regions of the world and to work alongside the industrys most talented and passionate colleagues every step of the way."I look forward to bringing a fresh perspective that builds on our consumer-first mindset and drives innovation and transformation in this next exciting stage. I congratulate Brito on his exceptional career and thank the board of directors for their confidence in me to lead the next chapter of AB InBevs growth.A new leader for the North America Zone will be announced before 1 July 2021.
Covid-19 has had a devastating effect not only on the local economy but on the progress in upskilling young people in preparation for a digitised future. The solutions may be closer, and fresher than we anticipate. The deputy minister in the presidency, Ms Thembi Siweya, is set to host a delegation of young, African trailblazers excelling in sports, arts and literature at the Union Buildings on Thursday, 6 May 2021.

Thembi Siweya

Heartbeat of the nation: Unpacking the domestic perceptions annual findings Join Brand South Africa on 17 March at 2pm and see how the South African identity and behavioural profile has changed over time...

The purpose of the session is to celebrate prominent young people's talent and explore possible collaborations with the government. The National Development Plan (NDP) calls for all of us to build a better Africa and the world. These young people have already shown that they have the potential to carry the baton and catapult Africa to greater heights. The session is also intended to kickstart Africa Month and position the youth at the centre of Africa's development.Brand South Africa will, through its Play Your Part programme partner with the deputy minister in the presidency and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for the session, to promote a culture of active citizenry among the youth as we combine efforts to raise up and inspire a renewed Africa.The rising stars include the renowned praise poet Masinga Xivambu, who once ushered President Ramaphosa to Parliament for the State of the Nation Address; Simthandile Tshabalala, the award-winning young golfer; an emerging author, Angel Mkhawana; and international award-winning author Stacey Fru.6 May 2021Office 216, East Wing, Union Buildings, Pretoria11amTo confirm your attendance, please contact Mr Phetole Rampedi on 066 0446362 or email az.vog.empd@elotehp For enquiries, please contact Mr Lawrence Ngoveni on 0828243060 or email az.vog.empd@inevogn.ecnerwal To join the conversation online, follow: #PlayYourPart #NDP2030 #Khawuleza #BacktoschoolBrand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the countrys brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness. Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.Play Your Part is a nationwide programme created to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa. It aims to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring all South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing. A nation of people who care deeply for one another and the environment in which they live is good for everyone.Play Your Part is aimed at all South Africans  from corporates and individuals, NGOs and government, churches and schools, from the young to the not-so-young. It aims to encourage South Africans to use some of their time, money, skills or goods to contribute to a better future for all.
Tractor Outdoor, one of South Africa's leading, independent outdoor media owners, recently partnered with Sunshine Cinema to host a free drive-in movie screening in Cape Town. The event aimed to highlight the need for safe cinema spaces in under-resourced communities, thus increasing access to quality films that showcase proudly African talent.

Photo credit: Rowan Pybus

Photo credit: Rowan Pybus

Sunshine Cinema, a solar powered media distribution network, leverages the power of film to drive engagement on key behavioural change topics. The network also aims to address the growing issue of youth unemployment by training young people to become media facilitators, equipping them with a mobile, solar cinema kit called The Sunbox. The Sunbox allows these media facilitators to screen films in their communities, sparking conversations and enriching the lives of citizens through art, while promoting active citizenship.The debut event, hosted in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation, saw two movies screened -and- and was a fully-booked success, pathing the way for future screenings.Says Zakithi Buthelezi, operations director at Sunshine Cinema: In preparation for this event, we were seeking assistance from relevant contractors, who wanted to contribute positively to strengthening the fabric of broken societies and communities.As a renowned media owner, we decided to approach Tractor Outdoor to see if they could assist, and they responded instantly and said that they wanted to support our project.Leveraging its supplier network, Tractor built a sturdy screen to display the two films, at no cost.Through this partnership, we were able to show that public participation is at the heart of what we do, and this will help us expand our reach in the communities that need upliftment the most.This partnership with Sunshine Cinema is another initiative from Tractor Outdoor that aims to help the broader community, and also dovetails with the media owners recently launched #20in2021 SME Initiative . #20in21 pledges to assist businesses hardest hit by the pandemic through a much-needed marketing boost, helping them to increase sales and secure top of mind awareness.Says Simon Wall, CEO at Tractor: For any business to succeed, the community in which it calls home needs to thrive. I am a firm believer in the need for social entrepreneurship, and the necessity for business and the broader industry to assist in the support of initiatives that address socio-economic challenges.Established almost two decades ago, Tractor Outdoor is a national out of home (OOH) media owner, which specialises in connecting brands to consumers through its network of traditional and digital inventory, as well as its transit networks and ambient platforms. Tractor Outdoor owns one of the largest digital OOH networks in South Africa, and is a member of Outdoor Measurement Council (OMC), Out of Home Media South Africa (OHMSA) and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
"When reviewing our performance over the past year in considering the on-air lineup for 2021-2022, the analogy of 'If it's not broken, why fix it?' was appropriate," says Mimi Kesaris, head of programming at Gagasi FM...
A responsible middle ground is needed  one that recognizes a governments first obligation is to its citizens but also factors in the interest all countries have in getting the pandemic under control everywhere. At a certain point, there is more value in sharing available vaccine than hoarding it at home. The United States passed that point likely over a month ago once more than half of our most vulnerable had received doses. Instead, the U.S. has vaccines in stock it cant even use, including millions of AstraZeneca doses that are not approved yet for use here.
But there is a way he could earn some back. He could refuse to sign a weak ethics reform package, which is being negotiated now among key lawmakers. He should put them on notice  this includes Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, and Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, who are leading the ethics efforts  that they better put teeth in their legislation before sending it to his desk.
With the May 31 deadline for approving a budget fast approaching, Pritzker said Thursday revised revenue forecasts show the state will have enough money to cover an increase that meets the goal established in an overhaul of the states school funding formula that was signed into law by his predecessor, Republican Bruce Rauner.
In September, Roberts responded to criticism from the citys inspector generals office for its report suggesting COPA has not released video or other investigative material in a number of police use-of-force cases within a required 60-day period. The IG found that of 122 cases that were posted on COPAs website over three years, 33 were posted after the 60-day deadline. In 14 of those cases, the IG found, COPA employees relied on the notification date of the use of force rather than the date it occurred, which COPA has said was an oversight, according to the IGs findings.
Leaked Chinese government documents obtained by the Epoch Times reveal Chinese leader Xi Xinping has set out to control the entirety of the Internet. In doing so, they would displace the current status of the United States in that regard. According to the documents, Xinping personally directed this effort.

Chinese leader wants to take the Ruler of the Internet Crown from the U.S.

In a January 2017 speech, Xi said the power to control the internet had become the new focal point of [Chinas] national strategic contest and singled out the U.S. as the rival force that stands in the way of Chinas ambitions.

According to the Epoch Times, the ultimate goal is for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to control all the content on the global Internet. With that power, the Chinese government can wield what Xi described as discourse power over communications discussions worldwide.

An article previously published on The Organic Prepper revealed what was once considered a conspiracy to be true. China is already spying on millions of people. And they arent in China. Can you imagine what would happen if Xi Xinping gets his wishes?

China intends to play hardball when it comes to gaining control of the Internet

Xi paints a picture of his vision of using technology to rule the internet. His goal is to achieve total control over every part of the online world. That includes the online ecosystem. I.e., content, applications, capital, quality, and human resources.

Xi made his remarks at the fourth leadership meeting of Chinas top internet regulator, the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission. (Beijing-Jan 4, 2017.) Internal documents issued by the Liaoning provincial government, located in northeastern China, detailed the remarks. In another speech in April 2016, Xi stated in the struggle to control the Internet, the CCP has switched from playing passive defense to playing both attack and defense. This statement is according to an internal document by the Anshan city government in Liaoning Province.

As per The Epoch Times, after creating the Great Firewall, one of the largest and most sophisticated censorship and surveillance programs, the CCP under Xi is looking to expand outwards. A Chinese internet that promotes squashing of the free flow of information, freedom of speech, or access to knowledge appears to be Xis goal.

Which zone is the U.S. in?

Xi described all online content as falling under three categories: red zone, black zone, and gray zone.

Red Zone content refers to discourse friendly to and aligned with the CCPs propaganda.

Black zone content is that which falls outside of those parameters. Gray zone content is somewhere in the middle.

In a leaked speech from August 2013, Xi said, We must consolidate and expand the red zone and expand its influence in society. We must bravely enter into the black [and fight hard] to gradually get it to change its color. We must launch large-scale actions targeting the gray zone to accelerate its conversion to the red zone and prevent it from turning into the black zone.

China pays commentators and trolls to shape global perception of its Internet

Inside China, the CCP maintains an iron fist on online content through the Great Firewall, which bans foreign websites. The CCP also maintains a massive online troll army, also known as the 50 cent Army which helps manipulate online discussion. A report from the U.S. Military Industrial Complex (neoconservative) pro-war think tank the Jamestown Foundation claims the CCP holds 2 million paid internet commentators. It also has a network of 20 million part-time volunteers to carry out online trolling.

Keep in mind the source and the fact that the United States also maintains its army of bots.

Nevertheless, in 2017, Xi told the government to develop a larger group of red online influencers to shape users perceptions regarding the CCP. He also called to expand the 50 cent army to operate both inside and outside of China and Chinas Internet.

Is China setting the stage for an Internet War between them and the U.S.?

Chinas leader has already urged his soldiers to prepare for war. Now, it seems a new war is on the horizon. Xi is playing the long game in his attempts to gain control over the internet.

China has allegedly escalated its effort to influence online opinion overseas regarding various topics. These topics include racial tensions and the pandemic in the United States.

An article on CircleId states, the Epoch Times reporters claim that Xi said the following: (t)o realize its ambitions, Xi emphasized the need to manage internet relations with the United States, while making preparations for fighting a hard war with the country in this area. Also, American companies should be used by the regime to reach its goal.

Lenins predictions ringing true?

And here we find ourselves right where Lenin predicted when he said that the Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.

The United States continues to waste resources attempting to destroy Syria, prop up Israel, and maintain a global empire. Meanwhile, it is doing virtually nothing to protect internet freedom for itself or the rest of the world. Its own ability to access information is at risk. Censorship is already becoming rampant in the US and anyone who complains or points this out is at risk of being destroyed. Can you see the iron curtain coming down around Western countries?

The lack of defense of the free flow of information is enraging. The question remains: is this an example of gross incompetence? Or is it an example of a ruling class that knows no borders? And worse yetare recently elected officials of our own government in on it?

About Robert

Robert Wheeler has been quietly researching world events for two decades. After witnessing the global network of NGOs and several Revolutions they engineered in a number of different countries, Wheeler began analyzing current events through these lenses.
According to her, disconnecting from SWIFT was hypothetical currently, but not at all impossible.

The possibility of being disconnected from SWIFT is still considered as hypothetical. Nevertheless, inter-minsistry work is underway to minimize the risks and economic damage if our countrys access to the usual international financial instruments and payment mechanisms is limited. The Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia is an example of such alternative instruments. At the moment, options for its pairing with foreign counterparts  European SEPA, Iranian SEPAM, Chinese CUP and CIPS, are being discussed, she said.

Zakharova pointed out that cooperation between the Russian payment system MIR and foreign counterparts, in particular, the Chinese UnionPay, the Japanese JCB and the international Maestro are developing.

These payments providers operate both in Russia and abroad. However, it is too early to talk about the specific timing for the completion of a comprehensive national toolkit for payment transactions and its promotion to international markets, as this is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

In parallel, Russia is actively exploring the opportunities provided by modern digital technologies, the potential of their use to increase the stability and independence of the national financial system and means of payment, with the clear understanding that digital money can in the future become the foundation of the updated international financial system and cross-border settlement operations, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman concluded. Similar co-branding cards work both in Russia and abroad. In particular, various operations on them are already available in Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, she said.

According to her, this is a rather long-term and time-consuming process. Zakharova noted that it is too early to talk about any specific terms in terms of completing the creation of a comprehensive national toolkit in the implementation of payment transactions and its promotion to international markets.

Andrei Krutskikh, Director of the Department of International Information Security of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the Russian side is ready to respond if it is disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT.

Russia has been attempting to push its Mir payment system since 2019, with Russian lawmakers backing the international use of a Russian alternative system for the global financial messaging network SWIFT designed by Moscow to eliminate the risk of Western sanctions.

Back then, Russia held talks with China, India, Iran and Turkey about joint use of Russias financial messaging system, said Anatoly Aksakov, who heads the Russian Banking Association and a financial committee with the lower house of parliament.

As the system has proved to be viable and efficient, it draws interest from both Russian and foreign players, it is proposed to give any legal entities, Russian and foreign, the possibility to use it, Aksakov said.

This is becoming increasingly likely, as the sanctions the US, and also the EU pushes on Russia and China are making the two countries move ever closer.

Most recently, Chinas foreign ministry said that US sanctions on Russia amounted to bullying at this point.

US announced new sanctions on Russia. Wanton use or threat of use of unilateral sanctions in international relations is nothing but power politics&bullying, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Twitter.

She added: China firmly rejects such behavior.
An investigation into how U.S. Special Forces trained feared Mexican drug cartels responsible for grisly murders, and how Pentagon-backed counter-insurgency in Colombia and Guatemala has bled into organized crime.

(This article was first published in CovertAction Magazine.)

The Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) has established itself as one of the most feared paramilitaries in Mexico over the last decade. Images of the group have become the standard depiction of the Mexican cartels writ large. Their propaganda videos often feature groups of masked men bristling with enough small arms to make them formidable against even conventional armies.

In an interview aired on Mexicos Telemundo network in May 2019, a former CJNG soldier described his experience at a training camp and claimed that the cartel employed U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) to train their recruits.

According to the former sicario (assassin), there was a group of elite Marines, there were [members] of the United States Navy, there were Delta Forces, there was everything there.

The cartel dropouts account is consistent with years of reports which show that U.S. Special Forces training is diffusing into the service of paramilitaries in Mexico.

The Special Forces training has been funded under the Plan Merida, which has resulted in the U.S. providing more than $1.6 billion for fighting the War on Drugs, most of it in military aid.

In 2019, after a U.S. ex-pat family was killed by drug cartel gunmen, then-President Donald Trump tweeted that now was the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth.

However, the goal of defeating the cartels is undermined when U.S. Special Forces soldiers are actually assisting their enemy, and training drug cartels that commit horrific atrocities.

A frame from Mexicos Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) video " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mexico-Cartel-Jalisco-Nueva-Generacion-CJNG-video.jpg?fit=300%2C180&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mexico-Cartel-Jalisco-Nueva-Generacion-CJNG-video.jpg?fit=1024%2C616&ssl=1" />

Mexicos Los Zetas cartel trained by U.S. military forces

The most well-known example of U.S. training disseminating into the wrong hands has been Los Zetas.

The Zetas were enforcers for the Gulf cartel, which recruited deserters from Mexicos Airborne Special Forces Group (GAFE). Formed in 1986 as an elite quick reaction force specializing in counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare, the GAFEs received their first combat experience in the brutal fight with the leftist Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) in Chiapas, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect in 1994.

According to reporting by Mexican journalist Carlos Marin, the army deployed the GAFEs in Chiapas to create paramilitaries and displace the population in order to disrupt the support of the people in the area for the EZLN  a counterinsurgency approach which would later be used against organized crime.

In reporter Ioan Grillos book El Narco, he describes how the mutilated bodies of rebels captured by the GAFES were dumped along a riverbank with their ears and noses sliced off, the sort of spectacular exhibitions of violence for which the Zetas would later be known.

Some of the original members of the Zetas were reportedly trained by the U.S. at the notorious School of the Americas, although conflicting accounts exist about exactly who, where, and when, with some sources like the FBI claiming they were trained at Fort Benning, and others like a former Special Forces commander claiming the GAFEs trained with the Armys Green Berets at Fort Bragg.

A classified 2009 memo from the U.S. State Department published by WikiLeaks claimed that their own incomplete official records found that none of the known Zetas had ever participated in U.S.-funded training programs using their real names, but acknowledged that other intelligence sources indicated that one former Mexican military officer trained in the U.S. was forcibly recruited by the Zetas.

Members of the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Los-Zetas-Mexico-cartel.jpg?fit=300%2C183&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Los-Zetas-Mexico-cartel.jpg?fit=1024%2C624&ssl=1" />

According to a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, Craig Deare, it was likely that more than 500 GAFEs trained in the U.S. with the 7th Special Forces Group (SFG), nicknamed the snake-eaters.

Deare served as the former academic dean at the Pentagons Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, the intellectual center of gravity of U.S. defense policy in Latin America since 1997.

Deare, who previously commanded U.S. Special Forces, told Al Jazeera, I had some visibility on what was happening, because this [issue] was related to things I was doing in the Pentagon in the 1990s. He said the GAFEs were given map reading courses, communications, standard special forces training, light to heavy weapons, machine guns and automatic weapons.

The 7th SFG specializes in the approach the U.S. has taken with Latin America since the end of the Second World War: unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency and, more recently, counterterrorism.

During the Reagan administration in the 1980s, the 7th SFG trained, advised, and fought with some of the most brutal and repressive special operations and unconventional forces in Latin America, in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Between 1996 and 1999, 3,200 soldiers, including at least 500 GAFEs, were reportedly trained by the 7th SFG in counternarcotics for fighting on behalf of the post-Cold War U.S. national security agenda.

In what is often framed as an ironic consequence of the corrupting influence of the cartels, the training from the U.S. and Mexican special forces diffused into the service of one of Mexicos oldest drug-trafficking organizations, the Gulf cartel.

In 1997  the same year as the inception of the Pentagons Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies  Arturo Guzman Decena, a GAFE better known by the alias El Zeta-uno (Z-1), defected along with other members of Mexicos Airborne Special Forces Group to work for Gulf cartel boss Osiel Cardenas Guillen.

Trained and experienced in counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare before being repurposed supposedly to fight drug-trafficking, former GAFEs would become one of the most infamous and brutal drug-trafficking organizations in history: Los Zetas.

The Zetas advanced training and application of military tactics were used to justify Mexican President Felipe Calderons decision to deploy the military to prosecute the war against drug-trafficking in his first month in office, in 2006.

The consequences of that decision have been devastating for Mexico, leading to at least 100,000 deaths.

Mexico homicides graph

Murderous Guatemalan special forces trained at Pentagons WHINSEC

" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mexico-homicides-graph.png?fit=300%2C157&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mexico-homicides-graph.png?fit=1024%2C535&ssl=1" />

According to a 2009 DEA memo, the Zetas also recruited other U.S.-trained Latin American special forces, like the Guatemalan Kaibiles.

The Kaibiles and other security forces were trained by the U.S. in counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare before, during, and after Guatemalas 36-year genocide.

After a 1999 report commissioned by the United Nations determined that the more than 200,000 people killed and disappeared by the Guatemalan Army constituted a genocide, the School of the Americas briefly closed, before reopening a year later under a new name: the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).

According to testimony from a former instructor at the school, the changes were only superficial, and an identical curriculum was taught from the same instruction manuals.

The UN-backed commissions official statistics on human rights violations committed during the Guatemalan Civil War " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/UN-Commission-Guatemala-human-rights-violations-state-guerillas.png?fit=300%2C166&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/UN-Commission-Guatemala-human-rights-violations-state-guerillas.png?fit=1024%2C566&ssl=1" />

Between 1999 and 2010, 3,555 Guatemalan soldiers, many of them Kaibiles, were trained by the U.S. through WHINSEC and other programs.

In training, the Kaibiles learn to kill without mercy or thought. Recruits are reportedly given a puppy to look after and bond with for several weeks before they are ordered to kill the animal with their bare hands and consume the blood and flesh, a method which has since diffused to the Mexican GAFEs that train with the Kaibiles.

Like the 7th SFG snake-eaters, the Kaibiles are sustained by killing. Their motto is: Si avanzo, sigueme. Si me detengo, apremiame. Si retrocedo, matame! (If I advance, follow me. If I stop, urge me on. If I retreat, kill me!)

U.S. Marines training with Guatemalan Kaibil special forces in Poptun, Guatemala in 2010 (Photo credit: public domain) " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-military-special-forces-training-Guatemala-Kaibiles.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-military-special-forces-training-Guatemala-Kaibiles.jpg?fit=1000%2C560&ssl=1" />

In 1982, the Kaibiles massacred 226 people in the small Dos Erres village. According to the United Nations Truth Commission Clarification and reporting by ProPublica, the Kaibiles arrived in the middle of the night and accused the residents of being leftist guerrilla sympathizers.

The smallest children were reportedly killed by smashing their heads against trees and buildings, while older children were killed with a hammer. Adults were interrogated and tortured individually and the women were raped. The Kaibiles also reportedly cut fetuses out of pregnant women. After the interrogation, the adults were executed and the corpses were dumped in a well.

A few years after the massacre, one of the Kaibiles officers who had supervised the killing at Dos Erres, Pedro Pimental Rios, became an instructor at the School of the Americas. In 2012, he was extradited from the U.S. and sentenced to more than 6,000 years in prison for his participation in the atrocity.

Members of Guatemalas elite Kaibiles special forces who committed the 1982 massacre at Dos Erres " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Guatemala-Kaibiles-special-forces-massacre.jpg?fit=300%2C189&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Guatemala-Kaibiles-special-forces-massacre.jpg?fit=540%2C340&ssl=1" />

In 1983, journalist Raymond Bonner reported on a classified summary of an April 1982 meeting between foreign policy advisers in the Reagan administration. The advisers proposed a series of secret and overt programs to contain the Sandinista government in Nicaragua and prevent revolutionary movements from spilling over into El Salvador and Guatemala.

One of the proposals included a $2.5 million budget for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for arms interdiction in Guatemala.

According to journalist Leslie Gelb, the arms interdiction program was managed by Argentina rather than by the U.S. directly. The Argentines and even U.S. intelligence service personnel allegedly worked directly with the paramilitary death squads during the Guatemalan genocide.

In one anecdote, former Delta Force member Stan Goff describes a conversation with a fellow special forces veteran working for the CIAs paramilitary division in Guatemala in 1983:

The CIA man began spontaneously relating how he had participated in the execution of a successful ambush up north, two weeks earlier. North was in the Indian areas: Quiche and Peten, where government troops were waging a scorched-earth campaign against Mayans considered sympathetic to leftist guerrillas. He was elated. Best fuckin thing I got to do since Nam.

According to a declassified 1994 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) memo, intelligence sources reported clandestine graves outside of a Guatemalan military facility and described Guatemalan soldiers disappearing captives by flying them over the ocean in a helicopter before pushing them to their deaths, a technique which was also used in Argentina.

After the Cold War, the Kaibiles were repurposed to fight the new greatest threats to U.S. national security: drugs, and later terror.

From 2007 to 2014, U.S. Special Forces training tripled in Latin America, mostly in the U.S. Department of Defenses Southern Commands (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

The U.S. military continues to train the Kaibiles to this day.

A U.S. special forces soldier from the 7th SF Group trains a group of Guatemalan Special Forces Kaibiles in Poptun, Guatemala in 2015 " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-special-operations-forces-training-Guatemala-Kaibiles.jpg?fit=300%2C162&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/US-special-operations-forces-training-Guatemala-Kaibiles.jpg?fit=1000%2C540&ssl=1" />

The U.S. militarys war on terror in Latin America

While the Mexican military was fighting a war nominally against drug-trafficking organizations like the Zetas, the U.S. military was developing and spreading a new doctrine for waging a regional war on terror throughout Latin America.

A 2007 academic paper outlined a new distributed operational model for command and control (C2) for Special Operations Command in the U.S. SOUTHCOM AOR (SOCSOUTH), based on the approach of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC).

The authors recognized the USMC approach as better suited for counterinsurgency and non-combat environments, where the objectives are more ambivalent.

The authors wrote:

In standard military maneuver operations where missions such as attack that position, are clearly defined, the [conventional] definition of C2 is sufficient. However, in an ambiguous environment where SOF often operates, the mission (e.g., plan and execute [Unconventional Warfare]) is not as clearly defined. As a result, a special operator in the field must be able to operate with maximum authority, flexibility, and agility to respond to immediate changes emerging from dynamic situations. The USMC definition reflects precisely how SOCSOUTHs staff currently approaches C2 in its theater of operations.

Officers from the Colombian military that had been studying at the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College at the Marine Corps University quickly recognized the advantages of the U.S. approach. According to a 2008 academic paper from a Colombian major:

The enemys ability to disperse in small units employing guerrilla tactics against conventional forces compels the regular armies to seek changes in doctrine. One of the alternatives to counter this opponents advantage is to incorporate the use of distributed operations. Distributed Operations describes an operating approach that will create an advantage over an adversary through the deliberate use of separation and coordinated, interdependent, tactical actions enabled by increased access to functional support, as well by enhanced combat capabilities at the small-unit level. [] Special Operations Forces are small units that work alone or in combination with one another in both direct and indirect military operations, often using tactics of unconventional warfare. The use of unconventional tactics is essential in modern warfare. The enemy employs different types of unconventional tactics and the only way to gain advantage against him is to do the same.

In another academic paper from the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College in March 2010, a USMC officer elaborates his thesis as follows:

The best support the Department of Defense (DoD) can provide to help the Mexican government strengthen their security institutions are the skills of the U.S. Special Operations Forces. [] U.S. military experience in El Salvador, Colombia, the Philippines, Iraq and Afghanistan would be of great value to the Mexican military. The Colombia plan [] was executed by the U.S. Southern Command and is an excellent template for counterdrug/security building in Mexico. In Colombia, SOF personnel were used to teach intelligence collection, scouting, patrolling, infantry tactics, and counterterrorism. The SOF role in Colombia was that of advisors and the U.S. units were, forbidden to participate in counterinsurgency operations. While utilizing SOF units in Mexico, the same restriction would more than likely be in place. Another outstanding example of the use of SOF in an advisory role took place in El Salvador in 1981. The U.S. congress approved the use of 55 soldiers to train and advise the El Salvadorian army. In 5 years, that army grew from 20,000 to 56,000 troops. A training facility created in El Salvador ensured the police became a better force and cut down on human rights violations.

According to an email from the private intelligence firm Stratfor published by WikiLeaks, an operational detachment from the 7th SFG began training Kaibiles and other special forces units from the Guatemalan police and military on March 20, 2009, in Peten.

The Stratfor email stated, It has also been reported that the Green Berets [7th SFG] have also taken part in actual operations, possibly illegally as it is not in their official rules of engagement.

The 7th Group advisory mission in Guatemala was also acknowledged in a publication from U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which noted that the Guatemalan SOF units were operational at the time which led to occasional interruptions of the training from deployments on actual missions.

On March 27, 2009, Guatemalan security forces claimed a Zetas training camp was discovered at a ranch in Quiche, but everyone fled when the security forces arrived, and they got away.

A month later, after a deadly shootout in Guatemala City, security forces seized thousands of small arms, grenades, and ammunition purportedly from the Zetas. The weapons and ammunition were eventually traced back to the Guatemalan military.

Three months into the 7th Group deployment in Guatemala, the Matazetas (Zeta-killers) made their debut on June 19, 2009, in nearby Cancun, Quintana Roo, with a grisly display of five executed bodies wrapped in duct tape along with a note which read, We are the new group Matazetas and we are against kidnapping and extortion, and we are going to fight against them in all the states for a cleaner Mexico.

True to their word, the Matazetas began making appearances all over Mexico between 2009 and 2011, in Guanajuato, Veracruz, Michoacan, and Guerrero, among other places.

Los Matazetas in a video in 2011 " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/matazetas-mexico.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/matazetas-mexico.jpg?fit=1024%2C577&ssl=1" />

In another internal email from Stratfor on the possible involvement of the U.S. Marine Force Recon (MFR) in Mexico, a confidential human source referred to only as MX1 in the email stated that the U.S. Marines were secretly operational in Mexico.

According to reporting from Bill Conroy, MX1 was likely Fernando de la Mora Salcedo, a diplomat who worked at the Mexican consulates in El Paso and later Phoenix. The exact date of the email is unknown but would have been some time between 2008 and 2011 according to the same reporting.

In the Stratfor email, MX1 stated:

Information about U.S. military involvement in Mexico is provided only as a need to know basis. The Americans have been adamant about this, and we agree even more. Therefore, I can confirm that there is Marine presence, but I dont know if it is MFR.

In June 2010, U.S. Marines and Navy personnel traveled to Manzanillo, Colima, for the Partnership of the Americas and Southern Exchange program, to train with the Mexican Navy in room-clearing and hand-to-hand combat. The Marines were from Charlie Company, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division. The Navy forces were not specified.

In July 2010, one month after the Partnership of the Americas and Southern Exchange training in Manzanillo, the Mexican Navy killed Sinaloa cartel boss Ignacio Nacho Coronel, the King of Crystal, in a raid in Zapopan, Jalisco. Nacho Coronel was allegedly a multi-ton cocaine trafficker who shipped loads from Colombia through the Pacific.

His niece, Emma Coronel, was married to Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. The death of Coronel reportedly caused the Guadalajara-based Milenio cartel to split into two factions, one of which, Los Torcidos (The Twisteds), was supposedly led by Nemesio Oceguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho.

In September 2010, 40 U.S. Marines from Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion from Camp Lejeune, N.C. traveled to Poptun, Guatemala to train with the Kaibiles as a part of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) program.

An unusual sequence of events followed an incident in which 49 bodies were left in the streets of Boca del Rio, Veracruz, on September 23, 2011. A group of five masked men purporting to be the Matazetas appeared in a video the following day, claimed responsibility for the killings, and apologized to the public.

Three days later, the real Matazetas appeared in a video, this time heavily armed in the fashion that CJNG would later be known for in their propaganda.

According to reporting from Mexicos Animal Politico:

In that statement, the hitmen of the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel assure that since 2006 we have been fighting for the tranquility and safety of each and every one of our fellow Veracruz countrymen, whom they asked to report any Zeta they are aware of, but not before the police, but only before the Army and the Navy, the only corporations that to date have not been corrupted with their money offers in this state, while, they clarified, for what corresponds to us, we will in our own way: we have given a preview by killing each one of the Zetas that we grab.

The incident led to widespread speculation in the media that Mexico could be experiencing the phenomenon of paramilitarism similar to Colombia and Guatemala.

On October 16, 2011, anonymous military sources in Colombia reportedly confided to El Tiempo (English synopsis from Insight Crime) that four former Colombian special forces soldiers were training, advising, and assisting the Zetas.

The story also mentioned that the services of the former Colombian military were in demand as soldiers of fortune all over the world, as confirmed by a 2011 story in the New York Times which described a secret army of Colombian mercenaries created in the United Arab Emirates by Erik Prince, the former Navy SEAL and founder of the private military contracting firm Blackwater.

Over time, Los Torcidos in Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacan, and Los Matazetas, in Veracruz and Quintana Roo, were recognized as a single entity: the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.

U.S. training, Colombian counter-insurgency, and Mexican cartels

In August 2012, Wired reported that 200 U.S. Marines were sent to Guatemala to patrol along the Pacific coast in the ongoing Operation Martillo, which began on January 15, 2012, in addition to a combat mission to clear the Zetas.

The U.S.-led operation included military personnel and law enforcement agents from Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Wired wrote:

The war on drugs just got a whole lot more warlike. Two hundred U.S. Marines have entered Guatemala, on a mission to chase local operatives of the murderous Zeta drug cartel. The Marines are now encamped after having deployed to Guatemala earlier this month, and have just kicked off their share of Operation Martillo, or Hammer. That operation began earlier in January, and is much larger than just the Marine contingent and involves the Navy, Coast Guard, and federal agents working with the Guatemalans to block drug shipment routes. Its a big shift for U.S. forces in the region. For years, the Pentagon has sent troops to Guatemala, but these missions have been pretty limited to exercising soft power  training local soldiers, building roads and schools. Operation Martillo is something quite different.

According to an article from Marine Times first published on July 7, 2014:

U.S. Marines have worked closely with their Colombian counterparts for generations  particularly over the past decade  and the Colombians are now sharing that expertise with friendly nations across the Americas. Right now, we are already developing training activities with allies like Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, Maj. Gen. Hector Pachon Canon, the Colombian marines commanding general, told Marine Corps Times. In those countries right now are Colombian Marines, spreading training we received from the United States Marines. The influence of the U.S. Marines is apparent in everything the Colombians do, from their boot camp and uniforms to the importance they place on ethos and noncommissioned officers leadership traits. [] Senior U.S. officials in State and Defense will tell you that the mil-to-mil relationship between the United States and Colombia is the best they have ever seen anywhere in the world.

General John F. Kelly, USMC, the commander of U.S. SOUTHCOM from 2012 to 2016, apparently shared that sentiment. At a congressional hearing on April 29, 2014, General Kelly conveyed his gratitude to Colombia for serving as proxies for training personnel the U.S. is prohibited from working with because of human rights violations.

According to General Kelly:

Were not focusing in the same way on countries that are, today, very close to going over the edge, where Colombia was in the 90s. Theyre just a few inches away from falling off the cliff. Yet were restricted from working with them, for pastsins, in the 80s. The beauty of having a Colombiatheyre such good partners, particularly in the military realm, theyre such good partners with us. When we ask them to go somewhere else and train the Mexicans, the Hondurans, the Guatemalans, the Panamanians, they will do it almost without asking. And theyll do it on their own. Theyre so appreciative of what we did for them. And what we did for them was, really, to encourage them for 20 years and theyve done such a magnificent job. But thats why its important for them to go, because Imat least on the military siderestricted from working with some of these countries because of limitations that are, that are really based on past sins. And Ill let it go at that.

In May 2015, an operation supposedly to capture El Mencho failed catastrophically, when a helicopter was shot down purportedly by the elite praetorian guard protecting the cartels leader, near Villa Purificacion, Jalisco.

In a prelude to the spectacle in Culiacan four years later, forces supposedly loyal to El Mencho mobilized simultaneously in four states, burning vehicles and erecting blockades with burned out tires.

According to a column about the incident in the Mexican national security website Estado Mayor:

The criminal group in charge of the security of Nemesio Oceguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel, is a mixture of mercenaries of different origins. They are stateless, as General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, Secretary of National Defense, called them. They are responsible for the death of eight elite soldiers and a Federal Police agent, who died after the downing with an RPG-7 grenade launcher of a troop transport helicopter. This group demonstrated a level of training rarely seen in the country, unprecedented on a geographical scale that covered four states. How was it possible that more than a hundred simultaneous offensive actions were not planned in advance? Why did the military intelligence fail and the narco set up a deadly ambush only possible with inside information? In the early hours of Friday, May 1, Major General Miguel Gustavo Gonzalez Cruz could not believe the reports he received in real time. The commander of the fifth military region, which encompasses the military zones of five western states of the country, was in constant communication with his colleague, fellow divisional Roble Arturo Granados Gallardo, chief of the National Defense Staff. A command that acted as the first ring of protection for Nemesio Oceguera Cervantes, leader of the criminal organization calling itself the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG), had made contact with the aircraft that was at the forefront of the operation launched that morning to capture him. The outfit in charge of capturing El Mencho was not just any army unit. It was a section, around 40 troops, of members of the GAFE (Special Forces Aircraft Group) of the High Command, belonging to the Special Forces Corps of the Mexican Army and Air Force, a unit commanded by Brigadier General Miguel Angel Aguirre Lara. The elite soldiers had been attacked from the ground by RPG-7 rocket launchers and had been targeted by assault rifles from different points. The support aircraft managed to target several of the attackers, but as the minutes passed, the criminal leaders ring of protection had managed to cover his flight after shooting down the helicopter that was in the vanguard and that was carrying the troops that would specify the detention. This blow would ruin the operation. That was one of the reasons that made Generals Gonzalez Cruz, Granados Gallardo and Brigadier Aguirre Lara extremely concerned. The troops had made contact with a special corps that guarded Oceguera Cervantes, the group had been identified for some time, it was known that it consisted of deserters from the Mexican army, who acted supported by former Guatemalan soldiers and some former U.S. Marines who offered their services to the drug cartels via their contacts in Central America. Members of this group were those who allegedly trained the so-called matazetas, the paramilitary body that appeared in Veracruz three years ago and who are known to operate in areas of the Gulf, the State of Mexico and Michoacan where their enemies are present. Military sources consulted in Jalisco and Mexico City agreed that the idea of maneuver, reaction capacity, planning techniques and the use of more sophisticated weapons was something that some of the members of the group were known to be prepared for that guarded Mencho. Those protecting him would be latest generation mercenaries, soldiers of fortune, some with experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, retired and others discharged, who offer their services as praetorian guard of the leader of the CJNG, said a military source in the capital of the country. This group was identified in recent days by journalists Raymundo Riva Palacio and Salvador Garcia Soto, who separately recorded in their columns the possible participation of former U.S. Marines in the reaction operation that shot down the helicopter and cost the lives of eight members of the GAFE of the High Command as well as a federal policeman. What the federal forces did not discuss was that the group that guarded El Mencho also received intelligence information in real time, which allowed them to act in advance, prepare the counterattack and shield the escape from the Villa Purificacion area, the Jalisco municipality where the helicopter was shot down, leaving seven dead at the scene, and several wounded, one of whom later died in Mexico City.

Many immediately suspected the operation had failed due to leaks from the Federal Police, long suspected of ties to drug trafficking, who had been invited to participate in the operation despite doubts about their integrity.

However, according to the Estado Mayor column, an anonymous military official blamed Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval and Attorney General Luis Carlos Najera for leaking information to the CJNG.

From April 3 to 5, 2018, Colombian Vice President Oscar Naranjo made a trip to Mexico without much fanfare. The visit was reportedly to discuss operations of the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels in Colombian territory with Mexicos Attorney Generals office.

On May 22, 2018, Jalisco Labor Secretary Luis Carlos Najera, the former attorney general during Governor Aristoteles Sandovals administration, blamed for the failed operation to capture El Mencho, was attacked by gunmen and injured in a failed attempt on his life. A child was killed and 16 people were injured.

The attack had many similarities with the failed attack on Omar Garcia Harfuch on June 26, 2020, and CJNG was alleged to be responsible for both incidents.

The attack on Luis Carlos Najera was the first action attributed to Grupo Elite, a mysterious CJNG special forces unit comprised by the same inner circle protecting El Mencho.

At a press conference after the attack on Najera, Aristoteles Sandoval revealed that CJNG recruited Colombians with military and guerrilla warfare training and experience. Sandoval described how state authorities had been aware of the presence of Colombian mercenaries or soldiers in Jalisco since 2013 or so, and that this information had been passed along to the federal Attorney Generals Office (PGR).

According to Governor Sandoval:

We told the PGR about this four years ago [approximately 2014], we know what the training is like, what the operation is like and that is why it is important to find these camps that are generally installed in remote places like the mountains. [] We have reports for five years, we have indicated the spread of this cartel with strategy and above all with the inclusion of experts, not only from Colombia, but from other parts of the world.

On June 1 and 2, 2020, Mexicos Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), in coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department froze more than $1 billion USD in CJNG assets in Operation Blue Agave.

Two days later, a photograph appeared on social media showing a CJNG Grupo Elite logo with the Guatemalan Kaibiless famous slogan: Si avanzo, sigueme. Si me detengo, apremiame. Si retrocedo, matame!

On July 17, 2020, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that control of the port in Manzanillo would be handed over to the Mexican military.

Later that evening, CJNG Grupo Elite released one of the most spectacular propaganda videos ever produced by a paramilitary group in Mexico. The video showed an intimidating convoy of 22 armored and painted vehicles and 74 men dressed impeccably in matching uniforms.
Apparently, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) didnt get the memo. Thats because, under a recently declassified decision from November 2020, the FISC again found that a series of overly complex but still ultimately swiss cheese agency protocols -- that are admittedly not even being followed -- resolve the Fourth Amendment problems caused by the massive governmental seizures and searches of our communications currently occurring under FISA Section 702. The annual review by the FISC is required by law -- its supposed to ensure that both the policies and the practices of the mass surveillance under 702 are sufficient. It failed on both counts.

The protocols themselves are inherently problematic. The law only requires that intelligence officials reasonably believe the target of an investigation to be a foreigner abroad -- it is immaterial to the initial collection that there is an American, with full constitutional rights, on the other side of a communication

Justice Roberts was concerned with a single phone seized pursuant to a lawful arrest. The FISC is apparently unconcerned when it rubber stamps mass surveillance impacting, by the governments own admission, hundreds of thousand of nonsuspect Americans.

Whats going on here?

From where we sit, it seems clear that the FISC continues to suffer from a massive case of national security constitutional-itis. That is the affliction (not really, we made it up) where ordinarily careful judges sworn to defend the Constitution effectively ignore the flagrant Fourth Amendment violations that occur when the NSA, FBI, (and to a lesser extent, the CIA, and NCTC) misuse the justification of national security to spy on Americans en mass. And this malady means that even when the agencies completely fail to follow the court's previous orders, they still get a pass to keep spying.

The FISC decision is disappointing on at least two levels. First, the protocols themselves are not sufficient to protect Americans privacy. They allow the government to tap into the Internet backbone and seize our international (and lots of domestic) communications as they flow by -- ostensibly to see if they have been targeted. This is itself a constitutional violation, as we have long argued in our Jewel v. NSA case. We await the Ninth Circuits decision in Jewel on the governments claim that this spying that everyone knows about is too secret to be submitted for real constitutional review by a public adversarial court (as opposed to the one-sided review by the rubber-stamping FISC).

But even after that, the protocols themselves are swiss cheese when it comes to protecting Americans. At the outset, unlike traditional foreign intelligence surveillance, under Section 702, FISC judges do not authorize individualized warrants for specific targets. Rather, the role of a FISC judge under Section 702 is to approve abstract protocols that govern the Executive Branchs mass surveillance and then review whether they have been followed.

The protocols themselves are inherently problematic. The law only requires that intelligence officials reasonably believe the target of an investigation to be a foreigner abroad -- it is immaterial to the initial collection that there is an American, with full constitutional rights, on the other side of a conversation whose communications are both seized and searched without a warrant. It is also immaterial that the individuals targeted turn out to be U.S. persons. This was one of the many problems which ultimately ended with the decommissioning of the Call Detail Records program, which despite being Congress' attempt to rein in the program which started under section 215 of the Patriot Act, still mass surveilled communications metadata, including inadvertently collecting millions of call detail records from American persons illegally.

Next, the protocols allow collection for any foreign intelligence, purpose, which is a much broader scope than merely searching for terrorists. The term encompasses information that, for instance, could give the U.S. an advantage in trade negotiations. Once these communications are collected, the protocols allow the FBI to use the information for domestic criminal prosecutions if related to national security. This is what Senator Wyden and others in Congress have rightly pointed out is a backdoor warrantless search. And those are just a few of the problems.

While the protocols are complex and confusing, the end result is that nearly all Americans have their international communications seized initially and a huge number of them are seized and searched by the FBI, NSA, CIA and NCTC, often multiple times for various reasons, all without individual suspicion, much less a warrant.

Second, the government agencies -- especially the FBI -- apparently cannot be bothered to follow even these weak protocols. This means that in practice, we users dont even get that minimal protection. The FISC decision reports that the FBI has never limited its searches to just those related to national security. Instead agents query the 702 system for investigations relating to health care fraud, transnational organized crime, violent gangs, domestic terrorism, public corruption and bribery. And thats in just 7 FBI field offices reviewed. This is not a new problem, as the FISC notes. Although it once again seems to think that the FBI just needs to be told again to do it and to do proper training (which it has failed to do for years). The court notes that it is likely that other field offices also did searches for ordinary crimes, but that the FBI also failed to do proper oversight so we just dont know how.

A federal court would accept no such tomfoolery.....Yet the FISC is perfectly willing to sign off on the FBIs failures and the Bureaus flagrant disregard of its own rulings for year upon year.

Next, the querying system for this sensitive information had been designed to make it hard not to search the 702-collected data, including by requiring agents to opt out (not in) to searching the 702 data and then timing out that opt-out after only thirty minutes. And even then, the agents could just toggle yes to search 702 collected data, with no secondary checking prior to those searches. This happened multiple times (that we know of) to allow for searches without any national security justification. The FBI also continued to improperly conduct bulk searches, which are large batch queries using multiple search terms without written justifications as required by the protocols. Even the FISC calls these searches indiscriminate, yet it reauthorized the program.

In her excellent analysis of the decision, Marcy Wheeler lists out the agency excuses that the Court accepted:

It took time for them to make the changes in their systems

It took time to train everyone

Once everyone got trained they all got sent home for COVID

Given mandatory training, personnel should be aware of the requirements, even if actual practice demonstrates theyre not

FBI doesnt do that many field reviews

Evidence of violations is not sufficient evidence to find that the program inadequately protects privacy

The opt-out system for FISA material  which is very similar to one governing the phone and Internet dragnet at NSA until 2011 that also failed to do its job  failed to do its job

The FBI has always provided national security justifications for a series of violations involving their tracking system where an Agent didnt originally claim one

Bulk queries have operated like that since November 2019

Hes concerned but will require more reporting

And the dog also ate their homework. While more reporting sounds nice, thats the same thing ordered the last time, and the time before that. Reporting of problems should lead to something actually being done to stop the problems.

At this point, its just embarrassing. A federal court would accept no such tomfoolery from an impoverished criminal defendant facing years in prison. Yet the FISC is perfectly willing to sign off on the FBI and NSA failures and the agencies' flagrant disregard of its own rulings for year upon year. Not all FISC decisions are disappointing. In 2017, we were heartened that another FISC judge had been so fed up that it issued requirements that led to the end of the about searching of collected upstream data and even its partial destruction. And the extra reporting requirements do give us at least a glimpse into how bad it is that we wouldnt otherwise have.

But this time the FISC has let us all down again. Its time for the judiciary, whether a part of the FISC or not, to inoculate themselves against the problem of throwing out the Fourth Amendment whenever the Executive Branch invokes national security, particularly when the constitutional violations are so flagrant, long-standing and pervasive. The judiciary needs to recognize mass spying as unconstitutional and stop what remains of it. Americans deserve better than this charade of oversight.


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In choosing the Humane Ordinance, committee members eschewed another option that would have allowed sales from breeders, but only after those breeders passed a licensing procedure designed to make sure they bred and treated the animals humanely. The license that had to be purchased by the pet stores would have paid for enforcement of the procedure to make sure breeders used humane methods. There also would have been an Animal Commission created to oversee that procedure.
The redevelopment work being done at the old Copley Hospital campus on the near East Side is set to include a new administration center for East Aurora School District, senior housing, housing for developmentally disabled adults, a medical clinic and pharmacy. The development also will have open space and walking trails and a small Fox Valley Park District park.
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Assiniboine Community College is now accepting applications for three new office-related programs, which will all be available at the schools Dauphin campus starting in September.

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Assiniboine Community College is now accepting applications for three new office-related programs, which will all be available at the schools Dauphin campus starting in September.

Collectively, 25 seats are being offered up for these three new programs, with 10 spots being available for office management, another 10 for medical administration and five seats for office skills.

According to a Tuesday release from ACC, the office management program involves a two-year diploma, which is designed to expose learners to all matters related to software, bookkeeping, human resources and communication.

Meanwhile, the office skills program runs eight months in length, and will prepare students for the constantly changing world of business by emphasizing relevant computer courses, accounting, mathematics and communication.

Finally, the medical administration program also involves a two-year diploma, where students will develop a systematic understanding of Canadian health care and the technical knowledge that is fundamental to all medical workplaces.

"These new programs enable students to gain the skills required to fill in-demand jobs across extremely diverse businesses," said Gabe Mercier, director of ACCs Parkland campus. "The benefits of introducing three different business programs to the Parkland area is great. Were able to offer learners the option to select the program that is right for them as they build a sound foundation from which to launch their careers."

Anyone interested in signing up for these courses can do so by visiting the following locations on ACCs official website: assiniboine.net/office, assiniboine.net/officeskills and assiniboine.net/medical.

ACC will also be hosting a free online information session on these programs on May 25 at 4:30 p.m. and June 7 at 4:00 p.m.

These sessions can be accessed by visiting assiniboine.net/infosession.

 The Brandon Sun
The city needs a face-lift, it needs some tender loving care and I think well be able to help facilitate that by working with the county and state by getting some grant money, some organizations and the unions to help build the village up. And it does help to know people, Stroger told the Tribune.
As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks.

As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks.

The military commander handling logistics for Canada's vaccine distribution program says there will be enough vaccine delivered to give a first dose before Canada Day to every Canadian over the age of 12.

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin says that's if provinces follow the advice to delay second doses up to four months.

He also cautions that it is dependent on having no production delays again.

Health Canada currently expects 23 million doses of Pfizer (20.2 million), Moderna (2.1 million) and Oxford-AstraZeneca (1.65 million) in May and June. Another six to eight million doses of Moderna are expected but the company hasnt confirmed exactly what it can ship as it is plagued by ongoing production delays.

Provinces initially suspended giving AstraZeneca shots to people under the age of 55 based on an advisory committee's advice, but their recommendation changed on April 23 to reflect that the shot is safe for anyone aged 30 and older. Some provinces moved to cut the age to 40, but none have gone younger than that.

Health Canada authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children between 12 and 15 on May 5, the first vaccine approved for kids that young. It had already been authorized for people at least 16 years old, while the other vaccines are all authorized for people at least 18 years old.

There are almost 33 million Canadians over the age of 12.

Here's a list of the inoculation plans throughout Canada:

Newfoundland and Labrador

Residents between the ages of 55 to 64 have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

People 60 and older, Indigenous adults, people considered clinically extremely vulnerable and rotational workers, truck drivers and flight crew have access to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Nova Scotia

Appointments are now available for people aged 50 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Health officials said about 67,625 people are eligible for shots in the 50-to-54 age group.

Appointments opened May 4 for the province's first drive-thru vaccination clinic beginning May 10 at the Dartmouth General Hospital.

The province has also expanded access to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to residents aged 40 to 54.

Prince Edward Island

People in the province aged 40 to 59 can now book appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine.

People 16 years and older who have certain underlying medical conditions, pregnant woman and eligible members of their household can also get a vaccine.

New Brunswick

As of May 4, access to COVID-19 vaccines was expanded to people as young as 50.

Individuals 16 and older who have two or more chronic health conditions are also eligible.

Officials said the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would be available to people aged 40 to 54 by April 30.

Quebec

Quebec lowered the age of vaccine eligibility to 35 from 40 on May 6, and has promised to open appointments to all adults by mid-May.

The province previously announced that it is gradually widening vaccine access to the rest of the general population in descending order of age.

Appointments will open to Quebecers in descending order of age  dropping by five years every two or three days  until May 14, when they will be available to people aged 18 to 24.

The province's health minister says Quebecers 12 to 17 years old will be offered a first dose of COVID-19 by the end of June and will be fully vaccinated by the time they return to school in September.

Quebec has also expanded AstraZeneca availability to people as young as 45.

Ontario

The Ontario government is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines across the province.

It lowered vaccine eligibility for several groups on May 6  residents aged 50 and older, those with high-risk health conditions and a number of employees who cannot work from home all became eligible.

The newly eligible workers include those in the education, child-care, food and manufacturing sectors.

People aged 18 and up can now book vaccine appointments if they live in hot-spot postal codes.

Peel Region, which has been hard-hit by the virus, is offering vaccines to all residents aged 18 and older  not just those in hot-spot neighbourhoods.

Ontario says it expects 65 per cent of adults to have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of May.

The province has also said that if the vaccine supply holds, it expects to make those 18 and older eligible for a shot at mass sites provincewide on the week of May 24.

Manitoba

Manitoba is using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for all Indigenous people aged 18 and up and others aged 45 and up. These are available through a few channels including so-called supersites in larger communities. Health officials plan to continue reducing the age minimum, bit by bit, down to age 12 by May 21.

All front-line police officers and firefighters, regardless of age, are already eligible. All adults who are pregnant, who receive community living disability services or who work in any health-care setting  including outpatient locations and the province's vaccine warehouse  can book an appointment as well

The province is also allowing anyone 40 and over to get an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through pharmacies and medical clinics, subject to availability. People 30-39 can get a shot if they have certain underlying health conditions such as chronic liver failure or severe obesity.

The province is also vaccinating all adults in high-risk areas, including the north of the province and many neighbourhoods in Winnipeg and Brandon.

About 40 per cent of Manitoba adults have received at least one dose.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan residents aged 32 and older are now eligible to book their first COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

And that age threshold will lower to 29 on Monday May 10, to 26 on Wednesday May 12, and to 23 on Friday May 14.

All adults in the Far North, as well as front-line workers with proof of employment, are also eligible.

The province previously expanded its vaccine delivery plan for people in more vulnerable groups to include all pregnant women and 16- and 17-year-olds who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable.

Saskatchewan also dropped the age at which people can receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to 40 from 55.

The province says all Saskatchewan residents over the age of 12 will be eligible for vaccination by May 20.

Officials say most Saskatchewan residents over the age of 18 can expect their first shot by the end of May.

There are drive-thru and walk-in vaccination clinics in communities across the province. And there are plans to expand the province's pharmacy vaccination pilot rollout as more doses become available.

Alberta

Those born in 1991 are eligible for a vaccine. And starting Monday May 10, those born in 2009 or earlier can get a shot.

Teachers and child-care workers have also recently become eligible.

They join vulnerable Albertans and those who support them, workers at locations with potential for large outbreaks, and all First Nations, Inuit and Metis people 35 and older.

Front-line police officers and provincial sheriffs who interact with residents at shelters, correctional facilities and remand centres, border security staff and firefighters can also book vaccinations, as can health-care workers.

For the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the province lowered the minimum age to 40 from 55. For those living in the hot spots of Banff and Lake Louise as well as the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the age for AstraZeneca is 30.

The Moderna vaccine is also available to Indigenous people in Wood Buffalo as young as 30.

More than 250 pharmacies are offering immunizations. Ten physicians clinics across the province are also providing shots as part of a pilot project.

About 15,000 workers at 136 meat-packing plants across the province can also get shots at on-site clinics, pharmacies and clinics.

Alberta has said it is extending the time between the first dose and the second to four months. But some cancer patients are able to book a second dose 21 to 28 days after their first.

British Columbia

The province is joining other jurisdictions in Canada in possibly making the Pfizer vaccine available to 12- to 17-year-olds.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the government is looking at ways to immunize young people with their first dose by the end of June now that Health Canada has approved the Pfizer vaccine for those 12 and older.

British Columbia health officials are also looking at whether they can reduce the 16-week wait time between first and second shots for most people with more vaccines arriving this month.

The province expects to receive 1.1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine this month along with more shipments of the Moderna vaccine.

All adults over the age of 18 are eligible to register for vaccines through the province's Get Vaccinated program, with people 40 and older being invited to book appointments as early as next week.

B.C. has lowered the age for those eligible to receive the AstraZeneca shot to 30, starting with those in 'hot spot' communities and adding appointments at pharmacies as supplies improve.

The Fraser Health region, where COVID-19 cases are the highest in the province, is offering all grocery workers 18 and over to get immunized with either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. It says the workers need to provide proof of their employment when they arrive for an appointment.

Nunavut

Nunavut has opened vaccinations to anyone 18 and older.

It is also offering shots to rotational workers coming from southern Canada.

The territory had expected to finish its vaccine rollout of first and second doses by the end of April.

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories said it would offer vaccinations against COVID-19 to young people between 12 and 17 starting Thursday, May 6.

The territory, which has only been using the Moderna vaccine, recently exchanged some of that for doses of the Pfizer product, which Health Canada has now approved for anyone as young as 12.

A news release from the government says just over 1,100 Pfizer doses arrived in the territory from British Columbia on Tuesday.

That means the Pfizer vaccine will be available through online bookings for 12- to 17-year-olds in the capital.

It will not be offered to adults in the territory, but the Moderna vaccine is still available.

Yukon

More than 48,000 doses of Moderna vaccine have been administered in Yukon.

More than 70 per cent of Yukon residents have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 53 per cent of the population has now been fully vaccinated.

Health officials say that means they can reduce the hours of operation at the Whitehorse vaccine clinic.

Deputy health minister Stephen Samis says they'll scale down operations and focus some efforts on other vaccinations, including pre-kindergarten and routine childhood vaccines.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2021.
The chief executive of the countrys second largest super fund has questioned the need for another review into proxy advisers and warned extra red tape could push up fees for members.

Proxy firms provide research and advice to investors on how to vote on resolutions at annual general meetings. Their recommendations can determine whether a company faces a strike on executive pay or is forced to respond to shareholder concerns on topics like climate change and board-level gender equality.

Aware Super CEO Deanne Stewart says taking proxy advice in-house could push up fees. Credit:

The government has launched a review of the sector to determine if these companies should face greater regulation to improve transparency, and has made preliminary suggestions such as expanding the need for proxies to hold financial services licenses.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) conducted a similar review in 2017 and encouraged firms to be more transparent but ultimately determined no further regulation was needed. Aware Supers chief executive Deanne Stewart said she has absolutely no clue why the government has launched another probe.
The competition regulator intends to spike a proposed tie-up between Qantas and Japan Airlines over concerns the partnership would lead to higher airfares and worse service for travellers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Thursday it planned to block the agreement, which would allow Qantas and Japan Airlines (JAL) to sell fares on each others flights and coordinate on ticket pricing, flight schedules and marketing.

Qantas said it will try to convince the ACCC to approve the alliance. Credit:Getty

Qantas said the agreement would help re-establish air routes between Australia and Japan following COVID-19 but the ACCC found any benefits were outweighed by the harm to the travelling public.

Heres the number-one airline of each country wanting to get together, said ACCC chair Rod Sims. Its a significant reduction in competition.
The Federal Court will hear an urgent challenge on Monday to the Morrison governments temporary ban on citizens entering Australia from India, days before the ban is due to lapse.

Lawyers for Gary Newman, a 73-year-old Australian man stranded in Bangalore, 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.

Health Minister Greg Hunt made the emergency determination on April 30. Credit:Wayne Taylor

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, aimed at mitigating the public health risk posed by a surge of COVID-19 cases in India, 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.
There were gasps, tears and a shout of youre innocent followed by a violent scuffle outside court when disgraced former NRL star Jarryd Hayne was jailed for five years and nine months for sexually assaulting a woman in her Newcastle home.

Moments earlier, a judge said Hayne still does not accept he did anything wrong.

Hayne, 33, was convicted in March of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent after he assaulted the woman, then aged 26, with his hands and mouth and left her bleeding from the genitals in September 2018.

Jarryd Hayne walks into court on Thursday morning. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

On Thursday, NSW District Court Judge Helen Syme said Hayne was fully aware that the victim was not consenting and went ahead anyway, when the woman had every right to feel safe from attack in the privacy of her own home.
The partner of former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill says while shes frightened following his terrifying alleged kidnap ordeal, shell continue to stand by him.

On Wednesday, news broke that the 50-year-old had been allegedly kidnapped from outside his home on Sydneys lower north shore by four men including the brother of his partner, Maria OMeagher.

Stuart MacGill was allegedly kidnapped by four men.

Stuart is safe and we are both ok, as are our children, Ms OMeagher told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. I was not involved in this situation in any way and you all know more than I do.

Unfortunately I am caught in the middle of a horrible situation but all I can do is support Stu and my parents.
Theres no politics or ideology in a pandemic, declared Scott Morrison this week as he defended his governments temporary policy of fining or imprisoning Australians who defy a travel ban to return home from India.

By this, he meant the policy was merely an enactment of health advice; of science rather than social theory. Its a fascinating remark, because its exactly the kind of thing someone like Malcolm Turnbull used to say about climate change. And yet, in that case, so many within the Coalition instinctively recoiled at that framing. Climate change wasnt simply a matter of science rather than ideology. A standard Coalition move for more than a decade has been to cast those insisting on climate urgency as ideologues.

The distinction between science and ideology is hardly a neat one. Credit:Andrew Dyson

I raise this, not to relitigate the climate wars, but rather to illustrate that the distinction between science and ideology is hardly a neat one. Climate change is a scientific fact. What to do about it and at what cost becomes an unavoidably political question. Similarly, pandemics are beset with political questions. When are lockdowns appropriate? What sort of restrictions should be placed on businesses? Should citizens caught in a hotspot be punished if they find a way to return to their home country? Its impossible to answer these questions in an ideology-free way.

Let me demonstrate that with a thought experiment. Suppose, instead of handling this pandemic via national governments, we had one global body devising policy with no concern for national borders. Would that body allow Australians in India to return home? Almost certainly not. Basic pandemic management demands that no one enters or leaves such a hotspot. The virus doesnt care what passport you hold, and its unlikely a global body would either. Imposing punishments on people who leave would be an entirely feasible option.
A yacht owner and its insurer have taken their dispute to a Brisbane court after the vessel was allegedly damaged beyond all economic repair by a lightning strike, which blew holes in the hull.

Insurer Pantaenius Australia, based in Warriewood in NSW, took yacht owner Wilsons Ceramics, based in Round Mountain in NSW, to the Brisbane District Court in February and March.

The Brisbane District & Supreme Court building. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

The insurance company applied for an order to allow it to inspect the damaged vessel and Judge Nicole Kefford released her decision on Tuesday, dismissing the insurers application to further inspect the yacht.

The yacht owner claimed the vessel was a write-off after the lightning strike, but the insurer said it was not beyond reasonable economic repair and could be restored to its pre-incident condition.
Three more potential cases of a rare but serious clotting disorder are being investigated by Australias medical regulator while another five cases have been confirmed in people who had recently had the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The five recently confirmed cases takes the country to a total of 11 patients who developed the blood clotting with a low platelet count more than four days after receiving their first shot.

Professor John Skerritt said the Therapeutic Goods Administration was investigating three more possible cases. So far 11 have been detected with likely links to the vaccine. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Therapeutic Goods Administration head Professor John Skerritt said all patients had serious underlying health conditions, but there was no clear connection between any particular illnesses and the clotting disorder.

Theres not a common thread, he said.
The death of a murderer in prison has prompted one of Queenslands major health services to introduce a raft of measures to prevent breakdowns in communication.

Scott Hambly, 38, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Wolston Correctional Centre in December 2018, and was later declared dead after prison officers and paramedics unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate him.

Scott Hambly was found unresponsive in his cell at Wolston Correctional Centre. Credit:Greg Henderson Photography

Hambly was serving a life sentence for the 1997 murder of 79-year-old Cyril Crust at Keperra, in Brisbanes north-west, and also had a criminal history of property offending, disorderly public behaviour and breaches of community based orders.

He had suffered from multiple health problems, including a heart condition and epilepsy, was being treated with medications for psychosis and was found to have died from aspiration pneumonia by the State Coroner.
Village Attorney Greg Smith noted that two of the three trustees provided letters of resignation and statements that they renounced any plans to remain on the board. Andresen was the only one who wished to remain on the board until a successor is elected or his seat is declared vacant.
A tribute to Trent Riley, the young man who went missing after a solo fishing trip in Moreton Bay, brought hundreds of people to The Fortitude Music Hall to remember the most incredible human on the planet.

About 500 family and friends rallied on Thursday in memory of the 26-year-old avid skateboarder, who was believed to have fallen overboard from his tinny on the trip last month.

Family and friends of missing man Trent Riley gather in Fortitude Valley to remember the 26-year-old. Credit:Jocelyn Garcia

Police found the small vessel off Mud Island, near the Port of Brisbane, on April 14.

Trents family and friends, community members and Water Police searched for Mr Riley for days, to no avail.
The RSM report also drew attention to a $26,000 state government grant for solar panels which was used as general revenue with the panels later funded through a chattel mortgage. Mr Fernando admitted the funds were inadvertently used to pay staff wages, but said the panels were later financed for the exact cost. A friend of Mr Fernando was also listed in accounts as being engaged as a grade three cook and receiving $21,663 in wages. However, a whistleblower alleged the man did not work at Lentil as Anything. Mr Fernando denied this. Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford. Credit:Rebecca Hallas Mr Fernando also denied a claim by a whistleblower that fraudulent contracts were entered into with hire purchase companies, on top of previously reported unpaid superannuation and underpayment of staff wages. The alleged conduct of Mr Fernando, a former bankrupt who was once threatened with jail over 52 unpaid traffic fines, has been reported to both the corporate and charities regulators. Both the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission said they were unable to comment on complaints or possible investigations.

The Age has interviewed nine current and former Lentil as Anything figures ranging from those with senior roles to volunteers. People who have worked closely with Mr Fernando describe a complex character. Hes an extraordinary man  a gentle, friendly man, said one former friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he feared professional repercussions. But when he was challenged he became uncomfortable and could become a bully. Another volunteer said he had delusions of grandeur. Lentil as Anythings Abbotsford restaurant. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Mr Fernandos style is unusual, reflecting Lentils alternative, hippy, ethos. He lists himself as an Elder on emails and is listed as an Ambassador and Aesthetics Consultant on an unsigned employment contract. He operates, in effect, as a chief executive. High-profile lawyer Julian Burnside and other Greens Party-linked figures have been used in some of his internal battles at Lentil as Anything. He has collected around him a band of devoted supporters, many of whom are vulnerable and have been helped by Mr Fernando. They are among his strongest supporters, prompting some to describe him as a cult leader.

One former board member received an email from a Mr Fernando supporter that read. We have never met, But I would like to say that you have become like the CANCER that took my families lives. Even his critics acknowledge that Lentil has been a lifeline for many people who cant afford to eat and has given work and succour to the disadvantaged. It has become a hugely popular series of restaurants among people who believe in its social purpose, and Mr Fernando, a migrant from Sri Lanka, has been central to it. It has become a sizeable enterprise, which turns over more than $3 million a year at its restaurants in Abbotsford, St Kilda, Thornbury and Newtown. The forensic accountants report was commissioned by the former board, headed by Professor Paul Komesaroff, which quit in its entirety under pressure from Mr Fernandos supporters last November after removing Mr Fernando as a director. Professor Komesaroff declined to comment. Mr Fernando, who was removed from the board, has since rejoined and was appointed by new director and new chair, Megan Evans. The new board offered a statement strongly supporting Mr Fernando and saying he receives a wage that in no way reflects his value to the company. Mr Fernando said the forensic report and the people who commissioned it appeared to be prepared in an attempt to denigrate me and the work of Lentil rather than with the aim of supporting Lentil As Anything or the wider community.

The Sunday Age reported last month that Lentils faced regulatory action from both the Fair Work Ombudsman following allegations of wage underpayment and the Australian Tax Office for a large, unpaid superannuation bill. It had also left a trail of unpaid taxes and creditors and was on the brink of insolvency before being bailed out by a large GoFundMe campaign. The RSM report alleges that Lentils former accountant, Canterbury Wealth Management said Mr Fernando had been long aware of the underpaid superannuation but had kept the information from the board and deliberately left it unpaid. It was one of the key areas that allowed Lentil to keep operating because there was $100,000 that was unpaid (in super), one senior Lentil employee told RSM. Senior people interviewed by RSM described Mr Fernando as having an anti-governance philosophy and that he didnt believe in superannuation. Mr Fernando rejected this and blamed the former accountants. I dont have an anti-governance stance. Im in fact passionate about governance. Governance that is inclusive, adaptable and harnesses the participation of all involved ... I believe that society sometimes confuses governance with patriarchy.
A man has been charged with raping a woman who got into his vehicle believing it was the ride-share she had ordered.

Abdouslam Alsharif is accused of sexually assaulting the 20-year-old woman after offering her a free ride home when she left a bar in Fitzroy early last Friday morning.

Police say Mr Alsharif picked up the woman near the intersection of Peel and Oxford streets, in Collingwood, about 2.25am and then drove to Rowe Street, Fitzroy, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

The woman managed to send a text message to a friend and police attended shortly after.

Mr Alsharif, 50, of Mill Park, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday on two charges of rape and one of sexual assault.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has urged the Commonwealth to mend its relationship with China following news Beijing had cut off diplomatic contact with the Australian government under a key communication agreement.

During a press conference on Thursday, Mr McGowan said he wasnt familiar with the details of the decision but warned against using hostile language when dealing with a superpower like China.

Premier Mark McGowan celebrates the 30th anniversary of the WA-Zhejiang sister-state relationship with Province Communist Party of China Secretary Che Jun on November 10, 2017. Credit:Twitter/@MarkMcGowanMP

My position on relations with China is very clear; I think we need to rebuild the relationship and I think we should stop language about war, conflict, and hostilities, he said.

I dont think that sort of language is helpful to anyone and I expect the Australian public wouldnt want that sort of language either.
Europe has urged countries such as Australia to support its plan to impose carbon tariffs, arguing the move to phase out fossil fuels will reduce the income of oil-rich authoritarian states and ease geopolitical tensions.

Millions of dollars in new tariffs could be slapped on Australian exports after the European Parliament voted in March to forge ahead with carbon levies on products from countries with weak environmental laws.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the levies are needed to avoid carbon leakage. Credit:AP

Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan has repeatedly labelled the EU proposal a new form of protectionism and instead argues tariffs should be slashed on green products including wind turbines and solar panels.

Australias climate ambitions have come under renewed scrutiny since the election of United States President Joe Biden in November, with both the US and Britain lobbying the government to lift its Paris agreement targets and commit to hitting net-zero emissions by 2050.
A challenger for one of the top roles in the splintering but powerful CFMMEU has faced a setback after the Australian Electoral Commission said he was not a member of the right division.

Arturo Bluey Menon, an organiser with the unions Queensland construction division, had filed to run against Michael OConnor, a union powerbroker and brother of Labor frontbencher Brendan OConnor, for the leadership of the CFMMEU manufacturing division.

CFMEU manufacturing secretary Michael OConnor faces a challenge to his leadership. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

The leadership contest is the latest front in a hydra-headed battle within the CFMMEU that prompted the mining division to announce it would leave the 116,000 member-union earlier this year.

It began when Victorian construction secretary John Setka began to challenge others in the union, including Mr OConnor, who he believed offered insufficient support when he was convicted of harassing his wife in 2019.
China has taken the first formal step towards severing government ties with Australia after more than a year of incremental trade strikes, veiled threats from the Chinese embassy and escalating attacks by Chinese state media.

Beijing sent a message to Australia on Thursday that all dialogue at the political level will be cut off for years after the superpowers top economic planner suspended the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue.

Chinas President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:The Age

The decision to indefinitely suspend what was once a key communication channel came two weeks after Chinas Foreign Ministry said it would respond firmly and forcefully if the Morrison government did not reverse its decision to cancel Victorias Belt and Road agreement.

The rare public proclamation published on Beijings National Development and Reform Commission website and promoted widely by Chinese state media said Australia had launched measures to disrupt normal exchanges and co-operation out of a Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination.
Berlin: The German government has rejected a US proposal to waive patent protection for COVID-19 vaccines, saying the greatest constraints on production are not intellectual property but increasing capacity and ensuring quality.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday voiced support for a waiver in a sharp reversal of the US position. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Bidens top trade official, said the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic called for emergency measures.

The administration strongly believes in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending the pandemic supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

A COVID-19 vaccine in a mobile vaccination bus in Cologne, Germany. Credit:Getty

On Thursday (Friday AEST), the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel stood behind the goal of a worldwide supply of COVID-19 vaccines, a spokeswoman said, adding however that the main factors in vaccine production were capacity and quality standards, not patents.
Rome: As a means of keeping tabs on their adversaries in the police and judiciary, it could hardly have been bettered  or more brazen.

An investigation in Italy has found that the mafia controlled a bar inside a courthouse in the southern city of Potenza, the capital of the southern Basilicata region.

As prosecutors and police officers sipped their cappuccini and tucked into cornetti (croissants), they were unknowingly being watched and overheard.

The Potenza Courthouse in Italy. Credit:Getty Images

In a covert operation, investigators set up hidden cameras and listening devices, catching the staff of the bar-cafe bowing in respect to local mafia bosses when they appeared for court hearings.
Milans eyes grew wider as Schneider said his office, where she will be able to visit him, was occupied by Lewis before he died in July. Her look became more intent as he told her his wishes for her, and why he believes the Black Lives Matter movement got a boost after Floyds death.
Washington: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday (Friday AEST) there was no plan at this point to shoot down the remnants of a large Chinese rocket expected to plunge back through the atmosphere this weekend.

The Long March 5B rocket blasted off from Chinas Hainan island on April 29, carrying the Tianhe module, which contains what will become living quarters for three crew members on a permanent Chinese space station.

The Tianhe launch was the first of 11 missions needed to complete the station.

A Long March 5B rocket carrying a module for a Chinese space station lifts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. Credit:AP

Speaking with reporters, Austin said the hope was the rocket would land in the ocean and that the latest estimate was that it would come down between Saturday and Sunday.
Wellington: Quarantine-free travel from Sydney to New Zealand will be paused following the detection of two new COVID-19 cases in the community.

Flights from New South Wales will be suspended for 48 hours from 11.59pm (Sydney time) on Thursday. People can still travel to the Australian state without the need to quarantine.

Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins, pictured with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Credit:Getty Images

New Zealands COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the government would then lift the restrictions or extend them, depending on how the situation unfolded.

The decision was made following the detection of two community cases in Sydney. The cases have been serologically linked to a case in quarantine, but how they were infected remains unknown.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 89F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
The tyre sector is expected to be among the most impacted within the auto component space due to the surge in raw material costs in the March quarter. The impact is due to the rise in crude price derivatives and natural rubber costs which account for 55 per cent and 33 per cent of the raw material basket of tyre makers.

While tyre companies could see sharp sequential moderation in margins in the March quarter, profitability of battery makers should hold up as the price of lead has been fairly steady, according to IIFL Research. This is visible from the March quarter results of ...
India (AMNS India) clocked a 47 per cent higher Ebitda ( before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and 188 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to $403 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

While announcing the earnings, which was the best in a decade for ArcelorMittal, the company said in the 1Q21, AMNS India achieved solid production, annualising at 7.3 million tonnes (Mt). The company achieved $403 million Ebitda (with a FY21 run rate of $1.6 billion) with a greater focus on export markets.

has a 60 per cent holding in the India joint venture with and follows a January-December fiscal year. The business (AMNS India) is already exceeding the level of Ebitda required to cover the cash needs of the operations (maintenance capex and cash interest) of $300 million annually, the firm said.

said its income from associates, JVs, and other investments for 1Q21 was $453 million, as compared to $7 million for 4Q20 and $142 million in 1Q20. The income was higher on account of improved from AMNS India and AMNS Calvert.

ArcelorMittal, on Thursday, reported a strong set of numbers on the back of a demand recovery and surging steel prices. The firm reported a net income of $2.3billion in 1Q21, as compared to net income of $1.2 billion and adjusted net income of $0.2 billion in 4Q20. Ebitda of $3.2billion in 1Q21 was 88 per cent higher than 4Q20 Ebitda of $1.7 billion; it was $1.0 billion in 1Q20. Steel shipments were 6.5 per cent higher sequentially.

Aditya Mittal, CEO, ArcelorMittal, said, The first quarter has been our strongest in a decade. While this is a welcome development after a challenging 2020, we are mindful that Covid continues to be a challenge, especially in developing economies. Nowhere is this more obvious than in India, where we have our AM/NS India JV with 
Drugmakers in India are warning that a halt on some cargo flights from China could imperil an important link in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.

The U.S. relies heavily on India to stock its medicine cabinets, and any slowdown in output could leave pharmacies short of drugs used regularly by millions of Americans.

On April 26, Chinas state-run Sichuan Airlines suspended cargo flights to India for 15 days amid an alarming second Covid-19 outbreak there. China supplies 60% to 70% of the raw materials used by Indias drugmakers, as well as ingredients for finished medicines sent to markets worldwide, according to Mahesh Doshi, national president for the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.

If the flights remain on hold, the drug industry fears cascading effects on its entire supply chain, Doshi wrote in an April 29 letter to Indias external affairs minister. That could lead to domestic shortages of essential medicines and have a severe impact on exports, she said.

Sichuan Airlines didnt respond to a request for comment made outside of normal business hours during a holiday in China.

Drugmakers are normally secretive about where medicines are produced. However, the U.S. Pharmacopeia, which helps the industry maintain quality controls, has started a project to pinpoint as much manufacturing as possible. Its Medicine Supply Map has identified where 77% of finished generic drugs are made, said spokeswoman Anne Bell.

There are 62 generic drugs that are produced only in India, Bell said, including several antibacterial treatments and antivirals. India also is home to 31% of active ingredient manufacturing facilities named in applications approved by the U.S., according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

To this point, there havent been any reported shortages due to the outbreak in India, but doctors and health experts have been bracing for impacts. Last year, the U.S. saw deficits of everything from sedatives to inhalers to a depression medication when the pandemic started and parts of China were locked down.

This is very reminiscent of where we were right when Covid hit and people were like Whats happening in China? said Erin Fox, a drug-shortage expert with the University of Utah who works closely with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Because theres so much opacity, we dont know exactly how we could be impacted. There isnt a lot we can do.

Sireesha Yadlapalli, regional general manager for USP in South Asia, said she has been pleased to see the industry in India hasnt yet been negatively impacted, but said that the effect of the pause on Sichuan flights could be severe.

Protecting workers

Many drug in India have taken steps to try to protect their workers and keep assembly lines running, even as infections soar. On Tuesday, the country had 382,146 new cases, according to Bloomberg data.

As of now there is no disruption in production, said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. We dont know the future, how further it is stretched, but at this moment we are making all preparations, working on all contingencies, to make sure that the medicines are available.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has contacted drugmakers in India as infections in the country soar.

Its a dynamic situation, Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in an interview Wednesday. Were going to work closely with manufacturers there. We are concerned in several ways: Will they be able to keep up production and continue to manage quality?

Some drugmakers with plants in India have struggled to meet U.S. quality standards even before the pandemic started. FDA inspectors over the last several years have cited them for ignoring quality failures and in some cases manipulating results from testing meant to ensure drugs safety and effectiveness.

The agency has uncovered similar deficiencies at factories in China and in the U.S. as well, though the generic-drug industry is largely focused around India.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., one of the largest generic drug companies, said in a letter to customers Tuesday that the supply it originates from India hadnt yet been interrupted and that it has contingency plans in place should shortfalls occur.





ALSO READ: RBI announces loan relief, Rs 50,000 cr liquidity to tide over Covid

We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in India, and are accordingly adapting our business continuity plans, Christine Baeder, senior vice president of U.S. generics, wrote in the letter.

Tevas factories in India arent among those the FDA has warned for failing to meet quality standards.

Unpredictable effects

If drug output in India slows, it could have unpredictable consequences globally. in India such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd. make a significant share of generic medicines taken by Americans. At the same time, many U.S. and European drug giants have set up manufacturing in India, drawn by low wages and less-stringent regulation.

Sun Weidong, Chinas ambassador to India, has tweeted support for India over the last week and said China is encouraging to help fulfill Indias need for medical supplies. On Saturday, Weidong said 61 cargo flights have operated between China and India in the previous two weeks.

#China firmly supports #India in fighting against #COVID19. We will encourage and guide Chinese companies to actively participate into the cooperation in facilitating various needed medical supplies for India.

About 4 million people work in Indias pharmaceutical industry. Attendance at drug factories is down slightly but not enough to impact production, according to Jain of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance and Ashok Kumar Madan, executive director of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, but some states have imposed full or partial lockdowns.



ALSO READ: Third Covid-19 wave inevitable and we must be prepared, says govt

If the crisis worsens, more workers could be kept away from factories. According to the U.S. Pharmacopeia, 32% of factories in India that produce active pharmaceutical ingredients are in cites currently under some kind of lockdown, representing about 6% of global output.

Companies are keeping factory workers distanced and meet weekly to discuss the supply chain, Jain and Madan said. They also said some companies have hired their own buses to transport workers rather than having them use public transportation.

Many companies hope to be able to vaccinate workers at their plants, though low supply has caused immunization in India to slow. About 9% of Indias almost 1.4 billion people have received one vaccine shot and just 2% are fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

Some investors are betting that Indias drugmakers will falter, and that competitors elsewhere will benefit.

Shares of Chinese climbed last week after Scarlett Shi, an analyst with Zhongtai International in Hong Kong, said that the situation has stoked speculation that Chinese drugmakers could gain if Indias production falters.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), the largest Canadian pension fund manager, today said it bought an additional 15.9 per cent of the total units in IndInfravit Trust for Rs 1,005 crore. The units were bought in two separate deals.

CPP Investments has acquired seven per cent of the units from Project and will acquire an additional 8.9 per cent from L&T IDPL, which, upon completion, will increase CPP Investments stake in IndInfravit from 27.9 per cent to 43.8 per cent .

IndInfravit is an investment trust (InvIT) sponsored by L&T Development Projects Limited . Launched in 2018, IndInfravit acquires and maintains stable brownfield road concessions in the country.

IndInfravit holds a portfolio of 13 operational road concessions across five states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Scott Lawrence, managing director and head of Infrastructure, CPP Investments said: Sound infrastructure is vital to supporting growth in the Indian economy. Furthering our commitment to IndInfravit reflects our ongoing commitment to investment in India, as well as our ability to support IndInfravits future growth opportunities and enhances our ability to deliver solid long-term risk-adjusted returns to CPP contributors and beneficiaries.

SIPL is a developer and operator of roads and other infrastructure projects. L&T IDPL is one of the largest Infrastructure development in the country and operates a private toll road concession portfolio and an electricity transmission project.

L&T IDPL will continue to act as a sponsor and its subsidiary will remain as the investment manager for IndInfravit. L&T IDPL and SIPL will continue as project managers for the portfolio.
The Mahindra Group, which has interest in fields as diverse as farm equipment, aerospace, finance, IT and real estate, among others, will be setting up Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) in the West Midlands, UK.

The company said in a statement that it seeks to further sharpen its distinctive product designs and differentiated technology offerings and improvise its safe, thrilling, yet efficient connected car experiences.

will be the second firm from India to set foot in the UK for designing cars and SUVs. In 2005, Tata Motors set up the European Technical Centre in Coventry. It is the centre of excellence for automotive design and engineering.

Subsequently, in 2014, the Tata Groups Tata Elxsi, the Bangalore-based firm which is into system and electronic integration, launched its first 'design studio as part of the company's strategic expansion to move closer to its customers in the UK and Europe.

Mahindra's new Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be a part of the Mahindra global design network that includes the Mahindra Design Studio in Mumbai, India, and Pininfarina Design in Turin, Italy. MADE is a strategic enhancement of Mahindras global design capabilities. It renews its commitment to bring to its customers, sophisticated, authentic SUVs with an unmissable presence, the company said.

Mahindra is poised to enter a new, exciting era to build upon our rich 75 years of automotive history to bring unique customer centric products to the Indian and global markets. A key lever to make the business future-ready is to significantly strengthen design capability across automotive, farm equipment and two wheelers globally, said Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Mahindra and Mahindra.

The new design centre will contribute to all future automotive and mobility products including Born EV SUVs and be a resource available to companies, said Jejurikar. With this new initiative, Mahindra hopes to get a quantum leap in both capacity and capability in the design space, he said.

The Coventry region in UK is a powerhouse of automotive design. MADE will contribute and leverage the skills, experience, and expertise of this network of design talent. It will also support the creation of highly skilled design roles, drawing from Coventry University, Royal College of Art, and other design colleges in the UK and Europe. M.A.D.E. will be operational from the 1st of July 2021, said the company.
Limited has sought special permission to fly an Israeli team of experts to India to train and install a rapid COVID-19 identification solution it acquired from an Israeli start-up for USD 15 million.

The delegation from Breath of Health (BOH) has already received an emergency approval at Reliance's request given the spike in related cases in India and will be flying out soon, company sources told PTI here.

has put a temporary ban on its citizens from flying to seven countries, including India, which have seen a surge in cases. The experts from the Israeli medical technology company will guide Reliance's team in India in operating the innovative system developed by it to identify carriers and patients in the early stages of the disease by exhalation.

The results will be available within seconds.

Reliance Group signed a USD 15 million deal in January with BOH to distribute the firm's swift COVID-19 breath testing system.

According to the agreement, the Indian corporate giant will purchase hundreds of systems from the Israeli company in a deal valued at USD 15 million and will use them to conduct millions of tests a month at a cost of USD 10 million per month.

BOH is said to have developed the breath test system that identifies COVID-19 at a success rate of over 95 per cent.

Preliminary results from clinical trials it is conducting with Israeli hospitals Hadassah Medical Center and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer have shown a success rate of 98 per cent compared to the standard PCR test authorised by global medical organisations.

"The equipment has already reached India and its operationalisation will help India in its fight against the pandemic," a spokesperson for the company said.

Israeli Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kish visited BOH Laboratories in the northern Israeli city of Rehovot to closely monitor the preparations of the delegation that will leave for India to complete the installation of the first system that landed in India about a week ago.

The Minister himself went through an exhalation test and congratulated the BOH team on its achievements.

"The company staff will train Indian teams to use technology which is considered as a breakthrough in the field and may help the Indians to take control of the Indian variant outbreak", the Israeli company said.

"The aggravation of the corona crisis in India has led Reliance and the Israeli company to advance the flight of the Israeli delegation to India to help the Indian government overcome the outbreak of the plague that has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 Indians and continues to spread across the country", it said.

A record 3,780 fresh COVID-19 fatalities were registered in a single day in India on Wednesday taking the death toll to 2,26,188, while 3,82,315 new coronavirus infections were recorded.

With the fresh cases, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 2,06,65,148.

(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.)
Merkel says EU-China investment treaty an important undertaking

Xinhua) 10:56, May 06, 2021

BERLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the EU-China investment treaty was an "important undertaking" despite "all the difficulties that will certainly arise in the ratification process."

"It is a very important undertaking because it gives us more reciprocity in market access, because we have decided to comply with the labor standards of the International Labor Organization and other things with which trade can be developed to the benefit of both parties," said Merkel at a digital conference of the Union Party parliamentary group.

China and the European Union have in late December reached a major investment agreement, wrapping up seven years of negotiations. Germany made a final push from the EU side as Berlin held the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2020.

"We will neither be able to cope with climate change nor solve WTO (World Trade Organization) issues or other global issues without or against China," said Merkel.

"The Chinese commitment to climate protection goals and carbon dioxide neutrality in 2060 and the achievement of a peak before 2030 are encouraging signals in terms of multilateralism," she said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
It is important for me to get the shot because I want to feel safe, Brezak said. I think it is definitely special for me because I want to feel as safe as possible especially because it has been around for so long and I want to have the freedom to do all the things that I used to do.
While Electronics was recently involved in a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States related to smartphone wireless charging, it was confirmed that the patent in question was bought from by a European Patent Troll company earlier this year.

In the industry, it is pointed out that while Electronics officially announced the withdrawal of the smartphone business, concerns that the sale of Group's patent portfolio could return to the domestic industrial ecosystem as a boomerang has become a reality.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, Scramoge, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Electronics and Electronics' US subsidiary (SEA) at the Texas Western District Court on Apr.30.

According to a complaint filed by Scramoge, the company claims that three technical (patent numbers ^9553476 ^9825482 ^9997962) registered and held with the US Patent Office were infringed by Samsung Electronics.

They stated, "Samsung Electronics directly infringed on patents, manufactured and distributed products to the United States, causing damage," and claimed compensation for damages.

Scramoge picked 28 models of smartphones as subjects to Samsung Electronics' patent infringement. Among them, the Galaxy S6 Edge launched in 2015 and the Galaxy S21 series introduced earlier this year were included. In addition, Samsung Electronics' foldable smartphones Galaxy Z Fold and Z Fold 2 5G were also mentioned.

In particular, it was confirmed that the three that Scramoge sued Samsung Electronics for, were purchased from LG Innotek this year.

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the registration number '9553476' was formally registered on Jan.24, 2017 after LG Innotek applied for it to the U.S. Patent Office in Mar. 2013. After that, LG Innotek owned it for about four years, and sold to Scramoge on Feb.18.

The remaining two were applied by LG Innotek to the U.S. Patent Office in 2013 and 2014, respectively, and it was found that Scramoge purchased them collectively in February. Moreover, all three of these patents are related to the smartphone wireless charging.
A political leader who effortlessly changed hats he wore for Bharat and India, died today. Ajit Singh, 82, variously known as leader of farmers, Jats and representative of the area loosely known as western Uttar Pradesh, several-term union minister and a trained engineer from IIT who worked at IBM for a brief period, had been politically inactive in recent years. But he inherited a strong political legacy left behind by his father, former prime minister Charan Singh, that he has bequeathed to his son, Jayant Choudhary, former MP from Mathura.

cut his teeth on non-Congress politics, though he did steer his party into an alliance with the second Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government till 2014. His primary constituency was farmers of western UP, both Hindu and Muslim. This region, that sends one of the largest contingents of MPs from UP to the Lok Sabha, made him an essential part of many of the coalition governments in the 1990s and 2000s. Through his political career, his endeavour remained to ensure the rights and claims of the farmer constituency was protected: and this led to his guidance, remotely, of the farmers movement, against three union laws. His son Jayant was one of the few politicians to be invited to the podium to address the agitating farmers  who maintain that the decision to vote against Choudhary Ajit Singhs party in 2019 was a mistake.

In his lifetime, had to see the distressing spectacle of his support base splintering after the communal riots in Muzzaffarnagar in 2013. His party could not get a single seat in the 2014 general elections. But before that, it survived the split of the Charan Singh legacy between Mulayam Singh Yadav, HN Bahuguna and others. He formed the Lok Dal (A) and the Janata Party in 1987 and 1988, and became general secretary of the Janata Dal in 1989 with VP Singh. When VP Singh came to power, became industry minister. He joined the PV Narasimha Rao government as food minister but resigned in 1996. In 1998, he founded the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and was agriculture Minister in the Vajpayee government from 2001-2003 and the Congress-led second United Progressive Alliance government till 2014. He represented Baghpat, a constituency represented by his father as well, from 1989 to 2009.

Arguably, his most controversial tenure was as civil aviation minister from 2011 to 2014. It was during his tenure that Air India decided to induct the Dreamliner aircraft though its performance was declining. Left to himself, Singh may have initiated a correction then itself, but he was part of a government that had Mamata Banerjee as a partner and was stoutly resisting higher FDI levels in the sector. Although the two big airline deals--Jet-Etihad and Tata-Singapore Airlines agreement--took place under his tenure as minister, Singh struggled valiantly to modernise Air India. And if his efforts were largely unsuccessful, it was not for want of trying but for want of succeeding.

He represented a bridge between a constituency that represented a more traditional era in politics, including the continued dominance of the khap (clan) system and a modern forward-looking India. In interactions with Business Standard, he gave vent sometimes to his sense of frustration and despair at the path, beset as it was with hurdles. Still, the man who enjoyed jazz and musicals like Hello Dolly, would never say no to a glass of white wine and loved Italian food, especially ravioli, will be missed: mainly because he had no enemies, only friends.
Former Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader passed away at a Gurgaon hospital on Thursday morning battling COVID-19, his family said.

He was 82.

Singh, a prominent farmer leader and the son of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on April 20, the family said in a statement.

"Chaudhary ji was diagnosed as COVID+ on the 20th April. He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning, the 6th of May, 2021," his son Jayant Chaudhary tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav were among several leaders who condoled the death of the Jat leader.

A message posted by Jayant Chaudhary on behalf of the family said, "Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare".

"As our Nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible. We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us," he said.

"We pray for solace for all those families that have been ravaged by this brutal disease," the message stated.

Sources said that Singh was admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon on the evening of April 20 soon after he was diagnosed with where he took his last breath on Thursday due to multiple organ failure.

His granddaughter was also detected with the infection at the same time but she has recovered now, the sources said.

In view of the ongoing pandemic, the last rites would be held in Delhi itself in compliance with all COVID-19 protocols, which, among others, restricts the number of people gathering for a funeral, they added.

Born on February 12, 1939, Singh studied at Lucknow University, IIT Kharagpur and the Illinois Institute of Technology in the US's Chicago. He was a computer scientist by profession and worked for 15 years in the US.

Singh took his first dive into active politics in the 1980s and entered Parliament through Rajya Sabha in 1986.

He was a six-time parliamentarian and served as a union minister on multiple occasions, the first being Minister for Industry in 1989 in the National Front government and the last being Civil Aviation Minister from 2011 in the UPA government.

Singh was once considered among the tallest leaders in north India with his regional party holding influence in western Uttar Pradesh. His dominance as a Jat leader continued in the region to this date even as his party suffered a setback in the 2017 state elections and 2019 general polls.
Beijing has expressed deep concerns over India's new telecom policy that does not permit Chinese telecommunication companies to conduct 5G trials in the country, saying the move is not conducive to the innovation and development of related Indian industries.

On Tuesday, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted approval to nearly a dozen companies to conduct a six-month trial for use and applications of 5G technology. The telecom service providers (TSPs) included Bharti Airtel, Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd, Vodafone Idea Ltd and MTNL who have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT.

There was no Chinese company -- Huawei or ZTE -- in the list that have been operating in India for several years.

Wang Xiaojian, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, said in a statement that expresses "concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers in India."

"Relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications," Xiaojian said.

"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".

Like the US and the UK, there have been demands from the industry stakeholders like the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to ban Huawei and ZTE Corporation of from participating in 5G network rollout in India.

Xiaojian said that 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".

--IANS

na/in

(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.)
Delhi Chief Minister on Thursday thanked Prime Minister after the national capital received 730 metric tonnes of on May 5.

In a letter, Kejriwal said that it was for the first time the national capital received more than 700 metric tonnes of the life-saving gas.

"Delhi has a consumption of 700 metric tonnes of on a daily basis. We have been urging the Centre on a regular basis to give us 700 metric tonnes. It was for the first time yesterday that Delhi received 730 metric tonnes," he said in the letter in Hindi.

He requested the prime minister that the national capital should be given this quantity everyday.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of Delhiites. I request you that Delhi should be given at least this much of on a daily basis and there should not be any reduction in this quantity. The whole of Delhi will be grateful to you," he said.

Hospitals across the national capital and its suburbs have been sending out SOS messages on social media about their depleting oxygen supplies.

On May 1, 12 COVID-19 patients, including a senior doctor, 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.)
Riyaz*, a Rohingya refugee who lives in a crowded camp in Delhi along with nearly 300 others, is desperate to get himself vaccinated against COVID-19. But India's ongoing vaccination drive is only open to its own citizens or those with any of the 11 identity documents specified by the government.

All that Riyaz and the others in the camp have are the refugee cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for (UNHCR). "A few of us tried to get vaccinated but we were asked for Aadhaar cards," he told IndiaSpend. The lack of an Aadhaar card also means that cannot get themselves tested for COVID-19.

Most people were able to earn Rs 500-700 a day earlier to support their family, but now they are not able to find any work. "We need free vaccination because we cannot afford to pay," he said.

Durgaram Sharma, 36, is a Nepalese security guard in an east Bengaluru apartment complex who has been living and working in India for 17 years. He has an Aadhaar card and can seek a vaccine in India but not his wife, Bindu, who has none of the requisite identity papers.

India's newly liberalised vaccine policy makes all its adult citizens eligible, but makes no mention of the undocumented immigrants and who live and work here: India currently has more than 240,000 refugees and asylum seekers and nearly 3.8 million Nepali and Bangladeshi immigrants.

In 2019, 95.3% of India's immigrants originated in the same Sustainable Development Goal region (as per the United Nations' classification for its SDG Goals programme--Central and Southern Asia, the latter comprising neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan). This number has not changed significantly from 1990 (96.8%), IndiaSpend reported in January 2021.

At a time when Indian citizens are facing difficulties due to vaccine shortages, the high cost of getting vaccinated in a private facility and glitches in the online registration and scheduling system, the lack of clarity in the official policy could leave millions of non-citizens out of India's vaccination drive, humanitarian groups warn. This could also endanger the health and lives of India's citizens and hamper its efforts to curb the pandemic, they add.

"The right to health is part of the right to life. If there are requirements for specific documentation, a large number of people will fall out of the vaccination process and face death," said Ravi Nair, executive director, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC), a human rights network.

'Accept refugee documents for vaccines'

Salai Cung Dawt, a Chin refugee from Myanmar and a community leader and coordinator for the Chin Human Rights Organisation, is worried for his people in India. There are nearly 3,000 Chins in Delhi and most work in the informal sector earning between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 monthly. Those who tried to register online are unable to because they do not have government identity cards, he said.

Many Rohingya refugees in India work as labourers, drivers, or at odd jobs. While they received support like essential items and medicines from the government and other multilateral agencies during the 2020 lockdown, that has not been the case during the current surge, said Riyaz. "It has been difficult to even keep our fast during the holy month of Ramzan."

Dawt, who is in India since 2008, has approached the UNHCR to resolve the question of documentation for the vaccine. "We coordinate with UNHCR for our needs and are yet to hear from them on COVID-related information," he said. "If they [India] include UNHCR cards for registration, it will be helpful for us."

UNHCR India declined to comment on India's specific strategy but reiterated its global position that it advocates for the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers in national vaccination plans, in line with other government criteria.

Chin refugees need access to free vaccine doses because they cannot afford private ones, Dawt told IndiaSpend.

"The government must provide universal vaccination to anyone in India. Anyone can transmit the disease; vaccination cannot be restricted to citizens," said Nair.

Nearly 20 countries are known to have begun inoculating refugees and this includes Nepal, Jordan and Rwanda, said an April 7 UNHCR report. "In many parts of the world, actual immunisation remains a challenge, largely due to the unequal availability of vaccines and the capacity of health systems," it added.

In Greece, immigrants are falling out of the vaccination net because its inoculation drive is linked to social security numbers.

India contributed $10 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund, to supply essential drugs, medical consumables, COVID-19 protection and testing kits, and other equipment. The press release did not specify vaccination plans. "We are ready to contribute to the quest for a vaccine; to make any such candidate vaccines at mass scale and at affordable price points," said Sanjay Bhattacharya, secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) in July 2020.

The Ministry of External Affairs refused to comment on the issue of including refugees in the immunisation drive. "Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is not the nodal ministry for the vaccination policy therefore I would request you to contact the Ministry of Health," said Yatin Patel, Officer on Special Duty (PR), MEA, in response to IndiaSpend's queries on the government's strategy for vaccinating immigrants and refugees.

IndiaSpend has written to and shared multiple reminders with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its response. We will update the copy if and when they respond.

Seasonal migrants to India at peril

Seasonal immigrants from Nepal are likely to face a bigger problem securing vaccination in India because they are not entitled to Aadhaar cards or other government-issued identity documents. Migration to India from Nepal is largely seasonal, with workers spending nearly nine months before returning home, as per a 2017 World Bank report.

"These seasonal migrant workers fall outside of the ambit of any documentation in India, especially the Aadhaar card [since they cannot fulfil the residency criteria]," said Chitra Rawat, research assistant at India Migration Now (IMN), a migration research organisation. There are different drives initiated by the state governments for internal migrants and similar drives can be undertaken for immigrant workers as well, she added.

With a face shield strapped to his face and a mask to cover his nose and mouth, Durgaram Sharma, 36, is doing his evening rounds at an east Bengaluru apartment. He deals with nearly 100 residents and at least 10 vendors daily and his work leaves him--and his family--vulnerable to COVID-19.

Sharma, a Nepali who has been working in India for 17 years now, has an Aadhaar card that theoretically allows him access to the vaccine. But his wife Bindu would still be denied a jab. "It costs nearly Rs 7,000 to go back to Nepal, and borders are sealed. We cannot," he said.

An Aadhaar number is not a proof of citizenship, UIDAI had confirmed in February 2020. It can be obtained by any resident who has been in the country for 182 days over the previous 12 months from the date of enrolment.

On a monthly salary of Rs 10,000, Sharma said he could not afford vaccination from a private facility, where the charges range between Rs 600 and Rs 1,200. Since the pandemic broke, Sharma's wife has not been able to find a job as domestic help.

"Across the world, the International Labour Organization (ILO) advocates towards 'vaccination for everyone' including immigrant workers," said Shabarinath Nair, regional migration specialist at the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia, which looks at policies on productive and fair employment. "Any lack of documentation should not restrict vaccination of any migrant worker, as it will potentially risk the remaining population. We strongly recommend governments to consider these aspects."

India is estimated to have more than half a million Nepali immigrants in India, mostly daily wage earners. The number could be as high as 3 million, according to The Kathmandu Post. Nepali migrants do not need work permits to find employment due to the open border ties between the two countries. India also receives Bangladeshi immigrants and in 2010 they constituted the single largest group (3.2 million) of international migrants in the global south, according to the United Nations. A more recent estimate from the think-tank Carnegie India, from 2016, put the number at 15 million.

During the COVID-19 surge in 2020, the Nepal government refused to allow Nepalis living in India to return home and this was a violation of human rights, said Nepal's August 2020 National Human Rights Commision report, Rights of Migrant Workers in the Clutches of COVID-19 Pandemic. Again, in May 2021, the Nepal government decided to close 22 border points due to the pandemic surge in India, and warned of the lack of hospital beds and vaccine shortages in Nepal. On April 26, Bangladesh too sealed its borders with India for two weeks over COVID concerns.

"Migrants are met with different barriers like no targeted outreach to meet their specific healthcare needs, or facilitation to access Indian healthcare system," said Rawat.

In providing vaccination to migrants, no special eligibility conditions for identity cards or other documents should be insisted on as many are unlikely to possess documents, said R. Ramakumar, economist, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. "To remove all forms of vaccine hesitancy on the part of migrants, this is very important. Further, it is also important that we provide vaccination free of cost to all migrants," he said.

International migrants in India face many obstacles to integration, and the country ranked last among 52 countries ranked on the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) 2020. The index measures policies to integrate migrants in countries across five continents. Health along with anti-discrimination policies and political participation policies emerged as "particularly unfavourable" barriers for integration, it added.

'We can't afford private vaccination'

A few lanes from Durgaram Sharma's worksite, Hariprasad Joshi, 51, a Nepali from Kailali district, too works as a security guard. Joshi, who moved from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district to Bengaluru seven years ago, has made three failed attempts to get vaccinated--twice at a government clinic and once at a private hospital.

"They told me that it was full and I would have to come back later," said Joshi. "I cannot afford to stay away from work as a security guard. I'll lose my job." The sole earner in the family, Joshi lives with his wife and daughter in a tiny room in the building where he works, earning Rs 9,000 a month.

"Failing to take migrants into account in our vaccination efforts would hamper the effectiveness of these campaigns and make it difficult to end the pandemic," said an April 23 blogpost from the International Organisation for Migration, a UN-related organisation.

Ganga, a domestic help from Nepal's Kanchanpur, has yet to register for the vaccine and has no clear idea how to get herself vaccinated. Her younger brother, Basu, pointed out that most of the immigrant fraternity lives on daily wages and cannot afford to pay for the vaccines. "All those who know how to register online can manage, but what about the poor who have no information or do not understand the language or process?" he asked.

Basu is already in debt after paying Rs 3,500 for his pregnant wife's medical-check up at a private clinic, he said. "She cannot find work, and I get Rs 10,200 a month. We cannot afford more than Rs 200 or Rs 220 for a dose, after borrowing cash," he said. If it is not provided for free, he would be forced to go without vaccination, he said.
Amid a raging COVID-19 pandemic, the on Thursday fixed charges levied by private ambulance services in the range of Rs 1,500- Rs 4,000, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warning strict action against violators.

In a tweet, the chief minister said some private ambulance operators are charging "illegitimately" amid a rush of COVID 19 patients to secure beds in hospitals.

"It has come to our notice that private ambulance services in Delhi are charging illegitimately.

"To avoid this practise, Delhi govt has capped maximum prices that private ambulance services can charge. Strict actions will be taken against those who violate the order," Kejriwal tweeted.

(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 Thursday reported a net increase of 79,169 in active cases to take its count to 3,566,398. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 19.26 per cent (one in 5). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Thursday, it added 412,262 cases, the most added by any country in a day, to take its total caseload to 21,077,410. And, with 3,980 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 230,168, or 1.09 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 1,955,733 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 162,513,339. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 17,280,844  or 81.99 per cent of total caseload  with 329,113 new cured cases being reported on Thursday.
The has asked the (MHA) what procedure it follows for the repatriation of foreign nationals who are in India without any documents.

Hearing a plea on behalf of three Bangladeshi youths, including a minor, who were allegedly abducted from their country and brought here in March and want to return home, Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the MHA to place on record the procedure as well as the time period and formalities to be completed for the repatriation/deportation of such foreign nationals.

If there is any communication from the Bangladeshi High Commission in connection with the request letter for deportation served upon it, it should also be placed on record, the court said on Tuesday.

If the procedure to be adopted along with the timelines is not filed along with an affidavit by May 13, a senior official of the MHA shall remain present on the next date of hearing on May 17, it said.

On April 12, the court had issued notice to the ministries of Home and External Affairs, the Bangladesh High Commission, the Delhi government, the Border Security Force and the police, seeking their stand on the plea from three youths to send them back home



According to the petition filed on behalf of the three youths, they had gone to see the Indo-Bangladesh border on March 4, 2021 along with an acquaintance who had given them some food after reaching close to the border.

After eating the food, the three lost consciousness and woke up on a platform of the New Delhi Railway Station on March 10, the petition, filed through advocates Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, Ritu Maity and Abhishek Anand, has said.

Subsequently, the three went to the nearby Kamla Market Police Station and narrated their story. The policemen gave them some money for food, the petition said, adding that they were later shifted to a homeless night shelter.

They made representations to the Bangladesh High Commission and government agencies of India and Bangladesh with the help of social activist Sunil Kumar Aledia, but received no response, the petition added.

Besides their safe return home, the plea has said they should not be arrested for lack of passport or visa and be provided food and shelter till they are sent back to their country.

(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.)
French President is joining the Biden administration in saying that he backs the sharing of the valuable technology behind Covid-19 vaccines. But Macro is also insisting that the immediate priority for wealthier countries should be first donating more doses to poorer countries.

Speaking on a visit Thursday to a vaccine center, the French leader said he "completely" supports opening up intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines.

Macron said that "evidently, we must turn this vaccine in a global public good." But he also argued that even if patents are waived, pharmaceutical companies in places like Africa aren't currently equipped to make Covid-19 vaccines and that donations of doses should be prioritized instead.

Macron claimed that the European Union is leading the way in vaccine donations and called for the United States and Britain to share more, too.

He said that "Europe is the most generous continent with the rest of the world," having exported 45 million doses, and expressed hope that the British, the Americans and others will follow.

He added that, "in the short term, this is what will allow us to vaccinate.

(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.)
1. Angel Cabrera, 20, of the 900 block of West Hill Crest, DeKalb, was arrested on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/street gang, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, illegal possession of ammunition/firearm owners identification card and obstructing identification at 7:06 p.m. April 20 in the 1800 block of La Salle Avenue.
The Patna High Court has directed the to submit detailed reports on the available Covid-related facilities in hospitals and quarantine centres.

A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar issued the direction to the following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Shiwani Kaushik.

The court has asked the to submit reports about the oxygen tankers operational in the state.

It has also asked the municipal corporations and the Bihar state pollution control board to submit reports on the disposal of PPE kits and medical waste to prevent the spread of the infection.

Besides, detailed reports on the availability of beds in hospitals and life saving drugs were also asked to be submitted before the court.

The Patna High Court is closely monitoring the crisis on a day-to-day basis.

Earlier, cases related to corona were heard before the two-judge bench of Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Mohit Kumar Shah. Now, the High Court has changed the bench following which Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar will look into the proceedings now.

Meanwhile, Bihar police has cancelled the leave of all police personnel and officers till further orders.

The decision was taken amid the soaring Covid infections in Bihar.

To curb the spread of the lethal virus, the state government has imposed a lockdown for 10 days from May 5 to May 15.

--IANS

ajk/pgh/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Enterprise, which has companies like Technologies, Infosystems and HCL healthcare, said today that it is extending support to Covid-19 care facilities in NCR to bolster the States efforts to manage the large number of infections in the National Capital.

HCLs support includes assistance in the form of more than 500 hospital beds at various facilities such as the Commonwealth Games Village, Holy Family Hospital, Sama Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi; and Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida Authority, said a company statement.

At the Commonwealth Games Village (CWG), in partnership with the Government of Delhi and Doctors for You, HCL has also supported the import and installation of an oxygen plant for the facility which can provide continuous oxygen supply directly to the beds. The CWG Covid facility which was shut in December 2020, due to fall in Covid cases, has been restarted on April 18, 2021.

HCL has also been extending its support for critical human resources to treat the high number of Covid positive patients at the CWG facility, by partnering with Doctors for You to provide Doctors, Nursing Staff, Orderlies, Supervisors, Counsellors, Lab technicians and Administration staff, said a company statement.

HCL aims to provide tangible assistance to meet real needs on the ground, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues across the country.
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Top US lawmakers have applauded India's decision to not allow Chinese telecom companies to conduct 5G trials in the country.

The Department of Telecom in India on Tuesday had approved applications of telecom companies Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL to conduct 5G trials but none of them would be using technologies of Chinese entities.

"India's decision to exclude and from its 5G trials is good news for the people of India and the world," House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican and China Task Force Chairman Michael McCaul said in a statement on Wednesday.

"People's Republic of China law requires any Chinese company including and to work for the Chinese Communist Party if asked, McCaul said.

The previous Trump administration had designated Chinese tech companies as posing a security risk.

The US is also asking its friends and allies not to opt for a technology that is controlled by the Communist Party of China.

"It's a risk that can't be mitigated unless these companies are excluded from our networks, and I'm glad that India has recognized this threat. India has once again proven why it is a global leader in the fight against security threats posed by CCP-controlled technology, McCaul said.

Congressman Mike Waltz also thanked India for its decision.

"Thank you to India for denying the inclusion of CCP-run in their telecommunications, he said.

"As the world's largest democracy, India will be a critical ally in confronting China and securing our supply chains, Waltz 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 tragic" COVID-19 situation in India should raise the alarm bells for all of us and there will be reverberations across the region and the world in terms of virus-related deaths, virus mutations and supply delays unless the world steps up and helps the country now, the head of the UN children's agency has said.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has sent additional critical lifesaving supplies to India, including 2 million face shields and 200,000 surgical masks.

The tragic situation in India should raise alarm bells for all of us, Executive Director Henrietta Fore said on Tuesday.

Unless the world steps up and helps India now, there will be reverberations across the region and the world in terms of virus-related deaths, virus mutations and supply delays."



India is in the midst of a raging second wave of COVID-19 and is recording over 300,000 daily infections and over 3,000 deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has a total of 20.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 226,000 deaths.

Countries across the South Asia region are witnessing rises in infections, with India accounting for over 90 per cent of both cases and deaths in the region, according to the World Health Organisation.

India also accounted for 46 per cent of global cases and 25 per cent of global deaths reported in the past week, WHO added.

Regional Director for South Asia George Laryea-Adjei said in a statement that urgent action and steadfast leadership are indispensable to stop the catastrophe.

Governments must do everything within their power to stop the devastation, and partners that can send assistance must do so immediately. The international community must step up without delay, Laryea-Adjei said.

This is not just a moral imperative. 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, Laryea-Adjei added.

said the scenes we are witnessing in South Asia are unlike anything the region has seen before.

Family members of patients are pleading for help as the region reels under an acute shortage of medical-grade oxygen. Exhausted health workers are being pushed to the brink of collapse. We are faced with a real possibility that our health systems will be strained to a breaking point - leading to even more loss of life.

Laryea-Adjei said the very low levels of vaccination in South Asia magnify the likelihood of the virus spiralling even further out of control. In almost all countries in the region, except for the Maldives and Bhutan, fewer than 1 in 10 people have been vaccinated.

Now more than ever, we must ensure vaccines equitably reach all populations. Manufacturing must be ramped up, technology transferred, and doses equitably shared. None of us is safe until all of us are safe, Laryea-Adjei said.

Laryea-Adjei said the first wave of the pandemic caused drastic cuts in the availability and use of essential public health services in South Asia, costing the lives of an estimated 228,000 children and 11,000 mothers.

We simply cannot let this happen again. We must do everything within our power to keep essential health, immunization and nutrition services running - and make sure women and children everywhere feel safe to use them. Viruses know no borders. We must come together now as a global community to stop the devastation and protect our children.

The UN agency said it has provided oxygen concentrators and other critically needed emergency equipment to support the immediate response in the country, while also supporting resilience-building against recurrent shocks and stresses to the health system that leave children and their families at risk.

UNICEF has supplied 85 COVID-19 testing machines, which form a crucial part of the Government of India's response to the pandemic.

Additionally, UNICEF is supporting the procurement and installation of 25 oxygen plants for hospitals in the Northeast and Maharashtra, and the installation of more than 70 thermal scanners at various ports of entry countrywide.

Since the start of the pandemic, UNICEF has also been working with the government and partners in India to help stop the spread of COVID-19, sharing information with more than 660 million people on how to stay safe from the

It has consistently worked to counter misinformation and promote COVID-19 protective practices, including wearing masks, physical distancing, and handwashing.

UNICEF said it needs USD 21 million for the urgent delivery of additional testing equipment, supplies and oxygen products in India, and more than USD 50 million for lifesaving COVID-19 interventions across sectors.

UNICEF said end-to-end logistics support from DP World helped the equipment was dispatched from UNICEF's warehouse in Dubai to New Delhi to help India battle the deadly wave of COVID-19.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the company partnered with UNICEF because dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is humanity's biggest logistics challenge in living memory."



"This emergency shipment of medical supplies is just one of many operations DP World will be supporting worldwide. The UAE and India have strong ties, and we stand by India through this devastating pandemic, 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.)
India has appreciated the Biden administration's decision to support a proposal moved by it and South Africa to temporarily waive some Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For the past several weeks, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, along with the diplomats from South Africa, had been meeting US lawmakers and officials regarding the proposal.

"We appreciate the US administration's announcement today of its support for waiver of IPR for COVID-19 vaccines, Sandhu told PTI on Wednesday.

Making the announcement, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said this is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures.

"The (Biden) 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 a major policy announcement.

A majority of Democratic Congressmen had written to President urging him to back the proposal so that vaccines can be made accessible and affordable.

"We also thank the large number of US Senators and Congresspersons who expressed their support. We will continue to work with all stakeholders in the US to collectively fight the global pandemic including through equitable distribution of affordable vaccines for global public health at this critical juncture, Sandhu said in response to a question.

In the past few months, the Indian Embassy had made a focused outreach on the need for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in the developing world.

The embassy methodically reached out to the members of the House and Senate. This was reflected in the series of letters that the US lawmakers wrote to President Biden in support.

In recent months, Sandhu has spoken on this issue to Senators Ed Markey and Raphael Warnock; Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Assistant Speaker; Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee; Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Chair of the Progressive Caucus; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Ro Khanna.

A joint outreach was also undertaken with the South African Embassy in Washington DC and together, the two envoys had underscored the importance of the issue with Congresswoman Karen Bass, Chair House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.

(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 media reports that oxygen concentrators are pending at the Customs warehouse for getting clearance from the authorities, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has clarified that there is no such pendency with the Customs and the "news is totally incorrect", the health ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the ministry, the Customs is swiftly clearing all consignments and no such figures of pendency exist across any port of import.

In all, 3,000 oxygen concentrators have been received from various countries as global aid to support efforts of the Central government and the states and union territories in their collective fight against the global pandemic.

"Of these Mauritius has sent 200 oxygen concentrators, Russia (20), UK has sent in four consignments (95+120+280+174), 80 from Romania, 700 from Ireland, Thailand (30), China (1000) and Uzbekistan (151). In addition, Taiwan has sent 150. The oxygen concentrators are either delivered to the identified tertiary care institutions or been dispatched for delivery. The relief material has been dispatched through road and air too. There are no oxygen contractors lying in the warehouse of the Customs Department," the statement read.

"The Indian Customs is sensitive to the need for availability of COVID-19 related imports including oxygen and oxygen related equipment, and are working round the clock to fast track and clear the goods on arrival and lead to expeditious clearance within hours. The goods are given high priority for clearance by the Customs systems for processing over others. While the Nodal officers get alerts on email for monitoring and clearance, monitoring by senior officers for the pendency of COVID-related imports is also being undertaken.

"Recently the matter regarding a consignment of 3,000 oxygen concentrators lying with Customs authorities came up in the Delhi High Court and the same was clarified by the government counsel that presently no such consignment is pending with Custom authorities," it added.

The ministry of finance had also clarified the matter through an official release on May 3 in response to the flooding of social media with the news that 3,000 oxygen concentrators are lying with Customs.

The ministry stated, "We have again checked with our field formations and there is no such consignment lying with the Customs. However, since a photograph has also been put on twitter, if anybody has information as to where it is lying, the same may be informed to us and we will take immediate action.

(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.)
Over 67,000 people were vaccinated against in a day in the national capital, according to data shared by the government on Thursday.

As per the data, 47,086 people in the 18-44 age group got vaccinated till 9.30 pm on Wednesday.

A total of 5,230 people in the 45-59 age group were vaccinated, while 1,629 people, aged above 60, received the first dose of vaccine.

As many as 1,571 frontline workers and 591 healthcare workers were also given the first jab on Wednesday.

Over 11,200 people received the second dose of the vaccine during the same period, the data showed.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had last week said a plan has been formulated to vaccinate all adults against within the next three months.

He had said that everybody aged above 18 would be administered COVID-19 vaccines free of cost in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the pace of should not slow down, while stressing that the drive should be facilitated despite lockdowns and restrictions.

Modi was holding a review meeting of the public health response to Covid-19. Ministers including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Harsh Vardhan, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal and Mansukh Mandaviya, along with top officials, were present at the meeting.

Around 31 per cent of the eligible population over the age of 45 has been given at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the government data.

Taking note of the progress and the road map for scaling up production in the next few months, Modi said, Health care workers involved in must not be diverted to other duties.



He also called for the need to sensitise states to keep up the momentum of vaccination.

The government has said that 177 million vaccines have been supplied to states. More than 900,000 beneficiaries in the age group of 18 to 44 have received their first dose of the vaccine across 12 states.

The government has sent an advisory to the states to identify districts of concern where case positivity is 10 per cent or more and bed occupancy is higher than 60 per cent on either oxygen-supported or ICU beds.

States should be given help and guidance about leading indicators to ramp up health care infrastructure, the Prime Minister said.

Officials gave Modi a detailed picture of the Covid-19 outbreak in various states and districts and apprised him of the districts with high disease burden.

India recorded its highest single-day caseload of 412,262 new infections on Thursday and 3,980 deaths.

Ten states  Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan  reported 72 per cent of the new cases.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 57,640. It is followed by Karnataka with 50,112, while Kerala reported 41,953 new cases.

Oxygen concentrators not held at Customs



India has received 3,000 oxygen concentrators as international relief aid. One-third of these have come from China and the rest from Ireland, Thailand, the UK, Russia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Mauritius and Romania.

The health ministry said in a statement on Thursday that there was no oxygen concentrator still awaiting clearance from the Customs authority. The Indian Customs is swiftly clearing all consignments and no such figures of pendency exist across any port of import.



The issue of the Customs authorities holding on to a consignment of 3,000 oxygen concentrators recently came up in the Delhi High Court. It was clarified that no such consignment is pending with Custom authorities, the ministry said.

India has been receiving international donations and aid of Covid-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since April 27.

Modi also spoke to the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Telangana about the Covid-19 situation in their states, and with the lieutenant governors of Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry.
Hemingway Foundation officials say the contest is meant to spark an energized interest in the craft of writing through the works of the famous author. Its other key goal is to open the process to new writers, especially those who have not had their work published before.
A writ petition on Wednesday has been filed in the seeking Z plus security for CEO Adar Poonawalla and his family.

The petitioner has said Poonawalla should be given Z plus security for himself and his family, and his assets should be protected keeping the threats which were made to Poonawallah as per media reports.

The plea requested the court to give order to Maharashtra government and Pune Police Commissioner to file an FIR in the matter based on the petitioner's complaint which he has already submitted.

He also requested that by the time the order on his petition comes, Poonawalla and his family should be given ample police protection and there should be police deployment at Serum institute and other properties of Poonawalla.

On May 2, in an interview to a London newspaper, Poonawalla had complained of receiving threats from politicians and "powerful men" demanding quick delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine that his firm has been producing.

Poonawalla had also complained of being "vilified and blamed", and hinted at starting a new vaccine production unit in the United Kingdom.

He had said he had received calls from "some of the most powerful men in India", including "Chief Ministers, heads of business conglomerates and others.

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A day after writing to Prime



Minister seeking free COVID-19 vaccination for all, West Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday again shot a letter to him reminding him of his assurances made during election campaigns on releasing arrears of Rs 18,000 to farmers under the scheme.

Despite assurances by the prime minister, no fund has been received by either the state government or the farmers, Banerjee said in the letter.

"I will like to further impress that during your recent visits to the state you gave repeated assurances on releasing the arrear amount to Rs 18,000 to each farmer but till date no fund has been received by the state government or the farmers.

"I will request you to kindly advise the concerned ministry to release due fund(s) to the eligible farmers and share the database of the 21.79 lakh farmers," the letter read.

In its election manifesto, the BJP has promised to provide Rs 18,000 to 75 lakh farmers of the state under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme. Farmers get Rs 6,000 a year in three equal instalments under it.

Banerjee also reminded him of the letters written to the Centre earlier by the state government on providing the farmers of West Bengal with the benefits of the central scheme.

"Several communications were also made from the state agriculture department. However, no concrete response has yet been received from the Ministry on this," she wrote in the letter, adding that state nodal agency and state nodal officer were appointed and two bank accounts were opened for the purpose.

"Out of the 21.79 lakh farmers who had registered for the scheme as per the letter of the union agriculture minister sent last November, 14.91 lakh data have been updated in portal, which were duly verified and of which 9.84 lakh data are ready for PFMS," she said.

PFMS (Public Financial Management System) is a platform for e-payment of subsidy under Direct Benefit Transfer.

In the letter, Banerjee said that the state government, under the Krishak Bandhu scheme, has already disbursed Rs 1,498 crore to 57.67 lakh eligible farmers and Rs 242 crore to families of deceased farmers till February.

Comparing the income support schemes of the Centre and the state, Banerjee claimed that has excluded many people associated with agriculture.

"The has long exclusion list comprising of Bargadar/sharecroppers, persons giving self-declaration, serving/retired employees, Income Tax payers etc. Moreover, under the Krishak Bandhu scheme, beneficiaries get death benefit assistance of Rs two lakh for death below 60 years of age," she wrote.

This is the second letter Banerjee sent to Modi in two days after taking oath as the chief minister for the third time in a row on Wednesday.

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has authorised the one-shot Sputnik Light version of its COVID-19 vaccine for use, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Thursday, a move that could help vaccine supplies go further in countries with high infection rates.

Developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, the slimmed-down vaccine, which the RDIF said is 79.4% effective against COVID-19 and costs under $10 a dose, has been earmarked for export and could increase the number of people with partial immunity.

One of its main potential uses is as a vaccine that can be shipped to a country in the grip of an acute outbreak which needs to be subdued quickly.

"The single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4% efficacy according to analysed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia's mass vaccination programme between 5 December 2020 and 15 April 2021," the RDIF said in a statement.

A Phase III clinical trial involving 7,000 people was under way in Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana and other countries, the RDIF said. Interim results are expected later this month.

According to authorities, around 8 million Russians have so far been fully inoculated with the flagship two-dose Sputnik V, named after the Soviet-era satellite that triggered the space race in a nod to the project's geopolitical importance for Moscow.

Introducing a new member of the Sputnik family - a single dose Sputnik Light! Its a revolutionary 1-shot #COVID19 vaccine with 80% efficacy - higher than many 2-shot vaccines. Sputnik Light will double vaccination rates and help to handle epidemic peaks: Sputnik V pic.twitter.com/zw6JrywUOp  ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

Russian scientists last month said Sputnik V was 97.6% effective against COVID-19 in a "real-world" assessment based on data from 3.8 million people.

The slower pace of vaccination in compared to other countries with domestically produced vaccines has provoked questions over its export intentions from some European officials. The European Medicines Agency has not yet approved the shot and Austria on Tuesday said it would only buy Sputnik V after EMA approval.

"The single-dose regimen solves the challenge of immunizing large groups in a shorter time, which is especially important during the acute phase of the spread of coronavirus, achieving herd immunity faster," said RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev.

He added that the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine would remain the main source of vaccination in Russia, which has already authorised two other vaccines for use.
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Modi government to begin preparations to tackle the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The top court underscored the importance of ramping up a buffer stock of medical oxygen to prevent widespread panic among the general public.

The Centre Thursday told the Supreme Court that it has complied with its order and instead of 700 MT oxygen, it ensured a supply of 730 MT to Delhi for treating COVID-19 patients.

The apex court, while staying contempt proceedings initiated by Delhi High Court against central government officials for non-compliance of direction to supply 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi, had sought an answer from the Centre on Thursday morning.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that a survey was conducted in 56 major hospitals of the national capital on May 4 and it revealed that they had significant stock of liquid medical oxygen (LMO).

India, on Thursday, reported a daily rise of over 400,000 Covid cases for the second time this month, while a record 3,980 people succumbed to the virus amid a severe shortage of hospital beds and medical oxygen. Delhi in particular has been reeling from the shortage of oxygen.

During a hearing on the supply of oxygen to Delhi, the court said the Centre needs to look at the issue of oxygen supply on a pan-India basis. Justice Chandrachud said there is a need to look at oxygen audit and also reassess the basis for oxygen reallocation, according to ANI.

At present health professionals are in complete fatigue, how you will ensure better health care facilities?, observes Justice Chandrachud What will happen between & Monday? You (Centre) must augment supply, he asks You must give 700 MT oxygen to Delhi, says Justice Chandrachud  ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

The court also warned the Modi government that it will be held responsible if there is an error in policy framing. "Today, you have 1.5 lakh doctors who are waiting for NEET and have completed their courses. If you give them Rs 5000, nobody will come serve. How do you make sure they come and help ? Likewise, 2.5 lakh nurses are trained and are sitting at home. How do we tap into this for dealing with the possibility of a third wave? There is complete fatigue amongst the healthcare professionals. They have been at it since March 2020. We have to create spaces for existing body of health professionals. They are at the end of their tethers.

Calling them Corona Warriors, but theyre humans at the end of the day. Dont take this in an adversarial stance. When we make these suggestions, the idea is not to tell you that you didnt think of this," said Justice Chandrachud.

Justice Chandrachud: We understand that people die despite the best reports of doctors and we also understand there are deaths unrelated to oxygen. We give you that. But, equally oxygen today is a critical component. You cannot deny that.  Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 6, 2021

The Centre submitted a detailed plan to the court on procurement and supply of Oxygen to various states and union territories, according to ANI. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the court that a significant stock of Oxygen is there in Delhi hospitals at present. States like Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are also demanding more oxygen to cater to their hospital demands, Mehta added.

The Centre told the apex court it has complied with its order and instead of 700 MT oxygen, it ensured a supply of 730 MT to Delhi. However, the Delhi government's lawyer Rahul Mehra informed the court the city had received only 555 MT oxygen, not 730 MT as claimed by the Centre.

While granting the stay on contempt against the officials, the top court on Wednesday had made clear that it was not stopping the high court from monitoring COVID-19 management related issues.

It had also directed a meeting, even virtually, between officials of the Centre and Delhi government by last evening to discuss various aspects of augmenting the oxygen supply to the national capital.

Supreme Court's anticipation of third Covid wave comes a day after the government's Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan cautioned about the same.

As the virus mutates further, a third wave of COVID infection is inevitable and it is necessary to be prepared for new waves, said Raghavan.

With active cases at 3.5 million, the top scientific officer said it was not expected that the second wave would hit the country with such ferocity. "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 be prepared for new waves," he said.

Raghvan said although vaccines are efficacious against new mutations like the UK one and the double mutant, surveillance and vaccine updates are needed as the virus mutates further.
The on Thursday refused to expunge critical remarks of the holding the poll panel responsible for surge in COVID cases in country, and also trashed the plea that media be restrained from reporting observations of judicial proceedings, saying it will be a retrograde act.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud, however, acknowledged that the high court's remarks were harsh, but did not expunge them saying they do not form part of the judicial order.

Media has right to cover court proceedings, the bench said, adding, Off the cuff remarks are susceptible for misinterpretation.

The top court lauded high courts for commendable work done during COVID-19 and said they are effectively supervising pandemic management.

The bench, also comprising justice M R Shah, said the media cannot be restrained from reporting observations made during the course of hearings.

It will be retrograde to restrain HCs from making observations or gagging media from reporting observations, it said.

Courts have to remain alive to evolving technology of media, it is not good, if it is restrained from reporting judicial proceedings, the bench said.

The verdict came on an appeal of the poll panel against the Madras High Court's observation.

The high court had on April 26 castigated the EC for the surge in COVID-19 cases during the second wave of the pandemic, holding it "singularly" responsible for the spread of the viral disease, called it the "the most irresponsible institution" and even said its officials may be booked under murder charges.

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After the apex court has struck down the in excess of 50 per cent ceiling limit as unconstitutional, Chief Minister on Wednesday said that he would send a formal request to the Center in this regard and if needed, he will take a delegation also for a follow-up on the same.

"The Maratha community is very patiently waiting for steps from the Center. I will send a formal request to the Centre in this regard and if needed, I will take a delegation also for a follow-up on the same," Thackeray said.

He also requested the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind after the Supreme Court struck down the law granting quota to Marathas.

"Unfortunate that the Supreme Court rejected the law of reservation to the Maratha community in We had unanimously passed a law for the sake of life with self-respect to our Maratha community. Now SC says that can not make law on this, only the Prime Minister and President can," the Chief Minister said.

"We urge PM Narendra Modi to intervene in this matter and make a law to give reservation to Marathas," he added.

The Supreme Court, earlier today, struck down the reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community brought in by the Maharashtra government in 2018, saying it exceeded the 50 per cent cap imposed earlier.

The Supreme Court in its judgment said that there was no valid ground to breach 50 per cent reservation while granting Maratha reservation. The apex court had reserved its verdict last month.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister on Wednesday approved memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and the United Kingdom on and mobility partnership.

The MoU is aimed at liberalising issuance of visas promoting mobility of students, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular and human trafficking between the two sides, read an official release.

It would benefit Indian students, academics, and researchers, migrants for professional and economic reasons and those willing to contribute through various projects to the economic development of both countries.

"This MoU can support the innovation ecosystem in both countries by facilitating free flow of talent," the government said.

The Ministry of External Affairs would be closely monitoring the effective implementation of the MoU through Joint Working Group mechanism.

The new partnership will see both countries benefit from a new scheme for young Indian and British professionals to live and work in one another's countries, thereby boosting work visas for Indian nationals and enhancing migration cooperation between the two nations.

The agreement will allow thousands of those aged between 18 and 30 years old in India and the UK to work and live in each other's country for up to two years.

"The landmark migration and mobility partnership announced today will create new opportunities for young Indian professionals in the UK whilst also enhancing cooperation to ensure our system supports genuine workers and students," said British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis.

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The USs sudden support for a waiver of patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines -- in response to requests from countries such as India -- is heading to the World Trade Organization (WTO), setting the stage for potentially thorny negotiations over sharing the proprietary know-how needed to boost global supplies of the life-saving shots.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged member nations to support India as it continues to battle the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the commerce ministry said, We are hopeful that with a consensus-based approach, the waiver can be approved quickly at the WTO.

The waiver is an important step for enabling rapid scaling up of manufacture and timely availability of affordable Covid 19 vaccines and essential medical products.



Global pharma majors are however not amused. Representatives for the worlds major pharmaceutical and medical companies have warned Group of 20 leaders that moves to weaken intellectual property rights protection will reduce investments and hurt innovation.

The warning comes in a report prepared for G-20 leaders by representatives of health and life-sciences companies including Novartis AG, Sanofi FP, AstraZeneca PLC and Johnson & Johnson, and from organisations such as the OECD and Europes EFPIA pharmaceutical industry association.

US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai said an extraordinary measure to support waiver of intellectual property (IP) protection on Covid-19 vaccines had been taken to help end the pandemic.

World Health Organization (WHO) D G Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the White Houses support for the temporary waiver of intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines reflected the wisdom and moral leadership of the US to support vaccine equity.

Experts said the US coming forward and showing support would have a domino effect as there will be pressure on other countries to fall in line. The US has risen to the occasion and taken up the leadership role once again. Its a very significant development though there will be tough negotiations ahead. There will also be enormous pressure on other nations to support the waiver and others will have to act in tandem, said Jayant Dasgupta, former Indian ambassador to the WTO.

India and South Africa, along with 57 other WTO members, have co-sponsored a proposal for a temporary waiver on certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. The waiver, if adopted, will help nations overcome legal barriers stopping them from coming up with their own vaccine for Covid-19.

The development comes soon after US Congress members last week urged President Joe Biden to support India and South Africa on the TRIPS waiver. Besides, there has been mounting criticism that developed nations are hoarding vaccines. Till now, countries have been divided on the issue, with some developed ones such as the European Union (EU) and Japan opposing it amid concerns that such waivers will take away protection given to pharma companies.

In a bid to reconcile positions, India is also planning to submit a revised proposal on TRIPS, which is a multilateral agreement on intellectual property.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a virtual conference in Florence on Thursday: The EU is ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner.



The US and Europe have been strong supporters of IP protections at the WTO over the years, particularly as a way to enforce problems like Chinese patent infringement.
The US on Wednesday backed temporarily suspending intellectual property protection for (Covid-19) vaccines, a move aimed at enabling more countries to get equitable access to vaccines.

US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai said an extraordinary measure to support waiver of intellectual property (IP) protection on Covid-19 vaccine has been taken to help end the pandemic. The US will also actively participate in the World Trade Organisations (WTO) negotiations to make that happen.

India and South Africa, along with 57 other WTO members, have co-sponsored a proposal for temporary waiver from certain provisions of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. The waiver, if adopted, will help nations overcome legal barriers stopping them from coming up with their own vaccine for Covid-19.

This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures. 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. We will actively participate in text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) needed to make that happen, May 5 statement from the USTR said.

The statement further said that negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the global trade body and the complexity of the issues involved. Last week, Tai had met top vaccine makers such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca to discuss proposed waivers of some provisions of the WTOs TRIPS agreement for Covid-19.

The development comes against the backdrop of criticism that developed countries are hoarding vaccines. Till now, countries have been divided on the issue, with some developed nations such as the EU and Japan opposing it amid concerns that such waivers will take away protection given to pharma companies.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged member nations to support India as it continues to battle the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to have a sense of urgency on how we approach this issue of response to COVID-19 because the world is watching, she said at the meeting of the organisations General Council on Wednesday.

In the past, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said that a temporary waiver focuses only on Covid-19 vaccines, associated medicines, and cure.

The Administrations aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible.As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the Administration will continue to ramp up its efforts  working with the private sector and all possible partners  to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution.It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines, the statement said.

In a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed him about India's initiative at the WTO for a relaxation in the norms of the agreement on TRIPS, in order to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries.
I didnt have an answer at that point and I quickly said To study, Parakkat said. Since then, its been a tradition in my family that any time I was going away from home or embarking on something new, he would ask that question. Today, as I start this journey, that question is playing in my head. The answer coming to me is I would like to contribute to bring Oak Park together and make Oak Park a community that leads communities across America on topics that define our generation and the next.
Vice President on Friday will deliver a message of solidarity with the people of India, as the US partners with the country to save lives and hasten the end of the pandemic, the State Department has said.

Harris is slated to deliver her address at the top of an online event Bolstering US COVID Relief Efforts in India: Perspectives from the Diaspora organised by the State Department.

Harris, 56, is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected US Vice President.

will provide an opening message on US solidarity with the people of India as we partner to save lives & hasten the end of the pandemic, the South and Central Asia Bureau of the State Department announced on Wednesday.

The event on Friday noon local time will be hosted by Ervin Massinga, senior advisor in the South and Central Asia Bureau of the State Department.

Massinga will provide an overview of the US government's relief efforts and panelists will discuss commercial and civil society-led efforts to address the current emergency, what support will be needed to re-open India after the second wave, and how they can align efforts to bring the two countries closer together moving forward.

Harris's remarks would be followed by a panel discussion featuring diaspora leaders including Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi; Lata Krishnan from American Indian Foundation; Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami and Gunisha Kaur, Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, Medical Director, Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights.

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Rs 100 crores have been allotted from the Uttarakhand's Chief Minister's relief fund for COVID-19 vaccination of citizens between18-44 years of age in the state, Additional Secretary to the state government Arunendra Singh Chauhan has informed.

Chauhan wrote a letter to the new Director-General of Medical Health and Family Welfare and informed about the allotted fund for the vaccination.

Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Panwar and Health Secretary Amit Negi held a press conference on Wednesday and informed about the efforts being made by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection in

The Health Secretary said that more than 7,000 infected persons have been found in the state in the last 24 hours, in view of which the health department has been put on alert mode and it has been said to make reasonable efforts to prevent infection.

According to Negi, there is no shortage of oxygen in the state and all the private and government hospitals have been informed that whenever the hospitals are about to run out of oxygen, they will inform the concerned Chief Medical Officer 24 hours in advance so that with immediate effect oxygen can be transported.

According to the Health Secretary, the central government has given three lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses for people above 45 years of age in the state, and very soon the vaccination drive for beneficiaries in the age group 18-44 will start in
Israel shows the world what return to office will look like

Helped by one of the fastest vaccination drives in the world, Israel has more or less reopened its economy and nearly two months after doing so, it is moving on from the work-from-home era, something the world is keeping a close eye on. Employers and employees around the world are watching with interest to see what happens in a country that has come to be seen as a late-pandemic bellwether and how the life after looks like. Israel offers a glimpse for other economic hubs of what work may look like soon, as workers and employees alike seek to rekindle the sense of community they lost last year. Read here



Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 155,216,499 Global deaths: 3,242,360 Nations with most cases: US (32,557,606), India (21,077,410), Brazil (14,930,183), France (5,767,541), Turkey (4,955,594). Source: John Hopkins Research Center

Biden backs suspending patents on vaccines

Amid criticism for not doing enough as the world leader, Biden has set out to take, what he calls, some extraordinary steps to help the world tide over the crisis. In line with this, Biden administration said it backs waiving intellectual property rights for vaccines against the deadly coronavirus disease at the World Trade Organization (WHO). The proposal if cleared, could allow drugmakers across the globe access to the closely guarded trade secrets of how the viable vaccines have been made. This comes in the wake of raging inequality in access to vaccines between the developed and developing nations, especially among the poor countries. Read here

Pfizer vaccine is effective against severe disease caused by two variants, finds study

Studies based on real-world data from Israel and Qatar suggest the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine is extremely effective against the severe disease caused by two variants, found in UK and South Africa. Earlier reaearch showed vaccines appeared to be less effective against B.1.351 (South African Variant). The katest study, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, is based on information about more than 200,000 people from Qatars national Covid-19 databases between February 1 and March 31. The researchers found that the vaccine 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 both UK and South African Variants. Read here

Speed production of vaccines or Covid wont go until 2024: French minister at G7 meeting

Vaccine production should be ramped up on a warp speed and more needed to be done to ensure they were reaching the worlds poorest people, and the G7 had a responsibility to do more, the French foreign minister said as he attended the G7 meeting. He said the coronavirus will continue to wreak havoc across the world till 2024 unless the G7 focuses on increasing vaccine production. If we continue at this pace  then there will not be global immunity until 2024. Are we going to wait until 2024 keeping on with our masks, our tests, our constraints and our fears? I do not think that is a solution for us or the world," he said. Read here
Seeking the Centres active



cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, Odisha Thursday demanded exemption of on purchase of vaccines and financial assistance to states from the cess and surcharge collected by the Union government from various products.

Noting that states have been asked to purchase vaccines from their resources for inoculating people between the ages of 18 and 45, Patnaik said, these purchases attract the Goods and Service Taxes (GST), making the vaccines costly for the states.

In a letter to Union Finance Minister NIrmala Sitharaman, Patnaik wrote, "I hope the above suggestions will be examined and urgent necessary action is taken in view of the emergency health situation in the country and to strengthen our unified fight against Covid."



If vaccines are exempted from GST, it will reduce the cost on the part of the states and facilitate the drive towards universal vaccination, the chief minister said.

"In this long and sustained effort required to fight COVID-19, it is important that the states are supported so that the entire country fights as one. Lack of finance should not affect any state affecting the entire country in turn," he said.

The Odisha chief minister also suggested that the additional resources raised through various cess and surcharges on petrol, diesel, liquor, and other items, which are exclusively available to the Union government, "maybe suitably shared with state governments at this critical juncture".

"This will strengthen our fight against the pandemic including provision of vaccinations, free treatment, undertaking preventive measures, and so on," Patnaik said.

Highlighting that India is going through a tough phase in fighting the pandemic, the chief minister said, "It is a war-like situation and all our resources should be focussed on winning this war against corona. This is not going to be a one-time battle, we will have a sustained challenge in this fight against Covid till serious advances are made in treatment and vaccination".

In a related development, Patnaik sanctioned an additional amount of over Rs 7.50 crore to Puri, Subarnapur, and Sambalpur districts from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund (CMRF) for COVID management.

While an additional fund of Rs 2 crore was sanctioned for Puri district, Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for Subarnapur district and Rs 4.62 crore for Sambalpur district, the Chief Ministers Office said in a release on Thursday.

Earlier, the Chief minister had released an amount of Rs 14.59 crore for Puri district, Rs 2.50 crore for Subarnapur district, and Rs 11.50 crore for Sambalpur district to tackle the pandemic.

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The spiralling crisis from resurgence of COVID-19 cases in India has dented support for the ruling BJP but voter support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party will remain strong over the coming quarters and through this humanitarian crisis, Fitch Solutions said Thursday.

The sudden and steep surge in the number of cases the highest-ever 4,12,262 new infections and a record 3,980 daily death toll in a day has swamped the health system, which seemed to have collapsed.

While containment measures will weigh on India's ongoing economic recovery, the localised nature of restrictions means that the actual impact is likely to be much less severe relative to April-June 2020 when a strict nationwide lockdown was imposed, Fitch Solutions said.

It forecasted real GDP to grow 9.5 per cent in 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022).

Risks to this forecast are to the downside, as the surge in new daily COVID-19 caseloads will most likely see an extension and expansion of lockdowns, it said adding that the resurgence of COVID-19 cases exposed cracks in the Indian healthcare system.

"While there appears to be signs that the spiralling COVID-19 crisis in India has dented support for the ruling BJP, we maintain our view that voter support for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP will remain strong over the coming quarters and through this humanitarian crisis," Fitch Solutions said.

This second wave in India has been widely attributed to the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK which had ramped up cases in Punjab. Another possible culprit is a homegrown variant, B.1.617, with two worrying mutations that originated in Maharashtra, the worst affected state.

"In addition to this, in India, a year of COVID-19 fatigue gave way to an ill-advised euphoria over herd immunity as cases began to dip in January 2021.

"Inadequate government measures and people not adhering to public health guidelines, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, are also the main reasons for India's upward tick in infections," it said.

It added that a number of political, social and religious events and elections for local bodies in multiple states and preparation for Assembly elections in others also created an opportunity for the virus to move fast.

Fitch Solutions said that in March this year, a few weeks before the new surge, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is also a physician, asserted that India was in the "endgame" of the COVID-19 pandemic, justifying the government's decision to export medical resources to other countries.

India exported around 193 million doses of vaccines.

Fitch Solutions said "the perception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has considerably mismanaged the COVID-19 crisis will weigh on his and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) popularity somewhat. Some of this erosion in popularity is evidenced in the state elections".

"A less-than-stellar performance at these polls adds to the political challenges the BJP had been facing in recent months, which include the anti-farm reform protests by farmers and anti-BJP government sentiment on social media platform Twitter amid the resurgence in COVID-19 cases, which the government has sought to suppress.

"For now, however, we are cautious against concluding that the BJP's support has weakened across the country, given Modi's strong personality-led support across the country, which we believe can still sustain through this humanitarian crisis," it said.

With 8.5 hospital beds per 10,000 population and eight physicians per 10,000, the country's healthcare sector is not equipped for such a crisis. Hospitals across the country have filled to capacity and in addition to oxygen running out, intensive care units are operating at full capacity and nearly all in the country ventilators are in use.

"Despite surging infections, an overburdened healthcare system, and non-stop burial and crematorium activity, the Modi administration remains resistant to imposing a stringent sweeping nationwide lockdown the likes of Q1FY21 (April 2020-March 2021).

"This was due to considerations around the economic damage another such lockdown would cause," it said.

The onus of the pandemic containment has hence been shifted to the state governments, Fitch added.

As of early May 2021, at least 11 states and Union Territories have imposed some level of lockdowns in localised high-risk areas, ranging from night curfews, weekend lockdowns and strict lockdowns over a multi-week period, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
Indias is expected to arrive over the Kerala coast on June 1, its normal onset date, secretary, ministry of earth sciences, M Rajeevan said on Thursday.

Though, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) will officially announce the 2021 monsoon onset date on May 15, Rajeevan, in a tweet on Thursday, said that early indications suggest that monsoon will arrive over Kerala on time, that is, around June 1.

A timely onset of monsoon over Kerala augurs well for its subsequent progress and movement over the mainland. This, in turn, should aid in timely plantation of kharif crops.

The IMD, last month, in its first forecast for the 2021 monsoon, said the southwest monsoon, which will start from June, is expected to be normal at 98 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA).

IMDs forecast is with a model error of plus and minus 5 per cent. The LPA of monsoon is 88 cm. Rainfall between 96 and 104 per cent of the LPA is considered a normal rainfall.

The Met department also said initial forecasts show that, barring eastern and northeastern parts of the country that includes states like Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, North-Chhattisgarh, East UP and Assam, rainfall in all other regions of the country is expected to be normal.

However, several experts say that below-normal rains in East and North-East India is not always harmful as the quantum of rains in these parts, and also the daily average, is higher than other regions of the country.

The said, cumulatively, across India, there is 61 per cent chance of monsoon this year being normal to above-normal and 39 per cent chance of being below normal.

There is a 14 per cent chance of the rains being deficient, that is, below 90 per cent of the LPA. Earlier, private weather forecasting agency Skymet, too, had predicted a normal monsoon this year.
President Ursula von der Leyen says that the 27-nation bloc is ready to talk about a US proposal to share the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines to help speed the end of the pandemic.

Without firmly committing to it, she said we are ready to discuss how the US proposal for waiver on intellectual property protection for covid vaccines could help end the crisis.

In a video address, she said that, In the short run, however, we call upon all vaccine-producing countries to allow exports.

(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.)
U.S. support for a proposal to waive intellectual-property protections for Covid-19 vaccines might be good news for the global inoculation campaign, but its an unwelcome turn for firms whose share prices have been buoyed by profits from shots.



Pfizer Inc., BioNTech SE, Novavax Inc. and CureVac NV declined Thursday in U.S. premarket trading. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co., which has the rights to develop and market BioNTechs shot in China, plunged 14% in Hong Kong, the most ever.

With many countries struggling with a resurgence of the virus, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Wednesday the Biden administration will take part in negotiations for the text of a waiver of the rights at the World Trade Organization. The European Union said Thursday it was willing to participate.

CanSino Biologics Inc., which makes one of Chinas domestic vaccines, tanked 15%. Walvax Biotechnology Co. dropped 11% and Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co. fell 8.7%, dragging the CSI 300 Indexs healthcare gauge more than 5% lower.





In Japan, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., a local partner for AstraZeneca Plcs vaccine, slid 1.4% even as positive news around inoculations in western economies helped boost the benchmark Topix index 1.5% higher.

Vaccines have been a big business for the firms that make them, with Pfizer, BioNTechs partner outside of China, raising its forecast for 2021 vaccine sales to $26 billion just this week. Pfizer slipped 3.4% in premarket trading, while BioNTech slumped 7.3%, Novavax lost 2.8%, Curevac slipped 4.9% and Moderna Inc. fell 1.7%. Shares of many of the U.S.-listed had fallen late in Wednesdays regular trading session after Tais comments.

The U.S. move probably isnt great news for the vaccine manufacturers who will now face generic copies of their vaccine, but as the mutation of the virus has shown, continued research and innovation will be needed and that should provide those with future earnings from newer vaccines so I would expect the impact to be short-lived and possibly limited, said Olivier dAssier, head of APAC applied research at Qontigo GmbH.

The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations condemned the move as disappointing.

A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem, the group said in a statement. Waiving patents of Covid-19 vaccines will not increase production nor provide practical solutions needed to battle this global health crisis.

Umer Raffat, a senior managing director at Evercore ISI who specializes in the pharmaceutical industry, urged caution on the news, noting U.S. support didnt mean it was a 100% done deal as other countries are also opposed. It remains to be seen if U.S. leaderships position sways others, Ruffat wrote in a note.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the European Parliament resolution against which asks for a review of the country's GSP Plus (GSP+) status, citing an increase in laws that it sees as discriminatory towards minorities and fundamental rights is "dictation (from the West)".

"We will not take action against anyone on the directives of any country," said Chaudhry on Tuesday, reported Dawn.

Chaudhry said that the government would not take any dictation (from the West) to settle internal issues, including action against banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik (TLP).

Later, talking to Dawn, the minister claimed that the issue of GSP Plus status and EU Parliament's resolution was not discussed in the cabinet meeting.

"However, the government is firm in its stance that it will not take any dictation on an internal issue."

Chaudhry said the action that had been taken against the TLP which led to its ban was the government's own decision because the party had violated Islamic norms and laws of the country.

TLP had demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador and a boycott of French goods after Charlie Hebdo republished its Muhammad cartoons in September last year.

The banned group in three days of violent protests last month created havoc across Pakistan, where hundreds of protesters and police personnel were injured and thousands of TLP activists and supporters were arrested and booked for attacking law enforcement personnel and blocking main roads and highways in protest against the arrest of their leader Saad Hussain Rizvi.

The European Parliament resolution was presented by Renew Europe, a liberal, pro-European political group of the European Parliament in April 2021. It was adopted with a majority of 681 votes against six, reported Geo News.

The resolution said that has violated the conditions of its Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status.

The GSP+ is a special component of the GSP scheme that provides additional trade incentives to developing countries already benefitting from GSP.

The GSP+ status granted to Pakistan requires the country to demonstrate progress on the implementation of 27 core conventions. This condition constitutes strong leverage for the in terms of monitoring any direct advocacy with Pakistan, said the European Commission.

The EU Parliament session discussed the situation of religious freedoms in Pakistan under its 'human rights and democracy resolutions' manifesto.

(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.)
French fishermen angry over loss of access to waters off their coast gathered their boats in protest Thursday off the English Channel island of Jersey, the flashpoint for the first major conflict between and Britain over fishing rights in the wake of

Dimitri Rogoff, who heads a grouping of Normandy fishermen, said about 50 boats from French ports along the western Normandy coast joined the protest Thursday morning, gathering their fleet off the Jersey port of St. Helier.l



He said the protest over licenses for French fishermen was not an attempt to blockade the port but rather a peaceful method of voicing anger over reduced access to Jersey waters.

This isn't an act of war, Rogoff said in a phone interview.

It's an act of protest.

Britain sent two Royal Navy vessels, HMS Severn and HMS Tamar, to patrol the waters around Jersey and monitor the situation, the British government said.

Opponents accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of escalating the crisis, and of using the fishing spat as an Election Day stunt. The story dominated newspaper front page on Thursday, as voters go to the polls in local and regional elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

But the move was welcomed by Jersey fishermen. Fisherman John Dearing said the scene off St. Helier on Thursday was like an invasion."



It was quite a sight, he told British news agency PA. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea.

There have been numerous bouts of friction in the past between French and UK fisherman. Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and a self-governing British Crown Dependency near the coast of northern

The latest dispute, the first since Britain's departure from the European Union, came after the island implemented new requirements requiring fishermen to submit their past fishing activities in order to receive a license to continue operating in Jersey waters.

Authorities on Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, have accused of acting disproportionately after Paris threatened to cut off electricity to the island.

Jersey and the other Channel Islands are closer to France than to Britain. Jersey receives most of its electricity from France, supplied through undersea cables.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin warned Tuesday that France was ready to take retaliatory measures, accusing Jersey of stalling in issuing licenses to French boats under the terms of the UK's post- trade deal with the EU.
I just wanted to thank everybody here in the community [for allowing me] to serve on this board, Iseli said. I tried to be a good student of what I needed to learn. Ive enjoyed working with all of you. This is such an incredible asset for this community. We so need to figure out some of the challenges not just in this community, but in this country. Not that we havent done great things in the past four years--we have--but we need to keep it going.
After the independent Oversight Board upheld Facebook's decision to ban Donald Trump, the former US President said that this is the "political price" he has to pay for not just by Facebook, but by Google and as well.

Trump slammed Facebook, Google and and called them "corrupt".

"Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth," he said in an email to The New York Times late on Wednesday.

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.

"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.

While the Board concluded that Trump should have been suspended from and Instagram, it also found that failed to impose a proper penalty.

The Board stated that within six months of the decision, must reexamine this arbitrary penalty and impose one consistent with its own rules.

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.

--IANS

na/pgh

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cascade Investment, the holding company created by Bill Gates, transferred stock in two of Mexicos largest companies to Melinda French Gates, bringing the total amount shes received in the past few days to more than $2 billion.

Cascade moved stock in Coca-Cola FEMSA and Grupo Televisa to her control, according to regulatory filings dated May 3, the same day the Gateses announced they were ending their 27-year marriage. Cascade shifted about $1.8 billion of shares in Canadian National Railway Co. and AutoNation Inc. this week to French Gates, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Their separation is expected to involve a wealth transfer on a scale thats only been seen in a few other divorces, though few details have yet emerged. It could also have ramifications for one of the most important philanthropic organizations on the planet. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given away in excess of $50 billion to support healthcare, education, gender equality and efforts to combat climate change.

Gates, the 65-year-old co-founder of Microsoft Corp. is worth $144.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. French Gates, 56, is a former Microsoft manager whos gained prominence co-running the foundation, and more recently for starting Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company to advance social progress in the U.S.

Bill Gatess biggest asset is Cascade Investment, which he created with the proceeds of Microsoft stock sales and dividends. Cascade oversees a vast portfolio comprising real estate, energy and hospitality as well as stakes in dozens of public companies.

The biggest public position is agricultural-machinery maker Deere & Co., with Cascade holding more than 10% of the stock valued at about $12 billion, followed by an $11.8 billion stake in waste-collection company Republic Services Inc., Bloomberg data show. Thats followed by Canadian National and Ecolab Inc.

Most of the portfolio, overseen by money manager Michael Larson, is comprised of North American companies, but it also owns stock in Diageo Plc, the worlds largest distiller, and London-based private-jet services firm Signature Aviation Plc.

The Gateses are also among the largest landowners in America and have homes including their 66,000 square-foot mansion in Medina, Washington.
SK Corp., the holding company of SK Group, has decided to invest tens of billions of won worth of shares in Monolith, an American hydrogen company, and plans to sign a contract within this month.

SK is expanding its steps in the field of hydrogen energy, which is attracting attention as a key area for in the environment, society and governance (ESG) field.

According to related industries on Tuesday, SK Co., Ltd. is planning to participate as a major strategic investor (SI) in the Monolith funding program being developed by the US local energy company NeXtra. It is known that the specific share ratio and amount are being adjusted.

Established in 2012, Monolith is a company with its own technology to extract hydrogen through carbon processing with carbon dioxide generated in this process processed into solid carbon black, which is a material for rubber or ink. It is a technology classified as "green hydrogen", made through 100 per cent water decomposition, and carbon processing that reduces greenhouse gas emissions with "hydrogen cyanide" as an intermediate step of the "blue hydrogen".

Monolith is known as a highly profitable company, not only producing carbon black by applying cyanohydrogen technology, but also producing agricultural fertilizers by mixing nitrogen gas with extracted hydrogen. Currently, it is constructing a pilot plant in Hallum, Nebraska, with a cost of about 100 billion won, and has recently announced an plan for the second plant worth an additional one trillion won. SK is expected to continue technical alliances and production investments with Monolith by participating in this funding as an SI.

(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 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 Organisation 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 US officials said it would not have an immediate effect on the global supply of COVID-19 shots.

"This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures," said Tai.

"The administration's aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible," she said.

Tai's announcement comes hours after WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spoke to a closed-door meeting of ambassadors from developing and developed countries that have been wrangling over the issue, but agree on the need for wider access to COVID-19 treatments, WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said.



ALSO READ: China halting flights to India could hurt pharma supplies, say companies



The WTO's General Council -- made up of ambassadors -- was taking up the pivotal issue of a temporary waiver for intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines and other tools, which South Africa and India first proposed in October.

The idea has gained support in the developing world and among some progressive lawmakers in the West.

Rockwell said a WTO panel on intellectual property was set to take up the waiver proposal again at a tentative meeting later this month, before a formal meeting June 8-9.

No consensus -- which is required under WTO rules -- was expected to emerge from the ambassadors' two-day meeting Wednesday and Thursday. But Rockwell pointed to a change in tone after months of wrangling.

"I would say that the discussion was far more constructive, pragmatic. It was less emotive and less finger pointing than it had been in the past, Rockwell said, citing a surge in cases in places like India.

"I think that this feeling of everyone-being-in-it-together was being expressed in a way that I had not heard to this point."



Authors of the proposal, which has faced resistance from many countries with influential pharmaceutical and biotech industries, have been revising it in hopes of making it more palatable.

Okonjo-Iweala, in remarks posted on the WTO website, said it was incumbent on us to move quickly to put the revised text on the table, but also to begin and undertake text-based negotiations".

"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, that is "acceptable to all sides," she said.



Co-sponsors of the idea were shuttling between different diplomatic missions to make their case, according to a Geneva trade official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. A deadlock persists, and opposing sides remain far apart, the official said.

The argument, part of a long-running debate about intellectual property protections, centres on lifting patents, copyrights and protections for industrial design and confidential information to help expand the production and deployment of vaccines during supply shortages.

The aim is to suspend the rules for several years, just long enough to beat down the pandemic.

The issue has become more pressing with a surge in cases in India, the world's second-most populous country and a key producer of vaccines, including one for COVID-19 that relies on technology from Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca.

Proponents, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, note that such waivers are part of the WTO toolbox and insist there's no better time to use them than during the once-in-a-century pandemic that has taken 3.2 million lives, infected more than 437 million people and devastated economies.

More than 100 countries have come out in support of the proposal, and a group of 110 members of Congress -- all fellow Democrats of Biden -- sent him a letter in April that called on him to support the waiver.

Opponents say a waiver would be no panacea. They insist that production of coronavirus vaccines is complex and simply can't be ramped up by easing intellectual property, and say lifting protections could hurt future innovation.
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 45 points higher at 14,738 around 8:15 am, indicating a firm start for the Indian on Thursday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to sway the today:

Results today: A total of 25 firms are slated to post their March quarter numbers today, including Hero MotoCorp, Tata Consumer, Adani Power, Blue Star, Hikal, Icra and Raymond.

HeroMoto Corp, slated to report its March quarter results (Q4FY21) on May 6, is expected to post nearly 60 per cent year-on-year growth in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) aided by healthy sales volume and low base effect. However, price hikes taken due to BS-VI transition and to off-set increase in input costs may not be enough to cushion Ebitda margin hit, say analysts. READ MORE

reported a higher-than-expected consolidated net profit at Rs 6,644 crore in the March quarter (Q4) of FY21, against a net loss of Rs 1,481 crore in the corresponding period last year. The companys performance was best-ever across metrics such as revenue, Ebitda and net profit (excluding exceptional items).

IDBI Bank: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in Ltd, government said on Wednesday.

Adani Enterprises on Wednesday reported 282.2 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 233.95 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The consolidated income of the company during the quarter was at Rs 13,688.95 crore.

Tata Motors: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a detailed probe against Tata Motors for alleged abuse of its dominant position with respect to dealership agreements.

Maruti Suzuki India, on Wednesday, said its total production in April 2021 stood at 159,955 units, down 7 per cent from March this year.

Maharashtra Seamless: ONGC has issued the letter of award to Jindal Drilling & Industries for deployment of Jack-up drilling rig 'Jindal Explorer' owned by Maharashtra Seamless on charter hire contract for a period of 3 years.

Praj Industries: HDFC Mutual Fund sold 434,583 equity shares (0.24 per cent) in Praj Industries via open market transaction on May 3, reducing shareholding to 6.51 per cent.

Adani Green Energy reported consolidated profit of Rs 104 crore for Q4FY21 against Rs 56 crore reported in Q4FY20.

Wipro partnered with Transcell Oncologics to transform vaccine safety assessment using augmented intelligence.

Cipla: Roche India, on May 5, said it received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for the antibody cocktail Casirivimab and Imdevimab in India. Cipla will market and distribute the product in India.
Shares of rose 6 per cent and hit a new high of Rs 1,128.80 on the BSE in intra-day trade on Thursday after the company reported a higher-than-expected consolidated net profit, attributable to owners of the company, at Rs 6,644 crore in the March quarter (Q4) of FY21, against a net loss of Rs 1,481 crore in the corresponding period last year.



Revenue from operations jumped 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 49,977 crore on the back of higher steel prices and strong volumes, leading to strong operational gains.

The stock recovered 8 percent from an intraday low of Rs 1,044, touched in early morning deals on the BSE. In the past one month, has rallied 30 per cent, against 0.74 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Tata Steels consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for Q4FY21 came in at Rs 14,184 crore (up 48 per cent QoQ, 196 per cent YoY). standalone operations reported EBITDA/tonne of Rs 27,775/tonne, while European operations reported EBITDA/tonne of US$66/tonne.

Tata Steel reported a steady operational performance in Q4FY21 wherein standalone operations EBITDA/tonne came in higher than our estimate. Key highlight for FY21 was the remarkable debt repayment drive carried out by the company wherein Tata Steel consolidated operations net debt fell around 28 per cent in FY21, ICICI Securities said in a note.

Overall in FY21, Tata Steel consolidated operations repaid debt to the tune of Rs 29,390 crore (net debt repayment of Rs 10,781 crore in Q4FY21). Hence, Tata Steels consolidated net debt declined from Rs 104,779 crore as on March 2020 to Rs 75,389 crore as on March 2021. Net debt to EBITDA improved to 2.44x and net debt to equity improved to 0.98x.

With a strong steel price and Ebitda generation outlook, we believe FY22 deleveraging is likely to be higher than the companys guidance (of over US$1bn). Tata has accelerated Capex allocation for a pellet plant and cold roll mill (CRM) at Kalinganagar, and has restarted work on 5 MTPA expansions. It also recommended a dividend of Rs 25/share. The outlook for steel prices, European profitability and timeline for Kalinganagar expansion will be key items from its earnings call, analysts at CLSA said in the first take of Tata Steel result.
Propelled by an all-round beat in the March quarter (Q4FY21), shares hit a fresh record high of Rs 1,128.8 apiece on the BSE after they rallied 6 per cent in the intra-day deals. Recovering 8 per cent from the days low, the stock surpassed its previous record high of Rs 1,088.8 touched on May 5, 2021. In the past one month, the stock of the firm has zoomed 30 per cent as against a 0.74 per cent decline in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex.

On Wednesday, Limited reported its best-ever performance across metrics such as revenue, Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation), and net profit (excluding exceptional items).

At the bottom line, it clocked higher-than-expected consolidated net profit at Rs 6,644 crore, against a net loss of Rs 1,481 crore in the corresponding period last year. Revenue from operations, meanwhile, jumped 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 49,977 crore on the back of higher steel prices and strong volumes, leading to strong operational gains.

Given the strong results, analysts now believe that Tata Steel, which became the third private sector firm in India to report quarterly revenues of Rs 50,000 crore after Reliance Industries (RIL) and Tata Motors, to report an even-better April to June quarter as steel prices continue to rise.

We estimate the impact of iron ore sales at Rs600/tonne sequentially. Its cash cost per tonne rose 8 per cent QoQ to Rs 36,318. With spot steel prices around Rs 9,000/t, higher than the Q4 average, Q1Fy22 is poised to be even better, said global brokerage CLSA in its report.

Heres how analysts interpret the results:

Jefferies

Recommendation: BUY | Target price: Rs 1,125



Adjusted Ebitda, excluding certain foreign exchange and other revaluations, was at Rs 13,900 crore  up 68 per cent QoQ and 18 per cent above estimates. This was on the back of rising steel prices which drove higher margins sequentially across businesses. Separately, standalone and BSL Ebitda/t expanded Rs 8,000 QoQ while Europe (TSE) margins improved from negative $47/t in Q3FY21 to $66/t in Q4FY21.

CLSA

Reco: BUY | TP: Rs 1,064



Tata Steel reported its highest ever standalone profitability of Rs 27,800, partly boosted by inter-company iron sales. Europe profitability, meanwhile, was better than we estimated at $66/t while the impact of carbon costs was $40/t. We await clarity on the split between recurring and one-off, and also the impact of the wage support reversal.

We would note spot European spreads are $240/t higher than the Q4 average, which augurs well for FY22 profitability. Among other international business, SEA is now reclassified as a continuing business, contributing Rs 290 crore to Q4 Ebitda & 0.6mt to quarterly volume.

Morgan Stanley

Reco: OVERWEIGHT | TP: 1,000



TSE reported Ebitda of Rs 1,190 crore compared with our estimate of Rs 1,970 crore. Ebitda/t was at 51 relative to recurring F3Q of 17/t. We understand that there was an impact from higher carbon credit costs, part of which may not be a recurring expense. Thus, we would expect TSE's performance to improve in the coming quarters. Tata Steel incurred capital expansion of Rs 7,000 crore and has also started KPO2 expansion project. Despite restarting capex projects, it continues to expect de-leveraging of at least $1 billion in 2022.

ICICI Securities

Reco: HOLD | TP: Rs 1,020



Management has maintained its net debt reduction guidance of over $1bn for FY22E. This appears a bit conservative given the MTM earnings and despite accelerated capex. The extent of deleveraging is creating an upward bias for multiples for the entire sector, given significantly reduced loss probability. We maintain HOLD as spot Ebitda, at Rs38,000/te, remains a key concern, especially when cycle duration has shrunk.




Bajaj Healthcare (BHL) jumped 6.32% to Rs 624 after the company announced the launch of an anti-parasitic Ivermectin tablets, under the brand name Ivejaj, now widely used in control & treatment for COVID-19.

BHL has received approval from India's drug regulator, to manufacture and market "Ivejaj" the oral Ivermectin approved medication in India for the treatment of COVID-19 from 6 May 2021.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug, which is used to control parasitic roundworm infections and curing parasitic infections, helps to improve health of COVID-19 patients. It works by paralyzing and killing parasites.

Anil Jain, Joint managing director, Bajaj Healthcare said: "We are pleased to add Ivermectin to our growing product portfolios. The second waves is more aggressive and bigger in number than the first. We hope the availability of an effective treatment such as Ivejaj will considerably ease the pressure and offer patients much needed and timely therapy option."

Bajaj Healthcare has successfully developed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the formulation for Ivermectin through its own in-house R&D team. Most patients ailing from mild to moderate symptoms can benefit from the use of Ivejaj. The drug will be available as a prescription-based medication, with recommended doses.

The drug controller of India's has granted permissions to supply the Ivejaj in the domestic as well as in overseas market.

Bajaj Healthcare is a leading manufacturer of APIs, intermediates and formulations. It specializes in manufacturing of of amino acids, intermediates, API, formulations & nutraceuticals.

The company's net profit surged to Rs 326.1% to Rs 26.42 crore on a 79.6% to Rs 178.33 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 431.4, up 1.55% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 30.91% in last one year as compared to a 59.71% spurt in NIFTY and a 41.19% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 431.4, up 1.55% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.5% on the day, quoting at 14691.4. The Sensex is at 48933.12, up 0.53%. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has risen around 0.75% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 1.2% in last one month and is currently quoting at 18058.8, up 0.31% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 37.84 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 79.32 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 435.6, up 1.98% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up 30.91% in last one year as compared to a 59.71% spurt in NIFTY and a 41.19% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 12.82 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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The two-year agreement represents a cost of $499 per student, with students continuing to pay $350 of that amount, according to the district. The district will still cover the entire cost for students who qualify for free or reduced-fee lunch programs, the school board was told.
Blue Dart Express rose 2.93% to Rs 5,475.70 after the company's consolidated net profit stood at Rs 90 crore in Q4 FY21 compared with net loss of Rs 30.57 crore in Q4 FY20.

Net sales soared 33.3% to Rs 968.28 crore in Q4 FY21 from Rs 726.30 crore in Q4 FY20.

On a standalone basis, the company posted Rs 89.10 crore profit after tax (previous year Rs 23.8 crore loss) for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 and Rs 96.3 crore profit after tax (previous year Rs 38.3 crore loss) for the year ended 31 March 2021. The profit for the year is after absorbing the impact of special COVID-19 ex-gratia (Rs 34.2 crore) paid to employees in September 2020 and accelerated depreciation of IT servers (Rs 24 crore). The margin improvement is backed up by better realization and cost efficiencies during the year.

Revenue from operations for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 stood at Rs 9,66.2 crore and Rs 3279.70 crore for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Balfour Manuel, the managing director (MD) of Blue Dart Express, said: "We are cautiously optimistic about the new financial year on the background of the current wave II and the impending wave III of the pandemic."

"Going forward, our focus will continue to remain on consistently upgrading our infrastructure and digitized solutions to ensure that we optimise the man-tech combination. We are also enthused by the Governments initiatives aimed towards building a non-fragmented logistics sector."

The board has recommended a dividend of Rs 15 per share on the equity capital for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Blue Dart Express is South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation & distribution company. It offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 35,000 locations in India.

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Jammu & Kashmir Bank rose 1.22% to Rs 24.90 after the bank said that its board will meet on 12 May 2021 to consider the proposal of capital infusion of Rs 500 crore by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Government of Jammu & Kashmir is the promoter shareholder of the bank. It held 68.18% stake in the bank as on 31 March 2021.

J&K Bank offers banking services under the three major divisions as support services, depository services and third party services.

The bank reported 32.8% jump in net profit to Rs 65.94 crore on a 6.9% rise in total income to Rs 2348.02 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

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Tata Steel reported consolidated net profit to Rs 6,644.15 crore in Q4 March 2021 (Q4FY21) as compared with net loss of Rs 1,481.34 crore in Q4 March 2020 (Q4FY20). Total income rose 34.6% to Rs 50,430.36 crore.

Wipro 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.

Shares of Cipla will be in focus. Roche India announced that the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has provided an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for Roche's antibody cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) in India. This approval was based on the data that have been filed for the EUA in the United States, and the scientific opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in the European Union.

This Emergency Use Authorisation will now enable Roche to import the globally manufactured product batches to India and will be marketed as well as distributed in India through a strategic partnership with Cipla.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank. GoI and LIC together own more than 94% of equity of IDBI Bank (GoI 45.48%, LIC 49.24%). The extent of respective shareholding to be divested by GoI and LIC will be decided at the time of structuring of transaction in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

On a consolidated basis, Adani Green Energy posted 8.91% rise in net profit to Rs 105 crore on 50.56% rise in total income to Rs 1,082 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

On a consolidated basis, Angel Broking posted 223.9% surge in net profit to Rs 105.60 crore on 109.8% rise in total income to Rs 418.90 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

Macrotech Developers' sales bookings rose 72% year-on-year to Rs 2,013 crore in 4QFY21 over 4QFY20. Collections rose 5% year-on-year to Rs 1,991 crore in 4QFY21 over 4QFY20.

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Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 271.05, up 2.55% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 245.07% in last one year as compared to a 59.71% gain in NIFTY and a 199.52% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

Vedanta Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 271.05, up 2.55% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.5% on the day, quoting at 14691.4. The Sensex is at 48933.12, up 0.53%. Vedanta Ltd has added around 14.44% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has added around 17.41% in last one month and is currently quoting at 4970.15, up 2.18% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 139.12 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 198.28 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 272.1, up 2.2% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is up 245.07% in last one year as compared to a 59.71% gain in NIFTY and a 199.52% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 8.59 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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A total of 34 DMK lawmakers will be sworn in as Ministers at Raj Bhavan on Friday morning including DMK President M.K. Stalin as the next Chief Minister.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday released the list of lawmakers who will be appointed as ministers and their portfolios.

According to Raj Bhavan, Stalin had sent a list of persons to be appointed as Ministers along with their portfolios on Thursday.

Stalin's Cabinet will have two women.

The Ministerial list does not include Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin who has won from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

The list of Ministers:

M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister - Portfolios: Public, General Administration, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Other All India Services, District Revenue Officers, Police, Home, Special Initiatives, Special Programme Implementation, Welfare of Differently Abled Persons.

Duraimurugan - Minister for Water Resources

K.N. Nehru - Minister for Municipal Administration

I. Periyasamy - Minister for Co-operation

K. Ponmudi - Minister for Higher Education

E.V. Velu - Minister for Public Works

M.R.K. Panneerselvam - Minister for Agriculture

K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran - Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management

Thangam Thennarasu - Minister for Industries

S. Reghupathy - Minister for Law

S. Muthusamy - Minister for Housing and Urban Development

K.R. Periakaruppan - Minister for Rural Development

T.M. Anbarasan - Minister for Rural Industries

M.P. Saminathan - Minister for Information & Publicity

P. Geetha Jeevan - Minister for Social Welfare & Women Empowerment

Anitha R. Radhakrishnan - Minister for Fisheries

S.R. Rajakannappan - Minister for Transport

K. Ramachandran - Minister for Forests

R. Sakkrapani - Minister for Food and Civil Supplies

V. Senthilbalaji - Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise

R. Gandhi - Minister for Handlooms and Textiles

Ma. Subramanian - Minister for Medical and Family Welfare

P. Moorthy - Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration

S.S. Sivasankar - Minister for Backward Classes Welfare

P.K. Sekar Babu - Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

Palanivel Thiagarajan - Minister for Finance

S.M. Nasar - Minister for Milk & Dairy Development

Gingee K.S. Masthan - Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non Resident Tamils Welfare

Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi - Minister for School Education

Siva. V. Meyyanathan - Minister for Environment, Youth Welfare and Sports

C.V. Ganesan - Minister for Labour

T. Mano Thangaraj - Minister for Information Technology

M. Mathiventhan - Minister for Tourism

N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj - Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare

--IANS

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Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan's car was vandalised at Panchkuri village in West Midnapore district on Thursday while he was visiting the area in connection with alleged post-poll violence on saffron party workers.

Muraleedharan alleged in a tweet that the " goons" were behind the attack on his convoy.

"I went to West Midnapore to meet party workers who have been attacked and their homes were vandalised. I was moving from one house to another with my convoy and then all of a sudden a group of people started charging towards us and attacked," Muraleedharan said.

"I am safe, but my driver was injured, few car windows were also smashed," the minister told PTI.

secretary Rahul Sinha who was accompanying the minister claimed that the attack took place despite the presence of the police personnel.

An officer of Kotwali police station in West Midnapore said that they are probing into the incident of the attack on the minister's convoy.

"It happened at around 12.30 pm today when some unidentified people attacked the minister's convoy," he said.

No one has been detained or arrested so far, the police officer 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.)
Electronics said on Thursday that it has developed an advanced chip packaging technology for high-performance applications as the South Korean tech giant eyes to expand its leadership in semiconductor solutions.

The world's largest memory chip maker said its next-generation 2.5D packaging technology, Interposer-Cube4 (I-Cube4), is expected to be widely used in areas like high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cloud and largest data center applicants as it creates enhanced communication and power efficiency between logic and memory chips.

I-Cube is Samsung's brand for its heterogeneous integration technology that horizontally places one or more logic dies, such as central processing units (CPU) and graphics processing units (GPU), and several high bandwidth memory (HBM) dies on a paper-thin silicon interposer and makes them operate as a single chip in one package.

said it used a unique mold-free structure for the I-Cube 4 solution, which incorporates four HBMs with one logic die, for better thermal management and stable power supply, reports Yonhap news agency.

The company added it also improved its yield with its prescreening tests and reduced the number of process steps to save costs and cut turnaround time.

With the latest chip packaging solution, said it will try to incorporate more chips in one package as the company is researching how to deal with interposer warpage and thermal expansion through changes to material and thickness.

--IANS

na/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bank of Baroda has been the first public sector bank to sanction Rs 500 crore to vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday opened a Rs 50,000 crore liquidity facility for emergency healthcare. SII is making Covishield vaccine, which is one of the three vaccines approved in India against coronavirus.

India's biggest state-owned bank State Bank of India (SBI) has also sanctioned a credit line to homegrown Bharat Biotech but the amount disbursed to the pharma company is not in public domain, Business Standard reported, citing top bank officials. "Bank of Baroda has sanctioned Rs 500 crore to Serum Institute today," an official familiar with the developments told the daily.

Also read: RBI's direct support to healthcare sector will generate total output demand of Rs 80,000 crore: SBI Research

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, in his unscheduled address on Wednesday, announced a Rs 50,000 lending programme, to ramp up COVID-19-related healthcare infrastructure amid the massive second wave ravaging India. Under this liquidity facility, banks will be able to lend to companies in the healthcare sector that'll help them increase capacity as demand rises after the Centre allowed vaccination for all above the age of 18.

Under the facility, the RBI will provide funds to banks for three years at repo rate of 4 per cent. "Under the scheme, banks can provide fresh lending support to a wide range of entities, including vaccine manufacturers; importers/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," Das said.

Banks will now be able to lend to COVID-19 patients, who need money for treatment. This lending will get "priority sector classification" till repayment or maturity, he said. The window for such loans will remain open till March 31, 2022.

Das said banks would create a COVID-19 loan book under the scheme. They'll be incentivised for quick delivery of loans under the scheme. Banks will be able to park their surplus liquidity up to the size of Covid-19 loan book with the RBI under the reverse repo window, which will be 40 bps higher than the reverse repo rate.

Also read: Big boost for vaccine producers, pharma players! RBI unleashes Rs 50,000 cr liquidity for emergency healthcare
The United States has announced the support for waiving intellectual property (IP) protection for Covid-19 vaccines. The decision is a breakthrough in India and South Africa's attempts to get World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries to agree to such a waiver to fight the pandemic equitably.

On May 5, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai stated that the Biden-Harris administration has decided to announce the support. "This is a global health crisis and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures. 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 a statement.

After the US support, European Union will be the only major trade bloc that continues to oppose the move at WTO. Tai has indicated the US administration will actively participate in text-based negotiations at the WTO needed to make that happen. "Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved," the statement said.

ALSO READ: Arvind Subramanian, Justin Sandefur tell US to end Covid-19 'vaccine apartheid'

"The administration aims to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible. As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the administration will continue to ramp up its efforts - working with the private sector and all possible partners - to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution. It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines," Tai stated.

Incidentally, the US support for IP waiver is limited to Covid-19 vaccines, while the India-South Africa proposal is for such a waiver on all Covid-19 interventions, including therapeutics and diagnostics.

ALSO READ: 'COVID-19 shared problem; what you call aid, we call friendship': EAM S Jaishankar

"One reason why the US will back a waiver on vaccines but not therapeutics or diagnostics is that vaccines in foreign markets protect us. Therapeutics, diagnostics in foreign markets, don't," says US-based James Love, director of KEI, a civil society organisation that is on the forefront of IP waiver demand.

Love, however, said it is time to focus on the positive. "Now that the US supports a TRIPS waiver, for vaccines, people can stop emphasising all of the things that won't be done and start focusing on what needs to be done. In this regard, it is a good time to brush up on the potential for the Biden administration to use the Defense Production Act to loosen up access to manufacturing know-how and access to working cell lines, and ask the WHO what are its procedures for evaluating the quality of generic/biosimilar vaccines," he said.

Also read: US companies form global task force to help India combat COVID crisis

ALSO READ: COVID-19 news: Centre allocates foreign aid among states, UTs
At least 155 million people faced acute hunger in 2020, including 133,000 who needed urgent food to prevent widespread death from starvation -- and the outlook for 2021 is equally grim or worse, a report by 16 organizations said Wednesday.

The report, which focuses on 55 countries that account for 97% of humanitarian assistance, said the magnitude and severity of food crises last year worsened as a result of protracted conflicts, the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and weather extremes that exacerbated "pre-existing fragilities."

The 155 million people faced "crisis," "emergency" or "catastrophe/famine" levels of food needs, an increase of around 20 million people from 2019, it said.

According to the report, two-thirds of the people in those crisis levels were in 10 countries -- Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, northern Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Haiti. The 133,000 facing starvation, death and destitution were in Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Yemen.

"The number of people facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihoods assistance is on the rise," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote in the forward to the 307-page Global Report on Food Crises. "There is no place for famine and starvation in the 21st century," he said. "We need to tackle hunger and conflict together to solve either."

Arif Husain, the World Food Program's chief economist, said at a UN news conference for the release of the fifth annual report that the biggest driver of food crises is conflict, which accounted for 99 million people in 23 countries facing a food crisis last year. "Unless we start finding political solutions to conflicts," the number of people needing humanitarian assistance will keep increasing, he said.

According to the report, 40.5 million people in 17 countries faced acute food insecurity last year because of "economic shocks" including the fallout from the pandemic.

First and foremost, Husain pointed to declining incomes as a result of the 255 million jobs lost in the pandemic - "four times more than the financial crisis" in 2008. He also expressed concern that the amount of debt taken on by countries large and small to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus "has exploded."

Dominique Burgeon, director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's office in Geneva, said 60% to 80% of the 155 million people facing acute food insecurity depend on agriculture, but last year FAO was able to assist only about 30%. The report presented some other grim statistics from 2020: 75.2 million children under 5 years old living in the 55 countries were "stunted" in their growth and 15.8 million were "wasted," or underweight for their height.

In terms of the prevalence of people facing crisis, emergency or famine levels of food needs, the report said Central African Republic, South Sudan and Syria had more than half their analyzed populations at the crisis level or worse, and five countries -- Afghanistan, Haiti, Lesotho, Yemen and Zimbabwe -- had between 40% and 45% of their populations at those levels.

Looking to 2021, the report said, "food crises are becoming increasingly protracted and the ability to recover from new adverse events is becoming more difficult." "Conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and large-scale economic crises are expected to extend food-crisis situations in 2021, necessitating continuing large-scale humanitarian assistance," it said.

The report made forecasts based on 40 of the 55 countries, saying those for the other 15 countries weren't available. It said over 142 million people in those 40 countries are forecast to face food crises, emergencies or catastrophes this year. Around 155,000 people are likely to face "catastrophe/famine" through mid-2021 - around 108,000 in South Sudan and 47,000 in Yemen, the report said.

WFP's Husain said, for example, that providing one single meal per day for a year for 34 million people would cost about $5 billion, saying that the most critical needs are funding and humanitarian access. "Without that, we won't be able to save lives," he said.

Also read: Nationwide lockdown option 'being discussed', says Centre amid COVID crisis in India
Collins said school administration is investigating the incident and will take all necessary and appropriate actions to the full extent of our authority. Our priority is to ensure that our school community is a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all of our students, especially our students of color.
The Group of Seven 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 foreign ministers' meeting - the first such G7 event in two years - which has been 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 a G7 summit due to take place at a rural English resort in June, with US 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 said rules had been meticulously applied and had worked effectively and it remained important for the summit in June to go ahead.

"We know these systems work, we will be able to plan even more, and even more carefully," he told reporters. A final communique from the meeting scolded China and Russia, but provided few concrete measures.

FIST BUMPING

Earlier, 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 meeting, along with Australia, South Africa and South Korea. The Indian High Commission in London did not respond to requests for comment.

Also read: US to support India-South Africa WTO proposal to waive off patent protection rules on Covid-19 vaccines
The US has reissued its travel advisory on India, urging its citizens not to travel to the country due to an unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 cases there. India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

"Do not travel to India due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism," the State Department said on Wednesday in its latest travel advisory that looked identical to the one issued on April 28. Both the travel advisory has been marked 'Level 4' which is the highest warning level.

On April 28, the Department approved the voluntary departure of family members of US government employees. On May 5, the Department approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees.

"US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options," it said. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.

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, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. With the fresh cases, the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 2,06,65,148.

Also read: WTO calls for urgency in Covid-19 response; members await revised IP waiver proposal from India, South Africa
The Supreme Court on Thursday said the media has the right to cover court proceedings but senior judges should exercise restraint and not make off the cuff remarks. The observation was made while listening to the Election Commission's plea against the Madras High Court.

A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said the Madras HC's remarks were 'harsh' but did not expunge them. He said the comments do not form part of the judicial order.

The case pertains to the EC's plea last week against the 'blatantly disparaging remarks' by the Madras HC over holding elections amid a devastating second wave. The High Court on April 26 said the EC 'should probably be booked for murder' for allowing political rallies at a time when the country is struggling with unprecedented cases and fatalities. It said the EC is singularly responsible for the second wave. "Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid-19. Election Commission officers should be booked on murder charges probably," the Madras HC said.

The Supreme Court had reserved its order on EC's plea earlier this week but had stated that the stopping media from reporting oral observations is far-fetched and won't be allowed.

The SC said on Thursday the media discharges an important function and adds vitality to democracy. The bench added the media cannot be restricted from covering court proceedings in any manner.

"It will be retrograde to restrain HCs from making observations or gagging media from reporting observations," said the bench that also comprised Justice MR Shah. Courts need to remain alive to evolving technology of media, it said.

The Supreme Court further lauded high courts for commendable work during the pandemic and said that they have effectively supervised COVID-19 management.

Also read: EC's plea on media 'too far fetched', can't be restrained to report, says SC
The Delhi government has launched an online arrangement to supply oxygen to COVID-19 patients in home isolation. The header called 'Online Booking for Refilling of Oxygen Cylinders-Delhi Government-Corona Relief' mentioned on the homepage of the Delhi government's official website - delhi.gov.in - will go live on Thursday.

People in need of medical oxygen can apply on the website with valid Aadhaar card details, photo ID, a COVID positive report, and other documents such as a CT scan report if available, according to an order by the Delhi government.

The applicant will also be required to fill in the actual quantity of oxygen needed. Basis the stock and availability, the District Magistrate will issue a pass to the COVID patient, mentioning the time, date, and address of the oxygen dealer.

Also Read: COVID-19 in India: Where oxygen concentrators are coming from

"The district magistrates shall ensure that adequate number of office personnel are assigned to scrutinise all incoming applications and issue e-passes quickly as time is of essence in such cases," the Delhi government order read.

"This may be accorded top priority. The DMs shall ensure that the dealers regularly get their cylinders refilled from the designated refilling plants," it added.

The order further stated that an arrangement of lump-sum allocation oxygen to be given thorough cylinders for non-COVID hospitals, ambulances, individuals, nursing homes, and SOS cylinders of COVID hospitals running on LMO (liquid medical oxygen) had already been made against re-fillers with each district being allocated a re-filler.

"However, reports are being received of long queues at cylinder refilling plants also leading to public safety and public health hazard issues," the order said.

Also Read: Two medical oxygen plants start supply at AIIMS-Delhi, RML Hospital

It further noted that the online portal has been created "to streamline the entire system of distribution of the lump-sum allocation under the supervision of district magistrates and also in order to facilitate the public to access these cylinders with certainty."

The Delhi government has also decided to create a common pool of oxygen cylinders in every district for patients in home isolation as well as to address the emergency needs of the city's hospitals.

As many as 11 DTC bus depots, one in every district, will serve as the hub for storing medical oxygen. The depots will initially be stocked with 20 cylinders that can be exchanged for empty cylinders following approval from the concerned district magistrate, as per a transport department order.
Russia on Thursday authorised a single-dose version of the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, said the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund that helped financed the vaccine. The new version of the COVID-19 vaccine - Sputnik Light - has an efficacy of around 80 per cent, compared to Sputnik V's 91.6 per cent, said the developers of the shot.

While Sputnik V remains our core vaccine, Sputnik Light has its own features. See how it's different from its parent, #SputnikV, already registered in 64 countries with a total population of over 3.2 bln people. Sputnik Light - a light step to freedom.Yhttps://t.co/jmnvObjwn5 - Sputnik V (@sputnikvaccine) May 6, 2021

Alexander Gintsburg, the director of the Gamaleya National Research Center said, 'Sputnik Light will help to prevent the spread of coronavirus through the faster immunisation of larger population groups, as well as supporting high immunity levels in those who have already been infected previously.'

Both Sputnik vaccines are developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Sputnik V is administered in two doses separated by 21 days and requires a minus 18-20 degrees Celsius cold chain to remain stable.

'Sputnik Light offers strong value in initial vaccination and re-vaccination, as well as boosting efficacy when taken in combination with other vaccines,' added Gintsburg.

The results were 'from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia's mass vaccination program between 5 December 2020 and 15 April 2021,' said RDIF in a statement.

'Sputnik Light has proven effective against all new strains of coronavirus,' added RDIF. 'No serious adverse events were registered after vaccination with Sputnik Light.'

The RDIF further added that 'the cost of the Sputnik Light vaccine globally will be less than $10 [around Rs 730], while it has simple storage requirements, at 2-8 degrees Celsius, which provide for easy logistics.'

India, which is currently battling a devastating second wave of the pandemic, has given emergency-use authorisation to COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V after the Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Dr Reddy's and RDIF entered into a partnership in September to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V and the rights for distribution of the first 10 crore doses in India. Apart from Dr Reddy's, RDIF also has contracts with other Indian firms - Gland Pharma and Hetero Biopharma.

India received Sputnik V vaccines' first batch of 1.5 lakh units from Russia on May 1. It is expected to receive another 1.5 lakh vaccines in a few days, while another 30 lakh vaccines are expected to be delivered by end of the month. In addition to this, RDIF has stated that over 85 crore doses of the Sputnik V vaccine will be produced annually in India.

Also Read: Budget tax provisions haunt COVID-19 donations, relief as pandemic surges

Also Read: Supreme Court asks Centre to prepare for third wave of COVID-19

Also Read: PM Modi holds review meeting on COVID-19 situation in country
Sri Lanka on Thursday announced that all arrivals from India will be banned with immediate effect due to the record rise in Covid-19 cases in the neighbouring country.

Several countries like the UK, the UAE, Australia and Singapore have already banned travellers from India as well as other South Asian countries. The Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday said that travellers from India will not be allowed to disembark in Sri Lanka. The decision has been taken as the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in India.

The Director-General Civil aviation in a letter to the CEO of the national carrier Srilankan Airlines has said, "in accordance with instructions received from health authorities of Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, it is hereby directed that passengers travelling from India will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka with immediate effect."

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, nearly 2,000 new cases have been reported during each of the last 5 days up from an average of 200 per day up until mid-April. Described as the New Year cluster coming from the traditional New Year festivities mid-April, the current wave is from the fast-spreading UK variant, the health authorities said.

Sri Lanka had functioned as a transit hub for Indians visiting other destinations like West Asia and Singapore prior to which they needed to be quarantined for 14 days. This was an arrangement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. The Sri Lankan tourism authorities were to continue receiving Indian tourists under a travel bubble for which special facilities were set up. This was despite the current difficult situation in India.

Last week the Sri Lankan Navy announced as a Covid containment measure that they had increased surveillance of north and northeastern seas to check the possibility of infected Indian fishermen crossing the international waters and making contacts with the locals.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

Also read: Biden administration advises Americans to not travel to India amid COVID-19 surge
The Biden administration's decision to support India and South Africa's proposal at WTO to waive anti-COVID vaccine patents to boost its supply is an important step in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, top US lawmakers have said.

President Joe Biden is to be commended for the United States' plans to take a strong role in negotiations that are focused on how best to ensure that all countries have access to life-saving treatments and vaccines during the pandemic, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday.

"The Biden administration's announcement that it will work to advance a carefully-crafted TRIPS waiver for vaccines at the WTO is a welcome and important step in the fight to crush the virus globally, she said. Hailing Biden for this "monumental decision", Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who is Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said this recognises the common humanity they share in the face of this horrific and unprecedented pandemic.

By heeding to the call of a global grassroots movement, this administration is restoring US global leadership by putting human life above pharmaceutical profits, Jayapal said. "This life-saving decision to reverse the Trump administration's shameful obstruction of international efforts temporarily waive patent monopolies could not come a moment too soon, as India, Brazil, and countries across the world experience terrifying new surges in COVID19 infections and deaths, she said.

She noted that wealthy countries have administered more than 80 per cent of global vaccines while low-income countries have received just 0.3 per cent. Congressman John Larson applauded the Biden administration's decision to support the proposal. "This is something I urged the administration to do because it will significantly ramp up production, he said.

"When President Biden was sworn into office, we knew that the United States was back as a global leader. Today's announcement is proof that as a nation, we care more about saving lives and helping poorer nations than we do about corporate greed and profits, a joint statement issued by more than half a dozen US lawmakers said.

They are Jan Schakowsky, Rosa DeLauro, Lloyd Doggett, Earl Blumenauer, Angie Craig, Jes s Chuy Garc a, Barbara Lee, Adriano Espaillat and Andy Levin. When the US taxpayers funded the investment in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, it was not only to find a solution to the pandemic here at home, but also to crush the virus around the world, they said.

"Americans are endangered if a worldwide COVID-19 vaccine shortage continues to allow this highly contagious, rampant pandemic to spread a path of death and suffering around the globe. Much of the required vaccines should be manufactured abroad near those in greatest need using American technology, the lawmakers said.

"The TRIPS waiver will allow sharing of the intellectual property required for vaccine manufacturing to get underway immediately, and we applaud the Biden administration's support of it in the WTO. This is the right thing to do, and a moment to make every American proud, they said.

Congressman Adam Smith said an intellectual property waiver is an important step to enable other countries to manufacture vaccines, ramp up global vaccine supply and defeat COVID-19.

"Waiving IP protections alone isn't enough to make vaccines available around the world. The US must work with other countries to expand their own manufacturing capabilities, continue to share more of our own vaccines, and support international vaccine initiatives like COVAX, he said.

Also read: US companies form global task force to help India combat COVID crisis
The US on Wednesday said the vaccine components it has supplied to India this week will enable the manufacturing of two crore doses of the Covishield vaccine even as the sixth shipment of American medical aid arrived as part of the Biden administration's assistance to the country's response to a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The United States also sent a separate shipment of over 81,000 vials of Remdesivir injections that was delivered in Mumbai.

As India continues to reel under a record-breaking wave of the coronavirus infection, the European Union (EU) announced an initial Euro 2.2 million (approximately Rs 19 crore) in emergency funding to support the World Health Organization's (WHO) measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The 27-nation grouping said the funding announced by the European Commission is in addition to the medical assistance being provided to India by the 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 six-month case management of COVID-19 patients as well as for strengthening the laboratory capacity for COVID-19 testing," it said. In line with its announcement to support India in its fight against the pandemic, the US delivered the sixth shipment of its aid on Wednesday.

"The American people continue to deliver life-saving assistance to India, with the 6th flight of emergency relief in 6 days! This shipment includes a climate-friendly oxygen generation unit which can turn air into oxygen. Thanks to the people of California!" the US embassy said in a tweet.

Separately, US Charg D'Affaires in India Daniel B Smith said both the countries will together defeat the pandemic. "The #USIndia partnership involves all aspects of the relationship: government, business, and people. This week, vaccine components arrived in India from the U.S. that will enable the manufacturing of 20 million doses of the Covishield vaccine. Together we will defeat COVID-19!" he said in a tweet.

Providing raw materials for the production of anti-coronavirus vaccines was a major component of the Biden administration's announcement on medical aid to India.

The Covishield vaccine is produced in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII), based in Maharashtra's Pune. Last month, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla appealed to US President Joe Biden to lift the embargo on the export of raw materials needed to manufacture the vaccines.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said a shipment of over 81,000 vials of Remdesivir from the US arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday morning. "Further elevating the India and the United States Strategic Partnership! Appreciate the shipment of over 81000 vials of Remdesivir from the US that arrived early this morning in Mumbai," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Israel delivered its first consignment of medical supplies comprising oxygen concentrators to India on Wednesday. The consignment was brought to the country in a special flight. The Israeli embassy said more such flights will bring emergency medical aid, including thousands of group and individual oxygen generators, respirators, medications and additional medical equipment.

"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," Israeli ambassador Ron Malka said. "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," he added.

Also read: Assured India no safety concerns with COVID-19 vaccine: Pfizer

Also read: Inside Remdesivir puzzle: 6 producers, little supply!
Final year MBBS students, resident doctors and nursing students who may be pressed into service for COVID care in hospitals at the behest of the Centre may be eligible only for a stipend and not minimum wages as part of their incentives, according to lawyers.

The Prime Minister's Office had announced a slew of measures, such as postponing NEET-PG exams by at least four months to make a large number of qualified doctors available for pandemic duty, pressing medical interns into service, and involving BSc or GNM qualified nurses in full-time COVID nursing duties to reduce the burden on healthcare professionals as the second wave of the pandemic has battered the already weak medical infrastructure.

As health is a state subject, a day later the Himachal Pradesh government announced that fourth and fifth year MBBS students, contractual doctors, and junior and residents will be given an incentive of Rs 3,000 per month. Besides this, nursing students, contractual laboratory staff and GNM third-year students will be given Rs 1,500 per month for working at COVID care facilities at medical colleges and hospitals.

This amounts to Rs 100 per day for medical students and Rs 50 per day for nursing students for full-day duties at a COVID ward. In comparison, an unskilled daily wage earner earns an average of more than Rs 200 per day under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The amount varies across states, with a nominal increase notified by the Ministry of Rural Development every year.

"The Minimum Wages Act applies to employees who are working with the hospital under an agreement or have an appointment letter, etc. But these medical professionals may not be recruited in that sense. They may neither be permanent nor temporary workers, just emergency workers. So, hospitals are under no obligation to abide by the Minimum Wages Act insofar as recruiting them in this situation is concerned," said Business Law Chamber partner Avnish Pandey. He said what they will get paid may be like a stipend.

"These interns undergo unpaid training at hospitals as a requirement to complete their course. The government has chosen to incentivise them through a stipend of Rs 3,000 a month. This is not wages paid to a doctor, as these are students who have to mandatorily undergo practical training and are doing so to get a medical degree," said BC Prabhakar, advocate and chairman, BCP Associates.

The Centre's announcements have not gone down well with medical students, with Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors releasing a video criticising the Centre's announcements saying it will only make lives difficult for residents who have prepared for these exams for several years, and that the government should offer better pay and risk incentives for this service.

"The Disaster Management Act expressly says its provisions will override all other acts, including Minimum Wages Act. So, the government is well within its right and duty-bound to marshall all resources like students, paramedics, and whoever else is available," said Mathews J Nedumpara, lawyer, president of National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reform.

The Ministry of Home Affairs invoked this emergency law on April 22 to ensure easy transport of medical oxygen across borders as several states complained of restrictions even as the country is battling a serious supply crunch.

Nedumpara, however, added that the rule doesn't mean that doctors should be denied facilities and payment. "Actually, they should be paid more because it is a risky job -- they are exposing themselves to the pandemic. The students can appeal to the government."

The Supreme Court has upheld similar bonds in the past where doctors have been asked to serve compulsory rural postings, AP Singh, partner at law firm MV Kini, said. "It is a settled law that doctors are not 'workman' under Industrial Disputes Act. And making this a part of the study curriculum for nursing staff will not have any labour law implications for the employers."

In its announcement on May 3, the PMO had said the services of final year PG students (broad as well as super-specialties) as residents may continue to be utilised until fresh batches of PG students have joined.

Also Read: COVID-19 crisis: Nearly 1,450% jump in containment zones in Delhi in 1 month

Also Read: Nationwide lockdown option 'being discussed', says Centre amid COVID crisis in India
India is currently facing a medical oxygen shortage due to an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases. The supply of medical oxygen is extremely important for severe COVID-19 patients as one of the most common symptoms of the virus is shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. One of the ways through which medical oxygen can be supplied is Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO).

What is Liquid Medical Oxygen?

Liquid Medical Oxygen is high purity oxygen used for medical treatment. It has been developed for use in the human body. Due to its low melting and boiling points, oxygen is in a gaseous state at room temperature. Liquification enables storage in larger volume and easier transportation, noted a health ministry explainer on Thursday.

How is liquid medical oxygen produced?

There are various methods through which LMO can be produced. The most common production method is the separation of oxygen in Air Separation Units (ASUs).

ASUs are production plants that separate large volumes of gases. ASUs use a method known as the 'Fractional Distillation Method' to produce pure oxygen from atmospheric air.

What is the Fractional Distillation Method?

In the Fractional Distillation Method, the various gases constituting atmospheric air are separated into different components after cooling them into a liquid state. Liquid oxygen is then extracted from it.

"Atmospheric air is first cooled to -181 degree celsius . Oxygen liquifies at this point. Since, the boiling point of Nitrogen is -196 degree celsius, it remains in a gaseous state. But Argon has a boiling point similar to that of oxygen (-186 degree celsius) and hence a significant amount of Argon liquifies along with Oxygen," noted the health ministry document.

The mixture of oxygen and argon thus produced is drained, decompressed and passed through a second low-pressure distillation vessel in order to separate the two gases.

Ultimately, purified liquid oxygen is obtained using cryogenic containers.

What is the Pressure Swing Adsorption Technique?

Pressure Swing Adsorption Technique is another method through which LMO can be produced. In this method, liquid oxygen is produced non-cryogenically through selective absorption. This method leverages the property that under high pressure, gases tend to be attracted to solid surfaces. The higher the pressure, the more the adsorption of gas.

"If a gas mixture such as air is passed under pressure through a vessel containing an adsorbent bed of 'zeolite' that attracts nitrogen more strongly than oxygen, a part or all of the nitrogen will stay in the bed, and the gas exiting the vessel will be richer in oxygen, relative to the mixture entering the vessel," explained the Union Health Ministry.

Hospitals can also opt for on-site generation of oxygen by this method, where oxygen is produced from ambient air by concentrating it.

In addition to the above sources of medical oxygen, there are also portable oxygen generators known as 'Oxygen Concentrators' that can be used at home.

Judicious use of medical oxygen

The union health ministry had urged citizens to ensure judicious use of medical oxygen as it is a vital resource during a health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Director, AIIMS, Prof. Randeep Guleria said in a COVID-19 media briefing, "Judicious use of oxygen is the need of the hour. Misuse of oxygen cylinders is a serious matter of concern these days. A few people stock Oxygen Cylinders at home fearing that they may need it later. This is not advisable."

He added that if a patient's oxygen saturation level is 94% or above, it still means there is sufficient oxygen in their body. Use of medical oxygen by these individuals can deprive someone whose saturation level is well below 90% or 80%, he added. Guleria stated that even oxygen saturation levels of 92 or 93 should not be considered critical; instead, this level is only a buffer that enables the patient to reach the hospital on time.(Edited by Mohammad Haaris Beg)

Also Read: COVID-19 crisis: Nearly 1,450% jump in containment zones in Delhi in 1 month

Also Read: Nationwide lockdown option 'being discussed', says Centre amid COVID crisis in India
The budgets going to be funded only with the money we always normally fund it with. Were still going to have a surplus, Niemeyer said. Everything turned out really well there at the end. There was a lot of uncertainty going in.
Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor will be providing free meals to over 500 doctors who are treating COVID-19 patients at the state-run civil hospital here.

Kapoor has received financial support from some persons for starting the meal service for doctors, an official release said on Wednesday.

He has appointed 12 chefs who would prepare three meals a day for over 500 doctors.

These doctors are serving at the 1,200-bed COVID facility at the civil hospital located in Asarva area. The hospital is considered to be the biggest civil hospital in Asia.

The quality food provided by his team would inject new energy into the doctors and help them serve coronavirus patients with zeal, Kapoor was quoted as saying in the release.
Tata Steel share surged over 5 per cent to hit an all-time high of Rs 1,128.80 on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the company reported better-than-expected earnings during the March quarter of 2021.

Shares of Tata Steel rose over 2 per cent to hit a 52-week high on Wednesday, ahead of Q4 earnings, on BSE. The stock has given 157 per cent returns over the last six months and risen 294 per cent over the last 12 months. On a year-to-date basis, the steelmaking arm of Tata group has gained around 70 per cent.

Indian steel major Tata Steel delivered 17.31 million tonnes of steel during the fiscal under review, as opposed to 16.97 million tonnes in the year-ago period. The company also achieved its highest's ever quarterly EBITDA at Rs 12,295 crore in Q4 FY21, up 40 per cent and 2.7 times that seen in the year-ago period.

"Tata Steel reported its highest ever standalone profitability of Rs 27,800, partly boosted by inter-company iron sales. Europe's profitability, meanwhile, was better than we estimated at $66/t while the impact of carbon costs was $40/t. We await clarity on the split between recurring and one-off, and also the impact of the wage support reversal," said CLSA.

"We would note spot European spreads are $240/t higher than the Q4 average, which augurs well for FY22 profitability. Among other international business, South East Asia (SEA) is now reclassified as a continuing business, contributing Rs 290 crore to Q4 EBITDA & 0.6mt to quarterly volume," it added.

CLSA also said that the outlook for steel prices, Europe profitability and the timeline for expansion will be key.

"The second wave of COVID-19 in India is a risk and we are working to minimise the impact on our employees and communities while meeting the requirements of our customers," said Tata Steel CEO TV Narendran.

Tata Steel's board of directors recommended a dividend of Rs 25 per fully paid equity share of Rs 10 each (250 per cent) to the shareholders of the company for FY21. Further, in respect of the outstanding partly paid-up ordinary shares of the company on which call money remains unpaid as on the date of book closure for the dividend payment, Tata Steel said the dividend will be paid in proportion to the amount paid upon such shares, i.e., Rs 6.25 per partly paid-up ordinary share of Rs 10 each (paid-up Rs 2.504 per share).
Pfizer Ltd share fell over 3% on Thursday after the US administration on Wednesday joined calls for more sharing of the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines to help speed the end of the pandemic.

Pfizer share fell 3.24% to Rs 5,268.55 against previous close of Rs 5,444.95 on BSE. Pfizer share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages.

The pharma share has gained 12.21% in one year and risen 4.77% since the beginning of this year. Market cap of the firm fell to Rs 24,530 crore on BSE. The latest move by the US comes after demand for removal of patents related to Covid vaccines had been coming from various governments.

In March this year, the head of the World Health Organization called for vaccines rights to be waived until the end of the coronavirus pandemic so that vaccine supplies can be dramatically increased, saying these unprecedented times warrant the move. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries with their own vaccine capacity should start waiving intellectual property rights as provided in special emergency provisions from the World Trade Organization.

These provisions are there for use in emergencies, Tedros said.

WTO calls for urgency in Covid-19 response; members await revised IP waiver proposal from India, South Africa

In October last year, India and South Africa have requested the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive off certain key provisions under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to speed up the prevention, containment and treatment efforts against COVID-19 pandemic.

Pfizer has offered a not-for-profit price for its vaccine for the government immunisation programme in India.

Currently, Pfizer is discussing with the Indian government an expedited approval pathway to make Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available for use in the country.
Benchmark indices were set to open higher today as Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 71.5 points, or 0.49 per cent, higher at 14,764.50. On Wednesday, benchmark indices snapped three sessions of losing streak, led by gains in banking, pharma and IT stocks. Sensex jumped 424 points to close at 48,677 and Nifty surged 121 points to 14,617. Here's a look at stocks which are likely to remain in news today.

Tata Steel: Tata Steel reported a standalone net profit of Rs 6,593.54 crore in Q4 FY21 as opposed to a loss of Rs 436.83 crore in Q4 FY20. The company recorded its highest-ever quarterly crude steel production at 4.75 million tonnes during the quarter under review, while steel deliveries grew to 4.67 million tonnes.

JM Financial: The investment banking firm reported a 35.35 per cent growth in net income for the three months to March 2021 at Rs 176.71 crore. It had booked a net income of Rs 130.56 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal after the bloodbath in the markets in March 2020 with the onset of the pandemic.

Adani Green Energy: The renewable energy firm of Adani group posted a nearly 86 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 104 crore for the quarter ended March 2021, mainly due to higher revenues. The consolidated net profit of the company stood at Rs 56 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

IDBI Bank: 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. Government of India and LIC together own 94.72 per cent of equity of IDBI Bank (GoI 45.48%, LIC 49.24%). LIC is currently the promoter of IDBI Bank with Management Control and GoI is the co-promoter.

Hero MotoCorp: The two-wheeler manufacturer will report its March quarter earnings on Thursday. The company reported a 23% year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 1,084 crore for the quarter ending 31 December. Net sales improved 40% to Rs 9776 crore.

Maruti Suzuki: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday said its total production in April 2021 stood at 1,59,955 units, down 7 per cent from March this year. The company had produced a total of 1,72,433 units in the year-ago period, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a regulatory filing.

Blue Dart: The logistics services provider reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 90 crore in Q4 against net loss of Rs 30.57 crore in the January-March period a year ago.

Sensex snaps three sessions of losses, ends 424 points higher on RBI's Covid relief measures
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Maruti Suzuki's production falls 7% in April due to 2nd COVID-19 wave

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday said its total production in April 2021 stood at 1,59,955 units, down 7 per cent from March this year. The company had produced a total of 1,72,433 units in the year-ago period.

US supplies vaccine components enough to make 20 million Covishield doses to India

The US on Wednesday said the vaccine components it has supplied to India this week will enable the manufacturing of two crore doses of the Covishield vaccine. The sixth shipment of American medical aid arrived as part of the Biden administration's assistance to the country's response to a rising number of COVID-19 cases. The United States also sent a separate shipment of over 81,000 vials of Remdesivir injections that was delivered in Mumbai.

TRIPS waiver on COVID-19 vaccines important step to fight coronavirus, say US lawmakers

The Biden administration's decision to support India and South Africa's proposal at WTO to waive anti-COVID vaccine patents to boost its supply is an important step in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, top US lawmakers have said. The TRIPS waiver will allow sharing of the intellectual property required for vaccine manufacturing to get underway immediately.

India could suffer world's highest COVID-19 death toll: report

India could suffer the world's biggest COVID-19 death toll even if the worst estimates are avoided, according to researchers at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and the University of Washington. Indian Institute of Science's research team projected that around 4,04,000 COVID-related deaths will occur by June 11, 2021, if the current trend continues.

COVID wave III imminent; we need to prepare, warns top scientist

Even as the second wave of coronavirus infections continue to wreak havoc across the nation, Principal Scientific Advisior to Centre K Vijay Raghvan 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. He emphasised on upgrading the vaccines to fight against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Willingness to switch to 5G, higher capex by telcos key for successful 5G implementation: Ind-Ra

Higher price of airwaves, willingness of customers to switch to 5G and pay more, and the capital expenditure to be incurred by telecom companies to deploy the technology are among some of the key factors which will determine successful implementation of 5G technology in the country, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said. The Telecom Department on Tuesday gave permission to telecom service providers to conduct trials for use and application of 5G technology.

Donald Trump launches new communications platform after getting banned from Facebook, Twitter

Former US President Donald Trump could not stay away from social media for a very long time. The ex-President has launched his own communications platform called From the Desk of Donald J Trump. The platform which is a subsection of Trump's official website was launched on Tuesday. The announcement comes months after Trump was kicked out of all major social platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more.
British Airways on Thursday said it operated a Boeing 777-200 aircraft carrying emergency aid, including oxygen cylinders and concentrators, to Delhi amid the country battling with rising coronavirus cases.

While IAG Cargo and British Airways have maintained a vital air link between London and India throughout the pandemic and sending aid on scheduled flights, this airlift was done through a special charter. It was fully-funded by the two companies, according to a release.

British Airways said it commissioned a special project team to organise the flight (BA257F), which landed in Delhi at 5.45 am (local time) on Thursday. The aircraft was loaded with more than thousand items from the Indian High Commission and charities. It included hundreds of urgent life-saving oxygen cylinders and shipments of oxygen concentrators, respirators and blood oxygen saturation monitors.

Besides, the airline is donating care packages for families in need. "The British Airways family has been deeply affected by the terrible scenes in India of the deepening humanitarian crisis that has impacted the lives of many of our people. We are fortunate to be in a position to help transport aid and I am so proud of the volunteers from across the airline and IAG Cargo who have stepped up to make this happen," British Airways' CEO Sean Doyle said.

He said British Airways will continue to stand with its friends in India as the country endures one of the "worst crises" it has ever known. British Airways is working in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is organising the UK's humanitarian response.

DEC's CEO Saleh Saeed said DEC brings together 14 leading UK aid charities to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, with the fantastic support of partners in the corporate sector, including British Airways.

"We are hugely grateful to British Airways for springing into action to support our emergency appeals, enabling us to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to people in India and elsewhere across the world when disaster strikes," he added.

Also read: Biden administration advises Americans to not travel to India amid COVID-19 surge
The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic shoved a staggering 230 million (23 crore) Indians below the poverty line, estimated a study by the Azim Premji University.

The report, titled 'State of Working India Report 2021' stated that rural India witnessed a 15% increase in poverty and a 20% rise was registered in urban areas after one year of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Coming on a low-income base, this shock meant that the number of individuals who lie below the national minimum wage threshold (Rs 375 per day as recommended by the Anoop Satpathy committee) increased by 230 million during the pandemic," according to the report.

Also Read: April unemployment rate up amid COVID-19 curbs

"This amounts to an increase in the poverty rate by 15 percentage points in rural and nearly 20 percentage points in urban areas. Had the pandemic not occurred, poverty would have declined by 5 percentage points in rural areas and 1.5 percentage points in urban areas between 2019 and 2020, and 50 million would have been lifted above this line," it added.

The report further highlighted how women lost more employment than men during the COVID-19 pandemic last year, how around half of formal salaried workforce moved into informal work, and how poorer households underwent considerably higher income losses during the lockdown period.

Mobility curbs resulted in income losses because of decreased economic activity, the report noted. "A 10% decline in mobility was associated with a 7.5% decline in income," it stated, suggesting the situation could get worse if more lockdowns are imposed in the future.

The report proposed that the Centre will need to roll out a relief package worth Rs 8 lakh crore to contain hardships being faced by lower-income groups due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

The report is based on inputs from Consumer Pyramids Household Survey, Azim Premji Foundation, and many other civil society organisations.

Also Read: COVID-19 hit women, youth, lower-skilled workers harder: IMF

The study found that nearly half of formal salaried workers moved into informal work, either as self-employed (30 per cent), casual wage (10 per cent) or informal salaried (9 per cent) workers, between late 2019 and late 2020 and there was a decline in their income level as well.

In April and May, the poorest 20 per cent of households lost their entire income and the richer households suffered losses of less than a quarter of their pre-pandemic incomes, the report said.

To bring relief for the people suffering hardships of COVID-19 impact, the Azim Premji University report, released on Wednesday, recommended measures that would cost the government an additional expenditure of around Rs 8 lakh crore.

"The measures that we have proposed will bring the spending by the government of India to 4.5 per cent of overall GDP between this year and last or about Rs 8 lakh crore. We think that is not even internationally comparable to what other countries have done, but really what India needs to do," Azim Premji University associate professor of economics Amit Basole said while releasing the report.

According to the report, the public distribution system has a wider reach than Jan Dhan Yojana, and free rations under the PDS should be extended beyond June, at least till the end of 2021.

In Karnataka and Rajasthan, out of those with women-owned Jan Dhan accounts, 60 per cent received one or more transfers, around 30 per cent did not receive any transfers and 10 per cent did not know about the fund status in their account, it added.

Also Read: Covid-19 pandemic drove 119-124 million people into extreme poverty: WHO

The university report recommended a cash transfer of Rs 5,000 for three months to as many vulnerable households as can be reached with the existing digital infrastructure, including but not limited to Jan Dhan accounts.

It has suggested expanding the MGNREGA entitlement to 150 days and revising programme wages upwards to state minimum wages.

This needs to expand the programme budget to at least Rs 1.75 lakh crore, according to the report.

It has also recommended launching a pilot urban employment programme in the worst-hit districts with a focus on women workers, increasing the central contribution in old-age pensions to at least Rs 500, a COVID hardship allowance to 25 lakh Anganwadi and ASHA workers of Rs 30,000 and automatically enrolling all MGNREGA workers who do construction work as registered workers under the building and other construction workers (BoCW) Act.
Highlights Starlink broadband in the US sent notice to a user who purposefully downloaded pirated content.

The user noted that he downloaded something without a VPN.

Starlink is likely to begin its services in India in 2022, once it clears the ongoing regulatory hurdles.

Elon Musk's Starlink broadband which will work through orbital satellites is likely to begin its services in India in 2022, once it clears the ongoing regulatory hurdles. Starlink will warn users against downloading torrents or copyrighted content. A Starlink user in the US who goes by the username substrate-97 on Reddit noted that he was downloading pirated content without a VPN to see what would happen, and he got a notice from the company. He posted a screenshot of the notice on Reddit.

"Been purposefully torrenting without a VPN to see what world happen and finally got a notice" "Been doing it since I got Starlink, so like two months," substrate-97 added. "It's been pretty low key stuff though. Finally downloaded something from a Fortune 500 company and my assumption was that it was specifically that."

Stralink in a notice to substrate wrote, ''We must insist that you and/or others using your Starlink service refrain from illegal downloads of copyrighted content," Starlink in a notice said. "Downloading copyrighted materials without a license may lead to suspension or termination of your service, and put you at risk of legal action by the content owner."

The thread attracted users from different parts of the world questioning if Starlink's policy would differ from country to country. A user who goes by the name Nydilien wrote asking if the policy will be applied in Switzerland where there is no such restriction. "Does Starlink's policy differ from country to country? I hope we don't have that restriction here in Switzerland, where downloading/pirating copyrighted material for free is legal,"

In contrast, a Canadian user noted that users can get sued for downloading pirated content. "In Canada there's firms that just blanket sue anyone with a IP address they can get an address for.

It's insane. So many parents paying $1500 for a download," a user who goes by the name Tartooth noted.

The rules on piracy are similar in India under the Copyright Act, where offenders could attract a three-year prison term and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh for viewing, downloading, exhibiting, or duplicating illicit content. Users, however, find their way around the laws through a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts the connection, and blocks the internet service provider. Now, Reddit users have noted that this will happen to Starlink users as well who can "cheat" using a VPN and not an open connection. "That's honestly hilarious. It's like a teacher seeing a kid cheating during a test and being like "C'mon bro, you gotta cheat better than that," a Redditor Neocactus posted.



Elon Musk has noted that Starlink will give up to 300 Mbps speed and will also be mobile, it will especially come in handy to users with less or negligible network areas. Currently, Starlink is accepting pre-orders through its website for a refundable deposit of $99. However, it does not guarantee services to its users. As of now, SpaceX has noted that Starlink received over half a million pre-orders the world over.




Highlights New websites send email, text, WhatsApp message to users when a Covid-19 vaccine slot is available next.

The websites use CoWin APIs to source real-time data on India's vaccination drive.

Some portals even tell you of the type of vaccine available.

Covid-19 vaccination for people over the age of 18 years began in the second phase of India's vaccination drive amid limited availability of units across the country. While the drive continues to go on at the best of its capacity, slots are hard to find, especially for those over 18 and below 45 years of age.

The only way to get oneself vaccinated is to register through the government's official CoWin portal and get a slot booked. Apart from the low availability of slots, the problem is that there is no way CoWin can notify users when a slot is available in their area.

So what do you do if you do not wish to check the website repeatedly for a slot availability? A few new websites have the answer.

These websites essentially act as a notification system to alert those who have registered for the vaccine of a slot availability in their area. Other than this, some also show information on the vaccine centres and the type of vaccine available in the area - Covaxin or Covishield.

These websites make use of CoWIN Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) to serve as a user interface and avail the information. The data, hence, is sourced directly from the government as per the official figures. Users can simply put in their district or pin code and get all the information on vaccine availability in their areas.

In case you want to be notified of slot availability for the Covid-19 vaccine, here are the websites that you can make use of.

Note that these websites can not be used to book an appointment for the Covid-19 vaccine jab. Users are only allowed to do so from the CoWin portal. They can just be notified of vaccine availability through these websites so they can make the appointment in time.

1. VaccinateMe.in

A recent endeavour by health-tech startup HealthifyMe, the new website provides information on a range of queries. This includes separate availability of vaccine slots for 18+ category and 45+ category, type of vaccine available and more.

Users visiting the website can simply search for the info by entering their district or pin code. Once through, VaccinateMe.in lets you filter the results using age group (18+ or 45+), type of vaccine (Covishield or Covaxin) and its cost (Free or Paid).

As for the availability of the vaccine, the website shows the date on which a slot is available and the total number of slots available on the day.

Selecting any date on which there is vaccine availability will lead the users to the next page showing hospital/ vaccine centre names, areas, pin code and the total vaccines units they have. Users can click on any, as per their convenience, to be redirected to the CoWin portal for booking.

In case there is no slot available in the near future, users can opt to be notified through email or WhatsApp.

2. Getjab.in

Possibly the first of its kind in India, Getjab.in is a single-page website developed by four friends, each from a different field of work. The website has no other purpose but to notify you when a slot is available for the Covid-19 vaccine in your area.

It works in a very straight-up fashion. Titled as CoWin slot notifier, the website requires your name, district in India and your email ID to send the mail to when the Covid-19 vaccination slots are open in your area. There is an option to register your phone number, as the website plans to bring SMS functionality for the notification soon.

Users of the website will only receive an email from the Getjab.in once slots are available for vaccination in their area. The website sends out no confirmation for registration or any other emails. It promises to not share or sell the data to anyone.

3. Findmyvaccine.in

Created by Verloop.io, the website works in a straightforward step to notify users of available slots for the Covid-19 vaccine. Note that the website works only for the age group of 18-45 years.

Users visiting the website will have to enter their state and district to find available slots in their region. In case there is no slot availability, they have the option of registering their name and phone number to be notified when a slot is available next. The website also hosts the functionality of notifying users through WhatsApp.

Other than these three, there are several new websites that help with the cause. Findslot.in and Under45.in are some of them. Both of these work in a similar way as the websites above, though they are not fully functional at the time of writing. The websites cite huge traffic and the corresponding rate limits put up by CoWin on the use of its APIs as the reason for not receiving real-time data.
Highlights Microsoft is committed to using resources to help India's Covid relief efforts.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previously confirmed support via a tweet.

Microsoft will be providing 25,000 oxygen concentrators to India.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has reaffirmed the company's support for India's fight against the Covid-19 outbreak. Microsoft will use its resources to support pandemic relief efforts in India as it has partnered with the US Chamber of Commerce and Business, which is engaged in providing medical supplies and life-saving drugs to India. As a part of its efforts, Microsoft will be providing 25,000 oxygen concentration devices to hospitals and healthcare institutions in India.

"We are committed to using our resources to support pandemic relief efforts in India and are mobilising to address the country's most urgent needs, partnering across the business community US Chamber to provide critical medical supplies," Microsoft's Nadella wrote on Twitter. The latest announcement comes close on the heels of the previous one where Nadella said he was "heartbroken" to see the current state of India. Back then, Nadella wrote, "I'm grateful the U.S. government is mobilising to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices."

Microsoft has also managed to raise more than $3 million (roughly Rs 22.2 crore) from its employees. The software giant will match this amount from the company side to donate as much as $6 million (roughly Rs 44.5 crore) to India's relief efforts. The company has not said if it is making the donations in the name of central or state governments or if these donations will go to nonprofits and other organisations involved in relief efforts during the pandemic. Microsoft has, however, said that it is working with companies to provide as many as 25,000 oxygen concentrators.

One of the biggest tech companies in the world, Microsoft, has its offices in 11 locations in India, employing thousands of people. The Redmond-based headquarters is chalking out plans, on a daily basis, on how the company can help India tackle the pandemic. Microsoft president Brad Smith is a part of the steering committee that the US Chamber of Commerce and Business constituted to provide critical aid in these dire times.

Microsoft is also lending support through technology to millions of Indians during these times. "Across the world, we have seen the harrowing images of Covid-19's impact in India. The entire country is reeling under the devastating impact of the pandemic. Our thoughts are with the millions who are impacted including their relatives living abroad," wrote Kate Behncken, vice president and lead of Microsoft Philanthropies in a Microsoft blog post.

"As we witness the impact on friends, co-workers and the broader community, it is clear we can and must help. We are focused on using our technology, skills, resources and voice to assist in the global response," Behncken said.
While data showed one current hospitalization, county officials said on the health departments Facebook page that they are aware that the census at Northwest Health-Porter is currently at 13 hospitalized; three people are on ventilators and four are in the intensive care unit. Officials have not yet been notified by the hospital how many of those patients are Porter County residents.
Highlights Motorola Moto G60 is being sold at a discounted price of Rs 16,999 on Flipkart.

Moto G60, which competes with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and Realme 8, was launched in India for Rs 17,999.

The smartphone is now available for purchase at Rs 16,999 only on Flipkart.

If you have been planning to buy a smartphone with a 108-megapixel camera phone, there can be no better time to buy it. The Motorola Moto G60 is being sold at a discounted price of Rs 16,999 on Flipkart. However, the discount is only available with a bank offer. Motorola had launched the Moto G60 in India a couple of days along with the Moto G40 Fusion. Apart from the camera specifications, the two smartphones come with identical specs.

The Moto G60, which competes with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and Realme 8, was launched in India for Rs 17,999. The smartphone is now available for purchase at Rs 16,999 only on Flipkart. But there is a bank offer attached to the discount that is being offered by Motorola.

If you are an HDFC bank cardholder, you can get an instant discount of Rs 1000 on Credit/Debit EMI Transactions. However, if you make the payment using an HDFC debit card, you will get an instant discount of Rs 500. Flipkart is also offering discounts for Axis Bank credit cardholders. Additionally, buyers can exchange their old phones for new ones and get up to Rs 15,300. The smartphone is available for purchase on selected retail stores and Flipkart, but the offer is only valid on the e-commerce platform. The Moto G60 is available in two different colors including Dynamic Gray, Frosted Champagne.

Moto G60: Specifications and features

Moto G60 at Rs 16,999 is a deal you should not miss because the smartphone comes with interesting features at this price point. Moto G60 is a biggish phone that features a 6.80-inch Max Vision FHD+ display with HDR10 support. The display comes with a high refresh of 120Hz. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You can also expand the memory up to 1TB using a microSD card. The smartphone houses a 6000mAh battery with support for TurboPower 20W charging.

In the camera department, Moto G60 features a 108 MP quad function camera system on the rear which comes with Ultra Pixel that combines 9 pixels into one massive 2.1um Ultra Pixel. Accompanying the 108-megapixel camera is a two-in-one 8-megapixel sensor that allows users to capture ultra-wide pictures as well as macro pictures using the same sensor. Then there is the depth sensor to capture the perfect portrait shot. On the front, there is a 32-megapixel with quad-pixel technology for better selfies.
Highlights Oppo Enco Air TWS earbuds are the latest ones from company with affordable price.

Oppo has launched its second series of smart televisions in China.

Oppo has launched the products in China as of now.

Oppo pulled a Realme today when it launched a flurry of new products, including a new smartphone, a new fitness band, a new smart television, and a new pair of truly wireless earbuds. They are called K9 5G, Oppo Band Vitality Edition, Smart TV K9, and Enco Air. The brand new products are primarily for the buyers in China and Oppo has not said anything about bringing these products to India or other markets. The highlighted product from the lot is the new Enco Air truly wireless earbuds that come with a translucent lid on the charging case, and a promise of 24-hour battery life.

There is a new Oppo K9 5G smartphone that we have covered separately. It essentially forms the basis for all the other products -- with one of them taking the name even. Oppo's new smart television is called the Oppo Smart TV K9 after the phone, and it comes in three sizes. This is the second range of smart televisions from Oppo. The first TV models debuted in China last year. For now, all the television models from Oppo are available in China, and there is no way to tell whether they will be headed to India anytime soon.

Oppo Enco Air TWS earbuds specifications, price

The Oppo Enco Air is a new pair of affordable, truly wireless earbuds. It comes with what Oppo calls a transparent lid so that you can see the earbuds inside. But, in reality, this lid is translucent but you can still see what is inside the lid. The Enco Air comes in white, green, black, and blue colours and they all look peppy. The Enco Air earbuds use a 12mm dynamic driver with a titanium-plated diaphragm moving coil for producing bass-rich sounds. They have an in-ear fit with silicone ear tips. Each earbud weighs 3.75 grams, which makes them pretty light to use. There is a long stem on the Enco Air, which reminds you of the Enco Free that the company launched last year.

According to the company, the Oppo Enco Air can offer a total playback time of 24 hours with a charging case, where the 25mAh battery inside each earbud can give around 4 hours of playback time. The charging case alone has a 440mAh battery inside, along with a USB-C port for fast charging. Oppo says the Enco Air can offer 8 hours of playback with 10 minutes of charge. The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connection and support AAC and SBC codecs on both Android and iOS devices. There are dual microphones for call noise reduction on the earbuds but they lack active noise cancellation, and rightly so. There is a 47ms low-latency on the earbuds and support for the deep neural network (DNN) to simulate the human binaural hearing system. This algorithm also helps in producing better sound quality.

The Oppo Enco Air earbuds cost CNY 249, which is roughly Rs 2,800.

Oppo Smart TV K9 specifications, price

The Oppo Smart TV K9 is the latest smart television by the Chinese company. They come in 43-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch sizes. The 43-inch model comes with support for Full-HD (1080p) resolution while the resolution on the other two maxes out at 4K Ultra-HD resolution. There is support for HDR10+ on the 55-inch and 65-inch models, with the latter only supporting MEMC dynamic compensation up to 60Hz to make transitions seem smooth. Oppo is touting 93 per cent of DCI-P3 colour gamut and 1.07 billion colours on the 4K models, as well as a colour accuracy of less than 2 on Delta E.

The 65-inch and 55-inch 4K models come with 15W full-range speakers, while the 43-inch 1080p model has 10W stereo speakers. All three models support Dolby Audio with the feature to play music with the screen turned off to save power. Oppo has also given the Tencent START cloud gaming platform on the televisions. There is 2GB of RAM on all TV models. Storage-wise, however, the 4K models come with 16GB while the 43-inch model has 8GB only. There is an MT9652 quad-core A73 processor with a G52 MC1 GPU inside all models. The TVs run ColorOS TV 2.0. Their remote control is Bluetooth-enabled with far-field recognition technology.

The Oppo Smart TV K9 43-inch costs CNY 1,799 (roughly Rs 20,500), the 55-inch version is priced at CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs 22,800), and, finally, the 65-inch model costs CNY 3,299, which is roughly Rs 37,700. Oppo will also sell webcams separately with 4K models for video calling.
The Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA), an international association of 32 members across 55+ countries, have successfully hosted a series of C3 cloud skills tour events in over 17 countries in a virtual setting since January 2021.

We recognize that transformation to cloud technologies requires skills transformation and most importantly, that digital transformation is about people. During this event, The LLPA in close cooperation with Microsoft and other key partners provide business leaders, executives, IT professionals, developers and Microsoft Azure consultants, an opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from local and international leading industry experts on topics such as building high-performance teams and better ways of leveraging existing and future cloud investments. This exciting global tour is famous for bringing learning thought leaders, executives, and partners, together to collaborate and share best practices.

Leading transformation starts with an idea, a vision and the ability to identify expectations. For this you must be informed, knowledgeable, and equipped. The sphere of cloud technology is robust and ever changing. Were inviting IT professionals and leaders everywhere, to attend the final C3 Global Cloud Skills Tour event to gain knowledge from leading experts that will help organizations of all sizes build a future-ready workforce says Patrick Kersten, Chairman of the Board at LLPA.

Contrary to popular belief, digital transformation is less about technology and more about people. You can pretty much buy any technology, but your ability to adapt to an even more digital future depends on developing the next generation of skills, closing the gap between talent supply and demand, and future-proofing your own and others potential  Harvard Business Review. The C3 Global Cloud Skills Tour aims to address the cloud skills gaps by ensuring all existing and future cloud customers have the technical and soft skills needed to be successful.

The LLPA will host this live 2-day event 9-10 June 2021 from 9-1pm CET joined by international speakers, Ken Taylor, President  Training Industry, Inc., Kare Nygard, Head of Digital Consulting Norway  TietoEVRY, Mohanna Azarmandi, Chief Learning Officer  Microsoft, Jayne Groll, CEO  DevOps Institute and many others. The LLPA have more than 15 live and on-demand sessions planned, ranging from technical deep dives to digital transformation and skilling best practice sessions. We also have a great panel discussion lined up led by leading training providers from multiple regions.

We need to adjust and embrace a more virtual way of living and more than ever it is vital that people remain closely connected. It is great to see that the global network of the Leading Learning Partner Association is showing leadership to deliver 100% virtual trainings to support our mutual customers in the continuation and acceleration of their skilling efforts to support their digital transformation strategy. These efforts have been recognized by our mutual customers and Microsoft awarded the Leading Learning Partners Association with a global Learning Partner of the year award, for their continuous commitment for accelerating cloud skills.  Geoff Hirsch, Senior Director of Partner Channel, WW Learning & Readiness at Microsoft.

About The LLPA

Born in the Netherlands in 2013, the Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA) is a global organization with a member presence in more than 55 countries. Our mission is to be THE global cloud skills services organization, dedicated to providing the right tools, learning resources and services at the right time to ensure cloud skills are accessible to anyone and everyone at any time across the globe.

Our extensive network of trusted members contributes to the development of expert job-ready industry professionals through hybrid learning offerings, consulting, and certification. Together, our members have trained over 500,000 students per year, covering more than 90% of the European GDP. The LLPA has been a Microsoft Partner since 2013 and awarded Microsoft Learning Partner of the Year 2020.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005442/en/
Hybrid Agri Vehicles (HAV)

News Summary

Proxecto launches Indias First Fully Automatic Hybrid Tractor with no battery packs. With over 2 dozen industry-first features to call itself the most innovative tractor of India.
World economy facing US$3.8 trillion economic hit, with half absorbed by wealthiest countries

New report 21 Priorities for Governments in 2021 Identifies Five Areas in Post-pandemic Recovery

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 womens 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 humanitys 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: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005573/en/
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

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Mostly sunny. High 83F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Potesta sustained an injury to his right hand and superficial cuts to his left hand during the altercation. His uniform and several pieces of his equipment were damaged beyond repair. He was treated at Northwest Health Porter and released and will undergo further medical testing to determine the severity of his injuries but he is expected to make a full recovery.
Spain's tourism sector looks to China as lever to reactivate industry: expert

Xinhua) 13:08, May 06, 2021

Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2021 shows an empty dining area near the Montserrat Monastery in Montserrat, Spain. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

"Spain is the second most important tourist destination in the world after France, and China the most important source market," said Rafael Cascales Sisniega, president of the Spain China Tourism Association (ATEC), highlighting the opportunity presented by the Asian market, and Chinese market in particular.

MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As Spain is set to end its "state of alarm" on May 9, insiders of the country's tourism industry are looking to China as a lever to reactivate the sector amid easing COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"China is a strategic market and we hope that China can be the lever to reactivate the tourism sector in Spain when the pandemic ends," Rafael Cascales Sisniega, president of the Spain China Tourism Association (ATEC), told Xinhua in an interview.

According to him, the end of domestic travel restrictions when Spain's state of alarm expires on May 9 would open the door to more travel within the country and boost the tourism industry. What's more, he said, the sector is also expected to receive new investments in the coming months and years.

Photo taken on April 17, 2021 shows the windmills at Consuegra, Spain. The windmill is one of the representative landscapes of the Castile-La Mancha region in Spain. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Under the government's Recovery, Transformation and Resilience plan (2021-2023) presented to the European Union on April 29, Spain's tourism sector would undergo a short-term recovery through modernization and digitalization.

The plan will see investments of 70,000 million euros (84,500 million U.S. dollars) over the next three years, with the tourism sector expecting to receive around 3,400 million euros.

"Spain is the second most important tourist destination in the world after France, and China the most important source market," said Cascales, highlighting the opportunity presented by the Asian market, and Chinese market in particular.

He added that it is necessary to further promote Spain as a tourist destination in China, as there are currently only seven offices of Turespana (the Spanish Tourism Institute) in the populous country.

Chinese travelers spend more money than other visitors in Spain. In 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese tourists spent 1,675.52 million euros in Spain, with a record 896,000 Chinese visiting the country, according to tourist expenditure survey (EGATUR).

The Royal Post Office building is illuminated with red light to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain, Feb. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Cascales believes that Spain should promote tourism in new, long-distance markets with the promise of high-profitability.

Cascales, who is also director of the Spanish Association of Foreign Trade Professionals (ACOCEX), emphasized that China is not only a competitive market in terms of tourism and consumption, but also in terms of investment.

"The investment of Chinese companies in the past year has not dropped, on the contrary, it has increased, because it is a solid investor," he stressed.

The pandemic hit the Spanish tourism sector exceptionally hard, leading to losses of around 76,600 million euros, with the number of visitors dropping by about 68.3 million between January 2020 and January 2021, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Only 432,362 tourists visited Spain in January 2021, 89.5 percent fewer than in the same month of 2020, while spending fell by 90.5 percent, according to data on tourist entry movement and expenditure, released by the Spanish Statistical Office. (1 euro = 1.20 U.S. dollars)

Cattle graze in a field in Manzanares el Real, Spain, on Feb. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
This is what the Sojourner Truth House has done since its opening. Its been there for any woman and child in need, today serving an average of 2,100 clients each month, nearly half of them children. The complex on the citys near West Side also operates one of the largest food pantries in the area, as well as a clothes closet and other wraparound social services.
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Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight.

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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, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A jury in Rome has convicted two American friends in the 2019 slaying of a police officer in a drug sting gone awry, sentencing them to life in prison. The jury delivered more than 12 hours before delivering the verdicts late Tuesday against 21-year-old Finnegan Lee Elder and 20-year-old Gabriel Natale. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
What is this fixation with Donald Trump? The man lost just like many past presidents and he has changed his focus to his business interests just like many past presidents. Yet many are still bitter against him even though he lost? I know it is cliche, but LET IT GO. He lost but there is still bitterness from those that defeated him? Sounds like a cult. Ive experienced the Hillary sore losers, but this is sore winners? Get over it before it gives you an ulcer!
Morehead Citys neighborhood revitalization project, which is federally funded through a Community Development Block Grant, will repair or rebuild at least five homes in the neighborhood north of Arendell Street between 4th and 28th streets, including several homes on Fisher and N. 10th streets. (Elise Clouser photo)
Attorney Ben Crump leads Khalil Ferebee, son of Andrew Brown Jr, through a crowd in April 2021 in Elizabeth City. Protesters called for the release of deputies' body camera footage from the shooting of Brown. (Calvin Adkins / Carolina Public Press)
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Dreamworks Animations Glendale HQ is up for sale  again.

The seven-building campus, which comes in at just under 500,000 square feet, has been put on the market by its owners, South Koreas Hana Asset Management and L.A.-based Ocean West Capital Partners. The site is leased to Dreamworks until 2035.

The campus was built in 1997 in a mock-Tuscan style. In early 2015, a cash-strapped Dreamworks sold it for $185 million to Suntrust Banks, which promptly flipped it, selling it on to Griffin Capital for $215M. In 2017, Griffin sold it again for $290M to its current owners. Per Bisnow, which reported the news, the current sale is expected to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $350 million.
Photo: forloveofwater.org

In November 2016, a common media headline was Trudeau kills Northern Gateway pipeline after the PM announced his government would not continue with the project.

The announcement to kill the Northern Gateway project also honoured an election commitment from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had previously stated that the Great Bear Rain Forest was no place for a pipeline.

The decision to kill the Northern Gateway pipeline project was also politically popular with many who had supported the Prime Minister in the 2015 election.



As many will know, the Prime Minister also announced that he would support and approve the Trans-Mountain pipeline project, a decision that outraged many of those who celebrated the demise of Northern Gateway.

Pipeline politics are indeed very much part of our democratic process as evidenced by the opposition to the Trans-Mountain pipeline from B.C. Premier John Horgan and his NDP government, He promised to use every tool in the tool box to try and stop it.

Why does this matter?

Because pipeline politics are also popular with certain politicians south of our Canada/United States border.

Many will know that U.S. President Joe Biden, shortly after occupying the Oval Office, used the power of the presidential veto to officially end the Keystone XL pipeline project.

The Keystone XL pipeline was proposed to connect Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb., over 1,947-kilometres to transport Canadian crude oil to U.S. refineries.

Keystone XL is not the only pipeline being targeted by United States politicians.

The Line 5 pipeline, built in 1953, runs from Superior, Wis., and feeds oil refineries in Sarnia, Ont.



Line 5 also carries natural gas and is considered a critical supply source of oil and gas to the Ontario and Quebec economies.

The challenge is a portion of Line 5 runs underwater where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron at depths between 100 and 270 feet in the Straits of Mackinac.

The risk for environmental damage related to a potential spill of a pipeline that carries up to 540,000 barrels a day of oil and natural gas liquids has resulted in Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to order the revocation of the pipeline easement and that it be shut down.

Enbridge, the owner and operator of this pipeline, is exploring legal options as well as mediation to avoid the shut down that is set to come into effect next week.

This possible pipeline shutdown has also created considerable political tension. The Trudeau Liberal government is said to be using all diplomatic channels in Washington and with President Biden to prevent the pipeline from being shut down.

I strongly support pipeline projects, however, this issue raises a question to those who oppose pipelines, that is seldom asked:

Considering PM Trudeau politically killed the Northern Gateway pipeline, much as President Biden did for Keystone XL, both citing risk and environmental reasons, why is Governor Gretchen Whitmer not entitled to follow their lead?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711.
Photo: The Canadian Press Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a press conference at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, January 22, 2021. British Columbia youths aged 12 to 17 years old could soon be getting COVID-19 vaccines, and possibly before the end of the school year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

British Columbia youths aged 12 to 17 years old could soon be getting COVID-19 vaccines, and possibly before the end of the school year.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says they're looking at ways to immunize young people with their first dose by the end of June now that Health Canada has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those 12 and older.

She says the province is looking at best ways to provide the vaccine to young people, including the option of running clinics in schools.

Henry says she understands some people have concerns about vaccine risks, especially for those who are pregnant and youth, but all Health Canada-approved vaccines are safe.

B.C. reported 572 COVID-19 cases today, the first time case counts have been below 600 since March, and there have been no new deaths.

However, the number of people in hospital remains high at 481, with 161 of those people in intensive care.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this April 28, 2021, file photo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai testifies during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The Biden administration on Wednesday joined calls for more sharing of the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines to help speed the end of the pandemic, a shift that puts the U.S. alongside many in the developing world who want rich countries to do more to get doses to the needy.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the government's position, amid World Trade Organization talks about a possible temporary waiver of its protections that would allow more manufacturers to produce 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 a statement.

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.

This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures," said Tai. The Administrations aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible."

Tai's announcement came hours after WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spoke to a closed-door meeting of ambassadors from developing and developed countries that have been wrangling over the issue, but agree on the need for wider access to COVID-19 treatments.

The WTOs General Council took up the issue of a temporary waiver for intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines and other tools, which South Africa and India first proposed in October. The idea has gained support among some progressive lawmakers in the West.

More than 100 countries have come out in support of the proposal, and a group of 110 members of Congress  all fellow Democrats of Biden  sent him a letter last month that called on him to support the waiver.

Opponents  especially from industry  say a waiver would be no panacea. They insist that production of coronavirus vaccines is complex and cant be ramped up by easing intellectual property. They also say lifting protections could hurt future innovation.

In the midst of a deadly pandemic, the Biden Administration has taken an unprecedented step that will undermine our global response to the pandemic and compromise safety, said Stephen Ubl, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

This decision will sow confusion between public and private partners, further weaken already strained supply chains and foster the proliferation of counterfeit vaccines, he said.

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, chief executive of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization trade group, said in a statement that the Biden administrations decision will undermine incentives to develop vaccines and treatments for future pandemics.

Handing needy countries a recipe book without the ingredients, safeguards, and sizable workforce needed will not help people waiting for the vaccine," she said. Handing them the blueprint to construct a kitchen that  in optimal conditions  can take a year to build will not help us stop the emergence of dangerous new COVID variants.

It remained unclear how some countries in Europe, which have influential pharmaceutical industries and had previously shared U.S. reservations about the waiver, would respond.

WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said a panel on intellectual property at the trade body was expected to take up the waiver proposal again at a tentative meeting later this month, before a formal meeting June 8-9. That means any final deal could be weeks away at best.

He pointed to a change in tone in WTO talks Wednesday, after months of wrangling.

I would say that the discussion was far more constructive, pragmatic. It was less emotive and less finger pointing than it had been in the past, Rockwell said, citing a surge in cases in places like India.

Authors of the proposal have been revising it in hopes of making it more palatable.

Okonjo-Iweala, in remarks posted on the WTO website, said it was incumbent on us to move quickly to put the revised text on the table, but also to begin and undertake text-based negotiations.

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 that is acceptable to all sides, she said.

Co-sponsors of the idea were shuttling between different diplomatic missions to make their case, according to a Geneva trade official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. A deadlock persists, and opposing sides remain far apart, the official said.

The argument, part of a long-running debate about intellectual property protections, centres on lifting patents, copyrights and protections for industrial design and confidential information to help expand the production and deployment of vaccines during supply shortages. The aim is to suspend the rules for several years, just long enough to beat down the pandemic.

The issue has become more pressing with a surge in cases in India, the worlds second-most populous country and a key producer of vaccines  including one for COVID-19 that relies on technology from Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca.

Proponents, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, note that such waivers are part of the WTO toolbox and insist theres no better time to use them than during the once-in-a-century pandemic that has taken 3.2 million lives, infected more than 437 million people and devastated economies, according to Johns Hopkins University.

This is a monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19," Tedros said in Wednesday statement. He said the U.S. commitment "to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of American leadership to address global health challenges.
With roads, hotels and popular scenic spots packed with millions of people, the five-day Labor Day holiday is a testament to China's success in COVID-19 containment and economic recovery.

Citizens across China expected this year's holiday to be an occasion for leisure not seen since the pandemic. After all, everyone had stayed put long enough.

Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. In Jinan, the provincial capital of east China's Shandong, over 60,000 passengers took flights from the Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport on April 30, a record high for that date since it opened to air traffic in 1992 and surpassing the highest daily volume in 2019.

Hotel booking rates surged in tourist destinations. Sanya in the southern Hainan province saw the prices increase by as much as 400 percent. Tickets for popular attractions, many of which can be reserved online, generally sold out days in advance.

None of the above would be possible without China's success in pandemic control. The country's effective prevention and control measures, including a well-functioning contact tracing system widely used for travel, accommodation and catering services, have held up well for a long period of time, boosting people's confidence.

Vaccinations in China are proceeding in an orderly manner, and vaccination rates have steadily improved. Mass vaccination campaigns in major cities, often tourist destinations, provide further assurance for travelers to make bolder plans and feel free to travel around the country.

Famous cities like Changsha and Chengdu are jammed with tourists, with short videos and pictures flying up on social media. The thriving tourism market is part of economic recovery.

Other anecdotal data showed that higher-end hotels and higher-quality services have been more welcome this year, suggesting a trend in consumption. With the pandemic under control and vaccination gaining momentum, booming holiday consumption shows economic vitality and boosts confidence in Chinese economy.
On May 3, 2021, Rex Murphy exposed the Liberals Bill C-10 agenda to control social media. C-10, and other Bills Liberals have introduced, empowers them to regulate and censor what we say or believe.

The Bill is a communist document. The PM and his cabinet should resign for presenting it.

Recently, a gentleman suggested to me that communism in Eastern European countries of the 1930s - 1940s is not the same communism of today. I disagree.

From 1962  1967, I lived near the East/West German border. We were continuously on the lookout for surprise attacks from East German, Russian, Chinese or other communist regimes.

Along the border, Eastern European citizens risked crossing no-go zones that were fenced with many miles of barbed wire/walls to prevent people from escaping communist lands.

They did not flee into communist controlled countries. They fled from being censored, fined, jailed or cancelled for their beliefs as Trudeau is empowering himself to do to us with C-10.

People sought escape to the West for freedom, not censorship! Individuals and families sacrificed their lives in the attempt to escape communist tyranny.

Their bodies hung from barbed wire or barricaded walls, riddled with bullets of communist soldiers who shot them for seeking freedom in the West where they could speak freely.

Communism is the same today. Hundreds of thousands, even millions, make their way to freedom in the West, not to the East ruled by dictators and villains.

I submit that the communism of today is the same wretched and evil system it has always been, as are those who deceptively seek to control us.

Brutality is the communist way to forcibly keep citizens in control. Secret atrocities are now historical facts. That is the reality of Communism.

It created disasters in Russia, China, North Korea and every country where its evil footprint appeared.

It took only ten years to ruin Venezuela in our day. Hong Kong is on its way. It will repeat with a vengeance in Canada if we allow it under Trudeau.

Trudeau shut down political debate on C-10 but not his plan to control Canadians.

Dozens of lying politicians and dictators have convinced me that the tyrannical socialist governments defeated in the Cold War are the same lying demagogues seeking power today, with the same capacity to censure, lockdown, deceive, control and brutalize citizens that elect and trust them by introducing Bills like C-10.

Garry Rayner, West Kelowna
I just recently moved to Vernon and I have a few observations I feel compelled to make. In terms of how the city is managing (not managing) the development of the Downtown to support the downtown merchants and make a vibrant inner city core.



Before I begin, I am fully aware of the increasing crime in the downtown areas which deters both businesses and shoppers however I find Vernon is doing more - but still more has to be done in redirecting those to other areas which is where the bylaw enforcers have proved effective (but we have to still do our part and notify).



I have written the mayor as to why more has not be done to attract developers specifically to the downtown - to have high-rise apartments built on streets adjacent or on the downtown strip. If you see what is happening in Kamloops/Kelowna - these city councils have taken full advantage of the pandemic and encouraged massive building projects creating both employment and stimulating the downtown economy.



Vernon needs more high-rise affordable housing to fill a huge housing void. Secondly, this population would be within walking distance supporting downtown merchants. As it standing today - it appears every third downtown business is closed largely to the fault of this and former councils.



There is enough building within walking distance to Walmart, etc - lets give our small businesses a long overdue here and start building! (Or has this city turned away too many developers due to ridiculously slow building permits, and needless red tape?)



The way I see it this city with their ridiculous archaic parking meters spend more money paying bylaw officers to give parking tickets than do the job they were elected to do - and that was to guide Vernons development so that our very vital small businesses get a break and have an attractive downtown core to draw in the public - especially through well planned high rise developments so sorely needed in the downtown core.



As an aside - it was so obvious that in attempts to mask your citys embarrassing rate of downtown business closures - you just had to move the Service Canada building onto your Main Street , really, how pathetic instead of moving it to another block. This is your version of your citys vision, filling downtown areas with government buildings, how utterly stupid!



Linda Albert, Vernon
Photo: Contributed

By Dorothee Birker

When someone has volunteered 76 of their 85 years, you can believe that they value the opportunities it gives them.

For Irene Draper, starting at a new school in a new town left her feeling lonely and disconnected from her community.

I never forgot the horrible feeling of being an outsider in a world that was unfamiliar to me, Irene said. That experience became a part of who I am.

Irene, 85, continues to volunteer, helping at her church, Mission Creek Alliance, and at the Kelowna General Hospital and with those who are new to the area, including international students and newcomers settling in Kelowna.

For Irene, volunteering is simply fun and a way to keep her motivated and getting out into the world.

Irene is one of 20 volunteer ambassadors helping KCR Community Resources to share the message that volunteering is not only a benefit to the community, but also to the individual who is sharing their time.

All the ambassadors are 55 and older, have lived full lives and now share their skills, knowledge, passion and community spirit with a variety of community non-profit organizations.

As part of National Volunteer Week (April 18-24), KCR launched our Volunteer55 Program to highlight these great volunteers and the opportunities that exist for the many other seniors in our region who have so much to share with our community.

Cleo Ruffle is another ambassador who was born in Trinidad, pursued nursing in the UK and immigrated to Canada in 1984, finally moving to the Okanagan in 1990.

"Volunteering is very important to me, it is a way for me to give back to my community, she said. It's motivating and rewarding to know I make a difference in someone's lonely life.

My passion has always been helping others.

As a volunteer at Lake Country Health and Lake Country Seniors Housing Society, Cleo is making a difference, especially during these isolating times during the pandemic.

Cleos best advice is There are many ways to volunteer, choose one that is suitable for you, one which brings joy to your heart and fills a void for someone else."

As with Cleo, many volunteers are often serial volunteers  making a difference at several organizations at the same time.

Dwight Foster, who has been volunteering for more than 25 years, moved to the Okanagan six years ago and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, The Boys and Girls Club and the United Way.

He is also a volunteer at KCR helping with the resettlement of newcomers.

"Volunteering is a learning experience for you and others. You learn from the experience by being open minded and participatory. The benefits to yourself include self-awareness, boosting your well-being, and knowing that you are helping someone else."

Whether you want to light your passion, enjoy learning, or have fun, volunteering can be a great way to help you achieve your goals. Even during COVID times, there are ways to volunteer that are safe for everyone.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities, get in touch with KCR Community Resources and we can help you get started and to find the perfect opportunity.

Dont let age get in the way  there are opportunities for those younger and older, and everyone in between. There are hands-on, safe opportunities and there are great virtual or volunteer-from-home opportunities.

The best thing is just to get started. You can find out more at www.kcr.ca or call us at 250-763-8008.

Dorothee Birker is the communications and development co-ordinator for KCR Community Resources, a multi-service agency offering projects and programs in four areas: community services, employment services, immigrant services, and family and adoption Services. KCR is also home to the Volunteer Centre of the Central Okanagan. Dorothee can be reached at 250-860-4911 or [email protected].
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this July 9, 2013, file photo, traffic flows through the main gate past a welcome sign in Fort Hood, Texas. U.S. officials say the Army plans to put a civilian in charge of the command that conducts criminal investigations, in response to widespread criticism that the unit is understaffed, overwhelmed and filled with inexperienced investigators.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

The Army plans to put a civilian in charge of the command that conducts criminal investigations, a response to widespread criticism the unit is understaffed, overwhelmed and filled with inexperienced investigators, officials familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

The decision, expected to be announced Thursday, reflects recommendations made by an independent commission in the wake of violent crimes and murders at Fort Hood, Texas, including the death of Vanessa Guillen, whose remains were found about two months after she was killed.

According to officials, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, or CID, will be separated from the Provost Marshall General's office, and instead of being run by a general officer it will be overseen by a yet-to-be-named civilian director. The move is designed to improve the capabilities of the command and address the findings of the Fort Hood commission.

The CID will be responsible for criminal investigations, and the Provost Marshal office will continue with separate duties.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the decision before it was made public, said immediate changes would be implemented at three Army installations considered high-risk to increase qualified staffing and help improve relationships with local law enforcement. It's unclear which installations will be affected.

Longer-term changes would address how to improve the criminal investigations to better deter crime.

The decision comes amid heightened attention within the Pentagon on ways to address sexual assaults and other discipline problems in the military. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's first directive after he took office in January ordered senior leaders to look into their sexual assault prevention programs, and he later created a panel to study the matter.

The Fort Hood independent review panel, however, was created last year by former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

More than two dozen Fort Hood soldiers died in 2020, including in multiple homicides and suicides. Guillen's death and other cases prompted the independent review, which found that military leaders were not adequately dealing with high rates of sexual assault, harassment, drug use and other problems at the base. The review panel, which released its findings last December, also concluded that the Army CID was understaffed, badly organized and had too few experienced investigators.

Members of the panel told Congress members in March that the CID investigators lacked the acumen to identify key leads and connect the dots.

Christopher Swecker, chairman of the review panel, said the agents were victims of the system, which he said failed to train them and often had them doing administrative tasks. And he said the base leadership was focused on military readiness, and completely and utterly neglected the sexual assault prevention program. As a result, he said, lower-level unit commanders didnt encourage service members to report assaults, and in many cases were shaming victims or were actually the perpetrators themselves.

Since then, Army leaders have taken disciplinary action against 21 officers and non-commissioned officers at Fort Hood in connection with Guillen's disappearance and death. Among those were senior base leaders as well as CID agents.

During the March Congressional hearing, lawmakers grilled the CID commander, who told them that she is seizing this moment to correct the staffing and resource problems within her agency that led to sweeping failures in tracking and solving cases.

We can and we will do better, Maj. Gen. Donna Martin told the House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel at the time. She said the Army was working to restructure and modernize the CID, and was considering adding more civilian investigators and creating special teams that could respond to major criminal cases when needed at any base. Martin is leaving the job, in a routine rotation.
Photo: Contributed

Chief Norm Lipinski of the incoming Surrey Police Service says hes not concerned about taking over for a police force that has been subject to a hiring freeze for the past three years, as gang violence escalates in the region.

On Tuesday, Lipinski staged an online press conference to unveil the new Surrey Police Service badge and took written questions from media over an online platform.

Asked about city councils decision to freeze the Surrey RCMP during the transition process, Lipinski said: Im not concerned and the reason is, thus far we have a lot of interest from a variety of police agencies from across Canada to join our ranks.

The question had nothing to do with the recruitment process and a follow-up asked if he has spoken to the police boards chair Doug McCallum about how many officers he anticipates in 2024, the first anticipated full year for SPS.

Weve had ongoing dialogue not only with the board chair but the board itself in its entirety. Thats a bit of a ways out but we do know as the city grows the Surrey Police Service will also grow, he said.

We will look at that number a little more closely once that budget cycle comes closer, added Lipinski.

If council continues on its trajectory, the Surrey RCMP force could be frozen for five years, in which time an estimated 60,000 people will have moved into the city.

Surrey is now in the midst of a flare-up of gang violence and deadly shootings.

Lipinski said it is important for all police departments in the region to work together to address the current crisis, which includes the recent killing of a corrections officer in a public parking lot in neighbouring Delta.

He did not address how the hiring freeze in Surrey may impact crime. In December 2019, outgoing Surrey RCMP Officer-in-Charge Dwayne McDonald warned that some officers working in crime prevention will likely have to be deployed to the streets.

You can only do so much with the resources youre given. At some point in time if your calls for service and demands for resources are going up, and your resources remain stagnant, you have to look at how you deploy those resources. So at some point in time those programs may or may not have to be reviewed, said McDonald.

The transition process has since been delayed by roughly two years.
Photo: CTV News

New legislation could provide British Columbians with protection against so-called "revenge porn."

The Government of British Columbia has started consultations on legislation that would crack down on "non-consensual distribution of intimate images," also known as revenge porn or image abuse.

According to Cybertip.ca, reported incidents of non-consensual disclosure of intimate images increased 58 per cent by the start of 2021, compared to the nine-month period prior to April 1, 2020. This included a 94 per cent increase in youth reporting and a 44 per cent increase in adults reporting.

The publication of intimate images without consent is already an offence under Canada's Criminal Code, but potential provincial legislation could provide additional tools for people to protect themselves and seek recourse.

"Without consent, circulating or threatening to distribute an intimate image is a form of sexual violence with traumatic and lasting impacts," says Grace Lore, parliamentary secretary for gender equity. "The non-consensual sharing of images can be a form of intimate partner violence or be used to extort victims for additional images, sex, or money. We believe a comprehensive B.C. approach can make a real difference for people to achieve results faster and get better access to justice."

The proposed legislation would provide a new option to help people get posted images taken down and destroyed. It could also create a new process for people to claim compensation from wrongdoers.

The scope of the legislation could also apply to altered images, known as deep fakes.

Consultations with stakeholder groups will be ongoing until June 2021.
Photo: Canadian Coast Guard

The federal Liberal government is adding a second heavy icebreaker to its long-term plans for the Canadian Coast Guard, a move that will likely head off a messy battle with Canada's shipbuilding industry but could come at a cost to taxpayers.

Liberal cabinet ministers surprised many on Thursday as they announced the government it is tapping Vancouver's Seaspan Shipyards and Quebec-based Chantier Davie to each build a new heavy icebreaker for the coast guard over the decade.

The decision represents the latest wrinkle in the federal government's multibillion-dollar national shipbuilding plan and follows two years of questions  and intense lobbying from the shipyards  over Ottawa's plans for the CCGS John G. Diefenbaker.

First announced by Stephen Harper's Conservative government in 2008 and awarded to Seaspan in October 2011, the Diefenbaker was one of seven ships to be built by the Vancouver shipyard through Ottawa's multibillion-dollar shipbuilding plan.

The Diefenbaker was arguably the crown jewel of the package. Originally budgeted at $721 million, the icebreaker was supposed to be delivered by 2017 and replace the Coast Guard's flagship, the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.

But scheduling conflicts, technical problems and other issues scuttled the timeline and budget  which was increased to $1.3 billion in 2013  before the Trudeau government quietly lifted the ship from Seaspan's order book in August 2019.

While Seaspan said it was determined to win the vessel back, Davie was considered its chief competitor. After losing out of the competition for work in 2011, the rival yard has since charged back and is now in line to build six medium icebreakers for the Coast Guard.

The Quebec company insisted it  not Seaspan  was best placed to build the Diefenbaker, particularly given it is already in line to build the other six icebreakers. The two rivals subsequently engaged in fierce lobbying campaigns to secure the work.

In the end, Ottawa decided to take a page out of Oprah's book and gave both of them a new icebreaker.

During a background briefing ahead of Thursdays announcement, senior civil servants said the decision to build two heavy icebreakers reflected the changing conditions in Canadas increasingly accessible Arctic regions.

They also defended the decision to split the work between the two shipyards, rather than give both icebreakers to one, as a prudent step given the pressing need to get the two vessels in the water as soon as possible.

The St-Laurent is currently scheduled to be retired in 2030 while the Coast Guards other heavy icebreaker, the CCGS Terry Fox, is set to follow suit in 2032.

Yet while the decision to split the work is also likely to end the at times bitter battle between Seaspan and Davie, it will almost certainly come with a hefty price tag.

The federal government has previously emphasized the savings that come with one shipyard working on multiple models of the same vessel, with the first vessel in a class costing much more and taking much longer than those that follow.

The officials declined on more than one occasion Thursday to provide any cost estimate or budget for the two icebreakers, saying such information would be provided at an appropriate time.

They did acknowledge, however, that the cost will exceed the previous $1.3-billion estimate for the Diefenbaker alone, which was first established in 2012 and has been under review for several years.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Officials with an Edmonton hospital say they're investigating what happened when a woman who would later die sought help at the emergency department after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

A family friend of Lisa Stonehouse, Wilf Lowenberg, says she was taken off life support on Monday, 12 days after she got an Oxford-AstraZeneca shot.

Alberta chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, announced Tuesday that the death of the 52-year-old woman was due to a rare blood clot disorder  one of three such fatalities in Canada.

Lowenberg says Stonehouse had a throbbing headache and had been vomiting when she went to the emergency room at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital, but he says she was told to go home and rest.

He says her health worsened and her daughter took her the next day to the Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park, Alta., where a CT scan found a blood clot in her brain.

He says Stonehouse was being taken to another hospital in an ambulance when she had a seizure.

Covenant Health, the Catholic health-care provider that manages the Grey Nuns hospital, says in a statement that officials have assured the woman's family members that they are looking into their concerns.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - This file photo provided by Leonid Volkov and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, are seen in Germany in a Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, handout photo published to social media. The chief of staff to the imprisoned Russian president critic Alexei Navalny is calling on Ottawa to impose new sanctions on who he descripted as "Vladimir Putin's oligarchs." THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Leonid Volkov, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

The chief of staff to Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned critic of the Russian president, is calling on Ottawa to impose new sanctions on those who he described as "Vladimir Putin's oligarchs."

Leonid Volkov told members of a parliamentary committee that freezing the assets of Putin's friends would build leverage for western leaders, so they have stronger positions when putting pressure on the Russian president.

Volkov says Putin was personally offended by Navalny's investigation into a luxurious palace he was building, so he ordered his agents to poison the critic in August 2020.

He says Navalny was arrested in the airport on Jan. 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from the poisoning, and he has been in prison since then.

Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced sanctions against nine Russian officials in March to put pressure on senior figures in the government involved in Navalny's poisoning, his subsequent prosecution, and the silencing of citizens who protested his treatment.

Volkov says he is ready to provide the parliamentary foreign affairs committee with a list of 35 names of Putin's close friends who hold his assets.
Photo: The Canadian Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The United States has deployed a dozen additional warplanes to bolster protection of American and coalition troops making a final withdrawal from Afghanistan as Taliban insurgents step up pressure on Afghan government forces, top Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said F-18 attack planes have been added to a previously announced package of air and sea power  including the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea and six Air Force B-52 bombers based in Qatar  that can be called upon as protection for withdrawing troops. Also part of that previously announced package are several hundred Army Rangers.

U.S. officials said before the withdrawal began that they expected the Taliban to attempt to interfere, even as the insurgents continue pressuring government forces, especially in Helmand and Kandahar provinces in southern Afghanistan.

There continue to be sustained levels of violent attacks by the Taliban against Afghan security forces, Milley said, speaking alongside Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at a Pentagon news conference. He said there have been no attacks against U.S. or coalition forces since they began pulling out of the country on about May 1, and he described the Afghan forces as cohesive, even as speculation swirls around Kabul's ability to hold off the Taliban in the months ahead.

Both Milley and Austin, a retired Army general, are veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

They're fighting for their own country now, so it's not a foregone conclusion, in my professional military estimate, that the Taliban automatically win and Kabul falls, or any of those kinds of dire predictions, Milley said. That's not a foregone conclusion. There's a significant military capability in the Afghan government. We have to see how this plays out.

Milley said the Pentagon is considering options for continued support of Afghan government forces after the troop withdrawal is complete, including possibly training Afghan security forces in another country. That would be in addition to urging the Congress to authorize continued financial assistance to the Afghan forces, which has been in the range of $4 billion a year for many years, and possibly providing aircraft maintenance support remotely from another country.

We haven't figured that out 100% yet, Milley said.

Milley said Afghanistan's air force is central to the strategy for holding off the Taliban, but the durability of those planes is in some doubt. The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in an April 30 report that without continued foreign contractor support, none of the Afghan air force's airframes can be sustained as combat effective for more than a few months.

Austin acknowledged that holding off the Taliban without American support on the ground will be a challenge for the Afghans.

We're hopeful that the Afghan security forces will play a major role in stopping the Taliban, Austin said. What we're seeing unfold is what we expected to unfold  increased pressure on the Afghan forces. He asserted that government forces launched a counterattack this week against the Taliban in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, and that they were performing fairly well.

President Joe Biden announced last month that all American troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by Sept. 11. NATO allies have said they will do the same, and troops have already begun leaving. Austin said the drawdown is going according to plan."

The Pentagon has said there were about 2,500 U.S. troops there in recent months, and Milley said in an interview last weekend that the total rises to 3,300 if special operations forces are counted. Military commanders have said that additional forces will flow in temporarily to help with security and logistics for the drawdown.

Pentagon officials have said they will do all they can to monitor terror threats and help the Afghans from other locations in the region, described as over the horizon. But officials have not detailed where those would be.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, has warned that Afghanistans military will certainly collapse without some continued American support once all U.S. troops are withdrawn. He has expressed concerns that Afghan forces may be unable to prevent the Taliban from taking more ground, and said the Afghans will need help and funding to maintain and fly their aircraft.

Milley said last week that Afghan government forces face an uncertain future and, in a worst-case scenario, some bad possible outcomes against Taliban insurgents as the withdrawal of American and coalition troops accelerates in the coming weeks.

On Thursday, Milley took a hopeful tone in speaking about the government forces avoiding a collapse.

There is 300-plus thousand (in the) Afghan army, Afghan police, he said. It's their country. They've been leading the fight for several years now. We've been supporting them, for sure. But they've been leading the fight. And I'm a personal witness ... that the Afghan forces can fight.
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.
Photo: The Canadian Press A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is pictured at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. Grocery workers 18 and up in one B.C. region can register for vaccine. Grocery workers aged 18 and up are now eligible to register for a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine in British Columbia's largest health region. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Grocery workers aged 18 and up are now eligible to register for a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine in British Columbia's largest health region.

Fraser Health says all workers, whether they are unionized or not, will get information from their employers on how to register and book appointments online, as well as an access code.

Staff must provide identification and proof of employment, such as a pay stub or work identification, when they arrive for an appointment.

Supplies of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine were quickly snapped up last month when the province lowered the eligibility age for the vaccine to 40, before making it available to those aged 30 and up.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said B.C. expects to receive more vaccine doses starting this month to enable everyone to get their first shot by June.

Health Canada anticipates a total of 36.5 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna as well as AstraZeneca from the Serum Institute of India by June 30, though supplies from that country are expected to be disrupted because of a worsening COVID-19 crisis.
Patients Help Map Steps to Preventing COVID-19

On March 5, 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado reported its first case of COVID-19 in an international traveler on a ski holiday.

Disease detectives created this word cloud mask to show types of characteristics they investigated. resize icon View Larger Close Disease detectives created this word cloud mask to show types of characteristics they investigated.

Colorado health officials were monitoring the global situation and knew they needed to quickly inform the public about how to reduce their risk of COVID-19. A thorough understanding of the potentially deadly disease was critical for health officials making decisions about preventive measures and for healthcare providers caring for the sick.

Colorado is one of only a handful of U.S. states besides Georgia with a CDC office. Typically devoted to preventing and controlling germs spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas, the CDC team in Fort Collins, about 60 miles north of Denver, redirected its expertise to COVID-19. CDC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) started working together to address some of the mysteries of this new disease.

Learning about a new, contagious disease requires critical thinking and a collaborative approach, says Kristen Marshall, a CDC disease detective assigned to CDPHE. We were able to build a strong, multi-disciplinary team that brought different perspectives to the problem, helped strengthen our study design, and pushed us to think differently.

Kristen Marshall, a CDC disease detective assigned to CDPHE

CDC and CDPHE staff conducted a telephone survey to assess possible COVID-19 exposures before Colorados stay-at-home orders went into effect on March 26, 2020. CDC and CDPHE staff randomly selected 600 patients who had been confirmed to have COVID-19 in nine counties that account for about 80% of Colorados population. In 20 days, more than 30 CDC staff made hundreds of calls and got 364 patients or someone representing them, to agree to a 30-minute interview.

We were eager to hear first-hand accounts from COVID-19 patients and work with a team keen to find solutions for the public, says Grace Vahey, a CDC disease detective at the Fort Collins office. As a veterinarian, I am particularly interested in the intersection between human and animal health, or One Health. Since COVID-19 probably originated in animals, a multi-disciplinary approach like One Health is key.

Lessons learned early in the pandemic still work

Nearly half of participants reported close contact with someone with lab-confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath in the 14 days before their symptoms appeared. About one in four participants knew they had been exposed to someone with lab-confirmed COVID-19. Among those, 7 in 10 exposures likely occurred in workplaces or at home. Because workplaces were identified as common locations for potential exposures, it became clear that company officials and managers needed guidance on how to help protect their employees and customers.

Grace Vahey, a CDC disease detective at the Fort Collins office

Among people in the survey who had no known contact with anyone known to have COVID-19, large gatherings and domestic travel were their most commonly reported activities in the two weeks before getting sick. About half the participants did not report contact with either a lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient or someone they knew with fever or respiratory symptoms. CDPHE and CDC staff recognized that hand washing, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and mask wearing could help keep people from getting sick in these settings.

For me, a couple of things stood out, Kristen says. Sixty percent of workplace exposures occurred in healthcare settings, and in March 2020, we were still developing protocols to protect healthcare workers. The study helped highlight the need for these protocols. And with a high percentage of people with no known COVID-19 exposure, we started seeing the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. Over 4 in 10 people with no known exposure had attended a mass gathering.

The interviews produced a wealth of information. After the initial results were analyzed, CDPHE and CDC staff continued to learn about what made people more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19, what types of symptoms they experienced, and how symptoms progressed among people in and out of hospitals. That work helped make it easier to recognize COVID-19 and identify people more likely to get severely ill or end up in a hospital.

A year later, health officials continue to encourage prevention lessons learned early in the responsewear a mask, stay 6 feet apart from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands. What these early investigations revealed is also helping to inform vaccination plans and how to protect those at highest risk for severe COVID-19. These actions have helped pave the road out of this devastating pandemic.
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A 16-year-old Palestinian teenager was shot dead on Wednesday night by Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, medics and eyewitnesses said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the teenager was killed during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in the village of Oudla, south of Nablus.

The ministry said another Palestinian young man was shot and wounded by the soldiers during the same clashes, adding that he is in moderate condition.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses provided similar information of the incident, saying Nablus and several surrounding villages have been witnessing daily protests and clashes following the Israeli army's raids on Palestinian homes in the area.

The Israeli army has been searching for Palestinian gunmen who opened fire three days ago at an Israeli vehicle and wounded three Israelis. No one has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack.
A Danville man will head up Sovah's hospital in Martinsville; New developments in an unusual story in Caswell County; A Halifax County woman pled guilty to getting her grandson to kill her husband; One of the area's largest employers is marking their one-year anniversary.
Cleveland High School student Rishi Soni has presented his science research at a very high level for a high school student.

The title of his work is: Developing a fish image classification system for Mouse Creek, Cleveland, using machine learning by Rishi Soni. The work was completed in the Aquatic Biology (Scientific Research) Honors class.

Some of his highlights include:

Presented, by invitation, at the Tennessee Junior Science and Humanities Symposium on March 5 where he was nominated for the Presidential Award in STEM.

Presented, by invitation, at the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science on April 16. He advanced to the National Academy of Science. His paper will be published in full and he will receive $500 as well as expenses to travel to the national event.

Presented his project at the Chattanooga Regional Science Fair. He advanced to the International Science and Engineering Fair which will be held May 16-20.
A bill designed to increase the number of primary care physicians in Tennessees rural communities was approved by the General Assembly Wednesday. Senate Bill 298, sponsored by Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), establishes residency opportunities focusing on family practice, general pediatrics, internal medicine and psychiatry to provide medical and behavioral health services in Tennessees underserved and distressed rural counties.

Over the past 25 years, the population of Tennessee has doubled, but the number of primary care physician residencies remains frozen at the same amount because of the lack of federal funding since 1996, said Senator Briggs, who is a physician. Under this legislation, rural hospitals and community health centers will have access to these residents which has been needed for a long time. When these physicians settle in our rural communities, they bring not only improved health care to area citizens, but they also bring great economic benefit. It also incentivizes physicians to stay in these rural communities after they complete their residencies.

Senator Briggs said approximately 60-70 percent of doctors stay in the communities where they train. Current workforce projections show Tennessee with a doctor shortage of 1,050 by 2025.

The residencies will be open to all graduates of University of Tennessee schools, Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University. Residents will be approved by the National Accreditation Agency for Graduate Medical Education. The program requires the residencies be open to all qualified candidates and filled through the existing matching process employed by the GME. In addition, the bill establishes residencies through Lincoln Memorial University which offers osteopathic medicine instruction. The new residencies will be distributed across all grand divisions of the state. Both programs will be conducted in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

The 2021-2022 state budget passed last week by the legislature provided an increase of $5.5 million to fund the residencies. The legislation now goes to Governor Bill Lees desk for his signature.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Chattanooga District responded on Tuesday 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 westbound in Marion County.

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 mile marker. Two men 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 man with his clothing partially torn, yelling for help. The sergeant quickly took 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, 20, from Jackson, Tn., and a juvenile, 17, from Jackson, were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Grundy County Sheriffs Office.

If not for the swift action of Sergeant McVey, the outcome of this incident could have been tragically different, said Captain Timothy Spicer.
It was after 9 clock the other night when I finished my story for the next day. I was sitting content on the upstairs porch, the day now quiet, when I happened across the perfect story. In a lengthy piece entitled Living Without Regrets, Barbara Danza of the Epoch Times interviewed pediatrician Dr. Harley Rotbart about his unique calling. Hes authored several books, No Regrets Parenting, and more recently, No Regrets Living. Im now 72, and open to suggestions, so I speed-read the article, getting all the way to final paragraph, which jerked me up short. Now, I have darn-near memorized it.

The writer asked the doctor one last question: Do you have any final thoughts about No regrets living? I could just about sense a pause before the doctor offered, There is a universal truth for people of all faiths and for people of no faith, he said.

Contentment in life comes from reverence for the miracles in the world around us and from the humility to acknowledge that we will never fully understand the source or substance of those miracles.

Oh, Lordy, I thought, Here's a guy who is singing my song. When it comes to miles of regrets, self-guilt, searching for inner forgiveness, and the uncanny knack of finding miracles almost by the day, I am an all-pro. Yes, Ive quit trying to find out about my miracles. The worst part is when you count the blessing, the self-guilt gets extra mileage because I know better than my dearest friends I am so unworthy. That leads to further forgiveness of self, and that well is darn-dry. So, yeah, I am broken out with humility all the time and, brother, do I get Dr. Rotbarts message.

I go back and refill my cider mug, turn up the lights and re-read Ms. Danzas words over and over. Man, oh man. I found out the doctor has recovered from a heart attack not long ago, that the values and spirit he possesses were taught by a parent who survived the Holocaust, and that his quest for living freely without regret was borne one day when he was in medical school. I helped care for a patient who told me he had put off too much for the future - a future he would never have because of the terminal diagnosis he faced in his mid-50s. He had so many regrets.

You see, part of living a No Regrets life is a carpe diem approach to life: making the most of each day, appreciating the wonders and blessings all around, and taking advantage of good health to do the things youll wish you would have done should health fail you, he said.

My prescription for no regrets living is not just about smelling the roses. Its also about the way we treat people, the relationships we form, the legacy we hope to leave. If tomorrow were suddenly and unexpectedly the last day of your life, would you die owing apologies? Would there be people you didnt say I love you to enough? We cant change what happened in the past, although we can seek self-forgiveness for those things we wish we had handled differently and then learn to move on. But we can change what will happen in the future because its available to us right now, if we only know how to see it. (I am telling you  this is my kind of guy.)

* * *

THE SEVEN KEYS TO A NO REGRETS WAY OF LIVING

(In the words of Dr. Harley Rotbart MD, Denver, Colorado

The seven keys began with my avocation as a medical miracle collector. A few years ago, I published a collection of essays written by esteemed physicians around the world describing unforgettable medical cases they had witnessed. That book, Miracles We Have Seen, dealt extensively with issues of science versus faith, medicine versus miracles.

THE FIRST KEY: Belief  With the success of that book, I wanted to explore the apparent contradictions it revealed. And from that exploration, I came to the first key, and the most important one: belief. It is important for people to believe in something greater than themselves. I would never attempt to tell anyone what to believe, but in the Believe chapter of the book, I share what I believe is an example of the connection between belief and no regrets living.

THE SECOND KEY: Discover the Miracles and the THIRD KEY: third key: Heal the World of its Evils --From that first key grew the next, discovery of the miracles all around us, and then the third key, the need to heal the world of so many remaining ills, the greatest of which is evil.

THE FOUTH KEY: Learn Appreciation  The fourth key asks that we appreciate all that we have been given in this life, including our family. Then we are led to the fifth key

THE FIFTH KEY: Accept Fate  acceptance of fate and all that we cannot control in our lives. That acceptance helps us get past many of the regrets about whats happened in the past.

THE SIXTH KEY: Purpose& Self-Forgiveness --The sixth key is seeking purpose and self-forgivenessthe former to protect us from having future regrets about not making the most of our days on earth, and the latter for getting past the guilt and regrets of the past.

THE SEVENTH KEY: Treasure the Mile-Markers -- The final key, growth, asks that we take careful note of the mile markers in our past that prove to us how much weve matured in our lives. That key also describes how to, as the wonderful Tim McGraw song says, live like you were dying. NOTE: To enjoy the classic song by Tim McGraw CLICK HERE.

* * *

QUOTE: One of our most poignant moments with our daughter was a teary one, sitting with her on the edge of her bed when she was 6 years old, discussing bundles: Sure, sweetheart, there might be things you would change about yourself if you could. There are the things Mommy and Daddy were born with that they like a lot, and there are the things Mommy and Daddy got in their bundles that they dont like as muchor even hate, sometimes. And your best friend who you really wish you could look more like? When you look at her whole bundle, are you sure you really want to be her? Look at all the wonderful things you got in your bundle that you would never, ever change. Arent you glad youre you?  Harley Rotbart, M.D.

* * *

DR. ROTBART has several book titles available on Amazon, including No Regrets Parenting: Turning Long Days and Short Years Into Cherished Moments With Your Kids, and his latest, No Regrets Living: 7 Keys to a Life of Wonder and Contentment.

royexum@aol.com
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U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday it appears the Republican Party is going through a "mini-revolution" as the rift between GOP members loyal to former President Donald Trump and those like Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney who are critical of him has grown to a boiling point.

"It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for. And they're in the midst of significant sort of mini-revolution going on in the Republican Party," Biden told reporters at the White House after addressing his administration's implementation of the American Rescue Plan - a law passed in the early days of the Biden presidency to buttress the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've been a Democrat for a long time. We've gone through periods where we've had internal fights, disagreements. I don't remember any like this," he said. "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."

Biden's comments came as rank-and-file House Republicans became increasingly furious about Cheney over her repeated denunciation of Trump's unsubstantiated claims that his defeat in the 2020 election was the result of widespread voter fraud.

The possibility of Cheney being removed from her leadership post - ranking third in the House Republican hierarchy - is looming large as those opposing her fear that the deviation from a "single message" within the GOP caused by Cheney will harm the prospect of the party regaining House majority in the upcoming midterm elections in 2022.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the top two House Republicans ranking ahead of Cheney, have both supported New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik for replacing the Wyoming congresswoman as House Republican Conference chair.

Trump also endorsed Stefanik, saying in a statement that his staunch ally who vigorously supported him during his two impeachments "is a far superior choice" for the job Cheney is currently undertaking.

A vote on whether to expel Cheney is expected as soon as next week.
One of the talented local stock car drivers in the Southeast Tennessee-Northwest Georgia area during the 1940s-1950s was a young man born on September 4, 1929 who claimed Red Bank, Tennessee as his home base for his number 18 1957 Pontiac automobile that won many local dirt races.

The old Moccasin Bend race track, Boyds Speedway and the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville were three of the venues that Charlie, Harold and Freddy Fryar, Joe Lee Johnson, Friday Hassler, Bob Burcham and many others competed for prize money at the small ovals before adoring fans.

Some of the drivers had legitimate jobs during the week while others earned their income as wheelmen primarily driving souped up Fords with a back seat or trunk loaded down with cardboard boxes filled with fruit jars containing moonshine.

The young man was Charlie Griffith and he was described by NASCAR Hall of Fame member Donnie Allison as being someone who taught us what it meant to be a race car driverYou always knew when he was in the raceHe was a hell of a race car driver. Charlie could have been one of the greats, if he could only get away from the demons.

During his non-recreational job during the week he was described by one of his competitors in the transporting business as the best street driver around!

He was famous for out-maneuvering and out racing local law officers when he was delivering a load of the illegal product down Whitwell Mountain onto Suck Creek Road into the corporate limits of the City of Chattanooga to satisfy the liquid appetites of a thirsty public.

The complete history of Charles complex life has been compiled by his granddaughter, Michelle Griffith-Talbert in a documentary under the direction of award-winning Writer-Director Michael Starr of Los Angeles, California.

Titled Its In The Blood it deals with the origin of stock car racing in the Chattanooga area and features Charlie Griffith and the other legends mentioned therein.

The movie has recently been shown at a film festival in Glendale, California and is under consideration for an award in its category.

The details of Charlies colorful career have been preserved by the interviews of over 60 individuals who had personal contact with him during his legal and illegal racing career.

He was one of the drivers in the early days of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) founded by Bill France, Sr. on February 25, 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Charlie, in addition to his outstanding record on local tracks, competed in 17 Grand National Series events and finished in the money in six races from 1958-1963.

Said record was deceptive on the national level because he was always competing against better equipped cars and racing crews.

NASCAR in 1959 was trying to clean up its imagine and be a professional and legitimate sport rather than just a weekend gathering of several whiskey transporters such as convicted bootlegger, Robert Glen "Junior" Johnson of Ronda and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In one of the most controversial and mostly unspoken finishes in NASCAR history, many contend that Charlie won the Inaugural Daytona 500 in a photo finish with Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp. Griffith drove the entire 500 miles on the same set of tires and stopped only to fill up with gasoline. According to Freddy Fryar, Rex White, NASCAR Hall of Fame member who drove in the 59 Daytona 500 race, and Don Slack, who witnessed the race, Charlie Griffith was the winner.

However, it took three days to declare the victor and Bill France's dictatorial decision was to declare Lee Petty, who did not have a whiskey transporter record or image like Charlie, the winner. It was ruled that Charlie was a lap behind Petty and Beauchamp and he was awarded third place and $4,600.

After retiring from racing he was employed as a driver for Chattanooga Brick and Tile on Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank and used his skills to transport large loads of brick to and from the site of the old Werner Coal Company prior to passing on November 22, 1999.

The intrigue of whether he was cheated out of a victory in the Daytona 500 because of his moonshine transporter status remains!

* * *

Jerry Summers



(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
Kerry Hayes, former chief of staff to Mayor Andy Berke, said he is forming his own consulting business.

Mr. Hayes said in a letter to friends:

My time as the City of Chattanoogas Chief of Staff closely paralleled the pandemic. I accepted my promotion from Mayor Berke at the very end of January 2020; within a matter of weeks, the operations of our office were consumed by daily decisions of unprecedented severity and complexity in an attempt to protect people from both a lethal virus and a cratering economy.

The end of my service happened to conclude, ironically, with (we hope) the beginning of the end of the pandemic, thanks to highly effective vaccines and the Biden administrations adeptness at distributing them.

Prior to joining Mayor Berkes staff in late 2017, I led a successful strategic communications consulting practice, held senior public relations and external affairs roles at communications firms large and small, and served in the mayors office of Tennessees largest city during the depths of the recession. Each turn in my career taught me invaluable skills and hard lessons. None could have prepared me for 2020.

As my time at City Hall was drawing to an end, I tried to reflect on what it showed me and how it shaped me. Suffice to say, I learned a lot about what communications really is  the importance of being both precise in what you want to say and empathetic in how you say it; the need to be both quick in responding to crises and patient in how we listen to those in crisis; the way that leaders earn respect through tough decisions as well as the value of empowering the most dedicated and wise voices in your community, whoever and wherever they are.

I regret that I was not always successful in doing this. When we did succeed, however, it was because we were thoughtful, strategic, compassionate, and creative in how we told a story.

Above all else, this period has taught me the essential value of connection. A year hunched over a laptop screen, restricted from traveling or in-person socializing showed how badly humans need to be connected to one another and to their communities and how those connections can form and be nurtured against the toughest circumstances. When connections are weak, neighborhoods, communities, and institutions fail, but when networks are strong, everyone can thrive.

This brings me to my own next steps  the launch of a new consulting venture that I hope will do just that: Coeo.

Coeo is a Latin word that means connection, assemble, or come together. I like the way it sounds, and I love what it means. My intention is to be a practice of communicators and strategists that have the skills and experience to connect your business, brand, or cause to the right audience in the right way.



Coeo is press coverage that informs. It's storytelling that inspires. It's helpful guidance that elevates. Coeo is media that connects.

I am fortunate to begin my business with a few terrific clients from around the country, but Im looking to grow anywhere I can add value.

If you are a business who wants to position yourself favorably in the local media, a brand hoping to reach new audiences in new ways, or a cause that needs to build a coalition, I hope youll reach out.

If youve always thought about starting a podcast or streaming video show but arent sure how to get started, Ive got some advice.

If youre a local government leader who needs an outsiders perspective with an insiders experience on how to aid your citys recovery  especially as more federal resources become available, Id be honored to help.

I dont sell packages. Every solution is different because every situation is unique. What I will offer is expertise and candor in exchange for your time and trust.

In addition to my consulting work, Ill also be sending a weekly email newsletter, Network Effects, to anyone who would like to know what Im thinking, reading, or listening to. If youd like to get it, sign up here. Id love to hear what youre excited about these days.

Stay safe, take care, and please be in touch. Id love to stay connected.
In 2021, the Soddy Bank building celebrates 100 years of being part of the local community.

It does not happen often - a Historical Association gets to celebrate a 100-year milestone in a building that their own museum is located. But, the Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historical Association (SDMHA) gets to do just that on May 15.

In 1911 the Soddy Banking Company was formed.

It was first housed in the bottom floor of a two story building built and paid for by the Soddy United Mine Workers of America Local 890. The locals would meet on the second floor while the bank operated from the first floor. Clinton Jones was the first banker coming from Mayfield, Kentucky. He would remain the banker until 1914 when he would return to Kentucky. In his position William Crow would assume the banker position and would remain until the bank closed in January 1930. In 1921 a new building was constructed by a local contractor named Varner. In the same year he also constructed a bank building in both Dayton and Daisy, Tn.

Now fast forward to May 15, 2021. The bank building is the focus of this celebration and it will be open the regular hours, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., as it is presently the home of the Good Old Days Museum operated by the Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historical Association. Coal mining was king in 1921 and SDMHA operates the museum to help make visitors aware of this past. The building is roughly 1,600 square feet and it is full of Soddy, Daisy, Montlake and Flattop Mountain history. The museum was opened in July 2017 and has hosted over 5000 visitors from over 40 states and three foreign countries.

The Historical Association has asked local car enthusiasts to bring their 1920s era automobiles and other antique cars for display. How better to celebrate than having at least one, or possibly two vehicles also celebrating their 100 year birthday. The section of Wall Street from Ducktown Street to Depot Street, and also Depot Street to Back Valley Road will be temporarily blocked off for the celebration of the Soddy Bank buildings centennial. Locals are invited to bring their old cars (which do not have to be 100 years old) to fill this section of the two streets from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. during the celebration.

On May 15, there will be no fee for touring the museum. There will also be displays in the parking lot outside of the museum. There will be performances by local musicians and food available for the day. Organizers will be offering our take on the Plenty Burger - a Chow Now classic,

as well as a soft ice cream machine. A ceremony at 12 p.m. will highlight the unique history of the bank and will also include a presentation of donor names and a new plaque. There might even be a few items for sale to help raise money for the SDMHA Capital Campaign coordinated by the Historical Association.

The campaign, Investing in our Past to Save our Future is still underway, with SDMHA just completing Phase I of our fund raiser.

Organizers said, "The Bank Building is presently for sale which means we may need to vacate the premises if sold. So, we urgently need your help with this fundraiser. With a collection that has outgrown the building, SDMHA is searching for a new home, preferably with some acreage and a larger building. We have a few ideas, but each idea comes with a price. We are seeking support from the community and this spring begins a second phase of fundraising. Proceeds from the Centennial Celebration and any donations help fund the museums expansion and allow us to keep it in the Soddy-Daisy area. We hope you will not only visit and enjoy the event, but that you will also make a contribution to our fundraiser."

See soddydaisymuseum.com.

Event Location: The Good Old Days Museum is at 11298 Wall Street in Old Soddy. It can be found via Depot Street or Durham Street, and by exiting off of US-27 in Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379, near the lake, or coming from Hwy 111 and the Back Valley Road exit. Parking is limited in the immediate area around the bank, so we ask that you park in the Soddy Church of God parking lot on Back Valley Road and Depot Street during this event.

For more information, conact Steve Smith at slsmith01@comcast.net.
For nearly three decades, the Tennessee Aquariums world-class living collection has sparked the curiosity and wonder of millions of visiting school children. Even as the global pandemic slowly recedes, however, many schools have placed field trips in indefinite timeout.At the moment, many students are unable to see the Aquarium firsthand and experience the wonder and connection it offers with the natural world, but nothing says the Aquarium cant come to them.For almost a year, the Aquarium has sought a way to leverage its award-winning education department to augment the efforts of classroom-bound teachers.Soon, that effort will bear new fruit with Science Streams, a professionally produced, free series of eight videos crafted to meet national science standards for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.By offering this content to teachers, Aquarium educators hope to reconnect with and inspire classrooms around the nation that would be thrilled  under different circumstances  to experience, in person, the wonders of life above and below the surface, says Dr. Brooke Gorman, the Aquariums director of science education.The Tennessee Aquarium is such an amazing and special place that we would love for all teachers and students to have a chance to visit. But we know that is not possible for so many reasons, Dr. Gorman says. We see this video series as a way to help students experience standards in a different way than they might otherwise. The videos not only help students explore a topic, but we make a point to show the many careers that go into running an Aquarium.Science Streams was produced in collaboration with filmmakers at Chattanooga-based Atomic Films and was funded by grants from Tennessee American Water and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.Tennessee American Water is excited to support the Tennessee Aquariums innovative project to provide teachers and students access to videos aligned with science curriculum, says Tennessee American Water External Affairs Manager Daphne Kirksey. We hope that the materials spur interest in science-related careers as well as general care for our environment.The creation of a new tool to aid teachers will help amplify the reach of an institution that has already enriched the lives of generations of students, says Chelsea Johnson, director of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation.The Tennessee Aquarium is a centerpiece of downtown Chattanooga and an invaluable educational resource for this community, Ms. Johnson says. The BlueCross Foundation knows the past year has been challenging for the Aquarium, as well as area students and teachers. We are excited to support the Science Streams program so local schools have a new way to experience  and learn from  the Aquarium, now and in the future.The support of Tennessee American and BlueCross BlueShield helped to increase the potential for Science Streams to reach teachers in need throughout the country.Our original plan was to make the series freely available to Title I schools and to charge a small fee for other schools, Dr. Gorman says. We are thrilled to have received enough support to be able to make the videos free to all teachers.In each video, Aquarium staff members lead discussions of and walk students through activities on a wide range of age-appropriate scientific topics, including:What animals need to survive (kindergarten);How plants grow and flourish (first grade);The water cycle (second grade);Survival through adaptation (third grade);Invasive species and reintroduction efforts (fourth grade);Natural instinct versus learned behavior (fifth grade);Ecological relationships (sixth-eighth grade); andThe science of studying animal behavior (ninth-12th grade).In addition to walking students through the ins and outs of photosynthesis and breaking down the problem posed by invasive species, Science Streams also includes a suite of 10 behind-the-scenes videos. These pieces pull back the curtain to showcase many facets of life at the Aquarium, from conservation projects and diving to veterinary work and the care requirements for Giant Pacific Octopuses.An exclusive link to view these videos and access accompanying educator guides will be made available for free to educators who register via tnaqua.org/educate/science-streams/. After submitting an online registration form, teachers will be emailed individual login information within two business days providing them access to all 18 videos.
Contraceptive education and access program A Step Ahead Chattanooga (ASAC) announced that Mandy Cowley has been named executive director effective June 1.



Ms. Cowley was selected following a national search for a new leader to replace Susan Vandergriff, who announced earlier this year that she would be leaving the non-profit sector to pursue professional entrepreneurial goals.

"I fundamentally believe that every person should be able to decide if and when it's the right time for them to become pregnant, said Ms. Cowley. I am so honored to come alongside the staff, board, volunteers, and supporters of A Step Ahead Chattanooga who are doing incredible work to ensure that everyone in our region has access to resources like education, information, and birth control that make that possible."

Ms. Cowley is taking over the leadership of A Step Ahead Chattanooga as the organization continues to grow, now providing education, information, and access to free birth control to a total of 18 counties in southeast Tennessee, north Georgia, and north Alabama. This summer, ASAC will reach the milestone of connecting 5,000 area women with birth control since its founding in 2014. The organization will celebrate with a community event in October.

Mandys passion for organizations that serve women, coupled with her strong leadership experience and communication skills wowed us during the interview process, said Stephanie Hays, board president. Were thrilled for her to join the team and know that shell be able to hit the ground running to continue growing ASACs reach and impact.

Ms. Cowley is experienced in the non-profit sector, having served as an associate executive director with the IRIS Domestic Violence Center in Baton Rouge, La., overseeing operations of one of the oldest and largest domestic violence agencies in the state of Louisiana that served a seven-parish region.

Most recently, she has worked as an administrator for the Unitarian Universalist church in Chattanooga. Cowley earned an M.A. in sociology from Louisiana State University, and a B.A. in psychology at Centenary College of Louisiana.

A Step Ahead is funded by donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and local and national foundations. Local foundations and business supporters include Lyndhurst, Benwood, Community Foundation, Hamico, Womens Fund of Greater Chattanooga, Weldon F. Osborne, George R. Johnson, and Lillian L. Colby.
Businesses across the state have reopened their doors and are gearing up for Georgias summer tourism rush. After 14 months of intensive effort to provide unemployment insurance benefits to over 1.2 million Georgians, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is shift its focus to reemployment in a strategic effort to help meet the needs of employers in every region and industry in our state. Employ Georgia is the states official labor exchange system and job listings are currently the highest ever recorded reaching numbers of almost a quarter of a million jobs that could include multiple positions for each listing.

We are hearing from employers that are struggling to meet demand right now due to the lack of applicants for open positions, said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

Our mission is to not only bridge the pay gap for those who are temporarily unemployed, but to also provide reemployment support for those who are looking to reenter the workforce filling the critical vacancies we are seeing in almost every industry right now. I hear every day from employers who have been forced to reduce business hours, refuse large deliveries, and turn down economic opportunities due to the simple fact that they did not have the staff to support them.

The GDOL provides extensive online support to job seekers looking to rejoin the workforce or find a better career. Claimants receive access to over 240,000 job listings, support to upload up to five searchable resumes, job search assistance, career counseling, skills testing, job fair information, job training services, and accessibility and special accommodations for people with disabilities and veterans transitioning back into the workplace. Employ Georgias artificial intelligence system works 24 hours a day to match potential candidates with vacancies that best fit a claimants skill sets.

As of today, almost 239,000 jobs are listed on EmployGeorgia for Georgians to access. In many cases, employers are willing to train quality candidates and assist with attainment of additional credentials.

According to latest industry job numbers, the leisure and hospitality sector lost 223,000 jobs from February to April 2020. Since that time to March 2021, 144,000 of these jobs have been gained back, over 65%. However, year-to-date, over 40,000 job vacancies have been listed in the leisure and hospitality industry highlighting the critical need for job applicants and the need to re-implement work search.

Restaurant owners have battled the last year to overcome the challenges of the pandemic making hard decisions to keep our doors open only to now have to reduce hours and close dine-in services when we cant find employees, said Zach Steed, owner of Moes Southwest Grill in Carrollton and Newnan, GA and Captain Ds Seafood Kitchen of Villa Rica, GA. We all want to return to the strong economy we experienced prior to COVID-19, but we cant do that without an available workforce.

Prior to the pandemic, to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits, claimants were required to register for Employment Services at employgeorgia.com, to actively search for work, and to submit weekly work search reports. These requirements were temporarily waived during the states shelter in place limitations but will be reinstated in the next few months. Georgias work search record may include, but is not limited to, registering for work and reemployment services with Employ Georgia, completing a job application in person or online, mailing a job application or resume, making in-person visits with potential employers, interviewing with potential employers, registering for work with employment or placement agencies, or participating in work-related networking events (e.g. job clubs, job fairs, industry association events, networking groups, etc.). A claimant will be required to make at least three new, verifiable job search contacts each week. Individuals not returning to work when work is available or those that do not show good cause in refusing an offer of work could potentially be disqualified from receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits. Employers are asked to report refusals to work and failure to show up for interviews to the GDOL. Notifications will soon be sent to claimants advising of these changes to the requirements and encouraging them to take action immediately by registering with Employ Georgia before the deadline to avoid interruptions in their payments. Video tutorial on how to register and utilize EmployGa are available at https://employgeorgia.com// .

The GDOL has paid over $21.2 billion in state and federal benefits since the beginning of the pandemic in March of this year. Last week, the GDOL issued almost $190 million in benefits, which include regular unemployment and federally funded Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) supplements, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and State Extended Benefits.

Since week ending March 21, 4,745,554 regular UI initial claims have been processed, more than the nine years prior to the pandemic combined (4 million). Last week, regular UI initial claims totaled 25,429, down 3,335 over the week. Additionally, the agency currently has 207, 638 active PUA claims.

The sectors with the most weekly regular UI initial claims processed included Accommodation and Food Services, 6,224, Administrative and Support Services, 2,083, Manufacturing, 1,755, Retail Trade, 1,317, and Health Care, 1,200.

The number of initial unemployment claims filed throughout the United States for the week ending May 1, was 498,000, a decrease of 92,000 from the previous weeks revised level of 590,000.

UI benefits are taxable income and 1099-G tax forms are issued in accordance with federal law to report payments and all taxes withheld during each tax year. If you received a 1099-G tax form and did not file a UI claim yourself or your employer did not file one on your behalf, you may be the victim of UI fraud and should report the incident on the GDOL website at https://www.dol.state.ga. us/public/uiben/fraud/ reportType . Select Report 1099 ID Theft at the bottom and follow the instructions. If you received a 1099-G tax form and returned the benefits or wish to return the benefits, please see detailed instructions on next steps at https://dol.georgia.gov/ blog/form-1099-g-tax- information .

Resources for reemployment assistance along with Information on filing an unemployment claim and details on how employers can file partial claims can be found on the agency's webpage at dol.georgia.gov.

For more information on jobs and current labor force date, visit the Georgia LaborMarket Explorer at explorer.gdol.ga.govto view a comprehensive report.
A new restaurant, Zaya 1943 Korean BBQ, opened at 300 Cherokee Blvd. on May 2.

The business received a beer permit at the city beer board meeting on Thursday.

The large restaurant with an occupancy of 220 has fire tables where customers cook their own food.

The Chattanooga Marriott Downtown, 2 Carter Plaza, also was given a license to sell beer at multiple restaurants and bars in the hotel.





The new permit was needed because of a change in ownership that will take place on May 17. The hotel, which will remain a Marriott brand, will undergo renovations beginning in the lobby. It will be fully operational during the renovations.
So many things happened in A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, Junior, that viewers who watched it need a recap, too. Garys (James Roday Rodriguez) dad, Javier Mendez (Paul Rodriguez), brought some comedic relief. However, Catherine (Grace Park) and Eddie Saville (David Giuntoli) might be over. And, Rome (Romany Malco) and Regina Howards (Christina Moses) dinner party did not end well.

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, Junior with Grace Park as Katherine Saville | Jack Rowand/Getty Images

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12 recap: Eddie and Catherine

When A Million Little Things Junior opened, Catherine shaved a chunk of her hair off out of frustration. Eddie returned home to a quiet house and discovered his treatment bills. Catherine greeted Eddie but then headed to her office. She called Darcy (Floriana Lima) for advice, but Garys girlfriend ended up defending Eddie, which made Catherine even more upset and confused.

Meanwhile, Eddies friend from the treatment center, Jackie (Bobbi Charlton), showed up at Eddies house to help him prepare for the dinner with Catherine. Except Catherine called to say she had too much work and wouldnt make it back in time for dinner. When she got off the phone, viewers could see that Catherine checked into a hotel with Alan Kay (Terry Chen).

Later, in A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, viewers found out that she went to the same hotel that Eddie used to take Delilah. However, Catherine realized she didnt want to sleep with Alan to spite Eddie. Instead, she wanted to wait until she was ready.

An all-new #AMillionLittleThings is back this WEDNESDAY at 10|9c on ABC! pic.twitter.com/BxsGpEdfxI  A Million Little Things (@AMillionABC) May 2, 2021

Eddie found out that Gary covered his outstanding balance at the treatment center. So, he called him to apologize for being rude and thanked him for paying the bill. Gary explained that he sold Maggies ring and used the money to pay the bill. So Gary and Maggie are officially over?

When Catherine arrived home, she told Eddie that she was with Alan; however, nothing happened. Then she informed him that they are getting a divorce, but they need to go to counseling to be sure Theo (Tristan Byon) is OK. So, instead of sneaking around on her husband, as he did, she wants to do things the right way and end the marriage.

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12 recap: Garys dad comes for a visit

A Million Little Things Delilah Dixon (Stephanie Szostak) was still stuck in Europe because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, Gary continued to take care of her house and Danny (Chance Hurstfield). Sophie Dixon (Lizzy Greene) left after the last episode to be with her mom. So, Danny began a discussion with Gary about whether he should come out to his friends at school. Gary suggested he start a pros and cons list about the decision.

Later we finally met Garys dad, Javier in A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12. During a surprise visit, Javier and Darcy discussed how important it is to talk about what happened while they were at war. Javier explained that he still gets together with his guys from Vietnam and talks about those who didnt make it. He carries a picture of a guy named Douglas in his wallet ever since the war.

See what happens when Garys dad visits on an all-new #AMillionLittleThings TONIGHT at 10|9c! pic.twitter.com/cD0UePgLUO  A Million Little Things (@AMillionABC) May 5, 2021

RELATED: Where Is Delilah on A Million Little Things? Stephanie Szostak Hints at Her Return

Javier reminded viewers that he was a strict practicing Catholic when he asked how Jon Dixon (Ron Livingston) could leave such a beautiful family behind. He compared the men he lost in Vietnam to Jon dying by suicide. Gary gave a heartfelt speech about how they do not know what Jon was going through at the time and cannot judge him.

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12 recap: Javier and Danny

In A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, Javier found Dannys list about whether or not to come out at school, viewers panicked. What is he going to say to the young boy? However, instead, Javier shocked everyone with a story about a man who died in Vietnam. Javier listened as Doughlas spoke sweetly to a picture every night. However, when the man died, Javier found the picture was of another man, not a woman. Javier kept the photo so that his family did not find out his secret.

I wanted to protect his secret, but maybe I didnt do the right thing, Javier told Danny. If thats who you are, you shouldnt be ashamed of it.

Later, Danny comes out to his friends, and they seem very supportive, putting up rainbow backgrounds on their zoom meeting.

A Million Little Things tackles racial injustice

Later, in A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, Rome and Gina discovered that their foster child, Tyrell (Adam Swain), left a condom in their car the last time he used it. When they confronted him, he denied the condom was his but does admit he has a girlfriend. It turned out the condom was from Romes dad, Walter (Lou Beatty, Jr.). However, Florence (Karen Robinson) and his father havent had sex yet, and Walter didnt think she was into him that way.

While Regina gave Florence a pep talk about how much Walter likes her, Rome and Tyrell did the same with Walter. It was a sweet interaction right before A Million Little Things turned to the death of George Floyd. The entire family sat around the table when Tyrell showed them the video that his girlfriend sent. There were no more words after that, only faces full of grief.

Several A Million Little Things episodes will tackle racial injustice when the show returns next Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have been together for 20 years. But one thing people remember most about them is their age difference. Given their 25-year age gap, how old was Zeta-Jones when she met Douglas? In a recent interview, she said she met him during the best year of her life.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones at the 2021 Golden Globe Awards | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Catherine Zeta-Jones life before meeting Michael Douglas

Zeta-Jones had made a name for herself as an actor in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States in the late 1990s. The Welsh star told Bustle she felt like she was slowly becoming famous for personal life rather than her work in the U.K., prompting her move.

When she did move to the U.S., she soon became friends with fellow expat actors Salma Hayek and Russell Crowe. She said:

I was single when I came to the States. I was single, single, single until I met my husband. I was my own woman. I was ambitious in a good, healthy way. I was in a new country, forming good friendships that are still with me. I became part of an expat world of young actors. It was Russell Crowe, me, Salma Hayek. We used to hang out together, auditioning, going to studios for castings. It was a good time, I have to say.

RELATED: Is Kathryn Hahns Husband, Ethan Sandler, Related to Adam Sandler?

How did Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas meet?

Her breakout role in the U.S. was Elena in The Mask of Zorro alongside Antonio Banderas. The Oscar winner said she had no inkling this movie would change her life at the time. She said:

All I knew is that I was in really, really good company. And I was with Antonio [Banderas], who had just come off [Robert] Rodriguezs [Mexico Trilogy] films. He was as hot as a hot can be. And Anthony Hopkins hadnt long got the Oscar for Silence of the Lambs. Steven Spielberg was producing, and Martin Campbell, who just had success with James Bond, was directing. So for me, it was like, How lucky can I get? Then it was up to me to do what I needed to do. To make that mark.

She left her mark, indeed. Zeta-Jones revealed that after seeing The Mask of Zorro, Douglas decided he wanted to meet her. And the Chicago alum thought it was for work purposes. Nope!

They met while in Europe for a film festival. And her Zorro co-star helped introduce them over dinner. Zeta-Jones said:

I genuinely thought that because I was in work mode and I was going to a film festival, and thats where film deals are made. And people get introduced and things like that. Schmoozing, whatever you want to call it. And I thought he wanted to meet me for a job. So I never thought, Oh my God, he wants to date me. And then Tony [Hopkins] invited Michael for dinner before the premiere, early dinner and a drink after or something.

Zeta-Jones was 28 at the time, and Douglas was 53.

Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Michael Douglas at dinner in 1998 at the Deauville Festival | Eric Robert/Sygma via Getty Images

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas were friends for a year before dating

Although Douglas made his romantic intentions clear when they met, they didnt start dating for another year. She said:

Well, I did say to him, Ive heard a lot about you, Ive read a lot about you, and its all true. Goodnight. But he sent me flowers in Scotland and we communicated for a year after just by the phone. Whenever I was in New York or he was in L.A., wed have a dinner or something for a year. We became friends, I guess. And then it all took off one summer, and then that was it. Twenty years later, here we are.

The two got married in 2000 and will be celebrating their 21st anniversary in November. When looking back on her life, the Entrapment star said meeting her husband in 1998 wasnt the only thing that made her year great.

If my daughter says, What was your favorite year? I always say 28, Zeta-Jones said. I was my own woman. I was independent. I was financially independent. I was emotionally independent. I was fearless in new adventures.

Zeta-Jones is now 51 and Douglas is 76.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first child Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on May 6, 2019. Unlike his royal cousins, Archie isnt in the spotlight much. His parents are residing in California and its believed that the intent is to allow him to live as more of a private citizen. But royal fans still have some general questions about little Archie since they dont get to see him much.

Here are the answers to a couple of those questions including what his eye color is as well as a few other things you may not have known about the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

Prince Harry sitting next to Meghan Markle as she holds up their son Archie while meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu | Toby Melville  Pool/Getty Images

Archies hair and eye color

When Meghan and Harry traveled to South Africa for a royal tour in September 2019, several photos of their then-4-month-old son were released.

In many of the pics, Archie appeared to have red hair just like his father. Some have noted that his hair did look a little darker than Harrys in different lighting though. Still, fans couldnt help but point out how much Archie resembled the prince in photos of Harry when he was around the same age.

(L) Princess Diana holding Prince Harry when he was a baby | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images, (R) Meghan Markle holding baby Archie | Toby Melville  Pool/Getty Images

Archie may inherit his dads hair color but he has Meghans eyes. The tot has brown eyes like his mom while Harry has blue eyes, which were actually a shade of blue-green when he was younger.

RELATED: Prince Harry Was Able to Marry Meghan Markle Because She Didnt Do This 1 Thing in Her Past

Other facts about Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

A rare photo of Meghan and her son in California surfaced online on April 22, 2021. It showed Archie with a backpack and hat on and dressed casually in jeans like his mother.

Pregnant Meghan Markle, Archie seen for first time since Harry's US return https://t.co/elKNwHjw5b pic.twitter.com/6pQ4D4poqY  Page Six (@PageSix) April 22, 2021

Archies attire in that pic is sure to sell out. The toddler has already become a fashion influencer. After he appeared with his dad in a pom-pom hat at the beginning of 2020, thousands of orders were placed for that item and it sold out in just 48 hours.

Something you may not have known about Archie is that despite not having a regal title, he is still in the line of succession. Hes seventh in line to the throne behind his father.

When it comes to his name Archie means genuine, bold, or brave. It was originally a shortened form of Archibald but is now used as a name on its own. Today noted that following his birth, Archie went on to become the top baby name for boys in 2019. His middle name Harrison is of course so fitting as it literally means son of Harry. As for his last name, the hyphenated Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname which was created in 1960, combining the surnames of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
 Flash

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the EU-China investment treaty was an "important undertaking" despite "all the difficulties that will certainly arise in the ratification process."

"It is a very important undertaking because it gives us more reciprocity in market access, because we have decided to comply with the labor standards of the International Labor Organization and other things with which trade can be developed to the benefit of both parties," said Merkel at a digital conference of the Union Party parliamentary group.

China and the European Union have in late December reached a major investment agreement, wrapping up seven years of negotiations. Germany made a final push from the EU side as Berlin held the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2020.

"We will neither be able to cope with climate change nor solve WTO (World Trade Organization) issues or other global issues without or against China," said Merkel.

"The Chinese commitment to climate protection goals and carbon dioxide neutrality in 2060 and the achievement of a peak before 2030 are encouraging signals in terms of multilateralism," she said.
Former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar will be released on bond pending a trial for two child pornography charges. The former reality TV star was booted from his familys show in 2015 after it was revealed that he molested several of his siblings as a teen. Duggar family critics want TLC to cancel the Duggar familys rebranded series, Counting On. The shows fate remains unclear, but TLC has yet to announce an air date for any upcoming seasons.

Josh Duggar was arrested on child pornography charges

Josh, 33, was arrested on April 29 on child pornography charges. Court documents reveal that the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar is facing two charges, one for receiving and one for possessing child pornography. The arrest came as a result of a 2019 raid on Joshs car lot. In November 2019, the Department of Homeland Security verified that agents were at a business owned by Josh. The department also confirmed that an investigation was ongoing but fell quiet after.

Josh Duggars mugshot following his 2021 arrest | Washington County Sheriffs Office/Getty Images

RELATED: Duggar News: Did Derick Dillard Just Imply More Duggar Family Rifts Could Happen?

That all changed on April 29. Shortly after 1 pm on April 29, Josh surrendered himself to federal agents. He was processed into an Arkansas detention center, and that is where he has been since his arrest. Initially, the Duggar family denied a federal raid occurred on their property. Since Joshs arrest, several members of the family have made statements. While some were well received, others fell flat. Duggar Family critics dragged Jessa Duggar on social media for stating that she and her husband, Ben Seewald, condemn all forms of pornography. Family critics feel as though Jessa was attempting to downplay the seriousness of Joshs charges.

Josh Duggar requested bond for several reasons

Josh pled not guilty at an arraignment on April 30. His not guilty plea didnt mean he was immediately released to await trial. After appearing in court via Zoom, Josh returned to the Arkansas detention center where he was being held. The judge set his bond hearing for May 5. Ahead of the hearing, Joshs lawyers listed several reasons why he should be released on bond to await trial.

Josh Duggar with his wife, Anna Duggar, in 2015 | Kris Connor/Getty Images

According to TMZ, Joshs lawyers argued that the former reality TV star should be released to care for his wife. Anna Duggar, 32, announced her seventh pregnancy just one week before Joshs arrest. In her Instagram announcement, Anna stated that she is due in the Fall of 2021. Josh also argued that he is not a flight risk because he is too recognizable to flee the country. The court documents also argued that Josh has complied with the investigation thus far and voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities.

What does the bond hearing decision mean?

After a nearly five-hour hearing, the appointed judge ruled in favor of release. Josh will adhere to several strict guidelines to remain free until his trial date. The stipulations prohibit Josh from being present at his parents Springdale, Arkansas home and any home with minor children present. Josh will also be monitored via GPS and must stay with a third-party chaperone while he awaits trial. He may not access the internet and is only allowed to use a court-approved cell phone.

RELATED: Duggar News: Dr. Phil Predicted More Scandals From Josh Duggar in 2015

Joshs trial is set to begin sometime in July. Us Magazine notes that Josh will not be allowed to leave the home of his third-party chaperone unless it is for an approved activity. Approved activities include church, legal appointments, and medical needs. While Josh can contact his own six children, he must be monitored by Anna Duggar during those interactions. Anna drove Josh to surrender himself to authorities on April 29. She has yet to release a public statement.

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.
Just like her television counterparts Debra Barone from Everybody Loves Raymond and Frankie Heck from The Middle, actor Patricia Heaton says she is willing to go above and beyond for her four sons.

She would go out on any limb for them but said theres one thing she is simply unwilling to do.

Patricia Heaton, center, with her husband David Hunt and their four sons | Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

Heaton has four sons with husband David Hunt

Heaton has been married to her husband, actor and director David Hunt, since 1990. The couple has four sons: Samuel, 27, John, 25, Joseph, 23, and Daniel, 22 who have all, according to the actor more or less flown the coop. And its created a whole new life experience for Heaton.

For people whose kids have left home or maybe theyve retired, it can be a challenge to adjust to a new way of living, the Your Second Act author told The Saturday Evening Post. I want to encourage them to look inside themselves and to see where theyd like to be in the world at this stage. The world needs all of us. As for me, Im in Oklahoma producing my first movie. Finding so many things to learn. Its crazy.

Heaton says her most well-known roles have mirrored her own life

The actor said in a chat with AARP that her two biggest roles of Debra Barone and Frankie Heck have had a little bit of herself in them, so it wasnt much of a stretch for her to act as the overwhelmed mom to three little ones in Everybody Loves Raymond. And as the mother to another set of three older, sassier children in The Middle, she was living that same life at the time.

Her most recent role as Dr. Carol Kenney in Carols Second Act reflected her life as an empty nester.

RELATED: Why This Everybody Loves Raymond Episode is Ray Romanos Least Favorite

Every show has mirrored where my life is, she noted. Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle and now, Carols Second Act. Carols kids are out of the house; my kids are out of the house. Fortunately, my marriage is still intact, but Carols has ended.

Heaton said she would die for her sons, but she just wont do this for them

In an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Heaton spoke at length on the experience of raising four boys. The daytime show host has four children of her own and asked Heaton what its been like raising four young men.

Theyre all out of the house now, Im an empty nester, Heaton told Clarkson.

Describing life without her kids at home, Heaton jokingly said, Its quieter. Its less smelly. I remember, I was making scented candles with Martha Stewart and I said, How about putting rosemary in? Is that a good scent for candles?

Stewart nixed the idea of rosemary as it would be too strong a scent for a candle.

Heaton disagreed, saying I have four boys at home. Theres no scent that is strong enough to cover that smell!.

Speaking of smells and scents, the actor said when she visits her sons in their respective living arrangements, they drop hints to their mother regarding domestic issues.

Now when I visit them, they say, You know, my friends mother, when they come, they do the laundry,' she said.

Heatons inner Debra Barone mustve responded to her son at that point because her reply, she told Clarkson, was Im like you know what? I will die for you, but I will not do your laundry for you anymore.'
After a brief run with his Band of Gypsys, Jimi Hendrix made another lineup adjustment and began calling his band the Experience (as before) in 1970. However, Noel Redding didnt play bass in that incarnation of the group. Along with original Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, Hendrix had Billy Cox on bass.

That version of the Experience embarked on the Cry of Love tour in April 70, and the band kept performing (on and off) into August. Late that month, Hendrix and his group played the Isle of Wight festival and began playing dates across Europe.

The European leg of that tour didnt start well. In Denmark, Hendrix stopped playing after a few songs, ending the show and prompting concerns of a riot. But the tour faced bigger problems when Cox flew back to America in the second week of September.

Billy Cox performs with the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. | Chris Walter/WireImage

RELATED: When Jimi Hendrix Offered Led Zeppelins John Bonham Feedback on His Drumming

While Hendrix would jam with close friends and strangers alike, touring was a different story. Hendrix management ran a tight ship in that department, and that included keeping Redding around to play bass at shows despite his departure from the studio unit.

After splitting with Redding, Hendrix relied almost always on Cox, whom hed known since his army days in the early 60s. Despite his managers attempt to get the original Experience together post-Band of Gypsys, Hendrix chose Cox as his bassist from late 69 until his death the following year.

Yet their professional association hit a final snag after the Isle of Wight performance. In Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight, John McDermott and Eddie Kramer pinpoint the Sept. 2 show in Arhus (Denmark) as the turning point for Cox.

Prior to and during that show, Hendrixs crew noticed Cox having a hard time. Hendrix cut off that show after three numbers. Three days later, following the cancelation of a festival performance, Cox played his last show with the band. He flew back to the U.S. shortly after, prompting Hendrix management to call off the remainder of the European tour.

Cox reportedly struggled with paranoia on Hendrixs final tour

Jimi Hendrix (1942-70) performs at the Isle of Wight festival, August 1970. | Doug McKenzie/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Over the years, Hendrix had come to regard Cox so highly because of his reliability as well as his musical talent. But Coxs reputation as a rock-solid touring musician didnt last through the Cry of Love tour. Since Cox was known as a straight (i.e., mostly sober) guy, none of the crew members attributed it to drugs.

In Setting the Record Straight, longtime Hendrix roadie Gerry Stickells described it as a shyness that slowly grew. Sound operator Mike Neal regarded it as paranoia. Cox was afraid of everyone, including the people he had been working with for six months, Neal explained.

The night before Hendrixs final show, Stickells said Cox was so concerned for his safety the bassist slept on the floor of Stickells room. The next night, crew members had to convince Cox to play, but it was the end. Cox flew home to the U.S., where he recovered. Hendrix died a week and a half later.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been taking on various projects after stepping down as a senior royal in 2020. She will be releasing her first childrens book in June 2021, and many fans are excited for it. According to a source, Meghan wants to target the book market for adults as well.

Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

What is Meghan Markles childrens book about?

Meghans first childrens book is called The Bench. It is based on a poem she wrote about Prince Harry and their son, Archie. The book is illustrated by Caldecott-winning artist Christian Robinson.

Penguin Random House will publish The Bench, and the companys website has a description of the book.

In The Bench, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between father and son and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family, the description reads.

It also adds, With a universal message, this thoughtful and heartwarming read-aloud is destined to be treasured by families for generations to come.

The book is set to be released on June 8, 2021ahead of Fathers Day.

A source says Meghan Markle wants to release books for adults as well

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 https://t.co/GQ0uAa8N4k pic.twitter.com/9ekVcKWozF  Reuters (@Reuters) May 4, 2021

RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Reportedly Had Concerns About Meghan Markles Behavior and Attitude Before the Royal Wedding

We still do not yet know how The Bench will be received by the public. However, an insider shared that Meghan is already thinking about releasing more books in the future, especially if this first childrens book does well.

Meghan loves writing and shes very good at it, the source said, according to Vanity Fair. 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.

Meghan Markle has a history of writing and publishing

RELATED: Meghan Markle Has Surprising Hidden Talents Most People Do Not Know About

Perhaps it is not surprising to many fans that Meghan is already trying to become an author. She has shown a lot of interests in writing and publishing for many years now.

When Meghan was still an actor, she had a lifestyle website called The Tig. There, she wrote numerous blog posts about her life, recipes, and travel recommendations. Meghan shut down the website before joining the royal family, but various places have since archived her old posts.

As a working royal, Meghan helped promote a cookbook published by Hubb Community Kitchen. The book was created by a group of women who came together after the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017 to help their community. Meghan worked closely with Hubb Community Kitchen when she lived in the United Kingdom, and she wrote the foreword to the cookbook, which was released in 2018.

In 2020, Meghan also admitted that she contributed to the biography Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. The book was published that year and aimed to highlight Meghan and Harrys time in the royal family from their perspective. The royal couple initially denied involvement in Finding Freedom, but court documents revealed, according to Page Six, that Meghan gave a friend information to pass along to the authors.
Michael B. Jordan is taking the next step for the Creed franchise and for his own career. Jordan is directing Creed III. In a recent interview, Jordan said he has many mentors in directing, but the most recent one is Denzel Washington. Washington directed the movie A Journal for Jordan in which Jordan stars.

Michael B. Jordan | BorjaB.Hojas/COOLMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Jordan appeared on the May 4 episode of the Just For Variety podcast. Host Mark Malkin asked Jordan about directing Creed III, and Jordan said he learned from Washington.

Denzel Washingtons new movie taught Michael B. Jordan how to direct Creed III

A Journal for Jordan is Washingtons fourth film. He previously directed Antwone Fisher, The Great Debators and Fences. Jordan said he took notes for Creed III.

L-R: Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington | Bobby Bank/GC Images

RELATED: Will Creed III Be the Last Movie? Michael B. Jordan Answers That Question

It was an incredible experience, Jordan told Malkin. He so vividly and clearly sees the movie. To be directed by him and pick up those Denzelisms and those gems and all the wisdom that he has, in front of the camera and behind the camera, it was really cool for me just to learn and to grow. I think I grew during this project and also helped me prepare for my next obstacle for Creed III. I think everything happens in its right time, in the right moment. For me, I feel like this is right on time.

How Michael B. Jordan is going to direct Creed III

Jordan said hes already meeting with a storyboard artist for Creed III. Storyboards are drawings that approximate how a director is going to film a scene. Jordan said he saw how vital that preparation was to Washington.

Michael B. Jordan | Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

RELATED: Tom Clancys Without Remorse Movie Review: Michael B. Jordan Hunts For Clear and Present Patriots

Prep and shot listing and getting the storyboard artist on early, specifically, Jordan said. I do have that call Ive got to make this evening with my storyboard artist. Its extremely important to me that my times going to be split. So prep for me is so important just to be as prepared as possible. I have as much of the movie that I can clearly see in my head, have it visually there with tons of collaboration, putting a great team around me.

Ryan Coogler taught him a thing or two about directing too

Ryan Coogler directed the first Creed. It was Jordans second movie with Coogler after Fruitvale Station, and Coogler cast Jordan in Black Panther, too. Coogler was Jordans first teacher.

L-R: Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler | Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: Creed III: Michael B. Jordan Sequel Gets a New Writer, and Its Not Ryan Coogler or Sylvester Stallone

I think theres a certain realness that comes with it. Theres a way Ryan captures character and let actors breathe in scenes. I love oners. Hes a guy, me and him, we would always try to [figure out] how do we make every shot a oner? Being able to have long takes like that is something that Im looking forward to trying to incorporate into this movie also. Ryan, when we got it we got it. We move on from that, so knowing that when it feels good and you know you got it, its okay to move on. Those are just some of the surface ones on top. Michael B. Jordan, Just for Variety podcast, 5/4/21

Source: Just for Variety podcast
Which Million Dollar Listing cast member has the highest net worth franchise-wide in 2021?

Some fans might guess Fredrik Eklund dominates the franchises financial landscape. Eklund expanded his business from New York and now has offices in Los Angles, Miami, and Texas. He is also pulling double duty on the show as a main cast member on Million Dollar Listing New York and now Los Angeles. But his reported net worth may not be the highest as he has some pretty serious competition.

Tyler Whitman, Ryan Serhant, Kirsten Jordan, Fredrik Eklund, Steve Gold from Million Dollar Listing New York Season 9 | Kareem Black/Bravo

Newer Million Dollar Listing cast members are serious contenders

With a few seasons under her belt, Tracy Tutor from Million Dollar Listing L.A. is taking over the market and wrangling her male counterpart brokers into shape. She is dominating the real estate landscape and is worth a reported $20 million.

Two others from the L.A. franchise, David Parnes and James Harris are also relatively new to the series. The brokers, who came in like the British invasion, are both worth about $6 million each. Harris and Parnes both appeared on the series for a few seasons before Tutor joined the cast.

RELATED: Million Dollar Listing: Tyler Whitman Hints of an Epic Season 9

New cast member, Kirsten Jordan from Million Dollar Listing New York has an unknown net worth. So does Tyler Whitman from the same series. Whitmans keen business sense was featured during his first season last year and the trailer has already teased that he and Jordan definitely bring some real estate drama to the new season.

Which long-time Million Dollar Listing cast member has the highest net worth?

Steve Gold from Million Dollar New York joined the cast during season 6 and has a reported net worth of $10 million. During his second season of the show, Gold suddenly found himself without a brokerage firm as the company he worked for, Town, suddenly shuttered. Eklunds company Douglas Elliman courted Gold, but he ended up going in a different direction.

Longtime cast members Ryan Serhant and Eklund from Million Dollar Listing New York are now neck and neck when it comes to net worth. Serhant was previously reported as having a net worth of $20 million. However, updated numbers indicate that Serhant experienced a $10 million bump. Both he and Eklund have a reported net worth of about $30 million.

RELATED: Bethenny Frankels Million Dollar Listing Goes to Ryan Serhant and Not Fredrik Eklund

And while Serhant and Eklund are worth an extreme amount of money, they arent the richest in the franchise. Josh Altman from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles is also worth $30 million. In fact, Altman made millions, lost everything, and then had to rebuild his fortune. I thought that Id never be able to get back to where I was, he told Entrepreneur. But now, looking back, it was one of the best learning experiences I could have ever had. I learned Im never going to be that person whos buying stuff that I cant afford.

But the wealthiest Million Dollar Listing cast member is Josh Flagg from the Los Angeles series. Flagg is worth a reported $35 million. While his family is worth even more money, his net worth stems from his real estate business.

Million Dollar Listing New York Season 9 is on Thursday, May 6 at 9/8c on Bravo.
Fredrik Eklund from Million Dollar Listing New York revealed that the days of playing nice with other brokers are over as some competitors tried to steal his business after he relocated to Los Angeles.

Viewers watched Eklund make the decision to move his family from New York to Los Angeles, California during Million Dollar Listing New York Season 8. Although he moved, Eklund maintained a significant presence and book of business in New York. But being bi-coastal has its challenges as brokers in New York saw his departure as an opportunity to snap up his East Coast clients. He now teases that season 9 is going to be pretty spicy.

Ryan Serhant, Fredrik Eklund on Million Dollar Listing New York Season 9 | Greg Endries/Bravo

Fredrick Eklund finds that brokers tried to steal his New York clients

Eklund, Ryan Serhant, and Steve Gold had a Kumbaya type season 8. Serhant and Gold joined Eklund and became fathers. Plus, the former foes worked well together and gelled. But the glow from season 8 may have faded and some of the early Million Dollar Listing animosity may emerge.

There were a lot of competitors  lets just say that and generalize it a little bit  that [were] trying to steal or take over my business because Fredrik left, which I did, but not fully, and it wasnt my fault that I couldnt get back fully, he told The New York Post. So that is going to get heated and a little dramatic.

RELATED: Million Dollar Listing New York: Tyler Whitman Reveals How Video Marketing Got Producers Attention

At the same time, Eklund was building his business in Los Angeles, which viewers saw on Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles to be a bumpy entry. In L.A., Im an underdog, and I really had a little bit of a hard time to adjust, he said. Adding, In New York, Im the top dog. In L.A., Im definitely not. And I have to prove myself here and ruffle a lot of feathers here locally.

Eklund angered Josh and Heather Altman when he didnt tell them he was moving into their market. Plus, he butted heads with David Parnes and James Harris when they represented his longtime developer, Zach Vella.

Returning to New York wasnt easy for Fredrik Eklund due to the pandemic

Eklund explained that just traveling back to New York was a challenge because of pandemic restrictions and shut downs. Being very determined  and a bit of a control freak, as I am with my business  it was very hard to get that phone call from my assistant where he said All the airports are closing, he said. The city kind of shut down where I just couldnt travel. It was very frustrating.

RELATED: Million Dollar Listing: Madison Hildebrand Reveals Some Major Filming Hurdles Other Reality Shows Dont Have

He also described what brokers were up against during the pandemics early months. There was no market, he revealed. It was actually like a complete vacuum. Demand just stopped. The sellers were still there, the listings were still there, [and] we even had new sellers that wanted to sell and come to the market.

Million Dollar Listing New York Season 9 is on Thursday, May 6 at 9/8c on Bravo.
Months before Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back from their roles as senior royals, Harry confirmed the reports of a rift between him and his brother, Prince William.

Now royal fans cant stop talking about a newly surfaced interview making the rounds which features the Duke of Sussex talking about the Duke of Cambridge being jealous of him.

Prince Harry and Prince William walking through Windsor on the eve of Harrys wedding in 2018 | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

What Prince Harry said about rift with Prince William in documentary

Prince Harry first confirmed what the press had reported on for months about him and his brother during the Harry & Meghan: An African Journey documentary in 2019.

Speaking to journalist Tom Bradby about their relationship at that point the duke explained: Inevitably stuff happens. But were brothers, well always be brothers. Were certainly on different paths at the moment. Ill always be there for him and as I know, hell always be there for me. We dont see each other as much as we used to because were so busy but I love him dearly.

The royal added, The majority of stuff is created out of nothing. As brothers, we have good days and we have bad days.

Harry previously said that William was a bit jealous of him

Prince Harry giving a TV interview in an Apache repair hanger on the flight-line at Camp Bastion | John Stillwell  WPA Pool/Getty Images

But that wasnt the first time the Duke of Sussex commented on what their relationship is like. The Express noted that in a previous interview Harry did during his time in Afghanistan he talked about the Duke of Cambridge being jealous of some of the stuff Harry could do that he could not.

In the 2013 interview that surfaced online recently, Harry said: There is a bit of jealousy. Not just that I get to fly this [helicopter] but obviously hed love to be out here and I dont see whyto be honest with you I dont see why he couldnt. His job out here would be flying the IIT or whatever, doing Chinook missions. Just the same as us; no one knows whos in the cockpit.

The prince continued: Yes, you get shot at but, you know if the guys that are doing the same job as us are being shot at on the ground then I dont think theres anything wrong with us being shot at as well. People at home will have issues with that, but were not special, the guys out there are. Simple as that.

William served in the Royal Air Force and was an air ambulance pilot for a few years but did not deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan during his time in the RAF.

Harry talked about their strained relationship during Oprah interview

Oprah Winfrey interviewing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for primetime special | Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images

RELATED: Camilla Parker Bowles Son Reveals What He Thinks of the Drama Between Meghan and Harry and the Royal Family

Fast forward to March 7, 2021, when Oprah Winfrey asked Harry where things stand with his brother.

As I said before, I love William to bits, he told the former talk show host. Weve been through hell together and we have a shared experience, but we are on different paths. The relationship is space at the moment and time heals all things, hopefully.

Following that interview, CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King shared that the princes have spoken by telephone but their conversation was not productive. A month later the brothers were seen chatting outside St. Georges Chapel following Prince Philips funeral. Harry flew back to California three days later.
Prince Harry is back in California after his trip to the United Kingdom for his grandfather Prince Philips funeral. The Duke of Sussex made an appearance at the Global Citizen Vax Live event on Sunday, May 2, at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles.

Unlike the icy reception he received from his family, the crowd went crazy and treated Harry like a rock star when he was introduced.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding hands and smiling at each other as they arrive at Dubbo Airport | Phil Noble  Pool/Getty Images

The royal family considers Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be a distraction

According to Russell Myers  the royal editor of The Mirror  Harrys family is done with the distraction of dealing with him and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The expert says that the couples bombshell tell-all with Oprah Winfrey went down like a lead balloon. He predicts that The Firm will leave Harry and Meghan to sort things out on their own.

Theyve been a distraction for the most part for the family, Myers told the UKs TalkRadio. There will be quite a lot of dissatisfaction within the camp, and it remains to be seen whether they will be brought back in.

The Firm wants to get back to business

Myers explained that when Harry went home to see his family for the first time in a year, it was with his tail between his legs because of the things he said in the shocking interview.

Harry and Meghan accused the royal family of racism. They also claimed that the palace ignored Meghans mental health issues.

The royal expert says he is sure that Harry was a bit sheepish seeing the rest of his family. Numerous reports claim his family shunned him. His attempt at peace talks with Prince Charles and Prince William failed. And Myers believes the monarchy will likely move on and ignore the scandal Harry and Meghan have created.

The rest of the royal family are very, very united in trying to get back to business, Myers said.

The British public doesnt want to forgive Prince Harry

TalkRadio host Kevin OSullivan reported that Prince Charles was supposedly in a cold state of fury over Harrys words. The Prince of Wales is unwilling to forgive, forget, and heal the rift with his youngest son.

If that is his state of mind, I think the British people will be behind him every step of the way. I think most people think That guy Harry does not deserve to be forgiven,' he said.

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Accused of Manipulated, Contrived Leak Over Anniversary Message to William and Kate

Myers believes that the Harry and Meghan scandal will ultimately be ignored, and the family will enter a new dawn when William becomes king.

I dont think its the last straw for the monarchy. I think its an evolution rather than a revolution, he said.

Prince Harry got a rock star reception at the Vax Live concert

The royal family and the British public might be over Prince Harry, but he still has a lot of fans in America. During his appearance at the Global Citizen Vax Live event, Harry was greeted with loud cheers and applause.

The Duke of Sussex appeared on stage twice during the evening. He told the crowd that we are at a defining moment in the global fight against COVID-19. Tonight is a celebration of each of you here.

Where was Meghan Markle?

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was named as part of the concert lineup, as well as a campaign chair. However, she did not show up to the event. According to Hello! Magazine, her absence at the live event was most likely due to her pregnancy. However, she will appear on the global broadcast virtually.

The event  dubbed the concert to reunite the world  was hosted by Selena Gomez. The concert featured Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, and the Foo Fighters.

Vax Live will air on Global Citizens YouTube Channel, ABC, CBS, FOX, and iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations on Saturday, May 8.
Princess Diana did not hide her grievances with the royal family. In the 1990s, she famously gave interviews detailing her struggles as a royal and the lack of support she received. However, Diana sometimes criticized her in-laws in less obvious was as well. One speech she gave was believed to be thinly-veiled criticism directed at the royals.

Princess Diana giving a speech in 1990 | Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

Princess Diana disliked some royal traditions

The royal family has many traditionssome of them centuries old. After Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, she found herself disliking some of these traditions and rebelled against them.

For example, she occasionally broke royal dress codes. In 1994, she wore a sexy black dress that revealed a lot of her shoulder and cleavage.

Unlike other royals, Diana also had no qualms about eating with her staff. As reported by Huffpost, her chef, Darren McGrady, once shared that Diana sometimes burst into the kitchen to make food and eat with him.

Perhaps the most famous tradition Diana rebelled against was related to parenting. For generations, royals were not hands-on parents who gave their kids emotional support. However, Diana was a warm mother to her two sons and bonded with them in different ways.

Princess Diana seemed to criticize the royal familys lack of warmth in a public speech

Princess Diana in 1997 | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

RELATED: Who Was Princess Diana Close to in the Royal Family?

In 1992, Diana gave a speech in France in honor of European Drug Prevention Week. The princess speech highlighted the importance of love and affection in a household. Her message was that, in order for kids to not seek out drugs to self-medicate, they need to feel cared for at home.

Hugging has no harmful side effects; there are potential huggers in every household, she said, according to a Vanity Fair article from 1993. Children are not chores, they are part of us. If we gave them the love they deserve, they would not try so hard to attract our attention.

She also added, Children who have received the affection they deserve will usually continue to recognize how good it feels, how right it feels, and will create that feeling around them. Weve all seen the families of the skilled survivors. Their strength comes from within and was put there by means of learning how to give and receive affection, without restraint or embarrassment, from their earliest days.

Although Diana did not slam the royal family, some people believe the speech was a critique of the royals parenting traditions.

Princess Diana reportedly thinks Prince Charles had his emotions suffocated at birth

Princess Diana and Prince Charles | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

RELATED: Heres What Princess Dianas Hairstyles Said About the Different Stages of Her Life

Diana reportedly acknowledged how Charles childhood affected his ability to cope with emotions. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were stiff and formal at home, and Charles mostly grew up in the care of nannies.

Diana reckoned that if Charles had been brought up in the normal fashion, he would have been better able to handle his and her emotions, royal expert Ingrid Seward said, as reported by the Daily Mail. Instead, she said, his feelings seemed to have been suffocated at birth.

Seward continued, According to her, he never had any hands-on love from his parents. Only his nannies showed him affection but that, as Diana explained, was not the same as being kissed and cuddled by your parents, which Charles never was. When he met his parents, they didnt embrace: they shook hands.
 Flash

Another 2,144 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,425,940, according to official figures released Wednesday.

The country also reported another 27 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 127,570. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

More than 34.7 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

The data were revealed as the British government announced that laboratories to test current and new COVID-19 vaccines against variants of concern are to be built at Porton Down in Wiltshire, southwest England.

A total of 29.3 million pounds (about 40.7 million U.S. dollars) will be invested in building the "state-of-the-art" laboratories at Public Health England's new testing facilities at the British Ministry of Defence's complex, according to Sky News.

Scientists will be able to test 3,000 blood samples a week, more than four times the current number, so they can assess the vaccines' effectiveness against variants of concern, said the report.

Experts have warned that despite progress in vaccine rollout, Britain is "still not out of the woods" amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first emerged in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.
The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond made headlines this weekend when her oldest child, daughter Alex Drummond, tied the knot in a flower-filled ceremony on the familys Oklahoma ranch.

Now, Alex and her new husband, Mauricio Scott, have jetted off on the honeymoon of a lifetime  and they spared no expense on their lavish trip.

Ree Drummonds daughter, Alex Drummond, with new husband Mauricio Scott | Access Hollywood/YouTube

Ree Drummonds daughter, Alex Drummond, married her longtime boyfriend on May 1

For the better part of a year, Ree Drummond had been planning her firstborns wedding. Alex, who became engaged to boyfriend Mauricio Scott in August 2020, is Drummond and her husbands oldest child. Drummond posted photos of the wedding excitement along the way, highlighting Alexs bridal shower, wedding dress shopping, and more.

Mauricio and Alex met while at college; Alex went to school at Texas A&M University. She and Mauricio have been living together in Dallas since graduation, but the two returned to Oklahoma for their wedding.

Drummond has captured plenty of images of her daughters big day and has shared them on her Instagram profile. She made a note to add that she and Ladd approve of their daughters new hubby. Now, Alex and her husband are soaking up the sun with a lavish honeymoon.

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Are Any of Ree Drummonds Kids Following In Her Celebrity Chef Footsteps?

Alex Drummond and Mauricio Scott are racking up a massive honeymoon tab

The Drummond family has always lived simply, but Alex and her husband deserve to splurge on the biggest vacation of their lives. After the wedding, the two jetted off on Qatar Airways to a surprise destination, which they didnt reveal until they arrived: The Maldives. As one of the worlds most exclusive (and expensive) island regions, the Maldives lends itself only to the super wealthy.

Alex and Mauricio are staying at Gili Lankanfushi, a five-star resort that was voted the best in the Maldives by TripAdvisor in 2018. And based on the couples Instagram stories, theyre sparing no expense to do so.

Alex and Mauricio flew Qatar Airways, and Alex posted a video of the couple sitting in first class, with TVs and champagne. Based on Showbiz Cheat Sheets research, a May 2021 flight to the islands from Oklahoma  in a business-class or first-class seat  runs anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 for two tickets, depending on extras, flight times, etc.

Upon arrival, the couple checked into the villa suite with a pool  the only one of its kind at the resort. While rates for May 2021 werent available, April rates for the room put it at $25,000 for a nine-day stay  the length of time for which the couple will be there, according to Mauricios Instagram story.

An extended sundeck area parallel to the villa with an infinity pool, sun loungers, two daybeds, and catamaran nets overlooking the sparkling turquoise lagoon. The perfect spot for ultimate relaxation.#gililankanfushi #gilistory #villasuitewithpool pic.twitter.com/Vz33tDsYTE  Gili Lankanfushi (@GiliLankanfushi) June 30, 2020 The Gili Lankanfushi overwater villa suite with a pool, where Alex Drummond and Mauricio Scott are honeymooning.

Alex Drummond and Mauricio Scott will likely spend thousands on food, drinks, and activities

Beyond staying in a room that rents for $2,800 per night, the resort is not even an all-inclusive  meaning the couple will pay for every indulgence they receive over the next nine days. Based on the resorts restaurant prices, which range from $40 for a pasta dish to $85 for a steak and $315 for a seafood platter, the two will likely spend about $300 per dinner with appetizers, meals, and drinks. Lunch prices are a bit less, meaning it might only run them around $100. And breakfast is likely the cheapest, coming in somewhere around $75 for two. But all in all, it could be almost an extra $4,300 just for meals.

The couples tab, based on all of these costs, is somewhere between $44,000 and $59,000. However, assuming the two want to explore their destination (think: a boat cruise, a helicopter tour, etc.), they could be looking at several thousand more in expenses. With Ree and Ladd Drummond worth a combined $250 million, though, nothing is too expensive for these newlyweds.
The images leave no one cold: giant vortices of floating plastic trash in the world's oceans with sometimes devastating consequences for their inhabitants  the sobering legacy of our modern lifestyle. Weathering and degradation processes produce countless tiny particles that can now be detected in virtually all ecosystems. But how dangerous are the smallest of them, so-called nanoplastics? Are they a ticking time bomb, as alarming media reports suggest? In the latest issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology, a team from Empa and ETH Zurich examines the state of current knowledge  or lack thereof  and points out how these important questions should be addressed.

Wherever scientists look, they can spot them: whether in remote mountain lakes, in Arctic sea ice, in the deep-ocean floor or in air samples, even in edible fish  thousands upon thousands of microscopic plastic particles in the micro to millimeter range. This microplastic is now even considered one of the defining features of the Anthropocene, the age of the Earth shaped by modern humans.

Microplastics are formed by weathering and physicochemical or biological degradation processes from macroscopic plastic products, such as the tons of plastic waste in the oceans. It is unlikely that these degradation processes will stop at the micrometer scale. And so there is growing concern about the potential harmful effects nanoplastics could have on various ecosystems. "Numerous media reports suggest, through their sometimes highly emotional coverage, that we are facing a huge problem here," says Empa researcher Bernd Nowack, who has long studied the material flows of synthetic micro- and nanoparticles, for example from textiles or tire abrasion, into the environment. But Nowack says at present this statement can hardly be substantiated by scientific findings: "We don't even know how much nanoplastics there is in the different ecosystems."

Huge gaps in knowledge ...

This is primarily because it is enormously difficult in terms of measurement technology to identify artificial nanoparticles made of plastic in environmental samples with thousands and thousands of (natural) particles of similar size. Appropriate analytical methods would first have to be developed, says Denise Mitrano of ETH Zurich. And then it would be a matter of understanding exactly what risk the tiny plastic particles  some of which differ considerably in their chemical composition  pose to humans and the environment, in other words: how dangerous they ultimately are. Adds Nowack, "So we can't justifiably say we have a serious problem here  but we also can't say we don't."

That's because the smaller particles become, the more likely they are to reach organs and tissues that are inaccessible to larger particles. The blood-brain barrier or placenta, for instance, prevents particles and macromolecules from passing through until they reach a certain size  or rather, smallness  thereby protecting the tissues and organs "behind" them, i.e. the brain and fetus, respectively, from potentially dangerous substances such as viruses and bacteria. "Even if we ingest microplastics, for example through our food, they probably do not enter our bloodstream or our brain, but are simply excreted again," says Peter Wick, head of Empa's Particles-Biology Interactions lab, who studies the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems. "With nanoplastics, we can't be so sure."

... and great need for research

Because of the enormous gaps in current knowledge, research into nanoplastics must thus be intensified, conclude Mitrano, Wick and Nowack. However, this should be done as systematically and broadly as possible  and with a cool head. After all, emerging pollutants do not always turn out to be as dangerous as originally assumed. "Our society initially adopts a zero-risk attitude toward many things that are new and unknown," Wick says. And that's understandable, he adds, especially in the case of nanoplastics, because, after all, "who wants plastic in their food?"

The solution to the problem, however, is as simple (at least in theory) as it is complex. On the one hand, a large proportion of nanoplastic particles are produced by the degradation of macro- and microplastics. Less plastic in the environment, therefore, reduces the amount of nanoplastics, and here every one of us can help stop polluting the environment with plastic waste. On the other hand, nanoplastics can also be created during the use of plastic products  for example, through abrasion  without the user being able to do anything about it. Indeed, our society is hardly possible without plastic. "The various polymers simply have too many positive properties for that," says Bernd Nowack.
In fiscal year 2020, Eppendorf AG succeeded in posting record revenue of 967 million (prior year: 804 million)  a significant year-on-year increase of 20.3% (prior year: 10.2%). EBIT likewise saw a sharp rise of 73.5 million to 217.7 million (prior year: 144.2 million), representing an improvement of 51.0% on the prior-year period, while the EBIT margin climbed to 22.5% (prior year: 17.9%). Eppendorf, a globally positioned life science company from Hamburg, Germany, thus grew faster than its competitors and can look back on the most successful fiscal year in its more than 75 years of existence.

2020 was by far the most successful fiscal year for the Eppendorf Group. The company was able make positive progress in all market regions and across all product groups, said the two Co-CEOs of Eppendorf AG, Eva van Pelt and Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer. With our high-quality laboratory equipment, products and services, as well as our consistent focus on customer needs, we have been able to successfully support diagnostics laboratories and vaccine developers around the world in the fight against the coronavirus.

Global business performance in 2020 exceeds expectations

All market regions developed positively in the past fiscal year, with some posting growth well into the double digits. Business performance in Eppendorfs home market of Europe was particularly strong, clearly exceeding expectations with growth of 27.6% compared with the previous year. Expectations were also exceeded in the Asia/Pacific/Africa region, which significantly outperformed the prior-year period with an increase of 43.4%  the strongest revenue growth in its history. The Americas market region was likewise able to increase its revenue by a very pleasing 11.3% compared with the previous year. Business activities in the market region of China, an important growth market, were impacted severely in the first half of 2020 by a strict, long-lasting lockdown. It is therefore quite remarkable that Eppendorf China was able to fully compensate for the coronavirus-induced revenue slump at the beginning of the pandemic and close the year with a 7.5% gain over the previous year.

Were very pleased with the remarkable business performance in the market regions, comments Eva van Pelt. That we were able to achieve such outstanding results despite lockdowns in many countries and at times very restrictive working conditions for our service and sales teams is an extraordinary achievement on the part of all our employees.

Eppendorf products in strong demand during the pandemic

The various product groups at Eppendorf also developed extremely satisfactorily in 2020, with some of them in very strong demand. This applied in particular to laboratory consumables, pipettes and ultra-low-temperature freezers. The growth in business with pipetting robots  up by an impressive 96.8% compared to the previous year  is particularly noteworthy.

The increase in demand for certain product categories was quite substantial in some cases, and it reflects the great relevance that Eppendorf devices and materials have, especially in the worldwide battle against the coronavirus pandemic, says Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer. It was only thanks to the great commitment of all employees of the group that Eppendorf was able to live up to this relevance.

Investments strengthen competitiveness and core business

In fiscal year 2020, Eppendorf continued to systematically pursue its goal of further strengthening its competitiveness. To this end, the company invested around 86.5 million in the expansion of production capacities, the extension of its global locations and the modernization of office buildings in all market regions. An additional 55.8 million went into research and development measures and projects as part of Eppendorfs innovation offensive.

With investments of over 142 million in 2020, Eppendorf put more money into its future in the space of one year than ever before in the companys history. These targeted investments have significantly increased our competitive strength and enabled us to take a major step forward in our transformation from a pure equipment manufacturer to a full-service provider of high-quality laboratory solutions, said Dr. Peter Fruhstorfer, summarizing the results of Eppendorfs investment strategy before adding: We intend to continue along this path and make higher-than-average investments in Eppendorfs further development in 2021 as well.

Outlook for 2021

The global coronavirus pandemic makes it difficult to predict future developments, so the impact it will have on Eppendorfs revenue and profit in the course of the fiscal year remains uncertain at this point.

Like the previous year, we expect 2021 to be dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, said Eva van Pelt. We expect demand for laboratory materials to remain high for the year as a whole and anticipate sustained, moderate revenue growth, particularly in the first half of the year. She added that Eppendorf would continue to work consistently on its further development at all locations and that the global hiring program would be pursued at an undiminished pace in 2021.
When a mentor saw me struggling with worship in our fledging church plant, he handed me a copy of Marva Dawns Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship in this Urgent Time. I wondered what a Lutheran and a lover of historic worship practices would have to say to a congregation whose traditions came more from indie rock shows than any church.

It turns out that the work of Marva Dawnwho died last month at age 72was life-giving. Like many in my generation, I began ministry with a sense that there was something unsatisfying about the experiences Id grown up with, and Dawn invited us to reconsider much that had been laid aside in the decades before.

I have no doubt that some of the credit for the renewed interest in hymnody and liturgy of the past two decades is owed to Dawns response to the church trends of the 1980s and 1990s, including the praise and worship movement coming out of places like The Vineyard and the seeker-sensitive movement led by Willow Creek.

Dawn wrote in Reaching Out that many of the changes the church was adoptingaesthetically, stylistically, and technologicallywere being made uncritically. She could see that these shifts in the culture of the church were also shifts in the nature of the church, as congregations turned into mega-businesses instead of Christian communities.

At the height of the worship wars, churches were battling out the transition from choirs, organs, and hymnals to praise bands and overhead projectors. Advocates of contemporary worship beat the drum of evangelistic opportunity, while traditionalists fought for the churchs connection to church history and the riches of the hymnal.

But Dawn sought to cut through to the purpose of worship itself: an encounter with a transcendent and living God. Traditionalists could miss this point by idolizing their traditions. Advocates for contemporary worship could miss the point by centering the individual. It was on this last point that her voice was most prophetic and even acerbic. She saw the roots of much of contemporary worship in the broader cultural movements of the 20th century, particularly in the dominance of technology, consumerism, and narcissism.

The relocation of the narcissistic individual as the center of worship experiences charged pastors and worship leaders with entertaining their congregations. The message of the gospel and God himself became instrumental in stoking the good feelings of congregants. Lost was a sense that the church participated together in a transcendent encounter with God.

The difficulty for churches is to find worship practices that invite boomers to experience the truth of God without the self-absorption that distorts it, Dawn wrote. How can we convey Gods revelation to those who regard their own self-discovered experiences as superior to truths handed down by the creeds of the Church?

In Reaching Out and its follow-up, A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World, she called pastors and churches to stop thinking about worship in terms of what it could do for the church and return to seeing it as a sacred invitation to honor God with our words and lives. A story she told in a talk summed up her attitude well. A congregant came up to her after a service to complain about one of the hymns the church sang. Its okay, she told them. It wasnt really about you anyway.

Songwriter Sandra McCracken told me, Marva Dawn was the first writer who taught me that the songs we sing together actually help us practice unity in diversity. She writes about how if we each love every third song in a worship service, that is about how it should be. When we know one anothers story, it stirs our affections to see past our own preferences.

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It was after many years for me of reading Dawns writing that she would provide another significant revelation. It came at a symposium at Calvin University, when I met her for the first time. I confess that, having read her as such a powerful and prophetic voice, I expected a John the Baptist sort of presence: wild-eyed, fierce. Instead, I met one of the most meek and joyful people Ive ever met. She had a wide smile, a deep attentiveness to any person she spoke to, and a soft-spoken tenderness. I once heard Dallas Willard talk about meeting older saints who lived in another world among us. That description fit Marva Dawn beautifully.

Dawns joy came amid a lifetime of struggles with pain and illness. She faced battles with cancer, chronic pain, blindness in one eye, a kidney transplant, and problems with a foot that made walking difficult or impossible. She often wrote about her suffering, most notably in her book Being Well When Were Ill: Wholeness and Hope In Spite of Infirmity. Wellness, as she defined it, is found not in the recovery of our bodies from illness but in finding a different kind of wellness in the pursuit of God and the promise of resurrection.

That pursuit led her to a prolific life of writing and teaching. Dawn held a ThM from Pacific Lutheran Seminary, an MDiv from Western Evangelical Seminary, an MA in English from the University of Idaho, and both an MA and a PhD in Christian ethics from the University of Notre Dame. She served as a teaching fellow at Regent College in Vancouver, and through the nonprofit Christians Equipped for Ministry, she taught Christians around the globe.

She authored more than 20 books in her lifetime, covering topics like Sabbath-keeping, the vocation of ministry, suffering well, and sexuality. Her book Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God won a 2002 Christianity Today Book Award.

Marva was a prophet for our times and a saint in our days. She wrote passionately about the worship of God and the rest of God. She never minced her words nor did she impose herself on others. She was feisty, wink-and-you-miss-it funny, and joy-filled in a wonderfully infectious way, said David Taylor, a professor of theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She was our own Protestant little flower, frail of body but beautiful of soul, now royally wasting her time in Gods presence. Those of us in the field of liturgical studies and in the position of leading the worship of the church owe her a great debt.

In an interview with her publisher, she was asked what would she like to be remembered for as an author. Im simply trying to relay what I learn from God, she said. I pray that in my books people encounter God and grow in wisdom for living a genuine Christian life.

Dawn passed away on April 18, 2021, in Vancouver, Washington, with her husband of 32 years, Myron Sandberg, and her brother Glen Gersmehl at her side. A memorial is being planned for this summer, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.
Lausanne North America (L-NA) is committed to extending the influence and passion of Lausanne Movement by connecting influencers and ideas on mission and evangelism for Christ and His Kingdom. Read more from this column.

Image: Lausanne Movement

About the series: As you may be aware, the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center also houses the regional offices of Lausanne North America, which is 1 of 12 regions part of the Lausanne Movement. Billy Graham saw the need for evangelicals to unite towards the task of worldwide evangelization. This desire and dream led to the First International World Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne Switzerland in July 1974 and the birth of the Lausanne Movement. Since 1974, there have been two other World Congresses that have metManilla, Philippines in 1989 and Cape Town, South Africa in 2010. As part of the process of preparing for the World Congress in 2024, the Lausanne Movement has been hosting listening calls for each region to discuss five questions. Lausanne North American held our listening call on March 3 with close to 200 evangelical leaders from across various sectors and disciplines. In this series, we want to share with you the five questions Lausanne is asking as well as the most recurring answers/themes to those questions coming out of North America. We hope this series will be informative as well as catalytic. If you have additional thoughts, suggestions, or answers to the questions posed in this series, please send them to Dr. Josh LaxtonAssistant Director of Lausanne North Americawho has been compiling this list for the Lausanne Movement. His email is Joshua.laxton@wheaton.edu.

Question 3: What promising breakthroughs or innovations do you see that can accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission?

We live in an age of constant innovation and breakthroughs in science, medicine, and technology.

Just so we are on the same page, let me define innovation and breakthroughs. Im borrowing from Ted Eslers innovation definition where he writes, Innovation is the use of something new to create solutions. It can include invention, the creation of something new, or it can be a mixing of existing things to create something new. It might be technological, but it is not limited to technology. It is about products, services, processes, and ideas. Breakthroughs are related to innovation as they are a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development that helps to improve a situation, provide a solution, or solve a problem.

The Church has been seen (in general) more as a Luddite than a technophile. However, what we have witnessed over the last several decades is an increasing number of church leaders, churches, non-profit, and Christian organizations leveraging innovation and breakthroughs for greater gospel impact. In our listening call, the leaders provided dozens of innovations and breakthroughs they see that are helping to (or can help) accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

In this post, I want to present the top three.

Social Media

There are variations of social media.

Social networks, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Snapchat are one variant of social media. These platforms allow people to network with one another sharing personal updates, thoughts, experiences, photos, and videos. Another variant to social media is bookmarking sites like Pinterest and StumbleUpon. Bookmarking sites provide a platform for users to save and share resources, articles, blogs, and images with others.

YouTube and Vimeo are examples of media sharing networks. These platforms allow users to create, curate and share their media videos with the world. Did you know that YouTube has 2.3 billion users worldwide, that over 500 hours of video are uploaded every minute to YouTube, and that everyday people watch 1 billion hours of videos on YouTube?

According to a recent Pew Research study, roughly seven-in-ten Americans use some kind of social media platform, with Facebook and YouTube being two of the most widely used platforms. Adults under 30 are most likely found on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

I share all of this so you can see why church leaders see the rise of social media as an innovation and breakthrough that can help accelerate the Great Commission. With that said, social media is like any other tool you have to know how to use it effectively to get the desired results.

Digital Technology

Digital technology is similar to social media, but still distinct and its own separate category. I think the digital technology that everyone is most familiar with today thanks to COVID-19is Zoom. Zoom is cloud-based video communications technology that allows individuals, businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to conduct video and audio conferencing, webinars, distance education, and more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of this kind of digital technology in the church. Today youll find churches hosting video calls after services, offering Alpha courses via Zoom, leveraging video chat for small group engagement, and more. In short, churches are leveraging the digital technology of video chat and conferencing to extend their reach.

Another area of digital technology that is helping to accelerate the churchs participation in the Great Commission is Bible translation. Because of digital growth, there is not only newer technology that aids with Bible translation, but there are digital platforms that make it easier for larger translation teams to collaborate on a translation.

While there are certainly more digital technologies in existence that can help accelerate the churchs participation in the Great Commission, Ill mention one more: SEO (or search engine optimization). Many companies leverage SEO to help them understand their potential consumers or clients. When companies, businesses, and organizations understand what people are searching for, questions of life they are asking, and the kind of content they are consuming, they can make more educated decisions about how to connect with people.

What if churches began leveraging the digital technology of SEO not only for their website but for potential classes, ministries, videos, and sermon series? It may allow them to better know the people they are trying to reach with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Decentralization of the Church

This is not necessarily a new innovation or breakthrough, but one that has been recovered in post-Christendom. In Christendom, most church ministries and programs were centrally located, and, for the most part, ministries and missions were performed by professional clergy. Its not that the centralization of the church is bad per se, but an over-centralized heavily institutionalized church can restrict the movement of the gospel and the churchs reach.

Over the last several decades the church in North America has experienced a rise in the decentralization of the church in various ways. Naturalizing church planting was one way the church decentralized. Now, almost every major denomination has a church planting arm.

Churches have also decentralized through adopting some model of satellite/campus church. Again, while many of these churches have central services, they have sought to expand their reach through the creation of multi-sites. In addition, micro-church movements like The Underground have embraced a decentralized model of church where the goal is to recover the priesthood of the believer by giving agency to Gods people to plant churches, teach the Word, disciple others, and thus engage in Gods mission.

Another area where decentralization in the church has occurred is in the marketplace. This trend has risen over the years as many churches seek ways to embed themselves into the ebb and flow of their community. Whether through the creation of coffee shops, recreation centers, counseling centers, shopping centers, art galleries, and more, churches extend their reach by creating these marketplace extensions to bless the community and reach a postmodern and post-Christian culture.

In every major era of church history, there are innovations and breakthroughssuch as the Pax Romana and the Roman roadway system, the Gutenberg printing press, the rise of trains, automobiles, and planes, to now the internetthat helped accelerate the advancement of the good news of Jesus. As we move deeper into the 21st century, we will continue to encounter newer innovations and breakthroughs that can be used as tools in the participation of the Great Commission.

This should be something we celebrate as well as something that should give us pause. We should not wield innovations and breakthroughs recklessly but wisely and winsomely by developing a working and robust theology of culture, mission, and church that effectively reaches a world in desperate need of the good news of Jesus Christ.

What other innovations and breakthroughs are you seeing that is or can accelerate the Great Commission?
Over the past year, the news has been enough to drive us to despair. Or prayer. Or both.

As people have been bombarded with headlines about the global pandemic, civil unrest, natural disasters, and religious persecution, Google searches for prayer rose to the highest levels on record, and Christian ministries have stepped up to offer resources to help believers pray through the news.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UK outlet Premier Christian News had redesigned its website to include prayer prompts at the end of every news story. The site saw more than 175,000 readers click to pray in 2020.

We wanted to inform Christians about the news going on around the world but also equip them, said Marcus Jones, Premiers director of news and digital.

During some grim news cyclesBrexit, terrorist attacks, and then the pandemicjournalists and audiences alike can become desensitized to the headlines. It is healthy to take a step back and say this is a real-life situation God can intervene in, said Jones.

The writers at Premier Christian News compose or compile relevant prayers, usually just a few lines long, to run at the end of their articles. A tracker tallies how many readers have clicked the praying hands icon to indicate they are praying.

A majority of Premier readers come from the UK, where a third of people say the pandemic has affected their prayer life, according to a Savanta ComRes survey. Theyre just as likely to say its made them pray less (15%) as to say its made them pray more (16%).

Still, Jones said the team has been impressed with how much engagement theyve gotten from the feature. The most-prayed-for stories are usually the most-read, but coverage of persecution and natural disasters also tend to bring increased prayer clicks. Readers sometimes react negatively to the prayers suggested for controversial or politically charged stories, but the journalists learn to carefully craft lines that they hope all Christians can say amen to.

Current articles on the site offer prayers for India and ask that other countries may be generous enough to help alleviate the suffering there; for China and those who are being persecuted for their faith; and for political leaders tasked with overcoming division and helping the vulnerable.

Image: Screenshot / Premier Christian News

After seeing record engagement from churches during the pandemic, Facebook is now testing a new feature that would allow group members to share prayer requests and click a prayer button to let others know theyre praying for them.

Jones at Premier has mixed feelings about the prayer option on Facebook. Anything that is going to engage people in prayer is going to be a good thing, but I worry on social media, prayer has lost its meaning, he said.  I worry about it being a novelty feature. Premier deliberately wanted to engage its readers with more than a click and actually offer them a prayer to read through.

Even outside the news media, several ministries have also noticed how peopleisolated by lockdowns and desperate to keep upfelt overwhelmed by the news and offered their own guidelines for how to respond in prayer.

With access to so much news, we might be tempted to shut out the worlds brokenness and hurt to protect ourselves. But 2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (NLT), read a post last year from Wycliffe Bible Translators, which offered tips for how to pray for victims, communities, and local believers affected by troubling news events. Praying through the news is one easy habit that we can all benefit from. It allows us to surrender our worries to God while also intentionally lifting up communities that need to experience his healing and love in tangible ways.

In some ways, by pushing more activity and attention online, the lockdown has made believers more aware of the crises beyond their borders. Top news stories have focused on the plight of the Uighers in China, the coup in Myanmar, and vaccine distribution in poorer countries.

Christian organizations like World Vision and the Family Research Council have also urged followers to respond to the news of pandemic suffering with prayer, asking that God would be with the vulnerable and be glorified.

And when Americans gather in sanctuaries and over screens for the 70th annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday, they will also lift up the current events and challenges Americans face.

These prayers have not stopped through wars, peace, political shifts, celebrations, and now a global pandemic, organizers said. In all circumstances we prioritize prayer as a first response and not a last resort.

For a recent project, The Gospel Coalition (TGC) brought together 40 stories of Christian activity around the world, each paired with three ways to pray and a corresponding Bible verse. The 40 Days of Prayer campaign was pegged to the pandemica time when Christians spent more time online than ever before.

Several years ago, TGCs Joe Carter shared his pointers for how to pray the news, including suggesting Christians find a beat to focus on and pray for those active in the media and social media, concluding with a warning against paying too much attention to the news.

Watch and pray the news, but dont be consumed by it. And dont let the news become an idol, he wrote. Never let the bad news brought by the media supplant your focus on the good news of Jesus.

Every Moment Holy, a book of daily liturgies published by the Rabbit Room, posted and shared free PDFs of prayers relevant to the pandemic, including A Liturgy for Those Flooded by Too Much Information.

In a world so wired and interconnected, our anxious hearts are pummeled by an endless barrage of troubling news. We are daily aware of more grief, O Lord, than we can rightly consider, of more suffering and scandal than we can respond to, of more hostility, hatred, horror, and injustice than we can engage with compassion, it reads. But you, O Jesus, are not disquieted by such news of cruelty and terror and war. You are neither anxious nor overwhelmed. You carried the full weight of the suffering of a broken world when you hung upon the cross, and you carry it still.
Florida church expels rebellious group estimated at over 150 members

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A group estimated to be at least 150 members of the historic First Baptist Fort Lauderdale church in Florida who have been at odds over the direction of the church with its new pastor and his leadership team for more than a year was given the boot Friday after church leaders say they failed to settle their disagreement.

In an email sent last Friday, the board of trustees for the 113-year-old Southern Baptist Convention congregation explained that it recently voted to terminate the membership of "all" church members who have been identified with, supported or participated in the dissident advocacy group that voted to fire the lead pastor and board members.

The board alleges that the members had taken actions against the church, its pastors, trustees, deacons and members.

The churchs patient efforts to resolve this dispute up to and including the final step of arbitration through the Institute for Christian Conciliation (ICC) have been met by the Advocacy Groups or Concerned Members with repeated delays, constantly shifting positions, refusals to respond at various times, unreasonable demands upon the arbitration process, and demands for amnesty from church discipline for their offenses against the church, the churchs trustee board wrote.

When members of the church conduct themselves in a manner contrary to biblical standards and the churchs Statement of Faith and Practice, church discipline may be administered by the Trustee Board under guidelines established by the Pastoral Team. If biblical discipline is necessary, the Trustee Board has the authority and the obligation to place individual(s) under church discipline, including termination of membership.

Last fall, the dissenting church members said they voted to fire their bullying lead pastor, James Welch, their nine-member board of trustees and half the churchs deacons. But church leaders contend that the vote had no standing and that the group is a "disaffected minority of our members.

Welch has been in his role since the spring of 2019.

Pastor James R. Welch has not created a stable environment, but instead has created a toxic environment and polarized atmosphere for both congregants and staff, disgruntled members, who call themselves the First Baptist Church FTL Advocacy Group, wrote in a summary of concerns about Welch.

Without the recognition [of] mistakes or the willingness to listen to congregants, Deacon Body or Trustee Board there is no hope for improvement and thus no way forward.

The advocacy group argued that the church has faced declining numbers over the last two decades but showed signs of growth more recently before Welch's arrival. But since Welch came on board, they claim the attendance fell from between 1,000 to 2,000 to almost 750.

Brian Keno, one of the expelled members, told The Christian Post that the booted members are livid after the most recent response from the church.

Look, I can speak for myself. I was extremely upset, Keno added, noting that an 84-year-old deacon who wrote the churchs bylaws and had been a member since he was a 9-year-old was also among the members purged from the church.

Being booted out of our church for doing nothing other than trying to be a representative of our body, a congregational-led church. Thats who we are."

Previous reporting had indicated that the dissident group was estimated at around 150 members. Keno told CP that the group is now more than 150, and another report has estimated the group to be about 200 members.

CP reached out to the church for confirmation on how many members were expelled. A response was not received by press time.

The church board said if the members chose to repent of their rebellion against leaders and submit to a restoration process, they could be welcomed back into the fold.

The restoration process includes a minimum waiting period of one year, the completion of a course in biblical conflict resolution through Peacemaker Ministries, reconciliation with all persons harmed by their actions, and re-application for church membership.

However, Keno insists that no one he has spoken with plans on going through that process.

Heck no! No of us are going to do that, he said. Why should we submit to this? What did we do wrong? We didnt do anything wrong.  Nobody is going to submit to that, he said.

As previously reported, the rift in the congregation began after Welch was hired to replace the churchs retiring pastor after a three-year search in 2019. Upset with the direction Welch was taking the church, tensions were exacerbated last November when the churchs 36-year-old annual Christmas Pagent was permanently canceled.

The show ran from the end of November to mid-December and sold over 30,000 tickets.

According to The Sun-Sentinal, the pageant helped fund about a third of the churchs annual budget.
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."
 Flash

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow is ready to facilitate direct dialogue between Israel and Palestine.

"We will do this both through bilateral efforts ... and as a member of the international quartet of Middle East mediators," Lavrov said at a press conference following a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki here.

The international quartet is composed of the United Nations, Russia, the European Union and the United States.

Direct dialogue would be aimed at resolving all permanent status issues, Lavrov said, stressing the urgent need for de-escalation that would be in the interests of both sides.

The Palestinian minister expressed hope that the role of the Middle East Quartet would be strengthened with the Biden administration.

"The situation has now changed. A new administration has come to power, which is aware of its role and responsibility in the Middle East Quartet," al-Maliki said.

"We expect that this will help restore confidence and foster cooperation between members of the quartet and ultimately lead to a ministerial meeting of the mediators that will accelerate the resumption of negotiations," he said.
Christian crowdfunding site raises over $15K to support son of slain Maryland police officer

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A Christian crowdfunding site has helped raise over $15,000 to support a trust account for the son of a slain Maryland police officer who was assaulted and killed while responding to an early morning call of a fight in progress.

Last week, a fundraiser on the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo was established after Cpl. Keith Heacook of the Delmar Police Department was ambushed by a career criminal on April 25. Heacook, a 22-year veteran of the department, was responding ALONE to a known drug house for a fight in progress.

Three days later, Heacook died of his injuries.

According to the fundraiser, a local law firm was retained to start the trust account in which local realtor Pam Price and local auctioneer Doug Marshall will serve as trustees. Delmar is a town on the border of Delaware in Marylands rural Eastern Shore.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Heacooks 12-year-old son, Matthew.

According to a report from CBS Baltimore, the 54-year-old Keith Heacook was attacked by Randon D. Wilkerson, 30, of Salisbury, Maryland, after responding to the house call shortly after 5 a.m.

A witness claimed that Wilkerson slammed his foot repeatedly on Heacooks head while he was unconscious.

Wilkerson now faces charges of attempted murder, burglary, assault, possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony and terroristic threatening. Wilkerson reportedly also attacked an elderly couple who lived across the street from the home where the officer was attacked.

As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised $15,275, accounting for 61% of the $25,000 fundraising goal.

In an interview with The Christian Post, the founders of GiveSendGo explained why this particular fundraiser has special significance.

Co-founder Heather Wilson noted to CP that Heacooks murder came at a time when the American people are hearing lots of negative things about police officers.

She stressed that GiveSendGo supports police officers and finds value in their work.

So obviously, there's good and bad, but we believe probably most police officers are good people wanting to do good things, she said.

Wilson spoke with Marshall shortly after he set up the campaign.

Wilson said she was particularly moved by a procession this past Sunday from Baltimore to Delmar.

Although she did not attend the event, pictures were posted on her social media accounts.

They brought his body back down to Delmar where he was from, and they lined the streets from Baltimore to Delmar with police officers and ambulances and fire trucks and civilians, she recalled. It was so moving.

Wilson, who lives in Maryland, explained that the overwhelming feeling down here is that people are saddened that it hasnt gotten more media.

She maintained that if it had been the other way around, where he went and ended up defending himself and shooting the guy, it probably would have brought the mob down here.

Theyre really upset that this isnt getting more media coverage, she added. Wilson also lamented that President Joe Biden, who is from nearby Delaware, has yet to weigh in on the killing.

Wilson sees the crowdfunding campaign as an example of how the platform can provide hope when people are feeling hopeless and sad. She said the platform points them to  the hope we have in Jesus during times like these.

Watching the money be raised does  help, and it allows people to feel like they have a part, she said.

Co-founder Jacob Wells described GiveSendGo as a platform that is built around the idea of sharing hope for hopeless situations. He maintained that the website is about far more than crowdfunding.

As a platform ourselves, we call campaign owners, we have a prayer team that prays with ... campaign owners and is just able to recognize ... the financial aspect of what a crowdfunding platform does, he said.

Wells also touted the pray now button on the crowdfunding website that enables people to show that theyre supporting a cause by focusing on who Jesus is and what hes done for us.

At GiveSendGo, every crowdfunding campaign is manually reviewed by one of the co-founders, Wells asserted.

Wilson added that the purpose of the manual review is to make sure the person whos supposed to be getting the money is the one whos getting the money before it gets enabled.

The co-founders told CP that there are currently about 500 active crowdfunding campaigns on GiveSendGo, and an average of about 30 to 40 new campaigns are created daily.

GiveSendGo has received criticism in recent months because the platform was used to raise funds for the legal defense of people who attended the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, D.C., which resulted in deadly rioting at the U.S. Capitol.

In an April op-ed, Wells and Wilson defended the site against allegations that it is being used as a political pawn.

First, we do not condone the use of violence for political gain, and we unequivocally condemn those who threatened the lives of our elected leaders and the police officers who were simply doing their jobs, they wrote.

Nor does our site exist solely for the accused rioters to raise legal funds for their defense. Contrary to what some have implied, GiveSendGo isnt only online to serve as a haven for accused insurrectionists. While it is true that GiveSendGo is being used by those who have been charged in the attack, those people are Constitutionally entitled to a defense whether we like it or not. More to the point, those campaigns are only a fraction of what our site is about.

We believe Gods purpose for our site was never to be a political pawn. As with all things, Gods purpose is far greater, they continued. We started GiveSendGo with the belief that even though money is a necessity in this life, it does not fill the God-shaped hole people have. We wanted a platform that would offer people a place to fundraise for the things that are important to them, all the while sharing the Hope we know is found in Jesus.
Pastor, wife attacked by man who allegedly bit their ears, gouged eyes

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A Chicago pastor and his wife who were beaten during an unprovoked attack by a man who chewed off pieces of their ears and gouged both their eyes are now receiving an outpouring of support from the public as they fight to recover at a hospital.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, 28-year-old Elijah Rule Hill Prince, who is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation, is facing aggravated battery and attempted murder charges for his brutal attack on Pastor Timothy Johnson, who is a minister at Salem Baptist Church, and his wife, Renee, on Saturday.

This is not a dream, this is not a movie, this is not an episode of a crime show  this is our life, wrote the couples daughter, Destinee Johnson, about the attack on her parents in a statement on Facebook. I don't have the words to say, sometimes I don't have the strength but the strength of my parents keep me going. We do need your prayers. We need your love.

Rule Hill Prince, according to prosecutors cited by the Chicago Sun-Times, first attacked the pastor while he was cleaning the alley behind his mother-in-laws South Side Chicago home in the 10500 block of South Emerald Avenue after he tried selling Johnson something and the pastor turned down the offer.

My brother just told him, No, Im OK. No thank you. Im not interested. And he just attacked him, the pastors sister, Rhonda Hutcherson, told CBS Chicago.

A reporting of what happened next was like listening to a horror movie, according to Judge John F. Lyke Jr.

Rule Hill Prince allegedly put the pastor in a chokehold and hit him in the head with a shovel he had been using. He then punched him in the face, gouged his eyes with his fingers, bit his ears, the top of the pastors head then spat in his mouth. He then stuffed a three-inch block into the pastors left eye.

When the pastors wife realized what was happening, she ran to his aid, but Rule Hill Prince allegedly grabbed her by the hair and gouged her eyes with his fingers too. He also bit her ears, ripping off large chunks and spit on her. When she fell to the ground, he reportedly kicked her several times.

Her husband managed to call 911 for help after pulling a wooden object from his eye. Rule Hill Prince fled the scene after a neighbor yelled at him, but he was later apprehended by police. Prosecutors said Rule Hill Princes mouth, face and the elbows of his jackets were covered in blood which he called the blood of peasants.

They have suffered life changing injuries that will impact them and our family forever.

Our father has also been battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for the last 10 years. Simultaneously, he and our mother have been caretakers for their mothers/our grandparents, Destinee Johnson wrote in a GoFundMe campaign for her parents that had raised more than $68,000 as of Thursday evening.

Prosecutors say Renee Johnson is now missing parts of both her ears, suffered two black eyes, bruising to her head and face. Her husband is suffering from vision impairment, a broken orbital bone and other injuries, including missing pieces of his ear.

Judge Lyke, who said the allegations against Rule Hill Prince shocks the conscious, ordered him held on $5 million bail until another hearing on May 10.

Theyve done so much for the students and people in this city, and so [for] this to happen to them is just unfortunate, the couples son, Antonio, told CBS Chicago.

My parents hearts are so big. My parents love is overflowing. We dont know why this happened, right. But its a nightmare, his sister added.
Trump speaks at pro-life summit, calls Biden one of the most 'radical' presidents Cruz, Rubio, DeSantis also address SBA List event

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Addressing a crowd of pro-life activists, former President Donald Trump reportedly described his successor, President Joe Biden, as one of the most "radical" presidents in United States history.

Trump was one of several rumored 2024 presidential hopefuls who addressed the Susan B. Anthony Lists Pro-Life Leaders Summit in Palm Beach, Florida, this week.

At the event hosted by the prominent pro-life advocacy group, which was closed to the press, Trump criticized the current administrations policies on abortion and criticized his political opponents.

The Federalists Mollie Hemingway summed up the former presidents speech in a Twitter thread Monday.

According to Hemingway, Trump said Biden is one of the most extreme and radical presidents weve had and hes not even aware of it.

Says Biden is one of most extreme and radical presidents weve had and hes not even aware of it. Jokes that Biden wasnt doing great, academically, even when he was in his prime.  Mollie (@MZHemingway) May 4, 2021

Additionally, Hemingway said Trump devoted a portion of the speech to condemning all of Bidens actions in support of abortion, noting Biden was kept in [the] basement for campaign, kept quiet about what hed do.

Hemingway further noted that Trump joked about how large Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis mask was during Biden's address to a joint session of Congress last week. She reported that Trump said it 'hurts vaccine acceptance when Democrats wear bigger and bigger masks after vaccination."

Trump also claimed that the media treated him differently verses how they are handling the Biden presidency. He called the difference in media treatment for the new president "egregious," according to Hemingway.

Hes now condemning all of Bidens actions in support of abortion, noting Biden was kept in basement for campaign, kept quiet about what hed do.  Mollie (@MZHemingway) May 4, 2021

He just pointed out that VA Gov. Ralph Northam got in more trouble for blackface than he did for saying babies who are born should be allowed to die if mother chooses, and that he thought that was [the] opposite of [the] way it should be, she added.

As described by Hemingway, Trump's remarks addressed comments made by Northam during a radio interview in January 2019. Discussing a bill that would allow abortion up to the moment of birth, the Virginia governor expressed support for the measure. He even suggested that women should have the option to abandon their newborn children if they have deformities.

Explaining that third-trimester abortions are done in cases where there may be severe deformities, where there may be a fetus thats not viable, Northam outlined a hypothetical scenario:

If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable. It would be resuscitated if thats what the mother and the family desired and then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother.

Just days after Northam made those remarks, a decades-old picture of the governors medical school yearbook page surfaced. The page featured a picture of two individuals, one in blackface and the other in a Ku Klux Klan hood. One of the individuals was presumably Northam. While the yearbook page led to calls for Northam to resign, he remains in office more than two years later.

Other speakers at the Pro-Life Leaders Summit, as Fox News reported, included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.; and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. All of those politicians are rumored to be considering presidential bids in 2024.

The Fox News report included excerpts of the speeches that DeSantis, Cruz and Rubio planned to give.

DeSantis speech highlighted his appointment of Florida Supreme Court justices who respect the rule of law and religious liberty. In addition, the governor touted his record signing legislation that empowers families and sends a clear message that we will do everything we can to protect the unborn.

Building a culture of life requires us to champion policies that fight for our most vulnerable, DeSantis argued. Today is about applauding the tireless work of advocates like the Susan B. Anthony List team who defend life with vigor.

Cruz, who previously sought the Republican nomination for president in 2016 after being elected to the Senate in 2012, slammed the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration.

Defending the right to life is one of the most important responsibilities an elected official has," Cruz was quoted as saying. "Not only do Joe Biden and Kamala Harris fail to embrace that responsibility, they pander to pro-abortion activists at every turn  even though a large majority of Americans believe abortion should only be legal under certain circumstances or completely illegal.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are on the wrong side of history when it comes to abortion, and their views dont reflect what Americans want, Cruz continued.

Rubio, who also ran for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, seconded Cruz, alleging that the Biden administration is dominated by pro-abortion radicals who want to make it easier than ever to deny freedom to the unborn. The Florida senator vowed that he would never stop protecting the rights of those yet to be born.
Hillsong disappointed after Darnell Barrett resigns in wake of explicit photos

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Hillsong East Coast has expressed disappointment over the recent resignation of Darnell Barrett, creative director of Hillsong Church Montclair in New Jersey, who claims he accidentally sent explicit photos to a former church volunteer and confessed to being unfaithful to his wife.

Darnell Barrett, the creative oversight for Hillsong East Coasts Montclair location (New York), resigned on Tuesday (April 27, 2021). Hillsong accepted his resignation and agreed that he could not continue as part of our team. We were disappointed to learn about choices he made that were unacceptable for any Hillsong staff member, the church said in a statement.

We recognize that there are countless Hillsong Church staff members and volunteers who carry their responsibilities with trustworthiness, integrity, and excellence. They represent the heart of Hillsong Church, and we thank them for the work they do. We also take seriously our responsibility to ensure that our staff is equally committed to creating a safe and Christ-centered environment where all people feel welcome.

Barrett, a 32-year-old father and U.S. Navy veteran, confirmed his resignation to The DailyMail last week after acknowledging that he shared lewd workout photos of himself wearing nothing but tights that showed a bulge in his pants in a message that was also sent to a former volunteer on Instagram last month.

Barrett said the photos were shared with a close friends group in which he provides updates on his battle with depression and anxiety. He shared the images, he said, as part of a gym challenge, and the former Hillsong volunteer, who was not named, was included by accident.

Yeah, it shows me with my leggings on, he admitted.

This was something that was just an honest mistake, and I informed my wife as soon as it happened, he explained to DailyMail.com. I was not at all trying to lure her. I get that she, within the context of what's happening with Hillsong, that she would draw those conclusions. But I barely know her. That was not my intention.

However, the former volunteer accused Barrett of knowing what he was doing and insisted he was fishing for sexual prey in messages shared with DailyMail.com.

She explained that she barely knew Barrett when she volunteered for Hillsong from 2014 to 2016, yet he reached out to her earlier this year, saying he was heading to the state where she had moved.

While she didnt report Barretts actions to Hillsong, she said another member did.

Barrett confirmed to The Daily Mail last Tuesday that he is stepping down from Hillsong and cited infidelity in his marriage. He stated that he and his wife are trying to work through their problems and insisted that he shared the photo in question accidentally.

We thought it was best for me to move on, he was quoted as saying. I don't want to get into the details.

Earlier this month, Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston announced a pause in the operation of Hillsong Dallas after an investigation of former Lead Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess.

For months, Houston has struggled to repair the image of the U.S. arm of his Australia-based church following a series of sex and financial scandals.

Since last November, the church has had to publicly address complaints about inappropriate sexual relations between staff and volunteers at Hillsong NYC, which led to the dismissal of its then-lead pastor Carl Lentz.

The embattled Australia-based church network has also had to deal with an investigation of an assault on Anna Crenshaw, a Philadelphia pastors daughter, in Australia.
John Piper: Ravi Zacharias turned 'position of power' into 'neediness and woundedness'

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John Piper has weighed in on the misdeeds of late apologist Ravi Zacharias and identified the lessons Christians can learn from his posthumous fall from grace after he was accused of sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape.

Theres a lesson to be learned from Ravis manipulation of people  a lesson to be learned about the need for tethered sympathy, Piper, chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, wrote on his Desiring God website.

Piper explained that every time sympathy is called for, it needs to be tethered to the truth, so that it is given lavishly when the truth calls for it and is withheld when the truth clashes with it.

How did [Ravi] manipulate people into sinfully providing him with sexual stimulation? He did it by demanding untethered sympathy. He portrayed himself as an embattled, burdened, wounded warrior in the righteous cause of the gospel. And ironically, he turned his position of power into a form of neediness and woundedness. And then he tried to coerce untethered sympathy under the guise of calling for kingdom therapy for the wounded warrior.

Piper said he had seen this kind of demand and manipulation for untethered sympathy repeatedly among fallen Christian leaders.

[They say], The burdens are so great. The wounds are so many. Those who understand me are so few. The weight of faithful ministry  oh, it is so great. I deserve some relief. Have some sympathy on this poor, wounded warrior. Empathize with your embattled hero. I need your body if Im to carry on in the Lords work, Piper paraphrased.

To which the administrative assistant or the old college flame or the teenage boy in the locker room should say, Thats disgusting. Dont ever talk to me like that again. My sympathy is not for sale; its tethered to truth and righteousness.

To those who came to Christ under Zacharias ministry or who had their faith mightily strengthened by what he taught, Piper advised: Dont let the imperfections and failures of men turn you away from the perfections and the triumphs of Christ, who will never, never fail you.

An investigation released earlier this year found credible evidence of a long pattern of abusive behavior by Zacharias, one of the most recognizable figures in American Christianity for decades.

The report found that the apologist, the founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, who died last May, coerced massage therapists at a spa he co-owned to perform sexual acts. It also uncovered a collection of explicit photos  many of them of much younger women  found in Zacharias possession.

One woman told the investigators that after he arranged for the ministry to provide her with financial support, he required sex from her.

She told investigators Zacharias made her pray with him to thank God for the opportunity they both received. Zacharias reportedly warned her that if she ever spoke out against him, she would be responsible for millions of souls lost if his reputation was damaged.

Following the release of the report, numerous publishers pulled Zacharias books, while RZIM was forced to restructure and change its name.

In an interview with The Christian Post, bestselling author and pastor Michael Youssef said Zacharias downfall is a sobering reminder that accountability must be a significant pillar of ministry.

Accountability is a word that's almost a dirty word among some of the celebrity preachers, and that's got to come back, he said. Whether a church has 10 members, 100 members or 10,000 members, he must have accountability. This is a word that is lost in todays churches and must be returned to our vocabulary.

New York-based pastor Tim Keller told CP earlier this month that when pastors get to be well-known, the praise can turn their heads, the criticism can prompt self-pity and the overwork can cause them to neglect their prayer life.

For all those reasons, very often, so-called celebrity ministers and figures very often live lives less consistent with the Christian faith than Christians who are not so famous, Keller said.

It's the job of the so-called famous Christians to just live ordinary, good Christian lives, and not overwork and burn out and get filled with self-pity and anger over all the people that are criticizing them. Thats the thing that sets them up for these things where they embezzle money, they have affairs or they do things like that.

While Christian leaders who have not been faithful or responsible with the platform God has given them must be held accountable, Keller stressed their moral failure doesn't mean that the Christian faith doesn't work.

A quack doctor doesn't mean that medicine is illegitimate. A quack evangelist doesn't mean that the Gospel isn't true, he said. So, on one hand, dont make excuses for your heroes. On the other hand, it doesnt mean that everything theyve ever said is illegitimate.
Pastor shares how openly confessing his struggle with same-sex attraction helps him in ministry

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A pastor who struggles with same-sex attraction shared how God has used his experiences to equip him in his ministry and reflected on how the Christian community can best support same-sex attracted individuals in their midst.

During an interview on The Church Leaders podcast, Shaw, the pastor of Emmanuel City Centre in Bristol, England, said the thing that God has most used to make him grasp the Gospel of grace and equip him to be a pastor is his experience with same-sex attraction.

When pastoring somebody who is same-sex attracted, rather than thinking, The thing I need to sort is their sexuality, you know, you want them to become more and more like Jesus. And actually, you need to be open to the possibility that God is going to use their sexuality  to help them become more and more like Jesus, he said.

Shaw serves as the director of Living Out, a ministry that seeks to encourage Christians, equip churches, and engage the world with Gods plan for sexuality and identity. One of the best things pastors and church members can do, he said, is acknowledge that there are people struggling with gender and sexuality in their midst.

For a pastor and for a leadership team in the church, thinking through these issues, one of the first things they need to think through is, we will probably already have people in our midst for whom same-sex attraction, questions around sexuality and gender identity are big things that theyve perhaps never felt able to talk about in the context of an evangelical church, he explained.



According to survey data released by Gallup, one in six Gen Z adults identify as LGBT  the highest percentage of any generation in history  and that number is likely to continue to increase. Additionally, almost half of LGBT adults in the United States are religious, according to a recent report from the UCLA School of Laws Williams Institute.

When it comes to reaching out to the LGBT community, its important to remember that they have a posture of fear toward the Church  and we need to bridge the gap.

A big thing to realize, if you dont realize it already, is just [the LGBT community] will be thinking, You are evangelical Christians; therefore, you hate us.

The Church should also apologize for not reaching out in love and compassion during the height of the AIDS epidemic, Shaw said.

What weve got wrong in the past is allowing there to be a perception that the worst sin possible is gay sex, he said. That theres loads of sins here, but the worst possible sin that anybody could ever commit is having sex with somebody of the same sex. And that  we never get anything particularly significantly wrong, and we are looking down at you, gay people, who have got everything wrong.

We havent actually applied the Gospel to ourselves and to gay communities, he added.

Shaw encouraged other pastors to be open and honest about the sins they struggle with and jump off the pedestal. Like other sins, he said, same-sex attraction shouldn't in and of itself be a disqualification for ministry.

I am trying to live out the biblical sexual ethic, I've tried to do that in response to the Gospel of grace, he said. I am in many ways, in most ways, no different to any other pastor. I'm someone who is struggling with patterns of sin in my life. Im usually being more public and open and honest about them than many pastors are.

I am seeking to live in the light of the Gospel, he added. I believe that God's Word is authoritative. I'm not in a gay relationship; I have no intention of being in a gay relationship. I am seeking to help others in being open and honest about their struggle.

Shaw briefly touched on his own experience with same-sex attraction, explaining that it felt natural as he imagines heterosexuality felt for my peers as they grew up.

One of the big questions Ive often had, and I really struggled with in some stages, was, Well, why have I got this sexuality? Why do I experience sexual desires? Why do I have this capability to love yet cant put it into practice with another man?  When actually, just learning that the most fundamental reason that Im a sexual being, youre a sexual being, you have powerful sexual desires, I have powerful sexual desires, is to help us to grasp, first of all, Gods love for us, he said.

My sexuality is there to help me appreciate Gods love for me. When I feel the strength of sexual desire, Im actually getting just the smallest insight into the strength of Gods love for me.
TD Jakes warns the Church has become 'deaf,' consumed with 'tribalism'

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In an increasingly divided society, Bishop T.D. Jakes has warned that tribalism permeates even the Church of Jesus Christ and is causing it to become deaf to the plight of those beyond its four walls.

I think the first thing we need to do is go on an expedition and go beyond the borders of the safety of our sanctuaries and finally fulfill the Matthew 28:19 commission to go into all the world, Jakes, leader of The Potter's House megachurch based in Dallas, Texas, said on The Edifi Podcast With Billy Hallowell.

But before we teach them, let's listen. Because I think there's a huge disconnect between the sanctuary and the solar orbit that it encircles. And that difference makes a difference in how we approach the Great Commission.

Jakes, who recently released his latest bookDont Drop the Mic: The Power of Words Can Change the World, lamented the tribalism he said is prevalent both in Christian and non-Christian circles.

Tribalism is defined as a strong loyalty to ones own tribe, party, or group.

He said people are supported even by cookies on the phone and everything else to stay in your tribe.

Tribalism always leads to war. Always, the 63-year-old stressed. You have to break down the wall and not build walls between us, but draw circles around us and begin to talk.  Im talking about actually becoming friends with people. It's hard to hate somebody you understand.

Listen: subscribe to The Edifi Podcast With Billy Hallowell.

Drawing from the example of Jesus and other biblical heroes, Jakes stressed the importance of empathy and listening. He warned that if you speak fluently and lose your hearing, your speech will deteriorate down to the level of your hearing.

I think that the Church has become deaf, he said. And in so doing, we're so busy teaching and talking. And we have our lines down pat and our talking points down, [but] we're not listening.

And we have to be listening. We're suffering as a country because we have a Congress, and leadership, and a society that doesn't seem to listen, he added. They're so busy fighting between the right and the left, that they can't hear the people they represent. It seems not to matter what the people think anymore.

The New York Times bestselling author emphasized that change doesnt come from people on TV, but from average people learning to understand one another.

This is our country, not elected officials, not famous people, not rich people. This is our country, he declared. And if we want change, change has to start in our lives rather than becoming angry at what they are doing. It's up to us to make it a better world.  The mic is in your hands. Let your voice be heard. But listen to other people as well.

Jakes is not the only evangelical leader to warn of the dangers of tribalism within the Body of Christ.

In January, Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore warned that the crimes being perpetrated against religious minorities in China and elsewhere rely on tribalism and invisibility where the rest of the world doesn't pay attention.

The way of Jesus Christ says that we pay attention to our neighbor on the side of the road who is persecuted, who is being beaten, he said. So let's pray for  persecuted peoples. Let's pray not just individually, but together, and pray for them by name.

Let's be the people who stand up for whoever is being made invisible, whoever is being intimidated and bullied in our own neighborhoods and in our own communities because we're the people of Jesus Christ.
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.
Americans urged to pray remotely for revival, God's glory on Nat'l Day of Prayer

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On the 69th National Day of Prayer to be observed Thursday, the Southern Baptist Convention is calling on Americans to join in a nationwide, remote prayer gathering for spiritual awakening and revival, and to pray specifically for seven centers of influence.

As the theme for the National Day of Prayer is Pray Gods Glory Across the Earth, SBC is urging Christians to pray for Gods glory into the seven centers of influence: government, military, media & arts, business, education, church and family.

Pray for wisdom (for federal, state and local officials) in all matters related to COVID-19, and the major national and global challenges they address daily. Pray that God will work in them and through them, the prayer guide says. "Ask God for a great spiritual awakening in the United States."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Christian leaders will gather remotely to observe the day on May 7.

SBC President J.D. Greear will lead the online National Day of Prayer and Fasting event Thursday afternoon. The gathering will be streamed live in several places, including the SBC Executive Committees and Baptist Press Facebook pages.

SBC will be hosting another prayer event this week.

The day before the National Day of Prayer, Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, will be joined by Fred Lunsford (a 95-year-old retired pastor and revivalist who started the prayer movement) Greg Mathis (pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville, N.C.), and David Horton (president of Fruitland Baptist Bible College) for Praying on the Mountain, a nationwide remote prayer gathering for spiritual awakening and revival.

Lunsford, Mathis and Horton are among those who have been involved in the effort to gather churches together to pray for a spiritual awakening.

On why he joined the three, Floyd said, As soon as I watched the message on America by Dr. Greg Mathis as well as his compelling interview with 95-year old Pastor Fred Lunsford, I joined the team to pray on May 5th for spiritual awakening in America," according to Baptist Press.

The event, in which more than 100,000 people are expected to pray with Lunsford, will feature an account of how Lunsford initially felt God speaking to him, telling him to pray for revival, and of how Mathis, Horton and others caught the vision.

Two years ago, Lunsford thought it was time for the Lord to take him home, as he had pastored for 70 years, fought World War II and preached at revivals all over the U.S. But God had different plans for his life.

He extended my years for a reason, and He wanted me to pray for spiritual awakening and to get as many people praying as I could, Lunsford said, according to Baptist Press. God spoke into my heart, and I yielded to it. Its not me; its the Lord.

Floyd said that while he has been praying for a spiritual awakening for years, never have I seen a greater moment for this to occur in America than today.
Biden's National Day of Prayer proclamation excludes the word 'God'

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President Joe Bidens proclamation in honor of the National Day of Prayer is facing criticism from conservatives because it does not include the word God.

Biden, a Catholic, issued a presidential proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer Thursday. He invited the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings.

As the president noted, Congress, by Public Law 100-37, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer.

On this National Day of Prayer, we unite with purpose and resolve, and recommit ourselves to the core freedoms that helped define and guide our Nation from its earliest days, the proclamation reads.

We celebrate our incredible good fortune that, as Americans, we can exercise our convictions freely  no matter our faith or beliefs. Let us find in our prayers, however they are delivered, the determination to overcome adversity, rise above our differences, and come together as one Nation to meet this moment in history.

Biden also credited prayer for powering moral movements, including essential rights against racial injustice, child labor, and infringement on the rights of disabled Americans.

Additionally, the president attributed the creation of a Nation of remarkable religious vitality and diversity across the generations to the right of all Americans to pray guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It did not take long for prominent Christian conservatives to realize that Bidens message, released Wednesday, did not include the word God.

By contrast, former President Donald Trumps most recent proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer in 2020 included the word God 11 times. Former President Barack Obamas most recent National Day of Prayer proclamation issued in 2016 featured the word God twice.

Joe Bidens National Day of Prayer Proclamation has been released and it doesnt even mention God once! Christian Broadcasting Network Chief Political Correspondent David Brody commented on Twitter. How do you release a proclamation about prayer and not mention God at all? Of course it mentions climate change & racial justice. Truly, this is pathetic...and not surprising.

Joe Bidens National Day of Prayer Proclamation has been released and it doesnt even mention God once! How do you release a proclamation about prayer and not mention God at all? Of course it mentions climate change & racial justice. Truly, this is pathetic...and not surprising! pic.twitter.com/czOQx3ioHj  David Brody (@DavidBrodyCBN) May 6, 2021

When discussing the role that the healing balm of prayer can play in our lives and in the life of our Nation, Biden addressed the crises and challenges of our time. According to Biden, these challenges include a deadly pandemic, the loss of lives and livelihoods in its wake, a reckoning on racial justice and the existential threat of climate change.

Conservative radio host Todd Starnes, author of the book God Less America, also weighed in on Bidens omission of the word God from his proclamation.

Regarding Bidens godless National Day of Prayer proclamation: The problem with the Democrats is that they dont believe that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, he wrote on Twitter. They believe we are endowed by the government.

Regarding Biden's godless National Day of Prayer proclamation: The problem with the Democrats is that they dont believe that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. They believe we are endowed by the government.  toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) May 6, 2021

Bidens National Day of Prayer Proclamation also did not include any Bible passages.

Trumps 2020 proclamation included a reference to 1 John 5:14, which declares that when we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Bidens proclamation did include a quote from John Lewis, the late congressman and civil rights activist, who described human beings as the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.

The National Day of Prayer was first established in 1952 when President Harry Truman signed into law a joint resolution establishing a National Day of Prayer. Every president since Truman has issued a proclamation recognizing the occasion.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed an amended version of the law establishing the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.

On Thursday night, national faith leaders will join President Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence in participating in a National Day of Prayer celebration hosted by Pray.com.
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Asia-Pacific countries were on high alert on Thursday as India recorded a record 412,262 new COVID-19 cases and 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours.

India's total tally surpassed 21 million and the death toll rose to 230,168, said the health ministry.

This is the second time this month that over 400,000 cases have been registered in a single day in India.

There are still 3,566,398 active cases in the country, with an increase of 79,169 through Wednesday.

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,637 new infections, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,080,172.

The death toll climbed to 17,991 after 191 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

The Philippines, with a population of about 110 million, has tested over 11 million people since the outbreak in January 2020.

The government is closely monitoring all travelers who arrived from India before a travel ban imposed on April 27, especially the five passengers that tested positive for COVID-19.

Thailand registered 1,911 new cases and 18 deaths over the last 24 hours, the country's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said.

Of the new infections, 1,902 were domestic transmissions and nine others were quarantined arrivals, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin told a briefing.

Nearly 30,000 patients are currently hospitalized, putting the country's medical system under pressure.

A total of 76,811 cases and 336 deaths related to COVID-19 have been confirmed in Thailand since the start of the pandemic.

Cambodia confirmed 650 new local cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the national case tally to 17,621 so far, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

Four more fatalities had been reported, raising the death toll to 114, the statement said, adding that 739 patients had recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 6,843.

Meanwhile, the government ended a 21-day blanket lockdown in capital Phnom Penh and its adjacent Ta Khmau city of Kandal province on Thursday.

South Korea reported 574 more cases, raising the total number of infections to 125,519.

Of the new cases, 211 were Seoul residents and 142 were people residing in Gyeonggi province.

Twelve cases were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 8,464.

Four more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 1,851.
Nat'l Day of Prayer to focus on praying for nations physical, mental and spiritual health: Pray.com co-founder

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Following the tumultuous year of 2020, the annual National Day of Prayer event will focus on praying for the restoration of the nations physical, mental and spiritual health.

Pray.com co-founder Matt Potter explained in a Tuesday phone interview with The Christian Post that given the COVID-19 pandemic that swept and destabilized the entire world last year and this year, prayer for such things is especially necessary. The live-streamed event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. This year marks the 70th National Day of Prayer event.

I believe that this year, the power of prayer in our daily lives for the mental, spiritual, and physical health of America is needed more than ever, Potter said.

The Bible says wherever two or three are gathered He is there. We believe the same, and we believe that that can also happen online as we connect through prayer. Lots of people are suffering during this time. We just believe that prayer right now is needed more than ever. People have been cooped up in their homes because of COVID-19 for so long ... prayer is just needed so much. And prayer can change things.

Among the featured leaders and pastors participating in the event include Pastors Ed Young, Samuel Rodriguez and Mark Driscoll, and artists Lecrae and Brook Ligertwood.

Amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic last year, Pray.com hosted a livestream for the National Day of Prayer that received approximately 1 million views. This year the site is partnering with Sirius XM, which has provided a Pray.com platform for the event. It will also be streamed on Direct TV and cross-posted over Facebook pages, reaching millions.

Praying for and with one another creates a unifying effect at a time when our country needs it the most, Potter continued, noting that on his website, they have explored many studies explaining the benefits of prayer.

Praying with and for other people helps strengthen human bonds, the research shows, he said.

And were excited for the opportunity for the National Day of Prayer event to help with the positive impact of prayer.

The National Day of Prayer speakers will share the power of prayer regarding how it can bring about change and the importance of incorporating it into daily life.

What burns in my heart is unity and creating unity within our country, Potter added, noting he is grateful that both past and current presidential administrations are backing the event.

President Joe Biden has signed the National Day of Prayer national proclamation, and former Vice President Mike Pence will appear on Pray.coms NDOP livestream, Potter continued.

Having bipartisan leadership and leaders from different political parties come together to promote the power of prayer and pray for our nation on the national day of Prayer really is a true statement on how prayer can transcend politics and bring us together and unify us as a country, he said.
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.
Texas city withdraws petition to take property from church, ends eminent domain legal battle

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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.

Canaan Baptist Church believes that God gave the Church this property to fulfill its religious mission, said First Liberty Institute Counsel Keisha Russell in a statement.

The church is relieved, and we are grateful that the City made this decision.

Canaan Baptist Pastor Jarvis Baker expressed thanks to God and city officials for the petition being withdrawn.

We praise God that the battle to keep our property is over, Baker said. We are eager to continue using it to minister to the community. We want to thank the City for ending this conflict.

In August 2020, Duncanville filed the petition for condemnation in Dallas County Court, seeking to take control of a vacant property that the congregation acquired in 2002.

Last October, the church filed a motion in Dallas County Court to dismiss the petition, arguing that it interfered with the congregations usage of the lot for religious purposes.

Although the lot was devoid of any permanent buildings, Canaan Baptist nevertheless regularly held outdoor events at the property, including worship and charitable giveaways.

Before the petitions filing, the congregation had plans to make the lot its central ministry and worship space.

In an interview with CP at the time, Russell explained that Duncanvilles petition had to comport with the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In this case, the law requires the city to prove that it has no choice but to burden the churchs religious exercise because there is no other property the city can use for its purposes, said Russell. The city cannot prove this because it has many other property options."

Canaan Baptist is a small congregation founded in 1969 and ministers to the South Dallas community. Events held at the vacant lot include clothing drives, youth activity days and movie nights.

In its motion to dismiss the citys petition, lawyers claimed that the church plans to construct a house of worship on the Property. Additionally, the motion argued that the churchs desire to expand its ministry to those within the community from a centrally-located and heavily trafficked location, are unequivocally motivated by its members sincerely held religious beliefs.

At the time, the city argued that it owned property adjacent to the undeveloped lot and developed plans for a fire station to be constructed at that location.

According to the First Liberty Institute, the citys withdrawal comes as it recently began to pursue other property options.
Where is the Church amidst the chaos of the ungodly

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Last month, in two high-profile police shootings, two armed individuals were fatally shot, and once again, the harshest criticism came against the police rather than the perpetrators.

Every day police officers have only seconds to make life or death decisions about threats to public safety, and they do not have the luxury of carefully deliberating other options. In one instance, the officer was placed on administrative leave for using his firearm even though the suspect was armed and was trying to outrun the police. In the other case, the officer fatally shot the teenager poised to drive a knife into another person.

Both the media and some politicians were quick to blame the police and reignite the passion for defunding police departments across the U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib went so far as to public comment on Twitter that "policing in our country is inherently and intentionally racist. No more policing, incarceration, it can't be reformed."[1] Regarding the knife-wielding teenager, the media hosted numerous experts to explain how de-escalation tactics should have been used since the young lady was a product of the foster care system and could not self-regulate her emotions.[2]

In my two decades of experience training and consulting for both local and federal law enforcement on building early intervention programs for potential terrorists, if there was a real and credible threat of violence by an individual, other forms of intervention were immediately ruled out. The clear line of demarcation between community actors such as health care professionals and the police was when a person posed a physical threat to society. Multidisciplinary teams that can de-escalate a crisis are not utilized when there is a violent crime in progress. If the use of deadly force, carrying a weapon with the intent to use it, is no longer the standard for the role of law enforcement, chaos ensues.

God sets up a standard for man of prohibiting violence and loving one's neighbor as yourself, as well as equity and justice for all in the sight of God. We are taught forgiveness and compassion towards our enemies and that vengeance belongs to the Lord. Our rule of law and respect for authority are based on these Biblical principles. Without a moral standard based on Biblical values, morality becomes relative. Some claim that violence is justified to destroy systematic oppression or personal grievances, as we see in these cases and when the rioting breaks out in cities across the U.S. At the same time, others decry the violence when their business is burned, or their home is attacked. Law and order will continue to decline if the use of violence is morally justified based on competing versions of social justice.[3]

The most tragic aspect of this rise in moral relativism is that the church is almost entirely absent from the national dialogue. There are competing voices from conservative pundits and the liberal media, but we hear very little from the pulpit condemning the violence. Very few pastors are speaking and writing publicly to denounce the degradation of our societal norms. There are no national calls of repentance and asking the Lord to intervene for His people.

Moses demanded Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, Elijah destroyed the prophets of Baal during the reign of King Ahab, and Daniel refused to bow in worship to King Nebuchadnezzar. God's elect always spoke truth to power when the power went against God's will for man. The Bible is not a series of fairytales. It is God's living word to be used for instruction and teaching.[4] God's people can't sit idly by when lawlessness, evil, and violence run rampant. Under the new covenant with Christ, we no longer go to a physical building of a temple. Our bodies are the temple[5] of God, yet, the importance of repentance and prayer to God is timeless and applicable today. For example, we can use as guidance the Prayer of Solomon 2 Chronicles: 6:12-42 honoring God, repenting, and asking for blessing upon the land. It says [in part]:

Lord my God, give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

.When they sin against youfor there is no one who does not sinand you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy...and if they have a change of heart in the land... and repent and plead with you...and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul.then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

In American history, George Washington and the founding fathers found strength in the preachers of the day who encouraged them to fight against the tyranny of the British. They believed it was a calling on their lives to set up a nation under God and the church was there to support them from the pulpit.[6] It was the little-known black robe regiment that provided the prayer and the word of God to support the revolution, not to mention soldiers who fought alongside them[7]. The freedoms we enjoy today exist largely due to their support to the politicians who enshrined those beliefs in the nation's founding documents. Where is that regiment today?

The problem with the church, in many cases, is allegiances and alliances that are against God. Whether it is setting up false gods of fame and popularity or being afraid to confront the ungodly trends of the day, we are divided against ourselves. Jesus warns that a "city or house divided against itself, will not stand."[8] So, if we are unwilling to defend the truth of the Gospel, we may find ourselves irreparably lost like past generations until the remnant intercedes in a way that the Lord accepts[9]. As the Apostle Paul so passionately says:

"and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel."[10]

[1] https://twitter.com/RashidaTlaib/status/1381745303997534216

[2] https://www.vox.com/22406055/makhia-bryant-police-shooting-columbus-ohio

[3] https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/03/us/us-crime-rate-rise-2020/index.html

[4] 2 Timothy 3:16

[5] 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

[6] https://calvarycch.org/god-in-america/

[7] https://nationalblackroberegiment.com/history-of-the-black-robe-regiment/

[8] Matthew 12:22-28

[9] Romans 11:5

[10] Ephesians 6:19
Christian groups praise Biden raising refugee resettlement cap: Blessing to our communities Biden vows to set 2022 resettlement cap of 125K refugees

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President Joe Biden announced Monday that he is raising the United States refugee resettlement ceiling in a move that contrasts with the Trump administration's immigration policies, drawing praise from faith-based refugee advocacy organizations.

In the announcement posted by the White House, Biden noted that the resettlement cap will increase from the historical low of 15,000 refugees to a goal of 62,500 refugees resettled in the U.S. during the fiscal year 2021.

Biden believes that former President Donald Trumps decreased cap for the current fiscal year and previous years did not reflect Americas values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees.

The new admissions cap will also reinforce efforts that are already underway to expand the United States capacity to admit refugees, so that we can reach the goal of 125,000 refugee admissions that I intend to set for the coming fiscal year, stated Biden.

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, and who are anxiously waiting for their new lives to begin.

The announcement was a turnaround from earlier reports that indicated that Biden was going to maintain Trump's resettlement limit of 15,000 refugees for the duration of the fiscal year 2021.

The following pages include the reactions to the announcement by four Christian organizations, including those that specialize in helping immigrants and refugees.
'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.
Pro-life group celebrates 20,000 babies' lives saved from abortion; over 4,000 during pandemic

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A pro-life organization recently celebrated the milestone of rescuing 20,000 preborn babies from abortion since its launch. Over one-fifth of the lives were saved last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human Coalition, a leading pro-life organization that seeks to rescue abortion-determined mothers and their children from abortion, saved its first preborn child from abortion on June 22, 2010, and saved 14 more babies in that year.

Over a decade later, over 20,000 children have life because of Human Coalitions intervention in the lives of women seriously considering abortion, and the organization has served over 214,000 women and families.

During the pandemic in 2020, Human Coalition provided a variety of services to 44,131 women and celebrated 4,150 life decisions made by mothers considering abortion who instead chose life for their preborn children.

Jeff Bradford, president of Human Coalition, told The Christian Post in an interview that when the pandemic hit, the organization already had technology in place to allow its operations to continue, which was a Godsend.

Because the organization had already explored virtual and telecare options in 2018, it was able to adjust at a time when many organizations were forced to shut down during the lockdowns.

We were able to [continue to] minister to women and just save lives, which was amazing, Bradford said.

The organization also shifted all of their nurses online within a weekend.

When the pandemic hit, because were a technology-driven company, we were able to move very quickly into a virtual model with all of our brick-and-mortar clinics, Bradford said.

The virtual telecare model allowed them to serve a greater volume of women and is often more comfortable for the woman seeking help during a vulnerable time.

This generation and this age of women, 18 to 24, are very comfortable using telecare and are used to that model, he explained. And so ... many are even more comfortable with the [discreet aspect] that you have on a call versus showing up in a brick-and mortar-clinic.

Using the telecare model also decreased the time and barriers in making an appointment, he explained.

We also were able to get twice as many women through the doors than we were in the traditional brick-and-mortar model, and it really breaks down geographic and transportation issues, he said. So we are able to serve a much broader client, get them in faster because were counseling them immediately and not having to wait days before they show up.

Human Coalition has seven brick-and-mortar Womens Care Clinics in Cleveland, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh, Raleigh and Charlotte. It also offers two exclusive Telecare Womens Clinics staffed with nurses and social workers.

The organization works to show women that abortion is not the only option, contrary to what the abortion industry tells them, through connecting them with help, counseling, resources and a continuum of care.

Since the pandemic, the factors that go into a mother's decision to keep her child are more difficult with the increased anxiety, uncertainty, isolation and job loss due to ongoing government-mandated lockdowns in many states.

[The mother's] outlook is not what it was pre-pandemic, and so her situation has gotten even tougher, he added.

For abortion-determined women, choosing life requires courage, Bradford stressed.

[Choosing life for her child] is one of the most courageous and brave things a woman can do because you know these women are in tough situations and what we do is help empower them [in what] Gods created them to do, Bradford said.

So they just sometimes need somebody to stand in the gap and help them a little bit, these are incredibly courageous, brave and capable women who would choose life and really make a choice for the childs life, but ultimately for theirs as well, he continued.

As Mothers Day approaches on Sunday, the Human Coalition is celebrating that many more children will be able to celebrate their moms because of their life-saving ministry.

Imagine all the moms who will get to celebrate Mothers Day with their child in just a few days. Imagine all the families who will get to make a lifetime of memories together. Imagine all the boys and girls who will grow up, attend school, play sports, celebrate holidays, and could go on to have children of their own one day, Bradford said in a statement. We thank God for using Human Coalition to help save preborn children and to provide resources, services and hope to women in need.

Bradford said Human Coalition fervently believes ending abortion is possible.

As the organization moves forward, it will continue to support vulnerable women, rescue children from abortion and restore culture to one that values life, he said.
Canadian dad jailed for objecting to teen daughter taking testosterone is released on bail

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A Canadian father who was jailed after breaking a gag order for publicly objecting to his trans-identifying teenage daughter being prescribed testosterone has been released.

Robert Hoogland of British Columbia was sentenced to six additional months in jail last month after he decided to break a court order that forbade him from identifying himself publicly, voicing his objections to his teenage daughter taking testosterone. Hoogland, who is referred to as "CD" in court documents, was released on bail with several conditions.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal granted Hoogland's application to be released on bail pending the hearing of his appeal on the six months jail sentence that was handed down last month following his entering of a guilty plea to criminal contempt of court.

Sources close to the matter told The Christian Post on Saturday that the terms and conditions of his bail stipulate that he keep the peace and be of good behavior, maintain his employment and remain within the province of British Columbia. Hoogland must also surrender his travel document, pursue the appeal, and abide by the orders that have been made in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in his case.

He is not permitted to directly or indirectly through a third party, publish, broadcast or transmit any information that could disclose his daughter's gender identity, physical and mental health, medical status or treatments of her identity, himself or her mother, and the identities of several other individuals that are relevant to the case. The terms also stipulate that he is to show up at the sheriff's office at the Law Courts in Vancouver on Nov. 1 or on the date that is set for his conviction appeal, whichever comes first.

Sources told CP that Rebel News Network has filed an application for all the parties in the case to vacate the media ban on Hoogland and various aspects of the litigation. This application will be heard in Vancouver Supreme Court in June before Justice Michael Tammen, the same justice that handed down Hoogland's sentence. Hoogland reportedly supports Rebel News' application.

The Canadian father's plight has been among the more visible cases amid increasing scrutiny of the medicalization of gender in minors (the prescribing of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones) worldwide.

On Tuesday, the Texas state Senate approved a bill that would ban genital mutilation surgeries, cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for youth younger than 18. The bill has now moved to the House Calendars Committee, where it's "making the rounds" among its 11 members who decide which bills will go to the floor for consideration, The Christian Post was told Monday.

Similar legislation was recently adopted in neighboring Arkansas. A handful of other states are considering similar bills.

The legislative push in Texas has emerged, in part, because of the plight of James Younger, a young boy whose mother is intent on chemically transitioning him to look like a girl and name him Luna, despite the objections of his father, Jeff Younger. The pending legislation in the Lone Star state is colloquially known as the "Save James" bill.

The bitter custody battle over the boy  who was 7 years old when the ordeal first began  and his medical care made national headlines in the fall of 2019. A court hearing in the ongoing dispute was scheduled for April 23 but was delayed until early July. Sources say that Jeff Younger might face a similar fate as Hoogland has in light of the legal dynamics of the case.

Curators of the "Save James" Facebook page, which was set up by friends of Younger, said last month that lawyers for Younger's ex-wife intend to argue that Younger should be stripped of his parental rights, lose the ability to be notified when his ex-wife makes medical or psychological decisions for James and his twin brother, Jude, be imprisoned for six months, placed on probation for 10 years, have reduced custody of the boys, and pay for all attorneys' fees.

For his part, Hoogland, the father in Canada, has maintained throughout his ordeal that his daughter's long-term health is in danger, given the lasting effects of cross-sex hormones on the female body. His daughter is said to be 15 years old.

She can never go back to being a girl in the healthy body that she should have had. Shes going to forever have a lower voice. Shell forever have to shave because of facial hair. She wont be able to have children, he said in a gag order-breaking exclusive interview with the Federalist last year.

One of the known effects of higher-level testosterone use in females is the loss of fertility.

Sometimes I just want to scream so that other parents and people will  jump in, understand whats going on.






Police lock Ontario church for violating COVID-19 restrictions after court injunction Pastor says church faces over $40M in fines

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A judge in Ontario, Canada, has allowed authorities to temporarily lock the doors of a church that has refused to follow provincial restrictions on gatherings aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The attorney generals office for Ontario had police lock the doors of Trinity Bible Chapel of Waterloo through next Saturday to prevent in-person worship services.

The move came as part of a temporary injunction against the chapel in which Justice John Krawchenko concluded that closing the church was a matter of public safety.

The risk of irreparable harm would be too great to ignore, said Krawchenko, as reported by the CTV News. The only way to ensure compliance is to lock the doors to the building, but not to their ministry.

Pastor Jacob Reaumepublished a blog entry to the churchs website last Friday in response to the decision.

Today, a court granted the Province of Ontario the authority to take our facility, at least until next Saturday, with the option of trying to get it for longer by going to court once again this coming week, he wrote. For some of those eleven months in our facility, we have met in contravention of provincial dictates. We have participated in what the public health people consider high risk behaviour, namely the millennia old tradition of gathering weekly to worship our Creator.

The pastor noted that his congregation had only been in the building for less than a year.

They took our building because they think that will stop us from worshipping, Reaume stated. For twenty years our church has worshipped together each Lords Day, and weve only met in our own building for eleven months.

So the best part of our history we have not owned a building, he continued. We managed just fine to gather together without our own building, and now we dont have our own building again.

Reaume claimed that while COVID-19 can be dangerous, our experience doesnt line up with the hysteria whipped up by government and media about the dangers of gathering in person.

Not one of our pastors has ever buried someone who has died of COVID. We have around 600,000 people who live in this region. There are 588 active cases of COVID in the region, with 32 people in the ICU with COVID, he wrote.

Thats enough to deem the public worship of Jesus Christ dangerous and enough for the Province of Ontario to kick us off our land and bar our doors shut.

Kitchener Today reports that Trinity Bible held services online last Sunday.

Last year, all six elders of Trinity Bible were charged with violating local restrictions on in-person worship stemming from a service held at the church on Dec. 27.

The church elders were accused of violating Section 10.1 of the Reopening Ontario Act, which limited the number of people allowed to attend in-person worship to 10.

Earlier this year, Trinity Bible was reportedly fined $83,000 for continuing to hold in-person services that defied the provincial restrictions on worship gatherings.

In his blog post Friday, Reaume stated that he has lost track of how many charges the church has been hit with for continually violating COVID-19 gathering restrictions.

"Combined we are facing over $40 million in fines with jail time," he wrote. "Thats not enough, so theyve taken our building."

According to Ontarios website on public health measures, accessed Monday, religious gatherings indoors or outdoors cannot have more than 10 people. Attendees are required to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing.

Failure to adhere to gathering restrictions can result in organizers being fined $10,000, each attendee getting a $750 ticket, and possible temporary closure of the premises.

If a police officer or other provincial offences officer has reason to suspect that you are participating in an organized public event or social gathering, they may require you to provide information to ensure you are complying with restrictions, the website explained.

This additional enforcement tool will only be in effect during the Stay-at-Home order.

Trinity Bible is one of many churches in Ontario legally challenging the provincial restrictions, arguing that the measures violate their freedom to worship.

Represented by the Calgary, Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, an earlier attempt by authorities to lock the churchs doors was denied by a judge.
Embassy spokesperson regrets India's denial of Chinese telecom companies to conduct 5G trials

Xinhua) 13:47, May 06, 2021

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.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Preacher arrested for preaching biblical marriage from Genesis on a London street Elderly pastor initially refuses arrest, arguing his free speech rights

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A Christian street pastor was arrested last month for causing alarm and distress in London for preaching about the biblical definition of marriage being between one man and one woman from Genesis 1.

Pastor John Sherwood, the 71-year-old minister of the Penn Free Methodist Church in north London, was reportedly approached by police officers in the northwest London town of Uxbridge on April 23 while preaching on the final verses of Genesis 1. He allegedly stated that God designed families to have a mother and a father and not two parents of the same gender.

Pastor Peter Simpson, who was preaching alongside Sherwood, shared about the arrest in a blog for The Conservative Woman. He explained the need to raise awareness of how police in Great Britain are clamping down on the freedom of Christians to proclaim in public places the teachings of the Scriptures.

He said preaching the Gospel together in public is something the two pastors often do.

Police approached Sherwood and said three complaints had been received about his preaching and accused him of causing alarm and distress to members of the public.

Another police officer spoke to Simpson and explained the need to avoid any homophobic statements to avoid offending people, even though there is no law protecting people from being offended.

I responded that the police would have no objection whatsoever to a Pride parade being held in Uxbridge, yet that would be highly offensive to Bible-believing Christians, Simpson wrote. The officer did not appear to appreciate the logic behind this argument.

Police officers urged Sherwood to come down from a step ladder he was preaching from as he respectfully informed police he has freedom of speech and people have the freedom to ignore him and continue walking if they disagree with his statements, Simpson wrote.

Sherwood resumed preaching and spoke of the precious right to freedom of speech, which is traced back to the Magna Carta in 1215 and the Bill of Rights in 1689. Onlookers again accused him of making homophobic statements and hate speech.

Sherwood initially refused the arrest and argued he was engaged in lawful activity and had not committed a crime, Simpson said.

A video recorded by someone in the crowd showed Sherwood shaking his head at the officer, refusing to come down from the small step ladder.

The officers proceeded to pull the 71-year-old pastor down from the ladder as he resisted arrest and seemingly lunged at an officer as multiple officers handcuffed him and arrested him.

A lady in the crowd was heard saying, its a Christian country, let him speak, while Simpson noted that others in the crowd had accused him of hate speech.

Sherwood stayed overnight at a police detention center and was released around noon the next day after being detained around 21 hours.

This arrest of a faithful minister for doing nothing other than declaring what the Bible teaches about one of the important moral issues of our time reveals a dangerous assault upon freedom of speech and, not least, upon the freedom of Christian pastors to declare in public all that the Bible teaches, Simpson wrote. The State has no right to designate that some parts of Gods word are no-go areas.

Whatever ones personal views on homosexuality might be, it is surely pertinent to ask what kind of nation have we become that the minister of a Christian church is arrested for upholding in the public square the very truths which Her Majesty the Queen promised to uphold in her Coronation Oath in 1953, with a Bible in her hand? Simpson continued.

A file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which may mean further action will be taken, Premier Christian News reported.

"A number of other people also approached the officers with concerns about the man's language, a spokesperson for the Met Police told the outlet.

"Officers spoke with the 71-year-old man and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act."

The pastors arrest comes less than two years after a 64-year-old Nigerian street preacher was awarded 2,500 (over $3,000) in damages from British authorities due to false arrest, imprisonment and unlawful detention after he was accused of hate speech and his Bible was confiscated by police in February 2019.
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.












From Paris to New York  via Tahiti: how Patek Philippe gave us all the time in the world

Ahead of major watch auctions in Hong Kong and Geneva, horological writer Bill Prince charts the evolution of Pateks World Time complication  one of the most innovative and highy prized of all time

If necessity is the mother of invention, then paternity in the case of the World Time watch is a matter of dispute. Those responsible could include Samuel Morse or Alexander Graham Bell, whose advances in wireless telegraphy sufficiently shrank the globe in the mid-19th century as to require a move to standardised or universal time. The midwife, however, was without doubt the Scottish-Canadian railway engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, whose interest in the smooth running of locomotive timetables led to the establishment of 24 internationally recognised time zones in 1884. After which the race was on to create a complication that could display, as well as switch between, all 24 time zones, a feat that ultimately defeated Swiss watchmaker Emmanuel Cottier, but was eventually achieved 40 years later by his son, Louis. Cottiers work was explored by others, but it was with Patek Philippe that he collaborated to refine his invention, starting with the Ref. 515 HU (denoting Universal Hours) in 1937, and eventually progressing to the iconic two crown Ref. 2523, produced between 1953 and 1965. An entirely new calibre was introduced in 2000 in the Ref. 5110, updated in 2006 and 2008 in Refs. 5130 and 5131 respectively.

The World Time represents Patek Philippes ability to attract the best craftsmen to make the best products  specialist Remi Guillemin

Today, Cottiers fiendishly simple solution to showing the worlds time is highly prized by collectors, says Christies Geneva watch specialist Remi Guillemin: Vintage pieces from Patek Philippes World Time complications are the ones that tend to bring the most at auction. By way of example, Guillemin cites the platinum Ref. 1415 HU of 1946 (below), offered on 22 May at Christies in Hong Kong. When it last sold, in 2002, it achieved CHF6,603,500, making it at the time the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction.

Since the beginning, Patek Philippes philosophy has been to make the best watch possible, adds the specialist, with the finest movement, the finest quality cases, the finest dials. The World Time represents Patek Philippes ability to attract the best craftsmen to make the best products. Produced for a New York client and housed in a rectangular, Art Deco case reflective of the era, the Heures Universelles (Ref. 515) of 1937 established the principle on which all future World Time Patek Philippes would work: an outer display imprinted on the dial shows the names of cities, against which a 24-hour disc linked to the hour hand travels at half-speed anti-clockwise to display the local time in each territory.

However, it is with the 37mm dress (or pocket) watch, Ref. 605 HU, that we see the judicious fusion of quality, beauty and function on which the brand built its reputation. In all, 95 pieces were produced between 1939 and 1964 under the supervision of Cottier, which extended to the design of the hands, characterised by the use of a circular-cut hour hand and a dagger-form minute hand, a style still in evidence today. A World Time watch from 1944 (above), in 18k gold and engraved with the coat of arms of American industrialist Henry Graves Jr. (of Supercomplication fame), is offered in Rare Watches on 10 May in Geneva, alongside an example (below) manufactured four years later, featuring a cloisonne enamel dial depicting the North American continent, one of only four in 18k pink gold to do so.

The emblematic layout of the Ref. 605 HUs tripartite dial may have proved harder to replicate in wristwatches, as the first series-produced World Time wristwatch, Ref. 1415 of 1939, used instead a unidirectional bezel engraved with 28 cities (later rising to 42) on its 31mm case. After 1948, small numbers of the Ref. 1415 were offered with cloisonne enamel dials; and this month Christies Hong Kong is offering one of only two examples in pink gold depicting the Old World or Vieux Continents on its dial (below). Patek Philippe advertised Cottiers world-shrinking creation as ideal for the man whose interests go beyond the horizon, arguing that for men with international interests, it is indispensable.

With the emerging jet age, a new, more streamlined model was produced: 1953s Ref. 2523, with its distinctive two crowns, one for setting the hands, the other to advance the outermost ring inscribed with the reference cities  now usefully housed within the case. Further refinements came in 1957, with the more ergonomically styled Ref. 2523/1. The unique 1965 example below, offered on 22 May in Hong Kong, features luminous hands and a yellow gold bracelet. Besides their technical complexity, aesthetic appeal and great rarity, Patek Philippes World Time references offer collectors a fascinating glimpse into the geopolitical as well as the horological past. The places cited on these watches were apt to change depending on the travelling proclivities of their owners, or by dint of a citys arrival onto  or disappearance from  the global stage. Idiosyncrasies abound. For example, despite the fact that Paris switched to Central European Time (CET) in 1940, some post-war dials continued to show it sitting on the Meridian line alongside London, suggesting either a surfeit of unused bezels or an unheeded call for Paris to rejoin GMT.

Perhaps aware that playing catch-up with world events was far less interesting than presenting new product, Patek Philippe ceased production of the Ref. 2523 in 1965, by which time a simplified two-time-zone movement designed by Louis Cottier, dubbed the Travel Time, had been in production for 15 years. It would be another 35 years before the World Time reference would reappear, by which time Patek Philippe was challenging the rise of quartz by concentrating on mechanical timepieces that reflected its commitment to slenderness, dependability and aesthetics. Launched in 2000, the all-new Ref. 5110 may have alluded to the past with its concentric dial and refined 37mm case, but it came fitted with a new automatic 240 calibre and featured the patented clutch system used to advance the Travel Time mechanism.

For the first time, travellers were able to change their reference time zone by using the single pusher at 10 oclock, which advanced the hour hand whilst simultaneously moving both the 24-hour and city discs  all without disturbing the accuracy of the minute hand. Following the recent sale of a circa-2002 platinum piece with two-tone dial (above) in Rare Watches New York: Online, an elegant example in pink gold dating from 2001 (below) will be offered in Geneva. Featuring a silvered dial and guilloche centre, it carries an estimate of CHF11,000-17,000.

In 2006 the Ref. 5110 was replaced by the Ref. 5130, with an increased 39.5mm case size. In 2008 the Ref. 5131 saw the reintroduction of cloisonne enamel dials, with a letter appended to denote the territory depicted (J for Atlantic region, G for Europe/Asia and R for Pacific).

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A 25-year-old woman from Mali surprisingly gave birth to nine babies on Tuesday, the BBC reports.

With assistance from the West African country's government, Halima Cisse was flown out to Morocco, where she received specialist care and shocked doctors by delivering nonuplets by Caesarian section. Doctors had reportedly only detected seven babies during a scan.

"I'm very happy," Cisse's husband, Adjudant Kader Arby, told the network. "My wife and the babies [five girls and four boys] are doing well."

Related: What Accommodations Must Be Made for a Pregnant Employee?

During her pregnancy, Cisse had become somewhat of a local celebrity in Mali, Reuters notes. Doctors, however, were concerned about her babies' chances of survival, leading to government intervention. Cisse first spent two weeks at a hospital in Mali's capital, Bamako, before she was moved to Morocco on March 30, Mali's health minister Fanta Siby said, according to the BBC.

"God gave us these children," Arby, who already shares an older daughter with Cisse, told the network. "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."

Thirty-three-year-old Nadya Suleman currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered at birth to survive after giving birth to eight babies in the U.S. in 2009. There have been previously recorded cases in which two women  one in Australia and one in Malaysia  gave birth to nonuplets, but none of the babies reportedly survived after a few days.

Cisse and her nine babies are expected to return home in several weeks, according to the BBC.

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State Rep. Brooks Landgrafs radioactive nuclear waste bill appears headed back to the House Environmental Regulation Committee.

The state of Texas reported the bill  House bill 2692  was postponed Tuesday and then on Wednesday a point of order was sustained. It was then reported that the bill will be recommitted to committee, according to the Legislature Online website.

It is eligible to return if the point of order is cured in committee. It remains to be seen if there is time in the session for that to take place.

The bill has been a struggle for the Odessa Republican and its backers in Andrews County. Last week, the Republican Party of Texas called HB 2692  a BAD BILL on its official party Twitter account. Previously, state Rep. Tom Craddick of Midland and Tommy Taylor of Fasken Oil and Ranch publicly opposed the passage of the legislation.

Landgrafs office hasnt responded to an email sent Wednesday morning about HB 2692 and the opposition by those in the Permian Basin to its passage.

Landgraf of Odessa co-authored the bill that would ban the storage and disposal of high-level nuclear waste away from civilian nuclear power plants or university research reactors in Texas. A proposal from Waste Control Specialists to expand their existing nuclear waste site in Andrews County to store high-level waste would be impacted by the bill.

Craddick earlier in the session sent a letter to the Environmental Regulation Committee that stated the bill muddies the waters between a tax cut for a specific vendor and the issue of high-level radioactive waste storage in Texas. Taylor spoke in opposition of the bill before it was voted out of committee, 6-2.
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.
"Selena: The Series" on Netflix debuted its second season of the popular limited series Tuesday, but Selena isn't the only Texas singer that gets some recognition this season.

BUILDING HER LEGACY: New Selena photography from a Texas artist showcased in Smithsonian

Episode 7 of the series highlights a brief interaction at the mall between a young girl and Selena. Selena is shopping with her family, and the young girl is seen walking with her mother and sister through the mall. Fans don't realize who she is until after the woman, playing Tina Knowles, says Beyonce's name.

Despite the over-dramatization of the scene in the show, this is a real event that actually happened, and Beyonce has talked about it before.

But the scene in the episode is largely overdone for a few different reasons. Firstly, when Queen Bey speaks about how this actually happened in real life, she mentions how they met in passing at the Galleria mall, here in Houston. The scene is seemingly set at some outdoor outlet mall.

"I did actually meet Selena in The Galleria mall in Houston. But I didn't say much to Selena because I wasn't a celebrity. I just saw her and said hello and kept it moving," Beyonce says in the interview.

OTHER SELENA SERIES MISSES: Netflix's Selena series mistakenly gives shout out to Houston's Riff Raff

Secondly, I had a huge issue with the casting of the girls selected to play a young Beyonce and Solange. If you check any of their younger photos as kids, production could've done a better job portraying exactly what they looked like. It was the '90s  these girls had sleek perms courtesy of Tina, the hairdresser. In the show, the sister duo is seen sporting big bodacious curls.

Courtesy Netflix

Thirdly and probably the most important note of the scene, is that Beyonce is in awe when she sees Selena, so much so that she tells Tina to "be quiet." The reality of that happening is just slim to none.

A LOOK BACK: Celebrating Beyonce's 'Lemonade' 5 years later

I'm grateful that the producers of "Selena: The Series" chose to include such an iconic Texas moment, but if you do so, I ask that you try to be more accurate. I believe it does the series a disservice when there's actual information that can be used to help set the scene and cast the actors.

Many fans seem to agree, as they shared a similar sentiment.

One user says, "this seems like the only look Hollywood shows for black girls and young women." Another user mentions how it's gravely inaccurate for Beyonce to have told her mother to be quiet  "What child gonna tell their Black mother to 'be quiet,' and live to tell the story?"

Netflix truly missed the mark with this one. Casting and wardrobe aside, the scene felt very forced and dramatized. Better luck next time, Netflix.
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.
Midland County is joining the rest of the state in gradually and carefully preparing for the next phase of the pandemic.

Last week, the State of Michigan's "Return-to-Office" workgroup provided Gov. Gretchen Whitmer their recommendations for how employers can begin to plan a safe, phased reopening of offices.

The workgroup, established on March 15, consists of business, labor and public health experts, stated a press release.

Workers and their safety are our top priority, stated Michigan COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan. We have taken a proactive approach to listen and collect feedback from a wide array of stakeholders, as we try to address challenges and concerns of employers who are looking to align their reopen plans with health guidance and safety rules.

The workgroups recommendations included: the reduction of office density; daily health screenings, including staggering entry times to avoid congregation at screening checkpoints; establishing quarantine, isolation and testing guidelines to ensure policy clearly articulates the ability of employees to quarantine/isolate/test without risk of job loss; and the establishment of a return policy that allows employees with caregiving obligations to continue remote work regardless of the cohort group returning.

"I certainly appreciate this group working through this process," said Tony Stamas, Midland Business Alliance president and CEO. "It's a challenging time -- dealing with something there really isn't a blueprint for."

Regarding vaccines, employers are advised to provide up-to-date information to employees, as well as links to vaccination sites/sign-up information.

"Our local employers want to make sure they're keeping their customers and employees safe," Stamas said. "The guidelines are helpful in terms of giving information."

Stamas said it is important to provide businesses with clear and concise advice as the state slowly begins reopening.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has unblocked on Twitter the nine Texans who sued him after they say they were unconstitutionally blocked for criticizing him or his policies on the social media platform.

In a lawsuit filed in April, a group of Texans said being blocked from viewing Paxtons tweets from his @KenPaxtonTX account was a violation of the First Amendment because it limited the rights of people to participate in a public forum and access statements made by the public official.

READ ALSO: Ken Paxton says he doesn't support Greg Abbott for reelection - then tweets that he does

The ACLU of Texas and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University represented the Texans in their lawsuit. According to their statements from a Thursday press release, Paxton has unblocked the nine Texans in the ongoing lawsuit challenging Paxtons practice of blocking critics from his Twitter account.

Paxton has also blocked many other individuals from the @KenPaxtonTX account based on their viewpoints, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs had asked Paxton to unblock them and everyone else who was blocked from the @KenPaxtonTX account based on their viewpoints, but its unclear if people not named in the lawsuit have been unblocked.

Lyndsey Wajert, a legal fellow with the Knight First Amendment Institute, said while Paxton has unblocked the nine Texans, the case has not been dismissed.

Paxtons office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Katie Fallow, a senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, said multiple courts have recognized that government officials who use their social media accounts for official purposes violate the First Amendment if they block people from those accounts on the basis of their viewpoints.

READ ALSO: Twitter sues Texas AG Ken Paxton, asks court to halt his investigation

Were pleased that attorney general Paxton has agreed to unblock our plaintiffs in this lawsuit and are hopeful that he will do the same for anyone else he has blocked from his Twitter account simply because he doesnt like what they have to say, Fallow said in a statement.

Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas, said the ruling is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether Paxton will unblock other Texans. She said it shouldn't take a lawsuit for Paxton to comply with the Constitution.

Attorney General Paxton cannot prevent Texans from exercising their First Amendment rights, including their right to criticize his policies and qualifications in their responses to his tweets, Huddleston said in a statement.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
San Antonians not yet registered to vote, but who want to cast their ballot in the citys runoff election next month, have until the end of the day to get their matters in order.

The deadline to register to vote in the June 5 election is Thursday, May 6, meaning that locals dont have much time. Locals wanting to perform their civic duty can register online through an easy form backed by MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan grassroots organization aiming to increase voter turnout among underrepresented youth communities.

Residents will have to fill out the online form with their name, address and date of birth on the organizations website. Not only will the form allow residents to register, but it will also confirm whether you are already registered, in case its been awhile since youve last visited the polls.

RELATED: San Antonio Election Results

Heres what local residents should know about the runoff election.

District 1

Longtime Councilman Roberto Trevino will go head-to-head with challenger Mario Bravo after the two were frontrunners in the six-candidate race. This term would be Trevinos last eligible one as he has held the seat since 2014. Bravo previously campaigned for Bexar County Commissioner, but lost out to Paul Elizondo. In the May 1 election, Trevino led with 44.9 percent of the vote, while Bravo secured 33.6 percent.

District 2

Incumbent Jada Andrews-Sullivan will need to head to the runoff election to hold on to her seat. She secured 16.8 percent of all votes, while challenger Jalen McKee-Rodriguez pulled ahead with 26.4 percent. The two were leaders in the 12-candidate race. This would be Andrews-Sullivans second term. In 2019, the District 2 race also led to a runoff, in which Andrews-Sullivan came out over Keith Toney.

District 3

With incumbent Rebecca Viagran having served the maximum terms, twelve candidates ran to lead the citys largest City Council district. Among them and heading to the runoff is Phyllis Viagran, the incumbents sister, who received 22 percent of votes. Shell go up against Tomas Uresti, who had 14.7 percent of votes, in the runoff. Uresti is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and older brother of Carlos Uresti. The younger Uresti previously served in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, before resigning from the latter after being found guilty in his role of a Ponzi scheme.

District 5

Incumbent Shirley Gonzales has also maxed out of her terms in office, meaning a large number of candidates were vying for her seat  11 candidates to be exact. Teri Castillo and Rudy Lopez will face off in the June 5 election. Castillo led the pack with 30.7 percent of votes while Lopez secured 14.6 percent of votes.

District 9

Councilman John Courage will have to go up against Patrick Von Dohlen in order to hold onto his seat. Courage led the five-person race with 47.1 percent of votes while Von Dohlen followed with 35.8 percent .

You can find out more information and confirm your voter registration here.
Like torn drapes, curtains of dead vines now line U.S. 59 in Montrose where vibrant greenery once greeted drivers.

The culprit? The historic Texas freeze in February that shined a light on the severe inadequacies of the state's standalone energy grid.

SONG BATTLE: Students protest, man pulls out gun over UT's 'The Eyes of Texas'

Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer

The vines provided color to an otherwise gray drive down the Southwest Freeway before suffering the same fate as so many other plants across Texas when temperatures plunged well below freezing for days in February.

Now, the dead foliage stands as one of the last public reminders of an event that took the lives of nearly 200 Texans , according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. More than half of these deaths were due to hypothermia, while others succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes.

The failure of critical medical devices requiring electricity also added to the death toll. Webb County medical examiner Dr. Corinne Stern said this of one of those deaths:

"If his electricity had not been turned off in those rolling blackouts, chances are hed be alive today," Stern told the Chronicle. "These deaths were preventable, and theyre senseless. They shouldnt have happened."

In total, Winter Storm Uri caused nearly $200 billion in damages across Texas, making it a more deadly and costly event than Hurricane Harvey.

The power grid failed Texans mostly because massive generators froze in the cold. They weren't built to withstand the bitter weather  a process called winterizing.

The fix seems simple: Winterize the generators and the state won't lose power like it did.

In Austin, Senate Bill 1750 would require power companies and generators to formulate plans for severe weather but falls short of requiring companies to weatherize their equipment (despite what Gov. Greg Abbott claims).

The state will recommend weatherization to specific entities only after those severe weather plans are finalized and reviewed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, Railroad Commission of Texas and Texas Division of Emergency Management.

The bill analysis says regulators will determine "whether the electric and gas systems are capable of withstanding extreme weather patterns" and will only "recommend" remedies like weatherization.

Funny. I thought February's deadly freeze showed us the system was not capable of withstanding extreme weather patterns.

Still, the bill is the best hope thus far for any kind of changes to the state's electric grid. It passed the Texas Senate in late April and is on its way to the Texas House.

Jay R. Jordan / Chron staff

The lives lost certainly overshadow any mortality in nature, but even so the loss was great. We're left behind with zombie trees and dead vines.

Contractors will remove the dead vines from U.S. 59, according to Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Deidrea George. A timeline will be set in the coming weeks.

But before they go, they serve as a reminder how bad things were in February  a reminder of what's at stake when we let ourselves forget.
WESTBROOK  When visitors to MarineMax saw the strange-looking, pockmarked concrete spheres sitting in the boat dealers driveway, many were curious.

Called reef balls, once submerged in oceans, bays and rivers, they will help create a living reef where marine life will thrive and stem coastal erosion, according to their proponents. They may be submersed both near the shore and in deeper waters.

Reef balls made their shoreline debut during a recent open house at the marine stores grand reopening April 23 to 24. But some might say they almost stole the show.

In fact, some of these balls, with holes like Swiss cheese, were set up so youngsters and adults could play the corn hole toss game. Visitors thought they were really cool, said Tertia Trowbridge, a representative from Connecticut College in New London, where they are implementing this artificial reef technology.

Once visitors learned more, They found it really fascinating that something so small  so simple  could have such a big impact, Trowbridge said. While reef balls can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds each, these were no more than 40 to 60 pounds, as they are designed to encourage oyster seeding.

At this point, on a shoestring budget, the college is working on a small scale and hopes to eventually use the heftier reef balls. Once this endeavor proves effective, they will seek more funding.

Trowbridge is talking about the Connecticut College Reef Ball Project, which gets support from country music star Kenny Chesneys No Shoes Reefs, Deep Apparel, and the Reef Ball Foundation.

As director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations at the college, Trowbridge is involved in seeking funding for the project. The college received a $10,000 donation from the No Shoes Reefs to start, and it is also supporting the venture.

People were also curious about Connecticut Colleges involvement, she added in an email. They knew we had an arboretum and had visited it, but did not know it went down to the waterfront.

The Connecticut College project is underway to reclaim an eroding and unremarkable portion of shoreline along the Thames River, near the colleges arboretum. Maria Rosa, PhD, assistant professor of biology, heads the project.

Students at the college construct the reef balls in June. This involves fiberglass molds, each with a large central air bladder, which creates the hollow void in the middle of the reef ball. Then you pour specialized reef-safe concrete in, let it set overnight, and remove the mold, said Jason Krumholz, foundation director.

Many visitors to MarineMax told Trowbridge: We could do this up and down the shoreline, she said, noting they were especially interested in the fact that they could help with fish and oyster habitat.

Do no harm

Krumholz hopes the results from the Connecticut College project will encourage the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to grant more permits for reef balls and artificial reef technology in Long Island Sound.

He said the permitting process is lengthy and somewhat tricky in that the DEEP is reluctant as their policy is do no harm, meaning they are hesitant to allow people to put objects in the Sound.

The fear is that should a man-made reef caused problems, removal could be difficult and costly, Krumholz said. They dont want artificial reefs to be used as an excuse to dump trash or construction debris in the ocean. Clearly thats not going on here.

Part of the projects budget is in reserve, should they need to hit the reset button if something goes wrong, he said. I believe that the largest hurdle that DEEP imposes is the need to demonstrate the ability to remove the project if necessary.

Artificial reefs as a restoration technique have kind of a mixed reputation, due to some poorly planned and poorly thought-out projects a long time ago that have turned into environmental disasters, Krumholz said, pointing to the Osbourne Reef in Florida.

This project will end up taking decades and costing tens, possibly hundreds of millions of dollars to remediate, Krumholz said.

The foundation uses pH-balanced materials and designs artificial reef modules using wave tank testing to make sure they can withstand storms and currents, he said.

Professional engineers also assess the site to maximize the chances that the sediment is going to go where we want it to go, and to avoid situations where these units might wash up on shore and damage natural habitats or property, Krumholz said, adding they only use environmentally stable materials  nothing that will corrode or rust in seawater, such as no steel or rebar, he said.

There is currently a reef ball project, the Living Shore at Stratford Point, which is supported by Connecticut Audubon.

MarineMax event raises funds

At last months event, MarineMax, the boat dealer at 627 Boston Post Road, raised more than $450 for the project. There were other sights to see in addition to the curious-looking reef balls at the open house, when Marine Max also showed off its renovated showroom.

The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting, champagne and ice cookies from Pursuit of Pastry, and a tour of the updated facility. Chow Food Truck drew guests and there was music and giveaways.

For information, visit marinemax.com.

Correction: Connecticut College received a $10,000 donation from the No Shoes Reefs. It was incorrectly indentified in a previous version of the story.
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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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Everything you need to know about the new immigration pathways for temporary residents in Canada.

IRCC releases application guide for 6 new immigration streams Everything you need to know about the new immigration pathways for temporary residents in Canada.

IRCC releases application guide for 6 new immigration streams Everything you need to know about the new immigration pathways for temporary residents in Canada.

IRCC releases application guide for 6 new immigration streams Everything you need to know about the new immigration pathways for temporary residents in Canada. Mohanad Moetaz Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canada has released the full guide for the six new immigration streams for international graduates and essential workers.

The guide on the government website gives official instructions on how to apply for the new limited-time immigration pathways opening May 6 at noon Eastern Standard Time. Canadas immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), will stop accepting applications on November 5 or when the streams reach their maximum capacity.

The following is a list of the six new immigrations streams as well as their intake caps.

Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these new pathways!

CIC News has prepared a special FAQ on the immigration streams available here.

Highlights of the guide

Take note these points before you apply:

You must be working in Canada at the time of your application.

You can be working in any occupation at the time you apply. If you are applying as an essential worker, you need the 1,560 work hours in an eligible occupation within the past three years, and graduate stream applicants need a Canadian credential.

You must submit a completed application with all documents, including language tests, and pay the fees.

You can apply to multiple streams if you wish, but you will have to pay fees for each application.

The intake process will be first in, first out.

If you are currently living in Quebec, you may still be eligible, as long as you can demonstrate to the officer that you intend to move to another province, or show a job offer in another province.

Self-employed experience does not count for these streams.

Wet signatures are not required on documents, except for the use of representative form. There will be an attestation at the end of the online application, which will act as a signature.

You can pay fees online in advance and upload the receipt in your application, or pay through the online portal. If you over pay, IRCC will start processing your application and send you an automatic refund.

What is the application process?

The portal will open May 6 at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

There will be an eligibility tool on the government webpage. This tool will allow you to select the immigration stream you want to apply for, and view eligibility requirements. It is not a necessary step, but it is for your information.

You will have to agree to some terms and conditions. Then you can create an account with your email address and a password. You will get a message sent to the email address you provided with a verification code, which you can copy and paste. After that you will sign in with your email address and password.

Then you will get to a document checklist. You need to ensure you validate your forms and submit them with 2D barcodes. This form does not have a signature. An attestation at the end is considered a signature by the client. The only form that requires a wet signature is the use of representative form. There is a separate spot to upload this form.

You will also be asked to submit other documentation such as your proof of eligible work or study experience in Canada. There will be additional spots for dependents to add files.

You will then see an acknowledgement and consent form and a privacy statement. There will be a giant blue Submit button at the end for you to send in your application. Finally, there will be a page that confirms your application has been submitted.

You will have the ability to view your submission after you have filed your application.

What are the documents you need?

According to the IRCC website, here are the forms that you need as the principal applicant:

Forms for you (principal applicant) to fill out, if applicable:

IRCC offers some tips for filling out the application forms:

Make sure you have Adobe Reader 10 or higher and Javascript is turned on. If you have trouble downloading, right-click the link and choose Save target as or Save link as

and is turned on. If you have trouble downloading, right-click the link and choose Save target as or Save link as Fill out the forms on your computer instead of by hand. Its easier and reduces mistakes that can cause delays.

Schedule 3 must be filled out on your computer.

Fill out, print, sign and date your application forms.

IMM 0008 is a barcode form. You will have to validate it and submit all the pages.

You will also need to do your biometrics if you are between ages 14 and 79 years old, even if you already submitted biometrics in the past. IRCC will send you a letter when it is time to give biometrics, however you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit the application. You will have 30 days from the date you get the letter to give your biometrics. There are temporary COVID-19 measures in place for biometrics requirements and collection procedures.

Information for graduate stream applicants

You can be working part time at the time of applying, as long as you have graduated with a Canadian credential and meet the language requirement. International graduate candidates will need to have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or a Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) score of 5.

International students who graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution and are currently pursuing another degree may be eligible, provided they are also working.

Information for essential worker stream applicants

You are required to have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or a Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 4 to apply for any of the essential workers in Canada streams.

If you are applying under stream for health care workers, you can be working in any occupation. However, you must have one year of work experience in an eligible health care occupation, listed in Annex A.

If you are applying under stream for other essential workers, you can combine experience in occupations listed in Annex A (health care occupations), and Annex B (other essential worker occupations).

Why is Canada offering these programs?

The travel restrictions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 has had major impacts on the labour market. Canada typically depends on immigrants coming in from abroad to address labour shortages.

Canada has set ambitious immigration targets for 2021, looking to welcome 401,000 new immigrants by the end of the year. Due to its commitment to meeting this target, Canada introduced the six new immigration streams. These streams help those who are already residing in the country get permanent residence.

Half of the streams are for French-speakers. This is because Canada is looking to increase bilingual and French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec.

Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these new pathways!

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
As universities and college students struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government disbursed billions of dollars to these institutions. Included in the CARES Act, which was passed by Congress at the onset of the pandemic, was $14 billion to fund the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. It was not only supposed to help colleges and universities cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, but also drive at least half of every dollar to financial aid grants for students. This money could be used by students to cover the cost of housing, food or books  all the things that mightve impacted by the cancellation of in-person instruction and campus life.

In New York City, the money felt particularly necessary. The city has some of the countrys most expensive schools, a high cost of living and many low-income students who stay in the city for college. It was also the epicenter of the nations COVID-19 outbreak in March and April of last year. So when the federal money came around, many students considered it a godsend, especially when Congress required that a majority of the funding wind up with them.

Whether that actually happens, though, remains to be seen. For the first round of funding, passed in March 2020, at least 50% of funds had to go to direct emergency financial aid for students  basically, deposits right into students bank accounts. The rest can be allocated into college or university accounts, although schools can choose to give out additional money to students. For the second round, passed in December 2020, the same minimum had to go out to students. And in the third round, passed March 2021, there were similar minimums for getting money to students.

Filings for the first round of funding have been released, but for rounds two and three theres still ample time for institutions that havent spent everything to decide what they want to do with the money. And the first round showed differences in how New York schools like Columbia University, New York University, and the CUNY and SUNY systems allocated and spent their federal cash. Columbia University received about $12.8 million, as did the states other Ivy League school, Cornell University. NYU received $25.6 million. CUNY as a whole received almost $237 million. And the SUNY campuses altogether received over $297 million.

According to a Columbia University spokesperson, the school distributed its $6.4 million student allotment earlier this year to more than 4,000 students. Columbia also launched a student relief fund in April 2020 for students in their visual arts programs, funded by donations from program graduates. Columbia Business School and the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation did the same.

The university is unique because it has the highest tuition in the country, which means it relies less on its endowment  which went up $310 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020  and other sources of funding to keep its programs afloat. About 10% fewer students receive financial aid compared to 30 years ago, and the schools tuition has shot up 50% over the past 15 years. Despite recent strikes to have tuition decreased during the pandemic, the school hasnt shown any signs of budging. Peer institutions like Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University reduced tuition by 10% in light of COVID-19.

NYU, however, did follow a similar tack to Columbia when it came to tuition  it raised its prices 2.95% from 2019.

NYU spokesperson John Beckman said in a statement to City & State that NYU has had a sustained focus on restraining increases in tuition, and pointed to the school dropping over 40 spots since 2016 on the Chronicle of Higher Educations list of most expensive colleges.

Beckman said that despite massive losses due to coronavirus-related costs, (NYU) has managed to avoid the kind of universitywide programs of layoffs, mandatory furloughs or suspension of retirement pay that many other universities had to enact, keeping virtually all its employees working and whole even as we expanded financial assistance for students.

NYU directly allocated the federally mandated minimum in direct aid to students. However, it utilized its institutional portion in the first round of federal funding on housing refunds  which meant that all of the money effectively went back to students one way or another. NYU also has a student relief fund and courtesy meals for students struggling with food.

The university also committed to allocating all money from the second round of federal funding to students. Although it said it was going to the full equivalent of these funds to support students financially, as opposed to directly handing over the federal cash.

Beckman said the structure of the federal program had a lot to do with redirecting the funds internally, while providing an equivalent amount of NYU resources provides the school with some additional flexibility in providing the aid to students. He noted that undocumented and international students were excluded from the federal money, and school funds could, for example, then be used to assist them.

SUNY press secretary Holly Liapis said some CARES Act funding went to coronavirus-related expenses for the school that helped students: $135 million to refund students in room and other unused expenses during the transition to remote learning, along with spending money on COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment.

Liapis said SUNY also provided emergency aid through its foundation, resources for students to study remotely like laptops and internet access, and expanding mental health resources. The total spending on those programs, which included both institutional and CARES Act funding, totaled $236 million as of late March.

When it came to individual SUNY campuses, federal filings showed school spent money intended for the institution on students. Binghamton University, University at Albany, University at Buffalo, SUNY New Paltz and others spent money meant for the schools on housing refunds.

COVID has caused considerable disruption to our students, many struggling financially due to job loss in the family or for themselves, Liapis said in a statement to City & State. Federal aid is significant, as is New York States ongoing commitment to our students; and Chancellor (Jim) Malatras and campus leadership will continue to work closely with the Executive, State Senate and Assembly on advocating for SUNY in the State Budget.
Elise Stefanik of the North Country has been a key defender of former President Donald Trump, making her a rising star in Republican politics, both nationally and in New York. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, she dismissed his attempt to withhold military aid to extort election interference from Ukraine.After raising massive sums for her reelection bid in 2020, Stefanik aided Trump's efforts to falsely claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Months later, she remains a Trump fan despite his incitement of a violent mob of his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn the elections result.

In fact, her pro-Trump stance may propel her to a top leadership position. Thank you President Trump for your 100% support for House GOP Conference Chair. We are unified and focused on FIRING PELOSI & WINNING in 2022! Stefanik tweeted Wednesday after the tax cheat and accused sexual predator announced his support for her to replace Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming as the third-highest ranking Republican House member. Cheney (unlike Stefanik) has said her party should reject Trumps personality cult, insurrection and ongoing role in the party  especially given how the former reality TV star remains obsessed with baseless claims of mass voter fraud. A vote on the leadership switch is expected in the coming weeks.

New York Republicans  who claim to be the party of law and order  say they are thrilled that Stefanik is moving up in national GOP politics as a reward for her support of Trumps subversionof therule of law. Even state legislators with reputations as relative moderates are embracing Stefaniks role.

Most of us see Congresswoman Stefanik as an extremely bright, talented young legislator and rising star in Congress and the Republican Party nationally  not solely by her relationship to President Trump, state Sen. Phil Boyle of Long Island, who has a relatively moderate voting record in the Legislature, said in a text. Elise has earned this position through years of hard work.

The Harvard-educated Stefanik entered Republican politics by working for more traditional conservative Republicans like former Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Her years in Washington, D.C. were a mixed blessing during her successful 2014 campaign for Congress, when she emphasized political moderation and local roots as a native daughter of the Adirondacks  no matter accusations of carpetbagging. While she now claims otherwise, she also distanced herself from Trumps 2016 campaign. She then continued cultivating an independent political persona by criticizing some of Trumps more controversial moves in 2017 and 2018.

That all changed in 2019 when she defended Trump against impeachment for his attempts to leverage military aid to Ukraine to dig up dirt on now-President Joe Biden as he sought the 2020 Democratic nomination. I started out skeptical of Rep. Stefanik because I viewed her as part of the broken GOP establishment, Assembly Member Kieran Michael Lalor, a pro-Trump firebrand from the Hudson Valley who has appeared on right-wing cable news networks like Newsmax, said in a text message. But she has shown real courage and a willingness to take on the DC swamp.

Stefaniks office declined to comment on the record for this story, but a spokesperson said that the Congress members evolving stance towards Trump reflected an effort to represent the views of her constituents.

A day after the deadly insurrection, despite condemning the violence, Stefanik joined other Republicans in voting against the certification of the Electoral College results in the 2020 election, which she said was an attempt to highlight irregularities in four states. A spokesperson declined to provide any evidence to substantiate those election-irregularity claims when asked by City & State.

Republican legislators say they have no problem with Stefaniks role in undermining public confidence in the Democratic process. I don't see any concerns and it isn't relevant in my opinion, Assembly Member Michael Reilly of Staten Island, a former NYPD lieutenant known for reaching across the aisle, said in a text.

Rep. Stefanik stated that, We can and we should peacefully discuss concerns people had with some judges disregarding state election laws, Boyle added.

Four months later, Republicans like Cheney who argue against promoting baseless conspiracy theories and for respecting the results of elections are increasingly a dying breed in the GOP. President Trump started a movement that has given millions of people a voice to vent their frustrations with the status quo, Assembly Member John Salka of Central New York, who was first elected by a narrow margin in 2018 despite historic losses for the GOP elsewhere in the state that year. I believe this sleeping giant is not going away. Even bigger losses for Republicans in 2020 are evidently not making New York Republicans give up on Trump.

Republicans like state party Chair Nick Langworthy, who once encouraged Trump to run for governor, are talking about winning their first statewide election in two decades in 2022, given how ongoing scandals might hurt Gov. Andrew Cuomo next year. With Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island, another Trump acolyte, having secured the backing of key Republican county party chairs for the gubernatorial nomination, Stefanik appears to be backing away from a rumored run that would require her to give up her seat in Congress. Perhaps news that New York is only losing one congressional seat eased any concerns Stefanik may have had about facing a tough reelection battle after redistricting. With her aspirations now dependent on the goodwill of fellow House Republicans rather than New Yorks statewide electorate, Stefaniks incentives point her toward being a loyal member of Team Trump. GOP leaders like Langworthy are now hoping her success in mobilizing other Republican women will help them flip the handful of seats the party needs to win the House majority in 2020. If Stefanik becomes the third-ranking Republican before that happens, she could be serving in the powerful post of House majority whip by 2023.

And as the Republican Party moves farther to the right-wing fringes of Stefanik can claim to still be a relative moderate. Unlike some of her colleagues, she has never called for executing Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for treason for refusing to fund Trumps border wall or spread false conspiracy theories about Jewish lasers starting forest fires in California. With a reputation like that, New York Republicans expect big things are coming for Stefanik. I fully expect to see her as a future Speaker of the House of Representatives, Boyle predicted. We are not talking about (Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia) here.
For several months, anyone who follows politics or social technology has been waiting with bated breath for a decision on whether Donald Trump would remain banned from Facebook. Trumps account was blocked after the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6th; Facebook ruled that he had used the site to foment violence. The decision was sent for review to the companys Oversight Board, a group of academics, legal scholars, and former journalists charged with adjudicating on content moderation. On Wednesday, the board handed down its ruling: Facebook was right to have banished Trump, but the company has no policy on the books that allows for a permanent ban. The board told Facebook that, if the company wants to lock people outTrump, or anyone elseit needs to come up with a formal rule.

For some critics, including the so-called Real Facebook Oversight Boarda group that includes Yael Eisenstat, a former CIA officer and Facebook advisor; Roger MacNamee, a Facebook venture investor; and Maria Ressa, a crusading journalist from the Philippinesthe official boards decision reinforced a fiction that it has any power whatsoever. Although Facebook has placed the board at arms lengththeoretically, to give it autonomythe board was nevertheless created and funded by Facebook, which granted it a fairly limited remit. The board can make decisions about whether material (or accounts) should be removed, but it has no ability to question or influence any of Facebooks business decisions, the way its algorithms function, or how its advertising strategy works. The board may have advised Facebook that it should write a policy on bans, but if the company decides not to create one, or not to implement it, the board has no recourse.

On a broader level, some critics argue that all of the attention being paid to the board and its Trump decisionnot to mention references to it being Facebooks Supreme Courtplay into the companys desire to make it seem like a worthwhile or even pioneering exercise in corporate governance. As Shira Ovide, of the New York Times, wrote: Facebook is not a representative democracy with branches of government that keep a check on one another. It is a castle ruled by an all-powerful king who has invited billions of people inside to minglebut only if they abide by opaque, ever-changing rules that are often applied by a fleet of mostly lower-wage workers.

From the Existential Issue: The revelatory art of Minerva Cuevas

In a sense, the boards decision was more interesting for what it didnt do than for what it did. The board declined to simply rubber-stamp Facebooks ruling, and it did not disguise the fact that members couldnt get answers from company executives to all of their questions about Trumps account. The boards decision noted that, among other things, the company refused to discuss how Facebooks news feed and other features impacted the visibility of Mr. Trumps content; whether Facebook has researched, or plans to research, those design decisions in relation to the events of January 6, 2021; and information about violating content from followers of Mr. Trumps accounts. Facebook also declined to talk about whether Trumps ban impacts the companys ability to let advertisers target his followers.

Not everyone agrees, of course. If, among the ranks of the Real Oversight Board, Wednesdays outcome seemed a craven dereliction of duty, those who wanted Trumps ban to be upheld were pleased to find justification based on international human rights law. Those who question the authority of the board were happy to see that the ultimate ruling would lie with Facebook, upon its enactment of a new policy. Mark Zuckerberg, however, is unlikely to be satisfiedat least not if he was hoping the board would give him a get-out-of-responsibility-free card in banning Trump. He now has six months to decide whether to formalize a rule that would banish Trump foreverand, perhaps, others in the future.

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Heres more on Facebook and Trump:

Awkward : The Board continues to ground its decisions in international human rights law. This is both understandable and perhaps inevitable given the charter, Nate Persily, a professor of law at Stanford , wrote on Twitter. However, I think this approach is fundamentally misguided: Facebook is not a government and the newsfeed is not a public square. Daphne Keller, Persilys colleague at Stanfords Cyber Policy Center, chimed in : Im glad the FBOB is applying human rights law bc I cant think of anything better [but] using the most ill-defined variant of already notoriously hazy law to criticize Facebooks failure to set clearly defined rules is awkward.

Simulacrum : What the existence of the oversight board obscures, Will Oremus writes in the New York Times , is that the problems with Mr. Trumps presence on Facebookthe lies, the propaganda, the incitementsare not just Trump problems. Theyre Facebook problems (and to be fair, Twitter problems). 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.

Serious : For years, technology companies said that banning Trump would be impossible, Joan Donovan the research director at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policywrote on Twitter. It was so beyond their comprehension that powerful people would use their products to their advantage. Now the ball is back in the hands of Sandberg, Kaplan, Clegg, Stone, Bickert, and Zuckerberg. But, the challenge is the same: how seriously are they going to take the design of their systems in the face of its documented damage to democracy and public health?

Justifiable : Jameel Jaffer, of the Knight First Amendment Institute, was one of the few who thought the oversight boards decision was right on all counts . The board justifiably criticizes Facebook for the standardlessness of its decision to ban Trump from the platform indefinitely, he wrote. It rightly criticizes Facebook for its effort to use the board as a fig leaf. It appropriately places on Facebook the ultimate responsibility for deciding whether Trump may return to the platform and, if so, on what terms.

A programming note: Were continuing to roll out our latest issue of the magazine, which asks the question What is journalism? In an entirely digital project, composed of five chapters, were confronting the assumptions we make about our workso much so that weve referred to this as the Existential Issue. Today we encourage you to read the introduction by Kyle Pope, the editor and publisher of CJR, and check out Chapter 4: When.

Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Kevin Merida takes the top job at the LA Times

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
NEW YORK  A lawyer for a former TCW Group Inc fund manager who recently ran for New York City mayor urged an appeals court to restore the managers sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against her former employer.

Sara Tirschwell had sued TCW, its chief executive, and former alternative products chief Jess Ravich for more than $30 million in January 2018. It was considered Wall Streets first major case of the #MeToo era.

In arguments before New York states Appellate Division in Manhattan, Tirschwells lawyer Steven Storch said a lower court judge wrongly took over the province of the jury last June by dismissing much of the case, including a punitive damages claim.

Tirschwell accused Ravich, whom she once dated, of pressuring her into having sex in exchange for supporting her distressed debt fund, and withdrawing his support when she stopped.

She also said Los Angeles-based TCW, which recently had $248 billion of assets under management, wrongfully fired her because she complained about Ravich to human resources.

Ravich has denied Tirschwells accusations and said he was TCWs biggest supporter of her. TCW said Tirschwell had already been hanging by a thread because of her performance, and was fired for cause after a fifth compliance violation in December 2017, less than 1-1/2 years after being hired permanently.

She didnt follow the rules. That was her choice, TCWs lawyer Jonathan Sulds said.

Justice Barbara Kapnick, one of the appeals court judges, characterized the period as relatively short.

The lower court judge had let Tirschwell pursue a discrimination claim against Ravich and a contract claim against TCW, and to seek compensatory damages.

TCW and Ravich appealed those rulings, saying evidence of wrongdoing wasnt there.

Look at the record, not the allegations, Ravichs lawyer Robert Sacks said. Ravich left TCW in 2019.

The court did not say when it will rule.

Tirschwell, a Texas native, last month ended her bid for the Republican nomination to run for New York City mayor.

Political analysts expect Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasios successor will be one of the 13 Democrats seeking the office.
LONDON  Londons Court of Appeal will hear a request to revive a 5 billion pound ($6.95 billion) lawsuit against Anglo-Australian mining group BHP over a 2015 dam failure in Brazil, a court order showed.

Judge Nicholas Underhill has agreed to an oral hearing that could help to overturn a previous Court of Appeal decision which denied a 200,000-strong Brazilian claimant group permission to appeal against a judgment to strike out the landmark case.

I am satisfied that, exceptionally, an oral hearing is appropriate in this case, the judge said in the order, which was signed on May 4 and seen by Reuters on Thursday.

No further details were immediately available.

The order comes less than two months after the Court of Appeal refused permission for a lawsuit over Brazils worst environmental disaster to proceed in English courts.

The Court of Appeal said in March it agreed with a lower court that the case was an abuse of process, that claimants could  and were  making reparation claims in Brazil and that the lawsuit would be irredeemably unmanageable.

The collapse of the Fundao dam, owned by the Samarco venture between BHP and Brazilian iron ore mining giant Vale, killed 19 and sent a flood of mining waste into communities, the Doce river and the Atlantic Ocean, 650 km (400 miles) away.

Samarco has since filed for bankruptcy protection.

PGMBM, the law firm representing the Brazilian claimants, said it had been contacted by many clients to express their gratitude in respect of the consideration being given by the Court of Appeal to their application.

BHP, the worlds largest miner by market value, said it was aware of the application.

Previous (court) rulings  have supported our position that the civil claim proceedings were unnecessary as they duplicated matters already covered by the existing and ongoing work of the Renova Foundation and are, or have been, the subject of ongoing legal proceedings in Brazil, a BHP spokesman said.

The Renova Foundation is a redress scheme established in 2016 by BHPs Brazilian division, Samarco and Vale.

The case is the latest battle to establish whether multinationals can be held liable for the conduct of subsidiaries abroad.

The UK Supreme Court in 2019 allowed Zambian villagers to sue miner Vedanta in England for alleged pollution in Africa and in February permitted Nigerian farmers and fishermen to pursue Royal Dutch Shell over oil spills in the Niger Delta.

About the photo: An aerial view shows flooding triggered by a collapsed dam near Brumadinho, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said it didnt yet have information on deaths or injuries at the dam but said that tailings have reached the community of Vila Ferteco. (Bruno Correia/Nitro via AP)
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A Delaware pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $12.6 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by paying kickbacks.

Department of Justice officials said in a news release Tuesday that the settlement resolves allegations that Incyte Corp. improperly used an independent foundation to cover the copays of certain people taking the companys cancer drug Jakafi from November 2011 to December 2014. Jakafi is approved to treat a bone marrow cancer called myleofibrosis.

Authorities said Incyte was the sole donor to a fund that was opened in November 2011 to assist only myleofibrosis patients. Government officials alleged that after the fund opened, Incyte used it to pay the copays of federal beneficiaries taking Jakafi who were ineligible for assistance from the fund because they did not have myleofibrosis.

Incyte said in a prepared statement that it denies any wrongdoing, and that the settlement agreement is not an admission of liability.

This resolution simply reflects Incytes desire to put this matter behind it and to continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of individuals with serious life-threatening conditions, the company said.

The settlement resolves whistleblower claims that were filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Justin Dillon, a former Incyte compliance executive. Dillon will receive about $3.6 million of the settlement recovery.

Federal authorities said Incyte managers pressured the foundation to provide economic assistance to the ineligible patients, and that Incytes contractor helped ineligible patients complete applications for assistance. The scheme resulted in Incyte causing false claims for Jakafi to be submitted to the Medicare and TRICARE, the federal health care program for military members, officials said.

Incyte said it had followed guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and that the company believes that it complied with the HHS-OIG guidance, did not violate the law and did not have any intention to do so.

Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical company is prohibited from offering or paying money or any other thing of value to induce federally covered beneficiaries to purchase the companys drugs.

Incyte, which is headquartered in Wilmington, has about 1,900 employees worldwide. Gov. John Carney has described the company, which has received millions of dollars in state subsidies, as a real Delaware success story.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A federal judge in Sherman, Texas on Wednesday ruled against an insurer that sought to dismiss a $500 million COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit by the nations third-largest chain of movie theaters.

The decision broke a months-long losing streak for policyholders seeking cover for income lost because of pandemic-related restrictions.

U.S. District Court Judge Amos L. Mazzant found that Cinemark Holdings had aptly pleaded that the coronavirus was actually present on its properties and caused damages, noting that more than 1,700 of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Mazzant said in his opinion that the facts were very different in another COVID-19 claim that was dismissed by the Eastern District of Texas in March, where property owner Selery Fulfillment made no allegation that the virus was actually present.

Cinemarks policy is much broader than the one in Selery and expressly covers loss and damage caused by communicable disease,' Mazzant wrote. Both parties agree communicable disease encompasses COVID-19. At this stage of the proceedings, Selery is distinguishable.

The plaintiffs attorney, partner Michael S. Levine with Hunton Andrews Kurth in Washington, D.C., said in an email that there would be more favorable rulings for property owners if more judges followed the rules of federal civil procedure. He said Mazzant considered Cinemarks actual allegations and the specific policy wording.

Too many courts are overlooking this fundamental duty at the carriers urging to simply follow decisions, which happen to be factually and materially distinguishable, he said.

Mazzants ruling was the first of any state or federal judge since March 31 that rejected in whole an insurers motion to dismiss a COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit, according to a litigation tracker maintained by the University of Pennsylvanias Carey Law School. During that time, two judges granted partial dismissal and 48 judges fully dismissed COVID-19 lawsuits or granted summary judgment for the insurer.

Cinemark, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates 332 theaters with 4,522 screens in 42 states and an additional 200 theaters in 17 other countries, according to its civil complaint. The chain purchased a policy from FM Global that covered up to $500 million in damages from all risks of physical loss or damage except perils specifically excluded. Communicable diseases were a covered cause of loss.

Given the number of theaters affected, you can reasonably assume the damages will exceed policy limits, Levine said.

Cinemark had to shut down its theaters worldwide because of the virus. It notified FM Global that it was suffering losses because of those shutdowns on April, 20, 2020. The insurer requested more information about the scope of those losses but did not acknowledge that any coverage applied. The movie chain filed a lawsuit in January.

FM Global filed a motion for summary judgment against Cinemark on March 30. The insurer says that the policy expressly excludes damages caused by contamination. While the specific inclusion of coverage for communicable diseases may create an exception to the exclusion, a sublimit in the policy limits coverage to $1 million, according to the dismissal motion.

Perhaps more importantly, FM Global argued that Cinemark had failed to show that there was any direct physical loss to its property. Actual structural alteration is required to constitute physical loss, the carrier said.

District courts in Texas have repeatedly and unanimously held that the presence of COVID-19whether present at a specific insured property or supposedly omnipresent in a general areais not physical loss or damage to property, FM Global said in its motion.

The Carey Law School litigation tracker doesnt quite bear out that assertion. A state judge in Dallas and a federal judge for the Western District of Texas denied insurer motions to dismiss, but 16 federal judges did rule in favor of the insurance carrier.

Hopefully, courts will take heed of Judge Mazzants analysis and base future COVID-19 business interruption decisions on the actual facts alleged and the actual insurance wording before the court, as the rules and interpretive case law require, Levine said. When they do, the tide will shift substantially.

Cinemarks attorney, Thomas H. Cook Jr. of the Zelle law firm in Dallas, did not respond Wednesday to an email seeking comment.
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (AP)  A fire that gutted much of a historic Catholic church in Southern California last year was intentionally set, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The July 11 blaze engulfed the the rooftop and most of the interior of the San Gabriel Mission as it was undergoing renovations to mark its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. No one was hurt in the fire.

John David Corey, 57, faces multiple counts, including arson of an inhabited structure and first-degree burglary, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Prosecutors contend Corey broke into the mission and started the fire, which spread to the roof and along the length of the church, the statement said. No motive was given.

The flames spared the altar and historic paintings. Other artifacts had been stored elsewhere as the church underwent renovations.

The coronavirus pandemic forced Masses online but the church building will resume indoor services May 22, according to its website.

The loss to the mission was in the millions of dollars, but the loss to the community is immeasurable, District Attorney George Gascon said.

The church was the fourth in a string of Roman Catholic missions established across California by Junipero Serra _ an 18th-century Franciscan priest who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015 _ during the era of Spanish colonization.

While many credit Serra with spreading Catholicism along the West Coast, he has long been a symbol of oppression among Indigenous activists.

Racial injustice protesters last year toppled Serra statues in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento, and San Gabriel officials had moved the missions Serra statue before the fire to guard against potential vandalism. The public outcry against Serra last year was part of the investigation into the fire, but officials didnt immediately announce any connection.

An arraignment date for Corey was not immediately scheduled.

About the photo: In this Saturday, July 11, 2020, file photo, the interior of the San Gabriel Mission is damaged following a morning fire in San Gabriel, Calif. A fire that gutted much of the historic Catholic church in Southern California last year was intentionally set by a 57-year-old man, prosecutors said Tuesday, May 4, 2021. John David Corey faces multiple felony counts including arson of an inhabited structure, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said in a statement. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Three Ohio men are accused of scheming to obtain $9 million in federal coronavirus-relief money, benefits that they claimed were earmarked for religious groups.

Instead, a federal indictment alleges, some of the money flowed for cars, as Northwest Ohio businessman Terrence Pounds is accused of buying four new vehicles.

Pounds and five others fraudulently submitted at least 60 loan applications last year to the U.S. Small Business Association, which approved more than $3.3 million for them, according to the indictment unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

The six are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and four are charged with money laundering. Through forfeiture, prosecutors are seeking to seize Pounds vehicles: a 2020 BMW; a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe; a 2021 Kia Telluride; and a 2020 Hyundai Elantra.

Bradley Iams, an attorney representing Pounds, said he is reviewing the indictment and declined to comment.

The indictment is the latest among scores of cases nationwide involving pandemic benefits. It alleges that Pounds recruited the five other people and urged them to give him their personal information, which he used to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans in their names.

According to the indictment, Pounds claimed that each of the five was involved in a religious nonprofit with $1 million in revenue and had 15 employees. When the Small Business Administration approved the loans and sent the money to the five, they gave Pounds a portion of the proceeds, the charges say.

On March 31, Pounds submitted a loan application with the Small Business Administration in which he claimed to operate Truth Ministries Global Inc.

Its application said: We feed the less fortunate and underprivileged. We visit the prisons. We have 24 hours per day, 7 days per week phone lines open for prayers and counseling. We have church services twice per week.

The Small Business Administration responded by sending $147,900 on May 22. The indictment says Pounds used portions of the money to buy three of the vehicles soon after the money arrived.

Three months later, Pounds bought the BMW, using parts of the government loans that had been sent to the people he had recruited in the scheme, according to the charges.

The others charged with Pounds, 44, of Holland, are: Charles Tiller, 37, of Columbus; Terri Davis, 30, of Old Hickory, Tenn.; Randolph Nunn, 48, of Canton; Samira Abdul-Karim, 27, of New Haven, Conn.; and Quwan Simmons, 28, of Hartford, Conn.

Pounds appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke. He was released on a personal bond. Attorneys are not listed for the others charged. The others charged are expected to appear for hearings in the coming weeks.
AKRON, Ohio  Three men wanted in connection with two shootings last month in Akron have been taken into custody by federal agents.

Maurice Bayless, 32, and Omarion Corn, 18, are accused of following and then opening fire on a vehicle on April 27 in the Middlebury neighborhood. The man and woman in the vehicle were not wounded, but their car was struck by several bullets, according to police.

On Tuesday, police and members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Bayless at a residence on the 1000 block of Delia Avenue in West Akron. Corn was arrested in the city of Fairlawn.

Bayless is being held in the Summit County Jail on two charges of felonious assault, one charge of possession of drugs, and several contempt of court charges. Corn is in jail on two charges of felonious assault.

Federal agents on Tuesday also arrested Marriece Ellis, 29, at a residence on the 800 block of Concord Avenue in East Akron.

Ellis was wanted on a felonious assault charge. He is accused of shooting a 27-year-old woman in the left leg during an altercation during what was described as a birthday celebration on April 27 in the area of Wildwood and Hoye avenues in West Akron.

Ellis is being held in the county jail.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Man charged in shooting death of East Cleveland auto shop employee, police say

Ohio businessman, others defrauded coronavirus-relief program designed to help struggling businesses, feds say

Lake County judge dismisses gun charges for Pittsburgh Steelers Justin Layne

Akron police arrest girl, 16, in fatal shooting of 18-year-old man
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As life begins to slowly return to normal, 3News anchor/reporter Lynna Lai is looking forward to getting out of her pandemic hibernation and enjoying the areas restaurants once again.

Sadly, some of my favorites, like Lola and Bakersfield Tacos, didnt survive the pandemic, she says. But its great to see other brave restaurateurs opening new places, despite the lingering challenges.

Her familys current food obsession: bubble tea.

My husband and I have two girls, 11, and 14  and they are obsessed with bubble tea, she says. So during the pandemic, we have sought out bubble tea offerings in Northeast Ohio, and theyve really become bubble tea snobs. Their top 3: Kung Fu Tea at Kenko in University Circle, closely followed by Balance Grille in downtown, and Koko Bakery in AsiaTown.

Lai, who serves as anchor and managing editor of the WKYCs weekend evening news at 6 and 11 p.m. and reports on the 11 p.m. news during the week, is well versed in the citys food scene. Although she grew up in Louisiana, her parents moved to Northeast Ohio while she was a freshman at LSU. Lai joined them in 1994 when she became the first Asian American television reporter in Cleveland, landing a job at WJW Channel 8.

We asked her about some of her favorite dining choices in Cleveland.

1. What is your favorite Cleveland restaurant?

Momocho in Ohio City. Their guacamole is to die for, and the best ordering tip: You can add bacon to any of them. Their margaritas are superb  not like the overly sweet and syrupy concoctions that you find elsewhere. While their whole menu is excellent, I always wind up ordering the machaca taquitos. My husband thinks Im weirdly loyal with my food choices, like a kid.

2. What is your favorite dish to order from anywhere?

This is not a fair question, since there are too many! So Ill go with the one that I have to avoid the most (lol)  Truffle Mac and Cheese at the Marble Room. My hips cant take it.

3. What is your favorite dish to make at home?

A nod to my Chinese heritage -- my moms secret egg roll recipe. Its a two-day process that starts with making the slow-cooked pork. The filling also includes cabbage, bamboo shoots, Chinese dried mushrooms, and green onions. I serve them with homemade sweet and sour sauce, made from apricot puree. My mom never wrote down a recipe. I learned how to make them just by watching her, and I hope to pass on the tradition to my daughters as well.

4. What is your favorite takeout spot?

Balance Grille jn downtown Cleveland. Pan-Asian noodle bowls and bubble tea! We are there probably every week.

5. Favorite ice cream shop?

Honey Hut. Sure, they dont have 31 flavors, but all you taste are natural, fresh ingredients. Their mint chocolate chip ice cream isnt bright mint green in color  and Im very okay with that!
AKRON, Ohio -- Acclaimed alternative band Dead Can Dance will headline a show at the Akron Civic Theatre on Monday, Oct. 18.

Tickets to the show cost $44.50-$125, and they go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 7 through Ticketmaster.

Dead Can Dance has been making atmospheric tunes since the early 1980s. Since then, the Melbourne-based band has released nine studio albums, influenced by goth, ambient and world music. Dead Can Dance currently consists of musicians Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, along with touring musicians.

Gerrard has also been busy with other projects; she is slated to release a new collaborative album with composer and Dead Can Dance keyboardist Jules Maxwell titled Burn on Friday, May 7.

Dead Can Dances North American tour kicks off on Oct. 1 in San Diego, and wraps up on Oct. 25 in Seattle. Find details at deadcandance.com.

The show is one of Akron Civic Theatres first concert announcements for 2021, part of the venues effort to ramp back up to performances following a year of cancelations due to the pandemic. You can view the venues full schedule, along with coronavirus protocols, at akroncivic.com.

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WESTERVILLE, Ohio  Police took a 12-year-old boy into custody Wednesday after he reportedly threatened to shoot up his middle school.

The student at Blendon Middle School in Westerville, a northern suburb of Columbus, also sent threatening texts to classmates, police tell WCMH Channel 4. He is facing a charges of aggravated menacing and inducing panic. He has been released into the custody of his parents.

Police tell ABC 6 the student showed a picture of a gun in a group text with other students, threatening the school and also specific classmates. He wrote in one text that one bullet have all your names on them, ABC 6 reports.

The student has been suspended Monday by the school. He told school officials that he was joking in the texts, WBNS Channel 10 reports, and that the gun in the photo was an Airsoft gun. Officials searched the students belongings and no weapon was found.

WBNS reports the student again made threats in texts Tuesday after being suspended.

I can be a school threat I can shoot up those school tomorrow if I wanted to I got 5 magazines, the student says in the texts, WBNS reports. I can shoot some teachers and some kids I will if I go to prison at least I did a good thing and got them out of my life.

Another photo reportedly shows the student in tactical gear and holding a handgun. The parents of a student who had been threatened pressed charges and police arrested the boy Tuesday night. Officers who searched his home found the handgun shown in the photo, WCMH reports.

Principal Kendall Harris sent a letter to parents saying the school said any threat must be taken seriously.

Im asking you to please take a moment to reinforce to your child that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to address any issue, Harris says in the letter.
SOUTHAMPTON, Pennsylvania  A woman wrote on Facebook about her husbands role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capito, leading to him facing federal criminal charges.

Gary Edwards, 68, of Southampton, is charged with entering a restricted building without authority, disorderly conduct, disruption of official business, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Edwards was released on a $100,000 bond after making his first appearance in court on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. More than 400 people nationwide have been charged in connection with the riot, including several Northeast Ohio.

Court documents show that federal agents were tipped off to Edwards reportedly being in the Capitol by now-deleted Facebook posts from Edwards wife, Lynn Feiler Edwards.

Okay ladies let me tell you what happened as my husband was there inside the Capitol Rotunda, Lynn Edwards wrote, according to court documents. There was a small group of young men dressed in military garb who yelled we r going in! They broke the barricade down, ran up the steps, broke a window and climbed in. They broke some furniture. Then proceeded to storm the floors.

Lynn Edwards wrote that although her husband was in the Capitol, he calmly spoke with police and poured water into the eyes of officers who had been exposed to tear gas.

Although the posts were removed, an informant took screenshots and provided them to the FBI, documents show. Agents were able to use the information from the posts to match photos of Edwards to videos taken during the Capitol assault.

On Monday, John Douglas Wright of Canton was arrested on accusations that he forced his way into the Capitol building during the assault. Clifford Mackrell, 20, of Lorain, was arrested in March on accusations that he assaulted a police officer during the insurrection. And a former therapist for the Cleveland Municipal School District, Christine Priola of Willoughby, was arrested on Jan. 14.

Several others in Ohio have been arrested in connection with the assault, including Jessica Watkins of Champaign County in western Ohio and other members of the Oath Keepers militia.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cathy Dobrowski rises every morning at 5 a.m., to begin with conferences and patient reviews promptly by 7 a.m. as a certified nurse practitioner at the Center for Neuro-Restoration at Cleveland Clinic.

Dobrowski, 65, has worked in the headache sector of the department for over a decade. But shes devoted her life to her patients, said her husband, Dr. Dave Dobrowski, a dentist in Lyndhurst.

All at the expense of personal time with her family, over the past 42 years, so that others may enjoy a higher quality of life, he said. If anyone deserves recognition, it is the nurses, such as Cathy.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are celebrating Health Care Heroes, nominated by readers for their dedication. They helped us through the coronavirus pandemic. Were honoring them with a collection of first- and third-person stories about their work. See all the profiles here.

Dobrowski nominated his wife for her selfless devotion to her patients.

Many individuals are not aware of the complete devotion healthcare providers give of themselves, without regard for how they are personally affected; the mental, physical, and emotional toll took by their selfless efforts, Dobrowski said.

Cathy Dobrowksi wouldnt call herself a hero but understands the publics gratitude to healthcare workers during this unprecedented time. I think of a healthcare hero as the Caregivers I work with every day,  she said.

Physicians, NPs and PAs, Nurses, Medical Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Administrators, and our front desk Caregivers who are the first to greet our patients. Everyone comes in every day committed to putting patients first and providing the best care to each and every one. No patient is turned away, Dobrowski said.

Dobrowski said she had to adapt quickly to changing environment when the coronavirus pandemic hit last March.

It was kinda scary, Dobrowski said.Were a pretty big department. We see a lot of people. We were told to move to another area. Its almost like living out of your suitcase for several months.

After trying to work with patients virtually, her department came back full time, with more patients than ever complaining of chronic headaches. There were many unknowns, but she knew she had to do what was best for her patients.

We felt like our patients needed us there, said Dobrowski, of Lyndhurst

A mother of three, the Shaker Heights native struggled in high school to decide whether to become a teacher or a nurse. Realizing that teaching wasnt in her heart, she fulfilled her mothers longtime wish of becoming a nurse.

My mother is a very hands-on person, Dobrowski said. She always wished that she wouldve done nursing. I guess I kind of just followed her lead. I really wanted something I could do hands-on with people.

She enjoys spending her time outside of work, staying active, and being a member of several healthcare-related organizations, including the American Headache Association and the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses.

Since getting vaccinated, she said she is excited to get back to a sense of normalcy and doing the things she enjoys, like meeting with her book group.

We cant wait until June when we can finally get together, Dobrowski said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The case of a mother accused of fatally shooting her 6-year-old son April 24 illustrates what former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim McCormack describes as a battle within the countys Department of Children and Family Services.

McCormack, now a retired appellate court judge, said that battle pits maintaining family unity at almost all costs on one side and taking pre-emptive action on the other.

Striking that balance isnt easy, he said. The families often have challenges. Caseworkers often have heavy caseloads and burn out, leading to high turnover. And one wrong decision can have tragic consequences.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to McCormack because of his passionate appeal for reform of the department nearly 25 years ago while still serving as a commissioner.

At the time, McCormack was so upset by the deaths of two young boys that he launched a controversial campaign for reform by making public confidential information about the case.

The boys had died in an arson in Cleveland, after bouncing from residence to residence while Children and Family Services fielded complaints about their care.

McCormack released confidential details about interactions with Children and Family Services -- an action heavily criticized by his colleagues -- and called for systemic changes.

Having young boys of his own pushed him to the decision.

Look at the love you have in your family and the absolute terror some of those children have in theirs, he said. It becomes unbearable not to do something.

There have been changes in leadership over time, with the countys focus shifting from more intervention  pushing up foster care numbers and often sparking criticism  to efforts aimed at keeping families together.

McCormack said the system must be as transparent and open as possible for its own credibility. And the county needs to be willing to intervene, he said.

Your instinct tells you that when danger reaches a certain point, you have to take action, he said. There are consequences for not taking action.
China sees surging passenger trips during May Day holiday

Xinhua) 13:55, May 06, 2021

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Total passenger trips made during China's May Day holiday are expected to reach 267 million, representing a significant increase compared with the same period last year, according to official data.

The average daily passenger trips are expected to exceed 53.47 million, up 122.2 percent year on year, the Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday.

As China made notable progress in COVID-19 prevention and control, people's travel demand was unleashed during the five-day holiday.

Nearly 18.83 million railway passenger trips were made on Saturday, the first day of the holiday, marking an increase of 9.2 percent from the 2019 level and hitting a new single-day high.

The civil aviation sector handled an estimate of 8.66 million passenger trips during the period, up 173.9 percent from a year earlier and basically in line with the 2019 level.

The May Day holiday lasts from May 1 to 5 this year.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A newly introduced voting overhaul bill in the Ohio House would put into law that absentee ballot drop boxes are only allowed at one place in each county and for a shorter length of time than in Novembers election.

Up to three boxes would be allowed at each county board of elections under House Bill 294, sponsored by Republican Reps. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati and Sharon Ray of Wadsworth, and introduced Thursday.

Drop boxes were widely used for the first time in Ohio for last years presidential election and have been a flashpoint in voting politics, even ending up in the courts.

HB 294 also changes how people can register to vote, request absentee ballots, among other issues. The bill comes after a wave of election law changes in Republican-controlled states. Many Republicans falsely believe that widespread fraud in the 2020 election led to the loss of former President Donald Trump.

In Ohio, Trump won by 8.1%.

The bill is called the Election Modernization and Security Act.

The bill would allow for more secure and safe elections while ensuring Ohioans voices are heard at the ballot boxes, Seitz said in a prepared statement. Ohio has been a leader in the way it runs its elections, and this bill will continue that positive track record.

Ray said the bill makes it easier to vote in Ohio but also harder to cheat.

As a former member of the Medina County Board of Elections and the bipartisan Ohio Elections Officials Association, I feel strongly that Ohio does elections right, she said. The Election Modernization and Security Act will codify much of what Ohio is already doing. The integrity of Ohios election practices should continue to be above reproach.

Yet critics say the Election Modernization and Security Act contains changes that dont necessarily do as the title describes.

You can call them what you want to. A pig is a pig, said state Rep. Catherine Ingram, a Cincinnati Democrat, during a virtual call with reporters shortly after the bill was introduced.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the states chief elections official, will work with the Ohio House as the bill moves forward, said his spokesman, Rob Nichols.

The bill makes it easier to register to vote, easier to vote absentee, and easier to vote on Election Day, and all the while maintaining Ohios high security standards, Nichols said in an email.

Drop boxes

The ballot drop boxes would be allowed outside boards of election for a time span of 10 days before an election until the close of polls on Election Day, the bill says.

This is 20 fewer days compared to the November election, when voters had 30 days to drop off ballots.

Seitz had earlier told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that even though the bill would offer fewer days, the 30-day timeframe was an emergency measure lawmakers passed during the pandemic, and was never meant to be permanent.

The drop boxes would have to be monitored by video surveillance 24 hours a day, HB 294 states.

Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said this could create public safety problems. Traffic in Cleveland and Cincinnati was backed up to the highways in November, with voters who needed to drop their ballots off at the board of elections boxes.

The league is still evaluating the bill, but Miller said that it will fight parts of it that reduce voters access.

What this is going to do is potentially make that worse for a Cleveland voter, she said. Instead of extending that ability for 28 days its only for 10 and still at the same address.

Absentee voting is preferred by many seniors, people with disabilities and students, Miller said.

If a county is large and a person doesnt have reliable transportation to the drop boxes, they would have to mail their absentee ballots.

Boards of elections would follow the current law, under the bill, which requires them to accept and count ballots that are postmarked prior to Election Day for 10 days after Election Day.

Requesting an absentee ballot

HB 294 would allow Ohio voters to request an absentee ballot online, through a secure two-factor authentication, similar to the current online voter registration system. The window for people to request an absentee ballot would be reduced under HB 294 from the current deadline of noon Saturday before Election Day to 10 days before the election.

This has to do with mail delays that can make it difficult for requests to be received and ballots to be mailed in time.

The League of Women Voters understands the concerns with delayed mail but would prefer seven days instead of 10, Miller said. Additionally, it would like an exception for members of the military serving overseas who receive their ballot via email.

They literally may be out of the field and have no access to a smartphone and the internet, she said. They might literally have to risk their lives to take a caravan (to an area with internet access.) Ten days might mean they cannot participate. Why do they need to have the same deadline?

Voter registration updates

New under the bill would be an option for Ohioans to register to vote when they visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It would also allow new addresses, driver license numbers, legal name changes and other such information to be updated.

This would register as voter activity, resetting the clock on the process through which a voter can be purged for inactivity.

Other changes

Ray and Seitz said their bill would require extensive testing of voting machines before elections.

In-person voting the Monday before an election would be eliminated - a request the lawmakers said came from many county boards of elections. It would be replaced with Monday hours that would be added to other early voting days.

It would create a prioritized list of voter identification methods, as well as expand the list to allow electronic versions of voters bank statements or utility bills instead of hard copies, the lawmakers said.

But Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, a Cleveland Democrat, said that two forms of voter ID would be required under the bill, instead of the one that most Midwestern states require.

This bill takes us backwards in the usual ways by attacking early voting and changing our ID laws to restrict access, she said. It takes us backwards by eliminating one of the three busiest days of early voting, Monday, a day when thousands of voters across the state have used since 2008.

Miller of the League of Women voters said the bill also allows the act of signing petitions for the ballot to count as voter activity, which would also reset the clock for removing people from voter rolls. However, that would require the petitions to actually be submitted to the boards of election, which sometimes doesnt happen when a petition effort fails, she said.

More coverage:

Ohio reports 1,387 new coronavirus cases, 4 million Ohioans have completed vaccine: Thursday update

Wolstein Center coronavirus mass vaccination clinic to offer Johnson & Johnson shots next week

Cleveland parents happy with kids schools, but public cooler toward local education: poll

Ohio reports 1,450 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update

Ohio Republicans look at censuring U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez: Capitol letter

Dr. Amy Acton to be honored with special Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library

Ohio House Republicans decline to change law to reflect same-sex couples adoptions of children
COLUMBUS, OhioLegislation to provide millions in state grants to expand high-speed broadband internet service around Ohio is on its way to Gov. Mike DeWine after passing a final House vote Wednesday.

House Bill 2, which passed the House 91-3, aims to help parts of the state where its currently cost-prohibitive for telecommunications companies to extend high-speed (or, in many cases, any) internet service. The bill would mostly help rural areas, proponents say, though they add that the grants would help Ohioans in every legislative district in the state.

If signed by DeWine, HB2 would provide $20 million this fiscal year for broadband grants. At one point, the bill contained an additional $190 million in grant funding for the next two years, but lawmakers (while supporting additional funding in principle) said they will work out details of that future funding in ongoing state budget negotiations, rather than in this legislation  in part so lawmakers can wait to see how much Ohio will get in federal broadband grants.

Right now, nearly 1 million Ohioans living in 300,000 households currently have no high-speed internet options at all, according to DeWines administration, making it difficult to watch streaming video, work or learn remotely, or hold telehealth appointments. DeWines latest two-year budget plan would provide $250 million for broadband expansion.

The grants provided by HB2 would be awarded over three years by a five-member authority consisting of the director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, a member of the DeWine administrations InnovateOhio initiative, and one appointee each from the governor, Ohio House and Ohio Senate.

State Rep. Rick Carfagna, a Delaware County Republican co-sponsoring HB2, said the legislation is part of a larger effort to connect Ohio households with high-speed internet.

Broadband is the great social equalizer of our time, Carfagna said. It will bring, at long last, employment, education, health care, and commerce opportunities presently denied to so many throughout our state.

Carfagna added that while HB2 will not solve the problem for everyone overnight, it will help Ohio to maximize the use of federal funds, free up millions of dollars worth of private investments, and allow lawmakers to move on to discussions about other aspects of internet access, including affordability.

Read more Ohio politics and government stories:

Ohio Senate Republicans abandon plan to ask voters to change redistricting deadlines

Northeast Ohio special election results for May 4, 2021

Read the new Ohio health orders lifting testing requirements for vaccinated nursing-home workers

Ohio GOP to vote on censuring Rep. Anthony Gonzalez and other Republicans over Trump impeachment

Dr. Amy Acton to be honored with special Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
Rotunda Rumblings

Not happening: Ohio Republican legislative leaders have abandoned a plan to ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment in August extending deadlines for Ohios new redistricting process. As Andrew Tobias reports, Senate President Matt Huffman, who floated the plan in light of delayed census data, had said he wouldnt go forward without bipartisan support. Democratic leaders expressed concerns about a rushed process.

The need for speed: Ohio lawmakers on Wednesday sent Gov. Mike DeWine a bill that would provide millions in state grants to expand high-speed broadband internet access to underserved areas of the state. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, House Bill 2 provides $20 million in grants this fiscal year; lawmakers have proposed an additional $190 million during the next two years, though theyre waiting to work that out in the state budget process (partially to see how much federal money Ohio can land).

Helping hand: State lawmakers on Wednesday approved $682 million in coronavirus relief grants to bars, restaurants, hotels, child-care providers, local fairs, food-assistance programs and others. The grants, passed via two bills (Senate Bill 108 and 109), would be paid for out of billions in funding Ohio received from two coronavirus stimulus packages passed by Congress last year. Both bills now go to DeWine.

On hold: One item that was on Wednesdays legislative agenda was House Bill 215, the Business Fairness Act, which aims to ensure that small businesses arent closed under a coronavirus order while larger, corporate stores deemed essential businesses can remain open. However, shortly before Wednesdays session, Huffman agreed to a request by the governors office to postpone the vote so they could work on the language of the measure. Huffman said he expects the bill will pass next Wednesday.

Delawared you go? The Delaware County Republican Party is no longer part of GOP former Treasurer Josh Mandels joint fundraising operation, Seth Richardson reports. Mandel, who is running for Senate, is using a curious apparatus to raise cash in the primary. The Delaware County GOP had been part of that, though a recent filing shows that Mandel is now partnered with the Shelby County Republican Party.

Cool with school: Most Cleveland residents with children in school  whether its in private, charter or in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District  rate their kids educational experience highly, according to a new survey by Baldwin Wallace University. Attitudes change, especially toward the CMSD, when the broader public is queried, including those who do not have children, Laura Hancock reports. The survey also included a couple of questions about the Cleveland mayors race.

Lucky number 13: Its shaping up to be an even more crowded field in the 11th Congressional District special election, with 13 Democrats filing to succeed former Rep. Marcia Fudge, Richardson reports. That may not be the final tally of who is on the ballot, but one surprising name who took himself out of the race is former state Rep. Bryan Flannery of Akron, who had actively been campaigning.

Taking another shot at it: Fudge, who is now U.S. Housing and Urban Development, on Wednesday helped launch an effort targeting people in public housing, the homeless and others who might have difficulty accessing coronavirus vaccines. Our goal is to meet people where we find them, Fudge said. Sabrina Eaton has details.

India ink: Sen. Rob Portman on Wednesday wrote a letter urging the Biden administration to take further steps to fight the coronavirus crisis in India, whose health care system is struggling to handle an average of 300,000 new infections every day. The letter with Virginia Democrat Mark Warner and Texas Republican John Cornyn urges the U.S. to transfer more lifesaving equipment, vaccines and other support to India as quickly as possible. The United States must work with the Indian government on their response, as well as continue to lead the international efforts to stop the spread of variants and to deliver the assistance needed to the Indian people.

Blind justice? Activists and a civil rights attorney are questioning whether Gov. Mike DeWines new Cleveland Municipal Court pick can remain impartial on cases when he posted a pro-police message on Facebook, West Park Blacks the Blue, which grew in popularity in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Former business contracts attorney Nathan J. Hudak, 42, hasnt practiced law since 2015, most recently working as a marketing manager. He will begin in court on Monday, Cory Shaffer reports.

Mixed results: Cameron Fields breaks down how school taxes fared in Tuesdays election. Half of new tax requests passed, while 91% of renewals were approved. Overall, Ohio voters approved 68% of school tax issues on the ballot, a slight increase from last years primary election.

Library levies: Ohio voters approved all nine public library issues on local ballots across the state, including eight renewals and one renewal that also included a tax increase, according to the Ohio Library Council.

Pandemic pilfering: The unemployment system isnt the only target of scammers during the pandemic. A federal indictment alleges that a Northwest Ohio businessman and five others fraudulently submitted at least 60 coronavirus-relief loan applications last year to the U.S. Small Business Association, which approved more than $3.3 million for them. John Caniglia has details.

Case management: On Wednesday, state officials reported 1,450 new coronavirus cases, below the 21-day average of 1,561 cases, Hancock reports. The number of people starting vaccinations was 21,465. And Ohios coronavirus case rate continues to decline. Cleveland.com projects the two-week rate will be close to 140.3 per 100,000 when it is updated Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health, Rich Exner reports.

A voucher for everyone? The newly introduced House Bill 290 would expand K-12 private school vouchers  for which a family is currently eligible based on income or if they live in the boundaries of a low-performing school  to everyone. The Center for Christian Virtues Aaron Baer said the bill would also loosen the requirements that the voucher only be used for tuition and instead could cover other expenses, such as school uniforms or books. HB 290 is written in such a way that it could apply to the state budget bill, through which lawmakers are considering overhauling K-12 funding. The budget is in the Ohio Senate. Huffman, generally a fan of vouchers, said he didnt know much about the bill and wasnt yet on board: I dont ultimately know how a universal voucher bill would work in a complex state like Ohio that has a lot of school choice programs.

Medic mandates: Since some hospitals are better equipped to care for patients having a stroke than others, a bill is back in the Ohio legislature that would provide paramedics guidelines for assessing, triaging and transporting stroke patients. The Dispatchs Laura Bischoff reports the bill is now in the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee.

House mates: State Rep. Jeff LaRe, a Fairfield County Republican running in the special election for Ohios 15th Congressional District, announced endorsements Wednesday from 10 of his House colleagues, including House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz.

Lobbying Lineup

Five organizations involved in the energy and environmental sector that are lobbying on House Bill 110, the states two-year budget bill. The bill has passed the Ohio House, and the Senate is working on its version of the budget. The budget affects state government operations starting July 1. Lobbyists have until 11:59 p.m. June 1 to disclose lobbying activity for the first quarter of this year.

1. Ascent Resources

2. Columbia Gas of Oho

3. Envirotest Systems Corp.

4. TC Energy, also known as TransCanada, Columbia Pipeline Group

5. Ohio Oil & Gas Association

Birthdays

State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari

Darryl Jones Jr., legislative aide to state Rep. Terrence Upchurch

Bill ONeill, ex-Ohio Supreme Court Justice and 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate

Straight From The Source

Break them up.

-Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordans Twitter response to the Facebook Oversight Boards decision to uphold banning former President Donald Trump from Facebook and Instagram.

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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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.

The Ohio Republican Partys 66-member state central committee has scheduled a Friday vote on a resolution that would censure Rocky River GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez and the nine other House of Representatives Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January after he encouraged a riot at the U.S. Capitol that led to multiple deaths.

Republican sources said a central committee member submitted the resolution to censure Gonzalez, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Tom Rice of South Carolina, Dan Newhouse and Jaime Herrera Buetler of Washington, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Fred Upton and Peter Meijer of Michigan, John Katko of New York and David Valadao of California for their votes to support the unconstitutional, politically motivated impeachment proceeding against President Donald J. Trump.

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.

It also says impeaching a president after his term has concluded is unprecedented, unconstitutional and serves no purpose beyond further dividing this country, and that now is the time for Republicans to unify as a party and uphold the United States Constitution and the rule of law.

It does not call for any concrete actions to be taken against Gonzalez and the other Republicans, and appears largely symbolic.

A spokesman for Gonzalezs re-election campaign declined to comment on the resolution. A Twitter statement issued by former Trump aide Max Miller, who has mounted a Trump-supported primary challenge to Gonzalez, said his rival put himself and the socialists ahead of the Republican Party, our conservative movement, and the voters of his district. It is right for him to be held accountable by the Ohio GOP and come election day, he will be held accountable by the people of this district.

After the impeachment vote, Gonzalez released a statement that said Trump helped organize and incite a mob that attacked the United States Congress in an attempt to prevent us from completing our solemn duties as prescribed by the Constitution: counting the electoral votes that confirmed Democrat Joe Bidens victory over Trump.

Since the vote, Gonzalez and other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump have taken flak from his loyalists, and Trump has sought revenge over the vote. Wyomings Republican party voted to censure Cheney, and some Republican House of Representatives members have tried to remove her from her post as House Republican Conference Chair.

When The Hill newspaper asked Gonzalez about the effort to oust Cheney, he said: If a prerequisite for leading our conference is continuing to lie to our voters, then Liz is not the best fit. Liz isnt going to lie to people. Liz is going to say what she believes. Shes going to stand on principle. And if thats going to be distracting for folks, shes not the best fit. I wish that werent the case.

Read more:

Ohios Richard Cordray gets Biden administration Education Department job overseeing student aid

Who will get zapped when Ohio redraws congressional maps?

Vice President Kamala Harris boosts public transit in Cincinnati to promote infrastructure bill

Senate candidate Tim Ryan kicks off his campaign with endorsements from Democratic party leaders, online visit with nurses

Rep. Steve Chabots ex-treasurer charged with embezzling $1.4 million from his campaign

Rep. Jim Jordan sets new record for conservatism, group says

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan announces run for U.S. Senate

Jim Jordan seeks answers from Major League Baseball on decision to move All-Star game

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge cancels Trump administration move to deny service to homeless transgender people

Ohio anti-fracking activist joins Greta Thunberg to decry fossil fuel subsidies at Earth Day congressional hearing

Dont hold your breath on passing marijuana banking legislation, says Senate banking chair Sherrod Brown

Sen. Sherrod Brown hopes Biden package will extend Medicare buy-in option to people 50 and over
Suellen Gross, 73, passed away on April 9, 2021. She was a proud and lifelong resident of Cleveland, where she was born and raised. She lived for many years in Mayfield Heights.
Somehow a critical video at Montefiore was erased, according to the lawyer representing two nurses fired for allegedly falsifying COVID-19 test samples.

Marie Gelle, then-assistant director of nursing at Montefiore, viewed the surveillance tape on Oct. 21, 2020, and found the relevant portion to be blank, Steven A. Sindell of Sindell & Sindell LLP of Beachwood wrote in an April 28 legal filing.

Sindell represents Tina R. King, Montefiores then-director of nursing, and Gelle, who were terminated Oct. 29, 2020. King and Gelle are suing Montefiore and Menorah Park, its two top executives and others. Montefiore and Menorah Park affiliated July 1, 2020.

According to Sindells legal filing, as she was being terminated, King told Menorah Park COO Richard Schwalberg that Montefiore did not have a surveillance tape showing the Mandel 3 hallway for the relevant date and time.

Schwalberg then called in a technician after daytime hours on a Friday, and the person was asked to remove something from the surveillance camera and/or examine it, Sindell wrote in the legal brief.

The two nurses were accused of submitting falsified testing swabs of 33 residents on one unit of Montefiore Oct. 13, 2020. Those tests came back negative, but in subsequent tests, all 33 were positive.

Both nurses insist they are innocent, Sindell wrote in the legal brief.

A licensed practical nurse told her unit manager and later Montefiores then-administrator, Ariel Hyman, she did not see King and Gelle enter patient rooms to conduct the testing, according to an Ohio Department of Health investigation.

Hyman was also terminated Oct. 29, 2020, after he failed to oversee the situation appropriately, James R. Newbrough, president and CEO of Menorah Park, wrote to residents and family, following the terminations.

The Ohio Attorney Generals Office is conducting a criminal investigation, according to Schwalbergs April 23 affidavit. In addition, Schwalberg said in the affidavit, three state agencies are conducting investigations: the Ohio Board of Nursing, the Ohio Board of Long-term Services and Supports and the Ohio Department of Health.

In a statement released to the Cleveland Jewish News via email May 4, Beth Silver, Menorah Parks director of public relations and marketing wrote, We respect the processes that are underway related to this matter and will not be making any comments regarding ongoing litigation or investigations.

Newbrough and Schwalberg are defendants in King and Gelles Dec. 9 lawsuit. Others are the Montefiore Home, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living Bet Moshav Zekenim Hadati and John Does I-X.

The defendants are seeking a motion for a stay of all proceedings and a protective order following a motion for discovery requesting evidence on the part of plaintiffs King and Gelle.

Multiple attempts to reach Hyman for this story were unsuccessful.
Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
In this January 2019 file photo, firefighters stand at attention in front of Central Fire Station as the body of Lt. Eric Hosette returns to Clinton following an autopsy. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations and penalties to ADM and Bill Whitters Construction following an investigation. Hosettes wife, Kelly, and injured firefighter Adam Cain have filed suit against ADM and Whitters Construction.
Crystal Jennings

Stewardship and Community Engagement Manager, City of Bridges Community Land Trust

For Crystal Jennings, community organizing began very personally, when she became involved in efforts to support residents, including her father, who were being evicted from their homes. That involvement helped her understand how residents can have a voice in decisions that affect them  and that it often takes many voices to be heard by those with the authority to make those decisions.

Community organizing led to her current career with the City of Bridges Community Land Trust, where she helps low-to-moderate income residents buy and stay in their homes. The system can be complex for first-time homebuyers, and especially for people of color, who may be impacted by systemic barriers throughout the process. So she helps to educate them, find resources and ensure they're prepared to navigate the system to get to the finish line of owning their own home. In this role, Jennings has already worked with Carnegie Mellon's CREATE Lab on visualizing data within Pittsburgh communities to better understand where investments are being made, where people of color have moved out, and where they are staying.

"What I hope to get out of The Center for Shared Prosperity is change, real change," Jennings says. "I'm a boots-on-the-ground person. Whatever we need to do to get the job done, we're going to do that. This is not a three- or five-year group and it's done. It's going to continue on. This is going to be a new, awesome start to forever change."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6) - The government has formally written to the foreign contractor hired to install free Wi-Fi sites nationwide that it wants them out of the project.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the Department of Information and Communications Technology has sent a demand letter to service provider Speedcast, seeking an end to their deal on the country's free public internet access program.

The foreign company is also asked to return the money paid by the government for Wi-Fi sites that it has still not been able to put up.

"Ang demand po nila ay itigil na ang proyekto dahil DICT na po ang gagawa ng proyekto. At ang perang binayad sa kanya na 'di naman niya naikabit by way of Wi-Fi spots ay dapat ibalik," Roque told a media briefing.

[Translation: The demand is for the contractor to stop its services, because the DICT will take over the project. The department is also asking the company to return the money paid by the government for the installation of Wi-Fi spots, which they weren't able to completely put up.]

Citing DICT Usec. Emmanuel Caintic, Roque said the contractor has until tomorrow to respond to these demands.

Roque earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte no longer wants the foreign company's involvement, considering only around 10,000 of the target 120,000 sites have so far been installed, with only a year before Duterte's term ends.

The spokesperson also said with the DICT's improved performance, the intended takeover of the project will help in at least coming close to hitting the 120,000-target over the next year. He earlier said the DICT was able to install 500% more sites in 2020 alone, compared to the total number put up by the contractor until 2019.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 12)  Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III is looking forward to an "informal meeting" with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian next week to discuss issues in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking to Senate reporters on Thursday, Sotto said a friend, whom he did not name, invited him to an event on Tuesday, May 11, which will also be attended by Huang.

When asked if they will talk about the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, Sotto said he's certain the matter will be discussed.

"I need not bring it up; I'm sure he'll bring it up also. If not, I'll ask him about it," Sotto said. "Parang tayong magkaibigan - ano ba pare, paano ba natin maaayos tong bakuran natin, di ba?"

[Translation: Like in a conversation between friends - hey buddy, how can we fix this, right?]

Sotto called it his "own little way" of helping find out "what we can do to better foster friendly relationships with them."

The Philippines has been sending diplomatic protests to China since March as the military keeps on spotting Chinese militia and fishing vessels in areas within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

Although the 2016 arbitral ruling recognizes the Philippines' sovereign rights over areas in its 200-nautical mile EEZ that China contests, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday downplayed the landmark decision as a mere piece of paper.

Duterte has been criticized for having a defeatist stance on the maritime row, but Sotto said he understands where the President is coming from.

"Of course, the ruling favors us but what does it contain? It didn't say that China should leave. Sinasabi lang na meron tayong karapatan doon (It just says we have rights there)," Sotto said.

He added there are only two options moving forward.

"One, negotiate. Two, go to war. Which one do you want? If I were the President, I will ask those critics," Sotto said.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has been urging the Duterte administration to file a case before the United Nations to compel China to stop its incursions and abide by the arbitral ruling. Duterte and his officials have repeatedly refused to do so, saying it would open a relitigation which the Philippines might lose.

Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to deliberate on a proposed resolution against China's "illegal actions" in the West Philippine Sea when it resumes sessions on May 17.

READ: Senate likely to pass West PH Sea resolution with amendments
The government steps up its patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Last week the Coast Guard drove away Chinese vessels from Philippine territory.

We now go above and beyond the headlines with National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.
Delaware State Police present a review of their activities in the area in 2019 at Millville Town Hall on March 11, 2020. The regular reviews have been tabled during the pandemic, but the DSP is expected to resume them soon. The Town has decided to maintain its existing contracted DSP coverage levels for the new fiscal year. The Town does not have its own police department.
Digital Division Editor

Tricia joined the Point in its first year  as staff reporter, then news editor, then managing editor, and now editor of our digital edition. She earned six MDDC Press Assoc. awards in her first two years alone, for columns, reporting and photography.
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.
President Joe Biden's plan to conserve 30% of the nation's public lands and waters by 2030 has a distinct Colorado brand, and not just because 43% of its acreage is publicly owned.

The goal is accompanied by a report from the National Climate Task Force and developed by the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Denver and Rep. Joe Neguse of Lafayette have emerged as two of the most members of Congress on preserving public lands in Colorado, and the title of Biden's initiative, America the Beautiful, gets its name from the beloved song first drafted by Katharine Lee Bates after her visit to the top of Pikes Peak in 1893.

Land and water conservation is a critical part of our effort to tackle the climate crisis," Bennet said in a statement Thursday. "This report is a strong start and lays out a vision that aligns with the kind of conservation efforts we know to be successful in Colorado  efforts that take a locally-led, collaborative, and inclusive approach and bring into the fold the private landowners, farmers, and ranchers who are already stewards of our natural resources."

INSIGHTS | 'America' is the national anthem we need right now Joey Bunch: "If theres something better that comes after this, I hope it's that the nations goodness quiets the racket of divisiveness."

He dropped the name of legislation he and Neguse are trying to pass to protect more than 400,000 acres of public land in the state, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act.

Bennet said of Biden's proposal, "Its the same approach that brought together the ranchers, hunters, anglers and local elected leaders who worked for over a decade to draft the CORE Act.

Im glad to see the administrations commitment to empowering local communities to drive the process. Theres a long road ahead to ensure that this is done right, and I expect the Biden Administration to continue to listen to Coloradans and individuals across the West as they work toward this goal. The America the Beautiful initiative is an opportunity to not only build climate resilience, but also to create jobs and grow economies across the West.

Bennet and former U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico, introduced a Senate resolution in 2019 to meet the same goals by 2030, but the legislation stalled out the Republican-led chamber.

Neguse, who chairs the House subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, said public lands are at the heart of Colorado's economy.

"[They] drive our commitment to sustainability, inspire our values and bring travelers from across the globe to marvel at our states beauty, he said in a statement. As weve advocated to protect and conserve our public lands, weve worked to ensure that the voices of our local communities and local tribes are central to our policymaking."

He noted that Biden's plan endorses his proposal to create the 21st Century Civilian Climate Corps proposal Neguse has advocated for, and increases the workforce on public lands, while investing in wildfire resiliency and response.

Conservation Colorado said public lands are part of the state's identity.

The outdoors have always been central to our states identity and economy," deputy director Jessica Goad said in a statement. "The framework that President Biden and his administration laid out will support locally led conservation efforts, create a more equitable and inclusive vision for the outdoors, and boost Colorados work to build back better."
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
Facebook this week announced a handful of updates to its Workplace enterprise social network, including new video features and improved integrations with third-party applications.

Among the features unveiled Tuesday are updates to a Live Q&A feature rolled out last year. A presenter can now click on a question and get details about the person who asked it, making it easier to personalize a response. By clicking on the question, the presenter can also place it in the middle of the screen for hosts and the audience. (Employees will soon also be able to include their name pronunciation, helping to avoid mispronunciations during video Q&As.

Facebook also beefed up an integration with Ciscos Webex video conferencing platform first announced in December, offering the ability to broadcast directly into Workplaces Live video feature without switching apps.

Workplace already has existing integrations with Zoom and BlueJeans, and an integration with Microsoft Teams remains under discussion, said Ujjwal Singh, head of product at Facebook Workplace.

With the introduction of Plugins, the company took another step towards connecting Workplace to external tools, with an eye on making it easier to share content via external tools such as Microsofts SharePoint. This lets leaders use Workplace to create content to connect with employees but also increase the surface area for that content, said Singh.

Other updates to the platform include the ability to sync Workplace events with external calendar tools, including those within Microsofts Outlook and Googles Gmail. And theres an update to Workplaces Knowledge Library content-sharing platform that allows the app to pull resources from other places such as intranets.

Facebook Workplace Facebook Workplace's Knowledge Library now allows the app to more easily access resources from other places.

Angela Ashenden, a principal analyst at CCS Insight, said Facebooks growing focus on integration  both in terms of surfacing third-party tools and content in Workplace, as well as pushing Workplace content elsewhere  serves to highlight the need for these tools to play nicely with an organizations existing investments in order to improve the employee experience.

Employees face a multitude of tools to get their work done, and its important that the tools work well together so that the employee doesnt have to be the human integration point joining the dots, Ashenden said.

Facebook claims 7M paid Workplace users

Facebook execs also gave an update on the number of paid Workplace users, saying that number has grown to 7 million, up 40% from 5 million in May 2020.

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, including everyone from Spotify to Starbucks to the World Health Organization, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement on his Facebook page Tuesday.

The paid user growth is due in part to the pandemic-led rise in remote work, said Julien Codorniou, vice president of Workplace from Facebook, though new customers are also deploying Workplace as they eye reopening offices and seek to connect remote and on-site staffers.

As companies embrace the hybrid way of working, they realize that sometimes just having a video conferencing solution or a chat messaging solution is not enough, Codorniou said. They want something that can help them connect everyone  people who work from home, from the factory, or from the office  with real-time and asynchronous communication tools.

Ashenden said Workplaces growth in the last year is evidence of a renewed focus on employee experience among businesses during the pandemic, as companies look to connect staff and nurture company culture.

Its something that will remain critical, even as offices start to reopen again, creating that consistency of connection regardless of whether youre in the office or at home, she said.
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.
Text:

Ganesh Devy



---

Social media links to RSD: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube On the June 4, hundreds of Rashtra Seva Dal members and like minded citizens will observe a day's fast to symbolically reaffirm their commitment to Courage, Unity, and Hope, Freedom and Equality. Many eminent thinkers, scientists, doctors, artists, writers, activists, cultural figures, community leaders and citizens from all part of the country will join in these meetings.---

A civil rights organisation, Rashtra Seva Dal (RSD), which claims to work to promote democracy, secularism, Constitutional values, equality and scientific thinking, has decided to offer collective homage for victims of the corona spate, which it says is both biological and ideological.Titled "Friday Flame: For a Fear Free India", and proposed as anon-line homage and tribute, the on-line shraddhanjali, says an email alert to Counterview by well-known linguist Ganesh Devy, president, RSD, will include lighting five candles or diyas, symbolising Courage, Unity, and Hope, Freedom and Equality, and two-three minutes short speeches in memory of the the departed.The homage is proposed to be paid in five successive weekly on-line meetings held on Fridays at 6.00 pm beginning May 7, and will be held on all successive Fridays, May 14, May 21, May 28, and June 4). On the June 4.Says an RSD announcement, Hundreds of Rashtra Seva Dal members and like minded citizens will observe a day's fast to symbolically reaffirm their commitment to Courage, Unity, and Hope, Freedom and Equality. Many eminent thinkers, scientists, doctors, artists, writers, activists, cultural figures, community leaders and citizens from all part of the country will join in...The Corona Pandemic has been among the most devastating tragedies in the remembered history of India. It has so far affected nearly 2 crore persons. Nearly 4 lakh new cases are reported coming up daily. One likes to hope that this number does not rise to 7 to 8 lakh daily by mid-May as is being predicted by experts. We are not thinking of the 3rd Phase as yet though there is a near certainty that another deadly phase may affect India.The figures are larger or at par with the figures of victims in other remembered natural or man made calamities in modern India's history. The Spanish Flue in 1918-19 affected 1 crore and 70 lakh persons. The Partition of India and Pakistan resulted in the death of more than 10 lakh. The Bangladesh war saw 2,69,000 persons killed in the subcontinent -- Pakistani, Indians and Bangladeshis.The Killari Earthquake killed over 30,000 and the Kutch earthquake took the lives of 18,600 persons. The figure of the dead due to the Corona Virus illness has crossed 2, 30,000 today.It is going to increase as the days and weeks pass, and one simply does not know how large it will be if the dreaded 3rd Phase hits us. The tribal and rural districts which had so far remained relatively unaffected have started showing a high incidence of Covid from the last week.How do we as a society respond to this hydra-headed calamity?One way is, of course, to enhance the country's healthcare infra-structure, to add to the human resource in the sector and to accelerate manufacture of vaccine and oxygen. Millions of families have already been devastated by the Corona impact.They have lost their dear ones, lost jobs, lost opportunities, lost hope. And the biological Corona epidemic is, sadly, coupled with an ideological corona. What we are facing is not just an individual's tragedy. It is a large, unprecedented and universal catastrophe.The least we can do in this situation is to remember and pay homage to the victims of all kinds of Corona.Our prayer for them should be a prayer and also a tribute for the courageous Indians who lost their lives fighting hatred, contempt and injustice.Rashtra Seva Dal works to promote Democracy, Secularism, Constitutional Values, Equality and Scientific Thinking. Therefore, the RSD is convening an on-line homage and tribute. The on-line Shraddhanjali will include lighting five candles or a diyas, symbolising Courage, Unity, and Hope, Freedom and Equality, and two-three minutes short speeches in memory of the the departed. Homage will be paid in five successive weekly on-line meetings held on Fridays at 6.00 PM beginning Friday, the May 7 till Friday, June 4. (May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4).
Yes, to an area over 100 miles away.

Yes, to an area within 100 miles of home

Yes, but it may be more of a staycation than anything else

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Nine Arkansas Tech University students have stepped forward to serve as facilitators during the 2021 ATU First Generation Institute. Read more
Cowley College Military Services hosting events

In recognition of Armed Forces Day, Cowley College Military Services will be hosting Once a service member, always a service member. All military service members are welcome to stop by one of Cowley Colleges campuses from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and have a cup of coffee or water, and snack.

We look forward to seeing you and thanking you for serving our country, Military Services Coordinator Cheri Adams said.

The schedule will be as follows:

Monday, May 10  Wichita Downtown Center

532 South Market Street

Wichita, KS 67202

Tuesday, May 11  Mulvane Campus

430 E. Main St.

Mulvane, KS 67110

Tuesday, May 11  Mulvane Career & Technical Education Center

201 Industrial Drive

Mulvane, KS 67110

Wednesday, May 12 - Sumner Campus

2208 Davis-White Loop

Wellington, KS 67152

Thursday, May 13  Arkansas City  Presidents Dining Room

206 S 4th St

Arkansas City, KS 67005

Thursday, May 13  Winfield  Allied Health Center

1406 E. Eighth Avenue

Winfield, KS 67156
A Christian crowdfunding site has helped raise over $15,000 to support a trust account for the son of a slain Maryland police officer who was assaulted and killed while responding to an early morning call of a fight in progress.

Last week, a fundraiser on the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo was established after Cpl. Keith Heacook of the Delmar Police Department was ambushed by a career criminal on April 25. Heacook, a 22-year veteran of the department, was responding ALONE to a known drug house for a fight in progress.

Three days later, Heacook died of his injuries.

According to the fundraiser, a local law firm was retained to start the trust account in which local realtor Pam Price and local auctioneer Doug Marshall will serve as trustees. Delmar is a town on the border of Delaware in Marylands rural Eastern Shore.

Source:The Christian Post
First Christian Church Disciples of Christ leader and REACH founder, Tim Dayton of Roanoke, Virginia, died in his sleep Monday after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer for more than a year. He was 66.

Our dad passed away last night at 11 PM. He was not in pain or confused; he simply went to sleep and then did not wake up, his daughter Robyn Dayton wrote in a statement published on Caring Bridge Tuesday.

We, his family, were sitting around his bed-sharing memories and laughing as he slept. The last sounds he was surrounded by were those of family, humor, and love. We miss him fiercely but are so grateful that the final phase of his cancer was not prolonged. It is a gift to know that he is not in pain or anticipating pain any longer.

Pastor Dayton revealed on the Caring Bridge platform last month that two months after celebrating his 65th birthday in February 2020, he learned of his advanced cancer.

Source:The Christian Post
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.

Source:The Christian Post
Addressing a crowd of pro-life activists, former President Donald Trump reportedly described his successor, President Joe Biden, as one of the most "radical" presidents in United States history.

Trump was one of several rumored 2024 presidential hopefuls who addressed the Susan B. Anthony Lists Pro-Life Leaders Summit in Palm Beach, Florida, this week.

At the event hosted by the prominent pro-life advocacy group, which was closed to the press, Trump criticized the current administrations policies on abortion and criticized his political opponents.

The Federalists Mollie Hemingway summed up the former presidents speech in a Twitter thread Monday.

Source:The Christian Post
Crossville, TN (38555)

Today

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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 70%.
The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) hosted its 36th annual Conference and Trade Show on April 22 using an innovative virtual platform to bring cruise industry executives and vendors together with a key focus on procurement and restarting operations.

The upbeat one-day event included a panel discussion and meet the industry forum, both with question and answer time. There was also a virtual trade show and two keynote addresses.

Vendors were able to meet with procurement officials from cruise lines as well as other cruise executives in an easy online format for the one-day event.

Key Highlights

Procurement

Its the first time we are going to sail with different load factors, said Vina Jumpp, associate vice president, global hotel, food and beverage procurement at Royal Caribbean Group.

Jumpp is dealing with a number of issues procuring supplies and food her ships coming back to service, starting with completely new homeports and making sure the ships are well stocked with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Costs have gone up 50 percent, she said, also saying availability and lead times are an issue.

Logistics will also be complicated to start with new homeports, and she noted rising protein prices.

Handling procurement and other items for a number of cruise brands, Alia Abou Assali had 150 containers to track down and bring home in March 2020 as vice president of purchasing and logistics at The Apollo Group.

They were eventually brought back and now the effort is on the staggered start up for the companys various cruise clients.

In terms of supply chain, the biggest challenge now is the uncertainty in the short-term, said Assali. Things are very uncertain in terms of specific timelines and consumption.

Virgin

Frank Weber, senior vice president of hotel operations for Virgin Voyages, said he had been working across the industry and was in regular touch with his counterparts at what would normally be rival cruise lines.

It has brought the industry together, he noted. There has been a lot of things we have learned from one another.

When Virgin does sail this summer, the goal is to create as much of a normal experience as possible

As cruise operators the ships are a fully controllable environment. We know who is coming and going,

Better Quality

We will have buffets but you will see changes, said Michelle Solorzano, senior director, F&B supply chain, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. They will be full-service buffets meaning our crew will serve all guests and seat all guests.

Solorzano said the company would not sacrifice quality.

In many cases we are increasing quality, she said. When our guests come back onboard we want to provide that wow factor. We want the experience to be better than it was before.

Vaccinations

Added Bruce Tschampel, vice president of hotel operations at Lindblad Expeditions: Vaccinations are really critical to our restart.

One advantage for Lindblad will be its two U.S.-flagged ships back in operation in Alaska this summer, with its American crew having easy access to the fast-moving vaccination program in the U.S.

At Saga Cruises, the company will require vaccinations aboard, is now including bubble shore excursions in the ticket price, and will have both its new ships sailing this summer, according to Horst Pint, director of hotel operations.

Grab and Go

Starting up with limited capacity, Windstar will adjust its buffet with no self-service, said Peter Tobler, director, hotel operations.

In addition to that we will have a lot more grab and go foods, he noted, adding that it will mostly be made onboard.

We are considering looking at (purchasing) prepackaged food, but the criteria and expectations are pretty high.

>>Read a comprehensive recap of the MHA virtual event in the summer edition of Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine, due out July 2021.
Major cruise lines are planning restarts in various phases in 2021. Here's the latest:

Carnival Cruise Line

First sailings listed: July 1, 2021

Ships: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Elation and Carnival Sensation

Regions: Caribbean and Bahamas

In April, Carnival Cruise Line extended its pause in operations through June 30, citing continued work with the Administration and with the CDC.

Now, the first sailings on the companys website schedule depart on July 1, with the Carnival Breeze, the Carnival Elation and the Carnival Sensation.

With other U.S. brands are relaunching service elsewhere in North America, Carnival is also evaluating the option.

While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on pause for over a year," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a previous statement.

Royal Caribbean International

First sailing: One ship in service; five more to follow

Ships: Quantum of the Seas in service; Odyssey of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas set to follow

Regions: Presently sailing in Asia and soon on Bahamas, Bermuda and Europe

Royal Caribbean has been sailing in Asia since December, offering short cruises from Singapore.

Now, the company plans to operate cruises on five more vessels.

In June, while the new Odyssey of the Seas will be based in Israel, the Adventure of the Seas and the Vision of the Seas will offer new itineraries in North America.

Another two ships, the Anthem of the Seas and the Jewel of the Seas will sail in Europe from July.

Crystal Cruises

First sailing: July 3, 2021

Ships: Crystal Serenity, Crystal Endeavor and Crystal Symphony

Regions: Bahamas, Iceland and the Caribbean

Crystal Cruises will be one of the first major cruise lines to restart service in North America, with the Crystal Serenity offering an all-Bahamian itinerary from July. In the same month, the luxury brand intends to relaunch service in Iceland, with the new Crystal Endeavor.

In August, the Crystal Symphony should also welcome passengers back, offering a series of 10-night cruises to the Caribbean.

MSC Cruises

First sailing: One ship in service; nine more to follow.

Ships: MSC Grandiosa in service; MSC Seaside, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Seashore, MSC Splendida, MSC Magnifica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Preziosa, MSC Musica and MSC Seaview set to follow

Regions: Presently sailing in the Western Mediterranean and soon in the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe

One of the first major cruise lines to welcome guests back, MSC Cruises is currently operating a single ship in the Mediterranean, the MSC Grandiosa.

Starting in May, the Italian company intends to gradually add more nine vessels to its restart plan, including the new MSC Virtuosa in the United Kingdom and the MSC Splendida in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, the temporary pause of U.S.-based sailings was further extended, cancelling all cruises until June 30, 2021.

Norwegian Cruise Line

First sailing: July 25, 2021

Ships: Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Gem

Regions: Eastern Mediterranean and Caribbean

After extending its operational pause once more, Norwegian Cruise Line announced its a restart plan, with three ships reentering service this summer.

The company will offer cruises from Greece with the Norwegian Jade, from Jamaica with the Norwegian Joy and from Dominican Republic with the Norwegian Gem.

Recently, Norwegian also submitted a plan to CDC, asking permission to cruise from U.S. ports starting on July 4, 2021.

Costa Cruises

First sailing: May 1, 2021

Ships: Costa Smeralda, Costa Firenze, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa

Regions: Western Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean

Costa Cruises recently expanded its restart plan to include four ships sailing in the Mediterranean during the summer.

The company is now planning to relaunch operations next month, starting un the Western Mediterranean. The region will see the Costa Smeralda offering three- to seven-night cruises to Italy from May 1, 2021.

In July, calls in France and Spain are expected to be add to the ships itinerary. Also in July, the new Costa Firenze will start all-Italian itinerary that includes visits Savona, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Naples, Messina and Cagliari.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, Costa plans sailings from Trieste on the Costa Luminosa starting on May 16, and from Venice on the Costa Deliziosa starting on June 26. Both ships will sail to the Greek Isles.

All other cruises previously scheduled through mid-September 2021 have been cancelled.

Disney Cruise Line

First sailing: July 15, 2021

Ship: Disney Magic

Region: United Kingdom

Disney Cruise Line is planning a service resumption in Europe, with the Disney Magic offering "staycations" in the UK market. The first sailing is scheduled to depart Liverpool on July 15, 2021.

Meanwhile, Disney cancelled all of its U.S. based operation until June 30, 2021.

Princess Cruises

First sailing: July 31, 2021

Ships: Sky Princess and Regal Princess

Region: United Kingdom

In March, Princess Cruises extended its global operational pause to include all sailings through June 30, 2021.

While cruises were cancelled further out in some destinations, Princess recently announced new Summer Seacations in the UK.

Exclusive to fully vaccinated local residents, the sailings are set to start on July 31, 2021 on the Sky Princess and the Regal Princess.

Genting Cruise Lines - Dream and Star Brands

First sailing: Two ships in service; another one starting on May 13, 2021

Ships: World Dream and Explorer Dream in service; Star Pisces set to follow

Regions: Presently sailing from Singapore and Taiwan and soon from Malaysia

In February, Dream Cruises extended its program of short cruises in Singapore until June 27, 2021. Onboard the World Dream, the sailings are geared to the local public and have been operating since November 2020.

The Explorer Dream, meanwhile, is sailing island-hopping itineraries in Taiwan since July 2020.

A third vessel will be reactivated in May, as the Star Pisces enters service in Malaysia for Star Cruises.

AIDA Cruises

First sailing: One ship in service; another starting on May 23, 2021

Ships: AIDAperla in service; AIDAblu set to follow

Regions: Presently sailing in the Canaries and soon in Greece

Since March 20, AIDA Cruises is sailing in the Canaries with the AIDAperla.

The operation features seven-night cruises from Gran Canaria and was recently extended until June.

Next month, the AIDAblu is set to offer two new week-long cruises in Greece, sailing from Corfu.

Celebrity Cruises

First sailing: June 5, 2021

Ships: Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Silhouette

Regions: Caribbean, Mediterranean and United Kingdom

Cruises Cruises has announced a phased restart service plan. Starting in June, the premium brand will offer cruises with three ships, with the new Celebrity Apex sailing in the Mediterranean and Celebrity Millennium in the Caribbean.

The Celebrity Silhouette, meanwhile, will sail a program of domestic sailings in the UK from July.

Holland America Line

First sailing: July 1, 2021

Ship: Volendam

Region: Mediterranean

After trimming Mediterranean sailings until June, Holland America Line could return to service on July 1 with the Volendam. Unlike other Carnival brands, however, the company is still to announce a firm restart plan.

Other summer itineraries to Alaska and Canada/New England are also in doubt, after Canadas extended ban on cruise ships.

TUI Cruises

First sailing: Two ships in service; another one starting on May 13, 2021

Ships: Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 in service; Mein Schiff 5 set to follow

Regions: Presently sailing in the Canaries and soon in Greece

With a program in Northern Europe, TUI Cruises was one of the first cruise lines to start sailing back in July 2020. Currently, the German brand is operating in the Canaries, with the Mein Schiff 2 as well as the Mein Schiff 1.

On May 13, a third ship is scheduled to enter service in Greece, as the Mein Schiff 5 offers week-long itineraries from Corfu.

Celestyal Cruises

First sailing: May 29, 2021

Ships: Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia

Regions: Mediterranean

Celestyal Cruises announced that it will resume operations on May 29 from Piraeus, Athens with its seven-night Idyllic Aegean itinerary aboard the Celestyal Crystal.

A second ship, the Celestyal Olympia, will resume service on June 28.

Windstar Cruises

First sailings: June 19, 2021

Ships: Star Breeze and Wind Star

Regions: Caribbean and Mediterranean

In March, Windstar Cruises outlined a new return-to-service plan to its fleet.

Now, the company plans to welcome guests back on June 19, with the Star Breeze in the Caribbean and the Wind Star in the Mediterranean.

Azamara

First sailing: July 10, 2021

Ship: Azamara Pursuit

Region: Eastern Mediterranean

Now an independent brand, Azamara has recently extended its pause in operations to include all sailings until June 30. With the change, the company might restart operations on July 10, with the Azamara Pursuit in Eastern Mediterranean, according to cruises listed on its website.

The companys new ship, now named Azamara Onward, should only be in service in 2022.

Silversea Cruises

First sailing: May 28, 2021

Ships: Silver Explorer and Silver Moon

Region: Australia and Mediterranean

Silversea Cruises cancelled all its cruises through May 27. Royal Caribbeans luxury brand now intends to return to service on May 28 with the Silver Explorer when the expedition ship is set to sail on a nine-night cruise in Australias Kimberly region.

Starting June 28, Silversea will also offer cruises in the Mediterranean with the new Silver Moon.

Virgin Voyages

First sailing: August 6, 2021

Ship: Scarlet Lady

Region: United Kingdom

After cancelling its entire summer season in the Caribbean, Virgin is now planning to start service in the UK. Starting in August, the Scarlet Lady is set to sail from Portsmouth, offering short cruises to nowhere.
MSC Cruises may be the biggest cruise brand based on confirmed resumption plans (as of late April 2021) and ships and berths back in service by August 31, using data from the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

On a corporate level, Carnival Corporation will have the most ships and berths back in service, with six brands set to operate 13 ships by late August at press time, and indications are that more announcements are forth coming.

Top 5 Cruise Lines Back in Service by August 31:

MSC Cruises

Ships: Ten  MSC Virtuosa, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Preziosa, MSC Splendida, MSC Magnifica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Musica

Total Berths: 37,066

Regions: Europe  Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe

After announcing a massive restart plan, MSC intends to have ten ships in service in Europe by August.

The restart fleet includes two newbuilds, the MSC Virtuosa, slated to offer cruises in the United Kingdom, and the MSC Seashore, poised to spend its inaugural season in the Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean International

Ships: Six  Odyssey of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Vision of the Seas

Total Berths: 19,500

Regions: North America, Mediterranean and Asia

Royal Caribbean International is one of the companies pioneering the cruise restart in North America. In March, the cruise line announced its intention to operate two ships in the region, with the Vision of the Seas sailing from Bermuda and the Adventure of the Seas sailing from the Bahamas.

By August, another four ships will also be in service, offering cruises in Europe and Asia.

Costa Cruises

Ships: Four  Costa Firenze, Costa Smeralda, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa

Total Berths: 13,976

Region: Europe  Western Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean

Costa has big plans for the summer in the Mediterranean. The Italian brand recently announced its intention to cruise with four ships in the region, including the new Costa Firenze and the LNG-powered Costa Smeralda.

All vessels will be based in Italy, offering cruises to other Italian ports, as well as destinations in Greece, France and Span.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Ships: Three  Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade

Total Berths: 9,000

Regions: Caribbean and Mediterranean

While asking the CDC for permission to cruise from U.S. ports starting in July, Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the restart of its operations elsewhere.

The company will resume service in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, with three ships.

Starting in August, the Norwegian Joy will sail from Jamaica, while the Norwegian Gem will sail from the Dominican Republic. In Europe, the Norwegian Jade will be based in Greeces tarting on July 25.

P&O Cruises

Ships: Two  Iona and Britannia

Total Berths: 8,811

Region: Europe  United Kingdom

Carnival Corporations British cruise line, P&O Cruises, will resume service in June, with domestic sailings in the United Kingdom.

Sailing from Southampton, the company plans to use its two newest ships, the 5,200-guest Iona and the 3,611-guest Britannia.

Numbers by Corporation

Carnival Corporation

Ships: 13

Brands in Service: 6 out of 9

Total Berths: 38,557

By Brand

Costa: 4 ships and 13,976 berths

AIDA: 2 ships and 5,424 berths

P&O: 2 ships and 8,811 berths

Princess: 2 ships and 7,200 ships

Cunard: 1 ship and 2,092 berths

Seabourn: 2 ships and 1,054 berths

MSC Cruises

Ships: 10

Brands in Service: 1 out of 1

Total Berths: 37,066

By Brand

MSC: 10 ships and 37,066 berths

Royal Caribbean Group

Ships: 15

Brands in Service: 5 out of 5

Total Berths: 36,982

By Brand

Royal Caribbean: 6 ships and 19,500 berths

Celebrity: 3 ships and 7,840 berths

TUI: 3 ships and 8,300 berths

Hapag-Lloyd: 2 ships and 746 berths

Silversea: 1 ship and 596 berths



Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Ships: 1 out of 3

Brands in Service: 1 out of 3

Total Berths: 9,000

By brand

Norwegian: 3 ships and 9,000 berths



Genting Cruise Lines

Ships: 6

Brands in Service: 3 out of 3

Total Berths: 8,486

By Brand

Dream: 2 ships and 5,204 berths

Star: 1 ship and 1,090 berths

Crystal: 3 ships and 2,192 berths
Heres a look at when some of the leading expedition cruise brands plan to restart operations.

Lindblad

First sailing: June 4, 2021

Ships: National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest

Regions: Galapagos and Alaska

Lindblad Expeditions is planning to relaunch operations in the Galapagos with the National Geographic Endeavour II. Starting on June 4, the 96-guest vessel will explore the remoteness of the Ecuadorian archipelago on a ten-day itinerary.

Starting on June 5, the company also plans to restart service in the Alaska, using its fleet of U.S.-flagged small ships.

Australis

First sailing: September 25, 2021

Ships: Ventus Australis and Stella Australis

Region: South America  Patagonia

Australis is currently planning to restart service sailing a full 2021-2022 season in Patagonia.

The first cruise is scheduled for September 25, with the Ventus Australis. The Stella Australis follows nearly a month later, on October 23.

Ponant

First sailing: June 25, 2021

Ships: Le Lyrial, Le Dumont DUrville, Le Boreal, Le Bellot, Le Bougainville, LAustral, Le Jacques Cartier and Le Champlain

Regions: Iceland, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Black Sea, Svalbard and Greenland

Ponant is currently planning to restart its cruise operations in June, offering itineraries in several regions.

According to its website, the company could have up to eight ships back in service by the end of July.

The vessels are slated to sail in destinations such as Iceland, Svalbard, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Oceanwide

First sailing: May 23, 2021

Ships: Plancius, Ortelius and Hondius

Region: Arctic

After cancelling its entire 2020-2021 season in Antarctica, Oceanwide is ready to restart service in the Arctic. Starting in May, the expedition operator plans to operate its three ships in the region.

The return to Antarctica will take place in October and includes the new Janssonius, currently under construction in Croatia.

Crystal

First sailing: July 17, 2021

Ship: Crystal Endeavor

Region: Iceland

The Crystal Endeavor will sail five 10-night immersive voyages circumnavigating Iceland beginning July 17, 2021.

Coral

First sailing: In service

Ships: Coral Discoverer, Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer

Region: Australia

Based in Australia, Coral Expeditions restarted sailing in October, offering domestic expeditions.

The 75-guest Coral Discoverer was the first ship to reenter service, followed by two other vessels, including the newbuild Coral Geographer.

Quark

First sailing: June 2, 2021

Ships: Ocean Adventurer and Ultramarine

Region: Arctic

Quark Expeditions is planning a service resumption in the Arctic, featuring its first newbuild, the 200-guest Ultramarine. The new vessel is set to enter service on June 25, offering expeditions to Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and even a Northwest Passage cruise.

The first ship to reenter service for the company, however, will be the Ocean Adventurer. On June 2, the vessel starts its Arctic season, sailing from Oslo on a Norway and Svalbard cruise.

Aurora

First sailing: June 1, 2021

Ship: Greg Mortimer

Region: Australia

Aurora Expeditions has replaced its Arctic 2021 season with an Australia program. The Australia-based cruise line plans to start the domestic operation on June 1.

The companys only ship, the Greg Mortimer, will offer voyages around Australia, Commonwealth Bay and the Ross Sea (East Antarctica).

Destinations include Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, the Kimberley, the Coral Coast, South West Edge, Ningaloo Reef and more.

Metropolitan

First sailing: In service

Ships: Isabela I and La Pinta

Region: South America  The Galapagos

Last August, Metropolitan Touring became one of the first cruise lines to resume service in the Galapagos.

The Ecuadorian brand offers expedition cruises in the archipelago with a three-ship fleet.

Poseidon

First sailing: July 9, 2021

Ships: Sea Spirit and 50 Years of Victory

Region: Arctic and North Pole

Poseidon Expeditions is planning a July restart, with cruises in the Arctic on the Sea Spirit. The 50 Years of Victory icebreaker is also scheduled to sail to the North Pole for the brand in July.
The Disney Wish will introduce a brand-new, distinctly Disney design concept unlike anything at sea, the company said, ahead of bigger news coming on April 29. The ship will be delivered and start cruising in 2022.

Disney said that the motif of enchantment is the architectural and thematic foundation of the ships design, weaving imagination, emotion and adventure into the very fabric of the vessels unique personality.

Enchantment is about unlocking the wonder in everything we do and experience, said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. For the Disney Wish, we are creating a signature design language that exudes this emotional magic like only Disney can, by infusing every inch of this enchanted ship with more Disney stories and characters than ever before. The Disney Wish will be a place where families really do get to wish upon a star.

Inspired by nearly a century of Disney fairytales, Walt Disney Imagineers have captured the essence of enchantment through three design lenses, using:

fairytale castles, emulating the classic storybook charm at the core of many enchanted tales;

forests and animals, bringing to life fascinating natural worlds and the animals that inhabit them; and

spirit of the sea, embodying the magic and mystery of the watery world below.

For the Disney Wish, the bow will feature Captain Minnie Mouse for the first time and the stern will boast a custom sculpture of the optimistic and adventurous Rapunzel. This artistic Disney Princess will appear to be decorating the exterior of the ship with her paintbrush and the help of her chameleon pal, Pascal, Disney said, in a statement.

Also new, is the Grand Hall, a bright, airy and elegant space that will welcome guests as they first step on the ship. Disney said that this fairytale castle-inspired atrium is touched with Gothic, Baroque and French Rococo influences that will give life to the columns, carvings, trimmings and adornments. At the base of a grand staircase, beneath the glow of the wishing star, will stand the personification of wish fulfillment herself: Cinderella.






Thousands of crew members have already come back onboard as more and more cruise lines announce service resumptions.

But how far in advance do operators notify their employees about work opportunities, and what do they need to go through to get back on ships with COVID-19 still affecting travel?

Cruise Industry News spoke with seven crew members, who asked not to be identified, but were working for MSC, Viking, AIDA and other major American and European cruise lines to find out how smooth their return onboard was after the pandemic-related pause in operations.

Getting Contacted

Crew members get contacted a couple of weeks before the joining date  with some having reported that they were contacted a couple of times: first time asked if they would like to resume working and second time with further details about their return.

I was contacted approximately three to four weeks prior to expected embarkation, said one crew member. I was asked in an email if I would like to return, and once confirmed, I got a call from the office via phone on two occasions.

One person said that they agreed to join the ship as almost all of the crew members are still waiting to get onboard, while another said that crew members of his nationality tend to accept any job offer just to return onboard.

I am happy to still have a job, the crew member said. I am not really happy to have been left at home for one year and then sent to the last and oldest ship in the fleet with a substantial pay cut.

Preparation To Return

Once the contract was confirmed by both the cruise line and the employee, finalizing all the paperwork took more time the usual, the crew members told Cruise Industry News.

Processing all the required documents before getting onboard was not that easy. Considering the surge of COVID cases in (the capital of my country), I was worried about my health since we need to have a negative swab test prior to our flight. I was glad that the result of my test was negative but sad for those crew who tested positive, one crew member currently onboard a megaship said.

I stayed in (the capital) for three weeks just to process all the necessary docs (visa, medical, etc.) since I normally live in the province, they added.

On average, crew members had to undergo two to three coronavirus tests to resume working. Depending on the rules in the country they come from, they might need to test before flying and then twice in their embarkation country: the first time with usually a PCR test done while staying in a hotel and then a rapid antigen test onboard.

Quarantine

Several crew members said that their quarantine took place in several stages.

First, they had to quarantine in a hotel to take a coronavirus test before going onboard.

Then, there was usually about a week of a hard quarantine onboard followed by a week of soft quarantine.

After embarkation, I got into a so-called hard quarantine, which means that I had a passenger cabin with balcony and had to stay there for the next seven days. I could choose between different meals, and it was delivered without having to get into contact with the staff. Also, orders from the crew bar like soft drinks, beers, cigarettes and sweets have been delivered straight to the cabin. Daily temperature checks and a quick talk to the doctor on the telephone ensured that I dont have any symptoms, one crew member said.

After seven days of preparing my paperwork, enjoying the sun on my balcony, mentally preparing for work and another antigen test, I got into so-called soft quarantine, which meant that I had designated areas for my free time and had to eat in a different place in the restaurant (which is now the crew mess). Apart from this, working was allowed as usual. After this soft quarantine, I was finally free to work, eat and spend my free time as usual, he added.

All the crew members said that they were allocated into a guest cabin for their quarantines, while some highlighted that it had a balcony.

During the quarantine, we went through the new COVID-19 protocols and some videos about that. Apart from that, we were relaxing and waiting, said one crew member onboard the Viking Jupiter.

Some crew members highlighted that a selection of films was available in their rooms, as well as free WiFi, although not all found that usable.

Complimentary internet was also provided, but mostly unusable due to the weakness of the WiFi, one crew member said.

Vaccination?

None of the crew members that Cruise Industry News spoke with reported having had to get vaccinated.

One crew member added that continual testing is also crucial for crew members.

It is very important to test the crew once they are onboard because even though they have tested negative with a PCR test, some turn out to be positive after two to-three days and they are then being sent to hospital locally to be immediately treated, they said.

Changes and Well-Being

The vast majority of crew members said that they were happy with how their return was handled. One crew member even highlighted that their cruise line was helpful during the pause in operations, too.

I am happy returning onboard, and it was well organized, they said. Even when we are on vacation, our company Viking supported us financially during the hard times.

Some crew members highlighted that there were changes in regulations that took time to get accustomed to, but overall, they were pleased.

The life onboard has changed completely. We are only allowed to stay in the crew area. No party, no activity and a lot less fresh air. You have to eat in a 30 minutes time slot for every mealtime, said one employee who works as a chef.

Having fewer people onboard was also described as a big change, as well as having to socially distance and have less socialization in general.

It was a weird experience, said one crew member whos still working onboard. We didn't have a specific role onboard. All departments helped each other.

Top photo: Crew aboard the World Dream | Credit: Singapore Cruise Society
The cruise industry is restarting in a big way in Europe with more ships entering service in May, while in North America, service resumptions involve sailing in the Caribbean and with U.S.-flagged ships in Alaska.

Here are the cruise ships currently back in service or planning restarts in May and into June:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Ship: Quantum of the Seas

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,100

Built: 2014

Homeport: Singapore

Itinerary: Three- and four-night cruises to nowhere, exclusive to Singapore residents

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Ship: Odyssey of the Seas

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,100

Built: 2021

Homeport: Haifa (Israel)

Itinerary: Three- to seven-night cruises visiting the Greek Isles and Cyprus

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 2, 2021

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Ship: Adventure of the Seas

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,100

Built: 2001

Homeport: Nassau (Bahamas)

Itinerary: Week-long cruise to CocoCay (with overnight), Cozumel and Freeport

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 12, 2021

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Ship: Vision of the Seas

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,000

Built: 1998

Homeport: Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda)

Itinerary: Week-long cruise to CocoCay, with overnight at the Royal Naval Dockyard

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 26, 2021

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Ship: Celebrity Millennium

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,038

Built: 2000

Homeport: Phillipsburg (St. Maarten)

Itinerary: Caribbean  Seven nights to Aruba, Curacao and Barbados or seven nights to Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 5, 2021

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Ship: Celebrity Apex

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,908

Built: 2020

Homeport: Piraeus (Greece)

Itinerary: Mediterranean  Greek Islands, Israel and Cyprus

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: Dream Cruises

Ship: Explorer Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,856

Built: 1999

Homeport: Keelung (Taiwan)

Itinerary: One- to five-night island hopping cruises in Taiwan, with visits to Penghu, Matsu, Kaohsiung, Hualien and more

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Dream Cruises

Ship: World Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,360

Built: 2017

Homeport: Singapore

Itinerary: Two and three-night cruises to nowhere, exclusive to local residents

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Star Cruises

Ship: Star Pisces

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,600

Built: 1990

Homeport: Penang (Malaysia)

Itinerary: One and two-night cruises to Langkawi

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 13, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Grandiosa

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,888

Built: 2019

Homeport: Genoa (Italy)

Itinerary: Western Mediterranean  Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo and Valletta

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Seaside

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,140

Built: 2017

Homeport: Genoa (Italy)

Itinerary: Western Mediterranean  Civitavecchia, Valletta, Siracusa and Taranto

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 1, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Virtuosa

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,888

Built: 2021

Homeport: Southampton (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: Short Cruises to Portland until June 12, followed by seven-night cruises to Belfast, Portland, Liverpool and Greenock

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 20, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Orchestra

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550

Built: 2007

Homeport: Venice and Bari (Italy)

Itinerary: Greek Islands and Croatia  Corfu, Mykonos and Dubrovnik

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 5, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Splendida

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,300

Built: 2009

Homeport: Trieste and Bari (Italy)

Itinerary: Eastern Mediterranean  Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 12, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Seaview

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,140

Built: 2018

Homeport: Kiel (Germany)

Itinerary: Northern Europe with Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Magnifica

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550

Built: 2010

Homeport: Venice and Bari (Italy)

Itinerary: Greece and Croatia  Piraeus, Mykonos and Split

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 20, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Musica

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550

Built: 2006

Homeport: Warnemunde (Germany)

Itinerary: Northern Europe with Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 20, 2021

Cruise Line: MSC Cruises

Ship: MSC Preziosa

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,500

Built: 2013

Homeport: Hamburg (Germany)

Itinerary: Northern Europe with Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 21, 2021

Cruise Line: TUI Cruises

Ship: Mein Schiff 2

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,894

Built: 2019

Homeport: Las Palmas (Spain)

Itinerary: Six to 14 nights to the Canaries calling at Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: TUI Cruises

Ship: Mein Schiff 1

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,894

Built: 2018

Homeport: Las Palmas (Spain)

Itinerary: 14 nights to the Canaries, with stops at Tenerife, La Gomera, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Arrecife and Puerto del Rosario

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: TUI Cruises

Ship: Mein Schiff 5

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,500

Built: 2016

Homeport: Crete (Greece)

Itinerary: Two different one-week itineraries to the Greek Isles with calls in Rhodes, Piraeus, Souda, Corfu, Katalokon and Piraeus

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 13, 2021

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Ship: Costa Smeralda

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 5,224

Built: 2019

Homeport: Savona (Italy)

Itinerary: Western Italy  La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari; Western Mediterranean cruises planned from July 3

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 1, 2021

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Ship: Costa Luminosa

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,260

Built: 2009

Homeport: Trieste and Bari (Italy)

Itinerary: Eastern Mediterranean  Corfu, Piraeus, Kotor and Dubrovnik

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 16, 2021

Cruise Line: Costa Cruises

Ship: Costa Deliziosa

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,260

Built: 2010

Homeport: Venice and Bari (Italy)

Itinerary: Greek Islands  Mykonos (with overnight), Corfu and Argostoli

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 26, 2021

Cruise Line: AIDA

Ship: AIDAperla

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,250

Built: 2017

Homeport: Gran Canaria (Spain)

Itinerary: Canaries  Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: AIDA

Ship: AIDAblu

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,174

Built: 2010

Homeport: Corfu (Greece)

Itinerary: Greek Islands including Piraeus, Crete, Rhodes and Katakolon

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 23, 2021

Cruise Line: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Ship: Europa 2

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 513

Built: 2013

Homeport: Gran Canaria (Spain) until May 15; Heraklion (Greece) from May 22

Itinerary: Canaries  Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro; Adriatic and Greece cruises planned from late May

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Ship: Hanseatic Inspiration

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 240

Built: 2019

Homeport: Hamburg (Germany)

Itinerary: Baltic, North Sea and Scandinavia

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 17, 2021

Cruise Line: Viking Cruises

Ship: Viking Venus

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 930

Built: 2021

Homeport: Southampton (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: England's Scenic Shores

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 22, 2021

Cruise Line: Viking Cruises

Ship: Viking Orion

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 930

Built: 2018

Homeport: Hamilton (Bermuda)

Itinerary: Week-long Bermuda Escapes with calls at St. George and Kings Wharf

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 15, 2021

Cruise Line: Viking Cruises

Ship: Viking Sky

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 930

Built: 2017

Homeport: Reykjavik (Iceland)

Itinerary: Seven nights around Iceland

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 26, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: Independence

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2010

Homeport: Jacksonville/Amelia Island and Charleston (United States)

Itinerary: Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Intracoastal Waterway, Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Jazz

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 190

Built: 2020

Homeport: New Orleans and Memphis (United States)

Itinerary: Lower Mississippi River

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Star

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2007

Homeport: Jacksonville/Amelia Island and Charleston (United States)

Itinerary: Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Intracoastal Waterway, Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: Queen of the Mississippi

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 149

Built: 2015

Homeport: New Orleans and Memphis (United States)

Itinerary: Lower Mississippi River

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: America

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 185

Built: 2016

Homeport: New Orleans (United States)

Itinerary: Lower Mississippi River

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Constitution

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 170

Built: 2018

Homeport: Baltimore (United States)

Itinerary: Washington D.C., Cambridge, Norfolk, Annapolis and more

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Song

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 195

Built: 2018

Homeport: Clarkson and Portland (United States)

Itinerary: Pacific Northwest  Columbia and Snake Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 2, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Harmony

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 195

Built: 2019

Homeport: Clarkson and Portland (United States)

Itinerary: Pacific Northwest  Columbia and Snake Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 5, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Pride

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 140

Built: 2012

Homeport: Clarkson and Portland (United States)

Itinerary: Pacific Northwest  Columbia and Snake Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 14, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Constellation

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 170

Built: 2017

Homeport: Seattle (United States)

Itinerary: Puget Sound and San Juan Islands

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 17, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: American Spirit

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2004

Homeport: Seattle (United States)

Itinerary: Puget Sound and San Juan Islands

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 22, 2021

Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines

Ship: Queen of the West

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 132

Built: 1995

Homeport: Clarkson and Portland (United States)

Itinerary: Pacific Northwest  Columbia and Snake Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 22, 2021

Cruise Line: American Queen Steamboat Company

Ship: American Countess

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 245

Built: 2020

Homeport: Memphis and New Orleans (United States)

Itinerary: Lower Mississippi River

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Queen Steamboat Company

Ship: American Duchess

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 166

Built: 1995

Homeport: St. Louis, Cincinnati, Nashville and Louisville (United States)

Itinerary: Mississippi River

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: American Queen Steamboat Company

Ship: American Empress

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 223

Built: 2003

Homeport: Portland and Spokane (United States)

Itinerary: Columbia and Snake Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 23, 2021

Cruise Line: American Queen Steamboat Company

Ship: American Queen

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 420

Built: 1994

Homeport: New Orleans, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Memphis (United States)

Itinerary: Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 20, 2021

Cruise Line: Celestyal Cruises

Ship: Celestyal Crystal

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 950

Built: 1992

Homeport: Piraeus (Greece)

Itinerary: Greece and Turkey - Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion, Mykonos, Milos and Crete

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 29, 2021

Cruise Line: Celestyal Cruises

Ship: Celestyal Olympia

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,664

Built: 1982

Homeport: Lavrion (Greece)

Itinerary: Greece and Cyprus - Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Ag. Nikolaos, Rhodes and Limassol

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 28, 2021

Cruise Line: Marella Cruises

Ship: Marella Explorer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,850

Built: 1996

Homeport: Southampton (England)

Itinerary: United Kingdom domestic cruising with calls at Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 25, 2021

Cruise Line: P&O Cruises

Ship: Britannia

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,611

Built: 2015

Homeport: Southampton (England)

Itinerary: Three- and four-night breaks and six-night holidays around the UK

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 27, 2021

Cruise Line: Saga Cruises

Ship: Spirit of Discovery

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,000

Built: 2019

Homeport: Tilbury (England)

Itinerary: Scottish Highlands, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 27, 2021

Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Ship: Silver Explorer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 144

Built: 1989

Homeport: Darwin and Broome (Australia)

Itinerary: Australia  Kimberley Region

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 28, 2021

Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Ship: Silver Origin

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2020

Homeport: San Cristobal and Baltra (Ecuador)

Itinerary: Galapagos expedition cruises

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 5, 2021

Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Ship: Silver Moon

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 596

Built: 2020

Homeport: Piraeus (Greece)

Itinerary: Eastern Mediterranean  Greece and Cyprus

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 18, 2021

Cruise Line: Windstar Cruises

Ship: Star Breeze

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 204

Built: 1989

Homeport: Philipsburg (St. Maarten)

Itinerary: Caribbean  Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and St. Barthelemy

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: Windstar Cruises

Ship: Wind Star

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 148

Built: 1986

Homeport: Piraeus (Greece)

Itinerary: Eastern Mediterranean  Greece and Turkey

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: Scenic Cruises and Tours

Ship: Scenic Eclipse

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 228

Built: 2019

Homeport: Broome and Darwin (Australia)

Itinerary: Domestic Australian Cruises at the Kimberley Region

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: Nicko Cruises

Ship: World Voyager

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 200

Built: 2020

Homeport: Tenerife (Spain)

Itinerary: Canaries  La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Coral Expeditions

Ship: Coral Discoverer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 72

Built: 2005

Homeport: Broome and Darwin (Australia)

Itinerary: Kimberley Region

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Coral Expeditions

Ship: Coral Adventurer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 120

Built: 2019

Homeport: Broome (Australia)

Itinerary: Kimberley Region

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Coral Expeditions

Ship: Coral Geographer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 120

Built: 2021

Homeport: Broome (Australia)

Itinerary: Kimberley Region

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Tradewind Voyages

Ship: Golden Horizon

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 300

Built: 2021

Homeport: Portsmouth, Harwich, Leith, Greenock and Liverpool (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: UK Domestic Cruising

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 22, 2021

Cruise Line: Aurora Expeditions

Ship: Greg Mortimer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 160

Built: 2019

Homeport: Darwin, Broome, Freemantle, Adelaide and Hobart (Australia)

Itinerary: Australia - Kimberley, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Coast and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 1, 2021

Cruise Line: True North Cruises

Ship: True North

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 36

Built: 2005

Homeport: Perth (Australia)

Itinerary: South West Australia

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Variety Cruises

Ship: Galileo

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 49

Built: 1992

Homeport: Athens (Greece)

Itinerary: Polyaigos, Folegandros, Syros, Santorini, Paros, Mykonos and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 14, 2021

Cruise Line: Variety Cruises

Ship: Pegasos

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 44

Built: 1990

Homeport: Mahe (Seychelles)

Itinerary: Eight days to the Seychelles with calls at St. Anne, Curieuse, Cousin Island and La Digue

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 19, 2021

Cruise Line: Metropolitan Touring

Ship: La Pinta

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 32

Built: 1979

Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador)

Itinerary: Galapagos Expeditions

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Metropolitan Touring

Ship: Isabela

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 40

Built: 1979

Homeport: Baltra and San Cristobal (Ecuador)

Itinerary: Galapagos Expeditions

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions

Ship: National Geographic Endeavour II

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 96

Built: 2005

Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador)

Itinerary: Galapagos Expeditions

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 4, 2021

Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions

Ship: National Geographic Venture

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2018

Homeport: Juneau and Sitka (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Icy Straits, Glacier Bay, Frederick Sound, Petersburg and Tracy Arm

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 5, 2021

Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions

Ship: National Geographic Quest

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100

Built: 2017

Homeport: Juneau and Sitka (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Icy Straits, Glacier Bay, Frederick Sound, Petersburg and Tracy Arm

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 5, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Admiralty Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 58

Built: 1979

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Southeast Alaska  Frederick Sound, Hobart Bay, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay National Park and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 22, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Baranof Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 49

Built: 1980

Homeport: Sitka and Ketchikan (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Wrangell, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Thorne Bay and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 23, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Alaskan Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 40

Built: 1986

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Southeast Alaska  Wilderness Bay, Petersburg, Lisianski Inlet and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 30, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Kruzof Explorer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 12

Built: 1968

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Southeast Alaska  Glacier Bay, Auke Bay, Pelican and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 4, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Misty Fjord

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 10

Built: 1997

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska expedition-style itinerary with no set routes

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 6, 2021

Cruise Line: Alaskan Dream Cruises

Ship: Chicagof Dream

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 76

Built: 1984

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Southeast Alaska  Frederick Sound, Hobart Bay, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay National Park and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 11, 2021

Cruise Line: Hebridean Island Cruises

Ship: Hebridean Princess

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 50

Built: 1964

Homeport: Oban (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: Scottish Highlands

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 18, 2021

Cruise Line: Noble Caledonia

Ship: Hebridean Sky

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 118

Built: 1991

Homeport: Plymouth, Oban and Inverness (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: Domestic UK Cruising with Scottish Highlands, British Isles and Wales

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 3, 2021

Cruise Line: Noble Caledonia

Ship: Island Sky

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 118

Built: 1992

Homeport: Portsmouth, Oban and Aberdeen (United Kingdom)

Itinerary: Domestic UK Cruising with Scottish Highlands, British Isles and Wales

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 4, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: Safari Quest

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 22

Built: 1992

Homeport: Seattle (United States)

Itinerary: Pacific Northwest  San Juan Islands, Lopez Island, Deception Pass and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 7, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: The Legacy

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 88

Built: 1984

Homeport: Seattle and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 10, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: Wilderness Discoverer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 76

Built: 1991

Homeport: Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Glacier Bay with stops in South Marble Island, Tracy Arm and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 16, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: Wilderness Explorer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 79

Built: 1976

Homeport: Seattle and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 18, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: Safari Explorer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 36

Built: 1998

Homeport: Sitka and Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Glacier Bay National Park, South Marble Island, Icy Strait, Grand Pacific Glacier and more

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on May 29, 2021

Cruise Line: UnCruise Adventures

Ship: Wilderness Adventurer

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 60

Built: 1984

Homeport: Juneau (United States)

Itinerary: Alaska  Glacier Bay

Status: Planned  first sailing scheduled on June 4, 2021

Cruise Line: Asuka Cruise (NYK Line)

Ship: Asuka II

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 720

Built: 1990

Homeport: Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe (Japan)

Itinerary: Short cruises visiting only Japanese ports

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Lines

Ship: Nippon Maru

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 600

Built: 1990

Homeport: Yokohama and Kobe (Japan)

Itinerary: Short cruises visiting only Japanese ports

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Venus Cruise

Ship: Pacific Venus

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 680

Built: 1998

Homeport: Yokohama, Nagoya and Kansai (Japan)

Itinerary: Two- to ten-night cruises to Japanese ports

Status: Sailing

Cruise Line: Aranui Cruises

Ship: Aranui 5

Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 254

Built: 2015

Homeport: Papeete (Tahiti)

Itinerary: Marquesas Islands

Status: Sailing
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a further restart of operations in Europe from the homeports of Barcelona and Rome with previously scheduled port-intensive itineraries to the Mediterranean and Greek Isles beginning Sept. 5, 2021.

Currently scheduled to sail from Barcelona, the Norwegian Epic will cruise seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Sept. 5, 2021 through Oct. 24, 2021, with the Norwegian Getaway sailing a mix of 10 to 11-day Greek Isles voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia) from Sept. 13, 2021 to Oct. 25, 2021.

The news follows the company's previously announced restart from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Greece with the Norwegian Joy, Jade and Gem.

"Europe is a top travel destination, so we are very much looking forward to returning to some of our most beloved homeports, resuming those itineraries and welcoming our guests to experience a vacation of a lifetime in the safest possible manner," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are actively working with our local partners and government officials, as we plan for resumption of voyages in the region with Norwegian Epic and Getaway joining Norwegian Jade this summer. Relaunching Norwegian Epic and Getaway will allow us to provide a greater variety of highly sought-after itineraries for those travelers preparing to take their first cruise vacation in over a year."

"While cruising has not yet restarted from Spanish ports, the Port of Barcelona has been closely working and cooperating with the Spanish Ministry of Health and with the Health Department of the local government of Catalonia towards the same objective: the resumption of cruise traffic following the safest protocols for guests, crew and the inhabitants of Barcelona," said Merce Conesa, president of the Port of Barcelona. "We are hopeful that we will soon welcome Norwegian Cruise Line and its guests to Barcelona."

In conjunction with today's redeployment announcement, the company has canceled all voyages on Norwegian Bliss and Pride of America through July 31, 2021; Norwegian Getaway through Sept. 2, 2021; Norwegian Dawn, Spirit and Star through Sept. 30, 2021; Norwegian Sun through Oct. 7, 2021; Norwegian Escape through Oct. 10, 2021; Norwegian Breakaway through Oct. 17, 2021; and Norwegian Gem from Oct. 29 through Nov. 17, 2021. Guests and Travel Partners with impacted reservations will be contacted directly.
With the cruise industry poised to resume its growth course post COVID-19, Carnival Corporation is projected to increase its passenger capacity by approximately 25 percent from 2019 (normal year comparison) to 2027, based on existing newbuild orders and expected deployment, according to the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

The Royal Caribbean Group is projected to grow 33 percent; Norwegian Holdings, 43 percent, while MSC Cruises will double its passenger capacity over the same time period.

On a fleetwide basis, Carnival Corporation is projected to be able to carry more than 14 million guests by 2027, Royal Caribbean, more than eight million, MSC 4.8 million and Norwegian and Norwegian 3.5 million.

Royal Caribbean International will be the single largest brand with an estimated passenger capacity of about six million, while MSC moves up as the second largest single brand on a global basis with a passenger capacity of 4.8 million.
We believe we are now seeing a clear way forward to safe cruising in the near future, said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, on Thursday's business update call.

Citing the letter that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released last night, modifying is requirements for the industrys return to service, Fain said it represented a significant improvement in their dialogue with the CDC.

Added Michael Bayley, CEO and president of the Royal Caribbean International brand: With what (CDC letter) we received last night July looks very realistic (for restarting cruises in North America).

As for the Alaska season, Fain noted there are uncertainties and that service resumption may require a waiver from the Passenger Vessels Service Act as long as Canada will not allow ship calls. Alternatively, Canada could allow technical calls.

Given the momentum, there is reason for optimism, he added.

We have had a very constructive dialogue with the CDC and other government agencies over the past few weeks, Fain continued. Many elements of the CSO (Conditional Sail Order) were unrealistic. The letter was very encouraging with multiple corrections to the existing CSO, elements that were very challenging. Certainly, vaccinations were a major element of change.

Fain also pointed out that the companys brands in Asia and Europe have carried some 125,000 passengers since the shutdown with only 21 COVID-19 cases and that has been without the benefit of vaccinations.

With cruise ships we can control the environment and we have already demonstrated that we can do that," Fain said.

There are still some uncertainties, however, and Bayley noted that he hopes to see further clarifications in the next few days and weeks.

According to the CDC, ships can reportedly bypass the simulated test voyages it had required before and move to sailings with paying passengers if 98 percent of crew and 95 percent of passengers are fully vaccinated. It will also respond to applications for simulated voyages within five days rather than 60 days as previously suggested.

Commented Bayley: As soon as we have port plans lined up, we can now apply to the CDC for permission to sail. The process has improved considerably."

The CDC also stated it will update its testing and quarantine requirements to align with it guidance for fully vaccinated people.

The CDC letter comes as pressure has been mounting on the agency through public opinion, legislative initiatives and lawsuits.
American Queen Steamboat Company has announced that the American Empress, cruising the Columbia and Snake rivers, will resume operations beginning June 14, 2021. This was stated in a press release.

The lines first 2021 Pacific Northwest sailing will feature the popular Pacific Northwest Splendor itinerary from Spokane, Wash. (Clarkston, Wash.) to Portland, Ore. (Vancouver, Wash.) and operate with enhanced health and safety protocols.

Following our successful March restart with the American Countess and American Duchess on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the added capacity of the American Empress in the Pacific Northwest will help meet the unprecedented guest demand to travel again, said Shawn Bierdz, president, American Queen Steamboat Company.

Our domestic, close-to-home itineraries continue to resonate with travelers, many new to cruising all together, along with seasoned ocean cruisers and our most loyal paddlewheel guests, he added.

American Queen Steamboat Company stated that the 2021 season is almost sold out, including the newly christened American Countess and boutique-style American Duchess, which both began operating at reduced capacity in March 2021.

All American Empress sailings will require 100-percent guest and crew COVID-19 vaccinations to sail beginning June 14, ahead of the July 1, 2021, American Queen Steamboat Company fleetwide vaccine mandate.

The vaccination requirement for the American Empress sailings expands upon the SafeCruise health and safety protocols already in place, which include, but is not limited to, pre-cruise COVID-19 testing of all guests and crew and a mask mandate in all public areas where social distancing is not possible.

The American Empress is the third American Queen Steamboat Company vessel to begin operating this year. In March 2021, the American Duchess was the first vessel to resume operations on the Mississippi River, followed by the newly debuted American Countess which also celebrated its inaugural season with a private christening ceremony.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the relaunch of its "Norwegian's Giving Joy" contest, which provides educators with free cruises and a chance to win up to $25,000 for their schools.

According to a press release, Norwegian's Giving Joy acknowledges the often-undervalued work of educators and highlights the intersection between travel and education.

"Now more than ever, educators deserve our gratitude and so much more for their perseverance and unwavering commitment to inspire students every day," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

"Travel is one of the most immersive means of education. It broadens our perspective, encourages us to discover, adapt and accept new cultures and experiences. With 'Norwegian's Giving Joy,' we are able to help shed light on these everyday heroes and raise their spirits by awarding them with a long-overdue vacation to help show them the world, as they've helped shape so many of ours," he added.

The month-long campaign runs from May 3 to June 4, 2021. The cruise line is asking for nominations of certified or accredited teachers in the U.S. and Canada who demonstrate a passion for bringing joy to the classroom, who relentlessly show up for their students  virtually or in person,  and who continue to motivate them every day.

The top 100 educators with the most votes will win a seven-night cruise for two on voyages embarking from the U.S. and Canada through summer 2023. The Grand Prize winner will be awarded with a $25,000 donation for his or her school, while the second and third place winners will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 donation respectively for their schools. A virtual award ceremony will take place in August 2021.

"We have all had a teacher that has impacted our lives and helped define who we are today," said Sommer. "It is our responsibility to rally behind these incredible individuals and show them how grateful we truly are. While we were unable to host 'Norwegian's Giving Joy' in 2020, we are making up for it this year by offering 100 teachers, more than ever before, with free cruises. We look forward to welcoming these educators onboard our world-class fleet very, very soon."

According to the press release, the "Norwegian's Giving Joy" contest was first launched in 2019, with over 1.4 million votes for more than 46,000 teachers, and a total prize of over $100,000 for schools across North America. Norwegian said that this year's campaign is especially significant given the elevated demands of this profession under pressure.
Cruise Baltic has reported on its progress toward the sustainability goals set in 2019 in its Cruise Baltic Sustainability Report 2020. According to the report, the partners in the network continued their sustainable efforts and investments in 2020, despite an uncertain year with almost no cruising.

2020 has been a year like no other and the pandemic has influenced the sustainable initiatives taking place at the Cruise Baltic ports and destinations. Despite a year without many cruises and with an uncertain future in sight, we are pleased that many ports and destinations have continued their efforts and investments in making the region the most sustainable cruise region in the world, said Claus Bdker, director of Cruise Baltic, an association that includes 31 ports and destinations in the Baltic Sea region.

For instance, Cruise Baltic reported that shore power is high on its agenda. In 2020, Rostock in Germany has constructed a shore power installation and will be ready to offer shore power to cruise lines in 2021. Stockholm in Sweden and Helsinki in Finland are ready to invest in shore power, Oslo in Norway is working on a pilot project, and Gothenburg in Sweden as well as the two Danish cities Copenhagen and Aarhus have all begun investigating the possibility.

The cruise industry had to adjust to a new reality with the outbreak of the COVID-19, and the situation is still uncertain. It is very positive to see that the ports and destinations, despite the difficult year, keep the sustainable spirit high. The partners continue their sustainable plans, and some ports have even decided or are in the process of deciding on big investments such as shore power, said Bdker.

There were many initiatives in 2020 started by the ports in the region, too. From a research project in Tallinn, Estonia, which resulted in discussions on how to reduce bus traffic between port and city  to extending the cruise season, where especially Roenne in Denmark very actively promotes winter tourism.

Other efforts and investments in 2020 include more green shore excursions including tours away from the most crowded places, making port-city infrastructure as seamless as possible, as well as studies on emissions, waste initiatives and electric busses.

Cruise Baltic said that sustainability continues to play a key role in strengthening the cruise industry in the Baltic Sea region. The different initiatives to become more sustainable continue throughout the network and its vision remains to make cruising a sustainable vacation offer in 2030.
Holland America Line is back and will start cruising again with the Eurodam from Greece in August. Guests will be required to have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Carnival-owned brand announced it had received approval to restart cruising from Piraeus (Athens) in August with four departures aboard the Eurodam. Bookings for these cruises will open May 6.

Departing Aug. 15 and 29, the "Idyllic Greek Isles" itinerary features Kotor, Montenegro, plus the Greek isles of Kekira (Corfu), Thira (Santorini) and Mykonos.

"Ancient Wonders" departs on Aug. 22 to explore Haifa, Israel, as well as Nafplion, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece. Both options can be combined to form a longer, back-to-back 14-day Collectors' Voyage.

A seven-day "Adriatic Allure" itinerary departing Sept. 5 will sail from Piraeus to Venice, Italy, with calls at Mykonos, Katakolon (Olympia) and Crete (Chania), Greece, and Sarande, Albania.

Additional Mediterranean cruises aboardthe Eurodam through the fall will be announced in the coming weeks and include ports in Italy and Greece, according to a company statement.

"Everyone at Holland America Line has been preparing for our return to service, and we are grateful to the government of Greece for allowing us to show that we can safely operate our cruises," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. "The beautiful islands of Greece have been a highlight of our Mediterranean itineraries for decades, and we are honored to be able to restart out of Athens and give our guests a memorable vacation after all this time without cruise travel."

"The Greek Islands have been welcoming Holland America Line ships for many years, and we are proud to work together to welcome the cruise line back this summer," said Harry Theoharis, Minister of Tourism of Greece. "We are sure that all visitors to Greece will once again have unique experiences to our beautiful destinations and fully enjoy the rich history, culture and gastronomy of our nation.''

Holland America Line cruises from Greece are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.
As COVID-19 numbers tick up in a number of key countries for cruise ship crew recruitment, multiple cruise lines are said to be putting a recruitment hold on sourcing crew in certain locales.

While Royal Caribbean Group has already confirmed it has stopped recruiting from India due to COVID-19 numbers, the same moves and more are spreading across the industry.

"But as it stands now crew from South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and other countries are also banned," said one crew member in an email to Cruise Industry News that asked not to be identified. "It makes no sense and it is very very difficult for people to just survive after a whole year without a salary."

In other obtained emails from cruise line human resource executives, multiple brands have put a hold on hiring any crew from India, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, citing rising COVID-19 cases.
AIDA Cruises is set to cruise from Germany later this month, according to a company statement, announcing short voyages from Kiel (Schleswig-Holstein) starting on May 22, 2021.

The AIDAsol is currently positioned in Northern Germany and ready for the restart, the company said.

The bookings opens on May 12, 2021 with further details to be announced soon.
Viking announced today that it will restart operations in the Mediterranean with new ocean voyages for vaccinated guests beginning this summer, according to a press release

The Viking Venus and Viking Sea will homeport in Valletta and sail two different 11-day roundtrip itineraries in the Mediterranean

Guests on the new Malta & Adriatic Jewels itinerary will overnight in Valletta and then sail to Montenegro and Croatia, calling in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Sibenik, before returning to the Maltese archipelago, with a stop in Gozo and finally back to Valletta. Guests on the new Malta & Greek Isles Discovery itinerary will also overnight in Valletta and then sail to Greece, calling in Kalamata, Athens, Santorini, Rhodes and Souda Bay, before returning to Valletta.

The Viking Venus and Viking Sea will sail the itineraries between July and early October 2021.

We thank the government of Malta for its support and enthusiasm as we continue restarting operations, said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. Malta is a fantastic destination, with ancient history, rich culture and a central location in the Mediterranean. We began calling in Malta in 2016 and look forward to welcoming guests back to some of the most historically significant and naturally beautiful areas of the Medin both the Maltese archipelago, as well as along the Croatian coast, and around Greek islands this summer.

Todays news follows Vikings recent announcements of Welcome Back ocean voyages in England, Iceland and Bermuda, beginning in May 2021. The company is actively working on developing additional Welcome Back itineraries in a variety of other destinations, with the goal of announcing further 2021 sailings as soon as government approvals are given.

Also, citing the result of strong demand, Viking also announced today it is adding more sailing dates this summer for its Welcome Back voyages around Iceland and Bermuda.




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UN family in Ethiopia marks Chinese Language Day amid call for strong multilingualism

Xinhua) 13:58, May 06, 2021

ADDIS ABABA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations family in Ethiopia on Wednesday marked the Chinese Language Day with an aim to promote Chinese language and culture by upholding the notion of multilingualism.

The Chinese language commemoration event, which was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU), was held virtually due to COVID-19 concerns.

The commemoration event featured presentations on the Chinese language and culture in Africa, lecture on Chinese intangible cultural heritage protection, traditional Chinese dance and personal experience of Chinese culture and language by young African students.

Orlando Crosby, English language editor at the UNECA and translator of documents from Chinese, French, and Spanish to English, said that commemoration of the Chinese Language Day manifests the growing multilingualism embracing the Chinese language and culture.

"We at the ECA wish that, going forward, our multilingualism partnership will grow in strength and extend beyond language day celebrations to encompass the numerous areas, in which China has an import ant role to play," Crosby added.

The Chinese language is one of the six languages of the United Nations. The other five are Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Liu Yuxi, Head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, on his part emphasized the vital imperative of multilingualism towards building culturally and linguistically connected societies, in which the commemoration of the Chinese language in partnership with the UN is serving as an important platform for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

"Chinese is the language used by the largest population and one of the six working languages of UN. I hope more people can enjoy the charm of Chinese language and culture," Liu told the online gathering.

According to the Confucius Institute at the Addis Ababa University, the Chinese Language Day celebration events could be seen as an important platform in creating awareness of the Chinese language in particular and Chinese culture in general to the rest of the world.

The United Nations family in Ethiopia annually commemorates the Chinese Language Day in line with the decision by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) back in 2010 to mark the Chinese Language Day on April 20.

The decision envisaged celebrating multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of the UN's official working languages throughout the organization's structure and activities.

April 20 was chosen as the Chinese Language Day to pay tribute to Cangjie, a mythical figure claimed to have invented Chinese characters.

This year's edition of the Chinese Language Day commemoration event organized by the UNECA and the Chinese Mission to the AU was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it was noted.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
MIDDLETOWN  A state trooper will not go to jail on charges he drunkenly ran a stop sign before a T-bone crash in Southbury that seriously injured a woman and her daughter if he successfully completes a court diversion program and community service, according to a plea agreement.

Appearing in state Superior Court in Middletown Thursday, McDonald pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and a judge granted his application for the pretrial alcohol education program, which will result in the DUI charge being dismissed if he completes the program successfully.

The nolo plea means McDonald, 38, did not admit or deny the charge. A judge entered a finding of guilty in the case, but the plea cant be used against him in a lawsuit filed in connection to the crash.

Judge Kevin Murphy then sentenced McDonald to a one-year suspended jail sentence and two years of probation. Conditions of McDonalds probation include completing the alcohol education program, 100 hours of community service and attending at least one drunk driving victim impact panel.

I had the opportunity several months ago to apologize to the victims and Id like to apologize again today, not only to them but their extended families as well as everyone effected by my actions, McDonald said in court. I appreciate their consideration and their kindness.

The prosecutor in the case, Jeffrey Doskos, said the victims are satisfied with the resolution.

A court victim advocate read a statement from the victims, Lisa and Madison Conroy, that said, It would be extremely upsetting and very difficult for us to be present today.

This incident has permanently and forever changed our lives, the Conroys statement said. Both the prosecutor and our attorney have made us very well aware of what is transpiring today. We have complete faith in the justice system and appreciate everything that has been done on our behalf.

McDonald, a 15-year trooper, was suspended following his arrest in the 2019 crash investigation. Despite being stripped of police powers, state police officials said McDonald still receives salary working on administrative duty while an internal investigation remains pending.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon following McDonalds no-contest plea, state police said the resolution of the criminal case means the internal affairs investigation can be completed.

Once the internal affairs investigation is completed, the administrative investigation will be sent to the Office of Labor Relations for administrative disposition in conjunction with the current collective bargaining agreement, the statement said.

The statement also reaffirmed that McDonalds police powers remain suspended while he is on administrative assignment.

Doskos said in court that McDonald had been at a retirement party at the Black Hog Brewery in Oxford before running a stop light at Airport Road and Route 188 in his police cruiser, which crashed into the side of the victims vehicle.

The impact sent the victims car off the road. The two were transported to St. Marys Hospital because of significant injuries for which they are still receiving treatment, Doskos said.

Doskos said accident investigators determined McDonalds vehicle was going 47 mph when it hit the Conroys vehicle.

A Southbury police officer said McDonald was swaying back and forth in the road after the collision and appeared injured or drunk. Doskos quoted an Oxford firefighter as saying McDonald was hammered and not listening to firefighters to stay out of the road.

The defendant was taken to Waterbury Hospital for evaluation and treatment of his injuries, Doskos said. However, he left the hospital without being treated and he left on his own volition, refusing treatment.

McDonald was arrested nearly two months after the crash, which was first reported on by the Waterbury Republican-American.

The prosecutor said surveillance video from within the brewery that showed McDonald consuming at least what was believed to be eight pints of beer, or a substance that appeared to be beer, over the course of about five hours, leaving him unsteady on his feet and stumbling.

The video has not been publicly released.

McDonald, who has been free on a written promise to appear, was sued by the victims. Their lawyer, Joseph Foti, said this week that the lawsuit was on track and they are continuing to conduct depositions of witnesses.

McDonalds lawyer, Robert Britt, told the judge that McDonald, throughout this process, has always been worried about what had occurred on that fateful day.

We truly appreciate the compassion and the God-given grace shown by this victim family, he said.

Britt said McDonald has been receiving alcohol treatment and treatment from a therapist specializing in dealing with first responders.

He hasnt had a drink since that event, Britt said, saying McDonald suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his youth as well as from his time as a state trooper.

Suffice it to say, he had a lot of baggage moving forward, the lawyer said.

The civil suit is scheduled for a remote hearing next month.

McDonald declined to comment to reporters after leaving the courthouse Thursday. Britt thanked the victims, judge and prosecutor but declined to say whether McDonald would fight to keep his job.
NEW HAVEN  David Swensen, whose investment strategies brought Yale Universitys endowment to a record $31 billion, has died.

Swensen, 67, died after a long battle with cancer, according to a message from Yale President Peter Salovey. He is survived by his wife, Meghan McMahon, three children and two stepchildren.

Swensen taught his last class on Monday, in investment analysis, with Dean Takahashi, longtime senior director of the investments office who now is director of the universitys Carbon Containment Lab, Salovey wrote.

David served our university with distinction. He was an exceptional colleague, a dear friend, and a beloved mentor to many in our community. Future generations will benefit from his dedication, brilliance, and generosity, Salovey wrote.

Davids ideas reverberated beyond Yale as he revolutionized the landscape of institutional investing. His approach, which has become known as the Yale Model, is now the standard for many university and foundation endowments, Salovey wrote. A natural teacher, he prepared a generation of institutional investors who have gone on to lead investment offices at other colleges and universities, further extending the scope of Davids influence.

Takahashi, who worked alongside Swensen for 33 years, said in a statement: Dave was a legendary pioneering investor and built incredible value for Yale and many other endowments and charities, but to me what was extraordinary and special was how much he loved and cared for his wife Meghan, family, friends and Yale, and how he was able to lead and inspire all those around him.

An amazing aspect of Davids leadership is his ability to inspire all those around him to do their best and to commit to the mission of higher education and charitable work, Takahashi said. Yales investment partners embraced principles of integrity and serving the public good. Dave led the endowment and institutional investment world, not only in pioneering the Yale model of asset allocation, but also in ethical investment practices and promoting diversity and combating climate change.

Swensen received his doctorate in economics from Yale in 1980 and worked for Salomon Bros. and Lehman Bros., becoming Yales chief investments officer in 1985.

David Swensen revolutionized institutional investment management; his influence is felt around the world, former Yale President Richard Levin said in a statement. Under his leadership, the superior performance of the Yale endowment made possible all that we have accomplished in the past thirty years: the rebuilding of the campus, the rejuvenation of downtown New Haven, the internationalization of our student body and academic programs, our commitment to making Yale College affordable for all who are admitted, and our investments in world-class science and engineering.

Levin, president from 1993 to 2013, added, Self-confident yet selfless, David was thoroughly devoted to the institution he loved. His judgment about people was impeccable. He set the highest standard of honesty and ethical behavior for himself, and he expected this of our staff and investment partners. He was a kind and generous soul, and an extraordinary teacher and mentor.

Over the last 35 years, Yales investments have grown an average 13.1 percent per year, according to Yale. The endowment stood at $2.6 billion in 1991.

Robert Shiller, a professor of economics at Yale and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2013, said Swensen was devoted to students. I think he had an open and engaging style that encouraged Yale alumni to come forward and tell him the truth about potential investments.

Shiller said the late James Tobin, who won the Nobel in economics in 1981, supported Swensens hiring, which allowed Swensen to make the major changes in investment strategy that brought the university endowment to the third largest in the country, after Harvard University and the University of Texas System.

He thought that endowments were too conservative in their investing, Shiller said, relying heavily on government bonds. They gave Swensen a free hand in 1985 to readjust the Yale portfolio and he put a lot in alternative investments like timberland that are hard to value. Theyre not traded frequently, Shiller said.

Swensen moved the universitys investments from into venture capital, leveraged buyouts, foreign equities, real estate and natural resources

Climate activists, including Fossil Free Yale, called for Yale to divest from the fossil fuel industry, as well as from companies holding Puerto Rican debt. In April, the university announced stricter principles for fossil fuel companies Yale holds investments in and threatened to divest from those that did not abide by them.

Swensen was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of President Barack Obamas Economic Recovery Advisory Board. He served as trustee or adviser to the Brookings Institution, Cambridge University, the Carnegie Corp., the New York Stock Exchange and many other institutions.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
DERBY  City police are investigating a Wednesday night shooting that wounded one person, officials confirmed Thursday.

Lt. Salvatore Frosceno confirmed that police have an active investigation into a shooting in the area of West 4th and Olivia streets around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of the Derby Green and found a 15-year-old boy with a lower-leg injury believed to be a gunshot wound.

The teen was treated at the hospital and is in stable condition.

There were several juveniles on the Derby Green at the time of the incident and police are investigating if the injured juvenile was the intended target, police said.

Multiple bullet casings were recovered by police nearby, about 50 yards from the area on the Green where the juveniles were standing, police said. The shooter has not been identified, police said.

Police clarified that officers were never in pursuit of a suspect vehicle after the shooting, which was indicated in some initial social media reports.

Anyone with information is asked to call Derby police at 203-735-7811.
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Kankakee, IL (60901)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Kankakee, IL (60901)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  The city might contribute $30,000 to help fund the new Lights On Kingston p
The intersection of Pine Grove Avenue (foreground), Grand Street (where the oncoming vehicles are) and Broadway in Midtown Kingston, N.Y., is shown on Nov. 12, 2020.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  A murder suspect who was freed from jail in early May because prosecutors missed the deadline to obtain an indictment against
The Orpheum Theatre, shown on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, is at 198 Main St. in the village of Saugerties, N.Y.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn suggests that current events in America follow a "biblical pattern."

In a recent YouTube video, Cahn wonders whether there is a mystery behind the developments that have rocked America, from the storming of Capitol Hill to the powers that are changing their country before their eyes.

"What does it all mean, and where is it all going?" he asked.

He continues his "prophetic message," which was published on Monday, by emphasizing that he is neither supporting nor blaming the Capitol riot. His goal is to demonstrate the extraordinary "prophetic template" behind the case, which is similar to the Temple of Baal in the Bible, and what it means for the current administration and the future of America.

In his book "The Paradigm: The Ancient Blueprint That Holds the Mystery of Our Times," he said that he sees a continuity of the mystery.

Cahn clarifies that he is not claiming that the Scriptures forecast the representatives of today, but rather that there is a trend, or blueprint, that has replicated itself across history.

"God can use those templates to speak and give revelation," he pointed out.

The Pattern Cahn Saw

The template depicts a country that once loved God but is increasingly drifting away from him "and heading ultimately for judgment."

Cahn draws several parallels between modern leaders - Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump - and specific ancient rulers, suggesting that they are templates.

Both of these similarities, as well as several others, are detailed in Cahn's novel, "The Paradigm." What is fresh this year was the activities that took place in "the temple of the American republic," the United States Capitol.

He mentions a passage from the period of its establishment in its halls: "We have built no national temples but the Capitol."

"What happens inside a nation's temple when it turns against God?" Cahn asks in the video.

On January 4, he remembers, the opening prayer in Congress was given to a "pagan deity," Brahma, Hinduism's four-faced god.

Per his observation that week, the Democratic Party unveiled what is perhaps the most progressive platform in American history.

"An agenda, that as with the Temple of Baal, contained sexual immorality being enshrined, the oppression of God's people, the encroaching of religious liberty in the form of the Equality Act and other legislation, and the killing of the unborn as it had never been championed before," he commented.

As the two Senate races in Georgia were called on January 6, the Democratic Party solidified its hold on Congress. Later that day, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's victory was confirmed.

According to Cahn, this is where the next mystery in the paradigm happened.

Regarding Trump as a modern-day King Jehu, Cahn mentions 2 Kings 10, in which Jehu calls for a solemn meeting, summoning citizens from all over the country to the capital city.

According to him, the template expresses itself in two gatherings on January 6.

"One is that gathering called for by the president," Cahn states. "The other is going to take place inside America's temple, in the gathering convened, by law, of leaders."

Cahn's Video Message for President Biden

Remembering President George Washington's first inaugural speech 232 years earlier when he gave the country "a prophetic warning," in his January video, Cahn said that he has a message for the new president and the country he heads.

"If America follows the ways of God, the blessings of God will remain," Cahn said. "If it doesn't, they will be removed."

This echoes Washington's words who said that "the propitious smiles of heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right that heaven itself has ordained."

Bits About Cahn

According to WND, Cahn is renowned for his bestselling novels, including "The Harbinger," which have discovered fascinating correlations between biblical tales and current events that he claims are a "divine warning" to the country.

Last September, he led a huge rally on the National Mall urging for the nation's "return" to God. He also encouraged Americans to fast and pray on Election Day, warning that the country was at "a crossroads and a precipice."
Ashland, KY (41101)

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Thunderstorms. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Thunderstorms, some with heavy rain this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Well, it wasn't quite the 'new Battle of Trafalgar', as one over-excited combatant claimed, was it?

With French fishing boats ramming British ones, and crews screaming obscenities at each other that they could not understand, the escalating dispute over the fishing rights between Britain and France yesterday more closely resembled a pantomime.

And the anti-British 'baddie' leading that charge in a calculated display of support for his countrymen? Step forward French President Emmanuel Macron, who ordered two military patrol boats to Jersey on Thursday for a face-off against a pair of Royal Navy gunboats.

Mercifully, the latter sent the French fishermen scurrying back home yesterday afternoon, preventing an all-out war. But the damage has been done and judging by Macron's past antics, it certainly won't be the last incident.

Under huge pressure in France for his mishandling of the pandemic, this popinjay statesman has in recent months been using his hatred of Brexit as a diversionary tactic from his own failings to make headlines by antagonising the UK, either directly or indirectly via the EU.

And the anti-British 'baddie' leading that charge in a calculated display of support for his countrymen? Step forward French President Emmanuel Macron, who ordered two military patrol boats to Jersey on Thursday for a face-off against a pair of Royal Navy gunboats. Pictured: Macron looks at a bust of Napoleon in Malta in 2019

This week he deployed his maritime minister Annick Girardin  a fiery Left-winger dubbed 'The Pirate of Hope' for her radical views and devotion to the fishing industry and another well-known Brexit hater  to add fuel to the fire.

It was she who threatened to cut off electricity to Jersey, a highly menacing comment because the island's power supplies largely come via undersea cables from France. As one UK political wag observed: 'At least when the Germans invaded they kept the lights on.'

This follows Macron's relentless undermining of the efficacy and safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. Not only has he jeopardised the rollout across Europe, he has also made himself look foolish.

On the one hand, he claimed the jab was 'quasi-ineffective' in the over-65s. Then in a startling volte-face, the 43-year-old not only conceded that he would happily receive the AstraZeneca vaccine himself, but he also approved the jab for the whole adult population. It is now recommended only for the over-55s.

Macron has also resorted to low politics by exploiting the sensitive and turbulent situation in Northern Ireland over Brexit and the Irish Sea border to try to get Britain to kowtow to Brussels.

Mercifully, the Royal Navy gunboats sent the French fishermen scurrying back home yesterday afternoon, preventing an all-out war. Pictured: HMS Tamar is deployed as French fishing boats protest against fishing licences on May 6

In March, EU official Maros Sefcovic accused the UK of violating international law and undermining trust by unilaterally extending the grace period and so suspending checks on some goods transported into the province from Britain under the Brexit protocol.

The EU immediately began legal proceedings. Praising the move, French European affairs minister Clement Beaune said: 'Respect our agreements, defend our interests: once again, the European Union will be without weakness.'

A one-time budding actor who met his wife Brigitte, 68, when she was his school drama teacher, Macron relishes these brinkmanship theatrics.

On Wednesday, to mark the 200th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte's death, he paid glowing tribute to the infamous warmonger.

While he acknowledged Napoleon's colonial crimes, and his reintroduction of slavery to France in 1802, the overall tone was one of immense praise.

'We love Napoleon because his life gives us a taste of what is possible if we accept the invitation to take risks,' Macron said.

He focused on the way his predecessor managed to unify his country through military adventures which not only expanded the French empire but also drew attention from chronic domestic problems.

It is no coincidence that Macron's sabre rattling over fishing rights comes amid growing calls for his resignation.

It is no coincidence that Macron's sabrerattling over fishing rights comes amid growing calls for his resignation. Pictured: French boats let off flares during the protest on Thursday

The pandemic has intensified enormous economic and social problems  and they are set to get worse as the country leaves its third lockdown.

Thousands took to the streets last Saturday, shouting 'Macron out!' while the 'Gilets Jaunes' (Yellow Vests)  a mass protest group named after their trademark high-vis jackets who have caused widespread disruption since 2018  have promised further chaos.

In next year's election, Macron is expected to go head-to-head again with Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-Right National Rally, and there is no doubt he is trying to appeal to her voter base.

The superficially liberal Macron  an independent unattached to any of the traditional parties of government  indulging in a British-bashing expedition is bound to impress Rally supporters. They too largely adore Napoleon and the power and prestige he brought to France.

It is stretching it to compare Macron to a Leopoldo Galtieri, the Argentine general and president who tried to seize the Falklands by force from Britain in 1982. But that invasion was a distraction tactic aimed at quelling growing dissent against his dictatorship. It failed and Macron's latest strategy may conclude similarly.

Boris Johnson has seized the opportunity Macron handed him with perfectly timed PR  gunboat diplomacy to protect Jersey and British territorial waters. His reward may come with a historic byelection win in Hartlepool  a major port with a fishing heritage.

A phonecall to Macron in the Elysee Palace to say 'Merci' may be in order.

Nabila Ramdani is a French-Algerian journalist, broadcaster and academic specialising in Anglo-French issues
Reading the supplements celebrating 125 glorious years of the Daily Mail has been like watching my life flash before me.

Not that I've been around for 125 years, although sometimes it feels like it.

The lovingly recreated highlights of this newspaper's, and our nation's, history have transported me on a sentimental journey.

For instance, I was reminded of the first time I encountered in the flesh the Grande Dame of Fleet Street, Ann Leslie.

I was assigned (condemned?) to spend a month on Neil Kinnock's battle bus during the 1987 election campaign. Ann was parachuted in for a day, sweeping on board like a Spanish galleon under full sail.

The lovingly recreated highlights of this newspaper's, and our nation's, history have transported me on a sentimental journey

Despite seemingly spending most of her time dealing loudly with some domestic crisis, after commandeering the Mail political reporter's cumbersome mobile telephone, she managed to produce an impeccable hatchet job on the hapless Labour leader for the following morning's paper.

Like everything she touched, it was insightful and elegantly written. Later we were to become firm friends and colleagues.

Ann is just one of the roll call of Fleet Street legends featured over the past six editions. Some, like the brilliant Ian Wooldridge and the wonderful Lynda Lee-Potter, I have been privileged to know. Others I have known only by reputation.

On Saturday, we featured Rex North's marvellous dispatch from HMS Belfast during the D-Day landings. His was a name I've been aware of for most of my career, but to my eternal shame until this week I had no idea he had been a war correspondent. I always thought of him as a gossip columnist.

In the early 1970s, I worked for a provincial news agency in Peterborough run by former Fleet Street hack Rex Needle.

One of Needle's proudest possessions was a framed herogram from North when he wrote for Rex North's Diary in the Sunday Mirror.

Monday's supplement reproduced Vincent Mulchrone's legendary 'two rivers' report on Winston Churchill lying in state. I felt as if I knew it off by heart.

It used to hang on the wall of the bar named in honour of Mulchrone at the Harrow pub, off Fleet Street, where as a young industrial correspondent on the Evening Standard I would often meet my colleagues from the rival Evening News for a mid-morning heart-starter.

I was assigned (condemned?) to spend a month on Neil Kinnock's battle bus during the 1987 election campaign. Ann was parachuted in for a day, sweeping on board like a Spanish galleon under full sail. Mr Kinnock is pictured above

Perhaps the greatest of them all was Edgar Wallace, who covered the Boer War for the Mail before decamping to Hollywood and writing King Kong.

One of Wallace's most devoted admirers was Keith Waterhouse, the columnists' columnist, also formerly of this parish. In the volume of his memoirs covering his arrival in Fleet Street, Keith writes about making a point of paying homage to the Edgar Wallace memorial plaque at Ludgate Circus  a ritual he would repeat over the years.

Wallace's job description reads simply: 'Reporter.' Underneath is engraved: 'Of his talents he gave lavishly to authorship  but to Fleet Street he gave his heart.'

That's a sentiment which I am certain could be applied to all those whose work has been featured this week. They are first and foremost reporters, and Fleet Street is their spiritual home.

Reading the immaculate copy filed by Mulchrone, Wallace, Wooldridge and Leslie reminds those of us still chipping away at the wordface of the standards to which we must aspire daily.

The Mail's former offices just off Fleet Street in central London

But journalists privileged to work front-of-house must acknowledge that none of it would be possible without our colleagues who toil in the engine room  the sub-editors, the secretaries, the artists, the printers, the delivery drivers.

Nor would our endeavours have much purpose were it not for the most important element in the newspaper equation  the loyalty of our magnificent army of readers. Over the past 125 years, the Mail has run countless campaigns, which could not have been successful without your wholehearted support.

Time and again, Mail readers have demonstrated their overwhelming generosity, most recently giving 160,000 in just six days to our appeal to establish a lasting, multi-faith memorial to our Covid dead.

It's not just the financial donations, either. I can remember Keith Waterhouse writing a column lamenting the fact that he could no longer obtain new ribbons for his trusty sit-up-and-beg typewriter. Within days, he was inundated with ribbons from readers all over Britain.

You also provide so much of the inspiration and, indeed, raw material. I get hundreds of emails and letters each week, not just commenting on what I've written but offering ideas, jokes, cuttings from local newspapers  some of which end up in the column or supply the spark for one of Gary's fabulous cartoons.

So let me thank you, from all of us at the Mail. I've said it before and it's worth saying again as we celebrate a landmark anniversary: this column, this newspaper, simply wouldn't be the same without you.

Here's to the next 125 years.

Earlier this week, I toyed with the idea of asking Gary to draw a cartoon for Tuesday's column to go with a story about Morris dancers being forced to swap the traditional blackface for blue make-up.

The Eagle Hook Morris Men, from Hampshire, took the decision under pressure from the Morris Federation.

Blackface dates back to the 15th century, when farmworkers used to smear their faces with soot to conceal their identity when begging illegally for money. But after 'considerable soul-searching' the federation has caved in to Black Lives Matter protests.

Anyway, with Gary keen to draw leatherjacket larvae fighting with Oak Processionary Mods, I decided it would keep until Friday.

Earlier this week, I toyed with the idea of asking Gary to draw a cartoon for Tuesday's column to go with a story about Morris dancers being forced to swap the traditional blackface for blue make-up

My plan was that it would be illustrated by Smurfs waving 'Blue Lives Matter' placards. Then I turned to Tuesday's letters page and read this 'Straight To The Point' from Keith Langley, in Nottingham: 'The Smurfs have lodged a complaint of cultural misappropriation after Morris dancers painted their faces blue rather than black.'

Great minds, eh? Still, it's too good an idea to go to waste. So, Keith, this one's for you.

Where are you all coming from . . ?

After news that lockdown has led to more people turning to drink, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has declared: 'There is currently no evidence that drinking alcohol interferes with the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines.' Thank goodness for that. We're safe!

With the Tories making little or no effort to recapture the London mayor's office, I couldn't see why I should bother voting.

The pollsters had that two-bob chancer Genghis Khan as a shoo-in, so there didn't seem much point.

My vote would have gone to the actor Laurence Fox  young Hathaway from Lewis.

Fox talks a great deal of 'anti-woke' sense, but stood no chance this time round.

Still, maybe a few years down the line, there could be a future for Hathaway and his Reclaim Party.

Don't forget, Nigel Farage and Ukip were considered a joke 20-odd years ago  and look how that turned out.

Minder how you go, Tracy

The Lib Dems grassed up Labour's candidate for West Yorkshire mayor for giving away brownies on the campaign trail.

Police investigated, but decided Tracy Brabin, a former Coronation Street actress, hadn't broken electoral law.

Labour leader Max Headroom, a lawyer, said he was surprised anyone had taken the complaint seriously.

She's lucky Cheerful Charlie Chisholm wasn't on the case. What we have here is another example of Life Imitating Minder.

In the classic episode The Balance Of Power, Arthur stands for the local council only to be disqualified when Chisholm discovers he's been bribing voters with boxes of chocolate he had lying around the lock-up.

Naturally, the choccies were well past their sell-by date. Just like Max Headroom's Labour Party.

The RAF has announced plans to hit net-zero emissions within two decades. Quite how they are going to achieve that remains to be seen, since no one has yet come up with an electric fighter jet. Maybe theyre going to send out a squadron of hang-gliders over Iraq. Or catapult pilots from the decks of former aircraft carriers.

Chocks away!
French aggression over disputed fishing waters around the Channel Islands is childish, irrational, petulant and dangerous.

Their militant behaviour is like something from the 19th century, not the 21st. We ought to be long clear of all that old history, but by being so obstreperous the French and their navy are harking back to the Napoleonic era.

Its tempting to be trite and point out that clashes between British and French fleets never do end in their favour. The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 remains one of the most emphatic victories in our island history, one that helped shape the world today.

But this is not a moment for jingoism. The French are making extreme threats and naval encounters can escalate with alarming speed. We are in the midst of a serious situation, although it may seem like an Ealing comedy.

Yesterdays protest saw more than 60 small Normandy vessels gathering around the bay  with some actually entering the harbour of St Helier  taking up position for a blockade that dispersed after several hours.

French aggression over disputed fishing waters around the Channel Islands is childish, irrational, petulant and dangerous, writes Admiral Lord West of Spithead

All this, in a dispute over delays to paperwork for fishing licences. I am astonished by the hysterical French over-reaction.

Make no mistake, these are British territorial waters. The citizens of the Channel Islands are British. Protecting them is more than our right  it is our duty, and the Prime Minister was right to send in a couple of Fishery Protection ships, HMS Tamar and HMS Severn.

The response of the government in Paris, to despatch two gendarmerie patrol boats, PCG Athos and PCG Themis, was one more arrogant provocation. In simple terms, one country cannot just send its armed ships into the territorial seas of another nation and leave them there. It is a gross breach of the UN Convention of the laws at sea.

In the aftermath of Brexit, Jersey is applying the rules of the treaties. The French have taken exception to this. What should follow is legal discussion and debate, with a resolution agreed by both sides.

Thats the way friends ought to behave in this day and age  and our navies should be friends. We have a history of co-operation as allies since the Entente Cordiale more than a century ago. By sharing our knowledge and training programmes, both countries benefit and Europe is safer.

Make no mistake, these are British territorial waters. The citizens of the Channel Islands are British. Protecting them is more than our right  it is our duty, and the Prime Minister was right to send in a couple of Fishery Protection ships, HMS Tamar and HMS Severn

What is so alarming is how eager French president Emmanuel Macron and his ministers have been to stir up trouble.

The most incendiary threat so far has been their less-than-veiled warning that Jerseys electricity supply lies under French control. Almost all the islands power is transmitted via underwater cables from the Norman mainland.

Shutting off electricity to a foreign country is nothing short of international gangsterism. The very idea of it shames a great democratic nation such as France.

It would be a hostile act that would put lives in danger. Without electricity, Jerseys hospitals and many other vital services would be impaired.

So far, the Prime Minister has acted with the right balance of muscle and restraint. Tamar and Severn were sent in to monitor, not to fight.

Of course they are equipped with heavy cannons and machine guns, but there would be no question of opening fire, except in self-defence if they came under fire themselves.

In the event, the flotilla of French fishing boats turned tail and headed back to their home ports yesterday afternoon.

Its tempting to be trite and point out that clashes between British and French fleets never do end in their favour. The Battle of Trafalgar (depicted here) in 1805 remains one of the most emphatic victories in our island history, one that helped shape the world today

The French warships also withdrew and, in response, No 10 announced that the Tamar and the Severn would leave the area given that the situation is resolved for now.

But if the blockade had begun in earnest and showed no sign of lifting, perhaps over several days, then our sailors could have worked with local police to board the French boats.

Fishermen would have been asked to leave and their boats impounded. If they refused, they could have been arrested. After appropriate legal action, their equipment would have been liable to confiscation.

In this context the protesters should be seen as naughty fishermen and  if the occasion should arise punished accordingly.

It is imperative that the crisis does not escalate. Half a century ago, British and Icelandic fishing fleets clashed in the so-called Cod Wars. There were numerous aggressive incidents, with trawlers being attacked and rammed.

But the history of these disputes goes back far beyond that. The Tamar and Severn belong to the former Fishery Protection Squadron, now renamed the Overseas Patrol Squadron, which is the oldest division in the Royal Navy. Its been protecting our fishing fleet since Elizabethan times.

As an enthusiastic amateur historian, Boris Johnson will know that Lord Nelson was once a captain in the Fishery Protection Squadron. He will also recall from his history lessons that during the French Revolution, the Royal Navy blockaded the Brittany port of Brest to protect our trading routes.

That was more than 200 years ago. The apparent French eagerness to return to those days is plain madness.
While parents harbour fears about their children falling behind at school and the mental health impact of lockdown on young people, TV adventurer Ben Fogle has revealed his biggest pandemic worry for young people is how it's killing off risk.

The New Lives in the Wild presenter, 47, who shares two children with his wife Marina, Ludovic, 11 and Iona, 10, said that risk has become 'endangered to the brink of extinction', with the process accelerated by lockdown.

Speaking to Femail ahead of Channel 5s summer festival, '5 on the Farm', taking place in Yorkshire over August Bank Holiday, he said: 'A lot of children have lost any sort of access to risk, they're completely mollycoddled, wrapped in cotton wool by protective parents, and the pandemic hasn't helped that.

'None of us have been able to take a single risk, I get that, we've done it for a year.

TV presenter Ben Fogle, 47, pictured with his ten-year-old daughter Iona, said that he laments the lack of risk that lockdown has brought to people's lives

Ben, with his wife Marina, left, who founded the Parent Hood pocdcast, where she discusses parenting, and son Ludo, 11 and daughter Iona, ten, during a family holiday in 2019

'But we also have to wean ourselves back to how we used to live and I know not everyone will want to embrace risk, not everyone will want to take their children off to what might be considered unsafe places.'

'For me, risk, which is taking yourself out of your comfort zone into an unpredictable environment, is so important.

'It saddens me that risk in generally is becoming endangered, endangered to the brink of extinction because society during the pandemic has decided that no one is allowed to take risk.'

'For me and my children, I want them to embrace opportunity that will nurture them and allow them to grow.'

The adventurer and presenter said his children were 'game for anything' and always wanted to mimic what their parents were doing (pictured: Iona on a bike)

Ben, who is married to Marina Fogle, said it's their responsibility as parents to form 'well-rounded' children who are equally at home in nature and with tech

He revealed his children are 'game for anything,' and often want to follow their adventurous parents' lead.

'Just because I've embraced a life of risk doesn't mean that my children also take risks, they're quite sensible. But they are also game for anything and if they see my wife and I doing thing, they definitely will want to do it,' he said.

'If they see us jumping into a freezing cold ocean, they'll want to jump into a freezing cold ocean. If they see us sleeping in an ice hole in the Arctic Circle, they'll want to do the same.'

Ben said he wanted his children to both be well-versed in technology and flora and fauna (pictured: Marina with Iona and Ludo, 11)

The adventurer added that he believes in 'each to their own,' and he wants to inspire others to get out of their comfort zone, rather than lecturing.

'Just because I'm willing to row across the Atlantic ocean, doesn't mean everyone has to do that,' he said. 'I'm hoping the fact that I do it does empower some people to perhaps think outside of the box.'

Meanwhile, Ben, who has celebrated living off-grid in his New Lives in the Wild series said he's a 'realist' when it comes to tech and that sending children into the world with no knowledge would be 'irresponsible'.

'I kinda partly want to be a pedant and want to lament the rise of technology and would love everyone to just be making fires and whittling sticks but I use technology,' he said.

'Tech is incredible. I truly am blown-away sometimes by just how useful certain apps and tools and iPads and touch screen phones can be,' he added.

Ben said that people should be able to take risks and step out of their comfort zone, as long as it didn't affect others

'I'm a realist, therefore my children, especially during lockdown, have been fast-tracked into using it. They are better now on Zoom calls, my daughter does all the TV programming,' he revealed.

He said that, just like with anything else, it was about striking a balance between children spending time on screens and outdoors.

'I'm not trying to encourage every single child to spend 24 hours a day outside in the trees and completely abstain from technology and never go into a city, that would be irresponsible as a parent,' he said.

'I like the fact that my children can be street-wise: they know about crossing the streets, they know about keeping safe, they know about how to avoid the druggie on the street, you pick up the body language.

Ben revealed Iona, left and Ludo, right, have a list of chores they needed to tend to, such as cleaning the family guinea pigs' pens, before they're allowed screen time

'But equally, they're also very good when it comes to a wood, and they can read the flora and fauna and follow trails. It's about having a well-rounded child.

'My form of parenting is to give them a little bit of everything and then they can decide and one day they may decide they want to become work in technology, maybe they'll decide to work in the countryside,' he said.

'But as a parent it's my responsibly, I think, and my wife's responsibility to make well-rounded children who are well versed in everything.

The presenter added he and his wife have rules in place, and made sure Iona and Ludo spent enough time outside and do their chores - such as cleaning the family guinea pigs' pen - before they could go online.

But the father-of-two, who is active on social media, said he was aware of 'his own contradictions.'

'I spend far too much time on my screen, on social media, emails, planning, writing, shopping, there's multiple things that I'm culpable of doing, and my children will do what they see their parents do,' he said.

'If they see us glued to our phones, and tablets, they'll do the same. I've seen my daughter when I'm on my phone, I see her looking at me, and she kinda wants to mimic,' he said.

This Summer, Ben will be on stage at Channel 5s first ever 5 on the Farm festival taking place at Cannon Hall Farm, Yorkshire over August Bank Holiday.

The presenter said his fellow Channel 5 star Amanda Owen, centre, who has her own show with her family and husband Clive, right, was his 'risk hero' and should be 'applauded' for her parenting skills

He will be joined by Our Yorkshire Farm star Amanda Owen, whom he called his 'risk hero.

'The way Amanda Owen brings up her family and her children should be applauded and admired and hopefully will inspire other people,' he said.

'I went to visit Amanda and her family five years ago for New Lives in the Wild and saw right away there was something incredible and inspiring about this family that has now translated into her own hit series.'

Owen made headlines earlier this month when she claimed that parents nowadays were raising 'snowflakes' and that children today were 'useless.'

Ben tempered that the interest in farming life had increased in the past year, thanks to shows like New Lives in the Wild, Our Yorkshire Farm and Kate Humble's show Escape to the Farm.

'Everyone that has lived and worked on a farm will reiterate that it's not easy, it's full of unnatural hours, hardships, heartbreak but the rewards are you get to get your hands dirty and be close to the land,' Ben said.

'Farming as much as it tough industry and the reward can be slim in terms of finances, people are realising the mental welfare properties of being that close to nature,' he added.

'5 on the Farm is a great opportunity to meet the loyal audiences who've followed New Lives in the Wild for a decade or so and to share some of the stories, the more relatable one, the ones in the UK during the pandemic,' he added.

For more information on 5 on the Farm, you can visit https://www.5onthefarm.com.
British Christians have announced plans to oppose government attempts to ban "conversion therapy," which they believe would have a negative impact on their ministries, missions, and even prayer to God.

According to a report from WND, Simon Calvert, Deputy Director for Public Affairs at the Christian Institute, stated: "A ban on spiritual guidance and prayer would be tyrannical and unworkable. Do they expect police, prosecutors and courts to decide which kinds of prayer are criminal and which are not?"

"Most people would be horrified by the prospect of someone being convicted for praying 'the wrong kind of prayer.' We must not allow activists to exploit legitimate concerns as a cover for pursuing anti-religious agendas," he added.

The director also said that a legal case will automatically follow if the government "caved into demands to widen the ban to include the ordinary, everyday activities of churches," noted WND.

Writing for the faith group, lawyer Jason Davis noted in a well-documented opinion that progressives who express concern over "conversion therapy" will put everyday activities such as church preaching and religious counseling at risk.

The activist group states that the concept of "conversion counseling" is used to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals. For the most people, counseling may help control unwelcome same-sex desires.

Jason Coppel, QC, cautioned that prayer, evangelism, church attendance, baptism, and communion may all be construed as violations of a broad conversion-therapy statute, such as the one recently enacted in Victoria, Australia.

Churches who adhere to the Bible's teaching about gender and sexuality have been singled out lately in a British Parliament controversy regarding laws that will prohibit so-called "conversion therapy."

Per Christian Institute, British MP Alicia Kearns said that the said planned restriction wouldn't impair religious freedom.

Speaking to her peers, she said that "religious liberty is fundamental, but so too is people's liberty to live their lives free from identity-based violence and abuse."

Kearns also demanded that all prayer "inconsistent with LGBT theology" be prohibited.

Conversely, Counselors for individuals with unwelcome sexual desires oppose the word "conversion therapy," defining it as an ideological term used by LGBT critics to equate supportive spiritual treatment and talk therapy with unethical activities.

A Case of Christian Sovereignty Within A Secular Context

The Westminster Hall controversy centered around a motion to make it a crime to conduct conversion counseling in the United Kingdom or to send citizens overseas for it.

Several Members of Parliament referred to prayer and spiritual care as "conversion therapy," a term that was also used to portray "torture."

In an article for The House journal, Kearns recently criticized "prayer sessions" used to assist individuals with unwanted desire as an abhorrent activity equivalent to electroshocks and "corrective abuse"

"Conversion therapy," as described by Kearns, is any effort to prevent anyone from revealing their preferred gender identity or sexual preference.

She said that a prohibition would include "not only conversion therapy" for the purpose of changing one's sexual preference," but also "aggressive efforts to prohibit anyone from revealing their own identity."

Parents would risk criminal prosecution if they assisted their children in such treatment states the lawmakers.

According to Parliamentarian Elliot Colburn, conversion therapy may take the form of "pseudo-psychological treatments and aversion therapies to religious that are religiously based, such as purification or fasting."

MP Angela Eagle criticized "being told by faith leaders or your family that you are sinful."

"Being told to pray harder to change and to question your innermost feelings and thoughts ... none of that should be legal," she said.

However, Coppel stated in his study that such regulations will contradict current human rights laws in the United Kingdom, which uphold "church organizations' ability to preach" their views on sexual ethics and gender identification.

Additionally, he stated that requiring parents to support a child's wish to 'change sex' will jeopardize parents' rights to raise their children according to their values.

Those convictions, he wrote, "are not eccentric or peripheral matters of belief. They have a long history within Christian theology and sexual ethics."

He also argued that courts have "consistently regarded those convictions as covered by Article 9 of the ECHR" and "deserving of consideration."

The Big Picture

For years, LGBT groups have worked to curtail the work of Christians and Christian churches.

According to Josiah Hesse, a writer for the London Guardian newspaper, prayer had devolved into "conversion therapy" in 2018.

The outpouring of support was sparked by the broadcast of a video of Emily Thomes' testimony by Anchored North, an evangelical media outlet.

The community creates videos in the vein of BuzzFeed, and this one is named "Love is Love."

Though marketed similarly to pro-LGBT ad strategies, Thomes' argument is that by the influence of Jesus Christ, an individual may be set free from same-sex attraction.

"It's not gay to straight, it's lost to saved," she said.

The principle of conversion counseling presupposes that there is a treatable root mechanism for same-sex attraction. Although such therapy is prohibited for teenagers in most jurisdictions in the United States, those prohibitions on the First Amendment's freedom of expression and faith continue to be questioned.
Many of us are guilty of putting on a few pounds over lockdown, with gyms closed and close proximity to the snack drawer while working from home proving all too tempting.

And it's not just us, even celebrities from across the globe have fallen prey to the Covid stone, with some showing off their dad bods on social media.

Will Smith recently admitted he's in the 'worst shape of my life' after months of lockdown restrictions, sharing a revealing snap with a vow to turn things around.

And last year Paddy McGuiness - who stunned fans in 2019 with an incredible ripped body transformation - joked he could 'no longer see his penis' after failing to keep up with his fitness regime.

Here FEMAIL reveals the male stars who have overindulged during the pandemic.

NICK KNOWLES

Nick Knowles confirmed he 'put on a lot of weight during the first lockdown' after gorging on pies, as he displayed his fuller figure on TV in November (left in February 2020)

In November last year, the DIY SOS presenter, 58, admitted he 'put on a lot of weight during the first lockdown' due to gorging on pies.

Nick appeared on BBC One's Morning Live to discuss the trolling he received online over his fuller figure after wearing a wetsuit for a DIY SOS Children In Need Special episode.

He admitted he couldn't do any training, was doing a lot of writing and scoffed 'a lot of banana bread', adding: 'There was a combination of what an amazing job and also who ate all the pies? Well I did. You do whatever you have to do to get through lockdown.'

WILL SMITH

'No more midnight muffins': Will Smith took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a Boomerang snap of himself in nothing but a pair of tiny black boxer briefs and revealed his fitness journey will all be documented for an upcoming YouTube project

The star is used to being in excellent shape for his roles in action films like I, Robot and I Am Legend, but Will had Instagram buzzing this week when he shared a snap of himself in his underwear, admitting he has gained weight in recent months.

The 52-year-old actor followed it up with a Boomerang snap of himself in nothing but a pair of tiny black boxer briefs, admitting he's in the 'worst shape' of his life after gorging on midnight muffins.

Will went on to reveal that he is on the verge of beginning his fitness journey to get back his toned physique and that it will all be documented for an upcoming YouTube project.

He captioned the post to his near 53million followers writing: 'This is the body that carried me through an entire pandemic and countless days grazing thru the pantry. I love this body, but I wanna FEEL better. No more midnight muffins this is it!'

MARTIN COMPSTON

After Line of Duty filming was put on hold due to the pandemic, Vicky McClure joked her co-star Martin Compston gorged on burgers in LA during lockdown (pictured left before and right after)

Line of Duty's Vicky McClure jokingly revealed in March that her co-star Martin Compston, 36, struggled to fit into his suits when the cast returned to filming series six after their schedule was disrupted by the pandemic.

She claimed he gorged on In- N-Out burgers while he stayed at his home in Las Vegas for lockdown - and when he returned, he found DS Steve Arnott's signature tailored waistcoats and trousers 'a bit tight'.

Vicky explained how in the run-up to his return to filming, producers bought him a bike for his flat to keep him entertained.

She added: 'Apparently he just ate soup for two weeks. But, yeah, he said that he had tried on his suits and they were a bit tighter than usual.'

PADDY MCGUINESS

Paddy stunned fans in 2019 with an incredible, ripped body transformation (left) but admitted he'd put a few pounds in lockdown (right)

In April last year, Top Gear host Paddy, 47, admitted he failed to keep up with his fitness regimen while in coronavirus lockdown, even joking that he could no longer see his manhood over his belly.

The comedian took to social media with a snap of him teasing his slightly rounded tummy, next to a shot of a ripped Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays an inmate in the movie Shot Caller.

He wrote: 'In every Prison movie I've watched people tend to come out of isolation looking in peak physical condition?' I've only been on lockdown for 18 days and I can no longer see my penis!'

CHRIS HUGHES

Chris, 28, admitted he felt a little apprehensive stripping off on ITV Racing last month for an ice bath challenge (pictured left, right on Love Island in 2017) after putting on weight in lockdown

Last month Love Island hunk Chris revealed he gained weight during lockdown because 'some days all I want to do is eat'.

The reality star, 28, who rose to fame with his chiseled abs on the 2017 series, admitted he felt a little apprehensive stripping off on ITV Racing in March for an ice bath challenge, but is ultimately 'happy in my own skin'.

Chris told The Sun: 'When I did that ice bath challenge I was like, "God, my body does not look like it did four years ago in Love Island".

He added that it 'hasn't been easy' spending lockdown alone after splitting from his girlfriend Jesy Nelson last April after 16-months together.

PETE DOHERTY

Talking in a new interview, the Babyshambles and Libertines frontman, 42, admitted that he is now 'quite clean' and that he enjoys a 'nice glass of water' (pictured right in March and left in 2019)

In March the Babyshambles and Libertines frontman, 42, was spotted walking his dog in the French countryside with his girlfriend Katia De Vidas, sporting a fuller frame than in his rocker days.

He looked distinctly slimmer when he was spotted - looking a little worse for wear - arriving at Gare du Nord in Paris in May 2019.

Pete told The Sun his new look is largely down to a drug-free life that involves a lot of sleeping - and cheese on toast with the odd boozy cocktail.

'I like Comte [a type of French cheese], Comte on toast. My guilty pleasure is sleeping,' he said. 'For years and years, I would stay up for five or six days and then I would sleep for 24 hours, so now I love sleep. At the moment I'm quite clean. I stopped taking heroin and ketamine.'

He added: 'I like experimenting, making cocktails with champagne, a bit of rum, orange juice, I'm coming across like a bit of an alcoholic, but I'm not  I like a nice glass of water.'

MATTHEW PERRY

Matthew Perry was spotted out in LA in April last year (right) and looked almost unrecognisable from his sitcom days, sporting grey hair, stubble and a rather swollen belly. Left in 2017

Friends star Matthew, 51, was spotted out in LA in April last year and looked almost unrecognisable from his sitcom days, sporting grey hair, stubble and a rather swollen belly.

He hinted on Instagram that he was finding lockdown hard; it's believed he spent it with sober friends after years of public alcohol and drug issues.

National Enquirer reported in July last year that Matthew had ballooned to 20.5 stone.
Its the last tolerated prejudice. But Femails had enough. Its time we called out those day-to-day moments when were patronised for no longer being young...

Is it worth it for the film industry to target the old as an audience? I ask this question upon coming across a remark made by screenwriter Ol Parker after his film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  about a bunch of pensioners going off to live in India  came out. Parkers theory about its popularity was that some of the audience were just so old that theyd forget that theyd been, so they could go again and again as if for the first time, perpetually, a bit like goldfish really.

Christa D'Souza (pictured) argued comments about forgetfulness are offensive, after coming across a remark made by Ol Parker

Back when it came out in 2012 and I was a mere slip of a 50-year-old, I might have found that funny. But now Im a decade older it sticks in the craw. Maybe it is because my Gen Z kids have suddenly started being so merciless about my own forgetfulness.

Its true, I am more scatter-brained than I was when I was younger. But this is only because Ive got so much more information stored in my brain than they have, having lived that much longer.

The assumption that, as I keep mislaying the car keys I must be losing my mind, is not just offensive, it is wrong. Make it stop.
Australian fitness queen Kayla Itsines has announced why she's renaming her world-famous Bikini Body Guide workout brand.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur, from Adelaide, confirmed she's replacing her multi-million dollar fitness program 'Bikini Body Guide (BBG)' with 'High Intensity with Kayla' because the old term is 'outdated'.

'It has been almost 10 years since I created BBG with the positive intent that every body is a bikini body. However, I feel the name now represents an outdated view of health and fitness so I'm changing it,' she said.

'I feel it is the right time to change our approach and to evolve and use language that feels more positive for women today. Since having my daughter Arna, I have become even more aware of how important it is to use language that empowers women.'

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Australian fitness queen Kayla Itsines (pictured) has revealed why she's renaming her world-famous Bikini Body Guide workout brand

The entrepreneur said since giving birth to her daughter Arna (pictured), she has 'become even more aware of how important it is to use language that empowers women'

Kayla said her three fitness programs will remain the same, but each workout will now go under a completely different name such as 'High Intensity Strength with Kayla' and 'High Intensity Zero Equipment with Kayla'.

'I've made the decision to rename my programs from BBG and replace it with 'High Intensity'. The programs themselves are are not changing, it's just the names,' she explained.

'As you can imagine this is a huge moment for me personally as my programs with the BBG name are so well known and have been a massive part of building one of the biggest female fitness communities in the world.

'I feel so positive about this change. I'm proud that as a company, we can look at something and think that "that's not good enough" or "that's not right anymore" and make the relevant changes.'

Kayla's (pictured) fitness programs offer high-intensity workouts, designed to help women become stronger, fitter and more confident

Her fitness programs offer high-intensity workouts, designed to help women become stronger, fitter and more confident.

She created the programs to be completed at home, outdoors or gym, with minimal equipment - making it easy for women to get in a workout wherever they are.

After announcing the new name of her brand, thousands applauded her for making a 'positive' change to the fitness community.

'You are amazing! It takes a lot of courage to edit your past thinking so publicly. I'm so happy about this change. Sweat is so empowering and supportive, and now the name matches,' one wrote.

Another said: 'I love this step girl! Bravo! The words we use are so important - love everything you do and stand for.'

And one woman added: 'I love this. And I love you acknowledging the impact of language as so many write it off as trivial and unimportant. Way to go.'

Her announcement comes after she confirmed she is in a new relationship, less than a year after splitting from her ex-fiance Tobi Pearce (pictured)

Her announcement comes after she confirmed she is in a new relationship, less than a year after splitting from her ex-fiance Tobi Pearce.

'It's early days, so I won't share too much, but I'm super happy,' she told this month's Women's Health Australia magazine.

'We have a strong sense of family and a love for fitness.'

Kayla confirmed her split from Tobi, who is the father of her two-year-old daughter, Arna Leia Pearce, in August last year.

The former couple, who were together for eight years, co-founded the Bikini Body Training Company after meeting in late 2012.

The popular brand went on to amass a following of more than 20 million fitness enthusiasts worldwide thanks to their workouts, app and eBooks.

They were named joint fifth on the Australian Financial Review's Young Rich List for 2018, making them the wealthiest self-made twentysomethings in Australia.
An Australian woman has shown how important it is to clean a part of the vacuum that most users never consider - the hose.

Posting to the Mums Who Clean group on Facebook, Faith said the hose should be detached and cleaned to remove the filth lurking inside unseen.

An image of the hose soaking in a bathtub showed how dirty it can become over time.

'This made me feel so sick when I soaked it,' she wrote on the Facebook page.

Australian mum Faith prompted others to detach and wash the vacuum hose to remove the filth lurking inside

Experts have warned that a dirty vacuum hose can reduce the the suction power of the machine, and create an odour.

To clean the hose, first detach it from the vacuum (referring to the product's instruction manual if needed), then remove any visible clumps of material within and rinse it out before leaving it to soak in warm water in a bath or tub.

Allow the hose to soak for 30 minutes before leaving it to dry thoroughly.

After material moves to the end of the hose, objects like a bottle-cleaning brush can be used to clean inside the hose.

Others users of the Facebook group were surprised by how much dirt can accumulate in the hose.

'OMG I've never done mine, I hate to think what's in there,' one woman wrote.

'Doing this tomorrow,' another said.
A woman has claimed that she bit into a moldy cake pop from Starbucks in a viral video, and horrified fans are now swearing off the popular treat.

TikTok user @teabezel28 posted footage of a vanilla cake pop that was bitten in half and resting in someone's hand. The cake was speckled with bluish-green dots that appeared to be hunks of mold.

She called out the coffee chain in the caption, writing: 'Uh thats not chocolate chips ... Starbucks whats good?'

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Eww: TikTok user @teabezel28 claimed she bit into a moldy cake pop from Starbucks in a viral video calling out the coffee chain

Yikes: She posted footage of a vanilla cake pop speckled with bluish-green dots that appeared to be balls of mold

The video has been viewed a whopping 6.3 million times and received thousands of comments, with many people sharing their utter disgust over the alleged mold.

'No. I just ate one yesterday while driving and didn't bother to look. Now I'm all stressed,' one person wrote.

'STOP I JUST ATE ONE,' another added.

Someone else told her to 'sue them,' noting: 'Them student loans don't pay themselves girlie.'

A number of people admitted that they eat cake pops in one bite, prompting one TikTok user to ask her what made her look at it.

Viral: The video has been viewed 6.3 million times, and many people sharing their disgust over the alleged mold in the comments. Starbucks also responded and urged her to call corporate

'Something told me to look when I took a bite [and] I spit it right out,' she explained.

Shocked Starbucks employees also responded to the video, saying they had never seen anything like that while working for the corporation.

'In all my time working for Starbucks I have never ever seen this oh my god that's VILE,' one TikToker commented.

'As a Starbucks barista, I would not go to that Starbucks [again],' another added. 'I dont know how that happens at ALL. They are prepackaged and should get thrown out every two [days].'

Starbucks' official TikTok account commented on the post after catching wind of it and urged to call the corporate office.

The TikToker shared a follow-up video with a 'Starbucks update' on Wednesday, alleging the chain only offered her a $25 gift card after she almost ate mold

Not happy: 'They decided that the best way to accommodate me for almost eating mold is to give me a $25 gift card. A $25 gift card!' she said

'We're concerned and want to learn more so we can make it,' the company wrote.

Many joked that @teabezel28 was going to get a big payday after the alleged incident, but that wasn't the case.

The TikToker shared a follow-up video with a 'Starbucks update' on Wednesday, four days after she posted footage of the cake pop.

'So they messaged me on Twitter and... y'all aren't gonna like this,' she said, putting her head in her hand.

'They decided that the best way to accommodate me for almost eating mold is to give me a $25 gift card. A $25 gift card! So do what y'all will that information.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Starbucks for comment.
An American expat living in Melbourne has found herself in hot water after complaining about the temperature of Australian taps.

US mother Tina has been using TikTok to document the biggest culture shocks she has experienced since moving Down Under in April.

In a recent clip captioned the 'American in Australia content that no one asked for', Tina claimed tap water in Australia runs too 'f*****g hot' and has scalded her on multiple occasions.

She also said she was stunned by the 'monstrous' size of Australian vegetables after spotting large spring onions on a shelf in the supermarket.

American expat Tina (pictured) found herself in hot water after complaining about the temperature of Australian taps

'I have legitimately burned my hand several times,' she said in the video, which has racked up over 16,000 views since it was uploaded on April 13.

Tina continued: 'You can make tea with it, it's like f*****g hot  in the shower, in the bath, in the sink and it's not just this house, it's happened at restaurants, it's happened at other people's houses  why?'

'I know in the States you can set a limit to the temperature, but here no one needs water to be that hot, really truly, it's too much.'

But Tina found herself in a different kind of hot water after Australian viewers clapped back at her observation.

'It's because Americans sue if they get burned by hot water. Australians are smart enough to be careful,' one person replied.

Another added: 'If it's a hot water tap you need to get your hot water controller checked, or harden up. It's the Aussie way.'

Some saw the funny side, with one man writing: 'Down Under for a reason, we get hot water directly from hell - it's more efficient.'

Others implored Tina not to make tea with tap water, prompting her to clarify that the tea comment had been a joke.

In a later clip, Tina said she had received a 'lot of negative attention' for her criticism and insisted she 'loves Australia' despite preferring the temperature of tap water in her native country.

And the controversy didn't stop her from making further complaints about everyday Australian items.

Tina (pictured) was similarly baffled by the size of Australian spring onions, which she branded 'monstrosities' for their enormous size

Tina also marvelled at the difference between fresh produce in Aussie and American supermarkets.

'We need to talk about the size of the green onions,' she said.

'I was casually strolling the grocery store for green onions tonight and I had to physically check my facial expressions because I stumbled upon this monstrosity.

'What in the world  look at this, it's half my body. What is in the soil here?'

Viewers were baffled by her confusion, with many asking what is regarded as a 'normal sized' spring onion in America.

'I'm confused.. Do they look like chives in the US or something? They've always been that big here in Australia,' one person wrote.
Dyson is set to blow Australian shoppers away with the launch of a brand new vacuum cleaner featuring a laser that can detect hidden dust around the home.

The British manufacturer is set to unveil the revolutionary Dyson V15 Detect, which is engineered to capture 99.99 per cent of dust particles as small as 10 microns.

Developed by a team of 370 engineers from around the world, the model has a 'precisely-angled' green laser integrated into the cleaner head - meaning the hidden dust on floor surface that's typically invisible to the naked eye can be removed.

Dyson is set to blow Australian shoppers away with the launch of a brand new vacuum cleaner featuring a laser that can detect hidden dust around the home

'As engineers our job is to solve daily problems, and the past 12 months has created plenty of new ones with more time spent indoors,' founder James Dyson said.

'We are all cleaning more frequently, trying to remove the additional house dust but desperate for peace of mind that our homes are truly clean.

'The Dyson V15 Detect is both powerful and intelligent, giving the ultimate reassurance - scientific proof of a healthier, cleaner home.'

Other features include an LCD screen showing the size and number of particles sucked up, displaying 'real-time scientific proof' of a deep clean.

The British manufacturer is set to unveil the cord-free Dyson V15 Detect, which is engineered to capture 99.99 per cent of dust particles as small as 10 microns

'Our latest vacuums use laser technology to reveal hidden dust, integrating a diode laser into the cleaner head that is precisely positioned at a 1.5 degree angle to create the best contrast between dust and floor,' Mr Dyson said.

Engineered for human and pet hair, the anti-tangle conical brush bar spirals hair off and into the bin, in which it prevents the wrapping of hair around the tool.

The new 'High Torque' cleaner head now has 56 'teeth' which looks like a comb. These small teeth prevent tangling around the bristles when you are cleaning, and automatically clears hair from the brush bar, so you don't have to.

The Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean will set you back $1,399 while the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute Extra with HEPA filtration costs $1,469.

The new generation of cord-free vacuum cleaners are available for purchase from May 27 via the Dyson website.
Victoria Beckham has revealed she never travels without an affordable beauty product from an Australian skincare brand.

In an episode of the Breaking Beauty podcast, the 47-year-old British fashion designer told hosts Jill Dunne and Carolene Higgins she uses Face Halo microfibre pads to take off her makeup at night.

Created by Perth businesswoman Lizzy Pike as a sustainable alternative to single-use face wipes, the cloth exfoliates skin and strips away cosmetics using nothing but water.

The pads, which cost $30 for packs of three, are a favourite of the Beckham family, with Victoria revealing they're also used by her nine-year-old daughter Harper and son Brooklyn's 26-year-old fiancee, Nicola Peltz.

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British fashion designer Victoria Beckham (left) said she never travels without Face Halo microfibre pads, a sustainable alternative to single-use makeup wipes

The pads are a favourite of the Beckham family (pictured), with Victoria revealing they're also used by her nine-year-old daughter Harper (second from left)

The double-sided pads, which are reusable for up to 200 machine washes, are marketed as the 'ultimate' environmentally-conscious way to remove makeup, sunscreen, fake tan and face masks.

One pad replaces roughly 500 traditional wipes, preventing one billion disposables from being thrown into landfill and oceans over the past four years.

Beloved by a slew of celebrities including Naomi Watts, Gwyneth Paltrow and British popstar Jess Glynne, Face Halo has built a cult following since launching in Australia in 2017.

The brand is now available around the world in stores such as Priceline and online from website like Adore Beauty, Boots and Selfridges.

Victoria (pictured) is just one of many celebrity fans of the Perth headquartered beauty brand

Victoria's future daughter-in-law, American actress Nicola Peltz (pictured), who is engaged to her son Brooklyn, also uses the sustainable makeup remover

Founder Lizzy Pike previously told Daily Mail Australia about the inspiration for her industry-leading business, which generated $1million (AUD) in sales during its first six months.

Ms Pike said the Eureka moment came when a friend of 20 years said she 'couldn't be bothered' removing her makeup after a long distance flight.

The entrepreneur, who has 15 years experience in microfibre technology, knew of the fabric's power to clean all manner of household surfaces and wondered if it could work just as well on the face.

The very next day, the ambitious mother set to work on developing a microfibre makeup remover.

Perth businesswoman Lizzy Pike (pictured) is the founder of Face Halo

The Face Halo cloth is unlike other makeup removers on the market, insofar as it is a one-step process that uses no chemicals and produces no waste.

'Microfibre itself isn't new, but it's 100 times finer than human hair, and by mixing the Face Halo with water, the fibres get deep down in to the pores and lift out trapped makeup, dirt and oil off the skin,' Ms Pike said.

The pads are also significantly cheaper than most cleansers and toners on the market.
A naughty dog destroyed a sofa and chewed through his wire crate while his owner was at work.

Vickie Shelton, 51, of Benton, Tennessee, came home on 24 April to find her sofa destroyed and her living room covered in piles of white stuffing.

Initially believing she had been robbed, it was only when she saw rescue dog Bo wagging his tail in the middle of the destruction that she realized he was responsible.

The following day she put Bo in a crate in a spare bedroom to keep him out of trouble, but came home to find he had chewed through the wire and broken down part of the door.

Busted! Vickie Shelton, 51, of Benton, Tennessee, came home on 24 April to find her sofa destroyed and her living room covered in piles of white stuffing

Destruction: Initially believing she had been robbed, it was only when she saw rescue dog Bo wagging his tail in the middle of the destruction that she realized he was responsible

Determined: The following day she put Bo in a crate in a spare bedroom to keep him out of trouble, but came home to find he had chewed through the wire and broken down the door

By her side: A vet diagnosed Bo, who was found dumped in a cardboard box in a supermarket car park, with severe separation anxiety. Pictured, Vickie with her rescue dog

'We'd only had the couch for four months when it all happened,' she explained. 'Bo sleeps on the couch a lot, that is definitely his domain. He loves it.

'I was at work, and I was getting alerts from my pet camera that something was happening, but I thought it was just Bo being Bo. Never in a million years did I think he was destroying my couch.

'I got home that afternoon and the dogs were greeting me at the door. I took a few steps inside and started seeing this white fluff everywhere.

'Once I got to the living room, that's when I saw the couch. My first thought was that I had been robbed and vandalized.

'But then I saw the TV on the wall, and I thought, "well why would they tear the couch up and leave the TV?"

'Bo then sits down in the middle of the mess, wagging his tail. He was very happy with himself. That's when it all clicked. I couldn't believe it.

King of his castle: Bo on the sofa with a cover on, before it was destroyed

Destroyed: Vickie came home to find her new sofa had been totally ruined by her dog

Who, me? Vickie found Bo playing in the stuffing and said he looked proud of himself. Pictured right, Bo sleeping on the sofa he destroyed

Getting better: Bo has been prescribed anti-anxiety medication and is behaving better

'It took over two hours to clean it all up, and there were six huge plastic bags full of fluff.'

The next morning, HR worker Vickie put Bo in her son's room in a crate before she went to work in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the day's events.

She said: 'I put the crate in my son's bedroom and closed the door.

'I turned on the TV with calming sounds, put on the fans, put his toys in with him. I thought he's going to have a good day.

'When I came home from work, there he was at the door. I thought "oh no, this cannot be good".

Playful: Bo leaning over the back of the sofa before his stuffing-ripping rampage

The crate escape! Bo pulled apart the wires on his crate when he was shut away

No match for Bo! The dog used his strength to break down the bedroom door and escape

'There was a massive hole in my son's door, and he had chewed his way through the crate.

'I panicked because I thought he had cut his mouth to pieces, so I took him to the vet. But he was totally fine.'

Photos of Bo's antics went viral after Vickie shared photos and a video online.

A vet diagnosed Bo, who was found dumped in a cardboard box in a supermarket car park, with severe separation anxiety.

Bo has since been put on a low dose of an anti-anxiety medication and his behavior has improved.

Vickie added: 'Bo was an unexpected gift, but it was just meant to be. I couldn't imagine life without him. He has definitely got his own unique personality and I wouldn't trade him for the world.'
A mother-of-two who was trolled online after killing a mountain lion and a bear has told how she has no remorse.

Physician Jennifer Tomsheck Hawes, 46, from Montana, grew up on a ranch near her hometown, where she began hunting at just five-years-old. Her first kill was a gopher, and she went on to shoot her first deer when she was just 12-years-old.

After her first deer hunt, she felt the adrenaline rush through her body and she's been hooked ever since.

Jennifer recalls feeling accomplished and proud after her first hunt and enjoys the exercise of hunting as well as being outdoors the most.

'I don't feel any remorse over the animals I kill, as I put my hunting to good use and use their meat to feed my family, which gives the animal a new purpose,' she explained.

'I believe that if you eat meat, you cannot criticize hunters. Cows and pigs have it far worse than the free-range elk that I hunt and a well placed shot means a quick and painless death - much more humane than what some animals go through.'

Physician Jennifer Tomsheck Hawes, 46, from Montana, who was trolled online after killing a mountain lion and a bear has told how she has no remorse. Pictured, her most controversial kill, was a mountain lion

Jennifer grew up on a ranch near her hometown, where she began hunting at just five-years-old. Pictured, the bear was used for meat and decoration in her home

After her first deer hunt, she felt the adrenaline rush through her body and she's been hooked ever since. Pictrued, Jennifer poses proudly with her hunts, as she sees them as achievements

Jennifer believes her son (pictured), who began tagging along when he was a toddler, is now a better hunter than her

A typical day hunting involves waking up in the early hours of the morning, grabbing some coffee and snacks and going to a nearby field, where she will walk for miles at a time and stalk the animals to watch their movements and make a plan for the morning.

Jennifer usually goes hunting alone and once she's got her kill, she will then skin and process the entire animal by herself, where the animal will then go into her freezer for her family to eat across the next year.

The physician tries to hunt at any chance she gets and will usually take a few weeks off during the main deer and elk season in September. She has also got her two kids involved with the hobby.

Ellie, 17, and Jaden, 19, were first introduced to hunting when they were just toddlers. On their first time hunting, her son shot a deer and an antelope at just 12-years-old and her daughter also shot her first deer at the same age from just under 300-foot away.

Since starting her hunting journey, Jennifer has so far hunted an elk, bear and mountain lion weighing around 150-pounds.

Despite feeling accomplished with her hunts, Jennifer has had a few negative comments from people such as, 'How can you kill such a beautiful animal?', which angers Jennifer as she doesn't just hunt as a hobby, but also for population management and food.

Jennifer's first kill was a gopher, and she went on to shoot her first deer when she was just 12-years-old. Pictured, Jennifer has hunted gophers and turkey

The mother-of-two took her son and daughter with her to help track down and shoot the mountain lion (pictured)

Another one of Jennifer's controversial kills, was of a wild bear (pictured)

The mother-of-two, who is trolled because of her hobby, poses proudly with the remains of the bear

Jennifer doesn't feel any remorse over the animals she hunts and wishes people would understand that hunting is no different to being a meat eater.

'I began hunting in September 1986, as I grew up on a ranch near my hometown and was introduced to the hobby from a young age,' said Jennifer.

'I used to love being outdoors and at just five-years-old, I hunted my first animal which was a gopher. As I wasn't of a legal shooting age, I didn't hunt for the first time using a rifle on my own until I was twelve-years-old, where I shot a deer.

'I felt so alive after my first real hunt and as a sense of accomplishment ran through my body, I became hooked on hunting.

'A typical day for me starts off waking up in the early hours of the morning and driving by my nearest gas station to grab coffee and snacks to help fuel me for the long day ahead.

'I will then travel to a nearby field or forest and begin stalking any animals I can spot, so that I can analyze their movements ready to make a plan for the morning.

Jennifer has also taken her kids (pictured, Ellie, now 17) out hunting, who at just 12-years-old, hunted their first animal

As Jennifer is a full-time physician, she finds it difficult to get the time to go hunting, which is why she goes whenever she can (pictured)

Jennifer loves taking her kids out hunting with her. On their first time hunting, her daughter Ellie, now 17, shot her first deer aged 12 from just under 300-foot away

'There's lots of hiking involved and sometimes if you have no luck, you usually stop off for lunch and then head back out ready for the evening hunt - it's an action-packed day.

'Although I still enjoy hunting for the same reasons, I also love being able to provide fresh meat for my family for the next year to come.

'As I usually go alone, I tend to do the whole process from start to finish myself where I will skin the animal, chop it up and then store it in my freezer for the next few months for my family's dinner.

'I wanted my kids to find a love for hunting at a young age just like I did, so when they were toddlers I used to take them out with me where they would hike for miles as they were too young to shoot and watch me hunt.

'Most people ask if I was nervous taking them out - especially whilst doing such a dangerous sport - but I wasn't nervous at all, I was actually excited to teach them and make them my hunting partners.

'During my son's first hunt when he was just twelve-years-old, he hunted a deer and antelope which was extremely impressive and I now believe that he is a better hunter than I am.

Jennifer (pictured) runs her own physician clinic

She will set off in the early hours of the morning to stalk the animals and plan her day (pictured)

'Although my daughter enjoyed her first hunt, where she shot her first deer from just under three-hundred-feet away, she doesn't care for shooting anymore but still tags along for the journey.'

Jennifer loves hunting so much that she tries to go at any chance she gets, but as she works full-time as a physician, she usually takes a few weeks off during the main season for hunting deer and elk to get her hunting fix.

'Since I started hunting, I have hunted an elk, bear and a big tom mountain lion which weighed one-hundred-and-fifty-pounds,' Jennifer said.

'Despite this, I believe that it isn't the size of the trophy that matters, but the experience of hunting the trophy, as this is what brings the greatest sense of achievement.

'I do have difficulties sometimes being impatient, where I constantly have to tell myself to slow down and take my time as you have to have a careful eye and steady balance when it comes to hunting.

Jennifer has proudly hunted multiple wild animals, including a deer (pictured)

Jennifer usually takes a few weeks off work during the main season for hunting deer and elk to get her hunting fix. Pictured, she uses her kills to provide meat for her family

'After I started posting my hunting images online, I did have a few comments from colleagues in other areas of the country who didn't agree with what I was doing, but were still respectful with their words nonetheless.

'However, I once had a comment that really angered me from a complete stranger who commented, "How can you kill such a beautiful animal?" which infuriated me as they were referring to a mountain lion that I once killed.

'If they knew that I hunted this predator to help with the management of the population of other animals, I think they would've thought twice about their comment.

She continued: 'Despite this, I have had some lovely comments such as, "Your kids are so lucky to have a mum like you" which puts a smile on my face, as I'm a single parent and I like doing the best I can for my kids.'
Lubbock, Texas has, by far, been the biggest city in the United States to outlaw abortion, earning the moniker "sanctuary city for the unborn."

No one can conduct or provide abortions of any kind in the City of Lubbock, Texas.

Of the two-and-and-a-a-half million people living in the municipality of more than 250,000 inhabitants, more than sixty-two percent voted in favor of the referendum, although fewer than thirty-eight percent opposed it.

Mark Lee Dickson, the founder of the movement Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, has welcomed the victory as a step forward in the battle to enact ordinances prohibiting abortion at the city level.

"I think it says a lot because Lubbock is the 11th-most populated city in the state of Texas and the 83rd most populated city in the United States of America," he told the Christian Post.

The anti-abortion advocacy group brought things on when Planned Parenthood announced their intentions to build an abortion facility in the West Texas area.

Still speaking to Christian Post, Dickson revealed that Planned Parenthood opened on April 15th, and has been doing abortions for the past few weeks. He added that they have also known for some time that Planned Parenthood donated a substantial amount of money to the political campaigns this year.

"They ... pushed a campaign ... to ... prevent this ordinance from being passed, and at the end of the day, they ended up losing that election," he said. "Respectfully, I would congratulate them on their ... campaign effort. But since this was a landslide election, it's very obvious that the people of Lubbock have spoken. I am expecting that Planned Parenthood will obey ... the laws of the city and ... not perform abortions within the city limits of Lubbock, Texas."

Dickson also mentioned an abortion clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana, that was considering crossing the border to Waskom, Texas.

"Waskom, Texas, is a small city that has ... great churches, it has great restaurants, and I just felt like an abortion facility would be a great stain on that city because an abortion facility is a place that murders innocent children on a regular basis," he explained.

"So, I reached out to the mayor, and he didn't want an abortion facility coming into the city. So they decided to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion within the city limits," he added.

Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, Gilmer, Westbrook, Rusk, Colorado City, Gary, Big Spring, Wells, Whiteface, East Mountain, New Home, Ackerly, Grapeland, Goldsmith, Carbon, Gorman, Murchison, Latexo, and now Lubbock have also passed identical ordinances.

Hayes Center and Blue Hill, Nebraska, have both been sanctuary cities for the unborn.

The vote in Lubbock, according to Dickson, was "ordered by the Lubbock City Charter."

The referendum arrives after the city council voted against the ordinance in November, citing fears that it might lead to a constitutional challenge.

Except in situations when a woman's health is in danger, the ordinance prohibits most abortions in the area. According to Reuters, the bill also requires family members of people who have abortions to prosecute those who helped them.

In Lubbock, it's unknown when the measure would take effect.

Franklin Graham thanks Lubbock's voters

Rev. Franklin Graham, responding with joy at the news, posted a congratulatory message on Facebook thanking Lubbock and other cities for standing up for the unborn.

"Way to go Lubbock! This is great news! Lubbock, Texas, just became a "sanctuary city" for the unborn. On Saturday, 62%-a supermajority-of the people voted to save the lives of babies and outlaw abortion within their city limits," Graham posted.

The evangelist provided some details as to why the Texas city's decision to protect the unborn is very important. He compared the number of lives that were lost to various causes, all of them small compared to the horrific deaths caused by abortions.
Married actress and presenter Jeni Barnett has claimed that marriage is a patriarchal tradition and urged women who do tie the knot to 'remain who you are'.

Jeni, 72, from London, who wed actor Jim Bywater 11 years into their relationship, appeared on Good Morning Britain today alongside Debbie McGee to debate whether marriage is inherently sexist.

The host of Great Food Live said that she only married her long term partner so her child would 'become legitimate', but that she felt too 'trapped' to wear her wedding ring for six months - telling women that 'you're not a chattel'.

Meanwhile Debbie, 62, who was married to late magician Paul Daniels for 28 years, said like several other traditions, marriage has evolved over the years, with viewers agreeing it's up to individual couples which customs they adopt on their big day.

It comes after the news that both the mother and father of the bride and groom will be named on marriage certificates, instead of only fathers, in the biggest shake-up of the registration system for 200 years.

Married actress Jeni Barnett (pictured) has claimed that marriage is a patriarchal tradition and urged women who do get married to 'remain who you are'

Jeni appeared on Good Morning Britain today alongside Debbie McGee (pictured) to debate whether marriage is inherently sexist

'It is absolutely a sign of love and devotion and all the romantic stuff,' said Jeni. 'But romance finishes after a couple of years. I think tradition is being turned on its head which means the traditions are changing.

'What us old feminists are saying is, it's okay to be married and have a wonderful romantic gesture, but you have to be who you are and you have to remain who you are, and you're not a chattel.'

When asked by host Susannah Reid why she decided to get married despite believing the institution is sexist, she said: 'Only after 11 years and I did it because we had a kid and I was worried that if I died, he would have had to do paperwork and he wouldn't have done it, I got married so the child would become legitimate, that's why we did it.'

Jeni went on to say that there is still progress to be made in terms of equality for women, and that for months she didn't want to wear her wedding ring or take her husband's name.

Viewers were unimpressed by Jeni's argument, with several arguing that sexist customs such as wearing white or being walked down the aisle by your father are not prerequisites of a wedding

'For women to be women in the 21st century we have made enormous strides forward, but there are things we haven't done.

'I couldn't wear the ring for six months because I felt I was kind of trapped and didn't take his name, but I can say after years of marriage you get on with your life and he gets on with his, but I wouldn't have cared if I hadn't done it.

Viewers were unimpressed by Jeni's argument, with several arguing that sexist customs such as wearing white or being walked down the aisle by your father are not prerequisites of a wedding.

'Is marriage sexist? How about those who want to get married do so and those who don't don't.', said one.

Another said: 'Isn't it up to each individual person on whether they get married and take their partners surname (irrespective of the gender of that particular couple)?'

When asked by host Susannah Reid why she decided to get married despite believing the institution is sexist, she said: 'Only after 11 years and I did it because we had a kid'

Meanwhile, Debbie said that while weddings may be rooted in sexism, traditions evolve throughout time

Another said: 'Very little in forced with regards to marriage. No one has to wear white, a bride doesn't have to be 'given away', and the bride does not have to take the husband's name. It's up to each couple to decide; what's the issue?'

Meanwhile, Debbie said that while weddings may be rooted in sexism, traditions evolve throughout time.

She said: 'I just think that there are lots of other traditions, like Christmas trees Prince Albert was the one who dressed them that's a tradition, and it's your choice these days.

Maybe going back 50 years it was always the father but it doesn't have to be. Usually the girl is very close with her father so I don't think it's anything to do with the man saying "This is my woman".

She believes certain laws - such as Inheritance Tax benefits for couples - should be scrapped in order to prevent people getting married solely for legal reasons.

'So much has changed and it's great', said Debbie. 'But lots of people still get married because of our laws and I think it's or laws that need changing.

'It should just be showing this is the one I love over anyone else, it shouldn't be about what other people are thinking it should be about two people.'
A man who was diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980s has told of his 'emotional' reunion with the therapist who helped him through his darkest moments nearly 30 years later.

Marc Thompson, from south London, was diagnosed aged just 17, when the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS was at its peak, and believed the disease would 'probably kill him'.

Struggling to cope, Marc sought help at the the Landmark Centre in Brixton where he had regular counselling sessions with a volunteer called John, who gave him 'comfort and support'.

Almost three decades later, the pair were reunited by BBC2's Saved by a Stranger and appearing on Lorraine today, Marc told how John helped him cope after his 'world was turned upside down'.

Marc Thompson, from south London, was diagnosed aged just 17, when the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS was at its peak, and was convinced the disease would 'probably kill him'

Struggling to cope, Marc sought help at the the Landmark Centre in Brixton where he had regular counselling sessions with a volunteer called John. Pictured John meeting up with Marc earlier this year

'It was such an emotional journey', said Marc. 'I was so relived and grateful to meet John. He had such a huge impact on me as a young man.

'Dealing with my diagnosis trying to navigate and negotiate the world as a young person living with an infection, which at that time was highly stigmatized and I thought would probably kill me when I was diagnosed.'

Marc received his HIV diagnosis within a year of coming out as gay at 16, and says that his world was thrown into turmoil after hearing that he had contracted the disease.

'It was really difficult,' he said. 'I came out when was 16, I was diagnosed within a year of coming out. I was from a small family in Brixton and I was going off to study film and TV.

Almost three decades later, Marc and his former therapist were reunited on BBC2's Saved by a Stranger

Appearing on Lorraine today, Marc told how John helped him cope after his 'world was turned upside down'

'Suddenly, to get that diagnosis at the height of the epidemic when there was so little known about it, all of my world was turned upside down in 30 minutes.

'I just thought "This is it for me" and I wasn't going to go anywhere, but decided with the support of my wonderful mum and family I needed some help. It was a really dark time for me and lots of people like me, it was really frightening.'

He said that John allowed him to work through his fears, and that in the 1980s it was rare to be able to openly speak about is diagnosis.

'He gave me so much comfort and support', said Marc. 'But what he also did was hold me and to give guidance.

'What John was really good at was just sitting and allowing me to work through the questions and fears I had in my head and that's what a good therapist does, they ask you to look within yourself.

'At that time there were so few spaces for me to talk to about my diagnosis that John was a really special place.'

Marc received his HIV diagnosis within a year of coming out as gay at 16, and says that his world was thrown into turmoil after hearing that he had contracted the disease. Pictured John meeting up with Marc earlier this year

Marc said that while there has been great progress in treating HIV, there is still huge stigma surrounding the disease. Pictured John meeting up with Marc earlier this year

John sent Marc a message, insisting that he and the 'brothers and sisters' he lost during the epidemic would be 'proud' of all Marc has achieved.

'It was excellent to meet up with you again after such a long time, said John in a video message. 'It's great to know you have survived and thrived.

'Seeing you again reminded me of all the other brothers and sisters, the ones we lost along the way, they'd be proud of what you've done, and so am I.'

Marc said that while there has been great progress in treating HIV, there is still huge stigma surrounding the disease.

'I take one pill a day it keeps me really well it means I can't pass HIV on it's a good thing. There is still a lot of work to be done anyone who is diagnosed today they can live a long and healthy life.

'But HIV stigma hasn't gone away there are still lots of people who live frightened vulnerable lives because of HIV stigma.'

Saved by a Stranger airs on Thursday May 6th at 21:00 and will be available on iPlayer
Birthday boy Archie will 'have a video date with the Queen and his cousins' to celebrate his big day, a royal expert has claimed.

Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 39, who are currently living in their $14.7 million Californian mansion having stepped back from royal duty last year, are marking their son's second birthday today.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a Zoom call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, for the occasion.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she said Harry, Meghan and Archie would also likely join the Queen for a call, adding: 'Lockdown is lifting and the sun in California is shining  I'm sure they'll have a lovely celebration at home...Harry will make a really big fuss of Archie.'

Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle's, 39, son Archie will 'have a video call date with the Queen and his cousins' today for his birthday, a royal expert has revealed

Katie said Prince Harry faces a difficult challenge in trying to help his children bond with their cousins.

She revealed: 'He always wanted his children to grow up close to William and Kate's...Sadly it's looking increasingly unlikely for Archie.'

Meanwhile despite difficulties in their relationship over the last 18 months, she said it was 'hard to imagine' the Cambridge's wouldn't be in touch with the Sussexes on Archie's birthday.

Earlier today the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William and Kate Middleton all publicly sent well-wishes to Archie on his second birthday.

Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, for the occasion

The official Royal Family Instagram account led the birthday greetings this morning with a photo of Harry and Meghan introducing their son to the world at Windsor Castle in May 2019.

Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed suit with photographs taken at Archie's Christening in July 2019.

The day will be a particularly poignant as the Royal Family have not seen Archie in 18 months.

The toddler, who is seventh-in-line to the throne, was last in the UK in the autumn of 2019, before the Sussexes left to spend Christmas in Canada.

Meanwhile Katie also revealed Prince Harry, Meghan and Archie would also likely join the Queen for a video call

On Archie's first birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a video of him reading a book with his mother in support of Save The Children but it remains to be seen if fans will be given a fresh glimpse of the toddler today.

Katie's comments come after a royal expert said Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will likely develop a close bond with their cousin Archie later on in their lives.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century, suggested the Cambridges are likely to build a relationship with Archie despite the apparent rift between their parents.

She told the Express that the cousins will value each other because it is 'difficult for royal family members to form friendships outside' the Firm.

Katie's comments come after a royal expert said Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will likely develop a close bond with their cousin Archie later on in their lives

Ms Seward said: 'I am sure Diana would have wanted her sons' offspring to be friends as she would have known how difficult it is to form friendships outside the family as people cannot be trusted not to let some indiscretion slip out.

'But they may be friends with Archie when they are older. How cool to have a Californian cousin who is going to be such a dude as Archie. So exciting for them to go and stay with him too and vice versa.

'So they may not have the childhood bond, which they really don't need as they have lots of little friends, but they will really appreciate Archie later on in their lives.'

The Duke of Sussex returned to the UK to attend Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, after stepping down as a senior royal in January 2020 and subsequently having his titles stripped by the Queen.

Despite their differences, a spokesperson for the Sussex couple confirmed they privately wished Kate and William a happy 10th wedding anniversary last week

He flew back to California days later, missing the Queen's 95th birthday on April 21.

Charles, William and Harry were said to have talked after the interview but they were believed to have been 'unproductive'.

However, a spokesperson for the Sussex couple confirmed they privately wished Kate and William a happy 10th wedding anniversary last week.

William and Harry are expected to meet again in the summer when they unveil a new statue to Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.

Insiders hope the July 1 event - done to commemorate what would have been their mother's 60th birthday - will help mend their relationship.
Meghan Markle is using her new children's book to show 'how much the army meant to Harry and how upset he is to lose his military titles,' a royal author has claimed - as price is slashed by 3 a month before release.

In one illustration in The Bench, 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 begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin'.

And according to royal biographer Phil Dampier, the children's book hints at how unhappy Prince Harry, 35, who served a decade in the military and two tours in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008, is to have lost his military titles.

The royal, who served a decade in the military and two tours in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008, is believed to have seen the loss of the titles as the 'bitterest part' of 'Megxit.'

Speaking to The Sun, Phil Dampier said: 'The illustration of a red-haired soldier (obviously you know who) hugging his little boy, looks as though he has come home from war after many years and pulls at the heart-strings.'

Prince Harry, Captain General Royal Marines, visits 42 Commando Royal Marines at their base in Bickleigh to carry out a Green Beret presentation at Dartmoor National Park Prince Harry visits 42 Commando Royal Marines, Bickleigh, Devon on 20 February 2019

In one illustration in The Bench, 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 (pictured)

According to royal biographer Phil Dampier, the children's book (pictured) hints at how unhappy Prince Harry, who served a decade in the military and two tours in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008, is to have lost his military titles

'Mum is in tears as she looks through the window, and sees her husband returning from battle to pick up family life once more.

He continued: 'It's a scenario familiar to so many military couples separated by conflicts. 'But of course it wasn't a reality for Harry, who was in a different relationship when he served in Afghanistan.

'Rather Meghan is probably showing how much the Army meant to Harry and how upset he is to lose his military titles.'

And according to Dampier, the book is another way for the couple to express their feelings on the matter.

'The Queen decided he could not be half in and half out of the Royal Family, and therefore he could no longer continue with his honorary associations, including being Captain General of the Royal Marines,' he claimed.

'For Harry, who put his life on the line and then founded the highly successful Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women, losing the titles was the bitterest part of 'Megxit.'

The price of The Bench has already been slashed from 12.99 to 9.99 at Amazon, Foyles and Waterstones before it's even been released (pictured(

Anyone eager to get their hands on a copy can also pre-order the book at the cheaper price of 10.99 at WH.Smith (pictured)

The new children's book is being offered at the reduced price of 11.43 at Blackwell's - making a saving of 1.56 (pictured)

The new children's book was inspired by a poem Meghan had written for Harry on Father's Day the month after Archie was born and will explore the 'special bond between father and son' as 'seen through a mother's eyes'.

It will be published on June 8 by Random House Children's Books and will be illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson.

However, its price has already been slashed from 12.99 to 9.99 at Amazon, Foyles and Waterstones a month before its release.

While a 3 saving can made be at a selection of retailers, anyone eager to get their hands on a copy can also pre-order the book at the cheaper price of 10.99 at WH.Smith, or 11.43 at Blackwell's.

During a bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview in March, Prince Harry admitted he was 'hurt' by the Queen's decision to remove his royal patronages and honorary titles, but insisted he 'completely respects' her decision.

Harry will also be barred from wearing his military uniform after stepping back from Armed Forces appointments, although he can still wear his medals at engagements.

After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals in April 2006.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town

During his ten years in the Army, he undertook two operational tours of Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache helicopter commander.

His second tour of Helmand, in 2012, is believed to be one of the few times in his life that the Prince truly found contentment away from the restrictions and pressures of Royal life.

Known as 'Captain Wales' by his comrades, he proudly told one fellow soldier: 'I've got the best of both worlds. I get to do all this. I can fly helicopters. I can shine a spotlight on the work I want to do.'

It was the Army which offered Harry his first taste of life away from being a royal. Harry's military career ended in June 2015 but he has remained a passionate supporter of the Armed Forces and was handed a number of ceremonial military titles.

He said at the time: 'Luckily for me, I will continue to wear the uniform and mix with fellow servicemen and women for the rest of my life, helping where I can.'

His highest profile military title is as Captain General of the Royal Marines, a role he was handed by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding the Duke of Edinburgh.

His two-year association compares with the 64-year term of his grandfather.

Harry also quit his role as the Commodore-in-Chief Small Ships and Diving in the Royal Navy and as the Honorary Air Commandant at RAF Honington in Suffolk.
A woman who adopted a 'demonic' Chihuahua after reading an adoption advert describing him as a 'man-hating, child-hating Gremlin' says her new pet has given her a new lease of life.

Ariel Davis, 36, from Connecticut, took in two-year-old Prancer after a post from his exhausted foster carer, Tyfanee Fortuna, from New Jersey, took social media by storm last month.

The brutally-honest rant about his many negative traits - while desperately trying to find him a full-time owner - described the animal as 'neurotic' and accused him of creating a 'Chihuahua hellscape' in Tyfanee's home.

Appearing on This Morning today, Ariel revealed that while Prancer is 'absolutely demonic' and Tyfanee's advert was 'spot on' in her description, her new pet has had a very positive impact on her life.

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Two-year-old pooch Prancer took social media by storm earlier this month when his exhausted foster carer posted a brutally-honest rant about his many negative traits

The advert described the dog as a 'man-hating, child-hating Gremlin' who had created a 'Chihuahua hellscape'

'It's been very life-changing. He's really done a lot to help get me out of the house,' she said. 'I was sedentary at the time, I went to work and came home. I was a homebody. Now that I have Prancer, I'm going on walks.

'I'm trying to find new ways of taking pictures of him. I've learned how to use Instagram which is not something I did before and he's really helped me open up my social network.'

Ariel said she was attracted to other qualities described in the adoption advert such as 'loyalty' and felt that as a single lesbian who has no other pets, her home would be perfect for Prancer.

'When read the ad I was able to relate a lot to some of the characteristics he was described as,' said Ariel.

Ariel Davis, 36, from Connecticut,(pictured) took in the 'demonic' dog after reading the brutally honest advertisement online

Appearing on This Morning today, Ariel (right) revealed that Prancer is 'absolutely demonic' and the advert posted by Tyfanee Fortuna, from New Jersey (left) was 'spot on'

'I cared for a dog that was very similar to Prancer and Tyfanee did a really good job of describing some of his more demonic traits.'

'I'm a single woman and a lesbian so there will be no men in my life for the foreseeable feature,' she said. 'I live with another female and no animals and have a job very inclusive of taking care of him.'

Tyfanee shared the happy news of Prancer's adoption in a Facebook update last month, when she expressed her sheer relief at finally being free from the 'demon' dog, describing his adoption as the 'one of the best days of her life'.

'Time flies when youre having fun,' the post reads. 'Time also flies when the Chihuahua who held your family hostage for 6 months finally gets adopted.

'Prancer is almost a distant nightmare to me now, even though he was adopted just over a week ago. His adoption day was one of the best days of my life. On the flip side, I couldnt help but feel a bit wrong....it was like expelling myself of a demon and passing it on to someone else.'

Ariel is now documenting Prancer's journey on Instagram, and she revealed that the pooch is slowly getting used to his new home

Appearing on ITV today, Tyfanee said: 'He bonded to me very quickly, but after the first week is when his personality started to come out.

'Once he became bonded to me he hated all of the other animals, he really hated my dad and was constantly barking, growling, nipping at ankles things like that.

'For my dad and for my other animals, they could not go into a room without him losing his mind. He would make a lot of noise, I would have to be on top of him all the time. If my dad was there and I wasn't around he would just go crazy.'

She said that Ariel is the perfect owner for Prancer, with several people replying to the advert without being prepared for the animals more difficult traits.

'A lot of people wanted him, thought they could change him and he would get along with their animals, said Tyfanee.

In her original post, Tyfanee revealed Prancer was obese when she started fostering him and 'was too terrified to have a personality'

She explained that Prancer was never socialised by his former owner and for this reason, dislikes children, men and other animals

'There were a lot of people, he is a really cute dog so was attracting a lot of the wrong candidates. She [Ariel] actually sent an application and paragraphs about her life and how she thought she would be a good fit for him.'

Ariel has been documenting Prancer's early days in his new home on Instagram - where the viral pup has racked up more than 84.9k followers, although that pales in comparison to the 73,000 shares Tyfanee's adoption posting currently has on Facebook.

In that post, Tyfanee made no attempts to hide her dislike of Prancer's many unpalatable personality traits, explaining that he was a 'neurotic mess' and joking that he may well be possessed by an evil spirit.

'Ok, Ive tried. Ive tried for the last several months to post this dog for adoption and make him sound...palatable. The problem is, hes just not,' Tyfanee started. 'Every day we live in the grips of the demonic Chihuahua hellscape he has created in our home...

'If youre intrigued and horrified at how this animal sounds already, just wait....theres more.'

The foster owner said the animal was best-suited to live with a single woman, a mother-daughter duo or a lesbian couple

In the hilarious post, Tyfanee called Prancer a '13lb rage machine,' and said he hard turned her home into a 'Chihuahua hellscape'

Tyfanee then went into more details about Prancer and how he had 'adapted' to his life in her home.

'Prancer came to me obese, wearing a cashmere sweater, with a bacon egg n cheese stuffed in his crate with him. I should have known in that moment this dog would be a problem,' she wrote.

'He was owned by an elderly woman who treated him like a human and never socialized him. Sprinkle in a little genetic predisposition for being nervous, and youve concocted a neurotic mess, AKA Prancer,' she added.

She said that during his first week at her house, Prancer was 'too terrified to have a personality' and laid silent, but turned out to be a force to be reckoned with.

'I am convinced at this point he is not a real dog, but more like a vessel for a traumatized Victorian child that now haunts our home,' Tyfanee said.
A Great Dane has been dubbed a real life Gromit because he loves to ride around in his owner's motorbike sidecar.

Paw-some pooch Diego, five, enjoys feeling the wind blowing through his ears and watching the world go by - just like Wallace's famous dog.

Diego stands at over 2m tall and comes running when he hears the former Russian military motorbike engine start up, jumping straight into his cushioned sidecar next to owner Carlos Da Silva, 45.

Diego dons dog-goggles and the pair head into the streets around east London, delighting passersby.

Paw-some pooch Diego, five, enjoys feeling the wind blowing through his ears and watching the world go by beside owner Carlos - just like Wallace's famous dog

Diego stands at over 2m tall and comes running when he hears the former Russian military motorbike engine start up, jumping straight into his cushioned sidecar next to owner Carlos

At traffic lights they are often swarmed by people trying to get a snap of the unlikely pair - and are sometimes snapped up to 500 times a day, with Diego lapping up the attention and even posing for the camera.

Carlos and his wife Elenice Ribeiro, 46, have another Great Dane puppy, Nelson, one, whom they hope one day will follow in Diego's very large pawprints.

The two dogs join the couple every day at their motorcycle shop in Bethnal Green, making the journey from their home in Wembley in a van as opposed to the sidecar - although the dogs aren't averse to taking the Tube.

Elenice and Carlos like to have the gentle giants with them wherever they go in the city - much to the delight of anyone who sees them and stops to take their picture.

At traffic lights they are often swarmed by people trying to get a snap of the unlikely pair - and are sometimes snapped up to 500 times a day

Carlos - who is originally from Brazil - has always loved motorcycles and dogs, and was thrilled when his partner finally agreed to getting a pooch, after 17 years together

Elenice, who co-owns Bravos Motorcycles with husband Carlos, said: 'Diego is such an attention seeker - he loves it.

'He sits up proudly and poses when he gets in the sidecar, he knows he's about to get a lot of attention.

'I think in his head he's saying 'yes, I'm here!' as his ears fly about in the wind. Everyone in the area knows them.'

Carlos - who is originally from Brazil - has always loved motorcycles and dogs, but when he met Elenice in 1999, he had to accept that he may never own a dog again because she was petrified of them.

Luckily she shared his love for motorcycles, and the couple turned their passion into their business.

After 17 years together Elenice realised how much it would mean to Carlos to have a dog in his life - and decided she needed to get over her phobia.

Carlos takes his companion for short drives around the city, making sure he is securely strapped in for safety

Diego dons dog-goggles and the pair head into the streets around east London, delighting passersby

The couple decided to get a Great Dane, a breed known for their calm nature, and although Elenice was apprehensive at first, it wasn't long until she fell in love.

'I was petrified, but Carlos had had Great Danes before and reassured me that despite them being so big, they were very calm,' Elenice said.

'I bought Diego for Carlos as a Christmas present in 2015 - and the two of them have been inseparable ever since.'

According to Elenice, Diego is a 'Daddy's boy' - so when it occurred to Carlos that Diego had the right temperament to join him on his motorbike in a sidecar, it seemed like a no-brainer.

'Carlos said he bought the sidecar for me - but I think it was always intended that Diego would be the passenger!' Elenice said.

'As soon as he hears the engine, he runs and jumps straight in, he gets so excited.'

They regularly hold up traffic thanks to the volume of passersby trying to take their photo, but Diego basks in his fame and laps up the attention wherever he can

It took a bit of training to get Diego to the confident rider he is today, but according to Carlos it was an 'easy' task.

'He loves the sidecar - every time we touch the sidecar, he comes,' Carlos said. 'He knows we're going out. Everyone in South East London knows Diego.

'We even go to McDonald's - I take him through the Drive-thru - he likes chicken nuggets! Everywhere we go we take him. He's a very well behaved dog.'

Carlos takes his companion for short drives around the city, making sure he is securely strapped in for safety.

He also wears a special pair of dog-goggles to protect his eyes from the wind - and make sure he's able to see where he's going.

They regularly hold up traffic thanks to the volume of passersby trying to take their photo, but Diego basks in his fame and laps up the attention wherever he can.

'He loves being petted by strangers, and definitely poses - he always looks so proud when he's in the sidecar,' Elenice said.

Diego enjoys his sidecar rides around four times a week, each time met with the same enthusiasm for his favourite pastime with his beloved human

'When we're with Diego, we can easily be photographed 500 times a day, it's crazy.'

In 2017, Elenice was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Diego was her 'silent supporter', comforting her through her treatment. The couple went on to buy Nelson, one, another Great Dane, in March 2020.

'Nelson is much more active, he definitely wouldn't sit still if we put him in the sidecar,' Elenice said.

Elenice and Carlos also enjoy taking the dogs with them wherever they go in London, whether that's the tube, the bank, or even out to dinner.

'They're our family and we love them,' Elenice said. 'If places don't accept dogs, then we don't go.'

Diego enjoys his sidecar rides around four times a week, each time met with the same enthusiasm for his favourite pastime with his beloved human.

'You can tell how much he's enjoying himself, I think that's why people love to see it so much,' Elenice said. 'It's amazing how much he loves Carlos and his sidecar - he just can't get enough.'
Kirstie Allsopp has claimed vaccinating children against Covid-19 while millions of people across the world are at greater risk is the 'pinnacle of western overconsumption'.

The Location, Location, Location host, 49, from London, made her case on Twitter, arguing the idea of not putting the 'most vulnerable' people first is 'disgusting'.

It comes after reports claimed children as young as 12 will get their coronavirus vaccines from September as the government tries to avoid a third wave. 'Core planning' documents were leaked showing school kids will be given one dose when they go back to class after the summer.

This week Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the largest union for secondary school heads, said education leaders would be willing to help facilitate a vaccine roll-out at schools around the country.

Meanwhile India is suffering the world's worst second wave of Covid with another 412,262 cases reported today and 3,980 new deaths - both record figures - with medical experts suggesting the country's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies.

Kirstie Allsopp has claimed vaccinating children against Covid-19 while millions of people across the world are at greater risk is the 'pinnacle of western overconsumption'

Children are less likely than the elderly to be severely impacted by the virus but can pass it on to those who are.

Yesterday mother-of-two Kirstie tweeted: 'The idea of vaccinating children in the UK while so many around the world are at risk, unlike our kids or indeed our adult kids or younger siblings, is somewhat disgusting. It's the pinnacle of Western overconsumption.'

She later added: 'Society is about putting the most vulnerable first. Were vaccinated, wheres the data that says children will benefit? What happened to putting them before us?'

He tweet sparked a debate on Twitter, with many agreeing with her argument. One user commented: 'All along we've been told that children are very low risk. We've also been told that the vaccine won't stop us spreading Covid, therefore, the idea is utterly ridiculous.'

The Location, Location, Location host, 49, from London, made her case on Twitter , arguing the idea of not putting the 'most vulnerable' people first is 'disgusting'

Another responded: 'Given we are now officially beyond herd immunity, I am yet to see any strong evidence why any child needs this. It strikes as me peculiar that the dominant narrative seems rooted in an assumption, rather than an analysis.'

And one tweeted: 'Rushing to vaccinate our low-risk, low-spread children with an emergency use mRNA vaccine that hasnt been time tested is a mistake. At this point, we need to prioritize and maximize the vaccination of adults.'

But some suggested that vaccinating children against Covid will help stem the spread of the virus; one tweeted: 'Children would catch and spread Covid to the vulnerable, that's the point. It's not just about children benefitting, it's about preventing them from endangering others, for example grandparents who will be back doing unpaid childcare once we're all back in the workplace.'

Another wrote: 'I normally agree with your tweets @KirstieMAllsopp but Britain has an opportunity to get transmission to a very low level by vaccinating as much if the population as possible. This will benefit all our vulnerable people, build confidence and get our economy back on track.'

And one remarked: 'Why not vaccinate the kids if it's safe and you have the vaccine? Is it their fault other countries dont have the vaccine. I think not,' while another tweeted: 'Maybe not all children but there is a group of particularly venerable children, my son included, for whom COVID could be fatal.'

Some scientists have argued that if Covid rates rose significantly, it would become a priority to vaccinate children to prevent further disruption or closures of schools, however others have suggested it might not be necessary if there is a high take-up of the vaccine among young adults and a low virus rate by autumn.

According to reports, health officials are drawing up plans to offer the Pfizer vaccine to children aged 12 and over from September.

Mr Barton told the Telegraph that mass vaccinations among children could help spell the end of the 'system of controls' currently in place in schools across the country, which include social distancing, bubbles and face masks in the classroom.

He added that 'peer pressure' of seeing friends getting the jab is likely to make the overall numbers taking up the vaccine higher.

Last month a source told The Sun that plans are in place to vaccinate children aged 12 upwards, and senior government officials have been briefed.

Almost 85% of secondary schools in England had NO covid cases after they opened Almost nine in 10 secondary schools in England had no coronavirus cases after they reopened, official figures suggest. Surveillance data showed only nine of 80 schools surveyed had spotted one infected pupil or staff member in the fortnight ending March 31. Four saw at least two cases, according to the Office for National Statistics report. Almost 10,000 secondary teachers and pupils were swabbed for the study, which is carried out regularly to track the spread of the disease in schools. Just 0.34 per cent of pupils tested positive  compared to 1.2 per cent in December, when Covid was spreading rapidly in the community. Only one in every 500 teachers were infected in the last round of testing, down from one in 60 before Christmas. Public Health England bosses said the data was 'reassuring'. It comes after teaching unions warned Number 10's 'big bang' reopening of schools on March 8  the first step in the ultra-cautious roadmap back to normality  was 'madness' and risked an explosion in cases. Unions called for year groups to be sent back in phased stages, claiming the mass return could put teachers at risk from the virus. The ONS report, carried out alongside experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and PHE, tested 7,156 pupils and 2,645 secondary staff members between March 15 and 31. Advertisement

'Though controversial, it is deemed necessary to stop the UK regressing in its remarkable fight against Covid,' they said.

Health officials are also said to be looking into jabbing children as young as five from July in a 'worst case scenario'.

The leaked report shows the government's contingency plan if the roadmap out of lockdown this summer leads to a surge in variants.

The Department of Health said no decision has been taken, adding: 'We will be guided by experts once clinical trials have concluded.'

The first Covid vaccine for children could be approved next month, according to the chief scientist behind it.

Pfizer has developed a modified dose of the vaccine for approval for young people aged 12 and over in the US, and has also applied to the UK's MHRA medicines regulator to lower the age threshold to 12 from 16.

There are also reportedly plans for Britons over 50 to be given booster jabs in the autumn amid fears of Covid variants sweeping Europe.

Scientists say they are increasingly convinced that India's mutant strain is playing a leading role in the second wave of infections, as it appears to be out-competing the UK variant and is therefore likely to be more infectious.

The surge in infections has also coincided with a dramatic drop in vaccinations because of supply and delivery problems, despite India being a major vaccine producer.

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.

Yesterday it emerged 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 Organisation talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines.
A mother who survived a horrific car crash at 33 weeks pregnant safely delivered her premature baby on the backseat of a different car two days later.

Tessie Heeter, 31, from Fort Collins, Colorado was left with a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and amnesia so bad that she didn't recognise her husband or know she was seven-months pregnant, following a road accident in 2018.

The mother-of-three came around after two hours and was released from hospital shortly afterwards, but husband Jon, 32, was kept in for a further three days.

After visiting her husband just two days after the crash, Tessie went into labour with her daughter Nell, who was premature and miraculously safely delivered on the backseat of her brother's car while still inside an intact amniotic sac.

This kind of birth, known as an en caul birth, is extremely rare, occurring in less than one in 80,000 deliveries, and Tessie says it was 'spectacular' that she was able to survive the crash and birth in a matter of days.

Tessie Heeter, 31, from Fort Collins, Colorado (pictured with husband Jon,32, and their three children) survived a horrific car crash at 33 weeks pregnant

Two days later, Tessie went into labour with her daughter Nell, who was premature and miraculously safely delivered on the backseat of her brother's car. Pictured, Tessie with baby Nell in hospital

'It just felt so redemptive. It was almost full circle', she said.

'I look back on Nell's birth and I see so much beauty that I wouldn't change it for a moment.'

Full-time mother Tessie and Jon, who works in litigation support, were driving with their son Hart, four, in the backseat on August 24th 2018, in Denver, Colorado, when a car plowed into their vehicle.

The shock of the impact gave Tessie amnesia for two hours, leaving her unable to recognise Jon or her son Hart and she was unaware that she was seven-and-a-half months pregnant.

Full-time mother Tessie and Jon were driving with their son Hart, four, in the backseat on August 24th 2018, in Denver, Colorado, when a car plowed into their vehicle. Pictured, the vehicle after the crash

The shock of the impact gave Tessie amnesia for two hours, leaving her unable to recognise Jon or her son Hart. Pictured, the vehicle after the crash

The mother was left with a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and bruised lungs. Pictured, the vehicle after the crash

'I remember sitting on the ground with my son in my lap, but I didn't know who he was', said Tessie.

'My husband was screaming but I didn't know who he was or why he was in so much pain.

'In the ambulance they asked me my name, the year and what state I was in but I couldn't answer.

'They said I was pregnant and I replied: 'No, I wish I was.''

Tessie, mom of Hart, Nell, now two, and Whit, one, regained her memory in hospital and returned home while Jon remained in hospital.

Tessie, mom of Hart, Nell, now two, and Whit, one, regained her memory in hospital and returned home while Jon remained in hospital

Nell was born in an amniotic sac, a bag of mostly water inside the womb which begins filling with amniotic fluid shortly after conception. Pictured, Tessie with baby Nell in hospital

Doctors later told Tessie it was astonishing that Nell suffered no repercussions from the car accident and the premature birth. Pictured, two-year-old Nell this year

Two days later, she had just visited Jon when she began to feel contractions.

Her brother Logan Herbert, 34, drove her to hospital but she delivered Nell on the backseat before they arrived.

Tessie added: 'It was very intense. I personally have never wanted a natural labor, that wasn't something I've ever prepared for. I was screaming.

WHAT IS BEING BORN 'EN CAUL'? Being born 'en caul' means a portion of the amniotic sac or membrane remains intact during birth. It affects less than one-in-80,000 newborn humans. A caul is a thin, filmy membrane that may be attached to the head, face and ears or could drape over the head and cover part of the torso. The caul is harmless and can be removed by experts. Often, incisions are made at the nostrils to allow the baby to breathe. The loops can then be carefully removed. Advertisement

'I remember feeling down below and I pulled my shorts off and it felt like a deflated water balloon was poking out.

'On the next contraction I caught her, she was still in the amniotic sac.

'I don't know if it was instinct but I felt like I had to get her out so I tore the sac.'

The amniotic sac is a bag of mostly water inside the womb which begins filling with amniotic fluid shortly after conception.

The foetus grows inside this sac and the fluid helps its lungs, stomach, intestines, muscles and bones to develop.

It is very rare for a baby to be born with the sac still intact as it usually ruptures when a woman goes into labor, known as her water breaking.

Tessie worried for her tiny premature baby.

'She was only four pounds and her eyes were so wide', said Tessie. 'I put my mouth over her nose and mouth.

'She still wasn't crying. I slipped her under my tank top and she latched.'

Doctors later told Tessie it was astonishing that Nell suffered no repercussions from the car accident and the premature birth.

Tessie added: 'They said that the fact she was born at 33 weeks in a car with no medical equipment and there were no negative repercussions was pretty spectacular.'
A martial arts fighter has recalled the horrific moment he was brought to tears after he snapped his penis in a painful sex injury.

In tonight's episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER, which airs on TLC at 11pm, MMA fighter Ray Elbe, from the US, discusses how he suffered his most severe injury setback while preparing for a tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, not while in the ring, but during a quick moment of intimacy with his girlfriend.

'It was early evening time, I specifically remember my girlfriend saying that she wanted to go see a movie,' Ray explains. 'We got a little bit intimate in the heat of passion, and she happened to be on top of me in this situation.'

As Ray goes on, during the couple's against-the-clock love-making, the pair found themselves slightly out of sync, causing Ray a significant and eye-wateringly painful injury to his penis.

In tonight's episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER, which airs on TLC at 11pm, MMA fighter Ray Elbe (pictured), from the US, recalls the horrific moment tears were brought to his eyes after he snapped his penis in a painful sex injury

Ray and his partner found themselves slightly out of sync, causing Ray a significant and eye-wateringly painful injury to his penis. Pictured, in hospital

'Unfortunately, as she went a little bit too high, I slipped out, and when she came back down I was still obviously fully erect, and basically [she] bent me over the top,' Ray reveals.

Within a matter of seconds, the couple's romance had turned into a scene out of a horror movie.

'Blood just spurt all over the place,' Ray recalls. 'I've had some significant injuries, but as far as the actual pain, and I was in shock at that point, it was brutal.'

Ray remembers running into the bathroom to grab a towel to stem the bleeding, only for matters to escalate.

'There was so much blood loss that I felt light-headed and then I lost consciousness,' he says. 'I ended up cracking the bottom of my jaw on the floor as I fell.'

Regaining consciousness a short time later, Ray and his shocked girlfriend decided to call for an ambulance. Before long, help arrived, which only added insult to injury for Ray.

Ray Elbe (pictured) embraces his fiance in January 25, 2020 in Inglewood, California

Ray remembers running into the bathroom to grab a towel to stem the bleeding, before losing consciousness for a short time (pictured in a reenactment)

'I can't describe the pain, it was brutal,' he says. 'That was an embarrassing moment for me, you know. There you are, with all your manhood less than manly!'

On arrival at the emergency room, Ray's doctor gave him the lowdown on the seriousness of his injury: A ruptured urethra and an injured dorsal vein and artery. Essentially, Ray had fractured his penis.

'Man, it brings tears to your eyes. I don't care who you are or how tough you are as an individual, it was just a humbling experience,' Ray recounts.

'The penis is made up of tissue that is very spongy, and when the penis is getting erect, what happens is that tissue fills with blood,' emergency physician Dr Jordan Moskoff explains. 'In the course of sexual activity, if the penis misses where it's supposed to go and jams, you can actually break that spongy tissue.'

In reality, as Dr Moskoff explains, a fractured penis is a serious injury and no laughing matter.

'A fractured penis begins to swell and gets very formed and misshapen, looking more like an eggplants,' he says. 'Unless you fix it, it will stay sideways.'

'You have to be put into surgery, and if you don't there's a build of scar tissue which limits the amount of blood flow which is able to provide for an erection.'

The MMA fighter (pictured) says the pain was 'brutal' the moment was an 'embarrassing' one

On arrival at the emergency room, Ray's doctor (pictured) gives him the lowdown on the seriousness of his injury: A ruptured urethra and an injured dorsal vein and artery

To correct his injuries, Ray undergoes surgery and after a gruelling 12 hour operation, he is left nursing his battle wounds.

'Essentially, what he did was he cut and peeled the skin down, and went into the two tubes and stitched them back together,' he says. 'I woke up medicated, and literally my testicles were the size of two softballs because all the blood drained down in there. It was black and blue!'

For Ray, the whole experience has certainly left its mark. 'I will never forget the experience.

The catheter removal, and with being so bruised and having raw stitching and all that stuff on the inside, that was very, very painful.'

After a week's stay in the hospital, Ray was discharged and left to recuperate on his own.

Luckily, after eight or so weeks, Ray was back up and running, both professionally and *ahem* personally.

For Ray (pictured), the greatest takeaway is helping to provide some perspective and information for other males who may end up experiencing the same thing

'Even though the ordeal I had just been through was a dramatic ordeal, I'm still back to the same size, the same performance,' he says.

But for Ray, the greatest takeaway is helping to provide some perspective and information for other males who may end up experiencing the same thing.

'While rare, there's about 2,000 of these injuries a year,' he says. 'I think that there's a lot of people that are able to use this story both as a learning opportunity for themselves, but as an opportunity to not feel so alone when it comes to the injury.'

The experience has also solidified Ray's relationship with his girlfriend.

'We're probably always going to be together for life because of this injury,' he says. 'That was the first time I had really experienced a woman that had legitimately and honestly was 100% committed to me.'

Sex Sent Me to the ER airs at 11pm on Thursdays exclusively on TLC
The Duchess of Cambridge has once again shown off her sustainable fashion credentials by re-wearing the blouse from her engagement photo shoot.

Kate Middleton looked elegant in the Whistles blouse as she cuddled up to her then fiance Prince William in photographs taken by celebrity photographer Mario Testino at St James's Palace, London, in November 2010.

The 125 'Kate' blouse was first released by the British high street chain in 2008 and Miss Middleton was praised at the time for choosing such a 'sensible' look for her engagement photographs.

Proving she is more than happy to re-wear classic pieces, Kate, 39, recently brought the blouse back out of her wardrobe to phone finalists of her Hold Still photography competition.

Photographs released today show the Duchess of Cambridge wearing the delicate blouse she wore for her 2010 engagement shoot. The Whistles top was originally released in 2008

Kate Middleton looked elegant in the Whistles blouse as she cuddled up to her then fiance Prince William in photographs taken at St James's Palace, London, in November 2010

The ivory woven silk blouse features a frill detail at the centre front finished with an eyelash trim. It also features a granddad collar and long sleeves with a button cuff

Photographs released today show the Duchess of Cambridge wearing the delicate blouse with a simple pair of black trousers.

The ivory woven silk blouse features a frill detail at the centre front finished with an eyelash trim. It also features a granddad collar and long sleeves with a button cuff.

The phone calls took place at Sandringham, Norfolk, last autumn but the photos and conversation recordings were only released today.

The duchess spoke to Hold Still finalists including five-year-old Mila Sneddon, who was featured in one of the final 100 images.

Mila, of Falkirk, was photographed kissing her father through a window as she shielded while undergoing intensive chemotherapy for leukaemia during lockdown last year.

The photograph, titled Shielding Mila, was taken by her mother Lynda and is one of the 100 images included in the Duchess of Cambridge's book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, which is out tomorrow.

The phone calls took place at Sandringham, Norfolk, last autumn but the photos and conversation recordings were only released today

Kate phoned Mila and Lynda last autumn and the conversation was released today on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new YouTube channel, alongside heart-warming photographs of Mila and her family.

Mila, who was four at the time, began the call by saying: 'Good morning, Your Royal Highness,' prompting Kate to respond: 'Good morning. Goodness me, you're so polite Mila.'

Mila excitedly told Kate that she enjoys walking her dog, knows the names of all the Cambridge children and likes the colour pink - prompting Kate to promise she will wear a pink dress if they have the opportunity to meet.

The duchess spoke to Hold Still finalists including five-year-old Mila Sneddon, who was featured in one of the final 100 images

Mila Sneddon, of Falkirk, was photographed kissing her father through a window as she shielded while undergoing intensive chemotherapy for leukaemia during lockdown last year

Hold Still was launched by The Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery last year and invited people of all ages from across the UK to submit a photographic portrait which they had taken during the first lockdown.

From over 31,000 images submitted, 100 final portraits were selected and shown in a digital exhibition before being displayed across the UK as part of a community exhibition.

Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 brings together the final 100 Hold Still portraits, providing a unique record of our shared and individual experiences as the COVID pandemic took hold.
As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan comes to an end this week, Muslims fast and pray more deeply, hoping to improve their chances of being closer to God. Many Christians across the world have taken it upon themselves to pray for them.

CBN has teamed up with Uncharted Ministries for a five-day interview series involving former Muslims who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Several former Muslims testify about how they came to believe in Jesus and prayed that others might too.

They also shared about their lives before embracing Jesus as their Savior and are looking to see how Jesus will save more of their kin on the holiest night in Islam, the "Night of Power."

While many Christians see Jesus as a metaphorical figure, several accounts from Muslim-background believers state that he appeared in a literal robe to those that he named "peace be upon me." They, among others, are learning that Jesus was more than a prophet and that He is, in fact, the Son of God.

"Once you have Jesus in your life, it changes everything," says Nadine.

"God opened my heart to believe, and I put my faith in Jesus," confirmed Afshin.

"He's not a mad angry God who created me. He's not that. He created me with so much love," testified Yasra.

During "Jesus and Ramadan" week, Afshin, Nadine and Yasra found the "Absolute Truth." You can check their stories at "I Found The Truth" website.

Instead of rejecting the Jesus of Islam (Isa-al Masih), Christians would do well to learn that even in their inaction or unwillingness to engage Muslims, Jesus will keep looking and drawing more sheep to bring to his fold.

Thomas Doyle of Uncharted Ministries reports that believers from a Muslim context would take time to ask questions as well as time to discuss with Christians to grow in their understanding of the word of God.

"We're going to have Emily from your team in Jerusalem and Josh from our team here in Dallas, asking them questions - how did they find Christ, in Iran, in Baghdad and Iraq, and sharing their stories. And then they're going to give a call to action to believers in the West on how to reach out to Muslims," Doyle told CBN's correspondent.

It is relevant to do this during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan because of its eternal value.

Doyle explains that the last week is the most important since it is known as "The Night of Destiny" for Muslims -the night of divine appointment where they reach out to God and expect to be heard.

"That is the number one night of the year that Jesus appears to Muslims in dreams," he said. "They're searching for God, and Jesus accommodates that request - but they're shocked and they're surprised when a man in a white robe comes to them and tells them that He loves them and He died for them on the cross."

Interested parties can check out when "Jesus and Ramadan" starts airing, whether on Facebook or on Instagram.
American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis (pictured in 2013), from Los Angeles, says his novel 'wouldn't be published today' because it's 'too problematic' for feminists

The author of American Psycho says his controversial novel 'wouldn't be published today' because it would be 'too problematic.'

Bret Easton Ellis, 57, from Los Angeles, published American Psycho in 1991 and it wasn't long before the novel - which focuses on psychopathic Wall Street banker Patrick Bateman who picks up women and then butchers them after sex - was slammed by feminists across the globe.

Focusing on the book's graphic descriptions of sexual violence, one feminist campaigner branded it a 'how-to novel on the torture and dismemberment of women,' while authors criticized it as nothing more than misogynistic pornography.

Now, 30 years on from its release, Ellis, whose novel was made into a film in 2000 starring Christian Bale, has opened up about whether he regrets there being a gap between his intentions for the book and the way it was interpreted by the public.

'I think the gap doesn't really exist any more  audiences always understood the novel,' he said, speaking to The Telegraph. 'Maybe feminists didn't, but I'm not sure the book is feminist  definitely satirical, though I understand [that] the lens through which we view things makes it somewhat problematic now.'

American Psycho, which was turned into a 2000 movie starring Christian Bale (seen), was published in 1991, and immediately sparked outrage among feminist groups

The book, and its movie adaptation, focuses on psychopathic Wall Street banker Patrick Bateman - played by Bale - who picks up women and then butchers them after sex

Despite writing the book three decades ago, Bret, who received death threats after its release, admits he hasn't 'picked it up in 20 years.'

Ellis received death threats in the wake of the book's publication - and some stores refused to stock the novel because of its controversial contents

Speaking on whether he believes American Psycho is deservedly one of his most renowned novels to date, the author told the publication: 'Books don't deserve anything  they just are and the public decides.'

At the time, The New York Times called the novel out for being 'moronic and sadistic,' while some shops refused to stock it altogether.

Even its own publishers, Simon & Schuster, listened to the outcries across the nation and cancelled their deal with the author, then aged 26, on the evening of its publication - before it was shortly snapped up by Alfred Knopf.

Releasing a statement, Simon & Schuster's CEO, Richard E Snyder commented: 'It was an error of judgement to put our name on a book of such questionable taste.'

During a time when men are being urged to consider helping women feel safer in the world, it's unlikely there'll be celebrations as its 30th anniversary approaches.

However, speaking to the publication, Robert Asahina, recalled how Bret took the writing very seriously and found it a 'psychological strain' to be 'inside the mind of a fictional madman.'

Despite the controversy that surrounded its release, the book's movie adaptation, which also featured Chloe Sevigny (seen with Bale), was widely praised by viewers and critics

Now published as a Picador Classic, the author's current editor Kris Doyle has defended the novel and argues that Ellis depicts subject matters such as violence and greed in order to satirize them.

He continued: 'That these issues still remain some of our most challenging and urgent is an indictment of us as a society. Bret is a writer who engages with the darkness so it can be interrogated.'

While most people know Patrick Bateman from the 1999 film adaption co-starring Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Willem Dafoe and Chloe Sevigny - it was something which the author of the book didn't feel was necessary.

'American Psycho was a book I didn't think needed to be turned into a movie,' Ellis said in 2010. 'It was conceived as a novel, as a literary work with a very unreliable narrator at the center of it and the medium of film demands answers.

'I don't think American Psycho is particularly more interesting if you knew that he did it or think that it all happens in his head. I think the answer to that question makes the book infinitely less interesting.'

Despite the initial criticism of the novel, when it was adapted into a movie in 2000, the reception was mostly positive - and it earned critical acclaim from movie reviewers and spectators alike.

The big-screen version proved so popular, that it is now being used as the basis for a new TV show, which is currently in development - according to Deadline.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle today urged vaccine manufacturers to 'temporarily suspend' intellectual property rights in order to help those in developing countries gain access to jabs - as they marked Archie's second birthday by asking for $5 donations to aid global distribution.

The Duke, 36, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, shared an emotive letter to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Norovax on Thursday as they launched a campaign to 'ensure equitable vaccine access globally'.

The lengthy note, published to Global Citizen, asks the vaccine bosses to 'act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership' in response to a 'equity crisis' and use 'every possible measure to increase global supply.'

These proposed measures include 'the temporary suspension of intellectual property and extraordinary global public-private collaboration resulting in wider transfer of technology and know-how.'

AstraZeneca has already vowed not to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic, but Harry and Meghan today urged the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna to follow suit and supply at least 100 million doses of their vaccinations at 'not-for-profit prices' this year.

They also requested that the two pharma giants accelerate their supply and deliver the jabs to COVAX - Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, which protects people against the virus 'regardless of wealth' - as soon as possible.

Harry and Meghan's ambitious vaccine mission comes as Joe Biden yesterday threw his support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to speed up the end of the pandemic.

The UK is under pressure to follow his lead and call for patents to be ditched so companies can make cheaper versions to send to very low income countries, which have given just 0.4 per cent of the 1.2 billion vaccines administered globally.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also today asked their supporters to donate to GAVI, a vaccine alliance which buys Covid-19 vaccines for the world, in a post on their Archewell Foundation website.

The Sussexes said a $5 donation would be matched by organisations supporting the appeal to become $20 - which would cover the purchase of four vaccines.

'We cannot think of a more resonant way to honour our sons birthday,' they said. 'If we all show up, with compassion for those we both know and dont know, we can have a profound impact. Even a small contribution can have a ripple effect.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have urged supporters to make a donation to a vaccine equity campaign to mark their son Archie's second birthday

Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle's, 39, son Archie will 'have a video call date with the Queen and his cousins' today for his birthday, a royal expert has revealed

The Sussexes shared an up to date photograph of their son for his second birthday, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge do each year with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

In the new image, Archie is seen holding a bunch of balloons in the garden of their California home.

Last year, the couple released a video in which Meghan was reading Archie, the seventh-in-line to the British throne, a story.

In a post shared on their Archewell site, signed 'Harry and Meghan', the couple wrote: 'We have been deeply touched over the past two years to feel the warmth and support for our family in honor of Archies birthday.

'Many of you donate to charities on his behalf, and mark the occasion by giving back or doing an act of serviceall through the goodness of your hearts. You raise funds for those who need it most, and continue to do so organically and selflessly. We remain incredibly grateful.'

They continued: 'This year, our world continues to be on the path to recovery from COVID-19. Yet too many families are still struggling with the impact of this pandemic. While some places are on the verge of healing, in so many parts of the world, communities continue to suffer.

'As of today, around 80 percent of the nearly one billion COVID-19 vaccine shots that have been given were administered in wealthier countries.

'While we may feel that normalcy is around the corner, we remind ourselves that in much of the world, and especially in developing countries, vaccine distribution has effectively yet to start.

'We will not be able to truly recover until everyone, everywhere, has equal access to the vaccine.

The Sussexes today shared an up to date photograph of their son Archie to mark his second birthday

Visitors to the Archewell website are greeted with the picture along with a message saying: 'Join us in advocating for vaccine equity on Archie's birthday'

Harry and Meghan's open letter to pharma bosses To Albert Bourla, CEO Pfizer; Stephane Bancel, CEO Moderna; Pascal Soriot, CEO AstraZeneca; Alex Gorsky, CEO Johnson & Johnson; Stanley Erck, CEO Novavax: The world owes you gratitude for leading the successful development and manufacturing of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19. This was achieved in record time, amidst a once-in-a-century global pandemic. Its truly a testament to what can be achieved when partners work together towards a shared goal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health, social, and economic inequality globally. The global vaccine rollout thus far further deepens these disparities, with the poorest and most marginalized populations most adversely impacted. As of May 1, over 80% of the 1.2 billion vaccine doses administered globally have occurred in high-and upper-middle-income countries while the very lowest-income countries have administered just 0.4%. As we are seeing in countries like India, the urgency to deliver doses now to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19 is only increasing. Thats why it is imperative that we ensure equitable vaccine access globally so that people are protected, economies can recover, and this global pandemic can be brought to an end everywhere. Therefore we, the undersigned, stand with Global Citizens who want to see COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership in response to this equity crisis, including through the following actions: Moderna  We are pleased to see Moderna finally join the global vaccine initiative, COVAX, but the worlds poorest countries cannot wait until the end of the year to access your life-saving vaccine. We therefore call on you to move up your delivery schedule with COVAX and increase the promised 2021 volume to at least 100 million doses. Pfizer  To date, Pfizer/BioNTech have only promised 40 million doses to COVAX, the fewest among vaccine producers. We call on you to commit at least 100 million additional doses to COVAX at a not-for-profit price and to deliver them as soon as possible this year. All  Every possible measure to increase global supply must be on the table, including the temporary suspension of intellectual property and extraordinary global public-private collaboration resulting in wider transfer of technology and know-how. We call on each of you to end your opposition to these measures and work collaboratively with the global community to achieve universal access. If we work together in the global public interest, we will save lives at risk and we will defeat this deadly pandemic. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Advertisement

The Duke, 36, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, posted an emotive letter to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Norovax on Thursday as they launched a campaign to 'ensure equitable vaccine access globally'

PROS AND CONS OF SUSPENDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON VACCINE RECIPES President Biden yesterday threw his support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines in a bid to speed up the end of the pandemic. He was joined by EU President Ursula von der Leyen, who later signalled the bloc was open to discussions about a rule-change. Today, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote an open letter to the CEOs of several vaccine manufacturers asking them to use 'every possible measure' - including 'the temporary suspension of intellectual property' - to increase global vaccine supply. Jab-makers currently own the rights to their vaccine recipes  known as intellectual property rights or IP rights  and other firms can't copy them without approval. If this right is lifted, companies would be able to make cheaper versions of the jabs to send to developing nations. However, some argue this isn't the best decision. PROS Those in favour of waiving intellectual property protections say it is the best way to get 'as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible'. People in very low income countries have only received 0.4 per cent of the 1.2billion vaccines administered worldwide. Campaign group Global Justice Now said: '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.' Sharing recipes would also allow for an acceleration in production speed, which currently sits at around 3.5 billion doses per year. This would need to increase to 10 billion doses - with most vaccines requiring two jabs per person - in order to cover even 70 per cent of the population swiftly. Some vaccines could also be produced in low and middle income nations if recipes are shared, with Foreign Policy recently suggesting facilities in these countries could be repurposed to make mRNA jabs. Therefore, there is the possibility that - with some technical assistance and the blueprint - vaccine production could begin in as little as four months. CONS However, it has been argued that 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. Pfizer/BioNTech developer Dr Ozlem Tureci told CNN that there are a 'number of important factors in producing vaccines,' adding: 'Patents are not the limiting factor'. She said a waiver would not 'increase the number of doses we will have available within the next 12 months.' adding: 'It will probably act towards increasing chaos in production'. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, which represents some of the biggest drug makers, has also hit back at the idea, claiming it is 'not the solution' to ending unequal supply of life-saving jabs. It said in a statement: 'In the short term, it will hinder vaccine scale-up and in the long term, significantly impact global investment into new vaccines and medicines.' An unnamed official in an EU country added: 'The question is to raise capacity in the fastest way possible. 'Ending patent restrictions is only one element. You will also need the raw materials. How will the supply chain follow? What about the quality of production locations? 'So we have about 300 other elements that affect this.' Advertisement

'And with that intention, we are inviting you to contribute whatever you canif you have the means to do soto bring vaccines to families in the worlds most vulnerable places.

'For a donation of just $5, you can cover the cost of a dose for someone in need.

'And because we were able to secure matching support from a number of organizations, that $5 you give will automatically turn into $20covering the cost of four doses.

'Every single dollar countsnot only will it help save lives but it will help save families and communities.'

They finished the post: 'Together, we can uplift, protect, and care for one another.'

Their appeal for donations comes days after Prince Harry joined A-list Hollywood celebrities at Vax Live - a concert to raise money for GAVI.

The Sussexes have not yet revealed if they have contributed.

Donors are able to click through the Archewell website, which takes them to a page run by Global Citizen, a global anti-poverty campaign which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex regularly partner with.

They can then donate $5, which is matched by the Mastercard Impact Fund, the card giant's philanthropic arm; the Seadream Family Foundation, a charitable project linked to a company; and one unnamed 'public charity', up to a maximum of $1,000,000 each.

The resulting $20 donation will go to GAVI, or the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, which buys Covid vaccines for developing countries with the support of countries including the UK, which has pledged billions worth of funding.

The Sussexes also today shared an open letter urging several pharma bosses to ensure their vaccines are accessible to the developing world.

Among the requests in the note, Meghan and Harry asked those at Moderna and Pfizer to commit to at least 100 million additional doses at a not-for-profit price and to accelerate their delivery schedule.

Addressing the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and AstraZeneca, they added: 'We call on each of you to end your opposition to these measures and work collaboratively with the global community to achieve universal access.'

The letter, which can be cosigned by the public, called for jabs to be administered to the 'very lowest-income' countries - which have given just 0.4 per cent of the 1.2 billion vaccines administered so far.

The Sussexes said: 'If we work together in the global public interest, we will save lives at risk and we will defeat this deadly pandemic.'

Their aim echoes that endorsed by President Biden yesterday, when he announced his support for intellectual property protections to be waived for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic.

'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 White House said.

Jab-makers currently own the rights to their vaccine recipes  known as intellectual property rights or IP rights  and other firms can't copy them without approval.

EU President Ursula von der Leyen also today signalled that the bloc was open to discussions about a rule-change in the hope it could 'address the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner'.

The bloc is set to discuss the issue at a summit in Portugal tomorrow, and France's Emmanuel Macron has already said he supports it for 'a global public good'.

The move would dent the profits of firms like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson which stand to make huge amounts of money from their vaccines, which are making billions of dollars in sales.

But Moderna, at least, already said last year that it would not enforce its patent and would offer its vaccine recipe to other firms that want it.

Harry and Meghan's mission marks their latest delve into the public eye, after the Duke of Sussex was greeted with wild cheers and a standing ovation by a rapturous crowd during a speech at a star-studded concert in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, for the occasion

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie during a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu at their legacy foundation in Cape Town

In a separate post on their Archewell Foundation site, Meghan and Harry called for royal fans to support GAVI, a vaccine alliance which buys Covid-19 vaccines for the world. Pictured: The couple after Archie's birth

The Sussexes said: 'If we work together in the global public interest, we will save lives at risk and we will defeat this deadly pandemic'

DO MODERNA, ASTRAZENECA AND PFIZER PROFIT FROM THEIR VACCINATIONS? There have so-far been 1.2billion vaccinations administered across the globe, with Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer leading the roll-out. All three jabs were produced relatively quickly, but not without rigorous testing on their safety and efficacy. MODERNA The Moderna vaccine was developed with an almost billion dollar investment from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. It was approved for use in the UK in January. It is understood Moderna bosses profited from stock sales that coincided with announcements of its results, with the firm handed a $1.5billion deal with the US government for an initial 100 million doses. Moderna has said it expects sales of $18.4billion in 2021. ASTRAZENECA The AstraZeneca vaccine, created in collaboration with the University of Oxford, was handed more than 65.5 million of funding from the UK government. The development of the vaccine was also aided by $1 billion of investment from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. AstraZeneca has vowed not to profit from the vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic, and charges $4.30 to $10 for two doses. It expects sales of $1.9billion in 2021. The jab was approved following thorough testing, with Phase 3 of its clinical trial involving 30,000 volunteers and a pediatric trial. PFIZER The PfizerBioNTech vaccine was the first to be approved in the UK following safety and efficacy tests. BioNTech, based in Mainz, received 375m (335m) in funding from the German government and a 100m loan from the European Investment Bank. It is expected that Pfizer, which splits costs and profit margins equally with BioNTech, will net $15billion in sales in 2021 but the final number could be twice as high. Pfizer says it could potentially deliver some two billion doses this year, according to the Guardian. 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. Advertisement

Harry told the audience of vaccinated frontline workers 'every single one of you are awesome' before urging them to 'look beyond ourselves' at the star studded event.

After an announcer read out an introduction, 'Please welcome Vax Live campaign chair Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex', the royal walked onto the stage to a rock star-style reception, with his name beamed in giant letters on a flashing screen behind him.

Harry, who appeared in public for the first time since the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, delivered a five-minute address calling for vaccines to be shared with poorer countries, which was regularly punctuated by more rapturous cheers.

Speaking in a markedly different accent than his previous Queen's English, Harry said: 'We must look beyond ourselves with empathy and compassion for those we know, and those we don't.

'We need to lift up all of humanity and make sure that no person or community is left behind.'

The event - which was being recorded for broadcast on TV on May 8 - was the first speech Harry had given since he and Meghan made a series of damning claims about their family during an appearance on Oprah.

The Duchess of Sussex is expected to be recording a message to appear in the final broadcast.

Harry was among many high profile stars - including Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Gayle King and Ben Affleck - to take the stage at Vax Live, which was hosted by campaign organisation Global Citizen at the So-Fi Stadium in Inglewood.

Meghan has also tried her hand at political activism when she weighed in on the US election last November in a break from the royal family's politically neutral stance.

The mother, who is expecting her second child, also spoke out about the importance of voting, saying: 'I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless.

'I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard.

'And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.'

The announcement today after a royal expert said birthday boy Archie will 'have a video date with the Queen and his cousins' to celebrate his big day.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a Zoom call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, for the occasion.

Speaking to Okay! magazine, she said Harry, Meghan and Archie would also likely join the Queen for a call, adding: 'Lockdown is lifting and the sun in California is shining  I'm sure they'll have a lovely celebration at home.

'Harry will make a really big fuss of Archie.'

Katie said Prince Harry faces a difficult challenge in trying to help his children bond with their cousins.

She revealed: 'He always wanted his children to grow up close to William and Kate's.

'Sadly it's looking increasingly unlikely for Archie.'

The appeal comes days after Prince Harry joined A-list Hollywood celebrities at Vax Live - a concert to raise money for GAVI

Harry's name in lights at the event, which was attended by a series of Hollywood A-listers including Jennifer Lopez

Audience members cheer during Global Citizen Vax LiveThe Concert To Reunite The World at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

Meanwhile despite difficulties in their relationship over the last 18 months, she said it was 'hard to imagine' the Cambridge's wouldn't be in touch with the Sussexes on Archie's birthday.

Earlier today the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William and Kate Middleton all publicly sent well-wishes to Archie on his second birthday.

The official Royal Family Instagram account led the birthday greetings this morning with a photo of Harry and Meghan introducing their son to the world at Windsor Castle in May 2019.

Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed suit with photographs taken at Archie's Christening in July 2019.

The day will be a particularly poignant as the Royal Family have not seen Archie in 18 months.

The toddler, who is seventh-in-line to the throne, was last in the UK in the autumn of 2019, before the Sussexes left to spend Christmas in Canada.

On Archie's first birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a video of him reading a book with his mother in support of Save The Children but it remains to be seen if fans will be given a fresh glimpse of the toddler today.

Archie, the birthday boy! Harry and Meghan release a new photo of their son holding balloons at their $14million Montecito mansion as they celebrate him turning two

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a new picture of baby Archie to celebrate his birthday.

The image, released on the Archewell site, shows Harry and Meghan's son holding balloons at the couple's $14million Montecito mansion.

Visitors to the website are greeted with the picture along with a message saying: 'Join us in advocating for vaccine equity on Archie's birthday.'

Harry and Meghan are appealing to well-wishers wanting to mark their son's second birthday to donate money to pay for Covid vaccinations in disadvantaged countries.

They issued a joint statement thanking those who have offered 'warmth and support' for their family during the past two years in honour of Archie's birthday, gestures which had left them 'deeply touched'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a new picture of baby Archie to celebrate his birthday

The couple said they were 'incredibly grateful' to those well-wishers who had given money to good causes, volunteered or raised donations on behalf of their son.

In the signed statement, posted on their Archewell foundation website, Harry and Megan said: 'We will not be able to truly recover until everyone, everywhere, has equal access to the vaccine.

'And with that intention, we are inviting you to contribute whatever you can - if you have the means to do so - to bring vaccines to families in the world's most vulnerable places.

'For a donation of just five dollars (3.60), you can cover the cost of a dose for someone in need.

'And because we were able to secure matching support from a number of organisations, that five dollars you give will automatically turn into 20 dollars (14.40) - covering the cost of four doses.'

The Sussexes went on to say: 'We cannot think of a more resonant way to honour our son's birthday. If we all show up, with compassion for those we both know and don't know, we can have a profound impact. Even a small contribution can have a ripple effect.

'Together, we can uplift, protect and care for one another.'

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, posing with son Archie

In a separate post on their Archewell Foundation site, Meghan and Harry called for royal fans to support GAVI, a vaccine alliance which buys Covid-19 vaccines for the world. Pictured: The couple after Archie's birth

At the weekend Harry appeared with a host of famous names from the worlds of music, film and politics at Global Citizen's Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, a charity performance in aid of the international Covid vaccination effort.

Speaking to an animated crowd of only fully vaccinated guests, the duke asked for vaccines to be 'distributed to everyone everywhere', while also saluting frontline medical workers both at the concert and around the world.

The Sussexes also said in their statement that despite the world being on a path to Covid recovery, 'too many families are still struggling with the impact of this pandemic'.

'While some places are on the verge of healing, in so many parts of the world, communities continue to suffer.

'As of today, around 80% of the nearly one billion Covid-19 vaccine shots that have been given were administered in wealthier countries.

'While we may feel that normalcy is around the corner, we remind ourselves that in much of the world, and especially in developing countries, vaccine distribution has effectively yet to start.'
Prince Charles today posted a tribute to his grandson Archie on his official Instagram, and eagle-eyed royal fans are questioning whether then move could have particular significance in his troubled relationship with Prince Harry.

Royal fans noted that Prince Charles did not post on Instagram to mark the sixth birthday of his only granddaughter Princess Charlotte on May 2 nor the third birthday of Prince Louis on April 23.

Commenters questoined if the Prince of Wales, 72, who hasn't seen Archie in the flesh for at least 18 months, made the move as a festure of goodwill to Prince Harry, with one writing: 'You're all class, Charles, under very trying circumstances.'

It comes after months of royal turmoil following Harry's revelation to broadcaster Oprah Winfrey that his father had stopped taking his calls after his decision to step down as a senior royal and to move his family to the US.

Father and son were reunited at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on April 17, and the pair reportedly 'walked and talked' together before a famiyl summit after the funeral.

The Prince of Wales, 72, has marked the second birthday of his grandson Archie on social media today. Royal fans noted he hadn't marked the birthdays of his other grandchildren in the same way this year (pictured with Prince Harry and Archie on his baptism on July 6 2019)

Royal fans said Charles didn't make a social media post to mark Princess Charlotte's sixth birthday on Sunday 2 May

Fans applauded Charles for extended an olive branch to Harry after months of reported family turmoil

'Happy birthday to Archie, who turns two today,' Charles wrote on the Clarence House Instagram account for his youngest grandson, whom he hasn't seen in 18 months.

He accompanied the note with a black and white picture taken on the occasion of his youngest grandchild's baptism on July 6 2019.

The picture marks the last time grandfather and grandson were officially photographed together.

In the heart-warming snap, proud father Harry is beaming as he gazes down at Archie in his Christening robes while proud grandfather Prince Charles looks on, smiling.

The Prince of Wales didn't mark Prince Louis's third birthday on social media this year. He did so for his second birthday in 2020

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice that Charles, who has four grandchildren, did not post for Princess Charlotte's birthday on May 2 or Prince Louis's third birthday on April 23.

Some thought Charles was showing bias by singling out Harry's son.

'Wow, disappointing that there wasnt a dedicated post for Louis and Charlotte recently,' one said.

'Ok he's your grandson but Charlotte and Louis are your grandchildren too. You should've posted for them too,' said another.

Following Charles's post, some fans said he should have done a similar post for Charlotte ansd Louis's birthday this year, while other applauded his attention for Archie

However, some saw in Charles' post a way to patch things up with his estranged son.

'You're all class Charles under very trying circumstances,' one wrote.

The Prince of Wales did share heart-warming social media posts for his other grandchildren in past years.

In 2020, the Clarence House Instagram account marked Prince George's seventh, Charlotte's fifth, Louis's second and Archie's first birthday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared this family portrait taken at Archie's Christening in July 2019. Pictured standing: Prince Charles, Doria Ragland, Princess Diana's sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Prince William. Seated: the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie and the Duchess of Cambridge

In his very candid March 11 interview with US broadcast queen Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry admitted Prince Charles had stopped taking his calls during the Megxit row.

The Duke of Sussex rocked the royal family when he announced he wanted to step down as a senior royal in February 2020, before leaving the country in March of the same year.

This led to frictions between Harry and his father, with the royal telling Winfrey:

He added: 'There's a lot to work through there. I feel really let down.'

The official Royal Family Instagram account led the birthday greetings this morning with a photo of Harry and Meghan introducing their son to the world at Windsor Castle in May 2019

A royal expert claimed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will make sure Archie has a 'video date with the Queen and his cousins' to mark his second birthday. Pictured, Harry and Meghan with Archie, the Queen, Meghan's mother Doria Ragland and the late Duke of Edinburgh in a photograph released shortly after his birth in May 2019

Harry's visit to the UK on the occasion of Prince Philip's funeral and the happier occasion of Archie's second birthday could lead to further reconciliation.

William and Harry are expected to meet again in the summer when they unveil a new statue to Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.

Insiders hope the July 1 event - done to commemorate what would have been their mother's 60th birthday - will help mend their relationship.

The Queen led the sweet messages of celebration this morning to mark Harry and Meghan's firstborn's birthday.

The official Royal Family Instagram account led the birthday greetings this morning with a photo of Harry and Meghan introducing their son to the world at Windsor Castle in May 2019.

Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed suit with photographs taken at Archie's Christening in July 2019.

The happy occasion will no doubt be tinged with a hint of sadness for the Royal Family who have not seen Archie in 18 months.

Archie's birthday video call with Gan-Gan Royal expert Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a Zoom call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, to mark Archie's birthday. Speaking to Okay! magazine, she said Harry, Meghan and Archie would also likely join the Queen for a call, adding: 'Lockdown is lifting and the sun in California is shining  I'm sure they'll have a lovely celebration at home... Harry will make a really big fuss of Archie.' Advertisement

The toddler, who is seventh-in-line to the throne, was last in the UK in the autumn of 2019, before the Sussexes left to spend Christmas in Canada, with pandemic travel restrictions hampering planned visits in the meantime.

The Royal Family Instagram account, which is managed by the Queen's staff, shared the message: 'Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today'.

Meanwhile, royal expert Katie Nicholl said Prince Harry and Prince William, 38, would put their differences to one side and come together for a Zoom call with Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, for the occasion.

Katie said Prince Harry faces a difficult challenge in trying to help his children bond with their cousins.

She revealed: 'He always wanted his children to grow up close to William and Kate's...Sadly it's looking increasingly unlikely for Archie.'

Meanwhile despite difficulties in their relationship over the last 18 months, she said it was 'hard to imagine' the Cambridges wouldn't be in touch with the Sussexes on Archie's birthday.
Josh Duggar, who has been charged receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images, previously went to a Christian treatment center for addiction

Josh Duggar may be heading to prison for allegedly receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images, but when he confessed to having a pornography 'addiction' in 2015, he addressed the problem privately by checking into a Christian treatment center for addiction.

Now 33, Josh had just welcomed his fourth child when he publicly admitted to 'a secret addiction' of 'viewing pornography on the Internet'  which, at the time, was presumed to involve only adult imagery  and was promptly flown to the Reformers Unanimous residential treatment center in Rockford, Illinois.

Josh spent six months in a shared room at the $7,500-per-month facility with no access to email or cell phones, and passed his time in prayer, reading the Bible, and attending mandatory church services and meetings.

But though the program aims to help people nurture 'the relationship with Christ necessary to enjoy their freedom from the power of sin,' one of its own former counselors, Pastor Jack Allen Schaap, had pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal sexual assault stemming from the statutory rape of an underage girl on multiple occasions.

Confession: Josh publicly admitted to 'a secret pornography addiction' in 2015 and was flown to the Reformers Unanimous residential treatment center in Rockford, Illinois

Long road: He spent six months in a shared room at the $7,500-per-month facility, where he had to sleep in bunkbeds, and was banned from using email or a cell phone

Schedule: During his time there, Duggar (see in February 2015) was woken early and had to go to sleep at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends

Out: Duggar, now 33, was released on bail on Thursday afternoon after being arrested on child pornography charges

Josh checked into the treatment center in August of 2015 after a leak of user information for the cheating website Ashley Madison was found to include Josh's name.

At the time, he admitted to being unfaithful and watching pornography, saying he was 'ashamed' of his 'double life' and 'personal failings.'

Days later, his parents released a statement saying that Josh had 'checked himself into a long-term treatment center.'

'For him it will be a long journey toward wholeness and recovery. We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change,' they wrote.

While they didn't confirm the name of the facility, Gawker reported that a plane owned by Duggar Aviation  which was usually flown by younger brother John David Duggar  had landed at Chicago Rockford International Airport on August 25, 2015, and he was believed to have gone to the nearby Reformers Unanimous center.

According to the center's website, the residential recover program  which it describes as a 'discipleship'  provides 'a reconstructive learning atmosphere where the non-functioning person can be trained in a supportive environment of discipleship consisting of study, mentoring, Bible education, and workplace training.'

Prayer: They are also required to go to church and all communication with family is monitored

Alternative: Rather than describe its program as 'rehab', the organization brands its courses as 'discipleships for men and women with troubled lives'

Program: As well as doing personal Bible study, all participants in the program are required to attend chapel services every weekday

'This atmosphere can be referred to as a greenhouse effect. We help get the student rooted firmly, so they are able to withstand all that life brings to them,' they said.

While Reformers also would not confirm Josh's attendance, Tony Richardson, director of development with the center, spoke about the program with People.

Jobs: Everyone is expected to work while in treatment, with jobs including cook, mechanic, and groundskeeper. Anyone can choose to leave at any time

'It is not a country club,' he said. 'It is like going to college, but I dont know if it is as nice as that.'

The center, which sits on 1.5 acres, was once a nursing home and treats up to 40 men at a time, with two men to a room sleeping in bunk beds.

The men are woken up early and must go to sleep at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. They are not allowed to email or use cell phones, and can only watched approved television on weekends or enjoy free time in a game room.

The center monitors communication that patients have with their families, but they are allowed to go out with family members on weekends after 60 days inside. Anyone can choose to leave the program at any time.

Anna and some of Josh's other family members flew up for a visit on Christmas.

'Everyone just had fun and seemed to be high spirits, including Anna,' a source told People magazine of the visit.

Freebies? Prices are as high as $7,500 for six months  though it's possible that the Duggars were given a deal because Jim Bob and Michelle have a relationship with the center

Connection: I n 2014, Jim Bob and Michelle were keynote speakers at a conference at the Rockford center and shared pictures from the event on Facebook

Everyone is expected to work while in treatment, with jobs including cook, mechanic, and groundskeeper.

Home: In March of 2016, the Duggars announced that Josh had completed the program. 'It was a crucial first step in recovery and healing for Josh,' they said

'We deal with everything from a sin standpoint,' Richardson said. 'We call it to the school of discipleship. The closer you get to the Lord, the further you get from what brought you here.

In addition to the inpatient treatment program, Reformers also goes to prisons to help convicts.

For inpatients, prices are as high as $7,500 for six months  though it's possible that the Duggars were given a deal because Jim Bob and Michelle have a relationship with the center.

'They are an incredible Christian based drug/alcohol addiction program,' the Duggars said.

In 2014, Jim Bob and Michelle were keynote speakers at a conference at the Rockford center and shared pictures from the event on Facebook, and Richardson said that he believed they had referred some people to the program in the past.

'I am not sure how they heard about us but we are grateful they have,' he said.

Trouble: A pastor affiliated with the recovery program, Jack Allen Schaap, pleaded guilty to a felony count of criminal sexual assault stemming from the statutory rape of an underage girl

Disgusting: Schaap, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence, is said to have told his victim that God approved of their behavior when she asked if it was wrong to kiss

Soon after Josh checked into the facility, it was reported that it had links to a former pastor who groomed an underage girl for sex.

RadarOnline.com reported that Pastor Jack Allen Schaap, 63, had pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal sexual assault in a deal with prosecutors, related to an 'inappropriate relationship' in 2012 with an 'underage parishioner' referred to as Jane Doe, according to United States District Court documents.

'The relationship started when [Schaap] was counselling Doe,' documents seen by RadarOnline.com state, adding that the married pastors assistant discovered sexual photos of the young girl on his iPhone.

Schaap, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence, is said to have told his victim that God approved of their behavior when she asked if it was wrong to kiss.

Chicago Magazine claimed that he had sex with her in his office during a church conference, at his cabin in Michigan, and in an Illinois forest.

While Schaap didn't work at the treatment center that house Josh, he did bring the Reformers Unanimous program to his own parish, the First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana.

When Josh sought treatment, though, a sermon by Schaap remained on a list recommended 'heartily' by Reformers Unanimous to its students.

Moving on: Josh and his wife Anna had four kids when he left; they have since had two more and she is pregnant with their seventh

Josh also set off some alarm bells at the start of his treatment when there was speculation that he wasn't taking part in all of the requirements, including attending church.

RadarOnline reported about a week into his stay that worshippers at North Love Baptist Church, which is affiliated with the rehab facility, saw no sign of Josh.

The men enrolled in the treatment program are required to attend church twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, as well as go to a program chapter meeting held at the church every Friday.

They are driven to the church in a white school bus and must enter via a basement door.

But an eyewitness claimed Josh 'definitely wasnt there' the first Friday he was in treatment.

Finally, in March of 2016, the Duggars announced on their family website that Josh had completed the program.

'It was a crucial first step in recovery and healing for Josh. Josh has now returned to Arkansas, where he will continue professional counseling and focus on rebuilding relationships with his family,' they said.

Flashback: Josh went to a different faith-based rehab facility in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2003. Part of his punishment was shaving his head, as can be seen in an old Duggar TV special

Josh had also gone to a different faith-based rehab facility in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2003 after his parents learned that he had molested four of his little sisters.

He spent three months in the facility, which was owned by the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a Christian ministry and training program founded by Bill Gothard, a Duggar family friend.

While little has been revealed about the program, people associated with IBLP have claimed that Josh was required to do manual labor and was not allowed to speak during that time.

He was also allegedly required to shave his head  the results of which can be seen in the Duggars' first TV special on Discovery Health, 14 Children and Pregnant Again.

'If people look back to when Josh was bald on the show, it was because he was being "rehabilitated,"' a tipster told Gawker in 2015. 'The head-shaving was part of the shaming process.'

The source added: 'When Josh returned from his "porn rehab" he was brought before the church. After Josh gave his "testimony," his sisters came up and hugged him and I remember seeing huge, confused tears streaming down their faces."
Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus reduces the risk of getting sick from COVID-19 by five- to 18-fold for fully immunized people, two new studies show.

In one report, just 0.4 percent of healthcare workers in Israel who received both shots of the COVID-19 immunization later tested positive compared to 7.2 percent of unvaccinated employees.

This means healthcare workers who received both doses were 18 times less likely to fall ill.

Meanwhile, in the second study, 1.8 percent of fully vaccinated frontline staff at a hospital in Tennessee contracted the virus in comparison with 8.5 percent of unvaccinated workers, putting the latter group at a 4.7 times greater risk of infection.

The results are in line with the 95 percent efficacy Pfizer and BioNTech reported from their late-stage clinical trial in December 2020 that led to emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Because vaccinated people were not only less likely to get sick from coronavirus, but to even get an asymptomatic infection, the findings are also a sign that the vaccine may prevent transmission between close contacts.

At a hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, 5,517 healthcare workers, or 82.2% (light blue line), received two doses between December and February and 757, 11.3% (yellow line) were not vaccinated. Of them, 0.4% of the fully vaccinated later tested positive for Covid compared to 7.2% of unvaccinated people

In a second study at a hospital in Tennessee, 2,776 employees, 53.2%, were fully vaccinated 2,165 staff members, 41.5%, were unvaccinated. Of those, 1.8% of the fully vaccinated later tested positive for Covid (yellow line) compared to 8.5% of the unvaccinated workers (blue line)

For the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the team from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center collected data from 6,710 of their employees.

Between December 20, 2020, and February 25, 2021, 5,953, or 88.7 percent, received at least one dose and 5,517, or 82.2 percent, received two doses.

The remaining 757, 11.3 percent, were not vaccinated.

Workers were considered fully vaccinated once it was seven days or later after receiving their final dose.

Of the fully vaccinated employees, 27 of the 5,517, or 0.4 percent, later tested positive for the virus, as did 55 of the 757, or 7.2 percent, of the unvaccinated staff.

In the Israel study, just 8 fully vaccinated people (solid blue line) were symptomatic and 19 were asymptomatic (dotted blue line) compared to 38 symptomatic unvaccinated workers (solid yellow line) and 17 asymptomatic workers (dotted yellow line)

Researchers also compared rates of symptomatic and asymptomatic illness.

Eight of the fully vaccinated people who tested positive had symptoms such as cough, fever and shortness of breath compared to 38 of the unvaccinated workers.

The team says this shows that not only is the vaccine effective at blocking illness but, if a person does get sick, they are very unlikely to experience symptoms.

They determined that Pfizer's shot was 97 percent effective at preventing symptomatic illness and 86 percent effective at preventing asymptomatic infection.

'In this retrospective cohort study of regularly screened health care workers, vaccination with 2 doses of the [Pfizer] vaccine was associated with significantly lower incidence rates for both symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection,' the authors wrote.

In the Tennessee study, 56.9% of fully vaccinated people were asymptomatic (left, yellow line) and 43.1% were symptomatic (right, yellow line) compared to 42.7% of unimmunized workers who were asymptomatic (left, blue line) and 57.3% who ere symptomatic (right, blue line)

For the second study, also published in JAMA, the team from St Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, looked at data from 5,217 employees.

Between December 17, 2020 and March 20, 2021, 3,052, 58.5 percent, received at least one dose and 2,776, or 53.2 percent, received both doses.

The remaining 2,165 staff members, or 41.5 percent, were unvaccinated.

Nasal swab tests showed that at least 10 days after the second dose, 1.8 percent - 51 out of 2,776 - tested positive compared to 8.5 percent - 185 out of 2,165 people.

Similarly to the first study, the majority of fully vaccinated people were asymptomatic at 56.9 percent compared to 42.7 percent of unimmunized workers.

'Unvaccinated employees had higher cumulative incidence of a positive test result than vaccinated employees, and higher incidences of positive test results via asymptomatic screening, for symptoms, or for known exposure,' the authors wrote.
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Children accounted for more than 22 percent of all new COVID-19 cases identified in the U.S. last week - a near record high proportion over the course of the pandemic - a recent report reveals.

Despite cases among children spiking alongside school and business reopenings, the pediatric death toll remains low. Fewer than 500 American kids have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic - less than 0.01 percent of and most doctors agree that the benefits of being in class far outweigh the risks coronavirus poses to children.

According to the report, there were just seven new Covid deaths among children in the U.S. last week (although fatality data typically lags).

Rising waves of pediatric infections are being seen in numerous states across the country. More than 20 percent of people newly infected with coronavirus last week in Colorado were children, state data reveal.

Over the course of the entire pandemic, Colorado children between 0 and 19 have made up nearly 17 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the state, but the proportion has grew considerably in the week of April 25.

Local officials and doctors blame three factors: the rise of more infectious variants, relaxing of restrictions and the fact that vaccines are not yet available for children under age 16 - although that is likely set to change, with Pfizer's vaccine expected to get FDA authorization for kids ages 12-15 in a matter of days.

Colorado isn't alone in the unsettling trend.

In mid-April, Michigan saw cases among children quadruple compared to February, to 827 among 10- to 19-year-olds and 285 among children nine and younger.

Pediatric Covid cases increased by four percent nationwide between April 15 and April 29 (the latest dataset from the American Academy of Pediatrics), with infections among kids rising by more than 10 percent in Michigan, Maine and Puerto Rico.

Along with Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota all saw increases of about nine percent in childhood coronavirus cases.

Even as overall U.S. COVID-19 cases fall to fewer than 50,000 - a figure not seen since October - the proportion of infections among children is now nearly 10-times higher than the share of of Covid cases that were reported in children in the last week of April 2020.

More than a 20 percent of people newly infected with coronavirus last week in Colorado were children(orange), state data reveal - the most over the course of the pandemic

Last week, 22.4% of all new cases of COVID-19 identified in the U.S. were among children, a near-record for the pandemic

To some extent, the spread of coronavirus to and among children may have been inevitable, especially during the current phase of the vaccination rollout and reopenings.

'Kids have been a little bit more out there, there's been some outbreaks in schools. There's lots of after-school activities happening as well, we've seen some outbreaks in sports,' Dr Sean O'Leary, a University of Colorado School of Medicine pediatrician, told MSN.

Since kids started going back to school, Colorado and most other states have seen an uptick in coronavirus cases linked to classrooms and campuses.

Last week alone, there were 210 active outbreaks in Colorado schools, a number only matched in December, when the number of school outbreaks rose to 211.

Sixteen states, including California, Florida and Illinois have more than 100,000 total pediatric Covid cases now (left), while Michigan, Maine and Puerto Rico saw childhood cases increase by about 10% last week compared to the previous week (right)

In Colorado, just 4.5 percent of Covid cases are among children aged nine or younger. More than 12 percent of the state's cases are now in those between ages 10 and 18

Pediatric infections among those aged six to 13 are now more common than those among people who are 80 or older

'Who is getting infected in schools has also shifted. More infections are happening in students as opposed to the staff.'

Infections are still rarest among the youngest kids.

In Colorado, just 4.5 percent of Covid cases are among children aged nine or younger.

More than 12 percent of the state's cases are now in those between ages 10 and 18.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, there are ongoing outbreaks at 331 schools out of an estimated 3,550 in the state.

Last week, COVID-19 cases among children shot up there, trailing the state's surge in adult cases.

Vermont leads the nation for the highest proportion of its cases being in children, with more than 22%, according to the AAP report

On average, the state was seeing more than 1,000 cases among children between 0 and 19 last month - about four times more than it saw around the same time last year.

Now, at least 59 children in Michigan are hospitalized. Pediatric hospitalizations have increased nationwide, as have reports of the rare pediatric inflammatory condition linked to COVID-19, MIS-C.

'The problem is we cant yet predict which children are more likely to suffer serious COVID symptoms,' Dr Prashant Mahajan, vice chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at CS Mott Children's Hospital in Michigan, told the University of Michigan's health blog.

''Vaccines havent reached many youth and arent yet available to kids who are now out in the community more than they were before.

'That makes it especially important for adults around them to get vaccinated, continue following safety precautions like masking and social distancing and helping enforce these measures among young people too.'

Meanwhile, the Michigan Legislature is holding $1.4 billion in prospective funding for childcare hostage until Governor Gretchen Whitmer drops a measure that asks facilities to make sure kids between two and four wear masks indoors.

Although how exactly variants affect kids is unknown, experts like Dr Mahajan and his colleague, Dr Terri Stillwell, an associate hospital epidemiologist, are concerned that as long as variants spread more, more children will get infected.

'There isnt any data suggesting that kids are necessarily more susceptible to new strains of COVID, but the B.1.1.7 variant itself is more transmissible overall,' Dr Stillwell told the U of M blog.

'People have also developed pandemic fatigue and may not be as diligent as they used to be, at the same time that more places have opened up and in-person activities have resumed.'

Michigan has one of the highest proportions of Covid cases caused by the B117 variant in the nation, second only to Tennessee, with 71 percent of infections caused by the UK strain.

Colorado, too, is among the top 25 states for variant driven cases, with nearly 50 percent of infections attributed to the variant.

Some studies suggest the variant may be better at latching onto and infecting cells, which may mean even a child's immune system is less adept at fighting it off, but that has yet to be established.

Others suggest the variant may be as much as 64 percent deadlier, but that doesn't seem to have moved the needle on child fatality rates from COVID-19.

Regardless, the B117 variant is now dominant in the U.S., and cases in children are on the rise, with 16 states now reporting more than 100,000 total pediatric infections, led by California, Illinois and Florida.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally classified a coronavirus variant that emerged in India as a 'variant of interest' (VOI) on Wednesday.

Known as B.1.617, the variant has become the most common in the Asian country, making up an estimated two percent of all cases, according to outbreak.info.

However, it has three sublineages, one of which accounts for about 20 percent of cases in India.

It has been called a 'double mutant' by India's Ministry of Health because it has two mutations on parts of the virus that help it hook onto our cells.

Despite accounting for fewer than 0.1 percent of all COVID-19 infections in the U.S., naming the variant as a VOI suggest officials fear it may have mutations that make the virus spread more easily, cause more serious illness or escape vaccine immunity.

The CDC listed the coronavirus variant first identified in India, known as B.1.617, as a 'variant of interest' (VOI), meaning officials believe the variant may have mutations that make the virus spread more easily, cause more serious illness or escape vaccine immunity

B.1.617 accounts for at least 2% of COVID-19 infections in India and is believed to be partially responsible for the surge that saw 412,262 cases recorded on Thursday. Pictured: A COVID-19 patient breathes with the help of oxygen in Ghaziabad, India, May 6

B.1.617 was first discovered in October in the Maharashtra state, which is the second most-populous state in India and where Mumbai is located.

The variant has 13 mutations, including two common ones that occur on the spike protein, which the virus used to enter and infect cells, called E484Q and L452R.

L452R, which is also found in the homegrown California variant, has been linked to increased transmissibility.

E484Q, also seen in the Brazilian and South African variants, helps the virus evade antibodies generated by either natural infection or from vaccines.

'It has the worst of two very bad mutations out there and that's a big concern,' Dr Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, told DailyMail.com last month.

The variant is believed to be at least partially responsible for India's second coronavirus wave, as officials recorded 412,262 cases - a record-high number - and 3,980 deaths on Thursday, according to the country's Health Ministry.

During a press conference, Dr Sujeet Singh, the director of India's National Center for Disease Control, said he believes the virus is behind the surge, but that more studies are needed.

'We have not been able to establish the epidemiological and clinical correlation completely yet,' Singh said on Wednesday.

'This correlation is the main aspect and without it we cannot link a particular surge to the variant.'

The first case in the U.S. was identified in California in early April by researchers at Stanford University.

Only nine cases have been confirmed in the U.S. linked to the Indian variant, (above) and no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported

Since then, a total of nine cases have been confirmed in California, Iowa and Michigan, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of state data.

As of Thursday afternoon, no hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.

The CDC classifies coronavirus variants in three categories: variant of interest, variant of concern and variant of high consequence.

The Indian variant joins the New York variant, B.1.526, and a less common UK variant, B.1.525, as 'variants of interest.'

There are four variants of concern - the common UK variant, B.1.1.7; the South African variant, B.1.351; the Brazilian variant, P.1; and the California variant, B.1.427/B.1.429 - in the U.S. and no variants of consequence.
Doctors say they may have discovered a cure for the type of blood clots linked to Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine that may have saved a Colorado woman's life.

Morgan Wolfe, 40, from Aurora, received the one-dose shot on April 1. Soon after, she began experiencing a headache, dizziness and changes to her vision.

Twelve days after being given the vaccine, she went to the emergency room at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, where scans showed a blood clot in her brain and in her lungs.

At the time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had advised that patients experienced clots after getting the J&J shot not be given a popular blood thinning medication called heparin.

Instead doctors tried an alternative known as bivalirudin.

Not only did it help break up Wolfe's blood clots but she was able to leave the hospital and go home just six days later.

Morgan Wolfe, 40, from Aurora, Colorado, ended up in the hospital (pictured) 12 day after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on April 1

After the CDC warned that the blood clotting medication heparin could make the condition worse, doctors tried an alternative called bivalirudin (pictured)

Wolfe told ABC 7 Denver that she felt fine after getting the J&J vaccine and that her symptoms didn't begin until about one week later.

'Suddenly in the afternoon, I just all at once felt a headache and chills and body aches,' she said.

She then experienced other side effects including dizziness, chills, body aches and changes to her vision, and the only symptoms only worsened.

Finally, on April 13, Wolfe decided to visit the emergency room at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz.

On that same day, the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a temporary pause of J&J after six women developed rare, but serious, blood clots out of 7.2 million vaccinations.

The figure was later updated to include 15 people out of more than eight million given the J&J vaccine, or 0.00018 percent.

All developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) - a rare type of blood clot that blocks the brain's sinus channels of draining blood - along with low blood platelet counts, known as thrombocytopenia.

After explaining her symptoms, Wolfe underwent a battery of tests.

'We did a CT scan that showed a clot in the brain and a clot in the lungs,' Dr Todd Clark, assistant medical director at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, told ABC 7 Denver.

Wolfe was also diagnosed with thrombocytopenia.

Just days earlier, the CDC released information telling doctors not to use the blood thinning medication heparin.

It came after European researchers found that the coronavirus vaccine from AztraZeneca-the University of Oxford, also linked to blood clots, causes the body to attack its own blood platelets, triggering deadly clots in the brain.

The medication worked to break up the blood clot (left side) Wolfe was discharged from the hospital six days later

They said the phenomenon is similar to one that can occur in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), when sufferers take a drug called heparin.

Among those with HIT, the drug triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that activate platelets.

'The thought was heparin was more likely to make it worse in this clotting situation than others, therefore let's play it safe and try something different,' Clark told ABC 7 Denver.

'At the time when [Wolfe] showed up, there was no guidance, no published cases of how to do this without heparin,' Clark said.

Instead, the team decided to use the drug bivalirudin, and it appeared to work.

Just a few weeks later, the CDC published a study documenting twelve cases of the rare blood clots and, in two of them, the patients were treated with bivalirudin.

Six days after being treated, she was discharged.

Wolfe told the Colorado Sun that she still experiences headaches from time to time, but does not want her story to discourage others from getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

''Despite everything that's happened, I definitely still think that it's important to keep on pushing for as much of the country and as much of the world to get vaccinated as possible,' she said.

'Obviously, I had a bad reaction to this one. And that's unfortunate for me, but I do still think that there's a place for it in the overall strategy.'

Doctors also want to remind the general public that the risk of the rare blood clot is about one in a million.

'Our experience shows us that these clot reactions are very rare, but they can be treated,' Clark said in a press release.

'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.

Wolfe's case is documented in a case study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
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Pfizer has hit out at the Biden administration's support for waiving intellectual property protections to allow poorer countries to produce vaccines developed by companies like it and Moderna, potentially cutting into the firms' profits.

It comes just hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle penned an open letter to vaccine makers urging them to suspend the patent protections to help developing countries gain access to the shots.

Shares for vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna tumbled on Thursday, following the Biden administrations announcement that it supports waiving the protections during the pandemic.

'It is so wrong,' Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said of Biden's support of waivers on legal protections to keep his firm's Covid vaccine formula secret in a Wall Street Journal interview.

Pfizer has spent the past year securing supply lines and ramping up production for the vaccine, and punishing the firm by taking away firms' exclusive rights to their vaccine formulas would discourage biotech companies from creating treatments and innoculations for future pandemics, Bourla told the outlet.

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.

Pfizer shares were down just shy of one percent on Thursday afternoon, while its partner BioNtech's shares slipped 1.62 percent. Moderna recovered slightly by the end of the day Thursday, after its share price plummeted 12 percent earlier on.

In addition to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, many public health advocates say vaccine makers should allow other countries to use their Covid vaccine formulas to make their own cheaper versions of the shots, regardless of the effect on their future profits.

The initial push to suspend patents was made by South Africa and India, both poorer nations in the midst of Covid crises. India in particular has become a global epicenter of the pandemic, and recorded nearly 4,000 coronavirus fatalities yesterday - a record for the hard-hit nation.

But experts - both within and outside of the vaccine-making firms - argue that opening the patent books won't actually get Covid vaccines to countries in crisis like India any time soon.

Germany agrees, with Chancellor Angela Merkel's office reiterating the argument that waiving patents won't help boost production in the short-term, and could hamper innovation in the longer-term.

Biden's patent waiver support has triggered the first major clash between the U.S. and Germany since Biden took office, the Guardian reported.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (left) hit out at the Biden administration's support for waiving intellectual property protections to allow poorer countries to produce vaccines developed by companies like it and Moderna, potentially cutting into their profits

Pfizer shares were down just shy of one percent on Thursday afternoon

Moderna's shares recovered slightly by the end of the day Thursday, after its share price plummeted 12 percent earlier on

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (left) penned an open letter to vaccine makers urging them to suspend the patent protections to help developing countries gain access to the shots. But Biden's patent waiver support has triggered the first major clash between the U.S. and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (right), who opposes patent waivers, since Biden took office, the Guardian reported

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle penned an open letter to vaccine makers urging them to suspend the patent protections to help developing countries gain access to the shots. Visitors to the Archewell website are greeted with this picture along with a message saying: 'Join us in advocating for vaccine equity on Archie's birthday'

Harry and Meghan call for 'vaccine giveaway' in open letter to vaccine makers Prince Harry and Meghan Markle today urged vaccine manufacturers to 'temporarily suspend' intellectual property rights in order to help those in developing countries gain access to jabs - as they marked Archie's second birthday by asking for $5 donations to aid global distribution. The Duke, 36, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, shared an emotive letter to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Norovax on Thursday as they launched a campaign to 'ensure equitable vaccine access globally'. The lengthy note, published to Global Citizen, had asked the vaccine bosses to 'act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership' in response to a 'equity crisis' and use 'every possible measure to increase global supply.' These proposed measures included 'the temporary suspension of intellectual property and extraordinary global public-private collaboration resulting in wider transfer of technology and know-how.' AstraZeneca has already vowed not to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic, but Harry and Meghan today urged the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna to follow suit and supply at least 100 million doses of their vaccinations at 'not-for-profit prices' this year. They also requested that the two pharma giants accelerate their supply and deliver the jabs to COVAX - the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, which protects people against the virus 'regardless of wealth' - as soon as possible. Advertisement

'The U.S. suggestion for the lifting of patent protection for COVID-19 vaccines has significant implications for vaccine production as a whole' a spokesperson for the German government told the outlet.

'The limiting factors in the production of vaccines are the production capacities and the high quality standards, and not patents.'

Germany is joined by the UK, Canada and the EU. The four wealthy countries are among the final holdouts against the World Trade Organization's (WTO) push to 'free the vaccines,' as protestors and advocates dubbed the suspension of patents.

The WTO only enacts its policies with consensus from its 159 member countries, so the rift between the U.S. and Germany stands to turn the discussion to a stalemate.

Contrary to rallying cries from Harry, Meghan and various NGOs, 'freeing the vaccine' is not likely to offer the world a new deluge of available doses any time soon.

Suspending patent enforcement for vaccines 'will not increase the number of doses we will have available within the next 12 months,' Dr Ozlem Tureci, Chief Medical Officer at Pfizer partner BioNTech, told CNN.

'It will probably act towards increasing chaos in production.'

The Biden administration said on Tuesday that it backs a World Trade Organization (WTO) initiative to temporarily waive patent and trade secret laws preventing some countries like India and South Africa from making their own copycat versions of various companies' vaccines.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle followed up with their own pressure upon companies to sacrifice potential profits to potentially help other countries make vaccines.

Advocates say that letting poorer nations make their own cheaper generics as soon as possible could be a critical boon to global vaccine supply.

The lengthy note, published to Global Citizen, asks the vaccine bosses to 'act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership' in response to a 'equity crisis' and use 'every possible measure to increase global supply.'

Critics say waiving protections would be a symbolic gesture, and argue that even with the secret formulas used to make vaccines like Pfizer's, most countries still would not be able to quickly produce meaningful amounts of vaccine and their attempts could strain the already stretched supply chain of materials.

Most experts say that the patent waiver likely won't do much for supply and the immediate fight against Covid crises like India's, which killed a record nearly 4,000 people on Wednesday.

However, waiving patents in combination with other efforts could help combat the pandemic, especially down the line - and scientists anticipate coronavirus vaccines will be part of the global annual routine for years to come.

Pfizer has spent the past year securing supply lines and ramping up production for the vaccine. Pictured: A man receives a vaccine at a mass vaccination site in Los Angeles on Thursday

Suspending patent enforcement for vaccines 'will not increase the number of doses we will have available within the next 12 months,' Dr Ozlem Tureci, Chief Medical Officer at Pfizer partner BioNTech and co-developer of its vaccine, told CNN (pictured; file)

The Biden administration said on Tuesday that it backs a World Trade Organization (WTO) initiative to temporarily waive patent and trade secret laws preventing some countries like India and South Africa from making their own copycat versions of vaccines like those made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna

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

That's why Moderna, which said in October it would not enforce its Covid vaccine patents, is unconcerned about the prospective waiver, and believes countries will continue to purchase its shot for years to come.

'They will have to go run a clinical trial, get the data, get the product approved and scale manufacturing. This does not happen in 6 or 12 or 18 months,' Moderna Chief Executive Stephane Bancel said on a post-earnings conference call.

Manufacturing an mRNA vaccine is not as simple as following a recipe, even if you have it in hand.

The shots require niche ingredients, which have to be sourced and transported across the world to highly specialized production plants - and various phases typically take place in different facilities.

And to do that at scale is a massive undertaking on top of a massive undertaking.

Even for Moderna, one of the leaders in the development of mRNA vaccine technology, it's been a challenge.

Moderna has faced its own hurdles scaling up production with some shortfalls in the manufacturing supply chain, which includes Swiss contract manufacturer Lonza Group, leading to delivery delays in Europe.

Bancel said he has had to tell some countries, 'we're very sorry. We have no more supply for you in 2021.'

In theory, that's a problem that waiving patents could help solve, but in practice freeing up intellectual property alone may not do much.

'Patents are not the limiting factor for the production of, for example, our vaccine,' Dr Tureci told CNN.

'There are a number of important factors in producing vaccines.

'For example, our manufacturing process involves more than 50,000 steps, all of which have to be executed accurately in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of vaccine.

'It takes experienced personnel, it takes specialized facilities, it takes access to raw materials.'

And then there's the matter of money.

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.

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.

On Thursday, Shares of COVID-19 vaccine makers fell on Thursday as governments debated plans to waive patent protection for the shots, with analysts saying the move could rattle investor sentiment or weigh on longer-term business prospects.

Among companies with COVID-19 vaccines, shares of Pfizer fell 1.7 percent and were among the biggest weights on the benchmark S&P 500 index, while U.S. shares of its German partner BioNTech SE shed 0.6 percent after falling as much as 15 percent earlier.

Moderna was off 1.3 percent, recovering after being down nearly 12 percent, while Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Plc were little changed, as the broad S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent.

Whether or not a temporary waiver on patents would significantly reduce global demand for the current Covid vaccinemakers product, the pharmaceutical industry is concerned it could lead to the undoing the tightly wound laws that protect intellectual property worth several fortunes.

'In the midst of a deadly pandemic, the Biden Administration has taken an unprecedented step that will undermine our global response to the pandemic and compromise safety.

This decision will sow confusion between public and private partners, further weaken already strained supply chains and foster the proliferation of counterfeit vaccines,' Stephen Ubl, head of PhRMA, the industry's trade group told Stat.

Public health advocates look at the Biden administration's new position more favorably.

'My take is: By itself, it will not get us much benefit in increased manufacturing capacity,' Prashant Yadav a senior fellow specializing in supply chains at the Center for Global development told Stat.

'But as part of a larger package, it can.'

Either way, patents will only formally be waived if all of the WTO countries agree to it.

As of Thursday afternoon, the UK, Canada and the EU were still blocking a consensus to waive patents.
WAYPOINTS

by Robert Martineau (Cape 16.99, 272pp)

A WALK FROM THE WILD EDGE

by Jake Tyler (Michael Joseph 16.99, 320pp)

The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow, writes Henry David Thoreau. The quote appears in Robert Martineaus Waypoints, an account of his own experience of taking a walk to cure depression. Tired of long hours at his desk in a London law firm, the 27-year-old flies to Ghana, and starts putting one foot in front of the other. His stroll ends up covering 1,000 miles and three countries.

He sees men with scars across their cheeks: Without doctors, people sew herbs into their faces to fight illness.

Robert Martineau and Jake Tyler have penned books about how walking helped when they were battling depression (file image)

He hears that in times of hunger, a herder will slit the throat of a cow and drink from its neck, before sewing the wound up and walking on. Jake Tylers walk  around the coast of Great Britain  is less dramatic, but his reasoning for it is much the same.

A week before his 30th birthday he experienced a breakdown, with thoughts of suicide filling his head. Returning home to his mother, Tyler gradually noticed that after taking her dog Reggie for a walk, he felt marginally less depressed.

From there, it was just a short step (or rather thousands of them) to lapping the country. Neither book is really about what the walker sees on their travels. Its about the fact that theyre walking at all.

When youre feeling low, its almost as though depression becomes your friend. That feeling of comfort becomes addictive, writes Tyler. But once youre up on your feet, things begin to change.

Both writers value their time walking through wooded areas: Martineau points out that, in Japan, woodland zones are registered as forest therapy sites.

Pictured left: WAYPOINTS by Robert Martineau (Cape 16.99, 272pp), right: A WALK FROM THE WILD EDGE by Jake Tyler (Michael Joseph 16.99, 320pp)

Tyler rejected his doctors advice to use antidepressants. Drugs have their place and walking it off wont work for everyone. But often it does. For some, the endorphins exercise produces may well be the only drug theyll need. However, as both discover, if you overdo it, the tiredness can bring you back down again.

My own rule of thumb is that 15 miles feels like a night out with Rod Stewart, 30 miles feels like the day after. So its no surprise that Martineau, after putting in some 50-mile days, spends a week in a monastery.

Neither of these books tells a mind-blowing story, but perhaps thats what gives them their value. The point is that these two young men are ordinary: many people struggle with whats going on between their ears but they have both found a simple solution: get walking.
An aging Romanian immigrant in Troy, Michigan, is at death's door. Her two ordained sons want to pray for her as she's dying. One of them traveled 800 help his brother put their mother to rest. Neither son, however, would be able to see their mother until they receive a COVID vaccine.

Since they have theological and moral opposition to the COVID shots, the sons have offered to use some other kind of protection. Prior to the visit, they pledged to carry the most stringent personal protection/biohazard gear and submit to some kind of COVID monitoring.

Notwithstanding, the hospital will not allow these caring to sons see their mother until they undergo the experimental COVID injections, which are only for "emergency use only," the Liberty Counsel (LC), via a report on Charisma News, said.

But according to the hospital's regulations, patients that do not have COVID, are in a dangerous or urgent situation, or need assistance talking can have visitors,

The beliefs of this family prohibit them from taking the COVID shot. The hospital, on the other hand, declines to comply with their religious exemptions or legitimate demands. Still, unanointed and lonely, this faithful woman is dying.

"Sadly, too many businesses, hospitals and government entities seem to have forgotten freedom and have totally abandoned common sense. But we are going to help them remember!" LC stated.

LC argued that the choice to receive the COVID shot is entirely subjective. They said that given that all three commercially available shots (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) are experimental, not FDA-approved, and have been linked to suspected adverse reactions and fatalities, no one should be forced to take such injections under federal law. Personal choices on whether or not to take a shot should be well-informed.

Furthermore, they assert that the VAERS system of the United States government is one type of knowledge that the mainstream media ignores. This system, also known as the "vaccine accident monitoring system," normally only records around 1% of all vaccine incidents. The true figures are most definitely 90-99% higher.

The figures are shocking, although at fewer than 1% of real casualties. According to VAERS, there were 37 miscarriages, 358 deaths, and 32,822 "adverse reactions" that have not yet resulted in death in the last week.

This suggests that there were five miscarriages, 51.1 fatalities, and 4,688 COVID shot accidents every day in America last week.

"Worse yet, when one considers that the VAERS system historically reports less than 1% of all vaccine injuries, it becomes clear that the COVID shots are killing more people daily than 9/11 did," said LC.

The pro-life organization noted that despite statistics, misguided corporations, doctors, and bureaucrats appear to attempt to coerce Americans into receiving these injections.

Fortunately, the campaign to end mandatory vaccinations continues to gather momentum. When LC started engaging people, 45 measures, including one in the United States House, have been proposed to prohibit vaccine passports and the related monitoring and tracing.

In fact, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida reportedly signed a bill yesterday prohibiting the government and private sector from issuing vaccine passports. State lawmakers and governors are listening intently, but we do have a long way to go.

"State legislators and executives are hearing you loud and clear, but we have a long way to go," concluded the pro-life champion.
are you reading now?

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. I cannot overstate the importance of reading this work, particularly in times such as these. Wilkerson does a wonderful job of dissecting centuries worth of turmoil, blatant injustice and strife and bringing to it rigorous academic analysis, lucid insight, much-needed compassion and practical, helpful information.

would you take to a desert island?

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. In this way, you wont feel so stupid as to have allowed yourself to be stuck on a desert island, and can relish the fact that someone else did it, too! But as an alternative I would probably take a book that could also serve as a flotation device so I could one day get off the island and gather other books before ship-wrecking myself once more. Then my answer could involve multiple books brought along for the ride.

David Baldacci (pictured) is currently reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

first gave you the reading bug?

As for many young readers with a thirst for mystery and adventure, my encounter with Sherlock Holmes paved the way for a love affair with books. I remember first reading The Adventure Of The Speckled Band and hoping this Arthur Conan Doyle fellow had written others. I soon read every single book of his over and over.

In fact, when I visited Sherlock Holmes Baker Street digs in London, where they had set up dioramas depicting scenes from the Holmes canon, I could identify what story the diorama was taken from just by looking at the scene represented.

Not only were my kids not impressed with my knowledge of all things Holmesian, they were downright embarrassed when I kept calling out the various story titles.

David Baldacci would take Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (pictured) to a desert island

Thinking back, I would have been embarrassed, too, had my father done that to me. But I would not have changed what I did that day even a little bit.

Every Holmes fan knows exactly where Im coming from on that point.

left you cold?

Every book I have ever read about Antarctica has left me chilled to the bone, so I stopped reading them.

Seriously, I will not disparage other writers, living or dead  especially those living, for obvious reasons  because I would not like to be on the receiving end of such a broadside and so why should I launch one?

We writers catch enough flack from readers and reviewers without cannibalising ourselves. With that said, I agree with Tony Schwartz, the co-author of Donald Trumps The Art Of The Deal, in that the book is an amazing piece of fiction.

A Gambling Man by David Baldacci is out now (Macmillan 20).
In 1986, I set up a construction business with a fellow builder and we both had a mobile contract with Vodafone in my name.

In March 2019, my business partner sadly passed away suddenly but it wasn't until May 2020, that his widow agreed the contract could be cancelled.

Unfortunately, our office manager failed to tell Vodafone he had died and just cancelled the direct debit meaning we received debt collection letters to pay the outstanding balance.

I did pay the outstanding amount of 519.36 and thought no more of it until I decided to consolidate the mortgages on the rented properties my wife and I jointly own and found I had bad credit ratings due to the unpaid Vodafone bills.

One Vodafone customer has been trying to have bad credit marks removed from his account

To add to this there is still an outstanding balance showing of 109 which appeared after Vodafone had my partner's death certificate and after I had spoken to them and paid the debt.

Now we're in a very difficult situation. Can we get the bad credit removed and the debt collectors off our tail? B.B., via email

Grace Gausden, consumer expert at This is Money, replies: Firstly, my condolences to you as you say not only was this man your business partner but also your best friend.

After he sadly died, his widow wanted to keep his phone, and while you didn't say why, perhaps she wasn't ready to part with his possessions just yet.

This meant the Vodafone contract continued to be paid by your company, under your name, although it wasn't used and as you say 'basically sat in a drawer'.

GRACE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Grace Gausden tackles reader problems and shines the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: grace.gausden@thisismoney.co.uk

You add that both contracts have always been paid by the company on time and with no breaks for over thirty years. The billing was also paperless.

It wasn't until May 2020 that the subject of the contract was broached with your business partner's widow who agreed it could be stopped.

Your office manager agreed to deal with cancelling the contract and you all assumed that was the end of the matter.

Unfortunately, and crucially, she didn't inform Vodafone of his death and just cancelled the direct debit payments rather than the contract itself.

This led to Vodafone appointing a debt collecting agency to collect the outstanding money for his phone.

The phone company said it had sent letters to you but you say you have moved a number of times since the original contract was taken out in 1986 and unfortunately never received them.

You only became aware of the debt in August last year through one of these letters finding its way to your office address.

A Vodafone customer found he unfortunately had a series of bad credit marks on his account

You immediately rang Vodafone, apologised, paid the outstanding amount of 519.36 and explained about your partner's death, emailing them a copy of the death certificate.

However, it wasn't until you decided to consolidate the mortgages on your rented properties that you realised you had bad credit marks in your name that had been added due to an 'unpaid' Vodafone bill.

This unpaid bill turned out to be an outstanding balance of 109 which Vodafone agreed was an error and said it would remove it. Unfortunately, months later, the firm still hasn't.

Therefore, you engaged a solicitor to write to Vodafone, which he did in January 2021, but, again, no response.

I contacted Vodafone as the outstanding debt was causing you much distress with you now aware there was debt collectors and bad credit hanging over you - as well as the fact you could not consolidate your mortgages.

Fortunately, after I did so, you swiftly received an email from the telecoms giant saying it had removed any adverse information reported on your credit file report.

The late payment markers previously reflected for May, June and July 2020 were also amended and the 109 was wiped.

A Vodafone UK spokesperson said: 'We apologise to Mr B and his business partners family for the inconvenience caused at this difficult time. We can confirm the outstanding balance on this account has now been removed and this change will be reflected on their online credit reports.'

While this means you are now out of the woods with Vodafone, it serves as a timely reminder to always keep your addresses, emails and telephone numbers up to date with service providers so they can get in touch with any problems.

It also highlights that companies should prioritise customer service and respond to complaints swiftly to avoid incidents such as this - especially when it comes to sensitive matters, such as the death of a friend, relative or a partner in business.

We have saved readers 63k After 23 weeks of Grace on the Case, we have calculated just how much we have helped readers so far - with savings reaching 63,286. This has included 2,075.82 for a customer whose Diamond Princess Cruise hadn't been refunded and more than 5,000 for a holiday to Florida that couldn't go ahead. If you have a consumer issue that you need help with, contact Grace on the Case at grace.gausden@thisismoney.co.uk.

A TopCashBack customer struggled to get 130 worth of rebates from the cashback company

Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list

Each week, I look at some of the companies that have fallen short of expected standards as well as those that have gone that extra mile for customers.

Miss but rectified: A reader, Kanti, this week got in touch to say she was struggling to receive a rebate from TopCashBack.

She said: 'I have about 130 stuck in rebates on TopCashBack and am unable to log in or reset the password as the reset email never arrives. I have tried this several times to no avail over a few weeks.

'They have no contact number to call and the contact email on the website is also not generating any responses.'

I contacted TopCashBack to say Kanti was waiting to retrieve her money and was struggling to get through to anyone.

It replied that it had sent another few emails but Kanti said they were no were to be found, not in her junk mail or spam folder.

Eventually it was found the emails with a link to reset never reached her inbox but any emails without a link did and by communicating with TopCashBack that way, she managed to reset her account and access her payment.

While it was frustrating for Kanti that she couldn't contact TopCashBack directly, the team certainly were quick to ensure she got her money when notified. Now you can cash it in.

Hit: A reader has praised home retailer, Richer Sounds.

'When our two-year-old TV broke down over Christmas the nightmare began. Sometimes it would come on if you switched it on and off about 50 times and waited half an hour. Not ideal if you still watch live old-school telly at a set time.

'I phoned the Richer Sounds helpline, where we bought it, to make the most of the five-year guarantee but was kept hold for an hour and a half before being cut off.

'I turned to the company's Twitter customer support. A wonderful person got in touch and we had a long phone chat about the repairs.

'It turned out I'd not activated the guarantee with Panasonic and it was no longer valid. The customer agent explained that Richer Sounds would nevertheless honour the guarantee, even though their element of it should have been for a one-year extension to the five-year one with Panasonic.

'That was great. The repairs were sorted and the TV is working again. But the best part of the experience was when I asked the agent whether she knew anything about Wi-Fi extension devices.

'She said she didn't but her partner was a telephone engineer and she put me on hold and phoned him up for some expert advice, which she passed on to me. Over and above the call of duty. 10/10.'

No need to change the channel on this company - top customer service.
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 major bank handed out more mortgages in March than in any other month in its 40-year history of offering home loans, it revealed today.

In a sign of the recent boom in housing market activity, HSBC UK said March was its strongest ever month for mortgage completions.

This included providing mortgages for more than 3,000 first-time buyers.

Record lending: HSBC handed out more mortgages in March than any month in its history

The bank declined to give details about the exact number of mortgages provided due to commercial considerations.

Factors fuelling the housing market boom include the Government's stamp duty holiday, and people's desire for more space following the recurring lockdowns.

The average house price surged by nearly 16,000 over the year to April to hit a new record high, according to Nationwide.

The stamp duty break, which allows home buyers to save up to 15,000 in tax by removing stamp duty on the portion of any property purchase under 500,000, had been due to end on March 31 but was extended in the Budget earlier that month.

HSBC has also announced various mortgage rate cuts across its range, including on some low-deposit deals.

The rate on a 5 per cent deposit, two-year fixed-rate deal with a 999 fee has been cut from 3.99 per cent to 3.74 per cent, and the equivalent fee-free deal has seen its rate cut from 4.29 per cent to 3.99 per cent.

Boom time: House prices have rocketed amid record levels of demand during the pandemic

HSBC is taking part in the Government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme, which aims to help those with smaller deposits access loans after many low-deposit options were pulled from sale earlier in the coronavirus crisis.

It is one of a string of major mortgage providers to have returned to the 5 per cent deposit lending bracket in recent weeks.

Other reductions in HSBC UK's range include a two-year 10 per cent deposit deal at 2.99 per cent, down from 3.09 per cent, with a 999 fee.

Rate cuts have also been made on HSBC's 20 per cent, 25 per cent and 40 per cent deposit deals.

The bank said more than 400 broker firms now have access to its mortgages, an increase of more than 100 in just over eight weeks.

Michelle Andrews, HSBC UK's head of buying a home, said: 'The Government's stamp duty relief scheme gave a welcome boost to the mortgage and property markets and the resilience of home buyers has really shone through.

'We completed more mortgages in March than any month in the 40-plus years we have offered home loans, including those for over 3,000 first-time buyers.

'It has been an incredibly busy time for us.'

Rival lender TSB said this week that between March 2020 and March 2021, it provided 12,000 mortgages for first-time buyers - a 60 per cent increase on the previous 12-month period.

In the final quarter of 2020, TSB recorded a 102 per cent year-on-year increase in mortgage applications among first-time buyers, and the average application purchase price increased by 9 per cent to 223,146.

The average age of first-time buyers remained at 30, TSB said.

Nick Smith, head of mortgages at TSB, said: 'The market is showing no signs of slowing down, and by reintroducing our 95 per cent LTV mortgages, we hope to help those with smaller deposits to buy a house, particularly first-time buyers.'
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.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities have been blasted for spending 10,000 on controversial unconscious and implicit biased training.

The elite institutions spent the eye-watering total teaching staff to 'understand how our biases influence the decisions we make', new figures show.

Oxford has spent 1,000 per year on implicit bias training since it was first introduced in August 2015.

But Cambridge spent a staggering 5,000 setting up its course for staff between 2016 and 2017, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

The Free Speech Union slammed the 'expensive ideological snake oil' spoon fed by people who 'would have struggled to get into Cambridge themselves'.

It comes after a landmark review into racial inequality urged for unconscious bias training to be scrapped for workers and replaced with more effective practices.

Oxford has spent 1,000 per a year on implicit bias training since it was first introduced in August 2015

Cambridge spent a staggering 5,000 setting up its course between 2016 and 2017, a Freedom of Information request revealed

What IS 'unconscious bias'? 'Unconscious bias' is a term used to describe when people make assumptions about others without realising they are doing so. It is mostly associated with the 'woke' movement - while critics dismiss it. The University of California, San Francisco, claims 'everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups'. Edinburgh University says it can result in people being treated unfairly because of their gender, ethnicity or disability. 'Workplace relationships experts' Acas say unconscious bias sometimes stems from stereotypes. They give the example of assuming someone with tattoos is unlikely to follow rules. The term has only recently entered common discourse, but is already prompting corporations to implement specialist training for staff. MPs were also invited to undergo unconscious bias training - although some refused. Critics argue the training is nothing more than a corporate box-ticking exercise. Dr Frank Dobbin, Harvard University social sciences professor, argues that compulsory diversity training simply doesn't work and can often make things worse. Advertisement

Oxford University said 2,039 members of staff completed online unconscious bias training from August 2015 to October 1, 2018.

But it said just 542 workers attended the follow-up workshop 'exploring unconscious bias'.

Then between October 1, 2018, and April 8, 2021, 4,517 completed an online implicit bias in the workplace course.

Meanwhile Cambridge revealed 5,792 employees have done the unconscious or implicit bias training.

The university said this accounted for 45.5 per cent of the institution's staff list as of last month.

General Secretary of the Free Speech Union Toby Young told MailOnline: 'It is disappointing that Cambridge university, where I was a graduate student, is pushing this expensive ideological snake oil on its staff.

'Cambridge is a world-leading university and its students and staff don't need to be spoon fed this pabulum by people who, quite frankly, would have struggled to get into Cambridge themselves.

'If you look at the content of the unconscious bias training being foisted on members of the university, it's as though it's been written by slightly dim bureaucrats.'

'We should not be surprised by how poor the courses are because when Cambridge's diversitycrats talk about the need for an 'open conversation' about race and gender what they mean is they expect people to familiarise themselves with one side of the debate about these issues and ignore the other.

'The University isn't interested in treating people how to think about these issues, but what to think. All forms of diversity are treated as sacred apart from viewpoint diversity.

'That's why the University is always leaping to the defence of Dr Priyamvada Gopal, citing it's unwavering commitment to academic free speech, but failed to stand up for Dr Jordan Peterson, Dr Noah Carl and Dr David Starkey. It's one rule for the woke, another for conservatives.'

General Secretary of the Free Speech Union Toby Young (pictured) told MailOnline: 'It is disappointing that Cambridge university, where I was a graduate student, is pushing this expensive ideological snake oil on its staff'

He added: 'Perhaps my old university should remember what Lord Justice Sedley said in a landmark case in 1999: ''Free speech includes not only the inoffensive but the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative provided it does not tend to provoke violence. Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having''.'

Cambridge decided lecturers and staff should get the training in October in an effort to cut down on racism incidents.

Data shows 137 UK-based black undergraduates were admitted to a degree course there last year - a rise of just over 50 per cent on 2019-20.

The university said this represents 4.6 per cent of the number of UK undergraduates commencing studies and follows a similar increase of almost 50 per cent last year.

There are now more than 300 black British undergraduates at Cambridge.

It emerged in February more Oxford colleges and departments are forcing students and staff to have 'unconscious bias training' to root out hidden racist behaviour.

Oxford University students told it's not enough to be non-racist and they need to be actively anti-racist Oxford undergraduates are being told that simply not being racist 'isn't good enough' and they must be prepared to take action on the issue. The revelation from a workshop at St Hugh's College comes amid growing scrutiny about anti-racism training across the university, which critics say does not work. While not mandatory, students were told they were 'expected to make time' to attend the It's About Race event. Attendees were shown a series of slides during the session last month. Under the heading 'Be an anti-racist' on one slide, they were told: 'Are you racist? 'No' isn't a good enough answer.' The slide stated: 'We need to... stop thinking that injustice going on in the world isn't to an extent are [sic] fault', adding: 'Stop being a non-racist and start being an anti-racist.' Another slide encouraged a 'commitment to action', asking the question: 'What is your individual contribution/commitment/pledge to tackle inequality and racism?' Such courses are meant to question ingrained attitudes. Advertisement

The courses remain popular, including at Somerville, Margaret Thatcher's former college, where students were ordered to pass a test in which they had to concede a black lecturer would be more unpopular than white colleagues.

Following an outcry, Somerville's principal, Lady Royall, said students would no longer be compelled to take the course.

But other colleges were still insisting undergraduates and dons complete the often 'poor quality and ineffective' training.

Christ Church, Oxford's grandest college, said 'key priorities' this year include 'compulsory enhanced training on topics such as cultural competency, unconscious bias, and race equality to all students... as well as for non-academic and academic staff'.

Balliol College, alma mater of Boris Johnson, said last year it was 'expanding the mandatory programme of unconscious bias/tackling race bias training to include all academic staff'.

Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine offers 'mandatory' unconscious bias training for all staff, to minimise the 'destructive impact' of discriminatory attitudes.

The Radcliffe Department of Medicine says staff must complete similar training.

The racism report in March urged for unconscious bias training to be scrapped for employees and replaced with more effective practices.

The Race Commission recommended organisations and firms pull the plug on such sessions because they do not tackle disparities in the workplace.

It said the 'intense soul-searching' of some employers in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests has amounted to 'tick-box exercises' that don't get results.

Instead it recommended funding is diverted to developing core skills that could benefit disadvantaged employees.

Whitehall departments phased out unconscious bias training following research last year that found it did not help stamp out workplace prejudices.

But many taxpayer-funded bodies such as the Met Police, the NHS and the BBC are still believed to implement unconscious bias training for staff.

Private firms also lay on sessions and earlier this year the chairman of KPMG resigned after upsetting staff by branding unconscious bias 'complete c**p'.

The wide-ranging report also warned a narrative that rails against white privilege could backfire.

The Race Commission (chair Dr Tony Sewell pictured) recommended firms pull the plug on such sessions because they do not tackle disparities in the workplace

It said: 'The Commission calls on organisations to now move away from funding unconscious bias training.

'The existing training should be replaced with new interventions that when implemented, can be measured or evaluated for their efficacy, such as the use of sponsorship to ensure wider exposure of ethnic minority individuals to their peers, managers and other decision makers.

'[And] training and routine skills support for all employees in their professional and personal lives (for example on collaboration, confidence, communication, and presentation skills), which could disproportionately benefit more disadvantaged groups.'

It added the common measures adopted by firms - 'this training scheme, that equality initiative, a newly designed culturally neutral form' - focuses on process rather than outcomes.

The report found Britain is a model multi-racial society for Europe and the world

And it warned the constant attacks on people's white privilege could backfire.

It said: 'We also have to ask whether a narrative that claims nothing has changed for the better, and that the dominant feature of our society is institutional racism and white privilege will achieve anything beyond alienating the decent centre ground  a centre ground which is occupied by people of all races and ethnicities.'

A spokesman for the commission said: 'We have not seen conclusive evidence of institutional racism in the areas we have looked at.

'That is not to dismiss it out of hand, but our report is built on data and evidence. There is definitely disadvantage, discrimination and there are barriers. That is what our report is about and how to overcome them.'

Unconscious bias is a term used to describe when people make assumptions about others without realising they are doing so. It is mostly associated with the 'woke' movement - while critics dismiss it.

In December the Cabinet Office said unconscious bias training - which it launched in 2015 - was being wound down for lack of sufficient evidence it was worthwhile.

It said: 'A strong body of evidence has emerged that shows that such training has no sustained impact on behaviour and may even be counter-productive.

'Instructions to suppress stereotypes may not only activate and reinforce unhelpful stereotypes, they may provoke negative reactions and actually make people exacerbate their biases.'

Minister Julia Lopez said: 'Despite a growing diversity training industry and increased adoption of unconscious bias training programmes, a strong body of evidence has emerged that shows that such training has no sustained impact on behaviour and may even be counter-productive.'

She urged other public organisations to also review their practices, but it is understood to have fallen on deaf ears.
With Covid cases dropping and life beginning to open up once more, its tempting to think weve finally beaten the virus.

But even though weve got fantastic vaccines, theyre not the entire answer to the problem  not everyone has yet had the jab, and none of them currently offer 100 per cent protection.

However, we do have another brilliant weapon in our arsenal  rapid testing. Not only does this give a result in just 30 minutes, it can pick up the around one-in-three cases in which people dont show any symptoms.

Its vital these are detected to prevent people unknowingly spreading the virus.

And the good news is that these rapid Covid-19 tests are now available free to everyone aged over 18 in the UK. They can be picked up at your neighbourhood test centre, any participating local pharmacy or ordered online at nhs.uk/Get-Tested or by calling 119.

Experts say we should all be getting into the habit of testing ourselves at home twice a week. That way we can catch Covid at the point it becomes highly infectious, and stop the spread.

Not only does rapid testing give a result in just 30 minutes, it can pick up the around one-in-three cases in which people dont show any symptoms.

GP Dr Amir Khan explains: Rapid testing is effective at detecting people who are infectious, and helping us find Covid-19 cases that we otherwise wouldnt know about. That will help us in our efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

Testing ourselves using rapid Covid-19 tests is vital to us keeping ourselves and others safe and infection rates low.

Testing regularly, even when you do not have symptoms, means we can keep infection levels low and our country safe. The good thing is they give you a result within 30 minutes.

Rapid Covid-19 tests  which are different from the PCR tests performed at test centres (see opposite page)  were first used in the UK in October last year.

Since then, 58 million tests have been carried out, and detected hundreds of thousands of cases that would never have been picked up, so preventing the spread of the disease.

And theyre incredibly accurate. When done correctly, the tests are at least 99.9 per cent specific, which means that the risk of false positives is extremely low  less than one in a thousand, says Dr Khan. Its a very good test. Testing ourselves for coronavirus using rapid Covid-19 tests is vital to us keeping ourselves and others safe and keeping infection rates in our communities low.

Even when regularly using the tests, you should continue with other preventative measures such as social distancing, face covering and washing your hands regularly. The advice of Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air still applies.

Its also important to always record your test result  whether positive, negative or void  online at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119 straight away.

This will help experts get a better understanding of the spread of the virus across the country, and allow scientists to use the anonymous information to spot patterns and outbreaks more quickly and accurately, helping reduce the risk of future lockdowns. Its vital to record negative results as well as positive to get an accurate picture of Covid-19 across the UK.

So start testing yourself and your family now to help keep the country out of lockdown, protect others, and show your friends, family and colleagues you care.

 If you have no symptoms, get your free, rapid Covid-19 tests at nhs.uk/Get-Tested or by calling 119.

ITS SO QUICK  I GET THE RESULT BEFORE IVE EVEN HAD A CUP OF TEA IN THE MORNING

When she left her temporary job at a care home last autumn for a new job in PR, Emma Stannard no longer had to do the twice-weekly rapid Covid tests it had insisted on.

Emma Stannard

But the 22-year-old found that she missed the reassurance the tests gave her that she wasnt spreading the virus unknowingly.

So when she discovered the tests were available to the public, she immediately got some.

They are easy to use and very accurate, says Emma. I wake up, test myself, get showered and, while having breakfast, the result appears. I scan the barcode of the test and record my result on the Government website before finishing my first cup of tea of the day!

Emma was relieved to be testing herself again, as shed got into the habit while working as a carer last summer.

The results would come back the next day, and I thought it a really good idea because you could be asymptomatic, and its always better to know.

Especially when her fourth test came back positive. I think I cried because it was a shock  I didnt have any symptoms and was following the rules. I felt so guilty  Id been working with very vulnerable people and didnt know how many Id infected.

Thankfully it had been caught before it had spread. It was a weight off my shoulders, she says.

I HAD COVID-19 WITHOUT KNOWING

On the day she was going out for a walk with a friend on December 27 last year, Claire Devy routinely tested herself for Covid-19.

Claire Devy

The 47-year-old had been given a pack of them earlier in the month by the NHS trust she works for, and had routinely used them twice a week.

I thought Id be fine, says the mother-of-two from Saddleworth. I put on my coat and boots then checked the test and thought, Whats that? It was positive. I got my glasses to double check, then called my partner who confirmed it.

I was really shocked. I dont know where I got it from. I thought Id been careful.

She cancelled her walk and booked a PCR test, convinced it would be negative. But it wasnt.

I was worried about my family, she admits. We self-isolated, but a few days later, one of my sons showed symptoms  thankfully, a test proved negative.

Two days after her first test, Claire lost her sense of smell and taste, although those were her only Covid symptoms.

Fortunately, I hadnt seen anyone over Christmas, and I was so glad  Id have felt guilty if Id given it to someone, she says. Ive got a family member with cancer, who Id been helping out with jobs around her house. Shed just had major surgery, and I was mortified at the thought I could have gone to hers without knowing I was infectious.

Now shes seen how important testing is, Claire is urging everyone else to test themselves regularly.

Its important in that we can hopefully slow down the spread of Covid-19. If Id gone into work with the virus, Id have felt so guilty.

Home testing is simple and accurate

I FEEL REASSURED THAT I CAN CARRY ON WORKING

With a father at home suffering from a chronic lung disease, Shawn McGarrett has taken no chances with coronavirus.

Ive been taking twice-weekly tests, just dropping into the local community centre where you get the result back in half an hour, says the 29-year-old plumber.

There are simple rules that were being asked to follow, and if we do that, the sooner we can all get back to life as we once knew it.

It was never a pain to do, and it made me feel reassured that I could carry on working  seeing to all my clients, some of whom are quite elderly and infirm.

But then one came back positive.I never felt unwell and had none of the symptoms that they say you get with Covid, says Shawn, from south London. I was surprised.

I immediately put myself in quarantine for ten days. It has cost me quite a lot, but I know it was something that had to be done. There are simple rules that were being asked to follow, and if we do that, the sooner we can all get back to life as we once knew it.

Information relevant to readers in England only.

Rapid Covid-19 TEST vs PCR TEST  WHATs THE DIFFERENCE? Rapid Covid-19 test These are for people who show no signs of Covid-19, and should be performed twice a week at home by everyone. They can be picked up at your local test centre or participating pharmacy, or ordered online at nhs.uk/Get-Tested or by calling 119. They are free. The results should be recorded online at gov.uk/report-covid19-result and, if positive, you should immediately book a PCR test and self-isolate along with anyone you live with. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test These are for people who think they may have Covid because they have symptoms such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste. They are performed at local test centres or at home; book online at nhs.uk/Get-Tested or call 119. The results take a few days and, if positive, you and your family should continue to self-isolate for at least ten days after your symptoms started.

 This article is part of a paid-for partnership with the UK Government
Millionaire businessman Marcus Lemonis has been hit with two blistering lawsuits accusing the television host of deliberately destroying small businesses on his show, The Profit, in order to make them ripe for his takeover, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The owners of two companies, Bowery Kitchen Supplies and women's clothing store Gooberry, are suing the presenter and production company Machete, claiming they were left drowning in debt after appearing on the CNBC reality series in 2014 and 2016.

The show, which premiered in 2013, follows the business guru on his hunt for struggling small businesses, which he then offers to save by typically presenting them with his financial backing and acumen in exchange for an ownership stake.

If the owners agree to the deal, Lemonis assumes full control of the company and uses his expertise to improve operations and make the business profitable.

Business guru Marcus Lemonis is being sued by two small businesses featured on his CNBC reality show, The Profit

Lemonis is accused of driving Bowery Kitchen Supplies 'to the ground' after offering to invest in the company and make it profitable in a 2016 episode (pictured)

But Gooberry and Bowery Kitchen Supplies - who are being represented by the same law firm, Los Angeles-based Gerard Fox - have claimed their deal with Lemonis was actually a 'bad faith' scheme to make them indebted to the star so that he could take over their assets and leave them with nothing.

In legal filings obtained by DailyMail.com, both companies accuse Lemonis of preying on small businesses and slowly drowning them in debt 'owed to his personally controlled companies in order to expand his own empire.'

'Lemonis portrays himself as a savior to small businesses, when, in reality, he destroys the businesses he purports to save from the inside out,' court documents state.

The businessman, 47, has enjoyed a meteoric business and TV career after being mentored by legendary Chrysler boss Lee Iacocca, a friend of his adoptive family in Miami.

Lemonis was born in Beirut, Lebanon where was adopted by a Greek-Lebanese couple from Florida after being abandoned at four days old.

He worked his way up through his family's Chevrolet car showrooms before buying up RV dealerships on Iacocca's suggestion. He is now CEO of Camping World, which had a $2billion valuation when it launched on the stock market in 2016.

According to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Bowery Kitchen Supplies was successful and turning over upwards of $3million a year when Lemonis 'seduced' owner Howard Nourieli and his business partner and ex-wife Robyn Coval to appear on the sho

Their deal with Lemonis ultimately left them saddled with debt and the former couple were ultimately forced to close Bowery Kitchen's doors in March 2020

In legal papers for Bowery Kitchen Supplies, attorneys accuse Lemonis of being 'a false prophet who uses his fame and fortune to loot small businesses.'

The filing states Bowery Kitchen Supplies was successful and turning over upwards of $3million a year when Lemonis 'seduced' owner Howard Nourieli and his business partner and ex-wife Robyn Coval to appear on the show.

Lawyers say the former couple were approached to take part, but Robyn was reluctant. They eventually agreed and appeared in the show's fourth season in October 2016.

In the episode, Lemonis was seen offering to invest in Bowery Kitchen by acquiring a 33.3 per cent interest in the business for $350,000.

But according the lawsuit, he later abandoned the aired deal and instead of helping the store 'profit', forced it into unrecoverable debt.'

After the cameras stopped rolling Lemonis allegedly 'began to drive the company into the ground by unnecessarily liquidating [its] inventory at steeply discounted prices.'

He also 'negligently' renovated and rebranded the store beyond recognition, leaving Nourieli and Coval with over half a million dollars in in payables they could not afford.

In a separate lawsuit being handled by the same law firm, Gerard Fox attorneys allege Lemonis used the same methods to grab control of thriving clothing retailer Gooberry and its signature line Courage.B. Pictured: A now-defunct Courage.b store in New York City

Since appearing on the show in 2014, Gooberry owners Nicholas Goureau and Stephanie Menken (pictured) say their business has gone from a $2.6million valuation 'to being practically insolvent,' the lawsuit states

Lemonis is also accused of using Gooberry, its brand Courage.B, and the family's expertise to grow his new clothing brand MARCUS

'Lemonis conned Howard and Robyn into thinking he wanted to expand their business and brand and help them profit,' documents state.

'Instead, Howard and Robyn were swindled and victimized and saddled with debt, a tarnished reputation with vendors and longterm customers, ruined business relationships, and shattered dreams.'

The couple were ultimately forced to close Bowery Kitchen's doors in March 2020.

Nourieli also alleges that after the show aired, the star manufactured and sold kitchen items through his own business, Camping World and other outlets using Bowery Kitchen's trademarked logo without his permission.

Lawyers claim Lemonis and the show's producers 'knowingly and intentionally made false representations that they would be helping Bowery Kitchen and that the relationship was more akin to a partnership.

'In reality, they were setting Plaintiffs up to fail so that defendants could take over the business and, more accurately, forever ruin the family business while knocking off the company's trademarked products.

The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks punitive damages and millions of dollars in damages from Lemonis, his entities, Camping World, and Machete.

The lawsuit also points to Lemonis's famous line in the show: 'There is one condition, I am 100 percent in charge.'

'This dominant persona affords Lemonis the opportunity to saddle the businesses with exorbitant debt and make them ever beholden to him or his entities.

The lawsuit states Lemonis had also forced through Gooberry's purchase of fashion store, Runway Boutique in 2016 after meeting the owner, Roberta 'Bobbi' Raffel (pictured) 68, who became his second wife

'Eventually, Lemonis calls in his debt to take all of the assets for himself, leaving the original owners to try to climb out of the deep hole that he put them in.'

Gerard Fox attorneys allege Lemonis used the same methods to grab control of thriving clothing retailer Gooberry and its signature line Courage.B  while trying to oust its founding family members.

The company started in 2008 as an upscale women's fashion chain operated by Neomi Goureau and her children, Nicholas Goureau and Stephanie Menken.

It focused on clothes and accessories inspired by the family's French roots and had seven stores from The Hamptons to Palm Beach, Florida.

During their 2014 appearance on The Profit, Lemonis agreed to invest $800,000 for a 30 per cent stake in the company. Some $200,000 of that was for renovations.

But while the show was filming, the star allegedly spent 'millions' renovating the stores and claimed he would cover the costs, the lawsuit states.

When Nicholas and Stephanie received the 'exorbitant' renovation bills, the lawsuit alleges: 'Lemonis said that if they no longer wanted to do the deal, they would have to pay him back the millions he spent on Gooberry  a demand that was impossible for the plaintiffs to meet.'

Court papers further allege the star and his companies, ML Retail LLC and Marcus Lemonis LLC, 'knowingly and purposefully mismanaged the company and used it solely for their own personal gain.

'Defendants are siphoning money from the company, actively preventing it from meeting its obligations and looting its assets.'

Lemonis is also accused of forcing through Gooberry's purchase of fashion store, Runway Boutique in 2016 after meeting the owner, Roberta 'Bobbi' Raffel, 68, who became his second wife.

'On information and belief, Lemonis wanted Gooberry to acquire Runway because Lemonis was romantically interested in its owner Raffel, not because he believed the acquisition would help Gooberry or ML Fashion, which was formed shortly after the acquisition.'

The court filing claims Gooberry and ML Fashion paid to completely renovate the Runway store in Deerfield, Illinois, and stock it with new inventory.

It adds: 'Once again, these expenditures forced the companies to take on additional debt from Lemonis to meet its basic expenses.'

It is alleged the TV tycoon has ultimately used Gooberry, its brand Courage.B, and the family's expertise to grow his new clothing brand MARCUS.

The company claims Lemonis has closed its retail stores and moved its stock plus furniture and fixtures to his own businesses.

Since Lemonis's involvement in June 2014, Gooberry has gone from a $2.6million valuation 'to being practically insolvent,' the lawsuit states.

A third case rumbling through the courts concerns husband and wife Michael and Kathleen Ference, whose Greek diner chain was also featured on The Profit in 2014

The couple claims Lemonis froze them out of the business and later changed its name 'The Simple Greek' despite their protests, according to the suit

'Without Lemonis' involvement, Gooberry would have continued to thrive and likely would be worth several million dollars.'

'It is clear that he is planning on foreclosing Gooberry and even further removing plantiffs from the fashion and retail business they worked so hard to build.

'Without the court's intervention, the company will be irreparably harmed.'

The family is demanding Gooberry is wound up and with a trustee appointed. Their filing says: 'Liquidation is the only feasible means whereby plaintiffs may obtain a fair return of their investment.'

Dailymail.com reached out to Lemonis' lawyers, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, by emails and phone for a comment on both cases. The firm did not respond.

Lawyers for Lemonis however, have filed a motion to dismiss both lawsuits, calling the allegations 'baseless.'

'Nearly four years after appearing on the show, [Bowery Kitchen] closed their New York City retail store,' the filing states.

'Despite this gap between Plaintiffs' appearance on the show and Plaintiffs' closing the business, and despite benefiting from The Profit and Lemonis' renovations to Plaintiffs' store, Plaintiffs now blame ML Defendants for their inability to keep the store open.'

As for Gooberry, Lemonis's attorneys say Goureau and Menken are still the majority equity owners of the company, and control the majority of seats on its board of directors.

'Yet, unlike Lemonis, Plaintiffs never put any money into Gooberry of their other business ventures with Lemonis  they only took money out,' documents state.

Meanwhile, production company Machete told Dailymail.com: 'Machete is a small production company that has been drawn into a meritless dispute between Marcus Lemonis and other businesses.

'We of course deny these allegations and expect that our position will be fully vindicated.'

A third case rumbling through the courts concerns husband and wife Michael and Kathleen Ference, whose Greek diner chain was also featured on The Profit in 2014.

They allege Lemonis also created a debt nightmare for them after promising $350,000 for a 55 per cent stake in their The Big Fat Greek Gyro franchises in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.

Papers filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County say Lemonis handed them a check for the amount on the show.

But this was then taken back after the cameras stopped rolling  and they never received the money.

The couple claim the star then froze them out of the business, started in 2005 and known for home-style food based on old family recipes from Kathleen's Greek heritage.

Its name was changed to 'The Simple Greek' despite their protests, say court documents.

When the Ferences asked about the buy-in, they were told it had already been spent on refurbishing three of the chain's locations, it is alleged.

Lemonis formed ML Foods in 2014 and the following year named it as the sole owner of The Simple Greek without the couple's knowledge, say the papers, filed in 2016 and ongoing.

He sold the 24-branch chain in March this year for an undisclosed amount.

Lemonis has told Courthouse News Service after the case was filed: 'Let me be clear. The Simple Greek is a brand new concept that I created.

'I'm not Santa Claus. I don't just create a concept and hand it over to people for doing nothing.

'They thought that they were just going to get a free gift. They put no money in, they haven't done any work.'

Both the Bowery and Gooberry filings demand a jury trial. Lemonis and Machete Productions have filed notices of motions to dismiss the complaints.
Police have launched an investigation after one of their officers bragged about 'belting his kid' in response to a post by feminist activist Clementine Ford.

Ms Ford, 40, sparked debate this week after expressing on social media that she does not think smacking children 'is ever defensible'.

In the Facebook post, the author said she had weighed in on the possibility of a ban on smacking children by commenting on an online article: 'Good. It's completely unacceptable to use physical force against anyone, but especially a small child.'

But her comment was subsequently trolled by three men - including a serving member of the Victorian police force, who said her opinion was 'the reason jails are full.'

Police have launched an investigation after one of their officers bragged about 'belting his kid' in response to a post by feminist activist Clementine Ford (pictured)

The 40-year-old sparked debate this week after expressing on a social media post (pictured) that she does not think smacking children 'is ever defensible'

'No one takes Clementine Ford seriously anyway. Has a hatred of men and is one of the most divisive person going around [sic],' the officer wrote.

'Nothing wrong with a bit of discipline, quite a few do gooders [sic] on here are a danger to society and are responsible for encouraging criminal behaviour.'

'They are do baders [sic]. Like being "politically correct", nothing political or correct about them.'

Ms Ford initially concealed the men's names in the message exchange, but later outed their identities after the senior constable made an extreme remark on the online article.

'Just belted my kid and then the missus made me a sandwich. Life is good,' the officer goaded.

Ms Ford said the men had contradicted themselves by calling her a 'man hater' although she has never physically hurt anyone, while they are pro-smacking.

Once their names were revealed, the man was quickly identified as a member of the force, leading to Ms Ford's army of followers bombarding Victoria Police's Facebook page with complaints.

The post by writer and feminist activist Clementine Ford (pictured) was trolled by three men

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they are aware of a recent 'concerning' social media post made by one of their officers.

'The Transit and Public Safety Command have launched an investigation into the matter, with oversight from Professional Standards Command,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the senior constable has also been forced to undergo additional training.

'Whilst awaiting those outcomes the Senior Constable involved has been directed to undertake immediate training in our Professional and Ethical Standards and Behaviours policy and social media training,' they said.
On the annual National Day of Prayer, which is today, prominent Christian evangelist Franklin Graham urged the nation to acknowledge the Lord in prayer and plead with Him for there is no hope for America apart from God.

"Our country and our leaders need prayer. Join me in praying that God would intervene and turn our nation back to Him," wrote the evangelist on a Facebook video posted Thursday.

Graham believes that the country is in moral and spiritual trouble and that the best hope for America is for Christians to pray and for God to intervene, Breitbart reported. He invited all his countrymen to participate in the observance of the "National Day of Prayer" by joining of various faith communities' prayer initiatives.

For those who can't find one, he urged them to pray along with him.

Starting with politicians in government offices, his first petition was for their salvation.

"And let's just pray ... Heavenly Father, we just pray for our country. And Father, we pray for the politicians, our elected leaders ... Father, we pray that each one would put their faith and trust in your son, Jesus Christ, and call his name, and turn from their sins. And Father, we pray for our president, we pray for all of our elected leaders today, that you would just get a hold of their hearts ..."

Graham also prayed for Biden's advisers and others serving in other departments, as well as the White House workforce as a whole.

"For those that work at the lower levels, no one knows their names. You know their names and you know who they are. Father, we just pray that you would get a hold of them," he said.

Graham concluded his prayer by pleading with God to transform the nation's heart back to him.

Many of Graham's followers reacted with a praying hand emoji in the comments section, showing that they prayed along with the prayer and that they agreed with it.

National Day Of Prayer 2021

According to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, the national observance "represents a Judeo-Christian expression" founded on the perception that the United States was "birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

The website listed prayer call dates from May 6 to October 7 for a six-month period. For those who are able to participate, prayer call times were also specified for both day and night.

"We pray that America will be united in love to serve You with all our hearts, all our ways, and all of our days," wrote Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. "Unite us to pray, love; to live and walk by the Spirit."

Earlier this week, the Biden administration denied Rev. Patrick Mahoney, head of the Christian Defense Coalition, permission to organize the National Day of Prayer at the Capitol building.

"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," he said.

Nonetheless, Mahoney said that he would strive to restore the "People's House" to the people and to guarantee that the First Amendment is once more celebrated and honored at the U.S. Capitol.
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First lady Jill Biden was back in the classroom on Wednesday as she visited a Salt Lake City school during a tour of the West to see first hand how the country is reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden, a teacher herself, visited Glendale Middle School, which returned to in-person instruction a few months ago and was serenaded by the ukulele club.

She stood and listened as the group of teens played her a rendition of 21 Pilots' track House of Gold.

The stop is part of a tour around the West that includes Nevada and Colorado.

Jill later spoke to a group of teachers in an auditorium where she thanked them for their work during the pandemic.

She also stressed the Biden administration's commitment to investing in education.

'There have been losses that we will never get back: loss of time with each other, loss of learning, and the loss of so many,' she said.

First lady Jill Biden talks as she visits a classroom at Glendale Middle School on Wednesday morning. During the class, student Eli Kaufusi put a colorful lei around the first ladys neck

She walked in and waved to the students in the ukulele club on her trip to Utah to tout reopening schools

'There have been losses that we will never get back: loss of time with each other, loss of learning, and the loss of so many,' she said

U.S. first lady Jill Biden gestures as she visits a classroom with protocols to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease

'But the best gifts that we can give to show our appreciation for everything that you do, does not come from a store, it's giving you what you need to be your best, investing in you.'

Biden joined Glendales ukulele club and tapped her foot as students played along to a YouTube video, according to Deseret News.

During the class, student Eli Kaufusi put a colorful lei around the first ladys neck.

She later joined another class, where the lesson was 'Techniques for Tough Times'.

Eighth graders shared posters where they described what they think makes them special, starting with the phrase 'I am...'.

Biden joined in the task, and wrote on a whiteboard: 'I am Jill. I am a mother, a nana, a teacher ... who believes all students can soar!'

Glendale Middle School ukulele club plays and sings for @FLOTUS Jill Biden in Salt Lake City. #utpol pic.twitter.com/uB42mDR8rA  DNews Politics (@DNewsPolitics) May 5, 2021

She used some of the techniques she has learned while teaching to write on the whiteboard that she was a 'mother and nana'

First Lady Jill Biden spent a total of about two and a half hours in Salt Lake City before heading out

First lady Jill Biden waves as she departs Andrew Air Force Base in Maryland on Wednesday before her trip

'I dont want to waste a moment of my time as first lady,' Biden said. 'You can do so much.'

Glendale Middle School Principal Jill Baillie was grateful that Biden was able to stop by this week, saying 'It was a very hard year for educators, partially because they didnt see their kids. A lot of times, cameras were off. We lost a lot of our kids, and for her to talk to my teachers was really special because weve been through so much.'

Biden spent two and a half hours in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, which included a trip to a pop-up vaccination clinic.

Utah first lady Abby Cox and Rep. Chris Stewart joined Biden on portions of the visit.

She was first greeted by the Coxes, Stewart, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, and Utah GOP Reps. Blake Moore and Burgess Owens.

'I cannot imagine a better outreach event today with our daily effort to get needles in arms,' Wilson said about Biden's visit to the vaccination clinic.

US First Lady Jill Biden speaks during a visit to Glendale Middle School on Wednesday, where she met students and teachers

U.S. first lady Jill Biden visits a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mobile vaccination clinic at Jordan Park in Salt Lake City

There was some criticism about the visit from the Republican National Committee, which called out the administration's priorities.

'Jill Biden has no business heading west to Utah without stopping to visit the crisis the Biden administration has created at the southern border,' RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper said.

Jill Biden landed late Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, where she was greeted at the airport by Nevada Democratic Gov. Sisolak, his wife Kathy Sisolak, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, Democratic congresswomen Dina Titus and Susie Lee and Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick.

Biden planned to spend the night in Las Vegas before visiting nurses at a local hospital Thursday.

US first lady Jill Biden visits a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mobile vaccination clinic at Jordan Park in Salt Lake City

First lady Jill Biden talks and claps as she visits a classroom at Glendale Middle School on Wednesday

The visit comes shortly after President Joe Biden's self-imposed deadline to reopen most U.S. elementary schools in his first 100 days.

The school-tracking site Burbio found 62 percent of schools were offering in-person learning every day by then, though it wasn't clear how many were elementary schools.

But a Biden administration survey of U.S. schools last month found striking variations in how students of different races and ethnicities were learning.

Among fourth-graders, more than half of white students were being taught fully in person. By contrast, less than a third of Black and Hispanic fourth-graders were back in classrooms full time, along with just 15 percent of Asian students.

The disparities have raised alarms among advocates who worry the pandemic is worsening racial inequities in education. Debate also persists nationwide on how schools can reopen safely.

In conservative Utah, most schools reopened fully in the fall with precautions like social distancing and mask-wearing. Those in hard-hit Salt Lake City, though, stayed remote into February.

First lady Jill Biden waves goodbye on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at Salt Lake International Airport's TAC Air terminal

U.S. Reps. Blake Moore, left, and Burgess Owens, right, greet first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday in Salt Lake City

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, and Utah first lady Abby Cox greet first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday in Salt Lake City

The district's school board agreed to reopen after the state became one of the first in the country to prioritize teachers for vaccines.

Vaccinations were a sticking point as discussions with teachers hit a stalemate in January in some of the nation's largest school districts in places like California and Chicago.

At Glendale Middle, 65 percent of students are Hispanic, 12 percent are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 6 percent are Asian, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The area also has a large refugee community, and a majority of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.

Student grades dropped in Salt Lake City while all learning was conducted remotely but have improved since reopening for in-person classes, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. At Glendale Middle, half of students still received at least one F during the third quarter, but that was down from 61 percent in the first quarter, the paper found.
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Labour has conceded defeat in the Hartlepool by-election as the Tories head for a historic victory which will deliver a hammer blow to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said 'it is pretty clear from the way that the ballots are landing that we are not close to winning this' and 'we haven't got over the line'.

Vote counting is still ongoing in the constituency which has been held by Labour since its inception in the 1970s and an official result appears to be some way off.

But Mr McMahon left no room for doubt in his assessment, with Tories at the count believing they could win with a majority of several thousand while Labour sources said they feared they had lost 'by miles'.

Should the result be confirmed, it would represent a massive victory for Boris Johnson and a disastrous start to the UK-wide 'Super Thursday' elections for Sir Keir.

A defeat will pile the pressure on Sir Keir and reignite questions over whether he can reverse Labour's fortunes ahead of the 2024 general election.

Labour is now bracing for further bad news, with party sources predicting 'grim' results in council elections in England. Allies of Sir

Early declarations in some council seats in the north east of England appeared to show voters deserting Labour.

Meanwhile, the Tories won all nine of the seats being contested in Redditch, the first council result of the night, as they gained seven seats from Labour. The Conservatives took control of Nuneaton & Bedworth from Labour after winning 13 of the first 14 seats declared. The Tories also seized control of Harlow Council from Labour.

Sir Keir is said to be preparing a brutal reshuffle of his shadow cabinet within days as he tries to kickstart his leadership, with shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds and shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tipped for demotion.

Sir Keir is sounding out high-profile figures, including former work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper, about a possible return to the Labour frontbench.

Frontbenchers regarded as strong media performers such as shadow schools minister Wes Streeting are being tipped for promotion.

Sir Keir has said he will 'carry the can' if the local election results go badly, but he is expected to try to revitalise his top team amid concerns many of them have been under-performing.

Another being lined up for the sack is thought to be shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz, with a reshuffle pencilled in for the next week.

A Labour source said this morning: 'We've said all along the North East and the Midlands would be difficult. We also said the places declaring Thursday would be particularly difficult.

'But, 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.

'People don't want to hear excuses. Keir has said he will take responsibility for these results  and he will take responsibility for fixing it and changing the Labour Party for the better.'

The Hartlepool by-election outcome will be seen as a barometer for how the two main parties could do as the results of various elections trickle in over the next four days.

Respected elections expert Michael Thrasher said 'the slide appears to be continuing' for Labour.

He told Sky News that voters had 'simply migrated from Labour to the Conservatives'. 'That is a hard thing for voters to do but but we saw it in 2019 and we are seeing it again in 2021,' he said.

English Local Authorities English County Councils Scottish Parliament Welsh Parliament

An extraordinary stack of counted ballot papers has built up for the Tory candidate in Hartlepool Jill Mortimer - suggesting a big win

Jim McMahon, the shadow transport secretary, has conceded defeat in the Hartlepool by-election, with the Tories heading for a historic victory

The seat has been held by Labour since its inception in the 1970s but the Conservatives believe they could win it with a majority of several thousand. Party observers look on as ballot papers are counted at the Mill House Leisure Centre

The Hartlepool by-election result will be viewed as a barometer for how Labour and the Tories could do in the UK-wide 'Super Thursday' elections, with results due to trickle in over the next four days

Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer appears to be on course for a resounding victory over Labour's Paul Williams in the Hartlepool by-election

A win in Hartlepool would represent a massive victory for Boris Johnson, pictured arriving at a polling station with partner Carrie Symonds yesterday

A defeat in Hartlepool will be a hammer blow to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party. He is pictured with his partner Victoria as they walked to their polling station yesterday

The Conservatives had earlier sought to play down expectations in Hartlepool, with a Tory source saying it was 'looking tough' as 'Labour have flooded the area with activists'.

However, Pensions Minister Guy Opperman had painted a much more optimistic picture for the Tories as he predicted on Twitter shortly after the polls closed that Jill Mortimer would win the seat for the Conservatives.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News that it would be 'remarkable' if the Tories win the seat as he added: 'But if it is even close, I would say that is a really, really serious indictment of Keir Starmer.'

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon faces a nervous wait to find out if the SNP has won a Holyrood majority - seen as crucial to her hopes of forcing a second independence referendum.

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in last year's elections being delayed by 12 months.

That means that two years' worth of polls took place across the UK yesterday, making for a bumper crop of results.

Voters have had their say on the make-up of English councils, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd as well as in a wave of mayoral contests, including in London.

The Hartlepool by-election is expected to be the first major result announced as social distancing rules and coronavirus protocols like cleaning ballot boxes make counting slower than normal.

Voter turnout in the contest in Hartlepool was 42.55 per cent - a relatively high number for a Westminster by-election.

Mr McMahon was asked on Sky News in the early hours of this morning if he was conceding the race after Tories said they were increasingly confident of victory.

He replied: 'Well, it is pretty clear from the way that the ballots are landing that we are not close to winning this despite our best endeavours, despite the hard work of many fantastic volunteers and despite a fantastic candidate who of course is a local GP working at Hartlepool hospital who has been working on the frontline during the pandemic.

'I think we have given it our all but sometimes you just don't get over the line on the day.'

Asked again if he was conceding, Mr McMahon said: 'Well, that is where we are. That is the reality of where we are. We haven't got over the line, that is quite clear from the ballots.

'To what extent, it is too early to tell, but that is pretty clear.'

Hartlepool was held by Labour with a majority of 3,595 in 2019, even as other bricks in the 'Red Wall' crumbled  in part due to the Brexit Party splitting the Tory vote.

Both Mr Johnson and Sir Keir made three visits to Hartlepool during the campaign in a sign of the importance the by-election represents to their parties.

Opinion polls suggested the Tories were on course to win the seat for the first time ever, with one survey putting the party 17 points ahead of Labour.

Mr Johnson sought to dampen expectations ahead of polling day as he said the contest looked like it would be a 'very tough fight'.

Defeat in Hartlepool for Labour will inevitably reignite questions over the direction of the party under Sir Keir amid growing discontent among some left-wing activists.

Polling suggested that Labour could lose Hartlepool as well as control of a number of councils across its 'Red Wall' heartlands in the Midlands and North of England.

Sir Keir said during the campaign that his rebuild of the party would take longer than 12 months.

He stressed he had taken over the leadership after the party's worst general election result since 1935 and 'we've got to rebuild into the next general election  that is the task in hand'.

Sir Keir said: '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.'

However, losing ground instead of gaining it at 2021 elections would represent a devastating set of results for Sir Keir as he tries to lay the foundations for a general election victory in 2024.

He said on Wednesday that he would take responsibility, regardless of how the elections play out.

'I take full responsibility for everything the Labour Party does, including the elections whatever they are tomorrow,' he said.

'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.'

Sir Keir's allies last night said they were expecting civil war to break out in the party if election results are as gloomy as forecast by some opinion polls.

The hard Left of the party were preparing for a possible coup in anticipation, while moderates will argue that Sir Keir must ditch policies first drawn up under Jeremy Corbyn to win back voters.

Alan Milburn, a Labour Cabinet minister under Tony Blair, told BBC Newsnight that the elections should not be seen as a referendum on Sir Keir's leadership because it was 'always going to be a long, hard battle back' after the party's 2019 collapse.

However, Mr Milburn said 'this is the time to inject new blood' into the shadow cabinet because some of its current members are 'barely visible'.

He warned the party is in a state of 'crisis' and said: 'The truth is that the Labour Party, and social democratic parties, they need to reinvent themselves.

'It's not a question of just rebuilding - it's a process of reinvention. There needs to be a big programme change, a big policy change and I think a big procedure change.'

'Super Thursday' voting stopped at 10pm with all eyes turning first to the result of the Hartlepool by-election. Election officials in the town are pictured waiting for ballot boxes to arrive

Coronavirus protocols mean this year's election votes will take longer to count than usual. Ballot boxes are pictured being cleaned on arrival at a count in Sunderland

A giant inflatable representation of Boris Johnson was put up outside the count in Hartlepool

Election officials counting votes in Hartlepool were separated from party observers by plastic screens

Shadow public health minister Alex Norris said Labour did not expect to recover from its 2019 general election loss within 18 months.

Asked whether Sir Keir would be to blame for a defeat in the Hartlepool by-election, Mr Norris told Sky News: 'No, not in the slightest. Let's not prejudge it, for one.

'But what Keir is going to be very clear about, what we are clear about as a Labour Party is that this is going to be a no-excuses election for us.'

But in a sign of the discontent on the Labour left, MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle appeared to mock the party's attempts to change its image.

He said: 'Good to see valueless flag waving and suit wearing working so well or not?'

The comment is a reference to a leaked strategy document which suggested Labour must make 'use of the flag, veterans, dressing smartly' to win back voters in 'Red Wall' seats in the party's former industrial heartlands.

Bullish Conservative MPs who had been on the ground in Hartlepool claimed they had noticed a 'clear swing' towards their party as they predicted a bad set of results for Sir Keir.

'If you thought the bottom of Labour was Corbyn then you are wrong,' one told MailOnline.

Labour activists doorknocking in the constituency sounded relentlessly glum.

'We are suffering from Long Corbyn,' one senior figure said in a grim coronavirus analogy. 'It is going to be really difficult... we will find out tonight whether we have hit bottom.'

Sir Keir voted at a polling station inside a community support centre in north London today, accompanied by his wife Victoria. Asked by a reporter how he was feeling, the Labour leader said: 'Good.'

Sir Keir tweeted when the polls closed: 'Huge thank you to all the incredible Labour Party members who have given up their time to campaign in these elections. You're an inspiration.'

Mr Johnson had tried to temper the expectations of Tory activists earlier this week after he said the elections would be 'very tough'.

'I think when we stood last time for many of these council seats we were at a particularly high watermark, and we'll be fighting for absolutely every vote,' he had said.

The elections came after Mr Johnson faced a number of weeks of damaging headlines over the Covid crisis, a Whitehall lobbying row and controversy over the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Many senior Tory figures believed the rows were only of interest in the 'Westminster bubble' and they will be hoping that they are proved correct after the nation went to the ballot box.

Meanwhile, in Scotland the SNP will be hoping to have strengthened its position in Holyrood as Ms Sturgeon pushes for a re-run of the 2014 independence referendum.

A number of opinion polls in the run up to 'Super Thursday' suggested the SNP was on course to win a majority.

Ms Sturgeon believes winning a majority would give her a mandate to hold another border poll.

Party members and political observers faced a long wait as the votes were counted in Hartlepool

Mr Johnson had tried to temper the expectations of Tory activists earlier this week after he said the elections would be 'very tough'

Nicola Sturgeon faces a nervous wait to find out if the SNP has won a Holyrood majority - viewed as crucial to her independence push

Mr Johnson has repeatedly rejected calls for another independence vote, arguing the first one was supposed to be a once in a generation event.

But Ms Sturgeon believes an SNP majority would force the PM to reconsider.

The SNP leader said after the polls closed tonight that it had been 'an election like no other' as she laid down the gauntlet to Mr Johnson on independence.

She said: 'At this election the SNP have also offered the people of Scotland the opportunity to choose their future once the Covid crisis has passed.

'If, when the ballots are counted, there is a parliamentary majority for that choice then when the crisis has passed that democratic mandate must be respected.'

Authorities have found it difficult to predict when results will come in because they are unsure how long counting will take because of social distancing requirements.

The results of all of the UK's elections are not expected to be finalised until Monday.

Most of the seats in the Holyrood election are expected to count during the day on Friday, with results starting at lunchtime and peaking in the evening.

However, some areas are expected to count votes during the day on Saturday, with results due from lunchtime.

Results from the eight regional proportional representation top-up seats are expected on Saturday night.

Counting for the Welsh Assembly elections is expected to take place on Friday with results in the afternoon and evening.

In London, the result of the race for City Hall may come on Saturday but it could potentially be Sunday as Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan tries to secure a second term by defeating Tory rival Shaun Bailey.

In London, the result of the race for City Hall may come on Saturday but it could potentially be Sunday. Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan is hoping to secure a second term by beating Tory rival Shaun Bailey, pictured arriving at a polling station with his wife Ellie today

The Tories are expected to find out on Friday night if Ben Houchen has held on as Tees Valley mayor, in what is seen as a key race and a barometer for how the party is performing in the former 'Red Wall' constituencies that Labour lost to the Tories in the 2019 general election.

The parties will face another by-election if Labour MP Tracy Brabin succeeds in her bid to become West Yorkshire mayor, as expected.

It means she will stand down from her Batley and Spen constituency, which she held in 2019 with a small majority of 3,525 over the Tories.

Labour figures have suggested the party could delay holding a by-election until the autumn in a bid to avoid losing another brick in the 'Red Wall'.

Elections took place at 143 English councils, with 19 expected to count votes overnight and the majority counting during the day on Friday.

The results of 39 police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales are expected to be announced across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai (seen above on March 25) told his 140,000 employees that 20 per cent of them will be permitted to work from home permanently starting September 1

Google is walking back its original plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week and will instead allow 20 percent of its employees to permanently work from home starting September 1.

A spokesperson for the tech behemoth confirmed to DailyMail.com that starting in September, the company will transition to a 'hybrid model' whereby a majority of employees will be required in the office for at least three days per week.

According to an email circulated by CEO Sundar Pichai, around 60 percent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations.

The remaining 20 percent will be permitted to work from home full-time.

'Before the pandemic, we had thousands of people working in locations separate from their core teams,' Pichai wrote to his work force of more than 140,000 employees on Wednesday.

'I fully expect those numbers to increase in the coming months as we develop more remote roles, including fully all-remote sub teams.'

Pichai wrote that the company will offer more details next month on how employees who are interested in requesting to work from home on a permanent basis can request to do so.

Google is walking back its original plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week. The image above shows the Google campus in Mountain View, California on April 21

According to an email circulated by Pichai, around 60 per cent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations. The image above shows Google's corporate office in New York City on April 13

Pichai also informed his employees that they will be permitted to temporarily work from a location other than their assigned office for four weeks out of the year.

Thats an increase from two weeks per year that the company announced in December.

Google will also adjust employees' pay based on their work locations, according to Pichai.

It comes after the tech giant had initially announced that employees could start returning to the office last month but staff would be required to come back by September.

Tech giants, including Google, were among the first to send employees home when the coronavirus began to spread widely in the United States more than a year ago.

Even before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, Google and many other prominent tech firms had told their employees to work from home.

Google had originally planned to allow a significant number of employees to begin returning to its Mountain View, California, headquarters and other offices during the summer of 2020.

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall. The image above shows the company's offices in Seattle

But the pandemics ongoing spread pushed back the company's reopening.

Google's biggest offices have been largely unoccupied.

The decision affected more than 123,000 employees on the payroll of Google and other Alphabet companies, as well as 80,000 contractors that normally work on the companies' campuses.

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall.

The company had previously given its return-to-office date as June 30, but questions remained as to whether the company would allow some of its 60,000 Seattle-area office employees to continue working from home part time.

'Our plan is to return to an office-centric culture as our baseline,' Amazon said.

'We believe it enables us to invent, collaborate, and learn together most effectively.'

Amazon will not require office workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before they return, but the company is encouraging employees and contractors to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, according to Amazon spokesperson Jose Negrete.

Google's decision last year prompted other tech giants to follow its lead with companies like Facebook also telling employees that they should plan to work remotely until 2021.

At the time, Amazon and Microsoft both said their employees should expect to stay home until at least October 2021.

But as COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the country, tech giants have started announcing plans to allow employees to come back to work.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29. The 2014 file image above shows the Microsoft Visitor Center in Redmond, Washington

Facebook plans to reopen its offices in the San Francisco Bay Area at 10 per cent capacity this month.

Facebook, Twitter and Square had previously said they'd be allowing employees to work from home permanently, which led to the development of remote or hybrid working structures.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29.

In a post on the company's corporate blog, Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said Microsoft has been monitoring local health data and decided it can bring more employees back to its Redmond, Washington campus.

DelBene said workers will have the choice to return to headquarters, continue working remotely or do a combination of both.

More than 50,000 people work at the company's headquarters campus in Redmond, 15 miles east of Seattle.
An Alabama state trooper facing charges for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl had been kicked out of the FBI over a string of sexual misconduct allegations - before being hired by the state agency with the apparent help of a fake bureau letter that scrubbed his record clean.

An Associated Press investigation found Christopher Bauer, 41, was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBI's New Orleans office in late 2018 - effectively fired - amid allegations that included a co-worker's claim that he raped her at knifepoint.

But Alabama authorities either overlooked or were unaware of that history.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency told AP that it conducted a 'full and thorough' investigation into Bauer's background when he applied to be a trooper in 2019 and that 'no derogatory comments were uncovered by former employers.'

Bauer indicated on his application that he was still employed by the FBI and had never been dismissed or forced to resign because of disciplinary action.

This photo provided by the Montgomery County, Alabama Detention Center shows Christopher Bauer after his arrest on April 27. The Alabama state trooper who was arrested on charges he raped an 11-year-old girl had been kicked out of the FBI amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations but was hired by the state agency anyway with the apparent help of a fake bureau letter that scrubbed his record clean

And the state's law enforcement credentialing commission provided AP a copy of a letter - purportedly from FBI headquarters - that makes no mention of Bauer's ouster, confirms his decade of 'creditable service' and deems him 'eligible for rehire.'

'The letter is not legitimate,' the FBI said in a statement to the AP on Wednesday.

Bureau officials would not say who they believe forged the letter.

Bauer was arrested last week in Montgomery on charges including sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12. The AP is withholding some details of the allegations to protect the girl's identity.

Bauer remained jailed Wednesday on $105,000 bail, and court records do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

An attorney who represented Bauer in challenging his ouster from the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

The FBI declined to say whether it was asked for any information about Bauer's suitability to be hired by the state police.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey's office referred questions on the matter to the state police, which did not respond to repeated queries about the details of Bauers hiring.

'You have to ask yourself why an agent from the FBI would want to leave after 10 years,' said Lou Reiter, a policing consultant and former deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police Department.

'They obviously didn't do any kind of due diligence with their background check.'

'There have to be phone calls,' added Michael Avery, a retired professor at Suffolk Universitys Law School and an expert on police misconduct.

Bauer resigned from the state police following his arrest, citing 'personal reasons.'

This image provided by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission shows a letter dated November 1, 2019 which claimed to confirm Christopher Bauer's decade of 'creditable service' to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and deemed him 'eligible for rehire.' A senior FBI official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the letter 'is not legitimate.'

Bauer is the latest - and perhaps most extreme - example yet of an FBI agent accused of sexual misconduct moving on.

An AP investigation last year found a pattern of FBI supervisors avoiding discipline - and retiring with full benefits - even after claims of sexual misconduct against them were substantiated.

'Nobody wants to take responsibility,' the former co-worker who accused Bauer of rape told the AP, which does not typically identify those who say they are the victims of sex crimes.

'I didn't want this to happen to anybody else.'

An Air Force veteran, Bauer was a member of the Montgomery police force before joining the FBI in 2009, working a number of high-profile cases in the New Orleans field office.

He has disputed the sexual misconduct claims made by his FBI co-worker, telling colleagues the acts were consensual.

FBI brass considered the misconduct case to be 'egregious,' according to a former senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the matter.

Internal investigators interviewed several female FBI employees about their dealings with Bauer and believed the truth to be 'somewhere in the middle' of what Bauer and the co-worker claimed, the former official said.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the state police, told AP that it conducted a 'full and thorough' investigation into Bauer's background when he applied to be a trooper in 2019 and that 'no derogatory comments were uncovered by former employers'

The internal inquiry found Bauer violated FBI policy, including by having sex in an FBI vehicle.

'He flat-out needed to lose his job, and he really should have been charged criminally,' said the former official, who wasn't authorized to discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bauer's co-worker told AP that Louisiana authorities had been pursuing criminal charges in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans, but she didn't believe she had enough evidence to go forward.

The allegations also played out in a restraining order obtained by the co-worker that names Bauer and had been in the public record in Louisiana for a year when Alabama hired him as a trooper.

In it, the woman accuses the lawman of choking her, adding she was 'scared for my life.'

Bauer was ordered to surrender his 'firearms, weapons, swords and knives' as part of the case.

'I couldn't see any more and felt my legs go out from under me,' the woman wrote in her application for the order.

'He told me many times if I went to war with him I would lose. He told me many times he would destroy me.'

The woman told AP that Bauer sexually assaulted her so frequently her hair began to fall out.

'It was a year of torture,' she said.

'He quite literally would keep me awake for days. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep, and in six months I went from 150 pounds to 92 pounds.

'I was physically dying from what he was doing to me.'
Zhe 'Shelly' Wang, 36, has denied wild rumors that she is behind Bill Gates' divorce

A Chinese interpreter who has done work for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has come forward to deny wild online rumors that she was responsible for alienating the Microsoft founder's affections for his wife of 27 years.

Zhe 'Shelly' Wang, 36, spoke out in a post on Weibo, the Chinese social media site, on Wednesday, slamming the 'unfounded rumors' that she had conducted an affair with Bill Gates.

'I originally thought [the rumor] would be self-defeating from groundless sources, but I didn't expect it to get more crazy,' she wrote in Mandarin. 'Thank you for your concern over the past 24 hours through private messages, and friends who helped me dispel rumors.'

Wang, who lives in Seattle and is unmarried, is an accomplished professional translator who has done work for the Yale School of Management and Harvard Business School, as well as the Gates Foundation.

Bill and Melinda Gates announced their divorce on Monday, but couple's the lack of explanation for the split has led to rampant speculation

It is unclear what led to Wang being a target of rumors, other than photos she has posted online of her translation engagements for the Gates Foundation

Wang wrote on Weibo: 'I originally thought it would be self-defeating from groundless sources, but I didn't expect it to get more crazy. How many books can you read during the May 1st holiday? Why waste time on unfounded rumors. Thank you for your concern over the past 24 hours through private messages, and friends who helped me dispel rumors. I hope that this incident will not ruin the good mood of the holiday. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Li Donglei for his article. No melon, don't cue.'

Bill Gates, who is worth $130 billion, announced the breakup in a joint statement with Melinda on Monday -- but couple's the lack of explanation for the split has led to rampant speculation.

It is unclear what led to Wang being a target of rumors, other than photos she has posted online of her translation engagements for the Gates Foundation, but the innuendo spread like wildfire on Chinese social media.

Li Donglei, who is friends with Wang, was shocked by the rumors and spoke out defending her in a blog post.

'She is a former colleague of mine, a very clean girl, and a person I admire. I don't believe she would get involved in other people's marriages,' wrote Li.

'I think it is entirely my instinct that Wang Zhe can't do this kind of thing,' he added.

According to Li, Wang grew up in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou, and later immigrated to the United States.

From 2006 to 2008, she owned a restaurant in Provo, Utah, the Four Seasons Hot Pot & Dumplings, according to her LinkedIn profile which has since been deleted.

Proficient in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, Wang had done translation work for the Gates Foundation, TED conferences, and the Yale School of Management

She has also worked as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, often working the route between the US and Shanghai

'I think it is entirely my instinct that Wang Zhe can't do this kind of thing,' one friend said of the online rumors that Wang was behind the breakup

Wang attended Brigham Young University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Managerial Economics there in 2007.

Proficient in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, she went on to study Conference Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and later did work as an interpreter for the institute in September 2012.

At the Monterey Institute, she worked on several TED Conference events, and later went on to work for TED Conferences itself, overseeing a team of interpreters.

Her work for the Gates Foundation appears to have been in a freelance capacity.

In addition to her career as an interpreter, Wang also worked as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, her social media posts show.

Before the global pandemic, she most worked on flights between the U.S. and Shanghai.

According to her friend Li, Wang challenged herself even further by training to obtain her pilot's license two years ago, and succeeded in qualifying.

Wang challenged herself by training to obtain her pilot's license two years ago, and succeeded in qualifying, her friend said

'She is a former colleague of mine, a very clean girl, and a person I admire. I don't believe she would get involved in other people's marriages,' a friend said of Wang

'I guess some people made up gossip about "Gates cheating with a Chinese beauty" just because they saw Wang Zhe's translation work photos at the Gates Foundation and saw that she was a Chinese beauty and a single woman,' wrote Li in his blog post.

'They don't care about the slander of an innocent girl and her family by such rumors,' he added.

Wang could not be reached for comment by DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

What specifically prompted Bill and Melinda Gates' divorce remains unclear. Melinda has previously described Bill's hesitancy over getting married in the early 1990s, and he has described an unusual 'arrangement' that saw him spend a weekend with his ex-girlfriend once a year.

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.

On the day the divorce was announced, Bill transferred $1.8billion in stock to his wife Melinda in what appears to be the first of many public transactions the pair will make as they start to divide up their extraordinary assets.

What specifically prompted Bill and Melinda Gates' divorce remains unclear. Melinda has previously described Bill's hesitancy over getting married in the early 1990s

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. Bill has hired 97-year-old billionaire lawyer Charlie T Munger to represent him in the divorce.

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.
An Ohio man has been charged with the sexual assault and murder of one of his then-wife's friends 26 years ago, after his DNA was matched through a genealogy database.

Clayton Bernard Foreman, 61, was arrested in Ohio on April 29 and charged with capital murder over the brutal slaying of Mary Catherine Edwards on January 15, 1995.

Teacher Edwards was a close family friend and had even been a bridesmaid at his wedding to his first wife.

Cold case detectives managed to link Foreman to the case in April last year when they submitted DNA evidence found on Edwards' body to a lab for comparison to the database.

After a link was found to a family member, law enforcement officials collected DNA samples from trash taken from outside Foreman's Ohio home and found a positive match, an affidavit states.

Clayton Bernard Foreman, 61, was arrested for a 1995 Texas murder in Ohio and faces a capital murder charge

Mary Catherine Edwards was a Texas teacher when she was found dead in her home in 1995

During the course of their investigation, police also say they found similarities between Edwards' killing and a 1981 rape that Foreman had previously pleaded guilty to, 12 News Now reports.

In the rape case, Foreman gave a school classmate a ride home after he found her stranded at a gas station. Cops say he 'bound her hands behind her back with a belt and held a knife to her throat' before sexually assaulting her.

Edwards' body was also discovered with her hands bound behind her back, authorities say.

Edwards' parents found her body at her Park Meadows, Texas, home when they went to check on her because she wasn't answering the phone.

Her body was found her in her bathtub with her hands handcuffed behind her back and her head under the water, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. She had been sexually assaulted and killed.

'There are numerous similarities in the 1981 case and the Edwards' murder,' the arrest affidavit, obtained by 12 News Now says.

'First, Edwards and the first victim both went to high school with the suspect. Secondly, their hands were bound behind their back. Thirdly, both were sexually assaulted.'

Edwards' parents found her body at her Park Meadows, Texas, home when they went to check on her because she wasn't answering the phone. Her body was found her in the bathtub with her hands handcuffed behind her back and her head under the water

The Texas case went cold until last April, when investigators began using genetic genealogy to help ID the unknown suspect, News 4 San Antonio reported.

The DNA was entered into a GEDmatch public database, which is an online service not viewable to the public that compares DNA data files from different testing companies.

Texas Rangers worked with the Houston-based DNA lab Othram, which has the ability to extract, digitize and apply their own process known as "Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing" to identify the source of DNA through distant relatives.





It first identified a second cousin, and police worked up and down the family tree by collecting DNA samples that were voluntarily submitted by more than 30 family members, News 4 San Antonio reported.





Detectives found DNA connections to Clayton Bernard Foreman's mother's and father's sides, and Foreman became the main suspect.





Foreman is currently in an Ohio jail waiting to be extradited to Texas, according to Franklin County Sheriff inmate records.
Stood down: Quarantine manager Matiu Bush. On Wednesday, it emerged Bush refused a Covid-19 test and failed to sanitise properly or use face masks

Victoria's hotel quarantine boss who was stood down for breaching infection protocols previously warned the healthcare sector not to become 'obsessed with risk'.

Matiu Bush was stood down as Victoria's general manager of infection prevention and control on Wednesday after it emerged they refused a Covid-19 test and failed to sanitise or properly use face masks.

Bush, who uses they and them pronouns, was reported to authorities twice over the leaked breaches, The Australian reported.

Bush began working for Victoria's hotel quarantine program in June 2020 in the wake of the state's horror second wave of Covid-19 infections which killed 801 people.

The stood-down infection manager spoke out against risk-averse strategies in the healthcare sector in 2019 while running neighbourhood charity One Good Street.

Bush said he used the slogan '#f*ckrisk' to show how the sector had become 'obsessed with risk and in doing so stifled creativity'.

Pictured: Healthcare workers outside of the Intercontinental quarantine hotel in Melbourne in April. Bush had spoken out against risk-averse strategies in the healthcare sector in 2019

Bush made the comments while discussing why the charity accepted used medical equipment and how it was 'human nature to focus on the worst-case scenario'.

'We found this often when people wanted to donate equipment to us so when someone said 'I have a scooter or an electric wheelchair or a whole lot of supplies, dressing supplies',' Bush said.

'Hospitals said 'Don't touch it', infection control risk, etc, even though the evidence actually says an unopened packet of equipment in a house is no risk.

'But all of that goes into the bin, all of that goes into landfill.'

One Good Street ran an initiative that year called the Library of Aged Care Things where Australians could donate unused aids and equipment to those who need them.

'There are people who can't afford it and when you are funded by the government, the cruel math is do I have a shower and do I have my house cleaned or do I save for a piece of equipment?' Bush said during the 2019 interview.

Bush was inspired to start the charity - whose mission was to 'improve the lives of older people street by street - after helping an elderly neighbour who fell out of bed in the middle of the night.

The helping hand saved the man the cost of an ambulance trip and a stay in hospital, Bush told SBS News in April 2019.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bush for comment.

Before moving into public service, Bush was also employed by home care service Bolton Clarke and spoke about '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.'

Victoria police and an army officer are seen in face masks outside the Intercontinental Hotel on April 8. Bush quoted the slogan '#f*ckrisk' in a 2019 interview to show how the sector had become 'obsessed with risk and in doing so stifled creativity'

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'.

Before entering the aged care sector, Bush worked as an intensive care nurse and a sexual health nurse practitioner and did a master's degree in public health.

On Wednesday it emerged 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.

The leaked government incident reports stated when an army corporal told Bush 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 stated: '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'.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the government had failed to learn from its mistakes. Pictured: The Holiday Inn hotel at Melbourne Airport

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'.

Quarantine Victoria said Bush was initially 'counselled' over both incidents but further action was taken on Wednesday morning.

'Last night I become aware of reports in relation to Bush and I formed the opinion overnight that Bush needs to be stood down pending a review,' Mr Pearson said.

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 nebuliser in a box with a sign saying it was not be given to guests.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) praised the Victorian government for taking 'swift action' to stand down Bush

But she got on the guest's bus from the airport and asked if they needed it during their stay.

She was told that nebulisers 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.

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.
A man will appear in court charged with the attempted murder of notorious gangster Samer Marcus in Sydney's southwest last year.

Samer Marcus, 45, was left in a critical condition after being shot in the head at close range on Campbelltown Road in Denham Court on November 6.

The senior member of the notorious Assyrian gang DLASTHR (The Last Hour) was rushed to Liverpool Hospital with severe injuries to his chest, face and back.

Police arrested a 40-year-old man in Surry Hills on Wednesday in relation to the attempted murder of Samer Marcus in November of last year

Criminal groups squad commander Detective Acting Superintendent Jayne Doherty told reporters at the time that Marcus was co-operating with police from hospital, The Australian reported.

'His future quality of life will be severely impacted,' the superintendent said.

In January police released CCTV footage of a black 2015 BMW M4 seen in the area at the time of the shooting, and made a public appeal for information.

Investigators from the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad later arrested a 29-year-old man at a home at Maroubra on February 23.

Samer Marcus, 45, (pictured) was shot multiple times at close range on November 6, and sustained critical injuries to his face, chest and back

The senior member of the notorious gang DLASTHR (The Last Hour) had been standing outside his parents' home on Campbelltown Road, Denham Court

He was charged with 20 offences including six counts of aggravated break and enter and five counts of stealing a motor vehicle.

Police allege the man stole a BMW M4 from a home in Lilyfield in July and the car was then used in the Denham Court shooting.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Waverley Local Court on February 24 and will reappear at Central Local Court on May 25.

As part of ongoing investigations, detectives also arrested the 40-year-old man at Surry Hills on Wednesday.

The man was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with intent to murder and tampering with evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with intent to murder and tampering with evidence.

The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court on Thursday.

Marcus' shooting came at a time of heightened concern over escalating gang behaviour in the western suburbs of Sydney.

The November attack was the second time Marcus was shot last year, the first in June during a confrontation with another man.

Campbelltown Local Court heard the DLASTHR member arrived at hospital with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.

Samer Marcus (pictured being arrested) was also shot just four months before the November attack during a confrontation with another man in June

By that stage the bullet had been inside him for three days.

Marcus was charged with concealing a serious and indictable offence after not reporting that he was shot.

The Assyrian gang has become known to police as a dangerous gang controlling drugs in the Fairfield area.

In 2012 DLASTHR members split from the gang to form their own group, True Kings, prompting an escalating turf war.
The South Carolina House voted Wednesday to add a firing squad to the state's execution methods amid a shortage of lethal-injection drugs - a measure meant to jump-start executions in a state that once had one of the busiest death chambers in the nation.

The bill, approved by a 66-43 vote, will require condemned inmates to choose either being shot or electrocuted if lethal injection drugs aren't available.

The state is one of only nine to still use the electric chair and will become only the fourth to allow a firing squad.

South Carolina last executed a death row inmate 10 years ago.

The state Senate already had approved the bill in March, by a vote of 32-11.

The House only made minor technical changes to that version, meaning that after a routine final vote in the House and a signoff by the Senate, it will go to Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who has said he will sign it.

There are 37 prisoners in line to be executed.

The undated file photo above shows a firing squad executing a prisoner. South Carolina is poised to become just the fourth state in the United States to allow the use of firing squads to execute death row inmates

Corrections officials said three of South Carolina's 37 death row inmates are out of appeals.

But lawsuits against the new death penalty rules are also likely.

'Three living, breathing human beings with a heartbeat that this bill is aimed at killing,' said Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg, rhythmically thumping the microphone in front of him.

'If you push the green button at the end of the day and vote to pass this bill out of this body, you may as well be throwing the switch yourself.'

South Carolina first began using the electric chair in 1912 after taking over the death penalty from individual counties, which usually hanged prisoners.

The other three states that allow a firing squad are Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Three inmates, all in Utah, have been killed by firing squad since the U.S. reinstated the death penalty in 1977.

Nineteen inmates have died in the electric chair this century.

South Carolina can't put anyone to death now because its supply of lethal-injection drugs expired and it has not been able to buy any more.

Currently, inmates can choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. Since the drugs are not available, they choose injection.

The bill retains lethal injection as the primary method of execution if the state has the drugs, but requires prison officials to use the electric chair or firing squad if it doesn't.

'Those families of victims to these capital crimes are unable to get any closure because we are caught in this limbo stage where every potential appeal has been exhausted and the legally imposed sentences cannot be carried out,' said Republican Rep. Weston Newton.

There are currently 37 prisoners waiting to be executed in South Carolina. If the bill becomes law, they will have the option of either being electrocuted or shot by a firing squad. The March 2019 image above shows the state's electric chair in Columbia, South Carolina

The lack of drugs, and decisions by prosecutors to seek guilty pleas with guaranteed life sentences over death penalty trials, have cut the state's death row population nearly in half - from 60 to 37 inmates - since the last execution was carried out in 2011. From 2000 to 2010, the state averaged just under two executions a year.

The reduction also has come from natural deaths, and prisoners winning appeals and being resentenced to life without parole.

Prosecutors have sent just three new inmates to death row in the past decade.

Democrats in the House offered several amendments, including not applying the new execution rules to current death row inmates; livestreaming executions on the internet; outlawing the death penalty outright; and requiring lawmakers to watch executions.

All failed.

Seven Republicans voted against the bill, while one Democrat voted for it.

Opponents of the bill brought up George Stinney, the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century.

He was 14 when he was sent to South Carolina's electric chair after a one-day trial in 1944 for killing two white girls.

A judge threw out the black teen's conviction in 2014.

Newspaper stories reported that witnesses said the straps to keep him in the electric chair didn't fit around his small frame.

'So not only did South Carolina give the electric chair to the youngest person ever in America, but the boy was innocent,' Bamberg said.

Other opponents noted that fellow Southern state Virginia outlawed the death penalty earlier this year.

They also pointed out that the three executions carried out so far this year in the United States are the fewest since 2008, when the US Supreme Court was reviewing lethal injection.

Newton said the bill wasn't the place to debate the morality of executions.

'This bill doesn't deal with the merits or the propriety of whether we should have a death penalty in South Carolina,' Newton said.
The number of deportations the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out in April was the lowest recorded since the agency began, despite illegal border crossings reaching a two-decade high.

Preliminary data obtained by The Washington Post reveals ICE deported 2,962 immigrants in April, a 20 percent drop from March, when 3,716 were deported.

This is the first time ever that fewer than 3,000 immigrants were deported by ICE in a single month.

ICE has not yet officially published the statistics from April and have not commented on the record numbers.

President Biden has pushed to reform ICE since taking office, and in January placed a 100-day pause on many deportations and greatly limited who can be arrested and deported by ICE.

The deportation moratorium drew fierce pushback from Republicans and was blocked by a federal judge in Texas days after it went into effect.

The most recent figures on border crossings, meanwhile, show illegal crossings shot up by 70 percent between February and March.

Border Patrol said they encountered 172,331 at the border in March, up from 101,028 people in February. April numbers have not been released.

ICE is not the only agency which deports migrants from the United States, so the fall in removals by their agents does not necessarily mean that overall removals are falling.

ICE is responsible for enforcement within the United States, but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for enforcement at the country's borders.

Asylum-seeking migrants cross the Rio Grande River at the border with Mexico in Roma, Texas, on May 5

Border crossings such as this one has been overwhelming law enforcement at the border

Official deportation figures have been sharply down since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, when the Trump administration brought in the public health order known as Title 42.

Title 42 allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to quickly return border-crossers to Mexico, but the procedure is not classed as a deportation.

So far, Biden has kept that health order in place.

CBP reports that they have made 236,376 expulsions under Title 42 at the southern border so far in 2021.

That includes 101,897 expulsions at the southern border in March alone, the last month with published data.

Ronald Vitiello, the acting director of ICE under Donald Trump from June 30, 2018 to April 12, 2019, said Biden's administrative priorities have caused a shift in the removal of immigrants from the United States.

'This administration has de-emphasized the likelihood that people would get arrested if they arent a threat to public safety or recently crossed the border, so they are not going to have strong removal numbers,' Vitiello said to the Post.

'The odds of being arrested just for being in the country illegally were always extremely low, and now theyve basically ruled it out by policy,' Vitiello added.

Asylum-seeking migrants from Romania sit along railway tracks as they wait to be transported by the U.S. border patrol after crossing the Rio Grande river into the US on Wednesday

Dozens of asylum-seeking migrants from Romania, Armenia, and Central America, including a group of unaccompanied minors, await to be transported to a U.S. border patrol facility

Over the past seven months, ICE has deported around 37,000 immigrants. The agency is on pace to deport less than 55,000 immigrants this fiscal year, a number that has never fallen below 100,000 deportations since ICE was founded in 2003.

During the first three years of Donald Trump's presidency - prior to the coronavirus pandemic - an average of 240,000 deportations took place each year.

ICE has made approximately 2,500 interior arrests per month during the Biden administration, a drop from 6,000 per month towards the end of Trump's presidency.

Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also banned ICE from making arrests at courthouses.

'The expansion of civil immigration arrests at courthouses during the prior administration had a chilling effect on individuals willingness to come to court or work cooperatively with law enforcement,' Mayorkas said in a statement at the time.

There are currently around 15,000 detainees in ICE custody, the lowest number in several decades.

Some organizations, such as the ACLU, is pushing for even less by asking DHS to close down more ICE facilities.

'The number of detained people is currently lower than its been in two decades: President Biden has a unique moment to shrink the infrastructure thats been used to abuse and traumatize immigrants for decades,' said ACLU attorney Naureen Shah.

Joe Biden's' policies are reshaping the enforcement effort at the border, though his 100-day moratorium on many deportations was blocked by a judge back in February

Biden has previously issued a 100-day moratorium on most deportations from the country, but a federal judge blocked its enforcement back in February.

On Monday the White House released new data claiming that the number of migrant minors in US Customs and Border Protection custody has dropped by 88 percent since the end of March.

According to the figures touted by Mayorkas, only 677 children remain in CBP facilities, down from the 5,767 on March 28.

On Tuesday, Psaki called out the Trump era immigration policies while celebrating Biden's accomplishments to this point.

'After four years of an immigration system rooted in destructive and chaotic policies, President Biden is taking the challenge head on and building a fair, orderly and human immigration system,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the top of her briefing on Tuesday.

'Clearly we're not done, there's a lot of work ahead,' Psaki added. 'Migration is a dynamic and evolving challenge, but the president has a plan and we are working on implementing it.'

ICE statistics reveal there are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.

Of those illegal immigrants, around 1.2 million have been ordered to leave the country by a judge.
The wife of Carl Lentz returned to social media, expressing her thoughts about "this season of [her] life", several months after the former pastor's exit from Hillsong New York (NYC) due to moral failures.

In her Instagram post, Laura shared a moving statement reflecting on the strength of palm trees.

"[I] have looked at these palm trees everyday for the past few months & there are many symbolic meanings to these amazing trees. [A] few that have resonated with me during this season of my life," she began.

She continued by describing the characteristics of these tropical trees, mirroring herself since the previous months, enduring the disgrace caused by her husband.

"[T]hey are strong, can weather the biggest storms, they always grow upwards. freedom, righteousness,

reward, resurrection just to name a few..."

She then revealed that she took some time off from social media "because it was not good for [her] soul." She also deleted and blocked a number of people and comments on the platform.

Further, Laura criticized the trolls and other "Christians."

"[T]rolls are cowards, SOME 'Christians' are anything but kind, gracious, or loving...but that won't stop me from growing upwards & getting stronger."

She proceeded with the learnings she had through her dark experience.

"[I] have learnt a lot about myself over the past few months. [N]ow more than ever i know the kindness of God, His grace, forgiveness & strength. [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!!"

Additionally, she said that some people have abandoned her during those times but chose to forgive them, considering an advice from her friend.

"[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] don't want to judge others nor do i want to be judged... [O]ne 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'..."

Laura concluded by describing how she wanted to be known as a person.

"[I] want to be known as a woman who sees the good in people & truly loves people unconditionally..."

On Nov. 4, Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston issued a statement, conveying Lentz's firing as Hillsong NYC pastor, citing "leadership issues and breaches of trust," as well as moral failures.

In his statement confirming the termination, Lentz admitted to being "unfaithful" to his marriage and took responsibility for his actions. He also apologized for breaking people's trust and asked for their forgiveness.

Lentz became popular after forming a friendship with Justin Bieber, whom he baptized in 2014 after the actor surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

But after the news of his extramarital affair broke out, Bieber and his wife, Hailey, unfollowed Lentz on Instagram.
An emergency migrant intake center that was newly opened in Long Beach Convention Center has placed 67 children in isolation after 47 of them tested positive for COVID-19, it has been revealed.

The intake center opened just over a week ago and has the capacity to hold about 1,000 children.

It was already housing 710 migrant children as of Wednesday, KABC-TV reported.

Zhan Caplan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which operates the site, told the outlet that siblings among the 67 children placed in isolation are being kept together.

'The cases are either all asymptomatic or very mild symptoms,' Caplan said.

'The children are getting excellent care from UCLA Health, our medical provider.'

An emergency migrant intake center that was newly opened in Long Beach Convention Center has placed 67 children in isolation after 47 of them tested positive for COVID-19

People are seen inside the Pomona Fairplex, which is being used as temporary housing for an influx of migrant children

There were 216 children housed at the Pomona Fairplex site as of Wednesday and 14 of them have tested positive for the coronavirus

People are seen at a migrant intake center set up at the Pomona Fairplex in California

The agency also operates another facility at the Pomona Fairplex, about 30 miles from the Convention Center, where another 14 children have tested positive for the coronavirus, the outlet reported.

There were 216 children housed at the Pomona Fairplex site as of Wednesday - just days after it started welcoming migrant children on Saturday, Bonnie Preston of the HHS told the outlet. That site can hold as many as 2,500 children.

'We have a team of infectious disease experts from the [CDC] on site who are working with program leads to implement CDC COVID-19 protocols as the site gears up and the census grows,' Preston said.

Preston told KABC-TV that most cases of COVID-19 at the Pomona Fairplex and other HHS intake centers are children 'who arrived with the virus, testing positive when they left the custody of the Border Patrol.'

It was not immediately clear if the children had arrived in the United States with the coronavirus or were infected while in Border Patrol custody before arriving in HHS custody. DailyMail.com has reached out to the HHS for clarification.

According to KABC-TV, the children were transported to the intake centers in separate vehicles after arriving at the border.

'Once here they remain separate from the other children,' she said.

The two facilities are among a number of emergency intake centers set up by the Biden administration in a response to the border crisis. San Diego has also offered the use of its convention center as a temporary shelter, the outlet reported.

U.S. Border Patrol agents process immigrant families after they crossed the Rio Grande into south Texas on April 30

Asylum seekers wait to enter the United States on April 30 in San Luis, Arizona

A Texas National Guard soldier instructs immigrants to follow behind a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle near the bank of the Rio Grande on April 29, 2021 in Roma, Texas

A Honduran boy, 5, peers at a U.S. National Guard soldier after he crossed the Rio Grande with his mother on April 30, 2021 in Roma, Texas

According to a press release from the HHS, the Long Beach facility received about 150 children when it opened to provide shelter for girls 17 years of age and younger, as well as boys under 12 years of age.

'Providing unaccompanied children a safe, healthy place is both our legal and moral obligation,' said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

'In the past month, we've made great strides expanding our capacity to meet those obligations while we work to safely and swiftly unify children with a family member or responsible sponsor.
The Sydney woman who lost three-of-her-six children when they were killed by a drunk and drugged driver has been named as mother of the year.

Lelia Abdallah and her husband Danny inspired others by forgiving the driver who mowed down their children and niece in February last year.

Ms Abdallah has now dedicated her award to all women grieving the loss of a child.

Grieving Sydney mother-of-six Leila Abdullah, who lost three of her children in a horrific car crash last year, has been named as mother of the year

Lelia Abdallah and her husband Danny (pictured) inspired others by forgiving the driver who mowed down their children and niece in February last year

'I'd like to dedicate the award to all the bereaved mothers out there,' she told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

'A lot of people have been inspired and touched with the forgiveness and they were able to forgive in their own family and accept their grief,' she said.

'Kids are the biggest joy any parents can have,' she said.

The Abdullah children Antony, Angelina and Sienna, and their cousin Veronique Sakr were on their way to buy ice cream when a car mounted the footpath, killing them.

Three other children survived the crash but one was so badly injured he suffered permanent brain damage and now needs help for performing basic tasks.

Mrs Abdallah (pictured, left) said she dedicates the award to 'all bereaved mothers out there'

Siblings Sienna Abdallah, eight, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13 and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, lost their lives in the horror crash

Davidson, a professional truck driver, was given a 25 per cent discount to his sentence for pleading guilty to manslaughter and three charges for the injuries caused to three other children.

He was sitting poolside with his housemates drinking Vodka Cruisers and beers, having his first drink about 7am before taking drugs and getting behind the wheel on the day of the fatal crash.

The two families involved responded by forgiving the man behind the wheel and launching i4give Day, to be held every year on the anniversary of the deaths of the children.

Danny Abdallah (right) and wife Leila (left) are seen outside court after the man responsible for fatally crashing into their children was jailed for 21 years

Just last week the Abdallah family were again devastated by a break-in at their western Sydney home, with valuable keepsakes of their children, including a phone with photos were stolen.

The national mother of the year awards are decided by a Christian organisation FamilyVoice Australia, after the charity Barnardos ended its association with the award.

Young mother of the year is 16-year-old Adrielle Van Hassel and grandmother of the year is Anthea Adams who has nine children and 21 grandchildren.
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Black Lives Matter protesters have descended on Atlanta City Hall after the local police department reinstated a white cop who was fired for killing black man.

Officer Garrett Rolfe, 27, shot Rayshard Brooks, also 27, fatally twice in the back as he ran from cops outside a Wendy's in South Atlanta last June.

Rolfe, a six-year police veteran, was terminated from the Atlanta Police Department and charged with 11 counts over Brooks' death including felony murder.

But on Wednesday, the Atlanta Civil Service Board reversed the termination of Rolfe's employment, saying the fired officer was 'not afforded his right to due process'.

Rolfe will now be put on administrative leave because the terms of his bond mean he is banned from possessing a firearm or being around other police officers.

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.

Dozens of activists gathered outside City Hall on Wednesday evening to express their outrage, waving placards and chanting before they marched through the streets.

'Stop the war on Black America!' one sign read.

'Atlanta Police Department has blood on their hands. Enough,' another stated.

Black Lives Matter protesters have descended on City Hall in Atlanta after the local police department reinstated Officer Garrett Rolfe after he was fired for killing Rayshard Brooks

Dozens of activists gathered Wednesday evening outside City Hall to express their outrage, waving placards and chanting before they marched through the streets

'Atlanta Police Department has blood on their hands! Enough!' one placard read

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

On June 12 last year Officer Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan, 26, were called to a Wendy's drive-thru by customers who said Brooks was asleep at the wheel of his car.

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 then fatally shot Brooks in the back.

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.

Dozens of protesters gather outside Atlanta City Hall to make their feelings known

The Atlanta Civil Service Board reversed the termination of Rolfe's employment on Wednesday, angering protesters

No trial date is set for Rolfe, with the case currently in legal limbo after the incoming DA tried to recuse her office citing her predecessor's mishandling of the probe

BLM supporters brandished megaphones as they blasted the APD for its decision

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

Rolfe was granted a victory Wednesday, when the Atlanta Civil Service Board concluded: '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.

'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.

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.'

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

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.

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.

The shooting was captured on bodycam and dashcam footage which showed the officers arriving on the scene to find Brooks 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.

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.

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

As well as the now-successful appeal over his firing, he is also suing Atlanta Mayor Bottoms and Police Chief Rodney Bryant claiming they 'violated his civil rights' when they fired him.

Officer Devin Brosnan (in mugshot) was charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath

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.
A tradesman who pointed a laser at a police plane from his backyard said he was trying to shoo it away so he could get some sleep.

Wayne Wiggins pleaded guilty at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday to an act with intent to prejudice the safety of an aircraft.

Wiggins, 46, pointed the light at a PolAir 8 chopper from his home in Toongabbie in Sydney's west at midnight on April 21.

Police alleged the act could have been fatal as two officers suffered temporary blurred vision.

'I was sleeping and just the contact buzzing of the plane which I had no idea which was the police, I just did it as a deterrent so I could go to sleep,' Wiggins told 7NEWS outside court.

'I do have a job and just sort of sleeping and then just constantly hearing the [buzz] was annoying.'

Wiggins - who said he got the laser from a shop in Blacktown without a permit - apologised and admitted he was scared he would be locked up.

'It's the first time I've ever been in trouble in 46 years. I'm absolutely terrified of being kept in the cell, absolutely terrified,' he said.

'I'm sorry for what I did and damn sure it will never happen again ... I wish I could go back and not do it all.'

Wayne Wiggins (pictured) said he pointed a laser at a police aircraft from his backyard because he couldn't go to sleep

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 are cracking down on laser pointers (pictured) after 'dozens' have been directed at helicopters and planes in recent weeks in Sydney

Police are cracking down on laser pointers (pictured) after 'dozens' have been directed at helicopters and planes in recent weeks in Sydney

'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.
Rep. Kat Cammack accuses Facebook of 'openly' allowing human smuggling content

A Republican congresswoman has accused Facebook of trying to 'silence' conservatives while allowing human smugglers and cartels to operate 'openly' on the platform.

Rep. Kat Cammack, a freshman legislator from Florida, made the allegations in a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, sharing Facebook posts that advertise illegal border crossing services.

'Facebook's role in the crisis at the border is urgent and must be addressed immediately,' Cammack wrote in the letter, which was first reported by Fox News.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a Facebook spokesperson insisted: 'We prohibit content that either offers or assists with human smuggling. We have removed the content highlighted to us that violates our policies.'

Cammack said that she found the Facebook posts advertising services to help migrants illegally cross the border through a simple search on her own.

One post advertises a 'Safe crossing to the UNITED STATES' for $6,000. 'Through the Piedras Negras border to get to SAN ANTONIO More details via telephone,' the ad reads in Spanish.

Posts on Facebook advertise services to cross the border into San Antonio (left) and direct transport from Guatemala to Houston (right), charging thousands of dollars

CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen above. A Facebook spokesman insisted: 'We prohibit content that either offers or assists with human smuggling.'

Another post advertises a $9,300 all-inclusive service that includes a bus pickup in Guatemala and direct transport to Houston.

'Even more troubling was the fact that as people visited these pages, myself included, that Facebook then provided additional posts and pages of related illegal content,' Cammack wrote in her letter.

'It is unacceptable for an American company to allow a criminal enterprise to use your platform to freely encourage and facilitate criminal activity,' she wrote.

In the letter, Cammack reiterated the complaint, frequently made by conservatives, that 'Facebook and other social media platforms actively silence conservatives and 'shadow ban' individuals with views that are not supported by employees of your company.'

Rep. Kat Cammack, a freshman legislator from Florida, made the allegations in a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday

Lawmakers across the political spectrum have raised concerns about the power of Facebook and other social media companies, many calling for new regulations and some calling for breakups of Big Tech.

Last month, Cammack joined a Republican Congressional delegation to the border near McAllen, Texas amid a massive surge in illegal border crossings that has overwhelmed the Biden administration.

'This is a humanitarian crisis,' Cammack told Fox News after the visit. 'I can't even in good conscience call President Biden president, I have to call him 'trafficker-in-chief' because these kids are being trafficked.'

In March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 172,331 encounters with migrants attempting to cross the southern border illegally, a 400 percent increase from last year and 66 percent bump from the same month in 2019.

Cammack has expressed a hard line on the border crisis, previously calling Biden 'trafficker in chief' after visiting the border in Texas last month

Migrants cross the Rio Grande River at the border with Mexico in Roma, Texas on Wednesday

March also saw the most migrant children crossing the border in history, with 18,890 unaccompanied minors being taken into cramped shelters. The previous record was around 11,000 back in May 2019.

'When you have 20,000 children in custody and the border patrol agents are stretched thin to the max and we're watching cartel members taunt our border patrol agents as they're sending these children under six years old across the river by themselves, this is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportion,' Cammack said last month.

Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday she will travel to Guatemala and Mexico next month, after being tasked to spearhead the Biden administration's efforts to deal with the southern border surge.
Australian stargazers will be treated to a spectacular light show over the next few days as a meteor shower streaks across the sky.

The annual Eta Aquariids meteor shower will be most visible from the southern hemisphere on Thursday night but can be seen by the naked eye until the end of the week, according to astronomers.

The phenomenon occurs when Earth flies through a cloud of debris left behind by Halley's Comet during its last journey through the inner solar system in 1986.

The meteors are best viewed in Australia because they rise to about 50 degrees in the sky, which is the best angle from which to view the shooting stars.

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will be most visible from the southern hemisphere on Thursday night. File image of the meteor shower pictured

Australian National University astronomer Dr Brad Tucker said the streaks of light hurtling across the night sky were caused by bits of rock that broke off the comet 35 years ago.

'These chunks of ice and rock hurtle through space at incredible speed and then burn up in the Earths atmosphere,' he told 7News.

'It makes for an incredible display of streaking, bright lights and is one of the best meteor showers you will see all year.'

He said even those in city locations where light pollution is highest should expect to see as many as 20 shooting stars if they look eastwards between 2.30am and 3am on Friday morning.

The same timings apply to those looking for the meteor shower on Saturday and Sunday morning.

NASA said the best way to watch the meteor shower is not to use equipment, but to instead find a dark area with limited light pollution and look up.

The show will reach its peak on Thursday May 6 but meteors will be clearly visible in the days before and after the peak

REMAINING METEOR SHOWERS IN 2021 Eta Aquariids - May 5 peak Delta Aquariids - July 30 peak Alpha Capricornids - July 30 peak Perseids - August 12-13 peak Draconids - October 8-9 peak Orionids - October 21 peak Taurids - November 12 peak Leonids - November 17-18 peak Geminids - December 14 peak Ursids - December 22-23 peak Advertisement

A rare green fireball meteor from the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in Florida. NASA has said the best way to watch the meteors is by using the naked eye, not any kind of specialist equipment

The Eta Aquariids are named after the constellation Aquarius as that is where they appear to fall from every April and May - particularly the star Eta Aquarii.

For stargazers in mid to northern latitudes, the radiant won't be as high in the sky and fewer rocks will be visible.

In a post on its website, NASA wrote: 'The constellation of Aquarius - home to the radiant of the Eta Aquarids - is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

'In the Northern Hemisphere, Eta Aquarid meteors can more often be seen as "earthgrazers".'

'Earthgrazers are long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.'
A woman has captured the shocking moment she discovered a mischievous koala hanging upside down from her roof.

Shelley Banders came across the furry intruder swinging from the rafters of her farmhouse in southwest Gippsland in rural Victoria last month.

The mother-of-two was alerted to the marsupials' presence on her property by her dog Dennis, who had been barking at the koala from the deck.

Shelley Banders, from southwest Gippsland, rural Victoria, was shocked to discover a koala hanging upside down from the rafters of her farmhouse

After making sure her two children weren't outside, Ms Banders looked through her kitchen window to see a 'mass of grey fur wedged between the grapevine and the spouting'.

'I thought, oh excellent, a giant possum has raided my vines and is now in an unfortunately positioned food coma,' she wrote in a post on Instagram.

Armed with only a broom she went outside to confront what she believed to be a large possum but quickly discovered the animal was actually a koala.

Ms Banders told Daily Mail Australia she quickly realised any effort to move the brazen marsupial could end badly for both parties.

Ms Banders (pictured) said she quickly realised moving the furry intruder could end badly for both parties, instead placing a ladder underneath the frightened koala

'To be honest I was scared, knowing what we know about how ferocious koalas can be, so I felt a little frightened,' she admitted.

Ms Banders explained that despite their cuddly exterior, the marsupials can be strong and ferocious with extremely sharp claws.

'You need to be an experienced handler to carry them, or they can go for your throat,' she explained.

To her surprise she recognised the koala as a regular visitor to the area, affectionately known as Ken by Gippsland locals.

'A woman in my area is studying her PhD in animal studies, so she's been observing Ken for quite a while,' Ms Banders said.

'I think he was probably just exploring.'

Ms Banders said the koala is a regular visitor to her area in rural Victoria, and is known affectionally as Ken

The Gippsland resident said she placed a ladder underneath the frightened Koala, who reached out and climbed down when he felt safe enough to do so.

'It crawled away into a cherry tree then on to one of the nearby great gums.'

Several of Ms Bander's 2,000 Instagram followers left comments on the cute photo.

'Love what you did to help the adorable koala!' One wrote.

'What a great story and great work on your part,' another shared.

'Wow that's really something special! Love the photo... now to add "saving koalas" to your resume!' A third commented.
A family were left stunned after more than 50 snake skins were found inside their roof.

A snake catcher was called to the home in Rocksberg near Queensland's sunshine coast on Tuesday to remove 30 skins that had been shed by carpet pythons and common tree snakes.

The expert from the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers group revealed there was still another 20 skins left upstairs in the roof.

More than 50 snake skins were found inside a home's roof in Rocksberg, Queensland on Tuesday

Fellow snake catcher Stuart McKenzie told Daily Mail Australia it was actually quite common for snake skins to be found in people's roofs.

'Snakes spend a lot of time in roof spaces because there's lots of food up there like rodents,' he said.

'It's rare you'd get a brown snake or red belly in your roof.'

Mr McKenzie said his colleague Dave who had been called to the home was in awe of how many skins had been left behind.

He said they were able to tell which kind of snakes had been slithering through the roof - which were luckily non-venomous.

A young boy is seen holding the mass of snake skins left behind in his house

'Dave has seen plenty of skins left in people's roofs before but nothing like this,' he said.

'I actually saw well over 100 snake skins at a house once.'

The expert assured homeowners that harmless and non-venomous snakes such as pythons and tree snakes were actually beneficial because they can rid a house of rodents.

'As long as they're not making a ruckus, they're usually pretty good,' he said.

'People shouldn't be too nervous about skins in their roof but if they are concerned they can call their local snake catcher.'
Giant crabs have been captured feasting on baby turtles on an Australian island in a confronting video posted online.

The vison was taken on Christmas Island, located about 2,600km north-west of Perth, and showed the crabs seizing on the juvenile turtles as they raced across the sand towards the ocean.

The turtles proved no match for the crabs, who used their giant claws to grab hold of their heads and stranglehold their prey.

Giant crabs have been captured on camera feasting on baby turtles on Christmas Island, located about 2,600km north-west of Perth

The crabs were seen seen digging their claws into the baby turtles as they were making their way across the sand towards the water

Once the turtles were safely within their grasp, the ravenous crabs could be seen gorging on the eyes of their catch and picking apart their bodies.

This video was filmed by Hung-Chang Liu, a Taiwan-based zoologist, who told Storyful he had been a regular visitor to Christmas Island, where he would spend two months at a time studying crabs.

Christmas Island is home to more than 20 land crab species, including several species of ghost crabs whose pale colouring allow them to easily camouflage against the sand and hide from their prey.

The island is also home to two endangered species of sea turtle - green turtles and hawksbill turtles.

Once the crabs had a stranglehold on the baby turtles they then started feasting on the body

Baby turtles are seen racing across the sand at Christmas Island as they attempted to make their way to the water

Christmas Island's Greta beach is an important nesting areas for the turtles year round, which are vulnerable to predators just after they hatch and head towards the water.

That same beach is where all species of ghost crabs have been recorded, with the crabs taking a particular likening to sea turtle hatchlings.

There are also giant robber crabs and 45million red crabs who stay on land until they move to the ocean to breed, before the infants return to land.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai (seen above on March 25) told his 140,000 employees that 20 per cent of them will be permitted to work from home permanently starting September 1

Google and KPMG have revealed their post-pandemic plans to let staff work from home - as firms consider how much time staff should spend in the office as normality returns.

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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases.

And U.S. tech giant Google revealed plans to allow 20 per cent of its 140,000 employees to permanently work from home starting September 1.

The company had originally plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week.

A spokesperson for Google said that starting in September, the company will also transition to a 'hybrid model' with a majority of employees required in the office for at least three days per week.

According to an email circulated by CEO Sundar Pichai, around 60 per cent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations.

The remaining 20 per cent will be permitted to work from home full-time.

'Before the pandemic, we had thousands of people working in locations separate from their core teams,' Pichai wrote to his work force of more than 140,000 employees on Wednesday.

'I fully expect those numbers to increase in the coming months as we develop more remote roles, including fully all-remote sub teams.'

Pichai wrote that the company will offer more details next month on how employees who are interested in requesting to work from home on a permanent basis can request to do so.

KPMG spokeswoman Zoe Sheppard said in an emailed statement: '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.'

Google is walking back its original plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week. Pictured: Google's London headquarters

According to an email circulated by Pichai, around 60 per cent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations. The image above shows Google's corporate office in New York City on April 13

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.

Google will also adjust employees' pay based on their work locations, according to Pichai.

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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases (pictured: KPMG's London headquarters)

It comes after the tech giant had initially announced that employees could start returning to the office last month but staff would be required to come back by September.

Tech giants, including Google, were among the first to send employees home when the coronavirus began to spread widely in the United States more than a year ago.

Even before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, Google and many other prominent tech firms had been telling their employees to work from home.

Google had originally planned to allow a significant number of employees to begin returning to its Mountain View, California, headquarters and other offices during the summer of 2020.

But the pandemic's ongoing spread pushed back the company's reopening.

Google's biggest offices have been largely unoccupied.

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall. The image above shows the company's offices in Seattle

The decision affected more than 123,000 employees on the payroll of Google and other Alphabet companies, as well as 80,000 contractors that normally work on the companies' campuses.

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall.

The company had previously given its return-to-office date as June 30, but questions remained as to whether the company would allow some of its 60,000 Seattle-area office employees to continue working from home part time.

'Our plan is to return to an office-centric culture as our baseline,' Amazon said.

'We believe it enables us to invent, collaborate, and learn together most effectively.'

Amazon will not require office workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before they return, but the company is encouraging employees and contractors to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, according to Amazon spokesperson Jose Negrete.

Google's decision last year prompted other tech giants to follow its lead with companies like Facebook also telling employees that they should plan to work remotely until 2021.

At the time, Amazon and Microsoft both said their employees should expect to stay home until at least October 2021.

But as COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the country, tech giants have started announcing plans to allow employees to come back to work.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29. The 2014 file image above shows the Microsoft Visitor Center in Redmond, Washington

Facebook plans to reopen its offices in the San Francisco Bay Area at 10 per cent capacity this month.

Facebook, Twitter and Square had previously said they'd be allowing employees to work from home permanently, which led to the development of remote or hybrid working structures.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29.

In a post on the company's corporate blog, Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said Microsoft has been monitoring local health data and decided it can bring more employees back to its Redmond, Washington campus.

DelBene said workers will have the choice to return to headquarters, continue working remotely or do a combination of both.

More than 50,000 people work at the company's headquarters campus in Redmond, 15 miles east of Seattle.
European Parlianment member calls on EU to cooperate with China instead of confrontation

Xinhua) 14:12, May 06, 2021

DUBLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland on Wednesday called on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with China instead of being "led along by the nose by the Americans" into confrontation with China.

Mick Wallace, an incumbent MEP from the south constituency of Ireland, made the calls by tweeting a video speech he made at an April meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, a legislative body of the EU.

In the speech, Wallace spoke highly of the rapid development of China and urged the EU to cooperate with China instead of choosing an aggressive position with it.

In the tweet attached to the video speech, Wallace said "#China has completed greatest poverty reduction programme in human history, while #Homelessness in the West is at record levels. In last 40 years China bombed nobody or isn't Sanctioning any countries to death - Why is #EU allowing #US to drag us into confrontation with China..?"

"China is a normal country that has worked miracles for its people...China is a world leader on climate change mitigation strategies. China has had one of the best COVID strategies on Earth, at home and helping others. China is building all kinds of infrastructure and public services projects that we could only dream about here," he said in the video speech.

In his opinion, China has made remarkable human progress "while not invading, or bombing or sanctioning any countries to death," and its experiences offer inspiration for other countries.

"Why are we choosing an aggressive position with China? Why are we not choosing cooperation instead of aggression? Why are we not respecting the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference? We should be working for peace with China. It's in our interest," he noted.

"But you know what? I can't help feeling that we are being led along by the nose by the Americans who have a vested interest in challenging China at the moment not because China is a threat to the security of the American people... But China is a threat to their financial supremacy," he said.

The short video speech that Wallace posted on his Twitter account has drawn mixed reactions from readers. While some may not agree with Wallace, many others showed support for him. Over 1,000 readers re-tweeted or expressed "likes" for his speech shortly after it was released.

One reader named JoJo said that "Thank you Mick for offering a more rational and thoughtful perspective. Peace can be achieved only if the truth is unveiled."

Another reader called Rajen Limbu said "He stated the facts about China. China doesn't attack or sanction other countries but always follows non-intervention policy. War and sanctions always have negative results. China learnt lesson from the past histories."

A third reader named Analog commented that "Very few politicians value principles and justice enough to be willing to speak the unpopular truth against a backdrop of popular geopolitical disinformation. You have my utmost respect."

Wallace, 65, served in the lower house of the Irish parliament from 2011 to 2019 and became an MEP in July 2019.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Facebook's Oversight Board has decided to uphold the ban on former President Trump but also ultimately gave Mark Zuckerberg's company the decision to decide on a "proportionate response."

The independent Oversight Board of tech giant Facebook on Wednesday announced that they shall uphold the ban on former President Donald Trump after his suspension in January following the attacks at Capitol Hill.

However, the Oversight Board also took aim at Facebook, saying it was wrong to impose an indefinite suspension on the former president. They ordered Facebook to come up with a "proportionate response" to the matter within the next six months.

According to Reuters, the much-anticipated verdict from Facebook's Oversight Board would determine the social network's next steps in dealing with high profile accounts that are influential enough to urge their followers to respond to a call to action. The Oversight Board also called out Facebook for failing to provide "clear standards" and was tasked to "determine a response consistent with rules applied to other users."

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt commented that while prominent political figures should be banned from inciting violence or causing harm, Facebook "can't just invent new sanctions as they go along."

"The Board declines Facebook's request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty," the Oversight Board's decision read, as per NPR. Former President Trump who launched his own social media platform in the form of the microblog called "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," called out Big Tech for censoring him, saying that the act was a "total disgrace" and "embarrassment" to the 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 wrote in yesterday's update. "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."

Meanwhile, GOP leaders are mulling actions against Facebook following the Oversight Board's decision to uphold the ban on former President Trump. According to WND, Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows disclosed how Republican members of Congress and those who support Trump are already planning on their actions against the tech giant.

These members of Congress are reportedly taking a look at their options, which include "[breaking] up Facebook" or "[making] sure they don't have a monopoly."

Meadows said that GOP leaders are concerned that Facebook has "two different standards," one for the former president and another set for "other people that are on their sites." Trump's adviser Corey Lewandowksi agrees that Facebook "clearly established two different sets of rules" for conservatives or Republicans or those who believe in different ideologies, and another set for liberals.

Among the other GOP leaders condemning Facebook's decision to uphold the ban on former President Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised that when the GOP finds itself the majority in the House, they will "rein in big tech power over our speech."
Officials in the small Illinois city of Rockford have shut down TikTok rumors of a serial killer on the loose, insisting eight bodies which have been found in just eight weeks are not connected.

Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz addressed the rumors after posts about the deaths on TikTok and Reddit earned millions of views, the Rockford Register Star reported.

The rumors also come after Rockford marked its deadliest year on record in 2020 and has been named the 11th most dangerous city in the United States - with a violent crime rate even higher than Chicago, according to reports.

'We do not have a serial killer. None of these cases have any relationship whatsoever,' Hintz told the Rockford Register Star.

'There is nothing that I have seen that gives me reason to believe that we should be concerned.'

Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz addressed rumors claiming Rockford might have a serial killer on the loose after TikTok accounts including sensationalist Chris Wo suggested a serial killer was on the loose

The body of Michelle Arnold-Boesigner, 33, was found in a storage unit at U-Haul Self-storage in Roscoe on March 2 but no cause of death has been released.

Just a week later, human bones were found on March 9 near the U.S. 20 bypass and 11th Street in Rockford. Illinois State Police indicated to WTVO that that body may have been the result of a suicide.

The next day, the body of Keith Heidenreich was found in the Mississippi River in a rural community. Last month, 35-year-old Levi T. J. Meyer was arrested and charged with murder. Danielle K. Heidenreich, 39, was also arrested and charged with charged with concealment of a homicidal death.

On March 16, the body of Brandon Cuddy was found in Lee County after it had been pulled from the Rock River in Sterling but the cause of death has not been determined. Cuddy had been missing for 77 days.

The human bones of Wesley Shaver, 33, were found on March 23 in the 3600 block of Auburn Street in Rockford. He was determined to have died by drug overdose, the Rockford Register Star reported.

Human bones were found on March 31 near Cherry Valley. Further details about the human remains were not immediately known.

On April 17, someone riding an ATV found another body was found in a wooded area near a dirt bike trail in the 2700 block of Laude Drive in southeast Rockford, the Rockford Register Star reported. Further details about the human remains were not immediately known.

On April 30, the body of Patrick Michael Reum, a 28-year-old who had been missing since December, was pulled from the Rock River in Dixon. Lee County Coroner Jesse Partington told the Rockford Register Star that 'there was no sign of foul play or anything of that nature.'

Hintz told WTVO that '100%, this is not a serial killer' and brushed the deaths off as a 'mere coincidence.'

A map made by a TikTok user shows the locations of some of the dead bodies found recently

However, Hintz did tell the Rockford Register Star that the number is notably high and that the county averages about four bodies found a year - double of that since just March 2.

The cause of death for most of the bodies have either not been determined or not released - fueling the rumors of a serial killer.

Some of the eight bodies found were the result of suicides, said Rick Ciganek, the chief deputy of Winnebago County Sheriff's Department.

'It's not like there is someone out there making suicides look like the work of serial killer ... It's just not realistic,' Ciganek said.

Sensationalist TikTok user Chris Wo, whose account brands itself as 'covering the strange things in this world,' has more than 14 million followers and his video on Rockford has nearly 9,000 comments.

'It is speculated that there are over 2,000 active serial killers in the United States alone. It appears that one of them is currently active in Rockford, Illinois. In the past two months there have been six (sic) bodies found in Rockford,' Wo said.

'The victims are both male and female and their ages range from 18 to 33, and there remains have been found in various places. One was found in a storage container. Another in the woods. And one was even scattered across the highway.'

He added: 'But for some reason, this hasn't caught the attention of the national media.'

In a post that went viral on Reddit two weeks ago, user Doe Hare - who lives in Rockford - also noted the high volume of bodies within the last 45 days.

'Our local police departments have said nothing about the issue and refuse to release information about the discoveries to the public, as the police radio has been encrypted for the last 5 years,' the Redditor posted.

The Redditor also claimed that 'up until recently, there was no transparency about a serial rapist who has been terrorizing the city for the last 18 months.'

Last year was the deadliest year on record for Rockford as residents struggled amid the coronavirus pandemic, WIFR reported.

From January to November, police recorded a 49% increase in shots fired calls compared to the same period in 2019. There was a 33% increase in aggravated assaults and the overall violent crimes are up 21%.

'The shooting and crimes have gone up exponentially,' Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea told the outlet.

O'Shea said that violent crime in the community had been decreasing from 2016 through 2019 until the pandemic hit. He credited the rise in crime to a decrease in community policing.

'We couldn't do the ice cream socials and the block parties and the kick games so we lost a lot of contact with people,' O'Shea said.

According to a 2019 study from the website 24/7 Wall Street, Rockford had 23 homicides in 2018 with a violent crime rate of 1,386.5 per 100,000 people.

'While the city of Chicago regularly makes national news for its staggering rates of gun violence, the Windy Citys violent crime rate of 1,006 incidents per 100,000 people is considerably lower than the violent crime rate of 1,386 per 100,000 people in Rockford,' the study reads.
The FBI has joined the search for a missing mom-of-three who vanished two weeks ago on the way home from a friend's house in the early hours of the morning.

Erica Hernandez, 40, has not been heard of since April 18, when she texted her friend to say she was 'five minutes away from getting home.'

Her family says she was visiting a friend and left around 2:30am.

After the final text her phone was turned off and she hasn't been heard from since.

Hernandez is a single mother who has three children, ages 19, 16, and 3 years old.

Her son Dennis, who was 15 years old when his mother first went missing, had his 16th birthday without his mom last Wednesday.

Scroll down for video

Erica Hernandez, 40, has been missing for over two weeks after she was last seen April 18

Hernandez was seen on a Ring video camera on the night of her disappearance

Investigators say she was near Highway 288 and the Beltway when she was last seen driving her 2020 Black GMC Acadia, which has a Texas A&M University Aggie mom sticker attached to it.

Last week, Hernandez's sister-in-law released Ring doorbell camera video showing Erica leaving their home on the Saturday evening she was last seen.

Hernandez was wearing jeans and a blue shirt, with her hair pulled back.

'We called the hospitals, we asked for her name and asked for Jane Doe's nothing,' Eldia Hernandez said to ABC13.

'We're all frustrated. We're all in disbelief because this is not like her. This is not her routine. Her kids are her world, and she would never ever leave her kids.'

Investigators have looked for Hernandez in Fort Bend County due to a tip, but did not find here there.

She was also not found in her own neighborhood, according to KHOU.

Hernandez's SUV has also not been found.

'She was mobile. She could have really driven anywhere,' Lt. Manny Cruz, the Houston Police Department's commander of the missing person's unit, previously said.

Local officials announced that the FBI joined the search effort for Hernandez towards the end of April.

Hernandez was wearing a blue shirt and jeans with her hair pulled back at last sighting

Her family and friends have been campaigning for weeks to find Hernandez

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee claimed the FBI was joining the search in 'a complimentary and collaborative stance with the Houston Police Department,' according to NBC News.

'This mother needs to be found and she needs to be found now,' Lee said. 'Someone has seen something. Someone knows something. Someone is not saying something.'

Texas EquuSearch, nonprofit volunteers, have also been helping to search for Hernandez.

Albert Flores, who is with the Texas United Coalition, has previously offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to Hernandez.

This week, banners and billboards were revealed across Texas to raise awareness

Hernandez's SUV is missing as well, making the search area for her even larger

A GoFundMe has raised over $5,000 towards the search efforts.

There's also a dedicated Facebook page providing updates on the search.

A post on Thursday read: 'It is absolutely heartbreaking. We have been in contact with authorities and they are coming up empty handed, just like us. We have had trips made by family and volunteers to areas that tarot readers have mentioned but have not found her or her car.

'Yes we are tired, yes we are mentally drained, yes our spirits are sometimes broken, we feel defeated, we feel exhausted BUT we love our Erica and we will not give up on her!'

Hernandez's daughter, Briza Armenta, publicly spoke about her mother's disappearance almost 10 days after she first went missing.

The FBI joined the search towards the end of April, but hasn't had any luck finding her

'It does get to me sometimes, but Im going to have to be strong, and I have to be OK for my family,' Briza said, according to KHOU.

'Were all just trying to stay positive,' the Texas A&M student added. 'It's just a lot of uncertainty right now. We dont know where she could be. Where to look. We have no idea. We just have no clues right now.'

Briza also said to her mom, 'If youre watching this, just remember that were looking and to be strong and to hold on because were coming. Were going to come, and youll be home soon.'

This week, electronic billboards and banners were put up across the state to drive awareness about the search.

One banner, which was unfurled over the Southwest Freeway on Monday afternoon, read 'Find Erica Hernandez.'

Pictured: A missing poster for Hernandez, who missed her son's birthday recently

'We can't imagine there's not someone out there with information, so the family is begging for people with any kind of information,' Lee said after the banner was unfurled, according to ABC13.

'We don't know what might've happened, but we know that she's a loving mother, and she has three beautiful children that want her to come home.'

Ashley Hernandez, Erica's sister, says the search for Erica will continue.

'We still need to find her,' Ashley said. 'That's the whole point, you know. Whether I think the outcome is going to be good or bad, we still need to find her and we still need her.

'We need her for her family, so I'm not exactly sure where their mind is at, but my mind is not in a good place.'
A Tesla driver was killed and two others were injured after his vehicle crashed into an overturned truck on a highway in California.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating why the Tesla crashed into the overturned truck on the 210 Freeway near Fontana, California, the agency said on Wednesday.

It is not known whether the Tesla was operating on Autopilot, its semi-autonomous driving system, when the crash occurred at around 2:40am on Wednesday, according to the highway patrol report.

The Mack truck, which the Tesla collided with, had crashed and overturned just five minutes earlier, blocking two lanes of the highway, the report said. Tesla have yet to comment on the incident.

The crash is the latest fatality involving a Tesla and comes just weeks after another Tesla smashed into a tree and burst into flames in Texas, resulting in the deaths of two men.

One man, 35, was killed and two were injured after a Tesla vehicle crashed into an overturned truck (above) on the 210 Freeway near Fontana, California, at around 2:40am on Wednesday

The California Highway Patrol is investigating why the Tesla crashed into the overturned truck (above). It isn't known if the Tesla was operating on Autopilot when the crash occurred

In Wednesday's fatal crash, the Tesla driver, a 35-year old man, died at the scene. He was not identified in the police report.

The truck driver, 50, and a motorist, 30, who had stopped to help after the truck overturned, both sustained minor injuries, according to the police report.

Officials of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not have an immediate comment. Tesla could not be reached immediately for comment.

After the crash, the California Highway Patrol closed all westbound lanes before later reopening one lane to slower traffic, according to ABC7. The shutdown caused miles worth of backup along the freeway during the morning rush hour.

Federal highway safety regulators are investigating 24 accidents involving Tesla vehicles operating on Autopilot.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has previously said a Tesla operating on Autopilot, which partially automates steering, braking and speed control, is safer than a car operated solely by a human driver.

The Tesla driver, a 35-year old man, died at the scene. The truck driver, 50, and a motorist, 30, who had stopped to help, both sustained minor injuries, according to the police report

The Mack truck, which the Tesla collided with, had crashed and overturned just five minutes earlier, blocking two lanes of the highway, the report said

After the crash, the California Highway Patrol closed all westbound lanes on the 210 Freeway (pictured) before later reopening one lane to slower traffic

Last month, a Tesla smashed into a tree and burst into flames in Texas, resulting in the deaths of two men - the car's owner Doctor William Varner, and his pal Everette Talbot.

Police had said it was apparent that there was no one in the driver's seat at the time of the crash in the wealthy The Woodlands neighborhood of Houston, on April 17.

But Tesla had refuted police's claims, saying a deformed steering wheel suggested that someone was likely in the driver's seat.

Varner, 59, and Talbot, 69, both died in the fatal crash when the Tesla Model S - bought second-hand off eBay in January - smashed into a tree and burst into flames.

At the end of April, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office's report revealed more details as to how the flames took hold.

It reiterated local police's assertion that no one was in the driver's seat while the report classifies the crash as accidental.

Investigator Chris Johnson stated that the fire was caused by the collision. The report did not note the car's speed or whether air bags and seat belts were used.

Tesla had not commented. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating.

The report stated: 'There were signs of extensive mechanical damage caused by a front end collision, and the front end of the vehicle was in direct contact with the trunk of a large tree.

Last month, a Tesla smashed into a tree and burst into flames (above) in the wealthy The Woodlands neighborhood, Houston, on April 17, resulting in the deaths of two men

Dr. William Varner, 59, and Everette Talbot, 69, both died in the fatal crash when the Tesla Model S smashed into a tree and burst into flames

It also detailed how the vehicle's 'hood, front doors, front body panels, forward support pillars, trunk and roof were completely destroyed'.

Talbot was seated 'in a forward-leaning position, with both arms rolled forward', according to the report, while Varner was 'in a rear-leaning position, with both arms rolled back and in a pugilistic pose.'

It added: 'Multiple fire patterns produced by both the movement and intensity of the fire indicate that the fire originated from the vehicle's power distribution system and related components located at the front end of the vehicle.'

'Any extensive damage to the battery, the power distribution systems, or the systems associated with battery cell temp regulation can result in electrical arcing and/or thermal runaway of the lithium-ion cells, which are both competent source of ignition.

'The vehicle sustained a significant front end collision which damaged one, or many of these systems, leading to the development of fire within with the vehicle.

Varner's Model S crashed into trees just a few hundred yards from his $2million home in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside.

Talbot is said to have been found in the front passenger seat and the car's owner, Varner, in the back seat. Police said it was apparent that there was no one in the driver's seat at the time of the crash.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in the crash's immediate aftermath data downloaded by Tesla indicate the vehicle was not operating on Autopilot, its semi-autonomous driving system.

Police said it was apparent there was no one in the driver's seat but Tesla refuted police's claims, saying a deformed steering wheel suggested someone was likely in the driver's seat

Varner's Model S (pictured: remains of Tesla at crash scene) crashed into trees just a few hundred yards from his $2million home in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside

Later in April, Tesla had again refuted police's claims, saying a deformed steering wheel suggested that someone was likely in the driver's seat.

The Autopilot system handles some driving tasks such as keeping lanes and maintaining distances between cars, but experts say the term 'Autopilot' can be misleading consumers to believe that the car can drive by itself.

Tesla says its features 'require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous'.

To engage Tesla's autopilot, the car must think someone is at the wheel by detecting the weight of their hands on the steering wheel. If it doesn't, it'll stop but it can take up to 30 seconds for it to do so.

Autopilot must detect road markings before it can be enabled, according to Tesla. There are no markings on the private road they were on.
A promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory allegedly stiffed a Washington, DC diner owner with a $10,000 bill after offering to pay for meals for National Guard troops protecting the Capitol and asking his supporters to donate to the cause.

Gum Tong, the owner of Petes Diner, an eatery that has long been popular with members of Congress, says shes owed the massive sum by Richard Potcner, the conspiracy theorist who is also reportedly wanted in two states for unrelated crimes.

Potcner announced that he'd opened a tab at the diner in a video posted to Telegram, an encrypted messaging app popular with far-right conspiracy theorists, after hundreds of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on January 6.

In the video shared with his 214,000 followers, Potcner encouraged National Guard soldiers standing watch over the building to stop by Pete's and put their meals on his tab, The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday.

Richard Potcner (left), a promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, reportedly stiffed a Washington, DC diner owner with a $10,000 bill after he opened up a tab and asked his supporters to donate money to help feed National Guard troops protecting the Capitol. The image on the right shows the owner of Pete's Diner in DC, Gum Tong

Gum Tong, the owner of Petes Diner, an eatery that has long been popular with members of Congress, says shes owed money by Potcner, the conspiracy theorist who is also reportedly wanted in two states for unrelated crimes

After Potcner denied the allegation on the social media app Telegram, where he was more than 214,000 followers, Tong said her restaurant has been inundated with angry phone calls from his supporters. Local police have urged Tong to file a report about the harassment

A large contingent of National Guard soldiers set up a heavily fortified presence in and around the Capitol for Joe Bidens inauguration. After Biden was sworn in as president, the troop presence has been gradually reduced.

As more and more troops took Potcner up on his offer to pay for meals at Pete's he began asking his Telegram followers to send him cash to help cover the growing tab.

In the weeks and months that followed, Potcner posted several videos showing him settling the tab using funds that were donated by his supporters on Telegram.

Tong kept serving the meals to the National Guard troops even when the tab ran out - only for Potcner to pay it back.

Tong told The Daily Beast that one day Potcner didnt show up at the restaurant to pay the tab - leaving her stuck with a $10,000 bill.

She said her restaurant - which sits across the street from the Library of Congress - has been inundated with angry phone calls from Potcner's supporters after he denied the allegation in a recent Telegram video.

Local police have urged Tong to file a report about the harassment.

Potcner posted several videos and photos on his Telegram account showing his efforts to feed National Guard troops. Soldiers are seen above taking food prepared at Pete's Diner back in March

He got the money from the people, Tong said.

But we didnt get the money from him.

On his Telegram, Potcner accused Tong of not rewarding him with any free food or drink even after he brought in some $60,000 in donations that he gave to her.

On his Telegram account, Potcner addressed Tong's allegations.

'I ate at Petes on the 11th of April. I asked if there was any unpaid tabs for the troops,' Potcner wrote on his Telegram page.

;Gums answer to me then was, No. Now two weeks later its 10k?

'Gum has my number. She hasnt contacted me. Most of the troops have left & the ones that are still here are rarely visible.

'We gave her $13k plus in March. Id love to continue that mission if the troops were still here but again their presence is no longer a heavy one.

'There is much more to this story on Petes & at the time I didn't want to come forth with this information because I still trusted in Gum. I didn't want to believe anything negative about her.

'Lets just say someone was caught red handed doubling dipping... this is the main reason we sought new restaurants. (Italian pizza, hoagies, etc).

'We were transitioning to new places & then the troops suddenly all but disappeared.

'After giving Petes (gum) 60k plus of your donations and my own personal money. Gum had me running to Costco, doing errands etc. Yet ask me if she ever gave me one free meal let alone one free coffee??

'I have shown plenty of evidence/proof of me paying Gum. Has Gum showed any proof that I owe her?'

Potcner denied claims that he owes the diner $10,000. He claims he was never given a free meal or coffee in exchange for the business that he brought to the diner

Tong (above) told The Daily Beast that her diner has been inundated with angry phone calls from Potcner's followers on Telegram after she went public with her allegations

Potcner may be saving his money for legal fees as he is wanted in Pennsylvania and Maryland for weapons possession and a violation of probation, respectively, according to The Daily Beast.

On his Telegram page, Potcner denies the allegations.

'There have been a lot of wild, unsubstantiated rumors flying around regarding my whereabouts,' he wrote.

'Dont believe what youve heard. Its no where near the vicinity of actual facts.'

Potcner claims that he has been told by his lawyer not to comment any further.

He has amassed a following of more than 214,000 subscribers on Telegram who watch his videos that he posts under the title Richard Citizen Journalist.

In the videos, Potcner films and photographs mundane places and sights in Washington, DC and then analyzes it to uncover clues as to how the country actually works.

Many of Potcners followers watch the videos to decipher clues that will confirm beliefs held by those who believe in QAnon, namely that Trump will return to the presidency.

Last month, Potcner posted a video of flooding near the Jefferson Memorial in DC. The clip was viewed more than 150,000 times.

QAnon followers who posted comments in the comment section wrote that the flooding will crippled DCs tunnel networks and kill Trumps opponents.

'The rats will be flooded out of their underground and this tells me the children have been rescued,' according to one of Potcner's followers.

Potcner said he and his girlfriend, Tuli Depex, got the idea of helping out the National Guard troops shortly after the service members were deployed days after the January 6 insurrection.

Potcner, who attended the 'Stop the Steal' rally that day, believes the election was stolen but says he didn't go to the US Capitol as several Trump followers did that day.

'There is no doubt in my mind the election was stolen, it's a 100 per cent fact, I saw it,' Potcner told DailyMail.com in March.

'President Trump won the election!'

He says he attended the rally on the National Mall but didn't go to the Capitol on January 6.

But Potcner said politics has nothing to do for his desire to feed and help out the troops.

'I saw the troops guarding the US Capital and being a veteran I wanted to do something to help them out.'

The former salesman who has been unemployed since last March because of the pandemic went out and bought several hundred dollars' worth of gift cards to pass out to the troops soon after their deployment to DC.

National Guard soldiers have been deployed to Washington, DC since January 6 to protect the US Capitol and surrounding areas nearby. National Guard troops are seen above on April 28, when President Joe Biden gave his first address to a joint session of Congress

The National Guard was called in after the January 6 MAGA riot at the US Capitol staged by supporters of then-President Donald Trump

'We stopped into Pete's diner to grab a cup of coffee and struck up a conversation with Gum,' said Potcner.

Pete's Diner is a DC institution which has been around for the past 50 years. Tong, 56, bought the diner 21 years ago.

It's been a favorite haunt of Washington politicos, with former speaker of the House John Boehner being known to frequent the diner.

'We then started passing out coffee and donuts to some of the soldiers and it just grew from there,' added Potcner.

'I then made up a business card and passed it out to the troops that said, 'Open Check For Troops at Pete's Diner.'

Potcner's followers, or 'fellow patriots' as he refers to them as, on his Telegram account send him money to pay for the meals for the troops and other items.

'It's to the point where Pete's Diner is now serving about 400 meals per day to the troops. That's a lot of work for a small diner,' Potcner said back in March.

Potcner says he's 'not making a dime off of the donations' and says he'll keep doing this as long as he can pay for their meals.

He claims to have 'maxed' out his personal credit cards and have paid for some of the meals and gift cards out of his own pocket. He said he's doing it because he loves the troops.

'I'll continue feeding the troops and passing out the items my followers send it for as long as I can,' added Potcner.

Potcner began gaining a mass following in the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.

Posing as an investigative journalist, Potcner traveled to various hospitals and filmed empty parking lots which he said proved that the pandemic was a hoax.

A video from September of last year shows Potcner barging through a restricted area in a hospital that was off limits to anyone but patients and medical staff. He is then hauled away by security.
House hunters could wipe a six-figure sum off their next dream home by expanding their search just one train station away to neighbouring suburbs.

New homeowners entering the market can save thousands by stepping back from beachside and inner-city properties and moving one suburb along the train line.

The recommendation comes after Sydney's house prices hit a record $1.3 million last quarter.

House hunters can fetch a home in Hurstville (pictured) for $1.45million but can save hundreds of thousands by moving a train station away

An extra two minute commute on the southbound eastern suburbs and Illawarra line can also save house hunters $220,000 as Penshurst homes (pictured) fetch for $1.23 million

In some instances, buyers can save up to $740,000 by moving one stop farther from Killara to Gordon on Sydney's T9 northern line in the upper northern suburbs.

Selling agent Ari Akbarian told domain that Gordan's median housing price starts from $2.55million, compared to Killara's $3.29million - saving buyers big bucks.

Mr Akbarian said while the suburb of Gordon was one more stop from the inner city, it boasts better transport links and amenities compared to Killara.

An extra two minute commute on the southbound eastern suburbs and Illawarra line can also save house hunters $220,000 as houses drop from $1.45 million at Hurstville to $1.23 million at Penshurst - just one train stop later.

Buyers can save up to $740,000 by moving one stop farther from Killara (pictured) to Gordon on Sydney's T9 northern line in the upper northern suburbs.

Gordan's median housing price (pictured) starts from $2.55million, compared to Killara's $3.29million

The huge savings continue out south west for those searching along the Leppington T2 train line.

A massive difference between Canley Vale's $887,500 median price compared to Cabramatta's $710,000 can help buyers pocket an extra $178,000 in savings.

Inner-west buyers can also save $114,000 by changing their search from Ashfield's $1,511,000 price tag to Summer Hill's $1,625,000 median prices.

The Bankstown T3 train line also offers some of the biggest savings of more than $310,000 between Marrickville and Dulwich Hill with median house prices of $1,487,500 and $1.8 million.

The beachside suburb of Cronulla - the second-most expensive suburb along the Illawarra line - has jumped 25% annually with a median price of $2,425,000.

But homebuyers can have a slice of paradise if they consider moving one station away to Woolooware - where the median price goes for $1,655,000.

Sydney house hunters could wipe a six-figure sum off their next dream home by expanding their search just one train station away to neighboring suburbs (pictured: Sydney trains)

David Smith of Highland Property Group, said a four-bedroom $1.9million home in Woolooware would 'probably sell for at least $2.7million'.

'You get more bang for your buck in Woolooware,' Mr Smith said.

'We do get a lot of buyer transfer between Woolooware, North Cronulla and Burraneer.'

The Northern train line also pockets buyers $910,000 between Killara and Chatswood with only two stops of Lindfield and Rosevielle separating the city suburbs.
A prison guard who also served in the Australian army is one of three men accused of dressing a woman up as a soldier and gang raping her on Anzac Day.

Glenn Robinson, 35, from Warrimoo in the lower Blue Mountains of NSW, was charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company following the alleged assault last month.

Police allege Robinson and a friend, 26, were drinking at The Mean Fiddler pub in Rouse Hill, in Sydney's north-west, in the early hours of April 25.

The pair were said to have invited a woman, 37, back to an address in nearby Riverstone where the alleged rape took place.

A former Australian soldier and current NSW corrective services officer is one of three men facing rape charges following an alleged incident on Anzac Day - the accuse met the victim at the Mean Fiddler pub (pictured)

The woman told police she was allegedly 'passed around by three men who had sex with her in multiple ways, either at the same time or individually while the others were watching' (stock image)

The alleged victim later told police she woke up on a couch with a belt tied around her neck to choke her, with one of the men having sex with her.

The woman told officers she was 'passed around by three men who had sex with her in multiple ways, either at the same time or individually while the others were watching', according to the Blacktown Advocate.

'At one point she was dressed up like an Anzac in a navy blue army jacket', Magistrate James Gibson told the court.

The woman suffered pelvic pain after the alleged incident and later attended Blacktown Hospital, the court also heard.

Police prosecutor Adam Young opposed bail, pointing to CCTV evidence showing the woman stumbling out of the pub in an intoxicated state.

He also alleged the drunken state of the woman would have made it 'obvious' to the accused men she was not in a position to consent to a sexual encounter of any kind.

Robinsons defence lawyer said the matter of consent was the pivotal issue, before requesting the accused be placed in protective custody if bail was refused due to his employment as a correctional services officer.

Robinson, who appeared by audio-visual link in court, was supported by his partner, colleagues and friends from the gallery.

He faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted. Robinson was refused bail in Penrith Local Court on Tuesday, with the matter to return to court in July.

In a statement on Thursday morning, police confirmed another NSW man had been charged and a third man, 31, was arrested in Queensland in connection to the alleged incident.

Robinson is a correction officer from Francis Greenaway Correctional Complex, on the outskirts of Windsor in NSW.

He has been suspended from his role indefinitely.
President Joe Biden's strange anecdote about reaching 1.5 million miles on Amtrak has come under scrutiny after key inconsistencies emerged that make it impossible to have occurred as he told it.

On Friday, delivering a speech in Philadelphia commemorating the 50th anniversary of Amtrak, Biden launched into the tale of a certain conductor congratulating him on reaching the milestone as he traveled to visit his sick mother.

Biden said the incident occurred in his 'fourth or fifth year as vice president', or around 2014-2015, at which time the conductor he named had been retired for 20 years and his mother had passed away, inconsistencies first pointed out by Fox News.

On Thursday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the story on Air Force One as Biden flew to Louisiana.

She said: 'The President's long history with with Amtrak and appreciation for the hard working employees is very well known. He was proud to come over and commemorate Amtrak's 50th anniversary just last Friday ... to highlight the need for job creating investments in America's infrastructure.'

On Friday, delivering a speech in Philadelphia commemorating the 50th anniversary of Amtrak, Biden launched into the tale of reaching 1.5 million miles on the service

Biden's strange anecdote about reaching 1.5 million miles on Amtrak has come under scrutiny after key inconsistencies emerged

Biden, who served in the Senate for 36 years, famously commuted by Amtrak to Congress from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, racking up many miles on the train service.

'When I became vice president, one of the Capitol Hill newspapers estimated that I had taken more than 7,000 round trips on Amtrak over my career,' he explained in his speech on Friday.

'I think that's an exaggeration. I'm going to rely on those two conductors  one of them was a guy named Angelo Negri,' he continued, launching into the anecdote.

'There was an article, I guess my fourth or fifth year as vice president, saying Biden travels 1,300,000 miles on Air Force One [Two]. I used to  the Secret Service didn't like it  but I used to like to take the train home,' he continued.

'My mom was sick and I used to try to come home almost every weekend as vice president to see her. I got on the train and Angelo Negri came up and he goes, 'Joey, baby,' and he grabbed my cheek like he always did. I thought he was going to get shot. I'm serious. I said, 'No, no, he's a friend,' Biden recalled.

'He said, 'Joey, what's the big deal? 1,300,000 miles on Air Force Two? Do you know how many miles you traveled on Amtrak?' I said, 'No, Angie, I don't know.' He gave me the calculation and he said you traveled 1,500,000 miles on Amtrak. The fact is, I'd probably take Angie's word before I'd take the word of what the article said,' Biden said.

Biden on the metro liner to Washington DC in 1988. He was returning to work in the Senate after having suffered a life-threatening aneurysm

Biden is seen touring an Amtrak train in 2014. He recalled an incident that occurred around 2014 or 2015, but the conductor he named retired in 1993

Biden said he was visiting his sick mother, Catherine 'Jean' Biden, but she passed away in 2010. They are seen together on election night in 2008

A key issue with the tale is that Angelo Negri retired as an Amtrak conductor in 1993, according to his 2014 obituary. That is long before Biden was elected vice president in 2008.

As well, Biden's mother, Catherine 'Jean' Biden, passed away in 2010 at the age of 92, meaning that she was not alive in Biden's 'fourth or fifth year as vice president'.

Further casting doubt on the account, Biden's own office celebrated his one millionth mile on Air Force Two in 2015.

In 2017, CNN interviewed Biden and wife Jill on Amtrak after he left the White House as Obama's Vice President.

He said that Amtrak had 'calculated' that he'd made 8,200 round trips totalling more than two million miles.

Biden said he made the 259-mile round trip an average of 217 days a year.

'This is my family and this is I wanted to go home, the way I came,' he said.

Since entering the White House he has not been able to take Amtrak for security reasons in the wake of the Capitol Riot, despite his requests.

It is not the first time that Biden's colorful anecdotes have drawn questions about their accuracy.

On the campaign trail last year, Biden told a tale about being arrested in South Africa while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in prison.

No contemporaneous or other supporting evidence ever emerged to support Biden's extraordinary claim, and key figures he said were with him denied any knowledge of the events.

Biden waves from the back of the train with wife Jill, son Hunter (left) and Beau (far right) and his granddaughter Natalie (second from right) after he announced his run for president in 1987

It led some to compare the story to the so-called 'Mandela Effect', a phenomenon in which a person's vivid memory of a historical event or cultural touchstone turns out to be false.

However, surprising details of some of Biden's most colorful anecdotes have sometimes been proven out by evidence.

His infamous tale of a teenage confrontation with Delaware gangster 'Corn Pop' was proven out in some of its details, after an obituary emerged for a Wilmington man with the unusual nickname.

Members of the black community in Wilmington also came forward and said that the Corn Pop confrontation had long been well known in local lore.
The Block star Suzi Taylor has cried in court as she was released from jail after dozens of charges against her were dropped

Penthouse cover girl and ex-The Block star Suzi Taylor cried in court as she was released from jail a month after being acquitted of extorting a man on an escort date gone wrong.

Taylor was in April cleared on charges of extortion, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault after being accused of attacking a man at her apartment in October 2019.

The 50-year-old was until Thursday held in custody for more than 100 other charges - including 94 counts of breaching bail conditions as well as drug and driving crimes.

But more than of the 70 charges were dropped at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday, with the prosecutor offering no evidence on dozens of counts.

She has already spent 202 days in custody with more than a month in solitary confinement, the court was told.

Taylor was named Penthouse Pet Of The Year 1991. She had already spent 202 days in custody with more than a month in solitary confinement

Taylor, whose real name is Suellen Jan Taylor, eventually pleaded guilty to almost 30 charges, including possessing small amounts of cocaine and marijuana.

The court took almost half an hour to determine how many of the hundred-plus charges the reality star was still facing before legal proceedings could get underway.

Taylor broke down as her court matters were finalised, having dressed all in back during the proceedings on Thursday, NCA NewsWire reported.

The court heard her first offence was in October 2019 after she drove a car that was taken from its owner, then left the scene after having an accident.

The prosecution asked for Taylor to be given probation and a suspended sentence, insisting she showed a 'blatant and persistent' disregard for the court.

Taylor's lawyer Michael Gatenby described the remaining charges as 'low level'.

Taylor was convicted but not further punished on all charges as magistrate Stephen Courtney ordered her immediate release.

'Not meaning this in an insulting way, but your story is a sad one. There has been a real deterioration of your position and mental health,' he said.

Taylor was in April cleared on charges of extortion, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault after being accused of attacking a man at her apartment in October 2019

The 50-year-old was until Thursday held in custody listed for more than 100 other charges

'When one really drills down to it, while there are a lot of charges the charges each and of themselves do not reach a high level of seriousness.'

Outside court, Mr Gatenby said it was a horrendous experience for a woman who did nothing wrong and called for an inquiry.

'I think there should be an inquiry into the way the state treats people with mental illness,' he said.

'I don't know how you would cope, sitting in a jail cell knowing you had done nothing wrong.

'A lot of people have a lot to answer for - I don't know how her mental health has withstood this behaviour.'

Taylor will be released from custody on Thursday.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' recovery from a fall is progressing well and he is on track to return to work in June, his deputy says.

Mr Andrews suffered at least five broken ribs and an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra when he slipped on the steps of a holiday home on March 9.

The 48-year-old was released from hospital on March 15 and has been recovering at home since.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews suffered at least five broken ribs and an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra when he slipped on the steps of a holiday home on March 9. This is the first photo of him after the accident and he has been recovering at home since

Deputy Premier James Merlino, who has been acting premier in Mr Andrews' absence, provided an update on his condition on Thursday.

'He's up and about, so I'm really pleased with his progress. There's still quite a way to go but he's doing very well,' he told reporters.

'We're on track for a June return, that'll obviously be subject to doctor's advice.'

In his most recent update in April, Mr Andrews (pictured at home recovering with his wife) said he had been diligent with his physiotherapy and was able to walk for an hour

He added that the premier was walking 'at a much greater level' than he had been able to last month.

Following the accident, Mr Andrews struggled to walk for more than 15 minutes each day. In his most recent update in April, he said he had been diligent with his physiotherapy and was able to walk for an hour.

Mr Merlino said he has been in regular contact with Mr Andrews and planned to speak with him on the phone later on Thursday.
A seven-year-old boy who was splashing in shallow water at a beach with his twin brother tragically died after being washed out to sea by a monster 10-foot wave.

Two hero police officers, who were both trained lifeguards, stripped off their clothes and swam out to try and rescue the boy at the beach in Napier, New Zealand, on February 21 last year.

A rescue helicopter airlifted little Te Ao Marama Te Pou, but officers Ryan Gordon and Larissa Cowlrick were unable to save him, a coroner's report handed down on Thursday found.

Two police officers stripped their clothes off before trying to to resuscitate the young boy

Te Ao Marama Te Pou (pictured) was playing with his twin brother at a beach when he died

The coroner said police believed the twins and their friend had gone to the beach without permission, and may have been playing a crash wave game in the extreme surf the NZ Herald reported.

Mr Gordon described the waves at the beach as 'about 10 foot in height and dumping with an offshore wind.'

Marama was swept out to sea and could not swim, the Coroner said.

A woman on the beach called emergency services and Mr Gordon and Ms Cowlrick found the little boy face-down 200m from the shore.

Mr Ryan said the police officers were 'heroic' for trying to revive the Marama in the extreme surf without buoyancy equipment.

'Nor did they have the backup that surf lifesavers normally have when they attempt a rescue at a patrolled beach,' he said.

'They placed their own lives at risk in an effort to save another. The actions of these two police officers deserve the highest commendation.'

A rescue helicopter arrived to airlift the child and a paramedic identified him as dead.

The coroner found the seven-year-old's death could have been prevented if he was supervised

Coroner Peter Ryan said the death would have been preventable if the boys had been supervised by adults.

The boys' mother Liana Te Pou declined to speak to police but an officer recalled her saying she thought the children were at a friends house on the day of their death.

A man had told police he saw three young boys playing at the beach two days earlier without adults nearby.

Marama is survived by his mum, twin, father Marama Te Waa and nine other siblings Neshaiah, Chaz, Mithias, Autumn, Sapphire, Cedar, Shavaughn, Nathan and Halo.
The state of California is looking to provide tens of thousands of convicted felons an early release in an attempt to reduce prison population.

California is set to change the lives of 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons by enabling them to leave prison earlier than their scheduled release dates. The move is to decrease prison population, as California was once home to the country's largest state correctional system.

About 63,000 inmates who were convicted of violent crimes are now eligible for good behavior credits that significantly reduce their prison sentences from one-fifth, the order set in place since 2017, to just one-third. Of the thousands of inmates doing time for violent crimes, 20,000 are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.

According to Reuters, the new prison measure will begin implementation this Saturday, but prisoners won't be able to get out just yet. The system estimates that it will be months or years before the 63,000 convicted violent felons would see life outside prison walls. Correction officials believe that this new measure would entice prisoners to work towards bettering themselves, but critics are weary that this would pose a threat to the general public.

The new rules will also enable over 10,000 felons who were convicted of a second serious but non-violent offense to be released if they have served at least half of their sentences. They were only previously allowed to do so if they have served two-thirds of their sentence. Non-violent third strikers will also be given the same privileges.

California is also set to allow the same month of earlier release for all minimum-security inmates participating in work camps for every month they spend in it, regardless of the crime they committed. These impactful changes have been approved by California's Office of Administrative Law.

ABC News reported that California's new prison regulations were made to "increase incentives for the incarcerated population to practice good behavior and follow the rules while serving their time, and participate in rehabilitative and educational programs, which will lead to safer prisons," as explained by Dana Simas, a department spokeswoman.

Simas added that a rulemaking process enabled the department to revise the rules without public comment under the "emergency regulations'' category. They are now required to submit permanent regulations in 2022. As California plans to make prisons "safer" by releasing 63,000 convicted felons ahead of time, many are concerned that it would pose a threat to the general public, specifically to the victims they have impacted.

"This order puts our community at substantial risk and does not take into account the impact on the victims of these crimes," Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes argued, as per WND.

It is the state's responsibility to ensure that any felon who is released from prison will not pose a threat to his community. A full rehabilitation is never guaranteed by any amount of time in prison, which is why the order is concerning for many. Criminal justice reform must be a priority for the federal government to ensure the safety of the communities the former inmates will return to.
South Australia could legalise voluntary assisted dying within weeks as Premier Steven Marshall prepares to fast-track debate in the lower house.

The premier says he will use his conscience vote to endorse the legislation which passed the upper house overnight.

Members of the Legislative Council voted 14 to seven to pass the bill sponsored by Labor shadow attorney-general Kyam Maher and his lower house colleague Susan Close.

If it passes the lower house, SA will be the fourth state to legalise voluntary assisted dying laws.

South Australia could legalise voluntary assisted dying within weeks as Premier Steven Marshall prepares to fast-track debate in the lower house. Pictured is a protest in support of the bill at the SA Parliament on Wednesday

This is the state's 17th attempt in 25 years to introduce such laws.

Mr Marshall on Thursday said he would progress debate on the legislation immediately, paving the way for a vote as early as next week.

'The community expects parliament to act swiftly and decisively on issues that impact them, and that is why I am allocating government business time to debate the legislation now that it has passed the upper house,' he said in a statement to Adelaide radio FiveAA.

'While I personally don't believe I would use voluntary assisted dying laws for myself, I do not believe I should stop others from having that choice - which is why I will be supporting the bill.'

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.

It 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.

On Wednesday, several dozen people rallied on the steps of the parliament urging MPs to pass the bill

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.

Most concerns among 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 said.

Labor MP Clare Scriven told parliament it was too early to judge the impact of the Victoria laws, which came into effect in mid-2019.

On Wednesday, several dozen people rallied on the steps of the parliament urging MPs to pass the bill.

A survey of 511 people by The Australia Institute found four in five South Australians support assisted dying laws similar to Victoria's

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 to '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 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.
Tucker Carlson claimed that 'roughly 30 people every day' are dying after taking a coronavirus vaccine, sparking backlash in the scientific community on Wednesday night.

The Fox News host expressed his anger at President Joe Biden's encouraging people to get vaccinated, saying that the 'social pressure is enormous'.

Carlson said that many viewers will have had their shot - 'and good for you' - but said people were not being told enough about the potential risks.

Carlson then cited data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) - a site run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which records any adverse response to a vaccine.

Carlson pointed out that, according to the VAERS statistics, 3,362 people died after receiving a COVID vaccine in the United States between December and April 23.

'That is an average of roughly 30 people every day,' he said.

But health professionals have said he is misrepresenting the VAERS data.

They pointed out that the VAERS database is heavy with disclaimers, which point out that someone dying after receiving a vaccine is not the same as someone dying as a result of a vaccine.

The CDC says that 148 million Americans have now been vaccinated, with huge benefits to the health of the nation. Health experts pointed out that the risks have been studied, and deemed minimal.

Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night condemned the 'societal pressure' to get vaccinated

Tucker claimed that there were far fewer deaths reported by VAERS after other vaccines, such as the flu jab, and suggested that the Democratic administration currently in power needed to investigate what was happening.

'Vaccines are not dangerous,' he said.

'That is not a guess, we know that pretty conclusively from the official numbers.'

But he said more investigation was needed into the COVID jabs.

'It is clear that what is happening now, for whatever reason, is not even close to normal,' he claimed.

'It's not even close to what we see in previous years with previous vaccines.

'Most vaccines are not accused of killing large numbers of people.'

The CDC said: 'CDC and FDA physicians review each case report of death as soon as notified and CDC requests medical records to further assess reports.

'A review of available clinical information including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records revealed no evidence that vaccination contributed to patient deaths.'

A woman is seen receiving her COVID shot on Wednesday in Aberdeen, Maryland

The VAERS website emphasizes that their data is unverified and does not suggest causation

Anyone is able to upload data to the VAERS site, meaning that its conclusions are not necessarily accurate.

Furthermore, the VAERS site states the system 'has not detected patterns in cause of death that would indicate a safety problem with COVID-19 vaccines.'

Health professionals emphasized that Carlson did not know the specifics of the reported deaths. The first people to be vaccinated were the elderly and most vulnerable, who were more likely to die whether they had the vaccine or not.

Dr Dana Mazo, an assistant professor of medicine who specializes in infectious diseases at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, told Reuters that it was important to distinguish between association and causation when looking at post-vaccine death records.

'The idea is that we are vaccinating millions of people,' Mazo said.

'And, unfortunately, when you look at 96 million people, some of them might die, and they would have died if they hadn't been vaccinated.'

Dr. Joel Belmin, head of geriatrics and vaccination coordinator at l'hopital Charles-Foix in Paris, said in a WebMD speech: 'In older people, due to their great frailty, a significant amount of spontaneous mortality is expected.

'In a retirement home, one in five people die each year. It's therefore difficult to directly attribute these deaths to the fact that these people were vaccinated.'

The CDC estimates that about 1.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered to residents in long-term care facilities as of January 18.

By comparison, in that time frame VAERS had received 129 reports of deaths following COVID-19 vaccination in long-term care facility residents.

Dr Gregg Montalto, a Chicago-based pediatrician, said that Carlson was failing to ask basic statistical questions.

Dr Craig Spencer, an ER doctor based in New York, described Carlson's conclusions as 'pure, absolute stupidity'.

He pointed out that the death rate from COVID was plummeting amid the vaccination campaign, and said: 'Did some of them die the day before they were gonna get vaccinated? Yes.'
Shocking footage shows a policeman kicking a 17-year-old boy while he was sitting handcuffed in a driveway officers broke down his mother's door to arrest him.

The 17-year-old was arrested in Bankstown in Sydney's south-west after allegedly attacking his mother in the doorway of their home about 7am on Thursday morning.

He was hit with a domestic violence assault charge, along with breaching his bail and AVO offences.

The family's lawyer Adam Houda told Daily Mail Australia police broke down her door after witnessing the alleged assault and then arrested the teenager in the driveway.

The teenager's mother could be heard frantically telling police her son 'didn't touch me' and filmed the door broken off its hinges.

A policeman has been filmed kicking a 17-year-old boy while he was sitting handcuffed in a south-west Sydney driveway

She then pleaded for officers to stop after one of them kicked her son's left leg out from underneath him while he was sitting on the ground in the rain.

'Stop hitting him - you can't just hit him like that,' the mother told police seconds after the kick.

In a separate part of the video, the mother insisted to a female officer that her son had done nothing wrong.

'He can't assault you,' the police officer said.

The mother replied: 'He didn't touch me. He was giving you the pen to sign the paperwork.'

During videos of the arrest shared to social media by the lawyer, the boy can be heard yelling at police and calling them 'f**king dogs'.

The boy can be heard yelling at police and calling them 'f***ing dogs' during footage of the arrest

Mr Houda said the 17-year-old suffered from a mental illness.

The lawyer said officers first turned up at the Bankstown home at 4am on Thursday for an unrelated matter but no-one answered the door.

He said they returned at 7am and the mother opened the door, with police allegedly seeing her son assault her when he tried to tell her to come back inside.

'When they knocked on the door the son was saying "come back into the house" and it was at that point they allege he assaulted her,' the lawyer said.

Mr Houda said he would be seeking damages from police on behalf of the boy.

'It's shocking - its absolutely shocking. Its not a good look for New South Wales Police,' he said.

'How many cops were there and the kids is lying on the ground fully handcuffed.'

Mr Houda said the teenager was also 'crying to the police' to remove the handcuffs as they were causing him distress.

NSW Police said officers from Bankstown attended the home and arrested the 17-year-old boy over an alleged domestic violence related assault, along with breaching his bail and an AVO.

'The teen was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with assault (domestic violence), hindering police in execution of duty, and the breaching of bail and AVO offences,' it said.

The boy was refused bail to appear in children's court tomorrow.
The Northern Territory Health Minister has cast doubt on an ambitious plan to quarantine foreign workers at a former Darwin mining camp used by the US Marines.

Industry groups have urged the commonwealth and NT government to retask the Bladin Point Worker Village as a Covid-19 quarantine facility.

The facility is used to quarantine Marines arriving in the NT with the US Rotational Force Darwin but the Australian Defence Force's lease expires on July 15.

NT Farmers Association says the camp could help alleviate the critical national worker shortage faced by the agricultural and hospitality sectors.

The Northern Territory Health Minister has cast doubt on an ambitious plan to quarantine foreign workers at a former Darwin mining camp (pictured) used by the US Marines

But NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles says Bladin Point isn't a government facility and bringing it up to specification could be tough.

'It's a private property so if there was to be a facility set up there it's more than having the chief health officer tick on off what's there,' she told reporters on Thursday.

'[The NT government doesn't] control who comes into Australia and we don't own that facility, and who would pay for it?'

Ms Fyles said it was 'hugely' expensive to run a quarantine facility and it would need to be run at the same high standard as the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Any proposal would also need the commonwealth's backing and consider the potential impact on the local health system, she said.

Industry groups have urged the commonwealth and NT government to retask the Bladin Point Worker Village (pictured) as a Covid-19 quarantine facility

NT Farmers chief executive Paul Burke has previously said industry is struggling to find suitable facilities to quarantine overseas workers.

'Farmers around the country are begging politicians for a solution to the massive seasonal workforce shortage that has arisen due to the Covid-19 border closures last year,' he said.

'Without additional workers, farmers will be forced to let produce go to waste and food prices will rise for all Australians.'

Under the proposal, various industries from around Australia will be able to use the facility to quarantine their own workers.

The agricultural industry alone is facing a shortage of 20,000 workers, Mr Burke said.
Thousands of visitors are flocking to a secret sandstone archway hidden away in the Blue Mountains National Park just an hour's drive west of Sydney.

The picturesque Dargan Arch is just past the town of Bell and inside the boundary of the national park, on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range.

The stunning sandstone archway is the result of a long collapsed cave and is difficult to find, so visitors to the landmark will have it all to themselves.

The stunning sandstone archway is just an hours drive west from Sydney's CBD

Dargan Arch (pictured) is the result of natural erosion of a long-collapsed cave or overhang

Nature enthusiasts Joe & Cat from Walk My World told Daily Mail Australia they stumbled upon the hidden gem after finding a piece of tape stuck to a tree.

'In the hiking world, that means there's something interesting down there', Joe said.

Dargan Arch can be found by turning off the highway at the historic town of Bell onto Sandham Road, and following the track back towards Dargan for 3.5km.

The walk from the carpark to the top of the arch is 730m, the first 550m a gentle slope down a fire trail.

The return hike is 1.5km long and is estimated to take just under 40 minutes, including time to snap some photos and explore the rockface.

Hikers should look out for two telegraph poles, a metal pole with some tape tied around, it and several piles of log debris.

As the trail gets steeper, Joe advises hikers to head left over a rocky area that will eventually reveal a ravine that gives an aerial view of Dargan Arch.

The view from underneath the rock offers another unique perspective of the natural archway

The walk from the carpark to the top of the archway is a total distance of 730m, the first 550m a gentle slope down a fire trail

'I've been in Utah where canyons like that are really prevalent, but you don't seem to see them here, so it was pretty cool,' the avid hiker said.

'You can walk right over the arch with ease as it's nice and wide, even if you don't like unfenced cliff edges, it's unlikely you'll have a problem with this one as you don't need to go anywhere near the drop.'

The arch itself is only 15m long and can be easily climbed, with the view from underneath the sandstone rock offering a unique perspective.

'It's a great spot, it feels so quiet and untouched. If you love photography it also offers the chance to take some interesting shots', Joe said.
A dairy farmer in Wisconsin who is physically disabled has sued the Biden administration over a COVID relief program that excludes white farmers, arguing the program is racist.

Adam Faust, who runs a herd of 140 Holsteins on his family farm in Chilton, joined other plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed last week in Green Bay, alleging the loan forgiveness program illegally discriminates against them.

At issue is a $4 billion program tucked into the Biden administration's COVID-19 stimulus plan that forgives loans for farmers and ranchers who are black, native American, Hispanic, or Asian - but not those who are white.

'It was just out and out racist, and I really don't think that there should be racism allowed in the federal government at any level,' Faust told WLUK-TV.

A dairy farmer in Wisconsin who is physically disabled has sued the Biden administration over a COVID relief program that excludes white farmers, arguing the program is racist. Adam Faust, who runs a herd of 140 Holsteins on his family farm in Chilton, joined other plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed last week in Green Bay

Faust (left) and his attorney (right) appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show (pictured) on Wednesday to discuss his lawsuit

Faust was born with spina bifida, a rare birth defect, and his leg was amputated after a farm accident later in life resulted in an infection.

Last year his other leg was amputated due to complications from diabetes, and he now uses two prosthetic legs.

On Wednesday night, Faust appeared in an interview on Fox News, and argued that it was unfair to create racial criteria for participation in the relief program.

'I mean, racism against anybody is wrong. We can't have a government picking and choosing who they are going to give any program to based solely on the color of their skin,' he said.

'Everything that we have all learned growing up, is "racism was wrong", and now, all of a sudden, the federal government seems to think that racism is acceptable in certain ways,' he said.

Activists have hailed Biden's stimulus plan as a means of finally helping non-white farmers, who they say have been discriminated against for years.

Faust's attorney Rick Esenberg joined the interview, saying 'There is no such thing as benign discrimination. There is no such thing as a little 'makeup discrimination' to even things out.'

Faust (pictured with his wife) was born with spina bifida, a rare birth defect, and both his legs were later amputated

Faust relies on prosthetics to work his farm, which consists of 93 owned acres and just over 400 acres of rented land

'I mean, look, we fought a civil war. We had a lengthy civil rights movement to acknowledge the principal that was in our founding documents, that we are all to be treated as individuals, and this really disturbing mood we have about equity instead of equality of opportunity will not end well,' said Esenberg.

The group of plaintiffs joining the lawsuit to challenge the program includes farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Ohio.

The suit contends that excluding white farmers from the program amounts to a violation of the plaintiffs' constitutional rights.

'Were plaintiffs eligible for the loan forgiveness benefit, they would have the opportunity to make additional investments in their property, expand their farms, purchase equipment and supplies, and otherwise support their families and local communities,' the lawsuit said.

'Because plaintiffs are ineligible to even apply for the program solely due to their race, they have been denied the equal protection of the law and therefore suffered harm.'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement saying it was reviewing the lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, but that the USDA plans to continue to offer loan forgiveness to 'socially disadvantaged' farmers.

Faust has grown his herd over the years, and it totals more than 140 head now

Faust bought the 93 owned acres from his father, continuing the family tradition of farming

Attorneys for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the action on the white farmers' behalf in federal court in Green Bay.

The filing seeks a court order prohibiting the USDA from applying racial classifications when determining eligibility for loan modifications and payments under the stimulus plan. It also seeks unspecified damages.

Non-white farmers have maintained for decades that they have been unfairly denied farm loans and other government assistance.

The USDA in 1999 and 2010 settled lawsuits from black farmers accusing the agency of discriminating against them.

Less than two percent of direct loans from the Trump administration in 2020 went to black farmers -- however, just 1.3 percent of the farmers in the country are black, according to USDA data.

Some black farmers have also criticized Biden's Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for failing to address a backlog of discrimination complaints and failing to hire minorities for high-level positions.

Vilsack, who served under President Barack Obama and returned to the role after President Joe Biden took office, said in a statement last month that generations of socially disadvantaged farmers have suffered due to systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt.

He has been trying to assure minority farming groups that he will work to stem racism within the USDA.
A teenager has been allegedly stabbed at a western Sydney school and a younger boy arrested.

The 16-year-old has been stabbed at least twice in the stomach at a high school in Glenwood on Thursday afternoon.

The injured student was treated by emergency services at the scene before being transferred to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.

The 16-year-old boy suffered several stab wounds to the stomach while at a Glenwood school in Sydney's west

Acting Superintendent Jason Pietruszka has described the 16-year-old's injuries as 'significant' and said they could have been fatal, 7 NEWS reported.

A second male student, aged 14, was arrested at the scene and has been taken to Quakers Hill Police Station to be interviewed.

'I believe he will be charged and he'll be put before the courts,' Superintendent Pietruszka said.

'It is incredibly stupid to engage in this kind of behaviour. It is not worth it. It is not worth your future. Do not do it.'

It's understood the incident occurred at Glenwood Highschool, near Blacktown, where an area of the school grounds has been sectioned off with police tape.

Superintendent Pietruszka said the stabbing was a culmination of 'on-going issues between a number of students at the school'.

'We believe the tension that's been described to us is just your typical everyday schoolyard arguments that have gone on social media, and they continue to fester, he said.

'Any time a student is using that kind of violence within the schoolyard is extremely serious.'
Australia's continuing border closure is costing the equivalent of a hospital every ten days as the Covid vaccine rollout is plagued with delays.

The Labor-aligned McKell Institute think tank calculated $203million a day was being lost as a result of foreigners being banned from entering Australia for a holiday.

Put another way, Sydney's Northern Beaches Hospital was meant to cost $1billion when it was announced in 2013.

When it opened in 2018, New South Wales taxpayers ended up paying $2.1billion for the privately-run health centre.

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Australia's continuing border closure is costing the equivalent of a hospital a week as the Covid vaccine rollout is plagued with delays. The Labor-aligned McKell Institute think tank calculated $203million a day was being lost as a result of foreigners being banned from entering Australia for a holiday. Pictured is Perth airport

The doubled overall cost of one state hospital in Sydney cost the same as ten days of forgone economic activity as a result of Australia's border closure.

'The end of international border closures will increase economic activity by approximately $203 million per day,' the McKell Institute said.

It estimated the border closure, imposed in March 2020, would cost $74.4billion a year.

That economic cost would grow by another $16.4billion if the original October 2021 schedule for reopening Australia was delayed by another three months - or 81 days - until January next year.

The report - by McKell Institute chief executive Michael Buckland and policy analysts Felix Zerbib and Connor Wherrett - said the federal government's failure to meet an earlier target of 4million Covid vaccines by March 2021 would be economically crippling.

'State-based capital city lockdowns are only one economic cost associated with the delay in the vaccination program,' it said.

Put another way, Sydney's Northern Beaches Hospital was meant to cost $1billion when it was announced in 2013. When it opened in 2018, New South Wales taxpayers ended up paying $2.1billion for the privately-run health centre

'A second and larger cost is associated with any delay in international border reopening as a result of the delay in the vaccination program.'

The month-old Australia-New Zealand travel bubble has been temporarily suspended for 48 hours from Thursday night after a husband and wife in Sydney's eastern suburbs mysteriously tested positive to Covid.

The man's test result, which was announced on Wednesday, sent shockwaves through the city because he had not returned from overseas, does not work in border control, health care or at a quarantine facility.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday that face masks will be compulsory at indoor public places and dancing banned in greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains, from midnight Friday until the end of Sunday, which coincides with Mothers Day. Pictured is Sydney's crowded Wynyard train station on Wednesday

NSW Health have now traced his infection to a returned traveller from the U.S. who contracted an Indian variant of the virus - but it is not known how the pair came into contact with each other.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday that face masks will be compulsory at indoor public places and dancing banned in greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains, from midnight Friday until the end of Sunday, which coincides with Mothers Day.

Residents will only allowed to host 20 people in their houses on Mother's Day as part of the new rules and pub patrons will be forced to stay seated.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday that face masks will be compulsory at indoor public places and dancing banned in greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains, from midnight Friday until the end of Sunday, which coincides with Mothers Day

Dancing and singing will be banned, except at weddings where 20 people are allowed to gather on a dancefloor, and face masks will be mandatory indoors and for hospitality workers.

Australia's vaccination program has been delayed after the AstraZeneca vaccine was linked with blood clots for those under 50.

This caused Prime Minister Scott Morrison to last month step back from an earlier promise for every Australian adult to receive their first jab by October.
Desperate employers and universities have proposed new coronavirus quarantine schemes as they 'beg' the federal government to let more foreign workers and students into the country.

A chronic shortage of farm workers - due to coronavirus border controls keeping out backpackers - has cost farmers millions of dollars as fruit and veg goes to waste without being picked.

Hospitality businesses such as pubs and restaurants are also struggling to hire as Australia's unemployment rate dips to 5.6 per cent and is expected to fall even further as the economy recovers from last year's lockdowns.

Meanwhile, the university sector remains crippled as international students - which provide up to 40 per cent of a university's revenue - are prevented from entering the country.

The quarantine schemes proposed by businesses, universities and state governments include building new quarantine camps and using dedicated quarantine hotels and even student accommodation to house foreigners for 14 days.

Use worker camps

With the demand for international workers growing, the Northern Territory Farmers Association and the Hospitality NT have come up with a radical plan.

They have urged the Commonwealth and NT government to retask the Bladin Point Worker Village as a Covid-19 quarantine facility.

The facility is currently used to quarantine Marines arriving in the NT with the US Rotational Force Darwin but the Australian Defence Force's lease expires on July 15.

the Northern Territory Farmers Association and the Hospitality NT want the government to use Bladin Point Worker Village (pictured) as a Covid-19 quarantine facility

Employer groups say the camp could help alleviate the critical national worker shortage faced by the agricultural and hospitality sectors.

But NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles says Bladin Point isn't a government facility and bringing it up to specification could be tough.

'It's a private property... we don't control who comes into Australia and we don't own that facility, and who would pay for it,' she said.

Ms Fyles said it was 'hugely' expensive to run a quarantine facility and it would need to be run at the same high standard as the nearby Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Any proposal would also need the Commonwealth's backing and consider the potential impact on the local health system, she said.

NT Farmers chief executive Paul Burke has previously said industry is struggling to find suitable facilities to quarantine overseas workers.

'Farmers around the country are begging politicians for a solution to the massive seasonal workforce shortage that has arisen due to the Covid-19 border closures last year,' he said.

But NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles says Bladin Point (pictured) isn't a government facility and bringing it up to specification could be tough

'Without additional workers, farmers will be forced to let produce go to waste and food prices will rise for all Australians.'

Under the proposal, various industries from around Australia will be able to use the facility to quarantine their own workers.

The agricultural industry alone is facing a shortage of 20,000 workers, Mr Burke said.

Build new facilities

The Queensland government, which has a system of on-farm quarantine for foreign agriculture workers, has been campaigning for a quarantine facility near Toowoomba that needs Commonwealth approval for international flights to land at the nearby Wellcamp airport.

The Wagner Corporation wants to build the quarantine facility that would host up to 1,000 travellers and 300 staff - but the federal government has refused to approve it without a detailed costings plan.

A Victorian facility (pictured is an artist's impression) would be built from scratch in Mickleham and operated by the state government, under a state proposal

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, like WA leader Mark McGowan, has also asked the Commonwealth to use immigration detention facilities such as Christmas Island - but the federal government has refused.

Scott Morrison is assessing a Victorian proposal to construct a purpose-built quarantine facility at a Commonwealth site about 40km north of Melbourne.

The 500-bed facility would cost about $200 million to build, with the state government committing $15m to get the project ready for construction.

The Prime Minister said the 'detailed and comprehensive' proposal is currently under review.

Dedicated hotels for foreigners

Last week the Victorian government also proposed a plan to let international students, actors and other foreign workers do quarantine in a dedicated hotel in Melbourne.

Under the plan, which is yet to be approved by the federal government, the state will begin accepting up to 120 international students and other 'economic cohorts' each week from May 24.

Those arrivals would not be included in Victoria's weekly cap of 1,000 returned travellers and would be housed in a dedicated quarantine hotel, similar to the program for the Australian Open earlier in the year.

Users of the system, including universities, stage and screen productions, and major events groups, would foot the bill, which is 'over and above' the $3,000 hotel quarantine fee for returning Australian adults.

Meanwhile, the university sector remains crippled as international students - which provide up to 40 per cent of a university's revenue - are prevented from entering the country

The state government has been in discussions with universities for months as the sector lobbied to fly about 1,000 foreign students into Melbourne every two to three weeks on chartered flights.

Despite the latest plan falling well short of that figure, acting premier James Merlino said Victorian universities supported the proposal.

'The ball's now in the federal government's court. We have met all the criteria... and I'm very hopeful for a positive answer,' Mr Merlino told reporters on Tuesday.

Victoria cannot proceed with the plan unless the Commonwealth government agrees to issue visas and exemptions, and count the arrivals outside its returned traveller cap.

If granted, the economic cohort would catch commercial flights where possible and be subject to the same stringent testing regime followed by other hotel quarantine guests.

A chronic shortage of farm workers - due to coronavirus border controls keeping out backpackers - has cost farmers millions of dollars as fruit and veg goes to waste without being picked

The Victorian government in March announced its rebooted hotel quarantine program would put aside 120 additional places for the group once it scaled up to 1120 returned travellers a week.

That figure was cut back to 1,000 after the federal government rejected the initial proposal.

About 34,300 Australians are still stranded overseas urgently wanting to return home.

Use student accommodation

In New South Wales, a committee of vice chancellors, has developed an International Student Accommodation Quarantine Program.

The plan would see 250 students fly in a fortnight and do quarantine in transformed student accommodation in the Sydney CBD.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said: 'We are examining options and part of that is looking at how we can bring international students back without reducing our capacity to take Australian citizens wanting to return home.'

With AAP
A teenage girl was rescued by pub staff after she was allegedly raped in a public toilet by a man who followed her inside.

The girl, 15, was allegedly followed into a toilet block and raped about 1.20pm on April 30 on Burgundy Street in Heidelberg in Melbourne's north-east.

A 45-year-old man from Kew, Melbourne, was charged with rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment.

Burgundy Street, Heidelberg in Melbourne where a 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in a toilet block

Victoria Police said the girl was freed after the alleged attacker walked her into a nearby hotel with him.

'Detectives allege the Kew man followed the girl inside a cubical and sexually assaulted her,' a Victorian Police statement said.

'The man then walked with the victim to a nearby hotel where she alerted staff and police were called.'

He was arrested soon after.

The man was remanded in custody and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 30.
Two Zion Church preachers from Beijing have been forcibly taken from their homes and are under police custody for interrogation despite the congregation shutting down more than three years ago. The Beijing-based Zion Church was forced to shut down in September of 2018 when CCP authorities accused it of "conducting unauthorized activities and disturbing social order under the name of civil organization."

According to International Christian Concern, Zion Church's preacher Qie Jiafu was taken by local police from his home in Changping district deep in the night of April 28. They claimed that the arrest was for his interrogation but Zion Church members said they were unable to obtain more information about Qie's detention.

His wife received a phone call from Chinese police at 1:00 am two days later, informing her that her husband was subjected to a 10-day administrative detention for violating Art.54 of the Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security. Qie was also ordered to pay a 500 Yuan or $77 fine.

Another one of the preachers from Beijing's Zion Church was Huang Chunzi, who was arrested and detained at around the same time. Zion Church members only learned of her fate three days later as they were occupied with supporting Qie's family during the difficult time.

Huang was last heard of on April 28, when she told church members that Chinese police were at her door. Soon afterwards, she too went missing. She was detained for over 72 hours, during which Chinese police did not notify her next of kin about her detention.

According to Christian Post, faithful members of Beijing's Zion Church are seeking prayers for Huang so she can have "all the strength she needs from the Lord, and that the Lord will make way so the church can gain current updates." they are also praying for "sufficient grace for Preacher Qie and the many servants who are paying the price for Christ in this day and age."

Beijing's Zion Church was established in 2007 as the largest unofficial Protestant church in Beijing. Its Sunday service would gather over 1,500 church members every week. However, in 2018, CCP authorities shut down the church and confiscated "illegal promotional materials."

China claims to guarantee religious freedom for its citizens, but President Xi Jinping's leadership of the CCP has seen greater persecution of Christians, Muslims, and other religious minorities. The CCP orders that religious groups must be registered under the Three-Self Patriotic Movement or risk being monitored, harassed, or shut down.

The preachers from Beijing's Zion Church are only two of the many persecuted Christian church leaders in China who have been forced to flee or have had their liberties taken away from them. China has been ranked by Open Doors as number 17 on the World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians are persecuted the most. The CCP's "sinicizing" of the Christian church is a way for them to uphold Xi's communist ideologies, Chinese cultural identity and uphold its power.
A 15-year-old boy was last night rushed to hospital after being stabbed a number of times in one of London's poshest areas.

The teenager was attacked at around 6.50pm in Chelsea harbour in the west of the city, near homes worth 15million.

It came just an hour after a man was attacked with a knife outside Moorfields Eye Hospital in the east of the capital.

The teenager was attacked at around 6.50pm in Chelsea harbour in the west of the city, near homes worth 15million

London's Air Ambulance was scrambled to the Chelsea stabbing and was joined by police and paramedics on the ground

London's Air Ambulance was scrambled to the Chelsea stabbing and was joined by police and paramedics on the ground.

The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition while two youths were arrested.

A witness told the Sun the boy was found 'in a pool of his own blood' with 'stab wounds all over his body'.

Forensic officers remained on the scene - a stone's throw away from the River Thames - last night.

A section 60 notice was enforced by police for SW10, SW6, SW5 and SW3 until 7am Thursday.

The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition while two youths were arrested (file photo of Chelsea Harbour)

The Met said: 'Police were called at approximately 18:50hrs on Wednesday, 5 May to reports of a male stabbed in Harbour Avenue, SW10.

'Officers, London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended the scene and found a male, believed aged 15, suffering stab injuries.

'He was taken to hospital, where his condition was later assessed as not life-threatening.

'Two males have been arrested in connection with this incident; further details await. A crime scene remains in place; enquiries into the incident are ongoing.'

An hour earlier police sealed off Old Street outside Moorfields Eye Hospital after another man was knifed.

It came just an hour after a man was attacked with a knife outside Moorfields Eye Hospital in the east of the capital

Officers swooped on the roundabout outside the specialist NHS facility after reports of the stabbing

Officers swooped on the roundabout outside the specialist NHS facility after reports of the stabbing.

The hospital had to tell patients not to go to accident and emergency until it could reopen later last night.

A witness tweeted: 'Massive stabbing outside Moorfields eye hospital. Old bill have closed all the roads. Traffic is now seriously f**ked up.'

The Met said: 'Police were called to Old Street Roundabout at 17:40hrs to reports a stabbing. Officers and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) also attended.

'A man has been taken to hospital with stab injuries. His condition is not thought to be life threatening.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'
China has indefinitely suspended all strategic economic talks with Australia, blaming the Morrison Government's attitude towards the relationship.

The move cuts off all diplomatic contact with Beijing under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, freezing discussions between key officials below a ministerial level.

But the deeper diplomatic freeze is largely symbolic, given Beijing was already refusing high-level meetings.

China will continue to buy vast quantities of Australian iron ore, minimising the economic impact.

Hostilities between Australia and China have soared in recent years after a number of diplomatic spats (Penfolds wine is stacked on a shelf in China)

China's National Development and Reform Commission released a strongly-worded statement to explain its decision on Thursday.

'Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination,' the commission said.

'Based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth Government toward China-Australia cooperation, the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China decides to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue.'

On a strategic level, the move will make it even harder to repair heavily strained diplomatic relations between Australia and China.

It is the first major response from the Chinese government since the Morrison government cancelled Victoria's Belt and Road agreement in March.

Shoppers wearing face masks line up to buy fresh beef from Australia at a supermarket on July 4, 2020 in Hainan Province of China

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese described the deepening diplomatic freeze as unfortunate and regrettable, saying Australia needed to maintain dialogue with China.

Mr Albanese also noted the Morrison government had damaged a key alliance with India through a controversial travel ban.

Earlier, Scott Morrison chose his words carefully as the prospect of military conflict between China and Taiwan continues to grow.

Taiwan has warned it is preparing for a 'final assault' from Beijing and has called on support from Australia.

The prime minister was circumspect when asked whether Australia stood with Taiwan.

Australia abides by a 'One China' policy in its engagement with Taiwan, meaning there are no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.

But Canberra maintains trade, cultural and other exchanges with Taiwan separate from mainland China.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (pictured) has remained staunch in the face of Chinese aggression - with many nations now at loggerheads with the communist superpower

Mr Morrison said Australia 'always honoured all of our arrangements in the Indo-Pacific' and singled out its alliance with the United States.

'We're very cognisant of the uncertainties in our region and I'm not one to speak at length on these things, because I don't wish to add to any uncertainty,' he told 3AW radio.

Pressed again on whether Australia stood with Taiwan, the prime minister replied: 'We have always stood for freedom in our part of the world.'

The Morrison government's rhetoric has grown increasingly hawkish in the past fortnight, with senior officials raising the prospect of a military conflict with China over Taiwan.

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo warned the 'drums of war' were beating as the prospect of war over Taiwan grew.

China has warned Australia it must fall in line with its policy to 'reunify' the disputed island of Taiwan if it wants to trade to return to normal. Pictured: Chinese Navy personal stand gaurd

Shocking disparities between Australia and China's military power shows we would struggle in a war, amid fears that tensions both nations are nearing tipping point

Defence Minister Peter Dutton also warned a conflict over Taiwan should not be discounted.

The prime minister said Mr Pezzullo's speech was not authorised by the minister.

However, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has previously confirmed she read his 'very strong' speech in advance.

Mr Morrison said Australia wanted to work with China and others to uphold free trade and the rule of law.

'That's what we're for - a free and open Indo-Pacific - and whoever is in favour of that, we are working well together with them.'
Nancy Fridley, 44, was arrested on Monday and charged with snatching Noah Gabriel Trout from the Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead the day before

A woman accused of kidnapping a two-year-old boy from a Virginia church nursery may have targeted other children in the area prior to the abduction, police say.

Nancy Fridley, 44, was arrested on Monday and charged with snatching Noah Gabriel Trout from the Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead the day before.

Noah was found safe - and with a newly shaved head - at Fridley's trailer 75 miles away from the church in Clifton Forge on Monday afternoon before being reunited with his mother.

The Giles County Sheriff's Office later revealed that Fridley had allegedly been seen outside two other churches in nearby Narrows - 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,' Chief Deputy Scott Moye said. 'She had been to one other church we believe.'

In a news release the sheriff's office said investigators suspect Fridley may have been 'casing other places outside of Giles County to commit similar acts'.

Noah Gabriel Trout was found safe in Clifton Forge on Monday - a day after he went missing. His head had been shaved by the suspects, police said. He is pictured back with his mother

Police said it appeared Fridley targeted Noah at random.

'All indications point to this being a stranger abduction, and Noah being chosen by Fridley at random,' Moye said.

Fridley's boyfriend, Bobby Lee Taylor, 42, was also charged with one count of abduction

Fridley's boyfriend, Bobby Lee Taylor, 42, was also arrested and charged with one count of abduction.

They are both 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.

In a statement to WAVY 10 on Monday, Riverview officials said they fully cooperated with law enforcement.

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

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.
A Twitter account made by Donald Trump's communications team has been suspended a day after it was created.

The account, @DJTDesk, was said to have been set up to share statements from the former President which will also be published on his new website - 'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump'.

That website, which was launched earlier this week, allows fans to repost Trump's statements to their own Facebook and Twitter feeds.

But while that feature is still active, the @DJTDesk account was suspended Wednesday evening for 'violating Twitter rules', according to reporter Andrew Solender.

Trump - who was a prolific user of Twitter and boasted 88 million followers - was suspended from Twitter in January, following the US Capitol riot.

The new @DJTDesk account appeared to be a way to circumvent that ban and allow him to communicate directly with Twitter users.

The suspension of the @DJTDesk account comes on the same day that Facebook's Oversight Board upheld a ban on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.

A Twitter account purportedly made by Donald Trump's communications team has been suspended just one day after it was created. The account, @DJTDesk, was said to have been set up to share statements from the former President which will also be published on his new website - 'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump'

The news is a blow for the former president, who prided himself on his social media prowess and constantly communicated with his tens of millions of Twitter followers

In addition to his Twitter suspension, Trump was suspended from Facebook and Instagram following the Capitol riot.

The Oversight Board released a statement Wednesday which read: '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'.

They added: 'We call on Facebook to ensure that if a head of state or high government official repeatedly posts messages that pose a risk of harm under international human rights norms, the company should either suspend the account for a set period or delete it.'

The Board has now effectively given Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg another six months to decide whether Trump's accounts will be permanently deleted or allowed to be reactivated.

Trump was enraged by the Oversight Board's decision, releasing a statement Wednesday which read: '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.'

Trump was enraged by the Oversight Board's decision, and released the above statement

Trump has now been left to communicate with the public via personal statements which will be published on his new website, 'From The Desk of Donald J. Trump'

Meanwhile, Trump has now been left to communicate with the public via personal statements which will be published on his new website, 'From The Desk of Donald J. Trump'.

The new webpage is referred to as a 'beacon of freedom' in a time of 'lies and silence' in a promotional video, which shows imagery of Mar-a-Lago, where the former president has been living since leaving the White House.

As of Wednesday, he had only posted the video and a collection of his recent statements.

During an interview with conservative commentator Candace Owens on Tuesday night, Trump touted his new site and also lashed out at Twitter.

'People are leaving Twitter and it's also become boring,' Trump railed.

'Now it's become very boring, very mundane. And it's not doing well. Certainly their stock is going down.'

Trump has now been left to communicate with the public via email and public statements which will be published on his new website, 'From The Desk of Donald J. Trump'

As of Wednesday, Trump only posted a collection of his recent statements on his new site
A 40-year-old man will appear in court charged with the attempted murder of another man in Sydney's southwest last year.

The 45-year-old victim was left in a critical condition after being shot at Denham Court on November 6, NSW Police said.

Investigators later arrested a 29-year-old man at a home at Maroubra in February.

Police arrested a 40-year-old man in Surry Hills on Wednesday in relation to an attempted murder in November of last year

The man was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with intent to murder and tampering with evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

He was charged with 20 offences including six counts of aggravated break and enter.

Police allege the man stole a BMW M4 from a home in Lilyfield in July and the car was then used in the Denham Court shooting.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Waverley Local Court on February 24 and will reappear at Central Local Court on May 25.

As part of ongoing investigations, detectives also arrested a 40-year-old man at Surry Hills on Wednesday.

He was charged with intent to murder and tampering with evidence.

He was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court on Thursday.

Samer Marcus, 45, (pictured) was shot on November 6 last year in Denham court
A Catholic school has been forced to remove security cameras installed in a girls' bathroom after outcry from students.

A parent said the camera was installed on Monday at Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College in Burwood, in Sydney's inner west.

A video taken by a student shows the security camera zooming in and moving its view around the room.

That CCTV camera and one in a boys' bathroom was removed on Thursday after Daily Mail Australia contacted Sydney Catholic Schools.

Catholic school has been forced to remove a security camera in girl's bathroom (pictured)

Students said they used the bathrooms as a changeroom so the camera could still film them as they undressed.

'As you may be aware, a camera was recently installed to monitor the wash basins and entrance to the girls bathroom,' a letter by Acting Principal Paul McSweeney to parents said.

'The intended purpose of the camera was to act as a deterrent against property damage including but not limited to smoke detectors.

Mr McSweeney wrote the cameras were positioned to aim at the sinks and entrance only and were not capturing footage from inside cubicles.

'We are now aware this is contrary to SCS (Sydney Catholic Schools) policy and the cameras have been removed,' he wrote.

Sydney Catholic Schools oversees 150 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Camera installed at Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College (pictured) in Burwood, Sydney
A regional IGA has cancelled a special chocolate offer after its social media team mistakenly tagged it with an awkward hashtag.

The supermarket in Yass, about an hour's drive from Canberra, promoted its 10kg chocolate giveway on Facebook - but included the tag #igayass.

The awkward hashtag caused hundreds of juvenile Facebook commenters to troll the store and staff, resulting in IGA cancelling the promotion.

'Unfortunately we have cancelled our 10kg Cadbury block giveaway for the time being,' IGA management wrote.

'Yes if you read #igayass it can be funny, but we will not tolerate our staff being targeted online for some peoples amusement.'

IGA in Yass, an hour's drive from Canberra, posted a promotion to give away a 10kg block of chocolate

The cancellation post only drew more attention, generating 100 times the usual responses to one of the store's posts.

'When boomers hashtag,' one person wrote.

Some speculated the error was deliberate to generate publicity, while plenty defended the store and staff.

'I cant speak for others, but I legit would never have seen that if not highlighted,' one wrote.

'So people had a bit of immature humour. Who cares. However if a staff member was harassed thats a different matter,' another wrote.

IGA Yass management asked genuine competition entrants to 'stay tuned for the new way to enter' and apologised to disappointed punters.
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Why are Jersey and France warring over fishing rights? What were the pre-Brexit arrangements for fishing waters? Until January 1 this year, the UK was subject to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). That meant that fleets from EU states had equal access to the the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of other countries. EEZ areas stretch 200 nautical miles from the coast of each state, or to a maritime halfway point between neighbouring countries. The British fishing industry had long complained that the arrangements meant EU fleets were plundering what should be their catch. What has changed? The post-Brexit trade deal sealed between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before Christmas gave EU fleets transitional rights to UK fishing waters. The EU fishing quota for UK waters was reduced by 15 per cent this year, and will go down another 2.5 percentage points each year until 2026. From that point the UK will in theory have the right to ban the bloc's fishing fleets altogether, although there will need to be annual negotiations. Crucially for the current situation, UK and EU vessels now require a licence to fish in each other's waters. What are the French angry about? A row has erupted over the specific regulations introduced by the Jersey government to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They require French boats to demonstrate they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters in order to get licences, with Jersey adamant that is what the TCA sets out. However, the French authorities claim these 'new technical measures' for accessing waters off the Channel Islands have not been communicated to the EU. As a result they have been dismissed as 'null and void'. There are also disputed allegations that Jersey has been dragging its heels in approving licences for boats that have applied. So, what could happen now and would it ever REALLY end in war? There is a huge amount of sabre-rattling going on, with the UK deploying the navy to counter an extraordinary blockage by French fishing vessels. French ministers have been backing their fishing fleet, threatening to cut power to the Channel Island in retaliation. When such confrontations develop there is always the risk of a miscalculation and real clashes. Boris Johnson has urged the French to use the 'mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems' rather than resort to threats. There are rumours of a call between Mr Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, although No10 said there is nothing arranged yet. Advertisement

A French trawler has rammed a British boat in the sea off Jersey while fishing vessels surrounded a UK cargo ship and set off flares as tensions spiralled over post-Brexit fishing rights.

The 35ft Lasgot sped up as it raced towards the UK boat before bashing it and forcing it to return to St Helier harbour.

It came as tiny vessels delayed the freight ship Commodore Goodwill from leaving the marina, stopping it from getting supplies for the island.

French fishermen said they were ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar as they descended on the harbour this morning.

Jean-Claude La Vaullee, skipper of Le Cach, said: 'I've refuelled the boat - we're ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar.'

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing described the port this morning as 'like an invasion'.

Meanwhile France sent two gunboats to face-off with two Royal Navy warships in the Channel, which were there to marshal the 100 demonstrating ships in Jersey.

The Athos and FS Themis hurtled towards the British Crown dependency to confront HMS Severn and HMS Tamar - despite them being far superior in size and power.

But they came to a halt before entering UK waters and were forced to watch from afar. Jersey's minister of external affairs Ian Gorst said the ship had not asked permission from Britain or the island to enter.

The British boats are armed with cannon and machine guns and are roaming the Channel after Paris warned yesterday it could cut off electricity to the island - which is largely supplied via an undersea cable.

The European Commission said today the terms of the EU/UK trade deal are not being met in waters off the coast of Jersey, due to the conditions imposed on licences for French fishing boats there.

But Boris Johnson reiterated his 'unequivocal support' for the island during a phone call with its officials, adding the two Royal Navy vessels are set to remain in place as a precaution.

The sabre-rattling Prime Minister will keep his eye on events in the Channel throughout today as voters take to the polling booths in the local elections.

The blockade is reminiscent of the Cod Wars in the North Atlantic in the 1970s - when the Royal Navy stopped Icelandic boats from interfering with British trawlers - which were revisited last year as Britain readied Royal Navy ships to patrol its fishing waters if tempers flared.

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.

Shocking footage caught the moment the French ship attacked the British boat in the Channel off Jersey.

The steel trawler Lasgot speeds up as it hurtles towards the UK pleasure boat and makes a huge bang as it makes contact.

The fibreglass rips apart and skipper Jonathan Ruff is forced to return to the harbour. The millionaire property developer said he was just 'sticking up for the island' after the angry french blockade began at around 6am.

He told the Sun: 'I couldn't believe what he was doing. He deliberately sped up and went straight for me clipping my bow. If he had hit my engine I would have been in big, big trouble, I could have lost the boat and anything could have happened.

'They were out of order and if it wasn't for some quick evasive action my boat could have been at the bottom of the Channel. He must have known that I would have come off worse if he had hit me - he's a steel trawler and my boat is only a little pleasure craft. It was totally reckless of him.'

Meanwhile smaller vessels went after a British cargo boat called the Commodore Goodwill earlier this morning, stopping it from leaving the harbour. They lined up and formed a small raft in front of the freight ferry while some set off red flares and hurled them into the water near the UK craft.

The leader of the demonstration later had to ask the French boats to leave the harbour to let the freight ferry depart.

Lasgot, a four tonne vessel from Cherbourg is believed to have rammed a pleasure craft belonging to a Briton in the harbour today

The Commodore Goodwill, pictured, was blocked by the French trawlers including the Nais, Thais Leo and L'Ecume 1 which sailed across her bow in St Hellier harbour as part of the protest

The 'invading' French ships set up a blockade in the harbour at St Helier on the Channel Island of Jersey on Thursday morning, stopping boats from leaving port

HMS Tamar looms in the mist behind French fishing boats taking part in the protest on Thursday morning over their post-Brexit fishing rights

This graphic shows how the two Royal Navy vessels compare to the French patrol boat that has raced to confront them today

A flotilla of fishing vessels are seen in St Helier harbour, Jersey, as French fishermen protest post Brexit changes to fishing in the area. The HMS Tamar is seen here looming behind a small fishing boat

Two Royal Navy gunships have started patrolling the coast off Jersey as 100 French fishing boats threaten to blockade the harbour of the British Crown dependency. Pictured: French boats pen in a British vessel in St Helier Harbour this morning

Millionaire Jersey skipper whose pleasure boat was rammed by French trawler A British boat skipper who was rammed by a French vessel during the battle for Jersey today is a millionaire property developer. Jonathan Ruff is a restaurant tycoon and has a number on the island including Cafe Quest, Tamba Park and Tamba Arcade. He is also looking to convert the former Magic Touch store at the Weighbridge into an eatery. Mr Ruff's other interest for Jersey include opening a casino and a strip club as well as cultivating hemp. Through BCK Holdings he wants adult entertainment on the island to attract more holidaymakers. He told the Jersey Evening Post in January: 'We could also have a strip club or some sort of adult entertainment venue  just stuff that would entice holidaymakers here. 'Although we should keep them we cannot just rely on our green fields and country lanes. 'We need other things that will entice people here and provide entertainment for Islanders at the same time.' Jonathan Ruff is a restaurant tycoon and has a number on the island including Cafe Quest, Tamba Park and Tamba Arcade The entrepreneur started in business when he was 17. He now owns and manages the business empire Ruff Ventures. He set up Northern Leaf in 2019 which cultivates hemp for medicinal cannabis. The firm made a 100,000 square foot facility last year and began cultivation of hemp flower in the same year. He said: 'Northern Leaf is powered by a management team selected for their extensive knowledge of the hemp and medicinal cannabis industry. 'Together they are driving the business forward to be at the forefront of building a new globally relevant industry on the island of Jersey.' Mr Ruff appears to be in a relationship with Madi Lena, who has shared glamorous pictures of them together in Jersey. She set up a vintage clothes shop on the island called Madi Lena Boutique, which opened last year. The couple are believe to have a small farm, where they have chickens, goats and dogs. As owner of Tamba Arcade on the island, Mr Ruff said: 'Tamba Gaming Arcade is Jersey's premier arcade with over 50 top of the range games! 'Shooting games, car games, bike games, zombie games, skill games and prizes to be won, there's something for all ages and expectations. 'With many of our games issuing tickets that can be redeemed for items in our redemption shop, everyone is a winner!' His business has also set up Ruff's Kitchens, which is a charity set up to feed vulnerable children at school in Zimbabwe. His LinkedIn says it feeds more than 5,000 children a day there. Advertisement

Mr Johnson is understood to have decided to deploy the huge British patrol boats after intelligence revealed the 100 fishing boats would block access to the port at Saint Helier.

Maritime tracking websites this morning showed HMS Severn had arrived in 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 arrived and was spotted looming over the tiny French vessels.

Around 100 French boats were in the harbour this morning, with some crews setting off flares during the protest.

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing described the scene at the port of St Helier on Thursday morning as 'like an invasion'.

The 28-year-old said: 'There were a few hand-held flares and smoke flares going off and apparently a few maybe bangers and stuff going off from the French.'

He said the French fleet was mostly made up of 'big French dredgers and trawlers' of about 12 metres or more.

He added: 'It was quite a sight. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea. It was like an invasion.'

He said there had been rumblings about a planned protest a few days ago but he had not been sure if it was 'serious or empty threats'.

He added: 'The French being the French, they don't mess around. They can blockade their own harbours - they wouldn't think twice about coming and doing it to us.'

Meanwhile French fishermen on tiny vessels said they were ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar as they headed towards the Royal Navy ships.

Jean-Claude La Vaullee, skipper of Le Cach, said: 'I've refuelled the boat - we're ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar.'

The furious fisherman, who has been working off Jersey for more than 40 years, said he had now been given the right to '11 hours fishing a year' in the area.

The Battle of Trafalgar of 1805 was in fact a massive defeat for the French and Spanish fleets, as Admiral Lord Nelson led the Royal Navy to a historic victory.

Romain Davodet, another French fisherman, said they had been told the Jersey decision 'were irreversible' and around 250 vessels faced disaster, along with 'more than 2,000 jobs ashore.'

'We're ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar': The sabre-ratting French fishing boats blocking Jersey harbour in post-Brexit face-off with Royal Navy French fishing boats blockaded St Hellier as part of a 100-strong flotilla. Marine tracking shows ships within site of shore being being monitored by the Royal Navy. French ship Athos headed to the area at high speed. Among the vessels inside the breakwater of St Hellier harbour were the French fishing vessels Flash, Le Cume 1 and La Presque Ile II. Other involved in the protest included: Lomerta

Charlevy

Cap Pilar

Hegoak

Sirocco

Hermes

FCharle Marie 2

Cap Lihou

Peccavi

Massabielle

Le Cume 1

Boree Al

Marie Catherine II

Fury Breizh

Thais Leo

Nais

Ev Le Saint Gaud

Le Pearl

Black Pearl 1

Hermine Bastien

Santa Clara

La Presqu Ile II

Monaco Du Nord 2

Goelo

Flash

Nais

Hera Advertisement

Another, Theo Marais, added: 'I'm having my first boat built.

'I'm 24, it's a Euro 825,000 boat that I'm not even sure I can launch it! We love our jobs. We don't want to live on aid, what we want is to work.'

The European Commission defended the fishermen as it blasted Britain, saying the terms of the EU/UK trade deal are not being met in waters off the coast of Jersey, due to the conditions imposed on licences for French fishing boats there.

Spokesman Vivian Loonela told a Brussels briefing: 'On April 30, the commission was notified by the UK authorities of granting 41 licences to the EU vessels who are fishing in Jersey territorial waters from May 1. But there were additional conditions set to these licences.

'We have, following the receiving of this, indicated to the UK that we see that the provisions of the EU/UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, that we recently agreed, have not been met there, have not being respected.'

The European Commission said it was continuing discussions with the UK over licensing arrangements for French boats fishing in Jersey waters and called for 'calm' in the situation.

She said that under the trade and co-operation agreement, any new specific conditions that limit EU fishing activity in UK waters 'need to comply with the objectives and principles' that have been set out.

She told a Brussels briefing: 'Those conditions have to be non-discriminatory between the UK and the EU. Also, but it is an important point, these conditions have to be notified in advance to the other party, so that there is sufficient time to assess and to react to the proposed measures.

'Based on that, we have indicated that until we have received further justifications from the UK authorities, we consider that these new conditions should not apply.

'We are continuing our discussions with the UK, we call for calm in this situation, and we are doing what is foreseen in the agreement, as well as keeping in mind of course the best interests of our fishing community.'

French Europe Minister Clement Beaune added of the UK send two gunboats: 'We won't be intimidated by these manoeuvres.'

But Mr Johnson today backed the British. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator John Le Fondre, the Deputy Chief Minister, Lyndon Farnham and the Minister of External Affairs, Ian Gorst this morning.

'The Chief Minister updated the Prime Minister on the latest developments with French fishing vessels around Jersey's coast.

'The Prime Minister reiterated his unequivocal support for Jersey and confirmed that the two Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels would remain in place to monitor the situation as a precautionary measure. They agreed to stay in touch as the situation develops.'

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.'

Tensions ratcheted up yesterday when French maritime minister Annick Girardin accused the Channel Island 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 its power, with 95 per cent of its electricity coming from France.

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'.

Boris Johnson (pictured on his way to cast his vote today) is understood to have decided to deploy the huge patrol boats after intelligence revealed the 100 fishing boats would block access to the port at Saint Helier

The Sirocco IX, a 17-tonne French trawler involved in today's protest, left, the three-tonne Kertimael II, centre and the Santa Clara, right

The French flotilla sailing across the entrance of St Hellier harbour - led by Monaco Du Nord II, left, Cap Pilar, third left, and the La Bulotiere III, right

The ten-tonne French vessel Cap Lizard was among the vessels blockading the harbour this morning

The maritime protesters lit flares and raised banners during the demonstration on Thursday morning. One here sets off a red flare while others follow in the distance

A message is written on a banner and hung from a fishing vessel in St Helier harbour in Jersey on Thursday morning amid the protest

French fishing boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey to draw attention to what they see as unfair restrictions on their ability to fish in UK waters after Brexit

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

French fishing vessels are pictured staging the protest outside the harbour at St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights this morning

French fishing boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier. They have raised french flags and protest banners across their small boats. They bob across the water towards the harbour during the demonstration

French fishermen hang a banner from their boat as they take part in the protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey

A handout photo issued by Josh Dearing of French fishing vessels staging a protest in the harbour at St Helier, Jersey, this morning

How fisherman's daughter dubbed the 'pirate of hope' sparked 'fishing war' Leading the sabre-rattling that added fire to today's 'fishing war' in Jersey is Emmanuel Macron's hard-left maritime minister, a fisherman's daughter and Brexit hater who has made inflammatory threats to 'cut off' the island's electricity. Maritime minister Annick Girardin, a member of the Radical Party of the Left, is a straight-talking political street fighter who in a previous role led efforts to defend the French language over the growing global influence of English - an abiding obsession of the country's political class. The 56-year-old, once dubbed 'the Pirate of Hope' in a TV documentary praising her radical credentials, grew up on Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, an isolated, weather-beaten French overseas territory of just over 6,000 souls off the coast of Newfoundland, where she gave birth to her first child, a daughter, aged 15. Annick Girardin at a meeting in Cambodia in 2015 while Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie She has repeatedly railed against Jersey officials for delaying the issuing of licences to French fishermen, the dispute that led to 70 boats threatening to blockade the harbour of the British Crown dependency, which in turn prompted Boris Johnson to send two Royal Navy gunships. Also responsible for fanning today's dispute is David Sellam, the head of the Normandy-Brittany sea authority, who said that 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.' The sparsely-isolated archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, where Ms Girardin grew up, is heavily dependent on fishing due to its isolated location in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. Her father began his career as a fisherman before opening a bakery shop, which is now run by her younger brother, David. Speaking to the Sunday Journal, she described having 'two mothers' while growing up - her mother and her grandmother - while her grandfather was a chief of public works. She gave birth to a daughter, Anne-Claire, aged 15 and a half, forcing her to balance childcare with attending school. 'In final year, before going to class, I dropped my daughter off at the nursery', she said. Anne-Claire went on to become a weather presenter and cookery show host, and now has two children of her own, Milo and Eliott, making Ms Girardin a proud grandmother. The minister's partner is Jean-Francois Vigneau, a businessman on Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon who in 2019 attracted scrutiny for winning three public contracts worth 2.1million without competition. Ms Girardin, the great neice of Henri Claireaux, a French senator, joined the Radical Left Party in 1999, and established herself as a key political figure on the island with her left-wing attacks on the local council. Advertisement

He said: 'We're ready for war. We can bring Jersey to its knees if necessary.'

Mr Johnson '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.

A Downing Street spokesman said: '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.'

Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 'The threats on Jersey are completely unreasonable. The Navy's experience in sensitive situations will help reassure residents and protect Britain's broader national interests.

'The British government must now get round the table with French colleagues and authorities in Jersey and sort this issue out.'

But Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said there is not much the Royal Navy vessels can do.

He told TalkRadio: 'It's something that should be dealt with by... not with direct action like this. I always find negotiations by diplomacy rather than by gunboats as you call them.

'There's not really much in my view that a couple of patrol vessels are going to be able to do if a significant number of French fishing vessels decide to actually blockade the port.'

Rear Admiral Chris Parry added the Royal Navy vessels were sent to 'monitor the situation' and to tell the French 'this is getting out of hand'.

He told LBC: 'I think what they're going to try and do is reduce tensions and say we've noticed it's got to a level where we've got to start talking seriously between civilised countries and let's get back to the negotiating table.

'If they don't like something locally in Normandy or Brittany they always go and blockade something or somebody. I think they're forgetting the Royal Navy is the group that's really good at blockading people.'

He added: 'I think early action by the Government in sending a couple of small warships will actually say to the French you've got our attention, we're going to talk now, but let's not be silly.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Trade Minister Greg Hands also spoke to their French counterparts yesterday 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.'

Stephanie Yon-Courtin, a French MEP and member of the EU Fisheries Committee, called on the people of Jersey and the UK Government to 'understand that our fishermen need to carry on working'.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'This situation is all the more sad because historically Jersey and the French fisherman have always had very cordial and pretty good relations for the past decade.

'Some of Jersey's people need to understand, and Jersey's government and UK Government, have to to understand that our fishermen need to carry on working.'

Asked if she supported the threat that power could be cut off to Jersey in the future, she added: 'I'm just saying that at the last resort, if we don't have any other means to be understood, then we will have to consider that. We don't want to do that, I don't think it's good, I don't think it's good for anybody.'

Two of the French fishermen are pictured on their boat as they continue the protest over fishing access in British territory

A banner hangs on a French fishing boat as other boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey

Power struggle: UK plans to counter French threat to pull plug on Jersey Britain is looking for alternative energy supplies for Jersey after France's fishing tantrum  turning to the Netherlands as an alternative. 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. But furious sources in Government have said the French threat to cut off Jersey's energy has blotted its copybook and force them to consider alternative supplies. They have identified the Netherlands as a more 'reliable' contact and are already in talks over how a deal could proceed. Jersey Electricity, the group managing power on the island, is also known to be exploring renewables including solar and wave generators. Advertisement

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.'

Don Thompson, president of Jersey Fishermen's Association, said the 'big question on everybody's lips right now is 'will our Government capitulate to that sort of tactic?'.

He told Good Morning Britain: 'The French fishermen out there want conditions removed from their licences so that they can fish with no constraints in our waters, whilst our boats are subject to all sorts of conditions about how much they can catch, where they can go.'

He said it would be 'grossly unfair' if the Government does 'capitulate to that' and said such tactics might be used 'again and again in the future'.

He added: 'They're not very happy fishermen down here this morning, suspecting that we probably will see our Government give in to that.'

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 said 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.'

The Royal Navy's HMS Severn Offshore Patrol Vessel enters the River Tyne on a previous deployment

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

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

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.'

Cod Wars and the bitter 30-year 'war for the waters': How Icelandic and British fishermen first clashed over fishing grounds in the 1950s The Government's decision to send two Royal Navy gunships in response to a threat by French fishing boats to blockade the harbour of Jersey has sparked fears of a return to the so-called Cod Wars of the 1950s and 1970s. Those confrontations saw Britain and Iceland clash repeatedly over access to waters in the North Atlantic. The quarrels were so ill-tempered that at times the Royal Navy had to step in to stop Icelandic boats from interfering with British trawlers. At its peak, 37 Royal Navy ships were mobilised to protect British trawlers who were fishing in the disputed territory. The Frigate HMS Scylla even collided with the Icelandic fishing vessel ICGV Odinn. The First Cod War took place in the autumn of 1958 and was caused by arguments over who could fish in the seas surrounding tiny Iceland. The Grimsby trawler Gavina is pictured being harassed by Icelandic gunboat Averkur during the 'Cod Wars' in June 1973 Iceland had brought in new laws that extended their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)  the area of sea a country controls exclusively  to 12 miles. After skirmishes off the coast of Iceland, the British Government accepted it had to back down. The Second Cod War came in September 1972, when Iceland extended its EEZ further to 50 miles. The UK refused to accept this new limit and the Royal Navy intervened to protect British vessels. Eventually it was agreed that Britain could fish in certain areas within the zone, so long as no more than 130,000 tons of cod was removed each year. The final Cod War came in late 1975, when Iceland increased its EEZ limit once more  this time to 200 miles. Due to the presence of a US-manned NATO naval air base in Iceland, the Americans put pressure on Britain to back down, over fears Iceland might force the base to close. Eventually, it was agreed that a maximum of 24 British trawlers could fish in the new EEZ, as long as their catch did not exceed 50,000 tons. There have also been more recent rows over fishing rights between Britain and its European neighbours. In 2018 a so-called 'scallop war' erupted which saw French and British boats angrily clash over access to shellfish off the coast of Normandy. Advertisement

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 any large French fishing vessels that want to enter the waters will need a licence provided by Jersey's government.

But fishermen have complained 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.'

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.

'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

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

Navy paints HMS Tamar with WWII 'dazzle camouflage' days before it is sent to Jersey The 'dazzle' camouflage paint job applied to a new Royal Navy patrol ship was originally used on an array of vessels in the First and Second World War in the hope that it would confuse enemy German U-boats and ships. Military chiefs have resurrected the colour scheme on HMS Tamar, which will head to the Asia-Pacific region later this year. It boasts shades of black, white and grey in strange, jarring shapes which were added by shipwrights at the A&P yard in Falmouth, Cornwall. Dazzle camouflage owes its existence to Royal Navy officer and artist Norman Wilkinson and the height of the first Battle of the Atlantic in 1917. With Britain struggling to deal with the U-boat threat, Wilkinson came up with the idea of confusing skippers during patrols out of Plymouth. He couldn't make ships invisible - the smoke belching from their funnels were an obvious give-away - but he could make it much harder to identify them, or judge their course and speed. The paint job was used on WWI ships including HMS Furious and HMS Nairana before being appearing in the Second World War on HMS Badsworth and HMS Trinidad, among others. Advertisement

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.

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

'A peaceful protest': French media downplays Jersey fishing row French media downplayed the Jersey fishing row today even as flotilla of boats blockaded the island's port - saying just 50 vessels were involved in a 'peaceful demonstration' over post-Brexit fishing rites. 'There is no question of attacking', one French fisheries official was quoted as saying, despite British and French naval gunboats mooring nearby. 'The goal of the game is to be seen, to show our determination.' Le Monde, one of France's biggest newspapers, said the protest came after a 'half-hearted' threat to cut off the island's electricity by French Sea Minister Annick Girardin. The island depends on France for 95 per cent of its power. One fisherman quoted by French news agency AFP even claimed three Jersey vessels had joined the demonstration, saying: 'It's even incredible to have succeeded in bringing all these people together.' Simmering tensions between Britain and France over fishing rites boiled over this week after new rules came into force last week, meaning French vessels can no longer fish near the islands without a licence. In order to qualify for a licence, French vessels had to submit evidence of their fishing routes and usual activities, with conditions written in to the licence matching those routes and fishing methods. Advertisement

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.
A judge has said Jarryd Hayne was 'fully aware' his victim was not consenting when she sentenced him to five years and nine months in jail for raping the young woman in her bedroom.

The former NRL superstar was distraught as Judge Helen Syme handed down the verdict on Thursday afternoon at a Newcastle court.

The 33-year-old will be eligible for parole in three years and eight months over the attack from the night of the 2018 NRL grand final.

Judge Syme on Thursday said the former Parramatta Eels captain 'refused to accept the verdict, shows no remorse and refuses to change his attitude towards sex or women'.

He was found guilty in March of two counts of sexual assault by a jury of seven men and five women during a retrial in Sydney.

Jarryd Hayne has been sentenced to five years and nine months in jail after raping a young woman on the way back from a grand final party

He was found not guilty of the two more serious charges of aggravated sexual assault without consent inflicting actual bodily harm.

'She (the victim) has every right to feel safe from attack in the privacy of her home,' the judge said.

'The fact is she said no to the sexual activity the offender was forcing on her. The offender was fully aware the victim was not consenting and went ahead anyway.

'I do not accept that he was not aware she was trying to push him away and physically resisting him.

'I do not accept the offender did not know or did not hear the victim telling him she did not want to have sex with him.'

Judge Syme said the attack only ended when she started to bleed, and that Hayne had ignored her previous pleas for him to stop.

Jarryd Hayne proposed to Amellia Bonnici on Christmas Day and the couple married a month later

Hayne is seen outside court on March 22 with his wife Amellia Bonnici (pictured) before he was found guilty and sentenced to jail

'He stopped not because she said to, but because he noticed the blood,' she said.

'He didn't stop because he thought what he was doing is wrong, and he's never accepted this.'

The judge said Hayne's decision to ignore the woman's pleas to stop when forcibly giving her oral and digital sexual intercourse only increased the objective seriousness of the crime.

Due to Hayne's physical build, that being of a professional athlete, his victim stood no chance in trying to fight him off, the judge said.

Judge Syme said it was hard to see Hayne's prospects of rehabilitation being regarded as high since he continues to maintain his innocence.

The woman who was then aged 26 read out a victim impact statement to the court detailing the ongoing trauma the attack has brought her.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, Hayne, 33, bowed his head in the witness box as the first guilty verdict to a rape charge was entered in March

She said she underwent flashbacks of the night whenever she came face to face with Hayne during the trial, and would never be the same again.

She said the former NRL star had left her feeling dirty and violated, and Hayne had seen her as an object.

'You don't owe somebody your body, nor should they expect it,' the woman said.

'My body remembers and my mind won't let me forget.

'This assault has changed me. It changed my direction and who I was. I don't remember the last time I had a proper sleep.

'I have spent countless hours crying, the feeling of violation and feeling dirty doesn't go away. I have nightmares and flashbacks of his face looking right through me. Sometimes I can't get out of bed.'

She also revealed she and her mother no longer live in their home because the trauma of what happened there was too much to bear.

Hayne was once regarded as one of the best players in the NRL but he will now spend the next three years in a prison cell

The woman said she no longer trusted anyone, pushed everyone away and 'freaks out if I get close to anyone'.

The crown case against Hayne was he arrived drunk at the woman's house in Newcastle on September 30, 2018 and stayed for about 45 minutes, committed two sex acts on her without her consent involving digital penetration and oral sex before causing two separate injuries to her genitalia before leaving.

The woman told the jury Hayne tried to kiss and touch her but when she said 'no' and 'stop' he pushed her head into the pillow, ripped off her trousers and attacked her.

Hayne claimed he knew the woman did not want to have sex with him after she realised he had a taxi waiting outside but she agreed to him performing oral sex on her to please her.

He said the woman's injuries must have been caused when he accidentally cut her with his finger.
The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has been burst by two Covid-19 cases in Sydney, as fears grow there might be more positive tests to come.

As a result, authorities from New Zealand on Thursday confirmed they will pause quarantine-free travel from NSW from 11.59pm on Thursday night.

The travel pause will last for at least 48 hours.

NZ Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins acknowledged the development would be frustrating for many who had international travel plans.

The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has been burst by two Covid-19 cases in Sydney (stock image)

'With several outstanding unknowns in the situation in Sydney it is safest to pause the QFT [quarantine-free travel agreement],' he said.

'This isn't a decision we take lightly. But we indicated when we opened up the trans-Tasman travel bubble that we would continue to be cautious.'

Hipkins said anyone who has travelled to NZ from NSW over the past six days will be contacted by health authorities.

'They will be asked, if they have been in one of the locations of interest, to isolate and to seek a test,' he said.

The travel pause comes as Sydney scrambles to contain the number of Covid positive cases, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warning more locally acquired cases were likely to emerge as health authorities frantically hunt for a 'missing link' in the infection chain.

The two confirmed positive cases in NSW are a man in his 50s from Sydney's east who tested positive on Wednesday.

One of his household contacts, his wife, also in her 50s, was confirmed on Thursday.

Authorities from New Zealand on Thursday also confirmed they will pause quarantine-free travel from NSW from 11.59pm on Thursday night - for at least 48 hours (stock image)

Chris Hipkins, the NZ Covid-19 Response Minister, said the travel pause will prevent a possible spread from NSW as health officials look to determine the source of infection (stock image)

NSW Health have now to traced the man's infection using genomic testing to a returned traveller from the U.S. who contracted an Indian variant of the virus.

About a month ago he was taken from hotel quarantine to special health accommodation, but it remains a mystery how he came into contact with the man.

Following the two positive cases, Covid restrictions were re-introduced for three days in Greater Sydney, with the return of compulsory masks and visitors in homes limited to 20 people.

Drinkers in bars must also be seated and just two visitors will be allowed for residents in aged care homes.

The restrictions will remain in place until at least Monday morning but Ms Berejiklian reiterated businesses should remain open over the Mother's Day weekend.

'We know for sure that someone with the virus has been moving around the community and doesn't know they have it... they may have infected many other people... so what we are doing is a precautionary response,' she said on Thursday.

'Unlike other premiers, we are not shutting down the city.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced a host of new restrictions on Thursday in response to two Covid cases

Pictured: A map showing the venues visited by Sydney's two Covid cases

In a bizarre twist, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet is currently self isolating after he attended the same Sydney CBD restaurant as the coronavirus-positive man.

The treasurer has already taken a Covid test and returned a negative result, however he will still complete a self-isolation period of 14 days.

NRL players from the Sydney Roosters and the Sydney Swans AFL squad have also been sent for Covid tests.

Staff from both teams have been advised to stay home after the infected man visited Azure Cafe in Moore Park.

It is the second time the trans-Tasman travel bubble has been suspended between an Australian state and NZ since it came into affect on April 19.

Last week NZ took similar action against Western Australia after a Covid case breached the state's quarantine system.

Flights between NZ and Western Australian have now resumed with no quarantine requirements.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a host of new restrictions for the Greater Sydney region, including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains, on Thursday including mandatory face masks for the weekend
First this: God created the Heavens and Earth-all you see, all you dont see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. Gods Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. (Genesis chapter 1, verses 1-2)

Ive always seen worship as this black and white act of singing and praising God in church or wherever the worship music is playing. But over the last few years, Ive learnt that worship can look so differently to individuals.

As we see in Genesis, the first thing God did was create. He himself was a creative being, and just like God created the Heavens and Earth we too can create and honor him in different forms of worship.

Creativity is

Creativity is defined or explained as the use of imagination or original ideas to create something, to be inventive. Its an expression of ourselves and our ideas and our unique abilities as individuals to create and express ourselves through different means whether its painting, drawing, poetry, short stories, song or dance.

For me as an individual, although I love to sing and worship God in that manner, Ive come to see that the creative ways Im able to worship God are such an integral part of how I connect and honour God in my life and walk with him.

Creative Christian Communities

Through April last year in lockdown and again this April, Ive been so grateful to be part of an online group called Auaha April where through daily prompts of words or sentences, individuals from across New Zealand and further have expressed themselves creatively often with a reflection of God in their life and our world. So many people have worshipped God through their creative means.

Through this group and the vulnerability and honesty people have shared with, Ive learnt that the act of worship is so unique just like us as worshippers and how cool is it that through our different mediums of creativity we can express ourselves in worship to our one true creator.

Worship with Gladness.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalms chapter 100, verses 2-5)

As the bible calls us to worship with gladness and thanksgiving in the Psalms, we can enter his courts and worship him in whatever means we as a unique child of God feels is the appropriate medium for us.

For me words are often the most likely choice that I will worship with and share the love of Jesus using, and although I love to stand in a room with passionate followers of Jesus and sing my praises to him Im pretty tone deaf but I have a passion for writing and being creative and honouring God in that medium.

Using prompts in a spoken word session run by my talented and creative friend who is the mind and heart behind Auaha April I managed to pen the following piece of poetry in just a few minutes and to me, these pieces guided by the Holy Spirit and his presence in our life is pure worship.

We are not whole or broken,

They will see us as we come to them,

Oceans tell me that the waters will take me to peace,

Pride will prevail over me,

They cant make me expose the muck, the peace will wash me as the waters rise and cleanse my spirit.

Speak to me Holy Spirit,

God above all else who reigns earth,

Your spirit cleanse me whole again,

God take me home to you, a peaceful place,

They come through and heal again,

God have mercy, Christ have mercy.
Travellers returning to the UK from red list countries that would need them to quarantine here at a cost of up to 1,750 are saving money by doing a ten-day stint in Turkey.

Passengers coming back from places like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh would ordinarily need to stay in government-approved hotels when they got back for the huge price.

But the rules only require quarantine if people have been in red list countries for the past ten days before arrival.

It means savvy tourists have now been staying in non-red lister Turkey for the same period at a cost of as little as 450.

After the stay they are able to fly back and isolate at home all within the government's strict rules.

The way passengers from red list countries are beating having to expensively quarantine

Bradford businessman Mohammad Saad said he had travelled to Pakistan March 23 for his nephew's funeral and had been due to fly home on April 10.

He and his son stayed in a hotel in Turkey for ten days on the way back costing nearly a quarter of the UK quarantine price.

Mr Saad told the BBC: 'It's like an extra holiday.

'Then you can fly back into the UK from Istanbul without any hotel quarantine.'

Many are flying from red list countries but are then staying in Istanbul for ten days

Which countries are on the UK red list? If you have been in or through any of the countries listed below in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK. If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days. Current red list countries: Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic, Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Guyana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Advertisement

Student Hashir, 21, returned from Pakistan and did the same thing with other British nationals.

He said: 'There's no way I have that money, I'm a university student,'

And one Leeds taxi driver, 45, said: 'I paid 100 for 11 nights.

'It's a double bed, a TV and a fridge.

'It was online and food was very cheap.'

Travel agents have been booking clients into rooms in Turkey to help them cut costs of quarantine.

Ascher Khawaja of Bradford's Oltrax Travel said: 'I've got customers who can't afford to come back.

'With the hotel factored in, it works out at around 600 compared to 1,700-plus,' he said.

Department for Transport chiefs confirmed people who had not been in a red list country for the past 10 days were not prevented from entering the UK - but should isolate at home.

Guidance states: 'If you have been in or through any of the countries listed below in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.

'If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days.

'If you do not travel in or through a country on the list in the 10 days before you arrive in England, youll need to quarantine in the place youre staying.'
A 71-year-old predator was 'persistent and brazen' as he continued to sexually assault women while giving therapeutic massages over more than a decade.

The first single complaint about Charles William Davidson made about six years ago culminated this week in a second jury finding the masseur guilty of sexually assaulting and raping women as they lay on his massage table.

Davidson was first jailed in March 2018 after being found guilty of 18 counts of sexually assaulting 10 women and raping one in 2014 and 2015.

A jury sitting in a Brisbane court this week found him guilty of seven counts of rape and 30 of sexual assault involving 16 women, and three counts of indecent treatment of a 15-year-old girl.

It was while offering massage services he committed the offences which included tweaking and twisting of nipples, inappropriate touching of groin areas, as well as digital penetration.

They occurred over 12 years from when Davidson was aged 53.

A 71-year-old masseur already in jail for sexually assaulting female clients has been found guilty of preying on other women who went to him for therapeutic massages over more than a decade (stock image)

Two women were sexually assaulted while the masseur was providing remedial massages at his home, while the other offences were committed in physiotherapy, chiropractic and beauty clinics around Brisbane and Hervey Bay.

Davidson wasn't deterred when his contract with one physiotherapy practice was terminated when a woman complained about his actions.

Describing him as a 'sexual predator', prosecutor Judy Geary said the masseur 'systematically exploited (the women's) vulnerability for his own sexual gratification'.

'He's persistent in the offending... and he's demonstrated absolutely no remorse in any way,' she added.

In making submissions on his sentence, Ms Geary said there were no comparable decisions with 'this extent of offending'.

She said the women - some who had never had a massage before - were left confused and humiliated by Davidson's actions.

Brisbane District Court Judge Julie Dick said Davidson's behaviour was a 'significant betrayal of trust'.

'You were persistent and brazen,' she told him in handing down his sentence on Thursday.

'These women disrobed to get a remedial massage: They are in a vulnerable position. They can't jump up and run out into the waiting room,' Judge Dick said.

The 71-year-old predator was 'persistent and brazen' as he continued to sexually assault women while giving therapeutic massages over more than a decade (stock image)

She said it was the brazenness that may have been 'part of the thrill' for Davidson.

'You have otherwise had a good life, a good history, but unfortunately you have a weakness and that weakness is that you couldn't resist exploiting once you started the massage therapy,' she added.

Judge Dick told Davidson he had really damaged his profession.

'You damaged the reputation of other massage therapists who don't deserve that and you probably affected the practices where you were contracted to,' she said.

Davidson emigrated from Scotland with his family in 1955 and is likely to be deported after serving his sentence.

Judge Dick sentenced Davidson to four years in prison for the seven rape charges, to be served cumulatively with the sentence imposed after the earlier trial.

He will be eligible to be considered for parole on June 2 next year.
A jobless waiter has been convicted of murdering and eating his mother after cutting her up into tiny pieces.

After his arrest, Alberto Sanchez Gomez, 28, was branded the cannibal killer of Ventas, the area of Madrid where he lived with his mother Maria Soledad Gomez.

Late on Wednesday a jury found him guilty of strangling the 68-year-old after a row. He dismembered her body before eating part of her remains over the next fortnight.

Alberto Sanchez Gomez, 28, pictured above, has been convicted of murdering and eating his mother after cutting her up into tiny pieces

The jurors, six women and three men, also dismissed Sanchez Gomez's claims he was experiencing a 'psychotic episode' when he murdered and cut up his mother.

State prosecutors demanded a 15 year and five month prison sentence for the drug user if he was convicted of homicide and desecration of a human corpse when his two-week murder trial started on April 19 at Madrid's Audiencia Provincial court.

The judge will decide how long he should be jailed for in the next few days. Sanchez Gomez told police who arrested him at their flat in Madrid in February 21, 2019 that he had been eating his mum 'bit by bit' with his pet dog.

Detectives found parts of tragic Soledad's remains in Tupperware containers in their fridge and bones in drawers around the family home, an apartment near the Spanish capital's famous Las Ventas bullring.

Her head, hands and heart were found on her bed. Local reports at the time said her body had been cut up into more than 1,000 tiny pieces.

Sanchez Gomez told police who arrested him at their flat in Madrid in February 21, 2019 that he had been eating his mum 'bit by bit' with his pet dog

Officers who got him to open the door of the apartment they shared are said to have received the response: 'Yes, my mother is in here, dead' when they asked after the OAP.

The alarm was raised by a worried friend of Soledad's who told the authorities she hadn't seen her for a month.

A prosecution indictment submitted to the court ahead of the trial said the cannibal killer used a carpenter's saw and two kitchen knives to cut up his mum's body.

Sanchez Gomez, who cabinet-maker dad died when he was 15, claimed in court at the start of his murder trial he had heard 'hidden messages' when he watched TV and voices telling him: 'Kill your mum.'

He told Madrid's Audiencia Provincial court that the voices were those of neighbours, acquaintances and celebrities.

Officers who got Sanchez to open the door of the apartment they shared are said to have received the response: 'Yes, my mother is in here, dead' when they asked after the OAP

But he insisted he didn't remember cutting up his mum or eating her remains as he told police when they went to the murder scene.

During a final address to the court last Friday he insisted: 'I'm very repentant. I suffer anxiety from the moment I wake up.

'I think of my mum and I'm absolutely heartbroken.'

Jurors heard the convicted killer, who regularly consumed drugs and alcohol, had been arrested 12 times for mistreating his mum before the grisly outcome of their last row.

A police officer who gave evidence during the trial said: 'He began to tell us as he was being transferred to a police station the he had strangled her from behind.

'He also said he had eaten parts of her body, some cooked and some raw, and had given some pieces to the dog.'
A huge blaze has ripped through a scrap yard near London City Airport with more than 70 firefighters battling the flames overnight.

London Fire Brigade sent 10 engines to the scene in Newham at 10.46pm yesterday as huge clouds of smoke engulfed the area.

Crews tackled the flames through the night and remain at the scene this morning where around 150 tonnes of scrap metal are still partly alight.

It is not yet known what sparked the blaze but emergency workers said no one was hurt. Locals are being advised to keep their windows and doors shut.

London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters were deployed to the fire in Newham, east London, at 10.46pm yesterday

The firefighters tackled the flames for hours and are expected to stay at the scene throughout the morning

The fire brigade has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

London Fire Brigade tweeted at 1.07am to say: 'Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been called to a fire at an industrial estate on Thames Road in Newham.'

Around 150tonnes of scrap metal are still partly alight at the scrap yard and the area is still engulfed in smoke

It later added: 'Firefighters continue to tackle a fire at a scrap yard in Newham where scrap metal is alight.

'There are no reports of any injuries, but the fire is causing a significant about of smoke.'

And three hours ago the fire service added: 'Around 70 firefighters continue to tackle a fire at a scrap yard in Newham. It is likely that firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the morning.'
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Jubilant Tories predicted that Labour will 'hit bottom' under Keir Starmer tonight amid signs Super Thursday will see them inflict more huge blows on the Red Wall.

Boris Johnson has hailed a 'big day' and urged voters to come out in the Hartlepool by-election - a previously rock-solid seat where he is hoping to pull off another shock victory.

Bullish Conservative MPs who have been on the ground in the constituency today pointed to a 'clear swing' towards them. 'If you thought the bottom of Labour was Corbyn then you are wrong,' one told MailOnline.

Meanwhile, Labour activists doorknocking sounded relentlessly glum. 'We are suffering from Long Corbyn,' one senior figure said in a grim coronavirus analogy. 'It is going to be really difficult... we will find out tonight whether we have hit bottom.'

The PM cast his ballot along with fiancee Carrie Symonds at Methodist Hall in central London this morning as the crucial set of elections got underway.

In a video shared on social media afterwards he said: 'It's a very big day at the polls today. I hope everybody will go out and vote.' He also posted another film urging people to vote in the Hartlepool by-election - underlining the focus on scooping the key seat.

The Tories have been boosted by a final poll showing they have a huge 10-percentage point lead - driven by the success of the vaccine rollout.

Keir Starmer is braced for a disastrous 'hat-trick' of defeats in Hartlepool, as well as the two key mayoral races in the West Midlands and Tees Valley.

Allies believe a hard-Left challenge is inevitable if the results in his first major electoral test are as bad as feared - but they are also confident he can survive.

Sir Keir voted at Greenwood Centre in Kentish Town this morning accompanied by his wife Victoria. Asked by reporters how he was feeling about the contest, he said: 'Good.'

Votes will be cast in every part of Great Britain, with the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, London Assembly, and Hartlepool by-election up for grabs.

More than 5,000 council seats in England will also be contested, along with 13 mayoralties and 39 police and crime commissioner positions.

YouGov's final poll before the big day found the Tories were on 43 per cent nationally, ahead of Labour on 33 per cent.

The research, conducted over the past two days, found 40 per cent had a favourable view of Mr Johnson, compared to just 31 per cent for Sir Keir Starmer.

Importantly more than 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.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he leaves a polling station with his fiancee Carrie Symonds in London today

Labour party leader Keir Starmer and his partner Victoria leave a polling station in London after casting their vote today

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outside the polling station at the Annette Street school in Govanhill, Glasgow, this morning

Sadiq Khan accompanies his wife, Saadiya, and his dog Luna to the polling station at St Albans Church in South London today

Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey and wife Ellie Bailey arrive at Drapers' Pyrgo Priory School polling station in London today

Glum Labour activists say the party is suffering from 'Long Corbyn'. Pictured left, Jeremy Corbyn voting in London today. Right, Laurence Fox arrives at a polling station in Vauxhall, London, with his dogs Blaze, Sparky and Mrs Thatcher to vote today

The Tories have been boosted by the latest poll showing they have a huge 10-percentage point lead - driven by the success of the vaccine rollout

Only a fifth believed Sir Keir Starmer would have performed better, while one third said it would have been 'much the same' under Labour and 29 per cent said it would have been worse.

Other polls have suggested that the race has been narrowing amid the 'wallpapergate' and lobbying rows.

But a bombshell Survation poll for ITV's Good Morning Britain this week found that the Conservatives are 17 points clear in the pivotal Hartlepool contest - a seat that Labour has held ever since it was created.

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.

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'.

Dogs outside the polling station in Dulwich, South East London, this morning as the local and mayoral elections take place

A group of Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart arrive to cast their vote at Dysart Community Hall in West Port today

A Chelsea Pensioner drives his mobility scooter past a sign for a polling station after voting in London this morning

The polling station at the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, Hampshire, today - also known by locals as the 'Pub with no name'

Snowy conditions at a Scottish Parliamentary election polling station in the village of Farr, near Inverness, this morning

The PM cast his ballot along with fiancee Carrie Symonds in London today as the crucial set of elections got underway

'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.

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

'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.'

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.'

One shadow cabinet minister who has been busy canvassing in key Red Wall battlegrounds told MailOnline that although the situation was bad the polls could be overplaying it.

The Starmer ally said the Survation poll that suggested the Tories have a 17-point lead in Hartlepool was clearly an 'outlier'.

'It is not as bad as the polls make out Constituency polls are notoriously difficult to do well because of getting a proper sample,' the MP said.

'What I am picking up from all the places I have campaigned in, the hard edge of hostility that was in many of these areas a couple of years ago has certainly faded. The hostility has drained away.'

The senior figure said 'politics and elections are certainly the last thing on people's minds' amid the ongoing pandemic. 'Where we are giving them a good local reason or we have a good local organisation they are willing to come back to us,' they said. 'We are regaining a hearing.'

The frontbencher 'I think the results will require quite detailed analysis. It won't be clear from one or two headline results.

'It is a step towards the next election. It is quite uncertain, it really is.'

They said there was 'bound to be' a left-wing assault on Sir Keir unless the results were far better than anticipated.

But the shadow minister insisted it was only the 'usual suspects' on the Corbnite fringe, and there is no danger of the leader being ousted.

'I don't detect any widespread swell behind them at all,' they added.
British bakery chain Greggs has been at the centre of a food safety alert after officials warned there may be shards of glass in some of their products.

Customers are being warned to not eat certain frozen vegetable bakes, made by Greggs and sold exclusively for 2 in Iceland's supermarkets across Britain.

The 310g two pack has since been withdrawn, and the Food Standards Agency is advising consumers to return certain products to the stores they were originally bought in.

At this stage, it has not been confirmed how many packs slipped through safety checks, or how suspected glass fragments ended up in the products.

Greggs has since apologised for any inconvenience this product recall may cause.

2 Greggs vegetable bakes (above) sold exclusively in Iceland are on government's recall list after fears that there may be glass shards in some products

The FSA warned yesterday that the 310g pack of frozen Greggs Vegetable bakes, sold exclusively in Iceland for 2, may contain small pieces of green glass.

In a statement, the agency said: 'The possible presence of glass makes this product unsafe to eat.

'The bakes are exclusively sold in Iceland Stores and the recall does not affect the products sold in Greggs.'

Presently, it is not known how many packs containing fragments may be circulating, or how the presence of the glass was found or suspected.

It's also not clear at what stage the glass is feared to have got into the bakes, and why it was not spotted in the production process before being packed.

A spokesperson for Greggs said: 'The safety of our food is of paramount importance and we take all issues regarding the production of our food extremely seriously.

'We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

The FSA explained the alert involves 310g packs of two vegetable bakes with best before dates of 15 August 2021, 28 August 2021, 11 September 2021, 12 September 2021 and 26 September 2021.

310g pack of frozen Greggs Vegetable bakes, sold exclusively in Iceland for 2, have been recalled, but other products from the bakery chain remain unaffected

It continued: 'Point of sale notices will be displayed in all Iceland stores. If you have bought the above product do not eat it.

'Instead, return it to the Iceland store from where it was bought for a full refund.

'If you have any queries, please contact the customer careline on +44 080 8147 3447 or email: getintouch@greggs.co.uk.'

British-based Greggs is listed on the London Stock Exchange FTSE 250 index and has 19,000 employees working in more than 2,000 locations.

The firm was founded in Newcastle upon Tyne by John Gregg in 1939.
A family is mourning an 'amazing' father of four who was stabbed to death after he interrupted his twin daughters' birthday barbecue to give a homeless man leftovers.

James Gibbons, 34, a plumber known locally as Gibbo, was stabbed on an estate that locals call 'Alcatraz' in Laindon, Essex, at around 9.30pm on Sunday.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene in Iris Mews that afternoon, after youths riding scooters had spent the day drinking and screaming abuse at residents.

Mr Gibbons was trying to chase the teenage gang away from a homeless man they were harassing when he was attacked, a family friend told The Sun.

The friend said: 'He had seen a man who was living on the streets earlier in the day, and he decided to take him some food, which shows what kind of guy he was.

Friends say that father-of-four James Gibbons, 34, was stabbed after trying to chase a violent teenage gang away from a homeless man he had offered barbecue leftovers to

Mr Gibbons, who was engaged to his partner of 11 years, was found with stab wounds and died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics.

The family had been celebrating his two-year-old twins' birthday barbecue when 'Gibbo' intervened after a young gang were allegedly attacking a homeless man.

The close family friend continued: 'This group of teenagers were attacking the man on the street and when James saw him he bravely stepped in.

'He was then stabbed by the kids who had been attacking the other man. The family are devastated, James was incredible and their kids have lost their dad.'

Mr Gibbons' family have described him as a loving father who would always look out for anyone less fortunate than himself.

His mother, Wendy, has returned to the UK from her Spanish home to support the family - six years after her 26-year-old son, Ashley, passed away after an epileptic fit.

In a statement, the family said: 'James was an amazing father of four young children, engaged to his partner of 11 years, and was a loving and supportive son and brother.

'James was a hard-working family-orientated man, who ran his own bathroom fitting company and was looking forward to a positive future for him and his family.'

They added: 'This tragedy occurred after he had spent the day celebrating his two-year-old twin girls' birthday at home and we are absolutely broken beyond belief at this pointless loss which has had a devastating effect on us all.

'James was the kind of person who would always be prepared to help anyone less fortunate than himself, which is what he was doing on Sunday night.

'As a family we are urging anyone to come forward with any information that may help the police as they investigate James' death in the hope we can get justice.'

James Gibbons (pictured with his family), known locally as Gibbo, was stabbed on an estate that locals call 'Alcatraz' in Laindon, Essex, at around 9.30pm on Sunday

Police have since arrested three boys and two girls aged between 13 and 16 in connection with the killing.

Locals have been shocked by the stabbing and say a gang of youths had been roaming the estate and drinking in the lead up to the tragedy.

One man who did not want to be named said: 'A man came out and told youths to be quiet and someone came out to back him up and he was the one who got killed.

'I heard he was having a barbecue for his daughter's birthday, it is awful.'

Mr Gibbons had proudly posted loving family photos on his Facebook page which feature his partner and four young children.

Flowers paying tribute to 'Gibbo' have been left outside a property where locals say the stabbing happened.

The emotional tributes state: 'Gibbo, you really was one in a million. I can't believe you are gone I will cherish the memories you have been taken from us far too soon, but may you rest in eternal peace.

'Love ya Gibbo.'

Another friend, Kerri Goss, sent her condolences via social media, writing: 'I have never known a family to have a bond that even comes close to theirs.

'That's how I know you'll get through this, forever looking out for each other, extending to friends that became family, never leaving one person not knowing how much they are loved and appreciated.

'They lived life to the fullest each and every day. I feel blessed to have known their huge personalities, loved by the biggest hearts and felt the uniqueness they brought into the world.

'My thoughts are with all of your family, everyone will forever hold you in their hearts and cherish the memories you graced us with, rest in eternal paradise.'

Kayleigh Bartholomew added: 'In shock, a caring man till the end, that man a true gent. Sleep tight James Gibbons.

'You're with your baby bro again now as much as it kills me to write that.

'Love you always thinking of your family forever in our hearts. Rest in perfect paradise boys.'

Police have since arrested three boys and two girls aged between 13 and 16 in connection with the killing

Mr Gibbons was found in Iris Mews with stab wounds and died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics

Pictured: Police at the scene in Iris Mews in Laindon, Essex

Another local Michaela Hales, 38, was left shocked by the killing. The mum of five said: 'I can't believe how young the kids are, we are thinking of moving out and renting privately now.

'You don't want this on your doorstep, I can't live here now. The kids are 13 and 14 years old it is just shocking.'

Another neighbour said: 'I'm just really sorry for the family.

'He was very nice and the family are amazing. He was having a BBQ for his daughter's birthday, it is just so sad.'

The killing unfolded on the estate which is known as Alcatraz, a famous American prison - due to its fortress-like appearance.

Speaking to BBC Essex, detective chief inspector Stephen Jennings said: 'It's early stages to piece together exactly what's happened and why.

'We believe the victim was coming to the aid of another man who was in the area and was attacked by one or more of the youths which appears to have cost him his life.

'We're really keen to hear from anyone that was in that area, may have seen something happen, or even just heard in the local area what could have taken place and who could have been involved.'

In a later statement he added: 'It is a tragic loss of life and we are continuing to appeal for the public's help.

'We are really keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen or heard anything happen in Iris Mews shortly before 9.30pm on Sunday.

'We are also keen to hear from anyone who has seen any discarded weapons in the area.

Police have since arrested three boys and two girls in connection with the killing. Pictured: Police at the scene

The victim was found in Iris Mews with stab wounds and died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics. Pictured: Police at the scene

'If anyone knows anything about this murder and has not yet come forward to speak to us, please do.

'A family has been broken apart, and we need to get to the bottom of what happened.'

A resident of the estate, who didn't want to be named, told the Echo: 'It's not safe.

'I am not going out anymore, it's not safe for the children anymore. Normally you hear a lot through the windows, but we didn't even hear screaming.

'A stabbing or crime is just normal down here. It used to be a lovely area.'

Another resident said: 'It's disgusting. You can't walk around now without looking around and over both shoulders.'

Four teenagers were arrested on the night, with another picked up on Monday.

Two of the teenagers have since been released on bail until May 25 and May 28, a further child was released on bail overnight and two others remain in custody.
Nearly 50 of Britain's biggest firms plan on adopting a 'hybrid' model of working, allowing staff to work from home two or three days a week, a survey has found today.

Working in the office part time - with the remainder done at home - will be a model used by 43 of the 50 companies surveyed by the BBC.

Some 50 firms - which employ around 1.1 million workers in the UK - were asked about how they would operate post-pandemic.

Four of the employers said they were keeping the idea of hybrid working under review, the BBC found.

Advertising company WPP, accounting firm KPMG and business advisors PriceWaterhouseCooper are three of the firms who revealed that their post-lockdown working models would involve a mix of in-office and at home shifts.

WPP staff will only be in the office for one or two days per week while KPMG will work at their desks for up to four days in a fortnight.

PriceWaterhouseCooper will allow its staff to work from home a couple of days a week and start at any time they like.

Britain is on track to lift all Covid restrictions on June 21 under Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, meaning any number of people can interact indoors from then.

And the Prime Minister this week revealed there is a 'good chance' that current one-metre social distancing rules will be scrapped on that date too.

As it stands, Britons are asked to work from home where possible, but the rule change could see countless people flocking back in.

While some welcome not having to commute, others - especially those who live alone or have inadequate home-working arrangements - long to return to their desks.

Nearly 50 of Britain's biggest firms plan on using a 'hybrid' model of working, allowing staff to work-from-home two or three days a week. Recruiter Adecco (its London HQ pictured) said four-fifths of its 34,000 employees are working from home

Working in the office part time - with the remainder done at home - will be a model adopted by 43 per cent of the country's biggest companies. JP Morgan (its London HQ pictured) has had some staff back in the office from March 29

Accounting firm KPMG (its London HQ pictured) 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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases

Boris Johnson reveals there is a 'good chance' current social distancing rules will be SCRAPPED on June 21 Boris Johnson this week revealed there is a 'good chance' that current social distancing rules will be scrapped on June 21. The Prime Minister said he hopes it will be possible to axe the existing one-metre plus rule when the nation reaches the final step in his lockdown exit roadmap. His comments came as hospitality bosses said a return to unrestricted trading is 'critical' and will mean that pubs, bars and restaurants can 'come off life support'. Ditching the one-metre plus rule will allow hospitality venues as well as places like theatres to open at full capacity for the first time in more than a year. It was reported overnight that one-way systems, screens and mask-wearing while moving around could remain in place in hospitality settings beyond June 21 but customer numbers will no longer be limited. Audiences in theatres and cinemas will have to wear face coverings during performances, while there will be strict guidance on ventilation and staggered entry, according to The Times. Speaking during a visit to Hartlepool this week, Mr Johnson said: 'As things stand, and the way things are going, with the vaccine rollout going the way that it is  we have done 50 million jabs as I speak to you today, quarter of the adult population, one in four have had two jabs. 'You are seeing the results of that really starting to show up in the epidemiology. 'I think that we will be able to go ahead, feels like May 17 is going to be good. 'But it also looks to me as though June 21 we'll be able to say social distancing as we currently have to do it, the one-metre plus, I think we have got a good chance of being able to dispense with the one-metre plus from June 21. 'That is still dependent on the data, we can't say it categorically yet, we have got to look at the epidemiology as we progress, we have got to look at where we get to with the disease. But that's what it feels like to me right now.' Advertisement

Advertising company WPP's chief executive Mark Read said: 'We're never going to go back to working the way we used to work.'

He said his employees are only in the office one or two days per week.

Meanwhile, insurance firm Aviva said 95 per cent of its 16,000-strong work force want to be flexible about where they work.

Recruiter Adecco said four-fifths of its 34,000 employees are working from home.

JP Morgan and recruiter Michael Page had some staff back in the office from March 29. Investor Rathbones is operating at 25 per cent capacity with staff allowed to come back 'if they wish'.

Recruiter Hays Group, Adecco and WPP welcomed several employees back from April 12.

Online accounting firm Sage said its office - which can fit 1,800 people - will be needed by employees, who are working both at home and in the office.

Chief people officer Amanda Cusdin said: 'We know for a lot of people maybe don't have a quiet space to work at home and would rather do it in the office.'

Other reports revealed PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC) will allow staff flexibility with their working pattern.

Chairman Kevin Ellis aims to make at-home work 'the norm rather than the exception' to make staff feel 'trusted and empowered'.

Not all firms are favouring working from home, however, as multinational investment bank Goldman Sachs tells staff to be ready to return to the office in June.

The firm's boss David Solomon previously described working from home 'an aberration', BBC News reports.

While bankers have mostly returned to their desks in the firm's Asia offices - those in India and Latin America are still at home due to spiraling case numbers there.

But executives said in an internal memo that they are 'encouraged by the rollout of vaccines'.

It was yesterday revealed that Google and KPMG plan to let staff work from home.

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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases.

And US tech giant Google revealed plans to allow 20 per cent of its 140,000 employees to permanently work from home starting September 1.

The company had originally plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week.

A spokesperson for Google said that starting in September, the company will also transition to a 'hybrid model' with a majority of employees required in the office for at least three days per week.

According to an email circulated by CEO Sundar Pichai, around 60 per cent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations.

The remaining 20 per cent will be permitted to work from home full-time.

'Before the pandemic, we had thousands of people working in locations separate from their core teams,' Pichai wrote to his work force of more than 140,000 employees on Wednesday.

'I fully expect those numbers to increase in the coming months as we develop more remote roles, including fully all-remote sub teams.'

Pichai wrote that the company will offer more details next month on how employees who are interested in requesting to work from home on a permanent basis can request to do so.

KPMG spokeswoman Zoe Sheppard said in an emailed statement: '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 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.

Insurance firm Aviva (its London HQ pictured) said 95 per cent of its 16,000-strong work force want to be flexible about where they work

Advertising company WPP's chief executive Mark Read said: 'We're never going to go back to working the way we used to work.' He said his employees are only in the office one or two days per week. Pictured: WPP's London HQ pictured

US tech giant Google (its London HQ pictured) revealed plans to allow 20 per cent of its 140,000 employees to permanently work from home starting September 1

KPMG unveils a TWO-day week in the office post-pandemic 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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases. KPMG spokeswoman Zoe Sheppard said in an emailed statement: '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 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. Advertisement

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.

JP Morgan 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.

Google will also adjust employees' pay based on their work locations, according to Pichai.

It comes after the tech giant had initially announced that employees could start returning to the office last month but staff would be required to come back by September.

Tech giants, including Google, were among the first to send employees home when the coronavirus began to spread widely in the United States more than a year ago.

Even before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, Google and many other prominent tech firms had been telling their employees to work from home.

Google had originally planned to allow a significant number of employees to begin returning to its Mountain View, California, headquarters and other offices during the summer of 2020.

But the pandemic's ongoing spread pushed back the company's reopening.

Google's biggest offices have been largely unoccupied.

Google is walking back its original plan to have all of its employees return to work at its offices at least three times a week. Pictured: Google's London headquarters

According to an email circulated by Pichai, around 60 per cent of Google employees are expected in the office each week while another 20 per cent will be assigned to new office locations. The image above shows Google's corporate office in New York City on April 13

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 following the recent decline in British Covid cases (pictured: KPMG's London headquarters)

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall. The image above shows the company's offices in Seattle

The decision affected more than 123,000 employees on the payroll of Google and other Alphabet companies, as well as 80,000 contractors that normally work on the companies' campuses.

Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed that the company still plans to have its employees return to the office by fall.

The company had previously given its return-to-office date as June 30, but questions remained as to whether the company would allow some of its 60,000 Seattle-area office employees to continue working from home part time.

'Our plan is to return to an office-centric culture as our baseline,' Amazon said.

'We believe it enables us to invent, collaborate, and learn together most effectively.'

Amazon will not require office workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before they return, but the company is encouraging employees and contractors to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, according to Amazon spokesperson Jose Negrete.

Google's decision last year prompted other tech giants to follow its lead with companies like Facebook also telling employees that they should plan to work remotely until 2021.

At the time, Amazon and Microsoft both said their employees should expect to stay home until at least October 2021.

But as COVID-19 vaccinations roll out across the country, tech giants have started announcing plans to allow employees to come back to work.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29. The 2014 file image above shows the Microsoft Visitor Center in Redmond, Washington

Facebook plans to reopen its offices in the San Francisco Bay Area at 10 per cent capacity this month.

Facebook, Twitter and Square had previously said they'd be allowing employees to work from home permanently, which led to the development of remote or hybrid working structures.

Microsoft began bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29.

In a post on the company's corporate blog, Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said Microsoft has been monitoring local health data and decided it can bring more employees back to its Redmond, Washington campus.

DelBene said workers will have the choice to return to headquarters, continue working remotely or do a combination of both.

More than 50,000 people work at the company's headquarters campus in Redmond, 15 miles east of Seattle.
Prof Khalid Khan, who was suspended over claims he groped a colleague, has been reinstated after claiming he has attended courses on maintaining professional boundaries

A disgraced gynaecologist who was unmasked as a groper in a blog penned by a female colleague has been allowed to treat patients again.

Prof Khalid Khan, 55, one of Britain's top women's health doctors, has insisted he now uses a personalised 'safe social zone' when speaking to women after attending courses on maintaining professional and social boundaries.

Prof Khan had been suspended for 12 months last year after he was accused of fondling the breasts of Dr Jen Gunter 'like an octopus' whilst both were attending a medical conference.

The investigation into him began after Dr Gunter waived her right to anonymity and blogged about the incident saying she she was inspired to speak out by the 'Me Too' movement and what she called 'the brave women in Hollywood' who exposed Harvey Weinstein.

The Canadian medic said she had to 'peel' Khan off her following the 'sustained and deliberate' incident in a hotel bar.

She wrote: 'He started that octopus body crawl that so many women know only too well. He was nuzzling my neck and his disgusting hot breath was in my ear.

'He was groping my breasts, running his hands up and down my back, and putting his arm around my waist pulling me against his body.

'Each time I moved one hand or arm another seemed to take his place. I told him to stop. I removed his hands more forcefully each time.'

Last year, Khan - who was Professor of Women's Health and Clinical Epidemiology at London's Queen Mary University and an honorary consultant at Barts and the London School of Medicine - was found guilty of professional misconduct and sexually motivated behaviour and was banned from working in the UK.

But last month a disciplinary panel in Manchester allowed to him to return to unrestricted medical practise after Khan said he had attended courses on maintaining professional boundaries and claimed he had learnt 'not to deviate from a grey zone' and 'to retract back into a safe social zone' when speaking to women.

Dr Jen Gunter waived her right to anonymity and blogged about incident in 2017, claiming that Khan fondled her breasts in hotel bar while they both attended a conference in the US in 2014

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told that the incident took place in October 2014 whilst Dr Gunter and Khan were attending the International Pelvic Pain Society Conference at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago where they were guest speakers.

She was introduced to the professor in the hotel lobby by a friend after dinner and the three of them went to the bar for a drink but Dr Gunter later became separated from her friend and ended up talking to Khan alone.

In her 2017 account Dr Gunter added: 'The conversation with Dr Khan was going on for literally a few minutes when he placed his hands over my shoulder like we were cuddling.

'I thought it was odd and weird when he did this but then thought Europeans and all that. Dr Khan then moved his hand down from my shoulder and touched my left breast.

A hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal was told that the incident involving Dr Gunter happened at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois in October 2014 (pictured)

'I think I was wearing a black short sleeved sweater and he touched my breast over my clothing. I then used my right hand and moved his hand down and pulled away from him.

'He acted like nothing happened. He didn't say anything. We carried on chatting, I don't remember what we chatted about. He kept putting his hands around my waist and he was then nuzzling my neck.

'I pushed him off and asked him to stop. I pushed him away from me. I recollect being groped about five to six times by Dr Khan.'

Dr Gunter - who is in her 50s - said she was 'shocked' at being groped and told several colleagues of the incident that night.

The General Medical Council subsequently investigated her allegations plus further claims Khan tried to kiss another female colleague and told a junior researcher she had a 'nice bum'.

At his review hearing Khan said during the period of his suspension he had been working on research projects at the University of Medicine in Granada, Spain and had participated in a European-wide project relating to domestic violence.

Prof Khan told the tribunal that he had attended courses to learn how to maintain boundaries, now limits his alcohol intake and avoids conversation topics which may be inappropriate

He had also discussed the issues over his disciplinary hearing with medical colleagues at a recent conference in Denmark.

Khan told the hearing: 'I have learned to modify my behaviour. I continue to meet colleagues socially but I do not initiate physical contact and avoid conversation topics which may not be appropriate.

'I have limited my alcohol intake in those situations and I keep conversations on a professional level, rather than on a personal level. I have come to understand that boundaries are not rigid and there is a grey zone.

'Entrance to the grey zone at a social event is relevant for development of relationships between co-workers however, what is critical is not to deviate beyond the grey zone. I have learnt how to retract back into the safe social zone.

'I have it constantly in the forefront of my mind when engaging with colleagues specifically in relation to touch, mutual disclosure of information and the power differential.'

In clearing Khan to return to work MPTS chairman Ms Sharmistha Michaels said: 'Dr Khan has demonstrated some insight by devising techniques and strategies to enable him to handle situations with professional colleagues in the future - both in a social and professional setting, and, in particular, in a conference setting.

'He is now actively taking responsibility for his actions and interactions with colleagues and the Tribunal is persuaded that the risk of repetition is very low.'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that the United States will respond to reckless or aggressive acts by Russia.

His comments came ahead of a meeting with Ukraine's leadership on Thursday where, in a visible show of support following a massive troop buildup by Russia, Blinken said the Biden administration supported 'Ukraine's sovereignty'.

Speaking during a visit to the UK for a G7 meeting of foreign dignitaries, Blinken spoke about President Biden's approach to foreign policy, putting the emphasis on Russia for a more 'stable and predictable relationship'.

'If Russia acts recklessly or aggressively, as it did with the Solar Winds cyber intrusion, as it did with interference in our elections, as it did with what it's done to Mr Navalny, then we will respond,' he told the BBC on Wednesday.

'But at the same time, we would prefer a more stable and predictable relationship, and if Russia chooses that path there are areas we can cooperate in our mutual interest. But it's really focused on Russia's actions.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that the United States will respond to reckless or aggressive acts by Russia. Pictured: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, greet each other by touching elbows to curb the spread of COVID-19 ahead of their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, May 6, 2021

A statement issued from the two-day G7 talks criticised Moscow for its 'irresponsible and destabilising behaviour', particularly in regard to its actions against Ukraine, and for its cyber attacks.

The SolarWinds breach - massive Russian hacking campaign - targeted at least nine vital US federal agencies, including the Treasury, Justice, Energy and Homeland Security departments. The scale of the hack is still being determined.

In February, Biden made it clear to President Vladimir Putin 'that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions are over,' after his predecessor Trump was seen at times to avoid criticising his Russian counterpart.

Blinken's one-day visit is the first to Kiev by a senior US official under President Joe Biden, who has vowed a firmer line on Russia but is also preparing for a summit with his counterpart Vladimir Putin.

He arrived late on Thursday from London where he joined other foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in condemning Russia's 'irresponsible and destabilising behaviour' in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Blinken opened the day by meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and underscoring the need for greater reforms, even as he showed support against Moscow.

'I'm here really for a very simple reason, which is to, on behalf of President Biden, reaffirm - strongly - our commitment to the partnership between our countries, our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,' Blinken told Kuleba.

He added that Washington will 'work with you and continue to strengthen your own democracy, building institutions, advancing your reforms against corruption.'

Kuleba told Blinken that Kiev 'deeply appreciates' the US aid Ukraine has received to support its battle in the east against pro-Russian separatists, who are widely seen as having the Kremlin's military and political backing.

The G7 renewed its call 'for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders including its territorial waters.'

Speaking during a visit to the UK for a G7 meeting of foreign dignitaries, Blinken spoke about President Joe Biden's approach to foreign policy, putting the emphasis on Russia for a more 'stable and predictable relationship'

US would not object to UK paying 400m Iran debt, says Blinken The US would not object if the Uk decides to repay an historical 400million debt to Iran, Antony Blinken said today. Tehran has linked the row over an abortive tank purchase in the 1970s to the five-year detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Wrangling has intensified this week with claims that the UK could be ready to repay the sum as a 'ransom' - although ministers insist the two issues are not linked. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the US Secretary of State suggested there would be no complaint from America if the sum was paid. 'It's a sovereign decision for the United Kingdom,' he said. Advertisement

'It is critical that Moscow now fully withdraws its forces and takes the necessary steps to help alleviate tensions,' a G7 statement said.

Russia last month amassed 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, the biggest mobilisation since Moscow seized the majority-Russian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and war broke out in eastern Ukraine.

Clashes in eastern Ukraine between the government and pro-Russian separatists have been intensifying since January, a bloody new phase in Europe's only ongoing military conflict which has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

Russia quickly announced a pullback after the latest buildup, leading some experts to believe Putin was testing the will of Biden while seeking to intensify pressure on Ukraine.

Blinken will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has renewed calls to speed up Ukraine's entry into the NATO alliance in the face of fears about Russia.

Western European nations, mindful of Russia's response, have opposed Ukraine's accession and the idea has met a cool response in Washington.

The United States has, however, earmarked $408 million in security aid for Ukraine this fiscal year.

Blinken will also join Metropolitan Yepifaniy -- head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has split from Russian domination -- in laying flowers at a memorial to soldiers killed in the eastern Donbas region

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks at Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine, at the start of a one-day trip on Thursday, May 6

With Biden in the White House, Ukraine will likely enjoy a more sympathetic ear than with his predecessor Donald Trump who was notoriously fixated on conspiracy theories about the country.

Trump held up aid to Ukraine to press Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden, leading to the former president's first impeachment.

The scandal returned to the headlines just before Blinken's trip as US investigators raided the home of Trump's former lawyer, New York's ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had aggressively pressed unfounded allegations of impropriety in Ukraine by Biden's son Hunter.

Blinken is sure to seek to turn the page on Trump's scandals but the Biden administration has also pressed Ukraine on good governance -- long a major concern for Western partners.

Ahead of Blinken's trip, the State Department criticised Ukraine for removing the head of state energy company Naftogaz, saying the shake-up showed 'disregard for fair and transparent corporate governance practices'.

Andriy Kobolev had reduced Ukraine's dependence on Russian gas deliveries and introduced reforms that improved the company's public image.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visits army outposts in the Kherson region, on the administrative border with Russia-annexed Crimea, on April 27, 2021

The US must show Kiev that Kobolev's dismissal has consequences, the independent Ukrainian news website Yevropeiska Pravda said in an editorial this week.

It said his removal negated 'one of the few successful reforms' carried out in Ukraine and would put to rest hopes in Kiev that Biden might visit the country later this year.

Kostyantyn Yeliseev, a former ambassador to the EU who founded the New Solutions enter think tank, said that Blinken could lay the foundations for a visit by Zelensky to the White House, where he was shunned under Trump.

Blinken's visit is 'a very good signal of support for Ukraine', Yeliseev said.

Blinken dashes British hopes of quick Transatlantic trade deal Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted the US and UK were 'profoundly in sync' but poured cold water on the prospects for an imminent post-Brexit pact to boost economic ties in an interview aired on Thursday. In an apparent warning to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he also stressed that Joe Biden is 'focused' on making sure the row over the Northern Ireland protocol does not threaten the peace process. The comments, in an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, came after Mr Blinken attended the summit of G7 ministers in London this week - the first face-to-face meeting since the pandemic erupted. Donald Trump had made great play of his determination to strike a speedy deal with the UK, hailing the potential gains for both sides. But Mr Blinken said Mr Biden's new trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, would now be taking time to review the discussions that had taken place with the previous administration. He said the US wanted to ensure any trade agreement would benefit American workers and their families. 'Our trade negotiator just got on the job, so she's taking the time to go back and review everything that was discussed and that's going to take some time,' he said. 'We want to make sure that, whether it's with the United Kingdom or anyone else, any agreements reached are consistent with the principles that President Biden has established to focus on making sure that these agreements really advance the wellbeing of our workers and their families. That's our focus.' With continuing tensions in Northern Ireland over the implementation of the Brexit 'divorce' settlement, Mr Blinken said the US was 'very focussed' on ensuring the Good Friday Agreement was maintained. 'We want to make sure that, whether it's with the United Kingdom or the EU, whether it's anything we're doing, that we make sure that the tremendous gains from the Good Friday Agreement are sustained and that the economic as well the political wellbeing of Northern Ireland is taken fully into account,' he said. On Iran, Mr Blinken said the US had shown its 'seriousness and purpose' in seeking to strike a new nuclear deal after Donald Trump tore up the internationally agreed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, he said Tehran had to show it was willing to comply with the terms of the agreement  intended to curb its ability to develop a nuclear weapon  amid concerns it was close to achieving a 'breakout' capability. 'Compliance is compliance and what we don't know is whether Iran is prepared to make the same decision and to move forward,' he said. 'Right now, unfortunately, Iran has itself lifted many of the constraints imposed on it by the agreement because we pulled out, and it is now getting closer and closer again to that point where its breakout time is going to be down to a few months and eventually even less,' he said. 'So there's nothing naive about this. On the contrary, it's a very clear way of dealing with a problem that was dealt with effectively by the JCPOA and we'll have to see if we can do the same thing again.' Advertisement
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to another 10 months in prison for taking part in a Tienanmen Square vigil which infuriated Beijing.

The 24-year-old opposition leader marked the 31st anniversary of Beijing's deadly repression by holding candles with thousands of others in Victoria Park last June.

They defied a police order which cited the pandemic and the social unrest which had rocked the city throughout 2019.

Wong, one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong's democracy movement, is currently serving 18 months for convictions linked to the 2019 protests.

Joshua Wong, center, and Nathan Law, left, hold candles during a vigil to remember the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at Victoria Park in Hong Kong on June 4

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong walks in prisoner uniform at the Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre in Hong Kong, on December 3

On Thursday, Wong and three other activists Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen and Janelle Leung, were jailed after pleading guilty to unlawful assembly charges last month.

District Judge Stanley Chan told the group that they 'openly defied the law' and had been 'wise' to plead guilty.

Wong's 10 month sentence was ordered to run consecutively following the competition of his current stretch.

He will have spent nearly two-and-half years in jail by the time he is released.

'The sentence should deter people from offending and reoffending in the future,' Chan said.

Shum, 27, was given six months while Yuen, 27, and Leung, 26, were both handed four months.

Wong, Shum and Yuen have also been charged under a new national security law Beijing imposed on the city last year.

Ahead of Thursday's sentencing they were being held in pre-trial detention and face up to life in prison if convicted under the new security law.

The other defendants - who include some of the city's most prominent activists, many of them also jailed or in detention - will be tried later this summer.

The annual Tiananmen vigil remembering victims of the 1989 suppression of pro-democracy protests has taken on particular significance as many Hong Kongers chafe under Beijing's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Crowds grew in size in recent years, often chanting slogans like 'End one party rule' and calling for democracy in China.

Wong, second left, holds candle as he joins others for a vigil to remember the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at Victoria Park in Hong Kong

But it is unclear if Hong Kong will ever see another legal Tiananmen vigil.

Beijing has rolled out a sweeping crackdown against critics in the finance hub, with scores of opposition figures in detention, facing prosecution or fleeing overseas.

As well as the security law, a new campaign dubbed 'patriots rule Hong Kong' will ensure everyone standing for public office is vetted for political loyalty first.

Officials have already signalled that this year's Tiananmen vigil will be refused permission both as a security risk and because of the coronavirus.

Some have also suggested that chanting 'End one party rule' - as well as the vigil itself - could now be illegal under the new law, which criminalises a wide array of acts deemed to be subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

Chow Hang-tung, a barrister and a member of the coalition that organises the annual vigil, criticised Thursday's sentencing.

Wong speaking to the media after leaving Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institute in Hong Kong in June 2019

'The court has failed to draw a line between what is really unlawful, that is violence activities and what is completely within our rights - peaceful assembly,' she told reporters.

But Judge Chan said the four defendants' attendance at the vigil was 'deliberate, premeditated... and openly defied the law.'

Protests can only go ahead in Hong Kong with police permission, something that has been routinely denied since the 2019 protests and subsequent coronavirus outbreak.

Chow said Hong Kongers would still mark each Tiananmen anniversary, even if the traditional vigil is banned.

'We will find a way to remember this and we will find a way to publicly do this,' she said.
A traditional red phone box has gone on the market for 45,000 - up to nine times the price of a family home in Hartlepool.

The 100-year-old kiosk in the City of London is being advertised on Rightmove as a business space, despite covering just nine square feet.

Its eye-watering price-tag is more expensive than a family home in some parts of the country such as Hartlepool, where three-bedroom houses can sell for as little as 30,000 - with one currently on the market for just 5,000.

The telephone box in London's Square mile is nine times more than a whole home would cost in Hartlepool

The iconic kiosk is being advertised on Rightmove and is one of only 224 red telephone boxes left in the UK

The listing for the phone box on right move described the booth as 'historic' ahead of the auction on May 26

The famous British telephone boxes were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect behind some of the most well known British buildings such as Battersea Power Station, the Tate Modern and Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.

The K2 box is so small the Rightmove listing offers no floor-plan and the advert states: 'Own an iconic piece of British heritage located in the City.

'Run your own business, advertising potential or alternative uses STTP. Electricity is connected.'

Included in the sale price will be a new lick of paint for the buyer.

Similar phone boxes have previously been turned into libraries and shops.

This three-bedroom terrace in Hartlepool is going for 5,000 on Right Move. The buyer of the telephone box could own nine of these instead for the same price

This three-bed terraced family home in Hartlepool is expected to go for around 5,000 when auctioned

It continues: 'Historic England has listed to preserve these iconic red kiosks, and many have transformed them to coffee shops, libraries, museums, bakeries, florists and defibrillators.

'In 2006 the K2 telephone box was voted one of Britain's top ten design icons.

'Between 1926 and 1935 1,700 examples of the K2 were installed with the total number of surviving K2 kiosks being only about 224 in the UK.'

Describing its location, the listing adds: 'The City of London is a historic financial district, home to both the Stock Exchange and the Bank of England.

'Modern corporate skyscrapers tower above the vestiges of medieval alleyways below.

A phone booth next to a pub in Plymouth is expected to go for 7,500. All the phone boxes being auctioned with BidX1 Commercial are currently owned by the same client

This phone box in Nottingham is expected to go for 30,000. The auction will be held online on May 26

A phone box on Bournemouth is expected to fetch up to 19,000 at auction

'Affluent workers frequent its smart restaurants and bars.

'The K2 Kiosk is located at the west end of Austin Friars on its junction with Cophall Avenue and Throgmorton Avenue immediately opposite the offices of BlackRock.'

The phone box is being marketed by BidX1 Commercial, who are auctioning off several boxes across the UK.

They have four more in Central London, all expected to go for around 40,000 - 45,000.

Another is being auctioned in Nottingham, where the guide price is 30,000 and others are being auctioned in Bournemouth, Devon and Southport for 7,500 - 19,000.

Phone boxes have previously been turned into libraries, coffee shops and even a fast-food takeaway.

Tayyab Shafiq, 25, set up a takeaway business in a red phone box on Uxbridge High Street in London

Mo Abouelsaad opened a one-stop shop in a red telephone box on Edinburgh's Royal Mile

Alona and Umar Khalid opened a telephone box cafe in Hampstead High Street

A spokesperson for the auction confirmed that all the phone boxes currently listed are currently owned by just one client and one was already sold in Edinburgh last month for 20,000.

Mat Harris, Director at BidX1, said: 'We're delighted to have sold twelve of these much-loved red kiosks on our digital platform.

'The purchasers have acquired an iconic piece of British heritage via a very modern sales method.

'I'm looking forward to seeing how the new owners put their own stamp on these distinctive red boxes, whether that's a coffee shop, bakery, defibrillator or miniature art gallery.'

The auction will take place on May 26.
Holidaymakers and Cornish locals have erupted in fury as staying at an 'eco-hotel' where G7 leaders will meet costs 4,000 per night ahead of the summit.

The Carbis Bay and Spa Hotel in St Ives, Cornwall, is charging a whopping 4,000 to visitors wishing to reserve one night on June 4, and a minimum of 3,500 to those staying overnight on May 22 and 23, the MailOnline can reveal.

Tourists looking to set aside one room for one adult are shown the prices on Booking.com, with the hotel's double rooms and apartments appearing fully booked for those specific dates, leaving only villas available on the site.

Those wishing to book on June 1 can pay at least 1,200 per night for a two-bedroom apartment, with more rooms available towards the start of May, costing 550 for one night in a two-bedroom apartment.

The G7 summit is set to be held from June 11 to 13, leaving the hotel fully booked between June 7 and 17, with none of its rooms appearing on the site for those dates.

Carbis Bay Hotel confirmed that the 4,000 cost for the six-bedroom villa on June 4 is not higher than the usual rate for its villas.

But residents claimed it made the region appear 'greedy' after Edward Rowe, also known as Kernow King, tweeted a screenshot of the 3,500 cost that appears when searching for one night, one adult.

Mr Rowe, a Cornish comedian and actor, wrote: 'You wanna know why the Carbis Bay Hotel don't give a s*** about planning? One night. 22nd May.'

Two months ago, the hotel faced fury from local campaigners after mature trees were removed before planning permission was sought to create new meeting rooms before the GV summit.

The increase in bookings comes ahead of Carbis Bay Hotel playing host to world leaders including Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau for the event to discuss climate change.

The Carbis Bay and Spa Hotel in St Ives, Cornwall, is charging a whopping 4,000 to visitors wishing to reserve one night on June 4, according to Booking.com

Holidaymakers looking to set aside one room for one adult are shown the prices on Booking.com, with the hotel's double rooms and apartments appearing fully booked for those specific dates, leaving only villas available on the site

Social media users reacted to the cost, with one Cornish local posting: 'What is this place coming to?

'Cornwall used to be better than this. The Cornish are better than this.

'My parents had a hotel at Newquay which we also lived in as a family - they would be so horrified to see how their industry is going.'

Another sarcastically wrote: 'Bargain! Nice touch to include breakfast'.

A third added: 'F***ing hell. That's my mortgage for five months.'

And a fourth tweeted: 'I'd be wanting more than 7.8 or 'good' for 3.5k a night. A fool and his money are soon parted. Grotesque.'

Another said: 'They are all over FB (Facebook), posting filtered images of the beach, with thousands of likes and shares, it's driving me nuts, this fantasy they are creating, that people are just lapping up.

'And anyone who points out the hypocrisy/greed, they just block them.'

Social media users reacted to the cost, with one Cornish local posting: 'What is this place coming to? Cornwall used to be better than this'

'Eco-hotel' fells trees and digs up shrubs for G7 A Cornish eco-hotel where world leaders will meet for a G7 summit has felled trees and dug up shurbs to build new meeting rooms ahead of the event. Carbis Bay Hotel in St Ives has faced fury from campaigners after mature trees were removed before planning permission was sought to create three rooms. An application was submitted in March. If rejected, the work carried out so far will have to be reversed. Several local councillors have spoken out against the decision to remove the trees. Cllr Luke Rogers said: 'I think it's a disgrace that this summit, which is meant to be looking at the effects of climate change and the environment, is being organised and hosted by people who obviously don't give a damn about either.' Cllr Kirsty Arthur added: 'I have yet to see Carbis Bay Hotel make any statements about what they are doing and how it can be explained. 'That would go a long way into people understanding why, although I can't imagine any answer would be sufficient. 'However, we need to remember that it's their land and so legally not much can be done although the environmental implications and moral stance will reflect differently for all of us I'm sure.' On their website, the Carbis Bay Hotel says they take environmental issues 'extremely seriously', and are 'committed to reducing our carbon footprint'. In a statement, the hotel said that a small area of self-seeded scrubland had been removed as part of works that commenced years ago. Advertisement

It follows the hotel felling trees and digging up shrubs to build new meeting rooms ahead of the summit.

But it faced fury from campaigners after mature trees were removed before planning permission was sought to create three rooms.

An application was submitted in March. If rejected, the work carried out so far will have to be reversed.

Several local councillors previously spoke out against the decision to remove the trees.

Cllr Luke Rogers earlier said: 'I think it's a disgrace that this summit, which is meant to be looking at the effects of climate change and the environment, is being organised and hosted by people who obviously don't give a damn about either.'

Cllr Kirsty Arthur added: 'I have yet to see Carbis Bay Hotel make any statements about what they are doing and how it can be explained.

'That would go a long way into people understanding why, although I can't imagine any answer would be sufficient.

'However, we need to remember that it's their land and so legally not much can be done although the environmental implications and moral stance will reflect differently for all of us I'm sure.'

Despite concerns from the locals, the Government had confirmed it was not involved in the changes.

Andrew Mitchell, a local councillor, told The Times: 'I wouldn't want to be the planning officer, who is between a rock and a hard place.'

On their website, the Carbis Bay Hotel says they take environmental issues 'extremely seriously', and are 'committed to reducing our carbon footprint'.

The estate won the AA Eco Hotel of the Year award in 2019-20, and has been praised for its energy centre, which saves 70 tonnes of carbon usage a year and eliminated the need for 12 boilers on site.

In a statement, Carbis Bay Hotel previously said that a small area of self-seeded scrubland had been removed as part of works that commenced years ago.

They said: 'The investments in the estate over recent years, including our on-site Energy Centre, have cemented Carbis Bay's position as one of the UK's best and greenest destinations, in one of the most beautiful bays in the country.

'We appreciate that our passion and commitment to the environment are shared by many, and would like to address the misunderstanding on social media, and reassure our guests and neighbours about the area that we are working on at the moment.

Carbis Bay Hotel has removed trees and shrubland from its five star estate ahead of the G7 summit in St Ives later this year

World leaders including Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau, and Joe Biden are expected to visit Carbis Bay Hotel in June for the G7 summit to discuss climate change

'Part of our long-standing plans for the estate included clearing a small self-seeded scrubland area to the side of the hotel, and work on this area started several years ago.

'We can confirm this was not ancient woodland and there are no badger sets on this piece of land.

'We are working closely with a local landscaping team to increase planting in this area replacing the scrubland with a plethora of trees and plants more suited to the coastal environment.'

MailOnline has contacted Carbis Bay and Spa Hotel for comment.
The boss of Thomas Cook said Brits can look forward to enjoying 'sangrias by pool sides' this summer as he predicted holiday destinations in the Mediterranean would be open by June.

Alan French said he expects to see a 'number of core destinations' on the government's green list in the wake of the UK's successful vaccine rollout, with operators 'ramping up' holidays by the end of June.

He said there was 'good news trickling through', 'which is filling those of us dreaming of a holiday with visions of beaches and sangrias by pool sides.'

The CEO of Thomas Cook said May 17 - the earliest date travel could resume - will be a 'good first step' and will give the industry a welcome boost.

But this comes as a union warned that lockdown weary holidaymakers looking to escape this summer could face delays of up to ten hours at airports.

Queues are already being caused by stringent checks to ensure travellers are not breaching Covid rules designed to stop mutant strains entering the UK.

The Immigration Services Union (ISU), which represents border immigration and customs staff in the UK, is urging the government to change the system to cope with an influx of arrivals and demand when countries reopen.

The union has warned delays of around seven hours seen when travel resumed last summer could rise to ten hours in the coming weeks.

Passengers queue to enter Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport earlier this year

Passengers wearing face masks have their temperature taken as they queue at a British Airways check-in desk at Heathrow airport

TRAVEL LEADERS CRITICISE 'CAUTIOUS' GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO FOREIGN TRIPS Prominent travel industry figures have lashed out at the Government over its plans to make UK travellers take coronavirus tests even when they have been fully vaccinated. In a joint article in The Daily Telegraph, the chief executives of BA, Heathrow Airport, easyJet, Manchester Airport Group and Jet2 have criticised the Government for an 'overabundance of caution'. The group says it is illogical to require fully vaccinated British holidaymakers to pay 60 per person to take a PCR test when coming home from a country on the UK's safe 'green' list, adding the move would jeopardise the holiday plans of millions of people. 'Instead of taking advantage of the success of the vaccine programme the Government risks closing the UK off from the rest of the world,' they wrote. 'We want to be able to support a safe reopening, but if we are not prepared to accept any risk then travel will never restart and we will not be able to support UK travel and tourism businesses and supercharge the UK's economic recovery.' The group added: 'Travel, even from green countries, will still require arrivals into the UK to take a 'gold-standard' PCR test which, until recently, were costing more than double the European average at over 100 each.' Britain's plan puts it out of step with the EU which, while 'not known for rash decisions when it comes to vaccines and the precautionary principle', is letting holidaymakers with proof of vaccination to sidestep tests and quarantine, said the group, which also said the Government's green list of countries was expected to be disappointingly small. Ministers are due on Thursday to decide which countries and territories will be 'green' - allowing quarantine-free travel - from May 17, a list expected to include Gibraltar, Malta, Israel, Iceland and possibly Portugal. Most of Europe - including France, Spain, Greece and Italy - will be amber, The Telegraph said, requiring holidaymakers to self-isolate for 10 days on their return and take two PCR tests. However, ministers remained hopeful most European countries would be open to green list travel by the end of June. Advertisement

Mr French told Sky News today: 'There is the good news from Israel. There's also the change in the Foreign Office advice to travel particularly to some of the Spanish, Greek islands and Portugal. Which is filling those of us dreaming of a holiday with visions of beaches and sangrias by pool sides. So it's lifting everybody's spirits.

'I think also the good news here is of the effectiveness of the vaccine, the lockdown programme is going to plan.

'So we're expecting to see a number of destinations coming onto the green list quite quickly and then we are expecting to see most of the core holiday destinations open up for travel towards the end of June, July and August.'

Quelling fears about a price inflation, he added: 'Hotel prices are probably lower than they've been. Airline prices are probably around par maybe slightly higher than in the past.

'The big unknown is the cost of the testingwe are working very hard with our suppliers to get that as low as possible. We are at 60 a test and we are hoping to get that lower through volume buys.

'So I don't think that the price of a holiday in the Med this summer is going to be significantly more than it's been in the past.

'If anything if you choose the destination correctly and book at the right time there's some fantastic deals out there.'

But his positive outlooks comes as unions warn waiting times have increased because of the need to thoroughly vet every travellers' Covid paperwork, including passenger locator forms  which they fill in with contact details and information on where they're staying  and proof of a negative test.

All arrivals, including British citizens who would normally go straight to the electronic border gates, must be spoken to by immigration officers to check they have not been through a red list country.

If officers are satisfied the travellers are telling the truth, they are allowed to use the e-gates.

If they discover an issue, such as someone failing to book two Covid tests in advance, the paperwork can take half an hour to complete.

BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton told MailOnline: 'Sorting border queues is absolutely in the Government's control, and they must do it now.

'The prospect of hours upon hours of queuing at airports is just another barrier that will put the public off travelling.

'We need passengers to feel confident, safe and secure when looking to travel this summer because without their bookings, the travel industry which is so important to the UK economy, is in serious trouble.'

A Heathrow spokesperson told MailOnline the situation was already 'untenable' and likely to get worse.

'Border Force struggled to provide an adequate level of passenger service even before the pandemic, and now despite significantly reduced passenger numbers, queues continue to surpass acceptable lengths.

'Unless the Government increases resources to ensure every immigration desk is manned, automates checks and moves away from 100% assurance checks for passengers arriving from low risk countries, the current untenable situation will only worsen and jeopardise the restart of international travel later this month.'

Lucy Moreton from the ISU told The i newspaper: 'We saw delays for seven or eight hours last summer, and with all the additional checks then we could see people waiting as long as 10 hours.'

Simon McNamara from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told the i: 'The Government has a plan, but whether they will be able to deliver it by 17 May is another thing.

'We're not optimistic from what we've seen so far. We keep asking what will change on the 17 May that will stop the queues we're seeing and we've yet to be reassured that things will improve sufficiently.'

This comes as travel chiefs pile pressure on ministers to sort out the crisis at Britain's borders in time for the restart of summer holidays abroad.

The Prime Minister confirmed 'some openings up' of international travel would get under way from May 17. A formal announcement will be made later this week

Bosses of Heathrow Airport, British Airways and Jet2 have already expressed dismay at 'inhumane and completely avoidable' seven-hour queues and called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to boost border guard numbers because there are often 'hardly any desks manned' at passport control.

The wider use of electronic passport gates would ensure hassle-free holidays once foreign travel resumes under the Government's 'traffic light' system, the experts said.

The earliest date travel could resume is May 17.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Prime Minister maintained the UK would uphold a sensible and cautious approach to foreign travel this summer to avoid 'an influx of disease'.

Boris Johnson said there would be 'some opening up' on May 17, but that reopening the country must be done in a way 'to make sure that we don't see the virus coming back in' to the UK.

Mr Johnson's cautious tone came as some MPs called for restrictions on foreign holidays to be maintained to protect the country from Covid-19 variants, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged a 'careful' approach.

'We do want to do some opening up on May 17 but I don't think that the people of this country want to see an influx of disease from anywhere else,' the Premier said.

'I certainly don't and we have got to be very, very tough, and we have got to be as cautious as we can, whilst we continue to open up.'

A Gatwick spokesperson said: 'We are currently confident that our usual efficient and seamless passenger experience for check in and departures at Gatwick will remain the same we do recognise there are concerns about queues on arrival due to the proposed extra processes required. We are therefore working closely with Border Force to understand how best to maintain a smooth operation when international travel resumes including, we hope, enhanced staffing from Border Force.'
A couple who home-schooled their child in California because of its woke curriculum and moved to Utah have been left stunned after finding the Republican state with a 90% white population is even worse.

Gloria Vindas and her husband Oscar said they moved from ultra liberal California so their 16-year-old son would avoid the 'Marxist and racist' teaching of critical race theory.

But on arriving in Utah she said she found the issue to be even more prevalent.

'I found that they don't call it the collegiate-level curriculum of critical race theory here but it is still being taught in the Utah education system and, if anything, I would say it's actually more than the California education system,' Gloria told Fox News on Tuesday.

'What's shocking is Utah is mirroring the education system of California, and I would say it's probably the most progressive in the Western states when it comes to critical race theory and the school board are not listening to any parents - they just refuse to listen - and that's what we found in California, which was one of the main reasons we decided to move here.

'So I'm concerned because it's creating an environment here in Utah that's creating more divide and I blame the officials at the top here in Utah,' Gloria said.

A couple who left California over the teaching of critical race theory in schools, is now fighting to keep the topic off the curriculum in Utah. Gloria (left) and Oscar Vindas said the teaching of the subject in schools was 'one of the main reasons' they chose to relocate to Utah, where they were shocked to find that it was also taught in schools

Gloria said she had been homeschooling her 16-year-old son since the seventh grade 'due to common core and critical race theory in California.'

'I pulled him out and I was excited to put him in here [in Utah],' Gloria said.

However, after talking to locals and doing some research, Gloria said she found that teaching of critical race theory was even more prevalent in Utah than it had been in California.

Critical race theory examines the influence of race and racism on America's laws, politics and culture, taking into consideration issues such as white supremacy and institutionalized racism.

Its place in schools has become a hot button issue, with supporters of its inclusion in curricula arguing it will eventually help lead to a fairer society, and detractors saying it is inherently divisive.

Gloria claimed that critical race theory was rooted in Marxism and said she was concerned about where teaching the subject might lead.

'I've taught my son against that [Marxism], so I'd have to say my biggest fear is where this leads.

'I think when critical race theory is first presented - it can be presented in a lot of ways at school - and it can sound really good in the beginning but the more you go in and follow it, the more divisive it becomes.'

The couple's interview came after Gloria addressed the board of the Canyons School District on Tuesday on behalf of Utah Parents United, an advocacy group

Her husband, Oscar, questioned whether school was an appropriate place for children to learn about race and racism.

'To be taught racism in schools is pretty harsh, I mean these kids are going to school to learn and they should be learning basic math, reading - learning skills - not being taught, you know, "just because of the color of your skin, you're a racist,'" he said.

'I think it's very important to separate those things when you're teaching children.'

Utah is one of the few states with a significantly higher population of white residents - surpassing 90 per cent - according to estimates.

By contrast, the percentage of the population who identified as white in California, where Vindas once lived, is 59.70 per cent, according to the latest American Community Survey data.

The couple's interview came after Gloria addressed the board of the Canyons School District on Tuesday on behalf of Utah Parents United, an advocacy group.

'Teaching on multiculturalism and respecting different cultures is one thing, but teaching that our Caucasian brothers and sisters are systemically racist because of the way they were born is also racist,' Gloria said in her speech, asking the board not to teach critical race theory.

In response to Tuesday's discussion on the teaching of critical race theory, the Utah Board of Education said curriculum was governed by each district.

Canyons School District spokesman Jeff Haney told KJZZ that critical race theory is not part of the district's curriculum and there are no plans to incorporate it into teaching.

Salt Lake Education Foundation Director James Yapias, whose organisation works with schools in Salt Lake City School District, told KUTV on Tuesday:

'It's not about learning about someone's specific culture, it's more about the understanding of its history. Teachers are allowed to teach history, but also I think they should be able to tell the full story of everyone's contribution to this country.'

Critical race theory's place in schools is a divisive issue in several states, where parents and teachers have raised concerns about its inclusion in curricula.

On Tuesday, a multimillionaire businessman hoping to become the first Republican governor of Virginia in over a decade accused the state of derailing children's education, in an effort to become more 'woke'.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin has accused Virginia 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.

'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.'

This week, a father spoke out about pulling his daughter out of her $43,000-per-year New York City school, saying other parents should follow suit.

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 Fox News that other parents had gotten in touch with him to seek advice, and he recommended they follow suit.

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'

Meanwhile, in Texas, candidates opposed to teaching critical race theory in the classroom swept a local school board election, following a bitterly contested campaign that saw passions rise on both sides.

In Saturday's election in Southlake, candidates opposed to the new curriculum won the two open seats on the Carroll Independent School District board overwhelmingly, with nearly 70 percent of the vote.

The election followed a harsh dispute over plans the district introduced last summer to require diversity and inclusion training after a video went viral showing some of its high school students laughing as they shouted a racial slur.

Parents packed school board meetings to oppose the plan, arguing it would create 'diversity police' and discriminate against white children.

In Saturday's election in Southlake, Texas, candidates opposed to 'critical race theory' won the two open seats on the Carroll Independent School District board overwhelmingly

Some even pulled their kids out of the district, and one mother sued, pausing the plan's implementation.

In Saturday's election, the result was a landslide, with candidates backed by the conservative Southlake Families PAC winning every race by a nearly 40-point margin, according to Southlake Style.

Voter turnout for the election shattered participation records for a local race in Southlake.

The results, which came amid a national debate about lessons on race in the classroom, were as a victory for parents who view critical race theory (CRT) as damaging and divisive.

But the outcome was a bitter disappointment for those who view CRT as vital to fighting racism.
Britain is now looking for alternative energy supplies for Jersey after Frances fishing tantrum  turning to the Netherlands as an alternative.

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.

But furious sources in Government have said the French threat to cut off Jerseys energy has blotted its copybook and force them to consider alternative supplies.

They have identified the Netherlands as a more reliable contact and are already in talks over how a deal could proceed.

Jersey Electricity, the group managing power on the island, is also known to be exploring renewables including solar and wave generators.

Normandie 1, the 16.7-mile cable took over a week to install and provides power to Jersey

The Jersey power line when it was being laid is at the centre of an ugly diplomatic spat

The UK's energy from wind farms could also be used to supply it through new underwater cables.

The row erupted over post-Brexit fishing rights, where France accused the UK of limiting fishing in breach of the agreement made with the EU last year.

Jersey has 108,000 residents and gets its electricity from France through three undersea cables.

The remaining five per cent is largely from on-island diesel generators and gas.

Two Royal Navy vessels are currently patrolling waters around Jersey over concerns of a possible blockade of Jersey.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been deployed to "monitor the situation" at the Channel Island, as reports suggest as many as 100 French fishing vessels could protest at the port of St Helier over the lack of access.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin warned on Tuesday that the country was ready to take "retaliatory measures", accusing Jersey of dragging its feet over issuing new licences to French boats.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin warned on Tuesday that the country would act

Wind farm turbines at the Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm on the Romney Marsh in Kent

A French fishing boat, one of several, takes part in a protes in front of the port of Saint Helier

round 50 French fishing boats gathered to protest at the main port of the UK island of Jersey

Why are Jersey and France warring over fishing rights? What were the pre-Brexit arrangements for fishing waters? Until January 1 this year, the UK was subject to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). That meant that fleets from EU states had equal access to the the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of other countries. EEZ areas stretch 200 nautical miles from the coast of each state, or to a maritime halfway point between neighbouring countries. The British fishing industry had long complained that the arrangements meant EU fleets were plundering what should be their catch. What has changed? The post-Brexit trade deal sealed between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before Christmas gave EU fleets transitional rights to UK fishing waters. The EU fishing quota for UK waters was reduced by 15 per cent this year, and will go down another 2.5 percentage points each year until 2026. From that point the UK will in theory have the right to ban the bloc's fishing fleets altogether, although there will need to be annual negotiations. Crucially for the current situation, UK and EU vessels now require a licence to fish in each other's waters. What are the French angry about? A row has erupted over the specific regulations introduced by the Jersey government to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They require French boats to demonstrate they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters in order to get licences, with Jersey adamant that is what the TCA sets out. However, the French authorities claim these 'new technical measures' for accessing waters off the Channel Islands have not been communicated to the EU. As a result they have been dismissed as 'null and void'. There are also disputed allegations that Jersey has been dragging its heels in approving licences for boats that have applied. So, what could happen now and would it ever REALLY end in war? There is a huge amount of sabre-rattling going on, with the UK deploying the navy to counter an extraordinary blockage by French fishing vessels. French ministers have been backing their fishing fleet, threatening to cut power to the Channel Island in retaliation. When such confrontations develop there is always the risk of a miscalculation and real clashes. Boris Johnson has urged the French to use the 'mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems' rather than resort to threats. There are rumours of a call between Mr Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, although No10 said there is nothing arranged yet. Advertisement

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 Ministry of Defence spokesman 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."

A Downing Street spokesman added: "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."

Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Wednesday, Mr Gorst said: "We take these threats from both Paris and the French fisherman very seriously.

"They are disproportionate to the issues that are being experienced in the post-Brexit trade licensing issuing."

The row began 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.

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.

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."
Leading the sabre-rattling that added fire to today's 'fishing war' in Jersey is Emmanuel Macron's hard-left maritime minister, a fisherman's daughter and Brexit hater who has made inflammatory threats to 'cut off' the island's electricity.

Annick Girardin, a member of the Radical Party of the Left, is a straight-talking political street fighter who in a previous role led efforts to defend the French language over the growing global influence of English - an abiding obsession of the country's political class.

The 56-year-old, once dubbed 'the Pirate of Hope' in a TV documentary praising her radical credentials, is MP for Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, an isolated, weather-beaten French overseas territory of just over 6,000 souls off the coast of Newfoundland, where she grew up and gave birth to her first child, a daughter, aged 15.

She has repeatedly railed against Jersey officials for delaying the issuing of licences to French fishermen, the dispute that led to 100 boats threatening to blockade the harbour of the British Crown dependency, which in turn prompted Boris Johnson to send two Royal Navy gunships.

Also responsible for fanning today's dispute is David Sellam, the head of the Normandy-Brittany sea authority, who said that 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.'

Annick Girardin at a meeting in Cambodia in 2015 while Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie. It saw her sign off the details of 70 million worth of financing agreements and development projects

Ms Girardin is now Maritime Minister, and is pictured with President Emmanuel Macron on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte in 2019

Ms Girardin has described herself as having a 'pirate soul', and her seafaring background made her the ideal candidate to become President Macron's, 'Minister of the Sea' - an office he resurrected to deal with post-Brexit fishing disputes.

She is known for her 'thick skin after all the trials in her life', according to Paris Match, and in 2018 had to be evacuated from the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion to avoid being lynched by Yellow Vest protesters.

The politician was born in Saint-Malo, Brittany, whose weather was built on state-sponsored piracy against English ships in the 17th and 18th century.

Her childhood was spent on the sparsely-isolated archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, which is heavily dependent on fishing due to its isolated location in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic.

Her father began his career as a fisherman before opening a bakery shop, which is now run by her younger brother, David.

Speaking to the Sunday Journal in 2015, she described having 'two mothers' while growing up - her mother and her grandmother - while her grandfather was a chief of public works.

She gave birth to a daughter, Anne-Claire, aged 15 and a half, forcing her to balance childcare with attending school.

'In final year, before going to class, I dropped my daughter off at the nursery', she said.

Anne-Claire went on to become a weather presenter and cookery show host, and now has two children of her own, Milo and Eliott, making Ms Girardin a proud grandmother.

The minister's partner is Jean-Francois Vigneau, a businessman on Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon who in 2019 attracted scrutiny for winning three public contracts worth 2.1million without competition.

Ms Girardin, the great neice of Henri Claireaux, a French senator, joined the Radical Left Party in 1999, and established herself as a key political figure on the island with her left-wing attacks on the local council.

Ms Girardin shakes hands with Hor Namhong, the Cambodian foreign minister, during the meeting in Phnom Penh in 2015

The politician, seen with Mr Namhong was on a three-day visit to Cambodia as part of her previous ministerial role

She was elected a member of the national assembly in 2007 and held this position until 2014, when she was appointed as Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie.

This role involved defending the use of the French language domestically and abroad against the growing power of English.

Following the election of President Emmanuel Macron in May 2017, she was appointed Minister of Overseas France. President Macron appointed her 'Minister of the Sea' in 2020 in a nod to the need to ensure Left-wing figures were represented in his administration.

In this role she has repeatedly railed against the impact of Brexit on French fishermen, including the Jersey fishing dispute.

The row began after Jersey implemented new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities to receive a licence to carry on operating in Jersey waters.

The 56-year-old, (seen in 2020 on a visit to Lorient in western France) was once dubbed 'the Pirate of Hope' in a TV documentary

Ms Girardin grew up on Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, an isolated, weather-beaten French overseas territory off Newfoundland

Ms Girardin gave a tub-thumbing speech to the National Assembly on Tuesday saying she was 'disgusted' to learn that Jersey had issued 41 licences with unilaterally imposed conditions, including the time French fishing vessels could spend in its waters.

She said: 'In the (Brexit) deal there are retaliatory measures. Well, we're ready to use them.

'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.'

Ms Girardin is popular in left-wing circles, and in March 2016 the Sylvie Koffi and Shaman Dolpi devoted a 52-minute documentary film to her called The Pirate of Hope.

Ms Girardin has also served as Overseas Minister, and is pictured with President Macron on a trip to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean

The politician with French member of Parliament Jeanine Dubie (left) during a trip to West Africa

A flotilla of fishing vessels are seen in St Helier harbour, Jersey, as French fishermen protest post Brexit changes to fishing in the area. The HMS Tamar is seen here behind a small fishing boat
Chilling footage has emerged of Covid patients left to die on a hospital ward in India from lack of oxygen as victims' relatives say they were 'abandoned' by doctors.

The tragic scene unfolded at Kriti Hospital, a private clinic near New Delhi, on Friday last week around 9pm after families of the Covid patients were told that oxygen supplies were running low.

Relatives - who had been paying up to 1,000 per day for a bed - said they rushed to the hospital but found it deserted and the ICU ward locked, only to find their relatives had died when the doors were finally opened.

Police then had to be called to 'deescalate' the situation when families found medical staff hiding in the canteen, and threatened to attack them.

As video of the tragedy went viral on Wednesday this week, officers said the facility was not authorised to treat Covid patients and an investigation is underway.

It is just the latest shocking scene to emerge from India, which is suffering the world's worst second wave of Covid with another 412,262 cases reported today and 3,980 new deaths - both record figures.

Chilling footage has emerged of the moment families of Covid patients discovered their loved ones had died due to a lack of oxygen at a private hospital near Delhi

Families were told of the oxygen shortage around 9pm on Friday last week, but say when they arrived at the hospital there were no staff to be seen and the ICU ward was locked

When they managed to get into the ICU ward, they discovered that their loved ones had died and that staff were hiding in the canteen, fearing reprisal attacks

The Kriti Hospital has 50 beds for Covid patients and, according to doctors, those that died were between the ages of 40 and 80.

The hospital administration confirmed the doctors and staff members were temporarily 'hiding'.

A spokesperson said: 'In a fear of losing their lives, they were hiding in the canteen to avoid being attacked by families.

'However, the doctors and staff returned to work soon after the arrival of police.'

The director of the hospital, Swati Rathore, said family members had been warned to 'shift their patients' amid the oxygen crisis.

He said: 'Despite a number of requests, no one came before the casualties took place.'

Even as the second wave shows no sign of slowing, India's top medical advisor warned scenes will 'inevitably' repeat themselves in a third wave - the only question is when it will strike.

'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,' K. Vijay Raghavan said.

Meanwhile scientists say they are increasingly convinced that India's mutant strain is playing a leading role in the second wave of infections, as it appears to be out-competing the UK variant and is therefore likely to be more infectious.

Sujeet Singh, director of India's National Centre for Disease Control, said: 'The [UK variant]... is declining.

The [Indian variant] is... now being seen in many places. The current surge in cases over the last one and half months in some states show a co-relation with the rise in the [Indian variant] of SARS-CoV2.'

Addressing the sharp rise in cases on Wednesday, Indian professor Rijo M John lamented that it 'halts speculations of a peak' on Twitter.

Medical experts say India's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies.

A health worker wearing a protective suit checks the oxygen gas gauge of a Covid patient being treated at a temporary ward inside a banquet hall in New Delhi

A Covid-19 coronavirus patient breathes with the help of oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a Sikh temple, in Ghaziabad, India

Health workers in PPE suits attend to a Covid-19 patient inside the Intensive Care Unit of Teerthanker Mahaveer University hospital in Moradabad, India

India's COVID-19 crisis has been most acute in the capital, New Delhi, among other cities, but in rural areas - home to nearly 70 per cent of India's 1.3 billion people - limited public healthcare is posing more challenges.

'The situation has become dangerous in villages,' said Suresh Kumar, of Manav Sansadhan Evam Mahila Vikas Sansthan, a human rights charity.

In some villages where the charity works in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh - home to about 200 million people - 'there are deaths in almost every second house', he said.

'People are scared and huddled in their homes with fever and cough. The symptoms are all of COVID-19, but with no information available many think it is seasonal flu.'

India's Goa state, a hugely popular tourist destination on the western coast, has the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in the country, with up to one in every two people testing positive in recent weeks, government officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been widely criticized for not acting sooner to suppress the second wave, after religious festivals and political rallies drew tens of thousands of people in recent weeks and became 'super spreader' events.

The surge in infections has also coincided with a dramatic drop in vaccinations because of supply and delivery problems, despite India being a major vaccine producer.

Several states have imposed various levels of social restrictions to try and stem infections, but the federal government has refused to impose a national lockdown.

Covid-19 patients seen inside a temporary ward set up inside the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi, India

People wait to get the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine in a hospital in New Delhi

An Indian woman is given a dose of Covid vaccine in New Delhi. India is attempting to jab its way out of the crisis, but is running short of supplies

India's southern state of Kerala, which has 376,004 active cases, announced it will impose nine days of curbs on movement from Saturday.

In the capital Delhi, fewer than 20 of more than 5,000 COVID-19 intensive care beds are free at any one time.

Student doctors like Rohan Aggarwal, 26, recruited to fight the second wave, are being forced to make life and death decisions.

His Holy Family Hospital in Delhi normally has a capacity for 275 adults, but is currently caring for 385.

'Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God,' Aggarwal told Reuters during a grim overnight shift.

'We are not made for that a we are just humans. But at this point in time, we are being made to do this.'

In the office of a Hindu crematorium in Delhi, the floor and shelves are overflowing with earthen pots, plastic packets and steel containers filled with the ashes of the city's many COVID-19 victims who have been cremated.

Practising Hindus collect the ashes of the dead a few days after the funeral for immersion in a river or sea, one of the many rituals that they believe lead to salvation of the soul.

'Our lockers are full. We cannot store any more ashes. We used to get around 40 COVID-19 bodies a day. We are now telling relatives to take the ashes with them on the same day.' Pankaj Sharma, a manager at the crematorium told Reuters.

While India is the world's biggest vaccine maker, it is struggling to produce enough product for the surge in infections.

Its two current vaccine producers will take two months or more to boost total monthly output from the current 70 million to 80 million doses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has resisted imposing a new lockdown although several regions including the capital New Delhi, Bihar and Maharashtra have imposed local shutdowns.

Until now the worst-hit areas have been Delhi and Maharashtra but other states including West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka are now reporting sharp rises.

A worker cremates unclaimed bodies of people thought to have died from Covid-19 at a mass crematorium site on the banks of the Ganges river in Allahbad, India

A worker walks in front of a funeral pyre for a person thought to have died from Covid-19 at a mass crematorium site in Allahabad

With the government facing criticism as patients die outside hospitals, consignments of oxygen and equipment have been arriving from the United States, France, Britain, Russia and other countries in recent days.

But India will need yet more oxygen from other countries to fight the surge until numbers stabilise, another government official said Monday.

'We did not and do not have enough oxygen,' the top government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'If we could get more oxygen more lives would be saved.'

Overnight, 11 people died in a hospital near the southern city of Chennai after pressure dropped in oxygen lines, the Times of India reported on Thursday, the latest in a string of similar incidents.

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.
Penthouse cover girl and ex-The Block star Suzi Taylor looked different from her usually-glamorous self after being released from a gruelling 202-day stint behind bars including a month in solitary confinement.

The 50-year-old was walked free from the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre a month early after being acquitted of extorting a man on an escort date gone wrong in 2019.

Taylor emerged from jail on Thursday evening noticeably overjoyed as she posed for the cameras after 70 more charges against her were dropped.

Penthouse cover girl and ex-The Block star Suzi Taylor poses for the camera after being released from prison on Thursday (pictured)

The 50-year-old looked different from her usually glamorous self (right) as she left Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Thursday (left)

Taylor was in April cleared on charges of extortion, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault after being accused of attacking a man at her apartment in October 2019 (pictured before her prison stint)

'Eighteen months ago I was charged and arrested for a crime I did not commit,' she told reporters.

'I feel I was unjustly attacked and made to look guilty just by being my silly self and being made to look guilty with false accusations, lies and untruths and innuendo.

'But I am not guilty and finally I can say that and get on with life and start afresh.'

As Taylor walked down the street, dressed in black and wearing high-heels, she could be seen clutching a brown paper bag with her name on it - inside were her personal items initially seized when she got locked up.

Taylor was cleared on charges of extortion, deprivation of liberty, fraud and assault after being accused of attacking a man at her apartment in October 2019.

Queensland Police filed over 100 charges against her - including 94 counts of breaching bail conditions as well as drug and driving crimes.

But more than of the 70 charges were dropped at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday, with the prosecutor offering no evidence on dozens of counts.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court dropped 70 charges against Taylor (pictured left leaving prison)

The Block star Suzi Taylor cried in court as she was released from jail after dozens of charges against her were dropped (pictured, before her prison stint)

Penthouse cover girl and ex-The Block star Suzi Taylor (pictured) looked unrecognisable after being released from a grueling 202-day stint behind bars including a month in solitary confinement.

During her time behind bars, the reality TV star was kept in solitary confinement for over a month, the court was told.

Taylor, whose real name is Suellen Jan Taylor, eventually pleaded guilty to almost 30 charges, including possessing small amounts of cocaine and marijuana.

The court took almost half an hour to determine how many of the hundred-plus charges the reality star was still facing before legal proceedings could get underway.

Taylor broke down as her court matters were finalised, having dressed all in back during the proceedings on Thursday, NCA NewsWire reported.

The court heard her first offence was in October 2019 after she drove a car that was taken from its owner, then left the scene after having an accident.

The prosecution asked for Taylor to be given probation and a suspended sentence, insisting she showed a 'blatant and persistent' disregard for the court.

Taylor was named Penthouse Pet Of The Year 1991. She had already spent 202 days in custody with more than a month in solitary confinement

As she walked down the street, dressed in black and wearing high-heels she could be seen clutching a brown paper bag with her name on it - inside were he personal items initially seized when she got locked up

Her lawyer Michael Gatenby described the remaining charges as 'low level'.

Taylor was convicted but not further punished on all charges as magistrate Stephen Courtney ordered her immediate release.

'Not meaning this in an insulting way, but your story is a sad one. There has been a real deterioration of your position and mental health,' he said.

'When one really drills down to it, while there are a lot of charges the charges each and of themselves do not reach a high level of seriousness.'

Outside court, Mr Gatenby said it was a horrendous experience for a woman who did nothing wrong and called for an inquiry.

'I think there should be an inquiry into the way the state treats people with mental illness,' he said.

'I don't know how you would cope, sitting in a jail cell knowing you had done nothing wrong.

'A lot of people have a lot to answer for - I don't know how her mental health has withstood this behaviour.'
A woman cut out of her mother's will - after the pensioner accused her of stealing her treasured collection of Harry Potter books - has beaten her brother in a test case High Court fight.

John Clitheroe and bank manager sister Sue Bond have been battling in court since their mother, Jean Clitheroe, cut Sue out of her 325,000 will, after suffering 'delusions' including that her daughter had stolen her set of Harry Potter novels.

She also labelled Sue a 'shopaholic' who would just 'fritter away' any money left to her, and left almost everything to son John, 52.

But her will was torn up last year, after a judge found that Jean had been suffering from 'insane delusions' about her daughter when she wrote it.

The decision meant the siblings would have to share their mother's money, despite the pensioner's express instructions otherwise, leading John to bring a test case High Court fight against the ruling.

Susan Bond (L) won court battle against brother John Clitheroe (R) over mother's estate after John attempted to have ruling in High Court overturned claiming it is based on 'unjust' law

Banks and Goodfellow test of 1880 vs Mental Capacity Act 2005 John Clitheroe's legal team claimed the initial ruling was made using a law created in 1880. Under the law - known as the 'Banks and Goodfellow' test after the case it was first described in - the burden in proving their case when a deceased's capacity is under real question lies with the family member trying to uphold the will. In doing so, they must satisfy four criteria including proving the person making the will understood the 'nature of the business', had a general awareness of the property they wished to dispose of and could recollect those who may have claims to their estate. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the subject of proceedings is presumed to have mental capacity and it is up to those wishing to claim they do not to prove it. Mr Clitheroe's legal team claimed this law supersedes the older law and is more appropriate for a modern understanding of mental health. Advertisement

Disputing the findings about Jean's state of mind, John's lawyers said the court's decision to give Sue half Jean's wealth was an 'unwarranted infringement' of his mother's right to decide who to give her money to.

They blamed the judge's reliance on a 140-year-old Victorian law - known as the 'Banks Test' - which they said risks older people being 'wrongly denied autonomy to make their own decisions.'

Judges should now rely on an alternative 21st century law, it was argued, meaning anyone challenging a will on grounds of mental capacity should have to prove the deceased was not mentally capable before it can be torn up.

Modern law, under the Mental Capacity Act, 'better reflects both medical science and the fundamental importance of ensuring that people are not wrongly denied autonomy to make their own decisions,' said John's barrister Vikram Sachdeva QC.

But this week, Mrs Justice Falk dashed John's hopes, ruling that it would not be 'in the interests of justice' to permit an appeal to go ahead on that argument, and that even if she had done, she would have refused it anyway.

She said the 140-year-old law has proved over the decades to be 'sufficiently flexible' to account for developments in the understanding of medical issues.

But John's fight against the ruling may continue, after the judge delayed consideration of other arguments to allow the siblings to see if they can settle their differences outside court.

The fight is over a 'modest' estate and has already involved a 'no doubt costly' five-day trial, she said as she gave John and Sue the chance to settle their case without wasting any more money.

Jean Clitheroe (circled top right) left her daughter Susan (bottom left) out of her final will in 2013, over fears she was a 'shopaholic' who would just 'fritter it all away', the court heard

At the original trial, the High Court heard that Jean, described as 'feisty and stubborn', had given detailed reasons for writing her daughter out of her 2013 will and leaving her with very little in a previous 2010 will.

Her 2010 will left the bulk of her estate - which largely consisted of her former home in Woodlands Close, Clacton-on-Sea - to John, while Sue was to receive only a diamond and garnet ring that once belonged to her great aunt.

The 2013 will again left John most of her estate, with some small legacies to grandchildren, but this time Sue was to receive nothing at all.

In written instructions to lawyers for the 2010 will, she claimed Sue was a 'shopaholic and would just fritter it away', while she also slammed her daughter's alleged 'spendthrift ways' when drawing up the 2013 will.

Jean, who was 76 when she died, also claimed Sue had deliberately severed ties with her and that she stole treasured items including a collection of Harry Potter books.

On top of that, the elderly widow claimed in a note to her lawyers: 'Susan hasn't done anything for me, as far as she is concerned I could have starved to death.'

The court had previously heard that Jean herself, who died in 2017 aged 76, had amassed a 30,000 collection of Swarovski crystal and claimed Susan had stolen some of it (file image)

However, the wills were overturned by a judge, Deputy Master John Linwood, last year after he found Jean had been in the grip of several 'insane delusions' when she made them.

She had suffered an intense grief reaction to the death of her other daughter, primary school teacher Debra, in 2009 and although still intellectually sound, had 'poisoned' her own mind with her fixed delusions about Sue.

He said John had failed to prove that his mother 'was not suffering from an affective disorder of the mind and was not suffering from delusions' which affected her ability to make a will.

His ruling effectively meant that Jean died intestate - without making a valid will - and her estate would therefore be split equally between the two surviving siblings.

Appealing, John's barrister Vikram Sachdeva QC argued that the judge decided whether Jean had 'capacity' to make the will in the wrong way, by using now out-dated 140-year-old common law.

Under the law, the burden in proving their case when a deceased's capacity is under real question lies with the family member trying to uphold the will.

In the original hearing, the High Court (pictured) heard that Jean, described as 'feisty and stubborn', had given detailed reasons for writing her daughter Susan out of her 2013 will

Mr Sachdeva argued that the 1880 test has been superseded by the Mental Capacity Act 2005, under which Jean would have been presumed to have had capacity and so it would be up to her daughter to disprove it.

Mr Sachdeva said the presumption that someone has capacity is as important as the presumption of innocence in a criminal trial and should not be denied to testators.

For Sue, Thomas Dumont QC argued that the old test for whether a person has capacity to make a will still stands and is not superseded by the Mental Capacity Act.

Giving judgment, Mrs Justice Falk said it would not be just to go ahead with an appeal on grounds of the old test having wrongly been used.

Lawyers on both sides had agreed that the old law should apply at the time of the original trial and the evidence and arguments had been conducted on that basis, she said.

But she said the argument would have been rejected anyway, since the MCA had not been intended to be used in determining will disputes.

She added: 'The Banks test is very well settled and has proved sufficiently flexible to take account of developments, in particular developments in medical understanding.

'In summary, the Banks test has not been overridden by the MCA.'

Arguments relating to the judge's consideration of Jean Clitheroe's 'delusions' were also to be decided, but the judge put them off for three months in an attempt to avoid running up more lawyers' bills.

'I propose to allow the parties an opportunity to reflect and determine whether, through mediation or otherwise, they are able to reach an agreement that does not require the expense either of a further hearing before me,' she said.
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French officials today sent two patrol boats to Jersey that are smaller and have less firepower than the two Royal Navy warships which are already roaming the English Channel amid an ongoing row over post-Brexit fishing rights.

The FS Athos and FS Themis sailed along the River Seine from Rouen to Le Havre then around Cherbourg towards Jersey - after two UK Navy vessels began patrolling waters around the island amid concerns of a possible blockade.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been deployed by the UK Government to 'monitor the situation' at the Channel Island amid a protest by French fishing vessels at the port of St Helier over the lack of access.

But today, the 97ft Athos was sent in by the French - despite it being significantly smaller than the 260ft Severn and 296ft Tamar, and only having one cannon - compared to the UK boats, which have eight guns between them.

The Athos has one Oerlikon 20mm cannon; while the Severn has the same plus two general purpose machine guns; and the Tamar has one Bushmaster 30mm cannon, two general purpose machine guns and two miniguns.

Meanwhile, the Themis is slightly longer at 172ft, but is still underweight on firepower, with one Browning machine gun.

French fishermen said they were ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar as they descended on the harbour this morning. But by 1.30pm navigation charts showed the armada had given in and was sailing back towards their home waters.

Don Thompson, president of Jersey Fishermen's Association, told Sky News that the French boats blockading the harbour had returned home but were not dropping their demands, as the EU accused Jersey of breaking the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The HMS Severn has a crew of 30 compared to 13 for the FS Athos and is far better armed, as these graphics show

The HMS Tamar comes with one cannon, two machine guns and two miniguns, while the FS Themis is more lightly armed

The Athos (A712) travelled along the Seine from Rouen to Le Havre then around Cherbourg towards Jersey today (file image)

HMS Severn (P282) is a Royal Navy River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel with a total displacement of 1,677 tonnes (file picture)

HMS Tamar (P233) is also a River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel but has a bigger total displacement of 2,000 tonnes (file image)

Up to 100 vessels from Normandy and Brittany steamed towards the Channel Island to protest against their reduced rights in British waters.

Jean-Claude La Vaullee, skipper of Le Cach, said: 'I've refuelled the boat - we're ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar.'

The Athos boat travelled along the River Seine from Rouen to Le Havre then around Cherbourg towards Jersey today

The furious Mr La Vaullee, who has been fishing off Jersey for more than 40 years, said he had now been given the right to '11 hours fishing a year' in the area.

Around 100 French boats gathering around St Helier, the Jersey capital, were packed with flares and other potential weapons.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin yesterday accused Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, of refusing to issue adequate new licences to her country's fishermen.

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.

Royal Navy ships HMS Severn and HMS Tamar meanwhile arrived from Portsmouth 'as a precaution'.

The Battle of Trafalgar of 1805 was in fact a massive defeat for the French and Spanish fleets, as Admiral Lord Nelson led the Royal Navy to a historic victory.

The French fishermen have been told by the Channel Island authorities that strict new fishing conditions had been imposed following Brexit.

Bertrand Sorre, France's English Channel MP, said: 'This unilateral decision by Jersey is totally illegal. We have been subject to the whims of the United Kingdom for too long. The European Commission must do its job.'

Romain Davodet, another French fisherman, said they had been told that the Jersey decision 'were irreversible' and around 250 vessels faced disaster, along with 'more than 2,000 jobs ashore.'

British ships HMS Severn and HMS Tamar arrived at Jersey from Portsmouth 'as a precaution', the Ministry of Defence said

Where the HMS Severn, HMS Tamar and Athos are this morning in relation to the British-French border outside Jersey

A flotilla of fishing vessels at St Helier harbour in Jersey today as French fishermen protest post-Brexit changes to fishing

French fishing industry leader David Sellam meanwhile accused the Jersey authorities of being lead 'by extremists'.

French fishing vessels approaching Jersey was 'like an invasion' The sight of dozens of French fishing vessels approaching a harbour in Jersey in protest as flares shot up into the sky has been described as looking 'like an invasion'. Some 60 boats were estimated to have gathered at the port of St Helier this morning amid a 'sea of red lights and flares'. Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing said French vessels had first gathered from about 4.30am outside the harbour, before moving into the harbour after 6am and retreating shortly after 7am. The 28-year-old, who owns The Jersey Catch fishing company, said the scene was 'was quite a sight'. He said: 'There were probably about 60 boats. There were a few hand-held flares and smoke flares going off and apparently a few maybe bangers and stuff going off from the French.' He said the fleet was mostly made up of 'big French dredgers and trawlers' of about 12 metres or more. Mr Dearing, who is originally from Kent but has lived in Jersey for around a decade, added: 'It was quite a sight. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea. It was like an invasion.' There had been rumblings about a planned protest a few days ago, Mr Dearing said, but added that he had not been sure if it was 'serious or empty threats'. He said: 'The French being the French, they don't mess around. They can blockade their own harbours - they wouldn't think twice about coming and doing it to us.' He was 'absolutely' pleased to hear last night that Royal Navy vessels were being deployed to patrol the waters around Jersey. He said: 'We're completely unprotected in Jersey. We've got nothing except for a few police officers. We don't have a police boat, we don't have a navy boat, we don't have anything to protect us. The French can be hostile. All of our livelihoods are in that harbour and if they wanted to they could cause damage.' Mr Dearing, who said his fishing licence costs about 40,000, said French fishermen who have not been granted a licence to fish had 'thrown their toys out of the pram'. He said: 'Jersey fisheries has done nothing wrong. They've issued the permits to the French fisherman that were entitled to them and the ones that aren't entitled don't get the permits and that's just life, that's how it is. The guys that have historical rights [to fish] have been granted them, as they should've done, and the ones that haven't have just thrown their toys out of the pram.' Advertisement

'We have in front of us people who are not of good will,' Mr Sellam told Ouest France (West France) newspaper.

'Jersey is plagued by an extremist fringe led by Environment Minister John Young and local fisheries committee director Don Thompson.

'All they want is to see the French fishing effort reduced and they profit from Brexit. If we want peace, let's prepare for war. If we want to bring the Jersey fishery to its knees, we can do it.'

Theo Marais, anther French fisherman said: 'I'm having my first boat built. I'm 24, it's a 825,000 boat (and) I'm not even sure I can launch it. We love our jobs. We don't want to live on aid, what we want is to work.'

France's 1.6billion-a-year fishing industry supports 65,000 jobs and is hugely reliant on Britain.Many of the country's 23,000 fishermen spend a huge amount of time in UK waters.

Those working in packaging and other processing roles also deal with huge amounts of seafood from British waters.

Most of the French fishing industry is based on its northern English Channel coast - where, before Brexit, boats from places like Normandy and Brittany enjoyed nearly 50 years of shared seas thanks to the EU.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Jersey Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre and External Affairs Minister Ian Gorst yesterday, and 'underlined his unwavering support' for the island.

Dozens of French boats arrived at the harbour this morning, with some crews setting off flares during the so far peaceful protest, according to the Jersey Evening Post.

The newspaper later said the leader of the protest had asked the French boats to leave the harbour to let a freight ferry, the Commodore Goodwill, depart.

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing described the scene at the port of St Helier this morning as 'like an invasion', with the French fleet mostly made up of 'big French dredgers and trawlers' of 12 metres or more.

The 28-year-old said: 'There were probably about 60 boats. There were a few hand-held flares and smoke flares going off and apparently a few maybe bangers and stuff going off from the French.

'It was quite a sight. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea. It was like an invasion.'

Paris has warned it could cut off power to the island, which receives 95 per cent of its electricity from France through three undersea cables, in retaliation for the fallout.

A UK Ministry of Defence spokesman 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.'

A Downing Street spokesman added: '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.

Around 100 French boats gathering around St Helier today have been packed with flares and other potential weapons

French fishing vessels staging a protest outside the harbour at St Helier today in the row over post-Brexit fishing rights

A flotilla of fishing vessels are seen in St Helier today as French fishermen protest post-Brexit changes to fishing in the area

'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.

What does the Brexit trade deal say on fishing, and why has the row erupted? The post-Brexit trade deal sealed between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before Christmas gave EU fleets transitional rights to UK fishing waters. That area stretches 200 nautical miles from the coast, or to a maritime halfway point between neighbouring countries. The EU fishing quota for UK waters was reduced by 15 per cent this year, and will go down another 2.5 percentage points each year until 2026. From that point the UK will in theory have the right to ban the bloc's fishing fleets altogether, although there will need to be annual negotiations. Crucially for the current situation, UK and EU vessels now require a licence to fish in each other's waters. And a row has erupted over the specific regulations introduced by the Jersey government to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They require French boats to demonstrate they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters in order to get licences, with Jersey adamant that is what the TCA sets out. However, the French authorities claim these 'new technical measures' for accessing waters off the Channel Islands have not been communicated to the EU. As a result they have been dismissed as 'null and void'. There are also disputed allegations that Jersey has been dragging its heels in approving licences for boats that have applied. Advertisement

'They agreed the UK and Jersey Governments would continue to work closely on this issue.'

Don Thompson, president of the Jersey Fishermen's Association, said his members have warned they are prepared to ditch their fishing licences if the French win their demands.

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We've already told our minister - our licences, some of our fishermen have paid a quarter of a million pounds for our licences - we're going to get rid of our licences and fish without licences.

'We just will not put up with those (French) boats being left to fish uncontrolled, unsustainably in our waters, whilst we're subject to all sorts of constraints.'

Speaking to BBC Newsnight yesterday, Mr Gorst said: 'We take these threats from both Paris and the French fishermen very seriously. They are disproportionate to the issues that are being experienced in the post-Brexit trade licensing issuing.'

The row began 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.

Yesterday, 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.

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 is not seeking to bar boats which have historically fished in Jersey waters and insisted the dispute can 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.'
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Just two thirds of black Caribbean Brits have taken up the offer of the Covid vaccine compared to nearly 95 per cent of white adults, official data revealed today.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released today show 66.8 per cent of black Caribbean people over 50 in England had a first dose between December 8 to April 12.

For people identifying as black African the estimated rate is 71.2 per cent, with rates of 78.4 per cent and 86.9 per cent for people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, respectively. For comparison, the rate among white British adults was 93.7 per cent.

The ONS report, which analysed data from 18.5million vaccinated people, also found uptake rates were lowest in people who had the poorest English skills.

Separate data released by the statistical body showed that vaccine hesitancy was also five times higher in black or black British adults (30 per cent) than white people (six per cent).

No10 has already launched a PR blitz to boost uptake in ethnic minorities amid fears pockets of unvaccinated Brits could house outbreaks.

But MPs have called on ministers to do more to reach minority groups and encourage uptake in the communities to prevent further vaccine inequalities arising.

Caroline Lucas, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, said the figures shows the vaccine passport scheme could risk further alienating groups where hesitancy is higher.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released today show just two thirds of black Caribbean Britons have taken up the offer of the Covid vaccine compared to nearly 95 per cent of white adults

Separate data released by the statistical body showed that vaccine hesitancy was also five times higher in black or black British adults (30 per cent) than white people (six per cent)

The data showed vaccination rates also differed by religious affiliation. The lowest rates were among those who identified as Muslim (78.8 per cent) or Buddhist (83.3 per cent)

The ONS' survey data included all adults aged over 50 in England who could be linked to the 2011 census, and showed black Caribbean Brits were 5.64 times as likely as white British people not to have had a jab.

People identifying as black African Brits were 3.4 times as likely to be unvaccinated.

VACCINE HESITANCY IS FIVE TIMES AS HIGH IN BLACK THAN WHITE BRITS Black Brits were five times a likely to report vaccine hesitancy as white people in England, official data has shown. Data released by the Office for National Statistics today showed 30 per cent of black people who have been offered a jab have not had one and say they are unlikely to in the future. The proportion of white people reporting hesitancy was six per cent from March 31 to April 25, while it was 10 per cent in Asian people, 12 per cent in mixed-race people and nine percent in other groups. Advertisement

Differences in geography, socio-demographic factors and underlying health conditions do not fully explain the lower vaccination rates among ethnic minority groups, the ONS found.

The data showed vaccination rates also differed by religious affiliation.

The lowest rates were among Muslims (78.8 per cent) and Buddhists (83.3 per cent), while the figures for people identifying as Christian or Hindu were 93.2 per cent and 92 per cent, respectively.

For Sikhs the rate was 91.9 per cent and for Jewish people it was 91.8 per cent.

It also showed the vaccination rate for people living in the most deprived areas of England was 87.8 per cent, while it was 94.5 per cent in the least deprived.

Disabled people who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities had a vaccination rate of 89.3 per cent, compared to 92.3 per cent in non-disabled people.

Hugh Stickland, head of strategy and engagement at the ONS, said the lower rates are 'broadly similar to the groups who express vaccine hesitancy'.

He said: 'However, the reasons for lower uptake are likely to be complex, including for example being unable to travel to a vaccination centre.'

But Ms Lucas MP, vice-chair of the APPG on Coronavirus, said Government has to engage with local communities at a grassroots level to deal with the rising divisions in hesitancy.

She said: 'This is more evidence of the persistence of vaccine hesitancy among some ethnic minority and disadvantaged communities.

'The work that's been done with some minority groups, engaging with the local community, building trust and working with places like mosques and temples shows it is possible to overcome deep-seated mistrust and improve vaccine take-up. But it needs to be done at grassroots level, not imposed from Whitehall.

Black Caribbean Brits were 5.64 times as likely as white British people not to have had a jab. People identifying as black African Brits were 3.4 times as likely to be unvaccinated

'The pandemic has already exposed deep inequalities in our society.

'Dividing people into the vaccinated and unvaccinated through schemes like vaccine passports risks making this worse and alienating the communities where vaccine take-up is already low, particularly if they are used to restrict access to everyday services. That must not be allowed to happen.'

Dr Habib Naqvi, director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory said: 'Although steps have been taken to increase levels of confidence and trust in the vaccine amongst our diverse populations, the figures in this report show there is still more work to be done  including ramping-up tailored, culturally sensitive public health communications, delivered across a range of platforms.

'Those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. There needs to be ongoing support and two-way engagement with diverse communities to ensure that we can protect the most vulnerable from the virus.'

THE GOVERNMENT'S PR BLITZ TO ADDRESS HESITANCY IN ETHNIC MINORITIES The Department of Health and Social Care launched its UK Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Plan on February 13. It released targeted information and advice via 50 ethnic minority TV, radio, social media, and printed materials. DHSC and NHS social media channels are producing advice and information videos every day to answer questions about vaccines and provide the latest details about the vaccination programme. DHSC also worked closely with social media platforms to identify and act against incorrect claims about the virus and anti-vaccination messages which could endanger people's health. Advertisement

NHS England medical director of primary care Dr Nikki Kanani said: 'Covid vaccines are being offered equally to people of all enthicities, and we are seeing improving acceptance rates among all ethnic minorities, including Black communities, where the increase has more than tripled and outpaced the overall rise.

'This progress is a direct result of dedicated NHS teams who know and understand their communities, targeted engagement with faith leaders, pop-up clinics in places of worship, practical support like advice translated into more than 20 languages and strong, vocal backing from high profile voices like comedian Lenny Henry and TV star Adil Ray.'

The Government began its PR blitz to address hesitancy in minority ethnic groups on February 13  the day after the most recent ONS data begins at.

It launched its Covid vaccine uptake plan on that date, outlining plans to reach minority ethnic groups on broadcast and social media in a policy paper.

Ministers are working with more than 50 ethnic minority TV channels and radio stations that broadcast in 13 different languages to tackle anti-vaxx misinformation.

More than 90 faith, healthcare provider networks, influencers and experts from a range of communities have been recruited to hold Q&As to address people's concerns about the Covid vaccine.

Officials are also working with the BBC World Service to produce videos on key questions from South Asian groups in Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil, Gujarati, and Sylheti.

An advert featuring Adil Ray, Moeen Ali, Denise Lewis, Romesh Ranganathan, Meera Syal was aired simultaneously on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky TV channels on February 18.

And this Tuesday, film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton, author Malorie Blackman and radio DJ Trevor Nelson were among the signatories of an open letter by Sir Lenny Henry urging black Britons to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

In the letter Sir Lenny acknowledges the 'legitimate worries and concerns' that people feel, adding: 'We know change needs to happen and that it's hard to trust some institutions and authorities.'

He continued: 'But we're asking you to trust the facts about the vaccine from our own professors, doctors, scientists involved in the vaccine's development, GPs, not just in the UK but across the world including the Caribbean and Africa.

'Many of whom are our relatives, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people of this country from this pandemic.'
Thai cops are hunting an American fugitive who is suspected of murdering his pregnant wife and going on the run.

Jason Matthew Balzer, 30, allegedly fled the home he shared with his wife Pitchaporn Kidchob, 32, in Nan province, northern Thailand, earlier this week after her disappearance.

Cops have launched a manhunt after he was seen fleeing on a scooter and have since found some of his clothes and a blood-stained mattress from his house. Pitchaporn, who is four months pregnant, is still missing.

Balzer only arrived in Thailand after allegedly jumping bail on assault charges in Longmont, Colorado, in 2019. The pair met in Phuket and dated for a year before marrying.

Pitchaporn's mother Anong Tanya, 52, said she went to visit the couple after becoming concerned for her daughter, who had not answered her calls since Sunday afternoon.

Thai police continued to hunt American fugitive Jason Matthew Balzer, 30, on Thursday, who is suspected of murdering his four-month pregnant wife Pitchaporn Kidchob, 32 (both pictured)

Pitchaporn's mother Anong Tanya, 52, said she went to visit the couple on May 3 after becoming worried for her daughter (above), who hadn't answered her calls since Sunday

She claimed her son-in-law was known for having a 'bad temper' so she rushed to check on her daughter on May 3, something she says she 'always' does due to worry.

But when Anong arrived at the house, Balzer left riding his motorbike and carrying a bag. The mother was left shocked when she found bloodstains on a bed, washing machine and in other areas around the house.

Balzer (pictured) only arrived in Thailand after allegedly jumping bail on assault charges in Longmont, Colorado, in 2019

Balzer only arrived in Thailand after allegedly jumping bail on assault charges in Longmont, Colorado, in 2019.

He was released on bond for physical assault back in 2019 before moving to Thailand the following year.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly trying to have sex with his ex-girlfriend, who refused, and attacking her with a gun. The charges were later downgraded to physical assault.

Pitchaporn's mother Anong said Balzer and her daughter met in Phuket and dated for a year before marrying.

'He is known to have a bad temper so I always check on my daughter because I'm worried about her,' she said.

'When I asked where my daughter was her husband told me something in English that I didn't understand.

'He left with a bag despite a storm coming. My daughter's things were still in the house.

Anong claimed her son-in-law was known for having a 'bad temper' so she rushed to check on her daughter (pictured) on May 3, something she says she 'always' does due to worry

When Anong arrived at the house, Jason left riding his motorbike and carrying a bag (above, CCTV footage) The mother was shocked when she found bloodstains on a bed in the house

Neighbours claimed the couple were allegedly heard fighting before Balzer rode his motorbike out of the house days before his wife went missing on April 29, according to police interviews

'I tried to call my daughter's phone but Jason was holding it. He cancelled the call while it was ringing in front of me.'

More than 20 officers later arrived at the home and said they found more blood in the bedroom, where a mattress was also missing.

The officers deployed sniffer dogs in a bid to trace the woman and were led nine miles away, where the bloodied mattress was discovered on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, an air purifier and Balzer's shirt, which was stained with blood, were both found in a nearby wasteland.

CCTV footage allegedly shows Balzer riding away on a motorbike while carrying a black rucksack, which is believed to have contained the items of clothing.

Neighbours claimed the couple were allegedly heard fighting before Balzer rode his motorbike out of the house just days before his wife went missing on April 29, according to police interviews.

Police are currently tracing where Balzer went and found CCTV footage showing he was heading to a district connected to neighbouring province Phrae.

Officers found a mattress missing at the home and deployed sniffer dogs to trace the woman and were led 15km away, where the bloodied mattress was discovered on Tuesday

Police continue to search for Balzer (pictured with Pitchaporn) - who only arrived in Thailand after allegedly jumping bail on assault charges in Longmont, Colorado, in 2019

Police Lieutenant Colonel Tanongsak Phitwitchatham said officers 'urgently' need to speak to Balzer, describing his disappearance as 'very suspicious'.

He continued: 'Officers are searching for the missing woman and her husband.

'She could be dead but we do not know until we find a body or we have interviewed the husband.

'It's very suspicious that he disappeared so we need to speak with him urgently.'
The Justice Department has charged a soldier in the Wisconsin National Guard for storming the US Capitol building during the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

Abram Markofski, along with an associate, is alleged to have travelled to Washington DC to attend a rally held by then-president Donald Trump.

The rally was held in protest of the certification of the 2020 presidential election, which saw Democrat and now-president Joe Biden beat his Republican rival.

Investigators say that after the so called 'Save America' rally held on the Ellipse between the White House and Washington Monument, Markofski and associate Brandon Nelson walked to the Capitol building.

Once there, they are alleged to have spent around 40 minutes inside the Capitol building as it was raided by MAGA Trump supporters.

Nelson was initially identified by an anonymous tipster, and he in-turn confirmed Markofski's presence after they were both allegedly shown in surveillance footage inside the building wearing red MAGA hats.

In an image released by the Department of Justice, Wisconsin National Guard soldier Abram Markofski (right) and his associate Brandon Nelson (left) are allegedly shown inside the US Capitol building during the January 6, 2021 insurrection

Markofski has been charged with four federal crimes, including violent entry and disorderly conduct in the grounds of the Capitol Building, 'with the intent to impede, disrupt, or disturb orderly conduct of a session of Congress', the charges state.

The Wisconsin National Guardsman has not yet entered a plea, according to CNN.

Maj. Joe Trovato, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin National Guard, told the network that Markofski enlisted in 2019, and that he is currently a private first class assigned to the 1st Battalion, 128 Infantry Regiment. Trovato made no further comment.

According to the 'Statement of Facts' from the Department of Justice, an anonymous tip was given to the FBI on January 7, that identified Nelson as being part of the MAGA mob on January 6, 2021.

On January 18, FBI special agents interviewed Nelson, who told them that he had traveled with his friend Markofski in a vehicle from Madison, Wisconsin on January 5 to attend the Trump rally the following day, according to the document.

Nelson told officers that after first attending the rally, the pair walked down to the Capitol, walked up the stairs near some scaffolding, and entered the building.

He also reportedly told FBI agents that some police were guiding some people in.

Abram Markofski (left) and Brandon Nelson (right) seen inside the US Capitol building on January 6, according to the FBI

Once at the US Capitol, the pair are alleged to have spent around 40 minutes inside the Capitol building as it was raided by MAGA Trump supporters. Pictured: Police clash with supporters of US President Donald Trump who breached security and entered the Capitol building in Washington D.C., United States on January 06, 2021

Nelson stated that he and Markofski 'entered a room inside the Capitol with a dome-like ceiling. They were in there for approximately 20 minutes, then followed the crowd into another room,' the document says.

In all, the pair were estimated to have been inside the building for around 40 minutes, Nelson told the FBI.

According to pictures from the Statement of Facts, the pair were both captured in surveillance footage as being inside the building wearing MAGA hats, with the FBI saying they were able to identify the pair by their coats and driving licenses.

A mobile phone belonging to Markofski was also tracked to the Capitol building using GPS data and nearby WiFi access points.

'The tipster identified Nelson from his drivers-license photo with 100% certainty, and identified the person in one of the photos from inside the Capitol as NELSON with 75% certainty,' the document says.

According to pictures from the Statement of Facts, the pair were both captured in surveillance footage as being inside the building wearing MAGA hats, with the FBI saying they were able to identify the pair by their coats and driving licenses. Pictured: An explosion caused by a police munition is seen in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021

'According to records obtained through a search warrant served on Google, a mobile device associated with an email address tied to a phone number Markofski is known to use was present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021,' it added.

Markofski becomes one of a around 30 current of former service members charged in connection to the January 6 insurrection attempt, according to court documents and Pentagon records, seen by CNN.

The network reports the majority of the group are veterans, many of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Markofski and a number of others are still in service.

Another trend seen among the former service members allegedly involved in the January 6 riots si that a number of them have ties to right-wing extremist groups, such as Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.

In the 100 days since the January 6 riots, police have arrested and charged over 400 people for their role in the riots.

Investigators say that after the so called 'Save America' rally (pictured on January 6) held on the Ellipse between the White House and Washington Monument, Markofski and Brandon Nelson walked to the Capitol building

The rioters stormed the Capitol after Trump's 'Stop The Steal' rally and during a vote to certify the Electoral College count which declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election.

The attacks at the Capitol led to the deaths of five people, and sent lawmakers into hiding and delayed the certification of Bidens election win.

Many of those who have been arrested and charged were tracked down through viral videos that led investigators to identify them on their social media accounts.
A man has been charged after he allegedly followed a 15-year-old girl into a public bathroom and raped her.

Police will allege that he raped the teen after following her into a public toilet block near a supermarket on Burgundy Street in Melbourne at about 1.20pm on Friday.

The 45-year-old man from Kew is facing charges of rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment.

Police have the man in custody and he is due to appear in court on July 30 after allegedly raping a young girl in a public toilet

They allege that the man then walked the victim to a nearby hotel where she managed to alert staff before police were called.

Soon after then man was arrested.

The man was placed in custody to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 30.

Anyone with any information about the incident should phone Crime Stoppers.

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The Prime Minister and his fiancee put on a united front as they cast their ballots at a polling station today amid the dramatic fallout from their lavish flat refurbishment.

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds walked arm in arm to the Methodist Central Hall in London as the crucial set of elections got underway n Super Thursday.

The couple smiled and waved for the cameras, as they come under intensifying scrutiny over the 58,000 refit of their Downing Street residence.

Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds arrive to cast their vote at Methodist Central Hall, central London

The Prime Minister and his fiancee put on a united front as they cast their ballots at a polling station today

Boris Johnson voted early in the dramatic Super Thursday battle today amid signs he is on course to take a wrecking ball to the Red Wall again

The pair face growing questions surrounding the estimated 200,000 refurbishment of Downing Street, and the decision to fund it via contributions from Tory donors.

Last night it emerged Britain's top civil servant Simon Case only discovered Boris Johnson wanted a charity to pay for his Downing Street flat makeover earlier this year.

Former royal aide Mr Case decided to look into the matter further and discovered that Tory donor Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row had been lined up to chair the planned Downing Street charity and had asked two other peers to join the board.

Mr Case had a meeting with the potential trustees, former Thatcher adviser Lord Powell and senior Labour peer Baroness Jay, to find out what was happening.

Mr Case is now conducting one of several investigations into how the costly redecoration of the Number 11 residence was funded.

A Cabinet Office spokesman confirmed: 'The Cabinet Secretary only became aware of the Trust in late February.'

The inquiry follows a string of revelations in the Mail suggesting a 58,000 cost overrun may have been paid originally by the Conservative Party before being covered by Tory donor Lord Brownlow.

Mr Johnson told Ministers that he had settled the bill with his own money, but has ducked questions about who originally paid out when the work at 11, Downing Street was completed last year.

Failure to declare donations is an offence under electoral law, punishable by fines of up to 20,000.

Boris held Carries hand as they put on a show, casting aside the dramatic fallout from their lavish flat refurbishment

The couple clutched their masks as they walked to cast their ballots in the Capital this morning

The PM cast his ballot along with fiancee Carrie Symonds in London as the crucial set of elections got underway

The Tories have been boosted by the latest poll showing they have a huge 10-percentage point lead - driven by the success of the vaccine rollout.

Keir Starmer is braced for a disastrous 'hat-trick' of defeats in the Hartlepool by-election, as well as the two key mayoral races in the West Midlands and Tees Valley.

Allies believe a hard-Left challenge is inevitable if the results in his first major electoral test are as bad as feared - but they are also confident he can survive.

Votes will be cast in every part of Great Britain, with the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, London Assembly, and Hartlepool by-election up for grabs.

More than 5,000 council seats in England will also be contested, along with 13 mayoralties and 39 police and crime commissioner positions.

YouGov's final poll before the big day found the Tories were on 43 per cent nationally, ahead of Labour on 33 per cent.

The research, conducted over the past two days, found 40 per cent had a favourable view of Mr Johnson, compared to just 31 per cent for Sir Keir Starmer.
The farmer who owns a celebrity rooster so determined to crow longer than anyone else that he runs out of breath and faints has had to cancel a planned world tour, including a trip to the UK, after Turkey went into lockdown.

Okan Gokbudak, 28, the owner of the determined rooster Bahtiyar, who has been shown in viral footage crowing so much that he falls over, said the most exciting part of the trip was the invitation to join Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast.

He said: 'The producers of the show contacted me at the end of April, they said that they talked about my rooster Bahtiyar on their show and thought it was great. They want to include us as a guest on the show and invited us to England.

'Unfortunately, I cannot travel due to the pandemic. However, getting this invitation made me very happy. Bahtiyar's international reputation is growing steadily.'

Okan Gokbudak, 28, has had to cancel a planned world tour, including a trip to the UK, after Turkey went into lockdown

Okan Gokbudak, 28, is the owner of the determined rooster Bahtiyar, who has been shown in viral footage crowing so much that he falls over

He added that people had been in touch from all over the world with offers of thousands of pounds to buy the Denizli rooster after it became a global celebrity status for its extremely long crowing technique at his farm near the western Turkish city of Denizli.

In one clip, Gokbudak is heard bursting into laughter as he films the bird running out of puff during a hearty crow and dropping to the ground.

He said however that it was not an isolated incident, and the bird collapses every time it crows.

In one clip, Gokbudak is heard bursting into laughter as he films the bird running out of puff during a hearty crow and dropping to the ground

He said however that it was not an isolated incident, and the bird collapses every time it crows

He said: 'My rooster was crowing in the henhouse and I just looked at it because the noise just went on and on, and then I noticed that the bird started to shake before suddenly passing out.'

He added: 'I decided to film it and when I shared on social media, my rooster became an overnight celebrity.

'I guess the reason it passed out is because it was simply too ambitious. He doesn't know when to stop, which means it keeps running out of breath and then faints.

'I know they have a reputation for crowing a lot, but I have to admit that this is certainly not usual even for this breed.'

He said his only worry now is that someone might steal the rooster and has to keep an eye on it all the time in case it gets snatched.

A determined rooster, named Bahtiyar, crows for so long he runs out of breath and passes out in Denizli, Turkey

'I would never leave it alone because I'm afraid someone will steal it. I keep it in a cage in my room at night and then in the coop when I'm at work during the day.'

Roosters are one of Denizli's most important symbols and crowing times of 20 to 25 seconds are often recorded in their first year.

The rooster has dark eyes, dark coloured chest plumage, and black legs, with golden feathers above, and sometimes red feathering on the wings. The males typically weigh over 3 kilogrammes.

The bird has been a symbol of the region for almost a thousand years as confirmed by excavation works at Laodicea that found a 900-year-old image of a Denizli Rooster used as a symbol of the city.
A group of 'morally redundant' students have been slammed after filming themselves appearing to raid a charity's clothing donation bank to flog online.

Footage uploaded to popular video sharing app TikTok shows a group of four young people at a British Heart Foundation clothes bin at Manchester Metropolitan University's Lower Chatham Street campus.

The academic institution say they are investigating the incident, after one member of the group flaunted stolen designer brands before reportedly bragging she would flog the goods online.

The now deleted footage received almighty backlash after it was published with a caption, '@ my depop', that is believed to refer to the secondhand clothes website, depop.com.

A group of 'morally redundant' youths have been slammed after filming themselves appearing to raid British Heart Foundation's clothing donation bank to sell online

Manchester Metropolitan University say they are investigating the incident which took place on their campus

Footage that was uploaded to TikTok, which has since been removed following backlash, shows one male and three female youths stood around the BHF's overflowing clothing bin, while one of the girls appears to help herself to items.

The man is dancing in what appears to be an attempt to show off items, including a pink hat that viewers claimed he had taken from the charity spot.

Clothes were then laid on the ground to show off the brand names on the interior tags.

Angry social media users branded the group's behaviour as 'shocking and disrespectful' and questioned why they would upload it to social media.

Twitter user @katiemedleyy tweeted: 'Can't even imagine how sheltered you have to be to be this morally redundant.'

And Joe Mccoll shared these sentiments when he tweeted: 'This is just shocking and disrespectful. I can't understand why they're laughing.'

Another user @deepdrownhappy tweeted: 'The caption was '@ my depop' too so not only are they stealing clothes from charity bins they're going to make profit off it?? How grim and embarrassing is that.'

Furious social media users branded the behaviour of the 'morally redundant' group of youths as 'shocking and disrespectful'

The video prompted so much hate that one Instagram user - who happens to share the same name as the TikTok account that uploaded the clip - claimed she was faced a barrage of 'awful messages and people threatening my new business' due to people mistakenly believing she was involved.

While the youths are widely referred to as students online, it remains unclear whether they are of university age or attend Manchester Met themselves.

The university confirmed it was aware of the clip and that the donation bin was on their campus.

A spokesman said: 'We're aware of a video on social media relating to clothing donation units on the University campus and are currently investigating further.'

Jane Flannery, senior regional director at the British Heart Foundation commented: 'We're hugely grateful for the donations we receive from students nationwide via our Pack for Good scheme, as every item sold helps fund our vital research.

'It's disappointing to see a few items being removed from this donation point, however, we are aware of the video and are liaising with the University.'
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Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales hit a record high in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, official figures show  and the greatest increase was among middle-class women.

An Office for National Statistics report published today revealed there were 7,423 fatalities linked to drinking last year, which was a fifth more than in 2019 and the highest number since records began in 2001.

Alcohol-related deaths have been rising for decades. But they rose quickest from March 2020 onwards, after the first national lockdown came into force, and got progressively worse as the year went on.

Most deaths were related to long-term drinking problems and dependency  with alcoholic liver disease making up 80 per cent of cases.

But experts told MailOnline that a year of social restrictions likely exacerbated Britain's drinking problem. Dozens of surveys found people drank more than usual during lockdowns to cope with isolation, boredom and anxiety about the pandemic.

One in 10 of the alcohol-related deaths were from mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol misuse and 6 per cent were from accidental alcohol poisoning.

People living in the poorest parts of the countries were four times more likely to have died from alcohol abuse compared to those in the wealthiest areas in 2020, which has been common most years.

But the ONS said the disparity between the rich and poor narrowed among women last year, with the greatest increase in Britons in the second-richest group. Among these people, alcohol deaths in 2020 rose by 22.6 per cent in men and 34 per cent in women.

The alcohol death rate for men in 2020 was twice the rate for women  which was no different from previous years.

Today's report showed there were 464 alcohol poisoning deaths last year, up about 16 per cent from 401 the year before.

The rise in alcohol-induced liver disease was more stark, with 1,000 more deaths in 2020 than 2019  5,964 compared to 4,954, a rise of a fifth.

Liver disease is caused by excessive alcohol abuse over many years but relapsing or binge drinking can be fatal for patients with the condition.

Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, previously told MailOnline it was possible some of the increase was caused by excessive drinking during lockdown speeding up the deaths.

Baby boomer addiction to booze rose during lockdown Lockdown has led to an increase in alcohol addiction among the baby-boomer generation, a study suggests. More of those aged 55 to 74 are now drinking at levels 'indicative of probable alcohol dependence', researchers found. A greater number are having their first drink in the morning and more are feeling guilty or remorseful about their habit. Psychiatrists from King's College London warn that some are drinking the equivalent of a bottle of wine a day. Alcohol has acted like a 'comfort blanket' in the face of health and financial worries, social isolation and a lack of routine. But the strain of the past year has ultimately 'driven them over a cliff edge', they add. The experts analysed data on 366 patients aged 55 to 74 who had been referred to NHS mental health services. Half were referred before the first lockdown began and half after. Drinking at probable dependent levels  more than 50 units a week  rose from 19 per cent to 28 per cent over this period. The number drinking four or more times a week increased from 30 per cent to 39 per cent. And those drinking in the morning at least once a month to get over a heavy session the night before more than tripled from 2 per cent to 7 per cent, according to the study published in the Journal of Substance Use. Advertisement

'If people with liver disease start drinking again, especially binge drinking, that would certainly be very bad for their liver and could lead to liver failure and subsequent death,' he added.

He added the spike in liver disease deaths could be down to patients struggling to access healthcare. Waiting lists have soared to record levels as a result of the NHS focusing on Covid patients.

The ONS said the number of people dying from alcohol-related deaths got progressively worse throughout 2020.

Compared to 2019, there were just 8 per cent more fatalities by March last year, compared to 30 per cent more between October and December.

But between 2019 and 2020 the rise was 19.6 per cent.

The spike highlights the 'devastating impact' of the pandemic on problem drinking, according to the Portman Group  a regulator for alcohol labelling, packaging and promotions.

Its boss Matt Lambert added: 'The ONS figures are tragic and highlight the devastating impact the past year has had on those drinking at the most harmful rates.

'The reasons for this are complex and likely exacerbated by pandemic restrictions which may have cut off social and professional support or deterred people from seeking help in the first instance.

'We call for increased targeted support for those struggling with their relationship with alcohol to ensure that the effects of this year are not compounded in the future.'

Consistent with previous years, the alcohol-specific death rate for males in 2020 (17.6 deaths per 100,000 males; 4,891 deaths) was around twice the rate for females (8.7 deaths per 100,000 females; 2,532 deaths).

It takes about 10 years for a patient to develop cirrhosis, or liver disease, and the condition affects between 10 to 20 per cent of long-term heavy drinkers.

The damage caused by cirrhosis is permanent, and it's one of the primary ways alcoholism kills.

A person who has alcohol-related cirrhosis and does not stop drinking has a less than 50 per cent chance of living for at least five more years, data suggests.

But people who had early-stage cirrhosis and started excessive drinking again during Covid lockdown may have accelerated their condition, experts say.

It comes after a study earlier in the week suggested lockdown has led to an increase in alcohol addiction among the baby-boomer generation.

More of those aged 55 to 74 are now drinking at levels 'indicative of probable alcohol dependence', researchers found.

A greater number are having their first drink in the morning and more are feeling guilty or remorseful about their habit.

Psychiatrists from King's College London warn that some are drinking the equivalent of a bottle of wine a day.

Alcohol has acted like a 'comfort blanket' in the face of health and financial worries, social isolation and a lack of routine. But the strain of the past year has ultimately 'driven them over a cliff edge', they add.

The experts analysed data on 366 patients aged 55 to 74 who had been referred to NHS mental health services. Half were referred before the first lockdown began and half after.

Drinking at probable dependent levels  more than 50 units a week  rose from 19 per cent to 28 per cent over this period. The number drinking four or more times a week increased from 30 per cent to 39 per cent.

And those drinking in the morning at least once a month to get over a heavy session the night before more than tripled from 2 per cent to 7 per cent, according to the study published in the Journal of Substance Use.

Lead author Dr Tony Rao said: 'Alcohol has acted like a comfort blanket for some people during lockdown as they struggled with social isolation, health and financial worries, and a lack of routine.

'In some cases this drinking has got out of control and driven them over a cliff edge, with a detrimental impact on their health.

'Before lockdown, they may have been drinking socially with friends but are now drinking at home alone.

'If they were in the pub, someone may notice if they were staggering or drinking too much and suggest they don't have any more.

But when you're drinking at home you don't have those checks and balances, and it's easier to slip into problematic drinking.

'It may be that they have gone from having half a bottle of wine a day with their meal to having a whole bottle every evening.'
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Have YOU taken your pooch to the polling station today? Email katie.weston@mailonline.co.uk or pictures@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Britain's dogs were out in force today as owners shared pictures of their beloved pets on social media while arriving to cast their vote at the polls.

Dozens of faithful pets were seen turning up at polling stations, which opened today in the first local and regional elections since Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.

The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations has started trending on Twitter, while many dogs waited during their morning walk at 6am, with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg tweeting: 'Time for #dogsatpollingstations and nothing else on here until polls close at 10pm.'

But pet charity Blue Cross warned owners not to leave their dogs alone, saying: 'In light of the rise in dog thefts, please do not leave your dog tied up outside.

'Try calling the venue first to check whether you can take them inside before you leave!'

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, was snapped petting his dog Luna after arriving to vote with his wife Saadiya at St Alban's Church in Tooting on what has been dubbed 'Super Thursday'.

Meanwhile, actor and London Mayoral hopeful Laurence Fox posed while holding up his pooch, Mrs Thatcher, in Vauxhall as the crucial set of elections got underway.

And in Glasgow, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was pictured meeting voters at Annette Street school polling station alongside candidate Roza Salih, who held a dog.

Ex-Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also shared a picture of her dog outside a polling station, captioning: 'Wilson doing his democratic duty.'

Polling stations are open today until 10pm, with most results expected from Friday and into early next week as social distancing rules for those counting slows the process.

A dog is seen outside a polling station in London this morning in the first local and regional elections since Brexit and the Covid crisis. Polling stations are open today until 10pm, with most results expected from Friday and into early next week

A woman is pictured going into St Catherine's Church Hall polling station in Cardiff to vote in the Welsh Parliamentary Elections with her pooch this morning

A dog stands outside a polling station as voting begins for the Hartlepool by-election, where voters will decide between returning a Labour Party MP, who has held the seat since its creation in 1974, and the Conservative Party candidate who took a number of Labour's so-called 'red wall' seats in the 2019 general election

A woman and her dog outside a pink-spotted polling station in the Bank View Cafe, Sheffield, Yorkshire, as polls open for local, mayoral, Welsh and Scottish Government elections and the Hartlepool by-election

Boris Johnson was seen casting his ballot along with fiancee Carrie Symonds in the capital city, with the couple putting on a united front and walking arm in arm to the Methodist Central Hall.

The Tories have been boosted by the latest poll showing they have a huge 10-percentage point lead - driven by the success of the vaccine rollout.

Keir Starmer is braced for a disastrous 'hat-trick' of defeats in the Hartlepool by-election, as well as the two key mayoral races in the West Midlands and Tees Valley.

Allies believe a hard-Left challenge is inevitable if the results in his first major electoral test are as bad as feared - but they are also confident he can survive.

Votes will be cast in every part of Great Britain, with the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, London Assembly, and Hartlepool by-election up for grabs.

More than 5,000 council seats in England will also be contested, along with 13 mayoralties and 39 police and crime commissioner positions.

A pictured posted to Twitter by a social media user, showing her dogs attending the polling station in Dulwich, south east London this morning as the hashtag #dogsatpollingstations started trending

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and his wife Saadiya walk with their dog Luna outside a polling station during local elections in London this morning

Mr Khan snapped petting his dog Luna outside St Alban's Church in Tooting on what has been dubbed 'Super Thursday'

Actor and London Mayoral hopeful Laurence Fox poses while holding up his pooch, Mrs Thatcher, in Vauxhall, London, as the crucial set of elections got underway

First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and candidate Roza Salih, who is seen holding a dog, meet voters at Annette Street school polling station today in Glasgow

Ex-Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson shared a picture of her dog (above) outside a polling station, captioning: 'Wilson doing his democratic duty'

A pooch is seen proudly posing by a sign reading 'pooping station' in an image that was posted to social media earlier today

Three faithful dogs are seen outside a polling station today. YouGov's final poll before the big day found the Tories were on 43 per cent nationally, ahead of Labour on 33 per cent

YouGov's final poll before the big day found the Tories were on 43 per cent nationally, ahead of Labour on 33 per cent.

The research, conducted over the past two days, found 40 per cent had a favourable view of Mr Johnson, compared to just 31 per cent for Sir Keir Starmer.

Much attention is being paid to the vote for the Scottish Parliament, as the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) wants a new independence referendum when the pandemic subsides.

SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is seeking a parliamentary majority after boosting her popularity with strong public engagement during the pandemic.

A dutiful pet is seen posing for the camera while waiting outside a polling station as Britain's dogs were out in force today

Lola, a six-month-old sable Cocker Spaniel puppy, snapped at St Peter's Church Hall polling station in Harborne, Birmingham, in a picture sent to MailOnline

Monty, a four-month-old puppy owned by Eleanor from Herne Hill in south London, pictured outside a polling station today

A dog is seen on a leash outside a polling station during local elections in Edinburgh, Scotland, today

A woman takes a picture of her dog Bertie outside a polling station today in London. The London mayoral election takes place today a year after the emergency Coronavirus Act 2020 postponed elections across England

A pooch meets its owner outside a polling station at Walnut Tree Walk Primary School this afternoon in London, England

A man walks with his dog past a polling station during local elections in Oxford this morning. Votes will be cast in every part of Great Britain, with the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, London Assembly, and Hartlepool by-election up for grabs

Four-month-old dog Bertie pictured outside a polling station in London, England, in an image posted to social media today

A pooch is seen near a polling station during local elections in Waterloo, London, on what has been dubbed 'Super Thursday'

A pooch stands proudly next to a polling station sign today. The Tories have been boosted by the latest poll showing they have a huge 10-percentage point lead - driven by the success of the vaccine rollout

A dog is seen waiting outside a polling station during local elections in Hartlepool. Research, conducted over the past two days, found 40 per cent had a favourable view of Mr Johnson, compared to just 31 per cent for Sir Keir Starmer

A dog is pictured near a polling station in London as Britain heads to the polls today for its first local elections since the coronavirus pandemic and since Brexit took full effect

A woman walks her dog past a polling station set up in a container in Hartlepool, County Durham, today as voters cast their ballots in the local elections

She said in a televised debate on Tuesday: 'Getting through this crisis is my priority.'

The SNP has capitalised on widespread disillusion with the UK parliament in London to become the dominant political force in Scotland but currently forms a minority government.

Latest opinion polls suggest the SNP will gain a slim majority for the first time since 2011, keeping it in power, although other surveys have indicated a coalition was likely.

Securing the powers from London to hold a new referendum on independence and a 'yes' vote is less certain, however, while recent surveys point to a fall-off in support for going it alone.

In London, Mr Khan is predicted to win a second four-year term in the high-profile mayoral race.

One pooch wears a red bow tie to honour the special occasion outside a polling station this morning, in a photo posted online

A dog looks up at the camera while waiting outside a polling station in Wales. Votes will be cast in every part of Great Britain

A woman walks with a dog outside a polling station in Hartlepool. Polling stations are open today until 10pm, with most results expected from Friday and into early next week as social distancing rules for those counting slows the process

A pet poses next to a 'Vote Green' sign in Scotland and wears a green badge at the entrance to a polling station this morning

A pet is pictured on a leash outside a polling station in an image posted with the hashtag #dogsatpollingstations this morning

A man sits outside a polling station set up at Hartlepool United football supporters club in Hartlepool as Britain heads to the polls today

A man walks his dog past a polling station at a church during local elections in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, this morning

One pooch is seen tethered outside the entrance of a polling station on what has been dubbed 'Super Thursday'

A woman seen with her dog in Hartlepool today. More than 5,000 council seats in England will be contested, along with 13 mayoralties and 39 police and crime commissioner positions
Scots are battling through snow to vote in crucial elections today with Nicola Sturgeon's separatist push on a knife edge.

The bitter battle for Holyrood has entered the final straight after the Tories pleaded for people to 'lend' their support to stop the SNP's drive for independence.

Experts say Ms Sturgeon's chances of an overall majority look to be 50-50 after a slew of contradictory polls - some showing her party will lose seats, others suggesting they will gain ground.

The First Minister has made triggering a fresh referendum, potentially as early as this year, the centrepiece of her manifesto.

But she has been forced to back away from her sabre-rattling during the campaign, as evidence mounts that Scottish support for breaking up the UK is dwindling.

In the final TV debate Ms Sturgeon admitted that she will not go ahead with an illegal 'wildcat' ballot if Boris Johnson refuses permission.

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured voting in Glasgow this morning) has made triggering a fresh referendum, potentially as early as this year, the centrepiece of her manifesto

Some voters had to battle snowy conditions to get to their polling station, with wintry weather in parts of the north amid a Met Office yellow weather warning for snow across much of the Highlands, Grampian and down towards the central belt. Pictured, Daviot near Inverness

Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross voted with his wife Krystle and son Alistair at Alves Hall in Moray today

Scottish Labour, under new leader Anas Sarwar (pictured voting with his family in Glasgow today), is hoping it can make gains and start to reverse the decline in fortunes the party has suffered in more recent years

The ravages of the pandemic means there is set to be an agonising wait to find out the verdict of voters north of the border.

It might not even be until Sunday that the results are finalised, with counts dramatically slower than usual.

Polling stations opened at 7am on Thursday and will close at 10pm, in an election which could be crucial in determining Scotland's future within the UK.

Some voters had to battle snowy conditions to get to their polling station, with wintry weather in parts of the north amid a Met Office yellow weather warning for snow across much of the Highlands, Grampian and down towards the central belt.

The SNP is certain to stay the largest party in the 129-seat Scottish Parliament.

Elections guru Professor Sir John Curtice has said there are nine 'knife-edge constituencies' which will be key in this.

These are seats held by the Tories or Labour, but where Ms Sturgeon's party would need a swing of five points or less to claim them.

The SNP, like all parties fighting in the election, has also been seeking to maximise its votes in the regional list ballot.

But as it won just four of its 63 MSPs on the list last time round, it is more likely that these votes will be crucial in determining the other big question in this Holyrood election campaign  who will come second.

Scottish Labour, under new leader Anas Sarwar, is hoping it can make gains and start to reverse the decline in fortunes the party has suffered in more recent years.

But the Scottish Conservatives, which became the second largest party in the Parliament at the 2016 election, will be hoping leader Douglas Ross can repeat the success that Ruth Davidson, who is quitting Holyrood for the House of Lords, had five years ago when the party won a record 31 seats.

The Scottish Conservatives urged pro-Union voters to lend them their votes on the regional list ballot paper. On the final day of campaigning, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross highlighted this message during visits to East Lothian, Stirling, Inverness and Moray.

Tory candidate for Glasgow, Annie Wells, said: 'Over the last week alone, 11 polls show the Scottish Conservatives are the only party who can stop an SNP majority and stop another referendum, so that our parliament can focus 100 per cent on rebuilding Scotland.

'Poll after poll shows Labour are on course for their worst Holyrood result ever. Not one poll shows them stopping an SNP majority.

Alex Salmond was in a jovial mood as he voted in Aberdeenshire today - despite signs his new Alba party has fallen flat

'If just a few more pro-UK voters lend their peach party list vote to the Scottish Conservatives, even if it's only this one time, we can stop that SNP majority, stop Indyref 2 and secure Scotland's recovery.'

In a message to pro-UK voters, Pamela Nash of the Scotland in Union campaign group said: 'At this election vote for Scotland's priorities, not the SNP's. Vote to prioritise our NHS, jobs, schools and the climate  not another divisive independence referendum.'

The other parties at Holyrood are also hoping to make gains, with polls indicating the Scottish Greens could have their best ever result this time round.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that they can also win more seats.

And just as coronavirus has impacted the election campaign, it will also affect the time it takes for all the votes to be counted.

The need for social distancing, with fewer staff able to physically count the ballot papers, means there will be no overnight counts.

Votes will instead start being counted at 9am on Friday, with some of the constituency seats declared later on the same day.

The results of the remaining constituencies, along with the results of the eight regional list areas, should be declared on Saturday, but there is an outside chance it could drag on to Sunday.
A roller-skater has been left partially paralysed and suffered a brain bleed after a horrific high-speed crash.

Madison Adams, 26, from Stoke-on-Trent was skating with a friend on holiday Llandudno, Wales.

She was trying out her new skates - which she jokingly called her 'cute little death traps' - when she collided with her friend's skateboard and smashed her skull.

Ms Adams, who works for an optician, was sent sprawling to the ground and hit her head on the path.

Madison Adams, 26, fractured her skull, a bleed on the brain and has been left partially paralysed after the horror crash

Ms Adams poses with her roller skates (l) which she jokingly called 'cute little death traps' before the smash with left with with life-changing injuries (r)

Ms Adams was rushed to hospital after the smash on April 19th and is now having to learn how to walk again

She was rushed to hospital where she was treated for a bleed on the brain after the crash on April 19.

She is now learning to walk again and has posted graphic pictures of her injuries on Facebook as a warning to others to wear a helmet while skating.

She said: 'I was skating the coast path with my friend who was on his skateboard when we got to a steep hill.

'Noah was off the lead and he was bounding ahead and we were trying to keep up with him.

Ms Adams was out skating and walking her dog Noah when she collided with her friend's skateboard

Ms Adams, from Stoke-on-Trent made a post on Facebook warning others to wear a helmet while skating

'I remember thinking 'I'm going too fast' and then my skates hit my friend's skateboard and I went flying.

'I scraped the skin off my face and hands and smashed my head on the ground.

'I was knocked out and the next thing I remember was waking up in the ambulance.

'I couldn't feel my legs and was really confused.

'I've only been skating for about six months and I only started because Noah runs so fast and I wanted to be able to keep up with him on walks.

'I got a bit confident and just didn't wear a helmet which I now understand was a big mistake.'

Ms Adams was on holiday in her campervan with her pet dog Noah and was skating the coast between Rhyl to Colwyn Bay when the accident happened.

Ms Adams had only been roller-blading for six months and was wearing these new skates when the smash happened

She continued: 'The paramedics were wonderful and wrapped Noah up in lots of blankets and looked after him and put him in the ambulance with me.

'It's a good job I had Noah on the lead or he would have just been running around Wales.

'The doctors told me that I had suffered a massive hit to my head, my brain was bleeding and I was just going in and out of consciousness.

'My main concern at the time was where was Noah. Luckily I had a friend with me and he was outside the hospital with Noah for hours.'

Madison was rushed to Rhyl Hospital before being transferred to a trauma ward at Royal Stoke University Hospital where she stayed for two weeks.

Her injuries left her unable to walk and she is has been confined to a wheelchair while she relearns how to walk.

She said: 'At first I couldn't really walk at all, but my brain is remembering bits of how to walk now which is encouraging.

'I can't stand for long periods of time and my memory is still quite bad and I feel dizzy all the time.

'I have a wheelchair that my friend bought for me and they have been pushing me around on walks.

'The staff at the hospital saved my life.

'There was one nurse who was incredibly sweet and kind to me.

'I must have looked a sight because I had blood all over me because my head and mouth were bleeding and I had blood in my eyes and I couldn't open them.

'But this young nurse got a wipe and cleaned me up, that kindness really touched me.'
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British veterans who served in Northern Ireland have today welcomed proposals to make them exempt from prosecution under new legislation to be announced in the Queen's Speech next week.

Ministers will introduce a statute of limitations so no one can be charged over incidents up to the 1998 Good Friday agreement - except for cases involving war crimes, genocide or torture.

But politicians on both sides of the Irish border have condemned the move, which would see a block on trials linked to the Troubles apply to both Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorists and veterans of the Armed Forces.

Instead, the Government will move towards an approach echoing the 'truth and reconciliation' model used in post-Apartheid South Africa, where all sides come forward to talk about historical events without risk of prosecution.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is now in discussions about building a 'truth discovery' museum in the border areas that will aim to move things from a 'criminal debate to a historical debate'.

The legislation comes after the murder trial of two ex-paratroopers accused of shooting Joe McCann, an IRA commander responsible for the deaths of 15 British soldiers, collapsed on Tuesday after just six days.

The statute of limitations is unlikely to apply to cases that are already going through the courts. British forces are thought to have been responsible for 301 deaths during the Troubles, out of a total of 3,520.

Among the veterans welcoming the plans is former Royal Marine David Griffin, 80, a Chelsea pensioner (left) who has been waiting since 2012 for a decision on whether he will be charged over an incident in July 1972. He is also pictured in 1970 (right)

British troops, in the foreground, clash with demonstrators in Belfast in May 1981 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland

Among the veterans welcoming the plans is former Royal Marine David Griffin, 80, a Chelsea pensioner who has been waiting since 2012 for a decision on whether he will be charged over a shooting incident in July 1972.

He told The Times that he would give the relatives of those who died 'every last detail of what happened', adding: 'I was promised ten years ago that within six months I would either be charged or given a letter of complete exoneration and I'm still waiting.'

Prosecutors to review cases of at least 16 after IRA trial fiasco At least 16 Army veterans facing charges over shootings during the Troubles will have their cases reviewed following the collapse of a landmark trial. 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. 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. 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. 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. Justice O'Hara also ruled that the interviews the veterans voluntarily gave to the Historical Enquiries Team 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. 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. Advertisement

Mr Griffin added that he would want to have legal assurances as well as a senior Ministry of Defence officer with him before he gave evidence in the 'truth and reconciliation' process.

He was originally questioned in 2012 by the Historical Enquiries Team, and the case was then passed onto the Legacy Investigations Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland  but he has still not yet heard whether he will be charged or exonerated.

Another veteran known as 'Dave', who was part of the Green Howards regiment, also told The Times: 'We should all get together and say enough is enough, it is water under the bridge and let's forget it and carry on.'

Johnny Mercer, who was sacked as Veterans' Affairs minister last month, said the past two Queen's Speeches have contained lines promising to take action to protect Northern Ireland veterans but the Government is yet to deliver.

Many victims of the Troubles are vehemently opposed to any statute of limitations, which they characterise as an amnesty that will thwart their chances of justice.

The bar on prosecutions would apply across the board, including former security force members and paramilitaries, but an exemption would still enable war crimes, such as torture, to be prosecuted, according to reports in The Times and Daily Telegraph.

The reported move, some detail of which could be announced in next week's Queen's Speech, would signal the scrapping of a key mechanism agreed by the UK and Irish Governments and main Northern Ireland parties in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.

The Stormont House proposals included a new independent investigation unit to re-examine all unsolved killings.

Responding to the development, Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted: 'Reports that British government are to legislate for an amnesty for their state forces is another slap in the face to victims.

'Another cynical move that will put British forces beyond the law. This is legal protection for those involved in state murder. This is not acceptable.'

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney, who met Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis in Dublin on Wednesday, also expressed concern.

It is understood that, while legacy was discussed at the meeting, the potential of a statute of limitations being introduced in the Queen's Speech was not raised.

Ministers in Dublin are said to be dismayed by the reports.

Ireland's deputy leader Leo Varadkar told the Irish parliament that the Government would not support any decision to prevent future prosecutions over Troubles crimes because victims and families have a right to justice.

Speaking in the Dail today, he said: 'The Government and myself personally were deeply alarmed by reports that we read about the possibility that the British Government may consider providing an amnesty, or putting in place a statute of limitations, in relation to offences that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

'This would fly in the face of the Stormont House agreement, would fly in the face of the New Decade New Approach agreement, and anything like this would have to have the agreement of the parties in Northern Ireland.

'It is something that we will not support as a government because we stand with the victims and families who've been bereaved and damaged as a consequence of these actions.

'They have a right to know what happened, and they have a right to justice. Whether the murderers were British soldiers or republicans or loyalists, they should be brought to justice.'

And a spokesman for Mr Coveney said: 'The Irish Government discussed with our UK colleagues the commitments of the Stormont House Agreement and strongly advised against any unilateral action on such sensitive issues.

Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill (left) said the reports were 'another slap in the face to victims', while Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney (right) also expressed concern

Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney (left) with Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis in Dublin yesterday

'We reiterated that only through a collective approach can we deal with these issues comprehensively and fairly in a way that responds to the needs of victims, survivors and society as a whole. Victims and their families are the only priority.'

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tweeted: 'If true, this will be the biggest betrayal of victims by the British government & will put a huge obstacle in the way of true reconciliation. This is the most unprincipled & cynical British government in many years and that's saying something. An absolute disgrace. Shame on them.'

Alliance Party leader and Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long tweeted: 'This kind of briefing, before any meaningful engagement with victims' families, typifies the contempt with which Govt are treating victims.

'I believe that they deserve justice where that is possible: however, at the very least, they deserve not to learn of Govt plans on Twitter.'

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister expressed concern that an amnesty could be introduced. 'If the kite-flying in today's national press proves correct, then amnesty for terrorist murder is shamefully on its way,' he said.

'Amnesty for terrorists in the tailwind of action to protect veterans is not acceptable, either by reason of the equivalence it embraces or the disproportionate advantage to terrorists.

'Though the release of prisoners and 'On the Run' letters, as props to 'the process', were softening up sops towards amnesty, its final delivery is as repulsive as the steps which paved its way.

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 1972

'Once more, if this proceeds, what we are really seeing is the sanitisation of terrorism, whereby premeditated murder and genocidal actions will be excused and innocent victims and those they lost once more demeaned as worthless.'

Last March, Mr Lewis announced an intention to unilaterally move away from the Stormont House deal.

He said only Troubles killings where compelling new evidence had emerged would receive a full police reinvestigation.

He added that most unsolved cases would be closed and a new law would prevent them being reopened.

On Tuesday, the trial of two former paratroopers accused of the murder of Official IRA commander Joe McCann in 1972 collapsed due to legal issues related to the admissibility of statements and interviews given by the ex-soldiers.

Responding to reports that a statute of limitations is to be introduced, a UK Government spokesman said: 'The Government has clear objectives for addressing the legacy of the Troubles and delivering its manifesto commitments to veterans who served in Northern Ireland.

'We want to deal with the past in a way that helps society in Northern Ireland to look forward rather than back.

'It is clear to all that the current system for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles is not working for anyone, failing to bring satisfactory outcomes for families, placing a heavy burden on the criminal justice system, and leaving society in Northern Ireland hamstrung by its past.'
London's mayoral candidates have been out casting their votes at polling stations this morning, in an election Sadiq Khan is being tipped to comfortably win.

The Labour candidate is widely expected to retain the keys to City Hall, though his lead over Conservative rival Shaun Bailey has shrunk in recent days amid fears about the capital's crime crisis.

Mr Khan, along with wife Saadiya and their dog Luna, were spotted bright and early at their polling station at St Albans Church in south London, ready to put their crosses in the box.

His main rival, Tory Mr Bailey, was also out with wife Ellie at Drapers' Pyrgo Priory School in Romford, as he hopes to cause an upset.

Liberal Democrat candidate Luisa Porritt cast her vote, as did Laurence Fox of The Reclaim Party, who posed for the cameras with a Churchill salute and his dog, Mrs Thatcher.

Meanwhile, Brian Rose of the London Real Party spent the morning breakdancing on the top of his battle bus.

Sadiq Khan, along with wife Saadiya and their dog Luna, were spotted bright and early at their polling station at St Albans Church in south London, ready to put their crosses in the box

His main rival, Tory Shaun Bailey, was also out with wife Ellie at Drapers' Pyrgo Priory School in Romford, as he hopes to cause an upset

Laurence Fox, of The Reclaim Party, posed for the cameras with a Churchill salute and his dog, Mrs Thatcher

Brian Rose of the London Real Party spent the morning breakdancing on the top of his battle bus

The full list of London mayoral candidates Shaun Bailey - Conservatives Kam Balayev - Renew Sian Berry - Green Party Count Binface - Count Binface for London Mayor Valerie Brown - The Burning Pink Party Piers Corbyn - Let London Live Max Fosh - Independent Laurence Fox - Reclaim Party Peter Gammons - UKIP Richard Hewison - Rejoin EU Vanessa Hudson - Animal Welfare Party Steven Kelleher - Social Democratic Party Sadiq Khan - Labour Party David Kurten - Heritage Party Farah London - Independent Nims Obunge - Independent Niko Omilana - Independent Luisa Porritt - Liberal Democrats Mandu Reid - Vote Women's Equality Party Brian Rose - London Real Party Advertisement

The other candidates in today's election are Kamran Balayev of Renew, Sian Berry of the Green Party, Count Binface of Count Binface for Mayor of London, Valerie Brown of The Burning Pink Party, Piers Corbyn of Let London Live, independent Max Fosh, Peter Gammons of UKIP, Richard Hewison of Rejoin EU, Vanessa Hudson of the Animal Welfare Party, Steven Kelleher of the Social Democratic Party, David Kurten of the Heritage Party, independent Farah London, independent Nims Obunge, independent Niko Omilanaand Mandu Reid of the Vote Womens Equality Party on orange.

The vote comes as Londoners' fears about the capital's crime crisis have seen Mr Khan's lead over Mr Bailey shrink in recent days.
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This is the moment a lion took on thirty hyenas in a six hour long battle over a buffalo carcass in South Africa.

In one image, a 140-pound spotted hyena bit down into the lion's side as the lion continued to snarl at the pack surrounding it, despite the gruesome attack. In another, the 400-pound lion closed in on the buffalo carcass after fending off the hungry hyenas for six hours.

Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash in the country's Kruger National Park.

Kyle stood around 800-feet away as the spectacle played out over six hours. Kyle used a Sony AR7 IV camera and a Sony 200-600mm lens to take the incredible photos.

Hyenas gather food both by scavenging and by hunting. They will hunt in packs and use their 37 miles-per-hour speed to chase prey until exhaustion. The pack will then drag the tired prey down to the ground.

The hyenas took turns launching themselves at the lion. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash in the country's Kruger National Park

At one stage, the hyenas closed in before the lion turned the tables and began fighting back. Kyle stood around 800-feet away as the spectacle played out over six hours. Kyle used a Sony AR7 IV camera and a Sony 200-600mm lens to take the incredible photos

One hyena tried to sink a bite into the lion's rump. Hyenas gather food both by scavenging and by hunting. They will hunt in packs and use their 37 miles-per-hour speed to chase prey until exhaustion

The scrap lasted an incredible six hours. his is the moment a lion took on thirty hyenas in a six hour long battle over a buffalo carcass in South Africa

The hyenas closed in on the lion as they attempted to scare it away. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash

The angry lion stood its ground and launched itself at the pestering hyenas

Over thirty hyenas taunted the lion at various stages throughout the six hour long ordeal
A member of the Jersey Militia re-enactment group has fired a musket towards the ongoing stand-off between the Royal Navy and 100 French fishing vessels.

The fishing boats are blocking access to the port at Saint Helier in a row over post-Brexit fishing rules, prompting Boris Johnson to deploy Navy vessels HMS Severn and HMS Tamar.

The ships - which are both significantly larger than French military boat Athos sent by Emmanuel Macron - are armed with menacing cannons and machine guns.

But one historical re-enactment enthusiast in the British Crown dependency felt the urge to intervene with his own weaponry.

The lone man - who has not been named - shot a blank-firing musket into the water from Elizabeth Castle in a defiant protest this morning.

A member of the Jersey Militia re-enactment group has fired a musket towards the ongoing stand-off between the Royal Navy and 100 French fishing vessels over post-Brexit fishing rules

One historical re-enactment enthusiast in the British Crown dependency felt the urge to intervene with his own weaponry

The 'invading' French ships set up a blockade in the harbour at St Helier on the Channel Island of Jersey on Thursday morning, stopping boats from leaving port

Supporters of the military re-enactment enthusiast rushed to social media to share their thoughts

Footage shows him loading up his weapon before firing it into the harbour, as plumes of smoke billow around him.

Witnesses on the ground counted 100 small vessels on the choppy water this morning, with French fishermen setting off flares and hoisting banners calling for access to the waters.

Why are Jersey and France warring over fishing rights? What were the pre-Brexit arrangements for fishing waters? Until January 1 this year, the UK was subject to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). That meant that fleets from EU states had equal access to the the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of other countries. EEZ areas stretch 200 nautical miles from the coast of each state, or to a maritime halfway point between neighbouring countries. The British fishing industry had long complained that the arrangements meant EU fleets were plundering what should be their catch. What has changed? The post-Brexit trade deal sealed between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before Christmas gave EU fleets transitional rights to UK fishing waters. The EU fishing quota for UK waters was reduced by 15 per cent this year, and will go down another 2.5 percentage points each year until 2026. From that point the UK will in theory have the right to ban the bloc's fishing fleets altogether, although there will need to be annual negotiations. Crucially for the current situation, UK and EU vessels now require a licence to fish in each other's waters. What are the French angry about? A row has erupted over the specific regulations introduced by the Jersey government to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They require French boats to demonstrate they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters in order to get licences, with Jersey adamant that is what the TCA sets out. However, the French authorities claim these 'new technical measures' for accessing waters off the Channel Islands have not been communicated to the EU. As a result they have been dismissed as 'null and void'. There are also disputed allegations that Jersey has been dragging its heels in approving licences for boats that have applied. So, what could happen now and would it ever REALLY end in war? There is a huge amount of sabre-rattling going on, with the UK deploying the navy to counter an extraordinary blockage by French fishing vessels. French ministers have been backing their fishing fleet, threatening to cut power to the Channel Island in retaliation. When such confrontations develop there is always the risk of a miscalculation and real clashes. Boris Johnson has urged the French to use the 'mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems' rather than resort to threats. There are rumours of a call between Mr Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, although No10 said there is nothing arranged yet. Advertisement

And French fishermen on tiny vessels said they were ready to restage the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar during the protests.

Jean-Claude La Vaullee, skipper of Le Cach, said: 'I've refuelled the boat - we're ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar.'

The battle was a massive defeat for the French and Spanish fleets, as Admiral Lord Nelson led the Royal Navy to a historic victory.

The channel 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.

Earlier today, Athos hurtled towards Jersey to confront HMS Severn and HMS Tamar - despite them being far superior in size and power.

Paris warned yesterday it could cut off electricity to the island - which is largely supplied via an undersea cable.

The sabre-rattling Prime Minister will keep his eye on events in the Channel throughout today as voters take to the polling booths in the local elections.

It comes after French maritime minister Annick Girardin yesterday accused the Channel Island 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 its power, with 95 per cent of its electricity coming from France.

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.'

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing was astonished by the scenes on the sleepy island, describing the port this morning as 'like an invasion'.

The blockade 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.

Maritime tracking websites this morning showed HMS Severn had arrived in 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 arrived and was spotted looming over the tiny French vessels.

Around 100 French boats were in the harbour this morning, with some crews setting off flares during the protest.

The leader of the demonstration had asked the French boats to leave the harbour to let a freight ferry - the Commodore Goodwill - depart.

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing described the scene at the port of St Helier on Thursday morning as 'like an invasion'.

The 28-year-old said: 'There were a few hand-held flares and smoke flares going off and apparently a few maybe bangers and stuff going off from the French.'

He said the French fleet was mostly made up of 'big French dredgers and trawlers' of about 12 metres or more.

HMS Tamar looms in the mist behind French fishing boats taking part in the protest on Thursday morning over their post-Brexit fishing rights

He added: 'It was quite a sight. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea. It was like an invasion.'

He said there had been rumblings about a planned protest a few days ago but he had not been sure if it was 'serious or empty threats'.

He added: 'The French being the French, they don't mess around. They can blockade their own harbours - they wouldn't think twice about coming and doing it to us.'

Romain Davodet, another French fisherman, said they had been told the Jersey decision 'were irreversible' and around 250 vessels faced disaster, along with 'more than 2,000 jobs ashore.'

A flotilla of fishing vessels are seen in St Helier harbour, Jersey, as French fishermen protest post Brexit changes to fishing in the area. The HMS Tamar is seen here looming behind a small fishing boat

Two Royal Navy gunships have started patrolling the coast off Jersey as 100 French fishing boats threaten to blockade the harbour of the British Crown dependency. Pictured: French boats pen in a British vessel in St Helier Harbour this morning

Another, Theo Marais, added: 'I'm having my first boat built.

'I'm 24, it's a Euro 825,000 boat that I'm not even sure I can launch it! We love our jobs.

'We don't want to live on aid, what we want is to work.'

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.'
The US today dashed hopes of a quick Transatlantic trade deal warning that it will take 'some time' to thrash out terms.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted the US and UK were 'profoundly in sync' but poured cold water on the prospects for an imminent post-Brexit pact to boost economic ties.

In an apparent warning to Boris Johnson, he also stressed that Joe Biden is 'focussed' on making sure the row over the Northern Ireland protocol does not threaten the peace process.

The comments, in an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, came after Mr Blinken attended the summit of G7 ministers in London this week - the first face-to-face meeting since the pandemic erupted.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured meeting Boris Johnson in London earlier this week) insisted the US and UK were 'profoundly in sync' but poured cold water on the prospects for an imminent post-Brexit pact to boost economic ties

In an apparent warning to Mr Johnson, he also stressed that US president Joe Biden (pictured) is 'focussed' on making sure the row over the Northern Ireland protocol does not threaten the peace process

US would not object to UK paying 400m Iran debt, says Blinken The US would not object if the Uk decides to repay an historical 400million debt to Iran, Antony Blinken said today. Tehran has linked the row over an abortive tank purchase in the 1970s to the five-year detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Wrangling has intensified this week with claims that the UK could be ready to repay the sum as a 'ransom' - although ministers insist the two issues are not linked. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the US Secretary of State suggested there would be no complaint from America if the sum was paid. 'It's a sovereign decision for the United Kingdom,' he said. Advertisement

Donald Trump had made great play of his determination to strike a speedy deal with the UK, hailing the potential gains for both sides.

But Mr Blinken said Mr Biden's new trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, would now be taking time to review the discussions that had taken place with the previous administration.

He said the US wanted to ensure any trade agreement would benefit American workers and their families.

'Our trade negotiator just got on the job, so she's taking the time to go back and review everything that was discussed and that's going to take some time,' he said.

'We want to make sure that, whether it's with the United Kingdom or anyone else, any agreements reached are consistent with the principles that President Biden has established to focus on making sure that these agreements really advance the wellbeing of our workers and their families. That's our focus.'

With continuing tensions in Northern Ireland over the implementation of the Brexit 'divorce' settlement, Mr Blinken said the US was 'very focussed' on ensuring the Good Friday Agreement was maintained.

'We want to make sure that, whether it's with the United Kingdom or the EU, whether it's anything we're doing, that we make sure that the tremendous gains from the Good Friday Agreement are sustained and that the economic as well the political wellbeing of Northern Ireland is taken fully into account,' he said.

On Iran, Mr Blinken said the US had shown its 'seriousness and purpose' in seeking to strike a new nuclear deal after Donald Trump tore up the internationally agreed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Mr Blinken (pictured) said Mr Biden's new trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, would now be taking time to review the discussions that had taken place with the previous administration

However, he said Tehran had to show it was willing to comply with the terms of the agreement  intended to curb its ability to develop a nuclear weapon  amid concerns it was close to achieving a 'breakout' capability.

'Compliance is compliance and what we don't know is whether Iran is prepared to make the same decision and to move forward,' he said.

'Right now, unfortunately, Iran has itself lifted many of the constraints imposed on it by the agreement because we pulled out, and it is now getting closer and closer again to that point where its breakout time is going to be down to a few months and eventually even less,' he said.

'So there's nothing naive about this. On the contrary, it's a very clear way of dealing with a problem that was dealt with effectively by the JCPOA and we'll have to see if we can do the same thing again.'
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These two diners were hailed the 'most determined in Britain' after being spotted enjoying their lunch and a glass of wine despite being 'head-to-toe drenched' in rain and battered by hailstones.

The two mystery women were wearing coats, plastic waterproof ponchos and huddling under a solitary table covering as hail visibly hurtled down around them outside a restaurant in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon.

Passer-by Jenny Colebourn found it hilarious that the ladies had refused to cancel their dinner reservation despite the weather and couldn't resist taking photos of them tucking into a bowl of chips - surrounded by otherwise empty tables.

The two mystery women were wearing coats, plastic waterproof ponchos and huddling under a solitary table covering as hail visibly hurtled down around them outside a restaurant in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon

Passer-by Jenny Colebourn found it hilarious that the ladies had refused to cancel their dinner reservation despite the weather and couldn't resist taking photos of them tucking into a bowl of chips - surrounded by otherwise empty tables

The 24-year-old had been walking home through the normally bustling Cutting Room Square in Ancoats on one of the wettest days of the year so far when she spotted the 'really funny' sight, claiming it looked like a 'piece of art'.

Taking out her camera, the product manager snapped the two ladies as they sat through the 'torrential' rain, with other restaurants having packed up for the day.

Ms Colebourn said: 'It's true British style to be out there having a good time in all weathers. It's so British to be like ''we've got our booking, we're going to go''

Ms Colebourn said: 'They were head-to-toe drenched. It was really funny.

'It was right in the middle of the massive hailstorm. It was torrential weather. Hail and really windy.

'It's true British style to be out there having a good time in all weathers. It's so British to be like ''we've got our booking, we're going to go''.

'[The restaurant] had put out the tables, put up the umbrella, just for these two girls to sit under there.

'I saw the server bringing out food. She ran out, put the food down on the table and the women were both sat there in absolute gales.'

The pair were eating garlic bread and chips, and nursed glasses of red wine, Ms Colebourn said.

She added: 'The square is normally heaving but there was no one there. I thought it looked incredible.

'It just looked like a piece of art.'

One Manchester foodie Instagram account hailed the duo their 'winners' of people braving the bad weather while commenters praised them as 'legends' and said they 'love their resolve'.

Poor weather is continuing in parts of Britain today. Pictured is traffic stuck in the snow on the A9 at Daviot near Inverness this morning

Voters heading to the polls this morning are having to brace snow in some parts of the north, after a -5C freeze overnight.

People in areas of Yorkshire including Huddersfield, Halifax and Hebden Bridge, as well as Scottish towns like Inverness, are waking up to a changed landscape, as they prepare to cast their ballot.

A blizzard caused traffic woes on the A9 north of the border as others took to social media, incredulous at the sight of snow in May.

In the south, meanwhile, rain showers are expected to fall throughout the day, and for most of the rest of the week, with as much as 5-10mm falling in just an hour in the worst-affected spots.

However, a sunny weekend is on the horizon, with highs potentially pushing 70F by the end of the week - a welcome change for many following the recent dreary weather.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: 'Sunday should be drier for most, with some showers in places, but in the south-east of England, temperatures could climb into the low twenties by the afternoon.

'People should make the most of any dry or sunny spots, as it is unlikely to last and the rest of May will be unsettled and changeable for everyone.'
Coronavirus scientists 'haven't seen any hint' that existing variants can fully evade vaccines, one of No10's top advisers claimed today.

Professor Sharon Peacock, head of the Covid Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK), warned the coronavirus could mutate over time to become better at beating jab-triggered immunity.

But she claimed no 'variant of major concern' has yet emerged, despite fears mutant strains from South Africa, Brazil and India could make the current crop of vaccines weaker. She said 'more work' is needed to determine the risks the strains pose.

Professor Peacock, a University of Cambridge microbiologist, also told Times Radio that the coronavirus could eventually become as harmless as the common cold  but said that process could take decades.

Her comments come amid fears that Indian variants are spreading rapidly in Britain.

Nationally the three mutant strains  which are genetically similar  accounted for around 4 per cent of all community-acquired infections in the week ending April 17, up from just 0.2 per cent at the end of March.

Data from the Sanger Institute also showed the proportion ranged as high as 46 per cent in Lambeth and 36 per cent in Harrow in London.

Sharon Peacock (pictured), head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK), said Covid scientists 'haven't seen any hint' existing variants can fully evade the effectiveness of vaccines

Asked if any variant in existence can evade vaccines, Professor Peacock said: 'We haven't seen anything like that to date.

'The question you're asking is the million dollar question in many ways, everybody wants to know what's the likelihood and when is it likely to occur, if at all.

'What we don't know is if it is likely to occur.

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

'We know that as mutations accumulate in the virus, it can actually make it more fit in terms of avoiding our immune system, but the more mutations it accumulates, it could actually lead to a virus that is less infectious, for example.'

She added: 'So there's a trade-off for the virus in terms of how many mutations it can tolerate.

'Now, some people have predicted that a virus could emerge that is pretty resistant to vaccines, but we haven't seen any hint of that at the moment.

'And the idea that this could arise is based on models from previous viruses, not this current one, so at the moment, I remain optimistic that we're in a good place  that the viruses that are circulating are susceptible to vaccinations.

'And the key thing is to get on and vaccinate the world so that we can clamp down [on] disease. If we can reduce disease rates, then we reduce the risk of variants arising in the first place.'

Professor Peacock said work was ongoing to look at the variant first identified in India, including whether it could spread in the UK compared to the Kent variant.

The Indian government has said the coronavirus variant first discovered there in March may be linked to its deadly second wave.

Samples for the B.1.617 variant  which has now been split into B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3  have been found in several states with high case numbers, it said.

The National Centre for Disease Control said, however, that it had still been unable to fully establish a correlation.

Asked about the variant, which has been found in a small number of cases in the UK and is currently regarded as a variant under investigation, Professor Peacock said there is no evidence that it is resistant to the vaccine at this time.

She said: 'My eyes are constantly now looking at the pattern of spread within the United Kingdom to see whether this variant is able to spread in our population under current restrictions.

'There's no evidence at the moment that the variant described in India, which we call B.1.617, is resistant to the vaccine, far more work needs to be done.

'Very early work suggests that it's not as resistant as, say, the variant first described in South Africa.

'But what we don't know about this particular variant from India is how transmissible it is, so that's the other key question.

'The big question for me, is whether the Indian variant is also particularly transmissible.

'Now we can see that through experimental work, but the key is to watch it in the population, to see whether it's associated with outbreaks and spread in the community.

'I know that Public Health England are really looking very carefully at that because that's a sign that under the circumstances we're under in terms of our current restrictions, whether that is spreading is a key signal  a public health signal of transmissibility.

'We'd obviously have to prove that scientifically, but that's a really key thing to watch out for.'

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.

It comes as chilling footage from Kriti Hospital, a private clinic near New Delhi, showed Covid patients who died on a hospital ward in India after oxygen ran out. Victims' relatives say they were 'abandoned' by doctors.

Relatives, who were paying up to 1,000 per day for a bed, said they arrived to find the hospital deserted and the ICU ward locked, and only after opening it discovered their relatives had died.

K. Vijay Raghavan said: '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.'

Meanwhile scientists say they are increasingly convinced that India's mutant strain is playing a leading role in the second wave of infections, as it appears to be out-competing the UK variant and is therefore likely to be more infectious.

Sujeet Singh, director of India's National Centre for Disease Control, said: 'The [UK variant]... is declining.

The [Indian variant] is... now being seen in many places. The current surge in cases over the last one and half months in some states show a co-relation with the rise in the [Indian variant] of SARS-CoV2.'

Addressing the sharp rise in cases on Wednesday, Indian professor Rijo M John lamented that it 'halts speculations of a peak' on Twitter.

Medical experts say India's actual figures could be five to 10 times the official tallies

Professor Peacock suggested richer nations should be doing all they can to help vaccinate people in poorer countries.

She said: 'We in wealthy countries should be thinking about people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

'We should be vaccinating the world on a moral standpoint, but also vaccinating the world to try and reduce the rate of infection, so that we protect people from an untimely death, but also reduce the risk of variants emerging in the first place, because ultimately in the long-term, that is one of the major threats to us controlling this pandemic.'

A health worker wearing a protective suit checks the oxygen gas gauge of a Covid patient being treated at a temporary ward inside a banquet hall in New Delhi

A Covid-19 coronavirus patient breathes with the help of oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a Sikh temple, in Ghaziabad, India

Asked whether Covid will become like annual seasonal flu, Professor Peacock added: 'The idea that the virus will become like a common cold and nobody will notice it by next spring is far too optimistic.

'And so it could take one or two generations before we see a virus that starts to, what we say attenuate, which means it causes less severe disease.

'And so I think what we have to do is tackle the problem that's in front of us at the moment and not put too much store in the fact that the virus is going to evolve into something that's really rather harmless.

'That's been seen for other viruses, but that's over a process of decades and hundreds of years, and we're talking about being in the very early stages, [we] still have a pandemic, so we can't guarantee that that's the trajectory of the virus right now.'
A conman who fleeced a high-flying business woman he met online out of more than 55,000 after claiming he worked with Barry Manilow has been jailed for four years.

Shaun Anthony Verner, 55, managed to convince his victim, who worked for professional global services group Ernst and Young and owned a four-bedroom house in Northumberland, to give him control of her bank account.

He spun her a series of lies, claiming he owned a four-bedroom home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and ran a stage lighting business with clients including Barry Manilow.

Richard Holland, prosecuting, said the pair 'seemed to hit it off' after they met online in January 2016, sharing a passion for travel, Portugal and music.

Shaun Anthony Verner (pictured), 55, managed to convince his victim, who worked for professional global services group Ernst and Young and owned a four-bedroom house in Northumberland, to give him control of her bank account

Verner invented a story that he was set to receive a large negligence payout for a botched spinal treatment from the NHS and managed to persuade his victim to give him 12,000 when he suffered 'temporary cash flow problems'.

He also convinced the woman to 'invest' 28,000 into a non-existent property in Portugal, with the promise of 'fabulous' returns, Durham Crown Court was told.

He was then able to coax her into letting him take over her financial affairs and swiftly changed her passwords so he could transfer money into his own account.

When he was then able to get her to quit her job and join him on a four-month 'business trip', she was completely unaware that she was in fact paying for its entirety.

He spun her a series of lies, claiming he owned a four-bedroom home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and ran a stage lighting business with clients including Barry Manilow

Mr Holland said the victim sold her home in Northumberland to move into a flat in Durham, but after Verner began making further cash requests, she transferred the proceeds of the sale into an account which he didn't know about in April 2017.

Extensive police inquiries revealed the loss to the victim was at least 55,000.

The court heard Verner, of Thornley, had previous similar convictions, initially denied any offending and only admitted six fraud charges recently.

He also convinced the woman to 'invest' 28,000 into a non-existent property in Portugal, with the promise of 'fabulous' returns, Durham Crown Court (pictured) was told

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said the defendant believes a diagnosis for bipolar disorder, for which he now receives appropriate medication, may have played a part in his offending.

But Judge James Adkin said said Verner's offending was, 'breathtakingly, persistently convoluted, and emotionally manipulated,' and, 'a particularly pernicious type of fraud.'

Imposing a 54-month prison sentence, the judge also set in motion crime proceeds proceedings, with a hearing set for September 17.
This is the prime suspect accused of murdering a British law graduate in Pakistan out of jealousy over her relationship with another man.

Saad Ameer Butt, 28, is one of two men being sought for the brutal killing of Mayra Zulfiquar in Lahore but police in Pakistan confirmed to MailOnline that he is the chief suspect.

The other man being searched for is Zahir Jadoon, who police revealed was in a relationship with Ms Zulfiquar, 24, and had rented the house where she was killed so that they could spend time there away from her family.

Police are hunting both men and do not know if they acted alone or together as they try to solve the murder.

Saad Ameer Butt, 28, from Lahore, (pictured) is one of two men being sought for the brutal killing of Mayra Zulfiquar but police in Pakistan confirmed he is the chief suspect

The other man being searched for is Zahir Jadoon, who police revealed was in a relationship with 24-year-old Ms Zulfiquar (pictured)

Superintendent Sayyed Ali of Punjab police, who is responsible for Lahore's up-market Defence district of Lahore where the house is located told MailOnline: 'From our initial enquiries Butt was romantically interested in Mayra even though she was involved with Zahir.

'He had rented a house so that they could spend time together and, in the weeks, leading up to the murder, were seen frequently with each other going out and about.'

Referring to Butt, Superintendent Ali added: 'Police have had previous dealings with him in the past and we are looking for him all over Lahore and across the rest of Pakistan because he could be anywhere.'

'But it is a mystery to us why Zahir has also absconded and we are also looking for him because he will be able to provide us with a lot of information as to what actually happened.

'If he is innocent, then we don't understand why he has gone missing. But I can promise you, we will find both men.'

A post-mortem report revealed that Ms Zulfiquar bled to death in her bedroom after being shot in the neck and arm in the early hours of Monday morning.

A family source claimed Ms Zulfiquar and Jadoon got engaged after she arrived in Pakistan and that she had reported Butt (pictured) to police for harassing her on three occasions

Zahir Jadoon, had rented the house (above) where she was killed so they could spend time there away from her family, police confirmed to MailOnline

Ms Zulfiquar, originally from Feltham in south west London, also had bruising on her right hand and left foot, according to the report.

Police revealed that her body was discovered by a maid who raised the alarm.

Butt is from Lahore while Jadoon is from Islamabad, which is about two hours away.

A family source claimed that Ms Zulfiquar and Jadoon had got engaged soon after she arrived in Pakistan two months ago and that she had reported Butt to police for harassing her on three occasions.

She was initially living with her grandmother in Lahore but started spending more time at with Jadoon at the house he rented with Butt, who knew them both, also visiting regularly.

Superintendent Ali said: 'We cannot confirm if we have any previous reports from Mayra claiming to have been harassed by Butt. But we believe that she was in dispute with him and that this could have led to the murder.'

Ms Zulfiquar's parents flew to London just hours after receiving news about her murder and her funeral is already believed to have taken place within 24 hours of her death in keeping with Islamic tradition.

Family sources told MailOnline that she decided to remain in Pakistan because she did not want to pay to 1,750 to quarantine if she returned to the UK.

She travelled to Pakistan two months ago with her mother Tabasaam to attend a cousin's wedding but decided to stay in the country after it was placed on the coronavirus red list.

A post-mortem report revealed that Ms Zulfiquar (pictured) bled to death in her bedroom after being shot in the neck and arm in the early hours of Monday morning

Ms Zulfiquar's parents flew to London hours after receiving news about her murder and her funeral is already believed to have taken place within 24 hours of her death

Her mother rearranged her flight so that she could get back to the family home just days before Pakistan was placed on the red list.

But Ms Zulfiquar had complained to relatives about the cost of the ten-day quarantine in Britain saying that 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.

'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.'

Ms Zulfiquar, who studied law at the University of West London had ambitions to run her own law firm and had completed an internship at a legal company in Dubai before travelling to Pakistan.
The son of an outlaw bikie boss was charged over the alleged fatal bashing of a man weeks before his father was executed in a Gold Coast driveway.

Notorious bikie Shane Bowden, 48, was shot in the head and chest in an execution-style killing outside his Pimpama home shortly after midnight on October 12 after returning from a late night gym session.

It can now be revealed Bowden's son Kain Mazomenos, 24, is currently behind bars charged with the unrelated death of Victor Codea, also 24, in Adelaide last August.

Mazomenos' identity as one of four men charged with murder was revealed after a court suppression order was lifted on April 27.

Kain Mazomenos (pictured with his wife Chelsea) remains behind bars over the alleged murder of a man in Adelaide

Adelaide Magistrates Court recently heard Codea was allegedly punched and kicked to death by four men who lured him to a high school car park on August 28 last year, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

He was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery for his critical injuries before his life support was switched off a week later.

Codea was facing drugs charges at the time of his death.

Mazomenos, 24, along with Jeremy Dale Sandell, 23, Thomas Nichols, 30 and Thomas Pinnington, 23 have each pleaded not guilty to murder.

The four men remain in custody and have been ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court in July.

Kain Mazomenos is one of four men charged over the death of Victor Codea (pictured) in a school car park in Adelaide last August

Kain Mazomenos (left) was arrested weeks before his dad, notorious bikie boss Shane Bowden (right) was shot dead outside his home on the Gold Coast

It was reported at the time that Bowden had been rocked by a family crisis in the weeks leading up to his death.

Bowden had told his family he was trying to turn his life around after being released from prison last June.

He had fled to Queensland weeks before he was shot dead.

The desperate hunt for Bowden's killer continues as part of a joint investigation between Queensland Police and Victoria's bikie-busting Echo Taskforce.

No charges have yet to made over Bowden's death, which is believed to have been sparked by an internal feud in the Mongols bikie club in Victoria.

Two burnt out cars were seized and forensically examined as detectives continue to scour through CCTV.

No charges have been laid over the execution-style killing of bikie boss Shane Bowden (left). He's pictured with son Kain (right)

The investigation into Bowden's death is ongoing as police renewed a public appeal for information.

'We are also calling on anyone who may have had time to reflect on what may have happened to contact police,' Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told the Gold Coast Bulletin in April.

Bowden's family has vowed justice will be served and hopes his killer 'rots in hell.'

'I hope no family has to go what we have gone through, karma is a b*****,' Bowden's daughter-in-law Chelsea told the Herald Sun in December.

'No one deserves to die like that, to be shot in such a cowardly move.'

She added her husband Kain was struggling to grieve the loss of his father as she remembered her father-in-law as a loyal family man who would give anyone the shirt off his back.

'He was loved by many but did have his fair share of enemies. He lived for his club and loved the brotherhood. Our families will never be the same,' she added.

Shane Bowden (pictured) was shot dead several weeks after his son Kain was arrested over the unrelated death of man in Adelaide

Bowden was released from prison in central Victoria in June after a five year stint behind bars and was driven back to Melbourne by his Mongols bikie club mates in a limousine.

He defected from the Mongols to his original club the Finks days later and then survived a drive-by shooting in Melbourne where he was shot in the leg two weeks after he was released from prison.

He contracted coronavirus while recovering from his injuries in Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Bowden was still recovering from the virus when he flew to Queensland in September and was later charged for allegedly lying on his border declaration pass.
High Court judges are set to review the country's abortion laws which permit the late termination of pregnancies which could result in a child that has Down's Syndrome.

Campaigners Heidi Crowter, who has Down's Syndrome, and Maire Lea-Wilson, whose son has the condition, launched a legal bid to change the legislation.

Currently, the law allows terminations after 24 weeks if 'severe foetal abnormality' is detected.

The only other circumstances in which abortions are legal after the 24-week point is if there is a mortal risk to the mother.

Heidi, from Coventry, and Maire, from Brentford, launched their campaign last year and have raised more than 81,000 in support of the legal case which they have now been told will be heard on July 6 and 7 this year.

Reacting to the news on their campaign's website, Heidi said: 'We hope this day will make a revolutionary mark on this world and the law.

Heidi Crowter (pictured with husband James) and Maire Lea-Wilson are gearing up for a legal fight to change laws which permit late termination of fetuses who have a non-fatal disability

Campaigner Maire Lea-Wilson (pictured) claims she was put 'under intense pressure' to have an abortion when she found out her son Aidan had Down's Syndrome at her 34-week scan

'I feel so excited to get a court case date because I feel like there is finally a chance to fully achieve down's syndrome equality in this land and for our voices to be heard.

'Thank you so much for your support so far, we are really really grateful.'

Heidi, who got married to husband James last year in one of the first post-lockdown weddings, previously described the current law as 'not fair' and said it makes her feel sad and upset.

She said: 'At the moment in the UK, babies can be aborted right up to birth if they are considered to be 'seriously handicapped'.

'They include me in that definition of being seriously handicapped  just because I have an extra chromosome! Can you believe that?

'What it says to me is that my life just isn't as valuable as others, and I don't think that's right. I think it's downright discrimination.'

Heidi Crowter, 25, and James Carter, 26, pictured together on their wedding day in July 2020

Downs Syndrome is a genetic condition resulting from abnormal cell division of the parents sperm or egg, which causes the child to have too many copies of chromosome 21.

This extra genetic material triggers heart and gastro-intestinal disorders which often require surgery, and intellectual impairment.

It has more severe effects in some than others, both physically and mentally. In 2018, there were 618 abortions carried out in England and Wales because the foetus had Downs.

The campaigners have previously written to health secretary Matt Hancock stating that all non-fatal disabilities should be subject to the same 24-week limit.

Maire, an accountant, equality rights campaigner and mother said: 'Our case is not about the rights and wrongs of abortion.

'It's about the specific instance of inequality in the law, whereby for a child without a disability the legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks, but you can have an abortion right up to full term with a child that does have a disability.

Heidi Crowter, 24, (left) pictured with her younger sister Susie, 22, (right) launched the legal bid to change the countrys abortion law last year and has so far raised 81,000 in support

'I have two sons, and I love and value them equally; however, the law does not value them equally. That feels so wrong to me, and so we want to try and change that.

'I was 34 weeks pregnant when we discovered it was likely that Aidan would have Down's syndrome.

'The first thing they wanted to discuss at the hospital was whether we would like to terminate the pregnancy.

'It felt like the assumption was that we would abort our baby. At such a late stage of pregnancy, and at a time when I was scared and vulnerable, that was a very difficult question to get asked. I find it very hard to think back on that time.

'I find it difficult to think that Aidan's life isn't seen as valuable as his older brother's. It makes me worry as to whether he will be seen the same or treated the same.

'I also really worry that when he is older, if this law is still in place, how will that make him feel: that he's not as valuable? That he doesn't have equal worth?'

The case is set to be heard in July this year.
A Bristol private school set up by slave trader Edward Colston could be forced to change its name following a consultation with parents.

Colston's School told parents that discussions on whether its name has a future would take place in June.

Colston - a philanthropist and 17th century slave merchant - founded the independent school in 1710.

A bronze memorial to Colston was ripped down by Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Bristol on June 7 and dumped in the city's harbour amid tensions around Britain's colonial past.

Colston's School launched a review into its name following the city-wide protests but it was suspended in January when Covid lockdown rules meant the school had to shut.

Governers at the time wanted students to be have support from their teachers and friends when considering the survey questions, ITV News reports.

A Bristol private school set up by slave trader Edward Colston could be forced to change its name following a consultation with parents

A bronze memorial to Colston was ripped down by Black Lives Matter demonstrators (pictured) in Bristol on June 7 and dumped in the city's harbour amid tensions around Britain's colonial past

Colston - a philanthropist and 17th century slave merchant - founded the independent school in 1710

But Headmaster Jeremy McCullough told parents in a letter the consultation is now set to take place in the summer term - with views gathered from students, parents, alumni, teachers and members of the public.

A history of Colston's School and how it is linked to the 17th century slave merchant Colston's School was founded by philanthropist and 17th century slave merchant Edward Colston in 1710. Then dubbed Colston's Hospital, the school was initially an all-boys boarding school. It admitted day-boys in 1949. In 1984, girls were admitted to the sixth form. In 1991 it merged with a nearby girls' school and was named Colston's Collegiate School. But it was reverted back to Colston's School in 2005. Its motto is 'Go and do thou likewise', the Colston family motto. Advertisement

Mr McCullough said in a letter to parents: 'As the government now begins to relax the various restrictions on school life, we feel able to move this consultation forward again.

'While we cannot yet meet for assemblies, or engage in the cut and thrust of face-to-face debate in quite the way we would like, we do believe that a full and open consultation will now be possible.

'We intend to launch the formal survey in the second half of the summer term and will seek the views of students, parents, former-students and teachers, in addition to those of the wider general public who wish to comment.'

The school's board of governors is set to make a decision in September. If they decide to change the name, a further review will then take place.

Four people charged with criminal damage following the removal of the Colston statue entered not guilty pleas in court in March.

In March, a school with links to Colston unveiled its new logo after its old one resembled the politician's family crest.

The Dolphin School in Bristol changed the design from two of the aquatic mammals either side of an anchor to two jumping over a wave.

Staff said the new badge will allow them to 'move forwards with a clear identity' after using the original symbol since it opened in 2012.

A consultation was launched in September for parents, pupils and staff to learn about the links between the school and the slave trader.

A total of 460 voted in the internal poll and were given three options - to keep both the name and the emblem, change the emblem but keep the name, or change both.

Almost half - 46 per cent - voted to keep the name but change the emblem, which matched a public poll showing 46 per cent picking the 'middle' option.

The Dolphin School in Bristol changed the design from two of the aquatic mammal either side of an anchor to two jumping over a wave

Staff said the new badge will allow them to 'move forwards with a clear identity' after using the original symbol (pictured) since it opened in September 2012

A consultation was launched in September for parents, pupils and staff to learn about the links between the school (pictured) and the slave trader

The new logo was developed by the founder of Iconic Black Britons Michele Curtis, with input from pupils.

Students and staff over the last week voted for their favourite of four designs the local artist created.

Vice Principal Kate Jenkins, said: 'This has been an exciting journey for the whole school and we are really proud to reveal our new emblem which allows us to move forwards with a clear identity.

'The children loved working with Michele on the design process and they were brilliant at articulating their ideas and justifying their opinions.

'Our new dolphin emblem represents the curious, intelligent and responsible nature of our diverse school community.'

The decision to change the logo came in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that rocked Bristol.

A bronze memorial to Colston - a 17th century slave merchant and philanthropist - was ripped down by demonstrators on June 7 (pictured) and dumped in the city's harbour

Pictured L-R: Milo Ponsford, Rhian Graham and Jake Skuse, who in March appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with criminal damage over the toppling of the statue. They pleaded not guilty

Sage Willoughby arrives at Bristol Crown Court in March ahead of entering a not guilty plea

How is the dolphin linked to Edward Colston and why is it an issue for the school? Dolphin School was set up in 2012 by the Society of Merchant Venturers as a primary school next door to Colston's Girls' School. The dolphin has long been associated with Edward Colston, and the family emblem of two dolphins facing each other appears on the plinth beneath the statue of the slave trader. A legend told over the centuries in Bristol has it that one of Colston's ships was damaged at sea and a hole appeared beneath the water line. The ship was about to sink, but a dolphin wedged its body into the hole to stop up the leak and the ship managed to reach port. As one of the key figures in the running of the Royal Africa Company in London in the 17th century, Colston's own ships transported 80,000 enslaved African people across to the plantations of North America and the Caribbean, and almost 20,000 died or were killed in the crossing. As a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers in Bristol, Colston opened up the lucrative slave trade to Bristol's merchants and developed the specialised boats that effectively industrialised the transatlantic route enabling millions of people to be transported. After moving from Bristol to London at the age of ten, he never returned to live in the city, but left a slice of his fortune to charitable projects, although only those who agreed with his religious views were generally allowed to receive alms or education. When three charitable societies were set up in Victorian times to further the philanthropic work of Colston and the Society of Merchant Venturers, they were named Grateful, Anchor and Dolphin. Advertisement

Ms Curtis said: 'The Dolphin School pupils are natural collaborators, they have so many great ideas which they feel confident to share, but they are also skilled and patient listeners, taking on board ideas and feedback from their classmates.

'Together we explored what the symbol of a dolphin means. The children wanted the emblem to show more than one dolphin because in the wild, dolphins live in pods to support each other, just as the members of The Dolphin School community support each other.

'However, the children also wanted the emblem to represent diversity so the circular shape represents our global community and the waves represent the diversity found in our oceans, reflecting the diversity of the school community where 46 different languages are spoken.'

Year 4 pupil Suhana, who has been working on the project since September, added: 'Being able to vote on big decisions about the future of our school was exciting.

'I feel really proud of our new school emblem and I enjoyed helping to design it. Dolphins are curious, which is one of our school values.'

Three schools closely linked with Colston - that were still run by the Society of Merchant Venturers - last year announced consultations on the future of their names.

Colston's Girls' School said it was going to change its name, while Colston's School launched a consultation.

Chair of Governors at The Dolphin School Lynn Robinson said: 'The entire name-change process has provided the school community with so many positive opportunities.

'Through the public consultation the school has further strengthened its relationship with the local community and the children learnt the importance of listening to a range of different opinions.

'The ''what's in a name/emblem?'' workshops in school encouraged pupils to consider the meaning of symbols, to explore Edward Colston's connection to Bristol and the role he played in the transatlantic slave trade, and also to think about what a future emblem might say about them and the school.

'Pupils experienced democracy first-hand by voting to change the emblem in October and now by selecting their new emblem.

'They've also had the incredible opportunity of working collaboratively with a nationally respected artist.

'Revealing our new emblem might sound like the conclusion of this journey, but it is in fact the beginning of an exciting new chapter for all of us.'

The Dolphin School will remove the old design from buildings and the school uniform from September.
Two young men are fighting for life in hospital after a tanker truck ploughed into four men and a woman in Melbourne.

The truck veered off the bitumen near the intersection of City Road and Power Street in Southbank at about 7pm on Thursday.

It smashed into a traffic light and the pedestrians, in their 20s and 30s, before the driver fled the scene.

Emergency crews arrived to find two people trapped inside the car after the traffic light fell on it.

Emergency crews arrived to find two people trapped inside the truck after the traffic light fell on it. Pictured: The scene of the smash

Pictured: The Southbank intersection where the truck smashed into the pedestrians and a traffic light

About 15 heavy rescue firefighters freed the pair.

Two men and a woman were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital with lower body injuries.

One was in a critical condition and the other two were in a serious but stable condition, Ambulance Victoria said in a statement.

Pictured: Paramedics at the scene of a truck crash in Southbank, Melbourne, on Thursday

Pictured: Emergency workers and pedestrians at the scene of an accident where a truck ran into pedestrians

A police manhunt is underway to find the driver, but authorities do not believe the person is a threat to the community.

Detectives have urged witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to come forward.

City Road between Southbank Boulevard and Power Street remained closed at 9pm.
For Wyoming Republicans, booting Representative Liz Cheney from her leadership post isn't enough as internal efforts emerged to get her out of Congress altogether.

Several right-leaning polls show a majority of Wyomingites have turned on Cheney, their at-large congresswoman in the U.S. House since 2017, as their support for former President Donald Trump has only grown since he left office.

There are already four Republicans registered to run against Cheney for her House seat in 2022  State Senator Anthony Bouchard, State Representative Chuck Gray, former Pavillion, Wyoming Mayor Marissa Selvig and Bryan Keller.

Trump, along with his allies and circle, have taken a strong interest in the race, as well.

Two people familiar with the Trump team's efforts to replace Cheney in the House told Politico he has two other preferred candidates he is trying to recruit to join the race  attorney Darin Smith, who ran for the seat in 2016 and came in fourth, and Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan.

'I think anybody who's a decent Republican is going to get behind whoever Donald Trump eventually endorses,' Smith told Politico.

'He's gonna look under every rock and look over the lay of the land, and he's going to determine who that person that he's going to get behind is.'

Republicans in Wyoming are getting ready to boot Representative Liz Cheney from Congress  as the GOP Conference chair also faces ousting from her leadership post in the House

There are already four Republican running for Cheney's Wyoming House seat in 2022, including State Senator Anthony Bouchard (left) and State Representative Chuck Gray (right)

THOSE VYING FOR CHENEY'S WYOMING HOUSE SEAT IN 2022 DECLARED CANDIDATES Anthony Bouchard  Wyoming State Senator for 6th District since 2017 Chuck Gray  Wyoming State Rep. for 57th district since 2017 Marissa Selvig  Former mayor of Pavillion, Wyoming, which as of 2010 had a population of 231 Bryan Keller  No immediate information on the candidate POTENTIAL CANDIDATES Darin Smith  Trump is encouraging him to run. He also launched a bid for the seat in 2016 and came in fourth. Ed Buchanan  Trump is encouraging him to run. Currently serves as Wyoming's Secretary of State. Unlikely to give up current post to launch a bid *Liz Cheney has not yet officially declared that she is running for reelection in 2022 Advertisement

It's unlikely both Smith and Buchanan would enter the race, and people close to Buchanan say he is leaning against running, instead opting to keep his seat as secretary of state.

An endorsement from Trump in the race could help clarify the already crowded field, which if it gets too large could help Cheney win with a plurality.

In 2016 she won with 40 per cent of the vote against eight other candidates.

As Republicans in Washington get ready to oust Cheney from her post as GOP Conference Chair with a meeting next week, the party in her home state is increasingly showing signs they are ready to have a new Republican in her House seat.

The Club for Growth found in a poll conducted in Wyoming in late April that 52 per cent would not back Cheney in another reelection campaign, while only 14 per cent said they would support her under any circumstance.

Fundraising shows a bit of a different story.

In the first quarter of 2021, Cheney raised $1.54 million, which is more than she reported in any other quarter in her past three elections.

Bouchard seems the favorite in the race so far to take on Cheney. He has raised $330,000 since entering and after Cheney's vote to impeach Trump in January.

Gray agrees it's important to get behind one candidate.

'Wyoming Republicans are ready to rally around the most proven conservative legislator,' Gray said to Politico in an interview, touting his work on progressing pro-life and energy issues.

'My record shows that I'm that leader.'

Perry Pendley, who served as acting director of the Bureau of Land Management during Trump's administration, is also considering a bid for the Wyoming House seat.

Trump, according to people familiar with the effort to replace Cheney in the House, is looking to recruit attorney Darin Smith (right), who ran for the seat in 2016 and came in fourth, and Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan (left) to join the race

Before facing controversy of his own, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, a Trump ally, was spearheading the charge to boot his colleague from Congress  even holding an anti-Cheney rally in Wyoming in January.

Cheney penned a slashing op-ed responding to the recent campaign against her.

She lays out a stark choice for her party between Trump's crusade to 'delegitimize' President Joe Biden's election win and fidelity to the U.S. Constitution as she prepares to confront difficult odds to keep her elected leadership post.

Trump backer Elise Stefanik is already launching a campaign to replace her  and House Republican leadership, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is on board.

Marissa Selvig is also running, she previously served as mayor in Pavillion, Wyoming

The former president endorsed New York Representative Stefanik to take Cheney's place as No. 3 Republican in the House.

But Cheney, the daughter of Former Vice President Dick Cheney, 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.'

The Republican Conference is holding a meeting next week, where Cheney's fate in her elected leadership position will be decided by the party

Top leadership is backing New York Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney in House GOP leadership

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 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

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!'
Central Park Five prosecutor Linda Fairstein has been intervening in criminal cases on behalf of her well-connected Martha's Vineyard friends and offering her former DA office colleagues positive press coverage, it has been revealed.

A trove of never-before-seen emails between the former head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office and her successor and good friend Martha Bashford were obtained by the Huffington Post through a public records request.

In one case, Fairstein accompanied the attorney of Adam Levinson to a meeting with Bashford and another DA after the well-connected urologist was caught using a hidden camera to film up women's skirts in a subway station.

One email from 2012 shows the famed prosecutor telling Bashford she had received a call from 'one of my vineyard best friends' who was the 'lovely godfather' of disgraced doctor Levinson and 'promised' to 'talk' to an unnamed individual about the case.

The revelations come after it emerged Fairstein had introduced Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Elkan Abramowitz to Bashford back in 2015 when the convicted rapist was accused of sexually assaulting model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez.

Bashford ultimately decided not to bring charges against Weinstein and it would be several more years before he was finally convicted of rape and sexual assault of two other women.

It is not clear if Fairstein received any payments for helping her wealthy connections with their cases.

However some emails show Fairstein offering to use her influence among New York's elite to ensure Bashford and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. are given positive press coverage.

Fairstein has admitted she speaks with lots of former colleagues about ongoing cases but denied having any meaningful impact on them and said she did not offer friends and acquaintances special access to her former office.

Central Park Five prosecutor Linda Fairstein (above) has been intervening in criminal cases on behalf of her well-connected Martha's Vineyard friends and offering her former DA office colleagues positive press coverage, it has been revealed

Cyrus Vance Jr., Martha Bashford, Mark Herzlich and Linda Fairstein in 2017. A trove of never-before-seen emails between the former head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office and her successor and good friend Martha Bashford were obtained by the Huffington Post through a public records request

The 147 pages of emails, though heavily-redacted, show Fairstein weighing in on cases involving New York's elite long after she left her position in 2002.

In one heavily-redacted email about Levinson on December 11 2012, Fairstein justifies her involvement due to the doctor's connections to her Martha's Vineyard social circle.

'An fyi, I don't know if [BLANK] used my name today, about [BLANK],' she wrote.

'Got a call last weekend from one of my vineyard best friends [BLANK]  At whose home I have apparently met [BLANK'S] very lovely godfather.

'I promised nothing except that I would talk to [BLANK].'

Fairstein and Bashford discussed the case again in an email chain in 2013 where she said she had advised her contact 'never again to tell anyone that he could swear that the guy would never do it again.'

'I never heard from [BLANK] again after the day we saw you  and he called to thank me  and I told him never again to tell anyone that he could swear that the guy would never do it again. And [BLANK] was not a great test for recidivism on the subway,' Fairstein wrote.

Bashford replied but the email was redacted.

The outlet said the duo appeared to be discussing a new twist in Levinson's case, with Fairstein replying: 'Takes my breath away  guess the 'entirely my fault' thing was a complete act!'

Levinson, who worked at the prestigious Mount Sinai hospital and was one of the city's top doctors, was arrested in 2012 aged 39 after he was caught using a pen camera to take pictures up women's skirts in Union Square station.

The doctor was using a folded newspaper with the pen clipped on its end to angle the camera up women's skirts.

One email from 2012 shows the famed prosecutor telling Bashford she had received a call from 'one of my vineyard best friends' who was the 'lovely godfather' of disgraced doctor Adam Levinson

Fairstein and Bashford discussed the case again in an email chain in 2013 where she said she had advised her contact 'never again to tell anyone that he could swear that the guy would never do it again'

He pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful surveillance in 2014 and was given a no-jail sentence after the prosecution said he had shown 'remorse.'

He did not have to register as a sex offender and was allowed to keep his medical license.

Fairstein defended her weighing in on this case telling the Huffington Post she does not believe she played a meaningful role in the leniency afforded Levinson.

She described the case as a 'sad situation' involving the godson of her friend 'Mr C' and said she wanted to get a 'fair resolution on both sides' including for the 'doctor with a stunningly promising career.'

'[Mr. C] told me about a sad situation involving his godson, a medical doctor with a stunningly promising career,' Fairstein said.

Adam Levinson was caught using a hidden camera to film up women's skirts in a subway station

'Because of the arrest, the medical board moves right away to retract the license, which is what this guy cared about, really.'

She added: 'It's a long time ago, I'm trying to think what my role was.

'I guess to try to help negotiate a result, not me as a lawyer, but as a human, to help present a picture of what was at stake for this young man.

'I was trying to talk through both sides, get a fair resolution on both sides.'

Fairstein admitted she accompanied Levinson's attorney to a meeting with Bashford and another DA.

But she said she turned down an opportunity to represent Levinson herself.

Bashford told the Huffington Post Fairstein asked for 'leniency' in the case in the meeting but insisted her request 'fell on deaf ears.'

'Your characterization that she had an open door for input on cases is inaccurate,' she said.

Fairstein's involvement in the Weinstein case was already public knowledge, admitting previously that she contacted Bashford, setting up a meeting between Abramowitz and Bashford and giving testament to the attorney's upstanding character.

The former sex crimes unit prosecutor mixed in the same circles as Weinstein, first meeting him during one of her jaunts to Martha's Vineyard.

His accuser Gutierrez had worked with the NYPD to record audio of Weinstein admitting to groping her.

It previously emerged Fairstein had introduced Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Elkan Abramowitz to Bashford back in 2015 when the convicted rapist was accused of sexually assaulting model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Pictured Weinstein arriving in Manhattan court in 2020

Bashford met with Weinstein's lawyers three more times and dropped the case against the Hollywood filmmaker, determining Gutierrez was not a credible witness.

Bashford resigned from her role during Weinstein's subsequent trial last year.

Fairstein addressed her involvement in this case to the Huffington Post saying she 'wanted to speak to the character and credibility of Elkan' and that the first meeting was set up with Vance's blessing.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Fairstein for comment.

Fairstein said her involvement in the cases was not meaningful and said she speaks with lots of former colleagues about ongoing cases.

'I would never, never ask in the middle of an investigation, where was it going and what was happening,' she told the Huffington Post.

While prosecutors are advised to avoid personal bias, there are no rules banning prosecutors from being involved in cases where there may be conflict of interest.

However, the trove of emails provide a glimpse into how the upper echelon of New York society are using their criminal justice connections to get softer prosecution.

The DA's office did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment.

A spokesperson told the Huffington Post: 'Our prosecutors' investigations and charging decisions are based on the facts and the law alone.'

Fairstein is best known for her involvement in the the Central Park Five case where five black and Latino teens were wrongly convicted of a brutal rape in Central Park.

Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Korey Wise, Raymond Santana and Yusef Salaam, who now go by the name 'The Exonerated Five', ranged in age from 14 to 16 when they were arrested in connection with the rape and brutal beating of female jogger, 28-year-old Trisha Meili, in 1989.

NYPD mug shots taken of the Central Park Five on April 23, 1989. Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise and Antron McCray

Fairstein is now suing the makers of the Netflix series on the case When They See Us for defamation over its depiction of her. The Central Park Five now and Ava DuVernay at the world premiere of the show

The teens all confessed after being interrogated by police for hours but later said they were coerced to admit to a crime they had not committed.

Fairstein was head of the New York District Attorney's Sex Crimes Unit at the time.

They were all convicted and served between six and 13 years in prison.

In 2002, they were finally exonerated when another prison inmate confessed to the attack and DNA evidence proved he was the perpetrator.

The five sued New York City, scores of New York Police Department officers and detectives and three prosecutors including Fairstein.

It was settled in 2014 when the men received a $41 million settlement.

The case is now widely regarded as a symbol of institutional racism in America's criminal justice system.

Fairstein is now suing the makers of the Netflix series on the case When They See Us for defamation over its depiction of her.

The show led to a renewed outcry over the case and her role in it and led to Fairstein being dropped by Dutton - the publisher of her bestselling crime novels.
An actor whose character was shot dead in TV hit The Wire almost suffered the same fate after being struck by a bullet in Baltimore, where the HBO show was set.

Chris Clanton, 35, was struck in the ear in 4100 block of Eierman Avenue in Northeast District of the Maryland city on April 29, and was left with fragments of the projectile in his ear.

Clanton, who played Savino Bratton in The Wire, hit out at Baltimore's ongoing crime crisis, telling Fox45: 'I'm p*ssed. I'm p*ssed because it's uncalled for.

'My son was not far from this incident. He was in the vicinity. Luckily, he didn't see what happened.

'Something has to change,' the Baltimore native said. 'I'm from here, I love it.'

Clanton does not believe he was the target of the shooting, which is being investigated by Baltimore Metro PD.

Police said the incident is still under investigation but didn't have any updates a week after the shooting.

Scroll down for video.

'The Wire' actor Chris Clanton said he thought he was going to die after he was shot in Baltimore last week, the same city where he grew up and where the hit HBO series took place

Clanton was shot in the ear on 4100 block of Eierman Avenue in Northeast District of the Maryland city on April 29

The city of Baltimore far outpaces the national average in violent crimes and murder, according to the latest data released by the FBI in September 2020

This is when Chris Clanton's character 'Savino Bratton' on 'The Wire' was shot dead on the streets of Baltimore in an act of retaliation in season five

The FBI named Baltimore as one of the most dangerous cities in the country, with a murder rate of 58.3 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 5 murders per 100,000, according to the latest FBI data released in September 2020

Chris Clanton, pictured, said, 'Something has to change,' in terms in violence in Baltimore

Clanton spent a year in jail in 2006 after admitting drug dealing, and was stabbed in the buttocks at a party in Baltimore in 2008, The Baltimore Sun reported.

He escaped police custody during a hospital visit in September 2019 after being brought there over an unspecified court order sought against him, the Sun said.

But Clanton insists he has since changed his ways - has now spoken out against crime in Baltimore, which was the United States' fourth most dangerous city in 2020.

Clanton has since been released from the hospital and is recovering but is calling for a crackdown on violence in Baltimore

The city's reputation saw it chosen as the setting for The Wire, HBO's flagship crime drama which ran between 2002 and 2008.

It told the story of the city's cops and narcotics dealers, was hailed as one of the greatest dramas of all time, and saw Clanton's character Savino Bratton shot dead by gunman Omar Little, played by Michael K Williams.

Baltimore recorded 335 murders in 2020, with the city's annual homicide rate topping 300 each year since 2015.

It had a violent crime rate of 1,833.4 incidents per 100,000 people and murder rate of 58.3 per 100,000 people in 2019.

Both are many times more than to the national averages of 379 violent crimes per 100,000 people and five murders per 100,000 US citizens, according to FBI date.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, left, proposed reducing Baltimore Metro PD's department, despite spiraling crime in the city. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, right, blasted the plan

The Maryland city recorded 933 assaults per 100,000 people in 2019, close to four times the US national average of 250 per 100,000 people.

Baltimore accounted for 39 per cent of all reported violent crimes in Maryland in 2019, despite being home to just over 10 per cent of the state's six million people, USA TODAY reported.

FBI statistics listed it as the nation's fourth most dangerous city, but Baltimore is has a far greater murder rate than most dangerous city Detroit, which saw 275 people killed in 2019.

Baltimore's murder rate of 58.3 homicides per 100,000 people was America's second-highest in 2020, behind St Louis, Missouri, which had 64.54 killings per 100,000 residents.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have been warring with each other since Scott after Scott announced plans to reduce the size of the city's police force, despite the ongoing crime surge.

Crime in Baltimore surged after Freddy Gray, pictured, died while in police custody in 2015. Six officers were charged, but later cleared, with their treatment sparking anger by anti-brutality campaigners and police unions

Scott, who actually increased Baltimore's police budget by five per cent - or $28 million - for the 2022 financial year - claims his plan 'is about re-imagining what public safety is in Baltimore.'

But Governor Hogan said he was 'shocked and outraged' by proposed reductions, adding: ' We've had thousands of people murdered in the City of Baltimore, and it's unconscionable, but nobody wants to do anything about it.'

Crime has spiked in the city since April 2015, when Freddy Gray, a black 25 year-old, died in police custody after being arrested for carrying a knife.

Six Baltimore Metropolitan Police Officers were charged over Gray's killing, but were later acquitted of all charges they faced.

City leaders say the incident sparked a loss in trust in policing in the city, and also made Baltimore's cops more timid when it came to tackling crime.
An Asian dad was punched in the head 14 times in an unprovoked attack while pushing his toddler's stroller through San Francisco in broad daylight.

The 36-year-old father, who identified himself as only 'Bruce', was walking his baby in Mission bay neighborhood of San Francisco on Friday afternoon when a man came up to him and punched him from behind.

The 36-year-old father is seen on surveillance footage getting knocked to the ground and blocking the 14 blows to his head and back as his son's stroller slowly rolls away.

When his attacker backs off, the father is seen protectively running to his son's stroller while pedestrians and customers look on in shock.

'My sense of security has been shattered,' Bruce told ABC 7 News about the random assault afterwards.

'I was right on the ground and in that exact second I was trying to shield my head and prevent any worse injuries,' he said. 'I couldn't protect my child. I was on the floor and he was in a stroller that was slowly rolling away, so it's definitely very scary as a parent.'

The 36-year-old father(pictured) is seen on surveillance footage getting knocked to the ground in an unprovoked attack with his one year-old son's stroller just feet away

The suspected attacker has been named as Sidney Hammond, 26, and was out on the streets despite allegedly shoving a man onto train tracks just a month earlier

'My sense of security has been shattered,' the victim named Bruce, pictured, said afterwards - and said he feared the assault was racially-motivated

Police arrested 26-year-old Sidney Hammond following the attack and charged him with assault, false imprisonment and child endangerment.

The baby was unharmed in the attack.

Hammond's arrest comes less than a month after he was arrested and freed on bail for allegedly shoplifting from the same mini market he attacked Bruce in front of and for pushing someone onto train tracks, ABC 7 News reported.

Police said the attack on the 36-year-old father appeared to be random and Hammond and Bruce did not exchange words.

Bruce told ABC 7 that the thought of the attack being racially motivated did cross his mind.

Although the attack was not charged as a hate crime, assaults on Asian-Americans in major U.S. cities have been on the rise, leading to the recent 'Stop Asian hate' movement that has held several rallies across the country and spread awareness online.

The group Stop AAPI Hate - the acronym that stand for Asian-American and Pacific Islander - released a report in March that said there were 3,795 incidents reported to the group between March 19, 2020 and the end of February 2021.

The 36-year-old father was attacked in front of Gus's Community Market (pictured), located in the Mission Bay neighborhood in San Francisco on Friday

In April, the senate passed a bipartisan anti-discrimination bill to address the rise in hate crimes against Asians in the U.S.

Aggravated assaults have risen by 55 per cent in San Francisco between February and March, from 11 attacks to 17, according to statistics from the city's police department.

Meanwhile, data released in March by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism showed that hate crimes against Asian-Americans surged 50% between 2019 and 2020 in San Francisco, from six attacks in 2019 to nine attacks in 2020.

In total, Anti-Asian hate crimes surged 145% in America's largest cities in 2020, while overall hate crimes dropped six percent, the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism reported.

On Tuesday, two Asian American women - one of them 84-years-old - were stabbed in broad daylight on a busy San Francisco street by a 54-year-old man, the New York Times reported.

Patrick Thompson was charged with attempted murder and the women were treated for their non-life threatening wounds.

Police said Thompson's motive for the attack were unclear, the New York Times reported.

And in March,76 year-old Xiao Zhen Xie was filmed fighting back against a homeless man who attacked her on Market Street in Downtown San Francisco.

She was left with a black eye in the wake of the assault, with Steven Jenkins, 39, subsequently charged over the assault.

Over $1 million was raised for Xie in the wake of the assault, with the elderly woman's family announcing the cash would be used to help tackle anti-Asian racism.
Todd Anderson, 59, of Acampo, California (left), was arrested Wednesday

A California bar owner has been arrested for allegedly selling undercover agents fake COVID-19 vaccine cards.

Todd Anderson, 59, of Acampo, California, was arrested Wednesday faces charges for felony identity theft, and a misdemeanor for falsifying medical records after the sting by agents from California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

Anderson, who owns and runs Old Corner Saloon in Clements, California, is also facing charges for possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm, San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office told USA TODAY.

Undercover ABC agents were able to buy eight fake vaccine cards, purchased for $20 each from the Old Corner Saloon, on multiple occasions in April before shutting down the operation.

A laminating machine and 30 blank cards were confiscated by authorities.

This is the first time California's ABC has set up such a sting to catch people selling fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards.

But it's unlikely to be the last as vaccination cards become more crucial to the United States' efforts to reopen after COVID-19.

As of Monday, 31.6 percent of Americans are inoculated and a vaccinations rise, daily infections are beginning to fall off, with the average number of daily cases declining nearly 15 percent to fewer than 50,000 a day in the past week.

Authorities say they purchased the fake vaccine cards at the Old Corner Saloon in Clements, California, located about 35 miles southeast of Sacramento, on multiple occasions in April before shutting down the operation.

Scams involving fake COVID-19 cards are on the rise globally. In the United States, the Better Business Bureau warned COVID-19 vaccine cards contain private information that scammers can use to make false documents.

But stalling vaccinations threaten to reverse that progress. Daily shots have plummeted to an average of fewer than 2.5 million a day, down from the peak of nearly 3.2 million on April 11.

Many remain hesitant about taking the vaccine - a stance that will become increasingly difficult as states focus on fully reopening and introduce the use of vaccine passports. New York City has already introduced The Excelsior Pass - which allows New Yorkers to prove their vaccinated status with an app, while Biden is said to be considering vaccine passports on a federal level.

These concerns have seen a rapid boon in the creation and sale of fake vaccine cards - with the FBI and other agencies warning people not to share photos of their cards on social media in case their shot numbers are stolen and sold.

Anderson does not appear to have a history of run-ins with the police aside from DUI arrests in California and Minnesota.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar issued a statement regarding Anderson's arrest:

Authorities say they purchased the fake vaccine cards at the Old Corner Saloon in Clements, California, located about 35 miles southeast of Sacramento, on multiple occasions in April before shutting down the operation. A laminating machine and 30 blank cards were confiscated by authorities

Todd Anderson (pictured being arrested Wednesday) faces charges for multiple crimes including felony identity theft and forging government documents, possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm, as well as a misdemeanor for falsifying medical records

A note pinned up at the bar states that they 'do not follow' the laws on social distancing or mask wearing

'It is disheartening to have members in our community show flagrant disregard for public in the midst of a pandemic.

'Distributing, falsifying or purchasing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is against the law and endangers yourself and those around you.'

Scams involving fake COVID-19 cards are on the rise globally.

In the United States, the Better Business Bureau warned COVID-19 vaccine cards contain private information that scammers can use to make false documents.

The BBB urges the public not to share images with the documents, as the cards include personal information like names, birth dates and vaccination site.

The information allows scammers to duplicate the cards and create 'phony ones' to be sold on the black market.

The BBB is urging Americans to also check security settings on social media platforms to see what is being shared with whom before even posting their vaccine sticker for the world to see.

44 attorney general's formed a bipartisan coalition in April urging tech companies to keep their platforms from being used to by those attempting to see sell fake vaccination cards.

The FBI issued a warning in March about fake vaccination cards being sold.

About 20% of Americans are vaccine hesitant, with rates rising above 30% (dark blue) in parts of Mississippi, Wyoming and North Dakota. With the spread of variants, experts think the 80% of more of Americans need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity - and that level may be impossible

'By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms or places of worship.

You put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19.'

In Britain, A TikTok user shared video advertising selling false vaccination records for 5.

The account also linked to a Shopify page where those in Britain can purchase the cards. Vaccination cards are currently handed to Britons who receive the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.

Back in the United States, authorities plans to file disciplinary action against the Old Corner Saloon, which could include the revocation of its liquor license.

The bar's website describes the establishment as 'a must-stop on the way to and return from their journeys' and 'a real tribute to society'
Joe Biden's Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he expects all schools to be to open full-time for students by September.

Cardona told Morning Joe he would prefer all in-person learning to be implemented this spring because students 'don't learn as well remotely'.

Biden aimed to have all kids back in elementary and middle schools by his 100th day in office. Most have opened up their classrooms but some children are still not going back to school.

The survey, conducted in March by the Education Department and released Thursday, found that 54 percent of public schools below high school were offering full-time classroom learning to any student who wanted it. It marks steady progress since January, when the figure was 46 percent.

Joe Biden's Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he expects all schools to be to open full-time for students by September. Cardona told Morning Joe he would prefer all in-person learning to be implemented this spring because students 'don't learn as well remotely'

Almost four in 10 students continued to take all their classes remotely, the survey found, and another 2 in 10 were split between classroom and remote learning.

There have also been constant battles between schools and teachers unions over whether it has been safe for staff to return, delaying reopening for school districts across the country.

Cardona told Morning Joe: 'It is teacher appreciation week and we don't need a pandemic to realize how important teachers are, but let me take this moment to say thank you.

'And with regard to the September, yes, I expect all schools to be open full-time in person for all students.

'We really need to make sure students have an opportunity to learn in the classroom. And quite frankly, I would rather have it this spring. Students don't learn as well remotely.

'There is no substitute for in-person learning. And I'm pleased, as you mentioned, we have 54 percent of our pre-k through 8th schools in class every day. About 90 percent are offering in-person learning for students. Until we're at 100 percent, we must keep our foot on the gas pedal.'

Cardona also said the Education Department will be monitoring schools that are not offering in-person learning and will be looking to figure out why.

Cardona also said the Education Department will be monitoring schools that are not offering in-person learning and will be looking to figure out why. He also stressed the need for the US to help students who have missed the best part of a year of education and help those who have found it difficult to socialize

He also stressed the need for the US to help students who have missed the best part of a year of education and help those who have found it difficult to socialize.

'Our kids can't wait. And the same is true for colleges. While I expect blended learning or some form of remote learning being the new landscape, it doesn't substitute in-person learning. So that's why we're pushing hard to make sure all students have an opportunity to get back into the classroom as soon as possible this spring.'

'I spoke to a sixth grader recently who told me, when I came back to school, I found it difficult to socialize again because I was in front of my computer for a good part of a year.

'We need to make sure our schools are prepared to provide that social/emotional support and we have to realize, this is not just about turning on the lights, providing face masks. This is about making sure we're providing mental health support. All of these students faced trauma in their lives,' he said.

'We need to double down for our students. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on things we know didn't work and give our students the attention that they deserve. The American rescue plan provides the funds for that, so we need to step up for them.'
The small hilltop cottage that provided refuge for young lesbians in the mid-1950s and was the home of the first lesbian couple to legally marry in San Francisco has officially become a city landmark.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to grant the one-bedroom home of late lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin landmark status. It is now believed to be the first lesbian landmark in the American west, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The 756-square-foot in the Noe Valley section of the city where late lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin lived for more than 50 years has been granted landmark status

Since founding the Daughters of Bilias in 1955, lesbians would walk up a set of rickety stairs to meet in the living room, seen here, with northern views of San Francisco

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon's initials could still be seen carved into the sidewalk in front of their former home, put there by a former caregiver

Lyon, left, and Del Martin, right, lived in the cottage until their passing

Lyon and Martin bought the house at 651 Duncan Street in 1955, the same year they co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, a political and social organization for lesbians.

For the first several years, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the group operated out of the small cottage, and members would climb a rickety set of stairs to meet in the living room with northern views of the city.

'They provided a place for lesbians who were really, really, really in the closet to hang out and dance, have holiday potlucks so they wouldnt have to go home and hang out with their homophobic relatives,' said Shayne Watson, an architectural historian who specializes in LGBTQ heritage conservation and was active in the movement to get the home landmarked.

'It was a place where people could be safe and reveal their sexuality,' added Terry Beswick, the executive director of the GLBT Historical Society, which supported the landmarking effort financially.

Lyon and Del Martin attended the Human Rights Campaign Annual Gala in 2004, after they became the first lesbian couple to get married in San Francisco

Lyon, left, and Del Martin, right, first met while working at a magazine in Seattle. They were together for more than 50 years

Phyllis Lyon, in the center of the back row, coauthored 'Lesbian/Woman' with Del Martin, second from right. They are pictured at a Members of the American Library Association Task Force on Gay Liberation at the June 1972

Lyon and Martin first met while working at a magazine in Seattle together. They moved into their first apartment on Castro Street in Sn Francisco in 1953, which was then a working-class and Catholic neighborhood, according to a Making Gay History podcast about Lyon and Martin's relationship.

Two years later, they moved into the 756-square-foot in the Noe Valley section of the city, looking for something with a view, Watson told the Bay Area Reporter.

There, the couple published a national monthly magazine for lesbians known as 'The Ladder' ad a book entitled 'Lesbian/Woman' in 1972.

They organized the first Daughters of Bilitis national convention in New York City in 1964, which the FBI tried to shut down, the Making Gay History podcast reports, but could not ascertain its location.

Reporters for the New York Times did, however, and wrote about the growing lesbian rights movement on June 21, 1964.

'For over 50 years, the Lyon-Martin House served as headquarters for groundbreaking social and civil rights movements,' the Friends of the Martin-Lyon House wrote in a petition to save the house after it had been sold in September 2020 for $2.25 million. The petition garnered more than 220 signatures.

'Within this house, Lyon and Martin wrote, strategized, organized, and fought against the barriers of oppression,' it continued, 'and in doing so forced the world to change and turn toward the side of justice.'

Del Martin, left, placed a ring on Phyllis Lyon's hand during their wedding ceremony officiated by then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, center, at City Hall in San Francisco in 2004.

Lyon and Martin held up their marriage certificate after the ceremony

Phyllis Lyon addressed journalists and well-wishers after getting married at city hall in San Francisco. She and Martin, sitting, wore the same pastel-colored pantsuits they donned four years prior when they wed the first time.

A vintage photo of same-sex couple Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon is seen next to a wedding cake before the couple was married by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom in a private ceremony at San Francisco City Hall in 2008

Lyons and Martin were married in 2004, when then-mayor Gavin Newsom wanted to challenge California's marriage laws by issuing licenses to same-sex couples. His advisers and gay rights advocates suggested Lyons and Martin be the first.

They had been together more than 50 years by then, and were secretly swept into the clerks office. They exchanged vows before a tiny group of city staffers and friends.

A wedding portrait of the couple cradling each other in pastel-colored pantsuits with their foreheads touching drew worldwide attention.

But later that year, the Supreme Court voided the unions, effectively nullifying Lyons and Martin's marriage.

Fortunately, four years later, the Supreme Court reversed its stance and overturned the state's ban on gay marriage in 2008.

The couple wed again, and were among the first to do so in the state, but unfortunately Martin died just a few weeks later at the age of 87.

'I am devastated to lose Del,' Lyons said at the time, 'but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed.'

Lyons, herself, died of natural causes in April of last year, and the house was left to Martin's daughter, Kendra, who sold the property in September 2020.

When the news of the sale broke, the Friends of the Lyon-Martin House was formed to guard against demolition.

Their efforts were supported by Noe Valley City Councilman Rafael Mandelman, who introduced the resolution to landmark the property after meeting with the group.

The new owner, Meredith Jones McKeown, supports landmarking and protecting the cottage, but opposes landmarking an adjacent vacant lot included in the sale, where she plans to build a home, the Chronicle reported.

Within the next six months, the group will put forth a proposal for the house's landmarking with a sidewalk plaque as 'a bare minimum,' Beswick said. Beswick and Watson both want to preserve the interior as a student residency, public research facility and center for LGBTQ activism and history.

"No one wants to see a tour bus in front of the house," said Watson, "but Phyllis and Del affected so many lives, including my own, and I feel strongly that the house where they did it should stay in the community."
A gun-toting Western Australian dad has been stripped of his firearms licence after pointing a rifle at his toddler daughter's head and taking a photo.

Daniel John Prunster, 25, also shared a disturbing image of his 15-month-old son in a cot on Facebook, wearing an ammunition belt with the caption: 'My nugget trying to be a Russian.'

He pleaded guilty to a string of charges when he faced Geraldton Magistrate's Court last month, including failing to adequately store firearms, pointing a firearm at another person and possessing cannabis.

Although Magistrate Chris Miocevich declared the young father's action's were 'stupid' he ruled they were not 'life-threatening' and rejected a police application to take his firearms licence.

But upon further review by WA's Firearms Licensing Services, a decision was made to take Prunster's guns and revoke his licence, the Geraldton Guardian reported.

A court heard Daniel John Prunster, 25, uploaded this photo (pictured) of his baby son wrapped in a belt of ammunition onto Facebook

The court heard that police found an image on Prunster's mobile phone dated April 2020, showing him pointing a shotgun at his daughter who was holding the barrel of the rifle.

Prunster defended his actions in a lengthy statement on Facebook saying he was trying to post a 'cool' photo showing his daughter how to hold a gun and that he is a 'good father'.

He said he was cleaning his weapons at the time and they had no bolt or ammunition attached.

'She grabbed one so I decided to show her,' Prunster said.

'I didn't think it was bad as I wasn't doing it to harm her or threaten her or anyone else.

'The ammo belt on my son had empty shells... and was a gift from my uncle that was passed down to me and I was just proud to show it off.

'I love my family and kids more than anything and have worked my a** off to give us the best. No-one is in danger in our home.'

Daniel John Prunster (pictured) pleaded guilty to a string of charges involving firearms

But police prosecutor Sergeant Troy Gildersleeve said Prunster's behavior was highly irresponsible.

'The rule is to treat all firearms as dangerous and he has (not done this),' he told the court.

'The gun cabinet key was in the vehicle and ammunition was scattered around. It was a recipe for disaster just waiting to happen. His negligence could have resulted in a fatal accident.'

Police made the disturbing discoveries after 68 rounds of ammunition and 14g of cannabis were found in his partner's car.

Officers searched Prunster's Geraldton home where they discovered 10 rounds of .223 ammunition, a single shotgun round, and .223 rounds near a gun safe in a wardrobe, which did not have a separate compartment for ammunition required by law.

A closer inspection uncovered a belt containing 25 rounds of shotgun ammunition, a .22 and .223 magazine containing live ammunition and 40g of cannabis hidden under furniture.

Prunster's was fined $1,500 for the various offences.

Upon reflection of the incident Mr Prunster wrote on Facebook: 'I needed a wake up call, I'm ready for a change in my life'.
The UK is coming under pressure to follow the US and EU lead to call for Covid vaccine patents to be ditched so companies can make cheaper versions to send to poor countries.

Jab-makers currently own the rights to their vaccine recipes  known as intellectual property rights or IP rights  and other firms can't copy them without approval.

But Joe Biden's administration is now supporting a 'waiver of those protections' in the hope that lifting restrictions on who can make what will boost manufacturing speeds worldwide and accelerate the global rollout.

A statement from Washington said: 'The Administration's aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible'.

And EU President Ursula von der Leyen today signalled that the bloc was open to discussions about a rule-change in the hope it could 'address the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner'.

The bloc is set to discuss the issue at a summit in Portugal tomorrow, and France's Emmanuel Macron has already said he supports it for 'a global public good'.

The move would dent the profits of firms like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson which stand to make huge amounts of money from their vaccines, which are making billions of dollars in sales. But Moderna, at least, already said last year that it would not enforce its patent and would offer its vaccine recipe to other firms that want it.

But Labour MP for Coventry, Zarah Sultana, said in a tweet: 'The UK must now do the same.'

The campaign group Global Justice Now said: '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.'

But the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, which represents some of the biggest drug makers, hit back at the idea and said it is 'not the solution' to unequal supplies of the life-saving jabs.

It said in a statement: 'In the short term, it will hinder vaccine scale-up and in the long term, significantly impact global investment into new vaccines and medicines.'

Both US President Joe Biden and European chief Ursula von der Leyen have said signalled support for reconsidering how vaccine patents are distributed, saying it was vital to make sure they are available around the world

The UK has one of the world's most successful vaccine rollouts and has already given two doses to 16million people

In a statement, the US's Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, said: 'This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid pandemic call for extraordinary measures.

'The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid vaccines.'

Ms Tai said the US would negotiate with the World Trade Organization to try and get vaccine patents removed so they become openly available.

She added: 'The Administrations aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible.'

The EU is set to discuss the issue tomorrow, and it has also been backed by non-governmental organisation Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders).

EU president, Ursula von der Leyen, said: 'We are ready to discuss how the US proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protection for Covid vaccines could help.'

US SUPPORTS PLAN TO SCRAP JAB PATENTS 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. Advertisement

The Government in the UK is now facing calls to take the same stance.

Ms Sultana, MP for Coventry South, said: 'This would help the Global South access the vaccine and end vaccine apartheid. The UK government must now do the same.'

She added: 'Your turn, Boris Johnson,' tagging the PM in a Twitter post.

Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, told news site Left Foot Forward: 'The Prime Minister has no more excuses.

'He must now follow Bidens lead and drop his opposition to the intellectual property waiver immediately. Anything less would be shameful.

'This is not the end of the process, and negotiations will now begin at the WTO in earnest  these negotiations must be conducted openly and with transparency. We urge all world leaders to see the writing on the wall and put peoples lives ahead of corporate profit.

'In the many months since this waiver was first proposed, we could have produced many hundreds of millions more vaccines.

'Lets get moving. 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.'

But the proposal faces opposition, too.

Industry insiders and politicians say simply removing the patents won't fix the global supply problem.

Moderna has openly said it will offer others its vaccine recipe and not chase copyright lawsuits against others making it, but it is not being used.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said in a statement: 'Companies have been working with international partners for months to scale up the supply of vaccines, voluntarily licensing and transferring technology where it safe to do so.

'The real challenges are a lack of advanced manufacturing skills and critical raw materials.

'Globally we must now focus on sharing excess doses of vaccines, maintaining the free movement of raw materials and properly funding COVAX - all of which the UK government has committed to doing.

'We share the goal of getting Covid-19 vaccines to the people who need them as fast as possible, but waiving IP is not the solution. In the short term, it will hinder vaccine scale-up and in the long term, significantly impact global investment into new vaccines and medicines, including for future pandemics.'

An unnamed official in an EU country said: 'The question is to raise capacity in the fastest way possible.

'Ending patent restrictions is only one element. You will also need the raw materials. How will the supply chain follow? What about the quality of production locations?

'So we have about 300 other elements that affect this.'
The grieving partner of an anti-racism campaigner killed by a police officer said she felt 'violated' - and did not understand why she was spied on.

Celia Stubbs, 80, told the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) that officers 'abused their surveillance powers... to protect themselves from facing justice'.

Blair Peach, a teacher and trade unionist, died aged 33 after being hit by an officer during a protest in Southall, west London, on April 24 1979.

The demonstration came amid tensions arising from the National Front mounting a general election campaign that year.

Ms Stubbs said the 'improper surveillance' on her was particularly unpleasant because it took place when she was grieving for Mr Peach and trying to campaign for justice for him.

In her written statement she said: 'The killing of Blair Peach is an important episode of alleged police misconduct of the most serious kind that remains unresolved.

Celia Stubbs, former partner of Blair Peach who died in 1979 after an altercation with police

Blair Peach was killed by a police officer during a protest in Southall, west London, on 1979

'I believe my case and the circumstances of my surveillance shed light on a significant aspect of how the police behaved in response to Blair's killing.

'They abused their surveillance powers. They deployed them not to protect the public from harm but to protect themselves from facing justice.

'They wanted to know what I was doing and what others who were helping me were doing, with the obvious inference that they did so to ensure that they stayed one step ahead of our campaign to hold Blair's killers to account.'

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Ms Stubbs said: 'I just don't understand why I was spied upon, what was the purpose?

'And I'd certainly like to know how it's going to be used, how long it will be kept and why they did it.'

In her written statement she said: 'I am afraid that I never suspected that I was the subject of direct undercover spying but I cannot speak for others.

'I never thought that I had done anything that justified being spied upon.'

She referred to a document from 1998 which she said reported on her reluctance to become involved in events to mark the 20th anniversary of Mr Peach's death.

Celia Stubbs outside the inquest into her former partner Blair Peach's death at a protest

'I find this very distressing. I find the big anniversaries extremely difficult personally but I did participate.

'When I received the documents in December 2019, it was extremely upsetting to see this material and to see how the police treated our actions and events that were law abiding and were simply trying to get to the truth of what happened.

'I was surprised by how upset and angry I felt. It seems that they lost all sense of the fact that Blair had been killed by police officers and that our distress about this was criminalised.

'It is hard to describe how violating this is.'

Ms Stubbs spoke of 'not feeling that you're being heard', adding that core participants are 'fighting injustice in a climate where we're vilified by authority'.

She said: 'We don't know why we've been targeted. I just hope this inquiry will protect core participants and when you come to write your report that this will be foremost in your mind.

'I and I'm sure many other core participants, I know the ones I've listened to, all feel really violated, as I do.'

Counsel to the inquiry David Barr QC said in a previous hearing that the campaign for justice for Mr Peach was described by officers as 'the subsequent campaign against the police'.

The 1979 Metropolitan Police Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) report said: 'The death of Blair Peach, an active supporter of the Anti-Nazi League, which was a consequence of a violent anti-fascist demonstration in Southall, provided the extreme left-wing with an opportunity to mount a sustained campaign to discredit and criticise the police.'

The SDS maintained that reporting on the campaign allowed uniformed officers to be deployed to locations where public unrest may occur.

The latest series of hearings in the mammoth UCPI began last month, looking at the activities of the SDS between 1973 and 1982.

The inquiry was adjourned until 10am on Friday.
The Home Office unlawfully discriminated against a Windrush woman after charging 'exorbitant' application fees to reunite her with her family, a court ruled today.

Lynda Mahabir, a 52-year-old Trinidad national, endured 'colossal interference' after she was separated from her family for more than two years and told to pay nearly 23,000 so they could be reunited in the UK.

Although she was brought to Britain as a two-month-old baby in 1969, she could not lawfully return to the country until the 2018 Windrush scheme.

But after arriving, Mrs Mahabir faced the prospect of being separated from her husband, Winston, and five children after the Home Office refused their applications and requested processing fees of more than 20,000.

A High Court judge ruled today that the Home Office's failure to provide the families of the Windrush generation preferential treatment when charging fees to enter the UK is unlawfully discriminatory.

Pictured is HMT Empire Windrush in 1948 - the vessel brought large groups of postwar West Indians, later dubbed the Windrush generation, to Britain

Today, in a landmark ruling, the High Court said the Home Office's refusal to give preferential treatment to the families of those from the Windrush generation is unlawful discrimination.

The government is said to be reviewing the implications of today's decision, but insists it is 'determined to right the wrongs' imposed on the Windrush era.

Mrs Mahabir, from west London, says she is 'very happy' with today's outcome and hoped her family would be able to join her in the next two months.

She told PA: 'We (my family) all agreed that we would fight this because the UK is a better place for them.

'I lost that opportunity as a child growing up, but I knew that opportunity could be available for them (my children) if I just held on.'

Trinidadian national Mrs Mahabir, who works with disabled people as a community support facilitator, was raised in the UK until she was nine, before being taken back to Trinidad by her father in 1977.

Despite attempts to return, it was only in 2018 - some 41 years later - that she was allowed back permanently as a resident under the Windrush scheme.

Mrs Mahabir's family were not invited to return with her, instead being told they must pay more than 20,000 in application fees - something she described as 'impossible'.

But Mrs Mahabir challenged the Home Office, claiming the huge sums would have kept her from seeing her family again.

Her lawyers successfully argued this was a breach of her human rights as it was discriminatory against her relatives - which Judge Tim Smith ruled in favour of.

Judge Smith commented: 'Either she had to forego the remedies which the (Home Office) had put in place with the express intention of remedying the injustice suffered by her and others like her, or else she had to break up the family.

'She chose to do the latter, in the hope no doubt that it would be only temporary, but in the process she has suffered (a) colossal interference with her right to family life.'

A High Court judge ruled today that the Home Office's insistence that Lynda Mahabir. 52. pay 23,000 in application fees left her with a 'thankless choice' and was unlawful

The judge added that Mrs Mahabir's evidence 'about the negative impact of the separation from her family upon her is both undisputed and unsurprising'.

The High Court also ruled that the Home Office's failure 'to afford family members of a Windrush victim preferential treatment in the charging of fees... is indirectly discriminatory against them and is unlawful'.

Previously, 'hostile environment' policies introduced by Theresa May's Home Office in 2012 to curb illegal immigration were challenged by a civil rights watchdog.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found the failures to observe existing policy contributed to the national Windrush scandal - barring entirely legal migrants from that generation from entering the UK.

Speaking about her treatment by the Home Office, Mrs Mahabir said: 'I felt misled. I don't want to use the word lied to, as that is too strong, but it is along those lines.'

West Indian immigrants arrive in Victoria Station, London in 1956. Today, in a landmark ruling, the High Court ruled the Home Office's refusal to give preferential treatment to Windrush generation families was unlawful discrimination

A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'We remain determined to right the wrongs suffered by the Windrush generation - over 12,500 people have been issued with documentation confirming their status or British citizenship free of charge under the Windrush scheme.

'We are carefully considering the implications of this judgment and will continue our work to ensure members of the Windrush generation receive the documentation they need, free of charge, in order to live, work and access services in the UK.'

In a statement after today's ruling, Jeremy Bloom, solicitor at law firm Duncan Lewis who represented the Mahabir family, shared his delight at the ruling.

He said: 'This is a fantastic outcome for the Mahabir family and for all those who are unable to come to the UK to join members of the Windrush generation simply because the Home Office refuses to waive their exorbitant application fees.

'The judgment makes it clear that the Home Office talks a good talk on Windrush but in reality the scheme is riddled with limitations and fails to properly consider the human rights of those it aims to help.

'A genuine commitment to righting the historic wrongs committed would not have to be enforced by court judgment in this way.
A businessman has admitted sending a string of abusive emails to anti-Brexit MPs despite voting to remain, a court heard.

Paul Ritchie, 34, could face up to two years in jail after pleading guilty to 28 counts of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

The charges relate to emails sent over a six-month period between March and August in 2019, with victims including former Commons Speaker John Bercow, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and former home secretary Amber Rudd.

But the court heard, despite appearing to be pro-Brexit with the rhetoric used in his emails, Ritchie actually 'voted the opposite way' as his lawyer argued the messages did not reflect his political views.

Paul Ritchie, 34, admitted 28 counts of sending threatening emails to MPs at Southwark Crown Court, including calling former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) a 'terrorist'

Other recipients included former attorney general Dominic Grieve QC, ex-Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, her successor Sir Ed Davey, one-time London mayoral candidate and Cabinet minister Rory Stewart and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

The court heard Ritchie was traced through two email addresses, including one linked to his business Snapr - a property services booking website - and arrested at his flat in Paddington, central London.

Ritchie, from Lanarkshire, Scotland, also told former Home Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured) she 'faced being assassinated'

In a statement to the court, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said 'the level of abuse, threats and intimidation' received by MPs had increased following the terrorist murder of Jo Cox.

'Those responsible should face the full force of the law at the appropriate level,' he said.

'The members should feel safe in the knowledge they are able to perform their role in democracy.'

Prosecutor Ruby Selva said Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price reported feeling 'unsettled, upset and concerned for his safety' after receiving an email telling him 'you deserve to get shot in the face you p***k', while having dinner with his family following an appearance to discuss Brexit on the Andrew Marr Show.

A message Ritchie sent to Mr Corbyn in March 2019 read: 'You should be hung for treason you f****** terrorist.'

The same month, he sent an email to the Speaker's Office saying: 'One in 17 million is bad odds for some nutter to pull a Jo Cox on you and your staff.'

A week later, he wrote: 'Be careful ... (y)ou wouldn't want to get run over.'

In other messages to Mr Bercow's office, Ritchie threatened: 'I'm going to milkshake you, you prick.' And he made references to Brexit and democracy.

Chuka Umunna (left) and John Bercow were also the victims of malicious emails sent by Ritchie as current Speaker Sir Lindsey Hoyle told the court he should face the 'full force of the law'

In an email in May 2019 to former MP Chuka Umunna, who represented several parties, Ritchie wrote: 'You have been warned ... shut your f****** mouth boy.'

In July, he said: 'If you kill Brexit ... (w)e will kill you and your entire family.'

And he told Mr Stewart in June 2019: 'If you block Brexit ... you like likely (sic) be assassinated.'

Ritchie also told Ms Swinson she deserved to be 'hung', and said to Ms Rudd that she was 'definitely going to be assassinated'.

In messages to Mr Blackford, Ritchie said: 'I hope you die.' He also said: 'I dare you to come to the pub in Westminster and say some of the shit you do in the house.'

Ritchie appeared in the dock wearing beige trousers and a dark green sweater over an open-collared white shirt and looked at the ground as the case was opened.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court (pictured), Ritchie was bailed until appearance in June

Emma Fenn, defending, said Ritchie felt 'genuine remorse and shame at the content of these messages', which 'do not bear any resemblance to his political views', with repeated references to Brexit despite him 'voting in the opposite direction'.

'He is a businessman, an educated man, who is really currently struggling, and who has unravelled,' she added.

The court heard Ritchie was suffering with depression and abusing drugs and alcohol at the time of the offences, but Judge Adam Hiddleston said: 'The motivation appears to be anger and frustration.'

The judge adjourned sentencing until June 18 for further information from a recent mental health examination in Scotland, where Ritchie now lives.

Ritchie, of Dolphinton in Lanarkshire, was granted bail on condition he does not contact any of the victims or any serving MP, except his local MP, Conservative former Cabinet minister David Mundell.
Theranos executives are said to have begged Elizabeth Holmes to step down as CEO in the start-up's last days, but she refused because she 'saw herself as the company'.

One former exec, who asked to remain anonymous, told CNBC: 'Anyone who knows Elizabeth knows she saw herself as the company and I don't think she could see the company continuing without her.'

They described her stepping down as CEO as 'a non-starter'. But said it had been discussed several times.

The former executive said that her name 'was so wrapped up in a Silicon Valley success story' that stepping down would have 'saved her freedom' adding: 'If she had stepped down I think she would have saved herself a lot of legal jeopardy.'

Holmes and former Theranos President Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani have pleaded not guilty to charges they defrauded investors, doctors and patients.

They are said to have falsely claiming Theranos could revolutionize medical lab testing with technology that could enable a wide array of tests with a few drops of blood.

Holmes, who started Theranos at the age of 19 after dropping out of Standford, was widely celebrated in tech circles until it became clear that many of the claims about the company's supposedly revolutionary blood test were bogus.

She has also been accused of the deep baritone in her voice that became one of her trademarks. And she became known for her black turtlenecks, once boasting that she owned more than 150 of the items, in an effort to emulate Apple's Steve Jobs.

The expectant mother was pictured with her baby bump for the first time Tuesday when she appeared at the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building for a pre-trial federal court date. Her lawyers revealed that she was expecting in March.

Theranos executives are said to have asked Elizabeth Holmes to step down in the start-up's last days, but she refused because she 'saw herself as the company'. The expectant mother was pictured with her baby bump for the first time Tuesday when she appeared at the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building for a pre-trial federal court date

The 37-year-old, who is due to stand trial for fraud in August, appeared at a federal court hearing in California on Tuesday, when she showed off her bump in a black dress

Holmes, who is married to hotel heir Billy Evans, 29, neglected to answer reporters' questions as she walked into the building while flanked by two lawyers

Holmes is married to hotel heir Billy Evans, 27, but has not confirmed he is the father of her child, and has shared little information about the pregnancy

A court hearing Wednesday heard how Holmes 'lied', telling 'the world and investors: we have tests with the highest accuracy rate'.

The judge will rule on whether to allow evidence about Holmes wealth by the end of the week.

Holmes is married to hotel heir Billy Evans, 27, but has not confirmed he is the father of her child, and has shared little information about the pregnancy, other than the month of her due date.

One former exec, who asked to remain anonymous, told CNBC : 'Anyone who knows Elizabeth knows she saw herself as the company and I don't think she could see the company continuing without her.' They described her stepping down as CEO as 'a non-starter'. But said it had been discussed several times

Prior to the latest postponement for her pregnancy, her trial date had already been pushed back three times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic - and the news that it would have to be delayed once again was met with backlash from prosecutors. She is pictured with Evans

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been seen for the first time since her lawyers made the surprise announcement that she is pregnant with her first child

Tuesday's appearance marked the first time in more than a year that Holmes has been seen at court.

Prior to the latest postponement for her pregnancy, her trial date had already been pushed back three times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic - and the news that it would have to be delayed once again was met with backlash from prosecutors.

Holmes was indicted in 2018 and her federal trial in San Jose, California, was originally scheduled for July 28, 2020.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Leach said that prosecutors, who were told about Holmes' pregnancy via Zoom, were 'frustrated and disappointed' to learn about it at such a late date, CNBC reported.

Lawyers for Holmes, once a rising star of Silicon Valley, informed the government on March 2 of the pregnancy, according to the filing.

Her husband is the heir to the Evans Hotel Group, which was founded by his grandparents William and Anne Evans in San Diego in 1953. Currently, the business has three resort properties on the West Coast.

Evans graduated from MIT in 2015 with a Bachelor's Degree in Science and Economics, at which point he took a post at LinkedIn.

In 2017, he became the director of special projects at Luminar Technologies, a company which develops sensors for driverless cars, although it appears he left the company in 2019.

Holmes, who started Theranos at the age of 19 after dropping out of Standford, was widely celebrated in tech circles until it became clear that many of the claims about the company's supposedly revolutionary blood test were bogus

She has also been accused of the deep baritone in her voice that became one of her trademarks. And she became famous for her love of black turtlenecks and once boasted that she owned more than 150 of the items

Now, she and her ex-boyfriend Balwani are awaiting their day in court after being accused of falsely claiming the company's machines could perform breakthrough blood tests with a single drop of blood.

She and Balwani are accused of scamming investors out of more than $700million.

Holmes attracted investors and venture capital firms which saw company reach a $9 billion valuation based on its promise to disrupt the laboratory testing business.

Prosecutors submitted a filing in January claiming that Theranos executives destroyed data that proved their blood-testing product was inaccurate. Knowingly misleading investors by providing false data is a federal crime.

The company knew about its inaccurate testing data that was collected over a period of three years, according to The Register.

The data 'was stored on a specially-developed SQL database called the Laboratory Information Systems (LIS),' according to the court filing.

The database 'even flagged blood test results that might require immediate medical attention, and communicated this to the patient's physician'.

Holmes and former Theranos President Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani have pleaded not guilty to charges they defrauded investors, doctors and patients by falsely claiming Theranos could revolutionize medical lab testing with technology that could enable a wide array of tests with a few drops of blood

Prosecutors allege that Theranos executives knew their product was only half-reliable, as the failure rate for the tests was 51.3 per cent.

A notoriously secretive company, Theranos shared very little about its blood-testing machine with the public or medical community.

Holmes said she was inspired to start the company in response to her fear of needles.

But an investigation by The Wall Street Journal in 2015 found that Theranos' technology was inaccurate at best, and that the company was using routine blood-testing equipment for the vast majority of its tests.

Federal authorities also allege Holmes and Balwani used funds from investors to subsidize an extravagant lifestyle while peddling a fraudulent product.

Balwani's case is being handled separately and his trial is scheduled to begin January 18, 2022.
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro appeared to strongly criticize China by accusing it of creating COVID to spark a chemical 'warfare.'

The comments were made during a press conference Wednesday as the hardline leader sought to further distance himself from the growing attacks over his domestic handling of a pandemic that has produced the second-highest death toll in the world - at 414,399.

'It's a new virus. Nobody knows whether it was born in a laboratory or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have,' Bolsonaro.

'But it is there. The military knows what chemical, bacteriological and radiological warfare. Are we not facing a new war? Which country has grown its GDP the most? I will not tell you.'

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said Wednesday that China created COVID-19 as a 'chemical, bacteriological and radiological warfare'

According to data from John Hopkins University, Brazil has generated 414,399 confirmed deaths  second to the United States. The South American nation has reported 14,930,183 cases, third behind the U.S. and India. Pictured above is the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Brazil, where victims of COVID-19 are buried

A women is vaccinated with the first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro

While Bolsonaro did not name China in his speech, data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed that China was the only G20 member whose GDP showed a growth during the pandemic in 2020, expanding by 2.3%.

Throughout the pandemic Bolsonaro and his cabinet have made incendiary remarks over China and the coronavirus outbreak that as of Thursday had killed 3,245,153 people, according to John Hopkins University.

Brazil has generated 414,399 confirmed deaths  second to the United States. The South American nation has reported 14,930,183 cases, third behind the U.S. and India. In contrast, China has only reported 4,846 deaths and 102,573 cases.

Bolsonaro perhaps attempted to patch old wounds in March when he replaced former Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, who had denounced 'Maoist China' and its plan for 'world domination,' with career diplomat Carlos Franca.

Confirmed deaths and cases reported in Brazil from April 29 to May 5, according to data released by John Hopkins University. April 29- 3,001 deaths and 69,389 cases; April 30: 2,595/69,389; May 1: 2,656/66,964; May 2: 1,202/28,935; May 3: 983/24,619; May 4: 2,966/77,359; May 5: 2,811/73,295

The theory that COVID-19 emerged in a virology lab in the city of Wuhan is a touchy subject for China - but a favorite of hardline supporters of both Bolsonaro and his political role model, former United States president Donald Trump.

Rober Redfield, the former director for the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention under the Trump administration, told CNN in March that the coronavirus had advanced from the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the virus had spread throughout China for several months before the government detected it.

China and Dr. Anthony Fauci have denied the theory.

Rio de Janeiro's municipal Health Secretary Daniel Soranz (left) vaccinates a man with a first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech coronavirus vaccine in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. Brazil's Health Ministry received the first one million doses of the Pfizer-Biontech immunization shot that have been distributed amongst the main cities in the country

Paramedics take a couple from the ambulance to a hospital's emergency unit for treatment after they reported symptoms of the coronavirus on Monday

Workers bury a COVID-19 victim at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Cemetery, in Manaus, Brazil, on March 1

A study released by the World Health Organization in March indicated that the transmission of the virus from bats to humans through another animal was the most likely scenario and that a lab leak was 'extremely unlikely.'

However, WHO experts said they had encountered difficulties accessing raw data when they visited Wuhan.

Throughout the press conference, Bolsonaro, who was infected with the virus in July 2020 and compared it to a 'little flu,' railed against those who questioned the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as treatment methods against COVID-19.

The use of both drugs on patients sickened with the coronavirus has been unproven.

'A scoundrel is one who is against early treatment and has no alternative,' he said. 'This is a scoundrel. What I took (to treat COVID-19), everyone knows. I dare say that millions of people have had this treatment. Why is it against?'

Former Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta testified before the Senate on Tuesday and said that Bolsonaro had considered issuing a decree officially expanding the use chloroquine for COVID-19 patients in Brazil, though studies found it ineffective.

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 counseling.'
An elderly neighbour of ex-Aston Villa star Dalian Atkinson has told the court she watched as a police officer kicked him in the head as he lay dying.

The Crown alleges West Mercia Pc Benjamin Monk murdered the ex-Aston Villa star by kicking him in the head intending serious harm, while the officer's then partner, Pc Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith struck blows with a baton out of anger.

Jean Jeffery-Shaw told Birmingham Crown Court she was so traumatised after watching the police kill a man outside her bedroom window that she was forced to consult her GP.

It comes after a statement written by Mr Atkinson's father Ernest before his own death told the murder trial he warned police his son was 'not in his right mind' on the night he was Tasered.

Mrs Jeffery-Shaw said she still had nightmares about what she had seen in the early hours of August 15, 2016.

Police officer couple defendants Benjamin Monk and Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith outside court

The Crown alleges Monk murdered the ex-Aston Villa star (pictured in 1991) by kicking him in the head intending serious harm

Having watched the incident unfold, she described seeing the man she later learned was Dalian Atkinson, collapse into the road outside her house after being tasered by one of two response officers.

She told the court that the male officer then went to Mr Atkinsons head with the female officer by his body.

One officer said, Keep your head down, I am not telling you again, The man brought up his knee to stamp on his head.

I said to my husband, Oh my God, hes dead, hes not moving. Why is he telling him to keep his head down? They is talking to a dead man.

I did not see the body move at all. I thought he was dead. At one point the officer was kicking his head so hard I had to look away because it was too much.

She described several stamps and kicks to Mr Atkinsons head and said the female officer was using her baton to hit his legs and the fleshy parts of his body.

The neighbour described the area in Telford as filling up with police cars (pictured) and officers gathering around the body which obscured her view

Former Aston Villa star Dalian Atkinson died after being Tasered, the court heard this week

She went to cuff him but his hands were limp, she said. The lady was panicking.

At that point she described the area in Telford as filling up with police cars and officers gathering around the body which obscured her view.

It was only at 4am when Mr Atkinson's father Ernest, her friend for more than 50 years, rang to say that Dalian had died, that she realised the body had belonged to the former footballer.

Mrs Jeffery-Shaw, who had known Dalian all his life, said she did not recognise him on the night. She had thought the man outside had been one of Ernests grandchildren.

Had I known it was him I would have gone out to stop it, she said, and maybe get killed myself. I would have comforted him and calmed him down.

She described a female officer coming to her door in the hours in the immediate aftermath of the incident to ask if she had seen anything.

She said: I told her I did not see. There were police everywhere going into homes. I am not telling them they just killed someone on my street.

I just said, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, and she said, Obviously you saw something, thats why you are so upset".

I did not answer her again. I just said I heard it. I just did not want to tell her there and then. I was traumatised and it is still affecting me to this day.

In the days that followed, Mrs Jeffery-Shaw said: I kept breaking down and I went to see my doctor. I was put on anti-depressants. I was playing it over and over in my mind.

This photo of Dalian Atkinson was shown to the jury at Birmingham Crown Court at the trial

My kids said that if it had happened to one of them Id want someone to talk about it. I held onto it for a while but I had to get it out.

Mrs Jeffery-Shaw gave her statement on September 1 2016.

She had earlier described how she had not long gone to bed after watching the Rio Olympics when she heard a shouts outside her immediate neighbour Ernests house.

A man was saying he had nowhere to go and wanted to be let into the house, she said. I heard him say in a Jamaican accent, Dem dead, Kenroy, Elaine, Paul, dem dead.

The noise stopped when the man was let into Ernests house but Mrs Jeffery-Shaw was concerned enough to ring him.

I said, Can I speak to Mr Atkinson please? and the voice replied, No darling, you cannot speak to him, he is otherwise engaged, but I heard Ernest shout, Who is it? in the background.

The line went dead and she called back but got no reply so went to her window to watch.

I saw two police officers arriving like they were on a mission, she said. They were stepping with purpose.

She described hearing the man in the house say, "Who called you?" and "What are you going to do about it?" before hearing a thud and a splintering crash.

Seconds later she described the police having backed off and the man emerging up the path to the house with a red taser light on his chest.

The area near where Mr Atkinson died was cordoned off by police

She said: The man said he was the Messiah and they could not hurt him. They moved back and told him not to come closer.

He was walking in a mummified way, swaying from side to side. The police went behind a car then I saw him collapse.

On the third day of the case at Birmingham Crown Court, jurors were read a statement given to officers by Ernest Atkinson a week after his son's death on August 15, 2016.

The court heard Mr Atkinson recalled his son saying: 'I'm alive, I am the messiah, and I have come to kill you.'

Mr Atkinson, who has since died himself, told police his son had grabbed him around the throat after 'pounding' on the door of his home in Meadow Close in Telford, Shropshire, in the early hours.

Jurors have heard Ernest Atkinson, then aged 85, gave his account of the events to police on August 23, 2016.

His statement was summarised and read into the court record on Thursday by junior prosecution counsel Paul Jarvis.

Mr Jarvis said: 'Ernest explained that he was in bed upstairs when he heard some movement outside at the front of his house.

'He saw his son Dalian standing outside on the gravel area near the front of the house.'

Mr Atkinson told police he had opened a window and asked his son what was wrong, and he had asked to come inside to talk.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town's player seemed to be upset, his father stated, and he opened the door for him because he was banging on it.

Addressing the jury, Mr Jarvis added: 'Dalian told Ernest Atkinson that he loved him and asked why his father and the rest of the family were trying to kill him.'

According to Mr Atkinson's account, his son 'described himself as a born-again Christian' and appeared to be angry.

Continuing to summarise the statement, Mr Jarvis said: 'At that, Dalian grabbed Ernest by the throat and pushed him down into a chair. He told him not to move otherwise he would kill Paul and Kenroy, Dalian's brothers.

The house's front door was smashed by police officers. Pictured, during the investigation

'Dalian asked his father how much they had paid him.'

Jurors were told Dalian then answered the phone, again shouting that he was 'the messiah.'

Mr Jarvis added: 'Ernest had never seen his son like this before.

'Ernest then heard a knock at the door and a voice on the other side of the door said "police".

'From inside the house Ernest could see and hear Dalian standing with his hands out and say "You are going to Taser me. I'm the messiah, you cannot hurt me".'

Mr Atkinson, who assumed the police would be able to calm his son down, then heard a bang as the glass in his front door was smashed.

He then made a telephone call to his son Paul and went to the back of his house.

Jurors were told Mr Atkinson saw two police officers and was informed that 'Dalian was fine and that he was in an ambulance on the way to hospital'.

Mr Jarvis added: 'A short time later a police officer came into Ernest's kitchen to tell him his son had died.

'Ernest told the police that, in his view, his son had not been in his right mind that morning.'

Pc Monk, 42, denies murder and manslaughter. Pc Bettley-Smith, 31, denies assault.
The holiday 'green list' of quarantine-free destinations from May 17 will finally be unveiled tomorrow.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to reveal the long-awaited traffic light system after the initial roster was signed off by ministers.

But it is understood that there will only be a 'very small' number of countries subject to the loosest rules when the blanket ban on non-essential travel lifts. Potential early candidates include Gibraltar, Malta and Portugal.

Hopes are now pinned on a much broader 'big bang' reopening of popular spots next month - by which time more people will have been vaccinated and an international system of certificates should be up and running.

The ban on foreign holidays is expected to be lifted for people in England from May 17 as part of the next easing of coronavirus restrictions.

At that point 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 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 for solo travellers.

Malta is one of the countries being tipped to make the initial 'green list' of quarantine-free destinations from May 17

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to reveal the long-awaited traffic light system for travel tomorrow

Boris Johnson has confirmed 'some openings up' of international travel will happen from May 17. A formal announcement will be made tomorrow

British tourists won't need tests from May 17, says Gibraltar 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.' Advertisement

Earlier this week a shift in government travel advice gave an apparent a hint of what destinations could be on the green list.

Tourists visiting a number of popular summer hotspots do not face a level of risk for coronavirus that is 'unacceptably high', according to the latest updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The FCDO is not advising against non-essential travel to Portugal (excluding the Azores), Spain's Canary Islands or the Greek islands of Rhodes, Kos, Zante, Corfu and Crete.

There is no guarantee that the green list will match the FCDO's travel advice, but the latter indicates the Government's current evaluation of the risks to tourists

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.

Whitehall sources have revealed that rapid Covid tests will be made available free of charge to people travelling abroad, in a bid to cut the hassle and expense of getting a pre-return test in a foreign country.

However, in a decision that will dismay the travel industry, people returning from abroad will still have to pay for a gold-standard PCR test when they get home, at a cost of at least 50 each.

Concerns remain that the cost of testing could prove prohibitive for many hoping to get a summer break abroad.

The Prime Minister said last month that he was determined to 'make things as flexible and as affordable as possible', adding that: 'I do want to see international travel start up again.'

Health chiefs have put their foot down about the requirement for all travellers to take a PCR test after returning home, as this is the only test able to detect so-called variants of concern which could undermine the vaccine programme.

However, they have relented on the issue of pre-flight tests. At present, all travellers must have a test conducted under supervision no more than three days before they fly home.

Under the new plans, to be unveiled on Friday, they will be offered a fast-turnaround 'lateral flow' test to pack in their suitcase.

A source said that health officials were now satisfied that these self-administered tests, of the type used in schools, would be sufficient.

Concerns have been raised by the travel industry about the cost of testing.

One 65 PCR test alone would hike the cost of the average 144 one-way airline ticket by 45 per cent, it warned.

The European Union has said it will open its borders to non-EU countries with successful vaccination programmes and low infection rates such as the UK.

It aims to drop the EU-wide ban for UK holidaymakers and accept vaccinated Britons from June.

People with proof of a negative test would also be able to enter the bloc for leisure travel.
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Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar is accusing the Biden administration of moving unaccompanied minors from one border facility to another to create the impression it is emptying crowded holding areas.

Cuellar, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, accused the Department of Health and Human Services of using the tactic to secure better images of its crowded Donna, Texas facility.

'All theyre doing is, theyre moving kids from one tent to the other tent and saying: "Oh, theyre not in the Border Patrol (custody). But they're right next door,"' Cuellar said.

Meanwhile, the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement reported this week that there are currently 22,195 unaccompanied children in its custody  a new record. Additionally, 2,000 children are being held by other federal agencies, the Washington Examiner reported.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki appeared Thursday on former Obama advisor David Axelrod's podcast, and provided her most fulsome explanation for why Biden has resisted calls that he visit the border.

'Were often asked, "Why doesnt he go to the border?"' she told Axelrod. 'Important issue. Were focused on it,' she said.

'What percentage of the public is focused on the border? A much smaller percentage than whos focused on the pandemic and the economy. So that may be maddening, but, you know, thats what we try to do,' she added.

A government handout photo shows the temporary processing facilities for migrants in Donna, Texas, U.S., April 30, 2021. U.S. officials have reduced the number of unaccompanied children held in border stations in recent weeks as children have been moved to emergency shelters. But Rep. Henry Cuellar says children are being moved from one tent to another

Cuellar was referencing the effort to transfer minors from Customs and Border Control custody to HHS. The law requires they be transferred within a 72 hour period, although the Administration struggled to comply amid a surge at the border this spring.

He told Border Report the minors held in government custody were simply moved to nearby tent facilities operated by HHS.

'But theyre right next door. Theyre just next door in HHS,' he said.

He said officials 'set up maybe five tents that are run by HHS.'

LAST MONTH: In this March 30, 2021, file photo young minors lie inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in Donna, Texas.

In this March 30, 2021, file photo, young unaccompanied migrants, from ages 3 to 9, watch television inside a playpen at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas.

'All theyre doing is, theyre moving kids from one tent to the other tent and saying: "Oh, theyre not in the Border Patrol (custody). But they're right next door,"' said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.). The administration released images showing a sharp decrease in crowding at the Donna, Texas facility pictured above

An asylum-seeking migrant father carries his child while waiting to be escorted by the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, U.S., May 6, 2021

Asylum-seeking migrant families walk from shore to hand themselves in to the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, May 6, 2021

The HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement reported this week that there are currently 22,195 unaccompanied children in its custody

Homeland Security officials this week released photos showing its previously crowded Donna facilities had been emptied out considerably compared to a few weeks ago.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday she is likely to visit Mexico and Guatemala in early June as she seeks to address the root causes of immigration.

The Biden administration on Wednesday cited a 90 per cent drop in people held in Border Patrol custody  600 at the end of April compared to 5,000 in March.

'The amount of time children spend in CBP custody is down 75 percent, from 131 hours at the end of March to under 30 hours now,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.)

'After four years of an immigration system rooted in destructive and chaotic policies, President Biden is taking the challenge head on and building a fair, orderly and humane immigration system, that is our objective,' she added.

HHS has opened 14 new emergency shelters to deal with the problem.

DailyMail.com has reached out to HHS for additional comment.
The body of an unidentified 'woman' who was shot in the face and discovered in a Philadelphia apartment on April 18 has been identified as a 12-year-old girl who vanished in October,

Alezauna Carter, known to family and friends as Libby, vanished in October 2020. In April, police found the body of an unidentified young girl, shot in the mouth, in an apartment less than 20 miles away from where Libby was last seen.

They had been called to the scene by someone who heard gunshots.

Initially, cops said the body belonged to an unidentified 20-year-old woman but on Wednesday, they told Libby's family it was her.

It's unclear how they made the identification.

Alezauna Carter, known to family and friends as Libby, vanished in October 2020. Her body was found on April 18 but police couldn't identify her. They thought initially it was that of a 20-year-old woman. On Wednesday, police confirmed it was Libby

Cops released surveillance footage of a suspect in the shooting in April but no one has been arrested

It was in this apartment building that the girl's body was found on April 18 after a shooting

They did not state whether or not she'd run away this time, or been taken by someone.

After the shooting, they released surveillance footage of a suspect.

It's unclear who that person was in relation to Libby, or why police thought she was with them.

'This is a child thats walking around in the street. We dont know what happened, but we are going to find out,' her aunt said at the time.

The girl's family held a vigil for her in South Philadelphia on Wednesday after being notified of her death.

Her mother Trish said at the event: 'She was a strong girl, but she didnt deserve this. Not at all.'
A 94 year-old woman shared her outrage after she was accidentally declared dead and saw her taxes rocket by up to 12-fold as a result.

Ann Mazze, from Nassau County in Long Island, saw her school taxes soar from $327.04 in 2020 to $4,773.48 in 2021, official records show.

Meanwhile, her general taxes rocketed from $2,637.10 in 2020, to $3,147.95 in 2021, with Mazze first discovering the error when her mortgage rocketed by $800-a-month in February.

The elderly widow was hit with the costly increase after wrongful news of her death saw officials remove a senior property tax benefit called Enhanced STAR.

They also axed Mazze's veteran tax exemption, which she is entitled to because of her late husband's military service.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, a sassy Mazze stretched out her arms and snapped: 'They thought that I was dead. Do I look dead to you?'

'I want this fixed. I want this fixed now so I can go on with my life.'

Scroll down for Mazze's exclusive video interview with DailyMail.com

Ann Mazze, 94, came out swinging after the Nassau County Assessor's Office accidentally presumed her dead and remove all her tax exemptions

Mazze, pictured in her Levittown home on Thursday, said she just wants this issue rectified 'so i can go on with my life'

Nassau County spokesperson Michael Fricchione issued a statement saying Mazze should receive her refund on Monday

From 2020 to 2021, Mazze's school tax bill jumped from $327.04 to $4,773.48 and her property tax bill increased from $2,367.10 to $3,147.95, according to Nassau County records

Mazze, pictured on Wednesday, raised her arms out and asked, 'Do I like dead to you?'

Without the exemptions, Mazze's tax bill tripled. She shared these copies of her receipts to show how her living expenses had soared as a result of the blunder

Mazze told DailyMail.com she decided to go to the press after finding her repeated pleas for help ignored.

She said: 'We enquired several times in the assessment department, calling everybody we could think of - countless phone calls. But getting no results.'

Nassau County spokesperson Michael Fricchione issued a statement saying Mazze should receive her refund on Monday.

'The taxpayer's daughter was in contact with the Department of Assessment on April 22nd and corrections were made right away, along with a petition that will be approved by the legislature on Monday to refund the taxpayer,' Fricchione said.

Mazze said she and her daughter estimate that they're owed about $5,000 to $6,000.

The ordeal started in February, Mazze said, when she and her daughter, Lori Goldman, noticed the bills were so much higher than normal.

She said they went through a number of channels to figure out what happened but didn't get any results until Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti intervened.

This week, they discovered the assessor's office presumed her dead.

For more than two months, it was a lot of lost sleep and anxiety, Mazze told DailyMail.com.

'How long was this going to go on for?' she said.

Mazze didn't pull any punches during a Wednesday press conference outside of her home where she talked about how mad she was about the cross up

Lori Goldman, Mazze's daughter, told ABC 7 that she believes they're owed a refund of $5,000 to $6,000

Goldmann believes the mistake that cost her mother thousands happened after she bought her mom's Levittown home in 2019

When talking to DailyMail.com, Goldman said she believes the assessor's office might've made the mistake after she bought the house from her mom in 2019.

Goldman explained that Nassau County appear to have taken her mom's name off the house deeds on their records, even though it remained on the actual deed held by Mazze, Goldman and Goldman's husband Michael.

'We've been going through this since February. We've received a letter from the bank with this huge increase, calling people. She's upset. She's actually a cancer survivor from last year and we are very fortunate that she's well and we didn't need this added stress. It's just been really terrible,' Goldman told ABC 7.

The Nassau County assessment roll lists the Levittown property as 'Mazze Ann Life Estate' with her daughter and husband's name underneath.
Bradley Asbury, 66, is accused of holding down a teenage boy along with another colleague while two other staffers sexually assaulted a boy at the Youth Development Center in Manchester

A former youth-center worker charged with holding down a child as two colleagues raped him was able to work there despite being fired from another facility for allegedly abusing children.

Bradley Asbury, 66, is accused of holding down a teenage boy along with another colleague while two other staffers sexually assaulted a boy in a dormitory at the Youth Development Center - now the John H. Sununu Youth Services Center - in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1997 or 1998.

All four were arrested and charged over the alleged rape last month. At the time of the reported assault Asbury served as house leader.

But the attack occurred a few years after Asbury and two other supervisors were fired for abusing children at a another youth center in Concord in 1994.

The abuse at the Concord youth center was described as 'severe verbal and severe psychological abuse and some extremely inappropriate and unauthorized confinement' of children, Lorrie Lutz, then-director of the state Division for Children, Youth and Families, told a reporter at the time.

Despite the allegations of physical and psychological abuse from July 1994, Asbury was able to be rehired at the Manchester facility under an agreement that kept his termination out of his personnel file, court records show.

Bradley Asbury (pictured at a court hearing after his arrest last month), 66, was arrested last month as part of an ongoing investigation into the Manchester center

All four men, plus seven others, were arrested last month as part of an ongoing investigation into the Manchester center, Associated Press reported.

Asbury's attorney declined to comment on the latest allegations.

The facility has been the target of a criminal investigation since 2019. Additionally, more than 300 men and women allege in a lawsuit that they were physically or sexually abused as children by 150 staffers from 1960 to 2018.

The investigation also has expanded to include the Concord facility where children were held while awaiting court disposition of their cases.

One of Asbury's former co-workers at the youth center told the AP that she reported him after he and several other male staffers performed a violent 'takedown' of a teen during which the boys head hit the concrete floor.

'They went in, and they were just very, very aggressive with this kid, and he was just a little thing. You could tell the staff, the guys that were dealing with him, were angry. They werent de-escalating him, they were escalating him,' the woman, who is withholding her identity out of fear of Asbury, told AP.

'I saw them take him down, and his head hit the floor, and they didnt stop, and they didnt call the nurse or anyone else. They were just there, on him,' she added.

Asbury immediately appealed his firing to a state board which led to a hearing six months later in early 1995.

He was able to reach an agreement with the state in April of that year to be reinstated with back pay and have the details of his termination removed from his file, according to a lawsuit Asbury filed against Lutz in 1996.

In the lawsuit, which Asbury withdrew months after filing, he said the appeals board 'completely exonerated' him.

He also claimed Lutz used him as a scapegoat for 'institutional deficiencies' and called the investigation a 'witch hunt' sparked by disgruntled employees, AP reported.

But the anonymous ex-coworker told AP that Asbury and others were abusive and used physical force to subdue the teens, going as far as locking unruly kids in rooms alone for hours at a time instead of the standard 'time out' on the main floor in view of the staff.

'It was very obvious once people from YDC came up and started working on our unit, the unit shifted, and it shifted to more disciplinarian, more aggressiveness,' she said. 'It went from an environment where we would talk the kids down to deescalate them to physically confining them to deescalate them and holding them down when they were screaming and carrying on.'

Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester (pictured) has been the target of a criminal investigation since 2019

Asbury initially was hired as night watchman at the Manchester facility in 1985 and later promoted to assistant house leader of the centers maximum-security 'cottage', according to his lawsuit.

In 1989, he was transferred from Manchester to the Youth Detention Services Unit in Concord.

After being rehired in 1995, Asbury worked in Manchester until 2001, and for a time led a chapter of the state employees union there, AP reported.

In 2000, when the state investigated 25 complaints of physical abuse and neglect at the center, Asbury was quoted as saying the allegations were offensive.

'We take them personally,' Asbury told a local newspaper. 'That stuff does not take place. Its not tolerated. We dont have time to abuse them.'

Asbury later went to work directly for the State Employees Association, which had helped him regain his job, serving in various positions on and off until 2016.

The former co-worker, who quit her job soon after Asbury was fired, left New Hampshire and said she was unaware of the recent criminal investigation and lawsuit alleging decades of abuse until after his arrest.

'It makes me angry but it more so breaks my heart,' she told AP about the allegations. 'I cant prove it. I wasnt privy to it. But I was privy to aggressiveness, and it was more so after he came.'
A popular beauty and lifestyle influencer has been found dead in a forest 11 days after she had vanished from home.

Kristina Zhuravleva, 28, often posed with her husband Dmitry, and he has now been detained by police investigating if she was murdered.

The body of the Russian online guru was found by a passing motorist who stopped to relieve himself in woods near a road close to Aramil, 15 miles southeast of Yekaterinburg.

Kristina Zhuravleva, 28, has been found dead in a forest 11 days after she had vanished from home

Zhuravleva often posed with her husband Dmitry, and he has now been detained by police investigating if she was murdered

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry. Reports said there were 'no signs' of a violent death

Reports said there were 'no signs' of a violent death on the woman who was wearing a tracksuit.

Her husband had reported her missing triggering a major search but police then detained him because there were 'reasons to suspect him', said a law enforcement source.

He had also told her friends that Kristina had left him and wanted to be alone, or that she had gone to Moscow.

One theory is that she may have been forcibly injected with drugs, reported URA.

Her husband had reported her missing triggering a major search but police then detained him because there were 'reasons to suspect him', said a law enforcement source. Zhuravleva is pictured above

Kristina Zhuravleva, 28. Police said they were currently questioning her family and acquaintances

Kristina Zhuravleva, 28, with her mother and her husband Dmitry

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry. He had told her friends that Kristina had left him and wanted to be alone, or that she had gone to Moscow

A former teacher she ran her own social media outlet with tens of thousands of subscribers and was a successful manager for the accounts of clients.

The Russian Investigative Committee said: 'Investigators are establishing the circumstances of her death.

'A forensic examination, interrogations and other activities are being carried out.'

Police said they were currently questioning her family and acquaintances.

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry. The popular beauty and lifestyle influencer was found dead in a forest 11 days after she had vanished from home

Dmitry, husband of blogger Kristina Zhuravleva

Kristina Zhuravleva, 28

'It is being established whether there were tensions in the family.'

The husband was brought in handcuffs by police to the townhouse they shared.

Elena Makhalina, a friend of the dead woman, said: 'He was calm on the phone and said Kristina had left him.

'She packed her belongings and left her phone at home.

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry. The husband was brought in handcuffs by police to the townhouse they shared

Kristina Zhuravleva. The Russian Investigative Committee said: 'Investigators are establishing the circumstances of her death'

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry on their wedding day in June 2016

Kristina Zhuravleva with her husband Dmitry

'She wanted to be alone, and he said going missing was usual for her.'

Moscow photographer Veronika Voronina said Kristina was 'a successful and very active blogger' on Instagram and other platforms.

Neighbours said they never heard arguments and the couple were 'loving'.

Kristina had posted that it was 'my best decision in life to say yes' and marry Dmitry.

They regularly appeared together in her posts.
A missing student who vanished last month is feared to have thrown herself off Niagara Falls after she was dumped by her boyfriend.

Saniyya Dennis's likely fate was announced by Erie County DA John Flynn on Thursday, a fortnight after she left her dorm at Buffalo State College on April 24.

Flynn told a press conference: 'It appears that this poor girl took her own life.'

He explained that investigators had come to their conclusion by piecing together Dennis's final hours, including texts and calls with friends, surveillance camera footage, and pings from her cellphone to nearby towers.

Authorities were able to place her at Goat Island, a small island in the Niagara River, in the middle of Niagara Falls between the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls, at around 1.30am on April 25.

A K9 search last Friday in the area tracked Dennis to Luna Island, which is located between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls waterfalls.

Flynn said the dogs wanted to jump over the edge of a railing and into the raging waters to follow her scent.

Although Dennis' body has not been located, Flynn said investigations have concluded she took her own life.

'My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case,' he told reporters Thursday. 'All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found.'

Saniyya Dennis's April 24 disappearance is feared to have ended in her jumping to her death from Niagara Falls, investigators said Thursday

Police have concluded that 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis (pictured), who went missing on April 24, died by suicide . She split with her boyfriend shortly before her tragic death

This graphic shows Dennis's final movements on the evening of her disappearance. She sent a final text to a friend shortly after her phone pinged her close to the edge of Niagara Falls

Dennis tried calling her boyfriend 66 times on the evening of her death, threatened to kill herself, and shared plans to take her own life during a 45 minute call with a friend

Police combed through Dennis' phone records, which showed that in the last few hours of her life she had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend.

That led to a break up and confided in a friend that she was suicidal.

Flynn said that starting shortly after noon Dennis called a friend about a break up and after that called her ex-boyfriend 59 times.

He did not pick up, she continued to text ex boyfriend, including a text that said: 'Im not feeling good- I think Im going to kill myself'

After getting no response she added: Im so done with my own life Ive had enough.'

At 11 pm on the night of her disappearance Saniyya Dennis (pictured) is seen on surveillance footage exiting her dorm before she walks to garbage can and throws away personal items in garbage can

The family of 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis (pictured) launched an extensive search for the college sophomore after she was last seen on April 24

Dennis went on to call her ex boyfriend seven more times, totaling 66 calls in just a few hours, and later in the afternoon she talked to a male friend in New York City about suicide.

The two would go on to have a four hour conversation that lasted until 10 pm.

The male friend would later tell NYPD that he thought he had been able to talk Dennis out of taking her own life.

An hour later at 11 pm Dennis was seen on surveillance footage exiting her dorm before walking to a garbage can and throwing away personal items in garbage can.

Flynn says the items thrown away led investigators to believe that Dennis had already decided not to return to her room.

Dennis then took several bus rides alone heading towards Niagara Falls.

When she arrived she text her mother 'I love you- Ill call tomorrow' followed by a text to her friend that read 'glad we talked.'

Surveillance footage then showed her walking towards Goat Island.

She was picked up on park cameras and got a text from a friend a minute later.

At 12:19 am Dennis was last seen on a bridge.

She went on to have a 45 minute conversation on the phone with a male friend from NYC - believed to be the same pal she had spoken to earlier- telling him that she had planned to jump off the bridge, before reconsidering.

At 1 am the following day she was standing by Tesla monument and shared a Snapchat post showing the famous falls. Her phone pinged a nearby tower at 1:05am - confirming her location.

At 1:22 am Dennis sent a friend a final text, saying she was back on the bus.

A minute later her phone left the cell phone network, either because it had been switched off or destroyed.

Investigators believe Dennis threw herself to her death from the famous 167 feet tall Niagara Falls, pictured, and have warned that her body may never be found

Saniyya Dennis, (pictured) a 19-year-old Buffalo State College sophomore, called her ex-boyfriend 66 times before police say she committed suicide at Niagara Falls

Erie County DA John Flynn is pictured in Buffalo on Thursday as he announced news of Dennis's probable suicide

Flynn told a press conference: 'It appears this poor girl took her own life'

Flynn said that Dennis's male friend and ex boyfriend did not initially tell anyone of her text and phone activity that day.

Volunteers, friends and family launched an extensive search operation to help find Dennis after she was declared missing.

At the time Dennis' father, Calvin Bryd, criticized police for not moving fast enough with the investigation.

'Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? If this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldn't have happened like this.' he said.

Dennis' parents were informed of investigators findings on Wednesday.

Flynn said it is possible Dennis' body may never be recovered because they believe her body fell into an area below Luna Island that is full of jagged rocks that her body could be caught in between

'I feel awful for parent,' Flynn said.
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The families of two California students convicted of stabbing to death an Italian cop in a botched drug deal have slammed their life sentences as 'befitting a Mafia boss who wantonly kills innocent people.'

A spokesman for the family of Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, claimed it 'made no sense' to put him and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, 'on the same level as cold-blooded killers' by slapping them with the harshest possible sentence of life imprisonment.

The lawyers for the two Americans have already vowed to appeal the decision by the First Court of Assizes of Rome and called the verdict a 'shame for Italy' and 'mockery of justice'.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were found guilty Wednesday for the murder of Italian police officer Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, in 2019. Elder stabbed Rega 11 times with a seven-inch Rambo knife and Natale-Hjorth later helped him hide the knife.

Both men maintain their innocence, claiming the undercover cop and his colleague jumped them from behind. They claim they thought the officers were thugs sent to attack them by a drug dealer who had sold them fake cocaine.

A jury in Rome deliberated for just over 12 hours before delivering the verdicts on Wednesday and handing the men Italy's stiffest sentence for Rega's murder.

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.

Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth are pictured awaiting the verdict Wednesday. They were found guilty for the murder of Italian police officer Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, back in 2019

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

The two California students were found guilty on Wednesday of the 2019 killing of Italian police officer Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, (pictured with his wife) in a drug deal gone bad.

Elder crosses his fingers as he talks with his parents Ethan and Leah Elder before the verdict. The families have slammed their life sentences as 'befitting a Mafia boss who wantonly kills innocent people'

Elder family spokesman Craig Peters blasted the jury for handing the two men the same sentence given to mobsters. Elder's parents are seen awaiting the verdict

US lawyer and Elder family spokesman Craig Peters blasted the jury for handing the two Americans the same sentence given to mobsters who assassinate state officials asking how they could have grouped them in the 'same league'.

'They gave him and they gave Gabe a sentence that is befitting a Mafia boss who wantonly kills innocent people,'' Peters, a spokesman for the Elder family, said Thursday.

'How could these two boys possibly be in that same league? So from a reasoned standpoint, the verdict didn't make any sense to hold them guilty on every single charge.'

He added: 'And from a compassion standpoint, it made no sense to put them on the same level as cold-blooded killers... even the prosecutor acknowledged there was no premeditation here.'

Renato Borzone, who represents Elder, said the verdict would be appealed as he called the sentence 'a shame for Italy.'

'This sentence represents a shame for Italy with judges who do not want to see what emerged during the investigation and the trial,' said Borzone.

'I have never seen such an unworthy thing. We will appeal,' he said, claiming that his client, Elder, had been acting in self defense.

Lawyer Francesco Petrelli, who was defending Natale-Hjorth, said: 'This was a technically flawed sentence both in fact and in law, which cannot be confirmed at appeal, but which has left us shocked.'

Elder and Natale-Hjorth have the right to two appeals before their sentence becomes definitive.

Italy's justice system is supposed to stress rehabilitation and many sentenced to life imprisonment are often released after serving 20 years.

There is an ongoing debate, however, over whether convicted mobsters, serving time for crimes including multiple murders and bombings that killed magistrates and anti-Mafia investigators, should have to stay in prison until death.

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

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.

'I have never seen such an unworthy thing. We will appeal,' Renato Borzone, the lawyer for Elder (pictured in court), said

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

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.

'It has been a long and painful process. This will not bring Mario back to me. It will not bring him back to life, it will not give us back our lives together,' she said.

'Today the first stone has been laid for a new justice. Mario's integrity has been demonstrated despite in death he had to undergo many insinuations '.

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 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 where 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

The pair, both from California, are accused of stabbing Cerciello (pictured) to death in a botched drug deal while he and another officer were in plain clothes.

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.

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.

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

During the trial, which began on February 26, 2020, the defendants told the court that several hours before the stabbing, they had 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 neighbourhood 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
A couple who found secret German messages from the Second World War under their floorboards are trying to crack the puzzle with help of a neighbour - a 95-year-old Bletchley Park code breaker.

John and Val Campbell discovered a cache of wartime items hidden in their house, in Guernsey, by a German soldier in the 1940s - when the Channel Islands were occupied by Adolf Hitler's forces.

It included cigarette packets, matches, a shampoo sachet, a fuse wire pack, throat pastilles - and even brothel passes.

But there was also an envelope addressed to a German man named Ernst Buchtela, along with pieces of paper which had been nibbled by mice and were covered in German code.

The couple realised they were left by a German soldier who had been billeted in the home.

To help them decipher it, they have the help of 95-year-old neighbour Marj Dodsworth, 95, worked extensively on Alan Turing's electro-mechanical bombe machine.

The codebreaker, who worked at Bletchley Park, in Buckinghamshire, where the German Enigma code was cracked by a team led by hero Alan Turing, is now speaking about her role for the first time since the war.

A couple who found secret German messages from the Second World War under their floorboards are trying to crack the puzzle with help of a neighbour - a 95-year-old Bletchley Park code breaker. Pictured: John Campbell with former Bletchley Park operative Marj Dodsworth, 95, at his home in Guernsey

The coded messages were written on a piece of paper which had bene partly eaten by mice

Mrs Dodsworth was able to examine the Campbell's piece of paper - the first time in more than 70 years she had seen the German codes.

Sadly however, she said she would need an Enigma machine to be able to crack it.

Mrs Dodsworth said: 'When I first saw it I thought there's no way without a machine. There's not a cat's chance I'd be able to do it.

'The machines were big, noisy, oily, dirty and so large I could barely touch the top.'

Mrs Dodsworth joined the Women's Royal Naval Service - familiarly known as Wrens - in 1943, aged 18.

She said: 'At that age you had to register either for work or the services. Unless you weren't fit you were conscripted.

'My father was in the Navy, although the Wrens were voluntary. With him in the Navy I got in without any problems.

The cache also included cigarette packets, matches, a shampoo sachet, a fuse wire pack, throat pastilles - and even brothel passes

'Otherwise it was war work, like munitions, which I didn't want to do.'

For six weeks she did introductory training, which involved lots of potato peeling.

'Then I went to an interview to find out what I was going to do,' she added.

'Wrens were employed in various roles, including radar plotters, air mechanics and as weapons analysts.

'I was told I'd be doing something very secret and I signed the Official Secrets Act. There was a gun on the table and you don't say no to that.'

She was informed she would work in Eastcote, at a Bletchley Park outpost.

'Bletchley was so full they couldn't take more people in,' she said.

'There were 800 of us where I was, but three or four more outstations.

'What we did was passed on to Bletchley by teleprinter. We did exactly the same work and used the same machines.'

Mrs Dodsworth (pictured during the war) worked at Bletchley Park, in Buckinghamshire, where the German Enigma code was cracked by a team led by hero Alan Turing, is now speaking about her role for the first time since the war

Drums marked with every letter of the alphabet rotated at varying speeds to crack codes, Mrs Dodsworth said.

'To start with we had to plug in all the wires at the back to programme it.

'It just went on and on and on and if the machine stopped it came up with letters.

'Then we went to a second machine, which was a cross between a typewriter and a bombe.

'You plugged the letters into one of these and it came up with certain things, which possibly meant a code had broken.'

Mr Campbell poses with the German coded message which he found amongst other bits and bobs

Military officials checked the code produced, which was often wrong due to mechanical faults or crossed wires when programming.

'Tiny wires behind the drums would curl up with all the turning and we had to straighten them out with tweezers.

'When I went home my parents were worried and wondered why my hands were nicked, but I couldn't tell them where I was.

'When we signed the act, it was for life, but after 50 years we were notified that the Official Secrets Act was no longer enforced.

'My parents died never knowing what I did during the war.

'My husband, Bert, worked in the Navy, and only found out a few years before he died. Because we never talked about it, I still feel like I can't.'

Before the war finished, those at Bletchley knew victory was coming because fewer messages were coming in.

'I was hostilities only, so after the war I had to stay until the Japanese war was over. Afterwards I was a legal secretary and had four sons.'

When an IT company opened an office named Turing House in La Gibauderie, Mr Turing's sister was invited as a special guest, along with Mrs Dodsworth and her sons.

Mrs Dodsworth was able to examine the Campbell's piece of paper - the first time in more than 70 years she had seen the German codes

Mrs Dodsworth met Mr Turing once, but only briefly.

Born in Reading, she moved about 20 times due to the Navy jobs she and her husband did before settling in Guernsey.

She now lives in a residential home near to Mr Campbell and his wife.

Mr Campbell said: 'When in the middle of a renovation project we took the floorboards up in one of our top rooms and found this.

'We put it in a box to get on with the project.

'Then during lockdown, when we wondered what to do with ourselves, I remembered the sheet of coding and thought before I die I should find out what it's all about.

'Whoever could decipher it must be rather specialist. It may be someone not from Guernsey, or someone from Bletchley Park.

'But how you reach out to those people or if this message would even be worthy of the effort I don't know, but I suppose that is the beauty and mystery of code.'
Universities could be legally forced to contact the parents of students if they show signs they are going through a mental health crisis, according to a bill that has been introduced to the House of Laws.

It comes after several parents whose children killed themselves while at university said they think the students would still be alive had staff contacted them.

The bill, introduced by Conservative peer Lord Ralph Lucas, would require universities to keep on record details of every student's emergency contact.

The 'Student Mental Health Bill' would also 'set out a duty on such providers to support student mental health'.

The bill, introduced by Conservative peer Lord Ralph Lucas (pictured), would require universities to keep on record details of every student's emergency contact

The University of Bristol introduced a similar opt-in scheme and 93 per cent of students gave details for somebody - not necessarily a parent - to be contacted in an emergency.

Lord Lucas told student news site The Tab there has been a 'fundamental failing of care' from universities towards their students.

He said: 'These are young people in their care. They're taking on a large debt, you owe them a comprehensive duty of care and interest, and you're not setting yourselves up to fulfil that.'

He said legislation to force universities to look after their students does not yet exist, adding: 'I think suicides are the nasty tip of a big iceberg.'

Universities argue that data protection - and students' rights as adults - mean they cannot contact parents or share information without their consent.

Ben Brown (pictured), 22, from Gloucester, killed himself after writing his mother Helen Hartery-Brown a letter about his mental health

Lucas has put the bill forward as a private member's bill, which are prioritised by a ballot of the members of the House of Lords.

Bills which come high enough in the ballot go through several stages in the Lords, before being picked up by an MP and taken to the Commons.

However, Lord Lucas says the measures have a slim chance of making it into law in this form.

He said: 'It has a five per cent chance of being close enough to the top of the list to be on early enough to make it through the Commons'.

From 2017 to 2019, just one of 75 bills introduced in the Lords as private members' bills became law.

The latest bill was part of a push by founder of social mobility charity The Careers Office, Deborah Streatfield, to force universities to care for students.

Romily Ulvestad, 21, was struggling at university and took her own life last year in London

Student suicides are not an irregular occurrence, especially as young people battled the isolation of coronavirus lockdown last year.

In May last year Helen Hartery-Brown told how her 22-year-old Loughborough University student son Ben Brown, from Gloucester, killed himself because he was 'overwhelmed' by lockdown.

The night before his death, Ms Hartery-Brown, 54, said engineering student Ben - who was living with friends in Leicestershire - had concealed his anguish.

University of Edinburgh student Romily Ulvestad, 21, killed herself in March this year after staff who knew of her mental health battle did not tell her parents.

Sports fanatic Haseen Hashim, 20, tragically killed himself after returning home during lockdown from his university freshers year

She was found dead at her mother and father's London home four days after her birthday in April last year.

Her inquest was told a number of university departments had known she was struggling with mental health issues and her work but had not warned her family.

Sports fanatic Haseen Hashim, 20, killed himself after coming home from his first year of university at Cardiff Metropolitan University last year.

And father-of-one Phil Taylor, 32, a student at Hull University, was found hanged in his home in west Hull on April 17, 2019, just six weeks before he was due to complete his law degree.

In February, the mother of a student with a 'gift for picking others up when they felt down' talked of her grief and fears that lockdown pushed her son to take his own life.

Robbie Curtis, 22, (pictured left) was found dead in August. The University of Nottingham graduate (pictured right) suffered from depression and took his own life during lockdown

Lesley Curtis warned that if it can happen to her son Robbie, 22, 'it can happen to anyone' calling her loss every 'parent's nightmare'.

She called for more mental health support for university students and launched a charity, R World, to help people recognise the signs of mental illness.

Lesley said: 'I think lockdown played some part in it... having the same routine every day and not knowing what was going to happen.'

'There are a lot of students not coping with lockdown, I'm sure,' she added.

NHS volunteer Robbie Curtis, who had been working at a Covid testing site before his death, suffered spells of low mood and suicidal thoughts during the first lockdown.

Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org.
Shanghai establishes immune therapy institute to bring advances from lab to clinic

Xinhua) 14:39, May 06, 2021

The Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute was established at the Renji Hospital under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, on April 29, 2021. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

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 Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, gives a speech at the launch of the institute, on April 29, 2021. (Photo provided to Xinhua)

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.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
A baby boy who was infected with COVID1-19 at eight days of age has been reunited with his parents after spending a month on a ventilator at a hospital in southern Brazil.

Gustavo Barbosa was born March 23 and was admitted to a hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, on March 30, after he tested positive for the virus.

The infant's condition worsened the following day, requiring him to be placed on a respirator, Brazilian online news outlet G1 reported.

Glenda Preta, 23, said her oldest son, Bernardo Barbosa, presented flu-like symptoms but was not tested for the virus during a doctor's visit.

'It all happened very fast. I just prayed. I asked God to heal my son who was in that hospital,' Preta said. 'I got a call or a video of him hospitalized once a day. Seeing an intubated son was the worst thing that happened to me.'

Gustavo Barbosa was born March 23 and admitted to a hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, on March 30 after he tested positive for the COVID-19. He was placed on a respirator March 31 and removed from it April 18. Last Friday, Barbosa was discharged from the hospital and reunited with his family

Glenda Preta (center) told Brazilian online news portal G1 that her one-month-old son, Gustavo Barbosa (pictured), may have been contracted the coronavirus from his three-year-old brother, who had flu-like symptoms but was not tested for COVID-19 during a doctor's visit

Preta believes Gustavo Barbosa, who was discharged from Contagem Municipal Hospital last Friday, contracted the virus from his brother at home just days after she and her husband brought him home from the hospital.

Gustavo Barbosa soon thereafter developed a cough with a runny nose.

He was removed from the respirator April 18 and was given oxygen for a couple of days before he was able to breathe on his own.

The boy, however, required additional checkups with a pediatric neurologist after he started experiencing seizures.

'He was born again, we were born again,' Preta said. 'I thank all of the hospital staff. We are all relieved and happy. Having my child at home, breastfeeding, sleeping well, is all priceless. This Mother's Day will be very special.'

Gustavo Barbosa recovered from COVID-19 after contracting the virus just eight days after he was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

According to data released by Brazil's Health Ministry in April, at least 1,300 children have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic struck the South American nation.

As many as 852 children under the age of nine, including 518 babies who were at least one-year-old, died from the ravaging virus between February 2020 and March 15, 2021.

Brazil, whose hospital system has been overwhelmed by the pandemic, is second in the world behind the United States with 414,399 deaths, according to data published Thursday by John Hopkins University. The nation has the third-most confirmed cases, 14,930,183, behind the U.S. and India.
Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) was the pilot of the doomed flight

DID THE PILOT HIJACK HIS OWN PLANE?

Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah planned mass murder because of personal problems, locking his co-pilot out of the cockpit, closing down all communications, depressurising the main cabin and then disabling the aircraft so that it continued flying on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel.

That was the popular theory in the weeks after the plane's disappearance.

His personal problems, rumours in Kuala Lumpur said, included a split with his wife Fizah Khan, and his fury that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing.

But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems and other family members and his friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job.

This theory was also the conclusion of the first independent study into the disaster by the New Zealand-based air accident investigator, Ewan Wilson.

Wilson, the founder of Kiwi Airlines and a commercial pilot himself, arrived at the shocking conclusion after considering 'every conceivable alternative scenario'.

However, he has not been able to provide any conclusive evidence to support his theory.

The claims are made in the book 'Goodnight Malaysian 370', which Wilson co-wrote with the New Zealand broadsheet journalist, Geoff Taylor.

It's also been rumoured that Zaharie used a flight simulator at his home to plot a path to a remote island.

However, officials in Kuala Lumpur declared that Malaysian police and the FBI's technical experts had found nothing to suggest he was planning to hijack the flight after closely examining his flight simulator.

And there are also theories that t he tragic disappearance may have been a heroic act of sacrifice by the pilot.

Australian aviation enthusiast Michael Gilbert believes the doomed plane caught fire mid-flight, forcing the pilot to plot a course away from heavily populated areas.

IF NOT THE PILOT, WAS THE CO-PILOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MYSTERY?

Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, again for personal problems, was suspected by rumour-spreaders to have overpowered the pilot and disabled the aircraft, flying it to its doom with crew and passengers unable to get through the locked cockpit door.

Theorists have put forward the suggestion that he was having relationship problems and this was his dramatic way of taking his own life.

But he was engaged to be married to Captain Nadira Ramli, 26, a fellow pilot from another airline, and loved his job. There are no known reasons for him to have taken any fatal action.

There have been a series of outlandish theories about the disappearance of the plane

Others have suggested that because he was known to have occasionally invited young women into the cockpit during a flight, he had done so this time and something had gone wrong.

Young Jonti Roos said in March that she spent an entire flight in 2011 in the cockpit being entertained by Hamid, who was smoking.

Interest in the co-pilot was renewed when it was revealed he was the last person to communicate from the cockpit after the communication system was cut off.

DID THE RUSSIANS STEAL MH370 AND FLY THE JET TO KAZAKHSTAN

An expert has claimed the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was hijacked on the orders of Vladimir Putin and secretly landed in Kazakhstan.

Jeff Wise, a U.S. science writer who spearheaded CNN's coverage of the Boeing 777-200E, has based his outlandish theory on pings that the plane gave off for seven hours after it went missing, that were recorded by British telecommunications company Inmarsat.

Wise believes that hijackers 'spoofed' the plane's navigation data to make it seem like it went in another direction, but flew it to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased from Kazakhstan by Russia.

However, Wise admits in New York Magazine that he does not know why Vladimir Putin would want to steal a plane full of people and that his idea is somewhat 'crazy'.

Wise also noted there were three Russian men onboard the flight, two of them Ukrainian passport holders.

Aviation disaster experts analysed satellite data and discovered - like the data recorded by Inmarsat - that the plane flew on for hours after losing contact.

Careful examination of the evidence has revealed that MH370 made three turns after the last radio call, first a turn to the left, then two more, taking the plane west, then south towards Antarctica.

MH370 WAS USED BY TERRORISTS FOR A SUICIDE ATTACK ON THE CHINESE NAVY

This extraordinary claim came from 41-year-old British yachtsman Katherine Tee, from Liverpool, whose initial account of seeing what she thought was a burning plane in the night sky made headlines around the world.

On arrival in Thailand's Phuket after sailing across the Indian Ocean from Cochin, southern India with her husband, she said: 'I could see the outline of the plane - it looked longer than planes usually do.There was what appeared to be black smoke streaming from behind.'

Ms Tee's general description of the time and place was vague and she lost all credibility when she later stated on her blog that she believed MH370 was a kamikaze plane that was aimed at a flotilla of Chinese ships and it was shot down before it could smash into the vessels.

Without solid proof of the satellite data, she wrote on her blog, Saucy Sailoress, the plane she saw was flying at low altitude towards the military convoy she and her husband had seen on recent nights. She added that internet research showed a Chinese flotilla was in the area at the time.

While the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage  and its crucial black box data recorders  remains stubbornly elusive.

THE JET LANDED ON THE WATER AND WAS SEEN FLOATING ON THE ANDAMAN SEA

On a flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur that crossed over the Andaman Sea on March 8, Malaysian woman Raja Dalelah, 53, saw what she believed was a plane sitting on the water's surface.

She didn't know about the search that had been started for MH370. She alerted a stewardess who told her to go back to sleep.

'I was shocked to see what looked like the tail and wing of an aircraft on the water,' she said.

It was only when she told her friends on landing in Kuala Lumpur what she had seen that she learned of the missing jet. She had seen the object at about 2.30pm Malaysian time.

She said she had been able to identify several ships and islands before noticing the silver object that she said was a plane.

But her story was laughed off by pilots who said it would have been impossible to have seen part of an aircraft in the water from 35,000ft or seven miles.

Ms Raja filed an official report with police the same day and has kept to her story.

'I know what I saw,' she said.

THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC SYSTEMS FAILURE AND CRASH-LANDED ON THE OCEAN

A catastrophic event such as a fire disabling much of the equipment resulted in the pilots turning the plane back towards the Malaysian peninsula in the hope of landing at the nearest airport.

Satellite data, believable or not, suggests the aircraft did make a turn and theorists say there would be no reason for the pilots to change course unless confronted with an emergency.

A fire in a similar Boeing 777 jet parked at Cairo airport in 2011 was found to have been caused by a problem with the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing.

Stewarts Law, which has litigated in a series of recent air disasters, believes the plane crashed after a fire - similar to the blaze on the Cairo airport runway - broke out in the cockpit.

After an investigation into the Cairo blaze, Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Central Directorate (EAAICD) released their final report which revealed that the fire originated near the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing.

The cause of the fire could not be conclusively determined, but investigators pinpointed a problem with the cockpit hose used to provide oxygen for the crew in the event of decompression.

Following the 2011 fire, US aircraft owners were instructed to replace the system - it was estimated to cost $2,596 (1,573) per aircraft. It was not known whether Malaysia Airlines had carried out the change.

If either pilot wanted to crash the plane, why turn it around? So the turn-around suggests they were trying to land as soon as possible because of an emergency.

THE US SHOT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT FEARING A TERROR ATTACK ON DIEGO GARCIA

The Boeing 777 was shot down by the Americans who feared the aircraft had been hijacked and was about to be used to attack the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean. So conspiracy theorists claim.

And former French airline director Marc Dugain said he had been warned by British intelligence that he was taking risks by investigating this angle.

There is no way of checking whether Dugain received such a warning or why he believes the Americans shot down the plane.

But adding to the theory that the aircraft was flown to Diego Garcia, either by the pilot Zaharie or a hijacker, was the claim that on the pilot's home flight simulator was a 'practice' flight to the island.

Professor Glees said: 'The Americans would have no interest in doing anything of the kind and not telling the world.

'In theory, they might wish to shoot down a plane they thought was attacking them but they wouldn't just fire missiles, they'd investigate it first with fighters and would quickly realise that even if it had to be shot down, the world would need to know.'
At least two students and one adult custodian have been injured in a shooting at an Idaho middle school, as a male pupil has been taken into custody.

The active shooter entered Rigby Middle School in Rigby, Idaho, around 9am Thursday morning and opened fire, causing teachers and students to flee for their lives.

Three people were shot in the attack and were taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, reported EastIdahoNews.

Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson told the outlet their injuries are not life-threatening.

The suspected shooter has been detained by law enforcement and is being interviewed by investigators. There is no longer an active threat.

Meanwhile in Albuquerque a middle school was plunged into lockdown after a teacher reported seeing a student carrying a gun into the building.

There were no shots fired and no injuries reported in that incident.

At least two students and one adult custodian have been injured in a shooting at an Idaho middle school, as a male pupil has been taken into custody. Pictured students and teachers leave the scene at Rigby middle School

One of the victims is seen being put in the back of an ambulance to take to hospital

Families hug outside the school after being reunited following the shooting Thursday morning

Parents collect their children from the high school after the male suspect entered the middle school and shot three people

Students walk past police tape at Rigby Middle School which was the scene of a mass shooting

Police were called to reports of an active shooter at Rigby Middle School around 9:15am.

It is not clear what the motive was for the attack or whether the gunman targeted his victims or shot at random.

The age and identity of both the suspect and victims have not been revealed.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Sheriff's Office for more information.

Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin described the incident in Rigby as the 'worst nightmare' the district could have.

'Today we had the worst nightmare a school district could encounter. We had a school shooting here at Rigby Middle School,' Martin told Local News 8.

'What we know so far is the shooter has been apprehended. There is no further threat to the students.'

Students and teachers were evacuated from the middle school to the high school with parents being told to collect their children from there.

Emotional parents and children were seen hugging and embracing as they were reunited at the high school.

Any students not collected would be sent home by bus, the district said.

VIDEO: One person is in custody after three people were shot at a middle school in Rigby, Idaho. https://t.co/sc39eW5Key pic.twitter.com/iHNTK9mtZP  CBS2 News (@CBS2Boise) May 6, 2021

Students and staff are seen evacuating the school and being reunited with their families following the shooting

Students, staff and parents are seen in the aftermath of the shooting. The suspected shooter has been detained by law enforcement and is being interviewed by investigators

Officers leave Rigby Middle School in the aftermath of the shooting as the building is taped off and a heavy law enforcement presence remains on the scene

Police stand with a youth outside Rigby Middle School following a shooting there earlier

Multiple law enforcement teams remain on the scene.

The school has around 1,500 students from sixth through to eighth grade.

Idaho Governor Brad Little said he was 'praying' for all those involved.

'I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in today's tragic events,' he tweeted.

'Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident. I am staying updated on the situation.'

Rigby is a small city home to around 4,100 people. It is the county seat of Jefferson County and is located around 145 kilometers southwest of Yellowstone National Park.

Students hug each other following the attack. No motive is yet known but the suspect is in custody

Children stand outside of the high school after they were evacuated there from nearby Rigby Middle School

Two people walk together near the scene of the shooting. The identity of the suspect and victims are not yet known

This marks the second school shooting in the state of Idaho after a student brought a shotgun to a school in Notus and opened fire in 1999.

No one was shot but one student was injured by debris.

Meanwhile, Thursday's incident marks the latest in a string of mass shootings across America in recent months.

Back on March 16, Robert Aaron Long, 21, is accused of killing eight people - six of them Asian women - in a series of attacks at three Atlanta spas.

The following week, gunman Ahmad Alissa then allegedly shot dead ten people including a police officer, in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

Families are reunited after the shooting which the school district described as the 'worst nightmare' the district could have

Idaho Governor Brad Little tweeted that he was 'praying' for all those involved

Biden Executive Actions on Guns Crackdown on 'ghost guns,' which are built from kits

Tighten requirements on pistol braces that allow for more accurate shooting

Department of Justice will publish 'red flag' legislation for the states

Investment in evidence-based community violence interventions

DoJ will issue an annual report on gun trafficking Advertisement

The next day, a shooting at a Southern California office building left four people dead, including a child.

Eight people were shot and killed at the FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis earlier this month.

According to EdWeek, there have been six school shootings in 2021 prior to Thursday's attack.

In total, these incidents left two school employees and one student dead.

Since 2018, there have been 65 shootings in schools across the country.

One of the deadliest school shootings in American history was the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

Gunman Adam Lanza entered the school in Newtown, Connecticut, shooting 27 dead inside and injuring many more.

In light of this year's spate in gun violence, Joe Biden has unveiled a series of executive actions designed to curb gun violence following the string of shootings.

The six actions include: a crackdown on the proliferation of 'ghost guns,' which are built from kits; tighten requirements on pistol braces that allow for more accurate shooting; the Department of Justice will publish 'red flag' legislation for the states; invest in evidence-based community violence interventions; and DoJ will issue an annual report on gun trafficking.

Biden said mass shootings are a 'public health crisis' and argued he was not trying to impinge on the Second Amendment - a claim gun rights groups and Republicans have made against the introduction gun control laws.

Alela Rodriguez walks with her son Yandel Rodriguez, 12, at the high school as they are reunited

People embrace outside the high school where they were evacuated to after the shooting at the middle school

The active shooter entered Rigby Middle School in Rigby, Idaho, around 9am Thursday morning and opened fire
A pensioner who made headlines after being left in a complete stranger's home by an ambulance crew has since died, after being returned to hospital with pneumonia.

Elizabeth Mahoney had been battling Covid-19 at County Hospital in Pontypool for 10 long weeks prior to finally being discharged on Friday, March 12.

However, the 89-year-old from New Inn in Torfaen ended up being dropped off at the wrong house - more than eight miles away in Newport - where she was put to bed for the night.

The mix-up was only spotted when, hours later, someone living at the address went to check on the person under the covers and realised she wasn't their relative at all.

Elizabeth Mahoney, pictured with her late husband Kenneth, was discharged from hospital to a random stranger's house and was tucked up in their bed

Meanwhile, Elizabeth's frantic family - who'd gone to greet her at her own property - had become increasing concerned over her whereabouts.

They believe her details must have been confused with those of a female patient with dementia who was also due to go home from the hospital on that same day.

The story made the news as far away as America as her son Brian sought answers from the various bodies involved as to how such a mistake could have occurred.

But today he revealed that his mother had now passed away, having been hospitalised again with pneumonia.

'We lost mum on Friday, April 23, the day before my 66th birthday,' said the warehouse manager from Cwmbran.

The Welsh Ambulance service says it is working to establish exactly what happened and has extended a 'sincere apology' to both families

'She wasn't well when she came out of County Hospital in March - in fact, she was pretty much discharged in order to live out her last days at home. But she rapidly went downhill.'

Brian added that Elizabeth had to be admitted to The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran last month, before being transferred to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.

'We couldn't go to see her during her final two days because she'd picked up an infection in addition to the pneumonia,' he said.

'But then, on the morning she died, they rang and told us we'd better get there quick as there wasn't long left. But she was gone before we could make it.'

A funeral service will be held for Elizabeth next week at Gwent Crematorium in Cwmbran.

Brian added that, despite having had a meeting with representatives from County Hospital, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, and the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, he's still waiting for an official explanation about why his mother was taken to the wrong address.

'I honestly don't know what's taking them so long to work it out. My sister's adamant she still wants to know the reason but I feel a bit beaten by it all to be honest, especially now mum's no longer here. I just hope something like this doesn't happen to anyone else.'

Speaking last month, Mark Smith - Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust's assistant director of operations - said they were working closely with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to 'fully understand the chain of events and establish exactly what happened'.

'We have extended a sincere apology to both families concerned for the distress caused, and will continue to liaise directly with them as the investigation progresses,' he added.
As many as 25 people, including a cop who was shot in the head, have been reported dead after the police and a gang investigated for drug trafficking were involved in a broad daylight shooting in a Rio de Janeiro favela on Thursday.

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro were in the midst of an operation against members of the Comando Vermelho, drug trafficking network, when they were met with fire in the slum of Jacarezinho.

Police said that 24 gang suspects were killed in the gun battle.

Police chief Rodrigo Oliveira told reporters that two of the gunmen were shot dead after they attacked cops inspecting the site where other gang members had been killed.

The fallen officer was identified as Andre Frias, 45, according to Brazilian newspaper Correio Braziliense. Frias was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Office.

Authorities said two cops were injured in the gun battle.

Security forces recovered six rifles, a machine gun, anti-aircraft ammunition, 14 grenades and 15 guns.

At least 14 purported members of the Comando Vermelho were apprehended.

"The (operation) was based on concrete intelligence and investigation information. At the time, the criminals reacted strongly. Not just to escape, but to kill," the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police said in a statement published on its Facebook page.

"Unfortunately, the war scenario imposed by these gangs proves the importance of operations so that criminal organizations do not get stronger."

Rio de Janeiro police officer Andre Frias was shot dead during an operation against a drug trafficking ring Thursday.

A man is pushed on a wheelchair after he was shot in the right arm during a shootout between the police and a drug trafficking gang in Rio de Janeiro's slum of Jacarezinho on Thursday. At least 25 people have been reported dead, including a 45-year-old police officer

Police get out of an armored vehicle during an operation against alleged drug traffickers in Jacarezinho, a favela of Rio de Janeiro, on Thursday

Rafael M. Silva, 33 and Humberto Gomes V. Duarte, 20, were riding inside a Line 2 train wagon when they were shot while the train was stopped at a neighborhood subway station.

Silva was taken Salgado Filho Hospital, but abandoned the facility for unknown reasons. Gomes V. Duarte was rushed to Hospital da Marinha and was listed in stable condition.

A resident caught in the crossfire was struck in the foot while sitting inside their home.

Video footage recorded by a resident showed the moments cops chased after suspects as shots were exchanged.

A helicopter with Brazilian online news portal G1 showed armed suspects running away from the police by jumping over the roofs of several buildings in the slum.

Alleged members of a gang seek refuge on a building roof while running from the police after a shootout left 25 people dead, including a police officer

A train passengers sits back on a chair awaiting treatment after he was injured during a shooting in the northern Rio de Janeiro slum of Jacarezinho

It's the highest amount of casualties reported during a police investigation since online portal Fogo Cruzado started tracking armed conflicts in July 2016.

The police was investigating 21 gang members for allegedly recruiting children to commit crimes on its behalf. The minors were tasked with robbing passengers on train cars and platforms, as well as peddling drugs in the streets.

Due to the pandemic, the Supreme Court in June 2020 issued an order that suspended the execution of police raids in favelas. Only under extreme circumstances were large scales operations allowed to take place.

G1 reported that the Civil Police had identified 21 gang members through phone taps approved by a court.

The gang members were apparently armed with military gear and protected their turf with an arsenal of grenades, guns and rifles.

Pictured is the Rio de Janeiro home where two alleged members of the drug trafficking ring stormed into before they were killed during a shootout with cops

Pictured are the weapons seized by the police in Rio de Janeiro during Thursday raid. At least 14 alleged members of the Comando Vermelho drug trafficking network were apprehended

Still image from a video recorded by a resident in the northern Rio de Janeiro slum of Jacarezinho shows police officers running after members of a drug trafficking ring as shots were fired. The police was investigating the gang for recruiting children to commit crimes on its behalf

Ignacio and Michelle were unable to leave their home and made it late to the wedding registry office at the city hall building in the Rio de Janeiro town of Meier due to a shootout in the slum of Jacarezinho that left 25 people dead on Thursday

Residents in the northern Rio de Janeiro slum told the outlet that casualties far exceed the 25 initially announced by authorities, who reportedly confiscated cellphone from individuals who were sending text messages to alert neighborhood drug dealers.

A man said that at least two people were shot dead after they barged into the home he shares with his grandmother.

A section of the floor inside on the rooms was stained with blood.

'There never is respect for the residents. This is a population, but I think they think they are in Iraq,' he said. 'We are arranging for the sale (of the house) as soon as possible. It is no longer possible to live within the community.'

The morning shooting trapped neighborhood residents inside their homes, including a couple identified as Michelle and Ignacio, whose wedding was set to take place at 9am local time at the Meier city hall registry office.

Authorities search some of the ammunition and weapons that were confiscated
Only one in a million Britons given AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine suffer the rare blood clotting disorder after getting their second dose, official data showed today.

Britain's medical regulator found six out of 5.9million people who received a second injection developed the rare combination of blood clots and low platelet counts.

It appears to be far less common after the second dose than the first, with 242 cases detected in the 22.6m people given one shot, a rate of about one in 100,000.

Until now experts thought the rare disorder - believed to be an overreaction by the immune system to the jab - was exclusively happening in the first dose group.

But the absolute risk of the condition is still tiny. For comparison, an estimated six out of 10,000 women suffer serious blood clots from taking birth control every year.

Forty-nine Britons given a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine died as a result of the clotting disorders. It's unclear if any patients given two doses have passed away.

Analysis published yesterday found people are three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine.

The six new cases after a second dose were revealed in the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's weekly report. It includes data up to April 28.

MHRA officials said that despite the update, 'the advice remains that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in the majority of people'.

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)

The British vaccine was first linked to the rare blood clots in March, and several European countries including Denmark and Norway, went against World Health Organization advice and halted their rollouts amid concerns over the risks.

The UK medicines regulator has recommended that adults under 30 should be offered an alternative to the vaccine - such as the Pfizer or Moderna jabs - out of an abundance of caution.

For every other age group the benefit of being vaccinated against Covid is deemed far superior to the risk of the jab itself.

It comes after a major analysis in Denmark and Norway found the risk of blood clots after the AstraZeneca jab is small with people three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine.

Researchers 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.

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.

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.
A seven-week-old baby allegedly murdered by his father had injuries similiar to those in a road traffic accident, a trial heard.

Brian Penn, 30, is accused of killing his son at a house in Ayr, South Ayrshire on November 1, 2017 - after baby Kaleb Penn was found to have had a skull fracture, a bleed to the brain and a serious brain injury.

A jury at the High Court in Glasgow heard blood was also found on his spinal cord and it was unlikely he was dropped from a small height.

Prosecutors claim Penn did 'repeatedly inflict blunt force trauma' on the child by 'means unknown'. It is also alleged he did compress and shake Kaleb.

The boy is said to have died at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow two days later.

Penn, of Mossblown, Ayrshire, faces a separate charge of earlier attempting to murder the baby at the same house between October 13 and 31 2017.

He denies the accusations.

Brian Penn, 30, is accused of killing his son at a house in Ayr, South Ayrshire on November 1, 2017 - after baby Kaleb Penn was found to have had a skull fracture, a bleed to the brain and a serious brain injury (pictured: Glasgow High Court)

A consultant neuropathologist professor Colin Smith, 53, who examined Kaleb's brain after his death, gave evidence at the trial.

He claimed that the baby had suffered from 'classical trauma.'

Prosecutor Erin Campbell asked what he meant.

Prof Smith said: 'The events can be bumps to the head which is low level or a road traffic incident and moving at speed has high velocity trauma.'

Miss Campbell said: 'You described a car accident, could it be a blunt force injury to the head this trauma?'

Prof Smith replied: 'You can see them, but I don't see them in a simple fall.

'I don't see the injury in that setting.

'It's only seen in a setting of severe trauma, this is a fall from a height or road traffic incident.

Miss Campbell asked if the professor noticed anything abnormal in his examination.

He said: 'I saw an area of softening to the right side above the ear which was hitting towards the back of the brain.

'I described this as soft tissue extending back.

'This area of the brain appeared to be damaged above the ear extending backwards.

'The likely explanation was the fracture was damaging underlying brain tissue.'

Prof Smith claimed that this caused the brain to swell.

He later stated that signs of blood were found on the brain as well as the spinal cord.

Prof Smith also claimed there was evidence of previous bleeding to the brain dated seven to 10 days before Kaleb's death.

He was the asked: 'We may hear evidence that three weeks before his death, he may have been dropped from about 12 inches to the ground.

'Was a fall like that likely to have caused the injuries to the brain?'

Prof Smith replied: 'It is possible but not improbable.'

Miss Campbell asked: 'Would it be clear the level of brain injury you identified in this case would have led Kaleb to be unresponsive?'

Prof Smith replied: 'That's my opinion.'

Defence counsel Brian McConnanachie QC asked: 'As far as the old incidents are concerned, this can be described by the low level of the situation described to you?'

Prof Smith said it was 'possible but unlikely'.

The trial continues before Lord Weir.
Elizabeth Warren said Wednesday that Facebook's decision to uphold its ban on former President Donald Trump's account further exhibits Big Tech has too much power and needs to be broken up.

'I'm glad that Donald Trump is not going to be on Facebook,' the progressive senator from Massachusetts clarified to Yahoo Finance. 'Suits me.'

'But part two is that this is just further demonstration that these giant tech companies are way, way, way too powerful,' she asserted during an interview.

'They need to be broken up in order to keep commerce flourishing,' she said, echoing her calls during her 2020 bid to be the Democratic nominee for president.

On Wednesday, Facebook announced that its Oversight Board - it's so-called Supreme Court - had decided to ban Trump from that platform and Instagram for another six months after issuing an indefinite ban the day after the January 6 Capitol attack, for which Democrats claim the former president is responsible.

Of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling the Oversight Board the 'Supreme Court', Warren said: 'Listen to the arrogance of it.'

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said Wednesday that Facebook upholding its ban on Donald Trump's account proves Big Tech is 'way too power'

Facebook's oversight board, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured above) called its 'Supreme Court', decided Wednesday to indefinitely ban Trump from Facebook and Instagram after issuing a temporary ban the day after the January 6 Capitol attack

'The name of the group that made the decision is called the Supreme Court,' the Democrat congresswoman bemoaned. 'I missed the part where those people had hearings in front of Congress, and were voted on before they were made decision makers with this kind of authority.'

'We need to break up these big tech companies,' she added.

Warren later noted: 'They have too much influence and they pose a threat to our democracy. Time to enforce our antitrust laws.'

She also complained in a tweet Wednesday that Facebook is a disinformation machine.

'Facebook profits off of disinformation,' she wrote. 'That was true when Donald Trump was allowed on the platform, and it's still true today. He should be banned for good, but that won't solve the larger problem. We still need to rein in disinformation and protect our democracy.

Trump said in a statement Thursday that Big Tech companies banning him from the website are just another way to dismiss his claims of widespread voter fraud and a 'rigged' 2020 election.

After January 6, Twitter and YouTube also banned Trump. On January 8, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey decided to permanently ban Trump, even though he was still president at the time.

Trump created other ways to communicate with supporters, including sending out statements from two separate email accounts  his Save America PAC, which comes more frequently and in the former president's voice, and his Office of the 45th President, which usually sends out more official statements written by his team.

This week, Trump unveiled a new webpage called 'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump', where he publishes statements that usually go out from his PAC email account, along with a few other related posts. The posts appear in a Twitter timeline-like way.

'The Fake News Media, working in close conjunction with Big Tech and the Radical Left Democrats, is doing everything they can to perpetuate the term 'The Big Lie' when speaking of 2020 Presidential Election Fraud,' Trump complained in a statement on Thursday.

Trump's team created a Twitter account Wednesday to post those statements, potentially in a way to circumvent his ban on the site and better communicate with supporters. Trump was a prolific Twitter user and boasted 88 million followers.

Twitter immediately shut down @DJTDesk overnight for 'violating Twitter rules.'

The new Trump website, which was launched earlier this week, allows fans to repost his statements to their own Facebook and Twitter feeds, a feature that is still active.

Trump released a statement Wednesday claiming the decision by Facebook to uphold its ban on his accounts is a 'total disgrace' and claimed Big Tech will pay a 'political price' for taking away his free speech.

In an email to supporters on Wednesday from his Save America political action committee, Trump fumed: '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.'

Trump was banned from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in January in response to the Capitol riot, which the social media sites claim he stoked. It was an unprecedented move of censorship on a world leader and sparked a global debate over how much control social media and big tech should have over free speech.

It was then turned over to Facebook's Oversight Board to decide if it was the right thing to do.

The oversight board was set up by Facebook as an apparent self-check mechanism, amid growing calls for it to be split up because it is too powerful.

It is funded by Facebook- all of its 20 left-leaning members are paid six figures for doing approximately 15 hours of work a week. Its sole purpose is to rule on issues that are too big for Facebook or to make decisions it simply doesn't want to.

But in their decision on Wednesday, the five deciding board members (who are not named) refused to rule either way.

Republicans reacted furiously and the decision has only galvanized their efforts to break Facebook up.

The board justified their refusal by criticizing Facebook for not giving Trump a timeframe for how long the ban would last.

'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,' they said.

Wednesday's decision not only tosses the decision back to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, but it also gives him another six months to consider what to do.

In the meantime, the former president remains offline and unable to communicate with his tens of millions of social media supporters.

The board also revealed that in its investigation of the issue, Facebook refused to answer questions about whether it played a role in the riot, and whether it continued to profit from ads that targeted Trump's followers after he'd been banned.

'There are two different standards: One for Donald Trump and one for another number of people on their sites who are suggesting things more nefarious than what the President has been accused of. Former WH Chief of Staff Mark Meadows

In response to the decision, Facebook's VP of Global Affairs, former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, said: 'We thank the oversight board for the care and attention they gave this case.

'We will now consider the board's guidance and develop a response that is clear and proportionate.

'In the meantime, Mr. Trump's accounts remain suspended.'

Republicans called it a 'sad day for America', 'disgraceful' and renewed calls to break up the Silicon Valley giant.

'Disgraceful. For every liberal celebrating Trump's social media ban, if the Big Tech oligarchs can muzzle the former President, what's stopping them from silencing you?' Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted.

It's clear that Mark Zuckerberg views himself as the arbiter of free speech.' Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Mark Meadows, Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, said in an interview with FOX: 'It's a sad day for America. It's a sad day for Facebook, 'cuz I can tell you, a number of members of Congress are now looking at, do they break up Facebook?

'Do they make sure that they don't have a monopoly?

'There are two different standards: One for Donald Trump and one for another number of people on their sites who are suggesting things more nefarious than what the President has been accused of.'

Corey Lewandowski, one of Trump's advisers, said: 'Facebook and Twitter and others have clearly established two different sets of rules.

'One if you're a conservative or a Republican or have a different ideology than them and one if you're a liberal.'

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn said: 'Facebook's decision to uphold its ban on President Donald Trump is extremely disappointing. It's clear that Mark Zuckerberg views himself as the arbiter of free speech.'

Texas Senator Ted Cruz was among Republicans who slammed the decision on Wednesday

'I'm broadly supportive of the antitrust recommendations released by Rep. Ken Buck last October.

'Current antitrust law needs to be amended to better handle competition in digital markets, antitrust agencies should be beefed up and they need to regulate mergers and acquisitions more strictly,' Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Banks told Fox News.

In its 11,000-word ruling, the board said that Trump 'severely violated' Facebook's policies with his January 6 posts where he told rioters: 'We love you, you're very special.'

It also said he 'created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible' by constantly claiming he was the victim of election fraud - which the board said was an 'an unfounded narrative'.

'As president, Mr. Trump had a high level of influence. The reach of his posts was large, with 35 million followers on Facebook and 24 million on Instagram.

'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 decision reads in part.

'However, it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose an 'indefinite' suspension.

'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 decision says.

ZUCKERBERG AND TRUMP - ONCE CORDIAL, NOW ENEMIES ON THE ISSUE OF FREE SPEECH Years before he banned Trump from his sites, Zuckerberg went to the White House for dinner as part of an effort to work with government and not against it. The Facebook chief was fiercely criticized by both his own employees as well as wide swaths of the public for not cracking down harder on the president's most controversial posts. In September 2019, Trump posted a photo of him shaking hands with Zuckerberg during a meeting in the Oval Office. 'Nice meeting with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook in the Oval Office today,' the president wrote at the time. Zuckerberg and Trump had dinner at the White House in the fall of 2019. The two men were joined by billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel. Thiel, one of Trump's earliest supporters, was also one of Facebook's initial investors. He remains a member of the company's board of directors. Zuckerberg met with Trump and other Republican lawmakers as well as prominent conservative commentators in recent years in an effort to ease censorship concerns. Critics of Facebook had accused Zuckerberg of currying favor with Trump in order to head off any possible regulatory action by the federal government as it relates to the company's business practices. The relationship between the pair disintegrated throughout Trump's presidency and came to a head at the Capitol riot. Zuckerberg said the president used his Facebook page 'to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building' and that allowing him to freely post in the final 13 days of his term would pose too great a risk. 'The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden,' Zuckerberg wrote. '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,' the statement by Zuckerberg read. 'We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect - and likely their intent - would be to provoke further violence. 'Following the certification of the election results by Congress, the priority for the whole country must now be to ensure that the remaining 13 days and the days after inauguration pass peacefully and in accordance with established democratic norms. 'Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. 'We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. 'But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government.' Zuckerberg concluded: 'We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. 'Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.' Advertisement

The ban on Trump was the first time the company had ever blocked a politician or world leader from using the site and the decision threw up a major question of Silicon Valley's and the power it wields over free speech.

On the left, critics blamed Trump for the Capitol riot and demanded he be permanently removed.

On the right, fans and followers of the former President saw it as another step by Facebook and big tech - which is famously liberal - to squash conservative voices and stunt support for Republican candidates.

Trump hasn't been able to post anything on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter since January 6

Trump himself has not yet indicated if he even wants to return to the site.

On Tuesday, the day before the decision, he launched his own blog-like section of his Save America website.

The platform - From The Desk of Donald J. Trump - is where he can directly share messages with fans, like he used to.

Crucially, people can share the posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, even though Trump is banned from the sites.

Twitter permanently banned him after the riot.

On Tuesday, CFO Ned Segal said they would not be reinstating him no matter what the oversight board's decision was.

FACEBOOK REFUSED TO ANSWER IF IT STILL MADE MONEY ON ADS THAT TARGETED TRUMP'S FOLLOWERS AFTER BANNING HIM Facebook's Oversight Board has revealed that the social media giant refused to answer seven of its 46 questions over the Trump ban, including some about what role it played in the January 6 riot and if advertisers could still target Trump's followers after he was banned. 'The questions that Facebook did not answer included questions about how Facebook's news feed and other features impacted the visibility of Mr. Trump' s content; whether Facebook researched, or plans to research, those design decisions in relation to the events of January 6, 2021; and information about violating content from followers of Mr. Trump's accounts. 'The Board also asked...whether suspension or deletion impacts the ability of advertisers to target the accounts of followers. 'Facebook states that this information was not reasonable required for decision making in accordance with the intent of the Charter; was not technically feasible to provide; was covered by attorney/client privilege; and/or could not or should not be provided because of legal, privacy or data protection concerns. 'Facebook states that this information was not reasonable required for decision making in accordance with the intent of the Charter.' Advertisement

'Well, there has been no changes to anything we have shared in the past around the former president's account.

'When you step back and think about our policies, we want to work hard to be consistent, to be transparent so people know exactly what to expect from us.

'We don't have an oversight board like that.

'Our team is accountable for the decisions that we make.

'There is no changes to anything we have talked about in the past,' he told Yahoo Finance Live.

Of course one of the one of the favorite artists, so to speak, on the part of some Twitter users was President Trump, who is no longer on the platform, at least not right now,

Facebook followed suit then, amid widespread criticism of the decision, turned it over the oversight board to rule on whether or not he should be censored.

The board is meant to be impartial and independent; Facebook cannot overrule it, but it pays the salaries of everyone on the board.

It took months to announce its first decisions in January.

Of five cases, it overturned Facebook's decision in four and upheld one.

Trump's case is by far the most high profile. After he was banned, the board received 9,000 public complaints from people saying Facebook had overstepped its authority.

Before announcing the decision, the board tweeted a 'reminder' of how it processes cases on Monday.

First, it selects the cases to decide on based on what affects the highest number of people.

Five members then deliberate. They base their decision on whether or not the user has violated any terms of service.

Then, the five-person panel speaks with the user and with Facebook, before delivering a draft decision to the rest of the board.

A final decision is then posted on its website. Facebook can respond to the decision within thirty days, and it has just seven days to implement the decisions.

The decision on Wednesday was hotly anticipated.

Politicians, free speech experts and activists around the world are watching the decision closely.

It has implications not only for Trump but for tech companies, world leaders and people across the political spectrum - many of whom have wildly conflicting views of the proper role for technology companies when it comes to regulating online speech and protecting people from abuse and misinformation.

Whether or not Trump will actually want to return to the site remains unclear.

After an initial period of quietness, he started emailing out statements in the form of press releases to journalists and subscribers several weeks ago.

Then on Tuesday, he launched his communications platform - From The Desk of Donald Trump.

His spokesman Jason Miller has insisted it is not a social media website - though Trump has hinted that he may launch one of those too.

'President Trumps 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.

Former President Donald Trump launched a webpage, www.DonaldJTrump.com/desk, which allows supporters to share the statements Trump has been emailing to the press to their social media platforms

The former president unveiled the website where only he can upload content, and doesn't let users interact, as he teased to supporters they will be 'very, very happy' when they hear his decision about running for the White House again

'Well have additional information coming on that front in the very near future,' Miller said.

He has also spoken in interviews about running again in 2024 but hasn't formally announced yet.

During his presidency, one of his biggest fights against Silicon Valley and the power it wields over the world.

He was among Republicans who thought the companies, particularly Facebook and Google, have too much power and influence over every day Americans.

By banning him, Twitter and Facebook played into that rhetoric and only enthused his fans and followers who have long believed that he is unfairly censored by the media and left-leaning big tech.

Facebook went one step further by then banning an interview he took part in with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, from its sites.

The interview was for Lara's online show - The Right View with Lara Trump - which has a huge conservative following on Instagram and Facebook.

It was the first on-camera interview Trump gave after leaving office.

But Facebook scrubbed videos of it from Lara's page, telling her it was also banning 'the voice of Trump' from its platforms.

Phone interviews he gave to FOX and other major news outlets were allowed to stay online.
Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have both announced they will end their temperature checks for visitors.

In a statement Disney said they will no longer carry out screenings for employees from May 8 and for guests from May 16.

Universal adopted the same policy regarding temp checks and have reduced their social distancing from six foot to three effective Thursday.

Masks will still be required at both parks, as is social distancing.

The decision came on the back of Governor Ron DeSantis' announcement Monday that he was signing an executive order to override any county or city rules on COVID to go in effect July 1.

Both cases of COVID-19 and death resulting from it are falling across Florida, data shows. Nearly nine million people have received the vaccine in the Sunshine State.

Since Disney World reopened last summer, guests have been required to wear masks, observe social distancing, and submit to temperature screenings. Disney Land in California reopened last week after more than a year closed.

Guests were told: 'Anyone displaying a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above 'will be directed to an additional location for rescreening and assistance.'

'Those with temperatures 100.4 F or above will not be allowed entry; those in their party will not be allowed entry either,' according to the site.

But in statement Wednesday Disney said: 'Following the advice of the CDC and our local health officials, we will phase out onsite temperature screenings at Walt Disney World Resort for Cast Members beginning May 8 and Guests on May 16.

'We will continue to follow the guidance of health and safety leaders going forward and most importantly encourage people to get vaccinated.'

Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have both announced they will end their temperature checks for visitors. In a statement Disney said they will no longer carry out screenings for employees from May 8 and for guests from May 16

Universal adopted the same policy regarding temp checks and have reduced their social distancing from six foot to three effective Thursday. Masks are still required at both parks, as is social distancing

Guests will still have to reserve tickets in advance, social distancing must be observed and masks are still required. Capacity is also cut.

Universal said in a statement: 'There are no more temperature checks upon entry.

'And Social Distancing between travel parties is now reduced to three feet (1 meter).

'Still, most of our original safety protocols remain unchangedfrom wearing face coverings across our Resort to our ongoing dedication to cleanliness and sanitization.'

Disney guests will still have to reserve tickets in advance, social distancing must be observed and masks are still required. Capacity is also cut

Last month it was reported that a Louisiana man who booked a $15,000 vacation to Disney World was arrested after he refused a mandatory temperature check at the entrance to Disney Springs.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office released body cam footage of the February 13 incident involving Kelly Sills, 47, of Baton Rouge.

Sills pleaded not guilty to the charge of trespassing.

According to the arrest report, Sills was confronted outside the Boathouse Restaurant at Disney Springs by Disney security and Orange County Sheriffs deputies.

According to the deputies, Sills skipped the temperature screening tent and then refused to go back. He then ignored orders from security guards and sheriffs deputies to leave the area, according to authorities.

The decision came on the back of Governor Ron DeSantis' announcement Monday that he was signing an executive order to override any county or city rules on COVID to go in effect July 1

Both cases of COVID and death rates are falling across Florida, data show

Speaking Monday Republican DeSantis said the state is 'no longer in a state of emergency'. He then signed SB-2006 - a bill that allows him to override all local rules and bans vaccine passports from July 1 onwards.

'At this point, the people that haven't been vaccinated is certainly not because a lack of supply or a lack of availability,' he said.

His order means that in public places, there are no more COVID rules at all including social distancing and masks.

Private businesses can however choose to enforce their own rules, which has largely been the case in Florida throughout.

There has never been a statewide mask mandate in Florida, nor have there been state-imposed social distancing rules. Instead, Democratic stronghold cities and counties have taken to imposing their own rules.

DeSantis said his executive order would allow people to finally get back to normal.

'We dont know whats going to happen in the future, but I think this creates a structure thats going to be a little bit more respectful, I think, of peoples businesses jobs, schools and personal freedom.'

DeSantis was at a waterfront restaurant in St. Petersburg when he signed SB-2006 - a bill that allows him to override all local rules and bans vaccine passports from July 1 onwards

DeSantis said his executive order would allow people to finally get back to normal

DeSantis also said that because so many people had now been vaccinated, telling anyone who has that they still need to wear a mask undermines confidence in the vaccines themselves.

'Folks that are saying that they need to be policing people at this point are saying you dont believe in the vaccines, you dont believe in the data, you dont believe in the science,' he said.

Among those who criticized his decision was Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.

'It feels like hes spiking the ball on the 10-yard line. Hes been following political ideology more than science during this whole pandemic,' he said.

'To be clear, cities like St. Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach, saved Florida and the governors behind throughout this pandemic.

'Can you imagine if each city had been led by Ron DeSantis?

'How many lives would have been lost? What would our economy look like today?' St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said in another tweet.
A sex predator who struck five times in just 11 days as he tried to emulate serial rapist Joseph McCann is facing years in jail.

Abdallah Baballah, 25, stalked his victims as they left Tube stations or got off night buses and then told a jury they had all consented.

The Sudanese former Barking and Dagenham College student followed his first victim off a night bus in Newham at around 2.30am on a day in July, 2019.

Baballah said 'Give me your phone or I'll stab you' before dragging the woman into a quiet street and raping her three times, jurors were told.

He stole cash from her wallet but returned her phone and identity cards.

Jurors were told Baballah had searched for articles about serial rapist Joseph McCann - who was given 33 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2019 for a string of horrific sex attacks on 11 women and children during a 15-day cocaine and vodka-fuelled rampage.

Baballah had also looked up 'Man raped two women in east London', 'rape rule in Britain' and viewed numerous pornographic videos.

Abdallah Baballah, 25, stalked his victims as they left Tube stations or got off night buses and then told a jury they had all consented

He was arrested on 25 July after police officers spotted him around East Ham -where he had attacked his last victim earlier that month.

He was found guilty of nine counts including rape, attempted rape and robbery following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Baballah had targeted his second victim after she got off a train at Leyton underground station less than a week later at around 3am.

He grabbed hold of her and said he had a knife as he snatched her phone from her.

Baballah told the terrified woman he would return her mobile if she performed oral sex on him, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

But the victim managed to escape when a member of the public walked by.

An hour later, just after 4am, Baballah attacked another woman in Leyton.

He took her phone and ring, then raped her before punching her in the face, the court heard.

The woman managed to run to a nearby house to get help.

Baballah attacked his fourth victim just a few days later at around 3am after she got off a bus in Dagenham.

He demanded she hand over her phone and chased her down the street, the court heard.

The victim started to scream but Baballah lashed out and struck her in the face before trying to cover her mouth.

He eventually fled with the woman's bag and phone.

Jurors were told Baballah had searched for articles about serial rapist Joseph McCann - who was given 33 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2019 for a string of horrific sex attacks on 11 women and children during a 15-day cocaine and vodka-fuelled rampage

The final victim was attacked after she got off the a night bus in East Ham.

Baballah dragged her into a side road before throwing her to the ground and attempting to keep her down with a punch.

The woman managed to fight him off, breaking free to run to a member of the public who emerged from his home upon hearing her screams.

Baballah again ran off with the woman's bag and phone.

Prosecutor Karen Phillips said: 'This violent and depraved man has at every turn tried to divert responsibility away from himself by callously claiming that many of these encounters were consensual.

'They were not.

'Baballah targeted women on their way home and in most cases threatened them with physical violence unless they carried out sexual acts.

'Despite suffering such terrifying experiences, I must pay tribute to these five immensely brave women.

'As a result of their courage a dangerous man is no longer on the streets.

'I hope that his conviction provides them with some sense of comfort and allows them to move on with their lives.'

Baballah, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on 30 July.
The nine babies born to a Malian mother will need to spend the next 'two to three months' in incubators at a Moroccan hospital, doctors have said.

Professor Youssef Alaoui, medical director of the Ain Borja clinic in the city of Casablanca where the nonuplets were born, said such a case of multiple births is 'extremely rare' and 'exceptional'.

Doctors yesterday revealed how they delivered the five girls and four boys on Tuesday, and have confirmed that all nine newborns and their mother Halima Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu in Mali, are 'doing well'.

Her premature babies, weighing between just one and two pounds, would be looked after 'for two to three months' in incubators,' Alaoui said.

Ms Cisse was 25 weeks pregnant when admitted and medical staff had managed to extend her term to 30 weeks until contractions started.

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

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

A nurse takes care of one of the newborn nonuplets, lying in an incubator, at the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca

She 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.

A medical team of 10 doctors assisted by 25 paramedics was mobilised for the deliveries of the five baby girls and four boys.

It is expected the mother, whose husband remains in Mali, will return home in several weeks, with health minister Fanta Siby yesterday 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 yesterday 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.

Ms Cisse gave birth to nine babies (one seen above after birth) via caesarean section at a hospital in Morocco on Tuesday

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

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.
A Jersey fisherman was threatened by a mob when he tried to deliver his haul to a French business this afternoon.

Jason Bonhomme was physically threatened as he landed in the French port of Carteret with his half tonne of Cuttlefish.

As he berthed along the sea wall and tried to climb up a ladder, a mob abused and threatened him, forcing him to leave with the 4,000 consignment.

Jason Bonhomme was physically threatened as he landed in the French port of Carteret with his half tonne of Cuttlefish

French fisherman at Carteret line up to threaten Mr Bonhomme who was attempting to deliver his Cuttlefish haul

A Jersey fisherman was threatened by a mob when he tried to deliver his haul to a French business this afternoon. Pictured: French fishermen stage a protest near Jersey today

Don Thompson, President of the Jersey Fisherman's Association told MailOnline: 'He was basically led to believe this would be his last day on earth if he didn't turn back.

'He was climbing up the ladder to begin delivering his order to a French business when the mob stopped him.

'This incident has just happened at Carteret at around 4.30pm. Jason, who has known many of these French fisherman for years, was forced to leave without making his delivery.

'He had filled in all the online forms, duplicated them as is required and submitted them to all the relevant authorities and he still could not carry on his business.

'He will be dumping the fish as a dead load at sea now. There are few things worse to a fisherman than having to do that.'

Mr Thompson said the blockade of the Jersey port earlier today by French boats and the blockade at French ports, was a disturbing development.

Don Thompson (pictured), President of the Jersey Fisherman's Association, said the incident happened at Carteret at around 4.30pm

'It is a desperate situation right now. The French have had an amnesty after January 1st to carry on fishing in British waters here and they have doubled the size of the number of boats.

'We have seen them leaving with tonnes and tonnes of scallops. Their boats have been everywhere on our waters.'

Mr Bonhomme was unharmed and he was able to leave safely on his 30ft boat J69 Soixante Neuf and without any damage to it.

Mr Thompson added: 'The French have been allowed to carry on fishing on our waters. It is a very difficult period for us all.

'If we try and take fish there, we have to be spot on with the forms. Even one word spelt wrongly leads to hold ups from the French administration'The blockade at Jersey port has been eased, but we are not sure if they will try and return and do the same tomorrow.'
A man killed his girlfriend and then stabbed himself to death at a prestigious hotel in a North Yorkshire town.

Chenise Gregory, 29, and her partner Michael McGibbon, also 29, were both found dead and covered in stab wounds in their room by shocked staff at the Doubletree by Hilton in Harrogate.

The London couple had travelled more than 200 miles to stay in the hotel.

Police today revealed that they are treating their deaths on Tuesday night as a 'murder-suicide' and believe Ms Gregory was murdered.

Chenise Gregory, 29, and her partner Michael McGibbon, also 29, were both found dead and covered in stab wounds in their room by shocked staff at the Doubletree by Hilton in Harrogate

Detectives said she was stabbed first and then her partner stabbed himself.

The force is not looking for anyone in connection with their deaths.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Polices Major Investigation Team said: 'An investigation into the circumstances around the deaths is ongoing, but the evidence we have gathered at this stage suggests it as a suspected murder-suicide.

'A post-mortem has taken place that has confirmed the couple died from stab wounds. We are treating Ms Gregorys death as murder and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

'This is a very sad case and our thoughts are with their families and friends at this difficult time.

Police today revealed that they are treating their deaths on Tuesday night as a 'murder-suicide' and believe Ms Gregory was murdered

'We have specialist officers from North Yorkshire Police, supported by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police supporting the family, and we will work with them as we investigate the circumstances leading to these tragic deaths.'

The couple had travelled from London to stay at the hotel in Harrogate which dates back to 1900 and has hosted film stars, Indian royalty and aristocracy.

Their bodies were found at just after 10.20pm on Tuesday night. It is thought a commotion had been heard coming from the room.

One hotel worker told MailOnline: 'I've heard there was some noise and staff investigated.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Polices Major Investigation Team said: 'An investigation into the circumstances around the deaths is ongoing, but the evidence we have gathered at this stage suggests it as a suspected murder-suicide'

'Later there was no reply in the room so some staff went in. They are very shocked.'

Locals were also shocked and puzzled by the unusual case in Harrogate.

Dog walker Mike Brown, 57, said: 'When I heard the news I thought it might be suicide. But a double suicide is pretty unusual.

'I thought maybe it was a suicide pact but it's shocking if he has killed his girlfriend and then killed himself.

'What a monster. You don't expect this to happen here.'

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa said: 'Following an incident the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.'
Crooked former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been ordered back to prison just two days after he was released early less than a year into his 6.5-year sentence for corruption.

Silver, 77, was released Tuesday on furlough while awaiting a decision over whether he could serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he will now be returned to federal prison after federal authorities denied his request.

Silver had been locked up in Otisville prison in Orange County, New York, over a corruption scheme where he took $800,000 in payments from real estate developers dating back as far as 2005.

As one of the most powerful state officials in New York, he avoided prison for many years before he was finally put away for his crimes last August.

Crooked former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (pictured in July leaving US District Court in New York after his sentencing) has been ordered back to prison just two days after he was released early less than a year into his 6.5-year sentence for corruption

Sources told NBC New York, Silver could be back behind bars as soon as Thursday afternoon.

His return to prison comes after the US attorney's office in Manhattan, which prosecuted Silver's case, said it had notified the Bureau of Prisons that it had opposed Silver's release.

Other New Yorkers also blasted his early release this week.

Nick Langworthy, the New York State Republican Chairman, called it a 'gross miscarriage of justice and slap in the face to every New Yorker.'

'He abused his power to personally profit to the tune of $4 million,' Langworthy said Tuesday.

'New Yorkers need to send a message that they are fed up with corrupt politicians escaping accountability while taxpayers are left holding the bag.'

Meanwhile, Guardian Angels' Curtis Sliwa was seen putting up posters reading 'Send him back to Jail' at Silver's apartment building.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons didn't provide details or a reason for Silver's transfer out of prison earlier this week.

A spokesperson had told The New York Post Silver was still 'designated' to Otisville Prison, but added that it has the power to transfer inmates to their homes 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 in a statement.

Congress gave the Justice Department expanded powers during the coronavirus pandemic to release inmates on furlough and home confinement to prevent them from catching the virus behind bars.

Silver's supporters have said he is in failing health and suffering from multiple medical conditions that make him more vulnerable to the virus.

Guardian Angels' Curtis Sliwa arrives to the doorstep of Sheldon Silver's New York City home and puts up posters of 'Send him back to Jail'

Sliwa put up the posters calling for Silver to be returned to federal prison this week

He was pictured being pushed in a wheelchair into his Manhattan apartment Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by his wife Rosa Mandelkern and Rabbi Akiva Homnick.

Homnick said he was focusing on Silver's health and would not answer other questions about his return to prison Thursday.

Homnick said earlier this week that the 77-year-old had 'serious' ongoing health issues.

'At this time the family is asking for privacy to deal with Mr. Silver's medical issues which he has some serious ones that are ongoing,' Homnick told City & State.

'He's expected home momentarily.'

Silver, a Democrat from Manhattan, was once one of the three most powerful state officials in New York.

He was first voted into the Assembly in 1977 before leading it for more than two decades before his abrupt ouster in 2015 after the corruption allegations emerged.

He was ultimately convicted in a scheme that involved a type of illegal back-scratching that has long plagued Albany.

Silver leaving federal court in New York in May 2018 over his corruption case

He was released Tuesday on furlough while awaiting a decision over whether he could serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement

He supported legislation that benefited real estate developers he knew. In return, they referred tax business to a law firm that employed Silver, which then paid him fees.

Appeals kept Silver out of prison for years. His initial 2015 conviction was overturned on appeal before he was convicted again in 2018.

Part of that conviction was then tossed out on another appeal, leading to yet another sentencing in July.

At his sentencing, Silver's lawyers had begged the court to allow him to serve his sentence under home confinement, rather than at a prison, because of the danger of contracting a fatal case of COVID-19. A judge turned him down.

The Bureau of Prisons moved more than 7,000 federal inmates to home confinement, according to Bureau of Prisons statistics obtained by ABC. The agency released nearly 25,000 prisoners to their homes since last March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the bureau's guidelines, priority for home confinement is supposed to be given to those inmates who have served half of their sentence or inmates with 18 months or less left and who served at least 25 per cent of their time, ABC reported.

But the bureau has discretion about who can be released.
An Alaska teacher has been put on leave after telling students that George Floyd would still be alive if he had complied with police and not to dress as 'thugs' if they do not want to be targeted by cops.

In a 15-minute video a parent posted to YouTube, a teacher who is referred to as 'Ms. Gardner' can be seen talking to her students about police killing black people, and telling them that if they complied with police, they would be less likely to get shot.

'If George Floyd had at the beginning when they got him out of the car and went to put him in the police car, if he had just sidled into the car and slid in there and let them put his legs in, he would be alive today,' the teacher at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks said.

'You know that's true.'

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District sent out a letter last week notifying parents that the teacher in the video had been placed on leave pending an investigation.

Officials declined to name the teacher but the district's website shows only one staffer with the same name: High school special education teacher Connie Gardner.

An Alaska high school teacher was put on leave after video emerged of her telling a Zoom class that George Floyd would still be alive if he had complied with police

George Floyd died in May 2020 after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin appeared to kneel on his neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin was convicted last month of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter.

It is unclear what prompted the conversation in the video.

It begins with the teacher talking about how there have 'been a lot of shootings with people of color. The reason why you don't hear about it though is because it doesn't fit that angry white male narrative.'

'It's not just crazy white men who do shootings,' she said, before appearing to start discussing the police-involved killing of Ma'Khia Bryant.

'It was a terrible thing for the girl to get shot,' she said, but suggested Columbus, Ohio Police Officer Nicholas Reardon did not have a choice because she was going to stab another victim and police do not 'have time to choose between their gun and taser.'

'I agree that there needs to be some, I don't want to say reform, I want to say training,' the teacher acknowledges, before telling the students in the class that they should comply with police officers even if they think they are being arrested unjustly

'Im an old white lady and if the cops came up to me and said maam, put your hands behind your back, youre going to jailIm putting my hands behind my back,' she said, adding that she would tell the police officer she has a gun on her ankle, which she has a concealed carry permit for.

George Floyd died after Police Officer Derek Chauvin appeared to kneel on his neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin was convicted of murder last month

In the video, the Lathrop High School teacher tells students that George Floyd (pictured) would still be alive if he had complied with police officers

The teacher also insinuates that the students would be OK in a police encounter because they are 'dressed nicely' and 'don't look like thugs' with their 'pants around their knees.'

At that point, a woman who's name is 'Liz' on the Zoom call and identifies herself as a tutor of some of the students, spoke up and said she was not comfortable with the discussion.

'Police should be trained to not kill people even if they don't comply,' she said, and 'should be trained not to judge people' on their skin color or how they dress either.

Soon after, a mother who appears to be video taping the call speaks up as well, and says she does not feel 'Ms. Gardner' should be speaking about these topics as a white woman.

'Some of the things that you are saying, I feel like you are very uneducated on and I don't feel like you are able to address these things that are going on today,' said the woman, who identified herself as a woman of color who faced racism growing up in the South.

'You should stop this conversation - period,' the mother says, although it appears she is muted at that point.

District officials said they were notified about the conversation by a parent last Wednesday. The teacher is now on leave pending an investigation by the Human Resources Department.

The teacher will be represented by a union advocate while the investigation continues, according to Sandra Ryan, the president of Fairbanks Education Association.

In the meantime, district officials said, Principal Carly Sween and Assistant Principal Clarice Mingo (who is black) have spoken to the students in the class and will continue to 'provide opportunities for them to reflect on the situation'.
A 23-year-old Army trainee in South Carolina escaped from his base and hijacked a school bus to try and get home to New Jersey, but let the 18 children on board off after they asked too many questions and he became 'frustrated'.

Jovan Collazo, 23, faces 19 kidnapping counts plus carjacking, armed robbery and firearm charges

Jovan Collazo was armed with an M4 rifle, which was not loaded.

Having ordered the children and driver off, he tried to drive the empty bus, but struggled, and gave up.

He ditched the rifle in the bus, and began walking, but was arrested shortly after.

'This incident could have ended very tragically,' said Baron Davis, the superintendent of Richland School District Two.

'I've never been as sacred in my life upon receiving that call.'

The children and driver were all unharmed.

Jovan Collazo is seen boarding the bus on Thursday morning with a rifle pointed at the driver

Collazo forces the driver and 18 children from the bus, then takes the wheel himself

Collazo struggled to drive the bus, and so is then seen abandoning it, leaving his rifle behind

A trainee at Fort Jackson in South Carolina hijacked the bus (above) on Thursday morning

Baron Davis, the superintendent of the school district, said a tragedy had been averted

The saga began at around 7am on Thursday, when motorists reported an armed man in his physical training clothes trying to flag down cars along Interstate 77.

They refused to stop, so, coming upon a bus stop, Collazo took over the bus as the children were boarding, on their way to Forest Lake Elementary School in Columbia.

Collazo then demanded to be taken to the next town.

'I'll give the bus driver credit, he kept his cool,' said Leon Lott, sheriff of Richland County.

'You can just imagine they were scared to death.'

Leon Lott, sheriff of Richland County, praised the bus driver for keeping his cool

The bus was en route to the Forest Lake Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina

Yet after about a mile, the youngsters on board began asking the 23-year-old questions 'where they were going,' Lott said.

'The kids started asking lots of questions, like if they were going to hurt him.

'The suspect got a little frustrated, and got the kids off.

'The suspect then drove the bus a couple of miles, then abandoned the bus. He went through neighborhoods trying to get rides, trying to get clothes, and deputies spotted him and he was arrested without incident.'

Collazo escaped on Thursday morning from Fort Jackson, in his third week of training

Fort Jackson commanders have apologized for the incident.

'This was a failure in our accountability procedures that we truly regret and are apologetic to our community,' they said in a statement.

'We are thankful for the fast actions of Richland County Sheriffs' Department and the local community to assist in the apprehension of the individual.'

He has been charged with 19 counts of kidnapping, and single counts of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, carjacking without great bodily harm, pointing and presenting firearms at a person, carrying weapons on school property and possession of weapon during a violent crime.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said on Thursday the Navy will investigate SEAL Eddie Gallagher over his admission in a recent interview that he did intend to kill an ISIS detainee despite being acquitted of the man's murder in 2019.

Gallagher 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. 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,' he said.

Gallagher angrily denied murder charges during his military hearing in 2019, and said he was being made to be a scapegoat for his entire platoon.

The remarks in the interview seem to fly in the face of that.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Austin was speaking at a press conference when he was asked, while leaving the podium, if the military was investigating.

He said he 'knows' the Navy is looking into it but couldn't give further details, according to reporters who were there.

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.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Austin was speaking at a press conference when he was asked, while leaving the podium, if the military was investigating. He said he 'knows' the Navy is looking into it but couldn't give further details, according to reporters who were there

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.'
The families of ex-Green Berets caught up in a failed Venezuela coup last year insist that they believed that the doomed invasion was backed by the US government.

Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, were arrested in May 2020 alongside 11 Venezuelans following the foiled attempt to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

But both their families insist they thought they had the full backing of the US government

The families believe that the men were duped into training the group of Venezuelans for Operation Gideon - a poor impression of the Bay of Pigs that left six Venezuelans dead and more than a dozen arrested including Denman and Berry.

'It's all so murky and there's just so many players in this,' Airan Berry's wife Melanie told Vice World News.

'I doubt we'll ever get a sufficient answer to what was going on or  who did what.'

Scroll down for video

Denman, 34, (left) and Berry, 41, (right) have been sentenced to 20 years in prison in August

Suspects were arrested in a coastal village on the northern Venezuelan coast. At the time. the government announced the individuals were part of a foiled plan to remove President Maduro

The coup was led by Jordan Goudreau, 43, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and head of a private-security company, Silvercorp USA.

Goudreau was a friend of Berry's wife Melanie and when he told her he was leaving to work for him he was light on the details - but that was nothing new for the Berry who would keep quiet about missions when in the military.

Denman was a little less cagey, texting his brother Mark on Signal that he was 'Training Venezuelans.'

When his brother demanded to know who and what for, Denman was more evasive.

'A little bit of everything,' wrote Luke. 'Private company.'

'Mission is approved by our government and the government of Venezuela,' he wrote. 'We have great resources and a strong force.'

When news came through of their arrests, their families were stunned.

It was only when Mark spotted his brother's Nordic tattoo in the pictures of the arrest, did he really believe it was him.

'I feel like they were just used as pawns,' said Melanie. 'It almost seems like they were kind of set up in a way.'

Denman's family believes Luke admitted to a forced confession provided by the Venezuelan government about the failed coup.

Meanwhile, Goudreau, who spent 15 years in the Army, earning three bronze stars and rising to the rank of sergeant first class, insists Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had personal knowledge of Operation Gideon.

Pence's office and Mike Pompeo have denied ever meeting Goudreau or knowledge of Operation Gideon.

Gourdreau alleges the plot began when President Trump's longtime personal bodyguard, Keith Schiller and his consultancy company contacted Silvercorp.

Neither Goudreau or Silvercorp USA had ever attempted to overthrow a government before.

Maduro revealed that they had knowledge of the raid plans after infiltrating the group in Colombia and were waiting to capture them.

An image from Silvercorp USA, the Florida-based company owned by former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, which is at the center of the failed coup launched last May in Venezuela

Former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star recipient for bravery in Iraq and Afghanistan, believes the plot had a good chance of being successful but blames everyone from double agents to the DEA and the FBI, for scuppering his plans

Former Vice President Mike Pence's office has denied ever meeting Jordan Goudreau or knowledge of Operation Gideon.

Goudreau hatched the plot with a rebellious former Venezuelan Army General, Cliver Alcala, to secretly train dozens of Venezuelan military deserters in secret camps in Colombia to carry out a swift operation against Maduro.

In their interrogation videos, Berry and Denman revealed they had been approached by Goudreau in early December about the plot and they were hired by Silvercorp to meet with around 60 Venezuelans in training camps in Colombia to prepare them for the mission.

Melanie told Vice her first thought was 'Is this for real? And it's just, it's like disbelief at first, and shock. And it's like somebody pulled the rug out from under your feet'

The failed operation led to the capture of Berry and Denham (circled left to right)

Airan told Melanie he was working for Goudreau, he was vague about what he would be doing.

About a month later, he texted her to tell her he was in Colombia for his work.

The former soldiers flew to Colombia on January 16, 2020. After training, they accompanied the troops by boat to Venezuelan to oversee the plan and ensure an airport was secured through which Maduro could be flown to the United States.

Goudreau announced the invasion while his men were apparently in the process of carrying out the mission into Venezuela on Twitter.

The plan was a risky one and would see the boats sailing for around 16 hours before landing north of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The plan was to infiltrate the country through the coastal town of Macuto with around 100 Venezuelan exiles and incite a popular rebellion against the government, similar tactics to those employed in the doomed Bay of Pigs plot in Cuba in 1961.

The idea was for one group to take over a TV station while another would commandeer an airport. A third group would capture President Maduro and get him on a plane to the United States where a $15 million reward would await.

In the U.S. he would face justice over allegations of systematic human rights violations, including killings and torture amounting to crimes against humanity.

But everything seemed to fall apart, and fast. The mercenaries became sea sick during the voyage and spent most of the 16 hours throwing up over the side of the boat.

Phone calls between Goudreau and the boats failed to go through. One of the boat's engines broke down and fuel ran low.

Their cover was blown. At least once of the boats was spotted by Venezuelan fishermen who quickly informed the authorities.

The pilot boat was soon boarded by the Venezuelan military who immediately killed the six men on board.

The larger boat was escorted by Maduro into the port town of Macuto.

Propaganda videos were released by Venezuela in which the revolutionaries and the two Americans, former Staff Sgt. Luke Denman and Sgt. Airan Berry, can be seen in the boat with their hands in the air.

Melanie says she received her one brief phone call from Goudreau. He promised her he would do everything in his power to ensure her husband and Denman returned safely.

Venezuelan security forces escort one of captured individuals who were participants of a plot to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro

'They both respected him enough and that they trusted him and they wanted to do this with him and to help the people over there.

She never heard from Goudreau again.

Goudreau has since taken responsibility for what transpired during Operation Gideon, but has failed to elaborate upon what actually occurred as he told RollingStone in December 2020.

'Look, I'm responsible for everything I do or fail to do. I'm not, 'Oh, it wasn't me.' That ain't me, man. I f***** up. I own it. It's on me. But at the same time, there's reasons why,' he said.

Goudreau has since claimed he was hired last year by opposition leader Juan Guaido, something the U.S.-backed Venezuelan lawmaker has denied.

The goal of Operation Gideon was to replace Maduro (left) by installing Juan Guaido (right), whose name appears on a contract purportedly signed with the coup plotters.

Luke Denman (left) and Airan Berry (right): Two of the mercenaries arrested and paraded after their failed attempt to kill Venezuela's Maduro last May

Luke's brother Mark believes the two men that Luke and Airan are there in Colombia training Venezuelan opposition forces.

'At some point, things are going wrong. They're not going well, but they are moving forward with whatever the operation is as well. But Luke and Airan's job at some point is now done, and they are simply getting out,' he told VICE World News.

The Trump administration previously used sanctions and support for political opponents in an attempt to pressure Maduro to step down.

The administration claimed at the time they had no knowledge whatsoever of the mission.

Back in the U.S. federal law-enforcement agencies have arrested others allegedly involved in the plot, but there have been no other indictments
Zaheid Ali, 13, died after falling into the River Thames in central London on April 20

The family of a teenager who fell to his death from Tower Bridge have today shared two photographs of the schoolboy - a week after his body was found.

Zaheid Ali, 13, died after falling into the River Thames in central London on April 20.

His body was recovered eight days later and identified as the Ark Globe Academy student, but an inquest into Zaheid's death has yet to take place.

The Year 8 pupil was said to have been travelling with a friend on a bus but did not arrive at the south London school on the day of his death.

It is understood he exited near the bridge, ahead of his usual stop closest to the school in Elephant and Castle. It remains unclear why.

The school is liaising with Zaheid's family about how best to commemorate his life.

A spokesperson for City of London Police said: 'The family of Zaheid Ali has now formally identified the body recovered from the Thames on April 28 as that of Zaheid, who was seen falling into the river on April 20.

'Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'

The force today released two pictures of Zaheid, provided by his devastated family.

One shows the boy dressed in his yellow and black school uniform, while the other shows him relaxing on a sofa.

His body was recovered eight days later and identified as the Ark Globe Academy student, but an inquest into Zaheid's death has yet to take place

The Year 8 pupil was said to have been travelling with a friend on a bus but did not arrive at the south London school on the day of his death. Pictured: The scene on April 20

A map shows the distance between his school, Ark Globe Academy, and the River Thames

Following the recovery of Zaheid's body, Ark Globe Academy's executive principal Matt Jones said: 'We are very saddened to hear that a body has been found and that the police believe it is the missing student of ours.

'Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

'As a school community, we are pulling together ensuring all our students are supported at this difficult time.'

Witnesses to Zaheid's fall described hearing screams nearby Tower Bridge before one woman jumped into the water to try and save him.

It is understood he exited near the bridge, ahead of his usual stop closest to the school in Elephant and Castle. It remains unclear why

River police, firefighters, the RNLI and a police helicopter were involved in the search

Despite using a life-float to swim into the Thames, she was only able to recover his school jacket and school bag.

One witness, who was working on a building site on the South Bank, said at the time: 'We all heard him screaming for help, and then a woman who was just walking past with her boyfriend grabbed a float and jumped into the river.

'She said "why isn't anybody helping him" before jumping in herself.

'The woman jumped in seconds after but all she could bring back was his school jacket and his bag.

'I saw police going through the bag and it had his school books and stationary in it, he was clearly very young.'
Maldives' first democratically elected president and current Parliament Speaker Mohas amed Nasheed has been injured in a blast Thursday near his home and was being treated in a hospital in the capital, police said.

The 53-year-old pro-democracy pioneer was about to get into his car in the congested capital when a bomb rigged to a motorcycle was detonated, officials said.

'Nasheed escaped an assassination attempt,' a Maldivian government official told AFP by telephone. 'He is injured, but his condition is stable.'

Nasheed is being treated for shrapnel wounds under anaesthesia at hospital but two family members said he is talking and responsive. A foreign tourist was also injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a close ally of Nasheed, said an investigation into the explosion was under way.

The police media unit text message did not give more details but said it urged the public to refrain from going to the blast area in the capital, Male.

Maldives Home Minister Imran Abdulla told a local television that Nasheed's injuries were not life-threatening and that the government will get the assistance of foreign agencies in the investigations.

Maldives' first democratically elected president and current Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been injured in a blast

Maldives Home Minister Imran Abdulla told a local television that Nasheed's injuries were not life-threatening

Nasheed, now 53, became the first democratically elected leader of the archipelago state after a 30-year autocratic rule. He served as president from 2008 until 2012 when he resigned amid public protests.

He was defeated in the following presidential election and became ineligible to enter the 2018 election due to a prison sentence. His party colleague Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the 2018 presidential election.

In 2019, Nasheed was elected Parliament speaker and he has remained an influential political figure in the country.

Photos circulated on social media showed a ripped up motorcycle at the scene but police did not say whether the blast was an assassination attempt.

The police media unit text message did not give more details but said it has started investigations and urged the public to refrain from going to the blast area

Photos circulated on social media showed a ripped up motorcycle at the scene but police did not say whether the blast was an assassination attempt

Soldiers secure a site after a bomb blast injured former Maldives president and current parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed in Male

However, neighboring India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a tweet described the blast as an attack on Nasheed.

'Wish him a speedy recovery. Know that he will never be intimidated,' Jaishankar said.

Nasheed is known as a champion against global warming and an outspoken critic of religious extremism in this predominantly Sunni Muslim nation, where preaching and practicing other faiths are banned by law.

Maldives is known for its luxury resort islands but has seen rare violent attacks. In 2007, a blast in a park in the capital wounded 12 foreign tourists.

However, neighboring India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a tweet described the blast as an attack on Nasheed
Bill Gates has transferred another $500million to his wife Melinda as they continue to divide up their enormous list of assets.

The pair announced their divorce on Monday in a joint statement posted on Twitter.

Since then, he has given her $1.5billion in railway shares, $300million in car shares and on Thursday, he shifted $120million in Coca Cola shares along with $364million in shares in Grupo Televisa, a Mexican TV network.

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.

They married in 1994 without a prenup in place and in court filings, she has described the marriage as '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 Thursday, more SEC papers were filed revealing that Bill has given Melinda 25,793,660 of Coca Cola shares worth $120million and 155million shares of Grupo Televisa worth $386 million.

Bill Gates' investment company has transferred more than $2billion in shares to Melinda over the last four days

What specifically prompted their divorce is unclear. Melinda has previously described Bill's hesitancy over getting married in the early 1990s.

WHAT BILL HAS GIVEN MELINDA SO FAR $1.5billion in 14million Canadian Railway Stocks

$300million in AutoNation stocks

$365million in Grupo Televisa stocks

$120million in Coca Cola stocks Advertisement

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

Bill's lawyer is a 97-year-old WWII vet who lost everything in his first divorce, then drove a Pontiac to 'discourage gold diggers' Charlie T. Munger, the lawyer hired by Gates to represent him in his divorce, is a Second World War veteran, Harvard graduate, widower, divorce, billionaire and philanthropist. He was born in Nebraska in 1924 and as a teenager, worked at the grocery store that was owned by Warren Buffett's grandfather. His own father was a lawyer and his grandfather was a district judge. In 1943, when he was 19, he dropped out of The University of Michigan to serve in WWII in the US Air Army Corps. After serving in the Army, he went to Harvard and also married his first wife, Nancy Huggins. But the pair divorced in 1953. They had three kids and Munger was 29. He had just turned to the stock market and lost everything to Nancy in the divorce. He has since told in interviews how he moved into 'horrible bachelor digs' and drove a Pontiac in the years that followed. When his daughter asked him why he was driving the car, he told her it was to 'discourage gold diggers'. The following year, he lost his nine-year-old son Teddy to leukemia. Advertisement

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.'
The woke agenda continues to tighten its grip on British public life. At times, it feels as if our civic institutions have been taken over by a deranged cult bent on the obliteration of freedom, tradition and even reason.

We live in a culture where the former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd, a trailblazer for women's rights, can be hounded in her 90s for her non-attendance at a Parliamentary sexual harassment training course, and where a Birmingham primary headteacher bans the term 'hello boys and girls' in case it offends transgender sensitivities among pupils.

Few public figures have embraced the radical cause with more enthusiasm than Sadiq Khan, who is likely to be confirmed as London's Mayor for a second term tomorrow.

Posing as social justice warrior, he revels in identity politics and virtue-signalling gestures.

His outlook is exemplified by his recent decision, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, to set up the Orwellian-sounding 'Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm', which will subject the capital's historic landmarks  including buildings, statues and street names  to a series of ideological purity tests.

On May 8, 1981 that Labour's Ken Livingstone (centre) became Leader of the Greater London Council, heralding the start of a notorious regime that was soon to be a byword for ideological extremism and financial extravagance. Having gained control, he proceeded to build what he boasted was 'the most effective platform of the radical Left ever built in Britain'

Khan also promised in November 2020 to 'root out unconscious bias and systemic racism' in the capital, has banned 'body shaming' adverts on the Tube, created a sprawling diversity bureaucracy at City Hall including posts such as a 67,000 'Director of Economic Fairness', and has set a target that 40 per cent of recruits into the Metropolitan Police should be from ethnic minority backgrounds.

He might be an obedient commissar of the cultural revolution but in his five years in office, he has proved a woeful city manager.

Knife crime has spiralled out of control, the transport network has slid into near bankruptcy, and promises on affordable housing have not materialised. His one concrete achievement has been to increase his staffing costs by 82 per cent.

Yet, depressingly, he looks certain to be re-elected this week, and the onward march of the woke brigade will accelerate in London.

And in a society once renowned for pragmatism and liberty, the scale of change has been remarkable, reflected in McCarthyite witch-hunts, relentless propaganda, re-writing of history and guilt-tripping indoctrination of staff, dressed up as 'unconscious bias training.'

But for all the recency of its sweep across Britain, what is striking about the woke insurgency is how closely it resembles another doctrinaire movement that gained power 40 years ago this week.

It was on May 8, 1981 that Labour's Ken Livingstone became Leader of the Greater London Council, heralding the start of a notorious regime that was soon to be a byword for ideological extremism and financial extravagance.

Livingstone seized control when, immediately after Labour's success in the GLC elections, he and his followers organised a ruthless internal coup that threw out the moderate Andrew McIntosh.

Having gained control, he proceeded to build what he boasted was 'the most effective platform of the radical Left ever built in Britain'.

His leadership was matched by the hard Left's subsequent takeover of a host of other councils in the early 1980s, including Islington, Lambeth, Sheffield and Liverpool, bringing the same obsessions with social engineering, taxpayer-funded propaganda, political indoctrination and hierarchies of victimhood.

Dubbed the 'loony Left', Livingstone's GLC and other Labour cities invoked widespread hostility across the political spectrum.

Labour's mainstream despised them for alienating traditional voters with their antics. The Tories viewed the GLC as such a threat to the state that their Government abolished it in 1986.

Yet the legacy of municipal madness survived. The values that the GLC promoted from 1981 now predominate in corporate Britain. Some of this is, of course, constructive, such as progress on gay equality, but much is damaging.

Just like Sadiq Khan, the GLC was fixated by identity politics, which fomented grievance by constantly dividing society into oppressors and victims.

This Marxist notion was backed up by recruitment policies for jobs with titles such as Irish Policy Officer and Ethnic Arts Officer or the expansion of managerial and committee structures. By the time of abolition in 1986, the GLC women's committee alone had a staff of 96 and a budget of 16 million.

Like the current flock of woke warriors, some of the loony Left's stances were absurd. In the same vein in 1987, a nursery run by Islington Council warned a toddler against singing the nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' (pictured) because it 'has been identified as racially derogatory'

As with today's self-flagellating institutions such as the National Trust, which wails about the 'colonialist' past of some of its properties, the impulse of the 1980s loony Left was to see everything through the prism of political ideology.

'We will use expenditure on the arts not to provide the icing on the cake but as part of the political ingredient of that cake,' said the GLC's arts chairman Tony Banks, words that led to the funding of endless Left-wing exhibitions, plays and festivals.

Like the current flock of woke warriors, some of the loony Left's stances were absurd.

Lambeth Council condemned the RSPCA's use of a cartoon squirrel called Tufty to promote road safety because he spoke in 'standard English' and showed 'little awareness of the multi-cultural, multi-racial nature of our society'.

In the same vein in 1987, a nursery run by Islington Council warned a toddler against singing the nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' because it 'has been identified as racially derogatory'.

'Decolonising' school and university curriculums is one of the favourite activities of today's zealots, just as Left-wing run schools were awash with indoctrination in the 1980s.

Justice could be arbitrary, as the popular infant school headteacher Maureen McGoldrick realised when, in 1986, she was accused by Brent Council of making a racist remark at a meeting.

Although she fiercely denied the charge and was supported by witnesses, she was forced out of her job in a politically-motivated vendetta.

The Council, which employed 177 officers as 'race advisers' in schools, eventually had to pay her 23,500 in compensation.

Other features of contemporary woke culture have their parallels in the GLC and the loony Left, such as addiction to gesture politics.

Among Livingstone's many stunts were his boycott of the Royal Wedding in 1981, his creation of a 'nuclear free zone' in London, his award of a 1,600 grant to a group called 'Babies against the Bomb', and more reprehensibly, his long association with violent Irish Republicanism.

And just like today, the police got it in the neck from the tinpot revolutionaries. Scotland Yard estimated that of the GLC's 3.5 million annual Police Committee budget, 2.4 million went on funding anti-police activity.

Far worse was the vile outburst of the Labour Leader of Haringey Bernie Grant after the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985, which led to the death of PC Keith Blakelock. The local youth, he said, felt that 'the police got a bloody good hiding'.

An atmosphere of permanent revolution, conflict and chaos prevailed, inflamed by over-blown rhetoric.

Linda Bellos, the leader of Lambeth, spoke wildly of Margaret Thatcher's Government wanting to 'build gas chambers for lesbians, gay men, blacks and socialists', just as today, in the wake of the Government's recent report on race disparities in Britain, its chief author Dr Tony Sewell has been ludicrously smeared, comparing him to Dr Goebbels and the Ku Klux Klan.

Livingstone's infamous ally Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, once said, that the IRA 'never went away'. Sadly, the same is clearly true of the loony Left.
Michelin Guides has awarded Manhattan's Eleven Madison Park restaurant another three-star rating, just three days after Chef Daniel Humm announced it will become a vegan restaurant when it reopens next month.

In his rating, Gwendal Poullenne, the international director of the Michelin Guides, praised Humm's decision, calling it 'an exciting new chapter' and 'a way to please the customers while exploring new avenues,' according to The New York Times.

The other New York City restaurants that earned a three-star designation include Le Bernardin, a French seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan; Per Se, a 'New American restaurant in Columbus Circle; and Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fair.

The restaurant has long been famous for its lavender honey-glazed duck, lobster and Hawaiian prawn roulade and duck with daikon and plum signature dishes.

But when it reopens for the first time on June 10 since being shuttered by COVID closures last March, it will only serve plant-based food, owner Humm, 45, announced on Monday.

Eleven Madison Park, on Madison Avenue in New York City, is one of the Big Apple's five three Michelin-starred restaurants

It is known for its signature lavender honey-glazed duck, lobster and Hawaiian prawn roulade and duck with daikon and plum signature dishes

But on May 3, owner Daniel Humm, pictured in 2008, announced the restaurant will only serve vegan options when it reopens on June 10

National director of Michelin guides, Gwendal Poullennec, praised Humm's decision to become a vegan restaurant in his rating

A new menu is forthcoming, an Eleven Madison Park spokeswoman told DailyMail.com, but may include dishes like rice porridge with celtuce (an underutilized and thick-stemmed lettuce). It will also serve Amaranth seed and sweet peas served with a creamy fermented almond cream and pea-miso puree, the Wall Street Journal reports.

It will also likely serve a complex beetroot dish that requires 16 hours of preparation encompassing 12 steps. They include marinating the beet in a roasted herb and lettuce sauce, garlanding it with more herbs, and then service it in a special clay vase which is cracked open before the beet can be eaten.

Explaining his restaurant's new philosophy on Instagram, Humm said: 'When we began to think about reopening EMP, we realized that not only has the world changed, but so have we.

'We have always operated with sensitivity to our surroundings, but it has become clear that the current food system is not sustainable,' he wrote. 'We knew we couldn't open the same restaurant.'

Eleven Madison Park will only serve vegetable dishes, like this one, when it reopens in June

Humm announced the change on his Instagram Monday morning, with Eleven Madison Park set to reopen on June 10

But some things will stay the same. The restaurant - one of just five in New York City to earn three Michelin stars this year - will continue offering cow milk for coffee and tea, meaning it will not be entirely vegan.

It will also continue to offer non-plant based items for ultra-wealthy diners who book one of its three private dining spaces.

And Humm, who was said to be dating Apple founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene in 2019, hinted to the Wall Street Journal that the old $335-a-head tasting menu price won't drop. He explained that preparing vegetables properly takes far more effort than meat.

He had became close with the farmers who supply EMP during the pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reports, and they told him how 'they are sitting on so much food that's getting spoiled, and they have to throw it away.'

'Our practices of animal production, what we're doing to the oceans, the amount we consume, it is not sustainable,' Humm said. 'If Eleven Madison Park is truly at the forefront of dining and culinary innovation, to me its crystal clear that this is the only place to go next.'

He said he does not want to 'lecture people' about the environment, but instead enrich them by 'showing a different way what a fine dining meal can be.'

'When we set out on this journey we promised ourselves that we would only do this if the meal could be as delicious as it was before,' Humm told the Wall Street Journal. 'My goal is to create these beautiful dishes, give people experiences - unexpected, surprising experiences that make you feel as satisfied as a meal with meat would.'
The flotilla arrived just as the sun rose across Saint Aubins bay. Around 70 fishing vessels, flying the French tricolour and the lions passant of Normandy, descended upon Jersey intent on blockading its port.

Locals described the sight as like the arrival of the Spanish Armada as fishermen set off flares and displayed banners proclaiming Jersey Government steals our historical wrights (sic).

They had travelled from the French ports of Granville, Carteret and St Malo to protest over French post-Brexit access to Jerseys waters.

The demonstration was marred by ugly scenes when a 35ft French trawler rammed a British boat.

Jonathan Ruff said his boat was deliberately hit by the Lasgot after he sailed out to confront the French contingent.

Locals described the sight as like the arrival of the Spanish Armada as fishermen set off flares and displayed banners proclaiming Jersey Government steals our historical wrights (sic)

Blockade: The little ships of France seal off St Helier harbour, delaying the British ferry

Tempers reached boiling point on the shore too when one local, a member of a Jersey militia reenactment group, brought his musket and fired a blank warning shot in the direction of the French.

The Gallic boats bore names such as Santa Clara and Hermes  ironically the Greek God of diplomacy  and initially sought to prevent British freight ferry the Commodore Goodwill from leaving port.

While the French managed to delay the ship for around four-and-a-half hours, they fled when the Royal Navy patrol vessels HMS Tamar and HMS Severn arrived to monitor the situation.

Amid heavy showers and grey skies, the hulking silhouettes of the Navy vessels dwarfed the trawlers.

Shove off! A french trawler gets pushy and rams into a British boat

An onlooker at the port in Jersey captured the moment a British vessel (right hand side of image) is forced to spin around to avoid a side-on collision with a French boat seen hurtling towards it. The brown French vessel does end up smacking into the side of the British boat without causing significant damage

Lasgot, a four tonne vessel from Cherbourg is believed to have rammed a pleasure craft belonging to a Briton in the harbour

To residents of Saint Helier, gathered along the Victoria and Albert Piers at either end of the harbour, the sight confirmed only that Britannia still rules the waves.

Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing said it had felt like an invasion to see the French flotilla and welcomed the presence of the Royal Navy ships.

The French can be hostile. All of our livelihoods are in that harbour and if they wanted to they could cause damage, he said. They can blockade their own harbours  they wouldnt think twice about coming and doing it to us. There were a few hand-held flares going off and apparently a few bangers from the French. It was quite a sight.

I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea. It was like an invasion.

Blast: A Jersey battle re-enactment enthusiast fires his musket out to sea

Under post-Brexit rules French boats are required to show they have a history of fishing in Jerseys waters to qualify for a licence.

They are granted one based on how much fishing they have done between February 2017 and January 2020.

French authorities claim the rules are new technical measures which had not been communicated and were therefore null and void.

Ministers had even raised the prospect of cutting off Jerseys electricity  95 per cent of it is supplied by underwater cables from France. Cyril Piraud, skipper of a Normandy-based boat called The Pearl, was among the fishermen protesting off St Helier.

Flares: French fishermen get fired up at the sight of one of the Royal Navys patrol boats on the horizon

Were calling on Annick Girardin, the [French] minister of the sea, to put her threats [to cut electricity supplies to Jersey] into action, he said.

Laurent Blondel, captain of the PrequIle, another French fishing boat, added: We do not agree with the licences and restrictions that we were given.

Before, we were given licences to fish as we wanted, without restrictions, but this changed. Jerseys fishing community condemned their French counterparts referring to the blockade as pretty close to an act of war.

Don Thompson, head of the Jersey Fishermens Association, said: It was inevitable that the French would kick off.

Peace talks: Members of Jerseys environment department listen to the Gallic grievances

French fishermen said they were ready to restage the Battle of Trafalgar as they descended on the harbour. But by 1.30pm navigation charts showed the armada had given in and was sailing back towards their home waters

But the reaction were seeing from France is almost like something you would see from Iran or Russia. It comes pretty close to an act of war, this.

By midday a parley was in progress between representatives for the fishermen and Gregory Guida, Jerseys assistant minister for the environment.

Following an hour-and-a-half of negotiations, the French fishermen agreed to return to port, ending their blockade at around 2pm. Mr Guida said: When we talked we saw they had some genuine problems and we were quite happy to sort those.

I hope they do not come back  but theres a basic problem that France is going through regional elections and theres a lot of posturing that has nothing to do with fishing.

Jersey should be bracing itself for more trouble, we will do our best but I think it will get worse before it gets better.

This is a political issue and the elections in France finish on June 24, so I would be very surprised if something doesnt happen before then. I think the talks went well, we did the best that we could, but are the French happy? Well, that depends on who you talk to.
A burglar broke into a dentists' office and stole 100 vials of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, then left them under a bush to spoil.

The unnamed 30-year-old suspect stole the vaccines along with $100,000 worth of equipment and a vial of Botox from North Harbor Dentistry in Purdy, near Seattle, late last Thursday or in the early hours of Friday office.

The one-shot vaccines, made in cooperation with pharmaceutical firm Janssen, were later found under some bushes, having spoiled after being left out of a refrigerator for too long.

It is unclear why he stole the vials, and if they were destroyed on purpose. All Americans are being offered a COVID-19 vaccine for free.

A North Harbor Dentistry staffer told DailyMail.com there was surveillance footage of the burglary, but refused to comment further.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said the surveillance footage is in evidence.

The burglar, who police didn't name, is accused of committing two burglaries in Purdy, Washington, near Seattle

The 30-year-old suspect was caught on a surveillance tape from a nearby business, but police said the surveillance tape is in evidence

Police say 100 Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines, along with $100,000 in medical equipment and a vile of Botox was stolen from North Harbor Dentistry

Dentists are among the health professionals who can administer COVID-19 vaccines, KIRO 7 reported.

Police arrested the suspect on Wednesday and linked the man to a separate salon break-in about a half a mile away, where he allegedly stole $50,000 worth of salon products, hairstyling tools and towels, the Olympian reported.

Pierce County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that most of the stolen items were from the salon burglary were recovered.

Pierce County Sheriff's office doesn't release the suspect's name but said he was charged with counts of second-degree burglary. Those charges will be forwarded to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Geneve Filbert, who owns the salon, told KIRO 7 that the burglars broke through the back wooden wall and took everything they could the night before the vaccines were stolen.

The theft came after ten vials of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine were stolen from a Physicians' Primary Care in Southwest Florida early last month, FOX 4 Now reported.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office and Cape Coral police in Florida essentially said the same thing: Why steal something that's free?

'The answer is, "We're not sure," the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. But we want you to be cautious if you come across someone who offers you a vaccine outside of official vaccination events, medical/dental offices or pharmacies.'

Master Corporal Phil Mullen with the Cape Coral Police Public Affairs Department told FOX 4 Now that he hasn't heard of any 'street value' for the vaccines.

'If you want the vaccine there are avenues to get it without needing to steal it from a refrigerator,' he told the Florida news station. 'Its sort of a strange one.'

But the real concern is the health risks after someone uses of the stolen vaccines.

There's a concern among health experts that stolen vaccines will be administered without storing them properly, which poses a number of health concerns

Law enforcement say they don't know why vaccines are being stolen because they're free in America. J&J's vaccine has been made in cooperation with rival firm Janssen

A law enforcement officer in Cape Coral, Florida, said he doesn't know of any 'street value' for stolen vaccines. A box of J&J/Janssen vaccines is pictured

Steve Fijalka, the interim chief pharmacy officer at UW Medicine, told KIRO 7 that the Johnson & Johnson shots don't have to be kept as cold as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, but they still need to be refrigerated.

Asked about the risks of having a spoiled vaccine, Fijalka said: 'You risk having infection, especially at the site of injection. You can have abscesses where its been injected or worse case  you can get major infection throughout your body,' he said.

The vaccine also wont be effective, which endangers not only the person who got the shot but also others.
Britons under 40 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid jab after it was linked to potentially fatal blood clots, it was claimed last night.

Advisers are understood to have written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggesting the move after more adults suffered side effects.

The experts believe the risk of clotting now outweighs that of Covid in younger adults.

Britons under 40 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid jab after it was linked to potentially fatal blood clots, it was claimed last night. Pictured: Fabian Cassar, 47, receives an AstraZeneca vaccination in London on April 16

They previously recommended that those under 30 with no underlying health conditions should be offered an alternative, such as the Pfizer or Moderna jabs.

But this age is expected to be increased to 40, with the decision announced today, the Independent reported.

The UK is understood to have enough supplies of alternative vaccines to offer all adults a first dose by the Government's July 31 target.

The source said: 'Because prevalence of Covid is low and given the strength of the programme, that means we're in a position to act with an abundance of caution and offer a different vaccine to the younger groups.'

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has been analysing the data and drafted its recommendation earlier this week.

The latest figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show there have been 10.5 cases of blood clots combined with low platelet counts per million doses.

The UK has enough supplies on order to vaccinate the entire population many times over

There have been 242 cases of the rare clotting disorder following the Oxford jab up to April 28, with more than 28million doses now administered.

Separately, yesterday's daily death toll from Covid was 13, bringing the UK total to 127,583. Some 81 deaths have been reported in seven days  down 48 per cent. A further 2,613 people have tested positive for Covid, taking the tally to 4,428,553.

The weekly total is down 10 per cent. Cases have fallen across all regions except the North West.

The Indian strain of Covid is likely to be declared a 'variant of concern' after more than 40 clusters were reportedly found across England.

Only SIX out of 6million Britons given AstraZeneca's Covid jab have suffered blood clots after their second dose, official data shows

Stephen Matthews, Health Editor for MailOnline and Connor Boyd, Assistant Health Editor for MailOnline

Only one in a million Britons given AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine suffer the rare blood clotting disorder after getting their second dose, official data showed today.

Britain's medical regulator found six out of 5.9million people who received a second injection developed the rare combination of blood clots and low platelet counts.

It appears to be far less common after the second dose than the first, with 242 cases detected in the 22.6m people given one shot, a rate of about one in 100,000.

Until now experts thought the rare disorder - believed to be an overreaction by the immune system to the jab - was exclusively happening in the first dose group.

But the absolute risk of the condition is still tiny. For comparison, an estimated six out of 10,000 women suffer serious blood clots from taking birth control every year.

Forty-nine Britons given a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine died as a result of the clotting disorders. It's unclear if any patients given two doses have passed away.

Analysis published yesterday found people are three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine.

The six new cases after a second dose were revealed in the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's weekly report. It includes data up to April 28.

MHRA officials said that despite the update, 'the advice remains that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in the majority of people'.

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)

The British vaccine was first linked to the rare blood clots in March, and several European countries including Denmark and Norway, went against World Health Organization advice and halted their rollouts amid concerns over the risks.

The UK medicines regulator has recommended that adults under 30 should be offered an alternative to the vaccine - such as the Pfizer or Moderna jabs - out of an abundance of caution.

For every other age group the benefit of being vaccinated against Covid is deemed far superior to the risk of the jab itself.

It comes after a major analysis in Denmark and Norway found the risk of blood clots after the AstraZeneca jab is 'small' with people three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine.

Researchers 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.

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.

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 fishing row which saw France threaten to cut off Jersey's power has exposed the 'very dangerous' threat of being too reliant on a foreign supplier for electricity, an expert said yesterday.

Britain risks becoming an 'import junkie' by depending too heavily on the Continent for its electricity needs, it was claimed.

Tony Lodge, a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, said the UK is setting itself up for 'almighty trouble' by the end of the decade.

He warned that Britain is offshoring its energy security and emissions to Europe, leaving it vulnerable if the Continent's surplus of power is reduced.

The fishing row which saw France threaten to cut off Jersey's power has exposed the 'very dangerous' threat of being too reliant on a foreign supplier for electricity, Tony Lodge, a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies has claimed

On Tuesday French maritime minister Annick Girardin said Paris would cut off electricity to Jersey  which gets 95 per cent of its power supply from France  if the dispute was not resolved.

Mr Lodge yesterday said this had 'inadvertently exposed' the 'very dangerous' threat of being too reliant on a foreign supplier.

He said: 'We have slowly offshored our ability to generate all of the electricity we need... We followed European Union diktat when we were in the EU to close a lot of coal and oil power stations early, and we haven't replaced them at home.

'What we have done is set up interconnectors  undersea cables import power when we need it from the EU.' He warned: 'We are going to become import junkies.'

On Tuesday French maritime minister Annick Girardin said Paris would cut off electricity to Jersey  which gets 95 per cent of its power supply from France  if the dispute was not resolved. Pictured: President Macron with a French military leader

Mr Lodge said when there are cold snaps or power station closures in Europe, electricity generation on the Continent could become tight.

'The availability of surplus electricity in Europe is a key factor in spare flows and surplus flows that make it to the UK,' he explained.

He urged the Government to build more power stations in Britain so it can generate electricity on demand.

He said: 'Renewables are fine... because of course electricity demand doesn't always match when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. So we need to balance that much better.' Mr Lodge said Britain has several plans under way to increase reliance on power from Europe.

Locals watch as French fishing boats leave Jersey waters following their protest in front of the port of Saint Helier, with a Royal Navy ship in the background

He added there were 'posturing' reports that the Government could review its energy links with France in light of the Jersey row.

But a Whitehall source sought to downplay the claims that the UK may in future take a more cautious view of France as an energy partner.

Britain imports around 8 per cent of its power from foreign nations and Northern Ireland via underwater cables  due to rise to 25 per cent.

Last night a Government spokesman said: 'The UK has a robust domestic energy supply from diverse sources, which we are confident will ensure security of supply in all scenarios.'

Supplies of Jersey Royals would be hit by any blockade of St Helier. Shipments to UK supermarkets of the new potatoes and other fresh produce depend on the daily ferry to Portsmouth. Likewise, supermarkets on Jersey would suffer shortages of bread, fruit, fresh meat and vegetables, which arrive twice a day by ship. Chief executive of the Jersey Co-op stores, Mark Cox, said its shelves would be 'bare within two days' if the port was blocked.

Q&A Why are the fishermen angry? French fishermen need a licence to fish in Jersey's waters under the Brexit deal. Until last week French boats were allowed to work under the previous rules. Now fishermen are complaining that boats which had operated in the waters for years are having their access restricted. What changed? The fishermen had to prove they worked in Jersey's waters previously to keep doing so, but argued they were facing more curbs. Jersey's government said of the 41 French boats that applied for licences last Friday, 17 did not provide the evidence. How does this relate to Brexit? When the UK left the EU it also left the Common Fisheries Policy and ended the Bay of Granville fishing agreement, which shared out fishing rights in Jersey's waters. But Brussels believes that Jersey is ignoring the terms of the trade deal and that French trawlers are facing 'additional conditions' to operating, in breach of the agreement. Why did the row escalate? This week French maritime minister Annick Girardin suggested that Paris could cut off electricity to Jersey, which gets 95 per cent of its power supply from France. On Wednesday up to 100 French fisherman were threatening to blockade Jersey's St Helier harbour. In the event they only staged a protest outside the port yesterday. How has Britain responded? Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent two Navy gunships to 'monitor' the situation in Jersey on Wednesday night and called for an urgent de-escalation in tensions. How could it be resolved? The Government believes the best way to end the row is through the dispute resolution mechanism in the Brexit deal. So far, the EU has not triggered this. Advertisement

ADMIRAL LORD WEST OF SPITHEAD: This was childish, dangerous and (just like every other French sea skirmish) doomed to fail

French aggression over disputed fishing waters around the Channel Islands is childish, irrational, petulant and dangerous.

Their militant behaviour is like something from the 19th century, not the 21st. We ought to be long clear of all that old history, but by being so obstreperous the French and their navy are harking back to the Napoleonic era.

It's tempting to be trite and point out that clashes between British and French fleets never do end in their favour. The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 remains one of the most emphatic victories in our island history, one that helped shape the world today.

But this is not a moment for jingoism. The French are making extreme threats and naval encounters can escalate with alarming speed. We are in the midst of a serious situation, although it may seem like an Ealing comedy.

Yesterday's protest saw more than 60 small Normandy vessels gathering around the bay  with some actually entering the harbour of St Helier  taking up position for a blockade that dispersed after several hours.

France's militant behaviour is like something from the 19th century, not the 21st. We ought to be long clear of all that old history, but by being so obstreperous the French and their navy are harking back to the Napoleonic era, writes Admiral Lord West of Spithead

All this, in a dispute over delays to paperwork for fishing licences. I am astonished by the hysterical French over-reaction.

Make no mistake, these are British territorial waters. The citizens of the Channel Islands are British.

Protecting them is more than our right  it is our duty, and the Prime Minister was right to send in a couple of Fishery Protection ships, HMS Tamar and HMS Severn.

The response of the government in Paris, to despatch two gendarmerie patrol boats, PCG Athos and PCG Themis, was one more arrogant provocation.

In simple terms, one country cannot just send its armed ships into the territorial seas of another nation and leave them there. It is a gross breach of the UN Convention of the laws at sea.

In the aftermath of Brexit, Jersey is applying the rules of the treaties. The French have taken exception to this. What should follow is legal discussion and debate, with a resolution agreed by both sides.

That's the way friends ought to behave in this day and age  and our navies should be friends. We have a history of co-operation as allies since the Entente Cordiale more than a century ago. By sharing our knowledge and training programmes, both countries benefit and Europe is safer.

What is so alarming is how eager French president Emmanuel Macron and his ministers have been to stir up trouble.

The most incendiary threat so far has been their less-than-veiled warning that Jersey's electricity supply lies under French control. Almost all the island's power is transmitted via underwater cables from the Norman mainland.

Shutting off electricity to a foreign country is nothing short of international gangsterism. The very idea of it shames a great democratic nation such as France.

It would be a hostile act that would put lives in danger. Without electricity, Jersey's hospitals and many other vital services would be impaired.

So far, the Prime Minister has acted with the right balance of muscle and restraint. Tamar and Severn were sent in to 'monitor', not to fight.

Of course they are equipped with heavy cannons and machine guns, but there would be no question of opening fire, except in self-defence if they came under fire themselves.

In the event, the flotilla of French fishing boats turned tail and headed back to their home ports yesterday afternoon.

The French warships also withdrew and, in response, No 10 announced that the Tamar and the Severn would leave the area 'given that the situation is resolved for now'.

But if the blockade had begun in earnest and showed no sign of lifting, perhaps over several days, then our sailors could have worked with local police to board the French boats.

Fishermen would have been asked to leave and their boats impounded. If they refused, they could have been arrested. After appropriate legal action, their equipment would have been liable to confiscation.

In this context the protesters should be seen as 'naughty fishermen' and  if the occasion should arise punished accordingly.

It is imperative that the crisis does not escalate. Half a century ago, British and Icelandic fishing fleets clashed in the so-called Cod Wars. There were numerous aggressive incidents, with trawlers being attacked and rammed.

But the history of these disputes goes back far beyond that. The Tamar and Severn belong to the former Fishery Protection Squadron, now renamed the Overseas Patrol Squadron, which is the oldest division in the Royal Navy. It's been protecting our fishing fleet since Elizabethan times.

As an enthusiastic amateur historian, Boris Johnson will know that Lord Nelson was once a captain in the Fishery Protection Squadron. He will also recall from his history lessons that during the French Revolution, the Royal Navy blockaded the Brittany port of Brest to protect our trading routes.

That was more than 200 years ago. The apparent French eagerness to return to those days is plain madness.
Nicola Sturgeon has branded the former deputy leader of Britain First a 'racist and fascist' after an extraordinary confrontation outside a polling station on election day.

Jayda Fransen, who is standing as an independent in Glasgow Southside, the same constituency contested by Ms Sturgeon, confronted the SNP leader on Thursday.

Ms Fransen, who is from London and has convictions for religiously aggravated harassment, told Ms Sturgeon: 'What are you sorry for? Mass immigration, Marxism? I'm not a fascist. I've been on the ground speaking to locals who say you are an absolute disgrace.'

After a back and forth, Ms Sturgeon said: 'You are a fascist, you are a racist and the southside of Glasgow will reject you.'

The First Minister also added: 'We'll see what the locals' view is later on.'

In Glasgow Southside, Ms Sturgeon is expected to win comfortably, despite going up against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Ex-Britain First deputy Ms Fransen is not expected to challenge.

During their confrontation today, she told Ms Sturgeon: 'The locals, what the ones you have flooded from other countries? The decent people of Scotland don't want it flooded with immigrants.'

She later told an SNP supporter who asked who she is: 'I'm not fascist, just a normal, decent unionist patriot.

'My grandfather fought the Nazis.'

In a piece to camera uploaded by the British Freedom Party, she accused Ms Sturgeon of 'running away like a coward', adding: 'Of course if you flood a constituency with foreigners and hardline republicans who absolutely hate Britain, hate the union, they are going to secure their votes.

'The unionist community are no longer unrepresented and we are coming for you.'

Ms Fransen has previously been pictured outside the constituency office of Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf holding a sign saying 'it's okay to be white' and has said she is running against the 'SNP commie, Marxists, naughty people'.

She has previously been convicted of a number of religiously aggravated crimes, including harassment in both 2016 and 2018 - the latter of which saw her sentenced to 36 weeks in prison.

Former Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen confronted Nicola Sturgeon outside a polling station on Thursday

Ms Sturgeon branded her Glasgow Soutside rival a 'racist and a fascist' during their heated row

Although a member of the British Freedom Party, documents from Glasgow City Council show Ms Fransen is running as an independent.

It comes as Scots braved the snow to reach polling stations on Thursday in a vital election for the future of the independence movement.

According to experts, Ms Sturgeon's chances of an overall majority look to be 50-50 after a slew of contradictory polls - some showing her party will lose seats, others suggesting they will gain ground.

The First Minister has made triggering a fresh referendum, potentially as early as this year, the centrepiece of her manifesto.

After the polls closed at 10pm, Ms Sturgeon reflected on an election 'like no other'.

She said: 'This has been an election like no other and I want to recognise and pay tribute to the efforts so many people have gone to to ensure that, even in the face of a pandemic, our democratic process took place and took place safely.

Ms Sturgeon, who walked away after slamming Ms Fransen, is expected to win her local battle comfortably

'While we wait for the results over the next two days, we should never take for granted how special it is to have both the right and the ability to vote and to choose your own government.

'The queues we saw at polling stations around the country showed people across Scotland cherish that right.

'At this election the SNP has set out a bold, energetic and inspiring agenda to get us through and out of the pandemic, to secure a strong recovery and to take on the longer term challenges the pandemic has shone such a spotlight on. If we are fortunate enough to have won the support of the people of Scotland then we will get straight down to work.

'At this election the SNP have also offered the people of Scotland the opportunity to choose their future once the covid crisis has passed. If, when the ballots are counted, there is a parliamentary majority for that choice then when the crisis has passed that democratic mandate must be respected.

'It is now time to wait patiently and to respect the counting process. I am incredibly proud of the campaign that the SNP has run in every corner of the country, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to go to the polls today and play their part in Scotland's future.'
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For the first time in history, a company of women from the west coast became Marines with a graduation Thursday in San Diego.

The Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, is a co-ed company of recruits, the first for the region.

The class graduated after completing a 13-week training course and includes 53 women, in addition to 344 men, according to NBC San Diego.

The platoon of women trained along five all-male platoons, a model that was first tested out in South Carolina two years ago.

Female Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, march in formation during their graduation ceremony

Sr. Drill Sgt. Amber Starosck looks over her all-female platoon as they prepare for graduation ceremonies at the MCRD

For the first time in MCRD San Diego's history, male and female platoons completed their 13-week training concurrently

The platoon of women trained along five all-male platoons, a model that was first tested out in South Carolina two years ago

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, graduates were only able to invite two guests to the ceremony, with social distancing guidelines and mask mandates in place.

Six female drill instructors helped to teach the class when their training began in February.

Two weeks ago, the Marines earned their titles by completing the Crucible, which consists of three days of hiking and completing small exercises using lessons from boot camp.

The Crucible culminated in a hike along a ridge at Camp Pendleton, which begins before dawn as recruits carry their rifles, as well as packs that could weigh up to 70 pounds.

Female Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stand in formation during the graduation ceremony

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, graduates were only able to invite two guests to the ceremony

Senior Drill Sgt. Amber Starosck helps line up her all-female platoon from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion

After the hike, the Marines were handed the insignia of the Marine Corps: the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. The last two weeks have mostly consisted of administrative work and other efforts to transition towards becoming a full-time Marine.

The commanding general of the San Diego recruiting boot camp expressed excitement about the new opportunity available at the site.

'In an effort to forge Marines of the highest quality, we must give them every opportunity to succeed,' Brig. Gen. Ryan P. Heritage, commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, said to Marine Corps Times upon the completion of the Crucible.

'This is the first time we are able to give Marines who graduate MCRD San Diego the same experience that their peers at Parris Island receive.'

Pfc. Ann Marie Parra hugs her Mom Lucia with Dad, Efrin looking on after graduating from boot camp at MCRD San Diego

Pfc. Ann Marie Parra hugs her Dad, Efrin, after graduating from boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on May 6

Female Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, congratulate each other after graduating boot camp

Previously, most female recruits for the Marines Corps underwent their boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina, where 15 co-ed companies have graduated so far.

Men were typically assigned to the boot camp closest to where they enlisted.

Integration at the San Diego site became necessary after the passage of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, though.

Ranking officials for the Marines believe the integration of the recruiting units will have positive effects for new members of the service branch.

'As the first gender integrated company at MCRD San Diego, the new Marines of Lima Company have the benefit of increased exposure/socialization between male and female recruits,' Capt. Martin Harris said to Marines Corps Times.

Female Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, prepare for graduation day

Female Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stand in formation during their graduation ceremony

'This created an environment focused on problem-solving and teamwork, which has produced a company that consistently performed above average on measurable events throughout the cycle.'

One female recruit celebrated her experience making history on the west coast.

'It's an awesome experience, especially for females,' Anne Frazier said about training in San Diego. 'I feel like it's very empowering and a sign of change for me, personally, to be here. I think it's an opportunity that I thought I'd never have.'

After graduating, the new Marines will either begin Marine Combat Training or continue on to the School of Infantry.
Boris Johnson must take action to stop children viewing porn online to help prevent attacks on women such as Sarah Everard (pictured), teachers warned

Boris Johnson must take action to stop children viewing porn online to help prevent attacks on women such as Sarah Everard, head teachers and children's groups warned last night.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, they demanded that he use next week's Queen's Speech to bring forward the implementation of age verification for porn sites.

They also called on Mr Johnson to introduce restrictions on violent and extreme porn as a matter of urgency.

The signatories are led by former Play School presenter Baroness (Floella) Benjamin, former digital minister Margot James and Dr Javed Khan, chief executive of the children's charity Barnardo's. The letter is also signed by Dr Joseph Spence, the Master of Dulwich College in south London, which has been accused of having a rape culture.

They argue that it is clear there is a link between the use of pornography and a higher incidence of violence against women and girls. And they say that since the death of Miss Everard it has become even more clear that many attacks on women are sexually motivated.

The signatories argue that it is clear there is a link between the use of pornography and a higher incidence of violence against women and girls

The 33-year-old marketing executive disappeared in Clapham, south London, while walking home in March. Her body was discovered a week later in woodland near Ashford, Kent, and a serving police officer has been charged with her murder.

The Daily Mail's Block Online Porn campaign has called for automatic curbs on adult material on the internet to protect the under-18s.

Ministers have promised a clampdown on web porn as part of the Government's Online Harms Bill, to be announced next Tuesday in the Queen's Speech. But the provisions will not come in until 2024, which the signatories say 'will be too late for some women and children'.

Instead, they called on ministers to enact a previously passed piece of legislation, Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act, which would bring in reforms such as age verification much more quickly.

Ministers have promised a clampdown on web porn as part of the Government's Online Harms Bill, to be announced next Tuesday

The signatories said: 'The last two months have raised very serious concerns about the safety of women and children in relation to sexual violence. While it is too early to talk in depth about what happened to Sarah Everard, it is clear from the outpouring of stories from women across the country following her death that a very large proportion of attacks on women are sexually motivated.

'We have also witnessed the impact of the 'Everyone's Invited' website, with over 10,000 rape culture testimonies and revelations about its impact on children through the recent Centre for Social Justice report.

'In this context, given the growing body of research (including research commissioned by the Government) demonstrating a clear association between pornography consumption and a higher incidence of violence against women and girls, the failure to implement Part 3, in the absence of alternative protections, has become unsustainable.'

Ministers are already facing a judicial review over their failure to implement age verification.

Paul Conrathe, a solicitor with SinclairsLaw, is bringing the legal action on the basis that children are being harmed by the lack of age verification, in breach of the Government's legal duty to protect them.
Australians in India who fail a pre-flight coronavirus test will be banned from boarding when rescue planes restart from May 15.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced the travel ban would end on its planned expiry date, following a fierce backlash against the harsh measures.

'The pause that we put in place for travelers coming back from India is working,' he told reporters in Newcastle.

Scott Morrison (pictured left) is set to announce the restart of Australian repatriation flights from India as 9,000 Australians are stranded in India after travel ban

Up to 200 passengers could be on the first flight, which will depart after the temporary travel ban is lifted on May 15. Pictured: Passengers from an Air India flight arriving at New Jersey in the United States.

There will be three flights this month to bring back the most urgent cases with 900 vulnerable citizens and permanent residents stranded in India.

All arrivals will be quarantined at the Northern Territory's Howard Springs mining camp where capacity is set to increase to 2000 beds.

An estimated 1,000 Australians are predicted to return by the end of June and vulnerable Australians will be prioritised on these flights.

People found to have coronavirus in a pre-flight test will be denied the right to board planes.

Cricket Australia confirmed Steve Smith (pictured) and other players were on route to the Maldives, approximately 2800 kilometres south of 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

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said some of those stranded were 'in great danger' and would be prioritised when flights were approved. Pictured: Wreath lies on the coffin in Jammu

'Rapid antigen testing is a requirement and a negative test to get on a flight to Australia. I'm sure that's what all Australians would expect,' Mr Morrison said.

The new measures for all resuming flights from India into the Northern Territory, will require passengers to return both a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and a negative Rapid Antigen test before boarding.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said these measures help Australians return home from India safely, while ensuring the case load at Howard Springs remains manageable.

'The Territory always stands ready to help our fellow Australians and we were there to help those first Aussies home from Wuhan at the start of this pandemic,' Chief Minister Gunner said.

'There is a humanitarian crisis in India and we have the gold standard facility with the health care heroes the country needs at our Centre for National Resilience to help get Australians home safely.

India's Covid-19 crisis spiked out of control this week with daily deaths exceeding 3,000. Pictured: relatives wearing PPE perform the last rites before cremation of relative who died

The Federal Government will use the Howard Springs quarantine facility (pictured) in the NT to exclusively house Australian travellers fleeing Covid-ravaged India

'We are pleased with the drop in the active COVID-19 case load we have seen at Howard Springs since the temporary pause on re-entry from India, and our clinical advice is that it is now safe to resume flights.'

Commonwealth and Northern Territory health experts will assess the effectiveness of new pre-flight testing and isolation measures on infectivity rates in returning Australians.

Up to 200 passengers could be on the first flight, which will likely depart almost immediately after the temporary travel ban is lifted.

But the 9000 Australians still stuck in India could face months of waiting to return home with the Asian nation in the grips of a coronavirus catastrophe.

India recorded another grim global world record on Thursday with more than 412,000 new coronavirus cases and almost 4000 deaths.

Mr Morrison said the government did not know how many of the stranded Australians have contracted the disease.

Scott Morrison has pledged to lift the capacity of Howard Springs (pictured) from 850 to 2000 beds this month

'We don't have that information. That is why they are tested before they get on the flight,' he said.

Cabinet's national security committee signed off on the decision on Thursday following advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

The controversial ban came under heavy fire from within conservative ranks, the Indian-Australian community and human rights groups after the government threatened jail and fines for people who tried to circumvent it.

The government argued it was necessary to ease pressure on quarantine and prevent a third wave breaking out in Australia.

The Federal Court is due to hear Gary Newman's legal challenge to the ban on Monday, with the Australian man having been stuck in India for more than a year.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said some of those stranded were in great danger and would be prioritised when flights were approved.
Plans to exempt Army veterans from prosecution over incidents during the Troubles sparked a backlash across Northern Irelands political divide last night.

Unionists and Sinn Fein  as well as the Irish government  opposed the surprise proposals to provide a statute of limitations, meaning no soldiers would be charged over shootings before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Instead, a Nelson Mandela-style truth and reconciliation process would be implemented, encouraging ex-servicemen and paramilitaries to discuss the events surrounding unsolved deaths without risk of prosecution.

Plans to exempt Army veterans from prosecution over incidents during the Troubles sparked a backlash across Northern Irelands political divide last night. British troops are seen in County Armagh in 1981

But the UK Governments proposals would also provide a similar amnesty to terrorists, who have already received unprecedented protections under the 1998 peace deal.

There will, however, be an exemption which will allow war crimes, genocide and torture to be prosecuted, it is understood.

The plans, leaked yesterday, have yet to be signed off and are unlikely to be spelled out in the Queens Speech on Tuesday.

But legislation dealing with legacy issues could be unveiled before the parliamentary summer recess on July 22.

Veterans welcome the initiative, but a leading group representing Ulster soldiers said they would not get too excited until a deal was finalised.

Whitehall sources denied the proposals amounted to an amnesty saying that there would be no pardons and historic convictions would stand  but said that even in cases where new evidence emerged, there would be no prosecutions.

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.

The move would be at odds with plans included in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, which proposed a new independent unit to examine all unsolved Troubles killings.

It is understood this would be scrapped, with a Government spokesman yesterday saying the current system for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles was not working for anyone.

He added: [It is] failing to bring satisfactory outcomes for families, placing a heavy burden on the criminal justice system, and leaving society in Northern Ireland hamstrung by its past.

The change in approach comes just days after the landmark trial of two elderly paratroopers accused of killing IRA commander Joe McCann collapsed, with a judge ruling crucial evidence inadmissible.

Another four Northern Ireland veterans have been charged with offences including murder relating to shootings dating back to 1972.

IRA terrorist suspects are rounded up by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry

A further 12 are awaiting decisions on charges in relation to incidents almost 50 years ago.

The timing also coincides with the conclusions of an inquest into shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1971. A coroner is expected to conclude on Tuesday that ten people shot dead by paratroopers were unlawfully killed, which will spark further calls for the prosecutions of British troops.

Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, Northern Irelands deputy first minister, said: Reports that the British Government are to legislate for an amnesty for their state forces is another slap in the face to victims.

It is another cynical move that will put British forces beyond the law. This is legal protection for those involved in state murder. This is not acceptable.

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister added: If the kite-flying in todays national press proves correct, then amnesty for terrorist murder is shamefully on its way.

Johnny Mercer was sacked as veterans minister last month after raising concerns that Northern Ireland troops were being abandoned.

Yesterday he welcomed movement on the issue but criticised the leak rather than a formal announcement following consultation with veterans and families of those who died.

Im pleased to see some thinking being done in this space, although anonymous quotes from Spads [special advisers] does not equal a plan. We must bring communities with us in Northern Ireland, and it is clear they were surprised by this proposal, as was I.

Irelands Taoiseach Micheal Martin said any move away from the Stormont House Agreement would be a breach of trust.

Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend a Respect our Veterans protest in central London tomorrow.
FBI agents stormed a bank in Minnesota to end an eight-hour siege in which five people were held hostage.

The incident began just before 2pm on Thursday at a Wells Fargo bank in St. Cloud when a customer became enraged about a transaction, police said.

The man, identified as Ray Reco McNeary, subsequently held up the bank, trapping five employees inside.

Local police, an FBI tactical team and a crisis negotiation team arrived at the scene and attempted to persuade McNeary to release the hostages.

Armed tanks and ambulances were also on standby, as it was unclear whether McNeary was armed.

After more than four hours, a woman emerged from the bank with her hands in the air and ran towards the safety of police officers.

Seconds later someone appeared to open the bank's front door and throw a wad of cash outside.

FBI agents stormed the Wells Fargo branch in St Cloud, Minnesota on Thursday night to end an eight-hour siege in which suspect Ray Reco McNeary allegedly held five people hostage

HOSTAGE 1: Shortly before 6.30pm, one female hostage was released from the bank. Video shows the woman emerging with her hands in the air as she ran towards police

HOSTAGE 2: A woman in an orange cardigan walked out of the bank at 7.30pm

About an hour after the first hostage came out, a second woman emerged and walked calmly over to law enforcement.

Another hour passed before two more hostages walked out with their hands up, separated by a few minutes.

Local TV station WCCO reported that 'a couple hundred' people had gathered across the street from the bank to watch the situation unfold.

Just after 10pm, the fifth and final hostage made a run for the door, seconds before St. Cloud police and FBI tactical teams stormed the building.

McNeary was arrested without incident.

In a subsequent press conference, St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson stated that several of the employees ran out of the bank and were not released by McNeary.

Chief Anderson revealed McNeary, 35, had an extensive criminal history and was due to appear in court in relation to a violent offense at the time he held up the bank.

He did not say whether McNeary was armed.

St. Cloud police are expected to file bank robbery and kidnapping charges against him.

The bank is located in suburban St. Cloud in Minnesota

HOSTAGE 3: An hour later, a man was freed from the bank, running toward police with his arms in the air

Armored tanks, police vehicles and ambulances are currently stationed outside the St. Paul bank
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If you're looking for somewhere to park a boat, an opportunity has become available in London, with access to the River Thames.

But you will need deep pockets, as the freehold dock in Battersea has an eye-watering price tag of 500,000 for what is essentially not much more than a parking spot.

The piece of freehold property is called Oyster Wharf Dock, and has a depth of four metres at low tide. The price is just for the dock, no boat is included.

Looking for somewhere to part your boat? The unusual piece of property in London's Battersea has a price tag of 500,000

The property for sale is in a popular riverside setting in London and has access to the capital's River Thames near Oyster Pier

It was formerly known as Grove Dock and was used to unload coal for Grove Power Station, which is where the Oyster Wharf development now stands.

Oyster Wharf is a popular riverside building close Battersea Square that includes flats and penthouses with balconies and river views.

A three-bedroom penthouse for sale in the block has recently sold after being advertised with a listing price of 1.55milion.

It compares to an average price of a British home of 309,103, according to property website Zoopla.

However, typical values are much higher in London's Battersea, standing at 886,495. Flats and penthouses with riverside views can easily venture into the seven-figure bracket.

In times gone by the site was formerly known as Grove Dock and was used to unload coal for the nearby Grove Power Station

The average price of a residential property in the surrounding area of Battersea is 886,495, according to property website Zoopla

The site was formerly used to unload coal for Grove Power Station, which is where the Oyster Wharf development now stands

The dock is north and east of Wandsworth Bridge between the south bank of the Thames and Lombard Road.

It has planning permission to hold or build a 1,722 square foot houseboat. The dock is 123 ft long and 21 ft wide, at low tide the depth is four metres.

George Franks, of Radstock Property, said: 'This is the first dock that has come up for sale in London for longer than I can remember.

'Subject to planning, it could suit someone who wants to moor a houseboat and live in a prime central London location for a fraction of the price of nearby properties.

'Equally, you could have a high-powered rib bobbing away there ready to blast along the Thames,' he added.

Do you have a boat that fits? The area of the dock measures 123 feet long and 21 feet wide, and at low tide the depth is four metres

Location, location, location! The dock is north and east of Wandsworth Bridge, between the south bank of the Thames and Lombard Road

Living in a houseboat has widely been considered as a cheaper option for many, especially for those working in London, where house prices tend to be higher.

But moorings - or a place to park - can prove expensive, as this example proves, adding significantly to the overall cost. It suggests that living in a boat may no longer be the once financially attractive alternative it once was, which is why many canal boat dwellers choose the option of continuous cruising that involves regularly moving on.

North London estate agent Jeremy Leaf said: 'House-boat living may once have been regarded as not just a more romantic and flexible but cheaper option, especially for those working in city centres.

'However, times have changed and the rules of demand and supply being what they are have pushed up prices to crazy levels in some places.

'Finding a place to park your boat can be prohibitive nowadays as any quick glance at those advertised will reveal.

'Post-pandemic, whether you live in a house, flat or on a boat, people want the same things  not just flexible living but outside space, the ability to work from home and not to get under each other's feet. Living on a boat may not tick all those boxes.

'Before making a decision, all factors must be considered, not just the cost of buying or renting the boat and moorings, but longer-term commuting decisions, accessibility to friends and family to say nothing of its condition, when rising damp can take on a whole new meaning.'

Tom Parker, of Zoopla, added: 'With Battersea Power Station a property hotspot thanks to its many new shops and restaurants, this freehold dock could be a great investment for someone looking to live on a houseboat in an unrivalled location.'
The presence of children makes adults twice as likely to donate to charity and increases their feelings of compassion, a study has found.

In real-world studies on the streets of Bath, researchers found that when there were very few children around an adult donated to a charity once every ten minutes.

But when youngsters were milling around the streets, the number of donations to Bath Marrow  which supports people with blood cancer  doubled.

Scroll down for video

In real-world studies on the streets of Bath, researchers found that when there were very few children around an adult donated to a charity once every ten minutes. This doubled when children were milling around (stock)

Researchers at the University of Bath and Cardiff University examined how the presence of children influenced the behaviour of children.

The study, which included eight experiments and more than 2,000 participants, asked adults to describe what typical children were like.

After doing this participants showed more feelings of helpfulness, social justice, and greater empathy with other adults.

In a field study, researchers found adult passers-by on a shopping street in Bath were more likely to donate to charity when more children were around relative to adults.

When no children were present and all passers-by were adults, roughly one donation was made to the Bath Marrow charity every 10 minutes.

But when children and adults were equally present on the shopping street, this doubled to two donations per 10 minutes.

Dr Lukas Wolf, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, said: 'While previous evidence has shown that we are typically more helpful and empathetic towards children, no research has been done to date to examine whether the presence of children alone encourages us to be more pro-social towards others in general.

'Our research addresses this gap by showing that the presence of children elicits broad pro-social motivation and donation behaviour towards causes not directly related to children.'

The study, which included eight experiments and more than 2,000 participants, asked adults to describe what typical children were like. After doing this participants showed more feelings of helpfulness, social justice, and greater empathy with other adults (stock)

Human screams can communicate at least SIX different emotions Humans have at least six distinct emotions including pain, anger, fear, pleasure, sadness and joy that can be conveyed within our screams, a new study reveals. Scientists from the University of Zurich had 12 volunteers scream in a positive and negative way and try to convey sounds relevant to various different scenarios. In some non-human species scream-like calls are negative, to warn of danger, but in humans they can be used to signal elation, fear, despair or even aggression. The results of the Swiss study revealed six psycho-acoustically distinct types of scream calls, which indicated pain, anger, fear, pleasure, sadness and joy. The team also found that remarkably, non-alarming screams are perceived and processed by the brain more efficiently than screams of alarm. Advertisement

Researchers say the increase in donations could not be accounted for by higher footfall during busy times, or whether donors were accompanied by child or not.

Instead, they suggest the presence of children can encourage adults to behave more generously and donate more often.

The effect was evidence among both parents and non-parents, men and women, younger and older participants, and even those who had relatively negative attitudes towards children.

Dr Wolf said this potential for widespread effect is important as it indicates society should consider new ways to involve children more directly in various aspects of life.

'Our findings showing the importance of children for compassionate behaviour in society provides a glimpse of a much bigger impact,' he said.

'Children are indirectly dependent on how adults behave towards each other and towards the planet.

'Yet, children are also separated from many adult environments, such as workplaces and from political bodies where important decisions affect their futures.

'The finding that the presence of children motivates adults to be more compassionate towards others calls for more integration of children in contexts where adults make important long-term decisions, such as on climate change.'

Researchers will now study the nature of the effect of children and its consequences for society and the planet.

The study is published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Many nature lovers have observed green turtles hatching on Florida's beaches.

But where the little amphibians go after making the perilous journey to the Atlantic has long been a mystery.

To solve it, researchers outfitted baby turtles with solar-powered tracking devices and set them loose in the Gulf Stream.

Rather than just drifting with the current, it turns out most of the turtles spent their 'lost years' in the Sargasso Sea, an ocean gyre in the North Atlantic.

The findings will help environmentalists protect this endangered species, especially during their vulnerable early years.

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New research indicates green turtles spend their 'childhood' in the Sargasso Sea, where the abundant brown algae provides ample camouflage and keeps the water warm

One of the largest species of sea turtles, green turtles are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters.

Their name comes from the greenish hue of their fat and cartilage, not the color of their shells.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the green turtle as endangered.

Hunting, over-harvesting of their eggs, loss of nesting sites and getting caught in fishing gear have decimated their numbers, with an estimated 100,000 killed every year.

To find out where green turtles spent their 'lost years,' researchers outfitted 21 turtles with solar-powered trackers. The devices didn't harm the turtles or inhibit their behavior, and were designed to fall off after a few months

The young turtles were released into the Gulf Stream about 10 miles offshore from the beach where they hatched. The longest tracker kept working for 152 days

Like other sea turtles, young green turtles will hatch on the sand and then crawl to the ocean and migrate a vast distance to feeding grounds.

The study, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, marks the first time marine biologists have tracked green turtles during the period between hatching and when they return to coastal waters years later.

Previously, it was thought the young turtles just passively rode sea currents in their early years.

To get a clearer answer, researchers at the University of Central Florida attached inch-long solar-powered trackers to the shells of 21 baby green sea turtles.

The tracking devices didn't harm the turtles or inhibit their behavior, and were designed to fall off after a few months.

The trackers indicated most of the turtles rode the Gulf Stream currents for a bit, but then dropped out to swim in the Sargasso Sea. The warmer colors above indicate a high density of turtles in the Sargasso

Their tracking data indicated that after entering the Atlantic off the coast of Florida near Boca Raton, a majority of turtles made their way to the Sargasso Sea to spend their adolescence.

Earlier research had indicated loggerhead turtles made a similar journey to the Sargasso.

Unlike other seas, the Sargasso doesn't touch landit's bounded by four currents that form an ocean gyre.

In popular culture, the Sargasso is viewed as a mythic quagmire where pirate ships and other vessels become hopelessly mired in seaweed.

In reality it's hallmarks are calm blue waters and the brown Sargassum algae that gives it its nameand gives sustenance to the turtles.

Of the 21 turtles that were tagged with transmitters, two-thirds dropped out the Gulf Stream and entered the Sargasso, staying there at least until their tags stopped transmitting

In the new study, the young green turtles were released into the Gulf Stream ocean currents about 10 miles offshore from the beach where they were born and tracked for up to 152 days.

Of the 21 turtles, two-thirds departed the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic gyre and entered the Sargasso, staying there until their tags stopped transmitting.

'We found that the green turtles actively oriented to go into the Sargasso Sea and in even greater numbers than the loggerheads tracked in our earlier work,' said Kate Mansfield, director of the University of Central Florida's Marine Turtle Research Group.

'Granted, our sample sizes aren't huge, but enough turtles made this journey that it really throws into question our long-held beliefs about the early lives of sea turtles.'

The Sargasso makes an ideal habitat for the young turtles, Mansfield told Live Science. The seaweed provides camouflage and warms up the water for the cold-blooded creatures, who can dine on juvenile shrimp, crab, fish and other marine life that also mature in the Sargasso.

Green turtles hatch on the beach then make the perilous journey to the Atlantic, not returning to coastal waters until they're juveniles

Their findings are critical to sound sea turtle conservation, said co-author Jeanette Wyneken, a biologist at Florida Atlantic University.

The Sargasso Sea Commission will use the data to identify threats to the sea and its marine life, including climate change and pollution.

'If we don't know where they are and what parts of the ocean are important to them, we are doing conservation blindfolded,' said Wyneken.
Up to 20 shooting stars per hour will be visible shooting across the night sky tonight as the Eta Aquarids meteor shower reaches its peak, with best viewing before dawn.

The show is the result of the Earth flying through a cloud of debris left behind by Halley's Comet during its last journey through the inner solar system in 1986.

Met Office forecasters warn of showers and cloud cover for much of the UK, however, they expect some clear patches to break through overnight.

NASA said that to watch the shower you should 'get a comfy chair' and be prepared to sit outside for hours  but you won't need binoculars or a telescope.

This shower is best viewed in the southern hemisphere, but should be visible from most places on Earth, although the further north you are the fewer rocks you'll see.

The next meteor shower to light up the sky will be the Eta Aquarids and it will see dozens of shooting stars per hour, reaching its peak tonight

The show will reach its peak tonight but meteors will be clearly visible in the days before and after the peak, and in drabs to the end of the month

HOW TO SEE THE METEOR SHOWER For people in mid to northern latitudes, the radiant won't be very high in the sky, so you should be able to spot the meteors on the southern horizon. Observers in the southern hemisphere will have the best view, and will see the shower's radiant in the north. For the best viewing experience find an area away from city or street lights. 'Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair,' said NASA. 'Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. 'After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. 'Be patient - the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.' Advertisement

NASA says the best way to watch the meteor shower is not to use equipment, but instead find a dark area with limited light pollution and look up.

The Eta Aquarids are named after the constellation Aquarius as that is where they appear to fall from every April and May - particularly the star Eta Aquarii.

For people in mid to northern latitudes, the radiant won't be very high in the sky, so you should be able to spot the meteors on the southern horizon.

Observers in the southern hemisphere will have the best view, and will see the shower's radiant in the north.

In a post on its website, NASA said: 'The constellation of Aquarius - home to the radiant of the Eta Aquarids - is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

'In the Northern Hemisphere, Eta Aquarid meteors can more often be seen as "earthgrazers."

'Earthgrazers are long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.'

'For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution,' according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.

However, according to EarthSky astronomers, you can often get a good view of a meteor shower just before dawn with a good sprinkling per hour.

The Moon will be in its waning crescent phase during the peak of the shower so should be dull enough not to impact on the show.

When out watching them don't just stare in on direction as you might miss the brightest and most impressive shooting stars off to the side.

The best way to watch for them, according to NASA, is to lie on your back and look straight up as it gives you the widest view of the sky without getting neck strain.

Meteors are pieces of debris that enter the atmosphere at speeds of up to 148,000 miles per hour - as they do so they vaporise and cause streaks of light.

They are the flashes of dust grains burning in the atmosphere left behind as the Earth passes the path of a comet.

That's the reason they appear on certain dates and return annually - as these comets are on an orbit and leave debris in certain parts of space.

The show will reach its peak on Thursday May 6 but meteors will be clearly visible in the days before and after the peak, and in drabs to the end of the month

REMAINING METEOR SHOWERS IN 2021 Eta Aquarids - May 5 peak

Delta Aquarids - July 30 peak

Alpha Capricornids - July 30 peak

Perseids - August 12-13 peak

Draconids - October 8-9 peak

Orionids - October 21 peak

Taurids - November 12 peak

Leonids - November 17-18 peak

Geminids - December 14 peak

Ursids - December 22-23 peak Advertisement

Renowned for their speed, the meteors over the next week will be entering the Earth's atmosphere and will leave a trail of glowing debris following them.

They're best viewed in Australia because they rise to about 50 degrees in the sky, which is the best angle to view them from.

Physicist Clare Kenyon from the University of Melbourne told the ABC the angle is perfect because it's above the horizon and has less of a chance hiding behind trees.

'You don't want a telescope, you don't want binoculars, you don't want to be zooming in on any part of the sky. It's the ideal stargazing activity to begin with because you don't need equipment, except maybe a blanket and a thermos.'

The next major meteor shower will be the Perseids in August with over 100 shooting stars per hour at their peak and showing as bright, fast meteors.

Eta Aqauriids don't produce as many stars per hour as the Perseids but astronomers say they'll be just as bright if not brighter.

According to Royal Museums Greenwich there is no specific peak for the Eta Aquarids, they tend to just plateau at a good rate over a week up to May 7.

It is one of two showers created by the debris from Halley's Comet - the other is the Orionid meteor shower in October with 25 shooting stars per hour.
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The remains of a sailor who perished on the doomed Franklin Expedition in 1845 have been positively identified using DNA analysis for the first time.

Bones found at Erebus Bay on King William Island, Nunavut, were excavated in 2013 and have now been matched to a living individual, confirming the body is that of Warrant Officer John Gregory, an engineer on HMS Erebus.

Gregory is one of three crew members who died at this particular site in 1848 after mounting a last-ditch attempt to avoid an icy death by travelling on foot to a Canadian outpost.

But Gregory, along with the 128 other sailors who manned the ships  Erebus and Terror  ultimately perished. The mission had intended to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific.

The remains of Gregory, a novice seaman in his mid-40s on his maiden voyage, and his DNA allowed genealogists to track down a descendent.

His skull also enabled researchers to recreate his facial structure and envision what he may have looked like, complete with bushy eyebrows and mutton chops.

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The remains of Gregory, a novice seaman in his mid-40s on his maiden voyage, and his DNA allowed genealogists to track down a descendent. His skull (left) enabled researchers to recreate his facial structure and envision what he may have looked like, complete with bushy eyebrows and mutton chops (right)

Gregory's remains are not unique in yielding genetic material, with 26 DNA samples being taken from various unidentified crew members scattered across nine sites in the Arctic wilderness.

This study, published in the journal Polar Record, is the first to successfully use DNA to verify the identity of a set of remains.

'We now know that John Gregory was one of three expedition personnel who died at this particular site, located at Erebus Bay on the southwest shore of King William Island,' said Dr Douglas Stenton, co-author of a new paper about the discovery and adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

The DNA of the ill-fated 19th-century John Gregory was matched to another Jonathan Gregory, 38, who goes by Joe and lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He is the great-great-great grandson of the expedition member.

'Having John Gregory's remains being the first to be identified via genetic analysis is an incredible day for our family, as well as all those interested in the ill-fated Franklin expedition,' he said.

'The whole Gregory family is extremely grateful to the entire research team for their dedication and hard work, which is so critical in unlocking pieces of history that have been frozen in time for so long.'

The HMS Terror and the HMS Erebus set sail from England in 1845 to explore the Northwest Passage  a fabled pathway through the Canadian Arctic that would enable easy trade with Asia  as part of the Franklin Expedition.

Sir John Franklin was at the helm of Erebus and the trip leader, while Francis Crozier skippered Terror. Both vessels were powered by steam engines with 12 days worth of coal and capable of a speed of around 4 knots (7.4 km/h).

On July 5, 1845, Mr Gregory penned a letter to his wife, Hannah, from Greenland. The ships had not yet entered the Canadian Arctic, from which they would never emerge.

His letter spoke of seeing whales and icebergs for the first time.

But both ironclad ships vanished, and despite search efforts in the years that followed, it wasn't until the last decade that the wreckage sites were discovered.

John Gregory was found 45 miles south of Erebus, the boat he was an engineer on, with two comrades. Pictured, the cairn (right) which contains their remains and the skull of an as-yet-unidentified acquaintance of John Gregory

The HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror set sail from just outside London in 1845, hoping to chart a path to the Pacific Ocean by going over the Arctic Circle, but both ships became trapped in sea ice and their crews eventually died while wandering in the snowy wilderness searching for help. Pictured, drawings of the steam-powered vessels

The ships were the most technologically advanced vessels of their day but ventured too far south and by the autumn of 1846 were trapped in the ice near King William Island in the Victoria Strait, in what is now Nunavut

Sailors Franklin expedition DIDN'T die from lead poisoning, study claims When both HMS Erebus and HMS Terror became stuck in ice, Sir Franklin and all 129 crew members tragically died  but exactly how they met their end has long been a mystery. The latest research into the mysterious deaths raised serious doubt about the popular belief that lead poisoning played a role in the death of members of the famed Franklin Expedition. Previous analyses of bone, hair, and soft tissue samples from the remains of crew members found tissues contained elevated lead levels, suggesting that lead poisoning may have been a major contribution to their demise. However, questions remained regarding the timing and degree of exposure to lead and, ultimately, the extent to which the crew members may have been impacted. But analysis with x-rays 'do not support the conclusion that lead played a pivotal role in the loss of Franklin and his crew'. It remains unclear exactly what killed the crews of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus but many of the sailors suffered with Addison's disease, a potentially lethal condition that occurs when the adrenal gland is damaged and no longer produces the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Symptoms include loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, increased thirst, lack of energy and muscle weakness. Addison's disease is often associated with tuberculosis (TB). Advertisement

The ships were the most technologically advanced vessels of their day but ventured too far south and by the autumn of 1846 were trapped in the ice near King William Island in the Victoria Strait, in what is now Nunavut.

Unable to move their ships or reach help, they were trapped on their 105ft-long boats for more than 18 months.

During this time, more than 20 had already died, including the journey's eponymous figure head, Sir John Franklin. Rumours of cannibalism, scurvy and disease surround the cursed expedition, inspiring films and a BBC series.

Exactly what occurred to bring down the ill-fated expedition remains a mystery.

It has been speculated that lead poisoning and botulism from contaminated rations may have led to illness and demise, although this is hotly contested.

Other theories cite an outbreak of tuberculosis as a potential scourge which plagued the condemned men.

They saw no daylight for months on end and to keep track of the days and nights they rang a bell every half an hour.

The crew's final message before they were wiped out, in April 1848, indicated that there were still at this point more than 100 survivors. However, after endless months of darkness and solitude trapped in sea ice, the surviving crew members embarked on a daring escape.

Faced with blizzard conditions, bitter sub-zero temperatures and dwindling resources and energy, none of the men survived long enough to reach their target of a trading post on the Canadian mainland.

Frozen in the tundra, the bodies of the damned expedition and their bedeviled ships were left largely undisturbed for a century and a half.

John Gregory, and two unidentified comrades, made it almost 50 miles south before they succumbed to the brutal and unrelenting conditions within a month of leaving their ship sanctuary.

Their remains were first discovered in 1859 and buried in 1879 before being rediscovered in 1993.

In 1997 several bones that had been exposed through disturbance of the grave were placed in a cairn with a commemorative plaque and the grave was fully excavated in 2013.

Analysis successfully found the viable DNA in the bones and the bodies were then buried back at the original site in 2014.

Researchers used the skull of Gregory, along with his decedent's DNA, to piece the lost sailor's face together

Artefacts from HMS Erebus have been recently retrieved. They include a bottle containing 'prepared mustard' that was meant only to be served at the captain's table, an accordion, a pencil set, and a writing quill. Rites to the ship were officially transferred to Canada in 2017, with Britain only retaining a few relics of any retrieved gold and the right to repatriate any human remains

A team of divers investigating HMS Erebus's deteriorating wreck found a preserved silver spoon and sugar tongs (pictured), suggesting some senior members of the crew might have still made time for tea

Pictured, a hairbrush with many preserved human hair strands still in the bristles. Erebus was first spotted in 2014 when an unmanned submarine glimpsed its submerged outline. Two years later, a local Inuit hunter tipped off officials and investigations into the information led to the discovery of HMS Terror in the aptly named Terror Bay

A team of researchers from Parks Canada's underwater archaeology team retrieved a lieutenant's epaulet (pictured) from the wreckage of the HMS Erebus in the Canadian Arctic

Robert Park, Waterloo anthropology professor and co-author of the study, said: 'The identification proves that Gregory survived three years locked in the ice on board HMS Erebus.

'But he perished 75 kilometers (45 miles) south at Erebus Bay.'

The vessels themselves still reside, almost untouched, at the bottom of the Arctic sea.

Erebus was first spotted in 2014 when an unmanned submarine glimpsed its submerged outline and is now being investigated by divers, despite a rapidly deteriorating condition.

Two years later, a local Inuit hunter tipped off officials and investigations led to the discovery of HMS Terror in the now aptly named Terror Bay.

Their exact location is withheld to preserve the wrecks, which are now classified as a National Historic Site of Canada. But official approval has allowed teams of divers to investigate the notorious ships.

Rites to the ship were officially transferred to canada in 2017, with Britain only retaining a few relics of any retrieved gold and the right to repatriate any human remains.

The first 65 artefacts found will go to Britain, but the wrecks and other artefacts will be owned by the Inuit people and Canada.

Divers have also been investigating HMS Terror, the sister ship of Erebus. Sir James Franklin headed Erebus and also and housed John Gregory. Above, plates and other artifacts can be seen still sitting next to the mess table of HMS Terror where crew members likely ate. According to the team, this was a pantry for those of lower ranking

Nearly two centuries after it was abandoned and sank unceremoniously to the seafloor, an ambitious archaeological dive in the Canadian Arctic has documented the eerily pristine shipwreck of the HMS Terror

A recent effort to explore the wreck of HMS Terror could finally help researchers put together the missing pieces of the puzzle, offering whats said to be the best look yet at the doomed vessel  which experts say remains extraordinarily preserved

Stunning underwater photos of the wreck show the HMS Terror exactly as it was left 170 years ago; shelves in the pantry are still lined with plates and glass bottles, as seen above
Efforts to map the genome of giraffes has confirmed that there are four distinct species, and they are as different to one another as brown bears and polar bears.

Visually, they are hardly distinguishable, according to LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics scientists, who carried out the genetic analyses.

Despite looking the same, genetically there are four distinct species of giraffe and seven subspecies, explained lead author Dr Axel Janke.

According to their comprehensive genome analyses, the four giraffe lineages have been evolving separately for thousands of years.

Spread from north to south Africa, the four distinct species of giraffe are: Northern giraffe, Reticulated giraffe, Masai giraffe and Southern giraffe.

Efforts to map the genome of giraffes has confirmed that there are four distinct species, and they are as different to one another as brown bears are to polar bears

According to their comprehensive genome analyses, the four giraffe lineages have been evolving separately for thousands of years

FOUR SPECIES OF GIRAFFE SPREAD THROUGHOUT AFRICA Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) Found in: Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia Sub species: Angolan giraffe, South African giraffe Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi) Found in: Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia Reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata) Found in: Kenya, Somalia, Etiopia Northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis) Found in: Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan Sub species: Kordofan giraffe, Nubian giraffe, West African giraffe Advertisement

Relationships within the genus of giraffes have been debated before, and for a long time it was assumed there was just a single species with multiple subspecies.

The same team behind this new genetic research, first proposed the four distinct species of giraffe in 2016, saying the new work builds on and confirms that idea.

'New mammal species are only rarely discovered and described,' says Dr Janke, adding that genomics opens up new possibilities to broaden our understanding.

'Genomics, that is studying all genetic information of a living being, opens up new possibilities and can broaden our perspective on species and their evolution  as now happened in the case of giraffes,' he said.

The 2016 initial genetic studies from Janke's laboratory looked at the DNA of 190 giraffes from across their range in Africa.

Now, the genome analyses support the model of four species. The analysis of about 200,000 positions on DNA from a total of 50 giraffes confirm the differences.

Within the four main species, namely northern giraffe, southern giraffe, reticulated giraffe and Masai giraffe, there are a total of seven subspecies.

The data also show that the four giraffe lineages began to evolve separately of each other between 230,000 and 370,000 years ago.

This is a Nubian giraffe in Murchison Falls NP, Uganda. Visually, they are hardly distinguishable, according to LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics scientists, who carried out the genetic analyses

Reticulated giraffe is in Samburu NP, Kenya. Despite looking the same, genetically there are four distinct species of giraffe and seven subspecies, explained lead author Dr Axel Janke

The team mapped the genome of 50 giraffes to confirm earlier findings that there were four distinct species of the long-necked mammal

The results of the genome study found the different species were not mating in the wild, with 'little or no gene flow and admixture,' researchers explained.

In captivity, however, conservationists have found it is possible to get the different species to mate under certain circumstances.

'The results of the genome analysis have great significance for giraffe conservation,' says Dr Julian Fennessy, GCF director and co-author of the study.

The populations have declined sharply in the past century to around 117,000 wild giraffes throughout the African continent.

The Kordofan giraffe (pictured) is one of seven subspecies within giraffes. Researchers have now sequenced its genome for the first time

MILLIONS OF YEARS OF EVOLUTION GAVE THE GIRAFFE ITS NECK S cientists who mapped the complete giraffe genome found just a few well-known genes are responsible for the animal's unique features. The researchers identified 70 genes that show signs of adaptation in the giraffe compared to other mammals. The results showed the animal's long neck is sustained by a 'turbocharged' heart, that can pump blood six feet (2 metres) to the head. This formed thanks to dozens of mutations that allowed it to grow gradually over millions of years. It indicates the giraffe's neck evolved over 15 to 20 millions years. Advertisement

With four distinct species it makes the situation worse, as each individual species is under even greater threat from rapidly declining numbers and a lack of intermixing.

'We estimate that there are less than 6,000 northern giraffes remaining in the wild,' explained Fennessy, adding that 'as a species, they are one of the most threatened large mammals in the world.'

Giraffes reach up to 19ft in height, are herbivores and occur in the savannahs of Sub-Saharan Africa from Niger through Kenya and Namibia to South Africa.

They are the world's largest land-dwelling mammals and their livelihoods are being decimated in many places by the growing demand for farmland.

Illegal hunting and politically difficult conditions complicate protection efforts for the long-necked creatures, the team said.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies giraffes as 'endangered' in their Red List of Threated Species.

The model of four species model has not been taken into account so far  a fact, that could change now that they have been confirmed as genetically distinct.

'The data available is more informative than ever before,' says Raphael Coimbra, study co-author, adding that the genome analyses are based on 'significantly more genetic data than previous studies.'

Relationships within the genus of giraffes have been debated before, and for a long time it was assumed there was just a single species with multiple subspecies

In their analyses the researchers compared genomes of giraffes from all previously considered species and subspecies coming from a total of 12 countries and zoos.

Thereby, genome of the Kordofan giraffe, a critically endangered subspecies of the northern giraffe, was completely sequenced for the first time.

'In the case of giraffes, we can see that we do not yet sufficiently understand the genetic basis of biological diversity,' says Janke.

'The genomes contain invaluable information, for example about adaptations to climatic conditions or the evolution of species. We are only at the beginning. But one day we will fully understand the genome and its wealth of genetic information.'

This image shows an Angolan giraffe herd in Damaraland, NW Namibia. According to their comprehensive genome analyses, the four giraffe lineages have been evolving separately for thousands of years

Researchers say there are four distinct species and seven sub-species of giraffe spread throughout Africa

Nubian Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya. Giraffes reach up to 19ft in height, are herbivores and occur in the savannahs of Sub-Saharan Africa from Niger through Kenya and Namibia to South Africa

Janke and his colleagues are investigating and documenting the genetic basis of biological diversity in a range of species through an extensive genome collection.

Researchers have already sequenced more than 349 genomes of various species from worms to whales - 46 genomes of which are of particularly high quality.

The data is also available to other researchers to use for concerns of society, such as nature conservation and species protection.

The findings have been published in the journal Current Biology.
An artificial colour-changing material inspired by the skins of chameleons can be used as a chemical sensor to determine whether seafood is fresh, a study found.

Developed by experts from China, the device switches from pink to green in the presence of the amine vapours released by microbes when fish and shrimp spoil.

The novel material could also find applications in the development of anticounterfeit technology, camouflage for robots and stretchable electronics, the team said.

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An artificial colour-changing material inspired by the skins of chameleons can be used as a chemical sensor to determine whether seafood (like prawns, pictured) are fresh

Developed by experts from China, the device switches from fluorescent red to green (as pictured) in the presence of the amine vapours released by microbes when shrimp spoil

ABOUT PANTHER CHAMELEONS Panther chameleons are colour-changing reptiles native to the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Males of the species  which are more brightly coloured than their female counterparts and change hue when asserting their dominance  can grow to around 8 inches (20 cm) in length. Female panther chameleons, however, only grow to around half that size. Panther chameleons cannot change into any colour they want  and are limited to particular ranges of hues. Advertisement

While chameleons are able to change their hue with great ease, developing soft materials that can make similar shifts in colour has proven a challenge.

In their study, materials scientist Tao Chen of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Ningbo and colleagues have taken a different approach to many of their peers.

'Most artificial colour-changing soft materials have been prepared by simultaneously incorporating two or more responsive luminogens into one single elastomer or hydrogel matrix,' Professor Chen explained.

(Luminogens are atoms or molecules that, when added to crystals, make them glow.)

The team instead took inspiration from panther chameleons, whose skins can display complex colours thanks to how their skin pigmentation works with two thick layers of 'iridophore' cells that contain tiny crystals that reflect specific light wavelengths.

Mirroring this, the team created a red fluorescent hydrogel  a three-dimensional solid made from crosslinked polymer chains dispersed in water  which they incubated in various solutions of the element Europium.

Next, the red gel core was placed in a growth solution that contained responsive blue/green fluorescent polymers. Diffusion of the Europium ions from core into the surrounding solution result.

The way that the red, blue and green layers of the hydrogel overlap means that the gel can change its fluorescence colour from red to blue or green when triggered by changes in temperature or pH, such as from the release of amine vapours.

'This novel core-shell layout does not require a careful choice of luminogen pairs,' said paper author and materials scientist Tao Chen of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Ningbo.

'Nor does it require an elaborate design and regulation of the complex photophysical interactions between different luminogens.

'These advantages are important to the future construction of robust multicolour material systems with as-yet-unachieved performance.'

While the panther chameleon (pictured) is able to change its hue with great ease, developing soft materials that can make similar shifts in colour has proven a challenge

To demonstrate the potential of the colour-changing hydrogel, the team made a variant with just two luminogens  red and green  for use as a chemical sensor.

They sealed test strips of the material in two boxes containing fresh shrimp at different temperatures and left them for around two days.

At the end of this period, the team found that the strip kept with the shrimp that had been refrigerated at less than 14F (-10C) remained red, indicating that the seafood was still fresh.

In contrast, the strip stored with shrimp kept at 86F (30C) had changed colour to a fluorescent green, successfully providing a warning that the shellfish had spoiled.

According to the team, the emission colours of the blue and green fluorescent layers could be tweaked in future to allow the material to display other colours from across nearly the entirety of the visible light spectrum.

The team took inspiration from panther chameleons, whose skins can display complex colours thanks to their skin pigmentation and two thick layers of 'iridophore' cells (left) that contain tiny crystals that reflect specific light wavelengths. The team emulated this design using layered fluorescent hydrogels (right) that respond to both temperature and pH

The way that the red, blue and green layers of the hydrogel overlap (pictured) means that the gel can change its fluorescence colour from red to blue or green when triggered by changes in temperature (right) or pH (left)  such as from the release of amine vapours from spoiled fish

'In the near future, we plan to utilize the developed chameleon skin-like core-shell hydrogels to prepare biomimetic soft camouflaging skins,' said Professor Chen.

These, he explained, could be used 'to mimic the diverse colour-changing functions of living organisms' skins and to help achieve desirable active camouflage, display and alarm functions in robots.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
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Bees have an excellent sense of smell to detect chemicals, such as pheromones, and Dutch scientists are using their natural power to identify samples infected with coronavirus.

Scientists in the bio-veterinary research laboratory at Wageningen University trained the insects by giving them sugary water after as a reward for spotting the virus in samples and no reward after being shown a non-infected sample.

After numerous tests, the bees were able to spontaneously extend their tongues to receive a reward when presented with an infected sample, said Wim van der Poel, a professor of virology who took part in the project.

The team says that a trained bee is capable of detecting an infected sample in just a few seconds, which drastically reduces wait times of current methods.

After numerous tests, the bees were able to spontaneously extend their tongues to receive a reward when presented with an infected sample, said Wim van der Poel, a professor of virology who took part in the project

'We collect normal honeybees from a beekeeper and we put the bees in harnesses,' he said. 'Right after presenting a positive sample we also present them with sugar water. And what the bees do is they extend their proboscis to take the sugar water.'

Researchers used the Pavlovian condition method to train the bees, which is a learning process through association.

Each time the bees were exposed to the scent of an infected sample, they received a sugar water reward.

By repeating this action several times, the bees associated the sugar reward with the scent and started sticking their tongue out for the scent alone, with no reward.

The team says that a trained bee is capable of detecting an infected sample in just a few seconds, which drastically reduces wait times of current methods

And researchers found that a trained bee can detect an infected sample in seconds.

This is compared to the hours or days it takes traditional methods to return COVID-19 results and using bees is much cheaper, along with being a source for countries where tests are scarce.

However, Dirk de Graaf, a professor who studies bees, insects and animal immunology at Ghent University in Belgium, said he does not see the technique replacing more conventional forms of COVID-19 testing in the near future.

'It is a good idea, but I would prefer to carry out tests using the classic diagnostic tools rather than using honeybees for this,' he said.

'I am a huge bee lover, but I would use the bees for other purposes than detecting COVID-19.'

Since the coronavirus took hold of the world last year, scientists have been working tirelessly to find better and faster methods for detecting it.

Researchers from the National Veterinary School of Alfort, France trained dogs to detect people infected with the virus by sniffing their armpits

A recent study in March 2021 found that specially-trained sniffer dogs are able to detect positive cases of COVID-19 more than a week before lab swabs,

Specially-trained dogs can detect people infected with Covid-19 just by sniffing their armpits Dogs can be trained to detect people infected with coronavirus by sniffing their armpits, a December study found. Researchers from the National Veterinary School of Alfort, France, recruited six dogs previously trained to sniff out other things and re-trained them to detect Covid-19. Because of their famously acute sense of smell, dogs have been used to root out drugs, explosives and even successfully pick up diseases like colon cancer. A team of French scientists have now shown man's best friend can also help save lives during the pandemic by spotting the virus 75 to 100 per cent of the time. A number of pilot schemes involving the dogs have been trialled around the world, including in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Finland and Australia. Travellers may already have seen the specially trained dogs at some airports, but the researchers are still trying to prove without a doubt that dogs can pick up the scent before the method is fully adopted and rolled out internationally. The team behind the study hope their findings will mean dogs could be used in parts of the world without the infrastructure for expensive mass testing. Advertisement

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Sharks use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate the world's oceans, a new study has found.

How sharks navigate thousands of miles to return to the same breeding ground every year has mystified scientists for 50 years, with experiments difficult to run.

But a study on juvenile bonnetheads found the fish are sensitive to alterations in the planet's magnetic field and use it as a form of GPS.

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Sharks use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate the world's oceans, a new study has found. Pictured, the study design with wild bonnetheads

This image shows Bryan Keller of Florida State University holding a bonnethead shark. Twenty of these sharks were used in the study

It is known that sea turtles use the magnetic field of Earth as a navigation tool, and now it transpires sharks probably do too.

Twenty wild young bonnetheads were caught and became unwitting participants in an experiment run by the Save Our Seas Foundation project leader Professor Bryan Keller of Florida State University.

The magnetic field of the planet was blocked and replaced with artificial signals replicating other locations far from where the animals were caught.

Because bonnetheads migrate back to the same place every year, the researchers could predict where the sharks would try and swim.

Twenty wild young bonnetheads were caught and became unwitting participants in an experiment run by the Save Our Seas Foundation project leader Professor Bryan Keller of Florida State University

The magnetic field of the planet was hidden and replaced with artificial signals in the experiment replicating other locations far from where the animals were caught

British coast is facing an invasion of SHARKS, expert warns A drop in maritime traffic may be behind a surge in the number of sharks seen in British waters, according to an expert. There have been multiple sightings of both basking and porbeagle sharks in recent weeks with members of the public spotting them closer to the shore than usual. Some have ended up in marinas while others have been photographed and filmed in the sea just off the coast. David Sims, Professor of Marine Ecology, Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton, believes the spike could be due to a drop in maritime voyages. Advertisement

Researchers theorised that if sharks do use the geomagnetic field, they would swim northwards when in the southern hemisphere, and vice versa.

They also predicted there would be no preference in orientation if the fake magnetic field aligned with the natural magnetic field. Behaviour of the animals did indeed align with predictions.

'To be honest, I am surprised it worked,' Professor Keller said.

'The reason this question has been withstanding for 50 years is because sharks are difficult to study.'

The findings among bonnetheads, published in the journal Current Biology, also likely help to explain impressive feats by other shark species.

For instance, one great white shark was documented to migrate between South Africa and Australia, returning to the same exact location the following year.

'How cool is it that a shark can swim 20,000 kilometres round trip in a three-dimensional ocean and get back to the same site?

'It really is mind blowing,' Professor Keller said.

'In a world where people use GPS to navigate almost everywhere, this ability is truly remarkable.'
The remains of three or four people shot by the Franco regime as part of its coup at the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 have been unearthed by archaeologists.

A team from the University of Granada has been working since the start of April to excavate mass graves in the Barranco de Viznar, just north of the city of Granada.

They found the first human remains after a few weeks of digging, saying they could belong to three or four people shot between August and October 1936.

During the coup to overthrow the Spanish Republic, that led to the Spanish Civil War, nationalists led by Francisco Franco fought against Republicans for control of the country, killing thousands of people that stood against them.

They buried those they killed, including mayors, poets, opposition politicians, socialists and academics in a series of mass graves throughout the country.

The team say the Barranco de Viznar, a ravine between Viznar and Alfacar in Granada, is thought to be the site of one of these mass graves.

It's hoped that by excavating the site they will be able to identify the remains and help bring closure to people still searching for relatives lost during the civil war.

An interdisciplinary team led by the University of Granada (UGR) has been working for a few weeks on the excavation of mass graves in the Barranco de Viznar

The team have located the first human remains, which could correspond to three or four people who were shot between August and October 1936

During the coup to overthrow the Spanish Republic, that led to the Spanish Civil War, nationalists led by Francisco Franco, fought against Republicans for control of the country, and as part of that hundreds were shot and buried in mass graves

MASS GRAVES FOUND THROUGHOUT SPAIN Efforts to uncover the history of mass graves and the people killed by the Franco regime are designed in part to shed light on the nations bloody past. It is also hoped they will bring closer to relatives still searching for family members killed by the regime. There are believed to be more than 2,000 mass burial sites across Spain from the civil war. The Spanish Civil War was started on July 18, 1936, when a group of officers attempted to overthrow the left-wing Popular Front government in a military coup. This resulted in a four year tug of war between the two sides and resulted in a nation torn apart, leaving 500,000 people dead and caused an additional 450,000 to flee their homeland altogether. General Francisco Franco led the group of right-wing nationalists who emerged victorious in 1939, purging conquered areas of any leftist opposition. Advertisement

To understand more about the historical context of their deaths, a project was initiated to excavate the graves and learn more about the people that were killed.

The human remains were found in a ravine within the dig site, known as sector one, where bullet shells have previously been uncovered by the Granada team.

So far they have only examined the first grave, where they expect to find up to ten bodies, all likely to have been executed due to bullets found inside the grave.

The team will take them back to the laboratory for further analysis, where they will attempt to uncover more about them, their lives and their cause of death.

Francisco Carrion, lead on the excavation project, said they are working on the remains in a bid to be able to identify their sex, age and date of death.

This lab work could also reveal pathologies and violent traumas that they may have gone through in life, with samples providing later genetic identification.

The nationalists are thought to have executed a range of political and important figures including mayors, provincial deputies and a university rector.

The field work involves excavating graves in sectors 1 and 2 of the ravine to recover any human remains, and keep working until funding runs out.

The project is funded by a 28,000 (24,000) grant from the Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory, and a 18,000 (15,600) from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces.

A team from the University of Granada has been working since the start of April to excavate mass graves in the Barranco de Viznar, just north of the city of Granada

When the money runs out, the team will prepare the site to make future excavations, including work to exhume a well used as a common grave, easier.

In a nearby area, not linked to this discovery but from around the same time, poet Frederico Garcia Lorca, an outspoken socialist, was murdered by nationalist forces, dying as a result of 'wounds caused by an act of war'.

His remains have never been uncovered, although it is thought they could be resting in a different mass grave, similar to the one at Barranco de Viznar.

In 2017, archaeologists uncovered mass graves in the city of Valladolid, filled with the bodies of people killed by Franco's regime.

The team say the Barranco de Viznar, a ravine between Viznar and Alfacar in Granada, is thought to be the site of one of these mass graves, housing hundreds

It's hoped that by excavating the site they will be able to identify the remains and help bring closer to people still searching for relatives lost during the civil war

To understand more about the historical context of their deaths, a project was initiated to excavate the graves and learn more about the people that were killed

Efforts to uncover the history of these mass graves and the people killed are designed in part to shed light on the nations bloody past and bring closer to relatives still searching for family members.

These graves are believed to be among more than 2,000 mass burial sites thought to exist across Spain from the civil war.

Historians estimate as many as 500,000 combatants and civilians were killed on the Republican and Nationalist sides in the war.

The human remains were found in a ravine within the dig site, known as sector one, where bullet shells have previously been uncovered by the Granada team

The team will take them back to the laboratory for further analysis, where they will attempt to uncover more about them, their lives and their cause of death

So far they have only examined the first grave, where they expect to find up to ten bodies, all likely to have been executed due to bullets found inside the grave

After it ended, tens of thousands of Franco's enemies were killed or imprisoned in a campaign to wipe out dissent.

The Spanish Civil War was started on July 18, 1936, when a group of officers attempted to overthrow the left-wing Popular Front government in a military coup.

This resulted in a four year tug of war between the two sides and resulted in a nation torn apart, leaving 500,000 people dead and caused an additional 450,000 to flee their homeland altogether.

General Francisco Franco led the group of right-wing nationalists who emerged victorious in 1939, purging conquered areas of any leftist opposition.
Grumpy pet dogs are better at learning news skills from observing a human stranger than more pleasant pooches are, a study has found.

Researchers from Hungary grouped dogs into two categories based on their behavioural traits  and then tested their ability to learn by watching others.

While all the dogs tended to learn just as well from other dogs and their owners, the grumpy dogs appeared to have an advantage when learning from other humans.

However, the researchers said, more research will be needed to find out exactly why this is the case.

Grumpy pet dogs are better at learning news skills from observing a human stranger than more pleasant pooches are, a study has found (stock image)

GRUMPY DOG TRAITS The researchers said that the following characteristics merited including individual dogs in their experiment's grumpy group: Does not come when called

Guards their food against others

Is very active or restless

Is quick to bark

Snaps or snarls if disturbed The study did not look at which breeds were 'most grumpy', however. Advertisement

The new study was undertaken by animalhuman interaction expert Peter Pongracz and colleagues at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest  and built on past research which showed that dominant and submissive dogs can learn differently.

Both experiments used the same core test, in which the subject dog had to retrieve a treat or favourite toy from behind a V-shaped wire fence, a challenge which forces them to overcome their natural instinct to head straight at their target.

'Its quite a difficult task for a dog when they are on their own,' Dr Pongracz explained to the New York Times, nothing that, as social learners, canines can learn the solution to the problem by watching other dogs or humans do the same first.

In their previous work, the researchers revealed that the dominant dogs in multi-hound households were relatively bad at learning from other dog.

In contrast, their more submissive counterparts were much better  perhaps from being more practiced at keeping an eye on what other dogs are doing.

When a human demonstrated how to overcome the fence problem, however, both dominant and submissive dogs were seen to be equally capable at learning.

Based on this last observation, Dr Pongracz and colleagues decided to focus their latest experiment on the relationship between dogs and their owners  while seeing if canines with given behavioural characteristics would fare differently.

Based on personality tests, the team sorted dogs into groups based on whether they were more 'grumpy'  as exhibited by a greater frequency of snapping and snarling and higher energy levels, while not being exactly aggressive  or more agreeable.

Running the same fence test again, the researchers found that both grumpy and agreeable dogs fared as well as each other when they had to figure out the solution by themselves, or if they learnt the answer by watching their owners.

A difference emerged when a stranger demonstrated the path to the treat, however  the grumpy dogs picked up on the example much faster.

'They were more attentive,' Dr Pongracz told the New York Times  although the exact reason for why that was remains to be determined, he added.

Both experiments used the same core test, in which the subject dog had to retrieve a treat or favourite toy from behind a V-shaped wire fence, a challenge which forces them to overcome their natural instinct to head straight at their target

Monique Udell  an animal behaviour expert from the Oregon State University who was not involved in the present study  told the New York Times that 'individuality of dogs and lifetime experience influence performance and all sorts of tasks.'

However, she noted, it seemed to her that the characteristics picked to define the grumpy dog category seemed to go in two different directions.

This, she continued, led her to wonder whether the behavioural tendencies might be better explained by something other than grumpiness.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Animals.
Men suffering from pains in their chest receive faster and better treatment from hospitals than women who present with the same symptoms, a study reveals.

Compared with men of similar age, women were triaged less urgently, waited longer to be seen, and were less likely to undergo basic tests or be hospitalised or admitted for observation to diagnose a heart attack, according to the research.

The study, by NYU Langone Health, is the first to examine emergency room management of chest pain specifically among younger adults aged 18-55 years.

The study did not examine the reasons why women with chest pain were treated differently than men, but study authors suggest a pre-conceived notion of risk - that older men are at greater risk - plays a bigger role than overt discrimination.

'Women should trust their instincts,' said Darcy Banco, MD, lead author of the study.

Men suffering from pains in their chest receive faster and better treatment from hospitals than women who present with the same symptoms, a study reveals. Stock image

WHAT IS A HEART ATTACK? Figures suggest there are 200,000 hospital visits because of heart attacks in the UK each year, while there are around 800,000 annually in the US. A heart attack, known medically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling weak and anxious. Heart attacks are commonly caused by coronary heart disease, which can be brought on by smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Treatment is usually medication to dissolve blots clots or surgery to remove the blockage. Reduce your risk by not smoking, exercising regularly and drinking in moderation. Heart attacks are different to a cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, usually due to a problem with electrical signals in the organ. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

About one-third of women who were hospitalised for a heart attack in the past two decades were under the age of 55, a proportion that has grown in recent years.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and is becoming more common in younger adults, explained Dr Banco.

'Women should seek care right away if they experience new chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, sweating or back pain, as these could all be signs of a heart attack,' she added.

'The most important thing a woman can do is to seek medical care if she is worried and to ask specific questions of her doctor.

Chest discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women, but research shows that women can have a broader range of accompanying symptoms that may not initially be recognised as a sign of a heart attack.

Chest discomfort caused by a heart attack can be perceived as pain, pressure, tightness or another uncomfortable sensation.

The study is based on data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey that was carried out between 2014-2018.

Researchers extrapolated the data to represent an estimated 29 million emergency department visits for chest pain in the US among adults aged 18-55.

Of the 29 million visits estimated as part of the research, women comprised nearly 57%, or about 16.5 million visits, the team revealed.

Researchers found that women reporting chest pain were equally likely to arrive at the hospital by ambulance but less likely than men to be triaged as an emergency.

On average, women waited about 11 minutes longer to be evaluated by a clinician.

Women were also significantly less likely to undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG), the standard initial test used to diagnose a heart attack, or to receive cardiac monitoring or be seen by a consultant, such as a cardiologist.

Medical guidelines recommend that all patients with possible heart attack symptoms receive an ECG within 10 minutes of arrival in the emergency department.

'Time is very important when you're treating heart attacks,' Banco said. 'The longer people wait, the worse their outcomes can be.'

Compared with men of similar age, women were triaged less urgently, waited longer to be seen, and were less likely to undergo basic tests or be hospitalised or admitted for observation to diagnose a heart attack, according to the research

Historically, heart attacks have been most common in older men, and clinicians may be less likely to suspect a heart attack among patients outside of that demographic.

Banco suggested clinicians should appreciate that younger women represent a growing portion of heart attack patients.

'We, as health care providers, should continue to learn about how best to triage and diagnose patients with heart attacks, particularly among those who have historically been under-diagnosed or under-treated,' Banco said.

'We need to continue to raise awareness and make sure all patients are diagnosed and treated properly, even if they're not the 'classic' demographic for a heart attack. [This knowledge] will help us improve care for all.'
The first image of China's rouge Long March 5B rocket in orbit has been released by astronomers.

The Italy-based Virtual Telescope Project captured the craft, which appears like a glowing light, as it passed above the group's 'Elena' robotic telescope.

The Chinese rocket made headlines this week when new surfaced the massive 21-ton vehicle would make an uncontrolled reentry weekend, with the possibility of landing in inhabited areas.

The rocket was moving 'extremely fast' when it soared 435 miles above the Virtual Telescopes Project's telescope Wednesday evening, researchers said.

Gianluca Masi, an astronomer with the Virtual Telescope Project who snapped the image, stated that 'while the Sun was just a few degrees below the horizon, so the sky was incredibly bright: these conditions made the imaging quite extreme, but our robotic telescope succeeded in capturing this huge debris.'

'This is another bright success, showing the amazing capabilities of our robotic facility in tracking these objects.'

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The first image of China's rouge Long March 5B rocket has been released by astronomers. The Italy-based Virtual Telescope Project captured the craft, which appears like a glowing light, as it passed 435 miles above the group's 'Elena' robotic telescope

'As you can see, on the bottom of the bright image of the rocket there is the typical CCD blooming effect, due to the extreme brightness of the object.'

CCD stands for charged-coupled device, which refers to the telescope, and the blooming effect happens when the charge in a pixel exceeds the saturation level and the charge starts to fill adjacent pixels.

Space agencies and astronomers worldwide are tracking the path of Long March 5B with the hopes of better preparing for when it falls back to Earth.

The latest information shows it is expected to crash back to Earth on Saturday, May 8 and possibly rain down on inhabited areas, the US government warns.

The Chinese rocket has made headlines this week when new surfaced the massive 22-ton vehicle would make an uncontrolled reentry weekend, with the possibility of landing in inhabited areas. Pictured is the rocket taking off on April 29

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

US officials have been questioned about its 'procedures and plans for notifying states and also foreign countries' when the rocket makes landfall.

Spokesperson John Kirby replied that the government does not 'know enough right now to be able to ... formulate specific notification plans.'

He continued to say that 'if we have information that can be of use, we're going to share that appropriately, the State Department, through their channels ... would provide as much information to that process as possible. But I just don't think we're there right now.'

Kirby made it known that Space Command is tracking Long March 5B as much as possible, but the organization dos not 'have enough fidelity of information right now about re-entry and ... what that's going to look like to speak to specific actions one way or the other' - a similar statement made by many other US agencies.

'We're just too far out right now to begin to speculate about what possibly could be in the offing here,' Kirby added.

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.

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

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.

Position of the Long March 5B rocket, according to the N2YO satellite tracker, as of Wednesday morning (May 5)

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).

'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'.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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
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If you're looking for a sea view with a difference, then you're in the right place.

MailOnline Travel has fished around and reeled in breathtaking photographs of the world's most eye-catching natural coastal sights - gravity-defying sea stacks, Instagram-baiting arches and other-worldly caves.

One sight in the mix that makes a big impression is Ball's Pyramid off Lord Howe Island in Australia - at 1,843ft (561m) tall, it's the world's loftiest sea stack.

The cornucopia of coastline attractions also features the stunning Blue Grotto sea cave on the island of Capri in southern Italy, which is illuminated by a mesmerising blue glow at certain times of the day.

Our global tour also takes in rock formations that have featured in Game of Thrones and a James Bond film - and one off the coast of Scotland that looks like the tip of a violin bow.

Scroll down and feast your eyes on a wealth of weathered wonders...

Ko Tapu, off the coast of Thailand, is a top-heavy limestone sea stack about 66ft (20m) high. It became a popular attraction after staring in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun and it is now part of the protected Ao Phang Nga National Park

Behold Reynisdrangar, impressive basalt formations by the black sands of Reynisfjara beach and the coastal village of Vik in southern Iceland. Their popularity soared after they featured in season seven of Game of Thrones as Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Adventures.com notes: 'According to Icelandic folklore, these odd formations were once sea trolls who tried to drag a ship to the shore. They apparently did not realise that the sun was rising and turned into stones instantly when the sun touched them'

Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset. It was created when the sea pierced through the rock around 10,000 years ago. The name Durdle comes from Old English word 'thirl', meaning bore or drill

Cathedral Cove, also known as Te Whanganui-a-Hei, is a marine reserve on New Zealand's North Island. The park, which covers nine square kilometres (3.47 square miles), is home to a stunning natural arch. Along with being a popular photography spot, kayaking and diving are other attractions that lure travellers

Kicker Rock, also known as Leon Dormido, is a photogenic rock formation north of San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Islands. The outcrop, the remains of a volcanic cone that's split in two, rises almost 500ft (153m) from sea level. Some believe the eroded rocks resemble a shoe, hence the name Kicker Rock, while others see it as a sleeping sea lion, which translates to Leon Dormido in Spanish

A view of the Needles off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. The landmark features a row of three stacks of chalk that rise almost 100ft (30.4m) out of the sea. The lighthouse at the end was built by Trinity House in 1859, with engineers using dynamite to create a platform for it on one of the chalk stacks

Rising out of the Southern Ocean, alongside Australia's famous Great Ocean Road, you'll find the 12 Apostles - limestone pillars that were once connected to the mainland cliffs. The waves and blasting winds gradually carved them into caves, then arches, and eventually eroded them to 150ft- (45m) tall columns. Currently, there are, in fact, only eight Apostles

The Old Man of Hoy soars out of the Atlantic Ocean on the Orkney archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. At 450ft-(137m) tall, the red sandstone monolith is one of the loftiest sea stacks in the British Isles. It is a popular spot with climbers and first scaled in 1966, by mountaineers Chris Bonington, Rusty Baillie and Tom Patey

One of the most popular photography spots in Portugal is the Benagil cave. The unique rock formation, located in the Algarve between Benagil Beach and Marinha Beach, has a big hole in its ceiling which means the sun casts a magical glow at certain times of the day. It is possible to swim to the cave but strong currents mean it's more advisable to take a boat tour or get there by kayak or stand up paddleboard

Tri Brata is a trio of rocks at the entrance to the Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula. According to legend, the rocks are the remains of three brothers who went to defend the town from a tsunami and turned to stone to help resist the force of the waves

The Totem Pole is a dolerite sea stack located in Fortescue Bay in Tasman National Park near Port Arthur. The dramatic stack, which measures 213ft- (65m) in height with a diameter of 13ft (3.9m), is a popular climbing spot. It was first scaled in 1968 by a team including British-born Australian climber John Ewbank and Allan Keller

The Faroe Islands' Risin og Kellingin, or The Giant and the Witch, sea stacks (seen to the right) attract thousands of sightseers every year. The rock formations are best seen from either the village of Tjornuvik on Streymoy island or halfway between the village of Eidi and the Eidisskard mountain pass on Eysturoy island. In terms of stature, Risin stands 233ft- (71m) high while Kellingin is 226ft (69m) above sea level. The sheer cliff that towers over them to the left is called Eidiskollur, which is 1,155ft (352m) tall

Fingal's Cave is located on the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The rock formation looms 227ft (69m) high over the Atlantic Ocean. The regimented hexagonal pillars of basalt that form the walls look manufactured, but are in fact completely natural. The cave's distinctive acoustics inspired German composer Mendelssohn to write his Hebrides Overture

The Blue Grotto is a natural sea cave 196ft- (60m) long and 82ft- (25m) wide on the coast of the island of Capri in southern Italy. The cave mouth is only 6.5ft (2m) wide and 3.2ft (1m) high, so visitors must enter the channel via a small rowing boat. As the boat passes through the entrance, the skipper will ask passengers to lay back. Capri.com notes that the best time to see the cavern's famed blue glow is when the sun is strongest 'between noon and two in the afternoon'

HOW THESE GEOLOGICAL WONDERS WERE FORMED Sea arches: When a headland protrudes into the water, the rock is battered by waves from both sides. Bit by bit, the force of the water gradually wears through to form an opening that extends above and below the water level. Continued erosion can result in the collapse of an arch. The most famous case of this happening in recent years was the collapse of Malta's iconic 92ft- (28m) high Azure Window in 2017. Sea stacks: When sea arches collapse, a sea stack or sea stump is left behind. Over time, the wind and the waves weather these rock columns into wonderful shapes, with some broad and flat and others thin and pointy. Sea caves: Sea caves occur on almost every headland or coast where the waves break directly on rock cliffs. The coastal caves are formed by the continual force of the waves rather than the chemical weathering that is responsible for the majority of inland caves. Weak points in the cliff give way under the force of the waves and these cavities gradually grow bigger. Openings large enough to navigate can take hundreds of thousands of years to form. Source: Britannica.com Advertisement

With a height of 30ft (9.1m), the Great Pollet Arch is Ireland's largest sea arch. It is located off Fanad in County Donegal, but there isn't much signage, which makes it a difficult place to find

Praia das Catedrais, on the northwest coast of Spain, features several impressive sea arches and caves. The arches can be navigated on foot at low tide with the formations likened to soaring ceiling columns found in Gothic cathedrals, hence the name

These photogenic chalk formations off the coast of Dorset are collectively known as Old Harry Rocks, but the name Old Harry actually refers to the single stack of chalk standing furthest out to sea. Until 1896 there was another stack known as Old Harry's Wife, but erosion caused her to tumble into the sea, leaving a mere stump. The sea stacks were originally part of the chalk ridgeline that runs across the south coast all the way to the Needles on the Isle of Wight

Kleftiko Beach, on the Greek island of Milos, is a picture-perfect stretch of coastline that's home to multiple limestone sea arches and caves, some of which are large enough to navigate boats through

Pigeons' Rock, also known as the Rock of Raouche, is located in Lebanon at Beirut's western-most tip. The landmark consists of two huge limestone outcrops with the southern stack featuring a perfectly curved natural arch

The Green Bridge, located within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, is a magnificent limestone arch that is 80ft (24.3m) tall at its highest point. Visiting the natural wonder is tricky as a nearby army range often leads to road closures and climbing is restricted at certain times of the year due to nesting sea birds

Ball's Pyramid, located off Lord Howe Island in Australia, is 1,843ft (561m) tall, making it the world's tallest sea stack. The waters surrounding the basalt spire are popular with divers as it is home to many rare species, including the Spanish dancer sea slug and the ballina angelfish

Merlin's Cave, on the North Cornwall coast, has intrigued locals and tourists for decades. According to legend, the sea cave, situated beneath Tintagel Castle, is where the wizard Merlin lived while King Arthur was growing up. The cave partially fills with water at high tide, but it is navigable at low tide and runs for some 330ft (100m)

Yesnaby on the west coast of the Orkney mainland in Scotland serves up some stunning sea views. The star attraction is Yesnaby Castle, a precarious-looking sea stack with a natural arch. The monolith stands 115ft (35m) high

If you venture to the most northeastern point of mainland Britain, to Duncansby Head, west of John O'Groats, you'll find these beautiful sea stacks just off the coast. These pyramid-shaped spires rise 200ft (60m) above the North Sea

Arch Rock is located off the coast of Anacapa Island in California's Channel Islands National Park. It takes around an hour to get to the island from the mainland by boat. The natural bridge, which is 40ft (12m) high, attracts thousands of nesting birds

One of the UK's most unique sea arches, Bow Fiddle Rock is located near the village of Portknockie on the northeastern coast of Scotland. It was named after its shape, as it resembles the tip of a violin bow

Sail Rock, or Parus Rock, is a sandstone monolith located on the shores of Krasnodar Krai in southern Russia. The sail-shaped rock formation is around 82ft (25m) high and 65.6ft (20m) long. The sea stack features a small hole but its origin is not known. Russia Travel notes that some suggest it was caused by artillery fire during the Caucasian War of 1817 to 1864

Haystack Rock is a popular landmark on the north coast of Oregon in the U.S. The mammoth rock, which rises 235ft (71.6m) from the edge of Cannon Beach, can be navigated on foot at low tide. Puffins can be observed on Haystack Rock from early spring to mid-summer and its rock pools are home to species including starfish, anemone, crabs, and nudibranch molluscs

If you trek to the remote west coast of mainland Orkney in Scotland, you'll find North Gaulton Castle. This elegant sea stack is formed of red sandstone and towers 165ft (50m) above the water. In 2017 the tricky-to-navigate stack was successfully scaled by four climbers

The London Arch is an offshore natural arch in the Port Campbell National Park in southeast Australia. The rock formation was previously known as the London Bridge as the arch was connected to the mainland via another arch, making it look like its manmade British counterpart. However, the connecting arch collapsed in 1990 and the landmark's name was adapted. Before it collapsed, visitors could walk right to the end of the rock bridge

Penbryn beach, which is around 14.4km (nine miles) north of Cardigan in Wales, is owned by the National Trust and is almost 1.6km (a mile) in length. On the far right-hand side is a cave that can be explored at low tide

Fowl Craig, a section of cliffs on the northeast coast of Papa Westray island in Orkney, serves up a fine mix of natural arches and caves. It is also a popular spot with birders and for finding the minuscule Scottish Primrose. Papa Westray is one of the smallest islands in Orkney, measuring 6.4km (four miles) in length and 1.6km (a mile) across at its widest point
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There can be few better adverts for a trip to Poland (when travel reopens) than this set of photographs.

They come courtesy of Karol Nienartowicz, from Krakow, who you won't be surprised to learn is a professional photographer.

His images capture Poland's most enticing aspects, from its fairy-tale castles and fascinating cities to its epic mountains, stunning lakes and lush green meadows.

Karol, 35, who is also an author, told MailOnline Travel: 'Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have only managed to travel abroad a few times. That is why for over a year, I have been photographing places in Poland that I have not seen before.

'The whole area in the south of Poland is occupied by mountains - these are the most beautiful places in my country. The Tatras - the highest Polish mountains - are a miniature of the Alps. There are many rocky peaks, beautiful blue lakes and green meadows.

'Poland also has old and interesting cities with a rich history. It has a lot to offer people who like hiking in the mountains and visiting monuments.' Scroll down to start your Polish adventure...

A jaw-dropping image by Karol of the Tatra Mountains, which stand on the border between Poland and Slovakia. It is the highest range in Poland and the wider Carpathian Mountains, which stretch through countries including Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. The range's highest point in Poland is Rysy - an 8,200ft (2,499m) peak

Karol said: 'Autumn is definitely the most beautiful in Poland. We have great colours here in October. In the mountains, it is spectacular in winter, when everything is frozen and frosted.' Pictured are the Tatra Mountains

Another shot taken by Karol of the Tatra Mountains, this time from the village of Lapszanka. He described the range as a 'miniature Alps' explaining: 'They are very interesting and effective. There are many rocky peaks, beautiful blue lakes and green meadows'

This breathtaking image was snapped from the top of Trzy Korony, which with a summit at 3,222ft (982m), is the highest peak in the Central Pieniny mountains. It is made up of five crags, with a viewing platform on Okraglica - the highest crag

The imposing ruins of the 13th-century Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze, around an hour's drive from Krakow. It sits on top of a 1,690ft (515m) mountain and is open to tourists. As the Polish Tourism Organisation points out, scenes for the 2019 Netflix series The Witcher, starring Henry Cavill, were shot at the castle

An aerial shot of the beautiful St Basil the Great Orthodox Church in the small village of Konieczna on the Polish/Slovakian border. Karol said: 'Poland has a lot to offer people who like hiking in the mountains and visiting monuments'

A dramatic scene of storm clouds brewing in Pieniny National Park in southern Poland. 'Within its borders are the Pieniny Czorsztynskie, the Trzy Korony massif and the Pieninki' mountains, says the Polish Tourism Organisation. It adds: 'The pride of the park are the butterflies, especially the Apollo butterfly, which is found only in the Pieniny'

A breathtaking image of Poland's Ponidzie region in the south of the country. According to Wildlife Worldwide, its 'landscape and biological interest are protected in three parks, Nadnidzianski, Szaniecki and Kozubowski, and a number of nature reserves which feature meadows, peat bogs, fish ponds and relict steppe vegetation'

A stunning snap of the Western Tatras taken just inside Poland's border with Slovakia. To the right, over the border in Slovakia, you can see Bystra, the highest mountain in the Western Tatras at 7,375ft (2,248m). Karol said: 'The whole area in the south of Poland is occupied by mountains - these are the most beautiful places in my country'

This image was snapped on the epic Giewont mountain massif in Poland's Tatra National Park - close to the town of Zakopane. According to Summit Post, 'it is the most distinctive peak in the area and it has been referred to as the "Sleeping Knight", based on its silhouette and old legend'

A mesmerising shot of Wawel Castle in Krakow, a former residence of the kings of Poland and now an art gallery. The building, which stands on a rocky outcrop called Wawel Hill, dates back to the 14th century and usually attracts one million visitors each year

Karol snapped this mesmerising image at the top of Ciemniak, a 6,876ft (2,090m) peak in Tatra National Park, on a freezing morning when temperatures were a bone-chilling -20C

An incredible panoramic image of the Tatra Mountains from the slopes of Babia Gora - one of the highest peaks in Poland and the highest in the Beskid Mountains at 5,659ft (1,725m). It is on the border between Poland and Slovakia

Karol waits for the moon to rise in this incredible shot taken in the Czerwony Wierchy range of the Tatra Mountains. He said a warm sleeping bag is crucial as there can be a lot of waiting around in cold temperatures to get the right conditions for taking pictures

A stunning image of the Gasienicowa Valley in Tatra National Park. Karol said: 'Poland has an area of over 300,000 square kilometres (120,726 square miles). There is a lot to discover here'

Although Karol enjoys taking images of cities, he much prefers snapping landscape shots. He explained: 'I professionally photograph mountains, so landscape is the obvious answer.' He captured this beautiful scene from the village of Lapszanka, which has a population of just 400

The beautiful St Mary's Church in Gdansk towers over the rest of the city's rooftops. According to Karol, the port city of Gdansk, on Poland's Baltic coast, is 'one of the most beautiful in Europe'

A striking aerial shot of the ruins of the 13th-century Gothic Checiny Castle in the town of Checiny, north of Krakow. The Polish Tourism Organisation says: 'Currently, the castle in Checiny is one of the most visited heritage sites in Poland'

The grand Bolkow Castle towers over the town of Bolkow, in south-west Poland. The Gothic castle is thought to date back to the 13th century and one visitor to the castle wrote on Tripadvisor: 'It is indeed an old beauty, if you are in area it's very much worth seeing!'

An amazing shot of Lake Pilchowickie near the town of Jelenia Gora in south-west Poland. It was created as a result of the building of the Bobr Dam in 1912. Poland Travel Tours says: 'There is a railway bridge extending over the lake  it is an especially romantic place for taking photos in the autumn'

Karol snapped this jaw-dropping image in the Bieszczady Mountains, which run through the extreme south-east of Poland and into north-east Slovakia and are part of the wider Carpathian Mountains. It is a place that Karol often visits

A beautiful shot of Pieskowa Skala Castle, which is around 17 miles north of Krakow in Ojcowski National Park. Lonely Planet says: 'If you can only do one thing in Ojcow National Park, visit this 14th-century castle, one of the best-preserved castles in the upland'

A breathtaking shot of the Bialka River, a mountain river that runs for 24 miles (40km) through southern Poland from its source in the High Tatra mountains
Christian Wilkins is known for his luscious long locks - a growth journey that has taken place over the past seven years.

But the Sydney-based TV personality, 26, feared he'd lose his job as Pantene's first male ambassador in Australia due to a recent hair mishap.

The son of Today Extra host Richard Wilkins was preparing to shave his head after heavily bleaching it for an acting role last year when Pantene got in touch.

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EXCLUSIVE 'I thought there was no coming back from that': Christian Wilkins feared he'd lose his job as Pantene's first male ambassador in Australia due to a recent hair mishap

Christian debuted his bleached white hair and eyebrows in August, while filming Stan Original series Eden in Byron Bay.

'I was halfway through filming Eden when my hair was white and I admittedly was really sad because I thought that I wouldn't be able to do it [work with Pantene],' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I just assumed having my hair literally bleached to white that I would have to shave my head. I thought there was no coming back from that,' he added.

Christian explained: 'My hair was so brittle and dry, it felt dead, and it had absolutely no life or anything to it, and it felt like straw! I assumed that was the end of that hair.'

Bleached: The son of Today Extra host Richard Wilkins was preparing to shave his head after heavily bleaching it for an acting role last year (L) when Pantene got in touch. R: in May 2020

'I was so amazed that these treatments were able to save my hair!' Pantene decided to use his hair journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection

But when he raised his concerns with Pantene, they decided to use his hair journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection.

He used the product on his brittle, bleached hair and was amazed with the results.

'It worked! It looks gorgeous. I was so amazed that these three small treatments, realistically, were able to save my hair,' Christian boasted.

Speaking of his famous father, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant said: 'He understands this ambassadorship because I think hair is large identifier with out family, and with so many people.'

'He is really proud to see how I've embraced that, and I guess I am following in his hair footsteps,' he laughed.

While Christian is known for his long straight hair, his father is famous for his bouffant 'do - a throwback to his days as a pop star.

'He is really proud': While Christian is known for his long straight hair, his father Richard (right) is famous for his bouffant 'do - a throwback to his days as a pop star

Meanwhile, the model said it was 'an absolute dream come true' and 'pinch-me moment' to be announced as Pantene's first male ambassador in January.

Christian, who came out as gay in 2018, never shies away from bold colours, textures and patterns, pushing the envelope in terms of both style and gender stereotypes.

He also often wears gender-defying skirts and frocks.

'People used to call me a girl all the time because I was a gay guy who was very flamboyant, and did dance and singing,' he said in 2020.

Christian and Pantene are hosting a free #DareToDoXtra pop up salon in Sydney's Paddington from Friday, May 7, to Sunday, May 9. Register here.
Jo Whiley penned a heartfelt tribute to her sister Frances to mark her 53rd birthday after her disabled sibling nearly died as a result of contracting COVID-19.

The Radio 2 presenter, 55, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a snap of her younger sister giving two thumbs up to the camera in her doorway, as two giant balloons that spelt out her age were held up for her.

Jo also shared a throwback snap with Frances - who has genetic disorder Cri Du Chat syndrome - from childhood, as the pair happily smiled while holding hands.

Birthday tribute: Jo Whiley penned a heartfelt tribute to her sister Frances to mark her 53rd birthday after her disabled sibling nearly died as a result of contracting COVID-19

Throwback: Jo also shared a throwback snap of her and Frances together from their childhood, as the pair happily smiled while holding hands

In the caption, Jo admitted that 'it was a bit dicey' knowing that her sister was close to death after falling ill with coronavirus, but she is grateful that she is still here to celebrate her special day.

She wrote: 'Just wanted to share this picture of Frances who celebrated her 53rd birthday today.

'As you know, it was a bit dicey as to whether she'd be here to enjoy ripping open her presents and blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, but happily she is and she relished every single second of being Birthday Queen of the Universe.

'Thank you to everyone who has sent love and asked after her over the past few months. We've all experienced such kindness.'

Celebrating: The Radio 2 presenter, 55, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a snap of her younger sister giving two thumbs up to the camera in her doorway

Grateful: In the caption, Jo admitted that 'it was a bit dicey' knowing that her sister was close to death after falling ill with coronavirus, but she is grateful that she is still here to celebrate

It comes after Jo 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 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.

Anger: It comes after Jo 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

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.

Her sister Jo 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.'

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.'

Disability: Frances has Cri Du Chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in delayed development

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.'

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.'

Marriage: Jo also opened up her relationship with husband Steve Morton - who she has been married to since 1991 - and how they have been able to work together as a 'good team'

Jo also claimed Frances 'refused to talk to [her]' or her family when she was offered the Covid-19 vaccine first.

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.

Illness: Frances was left seriously ill in February after an outbreak at her care home, with her family even discussing 'end of life' care

'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.

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.

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.

Sibling: Jo also claimed Frances 'refused to talk to [her]' or her family when she was offered the Covid-19 vaccine first

'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.'

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.

Campaigning: 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

'You put so much sedatives in her body, they took the sedation away and we just watched, and she fought it on her own.'

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.
Former Married At First Sight star Ines Basic has been targeted by scammers who used her private information to hack into her Instagram page.

The 31-year-old called the ordeal a 'nightmare' after the Instagram account for her charity candle line was taken down by hackers.

Addressing fans on Instagram, Ines admitted she'd been fooled into turning over all her private information in a phishing email - and she's now scared it could be sold on the dark web.

Nightmare: Former Married At First Sight star Ines Basic has been targeted by scammers who used her private information to hack her Instagram page

'Someone decided to hack my account and scam me in the process,' she said.

'I thought I got this email from Facebook and Instagram to retrieve my account, so I passed on all this personal information and documentation,' she added.

'I just don't understand where all my documents will go. Where will they go? They're gonna be sold on the dark web, hey?'

Oh, no! The 31-year-old called the ordeal a 'nightmare' after the Instagram account for her charity candle line was taken down by hackers

Ines then said that Facebook, which owns Instagram, was investigating the incident.

The scam was made even worse by the fact that Ines' candle company donates money to a children's charity.

Ten per cent of profits from each sale go to Charity Bosnian Kids - a non-profit organisation helping feed children in schools and families across Bosnia.

'I passed on all this personal information and documentation': Ines is now terrified her information will be sold on the dark web after she responded to a phishing email

The organisation is a cause close to her heart, as Ines was born in Bosnia, prior to arriving Australia.

The candle line, called By Ines, was only available in Australia, but she was in the process of organising an international shipping option.

Back in March, the brunette confirmed she was done with reality television and was instead moving forward with her candle line.
She recently spoke about turning her back on lads' mag shoots, confessing she 'misses' modelling but is now only interested in stripping off for her man.

And Jorgie Porter opted for a modest ensemble as she headed for dinner with boyfriend Ollie Piotrowski at The Ivy Restaurant in Manchester on Wednesday.

Sartorially in sync with one another, the couple sauntered into the restaurant hand in hand while clad in beige and tan ensembles.

Cute couple: Jorgie Porter opted for a modest ensemble as she headed for dinner with boyfriend Ollie Piotrowski at The Ivy Restaurant in Manchester on Wednesday

Jorgie kept her sensational figure under wraps as she opted for a white shirt dress layered beneath a cropped oatmeal jumper.

Boosting her petite frame, the pretty blonde donned towering heeled boots and slung a grey coat over her arms, completing the look with a Yves Saint Laurent bag.

The actress wore her glossy golden locks loose and poker straight and donned a neutral makeup palette that accentuated her natural beauty.

It's a match! Sartorially in sync with one another, the couple sauntered into the restaurant hand in hand while clad in beige and tan ensembles

Jorgie's outing comes after she claimed she 'misses' posing for lads' mags because they were 'empowering' and 'great money'.

She has previously posed for publications like Nuts, Zoo and FHM, and said on Tuesday that she was 'grateful' to have been able model for the publications.

Speaking to The Sun, Jorgie suggested that she would now only be interested in stripping off for her beau Ollie, who she was first spotted with in September 2020.

Chic and cheerful: Jorgie kept her sensational figure under wraps as she opted for a white shirt dress layered beneath a cropped oatmeal jumper

Jorgie, who is best known for starring in Hollyoaks as Theresa McQueen, told the publication: 'I miss the lads' mags shoots. It was great money back then! I loved doing them. It was empowering as well.

'But it wasn't all the posing. It was the confidence that was important. That's what makes you sexy. I feel very grateful that I got to do all the lads' mags.'

Back in 2011, Jorgie was ranked 50th in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

She was also shortlisted in the Sexiest Female category at the Soap Awards in 2012 and 2013 during her original 8-year Hollyoaks stint.

Moved on: Jorgie's outing comes after she claimed she 'misses' posing for lads' mags because they were 'empowering' and 'great money' but won't do any more shoots

Going on to speak of Ollie, she added: 'I never imagined wanting to settle down with someone so much. Its like this club weve just found and Im like, "Ah, I get it now!" Ive joined the love club.'

In January, Jorgie declared her new partner has 'shown me what being happy and in love is', in a heartfelt Instagram post she shared to mark his 32nd birthday.

Alongside a slew of loved-up snaps, Jorgie captioned the post: 'I couldn't be more happier sat in silence or not stop talking til silly o'clock to this man @olliepiotrowski.

'You have shown me wat being happy and actually being in love is !! I'm so grateful I am apart I'd your life.

'And that you show me you want to be so involved in mine ! Happy birthday my beautiful, handsome greatest father ! And incredible human I've ever met!' (sic)

Looking back: Jorgie said of posing for sultry snaps, 'I miss the lads' mags shoots. It was great money back then! I loved doing them. It was empowering as well' (pictured in 2015)

At the end of last year, Jorgie spoke about finding love with her new businessman beau, saying she is 'having the best time' with him.

Speaking on her Loose Lips podcast with former co-host Samira Mighty, Jorgie discussed her future with Ollie.

Samira had high hopes for the couple, saying: 'I think you'll have a baby in a year.

'I'm psychic. I'm telling you now maybe like, around this time next year, but more Christmas-time you're going to have a child.'

Jorgie appeared to have given it some thought, as she responded: 'And I never, ever thought I would, or ever imagined doing that so

'I am just so happy and very content and happy right now. Im having the best time.'

Samira also asked the TV star if she thinks she will get married to Ollie, with Jorgie replying: 'Maybe, I don't know.'

'Most incredible human': In January, Jorgie declared her new partner has 'shown me what being happy and in love is', in an Instagram post she shared to mark his 32nd birthday
Lord Alan Sugar has confirmed that The Apprentice will not be returning to our TV screens until 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The hit BBC One show was scheduled to return for a 16th series in 2020, but was postponed owing to the global health crisis.

Although it was originally scheduled to return this year, Lord Sugar, 74, who fronts the programme, has stated that the show has been delayed again, and will now be broadcast in early 2022.

Bad news: Lord Alan Sugar has confirmed that The Apprentice will not return to our TV screens until 2022 due to the ongoing Covid pandemic (pictured with 2019's winner Carina Lepore)

The businessman has also spoken of his hopeful plans for the forthcoming series to be filmed 'later this year' before its intended air date in the new year.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I think you'll see it in the early part of next year, in fact that's the plan.

'If things go well, and there's no outbreaks or third waves, we're planning to start recording later this year and it should be just after Christmas that they'll start it again.'

Delay: The BBC One show was scheduled to return for a 16th series in 2020, but was postponed owing to the global crisis (Alan pictured with Karren Brady and Claude Littner)

Lord Sugar had previously announced in April 2020 that the upcoming series of the reality competition would at first be delayed until 2021 after being asked about the future of the show by a fan on Twitter.

The entrepreneur clarified that contestants lined up for the 2020 series will 'be called' on for whenever the next series will air.

A fan of the show tweeted Lord Sugar to ask: 'Is the Apprentice cancelled this year, Lord? Sorry if you have already answered that?'

The TV personality shared the question, confirming: 'Yes I guess so. Could be back in Spring 2021 or skip a whole year and back in October 2021.'

Broadcast plans: The businessman has also spoken of his hopeful plans for the forthcoming series to be filmed 'later this year' before its intended air date in the new year

Moments later, another fan tweeted: 'So the applicants from this year will get a chance next year or have they lost their chance if the show is cancelled this year, Lord?'

Clarifying the situation, Lord Sugar wrote: 'The BBC has a selection of candidates ready to go from the last recruitment process in March. They will be called on once we have the green sign to start filming @bbcapprentice.'

In the meantime, Lord Sugar was recently able to film a celebrity version of the Australian version of The Apprentice, and he faced some of the strictest coronavirus restrictions while down under.

He explained: 'We spent two weeks in a private house quarantined with the police outside my door and then when we came out we had test after test.'

Apprentice down under: In the meantime, Lord Sugar was recently able to film a celebrity version of the Australian version of The Apprentice

The UK version of The Apprentice was last broadcast in 2019, and was won by Carina Lepore, who aimed to use Lord Sugar's investments to fund new stores for her family-run bakery business, Dough Artisan Bakehouse.

Lord Sugar had joined Carina last September as they opened a new branch of the business in Beckenham, West London.

The TV star, 30, has plans to open several more branches, with Lord Sugar saying Greggs should 'watch out'.
Blake Lively is joining forces with writer Diablo Cody for an adaptation of the Dark Horse Comics property Lady Killer.

Lively, 33, is attached to star in the adaptation and produce, while Cody, 42, will write the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project comes as reports claimed Cody had 'quit' the Madonna biopic, though it was later clarified that she had merely finished her final draft of the script and has moved on, seemingly to this project.

Comic: Blake Lively is joining forces with writer Diablo Cody for an adaptation of the Dark Horse Comics property Lady Killer

Star-producer: Lively, 33, is attached to star in the adaptation and produce, while Cody, 42, will write the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Quit: The project comes as reports claimed Cody had 'quit' the Madonna biopic, though it was later clarified that she had merely finished her final draft of the script and has moved on, seemingly to this project

The comic book was created by Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich, which Dark Horse debuted in 2015.

The story takes place in the 1950s, following Josie Schuller (Lively), who appears on the outside to be a typical housewife.

What her family and everyone else in her life doesn't know is that she leads a secret life as a hired killer for a mafia organization.

Dark Horse: The comic book was created by Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich, which Dark Horse debuted in 2015

The limited comic series, which was published between 2015 and 2016, won the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series.

Jones took inspiration from 1950s advertisements depicting seemingly perfect housewives, while turning that archetype on its ear.

Lively will produce alongside Kate Vorhoff through their B For Effort production company, alongside Dark Horse' Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg.

Producer: Lively will produce alongside Kate Vorhoff through their B For Effort production company, alongside Dark Horse' Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg

The Sun had first reported that Cody had 'quit' the Madonna biopic, indicating there were 'difficulties' between the writer and pop icon.

However, EW reported those rumors were exaggerated, with Cody finishing her work on the project as Universal Pictures will look at developing the script further as they move forward towards production, though it's unclear if other rewrites are needed.

Lively is coming off another action-thriller, The Rhythm Section, with this project keeping her within the action realm.

Didn't quit: The Sun had first reported that Cody had 'quit' the Madonna biopic, indicating there were 'difficulties' between the writer and pop icon

She is also attached to star in The Husband's Secret, adapted from Lianne Moriarty's novel, following a wife that discovers a secret letter written by her husband that causes her life and the lives of two other women to come crumbling down.

Cody co-created The CW's live-action adaptation of The Powerpuff Girls with Heather V. Regnier, which stars Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet and Yana Perrault.

She also has an untitled project at HBO starring David Spade, following a musician and recovering addict who strikes up a friendship with a young actress in the San Fernando Valley.
Hamish Blake and his beauty entrepreneur wife Zoe Foster Blake appeared on Sunrise on Thursday, shortly after debuting their new Tourism Australia advert.

But things took an awkward twist following a joke about the comedian's tight-fitting wetsuit he wore in the clip - with host Natalie Barr asking a question which had everyone scratching their heads.

'How embarrassed have you been?' Natalie, 53, said to Hamish, 39.

Awkward! Hamish Blake and his beauty entrepreneur wife Zoe Foster Blake appeared on Sunrise on Thursday - but failed to understand one question put forward by Natalie Barr

After a brief pause and a giggle, his wife Zoe, 40, laughed: 'Of him? In general?'

'...being on this campaign?' Natalie rapidly added, to a sea of laughter from the loved-up couple.

'OH! on the campaign. I was like, welcome to a special six hour edition of Sunrise!' Hamish joked.

Zoe quickly chimed in: 'We all actually put those [suits] on afterwards, as we just wanted to get in the water. He wore it well, I thought!'

'That's love!' Natalie's co-host David 'Kochie' Koch added.

Confusion: 'How embarrassed have you been?' Natalie, 53, said to Hamish, who thought for a moment she meant in his day-to-day life

In the advert, the duo chase waterfalls, go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and visit the stunning Kimberley region to encourage locals to explore Australia.

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 Big Prawn to the Great Barrier Reef.

Hilarious: As discussed on Sunrise, Hamish wore a very tight-fitting Stinger Suit in the brand new advertisement which encourages people to explore Australia

'What about the big barrier reef?' Hamish says as he jumps into the crystal blue water in a bright blue wetsuit.

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's 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.
Will Smith has given his twin siblings Ellen and Harry an Instagram shout-out as the duo celebrate their 50th birthday.

The actor, 52, marked the milestone occasion with a rare family photo posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday.

'My little brother & sister are 50 today! D*mn,' Will captioned the snap.

Birthday fun! Will Smith has given his twin siblings Ellen and Harry an Instagram shout-out as the duo celebrate their 50th birthday

In the photo, Will posed at the center of the group while his siblings Ellen and Harry stood by his side.

'Happy birthday, Jokas!' Will wrote in the photo.

The siblings were lavished with gifts as they celebrated their special day.

Harry was treated to a 'surprise' boat trip by Will, and posted photos of his luxurious excursion to his Instagram account, where he enjoyed coconut water and sushi at sea.

Boat loads of fun! Harry was treated to a 'surprise' boat trip by Will, and posted photos of his luxurious excursion to his Instagram account, where he enjoyed coconut water and sushi at sea

Big 5-0! Smith posted photos from his luxurious celebration to his Instagram account

Fun in the sun: Smith was treated to sushi on the high seas

'A little surprise 50th Bday boating!!! Thanks @willsmith for this wonderful outing and for always being there when I needed you most,' he captioned the slideshow. 'I am so blessed to have reached this milestone. I'm super excited about the second half of my life being full of love, light, family, and fun.

'I want all of you to join me in celebrating this year. I'm committed to expressing my appreciation for the blessed existence I'm living and will be saying "YES'" to adventure and enchantment!!! Let me know where y'all at and I'm coming.'

He also gave a shout-out to his sister-in-law Jada Pinkett Smith.

'@jadapinkettsmith words cannot describe my feelings for you,' he wrote on Instagram.

'50 and amazing!' Ellen shared a video of all the incredible gifts she received, including a decadent cake and numerous bouquets of flowers

'Happy birthday to me!' Ellen showed off the stunning floral arrangements sitting in her kitchen

Ellen shared a video of all the incredible gifts she received, including a decadent cake and numerous bouquets of flowers.

'Yesssss!! Happy birthday to me!. This is how it's going...I'm excited about the turn out. #50 and amazing!' she gushed in the caption, tagging her brother and numerous others in the text.

In total, Will has three siblings: Ellen, Harry, and older sister Pamela, 57.

Will made headlines earlier this week after sharing a shirtless photo of himself 'in the worst shape of my life.'

In a second post further showing off his figure, the actor expressed zero shame for the body which got him through 'an entire pandemic and countless days grazing thru the pantry.'

'I love this body, but I wanna FEEL better,' he captioned the post. No more midnight muffinsthis is it! Imma get in the BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE!!!!! Teaming up with @YouTube to get my health & wellness back on track. Hope it works!'

Candid: Will made headlines earlier this week after sharing a shirtless photo of himself 'in the worst shape of my life'
The Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney defended her conversion to Judaism on Wednesday after an 'ignorant' fan called the move 'trendy.'

'Ok I'm not going to respond to every dumb thing people have to say regarding my conversion but this is so ignorant I must,' the 38-year-old streetwear designer - who boasts 577K social media followers - said via Instastory.

'Converting and studying Kabbalah are very different. And to compare my conversion and refer to it as a "trend" is highly dumb AF and offensive.'

No fad: The Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney defended her conversion to Judaism on Wednesday after an 'ignorant' fan called the move 'trendy'

Leah was raised in an Irish-Italian Catholic household but she's 'been thinking about converting to Judaism for many, many years.'

'When COVID hit, I was having, I would say, the only period of my life where I felt very disconnected from a god. I quit drinking again and I got a very deep calling to convert to Judaism,' McSweeney said during the 13th season premiere - titled 'Back in the Big Apple' - which aired Tuesday on Bravo.

'I'm attracted to the challenge. I think I'm attracted to all the rules and the rituals and the prayers. And look, its not like I'm going to convert and like, that's it! I'm a Jew! The conversion is the beginning for me.'

The Married to the Mob founder added: 'Just because I'm converting to Judaism doesn't mean I'm going to be the perfect Jew. I'm not telling my [Orthodox] rabbi this, but this is about progress, not perfection. Me converting is the beginning of like a very long spiritual journey.'

The 38-year-old streetwear designer wrote via Instastory: 'Ok I'm not going to respond to every dumb thing people have to say regarding my conversion but this is so ignorant I must. Converting and studying Kabbalah are very different. And to compare my conversion and refer to it as a "trend" is highly dumb AF and offensive'

'I got a very deep calling': Leah was raised in an Irish-Italian Catholic household but she's 'been thinking about converting to Judaism for many, many years'

The Married to the Mob founder added: 'Converting to Judaism doesn't mean I'm going to be the perfect Jew. I'm not telling my [Orthodox] rabbi this, but this is about progress, not perfection. Me converting is the beginning of like a very long spiritual journey'

Leah - who celebrated a year of sobriety in March - has already publicly observed Jewish holidays like Shabbat, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah.

In 2014, McSweeney and her 12-year-old daughter Kier 'Kiki' Marie started taking annual vacations to Jamaica rather than celebrating Christmas, but she still puts up a tree.

The Manhattan mompreneur - who reportedly earned $3K per episode last season - was the first Housewife to have knuckle tattoos and her fans include Sarah Paulson and John Oliver.

Spiritual journey: Leah - who celebrated a year of sobriety in March - has already publicly observed Jewish holidays like Shabbat, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah (pictured December 10)

Creating new family traditions: In 2014, McSweeney and her 12-year-old daughter Kier 'Kiki' Marie (M) started taking annual vacations to Jamaica rather than celebrating Christmas, but she still puts up a tree
Victoria Beckham has revealed the Spice Girls influenced Beyonce to become the iconic artist she is today.

Posh Spice, 47, revealed the band's message of Girl Power really resonated with Beyonce, 39, who told her about the impact they'd had.

Victoria revealed: '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 and proud to be who I am"'.

Iconic: Victoria Beckham (pictured left in 1997) has revealed the Spice Girls influenced Beyonce to become the iconic artist she is today

She added on Dear Medias Breaking Beauty podcast: 'And when someone like Beyonce, who is so iconic and was such a strong woman, says that she was inspired by the Spice Girls, I think thats quite something.'

The Spice Girls 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.

Elsewhere on the podcast, Victoria 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, the fashion designer 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?'

Girl power: The Spice Girls 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 (pictured in 1996)

'Journey': Victoria also 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

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.

'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.

'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.'

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!'

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.

Family: Victoria shares Brooklyn, 22, Romeo, 18, Cruz, 16, and Harper, nine, with her husband David (pictured together)

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.'

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'.

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.
Spring was in bloom for Dancing With The Stars couple Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert as they grabbed smoothies and lunch in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Hough, 35, looked fit in a white tank top with black shorts and grey trainers. The dancer-turned-judge wore a black face mask and wore a black mesh call cap backwards on the daytime outing with his love of since 2015.

Erbert, a 26-year-old dancer on the program, wore a long-sleeved arctic blue top with matching leggings as she held a beverage in her hand with a bag dangling from her elbow.

The latest: Spring was in bloom for Dancing With The Stars couple Derek Hough, 35, and Hayley Erbert, 26, as they grabbed smoothies and lunch in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The professional dancer wore white shoes and had her brown locks parted and down on the outing with her beau, with whom he shares a popular YouTube channel called Dayley Life.

Hough last year told ET that it was a relief when the couple emerged publicly after keeping their relationship a secret for years.

'It's just tiring,' he said. 'It was liberating, honestly, just being like, "Hey, this is our relationship. This is cool. This is what it is and it's great." I think I just kind of got almost conditioned to feel or believe that I have to hide everything.

'When in reality I was just like, "You know what? There's a freedom to just being open about it." It's been wonderful and it's brought us closer together in certain things. It just feels good.'

The dancer-turned-judge wore a black facemask and wore a black mesh call cap backwards on the daytime outing with his love of since 2015

Hough made his first appearance on the dance floor in three years last October when he and Erbert performed a Paso Doble on the series

Hough made his first appearance on the dance floor in three years last October when he and Erbert performed a Paso Doble on the series.

Hough said that 'it worked out well because, obviously, we're dancers ... and my girl, she's an extraordinary dancer ... so it was a perfect excuse to be able to dance together on the show.'

He added: 'I just feel appreciative of being a part of this beautiful show once again and to have the opportunity to dance. I feel like that's the part that I'm taking with this one and I'm looking forward to it.'

The couple first met on the show's 21st season when they were both dancers on the ABC series.
Chantel Jeffries appeared in high spirits as she grabbed lunch with a pal on Tuesday, just a month after announcing her split with The Chainsmokers Drew Taggart.

As the 28-year-old DJ strutted to the entrance of Mauro's Cafe at Fred Segal in West Hollywood in a pair of brown slippers, she put her gym-honed abs on full display.

For her outing, she rocked a semi-sheer $62 black bra and low-rise $98 sweatpants, both from Alo Yoga sweatpants, with a cozy, multi-colored cardigan.

Single life: Chantel Jeffries appeared in high spirits as she grabbed lunch with a pal on Tuesday, just weeks after announcing her split with The Chainsmokers Drew Taggart

The newly-single star accessorized her casual cool look with a quilted black Chanel purse and red sunglasses with tinted yellow lenses.

Her light brown hair was styled in loose waves as she smiled next to her friend, J.Ryan La Cour, who wore a white t-shirt and $35 black ripped jeans from Boohoo.

The words 'defy' and 'rebel' were embroidered above his knees in white stitching, which matched his sneakers.

Oozing confidence: As the 28-year-old DJ strutted to the entrance of Mauro's Cafe at Fred Segal in West Hollywood in a pair of brown slippers, she put her gym-honed abs on full display

Comfortable: For her outing, she rocked a semi-sheer $62 black bra and low-rise $98 sweatpants, both from Alo Yoga sweatpants, with a cozy, multi-colored cardigan

Having fun: The newly-single star accessorized her casual cool like with a quilted black Chanel purse and tinted sunglasses

After dining together, the duo chatted outside of the restaurant without masks one week after the CDC announced fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, except in crowds.

Earlier this month, news broke that she and her boyfriend called it quits on their relationship after after one year of dating.

Stylish: Her light brown hair was styled in loose waves as she smiled next to her friend, J.Ryan La Cour, who wore a white t-shirt and $35 black ripped jeans from Boohoo

'They broke up a month ago. It was an amicable breakup, and they remain friends,' Taggart's rep told Us Weekly.

The pair first sparked romance rumors when they were seen getting cozy at a Miami Super Bowl party last year.

Things continued to progress and they were seen on various dates in Los Angeles, before becoming Instagram official in July with a kissing photo.

Cool jeans: The words 'defy' and 'rebel' were embroidered above his knees in white stitching, which matched his sneakers

As the COVID-19 pandemic halted live festivals and concerts and their respective gigs and hectic travel schedules took pause, they found time to ramp up their relationship.

In December Chantel posted a glowing birthday tribute to her 31-year-old beau where she professed her love for him.

'You make this planet feel like home. Happy birthday I love you as much as pie and I'll love you as long as pi continues...can't wait to do everything on earth with you,' she wrote.

Spilt: Earlier this month, news broke that she and her boyfriend called it quits on their relationship after after one year of dating; pictured July 2020

And earlier that month she posted a photo series by a moving truck, prompting many to assume she was moving in with him.

In February it was revealed that Taggart was selling his Hollywood Hills home for $14.5M, and fans began to wonder if something had happened between them or if they were possibly getting a place of their own.

An anonymous source  who reportedly lived in close proximity to the Grammy-winner  wrote into Instagram's DeuxMoi that they had seen Chantel moving stuff out.

Loved up: The pair first sparked romance rumors last February where they were seen getting cozy at a Super Bowl party; pictured December 2020

Romantic getaways: The pair were seen taking their love all over as they enjoyed vacations in Mexico and Miami

The tipster said Jeffries was seen gradually making her way out with boxes over an extended period of time which the source took as an indication they had split.

Prior to dating Taggart, she was romantically involved with Justin Bieber on and off for two years (2014 to 2016) and The Weeknd in 2018.

She had also sparked romance rumors with Diplo in January of last year when they were seen getting handsy on a Mexican vacation.

Taggart was previously linked to model Meredith Mickelson and Haley Rowe on and off from 2016 to 2017.
It's a show known for its high-calorie indulgences.

But Melissa Leong has claimed that 'stories' told through MasterChef's dishes are 'more important' to her than their nutritional value.

'You and I both know that sugar, fat and calories dont exist in the MasterChef kitchen,' the food critic, 39, told TV Tonight.

Priorities: Melissa Leong has claimed that 'stories' told through MasterChef's dishes are 'more important' to her than their nutritional value, in an interview with TV Tonight

The popular judge explained that while 'you can break food down in different ways,' including nutritionally, she finds greater value in 'stories that are conveyed through the dishes'.

'To me the show has always been a celebration of food,' she said.

The food journalist recently revealed the inaccurate term she's been called by contestants in the past.

In a teaser trailer for Wednesday night's episode, the remaining cooks are seen scurrying around the MasterChef kitchen.

What calories? 'You and I both know that sugar, fat and calories dont exist in the MasterChef kitchen,' said the food critic, 39

Not quite! Melissa recently revealed the contestants on MasterChef often inaccurately call her a chef when she is in fact a food journalist

As Melissa informs them they only have a limited amount of time left on the clock, she's acknowledged with a chorus of 'Yes, chef!'

She awkwardly reminded them: 'Im not a chef.'

In between a chuckle, she then 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
New mother Anna Heinrich welcomed her daughter Elle into the world in November.

And the 34-year-old stripped off for a relaxing candle-lit bath in a Mother's Day-themed commercial unveiled on Thursday.

The former Bachelor star also included her little girl in the advert, which was for Glasshouse Fragrances' new Ode to Women range.

Time to relax: The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich stripped down for a relaxing candle-lit bath in a Mother's Day-themed commercial unveiled on Thursday

In the opening scenes, a robe-clad Anna kisses Elle on the cheek before placing the child in her cot and closing the door.

The blonde then prepares a bath for herself, sprinkling Epsom salts into the tub as it fills with hot water.

Anna reveals her toned back as she disrobes and lights a fragrant candle.

Doting display: In the opening scenes, a robe-clad Anna kisses her baby daughter Elle on the cheek before placing the child in her cot and closing the door

After putting cucumbers over her eyes, the relaxing bath takes a turn when Anna tries to take a sip of champagne and misses her mouth.

She then writes 'Happy Mother's Day' in steam on her mirror.

'What could possibly go wrong here?' Anna captioned the post, referring to her unfortunate champagne spill.

Disrobing: Anna then prepares a bath for herself, sprinkling Epsom salts into the tub as it fills with hot water. But after putting cucumbers over her eyes, she tries to take a sip of champagne and misses her mouth

'Some time to myself, a warm bath, some Epsom salts, an aromatic candle and a glass of champagne.'

Her husband Tim Robards also enjoyed the the light-hearted clip, and hinted in the comments that he'd shot the commercial himself.

'Damn! Whoever filmed and edited this is a genius,' he wrote.

Family affair: Her husband Tim Robards also enjoyed the the light-hearted clip, and hinted in the comments that he'd shot the commercial himself

Tim and Anna have been documenting life as new parents over the last few months.

The part-time lawyer and former Neighbours actor, who met on The Bachelor in 2013 and married in Italy in 2018, welcomed their baby girl in November.

Anna recently admitted her emotions had been a 'roller-coaster' in the weeks since giving birth.

She told Who magazine she once 'cried for two hours straight' a week after taking her baby home from the hospital.
Rebecca Zemek was labelled a 'villain' on Married At First Sight after leaked footage showed her cheating on 'husband' Jake Edwards with her ex-boyfriend.

But the 27-year-old has now claimed that her infamous 'cheating video' isn't exactly what it seems.

In an interview with Yahoo! Lifestyle on Wednesday, the Perth businesswoman accused the show's producers of doctoring the video to make it appear more salacious.

'[Producers] did kind of change the footage into a 'shocking' way': Married At First Sight's Rebecca Zemek, 27, (pictured) has accused the show's producers of doctoring the video to make it appear more salacious

'[Producers] did kind of change the footage into a 'shocking' way for it to look and sound like it was more than what it was as well,' Rebecca claimed.

'It went for six minutes all up because it was still recording so there's more to it, and everyone would have seen the truth and the story within that, but that doesn't make for good TV right?' she added.

While Beck failed to disclose exactly what the 'truth of the story' actually was, she did claim that producers secretly 'edited together' different sounds to make it seem like she and her lover were kissing passionately.

Claims: In an interview with Yahoo! Lifestyle on Wednesday, the Perth businesswoman claimed there's 'more to' the video than was shown on television, and that if people saw the six-minute clip they might understand 'the truth and the story within it'

'They've edited [parts of the video] together to make it seem like there's more going on... it's not pashing,' she insisted, describing the smooch as more of a 'non-sexual kiss'.

Beck's 'husband' Jake was left heartbroken during MAFS' grand finale after she was busted kissing an old flame on camera.

She had flown home to Perth to care for her sick dog, and during that time asked her ex to take the dog to the vet with her.

'It's not pashing': Beck claimed that producers secretly 'edited together' different sounds from the video to make it seem like she and her lover were kissing passionately

Former AFL star Jake was visibly shaken while viewing the video and demanded to see it again, after Beck initially claimed it was her brother she was kissing in the clip.

In the video, she said to camera: 'I spoke to Jake before and made sure he was all okay without us.'

She added: 'I'm only just waiting for the results back (for the dog), but hopefully can get back soon and see Jake again, cause I kind of miss him'.

Hurt: Former AFL star Jake was visibly shaken while viewing the video and demanded to see it again, after Beck initially claimed it was her brother she was kissing in the clip

Emergency trip home: Beck had flown home to Perth to care for her sick dog, and during that time asked her ex to take the dog to the vet with her

A man was then seen walking in the room, and the camera fell to the bed.

'Hey, my baby,' Beck said, before the man said, 'Hello' back and the pair were heard kissing out of shot as the dog jumped on the bed, obscuring the view.

Beck claimed it was her brother in the video, before finally admitting it was an ex.
He announced on Monday that his TBS late night show Conan is coming to an end.

And on Wednesday, Coonan O'Brien was spotted enjoying a leisurely lunch with a couple of pals in LA.

The late night host and his friends were seated at an outdoor table at the famous Swingers diner which recently reopened under new ownership.

New era: Conan O'Brien, who announced the end of his TBS late night show earlier this week, opted for an all blue ensemble as he enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The TV personality and comedy writer, 58, went with an all blue ensemble for his outing.

He paired a t-shirt and slacks with a tailored suit jacket and stepped out in a pair of brown lace-up shoes.

He donned a red patterned bandana as a face covering as he left the eatery.

Leisurely lunch: The TV personality and comedy writer, 58, was seated with his friends at an outdoor table at the famous Swingers diner which recently reopened under new ownership

On Wednesday, Conan told TMZ he thinks Elon Musk will do a good job as host of NBC's Saturday Night Live this weekend.

While there's been pushback from fans about the Tesla and SpaceX owner getting the TV gig, Conan observed that Musk might surprise a lot of people.

Conan, who served as a writer on SNL from 1988 to 1991, said: 'Those are the dream guests... if someone comes on and they aren't a professional comedian, that made them funnier in sketches.'

Approves: On Wednesday, Conan told TMZ he thinks Elon Musk will do a good job as host of NBC's Saturday Night Live this weekend and people could be in for a surprise

Confidence: Conan, who served as a writer on SNL from 1988 to 1991, said: 'Those are the dream guests... if someone comes on and they aren't a professional comedian, that made them funnier in sketches'

O'Brien has been in late night television for almost three decades.

And while his TBS show is concluding on June 24, he won't be completely departing from the media zeitgeist.

'The plan is to re-emerge on HBO Max sometime in the near future with I think what will be my fourth iteration of the program,' the funnyman shared with his fans at the top of Monday night's late night show.

In a statement, TBS said some special guests will be featured in these last remaining weeks and promised fans there would be '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.

O'Brien has been in late night television for almost three decades and on Monday, told his fans that his TBS show Conan will come to an end after 11 years on June 24

Conan started his late night career in 1993, when he hosted Late Night with Conan O'Brien on NBC.

That show ran for almost 20 years, ending in February 2009 when Conan was brought in to replace Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.

That stint, however, only lasted about seven months, due to low ratings.

Then, in November 2010, he debuted his late night TBS show, simply called Conan.
Dannii Minogue has set the record straight on whether her sister Kylie is engaged to her magazine executive boyfriend Paul Solomons.

The 49-year-old addressed speculation Kylie is set to walk down the aisle during an interview on Channel Seven's Sunrise on Thursday.

Despite plenty of rumours, Dannii denied her sister and Paul are engaged.

Rumours: Dannii Minogue (pictured) addressed rumours her sister Kylie is engaged to her magazine executive boyfriend Paul Solomons on Thursday

'Is there any big announcements?' host David Koch asked.

'No big announcements. There is no news but we absolutely adore him and they are a divine couple,' Dannii said.

Rumours Kylie and Paul are planning to wed emerged when former pop star-turned-actress Billie Piper appeared to accidently reveal the news in an interview with British ELLE magazine in February.

At the time, Paul's stepmother Gloria said she was 'thrilled' and 'excited' the pair are planning to marry as she spoke to MailOnline.

Not true: Despite plenty of rumours, Dannii denied her sister Kylie and Paul (R) are engaged

Gloria also said she had met Kylie and liked her.

'She's very nice I'm thrilled they're engaged,' she said.

'It's very exciting. But I'm sorry, I cannot tell you any more because I've been told not to. I respect my son and I respect Kylie too much to say any more.'

Wedding bells? 'No big announcements. There is no news but we absolutely adore him and they are a divine couple,' Dannii said. The Minogue sisters are pictured in December 2015

Despite Gloria's confirmation, a representative for Kylie denied the engagement to MailOnline.

In February, the Australian superstar was also spotted without an engagement band on her left hand during the outing in Melbourne.

Kylie has been dating GQ boss Paul, 46, since 2018.
Phobias star Charlotte McKinney flashed her effervescent smile while heading inside the Santa Monica Proper Hotel on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old One Management Model was wearing a $415 Aya Muse 'Lennox' shirt-dress and kitten-heeled thong sandals.

Charlotte's khaki creation featured a wrap tie at the base to better expose her long legs.

Out and about! Phobias star Charlotte McKinney flashed her effervescent smile while heading inside the Santa Monica Proper Hotel on Tuesday

Spring style: The 27-year-old One Management Model was wearing a $415 Aya Muse 'Lennox' shirt-dress and kitten-heeled thong sandals

Hairstylist Dritan Vushaj coiffed McKinney's blonde locks for the hotel shoot.

And make-up artist Carly Fisher made sure the Florida-born bombshell was ready for her close-up.

Charlotte - who boasts 2.1M social media followers - later dined on a variety of plant-based meals from chef Matthew Kenney at Hungry Angelina in Long Beach.

McKinney just returned from the Bahamas where she reunited with family at the Four Seasons Ocean Club and didn't wash her hair for 'days' at a time.

Leggy: Charlotte's khaki creation featured a wrap tie at the base to better expose her long legs

Strike a pose! Hairstylist Dritan Vushaj coiffed McKinney's blonde locks for the hotel shoot

Hint of cleavage: And make-up artist Carly Fisher made sure the Florida-born bombshell was ready for her close-up

Salads galore! Charlotte - who boasts 2.1M social media followers - later dined on a variety of plant-based meals from chef Matthew Kenney at Hungry Angelina in Long Beach

'This is the longest I've gone without seeing them,' the Best Buddies volunteer told Miami Living Magazine back in March.

'In 2020, I learned to focus on my mental health and happiness. My goal for this year is to maintain prioritizing happiness and continue working on my craft of acting and modeling.'

On Wednesday, Charlotte shared an extremely rare snap of her boyfriend Nathan Kostechko sporting a $100 pair of General Admission 'Sun Faded' sweatpants.

'Grateful': McKinney just returned from the Bahamas where she reunited with family at the Four Seasons Ocean Club and didn't wash her hair for 'days' at a time (posted Sunday)

The Best Buddies volunteer told Miami Living Magazine back in March: 'This is the longest I've gone without seeing them'

McKinney and the 36-year-old tattoo artist have never gone 'Instagram official' despite having dated since late 2017.

The Guest House actress is said to have previously romanced Scott Eastwood in 2016, Stephen Dorff in 2015, and Trevor Engelson in 2014.

Charlotte's last gig was guest judging the April 1 episode of truTV 10-episode reality competition, Fast Foodies.

'My paper boy is fire!' On Wednesday, Charlotte shared an extremely rare snap of her boyfriend Nathan Kostechko sporting a $100 pair of General Admission 'Sun Faded' sweatpants

Down low: McKinney and the 36-year-old tattoo artist (R, pictured February 6) have never gone 'Instagram official' despite having dated since late 2017
She is breathtakingly beautiful.

But Megan Fox stunned fans once again with a sunkissed selfie showcasing her stunning complexion on Wednesday.

The Transformers actress, 34, looked absolutely radiant with glossy red lips and perfectly done-up eye makeup.

Strike a pose: Megan Fox stunned fans once again with a sunkissed selfie showcasing her stunning complexion

Megan was a vision of summertime chic with her brunette hair styled into long loose waves, and gold hoop earrings dazzling in the sunlight.

She wore an equally summery teal top, which matched her pretty hazel eyes.

Like all the photos she shares to her account, there was no denying just how gorgeous Megan looked in the snap.

The actress looked just as glam in slideshow she posted of herself Tuesday donning a sheer skintight top.

Picture perfect: Like all the photos she shares to her account, there was no denying just how gorgeous Megan looked in the snap

Stunning: Fox looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a series of snaps of herself donning a skintight sheer top on Tuesday

The star showcased her modelling skills as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare while also sporting a pair of black leather trousers.

The Jennifer's Body 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.

Looking good: The Transformers star styled her brunette locks into a ponytail and added to her look with a smokey eye

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.

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.

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

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.

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.
Patrick Schwarzenegger is pumped up.

The eldest son of fitness icon Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife Maria Shriver took to Instagram Wednesday to show off his fitness transformation after undergoing an intensive program that saw him waking up at 5 a.m. to stay active.

'Getting in the best shape of my life,' the Midnight Sun actor, 27, captioned the shot, which was taken at a West Hollywood fitness center. 'Both physically & mentally.'

The latest: Patrick Schwarzenegger, 27, took to Instagram Wednesday to show off his fitness transformation after undergoing an intensive program that saw him waking up at 5 a.m. to stay active

The actor shared a pair of photos in which he was shirtless, the later showing a cut upper body with pumped up biceps and a six-pack.

Schwarzenegger said in the most recent photo he weighed 185 pounds at eight percent body fat, and in the earlier one, taken six months back, he weighed 163 pounds at 13 percent body fat.

Schwarzenegger, who is in a long-term relationship with model Abby Champion, 24, shared the challenge with his social media followers, saying he was inspired by the response.

The second-generation actor said that 413 people finished the challenge, which spanned for 50 days beginning at the crack of dawn.

Start point: The actor shared a shot from six months back prior to the regimen

High standards: Patrick's famed father Arnold commented on the post

Schwarzenegger said he drew responses from people who said they 'found a sense of purpose,' benefitted from 'increased energy,' were 'more productive at work' and 'found time for extra activities,' losing as much as 30 pounds from the challenge.

Schwarzenegger said that positives stemming from the early start time is that it 'starts your day with a form of "success" & builds momentum for the rest of your day,' 'shows your mind/body your capable of doing something you dont want to' and 'allows you to form small morning rituals/habits that lead to big results over time.'

Schwarzenegger said he's partial to 'creating goals/challenges because [it] gives your brain a literal GPS to a destination [you're] seeking.'

Protein time: Patrick posed with his father in a BBQ shot as the Hollywood stalwart grilled steaks

He said 'the biggest mistake we make is thinking' is that changes 'will come overnight,' as 'everything takes time.'

He wrapped up the post in writing, 'Be The Best You.'

Patrick's famed father Arnold commented on the post, 'Great before shots. Good progress. I can't wait to see the after photo!' to which Patrick wrote, 'I think this is the after photo ....' with a laughing emoji.

Patrick last month was seen with working out with his half-brother Joseph Baena, 23, in Santa Monica. Baena has also inherited Arnold's fondness for fitness, often posting shots of his bodybuilding progress on social media.
Her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth may be a famous Hollywood actor.

But model Gabriella Brooks proved she is rising star when she attended an intimate dinner to celebrate 100 years of Chanel's iconic No.5 perfume in Sydney on Wednesday evening.

The 24-year-old oozed elegance in head-to-toe Chanel for the celebratory supper, held at Sydney's Felix restaurant,

A dream in cream! Liam Hemsworth's model girlfriend Gabriella Brooks looked incredible chic as she attended an intimate dinner to celebrate 100 years of Chanel's iconic No.5 perfume in Sydney on Wednesday evening

Gabriella flaunted her trim pins in a stunning textured off-white sleeveless blouse and matching skirt from Chanel's ready-to-wear collection.

According to the brand's website, the top is worth $4,940 while the matching skirt is worth $3,800.

She later popped on a matching jacket, which retails for $9,260.

The beauty accessorised with a pair of Chanel stilettos and a classic top-handle handbag from the prestigious brand.

The fashion star opted for a glossy makeup palette, pairing dark black eye makeup with a rogue lipstick.

On the mark! Gabriella flaunted her trim pins in the stunning textured off-white sleeveless blouse and matching skirt from Chanel's ready-to-wear collection. She later popped on a matching jacket, which retails for $9,260

Gabriella wore her blonde tresses out and allowed them to fall masterfully past her shoulders.

The stunner's star is clearly on the rise and she has been spotted at a number of high-profile events on the social calendar.

She has also been highly active on social media recently, which is a marked change from her usually quite Instagram account.

Perfect ten! The model flaunted her flawless complexion in a makeup free selfie after a visit to celebrity facialist Melanie Grant last month

Gabriella showed off her flawless visage after a trip to celebrity facialist, Melanie Grant, last month.

In February, she spoke to The Daily Telegraph about remaining grounded while in a relationship with hunk, Liam.

'I have a great support network who continually remind me of what's important,' she told the publication. 'This is incredibly grounding.'

Public romance: Gabriella has been dating Liam since December 2019, following his highly publicised split from ex-wife Miley Cyrus in August that same year

Gabriella has been dating Liam since December 2019, following his highly publicised split from ex-wife Miley Cyrus in August that same year.

According to a report by Us Weekly in December 2019, Liam was 'happy to be moving on' following his turbulent split from Miley.

'Liam feels comfortable with Gabriella. His family approves of her and really likes her, which is very important to him,' a source told the publication at the time.

Gabriella and Liam's romance is also 'very different' than the hunk's relationship with ex-wife Miley, E! News reported.

'They like the same things and have the same lifestyle,' said a source.

'It's not a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Gabriella is very laid-back and even-keeled.'

'I have a great support network who continually remind me of what's important,' the 24-year-old told the publication of her relationship with Liam. Pictured Liam Hemsworth

The source also said that the young model is getting along famously with the entire Hemsworth family.

The Hunger Games star went public with their romance in January, 2020.

They were isolating together in Victoria at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but Gabriella later joined the whole Hemsworth family in Byron Bay.
John Wick 3 action star Halle Berry and her musician boyfriend Van Hunt landed at Orlando International Airport in Florida on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old Oscar winner and the 51-year-old Grammy winner have been practically inseparable since they began their romance last July.

Halle (born Maria) and Van later indulged in matching cocktails to celebrate Cinqo de Mayo, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire in 1862.

Jet-setting couple: John Wick 3 action star Halle Berry (R) and her musician boyfriend Van Hunt (3-L) landed at Orlando International Airport in Florida on Wednesday

Getaway: The 54-year-old Oscar winner (R) and the 51-year-old Grammy winner (L) have been practically inseparable since they began their romance last July

Berry - who boasts 11.4M social media followers - also Instastoried a snap of Hunt preparing to eat a decadent dessert, which she captioned: 'Best life!'

The neo soul artist posted a 'skip dinner' collage of pictures of himself sipping a glass of red wine as well as a before/after of his creamy treat.

The wellness influencer and Van just made their official red carpet debut as a couple at the 93rd Academy Awards, which took place April 25 at LA's Union Station.

On Tuesday, Halle confessed what she wears when she sleeps in a Q&A as part of her Casper x respin collaboration.

'It's on!' Halle and Van later indulged in matching cocktails to celebrate Cinqo de Mayo, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire in 1862

'Best life!' Berry - who boasts 11.4M social media followers - also Instastoried a snap of Hunt preparing to eat a decadent dessert

'Skip dinner': The neo soul artist posted a collage of pictures of himself sipping a glass of red wine as well as a before/after of his creamy treat

'1st date nite!' The wellness influencer and Van just made their official red carpet debut as a couple at the 93rd Academy Awards, which took place April 25 at LA's Union Station

'Nothing,' Berry stated, with the 'sheets off.'

The former Miss Ohio 1986 indicated the must haves for a good sleep are 'a good man and a good pillow.'

'Oh god the last dream I remember I was in the basement of my house and it caught on fire and my house burned down,' Halle recalled.

'Now, I talked to a sleep expert and they told me not to worry, that was not a bad thing. That that could have signified that I was going into a new phase of life and I was burning the old to open up for the new. That's a true story by the way.'

Boudoir interview: On Tuesday, Halle confessed what she wears when she sleeps in a Q&A as part of her Casper x respin collaboration

'Nothing,' Berry stated, with the 'sheets off'

'That's a true story': The former Miss Ohio 1986 recalled the last dream she had and indicated the must haves for a good sleep are 'a good man and a good pillow'

'The moments that matter most': Missing from the Florida trip were Berry's 13-year-old daughter Nahla Ariela (with ex Gabriel Aubry), and seven-year-old son Maceo Robert (with her ex-husband #3 Olivier Martinez)

Missing from the Florida trip were Berry's 13-year-old daughter Nahla Ariela (with ex Gabriel Aubry), and seven-year-old son Maceo Robert (with her ex-husband #3 Olivier Martinez).

Hunt will perform with his band for the first time in a decade at a sold-out 'one night only' concert happening May 26 at St. James Live in his Atlanta hometown.

Meanwhile, the biracial beauty 'broke some bones' in November 2019 while shooting her directorial debut Bruised, which premieres later this year on Netflix.

In the Rocky-style drama - Halle's character Jackie must conquer her demons, face one of the fiercest rising MMA stars, and reunite with her estranged six-year-old son Manny (Danny Boyd Jr.).

'I can hardly wait!' Hunt will perform with his band for the first time in a decade at a sold-out 'one night only' concert happening May 26 at St. James Live in his Atlanta hometown
Moulin Rouge is arguably one of the most iconic musical movies of all time.

And now Baz Luhrman, who wrote and directed the film, has revealed that Moulin Rogue's leading man could have been very different.

While Ewan McGregor ended up playing the role of Nicole Kidman's love interest Christian in the musical, the part almost went to the late Heath Ledger.

Revealed: Filmmaker Baz Luhrman has revealed which A-list Australian actor almost got the lead role in Moulin Rouge

'A young Heath Ledger was up for the role and I thought maybe the character could be very young,' the filmmaker told news.com.au this week.

'And it turned out they (Heath and Nicole) did really work together. And it was quite beautiful,' he continued.

Unfortunately, Baz admitted that Heath 'was just too young in the end' to get to the role.

Surprise! While Ewan McGregor ended up playing the role of Nicole Kidman's love interest Christian in the musical, the part almost went to the late Heath Ledger (pictured)

Heath was just 21 at the time, while Ewan was 30 and much closer in age to Nicole, who was 33.

Baz soon realised that Ewan was 'the perfect partner' for Nicole's character, Satine.

'Getting the right chemical equation between two leads in a romantic relationship is really important,' he added.

Perfect fit: Baz soon realised that Ewan was 'the perfect partner' for Nicole's character, Satine

Moulin Rouge was a critical smash upon its release in 2001, earning Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Picture.

Although it didn't win, it still took home Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.

Heath went on to star in several iconic films too, including Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight.

He was just 28 when he passed away from an accidental overdose in 2008 leaving behind a then two-year-old daughter, Matilda.
Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok has revealed would love to appear on the long-running soap again.

The 37-year-old actress, who portrayed Dani Sutherland on the show from 2000 to 2004, said she would happily return for a cameo part.

'I would do a cameo for the fans for sure,' the now US-based actress told the publication this week.

Return to Summer Bay? Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok, 37, (pictured) has revealed she is ready to return to Summer Bay - 17 years after leaving the long-running soap

Tammin credited the beloved Australia series for her big break in the industry, before moving to the US to make it big in Hollywood.

'It's where I started and what gave me everything in my career  if it wasn't for that show I don't know where my life would've gone,' she said.

'I'm very grateful for the experience and the opportunity and so I would definitely do a cameo.'

Classic: The 37-year-old actress, who portrayed Dani Sutherland on the show from 2000 to 2004, said she would happily return for a cameo part

However, fans may be disappointed to hear that she is not looking for a permanent role.

'I don't think I would go back and replay that character for a long time because I think her story was told,' she said.

Since Tammin moved stateside she has found success on a number of US shows.

Regrets: Tammin revealed she 'regrets' being 'stressed and edgy' with her parents on her last trip to Australia with her family while reminiscing last month

The actress portrayed Colleen Carlton on The Young and The Restless between 2007 and 2009. She also famously portrayed Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars.

The actress has called Los Angeles home for the past decade. However, last month she found herself reminiscing about Australia.

She shared a range of photos from the trip taken back in August 2019, alongside her daughters Phoenix, seven, and Lennox, two, on board a long-haul flight.

Say cheese! She shared a range of photos from the trip taken back in August 2019, alongside her daughters Phoenix, seven, and Lennox, two

'Oh how the world has changed. This pandemic will teach me to never take anything for granted. Ever again," she began.

'I remember the day when I was at the airport leaving my parents, I was stressed and edgy and short. I regret it daily,' she lamented.

'I will now be mindful of how each moment with family and loved ones is precious.... it matters,' the brunette beauty added.

Not taking it for granted: A clearly homesick Tammin wrote in the caption, 'This is the last time I saw my family in Australia. I remember the day when I was at the airport leaving my parents, I was stressed and edgy and short. I regret it daily,' she lamented

Tammin's heartfelt post come after she reported having mild side effects after getting the Covid vaccine with her husband.

She explained in a series of Instagram videos earlier this month they were both 'doing pretty good' and that she'd only suffered mild side effects.

'We're doing fine, my arm is a little sore now. It was sore the first time straight away. It's taken about five hours to get to work,' she explained.
Teresa Giudice blushed like a schoolgirl when talking about her new man on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

The 48-year-old reality star couldn't stop smiling when asked about Luis 'Louie' Ruelas by her friends, who were hungry for details of her new love.

But she was concerned about going public, and decided to keep him under wraps a while longer, though he was seen arriving at Teresa's house with flowers before a date, at the very end of the episode.

Blushing: Teresa Giudice blushed like a schoolgirl when talking about her new man on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Louie: The 48-year-old reality star couldn't stop smiling when asked about Luis 'Louie' Ruelas by her friends, who were hungry for details of her new love

Sneak peek: But she was concerned about going public, and decided to keep him under wraps a while longer, though he was seen arriving at Teresa's house with flowers before a date, at the very end of the episode

'Why hide it?' asked her brother Joe Gorga, 41, who'd told everyone she was 'in love.' 'He's amazing! He's everything you wanted in a man.'

He reminded Teresa that he'd always wanted someone to give her the love she deserved, and make her feel beautiful, and he felt like Luis was the guy.

'I love a man that can admit, 'I'm in love with her,' he emphasized, saying of Teresa's ex-husband Joe Giudice, 48, 'He didn't ever tell you anything nice.'

Hiding: 'Why hide it?' asked her brother Joe Gorga, 41, who'd told everyone she was 'in love.' 'He's amazing! He's everything you wanted in a man'

Reminder: He reminded Teresa that he'd always wanted someone to give her the love she deserved, and make her feel beautiful, and he felt like Luis was the guy

Admit: 'I love a man that can admit, 'I'm in love with her,' he emphasized, saying of Teresa's ex-husband Joe Giudice, 48, 'He didn't ever tell you anything nice'

In a flashback, Joe was seen carping, 'Here comes my b**** wife.'

Privately, Teresa said that she was fond of Luis, and enjoyed her time with him, but she worried that opening up her life to a new man might not go so well.

'I don't trust a lot of people, so this time I'm not going to tell anyone until I feel secure in the relationship,' Teresa shared.

Fond: Privately, Teresa said that she was fond of Luis, and enjoyed her time with him, but she worried that opening up her life to a new man might not go so well

Don't trust: 'I don't trust a lot of people, so this time I'm not going to tell anyone until I feel secure in the relationship,' Teresa shared

The topic came up again at Jackie Goldschneider's 45th birthday party that month.

Melissa Gorga, 42, had met Luis and told everyone, 'I believe this is her husband.'

In a confessional, she noted, 'I don't know everything there is to know about love, but I do know when two people go out of their way for one another, they can't take their eyes off each other and she totally lets her guard down with him that's how I really know that's the one.'

Jackie's birthday: The topic came up again at Jackie Goldschneider's 45th birthday party that month

Melissa believes: Melissa Gorga, 42, had met Luis and told everyone, 'I believe this is her husband'

Teresa remained reluctant to talk about it.

'We're not there yet,' she protested. 'I just want to make sure it's right before I introduce him to my friends. I want to get to know him first. Do I think he's amazing? Yes, the best guy I've ever met in my entire life.'

Her daughter Milania, 14, later helped her choose outfits for a date and said she really liked Luis.

Not there yet: 'We're not there yet,' she protested. 'I just want to make sure it's right before I introduce him to my friends. I want to get to know him first. Do I think he's amazing? Yes, the best guy I've ever met in my entire life'

Daughter help: Her daughter Milania, 14, later helped her choose outfits for a date and said she really liked Luis

'It's just weird to say, 'My mom has a boyfriend,' the teen admitted. 'But you seem really happy with Luis.'

'He's pretty amazing,' Teresa said, glowing. 'He is.'

'You feel like you're in love with him,' Milania said. 'You seem like it.'

Weird: 'It's just weird to say, 'My mom has a boyfriend,' the teen admitted. 'But you seem really happy with Luis'

Amazing: 'He's pretty amazing,' Teresa said, glowing. 'He is'

Love: 'You feel like you're in love with him,' Milania said. 'You seem like it'

Teresa's relationship was thriving, but everyone else was having major problems.

Dolores Catania, 50, lied to Jackie ahead of her birthday party trip to a winery.

She told her she had a doctor's appointment so she didn't have to travel with 'those jerk-offs.'

Lies: Dolores Catania, 50, lied to Jackie ahead of her birthday party trip to a winery

Jerk-offs: She told her she had a doctor's appointment so she didn't have to travel with 'those jerk-offs'

Dolores was still angry that cast members had asked her at a recent party why her partner David Principe bought her a Porsche, and not an engagement ring.

David wasn't bothered by it, saying he was happy in his life and didn't care what they thought.

The pair snuggled as they threw a joint birthday party for her children Gabby, 25, and Frankie, 22.

Angry: Dolores was still angry that cast members had asked her at a recent party why her partner David Principe (left) bought her a Porsche, and not an engagement ring

Not bothered: David wasn't bothered by it, saying he was happy in his life and didn't care what they thought

Jackie however thought Dolores was 'rationalizing' the fact that she hadn't gotten a ring.

She'd said so weeks before when her friends took a poll about whether the Porsche was David's way to avoid engagement.

At that party, Joe pointed out to Dolores that David was always working.

Rationalizing: Jackie however thought Dolores was 'rationalizing' the fact that she hadn't gotten a ring

Always working: At that party, Joe pointed out to Dolores that David was always working

His words would come back to haunt him the day of Jackie's winery trip.

He developed a kidney stone that sent him to the hospital, and David had to help him.

Sitting at Jackie's, Melissa gasped; her son Gino, 13, texted, 'Daddy's falling down or something.'

Help: He developed a kidney stone that sent him to the hospital, and David had to help him

She called Joe, who was breathing heavily and said he was in pain and was going to the ER.

'Could be a stone,' he said. 'I'm trying to sit on the f***ing toilet.'

'I'm coming home,' Melissa insisted. 'I'm not going to a winery while you're at the hospital.'

Pain: She called Joe, who was breathing heavily and said he was in pain and was going to the ER

Coming home: 'I'm coming home,' Melissa insisted. 'I'm not going to a winery while you're at the hospital'

The ladies called Dolores, who had David meet Joe at the hospital.

'He's gonna feel like he's passing a baby through that penis,' smirked Margaret Josephs, 54.

At the winery, Dolores said she thought Joe was 'going through something' lately.

Smirk: 'He's gonna feel like he's passing a baby through that penis,' smirked Margaret Josephs, 54

Dolores thought: At the winery, Dolores said she thought Joe was 'going through something' lately

She was seething about the party poll, and feeling judged by everyone.

'Stay in your lanes, don't come in mine with that s*** you're talking,' she muttered.

Margaret said she was throwing a Hallowe'en/birthday party for her husband Joe Benigno, 67.

Seething: She was seething about the party poll, and feeling judged by everyone.

Halloween: Margaret said she was throwing a Hallowe'en/birthday party for her husband Joe Benigno, 67.

Teresa asked Dolores if she'd bring David, and Dolores said she would, if Teresa brought Luis.

'Are you trying to not have him around this group?' Jennifer Aydin, 44, asked Dolores. 'I mean, he's your man. He should be there for youat least once.'

'Shut the f*** up,' Dolores said. 'I'm gonna tell everybody right now: Because of all the way that you've acted, because you've mocked me.'

Dolores: Teresa asked Dolores if she'd bring David, and Dolores said she would, if Teresa brought Luis

Jennifer: 'Are you trying to not have him around this group?' Jennifer Aydin, 44, asked Dolores. 'I mean, he's your man. He should be there for youat least once'

Mocked: 'Shut the f*** up,' Dolores said. 'I'm gonna tell everybody right now: Because of all the way that you've acted, because you've mocked me.'

Jackie said she'd thought Dolores wanted a ring, and Jennifer begged, 'Pick a lane.'

'Guess what? Life is constantly changing, Jennifer,' Dolores said. 'And you go along with it, and you don't fall apart if something goes a different way the next day.'

Privately Dolores said she'd learned after her divorce from Frank Catania that endings could spur something new, and betterin her case, 'a whole universe I never would have seen.'

Changing: 'Guess what? Life is constantly changing, Jennifer,' Dolores said. 'And you go along with it, and you don't fall apart if something goes a different way the next day'

Endings: Privately Dolores said she'd learned after her divorce from Frank Catania that endings could spur something new, and betterin her case, 'a whole universe I never would have seen.

She resolved to go with the flow where David was concerned, and her friends toasted to that.

Days later, Joe had passed his kidney stone and was recovering at home.

'David was very good to me by the way,' he told Melissa, who said he'd called to check on Joe.

David: 'David was very good to me by the way,' he told Melissa, who said he'd called to check on Joe

She'd decided to stay out of Dolores' relationship and told her husband to do the same.

'I can comment on it,' he replied. 'She's my friend and I'll tell her. I knew her before I knew you.'

Annoyed, Melissa relayed that Margaret had called him 'chauvinistic' on the trip.

Relayed: Annoyed, Melissa relayed that Margaret had called him 'chauvinistic' on the trip.

'You're telling Dolores that she needs a man,' Melissa said. 'Nobody feels like they need men anymore.'

'Yeah, bulls***,' Joe retorted. 'How about that? Bulls***.'

'You know honey, as much as you want us to all need men, we can survive,' Melissa stressed.

Bulls***: 'Yeah, bulls***,' Joe retorted. 'How about that? Bulls***

'You, as my wife, you say I'm such a f***ing male chauvinistic pig between you and Margaret, I'm this bad guy,' Joe said.

'No one said you're a bad guy,' Melissa reminded him. 'Sometimes I just don't agree with your thoughts and your ways.'

'I don't agree with a lot of your thoughts and your ways,' Joe noted. 'You always point the finger. You know what I want? I want my old wife backthat loveable, sweet girl.'

Don't agree: 'No one said you're a bad guy,' Melissa reminded him. 'Sometimes I just don't agree with your thoughts and your ways'

Melissa knew Joe wanted her time and attention but she wasn't going to give up her growth, her dreams.

'If I need to run to the city, or I need to go and do things, or grow my company, I'm not going to let go of those things either,' she added. 'And I'm sick of you feeling like because I'm doing something for me, that means I'm being wrong to you.'

In private, she said, 'If Joe had his way, I would be a stay-at-home mom forever. I have always been a workaholic. I was a workaholic when he met me with three jobs. I gave it all up to create babies, they are older now and I enjoy working and I am not gonna let anyone guilt me on this.'

'Truth is, I don't wanna resent you for holding me back,' she told Joe.

Joe said he'd supported her singing career, the opening of her store, the hiring of an au pair.

Survive: 'You know honey, as much as you want us to all need men, we can survive,' Melissa stressed

'I'm right there,' he said privately. 'You want the moon? I'll go get the f***ing moon for you.'

To Melissa, he asked, 'What the f*** are you talking about? Who the f*** holds you back?'

Melissa said he'd complained, 'Don't forget about me!' too often, and swore she never did.

Forget: Melissa said he'd complained, 'Don't forget about me!' too often, and swore she never did

'There was a portion that you did,' Joe challenged. 'You don't realize it 'cause you drink the Kool-Aid.'

'My God, you're like talking to a wall,' Melissa marveled.

'Go be this powerful businesswoman,' Joe said, walking away. 'Go be whatever you want to be in life. We're done.'

Wall: 'My God, you're like talking to a wall,' Melissa marveled

In another show subplot, Jennifer redecorated her home, which she'd started to hate during quarantine.

While her father was present for the delivery, her mother refused to come over as Jennifer had spoken too publicly of the fact they'd been living apart.

'You embarrassed me, made me look like the biggest fool when I should be enjoying my grandchildren,' her mother said in Turkish, weeping over the phone.

Redecorated: In another show subplot, Jennifer redecorated her home, which she'd started to hate during quarantine

Embarassed: 'You embarrassed me, made me look like the biggest fool when I should be enjoying my grandchildren,' her mother said in Turkish, weeping over the phone

In the week's bright spot, Margaret shot the cover of her new book, Caviar Dreams, Tunafish Budget: How to Survive in Business and in Life.

It was an 'emotional' experience, she said, recalling how much she'd grown since her youth.

'It's a big deal,' she said, crying as she hugged her mother.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey returns next week on Bravo.
She has one of the most famous bodies in the world, thanks to her stint as a Victoria's Secret Angel.

And on Wednesday, Heidi Klum showed it off as she shared a racy snap on Instagram.

The German model was seen lounging on a sunbed wearing just a pair of tiny green bikini bottoms doted with daisy motifs.

Wow: She has one of the most famous bodies in the world, thanks to her stint as a Victoria's Secret Angel. And on Wednesday, Heidi Klum showed it off in a racy snap on Instagram

The revealing snap gave a glimpse of her bare breasts, flat tummy and long lean legs.

Heidi was clearly working on her tan as she enjoyed some down time on the sunny LA day.

The 47-year-old returned for another season as a judge on America's Got Talent and is currently taping episodes for the NBC show's 16th season.

Heidi reunited with fellow judges Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel and the reality competition, hosted by Terry Crews, is is set to premiere on June 1.

Star: Heidi has turned her top modeling career into another successful one as a TV personality and is currently taping episodes for season 16 of NBC's America' got Talent (pictured April 24)

TV gig: Heidi reunited with fellow judges Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel and the reality competition, hosted by Terry Crews, is is set to premiere on June 1

Since making a name for herself as a top model, she has translated that success into a string of high-profile TV gigs.

She's been married to German musician Tom Kaulitz since 2019 and is mom to four children whom she shares with ex-husband Seal.

On Tuesday, Heidi paid tribute to her eldest child, daughter Leni, as the aspiring model turned 17.

Memories: On Tuesday, Heidi paid tribute to daughter Leni as she turned 17. The German beauty revealed she'd been pregnant with her when she walked for Victoria's Secret in 2003

Leggy blonde: Heidi was an Angel from 2002 to 2010 and was a star of the lingerie brand's annual Fashion Show

In her genes: Leni, whose biological father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore and who was raised by Heidi's now ex-husband Seal, launched her own modeling career last year

In an Instagram post, she shared a clip of herself on the Victoria's Secret catwalk in 2003 and shared: 'Happy 17th birthday LENI, I am not alone walking down that catwalk here. If I look close enough then I can see you bumping right along at 4 months @LeniKlum.'

She added: 'I loved you before you were born, and I will love you long after I close my eyes forever.'

While Leni was raised by Seal, her biological father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore with whom Heidi had a brief fling before meeting the British musician.

Last month Leni landed her first-ever solo magazine cover after also posing with her famous mom for a cover of Vogue Germany.

The teen has followed in her supermodel mom's footsteps by gracing Glamour Germany's 20th anniversary issue, two decades after Heidi became the magazine's first cover model.
Mickey Rourke put his impressive back tattoos on display after sharing a photo on social media taken during a cupping session.

The 68-year-old actor and screenwriter took to Instagram on Thursday to post the image of him lying on his front.

At least 22 separate cups were visible on his back in the picture as he lay down on his belly.

'Sucking out the poison!' Mickey Rourke, 68, displayed his tattoos as he lay on his front during a painful looking cupping treatment

Inside each cup, a small circle of skin can be seen raised up and red as the treatment detoxed his body.

Sharing the image on his social media, Mickey wrote: 'Sucking out the poison!'

Cupping is a type of alternative therapy, originating in China, which involves placing cups onto skin to create suction.

The suction is created primarily through the application of heat, with the skin being sucked up as the cups cooled down.

Traditionally, the cups were made from animal horns, bamboo and later, ceramic, but modern cups are now made from either glass or plastic.

Alternative: At least 22 separate cups were visible on his back in the picture as he lay down on his belly (file image)

It is claimed that the increased blood flow to the areas caused by the cupping helps to remove harmful toxins from your body.

Earlier this year, Dwayne Johnson also gave the treatment a try and Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, showed up at the Olympic games sporting a back and shoulders full of cup marks.

Back in March, Mickey was spotted out enjoying a laid back lunch in Beverly Hills.

The former boxer turned actor with an ever-changing face flashed his tattoos and a smile while giving some pointers to MMA fighter Mickey Gall.

Putting his rock and roll style on display, his jeans and flannel ensemble seemed to cause the 9 1/2 Weeks star a bit of trouble as he was seen fidgeting with his very low rise pants.

Rourke went super casual on top in a red flannel and grey tank top that showed off his chest tattoos.

His baggy jeans featured embellished detailing and cargo type pockets on the side, with him seemingly in need of a belt.

He was seen making quite a few adjustments as they slipped below his waist, but he looked to be in good spirits as he made his way from his car.

The Wrestler star added more flare to his look with a peacock feather printed head scarf and he kept himself protected in a face mask before dining.
Alan Carr left a fan in stitches as they bumped into each other during a bus ride to Lewisham, when he joked: 'Where the f**k are we going?'

The comedian, 44, appeared drunk as he was treated to a can of pink Hooch by the fellow passenger, but wasn't seen drinking on the public vehicle.

Drinking alcohol and carrying open containers on Transport for London has been banned since 2008, but Alan wasn't seen sipping on his can in the video shared to TikTok and Twitter.

'Where the f**k are we going?' Alan Carr left a fan in stitches as they bumped into each other during a bus ride to Lewisham

'People, I'm with Alan Carr!', the excited follower said, before captioning the video: 'This man is a ledge!!!! Had me in stitches #standUpOnAbus.' (sic)

The presenter stood over the man, who pleaded with him to 'bring his face mask down'.

An hilarious Alan replied: 'No, I don't want to get Covid!', before thanking the excited fan for his alcoholic beverage.

The TV star said: 'I've been given some Hooch. He's so lovely for giving me that... [but] where the f**k are we going? I'm on the bus, I'm on the way to Lewisham. Here I am, I love your pink Hooch, respect.'

Having fun: The comedian, 44, appeared drunk as he was treated to a can of pink Hooch by the fellow passenger, but wasn't seen drinking on the public vehicle

Careful! Drinking alcohol and carrying open containers on Transport for London has been banned since 2008, but Alan wasn't seen sipping on his can in the TikTok video

'How about that people, Alan Carr! I have to keep rolling', the member of public added, moments before the talk show host joked: 'No, f***ing press that stop bottom, I'm getting off now!'

Earlier this year, the Chatty Man star spoke about getting nervous before filming RuPaul's Drag Race UK after 'putting on three stone' during lockdown.

Appearing remotely on This Morning, the host revealed: 'We stopped filming in February and the next thing you know we started in November when I've just eaten.'

The comedian responded in full: 'Only because I put on three stone. We stopped filming in February and the next thing you know we started in November when I've just eaten.

'Do you remember when Oprah was on BBC and she was thin and then she was fat on Channel 4? That's what it was like.'

Alan also touched upon the return of Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow, with the new season of the ITV programme featuring Harry and Sandra Redknapp, Nicola Adams and Ella Baig, Martin and Shirlie Kemp, and Catherine Tyldesley.

'It's weird but it works,' he said. 'We've got some great punters and they're so excited because they're allowed out of the house.'
Anna Heinrich is celebrating her first Mother's Day with daughter Elle in an extra special way.

Posting to her Instagram on Thursday, the 34-year-old former Bachelor winner excitedly showed off her first magazine cover shoot alongside her little girl.

In the photo, the mother-and-daughter duo graced the cover of body+soul magazine, both of them sporting beaming smiles.

Cover stars! Anna Heinrich has celebrated her first Mother's Day by sharing a photo alongside her baby daughter Elle Robards on the cover of body+soul magazine.

'I'm so honoured and proud to be a mum. Your mum. My little ray of sunshine,' Anna, 34, captioned the heartfelt post.

'It's certainly going to be a Mother's Day to remember,' she added.

In the picture, Anna wore a grey bodysuit with a multi-coloured woollen coat, while Elle donned a crocheted beige onesie.

An honour: 'I'm so honoured and proud to be a mum. Your mum. My little ray of sunshine,' Anna, 34, captioned the heartfelt post.

The sweet photoshoot comes four days after Anna told fans she suffered a relatable 'mum fail' when she struggled to tie Elle's locks up into a ponytail.

The lawyer shared a video of baby Elle's cute topknot hairstyle as they prepared to head out on Sunday.

Anna explained she was constantly being asked by her followers to put Elle's hair up, but she struggled with the task.

Mum fail! Anna Heinrich showed off her daughter Elle's wild hairstyle on Sunday after she struggled to tie her blonde locks in a ponytail

'A lot of people wanted me to do a little tie in her hair and I did it today, but it is probably not the right colour and probably not the right hair tie... Massive fail by me,' she said with a laugh.

Anna and her daughter were heading out spend time with one of her girlfriends and her son in Manly.

As always, blonde beauty Anna looked chic in a pair of grey shorts teamed with a low-cut beige knit tank top.

Cute: Anna shared a mirror selfie she took with her daughter before they headed to a friend's house

Last month, Anna's husband Tim Robards shared a heartwarming video of himself attempting to teach the little tot how to walk while cuddling her on the floor of their family home in Sydney.

'Who loves to stand? Who loves to stand? Are you gonna walk?' Tim, 38, was heard saying to his daughter as she wriggled around in his arms.

Anna and former Neighbours actor Tim welcomed their baby girl in November.
For help call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Iain Lee touched upon the bitterness he felt towards his former The 11 O'Clock Show colleagues Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron Cohen whose careers took off after the show while his 'took a nosedive'.

The radio host, 47, presented the satirical late night comedy show, which ran from 1998 to 2000, but after he left the show he admitted his drug habit spiralled, leading to him becoming 'very unstable'.

Iain spoke candidly on The Paul Chowdhry PudCast about his battles with drugs, the struggles he has faced in the industry as well as his realisation he is bisexual.

Bitterness: Former The 11 O'Clock Show presented Iain Lee, 47, admitted he felt resentful and bitter towards his co-stars Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron Cohen (pictured together on the show) when their careers took off and his 'took a nosedive'

Speaking on the podcast, which was released on Thursday, the former I'm A Celeb contestant said: 'As the show finished and we all got propelled into our different careers, my career started quite slowly going down and then took a nosedive.

He said: 'And I'm watching Ricky and Sacha go off to Hollywood and make movies and I'm thinking s***, that was supposed to be me...

'I always got on well with Sacha and Ricky but for a long time I was caught up in bitterness and resentment and jealousy.'

The former talkRADIO presenter admitted he was taking drugs before he landed the hosting gig and his habit soon escalated when he started earning decent money.

Honest: In an emotional conversation on The Paul Chowdhry PudCast Iain (pictured in 2019) spoke about his battles with drugs, the struggles he has faced in the industry as well as the moment he discovered he was bisexual

'Suddenly, I'm earning thousands of pounds a week and I'm meeting a guy that will deliver coke to my door and it went nuts. I had low self esteem so the way I handled it was by taking cocaine and cheating on my girlfriend.'

In the raw conversation with Paul, Iain opened up for the first time about his sexuality and his first sexual interactions with men at the age of 14.

He said: 'I'd started acting out with older men at the age of about 14 and, for a long time, I felt a lot of shame around that. Ive never really talked about this.'

He suggested his relationship with his father, who he was quick to explain had never abused him, was the root cause of his 'acting out'.

Jealousy: Iain spoke honestly about how his drug habit became to spiral as he watched his colleagues go off and make it in Hollywood. Pictured: Ricky Gervais on The 11 O'Clock Show

In a heartbreaking segment of the episode, Iain admitted he was abused at the age of eight while he was in the Cub Scouts.

He said: 'I was very confused about what a young boy...how they are supposed to get affection from older men. For me, it was going in public toilets at the age of 14 and I did that with older men.

'For a long time, I felt a lot of shame around that until [my therapist] said you know that's abuse. I said, no, no, no, no, it's not abuse because I went there. It can't be abuse because I went there.

'And he said you were 14...And it dawned on me, it was abuse, you know, finally after years - I got it.'

Drug habit: The former talkRADIO presenter (pictured in 2003) admitted he was taking drugs before he landed the hosting gig on The 11 O'Clock Show and his habit soon escalated when he started earning decent money

Big stars: Sacha and Ricky have gone on to enjoy huge success

After leaving The 11 O'Clock Show, Iain began went into radio - admitting the people who gave him the job 'could see through the insanity that I was going through as I was getting clean.'

During the honest chat, Iain also spoke about his time on I'm a Celebrity in 2017.

He explained he had been approached four times to appear on the show and had turned it down, stating: 'It means your career is over.'

The father-of-two admitted he finally relented when he got divorced from his wife, broadcaster Helena Wilkinson, and he couldn't afford the deposit on a house or flat.

In need of the money, he phoned them and asked if there was still a spot for him - later learning he was in fact the lowest paid star on the show that year.

'The plan was to go in last and come out first because as a scholar of these reality shows the people that go in late never do well and then have a really lovely holiday.

Realisation: Iain (pictured in 2018) opened up on the podcast for the first time - speaking about his sexuality and his first sexual interactions with men at the age of 14

'But it didn't happen like that. I went in last, something kind of clicked with the public - I think mainly clicked that some of the other people in there were a******** and I came third. So that was funny.'

He also went on to discuss being let go from talkRADIO, along with his co-host Katherine Boyle, in June 2020.

He said: 'I kind of know why they let me go, but I don't really know why. I've made up my version of why they let me go from talkRADIO and I don't get it.'

After his contract was not renewed he launched his own phone-in radio talk show The Late Night Alternative on Twitch.

Two months before the duo were let go they had won an award for Best Radio Moment of the Year after Iain helped save the life of a suicidal man who called his late night show - keeping him talking and sending an ambulance to his home.

Incredible: Footage shows the moment Iain Lee took a call from a man who had taken an overdose in December 2018

The talkRADIO presenter told the middle aged caller he would 'not allow him to die' and insisted the tearful man reveal his address so emergency services could find him.

Lee, who has been open about his own mental health struggles, kept the man talking for 20 minutes and later called him after the end of his show to make sure he was safe.

A similar situation had happened the previous Christmas in 2018 when a man, identified as Chris, called talkRadio and said he was 'lying in the street, dying' in Plymouth, Devon.

'We had a little bit of fun with him for the first two minutes and then he said hed taken an overdose. I asked if he normally slurred his words and he didn't and then everything changed.

Third place: After declining the offer to appear on I'm A Celebrity four times, Iain finally decided to enter the show so he could afford a deposit for a new house or flat after his divorce - eventually finishing in third place (pictured)

'So I kept him on air and it was horrendous, it was heartbreaking, it was humbling.

'I got him to describe what he could see and this is the power of radio - people were texting in saying they knew where he was. It took half an hour from him calling in to the police arriving, and I just kept talking.'

Iain has previously been open about his own battles with mental health and depression, revealing he once 'felt suicidal.'

After the incident people took to social media to praise the DJ for his actions.

For help call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
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Carol Vorderman gave fans a glimpse of her lavish campervan stay in Bristol on Wednesday night as she got ideas for her own design so she can have 'lots of adventures'.

The former Countdown star, 60, took to Instagram as she showed off the cosy accommodation with luxury details such as a mini log burner, projector and even a roof terrace.

Carol revealed that she was getting ideas for her own campervan design as she teased: 'We are gonna have lots of adventures if you wanna come with me on here.'

Lavish! Carol Vorderman gave fans a glimpse of her lavish campervan stay in Bristol on Wednesday night as she got ideas for her own design so she can have 'lots of adventures'

The presenter made sure she stayed in styled as her accommodation for the evening had a cosy double bed with plush furnishings, house plants and airy white panelled walls.

Other details included a mini log burner to keep warm and a miniature kitchen complete with a gas stove and wooden counter to cook on.

Adventures: The former Countdown star, 60, took to Instagram as she showed off the cosy accommodation with luxury details such as a mini log burner, projector and even a roof terrace

Living the life of luxury, Carol was able to enjoy lavish details such as a projector which screened onto the campervan's door, a hammock, skylight and even a roof terrace with benches.

Teasing her future designs, the presenter said: 'Had a lovely time this evening with @vanlifebuilds [heart emoji] getting ideas for my van build.'

Carol added: 'I DEFINITELY want a wood burner in our van (we are gonna have lots of adventures [smiling emojis] if you wanna come with me on here).'

The star continued: 'Cool idea from @vanlifebuilds... little projector onto one of the doors' followed by hands emojis.

Carol also revealed that there was a roof terrace, she said: 'Bed at the back. Stand on it and climb through the skylight. Benches that fold up and down to sit on the rood... imagine our views from here [thumbs up emoji] clever @vanlifebuilds.'

Yet by Thursday, the former Countdown star appeared to be back in her Bristol abode as she showed off her famous curves in a khaki green jumpsuit and joked: 'Got ACTUAL clothes on (not leggings today)... this is called ADULTING.'

Carol has been enjoying several adventures recently and just last week she sent temperatures soaring as she stripped down to a busty neon orange swimsuit during a getaway in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The former Countdown presenter told her followers it was 'beyond roasting hot' as she took to Twitter to share a racy snap in the corset one-piece.

Toasty: The presenter made sure she stayed in styled as her accommodation for the evening had a mini log burner to keep warm and a miniature kitchen complete with a gas stove and wooden counter to cook on

Film night: Living the life of luxury, Carol was able to enjoy lavish details such as a projector which screened onto the campervan's door

Idyllic: It also had a hammock, skylight and even a roof terrace with benches

And after a long walk along in the countryside, Carol decided she wanted to spend the afternoon soaking up the sun in her plunging swimsuit.

Carol flaunted her ample cleavage in the swimwear, while the corset detailing along the side highlighted her toned and tanned waist.

The television personality captioned the snap: 'It is beyond roasting hot here.....whoah.....swimming cossie on..... Happy days'.

Carol had earlier taken a video of herself down at the harbour as she made the most of the morning sun.

Back home: Yet by Thursday, the former Countdown star appeared to be back in her Bristol abode as she showed off her famous curves in a khaki green jumpsuit and joked: 'Got ACTUAL clothes on (not leggings today)... this is called ADULTING.'

She said: 'I was going to go home today, can you imagine? Back to the bridge in Bristol but I'm becoming a world champion chilling bird. Oh yeah'.

The television personality has been on a roll littering her social media with bikini-clad snaps.

Last month, Carol shared a racy throwback snap of herself posing in yet another tiny piece of swimwear.

The former Countdown star put on a very busty display in a skimpy Welsh Dragon bikini top for the sizzling mirror selfie, which she'd taken two years earlier.

Carol captioned the 2019 throwback photo with: 'Maybe it's time to get this one out now that I'm home #WelshDragon #BikiniRummaging.'

Roasting hot! Carol has been enjoying several adventures recently and just last week she sent temperatures soaring as she stripped down to a busty neon orange swimsuit during a getaway in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Soaking up the sun: The television personality captioned the snap: 'It is beyond roasting hot here.....whoah.....swimming cossie on..... Happy days'.

The presenter's late mother Edwina hailed from Wales and Carol regularly shows her support for Welsh team Dragons Rugby.

Carol lives in Bristol although she also owns a property in Wales, the star recently enjoyed a getaway to Pembrokeshire.

Taking to Instagram to share updates from her trip, the TV star revealed that she was staying in a yurt while she later shared a picture of a lavish balcony overlooking the sea.

Carol shared her love for the country after growing up in North Wales and that returning after lockdown restriction eased had filled her heart to 'bursting point'.

She penned: 'Good morning gorgeous peeps from Wales. Finally after the lockdown has been lifted slightly, I could come home.

Goodness! The television personality has been on a roll littering her social media with bikini-clad snaps and last month Carol shared a racy throwback snap in a red dragon bikini in 2019

'I grew up in North Wales and to see the sea and the mountains and the cows and sheep and green green grass (cue @realsirtomjones ).....it fills my heart to bursting point.

'I've always been "a morning girl" so I was up early again this morning to catch another dawn. The full moon was large and yellow in the sky and was setting #MOONSET while the sun came up Bright and SHINY #SUNRISE.

'Only me on this beach at dawn.....it's ALWAYS worth getting up early.... Have a lovely day everyone.'

The former Better Homes presenter's now famous curves have made headlines in the past.

Speaking recently on Good Morning Britain, Carol revealed that she was 'shocked' when pictures of her sensational physique 'went everywhere' as she was quizzed about the snaps by host Susanna Reid.

Discussing the snaps, Carol said: 'I had a very long breakfast with the boss.... it went everywhere that was a bit of a shocker, I hadnt put makeup on in ages.'
Brielle Biermann added some work to her tropical vacation in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii this week.

The Don't Be Tardy star was modeling bikinis from her mother Kim Zolciak's swim line Salty K as she took in the warm weather at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

The star, 24, can next be seen on the Bravo Kids special airing during Watch What Happens Live with Teresa Giudice's daughter Gia, 20, and Vicki Gunvalson's daughter Briana Culberson, 33, among others.

Kim Zolciak's daughter Brielle Biermann modelled her mom's bikini range in Hawaii on Instagram on Thursday

Model moment: The Don't Be Tardy star was modeling bikinis from her mother Kim Zolciak's swim line Salty K

Dreamy location: The star took in the warm weather on her May break while at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

In the new images Brielle looked incredible in a string bikini as she sunbathed.

The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star also was seen in a blue bikini top and shorts with long green nails as she joked: 'Hooked on you.'

When laying tummy down on a yacht she cheekily said, 'Anyone interested in the catch of the day?'

The stepdaughter of Kroy Biermann was also seen in a hot pink off-the-shoulder dress as she enjoyed an al fresco meal at the luxury destination.

Cute note: The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star also was seen in a blue bikini top and shorts with long green nails as she joked: 'Hooked on you'

And a way we go: The ocean behind her looked inviting as she sat on the edge of the vessel

'Nothing better than having dinner on the beach,' she said in her caption as she posed with a male friend.

The star started in reality TV when just a child and has since been a staple on Don't Be Tardy. Now she works as an influencer as she plugs products on Instagram.

Biermann also has a new gig lined up: she has been busy preparing for her role on the Bravo Kids special on What Watch Happens Live.

Also on the special will be Teresa Giudice's daughter Gia Giudice, 20, Kandi Burruss' daughter Riley, 18, Dolores Catania's son Frankie, 22, Meredith Marks' son Brooks Marks, 21, and Luann De Lesseps' daughter Victoria, 27, are signed on too.

Getting tan: When laying tummy down on a yacht she cheekily said, 'Anyone interested in the catch of the day?'

Sheree Whitfield's 25-year-old son Kairo who has gone into the modeling business is among the Bravo legacies scheduled for the broadcast.

Former Housewives' children including Vicki Gunvalson's daughter Briana Culberson, 33, and Jeana Keough's son Shane, 34, have also been booked.

The former New Jersey Housewife Caroline Manzo's sons Albie, 34, and Christopher, 32, who co-host the Dear Albie podcast, will be on as well.

Andy has also brought in Ramona Singer's daughter Avery, 25, and Cynthia Bailey's daughter Noelle Robinson, 31, for the big show.

Viewers will get to pose their questions about what life is like as a Real Housewife's child - and Andy has already solicited inquiries on Twitter.

Dinner time: The stepdaughter of Kroy Biermann was also seen in a hot pink off-the-shoulder dress as she enjoyed an al fresco meal at the luxury destination

Beach time at night: 'Nothing better than having dinner on the beach,' she said in her caption

Dinner date: Here the star was seen with a male friend as she put her mask down on the table

This comes a month after Brielle mourned the death of her friend Ethan McCallister, after her was tragically killed at age 28 in April by a hit and run driver in an SUV in Atlanta.

'We will miss your huge beautiful smile, constant jokes, cowboy boots and infamous shirts,' Kim, 42, wrote in her Instagram post which included photos of Ethan and Brielle having fun together.

'You were always the life of the party!! One of the most genuine kind hearted people I have ever known,' she continued. 'Always willing to help anyone anywhere. We love you Ethan and I will make sure justice is served.'

Ethan was reportedly struck by a vehicle at 3am on Saturday morning as he was out walking at Piedmont Avenue and Lindbergh Drive in Atlanta, according to WSB-TV.

Police are still searching for the suspect who was reportedly driving a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and fled the scene of the crash.

Cheers to me: The star seemed to be having a martini as she listened to a band

An Italian meal: The star, who has five siblings, enjoyed pizza and meatballs

Brielle, 24, shared a heartbroken message to her own account, as she wrote: 'Ethan.... i cant believe Im even writing this. Im sick sick sick to my stomach.

'You are my happiness my joy my light in this very dark world.. the life of the party and the sweetest soul Ive been blessed to know.

'You are my best friend. My heart. My everything. There will never be another you. Ever ever ever. You came into this world with 1 mission... make people smile. You were damn good at it too. There was never a moment i wasnt laughing with you!!

A model model at her resort: She also took time out to plug a brand as she works as an influencer now; she had on a bra top and skirt with platform heels

'We havent spent a weekend apart all year!!! How am i supposed to go anywhere without you? How am i supposed to laugh, smile, GO TO MIAMI OR DRINK 1942 WITHOUT YOU!? God i love you ethan. I really really do. I cant wait to see you again'

Brielle shared photos of the friends together, some from their recent trip to the Bahamas.

Kim and Brielle also asked for help in identifying the driver and shared the link to the McCallister family GoFundMe.

Heartbroken: Kim Zolciak and Brielle have been left devastated after their good friend Ethan McCallister was killed in a hit-and-run in April
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Sam Newman has been spotted in Melbourne after his wife Amanda Brown died unexpectedly on Saturday.

The footy legend, 74, looked forlorn as he ran errands on Thursday in a black T-shirt and shorts.

Sam kept his head down as he reached into the boot of his classic late 1960s Mustang convertible, with white-wall tyres, to retrieve a garment, before placing it on a clothes hanger.

Devastated: A heartbroken Sam Newman, 74, was spotted in Melbourne on Thursday following the sudden death of his wife Amanda Brown on Saturday

The former Geelong great and Mustang enthusiast carried a water bottle, along with a coffee, as he made his way through the car park.

The sighting comes after Sam described the tragic final moments of his wife's life, explaining how he performed CPR on a deceased Amanda for 20 minutes before she was pronounced dead.

On Wednesday, he spoke at length about his heartache at losing his partner of almost two decades, whom he only married late last year.

'I get home and I walk in the door and the television's on in the bedroom. So I look down there and lying in her underwear - she'd obviously been in bed or she got out of bed to get something to eat,' Sam said.

Running errands: Sam kept his head down as he reached into the boot of his classic late 1960s Mustang convertible to retrieve a garment, before placing it on a clothes hanger

Grieving: Sam appeared downcast while going about his business

Sad: The sighting comes as the footy legend detailed the tragic final moments of his wife Amanda Brown's life on Wednesday

Too late: Sam revealed that he performed CPR on his deceased wife for 20 minutes before she was pronounced dead

'She's 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.

'I've got the phone on speaker and I'm pumping this poor woman who's lying there looking so peaceful, obviously dead, but the operator said keep doing it in case there's a spark of life in her, I think she said.'

Awful: 'I rang 000 and the very helpful person said you better try and give CPR and she talked me through that. So for 20 minutes I'm giving CPR to what I knew was a corpse'

'So for 20 minutes I'm giving CPR to what I knew was a corpse,' he added.

Detailing the heartbreaking days since his wife died, Sam 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.

Habit: Detailing the heartbreaking days since his wife died, Sam explained how he unexpectedly crawled into her side of the bed in an effort to be close to her

'Now here's 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 didn't 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 I'd have a crack at going to sleep, and of course I couldn't.'

Support: Sam has received an outpouring of love and support from the footy community

An emotional Sam 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 release the podcast.

'I want to do this,' he said.

'I've had a pretty tough week so before I start, I don't want anyone listening to this to feel sorry for me.'

Sleepless night: He said, 'I tried to go to sleep. The coroner left at about one in the morning and at about half-past two I thought I'd have a crack at going to sleep, and of course I couldn't'

Candid: An emotional Sam 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 release the podcast

A humble Sam said there were plenty of other people in the community who had suffered greater adversity than him.

'I'm not singling myself out for sympathy or anything like that,' he said.

Speaking to his mate and former AFL legend Don Scott, Sam said he had been overwhelmed by the support he had received over the past few days.

RIP: Sam'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)

'I've had people reach out to me, you wouldn't believe the people who've reached out to me who've suffered similar episodes in their life,' he said.

'There'll be a significant amount of people that don't have sympathy for me and that's fine too.

'They'll say I got what I deserved and good luck and good riddance and all that, and I understand that and I don't mind if you have that opinion of me and what happened to me. That's fine because I'm a polarising influence I suppose.'
An official teaser for the upcoming fourth season of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things was uploaded to the series' YouTube account on Thursday.

The clip takes place in a medical facility filled with young children setting an eerie tone before Martin Brenner enters the room and delivers an ominous message, after which Eleven's eyes are seen opening.

This new season of the science fiction-thriller series, which also stars Millie Bobbie Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder and Gaten Matarazzo, has been in development since 2019. The production team was experiencing several delays for various reasons, including lockdown from COVID-19.

Big reveal: On Thursday, an official teaser for the upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things was released on the series' YouTube account

The teaser begins with various shots from what appears to be a clandestine medical facility, with two children crawling behind toy cars that move on their own.

Another patient drops a small wooden disk into a wall full of pegs while another duo plays chess with each other.

After the wooden toy lands in a box marked '7,' the camera pans out and shows a room full of children with medical gowns and shaved heads, similar to how viewers were introduced to Millie Bobby Brown's character, Eleven.

A shadowy figure then slowly approaches the facility's door and wishes the patients a good morning, to which they respond by calling him 'Papa,' marking the return of Brenner, played by Matthew Modine.

Working on it: The fourth season of the show has been in development ever since 2019, and its production has undergone several delays

Inside look: The trailer begins with several shots from what appears to be a medical facility showing numerous children playing with each other

The camera begins turning towards a door with a sign that simply reads '11' as the sinister laboratory director ominously tells the children, 'today, I have something very special planned for you.'

The trailer ends with Brown's character suddenly opening her eyes as Brenner asks her, 'Eleven, are you listening?'

Development on the fourth season of Stranger Things officially began in 2019, shortly after the premiere of the show's third run of episodes.

The series' writers previously hinted at a change in setting that would occur in the project's future, with many fans expressing that Russia would be used as a principal location.

Coming back: The teaser also saw the return of Matthew Modine's character, the sinister laboratory director Martin Brenner

Letting them know: Near the end of the video, the show's primary antagonist addressed the children present in the room and told them that 'today, I have something very special planned for you'

In addition to Brown, series regulars Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder and Gaten Matarazzo, among several others, will star in the new set of episodes.

Several new performers, including Robert Englund and Jamie Campbell Bower, were later added to the show's cast.

Although David Harbour's character, Jim Hopper, was seemingly killed off at the end of the series' third season, he later confirmed that he would be reprising his role in the future.

Principal photography began in February of last year, with the crew working on scenes at a decommissioned prison in Lithuania.

Hard at work: The production crew began shooting in February of last year, with filming taking place at a decommissioned prison in Lithuania

Safety first: Although production was later moved to Atlanta, shooting was shut down as a response to the onset of the global pandemic

Filming eventually moved to the series' longtime shooting location of Atlanta before production was shut down in March as a response to the onset of the global pandemic.

After several months of delays, shooting resumed in September of last year and has continued ever since then.

The upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things is set to be released on the Netflix streaming service at an unspecified date in the near future.
It has been nearly 14 months since the initial release date for the film as horror fans have been (silently) suffering in anticipation.

And it seems like the sequel will be well worth the wait.

The final trailer for A Quiet Place II was released on Thursday and it includes everything fans of the original would want including Emily Blunt fighting for survival while protecting her children and even an appearance from John Krasinski.

Hero: The final trailer for A Quiet Place II was released on Thursday and it includes everything fans of the original would want including Emily Blunt fighting for survival while protecting her children

Surprise: It even features an appearance from John Krasinski

As 41-year-old Kraskinski's character Lee Abbott had perished in the first film, it was definitely surprising to see him open up the trailer as he steps into a pharmacy.

He notices the store clerk completely turned around and watching something on the news before asking: 'What the hell happened?'

The man replies: 'Some bomb I think,' then all hell breaks loose sending Lee to run into the streets to grab his daughter Regan (played by Millicent Simmonds) to escape an attack.

There he is: As 41-year-old Kraskinski's character Lee Abbott had perished in the first film, it was definitely surprising to see him open up the trailer as he steps into a pharmacy

Uh oh: He notices the store clerk completely turned around and watching something on the news before asking: 'What the hell happened?'

Under attack: All hell breaks loose as there is pandemonium in the streets when something falls from the sky into a building

Family first: Lee runs into the streets to grab his daughter Regan (played by Millicent Simmonds) to escape an attack

It then cuts to 38-year-old Blunt's character Evelyn walking through the forest with Regan and son Marcus (played by Noah Jupe).

No doubt seeing what was left of the family in the outside world is a big shock as the first film took place entirely at their home but one thing still remained; they still have to keep quiet to prevent being attacked by the blind monsters with an acute sense of hearing.

Evelyn had a completely bandaged foot as she stepped as softly as possible on dried up leaves while they began their journey away from home.

Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou are among the new cast members in the sequel as both were also featured in the trailer.

Change of scenery: It then cuts to 38-year-old Blunt's character Evelyn walking through the forest with Regan and son Marcus (played by Noah Jupe)

Stay quiet: Evelyn had a completely bandaged foot as she stepped as softly as possible on dried up leaves

Fighting for survival: The family are shown beginning their journey away from home

Cillian's, 44, bearded character Emmett is shown at a bar as he tells Evelyn: 'I don't know why you came all the way up here. There's nothing left.'

Evelyn heroically replies: 'There are people out there. People worth saving.'

She is then shown raising a shotgun and cocking it while pointing the barrel toward an enemy before all hell breaks loose with various scenes of the group trying to avoid the monsters.

At one point 57-year-old Djimon's character - who still hasn't been named - tells Emmett: 'Most people had finally given up hope.'

Dynamic duo: Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou are among the new cast members in the sequel as both were also featured in the trailer

Glass half empty: Cillian's, 44, bearded character Emmett is shown at a bar as he tells Evelyn: 'I don't know why you came all the way up here. There's nothing left'

Glass half full: Evelyn heroically replies: 'There are people out there. People worth saving'

At one point Emily is shown with tears streaming down her face as she visits a gravesite - presumably Lee's - as she breathes heavily while placing her forehead on the cross.

The rest of the trailer was filled with short clips of the crew trying to stay away from the monsters and ends with Evelyn breathing in what looks like an underground shelter space when a figure appears in the water behind her.

She then grabs her children as they jump into a vault together and attempt to close the door when it is ripped off as the trailer ends.

Last month, Krasinski announced the highly-anticipated sequel would be released on Memorial Day weekend which was more than a year after its original release date.

Sad: At one point Emily is shown with tears streaming down her face as she visits a gravesite, which was presumably Lee's

Paying tribute: She breathes heavily while placing her forehead on the cross

The sequel was originally slated for release on March 20, 2020, with Paramount initially stating they would not push the release.

However, just a week before it was supposed to hit theaters, Paramount pulled it from its release schedule, as theaters across the country shut down.

It was first delayed to September 4, but as theaters were still closed, it was pushed again to April 23, 2021.

Back in January, when COVID-19 cases surged all across America, the studio pushed the sequel yet again to September 17, 2021.

Krasinski directed and starred in the 2018 sleeper hit A Quiet Place alongside his wife Emily Blunt and Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe as their on-screen kids.

Scary: The rest of the trailer was filled with short clips of the crew trying to stay away from the monsters and ends with Evelyn breathing in what looks like an underground shelter space when a figure appears in the water behind her

Cliffhanger: She then grabs her children as they jump into a vault together and attempt to close the door when it is ripped off as the trailer ends

The film followed their family as they adapted to a new world where alien predators hunt by sound, after wiping out most of humanity.

The sequel follows the family as they venture outside of their quite home in the woods, and discover there are more dangerous threats besides these monsters.

Krasinski returned for the sequel to direct from his own script, based on characters created by A Quiet Place writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.

A Quiet Place Part II can be seen in theaters in the US on Friday, May 28 and in the UK on June 3. It will later be available to stream on the Paramount Plus streaming service 45 days after it debuts in theaters.
He's been busy shooting scenes for Peaky Blinders' sixth and final season, after the novel coronavirus pandemic forced production to halt.

And lead actor Cillian Murphy was seen cutting a brooding figure as he got into character while strolling before cameras on the set in Manchester, on Thursday.

The actor, 44, transformed into Tommy Shelby as he stepped out in the city's Castlefield area, where he was seen exiting a Chinese business.

Scene and heard: Actor Cillian Murphy was spotted shooting scenes for Peaky Blinders' sixth season in Manchester on Thursday

Making his way across a bridge as he walked away, the star looked dapper in a grey three-piece suit, which he teamed with a patterned tie and crisp white shirt.

Sporting a grey cap, the actor carried a large black leather bag, while he rounded out his retro look with a pair of polished black boots.

The day before, the screen star was seen shooting scenes with newcomer Amber Anderson on the streets of Manchester.

While Amber's character remains unknown, director Anthony Byrne told Digital Spy in June last year that there was a dangerous new female character set to appear.

Getting into character: The actor, 44, transformed into Tommy Shelby as he stepped out in the city's Castlefield area, where he was seen exiting a Chinese business

Dapper gent: The star looked dapper in a grey three-piece suit, which he teamed with a patterned tie and crisp white shirt

Retro: Sporting a grey cap, the actor carried a large black leather bag, while the star rounded out his retro look with a pair of polished black boots

He said: 'Theres a great female character who is new, who is pretty dark. I havent seen a character like her in Peaky before. I wont say who she is, but she certainly gives Tommy a run for his money.'

Their outing on set follows reports the cast and crew were told to continue filming after someone tested positive for COVID-19, insiders claim.

Work on the sixth season of the hit BBC drama, set in Birmingham, was temporarily paused due to 'a false positive test for a member of the crew'.

The person then took an NHS COVID test which came back negative - allowing filming to officially resume as per official protocol, a spokesperson said.

But crew members claim filming continued for several hours when the first test came in.

Busy schedule: He's been busy shooting scenes for Peaky Blinders' sixth and final season, after the novel coronavirus pandemic forced production to halt

Test: His outing on set follows reports the cast and crew were told to continue filming after someone tested positive for COVID-19, insiders claim

Bridge: Irish actor Cillian strolled across a bridge as cameras rolled on the set oh the hit show

Union Bectu is now investigating after workers felt their health was put at risk, The Guardian reports.

Filming delays for BBC One cost between 650,000 and 1 million per hour.

At the time, a show spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Filming was stood down on Peaky Blinders because of a false positive test result for a member of the crew.

'In line with protocol, this person took an NHS test and anyone who came into contact with them self-isolated  the safety of our team on Peaky Blinders is of paramount importance.

'The NHS test has come back negative and filming will resume as normal tomorrow.'

Lead: Cillian portrays lead character Tommy Shelby in the hugely successful BBC TV series

Halted: Filming of Peaky Blinders was previously halted last year when the COVID outbreak first reached Britain

Filming of Peaky Blinders was previously halted last year when the COVID outbreak first reached Britain.

The show's official Twitter account released a statement saying: 'After much consideration, and in light of the developing situation concerning COVID-19, the start of production of Peaky Blinders Series 6 has been postponed.

'Huge thanks to our incredible cast and crew, and to all our amazing fans for their continued support.'

The series later resumed filming series six, which will be the show's last, in January.

Depart: A castmember was seen making his exit out of the premises after Cillian's departure

Conservation area: Trucks crowded the streets as filming took place in Castlefield, which is an inner city conservation area

Brum: While the show films in various locations, it has been set in Birmingham over the years

The cast recently filmed for the first time since former co-star Helen McCrory passed away from cancer aged 52.

Late actress Helen, who played Aunt Polly on the crime drama, was recently honoured by the programme's showrunners.

They said a statement: 'Helen's performance as Polly Gray was inspirational, joyous, transgressive, hilarious and incredibly moving.

'As a person she was off-the-scale charismatic, and deeply caring. We feel so privileged to have worked with her over the last decade. All our thoughts and love are with Damian and family.'
They are based in Los Angeles with their two children Wylda Rae and Romy Hero and have recently been dogged by unfounded divorce rumours.

But Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his wife Sam put on a united front as they grabbed a takeaway lunch together in Calabasas on Wednesday.

Aaron, 30, cut a dapper figure in grey trousers and a crisp white T-shirt, while director Sam, 54, looked radiant in a floaty white dress teamed with open-toe sandals.

United: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 30, and his wife Sam, 54, put on a united front as they grabbed a takeaway lunch together in Calabasas on Wednesday

Sam wore her blonde hair loose and protected her vision behind a pair of chic sunglasses as she strolled by her husband's side.

Aaron paired his dapper outfit with crisp white trainers and chatted away to Sam while clutching a large juice in his right hand.

Both wore masks in keeping with pandemic protocol.

Aaron pulled his down so he could better talk to his wife and inadvertently revealed he had grown a beard in lockdown.

Various outlets including The Sun reported that fans had begun speculating whether the pair had split last month after they put their $7.5 million Hollywood homes on the market.

Stylish: Aaron cut a casual figure in grey trousers and a crisp white T-shirt, while director Sam looked radiant in a floaty white dress teamed with open-toe sandals

Chic: Sam wore her blonde hair loose and protected her vision behind a pair of chic sunglasses as she strolled by her husband's side

But Wednesday's photographs appear to confirm that the listing was merely a financial move.

Aaron and his wife Sam met on the set of the 2009 John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, which Sam directed, when she was 42 and he was 18.

The English pair announced their engagement later that year and married in 2012 with a ceremony in Somerset, England.

At the time of their first collaboration, Aaron went by the surname Johnson, while Sam went by Taylor-Wood, but both adopted the married name Taylor-Johnson.

Trendy: Aaron paired his dapper outfit with crisp white trainers and chatted away to Sam while clutching a large juice in his right hand

Rumours: They are based in Los Angeles with their two children Wylda Rae and Romy Hero and have recently been plagued by divorce rumours

The lovebirds returned to collaborating in 2018 with their adaptation of James Frey's pseudo-memoir A Million Little Pieces.

The couple wrote the film together, making it Aaron's first credited screenwriting gig.

He starred in the movie as Frey, who's sent to a rehab center after suffering a serious fall while under the influence of drugs.

In 2010 Aaron and Sam welcomed their first daughter Wylda Rae, with Romy being born in 2012.

Masked-up: Both Aaron and Sam wore masks in keeping with pandemic protocol, while the former pulled his down so he could better chat to his wife

Aaron has previously discussed the moment he fell for Sam, and even touched upon their age gap.

He told Harper's Bazaar in 2019: 'I remember it very, very clearly. I know exactly what she was wearing. This white shirt that she still has, that I love.'

He added: 'We were very professional through the entire film [Nowhere Boy]. No funny business at all.'

Of their 24-year age gap, the doting father told New York magazine: 'The attention was intrusive. But having to deal with that early in my career probably got me to a place where I can more quickly just go, "Oh, f**k it".'
Martin Compston has hilariously hit back at a troll who questioned his Scottish roots and citizenship.

The Line Of Duty star, 36, was responding to a troll questioning him for urging Scots to vote for the SNP and back Nicola Sturgeon in the election on Thursday.

Martin, who stars as Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama, had made the plea on Sunday in an online rally, which aired shortly before last night's Line Of Duty finale.

'Anything else I can help you with? My movements over the next week?' Line Of Duty's Martin Compston hilariously hit back at a troll questioning his Scottish roots on Thursday

A troll then responded: 'Hi mate just saw your video for the SNP , quick question, what part of Scotland do you stay now?'

To which Martin hit back: 'Currently staying in Edinburgh where Im working for next 4 months but Ill get back to my place in Greenock on my days off Dan.

'Anything else I can help you with? My movements over the next week? My plans for the weekend? Its my birthday so Ill be out if you need a heads up.'

Hitting back: Martin responded to a troll questioning him after he urged Scots to vote for the SNP, and said he was 'staying in Edinburgh' before returning to his home in Greenock

Joker: He amusingly added: 'Anything else I can help you with? My movements over the next week? My plans for the weekend? Its my birthday so Ill be out' (pictured on Line Of Duty)

The actor relocated Stateside in 2019 with his American wife, actress Tianna Flynn, their baby boy, and their dog King, where they snapped up a sprawling four-bed home in Nevada - which boasts a spa, and a solar-heated swimming pool.

Martin, who also owns a home in Greenock, previously hit back at trolls by sharing an image of the flyer showing his name and part of his Scots address.

The flyer was signed by Scottish Conservative Party leaders Ruth Davidson and Douglas Ross, urging Compston to vote for them.

He also clapped back by adding: 'I see Scottish tory twitter and their bots enraged an actor would express an opinion'

Location: The actor relocated Stateside in 2019 with his American wife, actress Tianna Flynn, their baby boy, and their dog, but they also own a home in Greenock (pictured in Las Vegas)

He bought a flat in Greenock earlier this year so he could be closer to his parents, but he spends much of his time in America.

Regarding the election, Martin told an online rally on Monday: 'I think even people who don't like Nicola Sturgeon, for whatever reason, have had to admit that she has been by far the most competent leader on these islands dealing with this crisis.

'And she's the one I think is best placed to take us forward getting out of it.

So, I do really think that we are in a situation now where we need the best people, the most competent people, in charge of Scotland. To make sure that we come out of this a better place than we went in.'
Alessandra Ambrosio was seen relaxing at a beach in Malibu on Wednesday afternoon.

The 40-year-old supermodel appeared to be making the most of the coastal weather as she played a few rounds of volleyball and soaked up all the rays that the golden California sun had to offer.

The fashion industry powerhouse's outing came just a day before she left for New York City in order to complete a work assignment.

Looking good! Alessandra Ambrosio was seen flaunting her statuesque figure while spending time at a Malibu beach on Wednesday afternoon

Ambrosio was dressed in a light blue bikini that placed much of her immaculately toned form and beautifully tanned skin on full display during her trip to the beach.

She kept her typically flowing brunette hair tied up with a bandana that was similar in color to her eye-catching clothing.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel added an element of shine to her outfit with two gold necklaces that offset the color of her clothing.

The swimwear designer was also seen wearing a stylish pair of Max Mara sunglasses that provided a bit of urban chic to her otherwise beach-ready ensemble.

Appropriate attire: The former Victoria's Secret Angel was seen wearing a light blue bikini top and a matching bottom

Soaking it up: The supermodel also wore a pair of stylish sunglasses while taking in all that the warm California sun had to offer

Beach babe: Earlier in the week the Vogue staple shared this image by a lifeguard shack

The following day, Ambrosio had to fly out of Los Angeles in order to take on a work assignment in New York City, and she documented portions of her trip on her Instagram Story.

The fashion industry icon's first entry featured her getting ready to take off towards the Big Apple, and she was seen wearing a mask in order to keep her protected from COVID-19 during her journey.

Her second snap was taken after she touched down in New York City and showed a breathtaking view of one of the metropolis' many bridges.

The supermodel's final Story post featured her sitting in a makeup room while having a beauty product applied to her luscious lips by a makeup artist.

Heading out: The following day, Ambrosio posted several photos to her Instagram Story that gave her followers an inside look into her trip to New York City

Getting ready: The fashion industry icon also shared a snap that showed her being dolled up by a makeup artist

Ambrosio began her modeling career at an early age and began appearing on the cover of various magazines in her early adulthood.

She went on to grace the front of numerous publications, including Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, among several others.

The supermodel moved on to walking on runways for several fashion houses, such as Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton.

The Brazilian beauty also worked with Victoria's Secret for many years and at one point served as the spokesmodel for its PINK line.

Successful model: Ambrosio has walked the runway for numerous fashion houses in the past; she is pictured during the Tommy Hilfiger show at London Fashion Week in 2020

Ambrosio spoke about the changing face of the modeling industry during an interview with Byrdie, and expressed that the internet has become much more important in recent years.

Specifically, she told the outlet that, 'with all the social media you see every angle, every second...Its a lot more work, more pressure, but its way bigger and way better.'

The runway fixture then noted that, although she has been involved in the modeling industry for decades, she always gets the same feeling right before the start of each show she participates in.

'The minute the lights are on and the music starts, the adrenaline is pumping in your body and its crazy; that never gets old. It doesnt matter how many times you do it; it feels like the first time,' she said.
Camila Cabello's live-action Cinderella film with skip the traditional movie theater release and go straight to the small screen.

Deadline reported on Thursday that Amazon Studios is closing in on a deal to acquire worldwide rights to the film from Sony Pictures.

There is no premiere date as of yet but it will be available to stream on Amazon Prime later this year.

Big news: Camila Cabello's live-action Cinderella film with skip the traditional movie theater release and go straight to the small screen, as she is seen in West Hollywood on Tuesday

It was reported last year that the musical reimagining of the film will have a feminist twist.

In May 2020, The Sun reported that new cast member Missy Elliott will now be performing a version of the female empowerment song Single Ladies by Beyonce, dressed as a town crier in one scene.

A source tells the publication: 'They want to make her an inspirational figure for young girls who are watching it, showing they can be strong and independent.'

Star-studdedL: Production on the project resumed in England back in September after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic as at the time director Kay Cannon, 46, (left) took to Instagram to share a snap of herself with Cabello and Idina Menzel (right)

Adding: 'Camila is also involved in putting together the soundtrack, which will feature lots of powerful and aspirational female voices too.'

Former Fifth Harmony member Cabello was cast in the lead role early on in the project and has since been joined by a string of big names.

Billy Porter is the Fairy Godmother and Idina Menzel portrays Cinderella's evil stepmother.

British actor Nicholas Galitzine, 25, has been tapped to play the romantic lead Prince Robert, while Pierce Brosnan will play his father, the king.

Interesting: It was reported by The Sun in May of last year that the musical reimagining of the film will have a feminist twist

The idea for the musical movie came from British actor and host of CBS' The Late late Show James Corden. He is also producing the project with his Fulwell 73 production partner Leo Pearlman.

Cinderella is being directed by Kay Cannon from her own screenplay.

Production on the project resumed in England back in September after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time Cannon, 46, took to Instagram to share a snap of herself with Cabello and Menzel.
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have joined forces with the Prince's Trust to help youngsters launch TV careers  both in front of and behind the camera.

The popular presenting duo, both 45, have enjoyed decades of success in the industry and are now hoping to pay it forward with the launch of their campaign.

Their programme  called Ant & Dec's Making it in Media  will provide hands-on training and a chance to work as a team on a project related to TV production.

New initiative: (L-R) Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have joined forces with the Prince's Trust to help youngsters launch TV careers  both in front of and behind the camera

Ant said: 'Our Making it in Media course with The Prince's Trust is a real passion project for us and something we've wanted to work on for a long time.

'There are so many roles in TV and media that young people may have never considered as a career. We want to help young people find out more about the industry.'

Dec added: 'Starting out in the world of work can be challenging at the best of times, but right now it is harder than ever for young people.

'We hope this course offers some inspiration, practical skills and experience that young people can take with them into the workplace.

Where it all began: Ant and Dec first met on the set of classic children's show Byker Grove when they were aged 12. Pictured together on the show back in 1993

'We're incredibly proud to be partnering with The Prince's Trust on this and we hope we can help make a difference to some young people's lives.'

On Wednesday, Prince Charles made a cheeky jibe at Ant and Dec on BBC's The One Show, joking that the comedy duo have 'followed him around'.

The Prince of Wales, 72, made an unexpected appearance on the magazine show to help launch the new joint initiative to help young people get jobs.

After the presenting partners explained a little about the Ant & Dec's Making it in Media project, they were surprised with the video message.

Loving it: Prince Charles made a cheeky jibe at Ant and Dec during Wednesday's episode of The One Show, joking that the comedy duo have 'followed him around'

Prince Charles told them: 'I can think of no better duo to help drive this activity than Ant and Dec, who have enjoyed an illustrious career in the media for over 30 years.'

He then teased the duo as raised his eyebrows to say: 'During that time, they've both followed me around, they followed me around while filming a documentary for ITV.'

'And they've also played an incredibly generous part in our annual Prince's Trust awards event in London.

'So thank you, Ant and Dec, more than I can ever say, for all your wonderful efforts on behalf of the young people who will be supported by this project,' he continued.

Heir he is: The Prince of Wales, 72, made an unexpected appearance on the BBC show to help launch a new joint initiative for young people

Ant and Dec were left very impressed by the special video, with Ant declaring 'how cool is that' as soon as the cameras went back to them in the studio.

The duo's new initiative launched on Wednesday and sees them wanting to give back to the industry which has given them 'a fantastic career'.

Ant explained on the show: 'We're launching a charity initiative to get young people into this amazing industry, which is the media industry.

'So, we launched that today and it's in conjunction with the Prince's Trust. It's not just in front of camera it's behind the camera as well  sound, lighting cameramen.

Working together: Ant and Dec previously 'followed' the royal while filming a documentary for ITV which aired in 2015 (pictured on When Ant And Dec Met The Prince)

'If you want to work in this amazing industry that's been brilliant to over the years then you can get involved and hopefully join us.'

Dec added: 'Thirty years ago when we started out, we were both given an amazing opportunity when we got parts in Byker Grove and that led to this fantastic career that we've had.

'And we're very, very grateful for it, but we were two quite normal, unremarkable kids from the west end of Newcastle and we were given an opportunity and we grabbed it with both hands.'

Ant and Dec first met on the set of classic children's show Byker Grove when they were aged 12. They went on to launch a pop career, before becoming TV hosts.
Chrissy Teigen was a sheer delight in a see-through Dior dress as she lounged by the beach in the Maldives for her new shoot.

The 35-year-old model, who is part Thai on her mother Vilailuck's side, was covering the new 100th issue of Vogue Thailand.

The wife of John Legend said on Instagram that she did her own makeup for the shoot adding the entire team did 'pretty well' considering the pandemic.

Aglow: Chrissy Teigen was a sheer delight in a see-through blue dress as she lounged by the beach in the Maldives for her new Vogue Thailand cover

She was decked out in a brocaded chiffon frock from Dior as she stretched herself across a tree branch for an evocative snapshot.

In another picture for the shoot she was seen getting leggy in a cutoff caftan while posing on a swing with her feet in the ocean.

She shot her best supermodel smirk at the camera and wore her hair in what she called her 'signature top knot' on Instagram.

Chrissy revealed on social media she was snapped by New York photographer Yu Tsai who was born in Taiwan.

Sizzling sensation: In another picture for the shoot she was seen getting leggy in a cutoff caftan whilst posing on a swing with her feet in the ocean

Alana van Deraa was both her 'sitting stylist' and worked on her hair with Anita Keratin while Kimmie Kyees was in charge of the nails.

Chrissy praised Vogue Thailand's 'incredibly kind' editor-in-chief Kullawit Laosuksri and thanked him 'for letting me represent global thailand :).'

The new issue is not the first time she has fronted Vogue Thailand - she also landed the January 2016 cover of the magazine.

Throwback: The new issue is not the first time she has fronted Vogue Thailand - she also landed the January 2016 cover of the magazine (pictured)

During her photo-shoot she discovered that she was expecting her daughter Luna, now four, by her husband John Legend.

Chrissy and John have been married since 2013 and in addition to Luna they also share a son called Miles who will turn three next week.

At the time she wrote on her Instagram that the cover was 'special to me for so many reasons...one being I am SO PROUD to be Thai, so excited to have shot a Vogue cover (a dream, of course) annnnd a couple minutes after this shot, John and I learned we were having our little baby girl!'

The love of her life: Teigen and John Legend at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2020

This comes after Chrissy weighed in on the new TikTok trend of stars being 'outed' for using the celebrity dating app Raya, including Ben Affleck and Matthew Perry.

While Chrissy, 35, said she did not support stars like Affleck, 48, and Perry, 51, making 'creepy' videos to potential dates, she also criticized those who have shared the exchanges publicly.

'I agree celebs shouldn't be making these creepy desperate video replies on raya but it's tacky to release private messages. Ya both wrong, congrats,' Teigen tweeted to her 13.6 million Twitter followers on Thursday.

Chrissy recently re-joined Twitter after quitting in March this year, when she said she had been 'deeply bruised' by trolls.

Not a creep! Nivine Jay, the woman who posted the video of Affleck, has since made it clear that she didn't believe the actor was being a 'creep' when he reached out to her on Instagram after she unmatched the star on Raya, thinking he was an imposter

Meanwhile, Nivine Jay, the woman who posted the video of Affleck, has since made it clear that she didn't believe the actor was being a 'creep' when he reached out to her on Instagram after she unmatched the star on Raya, thinking he was an imposter.

'I'm seeing a lot of comments calling him a creep and l don't think that's fair. l wasn't making fun of him in the video,' Nivine, 29, claimed to E! News in an interview. 'l was making fun of myself for thinking he was a catfish and it was just supposed to be funny.'

In the original video's caption Nivine explained what happened, writing: 'Thinking of the time I matched with Ben Affleck on Raya and thought it was fake so I unmatched him and he sent me a video on Instagram.'

He's OK! 'I'm seeing a lot of comments calling him a creep and l don't think that's fair. l wasn't making fun of him in the video,' Nivine, 29, claimed to E! News in an interview. 'l was making fun of myself for thinking he was a catfish and it was just supposed to be funny'

The Batman V Superman actor is then seen in an Instagram video speaking directly to camera, attempting to confirm his identity as he asks the woman: 'Nivine, why did you unmatch me? It's me.'

The video sparked a feverish response from his fans, while helping to launch her to five minutes of stardom, as she became the subject of much speculation in the hours after she posted her TikTok video.

On Thursday, Friends actor Matthew Perry was then revealed as another big name to use the service, as a woman claimed they spoke on FaceTime after matching on the app.
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The global market size of Mancozeb is $XX million in 2018 with XX CAGR from 2014 to 2018, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2024 with a CAGR of XX% from 2019 to 2024.



Global Mancozeb Market Report 2019 - Market Size, Share, Price, Trend and Forecast is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Mancozeb industry. The key insights of the report:

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1.The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Mancozeb manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.

2.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology.

3.The report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2013-2018 market shares for key vendors.

4.The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.

5.The report estimates 2019-2024 market development trends of Mancozeb industry.

6.Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out

7.The report makes some important proposals for a new project of Mancozeb Industry before evaluating its feasibility.



There are 4 key segments covered in this report: competitor segment, product type segment, end use/application segment and geography segment.

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For competitor segment, the report includes global key players of Mancozeb as well as some small players. At least 8 companies are included:

* United Phosphorus Ltd. (UPL)

* Sabero Organics Gujarat

* Indofil

* Dow AgroSciences

* Limin Chemical

* Hebei Shuangji Chemical

For complete companies list, please ask for sample pages.



The information for each competitor includes:

* Company Profile

* Main Business Information

* SWOT Analysis

* Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin

* Market Share



For product type segment, this report listed main product type of Mancozeb market

* Mancozeb

* Maneb

* Zineb

* Others



For end use/application segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for key applications. End users sre also listed.

* Agricultural

* Plantations and estates

* Horticultural and ornamental crops

* Others



For geography segment, regional supply, application-wise and type-wise demand, major players, price is presented from 2013 to 2023. This report covers following regions:

* North America

* South America

* Asia & Pacific

* Europe

* MEA (Middle East and Africa)



The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, China, Japan, India, Korea, ASEAN, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, CIS, and Brazil etc.

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* Regional and country level analysis integrating the demand and supply forces that are influencing the growth of the market.

* Market value (USD Million) and volume (Units Million) data for each segment and sub-segment

* Competitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the new projects and strategies adopted by players in the past five years

* Comprehensive company profiles covering the product offerings, key financial information, recent developments, SWOT analysis, and strategies employed by the major market players

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We also can offer customized report to fulfill special requirements of our clients. Regional and Countries report can be provided as well.
Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague is now believed to be a millionaire, after reportedly earning 558,323 in one year through lucrative brand deals and social media revenue.

The reality star, 21 - who finished the 2019 Love Island series in second place - has become one of the show's biggest success stories after allegedly making 11,000 per week between August 2019 and August 2020.

In addition to her jaw-dropping earnings, she now has 786,959 worth of assets which includes 777,179 in cash reserves, according to The Sun.

Raking it in: Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague is now believed to be a millionaire, after reportedly earning 558,323 in one year through lucrative brand deals and social media revenue

The finance report reflects new accounts for MMH Group Holdings, for which Molly-Mae serves as the primary director.

The media representation service company filed a total bill of 232,662 including 159,809 in corporation tax.

Its subsidiary businesses, Filter and MMH International were launched in March but their financial details are yet to be released.

The Love Island star has been reaping the rewards of her recent success and often documents her lavish lifestyle on social media.

The big bucks: The reality star, 21, has become one of Love Island's biggest success stories after allegedly making 11,000 per week between August 2019 and August 2020

But it hasn't been entirely plain sailing as she recently opened up about the challenges she has faced as a result of living life under the spotlight.

Last month, Molly-Mae admitted the constant stream of free PR gifts she receives is difficult to handle because she doesn't 'feel safe' with so many people knowing her address.

In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, the influencer revealed that she'd been forced to fork out 'a lot of money' on 24-hour security after fearing for her personal safety.

Molly-Mae bemoaned that the influx of post is 'really hard' and believes that one brand sent her new address in Cheshire around to other companies, resulting in the barrage of parcels.

Splash the cash: In addition to her jaw-dropping earnings, she now has 786,959 worth of assets which includes 777,179 in cash reserves, according to The Sun

However, the Love Island star, who is a brand ambassador for PrettyLittleThing, was quick to insist that she is grateful for the presents and understands that people are just trying to get their business 'out there'.

Speaking to the camera from her bed, Molly-Mae explained: 'I'm not sure I've mentioned this before but I now have to pay a lot of money a month for an extremely high security for the apartment.

'I had a few incidents, I just don't really feel safe anywhere anymore. I didn't feel safe in our last apartment, I don't really feel safe here.

'I don't really feel safe anywhere anymore because I just feel like no matter how much you try and keep your life private, when you're in the public eye your life is never private.'

Expensive taste! The Love Island star has been reaping the rewards of her recent success and often documents her lavish lifestyle on social media

Anxious: But it hasn't been entirely plain sailing as she recently opened up about the challenges she has faced as a result of living life under the spotlight

She added: 'It honestly baffles me. I have no understanding how but the amount of PR packages I receive every single day from people all over the UK that know my address.

'I feel like one brand got hold of my address and have just sent it round. All these different people know my address.

'As much as I appreciate PR parcels and I know people want to get their businesses out there. It is really hard.'

The social media star went on to detail an incident where one fan drove five hours and rang her gated complex to try and see her, with Molly-Mae pointing out that she feels particularly vulnerable when her boxer beau Tommy Fury, 21, is not at home.

She continued: 'The other day I actually had someone turn up at the front gate ringing the gate saying they travelled five hours to the town they knew I lived and then just drove all around where we lived to find our house.'

Molly-Mae admitted the incident made her reassess her own safety and decided, for her own peace of mind, to hire 24-hour security.

She said: 'I've basically redone the whole security plan for the next month so I have a permanent security car sat outside the apartment so I know I am 100 percent safe.

'When Tommy is here it's one thing but when I am here by myself I just want that reassurance that I am 100 percent safe.'

Fearful: Last month, Molly-Mae admitted the constant stream of free PR gifts she receives is difficult to handle because she doesn't 'feel safe' with so many people knowing her address

Molly-Mae went on to say she didn't want to sound like she was complaining but felt it was important to update her followers.

She said: 'I'm sure you wouldn't like it if people knew where you guys lived and I never want to sound like I am complaining, it's just one of those situations that are hard to explain.'

The couple are currently renting the 1.3million flat as they hunt for their dream home.

The moved into the Cheshire apartment last year after leaving their former Manchester abode just one week after their puppy Mr Chai died.
Mary-Kate Olsen, 34, seems to be coming out on the other side of her messy divorce from Olivier Sarkozy, 51, in January.

The fashion mogul was spotted enjoying a beer and a laugh al fresco with a male friend in New York City on Tuesday.\

Grabbing a bite to eat with stylist Brian Molloy, the pair caught up at Buvette, a charming French bistro featuring small-plates and drinks in the West Village, according to Page Six.

Day date: Mary-Kate Olsen, 34, was spotted enjoying a beer and a laugh al fresco with a male friend in New York City on Tuesday

As always, Olsen was dressed in classic all-black and her sandy toned hair was pulled back with a black scrunchie into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck.

The former child star appeared to go all natural with no make-up and she accessorized her look with two thick gold hoop ear cuffs in one ear.

Mary-Kate and Brian both enjoyed amber toned beers in Pilsner glasses and something to nosh on.

Al fresco: Grabbing a bite to eat with stylist Brian Molloy, the pair caught up at Buvette, a charming French bistro featuring small-plates and drinks in the West Village, according to Page Six

Time heals: The outing comes some three or so months following the finalization of her divorce from husband Olivier Sarkozy

She seems to have shaken off the stress of her split from husband Olivier Sarkozy earlier this year and was seen tossing her head back in laughter.

Olsen and Sarkozy's divorce was granted in January, nine months after their five-year marriage came to an end.

The former couple's settlement was signed off by a judge at the New York Supreme Court on Monday, January 25, US Weekly first reported.

Perennially chic: As always, Olsen was dressed in classic all-black and her sandy toned hair was pulled back with a black scrunchie into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck

Olsen, who runs her fashion line The Row, reportedly had an 'ironclad prenup' -meaning her fortune estimated to be around $250m was safe from whatever happened during the split from the French banker.

The pandemic complicated the couple's split as it forced them to repeatedly delay their divorce proceedings.

During their messy split, Mary-Kate and Olivier warred over their $13 million Manhattan home. They also own a sprawling five-bedrooms and 4,000-square-foot home in Bridgehampton on Long Island worth millions.

Happier times; She seems to have shaken off the stress of her split from husband Olivier Sarkozy earlier this year and was seen tossing her head back in laughter

Single lady: Olsen and Sarkozy's divorce was granted in January, nine months after their five-year marriage came to an end

In Olsen's divorce petition, which she filed in the New York Supreme Court in May, she claimed she had been effectively kicked out of their rented apartment in Gramercy because Sarkozy had not renewed the $29,000 a month lease during the height of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sarkozy moved his ex-wife Charlotte Bernard, their two children and his mother into the Bridgehampton home, meaning Olsen could not stay there.

In the petition Olsen asked for continued use of the Bridgehampton home, their home in Gramercy and another home on East 49th Street in Manhattan.

Sarkozy and Olsen got together in 2012 and married in 2015 with the nearly 20-year age gap apparently being no barrier to them finding love.
Hollywood movie siren Eva Mendes reflected on her looks in an Instagram post shared on Thursday.

The 2 Fast 2 Furious actress, 47, uploaded a close-up image from a movie that came out around 2001 where she looked ravishing with her hair styled nicely and her makeup perfect with glossy lips.

But in her caption the partner of Ryan Gosling said at the time she believed her face to be 'weird' and that her 'bone structure was odd.' Now she appreciates how she looked at the age of 26.

Looking back fondly: Hollywood movie siren Eva Mendes reflected on her looks in an Instagram post shared on Thursday. The actress, 47, uploaded a close-up image from a movie that came out around 2001. She said at the time she believed her face to be 'weird'

'Just came across this picture from a movie that was almost 20 years ago,' started the mother of two who has daughters Esmeralda, six, and Amada, four, with Gosling.

In 2001 she came out in two movies: Exit Wounds and Training Day.

'I remember seeing this photo back then and thinking my face looked weird  and that my bone structure was odd ...yadda yadda ..you know all those insecurities that a 26 year old can have,' added the New York & Co co-designer who was born in Florida.

From 2001 to 2021: In 2001 she came out in two movies: Exit Wounds and Training Day. 'I remember seeing this photo back then and thinking my face looked weird  and that my bone structure was odd ...yadda yadda ..you know all those insecurities that a 26 year old can have,' added the designer. On the right she is seen this year

Still a smoldering siren: The star has kept her incredible looks; seen this year in an ad for New York & Co

Now she appreciates how she looked in her youth.

'Meanwhile 20 years later and now I wish I still had that weird  face and odd bone structure,"' said the Hitch star as she added a crying face.

'Whys my point? Im not sure. Maybe its if you hate a photo of yourself wait 20 years then youll love it,' said the artist.

And then she quotes playwright Oscar Wilde: 'Youth is wasted on the young.'

Her fans had strong reactions.

A very private couple: Mendes with Ryan Gosling at The Place Beyond the Pines film premiere in New York in 2013

The film they met on: The power couple co-starred in The Place Beyond The Pines in 2012

Angela Lea 01 said, 'Youth is wasted on the young! When I was 23 I had like 2 grey hairs and used to freak out about it, now Im 46 with tons of grey and wish I could go back and slap myself!'

Glitterandglosscaroline added, 'I love this post!! I often see pics like that of myself and think why the hell was I so insecure then???'

Sandydao appreciated the comments: 'Thats literally what Im going through now as I am 25 years old. Thank you for sharing this.  '

This comes after Mendes compared spanking children to domestic abuse.

The actress sparked a parenting debate on Instagram when she shared one of her favorite quotes.

Her top dress: She wrote on Instagram: 'I'm often asked what my favorite red carpet dress is. This @versace is definitely up there. Im not often asked what my favorite parenting quote is, but I'll post it anyway'

She wrote on Instagram: 'I'm often asked what my favorite red carpet dress is. This @versace is definitely up there. Im not often asked what my favorite parenting quote is, but I'll post it anyway.'

On a second slide, she shared: 'Spanking does for a child's development what hitting a spouse does for a marriage.'

One fan quickly disagreed and insisted they 'deserved whoopings' as a child because they were a 'brat.'

Her take on violence: On a second slide, she shared: 'Spanking does for a child's development what hitting a spouse does for a marriage.' One fan quickly disagreed and insisted they 'deserved whoopings' as a child because they were a 'brat'

They wrote: 'I don't know. I was spanked and now I'm a respectful adult. And believe me, I deserved those whoopings. I was a brat.'

The star thanked the poster for responding and acknowledged that everyone parents differently, before candidly admitting she has 'no idea what [she's] doing' when it comes to raising her own children.

She replied: 'Thank you for your comment. So happy to agree to disagree. Want this page to offer that in a loving way. We all parent our own way and I have no idea what I'm doing most the time.

Open to chatting: When another commenter said they 'completely disagree' because their 'goal in raising kids is not to have to spank, but it's correcting before they can reason behavior out with you,' Eva explained she had shared the quote because she found it 'powerful'

'This didn't come with a manual so when there's something that resonates with me, I pass it on. Lotsa love.'

When another commenter said they 'completely disagree' because their 'goal in raising kids is not to have to spank, but it's correcting before they can reason behavior out with you,' Eva explained she had shared the quote because she found it 'powerful.'

She replied: 'I totally respect you. Thank you for a respectful comment. So nice to disagree with respect. I found the quote powerful and wanted to pass it on. Lotsa love to and yours.'
You actress Elizabeth Lail married her pediatric dentist boyfriend Nieku Manshadi in upstate New York last month.

Elizabeth, 29, tied the knot at Hasbrouck House, a hotel converted from an 18th century mansion in the hamlet of Stone Ridge.

She told Brides magazine that she and Nieku opted for a scaled down ceremony of just 22 guests drawn from their families amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Happy day: You actress Elizabeth Lail married her pediatric dentist boyfriend Nieku Manshadi in upstate New York last month

The bride and groom urged anyone who had not already gotten a coronavirus vaccine to quarantine and get tested before attending the wedding.

'We planned everything with COVID in mind! I think we could have easily invited 200 people had it been another time,' she dished.

Their wedding venue had a special significance for them as they rang in their first anniversary as a couple at Hasbrouck House.

'We decided not to wait, and just invite family to keep it safe for everyone,' Elizabeth explained of how they put the wedding together.

Festivities: Elizabeth, 29, tied the knot at Hasbrouck House, a hotel converted from an 18th century mansion in the hamlet of Stone Ridge

Simple: She told Brides magazine that she and Nieku opted for a scaled down ceremony of just 22 guests drawn from their families amid the coronavirus pandemic

Precautions: The bride and groom urged anyone who had not already gotten a coronavirus vaccine to quarantine and get tested before attending the wedding

'We were also the only guests on property, which gave us peace of mind to be in our own little bubble,' the Dead Of Summer star noted.

Nieku popped the question last August when he and Elizabeth enjoyed a getaway to Montauk over a 'much-needed long weekend.'

The blonde gushed: 'We were at our own little bonfire during sunset on the beach making smores when Nieku proposed with my grandmothers wedding ring.'

Having a ball: Her heavyweight sandwashed Marrocaine silk wedding dress was a piece by London designer Andrea Hawkes

Their romance began when 'We met the good old-fashioned way - at a mutual friends party in Williamsburg!'

Elizabeth confessed she 'would have been lost without' her sister when it came to the wedding planning and even spilled some details on her bridal look.

Her heavyweight sandwashed Marrocaine silk wedding dress was a piece by London designer Andrea Hawkes.

'We planned everything with COVID in mind!': 'I think we could have easily invited 200 people had it been another time,' she dished

Andrea custom-designed the dress for Elizabeth, sketching the bridal gown for her during a Zoom session they had on the subject.

Her mother-in-law gave her a Tiffany's bracelet that had a blue heart set in it - a perfect option for a something blue.

Something old was also taken care of when Elizabeth got the florists to put some lace from her mother's wedding dress around the bridal bouquet.
Jordana Brewster is set to share a Fast and the Furious scene with Michelle Rodriguez in the upcoming film F9, and she says Rodriguez made it happen speaking out after years of being 'secondary [to] the guys' in the action racing series.

The Panama City-born beauty, 41, told Insider Thursday that Rodriguez and director Justin Lin focused on building the relationship between Brewster's Mia and Rodriguez's Letty, who are sisters-in-law in the storyline.

'Michelle was like, "Dude, we've never had a scene together. We're always secondary with the guys. We don't interact. We have a sisterhood. We need to explore this,"' Brewster told the outlet.

The latest: Jordana Brewster, 41, is set to finally share a Fast and the Furious scene with Michelle Rodriguez, 42, in the upcoming film F9, and she says Rodriguez made it happen speaking out after years of being 'secondary [to] the guys' in the action racing series

Brewster said she was 'really grateful that [they] got a chance' to have their interaction in the motion picture.

'Michelle's always been very outspoken about not doing anything that isn't true to character, and that means not placating the guys, that means not playing second fiddle to the guys,' she said. 'Hopefully, we'll continue to explore it because there's so much to unearth there.'

She continued: 'The franchise has always represented diversity or it's always represented the world as it is and not as Hollywood sees it. I think we've always reflected really strong female characters and we have ramped it up.'

Amid the news, Brewster was seen with her beau Mason Morfit in Santa Monica on Thursday in a patterned button-down dress with a long-sleeve creme top and a straw hat. She rounded out her ensemble with black sunglasses and a black face mask with brown sandals.

Out and about: Brewster was seen with her beau Mason Morfit in Santa Monica on Thursday in a patterned button-down dress with a long-sleeve creme top and a straw hat

Details: Brewster said Rodriguez and director Justin Lin focused on building the relationship between Brewster's Mia and Rodriguez's Letty, who are sisters-in-law in the storyline. The actress was snapped last year in LA

Morfit wore an ash grey top with grey shorts with an orange diagonal stripe and sandals.

Brewster has been linked to the 44-year-old businessman since last summer, following her divorce filing from producer Andrew Form after 13 years of marriage. They share two sons, Julian, seven, and Rowan, four.

Brewster is also slated to appear in a drama titled The Integrity of Joseph Chambers, due out later this year and co-starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Hayat Provisioning in Hazel Park is having a grand opening of its new cannabis store at 634 W. Nine Mile Road on Saturday.
South Africa: Re-examining Africas socio economic priorities

The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for the continent to re-examine its socio-economic priorities, says Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.

Addressing the launch of Africa Month on Wednesday, the Minister said the pandemic is imposing heavy human, financial and economic costs to Africa and across the globe.

The crisis also provides an opportunity to re-examine the continent's socio-economic priorities; including the role of cultural workers; contributing to building stronger and more resilient health and social sectors towards equality; inclusion; social cohesion and African Renaissance as inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy, Mthethwa said.

The Africa Month programme will take place under the theme, Year for Arts, Culture and Heritage in the Year of Charlotte Maxeke.

It is in this current climate in pursuit of commonalities that the current initiative on Africa Month is aimed at pursuing the agenda set out by our predecessors but sharpened by new generations.

The story of a continent that is transforming itself is one that we need to embrace, project and work together to transmit, the Minister said.

Africa Month is crafted in response to the African Union (AU) call for ratification of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and implementation of the AU Agenda 2063.

Africa Month promotes Pan Africanism and African Cultural Renaissance, of which both contributes to united efforts for decolonization and regeneration of the African continent. Amongst others, the Minister said.

It is also aimed at achieving the following:

To promote the African Agenda and strengthen the African Union institutions and policies.

To implement and bring to life the AU Agenda 2063 and the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance.

To promote regional integration by strengthening people to people contact harmonize policies and share skills and expertise;

To promote Cultural Diplomacy for a Broader Socio-economic agenda

To stimulate the implementation of existing Cultural Agreements and strengthen relations with identified countries in the continent for mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships.

The Minister said it is further regarded as a platform to promote the AU institution and its programs towards the attainment of its vision  An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-05-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
IS blows up 2 oil wells, kills 2 security members in northern Iraq

Xinhua) 14:54, May 06, 2021

An oil well in the Bai Hassan oil field was set ablaze after Islamic State (IS) militants blew it up in Kirkuk, Iraq, on May 5, 2021.(Xinhua)

IS militants attacked the Bai Hassan oil field in Kirkuk at dawn and clashed with the security guards, killing two of them and blowing up two oil wells.

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 the 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.

Black smoke is seen billowing from an oil well in the Bai Hassan oil field after it was blown up by IS militants in Kirkuk, Iraq, on May 5, 2021. (Xinhua)

Teams and firefighting vehicles of the Iraqi North Oil Company managed to extinguish the blaze at one well and were still 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 into deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
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The global market size of Fenvalerate is $XX million in 2018 with XX CAGR from 2014 to 2018, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2024 with a CAGR of XX% from 2019 to 2024.



Global Fenvalerate Market Report 2019 - Market Size, Share, Price, Trend and Forecast is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Fenvalerate industry. The key insights of the report:

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4.The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.

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* Sumitomo Chemical Company

* Bayer CropScience

* Shijiazhuang Sdyano Fine Chemical

* Hangzhou Superagro Chemical

* Anhui JuKai Agrochemical

* Hangzhou Longshine Bio-Tech

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* Product Type I

* Product Type II

* Product Type III



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* Application I

* Application II

* Application III



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* North America

* South America

* Asia & Pacific

* Europe

* MEA (Middle East and Africa)



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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
STAMFORD  A 20-year-old Norwalk man accepted a deal in 2018 to avoid prison time for purposely setting a fire inside a Norwalk CVS. But prosecutors now say he violated that agreement.

Yahya Sonko, 20, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless burning and agreed to attend counseling sessions and stay out of trouble, prosecutors said.

But in a hearing Thursday in state Superior Court, Paul Ferencek, states attorney for the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District, says Sonko violated the terms of that deal. He was arrested two more times and failed to show up to court multiple times between the time he accepted the deal and the date of his sentencing, Ferencek said.

In 2018, Sonko was arrested and charged with starting a fire at the CVS on Connecticut Avenue, where he was supposed to be volunteering as part of the Life Bridge program, which helps troubled youths rehabilitate and learn work skills.

Under a plea deal accepted in August 2018, Sonko pleaded guilty to reckless burning, which was reduced from the original arson charge. In return, he was to receive a three-year suspended sentence and three years of probation.

Months after agreeing to the deal, Sonko was arrested in New York on a weapons violation charge stemming from a 21-mile car chase in a stolen car, prosecutors said. He later pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to one year in the New York penal system.

Then in February, he was arrested again on an outstanding warrant from Danbury, prosecutors said. This time he was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, first-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny in an incident from October 2018, prosecutors said.

Given the circumstances, Judge Gary White said the court was within its right to sentence Sonko to up to five years in prison for violating the terms of the agreement.

In the court hearing on Thursday, Sonko made one final plea before his sentencing. He said the arrests stemmed from past issues when he was young and naive.

Im just trying to get it all resolved. Im grown now, Im 20 years old, and Im just trying turn a new leaf and move on with my life, said Sonko, who further said he had evidence that would lead to an acquittal in the Danbury case.

Sonkos attorney, public defender Howard Ehring, asked White to stick to deal and give his client a three-year suspended sentence along with three years of probation.

Ultimately, White settled on a three-year prison sentence for Sonko.

I know the defendant is asking for the suspended sentence and probation, but I dont think thats appropriate, White said.

The sentencing marks the end of Sonkos Stamford case, but his case in Danbury is still pending.

Sonko is next scheduled to appear in court on May 12.
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The global market size of Carbofuran is $XX million in 2018 with XX CAGR from 2014 to 2018, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2024 with a CAGR of XX% from 2019 to 2024.



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5.The report estimates 2019-2024 market development trends of Carbofuran industry.

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* Jialong Chemical

* Hunan Gofar Fine Chemical

* Hubei Sanonda (Chemchina)

* LANFENG BIO-CHEM,



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* Carbofuran Dry Powder



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* Pesticide Industry

* Seed Coating Agent Industry

* Other



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* North America

* South America

* Asia & Pacific

* Europe

* MEA (Middle East and Africa)



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* Market value (USD Million) and volume (Units Million) data for each segment and sub-segment

* Competitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the new projects and strategies adopted by players in the past five years

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The global market size of 2,4-D butylate is $XX million in 2018 with XX CAGR from 2014 to 2018, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2024 with a CAGR of XX% from 2019 to 2024.



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3.The report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2013-2018 market shares for key vendors.

4.The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.

5.The report estimates 2019-2024 market development trends of 2,4-D butylate industry.

6.Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out

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There are 4 key segments covered in this report: competitor segment, product type segment, end use/application segment and geography segment.

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For competitor segment, the report includes global key players of 2,4-D butylate as well as some small players.



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* Market Share



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* Product Type I

* Product Type II

* Product Type III



For end use/application segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for key applications. End users sre also listed.

* Application I

* Application II

* Application III



For geography segment, regional supply, application-wise and type-wise demand, major players, price is presented from 2013 to 2023. This report covers following regions:

* North America

* South America

* Asia & Pacific

* Europe

* MEA (Middle East and Africa)



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* Market dynamics scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to come

* Market segmentation analysis including qualitative and quantitative research incorporating the impact of economic and non-economic aspects

* Regional and country level analysis integrating the demand and supply forces that are influencing the growth of the market.

* Market value (USD Million) and volume (Units Million) data for each segment and sub-segment

* Competitive landscape involving the market share of major players, along with the new projects and strategies adopted by players in the past five years

* Comprehensive company profiles covering the product offerings, key financial information, recent developments, SWOT analysis, and strategies employed by the major market players

* 1-year analyst support, along with the data support in excel format.



We also can offer customized report to fulfill special requirements of our clients. Regional and Countries report can be provided as well.
While a person getting the test done is expected to be informed of the result, the instructions appear to be directed to prevent media personnel, or others, including workers of political parties, NGOs and the like at the ground level from assessing the true Covid-19 situation.  DC Image

Hyderabad: Days after the state health department issued a fiat to its staff at the Covid-19 testing centres to limit the number of tests daily, it pulled up the same staff for revealing the truth about the actual extent of Covid-19 cases in Telangana state.

In a message in their departmental, and sometimes compartmentalised WhatsApp groups based on functional responsibilities, a final warning has been issued to testing centre staff, particularly at primary health centres, not to reveal any testing results.

In one such message, a district medical and health officer (DMHO) said, INSTRUCTIONS OF DMHO: Dear Mos (Medical Officers) please see that no information is given to anybody on rat tests (sic) (Rapid Antigen Tests) and positives. In spite of repeated instructions, many of PHCs (Primary Health Centres) are giving information on results. Please follow the instructions of DMHO, otherwise action will be initiated. This is the last and final warning. Thank u. (sic)

While a person getting the test done is expected to be informed of the result, the instructions appear to be directed to prevent media personnel, or others, including workers of political parties, NGOs and the like at the ground level from assessing the true Covid-19 situation. For long, the Telangana government has been accused by Opposition parties of hiding the real Covid-19 picture in the state and the Telangana High Court too had repeatedly pulled up the state on this issue.

It may be recalled that on Wednesday, the state government had claimed that the Covid-19 situation was under control and the cases were showing a downward trend. Meanwhile, the government also said that anyone with symptoms should be considered to be Covid-19 positive and be given medicines.

Previously, as reported by this newspaper on May 2 with the headline Covid testing in health centres restricted, Telangana State restricted daily testing at all its testing centres, saying only 50 tests per day should be conducted at each Primary Health Centre and Urban Health Centre, while at Community Health Centres, only 100 tests should be done each day. The highest number of daily tests  200  will be conducted at the district general hospitals.
Our instructions to the government for the last several weeks to show some heed and to increase Covid testing have been like water off a ducks back, the High Court said.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: Concerned over the rising number of Covid-19 cases and detention of virus on zoo animals, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to impose additional restrictive measures besides extending the night curfew and imposing a weekend lockdown so as to flatten the curve in the state. The court directed the state government to conduct a review meeting before the night curfew ends on May 8.

The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, which sat on Wednesday to monitor the situation though the court is in summer vacation, asked the government to be dynamic to deal with the situation.

Our instructions to the government for the last several weeks to show some heed and to increase Covid testing have been like water off a ducks back. The government is continuously reducing testing since the last week from 92,000 to 70,000. This automatically shows a decrease in the number of infected persons. By that, you are saying there is a fall in Covid cases. This is not correct, the bench said and noted, Testing at private centres is static but is decreasing at government centres.

The court firmly directed the government to conduct one lakh Covid tests per day, as long as the situation prevailed, as well as deploy vans to conduct tests in the 186 micro-containment zones.

Justice Kohli brushed aside the contention of Dr G Srinivasa Rao, Director of Public Health, who said that people were not coming to the 1,100 testing centres across the state.

There is no logic in your contentions. We came across some news reports that there were long queues and people were being sent back due to lack of testing kits. People are thronging the testing centres after seeing the piling up of bodies at burial grounds and crematoriums, the Chief Justice said.

If people do not come to testing centres, you go to the people, where we are seeing a large number of people in markets, malls and other public places in the afternoon time, Kohli said.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel L. Ravichander brought to the notice of the court that in some testing centres in the GHMC area, only 20 tests are being conducted per day whereas more people are waiting in queues.





LIMIT ON GATHERINGS

Expressing deep concern and dismay over the government order (GO) of November 16, 2020, which permits 200 persons to congregate by following Covid-19 norms, and empowering collectors, SPs and heads of local bodies to permit congregations, the High Court said it would be unsafe in the current situation.

The court directed the government to issue a fresh GO in this regard limiting the gathering to 50 persons at marriages and 20 at funerals, regardless of whether it is open or closed premises. This GO should be issued within 24 hours, the court said.



CONFISCATE VEHICLES

The High Court also directed the government to examine the laws to issue orders to seize vehicles of those not wearing face masks properly. Apart from imposing a Rs 1,000 fine on violators, their vehicles should be seized for at least 48 hours as a deterrent, it said.

Justice Kohli asked Director General of Police M. Mahendar Reddy, who appeared before the court in virtual mode on being ordered, about the authority of the force to seize vehicles of those who are not wearing the masks properly.

The DGP replied that the police had no such authority. He submitted that the police were taking over vehicles of those failing drunk drive tests only in view of the drivers safety. If any family member of that person comes, we hand over the vehicle, he submitted.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy suggested that the government, as per the Hyderabad City Police Act and Article 162, can give powers to the police to confiscate vehicles.

Explaining the rules in the Disaster Management Act, senior counsel L. Ravichander said that during the pandemic, the government could issue any order to restrict or empower authorities to even seize the vehicle under Section 18.





SURPRISE INSPECTIONS

The High Court directed the DGP to book organisers, hosts, owners of function halls and other premises who violate Covid-19 such as social distancing or allowing more than the permitted number of patrons. The court directed police, municipal and revenue authorities to conduct surprise inspections, where the congregations take place.

The Chief Justice directed the DGP to create help centres at Covid-designated government hospitals as well as at private hospitals where the police in coordination with self-help groups can reach out to patients and people in distress.





RAMZAN SHOPPING

Considering the concern of senior advocate Mir Masood Khan to told the court about the violations of Covid protocols during the shopping for Ramzan and spiritual gatherings at Nampally, Afzalgunj, Madina and Charminar, the High Court directed the police to step in to control the gatherings and congregations. The court asked the authorities to implement strict rules to prevent this. Masood Khan said any type of spiritual meeting was to be prohibited.



HOSPITAL CHARGES

Responding to inputs from advocates about exorbitant charges at private hospitals and black marketing of life-saving drugs, the court directed the medical and health department to lay down guidelines regarding uniform rates for life saving drugs, oxygen and other tests including beds.



The court also directed Advocate General B.S. Prasad to take necessary steps to close all zoos as the media had reported that wild animals were affected with the Coronavirus.

It directed the government to ensure that all hospitals update information on availability of beds. Several counsels pointed out that there were differences on the availability of beds in hospitals from what was being displayed.

The court was not happy with the non-submission of minutes of the meetings of the expert body to Covid-19. Directing that these should be submitted, the court adjourned the hearings to May 13.
Jagan asks officials to recruit doctors on temporary basis wherever required and rope in more private hospitals, if need be, for Covid treatment.  Twitter

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked officials to ensure free treatment for Covid patients in all empanelled hospitals under the Aarogyasri scheme. He also wanted allotment of 50 per cent beds in such hospitals as well as those designated by district collectors to the Coronavirus-infected patients. If more patients turn up, they should not be turned away, he insisted.

Holding a review meeting on the Corona situation at the CM camp office at Tadepalli on Thursday, Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the official to take particular care that the private hospitals covered by Aarogyasri scheme provide treatment on a par with the government hospitals.

The Chief Minister noted the state set new records in terms of conducting Coronavirus tests. He called for collating and updating data on the beds available in Aarogyasri hospitals and the number of beds allotted to Aarogyasri patients in those hospitals.

Speaking of the functioning of 104 call centre, the Chief Minister said when a phone call was made to the call centre, a message would go to the district officials concerned, depending on the location of patient. He directed that the Collector and the district administration respond immediately and admit patients in hospitals.

The Chief Minister said Covid care centres should be set up near all Covid hospitals with hangers so that hospital doctors could serve in those centres. He ordered all necessary facilities at these care centres. He stated that there were at present 108 government hospitals, 349 corporate empanelled hospitals, 47 corporate temporary empanelled hospitals and 94 private category hospitals in the state, which were involved in Covid treatment. Of the 48,439 beds in 598 hospitals, 41,517 beds had been occupied and 6,922 were vacant. At present, 24,500 patients were being treated under Aarogyasri scheme, , he noted.

The Chief Minister stressed on provision of quality food, sanitation, oxygen, medical care and availability of doctors in Covid hospitals. He instructed the officials to recruit doctors on a temporary basis if necessary. He particularly drew their attention to the oxygen issue and said there should be no problems in supply and storage of oxygen. The officials should make efforts to get more oxygen allotments from the centre and also plan for other alternatives, he added.
Pointing out lack of coordination among officials, the court asked how the government could claim no shortage of medical oxygen in its affidavit filed earlier, when the nodal officers were admitting to lack of beds with oxygen at some hospitals in the state.

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh High Court has expressed displeasure in taking certain measures in Covid-19 management by the state government.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice A.K. Goswami and Justice C. Praveen Kumar heard a batch of petitions here on Thursday, stating that the steps being taken by the state government on providing treatment to the Coronavirus-infected patients were inadequate.

The court observed lack of coordination among the officials in making arrangements for handling the Covid-19 situation in the state and asked how the government could claim no shortage of supply of medical oxygen in its affidavit filed earlier, when the nodal officers were admitting to lack of beds with oxygen at some hospitals in the state. The court asked about the availability of beds, medical oxygen, functioning of 104 call centre and ongoing Covid vaccination programme and instructed the state government to address lapses in such issues.

The court directed the state government to set up more Covid care centres, enhance the number of beds, ensure available of nodal officers 24x7 and carry out more Covid tests. The court enquired about Covid vaccination and asked when the people aged above 45 years would be given the jab. It also asked about the hurdles the state government was facing in providing the jab to all the eligible persons in the state.

The court also directed the state government to submit a report on Covid deaths at Anantapur district.

With regard to medical oxygen, the court asked about the status of deliberations the state was holding with the centre, and directed the Centre to supply requisite quantities of medical oxygen to the state. On allotment of medical oxygen, the court said that it would be better to ensure supplies from nearby places instead of from far-off places.
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The global market size of 2-Hydroxypyridine is $XX million in 2018 with XX CAGR from 2014 to 2018, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2024 with a CAGR of XX% from 2019 to 2024.



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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pa. must take action on greenhouse gasses
Liam Tunney speaks to Mid Ulster SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone about almost becoming Speaker in 2020, the push for climate change legislation and the tragedy of losing a child during his first Assembly election campaign back in 1998.

Liam Tunney: How did you first get into politics?

Patsy McGlone: I had a conversation with two people in the Ballymaguigan/Newbridge area. The first was Henry Walls, or Big Henry as he was called in Ballymaguigan, and Roddy Gribbin.

Electorally, I was following in the footsteps of another great, Paddy Duffy from Ardboe. He had announced the year beforehand that he wasn't seeking re-election.

There were threats on potential candidates from different parties and they were difficult times. I wasn't going to ask others to do what I wasn't prepared to do myself, so it was suggested I should run.



LT: What has been your highlight from your time in politics?

PMG: Aside from being elected and re-elected, where people show their confidence in you to continue in the job you are doing, every day you are able to help people is a highlight.

I'll never forget one girl I helped who was literally homeless. We got her sorted with a house and she was so thankful. All I had done was my duty to her, she had difficult circumstances with a young family.

It makes you feel privileged to be in a position to help people. It's what you do between elections that gets you elected, and that's the very important thing.

Patsy McGlone along with Mid Ulster District councillors Martin Kearney and Christine McFlynn.



LT: What has been the biggest challenge during that time?

PMG: I stood for elections in 1998 and my wife Geraldine was expecting at that time.

She took pre-eclampsia, which is extremely dangerous, and I had to drop everything in the middle of the election campaign and go down to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she was critically ill.

We lost the baby and losing the election was really nothing compared to that. If anyone needed a lesson to what your priorities are, that was it.

It was certainly a challenging and very sad time to go through. Geraldine was extremely lucky to come out of it with her life intact.



LT: You've mentioned threats to politicians. You are very experienced now, but what was it like the first time you received a threat?

PMG: When a police inspector rings you and you have to go to the station to sign duplicate forms that they have advised you of a personal risk to you, it's more stark.

You have to be extraordinarily careful, but you still have to be out to meet people, call at their homes, attend various meetings as a public representative.



LT: Colum Eastwood in 2020 criticised Sinn Fein and the DUP after there was an agreement in place for you to take over the Speaker's role. Was the role of interest?

PMG: I'm not in politics for any particular role or position. I'm there to do the business I was elected to do, and that's to serve the community who elect me.

If positions come along that people consider me suitable for  grand  but I'm not jumping up and down one way or the other because I did or didn't get it. That's life, you move on.

When Colum rang to say he'd just received a call from Michelle O'Neill to say they were taking the position, Assembly staff had me in for a briefing because we were to start in less than half an hour.

I was being briefed for the role as Speaker when the phone call came that I wasn't going to be Speaker. That's how close it was.



LT: As a passionate Irish speaker, can you see a way forward in the face of unionist opposition to an Irish Language Act (ILA) and, at a more local level, Irish street signage.

PMG: There was a commitment made in the New Decade New Approach, signed up to by the unionist parties, in particular the DUP, to deliver on an Irish Language Act.

I was in the middle of preparing a Private Member's Bill and had a considerable amount of research done when Stormont collapsed in 2017.

When the Assembly collapses, any Private Member's Bill collapses with it, so that was unfortunate, but what it did do was inform the various meetings between the parties on preparation for an ILA.

I'm hopeful, as a Gaeilgeoir, that we will get an Irish Language Act. I just hope it doesn't get caught up in the mire of unionist, and in particular, DUP politics.

Recent flooding in areas of south Derry where there has historically been none has highlighted the dangers of climate change.



LT: With the DUP in a leadership contest, and Sinn Fein experiencing upheaval in Derry, is there an opportunity for the SDLP to capitalise electorally?

PMG: In the Westminster election in 2019, we picked up two seats that had been previously lost and just missed out in South Down.

We had outstanding success in Derry, where Colum Eastwood pulled back that seat. We could feel it and sense it at the doors that we were going to win, but had no idea it would be a landslide.

There is now some realignment of politics happening, more along the socio-economic scale, and Brexit has brought that to the fore. It will be interesting to see how that all breaks down in an election.



LT: Finally, there is a year left of the current term. Have you any projects or bills to get tied up?

PMG: There is a climate change bill being prepared by DAERA, but there is also one from Claire Bailey of the Green Party, and I'm on that same committee.

We know climate change is happening, it's all around us. I remember one night with Christine McFlynn standing in Magherafelt, where there had been huge flash flooding.

We were up to the top of our wellies in water in an area that had never flooded before. Those are just indicators in the changes in temperature worldwide.

It will be interesting to see how we can achieve the aim of reducing climate change, while incentivising people within the farming community to work towards it.
Plaques marking ground-breaking visits to Derry by two highly revered womens rights activists more than a century ago have been unveiled in the citys historic St Columbs Hall.

The Grade A listed building also known as The Peoples Hall, was the venue of choice for some of the worlds most iconic performers and notaries after it was built in 1886.

But how many people nowadays know that its remarkable guests included both Emmeline Pankhurst and Eleanor Marx?

Emmeline Pankhurst (18581928) was the leader of the radical suffragette movement that played a key role in helping to win British women the right to vote.

She was founder of the Womens Social and Political Union and gave a rousing speech in St Columbs Hall on 7th October 1910.

Eleanor Marx, the daughter of German socialist revolutionary Karl Marx, organised a trade union recruitment drive for Derrys mainly female factory workers in St Columbs Hall on 20th November 1891, just five years after the distinctive venue was built at Orchard Street within the Walled City.

Friends of the Factories 2021 in solidarity with Derry Trades Union Council, organised the placement of two plaques side by side to coincide with events to mark May Day weekend, the annual celebration of workers and union rights across the world.

The plaque erected in memory of Emmeline Pankhurst was a tribute shared with Margaret Cousins, the Irish and Indian suffragette (1878-1954) who attended Victoria High School in Derry. Co-founder of the Irish Womens Franchise League, Dublin in 1908, she was credited with organising and inviting Pankhurst to speak at St Columbs Hall in 1910.

The plaque dedicated to Eleanor Marx who visited the Hall almost 20 years before Pankhurst, reads: Eleanor Marx, Fighter for socialism and womens rights (1855-1898).

In this hall, 20th November 1891, Eleanor launched a recruitment drive for women and general workers previously excluded from most union activity.

The organisation of Derry shirt factory workers was a key moment in the development of trades unionism in Britain and Ireland.

Yvonne Norris, local campaigner with Friends of the Factories 2021, said: Friends of the Factories came together at the most difficult of times, united in doing something positive by contributing to the legacy of the factory workers and their contribution to the City.

"I have been honoured to be part of an initiative made up of so many formidable women, driven by women and achieved by women. We thank the Derry Trades Union Council for their unwavering support of our project, it has got us to the point we have reached today."

As well as the ceremony in honour of the two female revolutionary thinkers who addressed rallies in St Columbs Hall, plaques to honour the legacy of the workers were also unveiled at a number of former shirt factory sites including Welch Margeston, Sinclair, Ebrington, Rosemount, Hogg & Mitchell and the City Factory.

Anne-Marie Gallagher, Project Director of St Columbs Hall, said she was delighted that the roles of three illustrious women historically associated with the venue, had finally been etched into the fabric of the building more than a century later.

She said: These beautiful plaques are very much in keeping with the character of the Hall and add to the already vibrant story of Derrys built heritage and history. The fact that these remarkable women left such a lasting legacy is very poignant, especially to think that they were standing in here over 100 years ago.

We are thankful to Friends of the Factories and Derry Trades Union Council for their foresight and determination in shining the spotlight on the somewhat lesser-known connections with this buildings rich history to the wider world.

St Columbs Hall is located on the East Wall of the citys historic Walls and was originally built in 1886 by the St Columbs Hall Total Abstinence Society as part of the Temperance movement.

Now used as a noted conference and events venue, the building is currently in the midst of a major regeneration project.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia considered the petition of Russian telecom operators and preliminarily approved a cooperation agreement for the construction and launch of fifth-generation 5G cellular networks.

According to local media reports, the Russian federal competition watchdog okayed the petition filed by Rostelecom, Bashinformsvyaz, VimpelCom (Beeline trademark), and MegaFon. The key condition of the approval is equal access to bands by all mobile market players.

The operators have yet to develop and agree with the antimonopoly authority on the conditions for the use of infrastructure, the sharing of radio frequencies, and the conditions for the provision of infrastructure for virtual telecom operators (MVNO).

The access to the released radio frequency spectrum for the construction of 5G networks and the subsequent provision of mobile radiotelephone communication services on 5G networks is an opportunity to provide new generation communication services on the territory of the Russian Federation, said FAS.

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media has said that they would like to see the venture as a single piece of infrastructure that would create one network for all telecom companies.

In December 2020, the FAS approved the petition of Rostelecom, MTS, Vimpelcom (Beeline), and Megafon to create the 5G joint venture.

The reports also quoted Evgeny Novikov, Advisor to the Deputy Head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies, saying that shortly industrial testing grounds would be launched in the capital to study the possibilities of fifth-generation communications.
Perus Ministry of Transport and Communications (Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones or MTC) has modified its National Frequency Attribution Plan enabling unlicensed access to the 6 GHz band (1,200 MHz) in Peru.

Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) welcomed the decision of the government saying that the measure ordered by MTC "will benefit millions of Peruvians and will also boost the country's economy."

DSA is an international organization that advocates for regulations that lead to the use of the most efficient radio spectrum for the benefit of consumers. and companies, whose members include leaders in the technological world such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Cisco, among others.

The new legislation has earmarked 470MHz-698MHz spectrum in the so-called TV White Space (TVWS) band to boost rural broadband coverage. In addition, 1200MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz millimetre wave (mmWave) band has been allocated for future 5G use.

Finally, 1200MHz of spectrum in the 5925MHz-7125MHz (6GHz) band has been identified for unlicensed Wi-Fi 6E access.

Martha Suarez, President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) said: Due to the extensive usage on almost every aspect of our lives today such as remote education, work, and commerce, the MTC decision to dedicating more spectrum to Wi-Fi over 6 GHz effectively supports the modern digital ecosystem. Unlicensed access to the whole 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi will be critical to allow growing ultra-fast Wi-Fi demands for new applications and new industries.

DSA indicates that, according to a study published by that entity and Telecom Advisory Services, unlicensed access to the 6 GHz band will add the economic value of US $ 15.83 billion in contribution to GDP, US $ 3.6 billion in producer surplus for Peruvian companies, and the US $ 3.4 billion in consumer surplus for the Peruvian population over the next 10 years. In other words, as a whole, the enabling of 1200 MHz in the 6 GHz band would impact more than the US $ 22 billion on the Peruvian economy.

DSA also celebrates the decision to enable the use of TV White Spaces technologies in the 470 MHz to 698 MHz bands. It establishes the conditions for innovative business models required to provide sustainable broadband Internet access in unserved or underserved areas.
Telecoms services are being affected  directly or indirectly  by authorities in Ghana and Uganda looking for ways to raise revenue.

MTN Ghana, the countrys largest mobile operator by subscribers, has, since the start of this month, been charging more for calls and data services, a move that followed the governments introduction of a one per cent Covid-19 health recovery levy.

The levy  of one percent on VAT  was among a series of measures introduced in the 2021 budget to boost health spending and help the economy recovery from the ongoing pandemic.

According to Deloitte, the lockdown measures enforced in the peak of the pandemic and the Covid-induced slowdown in economic activities forced the Ghanaian government to revise initial projected GDP growth for 2020 from 6.8 percent to 0.9 percent.

The change has affected MTNs voice calls, data, and SMS and is being made, according to MTN, across all services and platforms  from bundle purchases to fibre and from roaming to mobile money. Other operators are expected to follow suit.

Meanwhile, according to Capacity magazine and Ugandan press reports, internet users in Uganda will face a 12 percent tax on their data packages from 1 July.

The government has imposed the tax  now approved by parliament  because the country reportedly had debts of $18.4 billion at the end of 2020  30 percent up on 2019.

This charge is part of a series of measures  including fuel tax  being taken to help pay off the public debt. However, following the unpopularity, or avoidance, of the abandoned 2018 tax on over-the-top applications, including WhatsApp and Twitter, its hard to say how successful this move will be  or indeed whether it could be counter-productive given the often positive effect of online activity on economic growth.
Fugro, a geodata specialist, says it has completed the first phase of its marine site characterisation project for Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) to support the trans-Pacific Bifrost Cable System.

The Bifrost Cable System is a new undersea fibre optic cable system that will connect the west coast of North America, Guam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. The transpacific route segments off the west coast of North America have now been surveyed and the project will soon continue on the Indonesia segment through the Celebes and Java seas.

ASN is installing the cable system for a consortium comprising Keppel, Facebook and Telin to meet increased demand for broadband connectivity between the west coast of North America and Asia-Pacific.

As a geodata specialist, Fugro collects and analyses comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Fugros involvement is spanning the life of the Bifrost development, from initial planning and cable design to routing and installation.

Its work on the project began last November with a desk study to support permitting activities, followed by an ongoing geophysical and geotechnical campaign that will conclude in Singapore.

Fugro says its integrated acquisition, processing and analysis capabilities are providing ASN with near-real-time geodata deliverables to inform the cable manufacturing process and guide optimal cable routing and burial depth.

The Bifrost cable system is expected to be completed in 2024.
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A derelict tugboat that the U.S. Coast Guard says had been abandoned has been sunk in waters off southeast Alaska.

The Coast Guard, in a news release, said the 107-foot tugboat called the Lumberman was sunk in more than 8,400 feet of water on Sunday.





. . .


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The global hand blender market size is expected to reach USD 398.3 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period. Increasing urbanization, coupled with shifting consumer preference towards compact and portable kitchen appliances, is expected to augment market demand. In addition, rising importance of multifunctional kitchen devices among the consumers, who are looking for convenient solutions, is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth.

Corded product was the largest segment, accounting for a share of more than 75.0% in 2018. Major manufacturers include BSH Home Appliances Group;Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Panasonic Corporation; Braun GmbH; Breville USA, Inc.; and Wonderchef Home Appliances Pvt. Ltd. are launching new technological products in order to gain the maximum customer base.

For instance, in March 2018, Braun GmbH launched its one of the most successful hand blenders under the brand name Braun MultiQuick 5 Baby. The company launched these products in International Home + Housewares Show held in March 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. These innovative product launches increase the product visibility. The device is powered by 350 watts, coupled with multiple speed setting.

For instance, in October 2017, Smeg S.p.a., an Italy based company pioneered in home appliances manufacturing, launched its brand new portable kitchen appliance under the brand name  HBF02 hand blender  . The device was equipped with 700 W motor, along with a variable speed controller. The product has improved its ergonomics and provided it with an anti-slip grip.

Key players include BSH Home Appliances Group; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Panasonic Corporation; Whirlpool; Wonderchef Home Appliances Pvt. Ltd.; Braun GmbH; Breville USA, Inc.; Smeg S.p.a.; Newell Brands; JVC Kenwood Corporation; and Iris Ohyama Inc. Hand blender manufacturers are expected to adopt product innovation in order to tap new markets over the next few years.

Hand Blender Market Report Highlights

 The global hand blender market is fragmented in nature owing to the presence of a large number of strong players as well as new entrants

 Corded product emerged as the largest segment with a share of more than 75.0% in 2018

 Online distribution channel is expected to be the fastest growing segment with a CAGR of 8.7% from 2019 to 2025

 North America was the largest market, accounting for a share of 30.5% in 2018 owing to significant demand for modular kitchen and portable kitchen appliances in U.S. and Canada

 The APAC market is anticipated to witness significant growth owing to population growth and urbanization in developing economies including China and India.

Browse Details of Report @
A Louth native has organised a charity event which hopes to raise awareness around one of the Irish Militarys most forgotten battles while in the process raising funds for Oglaigh Naisiunta na hEireann, the Organization of National Ex-Serviceman.

The Jadotville Challenge will see hundreds of volunteers either cycle, walk or run a combined distance of 24,000km over five days from 29th June to the 3rd July 2021 in aid of homeless veterans of the Defence Forces.

The event is being organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville when a company of the 56th Battalion of Irish troops came under attack by Katangese forces during a peacekeeping mission in the town of Jadotville in the Congo.

They came under siege from approximately 3000 Congolese troops and merceries that attacked them stated Bellurgan native and event organiser Jim McEneaney as he recalled their story.

Reinforcements were sent but they couldnt get through, so the siege lasted for five days and five nights. There was no Irish killed, about six were wounded and then about 300 Congolese were killed by the Irish troops.

They eventually ran out of ammunition, food and water and had to surrender; they were all taken prisoner for about 35 days before being released to the United Nations.

For many years theses soldiers brave actions had gone unnoticed, but a 2016 film, the Siege of Jadotville staring Jamie Doran went some way to remembering their story.

A year later the veterans were finally honoured by their colleagues with medals marking their courage throughout an incredibly complex and difficult conflict.

McEneaney believes their fundraising event is the perfect way to honour their legacy, raising more awareness of their battle while also funding the projects ONE undertakes to help ex defence force veterans at their three hospitals across the country which cost 800,000 to maintain.

When the troops came back it was more or less swept under the carpet what happened. There were big enquiries over the years, but they werent given the proper recognition for what they had done.

There is only about five or six survivors left from that siege, the rest have all past on since then so this is a big way to commemorate their role in a significant event in Irish Military History. The money raised will go towards the upkeep of our facilities and to help veterans who may need assistance.

Starting in Athlone, the volunteers in the Virtual Challenge will complete a total distance of 24,000km which represents a round trip from Athlone to Jadotville.

Awards and prizes are also given to participants at the end of the five day challenge, with the male and female who travel the most kilometres winning a two night hotel break in either the Fairways Hotel Dundalk, The Isaac Hotel in Cork or the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Jim is the head of the local Michael McNeela Branch of ONE, who runs a centre for former members of the defence forces in the Aiken Barracks in Dundalk and he is hoping that a team of four from every barracks or battalion in Ireland will enter a team with registration costing 30 per person.

The event is open to anyone and the former soldier is hopeful that the event will be well supported at home and abroad with at least 200 individuals required to make their 24,000km target achievable.

If we got 200 people to register you would need to do about a 120km each over the five days and if we got 300 it would bring that target down to 80km which is not a big deal especially for cyclists.

At present we have 51 people registered having only just launched but we are hoping this will go further afield then Ireland as we have plenty of veterans of the defence forces living outside of the country and we are trying to spread the message to all of them too.

Those looking to get involved are asked to visit www.jadotvillechallenge.com, where all the information on how to register can be found, as well as a donation page for those looking to contribute to the campaign but do not feel comfortable taking on the challenge.
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 in action who will be looking to making a successful start to the defence of their league title when they clash with Tipperary in Division 1A of the 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
Simply NUC has announced the creation of 30 new roles over the next two years at its facility in Dunleer.

The systems integrator specialising in mini PCs set up in Round Rock Texas in 2015 and established its EU Headquarters and manufacturing centre in Dunleer last year.

Simply NUC CEO Aaron Rowsell said: "As we made the decision to expand our mini PC business, the EMEA region was the obvious place to go.

"And after extensive research, the Louth area was the best choice for us; we are thrilled to be here."

Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus ODowd, welcomed the 30 new jobs boost for Dunleer.

The jobs will be created over the next two years at their EU HQ and Manufacturing Centre in located in the IDA business park in Dunleer", he said.

The company provide fully configured, warrantied and supported mini PC systems to businesses and consumers, as well as end-to-end NUC project development, custom operating system installations and NUC accessories.

This is wonderful news for the Dunleer and Mid Louth Community.

"It has been an incredibly difficult time for business over the last year and this announcement clearly shows the underlying confidence the business have in County Louth and its highly skilled and motivated workforce.

The company plan to use this 11,000 sq2 HQ as Simply NUCs platform to expand its operations into Europe, this is really exciting times for the company and the local community.

I would like to wish the CEO Aaron Rowsell, Managing Director Jonny Smith and the team at Simply NUC the very best in the years ahead.

Simply NUC provides fully configured, warrantied and supported mini PC systems to businesses and consumers, as well as end-to-end NUC project development, custom operating system installations and NUC accessories.

IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan added: The decision by Simply NUC to choose Dunleer as the location of its EU HQ from where it will manage its European expansion is very welcome news for the North East and demonstrates IDA Irelands continued commitment to winning jobs and investment for regional locations.

"I wish Simply NUC every success with this expansion.

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said the 30 new jobs was " great news for Dunleer".

"This announcement demonstrates, once again, that Louth is an attractive location with much to offer investors.

"We are succeeding in attracting high calibre companies and highly skilled jobs across the entire country, a top priority for the Government.
Fianna Fail Senator Erin McGreehan is urging Louth community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises to apply for a 10 million fund that is designed to support groups which have suffered as a result of the pandemic.

The Covid Stability Fund 2021 was launched by Government this week.

The Fund is targeted at organisations which deliver critical services to vulnerable people within their community but which now face closure or a loss of service due to the impact of the pandemic.

Priority will be given to organisations that have not previously received State support since the onset of the Pandemic.

Senator McGreehan commented: It is very welcome and very important that community groups get the funding they deserve.

"There has been great work done over the past year and a half by these groups in dealing with the restrictions, working to a new norm and delivering for people all across the country.

It is important that our community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises are rewarded.

"If this country did not have them, we would have a serious problem.

I urge groups to make applications for this funding.

Examples of the organisations that can apply include those that provide:

Family supports and supports for the elderly

Domestic Abuse and addiction services

Mental health and disability supports

Education supports in disadvantaged communities

Community centres that provide social services

The 10 million investment builds on the 45 million Covid Stability Fund 2020, which supported almost 600 organisations across the country.
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Stevia Rebaudiana Market Overview:

Stevia Rebaudiana are leaves containing sweetening compounds and are also called as sweet leaves and candy leaves. Stevia Rebaudiana is not chemically processed and also have various advantages. These does not contain any carbohydrates and calories, this being the important reason on the increased usage of stevia. The market for Stevia was valued at $476.46 million in 2017 and is estimated to reach by $781.61 million in 2023 with a projected CAGR of 8.6%. China has been the largest producer of stevia followed by the U.S. In terms of consumption, APAC is the largest consumer of stevia followed by the North American region.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market Outlook:

Stevia Rebaudiana has two sweetening agents namely stevioside and rebaudioside. Rebaudioside is the major ingredient that is responsible for the major sweetness. Rebaudiana is more expensive due to its further processing and filtration. Stevia leaves can be directly added to the beverages or could be added that is in the powder form. A liquid form of stevia is also available that could be added in the beverages. These are also used in pharmaceuticals as suppressing agents. These also help in treating diabetes and also help in lowering blood pressure.

The cost for the Stevia Rebaudiana of 1kg is around $90-$100.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market Growth drivers:

The relentless rise in the number of obesity and diabetes cases around the world is a major driver for the stevia market. This is used as a substitute to the sugar and also has low calories and carbohydrates content in it. Stevia is being recommended by the doctors in preponderance for lowering the sugar levels. Stevia Rebaudiana is approved globally as a low-calorie sweetening agent and is being used by many food and beverages industry which is also a major driver for the stevia market. The continuous innovations in Reb D and Reb M by the manufacturers for producing zero calories is also driving the market.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market Challenges:

The major challenge in the Stevia Rebaudiana market is its high price. Its prices are relatively high compared to sugar. It gives a bitter aftertaste after its consumption and also has certain side effects up on its consumption. The side effects include nausea, bloating and few more which is also a challenge for the Stevia Rebaudiana Market. The increase in the dosage of stevia had effects on pregnancy, contraception and fertility which is also a discernible challenge in the market.

Stevia Rebaudiana Market Research Scope:

The base year of the study is 2017, with forecast done up to 2023. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. It also provides information on unit shipments. These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the Superabsorbent Market . The assessment includes the forecast, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of plastics in the electric vehicle market, and their specific applications in different types of vehicles.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market Report: Industry Coverage





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By Constituents: Stevioside and Rebaudioside





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By Form: Powder, Liquid.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By Type: Stevia leaves, stevia extracts and stevia blends.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By Packaging: Bags, sachets, pouches, cans, bottles.





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By Application: Flavor enhancers, suppressing agents, Flavor enhancers, suppressing agents, heat resistant agents and others





Stevia Rebaudiana Market By End-user industry: Food and beverages industry, Pharmaceuticals industry, Cosmetics industry





The Superabsorbent Market report also analyzes the major geographic regions for the market as well as the major countries for the market in these regions. The regions and countries covered in the study include:

North America: The U.S., Canada, Mexico



South America: Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica



Europe: The U.K., Germany, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Denmark



APAC: China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong



Middle East and Africa: Israel, South Africa, Saudi Arabia

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Stevia Rebaudiana Market Key Players Perspective:

Some of the Key players in this market that have been studied for this report include: Cargill Incorporated, Golden Omega S.A, Croda International Plc, Omega Protein Corporation, FMC Corporation and many more.





Market Research and Market Trends of Stevia Rebaudiana Market

Cargill Incorporated, a key player in the Stevia Rebaudiana Market has started producing EverSweet sweetener commercially which provides much healthy options. This product is a zero-calorie sweetener and is made from the sweet compounds Rebaudiana M and Rebaudiana D that is present in the stevia leaf.

PureCircle, stevia producing company, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had found high content of proteins, fibers and antioxidants in stevia after its extensive research and development activities on stevia plant. The company has also decided to plant 16,000 tons of stevia in 2018 which is a 200% increase from the year 2017 due to its high demand in the food and beverages industry.

GLG LifeTech Corporation, worlds leading producer of zero-calorie sweeteners has made a new partnership with Archer Daniels Midland Company, a food processing company to manufacture, sell, and distribute stevia sweeteners to the customers.

Coca-Cola has also shown keen interest on the usage of stevia in their products. It has launched Coca-Cola Stevia in New Zealand which has 35% less sugar content than the previous Coca-Cola products. Steviol Glycoside, a leaf extract of Stevia is being used in this product along with the sugar.


MEACHAM  Cindy Taylor is not losing count of the days her sister has been missing. She also is not losing hope.
Late last month, the Biden administration to an important and necessary step of offering a tax credit to employers who offer paid time off related to COVID-19 or the vaccination.

To qualify, the must be a business with under 500 employees that offered paid sick or family leave to their employees through September 30th of this year and have employees who take paid leave due to COVID-19, including for illness, quarantine, getting tested or vaccinated, or caregiving. The businesses may be eligible for tax credits of more than $17,000 per employee who takes sick or family leave from April 1 through September 30. (More information is available HERE.)

In a statement released by the White House, they make it clear why this is so important:

Providing paid time off for vaccinations is an investment in the safety, productivity and health of an employers own workforce and their community. No working person in this country should lose a single dollar from their paycheck to take time to get the shot or recover from it. The paid leave tax credit that President Biden signed into the law in the American Rescue Plan ensures that no small businesses or non-profits will lose a single dollar by providing such paid leave to workers receiving a vaccination.

This is, as I said, important and necessary, if we are going to achieve the herd immunity necessary for life to get back to normal in America. However, its only a first step. Ever person who works should be eligible for paid time off if they or a family member is sick. As a simple public health issue, its obvious why this is the case. If employees have to take a pay cut to stay home if they or a family member is sick, they are FAR more likely to go to work anyway or send their child to school or daycare, spreading their germs and making others sick.

Every other major industrialized country has this policy (I dont consider it a benefit, quite frankly) and its time we catch up to them here in America.

When earned paid sick leave measures come up in your state, lobby your elected officials to pass them. Its a policy thats just common sense and it is ridiculous that it has become politicized because it has broad support across the nation. A full 78% of respondents to a recent poll support it.

Paid sick leave related to COVID-19 is a good first step. Now lets go all the way.
The following essay was written by Trina Tocco. She is a resident of Royal Oak and has two amazing children who attend Ferndale Public Schools.

When the pandemic hit, I had to make a choice  either one of my children wouldnt be able to participate in virtual school because of mental illness or I would have to put my family at risk by bringing additional caregivers who I didnt know into my home to help with my children so that I could work. I chose to open my home because the risks of an unsafe home with no one to really turn to didnt seem like an option.

As a single mom trying to work and homeschool my children, it has often felt like I wouldnt make it through the day. Emergency services like the Oakland County Mobile Youth Crisis line havent been available to go into homes since the start of the pandemic. The pediatric mental health hospitals are at full capacity and families are having to wait weeks in hospital waiting rooms for placements to ensure safety for their children and families. What were gaps in supports and services before the pandemic are now gaping holes.

During this pandemic, families like mine with special needs children have needed an adult from the school to be physically present. Unfortunately, given the lack of school staff, the limitations created by social distancing, and the outdated separation of services that are provided by schools versus community mental health agencies, this just wasnt possible. Instead, I have had to scramble to find tutors for both of my children.

But even before this crisis, our students in special education were struggling. Years of disinvestment have left our schools, our communities, and our futures dramatically underfunded. Comprehensive research tells us that in Michigan we were already underfunding K-12 schools by at least $3.7 billion annually. For my kids who go to Title I schools in Oakland County, this meant that even though they were reading below grade level, there were other kids that needed the intervention more and thus they had to wait for a spot to open up with a reading interventionist. At my childrens schools, there arent enough social workers, paraprofessionals, resource room teachers, or general support for teachers and staff who work so hard everyday.

My family has had services through Easter Seals for years and the burden on these providers is so immense. Even before the pandemic the aides helping out in my home were only getting paid $9 an hour and were expected to manage very complex situations. Its shameful that so little money is available for our schools and mental health system to ensure adequate support so that families like mine arent always in crisis.

The Biden administrations American Rescue Plan is a great opportunity to make a new start. To ensure this recovery leaves us all with stronger and more equitable schools, Michigan school leaders should spend the federal relief where it is needed most, especially on students of color and those with low incomes, students with disabilities, and English language learners. These are students who not only have been hit hardest by the pandemic but already faced systemic barriers to success. And these are the students we have been underfunding for decades.

In districts, schools, and classrooms, this could look like more one-on-one tutoring even for kids that dont qualify for special education. This could look like school community partnerships for more social workers and therapists for the kids AND also for their caregivers who often need extensive support as well.

Both of my children receive special education services yet have very different needs and so there should be more funds allocated for children with higher needs so that schools have enough staff to truly support the child and their teachers. This could look like mentoring programs where the mentors are paid for their hard work and support. This could look like feeding children nutritious food instead of the sugary prepackaged foods my kids get from the food service provider at their school.

One of the best ideas Ive heard comes from an organization called Student Advocacy Center of Michigan. They think schools could use the funds for chill out rooms and creating safe places for kids to go because kids bring all of themselves to school, including hunger and trauma. They need more support to help work through all of that so they can be ready to learn. Finally, we need our schools to use the money to update libraries, train staff and equip themselves with a new perspective on how to create an environment where students to want to learn and connect, including ensuring that students have racial mirrors to help them imagine what is possible for them.

This moment requires bold action. Returning to a status quo that was failing too many of our children is not an option. School districts must make forward-thinking budget decisions, including investing in the most critical, highest impact areas and communities, even when that means raising additional revenues required to maintain those investments going forward. The real opportunity for Michigan in this rescue plan is using this money as a down payment on our future  a new, new deal for Michigan students like my children.

[Student in classroom photo and student on bus photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages]
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Market Research Future Has Published a Cooked Research Report on the Global Master Alloys Market.

Market Analysis:

Various factors are propelling the master alloys market growth. These factors, as stated by the MRFR report, include burgeoning demand for master alloys from the titanium industry, and growing demand in the automotive sector. Additional factors pushing market growth include growing demand for superalloys that can withstand extreme temperatures and collaboration between consumers and manufacturers.

Master Alloys Market Size is predicted to touch USD 441.2 million at a 6.51% CAGR over the forecast period (2018-2024), as per the latest Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A master alloy, simply put, is a base metal including nickel, copper or aluminium with a comparatively percentage of one or two other elements. These alloys are made in various shapes such as rod in coils, waffle plate, and ingot. They are mostly found in plants where metals are melted, alloyed with different elements as well as cast into shapes. It can be steel, iron, aluminium or precious metals such as gold. Master alloys are also known as a modifier, grain refiner, and hardener resting on its application.

On the contrary, declining profit margins, coupled with the dull growth of the steel industry are factors that may impede the master alloys market growth over the forecast period.

Key Players:

Leading players profiled in the Master Alloys Industry include KBM Affilips (Netherlands), Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (Netherlands), Asturiana de Aleaciones SA (Spain), Reading Alloys (AMETEK Inc.) (US), and Milward Alloys Inc. (US), among others.

July 2019: UK-based LCM (Less Common Metals), the sole rare earth alloy producer based outside Japan and China has begun the production of metal. LCM produces samarium cobalt alloys and neodymium-iron-boron, and high purity earth metals for the permanent magnet industry in Southern England. Besides, they also make other rare earth alloys such as master alloys (lanthanum nickel and yttrium aluminum) and hydrogen storage.

Market Segmentation

The Market Research Future report provides a wide segmental analysis of the Master Alloys Market Size based on application and type.

Based on type, the master alloys market is segmented into copper-based master alloys, chromium alloys, vanadium alloys, molybdenum alloys, aluminium-based master alloys, and others. Of these, the aluminium-based master alloys segment will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to the fact that aluminium is lightweight, highly compatible with other base materials, and works as a hardening agent.

By application, the master alloys market is segmented into the aluminium industry, metal anhydride alloys, iron, titanium production, powder metallurgical, stainless steel, superalloys, and others. Of these, the titanium production segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. This is owing to its wide use in aircraft engines as well as components. The titanium production segment will be followed by the superalloys segment.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the Master Alloys Industry covers growth opportunities and the latest trends across North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Of these, the APAC region will remain the frontrunner in the market over the forecast period. It is predicted to grow at an 8.3% CAGR. This is owing to the burgeoning demand from various end industries such as aluminum, consumer goods, automotive, and aircraft components. The presence of automotive giants such as Mitsubishi and Toyota are investing largely in production facilities, especially in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia are also boosting the market growth in this region.

The master alloys market in North America is predicted to have the second-largest share in the market during the forecast period and is predicted to touch USD 91.4 million. This is owing to the growth in the aerospace industry and the presence of leading aircraft manufacturers in the region.

The master alloys market in Europe is predicted to have moderate growth over the forecast period. Germany is the key contributor in this region owing to the growing demand for titanium alloys in the automotive as well as aerospace industries.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/master-alloys-market-6229
In February 1946, Jackie Robinson, the first Black man to play in major league baseball, and his wife, Rachel, boarded a plane in Los Angeles, bound for spring training in Daytona Beach, Fla. They had first class tickets.
Coronavirus Business Adaptation Grant extended to further sectors

The Department for Enterprise has announced that the Business Adaptation Grant, available under the Coronavirus Recovery Scheme, has been extended to further sectors.



The Business Adaptation Grant provides financial assistance to businesses who are looking to adapt their business model in order to seek out new and innovative products and/or provide their products and services in a new way, as a result of the pandemic. The Scheme will support up to 50% of the costs in carrying out these adaptions.



Examples of diversification which has previously been supported include:



1. Retail stores  adapting to offer online ordering/click and collect services

2. Wholesalers  adapting product lines and offering alternative sales channels

3. Restaurants and Cafes - adapting to offer online ordering systems for collection and deliveries



The Business Adaptation Grant can be used to support adjustments including but not limited to; modifications to facilities, protective screens, rent on additional space leased and ventilation works to improve indoor air quality from an outside source. Grant assistance cannot be claimed in cases where a business is considered to be simply expanding or offering an extension of services already provided.



This support is available for eligible Isle of Man businesses who operate outside an excluded sector.



Laurence Skelly MHK, Minister for Enterprise, commented: It has become very clear that a range of businesses are now in a position where they need support to adapt and change their businesses as we collectively adjust to our new circumstances.

The support towards Business Adaptation has to date supported 59 businesses, and provided over 640,000 worth of funding. During these challenging times, we are continuing to support our local businesses, and have seen many examples of business innovation, through new product development and methods of service delivery.

Full details on the Business Adaptation Grant can be found here: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/financial-support/funding/business-adaptation
Athens, AL (35611)

Today

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Localized flooding is possible.
Laverne Gilbert, left, is partnering with pastor Jerome Malone of Oasis: Christ's Church at Athens for Mrs. Laverne's Clean My Block Party beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park in Athens. Volunteers will help clean up trash around the city before Oasis hosts a free community cookout and concert at the park.
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San Francisco, 6 May 2021: The Report Cell And Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Phase (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV), By Indication (Oncology, CNS, Cardiology), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global cell and gene therapy clinical trials market size is expected to reach USD 45.4 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 22.3% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing funding, investments in research and development, and successful product launches are boosting the market growth.

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) signify the next great movement of therapeutic innovation and have resulted in the development of promising therapies around the world. Although a few of the early therapies have got marketing approval in the U.S., there are numerous promising therapies in development across the world.

The market of cell and gene therapy has witnessed significant growth over the past few years with pharma firms partnering to create effective and accessible therapies for patients. As reported by PhRMA in 2019, there were 362 cell and gene therapies in clinical development in the U.S. representing a 20% increase from 2018. In addition, by the end of 2019, there were more than 1,000 cell and gene therapy clinical trials in the process including 452 gene-modified and cell-based immune-oncology, 352 gene therapies, 216 cell therapies, and 46 tissue engineering.

Besides, investment is rolling into companies of various types, ranging from startups to major acquisitions by significant biopharmaceutical companies. In 2019, 19 deals of M&A worth over USD 156 billion were completed. The largest of these was the acquisition of Celgene and its pipeline of numerous cell therapy assets by Bristol-Myers Squibb for USD 74 billion is expected to boost its participation in oncology treatments. Hence, representing a noteworthy increase since 2015, when M&A activities in these are totaled about USD 4 billion.

Access Research Report of Cell And Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cell-gene-therapy-clinical-trials-market

Cell And Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Market Report Highlights

By phase, the phase II segment held the largest share of over 50.0% in 2020 owing to the large number of therapies currently in development in phase II

Based on indication, the oncology segment held the largest share of 47.0% in 2020 as oncology alone contributed to 600 CGT clinical trials out of around 1,000

North America dominated the global market with a share of 48.3% in 2020. This is largely attributed to a large number of clinical trial activities in the U.S. and favorable government support

The Asia Pacific region is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 23.1% over the forecast period owing to the increasing number of biotechnology companies focusing on CGTs

List of Key Players of Cell And Gene Therapy (CGT) Clinical Trials Market

IQVIA

ICON Plc

Covance

Charles River Laboratory

PAREXEL International Corporation

Syneos Health

Medpace Holdings, Inc.

Novartis

Novotech

Veristat, LLC

Access Press Release of Cell And Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-cell-gene-therapy-clinical-trials-market
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.
If you're a parent or often find yourself needing to wrangle a group of people in your household, Google's latest Assistant update might be helpful. It's expanding the Broadcast tool that was previously limited to its smart speakers and displays to iPhones and Android devices. The company also announced a set of new features for the Assistant, including stories, games, songs and a Mother's Day surprise.

Broadcast lets you send a message to all compatible devices at once, and you can create groups to specify who you want to reach. Google allows you to set up a Family group for up to six of your relatives, and the expansion being announced today will let you reach these members on their phones too. Just as they already could from a Nest speaker or display, your contact can now reply to your message from their Android or iPhone.

Google

Google is also improving its Family Bell feature that let you set school-bell-like alarms throughout the day. Starting today, you can have Family Bells ring across multiple devices in your home at once, instead of just one. It's also adding support for eight new languages, including Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Italian, French, German, Portugese and Spanish.

The Assistant also provides educational content, and the company is adding to its library this week. It's partnered with Pottermore Publishing to provide Harry Potter stories. On a smart display or Android device, you can ask the Assistant "Tell me a Quidditch story" to learn more about the fictional sport. Google says more content from the Wizarding World is coming later in the year.

In addition to fiction, the Assistant is also getting new historical content from Penguin Random House's Who Was series. By saying "Talk to Who Was Heroes," you can listen to stories about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ida B. Wells, and more than 100 others. To test your knowledge after all that learning, you can also play new games like Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader on Assistant-enabled smart displays. Finally, there are also two new songs about cleaning up and brushing your teeth that Google said are meant "to help kids stay on task and do their chores." The company also teased a Mother's Day surprise for those who set a timer this weekend.
Before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal net neutrality at the end of 2017, the agency collected public opinion on the policy. In all, it said it received nearly 22 million comments. Over the years, there's been a fair amount of discussion surrounding where many of those came from, with a study from that same year suggesting that only six percent of the comments were unique.

Following years of investigation, the Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James has published a report on exactly what happened in 2017. The investigation found the "largest" broadband companies funded a secret astroturfing campaign to push the FCC toward repealing net neutrality. At the time, AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon (Engadget's parent company) were in favor of repealing the policy. The industry hired several third-party firms to build public support for their decision. Ostensibly, those companies were supposed to convince people to support the broadband industry with incentives like gift cards and prizes. Instead, they simply submitted 8.5 million fake comments. The attorney general has fined three of the companies involved in sending in those comments $4.4 million.

On the other side, the FCC received another 9.3 million fake comments in support of maintaining net neutrality. According to the report, most of those came from a single college student, who was 19 at the time. They used automated software to generate the responses. All told, of the more than 22 million comments the FCC received on the matter, James says more than 18 million were fake. Put another way, more than 80 percent of the input the agency collected to inform its decision didn't come from real people.

"The public record should be a place for honest dialogue, but today's report demonstrates how the record informing the FCC's net neutrality repeal was flooded with fraud," Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement to Engadget. "This was troubling at the time because even then the widespread problems with the record were apparent. We have to learn from these lessons and improve because the public deserves an open and fair opportunity to tell Washington what they think about the policies that affect their lives."
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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.
Pete Davidson opened up even more about his tattoo removal journey.

As early as December 2020, Davidson told his fans that he will have his body arts removed soon. A few months after he began his journey, he revealed more details as to why he decided to start the process.

Pete Davidson Takes Massive Step on Removing Tattoos: Is It Because of Phoebe Dynevor?

Davidson recently started a new flame with "Bridgerton" actress Phoebe Dynevor. Their love story reportedly started when they met at a gathering in New York City.

As a now-rising actress, Dynevor surely needs a man who can help her establish her empire in the industry. While Davidson wants to give her his all, his girlfriend is not actually the main reason why he decided to burn off his tattoos.

On Tuesday, the 27-year-old "Saturday Night Live" star appeared on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" and revealed how the removal process has been embarrassing.

According to Davidson, removing the tattoos is actually worse than the time he got them.

"Burning them off is worse than getting them, because not only are they burning off your skin, but you're wearing these big goggles, right? So you can't see anything, and the doctor's in there with you," he said.

He also detailed that before his doctor burns off his tattoo, Davidson would hear him announce the inks to ensure that they will remove the right one.

"So I'll just be sitting there all high off the Pro-Nox [nitrous oxide], which I actually quite enjoy ... and then, all of a sudden, I'll just hear, 'Are you keeping the Stewie Griffin smoking a blunt?'" he hilariously added.

The "King of Staten Island" actor went on to remind himself that the process is a "practical" part of his profession.

READ ALSO: Nick Kamen's Tragic Cause of Death, Last Days Revealed: Madonna's Protege Was 59

Per Davidson, since he never thought he would get an opportunity to be in the acting industry, he wants to give his all to it. He also mentioned how he would always arrive on the set three hours earlier just to have his tattoos covered with makeup.

According to an Us Weekly report, the Body Art Guru estimates that Davidson has over 100 tattoos. The number explains why he needs to be present on the set hours before the recording.

Meanwhile, Mike McGranagham confirmed that Davidson announced his desire during the "King of Staten Island" virtual Q&A.

"Just attended a virtual Q&A with the Judd Apatow and the cast of THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND. And here's a scoop: Pete Davidson is in the process of getting all his tattoos removed!" he wrote on his Twitter account.

Davidson's tattoo artist, Jon Mesa, created most of the comedian's inks. Most of his tattoos were about Ariana Grande. However, Davidson had them covered up when they broke up.

READ MORE: Star Wars Day: Disney Unveils First-Ever Real-Life Lightsaber [VIDEO]

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Prince William and Kate Middleton are giving us a glimpse of their royal life as seen on a new video.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially launched their Youtube channel on Wednesday by releasing a 25-second video consisting of candid memories and videos of the royal family.

On the Youtube video, the royal couple faces the camera with smiles on their faces. The video started with Prince William jokingly told Kate "By the way, you've got to be careful with what you say now because these guys, they're recording everything.", then kate replied "I know!" (See the full video below)

READ ALSO: Prince William, Kate Middleton Celebrates Wedding Anniversary But On This Day 10 Years Ago, They Were In Danger

Other never-before-seen clips shown in the video are their royal visits including Kate shooting a bow and arrow in Bhutan, Prince William serving food, and a whole lot more.

One unforgettable moment from the clip is a blooper from the royal couple's 2021 St. Patrick's Day greeting where Prince William can be heard speaking the Irish language, Kate hilariously corrects him by saying "you don't need to roll your r's", "Do I not roll those?" Prince William replied.

The royal Youtube channel announcement was also released on an Instagram post saying "Better late than never - we're now on @YouTube"

The royal couple recently celebrated their 10th year wedding anniversary last week by releasing two new portraits and a candid video of the couple exploring with their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. (watch the full video below)

It is still uncertain what content will the royal couple post on their YouTube channel but we can expect more candid moments as well as never-before-seen footages of the couple and their children.

Prince William is second in line to take the throne after Queen Elizabeth II and his father, Prince Charles. This year, the royal family had suffered a major loss after the passing of Prince Philip, and as well as a big controversy that shocked the nation when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down from royal duties.

Although Prince William has a long way to go, a source reveals to Us Weekly that the future heir to the throne is reportedly looking forward to a successful future for the royal family and have big plans to modernize the monarchy. The insider added that the royal couple had created a successful balance of openness to the public while maintaining the mystery that surrounds their family to keep us engage.

READ ALSO: "KUWTK': Sobbing Kim Kardashian Shown On Mid-Season Teaser

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Little is known on why Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda French Gates are headed to divorce after 27 years of marriage.

According to several rumors, a Chinese interpreter who works for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is responsible for destroying the Microsoft founder's marriage to his wife.

36-year-old Zhe "Shelly" Wang, however, has come forward to deny the wild online rumors.

She aired out her frustration on the Chinese social media website Weibo on Wednesday, slamming the "unfounded rumors" that she had an affair with Bill Gates, who has a net worth of $130.5 billion.

"I originally thought the rumor would be self-defeating from groundless sources, but I didn't expect it to get more crazy," Zhe posted in Mandarin.

"Thank you for your concern over the past 24 hours through private messages, and friends who helped me dispel rumors."

It's unclear what led the translator to be the target of these rumors, other than pictures she posted online of her engagement for the Gates Foundation. However, it immediately spread like wildfire on Chinese social media.

A friend close to Zhe was even shocked by the rumors and defended her on a blog post.

LI Donglei wrote, "She is a former colleague of mine, a very clean girl, and a person I admire. I don't believe she would get involved in other people's marriages."

"I think it is entirely my instinct that Wang Zhe can't do this kind of thing."

Bill Gates mistress is Zhe 'Shelly' Wang from China. pic.twitter.com/JRc37U6iiy  Michael DeLauzon   (@MichaelDeLauzon) May 5, 2021

Who is Zhe 'Shelly' Wang - The Woman Allegedly Responsible for Bill, Melinda Gates' Divorce

Zhe 'Shelly' Wang, lives in Seattle and is unmarried. As per Li, Zhe grew up in Guangzhou, China, and later immigrated to the US.

She attended Birmingham Young University and received her degree in Business/Managerial Economics in 2007.

For two years since 2006, Zhe owned a restaurant in Provo, Utah, the Four Seasons Hot Pot and Dumplings, as per her LinkedIn profile which is now deleted.

She later became an accomplished professional translator as she's proficient in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Zhe studied Conference Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and later worked for them in Sept. 2012.

Later on, Zhe later worked as a translator for Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, and of course, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but her work for Gates Foundation is in a freelance capacity.

READ ALSO: Bill and Melinda Gates' Prenup Ensures 'Weekend Time' with Ex-Girlfriend Ann Winblad [Report]

Bill and Melinda Gates' Divorce

What prompted Bill and Melinda Gates to divorce remains unclear to this day.

In Melinda's petition, she said she didn't need spousal support but it is expected that a settlement will be privately negotiated if it hasn't been decided yet.

The couple also has reportedly no prenup, now, their assets are up for grab.

When they announced their divorce, Bill reportedly transferred $1.8 billion in stock to Melinda, in what seems to be the first of the many public transactions they will be made to divide their massive wealth.

READ MORE: Bill and Melinda Gates' Divorce Puts $130 Billion on The Line; What Will Happen To Their Foundation?

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
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The global Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Market size is expected to reach USD 1.57 billion by 2027 according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report By Equipment (RF Solid State Amplifiers, Magnetron); By Application (Pharmaceutical, Plastic, Chemical, Paper, Food and Beverages, Other Application); By Regions Segment Forecast, 2020  2027 gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/industrial-microwave-heating-market/request-for-sample

The market is expected to grow at a substantial rate over the forecast period. Government regulations aimed at reducing energy usage, efforts taken by companies to achieve sustainable goals, coupled with rising industrialization across the globe especially in Asia Pacific region is expected to benefit the overall industry growth. Inherent advantages of industrial microwave heating systems such as low energy requirement, better control over the process and ability to offer customized services have resulted in wide applicability of these systems in a spectrum of end-use industries thus further driving the market growth.

The market is characterized by frequent mergers, acquisition, as well as other strategic initiatives by leading market participants. In August 2020, Meyer Burger Technology, a Swiss based conglomerate sold its subsidiary business Muegge, to Germany based equity firm HQ Equita. Muegge is involved in providing industrial microwave heating systems in addition to plasma equipment to a host of application industries.

Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment is finding widespread applications in food & beverage industry and is used for microwave food drying, pasteurization, sterilization, tempering, heating, among others. The usage of microwave equipment ensure that all these processes are ensured with high efficiency, retention of original nutritional content, and in less cost. This scenario is further driving the penetration of these equipment in the food & beverage industry. This trend has resulted in a rise in demand for industrial microwave heating equipment for applications in food & beverage industries thus resulting in overall market growth.

China occupies a majority of market share in the Asia Pacific region. The country is highly industrialized and has emerged as a major manufacturing hub in the world. These trends have benefitted the overall market growth. The country effectively curbed the coronavirus outbreak and hence, did not suffer as much as other European countries. This ensured that the manufacturing in the country to be operational, thus benefitting the overall market growth.

Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/industrial-microwave-heating-market

Industries, in the recent past paid special attention to development and modification of Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment technology to exactly match the process needs of their clients. Different application needs have different process requirements and it is imperative that these heating systems have the ability to modify parameters such as Working Frequency, Working Temperature, Working Temperature, Control Method, Conveyor Speed, Drying Temperature, among others. Continuous R&D has enabled participants to achieve the same and this trend is a major contributor to the generalization of Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment in various application industries.

Some of the key market participants that operate in the industry include Hitachi Power Solutions Co., Ltd., Muegge GmbH, Teledyne e2v Limited, Industrial Microwave Systems Ltd., CoberMuegge LLC, Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI), L3 Technologies, Inc., Richardson Electronics, Ltd., MDP Components, STT International Limited, Panasonic Corporation, and Toshiba International Corporation among others

Polaris Market research has segmented the Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Market report on the basis of equipment type, application, and region

Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2027)

RF Solid State Amplifiers

Magnetron

Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2027)

Pharmaceutical

Plastic

Chemical

Paper

Food and Beverages

Other Application

Industrial Microwave Heating Equipment Region Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2027)

North America U.S. Canada Mexico

Europe France Germany UK Italy

Asia Pacific Japan China India

Latin America Brazil

Middle East & Africa

Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/industrial-microwave-heating-market/request-for-discount-pricing

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.

Contact us-

Polaris Market Research

Phone: 1-646-568-9980

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Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com
2021-05-06

Maeci

Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, met his counterpart from the Palestinian National Authority Government, Riad Malki, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Building.

Minister Luigi Di Maio's meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Minister - Press release


2021-05-06

Maeci

Luigi Di Maio, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has returned to Rome with many commitments. Following the two days of work at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting - which met in London to discuss crisis scenarios and post-COVID recovery - the Minister will be having the first of three bilateral meetings with his Palestinian counterpart, Riad Malki.

Subsequently Minister Di Maio will be meeting the Minister for the Malian Diaspora and African Integration, Al Hamdou Ag Ilene. This follows Di Maios visit to Bamako last month and will be a further significant step for strengthening relations between Italy and the Sahel region.

Minister Di Maio will also receive the Slovak Foreign Minister, Ivan Korcok, for an exchange of views on the most important European and international issues.
2021-05-04

Maeci

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi di Maio, met yesterday with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Climate Action Policy, Frans Timmermans, before leaving for the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow in London. The talks focused on environmental issues and on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The Foreign Minister first of all reiterated Italy's full support to the European Green Deal, a fundamental tool for environmental protection and a great opportunity for economic growth at a crucial time for the recovery of the European economy. In this regard, Di Maio pointed out that Italy has been working on a particularly ambitious PNRR on the environment, to which about 60 billion euros have been allocated, i.e. over 40% of the available resources, with the aim of making our economy more sustainable. Italy, Mr. Di Maio emphasised, has also placed the Energy-Climate link at the core of its G20 Presidency, in order to foster climate neutrality and promote technological innovation.

Minister Di Maio then went on to discuss Italy's commitment in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe, emphasising that it must focus on the priorities of European Union citizens, thus assigning pre-eminent importance to contributions from the civil society and national Parliaments and listening to young people.
Winning consortium to receive up to $6 million under the US-Israel Energy Center competitive funding opportunity managed by the BIRD Foundation

BEER-SHEVA, Israel, May 6, 2021 - A winning consortium led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) -- the Israeli leader, and Arizona State University (ASU) -- the U.S. leader, along with several other tech partners, including Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GT), will receive up to $6 million under a U.S.-Israel Energy Center research funding grant for energy infrastructure cybersecurity.

The consortium's research project is entitled: "Comprehensive Cybersecurity Technology for Critical Power Infrastructure AI Based Centralized Defense and Edge Resilience." Increasingly, both Israel and the U.S. face costly cyberattacks that can cause severe damage to critical energy infrastructure. This consortium will develop, integrate, and test technologies, and demonstrate high value cyberattack mitigation technologies on the energy infrastructure using data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Israel's Ministry of Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority, the total value of the investment with cost-sharing could reach up to $12M over three years. The Energy Center is managed by the BIRD Foundation (Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation).

"This grant attests to the strong collaboration between BGU, ASU, and GT. The consortium brings these great partners together and allocates resources to develop new technology and insights vital to the U.S. and Israel," says BGU Prof. Dan Blumberg, who played a pivotal role in the winning proposal. Prof. Blumberg is the Simon Family Chair in Remote Sensing, vice president for industrial and regional development as well as director of the University's Homeland Security Institute.

"BGU has collaborated with ASU on environmental research and with GT on cybersecurity. As alumnus of both BGU and ASU I am extra proud to win this important grant and expand these collaborations," he says.

The BGU research team includes; Prof. Yuval Elovici, Dr. Yisroel Mirsky, Dr. Nir Nissim, Dr. Rami Puzis, Prof. Lior Rokach, Prof. Asaf Shabtai, Prof. Bracha Shapira, and Dr. David Tolpin.

"We are so proud of Prof. Dan Blumberg and Prof. Yuval Elovici who have worked tirelessly to transform BGU and Beer-Sheva into the center of Israel's cyber ecosystem," says Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of Americans for Ben-Gurion University. "We congratulate them along with the winning BGU research team and partners who will leverage their remarkable cyber and artificial intelligence capabilities to secure critical energy infrastructure of both countries with the generous support from the BIRD Foundation."

According to Dr. Andrew Light, assistant secretary for International Affairs (Acting) at the U.S. Department of Energy, "Cybersecurity for energy infrastructure is key to the success of our efforts to deploy new innovative technologies to combat the climate crisis, promote energy justice, and create new clean energy jobs. I am pleased that this international consortium between the U.S. and our friends in Israel will develop new tools to address the cybersecurity threats we will face as we invest in our people, our supply chains, and our capacity to meet our clean energy goals."

"The continuing collaboration in the energy sector between the U.S. and Israel has engendered considerable interest and has the potential to bring about significant technological progress," said Udi Adiri, director general at the Israel Ministry of Energy. "The Ministry of Energy is strongly involved in protecting the water and energy sector from cyber-attacks and believes that R&D investment is just as important."

Dr. Ami Appelbaum, chairman, Israel Innovation Authority and chief scientist at the Ministry of Economy and Industry said, "In an age where technological innovations are multiplying exponentially, the risks of cyber-attacks also increase significantly, especially in critical facilities such as energy infrastructure."

###

About the Consortium

In addition to leaders BGU and ASU, the consortium partners include:

U.S. Partners: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GT), Nexant, DelekUS Holdings, Duquesne Light Company, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, The MITRE Corporation and Arizona Public Service.

Israeli Partners: OTORIO, Rad Data Communication, SIGA OT Solutions, and Arava Power.

About the U.S. - Israel Energy Center

The U.S.-Israel Energy Center (The U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering and Water Technology) was initially authorized by the U.S. Congress in the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 and funded by the Israel Government in 2016. The total expected government funding for the Energy Center is $40M, for five years. The goal of the Energy Center is to promote energy security and economic development through R&D of innovative energy technologies, while facilitating cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli companies, research institutes and universities. For more information visit the BIRD Foundation.

About Americans for Ben-Gurion University

Americans for Ben-Gurion University plays a vital role in maintaining David Ben-Gurion's vision of an "Oxford in the Negev." By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU's remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, also take a medicine that could be elevating their blood pressure, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 70th Annual Scientific Session. The results underscore the need for patients to routinely review all of the medications they take with their care team, including those available over the counter, to make sure none could be interfering with blood pressure lowering efforts.

Which are the most likely culprits? Based on the study findings, the three most common classes of medications were antidepressants; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that include ibuprofen and naproxen; and oral steroids used to treat conditions such as gout, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or after an organ transplant. These medications were reported by 9%, 7% and 2% of participants, respectively. Other medications associated with blood pressure elevation were also reported, including antipsychotics, certain oral contraceptives and popular decongestants.

Researchers said these findings raise concerns, especially as nearly half of Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure do not have it sufficiently controlled. Dr. Vitarello explained the goal blood pressure for hypertension patients is a reading of less than 130 mmHg over 80 mmHg, based on the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.

"These are medications that we commonly take--both over-the-counter and prescribed medications--that may have the unintended side effect of raising blood pressure and could have adverse effects on our heart health," said John Vitarello, MD, an internal medicine resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and the study's lead author. "We know that high blood pressure leads to cardiovascular disease, stroke and death and even small increases in blood pressure can have meaningful impacts on cardiovascular disease. Based on our findings, we need to be more aware of polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications by a single patient) in older adults who also have the highest burden of high blood pressure."

The study examined data from 27,599 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2009 and 2018. Of these, about half (49%) had hypertension (average age 55 years, 48% female), which was defined in the study as having a blood pressure reading of ?130 mmHg (systolic, the top number) or ?80 mmHg (diastolic, the bottom number) or ever having been told they have high blood pressure. Researchers identified medications associated with blood pressure elevation based on those listed in the ACC/AHA guideline and examined use of these medications by adults with hypertension above and below recommended blood pressure goals.

Among participants with high blood pressure, 19% reported using one or more blood pressure raising medications and 4% reported using multiple. Nearly one-quarter (24%) of women with high blood pressure reported using a blood pressure raising medication compared with 14% of men. Older adults were more likely to be using blood pressure raising medications than younger adults (19% of participants over age 65 vs. 18% of participants under age 65).

Vitarello said the findings suggest that, in some cases, rather than treating high blood pressure with more medications, there may be opportunities to lower blood pressure by deprescribing or substituting safer medications. For example, there may be other classes of medications to treat the same condition that have less impact on blood pressure. Nevertheless, there are some patients who may not have another medication option, so it's advisable to keep a closer eye on their blood pressure and talk with their care team before stopping or starting medications.

Additionally, the study authors estimate that if half of U.S. adults with hypertension who are taking blood pressure raising medications were to discontinue one of these medications, 560,000 to 2.2 million patients could be able to achieve their blood pressure goals without additional medications. But Vitarello said this analysis is only preliminary and individual responses to stopping blood pressure medications are likely to vary, thus the real-world benefit and tradeoffs of stopping these medications need to be further studied.

The study is limited in that it relies on participants' self-report of having high blood pressure and an accurate accounting of all the medications they take. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging and an ACC Fellows Career Development Award.

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For resources on managing high blood pressure, visit CardioSmart.org/topics/high-blood-pressure.

Vitarello will present the study, "Use and Estimated Impacts of Medications that Raise Blood Pressure Among U.S. Adults with Hypertension: National Cross-Sectional Study," on Sunday, May 16, at 12:30 p.m. ET / 16:30 UTC.

ACC.21 will take place May 15-17 virtually, bringing together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention. Follow @ACCinTouch, @ACCMediaCenter and #ACC21 for the latest news from the meeting.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit ACC.org.
In the 150 years since Charles Darwin speculated that humans originated in Africa, the number of species in the human family tree has exploded, but so has the level of dispute concerning early human evolution. Fossil apes are often at the center of the debate, with some scientists dismissing their importance to the origins of the human lineage (the "hominins"), and others conferring them starring evolutionary roles. A new review out on May 7 in the journal Science looks at the major discoveries in hominin origins since Darwin's works and argues that fossil apes can inform us about essential aspects of ape and human evolution, including the nature of our last common ancestor.

Humans diverged from apes--specifically, the chimpanzee lineage--at some point between about 9.3 million and 6.5 million years ago, towards the end of the Miocene epoch. To understand hominin origins, paleoanthropologists aim to reconstruct the physical characteristics, behavior, and environment of the last common ancestor of humans and chimps.

"When you look at the narrative for hominin origins, it's just a big mess--there's no consensus whatsoever," said Sergio Almecija, a senior research scientist in the American Museum of Natural History's Division of Anthropology and the lead author of the review. "People are working under completely different paradigms, and that's something that I don't see happening in other fields of science."

There are two major approaches to resolving the human origins problem: "Top-down," which relies on analysis of living apes, especially chimpanzees; and "bottom-up," which puts importance on the larger tree of mostly extinct apes. For example, some scientists assume that hominins originated from a chimp-like knuckle-walking ancestor. Others argue that the human lineage originated from an ancestor more closely resembling, in some features, some of the strange Miocene apes.

In reviewing the studies surrounding these diverging approaches, Almecija and colleagues with expertise ranging from paleontology to functional morphology and phylogenetics discuss the limitations of relying exclusively on one of these opposing approaches to the hominin origins problem. "Top-down" studies sometimes ignore the reality that living apes (humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and hylobatids) are just the survivors of a much larger, and now mostly extinct, group. On the other hand, studies based on the "bottom-up"approach are prone to giving individual fossil apes an important evolutionary role that fits a preexisting narrative.

"In The Descent of Man in 1871, Darwin speculated that humans originated in Africa from an ancestor different from any living species. However, he remained cautious given the scarcity of fossils at the time," Almecija said. "One hundred fifty years later, possible hominins--approaching the time of the human-chimpanzee divergence--have been found in eastern and central Africa, and some claim even in Europe. In addition, more than 50 fossil ape genera are now documented across Africa and Eurasia. However, many of these fossils show mosaic combinations of features that do not match expectations for ancient representatives of the modern ape and human lineages. As a consequence, there is no scientific consensus on the evolutionary role played by these fossil apes."

Overall, the researchers found that most stories of human origins are not compatible with the fossils that we have today.

"Living ape species are specialized species, relicts of a much larger group of now extinct apes. When we consider all evidence--that is, both living and fossil apes and hominins--it is clear that a human evolutionary story based on the few ape species currently alive is missing much of the bigger picture," said study co-author Ashley Hammond, an assistant curator in the Museum's Division of Anthropology.

Kelsey Pugh, a Museum postdoctoral fellow and study co-author adds, "The unique and sometimes unexpected features and combinations of features observed among fossil apes, which often differ from those of living apes, are necessary to untangle which features hominins inherited from our ape ancestors and which are unique to our lineage."

Living apes alone, the authors conclude, offer insufficient evidence. "Current disparate theories regarding ape and human evolution would be much more informed if, together with early hominins and living apes, Miocene apes were also included in the equation," says Almecija. "In other words, fossil apes are essential to reconstruct the 'starting point' from which humans and chimpanzees evolved."

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This study was part of a collaborative effort with colleagues from the New York Institute of Technology (Nathan Thompson) and the Catalan Institute of Paleontology Miquel Crusafont (David Alba and Salvador Moya-Sola).

Study DOI: https:/ / science. sciencemag. org/ cgi/ doi/ 10. 1126/ science. abb4363

ABOUT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH)

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 and currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. The Museum's approximately 175 scientists draw on a world-class research collection of more than 34 million artifacts and specimens, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum grants the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such free-standing, degree-granting programs at any museum in the United States. The Museum's website, digital videos, and apps for mobile devices bring its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions around the world. Visit amnh.org for more information.
WASHINGTON -- People who feel younger have a greater sense of well-being, better cognitive functioning, less inflammation, lower risk of hospitalization and even live longer than their older-feeling peers. A study published by the American Psychological Association suggests one potential reason for the link between subjective age and health: Feeling younger could help buffer middle-aged and older adults against the damaging effects of stress.

In the study, published in Psychology and Aging, researchers from the German Centre of Gerontology analyzed three years of data from 5,039 participants in the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal survey of residents of Germany age 40 and older. The survey included questions about the amount of perceived stress in peoples' lives and their functional health - how much they were limited in daily activities such as walking, dressing and bathing. Participants also indicated their subjective age by answering the question, "How old do you feel?"

The researchers found, on average, participants who reported more stress in their lives experienced a steeper decline in functional health over three years, and that link between stress and functional health decline was stronger for chronologically older participants.

However, subjective age seemed to provide a protective buffer. Among people who felt younger than their chronological age, the link between stress and declines in functional health was weaker. That protective effect was strongest among the oldest participants.

"Generally, we know that functional health declines with advancing age, but we also know that these age-related functional health trajectories are remarkably varied. As a result, some individuals enter old age and very old age with quite good and intact health resources, whereas others experience a pronounced decline in functional health, which might even result in need for long-term care," said study lead author Markus Wettstein, PhD, who is now at University of Heidelberg. "Our findings support the role of stress as a risk factor for functional health decline, particularly among older individuals, as well as the health-supporting and stress-buffering role of a younger subjective age."

The results suggest that interventions that aim to help people feel younger could reduce the harm caused by stress and improve health among older adults, according to the researchers - though further study is needed to help determine what kind of interventions would work best. For example, Wettstein said, messaging campaigns to counteract ageism and negative age stereotypes and to promote positive views on aging could help people feel younger. In addition, more general stress-reduction interventions and stress management training could prevent functional health loss among older adults, according to Wettstein.

Finally, more research is needed to figure out the ideal gap between subjective and chronological age, according to Wettstein, as previous research has suggested that it's helpful to feel younger up to a point but that benefits decrease as the gap between subjective and chronological age increases. "Feeling younger to some extent might be adaptive for functional health outcomes, whereas 'feeling too young' might be less adaptive or even maladaptive," he said.

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Article: "Subjective age moderates the effect of perceived stress on change in functional health," by Markus Wettstein, PhD, University of Heidelberg, and Svenja Spuling, PhD, Anja Cengia, and Sonja Nowossadeck, German Center for Geronotology. Psychology and Aging 36(3), May 2021.

Full text of the article is available at https:/ / www. apa. org/ pubs/ journals/ releases/ pag-pag0000608. pdf .

Contact: Markus Wettstein, PhD, can be reached at wettstein@nar.uni-heidelberg.de.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 122,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
Scientists in China and Germany have designed an artificial color-changing material that mimics chameleon skin, with luminogens (molecules that make crystals glow) organized into different core and shell hydrogel layers instead of one uniform matrix. The findings, published May 6 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, demonstrate that a two-luminogen hydrogel chemosensor developed with this design can detect seafood freshness by changing color in response to amine vapors released by microbes as fish spoils. The material may also be used to advance the development of stretchable electronics, dynamic camouflaging robots, and anticounterfeiting technologies.

"This novel core-shell layout does not require a careful choice of luminogen pairs, nor does it require an elaborate design and regulation of the complex photophysical interactions between different luminogens," says Tao Chen, a professor at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an author of the study. "These advantages are important to the future construction of robust multicolor material systems with as-yet-unachieved performance."

While scientists have long envisioned developing soft materials that can fluctuate between a wide range of fluorescent colors with ease, synthetic materials are rarely able to change hue as artfully as chameleons do.

"Most artificial color-changing soft materials have been prepared by simultaneously incorporating two or more responsive luminogens into one single elastomer or hydrogel matrix," says Chen. "On the other hand, the organization of different iridophores into two superposed core-shell structured layers constitutes an evolutionary novelty for panther chameleons that allows their skins to display complex structural colors."

To determine whether artificial color-changing materials could be imbued with the natural core-shell structure of chameleon skin, Wei Lu, a researcher at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues developed a multi-luminogen layered hydrogen system from the inside out. First, the researchers synthesized a red fluorescent core hydrogel, which would serve as a template for the other layers. This core hydrogel was incubated in various aqueous Europium solutions, after which the gel was incubated in a growth solution containing sodium alginate and responsive blue/green fluorescent polymers. Spontaneous diffusion of Europium ions from the core hydrogel into the surrounding solution triggered the formation of blue and green hydrogel layers.

Because of the way that the core and shell layers of the hydrogels overlapped, they could change from red to blue or green when triggered by changes in temperature or pH. The authors also note that the emission color of the blue and green fluorescent layers could be adjusted, enabling the material to display colors from nearly the full visible spectrum.

"The proposed diffusion-induced interfacial polymerization to prepare core-shell materials proves to be general," says Chen. "It is thus highly expected that the proposed synthetic strategy could be expanded to produce other soft color-changing materials, such as smart hydrogels or elastomers with stimuli-responsive structural color or pigment color change."

To test the abilities of a chemosensor crafted from a two-luminogen hydrogel to detect seafood freshness, Lu and colleagues sealed test strips made from the material in boxes with fresh shrimp or fish for 50 hours. The test strip stored with seafood at less than -10?C barely changed from its original red fluorescent color, indicating that the food was still fresh, while the test strip stored with seafood at 30?C shifted to a vivid green hue, indicating that the food had spoiled.

Chen suggests that both the novel core-shell hydrogels and the diffusion-induced interfacial polymerization strategy used to make them could prove useful in a diverse range of scientific fields, including robotics.

"In the near future, we plan to utilize the developed chameleon skin-like core-shell hydrogels to prepare biomimetic soft camouflaging skins, which can be used to mimic the diverse color-changing functions of living organisms' skins and to help achieve desirable active camouflage, display and alarm functions in robots," says Chen.

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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Sino-German Mobility Program, the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Open Fund of the Guangdong Provincial Key, Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology.

Cell Reports Physical Science, Lu et al.: "Panther Chameleon skin-inspired core@shell supramolecular hydrogel with spatially organized multi-luminogens enables programmable color change" https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(21)00107-7
Sea turtles are known for relying on magnetic signatures to find their way across thousands of miles to the very beaches where they hatched. Now, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on May 6 have some of the first solid evidence that sharks also rely on magnetic fields for their long-distance forays across the sea.

"It had been unresolved how sharks managed to successfully navigate during migration to targeted locations," said Save Our Seas Foundation project leader Bryan Keller, also of Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory. "This research supports the theory that they use the earth's magnetic field to help them find their way; it's nature's GPS."

Researchers had known that some species of sharks travel over long distances to reach very specific locations year after year. They also knew that sharks are sensitive to electromagnetic fields. As a result, scientists had long speculated that sharks were using magnetic fields to navigate. But the challenge was finding a way to test this in sharks.

"To be honest, I am surprised it worked," Keller said. "The reason this question has been withstanding for 50 years is because sharks are difficult to study."

Keller realized the needed studies would be easier to do in smaller sharks. They also needed a species known for returning each year to specific locations. He and his colleagues settled on bonnetheads (Sphyrna tiburo).

"The bonnethead returns to the same estuaries each year," Keller said. "This demonstrates that the sharks knows where 'home' is and can navigate back to it from a distant location."

The question then was whether bonnetheads managed those return trips by relying on a magnetic map. To find out, the researchers used magnetic displacement experiments to test 20 juvenile, wild-caught bonnetheads. In their studies, they exposed sharks to magnetic conditions representing locations hundreds of kilometers away from where the sharks were actually caught. Such studies allow for straightforward predictions about how the sharks should subsequently orient themselves if they were indeed relying on magnetic cues.

If sharks derive positional information from the geomagnetic field, the researchers predicted northward orientation in the southern magnetic field and southward orientation in the northern magnetic field, as the sharks attempted to compensate for their perceived displacement. They predicted no orientation preference when sharks were exposed to the magnetic field that matched their capture site. And, it turned out, the sharks acted as they'd predicted when exposed to fields within their natural range.

The researchers suggest that this ability to navigate based on magnetic fields may also contribute to the population structure of sharks. The findings in bonnetheads also likely help to explain impressive feats by other shark species. For instance, one great white shark was documented to migrate between South Africa and Australia, returning to the same exact location the following year.

"How cool is it that a shark can swim 20,000 kilometers round trip in a three-dimensional ocean and get back to the same site?" Keller asked. "It really is mind blowing. In a world where people use GPS to navigate almost everywhere, this ability is truly remarkable."

In future studies, Keller says he'd like to explore the effects of magnetic fields from anthropogenic sources such as submarine cables on sharks. They'd also like to study whether and how sharks rely of magnetic cues not just during long-distance migration but also during their everyday behavior.

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This work was supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation and the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory.

Current Biology, Keller et al.: "Map-like use of earth's magnetic field in sharks" https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00476-0
Interview: Jordanian communist party leader praises CPC's people-centered philosophy

Xinhua) 14:59, May 06, 2021

AMMAN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Upholding the people-centered philosophy, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has kept the Chinese people as the top priority and striven to serve them wholeheartedly, Secretary General of Jordan's Communist Party Faraj Itmeiza has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the 100th founding anniversary of the CPC, Itmeiza praised China's comprehensive achievement under the CPC's leadership, noting that he could feel that the CPC and the Chinese people have been engaged in unceasing endeavors for a better future.

"What struck me the most was that some projects that usually take several years in other countries can be finished only in a few months or weeks in China," he said.

"It seems that China is in a race against time for realizing the best future for the Chinese people and humanity," he added.

Itmeiza, who has visited China twice in the past years, said that though some Western media slandered and misrepresented the facts about China, the reality he has witnessed is that "China is a large productive country and open to other civilizations and international dialogues."

The Jordanian party chief said that his party publishes a biweekly newspaper, including local, regional, and international reports, with China's latest development often available in the international section.

During the interview, Itmeiza highlighted the distinguished leadership of the CPC, the support of the Chinese people for the party, and the country's sustainable development plans as the pillars to China's achievement "miracle."

"It was apparent that the Chinese people were united under the CPC's leadership in eradicating extreme poverty as well as combating the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

Notably, he spoke highly of China's contribution to the global fight against the pandemic, adding that China has also made its vaccines accessible as a global public good and provided humanitarian assistance to other countries, especially developing countries.

In terms of bilateral relations, Itmeiza said he looked forward to closer cooperation between the two countries and the two parties, and appreciated China's support and assistance to Jordan, especially in the fields of technology and education.

Suggesting other countries learn from the CPC's governance experience, he said that "it is not to fully copy it, but we have to act like China by first studying issues, and then adopting the positive sides to serve our country and people."

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Dermatologicals in Saudi Arabia under Healthcare Market In Saudi Arabia category. The Dermatologicals Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

In response to the pressure that was expected to come on the Saudi health service as a result of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom during the second and third quarters of 2020, the Ministry of Health advised all dentists surgeries and dermatology clinics to accept only urgent appointments, in order to reserve treatment for critical patients and to hold all appointments pen for at least two weeks, unless particularly urgent.

Dermatologicals in Saudi Arabia report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2015-2019, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. Forecasts to 2024 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: Antiparasitics/Lice (Head and Body) Treatments, Antipruritics, Cold Sore Treatments, Haemorrhoid Treatments, Hair Loss Treatments, Medicated Shampoos, Nappy (Diaper) Rash Treatments, Paediatric Dermatologicals, Topical Allergy Remedies/Antihistamines, Topical Antifungals, Topical Germicidals/Antiseptics, Vaginal Antifungals.

Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Dermatologicals Market Report @

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Table Of Contents

Dermatologicals in Saudi Arabia

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2020 IMPACT

Restrictions on access to dermatological health services support OTC demand

The official response to COVID-19 has minimal impact on sales of dermatologicals

Topical antifungals sees the launch of Miconaz

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Greater control over dermatologicals presents potential barriers to growth

Julphars relaunch in Saudi Arabia expected to support dermatologicals recovery

The COVID-19 quarantine boosts the fortunes of e-commerce

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Sales of Dermatologicals by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 2 Sales of Dermatologicals by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 3 NBO Company Shares of Dermatologicals: % Value 2016-2020

Table 4 LBN Brand Shares of Dermatologicals: % Value 2017-2020

Table 5 LBN Brand Shares of Hair Loss Treatments: % Value 2017-2020

Table 6 Forecast Sales of Dermatologicals by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 7 Forecast Sales of Dermatologicals by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19 impact on consumer health

COVID-19 country impact

Company response

Retailing shift

What next for consumer health?

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 8 Consumer Expenditure on Health Goods and Medical Services: Value 2015-2020

Table 9 Life Expectancy at Birth 2015-2020

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/dermatologicals-in-saudi-arabia/425968

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Photocatalytic biomass conversion is an ideal way of generating syngas (H 2 and CO) via C-C bond cleavage, which is initiated by hydrogen abstraction of O/C-H bond. However, the lack of efficient electron-proton transfer limits its efficiency. Conversional gasification of biomass into syngas needs to be operated at high temperature (400-700 C).

Recently, a group led by Prof. WANG Feng from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Prof. WANG Min from Dalian University of Technology, proposed a new method to realize photocatalytic conversion of biopolyols to syngas at room temperature with high efficiency.

This study was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society on April 27.

The researchers prepared surface sulfate ions modified CdS catalyst ([SO 4 ]/CdS), which could simultaneously increase both the electron and proton transfer, thereby facilitating the generation of syngas mixture from biopolyols with high activity and selectivity.

In situ characterizations combined with theoretical calculations demonstrated that the surface sulfate ion [SO 4 ] was bifunctional, serving as the proton acceptor to promote proton transfer, and increasing the oxidation potential of the valence band to enhance electron transfer.

Compared with pristine CdS, [SO 4 ]/CdS exhibited 9-fold higher CO generation rate and 4-fold higher H 2 generation. Through this method, a wide range of sugars, such as glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, xylose, lactose, insulin, and starch, were facilely converted into syngas.

This study reveals the pivotal effect of surface sulfate ion on electron-proton transfer in photocatalysis and provides a facile method for increasing photocatalytic efficiency.

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The Florida Atlantic University/Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center (FAU/NCHA Community Health Center), operated by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, is the first university in Florida to be designated by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as a "Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike," effective May 1. An FQHC is a clinic that provides comprehensive primary, behavioral health and preventive care to patients of all ages in underserved and rural areas. The purpose of FQHCs is to serve communities that may have financial disadvantages, language barriers, geographic barriers, or other specific needs.

According to HRSA, 30 million Americans or 1 in 11 people across the U.S. rely on FQHCs for care including 1.4 million homeless patients, 1 in 5 rural residents, 1 in 8 children, 1 in 4 uninsured, more than 1 million agricultural workers and more than 398,000 veterans.

"Receiving this important designation from the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration is the result of the tireless efforts of our nurse-led Community Health Center's staff and leadership team, including our executive director Dr. Kay Edwards, and our nursing faculty who are all dedicated to providing lifesaving health care and services to underserved populations in Palm Beach County. Our Community Health Center is an invaluable resource in the community and provides patient-centered care by an outstanding interdisciplinary team of professionals that include nurse practitioners, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, medical assistants and others," said Safiya George, Ph.D., dean, FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. "The majority of residents who live in our service areas live well below poverty. As a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, we will be able to expand and enhance the vital services we provide at our FAU/NCHA Community Health Center."

To receive an FQHC Look-Alike designation, organizations must operate and provide services consistent with HRSA's Health Center Program requirements to ensure health care for underserved communities and vulnerable populations in the U.S. through service provision to all, regardless of ability to pay. Health Center Program look-alikes improve the health of underserved communities and vulnerable populations by expanding access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services.

"The need for comprehensive health care services and outreach programs in Palm Beach County's underserved communities is immense," says Karethy Edwards, Dr.PH, FNP-BC, Community Health Center project director, executive director and associate dean of academic programs, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. "Almost one quarter of the population who reside in the areas we serve is uninsured and often seek care in emergency rooms because they do not have an alternative. Many of them have high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and other chronic health conditions and also suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. When taken into account with the surging cost of health care and related services, this is a challenging issue for our communities in need. Fortunately, our FAU/NCHA Community Health Center is poised to help address these challenges. Equally important, our FQHC Look-Alike designation is the only one-of-its-kind in Florida for a university. Only a small number of schools like The Ohio State University, University of Colorado, Texas Tech University and a few others have received this designation from HRSA. We are honored to have this distinction."

There are approximately 458,350 people living in the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center service area in West Palm Beach. The population has a higher proportion of Black/African American and Hispanic residents than the county and the state. About 47 percent of the population lives below 200 percent of poverty and 20.6 percent lives below poverty. More than 20 percent of the population is uninsured, compared to 15 percent in Palm Beach County and Florida. The entire service area is designated as a primary care, dental and mental health "Health Professional Shortage Area."

The FAU/NCHA Community Health Center is already part of the fabric of health care in lower income Palm Beach County. FAU and NCHA have partnered with several West Palm Beach organizations, which have been working for a number of years to establish additional health services in an historic part of the city. The FAU/NCHA Community Health Center has two sites providing primary health care services integrated with behavioral health services. One is located in Westgate and has been operated by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing since 2014; and the other newer site is located in the northwest area of the city, which has the highest level of minority population and poverty. The health center has formal agreements with two area medical centers and the major FQHC for services not provided directly.

Needs assessments conducted by the Palm Beach County Health Department and the Northwest Community Consortium, Inc., a community organization working with FAU, found that the service area has a tremendous need for additional accessible medical and behavioral health services. In 2018, the two area FQHCs, including the Palm Beach County Health Care District, served only 16.75 percent of the low income population of the service area zip codes.

In 2019, the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center provided 3,654 primary care visits and 841 behavioral health visits to 1,188 patients. Last year, the center distributed more than 550 face masks to residents in this community, specifically targeting homeless individuals. With COVID-19 concerns, primary care telehealth services were made available to patients and included routine sick and health maintenance follow-up care and management of chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis.

The two FAU/NCHA Community Health Center locations in West Palm Beach are 1650 Osceola Dr. and 720 Eighth St., at the U.B. Kinsey Educational Community Center.

FQHC Look-Alikes do not receive federal funding but are eligible to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for reimbursement under FQHC Medicare and Medicaid payment methodologies, which provide higher reimbursement funds for patient visits. FQHC Look-Alikes also are eligible to purchase discounted prescription drugs through the 340B Federal Drug Pricing Program, receive automatic Health Professional Shortage Area designation, and may access National Health Service Corps providers.

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About the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center:

Located in West Palm Beach, the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center provides an array of services directed by advanced practice nurses in collaboration with other health care providers to offer services that are community, family and person centered. The centers are certified by the American Diabetes Association to provide diabetes self-management training to patients, families and community members. The community outreach team also travels throughout Palm Beach County to provide services where people work and live. The services children and adults at the FAU Community Health Centers receive also include mental health assessments, medication management, and behavioral interventions focused on restoration of function and quality of life. Patients learn behavior strategies to help them adhere to medical regimens, new coping mechanisms, stress reduction strategies, and pain and/or disease management techniques. The health care team utilizes telehealth to deliver health care, health information and health education with an emphasis on an interdisciplinary plan of care. The FAU Community Health Centers also serve as key clinical training sites for FAU students at various levels in nursing, medicine, social work, pharmacology and others to assist in inter-professional community engagement and clinical training.

About the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing:

FAU's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is nationally and internationally known for its excellence and philosophy of caring science. The college is ranked No.1 in online graduate nursing programs in Florida and No. 23 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. In 2017, with a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), FAU BSN graduates, first-time test takers, ranked among the highest (No.1) in Florida and the United States. FAU's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). For more information, visit nursing.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University:
Recently, laser scientists at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea realized the unprecedented laser intensity of 1023 W/cm2. This has been a milestone that has been pursued for almost two decades by many laser institutes around the world.

An ultrahigh intensity laser is an important research tool in several fields of science, including those which explore novel physical phenomena occurring under extreme physical conditions. Since the demonstration of the 1022 W/cm2 intensity laser by a team at the University of Michigan in 2004, the realization of laser intensity over 1023 W/cm2 has been pursued for nearly 20 years.

In general, achieving such a level of ultra-high laser intensity requires two things: laser with extremely high power output, and focusing that laser to the smallest spot as possible. While continuous-wave lasers are limited to megawatt-scale intensity, far higher peak power output (on the order of petawatt) is possible in pulsed laser systems by delivering the energy in the time scale as short as femtoseconds. In order to reach the goal of developing the world's most powerful laser, several ultrahigh power laser facilities with outputs of 10 PW and beyond, such as ELI (EU), Apollon (France), EP-OPAL (USA), and SEL (China), have been built or are being planned. A recent study from Osaka University even proposed a concept prototype for an exawatt class laser.

Meanwhile, the CoReLS laser team has been operating a 4-PW laser system since 2016. This year in April 2021, they have finally achieved the record-breaking milestone of 1023 W/cm2 by tightly focusing the multi-PW laser beam.

Several special techniques have been employed to achieve this feat. The power intensity was maximized by using a focusing optics called an off-axis parabolic mirror, which was used to focus a 28 cm laser beam down to a spot only 1.1 micrometers wide. Such a diffraction-limited tight focusing can be obtained only with a clean laser beam without wavefront distortion. The CoReLS laser team, thus, made its PW laser beam as clean as possible using a set of deformable mirrors to correct the wavefront distortion of the PW laser.

The CoReLS 4-PW laser is a femtosecond, ultrahigh power Ti:sapphire laser, based on the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technique. The layout of the CoReLS 4-PW laser, including the experimental setup to control the wavefront and to measure the intensity, is given in Fig. 1. A low-energy femtosecond laser pulse from the front-end was stretched to a nanosecond pulse by the pulse stretcher. The initial laser pulse was then amplified to 4.5 J by the two power amplifiers and then up to 112 J by the two booster amplifiers. The size of the laser beam increased along the beam path by a series of beam expanders; 25 mm right after the power amplifiers, 65 mm at the entrance of the 1st booster amplifier, 85 mm at the entrance of the 2nd booster amplifier, and 280 mm at the entrance of the pulse compressor. In the pulse compressor, the laser pulse was recompressed to 20 fs (FWHM), which caused its peak power to become 4 PW after the compression.

In order to compensate for the wavefront distortion of the PW laser beam, two deformable mirrors were employed in the PW laser beamline. The first deformable mirror (DM1) with a diameter of 100 mm was installed after the final booster amplifier, with its role being to correct the wavefront distortion accumulated from the front end to the final beam expander. The second deformable mirror (DM2) with a diameter of 310 mm was installed after the pulse compressor, which corrects the additional aberrations induced from large aperture optics in the pulse compressor, the beam delivery line, and the target area. In the target chamber, the PW laser beam was tightly focused with an f /1.1 off-axis parabolic mirror, which possessed an effective focal length of 300 mm. For imaging and characterization of the focused spot, the focused beam was collimated by an objective lens. It was then divided into two beams with a beam splitter for the focal spot and wavefront characterization. A camera was used for the focal spot monitoring of the transmitted laser beam, and a wavefront sensor was used to measure the wavefront of the reflected laser beam. Figure 3 shows the 3-D focal spot image measured by the camera in the target chamber.

Prof. NAM Chang Hee, the Director of CoReLS, notes, "This work has shown that the CoReLS PW laser is the most powerful laser in the world. With the highest laser intensity achieved ever, we can tackle new challenging areas of experimental science, especially strong field quantum electrodynamics (QED) that has been dealt with mainly by theoreticians. We can explore new physical problems of electron-photon scattering (Compton scattering) and photon-photon scattering (Breit-Wheeler process) in the nonlinear regime. This kind of research is directly related to various astrophysical phenomena occurring in the universe and can help us to further expand our knowledge horizon."

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Ultrasound is an indispensable tool for the life sciences and various industrial applications due to its non-destructive, high contrast, and high resolution qualities. A persistent challenge over the years has been how to increase the resolution of an acoustic endoscope without drastically increasing the footprint of the probe, or risking the robustness of the ultrasonic transducer. In recent years, a host of all-optical ultrasonic imaging techniques have emerged - which generally utilise pulsed lasers and optical cavities to excite and detect ultrasound waves - without sacrificing device footprint, sensitivity, or the integrity of the transducer. Thus far these powerful techniques have achieved imaging resolutions on microscopic-mesoscopic length scales, however there is great interest in creating an ultrasonic fibre-probe which can probe disease on the nanoscopic-microscopic length scales inhabited by biological cells and tissue.

In a new paper published in Light: Science & Application, a team of scientists, led by Professor Matt Clark at the University of Nottingham, UK, has developed the first optical fibre ultrasonic imaging device which operates in the GHz range of the acoustic spectrum. At these frequencies the wavelength of sound becomes comparable to ultraviolet optical wavelengths and therefore provides an opportunity for high resolution imaging. Their phonon probe device makes use of a pump-probe technique called time-resolved Brillouin scattering, which pumps GHz frequency ultrasound from the tip of a 125 m diameter optical fibre into a specimen, and uses a pulsed laser to "watch" one of the ultrasound waves (with a frequency of approximately 5 GHz) as it travels through the specimen. This time-of-flight acoustic signature simultaneously encodes two types of information about the specimen: its local mechanical properties and spatial profile. By scanning the device, these properties can be resolved in 3D with optical lateral resolution, and with axial resolution dictated by the sub-micrometre acoustic wavelengths.

Prof. Clark's team applied this new technology to the parallel elastography-profilometry of objects as small as 10 x 2 m (radius and height). The device was capable of 2.5 m lateral resolution and could measure object height with 45 nm precision, which is over an order of magnitude smaller than the system's optical wavelength. The team also demonstrated that the technology is fully compatible with optical fibre imaging bundles - containing tens of thousands of imaging pixels - which shows the scalability of the technique and its compatibility with standard endoscopy equipment.

According to the team, the development and application towards biological metrology and healthcare is most exciting. "The phonon probe is poised to supplement state-of-the-art bench-top profilometry equipment such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), stylus profilometry, and optical profilometry. It offers a combination of non-contact operation, label-free contrast, and high resolution, which is unique compared with the state-of-the-art. However, we believe that its ability to measure sub-surface mechanical properties, its bio-compatibility, and its endoscopic-potential are what set it apart. These features set the technology up for future in vivo measurements towards the ultimate goal of minimally invasive point-of-care diagnostics. The building blocks of disease can be traced down to the sub-cellular level, and are closely intertwined with mechanical properties. Having an endoscopic device that can access this regime will accelerate the development of elasticity-based diagnostics."

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The world's first-ever 'academic paper which is not a paper' is due to be presented by a Lancaster University research team at the premier international conference on human-computer interaction.

The world's first-ever 'academic paper which is not a paper' is due to be presented by a Lancaster University research team at the premier international conference on human-computer interaction.

Dr Joseph Lindley, a researcher at Lancaster University's ImaginationLancaster design-led research laboratory, Dr Miriam Sturdee, from the University's School of Computing and Communications, Senior Research Associate Dr David Green and Research Associate Hayley Alter have been invited to take part in the 2021 ACM CHI Virtual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in May.

Using the innovative 'Gather Town' online video-calling and conferencing platform, they have experimented in setting up a conference paper as an interactive but virtual space.

The unique part of this type of video-calling is the ability for multiple people to hold separate conversations in parallel, and to walk in and out of those conversations just as easily as they would in a real room.

"So, with this, you can actually walk 'in' to the paper. Each 'room' is a page or section within the paper where you can read the text, but also talk to other conference delegates about it," explains Dr Lindley, a lecturer in design research.

Quirky egg-themed graphics (eggs are used as they are a symbol of new life) give the 'page-spaces' character as different destinations, while the menu page is inspired by Piet Mondrian's map-like painting, 'Broadway Boogie Woogie'.

"The beauty with this approach is that you don't have to read from start to finish, you can experience it in any order you like," Dr Lindley explains.

Instead of hearing a formal presentation, participants will be asked to don their choice of avatar before being invited into the two-dimensional spaces to meet, chat and 'explore' the egg.

"This is the world's first paper that is not an actual paper," says Dr Lindley. "It's a video conferencing platform that hosts 20 interconnected 'rooms' with a 'poster' in each one. People can mill about and discuss each poster and, by leaving additional comments they can effectively help to keep 'writing' the paper as they go.

"This prototype is about collapsing barriers between video conferencing, research conferences, and publication traditions. It's about exploring creative ways of using technology and bringing them together."

"It's looking at how the research landscape will evolve. The pandemic is making people look at that again."

"We are now in a state of comprehensive flux as 'new normals' emerge, begin to solidify, and may evolve into an--as yet undetermined--futures.

"This 'not paper' is a facet and exploration of that flux as it relates to publication and conference culture, video conferencing systems, and how we both conduct, and share, research."

Step inside the paper if you dare...

https:/ / gather. town/ app/ EpkqTfKctHPjRS0m/ the_egg (NOTE: Please use a Chrome or Firefox based browser).

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(ORLANDO, Florida) - A state-of-the-art in-utero procedure allows surgeons to correct a birth defect on developing babies inside the womb. But operating on a mother and her unborn child at the same time can be challenging and unpredictable. To give their world-class surgeons even more information ahead of surgery, Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is using MRI and ultrasound imaging along with 3D-printing technology to create a first-of-its-kind detailed model that allows surgeons to plan procedures ahead of time, identifying potential obstacles and reducing the risks of surgery.

The models are currently being used to plan for an in-utero surgery that repairs spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord fails to close normally during development. The condition can cause a lifetime of neurological disabilities, including an inability to walk.

"The 3D reconstruction of the fetus can really educate the surgeon on the real-life shape, size and location of the spinal lesion, as well as prepare the surgeon to have the appropriate equipment ready to treat this condition surgically," said Samer Elbabaa, MD, medical director of pediatric neurosurgery at Orlando Health. "It's a level of detail that we are not able to see in traditional imaging, but that is extremely valuable in these cases where we cannot actually see the defect ahead of surgery."

To create the models, Orlando Health works with the expert 3D printers at Digital Anatomy Simulations for Healthcare, LLC (DASH) who developed the technology. While many have seen crude, single-colored items that have been 3D printed, DASH has taken the process to the next level, developing technology to enhance MRI and ultrasound images taken throughout the pregnancy to reconstruct accurate curves and edges. They are then able to print a high-resolution model with multiple colors and materials, allowing surgeons to see details such as skeletal structure, nerve and vascular anatomy and fluid sacs in the spine and brain caused by spina bifida.

The models are currently being used in the hospital's open fetal surgery program, which has performed 25 procedures since it began in 2018. Orlando Health is one of only 12 facilities in the U.S., and the only one in Florida, that is able to perform this kind of surgery.

"The fetal models not only help surgeons plan for things like where to make an incision and how to repair the defect, but also helps reduce the duration of the surgery to limit the developing baby's exposure," said DASH President and CEO Jack Stubbs. "We are able to create models that are extremely realistic by using a stack of two-dimensional images taken throughout the pregnancy and enhancing them to reconstruct a better visualization of what the fetus truly looks like."

The 3D-printed models are giving surgeons a clearer picture for what to expect during a fetal surgery and also allowing surgeons to better explain the baby's condition to parents and show them how it will be treated. For first-time parents Jared and Jocelyn Rodriguez, it made them more confident about moving forward with surgery.

"At first, we just thought it was a model showing the same kind of condition that our baby was diagnosed with, but then Dr. Elbabaa told us that it was made using the 20-week MRI of our daughter," Jared Rodriguez said. "We could see the brain and the spine and I looked down at it and thought, 'I'm holding my daughter right now? That's pretty awesome.'"

The Rodriguezes say although they are prepared for the challenges their daughter may face, they're glad this technological development is helping to give her a healthier future.

"Every appointment we go to, we just keep getting more good news and she's already showing how strong she is," Jocelyn Rodriguez said. "We know that this surgery will give her the best shot at a normal lifestyle and we're excited to see the positive results as she grows."

Surgeons are seeing successful results from fetal surgery for spina bifida. Most babies who undergo the procedure experience significantly fewer health concerns and better functionality than those who receive surgery after they're born, with some of the first patients now learning to walk on their own. Experts hope to expand the program to model other types of birth defects in utero that may be treated through fetal surgery in the future.

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Researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina Greensboro made a surprising finding while examining areas where sand flies rear their young: a new species of bacteria that is highly attractive to pregnant, or gravid, sand flies. The findings could advance the production of ecologically safe baits or traps to reduce sand fly populations.

Sand flies are vectors for important parasitic diseases affecting people in tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. One of those diseases is Leishmaniasis, which generally causes sores and skin ulcers but in some cases can detrimentally affect internal organs.

"Sand flies live in sheltered places such as animal burrows, caves, and rock or tree crevices, so it's difficult to reach them with insecticides," said Loganathan Ponnusamy, principal research scholar in NC State's Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and the corresponding author of a paper describing the research. "If you're able to attract sand flies with a chemical that attracts them in nature, you're better able to target and kill them."

The research team, which included researchers from Gideon Wasserberg's lab at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, cultured a number of different bacterial species from the sand fly larval rearing area and found one that hadn't yet been identified: Sphingobacterium phlebotomi, a new member of the family of bacteria known as Sphingobacteriaceae.

To prove that the bacterium hadn't already been identified, Madhavi Kakumanu, an NC State research scholar, performed a number of tests - including scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis and whole genome sequencing - and showed the bacterium's novelty.

"We were culturing and isolating a lot of different bacteria and found this new one almost by accident," Kakumanu, the paper's first author, said.

Bahjat Fadi Marayati, a graduate student in Wasserberg's lab, conducted attraction tests and demonstrated that this new bacteria species produces volatile chemicals that were attractive to pregnant sand flies.

Pregnant sand flies preferred the smell of the new bacterium over other chemical compounds presented during testing, Ponnusamy said, showing that the bacterium acted as a beacon for an appropriate place for females to lay eggs.

Ponnusamy says further testing will be done to narrow down even further the chemical compounds that attract sand flies.

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The paper describing the new bacterium - and presenting a name for it - appears in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

The paper is co-authored by NC State entomologists Ayako Wada-Katsumata, Coby Schal and Charles S. Apperson, as well as by Marayati and Wasserberg from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Support for the work was provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under NIH grant 1R01AI123327-01 and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center under Multidisciplinary Research Grant number 1104.

Note to editors: An abstract of the paper follows.

Sphingobacterium phlebotomi sp. nov., a new member of family Sphingobacteriaceae isolated from sand fly rearing substrate

Authors: Madhavi L. Kakumanu, Ayako Wada-Katsumata, Coby Schal, Charles S. Apperson, and Loganathan Ponnusamy, North Carolina State University; Bahjat Fadi Marayati and Gideon Wasserberg, University of North Carolina Greensboro

Published: May 6 in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

DOI:10.1099/ijsem.0.004809

Abstract: A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic bacterium, designated type strain SSI9T, was isolated from sand fly (Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli; Diptera: Psychodidae) rearing substrate and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Strain SSI9T contained phosphatidylethanolamine as a major polar lipid, MK-7 as the predominant quinone, and C16:1 ?6c/C16:1 ?7c, iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH and C16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SSI9T belongs to the genus Sphingobacterium, of family Sphingobacteriaceae sharing 96.5-88.0 % sequence similarity with other Sphingobacterium species. Multilocus sequence analysis using the concatenated sequences of the housekeeping genes recA, rplC and groL showed that the strain SSI9T formed a separate branch in the genus Sphingobacterium. The genome of the type strain SSI9T is 5197142 bp with a G+C content of 41.8 mol% and encodes 4395 predicted coding sequences, 49 tRNAs, and 3 complete rRNAs and 2 partial rRNAs. Strain SSI9T could be distinguished from other species of the genus Sphingobacterium with valid published names by several phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characteristics. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the bacterial isolate represents a novel species within the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium phlebotomi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SSI9T (=ATCC TSD-210T = LMG 31664T = NRRL B-65603T).
WASHINGTON -- Researchers have demonstrated a record-high laser pulse intensity of over 1023 W/cm2 using the petawatt laser at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS), Institute for Basic Science in the Republic of Korea. It took more than a decade to reach this laser intensity, which is ten times that reported by a team at the University of Michigan in 2004. These ultrahigh intensity light pulses will enable exploration of complex interactions between light and matter in ways not possible before.

The powerful laser can be used to examine phenomena believed to be responsible for high-power cosmic rays, which have energies of more than a quadrillion (1015) electronvolts (eV). Although scientists know that these rays originate from somewhere outside our solar system, how they are made and what is forming them has been a longstanding mystery.

"This high intensity laser will allow us to examine astrophysical phenomena such as electron-photon and photon-photon scattering in the lab," said Chang Hee Nam, director of CoReLS and professor at Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology. "We can use it to experimentally test and access theoretical ideas, some of which were first proposed almost a century ago."

In Optica, The Optical Society's (OSA) journal for high impact research, the researchers report the results of years of work to increase the intensity of laser pulses from the CoReLS laser. Studying laser matter-interactions requires a tightly focused laser beam and the researchers were able to focus the laser pulses to a spot size of just over one micron, less than one fiftieth the diameter of a human hair. The new record-breaking laser intensity is comparable to focusing all the light reaching earth from the sun to a spot of 10 microns.

"This high intensity laser will let us tackle new and challenging science, especially strong field quantum electrodynamics, which has been mainly dealt with by theoreticians," said Nam. "In addition to helping us better understand astrophysical phenomena, it could also provide the information necessary to develop new sources for a type of radiation treatment that uses high-energy protons to treat cancer."

Making pulses more intense

The new accomplishment extends previous work in which the researchers demonstrated a femtosecond laser system, based on Ti:Sapphire, that produces 4 petawatt (PW) pulses with durations of less than 20 femtoseconds while focused to a 1 micrometer spot. This laser, which was reported in 2017, produced a power roughly 1,000 times larger than all the electrical power on Earth in a laser pulse that only lasts twenty quadrillionths of a second.

To produce high-intensity laser pulses on target, the generated optical pulses must be focused extremely tightly. In this new work, the researchers apply an adaptive optics system to precisely compensate optical distortions. This system involves deformable mirrors -- which have a controllable reflective surface shape -- to precisely correct distortions in the laser and generate a beam with a very well-controlled wavefront. They then used a large off-axis parabolic mirror to achieve an extremely tight focus. This process requires delicate handling of the focusing optical system.

"Our years of experience gained while developing ultrahigh power lasers allowed us to accomplish the formidable task of focusing the PW laser with the beam size of 28 cm to a micrometer spot to accomplish a laser intensity exceeding 1023 W/cm2," said Nam. Studying high-energy processes

The researchers are using these high-intensity pulses to produce electrons with an energy over 1 GeV (109 eV) and to work in the nonlinear regime in which one electron collides with several hundred laser photons at once. This process is a type of strong field quantum electrodynamics called nonlinear Compton scattering, which is thought to contribute to the generation of extremely energetic cosmic rays.

They will also use the radiation pressure created by the ultrahigh intensity laser to accelerate protons. Understanding how this process occurs could help develop a new laser-based proton source for cancer treatments. Sources used in today's radiation treatments are generated using an accelerator that requires a huge radiation shield. A laser-driven proton source is expected to reduce the system cost, making the proton oncology machine less costly and thus more widely accessible to patients.

The researchers continue to develop new ideas for enhancing the laser intensity even more without significantly increasing the size of the laser system. One way to accomplish this would be to figure out a new way to reduce the laser pulse duration. As lasers with peaks power ranging from 1 to 10 PW are now in operation and several facilities reaching 100 PW are being planned, there is no doubt that high-intensity physics will progress tremendously in the near future.

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Paper: J. W. Yoon, Y. G. Kim, I. W. Choi, J. H. Sung, H. W. Lee, S. K. Lee, C. H. Nam, "Realization of laser intensity over 1023 W/cm2," Optica, 8, 5, 630-635 (2021).

DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1364/ OPTICA. 420520 .

About Optica

Optica is an open-access, journal dedicated to the rapid dissemination of high-impact peer-reviewed research across the entire spectrum of optics and photonics. Published monthly by The Optical Society (OSA), Optica provides a forum for pioneering research to be swiftly accessed by the international community, whether that research is theoretical or experimental, fundamental or applied. Optica maintains a distinguished editorial board of more than 60 associate editors from around the world and is overseen by Editor-in-Chief Prem Kumar, Northwestern University, USA. For more information, visit Optica.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Media Contacts:

Aaron Cohen

(301) 633-6773

aaroncohenpr@gmail.com

mediarelations@osa.org
Today, she receives the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's prestigious Elite Research Prize 2021 as one of Denmark's most skilled and talented researchers in her field.

Elite Researcher 2021: "I find solutions for problems that we don't even have yet."

Chemist Gemma Solomon is an explorer in the world of molecules, where among billions of molecules, she looks for precisely those that can help us in, among other things, our green transition, by using power and heat better. Today, she receives the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's prestigious Elite Research Prize 2021 as one of Denmark's most skilled and talented researchers in her field.

In a microcosm consisting of a nearly infinite number of molecules, the vast majority of which remain unknown to humanity, 40-year-old chemistry professor Gemma C. Solomon moves about in her day-to-day life. Through her work at the University of Copenhagen's Nano-Science Center, Professor Solomon searches for new molecules that, with their unique properties, can help us humans solve some of what may be our biggest problems - both current ones, as well as those of the future.

Today, she receives the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's Elite Research Prize 2021. In addition to the honor, the prize comes with one million kroner for her research and a 200,000 kroner personal honorary gift.

"I am enormously grateful to have received the award and for all the support that I've received from mentors, colleagues, the Department of Chemistry and the rest of the University of Copenhagen, ever since I came to Denmark from Australia in 2010. I couldn't have done any of it alone," says Professor Solomon. Discovered the most "current-shy" molecule ever

In 2018, Solomon and her colleagues and collaborators managed to find the most current-insulating molecule ever identified. The result was revolutionary because it shifted the theoretical boundary for how electrically insulating something can be. This discovery in the field of quantum interference is one which could contribute to changing the way we create computers and other electronic appliances.

"In my work with electronic and thermal transport in molecules, I'm very interested in exploring how nature controls processes, so that we can learn from them and perhaps design molecules that are able to solve specific problems for us by transporting electricity and heat more efficiently and greenly," says Gemma C. Solomon.

According to Professor Solomon, it is "just" about finding the exact molecules that, by way of their unique properties, can move at the fundamental physical boundary that our electrical circuits and other technology are at today.

"An enormous number of molecules exist in the world, so of course there are a few of them that can solve our problems. We just need to find them," she says. A city slicker gets lost in the woods

Studying the molecular world is basic research in its purest and most beautiful form. It is a world in which Solomon, using her classic, basic scientific method tries her hand thousands of times, where solutions to specific problems are landmarks on the horizon.

"Sometimes it's like being a city slicker who is suddenly dropped off in the woods, with no idea about the life that exists there. But if a problem leads to a hint, one has a way into the world of molecules that might lead to greater understandings," she says, adding:

"My research is basic research, so my discoveries are, to a large degree, possible solutions to problems that we don't yet have. Actual applications may be 20 or 50 years away. But if I make my research open and accessible and tell the world about it, there may be a company or other researchers who can use it for something that I myself don't yet have the fantasy to imagine."

The Elite Research Prize is not Gemma C. Solomon's first prize here in Denmark. In 2019, she received a silver medal from the Danish Academy of Sciences for an outstanding basic scientific achievement. And in 2020, she was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, where former prominent members include H.C. rsted, Niels Bohr, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.

Facts:

Name: Gemma Claire Solomon

Title: Professor of Nano-Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen

Born: 1980, Australia

Residence: Gentofte

Previous awards:

* Silver Medal, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters 2019

* Lowdin Lecturer, Uppsala University 2016

* Torkil Holm Prize 2014, Danish Academy of Technical Sciences

* C. G and R. J. W. Le Fevre Student Lectureship 2005, Sydney University Chemical Society

* The Janet Elspeth Crawford Prize in Chemistry 2002, The University of Sydney

* The University Medal, The University of Sydney

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As state and federal authorities decide whether to continue reimbursing for telehealth services that were suddenly adopted last spring in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a new study out of UC San Francisco has found that clinicians in the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) overwhelmingly support using these services for outpatient primary care and specialty care visits.

The results surprised the research team, which includes a number of clinicians at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), since they witnessed firsthand the difficulties that many of their colleagues and patients experienced when they had to turn to telehealth overnight. ZSFG is part of the San Francisco Health Network, where the survey was conducted, which also includes clinics run by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

"That transition was so painful for many people: to find a new way to provide medical care," said Anjana Sharma, MD, MAS, assistant professor of family and community medicine at UCSF and first author of the paper, published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. "We were surprised to see that 9 out of 10 clinicians expressed comfort with providing care by phone and video."

She said the team was also surprised at the concerns that providers expressed over whether they could accurately diagnose patients remotely. Almost 60 percent of those surveyed questioned the diagnostic safety of providing health care services over the telephone, and 35 percent had those concerns about diagnosing on video.

And there were other problems. Some 44 percent of clinicians reported that speech, hearing and cognitive barriers made telephone visits impractical. Significant portions also reported having patients who either did not have access to video (39 percent) or had no phone at all (38 percent), while 40 percent reported seeing patients who had trouble setting up video access because of language or educational barriers, and 35 percent reported patients without Internet.

Still, more than 90 percent of the clinicians surveyed said they planned to continue using phone and video to care for their patients after the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

For patients who can utilize the technology, particularly for follow-up care after a diagnosis has already been made, the benefits of telehealth are overwhelming. It saves time and money, especially for people who cannot easily get time off work to see the doctor or who may have childcare responsibilities. And, for those with access to video at home, the technology can make it easier to include other family members.

"People have been talking about telemedicine forever, but this transformation would have never happened if not for the pandemic," Sharma said. "It's the reimbursement flexibility that drove this to be possible."

State and federal authorities are currently debating whether to lower or potentially eliminate payments for video and telephone visits that have been reimbursed at near similar levels to in-person visits throughout the public health emergency.

"We do believe that video visits are higher quality and are probably safer for patients," Sharma said. "But we don't want to leave anyone behind. We're trying to say, 'both/and.' It makes sense to improve our video capacity for patients. But if telephone reimbursement goes away, that will be devastating for our patients."

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Other authors include Elaine Khoong, MD, MS, Courtney Lyles, PhD, Triveni Defries, MD, MPH, Urmimala Sarkar, MD, MPH, Delphine Tuot, MD, Malini Nigagal, MD, MPH, and George Su, MD, all of UCSF.

About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. UCSF School of Medicine also has a regional campus in Fresno. Learn more at ucsf.edu, or see our Fact Sheet.
The return of the Vietnam War POWS in 1973 was a national storyone whose roots originated in Coronado with a handful of military wives taking matters into their own hands. It is a story of catalytic efforts that changed national policy, heightened global awareness, accelerated international negotiations, and brought our boys home.
A team of engineers recommends expanding fast-charging stations for electric vehicles as campuses and businesses start planning for a post-pandemic world.

The recommendation is based on a study of charging patterns for electric vehicles on the University of California San Diego campus from early January to late May of 2020, after the university moved most of its operations online. Researchers say the findings can be applied to a broader range of settings.

"Workplace charging is a critical enabler of carbon-free transportation as the electrons consumed primarily come from solar power plants, as opposed to at-home charging, which occurs at night and relies more on fossil fuel power plants," said Jan Kleissl, the paper's senior author and a professor of environmental engineering at UC San Diego.

It's the first time that a research team gathered information on workplace charging patterns for electric vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, charging declined dramatically once most campus operations became remote. Also as expected, charging at the campus' medical center was less impacted as medical facilities continued most in-person operations and healthcare workers and patients kept using those charging stations.

This reflects nationwide trends. Vehicle travel in the United States declined by about 40 percent from mid-March to mid-April 2020, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

But DC fast chargers that provide a full charge in about half an hour were less affected than what is known as Level 2 chargers, which provide a full charge over eight hours. Energy dispatched at Level 2 chargers on the main UC San Diego campus decreased by 84 percent. DC fast charging initially dropped by 67 percent. These stations quickly returned to near-normal usage in a short period of time, unlike Level 2 charging stations.

"This finding reinforces ongoing efforts to deploy at least an additional 20 DCFCs primarily on the perimeter of campus in order to serve both UC San Diego commuters as well as the general public in need of recharging," said Byron Washom, the UC San Diego director of strategic energy initiatives and one of the paper's coauthors.

The team details their findings in the March 23 issue of the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.

Only four out of 100 stations in the study were fast-charging. More broadly, in the United States, only a tiny fraction of charging stations are fast-charging, and most of those only serve Tesla vehicles. For example, California has about 31,800 EV charging stations. Of those, almost 3000 are Tesla supercharging stations, only available to Tesla vehicles. An additional 470 are DCFC stations managed by California-based Chargepoint.

The study looked at 100 charging stations in 28 parking structures. Specifically, researchers found that from March 11 to May 20, 2020:

Charging on the main campus dropped by 84 percent from pre-pandemic levels

Charging dropped by 50 percent at the parking structures at the UC San Diego medical center locations

Charging at DC fast charging stations initally dropped by 67 percent before going back up to near pre-pandemic levels

Charging will likely not resume back to normal even after the pandemic ends, researchers say.

"Commuting patterns based on five days a week in the office are unlikely to resume, however, as employers may allow more telecommuting even after the end of the pandemic," Kleissl said. .

That may be good news as the anticipated dramatic increase in EV adoption over the coming years would otherwise strain the existing charging infrastructure, he added.

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Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging

Graham McClone, Jan Kleissl, Byron Washom, Sushil Silwal, University of California San Diego
In spintronics, the magnetic moment of electrons (spin) is used to transfer and manipulate information. An ultra-compact 2D spin-logic circuitry could be built from 2D materials that can transport the spin information over long distances and also provide strong spin-polarization of charge current. Experiments by physicists at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and Colombia University (USA) suggest that magnetic graphene can be the ultimate choice for these 2D spin-logic devices as it efficiently converts charge to spin current and can transfer this strong spin-polarization over long distances. This discovery was published on 6 May in Nature Nanotechnology.

Spintronic devices are promising high-speed and energy-saving alternatives for the current electronics. These devices use the magnetic moment of electrons so-called spins ('up' or 'down') to transfer and store information. The ongoing scaling down of memory technology requires ever smaller spintronic devices and thus it seeks for atomically thin materials that can actively generate large spin signals and transfer the spin information over micrometre-long distances.

Graphene

For over a decade, graphene has been the most favourable 2D material for the transport of spin information. However, graphene cannot generate spin current by itself unless its properties are appropriately modified. One way to achieve this is to make it act as a magnetic material. The magnetism would favour the passage of one type of spin and thus create an imbalance in the number of electrons with spin-up versus spin-down. In magnetic graphene, this would result in a highly spin-polarized current.

This idea had now been experimentally confirmed by the scientists in the Physics of Nanodevices group led by prof. Bart van Wees at the University of Groningen, Zernike institute for advanced materials. When they brought graphene in close proximity to a 2D layered antiferromagnet, CrSBr, they could directly measure a large spin-polarization of current, generated by the magnetic graphene.

Spin-logic

In conventional graphene-based spintronic devices, ferromagnetic (cobalt) electrodes are used for injecting and detecting the spin signal into graphene. In contrast, in circuits built from magnetic graphene, the injection, transport and detection of the spins all can be done by the graphene itself, explains Talieh Ghiasi, first author of the paper. 'We detect an exceptionally large spin-polarization of conductivity of 14% in the magnetic graphene that is also expected to be efficiently tuneable by a transverse electric field.' This, together with the outstanding charge and spin transport properties of graphene allows for the realization of all-graphene 2D spin-logic circuitries where the magnetic graphene alone can inject, transport and detect the spin information.

Moreover, the unavoidable heat dissipation that happens in any electronic circuitry is turned to an advantage in these spintronic devices. 'We observe that the temperature gradient in the magnetic graphene due to the Joule heating is converted to spin current. This happens by the spin-dependent Seebeck effect that is also observed in graphene for the first time in our experiments,' says Ghiasi. The efficient electrical and thermal generation of spin currents by magnetic graphene promises substantial advances both for the 2D spintronic and spin-caloritronic technologies.

Graphene Flagship

The spin transport in graphene, furthermore, is highly sensitive to the magnetic behaviour of the outer-most layer of the neighbouring antiferromagnet. This implies that such spin transport measurements enable the read-out of the magnetisation of a single atomic layer. Thus, the magnetic graphene-based devices not only address the most technologically relevant aspects of magnetism in graphene for the 2D memory and sensory systems but also provide further insight into the physics of magnetism.

The future implications of these results will be investigated in the context of the EU Graphene Flagship, which works towards new applications of graphene and 2D materials.

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Reference: T.S. Ghiasi, A.A. Kaverzin, A.H. Dismukes, D.K. de Wal, X. Roy and B. J. van Wees: Electrical and Thermal Generation of Spin Currents by Magnetic Bilayer Graphene. Nature Nanotechnology 6 May 2021
At extremely low temperatures, matter often behaves differently than in normal conditions. At temperatures only a few degrees above absolute zero (-273 degrees Celsius), physical particles may give up their independence and merge for a short time into a single object in which all the particles share the same properties. Such structures are known as Bose-Einstein Condensates, and they represent a special aggregate state of matter.

An international team of researchers led by physicists Dr Carlos Anton-Solanas and Professor Christian Schneider from the UNiversity of Oldenburg has now succeeded for the first time in generating this unusual quantum state in charge carrier complexes that are closely linked to light particles and located in ultrathin semiconductor sheets consisting of a single layer of atoms. As the team reports in the scientific journal Nature Materials, this process produces light similar to that generated by a laser. This means that the phenomenon could be used to create the smallest possible solid-state lasers.

The work is the result of a collaboration between the Oldenburg researchers and the research groups of Professor Sven Hofling and Professor Sebastian Klembt from the University of Wurzburg (Germany), Professor Sefaattin Tongay from Arizona State University (USA), Professor Alexey Kavokin from Westlake University (China), and Professor Takashi Taniguchi and Professor Kenji Watanabe from the National Institute of Materials Science in Tsukuba (Japan).

The study focuses on quasi particles that consist of both matter and light, known as exciton-polaritons - the product of strong couplings between excited electrons in solids and light particles (photons). They form when electrons are stimulated by laser light into a higher energy state. After a short time in the order of one trillionth of a second, the electrons return to their ground state by re-emitting light particles.

When these particles are trapped between two mirrors, they can in turn excite new electrons - a cycle that repeats until the light particle escapes the trap. The light-matter hybrid particles that are created in this process are called exciton-polaritons. They combine interesting properties of electrons and photons and behave in a similar way to certain physical particles called bosons. "Devices that can control these novel light-matter states hold the promise of a technological leap in comparison with current electronic circuits," said lead author Anton-Solanas, a postdoctoral researcher in the Quantum Materials Group at the University of Oldenburg's Institute of Physics. Such optoelectronic circuits, which operate using light instead of electric current, could be better and faster at processing information than today's processors.

In the new study, the team led by Anton-Solanas and Schneider looked at exciton-polaritons in ultrathin crystals consisting of a single layer of atoms. These two-dimensional crystals often have unusual physical properties. For example, the semiconductor material used here, molybdenum diselenide, is highly reactive to light.

The researchers constructed sheets of molybdenum diselenide less than one nanometre (a billionth of a metre) thick and sandwiched the two-dimensional crystal between two layers of other materials that reflect light particles like mirrors do. "This structure acts like a cage for light," Anton-Solanas explained. Physicists call it a "microcavity".

Anton-Solanas and his colleagues cooled their setup to a few degrees above absolute zero and stimulated the formation of exciton-polaritons using short pulses of laser light. Above a certain intensity they observed a sudden increase in the light emissions from their sample. This, together with other evidence, allowed them to conclude that they had succeeded in creating a Bose-Einstein Condensate out of exciton-polaritons.

"In theory, this phenomenon could be used to construct coherent light sources based on just a single layer of atoms," said Anton-Solanas. "This would mean we had created the smallest possible solid-state laser." The researchers are confident that with other materials the effect could also be produced at room temperature, so that in the long term it would also be suitable for practical applications. The team's first experiments heading in this direction have already been successful.

The study is a result of the "unlimit2D" project led by Christian Schneider, which is funded by a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The experiments were conducted at the University of Wurzburg.

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 6, 2021 - One out of every six adult workers (16%) in the United States are staying in jobs they might otherwise leave out of fear of losing their employer-sponsored health insurance, according to a new West Health-Gallup survey of more than 3,800 U.S. adults.

The survey finds the fear is even more pronounced among Black workers, who are 50% more likely to remain in an unwanted job than their White and Hispanic counterparts (21% to 14% and 16%, respectively).

But the most likely to stay in a job they would rather leave are those workers in households earning less than $48,000 a year -- roughly 3 in 10 (28%) say they will not leave and risk losing their health benefits. Workers in lower income households are nearly three times more likely to stay in an unwanted job than are workers living in households earning at least $120,000 per year. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, 37% of U.S. households earned less than $50,000 in 2019. Approximately 158 million people receive health insurance via their own employer or via the employer of a household member.

"Healthcare costs have become so high that many Americans are unwilling to risk any disruption in their coverage even if that means higher and higher premiums and deductibles and sticking with a job they may not like," said Tim Lash, chief strategy officer for West Health, a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable successful aging. "Americans are increasingly concerned that they will get priced out of the U.S. healthcare system and are struggling to hang on in any way they can."

Earlier this year, an estimated 46 million or 18% of the U.S. population reported that they could not afford healthcare if they needed it today. In this latest survey, three times as many Americans or approximately135 million adults, are worried that they will eventually be priced out of healthcare if they are not already.

Specifically, more than half of respondents report they are "concerned" or "very concerned" the cost of healthcare services (53%) and prescription drugs (52%) will become unaffordable. More Americans worry about rising healthcare costs even more than losing one's home (25%) or job (29%).

Black and Hispanic adults have modestly elevated concerns about the rising costs of healthcare compared to White adults. Two-fifths (42%) of respondents, in turn, report concern that they would not be able to pay for a major health event, including 49% of Hispanic adults and 47% of Black adults.

Majorities Support Select Government Action to Contain Cost of Care

Substantial concerns about the rising cost of care and medicine likely play a role in explaining why most respondents in the survey support the federal government taking a bigger role in lowering healthcare costs regardless of their political affiliation, racial background, or type of insurance.

About three-quarters favor setting limits on prescription drug price increases (77%), capping hospital prices in areas with few or no other hospitals (76%), and having the government negotiate lower prices for some high-cost drugs without lower-priced alternatives (74%).

Another 65% support placing government limits on prices for out-of-network care (65%). Those with private insurance were just as likely as those on public health plans including Medicare and Medicaid to favor government intervention.

"Polling data from West Health and Gallup continue to demonstrate that most Americans are supportive of an elevated government role in curtailing the rising costs of care," said Dan Witters, Gallup senior researcher. "How elected officials respond to this is unfolding, but there seems to be substantive public support for a number of specific proposals that are on the table."

This latest West Health-Gallup survey was conducted by web between March 15 and March 21, 2021 with 3,870 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as part of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error at the 95% confidence level is +2.2 percentage points for response percentages around 50% and is +1.3 percentage points for response percentages around 10% or 90%, design effect included. For reported sub-groups, the margin of error will be larger, typically ranging from 3 to 4 percentage points.

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To read the full survey findings and methodology, please visit here.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

About West Health

Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org and follow @westhealth.
Chinas economic growth faces headwinds this year due to weaker-than-expected investment spending in the countrys vast manufacturing sector, driven by Beijings efforts to rein in pollution and by a profit squeeze at labor-intensive manufacturers, according to Citigroup Inc. economists. Spending by manufacturers has been the slowest component of Chinese investment to recover from the pandemic, with outlays in the first quarter still below 2019 levels. Manufacturers profitability, the main source of their investment funds, plunged last year, and many businesses are seeing margins squeezed by higher commodity prices and a resumption of social-security contributions that were suspended during the pandemic, Citi economists said in a report.

Manufacturing investment may be at risk of coming out lower than our previous expectation, which would have a sizable impact on a previous forecast that Chinas GDP will grow 8.8% this year, the economists said. While a strong real estate sector has driven a surge in profitability in sectors such as steel and cement, greater government focus on cutting air pollution and slowing growth in carbon emissions will limit their capacity expansion this year, they said.

Chinese exporters interviewed early this year remained reluctant to invest even after shipments surged during the pandemic, partly due to a sharp rise in labor costs and lingering uncertainty from the U.S.-China trade war. Chinas export growth is widely expected to slow in the second half of the year as consumers in developed economies return to spending on services as more people get vaccinated. The countrys two other main investment drivers also face headwinds. Local government bond issuance, the main driver of infrastructure spending, has been slower than in previous years. Beijing is tightening a campaign against leverage in real-estate companies, which is likely to weigh on their investment spending. We expect downward pressure to start building in housing sales in top-tier cities and nationwide property investment, economists at Societe Generale SA wrote in a report this week.

Chinas top leadership last week highlighted a window of opportunity for reforms such as curbing a rise in house prices, tightening regulation of technology companies and stepping up monitoring of local government debt. Those changes are likely to reduce growth in the short term, though officials contend theyll lead to more sustainable growth over a longer period.

Tom Hancock

: bloomberg.com
Uber said its business was recovering from the slowdown caused by the pandemic, although it continued to lose money. The company said on Wednesday that revenue was $2.9 billion in the first three months of the year, down 11 percent from the same period a year ago. The decline in earnings included $600 million that Uber has earmarked to pay for settlements with drivers in Britain, where the Supreme Court ruled in February that drivers should be classified as workers and be entitled to a minimum wage and vacation time.

Excluding the settlement fund, Ubers revenue was $3.5 billion, an 8 percent increase from the previous year that outpaced Wall Street expectations of $3.28 billion. Uber lost $108 million, an improvement from the previous year, when it lost $2.9 billion. Uber attributed the change to the sale of its autonomous vehicle unit, which was acquired by the self-driving truck start-up Aurora in December. Ubers operating loss for the quarter was $1.5 billion  also made worse by the British driver settlement. On Tuesday, Ubers primary competitor in the United States, Lyft, said that it was also recovering from the slowdown caused by the pandemic as riders began to return to the platform. Still, Lyfts revenue for the quarter was $609 million, a 36 percent decline from the previous year. Losses were $427.3 million, 7 percent more than its losses the previous year.

Uber is starting to fire on all cylinders, as more consumers are riding with us again while continuing to use our expanding delivery offerings, Dara Khosrowshahi, Ubers chief executive, said in a statement. Ubers stock price dropped more than 4 percent in after-hours trading on Wednesday evening. While consumers have avoided travel over the past year, Ubers business has been bolstered by its food delivery service, Uber Eats. Revenue from delivery was $1.7 billion, a 270 percent increase from a year ago. Despite reopenings in Sydney and New York City, Uber said that customers have continued to order food delivery at a strong pace.

But while riders have started returning to Uber and Lyft, drivers have been more hesitant. Both companies said they have faced driver shortages. During a call on Tuesday with financial analysts, Lyfts president, John Zimmer, said he expected drivers who saw food delivery as a safer option during the pandemic would return to ride hailing because the pay is better and because drivers miss social interactions with riders. Uber said it had 3.5 million active drivers and couriers during the first three months of the year, down 22 percent from the previous year.

Kate Conger

: nytimes.gr
Brazil formalized a criminal investigation last week into President Jair Bolsonaros response to the pandemic. It could lead to his impeachment. The country just passed 400,000 total fatalities so far, with no significant slowdown in sight. With support from the Sloan Foundation, special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky and producer Charles Lyons bring us the first of two reports.
France's president Emmanuel Macron says Napoleon Bonaparte 'is a part of us'

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, commemorating at his tomb the bicentenary of the death of an emperor who overthrew the nascent Republic before expanding France's empire across Europe through bloody battles.
Two American tourists were sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court for the 2019 murder of a policeman near their Rome hotel.
Thursday, May 6, 2021

Author: Anne B. Gass

Illustrations by Emma Leavitt

Publisher: Maine Authors Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-63381-259-8

The names Ingeborg Kinstedt and Maria Kindbergprobably dont ring a bell unless you are acquainted with thewomans suffrage movement. Yet, these two middle-aged Swedishimmigrants, who settled in Rhode Island, played a meaningful role inthe early part of the twentieth century in the movement.

Based on a true story, Anne B. Gass in WeDemand: The Suffrage Road Trip crafts afictional reconstruction of a bold 3000-mile cross-country auto tripfrom San Francisco to Washington, D.C. in 1915 involving Ingeborg andMaria.







The two, along with Sara Bard Field and socialiteFrances Joliffe were to amass and deliver thousands of signatures ona petition to Congress and President Wilson, demanding womensright to vote.

Field and Joliffe represented the Congressional Unionfor Woman Suffrage (CU), an organization set up by Alice Paul andLucy Burns in the United States in 1913 to fight for a constitutionalamendment guaranteeing womens suffrage. Because of ill health,Joliffe had dropped out before the trip was ongoing.

The narrative unfolds in late September 1915, wherewe first encounter Ingeborg and Maria. Their initial plan was toexplore the USA on their own, and they never imagined they wouldbecome involved in such an importantevent.

After decades of hard toil, the two hadtraveled by steamship to San Francisco to attend thePanama-Pacific International Exposition. It is here where they meetsomeone belonging to the Congressional Union, who briefs them thatthe CU. had prepared to launch a trip in a few weeks, sending onehundred cars to Washington, D.C packed withsuffrage supporters. Their mission is to drive across the USAwith petitions urging Congress pass the federal suffrageamendment. Unfortunately, there were no volunteers.

Upon learning of their predicament, Ingeborg blurtsout, without consulting Maria, that she and Maria will undertake it.She mentions to the woman they arepurchasing a Convertible Overland Sixautomobile in San Francisco to travel back to their home inProvidence, Rhode Island, which is not very farfrom Washington, D.C. She further tells her there isample place for the petitions.

When Alice Paul gets wind of their offer, she agreesto have the two Swedes drive with the petitions and explains to themthey will pay for the automobile and their expenses. The CU willcompensate them for food and lodging for the two envoys that will tagalong. The envoys turn out to be Sara Bard Field and Frances Joliffe,and as pointed out previously, the latter slipped out early in theadventure. Ingeborg and Maria were not totally thrilled when Alicetells them about the two representatives and reluctantly accept thetwo riders.

At the commencement of the trip, a chauffeur drivesthe three women to Salt Lake City, who, incidentally, gets lost onthe path to their destination. This doesnt sit very well withIngeborg, who fires the driver. Maria takes over the driving, andIngeborg, who knows the workings of a car, attends to the maintenanceof the Overland Six. Sara becomes the spokesperson for the CU,who will be engaged with public relations while meeting withdignitaries, socialites, and politicians along the way.

You can well imagine the harrowing adventures thesewomen would experience, which Gass describes in detail in thenarrative, as they make their way across the country throughinclement weather, poorly signed mud roads, andwhere getting lost or stuck was part of thefun.

And as one Congressman succinctly summed it up, Iknow those roads.... some would be better done on horseback than inan automobile. Many a man has rued the day he attempted them.

Several times Ingeborg questionsher judgment to having agreed to take partin the voyage. As she mentions, if onlythey had pinned Alice Paul down on the details: who would speak, thedistances, and the roadconditions? Then there was the matter of being shunned by someof the CU women because they were immigrants. Andto add insult to injury, even the media ignored them as if they wereghosts. Likewise, there was the outright bigotry andracism, which she came across which was notconsidered before embarking on the trip.

This extensively researched work is more than arecord of a journey of two feisty Swedish women, which is trulyremarkable. Gass skillfully interweaves the individual histories ofthese women with interesting contextualinformation regarding the social and political atmosphere thatexisted at the time. In addition, herappreciation for the prowess of her principal characters radiatesthroughout the story. She brings the cross-country road trip toconvincing life through carefully wrought, affectingcharacterizations and accurately rendering details of place and time.A bonus for readers interested in exploring more of the womenssuffrage movement is the selected readingat the end of the book.

Follow Here To Read Norm's Interview With Anne B. Gass
The staff of the Litchfield Jazz Festival is presenting the fourth installment of their free virtual concert series for April.
A Fort Worth engineer who was terminated last month by aircraft-modification company GDC Technics before it entered bankruptcy has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the company.

Kingslea Stringham alleges that she and an estimated 250 other GDC employees were not given 60 days advance notice of their termination as required by federal law.

GDC had been performing work for Boeing Co. on Air Force One jets that will transport U.S. presidents. Boeing dropped GDC from the contracts April 7. GDC cut its workforce two days later.

GDC notified the Texas Workforce Commission April 9 that it had issued pink slips to 56 workers at Port San Antonio and 120 employees in Fort Worth. GDC chief executive Brad Foreman put the number of terminated workers at more than 200, however, in a bankruptcy court filing last week.

The company was formed in 1988 in San Antonio but moved its headquarters to Fort Worth in 2015. The companys principal assets are at Port San Antonio. GDC still employs 121 workers.

Stringham filed her lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio. GDC filed its Chapter 11 petition here April 26.

On ExpressNews.com: Dispute over work on Air Force Once leads to layoffs for 56 in San Antonio

The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers who institute mass layoffs to give workers at least 60 days advance written notice of their termination, Stringham says in the suit.

Stringham wants the court to certify her complaint as a class-action lawsuit. In addition, she wants the court to award her and all affected employees unpaid wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, accrued vacation and holiday pay and retirement benefits for up to 60 days.

Stringham also accused GDC violating the Texas Payday Act, saying the ex-employees are entitled to unpaid compensation and accrued paid time off.

Jason Rudd, a bankruptcy lawyer for GDC, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

About two-thirds of GDCs revenue was generated from the Boeing contracts. The two companies first entered into contracts in 2016 for GDC to refurbish and perform certain maintenance upgrades of Air Force One aircraft.

In 2018, Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract from the United State Air Force to build two 747 Air Force One jets by 2024. Boeing hired GDC as a subcontractor on the project to design and build the luxurious, highly modified interiors.

The two companies relationship deteriorated, however.

Foreman, in his court filing last week, blamed Boeings payment delays and extensions of the programs under the contracts for causing GDC to incur additional costs of more than $20 million. Boeing refused to pay those amounts, he said.

Boeing agreed to lend GDC $4.1 million in March and $1.9 million in April for work performed in the first quarter, Foreman said. GDC used that money to make payroll and pay vendors working on the Boeing contracts.

On April 7, Foreman said, Boeing terminated the contracts and demanded the return of its materials from GDC. That same day, four minutes before midnight, Boeing accused GDC in a lawsuit of missing numerous deadlines and falling a year behind schedule.

GDCs failures have resulted in millions of dollars in damages to Boeing and threaten to jeopardize work that is of critical importance to the USAF and the President of the United States, Boeing stated in its complaint. Boeing obtained a court order for the return of its materials.

GDC counter-sued April 16, saying Boeings complaint failed to mention that GDCs financial stress was caused by Boeings refusal to pay more than $20 million.

The bankruptcy filing may put on hold that litigation in Tarrant County.

GDC was in negotiations to obtain new working capital to preserve the business, Foreman said a court filing last week.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta on Tuesday granted GDCs request to borrow up to $500,000 in interim financing. GDC is slated to be back in court next week on a request for additional financing.

Major unsecured creditors listed in GDCs bankruptcy include: Boeing, owed $6 million, though that claim is disputed; Arlingtons Transtar Aircraft Interiors, $4.1 million for trade invoices; and the Port Authority of San Antonio, owed $1.7 million for lease payments at Port San Antonio.

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GDC is owned by Oriole Capital Group, a Los Angeles company that invests in the aviation industry.

Jerry L. Gore and his wife, Kathy, founded GDC in 1988, after working for San Antonio aviation icon Dee Howard.

Originally known as Gore Design Completions, the company installed custom interiors for aircraft used by heads of state, billionaires and corporate VIPs. The Gores described their line of work as building flying palaces.

The company headed into a tailspin in 2013, a spiral worsened by a legal brawl between the Gores, who had divorced. The litigation exposed dysfunction within the walls of the companys Port San Antonio headquarters.

The legal spat ended later that year when Gore Design was acquired by an investment group overseen by Saudi-based MAZ Aviation, which manages aircraft refurbishments.

In 2014, Gore Designs name was changed to GDC Technics. The company, which at the time employed 600 people at Port San Antonio, shrank to about 150 employees and relocated its headquarters to Fort Worth in 2015. About 160 workers made the move from San Antonio.

Oriole Capital announced in 2019 that it was part of a new ownership group at GDC. The group included MAZ Aviation.

pdanner@express-news.net
A city panel rejected a request to raze a historic building in the Cattleman Square neighborhood on the near West Side to make the property more appealing for development.

The Historic and Design Review Commission denied proposals Wednesday to remove historic landmark designation of the Whitt Printing Co. building near West Houston and North Frio streets and demolish it.

The Lim family owns the roughly 1.1-acre site, which includes their Golden Star Cafe restaurant and is near VIA Metropolitan Transits Centro Plaza hub and the University of Texas at San Antonios downtown campus.

On ExpressNews.com: VIA seeking proposals to redevelop vacant industrial complex on West Side

The family cannot afford to renovate the Whitt building, which is within the Cattleman Square Historic District, but are willing to save the facade, said attorney Patrick Christensen. They have struggled with a loss of business at the restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic.

Prospective buyers have been interested in developing a multifamily building with commercial space on the ground floor, he said, but are unwilling to purchase the site unless they know what they can do with the Whitt building. A rendering included in the meeting packet showed a five-story building with 120 units but noted it was a future development exercise only and not for review.

Theyre really in a bind, Christensen said of the Lims. They cant sell the property. They cant rehabilitate this building. Theyve really got nowhere to turn.

But city staff recommended denial on grounds the owners had neither provided evidence that the Whitt building no longer meets the criteria for landmark designation nor demonstrated that the building could not be adapted or sold, which would mean it posed an unreasonable economic hardship.

Commissioners and West Side residents also raised concerns about allowing demolition of more historic buildings in the area, as well as the absence of a serious plan for the sites redevelopment and how portions of the Whitt building could be incorporated.

Each year we lose more and more of our historic structures to demolitions and sadly, many of these beautiful structures are replaced with parking lots or cookie-cutter buildings that are not representative of the people and culture of our community, said Leticia Sanchez, co-chair of the Historic Westside Residents Association. With each building that is demolished, more and more of our communitys history is erased.

Gilberto Whitt was a politician in Mexico and an author, printer and publisher, according to meeting materials. During the Mexican Revolution he was targeted to be killed and fled to San Antonio, where he started a printing business.

He printed Spanish-language publications, and at the time San Antonio had more Spanish publishing houses than any other U.S. city, according to city staff. The company remained in operation until the late 1970s.

The Lims immigrated from China in the 1930s and have operated a restaurant on the West Side since arriving in the city, Christensen said. The Golden Star building was constructed in the 1980s, when they also purchased the Whitt building.

The latter has been used for storage and fallen into disrepair. The roof started to collapse after a storm about five years ago. The buildings value is assessed at $1 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

The operators of Golden Star hired an engineering firm in 2017 to evaluate the building and found that it would be expensive to repair, Bo Jean Lim wrote in an April 25 letter to city staff.

They do not have the resources to hire a company to provide an estimate for renovations and have no use for the building, which was originally bought to be demolished for parking. The property has been listed for sale for more than two years, Lim added.

On ExpressNews.com: West Side land trust and demolition fund would be first of its kind in San Antonio

Lim also provided a copy of an email purportedly from a member of the Whitt family, who said she supports demolishing the Whitt building because of its condition.

City staff said the owners did not submit a detailed estimate for the Whitt buildings renovation or an analysis of options for reusing it, and did not provide evidence aside from a verbal claim about marketing the site for sale.

Commissioners expressed reservations about approving the requests without a plan for how the buildings components could be part of the sites redevelopment, and about allowing another historic structure on the near West Side to be torn down.

Commissioner Scott Carpenter said the panel might be more receptive to the requests if a feasibility study was conducted to assess how it could be incorporated, rather than just sort of the notion that this thing gets razed to the ground and ... becomes yet another example of an empty lot in a community thats getting eroded pretty quickly.

Christensen, the attorney, said if the commission rejected the requests the Lims may go to the District 5 council member to see if the building could be removed from the historic district.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
San Antonio resident Stacy Seaborn was shocked recently when she started looking into car rentals for her vacation in July.

She needs a vehicle for the nearly three hour drive with her husband and 10-year-old daughter to the beachfront community of Arcadia on Lake Michigan.

In the past, she had paid between $350 and $400 a week for a rental car at the airport in Grand Rapids for the every-other-year family vacation.

This year, she was stunned to find that the small SUV she prefers to rent costs $2,500. An economy car was $1,000 a week.

I just started looking and said, Oh, my gosh, this is crazy expensive, she said. She searched the rates for Hertz, Avis, National and other car rental companies.

On ExpressNews.com: Wary Traveler: Car rental nightmares

Seaborn finally found a $708 per week rental car using a discount code that comes as a benefit of her Costco membership.

Industry observers say its a classic supply and demand problem.

Car rental companies sold about 35 percent of their fleets nationwide, and up to 50 percent in some markets, to raise cash, after COVID-19 effectively shut down the travel industry last year. One of the largest companies, Hertz Rent-a-Car, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was forced to sell 182,500 cars to satisfy creditors.

Leisure travelers are now returning to the road as ever-more more people get vaccinated against the coronavirus  but car rental companies are having a hard time finding enough new vehicles to replenish their fleets.

David Paul Morris, Bloomberg / Bloomberg

A worldwide shortage of computer chips has left auto manufacturers with fewer vehicles coming off the production lines. And theyd rather sell their cars, trucks and SUVs to dealers than to rental companies who demand huge discounts as part of their fleet purchases.

The lack of rental vehicles is unprecedented from an historical perspective, said consultant Neil Abrams, who has advised the car rental firms for nearly 40 years.

With travel grinding to a halt in the spring of 2020, he said, the demand was down 50 percent to 90 percent in some markets. So, how does any business sustain a 90 percent demand drop?

Too few cars to meet demand

The hunger to travel is returning. But rental prices are too steep for some who are longing to get away.

People are being priced out of the market. They cant afford to pay a $200 a day for a car rental, said Jonathan Weinberg, founder of AutoSlash, a rental car price comparison and booking website.

Even renters willing to pay high prices may find it difficult to rent a car because demand has exploded. Its especially bad in rural travel destinations, which travelers consider safer from the coronavirus.

On ExpressNews.com: Many more travelers are showing up at San Antonio International Airport

Destinations sold out of car rentals for most of the summer include Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska; West Yellowstone and Missoula, Montana, as well as the states Glacier National Park; and Jackson, Wyoming, according to Weinberg.

Resort areas are also on travelers preferred lists, meaning finding a vehicle wont be easy. And if they find available rentals, they will be expensive.

Hawaii is getting extremely tight for most of the summer, especially Kauai, and we expect most of the Hawaiian Islands to be sold out for the entire summer in the coming weeks, Weinberg said.

The average price of a weekly rental in Honolulu from May 10-17 is $1,351, AutoSlash data show.

Vehicles are available in most Florida cities, but they too are costly. Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? An average rental at the Orlando International Airport will cost $147 a day for the May 7-10 weekend or $441 for a three-day weekend.

Weinberg said the rates are, in some cases, five times what they were before the pandemic.

Some rental-car customers are getting creative.

In Hawaii, some travelers are renting U-Haul trucks and vans at prices that can be as low as $80 a day.

We have seen a considerable uptick in U-Haul rentals from customers who are visiting the islands now, said Kaleo Alau, president of U-Haul Company of Hawaii. We realize this demand is occurring when tourists are unable to secure a rental-car, or they learn that our rental fleet options are more affordable.

Weinberg said travelers who want the best rates  or just an available car  shouldnt wait to the last minute to make their reservation. Its not wise to book rentals as an afterthought, once theyve booked airline and hotel reservations.

A spokeswoman for Enterprise Holdings  the largest U.S. car rental company, which includes the Enterprise, National and Alamo brands  said being flexible with travel dates and pick-up locations will help secure a car.

While the company is working with automakers to secure additional vehicles, she said, a key contributor to the challenge right now is the global chip shortage.

Auto analyst Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds.com, said the shortage is expected to get worse over the next few months. And dealerships vehicle inventories are dwindling.

Its going to get bad before it gets better, Caldwell said.

She doesnt expect vehicle manufacturers to be able to ramp up production until the last quarter of the year, making it difficult for rental car companies to replenish their fleets.

In other words, vehicle shortages and high prices will be the norm in the rental industry for months to come.

Stacy Seaborn, whos director of sales and marketing at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, said shes just glad she was able to secure a rental for her Michigan vacation for the $708 weekly rate.

Its a little crazy, she said, adding, however, that shes still happy to be going on vacation.

randy.diamond@express-news.net
Editor's note: The story was updated to reflect that the female UTSA student lives in an off-campus apartment.

A San Antonio man is accused of breaking into a University of Texas San Antonio student's off-campus apartment and filming her while she was in the shower, according to an arrest affidavit.

Abraham Gonzalez, 35, was arrested Tuesday and charged with invasive recording in connection with the April 22 incident.

The female student told police she saw a hand holding an Android-type cell phone reach over the top of her shower curtain and screamed, the affidavit said. The woman pulled back the shower curtain but did not recognize Gonzalez, who fled after he apologized, according to the affidavit.

On ExpressNews.com: Judge blasts San Antonio-based nonprofits as 'dangerous, unsafe' for foster children

The woman's roommate was awakened by the scream and ran after Gonzalez but was unable to catch him before he drove away.

A witness told police that she had seen Gonzalez twice the week before peering through the woman's window while walking her dog, the affidavit said.

Surveillance footage from the apartment complex shows Gonzalez's car but not the license plate. Based on the type of vehicle, investigators were able to narrow it down to two in San Antonio and one was parked in the police impound at the time of the incident.

Gonzalez was arrested on Tuesday outside of a relative's home. He said he didn't catch any nudity on the video and deleted the file, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Gonzalez's criminal history includes numerous cases of indecent exposure and had been out on bond for lewd conduct outside a UTSA's student's room on campus.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
A federal judge overseeing a decadelong effort to reform Texas troubled foster care system blasted a private San Antonio foster care provider during a lengthy court hearing this week, accusing it of running a dangerous operation and suggesting its board members could face liability for the harm that results.

Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jacks withering remarks followed a recent report by two court-appointed monitors that cited numerous problems with the quality of foster care that a local nonprofit, Family Tapestry, and its parent organization, the Childrens Shelter, are providing  including insufficient medical attention, inadequate supervision and allegations of violence and sexual assault.

You are running a dangerous, unsafe operation, and now you want more money to continue doing it, Jack told Annette Rodriguez, chief executive officer of both nonprofits, during her testimony Wednesday. You were unprepared to take care of those children. And youre still unprepared to take care of those children.

The two-day hearing concluded Thursday. The judge is reviewing state agencies and private providers degrees of compliance with court mandates that seek to improve Texas foster childrens safety, health and living conditions.

Her orders stem from an ongoing class-action lawsuit filed in 2011 by a dozen children who were then receiving long-term foster care services.

The Childrens Shelter won a state contract in August 2018 to manage and place foster children in safe environments. The organization created Family Tapestry to handle those duties, which began in February 2019.

But the San Antonio nonprofits could face monetary penalties and possibly lose the contract due to the safety lapses that child welfare officials discovered at its facilities.

The problems found at Family Tapestry and its Whataburger Center for Children and Youth are serious and an incredible safety issue, the judge said.

Todd Yates /AP

On ExpressNews.com: Childrens Shelter, Family Tapestry defensive after report

We are deeply concerned about this situation. We are actively working to address these concerns. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time. We remain committed to all the children we serve, Rodriguez said Thursday evening.

Attorney Jay Dewald is representing her, the Childrens Shelter and Family Tapestry free of charge.

Jack said she found it absolutely astounding that Family Tapestry has told lawmakers, lobbyists and state child protection officials, in defending itself from the citations, that it needs more funding, telling Rodriguez, I hope that that doesnt occur, for the safety of these children.

The judge also scolded several other private foster care contractors who operate across the state, along with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Its the safety of these children thats at stake here, she said. Thats the most important thing we have  more important than contracts or lobbyists or all these other things. Its the safety of the children that we must keep foremost in our minds. And I expect Texas to live up to its duties to keep these children safe.

Bexar County is one of four areas in Texas  and the largest  that has pivoted to a community-based foster care model, using private contractors instead of state agencies to manage and oversee networks of foster care providers and childrens services.

An additional 26 counties surrounding San Antonio are expected to adopt that same model in October, court documents show.

The Whataburger Centers emergency shelter and Family Tapestrys intake center repeatedly drew the attention of state officials. They found multiple licensing violations at the Whataburger shelter, which was put on probation in September due to what state regulators described as a continued pattern of deficiencies regarding supervision, medication and record keeping.

On ExpressNews.com: State puts temporary hold on San Antonio emergency childrens shelter

From 2016 to 2020, the Whataburger center was cited nearly 250 times for minimum standards deficiencies and was the subject of several substantiated findings  one for physical abuse, one for sexual abuse, 10 for neglectful supervision and three for medical neglect, according to the court monitors report.

In January, Family Tapestry voluntarily surrendered its license for the Whataburger Centers emergency shelter. Yet children continued to be placed there at times, the monitors found. On Wednesday, Rodriguez attributed that to a lack of other options.

Similar concerns turned up at Family Tapestrys intake center, another unlicensed space that the nonprofit used to temporarily house children who had no safe place to go. State child protection officials described the center as a very chaotic environment and on March 24, DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters gave Family Tapestry 24 hours to move all remaining children out of it.

Two days later, the state Health and Human Services Commissions Child Care Licensing division placed Family Tapestry on probation.

Rodriguez confirmed during this weeks hearing that Family Tapestry recently turned away nine foster children because it had nowhere else to put them. That violated its state contract, which has a no eject, no reject provision.

You want to be able to reject children and keep your contract? Jack asked Rodriguez.

No ... We are diligently working with providers to try to open up more capacity, as we have done all along, Rodriguez responded, saying the nonprofits she runs are in active conversations with local judges, philanthropists who have invested in community-based foster care, and the Department of Family and Protective Services.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas foster care system hits crisis with 186 kids sleeping in offices; 25 stay at San Antonio intake center

The judge raised the possibility that Family Tapestry might not survive with the record theyve got and asked if the nonprofits board members knew of the citations issued so far and the reasons for them.

My board members are fully aware, Rodriguez replied.

Jack also hammered the states Health and Human Services Commission, questioning how some child-protection facilities that were shut down later managed to reopen under new names, but with the same leadership in charge and the same children in their care.

The judge said she discovered one such instance herself through a Google search, and asked if the state agency is conducting similar checks before issuing new licenses.

Its like the ultimate shell game, using children, she said. You cant just rely on self reporting on these things.

Texas Health and Human Services is taking steps to close that loophole, an associate commissioner said.

The Department of Family and Protective Services has submitted a request to the Legislature for an additional $89 million in funds related to the ongoing lawsuit.

The more you get (from the Legislature), the quicker this is going to be resolved, it seems to me, Jack told state child welfare officials Thursday.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
Four days after San Antonio voters shot down a ballot measure intended to enact some degree of police reform, City Council members tussled over whether residents want more police officers patrolling city streets.

Some 57 percent of residents surveyed in a recent poll commissioned by the city say police should be more visible in their neighborhoods. The city undertook the poll as part of a broader effort to figure out what people expect from the San Antonio Police Department  and what reforms need to be made.

To some council members, the answer was unambiguous: residents want more police officers, plain and simple.

People are happy with our police force, said District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, who represents the Northeast Side. They want to see more of it.

But others took a more nuanced approach.

Of the 1,150 residents surveyed by ETC Institute, a national research firm, a solid majority of residents were satisfied with the police  72 percent.

Nearly 80 percent feel safe in their neighborhood during the day while only 59 percent say they feel that way at night.

How safe residents feel at night depends on where they live.

Some 70 percent of those polled who live on the North Side  in Districts 8, 9 and 10  said they feel comfortable in their neighborhoods when the sun goes down.

Not so on the South Side, where fewer than 50 percent of residents of Districts 3 and 4 felt that way.

That came as little shock to council members on the West and South sides. The North Side has more gated communities as well as better roads, sidewalks and street lights than other parts of the city, they noted  all of which contribute to a feeling of safety.

It doesnt necessarily mean that sending more police officers to the other six districts is going to solve any problem if we dont provide them the infrastructure as well, said District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, who represents a portion of the West Side.

City officials are trying to figure out whether it makes sense to send police officers out on every call that comes into 911. Some 80 percent of police incidents are so minor they dont even get written up, according to an analysis of 3.1 million 911 calls conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio.

More than two-thirds of calls to San Antonio police are for instances like mental health disturbances, incidents involving an animal, panhandling, theft and suspicious people or vehicles, the analysis said.

More violent incidents like assault, burglary or fights involving a gun or knife make up 5 percent of 911 calls.

The most severe incidents  rapes, robberies, shootings and major vehicle accidents  make up less than 1 percent of all 911 calls.

That stood out to Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

We hear about the 0.5 percent all the time, Nirenberg said. But the bulk of the work is happening on these other priority calls.

Residents dont seem to think police officers have much business responding to minor calls.

Officers should have primary responsibility for handling calls regarding theft, trespassing and suspicious people and vehicles in the neighborhood, a majority of poll respondents said. But perhaps its best for others to handle incidents like mental health calls that dont involve a weapon, fireworks complaints and parking violations.

But there are severe cases that fall into gray territory. The city is trying to figure out other ways to handle calls related to domestic violence and mental health crises rather than sending a police officer.

Perry seemed uncomfortable with that given that those instances can turn violent  the kinds of situations that police officers are intended to handle.

I dont want to send anybody into a dangerous situation in this city that would threaten their life, Perry said.

Police Chief William McManus took those concerns, also raised by Nirenberg, into account but held to the notion that police shouldnt have to handle every call.

There needs to be deeper discussion, McManus said. I do believe there should be some alternative type of response.

City officials are trying to put together a police reform package  partially culled from public input obtained through a series of community meetings  and put it in front of City Council in August as they hammer out the citys next annual budget.

Meanwhile, the city is making headway in contract negotiations with the San Antonio Police Officers Association on key measures to give the city more leeway to punish officers accused of misconduct.

Under the current contract, McManus cant discipline an officer for alleged misconduct if he finds out about the incident more than six months after it occurs. The city instead wants to give the police chief the power to hand down discipline within six months of learning about an incident  to which the police union agreed.

But the unions negotiators havent budged on a city proposal to bar independent arbitrators, who rule on officers appeals of discipline, from overturning punishment handed down by the chief. By various estimates, about two-thirds of fired police officers return to the force  either because the police chief gives them their job back or the arbitrator does.

The police union also hasnt agreed to allow the chief to use past misconduct when determining punishment for a new incident.

But political observers say the recent vote on Proposition B will likely force the union to give ground. The ballot measure would have taken away the unions right to bargain for their contract  but failed by a narrow margin. If the union doesnt relent, observers say, they could wind up losing that right at the ballot box in a later election.
Gov. Greg Abbott owes the public either an explanation or an apology about the serious and unfounded allegations of child abuse he made last month outside Freeman Coliseum.

He either lied about the conditions there, or he eagerly used the unfounded allegations as a photo op.

Either way, the governor has shown hes willing to use children and the hot-button issue of immigration to satisfy political ambitions. Having lied during Februarys winter storm that renewable energy was the reason for the power outage, Abbott has affirmed theres no meat too red, or raw, to serve the base. And that was before Abbott, last week, perpetuated the lie that President Joe Bidens climate change plan would reduce the number of hamburgers Americans can, annually, eat.

The Biden administration is using the Freeman Coliseum as a temporary facility for unaccompanied immigrant minors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its Office of Refugee Resettlement is operating the facility. Abbott saw it as a backdrop to level the ugliest of accusations, the harming of a child.

Abbott said complaints were made to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on the morning of April 7. Based on nothing more, he called a press conference for late afternoon at the coliseum. It may have been the first time that within hours of a report of alleged child abuse, but before any investigation, a Texas governor traveled to the site where the alleged abuse occurred and demanded it be closed. All without touring the site or speaking to those in charge.

It was only after Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, who volunteers every weekend at the shelter, followed Abbott to the microphones and disputed his allegations, that Abbott toured the shelter. She said during his tour he was a gracious and concerned visitor who asked questions. But in none of his questions or comments inside the coliseum did he repeat the allegations he made outside the coliseum.

Outside, Abbott had called the facility a health and safety nightmare. Inside, he thanked the volunteers for their work and he received a pair of standing ovations from the children, Clay-Flores said.

It has been a month and nothing has come of Abbotts allegations. Theyve, reportedly, not even come up in the Texas Department of Public Safetys briefings.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has called the accusations completely false. Without any evidence or further explanation, its hard to disagree with Wolffs assessment.

Any and all accusations of child abuse and neglect must be investigated thoroughly. But, in real time, Abbott appears to be playing politics.

During the Trump administration, as well as the Obama administration, there were thousands of complaints about sexual abuse at migrant shelters. Why has Abbott raised his voice now in this instance? Why raise doubts about an operation that many in the San Antonio community have praised as a model and humane response to an influx of migrants?

Either out of whole or the thinnest of cloths, the Texas governor used explosive, unfounded child abuse and neglect allegations to score political points.

Maybe that qualifies as good politics, these days. For us, its not just wrong, but vile.
The deadline to register to vote in the June 5 City of San Antonio City Council runoff elections is 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Bexar County Elections Department will also accept mail-in registration applications as long as they are postmarked with Thursday's date. Early voting for the runoff is May 24 though June 1.

There are still five City Council seats up for grabs, three of which include incumbents.

District 1 , incumbent Robert Trevino looks to fend off challenger Mario Bravo.

, incumbent Robert Trevino looks to fend off challenger Mario Bravo. District 2 incumbent Jada Andrews-Sullivan is up against Jalen McKee-Rodriguez.

incumbent Jada Andrews-Sullivan is up against Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. District 3 , Phyllis Viagran is running against Tomas Uresti.

, Phyllis Viagran is running against Tomas Uresti. District 5, Teri Castillo is squaring off against Rudy Lopez.

Teri Castillo is squaring off against Rudy Lopez. District 9, John Courage, is trying to keep his seat from Patrick Von Dohlen.

For more information on the application process and to check if you are registered to vote, visit the county's elections website.

Peter.Rasmussen@mysa.com

RELATED: Five council runoffs  three with incumbents  slated for next month
Stamfords 06902 ZIP code  a sprawling L extending from the Cove neighborhood through the South End and up the citys western side to the Merritt Parkway  led Connecticut in terms of new arrivals in both 2019 and the pandemic year of 2020, as reported by CBRE in a national analysis.

But last year, Stamford also surpassed a section of New Haven to post the most departure notifications as well of any city in Connecticut  while absorbing net losses in both years.

The extremes of Stamford and New Haven have parallels throughout Connecticut, depending on the data points one selects to look at with regard to gains or losses in households and individual residents.

The CBRE report uses change-of-address forms filed with the U.S. Postal Service to determine migration patterns in and out of Connecticut and elsewhere.

Households typically file a single change-of-address form for all family members sharing the same last name. (Anyone in the household having a different surname files an individual form, leaving open the possibility of the gross numbers including multiple individuals from the same household.)

The following municipalities and neighborhoods jump off the CBRE tables for significant departures from the norm.

Dropping anchor in Westport

Alex von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Westport led all Connecticut ZIP codes in one of the most critical measures for the state economy: net gains in people establishing residency, whether purchasing, renting or making a weekend home their permanent address.

First Selectman Jim Marpie said that in addition to regular household moves, the gains in Westport and other towns could reflect parents taking children back under their roofs, after city jobs went remote for the duration of the pandemic.

While that could provide a short-term boost for businesses as recreational spending stays in Connecticut, it could also produce a boomerang effect this year or next, as those young professionals purchase homes themselves or rent in towns they can afford.

Westports popularity also has direct implications for the income taxes they send to Hartford, Albany or other jurisdictions.

However you add it up, Marpie said he knows of more than two dozen businesses planning to open in downtown Westport amid the real estate boom, on the heels of Barnes & Noble relocating its Post Road East store to the center of Westport.

Theres no doubt weve had an influx, Marpie said. Weve had three to five restaurants open during the pandemic that seem to be ... doing quite well, and with onset of being able to comfortably eat outdoors, were expecting a real surge in outdoor dining.

Doing the math in Greenwich

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Adding up five ZIP codes included in the CBRE analysis from backcountry estates north of the Merritt Parkway to Riverside and Cos Cob, Greenwich combined for 850 net additions in changes-of-address to surpass the totals in Westport.

The Greenwich real estate market continues to sizzle this spring; this past week, a $22 million estate on Round Hill Road hit the market, joining seven others priced at $20 million or more. Another 20 homes are listed above $10 million.

More than 360 homes sold in Greenwich in the first four months of this year, as reported by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties, pushing aggregate sales to nearly $940 million.

On a conference call last week, Empire State Realty Trust CEO and Greenwich resident Tony Malkin said that the landlords Stamford office buildings have seen a pickup in tours this year among prospective tenants, but with no significant increase on the part of New York City employers that might be exploring suburban offices to spare executives the commute.

Have we seen a big flow of tenants in that tour group out of New York City? Malkin said. A handful, and some leases done  smaller leases under 10,000 square feet.

Park City, Elm City exoduses?

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media

Despite several apartment projects over the past several years  and the employment anchors of Yale University and Yale-New Haven Health  the city of New Haven had net losses of people reporting address changes to the U.S. Postal Service as captured in the CBRE study.

Hartfords Asylum Hill and West End neighborhoods had a bigger exodus than New Haven on a per capita basis, while Bridgeport had more households and individuals leave as an absolute number.

Norwalk fared better than New Haven, with Harbor Points developer Building & Land Technology now eyeing a massive apartment build out in Norwalk north of the Merritt Parkway.

The state is doubling down on the return of commuters in time; early construction is now proceeding on a new Merritt 7 station adjacent to BLTs soon-to-be-completed Curb at North Seven apartment complex totaling more than 700 units.

Up until the last 16 months, its been one of the deadest markets ... in the country, so its about time we got a little juice, said Harlan Stone, CEO of the luxury flooring maker HMTX Industries, which is building a new design center on a hill above the Metro North station. I owned a house in Weston for 20-something years and my return on investment was negative  I put more into the house than I got back.

Pre-pandemic momentum in Weston

Jarret Liotta / Jarret Liotta

Weston squeezed onto the list of three dozen ZIP codes in New York and Connecticut to see a net influx of at least 400 new arrivals across both 2019 and the pandemic year of 2020, as neighboring Westport topped all with 955 net new arrivals as reported by CBRE.

Sandwiched between (in descending order) were Darien, New Canaan, Trumbull, Ridgefield, Oxford, West Hartford, Fairfield, Southbury, Stamford, Guilford, Cheshire, Wethersfield, Madison and Greenwichs 06831 ZIP code running up the western half of the town and into its backcountry studded with estates.

While New York had a slightly larger number in that topmost group  including wealthy towns like East Hampton, Scarsdale and New Rochelle, with a smaller base of towns within traditional commuting distance of New York City  Connecticuts rankings in the CBRE study was notable.

Several of those towns had a common denominator: high placement on school rankings  one factor parents of young children use in relocation decisions.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Darien High School tops in Connecticut this spring; Weston High School was third, just behind the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in Groton and just ahead of Staples High School in Westport and New Canaan High School.

Stopping off for good in Washington Depot

Alexander Soule /Hearst Connecticut Media /

The U.S. Postal Service recorded significant changes throughout the state in smaller towns as well, if measured as a percentage of their overall population.

By that metric, the 06793 ZIP code spanning Washington and Roxbury in the heart of Litchfield County led the state for net gains in address changes in 2020, at 6.7 for every 100 residents in town.

With the Mayflower Inn & Spa its best known magnet, the town and its Washington Depot village have long been a draw for New York and New England tourists. But with home sales now booming across Litchfield County, it appears that some of those visitors kept the Connecticut countryside in mind as they took stock of their options during the pandemic.

The CBRE data does not include changes of address for hamlets with 10 or fewer on file with the U.S. Postal Service in any given year. The Centerbrook section of Essex has the largest population of Connecticut towns with such a data gap; Berkshire Hathaway reports 10 homes selling there in 2020, one more than the prior year.

Its certainly part of this broader trend of people moving farther out from the urban core  at least for the time being, said Matt Mowell, a CBRE economist in Boston who co-authored the report. You have more people who have the freedom to work completely remotely.

Under the radar in eastern Connecticut

Joe Amarante / Hearst CT Media

If Stamford proves that new apartments and senior communities in smaller cities and towns can provide a major boost, Norwichs Taftville district backs up that assertion.

In Taftville, the developers of the Lofts at Ponemah Mills added another 120 units to the multi-phase redevelopment of what was at one point in the 19th century the largest textile mill in the United States. Owner One Key touts Ponemah Mills proximity and amenities to workers and new hires at the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casino resorts, as well as the Electric Boat submarine yard in Groton, which is undergoing a rapid expansion.

All eyes are on Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in particular as bellwethers for Connecticut tourism. On Tuesday, Mohegan Sun offered a $2,000 signing bonus for new culinary staff it hires this spring.

We did go to hell and back in the last year or so, said Gov. Ned Lamont, speaking Tuesday after a tour of Electric Boat. We were the first state to get 50 percent of our people vaccinated  I think thats helping us get back to a new normal.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
He was accused of failing to pay income and payroll tax. He owns a chain of pizza restaurants and has an interest in others along the state border in Connecticut and New York.
FAIRFIELD  When Ella Casano was 7, she was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare autoimmune disorder that results in a low count of platelets, which help in blood clotting.

That meant, if she got hurt, her blood wouldnt clot properly. It wasnt safe for me to do things like play sports or participate in gym, said Ella, now 13.

To help her live a regular life, the Fairfield child had to undergo lengthy infusions of intravenous medications. But, she said, it was scary, watching those bags of fluid drain into her body. Even at her young age, Ella wondered if the process would be easier if she didnt have to see the bags of IV fluid  if there was some sort of cover that could be put on the bags to make everything feel less intimidating.

When she was in fifth grade, Ella was encouraged to create something for her schools Invention Convention. She decided to create a cover for IV bags that would make them a bit less frightening, and the Medi Teddy was born. The Medi Teddy is a bag shaped like a teddy bear that is placed over the IV bags.

I basically just wanted to create something that would benefit not just me but other kids, Ella explained. It just brightens up a patients room. All that medication going inside you  thats a scary thought the Medi Teddy provides a friendly face in the midst of all that.

Since she created the Medi Teddy, she has gone on a different kind of medication that doesnt require regular IV infusions. But that hasnt stopped her from helping other children. Shes gotten a patent for her invention and she and her mother Meghan have donated thousands of Medi Teddys to children across the United States and in 23 other countries.

Last month, the New York Knicks and the website building platform Squarespace named Medi Teddy (which also goes by the name IV Comfort Solutions) as one of four winners of its fourth annual Make It Awards. Each of the winning businesses will be provided with a $30,000 grant, a one-year subscription to Squarespace, a feature segment on MSG Networks and one-on-one mentorship from a member of the esteemed panel of judges.

The Casanos said their grant money will go toward giving at least 500 of its new Hope line of plastic Medi Teddys to New York area hospitals. The Hope Medi Teddys are reusable and intended to be more COVID-safe than the original plush variety.

Both Ella and Meghan Casano said they were excited by this latest development, though Meghan said she isnt surprised that her daughter has taken this venture so far.

From the time Ella was very little, she was always the kind of kid who was super focused on things, Meghan said.

Ella said she hopes to continue to take her project even farther, and help as many kids as possible feel less anxious about their medical treatments. We hope that, one day, every hospital room in the world will have a Medi Teddy, she said. Like, youll walk into your hospital room and there will be a Medi Teddy hanging from the IV pole.
Over 22 percent of last year's total potato production in GB remains on-farm as the pandemic and Brexit continues to impact the sector.

The latest figures show that 1.2 million tonnes of potatoes remain in grower ownership as at the end of March 2021.

This is 90,700 tonnes higher than the 5-year average, according to AHDB, with Scotland accounting for 33% of what remains in grower ownership.

A partial reason for the higher stocks in Scotland is a lack of seed sales, the levy board explained, as over 70% of 2020 GB seed area was grown in Scotland.

With domestic seed sales slower earlier in the year due to lockdown, combined with an export ban to the EU since 1 January 2021, it is likely to add to higher stocks.

Anthony Speight, AHDB Potatoes analyst, said that another reason for high stocks in Scotland will be from the lack of demand regionally for packing material.

"Over 50 percent of the 2020 Scottish planted area was destined for the packing market," he added.

"Demand for Whites has been reportedly lacklustre most of this marketing year which could again, have led to increased on-farm stocks."

The East of England and East Midlands account for 31.6% - 380,100 tonnes - of potatoes in store as of the end-March 2021.

However, total tonnage in these two regions is down by 136,200 tonnes from the same point last year.

And in the South West and Yorkshire and Humber, on-farm tonnage is up 150% and 8% year-on-year, respectively.

"This is an extra 53.8Kt of potatoes in these regions combined, compared to the same time last year," Mr Speight explained.

"For the South West, in part, this will be due to the demand impact from a lack of tourism."

Wales and West Midlands has seen the largest year-on-year reduction in percentage terms, AHDB's figures show.

Compared to last year, potatoes in growers storage are down 48 percent, at 71,100 tonnes.

"This region has also seen the greatest drawdown from January to March stocks in percentage terms, at 62%," Mr Speight said.

"Reasons for this are more than likely quality related, rather than demand.

"From the start of 2021 we have anecdotally heard of ongoing quality issues, with long-term storage not an option, meaning stock has been moved to market sooner."

Looking forward, a reduction in potato area is anticipated, although Mr Speight said it would be difficult to understand to what extent.

Providing smooth progression towards the end of the pandemic, the sector could see demand levels rise again.

"If these two factors are realised, we could see some support to potato prices," he explained.
MPs have acknowledged and celebrated the high standards of British meat and dairy production during a recent Westminster debate.

The debate, which was held on 28 April during Great British Beef Week, saw numerous parliamentarians highlight the benefits of British-produced food.

Some urged the government to provide more support for farmers through public sector procurement of food and Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs).

Ahead of the event, the NFU highlighted to MPs that not all red meat and dairy production around the world was the same.

The union told MPs that farmers were proud of their high standards of production, with many aiming to farm in a way that was as climate friendly as possible.

Tory MP for North Devon Selaine Saxby, who secured the debate, said: I am fortunate to represent North Devon, home to 475 NFU members, including 95 dairy farmers and 323 livestock farmers.

"I dont need to go far to find delicious, nutritious British food that comes from environmentally responsible sources.

Historically, there was far less choice in the food we consumed and our reliance on home-grown produce was significantly greater than it is today.

At this afternoon's debate on British meat and dairy products, @SelaineSaxby MP used her opening remarks to highlight the importance of buying local, nutrituous and climate-friendly meat and dairy ?? #BackBritishFarming ????????? pic.twitter.com/v1qE0ZkvjB  NFU Political (@NFUPolitical) April 28, 2021

"If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that it is good to be able to produce at home what we need, and we all need to eat.

Ms Saxby also used her speech at the start of the debate to highlight the importance of buying locally and seasonally to lower the environmental footprint of the food.

Farming minister Victoria Prentis and shadow farming minister Daniel Zeichner both spoke on behalf of the government and opposition respectively.

Mrs Prentis covered the governments support for UK meat and dairy products: British meat and dairy products have a really good reputation for quality, built on high animal welfare standards, strong environmental protections, traceability and sustainability

"This government will always support our farmers and producers, not only during Great British Beef Week."

She added that the Conservatives had a manifesto commitment that wanted people at home and abroad 'lining up to buy British'.

"We are working closely with the AHDB, and members may have noticed that we had a number of successful campaigns during the pandemic.

During his opening remarks, Mr Zeichner commended farmers, and all those working in the food supply chain, for their resilience throughout the pandemic.

Shadow Agriculture Minister @DanielZeichner spoke earlier in the week about the NFU's target for British ag to be #NetZero by 2040, and called on government to provide more support for farmers to reduce emissions ??

Thank you for continuing to #BackBritishFarming Daniel ????????? pic.twitter.com/bJ5pzlz7Ga  NFU Political (@NFUPolitical) April 30, 2021

[Meat and dairy] are vital industries that are crucial to our food security, to tackling climate and nature emergencies," he said.

"They proved remarkably resilient through the pandemic. I pay tribute to all those involved: farmers, processors, retailers and shop workers.

Mr Zeichner then went on to call on government to offer more support to British meat and dairy through public procurement.

Supporting British farming means buying more British produce, which means looking at the public sector and the 2.4bn a year spent on catering, and thinking about how more can be spent with British farmers.
The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike.

We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
Gov. Jim Justice, somewhat belatedly, has come around to admit that the states vaccination effort has hit a wall and that, at its current pace, we will not reach herd immunity anytime soon.
A New Canaan man who called police to report an accidental shooting at his home Thursday has been arrested after officers responding to his home found his wife had suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
Hdrellez is regarded as one of the most important seasonal festivals in both Turkey and parts of the Middle East.

Called Day of Hzr (Ruz- Hzr) in Turkey, Hdrellez is celebrated as the day on which the prophets Hzr (Al-Khdir) and Ilyas (Elijah) met on Earth.

It is believed that Hzr and Ilyas meet on earth only once every year. While Hzr helps and guides people who are in a difficult situation, and also brings abundance, Ilyas is believed to be the protector of the waters.

It is also believed that, as they symbolise abundance, everywhere they step turns green, and everything they touch becomes more fruitful or healed.

Hzr and Ilyas symbolise abundance. Photo by dijitalseyahatname.

Celebrating Hdrellez

Turkish communities around the world celebrate Hdrellez as a spring festival on May 6 while Christians in the Balkans mark it as St. Georges day on April 23.

In the folk calendar used by the people, the year used to be separated into two: summer was between May 6 and Nov. 8, known as the Days of Hzr, while winter was between Nov. 8 and May 6, known as the Days of November. So May 6, representing the end of winter and the start of summer, is a reason to celebrate.

Across the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, different traditions and rituals have developed, many of which are focused on bringing good luck with the arrival of spring.

While differing greatly from country to country, the event is often marked with the cleaning of homes and clothes, feasting or ceremonies held near open water or shrines.

In the evening of the day before Hdrellez, people write or draw their wishes  such as a home, car or child  on paper and attach it to a branch of a tree or (a rose tree) or bury it under the tree, while some throw it into the sea or a river. Some also bury money under a rose tree for abundance.

Meanwhile, it is considered that eating the first lamb of spring leads to health and recovery. Another belief is boiling flowers or plants and drinking the water to heal diseases, and that the water rejuvenates people and makes them beautiful if they wash with it for 40 days.

Among the Roma community in Turkeys northwestern province of Canakkale, there are dancers in colourful clothing and people jump over bonfires for good health.

The roots of the celebration pre-date Islam or Christianity.

An intangible cultural heritage

This spring festival was added to UNESCOs list of intangible cultural heritage in 2017.

According to UNESCO, the rituals have deep-rooted cultural meanings and provide the community with a sense of belonging and cultural identity and an opportunity to strengthen relations.

Have a look at this amazing video of the Hdrellez celebrations.

UNESCO has listed 20 cultural practices found in Turkey. These include the Mevlana whirling dervishes, the Karagoz and Hacivat shadow plays, oil-wrestling in Krkpnar and Turkish coffee.

Sources: Hurriyet Daily News/Turkey.Home/Wikipedia
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Lonza and Moderna Enter New Agreement to Double Drug Substance Production for COVID-19 Vaccine in Visp

New agreement for three further production lines at Lonza's site in Visp, Switzerland

Additional production lines will come online sequentially

All three are expected to be operational in the earlier part of 2022

Quote from Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, CEO, Lonza:

"Since we began working with Moderna in May 2020, its mRNA vaccine has proved to be pivotal in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. We have commenced and ramped up operations in our four existing production lines at an unprecedented rate and scale. Our new agreement with Moderna will double our drug substance manufacturing capacity in Visp (CH), at this time of urgent global demand. We are proud of our work with Moderna, and we are looking forward to expanding the partnership in the coming months."

Basel, Switzerland, 29 April 2021 - Lonza today announced the expansion of its collaboration with Moderna, a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, to manufacture the drug substance for the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna.

The expanded collaboration provides for the installation of three additional drug substance manufacturing lines at Lonza's Visp (CH) site. This will double the existing drug substance production for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna at the site.

In May 2020, Lonza and Moderna announced a 10-year strategic collaboration agreement to enable the manufacture of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and additional Moderna products in the future. Since then, Lonza has installed three production lines at its Visp (CH) site and one further production line in Portsmouth (US). Production in Visp (CH) commenced within eight months of the initial agreement.

It is anticipated that the new manufacturing lines will each have a production capacity equivalent to the existing lines and are expected to be operational in the earlier part of 2022. The additional production lines will be constructed in Lonza's Ibex Solutions facility, alongside the existing COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna production lines.

Recruitment for the additional production lines has already commenced as part of wider recruitment efforts to support expansion plans in Lonza Visp, including the recently announced construction of a new small molecule manufacturing complex. Lonza is seeking to attract specialists from the international market, as well as from within Switzerland. The company has taken learnings from its previous ramp-up of Moderna drug substance production lines in Visp, and is confident that it can accelerate the operationalization of the new facilities.

Lonza's recruitment activities in Visp support a wider program to attract top talent as the global business works to operationalize a series of new Capex investments. In March 2021, Lonza recorded its highest ever global intake of new employees. This reflects the company's continuing commitment to deliver for its customers, as part of its mission to enable a healthier world.

About Lonza

Lonza is the preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets. We work to prevent illness and enable a healthier world by supporting our customers to deliver new and innovative medicines that help treat a wide range of diseases. We achieve this by combining technological insight with world-class manufacturing, scientific expertise and process excellence. These enable our customers to commercialize their discoveries and innovations in the healthcare sector.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, today Lonza operates across five continents. With approximately 14,000 full-time employees, we are built from high-performing teams and of individual talent who make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as to the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 4.5 billion in 2020 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.4 billion. Find out more at www.lonza.com.

Follow @Lonza on LinkedIn

Follow @LonzaGroup on Twitter

Lonza Contact Details

Victoria Morgan

Head of External Communications Lonza Group Ltd Tel +41 61 316 2283 victoria.morgan@lonza.com Dirk Oehlers

Investor Relations Lonza Group Ltd Tel +41 61 316 8540 dirk.oehlers@lonza.com

Additional Information and Disclaimer

Lonza Group Ltd has its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It has a secondary listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"). Lonza Group Ltd is not subject to the SGX-ST's continuing listing requirements but remains subject to Rules 217 and 751 of the SGX-ST Listing Manual.

Certain matters discussed in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and estimates of Lonza Group Ltd, although Lonza Group Ltd can give no assurance that these expectations and estimates will be achieved. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty and are qualified in their entirety. The actual results may differ materially in the future from the forward-looking statements included in this news release due to various factors. Furthermore, except as otherwise required by law, Lonza Group Ltd disclaims any intention or obligation to update the statements contained in this news release.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's largest provider of HIV/AIDS care globally, applauded today President Biden's historic decision to support a proposal to waive intellectual property (IP) rights protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

The announcement was made on May 5 in a statement by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. The decision is exceedingly timely because the World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to debate the IP waiver once again this week after a handful of wealthy countries had blocked previous attempts to adopt it. Ambassador Tai went on to say in the statement that the U.S. Government will actively participate in the WTO debate on the waiver "to make that happen," with the goal of getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

"This is a decision of momentous significance for billions of people around the world. We salute President Biden for taking a resolutely principled position in favor of waiving COVID-19 vaccine patents," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "The decision puts the health of people above the profit-driven interests of pharmaceutical companies, and it will have an immediate impact on the negotiations at the WTO. Once we clear the patents hurdle, countries need to quickly get on with the job of ramping up vaccine production. We must vaccinate our world to defeat COVID-19!"

With over 3 million people dead and new COVID-19 cases completely exceeding the capacity of healthcare systems in countries like India and Brazil, there is a crushing need for more vaccines, particularly in the developing world. However, as of today, 1.19 billion vaccine doses have been administered globally 83% have been given in wealthy countries while low-income countries have received a mere 0.3%.

The USTR announcement is an unprecedented break with U.S. policy position that has traditionally favored strong IP protections on pharmaceutical products, such as HIV medications. If the WTO is successful in adopting a resolution on an IP waiver, this should pave the way for generic pharmaceutical companies to enter the market. They would be able to produce patented vaccines without the fear of being sued for IP violations, which in turn, would expand global manufacturing capacity and lead to greater vaccine availability at a lower cost.

AHF issued a statement calling for President Biden to uphold his promise to waive vaccine patents on May 4, and prior to that a similar statement on April 15. His administration's announcement today to do just that is a vital step toward ensuring vaccine equity for billions of people worldwide.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.5 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006205/en/

Contacts:

US MEDIA CONTACT:

Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy

Communications, AHF

+1 323.308.1829

denys.nazarov@ahf.org



Terri Ford, Chief of Global Advocacy

Policy, AHF

+1 323.308.1820

terri.ford@ahf.org
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Ameriwest Lithium Inc. (CSE: AWLI) (the "Company" or "Ameriwest") is pleased to announce that it has begun trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (the "FSE") under the following trading symbol and codes:

FSE: 5HV0

WKN: A3CMEX

ISIN: CA03078L1040

The Company's CUSIP number remains unchanged.

With this listing, Ameriwest's common shares are now dual-listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, one of the largest stock exchanges in the world. The Company anticipates this FSE listing will increase trading liquidity and facilitate investment in Ameriwest by investors in Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the rest of Europe.

Company COO, Glen Collick, commented, "Dual listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange is an exciting and integral opportunity for Ameriwest to increase shareholder value and expand our investor base throughout Europe and Global markets."

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest trading centers for securities. With a share in turnover of around 90 percent, it is the largest of Germany's seven stock exchanges.

About Ameriwest Lithium Inc.

Ameriwest Lithium Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company with a focus on identifying strategic lithium mineral resource projects for exploration and development. The Company is currently focused on exploring the Deer Musk East Property, located in the prolific Clayton Valley, Nevada, totaling 5,500 acres, and the Railroad Valley property, totaling 6,163.1 acres. Additionally, Ameriwest's current resource portfolio includes the ESN Project, located in White Pine County, Nevada, and the Koster Dam property, located in the Clinton Mining Division of British Columbia, in which Ameriwest has a 45% interest.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Glenn Collick

Chief Operating Officer, Director

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Collick

Chief Operating Officer, Director

(778) 868-2226

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Caution 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, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. 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.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83090
VANCOUVER, BC, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd. ("Wenco") is pleased to announce its purchase of all assets and intellectual property of SmartCap Technologies Pty Ltd ("SmartCap"), engineers of the world's leading fatigue monitoring wearable.

Based in Brisbane, Australia, SmartCap assesses real-time fatigue levels and monitors for oncoming microsleeps that create safety hazards. The SmartCap device has over 5,000 users globally in mining, trucking, and other industries.

"This purchase is an important step for the continued growth of the SmartCap fatigue technology," says SmartCap CEO Tim Ekert. "We have made significant progress these past eight years and we are proud of every safety incident our technology has prevented.

"We believe joining Wenco will enable us to grow even further and increase the safety of even more industrial operations."

This acquisition adds a strategic, fatigue monitoring capability to Wenco's safety solution portfolio. Safety is of paramount importance at mines and other industrial sites, where operators must perform long hours of repetitive work while paying close attention to their surrounding environment. SmartCap greatly enhances the ability of operators and other workers in proximity to the equipment to remain safe.

"Wenco has long been observing SmartCap's success in enhancing safety for their customers, and we have been in regular discussion on how we can integrate our technologies to provide a comprehensive, next-generation safety solution," says Andrew Pyne, president and CEO of Wenco.

"Ultimately, it was decided that bringing our technology, personnel, and business relationships together under Wenco offered the greatest opportunity for us to deliver on our mutual vision for mine safety."

In recent years, Wenco and its parent, Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), have invested heavily in solutions to streamline and optimize the end-to-end mining enterprise, with safety as a foundation. SmartCap adds an advanced, fatigue monitoring layer for operator protection to this digital mining initiative. It is intended to be included as part of HCM's Solution Linkage family, the ICT/IoT solution platform for global mining and construction customers created in response to increased demands for improved safety, life cycle cost, and productivity.

About Wenco International Mining Systems

For over 30 years, Wenco International Mining Systems has worked with mining companies to extract unrealized value. Under this mission, Wenco has developed an integrated suite of solutions to support the digital transformation of the mining industry. Fleet management, asset health, data analytics, and other technologies join together in the spirit of open interoperability to raise mine productivity and efficiency, lower routine costs, and establish a safe and smooth mining operation.

A Hitachi company since 2009, Wenco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

For more information about the SmartCap acquisition or Wenco's and Hitachi's strategic vision for mine safety, please contact info@wencomine.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503326/Wenco_International_Mining_Systems_Ltd__Wenco_International_Mini.jpg
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP)(OTCQB:CJCFF) ("QPM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, in connection with its previously announced "best efforts" private placement financing (the "Placement"), the Company closed the second and final tranche of the oversubscribed Placement for an amount of $594,000. The second tranche consists of 2,700,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.22 per share.

In total, including the first tranche which closed on May 3, 2021 and the second tranche of the Placement, the Company has issued 14,674,543 common shares for gross proceeds of $3,228,399.

One member of QPM's management and board of directors, invested a total of $22,000 in the second tranche of the Placement. The subscription by this "insider" of the Company, is considered to be a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company did not file the material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Placement as the details of the Placement and the participation therein by this insider was not settled until shortly prior to the closing of the Placement, and the Company wished to close the Placement on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves this insider, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves this insider, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Finders fees totalling $47,520 have been paid to third parties dealing at arm's length with QPM. In addition, the finders received 216,000 non-transferable compensation warrants, with each such warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.30 per common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the closing of the second tranche of Placement.

The Common Shares are subject to a four-month "hold period" commencing on the closing date pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities and Regulation 45-102 respecting Resale of Securities (Quebec) and the certificates or DRS advices representing such securities will bear a legend to that effect.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for exploration expenditures as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Placement is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Resignation of Jean-Sebastien Lavallee

Mr. Jean-Sebastien Lavallee has resigned from the Board of directors and Vice President Exploration (effective immediately), to focus on other professional commitments. He will continue to act as an advisor to the Company.

"For over a decade, Jean-Sebastien Lavallee has made a huge contribution to advance the exploration of the Sakami project and our other projects in the region. His knowledge and expertise will continue to be invaluable as an advisor to the QPM.", said Normand Champigny, Chief Executive Officer of QPM.

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage.

For more information please contact:

Jean-Francois Meilleur

President

Tel.: 514 951-2730

jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

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

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645050/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Corporation-Closes-Second-and-Final-Tranche-of-Oversubscribed-3228000-Private-Placement
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - CGX Energy Inc. (TSXV: OYL) ("CGX Energy" or the "Company") announced today the release of its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the first quarter of 2021, together with its Management, Discussion and Analysis - Quarterly Highlights ("MD&A"). These documents will be posted on the Company's website at www.cgxenergy.com and SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All values in this news release and the Company's financial disclosures are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

Gabriel de Alba, Co-Chairman of CGX Energy, commented: "CGX's technical and operational team maintained the momentum of its exploration program during the first quarter and into the spring, while the Company secured additional funds to fully exploit the unique opportunities in the Corentyne, Demerara and Berbice blocks in Guyana, home to one of the world's most promising energy basins. The additional funds have also allowed CGX to advance work on the other strategic component of its work in Guyana; the Berbice Deep Water Port, which will serve the basin's rapidly expanding offshore exploration activities. This project remains key value driver for CGX shareholders and many areas of Guyana's economy."

Suresh Narine, Executive Co-Chairman, added: "During the quarter we continued advancing our world-class exploration program in the Guyana basin. Having recently secured a Maersk semi-submersible drilling unit and related services for our Kawa-1 well on the Corentyne offshore block, we are targeting an early third quarter spud. Other favorable developments include extensions of deadlines for exploration commitments under our Demerara and Berbice block licenses. The quarter also saw additional progress on our promising Berbice Deep Water Port project, the construction of which remains on schedule."

First Quarter and Recent Highlights

On April 22, 2021, The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, CGX Resources Inc. ("CRI" ), Operator of the Corentyne offshore block entered into an agreement (the "Drilling Contract" ) with Maersk Drilling Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("Maersk" ), a subsidiary of The Drilling Company of 1972 A/S, for the provision of a semi-submersible drilling unit, the Maersk Discoverer, and associated services to drill the Kawa-1 well on the Corentyne offshore block. The Company and Frontera Energy Corporation ("Frontera" ) are joint-venture partners (the "Joint Venture" ) in the Petroleum Prospecting License for the Corentyne block offshore Guyana. The Joint Venture is targeting an early third quarter spud for the Kawa-1 well in 2021. The Drilling Contract also includes one optional well on the Demerara block.

In conjunction with the Drilling Contract between CRI and Maersk, Frontera entered into a separate Deed of Guarantee (the "Deed" ) with Maersk on April 30, 2021 for certain obligations in connection with the day rates under the Drilling Contract on behalf of CRI, up to a maximum of $25 million subject to a sliding scale mechanism in connection with payments made under the Drilling Contract. Frontera and CGX Energy entered into an agreement pursuant to which all amounts drawn under the Deed that are attributed to CRI's share of the Joint Venture costs, shall be guaranteed by the Company.

On April 16, 2021, CGX Energy entered into a non-binding term sheet for a $19 million loan to cover certain budgeted costs as agreed to by Frontera (the " Loan "). The loan is a non-revolving term facility available to be drawdown in tranches until October 31, 2021 and accrues interest at an annual rate of 9.7% per annum until maturity on June 30, 2022, or such later date as determined by Frontera, at its sole discretion. Frontera in its sole discretion, may elect to convert all or a portion of the principal amount of the Loan outstanding into common shares of the Company at a conversion price per common share equal to US$0.712 (being the U.S. dollar equivalent of the C$0.89 closing price of the common shares on the TSXV prior to the announcement of the Loan), or any higher amount as required by the TSXV, beginning after July 15, 2021, in certain circumstances. The Loan is subject to execution of a definitive agreement between CGX Energy and Frontera, and all regulatory approvals required.

In February 2021, the Company received an addendum to the Demerara PA, subject to final documentation, extending the February 12, 2021 deadline for drilling an exploration well on the Demerara block to no later than February 11, 2022.

In February 2021, ON Energy Inc. received an addendum to the Berbice PA, subject to final documentation, constituting an extension and modification to the workplan on the Berbice block, from completing a seismic program by August 12, 2021 to completing a seismic program and commencement of drilling an exploration well no later than June 15, 2022. CGX Energy holds a 62% interest in ON Energy Inc.

Starting in October 2020, Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc. ("Grand Canal"), a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX Energy, entered into various contracts to recommence work on its Berbice Deep Water Port project. Work continued during the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 and Grand Canal expended $327,000 for this period. Additionally, the Company awarded contracts for $2,003,000 in April 2021.

About CGX Energy

CGX Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur in the future. These forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by CGX Energy. CGX Energy believes the expectations and assumptions on which it develops forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements 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. In addition, other risks that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release are outlined further in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and CGX Energy 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: Tralisa Maraj, Chief Financial Officer at (832) 300-3200.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83109
Survey finds misdiagnosis and delays putting women's lives at risk

SUNDERLAND, England, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Women with bladder cancer symptoms feel ignored by their doctor, face diagnosis delays and are more likely to undergo drastic surgery than men, a worrying survey has revealed.1

The new research has found that women felt their doctor dismissed their concerns more often than men, with 39% saying their bladder cancer symptoms including blood in the urine were not taken at all seriously by their GP compared to 9% of men. Many say they were repeatedly dismissed as having more minor conditions such as a urine infection or overactive bladder.1

The survey, carried out on behalf of the charity Fight Bladder Cancer and UK-based cancer diagnostics specialist Arquer Diagnostics, also found that nearly two thirds of women (64%) had to visit their GP at least twice before being referred to secondary care compared to less than half (48%) of men, with 15% of women having to visit their GP at least six times before being referred.1

National guidelines state that anyone with suspected cancer symptoms must be referred to secondary care at a hospital within two weeks. However, the survey found that more than half of women (52%) waited longer than two weeks compared to only a third (36%) of men. Even once referred, women waited longer to see a specialist with almost half (43%) waiting three weeks or more compared to 34% of men.

Women are also making twice as many hospital visits as men before their bladder cancer is confirmed and it takes a week longer for women to get a confirmed diagnosis than men, according to the survey of 106 people with bladder cancer. More than half (56%) of women had to wait three or more weeks before bladder cancer was confirmed by a hospital specialist compared to 45% of men.1

The survey found that women are also far more likely to have their bladder removed than men with two fifths (39%) undergoing the procedure compared to less than a quarter (23%) of men. Bladder removal is more common when cancer is diagnosed at a later stage. Women who lost their bladder had also waited longer to be referred, with 66% waiting more than two weeks compared to half (50%) of the men.1

This survey is the latest research to highlight a worrying gender health gap which is putting women's lives at risk because of referral and diagnosis delays when compared to men. In 2019, a study published in the journal Nature Communications which looked at seven million patients over 21 years,2 found that women with cancer were diagnosed, on average, two-and-a-half years later than men.1

According to Fight Bladder Cancer, bladder cancer is far more common in men, with 15,403 cases a year in the UK compared to 5,183 in women.3 Yet figures from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) show that women are more likely (22%) to be diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer, the most advanced stage, compared to only 16% of men.4 Early diagnosis of bladder cancer is vital because figures from 2019 show that 95% of patients diagnosed at Stage 1 survived their disease for at least one year, compared to 36% diagnosed at Stage 4.5

Lydia Makaroff, CEO of Fight Bladder Cancer and Vice President of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, says: "It is worrying to see that women appear to face a very different diagnosis journey to men. Cancer can affect anyone and we must work harder to ensure that all those with suspected bladder cancer are diagnosed as fast and as accurately as possible because we know finding it early makes it more treatable. If you suspect that you may have cancer, remember you are not alone, and that Fight Bladder Cancer is here to offer you support and information."

Currently, people with suspected bladder cancer are diagnosed using tests including cystoscopy, where a tube with a camera is inserted into the bladder, and cytology, a test that looks at cells under a microscope. Cystoscopy can miss up to 30% of bladder tumours and is an uncomfortable, invasive and sometimes painful procedure.6,7 However, the survey found that 29% of patients had no idea how accurate the test was, and 21% said they believed it to be 100% accurate. It also found that half of all respondents (48%) would like a faster diagnosis, better explanation of options (22%) and less painful diagnosis (16%).1

Arquer Diagnostics has developed ADXBLADDER - a game-changing, simple, highly accurate and painless urine test which can rule out bladder cancer by detecting a hallmark cancer biomarker protein called MCM5 (Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 5) in the urine. Rigorous clinical trials have shown that ADXBLADDER is able to rule out high-risk cancer 99% of the time.8,9 If ADXBLADDER cannot detect MCM5 in the urine it is highly likely that cancer is not present.

Mr Prabhakar Rajan, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Urology at Queen Mary University of London, has been working with Arquer Diagnostics to study the efficacy of the ADXBLADDER test in a clinical setting. He says: "The non-invasive ADXBLADDER test is an innovation that can help rule out suspected new and recurrent bladder cancers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when patients may be anxious about attending hospital. Instead, they could submit urine samples to the hospital lab for analysis. There is strong evidence to support the use of ADXBLADDER as a reliable 'rule out' test, because a negative test could offer reassurance to both patients and doctors that an aggressive cancer has not been missed."

Nadia Whittley, Chief Executive Officer of Arquer Diagnostics, says: "It is incredibly concerning to see women wait far longer for a bladder cancer diagnosis than men and are also more likely to undergo drastic, life-changing surgery. Our ADXBLADDER test is a quick urine test that allows urologists to rule out bladder cancer with extremely high accuracy. We must do better at getting people with suspected cancer a faster and accurate diagnosis and our cancer biomarker test is an option that should be considered. Making it a standard of care across the NHS could transform bladder cancer diagnosis in this country."

For further information about Arquer Diagnostics, ADXBLADDER and references please visit https://arquerdx.com/about-us/
Regulatory News:

UBS Group and UBS AG today announce that UBS (NYSE:UBS) (SWX:UBSN) has agreed to sell its remaining minority stake (48.8%) in Clearstream Fund Centre (CFC) to Deutsche Borse AG for approximately CHF 390 million. Long-term commercial cooperation arrangements remain in place for the provision of services by Clearstream to UBS, including the collaboration in jointly servicing banks and insurance companies. The transaction follows the successful transition of UBS Fondcenter to Deutsche Borse in September 2020.

Suni Harford, President of UBS Asset Management, said: "With the transition now complete, and the business on a strong growth trajectory, our clients are in good hands and Clearstream Fund Centre is well placed for the future. We look forward to leveraging the platform's leading capabilities and wish the team every success on the next stage of their journey."

Stephan Leithner, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Borse AG and Clearstream Chairman, said: "Clearstream Fund Centre has proved to be a highly complementary business for Clearstream's fund operations businesses. Our two-step integration approach with UBS has enabled a seamless transition for clients and laid the perfect basis for our continued, long-term partnership with UBS. We see significant opportunities to further grow the global footprint of this business, particularly in Europe but also in Asia Pacific. This transaction is fully in line with our strategy to grow our offering in areas that are benefitting from strong secular growth."

The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to complete in June 2021. UBS expects to recognize a post-tax gain of approximately USD 35 million and CET1 capital increase of approximately USD 400 million in the second quarter of 2021.

About UBS

UBS provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. UBS is the largest truly global wealth manager, and a leading personal and corporate bank in Switzerland, with a large-scale and diversified global asset manager and a focused investment bank. The bank focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their targeted markets, are capital efficient, and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.

UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 30% of its employees working in the Americas, 31% in Switzerland, 19% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 20% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs over 68,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Forward Looking Statements: This media release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including but not limited to performance targets, expectations and ambitions, as well as management's outlook for UBS's financial performance and statements relating to the anticipated effect of transactions and strategic or business initiatives on UBS's business and future development. While these forward-looking statements represent UBS's judgments and expectations concerning the matters described, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect UBS's future results please refer to the "Risk Factors" and other sections of UBS's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, quarterly reports and other information furnished to or filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K, and the cautionary statement on the last page of this presentation. UBS is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Available Information: UBS's Annual Report, Quarterly Reports, SEC filings on Form 20-F and Form 6-K, as well as investor presentations and other financial information are available at www.ubs.com/investors. UBS's Annual Report on Form 20-F, quarterly reports and other information furnished to or filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K are also available at the SEC's website: www.sec.gov

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005990/en/

Contacts:

UBS Group AG and UBS AG

Investors

Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00

Media

Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00

UK: +44-207-567 47 14

Americas: +1-212-882 58 58

APAC: +852-297-1 82 00

www.ubs.com/media
Joint publication with Hospices Civils de Lyon in 'Frontiers in Medicine'

Regulatory News:

Pherecydes Pharma (FR0011651694 ALPHE), a biotechnology company specializing in precision phage therapy to treat resistant and/or complicated bacterial infections, today announces that a new scientific article on the therapeutic use of its anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages has been published in Frontiers in Medicine Infectious Diseases Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment.

The article, entitled "Arthroscopic "Debridement Antibiotics and Implant Retention" with local injection of personalized phage therapy to salvage a relapsing Pseudomonas aeruginosa prosthetic knee infection", whose primary author was Prof. Tristan Ferry (Hospices Civils de Lyon - HCL), describes the compassionate treatment with the phages developed by Pherecydes Pharma in an 88-year-old patient with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa prosthetic knee infection.

This treatment, in combination with suppressive antimicrobial therapy, led to a rapid improvement in the patient's health, with the disappearance of the pain in his left knee. During the 1-year follow-up, the local status of the knee was normal, and its motion and walking were unpainful.

This article follows the one published in November 2020 by the same teams in Frontiers in Medecine on the treatment of a number of patients with Staphylococcus aureus osteoarticular infections of prosthetic knees treated with phages developed by Pherecydes Pharma.

Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie, Chairman of the Executive Board of Pherecydes Pharma, states: "We are delighted by this publication jointly produced with Professor Tristan Ferry's teams at HCL. This is further proof of the value of precision phage therapy in treating complicated infections. We are clearly providing a response to a currently unmet need for treatment. Our goal is to offer during the second half of 2021 our phages produced in accordance with pharmaceutical GMP standards within the framework of an Early Access Program in France. This will allow a greater number of medical teams to use these new treatments. The Phase I/II clinical study we are looking to launch in the second half of this year on dozens of patients suffering from Staphylococcus aureus osteoarticular prosthetic infections will represent another major milestone in the development of precision phage therapy

About Pherecydes Pharma

Founded in 2006, Pherecydes Pharma is a biotechnology company that develops treatments against resistant bacterial infections, responsible for many serious infections. The Company has developed an innovative approach, precision phage therapy, based on the use of phages, natural bacteria-killing viruses. Pherecydes Pharma is developing a portfolio of phages targeting 3 of the most resistant and dangerous bacteria, which alone account for more than two thirds of hospital-acquired resistant infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The concept of precision phage therapy has been successfully applied in 26 patients in the context of compassionate use, under the supervision of the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM). Headquartered in Nantes, Pherecydes Pharma has a team of around twenty experts from the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology sector and academic research.

For more information, www.pherecydes-pharma.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains non-factual elements, including, but not limited to, certain statements regarding future results and other future events. These statements are based on the current vision and assumptions of the management of the Company. They incorporate known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could result in significant differences in results, profitability and expected events. In addition, Pherecydes Pharma, its shareholders and its affiliates, directors, officers, counsels and employees have not verified the accuracy of, and make no representations or warranties about, statistical information or forecast information contained within this news release and that originates or is derived from third party sources or industry publications; these statistical data and forecast information are only used in this press release for information purposes. Finally, this press release may be drafted in French and in English. In the event of differences between the two texts, the French version will prevail.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006210/en/

Contacts:

Pherecydes Pharma

Philippe Rousseau

CFO

investors@pherecydes-pharma.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky

Investor Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +33 1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Nicolas Merigeau

Media Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +331 44 71 94 98
Expansion has the goal to come closer to the startups and businesses

SAO PAULO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Datora Group, a 30 year Brazilian multinacional company specializing in telecommunications and Internet of Things, announces its arrival to the Israeli ecosystem in partnership with the Israeli company IBI-Tech. Currently, the organization also operates in Spain, United States, Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, France and Sweden.

Datora is on attracting international companies to Brazil, stimulating partnerships in the generation of business and competitive solutions, especially agrobusiness, cyber security, remote-work solutions, big data and telemedicine.

"Our goal is to be close to regional business and startups forming a great hub of innovation aims to became a global reference in disruptive technologies inclouding various sectors, and to follow Israel's contributions to 5G technology, which Israel has so much contribute", says Tomas Fuchs, CEO of Datora Group. The company is implementing a core for standalone 5G networks. The ideia is to offer it as a service for anyone who wants to enter the 5G auctions in Brazil.

"We also will work together with IoT equipment and sensor manufacturers as partners and facilitators of the local operation, bringing gains in logistics and simplifying the entry into the Brazilian market, in compliance with legislation", Fuchs explains.

There are some incentives in Brazil, like Telecommunications Surveillance Fund (Fistel), that will contribute to increase the sector's growth 2021, mainly leveraging new businesses related to IoT.

Datora Group

Datora Group is formed by Datora Telecom and Arqia (MVNO). Datora Telecom started operations in Brazil in 1993 and 3 years later was the first to supply VoIP in Latin America. Currently, it is present throughout the country and has offices around the world, with more than 2,000 clients, between operators and companies traveling more than 30 billion minutes annually and with more than 1 million IoT devices connected. In addition, it offers a complete portfolio of IoT and connectivity platform services/solutions. Arqia, the mobile technology unit of the Datora Group, was founded in 2011 to serve the IoT market, as well as being a facilitating platform for the entry of companies from any industry into the Virtual Mobile Operator market. The company, headquartered in Belo Horizonte (MG), was the first Virtual Mobile Operator (MVNO) to operate in the country.

Press information

VIANEWS Hotwire

Ricardo Muza - (11) 99963-1648 | ricardo.muza@gmail.com

Marco Merguizzo - (11) 99611-8971 | marco.merguizzo@vianews.com.br

Brunno Rocha - (11) 99992-4748 | brunno.rocha@vianews.com.br
DUBAI, UAE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DoubleVerify ("DV") (NYSE: DV), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, today announced the expansion of its business into the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region. To support its operations, DV has appointed two new business directors - Johara Abdelmoumen and Wassim Mneimneh - both of whom join with extensive experience of the region. Based in DV's Dubai office, they will be tasked with addressing the needs and requirements of local brands and agencies regarding media quality and performance.

"The MENAT region has seen a substantial rise in digital media consumption, particularly across social media," said Tanzil Bukhari, Managing Director EMEA at DoubleVerify. "Many brands in the region are already allocating significant budgets across digital media and, in line with the fast evolving news cycles we're witnessing, the need for independent measurement is also growing. The expansion of our local team is crucial, as it lets DV be hyper-responsive to our customers' needs - helping them maximize their digital media investments. Ultimately, DV's expansion into the region exemplifies our commitment to support global advertiser customers wherever they are doing business, and underscores the company's drive to verify everywhere."

Gosia Wajchert, Regional Director MENAT at MediaBrands, commented, "Brand safety, ad fraud, and viewability have only become more critical and complex across the digital advertising ecosystem worldwide. DV's leading media verification solutions and local team will be vital in helping us ensure we are making smart, brand-safe placements in a fast-evolving online environment."

For more information about DoubleVerify, contact: sales@doubleverify.com.

About DoubleVerify

DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments - globally.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503738/DoubleVerify_Tanzil_Bukhari.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1389301/DoubleVerify_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Charlotte Sexton

+44 (0)7500 556672

charlotte.sexton@archetype.co
Lochem, 6 May 2021



ForFarmers first quarter 2021 Trading Update





Highlights first quarter 20211:

Volume Total Feed 2 : up (1.8%); due to like-for-like volume growth in clusters Germany/Poland and the United Kingdom and due to the acquisition of De Hoop Mengvoeders in the Netherlands

: up (1.8%); due to like-for-like volume growth in clusters Germany/Poland and the United Kingdom and due to the acquisition of De Hoop Mengvoeders in the Netherlands Volume compound feed: up (1.0%); the like-for-like volume growth in cluster Germany/Poland and the acquisition of De Hoop Mengvoeders was larger than the like-for-like volume decline in clusters Netherlands/Belgium and the United Kingdom

Gross profit: down (-2.8%); the growth in cluster Netherlands/Belgium could not compensate the unexpected decline in cluster Germany/Poland in combination with the decline in the United Kingdom

Underlying EBITDA: down (-12.8%); due to gross profit decline and despite like-for-like cost savings.

Results and developments of the first quarter 2021 are compared to those of the first quarter 2020, unless stated differently Total Feed covers the entire ForFarmers product portfolio and comprises compound feed, specialties, co-products (from the feed industry, referred to as DML products), seeds and other products (such as forage)

Yoram Knoop, CEO of ForFarmers: "The first quarter of 2021 showed a mixed picture compared to the same quarter last year, when there was no Covid-19 yet. We are grateful for the strong commitment of our employees during the still ongoing difficult circumstances because of Covid-19. Our Total Feed volumes rose due to the fact that like-for-like volumes remained virtually stable, in combination with the two acquisitions which we made at the beginning of this year. However, retaining and strengthening our market positions in the current market circumstances, which have temporarily become very competitive especially due to the impact of Covid measures, has led to margin erosion in a number of segments. In this context, a number of contracts were agreed upon in Germany of which pricing proved unfavourable for our margin. This has had an impact on both gross profit and underlying EBITDA in the past quarter and will also have a temporary impact in the coming months. It is expected that the total impact will be approximately  4 million on underlying EBITDA in the first half-year of 2021. Consequently, we expect underlying EBITDA in the first half-year of 2021 to be lower than in the comparative period last year. The acquisitions of De Hoop Mengvoeders and Muhldorfer Pferdefutter have contributed positively since their incorporation as of the beginning of February 2021. The integration of both companies is going according to plan and will be completely finalised this year."





Read the full press release on the websiteor open the pdf via the link at the bottom of this message.

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information in the sense of Article 7 paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.





Note to the editor / For additional information:

Caroline Vogelzang, Director Investor Relations

T: 0031 573 288 000 M: 0031 6 10 94 91 61

E: caroline.vogelzang@forfarmers.eu

About ForFarmers N.V.

ForFarmers N.V. is an international organisation that offers complete and innovative feed solutions for livestock farming. With its "For the Future of Farming" mission, ForFarmers is committed to the continuity of farming and further sustainalising the agricultural sector.

ForFarmers is the market leader in Europe with annual sales of 10.1 million tonnes of animal feed. The company is operating in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland and the United Kingdom. ForFarmers has approximately 2,600 employees. In 2019, the turnover amounted to approximately  2.5 billion.

ForFarmers N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.





ForFarmers N.V., P.O. Box 91, 7240 AB Lochem, T: +31, www.forfarmersgroup.eu

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to ForFarmers legal obligations in terms of capital and liquidity positions in certain specified scenarios. In addition, forward-looking statements, without limitation, may include such phrases as "intends to", "expects", "takes into account", "is aimed at", 'plans to", "estimated" and words with a similar meaning. These statements pertain to or may affect matters in the future, such as ForFarmers future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may mean that there could be material differences between actual results and performance and expected future results or performances that are implicitly or explicitly included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may result in variations on the current expectations or may contribute to the same include but are not limited to: developments in legislation, technology, jurisprudence and regulations, share price fluctuations, legal procedures, investigations by regulatory bodies, the competitive landscape and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statements or the actual results of ForFarmers, are discussed in the last published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only statements as of the date of this document and ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility with respect to any changes made to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, regardless of whether these pertain to new information, future events or otherwise, unless ForFarmers is legally obliged to do so.

Attachment
In Vitro Studies Show Ensovibep (MP0420) Maintains Full Potency Against the Known Mutations of SARS-CoV-2, Including Those Present in Variants First Identified in Brazil, California, India, and New York, in Addition to the Previously Reported Varia

Ongoing Phase 2 Pilot Study of Ensovibep in Ambulatory Patients Now Expanding Into Second Cohort

Two Global Phase 2 and 3 Clinical Studies of Ensovibep on Track for Initiation This Month

ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Molecular Partners AG (SIX:MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company developing a new class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, today announced results from parallel laboratory studies conducted in collaboration with academic and government partners in Switzerland and the United States. The studies assessed the inhibition of new viral variants by leading SARS-CoV-2 anti-infective molecules, including ensovibep and MP0423. New variants are often associated with faster transmissibility and a potential ability to evade the currently available monoclonal antibodies and the immunity induced by some vaccines. On top of the previously reported inhibition of the variants first identified in the UK and South Africa, the new results reported today show that ensovibep continues to retain full potency against the new viral variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the variants first identified in Brazil, California, and New York as well as the key mutations in the Indian variant.

"By designing ensovibep to target the viral spike protein in three different places, we aimed to create a candidate capable of achieving high potency while retaining efficacy as the virus mutated. These new results show that ensovibep remains, as designed, fully potent against the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, which have received increasing attention as our understanding of COVID-19 shifts to regarding it as a chronic, evolving global health concern," said Patrick Amstutz, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Molecular Partners. "These data are encouraging as we and our partners at Novartis prepare to enter two major clinical trials: EMPATHY in ambulatory patients and the NIH-sponsored ACTIV-3 in hospitalized patients. We are hopeful that these data will translate into patient benefits for those who are potentially infected with these same variants."

The study design and results will be updated on the research preprint service bioRxiv here. This research builds upon prior analysis of the UK and South African strains, where ensovibep demonstrated full activity, and potential superiority compared to monoclonal antibodies currently being investigated as antiviral cocktails.

In the study update, based on two pseudovirion models, new SARS-CoV-2 variants first identified in Brazil P.1 (L18F, T20N, P26S, D138Y, R190S, K417T, E484K, N501Y, D614G, H655Y, T1027I, V1176F), California B.1.429 (S13I, P26S, W152C, L452R, D614G), New York B.1.526 (L5F, T95I, D253G, E484K, D614G, A701V) as well as emerging variants R.1 (W152L, E484K, D624G, G769V) and A.23.1 (F157L, V367F, Q613H, D614G, P681R) and the individual key mutations of the variants identified in India, B.1.617 and B.1.618, were analyzed for infectivity in the presence of different inhibitors. Ensovibep was shown to strongly neutralize these variants, as well as variants created to harbor multiple individual key point mutations in SARS-CoV-2. While maintaining inhibitory activity, MP0423, the Company's second COVID-19 candidate, has shown reduced protection against some of the variants. Specifically, mutations in the N-terminal domain were identified to be the key contributors to some reduction of potency. Further analyses in context of the full lineages B.1.617 and B.1.618, first described in India, are ongoing. Full data can be found in the updated bioRxiv publication linked above.

Molecular Partners' lead anti-COVID-19 therapeutic candidate, ensovibep, has been administered to healthy subjects in the Company's Phase 1 trial, with initial results showing it to be well-tolerated, with a half-life in the range of 2-3 weeks. Additionally, a single-arm Phase 2 trial with ensovibep in COVID-19 ambulatory patients was initiated in March 2021 at a single center in the Netherlands. The initial Phase 1 results have informed the decision to move forward with the EMPATHY clinical trial program, which is being conducted by our partner Novartis, with Molecular Partners as sponsor. The EMPATHY trial is a global, multi-center Phase 2 and 3 study that will seek to enroll 2,100 patients with COVID-19 in the ambulatory setting, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ensovibep in preventing worsening symptoms and hospitalizations. In parallel, ensovibep will also be tested in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, in a new sub-trial of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV-3) Program Phase 3 clinical trial.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biotech company developing DARPin therapeutics, a new class of custom-built protein drugs designed to address challenges current modalities cannot. The Company has formed partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies to advance DARPin therapeutics in the areas of ophthalmology, oncology and infectious disease, and has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development across multiple therapeutic areas.

For further details, please contact:

Investors:

Seth Lewis

seth.lewis@molecularpartners.com

Tel: +1 781 420 2361

Media:

Shai Biran, Ph.D.

shai.biran@molecularpartners.com

Tel: +1 978 254 6286

Thomas Schneckenburger, European IR & Media

thomas.schneckenburger@molecularpartners.com

Tel: +41 79 407 9952

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the company and its business. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could", and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE: Molecular Partners AG

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645029/Molecular-Partners-COVID-19-Antiviral-Candidate-Ensovibep-Maintains-Potent-Neutralization-Against-Emerging-Viral-Variants-In-Vitro
The new biotech start-up, SpikImm SAS, created by Truffle Capital, has recently signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the Institut Pasteur for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic use.

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Monoclonal antibody therapy is one of the most innovative ways currently available to treat Covid-19 patients and prevent severe forms of the disease from developing. This immunotherapy offers several therapeutic advantages which have already been proven in clinical trials. Antibodies developed by SpikImm have been generated in the laboratory of Humoral Immunology at the Institut Pasteur through an innovative process enabling the screening and selection of human SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. An international patent application has been filed by the Institut Pasteur.

SpikImm is financed by Truffle Capital and its BioMedTech fund: it is the second cooperation between the Institut Pasteur and Truffle Capital, following in the footsteps of the BioTech Diaccurate.

SpikImm's objective is to fast-track pre-clinical and clinical development in Europe, North America and Brazil. Diagnostic application of monoclonal antibodies will also be developed.

Dr. Philippe Pouletty, CEO and co-founder of Truffle Capital and Chairman of SpikImm states:

"We are delighted to have signed this exclusive worldwide license agreement with the Institut Pasteur and we are impressed by the science quality. The therapeutic monoclonal antibody approach is currently very promising, and we are proud to continue to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which is affecting our planet. COVID-19 pathophysiology is complex and, as such, we must remain cautious about the potential success of these monoclonal antibodies. We will focus on an accelerated pharmaceutical and clinical development while complying with international regulatory and clinical best practices

Isabelle Buckle, Director of the Research Applications and Industrial Relations Department (DARRI) at the Institut Pasteur states:

"One of the Institut Pasteur's missions is to develop its research applications to improve the health of all people. Since the first days of the epidemic, we have mobilized our efforts towards the fight against COVID-19. This project on monoclonal antibodies, which is the result of our Institute's fundamental research, is a clear example of the success of our innovation development model. At an early stage, we were able to identify a project with significant development potential and offer our support to swiftly transfer the technology to a leading manufacturing partner, Truffle Capital, which was prepared to take risks".

About Truffle Capital

Founded in 2001, Truffle Capital is an independent European Venture Capital firm specializing in Life Sciences (MedTech and BioTech) and disruptive technologies in the I.T. sector (FinTech and InsurTech). Truffle Capital's mission is to support the creation and development of young innovative companies capable of becoming tomorrow's leaders. Chaired by Patrick Kron and managed by Dr. Philippe Pouletty and Bernard-Louis Roques, co-founders and CEOs, Truffle Capital has 700 million in assets under management. It has raised more than 1.1 billion since its creation and has supported more than 70 companies in the digital technology and life sciences sectors. In 2019, Truffle Capital has announced the raising of nearly 400 million in new institutional funds, including 250 million in BioMedTech.

More information: www.truffle.com Twitter: @trufflecapital

About the Institut Pasteur and the Institut Pasteur International Network

The Institut Pasteur, a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status set up by Louis Pasteur in 1887, is today an internationally renowned center for biomedical research with a network of 33 members worldwide. In the pursuit of its mission to prevent and control diseases in France and throughout the world, the Institut Pasteur operates in four main areas: research, public health, education and training, and development of research applications. More than 2,800 people work on its Paris campus. The Institut Pasteur is a globally recognized leader in infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology. Other avenues of investigation include cancer, genetic and neurodegenerative diseases, genomics and developmental biology. This research aims to expand our knowledge of the living world in a bid to lay the foundations for new prevention strategies and novel therapeutics. Since its inception, 10 Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including two in 2008 for the 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

More information: www.pasteur.fr/en

The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005708/en/

Contacts:

Contacts Truffle Capital

DGM Conseil

Quentin Hua quentin.hua@dgm-conseil.fr

Thomas de Climens thomasdeclimens@dgm-conseil.fr

Tel.: +33 1 40 70 11 89 +33 6 14 50 15 84 +33 6 28 63 27 29

Contacts Institut Pasteur

Aurelie Perthuison, Myriam Rebeyrotte presse@pasteur.fr
Its hard to market yourself, the chief said. If we were in the private sector, no one would come here. I think people come here for the diversity of the city. I think people come here for the opportunity for advancement within the department. But its hard to get them to stay.
"Strong start to 2021. Launching 100 million Share Buyback programme"

SES S.A. announces financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2021.

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SES Q1 2021 Results (Photo: Business Wire)

Strong execution delivering revenue of 436 million and Adjusted EBITDA(1) of 268 million

Improving trajectory in Video from -8.0% YOY (2,3) in FY 2020 to -4.6% YOY (2,3) in Q1 2021

in FY 2020 to -4.6% YOY in Q1 2021 Solid Networks performance (flat YOY (2,3) ) in the COVID environment with strong prospects for future growth

) in the COVID environment with strong prospects for future growth 7% YOY (3) reduction in recurring Operating Expenses, reflecting S&A (4) gains, supporting higher YOY Adjusted EBITDA margin (61%)

reduction in recurring Operating Expenses, reflecting S&A gains, supporting higher YOY Adjusted EBITDA margin (61%) Solid cash flow generation and financial discipline supporting lower YOY leverage ratio (5) of 3.1 times at 31 March 2021

of 3.1 times at 31 March 2021 Adjusted Net Profit up 42% YOY to 75 million

On track to deliver 2021 outlook. Growth investments and C-band proceeds supporting future growth and value creation

Over 85% of 2021 revenue outlook (1,760-1,820 million (6) ) already under contract

) already under contract $180 million of backlog signed in 2021 for SES-17 and O3b mPOWER with gross backlog at $740 million (7) ; timed to come to market as the world emerges from the COVID environment with highly differentiated products and solutions to capture substantial connectivity growth opportunity

; timed to come to market as the world emerges from the COVID environment with highly differentiated products and solutions to capture substantial connectivity growth opportunity US C-band clearing on track to meet end-2021 milestone (triggering $1 billion payment) and end-2023 milestone (triggering a further $3 billion payment)

Delivering returns to shareholders

2020 dividend of 0.40 per A-share paid in April 2021, consistent with commitment to minimum base dividend of 0.40 going forward

Launching 100 million share buyback programme reflecting confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the business

Steve Collar, CEO of SES, commented: "We have made a strong start to 2021 with the resilience of our Video business to the fore on the back of a number of important renewals and extensions secured at our core European neighbourhoods. Networks business performance was also solid in Q1, notwithstanding the near-term COVID environment, with new deal flow beginning to pick up. We continue our laser focus on removing cost from the business and minimising discretionary spend with a 7% year-on-year reduction in operating expenses, leading to improving EBITDA margin. In summary, our start to the year puts us firmly on track to deliver on our 2021 financial outlook which remains unchanged.

I am excited by the progress that we are making in securing customer commitments for SES-17 and O3b mPOWER ahead of launch in the second half of 2021, and the level of market interest that we are seeing across all Networks verticals. These important growth investments allow us to offer a significantly expanded set of low latency products and solutions to the market as the world emerges from the COVID environment and demand for connectivity increases exponentially. We are also on course with the clearing of C-band in the US and are continuing to pursue opportunities to create additional shareholder value from further monetisation initiatives.

The share buyback programme that we are announcing today reflects our confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the business. The current share price does not reflect the underlying value of SES and this programme represents an attractive opportunity to deploy capital for the optimal benefit of our shareholders. SES is uniquely positioned with targeted and differentiated growth investments fuelling future top line and EBITDA growth with strong cash flow enhanced by meaningfully lower capital expenditure, as well as the proceeds from our C-band initiative."

_______________________

1 Excluding restructuring charge and operating expenses recognised in relation to US C-band repurposing (disclosed separately)

2 Underlying revenue, excluding periodic and other revenue (disclosed separately) that are not directly related to or otherwise distort the underlying business trends

3 At constant FX which refers to comparative figures restated at the current period FX to neutralise currency variations

4 Simplify Amplify

5 Ratio of Adjusted Net Debt (which includes 50% of hybrid bonds as debt, per the rating agency methodology) to Adjusted EBITDA

6 Financial outlook assumes a /$ FX rate of 1 $1.20, nominal satellite health and launch schedule

7 Gross backlog $740 million (fully protected: $605 million)

Key business and financial highlights

SES regularly uses Alternative Performance Measures (APM) to present the performance of the Group and believes that these APMs are relevant to enhance understanding of the financial performance and financial position.

million Q1 2021 Q1 2020 ? as Reported ? at constant FX Average /$ FX rate 1.22 1.11 Revenue 436 479 -8.9% -4.3% Adjusted EBITDA 268 288 -6.9% -2.6% Adjusted Net Profit 75 53 +41.5% n/a Adjusted Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA 3.08 times 3.28 times -0.20 times n/a

Underlying revenue (excluding periodic and other) declined by 2.8% year-on-year (at constant FX) to 436 million.

Video underlying revenue of 263 million represents a reduction of 4.6% year-on-year (at constant FX), compared with -8.0% year-on-year in FY 2020, where lower revenue from mature markets was partially offset by higher revenues generated across International markets and growth in the number of paying consumers subscribing to HD+ in Germany.

Networks underlying revenue of 173 million was flat compared with Q1 2020 (+0.1% at constant FX) with strong ongoing growth in Government (+8.5%) offsetting COVID-related impacts on Mobility (-9.1%), while Fixed Data (-1.0%) was in line with the prior period.

Adjusted EBITDA of 268 million represented a higher Adjusted EBITDA margin of 61.4% (Q1 2020: 60.1%) and benefitted from a 6.9% year-on-year reduction (at constant FX) in operating expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring expenses of 1 million (Q1 2020: 3 million) and 7 million (Q1 2020: nil) of operating expenses associated with the accelerated repurposing of US C-band spectrum, net of 27 million repurposing income (Q1 2020: nil).

Adjusted Net Profit (see page 5) improved year-on-year by 41.5% to 75 million as the lower revenue was more than offset by the combination of lower recurring operating expenses, lower depreciation and amortisation expenses, and lower net interest expense. Adjusted Net Profit also included a net foreign exchange gain of 9 million (Q1 2020: loss of 5 million).

At 31 March 2021, Adjusted Net Debt (including 50% of the 1.3 billion hybrid bonds as debt, per the rating agency methodology) of 3,486 million was 534 million (or 13.3%) lower than Q1 2020 and represented an Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.08 times (31 March 2020: 3.28 times).

Fully protected contract backlog at 31 March 2021 was 5.5 billion (gross backlog of 6.1 billion when including backlog subject to contractual break clauses).

Following the Annual General Meeting on 1 April 2021, where all resolutions were approved, a dividend of 0.40 per A-share and 0.16 per B-share was paid to shareholders on 22 April 2021, consistent with the prior year and the Board's commitment to maintain a base dividend of 0.40 per A-share and 0.16 per B-share.

SES has, today, announced a share buyback programme of up to 100 million to be executed by 31 December 2021 under the authorisation given by the Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on 1 April 2021. SES will purchase up to 12 million A-shares and up to 6 million B-shares in equal proportion to maintain the ratio of two A-shares to one B-share, as required by the Articles of Association. The shares acquired under the programme are intended to be cancelled, reducing the total number of voting and economic shares.

The FY 2021 financial outlook (assuming a /$ FX rate of 1 $1.20, nominal satellite health and launch schedule) is unchanged with group revenue expected to be between 1,760-1,820 million (including 1,000-1,030 million for Video and 750-780 million for Networks) and Adjusted EBITDA (excluding restructuring and US C-band expenses) between 1,060-1,100 million.

Capital expenditure (representing net cash absorbed by investing activities excluding acquisitions, financial investments, and US C-band repurposing) is also unchanged and expected to be 660 million in 2021 and 880 million in 2022 reflecting the growth investment in SES-17 and O3b mPOWER. Thereafter, capital expenditure is expected to reduce significantly to 220 million in 2023, 570 million in 2024, and 340 million in 2025, representing an average annual capital expenditure of 375 million (2023-2025).

In April 2021, SES joined the United Nations Global Compact, underscoring the Group's commitment to operating in the most sustainable and responsible way across the business through a purpose-led Environmental, Social, and Governance programme.

Operational performance and commentary

REVENUE BY BUSINESS UNIT

Revenue ( million) as reported Change (YOY) at constant FX Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Average /$ FX rate 1.22 1.11 Video (total) 263 282 -4.6% - Video underlying 263 282 -4.6% Government (underlying) 71 70 +8.5% Fixed Data (underlying) 55 61 -1.0% Mobility (underlying) 47 58 -9.1% Periodic 8 n/m Networks (total) 173 197 -3.8% - Networks underlying 173 189 +0.1% Sub-total 436 479 -4.3% - Underlying 436 471 -2.8% - Periodic 8 n/m Other revenue n/m Group Total 436 479 -4.3%

"At constant FX" refers to comparative figures restated at the current period FX to neutralise currency variations. "Underlying" revenue represents the core business of capacity sales, as well as associated services and equipment. This revenue may be impacted by changes in launch schedule and satellite health status. "Periodic" revenue separates revenues that are not directly related to or would distort the underlying business trends on a quarterly basis. Periodic revenue includes: the outright sale of transponders or transponder equivalents; accelerated revenue from hosted payloads during construction; termination fees; insurance proceeds; certain interim satellite missions and other such items when material. "Other" includes revenue not directly applicable to Video or Networks

Video: 60% of group revenue

At 31 March 2021, SES carried a total of 8,430 TV channels to 361 million TV homes around the world. This includes 3,098 channels in High Definition and Ultra High Definition which has grown by 4% compared with Q1 2020. 69% of total TV channels are broadcast in MPEG-4 with an additional 4% in HEVC.

The impact from customers 'right-sizing' volumes in mature markets (Western Europe and the US), lower US wholesale revenue, and the decision to reduce exposure to low margin services activities led to an overall year-on-year revenue reduction, albeit at a much slower pace of decline as compared with the trend throughout 2020.

International market revenue was higher year-on-year, while continued growth in the number of paying subscribers led to year-on-year growth in HD+ where the combination of an increase in the cost to renew a 12-month subscription from March 2021 and introduction of new Internet Protocol-based solutions into the market are expected to support the future development of the business.

Networks: 40% of group revenue

Government

Strong contribution from new MEO- and GEO-enabled network solutions for the US Government led to overall strong year-on-year growth in revenue compared with Q1 2020 with additional new business wins secured at the end of the quarter expected to contribute to future revenue development. This was complemented by slightly higher year-on-year revenue in Global Government.

Fixed Data

Underlying revenue was consistent with the prior period as lower year-on-year revenue in the Pacific region was balanced with growth in new revenue from tier one mobile network operators in Latin America and additional revenue ramp up in the global cloud segment.

Mobility

The effects of the COVID pandemic on customers in the commercial aviation and cruise segments resulted in lower revenue compared with Q1 2020 which had yet to see an impact from the pandemic at that point in time. This was partly offset by a positive year-on-year performance in commercial shipping revenues.

While the vast majority of commercial contracts across the entire SES business, including in Mobility, are fixed, it is expected that the impact of lower revenue as a result of the COVID environment continues to present a short-term headwind to the development of Mobility revenue, however the long-term growth fundamentals remain in place to drive the pace of new business as demand recovers.

Future satellite launches

Satellite Region Application Launch Date SES-17 Americas Fixed Data, Mobility, Government Q4 2021(1) O3b mPOWER (satellites 1-3) Global Fixed Data, Mobility, Government Q4 2021(1) O3b mPOWER (satellites 4-6) Global Fixed Data, Mobility, Government Q1 2022 O3b mPOWER (satellites 7-9) Global Fixed Data, Mobility, Government H2 2022 SES-18 SES-19 North America Video (US C-band accelerated clearing) H2 2022 SES-20 SES-21 North America Video (US C-band accelerated clearing) H2 2022 O3b mPOWER (satellites 10-11) Global Fixed Data, Mobility, Government H2 2024

1) From Q3 2021, however the change is not expected to result in a significant change in operational service date (OSD)

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

Three months ended 31 March

 million Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Average /$ FX rate 1.22 1.11 Revenue 436 479 US C-band repurposing income 27 Operating expenses (203) (194) EBITDA 260 285 Depreciation expense (140) (159) Amortisation expense (19) (22) Operating profit 101 104 Net financing costs (26) (46) Profit before tax 75 58 Income tax expense (8) (10) Non-controlling interests 2 3 Net profit attributable to owners of the parent 69 51 Basic and diluted earnings per share (in ) (1) Class A shares 0.13 0.09 Class B shares 0.05 0.03

1) Earnings per share is calculated as profit attributable to owners of the parent divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, as adjusted to reflect the economic rights of each class of share. For the purposes of the EPS calculation only, the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders has been adjusted to include the assumed coupon, net of tax, on the perpetual bonds. Fully diluted earnings per share are not significantly different from basic earnings per share

 million Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Adjusted EBITDA 268 288 US C-band repurposing income 27 US C-band operating expenses (34) Restructuring expenses (1) (3) EBITDA 260 285

 million Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Adjusted Net Profit 75 53 US C-band repurposing income 27 US C-band operating expenses (34) Restructuring expenses (1) (3) Tax on material exceptional items 2 1 Net profit/(loss) attributable to owners of the parent 69 51

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENT (AS REPORTED)

 million Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Average /$ FX rate 1.11 1.10 1.17 1.18 1.22 Revenue 479 469 462 466 436 US C-band repurposing income 10 27 Operating expenses (194) (207) (175) (231) (203) EBITDA 285 262 287 245 260 Depreciation expense (158) (161) (153) (153) (140) Amortisation expense (23) (21) (21) (30) (19) Impairment expense (277) Operating profit/(loss) 104 80 113 (215) 101 Net financing costs (46) (45) (44) (49) (26) Profit/(loss) before tax 58 35 69 (264) 75 Income tax benefit/(expense) (9) (1) (4) 21 (8) Non-controlling interests 2 2 2 3 2 Net Profit/(Loss) 51 36 67 (240) 69 Earnings/(loss) per share (in )(1) Class A shares 0.09 0.05 0.12 (0.56) 0.13 Class B shares 0.03 0.02 0.05 (0.22) 0.05 Adjusted EBITDA 288 294 301 269 268 Adjusted EBITDA margin 60% 63% 65% 58% 61% US C-band repurposing income 10 27 US C-band operating expenses (14) (7) (22) (34) Restructuring expenses (3) (18) (7) (12) (1) EBITDA 285 262 287 245 260

1) Earnings per share is calculated as profit attributable to owners of the parent divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year, as adjusted to reflect the economic rights of each class of share. For the purposes of the EPS calculation only, the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders has been adjusted to include the coupon, net of tax, on the perpetual bonds. Fully diluted earnings per share are not significantly different from basic earnings per share.

QUARTERLY OPERATING PROFIT (AT CONSTANT /$ FX RATE OF 1:$1.20)

 million Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Average /$ FX rate 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 Revenue 459 449 456 463 440 US C-band repurposing income 10 28 Operating expenses (184) (194) (172) (230) (206) EBITDA 275 255 284 243 262 Depreciation expense (150) (152) (150) (148) (142) Amortisation expense (22) (21) (21) (28) (19) Impairment expense (277) Operating profit/(loss) 103 82 113 (210) 101 Adjusted EBITDA 278 285 297 267 270 US C-band repurposing income 10 28 US C-band operating expenses (12) (7) (22) (35) Restructuring expenses (3) (18) (6) (12) (1) EBITDA 275 255 284 243 262

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

SES regularly uses Alternative Performance Measures ('APM') to present the performance of the Group and believes that these APMs are relevant to enhance understanding of the financial performance and financial position. These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measurements under IFRS or any other body of generally accepted accounting principles, and thus should not be considered substitutes for the information contained in the Group's financial statements.

Alternative Performance Measure Definition Reported EBITDA and EBITDA margin EBITDA is profit for the period before depreciation, amortisation, net financing cost and income tax. EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by revenue. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin EBITDA adjusted to exclude material exceptional items. In 2020 and 2021, the primary exceptional items are restructuring charges and the net impact of the repurposing of US C-band spectrum. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA, represents the ratio of Net Debt plus 50% of the group's hybrid bonds (per the rating agency methodology) divided by the last 12 months' (rolling) Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Net Profit Net profit attributable to owners of the parent adjusted to exclude material exceptional items. In 2020 and 2021, the primary exceptional items are restructuring charges, the net impact of the repurposing of US C-band spectrum, and the net impact of impairment expenses.

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Presentation of Results:

A presentation of the results for investors and analysts will be hosted at 9.30 CEST on 6 May 2021 and will be broadcast via webcast and conference call. The details for the conference call and webcast are as follows:

U.K. (Standard International Access): +44 (0) 33 0551 0200 France: +33 (0) 1 7037 7166 Germany: +49 (0) 30 3001 90612 U.S.A.: +1 212 999 6659 Confirmation code: SES Webcast registration: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/ses/20210506_1/

The presentation is available for download from https://www.ses.com/investors/financial-results and a replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the presentation.

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.

Disclaimer

This presentation does not, in any jurisdiction, including without limitation in the U.S., constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer for sale of, or solicitation of any offer to buy, or any investment advice in connection with, any securities of SES, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever.?

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made by SES, its directors, officers or advisors, or any other person, as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this presentation, and any reliance you place on them will be at your sole risk. Without prejudice to the foregoing, none of SES, or its directors, officers or advisors accept any liability whatsoever for any loss however arising, directly or indirectly, from use of this presentation or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.?

This presentation includes "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this presentation, including without limitation those regarding SES's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to SES products and services), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of SES to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding SES and its subsidiaries and affiliates, present and future business strategies, and the environment in which SES will operate in the future, and such assumptions may or may not prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this presentation. Forward-looking statements contained in this presentation regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will occur or continue in the future. SES, and its directors, officers and advisors do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006250/en/

Contacts:

Richard Whiteing

Investor Relations

+352 710 725 261

richard.whiteing@ses.com

Suzanne Ong

External Communications

+352 710 725 500

suzanne.ong@ses.com
Global estate agency, Chestertons Global Franchise Holdings Limited, today announced that Chestertons Cyprus has joined its expanding network, which has seen rapid growth over the past year.

Since Chestertons Ionian, headquartered in Corfu, was welcomed on board as the first Global Franchise Partner in early March 2020, the business has gone from strength to strength, with new teams joining the Chestertons network in the following locations: Barbados, Antigua Barbuda, Portugal, Morocco, the Costa del Sol, Gibraltar and now Cyprus.

Chestertons Cyprus, headed up by Principal Andrew Constantinou, has launched its first office in Paphos, with plans for additional offices in the works. With the Portugal and Costa del Sol openings bringing five offices apiece to the network, the new franchise offering has secured 16 offices in total to date, increasing the number of property listings on the global business' books by 300%.

The expansion of the franchise business means Chestertons' geographic reach (in terms of physical office presence) has expanded from 15 countries in Q1 2020 to 21 today, an increase of 40%.

Jamie McMullan, Chief Operating Officer, Chestertons Franchising UK Europe, comments: "The marketing, technological and brand heritage clout which we offer our partners has proved highly attractive, equipping them with the network and tools to enhance their services. The franchising model also offers local experts the chance to grow their businesses, with the backing of a global network of expertise and support.

"Building on the impressive growth seen over the last year, our franchise offering is attracting interest from across Asia, the Americas and additional European locations. We continue to be on the lookout for like-minded partners that can share in our brand, technology and extensive international network

The Global New Homes team has also reported significant growth over the last year, as it strives to work with the most prestigious developers on globally renowned projects. In 2020 the team, headquartered in Dubai, introduced seven additional new homes desks including in Hong Kong and Qatar, further expanding their network of lifestyle purchasers and investors.

The number of locations marketed by the Global New Homes team on a country basis has increased by 30% in the last 12 months to now include Japan, Thailand, Greece and Cyprus. The volume of new developments on the team's books is up 40% since the first quarter of 2020, and includes the exclusive marketing in the Middle East and North Africa region of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, and working with the likes of Barratt London and EcoWorld to launch homes to markets in the Middle East.

All-in-all buyer enquires for new homes are up 15% annually (Q1 2020 vs Q1 2021).

Dennis Chan, Global Head of International Sales, comments: "Appetite for real estate remained robust over the past 12 months, albeit in a challenging global environment amid the pandemic. With vaccination programmes underway, there is now a sense the pandemic is easing and, with the possibility of international travel resuming over coming months, buyers can take advantage of citizenship programmes, remote working visas, or financial incentives offered by developers in sought after destinations across the world.

"In this context, our clients and buyers have seen renewed value in our offering, which deploys our global team's diverse skillsets to make their lives as straightforward as possible in what can be a complex process."

To learn more about global franchising opportunities go to: www.chestertons.com/franchising

ENDS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005826/en/

Contacts:

Jamie Till

chestertons@instinctif.com 0207 457 2020
LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JDX, the global financial services consulting firm, announced today that Tina Shah will join the firm as Chief Financial and Operating Officer, effective 5th May.

Tina joins having spent the last 4 years as CFO at Darwin Technologies, a leading SaaS and consultancy provider of global benefits and employee engagement software, now part of Mercer Consulting. Her prior roles include CFO Continental Europe for Marsh McClennan and CFO of fund services & logistics within UBS Global Asset Management. Tina's formative financial experience was gained as an audit manager within the financial services practice of KPMG. She earned an FCA qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting & finance from Bristol Business School. Tina is also currently involved in mentoring programmes, supporting the success of young women in their professional development.

Tina brings significant experience of growing and developing businesses along with leadership, financial, international, and operational experience which will be hugely beneficial to the future development of JDX. Tina will be a member of the JDX Executive Committee and will report directly into CEO, Seamus Smith.

Commenting on the appointment, JDX CEO Seamus Smith said: "We're delighted to be able to welcome Tina to the business as Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Tina brings a wealth of experience in finance, technology, consulting, and leadership. Her appointment represents yet another exciting milestone in the continued success of JDX. Tina is a great addition to the JDX senior team, and I have no doubt that her appointment is another positive development for our people, clients and our firm, and I am really pleased she has joined us."

Tina commented: "I am delighted to be joining the JDX team and be part of the next phase of JDXs growth journey. I was particularly attracted to the firm's purpose, values and vision and am looking forward to making a positive contribution to its continued success."

About JDX Consulting

JDX is a global consulting company which delivers practical, outcomes-focused solutions, partnering with clients to transform their organisations. JDX helps by advising on and implementing innovative change, adapting to evolving market structure, and supporting operations delivery and improvement. With a proven solution delivery history, JDX is a trusted advisor to its clients in corporate and institutional banks, fintech providers, financial market intermediaries, and technology service providers.
RAMALLAH, Palestine, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC) held its ordinary general assembly on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Ramallah, Palestine. In its meeting, the general assembly ratified dividend distribution for registered shareholders as of May 4, 2021, of 16.65% of APIC's paid-in capital amounting to USD 96.2 million to date, 7.5% as cash dividends amounting to USD 7.215 million and 9.147 % as 8.8 million in bonus shares. Accordingly, APIC's paid-in capital will reach USD 105 million following the bonus share distribution.

Net profit attributed to APIC shareholders grew by 11% in 2020

In his statement, Chairman and CEO of APIC Tarek Aggad spoke of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused disruptions to businesses and its consequent negative impact on global economic activity. However, he noted that APIC's management was able to respond rapidly, effectively, and decisively to the challenges of the coronavirus crisis from its onset, forming a planning and oversight committee to supervise business continuity for all the group's companies during the emergency phase that worked to prioritize the safety of all employees and customers, ensure the stability and efficiency of operations and maintain customer services. Accordingly, these measures were instrumental in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on the consolidated results of the group in 2020, and furthermore, the group reported a good year-on-year growth rate. Total revenues reached USD 958.2 million in 2020, a growth of 16% compared to 2019. The group's net profits grew by 12.8% to reach USD 24.64 million, while net profits attributed to APIC shareholders rose by 11% and amounted to USD 19.86 million. Consequently, earnings per share increased to reach 21 cents in 2020, a growth of 10% year on year.

Investment expansions of the group's subsidiaries

Aggad added that in 2020, a number of APIC subsidiaries concluded new investment expansions. National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO), in partnership with Bank of Palestine, established Qudra Energy Solutions, a company that operates in the renewable energy sector using the leading technologies and solutions to offer solar energy as a strategic alternative in Palestine. Unipal General Trading Company acquired 80% of Al-Jihan General Trading Company in Jordan, which is active within the FMCG sector in Jordan and represents many leading brands within both the food and non-food categories. Sky Advertising and Promotion Company acquired 60% of Oyoun Media Company in Palestine, a move that will enhance Sky's portfolio within the Palestinian digital media services market.

USD 3.5 million investment in corporate social responsibility

In 2020, APIC doubled its corporate social responsibility budget in response to the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. A total of USD 3.5 million were invested in corporate social responsibility by APIC and its subsidiaries, representing 14% of the group's net profit, of which USD 2 million were dedicated to national efforts in Palestine and Jordan to fight the coronavirus pandemic by providing cutting-edge medical equipment and ambulances to the Ministry of Health, financial donations to national funds, as well as the distribution of thousands of food packages to support families living under exceptional circumstances. Additionally, APIC maintained its strategic support to institutions working in the education and health sectors, entrepreneurial projects, youth as well as to social, charitable, and humanitarian organizations.

About APIC

APIC is a foreign public shareholding investment holding company listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX: APIC). It holds diversified investments across the manufacturing, trade, distribution and service sectors in Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey through nine subsidiaries: Siniora Food Industries Company; Unipal General Trading Company; Palestine Automobile Company; Medical Supplies and Services Company; National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO); Sky Advertising and Public Relations and Event Management Company; Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers (BRAVO); Arab Leasing Company and Arab Palestinian Storage and Cooling Company, employing over 2,600 staff through its group of subsidiaries. More information, visit www.apic.ps

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640722/APIC_Logo.jpg
Bisichi Plc - Annual Report and Notice of AGM

ANNUAL REPORT AND NOTICE OF AGM

6 May 2021

Bisichi PLC

Annual Report - year ended 31 December 2020 and Notice of Annual General Meeting - 22 June 2021.

This is to confirm that Bisichi PLC has posted its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 and Notice of Annual General Meeting (to be held on 22 June 2021).

The document was published on the company's website and a copy was posted to all shareholders who had requested a printed copy. A letter was sent to those shareholders who had consented to web publications to advise them that the document was now available on the company's website.

A RNS announcement of the text of the Annual Report excluding the Notice of AGM was made on 23 April 2021.

Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained from the Company Secretary at the company's registered office, 24 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NE and is available for download from www.bisichi.co.uk

Copies of the above documents have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

Garrett Casey

Company Secretary

020 7415 5030



6 May 2021
MOORESTOWN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / OPEX Corporation, a leading provider of innovative warehouse, mail and document automation (DMA) solutions worldwide, has opened a new facility where customers may view and interact with OPEX technology that provides seamless mail opening and document imaging.

"The new UK Innovation Centre is a space to demonstrate the mail and document automation systems we offer so customers better understand how our technology benefits their business," said Shaun Lee, OPEX Director of Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "At present, we are providing demonstrations virtually and will open to in-person visits safely after COVID restrictions are eased."

Located in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, the UK Innovation Centre is adjacent to existing OPEX office space and will be staffed on demand for demonstrations to potential customers, as well as to test, fine-tune and troubleshoot technology with existing customers and product resellers.

"Customers provide samples of the documents they need to digitise and automate, and we provide an in-depth, end-to-end demonstration of our solutions in action in an environment where things can be simulated to reflect the customer's actual environment," said Lee. "The UK Innovation Centre facility is also equipped with state-of-the-art video conferencing technology so customers can participate in demonstrations remotely from anywhere in the world."

OPEX's DMA solutions include seamless mail sorting, opening and document digitisation technologies designed to improve business workflow and throughput while significantly reducing or eliminating labour-intensive document prep.

"There has been a real growth spurt within the company over the last two years," said Scott Maurer, President, OPEX International. "We have been growing our facilities, talent, and infrastructure to meet the growing automation needs of our customers. The UK Innovation Centre is one more way we are evolving to give our customers the assistance they require."

As more businesses move to securely and efficiently digitise their paper documents, innovative OPEX solutions such as the Falcon Scanner Series help customers easily process different thicknesses of paper, handle fragile or damaged documents without pre-sorting, and scan X-rays and three-dimensional objects, saving time and money. The technology ensures safe and secure document transformation that makes sense, guarding against costly data breaches.

Medical and personnel records are a large part of OPEX's document imaging customer base across the EMEA division. The National Health Service in the UK, Social Security in France, and private medical providers in Germany are prominent customers.

For more information about OPEX technology solutions in EMEA visit www.digitiseyourdocuments.co.uk or request a virtual demo by contacting DMA_EMEA@opex.com.

About

OPEX Corporation provides Next Generation Automation, including warehouse, document and mail automation solutions, to customers around the globe. With headquarters in Moorestown, NJ - and facilities in Pennsauken, NJ; Plano, TX (Dallas metro); France; Germany; Switzerland; and the United Kingdom - OPEX has more than 1,300 employees committed to reimagining and delivering innovative, scalable, unique technology solutions to solve the business challenges of today.

Media Contact:

Colleen Ciak

(856) 727-1100 x5350

cciak@opex.com

SOURCE: OPEX

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644928/OPEX-UK-Innovation-Centre-Connects-Customers-Around-the-World-to-State-of-the-Industry-Mail-and-Document-Automation-Solutions
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 2.00 am ET Thursday, Destatis releases Germany's factory orders data for March. Orders are forecast to grow 1.7 percent on month, following a 1.2 percent rise in February. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While it rose against the greenback and the franc, it was steady against the yen and the pound. The euro was worth 131.27 against the yen, 1.2007 against the greenback, 0.8634 against the pound and 1.0969 against the franc as of 1:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The announcement by China's top economic planner that it was suspending activities under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue triggered a sell-off in the Australian dollar in the Asian session on Thursday.



In a statement, the National Development and Reform Commission said that it had 'indefinitely suspended' its high-level economic dialogue with Australia.



Beijing said that the move was based 'on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth Government toward China-Australia cooperation'.



China is Australia's largest trading partner and disruptions between the two nations could have economic impact on Australia.



Last month, Australia revoked Victoria state's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative amid escalating tensions between both nations.



Relations between China and Australia have deteriorated since Canberra's push to seek a probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.



The aussie eased off to 84.24 against the yen, after rising to a 6-day high of 84.82 at 9:15 pm ET. The aussie is poised to find support around the 80.00 mark.



Minutes from the Bank of Japan's meeting on March 18 and 19 showed that members of the monetary policy board said that the country's economy is showing signs of inconsistent improvement but continues to be threatened by COVID-19.



The pandemic and its different variants continue to shroud the global economic recovery in uncertainty, the minutes said. The members said they will monitor the situation and will take additional easing measures if they're needed.



The aussie pulled back to 0.7701 against the greenback and 1.5576 against the euro, from its early 2-day high of 0.7758 and a 9-day high of 1.5479, respectively. The next possible support for the aussie is seen around 0.75 against the greenback and 1.57 against the euro.



The aussie weakened to 1.0718 against the kiwi, setting a 6-day low. On the downside, 1.06 is seen as its next likely support level.



Data from Statistics New Zealand showed that New Zealand building permits spiked a seasonally adjusted 17.9 percent on month in March - coming in at 4,218.



That follows the 19.3 percent monthly contraction in February.



The Australian currency reversed from an early 2-day high of 0.9512 against the loonie, falling to a 6-day low of 0.9462. The aussie is seen finding support around the 0.93 mark.



Looking ahead, U.K. final services PMI for April and Eurozone retail sales for March are due in the European session.



The Bank of England's monetary policy announcement will be out at 7:00 am ET. The Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to hold the key rate at a record low of 0.10 percent and the quantitative easing programme at GBP 875 billion.



The U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended May 1 are scheduled for release in the New York session.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Hong Kong to Singapore Travellers Next to Benefit from the Secure Digital Verification of COVID-19 Status

SITA, the technology provider for the air transport industry, has signed a partnership with AOKpass, currently the world's most operationally advanced health pass platform and app. Working together with other key players in the global travel ecosystem, the partners, including AOKpass launch partners International SOS/MedAire and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), will jointly facilitate a safer and more efficient return to cross-border travel at scale.

With a focus on major international airports, AOKpass and SITA have already collaborated on ground-breaking 30-day operational pilots for flights to and from airports in San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and Paris (CDG). Another joint deployment will be launched in coming weeks to support the Hong Kong (HKD) to Singapore (SIN) travel bubble scheduled to reopen in late May. Deployments of ICC AOKpass have already involved 13 countries and over 500 flights, reflecting its strong focus on forming local, regional and global alliances for interoperability across jurisdictions and industries.

"AOKpass has been operationalising successful large-scale deployments for airlines and airports since September 2020, providing safe and secure COVID-19 status verification for thousands of passengers. We're just one of the many critical players needed to reactivate international travel. Interoperating with industry leaders such as SITA is vital to any truly global effort to overcome the unprecedented barriers COVID has imposed on cross-border mobility", said Darren Toh, CEO of AOKpass.

SITA's IT system products are already widely used as the technical infrastructure for airport, airline and border operations worldwide. By integrating the pioneering AOKpass system, SITA will now also be able to embed privacy-preserving health pass verification functionality into their IT systems and products. This type of integration will eventually facilitate a seamless end-to-end experience across the complex traveller journey from booking, check-in, boarding, crossing of secure checkpoints, and all other necessary touchpoints.

Jeremy Springall Vice-President, SITA AT BORDERS, said: "We're excited to partner with AOKpass on this next milestone in the journey to reopen borders in a safe and cost-efficient fashion. Our work with governments, airlines, and airports globally helps to ensure sustainable operations while ensuring a frictionless passenger experience that reduces the risk of congestion at airports and border points. A key benefit of SITA Health Protect is a unique ability to seamlessly integrate with multiple travel pass or 'health passport' schemes, bridging the gap between these schemes and aviation and border processes. Critically, by incorporating Advance Passenger Processing (APP), it enables authorities to make an informed decision whether a passenger can travel at the point of check-in, improving the safety of all passengers."

AOKpass is also already partnered with International SOS and MedAire to provide an unparalleled global network of over 90,000 accredited clinics and industry-leading experience in supporting clients across sectors with health and travel security solutions.

Interoperability doesn't happen spontaneously, it's the result of highly complex and ongoing work done by governments, travel authorities, technology providers and health services firms actively cooperating. Working closely with AOKpass and SITA, we're proud to be doing our part for the broader ecosystem committed to supporting return to travel," said Bill Dolny, CEO of MedAire.

ENDS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005034/en/

Contacts:

For further information contact:

Suzanne Withers, Group Head of PR, International SOS

E: Suzanne.withers@internationalsos.com, M: +44 (0) 7850 746585
Press release Honkarakenne Ltd 6 May 2021 at 10.00 AM

A carbon-negative log-structured daycare centre will be built in Vantaa - for the first time in Finland, a daycare centre building will do the climate more good than harm during its life cycle

Municipalities are trying to quickly find more sustainable construction solutions. Finland's goal is to be carbon neutral by 2035, and the built environment creates up to a third of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. During the tender process for the Koivukyla daycare centre in Vantaa, carbon footprint was one of the key assessment criteria. The winning proposal was drawn up in collaboration between Hoivarakentajat and Honkarakenne. 'This sensory-friendly, carbon-negative log-structured solid-wood daycare centre sets the direction for future construction,' says Tarmo Kemppainen, who acts as managing director at Hoivarakentajat.





Next year, a daycare centre that will do the climate more good than harm will be built in Vantaa, Finland. The carbon footprint of the log building that won the tender is smaller than that of other similar buildings. In addition, as the carbon handprint is larger than the carbon footprint, the climate impact of the proposed building is beneficial.

Carbon handprint refers to positive climate impact. The carbon negativity of the proposed daycare centre means that the building is not only carbon neutral, but also something even better from the point of view of the climate.

'It's time to shift the focus to climate benefits and solutions that produce renewable energy in construction,' says Project Sales Manager Markus Saarelainen from Honkarakenne.

Log keeps carbon out of the atmosphere

'A complete log building stores carbon throughout its life cycle. At the end of their life cycle, logs can be processed into new wood products and biofuel or used directly in energy production,' continues Saarelainen.

The Koivukyla daycare centre will be built of Honkarakenne logs that come from certified Finnish forests. As it grows, wood sequesters carbon dioxide, and when logs are used for construction, carbon dioxide remains stored in the structures and away from the natural cycle for as long as the building exists. When maintained properly, a log building lasts for centuries and can be recycled at the end of its life cycle.

The Koivukyla daycare centre is designed to be as energy efficient as possible. Costs are reduced by, e.g. water-saving faucets, smart building technology, energy-efficient lighting, geothermal heating and solar energy. During the tender process, the City of Vantaa compared the carbon footprint calculations of the proposals and had separate measurements made on the impact of the construction period: in the proposal of Hoivarakentajat and Honkarakenne, the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the production, transport and factory processing of raw materials (118 kg/m2) are significantly lower than the average for buildings (250 kg/m2).

According to the calculation made for the proposal, the building's carbon footprint is 9.52 kg/m2/a. In other words, the building produces 9.52 CO2e kilos of emissions per heated net square metre a year. Correspondingly, the building's carbon handprint is -10 kg/m2/a. This means that when the building is built, a calculated amount of 10 CO2e kilos of emissions per heated net square metre a year will not be realised.

The City of Vantaa aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, five years earlier than Finland as a whole. In Vantaa, urban planning is guided by the roadmap to resource wisdom drawn up by the City, in which one of the proposed actions is the promotion of wood construction.

'The proposal for the Koivukyla daycare centre is a good example of how we are combatting climate change and making an effort to create a healthy and sustainable urban environment,' describes Juha Vuorenmaa, who works as a construction manager for the City of Vantaa. 'In accordance with our strategy, environmental values must influence decision-making. That's why we tested measuring the carbon footprint of the proposed daycare centre buildings as part of tender evaluation. As a material, Finnish log meets our requirements well.'





Happy children, parents and personnel

Before the Koivukyla project, Hoivarakentajat and Honkarakenne had realised 20 log-structured early childhood education environments in collaboration with Pilke Daycare Centres . They have also built log schools and care and service apartments in collaboration. Users' experiences of log-structured daycare centres have been very positive. Particularly healthy indoor air and sensory friendliness have been commended by the users. The music-oriented daycare centre Nuotti in Siilinjarvi and the science-oriented daycare centre Siru in Leppavaara, Espoo, are examples of the results of the collaboration.

'Here, indoor air is fresh and smells of wood, and the acoustics are really good. The sounds don't bounce off the log walls but seem to be absorbed by them instead, which reduces the noise level and makes the building more comfortable to work in,' describes MaijuKauppinen, who works as a director at Nuotti. 'Parents are particularly interested in indoor air quality, and they have been really happy with our facilities.'

Deputy director Mira Vaalavuo from the Espoo-based daycare centre Siru also comments on the daycare centre as a working environment: 'The log building does indeed have an impact on personal wellbeing.'

The Honkarakenne log is an antibacterial natural material that naturally evens out fluctuations in air humidity. 'The value judgements made by municipalities are also increasingly reflected in the construction of daycare centres. The Koivukyla daycare centre in Vantaa is a good example of how responsible operators can ensure a healthy and safe environment for growth, learning and work,' points out Tarmo Kemppainen, the managing director of Hoivarakentajat.

Public buildings are increasingly made of wood

Wood construction is increasing due to the climate policy decisions made by the state and municipalities. It is the goal of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment that the market share of wood construction of all public construction be almost one third in 2022 and 45% in 2025. In addition, new assessment criteria for evaluating low-carbon construction are being prepared. According to the Ministry of the Environment, providing emission calculations for the entire construction process already in the building permit phase will be mandatory in Finland by 2025.



Additional information and interview requests:



Images/ Arkkitehtuuri Oy Lehtinen Miettunen

Mikko Vainioranta, Chief Marketing Officer, Hoivarakentajat

tel. +358 40 701 5325, mikko.vainioranta@hoivarakentajat.fi



Markus Saarelainen, Project Sales Manager, Honkarakenne

tel. +358 40 596 6007, markus.saarelainen@honka.com

Honkarakenne Ltd supplies healthy and ecological high-quality log homes, holiday homes and public buildings. Its buildings are made from Finnish solid wood under the Honka brand. The company has delivered 85,000 buildings to over 50 countries. We manufacture our home packages in Finland, at our own factory located in Karstula. In 2020, Honkarakenne Group's consolidated net sales totalled EUR 52.9 million, of which exports accounted for 30%. www.honka.com

Hoivarakentajat Oy is a construction company specialising in carbon-neutral and sensory-friendly daycare centres, schools and service apartments. Together with our customers, we build responsibly and sustainably, taking account of the wellbeing of people and the environment. We have noticed that when a building is gentle on the senses, everyone finds it comfortable and easy to breathe in.
On May 6, National Nurses Day, giant wooden hearts were installed on the Connecticut State Capitol lawn with messages of love and hope to thank front line workers for their work during the pandemic.

(Sabrina Herrera)
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.
Free virtual event features speakers from Intel, Amazon, 24 Hours Fitness, Banco do Brasil, GridGain and more

FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 06, 2021Systems, provider of enterprise-grade in-memory computing solutions powered by the ApacheIgnitedistributed database, today announced the keynote speakers for the first Ignite Summit , a virtual event taking place May 25, 2021. Experts from Amazon, 24 Hour Fitness, Intel, Banco do Brasil, GridGain and more will discuss the Apache Ignite technology and how organizations are using it to power modern, high-performance applications. GridGain also announced the addition of a pre-conference training day on May 24, 2021, when attendees can get hands-on, technical training from Apache Ignite experts. The conference and the pre-conference training day are free to attend, but attendees must register for a complimentary Ignite Summit pass .



Organized by GridGain, the 2021 Ignite Summit is intended for developers and architects and members of the Apache Ignite community working with Apache Ignite, distributed databases or other in-memory computing solutions to solve application speed and scale challenges. Registration for the virtual event is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

"I have watched Apache Ignite mature from a few hundred users six years ago to a top Apache Software Foundation project and a popular distributed database with in-memory computation technology used by companies of all sizes, including industry leaders around the world," said Dmitriy Setrakyan, Senior Software Development Manager at AWS, Apache Ignite PMC, GridGain Co-founder and a featured keynote speaker at the Summit. "Now it's time for Ignite developers and users to meet at the first Ignite Summit, where attendees will have a rare opportunity to learn from leading innovators and practitioners about the power of this technology to shape the future."

Sample Keynote Speakers

Dmitriy Setrakyan, Senior Software Development Manager at AWS, Apache Ignite PMC, GridGain Co-founder - "The Future of Elastic Databases"

In this keynote, Dmitriy Setrakyan will focus on the state of the distributed database technologies, how they evolved over time to meet the demands of the limitless storage use cases of today, and the future of elastic databases built for the cloud.

Craig Gresbrink, Solutions Architect at 24 Hour Fitness - "Apache Ignite as SaaS/Cloud System Integration Platform"

When integrating SaaS/Cloud solutions, the lack of database query access forces developers to rely on vendor APIs that may not meet their business needs. In this talk, Craig Gresbrink will present the numerous challenges and limitations of this approach and discuss how 24 Hour Fitness benefitted from an implementation architecture that mirrored data from SaaS/Cloud solutions in Apache Ignite. He will also discuss the use of Ignite as a converged data store to solve unanticipated business needs, including the challenges faced when, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 24 Hour Fitness had to turn off monthly billing in a SaaS billing system designed for proration and retroactive billing.

Evgeny Kharchenko, Technical Lead of FasterLab at Intel and Valentin Kulichenko, Apache Ignite PMC, GridGain Director of Product Management - "Intel Optane Persistent Memory: A Revolutionary Technology for Databases"

Intel Optane Persistent Memory (PMem) offers affordable large storage capacity and support for data persistence. While configuring and using PMem is simple and straightforward, enabling database applications for it requires an understanding of workload demands and differences in operating modes. In this talk, Intel's Evgeny Kharchenko will introduce major enhancements that came in the Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 series and will review its operating modes. GridGain's Val Kulichenko will then share his vision for how advanced hardware technologies like PMem can influence the future of in-memory computing platforms and high-performance databases.

Manoel Pereira de Lima Junior, IT Specialist and Solutions Manager, Banco do Brasil -

"Apache Ignite for Complex Event Processing and Event-Driven Microservices"

In 2017, Banco do Brasil began developing the omnichannel Horus platform and implemented a complex event processing (CEP) ecosystem based on Apache Ignite, JBoss Drools and other components. In this talk, Manoel Pereira de Lima Junior will review the history of the project, including building event-driven microservices and interface applications, to support monitoring, serving, and advertising for more than twenty-two million digital customers and visitors per month. The session will include a discussion of why Banco do Brasil adopted Apache Ignite as its base, the technologies required to support an omnichannel platform, and best practices.

Pre-Conference Training Day

Apache Ignite Essentials: Key Design Principles for Building Data-Intensive Applications - 8:00-10:00 AM PDT

This two-hour training is for Java developers and architects who build high-performance and data-intensive applications that are powered by Apache Ignite. During the course, attendees will be introduced to three of Apache Ignite's essential capabilities (data partitioning, affinity co-location, and co-located processing) and learn how to apply the newly acquired knowledge to increase the speed and scale of applications.

How to Monitor and Manage Apache Ignite With GridGain Control Center - 10:00-12:00 PM PDT

This two-hour, hands-on training is for those wondering how to monitor and manage Apache Ignite clusters in production: what the most important metrics are, how to set up alerting and troubleshoot performance when the cluster is under a production load, and how to develop queries. During the training, attendees will set up a management and monitoring solution based on GridGain Control Center, an enterprise-grade tool for Ignite deployments.

Event Summary

What: Virtual Ignite Summit

When: May 25, 2021

Where: Online

Register: Ignite Summit website

Ignite Summit is organized by GridGain Systems, an Apache Software Foundation (ASF) sponsor. The ASF is a community sponsor of the Ignite Summit.

About Apache Ignite

Apache Ignite is an open source in-memory computing platform that can be used as a distributed cache, an in-memory data grid, or as a standalone distributed in-memory database. Ignite delivers unprecedented speed, massive scalability, and real-time data access for both legacy and greenfield applications. Apache Ignite is used by American Airlines, Apple, Banco do Brasil, Bloomberg, Dreamworks, Dutch Railways, Homeaway, IBM, ING Bank, Microsoft, Netflix, PayPal, Teradata, and UPS, among many others. For more information, visit ignite.apache.org .

About GridGain Systems

GridGain developed and donated the original Ignite code to The Apache Software Foundation.

CONTACT:

Brigit Valencia

For GridGain Systems

media@gridgain.com

(360) 597-4516

GridGain is a trademark or registered trademark of GridGain Systems, Inc. Apache, Apache Ignite, and Ignite are trademarks of The Apache Software Foundation. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSXV:GMTN)(OTCQB:GMTNF)(FRA:5XFA) is pleased to announce it has received its Notice of Work ("NoW") permit, allowing it to expand its 2021 exploration program at its 100% owned Elk Gold Project. The NoW permits Gold Mountain to continue chasing it's deep, high-grade mineralization while exploring additional satellite zones throughout the property.

Highlights:

Gold Mountain receives authorization for an expanded Phase 2 exploration program allowing it to drill outside the Siwash North Zone.

Phase 2 includes 10,000m of drilling and continues to relog high interest historical core.

The NoW allows the company to continue chasing the deep, high grade mineralization of the "Mother shoot" zone as well as other satellite regions of the property.

"This is fantastic news as we move into our next 10,000m drill program at the Elk," commented CEO, Kevin Smith. "With this Notice of Work, we now have a lot more optionality to target deep, high-grade zones, particularly down-dip of the 1300 vein. It also opens up other satellite areas we've identified as being highly prospective for vein extensions and new discoveries. In this Phase 2 program we have 5 holes planned for our elusive zone with the intention of developing a more bulk tonnage style resource, to compliment our high grade sulphide mineralization. Our focus remains to continue unlocking shareholder value by aggressively growing the Elk deposit, while rapidly moving through development and into commercial production. Stayed tuned for a very exciting second half of 2021 as we continue building out BC's next high grade Gold and Silver producer."

Notice of Work

The Company has received its Notice of Work ("NoW") from the Ministry of Energy Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, allowing them to transition to Phase 2 of their Drill program which targets areas outside the current Mine Permit Area in the south portion of the Siwash North Zone.

Previously, the Company could only drill within its Mine Permit boundaries, hindering its ability to target certain high-grade areas of the Elk Gold Project. With this milestone, Gold Mountain can move its drill pads further south of the Siwash North Zone, allowing the Company to explore high-interest satellite zones and continue chasing the 1300 vein deeper, targeting the high-grade mineralization at the Elk.

Phase 2 Exploration Program

In Phase 1 of Gold Mountain's drill program, the Company focused on the Siwash North Zone with predictable, step out and infill drilling to methodically add ounces to the resource. The Company hit significant mineralized intercepts in 100% of the 41 drill holes completed at the Siwash North Zone, including high-grade mineralization in the zone dubbed the "Mother Shoot" with grades reaching 124 g/t.

The 10,000m Phase 2 drill program targets extensions of high-grade mineralization the Company consistently encountered during its Phase 1 program. The image below presents a broad overview of the permitted zones and planned targets at Siwash North:



Elk Gold Project's Multi-Phased Drill Program

The Company is also drilling the Elusive Zone located approximately 4km from the Siwash North Zone where historic high-grade soil geochemical samples indicate promising new potential at the Elk Gold Project.

Phase 2 Re-Logging

The Company has begun the Phase 2 process of re-logging historic core, digitizing historic data and updating the geological interpretation. Given the past success of the Phase 1 re-logging of historical core, which unveiled undocumented core samples as high as 216 g/t, Gold Mountain plans to continue to relog and resample core from previous operators in areas identified as high-interest to the Company.

Qualified Person

The foregoing technical information was approved by Grant Carlson, P.Eng., a Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and the Chief Operating Officer for the Company.

About Gold Mountain Mining

Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver exploration and development company focused on resource expansion at the Elk Gold Project, a past-producing mine located 57 KM from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's new website at www.gold-mountain.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

Kevin Smith, Director and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 604-309-6340

Email: ks@gold-mountain.ca

Website: www.gold-mountain.ca

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

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward- looking statements include statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. Forward looking statements in the press release include but are not limited to: the impact of the Phase 2 exploration program on the Company's overall business, . Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold; and the results of current exploration. 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. Gold Mountain 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. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Filing Statement filed on Gold Mountain's SEDAR profile on December 15, 2020

SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644770/Gold-Mountain-Extends-Permitted-Drilling-Zone-and-Begins-Phase-2-Exploration-Program
LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rimmel London is proud to announce international model and mental health advocate, Adwoa Aboah, as the new global activist for the beauty brand.

Celebrating bold individualism, Adwoa will be the face of major beauty campaigns and product launches throughout 2021 and beyond. Adwoa and Rimmel London are like-minded in advocating self-expression and believe in the freeing power of makeup, not to transform but to empower all wearers.

Born and raised in London, Adwoa began modelling at the age of 18 and landed her first VOGUE cover at the age of 22. Having modelled for some of the world's most internationally renowned and iconic fashion houses, Adwoa now joins a long list of trailblazing women who have previously been the face of Rimmel London, including Kate Moss, Georgia May Jagger, Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora.

Adwoa is one of the most recognisable models in the world, but she's so much more than just a striking face - her candidness and ability to inspire open discussion about mental health and feminist issues are what truly stand her apart.

Rimmel London's call for greater authenticity in the beauty industry marries well with Adwoa's own raw beauty and strong social values. Alongside her unique and personal take on fashion and philanthropic issues, Adwoa is the founder of Gurls Talk, a community-led non-profit dedicated to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women. Following Adwoa's personal experience with mental health, Gurls Talk was formed with the goal of creating safe spaces - both on and offline - where young women everywhere can openly share, listen, and support each other without judgement or shame. Through weekly podcast episodes, live events, and an online community, Gurls Talk aims to destigmatise mental health conversations while fostering a supportive community that gives all girls a voice.

Rimmel London is entering a new era. Whilst the brand has always pushed the boundaries for its customers to dare to experiment and to be 'true to you,' there is a renewed focus on celebrating and liberating bold individualists. As the new global brand activist, Adwoa embodies a strong sense of self, personal growth and the ability to push down barriers to open up conversation and this perfectly aligns with Rimmel London's ambition.

Adwoa Aboah said: "I am honoured to be the new face of Rimmel London and to be given this amazing platform to connect with people all over the world. Being yourself isn't always that easy to do - and in the past I've really struggled with it. Together we're going to keep encouraging people to feel comfortable in their own skin and to be proud of the things that make them unique."

Stefano Curti, Chief Brands Officer, Coty Consumer Beauty, said: "Adwoa is one of the most powerful voices of her generation. She never apologises for being herself, which perfectly encapsulates Rimmel London's mission to prioritise diversity and inclusion and to empower the people that buy our products to be the best and truest version of themselves. Adwoa is at the forefront of modern female conversation - effortlessly blending her advocacy for mental health, with her role as Founder of Gurls Talk; a platform which truly champions inclusivity, alongside her impressive modelling career. We are honoured to be working with Adwoa and are excited for us to join forces - to create a more inclusive, more open and better beauty industry - for all."

Together, Adwoa and Rimmel London are on a mission to nurture a world where people feel free to express who they are, and they extend an unconditional invitation for you to join them.

About Rimmel London

Established in 1834, Rimmel London has been rolling with the changes ever since - and instrumental in making many of them. Unveiling innovative cosmetics to unapologetically offer a better kind of beauty for all, Rimmel London encourages their audience to liberate their individuality and enjoy make-up for what it is: a form of self-expression. With an incredible heritage and identity firmly rooted in London, Rimmel London's influence is undeniable, and the brand continues to empower its audience through consumer-led innovation and campaigns that champion the freedom of identity and expression. Live the London Look.

For additional information about Rimmel London, please visit www.rimmellondon.com.

About Coty Inc.

Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with an iconic portfolio of brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. Coty is the global leader in fragrance and number three in color cosmetics. Coty's products are sold in over 150 countries around the world. Coty and its brands are committed to a range of social causes as well as seeking to minimize its impact on the environment.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Proxymity, the leading digital investor communications platform backed by the world's largest global custodians, and SLIB, the leading-edge software vendor in electronic voting and security services in France, announce their partnership and the connection between proxy voting solution, Proxymity PV, and SLIB's market-leading Votaccess platform. The interoperability between the two platforms is now live.

On May 3, 2021, Proxymity became the first overseas vendor to connect to the Votaccess platform, allowing global shareholders unprecedented access to the French market with SRDII compliance.

The Proxymity and SLIB partnership offers real-time voting and transparent investor communications for overseas shareholders that wish to connect with French issuers.

Investors using Votaccess and Proxymity now gain more than a week ahead of meetings to research and vote, facilitating better informed environmental, social and governance (ESG) decisions.

The connection between Proxymity PV and Votaccess guarantees that golden source meeting announcements direct from French issuers are instantly disseminated to intermediaries and investors globally, providing significant cost and governance benefits for the market and a solution to the SRDII requirements.

In addition, global votes are sent to issuers in real-time by Proxymity users. The mutual benefits of the improved market processing means:

Investors directly benefit from an average of six additional days to research ahead of casting their votes. Investors then receive a confirmation that their votes have been received and counted.

Issuers receive votes as soon as they are cast, allowing them an earlier sight of voting intentions than via any other market solution. Issuers can now determine which shareholders voted on which agenda points and benefit from the ability to communicate with their end-investor.

Adherence to SRDII requirements.

Ability to vote remotely which reduces the impact on the environment both due to minimised travel requirements and less paper use.

With the ever-increasing global focus on ESG, votes sent electronically via Proxymity PV and Votaccess removes the requirement to travel to meetings in person. Reduced need for paper and travel for voting has positive impacts on the environment, during and beyond the global COVID pandemic.

"We are thrilled to have collaborated with Proxymity to make this solution available to our clients and customers," said Philippe Cognet, CEO of SLIB. "Overseas investors can now communicate with French issuers more efficiently than it has ever been possible. This creates better governance and removes perceived barriers to investment in the French market, enhancing French issuers' attractiveness globally. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with Proxymity and future improvements and benefits that these new technologies will bring to the market."

Benefits provided by the collaboration to French issuers have also been noted by AFTI, the National Association of French Issuers.

"For the first time, global investors have the ability to digitally communicate with French issuers," said Dominique De Wit, former President of AFTI (Association Francaise des Professionnels des Titres). "This end-to-end connection is massively important to all companies in France and the investors that own shares. With the enforcement of SRDII regulations, it is clear that the industry needs to adopt modern technology, and the connection between SLIB's Votaccess and Proxymity PV is a key indicator of the progress we need in France, the EU and globally."

Dean Little, CEO and Co-Founder of Proxymity, added: "It's fantastic to be able to announce that our combined endeavours to connect Proxymity PV to SLIB's Votaccess platform is live and in operation. France is a crucial international market for Proxymity, and it was a priority to ensure that we had SRDII compliance and full market coverage for this year's proxy season, the first since SRDII has come into force. The benefits from an ESG point of view are clear to see and are poignant at a time when environmental, societal and governance issue are high on many people's agendas."

For any media enquiries:

About SLIB

SLIB is the leading software solutions provider for register & electronic voting, risk and post-trade markets.

SLIB supports the evolution of the security business in France and abroad by publishing innovative software solutions enabling investment service providers to streamline their process while mastering the risks associated with their activities.

SLIB is also Votaccess Operator, an essential platform for the digitalisation of General Meeting and electronic vote collection during the pre-General Meeting phase.

To offer even more innovative solutions, SLIB relies on TheLab, its research and development department dedicated to Blockchain and artificial intelligence solutions.

Claire-Lise Beaurenault

Communication Manager

Tel: +33 6 70 84 88 75

claire-lise.beaurenault@slib.com

www.slib.com - www.election-europe.com

Aurelie Dettwyler

Marketing & Communication Director

Tel: +33 6 27 56 65 06

aurelie.dettwyler@slib.com

www.slib.com - www.election-europe.com

About Proxymity

Proxymity's pioneering investor communications platform connects issuers, intermediaries and investors in real-time via its unique digital pathway, bringing efficiency, accuracy and transparency to every participant in the global custody chain.

Our solutions give public companies confidence that their AGM/EGM agendas are transmitted as "golden source" and provide institutional investors with the time they need to research and vote on corporate decisions, as well as actual digital confirmation that their votes have been received.

Proxymity promotes enhanced environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) by improving communication between issuers and investors and making it easier for intermediaries to be efficient, timely and compliant when servicing their clients.

The company is backed by a global consortium of the industry's most influential financial institutions (BNY Mellon, Citi, Clearstream Computershare, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, and State Street).

For more information, visit www.proxymity.io

Proxymity press contact: k.omenaka@proxymity.io

SOURCE: Proxymity

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644884/Proxymity-and-SLIB-Partner-to-Deliver-First-Overseas-Connection-to-Votaccess
AMSTERDAM, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- By leveraging its state-of-the-art DataTracks Rainbow Disclosure Management System (DMS), DataTracks, a global leader in providing cloud-based compliance reporting software, has successfully helped top listed companies comply with filings under European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) in the Q1 2021.

Under the ESEF mandate, listed companies in the EU have to submit their annual financial reports in xHTML format with requisite XBRL tags (iXBRL). While several solutions are available in the market, listed companies in the EU are looking for solutions that enable them to publish their xHTML (with or without XBRL tags) documents in rich design. To suit this unique need, DataTracks upgraded its DataTracks Rainbow DMS, which is a single source collaborative platform catering to multiple regulations such as SEC, ESMA, etc. With this upgrade, DataTracks Rainbow will accept the rich design PDF as an input, allowing users to process XBRL tagging if necessary and generate xHTML output by retaining the same rich design layout.

Major DataTracks Rainbow customers include Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d (NLB Group), one of the largest banking and financial groups in Slovenia, and Triglav Group, an award-winning leading insurance-financial group in South-East Europe.Slovenia is one among the few member states that did not postpone the mandate, making it important for the listed companies to comply with the filing deadline.

Barbara Dezelak, Deputy General Manager of Financial Accounting of Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d. said: "DataTracks stood out from other providers of ESEF solution for its off-the-shelf technical solution that suits us, many years of experience, and suitable references, while at the same time providing the solution at a competitive price. DataTracks has been very responsive and cooperative throughout the entire time of the ESEF vendor selection process. Good experiences kept going at the time of our training process. They shared with us every little detail and guided us through the mapping and tagging process. DataTracks even adjusted the application to suit better to our specifics and needs. Therefore, the application is in all views user-friendly. One of the most advantages of the application is also that the design version of the annual report maintains the same design quality after tagging in XHTML format, filing with the regulator, and publishing it on the bank's website. Once again, it turned out that we had chosen an excellent outsourcing partner for the ESEF solution, including their constant support through the process. We are very satisfied with DataTracks services and are looking forward to working with them in our future projects."

Tina Cvar, Corporate Accounting Director of Triglav, said: According to EU and local regulatory requirements, we had to prepare our annual report for 2020 in ESEF format for the first time. During the preparation phase, our focus was primarily on choosing a user-friendly and easy-to-use solution to enhance transparency and simplify our reporting efforts. The introduction of DataTracks' Rainbow solution for ESEF convinced us as the overall package of functionality, technical requirements, intuitive operation, and support by their experts. Later on, during the implementation, it turned out that our selection was very good. DataTracks team has provided us with effective training, and they guided us through the whole tagging process. But above all, I was impressed by the service level and responsiveness during the filing period. DataTracks team was there for us to solve all the issues, regardless of the impossible hours! Their engagement was extraordinary! We are pleased to be able to work with such a dedicated team of experts!

Pramodh Vittal, VP - Product Management, said: "We are very excited to work with many leading firms in the EU and collaborating with them to provide ESEF solutions is a testament to our product and service offerings for the European market. DataTracks has proved itself to be a trustworthy ESEF provider."

He further added: "The solution DataTracks Rainbow DMS for ESEF boasts high data quality and a two-stage validation process to provide a seamless implementation. Further, with the addition of the Online Reviewers Guide (ORG), our customers and their auditors can seamlessly review and sign-off on the documents with a full audit trail and publish the final viewer version with tags highlighted in their websites for the benefit of investors."

Having prepared 195,000+ compliance reports to over 19,400 clients across 26 nations, DataTracks has become a pioneer in providing disclosure management and regulatory compliance solution. Along with the Rainbow and other compliance solutions, DataTracks is also offering an Online Reviewers Guide (ORG) through which the auditors can review, collaborate, and discuss the iXBRL document online through commenting. The ORG can compare the latest version with past reports and also helps preparers share the tagged document to reviewers for approval. Furthermore, DataTracks currently holds a major ESEF market share in Slovenia, where it is mandated for 2021. DataTracks is also supporting customers from various parts of Europe and the UK to do voluntary filing, for which the service provider has rolled out a preparatory program, encouraging the clients to transition to ESEF early on and get accustomed to the process and nuances involved in preparing for the ESEF mandate well in time.

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.datatracks.eu/en/.

For Business Enquiries:-

Email: enquiry@datatracks.eu

Ph.: +31 20 225 3702

Ph: +44 20 3608 1300

mediarelations@datatracks.com

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Accelerate time to market for new Brunel offices globally

Benefits include greater bandwidth, cost efficiency and agile performance at global scale

Brunel, a Dutch international specialist recruitment consultancy, has chosen Orange Business Services to deploy a co-managed SD-WAN built on Cisco Meraki. This will provide the company with a secure, cloud-centric, anytime, anywhere, easy to manage global network solution to support business growth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005501/en/

Orange Business Services is deploying a global Meraki SD-WAN solution for Brunel, using managed internet connections and integrated with Microsoft Azure Public Cloud. (Photo credit: Orange Business Services)

Brunel, which has a long-term strategic partnership with Orange, needed to consolidate and standardize its WAN network. This was primarily so that employees could use Microsoft's Modern Workplace, providing them with the tools to collaborate and be productive wherever they are. At the same time, it wanted to simplify the management of its network and improve cost efficiencies while having the ability to set up new offices faster.

Anywhere, anytime network access

Orange Business Services is deploying a global Meraki SD-WAN solution for Brunel, using managed internet connections and integrated with Microsoft Azure Public Cloud. The service will be co-managed by Brunel and Orange. Day-to-day operational changes can be done by Brunel employees locally via a dashboard, simplifying management and scalability for its small core IT team.

"We have an established trusted relationship with Orange. It has provided us with a 21st century solution that is providing us with the continuity, flexibility and scalability our business demands. At the same time, we have managed to make cost savings of around 30% by replacing MPLS with SD-WAN, while giving our employees robust anytime, anywhere access and future-proofing our network," said Stefan de Boer, Chief Information Officer at Brunel.

"This SD-WAN transformation is providing Brunel with an easier, faster and smarter infrastructure, supporting always-on mobile devices from a single centralized management platform. The result is a secure, cost effective network that fully supports their growth ambitions," said Nemo Verbist, Senior Vice President, Europe, Orange Business Services.

About Orange Business Services

Orange Business Services is a network-native digital services company and the global enterprise division of the Orange Group. It connects, protects and innovates for enterprises around the world to support sustainable business growth. Leveraging its connectivity and system integration expertise throughout the digital value chain, Orange Business Services is well placed to support global businesses in areas such as software-defined networks, multi-cloud services, Data and AI, smart mobility services, and cybersecurity. It securely accompanies enterprises across every stage of the data lifecycle end-to-end, from collection, transport, storage and processing to analysis and sharing.

With companies thriving on innovation, Orange Business Services places its customers at the heart of an open collaborative ecosystem. This includes its 28,500 employees, the assets and expertise of the Orange Group, its technology and business partners, and a pool of finely selected start-ups. More than 3,000 multinational enterprises, as well as two million professionals, companies and local communities in France, put their trust in Orange Business Services.

For more information, visit www.orange-business.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and our blogs.

Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 259 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2020. Orange is listed on the Euronext Paris (ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ORAN). In December 2019, Orange presented its new "Engage 2025" strategic plan, guided by social and environmental accountability. While accelerating in growth areas, such as B-to-B services and placing data and AI at the heart of innovation, the entire Orange Group will be an attractive and responsible employer.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005501/en/

Contacts:

Press contact:

Elizabeth Mayeri, Orange Business Services, elizabeth.mayeri@orange.com, +1 212 251 2086
The future is brightest for people who find new ways of thinking about the customer journey

LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a video published on Business Reporter, Raj De Datta, CEO at digital experience platform provider Bloomreach, explains that mapping the customer journey may not be the best way of understanding how to deliver customer satisfaction.

While many have been taught to think about the customer journey as a linear process, most customers simply don't behave in this fashion, De Datta noted. The customer journey, and customers themselves, are far more complex.

Responding to this more complex customer journey requires data that can provide a deep understanding of customers. Effective technology platforms help businesses to act on this data in real time, enabling them to communicate with customers through channels including the e-commerce site, social media, and emails.

One important technology that powers this is artificial intelligence (AI). Using machine learning to drive constant improvement, AI enables the most engaging messages for the most desired products to be placed in front of target consumers at the best time.

E-commerce is at an inflexion point. It's no longer sufficient to provide an online retail service. Today, it's essential to stand out by acknowledging the complexities of your customer's journey and delivering a personalized experience that meets their needs.

To learn more about how ecommerce is evolving, 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 Bloomreach

Bloomreach is the leader in Commerce Experience. Our digital experience platform, brX, is the only solution that utilizes the full spectrum of commerce data, from product to customer, alongside content management capabilities, and AI-driven search, merchandising, and personalization in one flexible, API-first platform. We serve over 700 global brands including Albertsons, Staples, Bosch, Puma, FC Bayern Munchen, and Marks & Spencer, and power over $250 billion in commerce annually. For more information, visit Bloomreach.com, follow us on Twitter @Bloomreach_tm, on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomreach.

Sources
CHICAGO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Food Enzymes Market by Type (Carbohydrases, Proteases, Lipases, Polymerases & Nucleases), Source, Application (Food & Beverages), Formulation, and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and South America) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Food Enzymes Market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.2 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 3.1 billion by 2026, recording a CAGR of 6.4%, in terms of value. The growing demand for diverse range of food products, clean label trend, and increase in disposable income are the factors that are projected to drive the growth of the food enzymes market globally.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=800

The microorganism segment is projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Based on source, the food enzymes market is segmented into microorganism, plant, and animal. The microorganism segment is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, as enzymes obtained from microbial sources lead to low production costs and are stable than other sources. They can be produced through fermentation techniques in a cost-effective manner with less time and space requirement, and because of their high consistency, process modification and optimization are easily done.

The carbohydrases segment is projected to account for a major share in the food enzymes market during the forecast period

By type, the food enzymes market is segmented into carbohydrases, proteases, lipases, polymerases & nucleases, and other enzymes (such as catalases, laccases, oxidases, phosphatases, kinases, esterases, and pectinases). Carbohydrases are classified into amylases, cellulases, and other carbohydrases (such as pectinases, lactases, mannanases, and pullulanases). Amylase is used in the baking industry as the addition of amylase to the dough, enhances the fermentation rate which results in the reduction of the viscosity of dough, further improving the volume and texture of the product. Due to easy modification and optimization processes, there is a huge usage of amylase in the food & beverage industry.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Food Enzymes Market"

435 - Tables

46 - Figures

383 - Pages

The North American region dominated the food enzymes market with the largest share in 2020, whereas Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate.

The food enzymes market in North America was dominant due to the increasing demand for enzymes in food applications. Technological innovations in machinery, optimization of production, logistics, and globalization of business have made the food & beverage industry one of the essential sectors in North America. However, the shift of food operations from developed regions, such as North America and Europe, to Asia Pacific, has further contributed to the growth of the food enzymes market in the Asia Pacific region.

Request for Customization: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=800

Key players:

This report includes a study on the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies. It consists of profiles of leading companies, such as DuPont (US), Associated British Foods plc (UK), DSM (Netherlands), Novozymes (US), CHR. Hansen Holdings A/S(Denmark), Kerry Group (Ireland), Jiangsu Boli Bioproducts Co., Ltd. (China), Biocatalysts Ltd. (UK), Puratos Group (Belgium), Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd (India), Amano Enzyme Inc. (Japan), Enzyme Development Corporation (US), ENMEX, S.A. de C.V. (Mexico), Aumgene Biosciences (India), Creative Enzymes (US), SUNSON Industry Group Co., Ltd (China), AUM Enzymes (India), Xike Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (China), and Antozyme Biotech Pvt Ltd (India).

Related Reports:

Specialty Enzymes Market by Type (Carbohydrases, Proteases, Lipases, Polymerases & Nucleases, and Other enzymes), Source, Application (pharmaceuticals, Research & Biotechnology, Diagnostics, and Biocatalysts), Form, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/specialty-enzymes-market-21682828.html

Technical Enzymes Market by Type (Amylases, Cellulases, Proteases, and Lipases), Industry (Biofuel, Starch, Textiles & Leather, and Paper & Pulp), Source (Microorganism, Plant, and Animal), Form (Liquid and Dry), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/technical-enzymes-market-72989187.html

Browse Adjacent Reports: Food and Beverage Market Research Reports & Consulting

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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

The European data center interconnect (DCT) Market is expected to reach a CAGR of 9.2%

Lately, Switzerland has been gaining a strong foothold in data centers from providers, such as Equinix, Swisscom, Orange Business Services, Green Datacenter, Interxion, and Colt Technology Services, due to the presence of the world's largest banks and financial institutions.

Government agencies are offering tax breaks and other benefits to attract the maximum number of investors to construct a hyperscale data center market in Western Europe Nordic. Nordic countries, due to vast resources of renewable energy low power prices, favorable climate conditions, good infrastructure as well as a skilled workforce, are well suited for data centers and, therefore, for DCT and have resulted in a surge of foreign investments over the years.

In the last few years, power consumption in the data center sector worldwide has increased rapidly. According to the European Commission, by 2020, data centers in Europe will utilize 259 TWh of electricity, which represents 1.7% of the world's total energy consumption. And in the next ten years, the market will be generating 30 times more data with an increased number of servers leading to a higher amount of energy consumption. Therefore, data centers in the region are concentrating on the reduction of high power consumption, WAN consolidation, and bandwidth requirements creating growth opportunities for data center interconnect market.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a subsequent need to enforce social distancing in response to the lock-down. Due to this, there is a real drive across the public sector in Germany and other parts of Europe to shift from traditional channels to digital channels to enable citizens, businesses, and public sector staff to access public services and securely share data from remote locations.

This has led to a spike in online traffic and has reinforced the importance of data centers and what they do. Also, demand for cloud services is soar in some sectors but wither in other verticals as they shift into survival mode. All the above factors are enablers for the steady growth of the market in the short term as well as long time.

Key Market Trends

Cloud Migration to drive the Growth of the Market

The increasing demand from domestic and international enterprise and cloud computing customers has pushed companies to expand data center facilities. For instance, Datacenter.com, the global carrier-neutral data center-as-a-service company, increased its data center floor area of AMS1 by 30% to 1800 square meters in October 2019 to meet for the demand of colocation space in Amsterdam.

Public cloud services dominate the data centers market in Germany. Government agencies are grown by private cloud services as they plan to make greater use of cloud services in public administration during the forecast period. However, hybrid cloud services have more substantial growth potential than private and public cloud services. The growth in cloud technology is, in turn, growing the market for data center interconnect market in the region.

Moreover, various governments across Europe are also increasingly emphasizing in adopting cloud solutions. For instance, the government of the UK spent GBP 1,192.5 million on G-cloud. Such developments are expected to influence the demand for the data center interconnects in the forecast period.

With the growing popularity of cloud solutions, coupled with industry applications, such as AI, 5G, and Edge computing, the demand for the data centers is growing, which, in return, is anticipated to give immense opportunities to the data center interconnect market.

Increasing adoption of 5G to Drive the Market Growth

The rapid increase in the development and adoption of 5G network will result in more data centers needed by business as a result of which the growth of data center interconnect will also grow. Also, 5G frequency mandates set by the Federal Network Agency in Germany states that 98% of households should be equipped with fast mobile internet by 2022 and all major motorways, highways, and railroads by 2024, which is expected to significantly increase the demand for small cell and NFV solutions in the country increasing the need of data center interconnect in the country.

The increasing demand for such services is dependent upon the network hardware and tower infrastructure of the service providers, and efficient data centers to handle the vast data generation. For instance, Deutsche Telekom maintains about 28,000 towers across Germany as of 2018 and estimated that that figure could even double with the rollout of 5G technology in the late 2020s.

France has the third-largest telecoms market in Europe, worth about EUR 31 billion annually. France-based telecom company Orange SA is one of the world's major players with a strong presence in the EMEA region. The company is working on its 5 year 'Essentials 2020' program focused on emerging markets as well as on investments in upgrading infrastructure within its European footprint.

Competitive Landscape

The European data center interconnect market is highly concentrated due to higher initial investments and low availability of resources, which present challenges to this market. Some of the key players in the market are Cisco Systems Inc. and Huawei.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a0kkit

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005554/en/

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Learning platform provider to offer flexible learning environment for more companies worldwide

AARHUS, Denmark, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ELEARNINGFORCE International (EFI), provider of the LMS365 learning management platform for Microsoft 365, announced strategic expansion of its operations in the DACH region. During 2020, LMS365 furthered its commitment to the German market by deploying LMS365 on the regional Microsoft datacenters in Frankfurt, securing a growing need for information security.

With the establishment of Elearningforce GmbH and the acquisition of the LMS365 business operations of Mauth.CC GmbH - a strategic LMS365 partner in Germany - the company continues its strong commitment to the rapidly developing market. Rainer Mauth, the founder of Mauth.CC, will join Elearningforce GmbH as managing director. EFI looks forward to bringing together the entire team of experienced and dedicated colleagues to combine competencies across Europe.

LMS365 today has more than 150 corporate customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Being the only learning platform built directly into Microsoft 365 and Teams, the solution provides a modern approach to organizing the training and development needs of large and medium-sized companies.

Lars Vestergaard, CEO, ELEARNINGFORCE International, said: "With this acquisition in Germany, we're addressing the needs of the customer and partner base for support and training in their local language. We build on a track record of customer understanding and this investment is designed to further help customers and partners in the region to develop and deliver an outstanding learning experience for their workforce on the Microsoft 365 platform."

Rainer Mauth, founder of Mauth.CC, said: "Having worked with LMS365 since 2011, I am excited to join the LMS365 team and look forward to leveraging the knowledge I've accumulated to further grow and serve the LMS365 customer and partner base. There is a huge demand for 'learning in the flow of work' and digitization of learning processes in the market."

Robert Nederby, director, DACH region, ELEARNINGFORCE International, said: "Having feet on the ground in Germany is crucial to provide German customers with even better service and support. Having a dedicated team in Germany is also a cornerstone for our ability to support the partner network and increase our reach across the DACH region."

About ELEARNINGFORCE

ELEARNINGFORCE International has approx. 1000 enterprise and public sector customers for its flagship offering LMS365 with over 4 million users. 50+ trusted partners have implemented the solution in more than 50 countries, with customers in all sectors, and deployments ranging from a few hundred employees to 50,000+ employees. LMS365, a Microsoft Preferred Solution, is one of the fastest growing cloud-based Learning Management Solutions in the market today. LMS365 provides a modern, integrated, and familiar learning experience as learning is now made possible within Microsoft Teams, Mobile and SharePoint Online. LMS365 is fast to install, highly configurable, easy to use and fully integrated with the rest of your digital workplace, including Microsoft 365, SharePoint & Teams. Website: www.lms365.com

PR Contact:

Shyna Deepak

Nadel Phelan, Inc.

831-440-2408

shyna.deepak@nadelphelan.com

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AV-Comparatives, an independent test lab for antivirus software, release the latest performance test report highlighting the impact of consumer security software on system performance for low-end systems.

INNSBRUCK, Austria, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 the 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

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High net-worth individuals planning on emigrating or moving their business overseas as a result of tightening exit taxes should consider a full-time private home tutor for their family.

OXFORD, England, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 24thMarch 2021 the German Government approved a draft bill to implement an Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) that incorporates a tightened exit tax.

Michael Shaw'sarticle for the law firm, Macfarlanes, summarizes:

"German law already imposes an exit tax on any inbuilt gain in the value of substantial shareholdings when the owner leaves Germany or gives shares to someone outside Germany. To date, the charge has generally been deferred until the shares are sold, if the transfer is within the EU, in a nod to the freedom of movement of capital doctrine.

"Under new proposals to implement the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), the tax would become due immediately, albeit payable over seven years, even if the transfer is within the EU. The Directive is likely to cause other EU countries to look at this point as well."

One Twitter user vocalises their frustration at the proposed changes, saying it has given them "one more reason to leave":

One Twitter user, @SatsTonight, vocalises their frustration at the proposed changes, saying it has given them "one more reason to leave".

The prospect of increased taxation on businesses, should they wish to move in the future, will expedite the relocation of many businesses and business owners before this has the potential to affect them. The new rules will come into effect in January 2022, meaning the decision to move businesses (and potentially families) to avoid the impact of ATAD changes, is governed by an element of urgency.

These exit tax changes will chiefly affect High Net-Worth (HNW) and Ultra-High Net-Worth (UHNW) individuals, and those with global businesses and multiple international places of residence. This demographic is Tutors International's client base. Tutors International is an elite private tutoring company. They provide first-rate residential tuition to HNW families.

In a time where many of these HNW families will be planning significant changes to where they live and work, the last thing parents and guardians want is disruptions caused by upheaval and relocation affecting their child's education. Full-time international private tutoring is the solution. A high-quality private home tutor provides stability and first-rate education during these periods of change. Residential private tutors facilitate flexibility in their ability to teach their students. They are able to adapt to the environment and lifestyle of the family with which they are placed.

Tutors International specialise in this kind of tailored tuition. Their select clientele requires personalised world-class educators that work with their lifestyle and honour superlative standards.

Tutors International was founded on the unique premise of matching the perfect private home tutor with each Client, conducting customised global searches per individual Client enquiry.

Founder and CEO of Tutors International, Adam Caller, offers his advice:

"There will no doubt be many German business owners considering their options in light of tightening exit taxes. For many, it could mean moving their business and their families to an alternative international home. This should not mean disrupting the education of children, and with full-time international private tutoring, it doesn't have to. Tutors International specialise in high-end custom residential tutoring. This means we find the best private home tutor in the world to suit your family. Depending on individual circumstances, they can live in or be full-time but in an off-site place of residence, and can travel wherever work or life takes you. It's the ultimate stabiliser for children's education.

"It's important to acknowledge that this issue is not unique to Germany. Changes in tax laws around the world, the fallout from COVID-19, and ever-changing geopolitical landscapes all affect decisions about where business owners and their families reside. A private home tutor undergoes these changes and relocations with you."

If you are considering relocating or have a lifestyle that involves frequent travel, get in touch with Tutors International about full-time residential private tutors.

About Tutors International

Tutors International provides an unparalleled tutoring service that matches the right private home tutor with the right child, in order for the student to fully reach their personal potential and academic excellence. Providing an international private tutoring service for children of all ages at different points in their educational journeys, Tutors International is founded on a commitment to finding the perfect tutor to realise the specific goals and aspirations of each student. Tutors are available for residential full-time positions, after-school assistance, and homeschooling.

Founded in 1999 by Adam Caller, Tutors International is a private company based in Oxford, a city renowned for academic excellence. Our select clientele receives a personally tailored service, with discretion and confidentiality guaranteed.

Contact Details

Web: www.tutors-international.com

Email:marketing@tutors-international.com

Phone: +44 (0) 1865 435 135

Tutors International

Clarendon House

52 Cornmarket Street

Oxford

OX1 3HJ

UK

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MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - BayWa (BYWG) reported first quarter net income to shareholders of parent company of 10 million euros compared to a loss of 39.6 million euros, last year. Profit per share was 0.19 euros compared to a loss of 1.22 euros. EBIT was 45.1 million euros, for the quarter. First quarter revenues increased to 4.27 billion euros from 3.87 billion euros, last year. The company said the positive business development was reflected in all three core operating segments. The Board is optimistic that the Group will be able to achieve its targets for the year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
GUANGZHOU, China, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirador, the Chinese subsidiary of the Mirador Group, will unveil its premium anti-aging skincare brand Le Mont Charmant at the 2021 China Beauty Expo (CBE), Asia's pre-eminent skincare and cosmetics industry convention, with the aim of accelerating its expansion in the China market.

As a new generation of Chinese consumers embrace the importance of skincare, awareness of anti-aging products in particular is skyrocketing, generating rapid growth for the category. According to the JD Big Data Research Institute, anti-aging products have grown to 23% share of the skincare and cosmetics market, becoming the industry's largest category.

Serving as the barometer of China's beauty market, CBE is an important event in the annual industry calendar. Mirador will unveil Le Mont Charmant at the exhibition, created by the Mirador HealthCentre in Switzerland, an advanced anti-aging clinic of the Mirador Group. Integrating the latest results from extensive research carried out by Swiss doctors and their teams in the field of anti-aging and disease prevention, the two professional parties joined forces to create their first skincare brand, Le Mont Charmant. The brand boasts innovative formulas and refined skincare solutions that leverage cutting-edge genetic technology and provide cell oligopeptide therapy (COT), realizing medical-grade results.

Le Mont Charmant's products include the Ultra Regenetic series, the result of 12 years of R&D. Its products include the Ultra RegeneticStereoscopic Repair Lyophilized Powder Essence, which targets wrinkles and improves skin elasticity, and the Ultra Regenetic Repair Kit, which includes a rejuvenating and reparative powder essence and a purifying facial cream to attack signs of aging and prevent collagen degeneration.

Mirador's Swiss R&D team boasts extensive experience in technological R&D, focusing on anti-aging. The brand also provides professional consultative services thanks to a team of renowned dermatologists and aestheticians. As anti-aging skincare is embraced by more and more Chinese consumers, Mirador is committed to bringing even more cutting-edge products from Switzerland to China, to provide consumers with exceptional products, services, and experiences.

About Mirador

Mirador (Guangzhou) Health Technology Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mirador Group. Responsible for the whole line of skincare brand operation in China, it has jointly launched targeted health management, skin diagnosis and treatment programs with Switzerland's Mirador Health Centre. Mirador is committed to providing consumers better health & skin management plan.

Yang Zongjin

+86-139-2202-8011

75162023@qq.com

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Hansa Investment Company (HAN/HANA) fund manager Alec Letchfield argues that investors should not be overly distracted by the fund's exposure to Brazil through a c 11% position in maritime services company Wilson Sons (WSON). While the holding could prove beneficial as global economic growth and trade continue to recover, the remaining c 90% of the portfolio is much more significant, and Hansa IC's persistent 30%+ discount to NAV is arguably unwarranted given its healthy mix (via funds and direct equities) of growth, value and defensive/uncorrelated strategies. Recent performance has shown an improving trend versus peers, and a 13.3% local currency increase in WSON's share price since the start of 2020 (outperforming the main Bovespa Index by 11.5pp) has not been reflected in Hansa IC's discount to NAV, which moved by just 0.4pp from 33.9% to 34.3% (A shares) from 1 January 2020 to 4 May 2021.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATFX Connect, the institutional arm of ATFX, focusing on Hedge Funds, Family Offices, B2B, Asset Managers, HNW's, and spread betting account has partnered with Centroid Solutions for several years.

Centroid Solutions provides a wide array of services to brokerages, including risk management services, connectivity, order and liquidity management systems, hosting and server infrastructure solutions.

Through the partnership with Centroid, ATFX Connect enhanced their risk management to the next level. The flexible infrastructure enables ATFX Connect to manage real-time analytical tools and sophisticated risk management functionality. Centroid24 Risk Management Suite consolidates data from all platforms and trading systems, generates an in-depth view of overall trading performance, highlighting potential risks in real time and helping brokers understand their risk exposure in different models.

"We have incorporated the latest risk management and analytics tools helping us to take our risk management to the next level. With an advanced lineup of products and technology that caters to different institutional clients, and a highly experienced team, ATFX Connect is well on its way to becoming one of the major players for the institutional brokerage industry," said Matt Porter, Head of Operations at ATFX Connect.

ATFX Connect's multi-access platform caters for clients who wish to trade on an Agency, Margin or Bridge account via a Fix API or GUI. The service includes Direct Market Access to Tier 1 Bank and Non-Bank liquidity providers and low CFD pricing.

"We are truly pleased to be working with ATFX for the past years and be part of their journey to become a major player in the institutional space. It matches our mission to provide excellent services and solutions to help brokers from around the global excel. We look forward to our on-going collaboration, to provide innovative and world-class solutions," said Cristian Vlasceanu, CEO of Centroid Solutions.

ATFX Connect

Back in 2019, ATFX stepped into the Institutional arena with the launch of its Multi-Access platform ATFX Connect. The management's vision was to expand the broker's global presence and continue to provide award-winning liquidity and customer service to clients within the Institutional community. With the focus on the professional Investor, the ATFX Connect platform is designed to provide an efficient automated trading venue that delivers tailored liquidity solutions to Hedge Funds, Asset Managers, Brokers, Private Banks, and other financial institutions.

ATFX

ATFX is an award-winning FX/CFD broker with a global presence offering customer support in over 15 languages. With over 200 tradable financial assets, including forex, cryptocurrency, precious metals, energy, indices, and shares traded as CFDs, ATFX is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Centroid Solutions

Centroid Solutions is a technology company specializing in risk management, quantitative analytics, connectivity, complex execution strategies and P&L optimization for financial brokers. Centroid's team is comprised of professionals with extensive industry knowledge and experience in dealing desk, risk management, analytics, trading solutions and software development. Centroid delivers a complete suite of technology solutions and infrastructure that is specifically designed to help brokers optimize their business performance, reduce operating costs and enable business growth.

Media Contact

Matthew Porter

Tel: (44) 020 3917 8705

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In Response to Industry Wide Supply Challenges, Code Secures New, More Efficient Bit Mining Infrastructure for Long Term Revenue Generation

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Codebase Ventures Inc. ("Codebase' or the "Company") (CSE:CODE)(FSE:C5B)(OTCQB:BKLLF) is pleased to announce that in the face of industry wide supply delays, the Company has amended its agreement for its previously announced bit mining infrastructure, providing certainty on timing, as well as greater profitability with the same number of rigs.

"We have been working extensively with our supplier in the face of industry wide delays resulting from high demand, and now have amended the agreement signed earlier this year to secure the initial rigs for delivery to the hosting facility within 60 days," said Mr. George Tsafalas, Codebase President and CEO.

The amended agreement will see the Company receive, for the same price, 115 Bitmain Antminer S17+ 76Th replacing the previously announced Canaan A1246 miners. The new Bitmain rigs are comparable to the previously expected Canaan miners. The mining rigs will go into operation in New York State as previously planned, and all other terms of the original agreement remain the same.

Under current circumstances, Codebase determined that a new solution was required to gain certainty on timing due to microchip shortages, and as result the new bit mining infrastructure will be operational sooner than the originally announced equipment. In addition to the added benefits listed above, Bitmain remains one of, if not the most dominant and well-respected manufacturer of Bit Mining equipment in the industry.

About Codebase Ventures Inc.

Codebase Ventures Inc. seeks early-stage investments in emerging technology sectors, including the blockchain ecosystem and fintech. The Company identifies such opportunities and applies its relationships and capital to advance its interests.

For further information, please contact:

George Tsafalas - Ivy Lu

Investor Relations

Telephone: Toll-Free (877) 806-CODE (2633) or 1 (778) 806-5150

E-mail: IR@codebase.ventures

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

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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. 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, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. 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. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Codebase Ventures Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645032/Code-Amends-Agreement-for-Certainty-on-Timing-for-Bit-Mining-Rigs
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Medaro Mining Corp. (CSE:MEDA) ("Medaro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent (the "LOI") with Dr. James G. Blencoe, Ph.D., of Tennessee USA, for the formation of a joint venture (the "Joint Venture") to develop and commercialize a new, low-cost process (the "Technology") for extracting lithium from spodumene concentrate.

The LOI sets out the parties' intention to enter into a definitive agreement respecting formation and operation of the Joint Venture (the "Definitive Agreement"). Execution and closing of the Definitive Agreement will be conditional on satisfactory due diligence, customary conditions precedent and the initial capitalization of the Joint Venture by Medaro. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, Dr. Blencoe will contribute his and his related companies' intellectual property, personnel, laboratory facilities and services and Medaro will fund all research and development costs. Medaro will have the right to acquire up to a 100% ownership interest in the Joint Venture upon achievement of certain funding milestones and share issuances.

The Technology

The Technology, as proposed, is a thermochemical technique to rapidly manufacture lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and/or lithium hydroxide (LiOH) from a variety of spodumene (LiAlSi2O6-rich) concentrates. The method is modular and highly scalable, thereby enabling a small "factory footprint," and holds the potential to significantly decrease overall hard-rock lithium production costs. The Technology's principal features are:

only three feedstock materials are required: (i) a spodumene concentrate, to produce high-purity Li2CO3 and/or high-purity LiOH; (ii) high-purity CO2, which is consumed in forming Li2CO3; and (iii) high-purity H2O, which is consumed in forming LiOH;

it creates three potentially saleable high-purity products: (i) Li2CO3 and/or LiOH; (ii) aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3; and (iii) amorphous silica, SiO2;

it eliminates use of conventional sulfuric acid leaching; and

its modular capabilities allow for scalable and remote deployment.

About James Blencoe, Ph.D.

Dr. Blencoe has more than 40 years' of experience designing, constructing, operating and maintaining specialized equipment for advanced chemical production. He has extensive knowledge of the thermophysical properties and phase relations of numerous solids, liquids and gases. Dr. Blencoe has also developed techniques for the precise and accurate control and measurement of chemical composition in actively-reacting open and closed systems. Prior to entering the private sector as co-founder, President and CEO of Orion Laboratories, LLC, he spent nearly 24 years working at the renowned Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, and nine years working at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Blencoe has published more than 50 articles and reports in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals and technical magazines. He earned a B.S. in mining engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1968, and a Ph.D. in geology from Stanford University in 1974.

Private Placement

The Company is also pleased to announce that it intends to complete a private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 6,818,181 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.44 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to CDN $3,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.55 for a period of twelve (12) months from issuance.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for acquisitions, marketing, and working capital.

The Company may pay finders' fees to eligible parties who introduce subscribers to the Private Placement. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month and one-day statutory hold in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein 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 or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such Act.

About the Company

The Company is a lithium exploration company based in Vancouver, BC and holds options over the Superb Lake lithium property located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the CYR South lithium property located in James Bay, Quebec.

For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the LOI and the Definitive Agreement and the development of the Technology, the funding of the Joint Venture and the timing for same and the Private Placement and the use of proceeds therefrom are "forward-looking information". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Relevant risks include the ability of the parties to negotiate and enter into the Definitive Agreement, the ability of the Joint Venture to develop the Technology as they intend and within the expected time frame, and the ability of Medaro to raise the funds necessary to fund development of the Technology and earn into the Joint Venture. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news 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.

Contact Information

Faizaan Lalani

Director and Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: 778 233 3537

Email: flalani@medaromining.com

SOURCE: Medaro Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645076/Medaro-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-for-Joint-Venture-to-Develop-Novel-Lithium-Extraction-Technology
Liverpool, New York,--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Supurva Healthcare Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: SPRV) is proud to announce that the Company has acquired its first medical office building in Jupiter, Florida. John D. Murphy, the Company's CEO commented, "with the Company's acquisition of a free-standing medical office building, the Company is well positioned to becoming a leader in the fast-growing medical office building sector."

The medical office building ("MOB") is a two story 31,000 square foot facility built in 2016. The MOB is fully leased to a well-established multi-specialty medical practice. There are twelve years remaining on a triple net lease that contains a 2% per annum escalation clause.

The building is located off one of the main roadways in Jupiter, Florida. Jupiter, and Jupiter Island, are located approximately 20 miles north of Palm Beach and represent two of the wealthiest communities in Florida. Residents have significant disposable income making medical office buildings even more attractive.

Mr. Murphy went on to say that, "This MOB represents the culmination of our extensive research and due diligence of MOBs throughout the country. We are putting together a team to manage all aspects of the MOB. We anticipate significant cash flow from this acquisition, thus laying the foundation for future acquisitions."

Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers

This release may include "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Information that is based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, the company's management as well as estimates and assumptions made by the company's management are forward looking statements. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. When used in this press release the words "estimate," "expect," intend," believe," plan," "anticipate," "projected" and other words or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the company or the company's management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the company with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors relating to the company's industry, its operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the company. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, or planned. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

For additional information

(888) 448-3877

Email: investor@medicalsouthern.com

Website: https://sprvcorp.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sprvcorp

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83092
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) ("Big Ridge" or "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its previously announced earn-in agreement (the "Transaction") with First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX: FF) ("First Mining") pursuant to which Big Ridge can earn up to an 80% interest in First Mining's Hope Brook Gold Project, located in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Company and First Mining are continuing to progress the Transaction towards closing, which is expected to occur in May, 2021. The closing of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction by the parties of various conditions, including the receipt by Big Ridge of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The details regarding the Transaction are set out in the Company's news release dated April 6, 2021.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba, 100% interest in the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec where Clarity Gold Corp. is earning up to a 100% interest and is exploring in the Beardmore-Geraldton gold belt in Ontario.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

For Further Information Contact:

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP.

1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801

Toronto, ON, M5E 1W7

Tel: 416-540-5480

Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, including the expected timing of closing the Earn-In Agreement. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83097
First ever Phase 2 clinical trial designed to evaluate the effect of cannabis against an opioid treatment

QIXLEEF has the potential to transform the pain market

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. ("Tetra" or the "Company") (TSX:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF)(FRA:JAM1), a leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development today announced the start of the REBORN1 clinical trial. This trial is designed to evaluate the effect of the Company's inhaled proprietary drug formulation, QIXLEEF, against immediate release oral morphine sulfate on onset of pain relief in people living with cancer. QIXLEEF is a botanical drug product with a "fixed ratio" of THC and CBD and is inhaled through a Class 2 medical device vaporizer.

Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CRO of Tetra commented, "Today we recognize an important milestone in advancing the clinical development of this new potential therapeutic for people living with cancer pain. Cancer pain is usually managed with a strong opioid. We believe QIXLEEF, if proven to be safe and effective, would provide patients with cancer pain a safer treatment option with potentially greater benefits than the current standard of care. QIXLEEF may in fact transform the pain market, an area that has been stagnant for many years. Tetra has spent years studying the inhalation of cannabinoids from both synthetic and botanical sources. This research has shown that our investigational new drug, when used with a proprietary medical device, can deliver to patients a reproducible and consistent profile of cannabinoids. The graph below demonstrates the consistency of the inhaled delivery of THC and CBD. We confirm that QIXLEEF has arrived in the United States and the trial activities are set to begin."

REBORN1 is being conducted in the United States in collaboration with the Hassman Research Institute, a clinical research organization, who will enroll twenty adults living with breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) and currently taking stable opioid treatment for breakthrough pain. This innovative Phase 2 pilot, proof-of-concept open-label crossover comparison study will assess whether inhaled QIXLEEF will control BTcP faster than immediate-release morphine sulfate tablets.

About Breakthrough Cancer Pain

Cancer causes pain in up to 70% of the patients it affects, with over 33% of those patients describing pain as distressing or even intolerable. People with cancer pain may experience persistent background pain (more that 12 hours per day) and episodic acute pains (breakthrough pain) with an overall reduction in their health-related quality of life (Zeppetella and Davies 2013).

BTcP is defined as "a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger (incident pain), despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain" (Davies et al. 2009). Our goal is to decrease and manage this pain and improve the overall quality of life for people with cancer pain.

About the Hassman Research Institute

The Hassman Research Institute (HRI) is a leading clinical research organization that conducts studies in a wide variety of therapeutic areas. HRI's highly trained and experienced staff, including four board certified clinical investigators, is dedicated to maintaining the highest standard of quality results in the trials they conduct.

For more information visit: www.hritrials.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/645077/Tetra-Bio-Pharma-Announces-Start-of-the-REBORN1C-Clinical-Trial
PUNE, India, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandessence Market Research has published a new report title" Global Vaccine Raw Material Market Size By Applications (Covid-19, Smallpox, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, TB, Others), By End-User (Research Institute, Vaccine Manufacturers, Others) Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021 - 2027"

Rising prevalence of various diseases such as measles, rubella, smallpox, TB and others, growing investment for development of more effective vaccines and increasing cases of Covid-19 worldwide are some major factors anticipated to drive the growth of global vaccine raw material market.

Get Sample of Report@ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1524

A vaccine gives a controlled openness to a pathogen, preparing and fortifying the immune system so it can battle that infection rapidly and successfully in future. By imitating a contamination, the vaccine ensures against the genuine thing. A vaccine normally contains a mediator that takes after an infection causing microorganism. It is frequently produced using damaged or killed types of the organism, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins. Vaccines are complex biological items with extensive manufacturing and control measures. Vaccine is important because it activates immune system without making any harmed. Numerous hazardous infectious diseases like Covid-19, influenza and measles, smallpox, mumps, rubella, polio, TB and others can be prohibited in a successful manner. Raw materials are either utilized in key production ventures as fermentation, sanitization or as an integral part of the vaccines.

Up to 160 raw materials could be utilized to deliver a few vaccines. For example; excipients used for the Covid-19 Vaccine from AstraZeneca are; L-Histidine, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Disodium edetate dehydrate and Water for injections. Successful manufacturing of great vaccines requires global normalization of raw materials, production and quality control testing, and the setting of exclusive standards for governmental oversight of the whole manufacturing measure beginning to end. The first vaccines used complete live virus and human-to-human or animal-to-human exchange, like Edward Jenner's cowpox (vaccinia) emission vaccination in 1796, intended to immunize against the more pathogenic smallpox in human.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown a positive impact on the global vaccine raw materials market due to demands of vaccine raw materials are tremendously increased, and the rising number of Covid-19 cases worldwide. The demand of vaccine raw material growing day by day for production of vaccine. Also, number of private and government organizations investing in research and development of Covid-19 vaccine. However, tremendous demand for the raw materials for Covid-19 vaccine worldwide created a gap between demand and supply and has also disturbed the supply chain network for all other raw materials needed for the other vaccines production as well which may have shown a decline impact. But altogether, it has shown a positive impact on the growth of vaccine raw materials market.

Key Players for Global Vaccine Raw Material Market Report: Some major key players for global vaccine raw material market report cover prominent players Thermo Fisher Scientific, Batavia Biosciences B.V., BioNTech IMFS GmbH, ProBioGen, PrepoTech GmbH, Merck Millipore, Adelphi Healthcare Packaging, Gerresheimer AG, Angene Chemicals, Croda International plc, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Sigma-Aldrich, Zechstein Minerals BV, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Agrosal GmBH, Manas Chemicals and others.

Global vaccine raw material market is segmented on the basis of application, end-users and region. Based upon application, vaccine raw material market is classified into Covid-19, smallpox, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, TB and others. Based upon end-users, vaccine raw material market is divided into research institute, vaccine manufacturers and other. The regions covered in this global vaccine raw material report are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.

Global Vaccine Raw Material Market Segmentation:

By Applications:

Covid-19

Smallpox

Influenza

Measles

Mumps

Rubella

Polio

TB

Others

By End-User:

Research Institute

Vaccine Manufacturers

Others

Get Methodology @https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1524

News: Import of COVID Vaccine Raw Material from US: Serum Institute Ask Govt Intervene

March 9th, 2021; Serum Institute of India (SII) want the central government involvement in order to unable the firm import important raw materials from the US for nonstop manufacturing and supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Like, Covishield vaccines manufactured by the SII are being extensively used in India and across the worldwide and millions of citizens have been vaccinated by it. Also Serum Institute working on various other COVID-19 vaccines projects in technical collaboration with a variety of institutes such as Novavax, Cadogenix etc. for which it depends on import of many essential products like raw materials, unpreserved and components from different foreign manufacturers, particularly from US.

Rising Prevalence of Various Diseases such as Measles, Rubella, Smallpox, TB and Others, Growing Investment to Develop More Effective Vaccines and Increasing Cases of Covid-19 Worldwide Drive the Market Growth

The most important factor driving the growth of global vaccine raw material market are rising prevalence of various diseases such as measles, rubella, smallpox, TB and other. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), More than 140 000 people died from measles, mostly among children under the age of five in 2018. As per the report by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 98 nations had revealed an ascent in measles cases in 2018. In addition, rising investment in the vaccine development is also fostering the growth of the market. For instance; In July 2020, Sanofi and GSK signed deal with US for vaccine developments to USD1.2 billion for Covid-19 vaccine development. Furthermore, growing cases of Covid-19 globally is also one of the major factors driving the growth of global vaccine raw material market. According to the World Health Organization, there were more than 118,000 cases globally in 114 countries, and 4,291 people had lost their lives due to Covid-19 in 2020.

However, some people suffer from mild reaction to vaccine thus, side-effects of the vaccines may hamper the market growth. In spite of that, growing investments by government and private organizations for production of more effective vaccines for various diseases around the world can offer more opportunities for the further growth of the global vaccine raw material market.

North America is Expected to Dominate the Global Vaccine Raw Material Market: North America is expected to dominate the vaccine raw material market owing to the increasing number of diseases, growing investments in research developments and high healthcare expenditure in this region. According to CDC report, about 8,916 number of TB cases reported in the United States in 2019. For instance; The US had already invested USD 955 million in Moderna's vaccine improvement, brought its overall investment up to USD 2.48 billion in 2020. Also, WHO recommended the use of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine in people aged 18 years and older against Covid-19. In addition, supportive policy options, funding for global Covid-19 vaccine access, expansion of manufacturing and bolstering production supply chain are also some of the major factors fostering the market growth in this region. Ensuring adequate raw materials and supplies is essential for scaling up vaccine production, but global COVID-19 vaccine supply chains are complex and fragile and have experienced shortages as production has scaled up. Thus, U.S. has invoked the Defense Production Act over a dozen times in the last year to increase the access to raw materials and capacity for domestic manufacturing purposes, actions which helped spur U.S.-based vaccine production. In addition, to help the shortage of raw materials at global level, Biden Administration recently announced it was removing impediments to the export of vaccine raw materials to India as part of a set of actions meant to assist that country. The U.S. is already providing significant levels of funding for global vaccine distribution, with Congress appropriating $4 billion in emergency funding to Gavi in support of COVAX.

Asia Pacific is the fastest developing region in vaccine raw material market during the forecast period due to number of diseases increased, large patient pool and rising prevalence of Covid-19 patients in the region. According to World Health Organization (WHO), In India, about 2.64 million cases of TB occurrence in 2019. According to WHO, about 20,282,833 cases of TB reported in India up to April 2021. According to Statista report, recently, nearly 11.6 million coronavirus cases faced by India. Europe is projected to capture significant share in the global vaccine raw material market due to increasing research and development activities in development of more effective vaccine and rising cases Covid-19 patients in this region.

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Key Benefits for Global Vaccine Raw Material Market Report-

Global vaccine raw material market report covers in-depth historical and forecast analysis.

Global vaccine raw material market research report provides detail information about Market Introduction, Market Summary, Global market Revenue (Revenue USD), Market Drivers, Market Restraints, Market Opportunities, Competitive Analysis, Regional and Country Level.

Global vaccine raw material market report helps to identify opportunities in marketplace.

Global vaccine raw material market report covers extensive analysis of emerging trends and competitive landscape.

Vaccine Raw Material Market By Regional & Country Level:

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

U.K.

France

Germany

Italy

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

Southeast Asia

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Middle East and Africa

GCC

Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Get Full Access of this Report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/pharmaceutical/vaccine-raw-material-market

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Leading Global Extruded Aluminum Profile Manufacturer

First Mid-Cap Fund Acquisition in Europe

NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KPS Capital Partners, LP ("KPS") announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Metra Holding S.p.A. and Metra S.p.A., (collectively "Metra" or the "Company"), a global manufacturer of extruded aluminum. The selling shareholders will retain 25% ownership of the Company. Upon completion of the transaction, Metra will become the fourth acquisition completed by KPS Special Situations Mid-Cap Fund (the "Mid-Cap Fund") and KPS' first Mid-Cap Fund acquisition in the EMEA region.

Metra is a global, vertically integrated manufacturer of extruded aluminum profiles and related value-added services, including painting, oxidation, machining, welding and assembly. The Company offers a full range of extruded aluminum profiles, which are used primarily in the industrial and building & construction end-markets across Europe and North America.

Pierre de Villemejane, a Partner of KPS Mid-Cap Investments ("KPS Mid-Cap"), said, "We are excited to acquire Metra, a differentiated aluminum extrusion business with diverse manufacturing and finishing capabilities, broad product development competencies and a superior customer service track record. We look forward to partnering with the selling shareholders, Chief Executive Officer Enrico Zampedri, and the Metra team to accelerate growth opportunities driven by substantial investment in the Company's assets and operations. Metra's manufacturing expertise and commitment to quality, combined with KPS' global strategic, operational and financial resources, provide an ideal platform for future growth. We intend to expand the business both organically and through a global acquisition strategy."

Enrico Zampedri, Chief Executive Officer of Metra, said, "The entire Metra team is thrilled to partner with KPS as the Company enters this next phase of growth. KPS has a demonstrated track record of investing in the metals industry and exhibiting the ability to create significant value in the sector. KPS' global reach, commitment to manufacturing excellence and the health and safety of all Metra employees combined with its significant financial resources will enable our company to realize significant growth, while maintaining our focus on quality and customer service."

Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. - IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division served as lead financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to KPS. Lazard S.r.l. served as financial advisor, Allen & Overy LLP served as legal counsel and EY Advisory S.p.A. served as the financial vendor due diligence advisor to Metra.

About Metra

Metra is a global, vertically integrated manufacturer of extruded aluminum profiles and related value-added services, including painting, oxidation, machining, welding and assembly. The Company offers a full range of extruded aluminum profiles, which are used primarily in the industrial and building & construction end-markets across Europe and North America. Metra is headquartered in Rodengo Saiano, Italy, with five strategically located manufacturing facilities across Italy and Canada. For additional information, please visit www.metrabuilding.com or www.metraindustry.com.

About KPS Capital Partners

KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with over $12.3 billion of assets under management (as of December 31, 2020). For nearly three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better, and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds' portfolio companies have aggregate annual revenues of approximately $10.6 billion, operate 159 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries, and have approximately 34,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide. The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com.

KPS Mid-Cap focuses on investments in the lower end of the middle market that require up to $100 million of initial equity capital. KPS Mid-Cap targets the same type of investment opportunities and utilizes the same investment strategy that KPS' flagship funds have for nearly three decades. KPS Mid-Cap leverages and benefits from KPS' global platform, reputation, track record, infrastructure, best practices, knowledge and experience. The KPS Mid-Cap investment team is managed by Partners Pierre de Villemejane and Ryan Harrison, who lead a team of experienced and talented professionals.
The Blockchain for Government Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association

ZUG, Switzerland, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The BSV blockchain ecosystem's Blockchain for Government Initiative recently completed a historic week-long official visit to Khartoum, Republic of the Sudan, at the invitation of and under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation. The visit centred around Sudan's first-ever Blockchain Summit & Workshop, a two-day event held April 8-9 and led by the BSV blockchain ecosystem. The conference and surrounding meetings explored how blockchain technology can advance digital transformation as the country rebuilds and re-emerges after 30 years of isolation from much of the world.

The Blockchain for Government Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based non-profit organisation that works to advance use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain, protocol and distributed data network. The Initiative works with government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies to advance large-scale implementations of blockchain technology for the benefit of citizens, including through the delivery of e-government services, tools for greater financial inclusion and improved transparency, as well as applications that foster public good for municipalities and entire countries.

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative brought an international delegation to Sudan, led by Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen (USA) together with Ahmed Yousif, co-founder of Black Stone Data Solutions (Yousif was born in Sudan and now lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). They were joined by CEOs and founders of blockchain businesses working across a range of industries, spanning healthcare, supply chain management, financial services and smart cities, along with senior representatives from Bitcoin Association, including:

Muhammad Salman Anjum - Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the Middle East & South Asia (UAE/ Pakistan )

- Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the & (UAE/ ) Mohammed Ibrahim Jega - co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ( Nigeria )

- co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ) Stephan Nilsson - CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( Norway )

- CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( ) Robert Rice - CEO of Transmira ( USA )

- CEO of Transmira ( ) Phillip Runyan - managing partner of Veridat ( USA )

- managing partner of Veridat ( ) Patrick Prinz - regional manager for Europe & Head of Operations at Bitcoin Association ( Switzerland ).

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative organised the Republic of the Sudan's historic first-ever Blockchain Summit & Workshop, which was held at the Al Salam Hotel in Khartoum on April 8-9 under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation. The event welcomed government officials, business leaders and university students to learn how blockchain technology can build better digital infrastructure and grow the domestic economy through diverse use cases - including identity management; e-government services; public records; financial inclusion; Islamic finance; auditing; natural resource management and sustainability; smart cities; supply chain and cargo tracking; health care data; educational/professional certifications; and better transparency.

A prestigious line-up of speakers included the visiting BSV delegation together with senior figures from both the Sudanese government and multi-national NGOs with a permanent regional presence - including the United Nations Development Programme. They were joined remotely by experts from many international BSV and related businesses from around the world - including Centbee; EHR Data; Elas Digital; Faia; nChain; Predict Ecology; Smart Systems; VXPass; Weather SV; and Metastreme.

In addition to the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, the BSV delegation was also invited to separate meetings in the offices of the Central Bank of Sudan; the Ministry of Telecommunication & Digital Transformation; the Ministry of Interior Affairs; as well as at SudaTel (one of Sudan's leading telecommunication companies) and the 249 Startups hub for entrepreneurs in Sudan.

Speaking during an interview at the conclusion of the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, Hashim Hasabelrasoul Hashim, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for the Republic of the Sudan, said:

'The event was very great, very informative. The first-ever time in Sudan to have a blockchain ecosystem team to visit the country. People were very interactive, very excited about the event and I think that there will be many more to come after this event.'

'Having the blockchain ecosystem in Sudan itself is a huge success for us. Having the engagement with the experts with our team members - with the ministry, with the industry - private and government entities to promote working together in different groups to work out what is next.'

Minister Hashim also explained why blockchain technology can be so impactful for the Republic of the Sudan during this present period:

"In Sudan, we are in a transition period after thirty years of sanctions and thirty years of a bad regime. Now we are in a transition period in which we want to reform our country and reform the government. Digital transformation is a key pillar in this reformation. We are working on building a national strategy for digital transformation that aims to change the government from manual to digital, to make sure that the government will be more efficient, more smart, more in control and more transparent," he said.

"I can clearly see a role for blockchain throughout different verticals within the government; digital identification is one of many, financial inclusion, digital certifications and many more to come, where we can benefit from blockchain. We want to be the first and lead on this technology in the country because it will enable us to really depend on real data that is secure."

Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commenting at the conclusion of the trip, said:

"Blockchain can help us to build a better world and our trip to Sudan left us feeling even more inspired to make that vision a reality. On behalf of the global BSV ecosystem, we were honoured to lead this first-ever blockchain delegation to the Republic of the Sudan and extend our sincere thanks to Minister Hashim and the entire team at Sudan's Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for their warm hospitality and ambitious vision for the digital future of their country. As we explore opportunities for initial blockchain projects in Sudan, we know that BSV's massive scaling and focus on data network capabilities can provide the blockchain power needed to advance digital transformation for Sudan and greater Africa."

About BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative provides education and drives global adoption of blockchain technology by government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies in order to accelerate digital transformation and ignite economic growth.

The Initiative supports use of BSV because it is a massively scaled blockchain that handles high transaction volume and enables greater data capacity at fast speed for low fees - capabilities necessary to deliver distributed ledger applications at nationwide and multi-national levels. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises.

The Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global non-profit industry organisation that supports the BSV blockchain and use of Bitcoin's capabilities as a protocol (similar to Internet protocol) and powerful distributed data network. The Association regularly engages with global lawmakers and industry participants to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of blockchain technology.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1504741/BSV_Sudan.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1218683/Bitcoin_Association_Logo.jpg
Maker of world's highest-resolution commercial imaging 4D radar will leverage new funding to scale and deliver on the insatiable demands of Tier-1's and OEMs globally

DAYTON, Ohio, May 06, 2021, the leading provider of advanced AI software for radar perception, today announced a $55 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Catapult Ventures and Conductive Ventures, with participation from Taiwania Capital, Susquehanna Investment Group (SIG), HELLA Ventures, PHI-Zoyi Capital, R7 Partners, VectoIQ, ACVC Partners, Mesh Ventures, SV Tech Ventures, Schox Ventures, and Signature Bank. The new round of financing brings Oculii's total funding amount to $75M.



The new funding comes on the heels of Oculii's launch of the world's highest-resolution radars, the EAGLE and FALCON . The two products, powered by Oculii's AI-powered Virtual Aperture Imaging (VAI) software, offer unparalleled resolution and performance for autonomous systems and are already being used in commercial deployments by some of the world's leading autonomous robotic companies.

Oculii's AI-powered Virtual Aperture Imaging (VAI) software platform redefines radar performance, enabling up to a 100X increase in resolution on any radar hardware platform - enabling high performance, all-weather perception using existing radar sensors that are market-proven and widely deployed. Oculii's AI software technology has been licensed by some of the world's leading automotive radar Tier-1's and OEMs, providing them with a scalable solution that significantly enhances commercial automotive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) today, and unlocks fully autonomous driving in the future.

A Software Solution to a Hardware Problem

With its low cost, high reliability, and all-weather vision, Radar has transformed the automotive industry. It powers innovations such as emergency braking, blindspot detection, and parking-assist systems. However, due to radar's limited resolution, it has fallen short of the automotive industry's autonomy needs. Improving radar performance is possible by adding more antennas to sensors, but this approach significantly increases cost, size, and power consumption.

Oculii's revolutionary approach uses AI software to solve this hardware problem.

Its AI-powered Virtual Aperture Imaging platform dynamically sends out an adaptive, phase-modulated waveform that changes in real-time with the environment and then encodes that data over time, increasing the resolution of any radar hardware by up to 100X.

This improved resolution and sensitivity unlocks the potential of low-cost, mass-manufacturable, market-proven commercial radars, enabling all-weather perception with less than 1 joint horizontal and elevation spatial resolution up to 350 meters around a full 360 field of view.

"Our vision is to make radar a vital component of any autonomy solution, leveraging its inherent strengths with unparalleled resolution, and the market is responding," said Oculii CEO and Co-founder Steven Hong. "We are working with 14 of the top 20 Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers and have commercial development contracts with the largest OEM and AV companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. This new round of financing will accelerate Oculii's growth as the leading AI software radar solution on the market. Oculii will continue to execute on commercial opportunities with automotive, robotic, and AV companies while scaling its teams and customer base globally."

"Over the past 20 years, autonomous systems have been waiting for high resolution, weather resilient, and low-cost sensors to help enable a new level of automation," said Darren Liccardo, Managing Director of Catapult Ventures, former Director of Autopilot at Tesla and VP of Engineering at DJI. "Finally, the industry has a scalable solution as Oculii's Virtual Aperture Imaging (VAI) technology delivers on these metrics for both near-term ADAS features and longer-term self-driving vehicles."

"Dr. Lang Hong and his world-class team have developed an affordable software solution that brings LiDAR resolution into the radar sensor," said Paul Yeh, Managing Director of Conductive Ventures. "Coming from the automotive industry, I saw firsthand the complexities of adopting new technologies because the existing automotive supply chain is so well-established, any changes to the existing structure will add time to the deployment schedule. When it comes to Oculii's VAI software, it leverages existing, market-proven radar hardware without adding steps to the supply chain. This allows Oculii to deploy its technology much faster than that of other sensors such as LiDARs."

About Oculii

Oculii is creating a next-generation AI software platform for radars that's exponentially higher resolution, longer range, more accurate, and less expensive than conventional solutions - increasing safety and reliability. The promise of autonomous vehicles depends on high-performance, all-weather, low-cost, and scalable perception technology, and Oculii is bringing it to the world. The company has raised more than $75 million from leading investors and strategic partners and is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with offices in Silicon Valley and Beijing. For additional information, please visit www.oculii.com .

About Conductive Ventures

Conductive Ventures invests in expansion stage companies with a focus on software, hardware, and tech-enabled services. The team is led by institutional venture investors and operators with unmatched experience in the sector. Conductive Ventures focuses on post-product companies with early customer success. The team works closely with its portfolio companies to deliver demonstrable revenue acceleration through targeted introductions and partnerships. For additional information, please visit www.conductive.vc .

About Catapult Ventures

Catapult Ventures specializes in investing at the forefront of automation, robotics, AI, and IoT. Founded by Rouz Jazayeri and Darren Liccardo, the team has over three decades of operational experience. Catapult Ventures approaches investing from the perspective of having been in the trenches, and with an appreciation for the practical aspects of building technology in a revenue-generating business. For additional information, please visit www.catapult.vc .

Media Contact: Jillian Smith, jillian@propllr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b55c93f2-cec5-4c45-8588-5c3b26255ff2
TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SWIS)(FRA:GDT) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted secure communications and secure data management, is pleased announce that the Company has been featured on SeekingAlpha.com as a leading cybersecurity and Internet privacy leader serving customers worldwide.

The article can be viewed by click this link: GlobeX Data Featured on SeekingAlpha.com

GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About GlobeX Data Ltd.

GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure communications and secure data management. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messaging and secure communication tools, cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, and secure document management tools. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.



On behalf of Management

GLOBEX DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@globexdatagroup.com

For more information please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com.

For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com.

For more information on SekurSafe visit us at: https://www.sekursafe.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX 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 GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. 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, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645087/GlobeX-Data-Featured-on-SeekingAlphacom-as-a-Leading-Cybersecurity-and-Internet-Privacy-Provider-Serving-Customers-Worldwide
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant" or "the Company") (TSX:ELEF)(OTCQX:SILEF)(Frankfurt:1P2N) announces indium and gallium assays from drillholes SWD001 to SWD010 at its Sunawayo project in central Bolivia, featuring SWD002 which intercepted 87 g/t indium,7 g/t gallium, and 48 g/t Ag (252 g/t silver equivalent) over 9 meters within an interval of 31 meters grading 119 g/t silver equivalent.

The company first published silver drill results of SWD001 to SWD010 on January 27, and on March 18 2021.

The latest drill results summarized in the table below confirm extensive indium and gallium mineralization in concentrations exceeding silver concentrations in several instances. Primary indium and gallium deposits are not common, and that fact makes Sunawayo a special project.

Hole ID From To Length (m) AgEq (g/t) Ag (g/t) In g/t Ga g/t Pb % Zn % Cu % SWD001 0.0 137.0 137.0 52 36 4.6 3.5 0.12 0.02 0.01 SWD002 1.0 32.0 31.0 119 44 29.4 5.1 0.39 0.48 0.02 incl 21.0 30.0 9.0 252 48 86.9 6.8 0.73 1.57 0.07 SWD003 18.0 74.0 56.0 74 17 11.8 2.6 0.46 0.83 0.01 incl 26.0 34.0 8.0 66 42 10.5 2.9 0.19 0.01 0.00 SWD004 15.0 32.0 17.0 80 26 26.6 4.7 0.27 0.04 0.02 incl 28.0 30.0 2.0 209 134 33.2 7.2 0.55 0.01 0.05 SWD005 14.0 17.0 3.0 39 21 3.6 2.8 0.22 0.07 0.02 SWD005 56.0 60.0 4.0 42 14 12.5 2.5 0.12 0.06 0.02 SWD005 86.0 90.0 4.0 89 65 8.9 4.0 0.14 0.02 0.02 SWD005 128.0 133.0 5.0 37 0 8.7 8.6 0.32 0.14 0.00 SWD006 13.0 14.0 1.0 149 62 45.2 4.0 0.44 0.07 0.06 SWD006 19.0 21.0 2.0 79 29 25.3 3.9 0.21 0.04 0.03 SWD006 35.0 36.0 1.0 55 25 6.8 6.2 0.28 0.11 0.01 SWD006 50.0 51.0 1.0 57 27 8.6 4.8 0.27 0.10 0.01 SWD006 55.0 63.0 8.0 66 21 16.7 5.4 0.41 0.06 0.02 SWD007 23.0 29.0 6.0 67 36 9.7 3.6 0.37 0.05 0.02 SWD007 91.0 94.0 3.0 37 25 0.4 3.5 0.15 0.04 0.02 SWD008 30.0 33.0 3.0 45 21 5.4 4.5 0.34 0.05 0.00 SWD008 86.0 88.0 2.0 43 26 2.4 5.2 0.17 0.05 0.00 SWD009 14.0 26.0 12.0 78 39 20.0 4.8 0.04 0.01 0.03 incl 14.0 20.0 6.0 89 59 13.3 3.9 0.05 0.01 0.04 SWD009 46.0 50.0 4.0 51 5 15.8 7.2 0.07 0.38 0.01 SWD009 69.0 77.0 8.0 137 16 18.4 3.6 0.16 2.82 0.01 incl 75.0 77.0 2.0 323 50 19.4 1.5 0.40 7.67 0.03 SWD009 110.0 111.0 1.0 236 158 10.9 4.4 0.08 1.65 0.06 SWD010 68.0 78.0 10.0 214 144 13.3 4.5 0.43 0.97 0.06 incl 69.0 72.0 3.0 540 421 34.3 6.6 0.92 0.90 0.15



Reported intercepts are core-lengths and not true-widths; based on core-angle measurements, true widths range from 80% to 85% of reported core length. AgEq calculation uses a silver price of $25.00/oz., a zinc price of $1.10/lb., a lead price of $0.80/lb. and a copper price of $3.00/lb., indium price of $190.34/kg, and gallium price of $320.38/kg (all USD) and assumes 100% metallurgical recovery as no metallurgical studies have been conducted on the project, and do not reliably reflect expected metallurgical results. Silver equivalent values are calculated using the following formula: AgEq = Ag g/t + (Zn % x 30.1644) + (Pb % x 21.9377) + (Cu% x 82.2665) + (In g/t x 0.2368) + (Ga g/t x 0.3986). Coordinates in UTM WGS83 Z19S. Reported results do not define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the delineation of mineral resource.

Indium currently trades at around $7.00/oz with recent high of $10.00/oz in 2018. Primary indium use is in indium phosphide semiconductors and indium tin oxide thin films for liquid-crystal displays (LCD). Annual global indium production is approximately 700 tonnes (24.7 million oz's). China is a leading producer of indium (290 tonnes in 2016), followed by South Korea (195 tonnes), Japan (70 tonnes) and Canada (65 tonnes), according to Wikipedia.

Gallium currently trades near $12.00/oz. Global gallium production is approximately 300 tonnes (10 million oz's) per year with China, Korea, and Japan account for 90% of the supply. Semiconductor applications dominate the commercial demand for gallium, accounting for 98% of the total, according to Wikipedia.

10 out of 10 drillholes along a 4-km trend for which the Company have received full assays contain silver, indium, and gallium mineralization. The results indicate the potential for the presence of one or more mineral deposits at Sunawayo. Currently there is insufficient exploration to determine whether any resources are present, and no mineral resource has been defined

The Company has completed its planned 15-hole drilling program on the project. Full assay results are pending for the remaining drillholes.

Detailed maps of Sunawayo located in central Bolivia are available at www.silverelef.com.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this news release have been prepared under the supervision of Danniel Oosterman, VP Exploration. Mr. Oosterman is not independent of the Company in that he is employed by it. Mr. Oosterman is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by the guidelines in NI 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Silver Elephant adopts industry-recognized best practices in its implementation of QA/QC methods. A geochemical standard control sample and a blank sample are inserted into the sample stream at every 20th sample. Duplicates are taken at every 40th sample. Standards and duplicates, including lab duplicates and standards, are analyzed using scatterplots. Samples are shipped to ALS Global Laboratories in Ururo, Bolivia for preparation. They are then shipped to ALS Global laboratories in Lima, Peru for analysis. Samples are analyzed using Intermediate Level Four Acid Digestion. Silver overlimits ("ore grade") are analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. ALS Laboratories sample management system meets all the requirements of the International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. All ALS geochemical hub laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for specific analytical procedures.

All samples are taken from HQ-diameter core is split in half by a diamond-blade masonry saw. One half of the core is submitted for laboratory analysis and the other half is preserved for reference at the Company's secured core facility. All the core is geotechnically analyzed and photographed and then logged by geologists prior to sampling.

About Silver Elephant

Silver Elephant Mining Corp. is a premier silver mining and exploration company.

Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com.

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"John Lee"

Executive Chairman

For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.604.569.3661 ext. 101

ir@silverelef.com www.silverelef.com

Neither the 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644906/Silver-Elephants-Sunawayo-Drills-87gt-Indium-7gt-Gallium-48gt-Silver-252gt-AgEq-over-9-Meters-within-31-Meters-Grading-119-gt-AgEq
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM) ("GLM" or the "Company")(OTCQB:GOLXF) is pleased to announce that a Phase 2 diamond drill program has started on its keystone Jewel Ridge project, near Eureka, Nevada. The drill contractor is Big Sky Exploration, LLC, based in Bozeman, Montana, and supervision and support are supplied by a team of consulting and Company geologists and technicians. The proposed drill program of 20,000 feet (6,100 meters) will be augmented with a second rig later in the summer. The initial drill holes will be directed at the Carbonate Replacement Deposit ("CRD") bonanza mineralization intersected in hole JR-20-12DD which returned from 15.21 meters to 18.44 meters returned 3.23 meters averaging 57.16 g/t Au, 452.0 g/t Ag, 7.23 % Pb, and 11.99% Zn (see PRD dated Feb 23, 2021).

Subsequent targets will include the Hamburg Zone where drilling last year returned a wide zone of mineralization in holes JR-20-02 from 123.44 to 181.36 meters, over 57.91 meter in width (drill width) averaging 0.44 g/t Au and 3.0 g/t Ag, with a higher-grade portion from 152.40 to 169.16 meters, over 16.76 meters averaging 0.94 g/t Au and 6.6 g/t Ag.

Also, at the Hamburg Zone a CRD intercept drilled in a 2012 program has never been followed up by diamond drilling. Reverse circulation ("RC") JR-12-06, from 15.2 to 18.2 meters, over 3.0 meters returned 1.1 g/t Au, 601.0 g/t Ag, 8.8 % Pb, and 4.7 % Zn.

"We are excited to have the drills turning again on our Jewel Ridge property and are looking forward to testing the bonanza mineralization we intersected last fall." stated CEO Mike England.

Qualified person

Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Garry Clark, P.Geo., who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

About the Jewel Ridge Property

The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south.

About Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

" M ike England"

Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645084/Golden-Lake-Initiates-Phase-2-Diamond-Drilling-on-the-Jewel-Ridge-Property-Nevada
China's express delivery business almost doubles pre-pandemic level in May Day holiday

Xinhua) 15:01, May 06, 2021

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China's courier sector collected 1.34 billion parcels in the five-day May Day holiday which ended Wednesday, up 97.13 percent from the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

The data is 22.95 percent up from the same holiday in 2020, the State Post Bureau said Thursday.

Online sales of agricultural products continued to maintain rapid growth.

Express parcels received and delivered in rural areas went up about 30 percent year on year in the holiday. The growth rate is 10 percentage points higher than that in urban areas.

The May Day holiday lasted from May 1 to 5 this year.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Today, The Law Office of David A. Fernandez is thrilled to announce that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago, it has donated approximately $20,000 worth of food, computers, furniture and clothing to The Salvation Army of Great Houston.

Everyone pitched in to help. The computers and tech equipment were donated directly from the firm, while the other items were collected by employees of the firm. "The COVID-19 pandemic has created many hardships for families in our community. We are proud to be able to give back to those in need during this difficult time," said David A. Fernandez. "We typically make a donation to The Salvation Army every year, but this year our firm's inner-office donation drive collected more than double what we had the previous year."

The Law Office of David A. Fernandez specializes in consumer debt defense matters, offering seasoned advice and strong advocacy to protect clients' interests in court. The firm was founded on the proposition that all people have the right to live with dignity, so when abusive creditors try to rob clients of their dignity, David Fernandez and his team are determined to provide relief.

With more than 25 years of offering rigorous legal experience, the Law Office of David A. Fernandez provides a variety of services that makes it easier to get out of debt. The firm is ready to assist with debt defense, consumer bankruptcy, federal consumer protections violations and credit repair.

If you have been sued by a creditor or you believe you will be, please contact The Law Office of David A. Fernandez, P.C. at 713-893-3244 for a free consultation to see if the firm can help you.

About David A. Fernandez, The Law Office of David A. Fernandez, P.C.

David A. Fernandez focuses his practice on debt defense, bankruptcy, fraud, personal injury, business litigation and wrongful death. He is a member of the Texas Bar Association, Consumer Law Section of the Texas State Bar Association, and State Bar of Texas. For more information, please call 713-893-3244, or visit www.yourhoustonconsumerattorney.com. The law office is located at 2190 N. Loop West, Suite 102, Houston, TX 77018.

For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361

SOURCE: David A. Fernandez

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Generic Gold Corp. (CSE: GGC) (FSE: 1WD) (OCTQB: GGCPF) ("Generic Gold" or "Generic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a 7,500 m drill program on its Belvais project, located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec along the Normetal Fault Zone. This large, fully funded drill program is planned to begin in May and will target both orogenic gold and gold-rich VMS targets. The program will be completed in two phases, with an initial 3,000 metres drilled in Phase 1 and a 4,500 metres follow-up program completed in Phase 2 following receipt of assays. Drill targets were generated following compilation of all available data, including recently completed VTEM and soil sampling surveys as well as historical drilling and geophysical work. As shown in Figure 1, the Belvais project lies directly south-east of Amex Exploration's Perron Project, which recently announced a new high-grade gold discovery (the 210 Zone) along the Normetal Fault (Amex Press Release dated February 17th, 2021), and is also directly east and south-east of Starr Peak's Newmetal Project, which recently announced high-grade VMS mineralization on their Normetmar target (Starr Peak Press Release dated May 4th, 2021). Both of these new discoveries occur along the prolific Normetal Fault which is of particular significance for Generic Gold, as the Company holds over 20 km of the Normetal Fault on its Belvais claims and is one of the largest land holders in the area with 12,563 hectares.





Figure 1: Generic Gold's Belvais project with respect to Amex Exploration's Perron project and Starr Peak's NewMetal project. Note the Normetal fault zone which extends for approximately 20 km along the Belvais project.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3923/83111_c73cfebf0422d9f9_001full.jpg

Aaron Stone, Vice President Exploration of Generic Gold, said, "As we continue our compilation of data on the Belvais project we are generating significant high priority gold and VMS targets. Laurentia Exploration (Laurentia), consulting geologists to Generic, have now compiled a complete 3-D dataset of all historical drilling on the project. Our interpretation and modelling of our recently completed VTEM airborne survey is still ongoing, but preliminary modelling of the anomalies has exceeded our expectation, particularly on the western portion of Belvais adjacent to Starr Peak's NewMetal project. As shown in Figure 3, we have identified high priority EM conductor plate that lie directly on strike from the past producing Normetal Mine and Starr Peak's recently announced high-grade VMS intercepts below the Normetmar showing, as well as a multitude of conductor plates that lie to the south of Starr Peak which are also related to a surface base-metal and silver showing. We will continue to model and interpret our datasets and will provide a further press release focused on our gold targets in the coming weeks ahead of our inaugural drill program."

Generic has significantly advanced the Belvais project over the past several months. Specifically, is has completed:

A B-horizon soil sampling program (as announced on February 23 rd , 2021);

, 2021); A property-wide VTEM and magnetics survey;

Compilation and 3-dimensional modelling of all historical drilling on the project; and

Are currently in the process of modelling the geophysical data for both orogenic gold and VMS drill targets.

Thus far, modelling of the EM anomalies on the western portion of Belvais has generated a number of high priority targets along the Normetal deformation zone. These targets, as shown in Figure 2 and 3, are particularly encouraging following the recent successful drill results of Starr Peak Mining Ltd. (see May 4th, 2021 press release) on their Normetmar VMS target.

Target P-GEN-21-04 occurs on the same stratigraphic horizon as the Normetal Mine and the Normetmar showing, situated approximately 1.5 km to the east-southeast.

Targets P-GEN-21-01 and P-GEN-21-02 are situated approximately 1.5 km southwest of the Normetal mine on a separate stratigraphic horizon, but are associated with a historical silver-copper showing called Normetal-SO, which returned a grab sample of 5.0 g/t Ag and 314 ppm Cu.

Targets P-GEN-21-03 and P-GEN-21-12 are situated along the same stratigraphic horizon as the Normetal-SO showing and are associated with a cluster of EM anomalies as well as an isolated magnetic anomaly.

The Company continues to model its magnetic data to identify the structural framework of Belvais and will present this to the market when finalized, along with additional EM modelling of targets further to the East.





Figure 2: Plan map of the Normetal area showing priority targets adjacent to VMS mineralization at the Normetmar discovery and the past-producing Normetal Mine.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3923/83111_c73cfebf0422d9f9_002full.jpg





Figure 3: Oblique view of the Belvais West project targets, along with the historical mined stopes of the Normetal Mine, historical drilling on the Normetmar showing, the major Normetal Fault horizon (black line), and surface EM anomalies (coloured squares). Modelled EM plates are in red. Image is looking down from above at 41 degrees and 195 degrees azimuth towards the south.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3923/83111_c73cfebf0422d9f9_003full.jpg

Grant of Options

Generic Gold also announces the grant of an aggregate of 1,400,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.60 per share for a period of three (3) years from the date of grant, to certain officers, directors, and consultants of the Company. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the original date of grant.

Qualified Person

Hugues Guerin-Tremblay P.Geo, (OGQ - 1584), an Independent Qualified Person ("QP") as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Property and in the vicinity, particularly in regards to historical drill results and historical mine production. However, the Qualified Person believes that these results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. Also, mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

About Generic Gold

Generic Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold projects in the Tintina Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada and the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada. The Company's Quebec exploration portfolio consists of four properties covering 12,563 hectares proximal to the town of Normetal, and east of Amex Exploration's Perron project and the past-producing Normetal mine. The Company's Yukon exploration portfolio consists of several projects with a total land position of greater than 35,000 hectares, all of which are 100% owned by Generic Gold. Several of these projects are in close proximity to significant gold deposits, including Goldcorp's Coffee project, Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold project, White Gold's Golden Saddle project, and Western Copper & Gold's Casino project. Generic Gold's board of directors and management team is led by experienced mining industry professionals, with expertise in exploration, finance, capital markets, and mine development. For information on the Company's property portfolio, visit the Company's website at genericgold.ca.

For further information contact:

Generic Gold Corp.

Aaron Stone, VP Exploration

Tel: (514) 235-6012

astone@genericgold.ca

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. We seek safe harbour.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83111
Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - QuantGate Systems Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) (the "Company"), an Artificial Intelligence ("AI"), Machine Learning ("ML") SaaS-based Fintech solutions provider, is pleased to announce, effective immediately, updates and appointments to the company's Board of Directors, as well as a Strategic Advisor.

Wayne Welter, currently an Independent Board Member, will be assuming the role of Chairman, and Stuart Hensman, will be joining as Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. Also joining QuantGate, as Strategic Advisor, is Dinesh Kandanchatha. Michel Lebeuf, Chief Legal Officer and board member will be stepping down immediately to pursue personal interests. The Company wishes to extend their thanks to Mr. Lebeuf for his contribution over the last few years, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Mr. Wayne Welter has been involved in the Financial Services industry for over 25 years, as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Advisor. During the past 15 years, Mr. Welter has provided advisory and consulting services to numerous North American and International companies on business development and strategic growth. With an extensive global network of strategic banking, legal, investment and management relationships, Mr. Welter has successfully participated in, and financed, projects in Europe, Middle East, Asia and China. The last 5 years, Wayne has focused on building a Private Family Office, investing in Fin-Tech and Healthcare related companies, both in North America and Europe.

Mr. Stuart Hensman possesses both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degree and has held a number of executive leadership roles in the financial services industry over the past 40 years. He has occupied the position of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for Scotia Capital Inc. (USA), as Managing Director (Equities) for Scotia Capital Inc (United Kingdom), Chairman of the Board of Governors at CI Funds, Chairman of the Board of Creststreet Asset Management and Chairman of the Board of Creststreet Power and Income Fund. In addition to chairing the above noted Boards, Mr. Hensman, has also chaired Audit, Compensation and Governance and Nominating Committees on a number other Boards where he served.

Mr. Dinesh Kandanchatha is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Windfall Geotek, an AI data analytics company. Previously, Dinesh was Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Patriot One Technologies Inc. A seasoned tech entrepreneur who has built, exited, led, and invested in over 14 companies, Dinesh has provided advisory and consulting services to numerous North American and International companies on business development and strategic growth. Dinesh lead Business Development initiatives at Macadamian Technologies, one of the hottest product consultancies in Canada. During his years at Macadamian Technologies, he developed and integrated sales and marketing strategies to facilitate double-digit growth and created some of the most revolutionary products in the technology space. Dinesh's 20 years of experience building and scaling SaaS products has given him a global network and tools required to implement mechanisms that help CEOs avoid pitfalls and grow their business.

These appointments provide the depth and breadth of professional, compliance, and technical experience needed to guide and drive the growth of QuantGate's proprietary, SaaS-based fintech solutions and analytics in the North American and global markets.

Leonardo Cardoso, CEO of QuantGate Systems Inc., comments: "It's a pleasure to welcome Wayne, Stuart, and Dinesh, three highly accomplished industry veterans, to our team. Their collective experience across a range of strategic roles including technology, capital markets, and corporate governance arena's, will be key to our efforts in creating awareness and driving the adoption of our SaaS-based solutions, as well as establishing a solid business foundation to do so."

Ilan Yosef, CTO of QuantGate, states: "With the launch of QuantGate Crypto, our crypto focused division (March 23rd, 2021), Mr. Welter and Mr. Kandanchatha's involvement will be essential in driving the our presence, technology, and intelligence as a SaaS solutions provider in the crypto marketplace. We are delighted to have them onboard."

About QuantGate Systems Inc.

QuantGate Systems Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) (QuantGate Systems) is a publicly traded fintech company operating for 10+ years, developing sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and proprietary big-data processing algorithms and analytics to deliver SaaS solutions and seamless API integration. Our core intelligence identifies investment opportunities across multiple asset classes, rooted in the financial markets, and perfected for cryptocurrency exchanges, enabling our valued clients to make better informed investment decisions. Turnkey solutions and efficient API's, founded on robust and scalable SaaS architecture, easily allow 3rd party integration for onboarding existing users, and scaling globally.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth above may include forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. Words such as "may", "could", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statement are inherently uncertain and that actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.

QuantGate Systems Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements and cautions investors to consider all other risks and uncertainties, including those disclosed in QuantGate filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contacts

QuantGate Systems:

media@quantgatesystems.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83112
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Molecule Holdings Inc. (CSE: MLCL) ("Molecule" or the "Company"), a Canadian craft-focused cannabis beverage production company, is pleased to announce it has added a new brand to its family of products, Phresh Cannabis Beverages ("Phresh").

Phresh will be Molecule's 3rd wholly owned brand, designed to deliver all that is important to both new and veteran cannabis enthusiasts: low calories, exciting summer flavour, high THC, at a price point designed to promote trial consumption in the category. The product will be available to consumers in time for the Canadian summer beverage season.

"We are excited about our newest addition to the Molecule Family. Phresh, along with our previously announced products, brings Molecule's offering up to six. Concept to market, this brand and formulation took only 10 weeks to create, which provides evidence of Molecule's agility in creating opportunities in this rapidly evolving marketplace. Along with our continued brand creation efforts we will now begin to build out our sales and marketing capacity to create traction with both retailers and consumers across the country," said Phil Waddington, President and CEO of Molecule.

Phresh Beverages will be available in June.

Phresh Beverages will be available in June

To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7979/83094_3fa4b21754c73877_001full.jpg

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

MOLECULE HOLDINGS INC.

Per: "Philip Waddington"

President, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Andre Audet, Chairman and Co-Founder

Phone: 1 (888) 665-2853 x101

Email: andre@molecule.ca

www.molecule.ca

About Molecule Holdings Inc.

Molecule works with client-partners to engage in the production of cannabis-infused beverages and edibles. We provide the infrastructure, know-how, technology, and licensing for craft producers to create consumable cannabis products. Molecule's goal is to be the on-ramp for companies wishing to enter into the cannabis beverage and edibles market, but who choose not to go through the significant process of obtaining the required cannabis licences.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

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. In this news release, the Company is making forward-looking statements with respect to launching cannabis beverages in Canada in June 2021. 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83094


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - KKR signed a definitive agreement to invest in Charter Next Generation, a producer of specialty films used in flexible packaging, industrial, healthcare, and consumer applications. KKR will be joining Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. as an equal co-owner of the business. A unit of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will also be investing in the transaction.



'Charter Next Generation offers the gold standard when it comes to materials science, product quality, innovation, and technical expertise in specialty films,' said Josh Weisenbeck, KKR Partner.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

KKR & CO-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
-Mahindra Advanced Design Europe renews commitment to design and develop dynamic and authentic products with global appeal

MUMBAI, India and LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mahindra Group announced today the setting up of Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (M.A.D.E) in the West Midlands, U.K.

The new Centre of Excellence (CoE), will be a part of the Mahindra Global Design Network that includes the Mahindra Design Studio in Mumbai, India, and Pininfarina Design in Turin, Italy.

M.A.D.E is a strategic enhancement of Mahindra's global design capabilities and renews its commitment to bring to its customers, sophisticated, authentic SUVs with an unmissable presence. M.A.D.E will further sharpen Mahindra's distinctive product designs and differentiated technology offerings to further its safe, thrilling, yet efficient connected car experiences.

Speaking about the announcement, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director , Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., said, "Mahindra is poised to enter a new, exciting era to build upon our rich 75 years of automotive history to bring unique customer centric products to the Indian and global markets. A key lever to make the business future-ready is to significantly strengthen design capability across automotive, farm equipment and two wheelers globally. M.A.D.E will contribute to all future automotive and mobility products including Born EV SUVs and be a resource available to Mahindra Group companies. It will give us a quantum leap in both capacity and capability in the design space."

The Coventry region in U.K. is a powerhouse of automotive design. M.A.D.E will contribute and leverage the skills, experience, and expertise of this network of design talent. It will also support the creation of highly skilled design roles, drawing from Coventry University, Royal College of Art, and other design colleges in the U.K. and Europe. M.A.D.E. will be operational from the 1st of July 2021.

About Mahindra

The Mahindra Group is a USD 19.4 billion federation of companies that enables people to rise through innovative mobility solutions, driving rural prosperity, enhancing urban living, nurturing new businesses and fostering communities. It enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership in India and is the world's largest tractor company by volume. It also enjoys a strong presence in defence, renewable energy, agribusiness, logistics and real estate development. Headquartered in India, Mahindra employs over 2,56,000 people across 100 countries.

Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com | Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1504779/MADE_Logo.jpg
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Perk Labs Inc. (CSE:PERK)(OTCQB:PKLBF)(FKT:PKLB) ("Perk" or the "Company"), the parent company of Perk Hero, the mobile commerce platform with perks on curated lifestyle products and digital gift cards, today announces the launch of its digital gift card offering in the United States. The digital gift cards are available on both www.perkhero.com and on its mobile app.

"Following our recent expansion into the US market, we are excited to add digital gift cards as a new offering in the United States," said Jonathan Hoyles, CEO of Perk Labs. "One of our top priorities is to enhance our marketplace with desirable digital consumer goods, and by offering digital gift cards we provide our customers with a convenient and flexible way to spend, gift and earn cash back rewards."

Gift card categories that will initially be available through Perk Hero in the US include Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dominos, Michaels, and Wine.com. Perk will be adding additional high-demand digital gift cards in the coming weeks and months.

Perk has developed an innovative platform for the sale of digital gift cards, allowing users to buy for themselves, send to friends as gifts, save the digital gift card in the Perk digital wallet as stored value, earn cash back rewards on the purchase of digital gift cards, and earn rewards for referring digital gift cards to friends and family.

InComm Payments' 2020 Gift Card Research found that online channels as destinations to purchase gift cards increased by as high as 22% for network-branded cards, a trend that coincided with consumers focusing on e-commerce. Likewise, 44% of gift card shoppers said they are more interested in giving and receiving digital gift cards now than in the past.

About Perk Labs Inc.

Perk Labs Inc. (CSE:PERK)(OTCQB:PKLBF)(FKT:PKLB) is the owner of Perk Hero, the mobile commerce platform on a mission to make shopping experiences more engaging, convenient, and rewarding. Perk has partnered with vetted specialized brands across North America to bring its customers products that are eco-friendly, natural, organic, and ethically sourced. Consumers can also buy digital gift cards from top merchants that include gaming and electronics, apparel, dining, and more. The Perk Hero platform, currently available in Canada and the US, was engineered for reliability and scale using enterprise-level technology fit for businesses of all sizes. The platform also features Shopify integration, contactless payments using Apple Pay, Google Pay and Alipay, as well as its own digital currency called Perk Coin, a gamified loyalty program, e-commerce dropshipping capabilities, pre-order and pick up, and in-store payments with a QR code.

For more information about Perk Labs, please visit www.perklabs.io. Visit Perk Hero at www.perkhero.com

For more information contact:

Jonathan Hoyles, CEO

Perk Labs Inc.

(833) 338-0299

investors@perklabs.io

Iryna Zheliasko, Manager,

Corporate Communications

CHF Capital Markets

416-868-1079 x 229

iryna@chfir.com

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "may", "believe", "thinks", "expect", "exploring", "expand", "could", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "pursue", "potentially", "projected", "should", "will" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to, among other things, the discussion of the Company's business strategies and its expectations concerning future operations, and the demand for digital gift cards. Although the Company considers these forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

SOURCE: Perk Labs Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645086/Perk-Labs-Launches-Digital-Gift-Cards-in-The-United-States
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Toronto based CO2 GRO Inc. ("GROW" or "the Company") (TSXV:GROW)(OTCQB:BLONF)(FRA:4021) is pleased to announce that it has started a commercial feasibility with its UK partner Rika Biotech Limited ("Rika") at a UK based tomato greenhouse.

The commercial feasibility has begun and will continue for one year. The goals are to assess tomato fruit yield in particular during the spring through fall months when the greenhouse is venting, assess the Perimeter Protection benefit with respect to reducing the spread of powdery mildew and to assess the reduction in CO2 usage costs.

Harry Hoskyns Abrahall, Principal of Rika commented, "After our first two commercial feasibilities being in France and The Netherlands, we are proud to begin our first commercial feasibility at home. The UK greenhouse market is set to expand quickly. Our strategy is to demonstrate the benefits of CO2 Delivery Solutions to be part of the coming expansion."

The UK Greenhouse Vegetable Market

The UK government estimates the annual revenue of greenhouse grown vegetables to be nearly 340 million grown in 50 million square feet of greenhouse space with the top three vegetables grown being mostly tomatoes (230 million), peppers and cucumbers.

Below is an excerpt from an April 30, 2021 article published by HortiDaily magazine describing the trends in the UK greenhouse tomato market:

Extra demand for British growers following Brexit

"UK growers produce around 20% of the total volume of tomato consumption. UK growers also produce around 25% by value, as British tomatoes tend to be premium crops."

Food security has been brought into sharp focus as a result of both Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. Brexit also means greater restrictions on overseas growers, making it more difficult to import goods. "Another factor that's set to increase demand on domestically grown tomatoes."

Expansions

Recent expansions show how the British growers are ready to meet demand through sustainable approaches. "The high level of investment needed to build a glasshouse (approximately 1m per hectare) is a limitation on rapid expansion."

Examples of sustainable growing practices include renewable energy systems, such as solar power, ground-sourced heating, and recycled rainwater. "Then there's the natural pest and disease control in greenhouse ecosystems. Growers also incorporate business development through high ESG standards, such as enhancing natural environments around farms and providing nearby communities with employment opportunities."

Aaron Archibald, VP Sales and Strategic Alliances commented, "We are very excited for our first commercial feasibility in the UK with our partner Rika, who are based there. As the article describes, the UK greenhouse tomato market is poised for a rapid expansion due to the self-sufficiency concerns brought on by events over the past year. Our CO2 Delivery Solutions technology fits the UK greenhouse market's expansion strategy from both an ROI and ESG perspective."

Visit www.co2delivery.ca for more information on CO2 Delivery Solutions or watch this video. To see a CO2 Delivery Solutions VCO2 system installation, watch this video.

About Rika Biotech Limited

Rika develops large scale anaerobic digesters (AD) for UK, Belgium and Dutch AD markets. Tightening of manure and agri-waste regulations across the EU are leading to new growth in AD requirements. Rika is implementing leading biogas technologies tailored to large volumes of waste material containing high nitrate such as in chicken manure and other hard to digest materials such as straw. For more information, visit rikabiofuels.com

About CO2 GRO Inc.

GROW's proprietary CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is revolutionizing the global 600 billion square foot protected agriculture industry (Cuesta Roble 2018). We create a saturated CO2 solution that when misted onto plants provides growers that cannot gas with CO2 the opportunity to increase plant yields by up to 30% and profits by up to 100%. Applying saturated CO2 also suppressed the development of pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew, helping to reduce crop losses. GROW's CO2 Delivery Solutions is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending.

The worldwide market for GROW's disruptive CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is the 50 billion square feet of greenhouses and 550 billion square feet of protected agriculture facilities (Cuesta Roble 2018). Growers can maximize revenue and profits with our systems' low fixed and variable costs and ease of systems installation.

GROW's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America as well as in its North American base.

GROW is committed to good Environment, Social and Governance (ES&G) policy and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity.

Our mission is to accelerate the growth of all value plants safely, economically, naturally and sustainably using our patented advanced CO2 Delivery Solutions while accreting value to our customers, stakeholders and shareholders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward- looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company's future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and that good relationships with business partners will be maintained. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; in particular, in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; the biotechnology industry and the greenhouse growers market are highly competitive, and technical advances in the industry will impact the success of the Company, and other risks described in the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information 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.

For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact Michael O'Connor, Manager, Investor Relations at 604-317-6197 or michael.oconnor@co2gro.ca

SOURCE: CO2 Gro Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645047/CO2-GRO-Inc-Announces-a-Commercial-Feasibility-with-its-UK-Partner-Rika-Biotech-Limited-at-a-UK-Greenhouse-Tomato-Grower
REDDING, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Type (Zinc, Boron, Iron, Copper, Manganese), Crop Type (Cereals and Grains, Fruits and Vegetables), Form (Non-Chelated, Chelated), Method of Application (Soil Application, Foliar, Fertigation) - Global Forecast to 2027", published by Meticulous Research, the agricultural micronutrients market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $12.2 billion by 2027. Also, in terms of volume, the agricultural micronutrients market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2020 to 2027 to reach 2,013.3 KT by 2027.

Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=4997

Rising micronutrient deficiency in the soil, the shift of consumer preference towards nutrient-rich foods, growing population and rising food insecurity, growing focus on productivity, and positive outlook of government policies and various organizations encouraging the use of micronutrients are the key factors driving the growth of the agricultural micronutrients market. In addition, growing contract farming provides significant opportunities for manufacturers in the agricultural micronutrients market. However, a lack of awareness among the farmers hinders the growth of the agricultural micronutrients market to some extent.

The overall agricultural micronutrients market is mainly segmented by type (zinc, boron, iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and other types), form (non-chelated, chelated), method of application (soil, foliar, fertigation, seed treatment, and hydroponics), crop type (cereals & grains, fruits & vegetables, oilseeds and pulses, and other crop types), and geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyses the market at a country level.

Based on type, the global agricultural micronutrients market is mainly segmented into zinc, boron, iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and other types. Zinc accounted for the largest share of the overall agricultural micronutrients market. The dominant position of this segment is mainly attributed to the increasing awareness of zinc deficiency in soils across the globe and its wide range of functions within the growth of plants. In addition, the growth in zinc as an agricultural micronutrients market is driven by factors like the rising need to meet food security challenges and the growing demand for zinc nutritious food products considering its health benefits. Moreover, rising government initiatives across the globe towards enhancing zinc concentrate in the soil to enhance quantitative and qualitative crop yield further support the growth of this market.

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Based on crop type, the overall agricultural micronutrients market is segmented into cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, oilseeds and pulses, and other crop types. In 2020, the cereals and grains crop segment accounted for the largest share of the overall agricultural micronutrients market. The higher use for cereals and grains and related products in the daily meals of the population across the globe to ensure daily nutrition, relatively large arable land attributed for the cultivation of cereals and grains, increasing industrial application of cereal grains, growing demand for the cereal-based snack are the common factors attributed to the major share of cereals and grains segment in the overall agricultural micronutrients market. However, the fruits and vegetables segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The fast growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the growing need to increase high fiber and nutrient-rich fruit and vegetable production and increasing hydroponics cultivation of the fruits and vegetables.

Based on type, the overall agricultural micronutrients market for cereals and grains is further segmented into maize/corn, wheat, rice, and other cereals and grains. In 2020, the maize segment accounted for the largest share of the overall agricultural micronutrients market for cereals and grains. The higher use for corn and corn related products in the daily meals of the population across the globe, especially in Africa to ensure daily nutrition, relatively huge arable land attributes for the cultivation of corn production, increasing industrial application of corn in manufacturing of ethanol/alcohol used as fuel for motor vehicles, in the production of animal feed, as biomass for energy, and a source of cooking oil.

Based on form, the global agricultural micronutrients market is segmented into non-chelated form and chelated form. The non-chelated segment accounted for the largest share of the overall agricultural micronutrients market. The largest share of this segment is mainly due to the increasing application of non-chelated micronutrients because of their low price over chelated micronutrients. However, the chelated segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to its high stability over non-chelated micronutrients, growing need to increase micronutrient efficiency, and the rising trend of the development and application of new generation chelates.

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Based on method of application, the overall agricultural micronutrients market is segmented into soil, fertigation, foliar, seed treatment, and hydroponics. In 2020, the soil segment accounted for the largest share of the overall agricultural micronutrients market. The largest share of this segment is mainly attributed to the ease in soil application of micronutrients, its cost-effectiveness over the other application methods, and better results in crop growth. Moreover, the higher preference of the farmers from developing economies for this method is mainly due to the rampant use of traditional agriculture methods in the current farming system, very limited resources, and lower adoption of the advanced fertilizer application methods.

The global agricultural micronutrients market is divided into five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the global agricultural micronutrients market. The largest share of this region is primarily attributed to the huge area under crop cultivation, growing population, growing interest in high-quality food, increase in awareness and acceptance of the agricultural micronutrients by farmers in the emerging economies, such as China and India. In addition, increasing agricultural practices and the necessity of high-quality agricultural produce are further expected to support the growth of this market. Moreover, this region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to the vast depletion of arable land, rising micronutrients deficiency in soil and a huge area of infertile soil, and government support for the fertilizer industry.

The key players operating in the global agricultural micronutrients market are BASF SE (Germany), Coromandel International Limited (India), Nutrien Ltd. (Canada), The Mosaic Company (U.S.), Haifa Group (Israel), Yara International ASA (Norway), Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC (U.S.), Nouryon (the Netherlands), Valagro S.p.A (Italy), Sigma AgriScience, LLC (U.S.), Aries Agro Limited (India), Nufarm Limited (Australia), and AgroLiquid (U.S.), among others.

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agricultural-micronutrients-market-4997

Scope of the report:

Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Type

Zinc

Boron

Iron

Copper

Manganese

Molybdenum

Others Micronutrients

Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Crop Type

Cereals and Grains

Maize



Wheat



Rice



Other Cereals and Grains

Fruits and Vegetables

Oilseeds and Pulses

Other Crops

Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Form

Non-Chelated

Chelated

Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Method of Application

Soil Application

Fertigation

Foliar

Seed treatment

Hydroponics

Agricultural Micronutrients Market by Geography

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



Italy



France



Spain



RoE

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

(APAC) China



India



Australia



Japan



RoAPAC

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina



RoLATAM

Middle East and Africa

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Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth.

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Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/137/agricultural-micronutrients-market-2027

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When fully operational, the new facility projects 500% more annual revenue

Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Today, American Green, Inc. (OTC Pink: ERBB) signed a lease with an option to buy a 35,100 square foot building located in Phoenix, Arizona, and is expected to generate $10 million in annual revenue when fully operational. The additional revenue is approximately 500% more annual revenue than American Green's current $2 million annual revenue. The new facility will house a state-of-the-art kitchen for the manufacturing of premium edible and concentrate cannabis products. Interior design will incorporate a two-tiered layout to maximize revenue as well as square footage.

American Green's lease starts with an initial 5 years and includes an option for renewal for three more 5-year terms along with an option to purchase the building within 2 years of the lease start date. This is the second cannabis operation for ERBB in its home state of Arizona. The new location is just a few miles from its current "Sweet Virginia" Grow Facility. The new building is zoned commercial A-1 which is the appropriate zone to operate as a Cannabis Grow, subject to approval from the City of Phoenix. American Green intends on employing approximately 35 people for the new development.

David G. Gwyther, American Green's president said, "Using every square foot of space strategically and efficiently will be a priority for us as we build out the building. We are using conservative estimates of $10 million a year in annual revenue projections for this new project."

The American Green laboratory will be producing top-tier concentrate offerings within its first year of operation. Medical and recreational users can look forward to what has already been established as the 2nd most desired cannabis product, "Live Resin", "Diamonds and Sauce", "Budder", and "Apple sauce" consistencies. All produced using American Green's in-house grown selection of cannabis genetics.

As a follow up to an earlier press release, Chef Dee Russell A.K.A "Edible Dee" and "The Happy Chef" will be instrumental in the design of the kitchen, equipment purchases and American Green's premium edible and concentrate recipes. American Green will use Gierczyk Inc. for the design-build construction of the new facility.

"As soon as Arizona voters approved recreational cannabis use a few months ago, American Green recognized an amazing opportunity for expansion and retained Gierczyk Inc. and they immediately went to work analyzing buildings and locations throughout the state. We are now in a great position to capitalize on the rapidly growing Arizona recreational and medical cannabis markets. We also plan to make available American Green-brand cannabis and cannabis products across the United States when the US Congress passes legislation allowing us to do so," said David G. Gwyther, president.

Shareholders and interest holders may also stay current with American Green Updates:

American Green's Main Website at www.americangreen.com

Twitter: @American__Green (two underscores), or

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americangreenusa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americangreenusa/

About American Green, Inc.

In 2009, American Green, Inc. became America's second publicly-traded company in the cannabis sector. American Green now, with its more than 50,000 certified beneficial shareholders, is one of the largest (in shareholder count) in the cannabis sector. American Green's mission is to lead the cannabis and premium CBD industry.

Leveraging our team of professionals in cultivation management, manufacturing, extraction, wholesale, retail, and community outreach, we strive to develop sustainable initiatives in the cannabis-adjacent and CBD industries, laser-focused on adding company and shareholder value.

For more information:

Contact:

American Green, Inc.

Investor Relations

2902 W. Virginia Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85009

480-443-1600 X555

investor@americangreen.com

NOTES ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports and filings. Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by that Act. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from thoseexpressed or implied. Forward-looking statements maybe identified by words such as estimates, anticipates, projects, plans, expects, intends, believes, be should and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which they are made.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83137
Should this bill become law, it will be on very shaky ground in court, especially after the discussion that was just held today,' Wolfgang said. Supporters of the bill empowered the attorney general to sue faith-based pregnancy centers on a claim of deceptive advertising, which they refused to define. They could not have made it any clearer that this is viewpoint discrimination, that they are targeting just one group, pro-life pregnancy centers, and that it is essentially a political hit job on them. The courts are not going to look kindly on that.'
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ('Benton' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce that it has, subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), optioned the Kepenkeck gold project (the "Project") from Kevin and Alan Keats ("Keats") in central Newfoundland (the "Option"). Kevin and Alan Keats are seasoned prospectors from Newfoundland and have notably achieved recent success with the high-grade gold discovery at the Keats and Lotto zones being advanced by New Found Gold Corp. Benton acquired the prospective Project due to new road access, little historical work and due to the Project being situated in prospective geology along a major trend that hosts several high-grade gold zones to the south and west. Recent prospecting completed by Keats identified gold in grab samples, from trace values up to 2.45gpt, along with visible gold noted from panning till in two locations on the property.

The Company believes this represents a great addition to its gold portfolio and will immediately apply for exploration work permits including a detailed Magnetic and VLF airborne survey to be followed by prospecting and mapping.

Terms of the Option, subject to Exchange approval, are as follows:

$10,000 and 200,000 common shares on signing and Exchange approval;

$20,000 and 200,000 common shares on or before April 10, 2022;

$20,000 and 200,000 common shares on or before April 10, 2023; and

$40,000 and 400,000 common shares on or before April 10, 2024

Keats will retain a 2% NSR whereby Benton, at its election, will have the right to buy back 1% for CAD$1 million.

QP

Nathan Sims (P.Geo., PEGNL Member 09409), Senior Exploration Manager for Benton Resources Inc., the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-funded Canadian-based project generator with a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. Benton holds multiple high-grade projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Most projects have an up-to-date 43-101 Report available.

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Stares, President & CEO

Phone: 807-475-7474

Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079 x231

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Website: www.bentonresources.ca

Twitter: @BentonResources

Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83026
Infomedia Ltd has entered into an agreement to acquire U.S.-based e-commerce platform SimplePart

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Infomedia Ltd (ASX:IFM), a leading software provider in parts, service and data insights solutions to the global automotive industry, today announced that IFM Americas Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Infomedia Ltd, has entered into an agreement to acquire U.S.-based e-commerce platform SimplePart.

SimplePart designs, implements and manages consumer-facing e-commerce programs in the U.S. and Canada for many of the world's top automakers, helping them increase their sales of genuine automaker parts, accessories and service.

SimplePart's intuitive, purpose-designed e-commerce platform provides automaker and dealer customers a branded website, online store, and digital marketing support to power successful e-commerce programs. The leading-edge platform also includes sophisticated production systems that can catalogue complex automaker data and provide extensive reporting and insights to increase aftersales revenue; features not commonly available with other e-commerce solutions.

Infomedia's CEO Jonathan Rubinsztein said, "This is a very exciting acquisition as auto e-commerce is a strategic extension of our core global offering. SimplePart enables Infomedia to further penetrate the automaker parts ecosystem and transforms our presence in the Americas.

"SimplePart delivers a leading capability in automaker and dealer e-commerce solutions and uniquely positions Infomedia to provide our shared customer base with an expanded range of market-leading business-to-business and business-to-consumer parts, service and data insights solutions. With SimplePart, we can offer a total solution.

"SimplePart is profitable, cash-flow generative and growing in North America. Our opportunity is to support that growth trajectory and offer our combined customer base additional products and value-adding Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions in all the regions in which Infomedia operates."

SimplePart founder Cole Getzler, together with President Michael Oki, will continue to run the business from its base in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).

"This transaction is a unique opportunity for SimplePart to partner with a global leader in parts and service software that shares our philosophy of developing and delivering innovative, industry-leading fixed-operation solutions. We are looking forward to sharing our solutions globally, an opportunity every entrepreneur looks to pursue for the benefit of the business and the team," Getzler said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Infomedia will acquire 100% of SimplePart for a purchase price comprising upfront consideration of USD $24.5 million, plus an earn-out of up to USD $20.5 million which will be calculated based on SimplePart's EBIT over three years.

The transaction is expected to be EPS-accretive from the first full year of acquisition on a pro forma basis. Completion of the transaction is subject to satisfying customary closing conditions and is expected to close on or before June 30, 2021.

Infomedia continues to assess further acquisition targets with a focus on assets that enhance its core parts, service and data insights offerings and extend its capabilities, open access to new customers and increase its reach in key geographic markets.

About Infomedia: Infomedia Ltd (ASX:IFM) is an Australian-based SaaS platform provider in parts, service and data insights solutions to the global automotive industry. Infomedia has led innovation in aftersales technology within global automotive distribution networks for more than 25 years and continues to expand its reach within the three regions in which it operates. Please visit Infomedia's website https://www.infomedia.com.au and YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/infomedialtd for more information.

About SimplePart: Founded in 2008 by Cole Getzler, a car enthusiast who devised a solution to find genuine restoration parts, SimplePart has evolved into a solutions platform that allows automakers and dealers to reach nearly nine million vehicle owners a month. SimplePart is a leader in the digital fixed-ops space. The team of approximately 70 supports parts catalogue authoring, client support, enterprise consulting, design, digital marketing, business analytics and development. The SimplePart website is available here: SimplePart | Home.

For further queries, please contact:

Tanya Thomas

Head of Investor Relations & Communications

O: +61 2 9454 1547

M: + 61 424 693 055

E: tthomas@infomedia.com.au

Related Files: IFM-Infomedia-to-acquire-SimplePart

SOURCE: Infomedia Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645067/Infomedia-to-Acquire-Auto-E-Commerce-Platform-SimplePart
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) and SKRR Exploration (CSE:SKRR) have received results from the 12-hole, 1674m (5,492') drill program recently completed on EPL's 100%-owned Olson property (the "Property"). SKRR may earn up to a 75% interest in the property over three years (option agreement details below). The Olson property area covers 5,038 ha located within the Trans Hudson Corridor 100 km east of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 80km south of SSR Mining's Seabee Gold Operation. All 2021 work was fully funded by SKRR.

The current program was designed to follow up on results from a 2,981m (9,778') drill program completed on the property in Fall 2020, where 13 of the 18 of the drillholes intersected significant gold mineralization including new discoveries at the previously undrilled Point, Jena and Michael's Lake zones, high grade mineralization in a step out hole at the historic Olson Zone showing and wide intercepts of near surface mineralization at the Siskin Zone (see EPL News Releases February 4th, 2021 and March 25th, 2021).

The current program continued to demonstrate the near surface, large size potential of the Point Zone with significant widths of gold mineralization. The Point Zone shows good continuity in width and often with narrow higher-grade intervals. New highlights include:

OL21019: 50.24m @ 0.41 g/t Au (3.23m - 53.47m), including: 6.25m @ 1.15 g/t Au (35.75m - 42.00m)

(3.23m - 53.47m), including: OL21020: 39.5m @ 0.37 g/t Au (2.66m - 42.16m), including: 12.61m @ 0.60 g/t Au (20.00m - 32.61m)

(2.66m - 42.16m), including: OL21023: 7.04m @ 0.43 g/t Au (36.46m - 43.50m), and 9.02m @ 1.16 g.t Au (67.53m - 76.55m), including: 4.55m @ 1.59 g/t Au (72.00m - 76.55m)

(36.46m - 43.50m), and

Drill results at the Olson Zone continue to show encouragement and demonstrate well developed thickness with higher grade intervals. The Olson Zone is open in all directions. Significant intersections include:

OL21025: 13.1m @ 0.89 g/t Au (32.22m - 45.32m), and: 8.41m @ 0.72 g/t Au (122.47m - 130.88m)

(32.22m - 45.32m), and: OL21026: 11.04m @ 0.61 g/t Au (48.63m - 59.67m) and: 29.44m @ 1.30 g/t Au (105.04m - 134.48m), including: 10.21m @ 2.95 g/t Au (120.11m - 130.32m), including: 5.54m @ 4.12 g/t Au (121.69m - 127.23m), including: 0.78m @ 14.55 g/t Au (126.45m - 127.23m)

(48.63m - 59.67m) and:

Other Winter Program Drilling Highlights

9 of 12 holes completed intersected significant mineralization

New Gold Discovery: First hole completed at Ackbar Lake, drill hole OL21029, returned 0.75g/t over 8.12m, including 2.39g/t over 1.4m;

First hole completed at Ackbar Lake, drill hole OL21029, returned 0.75g/t over 8.12m, including 2.39g/t over 1.4m; Mineralized Core: 92 of the 717 core samples collected returned greater than 0.5 g/t Au, with 38 samples greater than 1 g/t Au.

See Olson regional map here

Winter 2021 Drill Results

SKRR completed 12 holes (1674m, 5,492') of diamond drilling that tested the Point (6 holes), Olson (4 holes), Michael's Lake and Ackbar zones (1 hole each), all located in the central part of the property. One hole was abandoned due to rapidly deteriorating ice conditions.

See Olson property map here

Analytical results ranged from trace values to broad low grade and narrow higher-grade intercepts, as summarized below.

Select Drill Results Table:

OL21019 - 031 Significant Intervals Hole From To Core Length (m)* Au (g/t) Zone OL21019 3.23 53.47 50.24 0.41 Point Including 35.75 42.00 6.25 1.15 Including 40.46 42.00 1.54 2.85 OL21020 2.66 42.16 39.50 0.37 Including 20.00 32.61 12.61 0.60 Including 30.51 32.61 2.10 1.25 OL21021 2.50 17.00 14.50 0.42 Including 10.23 11.17 0.94 3.17 OL21022 19.55 20.55 1.00 3.02 OL21023 Upper Interval 36.46 43.50 7.04 0.43 Including 38.16 38.75 0.59 2.29 Lower Interval 67.53 76.55 9.02 1.16 Including 72.00 76.55 4.55 1.59 Including 75.29 76.55 1.26 4.10 OL21024 no significant intercepts Michael's Lake OL21025 Olson Upper Interval 32.22 45.32 13.1 0.89 Including 34.91 37.4 2.49 3.67 Lower Interval 122.47 130.88 8.41 0.72 Including 122.47 125.0 2.53 1.60 Including 123.15 124.19 1.04 2.81 OL21026 Upper Interval 48.63 59.67 11.04 0.61 Including 48.63 49.7 1.07 2.55 Lower Interval 105.04 134.48 29.44 1.30 Including 120.11 130.32 10.21 2.95 Including 121.69 127.23 5.54 4.12 Including 126.45 127.23 0.78 14.55 OL21027 abandoned OL21028 no significant intercepts OL21029 98 106.12 8.12 0.75 Ackbar Including 101.75 103.2 1.4 2.39 OL21030 no significant intercepts Olson OL21031 127.9 143 15.15 0.39 Point

* All drill indicated intercepts as reported in this news release are measured along core length and true thickness is yet to be determined.

See Olson Zone map and drill collar locations here

Drill holes OL21019 - 23, and OL21031 tested the shear-vein systems associated with the contact between granodiorite and meta-sediments at the Point showing, where 2020 drilling returned 39.80m of 1.09g/t Au including 1.53m of 13.80 g/t Au in DDH OL2004.

OL21019-21, 30m step back holes from OL20004, intercepted broad zones of gold mineralization that extend from granodiorite at surface across the contact with the metasediments. Hole OL21019 intercepted 0.41 g/t Au over 50.24m, including 1.15 g/t Au over 6.25m and 2.85 g/t Au over 1.54m. Hole OL21020 intercepted 0.37 g/t Au over 39.50m, including 0.6 g/t Au over 12.61m and 1.25 g/t Au over 2.10m. Hole OL21021 intercepted 0.42 g/t Au over 14.50m, including 3.17 g/t Au over 0.94m.

OL21022, a 50m step-out south along strike from holes OL21019-21 returned a best intercept of 3.02 g/t Au over 1.00m from 19.55-20.55m.

OL21023, a 50m step-out north along strike from holes OL21019-21 intercepted two zones of gold mineralization. The upper interval returned 0.43 g/t Au over 7.04m, including 2.29 g/t Au over 0.59m associated with arsenopyrite/pyrrhotite stringer veins within the Brownell Lake Pluton. Mineralization in the lower interval was associated with a granodiorite dyke, and returned 1.16 g/t Au over 9.02m, including 4.1 g/t Au over 1.26m.

OL21031, a 75m step-out north along strike from OL21023, returned 0.39g/t Au over 15.15m.

Drill holes OL21025 - 26, and OL21030 were drilled at the Olson Zone. Hole OL21025 was drilled as a 65m step-out to the west along strike from hole OL20017, which returned 9.64 g/t Au over 1.23m. It intercepted two significant zones of gold mineralization. The upper interval returned 0.89 g/t Au over 13.10m, including 3.67 g/t Au over 2.49m, associated with sericite alteration in metabasalt. The lower interval returned 0.72 g/t Au over 8.41m associated with up to 1% vein-hosted and disseminated arsenopyrite.

Hole OL21026 was drilled to infill an 150m gap in historic drilling at the Olson showing. The hole intercepted well developed quartz veining and silicification and returned 1.30 g/t Au over 29.44m, including 4.12 g/t Au over 5.54m and 14.55 g/t Au over 0.78m.

Hole OL21029, the first hole ever drilled at the Ackbar Lake Zone, was designed to test a large soil anomaly. It returned 0.75 g/t Au over 8.12m, including 2.39 g/t Au over 1.40m, with mineralization hosted in diorite with up to 1% vein-hosted and disseminated arsenopyrite.

Tim Termuende, P.Geo., President and CEO commented recently on the results: "We are extremely encouraged by the results to date at the Olson Project and congratulate SKRR for their confidence and perseverance and the TerraLogic exploration team for their excellent work to date. The presence of consistent high grade gold mineralization identified at the Olson Zone and low-grade, bulk-tonnage gold mineralization discovered at the Point and Ackbar Zones confirms the overall potential of the Olson Project and bodes well for further exploration and potential resource development. We look optimistically forward to future exploration of the property."

Sherman Dahl, CEO, SKRR Exploration stated: "Our Olson drilling was ambitiously designed to test the size potential of the Olson gold system. It was successful on all fronts. The presence of consistent high grade gold mineralization identified at the Olson project confirms the overall potential growing into a significant resource".

Olson Project Summary

The Olson project area overlies regionally sheared, highly strained meta-volcanic and intrusive rocks which are considered to be prospective for orogenic gold mineralization. The property is host to 29 mineral occurrences defined by historical geological mapping, prospecting, trenching and 4700 m of diamond drilling, with the last drilling reported in 2008. Historical drilling at Olson Lake has intersected 7.5 m grading 2.07 g/t Au including 13.00 g/t Au over 0.65 m, and grab samples of up to 105.52 g/t Au have been collected at the Kalix occurrence. 2018-2019 fieldwork completed by Eagle Plains and a previous partner consisted of a detailed compilation of historical data, geological mapping, soil geochemical work and prospecting. The fall 2020 drill program at the Olson intersected significant gold mineralization including new discoveries at the previously undrilled Point, Jena and Michael's Lake zones, high grade mineralization in a step out hole at the historic Olson showing and wide intercepts of near surface mineralization at the Siskin Zone. The project is considered to be significantly underexplored, with known gold occurrences open at depth and along strike. Some results are historical in nature and have not been confirmed by Eagle Plains/SKRR but are considered to be reliable and will form a basis for ongoing work.

QA/QC

Geological and geotechnical logging and core sampling were completed at a facility on the Olson property. Assay intervals were based on visual identification of mineralization, presence and density of quartz veins and lithological boundaries. Terralogic Exploration geologists maintained chain of custody and sampling procedures reported in this news release according to best industry practice and with due attention to quality assurance and quality control, including sampling field duplicates and insertion of certified standard and blank samples.

Samples were sent for geochemical analysis with ALS Global, Vancouver for the following analyses: 48 element four-acid ICP-MS (ME-MS61) and gold (Au) 30 g Fire Assay - AA finish (Au-AA23). Samples that returned over 1ppm Au by Au-AA23 were re-analysed using gold (Au) 30g Fire Assay - Gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21).

On receipt of final certificates of analysis, the QA/QC sample results were reviewed to ensure the order of samples were reported correctly, that the blanks ran clean, and that the results for each standard had minimal variance from its certified value. QA/QC for the Olson Drilling Program included certified reference material ("CRM's") and blanks that were inserted into each sample batch in order to verify the analytical from the lab. The CRM's from all holes reported passed within 3 standard deviations and the blanks returned acceptable values. All of the lab internal standards and duplicates were within acceptable values.

Olson Option Agreement Details

Under the Agreement, SKRR may earn-in up to a 51% interest in the Property by making certain staged cash payments, share payments of common shares in the capital of SKRR to Eagle Plains and exploration expenditures over a period as follows: (i) $10,000 in cash upon execution of a letter of intent in respect of the Transaction (received); (ii) $20,000 in cash and 200,000 common shares upon TSXV approval of the Transaction (received); (iii) $40,000 in cash, 200,000 common shares and $200,000 in exploration expenditures on or before December 31, 2020 (received); (iv) $80,000 in cash, 200,000 common shares and $500,000 in exploration expenditures on or before December 31, 2021; and (v) $100,000 in cash, 200,000 common shares and $800,000 in exploration expenditures on or before December 31, 2022.

SKRR may earn-in up to a an additional 24% (75% total) interest in the Property by making additional exploration expenditures of $1,500,000 on the Property and issuing 200,000 common shares of SKRR to Eagle Plains on or before December 31, 2023.

Iron Range Project Update

Eagle Plains has received an anniversary cash payment of $15,000 from its option partner (an arm's length private Alberta company ("the Company")), related to an option agreement on Eagle Plains' 100% owned Iron Range Project located near Creston, in Southern British Columbia. Eagle Plains has also recently received final data/reporting/interpretation from the 2020 Iron Range field program, wholly funded by the Company. 2020 work at the Iron Range included soil, rock, and stream sediment geochemistry, a Quantum Geoelectrophysics (QGEP), or Quantum Direct Matter Indicator (QDMI) non conventional geophysical survey, and 10 hole, 738m diamond drilling program. Although the results from the 2020 work are inconclusive, further work has been recommended to continue to advance the Iron Range project.

Under terms of the option agreement as announced May 5th, 2020, the Company holds the exclusive right to earn up to a 60% interest in the Iron Range Project (the "Project") from Eagle Plains over a five-year period by incurring $3,500,000 in exploration expenditures and making $250,000 in cash payments to Eagle Plains. The Company retains the right to increase its interest to 80% by making a one-time cash payment of $1,000,000 to Eagle Plains.

Management of Eagle Plains considers the Iron Range project to hold excellent potential for the presence of both iron-oxide copper-gold ("IOCG") and Sullivan-style lead-zinc-silver sedimentary-exhalative ("sedex") mineralization. The Iron Range property covers an area of approximately 10km x 60km which overlies the regional Iron Range Fault System ("IRFS"). Prior to the acquisition and initial involvement of Eagle Plains in 2001, the property had seen little systematic exploration for other than iron resources known to exist on the property since the late 1800s. Since 2001, Eagle Plains and its partners have completed 17,964m in diamond-drilling in 70 holes, collected 2482 line-km of airborne and surface geophysical data and analysed 10,078 soil geochemical samples, 498 rock samples and 5749 drill core samples.

Drilling at Iron Range in 2010 resulted in the discovery of the Talon Zone, where drill-hole IR10-010 intersected 2 intervals of strong and continuous mineralization including 14.0m grading 5.1g/t gold, 1.86% lead, 2.1% Zinc, 75.3g/t silver and 7.1m grading 8.13g/t gold, 2.84% lead, 3.07% zinc, 86.6g/t silver (Eagle Plains news release December 21st, 2010). Previous drilling 10km north of the Talon Zone in 2008 by Eagle Plains intersected gold mineralization in drill-hole IR08006 which assayed 7.0m grading 51.52g/t (1.50 oz/ton) gold (Eagle Plains news release dated April 20th, 2009).

Qualified Persons

The four-week program at the Olson was supervised by Jarrod Brown, P.Geo. of Terralogic Exploration Services of Cranbrook, B.C. and relied extensively on support services and personnel from the town of Deschambault Lake, SK for which we express our gratitude. The Iron Range drill program was supervised by Kerry Bates, P.Geo. Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Director of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team. Eagle Plains also holds significant royalty interests in western Canadian projects covering a broad spectrum of commodities. Management's focus is to advance its most promising exploration projects. In addition, Eagle Plains continues to seek out and secure high-quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic acquisitions. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

Expenditures from 2011-2020 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $22M, most of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 37,000 m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645045/Eagle-Plains-SKRR-Continue-To-Intersect-Significant-Gold-Mineralization-at-the-Olson-Gold-Project-Saskatchewan
Company Marks Decade and a Half of Market Leadership, Innovation in Operational Resilience, and Promises Kept

Fusion Risk Management, Inc. ("Fusion"), a leading provider of operational resilience, business continuity, and risk management software and services, today announced it celebrates 15 years of delivering market-leading expertise and customer service excellence. Fusion's holistic approach to operational resilience has enabled the company to continuously record extraordinary growth and deliver on its original promise to help its customers weather any disruption.

Founded in 2006, Fusion first reimagined resilience by enabling organizations to gather, organize, analyze, visualize, and leverage data to manage and prepare for any disruption. Lead by a team of founders including David Nolan, John Jackson, Bob Sibik, and Victor Fricas, Fusion established the industry's first and only comprehensive approach to resilience that eliminates the traditional information silos perpetuated by outdated legacy solutions. Today, Fusion continues to lead the market and help global companies drive digital transformation of operational resilience and related disciplines.

"Since its founding, Fusion's vision has been to help organizations deliver on their brand promises and operate through good times and adversity, by approaching operational resilience through a data-centric lens," said David Nolan, Founder of Fusion. "For 15 years we have delivered a North Star of resilience to our clients and continuously innovated our offering to meet their unique and changing needs. We are so proud of our team of experts and the technology-enabled approach that have made Fusion industry leaders in operational resilience, and incredibly grateful to our global customers who have turned to Fusion to extend the boundaries of what was previously thought possible."

The milestone follows a period of significant momentum for the company, as it continues to evolve its offering and reinforce its market leadership in operational resilience. Fusion recently onboarded two of the top 10 global banks and another top 25 financial institution and announced several executive appointments including CEO Michael Campbell, CMO Terese Fernandez, COO Judith Tigner, and CPO Brian Molk. The company also continues to record industry recognition for its innovative technology and customer service excellence, including being named a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant report for Business Continuity Program Management Solutions four years in a row, Continuity Resilience Innovation by the Business Continuity Institute Americas in 2020, Best Risk Management Winner in the SC Europe Awards 2020, and Product/Service Provider of the Year by Disaster Recovery Institute in 2020.

Some key Fusion milestones include:

2006 Fusion Risk Management is incorporated by industry leaders in resilience, risk management and business continuity

2010 Launched the Fusion Framework System

2014 Investment from Level Equity Investment; added Visual Relationship Browser

2017 Investment from Catalyst Investment; first Solutions conference; added enterprise community

2018 Next generation UI powered by the Salesforce Lightning Platform; opened UK office

2019 Became a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company to propel growth; expanded risk management solution

2020 Created Resilience Toolkit and expanded operational resilience for financial and banking institutions

"Now more than ever, organizations face innumerable obstacles and risk factors they must manage to successfully operate in today's dynamic global landscape. These challenges present an exciting opportunity for us to help our clients future-proof their brand reputations and improve their resilience postures," said Michael Campbell, CEO of Fusion. "Fusion's mission has always been to create a more resilient world, and the past year of global disruption has shown not only the necessity of operational resilience, but the critical business value. We are incredibly proud of the global customer community and unmatched reputation for partnership we have built over the past 15 years, and excited to continue fostering a cross-industry culture of resilience to safeguard individuals, companies and broader economies."

Fusion's renowned culture is core to its longevity. The company has a longstanding reputation for purpose-driven excellence built on its core values of trust, passion, collaboration, customer centricity and growth. Fusion's shared mission and talented staff have garnered significant industry recognition, including multiple honors of Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and Best Place to Work by Built in Chicago.

For more information, visit www.fusionrm.com.

About Fusion Risk Management, Inc.

Fusion Risk Management is a leading industry provider of cloud-based software solutions for business continuity, risk management, IT disaster recovery, and crisis and incident management. Its products and services take organizations beyond legacy solutions and empowers them to make data-driven decisions with a comprehensive and flexible approach through one system. Fusion and its team of experts are dedicated to helping companies achieve greater operational resilience and mitigate risks within their businesses. For more information, visit www.fusionrm.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005241/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Articulate Communications for Fusion Risk Management

Emily Allen

fusion@articulatecomms.com

212-255-1198
SC Awards honor the best in U.S. cybersecurity

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Skybox Security, a global leader in security posture management, today announced it won Best Vulnerability Management Solution at the 2021 SC Awards. Honoring the best in U.S. cybersecurity, the annual SC Media Awards recognize the products and companies that are forging the industry's future and enabling organizations to protect their most critical assets.

"This award recognizes that Skybox stands alone as the only vulnerability and threat management solution that prioritizes vulnerabilities based on a combination of asset importance, CVSS score, exploitability, and advanced exposure analysis. We uniquely calculate exposure by conducting attack simulation across hybrid networks," said Gidi Cohen, CEO and founder, Skybox Security. "Fortune 1000 customers choose Skybox because we increase the accuracy of their vulnerability assessments, reduce mean time to remediation, and measure cyber exposure on a continuous basis."

Pioneering a new approach to vulnerability management

A new threat landscape requires a new approach to security posture management. Skybox Security evolved its platform to secure customers' accelerated digital transformation initiatives such as cloud migration and IT/OT convergence. This year, Skybox delivered the world's most advanced exposure analysis, which was made possible through its unique ability to model hybrid networks.

"Skybox offers a comprehensive three-dimensional digital model of the enterprise which simulates real-world attacks," said Steve Zurier, security journalist at SC Media. "With data collected from dozens of sources and its robust threat intelligence feed, Skybox runs as a true risk platform that automates workflow from discovery to targeted action, delivering accurate and customizable risk scores to focus teams on critical vulnerabilities, exploitable assets and the most effective remediation options."

Integrating with over 150 networking, security, cloud, and IT management solutions, the Vulnerability and Threat Management Solution automatically maps and visualizes the attack surface to reduce cybersecurity exposure continuously. Customers also receive a verified and up-to-the-minute contextualized threat intelligence in one consolidated source from the Skybox Research Lab.

"The product normalizes data from different vendors for easy analysis, examining it in the context of the attack surface, and automates assessment, prioritization, remediation planning and monitoring," added Zurier. "It matches vulnerabilities to network exposures, threats and potential business impacts of an exploit, while focusing resources on imminent threats. And it measures, tracks and demonstrates risk levels over time, while delivering visual, abstracted views of the attack surface to easily convey security status across teams and up the management chain."

Recognized as the gold standard of cybersecurity excellence

Now in its 25th year, 2021's SC Awards were the most competitive yet. Winners of the Trust Award were chosen by a distinguished group of leading IT security professionals. Entrants were narrowed down to a select group of finalists before undergoing a rigorous final judging process to determine the winner of each category.

"Distinct challenges that emerged during the last year resulted in a diverse range of demands from the customer community. A pandemic drove employees home en masse; supply chain attacks left government agencies and businesses reeling; cybercriminals and enemy nation states banked on security gaps during unprecedented times, targeting home networks, healthcare organizations, and retailers, among many other organizations," said Jill Aitoro, editor in chief of SC Media. "Winners of our Trust Awards demonstrated remarkable resiliency, adapting to meet evolving requirements of customers."

The SC Awards are recognized throughout the security industry as the gold standard of excellence in cybersecurity. For more information and a detailed list of categories, finalists and winners, please visit https://scawardsus.com/ .

Additional resources

Demo: Prioritize exposed vulnerabilities across your entire threat landscape

Case study: Skybox Security reduces customer remediation time from weeks to hours

CEO insights: How to mature your cybersecurity program

About SC Media

SC Media is the essential resource for cybersecurity professionals, keeping them up to date on vital developments and focusing on their most important concerns. Whether practitioners or leaders, technologists or executives, people who care about cybersecurity turn to SC Media, every day and throughout the day, to stay informed and gain insight into the complex issues that matter in their strategic and technology decision-making. As CyberRisk Alliance's gateway resource, SC Media taps into an authoritative community of thinkers and innovators to provide a full range of relevant and useful content, including exclusive market research and data, opinion and perspective, independent product reviews, compelling in-person and virtual learning, and much more.

About CyberRisk Alliance

CyberRisk Alliance (CRA) was formed to help cybersecurity professionals face the challenges that threaten the success and prosperity of their organizations. We provide business intelligence and information services to help our growing community build effective strategies and make smart decisions, and innovative marketing solutions to galvanize an efficient marketplace. Most of all, we work to engage the entire cyber community and lift the success of all industry professionals.

About Skybox Security

Over 500 of the largest and most security-conscious enterprises in the world rely on Skybox for the insights and assurance required to stay ahead of dynamically changing attack surfaces. At Skybox, we don't just serve up data and information. We provide the intelligence and context to make informed decisions, taking the guesswork out of securely enabling enterprises at scale and speed. Our unified security posture management platform delivers complete visibility, analytics and automation to quickly map, prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities across your organization. The vendor-agnostic platform intelligently optimizes security policies, actions and change process across all corporate networks and cloud environments. With Skybox, security teams can now focus on the most strategic business initiatives while ensuring enterprises remain protected.

We are Skybox. Secure more, limit less. skyboxsecurity.com

Awards information

Wendy Loew, SVP, Events

Wendy.Loew@cyberriskalliance.com

Media contact

Ashley Nakano, Corporate Communications

ashley.nakano@skyboxsecurity.com

 2021 SC Media. CyberRisk Alliance, LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

 2021 Skybox Security, Inc. All rights reserved. Skybox Security and the Skybox Security logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Skybox Security, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change at any time without prior notice.

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MIDDLEBURY, Conn., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Timex Group, a world leader in watchmaking, and adidas, a global leader in the sporting goods industry, have entered into a global licensing agreement for watches. Timex Group will design, manufacture and distribute watches worldwide under the adidas Originals brand. The first collection will hit the market beginning of 2022.

"We could not be more excited to welcome adidas into our portfolio of brands," says Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, President & CEO of Timex Group. "There are few truly iconic brands, and adidas, with its rich history and authentic style, is at the very top of the list. We see a strong and increasing interest in watches among young Millennials and GenZ, and we look forward to introducing our adidas Originals watch collection to this next generation of consumers."

The new range launching in Spring 2022 will blend Timex Group's watchmaking and design expertise and adidas Originals' street culture inspiration and attention to sustainability. It will be sold across adidas owned stores, affiliates and e-commerce, and through Timex Group's global distribution network.

About Timex Group

Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces around the world. Timex Group is a privately-held company headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with multiple operating units and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As one of the largest watch makers in the world, Timex Group companies produce watches under a number of well-known brands, including Timex, Nautica, Guess, Gc, Ted Baker, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Versus, Missoni, Furla and adidas.

Join Timex on social media: @timex

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

About adidas

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 62,000 people across the globe and generated sales of  19.8 billion in 2020.

Contact Timex Group

Michala Oestereich?

Michala.Oestereich@zenogroup.com | TimexPR@zenogroup.com?

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6 May 2021

PJSC Acron Board of Directors Issues Dividend Recommendations

As part of preparations for the Annual General Meeting to be held on 28 May 2021 as absentee voting, Acron Board of Directors met on 5 May 2021 and considered the following agenda items:

On reviewing Acron's 2020 annual financial statements (accounts) On recommendations for Acron's 2020 profit and loss distribution (including paying (declaring) dividends for 2020) On reviewing the auditor's reports on Acron's 2020 statements audit On approving the terms and conditions for an agreement with Acron's Registrar (Joint Stock Company Independent Registrar Company R.O.S.T.) for arranging, convening and holding a general meeting of securities holders, in particular acting as a counting commission On determining the Board of Directors' position on agenda items for Acron's Annual General Meeting and grounds for passing relevant resolutions On considering the draft Regulation on Acron Managing Board as amended.

In respect of profit and loss distribution and dividend payment, the Board of Directors recommended that the annual general meeting:

Distribute Acron's 2020 net profit as follows: RUB 1,216,020,000 shall be allocated to pay dividends on Acron outstanding ordinary shares

RUB 4,469,524,499 shall remain undistributed Pay (declare) dividends on Acron outstanding ordinary shares for 2020 in cash at the rate of thirty roubles (RUB 30) per share. The Board of Directors also recommended setting a record date for persons entitled to dividends for 8 June 2021.

All the information to be provided to persons entitled to attend the shareholder meeting, including Board of Directors recommendations on dividend amount, will be made available on the corporate website, the Shareholder's Personal Account on the Registrar website at https://lk.rrost.ru, and submitted to the central depositary not later than on 7 May 2021. It will also be available at the Company's offices.

Media Contacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasia Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor Contacts:

Ilya Popov

Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron subsidiary North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP) holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2020, the Group sold 7.8 million tonnes of main products to 74 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2020, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 119,864 million (USD 1,661 million), with EBITDA of RUB 35,311 million (USD 489 million). Acron's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - International Prospect Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: IZZ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mining property purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with an arms' length party (the "Vendor") on the Beartooth Island Prospect (the "Property"), for the acquisition of the remaining 60% undivided interest in the Property. In accordance with the terms of the Agreement and upon receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company will issue 300,000 of its common shares and make a cash payment of $10,000 to the Vendor. With the Company already holding 40% interest, on completion of the acquisition, the Company will own 100% of the Beartooth Island Property.

The Property, focused on uranium exploration, consists of one mineral claim covering an area of 5,940 hectares located in the northwest portion of the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan. Separately, the Company has staked four additional mineral claims that were originally associated with the Property. The four additional mineral claims and the Property together form the Beartooth Island Uranium Project (the "Project") covering Beartooth Island in Lake Athabasca, and totaling 22,581 hectares. The Project is located about 77 km southwest of Uranium City, Saskatchewan.

"While we remain focused on our gold assets in Western Australia, this transaction presented us with the opportunity to own 100% of the Beartooth Island Uranium Project, which will allow us to gain control of the asset and enter into future joint venture or option agreements. The Company is actively seeking partners to advance the uranium property," says Martin Walter, President/CEO.

Uranium-bearing boulders were first noted on Beartooth Island in 1976 and in 1977 the Maurice Bay Uranium Deposit* (historical 1.5 million pounds uranium, based on 600,000 tonnes grading 0.6% U3O8 to a depth of 50 metres; Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Miscellaneous Report 2003-7) was discovered, located about 20 km to the northwest on the shore of Lake Athabasca.

*The Maurice Bay historical resource estimate was completed prior to the implementation of National Instrument 43-101. A qualified person has not completed sufficient work to verify and classify the historical resource estimate as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating the historical resource estimate as a current mineral resource. Hence, the estimate should not be relied upon. It should be noted that mineral resources, which are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.

In early 2008, under the earn-in agreement between the Vendor and then owner Golden Valley Mines Ltd., a Quantec Geoscience Spartan magnetotelluric ("MT") survey was completed over the claims. This geophysical survey (18 lines) identified the target unconformity of the Athabasca Basin at approximately 700 metres depth and suggested lateral extension of the unconformity within the Project. Interpretation of the MT survey presented 14 priority targets and 45 secondary targets. The MT survey was followed by a four-hole diamond drilling program (also completed in 2008) which intersected the basement unconformity and anomalous uranium concentrations. Further drilling and borehole geophysical surveys were recommended. No work has been done on the Project since 2008.

Qualified Person

Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans, (PhD, PMP, P.Geo.), a Director and Vice-President, Exploration for the Company, is a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved of the technical content of this press release as it relates to the Project.

For additional information, please contact:

Martin Walter

President/CEO

2864 chemin Sullivan

Val-d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9

Tel.: 819-824-2808

Email: martin.walter@iprospectventures.ca

Website: www.iprospectventures.ca

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains 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 "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in 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 law, 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.

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 news release.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES 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 OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83053
Victory Marine Holdings Retains STK Financial

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Victory Marine Holdings (OTC PINK:VMHG) announces STK Financial has been retained to assist in the preparation of financial statements and the notes thereto, and the Annual and Quarterly Reports. Zia Choe, CPA will oversee the Victory Marine Holdings account.

STK Financial routinely prepares financial documents and reports for many of its clients specializes in internal control consultation and pre-audit services. Zia Choe, CPA, a Managing Partner at STK Financial has 15 years of combined professional experience including 8 years of financial audit and financial reporting.

Orlando Hernandez, Victory Marine Holdings CEO stated, "We are pleased to be working with STK Financial. Zia Choe's experience and detail-oriented approach to financials and accounting is an important step in our maturation as a public company. We believe this is also a step in our goal of becoming a fully reporting public company and meeting the requirements for a future uplisting."

About Us

Victory Marine Holdings (OTC:VMHG), is a recreational marine provider seeking to bring the best product and best service in different areas of this amazing industry. We are focused on providing our client a one stop experience in all their recreational marine needs from new and used boats to financing, insurance, documentation, and accessories. To view our inventory, please visit https://www.victoryyachts.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements certain statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "may," "will," "would," "should," "plan," "projected," "intend," and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company's future operating results are dependent upon many factors, including but not limited to the Company's ability to: (i) obtain sufficient capital or a strategic business arrangement to fund its expansion plans; (ii) build the management and human resources and infrastructure necessary to support the growth of its business; (iii) competitive factors and developments beyond the Company's control; and (iv) other risk factors. We assume no obligation to update the information contained in this news release.

Investor Relations Contact:

Andrew Barwicki

516-662-9461/Andrew@barwicki.com

SOURCE: Victory Marine Holdings

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645117/Victory-Marine-Holdings-Retains-STK-Financial
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSX: XTG) (OTCQB: XTGRF) ("Xtra-Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following summary of Q1 2021 Financials:

Total Assets increased from US$9,340,942 (Dec. 31, 2020) to US$11,866,211 (March 31, 2021), comprised mainly of cash, liquid securities, and gold inventory ("cash");





(March 31, 2021), comprised mainly of cash, liquid securities, and gold inventory ("cash"); Zero Debt; and





Net Income of US$1,920,672 for the quarter.

The full details of the Q1 Financials with MD&A can be viewed on the Company's web-site at www.xtragold.com.

James Longshore, Founder and CEO states: "The Company continues to demonstrate its ability to self-finance our drilling/work programs through the Community Mining Project. With this quarter net income of approximately $2 million, we have enough cash to internally finance our 2021 and 2022 work programs. We are aggressively expanding our resource, with the goal of getting the Kibi Gold Project recognized as a significant gold discovery."

About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp.

Xtra-Gold is a gold exploration company with a substantial land position in the Kibi Gold Belt. The Kibi Gold Belt, which exhibits many similar geological features to Ghana's main gold belt (the Ashanti Belt with over 150 million oz's of gold discovered), has been the subject of very limited modern exploration activity targeting lode gold deposits as virtually all past gold mining activity and exploration efforts focused on the extensive alluvial gold occurrences in many river valleys.

Forward-Looking Statements

The TSX does not accept 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. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

James Longshore

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 416-628-2881

E-mail: info@xtragold.com

Website: www.xtragold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83156
Regarding concerns raised about voter fraud, Ritter said, People love to use the word fraud or they will point to one example where something did not go right. One or two. ... People are going to vote no because of one random story from another state. Has there been fraud in elections? Yes, there has. People have been arrested and prosecuted. But it is so rare. It is such an unlikely crime that we should enfranchise the 99.9999% of good actors in our state and not punish everybody for that.
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Alkame Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALKM), today confirmed its long-term commitment to its new Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) product line and entering into a contract to supply PPE to Aladyn Protection Systems, LLC.

Aladyn is a global wholesale distributor of PPE supplies specializing within the tourism and hospitality markets, with a logistic center located in Miami, Florida.

The agreement ramps up Aladyn's purchase of PPE inventory from Alkame with the intended order size doubling every ten weeks to a target $1 million in total purchases from Alkame in the first year.

In 2020, Alkame first shifted its manufacturing focus toward the production of quality PPE products such as hand sanitizer for first responders and the medical sector. A lengthy amount of time went into licensing, regulatory, compliance inspections, certifications, and formulations. The manufacturing shift first paid off with PPE sales to the State of Oregon.

As 2020 progressed, Alkame was able to secure a Canadian distribution partner for PPE products, and provide the necessary information and documentation to allow for export.

The first temporary shift into the PPE sector can be viewed as a long-term opportunity, adding to Alkame's regular co-packing business, which anticipates a sales resurgence as the economic impact of COVID-19 abates.

Aladyn specializes in servicing companies in the tourism and hospitality sector, offering a wide selection of high-quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through a system of scheduled purchases, as well as specialized consulting, personal service, and the best prices.

With more than 30 years of experience in international trade, offices in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, direct relationships with recognized manufacturers and certified logistics companies, Aladyn is a comprehensive solution for all your PPE needs.

About Alkame Holdings, Inc.

Alkame Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded holding company that operates with a focus in distinct sectors: health and wellness, technology, manufacturing, and distribution. The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries manufacture and distribute products with an emphasis on utilizing an enhanced water technology with several unique properties. The water technology is supported by four independent human clinical studies. There are a multitude of product applications we currently, or have capability to, utilize with our technology to produce and/or add value to, including but not limited to, consumer beverages, CBD/hemp products, pet products, horticulture, agriculture and aquaculture applications, and hand sanitizers.

For more information, visit www.alkameholdingsinc.com.

Alkame Holdings, Inc. Investor Relations

Website: www.alkameholdingsinc.com

Email: info@alkameholdingsinc.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that Alkame will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Company's contracts, the Company's liquidity position, the Company's ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

SOURCE: Alkame Holdings, Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83150
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: BUZZ) (OTC Pink: LMLLF) ("PharmaDrug" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a service agreement with a respected contract research organization (CRO) with deep expertise in preclinical oncology model development and drug testing, to evaluate the Company's patented enteric-coated formulation of Cepharanthine ("PD-001") in a broad panel of human cancers.

"We are focused on advancing the clinical development of our novel Cepharanthine formulation that not only has significant potential for infectious diseases, but also in select rare forms of cancer with high unmet medical needs," said Daniel Cohen, CEO of PharmaDrug. "Our research and development strategy to identify highly probable uses of PD-001 in select cancer indications will allow us to de-risk and accelerate development of preclinical and clinical studies while building core competencies and scientific data for future partnering opportunities with pharmaceutical companies."

Based on multiple, positive preclinical data sets1,2,3 and a recent decision from the FDA to grant Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for Cepharanthine in the treatment of esophageal cancer, the Company remains committed to fully exploring this clinical opportunity. However, in parallel, the Company will undertake efforts to confirm and expand on Cepharanthine's noted benefit in previously examined cancers, while also assessing potential benefit across a panel of untested cancer types.

The Company's current study, which will examine the anti-cancer properties of PD-001 in a large panel of solid and liquid cancer cell types, will be conducted under study conditions that will facilitate valid head-to-head comparisons of relative drug potency. A planned follow up study will use data generated from the first study to examine the benefit of PD-001 alone (monotherapy) or when combined with relevant first and second-line chemotherapy drugs. In most cases, adoption of any novel anti-cancer therapeutic occurs as an 'add-on' to an established multidrug standard of care. Development of chemoresistance after repeated and prolonged exposure to chemotherapy remains a significant clinical challenge4. Cepharanthine has been shown in preclinical efficacy models to restore cancer cell sensitivity to multiple unrelated classes of chemotherapy. Collectively the studies being undertaken by the Company aim to identify and provide focus on novel opportunities in oncology by revealing optimal drug combinations, situations where PD-001 can prevent, lessen, or reverse chemoresistance, and/or provide additive/synergistic benefit to existing treatments. Data collected during these studies will be used to help inform the Company's downstream clinical development efforts while also potentially creating opportunities to secure additional intellectual property around any novel findings.

About PD-001 (Enteric-coated Cepharanthine)

Cepharanthine is a natural product and an approved drug used for more than 70 years in Japan to successfully treat a variety of acute and chronic diseases. In clinical research, Cepharanthine has been shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties5. However, historically Cepharanthine's low oral bioavailability has represented a major obstacle to realizing its full clinical potential.

The Company is focused on advancing the clinical development of an improved oral formulation of Cepharanthine (PD-001) to treat rare cancers and infectious diseases. Compared to generic Cepharanthine, PD-001 has been shown in rodent and non-rodent models to possess markedly superior bioavailability (more easily absorbed). These findings support the development of an orally administered formulation, and in so doing, removes the undesirable requirement for frequent intravenous dosing.

About PharmaDrug Inc.

PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs. The Company owns 80% of Pharmadrug Production GmbH, a German medical cannabis distributor, with a Schedule I European Union narcotics license and German EuGMP certification allowing for the importation and distribution of medical cannabis to pharmacies in Germany and throughout the EU. The Company also owns 100% of Super Smart, a Dutch company building a modern adult use psychedelic retail business with an elevated and educational focus. PharmaDrug recently acquired Sairiyo Therapeutics, a biotech company that specializes in researching and reformulating established natural medicines with a goal of bringing them through regulatory and research driven clinical trials.

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Cohen, Chairman and CEO

dcohen@pharmadrug.co

(647) 202-1824

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable 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 press release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the timing of the proposed non-clinical and clinical manufacturing of Cepharanthine for the Company's rare cancer and infectious diseases programs; the ability to expedite development timelines by leveraging SwRI's existing Cepharanthine preclinical data sets and manufacturing know-how; the ability to advance clinical development of an improved oral formulation of Cepharanthine to treat rare cancers and infectious diseases; the ability to obtain applicable approval for the use of Cepharanthine to treat esophageal cancer; the timing and potential results of the Company's plan to initiate high throughput studies to screen a large panel of additional cancers; the Company's plans to evaluate the benefit of its novel oral formulation of Cepharanthine in an animal model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its proposed discussions with regulators regarding same. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to the ability of the Company to successfully execute on its plans for the Company and Sairiyo; the ability to complete the studies referenced herein nd the results thereto; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals and the Company's continued response and ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic being consistent with, or better than, its ability and response to date.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. 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; the actual results of the Company's future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting the Company; the ability to obtain and maintain required permits and approvals, the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, economic activity, financing, supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit the Company's ability to obtain external financing.

A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website 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 information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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. 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.

The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, 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 expressly required by applicable securities law.

References:



Zhou P, Zhang R, Wang Y, Xu D, Zhang L, Qin J, Su G, Feng Y, Chen H, You S, Rui W, Liu H, Chen S, Chen H, Wang Y. Cepharanthine hydrochloride reverses the mdr1 (P-glycoprotein)-mediated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell cisplatin resistance through JNK and p53 signals. Oncotarget. 2017 Nov 27;8(67):111144-111160. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22676. Erratum in: Oncotarget. 2021 Jan 05;12(1):61-62. PMID: 29340044; PMCID: PMC5762312.

Saito T, Hikita M, Kohno K, Tanimura H, Miyahara M, Kobayashi M. Enhanced expression of the multidrug resistance gene in vindesine-resistant human esophageal cancer cells. Oncology. 1994 Sep-Oct;51(5):440-5. doi: 10.1159/000227380. PMID: 8052486.

Yano T, Nakatani K, Watanabe A, Sawada H, Yamada Y, Nakano H, Ohnishi T. Additive effects of cepharanthin in CDDP/hyperthermia combination therapy against transplantable human esophageal cancer in nude mice. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1994 Jun 15;29(3):525-8. doi: 10.1016/0360-3016(94)90449-9. PMID: 8005810.

He J, Fortunati E, Liu DX, Li Y. Pleiotropic Roles of ABC Transporters in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 21;22(6):3199. doi: 10.3390/ijms22063199. PMID: 33801148; PMCID: PMC8004140.

Peto K, Nemeth N, Mester A, Magyar Z, Ghanem S, Somogyi V, Tanczos B, Deak A, Bidiga L, Frecska E, Nemes B. Hemorheological and metabolic consequences of renal ischemia reperfusion and their modulation by N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine on a rat model. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2018;70(1):107-117. doi: 10.3233/CH-170361. PMID: 29660915.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83155
Rising awareness regarding the harmful effects of consuming untreated water drives the surface disinfectant market

DUBAI, U.A.E, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global surface disinfectant market is experiencing a huge surge in demand due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Rising number of patients getting hospitalized in emergency clinics and diagnostic centers has been fuelling the demand for surface disinfectants.

The surface disinfectant market is expected to follow a positive growth trajectory for the forecast period of 2021-2031. Panic purchasing of hand sanitizers and other disinfectants during lockdown led to uneven demand and increase in surface disinfectant market sales, evaluated ESOMAR-certified consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI).

According to UNICEF, worldwide nearly 2 billion patients and healthcare workers are at higher risk of infection due to lack of water. Sanitization requirements and wastewater purification using disinfectants can offer required solution. This will increase the demand for surface disinfectants.

"Surging demand for surface disinfectants in hospitals and other healthcare systems to curb the risk of hospital acquired infections provides a positive environment for surface disinfectant market growth," remarks the FMI analyst.

Request a report sample with 250 pages to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1177

Key Takeaways

The U.S. is predicted to be most lucrative market for surface disinfectant as consumers continue showcasing increasing healthcare spending.

Rising prevalence of highly infectious and chronic diseases in Germany is assisting in expansion of surface disinfectant market.

is assisting in expansion of surface disinfectant market. Government initiatives aimed at making quality healthcare better accessible will create opportunities for the market growth in India .

. Demand for surface disinfectants surged in China due to outbreak of COVID-19 outbreak. With new researches indicating the high effectiveness of hand sanitizers towards slowing the spread of virus, the demand is expected to soar during the forecast period.

due to outbreak of COVID-19 outbreak. With new researches indicating the high effectiveness of hand sanitizers towards slowing the spread of virus, the demand is expected to soar during the forecast period. Liquid surface disinfectants are expected to account for 56.5% of global surface disinfectant revenue share.

Prominent Drivers

Growing attentiveness towards hygiene and prevention of infectious diseases is expected to aid the surface disinfectant market growth.

Rising prevalence of hospital acquired infections boosts the surface disinfectant market sales.

Escalating use of surface disinfectant in water treatment plant and other water purification processes will enhance the surface disinfectant sales.

Key Restraints

Adoption of alternate mode of disinfection like Pre-sterilization, UV radiation for medical instruments hampers the market growth.

Harmful effects associated with application of surface disinfectant and lack of effectiveness restricts the market growth.

Insufficient knowledge regarding the usage and composition of chemical agents negatively affects the market demand.

Discover more about the surface disinfectants market with figures and data tables, along with the table of contents. You will also find detailed market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1177

Competitive Landscape

Leading players profiled by FMI operating in surface disinfectant market include 3M Company, Ecolab, Clariant International DuPont, BASF SE, Lonza Group, The Clorox Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Paul Hartmann AG, Carrollclean, LANXESS AG, Procter & Gamble, Steris Plc., Cantel Medical Corporation, Diversey, Inc., Whiteley Corporation, Gojo Industries, Inc., Arkema, Solvay SA, Thor Group, Metrex Research, LLC, Medline Industries, Inc., Pharmax Limited, Microban, Stepan Company among others.

According to FMI, Leading players are focusing to developing sustainable, safe and efficient products. They are also working towards reducing waste generation to reduce the negative environmental impact. They are also participating in strategic acquisitions to strengthen their global position. One such occurrence is the acquisition of Chemstar Corporation by Ecolab Inc. in 2019 with the aim to penetrate grocery and food retail markets.

More Insights on FMI's Surface Disinfectants Market

The latest market study on global surface disinfectant market by Future Market Insights gives a detailed segmentation for the forecast period of 2021-2031. In order to gain a better perspective of the global market potential, its growth, trends, and opportunities, the market is segmented on the basis of product type (high disinfectant, low level disinfectant, intermediate disinfectant), form (liquids surface disinfectant, gels disinfectant, wipes surface disinfectant, spray and foam surface disinfectant), end use (hospitals, diagnostics centers, ambulatory surgical centers, dental clinics, reference laboratories, critical care centers, academic and research institutes, etc) and across major regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Oceania, and Middle East & Africa).

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage on healthcare Domain

Sanitizer Market: The global hand sanitizer market report by FMI gives an in-depth insight on the future expansion prospects, trends and challenges that market is likely to face in the upcoming decade. Key statistics regarding key segments have been presented across prominent geographies, along with a detailed assessment of the market's competitive landscape.

Sterilization Wrap Market: Future Market Insights gives a detailed segmentation on the global sterilization wrap market with upcoming market trends, challenges and future growth dynamics across key geographies and prominent segments. The report provides a holistic approach, mapping the competitive landscape with detailed analysis on established players, new entrants, and opportunities likely to prevail across between 2017 and 2027.

Sterilization Equipment Market: The sterilization equipment market study published by FMI offers a comprehensive analysis and focused views on major trends expected to provide shape to future growth prospects. The report provides detailed analysis of the significant drivers, trends, challenges and opportunities prevailing for the forthcoming decade across key geographies along with competitive landscape of the upcoming decade.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact

Abhishek Budholiya

Future Market Insights,

1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower,

Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A,

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai,

United Arab Emirates

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SINGAPORE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Coa, Hong Kong , ranks No.1 in the 2021 edition of Asia's 50 Best Bars and is also named The Best Bar in China , sponsored by Perrier

, ranks No.1 in the 2021 edition of 50 Best Bars and is also named The Best Bar in , sponsored by Perrier The list features bars from 10 countries across Asia , with eight new entries

, with eight new entries China has the most venues on the list, with 13 bars and four new entries

has the most venues on the list, with 13 bars and four new entries Quinary, Hong Kong , wins the Heering Legend of The List Award

, wins the Heering Legend of The List Award The Diplomat, Hong Kong , is named the London Essence Best New Opening

, is named the London Essence Best New Opening No Sleep Club, Singapore , secures the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

, secures the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award Caprice Bar , Hong Kong , and Sidecar, New Delhi , are joint winners of the Nikka Highest Climber Award

, , and Sidecar, , are joint winners of the Nikka Highest Climber Award Japanese bar owner Shingo Gokan is crowned Roku Industry Icon

See the complete list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2021 here.

The 2021 list of Asia's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was announced over a virtual awards ceremony on 6th May at 6pm SG/HK time. Featuring bars from 10 countries in Asia, the sixth edition of the annual awards aims to recognise the immense talent, dedication and resilience evident across Asia's cocktail landscape. Given the devastating impact the global pandemic has had on the region's bar scene, 50 Best's role in championing great bars is more important than ever, as the organisation looks to inspire guests to return to bars through its lists and surrounding content programmes.

Coa in Hong Kong clinches the No.1 spot to take home the awards for The Best Bar in Asia and The Best Bar in China, sponsored by Perrier. At No.2 is Jigger & Pony, Singapore, which also wins The Best Bar in Singapore, sponsored by Matusalem. Coming in at No.3 is The SG Club, which wins The Best Bar in Japan title, while Taiwan'sIndulge Experimental Bistro maintains its No.4 spot on the list, reclaiming the title of The Best Bar in Taiwan, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry. Sober Company, Shanghai, takes the No.5 spot.

Special Awards

Other special awards announced in the run-up to the ceremony were: MO Bar, Singapore, as the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award winner; Epic, Shanghai as the Campari One To Watch; Penicillin, Hong Kong as the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award winner; and Bannie Kang, of Mu, Taipei, as the Mancino Bartenders' Bartender 2021.

For press materials: https://www.worlds50bestbars.com/asia/media-centre-registration.php

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - TJX Companies Inc. is recalling about 92,000 outdoor wooden folding chairs for potential risk of fall and injury hazards, a statement by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) showed.



The company said the chairs can break and can pose fall and injury hazards to the user. The company has received 18 reports of the recalled chairs breaking or collapsing, including 15 reports of falls that resulted in minor injuries, including back and neck injuries and lacerations.



The recall involves outdoor wooden folding chairs measuring about 22.5 inches long, 21 inches wide and 35 inches tall, with armrests, in an oil stain finish, some of which were labeled with 'Nautica' on the hang tag. The chair back has 8 slats and the seat has 7 slats. The chair may be stamped 'MADE IN VIETNAM.'



The recalled chairs were manufactured in Vietnam and imported into the United States by Framingham, Massachusetts-based TJX Companies.



The chairs were sold at T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls stores across the U.S. and online at tjmaxx.com and sierra.com from June 2018 through January 2021 for about $30.



The company has advised consumers to immediately stop using the recalled chairs and contact TJX for instructions on how to return them and receive a full refund.



Consumers can also return the recalled chairs to any T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, or HomeGoods store for a full refund.



On Wednesday, TJX had also recalled about 36,850 units of Infant Sleep Bags, about 33,250 of which were sold in Canada. The size of the neck opening is too large for infants 0 to 6 months, which can allow an infant's head to slip into and be covered by the sleep bag, posing a risk of suffocation. However, no incidents or injuries have been reported. They were manufactured in China and India.



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TJX-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
First-of-its-kind cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility recognized for operational excellence

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / DPS Group, a privately-owned, global engineering, procurement, construction management and validation (EPCMV) firm serving high-tech process industries, and TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on designing unique spaces for science and technology and corporate clients, congratulate ElevateBio's BaseCamp for being selected as the 2021 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) category winner for operational excellence by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). ISPE's Facility of the Year Awards is an annual program that recognizes state-of-the-art projects utilizing new, innovative technologies to improve the quality of products, reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines, and demonstrate advances in project delivery. Winners in the operational excellence category exemplify the application of modern management techniques aimed to improve operating efficiencies, promote excellent quality, consistency and yield competitive cost of goods from existing and new facilities, processes, and manufacturing operations.

"At ElevateBio, we are reimagining the way cell and gene therapies and regenerative medicines are discovered, developed, and manufactured," said Mitchell Finer, Ph.D., President, ElevateBio BaseCamp. "An industry-leading facility, ElevateBio BaseCamp is central to that vision. We've built an incredible facility and brought together a team of experts in immunology, regenerative medicine, and cell and gene therapies to help our portfolio companies and strategic partners get the process right from the start."

ElevateBio selected DPS and its design affiliate TRIA to provide their synergistic services for engineering design, architecture, consulting, and interior design services for the fit-out of a raw warehouse space into a state-of-the art cGMP development and manufacturing facility for novel therapeutic technologies. Designed to feel like a "BaseCamp", a physical foundation point for the incremental climb in the company's growth, ElevateBio's new facility features a collaborative open plan office and amenities that promote interaction, and provide flexible production suites for GMP manufacturing, laboratories, and a range of supporting utility and warehouse areas.

"We thank ISPE for recognizing ElevateBio as a FOYA category winner; the incredible team at ElevateBio for executing on our vision; and our partners at DPS Group and TRIA for delivering the facility we are so proud of," added Mario Miele, Vice President of Facilities and Engineering at ElevateBio.

After evaluating and advising ElevateBio about potential locations for a retrofit, DPS and ElevateBio designed the GMP manufacturing space for this project. The design incorporates separate suites for viral vector production and cell therapy processing and was informed by modeling numerous process equipment scenarios for typical upstream and downstream processing of CGTs. DPS, TRIA, and ElevateBio worked collaboratively to design the GMP manufacturing spaces to be flexible enough to accommodate research, process development, and manufacturing for different technologies and cell and gene therapy products. DPS services included feasibility study, schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction administration, and CQV support.

TRIA's design for ElevateBio's open office and lab space embraced the ceiling heights, abundant natural light, exposed steel beams, and other original features of the former postal service distribution center. The BaseCamp concept blends a comfortable, nature-based color palette with the industrial aesthetic of the existing building, using a light-toned wooden ceiling lattice to highlight the exposed ductwork and help to scale the expansive ceilings of 16 to 24 feet in areas. Upon entry to reception, the space flows from the open office with cafe and huddle spaces, to the glass-walled labs that promote transparency for employees, and finally to the GMP manufacturing area. DPS and TRIA collaborated on the architectural design and MEP engineering of the lab suite for quality control testing and process development, ensuring a continuity of design and transparency between the office, lab, and manufacturing spaces. TRIA services included feasibility study, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

Other project team members include The Richmond Group (Construction Management); McNamara/Salvia (Engineering); Thompson Consulting, Inc. (Engineering), New England Controls (Automation/Controls); and 42 Solutions (Commissioning, Qualification, & Validation).

About ElevateBio BaseCamp

With more than 140,000 square feet of space, ElevateBio BaseCamp includes current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing suites, analytics, and quality control (QC) laboratories, and protein engineering, virology, and immunology labs, all with state-of-the-art laboratory automation. BaseCamp was designed to support diverse gene and cell regenerative therapy products, with manufacturing suites that have flexible floor plans for cGMP manufacturing. The facility has autologous, allogeneic, and regenerative medicine cell products such as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSC, and viral vector manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, the BaseCamp cGMP manufacturing suite environment, equipment, and processes are monitored by validated and integrated computer systems.

BaseCamp creates true end-to-end solutions in multi-modal facilities to deliver across a very wide mix of product requirements. Leveraging digitalization platforms, BaseCamp can rapidly deploy solutions for portfolio companies and partnerships utilizing repeatable processes and delivering on time at required quality thresholds, providing a future proof platform.

In addition to the world-class facility, BaseCamp also has world-class staff with expertise in developing and manufacturing immunotherapies, regenerative medicine products, in vivo viral-based therapies, and other cell and gene therapies.

About ElevateBio

ElevateBio is a cell and gene therapy technology company built to power the development of transformative cell and gene therapies today and for many decades to come. The company has assembled industry-leading talent, built world-class facilities, and integrated diverse technology platforms necessary for rapid innovation and commercialization of cell, gene, and regenerative therapies. The company has built an initial technology stack, including gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cells, and protein, viral, and cellular engineering. At the center of the business model is ElevateBio BaseCamp, a centralized R&D and manufacturing company that offers research and development (R&D), process development (PD), and Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) manufacturing capabilities. The company is focused on increasing long-term collaborations with industry partners while also continuing to develop its own highly innovative cell and gene therapies. ElevateBio's team of scientists, drug developers, and company builders are redefining what it means to be a technology company in the world of drug development, blurring the line between technology and healthcare.

ElevateBio is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass, with ElevateBio BaseCamp located in Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit us at www.elevate.bio, or follow Elevate on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

About DPS Group

DPS Group is a global engineering, consulting and project management company, serving high-tech industries around the world. DPS delivers services for clients across the complete engineering and construction value chain including feasibility studies, concepts, consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification and validation as well as contingent staffing solutions.

DPS applies its extensive process engineering expertise built over 45 years, as well as significant Lean construction experience to assist clients in high-end process sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, and semiconductors to deliver manufacturing facilities speedily, safely, and cost effectively. What sets the firm apart is the partnerships it builds with clients through a fundamental understanding of their businesses and its own agility, flexibility, original thinking, and high-caliber people.

DPS has grown substantially in recent years and now employs more than 2,000 people in 16 offices and on client sites in Ireland, U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. For more information, visit www.dpsgroupglobal.com.

About TRIA

TRIA is a full-service architecture firm that values client relationships above all. The firm's principal-driven approach puts our leadership team at the table with client decision-makers, working together to envision success, solve problems and deliver exceptional results. Our lab design and corporate interiors teams strive to learn every client's unique DNA, and by doing so, we create efficient and energizing spaces that reflect a company's culture and foster innovation. At TRIA, we design spaces that enable business success and advance new discoveries - in the lab, around the office, and beyond. Visit us on the web at https://tria.design and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About the ISPE Facility of the Year Awards Program

Established in 2004, The Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) recognize state-of-the-art projects utilizing new, innovative technologies to improve the quality of products, reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines, and demonstrate advances in project delivery. The FOYA program provides a platform for the pharmaceutical science and manufacturing industry to showcase its accomplishments in facility design, construction, and operation, while sharing the development of new applications of technology and cutting-edge approaches. Visit ISPE.org/FOYA for more information.

Media Contact

Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM

Rhino PR

978.985.4541

dps@rhinopr.com

SOURCE: DPS Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645250/DPS-Group-and-TRIA-Congratulate-ElevateBios-BaseCamp-on-ISPE-Facility-of-the-Year-Awards
440,000 Square-Foot Facility Will Become HelloFresh's Largest US Distribution Center, Providing Up to 1,200 New Jobs For Local Community

HelloFresh, America's leading meal kit company, announced today plans to open a new distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona. The nearly 440,000 square-foot facility located at 1850 South 71st Avenue will become the company's largest shipping and fulfillment center globally, supporting growing demand for HelloFresh meal kits and enabling HelloFresh to better serve new and existing customers on the West Coast.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005425/en/

HelloFresh Expands West Coast Production and Distribution Capabilities with New Phoenix Facility (Photo: Business Wire)

Joining HelloFresh's other West Coast facility located in Richmond, CA, the newly built facility in Phoenix will begin operations in Q4 2021 and could provide as many as 1,200 new jobs over time. Phoenix is a highly efficient logistics hub with access to major routes and provides access to a strong labor pool. The new distribution center in addition to the Richmond facility will allow HelloFresh to strengthen its West Coast capabilities.

"We are thrilled to be expanding our operational footprint on the West Coast," said Uwe Voss, CEO of HelloFresh U.S. "Joining our Richmond facility, this new Phoenix distribution center will help strengthen our presence in the region and further support our mission of excellent service and delivery of delicious meals. We also look forward to tapping in to the region's talented labor pool and making a positive impact on the local community."

"Phoenix welcomes another major foreign direct investment in the city, joining the billions of dollars of foreign investment from companies like TSMC and Apel. Phoenix is a growing market for food system entrepreneurs and innovators, the agrifood sector, and HelloFresh brings innovative technology and job opportunities to the city," said Christine Mackay, director, Phoenix Community and Economic Development. "HelloFresh's location puts it within an easy commute of the thousands of people who live in southwest and west Phoenix. With 1,200 job commitments for our experienced workforce, HelloFresh is making a big investment in its meal-kit delivery service is on the leading edge of agrifood companies coming to Phoenix."

"HelloFresh selecting Greater Phoenix for their largest global production and distribution facility is a testament to our region's infrastructure, connectivity and talent pool; and ability to meet the needs of industry giants," said Chris Camacho, president CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. "A marquee name and sector leader, HelloFresh will create an abundance of job opportunities for our residents and we look forward to being a partner in their continued success."

"We're excited to welcome HelloFresh and what will be their largest U.S. distribution center to Arizona," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. "This new facility will create hundreds of jobs for Arizonans and further cement Arizona's leadership as a world class logistics center."

Adam Citron, Marc Hertzberg and Tony Lydon with Jones Lang LaSalle represented HelloFresh in this transaction. Don MacWilliam and Payson MacWilliam with Colliers International represented the building owner, Prologis. Willmeng Construction and Deutsch Architecture are performing the building improvements.

"Prologis is proud to continue expanding its relationship with HelloFresh by helping it reach more customers quickly," said Jeff Foster, vice president and market officer, Prologis. "The Phoenix market in particular is experiencing rising demand for modern logistics facilities that serve as the backbone of resilient supply chains. At a time when consumer behavior is shifting toward online shopping and e-commerce adoption is growing rapidly, strategically located industrial space is emerging as a strong competitive advantage."

In addition to this new facility in Phoenix, HelloFresh recently began operations in its new 375,000 square-foot distribution center in Irving, Texas at the DFW Airport. Together, these new state of the art facilities support HelloFresh's long-term growth plans to continue expanding its total addressable market. Expanding supply chain capacity enables HelloFresh to actively bring new menu features to market, satisfying new and existing customers with more recipe selections and new convenient meal options.

Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, HelloFresh is the largest meal kit provider in the United States and worldwide. In 2020, HelloFresh delivered over 278 million meals across the U.S.

Individuals interested in career opportunities with HelloFresh are encouraged to visit hellofresh.com/careers/locations/us for additional information.

About HelloFresh

HelloFresh SE is the world's leading meal-kit company and operates in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, France and Denmark. In Q1 2021, HelloFresh delivered 239 million meals and reached close to 7.3 million active customers. HelloFresh was founded in Berlin in November 2011 and went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 2017. HelloFresh has offices in New York, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Toronto, Auckland, Paris and Copenhagen.

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), named the top economic development organization in the U.S. by the International Economic Development Council, works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional economic development organization, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 170 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 31 years GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping more than 850 companies, creating 154,000 jobs and $20.4 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. For more information about GPEC and how we can assist your businesses, visit www.gpec.org.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005425/en/

Contacts:

Kim Kornfeld

PRUSA@HelloFresh.com
NOIDA, India, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the Retail Analytics Market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. Retail Analytics 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 retail analytics market. Retail Analytics 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 retail analytics market at the global and regional levels. The Global Retail Analytics Market is expected to grow a 19.4% CAGR by 2027.

Market Overview

Global Retail Analytics Market is experiencing significant growth on account of the factors such as a rise in data generation owing to the rising internet penetration and smartphone adoption. As per the World Bank, 4.72 billion people around the world use the internet in April 2021 which is more than 60% of the global population. Also, a surge in cloud adoption coupled with emerging demand for dashboards for data visualization. The worldwide public cloud services market is forecast to grow 17% in 2020, as revealed by Gartner. Also, the public cloud infrastructure will grow by 35% in 2021. Moreover, the benefit of using analytics tools and big data to interpret customers' shopping frequency and the kind of products they purchase is contributing to the growth of the market. Also, other benefits to the retail such as strategically budget allocation, align the supply of labor and forecast the demand, increasing productivity and scheduling while improving recruitment, retention, and development activities are some of the key factors driving the growth of retail analytics globally.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @https://univdatos.com/report/retail-analytics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027

Furthermore, rapid digitalization and adoption of AI and ML are acting as a growth catalyst to the global retail analytics market. It has been estimated that in 2018, around 57% of 1,300 institutions have adopted artificial intelligence while around 18% were planning to enter the respective arena in 2019. Also, the merging need of improving in-store operations by investigating in-store circumstances and enhancing customer experience is contributing to the growth of the market. For instance, the Middle East-based fashion retailer established a retail analytics solution from Oracle Corporation to drive its store performance and improve consumer fulfillment across its 700 stores in 2019.

Retail analytics generates information on the basic key factors, like consumer actions, counting traffic, and conversion rates, to help retailers raise their sales and enhance consumer fulfillment. A leading global information company generated USD 20.9 billion in the U.S., by selling toys with the help of retail analytics in 2019, Also, several other companies in the retail industry are establishing retail analytics solutions to improve their efficiency by taking effective decisions.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 breakthrough has impacted all the segments of the technology sector. The temporary halt in the manufacturing facilities coupled with the disruptions in the supply chain due to COVID has slowed down the evolution of the IT framework. However, omnichannel commerce businesses are rapidly decreasing their physical stores and are centralizing on the virtual appearance through e-commerce or mobile apps. The COVID-19 pandemic has uplifted e-commerce businesses by online stores and grocery shopping. The increasing online shopping owing to the benefits such as timesaving, ease of operations, etc., has accelerated the necessitate for consumer-level analytics. The global breakdown in pandemic has brought retailers to concentrate on supply chain management. The governments worldwide encouraged the public to stay at home has further raised online shopping and set down a lot of pressure on the supply chains which lead to the emerging requirements of the adoption of retail analytics to streamline the overall operations.

Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://univdatos.com/report/retail-analytics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027

Retail Analytics Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

By Component, the market is primarily bifurcated into

Software

Services

Software segment dominated the by type of the global Retail Analytics market and will grow at 21.6% CAGR to reach US$ 9,045.2 billion by the year 2027.

By Deployment Type, the market is primarily segmented into

Cloud

On-Premises

Amongst development types, cloud accounted for the largest share in 2020 and is expected to grow at 18.9% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027.

By Application Area, the market is primarily segmented into

Customer Management

Merchandising Analytics

Supply Chain

In-Store Operations Analytics

Others (Strategy & Planning)

Amongst the application area, customer management accounted for the largest share in 2020 and is expected to grow at 21.2% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027.

By End-users, the market is primarily segmented into

E-Commerce

Store-Based Retailing

Amongst end-users, e-commerce accounted for the largest share in 2020 and is expected to grow at 20.4% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027

Retail Analytics Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America ( the United States , Canada , and Rest of North America )

( , , and Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Italy , France , Spain , and Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , , and Rest of ) Rest of the World

Based on the estimation, the North America region dominated the Retail Analytics market with almost US$ 2,213.8 billion revenue in 2020. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow remarkably with a CAGR of 22.2% over the forecast period.

Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/retail-analytics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027

The major players targeting the market includes

Cisco Systems Inc.

SAP SE

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

IBM Corporation

Tableau Software

Adobe Systems Inc.

SAS Institute Inc.

Domo

MicroStrategy

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 Retail Analytics 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 Retail Analytics Market?

Which factors are influencing the Retail Analytics Market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Retail Analytics Market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Retail Analytics Market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Retail Analytics 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/retail-analytics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027

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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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSXV: MUN) (OTCQB: MUNMF) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company and Vale Canada Inc. ("Vale") have executed a definitive option agreement for the two additional exploration areas in Timok, Serbia. As well, the Company has filed its 2020 Year End Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis on SEDAR and posted on the Company's website at www.mundoro.com.

Teo Dechev, CEO and President commented: "Mundoro is growing its list of properties optioned to partners. This second agreement with Vale expands our working relationship for two additional exploration areas in Timok, Serbia. This agreement demonstrates (i) the continuing interest of the undercover potential for additional copper and gold resources in the Timok district; (ii) the value Mundoro's business model brings to partners to leverage our exploration experience in a mineral region which remains generally unknown and underexplored."

"Mundoro has completed agreements for nine portfolio properties with major mining companies over the past several years, six of which have been optioned to sequential partners, building on our knowledge of past exploration. In 2020, seven of the properties were advanced by partner-funded work programs. Since 2016, Mundoro's business strategy has benefited from 100% partner-funded programs of C$12.2 million and Mundoro has generated operator fees of C$1.2 million."

Follow our weekly updates on: LinkedIn and Twitter @Mundoro

2020 Operational Highlights

Stable Cash Position and Financing: In February 2021, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,086,000. As of March 30, 2021, the Company held C$4.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt.





In February 2021, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $3,086,000. As of March 30, 2021, the Company held C$4.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt. Generating Cash Flow: During the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company received operator fees of C$176,000 and C$379,000 for its role as the operator on exploration programs for option partners. Since 2016, Mundoro's business strategy has benefited from 100% partner-funded programs of C$12.2 million (US$9.6 million) and Mundoro has generated operator fees of C$1.2 million (US$940,000).





During the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company received operator fees of C$176,000 and C$379,000 for its role as the operator on exploration programs for option partners. Since 2016, Mundoro's business strategy has benefited from 100% partner-funded programs of C$12.2 million (US$9.6 million) and Mundoro has generated operator fees of C$1.2 million (US$940,000). Partner Funded Exploration: Exploration costs related to the JOGMEC Generative Alliance, JOGMEC-Mundoro JV Project and the Vale-Mundoro Projects were funded 100% by our option partners. Recoveries from partners during the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 amounted to C$1.8 million and C$3.8 million, resulting in net exploration costs by Mundoro of C$992,000 and C$1.2 million respectively, primarily for generative programs.





Exploration costs related to the JOGMEC Generative Alliance, JOGMEC-Mundoro JV Project and the Vale-Mundoro Projects were funded 100% by our option partners. Recoveries from partners during the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 amounted to C$1.8 million and C$3.8 million, resulting in net exploration costs by Mundoro of C$992,000 and C$1.2 million respectively, primarily for generative programs. Reducing Corporate Costs: During the year, and excluding operator fees earned, Mundoro recorded lower corporate expenses of C$669,000 versus $801,000 in the prior year, resulting from the reduction of costs in accounting and audit, corporate communication, and corporate governance expenditures. COVID-19 restrictions on travel and in-person conferences, along with continuing efforts to reduce non-essential expenditures were the primary factors in the overall reduction in corporate expenses compared to the same period in 2019.

2021 Operational Highlights and Outlook

Newly Granted Properties from Mundoro's Generative Programs: Subsequent to year end, in March 2021 Mundoro was granted an exploration license in central Serbia - see press release on March 30, 2021 . The GT7 Copper Project is a copper-gold area totaling 98 sq. km located in the northern portion of the Serbo-Macedonian Metallogenic Province, which is part of the Tethyan Belt. The area is considered highly prospective for copper porphyry and related epithermal mineralisation. The GT7 Copper Project contains exposures of diorite porphyry copper-gold type quartz stockwork mineralization and is related to precious and base metals veins in surrounding sedimentary country rocks. Historical data collection is underway with an exploration program planned for Q3-2021.





Subsequent to year end, in March 2021 Mundoro was granted an exploration license in central Serbia - . The GT7 Copper Project is a copper-gold area totaling 98 sq. km located in the northern portion of the Serbo-Macedonian Metallogenic Province, which is part of the Tethyan Belt. The area is considered highly prospective for copper porphyry and related epithermal mineralisation. The GT7 Copper Project contains exposures of diorite porphyry copper-gold type quartz stockwork mineralization and is related to precious and base metals veins in surrounding sedimentary country rocks. Historical data collection is underway with an exploration program planned for Q3-2021. Mundoro signed definitive Option Agreement with Vale for two additional exploration areas in Timok, Serbia: Mundoro has completed and entered into an option agreement (" Option Agreement ") with Vale Canada Limited (" Vale "), in which Mundoro has granted to Vale an option on two exploration licenses (" Option Projects ") in Timok, Serbia. Mundoro entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (" MOU ") with Vale in October 2020 for these two additional exploration licenses in Serbia - see press release dated October 22, 2020 . These Option Projects are in addition to Mundoro's four Projects which Vale is currently earning into in Timok, Serbia (" Earn-in Projects ").





Mundoro has completed and entered into an option agreement (" ") with Vale Canada Limited (" "), in which Mundoro has granted to Vale an option on two exploration licenses (" ") in Timok, Serbia. Mundoro entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (" ") with Vale in October 2020 for these two additional exploration licenses in Serbia - . These Option Projects are in addition to Mundoro's four Projects which Vale is currently earning into in Timok, Serbia (" "). Compelling Drill Targets Identified on Vale-Mundoro Earn-in Projects : On the Vale Earn-in Projects, the Vale-Mundoro Technical Committee has approved a US$1.9 million exploration program to be completed by the end of Q4-2021. Five target areas were identified for the exploration program, two of which have commenced drill testing. For further information on the drill program - see press release dated April 6, 2021.





On the Vale Earn-in Projects, the Vale-Mundoro Technical Committee has approved a US$1.9 million exploration program to be completed by the end of Q4-2021. Five target areas were identified for the exploration program, two of which have commenced drill testing. For further information on the drill program - Stock Option Grant: The Company issued 2,650,000 stock options to employees, consultants, officers and directors on May 4, 2021. The stock options were issued in accordance with Mundoro's Stock Option Plan, are exercisable into common shares of Mundoro at $0.23 (being the closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange on May 3, 2021) over a five-year term.





The Company issued 2,650,000 stock options to employees, consultants, officers and directors on May 4, 2021. The stock options were issued in accordance with Mundoro's Stock Option Plan, are exercisable into common shares of Mundoro at $0.23 (being the closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange on May 3, 2021) over a five-year term. Outlook: In 2021, Mundoro expects to generate between US$200,000 to US$450,000 in operator fees and property payments from its existing portfolio. The Company is well funded to continue with its generative programs to identify new exploration areas, primarily focused on copper and gold systems that provide opportunities for cash flow from additional earn-ins. The Company has deployed exploration personnel actively evaluating exploration areas and, in the field, staking ground.

Qualified Persons

The exploration work programs described herein were supervised by Y. Khrischev, the Company's Exploration Manager in Serbia and Bulgaria, who has also prepared the above technical information in this press release in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101. The above technical disclosure in this press release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by R. Jemielita, PhD, MIMMM, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and consultant to the Company.

About Mundoro

Mundoro is a Canadian listed royalty generator company with a portfolio of projects focused on base and precious metals that generate royalties and near-term mineral revenue. To drive value for shareholders, Mundoro has generated a portfolio of mineral projects primarily focused on copper and gold in Serbia and Bulgaria. Value generated from our mineral properties is through near term revenues from various forms of payments from partners and long term through the generated royalties.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of earn-in expenditures, options and completion of a definitive agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Company's projects, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.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.

For further information, please visit Mundoro Capital website.

Teo Dechev,

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

+1-604-669-8055

info@mundoro.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83176
This new space crowns the Group's commitment to artists. It will enable the Foundation, created more than 20 years ago, to continue supporting the contemporary art scene and make it as widely accessible as possible Art is not complete until it is shared

Regulatory News:

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI):

Press Release Paris, 6 May 2021

Located at 1 Cours Paul Ricard, in Saint Lazare, right in the heart of Paris, this new multidisciplinary venue, whose layout was entrusted to the firm NeM Niney et Marca Architectes, features a main exhibition space spanning 300m. A 112-seat auditorium and a modular foyer will host conferences, performances and temporary installations. The Pantruchoise team (Franck Baranger, Pauline Labrousse, Nicolas Chatellain and Edouard Bobin) will manage "Cafe Mirette", named in honour of Paul Ricard's wife. The entrance to the Foundation, the cafe will house a library and a bookshop accessible to all, which will provide locals and visitors alike with a warm and friendly place to meet. The Foundation, accessible to all free of charge, will operate as a platform supporting artists, with the same ambition it has had since its creation: to raise the profile of the young contemporary scene in France and throughout the world. To achieve this, it will make even greater use of the resources provided by a global Group that has 86 subsidiaries. In these new spaces, the Pernod Ricard Corporate Foundation will roll out a "pioneering and audacious" programme according to its Director Colette Barbier. Retaining its human scale, it will continue to nurture this very special relationship it has developed with artists by increasing the opportunities for encounters and interaction. Since opening in 1998, the Foundation has featured more than 1,000 artists, invited by 250 curators as part of 150 exhibitions. Not having its own collection, its identity is shaped by those who bring it to life on a daily basis artists, curators, authors, intellectuals, and the general public.

For its opening on 19 May, the Foundation will give free reign to artist Bertrand Dezoteux, guest curator of the group exhibition Le Juste Prix until 12 June, in which the real and the virtual collide. Then, between 21 June and 31 July, it will host a personal exhibition by the artist Isabelle Cornaro (recipient of the Pernod Ricard Award in 2010) based on her film making. To add to the artistic experience, the Foundation is also developing a new and interactive virtual gallery to mark the occasion.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman CEO of Pernod Ricard and President of the Foundation, said "The opening of the Pernod Ricard Corporate Foundation's new location marks another stage in our Group's history, a symbol of our enduring commitment to creation. We are delighted to be able to provide Paris with a new artistic venue in the heart of the vibrant Saint Lazare district, which will contribute to the dynamism of the capital's culture life and to the "artistic conviviality" that we wish to share as widely as possible."

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world's No 2 in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 8,448 million in FY20. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nations' Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005886/en/

Contacts:

Press contacts

Pernod Ricard

Emmanuel Vouin Head of External Engagement +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34

Antonia Scintilla Group Philanthropy Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 32

Claudine Colin Communication

Chiara Di Leva Thomas Lozinski +33 (0) 1 42 72 60 01

chiara@claudinecolin.com thomas@claudinecolin.com
CONDITIONS FOR AVAILABILITY OR CONSULTATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 27 MAY 2021

Paris, 6 May 2021, Assystem S.A. (ISIN: FR0000074148 - ASY), confirms that, given the persistence of the sanitary crisis and in accordance with the legal provisions and the French Governement's actions to slow the spread of the virus, the Chairman & CEO, upon delegation of Assystem's Board of Directors, decided to hold the Assystem's Annual General Meeting without its shareholders (or any other authorized person) being physically present.

The Annual General Meeting will be held in closed session on 27 May 2021 at 9.30 a.m, at centre de conferences Capital 8, 32 rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris.

The shareholders are invited to vote by correspondence or by giving proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting or to a third party. To do so, shareholders can:

vote through the secured website VOTACCESS until Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 3 p.m; or

return by mail its voting form duly completed and signed by Monday 24 May 2021.

All shareholders can also ask questions in writing until close of business on Tuesday 25 May 2021. Questions can be addressed either by registered letter with acknowledgment receipt to the Company's headquarters. Given the uncertainties of receiving registered letters in due time under the current circumstances, it is highly recommended to ask any question by email.

The Annual General Meeting of 27 May 2021 will be fully broadcast live) and will be directly accessible through the following link:

https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/assystem-fr/20210527_1/

All information required to access the broadcast and any other information of use will be updated, completed and/or communicated on the Company's website).

It is contemplated that the Bureau of the Annual General Meeting of 27 May 2021 be chaired by Mr. Dominique Louis, in his capacity of Chairman of the Board and that the company HDL Development and Mrs. Cori Cabistany (also secretary of the Meeting) fulfill the duties of vote-tellers.

The convening notice was published in the BALO (Bulletin des Annonces LegalesObligatoires) on 19 April 2021 and includes the agenda, the draft resolutions and details on attending and voting.

This notice together with the other preparatory documents concerning this Annual General Meeting as provided by the articles R. 225-73-1 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code are now available on Assystem's website:

https://www.assystem.com/en/regulated-information/.

Assystem is an international engineering group. As a key participant in the industry for over 50 years, the Group supports its clients in managing their capital expenditure throughout their asset life cycles. Assystem S.A. is listed on Euronext Paris.

For more information please visit www.assystem.com/ Follow Assystem on Twitter: @Assystem

CONTACT

Philippe Chevallier

CFO & Deputy CEO

Tel: +33 (0)1 41 25 28 07





Attachment
World-renowned business communication solutions provider AVer Europe has announced the release of two new remote meeting devices. The VB130 Video Bar and CAM130 Conferencing Camera are now available to enhance working efficiency in any traditional or home office.

The USB plug-and-play VB130 Video Bar is a compact all-in-one 4K conferencing camera loaded with audiovisual capability-but built-in intelligent lighting is what makes it one of the most exciting new products available. The light automatically adjusts to environmental conditions to brighten dim faces and eliminate blue shadows from screen reflection in huddle rooms and smaller spaces. This allows users to appear professional from anywhere, including work from home (WFH) setups.

In addition to intelligent lighting, the VB130 includes the following benefits from AI audiovisual functions:

Noise-Blocking Capability: AVer Europe's adjustable Audio Fence is an invisible barrier that users can adjust to keep external sounds from interrupting their meetings. The Audio Fence is especially useful for blocking noises from meetings in open areas of agile workspaces.

AVer Europe's adjustable Audio Fence is an invisible barrier that users can adjust to keep external sounds from interrupting their meetings. The Audio Fence is especially useful for blocking noises from meetings in open areas of agile workspaces. Automatic Voice Tracking: Integrated audio tracking lets the camera automatically follow the human voice, enabling innovative Presentation and Preset Tracking Modes. In Presentation Mode, the camera frames the users in the presentation area. In Preset Tracking Mode, the camera follows the human voice through preset areas.

Integrated audio tracking lets the camera automatically follow the human voice, enabling innovative Presentation and Preset Tracking Modes. In Presentation Mode, the camera frames the users in the presentation area. In Preset Tracking Mode, the camera follows the human voice through preset areas. Advanced Auto Framing: AVer Europe's SmartFrame optimises meeting efficiency by automatically framing the participants onscreen-recognising people in masks or any facial profile up to 5 metres away.

AVer Europe has also released the CAM130, a compact USB camera ideal for WFH and on the go or using in small rooms in a hybrid office. The 4K CAM130 includes intelligent lighting to keep users clear onscreen wherever they work from. Advanced SmartFrame automatically adjusts to fit everyone in frame, even when they're masked or showing a side profile.

The CAM130 also includes the below features:

Antibacterial Protection: Three layers of antibacterial coating cover the camera's surface to keep users safe from germs, reducing the chances of flu or other sickness spreading through the office and decreasing efficiency.

Three layers of antibacterial coating cover the camera's surface to keep users safe from germs, reducing the chances of flu or other sickness spreading through the office and decreasing efficiency. Built-In Versatility: An adjustable screen mount is built into the bottom of the device. The mount easily fits the CAM130 on top of virtually any monitor or laptop.

An adjustable screen mount is built into the bottom of the device. The mount easily fits the CAM130 on top of virtually any monitor or laptop. Intelligent Lighting: The CAM130 brightens the WFH experience with the same intelligent lighting the VB130 offers.

AVer Europe is going to launch AVer CP10 Collaboration Controller, which enables one-touch remote meetings, giving users the option to control the camera and power the panel via one-cable PoE+ connection. This setup keeps the meeting room table clear from cable clutter. The 10.1-inch capacitive touch screen features an antibacterial and anti-fingerprint coating to keep the panel clean and users healthy. The CP10 is coming soon and is easy to set up on a meeting room table or install on the wall as a Zoom Rooms Calendar station.

VB130 MSRP: 749

CAM130 MSRP: 349

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005907/en/

Contacts:

Press contact

Alison Scarrott

Senior PR Account Manager

alison@brookscomm.com
THIRD QUARTER OF CONSECUTIVE GROWTH1

ORGANIC GROWTH TO MATERIALIZE AS EARLY AS IN Q2

Regulatory News:

AKKA (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537):

Q1 2021 Highlights Business dynamics continue to improve, set to continue

Sequential revenue growth for the third consecutive quarter

Focus on diversification bears fruits with non-mobility sectors growing by more than 10% sequentially 2021 OUTLOOK Revenue expected to grow organically in Q2 vs. Q2 2020

Full-year cost reduction expectations confirmed

Strong focus on profitability (operating profit adjusted)

Q1 2021 REVENUE SEQUENTIAL RECOVERY CONFIRMED

Q4 2020

REVENUE Q1 2021

REVENUE Q1 2020

REVENUE REPORTED

GROWTH

ORGANIC

GROWTH

PRO FORMA

CONSTANT

GROWTH ***

REPORTED

GROWTH Q1 2021 vs

Q4 2020 (%) M FRANCE 115.7 123.1 152.8 -19.4% -19.4% -19.4% +6.4% GERMANY 83.3 83.7 106.8 -21.6% -21.6% -21.6% +0.5% NORTH AMERICA 65.9 61.3 77.5 -20.8% -13.6% -13.6% -6.8% INTERNATIONAL* 61.5 65.1 70.7 -7.9% -6.4% -6.4% +5.9% AKKA LEGACY 326.4 333.2 407.8 -18.3% -16.7% -16.7% +2.1% DATA RESPONS** 48.0 52.0 18.2 ns -9.5% -4.8% +8.3% TOTAL GROUP 374.4 385.2 425.9 -9.6% -16.4% -15.3% +2.9%

* Excluding France, Germany and North America

** Data Respons has been consolidated since March 1st, 2020

*** Pro-forma constant Organic Data Respons revenue

AKKA recorded revenues of 385.2M in Q1 2021, down -9.6% or -15.3% on a pro forma constant basis. This represents a strong improvement on the -26.6% quarter on quarter pro forma constant decrease recorded in Q4 2020, although the basis of comparison being was still challenging this quarter. The sequential revenue growth since Q3 2020 that reflects the gradual improvement in the business continued this quarter, with revenues up 2.9% compared to Q4 2020. As expected, North America recorded a -6.8% decrease in sales sequentially due to the strategic repositioning initiated to drive the business towards high value-added projects.

AKKA legacy business increased by 2.1% in Q1 2021 compared to Q4 2020, while Data Respons recorded an 8.3% increase in revenue sequentially, benefiting from a bolt-on acquisitionthis quarter

AKKA's mobility sectors were generally stable in Q1 2021 compared to Q4 2020. The automotive sector was steady thanks to the good dynamism in France, North America and International BUs, offsetting a conversion of the order book into production which is slow to materialize in Germany BU. Aeronautics is stable overall sequentially, and the Space and Defense sectors are still growing by more than 20% compared to the same period last year. Finally, Railways is experiencing a weaker growth cycle.

The non-mobility sectors, accounting for 30.7% of Group revenue for Q1 2021, show a sequential growth in excess of 10% compared to Q4 2020. Services, Life sciences, Energy have fuelled this growth. The intense focus on the diversification towards mid-size clients in a variety of other sectors is bearing fruits.

SEQUENTIAL IMPROVEMENT ACROSS UNITS BUSINESS REPOSITIONING IN NORTH AMERICA

The French BU posted revenue of 123.1m in Q1 2021, down by -19.4% compared to the same quarter in 2020. The weakness of the aeronautics sector continues to prevail while Defense, Life Sciences, and Telecom are benefiting from strong momentum. Sequentially, the growth continues with revenue increasing +6.4%, reflecting the improvement in most sectors.

Revenue in the German BU was 83.7m in Q1 2021, down -21.6% compared to Q12020. The positive momentum that materialized in the second half of 2020 has resulted in a very strong order book, which bodes well for future production; timing is however difficult to estimate precisely. Sequentially, revenue growth was limited, as this phase of transforming projects into production resulted in a slight drop in revenues in Automotive while the other sectors recorded very good growth.

North America recorded revenue of 61.3m, down -20.8% or -13.6% on an organic pro forma base. This BU was impacted by a marked negative exchange rate effect and by our strategic shift. The repositioning of the business towards sales of higher value-added engineering solutions and digital solutions has indeed been initiated as expected and will continue. Our engineering activities in sectors where we have historical expertise, such as the automotive industry, are growing very well.

The International BU posted Q1 revenue of 61.5m, a decline limited to -7.9% compared to the challenging basis of comparison that was Q1 2020, or a -6.4% on a pro forma constant base. Revenues increased 5.9% sequentially, thanks to the strong momentum in Life Sciences and automotive (respectively up 15% and 12% compared to Q4 2021), among others.

Data Respons revenue was 52.0m in Q1 2021 compared to 18.2m in Q1 2020 when Data Respons had contributed only from 1st March 2020. On a pro forma constant base, revenue decreased 4.8%, as its computer solution business is suffering from the global shortage of chips, while the growth profile of its engineering and solutions business remains strong. In addition, Data Respons acquired a small digital solutions company in the finance sector (banks, financial service providers and insurance companies) in northern Germany (90 people 2020 revenue: 14m), reinforcing its portfolio with this bolt-on acquisition.

BUSINESS TRENDS AND OUTLOOK FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2021

In Q1 2021, the business momentum has enabled AKKA to achieve sequential revenue growth for the third consecutive quarter1 These dynamics are expected to continue, leading to Group revenue growing organically as early as in Q2 2021 and the basis of comparison will become comparable.

The roll-out of our Fit-2-Clear transformation plan is ongoing. AKKA confirms its full year expectations in terms of cost reductions and AKKA's management across all BUs remains strongly focused on recovering pre-crisis profitability (operating profit (adjusted))as swiftly as possible.

Next events: Half-year 2021 results: Press release on September 8th, 2021, 5.45pm Analyst meeting on September 9th, 2021, 9.30am

During its Annual General Meeting held on June 16th, 2020, AKKA informed its shareholders that it intends to change the format of the publication of its financial results to adopt best-in-class communication standards. From 2021 onwards, the Group will publish its interim and annual financial results in one go and will no longer pre-publish its revenues. As a result, revenues for the second quarter of 2021 will be published together with the 2021 half-year results.

In case of discrepancies between the French and English versions of this press release, only the English version shall be deemed valid.

WEBCAST THURSDAY, MAY 6th, 2021 6.30 pm CET

Nathalie Buhnemann, Chief Financial Officer

and

Stephanie Bia, Group Communications Investor Relations Director,

are pleased to invite you to a webcast dedicated to the publication of 1st quarter 2021 revenue

Click here to join the meeting

About AKKA

AKKA is a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services. Our comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions combined with our expertise in engineering, uniquely positions us to support our clients by leveraging the power of connected data to accelerate innovation and drive the future of smart industry. AKKA accompanies leading industry players across a wide range of sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.) to help them rethink their products and business processes. Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a wide global footprint. Our 21,000 employees around the world are all passionate about technology and share the AKKA values of respect, courage and ambition. The Group recorded revenues of 1.5 billion in 2020.

AKKA Technologies (AKA) is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels segment B ISIN code: FR0004180537.

For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com/

GLOSSARY

Unless defined in this section, financial aggregates used in the current press-release are directly derived from the Group consolidated financial statements.

ECONOMIC GROWTH:

Growth at constant scope, exchange rate and number of working days.

ORGANIC GROWTH:

Growth at constant scope and exchange rate.

PRO FORMA CONSTANT GROWTH:

Organic growth based on proforma figures for the scope of consolidation as of March 31st, 2021.

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENTS:

Expenses and income related to significant acquisitions, reorganizations, litigations, transformation, amortization of intangibles identified as part of business combinations, stock options and free shares, costs related to COVID crisis.

OPERATING PROFIT ADJUSTED:

Operating profit increased by comparability adjustments.

OPERATING MARGIN ADJUSTED:

Rate of adjusted operating profit in proportion of Revenue.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005909/en/

Contacts:

Stephanie Bia

Group Communications Investor Relations Director

Tel: +33(0)6 47 85 98 78

stephanie.bia@akka.eu
MUNCHEN, SHANGHAI, & DETROT, MI / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / SupplyOn, the supply chain business network for the automotive, aerospace, railway and manufacturing industries, has been recognized as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant "Multienterprise Supply Chain Business Networks" for the third time in a row.

"Gartner defines Multienterprise supply chain business networks (MESCBNs) as cohesive technology platforms that support a community of trading partners that need to coordinate and execute on business processes that extend across multiple enterprises. Gartner considers MESCBNs to be foundational technology for more mature organizations, implemented to coordinate, automate and transform an organization's extended supply chain within the overall business ecosystem they operate."

With its supply chain network, SupplyOn provides the basis for end-to-end collaboration between customers and suppliers along the entire multi-tier supply chain. Supported by artificial intelligence, SupplyOn's solutions for purchasing, logistics, transport, as well as quality and risk management enable transparent and agile control of all relevant processes with external business partners on the basis of real-time data.

"The current crisis in particular shows how important it is to consistently implement digital processes with all partners and to work closely together along the entire supply chain. SupplyOn connects OEMs, suppliers and logistics service providers in the manufacturing industry like no other network. We are proud not only to streamline and automate processes, but also to make an important contribution to successful crisis management", emphasizes Markus Quicken, CEO of SupplyOn. "We are particularly delighted with the positive reviews from our customers on the Gartner PeerInsights Platform. They confirm that we are an important and reliable partner for our customers on the path to digital transformation."

"We believe, our positioning as a Magic Quadrant Leader also acknowledges our innovative power. We are taking the digitization of supply chains to a whole new level with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence: from pure collaboration to end-to-end automated processes and early warning systems. In this way, we are enabling our customers to address both the supply chain challenges in an extremely dynamic environment as well as the sustainability of global supply chains", says Dr. Stefan Brandner, member of the executive board of SupplyOn. "Supply chain visibility linked with artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the future. They are the key to not only react to risks, but to manage them in a anticipatory manner."

Two decades ago, the founders of SupplyOn - Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Schaeffler AG and ZF Friedrichshafen AG - followed their vision and realized a cross-company supply chain business network in the manufacturing industry. Their mission was to establish an open platform that links all relevant companies across all levels of the supply chain. In challenging times such as the current pandemic, the enormous benefits of this global network are becoming more apparent than ever.

Link for complimentary access to the full Gartner report:

www.supplyon.com/en/supplyon-confirmed-as-leader-in-gartner-2021-magic-quadrant-for-mescbn

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Multienterprise Supply Chain Business Networks, Christian Titze, William McNeill, Brock Johns, Bart De Muynck, 3 May 2021.

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 SupplyOn

SupplyOn's supply chain business network connects around 100,000 industrial companies from 70 countries worldwide, including Airbus Group, BMW Group, Bombardier, BorgWarner, Bosch, Continental, Deutsche Bahn, DEUTZ, Kautex Textron, Liebherr, Oerlikon, Safran, Schaeffler, Schindler, Siemens, Thales and ZF.

SupplyOn's shareholders are Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Schaeffler AG. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered near Munich and has additional branches in Europe, the USA and China.

For more information, follow this link: www.SupplyOn.com

Contact for the press:

SupplyOn AG

Cornelia Staib

Manager Marketing

Ludwigstrae 49

D-85399 Hallbergmoos

Tel.: +49.811.99997-290

Cornelia.Staib@SupplyOn.com

www.SupplyOn.com

SOURCE: SupplyOn

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645340/SupplyOn-Once-Again-Confirmed-as-a-Leader-in-Gartner-Magic-Quadrant-Multienterprise-Supply-Chain-Business-Networks
Regulatory News:

GeNeuro (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for neurologic and autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, informs its shareholders that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday May 27, 2021 at 9.30am at its head office, 3, chemin du Pre-Fleuri, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.

Based on article 27 of Ordinance 3 on Measures to combat the Coronavirus of 19 June 2020 (COVID-19 Ordinance 3, status as of May 1st, 2021), the Board of Directors has decided that shareholders of the Company may exercise their rights at this Ordinary General Meeting exclusively through the Independent Proxy. This measure allows the Company to hold the Ordinary General Meeting as planned despite the pandemic. The conduct of the Ordinary General Meeting remains subject to additional measures issued by the Swiss authorities.

The notice for the meeting, including the agenda of the day as well as the motions put to the vote, has been published today in the Feuille Officielle Suisse du Commerce.

The documents and preliminary information concerning this meeting are being made available to the shareholders and can be consulted on the website of the Company: www.geneuro.com, under the section Investors Documentation Shareholders meeting.

It is also possible to consult the documents at the Company's headquarters, chemin du Pre-Fleuri 3, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates. Each shareholder has the right to request a hard copy of those documents.

About GeNeuro

GeNeuro's mission is to develop safe and effective treatments against neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs, which represent 8% of human DNA.

GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has rights to 17 patent families protecting its technology.

For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005568/en/

Contacts:

GeNeuro

Jesus Martin-Garcia

Chairman and CEO

+41 22 552 48 00

investors@geneuro.com

NewCap (France)

Louis-Victor Delouvrier

Mathilde Bohin (investors)

+33 1 44 71 98 52

Arthur Rouille (media)

+33 1 44 71 00 15

geneuro@newcap.eu

Halsin Partners

Mike Sinclair (media)

+44 20 7318 2955

msinclair@halsin.com

LifeSci Advisors

Chris Maggos (investors)

+41 79 367 6254

chris@lifesciadvisors.com
Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands - 6 May 2021 - GeoJunxion (GOJXN.AS) is pleased to announce the closing of 2 bespoke Location Intelligence Service contracts with a combined value exceeding Euro 600K.

Built-Up Areas

Following a successful pilot project, further tailoring and refinement of the product specification, GeoJunxion has closed a significant location intelligent service contract for the creation and delivery of Built-Up Areas in nearly 200 countries worldwide. The contract was signed with a global tech company and is planned to be completed before the end of calendar year 2021.

In response to the increasing demand for hyper local content, we have designed a unique suite of algorithms and methods that enable us to automate the generation of boundaries or polygons. Using this technology, we have created a new product with worldwide coverage of Built-Up Areas. A built-up area is an area that has a dense concentration of residential or industrial buildings and is typically a subset of a city area.

Ivo Vleeschouwers, GeoJunxion CFO stated: "With the award of this contract, we are very pleased to see that the investment in the new technology to create bespoke and global Built-Up Areas is paying off. It demonstrates the confidence in our capabilities, and in the team that will deliver on this project. It is also an important confirmation of our strategic focus on Location Intelligence services."

Integration and Sourcing services

After the successful completion of a proof-of-concept earlier in Q1 2021, GeoJunxion was granted an order for a larger scale service project. The order was received from a European based Automotive Navigation and Infotainment supplier and will be executed during Q2 and Q3 2021. Under the terms of the contract, GeoJunxion will assist in improving the navigation map and providing integration and sourcing services to complement the customer's product.

Thierry Jaccoud, GeoJunxion CEO stated: "This newly signed service contract relays once more our ability to leverage our 25+ years of experience in digital maps and demonstrates our value as a sourcing and services supplier."

Ends

About GeoJunxion

GeoJunxion is the crossroads where fundamental, location-aware content connects with superior, customised intelligence and highly focused innovations to empower exceptional experiences. With an emphasis on safety and sustainability, we are constantly expanding our portfolio to meet the demands of a diverse and fast-evolving market. Building on decades of experience in mapping, the company focuses on high value, dynamic content and building environmentally conscious applications, which enrich safety in everyday life. With location-aware content at our core, we know where our strengths lie and have the know-how and technology needed to offer unrivalled, intelligent products and services.

GeoJunxion NV is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam, under the symbol GOJXN.AS.
Partnership will help create better and safer working and living environments with evidence-based air purification system

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / ActivePure Technologies announced that BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands, part of BNP Paribas Real Estate, one of Europe's largest international commercial real estate advisors, has entered a strategic partnership via ActivePure Global, with Quantum Projects. ActivePure Technology surface and air purification systems will be offered to BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands clients and aligns with the goals of BNP Paribas Real Estate's RE\define partners to provide healthy and safe living environments and equip organizations better for the challenges of today and of the future.

Sicco Posthumus CEO of BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands said, "We are actively involved in creating better and safer working and living environments. Our RE/Define program believes that investing in healthy real estate is the best way to support and ensure healthy businesses and boost productivity of all employees. The partnership with Quantum Projects enables us to make and keep spaces free of bacteria, fungi and viruses, including COVID-19. With Quantum and its ActivePure product line, we can further expand our service."

"We are ecstatic that our global ActivePure Technology partner, Quantum Projects, is working with BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands to safely reopen indoor spaces and lower risks associated with airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus and other dangers that may be on the horizon," said Joe Urso, chief executive officer of ActivePure Technologies. "Our infection-prevention technology, that works 24/7, is the new standard of care for indoor spaces where safe air is essential."

ActivePure Technologies is a science-based company that has developed a one-of-a-kind technology that immediately, safely and continuously inactivates viruses-including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as bacteria and other pathogens in the air and on surfaces. The technology, developed for the NASA Space Program and inducted into the Space Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017, powers the 100 plus adaptable ActivePure Technology devices trusted by millions of hospitals, schools, stores, offices and homes worldwide.

ActivePure works instantly and continuously to fill rooms with virus-neutralizing particles. ActivePure's patented technology releases thousands of submicroscopic particles that actively target pathogens in the air and on surfaces, inactivating them safely on contact. Unlike conventional air purifiers, ActivePure Technology does not wait for the pathogens to flow into a filter; it can be used with people in occupied spaces and does not blow air around but directly deactivates pathogens.

In June, the United States Food and Drug Administration deemed ActivePure Technology safe to use in occupied spaces when it cleared the ActivePure Medical Guardian as a Class II Medical Device. Scientists know that the airborne COVID virus is easily transmitted from person to person in enclosed spaces. FDA-compliant research by independent biosafety labs level three and four found that ActivePure inactivated more than 99.9% of a high concentration of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in three minutes.

ActivePure Technologies has been committed to providing quality products and technologies to create safe and clean indoor environments worldwide since 1924. ActivePure Technologies' nine brands include Aerus Enterprise Solutions, activeTek Environmental, Aerus Global, ActivePure Medical, ActivePure Technology, Allergy Buyers Club, Beyond by Aerus, The Pure Company and Vollara.

To learn more about ActivePure Technology, its uses and scientific studies, please visit ActivePure.com or call 888-217-4316.

ABOUT ACTIVEPURE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC:

Privately held ActivePure Technologies, LLC, is the global leader in active, continuous surface and air disinfection systems for health care and educational institutions, commercial and public facilities, and hospitality and residential applications since 1924. ActivePure Technologies includes the patented ActivePure Technology, the most powerful surface and air purification technology ever discovered backed by science. The only one in its class recognized by the Space Foundation as Certified Space Technology and included in the Space Foundation Hall of Fame. ActivePure Technology is engineered based on technology originally developed by NASA that has evolved to reduce exposure to diseases, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and molds, by 99.9%. ActivePure Technologies' seven brands include Aerus Enterprise Solutions, Aerus Global , ActivePure Medical, ActivePure Technology, Allergy Buyers Club, Beyond by Aerus, The Pure Company and Vollara. Additionally, the ActivePure Medical Guardian is registered and cleared as an FDA Class II Medical Device. For more information, please visit ActivePure.com or call 888-217-4316.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jo Trizila, TrizCom PR on behalf of ActivePure Technologies

Email: Jo@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/ Text : 214-232-0078

SOURCE: ActivePure Technology

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645370/ActivePure-Technology-Partners-with-BNP-Paribas-Real-Estate-Netherlands
Regulatory News:

ESI Group (Paris:ESI) (FR0004110310 ESI), leader and pioneer in Virtual Prototyping solutions, hereby releases the total number of shares making up the company's capital and the total number of voting rights in April 30, 2021, in accordance with articles 223-16 and 221-3 of the General Regulations of the "Autorite des Marches Financiers".

Number of shares Number of theoretical voting rights * Number of voting rights ** 6,059,592 8,327,925 7,962,873

* The number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on all shares eligible for voting right (single or double), including shares temporarily deprived of voting rights (treasury shares).

** All Group shares have equal right to vote, except treasury shares, which are deprived of the right to vote, and registered shares held for more than four years that are eligible for double voting rights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005979/en/

Contacts:

ESI Group
Dealer survey also reveals concern about vehicle supply levels

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Findings from the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association's (CADA) one-year survey regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on automobile dealers shows that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) has been a critical lifeline for dealerships and employees across Canada. The survey, conducted from April 1 to 15, 2021 collected responses from 535 dealerships and provided key insights on how dealers are navigating the pandemic over a year into the crisis.

"It continues to be clear that the CEWS program has been instrumental in helping dealers bridge the gap and retain their employees during the pandemic. The federal government responded swiftly and made the necessary adjustments to the program to ensure businesses and workers received adequate support throughout this pandemic," said Tim Reuss, President and CEO of CADA.

Over the past year, dealers have made difficult decisions and cost adjustments to keep their businesses afloat, and those adjustments would have had to be substantially higher without the CEWS support. "CEWS helped bring them back to work sooner than anticipated. Our internal estimate based on the survey responses indicates that upwards of 48,000 people were protected at dealerships across the country since the onset of the pandemic," added Reuss.

In addition, Reuss pointed out the role of auto dealership and CEWS in keeping the transportation infrastructure open, "CEWS not only helped protect employees at vehicle dealerships, it also ensured that the essential transportation services dealers provide were maintained during the pandemic. We are very proud that dealerships - through sales and repair & maintenance operations - kept emergency services rolling and made sure delivery services and health care professionals could serve the community."

The survey also revealed that a key-top-of-mind concern for dealers is vehicle supply, in part, due to the current microchip shortage, with close to 91 per cent of respondents stating they are concerned about new vehicle supply in the near future. This concern is amplified by the expectation of the time it will take for supply to increase, with 87 per cent of respondents believing that it will take at least six months to see an increase in supply and 57 per cent saying that they don't believe that Canadian dealers are getting their fair share of global vehicle allocation.

While federal government relief programs like the CEWS have provided necessary support to dealerships, vehicle sales declined by close to 20 per cent in 2020. This decline is far greater than the one experienced during the economic crisis of 2008/2009.

"The chip shortage and recent COVID-related restrictions across Canada will weigh heavily on the recovery of the auto sector this year. While we were pleased to see the extension of the CEWS to the end of September 2021 in the recent federal budget, more support and sound policies are needed to allow for jobs and business recovery," said Oumar Dicko, CADA's Chief Economist. "The proposed luxury tax in the budget is also concerning for an industry in the midst of recovering from crisis like no other in recent history."

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national association representing new car and truck dealers. Our 3,200 members are represented in nearly every community and collectively employ 160,000 people across the country.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Workman

CADA Public Affairs Specialist

bworkman@cada.ca / 613-294-1263

SOURCE: Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA)

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645034/CADA-Estimates-That-CEWS-Helped-Protect-Close-to-48000-Employees-at-Dealerships-Across-Canada-During-the-Pandemic
Recording of the company's first sales figures

Gross cash position of 7.3 million as of March 31, 2021

Structural and operational developments during the period: positive clinical results from CER-001 in an ultrarare kidney disease published exclusively in a renowned scientific journal; signing of a strategic partnership with GTP Biologics (Fareva Group) and V-Nano (VBI Therapeutics Group) for the bioproduction of the bio-HDL CER-001 in France.



Regulatory News:

ABIONYX Pharma (FR0012616852 ABNX PEA PME eligible) (Paris:ABNX), a new generation biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies for patients, publishes its financial information for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and reviews its operational achievements made during the period.

Recording of the company's first sales figures

Following positive results in the treatment of an ultra-rare renal disease in a patient in France, which led to the postponement of dialysis and the reduction of corneal lipid deposits, resulting in improved vision, ABIONYX Pharma recorded its first sales of 26,650 excluding VAT for the period, corresponding to the supply of CER-001 for the treatment of a patient for one month in the context of a new ATUn.

Since the exclusive publication of the positive results of the first French ATUn in the scientific journal "Annals of Internal Medicine" last March, the company has been approached by several nephrologists around the world to supply CER-001 under ATUn programs. Given the stock of CER-001 available, the company will not be able to fulfill all requests at this time, but remains more dedicated than ever to the development of innovative therapies for patients without effective or existing treatment.

Gross cash position of 7.3 million as of March 31, 2021

As announced last October, the company, which no longer has sufficient stocks of product to meet all possible new ATU requests, is facing significant supply tensions in the context of COVID-19. The company intends to secure the purchase of raw materials for its supply chain in the context of the relocation of its production to France. Consequently, the company has purchased these materials, which explains the decrease in cash and cash equivalents, which amounted to 7.3 million as of March 31, 2021.

Structural and operational developments during the period

Over the past quarter, ABIONYX Pharma has reorganized the biomanufacturing of its recombinant bio-HDL mimetic, through the conclusion of a strategic partnership with GTP Biologics (Fareva Group) and V-Nano (VBI Therapeutics Group), specialized in the production and formulation of biological nanomedicines. The company will thus benefit from the innovative technological approach of GTP Biologics and V-Nano to ensure the success of its complex, high value-added biomanufacturing in France.

Lastly, the Company is still waiting for the start of the new Phase 2a clinical trial for CER-001, called RACERS, in sepsis at high risk of developing acute kidney injury, in partnership with the University of Bari. The Company is also awaiting further preclinical and clinical results.

Combined General Meeting of June 11, 2021

Given the current sanitary crisis, the General Meeting will be held in closed session and will be broadcasted via the company's website. Shareholders will be invited to exercise their rights by voting by mail or by giving a proxy to the Chairman. The preparatory documents for this CGM will be made available to the company's shareholders in accordance with the procedures and within the time limits provided for by the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. The documents relating to this CGM referred to in Article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code will be available on the company's website (www.abionyx.com).

About ABIONYX Pharma

ABIONYX Pharma is a new generation biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies for patients. The biotech assets inherited from CERENIS Therapeutics constitute a rich portfolio of valuable programs for the treatment of metabolic diseases as well as with a HDL targeted drug delivery platform.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006002/en/

Contacts:

NewCap

Investor relations

Louis-Victor Delouvrier

abionyx@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 98 53

NewCap

Media relations

Nicolas Merigeau

abionyx@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 98
Chase, a firebrand conservative with a long history of making inflammatory remarks, has generated many headlines for her refusal to wear a mask in public, her Trump in heels moniker and, among other things, her lawsuit against her Senate peers for censuring her for a pattern of unacceptable conduct. Earlier this year she also sued the states Republican party over its plans for a nominating convention to choose candidates in this years election. If she wins, Chase said she wants to eliminate the governors social distancing mandates and get Virginia back to normal, just like Florida.
VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Erin Ventures Inc. (TSXV:EV) is pleased to report that it has received a license extension for its Piskanja Boron Project, in accordance with the Serbian Law on Mining and Geological Exploration. The license renewal grants Erin until September 25, 2023 to complete the necessary studies and gain approval for the "Certification of Reserves" and the "Approval of the Exploitation Field", as the first two (of three) steps in the mineral exploitation and mine licensing approval process, as per Erin's request.

The "Certification of Reserves" process consists primarily of the submission and approval of a Serbian compliant Mineral Resource Calculation and Technical Economic Assessment, which approximates to a CIM compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in scope and degree of confidence. The "Approval of the Exploitation Field" consists primarily of the submission and approval of a Serbian compliant Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment, and approximates to a CIM compliant pre-feasibility study.

Piskanja is Erin's wholly owned boron deposit with an indicated mineral resource of 7.8 million tonnes (averaging 31.0 per cent B2O3), and an inferred resource of 3.4 million tonnes (averaging 28.6 per cent B2O3), calculated in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves (CIM Standards), as disclosed in Erin's report titled, "Mineral Resource Estimate Update On The Piskanja Borate Project, Serbia, October 2016 - Amended February 28 2019" - prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd. The responsible persons for the updated MRE are Dr Mike Armitage (C.Eng. C.Geol.) and Dr Mikhail Tsypukov who are both full time employees of SRK and Qualified Persons in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves (CIM Standards) and independent of Erin Ventures.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

About Erin Ventures

Erin Ventures Inc. is an international mineral exploration and development company with boron assets in Serbia. Headquartered in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Erin's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EV". For detailed information please see Erin's website at www.erinventures.com or the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Erin Ventures Inc.

Blake Fallis, General Manager

Phone: 1-250- 384-1999 or 1-888-289-3746

info@erinventures.com

www.erinventures.com

Erin's Public Quotations:

Canada

TSX Venture: EV

USA

SEC12G3-2(B)#82-4432

Europe

Berlin: EKV

The technical information in this release was prepared and approved by James E Wallis, M.Sc. (Eng), P. Eng., a director of the company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

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:

Certain statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning anticipated approvals; and results of the completion of the transactions contemplated in this news release. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "objective", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans" or "continue", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that: (1) the license is not renewed; and, (2) Erin may not achieve the results currently anticipated. Although Erin believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because Erin can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this news release, assumptions have been made regarding and are implicit in, among other things, the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals. Details of the risk factors relating to Erin and its business are discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Erin's most recent regulatory filings which are posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which have been used. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Erin and described in the forward looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and Erin undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. "Inferred Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource reported in this news release will ever be upgraded to a higher category or to reserves. U.S. persons are advised that while mineral resources are recognized under Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. persons are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable.

SOURCE: Erin Ventures Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645458/Erin-Ventures-Receives-Boron-Property-License-Extension
Deal will provide Gopuff with a delivery platform and infrastructure in the UK, marking its entrance into international markets

Gopuff, the go-to platform for consumers' immediate everyday needs, today announced that it has acquired Fancy, a last-mile delivery platform that gets consumers their groceries and daily essentials in 30 minutes. As Gopuff accelerates geographic growth, this is the first of many steps in the company's plans to significantly invest in new international markets--starting with the UK and Europe--and expand its global operations team.

"At Gopuff, we have been consistently focused on responsible growth, strategically establishing the physical infrastructure and footprint needed to bring Instant Needs to new geographies and customers," said Daniel Folkman, Gopuff SVP of Business. "Acquiring Fancy is an important first step as we accelerate expansion in the UK and Europe and quickly accelerate our investment in the international market."

Fancy's end-to-end supply chain is similar to Gopuff's vertically integrated model. This cuts out the middle-man, allowing Fancy to deliver essential items at grocery store prices in a matter of minutes. Fancy currently operates multiple micro-fulfillment centers across Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and Birmingham with upcoming launches in London, Sheffield, and Nottingham, among others.

Gopuff plans to expand the UK-based team while working with Fancy to leverage Gopuff technology and expertise to further improve the customer experience.

"We have been inspired by Gopuff's innovation and expertise in our industry and appreciated their insights in and support of our company as we've sought to expand to new markets in the UK. We are delighted to formally join forces with them through this transaction, which gives Fancy increased access to the Instant Needs category leader's operational capabilities, deep bench of talented personnel, and infrastructure to fully execute our vision of delivering convenience across the UK," said Arnie Englander, CEO of Fancy.

About Gopuff

Gopuff is the go-to solution for immediate everyday needs, fulfilling customer orders of cleaning and home products, over-the-counter medications, baby and pet products, food and drinks, and in some markets, alcohol in just minutes. With micro-fulfillment centers in every market it serves, the company delivers thousands of products quickly for a flat $1.95 delivery charge. Gopuff is open 24/7 in many areas and late-night everywhere else to bring customers what they need, when they need it most.

Founded in 2013 by co-founders and co-CEOs Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, Gopuff currently operates more than 400 sites, including 250 micro-fulfillment centers and the recently acquired 160+ BevMo! locations, delivering to customers in more than 650 cities. To learn more, visit www.gopuff.com or follow Gopuff on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Download the Gopuff app on iOS and Android.

About Fancy

Fancy is an on demand delivery solution for groceries and daily essentials. Hyper local dark stores act as micro-fulfilment centers, allowing Fancy to deliver thousands of products straight to your door, in under 30 minutes, for local store prices!

Fancy was founded by Arnie Englander and Jack Wilson in January 2020 and had a place on Y Combinator's 2020 summer batch. Fancy now operates in 6 cities across the UK with plans to launch a further 5 this month, including London. Download the Fancy app on iOS and Android.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006037/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

press@gopuff.com
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - HB2 Origination, LLC ("Origination") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an engagement letter with Eight Capital (the "Agent") as lead agent and sole bookrunner in connection with a private placement of subordinated voting subscription receipts (the "Subordinated Voting Subscription Receipts") at a price of $4.01 per Subordinated Voting Subscription Receipts and multiple voting subscription receipts (the "Multiple Voting Subscription Receipts", and together with the Subordinated Voting Subscription Receipts, the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $401.29 per Multiple Voting Subscription Receipts of Alpine Summit Energy Partners Finco, Inc. ("Finco"), a special purpose company incorporated solely for the purposes of the Offering (as defined below). The Offering will be conducted on a "best efforts" agency basis for total gross proceeds of the Canadian dollar equivalent to US$3 million, which may be upsized to US$5 million (the "Offering"). The Offering is being undertaken in connection with the previously announced business combination (the "Proposed Transaction") between Origination and Red Pine Petroleum Ltd. ("Red Pine") and is expected to close on or about May 27, 2021. In connection with the Proposed Transaction, the shareholders of Red Pine will be asked to approve a change of the name of the Resulting Issuer (as defined below) to "Alpine Summit Energy Partners, Inc.".

The Subscription Receipts will be created and issued pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") to be entered into among the Agent, Finco and Odyssey Trust Company to act as the subscription receipt agent (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"). Each Subordinate Voting Subscription Receipt and each Multiple Voting Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, without payment of any additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder, one Class A common share of Finco (a "Class A Finco Share") and one Class B common share of Finco (a "Class B Finco Share"), respectively, upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as will be defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreement). Each Class A Finco Share and each Class B Finco Share will be exchanged for one subordinate voting share and one multiple voting share, respectively, of Red Pine following the completion of the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer").

In consideration for its services in connection with the Offering, the Agent will be paid a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds raised in the Offering, 50% of which commission will be paid on the closing date of the Offering and the remaining 50% of which commission will be deposited in escrow pending satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions.

Upon closing of the Offering, the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering less 50% of the cash commission and the Agent's expenses (the "Escrowed Funds") will be deposited in escrow with the Subscription Receipt Agent pending satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions, in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. If the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied at or before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the prescribed date determined by Origination and the Agent, each acting reasonably, the Escrowed Funds together with accrued interest thereon will be returned to the holders of Subscription Receipts on a pro rata basis and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled. To the extent that the Escrowed Funds are insufficient to refund such amounts to each holder of the Subscription Receipts, Finco shall be liable for and will contribute such amounts as are necessary to satisfy the shortfall.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Resulting Issuer for corporate and general working capital purposes.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities under the Offering in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Origination

HB2 Origination, LLC is a US-based company that operates oil and gas assets in the Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford formations in the Giddings Field near Austin, Texas.

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

HB2 Origination, LLC

Chris Nilan, Head of Capital Markets

Phone: 615.488.0087 x1104

Email: cnilan@ae-cap.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news 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 condition, but instead represent only Origination's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Origination's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or the negative 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". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, information concerning the Proposed Transaction and the Offering, expectations regarding whether the Proposed Transaction will be consummated, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction will be satisfied, the terms and conditions of the Offering, the timing for completing the Offering and the use of net proceeds of the Offering.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Origination 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 Origination (or the Resulting Issuer) 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 news release, Origination has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: the ability to consummate the Proposed Transaction and the Offering; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Offering or to the conversion of the Subscription Receipts; the ability to close the Offering on the proposed terms or at all; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the Proposed Transaction on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, contractors and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government regulation. 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. Although Origination believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Origination 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.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83184
Record Total Revenue Led by Communications Revenue Increasing 32% to $3.2 million or 64% of Total Revenue, Net Income Increased 141% and EBITDA Increased 59%

RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Issuer Direct Corporation (NYSE American:ISDR) (the "Company"), an industry-leading communications and compliance company, today reported its operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Brian Balbirnie, CEO of Issuer Direct, commented, "We continued our momentum from 2020 and in the first quarter of 2021, revenues, earnings, gross margins and customer counts all expanded on a year-over-year basis. Our Communications business performed well, increasing 32% year-over-year, something we believe we will continue as we bring to market new products and leverage our ACCESSWIRE news brand. We also saw our Compliance business expand by 12% for the quarter from the same period last year, led by both our stock transfer and annual general meeting offerings."

Mr. Balbirnie continued, "We are pleased with our first quarter results and, as we look ahead, we are focused on the continued growth of our business, particularly with respect to our Communications platform. From a technology investment standpoint, we are building a newsroom product, with initial plans to release this new product in the second half of this year. We believe this new capability will lead to increased customer spend and new customer acquisition, which should increase our newswire market share. We recognize it is important for us to develop and release these new products in order to continue our revenue growth, and equally important for us to continue to prioritize strategic acquisition opportunities."

First Quarter 2021 Highlights:

Revenue - Total revenue was $4,980,000, a 24% increase from $4,016,000 in Q1 2020 and a 5% increase from $4,744,000 in Q4 2020. Communications revenue increased 32% from Q1 2020 and 3% from Q4 2020. The increase in Communications revenue was primarily due to the combination of increased revenue from our ACCESSWIRE product and an increase in revenue from subscriptions of Platform id. Communications revenue increased to 64% of total revenue for Q1 2021, compared to 60% for Q1 2020. Revenue from our Compliance business increased 12% from Q1 2020 and 9% from Q4 2020. The increase was due to an increase in our stock transfer and print and proxy fulfillment services.

- Total revenue was $4,980,000, a 24% increase from $4,016,000 in Q1 2020 and a 5% increase from $4,744,000 in Q4 2020. Communications revenue increased 32% from Q1 2020 and 3% from Q4 2020. The increase in Communications revenue was primarily due to the combination of increased revenue from our ACCESSWIRE product and an increase in revenue from subscriptions of Platform Communications revenue increased to 64% of total revenue for Q1 2021, compared to 60% for Q1 2020. Revenue from our Compliance business increased 12% from Q1 2020 and 9% from Q4 2020. The increase was due to an increase in our stock transfer and print and proxy fulfillment services. Gross Margin - Gross margin for Q1 2021 was $3,586,000, or 72% of revenue, compared to $2,763,000, or 69% of revenue, during Q1 2020 and $3,331,000, or 70%, in Q4 2020. Communications gross margin was 73%, an increase from 72% in Q1 2020 and flat with Q4 2020.

- Gross margin for Q1 2021 was $3,586,000, or 72% of revenue, compared to $2,763,000, or 69% of revenue, during Q1 2020 and $3,331,000, or 70%, in Q4 2020. Communications gross margin was 73%, an increase from 72% in Q1 2020 and flat with Q4 2020. Operating Income - Operating income was $707,000 for Q1 2021, as compared to $248,000 during Q1 2020. The increase in operating income is due to an increase in gross margin partially offset by higher operating expenses, primarily due to continued investment and expansion of our headcount, including our sales and marketing and product development teams.

- Operating income was $707,000 for Q1 2021, as compared to $248,000 during Q1 2020. The increase in operating income is due to an increase in gross margin partially offset by higher operating expenses, primarily due to continued investment and expansion of our headcount, including our sales and marketing and product development teams. Net Income - On a GAAP basis, net income was $545,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, during Q1 2021, compared to $226,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, during Q1 2020.

- On a GAAP basis, net income was $545,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, during Q1 2021, compared to $226,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, during Q1 2020. Operating Cash Flows - Cash flows from operations for Q1 2021 were $1,269,000 compared to $602,000 in Q1 2020.

- Cash flows from operations for Q1 2021 were $1,269,000 compared to $602,000 in Q1 2020. Non-GAAP Measures - Q1 2021 EBITDA was $992,000, or 20% of revenue, compared to $622,000, or 15% of revenue, during Q1 2020. Non-GAAP net income for Q1 2021 was $687,000, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $397,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, during Q1 2020.

- Q1 2021 EBITDA was $992,000, or 20% of revenue, compared to $622,000, or 15% of revenue, during Q1 2020. Non-GAAP net income for Q1 2021 was $687,000, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $397,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, during Q1 2020. Stock Repurchase Plan - The Company completed its $2,000,000 repurchase program originally announced on August 7, 2019 and increased on March 16, 2020 by repurchasing the remaining balance under the plan of $453,000 or 19,777 shares of its common shares.

Key Performance Indicators:

During the quarter, the Company worked with 1,541 publicly traded customers, compared to 1,473 during the same period last year.

During the quarter, the Company worked with 1,970 privately held customers compared to 1,289 during the same period last year.

During the quarter we signed 50 new Platform id. subscriptions to new or existing customers with a total annual contract value of $383,000.

subscriptions to new or existing customers with a total annual contract value of $383,000. Total Platform id. subscriptions as of March 31, 2021 were 386, with an annual contract value of $3,046,000, compared to 341 subscriptions with an annual contract value of $2,677,000 as of December 31, 2020.

Non-GAAP Information

Certain Non-GAAP financial measures are included in this press release. In the calculation of these measures, the Company excludes certain items, such as amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation and tax impact of adjustments. The Company believes that excluding such items provides investors and management with a representation of the Company's core operating performance and with information useful in assessing its prospects for the future and underlying trends in the Company's operating expenditures and continuing operations. Management uses such Non-GAAP measures to evaluate financial results and manage operations. The release and the attachments to this release provide a reconciliation of each of the Non-GAAP measures referred to in this release to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered a substitute for the corresponding GAAP financial statements and investors should evaluate them carefully. These Non-GAAP financial measures may differ materially from the Non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

($ in '000's, except per share amounts)

CALCULATION OF EBITDA

Three Months ended March 31, 2021 2020 Amount Amount Net income: $ 545 $ 226 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 285 374 Interest income (1 ) (58 ) Income tax expense 163 80 EBITDA: $ 992 $ 622

CALCULATION OF NON-GAAP NET INCOME

Three Months ended March 31, 2021 2020 Amount Per diluted share Amount Per diluted share Net income: $ 545 $ 0.14 $ 226 $ 0.06 Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets (1) 117 0.03 172 0.04 Stock-based compensation (2) 63 0.02 45 0.01 Tax impact of adjustments (3) (38 ) (0.01 ) (46 ) (0.01 ) Non-GAAP net income: $ 687 $ 0.18 $ 397 $ 0.10

The adjustments represent the amortization of intangible assets related to acquired assets and companies. The adjustments represent stock-based compensation expense related to awards of stock options, restricted stock units or common stock in exchange for services. Although the Company expects to continue to award stock in exchange for services, the amount of stock-based compensation is excluded as it is subject to change as a result of one-time or non-recurring projects. This adjustment gives effect to the tax impact of all non-GAAP adjustments at the current Federal rate of 21%.

Conference Call Information

To participate in this event, dial approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call.

Date: May 6, 2021

Time: 4:30 PM ET

Participant: 877-407-8133 | 201-689-8040

Live Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/842/40843

Conference Call Replay Information

The replay will be available beginning approximately 1 hour after the completion of the live event, ending at midnight eastern on May 20, 2021.

Toll-free: 877.481.4010

International: 919.882.2331

Reference ID: 40843

Web replay: http://www.issuerdirect.com/earnings-calls-and-scripts/

About Issuer Direct Corporation

Issuer Direct is an industry-leading communications and compliance company focusing on the needs of corporate issuers. Issuer Direct's principal platform, Platform id. , empowers users by thoughtfully integrating the most relevant tools, technologies, and services, thus eliminating the complexity associated with producing and distributing financial and business communications. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, Issuer Direct serves thousands of public and private companies globally. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com.

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 (the "Exchange Act") (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "prospects," "outlook," and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "would," "may," and "could," are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, performance, or achievements for many reasons including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise. For additional risks and uncertainties that could impact the Company's forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, including but not limited to the discussion under "Risk Factors" therein, which the Company filed with the SEC and which may be viewed at http://www.sec.gov/.

For Further Information:

Issuer Direct Corporation

Brian R. Balbirnie

(919) 481-4000

brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com

Hayden IR

Brett Maas

(646) 536-7331

brett@haydenir.com

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

(646) 755-7412

james@haydenir.com

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

March 31, December 31, 2021 2020 ASSETS (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 20,548 $ 19,556 Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $651 and $657, respectively) 2,966 2,514 Other current assets 383 298 Total current assets 23,897 22,368 Capitalized software (net of accumulated amortization of $2,893 and $2,761, respectively) 394 526 Fixed assets (net of accumulated amortization of $348 and $312, respectively) 775 795 Right-of-use asset - leases 1,756 1,830 Other long-term assets 93 88 Goodwill 6,376 6,376 Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $5,663 and $5,546, respectively) 2,789 2,906 Total assets $ 36,080 $ 34,889 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 589 $ 304 Accrued expenses 2,098 1,805 Income taxes payable 358 258 Deferred revenue 2,383 2,212 Total current liabilities 5,428 4,579 Deferred income tax liability 262 197 Lease liabilities - long-term 1,890 1,971 Total liabilities 7,580 6,747 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. - - Common stock $0.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 3,765,975 and 3,770,752 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. 4 4 Additional paid-in capital 22,024 22,214 Other accumulated comprehensive loss (16 ) (19 ) Retained earnings 6,488 5,943 Total stockholders' equity 28,500 28,142 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 36,080 $ 34,889

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2021 2020 Revenues $ 4,980 $ 4,016 Cost of revenues 1,394 1,253 Gross profit 3,586 2,763 Operating costs and expenses: General and administrative 1,404 1,216 Sales and marketing expenses 1,074 896 Product development 249 194 Depreciation and amortization 152 209 Total operating costs and expenses 2,879 2,515 Operating income 707 248 Interest income, net 1 58 Net income before income taxes 708 306 Income tax expense 163 80 Net income $ 545 $ 226 Income per share - basic $ 0.15 $ 0.06 Income per share - fully diluted $ 0.14 $ 0.06 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 3,769 3,788 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - fully diluted 3,817 3,824

ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 545 $ 226 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 285 374 Bad debt expense 28 93 Deferred income taxes (15 ) (42 ) Non-cash interest expense - 6 Stock-based compensation expense 63 45 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (484 ) (219 ) Decrease (increase) in other assets (16 ) 32 Increase (decrease) in accounts payable 287 118 Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses 398 (105 ) Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue 178 74 Net cash provided by operating activities 1,269 602 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of fixed assets (16 ) - Net cash used in investing activities (16 ) - Cash flows from financing activities: Exercise of stock options 199 - Payment for stock repurchase and retirement (452 ) (203 ) Net cash used in financing activities (253 ) (203 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 1,000 399 Cash - beginning 19,556 15,766 Currency translation adjustment (8 ) 32 Cash and cash equivalents - ending $ 20,548 $ 16,197 Supplemental disclosures: Cash paid for income taxes $ - $ 10

SOURCE: Issuer Direct Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644636/Issuer-Direct-Reports-First-Quarter-2021-Results
Filing of Definitive Additional Materials

Regulatory News:

TechnipFMC plc ("TechnipFMC") (NYSE:FTI) (Paris:FTI) (ISIN:GB00BDSFG982) announced today that it has filed definitive additional materials ("Additional Materials") related to its definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC

On April 9, 2021, TechnipFMC filed its definitive proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") for the 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"). In connection with the Annual Meeting, shareholders are being asked to, among other proposals, elect Ms. Sophie Zurquiyah and approve the prospective directors' remuneration policy, as described in proposal 1(i) and proposal 4, respectively, in the Proxy Statement. In May 2021, Glass Lewis, a proxy advisory firm, issued voting recommendations relating to the Annual Meeting. Glass Lewis recommends voting against Ms. Zurquiyah's nomination for election to the board of directors and our prospective director remuneration policy. The statement below constitutes a Report Feedback Statement in response to Glass Lewis' analysis of the nomination of Ms. Zurquiyah and our prospective director remuneration policy and is intended to provide additional information that we believe shareholders will value as they review the Glass Lewis report and bring more clarity on Glass Lewis' analysis of each of these proposals.

A copy of the Proxy Statement and the Additional Materials can be found on the SEC website (www.sec.gov) and on the TechnipFMC website (investors.technipfmc.com).

About TechnipFMC

TechnipFMC is a leading technology provider to the traditional and new energy industries, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services.

With our proprietary technologies and comprehensive solutions, we are transforming our clients' project economics, helping them unlock new possibilities to develop energy resources while reducing carbon intensity and supporting their energy transition ambitions.

Organized in two business segments Subsea and Surface Technologies we will continue to advance the industry with our pioneering integrated ecosystems (such as iEPCI, iFEED and iComplete), technology leadership and digital innovation.

Each of our approximately 20,000 employees is driven by a commitment to our clients' success, and a culture of strong execution, purposeful innovation, and challenging industry conventions.

TechnipFMC utilizes its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. To learn more about how we are driving change in the industry, go to www.TechnipFMC.com and follow us on Twitter @TechnipFMC.

May 6, 2021

RE: 2021 TechnipFMC plc Glass Lewis Report

Dear Glass Lewis,

TechnipFMC plc (the "Company", "TechnipFMC", "its" or "our") appreciates the opportunity to respond directly to the 2021 Glass Lewis Proxy Research Report (the "Report") regarding the proposals within our 2021 Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") for our 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"). We are writing to express disagreement with the Report's recommendations with respect to certain proposals in the Proxy Statement and urge Glass Lewis to revise its recommendation based on the reasons set forth in this letter. Specifically, the Company urges Glass Lewis to recommend voting "FOR" the following proposals:

Proposal 1(i) Election of Sophie Zurquiyah as a Director; and

Proposal 4 Prospective Directors' Remuneration Policy.

In order to assist Glass Lewis' review of these voting recommendations, it should be noted that, although the Company is incorporated in the United Kingdom, it is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, is headquartered in the United States, its Chairman and CEO works principally from our Houston, Texas, USA office, and a large portion of its shareholders are based in the United States. The Company's securities are not listed on any securities exchange in the United Kingdom. As a result, the Company should be largely analyzed in the context of its large U.S. presence, except in the few instances where certain laws and regulations from the United Kingdom and European market regulations dictate the existence or form of a specific Proxy Statement proposal.

Proposal 1(i) Election of Sophie Zurquiyah as a Director

We urge Glass Lewis to recommend that shareholders vote "FOR" Ms. Zurquiyah because of her uniquely relevant global background and expertise in our industry, demonstrated commitment to the Board of Directors of TechnipFMC, the immense value she brings to our Company as a diverse director, which harmonizes with the views of our shareholders who have advocated for more diversity on our Board, and her commitment to take action within the next year to address guidelines from proxy advisors and institutional investors.

The Report's current recommendation to vote against Ms. Zurquiyah is based on a belief that she serves on three public company boards (CGG S.A., Safran S.A., and TechnipFMC plc), one more than the allowable amount under Glass Lewis' 2021 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines (the "Guidelines"). However, the Guidelines enumerate certain other factors that should weigh in Glass Lewis' consideration of whether a director's service on other boards would limit his/her ability to devote sufficient time to the Board of Directors of TechnipFMC (the "Board"), such as:

the director's attendance record at all companies;

the size of the companies on whose board the director nominee serves; and

other sufficient rationale for continued board service, such as contributions to the Board, including specialized knowledge of the Company's industry, strategy or key markets, diversity of skills, perspective and background, and other relevant factors.

Ms. Zurquiyah's skills, experience, expertise, and characteristics make her a uniquely qualified and transformative director.

Ms. Zurquiyah was nominated as a director to the Board after a thorough, thoughtful, and rigorous recruitment process with Spencer Stuart, a nationally recognized third-party director search firm. After engagement with the Company's shareholders, as described in our Proxy Statement, the Board set rigorous criteria for the director search, including deep expertise in the Company's industry, executive management experience, and financial expertise, in part to overcome the losses from directors who departed in the recent spin-off of Technip Energies N.V. (the "Spin-off") and from the Company's director retirement policy. The Company also took to heart its shareholders' desires to increase diversity on the Board. With Spencer Stuart's assistance, Ms. Zurquiyah was identified as uniquely suited to meet these criteria. Ms. Zurquiyah has deep expertise in the oil and gas industry, having served in the industry since 1991 and in a series of leadership roles since 2007, including her current role as chief executive officer of CGG S.A., a management position that is exceptionally, and woefully, rare for a woman to hold. Moreover, Ms. Zurquiyah has direct experience in sustainability and technology, which tie directly to the Company's transformed business strategy following the Spin-off. Ms. Zurquiyah is also an Audit Committee financial expert as defined under the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") rules. Once identified, it was clear to the Board that the combination of Ms. Zurquiyah's skills, experience, financial expertise, and diversity made her a unique candidate whose transformative leadership potential outweighed her membership on one more board than advised under the Guidelines, resulting in her appointment in April 2021.1

In addition, Ms. Zurquiyah has informed the Company that she expects to take action within the next year to address guidelines from proxy advisors and institutional investors.

The Report's recommendation to vote against Ms. Zurquiyah could potentially deprive the Board of these valuable qualities and Ms. Zurquiyah's current and future contributions.

Ms. Zurquiyah's attendance record and contributions to the boards on which she serves are exemplary.

We acknowledge and concur with Glass Lewis' views "that directors should have the necessary time to fulfill their duties to shareholders" and an "overcommitted director can pose a material risk to a company's shareholders, particularly during periods of crisis."

The Company's views on Board composition and criteria for Board membership, as disclosed in its Proxy Statement on pages 45-48, include numerous requirements, including an "ability to commit the time required for service on our Board." We evaluate not only a director's skills and experience relevant to the Company, but also changes in professional status, outside commitments, and other public company directorships to assess the potential impact on our Board's effectiveness.

Ms. Zurquiyah has attended all of her CGG board meetings since her appointment to the CGG Board in 20182 and has attended all but one of her Safran board and committee meetings since her appointment in 2017.3 Her appointment to our Board was effective on April 1, 2021, and Ms. Zurquiyah has attended all four Board and committee meetings to date, where she has been recognized by the Board for her immediate contributions and engagement. Her combined attendance record demonstrates her commitment and service to the various boards, including the Company's Board, on which she serves.

As disclosed in our Proxy Statement, the Board believes that a rigorous evaluation process is an essential component of strong corporate governance. The Company's Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") Committee reviews regularly the Board's composition, including the key skills and experience represented on the Board, to ensure it meets the changing needs of the business, while also taking into consideration the outcomes of our annual Board and committee self-evaluation process, feedback received from shareholders, and evolving market best practices. Our ESG Committee also looks to ensure that our directors possess and demonstrate a willingness to devote the required time and attention to Board duties and to otherwise fulfill the responsibilities required of them, including discussions with each director regarding the time commitments and expectations of his or her other board duties to ensure that he or she can continue to serve the Company and its shareholders effectively.

CGG S.A. is a small-cap company.

The Guidelines provide that Glass Lewis may consider the size and location of the other companies whose board a director nominee serves on. CGG S.A., one of the three boards on which Ms. Zurquiyah serves, is considered a small-cap company with a market capitalization of approximately 690 million Euros. While board service on any public company, coupled with executive responsibilities, necessarily entails significant effort and attention, we respectfully urge Glass Lewis to consider that by the terms of its criteria, the size of CGG S.A. is within the exact use-case parameters of this mitigating factor and therefore should weigh in favor of a recommendation to vote "FOR" Ms. Zurquiyah's service on the Company's Board, all else being considered equal.

Based on the flexibility in the Guidelines that allow consideration of qualities beyond the specific number of boards on which the director serves and because Ms. Zurquiyah is uniquely well suited to serve on the Board, we urge Glass Lewis to revise its recommendation to a vote "FOR" the proposal to elect Ms. Zurquiyah.

Proposal 4 Prospective Directors' Remuneration Policy

We urge Glass Lewis to recommend that shareholders vote "FOR" our Prospective Directors' Remuneration Policy (the "Policy") proposal because when analyzed under the applicable U.S. market standards, the Policy allows the Company to appropriately remunerate directors in a competitive talent market in order to achieve the Company's and business objectives and serve shareholders' best interests.

We were surprised by the Report's negative recommendation for several reasons. The Report inappropriately assessed our Policy through the lens of U.K. compensation practices rather than U.S. compensation practices. In addition, the Report has overlooked the Company's compensation best practices, responsible executive pay design, and strong alignment between pay and performance, which received a positive "FOR" say-on-pay recommendation in the Report.

The Report's assessment of the Policy is based on U.K. practices rather than U.S. practices.

Although incorporated in the United Kingdom, the Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, headquartered in the United States, its Chairman of the Board and CEO, as well as all of its executive officers, work principally from the Houston, Texas, USA office, a large portion of the Company's shareholders are based in the United States, and the majority of the Company's peer group companies, with whom it competes for talent, are headquartered in the United States. As such, the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Company (the "Compensation Committee") and its advisors have benchmarked the Policy, including that of the Chairman of the Company, primarily against U.S. market practices in order to attract the best talent and leadership to the Board. When this proposal is analyzed against the correct U.S. market practices, the Policy is within the normal parameters of similar proposals. Additionally, the Report's analysis of this proposal is inconsistent with its analysis of the other proposals in this Proxy Statement. Specifically the Report analyzes the director election proposal under the U.S. guidelines, indicating that these same U.S. guidelines should apply to this proposal; we quote page 11 of the Report: "[G]iven the Company's trading position in the U.S. and its board structure, we believe that U.S. governance standards regarding the election of directors should be applied to the Company. As such, we are largely basing the following voting recommendations on Glass Lewis' guidelines for U.S. companies."

The Report notes several aspects of the Company's program that are inconsistent with U.K. practice. As mentioned before, this is an inappropriate standard as the Company operates primarily as a U.S.-based company with U.S. pay practices:

Short Term Incentive ("STI") Deferral: It is uncommon for companies in the United States to incorporate practices requiring executives to defer a portion of their bonus into shares. Within our compensation peer group, two of our non-U.S. peers disclose this practice while none of our U.S. peers disclose this practice.

Long Term Incentive ("LTI") Extended Holding Period: This is an uncommon practice in the United States within our compensation peer group where only two of our non-U.S. peers disclose this practice, and none of our U.S. peers disclose this practice. In the United States, it is more common for companies to require executives to hold shares through stock ownership guidelines rather than an extended holding period. We include robust stock ownership guidelines, which require our CEO to hold 6x his base salary in shares, our CFO to hold 5x his base salary, and our other executive officers to hold 3x their base salary in shares.

Plan Limits: It is not prevalent market practice in the United States to limit equity-based awards to a specified percentage over a 10-year rolling period. Per U.S. practice, excessive shareholder dilution is avoided by (1) requiring shareholder votes to grant a pool of shares that can be used for LTI grants over a period of years and including information on potential shareholder dilution in such proposal, and (2) including maximum limits on the LTI grant that can be made to any one individual during a calendar year. Additionally, the Company has been responsible with its use of shares historically as referenced by our historical three-year burn rate of 1.0%, which aligns with the median of our peer group.

The Report overlooked our compensation best practices, responsible executive pay design, and strong pay-for-performance alignment.

The Policy is designed to be based on U.S. prevalence (taking into consideration U.K. prevalence where appropriate), and includes the following best practices, as described in our Proxy Statement:

pay for performance by aligning performance measures with our long-term strategy and shareholder interests;

benchmarking compensation against relevant global and industry peer groups, and salary increases and incentive awards based on market data and performance;

majority of executive director compensation is performance-based, "at-risk" long-term compensation;

short-term incentive awards are based on key financial and individual metrics, payout is based on performance, and no payout below minimum performance;

a minimum of 50% of LTI payout is based on performance, with caps on annual awards;

no guaranteed or uncapped incentives;

clawback provision in the event of malfeasance or fraud;

robust director share ownership requirements;

engaging an independent, external compensation consultant; and

no excessive perquisites, benefits, or pension payments.

The Report's negative recommendation is partially driven by what Glass Lewis has deemed a "potential for excessive remuneration under the LTIP" due to the increase in our maximum LTI opportunity under the program from $15 million to $18 million. The intent of this was to provide the Company flexibility in the future, if appropriate, to move more of the Executive Director's short-term cash compensation to at-risk, long-term compensation, which is in alignment with shareholder interests. The decision to recommend against our remuneration policy on this basis ignores our:

Responsible executive pay design: This is a maximum potential opportunity only. In practice, our LTI awards to our Executive Director, including the 2021 LTI grant, have ranged from $9.1 million to $12.6 million. The Compensation Committee has been a responsible steward of the maximum limit allowable under the LTIP program and has set compensation based on market data and Company performance.

Strong pay and performance alignment: As stated in the Report's pay-for-performance analysis, the level of pay provided to the Chairman and CEO is not excessive. The Chairman and CEO was paid less compensation than the median compensation for the group of companies selected based on Glass Lewis' peer group methodology. The Report also indicates an adequate alignment of pay with performance and the Company's pay ranking is notably less than its performance ranking.

We acknowledge Glass Lewis' concern that the performance targets attached to our 2020 and 2021 performance share units ("PSUs") are based upon the single metric of relative total shareholder return ("TSR"). However, the Policy does not state that a single metric will be used each year, and this is not the intent of the Policy. The Company's Compensation Committee will choose one or more measures each year, based on the long-term business objectives. A single performance metric was used for 2020 and in 2021, because the volatility in the oil and gas business environment and the Spin-off made it challenging to set meaningful financial metrics during these two years. In addition, we believe, and our shareholders have expressed to us during our shareholder engagement meetings, that relative TSR is strongly aligned with shareholder interests and is a meaningful measure of our long-term performance. If the Policy is not approved at the Annual Meeting, the Company intends to continue compensating its directors under its existing Directors' Remuneration Policy that was approved at its 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders until a revised policy is approved by shareholders.

Based on the application of the correct U.S. market practice standard, and because the Policy has been scrupulously designed to align directors' incentives with shareholders' interests while remaining competitive in the U.S. compensation market, we urge Glass Lewis to revise its recommendation to a vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the Policy.

We respectfully urge Glass Lewis to revise the Report and recommend that shareholders vote "FOR" each of Proxy Statement proposals 1(i) and 4. For the reasons discussed in greater detail above, Ms. Zurquiyah is uniquely and highly qualified to serve as a director on our Board and expects to take action within the next year to address guidelines from proxy advisors and institutional investors related to her directorships, and our Policy on director remuneration is aligned with U.S. market practices and shareholder interests.

For and on behalf of TechnipFMC plc,

Victoria Lazar

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

_____________________

1 We also note that the policies of another major shareholder proxy advisor with respect to director commitments advise that Ms. Zurquiyah would be within the acceptable range of board commitments for the CEO of a public company.

2 Please see CGG's 2018 Annual Report (www.cgg.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/annual_report_2018.pdf, page 101), 2019 Annual Report (www.cgg.com/sites/default/files/2021-01/2019_URD_Engl_2.pdf, page 111), and 2020 Annual Report (www.cgg.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/Annual_Report_2020_0.pdf, page 128).

3 Please see Safran's 2017 Registration Document (www.safran-group.com/file/download/2017-registration-document.pdf, page 262), 2018 Registration Document (www.safran-group.com/sites/group/files/safran_ddr_2018_uk.pdf, page 288), 2019 Registration Document (www.safran-group.com/sites/group/files/safran_deu_2019_uk_mel.pdf, page 324), and 2020 Registration Document (www.safran-group.com/sites/group/files/opt_mel_safr_deu_2020_production_uk_202104011830.pdf, page 356).

Category: UK regulatory

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006186/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Matt Seinsheimer

Vice President Investor Relations

+1 281 260 3665

Matt Seinsheimer

James Davis

Senior Manager Investor Relations

+1 281 260 3665

James Davis

Media relations

Nicola Cameron

Vice President Corporate Communications

+44 1383 742297

Nicola Cameron

Brooke Robertson

Public Relations Director

+1 281 591 4108

Brooke Robertson
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / The Uplift Education Art Show arises from a partnership that began in 2016 between NorthPark Center and the Uplift FREE charter school network. Funding from the shopping center enables the scholars to visit and study NorthPark's world-class art collection throughout the year. Our 5th annual Art Exhibition (at NorthPark and virtual gallery) will be published and on display at the NorthPark Center May 7th to May 26th on Level One in the hallway in between Dillard's and Macy's, in front of J. Crew and Tommy Bahama. The theme this year is "Better Together"-a free-for-all theme in which scholars could draw, paint, sculpt, etc. about this school year's unprecedented and rollercoaster events (global pandemic, racial injustices, etc.)

VIDEO Here:

Some scholars manifest talent that appears way beyond their years by referencing iconic works of art. They use everything from crayons to aluminum foil, often combining multiple media, to render drawings, paintings, collages, and sculptures. Each piece is accompanied by a thoughtful, sometimes poignant artist's statement.

The Uplift Art Show is an annual exhibition celebrating the artwork and creative interests of our talented scholars (Kindergarten - 12th grade.) This special event is normally held in-person at the NorthPark Center, but due to COVID-19, this year's exhibition is a hybrid of in-person and virtual. Scholars have the opportunity to display their artwork at NorthPark Center and in a virtual gallery via Artsteps. The works on display at NorthPark Center and in the virtual gallery represent scholars' artistic and creative take on this year's theme, Better Together. Scholars were encouraged to represent the beauty and unity of their collective ideas. Even though each artwork is unique, the collection of artwork on display is a celebration of what our nation has gone through together. The show will feature more than 45 pieces of piece of art on display at NorthPark and over 75 pieces in the virtual gallery.

Uplift's art exhibit showcases scholars' creativity while reinforcing Uplift's International Baccalaureate traits, which encourage scholars to be reflective, balanced, and open-minded. Links to the virtual gallery will be provided on Uplift Education's social media platforms. Please visit us at facebook.com/uplifteducation.

Uplift Education

Uplift Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of teachers, families, and, most importantly, students. With a network of 43 college-preparatory, public charter schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Uplift offers students of any background the powerful chance to study within a multidisciplinary curriculum and prepare for the college career they deserve. Uplift is the largest International Baccalaureate district in Texas and the #2 IB district in the nation because of the number of holistic extracurricular and educational programs. The incredible educators in the Uplift network guide and teach nearly 20,000 students in Pre-K- 12th?grades, with the majority being low-income and minority students who will be the first in their family to attend college. For more information Uplift's mission and their blind lottery selection system, visit?uplifteducation.org?or?facebook.com/uplifteducation .

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Deekay Fox

Senior Marketing and Communications Director

dfox@uplifteducation.org

661-378-2353

SOURCE: Uplift Education

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645557/Better-Together-Uplift-Education-Reveals-2021-Art-Exhibition-at-NorthPark-Center
LOUISVILLE, KY / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Charah Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:CHRA) (together with its subsidiaries, "Charah Solutions" or the "Company"), a leading provider of environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry, announced today that it will conduct a conference call on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2021 financial results.

To register to participate live on this conference call, please use this link using conference ID 5895303. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent, including dial-in details and a unique code for entry. We recommend registering a day in advance, or, at a minimum, 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the call. Participants may also listen to the conference call via webcast by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Charah Solutions website at ir.charah.com.

A webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Charah Solutions website at ir.charah.com after 11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 13, 2021. In addition, an audio replay will be available for one week following the call and will be accessible by dialing (800) 585-8367 within the United States or (416) 621-4642 outside the United States. The replay ID is 5895303.

About Charah Solutions

With 30 years of experience, Charah Solutions, Inc. is a leading provider of environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Charah Solutions assists utilities and independent power producers with all aspects to sustainably manage and recycle ash byproducts generated from the combustion of coal in the production of electricity. The Company also designs and implements solutions for ash pond management and closure, landfill construction, fly ash sales, and structural fill projects. Charah Solutions is the partner of choice for solving customers' most complex environmental challenges, and as an industry leader in quality, safety, and compliance, the Company is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for a cleaner energy future. For more information, please visit www.charah.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains 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 facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "may," "expect," "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "intend," "achievable," "anticipate," "will," "continue," "potential," "should," "could," and similar terms and phrases. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments, and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. See the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and other periodic reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding risk factors.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Investor Contact

Roger Shannon, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Charah Solutions, Inc.

ir@charah.com

(502) 245-1353

Media Contact

Tamara Davis

PriceWeber Marketing

media@charah.com

(270) 202-8516

SOURCE: Charah Solutions, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645511/Charah-Solutions-Inc-Schedules-First-Quarter-2021-Earnings-Call
St. Paul, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM) (NYSE American: PLM) today reports it has filed its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and provides a business update.

The company made meaningful progress in litigation, continued its focus on optimization and engineering efforts related to the NorthMet Project, and maintained full compliance with all operating permits during the period, according to Jon Cherry, chairman, president and CEO.

"We are pleased with the rulings we received this spring from the Minnesota Supreme Court, which provide added clarity as we continue to work through the remaining legal challenges to our permits," Cherry said. "We expect litigation will continue to at least year-end 2021."

The following is a brief summary of recent cases:

In April 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Court of Appeals that had remanded the Permit to Mine to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) for an open-ended contested case hearing. Of the many issues decided on by the court, PolyMet prevailed in the vast majority including the key legal challenge of whether state agencies have discretion to hold contested case hearings. However, the court ruled the MDNR must revisit, in a contested case hearing, one element of the expansive Permit to Mine: the effectiveness of bentonite clay capping for eventual closure of the tailings basin. "We expect this hearing will be addressed in an expeditious manner by the MDNR," Cherry said, noting that the contested case hearing is expected to run concurrent with other litigation that is in progress. Importantly, the Supreme Court also reversed the Court of Appeals' decision to require contested case hearings on the dam safety permits.

In March 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought, and the company agreed to, a 90-day review of EPA's downstream water quality decision under section 401(a)(2) of the Clean Water Act. Because EPA's downstream water quality determination is a prerequisite for PolyMet's federal section 404 wetlands permit, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers on March 17 notified the company it had put the permit on hold for the duration of EPA's review. The company is participating in this review as appropriate. The EPA is expected to issue its determination at the end of the 90-day review period in early June.

In February 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Court of Appeals related to the PolyMet air permit. On the central argument in that case, the Supreme Court held that the lower court had "relied on erroneous interpretation of federal law" when it ruled against PolyMet. The case was returned to the Court of Appeals to resolve a limited number of items the lower court did not specifically address in its original decision. The Court of Appeals will make a decision by late July.

To date, PolyMet has received favorable decisions in all six cases that have reached final conclusion - four federal and two state. More information on recent court developments can be found on the company's website at www.polymetmining.com/investors/news/ and on its SEDAR and EDGAR profiles.

Key Balance Sheet Statistics

(in '000 US dollars)



March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020

Cash $ 6,463

$ 3,554

Working capital 1

(13,417 )

(15,241 ) Total assets

465,590



460,714

Total liabilities

98,101



91,075

Shareholders' equity $ 367,489

$ 369,639 1 Deficiency primarily due to the $16.9 million promissory note with Glencore being due December 31, 2021. Glencore has committed to provide financial support to enable the Company to continue its business operations for the next twelve months.













Key Income and Cash Flow Statement Statistics

(in '000 US dollars, except per share amounts)



Three months ended

March 31, 2021 Three months ended

March 31, 2020



Operations expense $ 3,576

$ 5,207

Other expenses/(income):





Debt accretion and interest

780



329

Rehabilitation accretion

479



525

Gain on financial asset fair value

(812 )

(292 ) Restricted deposit (gain)/loss

(277 )

1,647

Other income - net

(49 )

(7 )











Loss for the period:

3,697



7,409

Loss for the period ($/share)

0.04



0.07









Cash used in investing activities $ 1,758

$ 2,553







Weighted average shares outstanding

100,862,592



100,588,276

Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $3.7 million compared with $7.4 million for the prior year period. The decreased loss was primarily due to reduced spend on studies and evaluation of the mineral resource and on investment gains from restricted deposits.

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $1.8 million compared with $2.9 million for the prior year. The decrease was due to lower capitalized spend following receipt of permits in March 2019 as the company awaits resolution of legal challenges to permits.

The financial statements have been filed at www.polymetmining.com and on SEDAR and EDGAR and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. All amounts are in U.S. dollars. Copies can be obtained free of charge by contacting the company at 444 Cedar Street, Suite 2060, St. Paul, MN 55101, or by e-mail at info@polymetmining.com. Project developments described above are derived from these documents and should be read in conjunction with them.

* * * * *

About PolyMet

PolyMet is a mine development company that owns 100% of the NorthMet Project, the first large-scale project to be permitted within the Duluth Complex in northeastern Minnesota, one of the world's major, undeveloped mining regions. NorthMet has significant proven and probable reserves of copper, nickel and palladium - metals vital to infrastructure improvements and global carbon reduction efforts - in addition to marketable reserves of cobalt, platinum and gold. When operational, NorthMet will become one of the leading producers of nickel, palladium and cobalt in the U.S., providing a much needed, responsibly mined source of these critical and essential metals.

Located in the Mesabi Iron Range, the project will provide economic diversity while leveraging the region's established supplier network and skilled workforce, and generate a level of activity that will have a significant effect in the local economy. For more information: www.polymetmining.com.

For further information, please contact:

Media

Bruce Richardson, Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 (651) 389-4111

brichardson@polymetmining.com

Investor Relations

Tony Gikas, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (651) 389-4110

investorrelations@polymetmining.com

PolyMet Disclosures

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet's operations in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "potential," "possible," "projects," "plans," and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will," "may," "could," or "should" occur or be achieved or their negatives or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the ability to receive environmental and operating permits, job creation, and the effect on the local economy, or other statements that are not a statement of fact. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing PolyMet or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying its predictions.

PolyMet's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and PolyMet does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements discussed in PolyMet's most recent Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Annual Report on Form 40-F also contains the company's mineral resource and other data as required under National Instrument 43-101.

No regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted 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/83209
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: HBE) ("Hornby Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") with respect to its previously announced transaction (the "Transaction") in accordance with Policy 5.2 of the TSXV.

The Transaction

Pursuant to the terms of the definitive option agreement dated November 30, 2020, as amended March 23, 2021 and April 21, 2021, (collectively, the "Definitive Agreement"), entered into between the Company, Frank Guillemette (the "Principal Shareholder"), Jonathan Girard and Jean-Francois Girard (together with the Principal Shareholder, the "Vendors"), the Company will purchase from the Vendors all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of 9396-1217 Quebec Inc., whose sole asset is 100% of the common shares in the capital of 9220-5392 Quebec Inc. o/a Mines Royales Quebec ("MRQ"). MRQ holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Philibert property (the "Philibert Property") located in Quebec's Chibougamau mining camp.

Concurrent Financing

In connection with the Transaction, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts (each, a "Subscription Receipt") on January 6, 2021 pursuant to which the Company issued an aggregate of 64,890,005 Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of $3,244,500 (the "Offering").

The gross proceeds of the Offering (the "Escrowed Proceeds") were held in escrow on behalf of the subscribers for the Subscription Receipts by TSX Trust Company (the "Escrow Agent"), pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") entered into on January 6, 2021 among the Company and the Escrow Agent. The Company has delivered a notice to the Escrow Agent on May 6, 2021 confirming satisfaction of the applicable escrow release conditions, at which time each Subscription Receipt was automatically converted into one unit (a "Unit") of the Company, and the Escrowed Proceeds were released to the Company. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of Hornby Bay (each, a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable by the holder thereof for one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") until January 6, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.06 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustments in certain events.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the cash portion of the consideration payable to MRQ pursuant to the Definitive Agreement and for general corporate purposes.

The securities issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts are subject to a statutory hold period until May 7, 2021, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The completion of the Transaction remains subject to final approval by the TSXV and fulfillment of the TSXV requirements in order to obtain such approval, including among other things, submission and acceptance of all documents requested by the TSXV in its conditional approval letter and payment of all outstanding fees to the TSXV. Until final approval of the TSXV is obtained and a Final Exchange Bulletin is issued, trading in the common shares of Hornby Bay will remain halted.

The Company will provide updates with respect to the completion of the Transaction in subsequent news releases at the appropriate time.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Fred Leigh"

Fred Leigh, President & CEO of Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.

For further information, please contact:

Fred Leigh, President & CEO of Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.

Phone: 416-861-5933

Email: info@hornbybay.com

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.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV listing, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83210
Democratization of Machine Learning Makes Operational Experts More Flexible To Improve and Predict Process and Asset Performance

New TrendMiner Multi-Variate Anomaly Detection Model Automatically Detects Deviations From Desired Operational Behavior

Self-Service Integration With webMethods.io From Software AG Breaks Down Data Silos and Allows Easy Creation of Cross-Departmental Workflows

HOUSTON, TX, HASSELT, BELGIUM, and DARMSTADT, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2021 / Software AG's TrendMiner has announced the release of TrendMiner 2021.R2. This new release extends the reach of previously released notebook integration, allowing analytics expert-users to make their data model outputs available to the rest of the organization, giving operational experts better insights. The new multi-variate Anomaly Detection Model allows optimal process conditions to be trained on historical data and the model will be able to detect anomalies on new incoming data. TrendMiner 2021.R2 also now allows self-service integration via webMethods.io. This enables contextual process information from other business applications to be taken into account and workflows in external systems to be triggered through the new Anomaly Detection Model.

Democratize Machine learning, AI and Predictive Models

TrendMiner enables operational experts in process manufacturing industries to analyze, monitor and predict operational performance using sensor-generated time-series data. The goal of TrendMiner has always been to empower engineers with analytics for improving operational excellence, without the need to rely on data scientists. It brings data science to the engineers.

TrendMiner 2021.R2 extends the notebook capabilities of the previous release, enabling them to be operationalized by deploying custom-created data models into an embedded scoring/inference engine through use of Machine Learning Model tags. These 'Machine Learning Model' tags are available for all TrendMiner users, as if they were tags originating from an enterprise historian or any other time-series data source. All existing TrendMiner capabilities can be applied, such as visualizing recent & historical data, searching for patterns or threshold values as well as monitoring using the machine learning model patterns.

Nick Van Damme, Director of Products at TrendMiner commented: "Classical data science depends on bringing process/asset know-how to data science (expert) teams and using their scripting, hacking and parsing skills to come to increased insights, in their expert silo. With the new TrendMiner capabilities we aim at breaking apart the traditional silo-approach and really bringing the data scientist into the loop. While crafting the prepared data into something useful for themselves and others, they can work in close collaboration with all other TrendMiner users to contextualize the raw data with operational knowledge. Afterwards they have an easy out-of-the-box way to operationalize their findings within the organization, empowering others to get better and easier insights."

Introducing the TrendMiner multi-variate Anomaly Detection Model

The TrendMiner 2021.R2 release now offers a proprietary model for multi-variate anomaly detection via the mentioned notebook and 'Machine Learning Model' tags functionality. The TrendMiner Anomaly Detection Model can be trained on a trend view containing normal operating conditions of the process. After learning the desired process conditions, the model will then be able to detect anomalies on new incoming data. The model will return information as to whether a new datapoint is an outlier or not based on a given threshold (anomaly class) or return an anomaly score. The higher the anomaly score, the more likely it is that the datapoint is an outlier.

Self-service Integration for cross-data silo collaboration

Factories today are capturing and storing an enormous amount of data directly or indirectly related to the production process. All this data typically ends up in best-of-breed business applications serving specific operational purposes. All this contextual information residing in various business applications can give new insights for improving operational performance, if the operational experts can actually access that data. With the introduction of the integration add-on powered by webMethods.io within the TrendMiner platform, engineers can now create integrations to crucial business applications themselves. On top of that, the self-service integration via webMethods.io allows workflows to be created across the business applications on-premises and in-cloud solutions. This can, for example, be used to notify colleagues with a Microsoft Teams or Slack message and to simultaneously add a maintenance work request in SAP, when a TrendMiner monitor fires an alert.

Further information

Each release adds a range of new features and enhancements that are requested by TrendMiner users. There are many more improvements in the TrendMiner 2021.R2 release, which users of the software can find in the release notes. For more information, please visit: www.trendminer.com. To see TrendMiner's functionality in-action and learn how analytics-empowered process and asset experts can help accelerate operational performance, click here to request a demo.

About TrendMiner

TrendMiner, a Software AG company and part of the IoT & Analytics division delivers self-service data analytics to optimize process performance in industries such as chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, metals & mining and other process manufacturing industries. TrendMiner software is based on a high-performance analytics engine for time-series data that allows users to question data directly, without the support of data scientists. The plug-and-play software adds immediate value upon deployment, eliminating the need for infrastructure investment and long implementation projects. Search, diagnostic and predictive capabilities enable users to speed up root cause analysis, define optimal processes and configure early warnings to monitor production. TrendMiner software also helps team members to capture feedback and leverage knowledge across teams and sites. In addition, TrendMiner offers standard integrations with a wide range of historians such as OSIsoft PI, Yokogawa Exaquantum, AspenTech IP.21, Honeywell PHD, GE Proficy Historian and Wonderware InSQL.

Founded in 2008 and now part of Software AG, TrendMiner's global headquarters is located in Belgium, and has offices in the U.S., Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Media Contact

Dawn Fontaine

Ripple Effect Communications

dawn@rippleeffectpr.com

+1-617-536-8887

SOURCE: TrendMiner

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645569/Software-AGs-TrendMiner-2021R2-Release-Puts-Machine-Learning-and-AI-in-the-Hands-of-Operational-Experts
I will be elected on my vision and will pursue it. I will not negotiate down, with myself, that agenda with an assumption as to what the state Senate will do. That being said, I look forward to working with the legislature on that agenda and the big issues facing Virginia. And where we might disagree, I look forward to making the case to the state Senate and the people they are accountable to: the voters.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China is scheduled to release April numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.



Imports are expected to surged 42.5 percent on year after jumping 38.1 percent in March. Exports are called higher by an annual 24.1 percent, slowing from 30.6 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is called at $28.1 percent, up from $13.8 percent a month earlier.



China also will see April results for the composite and services PMIs from Caixin; in March, their scores were 54.3 and 53.1, respectively.



Japan will see final April figures for the services and composite indexes from Jibun Bank; their previous readings were 48.3 and 49.9, respectively.



South Korea will provide March data for current account; in February, the current account surplus was $8.03 billion.



Australia will see April results for the Performance of Services Index from the Australian Industry Group; in

Taiwan will release April figures for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to jump 24.0 percent in year after rising 27.0 percent in March. Exports are called higher by an annual 26.9 percent after gaining 27.1 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $3.12 billion, down from $3.66 billion a month earlier.



The Philippines will provide March numbers for imports, exports, trade balance and industrial production. In February, imports were up 2.7 percent on year, exports were down 2.3 percent, the trade deficit was $2.293 billion and industrial production plummeted an annual 46.5 percent.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Jasper Dykes

Fly Now Pay Later, a UK alternative payments provider, raised a further 10m ($14m) in Series A funding, bringing its total to 45m ($62m).

The round was co-led by asset management firms Revenio Capital and Taurus Wealth Advisors.

The company intends to use the funds to launch US and grow UK and German operations.

Founded by CEO Jasper Dykes, Fly Now Pay Later is a fintech company providing an alternative payments solution exclusively for the travel sector. This enables customers to spread the cost of a trip over up to 12 monthly installments by partnering with travel merchants or directly to consumers through its Anywhere app.

Hundreds of travel companies use it to offer finance (from as little as 0% APR) to holidaymakers, who can make repayments in affordable scheduled installments. Its merchant partnerships range from SME travel operators to leading operators like Malaysian Airlines, Lastminute.com and TravelUp.

FinSMEs

06/05/2021
Nie, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based customized skincare platform, raised $12m in Series A funding.

The round was led by Talis Capital, with participation from Inventure, as well as existing investors including Thomas Ryge Mikkelsen, former executive vice president at Pandora, and Kristian Schrder Hart-Hansen, former CEO of LEO Pharmas Innovation Lab.

The company will use the funding to further develop its R&D to launch new product categories, and expand into new European markets.

Founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneur Daniel Jensen and Chris Christiansen, Nie provides customised skincare products that aim to improve the quality of life of people suffering with sensitive skin conditions including acne, psoriasis and eczema. The companys skin test uses an algorithm to assign customers to their skin family and recommend customised products to suit their skin.

Nie also provides CO2 neutral deliveries, compensating for carbon emissions produced in the shipping process by planting trees in Denmark.

FinSMEs

06/05/2021
Prevailion, a Woodlands, Texas-based global cyber adversary intelligence company, received a strategic funding round of undisclosed amount.

The round  an expansion to the companys initial Series A  was led by Allstate Strategic Ventures with participation from Accenture Ventures and Irongrey (SeAH). The new investment follows a $10m Series A led by AllegisCyber Capital, a $2m seed round by DataTribe and a previous strategic investment by Legion Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to further expand its usability, reporting and partner ecosystem by the end of 2021 and boost marketing and sales.

Led by Karim Hijazi, founder and CEO, Prevailion provides an intelligence solution which detects cyber compromises within seconds of malware first landing on a network. This early warning detection capability allows organizations to stop attacks in their infancy before malware can progress to a more significant stage, such as data exfiltration, ransomware encryption, lateral infection spread and secondary malware deployment. It also provides a new capability for monitoring emerging threats in corporate and government supply chains.

Prevailion is currently tracking over 28,000 compromised organizations globally, ranging from publicly traded companies and their supply chain partners to governments, hospitals, universities, NGOs and more.

FinSMEs

06/05/2021
Railz, a Toronto, Canada-based developer of an API that enables financial institutions and fintechs real-time access to their customers accounting data, raised $12m in Series A funding.

The round was led by Nyca Partners, with participation from Susa Ventures, Vestigo Ventures, Entree Capital Global Founders Capital, Plug and Play Ventures, N49P and Hack VC. In conjunction with the funding, Jeremy Solomon, Partner at Nyca Partners, is joining Railz board.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to build out their sales and engineering teams.

Led by Sohaib Zahid, CEO, Railz provides a single API that integrates with all major accounting platforms used by small businesses, which enables on-demand access to financial transactions, analytics, insights and reports. This Data-as-a-Service solution provides direct access to small business customers accounting data and can be up and running in hours.

FinSMEs

06/05/2021
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Christopher Swecker, chairman of the review panel, said the agents were victims of the system, which he said failed to train them and often had them doing administrative tasks. And he said the base leadership was focused on military readiness, and completely and utterly neglected the sexual assault prevention program. As a result, he said, lower-level unit commanders didnt encourage service members to report assaults, and in many cases were shaming victims or were actually the perpetrators themselves.
This week the Department of Telecom (DoT) approved Airtel, Jio, Vi, and MTNL, to conduct 5G trials in the country. It also approved original equipment manufacturers and technology providers  Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Development of Telematics (C-DoT) to supply equipments for 5G trials, but it didnt allow Chinese vendors HUAWEI and ZTE.

After queries from media, Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy Counsellor Wang Xiaojian expressed concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in India.

He added that the relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to Indias 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, he 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.

Back in 2019, Airtel and Vodafone Idea had signed a deal with HUAWEI and ZTE for 5G deployment in select circles, but after the border tensions last year, both the companies chose European vendors. The Indian government in recent months have blocked several Chinese apps including TikTok.
OPPO today introduced K9 5G, the companys latest mid-range 5G smartphone in China, as it had promised. The phone packs a 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 91.7% screen-to-body ratio, 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, 32MP camera inside the punch-hole, is powered by Snapdragon 768G with support for 5G SA/NSA, 3D liquid cooling system, 8GB of RAM, runs Android 11 with ColorOS 11.1 and packs a 64-megapixel primary rear camera, 8MP 119 ultra-wide angle lens, 2MP macro cameras.

The phone has a sixth-generation in-display fingerprint scanner. The back has a track texture that highlights the speed aesthetics, and the camera has illusion cutting line. It packs a 4300mAh battery with support for 65W super fast charging that can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes.

OPPO K9 5G specifications

6.43-inch (2400  1080 pixels) Full HD+ OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz sampling rate, up to 750nits peak brightness

Octa Core (1 x 2.8GHz + 1 x 2.2GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 475 CPUs) Snapdragon 768G 7nm EUV Mobile Platform with Adreno 620 GPU

8GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.1) storage

Dual SIM

ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11

64MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, LED flash, EIS, 8MP 119 ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture

32MP front-facing camera with f/2.4 aperture

In-display fingerprint sensor

3.5mm audio jack

Dimensions: 159.173.47.9mm; Weight: 172g

5G SA/ NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS + GLONASS, NFC, USB Type-C

4,300 battery (typical) battery with 65W super flash charge fast charging for 0 to 100% in 35 minutes

The OPPO K9 5G comes in Spade Black and Gradient Symphony colours, is priced at 1,999 yuan (US$ 308 / Rs. 22,805 approx.) for the 8GB RAM with 128GB storage version and the 8GB RAM with 256GB storage version costs 2199 yuan (US$ 339 / Rs. 25,085 approx.).

The company also offers co-branded gift box in cooperation with the original Chinese animation Wu Liuqi with a themed protective cover and toys.

Source
What problems have you had with out-of-network billing? Write to Trudy at trudy.lieberman@gmail.com.
Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High 81F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Some clouds. Low 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
We have to be very careful when trying to micromanage for no reason, because thats what this is, said state Rep. Kandie Smith, a Pitt County Democrat. We have teachers teaching in schools for years and all of a sudden for this to come up as an issue at the same time that weve had a lot of racial situations and people are trying to say now that we dont have any systematic racism and we dont want things to be taught.
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As a trained physicist, he could have ended up designing rockets for Boeing, shaping young minds at a university, or making any number of other scientific contributions.

Instead, by a stroke of luck, Dr. Georg Luebeck wound up at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where for the last 30-plus years, his mathematical models of biological processes like cancer initiation and growth have helped everyone from uranium miners at risk for lung cancer to astronauts facing the effects of galactic cosmic radiation.

Its coming up to 32 years. Or is it 33? Luebeck said of his time at the Hutch. So much of the research and the methods and the technologies have changed. We didnt have the genome then. We didnt understand so many things. Now we have affordable, whole-genome sequencing and array technologies to interrogate genomes down to the single-cell level.

Now, too, there is much more data  clouds full of it  and an even greater need to make sure its all interpreted in ways that make sense. Thats where Luebecks mathematical modeling of multi-stage carcinogenesis comes in.

Its important to have an intellectual context in which you can explain your data, he said. To me, thats a model. If you dont have that, you can easily be led astray and misinterpret the data.

Digging into biology and biostatistics

Born and raised in Germany, Luebeck earned his doctorate in theoretical physics at the University of Washington and went on to do postdoctoral work at the Neils Bohr Institute for Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics in Copenhagen before returning to Seattle and joining the Hutch. There, he worked under now-retired Dr. Suresh Moolgavkar.

Luebeck still remembers meeting his mentor-to-be during that first job interview.

He had an intimidating piling system, not a filing system, and he pulled out two research papers from a huge stack and suggested my reading them, Luebeck said. At first glance, it was all gobbledygook.

Biology, genetics and biostatistics were new to him then, but Luebeck wasted no time digging in. He soon was able to assist his mentor Moolgavkar and began working in lung cancer with former Hutch radiation biophysicist Dr. Stanley Curtis, investigating the association between lung cancer and radon exposure.

There was a public health concern of radon in homes and in the population of uranium miners, he said. What was surprising to us was that radon, which emits ionizing alpha particles, was much less of a cancer initiator  a long-held dogma  and much more of a cancer promotor, increasing the growth of bad lesions.

He and Moolgavkar used data from several studies to develop new lung cancer risk models. The approach they used assumed a series of biological processes that we modeled computationally and mathematically, he said. It was a new way of modeling risks from environmental exposures such as radon.

Soon, Luebeck and Moolgavkar were joined by others across the world interested in radiation carcinogenesis, in particular modeling cancer risks among A-bomb survivors.

It became clear that the biological cancer models we developed had wider applications including cancer sites such as colon, pancreas and esophagus, he said.

It was this work, trying to understand how long it takes for cancers and their precursors to develop, that he first became interested in the concept of tissue aging.

The idea that tissue aging somehow also plays a role in the initiation of a cancer was something that clicked with me, he said.
Understanding behavior by tuning the nervous system

Bai studies the neural circuits that connect sensation with behavior, examining how information flows between neurons that sense the environment, through intermediary neurons, to the neurons that control worm muscles.

Neurons and molecules that help worms sense odors and temperatures are well understood.

But the neuromuscular junction where actions are produced, or how signals go from sensation to the motor system  these are less well developed, Bai said.

These neural circuits are complex and interconnected  input through one sensory system can alter how information passes through another, and ultimately, how worms respond. As simple as they are, even nematodes must make complex decisions about how to respond to their world.

All these decisions come down to informational flow through interconnected neural circuits, like traffic through a city.

I want to be able to engineer the nerve system to change the animal's perception, changing the animal's behavior by tuning the molecules, Bai said.

He recently published work in which he was able to reroute worms broken neural circuits, revealing how these circuits work  the first step toward understanding how particular circuits underlie sensation and behavior.

Previously, scientists could only observe the neural map, but strategies like Bais have made it possible for them to better understand neural traffic flow by erecting barriers, widening streets, and connecting new routes.

We can change the traffic flow now, Bai said. We can do infrastructure building, and understand the traffic flow of the city better.

Unexpected connection leads to Parkinsons link

The links between basic research and human health often come from unexpected connections. Most recently, an unexpected connection helped Bai shed light on why drugs used to treat Parkinsons disease, or PD, often cause movement difficulties in patients.

The neurotransmitter dopamine is often produced at lower levels by people with PD. So, doctors give a synthetic precursor called levodopa to raise their dopamine levels.

But over time, patients develop movement disorders, Bai said. Initiating or sustaining a rhythmic movement like walking becomes difficult.

Worms also rely rhythmic motions, in their case swimming and crawling, to get around. Once theyve found their groove, the tiny creatures can easily swim for hours.

Bais team had showed that dopamine plays a role nematodes rhythmic actions, but hadnt considered their findings implications for human health. But in 2017, when he gave a scientific talk at the Hainan Medical University in Haikou, China, a few clinically minded researchers in attendance wondered if worms could help them better understand levodopas side effects.

A collaboration was quickly born. Ye Xu, a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Zhibin Chen, joined Bais lab for a year and half to further explore the link between dopamine and movement. She found that dopamine regulates both the initiation of rhythmic motions like swimming and the maintenance of them  and that these two phases are controlled by different dopamine-detecting molecules. The team published the work in the journal iScience.

Basically, she figured out that if you change the dopamine signaling pathway, the motion defect results from the mismanagement of two different pathways, Bai said.

The findings suggest that long-term treatment of Parkinsons with drugs like levodopa might cause changes in dopamine signaling that lead to dopamine mismanagement and, ultimately, movement changes.

Moreover, Xu found that the dopamine pathway that works to sustain swimming is turned on in a neuron that had previously been linked to sleep. While patients with PD often experience disordered sleep, its too soon to know whether Xu and Bais findings help explain that, he said. And worms, in this case, may not be the right model to explore that connection: While they do sleep, after a fashion, its not tied to the day-night cycle the way human sleep is. (Instead, worms enter a quiescent state prior to entering each of their larval stages.)

It will be for other scientists to see whether this mechanism relates to sleep disorders in Parkinsons, Bai said.

Ultimately, simple animals like worms give Bai the flexibility to ask and answer questions that cant be addressed in more complex models, he said. Besides exploring questions about movement that may ultimately be relevant in disorders like Parkinsons, Bai is also interested in investigating processes ranging from aging to memory.

Once researchers like Bai have sketched the outlines, other scientists can use different animal models to fill in nuances. His findings can also act as signposts to give direction to researchers seeking answers that are more pertinent to humans.

The beauty of basic research like Bais is that it isnt hampered by preconceived notions of what findings are most likely to translate to the clinic. It may take years  even decades  after a fundamental discovery for the connections to human health to become clear.

By looking how worms live and act, Im generating possibilities, Bai said.
Davis said hes been reflecting on the people who live in the area near 36th Street where a lot of the crimes took place. I cant help but think of the life in that neighborhood and what it must be like, the judge said.
Whos at risk and how many?

Atrial fibrillation, kidney toxicity and atypical femur (thighbone) fractures have also been associated with BMA use, but osteonecrosis of the jaw seems to be the side effect that worries breast cancer patients the most.

I am soooo scared of developing ONJ, tweeted one during a discussion of side effects.

But what are the actual odds of contracting it? A recent SWOG study, co-led by Gralow, looked at data from nearly 3,500 cancer patients treated with IV bisphosphonate or denosumab for their metastatic bone disease. Ninety cases of ONJ were confirmed. The estimated cumulative incidence, or risk of ONJ at three years was 2.8%. Rates were .08% at year one and 2% at year two. Over three years, the team found:

Patients with myeloma had the highest rates: 4.3%

Patients with more exposure to zoledronic acid had higher rates: 3.2%

Patients with breast cancer had the lowest rates: 2.4%

2.4% Patients with poor dental health had higher rates, e.g., fewer teeth: 4.4%; dentures: 5.0%; prior oral surgery: 3.8%

Current smokers had higher ONJ rates: 3.7%

The results pointed to the importance of optimizing oral health before initiating BMAs and slowing the dosing from monthly to quarterly.

A related study, also led by Gralow, looked at risk factors for bisphosphonate-related ONJ, or BRONJ, in early-stage breast cancer patients. They studied three BMAs, measuring time to onset, determining ONJ drivers, and incorporating BRONJ prevention guidelines, with patients completing dental procedures before BMA use; undergoing regular dental exams; using good oral hygiene, etc.

After nearly eight years of follow-up, 48 out of 6,018 women developed ONJ. Thats just 0.8%.

Participants developed ONJ with all three BMAs, but zoledronic acid use and poor dental health increased the risk, especially when combined. Median duration to onset was 2.3 years. ONJ was considered spontaneous or unprovoked in 20 lesions and provoked by dental extraction in 20; periodontal disease in 14; denture trauma in six; and other dental surgery in two. ONJ was more than twice as likely to show up on the lower jaw than the upper. People who developed spontaneous, or unprovoked, ONJ tended to heal faster.

Prevention and education key

BRONJ prevention should be implemented widely, the authors concluded. Further studies are also needed, they said, to design protocols to train and support medical and dental providers in preventing the condition.

Johnston, who is connected with others living with ONJ via several large private Facebook groups, agreed theres a huge need for education on the condition  and not just among patients.

Eighty to 90% of the people in my group get bad treatment from a dentist, she said. They get root canals  the dentists do it with the best of intentions  but it causes so much trauma to the jaw. They dont understand you need to do the least possible.

And ONJ is hardly restricted to cancer patients, she said.

There are many people with osteoporosis in the ONJ groups, she said. Or they were prescribed for osteopenia. Ive heard horror stories. Prolonged exposed to bisphosphonates is not a good idea.

In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned patients with osteoporosis against long-term use of zoledronic acid (aka Reclast), alendronate (Fosamax) and ibandronate (Boniva), publishing an analysis prompted by reports of adverse effects. In 2018, they provided an additional safety update regarding atypical femur fractures.

Following the science

Manohar said guidelines at SCCA have shifted to reflect the most recent studies.

We used to give Zometa monthly but weve transitioned to every three months, she said. Its just as good in preventing skeletal-related effects like fractures.

What advice does she give for breast cancer patients contemplating their use?

You have to weigh the risk of potential complications in the oral area versus complications from the cancer, she said. Fractures (due to metastatic bone disease) can be pretty debilitating as well.

And the drugs can also be pricey, she said, another potentially toxic side effect.

Zometa is not as expensive, she said. Maybe $170 with its administration but denosumab is $2,000 a dose. Thats a staggering difference.

A researcher with the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, or HICOR, Manohar is currently investigating BMA use among Washington state cancer patients and studying whether de-escalating might be a way to provide more value and do less harm. A recent analysis showed doing so could save patients and payers millions of dollars.

Thats a piece of this, she said. Can we de-escalate the treatment but still get the same outcome and positively impact the patient experience? They could come in less often for infusions and potentially have fewer side effects.

As for expanding the use of these agents to patients with DCIS, she said its compelling research but requires further study.

Its definitely adds to the literature, she said. We do want to prevent breast cancer and anti-hormone therapy is not optimal for everyone because of the side effects. But is putting patients with DCIS on bisphosphonates going to lead to problems later on? Its worth exploring, but with these side effects, the big question is: Whats the dose and how long do we give it?
Fellowships are awarded to scholars who have made exceptional contributions to statistical science. Only about a third of 1% of the total ASA membership is elected as a fellow each year.

Dr. Zheng has made impactful scientific and public health contributions through her collaboration, leadership, and methodological development, said Dr. Li Hsu, a colleague and fellow Hutch biostatistician who was named an ASA fellow in 2017. She is a leading statistical methodology researcher creating efficient study designs for prospective biomarker evaluation, assessment of biomarker performance for cancer screening, diagnosis and prognosis, and development of personalized risk prediction using longitudinal biomarker measurements.

A national leader

Zheng works primarily in the realm of cancer screening and surveillance research. She is one of the principal investigators of the data coordinating center for the National Cancer Institutes Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR) network, which focuses on colorectal, cervical and lung cancer screening. PROSPRs goal is to improve the cancer screening process as practiced in multiple health care environments in the U.S.

Zheng is also one of the multiple principal investigators in the NCIs Early Detection Research Network, or EDRN, and a lead biostatistician for the Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Study (PASS), which is the largest and the most rigorous multicenter investigation to address both the overdiagnosis and the overtreatment of prostate cancer in this country.

The Hutchs Dr. Daniel Lin, director of the Hutch and UW Medicines Institute for Prostate Cancer Research and principal investigator of PASS, said Zheng has made contributions both as a leader and a collaborator.

[Shes] not only a leader of investigative endeavors, but also a trusted and integral collaborator in large integrated research efforts that are often multisite and multidisciplinary in nature, he said. Dr. Zheng has developed a unique niche in highly innovative research that involves modeling the impact of candidate biomarkers on established clinical prediction tools for prostate cancer active surveillance  tools that she initially had developed.

These endeavors, he said, have resulted not only in a strong publication track record (shes had over 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts) but also consistent and recurring National Institutes of Health funding as a principal investigator.

There is no doubt that Dr. Zheng is a national leader in designing innovative and impactful studies for the prostate cancer biomarker investigative community, Lin said of his colleague. Dr. Zheng is an exceptionally creative, motivated, and accomplished scientist who has made substantive contributions to the prostate cancer biomarker field.

Other Fred Hutch faculty members whove been honored as ASA fellows include Drs. Garnet Anderson, who holds the Fred Hutch 40th Anniversary Endowed Chair (2020), Charles Kooperberg (2019), Michael LeBlanc (2019), Ying Qing Chen (2018), Li Hsu (2017), Wei Sun (2017), Ruth Etzioni, who holds the Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown Endowed Chair (2016), Peter Gilbert (2014), Ziding Feng (2007), Patrick Heagerty (1997), M. Elizabeth Halloran (1996), Steven G. Self (1996), Ira Longini (1995), Tom Fleming (1987) and Ross L. Prentice (1982). In 2019, Halloran also received the associations Nathan Mantel Lifetime Achievement Award.




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William Weber West, 93 of Gainesville, Texas passed away on June 2, 2021. He was born on April 7, 1928 in Atchison, Kansas to Lee West and Elizabeth (Weber) West. He married Mary Ellen Peyrot on May 17, 1951 in Gainesville, Texas. William enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 5, 1951 in Gaine
News

editor's pick centerpiece featured

Car event policing was racial profiling, groups assert

jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Candice Matthews, with the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, is joined by Quanell X, left, and Andre Malone as she talks about policing during slab weekend after meeting with Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale and Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset at the Joe Max Taylor Law Enforcement Center in Galveston on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Quanell X, center, a community activist from Houston, talks Wednesday, May 5, 2021, about policing during the April 24 slab weekend in Galveston at the Joe Max Taylor Law Enforcement Center. Quanell X and Candice Matthews, with the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, met with Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale and Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset to discuss their concerns. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS /The Daily News file photo Quanell X, left, a community activist from Houston, talks with Andre Malone, a Spring man arrested April 24 during slab weekend in Galveston, after meeting with Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale and Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Andre Malone, center, talks about his April 24 arrest during slab weekend in Galveston at a press conference at the Joe Max Taylor Law Enforcement Center in Galveston on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Community activist Quanell X, left, and Candice Matthews, with the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, talk about the police response to the April 24 slab weekend after meeting with Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale and Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset at the Joe Max Taylor Law Enforcement Center in Galveston on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

GALVESTON

Members of local and state groups Wednesday demanded the Galveston Police Department change enforcement tactics after an April 24 slab car event drew claims of targeted enforcement and racial profiling of the predominantly Black visitors.

Officials argue the police presence and enforcement were no different than during any large event and have asked the car enthusiasts to get permits for future events.

Members of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats and some concerned community members gathered Wednesday in front of the Galveston Police Department, 601 54th St., to express concern with police handling of the event.

Slab cars are high-gloss, candy-colored cars, often with wide elbow wheels. In June, a group of slab enthusiasts gathered on the island, leading to heavy congestion on Seawall Boulevard for hours and sparking ire from some residents.

But the coalition argued police shouldnt have been wearing tactical gear for the April event and that police targeted the slabs, which are popular in Black culture, said Candice Matthews, statewide and Harris County chapter accountability chair for the coalition.

Island police should be able to handle traffic congestion without donning tactical gear and combing for minor infractions, Matthews said.

Among other things, Matthews pointed to police measuring the elbow wheels to see whether they exceeded the maximum state standard 8-foot width.

Police Chief Vernon Hale declined to comment after the press conference.

City Manager Brian Maxwell said that because the city wasnt sure how many people were coming, it had to prepare for high estimates for crowds.

Galveston is known for hosting big events, and we would like to work with anyone who wants to have an event here. But if they wont work with us, we have to go about it a different way, Maxwell said. Somebodys got to own it.

The group also objected to an officer wearing a face mask with a black-and-grey American flag, saying it was a symbol promoting white supremacy, and protested the April 24 arrest of Andre Terrell Malone, a Black man.

Malone, who spoke Wednesday, said he was beaten and shocked with a Taser stun gun by officers.

I was pulled over, Malone said. I was never asked to show my ID. The immediate action of the police was to try to pull me out of the car.

Malone declined to take questions.

The arrest report for Malone lists three charges: resist of arrest, search or transportation; failure to identify; and a warrant from Fort Bend County for driving without a license.

Hale said Tuesday the department was reviewing the incident.

Quanell X, leader of the New Black Panther Party, said the tactical gear and policing were heavier than they would have been for other events.

Why is it when they have big Mardi Gras in this city, why is it when they have big gatherings in this city that are not Black-oriented, that are not majority Black participating, there is a difference in policing? he said.

NON-PERMITTED EVENTS

Maxwell denied the assertion policing was more heavy-handed on April 24 and said police wear tactical gear for Mardi Gras and Lone Star Rally too.

Permitting is important for police because it indicates how many officers should be on hand for events, said Phillip Lyons, dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University.

Without that permit, officers have to guess based on past similar events, he said.

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, Lyons said.

Officers also are allowed to stop vehicles if they suspect something is wrong or out of place, Lyons said.

This issue has gone all the way up to the Supreme Court, and they have affirmed the practice, Lyons said.

CONTINUED CONCERNS

But Galvestonians at the press conference said there was a difference April 24.

The Galveston County Democratic Party voiced support for the coalition.

Patricia Toliver, second vice president to the local NAACP chapter, sees the April 24 events as racial profiling, she said.

Im really disappointed in our city, Toliver said.

Native islander Roxy Hall Williamson enjoys riding in slab cars and attending slab events. This was different, she said.

Theyve been all over this state, Hall Williamson said. Galveston Island was the only place they ran into problems with the police.

Slab community members were spending money on the island in hotel rooms and restaurants, she said.

Matthews and Quanell X in the press conference said Hale had discussed with them referring Malones case to the district attorneys office and requiring the department to approve masks worn by officers, but Hale did not confirm that with The Daily News.
The man, who lived in Surry County, was reported missing Monday morning after he did not return home they day before. The U.S. Coast Guard said Hines 29-foot boat was found Monday on the James River, near Grays Creek, with signs that it had been recently occupied.
The City Council on Tuesday, June 8, OK'd agreements with a handful of operators to offer concessions at the beach. Concessions were closed last year because of the coronavirus pandemic and the longtime sole operator, Alfredos Beach Club, stepped away...
Chinese rice farm trains talents to solve Nigeria's food problem

Xinhua) 15:03, May 06, 2021

Farmers go about their work on the CGCOC Agriculture Abuja High-Tech Industrial Park in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Aug. 29, 2019. (Xinhua)

-- Rice is a major food crop in Nigeria, but its production remains insufficient in the country due to technological and financial constraints.

-- The Chinese expertise that has helped locals boost rice production, is not simply "imported" from China though, but readapted to suit local natural conditions and farming traditions.

ABUJA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- In the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi, rice farmers are busy preparing seeds and fertilizers to usher in a new growing season with the coming of abundant rainfall.

Rice is a major food crop in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. However, rice production remains insufficient in the country due to technological and financial constraints, and food system and markets are perennially disrupted by spreading violence and COVID-19-related restrictions. Many Nigerians still suffer from hunger.

Ibrahim Argungu is one of the many farmers in the country who found it hard to earn money by growing rice despite owning many hectares of arable land.

He had learned farm management from his father, who was chief of Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority before he retired. But after five years, harvests remain scanty on his 200-hectare family business.

In 2012, Ibrahim started to work with Wara Agricultural Park of Kebbi, a local farm which has been operated by China's Green Agricultural Development company since 2006, to learn rice-growing techniques. He also learned various cultivation technologies from Chinese experts and technicians working in Nigeria.

For decades, China has been sending agricultural experts and technicians to the African continent.

"From there we knew the reason why we had low crop output despite all the efforts before. We need to change our mindset. We have to do proper irrigation and make good use of farm machines," Ibrahim told Xinhua, speaking of his experiences with Wara.

The Chinese expertise that has helped locals boost rice production, is not simply "imported" from China though, but readapted to suit local natural conditions and farming traditions, Chinese experts said.

"The land, climate and rice farming methods in Nigeria are very different from those in China," said 53-year-old farming expert Wang Xuemin, who has worked in Nigeria for 18 years.

A Chinese agricultural specialist teaches Nigerian farmers about agricultural technology in Abuja, Nigeria, June 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Baoping)

After years of research, Chinese experts in Nigeria have managed to solve problems in land preparation, sowing, weed control and fertilizer management. An increasing number of local rice farmers nearby have started to adopt the technologies used at Wara Agricultural Park.

Wang said Nigeria has favorable natural conditions for growing rice. "With abundant rainfall and sunshine, flat and fertile land, the natural conditions in Nigeria are much better than in China," he said.

On the other hand, China can learn from rice production in Nigeria, Wang said, adding that Nigerians prefer simply sowing seeds on fields while Chinese farmers traditionally transplant rice seedlings to paddy fields, and that Nigerians use less fertilizer and thus have a less serious pest problem.

In addition to improving farming techniques, Chinese agricultural experts also managed to select and breed a new rice variety based on local resources in 2017, which exceeds the yield of the indigenous variety by 30 percent.

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

New agricultural techniques developed by Chinese experts have not only helped local Nigerians achieve higher production and incomes, but also changed their lives.

Wara Agricultural Park has cultivated a community of successful farmers and agricultural technicians. "More than 1,000 local farmers and agricultural machinery management staffers have studied in our training programs, and many of them have left Wara to grow rice on their own, or get jobs at major farms in their hometowns," Wang said.

In 2015, Ibrahim flew to Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province, to participate in a three-month training program on hybrid rice.

"It was an amazing and knowledge-honing trip to China," said Ibrahim. "During the three-month stay in China, I saw so much, especially the advanced ideas and technology in agriculture."

Ibrahim said Nigeria has vast arable land and an agriculture-friendly climate, but for the past years, the country has depended a lot on food imports.

"Nigeria can be self-sufficient in its food supply, and even be able to export food to other countries as long as we find the right agricultural technology," he said.

A Nigerian agricultural technician takes part in the training in Abuja, Nigeria, June 13, 2016.(Xinhua/Zhang Baoping)

Ushering in 2020, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years, with agriculture a key area of development to safeguard food security and economic development.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu told Xinhua recently that the Nigerian government welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Nigeria's agricultural sector and introduce advanced technology and methods.

In Wang's view, mere assistance cannot solve the continent's food security problem. "If you want to feed a hungry man you don't give him a fish, but you have to teach him how to fish," he said, citing a Chinese proverb.

"We have to focus on capacity-building to help them fundamentally overcome food shortages," he said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
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Since the start of the semester, the campus library has been rearranged to accommodate social distancing precautions. As this has severely impacted attendance at the library, students still take advantage of the study space.
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Human Services Campus Executive Director Amy Schwabenlender receives a $50,000 check from Arizona Coyotes President & CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez and Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos. The joint donation took place on April 28, Pay It Forward Day, and funds will help people experiencing homelessness. Gila River Hotels & Casinos also donated 4,000 towels to assist with shower services.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

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BetaShares jumps the ditch with expansion into New Zealand

One of Australia's leading exchange-traded fund managers is moving to New Zealand and is setting up shop in Auckland.

Friday, May 7th 2021, 6:25AM

by Matthew Martin

Thom Bentley will run the new BetaShares office in Auckland.

BetaShares has also announced the appointment of Thom Bentley to run its Auckland office as its director of adviser and institutional business.

BetaShares chief executive Alex Vynokur says the company has seen its funds under management grow from around A$10 billion at the start of 2020 to more than A$17 billion at the end of April 2021 and is projecting its strong growth to continue.

Since the launch of our first product over a decade ago, we have established ourselves as a leader in the Australian ETF industry," says Vynokur says.

"Over the years, we have developed a number of long-standing relationships with institutions and advisers in New Zealand which we have serviced out of our Australian offices.

"We are now excited to deepen our presence in the New Zealand market via a local office which will help us to better service the needs of New Zealand investors with our extensive range of intelligent investment solutions.

With the appointment of Thom Bentley, Vynokur says BetaShares will gain more than 30 years of Bentley's financial services experience.

Most recently, Bentley has worked at Smartshares, New Zealands only ETF manager, where he was responsible for institutional business.

In addition to SmartShares, Bentley has a depth of experience gained at firms such as Remarkable Capital, Nomura Asset Management, Macquarie and Scottish Widows.

We are very pleased to have Thom join us as the first local team member in New Zealand. Thom has demonstrated over many years his ability to add value to a range of institutional and advisor investors, says Vynokur.

Bentley says he's excited to be the first local hire for BetaShares in New Zealand.

"BetaShares have built a reputation as a leading, innovative ETF manager in Australia, and have been involved in New Zealand since their inception.

"I am thrilled to be part of this next phase of the businesss development as we aim to further extend the Firms presence in this market, he says.

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TOPEKA [mdash] Lydia N. Hostetler, 89, of Topeka, died at 4:25 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8 at her residence. She was born on April 8, 1932, in LaGrange County, to Noah J. and Amanda Mae (Bontrager) Raber. On April 23, 1953, in Honeyville, she married Ervin D. Hostetler. He died June 3, 2017. Sur
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao returned to Pragathi Bhavan on Thursday after nearly three weeks. Soon after his return, he held a high-level meeting to review the Coronavirus situation in the state and imposition of weekend curfew in the wake of High Court orders, which fixed May 8 deadline to take a decision.

Rao had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 19 with mild symptoms. Following doctors advise, he isolated himself at his farmhouse in Erravelli. Rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests were conducted on Rao on April 28. While the rapid test result came negative, the RT-PCR was inconclusive. With this, he extended his home isolation. The two tests were conducted again on May 4, and both came negative, implying that he had recovered from corona completely.

After addressing a public meeting at Halia on April 14 in the run-up to the Nagarjunasagar Assembly byelection, Rao complained of uneasiness on April 17 and moved to his farmhouse from Pragathi Bhavan.

Three days after he tested positive, his nephew and Rajya Sabha member Joginapally Santosh, who always accompanies Rao, also tested postive on April 22. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao tested positive on April 23. Though both Rama Rao and Santosh were under home isolation initially, both were shifted to a private hospital later. They were discharged on Wednesday.
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Lawsuit costs for largest U.S. cities

Annual Average Cost Data

All Expenses Payouts Litigation Insurance Total for all cities N/A $1,156,508,402 $127,541,734 $24,293,544 Median annual expense $12,026,044 $5,499,571 $3,523,329 $302,307 Number of cities 20 20 17 19

Jurisdiction Fiscal Years Average Annual Total Average Payouts Average Litigation Average Insurance Austin 2013-2015 $4,523,051 $1,110,287 $3,412,764 $0 Charlotte 2014-2016 $9,470,187 $4,612,705 $1,216,407 $3,641,074 Chicago 2013-2015 >$153,133,333 $153,133,333 Unavailable Unavailable Columbus 2014-2016 $2,419,966 $1,398,9682 $986,667 $34,331 Dallas 2014-2016 $9,575,596 $6,052,267 $3,523,328.68 $0 El Paso 2013-2015 $4,531,741 $960,650 $1,198,902 $2,372,189 Fort Worth 2013-2015 $2,227,250 $838,575 $1,388,675 $0 Houston 2014-2016 $13,550,892 $4,461,832 $9,077,651 $11,409 Indianapolis 2013-2015 $4,628,516 $3,483,312 $1,145,204 $0 Jacksonville 2014-2016 $6,832,197 $5,404,889 $950,602 $476,706 Los Angeles 2014-2016 $113,087,290 $75,323,990 $37,251,312 $511,989 Nashville 2014-2016 $5,267,416 $3,080,870 $2,186,546 $0 New York 2014-2016 >$710,608,666 $710,608,667 Unavailable $0 Philadelphia 2014-2016 >$47,660,004 $46,171,124 Unavailable $1,488,880 Phoenix 2014-2016 $12,862,940 $5,594,253 $5,614,3261 $1,654,361 San Diego 2014-2016 $55,567,352 $41,415,548 $5,780,1341 $8,371,670 San Francisco 2014-2016 $59,243,721 $36,925,061 $19,146,597 $3,172,063 San Jose 2014-2016 $11,189,148 $3,781,852 $7,104,989 $302,307 Seattle 2013-2015 $25,148,117 $10,578,391 $12,313,160 $2,256,565 Washington, DC 2014-2016 $56,816,297 $41,571,8272 $15,244,470 $0

Notes on individual cities

Each year, cities spend millions fighting and settling lawsuits involving alleged police misconduct, injuries on public property and a range of other legal challenges.To approximate the fiscal impact that these cases have, we requested financial data from the 25 largest U.S. cities, 20 of which responded . Cases typically originate as claims, then turn into lawsuits if not resolved. Payments made to plaintiffs, legal costs associated with cases and liability insurance premiums were obtained to provide for a comprehensive picture of costs in each locality.Reported costs for cities vary significantly. Larger, more densely-populated cities incur greater lawsuit expenses. Types of public services provided also influence costs as some are much more prone to legal challenges than others. Jurisdictions operating public hospitals, for instance, are subject to costly medical malpractice lawsuits. Different state laws dictating what a government can be held liable for and limits on damages awarded further drive cities' costs up or down.New York's legal bills far exceed that of all other cities. While lawsuit costs account for less than 1 percent of total spending in most cities, they often represent much-needed money that could be used to fund other areas of the budget.Select a city to view its data for the three most recent fiscal years:Expenses often fluctuate widely from year to year as major cases are settled, so weve calculated each citys average costs over the past three fiscal years. All responding cities paid out a combined annual average of nearly $1.2 billion in judgments and settlements. The median annual total cost -- including payouts, legal and insurance costs -- was $12 million for the 20 cities reviewed. The following table summarizes median costs using cities three-year averages:SOURCE:calculations of data provided by cities.SOURCE:calculations of data provided by cities. See notes for information for each city.The following jurisdictions contacted did not respond to requests for information by time of publication: Boston, Denver, Detroit, Memphis and San Antonio.Litigation costs do not include compensation for city staff.Averages include partial FY 2016 amounts before the fiscal year endedPayouts, litigation and insurance costs shown dont include expenses for the citys aviation department, which has settled only a few small claims in recent years. (Source: City Law Department)Litigation costs include costs for outside counsel plus an estimated annual $332,000 for in-house attorneys, paralegals and litigation support. Insurance premiums cover excess liability, a police helicopter, excess liability for buses, auto liability for van pools, GL-rail and streetcar, the citys network security and the airport. (Source: Office of the City Attorney)Payout totals reflect all types of settlements and judgment expenses. (Source: Annual Financial Analysis report) The city did not respond to a Freedom of Information Act request for litigation and insurance costs.Reported payout costs for 2016 do not reflect the last two months of the fiscal year ending on December 31, but the litigation section chief reports that he anticipates few, if any, additional cases to be settled those months. Litigation costs include expenses for in-house staff and an estimated $30,000 per year for outside counsel, travel and other costs. The citys liability insurance premiums for aviation insurance and natural gas do not correspond with the citys fiscal year as they run from Aug. 1 to July 31. (Source: Columbus City Attorney Litigation Section)Litigation costs were estimated by adding annual salaries of internal staff ($2,571,360 per year) with reported annual expenses for expert witnesses and outside counsel. The City Attorneys Office reported FY 2014 and FY 2015 totals combined for the two years. (Sources: Office of Risk Management, City Attorney's Office)Payouts include totals for the citys Public Service Board: $19,252 for 2013; $100,062 for 2014; $75,765 for 2015. The city noted that staff attorneys are responsible for other matters in addition to litigation. (Source: Office of the City Attorney)(Source: Risk Management Division)Payouts do not include breach of contract and workers compensation claims. (Source: City of Houston Legal Department)Litigation totals were estimated by adding 2016 salary and benefit costs for city personnel ($920,902) with outside counsel costs provided for each year. The city reports that personnel costs are fairly consistent from year to year. (Source: Office of Corporation Counsel)Total litigation costs included all attorneys fees, both in-house and external. (Source: City Risk Management Division)Payout totals do not reflect back wages paid by departments, tax refunds, payments made directly by proprietary departments or special funds and those relating to retrofitting costs for ADA matters. Workers compensation expenses are also excluded, as they are for other cities. Payouts increased during the most recent fiscal year due to four major cases being resolved: An officer-involved shooting ($15 million), a fatal traffic accident ($15 million) and two wrongful imprisonment cases totaling $24.3 million. Litigation expenses shown do not include benefit costs for city staff. (Source: Office of the City Administrative Officer)Payments for claims cover all types of matters including negligence claims, civil rights violations, employment issues and contracts. The Department of Law estimates that salaries for employees dedicated to litigation matters total approximately $1.4 million annually. This estimate was added to other provided data to compute listed totals for each fiscal year. (Source: Department of Law)The city was unable to provide estimates for litigation costs. The city comptrollers office handles claims, while the law department is responsible for lawsuits filed against the city. (Source: Office of the Mayor)The city reported that it was unable to provide litigation costs associated with lawsuits because of how law department and finance records were kept. Liability insurance policies, effective from September 1 through August 31, dont correspond with fiscal years. (Source: City Law Department)The citys litigation costs do not include any expenses for internal staff. (Source: City Risk Management Division)Payout totals refer to what the city was ultimately responsible for regardless of insurance coverage. Totals shown reflect some costs that were later reimbursed by insurance. The citys risk management department was unable to calculate exact amounts reimbursed. Litigation costs reported do not include costs for in-house counsel. (Source: Risk Management Department)The city estimated its liability insurance coverage premiums by assuming 20 percent of total broker fees were related to liability premiums and consulting services. Most of the city is self-insured with the exceptions of the airport, Port of San Francisco and SFMTA. All figures shown for fiscal year 2016 are pre-audited actuals and are subject to change. (Source: City Controller's Office)Listed payout totals include amounts for the city-run sewer and airport. The city incurred a $4.9 million excessive police force verdict in fiscal year 2014. Litigation costs also include expenses for workers compensations attorneys and associated staff. The litigation figure for fiscal year 2016 is a forecasted amount. (Source: City Attorney's Office)Payouts for lawsuits, but not claims, include workers compensation cases. (Source: City Attorney's Office, Risk Management Division)Fiscal year 2016 amounts do not include expenses incurred during September, the last month of the Districts fiscal year. Total payouts increased sharply in fiscal 2016 as a result of four large settlements involving wrongful conviction cases. The fiscal 2016 settlement total also includes a class-action lawsuit for unpaid cost-of-living adjustments for employees entitled to disability compensation benefits. Litigation costs reflect total personnel and support costs for the Office of the Attorney Generals civil litigation division, commercial division, public interest division and Office of the Solicitor General. The public interest division and the Officer of the Solicitor General engage in both defensive and affirmative litigation. The Civil litigation division also defends lawsuits brought by former government employees. (Sources: Office of Risk Management, Office of the Attorney General)
I can't imagine many of you have been to the New Hampshire House of Representatives. But I can help visualize it for you: Just close your eyes and think of an old public high school auditorium.You know, a big room with row upon row of somewhat worn leather- cushioned seats and a podium at the front. A room that looks like it's been through about 50 years' worth of assemblies, PTA meetings and performances of "Our Town."There's a reason why New Hampshire's chamber is so big: The House has 400 members, more than any state legislative body in the country. The chamber has to be the size of a an opera house just to get all of them seated.For a long time, some people have thought this a less-than-ideal environment for conducting the deliberations of the democratic process. Thirty years ago, the Citizens' Conference on State Legislatures portrayed the New Hampshire House as a place where 15 people made all the decisions, and if you were among the other 385, you just watched, "part of an onlooking audience rather than a full- fledged member." The citizens' group raised the very legitimate question of why New Hampshire, which then had about 700,000 people, was supporting a legislative body the size of a small battalion, while California, with nearly 20 million people, was getting by with an Assembly of 80.It's still a good question. As you probably guessed, the New Hampshire House is as big and unwieldy today as it was in 1971. Every once in a while, something happens to suggest this might not be entirely harmless. Last November, among the 400 candidates selected to sit in the House of Representatives, voters chose a convicted forger and a man who had urged violence against police.State officials who were asked about this responded by saying roughly the same thing: Who can keep track of that many candidates? "It is difficult, if not impossible," admitted Kathy Sullivan, the Democratic Party chair.On the other hand, Sullivan said, that's no reason to tamper with tradition by reducing the size of the House. "I have a great fondness for our legislature," she declared. "I like the idea that so many people have an opportunity to serve." The voters seem to agree with her. For all the jokes about New Hampshire's overstuffed House, no serious moves to trim it have been made.And in the end, who's to say New Hampshire is wrong? When it comes to the size of legislatures, beauty--and efficiency--are very much in the eye of the beholder. A small state with a 400-member House of Representatives may seem a little wacky, but I can't prove that it leads to inferior public policy, and neither can anybody else.Back in the 1970s, the Citizens' Conference recommended that the ideal size for the lower house of a bicameral state legislature was 100 to 130, and that the two chambers together should have no more than 150. But only a small number of states fell within that relatively narrow range at that time, and only a dozen do now.The truth is that there will never be consensus on how many legislators it takes to change a law. James Madison realized that when he wrote the U.S. Constitution. "No political problem is less susceptible of a precise solution," he wrote in the Federalist No. 55, "than that which relates to the number most convenient for a representative legislature; nor is there any point on which the policy of the several states is more at variance."Madison thought there was such a thing as a dangerously small legislative body; he also thought there could be a dangerously big one. "Sixty or 70 men may be more properly trusted with a given degree of power than six or seven," he reasoned. "But it does not follow that six or seven hundred would be a proportionally better depositary... the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude."More recent critics have made a slightly different version of this point. They have argued that big legislatures are unwise not because of any temptation to mob rule, but because they encourage wasteful log-rolling and exorbitant demands by too many individual members from too many districts.Academics have tried to study this issue empirically. Last year, two professors at the University of Southern California, Thomas Gilligan and John Matsusaka, published a paper in which they concluded that bigger legislative bodies, at least bigger Senate chambers, do throw more dollars around. "The more seats in the upper House of the legislature," they wrote, "the more the government spends and the more revenue it collects... A one-seat increase in the upper house is associated with a 0.38 increase in total spending."This is interesting. If you were to apply it to New Hampshire, the model you presumably would get is a cheapskate Senate (the fourth- smallest in the country) struggling mightily to rein in the wasteful log-rolling tendencies of the enormous House. The last time I looked, however, both chambers in the Granite State seemed pretty parsimonious to me. Both are reluctant to endorse any new form of taxation, despite being mandated by a court to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in new funds for education. I'm not sure size is the crucial variable here.Every once in a while, however, a state does decide that not having quite so many legislators would be in the public interest. Seven years ago, the voters of Rhode Island decided to shrink the size of both their House and Senate. Effective in 2003, the House will go from 100 members down to 75, and the Senate from 50 to 38. The voters did this in a mood of anger at the entire institution of state government, having in the previous decade witnessed a bank scandal, a pension scandal, the indictment of a governor and the forced resignation of two chief justices.It's not that the current Rhode Island legislature is abnormally large. It actually fits within the old Citizens' Conference guidelines. On the other hand, Rhode Island is small in population and tiny in geography. The House districts include fewer than 10,000 people and cover an average of 8 square miles. If these districts were the same physical size as the national average, the Rhode Island legislature would have only three people in it--a little small even by Madison's standards.But Rhode Island's decision has nothing to do with Madisonian political theory; it has everything to do with a visceral sense that fewer people means less mischief. "The bloated size of the assembly," an editorial in the Providence Journal proclaimed in 1999, "has not meant that the Ocean State's legislators are `closer to the people'... the effect has been to make Rhode Island legislatures too often the tribunes of small and remarkably selfish interest groups."A letter-writer to the Journal put it a little more succinctly. "Fewer legislators," he declared, "means fewer brothers-in-law that have to be found state jobs." An effort to cancel the upcoming downsizing failed within the legislature itself two years ago.While Rhode Island was debating the effects of its impending shrinkage, Nevada was fighting over the opposite idea: making its legislature bigger. In this case, the argument is unrelated to efficiency. It's related to demographics.Actually, it's pretty simple. The southern part of the state, around Las Vegas, has been growing exponentially. The north is not keeping up. As a result, Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County are now entitled on the basis of population to 70 percent of the legislative seats.There's nothing the northerners can do about that--districts have to be drawn on the basis of population equality. But there's no law saying the legislature can't get larger. That way, rural areas can have more representation, even if their ultimate share of political power is shrinking. Rural legislators can be spared the burdens of representing constituencies that stretch for 300 miles.This issue all but shut out other topics during the state legislative session this spring. The southern contingent wasn't particularly accommodating. "I don't think we need to grow the size of government," said the Las Vegas-based Senate Democratic leader, Dina Titus. "The public has said the legislature should do its business in less time and spend less money."The debate raged on into June and prevented the members from finishing their business by the date of scheduled adjournment. In the end, a special session voted to leave the size of the legislature as it was, pacifying the northerners with a deal on congressional redistricting.Regardless of Nevada's decision, growing a legislature is nearly always politically easier than shrinking one. Between 1902 and 1990, 50 state legislative chambers in this country were enlarged by statute or referendum. Only 11 were made smaller.And other than the Rhode Island downsizing--done by the electorate, not the members--no state has gone for shrinkage in recent years. Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has spent much of his term arguing that the current 201-member legislature should be pared down to a one- chamber body with just 135 seats. But that proposal has gone nowhere.It's significant, however, that this was a gubernatorial initiative. Political executives at all levels who have to wrestle with big legislatures emerge convinced that they are just too much to handle.This includes, by the way, Bill Clinton. In May 1998, as a Republican Congress pursued him for his indiscretions with Monica Lewinsky, Clinton paid a visit to Delaware and couldn't help remarking on the cozy friendliness of its 41-seat House and 21-seat Senate, the third- smallest combined total in the country. "I like the feel of your legislature," Clinton told the members. "I like the size of your legislature. I wonder if it would take a constitutional amendment to reduce Congress to this size. It's a wonderful idea."But not everybody sees Delaware as Clinton does. A few weeks ago, the leadership of the state House introduced a bill to increase the size of the chamber by four seats. A bigger legislature, Speaker Terry Spence said, "is in the best interest of the constituents."
In this political season, both the minimum wage and income inequality have become hot-button political issues. Because the minimum-wage debate has tended to revolve around opponents arguing the employment consequences and the proponents arguing its anti-poverty value, what has been lost is that the minimum wage is fundamentally about the middle class. Everybody claims to be speaking in the name of the middle class, but nobody has a serious proposal for helping to sustain and grow it.The political left focuses on new programs financed through higher taxes on the rich, while the political right recycles the laissez-faire policies of lower taxes and reduced regulation. If government would simply unleash the marketplace, the argument goes, everyone would prosper. Meanwhile, the gap between the top and the bottom only continues to grow.Income inequality is important because of what it symbolizes, which is a two-tiered or dual economy with highly educated and skilled workers at the top of the wage distribution and poorly educated workers with little if any skills at the bottom. The issue is not income inequality per se, because it is fantasy to believe that we can all be equal. We aren't all born with the same natural endowments and we don't all make the same choices. In a market economy where freedom of choice reigns, there will always be inequality. Rather, the issue is the increase in income inequality, because it is with this widening gap that we are able to see that the middle class is being squeezed out.Rebuilding the middle class requires boosting the purchasing power of workers so that they can drive the economy by increasing their aggregate demand for goods and services. Here is where the minimum wage, income inequality and the middle class can spoken about in the same breath.Policymakers who would like to truly do something for the middle class without doing anything radical would be wise to look no closer than the minimum wage. The issue has been receiving considerable attention because President Obama has called for increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Several states already have raised their minimum wages since the beginning of this year, and on a couple of occasions fast-food workers have gone out on day-long strikes for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. When one considers that the median hourly wage in 2012 was $14.90 an hour, a $15-an-hour minimum does not seem so far-fetched.The minimum wage should not be increased simply because it is a matter of economic justice. On the contrary, the minimum wage needs to be raised because its macroeconomic benefits would shore up the middle class. Its benefits are broader than opponents would like you to believe.Consider for a moment a wage distribution divided into intervals. If the first were to begin with the actual minimum wage and range to 25 percent above that figure, the second then ranges an additional 25 percent, and so on. Data from 1962-2008 that I gathered shows that when 10 such intervals were created, accounting for up to 70 percent of the labor force, the median wage in each interval increased in years that the minimum wage increased, and in years when it did not increase the median wage in each interval remained the same. The ripple effects from raising the minimum wage were effectively benefitting the middle class.Increasing the minimum wage, then, will create a new floor, and wage increases will ripple through the wage distribution. Moreover, a policy that can shore up the middle class will also reduce income inequality and serve as a foundation for job creation. The real reason income inequality has been increasing and the middle class has been shrinking is because of stagnating wages. Increasing the minimum wage would go far toward reversing that trend.
The promoter of the annual Russian GP has refused to confirm or deny speculation that the race will be relocated from Sochi to a new circuit in St Petersburg in 2022.

According to the reports, the race will take place at the new Igora Drive venue in 2022 before returning to Sochi the following year.

"The internet is a dangerous place," race promoter Rosgonki's chief Alexey Titov told Russian broadcaster Match TV.

"I am not ready to comment on the rumours. All I can say is that we were very lucky last year as we managed to hold the event very efficiently and safely, taking into account the coronavirus.

"There were flaws but we will take them into account and this year try to make the event even safer," he added.

Titov said he is hopeful that despite the ongoing covid crisis throughout the world, the Russian GP should return to normal in 2022.

"We hope that most of the restrictions will be lifted by the end of the year," he said.

"This means that in 2022 we will be able to hold the grand prix with as close as possible to the familiar format with autograph sessions and maximum integration with Formula 1 itself and the opportunity to communicate with the fans."

(GMM)
In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher.
Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday he plans to extend Connecticuts eviction moratorium for at least another month to allow more time to get rental relief to people who need it, a day after a federal judge invalidated the national ban on evictions.

The decision to extend Connecticuts moratorium, which Lamont issued separately from the national one as part of his emergency powers tied to the pandemic, will be up to the governor and General Assembly. The governor said he planned to consult with legislative leaders Thursday about how to make it happen.

Talks are ongoing between Lamont and legislative leaders as to whether Lamonts emergency powers should extend past May 20. That would continue the governors remaining executive orders, including the eviction moratorium, which has been in place since last spring.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter predicted Thursday that Lamonts powers would be extended but could not say for how long.

I think you are going to have to extend beyond May 20, but the legislature will be voting to do that. How long? Were still negotiating, Ritter, D-Hartford, said from the House floor.

Lamont said the main reason he wants to extend the eviction moratorium  which has several exemptions allowing landlords to seek tenant removal  is the slow rollout of the $235 million in emergency housing assistance to Connecticut residents financially hurt by the pandemic.

I want to give us a little more time to get that right, the governor said to Hearst Connecticut Media after an event in New Haven Thursday morning.

As of last week, UniteCT, the program set up in mid-March to distribute the federal rental assistance money to renters and landlords, had approved just under 200 applications, totaling $1.2 million in relief. Many more people are expected to be hired to help speed up the process of reviewing applications.

Housing advocates in Connecticut are warning of a tsunami of people who could face eviction if the moratorium goes away before rental relief reaches them or they have time to get back on their feet after suffering economic hardships from the pandemic  such as losing their jobs or working reduced hours.

We are very concerned if the eviction moratorium goes away, theres going to be a dramatic increase in the number of people losing homes, said Erin Kemple, executive director of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. Already, were seeing between 400 and 500 eviction cases filed every month. Thats half of what it was in 2019, but probably only a quarter of what we expect to see when the moratorium ends.

Kemple said this is also a racial justice issue as many of the tenants who face eviction are people of color.

Where the laws stand

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, of Washington, D.C., ruled Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has overstepped its authority in ordering a nationwide eviction moratorium. At the request of the U.S. Justice Department, she then agreed to put a temporary hold on her order vacating the ban.

The CDC ban began last September and was scheduled to lapse on June 30. States are free to order their own bans under their own housing laws.

Connecticuts eviction ban, which applies to most new cases, is set to expire May 20. Currently, a landlord can file an eviction for one of the following reasons.

* A tenant owes six or more months of rent that was due on or after March 1, 2020

* A tenant owes rent that was due on or before Feb. 29, 2020

* A tenant has committed a serious nuisance such as physically harming another tenant or the landlord

* A tenants lease has ended, and the landlord wants to use the property as his or her main residence

Amy Eppler-Epstein, a staff attorney with New Haven Legal Assistance Association, said it would be a travesty if instead of using the hundreds of millions of dollars available to keep people housed, officials allowed the tsunami of evictions to come forward.

Forced to give away housing

Paul Januszewski, president of the Greater Enfield Landlord Association, said many landlords have made efforts to work with tenants who are unable to pay their rent or pay the full rent due to financial hardship caused by the pandemic.

But landlords still have to pay their mortgages, taxes on the buildings, and maintain general upkeep. In many cases, utilities are included in rent, so landlords have to cover those costs as well, he said.

Landlords by and large have been asked to give away their services and have no legal recourse to recover any damages, he said. Weve been forced to give away housing. Weve given people the impression they dont need to pay rent, especially the way Gov. Lamont publicized the eviction moratorium.

Tenants will still owe the full amount of rent they missed whenever the moratorium ends, although Januszewski said landlords understand they might not be able to recover all of the money, at least not right away.

The moratorium is whats keeping the pressure on both the judicial branch and on the landlords, said Yoni Zamir, another staff attorney with NHLAA.

What comes next

Once the moratorium is lifted, many tenants will be inuncertain housing situations, Zamir said.

People are going to be doubled up, homeless, living in cars People are just getting back to work and the ability to earn income so the moratorium is really holding everything in place, he said.

In Hartford on Thursday, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said legislative leaders are discussing what kinds of executive orders should continue after Lamonts emergency powers expire on May 19.

Rojas, D-East Hartford, said he had not read about the federal court ruling until earlier on Thursday.

Its such a fresh thing, Rojas said. I think we need to understand exactly what the ramifications of it are.

Obviously, they could be particularly dire if youre a state thats not in the position we are, at least for the next 14 days. So, its something were actually talking about the executive-order issue as it is, and it will be part of those conversations.

Reporter Ken Dixon contributed to this story.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
STAMFORD  A 21-year-old Stamford man has been charged with murder in the 2018 slaying of 16-year-old Marcus Hall.

Isaias Delacruz, 21, was arrested by police on Thursday as he attended Stamford Superior Court on an unrelated criminal matter.

Contributed Photo / Stamford Police Department

Delacruz was held on $2 million bond on murder, conspiracy at murder and carrying a pistol without a permit charges.

Hall was shot multiple times on the night of Sept. 20, 2018, in the area of 62 Pequot Lane. The killing of the Westhill High School student and aspiring skateboarder left the West Side community shaken to its core.

Westhill High principal Michael Rinaldi at the time said Hall was well loved by his peers and his teachers.

Contributed Photo

His aunt Darlene Avery-Lamar called Hall a good kid.

This shouldnt happen to good kids, she said in 2018. He was loved. He didnt deserve this.

Hall spent two nights in the hospital in critical condition before his family took him off life support.

Capt. Richard Conklin said in a press release that the charges against Delacruz, who wouldve been 18 at the time of homicide, were tied to his role in Halls death.

The Department commends the array of investigators and members of the Stamford State Attorneys Office that have worked on this long-term investigation. The Department, once again, offers its condolences to the Hall family, and hopes that todays arrest begins to provide them with a sense of justice, Conklin said in the release.

Conklin said the investigation into Halls homicide remains active.

He added that an additional arrest is expected in the coming weeks.

Delacruz is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

`
Lenovo has officially teased its new high-end tablet device. As posted to the brands official Weibo handle, the Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 2021 is confirmed to have a 90Hz OLED screen with support for HDR10 and DolbyVision. This display will be capable of 600 nits of brightness, it will carry TUV Rheinland certification for eye safety, and it will feature a resolution of 2560 x 1600 px.



Lenovo's teasers of the Pad Pro 2021

The Lenovo Pad Pro 2021 will also be powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset and run a modified version of Windows 10 for ARM processors.

The teaser images confirm that the Pad Pro 2021 has an appearance similar to that of a modern iPad Pro. It has slim bezels that hide a single front-facing camera, quad-speaker output, a microSD card slot, and it may offer a power button with embedded fingerprint scanner.

Source  Via 1  2
Oppo held a big event today, introducing a new smartphone, simply called Oppo K9 5G. The company also unveiled new TWS earphones called Oppo Enco Air, a band called Oppo Band Vitality, and new series of TV under the name Oppo Smart TV K9 - yes, just like the phone.

Oppo Enco Air

The wireless audio accessory comes as a lighter alternative to the Oppo Enco X. The buds come with a 12 mm driver with a composite titanium-plated diaphragm moving coil. They have 25 mAh batteries, while the case brings 440 mAh to the table, totaling the music playback up to 24 hours, 4 of them on a single charge.

The Enco Air also has a designated Game Mode that lowers the Bluetooth to 47 ms. Other specs include IPX4 certification against water ingress, 3.75 g weight of a single bud (40.4 g is the case), and touch controls for volume, calls, and track changes.

The price of Oppo Enco Air is set at CNY249, which is about $39. It is already available for pre-order on JD.com and Oppo Chinas website in four colors - Black, Blue, White, Green.

Oppo also teased Enco Buds, however, there werent any specs. The company simply said the buds will be launched on May 20.

Oppo Smart TV K9

The K9 lineup of smart TVs is entirely new in Oppos portfolio. The TV comes in three sizes - 43, 55, and 65. They have some differences, but heres what is common between all three of them - an MT9652 chipset with quad-core CPU and 2 GB RAM.

The smallest of three TVs has 1080p resolution and a DLED display with 230 nits of brightness. However, the other two come with 4K and 300 nits of brightness, as well as a 93% DCI-P3 color gamut and the 65 supports MEMC dynamic compensation of the picture.

The 43 model has dual 10W speakers and 8 GB internal storage, while the 55 and 65 variants are upgraded to 15W speakers and double the storage for movies and pictures.

Price-wise, the 43 goes for CNY1,799 ($275), the middle sibling is CNY1,999 ($310), while the biggest diagonal costs the most - CNY3,299, or about $510. The prices can get a bit lower if a customer purchases an Oppo K9 smartphone.

Oppo Band Vitality

The vitality in the moniker is machine-translated, but also could be translated as Youth, which is generally a Lite variant of the vanilla model. In this case, we have a smart band with a 1.1 AMOLED display. There is a continuous heart rate, real-time SpO2 monitor, and sleep tracker. The device also has a water resistance of up to 50 meters.

According to the official website, the Band Vitality can live 14 days on a single charge, even with 24-hour heart rate tracking.

Available in Blue or Orange, the wearable can be pre-ordered now at CNY149 which is just $23.

Source (in Chinese)
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. -- Four students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, including two from Ocean Springs, have been selected to participate in a NASA aerospace scholars program.

The NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program provides Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students an authentic NASA experience and encouragement to finish a NASA-related field or career.

The program consists of a 5-week online course followed by a 4-day engineering design workshop at a NASA center. Students across the U.S. are selected through a competitive process. Through interaction with engineers at different NASA centers, the students chosen for the program are encouraged to study math, science, engineering and computer science.

Jessica Harder of Ocean Springs is one of the MGCCC students chosen for the program. She plans to move on to Mississippi State University and student aerospace engineering.

I am looking forward to an experience learning more about NASA and their future moon to Mars missions, she said. I am also looking forward to working alongside NASA scientists and being part of a team to complete our project for Phase II.

Adrian Dobbs of Wiggins is another student chosen. He is majoring in mechanical engineering at MGCCCs Jackson County Campus and plans to participate in MSUs Engineering on the Coast program.

I applied to NCAS because the aerospace industry is why I am going back to school, Dobbs said. I jumped at the opportunity when my instructor contacted me about it because I love anything to do with aerospace. I had the opportunity to see a space shuttle launch in 2010 and it is one of the most amazing things Ive had the chance to see.

Dobbs said his goal for the future is to work for NASA or SpaceX.

We are at the dawn of a new era of space flight and I want to be a part of it and participating in NCAS has taught me so much about our history and future in space, he said. In Phase II we get to participate in an authentic NASA work team simulation to plan a lunar mission. We will also be getting individualized resume feedback from mentors, which will help us all with planning our future at NASA or elsewhere.

The second Ocean Springs student chosen, Katy Seymour, is a freshman at MGCCC majoring in industrial engineering.

I have always been fascinated by space exploration and after my calculus instructor told me how the program could benefit me, I applied, Seymour said. Phase I really helped me improve my research and analysis skills. Im looking forward to Phase II, connecting with other students and engineers, and learning about the career opportunities available at NASA.

More information on the NCAS program can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/stem/murep/projects/ncas.html.
GAUTIER, Miss. -- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves was in Gautier Wednesday, announcing a $2.67 million sewer improvement project to be funded through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA).

This is a much-needed project for the City of Gautier and for Jackson County, Reeves said during the announcement at Gautier City Hall. I am very grateful for the hard work from the Department of Marine Resources, the City of Gautier, and our coastal House and Senate delegation members. This is the first of many projects across all counties that we will announce on our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Gautier Vancleave Sewer Improvement Project will improve water quality, protect natural resources and mitigate damage to fish and wildlife by improving the inflow and infiltration processes of the current sewer system.




Haiti - Politic : Dialogue underway to form a Government of national unity





Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at a press conference in his official residence, acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph announced that a dialogue was underway between President Jovenel Moise and political actors to form a "Government of national unity [...] Many steps are taken to achieve to a consensus government."



According to Claude Joseph "The President has started the process of dialogue. The next Government will have a permanent Prime Minister responsible for ensuring the continuity of the State, in priority the two major projects which are the constitutional referendum [June 27 initially scheduled for April 25] and the presidential and legislative elections [September 19 1st round, and November 21, 2nd round]" explained Joseph adding "there are many protagonists who have agreed on the principle of dialogue" without further details on the political actors participating in this dialogue ...



The Prime Minister recalled for the umpteenth time that Moise will remain in office until February 7, 2022, when he will hand over power to his successor elected at the polls in this year's elections.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33644-haiti-politic-the-government-confirms-the-referendum-despite-international-reluctance.html

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



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - COVID-19 : Haiti is still not ready to receive vaccines





Haiti, which is one of the four countries in the world (out of 192 countries contaminated by Covid-19) not to have started to vaccinate its population and also one of the 12 countries in America and the Caribbean to benefit from free vaccines anti-Covid-19 via the COVAX program, has still not taken the necessary steps to receive a single vaccine, lamented the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday.



"Haiti is still in the process to finalize the arrangements that all the other countries have made to be able to receive these vaccines," said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Deputy Director without specifying the reasons for the delay, recalling "BPrior to receiving vaccines, Haitis health ministry needs to ensure that all measures are in place, like the training of personnel and logistics including storage and surveillance, as well as authorizing the import of the AstraZeneca vaccine."



As part of its first shipment, the country should receive 756,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine (first phase) that Haiti initially refused, preferring to have another vaccine more suitable for Haiti despite Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, the Director of the World Health Organization has informed Haiti that "if it confirms that it does not want to receive these free vaccines, they will be reassigned to other countries" stressing "there is no option to change these doses by another vaccine for the countries which receive them in the form of donations" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33495-haiti-covid-19-the-refusal-of-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-donation-could-cost-haiti-millions-of-dollars.html as requested by the Haitian Ministry of Health to Gavi, the Geneva-based public-private vaccine alliance that runs the COVAX program with WHO, to consider replacing the AstraZeneca vaccine with a single injection vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33448-haiti-health-the-minister-of-health-wants-another-vaccine-than-astrazeneca.html . If Haiti maintains its position the country will have to spend millions of dollars to buy another vaccine of its choice and vaccinate the population.



Note that with the generalization of international vaccination cards or "passports", it may be impossible in the future for an unvaccinated person to travel...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33473-haiti-covid-19there-is-no-crisis-between-the-who-and-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33495-haiti-covid-19-the-refusal-of-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-donation-could-cost-haiti-millions-of-dollars.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33448-haiti-health-the-minister-of-health-wants-another-vaccine-than-astrazeneca.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33423-haiti-flash-haiti-refuses-a-donation-of-756-000-doses-of-the-who-astrazeneca-vaccine.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/05/05

On May 5th the Korea Institute of Brand Reputation released the latest Brand Reputation Report, which tracks which celebrities have the strongest branding by analyzing data across various online communities. The analysis, which was gathered between April 5th and May 5th, covered 108,050,522 bits of data, an increase of 8.73% over the previous Brand Reputation Report's 99,377,638 bits of data. Song Joong-ki of "Vincenzo" topped the list, with 8,830,758 pieces of data referencing his person.

Second place was Lee Je-hoon, with a grand total of 5,665,327 pieces of data referencing his name. The actor is currently known for his leading role in the drama "Taxi Driver" which is still airing, while "Vincenzo" only recently finished its television run. Third place was Jang Nara, who is currently appearing in the leading role on "Sell Your Haunted House" which is also currently airing. Exactly 4,726,253 media references were to the actress.

Song Kang of "Navillera" was fourth place with 4,626,873 references. Ok Taecyeon, who was also in "Vincenzo" as the villain, had 4,150,800 references to his name. A representative for the Korea Institute of Brand Reputation said that compared to March, there are fewer references to brand consumption and issues but more references to simple courtesy and far more references to reposts.

Written by William Schwartz
West Monroe, LA (71291)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. High 91F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
China's first consumer products expo a magnet for international brands

Xinhua) 15:09, May 06, 2021

HAIKOU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The first China International Consumer Products Expo scheduled for May 7 to 10 in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, will be a magnet for international brands, according to the organizers on Thursday.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, the expo has registered 2,628 consumer brands, including 1,365 international 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 30,000 buyers and over 200,000 visitors.

To cater to the demand for high-end leisure products among the country's new rich, the city of Haikou will hold a yacht show during the event, which will feature 107 yachts of 58 brands from 12 countries and regions.

Switzerland, as the guest of honor for the expo, has planned to launch 81 activities of consumer product debuts releasing new products.

The event will be the first international expo to be held in Hainan since China released a master plan in June 2020 to build the island province into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

It is also the first-ever expo focused on consumer products organized by the world's second-largest economy. It is expected to showcase the country's consumption power, facilitate the construction of the free trade port, and contribute to the new development paradigm of dual circulation.

Han Shengjian, director of the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau, said that the expo serves as a global platform for displaying and trading fine consumer products.

The expo will be more focused on product displaying and brand promotion than on on-site sales, according to the organizers.

"Most exhibitors hope to get access to more buyers and look for more business cooperation opportunities through the expo instead of on-site retails," Han said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
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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:
Montana Farmers Union will be hosting a free event in Havre May 18, Rebuilding Food Resiliency, as part of the unions spring workshop series.

The American Rescue Plan, when you read about it, one of the goals is to rebuild food resiliency. That means investment in infrastructure to get local regionalized processing going again, it means increasing the ability to store food products, and the programs that will be available for communities to to invest in their own communities for regional processing, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer said Wednesday.

I really dont know, and I dont think anybody really knows right now, whats available, and what will be available. This will be the first opportunity for people in the local community to hear from our state leaders and our congressional leaders on what theyre thinking and what their planning, he added.

Another key part of the event will be a discussion with a representative from the office of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. The discussion will focus on funding for rural broadband, rural hospitals and emergency services.

Our members, they farm and ranch in rural Montana and they depend on their broadband service and many of them dont have it. Then our rural hospitals are critically important to each and every one of our members. Investing to secure their future is critically important, Schweitzer said.

Schweitzer said MFU also is in the process of starting a meat processing cooperative. A press release said MFU Special Projects Manager Matt Rains will give a presentation on how to join the co-op.

Really, what this is going to be talking about is our plans for doing this. Were not at the stage where we can recruit cooperative members yet, but were just giving them a bit of an advance notice, Schweitzer said.

The MFU press release said producers will have the opportunity to process livestock not just for sale locally, but across the U.S. and for export.

This is going to be a livestock harvesting facility that will harvest cattle, sheep, hogs and even bison. This will be cooperatively owned by producers from Montana that will be able to utilize the facility to harvest their livestock and package them for sale to their customers, Schweitzer said.

The Northern Plains Resource Council will also be presenting an overview of the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancements  C-PACE  program.

It is for commercial property, which includes ag businesses, Schweitzer said. C-PACE is a financing tool that allows property owners to secure 100 percent of the upfront financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy upgrades to commercial businesses, buildings and businesses.

The cost of these upgrades is repaid as a small assessment on the propertys annual tax bill, Schweitzer said. C-PACE financing is designed so that the annual energy savings from these upgrades is greater than the assessment on the annual property tax bill. The savings that youre going to make is going to be actually more than the additional cost on your taxes.

Schweitzer said the Montana Department of Agriculture has received funds for investing in local communities. Director Mike Foster and Deputy Director Christy Clark will be attending the event to discuss programs which will be using these funds.

A local development authority will also be speaking about various programs for people who might need assistance or want to get involved.

Were pushing these organizations, the rural development, our state Department of Agriculture, and our federal congressional delegation, to come explain to us the programs that will be available, so that we can pursue and be on the front end of applying, so that we can for sure, get some of this funding for our local communities, Schweitzer said.

The workshop will be at 6 p.m. at the 4-H Chuckwagon Building at the Great Northern Fairgrounds, Tuesday, May 18.
Police violence discussed by many

Mary Watson prepares to start walking Wednesday near Laredo Road at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Walk. Watson walked in honor of her sister who was killed two years ago in Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

More than 30 people showed up to a Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons awareness walk Wednesday at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, with many attendees having been personally touched by the ongoing issue, as well as by police violence.

President Joe Biden declared Wednesday to be Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.

The group walked along U.S. Highway 87 from Laredo to the Rocky Boy Indian's Reservation Powwow Grounds near Box Elder, with a law enforcement vehicle escorting the walkers, many holding signs with the red hand used to symbolize the crisis.

Chanal Standing Rock, who works for the Chippewa Cree Wellness Center, organized the walk, which she said she hopes will spread awareness of the issue and draw some media attention, which she and many other attendees say is badly needed.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Native Americans account for more than 25 percent of the missing person cases in the state of Montana despite being less than 7 percent of the population.

Native Americans, especially Native American women, go missing at extremely high rates compared to any other race or ethnicity in the U.S. and Canada and face staggeringly high rates of homicide, many times that of white people.

This disproportionate rate of violence has been attributed to a number of issues, including the historical legal inability of tribes to prosecute on their own reservation when the perpetrator is non-Native, confusion regarding jurisdiction between tribal, state and federal law enforcement, and a lack of resources on the part of tribal police departments, as well as the general economic and social marginalization of Native Americans.

Accurate statistics on missing person cases can be difficult to obtain due to the before-mentioned lack of resources of tribal police departments, as well as frequent errors by non-native police departments, misclassifying Native Americans as another race, and many feel that the issue is not being sufficiently addressed or even payed attention to.

Bringing attention to the problem

Standing Rock said this is the second awareness walk she's done about this issue. The first was in 2019, but because of the pandemic she couldn't do it in 2020.

"Since then, we, as a community, have had 10 if not more murders and missing people," she said.

Standing Rock also mentioned two young Native Americans who went missing in the last week in Browning.

She said she's been personally affected by the issue when her younger sister was run over and killed in a case that still hasn't been solved.

Standing Rock said she thinks a huge part of the problem is a lack of resources on the part of tribal police department, and she suspected, correctly, that others at the event would say the same.

However, she said, Rocky Boy has recently taken steps to attempt to address the issue by creating a task force. She said the group is still small and more needs to be done, but it is a start.

Standing Rock said another part of this issue is a lack of coverage in the media.

She said many people who need to know about this issue don't due to the lack of coverage, but efforts to raise awareness are still happening.

She cited Jen Buckley, an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and Havre High School graduate, who is putting up billboards around Montana including one in Havre that went up last month to raise awareness about the crisis.

Duane Gopher said it's not just the larger issue that tends to get ignored, but the individual missing person cases that seem to just go nowhere.

Gopher said these cases just don't get the resources devoted to them that cases involving non-Natives do.

"When our people go missing, we don't seem to get any resources to look for them," he said. "There is a gross disparity."

Gopher said he doesn't personally know anyone who has disappeared or been killed, but he's seen the larger issue deeply affect the community and he wanted to show his support.

The walk was more than eight miles in total, and while there was the option for people to start closer to the end of the walk if they felt they couldn't handle the whole thing, an option some chose, many of them walked the full length ending at the Rocky Boy Powwow Grounds where attendees gathered to eat and talk before heading home.

Before beginning the walk Rocky Boy Chairman Harlan Gopher Baker led attendees in a Cree prayer for those who have been lost.

"We walk today in their honor and memory," he said.

Baker remarked on President Joe Biden's declaration of May 5 as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Awareness Day, which he said is a step in the right direction, but it's important that everyone present keep the memories of the thousands of Native Americans who have already been lost.

Many attendees wore red or wore face masks with a red handprint, a symbol of the movement to raise awareness and address the issue, and many held signs with the names of family, friends and loved ones they've lost, asking that their names not be forgotten.

Police violence discussed at

the walk

Many of the people present at the walk said they had lost family members who were shot by police under various circumstances which they said has also deeply affected the community and their families.

Tasheena Duran said her brother Cole Stump was killed last year by Billings police officers who were detaining him while investigating suspicious activity.

Duran said the loss of her brother affected her family and the community deeply, as well as all the others lost.

"That one person meant a lot to a lot of people," she said.

Billings Police Department reports say Stump pulled a gun on the officers before they fired, an account corroborated by a witness who also said Stump fired first, but Duran said the department has not transparent enough about the incident and has been resistant to allowing an independent investigation.

Billings Police said it would conduct an investigation which then would be reviewed by the Montana Department of Justice and Yellowstone County Attorney's Office.

Duran said she may be wrong about the situation, but an independent investigation shouldn't be a problem for the department if they didn't do anything wrong.

She said these losses compound the normal difficulties of life and the circumstances many people in her community live in.

"There's already a lot of trauma growing up on the Rez, and this just adds to it," she said.

Another attendee who lost a brother was Cornelia Taylor, who was there in honor of Stonechild "Stoney" Chief Stick, who was shot by police during a Fourth of July celebration in Poulsbo, Washington, in 2019.

The officer in that case was not charged after witnesses testified that Chief Stick lunged at him with a screwdriver in what may have been a mental health crisis.

Like Duran, she said, she's been fighting to have an independent investigation done.

Taylor said incidents like this are a source of tension for many, because the Cree way of thinking about death is generally to let people go and let them rest, but she and many others still desire closure, even if it will not bring their loved ones back.

"If it hasn't happened to you then you don't understand," she said.

Anthony Russette said his best friend Edward Ronald "Edron" Stump was killed by a Yellowstone County sheriff's deputy during an attempt to arrest him.

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson A walker at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons awareness walk on U.S. Highway 87 Tuesday carries a sign in memory of Stonechild "Stoney" Chief Stick.

The deputy in question, Clay Hackbarth, was justified in firing, a six member jury unanimoulsy decided in a mandatory coroner's inquest where they heard from witnesses who corroborated Hackbarth's account that Stump fired a gun at Hackbarth when he announced Stump was under arrest for drinking while on probation for a 2010 felony assault.

Russette said he grew up with Stump, who he said was trying to get better before the incident.

"I miss him a lot, man," Russette said.

Beyond the matter of his friend however, he said the reservation still has a lot of open wounds that need to be mended.

"We've got missing people in Rocky Boy that have gone unsolved for years," he said. "And I'd just like to see some closure."

He said the issue causes a lot of damage, but he's happy that it also brings people together for events like this, where people can be together and share their stories.
The Big Sandy Senior Center hosted a talk by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Management Specialist Wesley Sarmento detailing how to deal with the increasing presence of grizzly bears in the area.

During the last several years, grizzly bears have been expanding out of their recovery zones including to the prairies east of the Rocky Mountain Front, FWP said in a release announcing the meeting.

A pair of grizzly bears recently were spotted about 15 miles northwest of Big Sandy, but have since moved out of the area.

Sarmento said he wanted to hold a talk like this last year, when a grizzly had been seen in the area and killed some chickens at a farm near Big Sandy, but the pandemic necessitated its cancellation.

He explained that, much to his disappointment, grizzly bears are still a federally protected species so FWP doesnt have the authority to regulate their population or declare hunts on the animals, but he is in charge of keeping people and their property safe, which is the main focus of the meeting.

He said media often depicts bears as man-eaters who will actively attack humans for food, but this is entirely inaccurate, and it is important to understand that most grizzlies do not cause humans any problem, even though the focus of the talk is safety.

The last time someone in the this ecosystem was killed and eaten by a grizzly bear was over 20 years ago, he said.

Sarmento said grizzlies are generally shy, secretive, and attack only when they feel threatened. He said preventing an encounter all together is the ideal solution.

Theyre lazy animals, and it takes less energy to hide than it takes to actually confront you, he said.

He said traveling in groups, being aware of the surroundings and making noise while moving will drive off bears in the area before an encounter even begins, but people in areas where bears are present should ideally have bear spray on them anyway.

He said in the event that someone encounters a bear they should be careful not to startle or agitate them but attempt to calmly leave, and never ever run. Running will trigger their instinct to chase.

Sarmento said a grizzlys attitude toward someone can often be discerned by observing their body language, which can inform a persons response. He said if the bear is just eating or digging and otherwise ignoring a person it either hasnt noticed them or is not threatened by them.

If the bear is looking at them and standing on its hind legs, he said, its probably curious and trying to figure out what the person is and if they are a danger to them. Sarmento said female grizzlies are famously protective of their young and people should be especially careful around them.

He said if the bear has its ears back and is stomping or making noise at a person it means theyre agitated and warning them not to mess with them. He also said yawning is a sign of distress and agitation as well.

Sarmento said if a bear is actively following someone, that is predatory behavior, but he said that is extremely rare, and much more common among black bears who are often mistaken for grizzlies.

He said bear spray should be immediately accessible on a persons belt and if a bear does attempt to charge someone they should angle the spray slightly down so they hit the bear and not overshoot the target. He also said its probably good to spray earlier in the charge rather than later to give the aerosol time to disperse and drive the animal away.

Sarmento said guns can also be used against a grizzly if it is charging, but they are far less effective than spray, with nearly 50 percent of encounters involving fire arms resulting in injury either due to the ineffectiveness or people injuring themselves or friends with said firearms during the encounter.

He said a .357 Magnum is the smallest gun that will be remotely effective against a bear because they are very tough animals who are going to take quite a few shots to incapacitate.

He said if someone doesnt have either a firearm or bear spray they are left with two option, fight or play dead.

Sarmento said playing dead should be the first considered choice because fighting is only advisable if the grizzly is being predatory, which, again, is very unusual outside of the Yellowstone area. He said if people are unsure they should default to playing dead.

He said people trying to play dead should get on the ground stomach down and lock their hands over the back of their neck and stay still until the bear is completely gone otherwise they risk drawing it back.

He said if the bear attempts to roll them over, they should roll with it and get back on their stomach.

Managing attractants

Sarmento said grizzlies have an extremely powerful sense of smell and can detect rotten meat from more than two miles away.

He said hunters should be careful with their kills and make noise when approaching them to scare off any bears in the area, and consider using gutless methods to harvest the animal and store the meat high in a tree.

He said bears are also drawn to grain spills, animal feed, bird seed and fruit as well. Sarmento said ag workers should be careful when handling and storing these things so as not to attract the bears and avoid contact altogether.

He said because they are still a federally protected species, they generally cannot be injured unless someones life is in danger so its best to haze the animals off using electric fences and scare devices, which FWP and some non-profits might be able to construct for people depending on the circumstances.

He said they can also be driven off with loud noises or with a hard-sided vehicle, but anyone can call FWP and they will help.

If youve got a bear, call us, thats our whole job, Sarmento said.

He said because they are a protected species and theres only so much people can legally do to prevent property damage, the state of Montana can compensate people for damages inflicted by the animals so people should document as much as they can while staying safe.

He also said its important to report bear sighting to FWP and inform neighbors of the animals presence.
A group trying to rebuild the system that supplies much of the water to the Milk River each year talked Wednesday about how money from the latest COVID-19 relief bill might help.

A major topic at the meeting of the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group was House Bill 632, the bill the Legislature passed to set up use of relief funds from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

The St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works, part of the irrigation Milk River Project and one of the first projects Bureau of Reclamation was authorized to build when it was created at the start of the last century, diverts water into the North Fork of the Milk River and supplies much  in drought years almost all  of the water flowing through the Milk River.

Irrigators pay most of the cost of operating and maintaining the system  at this point, about 75 percent of the cost  and it has been patched together for decades.

The working group was formed in 2003 after users of the Milk River warned that catastrophic failure was likely unless major repairs  much more than the irrigators could afford  were made.

That happened last spring when the last concrete drop structure on the 29-mile system of dams, dikes, canals, giant metal siphons and drop structures failed and had to be replaced.

The diversion was shut down over the summer until collaborative work got it re-opened in October.

But most of the rehabilitation, which includes providing features to help the bull trout, listed as a threatened species, remains to be done.

One of the parts of HB 632 was designating $400 million for water and wastewater projects, and the working group talked about how it could apply for some of that money for the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance System rehabilitation.

But much of the discussion was in a wait-and-see mode  members said they still need more information from the state and from the federal government.

Montana State University Phillips County Extension Agent Marko Manoukian, who co-chairs the working group with Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, said his understanding is the group can apply for $25 million but a match is required.

And that was much of the discussion  how the funds could be matched, could multiple entities apply to use for the St. Mary rehabilitation, could multiple applications be made, for different projects within the rehabilitation, and exactly what the process would be. But many of the answers arent available yet.

The governors natural resource policy advisor, Michael Freeman, said the state government is holding a meeting today to make more decisions on how the process will work and will provide guidance to the local entities and organizations, the people with their feet on the ground.

Freeman said better guidance on the process will be available next week, after todays meeting and procedures are set.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Amanda Kaster said another problem is the state still doesnt have guidance from the federal government on how the funds can be used.

Bear Paw Development Executive Director Paul Tuss said more information is crucial, especially on how matches can be applied.

He said the federal government is particularly persnickety about what can be used for matches and how it impacts use of other federal funds.

Tuss said if the working group and its partners have to match millions of dollars it will be a problem.

We can celebrate,  but the reality is, where do we come up with the money? he asked.

Manoukian said he is hopeful the group can access and use the funds.

Stay tuned, he said. A couple of applications could get a large chunk of funds.

The group discussed planning a meeting after an advisory commission is formed, scheduled to meet June 11, and before applications for the grants open July 15.

Several other topics were discussed at the meeting, including an ability-to-pay study being done by BOR that could reduce the amount the users of the system have to pay, and the possilbiltiy of looking for some funding from Canada for the use of diversion water in the North Fork of the Milk River.

The group also talked about the need to get the Fort Belknap Water Compact, which touches on the diversion, passed.

Manoukian thanked the work the Blackfeet Tribe  the diversion runs across the Blackfeet Indian Reservation  and the Fort Belknap Indian Community have done on the effort.

The Blackfeet also were praised for their assistance in getting the drop structure repaired last fall.

Several members praised the collaborative effort in repairing the drop structure.

Group member Wade Jones, president of the Milk River Joint Board of Control that oversees the irrigation district, said they were lucky how things turned out last year with everyone coming together to repair the system.

He added that that can be a testemant to the federal government.

Give us the money, well get it done. Jones said.
On Saturday, May 1, the Appalachian Arts Alliance hosted Hazard and Perry Countys seventh annual Derby Party at the ArtStation on Main Street in downtown Hazard. During the event there were appetizers, a cash bar, music and a tent-style casino tables with prizes.

In the past, the event has previously been hosted by the ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities, benefiting an ARH facility. This year, ARH was unable to host the event, so the Appalachian Arts Alliance hosted the event and the money raised will be used to fund the organizations general operations.

In September, we did a derby fundraiser; we did baskets that we gave out that we sold for a fundraiser and there was a lot of response for that, said Tim Deaton, executive director of the Appalachian Arts Alliance, stating that the Arts Alliance had held fundraisers for events before.

Once ARH decided to not host their (derby party this year) they got permission from ARH for us to do it so we started putting it together, he said, adding that the Appalachian Arts Alliance didnt have much of a notice before planning the party.

We had less than a month to get everything planned and scheduled and paid for and organized. We just did it, went in head strong and got it done and it was a huge success, said Deaton. It was very intense. A lot of stuff had to take a back burner to it but thats kinda how its been at the ArtStation since we started  we just find what we need to focus on, whats most important at the time, and we all attack it and get it done. So far weve been blessed and everything has turned out quite wonderfully.

Deaton said the organization is still counting and waiting on some checks to arrive, but as of press time they have raised $25,000. The money raised during the party, he said, will be used for the Appalachian Arts Alliances general operations.

A lot of people arent sure about how non-profits operate and how we function or how were funded, said Deaton, explaining that many times, people think grants take care of most of the things needed, but they only cover portions of it. One thing a lot of the grants that are out right not doesnt fund is general operations, he said, stating that the salaries, utilities, cleaning supplies and other things fall under this category.

The community support and donations we receive are vital for our existence because without them we wouldnt be able to operate, he said.

Deaton said the Derby Party was not only a success in raising funds for the organization, but also in achieving a feeling of accomplishment and pride.

For me, personally, its a huge success in my life. Its huge for me to be able to take a step back and look at my community enjoying the fruits of my labor, said Deaton.

Throughout the pandemic, and the entire process of renovating the building, Deaton said, he contributed a lot of physical labor as well as mental energy, including the planning of the facility, and working to run conduit, hang drywall, paint, help with plumbing and more.

Knowing that I not only did a lot of brain work in the development of this building, but I also did a lot of hand work in this building. Being able to take a step back and look at all the people in our community that was here and seeing them enjoy themselves in a space that I worked physically and mentally hard to prepare for them was just a moment where it all paid off for me, said Deaton.

During the Derby Party, another local organization offered a donation to the Appalachian Arts Alliance, but the community will need to help, said Deaton.

While we were at the event, we were surprised by a member of the Perry County Community Foundation Board of Directors, and they came to us with a check for $10,000 thats going to be given to the Arts Alliance, but its a challenge match. Its a match amount, so what theyre wanting us to do is for us to raise $10,000 in order to receive their $10,000, Deaton said. The Appalachian Arts Alliance will be holding several events and fundraisers to match the funds, he said, but they will still need the community to make donations too. We still need community support, we still need donations. We need people who are willing to give to make sure we can sustain this place, said Deaton.

Donations can be made to the Appalachian Arts Alliance by visiting the Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky website, https://www.appalachianky.org/, or the Appalachian Arts Alliance website, https://www.appalachianartsalliance.org/, and selecting the donation/fund tabs. To donate directly, visit the link, https://appalachianky.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1087.
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Thunderstorms, some with heavy rain this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some with heavy rain this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Today

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

Tomorrow

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. High around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Heavy thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Heavy thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
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James Edward Wygal, 69, of Emory, passed away May 30, 2021, at home. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 8, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date at his home, which was his sanctuary and his favorite place. Mr. Wygal was
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A federal judge has overturned a nationwide eviction moratorium imposed last year to help Americans who have fallen behind on their rents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to US District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the District of Columbia, the federal government overreached in enacting the injunction.

Federal judge says CDC has no authority to impose nationwide eviction moratorium

"The court agrees that the COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health problem that has raised enormous problems for public health authorities and the country as a whole. The pandemic has prompted difficult strategic choices with far-reaching real-world implications. One such decision is the national eviction moratorium," Friedrich wrote in a 20-page ruling, as per USA Today.

According to Friedrich, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not have the power to enact a nationwide ban under the Public Health Service Act. Brian Boynton, acting assistant attorney general for the department's Civil Division, said that the Justice Department has issued a notice of appeal and respectfully disagrees with the decision.

The Biden administration is reviewing the ruling, said White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. She added that they understand the value of eviction moratorium for Americans who have fallen behind on their rent as a result of the pandemic.

Last spring, as part of the CARES Act, Congress enacted a 120-day eviction moratorium, providing compensation to American families and employers experiencing financial distress due to COVID-19. When the moratorium expired, the US Department of Health and Human Services, by the CDC, issued a federal eviction moratorium. On June 30, the current eviction van is set to expire.

Read Also: Derek Chauvin Lawyer Wants New Trial, Says Cop Not Given Fair Trial in George Floyd Death

CDC asked to lift the eviction moratorium extension

A federal judge has ordered the CDC to lift a national eviction moratorium, arguing the department overstepped its jurisdiction by expanding it. The eviction moratorium was supposed to end next month, but the decision has thrown the deadline into doubt.

In Washington, a federal judge claimed the CDC's nationwide eviction ban exceeded the agency's jurisdiction and could be lifted by the deadline. The US Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and the Department of Justice appealed against the ruling.

"It would have very little real-world impact while it is being appealed," said Nick Norman of the Apartment Association of New Hampshire, WMUR via MSN reported. "We need to shift our attention away from eviction moratoriums and toward rental assistance." According to New Hampshire Legal Assistance staff, the appeals process could continue until the end of June.

In the meantime, they advise landlords who are facing foreclosure to seek assistance. Elliot Berry of New Hampshire Legal Assistance said that people should not be alarmed for starters because they have no idea how long it will take. People may ask for help by calling 211 or visiting a local community action group.

During her daily press briefing, Psaki assured reporters that the Department of Justice is evaluating the recent ruling. But that the ban has been a massive help to troubled landlords. Several tenants have protested the initiative and filed legal challenges, claiming that it has made it difficult for them to make ends meet.

Bob Pinnegar, president of the National Apartment Association, a landlord advocacy organization, said the decision confirms just how much the CDC overstepped their jurisdiction. "Eviction moratoriums are risky, counterproductive measures that threaten housing affordability, suppliers, and tenants," he stated, per NBC News.

Read Article: Student Loan Forgiveness Program: Will It Ever Happen? Here's What We Know So Far

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A 2-year-old dies after a small plane on its way to a university graduation ceremony crashed into a Mississippi home. Three Texas residents were also killed. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator was on his way to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, about 90 miles southeast of Jackson, to look into Tuesday's accident, which resulted in a fire, according to the department.

A small plane crashed in a Mississippi home, killing four people

Agency spokesperson Peter Knudson said authorities were unaware of any distress calls from the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 but have yet to check air traffic recordings. He announced that an investigator would be sent to the scene.

Gerry Standley, 55, of Hattiesburg, was among the killed, two adults and a toddler from Wichita Falls, Texas: Louis Provenza, 67, Anna Calhoun, 23, and Harper Provenza 2, according to news reports. A website was put up to collect funds for funeral costs and repair property destroyed in the fire that resulted from the crash. Standley, the one killed at the house were the small plane crashed, worked full-time for a paving firm and was an assistant pastor at his church.

The report stated that his wife, Melinda, division manager of the police department's 911 center, their daughter Arrianna, and grandson Eli all escaped with minor injuries. The pair even celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary last month.

Provenza, a New Orleans native, was a neurosurgeon at United Regional Physician Group who graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine. "We are heartbroken about the death of Dr. Louis Provenza. He touched the lives of so many people and would be deeply missed," said the medical group, as per ABC News.

Calhoun was a junior at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, studying biology, said Julie Gaynor, the university's public relations director. According to a post on the university's website, they were on their way to see a family member graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on Wednesday.

The plane had taken off from Wichita Falls and was on its way to Hattiesburg's Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport when it crashed at 11:22 p.m. Tuesday, and a fire started, Knudson said.

The National Transportation Safety Board's database indicated that the aircraft in the Mitsubishi MU2 family, including this plane, has been involved in more than 100 incidents dating back to the early 1980s. Hattiesburg police initially reported two deaths but later lifted the number to four on Wednesday morning. The plane can accommodate a two-person crew as well as six passengers.

Read Also: 3 Died, 27 Hurt After Boat With Illegal Immigrants Capsized in San Diego

A 2-year-old was among those killed in Mississippi plane crash

A two-year-old was among four people killed in a plane crash in a Hattiesburg residential neighborhood. Harper Provenza, a toddler, died along with her mother, Anna Calhoun, and another relative, Louis Provenza, police said. Local CBS affiliate KAUZ reported that all three were coming from Wichita Falls, Texas.

No one else was on board the plane except Louis Provenza, who was a professional pilot, Calhoun and the toddler. The aircraft was on its way to Hattiesburg's Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport when it went down about 2 miles away.

There was no immediate information on the cause of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were on their way to the scene on Wednesday morning to investigate the cause of the crash.

"Do not touch or destroy any debris or wreckage in your yard or property that you suspect is related to the accident, and please call the Hattiesburg Police Department at 601-467-7556," police said, as per NY Daily News.

Read Article: Wisconsin Casino Shooter Who Killed Two Employees Was a Fired Staff, Cops Claim

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A Starbucks barista's photo that surfaced on Saturday of a complicated order ignited denouncement from Twitter. Several other employees chimed in on the platform with stories and pictures of ridiculous customer requests.

Complicated Starbucks Order

If you are a Starbucks fan, you have probably heard of the chain's "secret menu" that is not-so-secret. It is an index of off-menu drinks created by customers and posted on social media. While it appears to be fun to make your customized drink, the limitless customization options have opened the door to several complex drink orders that baristas are not too pleased about.

A recent tweet shared on social media by a Starbucks barista displayed an order that featured more than ten different drink personalizations. Upon being viral, it ignited a conversation regarding complicated customer orders. In the now-deleted tweet, user @ProjectJosiee posted an image of a Starbucks order with the caption indicating "today's episode" of the reasons why he would like to resign from work.

The tweet garnered more than 52,000 retweets and 336,000 likes. It accumulated dozens of responses from other Starbucks employees sharing their horror stories in the form of beverage receipts, reported Yahoo.

Starbucks claimed that the majority of customizations are "reasonable requests." According to a Starbucks spokesperson, "Customizing beverages at Starbucks and our baristas' expertise in helping customers find and craft the right beverage has and always will be the heart of the Starbucks Experience," reported WFLA.

Read Also: Best Coffee Makers of 2020 to Brew Your Early Morning Drink

Here are other interesting orders:

youd be surprised . a lady ordered this in person with a completely straight face  pic.twitter.com/2OuTuN3Hti  baby velociraptor (@tunafishpro) May 3, 2021

this order comes in every other week pic.twitter.com/PAdcIFotyv  Bianca (@binxsicle) May 3, 2021

The Venti Caramel Crunch Frappe in question ordered from the barista was double blended with extra caramel drip, five bananas, extra ice, extra whip, extra cinnamon dolce topping, extra caramel crunch, seven counts of frappe roast coffee, seven pumps of dark caramel sauce, and one pump honey blended and heavy cream, among other ingredients. Thus, his work predicament gave way to hilarious banter on the microblogging website.

The barista also posted a video from his TikTok account @ProjectJosie regarding getting "verbally harassed by Karens" over their drink orders. With the rise of TikTok lately, the off-the-menu concoctions have become more prevalent among customers.

The shares in the Twitter thread sparked quite a debate regarding what customers have the right to request. One user noted that all orders pay Starbucks bills and, consequently, barista's paychecks. The user has worked in the food industry for many years and underscored that once you understand that small principle, you do whatever the customer wants (within reason) if they have the money to pay for it.

The Starbucks menu makes it possible to make beverages that achieve the flavor one wants by asking for different pumps of flavor, distinct kinds of milk, and other specifications like double blending, cold foam, and more. On their official website, the food industry giant boasts that more than 170,000 combinations could be created through customizations.

Related Article: Starbucks CEO Gives Stern Warning To Those Who Support Traditional Marriage

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A Chinese interpreter who worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has come forward to refute crazy online claims that she was to blame for the Microsoft founder's separation from his wife of 27 years. Zhe 'Shelly' Wang, 36, slammed the unfounded rumors that she had an affair with Bill Gates in a post on Weibo, the Chinese social media.

Who is the rumored reason for Bill and Melinda Gates' divorce?

Wang, who is unmarried and lives in Seattle, is a skilled professional interpreter who has worked with the Gates Foundation, Yale School of Management, and Harvard Business School. Bill Gates, who is worth $130 billion, and Melinda Gates revealed their divorce in a joint statement on Monday, but the lack of clarification has fueled speculation.

Other than images she has shared online of her translating engagements with the Gates Foundation, it is unknown what contributed to Wang being a subject of gossip. Still, the exaggeration spread like wildfire on Chinese social media. Wang's friend Li Donglei was taken aback by the rumors and wrote a blog post defending her.

Wang was born in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou and later immigrated to the United States, according to Li. Her LinkedIn page, which has since been removed, said she owned the Four Seasons Hot Pot & Dumplings in Provo, Utah from 2006 to 2008, Daily Mail reported.

Wang earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Managerial Economics from Brigham Young University in 2007. She studied Conference Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and later worked as an interpreter for the institute in September 2012. She is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.

She worked on several TED Conference activities while at the Monterey Institute and then went on to work with TED Conferences, where she managed a team of interpreters. Her job with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seemed to have been on a freelance basis.

Read Also: Bill and Melinda Gates Divorce, Agree on Splitting Assets

Why can't China stop talking about the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?

According to CNN Business, the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce has sent shockwaves across China, where shocked fans of the philanthropic couple took to social media to mourn the breakup. The "Bill Gates' divorce" hashtag on Weibo had received more than 830 million views, and at least 66,000 discussion messages since the news broke, surpassing the 91 million views received when Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott divorced in 2019, according to the outlet.

For the past few days, Weibo users have been speculating about how the pair will divide their vast wealth and whether the divorce will affect the couple's powerful philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Although Bill Gates is no longer the CEO of Microsoft, his company has spent decades cultivating ties with Beijing, where the tech giant's Western goods are still permitted while others, such as Facebook and Google, are not.

Per New York Post, Bill Gates has 4.1 million Weibo followers, almost quadruple that of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, demonstrating his success. On Weibo, Kai-fu Lee, a prominent Chinese tech figure who previously served as the head of Google China and assisted in establishing the Microsoft Research Lab Asia, expressed his surprise at the report. After 27 years of marriage, the pair declared their divorce in a joint statement on Monday. Melinda Gates applied for divorce later, writing in legal documents that the union was irretrievably broken.

Related Article: Real Reason for Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez Break Up





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A top White House official said Tuesday that Congress would have to determine whether to send a fourth stimulus check to Americans this year. Over the weekend, a Change.org petition calling for $2,000 monthly checks received over two million signatures. The petition has already been added to the top ten petitions on the website.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether President Joe Biden could have the fourth round of direct payments or monthly checks in one of his budget packages at a press conference. "We'll see what members of Congress suggest," Psaki responded on a report on 10WBNS, but those are not reassuring.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, Congress has passed three rounds of stimulus packages for millions of Americans. The CARES Act, which went into effect in March 2020, gave qualifying recipients $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple, and $500 per child.

Payments of $600 per single taxpayer, $1,200 per married couple filing together, and $600 per dependent were contained in a bipartisan $900 billion package in December 2020. President Biden's American Rescue Plan, which included $1,400 per person taxpayer, $2,800 per married couple, and $1,400 for young and older dependents, was approved by Congress in March.

The IRS delivered over 1.1 million stimulus payments on Wednesday, with 600,000 of them being sent via direct deposit. Since the American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March, the eighth batch of $1,400 checks has been sent out. Analysts have overlooked the possibility of a fourth stimulus check due to the rebounding economy and increasing vaccines. However, there is still high public interest in it.

Is the fourth stimulus check ever coming?

Biden's American Families Plan is a piece of new legislation that Congress must pass before it can become law - where you can get the benefits. Many households are expected to earn funding this year in addition to the other three stimulus grants already made, so the proposed benefits have been dubbed the "fourth stimulus" by the media. The majority of this funding would go to parents in the form of an expanded Child Tax Credit. As part of the American Rescue Plan COVID relief and stimulus plan, parents can receive benefits from July to December for children under 17.

Since it is a temporary aid contained in the COVID stabilization and relief package, it has been dubbed a "fourth stimulus" for those likely to take advantage of it. It's important to remember that this is a new bill enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan and is unrelated to the American Families Plan proposed last week.

By including this temporary credit in his proposed law, the American Families Plan, Biden offers to expand it until 2025, effectively borrowing the credit from one plan and passing it to another. There is still no public detail about whether or not a fourth stimulus check will be introduced. About 70 lawmakers have worked to make that so, but nothing significant has happened yet, Yahoo Finance reported.

Read Also: Did President Joe Biden Hint at Fourth Stimulus Check in First Joint Session of Congress?

The fourth stimulus check faces a tough battle

Biden is unlikely to devote precious political resources to lobbying for annual payments, given his attention on the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. Both plans will face an uphill battle to succeed, as Republicans have openly criticized them, and Democrats will need the support of 10 GOP senators to move forward.

Without that funding, Democrats could push the bills by the budget resolution, but that would necessitate a fully united caucus. Another alternative is to abolish or amend the filibuster, but because Senator Joe Manchin has said that he will not accept it, this is unlikely to happen.

Some Americans will see annual payments if the American Families Plan passes all houses of Congress. If it is now, the bill provides a clause to extend the expanded Child Tax Credit so that qualifying parents can continue to receive payments regularly. If a fourth stimulus check or recurring direct payments aren't included in a budget consolidation bill, Democrats would have to rely on Republican assistance, which is difficult but not impossible, as per Newsweek via MSN.

Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check: Momentum Grows for Democrats Pushing for Recurring Payments

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One of the oldest human burials in Africa was found by scientists, who discovered the remnants of a toddler that is 78,000 years ago.

Scientists discover the oldest human burial in Africa

According to a group of scientists, they found evidence of the first known human buried in a grave. The location of the fossil is 10 miles inland from southeast Kenya's ocean beaches. Their investigation shows the grave of an early Homo sapiens child dated at 78,000 years old via carbon dating, reported National Geographic.

Even though some human burials in the Middle East and Europe are older, the excavation in Africa is one of the oldest unquestionable examples of a body interred in a pit prepared for that purpose anywhere in the world.

The fossil called "Mtoto" is Swahili for "child." It was identified online today in the journal Nature. It joins two other, slightly younger burial sites in Africa that also involve children.

"This is undeniably a funeral, distinctively dated. It's very early. "Very remarkable," says Paleolithic burial expert Paul Pettitt of Durham University in England, who was not involved in the research, cited Durham University.

Pettitt claims that the ages of the deceased are particularly telling in understanding the nature of burial as a ritual activity, even though three instances in the entire continent are hardly a representative sample.

He claims that "modern hunter-gatherer societies believe that death is natural and inevitable." But, there are two exceptions: death from injuries and baby and child death. Perhaps we can see the blurry development of the perception that death comes too soon is abnormal and requires to be marked in a particular manner." It is one of the oldest human burials in Africa that he notes.

Read also: Mali Woman Gives Birth to 9 Babies, Nanoplets Are All Safe and Healthy!

Mtoto's grave was found in Panga ya Saidi, an extensive cave system close to the Kenyan coast. A team conducted by the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History based in Jena, Germany, has been digging up the structure since 2010.

So far, thousands of stone tools, shell beads, butchered animal bones, and other artifacts have been found at the site, indicating a continuous human impact from today to 80,000 years ago in Africa's Middle Stone Age.

The Max Planck Institute's Michael Petraglia said, "This site was always favorable to occupancy." "No one ever completely faded away." The Max Planck Institute notes it.

Emmanuel Ndiema, the chief of the museum's archaeology department and a part of the research team, says, "We understood we were really into something significant." "Nevertheless, the specimen was extremely delicate."

"Everything was in position," says Mara Martinon-Torres, director of the CENIEH, who led the research. "It's not just a piece of rock. We have a human body. We've had a baby."

In addition to the skeleton's articulated position, several proofs suggested that the child had been deliberately buried soon after death.

The soils inside the pit were distinctly different from the surrounding sediments, and they were scattered with snail shells and tracks by earthworm-eating snails found near corpses buried in bare earth.

It is the oldest human burial in Africa with a toddler, indicating early homo sapiens considered this death untimely.

Related article: Man Crosses Highly-Militarized Taiwan Strait in Rubber Dinghy, Escapes China

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Twenty-five individuals were pronounced dead following eight days of protests in Colombia due to a tax overhaul plan. It was meant to cover a gap in spending associated with COVID-19. Among the fatalities are protesters and police officials who have been clashing for days as public outrage grows over rising unemployment, poverty, and inequality.

25 Fatalities Recorded from Colombia Protests

After eight days of protests, a major city cut-off has transpired from food supplies and Colombia's conservative government scrambling to gain control as it combats the nation's worst novel coronavirus surge. Eight hundred people have been wounded in the clashes between officials and demonstrators. The unrest was throughout the country was ignited by a proposed tax-collection overhaul and rigid pandemic lockdowns that have been blamed for resulting in mass unemployment and throwing about four million people into poverty.

Why It Matters

The protests began as a strike against the proposed tax reform. It then developed into a broader outcry over human rights abuses and the authorities' heavy-handed response to demonstrations, reported Yahoo.

It was initially sparked by Colombian President Ivan Duque in April, attempting to pass a tax reform bill to mitigate Colombia's economic crisis. It was meant to raise taxes on some important public services and items.

Despite the tax plan being rescinded on Sunday, it has done nothing to subdue public protests. The demonstrations have turned violent at times, with buses being set on fire, police being attacked, and people looting stores.

Read Also: Death Toll From Colombia Protests Grow, Calls for Peace From UN, EU

According to Colombian President Ivan Duque regarding the violent protesters, "With their violence, they've tried to cut off cities, leaving thousands without work. Nothing justifies that armed people... go out and shoot at defenseless citizens and cruelly attack our police," reported The Hill.

Colombia is currently on its third coronavirus surge. It has recorded almost 500 fatalities per day on average in the previous week. This is a higher per-capita rate than India's.

According to Ivan Felipe Gonzalez, 35, whose shoe shop has been closed and has been joining the protests in Cali, a city of 2.2 million Colombia's third-largest, numerous people have lost jobs and have lost everything. He added the working class attempts to open their doors to get some business. However, the law comes in and imposes on them to close down, reported The Wall Street Journal.

The State of Play

The unpopular tax reform proposal would have raised taxes on businesses. It would have also eradicated several of the individual exemptions passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Groups Calling for Peace

International groups and celebrities have started calling attention to the violence. Both the United Nations and Amnesty International have condemned the use of violence by Colombian authorities in mitigating the demonstrations.

Amnesty International released a video underscoring instances of excessive police force amid the protests. According to the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is "deeply alarmed" by reports of police gunnings and reminded Colombian authorities of their roles to "protect human rights."

Related Article: Colombia's Peace Deal at Stake on the US Election, Seen as Very Critical

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The developers of the USAF HH-60W, Jolly Green II helicopter, have completed checking the systems that are crucial to the medium-lift chopper.

USAF HH-60W gets new weapons

According to Sikorsky and a U.S. Air Force (USAF) test team who will be checking the relevant weapon systems at the Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida, reported Airforce Technology.

Enhancing the weapon system configurations improve the offensive and defensive capabilities.

The 413th Flight Test Squadron, flight chief Joe Whiteaker stated the HH-60W Integrated Research Team's successful completion of this testing program is a great accomplishment for those involved.

All the problems were overcome, and expertise at innovation and sheer determination made all the difference.

The helicopter, produced by Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky Aircraft, is designed to conduct joint force combat search and rescue operations at any period of the day or night.

From the first flight, the Jolly Green II had about 1,100 test hours across six aircraft in 2019.

Aircraft performance, communications systems, environmental tests at McKinley Climatic Lab, including aerial refueling, were among developmental tests Jolly Green II undertook.

The developmental test mission for the military rescue helicopter will be moved to the 'Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force' for follow-on evaluation at Nellis AFB after this year.

A remark by 413 FLTS Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Dirkes saying that all the people and organizations, who helped in the evaluation, we're able to get excellent results for the Jolly Green II.

He added the team was well focused on the goals of the test program and conducted the tests safely with pressure to make sure all the systems were in working order on the USAF HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.

Read also: US Chinook Twin Rotor Heavy Helicopters Bought by Indian Air Force, Not by Israeli Air Force

In February 2020, the USAF revealed the name of the Heavy lift helicopter in the 2020 Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

The Moody Air Force Base got two Jolly Green II helicopters in November last year.

The CH-3E, different helicopter but the same name

Another version is CH-3E made for the USAF developed from the Sikorsky S-61 amphibious transport helicopter, made especially for the U.S. Navy, noted Museum of Aviation.

The CH-3E was the USAF version of the Sikorsky S-61 amphibious transport helicopter developed for the U.S. Navy. In 1962, the U.S. Navy flew six HSS-2 (SH-3A) versions of the S-61, which were rechristened CH-3A/Bs, reported FAS org.

They were such a success that the U.S. Air Force purchased 75 of them, modified as CH-3Cs with an updated rear fuselage design that included a platform for vehicles and other cargo.

On June 17, 1963, the first CH-3C took to the skies. In 1966, 41 CH-3Cs were designated CH-3Es after being updated with more powerful engines.

A total of 45 new ones were made. Later, 50 CH-3Es were fitted with armor, defensive weaponry, self-sealing fuel tanks, a rescue lift, and an in-flight refueling probe for combat rescue missions. Seeing action over Vietnam as the Jolly Green Giant, they are redesigned HH-3Es.

The primary weapons of the USAF HH-60W, Jolly Green II helicopter, are two 50.-cal machine guns, powered by two General Electric T58-GE-5 turboshaft engines with an H.P. of 1500 each, for its size, it flies max speed of 177 mph, an average speed of 154 mph, and 779 miles if extra fuel tanks are equipped.

Related article: UH-60 Black Hawk: The US Army's First Airborne Swiss Army Knife

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South Carolina will soon allow firing squad in federal executions, which is another option for death-row inmates with no lethal injection available.

House of South Carolina votes to Add Firing Squad to Federal Executions

During a shortage of lethal injection drugs, the South Carolina House voted in favor of legislation requiring firing squads as an additional execution method for the state's death-row prisoners, reported the Epoch Times.

According to the bill, if lethal injection drugs aren't available to be executed prisoners, have to choose between being shot or electrocuted, according to the bill, which prevailed 66-43. Just nine states still use the electric chair, and the state will be the fourth to permit a firing squad.

Should the bill be passed, the state has the authority to restart executions in nearly a decade; the law allows the use of firing squad will be legal if there is no lethal injection. Some oppose the death penalty, especially after the executions of several inmates.



Currently, South Carolina cannot place inmates on death row as its supply of lethal injection drugs has expired, and it hasn't been able to purchase more due to a shortage nationwide. The state's last execution was in May 2011, cited USA Today.

Convicted prisoners can already choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. Since the drugs aren't available, many have chosen the deadly injection option, as the state can no longer force inmates to die by electrocution. South Carolina will soon allow firing squads as another choice for execution.

Read also: Lisa Montgomery on Her Final Moments Before Execution Until She Closed Her Eyes

If the state has the drugs, the bill keeps lethal injection but enables prison authorities to use the electric chair if they don't. If an inmate chooses, they can be killed by firing squad.

For the previous five years, the state has been unable to procure lethal injection drugs due to drug manufacturers' efforts to limit how their products are used. As a result, two planned executions have been delayed so far.

According to sources from the State Senate, the bill was passed in March via a bipartisan group of lawmakers voting 32-11 to give it a second reading.

The Lower House made a slight modification to that version, which means it will go to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster for approval after a routine final vote in the House and Senate authorization.

For the record, there are 37 inmates on death row in the state of South Carolina, awaiting their execution by the state.

Former President Donald Trump had expressed support for capital punishment on many occasions and, after a 17-year hiatus, revived it at the federal level last year. The former argued that executions are an effective punishment and appropriate penalty for such crimes, such as mass shootings and police officer killings.

According to The Associated Press, President Joe Biden is the first sitting US president to oppose the death sentence openly and has suggested instructing the Department of Justice to begin scheduling new executions.

The subject of the death penalty has been a controversial subject with South Carolina will soon allow firing squad that many states are considering implementing, especially republican states.

Related article: Death Penalty in the US: Everything You Need to Know

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The Indonesian Submarine retrieval will have Chinese assistance to haul it from the seabed at 838m, which requires deep-sea vehicles to accomplish that. One of the biggest questions is how did it happen.

Indonesian Submarine retrieval is underway to know its circumstances

The Indonesian navy experts say an internal solitary wave caused the sinking of KRI Nanggala 402 and the losses of its 53 crew, which is known to occur in the seas around Bali, which is a normal phenomenon. It seems the sub was caught unaware by the deep-sea wave, report RNZ.

It sunk to an extreme depth of 838 meters, well beyond rescuers' reach. Getting the subs remains will need specialist diving equipment, citing the BBC.

Authorities said there was no hope many would survive as crew members' personal effects floated up and the oxygen level onboard slowly expired.

Many theories have been proposed as to what happened. Still, experts now suggest that an underwater wave - which can exert a sizeable vertical pull under the sea surface - arose in the Bali Sea about time the submarine disappeared last Wednesday morning.

How is a solitary wave under the sea?

The Lombok Strait, which connects the islands of Bali and Lombok, is notorious for producing these strong internal waves on a virtually fortnightly schedule.

Strong tidal currents, a rough ocean floor, and the exchange of water across two channels - one shallow and then one deep, "tend to combine about every 14 days to generate an exceptionally strong tidal movement," said NASA. Accomplishing the Indonesian Submarine retrieval will be dangerous in such a condition.

Read also: Vladimir Putin Launches New Sub Capable of Firing Nuclear Missiles as a Warning to Joe Biden

This natural phenomenon, remarked Indonesian navy officials, is a more likely explanation for the submarine disaster than other hypotheses proposed in recent days.

On the ocean's surface, internal waves are almost invisible. They may, nevertheless, reach incredible depths underneath the sea.

According to Rear Admiral Muhammad Ali, an internal wave, a former commander of KRI Nanggala 402, "a strong current that really can drag the sub vertically, forcing it to sink faster and crash into the sea floor."

He added that it must have been natural conditions that crushed the submarinementioning that vertical wave was forming north of Bail at that time.

According to navy officials, images from Japan's Himawari 8 satellite and Europe's Sentinel satellite showed large underwater waves from around the time the KRI Nanggala 402 sank.

"It moved up from the bottom to the north, and there's a depression between two mountains," Commander of the Indonesian Navy Command and Staff School Rear Admiral Iwan Isnurwanto added.

"The wave was about two nautical miles [in speed], and the volume of water was between two and four million cubic litres."Admiral Iwan explained an internal wave could render the crew helpless in the face of nature; he said it could be what happened.

Three Chinese vessels have entered Indonesian waters to help in the retrieval of a submarine that plummeted and split apart last month, killing 53 people on board, told by an official. One of the vessels has a manned submersible capable of sinking to 10,000 meters (32,800 feet).

Indonesian navy officials said the Indonesian Submarine retrieval would need all the help, even the Chinese, to get it from the seafloor, noted SCMP.

Related article: US Preparing Countermeasures to Kill New Chinese and Russian Submarines

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Experts warn against cliquism as G7 meeting ends

Xinhua) 15:12, May 06, 2021

LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As the first in-person meeting in two years of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers ended here on Wednesday, officials vowed to tackle economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and various regional security issues.

Experts, however, have said the club of rich countries may prove to be inadequate to address global challenges if they fail to be more inclusive and seek exclusion of certain countries for reasons like ideological or political differences.

LIKE-MINDED OR NARROW-MINDED

To forge an alliance of "like-minded" countries, the G7 has invited representatives from the European Union, Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa, and this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, for the three-day meeting.

Experts, however, have said divisions among the countries and groups might not be easy to overcome, especially those regarding China, and therefore shutting out China by an expanded alliance is not possible.

"For many, China is an indispensable trading partner," Khairy Tourk, professor of economics at Chicago-based Illinois Institute of Technology, said Wednesday on the Financial Times.

"For example, industrial associations such as the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in Germany and Keidanren in Japan, as well as the chaebol in South Korea, are all eager to participate with China in building projects in third (BRI) countries," he added. "India, the largest beneficiary of the (China-led) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank loans, is also reluctant to join an anti-China alliance."

Robin Niblett, director and chief executive of London-based think tank Chatham House, pointed out that the motive to contain China is doomed.

"This more inclusive G7 should have positive core objectives this year. ... not to seek to contain China or oppose Russia, on which there would not be agreement," he said.

Niblett called on the group to focus on such a positive agenda as strengthening the countries' economic and technological resilience as well as agreeing on common positions in the World Trade Organization on upgrading world trade rules.

Agreement in these areas could provide the platform for cooperation on sharing digital health data or building smart grids, thus tackling two of the biggest global challenges of the present day, resilience to the next pandemic and a successful energy transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, he added.

ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT UNHELPFUL

What came visible during the G7 ministers' meeting and in the flurry of bilateral meetings was that China remained high on the agenda.

In a joint communique issued after the G7 meeting, the ministers said they "look for opportunities to work with China to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity."

However, the communique did not fail to mention such issues as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong in the name of "human rights."

The anti-China sensation purportedly hyped up by certain countries is not only utterly irresponsible but unhelpful to achieve the global unity much needed amid the most grave pandemic in living history, experts have said.

"Why blame China?" tweeted Martin Jacques, a renowned British scholar and political commentator, on Tuesday. "The West is failing because of huge inequality, miserable growth and disastrous handling of COVID. While Trump was by far the biggest threat to the international order."

"Governance is not about nice-sounding words and phrases," Jacques, also senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, said in another tweet. "It is about delivery. The Western nations are failing to deliver for their people. China is delivering. That is why the West is in deep trouble."

"Treat China with respect. Regard it as your equal. Honour the achievement of 1.4 bn people," Jacques added.

In an earlier interview, Astrid Nordin, founding director of Lancaster University China Center, told Xinhua that she believes that now is not the time for confrontation.

"Frank and open discussions" are much needed from all sides to enable cooperation in various areas, she said.

IRREPLACEABLE ROLE OF CHINA

David Phinnemore, professor of European politics at Queen's University Belfast, has told Xinhua that for the G7 to stay relevant and tackle global challenges, it needs to engage with China.

"I think it (G7) has always served as a forum where you bring together some of the most powerful economists in the world," he said. "But increasingly, it's only some, it's not all of them as they used to be the case. So we're obviously missing quite significant power, economic powers there ... China most obviously."

"I think we're not in the position, we were a couple of decades back where the G7 was seen by some people as the key to how the world was going to be economically, it doesn't hold that same power and position that it did back then," he said.

"We shouldn't overstate its influence or importance," he added. "We shouldn't be over exaggerating our expectations from what's going to come out of it in the coming years."

Meanwhile, Phinnemore urged the G7 to welcome "healthy competition," including with China, while avoiding competitions where certain countries are shun out.

"While competition can be healthy, you want to have that competition managed in a way such that the detrimental impacts of it are minimized and that arguably everybody ideally can benefit from the cooperation," he said.

John Vogler, professor of international relations at Keele University, also agreed that the concept of the G7 "is beginning to look a little bit dated" in the current global context.

"If I was thinking in terms of steering the global economy after the pandemic, and indeed, of talking about climate change, you can't avoid having China in the room," he added.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Galt, CA (95632)

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Groundbreaking

6 May 2021

Managing partner Scott Lambert is pleased to announce NOUN Hotel, a premiere four-story boutique hotel, has broken ground and is expected to welcome its first guests in summer 2022. Located in downtown Norman at 542 South University Boulevard on Campus Corner next to the University of Oklahoma, NOUN Hotel will feature 92 modern guest rooms, including two luxurious 900-square-foot suites, a signature restaurant and bar, an intimate speakeasy bar, a banquet room for up to 150, boardroom, an outdoor/indoor bar, and on-site parking.

NOUN Hotel will be managed by Lambert, who will drive the hotel's development, implementation, and execution.

Designed by GH2 Architects, NOUN Hotel's exterior elements will include a classic, timeless look that reflects the architecture of Norman and the University of Oklahoma. As guests enter the hotel on the first floor, they will be drawn in by the hotel's spacious lobby with 15-foot ceilings, high-end lighting and a 3,000-square-foot upscale restaurant and bar with a plaza area offering scenic views of University Boulevard as well as a room for private dinners and meetings. Outdoor and indoor seating will be available, including a patio bar with a fire pit and water feature that will serve the restaurant and lobby area. NOUN Hotel guest rooms will emphasize comfort featuring soft neutral tones and clean, modern lines.

The second floor will include a 3,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor covered bar featuring a stylish and contemporary bar overlooking the University of Oklahoma and Campus Center where guests can take advantage of beautiful Oklahoma sunsets. The bar will offer limited food service and handcrafted cocktails. The food and beverage program will be supported by Hal Smith Restaurants. In addition to dining and guest rooms, the hotel will feature multiple meeting spaces, including a 150-person banquet room and a hotel boardroom that seats 25 people. With a flexible, connected layout, the space can accommodate intimate business meetings and a range of special events or private parties.

NOUN Hotel will be located at 542 South University Boulevard. For more information and updates on NOUN Hotel, please follow @nounhotel on Facebook and Instagram.
The rise in raw materials has exceeded 20%

"Since the beginning of this year, the increase in raw materials has exceeded 20%. Our company is exporting wheels. The increase in cost has a great impact on product sales." Li Xia, manager of an auto parts export company in Ningbo, told a reporter from China Economic Times : "Our countermeasures are only We can increase prices to customers because there is no other way out for small and medium-sized enterprises, but the rate of increase can only be adjusted appropriately, and it is impossible to pass on all of them. After all, we also need to consider the actual sales situation of customers, so our profit will definitely be much lower than in the past. If the prices of raw materials continue to rise, many small and medium-sized enterprises will struggle."

Not only the small and medium-sized enterprises in our country, even the international industry giants have not been able to withstand this round of price increases and chose to increase prices. On April 20th, Procter & Gamble announced that it would start to increase the prices of daily necessities such as diapers in September this year. Prior to this, Coca-Cola Company also stated that due to rising raw material prices, the company intends to increase product prices.

During the 2021 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia, some experts said that I am afraid that this year, we must be ideologically prepared for the continued increase in commodity prices, and domestic prices will also increase accordingly. So , what exactly caused this round of price hikes? How long will the price increase last? Will prices rise in the next step?

Affected by the The rise in raw materials has exceeded 20% the Nano BN powder market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market growth.This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next November 2020-2026 will show an oval but steady growth.If you are looking for Nano BN powder or buy Nano BN powder in bulk,please send an email to:sales@ozbo.com

The price of Nano BN powder continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum,various opportunities and challenges.However,during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026,the global Nano BN powder sales market is expected to continue to be above average.The growth rate will continue to increase.It is expected that from today to next week,the price of Nano BN powder will increase to a certain extent.

Due to changes in consumer demand,import and export conditions,and various investigations on the development of Nano BN powder,the cost of Nano BN powder is constantly changing.Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis,channel partners,demand and supply,the cost of Nano BN powder will also be affected to a certain extent.It is estimated that the cost of Nano BN powder will increase slightly from today to next week.

However,Ozbo.com provides high purity Nano Nano BN powder with steady price.In order to feedback to old customers,the company is still in full operations to provide Nano BN powder with competitive price.said Olina,sales manager of Ozbo.com.

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Ozbo.com (aka.Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials.As a leading nanotechnology development and Nano BN powder manufacturer,Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd dominates the market.Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries,create value,and easily cope with various challenges.If you are looking for Nano BN powder, please send an email to:sales@ozbo.com
Renovation

6 May 2021

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong announces the completion of the first phase of its exciting transformation, with a set of completely redesigned guest rooms and suites now ready to welcome guests. The announcement heralds a new era of luxury hospitality for the Hotel, which is undergoing a complete enhancement of 399 guest rooms and suites, the lobby area, as well as the introduction of a highly anticipated bar ARGO, and lobby cafe Gallery to follow in June 2021, joining the Hotel's acclaimed Michelin-starred dining collection.

The redesign of each guest room embodies a sense of unique modernism and tradition, reflective of Hong Kong as a city, whose interwoven cultures and tastes have been layered through time by its history and inhabitants. Guided by design principles connecting the old with the new and under the sophisticated direction of acclaimed design firm Remedios Studio, modern furnishings are crafted with classic detailing, resulting in a harmonious blend of contemporary elegance.

Featuring traditional Chinese landscape paintings and patterns inspired by Chinese artists, the spacious guest rooms are a complete reimagination of their previous incarnation, offering an urban oasis amid the bustling city below, with a sense of calm and tranquillity embedded in the design foundations. Traditional details are offset by the latest technology, such as state-of-the-art lighting controls, all of which underline the Hotel's vision to celebrate timeless heritage, while defining the future of bespoke experiences.

While the new guest rooms and suites infuse Chinese architectural elements that capture the rich culture and heritage of Hong Kong. With modern furnishings and technology, the design of the rooms is also reflective of the evolving desire for a space that captures the comfort of home, ensuring that every need of the modern guest is catered to. As such, details such as etageres in the living room and a versatile work-dining table are incorporated to enhance the experience.

Enhancing the transformation, the Hotel's holistic wellness programs help guests achieve a balanced and present state of mind. The Sleep Well program features a selection of services and amenities from the in-house certified team of wellness practitioners at the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, designed to help every guest achieve quality rest and the deepest of sleep, essential factors to everyday wellness.

Underlining its position as a global dining and imbibing mecca within the city, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong will be introducing an innovative new bar ARGO, and a lobby cafe Gallery into its collection of Michelin-starred dining destinations in June 2021. A vessel for innovation, the neo-classically designed ARGO is poised to be a Hong Kong staple among spirit aficionados, breaking new ground with pioneering programming, collaborations and cocktails inspired from exciting new sources and spirits. Gallery meanwhile is a cosy nook with a casual meeting area that boasts a chic dining venue by day and an easy drinks destination by evening. Designed by AB Concept, the new restaurant and bar are key additions to the lobby transformation that provide guests with a new arrival experience.
Supplier News

6 May 2021

Hotel Tech Report released the 2021 HotelTechIndex: Hotel Software Market Leaders Report, the most comprehensive view of technology solutions aiding hotel businesses in the industry recovery. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic during the 3-month data collection period, 318,466 hoteliers across 127 countries visited Hotel Tech Report and spent more than 3,000 hours contributing 10,227 verified hotel software product reviews about the technology solutions they're leveraging to achieve profitability and thrive in the post-pandemic rebound.

"Coming out of the pandemic, winners in every industry have been firms with the strongest technological competencies. This report is designed to educate hoteliers, prepare them for rapidly changing market conditions, and give them tools to succeed in the digital age. The 2021 HotelTechIndex Market Leaders Report is a critical asset for hoteliers looking to grow their businesses and innovate for the future which distills insights from thousands of hoteliers into an accessible primer on the state of tech in the industry that any hotelier can pick up and act on immediately," says Hotel Tech Report CEO Jordan Hollander.

The HotelTechIndex Report also features an executive letter from the report's sponsor and distribution partner Tripadvisor. It's available in English and will soon be available in German, Spanish, and French to help make technology education and tools more accessible to hoteliers across the globe.

"Given this ever-changing technology landscape, Hotel Tech Report offers excellent ways to discover the right technology for your [hotel] business. Tripadvisor is proud to partner with HTR to showcase the technologies that best prepare [hoteliers] for the new environment as the travel industry recovers," writes distribution partner Tripadvisor's VP & GM of Hospitality Solutions Martin Verdon-Roe.

He continues, "One of the most meaningful changes we have recently observed in the hospitality industry is the rate at which hoteliers have adopted new technologies to better operate their businesses. With the proliferation of cloud computing and software-as-a-service (SaaS), hoteliers can now find, test and purchase new software solutions quickly and simply. Today's unpredictable economic environment has only accelerated this trend towards high-impact, cost-effective software solutions. Travel is an innate human desire, and the world is eager for it to bounce back quickly. But there's no doubt that the travel industry will be different. That's why now is the time to ensure that the technology solutions you invest in today will make the most of the changes that lie ahead."

The report is packed with top-rated products based on thousands of verified hotelier reviews, in-depth customer support capabilities research, integrations data, and industry expert product analysis. It offers tech recommendations across every facet of the hotel tech stack in addition to free software buying guides, and other educational resources to help hoteliers fast track their understanding of technology solutions and digital transformation strategies.

The 2021 HotelTechIndex report is the hotel industry's definitive guide to technology solutions influencing more than $72 million of buying decisions each year. The report leverages authentic product insights from thousands of verified hotel industry professionals to identify the top software solutions across the hotel tech stack.
Press Release

6 May 2021

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, and faculty and scientists of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, today release two vital case studies on Sustainability Leadership by The Travel Corporation (TTC) and Intrepid Travel.

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WTTC and Harvard researchers aim to support and highlight Travel & Tourism companies leading the way, as they work to build the business case for sustainability in the sector.

This collaboration has encouraged the sharing of best practices and has supported sustainability as a core strategic priority to ensure the viability of the sector and the co-creation of thriving sustainable societies.

WTTC and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have a long history of collaboration, working towards a more sustainable future for Travel & Tourism. Together, their work can help raise awareness, shift mindsets, and enact systemic change.

Similarly, The Travel Corporation and Intrepid Travel have a mutual understanding that sustainability is a shared challenge and have championed sustainability for many years. The two believe it is best addressed through cooperation and support of one another's efforts to address the topic.

The Travel Corporation's (TTC) case study focusses on the group's efforts to 'make travel matter' and explores the way in which TTC has linked their sustainability strategy, as well as travel experiences directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

It champions sustainable travel through the setting of measurable goals, and ensures they are achieved through an integrated business function approach.

The strategy aims to close any potential gaps in the expression of sustainability across the group, ensuring the efforts to achieve its goals are fully engrained in the way TTC brands operate and how the group supports this through its non-profit foundation, TreadRight, which the group funds entirely from its own profits.

Intrepid Travel's case study showcases its status as the world's largest certified travel B Corporation (B Corp).

Intrepid's certified B Corp status entailed external, independent assessment of its interactions with its workers, customers, community and the environment. The B Corp status is not specific for the travel sector, rather it brings Intrepid alongside global organisations across all sectors, including leading brands such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's, and is an example in the sector.

These case studies are designed to help other Travel & Tourism businesses further develop their own sustainability endeavors drawing on these best practices.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: "We are delighted to be working with the Harvard Chan School  one of the most important academic institutions in the world.

"We are thrilled to be involved in one of the few case studies on sustainability undertaken in the Travel & Tourism sector. We hope this work will help usher in a new era within the sector  one in which both the public and private sector work together to ensure social and environmental responsibility.

"The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted that companies that integrated sustainability and transparency into their business operations prior to COVID-19 have put an even stronger focus on it during the pandemic. It has become clear that there is a direct link between sustainability and resiliency.

"Sustainability is now a growing business priority, with businesses expected to decarbonise and adapt for the future. The COVID-19 crisis has elevated the need for action on sustainability issues. The climate crisis is a risk that no business can afford to disregard, so we must continue to drive this message forward in our sector."

Dr. Wendy Purcell, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and lead researcher for the cases said: "This is an important collaboration where sustainability, public health and business come together to advance research-led practice in the Travel & Tourism sector. Given the importance of the Travel & Tourism sector for people, planet and shared prosperity academic inquiry in the field is central to inclusive and sustainable growth."

Professor Jack Spengler, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said: "We value our long-term collaboration with WTTC. These important case studies draw attention to mature sustainability leadership in Travel & Tourism and share lessons to help accelerate change in the sector."

Brett Tollman, TTC Chief Executive said: "I have a deep respect for Intrepid' s long -standing efforts to integrate sustainability into their business and believe that our collaboration with one another on the matter is indicative of the fact that we will achieve much more as a sector, than as potential competitors, when it comes to truly addressing our industry's footprint."

James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel said: "Sustainability is not a competitive advantage. It is a collective challenge that requires a collaborative approach. Simply put, our industry does not exist without thriving communities and a healthy planet, and we all have role to play in influencing a more equitable future. We are proud to stand alongside TTC to help advance the sustainability agenda and create positive change within the travel industry."

To see the case studies in full, please click here.
Press Release

6 May 2021

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on everyone and almost everything across the world, including tourism. This has been particularly hard felt in Europe which accounted for more than half of international tourist arrivals  or over 745 million visitors  in 2019.

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Vaccinations offer light at the end of the tunnel. Earlier this month, the President of the European Commission told The New York Times that vaccinated American tourists may be able to visit Europe this summer, and the EU Commission is investing in efforts to support cross-border travel within the EU.

Before tourism returns in full to Europe, we want to seize this unique opportunity to work with communities across the region to rebalance tourism and ensure that the return of travel is safe, sustainable and benefits everyone  spreading economic benefits to more people and preventing the return of the overtourism phenomenon, where too much tourism is concentrated in too few places.

Building a new, better kind of European travel sector will take the determined action of all stakeholders, including Airbnb. Today, we are unveiling five ways in which our platform and our community will be playing our part to support The Great Rebalance of European Travel.

Redistributing tourism

Travel fundamentally changed as a result of the pandemic. Last summer for example, three times more people stayed in Airbnbs in Brittany than in Paris, and in the last quarter of 2020 more guests stayed in Sicily than Florence and Venice combined. With 5.6 million listings spread across more than 220 countries, Airbnb is helping disperse tourism and is especially creating new economic opportunities for Hosts in rural areas. Already welcomed over 75,000 new rural Hosts who have earned over $250 million since the pandemic started and we know from guest feedback that many travelers have enjoyed the opportunity to rediscover places closer to home.

As part of our commitment to help redistribute where people are traveling to  seeking to avoid guests concentrating in the same handful of cities as before  we will pursue partnerships with destination marketing organizations across Europe to promote and disperse tourism to the places that most want it, spreading benefits across the region.

Already we have signed more than 100 partnerships and collaborations with destination marketing organizations, governments and nonprofits to support local economic recovery  from Scotland to Seville  as part of an initiative launched in June 2020, and we will continue to do more, such as investing in initiatives like our recent Rural Bootcamps to help more people host in these areas.

Supporting regulation of short term rentals

We have long said that we support regulation and have signed more than 1,000 regulatory and tax agreements globally, many of which are built around smart and simple Host registration as an effective way to regulate short term rentals.

A growing number of agreements are underpinned by the City Portal, which we launched last year as a first of its kind solution  built exclusively for governments and tourism organizations  with tools including Host registration and data sharing for authorities. Our goal is to have 50 European governments and authorities online with the tool by the end of 2021.

At the EU level, we have also signed a data sharing partnership with the EU Commission to help governments access the information they need, and we are working with policymakers at all levels to bring to life proposals in the EU's Digital Services Act on how Europe-wide regulations could provide a simpler, less fragmented approach. Already this year we have signed progressive agreements with the governments of France, Greece and the Netherlands, which are great examples of how we will move forward on smart regulations in collaboration with governments across Europe.

Combating noise and nuisance

We are committed to the tools and policies necessary to help ensure the safety of guests and protect communities from negative impacts of tourism on their quality of life. Our Neighbor Support Line is now available in the UK, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Czech Republic and Hungary, providing a direct line of communication to Airbnb to report concerns about listings or guest behavior. We will be making this available shortly in Spain, Germany and Austria and more in the months to come.

We have also undertaken a series of efforts to help block parties in Airbnb listings, including removing so-called 'party houses', banning large gatherings and reviewing potentially high risk reservations. So far, we have suspended or removed over 2,700 listings in the UK, Spain, France and Netherlands and over 400,000 reservation attempts have been blocked in the UK, France and Spain.

Spreading the economic benefits of tourism

Everyone in Europe should have the opportunity to financially benefit from tourism and we commit that our platform will continue to enable that. The vast majority of the economics on Airbnb goes directly into the pockets of ordinary people and 55 percent of Hosts in Europe are women. What's more, guests staying in Airbnbs spend in the local neighborhoods benefiting local businesses. In Lisbon for example, every 100 listings have been estimated to support 52 jobs and contribute over 2 million euros to the local economy.

We also want to make sure that authorities hit hard financially by the pandemic can properly tax tourist revenue and we will continue to support the collection and remittance of tourist taxes. In France alone we have remitted approximately 120 million in tourist taxes over five years (2015-2019). We have also welcomed European and global agreements to simplify reporting of Host income to national tax authorities.

Tourism innovation

New trends have emerged from the pandemic that we believe will continue well beyond it and we commit to helping destinations take advantage of them.

Take remote working for example. If you can work from anywhere then why not stay longer in a destination? We have seen a significant rise in long term stays as people embrace the flexibility offered by remote working. Longer term visitors immerse themselves and spend more in communities which is why a number of European cities and countries are seeking to attract this kind of longer term tourism. We can help destinations leverage this opportunity, such as our recent smart working collaboration with Visit Trentino.

While the pandemic has been  and continues to be  a terrible experience for humanity, it has reminded all of us what is most important  family, friends, and loved ones. The desire to travel and connect with each other is innate but, as we have seen through the pandemic, can change. It is not inevitable that the old days of over tourism in Europe will return. We can seize the opportunity now to preserve the positive changes in travel that have emerged over the last year and restore tourism in a way that works for communities and visitors alike.
Press Release

6 May 2021

Porto's newest cultural destination, World of Wine (WOW), is delighted to announce the opening of The Wine School.



Housed in the old Croft Port building and offering a combination of workshops and wine tastings, The Wine School is another great experience to open at WOW, designed to cater to the curious, the connoisseur and the professional. Attendees will not only learn all about Portuguese wine, but also about wine in general, in an international context. The Wine School is the ideal place to get up close and personal with wine through a series of intimate courses that cater to all levels of expertise. Its offering perfectly complements the existing Wine Experience, which enhances the enjoyment of wine by demystifying its journey from grape to glass through a series of interactive displays and exhibitions.



The first workshop to launch is Demystifying Wine. Designed for those with little to no knowledge of wine, but with a curiosity and willingness to learn, the workshop teaches individuals the basics of wine across the globe. Oenophiles learn how it's made, basic terminology to distinguish and describe wines and tools that help in tasting and analysis, offering a new level of comfort when purchasing or ordering wine. After a dedicated two hours and five wines, participants will receive a certificate of participation, as well as a branded notebook and pencil.



A variety of wine-focused workshops will launch throughout the summer months, including the Wine and Chocolate Workshop, in August. In partnership with WOW's The Chocolate Story experience, the workshop will reveal how to perfectly pair these two flavour palettes. Additional courses and workshops will be launching throughout the year, including the possibility of completing an internationally certified wine course at the school. WOW will also be working with guest producers, speakers and connoisseurs in the wine industry to offer a series of guest events.



"We have been looking forward to the opening of The Wine School since WOW's inauguration in the summer of 2020. Wine is at WOW's core, and we are proud to be expanding our wine experiences, offering classes and courses to anyone of any level of capability", comments Adrian Bridge, CEO of WOW.



The Wine School is the latest addition to the district's ever-expanding offering, home to The Wine Experience, The Chocolate Story, Porto Region Across The Ages, Planet Cork, and The Bridge Collection, as well as five shops, four restaurants, two cafes and a wine bar. WOW's next experience to launch will be The Fashion and Fabric Museum, taking a leading role as a creative fashion hub, whilst paying homage to one of Portugal's largest industries. Alongside it, Mira Mira restaurant concept will open, serving dishes with a healthy and nutritional focus.



For more information on The Wine School please click here.
Ahmad Atwan is used to the looks of shock when he tells people his venture capital fund, VC Fuel, is both based in Houston and focused on lower-carbon energy.

Since launching his fund here in 2020, it has dispersed about $20 million of capital into four companies, and it has plans to bring on two more budding businesses in the coming months. However, few of those companies, and the companies he has explored investing in, have launched along Texas Gulf Coast.

It makes absolutely no sense because Houston is the world capital of energy, Atwan said. Youd think we would be able to build more.

Despite the recent growth of Houstons innovation district and the hope of local leaders that the city will keep and attract new energy technology companies, funding for new low-carbon technologies remains on the East and West coasts. More money has flowed to Houston to help bring some of these projects to scale in recent months, but the difficulty of raising capital for new renewable energy companies remains a hurdle to creating those businesses here.

Houston ranked fifth in venture capital investments for clean energy technologies from 2011 to 2016, according to the Brookings Institute, but the amount of money invested here was dwarfed by the amounts amassed in California and the Boston area. In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, for example, VCs spent more than $13 billion on clean energy startups, while Houston-based companies received about $1.9 billion. Austin-based clean energy companies raised a little more than $1 billion in that time.

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Thats been changing recently as the energy transition picks up steam in Houston, but financing groups here are more risk averse than those in the San Francisco Bay area, said Ed Hirs, a University of Houston energy fellow. Most of the groups here, he said, are more willing to bet on a proven technology than an unproven one with promise.

The uncertainty is just big, and for the traditional energy financing groups  the oil and gas and electric financing groups  if they cant wrap their arms around a project, they wont finance it, Hirs said.

Instead, Hirs said, most are more willing to bet on already established technology such as wind, solar and battery power. Others with untested or unproven technologies typically have a harder time raising the capital they need to get off the ground.

Take Cemvita Factory, which was started in Houston in 2017. Brother and sister founders Tara and Moji Karimi, along with some scientists from the Texas Medical Center and the oil and gas sector, found a way to genetically engineer microbes to use carbon dioxide as a feedstock to create chemicals used in heavy industry, such as ethylene and methanol. They knew they had a great product, but it was initially difficult to get the investments they needed from Houston VCs, Moji Karimi said.

In terms of fundraising, we were kind of boot-strapped for a year, year and a half, he said. The Houston VC ecosystem has evolved since then, which is great. But its still a few steps behind where the startups are.

Ultimately, Cemvita Factory secured seed funding from Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, and BHP. And in April, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures announced that it would build a pilot plant using Cemvita Factorys technology to produce bioethylene.

STARTING UP: Greentown Labs CEO Emily Reichert sees a clean tech future in Houston

While most of the oil and gas majors have launched funds to invest in newer, low-carbon technologies, those funding subsidiaries dont always offer what venture capital firms do, said Neal Dikeman, a partner with Houston-based Energy Transition Ventures.

Corporate venture is not really VC. Thats one of the challenges, Dikeman said. It provides the basic capital, but it doesnt really build companies.

VCs, he said, are able to offer more expertise to help guide new companies through growth, later rounds of fundraising, recruitment and connecting with customers. The oil and gas ventures do come with built-in customers, but Dikeman said theyre more likely to absorb new energy tech companies rather than help them expand.

Dikemans family has been in Texas since the 1830s and in Houston for three generations. He and his founding partner, Craig Lawrence, spent time in Silicon Valley but decided to launch Energy Transition Ventures here last year. Locating here was more a factor of chance than strategy, but having VCs and startups based in Houston makes sense, he said. Its easier for new companies to scale here, in the energy capital of the world. But starting them up here is more difficult, and even starting renewable energy venture companies here is more difficult because so few exist.

Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox

If you dont have this herd of other VCs, it can get painful, Dikeman said. We have to shop nationwide for startups. If we have one great startup from Houston, Ill be ecstatic. If we have one move to Houston, Ill be ecstatic.

Atwan, with VC Fuel, has already accomplished that. One of his first startups, a hydrogen company founded in Toronto, is moving its headquarters to Houston, and another startup he hopes to fund in the coming weeks got its start here. However, he said, hes also had to shop nationwide for startups because the startup environment here is just now growing. His hope is that more will come out of incubators like the new Greentown Labs climate tech incubator, which opened in April, and that it will be able to attract more VCs to the area.

Still, he and Dikeman say Houston is behind. Dikeman said the region should have been launching startup incubators and starting venture firms a decade ago and that more money should have been flowing into renewables from the start.

We have more cash than God  we have enough to fund the entire energy transition, Dikeman said. But its flowed heavily into other asset classes.

shelby.webb@chron.com
The YMCA of Greater Houston is selling its facilities in Webster and Conroe and repositioning several others as part of an assessment of its operations following disruptions due to COVID-19.

The Y closed all 25 of its facilities and more than 200 after school locations last year amid the pandemic, leading to a loss of $50 million in operating revenue. The nonprofit has reopened 19 of those facilities across the Houston area for membership and programs, including locations in Alief, Greater Third Ward and Near North Side.

We recognized early last year that our reopening would need to include fewer facilities in order to ensure viability and sustainable impact in a post COVID world," said Stephen Ives, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. "Our Board of Directors has been thoughtful and strategic in making these decisions and I am confident that this real estate repositioning will set the stage for future growth and greater impact.

The E.A. Smith YMCA, at 14650 Texas 3 in Webster in the Clear Lake area, has been put up for sale. The Perry YMCA is being positioned as a regional programming and service delivery hub for the area, according to the YMCA.

JLL has been hired to market the E.A. Smith YMCA, a 27,000-square-foot facility which is appraised at $5 million, Ives said.

RELATED: Stephen Ives seeks to build YMCA of Greater Houston's more equitable future

The city of Conroe has agreed to purchase the Conroe YMCA, which is close to its municipal facilities. The YMCA is researching locations for a replacement location and is considering both existing or new build options, Ives said. The YMCA is providing programming through the schools and in the community.

The YMCA will not renew leases at a location in East Montgomery County and its previous administrative offices at 2600 N. Loop West. The staff has been working remotely and out of various YMCA locations.

Three facilities have not yet reopened, but will be repositioned. Programming at these facilities is being delivered through schools, online and in the surrounding community. They include: the T.W. Davis Family YMCA, which is slated for remodeling once funding is secured, the Thelma Ley Anderson YMCA and the West Orem Family YMCA.

"We're working on some collaborative ventures to be able to open them some time in the future," Ives said.

As part of the YMCA's focus on accessibility and impact in the community, the organization has opened outreach locations in apartment complexes and other community hubs across the city.
It's like New York's famed Met Gala for students.

Houston Community College fashion students will show off their talent in the Fashion Fusion VI: Antiquities to Modern Art live Thursday, May 6, at 7 p.m. on Facebook.

Fashion Fusion VI is inspired by works of art from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston art collections. The virtual fashion show will feature 19 designers and 20 garments in four categories. Winners from each category were selected by Project Runway winner Chloe Dao, MFAH's James Anno and me.

First-place winners will receive free courses at The Glassell School of Art and runners-up will receive gift cards to High Fashion Fabrics. Viewers also will get a chance to vote online for the "Audience Choice" winner.

To watch the show, click here.
The much-written-about home of John S. Chase went on the market this month and quickly was marked as under contract.

Built in 1953, the modernist home was listed for $875,000 despite having a market value of $455,680 in Harris County Appraisal District listings.

The home comes with the cachet of having been designed and lived in by Chase, Texas first Black licensed architect and the first Black student to enroll at the University of Texas in 1950 to attend its architecture school. After graduating, the World War II veteran saw great potential in Houston and moved here with his wife, Drucie, who was a school teacher.

He designed this home for himself and his family, starting as a one-story home with an internal atrium and later adding a second story to reach 5,099 square feet on a more than 16,000-square-foot lot in Riverside Terrace in Houstons Third Ward.

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Riverside Terrace was founded in the 1920s and for many years was known as the Jewish River Oaks. In the 1950s and 60s, affluent Black families began moving to the neighborhood, and it remains a diverse neighborhood with more affluent and middle-class residents.

When Chase died in 2012, he and and his wife, Drucie, had been married 62 years. She died earlier this year in January.

The home has been in the Chase family since it was built, and during the years they lived there it was a center of culture in the city.

Chase built his practice through aggressive networking, attending Black churches all over the city and state, letting residents know there was a licensed Black architect in the state ready to design buildings for them.

(My dad) was a brilliant marketer. He really was, said his son, Tony Chase, a tenured law professor at the University of Houston. For the first 15 years of my life I went to a different church every Sunday. Wed go to Tyler and Wichita Falls and all over Texas. They would introduce him and talk about their building fund and pass the plate. He was kind of a celebrity everywhere he went.

The home was written about in a monograph by David Heymann, a University of Texas architecture school professor who wrote John S. Chase - the Chase Residence last year.

John Chase was the seed for a whole generation of Black architects in Texas. For a while, there were no Black architects who didnt work for John Chase. Everyone came through that office in Houston, Heymann said in an interview last year about the book.

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Modern design in residential architecture was just taking off in the city when Chase arrived on the scene and Heymann described the Chase house as Houstons first modernist house with a centralized interior courtyard, enclosed on all four sides almost as its own room.

That courtyard had a small pond with fish in it, and Tony Chase remembered that his friends often commented that they had a lake in their home.

From this house, John and Drucie Chase and their friends held court. If you were running for a local or state office, you stopped by the Chase home and met with him and his friends, who often donated to candidates campaigns as a group.

The Chases daughter, Saundria Chase Gray, remembers a fund raiser for Jimmy Carters 1976 presidential campaign with actor Gregory Peck as a special guest. U.S. Reps. Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland were regular guests, as were U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen. Athletes came around, too, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Jimmy Wynn.

diane.cowen@chron.com
Cape Bell had what he thought was a pretty well thought out bachelor pad, complete with an indoor shuffleboard game, hunting trophies and a bearskin rug hanging on one wall of the home he bought in late 2017.

The next year he met Allison Squire, who in the course of a year and a half became his girlfriend, fiancee and now his wife.

All of that guy stuff  gone. Even his dogs, German short hair pointers Buddy Love and Blue Belle, have been kicked off of the furniture, allowed up on a blanket only when theyre invited.

A commercial and industrial real estate broker at CBRE, Cape was plugged into the real estate scene and understood that not everyone decorated the way he did.

So when Allison agreed to move in  they eloped last August, getting married on the top of Vail Mountain  Cape agreed that they would hire an interior designer and do some remodeling to turn his home into their home.

They started with the living room and then moved on to the dining room and kitchen. When Allison learned she was pregnant, they created a nursery, too. (Their daughter, Brooklyn Bell, was recently born.)

The thought of moving in was a bit terrifying. I dont have a creative bone in my body, but I knew the house had to be fixed up, said Allison, who is 34 and works on the healthcare not-for-profit banking team at JP Morgan Chase.

Cape and interior designer Lacey Michalek of Lacey Michalek Interiors are longtime friends, and the two of them talked about his furniture a little before Allison came into the picture. So when Allison was assessing who to hire, Cape urged her to look at Michaleks portfolio online.

The Bells Oak Forest home was built in 1955 as a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home with 1,500 square feet.

he Houston natives added on a new primary bedroom and closet, using the space that had been a bedroom for a new primary bathroom. So now the home  at 1,900-square feet  still has three bedrooms but one is much larger, and they have a second bathroom.

It was exactly what I envisioned when I first bought the house, but I knew that at some point it would transformed, said Cape, 36, who also is an investor in the Memorial Trail Ice House. I knew it wouldnt be a bachelor pad forever. It needed Allisons and Laceys touch to make it what it is now.

Plenty of homes in their neighborhood are being torn down and replaced by new construction, but the Bells opted to grow theirs and remodel.

Long but narrow, the living room has a main seating area on one end with a light taupe sofa, pair of cream/brown club chairs and a taupe tete-a-tete at the end, making it possible to sit and talk with others at either end. Cape already owned the sofa, sisal rug and a wood console that sits under the TV, so Michalek simply helped find the chairs, tete-a-tete, new pillows and emerald draperies in a paisley block print.

The smaller seating area has two chairs and a tufted leather ottoman, sitting on a light neutral cowhide and decorated with a starburst-style mirror updated with brown wood instead of a gilded frame. This is where the shuffleboard game used to beand where either of them get out a laptop to do work or take a Zoom call..

Their space was about playing with texture and adding natural elements like the green (draperies and pillows) since they wanted to stay rustic, Michalek said. They had a set budget of what they wanted to spend. It was about what can we keep and what makes the most impact.

The living room, open to the dining room and the kitchen, is the heart of the house.

The whole house is this room, to be honest. This is our gathering place, Allison said. It was important that when you walk in the front door, that it was what we wanted in terms of coziness and comfort.

They were aiming for a unisex feel, something organic and rustic enough for Cape but still feel like a place that Allison helped create.

I call it rustic chic, Allison said. Its not anything girly that Cape would balk at. He found it comforting and something we could grow our family in.

In the dining area, they decided to keep the table Cape found at High Fashion Home, but added woven leather chairs that Michalek recommended, as well as abstract art and more draperies in the same emerald green print thats in the living room.

COVID-19 slowed down their entertaining schedule, but the Bells know the space will come in handy again when theyre able to have friends over more often.

Decorating the main living area finished in early 2020. The 400-square-foot primary bedroom addition started in February of that year and wrapped up in May, with Cape acting as his own general contractor, with Michaleks help on the front end.

When it came time to decorate the bedroom, Allison ordered a rug and then handed over the rest to Michalek.

Cape wanted the bed. Hes one of the more opinionated husbands that I deal with. Several times I would think Cape is going to wants this, so we need to get it, Michalek said. It has the rustic style that he likes, but modern enough for Allison.

Michalek placed abstract art and geometric-shaped lamps at each shagreen-covered nightstand, balancing the big wood bed with more contemporary decor. A trio of custom pillows and a wide bolster pillow decorate the bed.

By this point I pretty much had gained their trust after doing the living room and dining room. I brought pillow fabric and art, and it was like yes, you know us, do it, Michalek said. We used a rustic bed and modern elements just like we did in the living room. It didnt take much convincing.

diane.cowen@chron.com
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A year has passed since Houstons faith leaders first convened to do their part to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus.

The rodeo had just been canceled  and Greater Houston Partnership president and CEO Bob Harvey was looking for effective ways to keep Houstonians safe. His thoughts turned to the upcoming weekend  and how many could avoid contact with the virus if they stayed home instead of going to their houses of worship.

On a conference call, he gathered health experts and religious leaders to discuss concerns. He asked the 120 faith leaders present whether they would consider canceling services on the weekend.

We put a hard ask right on the table, Harvey said.

Ever since then, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership have continued gathering the faith leaders on Zoom. They meet weekly with experts from the Texas Medical Center and government officials including Mayor Sylvester Turner and Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Instead of having separate calls with all of our leaders, we were able to be unified in a weekly call, Interfaiths president and CEO Martin B. Cominsky said.

The faith leaders have offered support, best practices and helped each other navigate the pandemic.

Now, more than a year later, they have new marching orders  to help with vaccination efforts.

A race to vaccinate

On the 50th call with Interfaith Ministries, Dr. Eric Boerwinkle, dean of UTHealth School of Public Health, asked faith leaders to share the message that vaccines are both safe and effective.

People tend to look up, whatever their denomination, to their faith leaders, he said.

And time is of the essence. We are absolutely in a race, said Boerwinkle, who analyzes public health data for the county, city and state.

Boerwinkle said that to reach herd immunity, children need to be vaccinated, as well as harder-to-reach populations, such as incarcerated and homeless individuals.

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The faith community has been so critically important in getting the word out, said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Methodist Hospital, who also joined the call.

Boom believes that Houston can reach herd immunity by early summer  if we can convince people to get vaccinated.

Im pretty optimistic about where we can go, he said. I wholeheartedly agree that we are in a race, and I think we can win this race.

To Boom, winning doesnt necessitate the eradication of COVID-19; it relies on reducing the risk of infection. Vaccinating more people as quickly as possible is key, Boom explained. And that means addressing vaccine hesitancy head-on.

With a large part of the population still uncertain, Boom told faith leaders on the call that their encouragement can go a long way.

A leader can endorse the vaccine, he said. Its really in our hands.

Houses of worship become clinics

Already, Houstons faith leaders have jumped into action, transforming houses of worship into vaccination clinics. Spring Woods Baptist Church and St. Luke the Evangelist joined mosques such as Nasfat Houston and Buddhist temple Wat Buddhavas in the effort and partnered with Harris County Public Health.

Fellowship of Purpose, in northeast Houston, also hosted a clinic with Harris County Public Health on April 30.

Outside the building, Fellowship of Purpose provided food drives, water distribution and regular COVID-testing events. Now, it is able to offer vaccines as well.

We didnt know how we would be used to serve, said senior pastor Byron Murray. Theres no way we could have foreseen this.

St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Humble also hosted a vaccine clinic on April 22.

Chris Rubio, director of the congregations office of family life and social concerns, said 105 people showed up for their first round of shots.

The church has hosted weekly food distributions since the pandemic began, serving 88,945 individuals since last March. Then, it added COVID testing to its services. Providing vaccines was a logical next step, Rubio explained.

I saw a need in the northeast part of the county, he said. Were not even close to herd community. We really need to find a way to go forward.

Rubio invited the school district and Northeast Houston Interfaith Council to get involved  and is looking for ways to do more.

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Weve just scratched the surface, he said. We definitely are going to help, especially with getting the word out. Its so important right now.

Faith-based nonprofits partner in effort

Faith-based nonprofits have also stepped up to help vaccinate.

Houstons chapter of the Hindu nonprofit Sewa International took advantage of existing relationships to combat disinformation.

An AmeriCorps disaster-relief grant helped make it possible to provide masks, food and other assistance to struggling families, increasing its reach during the pandemic.

Carole Juarez, AmeriCorps program manager with Sewa, said AmeriCorps members were already in place, serving apartment complexes in southwest Houston with translators in Swahili and Spanish. Now, they are trained to address vaccine hesitancy. Recently, Sewa partnered with Interfaith to help a group of 20 refugee women gain accurate information about the vaccine, Juarez said.

Members also helped apartment-complex residents register for vaccination clinics with Memorial Hermann Southwest.

In one day, we registered 200 people, Juarez said.

Language barriers, trust, access to transportation and technology often prevent people from getting the vaccine, said Sewas executive director, Kavita Tewary.

You cannot be a stranger who shows up at the door, she said. Theyre not going to open the door. You have to build that trust. You have to have that presence. Just going in one day and saying, Why dont you take a vaccine? Thats not going to work.

Thats where Sewa comes in. All of this is hands-on work, which you cannot do without grassroots organization, said Tewary, who is drafting proposals to help serve more.

If you dont vaccinate, the virus could be around a long time, she said.

Carol Paret, senior vice president and chief community health officer with Memorial Hermann Health System, said that partnerships among medical professionals, nonprofits and the faith community can help reach vulnerable populations. Memorial Hermann partnered with Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services to host a two-day vaccination clinic on March 31 and April 1, immunizing 1,600 people.

Everybody came back for their second dose, Paret said. We had a great return rate.

Memorial Hermann will partner with St. Jerome Catholic Church in Spring Branch for another clinic on May 12 and 13; on May 21 and 22, the health system will run a similar program with Unity of Houston.

Houses of worship are ideal partners, Paret said. Churches have big spaces, she said. Theyre in neighborhoods. People are used to going there and are comfortable with that space.

They also have relationships with neighbors  and volunteers.

They can get the message out to lots and lots of people quickly, Paret said.

More to do

Hardeep Singh, a resident of Spring, has registered individuals in her community for the vaccine and taken them to the clinic for their shots  and is looking for more ways to help.

This is the basis of our religion, said Singh, who is president of the Sikh Center of the Gulf Coast Area. So theres no questions asked.

On HoustonChronicle.com: God is always with you. Local Sikhs celebrate two holidays this month, in muted pandemic fashion

This aligns with the three core tenets of the Sikh religion: truthful living, devotion to the creator and service to humanity. This is one of those things, helping people who arent as fortunate, she said. This is my goal, to give back to the community.

Jessica Somerville serves as wellness director for the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has hosted seven vaccine clinics, partnering with Houston congregations as part of the denominations Church and Community Health Initiative. Somerville leads a team of community health coordinators, who helped her plan for each event at Ebenezer, Bear Creek, Crossroads and Riverside United Methodist Churches.

In addition, she collaborated with pharmacists, doctors and interns from both Texas Southern University and the University of Houston.

The effort was well worth it, Somerville said. People since have told her, If you hadnt made it easy, I would not have done it.

And thats her mission  to remove barriers that could prevent people from being vaccinated.

Somerville is a regular on Interfaiths calls. Its been really helpful, she said. You can get information right from the source.

Somerville said that spreading the word about the benefits of the vaccine is her current mission. She says a number of social influencers could also get on board, from barber shops to neighborhood restaurants and boutiques.

Messaging is still not getting out there, she said. We have to think of unorthodox ways to do it. We have to get to people in different ways. Thats where a church can be so beneficial.

Ayman Kabire, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, agreed.

As faith leaders, the calling is there, he said. Weve got to do something to accelerate the rate of vaccination so we can get to herd immunity as quickly as possible.

Mosques in the ISGH are serving as vaccine clinics, and educational efforts are also underway.

Everybody is overwhelmed right now with the sheer number of people who need to be vaccinated and educated, Kabire said. Its going to take a collective effort to make it happen.

He is confident the faith community can play a central role.

Theres a lot more we can do, he said. Were going to keep looking for areas where we can help. We as a faith community have to get people rallied behind helping to curb the spread of the virus.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Dr. Carmel Dyer was always a phone call away.

No matter how much she has done with institutes and consortiums, what her patients will remember is she would always give them her cellphone, said Dr. Jessica Lee, assistant professor of geriatric and palliative medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. They would call her at any time, and she would help them.

Dyer, an advocate for elder health care and a geriatric and palliative care physician, died Tuesday. She was 62.

She was the executive director of the UTHealth Consortium on Aging, which fosters collaboration among six schools in the UT system, and includes more than 200 professionals from various medical specialties and organizations working together to enrich the lives of senior citizens.

On HoustonChronicle.com: The pandemic has tripled the number of people who say they're lonely. But there's hope.

Dyer dedicated her career to preventing elder abuse by training a new generation of geriatricians and expanding access to specialized health care for older adults.

She grew up in Florida and worked as a physicians assistant before going o medical school, Lee said. As an assistant, she ran across older people who were being treated by the same doctors as 25-year-olds.

There are differences in how you should treat an older patient medically and diagnosis-wise, Lee said. She saw that as an injustice, and it was one of her driving factors.

Lee was a senior in high school when she first met Dyer in 2000. She read a Houston Chronicle article about geriatric medicine and was fascinated by the subject, so she emailed her.

She was happy to have me shadow her, follow her around and see what it was that she did, Lee remembered. In my college years, I would come back to Houston and work with her every summer. She showed me everything about geriatrics, from inpatient and outpatient clinics, house calls, working in a nursing home or rehabilitation facilities. It was a really broad introduction to how geriatrics can cover so many things.

Fourteen years after their first meeting, Dyer welcomed Lee as a faculty staff member at UTHealth. She always held a spot open for me, Lee said.

In the mid-1990s, Dyer worked to establish the Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute, which works with state and local agencies, like Adult Protective Services, to conduct medical assessments.

In 2007, Dyer became the first director of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at McGovern Medical School. In this role, she oversaw the design of inpatient and outpatient geriatric and palliative medicine programs for Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Opinion: As Houston gets browner and grayer, we have a moral obligation to enhance elder care

Later, Dyer was tasked with leading and growing the UTHealth Consortium on Aging, which focuses on elder abuse research and expanded health care access for older adults. And in 2010, Dyer became the first medical director of the UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging.

Before Lee became a doctor, she worked with Dyer on a pilot study to examine the severity of self-neglect by older adults. This particular area was a passion for Dyer, Lee said.

It was almost a taboo topic, but she was just determined to do research on it, Lee said. A large proportion of mistreatment cases are self-neglect, and no one had really heard of it or was doing anything about it.

A hospital dedicated to geriatric medicine, like a Texas Childrens Hospital for older adults, was one of Dyers hopes, and Lee hopes that dream will be realized in the future.

She didnt have children, so her colleagues and I would joke that geriatrics is really her baby, Lee said. She always thought this was an underserved area that needed to have more people doing research.

In Dyers memory, the university is establishing the Carmel Bitondo Dyer, MD, Chair in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine.

Early in the coronavirus pandemic, Dyer worried about her elderly patients who became more isolated in quarantine. She said many had begun opening up about feelings of loneliness and depression, which is not typical of many older Americans.

Senior citizens typically suffer in silence, Dyer said last April. They are much less likely to go to therapy than younger adults because they can be headstrong in their resilience, she said.

We figured this would be hardest on our patient population, but this has compounded that propensity toward depression and loneliness, Dyer said. I point out if theyre this age  80 or 90  theyve lived through the Depression, post-Depression, WWII, economic ups and downs. Theyre resilient because of that. They made it through that, and they will make it through this, as well.

In lieu of flowers, Dyers family requests donations to UTHealth, 7000 Fannin, Suite 1200 in Houston. The donations will benefit the Carmela and Salvatore Bitondo Graduate Fellowship in Elder Mistreatment. Donations also can be made online at https://giving.uth.edu/memorial.

julie.garcia@chron.com

Twitter.com/reporterjulie
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
OnSceneTV

A 15-year-old boy was shot in the face Wednesday night during a possible home invasion in the East End, police said.

The boy was home alone around 9:30 p.m. on the 7200 block of Dahlia Street when someone broke into his residence, said Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department.
OnSceneTV

A man was shot and killed early Thursday in north Houston and two suspects were detained, police said.

Officers were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. to reports of a car crash and shooting on the 7200 block of Melrose Street in the Northline neighborhood, said Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department.
OnSceneTV

A man picking up his nephew from work was shot and killed Wednesday night in a Family Dollar parking lot in north Houston, police said.

The shooting happened around 11 p.m. at 925 Greens Road in the Greater Greenspoint area, said detective Shawn Overstreet of the Houston Police Department.
Millions of Americans  including tens of thousands of Houstonians  either have delayed or are forgoing their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.

As of late last month, roughly 51,000 people who received their first inoculation through the Houston Health Department were overdue for their second dose. The departments number is preliminary but includes any person who has gone at least 42 days since their first round without returning for a second shot.

Statewide, more than 630,000 of the roughly 11 million people whove received one dose are more than six weeks overdue, the Texas Department of State Health Services told the Houston Chronicle.

We need a lot of those folks from February to come back in and get their second dose now, Dr. David Lakey, a DSHS commissioner who sits on Texas COVID-19 Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, said last week.

Part of the gap, however, is likely due to people who opted to receive their second dose through other health care providers as vaccine availability expanded.

Its not cause for alarm just yet, said Rice University health economist Vivian Ho, though she said the trend does not bode well for the overall goal of herd immunity.

The first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are supposed to be administered after a gap of three and four weeks, respectively.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends receiving the second dose as close to the three- and four-week marks as possible. However, doses can still be effective up to six weeks after the initial inoculation, according to the CDC.

Ho said people shouldnt be dissuaded from rescheduling appointments that they missed, as theyve been shown to give additional antibodies even if they come late.

The first dose really does boost your antibodies, but its the second that really gives you the second umph, she said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How vaccine skepticism in Texas Trump country threatens herd immunity

Houston Methodist radiologist Dirk Stotsman worried that some people are forgoing their second round of inoculations because the first doses of Moderna and Pfizer have been proven highly efficacious against the virus.

While the first dose offers a good level of protection, he said, the extra antibodies provided by the second dose will be integral to prevent the spread of more infectious and dangerous strains of the virus.

Particularly concerning, he said, is the growing prevalence in Texas of the B.1.1.7 U.K. variant of the coronavirus, which is more contagious and dangerous.

Youre somewhat protected, Stotsman said of the first dose. But youre not as protected as you want to be particularly with the advent of these firewall variants.

Nationwide, at least 5 million people have delayed or forgone their second dose, the CDC reported last month. That rate  which accounts for roughly 8 percent of people who received their first dose  is significantly higher today than it was when vaccines first became available.

On HoustonChronicle.com: COVID variants pose sneaky and detrimental threats to kids, Houston doctors find

The rate in Texas, which has routinely ranked among the worst states for vaccinations per capita, is just shy of 6 percent. And the states vaccination rate has been plummeting in recent weeks, as has been the case in many other states.

The gap between vaccine supply and demand has been stark enough to prompt some local officials to get creative. Last week, Harris County commissioners approved $250,000 in incentives for those receiving vaccines at local hubs such as NRG Park, where appointments are no longer required.

Many other states have recorded noticeable drops in vaccination rates, and earlier this week President Joe Biden directed doses that go unordered by states amid low demand to be rerouted to other states.

Stotsman said inconsistent messaging from the media and public health officials is in part to blame for some groups hesitancy.

Many Americans were already skeptical of the vaccine rollout, he said, and some may have been deterred from getting vaccinated because of federal regulators recent recommendation to pause the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Its unfortunate, Stotsman said.

He urged people who are overdue for their second shots to reschedule their appointments, as the second dose is still effective even if it is delayed.

robert.downen@chron.com

twitter.com/robdownenchron
GALVESTON  A group of activists called on Galveston law enforcement officials to answer for what they said was aggressive policing of a recent unsanctioned slab car event on the island that resulted in a man allegedly being beaten and tased by police officers.

Community activists, including Quanell X and Candice Matthews of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats on Wednesday stood in front of the Galveston Police headquarters decrying what they characterized as a military-style police threat during the April 24-25 event. The slab car event was reportedly a social media-organized gathering that attracted people from all over the state and as far as Louisiana.

Slabs  the name is an acronym for slow, low (or loud) and bangin'  were born in the early-'80s working-class African-American neighborhoods on Houston's south side. In the beginning, slabs were Cadillacs, were made distinctive by their candy-colored paint jobs and their 30-spoke wire rims, as well as booming sound systems. Today, slabs include makes of all kind, though with the same signature aesthetic.

More from Nick Powell: State to reexamine preparedness after Galveston inmates complain of using buckets as bathrooms during February freeze

On April 24 alone, Galveston police responded to 503 calls for service, issuing 182 traffic stops and 22 arrests according to records released by the police department. The department added that a handful of other law enforcement agencies assisted in policing the event that weekend, including the Friendswood Police Department, Texas Rangers, Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals.

One particular arrest caught the attention of activists. Andre Malone of Spring, said he was pulled over on April 24 by two Galveston police officers for having expired tags, was tased, then thrown to the ground and punched by one officer while the other had his knee on his neck. Malone was booked for failure to provide identification and resisting arrest, according to Galveston County court records.

(Malone) was beaten and thrown in jail, never received medical attention from being tased four timesaftery yelling, Please my heart cant take it anymore, Matthews said.

Sgt. Stacy Papillion, a spokeswoman for the Galveston Police Department said Malones allegations of brutality are currently under investigation.

There are no further comments at this time, Papillion said.

Malone, 36, a car customizer, read a statement at the press conference but did not take questions. He was more circumspect in criticizing police officers, saying he supports the blue line and acknowledged that police have a difficult job. He admitted that he should not have been driving with expired tags but questioned why the officers were so rough with him.

Whenever you become a police officer, you make a choice to put that uniform on, youre held to a higher standard to be able to deal with people of all different creed, color, size, whatnot, Malone said.

More from Nick Powell: Steady as she goes: Volunteers help restore Battleship Texas before dry dock repairs later this year

Activists questioned the need for beefed-up law enforcement for the slab weekend, noting the disparity in policing similar events that attract mostly White participants, such as Jeep Weekend on Bolivar Peninsula and Mardi Gras and Lone Star Rally in Galveston.

Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale specifically requested additional law enforcement help because previous slab car events tended to be rowdy, including a shooting on Seawall Boulevard last year.

You dont know what to expect, so you try to prepare for what may come out of this, Trochesset said.

Hale and Trochesset met with Quanell X, Matthews, and several other activists prior to Wednesdays press conference, a meeting Trochesset said was productive. The activists said Hale told them he would refer Malones allegations against the arresting officers to the Galveston County District Attorneys office. Hale could not be reached for comment.

Quanell X said he hoped the police department would take action against the officers by the close of business on Wednesday or that the activists would return to the island with larger numbers in protest.

nick.powell@chron.com
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A panel of appellate court judges on Thursday rejected the citys attempt to strike down a key provision of state law that governs how police and firefighters negotiate their wages and benefits, dealing a blow to Mayor Sylvester Turner in his long-running dispute with the Houston fire union.

Barring a city appeal, the ruling clears the way for a judge to set Houston firefighters pay for up to a year and compensate them for past losses.

Firefighters have received raises of just 3 percent since 2011, after rejecting offers they say included too many concessions. Voters in 2018 approved a ballot measure granting firefighters pay parity to police of similar rank and seniority, but a district judge ruled the measure unconstitutional.

Thursdays ruling came in a case that arose in June 2017 after Turner and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association failed to agree on a new contract through collective bargaining.

The union sued the city, claiming Turners administration failed to negotiate in good faith. As part of that lawsuit, the firefighters invoked a provision of state law that allows a state district judge to set their pay after Turner declined to enter contract arbitration. The city responded by arguing it was unconstitutional for judges to determine the pay of firefighters and police officers.

Justices Ken Wise, Charles A. Spain and Meagan Hassan of Texas 14th Court of Appeals sided against the city, ruling the provision does not run afoul of the Texas Constitution separation of powers clause that prohibits one branch of government  the judiciary, in this case  from exercising power that belongs to another branch.

The justices also rejected the citys argument that state lawmakers did not set specific enough guidelines for courts to determine firefighters compensation. Texas law requires public employers to give firefighters pay that is substantially equal to comparable employment in the private sector.

The Legislature chose sufficiently detailed but not too confining language to account for the many different circumstances affecting compensation and other conditions of employment, the justices wrote in their opinion, in which they also ordered the city to cover the fire unions legal fees.

City Attorney Arturo Michel said the Turner administration respectfully disagrees with the ruling, but has yet to decide whether to appeal.

The city is evaluating its options and will decide in due time whether to ask the Texas Supreme Court to address this matter or present evidence to the trial court in support of just, fair, and affordable compensation to Houstons firefighters, Michel said in a statement. The city has continually been, and remains, committed to negotiating in good faith with the union.

Throughout the legal battle, Houston fire union officials have said the citys legal argument amounts to an attempt to rule collective bargaining unconstitutional by removing the teeth behind it  in this case, judicial enforcement when the city declines arbitration.

Fire union president Marty Lancton said he was grateful for the ruling Thursday.

It should be a signal for the mayor to end the vindictive, taxpayer-funded legal campaign against Houston firefighters and our families, Lancton said. This ruling provides the city with an opportunity to reverse course and resolve our disputes.

The court decision came roughly a week after Houston city council voted 14-3 to spend an additional $92,000 on attorney fees in the case, on top of the $455,000 approved in 2017. Council members Tarsha Jackson, Michael Kubosh and Amy Peck opposed the spending.

Turner has said he plans to increase firefighters pay in next years city budget without holding contract negotiations or otherwise involving the fire union in the process. The mayor is scheduled next week to announce his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget is subject to city council approval.

The 14th Court of Appeals separately is considering the firefighters appeal of a district judges ruling in May 2019 that invalidated the pay parity measure, known as Proposition B.

In that lawsuit, filed by the Houston Police Officers Union and later joined by the city, the two parties argue that by tying firefighters pay to that of police, Prop B conflicts with the state law that requires firefighters receive comparable pay to private sector employees.

The firefighters have contended the city is contradicting itself in the two lawsuits by arguing in the case decided Thursday that the private sector standard is overly broad, while arguing in the Prop B case that pay parity would violate that standard.

In legal filings, the city has specified that it does not believe the private sector standard should be tossed altogether  only that a judge should not be allowed to use it to set firefighters pay.

Meanwhile, the Texas Legislature is considering a bill, HB 2087, that would require Houston officials to enter binding arbitration with the fire union if the two sides reached an impasse in collective bargaining. Turner has declined firefighters requests for arbitration, arguing the process would inappropriately leave it up to someone else to determine the fate of Houston taxpayers.

Last year, San Antonio became the first major city in Texas to reach a collective bargaining agreement through arbitration, when a panel settled a six-year stalemate between San Antonio firefighters and the city.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
A federal appeals panel Thursday handed down a rebuke to a lifetime judge in Houston, ruling hed erred in re-sentencing a Spring man who supported ISIS.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals opinion Thursday ordered the sentence for Asher Abid Khan to be wiped clean and calls for his third sentencing for assisting jihadists overseas be assigned to another trial judge because the first two hearings showed he was not only biased but also fixed and inflexible on considering the rationale for handing down an unusually short sentence.

The court also explicitly challenged the comportment of veteran U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes, who has often drawn attention for his free-wheeling lectures to lawyers and other court participants.

We reverse the defendants sentence as substantively unreasonable and remand for a second resentencing, said the ruling written by Judge E. Grady Jolly. And because the sentencing judge seems immovable from his views of the sentence he imposed, and because the judge displayed bias against the government and its lawyers we  reassign this case to a different judge..

More from Gabrielle Banks: Trafficking survivor sues Motel 6, says she was routinely drugged and raped as teen in Spring

The ruling comes after Justice Department lawyers twice challenged Hughes sentence for Khan, 26, a recent engineering graduate of University of Houston, who traveled to Syria to join ISIS several years ago, before getting cold feet. Khan admitted he recruited Sixto Ramiro Garcia, a friend from Klein Oak High School, to join the extremist insurgency, and investigators believe Garcia died fighting for ISIS.

Hughes gave Khan an 18-month sentence, departing wildly from the sentences issued for more than 100 other U.S. defendants convicted of supporting ISIS overseas, according to data from the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. Those sentences are usually about nine years or more.

Hughes declined to add a terrorism enhancement to the sentence. The circuit ruled on the governments first appeal of Khans sentence that Hughes made an error and needed to try again.

Apparently, the judges did not think he did any better the second time around. Hughes gave Khan the same 18-month sentence, but with more explanation than earlier. After finding the terrorism enhancement applicable, the judge stated on the record that there were reasons to depart downward. Khans lack of criminal history, studies, work, volunteering, steps toward rehabilitation, and age were all reasons to decrease the sentence.

The judge did not respond to a request for comment and David Adler, Khans lawyer at trial and on appeal, declined to comment on the ruling.

Angela Dodge, spokesperson for the Acting U.S. Attorney, only offered, "We will let the record and ruling speak for itself at this time.

But former U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, who faced off with the same judge when he tried to remove a female prosecutor from a case, said he thinks Hughes was removed from the case because he showed zero respect to the courts previous ruling.

For decades this judge has been reversed time and again for everything from not being able to follow the law to racist(s) and chauvinist remarks, Patrick said. He said no one at the downtown federal courthouse should be surprised by the 5th Circuits ruling.

During re-sentencing the judge factually and logically twisted himself into a pretzel, he said. It was hard to find the beginning or the end.

Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the extremism program at GWU, who has tracked homegrown terrorism cases in the U.S. for years, said the appellate ruling was highly unusual but everything about this case has been exactly that.

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Khan got a considerably shorter sentence than others in his position, he said. so itll be interesting to see how a new judge looks at this prosecution with fresh eyes.

In its ruling Thursday, the appeals court challenged the judges interpretation of acts Khan had agreed he committed.

They wrote that Hughes sought to minimize Khans actions in the second sentencing, ignoring if not contradicting the facts to which Khan and the government had agreed and which formed the basis of his plea. Hughes stated at the hearing that Garcia was not recruited by Khan, that the friends were equally enthusiastic about joining ISIS. But the judge noted that Khans plea agreement made it abundantly clear that Khan played a singular role in planning their travel to Turkey and was a necessary link in connecting Garcia to ISIS, the ruling said.

The appeals judges said Hughes continued to downplay Hughes take on the case, stating, for example, that while ISIS militants actions were despicable, what Khan and Garcia did was no different than two guys signing up for the Marines.

In addition, the court found that Hughes mistakenly stated that after the trip to Turkey, Khan returned his normal life. Actually, the court said, Khan admitted that he continued to encourage Garcias effort to join ISIS and pushed him along a path that ended in his death.

Their rationale for yanking the case from the 79-year-old Reagan appointeea rare act by appeals judgeswas Hughes was likely to have substantial difficulty putting out of his mind his previously expressed views. Secondly, the judges explained, Hughes expressed hostility and prejudice toward the government at various times, indicating officials on the case were lazy, useless, unintelligent, or arrogant. They found the re-assignment of the case to another judge regrettable but necessary.

Federal judges have broad latitude to rule from the bench, but Danielle Tarin, the prosecutor in the governments second appeal, called Hughes sentence an extravagant variance from sentencing norms, noting in September 2019 oral argument in New Orleans that although Khan returned to Houston, Garcia is dead because of Khans actions.

And if Khan had not encouraged him to join ISIS he would still be here today, she told the court.

Adler, Khans defense attorney, said in oral argument that Hughes properly considered Khans remorse for what hed done and his earnest work to help others avoid terrorist recruiters. The judge exercised discretion, he said.

At his 2018 sentencing, Khan expressed remorse for his actions and asked forgiveness of the sobbing mother and relatives of his late friend, Garcia. Khan was not present in the New Orleans hearing. He has long since completed his 18-month prison term.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
The February assault of a 63-year-old Eastside woman at a Metro light rail stop has angered local Latino leaders, who say transit officials have failed to protect and value some of their most loyal riders.

If it is not safe, how can they continue to ride? said Augustin Pinedo, District 18 director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, calling for a series of Metro reforms after the Feb. 11 beating of Esperanza Ortiz, including executive resignations, and suggesting a possible boycott of buses and trains.

Ortiz was boarding a train toward downtown around 8 a.m. at Magnolia Park Transit Center  the easternmost stop on the Green Line  when she was approached by a man who punched her in the head, just over the left ear. Speaking Spanish at a Wednesday morning press conference, Ortiz said she fell to the trains floor and heard the man say I hate Mexicans. Ortiz said she pulled out her cellphone to call 911, and the man struck her again in the head.

Rather than help her, Ortiz said the Metro train operator returned to the train  operators take scheduled breaks at the end of the line at Magnolia Park Transit Center  and told Ortiz to exit the train so it could leave.

She said the next train would be coming, Ortiz said.

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Metro Police Chief Vera Bumpers, in a statement, said officers immediately called an ambulance to address Ortizs injuries and she was transported to a local hospital. An investigator later came to St. Joseph Medical Center to photograph Ortizs injuries, Bumpers said.

Police later arrested Reginald Fitzgerald, 25, who was booked into the Harris County Jail on Feb. 27. He previously was convicted of two counts of assault.

Ortizs assault is one of four Fitzgerald is charged with in Harris County related to various incidents in February. According to court records, two days before he allegedly beat Ortiz, he punched a Metro bus driver near Broadway and Bellfort. He was charged in that incident with assault of a public servant.

Unrelated to Metro, Fitzgerald also is charged with assaulting two women, one on Feb. 24 and another Feb. 26, according to court records.

Metro officials said Wednesday they were reviewing LULACs concerns and eager to talk to Pinedo about the issues raised.

Nearly three months after Ortizs attack, Pinedo said LULAC and others await answers and remain concerned Metro is ignoring the pleas of the community.

Through a spokesman, Houston District I Councilman Robert Gallegos, who represents the area where Ortiz was attacked, said he wants a complete and thorough investigation, including into the actions of any Metro employee who may have witnessed the attack and failed to help.

Pinedo said elderly and vulnerable users, including children, should not ride Metro buses and trains alone. Joined by others, he called for the resignation of Metro CEO Tom Lambert, a former police chief for the agency, and for changes in Metros structure to allow more riders and Latinos to occupy leadership positions, including the transit agencys board of directors.

They do not reflect the community, Pinedo said. They are Wall Street bankers and lawyers.

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Metros only Hispanic member on the nine-person board, Terry Morales, grew up in the East End and is a senior vice president of Amegy Bank.

Five members of the board are appointed by Houston, two by Harris County and two by the 14 smaller cities that are members of Metro. Of the nine, two are women, Morales and Metro Chairwoman Carrin Patman. Five members are white, along with two Black, one Latino and one Asian. One of the white men, Lex Frieden, is the transit agencys second-ever member who uses a wheelchair for mobility.

Advocates said the transit agency has to connect with everyone it serves.

While Metro is a diverse organization, there is a need for more diversity of people who come from the different communities the organization serves, speak the languages of the riders, and know the neighborhoods, said Ines Siegel, spokeswoman for LINK Houston, a nonprofit that has urged Metro to improve bus and rail offerings, as well as its diversity programs.

Siegel said personal safety often is a topic of discussion between LINK and local groups.

I am a transit rider, and there are times I dont feel safe at the bus stop or while riding the light rail, she said. We urge Metro to work with the community to reevaluate its security protocols to ensure all riders safety.

TAKING FLIGHT: Bidens $2 trillion infrastructure plan could put rail to Hobby Airport on the front burner

Overall, as use of the transit system has dipped because of the COVID pandemic, reported crimes along the Metro system are down. In February, when Ortiz was attacked, transit police reported their lowest number of severe offenses, 73, down from 107 in February 2020 before many pandemic restrictions went into effect. Of those crimes labeled Group A offenses, 24 were labeled as crimes against a person, typically assaults and robberies. That also was down from 39 the previous year.

Local leaders said they worry the data does not fully capture the uncertainty riders feel at transit platforms, in part because of drug use or mental illness by those who congregate at the locations. Some riders may not feel empowered to demand more from Metro, said former Houston ISD trustee and education consultant Sergio Lira.

They might not speak up, but here we are today to be their voice because we believe in them, and this is our community, Lira said. We need to stop this culture of hate and protect people and it is up to Metro and the city to do that.

dug.begley@chron.com
The Texas House voted Wednesday to ban abortions as early as six weeks into a womans pregnancy and allow anyone to sue her doctor, relatives or any other person who helped her obtain the procedure if it is done after a fetal heartbeat had been detected.

The Republican-led measure would amount to the most stifling reproductive restrictions in Texas since abortion was legally protected in the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade. The vote was 81-63, falling largely along party lines.

For far too long, abortion has meant the end of a beating heart, said Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville. But through this  that beautiful melody of a beating heart, will mean the protection of those innocent unborn lives in Texas.

The measure, known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, could result in a virtual prohibition on all abortions, since most women dont yet know theyre pregnant by the gestational point at which it would be outlawed in the state.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has already named the legislation as a priority this session, and the Senate passed a similar version last month. After a mostly procedural follow-up vote on Thursday, it will head back to the upper chamber for review before being sent to the governor.

Unlike similar laws in other states, the Texas bill leaves enforcement up to the public rather than state health officials. That provision is an attempt to block providers from suing the state to delay its implementation  a move that legal scholars have been skeptical of and that advocates have decried as unconstitutional. Legal challenges are expected.

About a dozen states have passed similar bills, most of them are still tied up in litigation.

Flanked by fellow Republican women in the House, Slawson urged her colleagues to pass the new restriction by telling the story of how her own mothers doctor had recommended an abortion due to medical complications, but still carried her to term.

Forty-four years and two days later, that little baby girl is standing in this chamber, her heart beating as strongly and as rapidly as it did all those years ago, she said.

BACKGROUND: 350 Texas lawyers, 200 doctors warn of chaos if fetal heartbeat bill is enacted

Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, responded with her own story of dealing with a medically unviable pregnancy, and of the difficult decision she made to carry the child to term, only for it to die soon after birth. She pleaded with members not to take that same choice away from other women.

If we want to stop abortion, we do it in our churches, we do it in our communities, we do it in conversation with women, in relationship with women, we support families, she said. We dont do it by government mandate.

Under the proposed law, anyone in Texas could sue a doctor or anyone else who aids or abets an abortion, such as the person who drove the woman to get the abortion, for example, or a parent who paid for it, for up to seven years after the alleged violation.

An amendment by Slawson that was adopted Wednesday created an exception that would prohibit a person who impregnated someone else by rape, assault or incest from bringing a civil suit. However, the bill does not make exceptions allowing women in those situations to receive abortions.

Texas state law already bans most abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for women with life-threatening medical conditions and fetuses with severe abnormalities. Of the 56,620 abortions reported in 2019, according to state data, 90.8 percent were performed at 10 or fewer weeks, and 83.7 percent were performed at eight or fewer weeks.

Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, pressed Slawson on the scientific basis of her bill, citing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other doctors who have said that what is heard during an early ultrasound are electrical signals, as the heart does not develop until much later. Slawson disagreed.

Youre telling me the science is wrong because you disagree with it? Howard asked, adding later as tensions rose: This is the worst day of the session every single session, and the stuff keeps coming up. You guys know there have always been abortions and always will be, despite the obstructions youre putting in place.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Heartbeat bill allows any Texan to sue if a woman they dont know gets an abortion

On Tuesday, hundreds of doctors across the state sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them not to pass the bill, saying it would bring chaos to the court system and prevent women from receiving even sound medical advice.

Regardless of our personal beliefs about abortion, as licensed physicians in Texas, we implore you to not weaponize the judicial branch against us to make a political point, they wrote. A group of lawyers sent a similar plea last month.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
After months of denouncing calls for the country to more fully reckon with its discriminatory roots, Texas Republicans are joining national conservatives in a push to restrict how teachers can talk about race and racism.

A bill that supporters say will strip politics from public education, but that critics call a thinly veiled attempt to whitewash American history, has already passed the Senate and could be voted on by the House as early as Friday. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans.

The measure targets critical race theory, an academic movement that has become a buzzword among Republicans who dispute the existence of white privilege and systemic racism. The bill would limit teachers from pushing its core tenets, such as connecting modern-day inequities to historical patterns of discrimination.

Racism is part of our reality, and thats part of our shame, and we shouldnt do anything to cover that up, said Rep. Steve Toth, a Republican from The Woodlands and the bills author in the House. But what we should also not do is blame that on tender, little children that have done nothing wrong.

The backlash stems in part from the 1619 Project by the New York Times that asserted slavery and its remnants were more integral to the countrys founding than is commonly acknowledged. The essay collection, commemorating the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to colonial Virginia, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize and has been adapted into childrens literature and lesson plans for educators.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

School districts in some states are adapting parts of the project into their curriculum, and the Biden administration announced last month that it wants to prioritize education grants to programs that take into account systemic marginalization, biases, inequities and discriminatory policy and practice in American history.

The Texas legislation, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, would bar schools from requiring teachers to talk about current events and prohibit teachers from discussing certain viewpoints, including that some people are inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Stephanie Boyce, who teaches Black history at the University of Houston and is affiliated with the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators, said teachers are already trained to present diverse viewpoints when discussing subjects. She said supporters are simply trying to block students from learning uncomfortable truths about the country or engaging more actively in the political process.

Its not even like theyre trying to make it complicated to see whats happening, Boyce said, adding about the restrictions on civic action: We should be trying to find ways to make these processes more inclusive, to bring students into the process even more.

She called it ironic that you have people like me, an African American woman whose ancestors built this country, and the Capitol, and all the things that we did for free  that we should have to come before a body of legislators, the majority of which are white and male, and be told what we can and cannot say about race, sex and power dynamics.

No more class credit for activism

If enacted, the bill would also bar educators from giving students credits for engaging in political activism, which includes lobbying legislators and city council members, attending marches and other forms of civic action.

Teachers should not have to push a particular political agenda, Creighton told colleagues last month, but certainly to promote America and our republic for what it is, which is the greatest country in the history of the world, and certainly the most philanthropic.

Another bill passed by the House on Wednesday would establish a Republican-appointed advisory panel to promote patriotic education and increase awareness of the Texas values that continue to stimulate boundless prosperity across this state.

Angela Valenzuela, an education policy professor at the University of Texas at Austin who testified against efforts in Arizona to ban ethnic studies from their classrooms, said Toth and Creightons proposal potentially violates free speech and other constitutional rights.

This is part of a larger agenda to disenfranchise our communities, because we know that people who are critical and involved, that they vote, she said.

NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here.

Black, Hispanic and other children of color make up the large majority of students enrolled in Texas schools, according to state education figures.

The idea that there is going to be a law that potentially bars teachers from discussing certain topics, I find, quite frankly, very offensive, said Albert Broussard, a Black history professor at Texas A&M University who himself has been critical of parts of the 1619 Project. It puts students at a tremendous disadvantage, because theyre simply going to fall behind.

Several Texas-based teachers groups and left-leaning advocacy organizations have also come out against the measure, saying it would both hinder classroom discussion and take away student opportunities to participate in the democratic process  something valuable not only for young adults, but also for legislators debating bills that would affect them.

The policymakers really do benefit from getting the youth perspective, and for the youth themselves, it has been an electric experience for them, having these policymakers acknowledge  the reality (of) whats happening at schools and how its affecting them, said Vanessa Beltran, a mental health policy fellow at the nonprofit Girls Empowerment Network.

Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat from Round Rock and a former public school teacher, said Toth and Creightons legislation conflicts with the states existing curriculum standards, which require educators to discuss current events.

Students desperately need to be able to understand current events, determine fact from fiction and develop media literacy, he said. If public education is here as a safeguard for democracy, analyzing and understanding current events is critical to that goal.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com

cayla.harris@express-news.net
What does it mean to be the most diverse city in America if we are still so divided  by poverty, by access to quality schools, by politics  and now, even by our disparate views on whether voting rights are worth fighting for?

While a coalition of major companies, business executives and local elected leaders have stood up against the latest plot by Texas lawmakers to whittle down voting access, the Houston regions biggest business group, the Greater Houston Partnership, has taken a stand by refusing to take a stand.

A breakaway group of 10 members wrote GHP President Bob Harvey and the board chair, Amy Chronis, urging them to oppose Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 6 and advocate for improvements: New election legislation in Texas should expand, instead of limit, options for civic participation, they wrote.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Editorial: The Big Lie - For 20 years, GOP has groomed their voters to believe in fraud

Expanded voting is the very thing Republican leaders are trying to prevent in our young, increasingly urban and diverse Lone Star State. Despite their claims, the bills do little to enhance election security.

The bills, one of which will be debated Thursday in the House, limit polling hours, make it easier to purge voting rolls, ban drive-thru voting and allow partisan poll watchers to play Big Brother by recording video. One provision in the Senate bill may lead to polling sites in Houstons Black and Latino communities being relocated to outlying areas where more white voters live.

Yet, the Partnership, which should be championing voter participation in our city and fighting for our regions rightful political power in this state, has made an equivocating call for balance. The organization that has in the past marshaled its considerable influence to thwart anti-transgender legislation, push for immigration reform and espouse its commitment to racial equity after the murder of George Floyd, has apparently deemed the preservation of voter rights less deserving of its attention.

Harvey said in a statement to this editorial board Wednesday that the organization of 1,000 takes positions based on consensus, not majority vote, and it was clear after a 45-minute discussion on April 21 that it wasnt there.

Rebuke was admirably swift from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who canceled plans to hold their annual addresses with the Partnership.

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 in a press conference with Turner.

Harvey said in statement that efforts by certain public officials to pressure the Partnership into taking a position on this issue or punish it for not taking a position are shortsighted, at best. He said his organization supports ready access to the polls for all Texans, and stands ready to participate in any serious deliberations toward that goal.

Deliberations in Austin only get serious when they have to be, when politicians feel enough pressure from powerful people to do the right thing. Harvey and the GHP could supply that pressure  and reasoned ideas for improving legislation that Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are hell-bent to pass in some form.

OPINION: I'm a lifelong Republican and proud gun owner but permitless carry is a callous distraction

Theres a dearth of leadership in this state by people who are serious about equity, serious about building an educated workforce, serious about saving Texas from the same pit of oppression and backwardness that has undermined the potential of other Southern states.

Wheres the Houston Way when we need it  that code of pragmatism that has at times united conservative businessmen and civil rights activists in this city toward a common pursuit of economic prosperity?

Our leaders must send a message to communities of color  those targeted by the voting legislation  that their voices and their votes matter.

If Harvey is as committed as he claims to equity and inclusion, he wouldnt accept no consensus as an answer. Hed confront his members on why they have chosen partisan loyalty over the truth, over the democratic principle, and frankly, over the math  none of which support the myth of voter fraud Republicans use to justify their restrictions.

If Harvey were serious about supporting voting access for all Texans hed communicate to his members how these bills do the opposite. He could use this boards recent multi-part series The Big Lie as a teaching aid: despite Texas desperate searching for voter fraud only 174 cases, mostly minor, have been prosecuted out of 94 million votes cast since 2005.

Hed swat down any refrains from members who claim these voting restrictions arent all that bad.

True, they are relatively mild compared with impossibly high hurdles that southern states once imposed on Black people who attempted to vote, including tests, poll taxes and forcing them to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar.

But voter access is too sacred to be assessed through some distorted prism of historic relativity. Any restriction is detrimental to voter participation  and to the wider access desperately needed in a state that has among the lowest turnout in the nation.

Sure, somebody determined enough will jump through the hoops to vote. But why are there so many hoops?

We know the answer, which has nothing to with election security, and Harvey and the Partnership do, too.

For the sake of Houston and all of Texas, they need to say so.
Electric gridlock

Regarding Stop studies; we must weatherize grid now, (A17, April 30): State Rep. Jon Rosenthals recent article in the Houston Chronicle summarizes clearly our recent Texas electric grid failures. He says Senate Bill 3 addresses those problems, but the bill is currently stalled in the House of Representatives. I suggest we build a fire under our representatives to address our troubled electric grid. Thats preferable to having to build fire to keep ourselves warm in another winter storm.

Steve Lewis, Houston

Reforms or restrictions?

Regarding Greater progress, (A11, May 3): There is nothing in the news article concerning a reduction in the criminal element within the city. It looks like the only thing within the so-called reforms are steps to make the polices job more difficult. What a shame!

David Morrison, Conroe

A scout on Bidens speech

Regarding Bidens speech was pandemic political theater meant to justify a miasma of government spending, (May 2): I do understand the points Marc Thiessen makes indicating members of Congress have had the opportunity to get vaccinated. Its possible that participants may not be vaccinated, despite the opportunity to do so.

Setting an example for America doesnt harm anyone. Wearing a mask, social distancing and putting safety measures in place arent about politics or making you uncomfortable but about respecting others around you. One of the 12 points of the Boy Scout law, a series of traits every scout is supposed to embody, is courtesy. Wearing masks isnt about you, your friends or your family. Its about protecting those at risk from a highly infectious, deadly virus.

Having political leaders set a proper example of how to be safe and courteous of those around you during these times is essential. Even if its all for show, Id rather have my president show people how to hold large gatherings safely. Having 600 people in one room with no masks or distance between them, when its been proven that people with the vaccine can still spread the virus, is dangerous and irresponsible. Just because you are safe doesnt mean that others are. We need to stop and put the needs of others first.

I believe that the Scout Law, and specifically the notion of courtesy, could serve as a great example to all of us in these chaotic times.

Hunter Payne, Cypress
In the past several weeks, the world has looked on in horror as the coronavirus rages across India. With hospitals running out of beds, oxygen and medicines, the official daily death toll has averaged around 3,000. Many claim that number could be an undercount; crematoriums and cemeteries have run out of space.

The majority of Indias population are Hindu, who favor cremation as a way of disposing of the body. But the Muslim population, which is close to 15 percent, favors burying its dead.

Generally, tradition holds that the body is to be cremated or buried as quickly as possible  within 24 hours for Hindus, Jains and Muslims, and within three days for Sikhs. This need for rapid disposal has also contributed to the current crisis.

Hundreds of families want their loved ones bodies cared for as quickly as possible, but there is a shortage of people who can do the funerals and last rites. This has led to a situation where people are paying bribes in order to get space or a furnace for cremation. There are also reports of physical fights, and intimidation.

As a scholar interested in the ways Asian societies tell stories about the afterlife and prepare the deceased for it, I argue that the coronavirus crisis represents an unprecedented cultural cataclysm that has forced the Indian culture to challenge the way it handles its dead.

Cremation grounds and colonial rule

Many Americans think of cremation happening within an enclosed, mechanized structure, but most Indian crematoriums, known as shmashana in Hindi, are open-air spaces with dozens of brick-and-mortar platforms upon which a body can be burned on a pyre made of wood.

Hindus and Sikhs will dispose of the remaining ashes in a river. Many shmashana are therefore built near the banks of a river to allow for easy access, but many well-off families often travel to a sacred city along the banks of the river Ganges, such as Haridwar or Benares, for the final rituals. Jains  who have traditionally given significant consideration to humanitys impact on the environmental world  bury the ashes as a means to return the body to the Earth and ensure they do not contribute to polluting rivers.

The workers who run shmashana often belong to the Dom ethnicity and have been doing this work for generations; they are lower caste and subsequently perceived by many as polluted for their intimate work with dead bodies.

The act of cremation has not always been without controversy. In the 19th century, British colonial officials viewed the Indian practice of cremation as barbaric and unhygienic. But they were unable to ban it given its pervasiveness.

However, Indians living in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Trinidad often had to fight for the right to cremate the dead in accordance with religious rituals because of the mistaken and often racist belief that cremation was primitive, alien and evronmentally polluting.

Rituals and a long history

The earliest writings on Indian funerary rituals can be found in the Rig Veda  a Hindu religious scripture orally composed thousands of years ago, potentially as early as 2000 B.C. In the Rig Veda, a hymn, traditionally recited by a priest or an adult male, urges Agni, the Vedic god of fire, to carry this man to the world of those who have done good deeds.

From the perspective of Hindu, Jain and Sikh rituals, the act of cremation is seen as a sacrifice, a final breaking of the ties between the body and the spirit so it may be free to reincarnate. The body is traditionally bathed, anointed and carefully wrapped in white cloth at home, then carried ceremonially, in a procession, by the local community to the cremation grounds.

While Hindus and Sikhs often decorate the body with flowers, Jains avoid natural flowers for concern of inadvertently destroying the lives of insects that may be hidden within the petals. In all of these faiths, a priest or male member of the family recites prayers. It is traditionally the eldest son of the deceased who lights the funerary pyre; women typically do not go to the cremation ground.

After the ceremony, mourners return home to bathe themselves and remove what they regard as the inauspicious energy that surrounds the cremation grounds. Communities host a variety of postmortem rituals, including scriptural recitations and symbolic meals, and in some Hindu communities the sons or male members of household will shave their head as a sign of their bereavement. During this mourning period, lasting from 10 to 13 days, the family performs scriptural recitations and prayers in honor of their deceased loved one.

The changing times of COVID-19

The wave of death from the COVID-19 pandemic has forced transformations to these long-established religious rituals. Makeshift crematoriums are being constructed in the parking lots of hospitals and in city parks.

Young women may be the only ones available to light the funerary pyre. Families in quarantine are forced to use WhatsApp and other video software to visually identify the body and recite digital funerary rites.

Media reports have pointed out how in some cases, crematorium workers have been asked to read prayers traditionally reserved for Brahmin priests or people from a higher caste. Muslim burial grounds have begun to run out of space and are tearing up parking lots to bury more bodies.

The work of the dead

While other important rituals such as marriage and baptism may take on a new appearance in response to cultural changes, social media conversations or economic opportunities, funerary rituals change slowly.

Historian Thomas Laqueur has written on what he calls the work of the dead  the ways in which the bodies of the deceased participate in the social worlds and political realities of the living.

In Indias coronavirus pandemic, the dead are announcing the health crisis that the country believed it had conquered. As recently as April 18, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi was holding crowded political rallies, and his government allowed the massive Hindu pilgrimage festival of Kumbh Mela to proceed a year early in response to the auspicious forecasts of astrologers. Authorities began to act only when the deaths became impossible to ignore. But even then, the Indian government appeared more concerned about removing social media posts that were critical of its functioning.

India is one of the worlds largest vaccine-producing nations, and yet it was unable to make or even purchase the needed vaccines to protect its population.

The dead have important stories to tell about neglect, mismanagement or even our global interdependence  if we care to listen.

Milkes is a lecturer in philosophy at Texas State University. This piece was first published in The Conversation.
For four months, Dr. Hasan Gokal has had to live under the threat of prosecution by the Harris County District Attorneys Office. What is his alleged crime? He made sure COVID-19 vaccines did not go to waste. It is time the charges are dropped.

On Dec. 29, 2020, Gokal administered 10 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that would have expired had he not administered them to eligible Texas residents. He says his actions complied with the Texas Department of State Health Services explicit instructions not to waste vaccine doses. The Harris County Public Health Department fired Gokal for allegedly taking doses of the vaccine off-site, and the Harris County District Attorneys Office charged him with theft. Though a judge dismissed the charges, the district attorney said she plans to bring it to a grand jury. This retaliation on part of the Harris County Public Health Department and the district attorneys office is an affront to health care workers nationwide. Gokal adhered to the principle of do no harm, and he upheld his Hippocratic oath to safeguard the health and well-being of his community. He should be applauded for his efforts and not criminalized for his sincere commitment to the public health of his county.

Recognizing the egregious nature of these accusations, several medical associations and health and human rights organizations have condemned the inappropriate dismissal of Gokal and the continued pursuit of criminal charges against him. These organizations include American Muslim Health Professionals, American Medical Student Association, Doctors For America, Imamia Medics International and Physicians for Human Rights, groups that collectively represent physicians, public health professionals and other health workers across the country. Our organizations are committed to improving the health and well-being of all Americans. For this reason, we have collectively reached out to Harris County Public Health Department and District Attorney Kim Ogg asking that Gokal be reinstated into his position, to stop pursuing charges against him and to issue him a public apology.

At a time when the country is reeling from the throes of a deadly pandemic that has disproportionately affected minorities, there is a crucial need for equitable access and distribution of vaccines. Gokal took heroic measures to ensure qualified residents of Harris County, regardless of race and ethnicity, got the vaccine they needed and no vaccine doses were lost. However, according to Gokal, when his employer saw the names of the vaccine recipients, he remarked on their potential foreign origins which flags the role of biases as barriers to equity in health care especially in this pandemic. Equity is not a buzzword to tout, it is an action to implement, just as Gokal did.

Gokal is on the front lines of the fight against this pandemic and he displayed extraordinary dedication to the public health of his community, as he helped vulnerable members of the Texas community including the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions. These individuals were at high risk and also had difficulty accessing the vaccine, which Gokal brought to their doorstep. Indeed, by vaccinating these eligible Texans, Gokal helped every Harris County resident by reducing the chance of spread.

The aforementioned organizations are concerned that seeing the repercussions against Gokal will create fear among physicians and other health professionals across the nation, increasing barriers to vaccine access. The downstream impact may lead to wasting of vaccines rather than administering them to deserving candidates. At this critical time, we need to implement processes that safeguard vaccine doses and ensure vaccine access for all deserving populations. These values were exemplified by Gokal and were on the same lines as the Oregon health workers who ended up giving the COVID-19 vaccine to fellow travelers stuck in a snowstorm on the highway in late January. They adhered to the No. 1 unspoken rule for COVID-19 vaccines which is nothing gets wasted. Gokal also appropriately followed that rule and therefore should be commended. Recently the Texas Medical Board also cleared Gokal of any wrong-doing, which further emphasizes the outrageous nature of these allegations.

Our health and human rights organizations stand with the Texas Medical Association and the Harris County Medical Society in applauding, not penalizing physicians like Gokal, who are working hard to avoid wasting vaccines. Our organizations condemn the continued persecution of Gokal by the Harris County District Attorneys Office and the Harris County Public Health Departments inappropriate termination of this dedicated public health official.

Syed is a medical doctor and research scientist based in Massachusetts.
The crucial  maybe even essential  role of an onlookers viral video in convicting George Floyds killer compels us to revisit an age-old question: In a time of crisis, what, if any, duties should we owe each other? Darnella Frazier is rightly receiving recognition as a hero for bearing witness to Derek Chauvins heinous offense. Other recent spectators to violent crimes have not been so helpful. Our laws should impose a duty to intervene in such serious misconduct when it would be safe and reasonable for a civilian witness to do so.

First, though, we should correct our terminology. Commentators have been referring to Frazier as a bystander and to her footage as bystander video. That language obscures important distinctions among witness conduct and minimizes Fraziers personal contribution to accountability. A bystander is a passive spectator. If a witness actively intervenes, including by recording an incident in order to document and raise public awareness of it, then they are no longer a mere bystander. Rather, they have become an upstander. When Brandon Elliot attacked Vilma Kari, a 65-year-old Asian American woman, in New York City on March 29, two unnamed doormen declined to intercede at all, even by calling 911 or recording a video, and then one of them shut the door on Kari. Those witnesses are properly referred to as bystanders  and especially cowardly, callous ones. Quite the contrary, the courageous, consequential Frazier should be characterized as an upstander and her film as upstander video.

We should celebrate upstanders through ceremonial, financial or other rewards, as some are already doing for Frazier via a GoFundMe campaign. Honoring upstanders expresses a communitys gratitude for their good deeds. This recognition could also inspire and induce potential bystanders to act instead as upstanders. While awarding upstanders incentivizes undeserving individuals to misrepresent their conduct, such prizes could be conditioned on corroboration.

Although some spectators may be motivated to help by carrots, others may be more responsive to sticks. Certain witnesses should be held criminally accountable for failing to report specified violent offenses of which they are aware, as I argue in a new law review article. This culpability flows from Bad Samaritan laws: statutes that impose a legal duty to assist others in peril through intervening directly (also known as the duty to rescue) or notifying authorities (also known as the duty to report). These laws are far more prevalent than most people  including even many law enforcement officials  realize, as I documented in a recent law review article. In fact, these statutes already exist to varying degrees in 29 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, U.S. federal law, dozens of foreign countries and multiple subfields of international law. For example, Minnesota, where Chauvin committed his lethal abuse of force, requires the following: A person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person is exposed to or has suffered grave physical harm shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the exposed person. Reasonable assistance may include obtaining or attempting to obtain aid from law enforcement or medical personnel. Ironically, though, it was law enforcement itself in Minnesota that created Floyds emergency.

Texas has three Bad Samaritan laws, one of which is a duty to report felonies in which a reasonable person would believe that serious bodily injury or death may have resulted; another is a duty to rescue or report in the context of aggravated sexual assault of a child; and the third is a duty to report child abuse or neglect.

Bad Samaritan laws are highly controversial for legal and logistical reasons. Critics claim that these statutes punish character rather than conduct, impinge unacceptably on individual liberty, may exacerbate crises, could cause self-incrimination and are difficult to enforce. Proponents counter that these laws express moral revulsion about bystanderism, can prompt helpful intervention (especially where witnesses have undergone bystander intervention training) and can be written to address counterarguments, such as by explicitly exempting anyone who would otherwise incriminate themselves in a crime.

As the benefits of Bad Samaritan laws outweigh any drawbacks, every U.S. state and territory should feature such a statute. Specifically, all of these jurisdictions should, if they dont already, require reporting murder, kidnapping, sexual and aggravated assault and child and elder abuse. These statutes should include reasoned exemptions, such as for interventions that involve police brutality or, as in Minnesota, would physically imperil the witness or someone else. Spectators would be understandably reticent to intercede in an inherently dangerous situation or notify the very entity whose misconduct they observe, for fear of retribution and doubt that reporting would be effective.

Even though  and especially because  a Bad Samaritan law didnt (and shouldnt) require Frazier to have documented Chauvin killing Floyd, her brave, impactful upstanderism should be celebrated and emulated. For other situations in which certain witnesses observe and could safely report serious violent crimes, society should prod these onlookers to help by praising them when they do and punishing them when they dont. Positive and negative incentives should both be used to motivate these spectators to alert authorities, thereby promoting justice, mitigating injuries and saving lives.

Kaufman is an associate professor of law and political science at the University of Houston Law Center. He is writing a book on bystanders and upstanders that will be published by Cambridge University Press.
A scene from "Splinters," the grand prize winner of the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival / Courtesy of JIFF



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has awarded its Grand Prize to Argentinian director Natalia Garayalde's film "Splinters," which depicts an Argentinian political scandal through the lens of a 12-year-old girl.



The festival held its awards ceremony at Korea Traditional Culture Center, Wednesday, with 50 people in attendance, including festival director Lee Joon-dong, jury members and directors and actors with films in the Korean competition.



Overseas guests were unable to attend the event due to a mandatory two-week quarantine required of all foreign visitors entering the country.



The Best Picture Prize went to Marta Popivoda's "Landscapes of Resistance," which tells the story of Sonja, one of the first female partisans in Serbia during World War II who helped lead the resistance in Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Special Jury Prize went to James Vaughan's "Friends and Strangers," which revolves around two young men in their 20s stumbling into adulthood.



"The three films showcased the high degree of creativity and originality that match the identity of JIFF," said actress Bae Jong-ok, a member of the international jury.





Winners pose at the Jeonju International Film Festival's awards ceremony held at Korea Traditional Culture Center, Wednesday. Courtesy of JIFF
AUSTIN  Two weeks after a bill to allow unlicensed people to carry guns in public was blocked in the Texas Senate, the measure was revived on Wednesday and suddenly has a much better chance of becoming law.

With vocal support from Gov. Greg Abbott, the Senate agreed in part to a heavily amended version of the so-called constitutional carry bill that now includes safeguards demanded by law enforcement groups who had fought the legislation for months. About 20 states have adopted similar laws; Texas would by far be the largest.

The legislation would allow any person over the age of 21 in Texas to carry a handgun in a holster without a permit unless he or she has a criminal history. But the amendments, among other things, would stiffen penalties for felons carrying a weapon or others who shouldnt be carrying them, such as domestic violence offenders. Another amendment would prohibit people from carrying firearms in public while intoxicated.

While Democrats repeatedly warned the legislation would make cities more dangerous and make the job of police more difficult, state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, asserted that more people carrying guns in Texas will make everyone safer.

My belief, as the author of this bill, is that individuals carrying  that are lawfully doing so in self-defense  make our society safer, and as such make our communities safer and help law enforcement in general, he said during more than six hours of questioning and debate.

TWO WEEKS AGO: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says constitutional carry bill doesnt have the votes to pass Texas Senate

Schwertner said the Constitution already guarantees Americans the right to bear arms, and the bill simply removes permitting requirements that are a burden to legal gun owners. He stressed that people who buy guns from licensed dealers will still need to go through background checks.

State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, pushed back, calling the measure irresponsible and creating a path for more violence. Menendez warned of the threat to victims of domestic violence.

The ability for more men to carry a gun is actually more dangerous for women in abusive relationships, he said. A woman living with a gun in the home is three times more likely to be murdered than one with no gun in that same home.

Republicans had also expressed concerns about domestic violence victims being put in danger, but Schwertner said the amendments to the bill add penalties for offenders. He said people with a domestic violence offense in their backgrounds caught carrying a handgun would face a third-degree felony  up to 10 years in jail. Currently, it is a misdemeanor.

The bill passed by an 18-13 vote with all Republicans in the Senate voting for it. The adopted amendments were not immediately available Wednesday for the public or media to review.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The debate was interrupted at one point when Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, collapsed on the Senate floor. After several minutes, state troopers helped Creighton to his feet and escorted him out of the chamber.

After he left the floor, lawmakers continued debating the legislation. Even though Creighton had been removed, he was listed as voting for the bill.

The bill still has a ways to go before becoming law. It was passed by the Texas House last month, but because the Senate amended it, the House must vote on it again for it to become law. If the House adopts the bill without amendments, it would then go to Abbott for final approval. Abbott has made clear in the last week that he will sign the bill if it gets to him.

I support it, and I believe it should reach my desk, and we should have constitutional carry in Texas, Abbott said last week.

The bills passage is a dramatic shift from two weeks ago when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, said there was not enough support for it to pass. But Patrick last week had a different take, saying he was still short votes but optimistic it would get through.

I am proud that the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1927 today, the constitutional carry bill, which affirms every Texans right to self-defense and our states strong support for our Second Amendment right to bear arms, Patrick said. In the Lone Star State, the Constitution is our permit to carry.

Menendez, who said he himself is a gun owner, said one of the benefits to having the current licensing system in Texas is that it allows the state to do background checks on people who bought handguns from friends or through gunshows that dont require federal background checks. The current state handgun license system requires background checks for all applicants, no matter how they bought their weapon.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, similarly said she worried about the impact of the bill.

House Bill 1927 would merely make it easier to carry a firearm legally in public including by persons who should not, she said.

The amendments added to the bill during Wednesdays debate were key to winning over some of its toughest critics in Texas law enforcement.

The Sheriffs Association of Texas, for instance, said with the amendments it would support the legislation.

Other Texas sheriffs are still not on board. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has not seen the amendments, but a spokesman for him said Gonzalez remains against permitless carry.

Texas Republicans who support the permitless carry bill have repeatedly said they are trying to catch up with more than a dozen other states that allow residents to carry guns without a permit. Seventeen other states already allow it, including Oklahoma and Arkansas. Three more states  Iowa, Tennessee and Wyoming  will allow permitless carry starting July 1.

Gun control advocates say lawmakers should be tightening gun laws after all of the mass shootings in Texas over the last few years, not loosening them. One of those critics is Rhonda Hart, a gun safety activist and the mother of a student killed in Santa Fe High School in 2018. At a news conference on Wednesday, she recounted how after the shooting, Abbott and Patrick were among the politicians who met with her and others who lost children that day.

And they promised us in that room in June 2018 that gun safety was going to come to Texas and that a mass shooting like this would not happen again, Hart said. Since 2018, I think weve had El Paso and Walmart, weve had Midland-Odessa, weve had so many mass shootings, you cant even keep track of it. So I would like to specifically call them out for their outright lies. Its very interesting that in just two or three years, how they promise one thing, and theyve completely turned their tails and gone on another path.

The amendments aimed at winning over law enforcement could still face trouble from gun rights groups as the bill heads back to the Texas House for more debate. The Texas chapter of Gun Owners of America pushed its members to call senators and protest watering it down.

Raga Justin contributed to this report.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com

twitter.com/jeremyswallace
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Actor Han Ye-ri / Courtesy of Hanfilm, MODAFE



By Park Han-sol





An official poster for the 40th International Modern Dance Festival to be held from May 25 to June 13 / Courtesy of MODAFE
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Images Presents Annual 'Fresh Fest' on Food, Farming

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Images Cinema presents Fresh Fest: A Food and Farming Film Festival, Friday, May 7 through Thursday, May 13.

Produced by Images Cinema, in collaboration with Storey Publishing and the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies, this annual film festival explores the ways farming and food culture impacts our lives in rich and varied ways, and makes links to local farmers and food producers.

This year Fresh Fest will happen virtually this year, on Images' Virtual Cinema platform, watch.eventive.org/imagesvirtual . All films are free to view and will be available for the full week with the exception of Gather, which will be available for one show only, TBA.

This year features a world premiere of "Finding Hope in Farmland," a short film by Williamstown-based filmmaking team, director Dave Simonds and producer Sarah Gardner, about a Somali Bantu community starting a farm in upstate New York. The festival also includes "The Long Coast," about Maine's changing fishing industry; "Fruits of Labor," a documentary about a Mexican American high school student who supports her family harvesting and processing strawberries; and "Gather," a film about Native American food traditions.

Fresh Fest is supported in part by the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire. Fresh Fest is also sponsored by Storey Publishing and the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies.

Films (descriptions from press release):

'The Long Coast'

"A meditative mix of interviews, striking but unobtrusive cinematography, and, yes, Maine's uniquely picturesque, majestic coastal beauty."  Portland Herald

In a series of lyrical portraits, "The Long Coast" illuminates the stories of Maine's fisher people, those whose lives and livelihoods are inextricably connected to the ocean. This atmospheric film shows the beauty, intimacy, and uncertainty that coastal dwellers face in rooting their lives in the ocean, particularly as human actions  from overfishing, to aquaculture, to warming seas  confront Maine and its people with profound change. (81 minutes)

"Fruits of Labor"

"Given the political and social upheaval that Latinos face in this country, it is amazing to see a documentary that humanizes and concretely showcases those who grapple with immigration status, working long hours at a laborious job, and who attempt to juggle their personal and family life."  Black Girl Nerds

A Mexican-American teenager dreams of graduating high school, when increased ICE raids in her community threaten to separate her family and force her to become the breadwinner for her family. She works long days in the strawberry fields and the night shift at a food processing factory. Set in an agricultural town on the central coast of California, "Fruits of Labor" is a coming of age story about an American teenager traversing the seen and unseen forces that keep her family trapped in poverty. A lyrical meditation on adolescence, nature and ancestral forces, the film asks, what does it mean to come into one's power as a working young woman of color in the wealthiest nation in the world?

Most documentary films about farmworkers look at public personas  the political is in the rally, the strike, and the public speech. Fruits of Labor offers a new narrative about women workers that shows the nuances of how the global food system intersects with gender and family life. (78 minutes)

"Finding Hope in Farmland"

World Premiere; by local filmmakers, director Dave Simonds and producer Sarah Gardner

This short documentary is the story of a refugee community seeking to revive their agrarian heritage. The Somali Bantu refugees in Utica New York arrived in the U.S. in the late 1990s. A marginalized agrarian peoples from Southeast Africa, the Bantu had endured centuries of oppression and slavery. In 1991, during the Somali Civil war, about 12,000 Somali Bantu people were displaced to Kenyan refugee camps and in the late 1990s many were identified by the United Nations as an "extremely vulnerable people "who could not return to their home country.

Arriving in the U.S. as refugees, many eventually resettled to the rustbelt cities of upstate New York that were experiencing industrial decline and population loss. As they rebuild their communities in New York State, many dreamt of reviving their agrarian heritage and providing food for their community. "Finding Hope in Farmland" follows their quest for land and their relationship with farming advocates at Cornell Cooperative Extension who helped them realize their dream. (15 minutes)

"Gather"  One Screening Only  TBA

"Gather" is an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.
Day two of the G7 foreign ministers meeting begins in London on May 5, 2021 - G7 foreign ministers meet in London for their first face-to-face talks in more than two years, with calls for urgent joined-up action to tackle the most pressing global threats. AFP-Yonhap



The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries on Wednesday urged North Korea to return to talks on ending its nuclear programs, while also urging Pyongyang to engage in inter-Korean dialogue.



The foreign ministers also expressed their support for U.S. efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula diplomatically.



"We call on the DPRK to refrain from provocative actions and to engage in a diplomatic process with the explicit goal of denuclearization. We remain committed to the goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of all of the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions," they said in a joint statement, issued at the end of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' meeting in London.



DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.



"We welcome the readiness of the United States to continue its efforts in that regard and we remain committed to providing support," said the joint communique.



The London meeting involved the top diplomats of G7 countries, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as those of South Korea, India, Australia and Brunei, who took part by invitation.



The meeting came after the U.S. said on Friday that its comprehensive North Korea policy review had concluded and that its new approach toward the North will pursue "calibrated and practical" ways to make progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.



To that end, the G7 ministers underscored the need to fully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea.









"It is critical that sanctions which target the DPRK's unlawful weapons development remain in place while its programs exist," they said. "We regret that the DPRK has not taken concrete, verified actions towards denuclearization, and urge the DPRK to comply with all of its international obligations."





North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a closing address at a three-day conference of cell secretaries of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, April 9, 2021. Yonhap
The School Committee reviews a draft of next year's school budget.

North Adams FY22 School Budget Draft Leans on Federal Funding

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  School officials are proposing a level-service budget for fiscal 2022 of $18,380,596.

The draft plan presented to the School Committee on Tuesday is also level-funded and includes no cutbacks. The appropriation would be the same as this year: $17,769,074.

"While there are many things that are becoming more and more clear with regards to the FY 2022 budget, there are still some unknowns," Superintendent Barbara Malkas said. "This is a draft budget, we do not expect that the School Committee will be able to take any action on it tonight. We will need to schedule a public hearing for later in this current fiscal year, when we get to that point where we are, in fact, knowing what our true revenues and our true costs will be for FY22."

Those unknowns include finalizing contracts with professional staff and several nonprofessional bargaining units and final numbers from federal stimulus funds.

This budget is being supported by state Chapter 70 education aid and $611,522 in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds but not by dipping into the district's $2 million in school choice funds.

Business Administrator Carrie Burnett said the district benefitted by being held harmless by the state in terms of enrollment. The entire state saw a dip of 3.6 percent and North Adams, 8.15 percent, to 1,308 students. The reasons for the drops in enrollment statewide was in part due to families removing children for home-schooling or private school because of the pandemic.

Despite the drop in enrollment of 116 (which school officials believe will mostly reverse in the fall), the district will receive an additional $30 per student in aid, or $39,240, for total Chapter 70 funds of $13,848,943. North Adams was among the 242 districts out of 318 that received the minimum for extra aid from the Student Opportunity Act.

"So North Adams actually benefits from being held harmless as the aid is spread out over fewer students," said Burnett. "However this does increase our per pupil spending, due to a lack of economies of scale."

The current balance of school choice funds is $1,977,911. This revenue has often been used to offset costs and lower the appropriation through taxes. Burnett noted that declining enrollment and the pandemic has also affected school choice numbers, with the district receiving $332,000 in fiscal 2020 compared to a projected $240,000 in fiscal 2022. And it expended $24,000 more in school choice this year than last.

Federal funds have come in four phases as part of several congressional acts designed to support communities during the pandemic, along with state relief funds ($98,650). The first federal relief fund was $304,425, followed by ESSER I, II and III.

"The school district is approximately three-quarters of the way through the ESSER I fund with a carryover and an ending balance of $93,022, and we intend to use some of the ESSER I and ESSER II funds in the FYI 22 as well as the FY23 fiscal years," Burnett said. "We have already spent the Prevention Fund, as well as the school reopening grant, and mostly those funds have gone to PPE and technology."

The ESSER I amount was $491,049, she said, "it was strongly recommended that these funds are used for non-recurring expenses with such allowable activities that include educational technology, supplies and services that enable remote learning, mental health services, activities to address the needs of low-income students with disabilities, [English language learners] and ethnic minorities intake assessments, planning and implementing summer learning, PPE and other activities necessary to maintain district operations and services to employ existing staff."

ESSER II was signed into law Dec. 27 with similar restrictions and an added condition that at least at $10,000 be committed to student mental health and services. The district is in the process of applying for the $1,902,168 grant, which would run from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023. The third ESSER is part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act signed March 11 and requires 20 percent be committed to addressing learning loss and that the district have a plan in place for return to classrooms.

"We do not have our allocation yet but it's supposed to be to 9.2 times as much as the CARES Act," Burnett said. "They do not have a start date yet and we don't have our allocations, but they did outline that the ending date for that fund would be Sept. 30 of 2024, which then would mean that there would be some leftover funds to go into the FY25 school year."

Some of the resource considerations for the coming school year include teachers and staff for full-day prekindergarten; guidance counseling, social-emotional supports and career readiness; science and social studies curriculum; technology (iPads & Chromebooks); personal protective gear; student support services and teacher professional development; and contractual obligations.

"Some of our key issues in coming up with this budget are near term and long term. Addressing achievement gaps due to the pandemic would be a near term, as well as addressing the social emotional needs of students and staff, finding the staff and services necessary to meet these needs, and maintaining DESE safe return to school guidelines," she said. "The long-term concerns would be maintaining and funding the safety and DESE guidelines as well as services for FY23 and beyond, understanding and addressing the declining enrollment, capital planning for buildings and technology, and planning procedures and coordination systems to improve district preparedness and response efforts in, God forbid, another pandemic."

School Committee member Heather Boulger questioned the inconsistencies in salary line increases, which include estimated amounts. Burnett said there can be wide swings from year to year just from older teachers retiring and new teachers  at lower pay  coming on. Plus she noted, the district had been moving wages up for nonunion employees to reach the $15 minimum wage (which is state law effective Jan. 1, 2023).

"I think you are correct in that Ms. Boulger, it is important to point that out. A lot of these raises, they are in fact representative of two years ... because at this point last year we had no idea what our revenues would be, and in our budget for FY21, our professional staff and our non-professional staff and bargaining units, many of them did not take an increase," said Malkas. "So the set increase is actually representative of what they missed in terms of a cost-of-living increase or a negotiated increase this year."

Once the figures are more solid, the School Committee will hold a public hearing before voting on the fiscal 2022 budget.

"I appreciate the emphasis right from the jump that we're in a draft mode, that we're continuing to understand this. That's true on the city side as well," said Mayor Thomas Bernard. "So thanks for this and more to come for everyone."

North Adams School FY22 Budget presentation by iBerkshires.com on Scribd
Medical Matters Weekly Welcomes State Veterinarian for Tick-Borne Illness Discussion

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson, a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show, will feature Natalie Kwit, public health veterinarian with the Vermont Department of Health, as a guest on its May 12 show.

The show will air at a special time, 11 a.m., and will cover everything you need to know about ticks and tick-borne disease.

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

Dr. Kwit leads the Vermont Department of Health's Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Disease Program, including the surveillance, prevention, investigation, and response to tick-borne, mosquito-borne, and zoonotic diseases.

She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from University of Illinois and Master of Public Health degree from University of Minnesota. In her previous role as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) 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.

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-TV's Comcast channel 1074 airs the program at 8 a.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Upcoming guests include:

12 p.m. Wednesday, May 19: SVMC Gastroenerologist David Furman, MD, will talk about common issues of the digestive system.

12 p.m. Wednesday, May 26: Themarge Small, MD, of SVMC OB/GYN, and Deb Mone, RN, of the SVMC Women's and Children's Department will reflect on their years helping new families deliver babies.

12 p.m. Wednesday, June 2: SVMC Neurologist Emma Weiskopf will take us inside the brain.

12 p.m. Wednesday, June 9: Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont Anore Horton will talk about statewide food security initiatives.

Videos and podcasts are on svhealthcare.org/MedicalMatters , as well as YouTube and on many podcast-hosting platforms, respectively.
Berkshire Money Management Welcomes Two New Team Members

DALTON, Mass.  Berkshire Money Management welcomed Holly Simeone and Jared Reinstein.

Simeone is a client care specialist and will be at the helm of the BMM satellite office at 322 Main Street in Great Barrington, which is slated to open this summer.

"Our clients wanted us to be closer to South County," said founder and CEO Allen Harris. "To do that, we needed an all-star. We needed someone like Holly who can do it all."

Prior to joining BMM, Simeone, who has more than a decade of customer experience, was a dual employee for Lee Bank and October Mountain Financial Advisors, where she attended to client services, managing trust and estates, and private banking for wealth management clients. She has her Certified Estate and Trust Specialist designation from the Institute of Business and Finance, her Bachelor's in Business Administration from Fitchburg State University, and her Master's in Finance from the New England Institute of Business at Cambridge College.

Reinstein joins the advisor team at BMM.

"I hadn't planned on hiring a new advisor until 2025, but if you get a chance to hire someone of Jared's caliber you do that and you make sure he's part of your team," said Allen.

Reinstein comes to Berkshire Money Management with more than a decade of experience as a Financial Planner. He has worked for some of the most reputable firms in the Capital Region, including the Ayco Company (a division of Goldman Sachs), SEFCU Wealth Management, one of the largest credit unions in New York, and Citizens Investment Services, where he established and led a financial planning mindset for the region to showcase a financial planning process for clients. He is a Certified Financial Planner and a fiduciary and is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, where he earned his Bachelor's in Communications.
Eagle Newspaper Group Sells Off Vermont Publications

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  New England Newspapers is selling off its Vermont publications and a regional lifestyle publication to a Vermont company lead by entrepreneur Paul Belogour.

The sale consists of dailies Brattleboro Reformer and Bennington Banner, the weekly Manchester Journal and the 3-year-old award-winning UpCountry, a bi-monthly magazine. Both the Banner and Reformer date back more than a century.

The terms of the sale were not disclosed other than that the transfer will take effect on May 14 and that The Berkshire Eagle will not only continue to print the publications for at least five years, it will also continue to provide pagination, ad development and customer service for classifieds and circulation.

The papers will be operated by Belogour's newly established Vermont News and Media LLC and all current employees of the Vermont papers will retain their positions.

The sale leaves The Eagle as the lone publication of New England Newspapers Inc., which once also included the North Adams Transcript and weekly Advocate. Those publications folded in 2014.

The Vermont and Massachusetts papers were bought by MediaNews Group in the 1990s; The Advocate was acquired from Boxcar Media, iBerkshires' parent company, in 2005.

The Eagle was founded in the 1890s, although its roots in the county date back another hundred years. It was owned by the Miller family for most of its existence until being sold to Denver-based Media News Group, which was later absorbed into Digital First Media. Parent company Alden Global Capital had attempted to sell off its entire national holdings wholesale but the prospective deal fell through.

The regional papers were purchased by a local investment group , Birdland Acquisition LLC, in 2016. Headed by Judge Fredric Rutberg, the group's goal was to secure the future of local news, particularly The Eagle.

In a statement in the group's newsletter, Rutberg said the sale was not for financial reasons but that it would put The Eagle in a stronger financial position, according to Vermont Business Magazine.

"We have strong ties to each other, and I hope that the affection and commitment which are at the heart of these ties continues unabated through and after the closing of this sale," he said. "Both NENI and Vermont News and Media will do better and be stronger if their counterpart enjoys similar success."

Rutberg said, "the sale will allow ownership and management to concentrate our efforts on building The Eagle into the finest community news organization in America." This includes the new initiative of "Being Digital" to grow new digital products as well as the print publication.

Belogour, a financier who developed an online platform, Unitrader, to service international brokers, has invested heavily in southeastern Vermont, including a Viking Village in his adopted hometown of Guilford, a brewery, and the Vermont Innovation Box, a shared workspace in Brattleboro to support entrepreneurs.
Fishing in dangerous waters: A new flashpoint for Latin America and China

by Peter Schechter and Juan Cortinas

May 06,2021 | Source: Brink News

Illegal fishing is becoming a significant irritant in the increasingly complex economic relationship between China and Latin America. The issue boils down to Chinas hunger for seafood. Chinas need for seafood represents at least one-third of global fish demand, and future projections show dramatic consumption increases. A study by the Stockholm Resilience Center at the University of Stockholm projects that China will need an additional six to 18 million tons of seafood annually to satisfy domestic consumption. The increased demand for seafood has depleted fish stocks around Chinese coastal waters, forcing Chinese trawlers to exploit other waters. The Overseas Development Institute estimates the Chinese fleet to number nearly 17,000 ships. For comparisons sake, the U.S. distant fleet is composed of 300 vessels. Only Taiwan and South Korea come close to Chinas large fleet with 2,500 such vessels combined.



Not Just a Passing Fleet



Estimates of Chinese illegal fishing in South America are staggering. The head of Calamasur, a local fishing association in Peru, estimated that the Chinese fleet may be illegally fishing 50,000 tons of Humboldt squid in Peruvian waters, one of the main targets of the Chinese fishing expeditions.



Last September, Oceana, an international NGO focused on protecting the worlds oceans, called out China for having 300 vessels illegally fishing off the Galapagos Islands  thousands of miles away from its home coasts. The organization said that the ships  with their GPS turned off to hide  were first detected there in July 2020 and fished there until August. Around that same time, Peru mobilized its navy to watch its coastal waters as over 200 Chinese ships were identified illegally fishing near its coast. Its an open secret that every year vessels, mainly from China  are installed just at the edge of 200 miles off Peru to extract this resource, said Cayetana Aljovin, president of the National Society on Fishing, to Reuters. The Chilean navy has also reported Chinese vessels secretly fishing in its territory. The latest Chinese incursion into the waters of these South American nations resulted in the four member nations of the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific  Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and Peru  coming together to issue a joint statement promising to work together to prevent, discourage and jointly confront. China was not mentioned in the statement, but it was clear to everyone who was the perpetrator of the illegal fishing and the spark for the joint effort.



Collapse in Fish Stocks



Ecuador presented various proposals aimed at addressing Chinese fishing practices, including one that prohibits the use of transshipment  a practice which Oceana and other organizations have called out as illegal and damaging. Transshipping is a process by which fishing vessels and refrigerated cargo ships rendezvous at sea to transfer seafood, fuel or supplies. This practice has been flagged as one often intended to mask illegal fishing. The impact of Chinas fishing incursions can be measured in both economic and environmental impacts. According to Chiles National Fishing and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), illegal fishing causes $397 million in losses every year. Chilean government officials have asserted that 70% of that countrys fishing stock has collapsed.



The question is whether the broader economic agenda will diminish the interest of South American nations to hold China accountable for its illegal incursion into the regions fisheries. Ecuador has also suffered important environmental impacts. Sharks, a precious commodity in China, have been ravaged by the Chinese fleets activity. For instance, in August, 2017, a Chinese ship was detained with more than 6,000 dead sharks. The ship was a transshipment vessel for the precious cargo.



The US is Watching



United States officials have taken notice of Chinese power moves in the fishing industry. Axios recently reported that U.S. Intelligence agencies have recommended that the U.S. should consider leading a multilateral coalition with South American nations to push back against Chinas illegal fishing and trade practice. The report added that South American nations would welcome U.S. intervention into this matter. It cited in the document that Chinese fishing activities would cause continued economic harm to U.S. domestic fisheries as a result of anti-competitive tactics. Last year, the U.S. announced it would base Coast Guard cutters in the Western Pacific to prevent illegal fishing and harassment of vessels by China. Similarly, last December, the U.S. Coast Guard vessel joined a patrol mission to South America in a joint search to put an end to illegal fishing. This is part of a broader effort that began in 2015 in a partnership between the Coast Guard and South American nations.



Latin Americas Dependence on Chinese Money



Much has been written about Chinas increased investment and commercial ties with Latin America, especially with Pacific bordering nations. The question is whether this will simply remain an irritant or become a larger issue. There is much at stake. China has invested $28.24 billion in Peru since 2005. Ecuador, another primary victim of illegal fishing, received $12.94 billion  close to 13% of its GDP. Ecuadors exports to China are now 15.8%, compared to 3.9% in 2015. Over that time, exports to the U.S. decreased by nearly 16%. Most recently, Chinas pandemic diplomacy has made it a leader in providing COVID-19 vaccines to many countries in South America, including Chile which is leading the region in vaccinations.



So, the question is whether the broader economic agenda will diminish the interest of South American nations to hold China accountable for its illegal incursion into the regions fisheries. Given the economic upheaval in the region caused by COVID-19, it is likely that Chinas economic muscle will win out in the long run. There is no doubt that there is a growing interest in the United States to intervene and protect Pacific waters. But, Chinas international footprint and the difficult bilateral agenda between Beijing and Washington are likely to spare Chinas aggressive fishing industry a substantial penalty.

Theme(s): Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Landing Centres, Others, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources, Communities and Organisations, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats.
Uruguay to work with neighbours to protect migratory fish

by Sabina Goldaracena

May 06,2021 | Source: Dialogo China

The Southwest Atlantic Ocean attracts fishing fleets from all over the world due to rich marine life that swims beyond national waters. But despite concerns of overfishing, the region lacks the kind of fishing management organisation or governance system present in many other regions of the world. Uruguay, with a new government since last year, is seeking to change this. Fishing fleets from China, Taiwan, South Korea and Spain concentrate in waters near the outer limit of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. They are in search of squid and other species and will often stop at the Uruguayan port of Montevideo.



The number of vessels on both sides of the South American continent has grown steadily over the past two decades, leading to disputes with the authorities. In Ecuador, Chinese vessels were accused of illegal fishing last year. While the government of Argentina captured three vessels illegally fishing in its waters. This has fuelled the argument for a regional initiative to regulate fishing activity in areas beyond EEZs, which could help to establish catch limits, closed fishing seasons and reserves, and make it possible to keep a proper record of fishing activity and its legality. As it moves into the second year of President Luis Lacalle Pous administration, Uruguay is seeking to advance such an initiative. This fits with the governments announcement last year of new marine protected areas that would cover 10% of the nations waters.



Regional fishing organisations



Jaime Coronel, Uruguays national director of aquatic resources, told China Dialogue Ocean that the country has been in talks with Brazil since last year over the creation of a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO). Its essential to have a system of control in the region, just like the ones that exist in other parts of the world, he argued. RFMOs exist in most areas of the high seas with large fisheries or complex ecosystems. They facilitate cooperation between governments and help improve the prospects of species under continuous fishing pressure, such as tuna and swordfish. They are responsible for assessing resources, monitoring vessels and adopting conservation measures, among other things. Many have powers to manage resources according to an ecosystem approach. There are two RFMOs specifically for tuna covering the Atlantic Ocean. But there is no RFMO for other species overseeing the Southwest Atlantic.



Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), countries have an obligation to cooperate on conserving ocean life on the high seas, and to develop management measures if they are exploiting the same resources as other countries. States are even requested to establish regional fisheries organisations. This is especially relevant given RFMOs have the potential to protect biodiversity, and countries have been negotiating a landmark global deal known as the BBNJ (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction)  though the last BBNJ session, in 2020, was delayed by the pandemic. Coastal states in the Southwest Atlantic have not agreed on any management and governance formula for international waters, nor have they organised to prevent foreign fleets in waters adjacent to national jurisdictions from taking advantage of fish and squid there.



Countries must organise themselves to regulate catches outside national waters. Coronel said Uruguays Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in talks with Brazil on creating a Southwest Atlantic RFMO, which in turn raised the idea within Mercosur, the customs union comprising Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. However, Coronel warned that all countries would have to agree if the idea is to move forward. According to Coronel, at the last meeting of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries, in February, Argentina said it was not willing to negotiate on the RFMO, but would be if the model were different. The country has not yet proposed an alternative governance system for areas beyond national jurisdiction. Coronel explained that Uruguay will not hold talks with Argentina for another month or so. This is in part to give Argentina the chance to come up with alternatives to the RFMO



An information exchange network



The head of Uruguays navy, Rear Admiral Jose Luis Elizondo, told China Dialogue Ocean that the country is also making progress with a working group in the Regional Operational Cooperation Network of Maritime Authorities of the Americas (ROCRAM). The objective is to create a digital platform where states can bring together information on all vessels, including those which carry out or support unreported and unregulated fishing. Elizondo explained that efforts to address this activity are currently only made by individual countries. Once operational, the platform will provide information on maritime traffic, especially those vessels transporting fish, fuel or other cargoes from ship to ship. The ROCRAM working group will try to raise awareness, look for solutions and see how to influence unreported and unregulated fishing, since it threatens the food security of our countries, Elizondo added. IUU fishing and poor management in the high seas endangers the natural renewal of fish populations and indeed entire species. While declared, legitimate and regulated fishing provides protein and food security to three billion people in the world, according to the UN.



Uruguays fishing resources



Forty-five species of commercial value were caught in Uruguay in 2018, according to marine biologist Andres Milessi, coordinator of the Organisation for the Conservation of Cetaceans (OCC) and the Oceanosanos project, who was drawing on official statistics. In 2019, the main five were sea bass, hake, whiting, rouget and blue hake.



Most of these are caught with trawlers working alone or in pairs, with longlines or, in the case of more artisanal fisheries, gillnets. Milessi told China Dialogue Ocean that the main species caught off the coast of Uruguay migrate between there, Brazil and Argentina. There is already a Joint Technical Commission between Argentina and Uruguay that studies and analyses catches and establishes fishing management measures, as well as making recommendations on catch levels. But increased coordination between the Southwest Atlantic countries would help species that migrate between the three countries such as hake, Milessi added. We have to fish at levels that allow species to grow, reproduce and maintain healthy populations without reaching the extreme of collapse, Milessi said. To do this, countries must organise themselves to regulate catches, usually migratory, outside national waters.

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Landing Centres, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources, Communities and Organisations, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Others, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Water in Lake Malawi turns green

May 06,2021 | Source: Africa Feeds

The water in Lake Malawi has turned green in a rare phenomenon that has raised concerns among citizens. Authorities in the country have explained that the greening of the water was caused by a bloom in toxic algae.



Forestry and Natural Resources Minister Nancy Tembo said that occurred after heavy rains and wind mixed up the nutrients found at the bottom of the lake. She said the lake had become eutrophic  a condition where aquatic life begin to die off as oxygen levels reduce. The minister has now warned people to stay away and give the green water two weeks to fade away. Malawis fisheries department has also warned fishermen against fishing in the lake saying it could be harmful.



Lake Malawi is located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is the fifth largest fresh water lake in the world by volume, the ninth largest lake in the world by areaand the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa. Lake Malawi is home to more species of fish than any other lake, including at least 700 species of cichlids. The Mozambique portion of the lake was officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique on June 10, 2011 while in Malawi a portion of the lake is included in Lake Malawi National Park. Lake Malawi is a meromictic lake, meaning that its water layers do not mix.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Communities and Organisations, Others, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Resources, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Landing Centres, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats.
Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission convenes amid COVID-19s continued menace to worlds fisheries hub

May 06,2021 | Source: Relief Web

The 36th Session of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) has wrapped up the first of its three-day biennial session, convened in its first all-virtual format, amid ongoing uncertainties created within fishery-food supply chains caused by the global pandemic. In opening the Commission Session, the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries of the Royal Thai Government noted that the onset of COVID-19 had placed a tremendous impact on the world's socio-economic situation in all regions, in particular, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.



"The whole supply chain from farms or nets to plate is seriously affected," said Mesak Pakdeekong. "Alongside food hygiene and safety concerns, there are also issues related to labour in fisheries, fisheries monitoring, and surveillance as well as in trade and marketing. The Asia-Pacific region is a global hub of fish production, but adaptation to cope with the current situation is challenging and we must focus on the use of technologies and innovations for the development and enhancement of effectiveness in aquatic animal production," he said.



Aquaculture, innovation, inland fisheries



In opening the regional Commission Session, Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, noted that the Session would further guide the Commission in its function as a regionally owned body advocating and raising awareness of the fishery and aquaculture sectors, a task more important now than ever. The main objective of the 36th Session of APFIC is to provide its Members with an opportunity to review activities within the framework of the Commission and allow discussion of inter-sessional activities. The Members will provide recommendations on aquaculture innovations, knowledge sharing and capacity development within the APFIC region, as well as assess sustainable management of marine and inland fisheries.



The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission is committed to acting as a regional consultative forum, providing Member countries, regional organizations and fisheries professionals in the region with the opportunity to review and discuss the challenges facing the region's fisheries sector and helping them decide on the most appropriate actions to take. The virtual session, while not ideal, offered an opportunity for more delegates to participate in a more cost-effective manner than an in-person conference, given the vast size of the region and number of countries that are Members (17 Members, participating at this Session together with two observer countries and five regional organizations for a total of 90 registered delegates). Asia-Pacific's fish and aquaculture -- feeding a hungry world, sustaining livelihoods of millions



The Asia-Pacific region is the world's largest producer of fish. By weight, more than 50 percent of the world's catch of marine and river fish and 89 percent of global aquaculture comes from the Asia-Pacific region. Eight of the top ten aquaculture producing countries in the world are in the Asia-Pacific region and inland fisheries in the region account for 68 percent of total world inland fishery production. The fisheries and aquaculture sectors are important contributors to the food security, livelihoods and income of rural and coastal populations. About 90 percent of fishers and fish farmers in the region are small scale, highlighting the impact of the sector at the local scale. Some 93 percent of people employed in aquaculture and fisheries worldwide are located in Asia.

Theme(s): Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Communities and Organisations, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Resources, Landing Centres, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Others.


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Police on Thursday raided the office of a vocal North Korean defector who claimed to have sent anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North in defiance of a ban.







Police launched an investigation after Park Sang-hak, head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, a North Korean defectors group, said the organization sent 10 balloons carrying around 500,000 leaflets between April 25-29.







"We are currently searching relevant locations," an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Police said. "We will conduct a swift and strict investigation."







If confirmed, Park's group will be the first to have sent the leaflets critical of the Kim Jong-un regime since Seoul banned such activity under a revised law in March.







Violations of the law are punishable by up to three years in prison or up to 30 million won ($27,000) in fines.







The North Korean regime threatened "corresponding action" in response to the "intolerable provocation." (Yonhap)


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North Koreans pay tribute to the statues of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung, left, and his son and successor Kim Jong-il in this photo released by the North's Korea Central News Agency, April 26. Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo





North Korea founder Kim Il-sung's memoir "With the Century" Korea Times file
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South Korea's Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong arrives as G7 foreign ministers meet at Lancaster House in London, Britain, May 5, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap



Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has called for the Group of Seven (G-7) countries to exert their leadership to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, his office said Thursday, amid his stepped-up diplomacy to help South Korea's inoculation program.



Chung attended the in-person gathering of G-7 foreign and development ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Though not party to the G-7, South Korea, Australia, India, South Africa and Brunei have been invited as guests.



"While sharing our antivirus experience during discussions on responses to COVID-19 and vaccines, Chung stressed the pressing need for the international community's cooperation in guaranteeing equitable access to vaccines, and called for G-7 countries' leadership," the ministry said in a press release.



Chung also called for international support for Seoul's efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which he said is "core" to ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.






Name: Brandon Hoffman

Organisation: Netenrich

Job title: Chief Information Security Officer

Date started current role: July 2020

Location: Chicago, IL

Brandon Hoffman is an admired CTO and security executive well-known for driving sales growth and IT transformation. He is responsible for Netenrichs technical sales and security strategy for both the company and its customers. Most recently, he oversaw solution architecture for Intel 471s dark web threat intelligence business. As former CTO at Lumeta Corporation and RedSeal Networks, Hoffman led technical and field development in network security, vulnerability and risk. Hes also held key practitioner roles focused in security architecture, penetration testing, networking and data centre operations.



What was your first job? My first professional job was working at a radio company in Chicago. This was a technical role and was related to IT but also covered areas like remote broadcast and other RF technology. It was a great place to dive into a vast array of technical challenges which help prepare me for a future in cyber security.

How did you get involved in cybersecurity? After several years of working on different types of IT challenges, at the time, security was sort of the final frontier. Having done traditional IT like desktop and office work, data center, storage, networking and wireless, it felt like security tied everything together. At the time security was becoming a full-time discipline in its own right and it felt like a challenging and interesting space.

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I hold a Bachelor's degree from University of Illinois. A few years later, I decided to pursue my Masters degree from Northwestern University. Both degrees are technical although the Masters had some coursework in business. I used to have some certifications related to technology that, dare I say, may no longer be operating.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. My career path was a bit of an interesting twisting road, but perhaps thats not all that different from others. I started my career in radio broadcast and IT. Spent some time as a consultant focusing on security and wireless technology. So consulting was a bit of a detour but really helped form some of the foundations in my approach through wide exposure. After that I spent a lot of time on the vendor side building products, working with sales teams and mapping the output from products to actual value for customers. These roles helped me more deeply understand the challenges that need attention.

Was there anyone who has inspired or mentored you in your career? I wouldn't say I had any official mentoring but there were several key people. Mostly these people gave me a shot at something I thought I could do well but had no pedigree to prove it. These folks really helped shape my career by taking a chance on me. I would like to think they were happy with the outcome and I now try to pay it forward whenever the chance arises.

What do you feel is the most important aspect of your job? I think the most important aspect of my job is understanding people and connecting with them. In the end, it is all about the people. Without people nothing gets done and in order to execute on anything successfully there needs to be shared intent and vision.

What metrics or KPIs do you use to measure security effectiveness? There is a wide variety of metrics that people can use for security but the challenge is that there is no universal metric. Metrics around detection, response, spend, activity are all fine on their own. But these metrics need to be honed for each individual organisation.

Is the security skills shortage affecting your organisation? What roles or skills are you finding the most difficult to fill? Truthfully the skills shortage is found across the board. Some of the hardest roles to fill include SOC analysts, threat intelligence analysts, and threat hunters. These roles include some specialised skills that are in high demand. I do think the industry has a hard time accepting people that do not have several years of experience but it is something we collectively need to get over. There are a lot of smart talented people coming into the industry and we need to give them a shot. We were all given a shot at some point and we need to pay it forward  for us and more importantly for them.

Cybersecurity is constantly changing  how do you keep learning? It is always a struggle to keep up but staying in the know is critical. Conferences and virtual events are great places to learn but there are also a ton of free resources out there to learn about new and trending tech. I also find interacting with the vendors of technology provides insight into the market trends and to learn about the newest tools and services available.

What conferences are on your must-attend list? Blackhat and RSA are old standbys. I also enjoy the locally organised conferences. B-sides and others provide a more casual technology focused agenda that keeps security close to its roots.

What is the best current trend in cybersecurity? The worst? The best trend I see now in cybersecurity is the focus on motivation and intent from an adversary perspective. This really forces organisations to be critical about risk assessment and creates a scenario where classifying assets and data is not optional. The worst trend is, and always will be, ignoring foundational security processes for advanced or popular new technology. You cannot build a house without a foundation and the same goes with cybersecurity.

What's the best career advice you ever received? The best advice I received was to remain true to yourself and stay focused on the things you are passionate about. Also to cultivate relationships with the people you work with. Without the people nothing will be accomplished and having a work-social balance can ease business discussions at all levels.

What advice would you give to aspiring security leaders? I would say to focus on the parts of security where your interest is the highest. For most people, I feel, they will be happier and productive working on something intellectually stimulating. Climbing the ladder of course is a focus for a lot of people but the higher you go the less you are able to work on what you love.

What has been your greatest career achievement? I would say my greatest career achievement was the two patents I hold from a product design at a company I was previously a part of.

Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? Actually, I am quite comfortable with the choices Ive made in my career. I think the only thing I would change is to be more honest with myself about what I really enjoyed working on and to stay on that track. While I had great experiences diversifying the roles I held, there's a chance that staying in some of the tracks I loved would have provided more job satisfaction.
Small businesses have spent more than a year adapting to the many challenges of operating during a pandemic. Thanks to increased vaccination rates, many businesses are reopening and many employees are looking to return to the office. But while the future may be more normal, it won't be the old normal.

In Wednesday's Small Business Week Town Hall, business leaders discussed how companies can survive and flourish in the post-pandemic future. The session was moderated by Inc. executive editor Marli Guzzetta. Panelists included Jessica Johnson-Cope, Johnson Security Bureau CEO and president; Alejandro Velez, the co-founder and co-CEO of Back to the Roots; and Natalie Kaddas, the CEO of Kaddas Enterprises and vice chair of the Small Business Council. Here's a roundup of some of the takeaways from the session.

Focus on employee safety and training in the months ahead.

The panelists agreed that there will be a greater emphasis on occupational health and safety and offices reopen. "As a manufacturer, what we are really focused on is taking care of our employees. We've always focused on occupational safety, but how we've taken that to another level has been really important for our engagement," said Kaddas.

The CEOs anticipated increased investments by workplaces in Covid-safe technology, such as robotics, biometrics, and health security.

"Our clients are asking us to help them comply with their safety protocols, especially as they apply to Covid," said Johnson-Cope. She said that the pandemic created ample opportunities in the health security space for her company, and she believed that would continue for the next 18 to 24 months at least. Johnson Security Bureau worked with local hospitals in New York City, for example, to provide security for hospital visitors and patients, as well as Covid testing and vaccination sites.

Johnson-Cope said she's seen established technology, such as biometrics and camera access control systems, be repurposed for security during the pandemic.

Her company anticipates that the increased reliance on health security will occur on a greater scale. "As a result, they'll use less of the human element and more of the technology element," said Jonshon-Cope.

Invest in upskilling your current work force, as well as recruiting new staff.

The pandemic may have changed the nature of the work some businesses do. Businesses may now find that they have to recruit new workers with new skills, or "upskill" their current workforce. The panelists cautioned that it's best to do a mix of both in order to scale your workforce.

"Say everyone is driving defensively. Who is going to drive offense? So we have to drive offense and defense when it comes to our workforce," said Johnson-Cope. "We do have to hire to promote from within, but we have so many new opportunities that the staff we have is not going to be sufficient. So we have to find new recruiting partners, new recruiting sources, and they're going to have a different set of skills, moving beyond Covid, than they did before the pandemic."

Look for new partnership opportunities.

Doors that were previously closed may now be open for small businesses. Large older corporations may now be looking for opportunities to increase diversity in their ranks, be more environmentally conscious, or invest in their local communities.
It's 5:00 am and on any given weekday in Topanga Canyon, California you can count on polymath Van Neistat being up and ready for his 4-mile morning run. First half, uphill in the dark. The thing is, Van hates running. He quotes Mike Tyson as he grudgingly puts on his least favorite over-sized maroon sweatpants, reflective vest, headband with headlamp and darts out on to a cold, dusty canyon trail: "Discipline is doing something that you hate as if you love it. Yes, it sucks running but you gotta do it anyway, just like brushing your teeth."

This pattern of 'doing what needs to be done' and 'fixing what needs to be fixed' is a theme in Neistat's daily existence. In fact, he admits he doesn't understand why. That's just how he's hardwired. He is particular about everything. From his unique eyewear, channeling a cross between mad scientist and high school Shop teacher...to the handmade belt and large brass buckle donning his name, there is a story behind all of it. Every choice seems to be deliberate and thought through with careful consideration. Every box and container in his man cave workspace where he writes stories on his circa 1930's Corona typewriter (same kind used by Ernest Hemingway) and makes videos has a label. He is meticulous about the type of mechanical pencil he uses because, after testing all of them, he found the perfect weighted instrument with a quality of led that doesn't break when he makes daily To-Do lists. His pencil is hand-etched with the date, (as are most other items he owns) so he has context about when he started using it. Don't get me started on his compulsion for Post-It notes. And don't call it OCD.

Van Neistat might be obsessive about some things but there's no disorder. He's creative to a fault. In my observation, Neistat, in his own way, isn't much different from the prolific problem solver and fixer, Elon Musk. Hear me out.

Musk is a persistent observer, who is known for being frustrated with a problem and building a company around solving it. PayPal, Tesla, Solar City, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. All the result of Elon's pursuit to fix what in his mind is broken or should be improved. Neistat simply can't help giving a damn when he notices something that should be improved upon or that needs to be repaired. This is a character type he calls The Spirited Man (and woman) in a new video series reminiscent of the early Neistat Brothers style and production that was purchased for $2 million by HBO about a decade ago.

When Van was a young kid, he was extremely handy and curious. He says he liked to take things apart to see how they worked, and with anything he does in life, he's usually to be found tinkering away, figuring out how things work and if not how to fix them.

"I wanted to build things," he says. "[Maybe] be an engineer. As a child I would get in trouble for taking everything apart in the house and also I would get in trouble for taking apart my bicycles because I was unable to put them back together."

Neistat says he even took apart one of the family telephones (rotary phone) to inspect its inner workings. This boyhood curiosity naturally leant itself to becoming creative and artistic and playing with a camera and making little movies seemed to come naturally to Neistat. But it took some time for him to realize his passion.

Neistat's family story is very touching. When Van was a baby, his mother was a single mom working for tips in a restaurant to make ends meet. Her future husband, Barry Neistat came into that restaurant met her, married her, and adopted Van as his own son. The new couple then had three children together, the second child, Casey was especially attached to Van while growing up. Van would later legally adopt Casey during his college years after his younger brother left home and wanted to be emancipated.

Neistat says that he had a very typically Generation X childhood. He and his siblings grew up in suburban Connecticut and their parents would sometimes travel and leave a young Van in charge of his younger siblings. Van's journey to becoming a filmmaker wasn't a linear one. When it came to deciding what he wanted to do for a career, he said that he didn't have a very specific idea in mind at first. He said he knew he predominantly just wanted to make a lot of money. That there was an aesthetic sensibility to him where he wanted to live in a nice home and be surrounded by nice things, travel etc... and he knew that in order to do that he needed to have money.

While living in New York City in his twenties, Van worked for Scholastic for a time as a writer. While the job paid his bills and he enjoyed living in the city, he felt trapped in an office environment and knew instinctively that that career was not going to sustain him emotionally for a long time.

"I knew when I was at Scholastic...I knew that I wasn't going to be sitting in a cubicle writing these articles [forever.] All the stories have that: I went this way, and I went all I could this way and it was not the right path. So, then I got the camera and built this little rig that went on my handlebars...and then during rush hour I road my bicycle through the Holland Tunnel."

Neistat started taking these videos he was shooting from his bicycle and experimenting with putting them online. He continued recording his day-to-day life in New York City and cutting it together on an old iMac computer on one of their earlier versions of iMovie.

Once brother Casey joined him in New York City, the two started working together on these little home-made videos about day-to-day life. Casey himself credits Van with coming up with the ideas for their most successful film projects.

Neistat tells me that there were a few seminal moments in his life that he felt sort of helped to define his creative spirit. As a child he had a close friend whose parents he describes as intellectuals. He says that these parents of his friend were very passionate about the children reading as much as they could, and Neistat says that he would often read so he could impress the family and tell them about the books he was enjoying. This later evolved into him reading the works of Hunter S. Thompson, which Neistat says were influential toward his desire to embody a nomadic spirit. And finally, there was a European trip that he took at the time before starting his career. There was something about navigating a foreign land and learning about new cultures pre the internet, that really piqued his interest in storytelling and finding ways to share art and beauty with other people.

Neistat began working with artist Tom Sachs, doing branded content for Nike and other big brands that allowed him to work and travel and be paid to be making films. But while he enjoyed the work, he shares with me how hard it is to work in this industry, something I know quite well. Part of his coping strategy was a delicate balance of cannabis and alcohol, and eventually he says the combination stopped working for him and he pushed himself toward sobriety. His journey with sobriety forced him to sort of re-learn and reexamine his own personality and he also slowed way down and started to focus on perfecting his craft.

Neistat spent the next few years bouncing between New York City and Los Angeles, creating a lot of content for different brands. He always put his creative spin on projects, often times combining practical visual effects with artistic sensibility. After working a booth for Twitter at VidCon, Neistat says he got paid enough to pay his rent on his New York apartment and his studio space there and then drive himself to Mexico for a four-month surfing trip leading up to his 40th birthday.

"I surfed every day," he says. "I hate surfing. I hate the water; I hate being wet...but I surfed every day because I thought this is my opportunity to get good at this thing...I didn't get good at it. I hate surfing. But it was wonderful living down there, I loved the little community, and I knew all the people out in the water, and I was writing every day and I came up with The Spirited Man thing."

Neistat says he read the book Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford and that it inspired his concept. He says that in the book the author describes the spirited man, who wants to understand why things are the way they are, how they work and so forth and Neistat identified strongly with this idea. So much so that he says it was a relief to feel so seen and understood.

Neistat says that in 2016 he made his first Spirited Man episode, not knowing that it would be part of a larger project. He says he sat on the video, but the idea didn't go away and once Covid hit, things started to change.

"I was supposed to make a feature film that I wrote last year," he says. "I had producers, and the money, and all this stuff and Covid [came] and the window was shut and went away. But I had that one episode [of The Spirited Man] and I said, okay, you're locked in your house. I was still doing a writing project for Tom Sachs...but I was able to grind out a few hours a day doing these Spirited Man episodes and I think it became this manifestation of Mr. Rogers for adults and after Neistat Brothers, that was my ambition. Whether you're in prison, or you're POTUS...we all have Mr. Rogers in common and he was a good thing. A force for good." Put a pin in the Mr. Rogers reference and meet me at the end of this story...

The Spirited Man is an unlimited series of short films about creation and repair, introspection, and thought books combined with living. The series itself is pretty much all of the parts of Van's personality that make him who he is. It's equal parts, creativity, tinkering, discovery, DIY, problem solving, learning, critical thinking and more. There's something familiar and comforting about it and yet it's also completely and totally unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Neistat has just wrapped up his Kickstarter campaign for The Spirited Man and raised more than double the amount ($120,442) of funds that he was hoping to raise--and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The Neistat family has been living off the last fumes of their financial resources that were abruptly cut off due to the pandemic and travel restrictions for filmmakers. Not exactly a Hail Mary pass, the fulfillment of Van's project this time around is more like the story of Balto the Siberian Husky sled dog, who delivered the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska with the diphtheria antitoxin just in time to save lives.

Van Neistat is now recharged and still has a passion for figuring things out and I don't see him slowing down with new videos anytime soon. He's a problem solver, and even during a global pandemic he has still found a way to pursue his passion and share it with the world.

My main take away lessons from this spirited man is that there is a value in what might be called the lost art of giving a damn. For fixing things that physically or metaphorically need to be fixed in our lives. This could mean giving up addictions or creating new healthy habits. It's also a good reminder to push through the hard things that need to be done and act "as if you love it" because it matters.

One last thing...What strikes me about Van's story is how much he was influenced by his early childhood. I might be wrong but it seems like he is unconsciously living the life his adopted father Barry never got to live. That is, Barry had a modestly successful career in the restaurant supply business but it wasn't his passion. He took what he thought was the safe route to provide for his family and create stability. What was Barry's true passion? He wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. He wanted to be Mr. Rogers. Van, as I end this piece I would echo the feelings of the late great Fred Rogers: "You've made this day a special day, by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you; and I like you just the way you are."
Part of Inc.'s 2021 Best Industries report.

America's backyards are ripe for disruption.

In 2017, healthy snack entrepreneur Coulter Lewis noticed the discrepancy between the care organic farmers took for their land and the way the suburbanites eating his snacks sprayed their lawns with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. After doing some math, Lewis determined that private home lawns, which make up 10 times more land than U.S. organic farms, would be the third-largest U.S. crop by area. He also calculated that homeowners put about five times more pesticides per acre on lawns than farmers put on industrial farms. Lewis thought, why not give lawn care the organic treatment and deliver it directly to consumers through a friendly brand?

In 2018, Lewis began building Boulder, Colorado-based Sunday, a nontoxic lawn care company that sells grass-nurturing systems designed for the land's geography, climate, and soil composition directly to consumers. Sunday's hose-attachment pouches contain ingredients that bring to mind a juice bar: seaweed, iron, potassium, soy protein, and molasses. A year's worth of pouches sells for roughly $200 with delivery in three seasonal shipments.

One of Sunday's differentiators, according to Lewis, is its proprietary agricultural software for soil and geographical analysis, which many prospective buyers can use simply by plugging in their address. The software creates a custom lawn plan by factoring in things like average temperatures, historic rainfall, and the amount of silt, sand, and clay in the soil.

"What is lawn care today? In a store, it's literally pallets stacked high with bags of toxic chemicals," Lewis says. U.S. consumers, he says, treat their lawns like chemical carpets that depend on fertilizers and pesticides to grow. "That's not how nature works," he says.

When Lewis began pitching venture capitalists, he noted that during his time building his previous company, Quinn's Snacks, which his wife and co-founder, Kristy Lewis, currently runs as CEO, he witnessed U.S. consumers' food preferences shift toward organic produce and farming. At the same time, lawn care consisted of toxic fertilizers that can render lawns unsafe for children to play on. Claims over the spot-treatment product Round-up, an herbicide, led its parent company, Bayer, to pay $10 billion to settle cancer lawsuits.

At first, venture capitalists weren't convinced. Many of the investors--usually affluent residents of New York City or San Francisco--believed that not enough people do their own lawn care to warrant a DTC product like Sunday. Lewis kept pitching, however, and eventual raising a seed round from Forerunner Ventures in 2019, which helped get Sunday off the ground. The company has since raised a total of $28 million in venture funding from firms including Tusk Ventures, founded by Bradley Tusk, an early investor in Uber.

Sunday isn't alone in the DTC lawn care market, however. Other startups targeting eco-minded homeowners include Instead, which delivers natural lawn fertilizer each season; Lawnbright, a subscription lawn care service offering natural bug and weed control; and Lawnbox, which sells organic fertilizer and spreaders. Each is entering an already massive backyard-improvement industry. Total U.S. landscaping industry revenue is expected to reach $105.1 billion in 2021 and grow to $118.2 billion by 2026, according to research firm IBISWorld.

The lawn care segment of the home improvement industry could also be overdue for a shakeup, as the top five lawn care companies in the country are between 23 and 80 years old. "You could go back 20 years, stand in the lawn care aisle at a home store, and you wouldn't even know it was 20 years ago," Lewis says. "It looks exactly the same."

The broader DIY home-improvement space has been in a pandemic boom, says Michael Mayer, the co-founder of Windmill, a startup that sells window-unit air conditioners directly to consumers. Mayer notes that the trend predated the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders across the country but felt a lift from people looking at every nook and cranny in their house and thinking, how can I make this better? "They're refreshing things they didn't even know they could before," Mayer says.
Ciara Imani May's scalp felt like it was on fire. It wasn't the 2019 summer heat in North Carolina: She had just started wearing hair extensions regularly.

Many Black women and men wear their hair in protective styles such as braids and twists that use hair extensions, which are often made from plastic. Besides putting pressure on the hair follicle, which can lead to conditions like alopecia, braiding hair containing plastic is widely known to cause skin irritation. The chemical coatings and the plastic itself are thought to be the cause, with suggested remedies ranging from boiling the extensions to soaking them in apple cider vinegar, which supposedly makes them less irritating.

May was tired of it. In January, after more than a year of development and $136,000 in grant funding, she launched St. Louis-based Rebundle, which makes biodegradable, banana fiber-based braiding hair, or hair extensions. The direct-to-consumer product began shipping in March. May declined to share revenue, but says that pre-sale orders exhausted supplies in just under a month.

A 2018 graduate of the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, May used some of the grant money she received from NC Idea, an organization that promotes entrepreneurship in North Carolina, to order a lab analysis on leading brands' braids. The analysis turned up chemicals linked to a variety of illnesses and medical conditions.

"I'm asking questions about this industry that had not been addressed before," she says. Rebundle lists all of the ingredients in its product on its website: banana fibers, nontoxic dye, organic shampoo and conditioner, protein treatment, and grapeseed oil. "We really value people being aware of what they're using on their bodies, making sure it's clean and it's safe," May says.

The month that Rebundle launched, Sherrell Dorsey, the founder and CEO of The Plug, an online publication focused on trends in Black innovation in technology, tweeted in support of Rebundle's ecofriendly braids. The demand for the product was clear from some of the reply tweets. "I now have hundreds of stories of people like, 'I can wear my braids and not have to worry about itchiness? I'll give you all my money right now,' " May says.

Concerns about hair extensions go beyond just discomfort. A 2014 study by the activist nonprofit Environmental Working Group found that beauty products marketed to Black women were more toxic than products marketed to the general public. Companies such as the beauty brand Carol's Daughter that sell products without sulfates or parabens have helped promote the natural hair movement, which encourages Black women to wear their hair in its natural texture and thus avoid potentially harmful styling products. The idea gained traction in the 1960s and 1970s and in recent years has grown in popularity. Dorsey says Rebundle has a direct link to the trend.

"I see [Rebundle] as a movement within commerce that is culturally aligned with what the natural hair movement has been but truly capitalizes on disruptive innovation in markets that are highly profitable and coveted," she says. She adds that looking at hair extensions and other hair products from a sustainability standpoint "could prove to be a next-tier conversation for the industry."

Another potential advantage for Rebundle is that Black hair care, beyond creams and oils, is ripe for innovative products and tools, like braiding hair or satin caps to cover your natural hair while sleeping, according to Mac Conwell, managing partner at RareBreed Ventures, a firm focused on underrepresented founders. "It is an overlooked industry that has had the same major players forever," he says. Such brands as Kanekalon, which introduced its braiding hair in 1957, and Toyokalon, which invented the product in 1952, have been prominent in the hair extensions market for decades, partially because "consumers just didn't have other options," he says. For May, Rebundle is about giving Black women more choice.

The market opportunity for plant-based hair extensions is also significant, as Black Americans spent $473 million on hair care in 2017, according to market research firm Nielsen. Black Americans also accounted for 86 percent of dollars spent on "ethnic hair and beauty aids." What's more, Rebundle's launch comes amid an overall consumer trend toward more sustainable products. Americans are expected to spend up to $150 billion on sustainable products in 2021, according to information, data, and market firm NielsenIQ, which also found that consumers were willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products. At $20 per bundle and a recommended four to six bundles per one box braid hairstyle, Rebundle's braiding hair costs more than non-plant-based competitors, coming in at about $80 to $120 for a box braid hairstyle. Kanekalon, a popular synthetic brand, sells a box braid set on Amazon for $34.99.
Foreign youths share their stories of 2020 in China

16:07, May 06, 2021 By Wei Deng ( People's Daily Online

China's economy grew 18.3% year on year in Q1 of 2021. The recovery has begun in the second half of 2020. While facing the raging pandemic, China took the lead in containing the coronavirus and became the only country in the world to achieve positive economic growth last year. Produced by People's Daily Online West USA Inc., the docuseries "Viewing China From Afar: A Story in China" was released online recently, documenting a group of young foreigners' travels in China in 2020.

James wanted to find a place to start his own business, and then he came to Guangzhou Development District. Scott has been in China for nearly ten years. He really likes the lifestyle in Chengdu and the food in Chongqing. Tim has just come to China to study. He has fallen in love with the cultural charm of the ancient capital Xi'an. Shakhrukh wanted to see how the ancient stone carvings engraved on the mountain rocks represented the ancient Chinese aesthetic. Stephan, who also loves classical Chinese culture, wanted to see the micro-expressions of the Terracotta Warriors...

Scott, Tim, James, Shakhrukh, and Stephan are from the United Kingdom, the United States, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Some of them were studying in China, others were looking for development opportunities. While the 2020 pandemic stopped everyone in their tracks, these foreign youths continued their exploration in China, the first country to recover from the pandemic. They were looking for opportunities, visiting cities and exploring culture, and they want to show us the real China through their stories.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong arrives for talks during the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in London, Wednesday. AP-Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Although a long-awaited foreign ministerial meeting between Korea and Japan has taken place, diplomatic tension between the two countries is not expected to decrease overnight due to their sharp differences on pending issues, according to diplomatic observers, Thursday.



They also said even if their leaders sit down with each other for the first time in an envisioned summit in Britain next month, it will not be easy to see any improvement in relations, currently strained by a feud over wartime history and Japan's decision to release radioactive wastewater from a destroyed nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.



Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi held their first face-to-face talks Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in London, but they lasted a mere 20 minutes and did not proceed well, with one urging the other to show sincerity regarding the thorny issues, according to their respective foreign ministries.



Currently, ties between Seoul and Tokyo are at their lowest ebb in decades over wartime history issues, so Chung, who took office in February, has not even had a phone call with Motegi due to Japan's refusal to accept any attempts at contact.



"I do not believe the bilateral ties will improve anytime soon," said Lee Won-deog, a professor of Japanese studies at Kookmin University.



"There was a glimmer of expectation that the Chung-Motegi talks would serve as momentum to ease the ongoing dispute ahead of a series of diplomatic events such as the Korea-U.S. summit on May 21 and a possible summit between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the fringes of the G7 summit in Britain in June. But based on the meeting outcome, the two sides do not seem prepared to mend fences with each other, making it hard to realize such expectations."



Yang Ki-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University, echoed Lee's view.



"The meeting just ended up with the two top diplomats staking out their own position on the pending issues, raising speculation that it is highly unlikely to see the diplomatic tension fade away," Yang noted.



The professor also said that rather than voluntarily holding the meeting, Korea and Japan were pressured by the United States, and were responding to growing calls from the media to ameliorate the tense relations by communicating with each other.



The meeting followed trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.



The two countries are now expected to work on arranging a summit between Moon and Suga. Since the Japanese premier took office in September last year, the two heads of state have yet to meet each other in person.



While there are lingering rumors that the two nations may find ways to ease the feud in the envisioned summit, the experts did not buy into this conjecture despite the two leaders potentially sitting down with each other.



"Should they take place, the Moon-Suga talks may follow a trilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Even if they meet, it is naive to have high hopes for any fence-mending through the bilateral summit," Lee said.



Yang said, "The point is the Japanese government totally distrusts the Korean government, so it is reluctant to initiate efforts toward reconciliation. In addition, with Moon's term nearing its end, the Japanese side seems to have low expectations for better ties."




When I went to the grocery store the other day, I noticed that the bulk-foods section was open again, a year after pandemic-related fears led to its closure.

Nobody had made a big deal about the restoration of customers ability to buy old-fashioned oatmeal from large barrels. It just happened.

And thats the way the recovery from the pandemic will unfold. There wont be a single moment of reopening, complete with a three-hour extravaganza on network TV. One little thing will return, and then another.

For marketers, that means that the next year or so wont reflect a complete return to normal. But at the same time, all of our markets are going to be different than they were during the worst of the pandemic during 2020 and early 2021.

In short, this going to be a transitional year, one that requires brands to be careful, sensitive, and nimble.

Because my business works closely with resorts and travel destinations, Im watching carefully what this sector is doing as it prepares for this transitional travel season. Their strategies, I think, potentially have wide application across all sorts of consumer markets during the next year.

Here are five important trends Im seeing. (The examples and links below are clients of my agency.)

Messaging about health and safety is less important than even six months ago

Its increasingly rare to see campaigns that emphasize brands deep-cleaning procedures or measures that improve social distancing. Its not that consumers arent giving importance to health and safety. Rather, they simply expect excellent health protocols as a matter of course.

Healing is likely to be an important theme

Edgewood Tahoe Resort, for instance, found success this spring with an initiative it dubbed Taholistic. Guests received a clear quartz healing crystal as a turndown gift, selected relaxing bath salts and dried florals from a DIY Bath Salts Bar, cleared their minds with virtual meditation and breathwork programming and fell asleep to a bedtime-story podcast. The results: Strong bookings during the ordinarily quiet spring season.

Consumers are likely to go all-in on halfway measures

Many consumers are flush with cash after spending little during the past year, but theyre still cautious about health and safety issues. Theyre willing to spend-;they have cash burning holes in their pockets-;but they still need time to regain all of their confidence.

As a result, were seeing campaigns such as The Great American Road Trip developed by Montanas Discover Kalispell. Travelers who book a three-night stay at a hotel in the resort community near Glacier National Park receive a free annual pass to all 2,000 national parks, monuments, and historic sites in the United States. The campaign reflects the likelihood that Americans are going to travel in a big way this summer, but concerns linger about air travel. This is likely to be the year for big trips down highways far from home.

Then, too, The Great American Road Trip and its offer of a free pass to iconic locations taps into the undercurrent of national pride that arose as Americans got through the worst of the pandemic together.

The remarkable diversity of Americans is an emergent theme

The awful, traumatic events of the past year brought the nations diversity to the forefront, and Americans appear more curious about exploring their multiplicity of ethnic and racial communities.

In California, for instance, Visit Stockton-;identified by U.S. News & World Reportas the most racially diverse city in the country-;launched the Stockton Taco Trail which offers commemorative decals, T-shirts and caps to consumers who visit at least 10 of the citys 50 Mexican restaurants.

Its part of an initiative that showcases historic sites such as the first Sikh temple in the United States along with cultural events and dining experiences in the city 90 minutes east of San Francisco.

While rooted in the diversity of experiences available in Stockton, the campaign draws additional power from the continued desire of consumers to assist owners of small businesses, particularly restaurants, who were hard-hit by the COVID-19 restrictions. That, too, is going to be a theme for a while longer.

Marketers are absolutely walking on eggshells right now

The events of the 12 months brought to the forefront three of the most emotionally charged elements of American life-;death, race, and politics. During these months of transition, each of those nerves remains raw.

As a result, every element of every campaign is getting a closer-than-usual look from diverse sets of eyes within marketing teams to make sure that it reflects todays sensitivities.

Theres a growing realization, too, that other stakeholders will have a strong voice during these times of transition and recovery. In resort communities, for example, full-year residents may have lingering concerns about the chance that visitors could bring COVID-19 or other diseases with them.

Marketers who dont want to be blindsided by opposition are taking extra time these days to identify all the stakeholders, even if theyre not part of the traditional mix, and addressing their concerns from the start.

Times of transition such as these always are fraught for marketers.

Their messaging needs to move forward from the multiple crises of the past year, but they cant get too far ahead, especially given the nations raw nerves.

Success, as always, will come to marketers who listen carefully to consumers, shape or reshape products to meet the needs of today rather than yesterday and craft messages that sell without offending.
Dylan Moran has weighed in on the debate around political correctness in comedy, saying hes offended people and regretted it in the past but will probably do it again.

The comedian, famous for his role as curmudgeonly bookshop owner Bernard Black in the sitcom Black Books, argued that 2021 is a great time to be doing comedy precisely because there is so much tension and everybodys getting on each others tits.

He told The Guardian that, post-Brexit, were in an era thats like watching somebody pull a Snickers bar apart very slowly.

There are all these old ties, these skeins of connection, some breaking and some of them holding as we reset, said Moran. Theres a massive realignment happening, a sense of, This is enough, this wont do any more.

This tension does not affect how he creates his comedy, he insisted. I dont give a f*** about PC, said Moran. It wouldnt enter my mind. Im not going to take any directives from anybody. The decisions I take about what I say are mine. And Ive got it wrong, and offended people, and I regret it, and Ill probably do it again.

But thats destiny, thats human existence. I dont think any movement or social awareness is going to change that. You have to accept that. If you dont, its just a sign of your immaturity.

Morans 2018 show Dr Cosmos will stream on Dice.fm on 8 and 9 May.

In 2019, BBC boss Shane Allen said British comedy is being ruined by social media users with a Victorian moral code.

He spoke about the threat of excessive political correctness as he announced plans to launch the British Comedy Foundation (BCF)  an organisation dedicated to finding comedians from under-represented backgrounds.

Allen claimed that the creation of a comedy charter would help to deal with viewers who complain about jokes without appreciating their context, particularly around political offence.
As hundreds of tonnes of Covid-19 relief material including oxygen cylinders and concentrators arrive in India from countries, questions have already begun over delays in distribution.

Several states claim they have not received any information about consignments, a a week after they first arrived.

India has so far received aid from almost a dozen countries, including the US and the UK, as the deadly second wave continues to wreak havoc, crippling its healthcare system.

On Thursday, India recorded 412,262 cases and 3,980 deaths, both record numbers, taking the country over 21 million total infections so far and more than 230,000 deaths.

The government said Indias so-called double mutant variant appeared likely to be linked to the recent surge in cases but stopped short at a news conference of saying they were causally connected.

While thousands of people in India are still posting urgent SOS requests on social media for oxygen cylinders each day along with hospitals raising alarms over depleting oxygen, government sources are insisting a large majority of the aid received has already been delivered to hospitals.

However, according to various statements from state officials, the distribution for consignments did not begin until as late as Monday evening, more than a week after the first batch of emergency assistance arrived in India.

Total supplies sent from all countries include1,764 oxygen concentrators, 1,760 oxygen cylinders, seven oxygen generation plants, 450 ventilators and more than 1.35 lakh Remdesivir vials and 1.20 lakh Favipiravir strips, according to the Health Ministrys statement on Wednesday.

However, the hospitals are still reporting the same devastating shortages and several state governments and opposition leaders are questioning the federal governments lack of transparency in distributing these supplies -- raising questions, even among foreign donors, of where the aid is going.

An Indian government source said that a large part of the aid received by India up to Tuesday has been distributed to hospitals, providing details of the allocation that includes states across the country. Were trying to get it all out, theres nothing [to be gained] from trying to keep it, the source said.

However, the government source confirmed that several items had faced supply problems, citing "cold chain issues" with delivering liquid Remdesivir, for instance. "Some of it has got stuck," they admitted. "But a lot of it has been delivered."

States, especially those not governed by the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party, complained of a lack of transparency in the distribution of aid.

Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo, speaking to news channel NDTV, said his government has asked for ventilators they are yet to receive. "We have asked for 280 ventilators a month back".

An Indian woman waits to get her COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign at KC General Hospital in Bangalore (EPA)

Rajasthans health minister Raghu Sharma said: "We sent delegations to (the government) for clarity on supplies of (oxygen), drugs and vaccination drive but were not spoken to in clarity from the Union Government."

"Regarding the import or foreign aid, no information or supply details have been shared with the state government," he said. The central government has "kept states in the dark during the pandemic," he added, calling for a more "transparent environment.

According to a statement from Keralas health secretary Dr Rajan Khobragade to the BBC - the state, which recorded a record 37,190 new Covid cases earlier this week - had not received any aid until Wednesday evening.

According to the government sources, out of the eight oxygen plants sent from France on Sunday, two are already operational in Delhi now and the consignment was distributed within 18 hours. Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted that the national capital has received aid from France.

However, over a dozen hospitals in Delhi have been raising alarms for oxygen shortage in the last two weeks.

The Delhi governments portal for checking availability for hospital beds has also started showing how long the oxygen in the hospital would last, some had oxygen for just a few hours. However, even after a week of consignments arriving, there was no update of any Delhi hospital receiving oxygen plants.

Indias government issued a statement on Tuesday saying it had introduced a "streamlined and systematic mechanism" for distributing the supplies.

The statement said it began work on the plan on 26 April, and issued its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) guidelines on how to distribute aid on 2 May. It did not say when aid distribution began.

Government sources in India said information about how aid is being distributed is being shared with donor governments - they are fully aware of where this stuff is going.
India has issued new guidelines for the testing of Covid-19 to ease pressure on diagnostic laboratories which are struggling due to an increased caseload as the country grapples with a second wave of the pandemic.

An advisory by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that RT-PCR tests must not be repeated on any individual who has already tested positive for the virus once, either through rapid antigen test or through RT-PCR.

It also said that testing is not required for individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 at the time of hospital discharge, in accordance with the health ministry policy.

ICMR suggested that the need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories.

The ICMR guidelines came after the central government has been criticised for its low testing numbers in recent days. Experts said the drop in Indias coronavirus cases earlier this week could have been due to lower testing numbers.

Daily testing had fallen sharply to 1.5 million on 4 May, off a peak of 1.95 million on 30 April.

India increased testing on Wednesday and tested more than 1.9 million samples. The country reported 412,262 new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending Thursday morning, taking the total to over 21 million. A record 3,980 deaths were reported.

Experts told The Independent that the new guidelines will help at a time when the laboratories are under stress and to clear the backlog.

The new testing guidelines are useful to find true cases in a rapid way with low cost and quick turnaround time of results. Higher TAT (turnaround time), random testing, and people rushing to get tested under fear or for inter-state travel have created huge backlogs and delays in getting results of RT-PCR, said Usha Manjunath, director of the Bengaluru-based Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR).

She said the delay increases the transmission because people tend to wait for results before quarantining or isolating.

Gautam Menon, professor at Ashoka University, also told The Independent that he is broadly in agreement with the new guidelines. At a time when testing is under stress, while ramping RT-PCR testing up, it makes sense to ensure that resources are not diverted where they neednt be, he said.

He said the requirement of RT-PCR test before inter-state travel, when there are no symptoms in an individual, may be an overkill at this point.

The ICMR also suggested that rapid antigen tests be used to upscale testing amid growing demand: RAT has a short turnaround time of 15-30 minutes and thus offers a huge advantage of quick detection of cases and opportunity to isolate and treat them early for curbing transmission.

There have been concerns that antigen tests, which are currently being used in containment zones, have a high proportion of false negatives. But experts said the use of antigen tests can help boost Indias testing capacity.

Unlike in the first wave period, people are crowding up in the hospitals even with mild symptoms. This brings strain on the existing healthcare system and severely infected cases do not get the required medical support. Thus, increasing antigen tests without compromising the number of RT-PCR tests we are currently undertaking is fine, said Lekha D Bhat, assistant professor in the department of epidemiology and public health at the Central University of Tamil Nadu.

However, she said the effort should be to increase both RT-PCR and antigen tests by identifying potential stakeholders. Universities, college laboratories and other laboratories need to be encouraged to get approval from ICMR for testing, she said.

Mr Menon said he has always been a proponent of RAT tests employed at a much larger scale  their quick turn-around time compared to RT-PCRs, the fact that they are relatively less expensive and thus more easily affordable by states as well as the fact that testing facilities can be easily set up in public locations are genuine advantages.

Ms Manjunath also said it is prudent to ramp up testing using antigen tests because they yield results in a short time and can help in quickly providing treatment to Covid-19 patients.
Polling stations have opened across the UK for voters to cast their ballots in a set of crucial elections on what has been dubbed Super Thursday.

Millions of voters in England, Scotland and Wales will elect councillors, police commissioners, mayors and one MP to power in the largest test of political opinion outside a general election.

Heres everything you need to know about what you can do when going to vote today:

Where do I go?

If you are eligible to vote, you should have received a polling card in the post in recent weeks.

Your polling card contains information such as your polling number and the address where you can cast your vote, which is your polling station. You dont have to bring the card with you to vote, but it can help you do it quicker.

Polling stations will operate between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 6 May. You can go and cast your vote within these hours.

However, if you did not receive a polling card, contact your local authoritys election office.

Are polling stations Covid-secure?

There will be plastic screens and one-way systems in place at polling stations to keep voters and the people working at the stations safe. Hand sanitiser will also be provided.

Voters are asked to wear a face covering inside the polling station - however, the Electoral Commission has said no one will be refused entry if they do not wear one.

You are also asked to bring your own pen or pencil to keep the process as Covid safe as possible, but pencils should be available in the polling stations if you forget.

What if I cant go and vote?

While the deadline to apply for a postal vote or proxy vote - where someone goes to the polling station on your behalf - has passed, you can still apply for an emergency proxy vote.

You could be eligible if you have experienced a medical emergency, you have had to go away for work or you are self-isolating due to coronavirus since the deadline passed.

You can make the application by contacting your local council at any time until 5pm today. After that, you will not be able to vote.

Can I take selfies and share them on my social media?

You are advised against taking a selfie inside the polling station, as it could risk accidentally giving away how someone else has voted, which is illegal.

You are also not allowed to take a photo of your ballot paper. If you reveal how anyone else voted - for example, the person in the booth next to you - even by accident, you will face a fine of up to 5,000 or six months in prison.

Voters are not advised to update their social media accounts while inside the polling station.

However, you are welcome to take and share selfies outside the polling to station to encourage your friends and family to vote, says the Electoral Commission.

Can I bring my children?

You can bring your children to the polling station. It is encouraged to educate them about democracy.

However, they are not allowed to mark your vote on the ballot paper.

Can I bring a pet?

Animals are not usually allowed in polling stations unless they are assistance dogs.

If you do bring your non-assistance dog, they will have to wait outside. In recent years, thousands of voters have shared photos of their dogs outside polling stations using the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations.

What can I wear?

Voters can wear anything they want, including political clothing - for example, something bearing a slogan or the name of a political party. There is nothing in law to prevent people from wearing such clothing going into a polling station with the intention to vote.

But campaigning inside polling stations is not permitted and anyone wearing political clothing should leave immediately after voting.

What else cant I do inside the polling station?

You cannot discuss any candidates or parties while inside the polling stations. Staff will intervene if they hear you having political discussions with anyone else.

You should also avoid signing your ballot paper, especially if the name is identifiable as this will mean the vote does not count.

What help can I get if I am disabled?

A close adult family member or another eligible voter, such as a support worker, can accompany you to the polling station if you are disabled and need help. A friend can come to help if they are registered to vote at your polling station, but they cannot enter the booth where you vote.

Alternatively, a presiding officer can mark the paper for you.

If you have a visual impairment, you can request a device that lets you mark your own ballot paper, or ask for a large-print version.

Polling stations are selected for accessibility, but if a voter is unable to enter, the presiding officer may take the ballot paper to them.

If you require further help, you can call the Electoral Commission on 0333 103 1928.

Additional reporting by agencies
Shop-bought gnocchi is fine, but you deserve better. Thats where these soft, pillowy ricotta dumplings come in. Ive paired them with a spring-inspired leek and pea sauce thats bright and bursting with flavour thanks to garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and lemon juice.

When it comes to gnocchi, the potato version, originally from northern Italy, is what Ive encountered the most. They are wonderful in their own right, but ricotta gnocchi are truly a thing of beauty, with their superior softness and quicker preparation. Potato gnocchi can become gummy if made poorly; ricotta gnocchi are much more forgiving and offer practically guaranteed success.

The ingredients for ricotta gnocchi are pretty standard: ricotta (obviously), egg, parmesan, flour and salt. Ricotta being a very mild cheese, it needs the parmesan and salt to make the pasta taste like something. I add in some lemon zest to brighten the gnocchi dough, give it even more oomph and mirror the citrus juice in the accompanying sauce.

Some gnocchi recipes call for a high quality ricotta that is made from just milk, salt and perhaps an acid or culture, but I only saw the more mass produced cheese at my usual grocery store when developing this recipe. The difference is that the latter contains stabilisers to trap in water, making it futile and cumbersome to try to drain the cheese to get rid of excess moisture as a number of recipes instruct. So while Im always an advocate for using the best ingredients you can get your hands on, know that this recipe is designed to work with the most widely accessible of ricottas.

To make the dough, just throw all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together until evenly combined. Then place the dough in the fridge for a quick nap so it becomes slightly easier to handle  just like me when Im sleep deprived  before rolling and shaping the individual gnocco.

Read more:

When youre shaping, feel free to use as much flour as you need to keep it from sticking to your counter, and theres no need to worry about overworking the dough and making it tough. Per J Kenji Lopez-Alt in Serious Eats: Because of ricottas high protein and fat content, even with excess flour the dough will have trouble forming gluten, the protein network that can make dough tough to chew. Once formed, just drop the gnocchi into a pot of salted boiling water and theyll be done in no time. It should take just a couple minutes once they float to the surface for them to cook all the way through and transform from pasty blobs to ethereally plush little pasta pillows.

Though the thought of making pasta at home might be daunting to some, after testing this recipe a handful of times (to get it worthy of publication), I can assure you that you will be successful in the end, despite any doubts that might creep up along the way. Theres no need to be intimidated  youve got this.

Ricotta gnocchi with leeks and peas

Making your own gnocchi might sound intimidating, but its more forgiving than you might think. These soft and pillowy ones are made from ricotta instead of potatoes and are studded with lemon zest for an extra burst of flavor. Theyre paired with a spring-inspired leek and pea sauce thats flavored with garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and lemon juice. Shower with freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Makes: 4 servings

Time: 45 mins

Make ahead: Once formed, the raw gnocchi can be frozen on a sheet tray until solid and then transferred to another container and frozen for up to 2 months. The gnocchi can be cooked directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.

Storage notes: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Ingredients

Ricotta gnocchi: soft, pillowy and full of flavour (Scott Suchman/The Washington Post)

For the gnocchi:

1 tsp salt, plus more as needed

One (425g) container whole milk ricotta

30g finely grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

1 large egg

1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

150g all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

For the leek-pea sauce:

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 leek, white and light green parts only, washed well and thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Salt

Ground black pepper

280g frozen peas, defrosted (or 200g fresh)

236ml unsalted or low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

6g chopped fresh parsley

Method

Make the gnocchi: bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Line a rimmed baking tray with baking paper.

In a large bowl, stir together the salt, ricotta, parmesan, egg and lemon zest until evenly combined. Add about  of the flour and mix in, then repeat to add the rest in two more additions, forming the gnocchi dough. Refrigerate the dough, uncovered, for about 15 minutes (now would be a great time to prep the ingredients for the sauce).

Lightly dust the counter with flour and turn out the dough. Dust the dough and your hands with flour. Divide the dough into eight even pieces and roll each into a log roughly 2cm in diameter, adding more flour as needed to help keep it from sticking (the dough can handle a decent amount of flour, so use as much as you need  within reason, of course. Itll turn out just fine in the end). Cut each log into approximately 2.5cm-long gnocchi, transfer to the prepared baking tray and dust lightly with flour to keep from sticking (a bench scraper is great for cutting and transferring the gnocchi). Its OK if the gnocchi look a little misshapen  it adds rustic charm  but you can lightly flour your hands and reshape any that arent to your liking.

Make the leek-pea sauce: in a large, nonstick frying pan, at least 30cm wide, over medium heat, heat the oil and melt the butter until foaming. Add the leek, garlic and red pepper flakes, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook, stirring regularly, until the leek has softened, about 10 minutes.

Add the peas, broth and lemon juice and cook until the peas are tender and the liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.

Gently slide the gnocchi into the pot of boiling water, giving them a gentle stir to make sure they dont stick together. Once they float to the top, let simmer until cooked all the way through, about 2 minutes (taste one to check doneness: If its dense and pasty in the middle, its not ready yet  it should be soft and smooth throughout).

Using a spider or large slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to the pan with the leek-pea sauce, add the parsley and toss to combine; continue cooking for about 1 minute so everything comes together. Taste, and season with more salt and/or pepper as desired. Divide the gnocchi and sauce among the bowls, shower with the grated parmesan and serve.

Nutrition | Calories: 581; total fat: 29g; saturated fat: 14g; cholesterol: 119mg; sodium: 540mg; carbohydrates: 54g; dietary fibre: 6g; sugar: 7g; protein: 24g.

 The Washington Post
Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can provide more than 95 per cent protection against infection, severe illness and death from Covid, according to a groundbreaking study in Israel.

The middle eastern country currently leads the world in its inoculation programme, with more than half (56 per cent) of its population having already received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Back in January, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a deal with Pfizer to send in-depth statistical results data in exchange for hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses a week.

It has allowed experts to assess the jabs effectiveness, on a large-scale nationwide basis, and garner real-world results outside of medical trial conditions.

The research, published today in The Lancet journal, also concluded that a single dose of the jab provides 58 per cent protection against infection, 76 per cent against hospital admission, and 77 per cent against death.

New cases of Covid have dropped dramatically since the countrys vaccination rollout began, from a peak of more than 10,000 a day in January to a few hundred in March when lockdown was lifted.

Israels economy has since almost fully reopened, with people regularly attending sporting events and concerts as restrictions on outdoor crowds continue to loosen.

The researchers said their study highlights the importance of fully vaccinating adults against the virus but acknowledged challenges remain to get the pandemic under control  including uncertainty around how long immunity lasts, from both vaccines and natural infection, and the emergence of variants that may be resistant to jabs currently on the market.

Dr Sharon Alroy-Preis, its lead author from the Israeli ministry of health, said: 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.

She added: 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.

For the study, scientists analysed the countrys national pandemic surveillance data between 24 January and 3 April 2021  during which time the Kent variant, or UK variant as it is known internationally, accounted for a vast majority of infections in the country.

By 2 April in Israel, 72 per cent of people aged 16 and over, and 90 per cent of 65-and-overs, had received both doses of the Pfizer jab and so were considered as fully protected as they can be against the virus.

People embrace on the promenade in Tel Aviv as Covid restrictions continue to ease (AFP via Getty Images)

Results showed that for all people over the age of 16, the vaccine provided 96.5 per cent protection against infection, 98 per cent protection against hospital admissions and 98.1 per cent protection against death, 14 days after the second dose.

Protections among the elderly were as strong as those for younger people, the researchers said, with those over 85 getting 94.1 per cent protection against infection, 96.9 per cent against hospital admission, and 97 per cent against death, a week after receiving their second dose.

Daily infections in Israel were also shown to decline as more people received their jabs, pointing to the importance of mass vaccination in the global eradication of coronavirus.

Commenting on the research, Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said the new data from Israel confirms that the Pfizer vaccine provides very high protection from serious Covid-19 disease and death  even in older more vulnerable people.

Importantly, the study shows that two doses of the vaccine significantly increase levels of immunity and protection, he told the PA news agency.

This is why it is important that people get both doses, and if UK vaccine policy changes, to get a third dose if offered in the autumn.

Meanwhile Dr Luis Jodar, Pfizers senior vice president and chief medical officer of vaccines, warned more data about the effectiveness of vaccines is needed urgently.

Research examining long-term vaccine effectiveness will ultimately play a vital role in tackling the pandemic, he said.

Additional reporting by PA
The judge investigating last years massive explosion at Beiruts port on Tuesday requested that countries with satellites stationed over Lebanon provide authorities with images that could help their investigation, the state news agency reported.

National News Agency did not name the countries that Judge Tarek Bitar asked for images of the port before, during and after the blast.

Nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate  a highly explosive material used in fertilizers  had been improperly stored in the port for years. The catastrophic blast on Aug. 4 killed 211 people and injured more than 6,000, devastating nearby neighborhoods.

Days after the explosion, President Michel Aoun said he had asked France which has close ties to its former colony, for satellite images from the time to see if they showed any planes or missiles. In the immediate aftermath of the blast, authorities did not rule out an attack, though no evidence emerged to suggest it.

Outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab had also said after the explosion that he asked French President Emmanuel Macron for satellite images of the port before and after the blast.

Youssef Diab, a Lebanese journalist who closely follows the investigation, said the request by Bitar is a formal legal memorandum for which a response is obligatory, and it indicates that he has not ruled out the possibility of an attack.

Diab, no relation to the outgoing prime minister, said the countries include United Arab Emirates, France, the U.S., China, Japan, Canada and Turkey. The move comes after Lebanon asked France for satellite images. Diab said France has maintained its investigation in the port explosion is not yet complete.

The idea is to figure out from the images if there were flights over the port or if the port was targeted, he said. The judge has expanded the realm of possibilities of what might have caused the explosion.

Nine months later, it remains unknown what triggered an initial fire at the warehouse that then caused the explosion or who was responsible for storing the rotting fertilizer at the port warehouse for years.

Bitar was named to lead the investigation in February after his predecessor was removed following legal challenges by two former Cabinet ministers he had accused of negligence. The news agency said Bitar will soon begin questioning witnesses whose testimonies were not taken before. It gave no further details.

In mid-April, Bitar ordered the release of six people, including security officers, who had been detained for months. Among those released was an officer who had written a detailed warning to top officials prior to the explosion about the dangers of the material stored at the port.

Nineteen people, including port officials and the head of the customs department, remain in custody.

Human Rights Watch said Lebanese authorities have failed to detail the evidence and charges against the individuals detained, questioning if they were afforded due process.

___

Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb contributed to this report from Beirut
Two Asian women were stabbed while waiting for a bus in downtown San Francisco in an attack which is suspected to be racially motivated.

The attack took place in a busy street on Tuesday evening, the San Francisco Police Department said on Wednesday.

The attacker used a large military-style knife in an unprovoked assault, authorities said.

Both women were senior citizens, with Chui Fong Eng aged 85 and the other woman, who has not been named, aged 63.

They have been hospitalised with multiple stab wounds, however both were said to be out of danger.

The injuries sustained by the two women were believed to be life threatening at the time of attack.

I was told the knife nicked her lung and ribcage. It was a really long knife, Ms Fongs grandson, Drew Eng, told ABC TV.

The alleged attacker was identified as 54-year-old Patrick Thompson, who was arrested at around 7pm local time on Tuesday, two hours after the attack. He has been booked under two counts of attempted murder and two counts of elder abuse.

Investigators say they are looking into the motivation behind the attack and have not ruled out the possibility of racial motivation.

Patricia Lee, who works at the flower stand near the bus plaform and was one of the witnesses of the attack told a local ABC TV station: It was a pretty big knife, it had knuckles on the handle and the blade had holes in there like a military knife.

He walked right next to me  I could have been the one who got stabbed.

Ms Engs granddaughter, Victoria Eng, has set up a GoFundMe page for her and updated her social media to say her grandmother is recovering well.

These Asian hate crimes need to stop, she wrote. San Francisco is my home and my Grandmas home. We need to feel safe where we live and not in constant fear.

Over the last few months, attacks against Asian Americans have increased severely in the US.

On Sunday night, a 50-year-old man attacked two Asian American women with a cinder block in West Baltimore.

Another attack took place outside a grocery store in San Francisco this week when a man and his one-year-old child were attacked.

According to a research released by reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate Crime in March this year, nearly 3,800 incidents of hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported over the course of roughly a year during the pandemic.
A man has been arrested after he was caught on security camera footage brutally beating two Asian women with a cinder block as they were trying to close up a liquor store in Baltimore, Maryland.

Daryl Doles, 50, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, according to police. It was not specified whether the attack is being treated as a hate crime.

The employees, two women aged 66 and 67, were attacked just after midnight on Tuesday. The footage from the security camera inside the store shows the man breaking into the store as one of the women attempts to close the door.

A man who has not been identified can be seen leaving the store as Mr Doles and one of the women wrestle on the shop floor.

In the video, Mr Doles holds down one of the women and strikes her multiple times with a cinder block. The second woman comes to the aid of her colleague before she too is attacked by Mr Doles. He hit both women in the head with the cinder block several times before the fight continued outside of the store.

Authorities said the man managed to leave the scene of the vicious attack before he was arrested. Police said the women were taken to hospital but that their injuries were not life-threatening. The women could later return home to recover from the ordeal.

The son of one of the women posted the video of the attack on YouTube. John Yun wrote in the video description that the women were his mom and aunt.

My aunt got the worse of the attack with over 25 stitches on her head and black eyes, Mr Yun stated, and added: But we are relieved that both of their CT scans came back good and were discharged hours later.

I admire the bravery and courage of these two women and am incredibly proud of them. Their physical wounds will heal eventually, but the trauma from this attack will require more time. I am trying to raise some funds so they can relax and heal and without worrying about the burden of bills that will arise from this attack, Mr Yun wrote.

A gofundme started by Mr Yun has raised more than $62.000, far more than the initial goal of $25.000. Mr Yun posted an image of the wounds sustained by his mom and aunt.

Two Asian women working at a liquor store in Baltimore sustained serious injuries after being attacked by a man with a cinder block. (John Yun/gofundme)

At a press conference on Tuesday, Marylands Republican governor Larry Hogan said: Its just another example of these violent outbursts and attacks on Asians all across the country.

He added: It was pretty hard to watch the two elderly women being smashed in the head with a brick.

A new report released by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University said late last month that hate crimes against Asian Americans had surged 169 per cent during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year.

Van Tran, an associate professor at the City University of New York, told NBC News that all kinds of crime have risen during the pandemic but the targeting of Asians has exploded.

What is unfortunate here is the fact that much of that hate and racism are being targeted towards one very small community in terms of population size, he said.
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, right, attends a trilateral meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Antony Blinken and Toshimitsu Motegi, on the sidelines of a Group of Seven gathering in London, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap



The United States' new policy approach on North Korea appears aimed at addressing the reclusive state's nuclear issue through dialogue, a foreign ministry official said Thursday, welcoming the pursuit of diplomacy as a central plank of its strategy.



The official made the remarks after Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Antony Blinken and Toshimitsu Motegi held a trilateral meeting on the margins of a Group of Seven gathering in London on Wednesday.



The three-way session came after the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden completed a monthslong review of its policy on the North and said it would seek a "calibrated, practical" approach toward the goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.



"That the U.S. seeks to address the issue through dialogue with North Korea appears to take a great portion of its policy," the official told reporters, noting both Seoul and Tokyo have positively assessed Washington's policy to deal with Pyongyang.



"The U.S. has said that it aims to explore a realistic solution with diplomacy at its center, rather than taking an 'all for all, nothing for nothing' approach," the official added.



White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said last week that the U.S. policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain nor will it rely on strategic patience, a term that refers to the Obama-era approach of waiting for the North to signal a change in its behavior while maintaining diplomatic and economic pressure.



Her explanation signaled that the U.S. would seek a balance between the policies of former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, in pursuit of a phased, incremental agreement toward the final goal of the North's denuclearization. (Yonhap)


White nationalist Richard Spencers far-right think tank has been ordered to pay $2,4m to an Ohio man after he was gravely injured at the 2017 white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville.

Bill Burke from Athens, Ohio said he was hit by the same car that killed counter-protester Heather Heyer.

Federal Judge Michael Watson issued a ruling on Tuesday that ordered the National Policy Institute, a think tank led by Spencer, to pay Mr Burke $2,4m. Mr Burke has accused the think tank of organizing and promoting the Charlottesville rally.

White supremacists were protesting the planned removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee. Mr Burke said he was present to join a counterprotest.

He sustained injuries to his head and knee, and his left arm was crushed in the incident. The damage may be permanent and still requires medical treatment years later.

According to Mr Burkes federal lawsuit from May 2019, he experienced severe psychological and emotional suffering.

He sued several defendants and has already received court-ordered payments from David Duke, the former leader of the KKK, and from The Traditionalist Worker Party. Duke paid Mr Burke $5,000 and the Worker Party were ordered to pay $10,000, the Associated Press reported.

The order for the National Policy Institute to pay $2,4m to Mr Burke includes $217,613 for medical expenses, $350,000 in punitive damages, $500,000 for pain and suffering, and $1m for emotional distress.

The judge observed the fact that Mr Burke separated from his wife after the attack, that he was unemployed for more than a year, that he cant exercise anymore, that he suffers from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and survivors guilt after the death of Ms Heyer.

The emotional toll this senseless attack has taken on Plaintiff is extreme. It has impacted virtually every aspect of Plaintiffs daily life, and he deserves to be compensated for the harm, the judge said.

Despite Tuesdays ruling, its unclear if Mr Burke will ever get the funds from the think tank. Court records state that copies of Mr Burkes complaints were served on the organization, no lawyer ever made an appearance in court. The group was found in default a year ago for not putting up a defence.

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 endeavour, Mr Burkes lawyer Michael Fradin said in a statement.

The rally, entitled Unite the Right, attracted hundreds of white nationalists to protest the removal of the Lee statue.

The car that killed Ms Heyer and gravely injured Mr Burke was driven by James Alex Fields Jr. He was convicted of first-degree murder. Fields was sentenced to life in prison plus 419 years in July 2019. He is appealing his convictions. From Maumee, Ohio, Fields is also serving life sentences after he accepted a plea deal in a federal hate crimes case.
Philanthropist Melinda Gates looks set to become the worlds second-richest woman after her divorce from multibillionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, with court papers showing she is entitled to some $73bn (52.4bn).

In the divorce petition she filed this week at King County superior court in Seattle, Washington, Melinda French Gates  as she now appears to want to be known after updating her social media profiles  asked for the couples combined $146bn (105bn) fortune to be divided up. French is her maiden name.

The documents also reveal that the couple, who married in 1994, did not sign a prenuptial agreement  which could explain the 50-50 split. Under Washington state law, divorcing couples are expected to share their assets equally.

Currently, the richest woman in the world is LOreal owner Francoise Bettencourt Meyers whose inherited fortune is worth around $83bn (59.6bn).

The Gates announced their separation on Monday via a statement on Twitter, writing: After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.

Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children [Jennifer, 25; Rory, 21; and Phoebe, 18] and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.

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.

Questions have been raised about how the pair will continue to run their charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as a team, which is what they have said is their intention.

Prof Henry Peter, head of the Geneva Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Geneva, told the Financial Times on Tuesday the separation could lead to a total restructure.

The ecosystem of the foundation is really based on only three trustees, he said, referring to the Gates and fellow billionaire 90-year-old Warren Buffett  one of the trusts biggest donors who has promised to donate 85 per cent of his $100bn (71.8bn) remaining fortune in total.

It will be interesting to know if [the Gates] are not married how this couple will remain at the head. It might be the right time to look at the governance.

Meanwhile, the foundation itself released a statement in an attempt to quell any concerns the couples divorce might have triggered: Bill and Melinda will remain co-chairs and trustees. No changes to their roles or the organisation are planned. They will continue to work together to shape and approve foundation strategies, advocate for the foundations issues, and set the organisations overall direction.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, based in Seattle, is captured by a drone on 4 May (Getty)

The Seattle-based charity, which employs 1,600 staff, has given away $50bn (35.9bn) to health and development projects across 135 countries since it was founded in 2000, and still has $43bn (30.9bn) worth of assets.

It also provides support to communities struck by natural disasters. Last year, the foundation provided $1.8bn (1.3bn) for emergency coronavirus medical supplies, PPE and vaccines  and $2bn (1.4bn) has been earmarked to try and wipe out malaria.

The Gates estate includes their 66,000sq ft main home in Medina, overlooking Lake Washington, which is valued at $130m (93.5m), and various holiday homes such as a $43m (30.9m) beach house near San Diego, a $59m (42.5) ranch in Florida and a 492-acre ranch in Wyoming.

Their main house alone was built using 500 Douglas fir trees and features no fewer than six kitchens, a 60ft swimming pool, an underwater sound system, a trampoline room, and a 2,300sq ft ballroom which seats up to 200 people.

Elsewhere, the couple are among the biggest private owners of farmland in the US, with about 242,000 acres across 18 different states  worth about $700m (503.7m). And they own several private jets and cars, including a rare $2m (1.4m) Porsche 959 and an electric Porsche Taycan.

Washington, where the couple reside, is one of just nine US states which enforces community property laws, whereby courts presume that property bought during a marriage belongs jointly to the spouses and should be divided equally. The pair are scheduled to appear in court next April.

The Gates split comes just shy of two years after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is the worlds richest person, separated from his wife of 25 years MacKenzie Scott. Their divorce made Ms Scott the worlds fourth-richest woman, with a $38bn (27.3bn) fortune. They also lived in Washington state.

Ms French Gates and Ms Scott teamed up last year to launch a $30m (21.6m) project called the Equality Cant Wait Challenge, which, according to its website, aims to expand womens power and influence in the US by 2030.
A 19th-century church that disappeared beneath a Mexican lake more than 40 years ago has been revealed in stunning new images, illustrating the devastating effects of severe drought on the region.

The images show the crumbling Temple of the Virgin of Dolores breaching the surface of Lake Purisma in Guanajuato, more than four decades after it first disappeared in 1979 with the construction of a dam.

More than 70 per cent of Mexico is currently in drought, with a lack of rain in 2021 depleting the countrys dams to below 50 per cent capacity.

The church, which once housed a rectory and civil registry of Villa Real de Mina, reappeared in July last year as a result of a drought that dropped the countrys water supply to its lowest levels in 25 years, according to Mexico News Daily.

Construction of the dam was ordered by former president Jose Lopez Portillo after another dam burst six years earlier about 15 miles away in the town of Irapuato, according to Spanish-language newspaper Milenio, which was first to publish the images.

(EPA)

Dulce Vazquez, director of the communitys municipal archive, told the newspaper that there was resistance from residents of El Zangarro, who were relocated to nearby land to a new town of the same name.

"The place, the parish, was crowded, because there was the civil registry and the vicarage, it had permission to carry out these types of procedures, that is why it was a very important place," Ms Vazque said.

Oral history tells that it was very difficult for them to leave the place, not just because of the buildings, but because of the sense of belonging to the place A few resisted until they saw it was already a reality that the water would arrive to cover the entire town."

Construction of the dam flooded 1,200 hectares and covered the town of El Zangarro, including the church, which some "documentary sources" suggest could date back 100-years earlier to the 18th-century.

(EPA)

The lack of rain in the first quarter of 2021 has prompted Mexicos National Water Commission chief, Blanca Jimenez Cisneros, to begin water-saving measures as more than 70 per cent of the country remains in drought.

He told a press conference in April that Guanajuato, the region where the Temple of the Virgin of Dolores is located, is among the most affected areas in the country, along with Guerrero, Michoacan and Oaxaca.

He said many of the countrys dams are below 50 per cent capacity, down 23 per cent from 2020, and drought conditions are expected to continue in 2021, according to Mexico News Daily.

Ms Vazque said the receding waters had revealed more treasures than just the church itself.

"Things have been found, although it is already very looted, imagine, we are talking from 1979 until today it has been a long time," she said.
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.

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.
The White House has condemned a restrictive elections bill signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday that voting rights advocates warn could suppress turnout.

The 2020 election was one of the most secure elections in American history  there is no legitimate reason to change the rules right now to make it harder to vote that is built on a lie, said principal deputy press secretary Karine Jeanne-Pierre.

The only reason to change the rules right now is if you dont like who voted, she told reporters on Air Force 1 as officials travelled to Louisiana. Florida is moving in the wrong direction. We need to be working to make sure voting is secure and convenient.

Ms Jeanne-Pierre revived White House support for the For The People Act, a sweeping voting rights bill that passed in the House of Representatives and awaits action in a divided Senate.

The measure  signed into law and aired exclusively to Fox News during an interview with the hosts of Fox & Friends  follows similar moves proposed in nearly every state, including limits on access to absentee ballots and ballot drop-box locations, granting more authority to partisan poll watchers, and prohibiting actions that voting rights advocates say will criminalise giving out food and water to people waiting in long lines to cast their votes.

In the November general election, more than 4.8 million Florida voters  more than 40 per cent  cast mail-in ballots, including many Republican voters.

The law was immediately challenged in federal court in lawsuits brought by the League of Women Voters Florida, the Black Voters Matter Fund, Common Cause and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly spoken out against similar Republican-backed measures in state legislatures across the US.

By the end of March, GOP lawmakers had introduced 361 bills with restrictive provisions in 47 states, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice. Most are aimed at curbing mail-in voting, after historic turnout in 2020 elections during the coronavirus pandemic saw the election of Mr Biden and a shift of the balance of power in Congress towards Democratic control.

Dozens of bills are attempt to strip election oversight from election officials and put it into the hands of lawmakers, who would then have authority to disrupt elections and the reporting of results, according to a report from a group of voting rights advocates.

Republicans  emboldened by former President Donald Trumps stolen election lies and spurious legal battles to overturn the results  have claimed that their proposals are an effort to preserve voter integrity and voter confidence by addressing voting irregularities, despite multiple vote audits that affirmed the results and a lack of evidence from the former presidents own campaign and administration showing any widespread voter fraud.

On Thursday, Mr DeSantis  a staunch ally of Mr Trump  told Florida voters that your vote is going to be cast with integrity and transparency.
Joe Biden has attacked the GOPs steadfast opposition to his tax plans and the partys blind support of Trumps tax cuts as the US president said that Republicans are in the midst of a mini-revolution.

The president made his comments amid GOP efforts to oust congresswoman Liz Cheney from her leadership position within the party. Mr Biden stated that he has never seen a similar fight within the Democratic party.

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, said Mr Biden.

House Republicans are trying to sack Ms Cheney from her leadership job after she voted to impeach Donald Trump and has continued to hit out at the one-term presidents role in the US Capitol riot.

It seems like the Republican party is trying to identify what it stands for, and they are in the midsts of a significant sort-of mini-revolution that is going on in the Republican party, he added.

I have been a Democrat for a long time and we have gone through periods where we have had internal fights and disagreements, but 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.

Mr Biden spoke from the White House to highlight the benefits of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in March.

Everything Im proposing that be done to generate economic growth, employment and put us in a position where we can out compete any other country in the world, research and development and moving ahead, I pay for, added Mr Biden.

I love that we talk about how this is going to cost so much money and Im not paying for it.

My Republican friends had no problem voting to pass a tax proposal that expires in 2025, that cost two trillion dollars and none of it paid for, increased the deficit by two trillion dollars, gave the overwhelming percentage of those tax breaks to people who didnt need it, the top one-tenth of one per cent, they didnt need it.
 Close Ex-White House counsel Don McGahn agrees to testify in Trump probe

Donald Trump will remain banned from Facebook for at least another two years, the social media network has announced. The company says it will revisit the decision on 7 January 2023, but will only allow Mr Trump back on if his risk to public safety has receded.

The former president issued a furious response, calling his continued suspension an insult. He also threatened to never invite Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to another White House dinner, implying that hell run for president again.

Next time Im in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, the former president said in a brief statement. It will be all business!

Others criticized Facebook for not going far enough, saying the ban should be permanent.

Meanwhile, Don McGahn, the Trump-era White House counsel who featured heavily in Robert Muellers probe into Russian interference during the 2016 election, testified before the House Judiciary Committee after two years of defying their subpoenas. A transcript of the interview will be released some time in the next seven days.

Republican representatives Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan told reporters nothing of note was revealed in the testimony.

Weve learned nothing new, Mr Gaetz told reporters.

Read more:
Thousands of restaurants and bars in every state and Washington DC have already applied for aid through the newly launched Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6bn plan to support the nations struggling businesses from the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Restaurant Revitalization Program, created by Congress and funded through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan relief package signed into law in March, received more than 186,200 applications within its first two days of opening this week, according to the White House.

Of those applications, 97,600 came from businesses owned and controlled by women, and 61,700 applications came from businesses with under $500,000 in annual pre-pandemic revenue.

For the first 21 days of the programme, the administration is prioritising applications from small businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Eligible businesses can apply for grants equal to their pandemic-related losses with a cap of $10m per business and $5m per location.

Reviving the nations bars and restaurants  what Joe Biden called the gateway to opportunity for many American workers  is among his first major tests as the US begins to crawl back to stability more than a year after the Covid-19 crisis began, both for the more than 2.3 million people who lost jobs in the industry over the last year, and Americans eager to return to normal activities like dining out.

Restaurants are more than a major driver of our economy, theyre woven into the fabric of our communities, Mr Biden said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Biden visited Taqueria Las Gemelas in Washington DC, among the first restaurants to receive funds from the programme.

During the pandemic, the restaurant dropped from 55 employees to seven

It was awarded $677,000 from the programme.

Businesses that applied this week could expect to receive funds up to 14 days from applying, a very rapid turnaround, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday.

The aid comes as roughly one-quarter of American restaurants and bars say they dont plan to re-open following coronavirus-related closures, according to a forecast from OpenTable. The company reported reservations falling by 96 per cent in 2020.

The National Restaurant Association estimates that 110,000 places to eat and drink had shut down for good by the end of 2020. Bars were hit the hardest  those that stayed open lost 65 per cent of sales compared to previous years.

We can do much better than than that, Mr Biden said. We want restaurants to play a big role in our recovery.
The United States, as well as other wealthy countries, have faced pressure to support a proposal under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that would temporarily waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines  at a time when cases are surging in parts of the world like India.

Under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, pharmaceutical companies are awarded monopoly control over vaccine production. This has sparked a backlash amid the pandemic, though, because it could impact poor countries from ramping up their own supplies.

Now the WTO has reportedly urged member nations to each temporarily ease the rules protecting intellectual property for vaccinations in an effort to make vaccines more accessible for struggling countries.

The WTO decision would be based on a consensus from member nations, which means that all 164 members must agree.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration indicated it would support temporarily easing rules protecting intellectual property for vaccinations  a move that sent a shockwave among big pharmaceutical companies and caused the stocks of companies like Moderna, BioNTech and Pfizer to sharply drop.

"This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures. 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," said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement.

Who is asking for the waiver of these patent rights?

The waiver was first proposed by India and South Africa in October 2020 and has since garnered support from more than 100 developing countries.

Humanitarian aid groups and more than 400 government officials across the EU, including the World Health Organisation's director general, have also urged the WTO to lift intellectual property provisions on vaccines and equipment.

"Flexibilities in trade regulations exist for emergencies, and surely a global pandemic, which has forced many societies to shut down and caused so much harm to business  both large and small  qualifies," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organisation, wrote in a recent op-ed.

"We need to be on a war footing, and it's important to be clear about what is needed," he added.

The proposed temporary waiver only applied to Covid-19 vaccines, but other technologies related to the pandemic like diagnostics, treatments and PPE could also receive a waiver  which may help speed up access for developing countries as the work to manage the novel virus.

While the United States, for example, has purchased more than 600 million vaccine doses and vaccinated about 44.7 per cent of its total population with at least one dose to date, developing countries have struggled to vaccinate their elderly and vulnerable residents.

Instead, most developing countries have turned to Covax  the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access programme under the World Health Organisation  to access vaccine doses.

What would be the short and long term effects of the temporary waiver?

Health experts remain divided on whether waiving these patent rights would offer relief to developing countries as quickly as needed.

In India, for example, the country is battling a staggering number of new coronavirus infections, with reports of 400,000 new daily cases over the weekend.

Stanford law professor Lisa Larrimore Ouellette argued in the school's law blog that countries like India need available doses from the current vaccine supply over the ability to access intellectual property.

"Vaccines are complex biologics that are more difficult to replicate than small-molecule drugs, so a new manufacturer that wanted to create its own version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would need to run its own clinical trials to demonstrate that its vaccine is safe and effective," she said.

"And even with the involvement of the original developer, building new manufacturing capacity takes time  time that India doesn't have. That's why sharing existing vaccine supply is so critical right now."

In the longer term, waiving the temporary patent rights could assist countries in their vaccine development. But the exact impact would likely not be seen in the immediate future.

Critics have instead argued that the move would harm pharmaceutical companies' incentives to innovate while also not addressing the central issue that developing countries face when accessing vaccines.

"This is a huge misstep by the Biden Administration that will do nothing to increase vaccine distribution and will endorse China's ability to piggyback on US innovation to further its vaccine diplomacy aims," Clete Willems, a former attorney at the Office of the US Trade Representative, said of the decision, CNBC reports.

He recommended for the Biden administration to improve vaccine production in the United States and then export the supply to other countries in need.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, a major supporter of global Covid-19 vaccine equity through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has also previously criticised the move when speaking to Sky News.

"There's only so many vaccine factories in the world and people are very serious about the safety of vaccines," Mr Gates said.

"The thing that's holding things back in this case is not intellectual property. There's not, like, some idle vaccine factory with regulatory approval that makes magically safe vaccines. You've got to do the trials on these things and every manufacturing process has to be looked at in a very careful way."

Pharmaceutical companies fight hard to protect their intellectual property rights, not least because astronomical sums of money are involved in developing drugs and vaccines.

These days new advancements from pharmaceutical companies come, in part, from public funding. For example, the United States alone provided $18bn of taxpayer money to companies in their development of an effective Covid-19 vaccine under the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed.

What happens next?

India and South Africa are expected to put a revised proposal before the WTO national members next month, WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said in a media briefing. The details of what this revised proposal could look like were not revealed, but it could garner more support among members now that it has the anticipated approval of the United States.

This proposal would then be voted on by the 164 members, with all needing to reach a consensus for it to move forward. Already the proposal has been blocked by a select number of WTO nation members in March.

If approved, then intellectual property rights as well as other pandemic-related technologies must be transferred to new production sites, Mr Rockwell said. Countries would also be required to have a transparent regulatory infrastructure in place to manufacture the vaccines.

Wealthier countries, in the meantime, were urged to donate surplus vaccine doses to Covax as well as other equipment and technologies that would assist other nations in their battle against Covid-19.
Elise Stefanik highlighted her credentials regarding Donald Trumps unfounded accusations of electoral fraud and her support for the Arizona vote audit during an appearance on Steve Bannons podcast on Thursday.

The New York representative, expected to soon become the Republican Partys conference chair in Congress replacing Liz Cheney, decried how she believes the 2020 election was conducted.

Asked by Mr Bannon about her thoughts on what is happening in Arizona, Ms Stefanik said she fully supports the audit and wants transparency and a strong electoral system.

We want transparency and answers for the American people  what are the Democrats so afraid of? she said.

The audit of Maricopa County, where much of Arizonas population lives and which was won by Joe Biden in November, was ordered by the Republican-controlled state Senate despite objections by the county.

Three earlier reviews of results have shown no evidence of widespread fraud or reason to doubt the results. The current review is being conducted by the Florida-based company Cyber Ninjas, whose founder supports Mr Trumps stolen election lies.

Ms Cheney is likely to be ousted from her position due to her refusal to buy into the big lie that the election was stolen from Mr Trump as much of the party has chosen to repeat despite there being no evidence. She also voted to impeach Mr Trump in his second impeachment trial.

Ms Stefanik has a history of pushing false claims about the conduct of the election in some states won by Joe Biden, as well as amplifying claims of major electoral irregularities.

In addition, she previously supported a lawsuit that tried to get the Supreme Court to overturn Mr Bidens victory, and even after the 6 January insurrection at the Capitol, voted to reject some of the Democrats electoral votes.

CNN notes that while Ms Stefanik has not matched Mr Trumps more incendiary language, she has aided his damaging campaign to undermine confidence in the result.

Mr Trump endorsed Mr Stefanik to take over from Ms Cheney on Wednesday via a blog post, for which she enthusiastically thanked him.

We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritise the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair, the former president said. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!

Further boosting her pro-Trump credentials ahead of any vote among House Republicans to take over from Ms Cheney, Ms Stefanik also took the opportunity of her appearance onWar Room to call out Twitter.

Her communications director Karoline Leavitt had her account on the platform briefly suspended on Thursday  a move that Twitter has since said was a mistake and reversed.

Ms Stefanik used it as an opportunity to rail against big tech accusing the company of an unconstitutional overreach silencing our voices and freedom of speech from her own account.

On Mr Bannons show she said: They said it was a mistake, but again, it only happens to conservatives.

She added that it was an example of why big tech needs to be broken up and Section 230, the law which gives social media companies legal immunity in many instances, needs to be repealed.

Ms Stefanik, 36, has represented New Yorks largely rural 21st congressional district since 2015. She was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the time.




South Korea's top security officials "positively" evaluated the outcome of the United States' monthslong policy review on North Korea recently completed by the Joe Biden administration, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.







The assessment came during a regular standing committee session of the National Security Council (NSC) after the White House said last week that it has completed its policy review on the communist state according to the presidential office.







The U.S. has not yet disclosed the whole results of the review but Washington officials have said that it calls for "a calibrated and practical" approach toward the goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in close consultations with allies.







"The participants of the NSC standing committee viewed that the outcome of the U.S. policy review on North Korea was decided in a realistic and practical direction that centers on diplomacy in close coordination between Seoul and Washington," the presidential office said in a release.







They also agreed to continue close consultations on U.S. alliance issues for a successful summit between Presidents Moon Jae-in and Joe Biden slated to take place on May 21.







Thursday's session was presided over by Suh Hoon, the director of the presidential National Security Office. (Yonhap)


Joe Biden may have run for president as something of a unity candidate, but Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar says Democrats need to grow a backbone and stop worrying so much about bipartisanship and abolish the filibuster if they are ever to pass their agenda in the face of strong Republican opposition.

Democrats cant repeat the mistake of 2009, we must abolish the filibuster & move legislation that helps us deliver progress for the American people, she tweeted on Wednesday. Lets grow a backbone.

The comments came in response to remarks from GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who told reporters on Wednesday he was focused on stopping the Biden administration from turning America into a socialist country.

100 percent of my focus is on stopping this new administration, Mr McConnell said. The president may have won the nomination, but Bernie Sanders won the argument about what the new administration should be like.

For Ms Omar and others, these comments were reminiscent to remarks Mr McConnell made in 2009, in the early days of the Obama administration, when he told National Journal, The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.

The minority leader, following Mr Bidens recent conciliatory joint address to Congress, has also criticised the president for not being sufficiently bipartisan.

There was some hope after Mr Biden clinched the presidency that he and Mr McConnell, who have been friends and were Senate colleagues for more than 30 years, would be more together better than the scorched-earth partisanship of the Trump years.

Critics point to the Biden administrations signature achievement so far, the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package, as evidence of that this hasnt happened: it passed with no GOP support.

The president, for his part, didnt seem too concerned about his powerful Republican counterparts threats.

Look, he said that in our last administration, (with former President) Barack (Obama, that) he was going to stop everything  and I was able to get a lot done with him, Mr Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

Still, Democrats, who hold only slim majorities in the Senate and House, will need to find some way to get their agenda through Congress.

Some, like Ms Omar, are calling for abolishing the filibuster, a procedural tactic in the Senate that stalls passage of legislation until a super-majority of 60 senators vote to continue, effectively shutting down most bills that arent extremely popular in a bipartisan way.

Theoretically, all 50 Democratic senators could vote to end the filibuster, the so-called nuclear option, but centrist Dems like senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema oppose doing away with the mechanism.

Until either relations between the parties warm or the Senate goes nuclear, its unlikely the Biden administration will be able to pass the fullest versions of its agenda on key issues like expanding voting rights, reforming policing, rebuilding infrastructure, and opening up the immigration system.
The National Teacher of the Year 2021 had a surprise guest of honour to help make her award even more special - Jill Biden.

The first lady, who works as a professor at a community college, made an unannounced drop into this years winner Juliana Urtubey classroom, who works at an elementary school in Las Vegas.

She greeted the winner with a large bouquet of flowers as an offer of congratulations.

Dr Biden has been touring the country, stopping in on various schools and colleges drumming up support for President Joe Bidens American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. It is particularly meaningful to her as she teaches at Northern Virginia Community College.

For so long teacher were undervalued, but now hopefully all of America after this pandemic has seen what teachers have done and how theyve just taken care of our kids. Its been such a hard time. Teachers have risen to this moment, Dr Biden said.

Ms Urtubey was interviewed on CBSs This Morning before being surprised by Dr Biden.

She said to Gayle King, Its been tough, its been a hard year. Weve been through a lot of loss. Were here though, Were here, and we're doing well, and we are doing our best to stay connected.

Before she was interviewed, she was played testimony by Ms King from her students and family about how hard Ms Urtubey had worked for them, especially during the pandemic. Her role involves teaching students with special educational needs.

Ms Uberubey was given the award by the Council of Chief State School Officers, who say she is the first Latino to win the award since 2005.

Juliana Urtbuey exemplifies the dedication, creativity and heart teachers bring to their students and communities, Carissa Moffat, the CEO of the council said.

For the last 11 years, Ms Urtubey has taught children in elementary schools, tailoring lessons to their individual requirements, whether it be academic, emotional or behavioural and works across a wide variety of ages. She has helped everyone from kindergarteners, fifth graders and given assistance to teachers on how to best help their students.

She said her method was to consider each childs personality, interests, family and community to best consider how to help them learn. She said that her own experience with education really made a mark on her. As a child, she moved to the US from Columbia and was sent to a bilingual magnet school before her family relocated.

This emphasised to her how vital it was a school really knows how to nurture and uplift students by taking their individuality into account.

Recently, Ms Urtubey moved to a new job at Kermit R. Booker Sr Innovative Elementary School where she intends to create a joyous and just education for her students.

Each year, the winner of the National Teacher of the Year Award take part in a ceremony led by the President each spring however the pandemic has caused it to be postponed for the second year running. They intend to reschedule a ceremony with Ms Urtubey and the 2020 winner, Tabatha Rosproy when it is safe to do so.
The former US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has been mocked for his bizarre tweets claiming a female analyst of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spoke to him about how she wanted her achievements not to define her, rather than her sexuality.

In a couple of tweets on Tuesday, he recounted that when he was director of the CIA we valued individuals based on their talent and skill, not their race or sexuality.

He said he will never forget what one female analyst said to him: Thank you for valuing me for my work. I want my abilities and achievements to define me, not my sexuality.

He added: The collection of incredibly talented patriots serving America at the CIA is what makes it the best spy agency in the world  and we must continue to recruit the best and brightest.

We cant afford to risk our national security to appease some liberal, woke agenda.

The tweets of the former secretary of state have led to a series of tweets expressing disbelief or even mocking him for the claim.

Asha Rangappa, a lawyer and a former special agent of the FBI, asked: Did she whisper this to you while standing in line at a hipster coffee shop?

Political analyst Jeff Greenfield tweeted: Call me madcap, but I am not entirely convinced the conversation happened exactly this way. ("my sexuality"????).

Mr Pompeo was among the leaders of the Trump administration who had a strong anti-LGBTQ record. The CIA says it does not just leverage diversity, equity, and inclusion but embraces and celebrates it, including giving a supportive environment to the members of the LGBTQ community.

Mark Judson, a former US army officer, tweeted: The ONLY difference between Mike Pompeo and Osama Bin Laden is the specific religious tome which they each perverted to justify their irrational hate and fear. Mike Pompeo is an enemy of human decency.

Jacob Shamsian, a reporter, said it seems like there are some serious underlying HR problems if CIA agents are talking to Mike Pompeo about their sexuality.
At least 25 people were killed in a shootout between police and a gang in a slum of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro .

The victims included one police officer, and the remainder were suspected members of the drug gang in what was the deadliest single police operation in 16 years for Rio state.

Two passengers on a nearby subway were also hit by stray bullets, but are expected to survive, O Globo reported.

Police say they were conducting an operation against drug traffickers in the Jacarezinho slum of northern Rio when the raid spiralled into violence. TV news footage showed suspects fleeing along rooftops as police approached in armoured vehicles.

Police displayed an arsenal of seized weapons at a news conference: six assault rifles, 15 handguns, a machine gun, 14 grenades and a round of artillery ammunition.

Three officers were shot, one of them fatally. The Civil Police announced the death on Facebook .

With extreme regret, the Civil Police Secretariat reports the passing of police inspector Andre Leonardo de Mello Frias, this Thursday (06/05), during the operation to combat organized crime in the community of Jacarezinho, Norte Rio, the department said. He honoured the profession he loved and will be missed.

The statement also defended the raid as based on concrete intelligence and investigation information.

The targeted gang is known for engaging in drug trafficking, mugging, murders and kidnappings. Police said the gang also robbed trucks of cargo and held up commuter trains to steal from passengers. Police say they conducted the raid after learning the traffickers were recruiting children.

On occasion, criminals reacted strongly, the Civil Police said. Not just to run away but to kill.

Ten people were also arrested in the raid, police said, and some of the gangs leaders were among the dead.

Police chief Ronaldo Oliveira said it was one of the deadliest raids in the citys history.
An unemployed Spanish waiter has been convicted of murdering his mother who he cut into thousands of pieces, stored them in lunch boxes and fed parts to his pet dog.

Alberto Sanchez Gomez, 28, was nicknamed the cannibal of Las Ventas, after the Madrid area where he lived with his mother Maria Soledad Gomez.

A jury in Madrid found Sanchez guilty of strangling the 68-year-old after a row.

He cut up her body, put some pieces in Tupperware boxes and spent the next two weeks eating parts of his victim or feeding parts to his pet dog.

Sanchez cooked some parts or ate others raw, the court heard.

Sanchez will be sentenced in the next few days but prosecutors have asked for the former waiter to be jailed for 15 years and five months for homicide and the desecration of a human corpse.

When he was arrested in February 2019, Sanchez told police that he had been eating his mum bit by bit with his pet dog, the court heard.

Yes, myself and my dog have been eating her bit by bit, he was reported to have told officers.

Police found Mrs Soledads remains in Tupperware containers in their fridge and bones in drawers around the family home.

Her head, hands and heart were found on her bed.

Spanish media reports said her body had been cut up into more than 1,000 pieces.

A worried friend of Mrs Soledad raised the alarm, telling authorities she had not been for over a month.

During the trial at Madrids Audiencia Provincial, prosecutors said Sanchez used a carpenters saw and two kitchen knives to cut up his mothers body.

Sanchez told the court that he heard hidden messages when he watched television and voices telling to kill his mother.

He said the voices were those of neighbours, acquaintances and celebrities.

However, he insisted he could not remember cutting up his mother or eating her remains.

During his address to the court, Sanchez said:  Im very repentant. I suffer anxiety from the moment I wake up.

I think of my mother and Im absolutely heartbroken.

Jurors heard that Sanchez, who started consuming drugs and alcohol from age 13, had been arrested 12 times for mistreating his mum before he finally killed her.

A police officer who gave evidence during the trial said: He also said he had eaten parts of her body, some cooked and some raw, and had given some pieces to the dog.
The G7 group of democratic states ended its foreign ministers summit in London calling on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, but drawing back from any decisive action if that fails to take place.

Economic considerations, as well as apprehension that even strong language could trigger retaliation by Beijing, led to some member states of the Group successfully limiting the scope of censure.

One of the key points of the summit had been a projected alliance of democracies to counter autocratic regimes with China and Russia seen as the main adversaries. But a number of European states are said to have refused calls for a more robust stance by the US,

Support for Taiwan, a country facing aggressive Chinese military exercises and threats of invasion, was also muted. The G7said it supported Taiwans participation in World Health Organisation (WHO) forums and the World Health Assembly, but there was no criticism of Beijings actions.

The Group did, however, condemn the Chinese government for human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet as well as Chinas pursuit of an expansionist strategy through arbitrary, coercive economic policies.

The Chinese government has been accused of promoting debt dependency in the developing world through its belt and road construction scheme, taking over territories at times when the borrowing countries fail to pay back loans.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "I think China is more likely to need to, rather than react in anger, it is more likely going to need to take a look in the mirror and understand that it needs to take into account this growing body of opinion, that thinks these basic international rules have got to be adhered to."

The UK, as the host, had invited Japan, India, Australia and South Korea, all countries involved in varying degrees of confrontation with China, to take part in the summit.

In the event the Indian foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had to participated virtually after coming into contact with the suspected cases of covid in his countrys delegation, although he has not tested positive himself.

A number of those taking part spoke of how refreshing this summit had been after the acrimony and unpleasantness introduced in previous years by Donald Trump. There was also widespread approval of Britains decision to hold an in person conference rather than a virtual one.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, talks with U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams after arriving at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Mar. 17, 2021. Yonhap



Outgoing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams will receive a Korean name as a gift from a South Korea-U.S. friendship group during his farewell event next week, organizers said Thursday.



The Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance Friendship Association will present the name, Woo Byung-soo, to the four-star general for "his contributions to the alliance and defense of South Korea" at the event scheduled for next Thursday, according to the group.



The first name, Byung-soo, is made of the Chinese characters Byung standing for "authority" and Soo meaning "excellence," while the city of Pyeongtaek, where USFK is headquartered, was chosen as the origin of the last name, Woo, officials said.






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UK based (Sikh) International humanitarian relief organisation has been working round the clock to provide aid as the world grapples with a spike in COVID-19 cases.

United States

Now, the organisation has sent another batch of 500 oxygen concentrators to India from the US.

khalsa aid

UK

Khalsa Aid volunteers in the UK also sent 500 oxygen concentrators in a total of two cargo flights from Heathrow Airport in London. The aid has been flown with the assistance of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, free of charge. One of the flights reached Delhi's IGI airport on May 3, the other one reached on May 5.

Khalsa aid

India Covid RELIEF

2nd Flight to #India ready to fly from Heathrow.



Thank you @British_Airways for taking this vital cargo to India free of charge #COVID19India pic.twitter.com/JlZ9J1dQSg  Khalsa Aid (@Khalsa_Aid) May 5, 2021





India Covid Relief



Our next flight carrying Oxygen Concentrators goes out to #India from London Heathrow tomorrow 



Within 10 days we have organised 400-500 machines & 2 cargo flights to #India ! We are extremely grateful to @VirginAtlantic & @British_Airways #CovidIndia pic.twitter.com/YZbv5VTqXB  Khalsa Aid (@Khalsa_Aid) May 4, 2021

On Wednesday, Khalsa aid took to Twitter to thank an industrial property firm based in UK that provided a warehouse in the town of Slough to the organisation for free.

The volunteers have been carrying out their operations involving India's COVID-19 aid from the warehouse. The tweet read, "Our thanks to @SEGROplc for providing us a warehouse in Slough as a support base for the vulnerable during Covid. This is now being used to support the people of India during the Covid emergency relief. Thank you."

Our thanks to @SEGROplc for providing us a warehouse in #Slough as a support base for the vulnerable during #Covid. This is now being used to support the people of #India during the Covid emergency relief. Thank you  pic.twitter.com/ICagUIBN6j  Khalsa Aid (@Khalsa_Aid) May 5, 2021





Our UK volunteers working flat out in #Slough to send more oxygen concentrators to #India !



Wonderful Teamwork #CovidIndia #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/wR8Dsf8J9v  Khalsa Aid (@Khalsa_Aid) May 3, 2021

Australia

Khalsa Aid Australia has also sent hundreds of oxygen concentrators to India. They took to Twitter on May 3 and said, "Busy Bank Holiday morning at the Khalsa Aid warehouse as we're preparing hundreds of oxygen concentrators for air freight in the next few days".

Twitter/Khalsa Aid





India

Back in India, Khalsa Aid volunteers have aimed at providing 5,000 oxygen concentrators to people suffering in Delhi.

Sewa continues....



Khalsa Aid India has been assisting the national capital in its fight against the virus. Our Director @amarpreet_ka seen here giving an overview of the assistance being carried out.



We are grateful for the support of the sangat.#khalsaaidindia #covid19 pic.twitter.com/Th8Ny7kk88  Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) May 5, 2021





On May 4, the group in a tweet said, "We wish to expand our outreach to other worst affected cities, hospitals, health care centres, individuals. Our goal is to procure 5,000 concentrators so that needy patients can be assisted. We are advancing towards our goal and your support will expedite this process."

We wish to expand our outreach to other worst affected cities, hospitals, health care centres, individuals.



Our goal is to procure 5000 concentrators so that needy patients can be assisted. We are advancing towards our goal and your support will expedite this process. pic.twitter.com/nzstLddQDn  Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) May 4, 2021

The international Sikh group has been providing aid ever since COVID-19 pandemic stuck in March 2020. Apart from providing oxygen concentrators, they have set up blood banks, helplines for patients in need of plasma, beds or oxygen. They have also organised oxygen camps in various localities in Delhi.
BCCL

Even as the country is reeling under the deadly effects of the double mutant of COVID-19, it seems a new N440K spike substitution detected in several parts of south India will continue to threaten efforts to stem the world's worst virus outbreak. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has discovered N440K variant, that might be responsible for creating havoc in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the state, said experts. Read more

Units That Can Make Around 2,800 Oxygen Cylinders A Day Shut For The Past 10 Days

Representational Image/Reuters

In another case of mismanagement and technical laxity, the Central governments order on 25 April putting a ban on the use of oxygen for non-medical industries has led to a halt for the manufacturing of oxygen cylinders in the largest units in Gandhidham, Gujarat. The ban on industrial oxygen has had a significant fallout: over the past 10 days, production has come to a halt in the countrys largest oxygen cylinder manufacturing units in the state of Gujarat. Read more



You Don't Stop Elections In Places Like India, Replies Jaishankar Amid Criticism

AFP

Ignoring the alarm bells raised by health experts the Election Commission went ahead with the polls, and now even the WHO is blaming it among other mass gatherings as the reasons for the alarming spike of COVID-19 in India. On Wednesday, amid the growing criticism about the elections, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that elections cannot be stopped in a democratic country like India. Read more



Now, Water Shortage In Delhi? Will Have To Cut Supply To Hospitals, Says Delhi Jal Board

BCCL

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has now 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 due to the water shortage from Punjab and Haryana, it may have to cut down the water being provided to hospitals in Delhi. Read more

Amid COVID Crisis, Yogi Sets Up Helpline For Cows In All UP Districts

PTI

According to IANS, the government has issued instructions that all the cow shelters must strictly follow the Covid-19 protocols and has made the usage of masks and frequent thermal screening mandatory. The cow shelters will also be equipped with all the medical equipments such as oximeters and thermal scanners for cows and other animals as well. According to the government spokesman, destitute cows, in large numbers, are being provided shelter in the gaushalas. Read more
As coronavirus cases continue to surge in India, states across the country have enforced strict precautionary measures to contain the spread of virus. The authorities are keeping a tight vigil to keep movement of people in check.

No violators are being spared and it seems dogs are no exception, if the latest incident from Indore is anything to go by. The local police has arrested a dog, along with its owner for flouting COVID norms.

Representational Image/Shutterstock

According to a report in India Today, the incident took place in the Palasia area of Indore when the man was taking a walk with his dog. During this time the police team was on patrol to ensure that the curfew induced was being followed.



The arrested man is said to be a businessman and was apprehended by the police when he took his dog out for a walk - which the police found to be in violation of Covid protocol.

Also read: MP Minister Performs Puja At Indore Airport Without Mask 'To Get Rid Of COVID'

Loksatta

According to various reports, the man along with his dog has been sent to jail, but police have denied this.



Some animal rights activists have protested against the arrest of the man and the dog for taking a walk outside.

Also read: Indore Cops Mercilessly Thrash Rickshaw-Puller In Public After His Mask Slipped From Nose

Representational Image/Shutterstock

Indore is the worst coronavirus-affected district in Madhya Pradesh. According to the health department, the infection count in the district stands at 1,19,902, including 1,176 fatalities.

On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh logged 12,319 fresh cases of Covid, which took the tally of infections in the state to 6,24,985. There were 71 fatalities in the same period, taking the total number of deaths to 6,074, show figures from the state health department.



Also read: How A Friend's Death Resulted In This Indore Cop 'Moonwalking' To Manage Traffic For 16 Years
Rep. Lee Nak-yon, former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, delivers a congratulatory message at a conference on real estate policy at the Eroom Center in Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps



By Jung Da-min



Ruling party heavyweights who are aiming to run in the next presidential election are considering handing out cash to young people, in a bid to win more support from younger generations.



Rep. Lee Nak-yon, former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said in a video released on his YouTube channel, Wednesday, that he thinks young men drafted for their mandatory military service should be given 30 million won ($26,638) when they leave the military to help start their careers.



"I hope that young people will be given equal opportunities when they enter society, at least once in their lives," Lee said. "I would like to think more about this support, which could be given in the form of a support fund or other ways."



Earlier on Tuesday, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, also a DPK member, talked about giving 10 million won to young people who choose not to go to university but instead enter the job market right after high school. The governor said those who receive the money could travel around the world and learn things needed for their future careers.





Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung delivers an opening speech at a fair on basic income at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, April 28. Yonhap
People receive their Covid-19 vaccines from medical workers at a vaccination center set up in the library of a government school on May 4, 2021 in New Delhi, India. (Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)
Award-winning filmmaker Prithvi Konanurs Kannada film, Pinki Elli (Where is Pinki), will open the 2021 New York Indian Film Festival June 3. The Covid-19 situation in India is heartbreaking, said Indian American Aseem Chhabra, NYIFF festival director. But we made a promise to our audience in the United States and elsewhere. The show must go on. (photo provided)
Singh and Kaur Park, which opened recently in Elk Grove, Calif., is named in remembrance of two Elk Grove Sikh American residents, Gurmej Singh Atwal and Surinder Singh, who were murdered in 2011. In the park, a plaque describes the two men and the injustice of their deaths. It also demonstrates the commitment our community has to honoring our diversity, said Elk Grove Indian American Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. (Bobbie Singh-Allen for Mayor/Facebook photo)
File photo of synagogue firebomber Aakash Dalal, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for masterminding a series of bombings at Jewish temples in New Jersey. The young Indian American escaped a life sentence. (screen grab of northjersey.com video/https://njersy.co/2uGynTc)
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early, then cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early, then cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
By Tom Plate





Marvelously, sharp streaks of sunshine are starting to break through America's COVID-19 cloud cover, but the fog over U.S. foreign policy seems heavy. It involves India, China and Russia.



Let's start with India and employ the British poet W.H. Auden's words  "the gates of hell are always standing wide open." But, in India's case, you have to fear that this South Asian giant, with its endless problems, looks more like a revolving door, perhaps with no way out.



Sectors of the Indian population are trapped instead in a kind of hell on Earth. Every day, hundreds of thousands become victims of the pandemic. The Modi government is in denial, as was Donald Trump's.



Recall that India has been designated in the minds of U.S. policymakers and grand theorists as the historic geopolitical counterweight to big, bad China on the west bank of Asia. But, since independence in 1947, India has seen itself as somehow above grimy side-taking geopolitics.



Even today, it seems in little mood to play the role of new deputy sheriff to replace ever-loyal Australia, which always had a lot more bark than actual bite to offer anyway.



As many on the U.S. East Coast still imagine that Washington remains the center of the geopolitical universe, it cannot understand why others don't think this way and don't want to join in the new global gutter fight of anti-China geopolitics. Such a diplomatic passage for India, from its stance of nonalignment, would be a very tough transformation.



The usual paradigms of international power politics need to be retired to the dustiest corner room of the British Library. After all, Beijing has accepted snatches of capitalism to power its growth, as long as the capitalists do not try to rule over the Communist Party; and Washington, under an amazingly determined new president, is now using  with unabashed relish  invasive tools of state intervention in the economy to refresh development.



Declaring a cold war against a government with which you so often publicly disagree not only makes you disagreeable to that government but also to that other part of the world that sees things in the multiplicity of nuances, as opposed to the binary of kindergarten right and wrong.



No doubt China's treatment and confinement of Uighurs in its far west will merit no humanitarian awards from history, but neither will the Modi government's racism toward its Muslims. And, blithely enough, Washington proclaims that one country's policies are evil and the other country's are  well, it's a democracy, right?



The argument that Beijing's Uighur policy amounts to genocide strikes me as more propagandistic in intent than objective in purpose.



In a recent essay in the invaluable Times Literary Supplement in London, the human-rights journalist Caroline Moorehead insists that distinctions in political labeling must be carefully differentiated if they are to have any meaning worth following.



To illustrate, she contrasts and compares the policies of Mussolini to those of other big despots invariably mentioned in the same breath: "[H]is colonial wars were no more brutal than those of the other European countries who preceded him and whose own brutalities are too often forgiven.



"Such comparisons may sound invidious, but the casualties of Mussolini's reign  about one million totally unpardonable premature deaths  are not in the same league as Mao's 45-75 million, Stalin's 40-60 million or Hitler's 17-20 million." The word "fascist" is used today "too often and too loosely," she said.



So is the term "Communist totalitarianism," thrown around like one-size-fits-all  but perhaps it fits none, in reality. Russia is neither totalitarian nor communist right now; what it is, though, is a mess  and a dangerous one.



Yet Washington is waging a cold war against both Moscow and Beijing. What a brilliant strategy: Get two formidable nuclear powers to unite against you, instead of trying to divide them against each other. But not to worry, the U.S. will get India to pitch in on its side.



Consensual hallucination  as in "boss think" and groupthink  perhaps best describes the thinking now. Things are either evil or not. Nations are either bad or good. The clear-sighted Winston Churchill once cut a deal with Joseph Stalin. Having Russia move closer to China today is no sign of a policy triumph; maybe a choice needs to be made, sooner rather than later.



Perhaps all the wolf-warrior watchers of the West should lend their ears elsewhere and listen to Tchaikovsky's "Marche Slave" and hope that my hunch that the People's Republic will not tear across Taiwan is right. I think the leaders of China are too smart for that.





Professor Tom Plate (platecolumn@gmail.com) is Loyola Marymount University's Distinguished Scholar of Asian and Pacific Affairs and the Pacific Century Institute's vice-president. The original version of this column appeared in the South China Morning Post, where Prof. Plate is a regular contributor. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.


More than 60 business, labor, and community organizations have signed a letter to the Maryland Board of Public Works expressing strong support for Phase 1 of the Maryland Traffic Relief Plan, which includes replacing the aging American Legion Bridge and improving the Interstate 270 corridor.

The project will benefit our entire region, said Jason Stanford, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. It will create a seamless managed lane network between Maryland and Virginia, which will move more people through this important corridor including via a new express bus service between Bethesda and Tysons. This project is a gamechanger for those who are tired of being stuck in soul-crushing traffic on the American Legion Bridge.

The letter is signed by representatives of regional business and labor organizations, including the Baltimore-D.C. Metro Building Trades Council, LiUNA, AAA Mid-Atlantic, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Prince Georges Chamber of Commerce. These organizations represent thousands of members, according to a news release.

This project is critical to the future economic success of the State of Maryland, said Edgar Gonzalez, executive director of the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance. It will substantially reduce congestion and delays for both free and toll lane users, improve regional transit service, increase carpooling, add new bike and pedestrian connections, strengthen our economy, and create thousands of good-paying jobs."

In addition to highlighting the multimodal transportation benefits of the project, the letter also points to the advantages of using public-private partnership approach, including no net cost to taxpayers and more money for transit, trail, technology, and community improvements.

The letter urges Maryland officials to refrain from efforts to further delay the project.

Time is money on big transportation projects like this one, and improvements to this corridor have been studied for more than 30 years, added Gonzalez, a former deputy director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. It would be a shame for the zealous obstruction of a few elected officials to completely derail traffic relief and multimodal transportation improvements for all of Montgomery County and the entire region. Marylanders and Montgomery County residents and employers deserve better.
A group of Maryland volunteer firefighters accused of setting fire to vacant structures have been charged with arson and other crimes.

The five men, who worked for West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department in New Carrollton, Maryland, were indicted by a grand jury on a total of more 60 counts, including arson, conspiracy and misconduct in office, according to a statement from Prince Georges County Fire Chief Tiffany Green.

Nicholas Holzberger, 19, Cole Vazquez, 21, George Smith, 24, Jay St. John, 24, and Jeremy Hawkins, 26, were accused of involvement in the four intentionally set fires in late 2019 and early 2020, officials said.

The fires were set at times when they were on duty and could respond to them, WJLA-TV quoted States Attorney Aisha Braveboy as saying. Property damages from all four blazes were estimated at $260,000 in total.

The suspects were removed from their roles when the investigation began, news outlets reported. Three civilians were also charged with arson and other crimes during the course of the investigation, authorities said.

Hawkins was being held Friday at the Prince Georges County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro on a $50,000 bond. The initial appearances for Holzberger, Smith, St. John and Vazquez were scheduled for mid-May, according to the statement.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects had attorneys who could comment for them.

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

Topics Abuse Molestation Maryland Arson
Maine is one of the latest states to enact its own version of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model data security law, signing the Maine Insurance Data Security Act into law on March 17.

The NAIC Insurance Data Security Model Law was formally adopted in 2017 and aims to establish data security standards for regulators and insurers to mitigate damage from a data breach. It has since been adopted by several U.S. states, with Maine and North Dakota being two of the latest.

The NAIC model development has received wide attention in the industry from interested parties, including trade groups representing insurers and producers, Maine Bureau of Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa told Insurance Journal in emailed comments. Maine has actively participated in the development of the NAIC model law, which Maines new law is based upon.

The Maine Insurance Data Security Act spells out standards for insurers licensed in the state regarding data security, as well as the investigation of and notification to the superintendent of cybersecurity events.

Cioppa said the standards are scalable to the size and complexity of each insurer or licensee and the type of information it has. There is an exemption for licensees that have fewer than 10 employees, including independent contractors who work in the business of insurance.

The act requires licensees to develop, implement and maintain a written information security program that aligns with the size and complexity of their business based on a risk assessment. Risk assessments are required to be conducted at least annually to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity controls, information systems and other safeguards to manage threats.

In the event of a cybersecurity incident, insurers or outside vendors acting on behalf of insurers are required to conduct a prompt investigation and notify the superintendent no later than three business days after the event is discovered. A copy of the notice should also be provided to consumers.

By April 15th annually, Maine insurance carriers are required to submit to the superintendent a written statement certifying compliance with the requirements spelled out in the act.

Maine is continuing to focus on improving cybersecurity for the insurance industry in the state, Cioppa said, participating in the NAIC Innovation and Technology Task Force and Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (EX) Working Group and keeping Bureau staff informed of developments in those areas.

He said the Bureau also monitors data security breaches involving entities that are or should be licensed in Maine, and Maines legal staff works to respond to questions from entities about Maine law and insurtech issues as needed.

The Maine Insurance Data Security Act takes effect January 1, 2022, at which time licensees are expected to comply with implementing an information security program. Cioppa said the Bureau will likely provide some additional guidance, either through updated FAQs or by issuing a bulletin, before the effective date.

Ultimately, there is an expectation that regulated entities are responsible for knowing what the law is and what protected information they have, what information their third-party service providers have access to, how their systems are set up, how their systems and physical plants are protected from intrusion, what the current best practices in cybersecurity are and what cyberthreats are developing, he said.

Topics Cyber Data Driven Maine
OTTAWA  Canada plans to focus its next budget on tackling climate change and its effects but the insurance industry, amid skyrocketing costs, is concerned the government will move too slowly on the key first step of mapping flood risks.

Flood mapping is used to underwrite flood insurance, assess bank exposure across mortgage portfolios, inform home buyers, and plan new infrastructure. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged sweeping climate action during his re-election campaign last year, including C$150 million ($112.2 million) for flood mapping. The federal budget is expected at the end of March.

Flooding is by far the single greatest peril facing Canadians as a result of climate change, Craig Stewart, vice president of federal affairs for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, told Reuters.

Stewart said the natural resources ministry is proposing doing the mapping itself with the focus only on fluvial  river and lake  flooding, in a process that would take 10 years.

The natural resources and finance ministries both declined to say whether such a measure would be in the budget.

We cant take a decade to complete flood maps for this country, and we need to make sure were mapping urban and coastal flooding as well, Stewart said. He estimates it could be done within three years if the government collaborates with the private sector.

A government source said the approach it will take on mapping has yet to be decided.

Current mapping is on average 20 to 25 years out of date, said Blair Feltmate, head of the University of Waterloos Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation Faculty of Environment.

Insurers spent C$1.9 billion annually, on average, between 2009 and 2019 on catastrophic event claims, including for flooding and water, compared with an average of C$422 million per year in the 1983-2008 period, according to Insurance Bureau data.

Last year, a government-commissioned panel on sustainable finance also recommended a public-private partnership for the mapping.

A member of the expert panel, Tiff Macklem, the dean of Torontos Rotman School of Management and a former Bank of Canada senior deputy governor, said flood mapping is an immediate priority.

The Expert Panel envisaged a model where the private sector would pay a membership fee, Macklem said. This type of model  would be both less expensive and provide higher-quality data. ($1 = 1.3371 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Top Photo: Rescue workers help evacuees retrieve some belongings from flooding from the Lake of Two Mountains, Wednesday, May 1, 2019, in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec, Canada. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Topics Carriers Flood Canada
BRUSSELS  The European Unions top court on Thursday upheld the EUs partial ban on three insecticides linked to harming bees, preventing their use on certain crops.

The European Court of Justice dismissed an appeal by Bayer to overturn a lower EU courts 2018 decision to uphold the ban.

The ruling covers three active substances  imidacloprid developed by Bayer CropScience, clothianidin developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and Bayer CropScience, as well as Syngentas thiamethoxam.

A Bayer spokesperson said it was disappointed by the verdict and stood by the safety of the products, which continue to be used in other regions with appropriate risk mitigation measures applied.

The verdict seems to allow the (European) Commission almost carte blanche to review existing approvals upon the slightest evidence, which need not even be new scientific data, the spokesperson said.

The Commission in 2013 restricted the use of the neonicotinoids, meaning they could not be used on maize, rapeseed and some spring cereals. They could still be used for other crops, such as sugar beet.

The Commission had reviewed the approvals because of the loss of bee colonies due to the misuse of pesticides.

Bayer had said there was insufficient new scientific knowledge to justify the restrictions. The EUs highest court on Thursday dismissed that appeal and ordered Bayer to bear its own costs plus those of other parties.

The Court of Justice has reaffirmed that protecting nature and peoples health takes precedence over the narrow economic interests of powerful multinationals, said Greenpeace legal strategist Andrea Carta.

Bayer and ChemChina-owned Syngenta had warned that banning the insecticides would mean farmers reverting to older chemicals and spraying more.

Despite the ban, 206 emergency authorisations were granted for the use of the substances in the EU between 2013 and 2019. EU auditors last year said this pesticide use, while legal, was thought to be responsible for honeybee losses.

To protect bees, the Commission has proposed targets to cut the EUs use of chemical pesticides by 50% and to reduce fertilizer use by 20% by 2030.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett. Additional reporting by Ludwig Burger. Editing by Marine Strauss and Mark Potter)

Topics Europe
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.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; additional reporting by Jonathan Saul Writing by Aidan Lewis Editing by Mark Heinrich and Giles Elgood)

Top Photo: In this photo from the Suez Canal Authority, the cargo ship Ever Given sits with its bow stuck into the wall Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after it become wedged across Egypts Suez Canal and blocked all traffic in the vital waterway. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)

Topics Carriers
Manufacturing sector needs to enhance technological prowess



Korea's manufacturing sector propped up the economy last year amid the global business slump resulting from the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report. The global economy contracted 3.3 percent in 2020, but the local economy contracted a mere 1 percent thanks to its manufacturing industry armed with top-class competitiveness, thus minimizing the crisis caused by the prolonged outbreak, it said.



The report, the "Korean manufacturing industry's competitiveness shored up the economy amid COVID-19 crisis," released Wednesday by the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), said it was impossible to overemphasize the importance and contribution of the nation's manufacturing sector. The U.N. Industrial Development Organization also ranked Korea's manufacturing competitiveness as the third highest in the world, behind Germany and China, based on its Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) index.



"Amid a situation where it was difficult to expect to lift the growth rate through bolstering domestic demand, Korea showed rapid recovery by expanding exports based on strong manufacturing competitiveness," the KIET report said. Major flagship industries, such as semiconductors, displays and petrochemicals, took the lead in the export revival.



However, for Korean manufacturers to continue to play a leading role, they have to surmount many hurdles. Experts have expressed concerns over the ability of the sector to cope with the shift toward digitization and contactless business as a result of COVID-19. As shown by the ongoing semiconductor supply shortage, the United States and China are fiercely competing to achieve supremacy in worldwide supply networks and technological standards. The U.S.-China trade war also remains a big risk for Korean manufacturers.



If the pandemic enters a stable stage, the major economic powers will resume their fight for industrial leadership in the manufacturing sector, too. Local manufacturers need to enhance their technological prowess through digital conversion and investment into research and development. Experts anticipate the global industrial landscape will never be the same  before and after COVID-19. Korean manufacturers should work out strategies to prepare for such shifts and lay the foundation for drastic changes. Now is the time to speed up innovation.


The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help the Gary police and fire departments investigate a series of recent suspicious fires, authorities said.

Firefighters from throughout Lake and Porter counties worked Saturday night and early Sunday to extinguish blazes at 17 vacant buildings in 11 different locations throughout Gary, Fire Chief Sean ODonnell said.

Some of the structures were fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, he said.

No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince said the citys fire and police departments immediately began an investigation and it became clear the city needed to seek all the resources it could to bring anyone who might be responsible to justice.

A rash of seven fires on April 21 was also considered suspicious and will be investigated as well, he said.

Police Chief Brian Evans said high winds Saturday night contributed to the fires growth, and officials were grateful the blazes didnt spread further.

Authorities are forming a team of fire investigations, crime scene detectives and others to try to determine if the fires are connected, Evans said.

Prince said he believed many of the burned buildings were already slated for demolition.

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

Topics Indiana
A St. Paul, Minnesota, man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in the arson fire that burned a Minneapolis police station during protests over the death of George Floyd.

Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, was given 41 months in prison after earlier pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. Wolfe was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $12 million in restitution for damages to the Third Precinct station on May 28, 2020.

According to court documents, Wolfe pushed a barrel into a fire located in the entrance of the station with the intent of accelerating it.

Prosecutors say Wolfe also entered the station and took several items, including a police vest, duty belt, handcuffs, baton, knife and ammunition. Wolfe was arrested last June wearing the police vest, the duty belt and carrying the tactical baton, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The civil unrest that followed Floyds death led Gov. Tim Walz to call in the National Guard. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck as Floyd was on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Chauvin was convicted last month of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
From casual Fridays to after-work drinks, those weekly rituals once taken for granted are returning as Americans head back to the office. And while masks, plexiglass and empty conference rooms will alter the cubescape, employers are nevertheless invested in getting things back to normalor at least as normal as possible.

But that wont be easy. Covid-19s damage may be felt in the workplace long after the disease has receded. Thats thanks to the mental and emotional toll the pandemic has taken on employees who, like everyone else, have spent the past year living in fear, isolation and sorrow.

Were seeing pretty alarming numbers, said Vaile Wright, senior director of healthcare innovation at the American Psychological Association (APA), who oversees its Stress in America survey. Peoples bodies and minds just arent in quite the fit place they were in a year ago.

APA data shows extensive markers of unhealthy copingincluding disrupted sleep, increased drinking and low physical activity. Moreover, some 61% of adults are reporting undesired weight gain or lossthough mostly the former, with a typical increase of 15 pounds. All the research coming out now is really aligned, Wright said. Rates of depression, anxiety, substance use and suicidality have all increased.

To understand what this will mean for workplaces, it may help to understand what healthy coping looks like.

Generally, the APA and other experts encourage healthful eating, sleep and exercise, with abundant social connections, all of which combines to build a strong foundation that allows people to withstand everyday pressurelike that encountered in the office. This foundation typically depends on routines: a consistent bedtime and wake time, regular exercise and meal times.

For many, the pandemic has managed to blow all this up.

Were hearing, both from the data and anecdotally, that people just arent able to do those things, said Wright. Someone who isnt coping effectively may be less present, even when they are at work, and theyre more likely to not be as productive, to not show upand to quit.

And its not just the office where this malaise is manifesting itself. According to Professor Lawrence Katz, an economist at Harvard University, its on full display in classrooms, where he sees undergraduates performing in a different gear than usual.

They want plain vanillayou know, the sort of generic courses where you just do exams and dont have to do anything much extra, Katz said. Junior seminars that typically feature more expansive projects have seen enrollments drop by half, he said. They seem to be less willing to do challenging things, Katz said.

For employees, this dynamic could translate into lower work capacity than pre-pandemic timesmaking addressing it an economic imperative for companies.

So how should managers cope with this diminished ability to cope?

Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist at the consulting firm Thrive Leadership, said bosses need to be cognizant that many employees arefor the first time in their livesfacing a bout of overeating, anxiety, depression or even substance use.

Know that its going to vary person-to-person, depending on their personal circumstances and pandemic experiences, she said. Some will be eager to come back to the office and [be] right back at it, and others will have a lot of resistance to it because theyre just not up for it.

Parents may be in for a particularly rough time.

I am always surprised by how many working parents will bring up that theyre physically in a really bad place, as well as their mental healththe guilt, the overwhelm and the stress, said Daisy Dowling, a consultant and author of the upcoming book, Workparent.

Any time they would spend attending to their health is spent attending to the health and safety of their children, she said.

Wright, Swody and Dowling all agree that as workers come back, employers must make access to wellness resources easy. Companies should subsidize online exercise classes, gym memberships and mental health programs. These include stress management, therapists and employee assistance programs. New strategies unique to the pandemic can include outdoor video chats and walk-and-talks with mental health professionals.

However, such offerings may go unused if managers dont explicitly normalize their use during the workday. This, the experts said, is a critical consideration for staff whose mornings and evenings are occupied with obligations such as elder or child care.

For global companies, outfitting workers with additional physical and mental health resources can be complex, but Wright notes employers have more power than they sometimes recognize in terms of negotiating and contracting with insurance providers.

Mary-Alice Vuicic is chief people officer for business information company Thomson Reuters. She said her company has expanded its mental health and well-being resources. Were looking to make access easier for people around the globe, a lot of which can come through telehealth and the breadth of providers, she said.

One ready-made option for employers looking to ease workers back into the office is making sure they take all the vacation theyve accrued. Stuck at home with nowhere to go and nothing to do, Americans who were lucky enough to stay employed in 2020 invariably banked a lot of days.

Youre just basically penalizing people for having gone to the wall for you during the pandemic.

A lot of companies are going to find themselves in a really weird situation where they have gigantic vacation rollover issues, said Dowling, with many employees sitting on eight-plus weeks off. What do you do with that? If youre an HR head, and you havent come up with a solution, youre just basically penalizing people for having gone to the wall for you during the pandemic.

Now with vaccinations, falling infection rates and reopenings, U.S. employees can actually do something fun with that time off. Dowling said companies that are worried about staffing issues might consider buying out vacation time, or allowing workers to apply it to flex time. This really needs to come from the top, because vacation is very rules based, she said.

Rue Dooley, a longtime HR knowledge adviser for the Society for Human Resource Management, said that beyond basic benefits or flexible vacation, simply listening to employees can guide organizations trying to smooth the post-lockdown transition: are workers gabbing about Peloton instructors? Nanny services? Their pandemic rescue pets?

An employer could empathetically listen to that and say, Hey, heres this inexpensive benefit, we can subsidize your pet insurance,' Dooley said. Employees will tell you what they need if you listen.

Top Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK  MARCH 04: People enjoy the view from the top of Rockefeller Center as office buildings stand largely empty on March 04, 2021 in New York City. According to Colliers International, in January the office available rate in Manhattan rose to 14.9%, which is the highest level on record dating back to 2000. Some companies are slowly asking employees to return to the office while others are waiting for more New Yorkers to receive the vaccine for Covid-19. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics COVID-19 Commercial Lines Business Insurance
Hispanic Americans have died of Covid-19 at a disproportionately high rate compared to whites because of workplace exposure to the virus, a new study suggests.

Hispanics are over-represented among workers in essential industries and occupations ranging from warehousing and grocery stores to health care and construction, many of which kept operating when other businesses in the country shut down last spring.

The analysis of federal data showed that, considering their representation in the U.S. population, far higher percentages of Hispanics of working age  30 to 69 years old  have died of COVID-19 than whites in the same age groups.

A separate look at case estimates showed a similar pattern of unequally high COVID-19 infection rates for Hispanics  meaning that the elevated deaths in the working-age Hispanic population is consistent with elevated exposure to the virus.

There was no evidence before this paper that really demonstrated that the excess cases were precisely in these working age groups, said Reanne Frank, professor of sociology at The Ohio State University and co-author of the study.

Particularly for front-line and essential workers, among whom Hispanics are over-represented, Covid-19 is an occupational disease that spreads at work. Hispanics were on the front lines and they bore a disproportionate cost.

All analyses were based on the most recent data as of Sept. 30, 2020. The research is published in the journal Demographic Research.

Identifying a link between essential work and a higher rate of Covid-19 deaths should lead to better workplace protections, said study co-author D. Phuong (Phoenix) Do, associate professor of public health policy and administration at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

If we know the source of the spread, then we can tackle it head on, she said. This finding is applicable to any disease that is highly infectious. We cant stop the economy  weve learned that. There has to be a way to protect the workers and enforce protection.

Because Covid-19 death rates are highest among older ages, the fact that a much higher percentage of Hispanics are in the younger age groups compared to whites meant that excess Hispanic deaths were initially masked, according to the researchers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) age-adjusted data from 2020 showed that Hispanics constituted 19% of the population, but almost 41% of Covid-19 deaths.

When it became apparent that Covid-19 deaths were disproportionately high among minorities, commentators frequently suggested that unequal access to quality health care, higher levels of pre-existing conditions and multigenerational households were key causes, along with exposure as front-line workers.

At the time, however, there wasnt any case data to support this workplace vulnerability hypothesis, which to us seemed most compelling in trying to understand the excess deaths among Hispanics, said Frank, also a faculty affiliate in Ohio States Institute for Population Research.

Using CDC death counts stratified by age within racial/ethnic groups, the researchers compared the proportion of Covid-19 deaths attributed to whites and Hispanics with each groups relative population size. Nationally and in most states, in every range below age 75, Hispanic deaths were disproportionately high and deaths among whites were disproportionately low. One example from national data: Hispanics ages 35 to 44 and 55 to 64 experienced a higher-than-expected proportion of deaths of 15.4 and 8 percentage points, respectively. In contrast, whites in those same age groups faced mortality advantages of 23 and 17 percentage points, respectively.

Turning to CDC case surveillance data, the researchers found the same patterns at the county level. Overall and within each age group, whites were disproportionately underrepresented among Covid-19 cases, while Hispanics were overrepresented, with the greatest excess in cases among those of working age: 30 to 59.

Among the reported cases, Hispanics had fewer pre-existing health conditions than whites and there were no significant differences between working-age Hispanics and whites in the percentage of infections that resulted in death. Hence, the researchers said, the case data is not supportive of pre-existing comorbidities and/or lower-quality health care being driving factors in the excess Hispanic mortality.

If case fatality rates are comparable across racial and ethnic groups, and they are, but we see big differences in the amount of death, which we do, then we have to focus on differential exposure, Do said. So what we see is that these two patterns are consistent with higher case burden being the driving factor of the higher mortality burden among Hispanics.

The evidence does not support the other hypotheses. The data in this case supported the workplace exposure hypothesis but not unequal access to health care or unequal quality of care, not pre-existing conditions, and not multigenerational household exposure.

The researchers said the patterns revealed in the data ideally will discourage what amounts to victim-blaming  attributing an unequally high rate of Covid-19 deaths among Hispanics to risks associated with individual health behaviors or living arrangements rather than their overrepresentation in the essential workforce, often in low-wage jobs.

Theres this impulse when were trying to understand racial health disparities  even new ones like Covid that appeared very quickly  to obscure the role of structural factors, which includes work environments, Frank said. This evidence can hopefully set the record straight about why the Hispanic community, along with other groups overrepresented among front-line workers, took such a heavy hit from this pandemic  that it was because they were doing their jobs, and putting themselves on the line.

Source: Ohio State: Using race- and age-specific COVID-19 case data to investigate the determinants of the excess COVID-19 mortality burden among Hispanic Americans

Topics COVID-19
Its hot, get used to it.

That might be the clearest takeaway from a message out from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday, which gave us a glimpse of the new normal in a changing climate.

NOAA releases an analysis every 10 years of U.S. weather of the past three decades calculating the average values for temperature, rainfall and other conditions.

These 30-year averages, known as the U.S. Climate Normals, represent the new normals of our changing climate. The latest average spans 1991-2020.

The averages are calculated using climate observations collected at local weather stations across the nation.

There are 10 versions of the U.S. Climate Normals collection from 1901-1930 to 1991-2020.

NOAA scientists compared the U.S. annual average temperature during each Normals period to the 20th-century average (1901-2000).

The influence of long-term global warming is obvious, the report states.

As is clear in the graphic, the earliest map in the series has the most widespread and darkest blues, while the most recent map has the most widespread and darkest reds.

Earths Value

The value of the planet has fallen due to environmental damage caused by humans, according to a report that estimates the Earths natural infrastructure.

The planets natural infrastructure, which includes atmosphere, forests, wetlands, and oceans, is worth roughly $33 quadrillion, according to an analysis by the Environmental Business International and originally published by the Climate Change Business Journal.

That figure is minus humankinds $5 quadrillion in damage to the environment. A quadrillion is equivalent to 1,000 trillion.

The idea behind valuating the planet and environmental damage is to drive home the point about the damage that climate change is doing, acknowledged Grant Ferrier, founder of environmental industry research firm EBI and editor of the Environmental Business Journal.

By acknowledging the finite value of Earth and its resources and ecosystems  or its natural capital or natural infrastructure  we can show the validity of implementing economic instruments such as pollution taxes or resource extraction fees to start to account for the overall value of our planet, Ferrier said.

The analysis, which was conducted nearly a year ago but is just being publicized now, explains that natural resource valuation modeling is similar to how actuarial analysts apply economic values to measure monetary damages from hazards like contamination, pollution, weather events and climate risks.

The American Forest Association, for example, estimates the annual economic value of a tree at $500, a value that takes into account a trees contribution to air quality, erosion control, shelter and temperature modulation. With 3 trillion trees on the planet, forests represent $1.5 quadrillion in economic value. Before the advent of agriculture and the timber industry, scientists estimate the earth had twice as many trees as it does now, the analysis shows.

France Regulation

Frances banking regulator said this week that the nations banks and insurers should speed up their response to climate change.

The remarks come after the regulator published what it called the worlds first climate-related stress test of banks.

Other financial watchdogs around the world will also be conducting similar tests to help to reduce the impact of climate change on economies, meaning financial firms will have to disclose to investors the impact of climate change on their balance sheets under proposed European Union rules, Reuters reported in an Insurance Journal article on Wednesday.

The ACPR, the supervisory arm of the Bank of France, conducted a voluntary pilot test on nine banks and 15 insurers to measure resilience to common scenarios like a slow response to climate change.

The test covered a period from 2020 to 2050 and examined risks from transitioning from polluting to more climate-friendly assets and from physical risks like fires and floods. It found that exposures to transition risks were rather moderate, but the expected increase in claims and premiums for some insurance risks was particularly noticeable.

There were also uncertainties over how fast climate change will unfold and data gaps, the watchdog said, the article states.

Among the findings in the report were that insurance claims following extreme weather disasters are set to increase two to five-fold over the next 30 years. To meet the rising costs of payouts, the review found insurance premiums would need to rise 130% to 200% over the next 30 years.

Swenja Surminksi, interim deputy director and head of adaptation research at the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, who was not involved in the French work, said the results of the climate stress provide profound insights into how climate change could impact the financial resilience in France and globally.

The findings show how important urgent action to cut emissions and to better manage physical risks such as flooding and heat are, Surminksi said.

Earth-Observing Satellites

NASA is about to announce its next generation of Earth-observing satellites, releasing preliminary plans for a multibillion-dollar set of missions that will launch later this decade, the publication Science is reporting.

This Earth system observatory is designed to offer insights into clouds and aerosols, two possibly significant climate change contributors, and provide details about the temperatures and chemistry of the Earths surface.

Earth system science is poised to make an enormous difference in our ability to mitigate, adapt to, and plan for changes were seeing, Karen St. Germain, director of NASAs earth science division, told Science. The pace were going to have to do that is much higher in the decade in front of us than the decade behind us.

That satellites are estimated to cost of up to $1.6 billion, and would replace CloudSat and CALIPSO. Those probes were launched in 2006 to shed light on how clouds and aerosols can slow global warming by reflecting sunlight or speed it by trapping heat. CloudSat was able to spot previously invisible light rain and snowfall and provided the first global picture of total precipitation, while both satellites also showed that certain aerosols when mixed with clouds can suppress rainfall and extend clouds lifetimes and their ability to block light, Science reported.

Were in a time of challenge, theres no doubt about that, St. Germain told Science. But its also a time of unprecedented opportunity.

Past columns:

Topics USA Aerospace
Westwood Insurance Agency Appoints Kriby as VP of Client Development, Partnerships

Westwood Insurance Agency is has appointed Tom Kriby as vice president, Client Development and Partnerships, responsible for national account management and business development.

In this role, Kriby will be responsible for expanding Westwoods current client relationships and serving as the builder partner executive contact. He will also work to diversify the business into new growth channels and help with expanding brand efforts.

Kribys presence in the Southeast will provide further expansion in the region as he oversees Westwoods national reach.

Kriby has more than 16 years of sales, actuarial and risk management leadership experience. In his most recent role, Kriby served as assistant vice president of National Programs for Universal North America.

Prior to Universal, Kriby held roles with Benfield Inc., JPMorgan Chase and Tower Hill Insurance Group.

Westwood Insurance Agency is a personal lines agency offering personal, commercial and surplus lines products.

Burrows, Finley Take on New Roles at The Villages Insurance Partners

The Villages Insurance Partners of Florida has made changes to its commercial risk management (CRM) team.

Shane Finley has moved from senior advisor lead to CRM sales manager and Kelly Burrows from commercial account manager to CRM senior account manager/team lead.

Finley joined The Villages Insurance Partners in July 2013 and has worked in sales and service, while establishing commercial lines presence in The Villages and other areas in Florida. In his new role as the CRM Sales Manager, he will continue to use his expertise and relationship skills on new business development. Finley is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of service in the insurance industry.

Burrows joined The Villages Insurance Partners CRM team in 2016 and has focused on service and operations support across the CRM platform.

In her new role, she will be responsible for building out the service platform, market applications, and coordinate delivery of client proposals.

Burrows has more than 25 years of service in the insurance industry.

Established in 2013, The Villages Insurance Partners Commercial Risk Management Division provides insurance and risk management services for businesses of all sizes. The Villages Insurance has 8 locations and provides insurance and risk management to over 40,000 families and businesses in and around The Villages community. Established in 1985 The Villages Insurance, through its partnership with Baldwin Risk Partners, is currently ranked #25 on Insurance Journals Top 100 P/C Agencies list.

Lowe to Lead GRS Learning & Training Institute

Global Risk Solutions, Inc., a provider of P&C claims adjusting, complex/large loss and environmental risk management services, has appointed Charles H. Lowe to administer programs through the GRS Learning & Training Institute.

Lowe joined GRS as senior vice president of Learning and Development, overseeing the institute with the support of Carlos Sylvester, who recently joined GRS as a training manager.

Before joining GRS, Lowe held various executive roles in claims at P&C insurance companies, including Southern Oak Insurance, Security First, Sunshine State Insurance, and Citizens Property Insurance Corp. For much of his career, he has focused on building claims organizations, including daily claims examination, field adjusting, litigation/casualty claims examination, commercial and large loss oversight, catastrophe response and special investigative and fraud prevention programs.

Global Risk Solutions works with insurance industry clients to respond to property and casualty claims, natural catastrophes, cyber and environmental events. It is headquartered in Miami with global reach and offices in London and throughout the United States.
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, 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.

Alsup said he is highly unlikely to accept a proposal by Aguirre for him to appoint a trustee or receiver to oversee the utility, in part because PG&Es federal probation term runs out in January. Alsup said he has no power to extend it, so any overseer would also lose power in January.

Holding hearings to weigh whether to appoint a trustee would also divert staff from their primary duty of preventing the companys equipment from sparking more wildfires as California enters what officials fear will be a particularly dangerous drought-driven wildfire season.

Fire season is very close and I dont mind distracting the lawyers, but I do mind distracting the people who have to direct the fire prevention activities at PG&E, the judge said.

Separately, Alsup has been considering an order that could force the utility to deliberately turn off power more frequently to reduce wildfire risks. The California Public Utilities Commission objected that the plan could double the number of blackouts in some rural Northern California counties over the next decade.

The state commission last month also increased its oversight of the utility after determining that it neglected maintenance of its electrical grid, thereby igniting a series of deadly wildfires and forcing precautionary blackouts affecting millions of people across Northern California.

The problems cited by both Alsup and state regulators include poor care of antiquated equipment and preventing trees from falling on to power lines.

Alsup also noted that in another year the utility will be rid of me, but he added: I do have eight or nine more months to go, and I plan to use that as fairly as I can.

He set another hearing for June 2.

Associated Press writer Michael Liedtke contributed to this story.

Related:

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

Topics California Legislation Wildfire
A new report highlights the opportunity for insurers in cannabis.

New Dawn Risk launched its latest white paper on insurance for the U.S. legal cannabis, CBD and hemp markets. The 2021 report is called Opportunity knocks at last in the US cannabis insurance market.

Since the publication of the previous report in 2020, U.S. sales of medical and recreational cannabis have grown exponentially, reaching $17.5 billion in 2020, a 46% increase from 2019. In addition, the legislative landscape in the U.S. has been transformed by the arrival of the pro-cannabis Biden presidency, supported by a Democratic majority in both Houses.

A new CLAIM (Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana) Act has been introduced to the Senate, alongside the parallel SAFE Banking Act. This will pave the way for insurers to work with the cannabis industry legally; and will also reduce some of the insurance risks that previously dogged the industry. For example, directors and officers coverage will become a legally available option, and marijuana businesses will be able to regularize their banking and cash operations.

The white paper examines the key drivers of growth whilst exposing both the potential premiums and the size of the insurance gap for the cannabis industry in the US. Key points include:

36 U.S. states, and Washington D.C., have now legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use.

Americans now spend almost as much on legal marijuana products as they do on Coca Cola.

Cannabis dispensaries were deemed essential businesses by many states and therefore remained open during lockdown.

New Dawn Risk is a specialist insurance intermediary providing bespoke advisory solutions.

Topics USA Legislation Trends Cannabis
Carolyn Plaza of Fresno, Calif., self-surrendered on May 6 after a warrant for her arrest was issued on six felony counts of insurance fraud.

A complaint filed on April 16, alleges Plaza underreported more than $3 million in employee payroll in order to fraudulently reduce her companys workers compensation insurance premium by nearly $1 million.

Plaza, 41, is the co-owner of Absolute Urethane Inc., a construction contracting business serving the Fresno and surrounding Central Valley areas. The California Department of Insurance began an investigation after receiving a tip from the State Compensation Insurance Fund alleging Plaza had manipulated payroll reports to avoid paying higher insurance premiums.

The CDI investigation reportedly revealed that Plaza had provided false payroll records to State Fund for multiple policy years. After comparing those payroll records to the records she reported to the Employment Development Department, the investigation discovered that Plaza underreported $3,146,863 in employee payroll over five years. Plazas underreporting reportedly resulted in a $985,091 loss in premium to State Fund.

Arraignment is scheduled for June 28 in the Fresno County Superior Court. The Fresno County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting the case.

Topics California Workers' Compensation Contractors
Scores of White Hat hackers participate in Bug Bounty Programs and win huge rewards. Typically the exploits are handed over to the concerned company and published only after it is fixed. A new report highlights how the Chinese government used a prize-winning iPhone hack and turned it into a surveillance tool to spy on Uyghur Muslims.

The exploit allowed the government to take complete control of target phones and thus launch a mass surveillance campaign. Previously, Chinese security researchers used to participate in the Pwn2Own event to discover zero-day vulnerabilities. It is a global event and attracts hundreds of security researchers from across the world.

The CEO of Chinese giant Qihoo 360 unexpectedly accused Chinese participants of being disloyal to the country.

In an unexpected statement, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Chinese cybersecurity giant Qihoo 360one of the most important technology firms in Chinapublicly criticized Chinese citizens who went overseas to participate in hacking competitions. In an interview with the Chinese news site Sina, Zhou Hongyi said that performing well in such events represented merely an imaginary success. Zhou warned that once Chinese hackers show off vulnerabilities at overseas competitions, they can no longer be used. Instead, he argued, the hackers and their knowledge should stay in China so that they could recognize the true importance and strategic value of the software vulnerabilities.

Zhou certainly had the attention of the Chinese government. In 2017 China banned security researchers from attending global events. Soon enough, they came up with their event called The Tiafu Cup. The participants were awarded cash prizes amounting to more than a million dollars.

The inaugural event was held in November 2018. The $200,000 top prize went to Qihoo 360 researcher Qixun Zhao, who showed off a remarkable chain of exploits that allowed him to easily and reliably take control of even the newest and most up-to-date iPhones. From a starting point within the Safari web browser, he found a weakness in the core of the iPhones operating system, its kernel. The result? A remote attacker could take over any iPhone that visited a web page containing Qixuns malicious code. Its the kind of hack that can potentially be sold for millions of dollars on the open market to give criminals or governments the ability to spy on large numbers of people. Qixun named it Chaos.

Apple fixed the flaw in January 2019, two months after it was discovered. Later that year, Google released a report pertaining to a hacking campaign. They discovered that iPhones were being hacked in mass and contributed the attack to five exploit chains. This included the exploit that won the top prize in Chinas cybersecurity event.

The incident is stark. One of Chinas elite hacked an iPhone, and won public acclaim and a large amount of money for doing so. Virtually overnight, Chinese intelligence used it as a weapon against a besieged minority ethnic group, striking before Apple could fix the problem. It was a brazen act performed in broad daylight and with the knowledge that there would be no consequences to speak of.

It is alleged that the Chinese followed the strategic value plan devised by Qihoos Zhou Hongyi. In other words, the Tianfu cup had revealed a significant hack. The exploit was handed over to the Chinese intelligence who used it to spy on Uyghurs. Zhou refuted the allegations and claimed the exploit could have been used after the patch. However, both Apple and Google had documented that the exploit was used before Apple patched it.

Our Take

State-sponsored attacks are not something new. The Chinese government is accused of oppressing Uyghur Muslims human rights for many years. Ideally the government agencies should not meddle with cybersecurity events, and companies like Apple should try to enhance their bug bounty program further.

[via MIT Review
By Donald Kirk





WASHINGTON  The flurry of rhetoric from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington bears out one of the great verities of the perpetual North-South Korean confrontation: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Or, more simply, same-old, same-old.Actually, that's not so depressing or negative as it might seem. At least, we are anesthetized into assuming that the diplomats and the bureaucrats, after all the nasty messages from Pyongyang, will cool it for a while or sit down for another few rounds of useless "negotiations" with the North Koreans.This latest exchange is looking that way. The Americans, President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, have all said denuclearization is the goal. The North Koreans have issued dire warnings of the sort we've been hearing for decades.Nobody expects denuclearization. Kim Jong-un will not say, fine, I'm giving up my nukes in the interests of peace and goodwill. On the other hand, even if he orders more missile tests, maybe the North's seventh nuclear test, nobody expects a second Korean War.All of which gives the impression that the summit between Biden and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in at the White House on May 21, two weeks from now, will turn into an exchange of pleasantries, affirmations of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, and pledges of mutual support  all the stuff we're accustomed to hearing.The summit, though, may not be all that smooth and easy. It will be fraught with subtleties and nuances that should expose some of the fragility of the standoff on the Korean peninsula. No denying, Biden and those around him share quite a different view from that of Moon and his closest advisers.The liberal Moon desperately wants to show he's really gotten somewhere with the North since his election four years ago after the Candlelight Revolution that resulted in the ouster and jailing of the conservative former President Park Geun-hye. Moon remains the progressive who pursued the dream of reconciliation by courting Kim, meeting him on the North-South border three years ago; while Donald Trump fantasized about winning the Nobel Peace Prize, going down in history as the American president who worked everything out with the North Korean dictator.Now the dream, like all the other visions of peace and reconciliation, appears like an illusory apparition. Did Trump and Kim really meet in Singapore in June 2018, and what happened to that love note they signed pledging "unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula?"It's possible to get cynical about anything to do with North-South rapprochement. I first visited Korea in September 1972 as the Far East correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. My mission was to cover talks staged under the aegis of the Red Cross organizations of North and South Korea. Hope was in the air. The word "denuclearization" was not in anyone's normal vocabulary in 1972. Nobody worried about the North's nuclear stockpile. They didn't have one.You can't blame Moon for imagining it might still be possible to bring Kim to his senses and persuade him he's got far more to gain by forgetting about nukes and opening his country up to capitalism as China did under Deng Xiaoping. Moon's popularity ratings have dropped so low, he needs Biden to smooth the way to rapprochement by easing up on U.S. demands for denuclearization.Ho hum. We've been there before. None of this is going to work. Rhetoric will intensify. And China will come to the North's rescue, shipping oil and food and other vital products to North Korea despite sanctions and COVID-19.You have to wonder, though, how long can this standoff last before one leader or another says "I'm not going to take it anymore," loses patience and fires the first shots.Fear not, that won't happen any time soon. The North is too weak, too emaciated by COVID, hunger and a lack of medicine, to fight anyone, but then nobody anticipated the Korean War, right? Good thing Biden and Moon will be talking. As long as Biden doesn't fall for a "peace agreement" or "peace treaty," meaning the U.S. would have to pull out its 28,500 troops, this summit should be fine.Better to spout the same cliches than to agree on a formula that would weaken defenses against a foe that's not giving up or backing down just because of a passing pandemic. COVID-19 may go away but not the danger of Korean War II.Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) writes from Seoul as well as Washington.
Burma Over Eighty Airmen Leave Air Force as Myanmar Military Casualties Rise

Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at an event commissioning aircraft

More than 80 officers and other ranks have left the Air Force since Myanmars military seized power in a Feb. 1 coup.

Captain Lin Htet Aung from Defence Services Academy Intake 54 confirmed reports on social media that over 80 officers and other ranks have left the Air Force. Hundreds of soldiers from infantry units have also joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM), he said.

More than 10 officers from the Air Force have joined the CDM. The highest ranking of them are captains, said Captain Lin Htet Aung who is also on strike.

The officers and other ranks who have left come from air bases and aviation communication units in Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady regions and Kachin State.

Some have fled because they have committed offences. Others have joined the CDM of their own volition, Captain Lin Htet Aung said.

Their departure could have a negative impact on the administrative functions of the air force, said the captain. The reports of airmen leaving the Air Force come after a military gunship was shot down by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Momauk, Kachin State on Monday. The three airmen on board died in the crash.

Military analysts suggested that the incident will deter regime jet fighters from launching attacks from the same altitude that the gunship was flying at when it was shot down. The regimes jets will have to fly at a higher altitude, which makes it more difficult for them to hit targets on the ground.

The junta has to carry out airstrikes because it cant beat the KIA in ground warfare. So if the helicopter was shot down while flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the jets will have to fly at a higher altitude when launching attacks. That will reduce the precision of their bombing, said one analyst.

The analysts suggested also that the morale of Myanmars military seems to be declining, as their soldiers were easily defeated when the KIA and the Karen National Liberation Army attacked military outposts in Kachin and Karen states in the past few weeks.

The National Unity Government, a shadow government formed to rival the military regime, announced on Wednesday that it has established the Peoples Defence Force, a move signaling its desire to step up armed resistance against the junta which has killed some 760 civilians since the coup.

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Burma Deadly Attack on Pipeline Station Spotlights Chinas High Stakes in Myanmar

Coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing visits a destroyed Chinese-backed factory in Yangon's Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone in April. / Commander-in-Chiefs Office

Since Myanmars military staged a coup on Feb. 1, no country seems more concerned than China over the unfolding chaos in the Southeast Asian nation. Given its investments in major infrastructure and other projects in the country, as well as its roughly US$16-million per day border trade with Myanmar, Beijing has good reason to be worried. Among its many investments in its southern neighbor, the 800-kilometer-long oil and natural gas twin pipelines that run from Myanmars western region to China are seen as having strategic importance. The crude oil pipeline transports 22 million tons annually, while the natural gas pipeline carries 12 billion cubic meters of gas.

The importance of the project was highlighted in February when Chinese officials held an emergency meeting with Myanmar officials, at which they urged the military regime to tighten security measures for the pipelines. They said the project is a crucial part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Myanmar and insisted that any damage to the pipelines would cause huge losses for both countries. The request came amid growing anti-China sentiment in Myanmar, where protestersangered by Beijings blocking of the UN Security Council (UNSC)s efforts to take action against the coup leadershave threatened to blow up the pipelines.

Now, following Wednesdays deadly attack on a group of security personnel who were standing guard at the pipelines off-take station in Mandalay, Chinas concerns will only have intensified. Military-owned Myawaddy TV hastily reported on the incident on the same day that three guards at the oil and natural gas stationas they put itin Singtaing Township were slashed to death by unidentified attackers. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that the station refers to the Chinese-owned pipeline station. The sword and machete attack on the policemen was undoubtedly part of Myanmars growing popular armed resistance against the regime.

Despite the deaths of the guards, the twin pipelines are so far relatively safe. Down in Yangon, in March, 32 China-backed factories in the Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone were torched amid the regimes deadly crackdowns on protesters. China accused protesters of setting the factories alight, but protesters denied the allegations, saying the attacks were a plot by the military to justify harsher crackdowns.

Its true that Myanmar has never seen such large-scale arson attacks against Chinese properties before. With the killings of the guards at the substation, Beijing should be worried about the safety of the pipelines, as anti-regime activism and anti-China sentiment are now running high.

Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist who has covered Myanmar and Asia for several decades, said it is understandable that many people in Myanmar are upset with the Chinese authorities, given their efforts over many decades to block any move by the UNSC to condemn atrocities committed by military governments in Myanmar or to introduce arms embargos against them. It would come as no surprise if attacks were carried out against, for instance, the pipelines, he said. And attitudes will not change unless the Chinese government stops its support for the Myanmar military. That should be a real concern.

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Burma Myanmar Military-Appointed Administrators Killed By Anonymous Attackers

A gutted ward administrative office in Yangon.

Three administrators appointed by the military regime have been killed in Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing regions in targeted attacks.

Regime-appointed ward administrators and police informants have been attacked. The regime has said rioters, a military euphemism for protesters, were behind the attacks. However, no one has claimed responsibilities for the attacks and The Irrawaddy cannot independently verify the regimes claim.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, ward administration offices, which are key to the juntas ability to govern the country, have suffered arson or bomb attacks in protest at new appointments by the regime.

Newly appointed ward administrators and police informants are increasingly being targeted for collaborating with the junta in arresting anti-regime protesters, striking government staff and other civilians opposing military rule.

On Thursday afternoon, a newly appointed ward administrator was reportedly stabbed to death by unknown men in Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay Region, according to a resident.

On Tuesday evening, a Kyeekan village tract administrator in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, was stabbed to death when he was outside the village, according to a military-run newspaper.

Motorcyclists also opened fire on the house of Witoke village administrator U Than Myint in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, on Monday night.

U Than Myint and his wife were injured and his daughter and grandson were killed, according to residents.

Last week the security forces searched the village with a list of homes supposedly holding traditional firearms. Villagers were urged to hand weapons to the village authorities.

During the raids, two villagers were beaten and detained by troops, a resident told The Irrawaddy.

Communities across Sagaing Region are resisting the military with homemade firearms and slingshots.

On Tuesday a ward administrator in Thaketa Township, Yangon, was reportedly stabbed to death at his office by three men saying they wanted to report overnight visitors.

Police stations and government and education offices have been attacked with firebombs and homemade bombs since March 14 when the regime killed more than 110 civilians in crackdowns on anti-regime protesters.

Junta troops continue to conduct crackdowns, raids and detentions and several civilians are killed each day.

By Wednesday, nearly 770 people have been killed by the security forces, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

More than 3,600 people, including elected leaders, National League for Democracy members, election commissioners, doctors, journalists, protesters, writers and artists, have been detained.



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Burma Myanmar Regime Returns Public Administration Oversight to Home Affairs Ministry

Troops patrol near the General Administration Office in Yangons Sanchaung Township after an explosion occurred near the office on April 7. / CJ

The Myanmar junta transferred control of the General Administration Department (GAD)the backbone of the countrys public administrative mechanismback to its Home Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.

The transfer of the department comes as the regime pushes to revive the neighborhood surveillance networks utilized by successive military governments.

Under a policy implemented by the GAD, residents of some townships in Yangon Region were recently forced to register overnight guests staying in their homes in a move designed to make it harder for opponents of the regime to evade arrest.

The department is central to the function of local governance from the village and ward levels to the Union level. It oversees population registration, land registration and collection of demographic data, while also supervising administration, local dispute resolution, tax collection and compilation of voter lists.

It also supports government security effortssuch as imposing bans on activities that pose a threat to rule of law and stability, or suing people who commit arms-related crimeswhile reporting relevant information back to Naypyitaw.

In December 2018, the National League for Democracy (NLD) government transferred control of the GAD from military to civilian oversight under the Ministry of the Office of the Union Government. It was one of the most significant elements of the reform agenda of the NLD government, which was overthrown by the junta on Feb. 1.

Following the transfer, the NLD government introduced reforms to the GAD to establish good governance and people-centered regional development works.

However, rolling back those reforms, the junta on Wednesday night announced it will put the GAD back under the authority of the Home Affairs Ministry.

Since the coup, the junta has been replacing ward and village administrators. Previously, ward and village administrators were directly elected by residents under the Ward and Village-Tract Administration Law. They are now directly appointed by the township administrative councils formed by the military regime.

However, junta-appointed administrators have been rejected by local people in several places and faced protests. In the face of this opposition, some military-appointed administrators have submitted their resignations, saying they dont want to be ostracized by their communities.

The Irrawaddy contacted a few administrators who are continuing to work under the junta but they declined to comment on the GADs return to Home Affairs Ministry oversight.

One of them said, Our duty is just to implement government policies and report them, declining to comment further.

Several administrators at the district, township and ward levels have joined government employees from a range of government ministries who are on strike as part of the civil disobedience movement (CDM).

Launched a few days after the coup, the CDM is a widespread protest movement against the regime. Participants refuse to work under the men in uniform, in an effort to make the country impossible for them to govern.



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Burma Myanmars National Unity Government Promises to Support Striking Civil Servants

Striking health workers protest against the military regime on Feb. 10 in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow government formed to rival the military regime, said it has formed a Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) support committee to help striking government employees. The committee consists of representatives of ministries and departments formed by the NUG, said the labor minister, Nai Thuwunna. The military council has been arresting striking government employees. Many strikers face financial hardships as they dont receive their salaries. We have considered this, said the minister. The NUG treats the CDM as a top priority and how to support the striking government employees has been on the agenda of every NUG meeting since the shadow government was formed on April 16, he said. While the CDM is proving to be one of the most effective forms of resistance against the regime, many striking government employees have been forced into hiding to avoid arrest for incitement, said a community-based CDM support group. Many face financial problems after losing their wages and have been forced to leave their government accommodation. A member of a CDM support group, made up of young volunteers, said: We are providing support for over 1,700 striking government employees. But donations have declined significantly since April. We can only provide 50,000 kyats [US$32] per person. But despite the hardships, they are committed to bringing down the regime. Civil servants relatives have been detained after the security forces raid striking government employees homes to find them in hiding. A striking health worker said: I have been threatened with prosecution for incitement if I dont return to work. But at the same time, we want to be given a guarantee [from the NUG] we will get our jobs back after the military regime is brought down. The NUG said it is planning to provide salaries to striking government employees. National League for Democracy parliamentarians said in March government staff who oppress, threaten or impose unfair punishments on striking civil servants would face prosecution. They also pledged to reward strikers with a March 31 deadline for civil servants to join the CDM, warning that action would be taken against those who did not join the movement. The junta has not been able to operate the administrative duties of government properly with thousands of health workers, bankers, teachers and engineers refusing to work. Many of the government employees who went on strike against the military in 1988 were dismissed, demoted or transferred to remote areas.



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Samsung Electronics' chip making plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Baek Byung-yeul



With the competition for chip refinement processes reaching a breaking point, market competition between memory chip king Samsung Electronics and U.S. chipmaker Micron seems to be heating up over how small they can make their DRAM memory chips.



During a conference call for first-quarter earnings held April 26, a Samsung Electronics executive unveiled details about the production schedule of its 10-nanometer-level DRAM memory chip.



"We are already using EUV, partially in the D1z process, but we will be starting EUV application for production starting from the D1a DRAM, which is the lower side of the 14-nano, in order to establish and further our technology leadership," the executive vice president said during the meeting.



EUV refers to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology, which has been increasingly essential for chip makers as the technology enables production of smaller chips by scaling down complex patterns on wafers.






Burma Striking Education Staff Fired by Myanmar Junta

Teachers in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region stage a protest against the military regime.

The military regimes Education Ministry has dismissed 41 striking staff members, including 14 officials from the Higher Education Department.

Among those dismissed for refusing to work under the junta are a director-general, directors, deputy directors, officers and other ranks. The ministrys notice says that those fired can appeal their dismissals within a six month period. The Higher Education Department oversees universities and colleges in Myanmar.

The regime first put pressure on the head office to see if the staffers of universities overseen by the department are scared. I have no plans to return to work. I will find another job. I dont want to work with them, said one dismissed staffer of the Higher Education Department.

The department has nearly 200 staff members and over 60 of them have joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM).

Striking employees of the department were initially suspended from their duties, a tactic designed to pressure them into resuming their jobs. Some of those on strike did subsequently return to work.

Schools and universities across the country have been closed since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The military regime has ordered all universities to reopen on May 5, and basic education schools on June 1.

But the regimes attempt to restart education is meeting with increasing resistance, with anti-regime protesters calling for a boycott of schools and universities as part of the nationwide civil disobedience movement against the junta.

As well as firing striking employees of the Education Ministry, the junta has also filed incitement charges against dozens of teachers across the country for their participation in anti-regime protests.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has been using different ways to pressure striking employees into returning to work.

Educators in Pathein District, Ayeyarwady Region said some officials have threatened to dismiss and arrest them if they join the CDM.

Through school principals, [the regime] is putting pressure on teachers, saying striking teachers will be dismissed and prosecuted, said a teacher from Kangyidaunt Township, Pathein.

Some 200 Education Ministry staffers in Kangyidaunt Township joined the CDM following the regimes Feb. 1 coup, but more than 100 have returned to work after being threatened. Some 80 staff members in the township are still on strike.

In Hinthada District, Ayeyarwady Region the regime paid salaries to teachers for the month of April via group leader teachers in village-tracts. The regime then said that all those who have taken their salaries must return to work.

Around 80 teachers who want to stay on strike are planning to return their salaries for April to the township education office, but are worried that they will be arrested when they do so.

The junta is also not allowing education staff to resign, to retire early on medical grounds or to retire when they reach the normal retirement age of 60, according to education ministry staff.

Township administrative and education authorities have been making field visits to basic education schools across the country to check if teachers and staffers have returned to work, and to check that the number of staffers who have returned to work matches with the lists submitted to the Education Ministry.



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Burma TNLA, MNDAA Claim to Have Killed Dozens of Myanmar Junta Troops in Shan State

Soldiers from the TNLA and MNDAA pose with weapons seized from the Myanmar military in Kutkai Township on Wednesday. / Kokang123 / VK

The Myanmar military reportedly suffered heavy casualties during fierce clashes with members of the Northern Alliance in multiple locations in northern Shan State on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A combined force of Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) fighters launched attacks on the Myanmar militarys 99th Light Infantry Division and Infantry Battalion 45 in Kutkai Township on Tuesday. The attack came after fierce fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime troops in the townships Manlon Village.

The TNLA and MNDAA announced that they jointly launched attacks on the Myanmar military to help their Alliance partner the KIA, as well as to defend themselves, as the junta has been reinforcing its troops in their areas of activity. The Northern Alliance groups the TNLA, MNDAA, KIA and the Arakan Army (AA).

Fighting between the KIA and regime troops in northern Shan and Kachin states has intensified since the junta killed two anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina in March. Soon after the coup, the KIA refused to recognize the junta and warned it not to harm anti-coup protesters in Kachin State.

The KIA seized a strategic base in Montauk Township and stormed more than a dozen military and police outposts in Kachins Waimaw, Momauk, Hpakant, Tanai, Mogaung, Shwegu and Injangyang townships. It has also threatened to step up its attacks if the junta continues to shoot peaceful protesters across the country.

According to a local resident, more than two dozen Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) troops were killed and many weapons were seized by the TNLA and MNDAA during the clashes in Kutkai.

The TNLA and MNDAA said many Tatmadaw soldiers were killed during the clashes, while claiming they didnt suffer any casualties.

They said the combined force seized weapons from regime troops after intense fighting lasting for two hours on Wednesday in Manpan Village, Kutkai Township.

Myanmars Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services had not made any announcement relating to clashes in northern Shan State as of Thursday afternoon.

In late March, the TNLA, MNDAA and AA condemned the military junta and warned they would join forces with all ethnic people in fighting against the regime if its brutal killing of anti-coup protesters continued.

The TNLA, MNDAA and AA warned the military that they would collaborate with other ethnic armed organizations and democracy supporters to defend themselves from the regimes brutal crackdowns if the violence continued.

Prior to the coup, alliance members had been negotiating individual bilateral agreements between each member and the military to cease fighting, and declared a unilateral ceasefire in support of the negotiations. After the military coup, they extended their unilateral ceasefire until March 31.

After issuing their joint warning statement to military, the groups have not responded

to the militarys latest announcement of an extension of its unilateral ceasefire until the end of May.

Fighting also intensified on Thursday morning between the KIA and regime troops in Myothit Village in Kachin States Momauk Township, according to local residents.



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News Nearly 200 Myanmar Troops Killed in Clashes With Karen Forces

Karen National Liberation Army says its attacks are to show support for the National Unity Government.

Nearly 200 Myanmar military troops, including a colonel and a lieutenant colonel, were killed in clashes between the regimes troops and the military wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) in Karen State.

Military tension has risen in Hpapun area, Shwe Kyin and Thaton Districts, in Karen and Bago regions after the military wing of the KNU, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5 seized an outpost near the Salween River in Thi Mu Hta held by the militarys Light Infantry Division 349 on March 27.

KNU Brigade 5 also overran a military border post on the banks of the Salween River in Thaw Le Hta, near the border with Thailands Mae Hong Song Province on April 27.

From March 27 to early May, 194 soldiers were killed and another 220 soldiers from Myanmar military were wounded in clashes. Nine soldiers from the KNLA were killed and 10 were injured, a spokesperson for the KNUs 5th Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Saw Kler Doh, told local news outlet Karen Information Center.

During one month, the military launched 27 airstrikes into the KNU Brigade 5 area, fired 47 artillery shells, and there were 407 clashes between the two sides, said Lt. Col. Saw Kler Doh.

Moreover, Brigade 5 recorded that the military fired 575 artillery shells into local villages and farmland. The air raid killed 14 civilians, wounded 28 people and destroyed 20 houses and two schools.

Currently, the military has been reinforcing its troops in these areas, according to KNU.

Last month, Lt. Col, Saw Kler Doh told The Irrawaddy that the KNLAs attacks are to show support for civilians and the newly-formed National Unity Government set up by elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Recently, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that about 40,000 people have fled their homes in Papun District in Karen State and Shwe Kyin, Kyaukkyi and Nyaunglebin Townships in Bago Region, following the coup and military airstrikes in the areas. An estimated 1,000 refugees  mostly the elderly, the sick, women and children  have taken refuge in Thailand.

KNU Calls for Intl Arms Embargo as Myanmar Regime Targets Civilians in Airstrike

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The Biden Administration continues to provide financial support to all American citizens by getting enough money to eligible individuals. On top of the stimulus check payments, child tax credit payment, and tax refund, you might also be entitled to $300 of weekly unemployment benefits. Here is everything you need to know if you qualify and how to apply.

Unemployment benefits are for individuals who need the extra money in these difficult times amid the pandemic. You might be one of the many Americans suffering from unemployment or furlough issues with their jobs despite the need to make a living. Luckily, the government is providing weekly funds to support you and your families.

$300 Weekly Unemployment Compensation: How Do I Qualify

Cnet reported that people who are eligible to receive unemployment benefits fall under these categories:

You or a family member have been infected by COVID-19 and cannot work.

A doctor has advised you to self-quarantine.

Your workplace closed due to the coronavirus.

You're not working because you have to care for children or other family members who would otherwise attend a school or another facility.

College students who worked a job last year -- even a part-time one.

The financial support also includes Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the workers who typically do not receive unemployment insurance. This includes gig workers, freelancers, self-employed, independent contractors, and other related occupations.

How Much Money Do I Receive

After applying, the state calculates the money the applicant receives based on their gross income and tax returns. Depending on your state jurisdiction and policies, the money is typically between $300 to $600. Also, depending on the state, some might provide as low as 12 weeks of monetary support up, while some reach up to 30 weeks.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check Tracker: Updates on New Payment, Tools, Calculators for Proposed $2000 Relief

$10200 Tax Exemption

Despite receiving monetary support, some individuals might have tax bills and credits. To ensure that you can use the money. The government provides a tax exemption to the first $10,200 unemployment benefits received.

To know more about how to apply for the benefit, check out this online article. Note, however, that not all states provide the tax break. The 13 states who do not offer tax exemptions are: Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Unemployment Insurance Policy

To take advantage of these financial benefits, quickly update your tax returns and employment status. You can check if you qualify in your state's unemployment insurance policy by checking on their labor office through this website.

Search for your state address from the drop-down box. Click "Search." This would automatically provide you with the General information on the Unemployment Insurance program, how to claim the benefit online, how to claim by phone call and the coronavirus update of that state.

Note that the qualifications, eligibility status, filing requirements, monetary amount, and the number of weekly payments depend entirely on each individual state and its local jurisdiction.



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Apple's "Night Shift" feature on iPhone might not be that beneficial as it has been marketed, that is if a new study is to be believed.

While there has been a lot of studies proving how blue light impacts one's health, a new research discovered that the iPhone "Night Shift" feature doesn't really help someone sleep better since there are other underlying factors to consider.

iPhone Night Shift Blue Light Feature: Not Helpful?

According to Ars Technica, Brigham Young University researchers sought to study how much helpful and beneficial are blue-light reducing features like Apple's "Night Shift" impact the quality of sleep of individuals.

The results? Apparently not much.

The said researchers conducted the study on 167 individuals and randomly divided them into three groups. One group didn't use iPhones, another group used their iPhones without "Night Shift," and another had their iPhones with "Night Shift" activated.

Based on their observations, the researchers found out that there are no "significant differences" in the quality of sleep experienced by the individuals. While those who didn't use their iPhones have shown improved quality of sleep, there is no difference between those who used their smartphone with the "Night Shift" feature enabled and disabled.

"This suggests that when you are super tired, you fall asleep no matter what you did just before bed... the sleep pressure is so high, there is really no effect of what happens before bedtime," researcher Chad Jensen noted of the outcome of the study, per Ars Technica.

With these findings, the researchers concluded that using blue light reducing features doesn't have much impact on improving one's sleep.

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What Is Blue Light and the Apple iPhone Night Shift?

As Irish Tech explained, blue light is a "natural high-energy visible light" produced by the Sun. However, present devices such as the Apple iPhone also emits this blue light, which confuses the brain and makes one think it is still day time.

With that said, it affects people's sleeping habits. This could also be the reason why several people struggle to sleep at night while using their phones.

Given this situation, Apple rolled out the "Night Shift" feature in 2016 and marketed it as a blue light reducing feature. With it, Apple hoped to reduce eye strain and allow people to sleep better at night.

Obviously, that does not seem to be the case.

It is worth noting, however, that the study by Brigham Young University does not mean "Night Shift" doesn't reduce blue light. The feature could still be an effective tool and serve its purpose of decreasing blue light, thereby reducing eye strain and other issues, However, what the study showed is that it doesn't impact sleeping that much as previously thought.

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On Friday, officials with the Walker County Hospital District board announced that they have finalized a $7.8 million purchase of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Do you feel like this is a good use of tax dollars, and is this the right direction for the struggling health care facility?

You voted:
Ithaca, NY (14850)

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Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Epson is now part of the RE100, a global initiative that encourages top companies to transition to using renewable energy. As Epson joins the initiative, RE100 also announced it has now 300 member organisations who are committed to sustainability.

Epson joins RE100, a global initiative that brings together the worlds most influential businesses driving the transition to renewable electricity.

Last March 2021, Epson announced its worldwide group sites will source its electricity from renewable sources by 2023.

To address global interest in societal issues such as the environment and energy, the Paris Agreement established decarbonisation targets. Epson, for its part, will use renewable electricity, and it has made plans and implemented measures to expand its use over the long term. This was created to achieve FY2025 science-based targets.

This news coincides with the RE100 announcement, 300 moment, which brings the total member organisations to exactly 300. Epson believes that joining other environmental leaders in RE100 illustrates its commitment to achieving SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 13 Climate Action. 

Yasunori Ogawa, Epson global president, says the company is proud to join RE100 at this special time. Joining this important initiative not only expresses our strong commitment to renewable electricity and to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, but encourages our customers and business partners to also make the switch. We hope to use this opportunity to work with partners worldwide to help them achieve this.

Aleksandra Klassen, Senior Impact Manager RE100, The Climate Group says: I am delighted to welcome Epson to RE100. By committing to renewable electricity, Epson joins over 50 Japanese companies driving market change. This sends a powerful message that renewable electricity makes good business sense, and we encourage others to follow.

She concludes: To benefit from the growing corporate investment opportunity, we urge the government to remove barriers and match business ambition by more than doubling the national renewable energy target.
The shift to public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, the rise of digital information, and the reliance of digital systems make data protection a priority, says Pure Storage. It lists five ways how data protection can benefit businesses and how putting measures can mitigate risks.

Businesses are shifting to public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments. At the same time, digital information is growing rapidly and enterprises are relying on digital systems for all aspects of their operations. Thus, this makes data protection a top priority for business leaders, according to Pure Storage.

Sunil Chavan, VP, emerging technology solutions, Asia Pacific and Japan, Pure Storage, says: Enterprises rely on their data and information more than ever. As a mission-critical pillar of business, data storage and protection must form part of the businesss strategic and risk-mitigation plans. Putting the right measures in place to manage data can help organisations protect this invaluable asset. Failing to do so could put the business at risk.

Pure Storage has identified the five key benefits for enterprises that leverage modern data protection:

1. Overall cost savings

Cyberattacks could cost the Australian economy around $30 billion and cost a significant number of jobs, according to a AustCyber research. Affected companies suffer losses due to lost customers, lost productivity, direct remediation costs, and the costs with reputational damage if the data breach is made public. Companies affected by a data breach tend to suffer immediate drops in their stock price and, more concerningly, the stock price can continue to be affected in the long term.

By backing data up to the cloud and spreading data across more servers on- and off-premises, organisations can mitigate the risk posed by ransomware attacks. By ensuring that data is protected by appropriate security controls, they can minimise the chances of a cyber breach, Pure Storage suggests. This can also improve scalability because it helps save costs.

2. Operational resilience

Organisations with multiple servers both on- and off-premises for their cloud data storage need to be operationally resilient. This requires robust data protection across all servers.

Most IT consultants would tell organisations to keep sites relatively close to one another for performance reasons, however this may not always be the case. Pure Storage warns: A disaster that affects one data centre could easily affect others nearby, so it may be advisable in some instances to choose geographically disparate data centres.

3. Increased ability to leverage data for insights and decision-making

Better protected data includes stopping the loss of data and disruptions to data storage. If an organisations data keeps getting interrupted through lack of protection, then this could lead to poor performing data analytics. The quality of insights derived from data is directly related to the quality of the data itself. Therefore, protecting data is essential to maintain high quality insights and decision-making.

4. Protection against ransomware attacks

In 2020, ransomware attacks increased by 715% year-on-year. To avoid this, Pure Storage suggests, organisations need to implement a proactive stance against cyberattacks through measures like staff training, threat hunting, and proactive network and endpoint monitoring.

Creating an air gap for the backup environment can help safeguard against ransomware attacks on the backup. These attacks still happen, and can be addressed by adding SafeMode snapshots to protect backup data for example. In case of any ransomware attack, organisations can recover data directly from these protected backups. This also helps guard against rogue administrators.

5. Compliance with data privacy laws

Australian organisations must comply with the Privacy Act and notifiable data breach policy. If they have European partners or customers, they must also comply with the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These laws outline how organisations must collect, maintain, use, and delete data. Organisations could face penalties and fines if they fail to comply. Compliance will reduce the risk of data breach and position the company as a leader in maintaining customer data privacy.

Sunil Chavan concludes: Effective data protection and storage is table stakes in a world that depends more heavily on data every day. Organisations that take a modern, proactive approach to data governance will achieve significant benefits that will position them to lead the market into the future.
Renault Samsung management and union holding extended meeting on wage hike and job security issues, last month. Yonhap



By Kim Hyun-bin



Major foreign carmakers here have been struggling recently, concurrently hit by poor sales, chip shortages and union management conflicts, leading to speculation that Renault Samsung and GM Korea, and the owners of SsangYong Motors, are contemplating abandoning the Korean arms of their businesses if the situation gets worse.



According to industry watchers, the union at Renault Samsung will continue to stage walk outs indefinitely if management does not reverse a decision to temporarily close the company's sole plant.



"We will continue our strike until management rolls back its decision to close the plant," a union representative said.



The two sides have held nine rounds of negotiations but failed to narrow their differences over wages backdated for 2020 as the automaker struggles with a drastic drop in sales  it saw a 28.6 percent drop in April year-on-year.






Acronis will use the funding to accelerate growth, expand its portfolio of cyber protection products, enable service providers to serve their clients better and up the ante in the fight against cyber crime.

With cyber crime at all time highs, and only predicted to get worse, modern connected society as we know it is already in the midst of an effective cyber war, be it against organised cyber criminal groups, dodgy undemocratic nation states and the apathy of individuals and businesses that still aren't taking security seriously.

Those aren't Acronis' words, but simply my observations of reality, so it's great to see one of the world's most exciting and dynamic cyber protection companies, Acronis, receiving more than $250 million funding round from CVC Capital Partners VII and other investors.

Acronis says it will use the funds to further accelerate growth by expanding its unique portfolio of natively integrated cyber protection products.

Were told a significant portion of the investment will also be used to further enhance Acronis go-to-market initiatives by expanding its broad partner network  most notably, managed service providers (MSPs)  to help them better serve the cyber protection needs of their clients.

The investment values the company at more than $2.5 billion.

Acronis talented management and R&D teams have invested significant resources developing an innovative cloud-native MSP in a box solution, with integrated backup, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, remote management, and workflow tools, said Leif Lindback, Senior Managing Director of CVC Capital Partners.

Acronis provides mission-critical solutions to more than 10,000 MSPs and half a million small and medium businesses. CVC has a strong track record in cybersecurity and partnering up with successful entrepreneurs, and we are looking forward to teaming up with Serguei Beloussov and the Acronis team to accelerate the companys growth.

Acronis Cyber Protect is the first unified cybersecurity and data protection solution that is natively integrated, so service providers can operate these critical functions through a single pane of glass, delivering comprehensive cyber protection at a lower cost.

With this additional funding, we will accelerate the development of our product portfolio and invest more in our partners success, said Serguei SB Beloussov, founder and CEO of Acronis.

Our goal is to develop market-leading technology and help our partners grow their profits, while providing the best protection for their clients.

Acronis will also continue investing in staff resources, expanding its global sales, partner account management and partner success teams and hiring new technical talent for its research and development centres in Bulgaria, Israel, and Singapore, as well as Switzerland and the United States.

Focus on partners

Focusing on its growing partner network is naturally critical to the companys strategy for rapid growth.

In February, the company launched the #CyberFit Partner Program to support the development of cloud-focused resellers and service providers.

In March, Acronis made available a new version of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud  enabling partners to deliver comprehensive cyber protection for all workloads for little to no upfront cost.

In April, Acronis also introduced a new partner portal, providing easy access to content, tools, and training for partners.

With the new funding, Acronis says it will expand the support for cloud partners  providing them with additional sales and marketing resources, faster and localised technical support, dedicated partner success managers, and local data centres in 111 locations worldwide.

Phil Goodwin, Research Director, Cloud Data Management for Protection for IDC notes that the investment from CVC will add to the momentum behind cyber protection.

Acronis has been at the forefront of the cyber protection movement, establishing itself as a pioneer in solutions that unify advanced cybersecurity with innovative data protection. By continuing to expand their technical capabilities and partner network, the value they bring to the market will only increase.

The company says service providers who are interested in learning more about how they can benefit from Acronis partner-focused approach are encouraged to visit its partner site here.
India has given Chinese telecommunications firms the thumbs-down, with Huawei and ZTE both omitted from the list of companies allowed to participate in 5G trials.

The list of companies allowed to carry out trials was announced earlier this week and it includes Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung.

Local companies that will conduct trials with these firms are Jio Platforms, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL.

Wang Xiaojian, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in India, said in a statement on Wednesday that China was concerned and regretted the fact that its telecommunications companies had not got a look in.

Relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to Indias infrastructure construction in telecommunications," he said.

"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.

India and China were involved in a border skirmish last year and there were reports around that time which said New Delhi was likely to ban Chinese firms from selling telco gear to any Indian companies.

The clashes, in Ladakh in Kashmir, are claimed to have resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers while 35 Chinese troops are said to have been either killed or else left injured.

The two countries fought a brief war in 1962 over their disputed border but any clashes since then have been minor. Both Beijing and New Delhi are nuclear powers.

Said Xiaojian: The Chinese side hopes that India could do more to enhance mutual trust and co-operation 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."

The US has pushed countries it considers allies not to use Huawei gear in their 5G networks. Australia has fallen into line, as has the UK, the latter after first saying it would use Huawei gear in 35% of the non-core parts of its networks.

Many other countries have also avoided Huawei and ZTE gear, but have not said so openly. Among them are New Zealand.
TPG Telecom says it is the second largest telco in Australia, with MD and CEO Inaki Berroeta also sharing an update on the company's operations after its merger 10 months ago.

The recently appointed Chairman of TPG Telecom, Canning Fok, said in a statement to the ASX "Todays meeting is an historic moment  TPG Telecoms first AGM as a merged company following last years merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia.

"I am honoured to have taken the role of Chairman in March following the resignation of David Teoh. I would like to thank David for his leadership of the Board since we merged last year."

Fok added: "TPG Telecom has now become the second largest listed telecoms company in Australia. We are a company serving more than five million mobile customers and more than two million fixed customers.

"We own and operate nationwide telecommunications infrastructure, including Australias second largest fixed network, a 4G mobile network with coverage reaching more than 23 million Australians, and a 5G network which is being rolled out.

"The companys 2020 performance and achievements are vindication that we are better and stronger together  for shareholders, customers, employees and the community," Fok concluded.

The introduction of the MD and CEO's address, Inaki Berroeta, stating: "Next week, it will be ten months since the merger was implemented and during that time much has been achieved or is underway.

We have accelerated our 5G mobile network rollout, with services now available in more than 500 suburbs in cities and major centres and with more than half a million customers using 5G mobile devices on our network.

"At the recent millimetre wave auction, we secured spectrum holdings in all available licence areas which will significantly increase capacity for our fixed wireless and 5G mobile services.

"And today, I am pleased to announce that we will begin inviting selected customers to access our 5G fixed wireless services next month. Take-up of our fixed wireless services has been encouraging as we expand the service across more brands and channels.

"We have launched felix - Australias first telco brand  powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, and we have set a target that by 2025 we will have 100 per cent renewable electricity powering the companys entire Australian operations. Over the coming years we will increase our focus on environmental sustainability.

"We continue to strengthen our enterprise propositions leveraging new NBN products and our significant fibre assets and build capabilities. In the last quarter, we have been awarded contracts with two major companies which have national and international operations.

"Fibre roll out to our mobile sites is ahead of schedule and we have integrated in excess of 400 small cells enhancing coverage and capacity in our network.

"We are also working on our cultural program and teams integration as we continue to leverage our culture as a primary company asset.

"We now have a harmonised approach to remuneration and workplace policies which support employees to be at their best. Company engagement is tracking above expectation, and more of our office spaces, systems and processes are coming together as our integration progresses.

"I thank all our people for their commitment and enthusiasm and for working hard every day  often in challenging circumstances throughout 2020  for our customers, shareholders and the future of TPG Telecom."

The rest of the statement and AGM presentation (16 page PDF) can be read here.
Today

Partly cloudy. High 99F. SW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 67F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 97F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
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.
Copper foil is considered a "neural network" for signal reception of electronic products and power transmission. It is an indispensable new material for the development of new industries.

How thin can this material be? In a workshop of an enterprise in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province, copper foils are made as thin as cicada wings.

According to an employee of the enterprise, the copper foils, which are only 6 mm (0.23 inches) thick and used in lithium-ion batteries, can be applied in new energy vehicle, smart phone, aviation and aerospace and other industries. They can significantly improve batteries' energy density and thus extend battery life, the employee added.

Today, new discoveries, technologies, products and materials are emerging at a faster speed, and technological innovation and research are generating infinite possibilities. This means that those whoever can do a good job in industrial upgrading and rapidly grasp new technologies and materials will gain an advantage in industrial reform.

For cities, only by taking advantage of the motivating role of reform, accelerating the development of advanced manufacturing, and enhancing real economy, can they find effective paths leading to a new development paradigm.

Tongling, which has been hailed as the "capital of copper" in China since ancient times, enjoys rich resources, and its industries have also been going through constant upgrading.

To pursue high-quality development, new industries in the city, represented by the copper foil sector, have built new industrial clusters based on an upgrade of their industrial chain.
Namyang's dairy products thrown in a pile outside the company's headquarters in Seoul in May 2013, after it was hit for forcing subcontractors to purchase products nearing expiration dates. Korea times file.



By Kim Jae-heun



Namyang Dairy Products may have to close two production facilities in Sejong City for two months for breaching the Act on the Labeling and Advertising of Foods after claiming one of its drinks is effective in thwarting COVID-19 infections.



The dairy firm said Tuesday that Sejong City Hall has issued an advance notice about its plan to shut down two Namyang factories there.



"Although the suspension of the business has not been confirmed yet, we will make a public announcement when Sejong City Hall decides to do so," a Namyang official said.



The dairy company said it will try to persuade the local government from taking severe punitive measures.



The local government will give Namyang up to two weeks to submit documents specifying its stance.



If the administrative measure is enforced, Namyang will have to close down two factories that are responsible for producing 38 percent of the firm's products, including yogurt drinks, milk and powered formula.






An Asian woman protests anti-Asian violence and hatred as a coalition of activist groups and labor unions participate in a May Day march for workers' and human rights in Los Angeles, Calif., May 1. AFP-Yonhap



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.



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 racial bias.



It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. The San Francisco Public Defender's office didn't 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.





U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., center, is joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., at a news conference to discuss an Asian-American hate crime bill, Monday, April 19, 2021, in New York. AP-Yonhap
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
J. Mark Ramseyer / captured by Yonhap from Harvard Law School YouTube account



A Harvard law school professor, criticized for his disputed article casting victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery as prostitutes, has accused a Korean scholar of "savage attacks" on him, warning that he will mull counteraction.



Lee Jinhee, an associate professor of history at Eastern Illinois University, told Yonhap News Agency that J. Mark Ramseyer of the Harvard Law School, had sent an email with the warning.



Lee has been at the vanguard of the efforts to redress the apparent distortion of history in Ramseyer's paper, titled "Contracting for sex in the Pacific War," in which those forced into sexual servitude by Japan during World War II were depicted as willing prostitutes.



"You ... send savage attacks behind my back to every place where you think you might be able to damage my career," he wrote in the email. "This ... violates rules of human decency. It constitutes serious defamation. And it violates the fundamental principles of honesty."






In this file photo illustration, a phone screen displays a Facebook logo with the official portrait of former US President Donald Trump on the background, on May 4, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia. AFP-Yonhap



Former President Donald Trump won't return to Facebook  at least not yet.



Four months after Facebook suspended Trump's accounts, having concluded that he incited violence leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the company's quasi-independent oversight board upheld the bans. But it told Facebook to specify how long they would last, saying that its ''indefinite'' ban on the former president was unreasonable. The ruling, which gives Facebook six months to comply, effectively postpones any possible Trump reinstatement and puts the onus for that decision squarely back on the company.



That could leave Facebook in the worst of all possible worlds  one in which Trump's supporters remain enraged over the bans, his critics pushing for broader social-media regulation and the company stuck with a momentous issue it clearly hoped the oversight board would resolve.



The decision only ''kicks the can down the road,'' said Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, who said it highlighted the need for greater government oversight of social platforms.



The board ruled that Facebook was correct to suspend Trump's account four months ago. But it said the company erred by applying a vague penalty and then passing the question of whether to ban Trump permanently to the board.



''Indefinite penalties of this sort do not pass the international smell test,'' oversight board co-chair Michael McConnell said in a conference call with reporters. ''We are not cops, reigning over the realm of social media.''



In a statement, Trump did not address the decision directly, but said that actions by Facebook, Twitter, and Google are ''a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country.'' He added: ''These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price.''



The board agreed with Facebook that that two of Trump's Jan. 6 posts ''severely violated'' the content standards of both Facebook and Instagram.





In this photo illustration, a phone screen displays the statement of former US President Donald Trump on his Facebook page background, on May 5, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia. AFP-Yonhap



''We love you. You're very special,'' Trump said to the rioters in the first post. In the second, he called them ''great patriots'' and told them to ''remember this day forever.''



Those violated Facebook's rules against praising or supporting people engaged in violence, the board said, warranting the suspension. Specifically, the board cited Facebook's rules against ''dangerous individuals and organizations,'' which prohibit anyone who proclaims a violent mission and bans posts that express support or praise of these people or groups.



But it insisted that the company needed to take responsibility for its decision.



''Facebook should either permanently disable Trump's account or impose a suspension for a specific period of time,'' said board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former Danish prime minister.



The board said that if Facebook decides to restore Trump's accounts, it must be able to promptly address further violations. Among other recommendations, it 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.



There was some dissent within the board, according to its report on the decision. A minority of board members sought to characterize Trump's statements about the election being stolen, coupled with praise for the rioters, as a violation of Facebook's rules against inciting violence through calls for action or by spreading misinformation and unverifiable rumors. But the board said that adding that as a violation wouldn't have affected its final ruling.



Facebook has long straddled that issue, granting political figures greater leeway than it allows ordinary users because, it argued, even their rule-breaking statements were important for citizens to hear.



''The same rules should apply to all users on Facebook, no matter how influential they are,'' said board spokesman Dex Hunter-Torricke, a former speechwriter for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.



If anything, he said, Facebook should look at the context of posts more carefully.





In this photo illustration, a woman looks at former US President Donald Trump's new social media platform "straight from the desk" displayed on her computer on May 5, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia. AFP-Yonhap
The Rotary Club of Martinsburg donated the $10,000 playground equipment to the Ashley House in Kearneysville in an effort to further support children getting to stay with their mothers as they continue their recovery.
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Volkswagen chief Herbert Diess has said the carmaker was in crisis mode over an ongoing lack of badly needed automotive chips, adding the impact of the shortage would intensify and hit profits in the second quarter.

Speaking after bumper results for the first three months of the year, during which operating profits increased more than five fold, Diess said the bottleneck would substantially burden earnings in the quarter to June, Reuters reported.

We will do everything to offset a significant amount of the lost cars in the second half of the year, Diess told Reuters. But the incidents in the US (storm disruption) and in Japan (Renesas fire) will hurt us definitely.

Diess said while the problem had cut production by around 100,000 cars in the first quarter, there was more to come.

Were still tasking our supply chain people to recover the losses of quarter two, which we expect, he said.



Volkswagen shares were down 2.8%.

To secure supplies over the longer-term, the German group was talking directly to chipmakers including NXP Semiconductors and Infineon, as well as foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing , Diess told Reuters.

We are, for sure, in crisis mode, he said.

Despite the crunch, Volkswagen raised its operating margin target for this year after strong demand for Audis and Porsches in the first quarter.

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It now expects an operating profit margin of 5.5-7%, up from a previous forecast of 5.0-6.5%, Reuters said.

During the first quarter, deliveries of Porsches and Audis both rose by about a third year on year, Volkswagen has said. Sales of electric vehicles more than doubled to 133,300 vehicles.

Volkswagens operating profit was EUR4.8bn (US$5.8bn) in January-March, helped by cost cuts and higher sales, versus EUR900m in the same period last year, which was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters noted.
Croatia-based FMCG group Podravka has revealed it is to spend HRK30m (US$4.8m) modernising its production facilities.

Podravka, the owner of brands including Vegeta and Dolcela, said the money will be spent on technological modernisation and includes installing new lines for the production and packaging of shaped products in its Koktel snacks factory in Koprivnica, a city in northern Croatia.

With this investment, Podravka will completely modernise this technological work process. In addition to raising the efficacy of the production process itself, this will also create the assumptions for the production of existing and new products in the childrens cereal line, it said.

Podravka manufactures the childrens cereal brand Lino and said that with the installation of a new production line volumes can be increased thereby allowing for further growth and development of this range of products.

The company said in a statement yesterday (5 May) the modernisation of its production units will continue in the forthcoming period.



Aside from food, Podravka makes beverages and pharmaceuticals.

Last week, the company reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2021. Podravka posted a 15.6% rise in net profit to HRK105.2m, despite a 12.1% fall in sales revenues to HRK1.08bn.

Podravka said the expected drop in revenues came as the company lapped the first quarter of 2020 when customers built inventories in the early weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why focus on the role of women in Tunisias transitional justice process?

As a sociologist initially specialized in gender studies, I immediately approached transitional justice from that perspective. I explored this issue through ethnographic observation conducted between 2014 and 2015 with the association Tounissiet [which advocates for the effective participation of Tunisian women in public life], and found it to be central. Many women experienced strong police repression related to anti-veil wearing measures between 1981 and 2011. Many women who wore the veil, whether or not they were close to the Islamist party Ennahdha, were expelled from university, arbitrarily imprisoned, tortured or stripped naked. They organized themselves in the aftermath of the revolution and later joined the process. My perspective on transitional justice is that its first an international process before becoming localized. I have tried to show how womens associations took it up once the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) was established in 2014.

Are efforts needed to involve women more?

The inclusion of women in transitional justice, either in the decision-making process or as victims, has been the subject of institutional measures such as creating a commission reserved for women in the Truth and Dignity Commission. There has also been a gender approach to transitional justice by international organizations. For me, it was a question of analysing the process by which women appropriate or not this phenomenon. Have women appropriated the transitional justice process so far? I would say yes. In an equal way? Certainly not, especially with regard to women victims capacity to assume the status of victim in the same way as men.

In sociology, the notion of victim is not just a moral state but is seen as a socially-produced status that may or may not be adopted. My definition does not depend on the persons experience of repression but on his or her willingness to accept, at a given moment, this status. In this sense, the awareness campaign conducted to convince women to file a victims case with the IVD was crucial. My questions are: What criteria did the institutions use to determine whether or not victims were eligible? Would the victims recognize themselves in it? What effects would it have on them?

My work shows that while some women have benefited psychologically, from recognition and symbolic recompense for taking on this status, others have experienced great distress and have felt used and forgotten. International and local organizations have tended to approach womens inclusion measures from a quantitative, project-based and short-term funding perspective. I demonstrate that this has led to the marginalization of many women victims, who have not been able to own transitional justice.

You criticize the category of indirect victim instituted by Tunisian law. Why is this?

This category refers to the relatives of victims who suffered as a knock-on effect of the repression. The question that concerns me is what kind of recognition these victims will get. The problem lies in the term indirect, making a distinction between two types of victim. Men who suffered for their political activity are seen as direct victims, while the indirect victims  mainly women  are represented in the shadow of the mens activism. So we end up with only a partial recognition of female victims.

Selima Kebaili  Olfa Belhassine for JusticeInfo.net

Isnt it thanks to this status of indirect victim that the number of women filing a case with the IVD increased from 5% to 25%?

Yes, the increase in the number of women victims is largely due to the promotion of this status. Several UN agencies, with the collaboration of local NGOs such as Tounissiet, supported an awareness campaign on this category. The result is partly thanks to United Nations Development Programme managerial tools, which included looking at comparative experiences, such as in Morocco where the concept of indirect victim once existed, in a different context. I show that this category, while it has the merit of highlighting that there are many women who have suffered from repression, relies heavily on the promotion of stereotypes related to femininity. To make gender is to make difference, say American sociologists Sarah Fenstermaker et Candace West.

For example, in the representation of indirect victims there is a strong focus on the koffa, the food basket prepared by wives or mothers for political prisoners. This image prevails of the nurturing woman, capable of sacrifice and self-sacrifice, suffering repercussions from the imprisonment of her husband, brother or father, who are the real direct victims. Thus, the women who have been in jail and also received koffa are not very visible in the process, just as men who have suffered repercussions from the repression of their relatives  whether men or women  are rarely perceived as indirect victims. So it was not so much a question of adopting a gender perspective as including women. But including doesnt mean integrating.

Why have women on the Left not been as present as the Islamists in this process?

We must remember that transitional justice began in 2011 with the creation of associations and the mobilization of victims to demand accountability from the former regime. The women of the Left were part of it. Ennahdas victory in the October 2011 elections was decisive. This movement, which admittedly suffered significant repression in the 1990s, took ownership of this issue and was strongly involved in the process from the beginning. In January 2012, the Ministry of Human Rights and Transitional Justice was created, headed by the Islamist leader Samir Dilou. But the Left, which suffered strong collective repression in the 1970s and more individually thereafter, was not as organized or structured in 2011-2012 after the revolution as Ennahdha. It did not have the capacity to rally local associations, which the Islamists did at the time. It is often said that the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), a historical NGO of left-wing feminists, boycotted the process. That is not true. It has always been in favour of transitional justice, while speaking out against the way in which the process has been conducted, particularly the over-representation of Islamists within it.

In your work, you point to ordinary violence against women. What exactly is this?

I show in my thesis that transitional justice too often emphasizes traumatic events to include women, rather than commonplace political violence. It does not situate the political repression experienced by women within a continuum of social and economic violence. According to the accounts I collected, there are of course victims who were able to integrate the norms of the process by insisting on these events and who got the long-term support of associations after the revolution, even becoming figures and symbols of transitional justice. But others, especially those who were called to increase the number of victims and who had no particular resources, felt the experience of testifying as something rather violent, as a feeling of dispossession of their lives and their story. This is because oral expression of suffering has its limits, but also because, when we focus on the repressive event, torture or imprisonment, we forget what came after: all the social sanctions, not being able to marry, not being able to work, etc. All that seems ordinary, but deprivation of these things is nevertheless part of these womens experience of repression. They are numerous, but their voices are not heard. I call them the ordinary victims.

Interviewed by Olfa Belhassinne
In this file photo taken on April 29, 2021, people watch a Long March 5B rocket, carrying China's Tianhe space station core module, as it lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan province. AFP-Yonhap



The Pentagon said Wednesday it is following the trajectory of a Chinese rocket expected to make an uncontrolled entry into the atmosphere this weekend, with the risk of crashing down in an inhabited area.



US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is "aware and he knows the space command is tracking, literally tracking this rocket debris," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.



China on Thursday launched the first of three elements for its space station, the CSS, which was powered by the Long March 5B rocket that is now being tracked.



The body of the rocket "is almost intact coming down," Kirby said, adding that its re-entry is expected sometime around Saturday.



After its separation from the space station module, the rocket began to orbit the Earth in an irregular trajectory as it slowly lost altitude, making any predictions about where it will re-enter the atmosphere or fall back to the ground nearly impossible.



It could end up breaking apart upon entry, with only smaller debris bits falling to Earth  and even if the rocket falls from the sky mostly intact, there is a good chance it will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 percent water.



But neither of those outcomes is certain, and there is a chance the rocket could crash land into an inhabited area or onto a ship.



Kirby said it is "too soon" to know whether any action, such as destroying the space debris, can be taken if human-occupied regions are threatened.



"We're tracking it. We're following it as closely as we can," he said.



"It's just a little too soon right now to know where it's going to go or what, if anything, can be done about that."



It is not the first time China has lost control of a space craft as it returns to Earth. The space laboratory Tiangong-1 disintegrated upon re-entry into the atmosphere in 2018, two years after it had stopped working, though Chinese authorities denied they had lost control of the ship. (AFP)


Amnesty International urged Libyas new government Thursday to prioritise human rights and tackle impunity as it tries to steer the country away from a decade of war.

Libyas interim unity government came into being in March, replacing two rival administrations  one based in the capital Tripoli and the one in the countrys east  to lead the North African nation to elections later this year.

The London-based watchdog said the government must strive to re-establish the rule of law across Libya, and listed nine key points it said must be implemented.

The priority was to rein in militias and armed groups responsible for abductions, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, looting and other crimes, it said.

Since Moamer Kadhafis 42-year repressive rule ended in 2011, armed conflict and lawlessness have haunted civilians, said Amnestys Diana Eltahawy.

Libya plunged into chaos after Kadhafi was ousted and killed in the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, and over the years the conflict has attracted numerous foreign players.

The advent of the Government of National Unity provides a vital opportunity to reset the political agenda and put human rights at the heart of it, in order to begin healing a country reeling from a decade of bloodshed, chaos and rights abuses, Eltahawy added.

Amnesty urged the new government not to follow the mistake of previous cabinets, warning against seeking to appease powerful and unruly militias and secure their loyalty through offering praise, high-level positions and legitimacy.

Eltahawy said that issuing amnesties for war crimes would only further embolden such actors, and entrench their stranglehold on the country.

Any attempts to integrate members of militias or armed groups must involve rigorous and thorough individual vetting, Amnesty said.

Those reasonably suspected of war crimes and serious human rights violations must be removed from positions of power or responsibility, pending criminal investigations and prosecutions.
The University Press of Kansas remains open after rumors surfaced that it will be closing its doors.
CEB Super Pass: One-way flight voucher to any PH destination for only PHP99

It's a no-brainer that we all missed traveling. Our much-needed rest and relaxation were put on hold because of 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. Travel bans are happening here and there that's why we have decided to set aside our itineraries until we are back to normalcy.





I know how stressful it is to rebook or refund a plane ticket at present times that's why this SUPER exciting news from Cebu Pacific Air will bring #MoreSmilesAhead for everyJuan. As the Philippines leading carrier continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary, it came 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 that is offered for a limited time from May 5 until May 12, 2021.





CEB Super Pass: One-way flight voucher to any PH destination for only PHP99

I know you miss going to your fave local Philippine destination and these treats or pasalubongs from provinces are essential.

What is The CEB Super Pass

A travel voucher that gives passengers much-needed flexibility and accessibility without breaking the bank!

For only P99 (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.



CEB Super Pass: One-way flight voucher to any PH destination for only PHP99



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.

How to purchase the CEB Super Pass?

Go to https://bit.ly/CEBSuperPass, input the number of passes you want, add passenger names, and pay!

Pay via existing Travel Funds, or other online payment options such as credit cards.

Wait for your CEB Super Pass that 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 the 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 are 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,

#MoreSmilesAhead #CEBSuperPass
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Kansas City police say it was a busy night as detectives investigate three deaths in 10 hours. Theyre classifying two shootings as homicides.

Just before 5 a.m., police were called to a shots fired call at 85th Street and Euclid Avenue. It was upgraded to a shooting when police found a victim on scene outside a home. They were rushed to the hospital and expected to survive.

Just before 6 a.m., the fire department called police to meet them at 81 Street and Indiana Avenue after a car fire with human remains inside. Police are looking at these as possibly connected, considering how close the scenes are.

The second of two homicides in the city happened about 10 p.m. Wednesday. Police say a man was shot and killed in the 11100 block of Hillcrest Ave. When officers arrived, they located him in the street unresponsive. He was declared dead at the scene. On Thursday afternoon, the victim was identified as 18-year-old Elijaah Boston.

Police are asking for your help in the investigation.

"We are really going to ask for viewers in the area saw any vehicles saw or heard anything. Could be the smallest thing detectives need to jumpstart this," said Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

There is no suspect in custody at this time.

Police: Early indications man shot inside Kansas City business caused disturbance The KCPD is investigating a fatal shooting that happened tonight outside a business in the 4200 block of Blue Parkway.

The first homicide happened about 9:30 p.m. in the 4200 block of Blue Parkway. Police say they found a man in a parking lot who had been shot multiple times. They believe he and the suspect were inside a nearby busy when things escalated. On Thursday afternoon, the victim was identified as 32-year-old Marc A. Davis II.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Detectives in Kansas City say two other shootings from Wednesday night are connected. Shots were fired near 12th Street and Benton just before 7:45 p.m. The scenes are just down the street from each other. One is an apartment, and the other is a gas station.

Kansas City police investigate two related shootings The shootings happened around 7:45 p.m. in the 3100 block of E. 12th Street and the 1200 block of Benton.

Someone called 9-1-1 to report a shooting near the "Stop and Go" just down Benton. One person was hurt. A short time later, dispatchers got another call about another shooting victim nearby. Investigators put crime tape around an apartment building just up the street. That's where a second person was found shot.

Officers say the two shootings are related. Two people were taken to the hospital. Their injuries are non-life threatening. So far, there have been no arrests.
The Kansas House will likely vote on a medical marijuana bill later this week. It's a historic event in the conservative state where legislation of its kind has never made it this far.
Kang Mina and Byun Woo Seok are now officially joining the powerhouse cast of Korean drama "When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon."

This was confirmed by the KBS2 drama stating that the actors capped off the roster of cast for the network's forthcoming evening drama.

"Byun Woo Seok and Kang Mina joined the drama, completing the casting of the four young people."

With this, the duo will be working alongside Yoo Seung Ho and Girl's Day's Hyeri, who earlier confirmed their appearance as lead characters.

"When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon" Release Date

The soon-to-be-released drama will be helmed by the "Doctor Prisoner" director Hwang In Hyuk and written by Kim Joo Hee.

Moreover, the "When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon" is set to commence its filming schedule this May and said to premiere on the 2nd half of 2021 with 16 episodes in total.

What to Expect from "When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon"

The historical drama will take place during the late Joseon Dynasty when a strict prohibition was imposed.

Byun Woo Seok is set to take on the role of crown prince Lee Pyo, who is against the harsh restriction of the law.

Initially, he is not destined to be the heir to the throne, but due to unforeseeable circumstances, he ascends to the position; however, despite his capabilities, there's one thing that he can't give up.

The crown prince usually sneaks out of the palace to go to drinking places that caused inconvenience to the kingdom.

On the other hand, Kang Mina will portray Han Ae Jin, the only daughter of a noble family.

Her character was described as a stubborn and straightforward person who is eager to do what she wants and hates being told what to do.

Given that she grew up in an aristocratic environment, her family has a say when it comes to marriage, but with her attitude, she insists on having a good-looking husband if she has to look at his face for the rest of her life.

As for Yoo Seung Ho and Girl's Day's Hyeri, the "I am Not a Robot" actor will play inspector Nam Young, who works for the Inspector-General's Office.

This will be his on-screen return starring in the historical drama after his 2017 "The Emperor: Owner of the Mask," where he portrayed Crown Prince Lee Sun.

In "When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon," he was described as someone who has stunning features, making him popular with the local women.

Unfortunately, his only interests are in books and dubbed as the walking embodiment of the Four Books and Five Classics.

His life changed when he crossed paths with Hyeri's character, Kang Ro Seo.

She grew up in a wealthy family but due to an unpredicted situation. At age 13, Kang Ro Seo starts making money to pay for her mother's medication, as well as her brother's education.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 4 Memorable Second Leads in 2020 Who Made Our Hearts Flutter









KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
Nam Da Reum and Kim Sae Ron are confirmed to lead the cast of Kakao TV's "Shaman Girl Ga Doo Shim."

In a new report, the OTT streaming tv officially announced that the former child actor would take on the role of Na Woo Soo.

On the other hand, his co-star, Kim Sae Ron, will play 18-year-old Ga Doo Shim.

Back in April, her agency, Gold Medalist, revealed that the actress has been offered to appear in an upcoming drama and has been looking to a "favorable outlook."

Kim Sae Ron and Nam Da Reum Spoke out on Their Roles in "Shaman Girl Ga Doo Shim"

Following the confirmation, the "Shaman Girl Ga Doo Shim" cast revealed their thoughts about the upcoming drama.

The "Love Playlist" actress mentioned that she had fun reading the script.

Moreover, she also shared that the fantasy drama will "stir up" the viewers' imagination, adding, "It is a drama you'll enjoy. Please, look forward to it."

The same goes with the "Beautiful World" actor, who was also entertained upon reading the script.

He shared that his character, Na Woo Soo was totally opposite from his previous characters, which he finds challenging and charming at the same time.

"I'll work hard for the series to receive lots of love. So please, show lots of support for 'Excellent Shaman Ga Doo Shim,'" he mentioned as obtained by a South Korean outlet.

"Shaman Girl Ga Doo Shim" Synopsis

The forthcoming fantasy mystery romance revolved around two high school students who were caught up in a series of weird situations.

Ga Doo Shim may look like your average high school, but it turns out she has the undesired fate of becoming a shaman, also known as a mediator between the gods or spirit and humanity.

She was described as someone who has a strong persona with a goal to bring order to solve hitches in the development of life.

Interestingly, mysterious incidents start to unfold after transferring to a haunted high school, where she meets Na Woo So.

Behind his charming looks and almost perfect life lies a strange capability.

Meeting Ga Doo Shim totally changed his life after he started seeing evil spirits. This is how the duo got involved in a series of mysterious cases together.

Nam Da Reum's Upcoming Dramas

2021 seems a little busy for the "Hotel del Luna" actor as he is about to appear in two upcoming shows.

Aside from officially joining the cast of "Shaman Girl Ga Doo Shim" the 18-year-old actor is set to make a special cameo in the upcoming tvN drama "Doom at Your Service," starring Seo In Guk and Park Bo Young.

He would play the role of a novel writer named Gwi Gongja.

In addition, Nam Da Reum is confirmed to cast in the forthcoming psychological drama "The Sound of Magic" alongside Ji Chang Wook, Choi Sung Eun, and Hwang In Yeop.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Sae Ron Gives Up "Dear M" Due to Feud Regarding Order of Name Ranking

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
2021 will be a jam-packed year for Go Min Si after she officially joins the cast of the upcoming Korean movie "Smugglers."

A new report cited that the 26-year old actress will be working alongside Kim Hye Soo, Yeom Jung Ah, Jo In Sung, and "Entourage" actor Park Jung Min.

Although there were no updates about her character's name, the outlet mentioned that she'd play an essential part in the movie.

"Smugglers" Details and Synopsis

The forthcoming crime film is directed by Ryu Seung Wan, whose famous works include the 2017 movie "The Battleship Island," "Veteran," "Escape from Mogadishu," and more.

Following the announcement of the additional cast, it has been reported that the production aims to begin filming in 2022.

"Smugglers" follows the story of two women who are involved in a series of smuggling activities that took place in a small peaceful village in the 1970s.

Unfortunately, the illegal activity came to light after the women were caught up in a secretive fight between enemies surrounding smuggling.

READ MORE: 'Youth of May' Starring Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si Off to a Good Start Hitting 4.9% Viewership Rating

Go Min Si's Current Drama "Youth of May"

Go Min Si's new movie comes days after the debut of the much-anticipated drama "Youth of May."

The newest KBS2 evening program is also a reunion project between her "Sweet Home" co-star Lee Do Hyun who is now her on-screen partner.

Aside from the duo, the "Youth of May" cast also includes lead stars Lee Sang Yi and Geum Sae Rok, as well as veteran stars Oh Man Suk, Uhm Hyo Sub, Kim Won Hae, and more.

In a previous interview, the 26-year-old actress spoke about her role as the third-year nurse Kim Myung Hee, who was transferred to a local hospital during the 1980s amid the chaotic Gwangju Uprising.

During their online press conference dated May 3, the cast and director of "Youth of May" gave their insights about the drama.

At the time, she mentioned that she believes that the role was destined for her since she wanted to do a melodrama or period piece for such a long time.

"This project was like fate for me. I carefully reviewed the script and did research," she revealed.

As for her team up with Lee Do Hyun, the actress shared that she's happy to be working again with the "18 Again" actor.

"If people enjoyed watching us together in our previous project, then we can promise a completely different kind of chemistry in this one," she added.

Go Min Si's "Love Alarm and Upcoming Drama "Cliffhanger"

Aside from her astounding performance in the hit post-apocalyptic series "Sweet Home," where she plays the feisty Lee Eun Yoo, Go Min Si's impeccable acting skills were also recognized in the Netflix show "Love Alarm" alongside Song Kang and Kim So Hyun.

Apart from her upcoming movie and "Youth of May," she is also set to appear in tvN's new thriller mystery drama "Cliffhanger," playing the role of Lee Da won.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Go Min Si of "Sweet Home" Has an Astounding Job Before Making It on the Small Screen

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
MEDFORD, Ore.  Coronavirus vaccine availability is rising across Oregon, but the rate of doses administered has been slowing since April despite eligibility being opened to everyone 16 and older. With spread of COVID-19 still an issue, Jackson County Public Health is trying to dispel rumors and myths about the vaccines while encouraging people to get vaccinated.

According to Oregon Health Authority data, the number of doses administered per day statewide peaked in early April and has declined since. As of Thursday, nearly 2 million Oregonians had either finished their vaccine series or received a first dose.

Though daily vaccinations are dropping, getting a shot has never been easier. Many vaccine providers in southern Oregon are no longer requiring appointments, allowing walk-ins during operating hours.

The issue of combatting COVID-19 is increasingly entering a period where the problem is no longer vaccine supply, but low demand in communities with a high degree of vaccine hesitancy.

Public health officials continue to underline that the vaccines are both same and the quickest way of getting back to some degree of normalcy. On Thursday, Jackson County Public Health published a list of common myths about the vaccines, addressing them with the data we have so far.

Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccine

Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?

Yes. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you may get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you.

There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.

There are currently two types of COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized and recommended for use in the United States: messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and a viral vector vaccine. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the genetic material in the vaccines cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way. All COVID19 vaccines work with the bodys natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease.

After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. Neither can any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States.

If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.

Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination. That means its possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Jackson County Equity Vaccination Center at the Expo

The Jackson County Equity Vaccination Center at the Expo is available to everyone that needs a COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone 16 years and older is eligible to get vaccinated. The vaccine is free, and people do not need to bring ID or insurance information. The Vaccination Equity Center is a safe place, accessible to all, regardless of legal status. Language interpreters and support for disabilities are available.

Register for an appointment at JacksonCounty.org/GetVaccinated or call 211. Appointments are encouraged, but they are not required.

Vaccination Options at the Jackson County Vaccination Equity Center:

Walk-through Moderna Site (for individuals 18 years and older)

Vaccine: Moderna

Operation Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

No appointment required

Drive-Through Pfizer Site (for individuals 16 years and older)
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European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell leaves the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London on May 5, 2021. AFP-Yonhap



The Group of Seven wealthy democracies on Wednesday wrapped up their first in-person meeting in more than two years, accusing China of human rights abuses and a crackdown on pro-democracy figures, while voicing fears about Russian aggression against Ukraine.



Foreign ministers from hosts Britain, plus the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan also called on Tehran to release foreign and dual nationals they said were being held arbitrarily in Iranian jails.



They threatened the Myanmar junta which staged a coup in February with fresh sanctions, in a wide-ranging final communique covering the world's most pressing geopolitical issues, including climate change and post-pandemic recovery.



The ministers, who met in central London under tight coronavirus restrictions, committed to financially support the vaccine-sharing programme, Covax.



But there was no immediate announcement on fresh funding to improve greater access to vaccines, despite repeated calls for the G7 to do more to help poorer countries.



This week's meeting sets the tone for the G7 leaders' meeting in Cornwall, southwest England, next month, at which US President Joe Biden makes his international debut.



"We recognise we are meeting in an exceptional and fast-changing context," the leaders said in a final communique totalling more than 12,000 words.



"We commit to working together, with partner countries and within the multilateral system, to shape a cleaner, freer, fairer and more secure future for the planet.



"We resolve to keep working on tangible issues and outcomes together and in partnership with many others."



China criticized



The G7 members' top diplomats reserved their strongest criticism for rising China, urging the Asian giant to abide by its obligations under international and national law.



They said they were "deeply concerned" by human rights violations and abuses against the minority Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang province and in Tibet, and urged an end to the targeting of rights protesters in Hong Kong.



But it held the door open for future cooperation with Beijing, adding: "We look for opportunities to work with China to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity."











Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, right, welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London, Britain May 5, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap
NDP MP Heather McPherson pictured in Edmonton on Friday, March 6, 2020. Alberta's legislature may have been silenced but its partisan warfare has relocated to the House of Commons as MPs hold an emergency debate tonight on the province's soaring COVID-19 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Most of the 9/11 attackers used fraudulent IDs to board the planes they used as bombs to kill thousands of Americans. Some in Washington floated the idea that national standards for drivers licenses, which would also serve as federal IDs, would keep us safer. Without much deliberation or debate, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to end states ability to define their own requirements for drivers licenses. The act also made holding a federal ID a requirement for air travel.

Only six states, Wisconsin among them, complied in a timely fashion. Seventeen, including predominantly Republican states like Montana, Idaho, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, passed legislation specifically to refuse compliance with the law. More than 30 just stalled, waiting until the last possible moment to implement the law, which faced numerous constitutional challenges. If you have renewed your drivers license recently, you encountered new documents requirements and red tape, for which you can thank this law.

One of the not-so-hidden agendas behind the law was to make life even more difficult for migrants. It was an early example of the kind of thinking behind self-deportation policies. If we can make life nasty enough for these families, the argument goes, they will leave of their own accord.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pose for a photo after their talks in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday. AP-Yonhap



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday pressed Russia to pull troops and end its "aggressive" actions in Ukraine on a visit to Kiev in which he vowed to expand U.S. support.



The top US diplomat met Ukraine's leadership and toured a somber memorial with photographs of some of the more than 13,000 people who have died fighting pro-Russian separatists since 2014, when Moscow seized the Crimean peninsula from Kiev.



"We stand strongly with you," Blinken told a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.



"We look to Russia to cease reckless and aggressive actions," Blinken said.



Russia last month amassed 100,000 troops near the border and in Crimea, its biggest buildup since 2014, but quickly announced a pullback in what many saw as a test for the new U.S. administration of President Joe Biden.



But both Blinken and Zelensky said Thursday that the pullout had been limited.



"We're aware that Russia has withdrawn some forces from the border with Ukraine, but we also see that significant forces remain there," Blinken said.



Zelensky said Ukraine still saw Russia flexing its muscle on the Black Sea and said it had only removed 3,000 to 3,500 troops from Crimea.



But Zelensky said that there had been a decline in sniper fire, which has been a leading cause of casualties.



Zelensky welcomed U.S. support but said that Ukraine "desperately" needed more.



"We think that the decrease (of Russian troops near the border) is slow, therefore, perhaps, there still may be a threat. Nobody wants these surprises," Zelensky said.



The United States has earmarked $408 million in security aid for Ukraine this fiscal year and Blinken said he spoke in depth with Ukrainian leaders about their needs.



Turning page on Trump



Biden in his first three months in office has sought to toughen U.S. resolve against Russia after his predecessor Donald Trump's flirtation with President Vladimir Putin.



Trump was notoriously fixated on conspiracy theories about Ukraine, triggering his first impeachment after he held up aid in an unsuccessful bid to pressure Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden.



Likely believing that the new U.S. leadership presents greater opportunities after Trump kept him at arm's length, the Ukrainian comedian-turned-president said that he had invited Biden to visit Ukraine.



Blinken replied that he would convey the invitation and that Biden hoped to visit eventually.



Biden also has proposed a summit with Putin in a bid to bring stability to the relationship  making it all the more pressing to show solidarity with Ukraine first.



Blinken arrived late Thursday from London where he joined other foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in condemning Russia's "irresponsible and destabilizing behavior" in Ukraine and elsewhere.



Zelensky has renewed calls to speed up Ukraine's entry into the NATO alliance in the face of fears about Russia.



Western European nations, mindful of Russia's response, have opposed Ukraine's accession and the idea has met a cool response in Washington. (AFP)






There was once a fear that took over the Republican Party and the nation.

It was spread by a bullying demagogue who accused his opponents of being traitors and communists.

He leveled attacks without evidence, said he represented "Americanism with its sleeves rolled up."

His supporters embraced a cult of personality drenched in conspiracy theories, sure that God was on their side.

Their intensity -- their crushing certainty -- intimidated most politicians into silence. They did not want the trouble of being attacked by the party's activist base. They knew it was wrong but worried that if they told the truth they could lose a primary election.

But one woman spoke up.

She was from Maine and her name was Margaret Chase Smith -- the first woman popularly elected to the US Senate. It was 1950 and her target was Sen. Joe McCarthy.

The freshman senator stood alone on the floor of the Senate and issued what she called a "Declaration of Conscience."

No cameras captured the speech that day, but here's part of what she said:

"Today our country is being psychologically divided by the confusion and the suspicions that ... spread like cancerous tentacles of 'know nothing, suspect everything' attitudes."

An election was looming and Chase wanted the GOP to win, but she said, "I don't want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny -- Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear."

She denounced the pursuit of "selfish political gain at the sacrifice of individual reputations and national unity" -- an approach that played into the "totalitarian techniques" of "confuse, divide, and conquer" ... that, if "unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life."

Her stand would inspire more of her fellow senators to find the courage to speak up.

And McCarthy would ultimately become isolated, consumed by lawsuits and scandals, revealed as a petty, paranoid narcissist. He died friendless and reviled.

The fact that Joe McCarthy's lawyer -- Roy Cohn -- later went on to mentor Donald Trump is more than a coincidence of history, doubly ironic because Donald Trump was the Kremlin's preferred candidate in two elections.

But the most relevant echo here is the lonely stand of Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney and her looming purge from House leadership for the sin of refusing to back the Big Lie -- that Trump and not Joe Biden won the presidency.

Donald Trump will look no better than Joe McCarthy in the eyes of history -- and neither will his spineless apologists.

Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise have found a young congresswoman named Elise Stefanik to check the box and fill the slot for a woman in "leadership" -- a word that's been apparently redefined by this party to mean "unquestioning follower."

The divisions inside the Republican Party used to be about ideology.

But that's not what's at work here, because Liz Cheney is far more conservative than New York's Stefanik by every policy measure.

Cheney voted with Trump almost 93% of the time. Stefanik just 77%.

Cheney has a 77% rating from the American Conservative Union, while Stefanik has a 44% rating.

And the fiscally conservative Club for Growth fired off a tweet saying that, according to their rankings, Stefanik has the 4th worst fiscal record among Republicans in the House.

So this isn't about ideology. It's about a cult of personality in a party consumed by fear ... and it can cause opportunistic people to shed their principles like a snake's old skin.

Stefanik, for example, worked in the Bush-Cheney administration and has been an acolyte of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. When the Harvard-educated, upstate New Yorker was elected in 2014, she became the youngest woman (at that time) elected to the House. She promised to work across the aisle and modernize the Republican Party. In 2016, she was a supporter of John Kasich.

What happened? Apparently the age-old siren song of power and money over ethics.

When Trump was impeached the first time, Stefanik saw an opportunity to play partisan pit bull -- and she was rewarded with $13 million in donations for her reelection campaign.

Sucking up to Trump paid -- and she won praise from the President and Fox News.

So when it came time to vote to overturn the election -- after the January 6 attack on the Capitol -- Stefanik was an easy recruit for the sedition caucus. She became just another Ivy League populist who attacks democracy and then complains when she's called out.

Now, it seems she sees an opportunity to ride the Big Lie to more power. Her reelection slogan might as well be "liars prosper."

Liz Cheney has chosen another path -- and a higher reward -- writing in The Washington Post: "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."

That's a Declaration of Conscience for our times -- a reminder that our political differences don't matter much compared to our stance on defending the truth and democracy itself.
By Ruth Anderah

The International Criminal Court (ICC) sitting at the Hague is today expected to pass a sentence against the former LRA commandant Dominic Ongwen.

Ongwen was convicted of several counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes , murder , rape, torture, sexual slavery and use of child soldiers between 2002 and 2004.

The former rebel commander who went on trial in December 2016, pleaded not guilty to the charges at the start of proceedings and continues to deny all accusations. He was said to have committed the crimes while he was a commander of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda and several prosecution witnesses testified including victims of the atrocities allegedly committed by Ongwen.

Among them were 7 women forced by Ongwen to marry him, ten UPDF soldiers, former LRA fighters who were under Ongwens brigade , child soldiers who were abducted and enlisted into rebel activities and expert witnesses who testified about Ongwens mental status . In this trial some of the witnesses gave their evidence by way of recorded statements while others physically travelled to testify at the Hague. Related articles Opposition MPs express worry over the closure of judiciary Museveni releases full cabinet list, Jessica Alupo named Vice President

The sentence is expected to be delivered at midday.
Further Education and Training is an opportunity for positive change for Kilkennys learners, communities and businesses, according to SOLAS, the Further Education and Training authority.

Solas has launched a new campaign, 'FET is for Everyone', which aims to raise awareness of the learning and upskilling opportunities available to individuals and businesses alike throughout Ireland.

The new campaign comes a number of months after the launch of SOLASs new strategy 'Future FET: Transforming Learning', which aims to transform the delivery of FET throughout Ireland. Every year over 200,000 learners, from a wide diversity of ages and backgrounds, engage in Further Education and Training. In 2019, there were 190 different nationalities enrolled in FET.

Every year, there is a significant Government investment in FET which is managed by SOLAS and channelled through Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board who delivers FET provision directly and via a network of contracted training or community education and training providers in response to the needs of the local area.

FET is already a core part of every town and community in Kilkenny  whether it is a young parent taking a part time Business Administration course; a property agent taking on their first apprentice; or someone returning to education after leaving school early," said Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS.

"Theres so much more to FET than just those three examples, however. FET offers every individual, regardless of any previous level of education, a pathway to take them as far as they want to go. It can offer personal development and fulfilment, a link to community and social networks, and a range of supports that reflect the diverse base of its learners.

FET has changed significantly over the past number of years  but so too has the world of work and education. The notion that learning should be concentrated in our youth and is enough to last people their entire career is no longer feasible. Employers know this too. FET offers opportunities for up-skilling and re-skilling, as well as earn-while-you-learn programmes which benefits both employers and learners. These opportunities are particularly important in light of the rapid changes in how we work brought about by Covid-19.

The new campaign will involve a video advertising campaign and storytelling with FET learners and employers sharing their FET experiences.

Opportunities for school leavers and individuals

SOLAS is aiming to reposition FET as an attractive and responsive choice for school leavers with career development opportunities.

FET offers great opportunities to move into exciting and interesting vocations and careers, or a platform to develop the skills that will allow someone to flourish if they go on to further study in higher education," Mr Brownlee continued.

"For those who wish to progress to higher education, FET learners account for approximately one-fifth of the annual intake of the technological higher education sector. Learners that transition to higher education tend to prosper and have high retention rates.

While these are important examples of the impact FET has for learners and the wider economy, what it provides for the individual can be extraordinary  boosting confidence, empowerment, and an increased appetite for additional study.

A cornerstone of FET is its base at the heart of every community throughout Ireland, and the role it plays in enhancing engagement and integration across society. Thats why our new campaign is calling on Kilkenny people to unlock their potential by exploring their FET opportunities.

Further information on FET can be found here: www.thisisfetie. For information on apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeship.ie
In a recent poll conducted by MBC's "Show Champion" application Idol Champ, fans were asked to vote for the idol they considered selfie masters.

Want to know who they selected? Then keep on reading!

The winner of the poll will receive one filter made especially for them on the Snow application, a popular camera app from South Korea. The winner will also earn one Splash pop-up advertisement and a Shutter icon advertisement.

The Snow filter will last for two weeks, from May 14 to May 27. The Splash advertisement will reach approximately 500,000 views, which the Shutter icon advertisement will reach approximately one million views.

The poll ran from Apr. 19 to May 3.

Stray Kids Lee Know is the Best Selfie Master Idol

Stray Kids member Lee Know took home first place on the poll, garnering 25.80% of the poll. This means that Lee Know is the idol that wins all the benefits from the poll. It is no surprise Lee Know took home first place. He is known for his stunning visuals and for how well he suits the Korean beauty standard. Though Stray Kids' official visual is Hyunjin, fans believe Lee Know deserves the title as well.

When Stray Kids was first introduced to the public, some people had even believed Lee Know was Japanese due to his manhwa-like visuals. The idol has pale skin, a small face, big, doe-like eyes with double eyelids, a slim nose with a high nose bridge, full lips, straight eyebrows, and a v-shaped face. How can all this beauty manage to be found in a male idol's selfie?!

ASTRO's Moonbin Selected as the Second Best Selfie Master Idol

Coming in second place is ASTRO member Moonbin, who took home 12.26% of the total votes. While Cha Eun Woo is highly recognized as K-pop's male face genius, Moonbin continues to attract fans with his unique look and dashing selfies.

Moonbin has a fox-like charm to him, thanks to his monolid eyes. This feature allows the male to look adorable when he chooses to be cute and charismatic when he chooses to show his cool side. Talk about duality! Additionally, the male has milky white skin, a thin nose bridge, straight eyebrows, and a v-shaped jaw. The male also has an exquisite figure; he has even been on the cover of Men's Health!

These are the TOP 20 Best Selfie Master Idols, According to Idol Champ

1. Stray Kids' Lee Know - 25.80%

2. ASTRO's Moonbin - 12.26%

3. MONSTA X's Kihyun - 11.99%

4. Kang Daniel - 7.69%

5. EXO's Baekhyun - 6.82%

6. SEVENTEEN's Hoshi - 5.27%

7. BTS's Jimin - 4.94%

8. BLACKPINK's Jennie - 3.87%

9. Dreamcatcher's Siyeon - 3.01%

10. ATEEZ's San - 2.62%

11.GOT7's Jinyoung - 2.36%

12. NU'EST's Minhyun - 2.13%

13. Ha Sungwoon - 1.84%

14. TXT's Soobin - 1.82%

15. SHINee's Taemin - 1.64%

16. GFRIEND's Yuju - 1.32%

17. Secret Number's Denise - 1.30%

18. NCT's Jaehyun - 1.28%

19. TREASURE's Junkyu - 1.00%

20. Super Junior's Kyuhyun - 0.96%

Did your favorite idol make the top 20? Tell us in the comments below!

ALSO READ: Dispatch Selects the 10 Idols That Ooze Charisma on Stage

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon was on hand to officially launch the annual Kilkenny Rith Beo, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30.

Tomm was joined for the launch at Gaelscoil Osrai on Friday morning by Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, and Lesley Cleere, Centre Manager of Market Cross Shopping Centre, who is the main sponsor this year.

Now in its ninth year, the Rith Beo Fun Run, despite the trials of 2020, was one of the first races in the country to go virtual. This proved to be very popular and allowed family and friends from near and far to participate together while staying apart.

It was a lovely experience for the school community as paisti donned their summer uniforms to participate in the fun run which was a real boost in a challenging time for all. Friends and past pupils of the Gaelscoil joined in from Beijing to Sydney to Camp Shamrock in the Lebanon.

The annual event is an important fundraiser for the school and now, even with government restrictions, family, friends and colleagues can take part communally and competitively and heres why:

Virtual Rith Beo really has something for everyone  children will compete the 3k run in the school in the week leading up to the event.

 The 5k and 10k chipped races are great for people with their own personal running challenge, with finisher prizes for the first 200 entrants.

 In a year where team-building and bonding is difficult to achieve, there will be a 5k team event where the winners will have bragging privileges over their rivals. Up to four people can enter together as a team, any and all combinations welcome, the fastest 3 times submitted will be combined and will count as the team time. So name your team and get the runners on.

 Lots of vouchers to be won as spot prizes and top place finishers.

Sean O hArgain, Priomhoide of Gaelscoil Osrai said the school community is hugely looking forward to this years Rith Beo.

All of us as runners and walkers have been deprived of events to aim for and to keep us motivated, he said.

At the same time, thousands of people have discovered the joys of running in the past year.

While we cant wait to have our full event back next year for its tenth anniversary, we look forward to so many of our children, parents, past pupils and friends joining in the online event and of course supporting the constant improvements in our school's learning and physical facilities. A huge mile buiochas to all our sponsors, particularly the Market Cross for joining us this year.

Lesley Cleere, Centre Manager of Market Cross Shopping Centre said:

Here in Market Cross Shopping Centre we value community and bring city and county together so the ethos of the Rith Beo is a natural fit for us and we are delighted to sponsor the 2021 Rith Beo Fun Run as it fosters good old fashioned local community spirit which is what the Market Cross is all about.

You can register online for this event by logging on to www.totaltiming.ie. For more information please check out all Social media platforms on Rith Beo Fun Run.
A hair and beauty salon operator in dispute with her landlord over rent arrears has asked the High Court for orders temporarily allowing her back into her workplace.

The action has been brought by Sinead Connolly, who has operated the Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon from Unit 2 at the Charlesland Shopping Centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow for over a decade.

The premises, she said, had remained shut during the lockdown.

She claims that late last month agents of her landlord Mr Peter McLaughlin, who the court heard is a solicitor, entered her salon and changed the locks of the premises.

In an ex parte application to the court, she said the defendant's action this meant she and her four staff have been unable to access the premises.

She claims the premises has been fitted out so it is compliant with Covid-19 regulations for hairdressers when those businesses can reopen to the public next week.

In reply to a question from the judge she accepted that her landlord was claiming arrears of rent of 77,000.

Representing herself, Ms Connolly said that when she signed the original 25-year lease in 2005 rent on the premises was Celtic Tiger rent of 36,800 per year which she could not pay.

The Celtic Tiger rent, she said, was agreed with the defendant's former landlords, businessmen Sean Mulryan and Sean Dunne.

Mr McLaughlin, she said, had acquired their interest in the premises and she had been paying rent to him for some years.

She claimed that her landlord had for some years accepted an annual market rent of 20,000.

The arrears she said was mainly the difference between the rent accepted and the Celtic Tiger rent.

She said there had been talks between the parties regarding rent going forward, and informed the landlord that she had entered into a Personal Insolvency Arrangement due to difficulties with her mortgage.

However, no agreement regarding the rent was reached. She accepted that her lease was probably vacated, and she had sourced a new location for her business.

Ms Connolly, of West Courtyard, Tullyvale, Cherrywood, Co Dublin said she wants the court to grant her orders including an injunction that would allow her back into her premises for about six weeks so she could deal with her customers.

She also wanted the equipment in the premises that belongs to her business returns.

At the High Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Allen said that he was not prepared to grant Ms Connolly an injunction restraining Mr McLaughlin from refusing to allow her staff from accessing the premises.

However, the Judge, who said he anticipated that the landlord's lawyers would argue that their actions were perfectly lawful, was prepared to grant her permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on Mr McLaughlin's lawyers.

The matter was adjourned to a date early next week.
What do Daniel ODonnell, Irene from Home and Away and Bill Gates sister have in common?

Well, fame aside, do you know that all have stayed as guests at Celtic House B&B on Michael Street, Kilkenny?

The real story of Celtic House however is the story of owners Angela and John Byrne, who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary last month.

The couple have been running the guesthouse for many years now, and by opening their doors to guests many doors have been opened up for them.

If you happened to be glued to the television during the lockdown in March you mightve caught the couple appearing on the St. Patricks Day episode of Nationwide. If you did, you probably know the next part of the story, but Angela and John tell it best.

One evening sixteen years ago, an American man appeared at the door of Celtic House looking for a room - his name was Jim Whelan, Angela recalls.

He told us he was from San Diego and in Ireland retracing his roots.

Angela, a self-taught genealogy boffin, decided to help Jim with the task herself on her home computer and within the space of a few minutes she found his relatives and even a picture of his ancestral home.

He was filled with gratitude and couldn't believe it.

Jim returned to America with his consolidated sense of identity but kept in constant contact with John and Angela. The following year the couple got a call theyd never forget.

Jim invited John and Angela over to San Diego to represent Ireland in what he described as the largest St Patricks Day parade west of the Mississippi.

It turned out that Jim was a big business figure in San Diego and held a lot of influence in the Irish-American community there.

Sure we were in shock but said we would if we could, Angela said.

I penned a letter to then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about the possibility and he got back to say that its a great honour and that we have his blessing and told us to send our regards to the Irish Congress in San Diego.

When John and Angela got over a media storm ensued and the couple went down a treat. Angela sang 'Hail Glorious Saint Patrick' for the local cable news network and the clip went viral.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The couple went on to represent Ireland in San Diego for St. Patricks Day every year since, gained honorary city citizenship in the process and represented both the nation, and Kilkenny, with aplomb.

This year though, things changed, for reasons we all are too painfully aware, and despite not being able to head over to San Diego, their Nationwide appearance brought their story to national attention.

The response to the Nationwide show has been unbelievable, John said.

Angela and I go on walks locally as thats all weve been able to do due to the lockdown but people have been stopping us on the street to chat, they beep their horns as they pass us, giving us the nicest compliments and feedback about the show.

Were fourteen months closed now and we miss people. The house is so quiet. The phone doesnt ring, the doorbell doesnt buzz and weve been so busy all our lives spending time with people, looking after our guests, that now were at a loss to know what to do.

A lot of our guests are returning guests, theyve become old friends, and they usually return around the same time every year so its difficult to adapt to the new normal, keeping in touch via emails just isnt the same.

John and Angela are keen to emphasise that they owe a depth of gratitude to Jim Whelan, and share just how each guest brings their own story to the B&B, no matter how big or small.

So who else has popped their head through the door over the years?

One of the funnier guest stays we had here was Daniel and Majella ODonnell, Angela remembers.

They were here filming for their B&B roadtrip series so we brought them down to Nowlan Park and played two-a-side against them. It was great craic altogether.

Once the programme aired we had people ringing us here wanting to book the bed that Daniel had slept in. It was unbelievable.

It was a king size bed he slept in too so people even went as far as to ask what side of the bed it was that he slept in!

Theres more to John and Angela than just the B&B though, so much more. Their stories and talents couldve filled the whole paper.

John, for example, hails from a farming family in Higginstown out by Clara but left Ireland for England when he was young to seek his fortune.

While over there he saw a chance to travel the world present itself by joining the army, so he did. He spent four years in the parachute regiment travelling around Europe before coming back to Kilkenny to work in the transport division at Smithwicks Brewery.

While stationed in Germany John had a close shave (almost literally) when he was ambushed with a knife.

Thanks to his military training he managed to avoid getting stabbed, raised the alarm and other soldiers came to apprehended the assailant, who John emphasises was twice as big as himself.

Angela picked up writing only in the last few years and is now an award-winning author with three historical fiction novels to her name.

One of those novels, Miss Fitzgerald, focuses on Trudy Fitzgerald, a child growing up in a post-famine Ireland.

The novel is connected to the history of the famous Fitzgerald political dynasty in America, to whom Angela discovered a direct link to through genealogy research.

Angelas other books are entitled Not Forgotten and Homeward and are available to order through local bookshops, via the B&B or online on Amazon.

The couple look now to the future despite the year that was:

We cant wait for guests to come back in once we get the all-clear to reopen and we can't wait to give them the Celtic House welcome."
OSAGE, Iowa  A Cedar Rapids duo accused of a Mitchell County break-in are pleading not guilty.

Tomi Clarke, 48, and Michael Dolezal, 47, are both charged with third-degree burglary and are now scheduled to stand trial beginning on June 2.

Authorities say they broke into a building in Carpenter on February 18, prying open the door to get inside. Clarke and Dolezal were reportedly seen cruising around Carpenter in a black pickup truck and when the truck was found in St. Ansgar, investigators say it held gloves and masks, multiple crowbars with paint transfer, drug paraphernalia, a 9-inch bowie knife, and numerous burglary tools

Authorities say Dolezal locked the keys in the truck to try and prevent a search.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Authorities are trying to identify a man suspected of robbing a 60-year-old woman Wednesday night.

Police said it happened at 10:15 p.m. at 510 3rd Ave. SE when the woman parked in a parking lot and a man, described as a Black male in his mid-20s, grabbed the woman, shook her and stole her purse.

The man is described as 5-foot-10, skinny, bushy hair with all black clothing.
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa  A North Iowa man already facing 10 criminal charges in Floyd County is now accused of first-degree theft in Cerro Gordo County.

Law enforcement says Nicholas Gaige McLeland, 29 of Clear Lake, and an unidentified person used a stolen truck to steal a construction trailer parked outside a home in the 2400 block of S Lakeview Drive in Clear Lake. Investigators say the trailer was stolen on February 24 and then abandoned at a different location. $35,000 in construction tools were missing from the trailer when it was found.

Court documents state several of the stolen tools along with other stolen property were found on March 5 in a storage unit belonging to McLeland.

McLeland and Curtis Alan Anderson, 21 of Waterloo, are also charged for multiple burglaries and thefts between March 3 and March 5 in Floyd County. Investigators say items including a minivan and two cars were taken from different locations in Floyd and Rudd. McLeland and Anderson have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial.

A criminal complaint for the Clear Lake theft was filed on April 1 and McLeland was arrested for that charge on April 28.
WEST CONCORD, Minn.  One person is hurt after a pickup/semi collision in Dodge County Thursday.

The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened around 1:41 pm at the intersection of Highway 56/State Street and County Road 24/Concord Street. Mcintire Joseph Borneke, 29 of Waseca, was westbound in a truck and Russell Scurlock, 76 of Owatonna, was driving east in a semi. The collision left a passenger in Bornekes truck injured.

Brian Dean Urban, 32 of St. Charles, was taken to St. Marys Hospital with what are described as non-life threatening injuries.

The West Concord Fire Department and Dodge County Ambulance assisted at the scene.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Mayo Clinic doctors are raising awareness about the health care disparities that impact minority groups in the U.S.

The pandemic has disproportionately impacted racial and ethnic minority communities in several ways. Discrimination, a lack of health care and wealth gaps all contribute to health inequities. The mortality rate among Black people with COVID-19 is more than three times as high as that of white people. That's according to the CDC.

Dr. Sharonne Hayes explained she's learning, among other things, more and more illnesses are being caused by patients having poor access to safe housing. "What mother chose to live in an unhealthy environment? She did not," Dr. Hayes said. "There are generations and generations of reasons that her people and her family were not allowed to buy or rent in places that were safer."

Dr. Chyke Doubeni said it's their job to meet the needs of underserved communities. "We need to look at how we create structures to meet people where they are and the technology exists for us to do so," he explained. "We need to change our mindset from 'we'll build it and they will come' to a mindset where we reach people where they are."

A workgroup was formed by the Minnesota Department of Health to come up with ways to increase COVID-19 testing in underserved communities, as well as pushing for more vaccinations there. It's part of Governor Walz's Community Resilience and Recovery group to make sure communities of color are not impacted by COVID-19 more than others in the state.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Health says nursing home and assisted living facility workers are showing vaccine hesitancy despite the fact they work with one of the most vulnerable populations.

Nearly 100% of residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at River Bend Assisted Living & Memory Care in Rochester.

The percentage of staff who have been vaccinated is lower, sitting around 68%. However, thats still significantly better than the state average of 48% of assisted living facility workers who've received a vaccine reported by MDH.

Marketing director Kim Holst says its important to give employees the option to get vaccinated given the vulnerable population they work in close contact with every day.

She explained, We definitely need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe and so that we can stay open so our families can come and visit their loved ones here too.

MDH also reported long-term care residents are vaccinated at a much higher percentage of 80-90%.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Thursday is National Nurses Day! So, people across the nation are taking the time to celebrate and say 'thank you' to those working on the front lines.

Mary Turner is the President of the Minnesota Nurses Association and she explained the beds at her hospital are full, but not with COVID-19 patients. It's full of people who either postponed their wellness visits out of fear or general emergencies. However, she said there's a sense of relief that comes with that. "From the despair and hopelessness that we had at the beginning. From the day we got a vaccine, it was totally different," Turner explained. "I remember saying, 'there's been so many deaths and so much suffering, but now we have hope.'"

Turner said she's grateful for her colleagues and what they've accomplished during the pandemic. She also explained how there's a common misconception that all health care workers want to be vaccinated and that's something they're still working on. "The vaccines right now, it's 70% of us are overjoyed and took it willingly," Turner said about health care workers. "The other 30%, you're going to need a little more work. But that could be said about the general population."

Thank you to nurses working all over the country, not just for National Nurses Day, but every day.
Recently, former BLANC7 member Shinwoo appeared on Crayon Pop Way's YouTube channel to discuss their idol life. There, Shinwoo revealed the idols that look better in real life compared to on-screen. Keep on reading to see who he selected!

BTS's V is the Male Idol That Looks Better In Real Life

During Way's new YouTube video "K-Pop Boy Group Q&A" featuring former BLANC7 member Shinwoo, she asked the male to name both male and female idols that look much prettier in real life. The male idol that immediately came to Shinwoo's mind is none other than BTS's V! Upon hearing this, Way exclaimed that V is already so good-looking!

Shinwoo agreed, sharing a time in which the idol made eye contact with him. He revealed that BLANC7 would go to the same hair and make-up salon as BTS. There was a time where Shinwoo was at the salon, getting his hair done for a musical. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with V himself! Shinwoo reveals that V had gone near him, saw Shinwoo, then left. Shinwoo wondered if V mistook him for someone he knew, or if V left because Shinwoo was an idol, but he did not greet V.

Girl's Day's Sojin TWICE's Jihyo are the Female Idols That Look Better in Real Life

When it came to female idols, the first person that came to Shinwoo's mind is Girl's Day's leader, Sojin! This female idol is known for her soft and delicate features that always make her look stunning in front of the camera.

However, Shinwoo says that she looks even better when you see her in real life! Currently, Sojin is active as an actress, but we can never forget how gorgeous she looked performing on stage.

The final idol that Shinwoo is another girl group leader  TWICE's main vocal Jihyo!

Most K-pop fans have heard that the TWICE members that look better in person are Jeongyeon, Sana, Dahyun, and Tzuyu. It appears that Jihyo should be added to that list, too, as Shinwoo gushed over how pretty she looked in real life rather than on-screen.

ONCEs, we all know she is known as God Jihyo for a reason!

Check out Crayon Pop Way and BLANC7 Shinwoo's YouTube video here:

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
MASON CITY, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a plethora of charges after leading authorities on a pursuit Wednesday night.

Allen Penhollow, 41, is facing eight traffic violations and drug charges in connection to the pursuit.

Authorities said he was clocked going 80 in a 45-mph zone as he attempted to elude authorities.

Penhollow was found with syringes and a digital scale after the pursuit at 285th St. and Mallard Ave.
MANTORVILLE, Minn.  A child sex crime in Dodge County is sending a man to prison.

Daniel Raymond Anderson, 37 of Janesville, MN, was sentenced Wednesday to seven years and eight months behind bars, with credit for 47 days served, to be followed by 99 years of conditional release.

Anderson was charged in April 2020 with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was accused of having sexual contact with a victim under the age of 13 and court documents state there was surveillance video of some of the crimes.

Anderson eventually pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on February 3. The other charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A Med City school will help test new technology designed to detect the presence of COVID-19 and Influenza in the air.

Rochester Public Schools will work Thermo Fisher Scientific to install its new AerosolSense Sampler devices in five classrooms within one of the district's schools. The effort is part of a pilot study in which Mayo Clinic and Olmsted County Public Health will also be involved.

Researchers hope the early detection of coronavirus cases will help officials mitigate transmission.

"If you do have a positive, it signals that actions need to be taken, and you potentially receive a positive that you would have never known about because the student was asymptomatic, and he or she may have transmitted it to three or four others before you would otherwise find out," said Thomas Doerdelmann of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The devices will collect air samples each day of the study, to be analyzed by Mayo Clinic using PCR tests. The school district will receive test results later that day.

RPS and Olmsted County Public Health will develop protocols for staff in the event a pathogen is detected, which could include nasal swab tests for anyone who may have been exposed.

RPS has not yet determined which school will receive the devices, though staff indicate it will likely be a middle school. Researchers will search for classrooms in which all students and staff are willing to participate in the study.

All testing and equipment will be provided to RPS free of charge. Organizers hope to begin the study as soon as possible, and expect it to continue through the end of this school year.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Rochester Public Schools' Relay for Life chapter is hosting a virtual auction for the American Cancer Society. A lot of focus has been on COVID-19 this past year, but it's important we don't stop talking about other dangerous diseases either, like cancer.

Normally, Relay for Life is an event for people to come together and honor loved ones who have fought cancer. Students from RPS have been participating for years now. Of course, the pandemic is preventing them from doing it in person this year, participants can place a bid on a basket made by an area business.

Students, Anya Miller and Margaret Pieters said they knew they had to make it happen somehow. Anya explained her reason for supporting the cause hits close to home. "My 9th-grade year, my dad actually passed away from cancer," she explained. "So, I went to a meeting and just seeing the people there and being so fresh from having such a vivid cancer experience was just kind of nice to be around people who either had a close experience with cancer or understood cancer in some way and wanted to make a difference about it."

Margaret explained being part of the Relay for Life committee goes far beyond putting it on her resume. "Once we started working on it, I just realized this is such a cool opportunity because we're volunteers," she said. "But at the same time, we're organizing an entire event and finding businesses and getting in touch with the community. It was such a cool experience. It didn't feel like I was a high school student. It felt like I was part of something actually making a difference."

The students are also hosting a virtual 5k where you can donate a certain amount of money for every minute you run, which is a good way to get outside while also supporting a great cause. The virtual Relay for Life auction will be going on through May 9th.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A local playground has become unsafe because of deteriorating conditions. Now a group of students is stepping in to make some improvements.

Mason City and Newman Catholic High Schools participating in YIELD (Youth Investing Energy in Leadership Development) identified the need to restore the beloved Prairie Playground at East Park. Last fall, students met with city staff to address concerns with the playground, and also completed a safety report card from the National Program for Playground Safety. The group raised money to cover project expenses, which included replacing and laying down mulch, replacing and repairing old equipment, and stain wood throughout the playground.

For Juniors Matthew Henrich (Newman Catholic) and Makenna Hansen (Mason City), the project speaks to them personally: they came to the playground when they were younger. Now, they want to preserve it for the next generation to come and enjoy it as much as they did.

"It's always been a part of who we are, and growing up, we appreciated it so much. I think the kids nowadays don't respect playgrounds as much, so we thought we'd try and get them back on them," Henrich says.

"East Park is super important to everyone, and we know it's important to the community too. We wanted our project to be meaningful to everyone," Hansen says.

In addition, they hope that their project will teach and grow civic pride.

"When we got into YIELD, the most important thing to us was making a difference in our community and making sure our difference was made for our YIELD class, and for the future of everyone else," Hansen says.

"By doing it, it really inspires others to get out in their community and do the same thing, and help out whenever you can," Henrich says.

Volunteers from the River City Kiwanis Club, Coloff Media, Alliant Energy and Bergland + Cram helped out students during their work day on Wednesday.

YIELD is under the stewardship of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce. The goal is to provide leadership training for high school students.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Gov. Tim Walz plans to announce a timeline on Thursday for lifting all COVID-19 restrictions in Minnesota while doubling down on the states vaccination push.

Walz will announce his plan in a live address at noon, followed by a news conference.

Walz has not given details but said Tuesday that Minnesotans should start assuming that theyre going to have a very normal-looking summer.

The governor and health officials announced earlier Wednesday that 2 million Minnesotans have now completed the vaccination process.

About 59% of the 16-and-over population has had at least one dose, and nearly 46% have completed the series.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A crash on Highway 52 has sent a Rochester woman to the hospital.

The Minnesota State Patrol says Abdio Hassan Muhumed, 21, was driving south when she took the exit to Civic Center Drive NW and wound up colliding with the bridge. This happened around 7:10 pm Wednesday.

Muhumed suffered what are described as non-life threatening injuries and was taken to St. Marys Hospital for treatment. The State Patrol says road conditions were wet at the time of the crash.

The Rochester Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. Hot. High 91F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
President of Ireland Michael Higgins' seven-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog stole the spotlight during an official address in Dublin.
TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK/CNN) -- A Texas family is praising officers after someone called the police on children playing with Nerf guns.
A tourist takes photos of an ice cream in the shape of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)



BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China saw a total of 230 million domestic tourist trips during the five-day May Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Wednesday.

Tourism revenue reached 113.23 billion yuan (about 17.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 138.1 percent from last year, according to the ministry.

The May Day holiday lasts from May 1 to 5 this year. Enditem




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
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable.
Common Grace Ministries of Noble County celebrated its volunteers with a banquet Friday night hosted by First Christian Church, Kendallville. Executive director Angie Kidd shared a number of heartwarming stories and her gratitude for blessings amidst the challenges. Associate Pastor Michael DiSanto led praise music with guitar. People were physically distanced throughout the gathering, except for when this photo was taken. Information about Common Grace is at commongraceministries.org or call 349-1942.
Weather Alert

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph in the morning, increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph in the afternoon. * WHERE...Pocatello, Blackfoot, and American Falls Reservoir. * WHEN...From 6 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Winds will cause rough, choppy water on American Falls Reservoir. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. Boaters on area lakes should use extra caution since strong winds and rough waves can overturn small craft. &&
Weather Alert

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... The National Weather Service in Billings has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS: Low humidities, hot temperatures, strong gusty winds, and wind shift with a cold front, will create erratic fire behavior. * AFFECTED AREA: In North Central WY Fire Zone...274. In South Central MT Fire Zones...127...128...129. In Southeast MT Fire Zones...130...131...132. In Southeast MT and Northwest SD Fire Zone...133. * COUNTIES AFFECTED: In Central MT...Golden Valley...Musselshell. In North Central WY...Sheridan. In Northwest SD...Harding. In South Central MT...Big Horn...Carbon...Yellowstone. In Southeast MT...Carter...Custer...Fallon...Powder River Rosebud...Treasure. * HUMIDITY: 12 to 18 percent. * TEMPERATURES: Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. * WIND: West 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * COLD FRONT: Cold front will push through Thursday afternoon and evening and switch winds to the northwest. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. &&

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West to northwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Portions of central, south central, and southeast Montana. Portions of north central Wyoming. * WHEN...From Thursday afternoon through late Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Low humidity in combination with strong winds will cause fire weather concerns as well. Be careful to not cause a spark. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates. &&
ROOSEVELT COUNTY - On Wednesday, a man charged with deliberate homicide was found guilty in Roosevelt County District Court, according to Sheriff Jason Frederick.

Clovis Christopher Geno was arrested in January 2020 on a warrant for the deliberate homicide of his live-in girlfriend, Ramona Hilton Naramore.

Sheriff Frederick says the jury deliberated approximately an hour before reaching their verdict.

Sentencing will be at a later date, following a pre-sentence investigation.
(The Center Square)  A federal judge Wednesday vacated a national moratorium on evictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, following a trend of rulings issued by other federal judges in other states.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled in an Alabama case that the CDC exceeded its authority by issuing a moratorium on evictions, first implemented in March 2020 and recently extended through June 30. The CDC claims the moratorium has helped millions of renters who lost their jobs due to state and economic shutdowns. Those who have filed suit argue the moratorium is unconstitutional and judges across the country agree.

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, Friedrich wrote in his 20-page ruling. 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.

The Biden administration has announced it is appealing the cases in which the judges ruled against the moratorium and seeking a stay on the most recent decision, saying more than a million Americans could be forced out of their homes.

A recent study estimates that there were 1.55 million fewer evictions filed during 2020 than would be expected due to the eviction moratorium, so it clearly has had a huge benefit, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said at a Wednesday news briefing.

Under the moratorium first put in place under former President Donald Trump, private property owners were required to allow non-paying renters to live rent-free until the CDC lifted the moratorium, which may end June 30 or be extended. Since last March, landlords have lost billions of dollars in unpaid rent while also remaining responsible for paying property taxes, mortgages and the costs of maintaining their property. Property owners attempting to evict tenants could be fined up to $100,000 and face jail time, according to the moratorium.

In February 2021, U.S. District Judge John Barker ruled the moratorium was unconstitutional in a case filed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Southeastern Legal Foundation on behalf of East Texas landlords.

The governments argument would thus allow a nationwide eviction moratorium long after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, he wrote in his 21-page ruling. The eviction remedy could be suspended at any time based on fairness as perceived by Congress or perhaps an agency official delegated that judgment. Such broad authority over state remedies begins to resemble, in operation, a prohibited federal police power Although the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution

TPPF General Counsel Robert Henneke argues that the federal government cannot interfere with private property owners rights or access to the courts. In an op-ed published by the Daily Caller, Henneke argues that the federal government claimed to have the authority to suspend residential evictions for any reason, including its own views on fairness.

But if this were true, he argues, and the Constitution gave it the power to base decisions on the vagaries of a subjective fairness standard, we would have no Constitution at all. Instead, wed have a government that could (and would!) cancel anyone and their rights for any reason  a government that can suspend the rights to worship, assembly, and free speech in the name of fairness.

Henneke challenges all Americans to recall how 14 days to flatten the curve turned into potential jail time for private property owners who dont provide free housing, despite their own ongoing cost burdens that were never addressed in the $4 trillion doled out during the pandemic. If the government can cancel property rights, what else can it cancel?

Two weeks after Barkers ruling in March 2021, U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese also ruled in a 31-page order that the CDC exceeded its authority as defined by the Public Health Service Act. But he did not grant the plaintiffs request for an injunction.

Also in March, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled that evictions could resume, arguing that the CDC did not have the authority to enforce the order in the Western District of Tennessee.

When the rulings started coming out in March, Luke Wake, an attorney with the California-based Pacific Legal Foundation, which has filed lawsuits on behalf of landlords in several states, told One News Now that the CDC is forcing landlords to shoulder costs alone  and they should be paid for their work because they are providing housing."

"A very large portion of the American housing rental market is made up of small mom-and-pop landlords, people who maybe just own a property or two to fund their retirement or to put their kids through college, he adds. "I talked to one woman in New Orleans [who] said she was going without prescription medication for a while because she had a non-paying tenant she could not evict."
ELKTON, Md. (AP)  A Maryland woman charged with setting fire to her home with a person inside is accused of watching it burn from a chair on the front lawn before leaving, authorities say.

The Delaware News Journal reports that witnesses heard a screaming female in the basement of the burning home in Elkton, Maryland, and helped her out of the house.

Gail Metwally, 47, was arrested near the scene on arson and attempted murder charges, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshals office.

Metwally was one of four residents of the home, and two of them were not home when the fire broke out on Thursday, fire officials said.

Witnesses told investigators that Metwally set multiple fires in the home before she sat in the chair and watched.

Metwally was jailed at the Cecil County Detention Center pending a court hearing.

The home was less than a mile from the Delaware state line.
HELENA, Mont. - Wednesday would have marked Hanna Harris' 29th birthday.

Hanna, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, was killed in Montana in 2013.

In 2019, Hanna's Act was passed and named in her honor.

However, that isn't the only piece of legislation helping the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person's crisis in the state.

"We have a lot of missing native sisters who are missing every day... and we need to find these women. We need to bring them home, we need to bring justice to our families,"

Another piece of legislation signed into law last year is the Not Invisible Act.

The Not Invisible Act helps increase coordination within the federal government to identify and combat violent crimes in Indian Country.

Hanna's Act lets the Montana Department of Justice hire missing person specialists to help aid in finding missing Montanan's, especially indigenous people.

"Federal, State, and Tribal governments must work together with all of us, especially those of us who have lost daughters, sisters, mothers... We must walk together to strengthen and respond to our Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls," said Melinda Harris Limberhand, Hanna's Mother.

Native Americans make up more than 25 percent of the missing persons cases in the Treasure State even though they make up less than 7 percent of the population.

"It's important to keep the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis at the forefront of the national conversation," said former attorney general, Tim Fox.

"It's important to keep the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis at the forefront of the national conversation," Senator Steve Daines said.

Hanna's family are advocates for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls - attending walks and supporting those who want to make a change since many MMIP cases have yet to be solved.

"To all the youth... you see something you say something. You know it can be scary and I understand that. But I really hope that deep down in your hearts you know that just saying something could help someones life," Rose Harris, Hanna's sister, said.

Lawmakers saying it's important to shed light on this tragic issue.

"It's a day of remembrance but also one of resolve, as we recommit ourselves to taking action to keep Tribal communities safe and bring perpetrators to justice. We won't stop until we put an end to this crisis once and for all," Senator Jon Tester said.

Earlier this year, Governor Greg Gianforte hosted a ceremony for the signing of several bills working to continue the dialogue with how to deal with the MMIP epidemic as families look for more to be done to address this issue.
UPDATE: MAY 10 AT 12:42 PM

CORVALLIS, Mont. - The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office and Coroner has identified the barricaded suspect who was found dead in his home in Corvallis last week.

According to a release from RCSO, the suspect was identified as Matthew Robert Long, 35.

RCSO said his preliminary cause of death appears to be a suicide by gunshot.

The Granite County Sheriff's Office and Hamilton Police Department are investigating the death--the Ravalli County Attorney will receive the results of the investigation for the coroner's examination on a future date.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

UPDATE: MAY 6 AT 6:13 A.M.

CORVALLIS, Mont. - The barricaded suspect was found dead in his home Wednesday at 10 p.m., the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office said.

According to a release from RCSO, the suspect ended the on-going communication with negotiators.

Missoula and Flathead County Special response Teams came to assist. To regain contact with the suspect, authorities used distraction devices and mechanical methods.

Authorities sent a robot into the home that found the suspect dead of an apparent suicide gunshot, RCSO said.

RCSO said the suspect apparently shot and killed his dog.

The suspects identity is not being released at this time.

The Granite County Sheriff and Coroner Scott Dunkerson and the Hamilton Police Department are investigating the death.

Evacuated residents came back to their homes Wednesday night.

"The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office expressed their most sincere condolences to the suspect's family and friends for their loss," RCSO said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Update May 5 at 2:20 pm:

CORVALLIS, Mont. - More homes have been evacuated as Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton reports negotiations with the man barricaded inside a home continue.

At this time Sheriff Holton said the armed suspect has refused to surrender up to this point which led to the additional evacuation of homes Wednesday morning.

The suspect is wanted for both misdemeanor and felony charges according to Sheriff Holton.

The RCSO continues to be patient due to the mental health aspects of this situation, and give the suspect every opportunity to surrender peacefully, Sheriff Holton said in an update.

Sheriff Holton stated, "our number one priority is to negotiate the safe surrender of this suspect without anyone getting hurt. That said, the suspect has to make the decision to cooperate and no one can make that decision for him.

Previous coverage:

UPDATE: MAY 5 AT 10 A.M.

CORVALLIS, Mont. - The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office tells our reporter on scene they are still working on communicating with the barricaded suspect.

We will update with more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE: MAY 5 AT 6:07 A.M.

CORVALLIS, Mont. - Authorities in Ravalli County are continuing negotiation efforts with the barricaded suspect Wednesday morning in the nearly 48-hour standoff.

The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office wrote in a release the suspect is a 35-year-old man who is armed with numerous guns, but no shots have been fired.

Nearby residents remain evacuated from the neighborhood.

RCSO said negotiations were beginning to show signs of potential with the suspect Tuesday and into Wednesday morning--but the suspect remains barricaded as of Wednesday morning.

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office helped with negotiation efforts with the suspect. RCSO said they are using more resources Wednesday to peacefully end the standoff.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

CORVALLIS, Mont. - Authorities in Ravalli County are dealing with an hours-long standoff in western Montana, involving a man believed to be armed.

It started Monday afternoon in the Farm View Estates neighborhood in Corvallis.

The suspect barricaded himself and refused to answer the door. He was believed to be alone, armed with several firearms.

The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) became aware of the man after reports he had violated the conditions of his release of a previous arrest.

Traffic is still limited in the area Tuesday morning, and some neighbors were forced to evacuate.

The RCSO is still on scene.

This is a developing story. More information will be released as the situation progresses.
ROME, MAY 6 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Italy was right to call for the European Union to take action in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in her speech at the State of the Union conference of the European University Institute. "I remember the call for Europe coming from Italy," von der Leyen said. "The people of Italy demanded that Europe steps in. "They demanded European solidarity and coordination. And they were right. "Italy was right. Europe had to step in. And that is what we did". She added that the G20 Global Health summit that will take place in Rome on May 21 will be crucial for the future. "I want us to be ahead of the curve," she said. "And the whole world needs to be ahead of the curve, too. This is also why I have proposed holding a G20 Global Health Summit. "I will co-host it with Prime Minister Draghi in Rome later this month. "Because we must now move from the ad-hoc solutions of this year, towards a sustainable system. A system, that works for the whole world. Because viruses know no borders. "In Rome, we want to discuss international cooperation in health emergencies, including NGOs, foundations and civil society. "These are new alliances for better solutions. Yes, preparedness comes at a cost. But the cost of preparedness is tiny compared to the cost of inaction. "The world needs a new beginning on health policy. And our health renaissance begins in Rome". She added that the EU is willing to discuss suspending patents to help COVID vaccinations move faster worldwide. "The EU is also ready to discuss any proposals that address the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner," she said. "That is why we are ready to discuss how the U.S. proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines could help achieve that objective. "In the short run, however, we call upon all vaccine producing countries to allow export and to avoid measures that disrupt the supply chains". (ANSA).
BERGAMO, MAY 6 - A 46-year-old worker was crushed to death near Bergamo Thursday in the third workplace accident in Italy this week, further raising calls to increase safety at work. The man died after a load fell on him at Pagazzano. Emergency teams rushed to the scene but were unable to do anything for him. An autopsy has been ordered. 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 boy endured a similar fate in a factory near Prato in Tuscany on Monday. The man,Cristian Martinelli, was rushed to hospital in critical condition but doctors were unable to save his life. Martinelli's wife Sara said he had been complaining that were not enough workers in his section of the plant. 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. The factory owner and the maintenance chief have been placed under investigation for allegedly removing the protective screen around the machine she was killed by, judicial sources said. 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. An autopsy on her body will be carried out on Saturday in a Pistoia hospital, while her funeral will take place near Pistoia on Tuesday. Plant owner Luana Coppini said Wednesday they would help Luana's son. The boy's grandmother said she had told him her mother was not coming back. 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". Florence's centre-left Mayor Dario Nardella said "there was not a single worker who died at the building site for the cupola of the Florence Duomo. We're talking about 700 years ago, and Italy today is the Middle Ages of Europe if you look at workplace deaths. It's no longer tolerable, this situation. They must intervene in a concrete and systematic way, especially in certain sectors like the textile sector, where we're stuck at 50 years ago". (ANSA).
NAPLES, MAY 6 - A 36-year-old man was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old woman near Naples on Wednesday, police said. Ylenia Lombardo's semi-charred boy was found in a flat at San Paolo Bel Sito on Wednesday evening. Police said it appeared that the woman had been beaten and then torched from the waist upwards. Carabinieri are investigating. An autopsy has been ordered. Local Mayor Raffaele Barone said the community was in shock. (ANSA).
ROME, MAY 6 - No one should be excluded and marginalise as we are all in the same boat, Pope Francis said in his message for Migrants and Refugees Day Wednesday, stressing the need to care for our common home or face God's judgement. "I have wished to devote the Message for this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees to the theme, Towards An Ever Wider "We", in order to indicate a clear horizon for our common journey in this world., said Francis ahead of the day on the last Sunday of September. The Holy Father highlighted that in our present time, the "we", willed by God, is "broken and fragmented, wounded and disfigured," as is evident in moments of great crisis like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, according to Vatican News. Our "we," - both in the wider world and within the Church - noted the Pope, "is crumbling and cracking due to myopic and aggressive forms of nationalism and radical individualism," with the highest price paid by "those who most easily become viewed as others," including foreigners, migrants, the marginalized, and those living on the existential peripheries. To remedy this, Pope Francis stresses that "we are all in the same boat and called to work together so that there will be no more walls that separate us, no longer others, but only a single 'we', encompassing all of humanity." He therefore appeals to the Catholic faithful, and to all the men and women of our world, "to advance together towards an ever wider 'we'." "I also make this appeal to journey together towards an ever wider "we" to all men and women, for the sake of renewing the human family, building together a future of justice and peace, and ensuring that no one is left behind," Pope Francis said. Inviting everyone to "make good use of the gifts that the Lord has entrusted to us to preserve and make his creation even more beautiful," Pope Francis reminded all that "the Lord will also demand of us an account of our work". In order to ensure the proper care of our common home, "we must become a 'we' that is ever wider and more co-responsible, in the profound conviction that whatever good is done in our world is done for present and future generations," he stressed. Migrants and Refugees Day in on September 26 this year. (ANSA).
ASTI, MAY 6 - An Italian man was found guilty of killing a top Italian chef in a burglary-gone-wrong near Asti in 2000 on Thursday. The man, Giampaolo Nuara, had been acquitted in a fast-track trial at the time. But now a Turin appeals court has overturned that verdict and sentenced him to 14 years in jail for the manslaughter of Pietro Beggi in an attempted robbery in his cellar on the night of January 2-3 2000. Beggi was a noted chef at the Ciabot del Grignolin Restuarant at Calliano near Asti. Nuara was found guilty of involuntary homicide. Beggi was found critically wounded by a blow to the head on the floor of his wine cellar. (ANSA).
CATANZARO, MAY 6 - Italian police on Thursday seized 200 million euros in assets from three Catanzaro businessmen believed to be linked to the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia. Antonio Lobello and his sons Giuseppe and Daniele were arrested in March on suspicion of falsely claiming goods, money laundering, and self-money laundering. Giuseppe Lobello was also charged with extortion and external complicity in mafia association. The preventive seizure of goods and assets was ordered by the Catanzaro court's prevention measures section. 'Ndrangheta, which has long expanded from Calabria to most of the rest of the world, is Italy's richest and most powerful mafia thanks to its control of the European cocaine trade. (ANSA).
MILLER COUNTY, Mo.  Three people were arrested on Tuesday during a meth-related drug bust in Miller County.

In the afternoon hours of Tuesday, May 4, Miller County Deputies and the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force executed a narcotic search warrant at an address off of Brushy Creek Road in St. Elizabeth. During the search deputies say they located methamphetamine, marijuana, other controlled substances, and a firearm possessed by a felon.

Three individuals were arrested and transported to the Miller County Jail. Bobby Reed was arrested and charged with Distribution of a controlled substance, hindering prosecution of a felony, and possession of a controlled substance. He is currently being held in the Miller County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond. Also arrested was Jackie Bonnett on a Osage County Warrant and Harley Gabbard on a Cole County warrant. Gabbard also faces additional felony charges.

To contact the Sheriff's Office 573-369-2341 or leave an anonymous tip by visiting www.millercountysheriff.org.
Compassion to all

Nelson catered to all critters in his animal-care career, regardless of their shape or size.

Strey remembered a recent Christmas Eve when Nelson attended the birth of a zebra foal at the zoo; he was there from about 7 p.m. to midnight, she said.

Ashley Cashwell, Nelsons assistant for about 11 years at Bristol, also recalled that night. He probably shouldve been resting, but he made it up there, she said.

He would give the same level of attention and detail to the annual observation exam of a tarantula as he would  one of the lions, said Aszya Summers, curator of animal care and conservation education at the zoo. He cared so much about always making sure that he got everything right.

But he also left a mark on the people he worked with, Summers said.

Our animal care supervisor said that she is the keeper she is because of Kevin, Summers said. He cared about training other people and making sure that he shared (his) knowledge with our keeper team.

The legacy Nelson leaves behind, Hertrich said, is not of his work as a veterinarian, but how he impacted those in his life.
Businesses throughout the area have helped wanted signs posted on their doors and windows, but they are still having difficulty finding workers.

VISIT Lake Geneva President and CEO Stephanie Klett said she has talked with several business owners in the area who have said they are having a hard time filling positions.

Employees are hard to come by, Klett said.

Klett said she feels part of the reason businesses are having difficulty finding staff is because people feel they can earn more money through unemployment.

She said currently people who are receiving unemployment benefits are not required to list their job searches, which they normally are required to do.

In an email, Congressman Bryan Steil, who represents Walworth County, said, Rather than targeting coronavirus relief to those truly in need, Biden and Pelosi have created a perverse incentive for people not to get back to work  Just last week, I met with local employers here in the Lake Geneva area  a clothing store, a bakery, a local resort  and they told me good-paying jobs were open and are waiting to be filled in our community. Employers just need workers to fill them.
The study found Dairylands J.P. Madgett plant in Alma costs 14% more than solar in western Wisconsin, while Manitowoc Public Utilities plant is 45% more expensive than wind in that region.

Wisconsins two largest coal plants  in Rothschild and Oak Creek  are only slightly more cost-effective than renewables, according to the report. But Gimon cautions that could soon change.

Theyre still on the cusp. Eventually theyre going to run out of leader, Gimon said, using a fishing metaphor. Even unsubsidized wind is going to knock them out.

The authors acknowledge that the decision to shutter existing plants cannot be made on cost alone, though they cite a recent RMI study that found more than half of the U.S. coal fleet could be replaced with lower cost wind and solar with no impact on reliability.

The utilities hold all the cards when it comes to the cost of operating power plants and the alternatives, said co-author Michael OBoyle. When called upon to answer the question they often offer a particularly narrow vision of what the system should look like  that benefits their shareholders.
This is the second installment of an ongoing series with a focus on small independent farms and creative use of farmland. We hope it serves as a reminder that the food grown and raised in Lancaster County is both diverse and extraordinary and that the people tending the land have stories worth telling. Join us in saluting our neighbors. Read more
From humble ashtrays to imaginative sculptures and swinging mobiles, the fused glass creations of the late Frances and Michael Higgins continue to stir collector interest. The good news for collectors is that prices for beginning collectors are on the low side. Plenty of small items are available for under $50.

In the 1990s, when I interviewed the feisty Michael Higgins for my upcoming book 60s and 70s Design and Memorabilia, he described the Higgins design concepts.

Many of the objects we make have uses other than pure decoration. Any suggestion that utility cant be compatible with art is no longer widely accepted, Higgins said.

Working into their 90s, they saw their work displayed in such museums as the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Victoria and Albert Museum of London.

For the many serious collectors and museums, most important are the Higgins early studio pieces made in Chicago (1949-1957). In 1967, Dearborn Glass Co. hired them to design pieces for mass production. They remained there for eight years, continuing to create many new techniques. They used discarded gray television glass, naming these objects The Barbarac jewels pattern. Other items made were clocks and the rogue ashtray line. All are considered highly collectible.

Among the other techniques the couple developed was the turning of fused glass chips into crystalline forms. Pieces of torn paper were turned into patterns. Copper wire was woven into glass.

Patterns can turn up in a variety of color combinations. Among them are Gemspread and Filigree. The pattern names are as unique as the patterns. For example, the roundelays are not a pattern, but a color form consisting of fused squares and circles. They were mass-produced at Dearborn and later at Haeger Potteries glassware division in southern Illinois.

CLUES; Higgins pieces can be dated by signatures. In the early days, Michael and Frances decided that since their works were a joint effort, the signature would simply be Higgins in lower case. The stylized trademark figure of the dancing man was sometimes cast into the pieces.

The signature for their Dearborn pieces (1957-1964) and Haeger (1965) is gold-screened. However, it was sometimes a color signature on the reverse lower case Higgens at Dearborn and Haeger.

Some of the pieces made at Riverside by Frances are also signed, Frances Stewart Higgins. Sculptures may be signed Michael Higgins along with the date and title for the object. If a piece has no signature, chances are it had a paper label and was made at Dearborn.

To learn more, check out the book, Higgins Adventures in Glass, by Donald-Brian Johnson and Leslie Pina, Schiffer Publications.
Burning things like trees, residuals crops, fertilizer bags, livestock bedding, and even garbage can be a routine part of operating a farm. But, navigating Marylands laws governing open burning can be confusing, and costly if you get it wrong. It is always prudent to check with local authorities before you burn, but heres some information that can help you know what to ask them.

Maryland Department of the Environment Regulations Must Allow It

All open fires in Maryland are regulated under Maryland Department of the Environment Air Quality Regulations.

Depending on whats being burned, where and how its being burned, and also why its being burned, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Department of Health may also be involved, as may other local officials.

But, whenever youre planning an open burn, the starting point is always that, under Department of the Environments regulations, no one can cause or permit an open fire except as specifically provided by the departments regulations.

An open fire is a fire where any material is burned in the open or in a receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator or other equipment connected to a stack or chimney.

Open Fires That Are Allowed Without A Permit

The Environment Departments regulations do allow certain open fires without a permit; only, however, if you are in compliance with all other fire control ordinances. You can often find information about your countys fire control requirements online.

In Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Frederick, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, St. Marys, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worchester counties, you may set fires without a permit from the Environment Department as long as the burning is in the course of agricultural operations in growing crops or raising fowl or animals or in accepted forestry practice, but you may not burn ordinary household or barnyard trash unless you live in an area where theres no public collection of such trash.

You may also use oil or gas fired salamanders or similar devices used specifically for space heating or warming outdoor workers, provided no visible emissions are created, and you may have warming fires for outdoor workers, provided smoke emissions are not darker in shade or appearance than those designated as greater than 40% opacity and the fires are located no closer than 200 feet from any neighboring habitable building.

In those counties, you can also burn leaves and ordinary household trash in open fires without a permit from the Environment Department as long as no nuisance or air pollution is created and:

1. Regarding leaves, you are in an area where theres no public collection of leaves, the leaves originated on the property, and youre not burning closer than 200 feet from any neighboring home or place where people work or congregate;

2. Regarding household trash, you are in an area where theres no public collection of refuse, the trash originated on the premises, the house is not a commercial establishment, youre not burning materials that create dense smoke (emissions of greater than 40% opacity), and youre not burning closer than 200 feet from any neighboring home or place where people work or congregate.

In Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and Baltimore City open fires are only allowed without permission from Sept. 1 of any year through May 31 of the following year, and only for households, provided no nuisance or air pollution is created, and:

1. Only for leaves if theres no public collection of leaves, the leaves originated on the property, and the fires are located no closer than 300 feet from any neighboring home or place where people work or congregate;

2. Only for ordinary household trash if theres no public collection of refuse, the trash originated on the premises, the house isnt a commercial establishment, youre not burning materials that create dense smoke (emissions of greater than 40% opacity), and youre not burning closer than 300 feet from any neighboring home or place where people work or congregate;

3. Only for oil- or gas-fired salamanders or similar devices specifically for space heating or warming of outdoor workers, provided no visible emissions are created.

In Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and Baltimore City, open burning is prohibited from June 1 through Aug. 31 except for fires permitted or set by public officers with control officer concurrence.

Open Fires Permitted or Set By Public Officers With Control Officer Concurrence

Public officers may set an open fire or may give permission for an open fire if the control officer agrees, all reasonable means are employed to minimize smoke, and the fire is: necessary for burning pest-infested crops or products or is agricultural burning that is necessary for animal disease control; for good forest resource management practices as approved by the Department of Natural Resources; or for burning excessive lodging for the purpose of recropping as approved by the Department of Agriculture or local Extension offices.

Excessive lodging means a condition of farmland where embedding of the previous crop causes the normal use of harvesting, tillage or planting equipment to be impossible or impracticable.

Control Officer May Authorize Certain Open Fires

Depending on the county and under certain conditions, a control officer can authorize certain open fires.

In Allegany, Caroline, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, St. Marys, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties, the control officer can issue a permit allowing an open fire as long as all of the following conditions are met:

1. There is no practical alternative method to dispose of the material to be burned or to conduct the desired activities;

2. The burning will not create a hazardous condition, air pollution or a nuisance;

3. Fire control laws or regulations of other governmental agencies will not be violated;

4. Materials which produce dense smoke when burned, including, but not limited to, tires and roofing material, will not be burned;

5. The materials to be burned originated on the premises where they are being burned.

In Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and Baltimore City, the control officer can issue or approve a permit allowing an open fire from Sept. 1 through May 31 of the following year as long as all of the following conditions are met:

1. There is no practical alternative method for the disposal of the material to be burned or to conduct the desired activity;

2. The burning will not create a hazardous condition, air pollution or a nuisance;

3. Fire control laws or regulations of other governmental agencies will not be violated;

4. Materials which produce dense smoke when burned, including, but not limited to, tires and roofing material, will not be burned;

5. The materials to be burned originated on the premises where they are being burned;

6. In Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and Baltimore City, the burning will not be done within 500 yards of one or more occupied buildings or heavily travelled public roadway.

A permit may, however, be granted for fires set in the course of agricultural operations in growing crops or raising fowl or animals or in accepted forestry practice, when distance limitations cannot be met. That does not mean, however, that the burning of ordinary household or barnyard trash is allowed if youre in an area where there is public collection of refuse.

Contact your local control officer or your local fire control agency for information about how to get an application.
A nursery in southern Brazil was stormed by a teenager carrying a machete, killing three young kids and two adults on Tuesday.

Based on the Brazilian news outlet, the suspect was later identified as 18-year-old Fabiano Kipper Mai. The killing spree happened in the municipality of Saudades, which is in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

According to the Associated Press via Yahoo News, Municipal Education Secretary Gisela Hermann described the scene as a terror at the school during an interview with the online G1 news site. She also mentioned a guy was lying on the floor and still alive at the time, a dead child, and a dead teacher.

Police chief Jeronimo Marcal Ferreira shared to the press that Mai arrived at the Aquarela preschool on his bike at around 10 a.m., local time. The preschool cares for children ages up to three years old. Once he got in, Mai reportedly started to stab a 30-year-old teacher, identified as Keli Adriane Aniecevski.

Despite being hurt, Aniecevski managed to run to a room to alert other staff members. The suspect also followed her and then attacked the four kids in the room. The other employee, who was later identified as Mirla Renner, 20, was also hit.

ALSO READ: Mexico President Promises Thorough Investigation Following the Train Overpass that Collapsed

Officials stated that there were several dozen of kids at the childcare center during the incident. The suspect was later on arrested and taken to a hospital after he started to attack himself, G1 reported.

Also, Aline Biazebetti, a worker at the center, rushed to help after hearing people calling out.

Other workers at the center locked children in a changing room to shield them from the attacker. Ms. Biazebetti stated that Mai tried to open the door of the changing room, but in the end, he gave up.

Machete Horror

Aniecevski, who had worked at the childcare center Aquarela for 10 years, was declared dead at the scene. Two girls under the age of two also died immediately after the attack. Renner and the other child died at the hospital after rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, D+News reported that Mai also struck himself with a gun, which caused him severe injuries to the neck. He was eventually arrested and taken under escort to a local hospital. Authorities found two packages of knives at the home of the suspect following the incident.

Hermann also added that there is no explanation for what this guy did. The governor of Santa Catarina, Carlos Moises offered his condolences to victims' families after the "devastating news." On his Twitter account, Moises expressed his support for the families of the victims, the school community, and all residents of Saudades, NY Daily News reported.

Mayor Maciel Schneider also announced that classes in the municipality of Saudades were canceled for the rest of the week.

RELATED ARTICLE: Brazil Forced To Suspend COVID Vaccine Second Doses After Shortage

WATCH: 18-year-old attacker killed 3 kids & 2 teachers at Brazil daycare center | English World News | WION FROM-WION
If you are running a business in today's world, you might have already heard about the term "SEO." When it comes to business advertising, SEO has played an influential role in putting the targeted audience right at the doorstep of several businesses. However, while most companies have a website to sell their products and services, they are not using different SEO tactics to improve it.

As SEO continues to be of monumental importance, there are many different SEO Services that help businesses climb to the top of search engine rankings. This article will lay out some of the most important benefits of using SEO for your business. I'm sure that by the end of this article, you will have more than enough reasons to invest in SEO and grow your business.

Better User Experience

First and foremost, the most significant benefit that you can earn through SEO is that good SEO leads to a better user experience. Every SEO expert knows that if he wants to attract more users to a website, he has to maximize user experience for easy customer acquisition and sales.

To optimize your website, you will have to provide relevant and essential information to your users, use infographics, make your pages easy to navigate and pay attention to making your website mobile-friendly. All of these changes are going to lead to a better user experience and more leads.

Build Trust and Credibility

Trust and credibility are two of the essential things in the business world. If you don't have a good standing in your industry, you will never be able to climb up to the top ranks. SEO will help you gain a higher ranking on search engine result pages (SERPS), which will give your customers the idea that you are a leader in your industry.

However, you have to remember that building authority and trust isn't an overnight process. It will require a lot of patience, commitment, and effort, along with offering a good product or a service to your customers. On top of that, you have to build a good backlink profile, promote positive user behavior, and optimize on-page elements.

More Organic Traffic to Your Website

Attracting more online visitors to their website is the dream of every business. With the rise of the internet, many companies are using an online website to sell their products and services. However, it's not easy to get people to notice your website and make them buy products from you online.

SEO is a great way to put your business in front of a large audience. With the help of SEO, you will not have to reach out to people. Instead, you will automatically keep acquiring traffic that is searching for your business, making it easier for you to sell your products and services to them.

Decreases Advertising Cost

Starting a business is one thing, but running it is a whole different domain where many businessmen fail to make a mark. Advertising is the fundamental part of any business, which is why you need to make sure that you are not spending more money on it than you have to gain the best return on investment.

Traditional advertising methodologies aren't only inefficient, but they take a lot of time and effort. On the other side, if you have optimized your website correctly and implemented basic SEO tactics, you won't have to keep spending money on advertising. Instead, you will be automatically attracting a lot of customers.

Target Local Audience

According to a study, 87% of shoppers begin their buying procedure online by searching for the products they are looking for on the internet. If you want to put your business in front of these local customers, you can rank your website for local keywords to be on top when looking for products and services in your niche.

If you don't optimize your business locally, not only are you losing a lot of customers, but you are also giving a chance to your competitors to earn more visitors. The best way to truly make your mark in your industry is by making sure that you don't miss out on any opportunity to earn more customers, and local SEO will help you do that.

Grow Your Network

In the business world, the more people you know in your niche, the better it is for you. If you have the right connections, you will have a chance to grow your business through partnerships and business mergers. In addition, SEO is a great way to expand your network as you can create awareness about your brand in the market.

Social media marketing is one of the best ways to make social networks and be visible to the right people. For example, you can create an official page about your business and then use SEO to advertise it. The more followers you get on these platforms, the more chances you have of finding someone with the same goals as you to get what you need.

Long Term Marketing Strategy

Last but not least, one of the most important things that you have to understand when in the business sector is that you have to prepare your business for the future. While it is good to look for short-term gains, but if you want your business to reach the heights of success, you need to make sure that you are using specific tactics to help you climb to the top in the future.

Digital marketing has played an influential role in the success of different businesses in the past and will continue to do so in the future too. SEO can help you reduce a lot of advertising costs and bring users and traffic to your website. These factors play a huge part in business success and ensure that you can continue to improve in the future.
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Moderna's booster shot for COVID variants shows promising effectiveness in protecting people against the South African COVID variant.

Early data from Moderna's Phase 2 clinical trials show that a third dose increased levels of antibodies against the virus.

The booster was administered eight months after the participants had been initially vaccinated, according to an NBC News report.

"Our mRNA platform allows for rapid design of vaccine candidates that incorporate key virus mutations, potentially allowing for faster development of future alternative variant-matched vaccines should they be needed," Moderna's chief executive officer, Stephen Bancel, was quoted in a report.

Bancel added that the results are promising, noting that the vaccine's mRNA technology with speed and precision in protecting against the virus.

The company also found that the booster shot works effectively against the Brazilian variant.

READ MORE: Moderna Eyeing COVID Booster Shot To Be Ready By Fall





Moderna Booster Shot

The company had first announced in February its plans to work on a shot that could protect individuals from the COVID variants.

Meanwhile, it noted that the side effects were the same as those observed after the second dose of the vaccine in the previously reported studies.

Side effects are pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint pain.

The interim data comes from a 40-person trial testing both Moderna's existing shot and a tweaked version to the COVID variants.

The company is also looking at a shot that combines both the new and existing vaccine, according to a Reuters report.

Moderna is expected to share more data on a booster shot that composes of its COVID vaccine and the newly developed shot.

U.S. Vaccination Program

White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci has earlier said that Americans may need to get booster shots to earn better protection against variants.

U.S. health officials noted that highly contagious variants remain a "wild card" in their vaccination campaign, targeting to have American adults vaccinated by the Fourth of July.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projected an upward trend in May due to the highly contagious British variant.

This would take place before cases decline sharply by July as vaccinations drive down infections, according to a CNBC report.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that they are seeing that the current vaccines are protecting against the contagious variants in the country.

Walensky added that the sooner more people are vaccinated, the sooner the country will get back to normal.

Other Booster Shots

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said people will likely be needing a booster shot within 12 months after finishing the full cycle of vaccination.

Bourla announced the development in April after Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky said in February that people may need to get vaccinated against COVID annually, according to another CNBC report.

Pfizer earlier said that its existing COVID vaccine is more than 91 percent effective at protecting against the disease, which increases to 95 percent effective against severe disease up to six months after the second dose.

Moderna and Pfizer use the same technology when it comes to their vaccines.

READ NEXT: Fauci Warns of 'More Ominous' Strains of COVID-19 Emerging in South Africa, Brazil

WATCH: Moderna plans to test booster doses of variant-specific vaccine for NIH study - from CNBC Television




Barry Morphew, Suzanne Morphew's husband was placed under the custody of the authorities, following the sudden disappearance of the Colorado mom in the previous year. Morphew's husband was charged with first-degree murder, and was arrested by the authorities on Wednesday, Fox News reported.

Mail Online noted that the arrest of Morphew's husband follows a year after the man released a video pleading for the return of the Colorado mom, tearfully.

READ NEXT: Police Seek Help to Find 3 Idaho Children Reported Missing

Colorado Mom's Husband Arrested

Apart from first-degree murder, Barry Morphew has also been charged with tampering with physical evidence and attempt to influence a public servant. The authorities also noted that the first-degree murder charge to the man was decided after deliberation.

"Today, justice is beginning for my sister," said Suzanne Morphew's sister, Melinda Moorman. Moorman also described the unfortunate events as a journey that no one ever imagined they will take.

Chafee County Sherriff John Spezze shared in a press conference that Barry Morphew was arrested at around 9:15 in the morning, along Highway 50, New York Post reported. The man was arrested "without incident" and was alone during that time.

"Today is not a day for celebration, nor does it mark the end of investigation," said Spezze. The sheriff added that the arrest was the "next step" in a challenging yet essential journey in seeking justice for the family of the victim.

John Spezze, along with District Attorney Linda Stanley, admitted that they still have no idea regarding the cause of death of the Colorado mom. However, the two underscored that they know about an incident that led to Suzanne Morphew's death.

"Our belief is that Suzanne is not alive at this time," said Spezze.

Stanley noted that the investigation remained active and that Suzanne Morphew's body is not yet discovered. The district attorney also noted that the arrest affidavit made them determined that Barry Morphew can be charged in his wife's disappearance.

"We cannot talk about open or active investigations," said Stanley as she argued that what she is doing is the rules of the professional conduct that they will follow.

Suzanne Morphew's Disappearance

Suzanne Morphew went missing on May 10, 2020, which is also last year's Mother's Day. The Colorado Mom was reported missing by a neighbor when she failed to return home after a bike ride.

Despite the report, authorities noted that no witness saw Suzanne Morphew out, and they were not able to confirm whether she went on a bike ride that day. However, New York Post noted that Suzanne's bike was found near a bridge close to their home.

Suzanne Morphew had two daughters with her husband. She previously worked as a middle school teacher in Indiana. She was also active on social media the day before her disappearance, as she posted a photo of her two daughters.

Meanwhile, Barry Morphew has insisted he had nothing to do with the Colorado mom's disappearance. He even went as far as sharing their private photos and love notes to prove his innocence.

READ MORE: 33 Missing Children Rescued in Los Angeles Human Trafficking Investigation

WATCH: Police discuss arresting Suzanne Morphew's husband for murder - from Mail Online
Two American students were sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy after reportedly stabbing an Italian police officer 11 times, killing him.

This was after a drug deal while the American students were vacationing in Rome in 2019.

Finnegan Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, were charged for the death of Italian police officer Carabiniere Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, according to a Fox News report.

Aside from the charges for killing the Italian cop, Elder and Natale-Hjorth were also charged extortion for stealing a backpack from a go-between.

Elder was also found guilty of carrying a knife, which was used to fatally stab Rega. The six members of the jury deliberated for more than 10 hours after finishing the trial on Wednesday.

A state funeral was held for the officer. Prosecutor aria Sabina Calabretta said that the cop was killed in a "disproportionate and deadly attack."

Elder told his lawyer that he is stressed before kissing a crucifix he wears on a neck chain and pointing it towards the sky.

The two suspects' parents were present in the court, according to The Guardian report.

Rosa Maria Esilio, Rega's widow, broke down in tears when the court announced the verdict.

Esilio's lawyer, Franco Coppi, said that they are human beings who also suffer, although deserve punishment.

"Notwithstanding the fact that there is a dead man who deserves all the pity, the fact that two people are going to prison is not a reason for anyone to rejoice," Coppi was quoted in a report.

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The Incident

Natale-Hjorth was visiting Italian relatives near Rome when he met up with Elder. Elder was traveling through Europe on Jul. 26, 2019.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were in the Prati district of Rome when Rega and his colleague, Andrea Varriale, were present and confronted the two American students.

Rega and Varriale were both in plain clothes and without their service pistols when the incident took place.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth had insisted they thought the two police officers were criminals out to get them and that they acted in self-defense.

The students had earlier contacted a middleman to buy cocaine in Trastevere, which is a popular nightlife area.

The middleman took them to a drug dealer for "cocaine" but had given them aspirin instead.

As retaliation, the students took the middleman's bag and fled before demanding a cash ransom and cocaine in exchange for the bag.

The middleman has arranged to meet them, but he had already contacted the police to report the theft.

Elder said that he wanted to apologize to Rega's family and friends.

"If I could go back and change things, I would do it now, but I can't," Elder was quoted in an NBC News report.

Elder's lawyer, Renato Borzone, said that they would appeal and hope for a more reasonable judge next time.

Borzone said that to give life sentences to two 19-year-old boys is shameful, noting that Italy's justice is strong with the weak, and weak with the strong.

Rega's funeral was held in a church, where he had been married just six weeks earlier.

READ MORE: Florida School Principal Caught on Cam Hitting 6-Year-Old Girl With Paddle

WATCH: 2 Americans get life in prison for murder in Italy - from CBS Evening News






Aiming to clear a hurdle for vaccine-strapped countries to produce their own vaccines despite the patents being privately held, President Joe Biden on Wednesday sent his support behind waiving the intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines proposed by the World Trade Organization.

The current pace of inoculation against coronavirus in the U.S. is slowing down. In some states, there are more doses of vaccines than the number of individuals who want them.

U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai shared in a statement that the world is suffering in a global health crisis and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for exceptional measures.

According to NPR, Tai also mentioned that the Biden administration strongly believes in intellectual property protections. But if it's one of the possible ways of ending the pandemic, the administration supports the waiver of those protections for coronavirus vaccines.

With an estimated population of close to 1.4 billion, the country of India is currently the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the ongoing production of the vaccines, the Indian government so far only managed to inoculate two percent of its population.

The World Trade Organization is considering a proposal to address the inequity. The countries of India, South Africa, and more than 100 other nations advocate waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines and medications, which might let manufacturers in other countries produce their own, The New York Times reported.

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World Trade Organization counselor for South Africa, Mustaqeem de Gama, noted that the consequences of not passing the waiver are staggering. He noted that it is not only on the level of the loss of human lives but also on the economic level.

De Gama said they believe that intellectual property rights constitute a very substantial barrier to ensure equitable access.

He added that they also believed that if they could have a limited, targeted waiver to ensure that they can ramp up production in strategic parts of the world, they would go a long way to ensure that they address not only the prevention but also the treatment of coronavirus.

Before the announcement of the Biden administration on Wednesday, the U.S. was included in a number of wealthy nations that initially resisted WTO negotiations regarding the proposal. Other countries also include the U.K., Japan, and Canada.

Pharmaceutical Industry Response on Biden's Move

Meanwhile, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a drug industry trade group, responded to the administration's support and expressed strong opposition to the move.

The PhRMA argued that the move represents a break in long-standing U.S. policy over medical patents and global inequities, ABC News reported.

The PhRMA noted that amid a deadly pandemic, the Biden administration had taken an unprecedented step that will undermine their global response to the pandemic and compromise safety.

It added that the decision of the Biden administration would also sow confusion between public and private partners. It will also further weakened the already strained supply chains and fostered the proliferation of counterfeit vaccines.

The PhRMA also emphasized that the decision will compromise U.S. job creation and the place of the U.S. as a leader in biomedical innovation. But the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) praised the Biden administration's intent to lift the proprietary limits on coronavirus vaccines.

READ MORE: Pres. Biden Says 'Vaccine.Gum' Instead of Vaccine.Gov When Promoting New Shot Website

WATCH: Can a Patent Waiver Speed Up the Global COVID Vaccination Drive? - From DW News
Mass protests in Colombia continued on Wednesday despite President Ivan Duque withdrawing the proposed tax reform and a week of deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Student unions, indigenous people, and other groups assembled in the major cities of Colombia, namely Bogota, Medellin, and Cali during the eighth day of nationwide anti-government demonstrations, France 24 reported.

The controversial tax reform was not the only reason the protesters are on the streets. They are also protesting on several government policies concerning health, security, education, and the violence by law enforcement officers.

RELATED ARTICLE: Protests Erupt in Colombia Over Proposed Tax Reform Amid Pandemic

Colombia's Mass Protests Continues

Al Jazeera reported that the protests in downtown Bogota began on Apr. 28 following a call from the National Strike Committee that represents groups such as unions, civil associations, and indigenous people.

One protester shared with the outlet that they will continue the protest even though the tax reform that prompted the demonstration was already withdrawn.

"Yes, they've withdrawn the reform, but they haven't changed it," said Olga Cabos, a 48-year-old emerald trade union worker.

Based on the official figure, at least 19 people have already died, with over 800 others injured during the week of clashes. Around 89 people were also reported as missing.

But Colombia's human rights ombudsman reported that about 24 people have already died, while NGO Temblores estimated that about 37 people had been killed.

Despite this, mass protests in Colombia continued and getting even more violent. Riot police fired tear gas at the protesters in Bogota to disperse them on Wednesday afternoon, Reuters reported. It happened after protesters attacked police stations in the capital.

On late Monday, protesters in Cali claimed that police opened fire in an attempt to disperse the crowd. On-the-ground sources told Al Jazeera that police indiscriminately shot at protesters, even from helicopters.

The office of Bogota's Mayor told France 24 that about 16 policemen were injured amid numerous attacks on police stations. The Mayor's office further noted that a mob tried to burn 10 police officers alive by setting fire to a small police station.

In Cali, the worst incident broke out on Monday night when five people were reported dead and 30 individuals were hurt during the demonstration.

The ombudsman labeled the ESMAD riot squad as "presumed responsible" for the 11 deaths of individuals, including a boy. Authorities also reported vandalism and robbing.

"There will be no truce with those [vandalism and looting] who commit these crimes," said Ivan Duque.

Beyond the Mass Protests

More than two dozen police stations in Bogota have suffered overnight. Meanwhile, officials from the United States, United Nations, and European Union have denounced the movement of the police officers, particularly the opening fire on the demonstrators.

Ivan Duque noted that the authorities has already made 550 arrests for engaging in acts of vandalism and looting during the Colombia's mass protest.

Political analyst Sergio Guzman noted that a lot of the protesters' demands are unrealistic.

"Demands such as universal basic income are not feasible under any scenario," said Guzman.

READ MORE: Colombia's Finance Minister Quits After Tax Reform Plan Withdrawn

WATCH: Colombian Police Use Tear Gas in Protest Against Tax Reform Bill - From Sharjah24 News
Vice President Kamala Harris has set a schedule for her first vice-presidential visit to Mexico and Guatemala. The said dates will be on June 7 and 8.

Kamala Harris announced it during her visit to Rhode Island on Wednesday. Harris further noted that she would be talking to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this week, CBS News reported.

"Currently, the plan is for me to travel to Mexico and Guatemala on June 7 and 8th," Harris was quoted in a Reuters report. The vice president added that she was very much looking forward to her trip.

During his press briefing, Lopez Obrador said that he would discuss with Harris about U.S.-bound immigration.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo told Reuters that the country had asked the U.S. for support in fighting drug cartel money laundering. Guatemala sees it as a major source of corruption.

"There is a historic cause of corruption in Guatemala and it is drug trafficking," Brolo said in another Reuters report.

The White House did not immediately comment for more details. The Guatemalan foreign minister did not also add information on the request for collaboration.

Kamala Harris has already talked twice with Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei, while she is scheduled for a second conversation this week with the Mexican president.

READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Laughs When Asked if She Has Plans to Visit the Border

Kamala Harris on Immigration Crisis

President Joe Biden tapped Kamala Harris in March to lead the administration's efforts on the migration crisis at the southern border.

Biden said that Harris is the "most qualified person" to lead the government's efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle.

The White House earlier said that Harris was also assigned to develop and impose a long-term strategy to address the root causes of migration from Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

During the annual Washington Conference on America, Harris said that people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are leaving their homes at alarming rates, New York Post reported.

Kamala Harris noted that they would not make significant progress if corruption in the region stays the same.

The vice president has cited some factors in the surge of migration in the country, such as hurricane damage, global warming, poverty, gang violence, and racial discrimination.

Biden's Refugee Cap

Biden has reestablished the plan to raise refugee admission this year to 62,500 after supporters criticized his hesitancy for raising the cap. Former President Donald Trump has reduced the size of the refugee program during his term.

Biden earlier said it was doubtful that the United States would be able to welcome a total of 62,500 refugees by the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30.

He noted that the administration is working quickly to undo the damage of the last four years, adding that it will take some time, but the work is already happening.

Refugee groups said that delays in the president's decision-making on the issue caused hundreds of canceled flights for refugees. After taking office in January, Biden has promised to raise the number of admissions.

READ MORE: Biden Administration Wants Billions More to Fund Migrants in Their Home Countries

WATCH: Vice President Harris Meets With Guatemalan President on Immigration - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now




A bar owner from California was arrested after authorities busted him for selling fake COVID vaccination cards.

New York Post reported that Todd Anderson, the owner of the Old Corner Saloon in Clements, sold the fake cards to undercover agents several times.

According to ABC News, the announcement of the arrest was made by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on Wednesday. The department reportedly received a tip on the issue that led to an undercover investigation.

READ NEXT: Mexico Unsure if Seized Russian Sputnik V Vaccines Are Real or Fake

Fake COVID Vaccination Cards Sold in a California Bar

The fraudulent vaccination cards were sold at the bar for about $20. San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office noted that undercover agents purchased the fake COVID vaccination cards on multiple occasions in April.

Tori Verber Salazar, the District Attorney of San Joaquin in California, expressed his disappointment in the incident.

"It is disheartening to have members in our community show flagrant disregard for public health," said Salazar, emphasizing that the incident happened amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Luke Blehm from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control noted that several "finished" and unfinished vaccination cards, along with paper cutters and a laminating machine, were found at the scene. "It appears they were waiting to be given to people," Blehm said.

KCRA reported that the 59-year-old California bar owner sold at least eight fraudulent COVID vaccination cards.

The investigation that succeeded in the arrest of Todd Anderson was a collaboration between the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.

Todd Anderson is now charged with falsifying a medical record with forging public seals, and several counts of identity theft.

California Bar Owner Investigated

Apart from the mentioned charges, authorities said that Todd Anderson also faces a felony charge, as police seized an unregistered firearm during a search in the bar on Tuesday.

The departments involved in the investigation executed a search warrant to search the bar where the fake cards were sold.

"Distributing, falsifying, or purchasing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is against the law," said Salazar, adding that it will also put individuals and the people around them in danger.

ABC News noted that the law enforcement officers confiscated at least 30 blank cards during arrest on Wednesday.

Apart from Anderson, investigators said they are also seeking a criminal complaint on one of the bar owner's employees who may have aided in the fraudulent act.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) noted that they would file a disciplinary action against the business that may result in the suspension or revocation of its ABC license.

It is not clear whether the California bar owner already has a lawyer that will defend him. The District Attorney's office of the county expressed their gratitude towards the departments that aided them in arresting the man behind the fake vaccination cards.

READ MORE: Interpol Seizes Thousands of Fake COVID-19 Vaccines From Smugglers in Africa, China

WATCH: Owner Busted After San Joaquin County Bar Sold Fake COVID Vaccination Cards, Officials Say - From ABC10
Drug kingpin El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, could help bring the end of the notorious Sinaloa cartel if she decides to cut a deal with the U.S. government.

Former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) top official Mike Vigil told The Sun that Emma Coronel would likely provide law enforcement with the "blueprint" to dismantle the $11 billion Sinaloa drug cartel.

Vigil is a former DEA chief of international operations. He was also one of the world's leading experts when it comes to Mexican drug cartels.

Reports said that Emma Coronel could face a lengthy jail sentence and not see her beloved twin daughters.

"She can draw a blueprint for U.S. and Mexican law enforcement to dismantle the organization, little by little," Vigil said in The Sun report.

Meanwhile, El Chapo's wife has been allowed to spend just two hours away from her cell while awaiting trial. According to a Daily Mail report, her New York-based lawyer, Mariel Colon, said that Emma Coronel spends the rest of her time reading.

"Her confinement conditions have not improved yet. She is locked up almost all day," her lawyer said.

El Chapo's wife was said to be separated from the rest of the inmate population. Colon noted that Emma Coronel only leaves her cell when they take her out to the small interior room and nothing else.

The lawyer also said that the prison does not offer any activities that she can be distracted.

RELATED ARTICLE: 'El Chapo's' Wife Emma Coronel Aispuro Still Mum Amid Husband's Recapture

Emma Coronel Aispuro Helped El Chapo to Escape

El Chapo's wife was accused of helping to run her husband's drug-trafficking empire. She was also accused of helping the 63-year-old drug kingpin escape from a maximum-security Mexican prison in 2015 and plot another escape before El Chapo was extradited to the U.S. in 2017.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.

The two entered a relationship when the Sinaloa cartel leader saw Emma Coronel at a beauty pageant in the Mexican state of Durango in 2007. They got married when she was just 18 years old and him at 47.

Coronel's other lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said that right now, everything is on the table for El Chapo's wife. Lichtman added that there is no chance that his client will spend the rest of her life in prison.

Coronel is being charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute drugs. The said distributed drugs were heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi said that Coronel had worked closely with members of the Sinaloa cartel and had possessed the financial means to be at serious flight risk, BBC News reported.

Coronel, who has dual U.S.-Mexico citizenship, was a former journalism student and a beauty pageant winner. She came under the media's spotlight during El Chapo's trial for appearing to laugh in the tearful testimony of one of El Chapo's mistresses.

Emma Coronel was supportive of her husband during his trial, saying that he admired him as "the human being" that she met and married.

READ MORE: 'El Chapo' Wife Emma Coronel Aispuro Denounces Husband's Prison Treatment; 'Watched Even While Using Bathroom'

WATCH: Emma Coronel Aispuro: El Chapo's Wife Held in U.S. Jail on Drug Charges- From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now






California gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner expressed her firm stake on the immigration issues as she endorses the border wall that was pushed by the previous administration. Jenner's rhetoric happened during an interview with Fox News.

On April 23, Caitlyn Jenner announced on her Twitter account that she will run for governor in the state of California, saying that "California is worth fighting for." Moreover, Jenner added that she is "the only outsider who can put an end to the disastrous leadership" of Governor Gavin Newsom.

READ NEXT: Biden Admin May Have To Restart Border Wall Construction To Fill Holes

Caitlyn Jenner's Take on the Border Wall and Immigration

In an interview with Sean Hannity, Jenner expressed that she is "all for the wall," adding that she will secure the wall, New York Post reported. "We can't have a country without a secure wall," said Jenner during the interview.

When asked about immigration, Jenner noted that the United States is a compassionate country, as well as the state of California. Despite sharing her sympathy toward illegal immigrants, the gubernatorial candidate noted that some migrants must be sent back, and there is no question about that.

"I have met some of the greatest immigrants into our country," said Jenner during the interview.

Caitlyn Jenner's comment on immigration follows the DHS's release of photos of an almost empty migrant facility. It can be remembered that White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has shared that the CBP is expediting the processing rate of unaccompanied migrant children.

Jenner also expressed that she would do her best to "scrap" the sanctuary laws of the state intended for illegal immigrants. She said that she would keep California a sanctuary state for small businesses.

"I want small businesses to come into the state, you know. I want people to create wealthier, I want them to employ people," said Jenner. Jenner emphasized that she does not support immigration in the state because a lot of money will be needed for a "fair and equitable immigration system."

However, Caitlyn Jenner also acknowledged that scrapping the sanctuary laws for illegal immigrants in California will not be easy. "I am pro-law enforcement, I am pro-border protection," said Jenner.

Caitlyn Jenner and Other Issues

Apart from the border wall and immigration, Jenner also expressed her stand on defunding the police. The U.S. Sun reported that Jenner slammed Newsom and other prominent Democrats who are supporting the movement.

"I support the Police 100 percent. I support the National Guard," said Jenner adding that she also supports business owners in L.A. and other parts of the country. Jenner described "defund the police" as a "stupid idea."

Recently, Jenner has expressed her opposition to transgender athletes who were born male to compete in a girls' sport.

Jenner said in Fox News that fairness is the issue in her argument that biological boys should not be in girls' sport. However, Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his support to the community as his spokesperson underscored the equal protection clause in the fourteenth amendment.

READ MORE: Biden Under Investigation by GAO for Border Wall Funds Freeze

WATCH: Caintlyn Jenner Interview with Sean Hannity - Fox News
A Mexican judge has ordered on Wednesday for Sinaloa cartel's founder and leader Hector "El Guero" Palma to be held for 40 more days in non-prison custody pending investigation.

The attorney general's office said the judge had granted an order to hold El Guero Palma at a prosecutor's detention facility while being probed on drug and organized crime charges, Associated Press reported.

El Guero Palma was a founder and leader of the Sinaloa cartel, maneuvering the drug cartel's operation with now-imprisoned Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

El Guero Palma was arrested in Mexico in 1995 and had served 12 years in Mexico on bribery and weapons charges before he was extradited to the U.S. in 2007.

The Sinaloa cartel founder served nine years of a 16-year sentence in the U.S. for cocaine trafficking before being sent back to Mexico, where his trial on the charges he was acquitted of last week was held.

Around eight years ago, another drug lord walked out of a Mexican prison late at night with an improperly ordered released.

The drug lord was Rafael Caro Quintero, who has since then returned to drug trafficking and engaged in bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora.

READ NEXT: Mexican President Defends Release of Infamous Drug Kingpin Targeted by U.S.

Mexican Drug Lords Released

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier said that the Sinaloa cartel founder's release could affect Mexico's reputation.

Lopez Obrador admitted that he overrode the initial advice of his own advisers, who told him there was nothing more the government could do to keep El Guero Palma in custody.

Under Lopez Obrador's presidency, the Mexican government is starting to earn a reputation of releasing more drug lords than it has captured, Star Tribune reported.

"When they told me (about the release order), the first thing I said is wait, look for some legal mechanism," Lopez Obrador said of the Saturday conversation.

He quoted his aides saying, "No, nothing can be done, it is an order by a judge, we can't disobey the order." Lopez Obrador then replied to "look for" a solution since this is a matter of national interest and not just a matter of a judge, judicial branch, or government.

He said "imagine the suspicion, the jokes, the memes" if the Sinaloa cartel leader was released. He noted that the Mexican government could not be denigrated or weakened.

The Mexican president said that something similar had happened when Caro Quintero was released. Lopez Obrador noted that the Mexican government had been accused from abroad of being complicit.

"No foreign government should accuse the Mexican government, and we shouldn't give them a pretext to do that," he said.

Caro Quintero was at the top of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) most-wanted list. He has a $20 million bounty for his capture. He was freed while serving a 40-year sentence for the murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.

It can be recalled that Lopez Obrador ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman in 2019 to avoid bloodshed. Guzman was one of El Chapo's son.

Lopez Obrador has said that his "hugs not bullets" policy is meant to curb violence, ABC News Go reported. However, murder rates had only declined slightly from their peak in 2019.

READ MORE: A Four-Part Docuseries About Enrique "Kiki" Camarena's Short Life

WATCH: El Guero Palma: Tragic Life Story of a Narco - From WorthTheHype






Editor's note: Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira is a National Thousand Talent Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, and a professor of International Business at Schwarzman College in Tsinghua. He is a former special economic advisor to the president of Brazil and former minister of tourism, and minister of development, industry and foreign trade of Brazil. He was also president of the World Investment Association  WAIPA. The article reflects the author's views, not necessarily those of CGTN.

If you flick through a few online articles portraying relations between China and the U.S. today, chances are you would encounter phrases like "colossal dangers," "engulfing the world" and even a "new Cold War." Commentators are increasingly using escalatory language to depict the bilateral relationship.

Since the first high-level U.S.-China meeting, hopes for a turnaround on U.S. foreign policy toward China  toward competition instead of confrontation  have fallen flat. In its place, Biden has doubled down on former President Donald Trump's script for China. Coming out of his first 100 days as U.S. president, Biden's tough stance is closer to Trump's than many expected. This, along with his lack of interest in engaging with China on key issues, is serving to stoke frictions with China.

At the core of friction is the U.S.'s perceived identity as the world's creative hub, home of justice and free society with the world's strongest democracy. The U.S. economic stimulus bill approved by the Senate this year aims to shore up economy to pedal this very idea and counter China's global influence.

However, one recent article from The Week comments that "Cold War 2.0" between China and the U.S. is not inevitable and "China is not known for its ideological zeal to convert the world to communism."

It is true that China's development doesn't dictate the country's shift away from its domestic situation to the international stage. U.S. leaders must realign their flawed theories about China's growth with the reality of what China's socialist market economy means today  a dynamic, innovative economy. Below are four key arguments that explain why the "Cold War" term is both unhelpful and wrong:

Avoiding confrontation

The concept of a "Cold War" was coined by English writer George Orwell in 1945, predicting decades of nuclear hostility between the U.S. and Soviet Union. At a broader level, the term refers to a conflict between opposing nations pursued by covert means instead of direct military conflict. The U.S.-China dynamic falls short in this regard, as China both at present and in the future actively seeks to avoid confrontation.

Instead, emphasis is placed on political diplomacy, healthy economic competition and a positive accommodating relationship. Chinese leaders understand their history as an evolutionary process seeking to rejuvenate Chinese civilization, far from any notion of impulsively taking control of all global affairs with China at the head.

Where are China's expansionist ambitions?

Second, China doesn't have expansionist ambitions. China's history offers an insight into its leaders' perceptions surrounding expansionism. For centuries, China has been the single strongest civilization in Asia. While the Portuguese and Spanish began to carve up the word in the 15th century, the Chinese navy commanded by navigator Zheng had already ventured across Eurasia, Africa and Middle East without engaging in any conquest or war.

China also diverges with the U.S. in that its leaders do not believe it is their role or mission to promote Chinese civilization or even encourage humanity to take up their values or ideas. China's political leadership won't use their influence to transform ideologies or political practices around the globe, fundamentally because they do not believe society should become like them.

Customers watch a speech by Joe Biden on a television during an election watching event at a local bar in Beijing, China, November 4, 2020. /Getty

Strategic cooperation not rivalry  cooperate to compete

It goes without saying today's globalized world has come a long way from the world of the U.S.-Soviet Cold War. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, the Cold War came to an end and the United States hegemony was elevated to new levels on the world stage. For more than 30 years, the U.S. economy had no other country to compare itself with in pure economic terms.

China has since become the world's largest economy (in terms of purchasing power parity), manufacturer and holder of foreign exchange reserves. China is the largest commercial partner of the United States. China's economic prowess and entanglement with the U.S. economy is clearly far from that of the Soviet Union's during the Cold War period.

Today, both the U.S. and China cannot afford to decouple, especially considering the weakened U.S. economy coming out of the pandemic. On the other hand, China was the only major economy to register growth in 2020, in turn helping the recovery of many other economies. Instead of endorsing a protracted rivalry, the U.S. should learn to cooperate to compete in health and other areas, as one would expect from a flag-bearer of the "market economy."

Societal values and the confrontation of U.S. dualism

In the U.S., citizens are educated in terms of "dualism"  always in terms of polar opposites. This entails perceiving issues as black or white, right or wrong, good or bad. Chinese culture, on the other hand, teaches the viewing of issues in a more holistic sense. Social needs and harmony are seen as more important than individual needs and rights, and the prevention of disasters or chaos is the main purpose of governance.

In this way, Chinese culture doesn't believe in enforcing their worldview, and rather believes that each nation needs to find its own evolutionary path. This goes some way to explain the goal of Chinese leaders to develop their own model of "socialism with Chinese characteristics." As China's former leader Deng Xiaoping once said, "Seek truth from facts."

For these key reasons, labeling the relationship between today's leading economies "Cold War 2.0" misses the mark. Such a notion clashes with the Chinese outlook, society and even the very nature of its government. Only though cross-cultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation can the two powers shake off any redundant comparisons.
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The United States Customs and Border Protection agents from Southern California's El Centro Sector arrested a woman suspect over the weekend after attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through an immigration checkpoint.

Based on the agents of the CBP, they have seized 42 packages of the narcotic in total. The interception happened on Saturday morning at around 6:45 a.m. PT.

According to Fox News, a spokesman of the CBP confirmed through an email that they have seized a total of 1,199 pounds of meth in the El Centro Sector from Oct. 1, 2020 - the beginning of the federal government's fiscal year - and 1,574 pounds of the said narcotic this fiscal year.

Despite the initial information given, the spokesman wants to maintain some of the information confidential. He also stated that they would not provide further details on the matter.

The spokesperson explained, to avoid unfair trial, they are not giving out any details of the ongoing investigation that would hinder the prosecution. He also clarified that the content of their press release will be the only information they will be providing for the time being.

On Monday, the agency shared during the release that the incident occured at around 6:45 a.m. when a gray Dodge Journey 2009 model approached the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. The Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted the vehicle in the primary inspection lane. Agents directed the vehicle to proceed to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.

In addition, agents then found the 42 packages of suspected narcotics that had been hidden inside of the rocker panels of the vehicle. CBP shared that the contents inside of the packages later tested positive for the characteristics of methamphetamine. Agents then arrested the driver and held her for further processing.

Also, the release stated that the woman is a 24-year-old U.S. citizen. The CBP agents turned over the woman, vehicle, and drugs to the DEA or the Drug Enforcement Administration. The estimated value of the seized 67.6 pounds of methamphetamine is estimated around $185,900.

CBP posted on its Twitter account on Tuesday the photo of the K-9 agent in front of the packages intercepted. They emphasized in the post that the nose always knows.

The nose always knows! A Border Patrol K-9 detection team found 67lbs of meth inside of a vehicle at an immigration checkpoint on Saturday morning.



Read more via @CBPElCentro: https://t.co/njLeWBlbtW pic.twitter.com/FghsmTA92G  CBP (@CBP) May 5, 2021

ALSO READ: U.S.-Mexico Efforts Against Mexican Drug Cartels Have Unraveled: DEA

Port of Nogales Inerception

On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers also confiscated 20.55 pounds of methamphetamine at the Port of Nogales.

Port Director Michael W. Humphries posted on his Twitter account that the meth was hidden within the spare tire of the vehicle. Based on their estimation, the value of the amount of the drug was around $48,000.

On Monday @CBP Officers at the Port of #Nogales seized 20.55 lbs of methamphetamine concealed within the spare tire of a vehicle- est. value $48K.



Great work #CBP Nogales Officers! Thank you for keeping these dangerous narcotics out of communities across the country! pic.twitter.com/Yp8CszRH6L  Port Director Michael W. Humphries (@CBPPortDirNOG) May 5, 2021

Humphries then thanked Nogales officers for keeping the dangerous narcotics out of communities across the country.

RELATED ARTICLE: Pres. Biden Deserves Credit for 'Improvements' on Migration Crisis at the Border, Psaki Says

WATCH: Border Patrol K 9 team finds 67 lbs of meth at immigration checkpoint FROM-News Pilot


After a flock of birds became unwelcomed guests in a home in the state of California, the Montecito Fire Protection District contacted the home immediately as around 1,000 small birds were trapped in there.

A home in the Santa Barbara County community of Montecito Sunday night received a call from the firefighters when they found about a thousand small birds trapped in their chimney.

According to ABC7, the firefighters and county animal service workers identified the birds as swifts. They hoped that the birds would fly out on their own overnight.

However, when authorities returned Monday morning to check, they were shocked that the birds were still trapped by the screen at the base of the fireplace.

To free the birds, animal service workers designed a chute system that funneled the birds out of the fireplace and through the back door of their home.

ALSO READ: Former Charles Manson's Cult Member Recalls How He Lured Her Into His 'Family'

Wild Invasion

Wild footage like in the horrifying scene of the thriller movie "The Birds" shocked a family in California after their own chimney was invaded by more than 800 migrating birds that refused to leave their home, New York Post reported.

The family from the city Torrance, who had just returned from dinner on April 21, discovered that their house was under a full-blown avian invasion.

The homeowner, identified as Kerri, shared that they lost their count after 800. She added that if people do not see these with their own eyes, they would never believe what happened in their house.

Before swarming inside and wreaking havoc, surveillance camera footage shows that the birds created a massive flock circling above Kerri's chimney.

In addition, the station reported that the ballsy bird brains crashed into windows, which covered the place with droppings and perched like bats on the ceiling to sleep. Officials from the county animal control instructed the family to get rid of them by leaving doors open. But the winged invaders refused to get lost.

During the second night, Kerri shared that she actually woke up to birds flapping in her room, which prompted her to cover her head and start screaming. She also added that they cannot walk in every spot from their living room, kitchen, and even in their hallway without stepping on the droppings of the intruders.

Furthermore, the invasion forced Kerri and her family to stay overnight at a hotel while her relative, Patrick Belleville, tried to get rid of the birds. He stated that they acted like they wanted to get out but not going anywhere.

Belleville also added that they were flying around everywhere, even reaching the bathroom. He mentioned that the birds were beaming off of his head.

While the station aired the footage on Tuesday, the family was still trying to get rid of the flock. The number is still disturbing despite Belleville catching some of them, which he placed in a cardboard box and released them outside, UNILAD reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Mysterious Handprints Discovered in Ancient Mayan Cave in Mexico



WATCH: Hundreds of birds swoop down California familys chimney in wild invasion FROM-Yours News


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The shootings come after the City Council held an April 20 discussion on LBPD-offered "strategies for addessing violent crime through community partnerships." During Council discussion, no incumbents moved to restore any of the 48 officers that the Council voted (9-0) to defund on top of 180+ offices erased by previous Councils and not restored by the current Council. The actions of current and past Councils have left LB taxpayers with a significantly thinner police level than Los Angeles, Signal Hill or Santa Monica.

The Council's Sept. 2020 FY21 defunding reduced LB's police level to roughly 1.5 per thousand. The LA City Council's 2020 defunding reduced its police level to about 2.43 per thousand. Sponsor



On Feb 2, 2021, with shootings spiking, LB Councilmembers sought a strategy from LBPD. On March 17, LBPD sent Councilmembers a memo that didn't mention the word "gangs" or recent or past Council actions that thinned LBPD levels. Instead, it blamed the pandemic and announced the start of a "walking cop" program (8 officers deployed in the area from the LA River to LB Blvd. between Anaheim St. and PCH through April 30.) During the six week test, the "walking cop" area had two shootings of which we're aware: On March 20 in the area of PCH/LB Blvd (border CD 1/CD 6), a 19 year old man said a black sedan approached him and a suspect fired two shots which missed hitting him. On April 6, in the 1700 block of Chestnut (CD 1/Willmore City just south of PCH), multiple victims (including adults and juveniles) said they were walking on the sidewalk when they were approached by a vehicle and an unknown male suspect shot at them from within the vehicle, then fled the scene. Sponsor



Sponsor



On April 20, Chief Luna offered the Council an agendized verbal version of his March 17 memo's recommendations accompanied by Power Point slides. It said LBPD has implemented a "Community Response Team" (officers pulled from other assignments, including a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, 8 directed enforcement officers, 5 gang detectives). During the "walking cop" test program. CD 1 Councilwoman Zendejas portrayed it as focused on the Washington Middle School area. LBPD said that since implementing the walking cop program, the Washington Middle School neighborhood had no shootings. The walking cop program ended on April 30. On May 1, the Washington Middle School neighborhood had a shooting. On May 4, CD 6 had another shooting outside the "walkng cop" area (2000 block of Pacific is two blocks north of PCH.) Sponsor





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Dear Annie: Please help me convince my 72-year-old husband to stop engaging in conversations with telephone solicitors. He gets several calls a day on his cellphone from car warranty companies, solar companies, etc., and he insists on letting them talk and ask questions for several minutes.

Eventually, he says something like, Thank you for caring about me, I appreciate your call, before ending the call. The problem is that he answers questions and says YES on these calls. I have let him know that unscrupulous phone solicitors can sometimes use his answers to effect a scam on him. Please help! -- My Husband Is Being Taken Advantage Of

Dear MHIBTAO: Your husband sounds like a kind man who is genuinely interested in others. However, his kindness shouldnt be used against him. And, unfortunately, that happens far too often with phone and online scams. There are now protections consumers can put in place to stop the countless robocalls. Millions rejoiced when the Federal Trade Commission created the National Do Not Call Registry. Adding your name to the list makes it illegal for telemarketers to call you.

Most major phone carriers give you tools to identify, filter and prevent suspected robocall numbers from dialing or texting your phone. Some require an extra monthly fee to activate these services, but network-level blocking is free of charge across all the carriers.

Heres another feature available on any iPhone and Android -- the ability to block specific numbers. Although this cannot possibly stop every robocall and spammer number, you can at least block recurring ones.

But 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 these tricks to identify and target live respondents. Once they know the number is active, you may be targeted by more calls in the future.

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.

Annie Lane writes the Dear Annie advice column.

Dear Annie: In your response to the three workers who are tired of their boss taking coffee, I would like to offer 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.

Perhaps if they offer to help pay the electric bill, the heating bill or the trash, water and janitorial bills, he would be inclined to pitch in for the coffee. -- Management in Colorado

Dear Management in Colorado: Your letter is a bit harsh, but Im printing it because I always love getting multiple viewpoints.

Remember, the employees were not asking the boss to buy their coffee. They were upset because they brought their own coffee, and he was helping himself to it. Would you think the boss has a right to eat their lunch, too, because he is paying the utility bills?

Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie is out now! Annie Lanes debut book -- featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

Read more advice:

Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect

Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel

Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney
An Allentown man will spend 10-23 months behind bars for possession of child pornography, after he was caught with the images at his job at Northampton Community College.

Alan West, 63, faces four years probation following his release and will have to register as a sexual offender for 15 years, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office said.

Judge Stephen Baratta handed down the sentence Wednesday.

West was working as a part-time assistant in the arts department at NCCs Bethlehem Township campus, according to the college, when two students reportedly observed what appeared to be a young girls exposed genitals on his computer Feb. 3, 2020.

West was feverishly clicking to close the open windows, the DAs office said in a news release announcing Wests sentence.

The students told other NCC staffers what theyd seen, and campus public safety notified township police Feb. 5, 2020.

Human resources told investigators West would be suspended immediately, according to the prosecutors office, and the college told lehighvalleylive.com he was fired Feb. 10. 2020, for violating college policy.

College officials agreed to turn over to investigators any computers, network folders, and Wests email and cloud-storage account contents.

Confronted by police about whether he looks at child porn on his computer, West answered, No ... yes ... no Im not into child porn, the officer of District Attorney Terry Houck says in its release.

West, when pressed, admitted to viewing pornography on his computer but if there was any child pornography on his computer it was because an internet ad popped up with it on, according to the release. Later that day, police received a call from NCCs Public Safety Director who said West admitted to him that police would find child pornography on the computer.

West in February pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. His attorney, Michael Ira Stump, told lehighvalleylive.com at the time that West had been in both private and state-approved sex offenders counseling, had undergone a psychosexual evaluation and is absolutely no threat to the community.

Hes taking this very seriously and he has been in counseling for a year, and hes going to accept all the possible treatment thats available to him, Stump said in describing Wests viewing of pornography as a short-term occurrence.

West as of Wednesday was in custody at Northampton County Prison, court records say. He had been free on $10,000 unsecured bail since his preliminary arraignment June 24, 2020.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
The newest information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health reveals that Philadelphia ZIP codes, and two in the Lehigh Valley, are seeing the most new cases of COVID-19 this week.

Philadelphia ZIP codes make up nine of the top 15 spots this week, with the other highest numbers among Allentown, Reading, Easton, Chester and Pottstown ZIP codes. All of the highest numbers on the list are found in the eastern portion of the state.

Both Lehigh and Northampton counties, along with 42 other counties, remain in a substantial level of community transmission of the virus -- above moderate and low levels of transmission, according to state officials.

Overall, new cases are down across the state compared to last week, and Gov. Tom Wolfs office has announced that COVID-19 restrictions on businesses will be lifted by Memorial Day. However, vaccination distribution has hit a plateau, with declining demand despite only about half of eligible Pennsylvanians having received at least one vaccine dose.

READ MORE: Pa. lifts COVID-19 restrictions on businesses on Memorial Day, mask order will end when 70% are vaccinated

These are the top 25 ZIP codes with the highest increases of new individual cases from last week:

1) 19124

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 68,965

Reported cases: 6,645

New from last week: 157

Increase: 2.4%

2) 19143

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 65,247

Reported cases: 4,690

New from last week: 151

Increase: 3.3%

3) 19120

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 74,971

Reported cases: 6,243

New from last week: 139

Increase: 2.2%

4) 18102

City/borough: Allentown

County: Allentown

Population: 49,583

Reported cases: 6,855

New from last week: 130

Increase: 1.9%

5) 19136

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 34,470

Reported cases: 4,716

New from last week: 127

Increase: 2.7%

6) 18103

City/borough: Allentown

County:

Population: 46,333

Reported cases: 5,528

New from last week: 112

Increase: 2.0%

7) 19111

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 68,263

Reported cases: 6,468

New from last week: 111

Increase: 1.7%

8) 19149

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 59,633

Reported cases: 4,896

New from last week: 111

Increase: 2.3%

9) 18042

City/borough: Easton

County: :

Reported cases: 4,726

New from last week: 108

Increase: 2.3%

10) 19140

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 51,667

Reported cases: 4,836

New from last week: 108

Increase: 2.2%

11) 19134

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 61,509

Reported cases: 5,171

New from last week: 107

Increase: 2.1%

12) 19601

City/borough: Reading

County:

Population: 33,397

Reported cases: 4,043

New from last week: 106

Increase: 2.6%

13) 19013

City/borough: Chester

County:

Population: 35,345

Reported cases: 3,061

New from last week: 98

Increase: 3.3%

14) 19131

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 44,972

Reported cases: 3,472

New from last week: 97

Increase: 2.8%

15) 19464

City/borough: Pottstown

County:

Population: 46,918

Reported cases: 3,572

New from last week: 95

Increase: 2.7%

For more stories on the coronavirus pandemic, vaccinations and precautions, see these other stories on PennLive:
COVID vaccine! Getcha COVID vaccine he-AH!

A one-night-only promotion by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs offers free admission to Thursday nights game for anyone who gets their first shot at Coca-Cola Park.

The team opened its season this week after the last one was canceled due to the pandemic. And now, it is working with the Allentown Health Bureau to distribute the Moderna vaccine between 5 and 7 p.m., before the first pitch at 7:05.

Anyone who gets the shot then can bring their vaccination card to the ticket office for a free game ticket, the team said in a news release.

Want a FREE ticket to tomorrow's game?



- Visit Coca-Cola Park from 5-7PM on May 6th to get your COVID-19 vaccine provided by the Allentown Health Bureau

- Show your new vaccination card at the Provident Bank Ticket Office

- BOOM. You're in!



Details: https://t.co/7XfXtdzr75 pic.twitter.com/MIJ8xThcbh  Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) May 5, 2021

The goal is to get new people vaccinated, so the promotion is only open to those who get the jab at the ballpark.

The two-dose Moderna vaccine is available to anyone 18 and older. Those who get their initial shot in Thursdays promotion can get their follow-up dose on June 3 at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

Half of Pennsylvanias total population has at least one shot, according to the CDC.

The state plans to lift most coronavirus restrictions on Memorial Day. The Wolf administration says mask requirements will end when 70% of the states adult population is fully vaccinated with all required doses  42.2% of the states 18-and-older population is already there, about a third of the total population, per CDC figures.

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
Before joining a small nonprofit organization in Hunterdon County, Tanner Alexander mostly kept to himself.

Now, one of his favorite things to do is make new friends.

I got here this past January, and I just like to meet new people, said Alexander, who is 28 and lives in Washington Township in Warren County. Im still learning how to be independent, and how to meet people and be friends with everybody.

Alexander is a member of StarThrower Group, an organization established in Flemington in 2018 to provide career support, service opportunities and community connections for young adults with special needs.

The main purpose of StarThrower Group is to teach its members, like Alexander, how to gain their independence.

Were there to support them through whatever personal or career or educational goals that they have for themselves, explained Jenni Clark, the organizations founder and CEO. My friend once said its not about them making a living; its about them making a life. And that is really what it is.

Laura Karg, a librarian at the StarThrower Group, registers new books. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

StarThrower Group has implemented a myriad of programs and activities for its approximately 50 members that range from dancing to knitting to educational lessons. These programs help the organizations members cultivate connections with one another and with the staff, who observe how they interact and learn what their interests are before immediately launching them into a career path.

So many agencies just say, Oh, well theres a job pushing carts at ShopRite, lets go over there. Not that thats a bad job, thats just not everybodys career, Clark said. And just because they have a disability doesnt mean they shouldnt have the opportunity ... to be looking into their careers and their future  not just something thats keeping them busy.

So its about shifting the mindset to help people to be able to do that, she added.

Simona Zdeb makes tea and runs the cafe at the StarThrower Group.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In connecting one of the members with a potential new job, Clark commonly arranges for them to initially sample the experience so they dont run the risk of being hired into a job for which they are not well suited.

Its so hard for everybody to overcome (being fired), but its even more difficult for people who already have lower self-esteem because of what theyve already had to endure their whole life, or being told their whole life they cant do something because they are disabled, Clark said. So first we start to get that skill and experience, and then we go and fill out a resume, and go on an interview, and actually get hired.

However, the organization does not merely equate independence with a new career, but simply with helping its members get to the next step in their lives  regardless of what that next step may be.

Our goal is their goal, Clark explained. I have a couple, weve had a serious talk about them getting married and having kids  they want to do that. And I said, OK, we need to get you to that point.

Christy Sualang embraces staff member Mikie Cotignola at StarThrower Group.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Clarks experience as a mother of an autistic child and as a former teacher in the Workplace Readiness Program at Hunterdon Central Regional High School played a role in inspiring her to establish the nonprofit in 2018.

As a high school teacher, Clark often wondered what the students with special needs would do after they graduated. And as a mother, she knew the options were too limited.

I did some research and I found some places and I wasnt really thrilled with what I was finding because the special education population is just stereotyped and generalized into these ridiculous, youre high-functioning or low-functioning (categories), Clark said. And its a spectrum for a reason ... and I really wanted to find something that just focused on the individual, but also focused on community and bringing them together.

Immediately prior to founding StarThrower Group, Clarks experience as a transition coordinator at a local agency convinced her that it was time to establish the kind of place that could be of better service to people with special needs.

The clients that I saw working there were longing for connection, and to be included and to feel valued, and they really didnt have that, Clark said. And I said, Alright, thats it, were doing this. And I cashed out my pension and I jumped in.

The parable that inspired the name for StarThrower Group.Courtesy

StarThrower Group is named after a favorite parable of Clarks that is posted directly on the organizations website, which tells the story of a boy who throws starfish into the ocean to save their lives.

When it came time to open this, (the story) came back to me, Clark said. Being a star thrower, each of us is helping somebody one person at a time. And because its focused on one-by-one, I think its important: because I try to individualize what were doing.

Everybody is a person, and I cant just to stereotype and say, Well, this is what worked for this one so this is whats going to work for you. We really focus on trying to get to know everybody, she added.

This focus on individual attention has remained in place even as the organization shifted all of its programs online in mid-March after the coronavirus pandemic broke out in the state of New Jersey. Clark said StarThrower Group adapted within days of the epidemic sweeping the state in her determination not to abandon any of its members.

My fear was my friends were going to be home alone again. And the whole point of this was that we have our community, Clark said. And I said, Heres what were going to do: were going to use the Google platform and Google Meets and create something where they can log in.

Samantha Peskin, Ronna Hill and Dominique Armato say hello to other members of the group, who are visiting remotely.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It evolved through the year, but we have been online since March 16 with an online daily program, weekdays, where theyre online with us from 10 to 4 and we provide all kinds of workshops, she added. And a lot of it is just silliness and fun and communication.

Keeping within COVID protocols, at present day the organization allows no more than 25 people in its facility at one time. These 25 people often include member Christy Sualang, who Clark said comes in every day and leads Zumba-type classes at the organization.

In response to how often she enjoys orchestrating the dances, Sualang said, All the time!

Christy Sualang talks with staff member Mikie Cotignola and friend Nick Kowalchuck at the StarThrower Group.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Even as the organization remains at half-capacity, Clark said that the staff continues to welcome new volunteers to lead programs and nurture their own relationships with its many special members.

Theyre not just our clients, or anything like that. Theyre a part of our family, and were here taking care of each other, Clark said. And its pretty cool, how its worked out. Its probably the most ridiculously positive and fun place Ive ever worked at.

StarThrower Group is also continuing to accept donations from the community, much of which will go towards potentially expanding the organization over the next year or so to make it more accessible to people throughout the state.

My goal is probably (to open a branch) in Washington Township and Somerset County, where its walkable, so perhaps the Raritan area ... just to give those who are coming from South Bound Brook, Manville, Hillsborough a closer destination, Clark said. Theres a lot of people out there that are having challenges because of different physical, emotional, developmental delays or disabilities ... if I can do something for any one of them, thats always a plus.

Samantha Peskin with Ronna Hill, director of operations at StarThower Group, and her rescue dog, Violet. Peskin has been away from the group for a long time and was visiting the StarThrower Group.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Tell us your COVID-19 vaccination stories, send us a news tip or questions about the vaccination process on our tip form.

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Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.
Over 100 residents from a small New Jersey city were inoculated in a vaccine clinic focusing on the communitys Spanish-speaking population as well as its low-income residents.

Lambertville partnered with multiple local entities to vaccinate 130 community members with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. These entities include Penn Medicine Princeton Health, New Hope Celebrates, Fishermans Mark, the Lambertville Public School, the Delaware Valley Food Pantry, the Lambertville Police Department and the Bucks County Playhouse.

The vast majority of vaccinated individuals were residents of Lambertville, with residents of Frenchtown and West Amwell also participating in the clinic. More than 90% of these inoculated residents were Spanish-speaking, according to a press release shared with NJ Advance Media.

Lambertville Mayor Julia Fahl, who led the task force that orchestrated the clinic, said she was extremely proud of what it accomplished.

This was a group effort; Penn Medicine at Princeton was introduced to me by members of New Hope Celebrates. We immediately brought in Fishermans Mark, Lambertville Public School, the Lambertville Police Department, the Delaware Valley Food Pantry, and more community stakeholders to ensure that we focused our the Spanish-speaking residents, Fahl said in the release. We were highly successful in focusing on members of our community that may have been overlooked by, or not had access to, mass vaccination sites.

Debbie Millar, the director for Community Wellness and Engagement for Penn Medicine Princeton Health, said she was grateful to Fahl and the City of Lambertville for welcoming us into their community.

COVID-19 is the greatest public health crisis we have experienced, Millar said in the release. Vaccinating as many people as possible is a crucial step, and community-based, pop-up clinics like this one make it much easier for people to get the shot so they can protect themselves and their loved ones.

Participants of the May 5 clinic.Courtesy

Everyone worked hard to make this happen. It just goes to show that when community organizations come together, incredible things get done, added Jenn Williford, the executive director for Fishermans Mark.

Fahl labeled the vaccine clinic an extension of her annual Flu Shot with the Mayor clinic in emphasizing that these efforts and other public safety and public health initiatives are a hallmark of her mayorship.

The success of this event was made possible because we have strengthened our relationships with community organizations over the last several years, Fahl said. In the heart of the pandemic, we focused on significantly increasing the number of contacts on our email lists and swift911 text and phone system and we increased the amount of communication by email, phone calls, texts, and more. This year we will again host the Flu Clinic, Feeding Lambertville Youth, and other public health initiatives.

The City of Lambertville intends to host a follow-up vaccine clinic on June 2 for New Jersey residents that will also provide the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Tell us your COVID-19 vaccination stories, send us a news tip or questions about the vaccination process on our tip form.

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Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.
The impressive containment of Covid-19 in Laois has continued in each local electoral area of the county with just one case a day being recorded on average in Portlaoise while the incidence has halved in the area which has a big border with Kildare and Offaly counties that have struggled to contain the disease.

The Portlaoise electoral area has the lowest incidence of Covid-19 in Laois and the lowest number of new cases, according to the latest official figures continuing the trend of recent weeks.

Things have improved dramatically in Graiguecullen Portarlington district on the eastern half while progress has also been made in the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick district in the west.

The latest Local Electoral Area (LEA) breakdown published on April 29 on the Covid-19 Ireland data hub covers the 14 days from April 20 to May 3.

There were just 14 new cases in Portlaoise during these two weeks - down from 36 new cases in Portlaoise in the previous fortnight examined to April 26.

The new cases mean the latest incidence has fallen significantly to 44 per 100,000 population down from 69.2 previously.

The Portlaoise incidence is now well below the national 14-day incidence level recorded to May 3 of 134.1 per 100k. The national rate increased in the most recent analysis.

The population of the Portlaoise LEA is 31,794 people with more than 20,000 living in the county town environs. It includes Abbeyleix, Ballyroan and Ballinakill. It borders Kilkenny.

The latest figures from the Portarlington Graiguecullen show a significant improvement. The incidence is down while the daily number of new cases is almost the same as Portlaoise. There were just 16 new cases in the two weeks to May 3 down from 28 in the previous recording period. This means the incidence almost halved to 56.9 per 100 k from 99.7 per 100 k.

The population in this LEA is 28,096. Apart from the two big towns, it includes Stradbally, Timahoe, Ballylinan, Ballyadams, Killeshin, Crettyard, Killenard, Ballybrittas. It borders Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny and Offaly.

The latest figures from the Mountmellick to Borris-in-Ossory LEA also show an improvement. A total of 17 people tested positive down from 28 up to April 26. The latest incidence has fallen to 68.5 per 100 k from 112.9 per 100 k.

The district is less populated. With 24,807 people it includes Rathdowney, Mountrath, Durrow, Castletown, Camross, Errill, Clonaslee and Rosenallis. It borders Tipperary, Offaly and Kilkenny.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre figures for all of Laois in the 14 days to May 3 show that there were 46 new Laois cases compared to 79 new cases in the 14 days to April 26. The countywide incidence is 54.3 per 100 k down from 93.3. The daily average for new cases halved to two new cases a day.

The latest published figures for Laois were published by NPHET up to midnight May 5 show little change. The incidence has fallen to 53.1 per 100 k due to 45 new cases in the previous two weeks. The five-day moving average is three new detections a day.

The national incidence to midnight of May 5 was 129.7 per 100 k due to 6,178 new cases in the previous 14 days. The daily average for new cases is 410 a day over five days
BT Ireland has announced the return of the virtual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in January 2022 and is calling on Laois 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.
There is no relief in sight for a bypass of heavy traffic through Mountmellick, Laois County Council has confirmed.

While thousands was spent to do a traffic study last year, the road is not listed in the National Development Plan, the first step to getting national funding.

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 road for Mountmellick and other Laois towns.

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.
Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley has welcomed the Government acceptance of a proposal that An Post should be bound by an obligation that his party claims will stop post offices from closing.

Dep Stanley said the Sinn Fein amendments to a proposed new law that calls on the government to introduce a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to secure the future of our post office network and prevent further post office closures.

The postal service has been blighted by closures and hobbled by cutbacks. We need urgent action and significant investment from the government if we dont want further closures," he said.

The Laois Offaly TD said his party supports the call of the Irish Postmasters Union for a PSO.

"We have been advocating for this for over a decade. Notably, Fianna Fail also supported a PSO when in opposition and spoke in favour of it during a Dail debate on a Sinn Fein motion in 2018.

"However, support for a PSO was conspicuously absent from the Seanad motion brought by Fianna Fail recently. It would have been completely hypocritical to call for a PSO and then drop support for it once in government.

"People who rely on their post offices were watching intently to see if they did what they promised and fortunately, Fianna Fail supported the Sinn Fein amendments," he said.

Dep Stanley said that since 2018, more than 200 post offices have closed nationwide.

"In Laois/Offaly these closures included Ballinakill, Ballybrittas, Geashill, Moneygall, Mountlucas, Pollagh, and Walsh Island. The remaining post offices in the constituency need to be protected.

"Without the support of the PSO, the State faces significant levels of unrestrained closures according to a report by Grant Thornton commissioned by the Irish Postmasters Union.

"Simply calling on the government is not enough. Now we need to follow this commitment up with action. Without urgent action well see more closures.

"If the Government believes that An Post has untapped potential to do more across many areas of the public, business and community life in Ireland, then Post Offices need to be utilised to provide a wider range of services," he said.
Laois County County Council has given the green light to new houses and apartments in the historic heart of the town.

Planners have given Ormonde Homes Market Square Ltd the go-ahead for the project in an almost derelict building and vacant site off Market Square and French Church Street.

The planning application submitted in August 2020 says the redevelopment of the existing listed building and lands adjacent to the structure. The site is located within an archaeological significance zone which is the subject of a new plan which Laois County Council is seeking public views on at present.

The development will consist of 15 new houses specifically designed to suit to older person accommodation. The developers say this will included eight two-bed semi-detached single storey house, five two-bed mid-terrace single-storey houses, and two two-bed end of terrace houses.

The plan also includes the renovation and change of use of the existing three-storey former hotel that faces onto Market Square. The detached five-bay three-storey Georgian house was built around 1780 and renovated in 1900, with ground floor partly remodelled to accommodate commercial use.

It is to be transformed into apartments comprising of one three-bed apartment and two two-bed apartments.

Vehicular entrance and pedestrian entrance will be off Market Square with associated upgrade works along with pedestrian access from French Church Street.

The application said 27 car parking spaces, including 12 spaces for the public, would be provided.

Laois County Council imposed 21 conditions on the Kilkenny based company which is behind the development.

Portarlington Tidy Towns raised a number of concerns during the planning process. On the water supply, the group said there are nights when some homes have no supply.

The development site almost borders the River Barrow but The Tidy Towns letter said the river continues to flood every year and requires attention.

The Tidy Towns said they had grave concerns about traffic management and there have been numerous accidents on French Church Street.

Portarlington's regeneration was recently given a 1 million boost with confirmation that just over 1 has been approved for the heritage-led overhaul of the town's Market House, which is located near the new development, and the Square.

The developers will have to pay 72,000 to Laois County Council in development levies.
The death has occurred of Alice Cross (nee Tuohy) Rathcurragh, Newbridge, Kildare

Arrangements have changed.



Sadly missed by her loving daughters Jennifer, Jackie and Marina, sons David and Louis, grandchildren Rhiannon, Eleanor, Lauren, Alex, Aisling, Megan, Oska, Finn, Charlie, Elliott and Lily, great grandchildren Archie, Andrya and Finley, sons in law, daughter in law, special niece Eileen, extended family, neighbours and friends.

May Alice Rest In Peace

Funeral Arrangements Later

The death has occurred of Daniel (Dan) Carroll

Leixlip, Kildare / Kilbeggan, Westmeath



Carroll (Leixlip Park, Leixlip, Co. Kildare and formerly of Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath and retired caretaker Scoil Mhuire National School, Leixlip) May 5th. 2021, (peacefully), at home. Daniel (Dan), beloved husband of Kathleen (Kathleen Mary) and dear father of Noeleen, Grainne, Oliver and Aisling. Sadly missed by his loving wife, daughters, son, sons-in-law Pete, Pa and Jimmy, grandchildren Alex, Adam, Abbie, Philip, Aaron, Daniel, Ciara and Cian, brothers Mossie, Fonsie and Tony, sisters Eily and Alacoque, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Rest in Peace

Due to Government advice and restrictions regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Daniels Funeral Mass may be viewed by following the link below on Friday morning, 7th May, at 10.00 am.

https://churchmedia.tv/camera/our-ladys-nativity

Daniels funeral cortege will pass his home on Friday morning, 7th May, at 11.15am approx. for friends and family to pay their respects. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to St. Brigids Hospice, The Curragh.

The death has occurred of David (Dave) DOYLE

Celbridge, Kildare / Ballyfermot, Dublin



DOYLE David (Dave) (Celbridge, Co. Kildare and formerly Ballyfermot, Dublin) May 1st. 2021 peacefully surrounded by his loving family and in the care of staff at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Pre-deceased by his parents John and Patricia Doyle. Dave will be lovingly remembered by his wife Rose, daughters Gillian and Jennifer, sons-in-law Brian and Glenn, grandchildren Lee, Mia, Noah and Eli, brothers, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

May he rest in peace.

Due to government guidelines a private funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences below or alternatively leaving a message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com/death-notices. Daves funeral cortege will leave Cunninghams Funeral Home, Celbridge at 10:45 am on Friday (7th May) and his Funeral Mass may be viewed by following the link below at 11:00 am www.celstra.ie/live-feed/. Family flowers only, if desired, donations to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.

The death has occurred of

The death has occurred of Joe (Joseph) Fallon

Confey, Leixlip, Kildare / Ballyfermot, Dublin



FALLON (Confey, Leixlip, Co. Kildare and formerly of Ballyfermot) May 1st 2021 (suddenly) at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Joe (Joseph), beloved husband of Maria, cherished father of Colin, Laura and Eoin and adored grandfather of Sam and Jack;

Dearly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughter, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. When the current circumstances have passed, we look forward to celebrating Joes life with friends and extended family at a later date. Joes Funeral Mass may be viewed on Monday (May 10th) at 11.00am by following this LINK.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral; but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences below or alternatively leaving a message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.





FALLON (Confey, Leixlip, Co. Kildare and formerly of Ballyfermot) May 1st 2021 (suddenly) at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Joe (Joseph), beloved husband of Maria, cherished father of Colin, Laura and Eoin and adored grandfather of Sam and Jack;

Dearly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughter, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace

A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. When the current circumstances have passed, we look forward to celebrating Joes life with friends and extended family at a later date.Joes Funeral Mass may be viewed on Monday (May 10th) at 11.00am by following this LINK.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral; but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences below or alternatively leaving a message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.

The death has occurred of John Farrell

Rathmore, Tullow, Carlow / Castledermot, Kildare



John Farrell, Rathmore, Tullow, Co. Carlow and formerly of Castledermot, Co. Kildare (suddenly)  27th April 2021; Predeceased by his parents Jer and Bridie; Sadly missed by his beloved wife Fran, sons Dean and Gavin and their partners Susanna and Kathy, bothers Jer, Paddy, Joe, Martin, Eamonn, sister Nora, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

In line with Government and HSE Guidelines Johns Funeral Service will be private. Funeral arriving to St. Jamess Church, Castledermot on Saturday, 8th May, for 2 oc Service with burial afterwards in Coltstown Cemetery. Johns Funeral Service can be viewed live on the following link http://funeralslive.ie/john-farrell/

If you would like to leave a personal message of condolence you may do so in the "Condolences" section below.
Frontline nurses and midwives experiencing long-term Covid-19 symptoms are not getting the medical or employment supports they need, the INMO Annual Delegate Conference has warned.

The unions conference will hear from four nurses this Friday speaking of ongoing severe symptoms from a Covid infection months later, including extreme exhaustion, brain fog, difficulty breathing, heart problems and vision impairment

The conference will debate two motions relating to long Covid. The union is calling for Government and employer measures including tailored medical supports, research into long Covid impacts, a guarantee that healthcare workers with long Covid wont face income cuts and flexible rehabilitation back into work.

More than 7,500 nurses and midwives have contracted Covid-19 in Ireland - over a quarter of all Covid-19 cases among healthcare workers.

INMO President and nurse Karen McGowan said: Long Covid is a condition that takes so much out of people and theyre simply not being treated fairly.

We are all looking forward to a time after this pandemic, but we cannot forget those who took great risks to provide care and are being left in the lurch. The very least they deserve is long-term certainty about their employment and income rights and a guarantee of medical care.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: Covid can be a long-term, debilitating illness. People need to know where they stand, medically and in terms of work.

The HSE need to lead the charge on this and implement the measures that our members are calling for. This is a condition people are acquiring at work, and their workplaces need to step up and give them the support they need."
Free tickets are now available for the fifth West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival, which takes place, online, from May 20 to June 14.

Building on the success of previous festivals, the 2021 West Wicklow Festival boasts an incredible line-up of musicians from all over the world, with online concerts being held every Thursday and Monday for the duration of the festival.

The festival programme features 18 incredible artists over four weeks, including performances from the captivating Irish mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly, internationally acclaimed Dutch violinist Rosanne Philippens with French pianist Julien Quentin, renowned French string quartet Quatuor Van Kuijk, the powerfully poetic UK based Sitkovetsky Trio, leading Turkish cellist Jamal Aliyev and English pianist Sam Armstrong, Gramophone Award winning Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe, rising Irish stars violinist Phoebe White and pianist Peter Regan, and the Festivals Founder & Artistic Director, celebrated Irish pianist Fiachra Garvey.

I am thrilled that the festival is delivering such a superb programme, featuring so many incredibly talented and exciting artists, all for free online, in tip top HD quality! Of course we all desperately miss live audiences, but I hope the quality of the recordings will make everyone feel that the concert hall experience has been welcomed into their own home! It has been a huge challenge to organise this years festival with many extra obstacles, but I hope that everyone will enjoy the final product, into which, all involved, have poured their hearts and souls," said Fiachra Garvey, Founder & Artistic Director

The West Wicklow Festival programme features some of the most celebrated works in the chamber music canon including composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy Faure, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Tchaikovsky, to name a few, in addition to proudly presenting works from 20th and 21st century composers, including Siobhan Cleary, David Fennessy, T.C.Kelly, Sam Perkin, Edith Canat de Chizy, Mompou, Berstein and many more!

The festival is also delighted to announce the commissioning of Irish composer Linda Buckley to write a new song cycle entitled The Finite Air, which will receive its world premiere during the festival, as well as the world premiere of Citadel of Light by emerging composer Garry Wilkinson (winner of the inaugural WWF composition competition).

Founded in 2017 by award-winning Wicklow pianist Fiachra Garvey, the West Wicklow Festival was established in order to promote the beautiful area of West Wicklow by staging an annual festival featuring some of Ireland and the worlds premiere artists. Viewers are invited to enjoy the concerts for free online, but the festival is asking that those who are in a position to do, consider making a donation to the festival charity.

For further information about the West Wicklow Festival, including featured artists, how to book free tickets etc. please visit westwicklowfestival.com
We all know that Covid-19 is having impacts in many unforeseen areas of life. It will be years before the true cost of Covid has been realised, but in the business of life assurance and protection policies these impacts are beginning to rear their head.

In recent times there has been significant coverage in the media of a particular case where a lady with a high BMI was refused a mortgage by a bank on the basis that she was unable to secure a mortgage protection policy (required by law for all mortgages before they are drawn down).

The reason for the refusal of this mortgage protection policy by the several mortgage protection agents she tried to purchase it from, was that her high BMI placed her at greater risk of a Covid-19 complications, and the condition was not considered sufficiently serious by the HSE to require an early Covid-19 vaccination.

Health questionnaires are routinely issued by protection providers when applying for any kind of protection policy, however the situation with Covid is proving it even more difficult for anyone with any kind of medical complication to move on with their life plans, which was evident from this particular case.

Here, we take a look at some of the questions posed in relation to obtaining life insurance and protection in the current Covid climate:



Can you get life insurance if you have had Coronavirus symptoms?

If you have Covid-19 symptoms, have been advised to get tested or have been diagnosed with it, you will need to wait until full recovery before you can get cover. Many companies will ask for proof of dates of your illness if you have had it and recovered.

Why is Covid-19 affecting Life Insurance?

Covid-19 can make anyone ill. But for some people, the risk is higher. According to the HSE, there are 2 levels of higher risk:

Very High Risk - If you fall into this category, then youre going to struggle to get life insurance or mortgage protection. A few examples of the Very High-Risk conditions (from the HSE website) are: people over over 70 years of age with any underlying conditions; anyone who had a transplant, have a history of advanced cancer, have kidney disease, a serious heart condition, cystic fibrosis, severe respiratory conditions or a BMI over greater than 40.

High Risk - If you fall into this category, its going to be tricky to get life insurance or mortgage protection. Cover is available but you may be charged an extra premium (called a loading).

The underwriting for both types of cover is identical. Conditions which are in the high risk category according to the HSE website are heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or liver disease, a history of cancer, a weak immune system or obesity

Can Covid-19 stop me from getting a mortgage?

As you may know, mortgage protection is mandatory if youre getting a mortgage. The banks insist on the security of knowing your loan will be cleared if you die. But there are some exceptions to this rule.

If you are unable to get mortgage protection, the bank may offer you a mortgage protection waiver. This is a document you sign stating that you understand the consequences of not taking out mortgage protection should you pass away - the mortgage repayments will have to be taken on in full by your partner. The waiver is offered at the discretion of the bank so you dont qualify automatically if you cant get mortgage protection. The bank will look at the repayment capacity of your partner, their job security, and the loan to value of the mortgage.

Is Covid-19 delaying mortgage protection applications?

Yes, we have seen a marked delay in getting cover for clients. In addition there can be extra delays if the insurer requires a medical report from your GP, which can take upto 8 weeks depending on how busy your GP is.

The backlog created by Covid-19 has created the perfect storm due to the huge demand on GPs who are already overworked due to Covid.

The main tip for anyone out there looking for any kind of protection policy in the current climate is not to delay. It will not happen instantly, so give yourself plenty of time to prepare.

Barbara McManus QFA is a Financial Adviser with Wealthwise Financial Planning who have offices in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim & Oranmore Co Galway. All details and views contained within this article are for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. Wealthwise Financial Planning makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability of any information and will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses arising from its use. Wealthwise Financial Ltd T/A Wealthwise Financial Planning is Regulated by the central Bank of Ireland #CI6614. www.wealthwise.ie info@wealthwise.ie
A teenager who with the help of a friend robbed the car of his social worker to go on a jolly has had three years detention deferred for a year.

Maurice Coffey SC, defending, said it was quite clearly a plan that was hatched between the pair to go on a jolly that was not quite Thelma and Louise.

He accepted that his client used violence to remove the woman from the vehicle. He described it as a shocking incident and said it was lucky the woman had not been hurt.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of the vehicle at Sallynoggin, County Dublin, on February 9, 2020.

Garda Aidan Maher told Siobhan Ni Chulachain BL, prosecuting, that the teenager was driven to the spot from his care home in the midlands by his social worker in order to meet a friend. She was due to pick him up two hours later and she had facilitated him previously to meet with his friend in this way.

When she pulled up another teenager approached the car, opened the drivers door and tried to drag her out of the vehicle. She was held in by her seatbelt but the accused unbuckled the seatbelt so that the woman could be dragged from the car.

She held onto the frame of the car but the accused peeled her hands away. The woman managed to grab her handbag from the vehicle before the pair drove off.

Gda Maher confirmed that the vehicle was later found in County Carlow. It had been crashed and abandoned with 7,500 worth of damaged caused. The social worker did not make a victim impact statement.

The court heard that the second teenager previously had a three-year detention order deferred for year. A probation report was order in his case and Judge Melanie Greally indicated that if it was favourable the three-year term would be suspended.

On Wednesday Judge Martin Nolan said he would impose a similar sentence on this teenager.

He deferred a three-year detention for a year and ordered a probation report. He adjourned the case to May 5, 2022 and said if the report was favourable, he would suspend the sentence

Judge Nolan described it as a particularly nasty crime and said the pair had planned to rob the car.

He said the boys partner in crime pulled the unfortunate woman out of the car and he helped him to do that. He said it represented a breach of trust as the woman was trying to help him.

Judge Nolan acknowledged that the teenager had a difficult background but was doing well in his current placement.

Mr Coffey said his client had experienced many difficulties as a young child living in an orphanage in Russia before he came to Ireland. He didnt complete school and had serious anger management issues.

He is currently doing well in his residential placement and has completed a number of courses.
A man who smashed the windscreen of a patrol car and later punched a garda in the face has been jailed for 16 months.

Thomas Doyle (26) was spotted by Garda John Ryan driving in the Crumlin area. The officer, who was a passenger in a marked patrol car, indicated that Doyle should pull over as he knew he was a disqualified driver.

Garda David Costigan told Diane Stuart BL, prosecuting, that Doyle instead accelerated away from the patrol car at such speed that smoke billowed from the back wheels.

The gardai pursued Doyle who continued to drive at speed in the area having initially lost control of the vehicle after taking a turn too sharply. At one point Gda Costigan, who was the driver of the patrol car, said he had to take evasive action as Doyle tried to ram the vehicle.

The chase came to an end when Doyle pulled up outside his home on Cashel Avenue in Crumlin and he and his passenger got out of the car. Doyle ran up to the patrol car and smashed the windscreen and pushed against the drivers door to prevent Gda Costigan getting out the vehicle.

Gda Ryan got out and shouted at Doyle to get onto the ground but he refused and ran into his home. He emerged minutes later and ran at Gda Ryan armed with a bicycle tyre.

He refused to stop when told to do so and while Gda Ryan reached for his pepper spray, Doyle punched him in the face.

He then ran back into his house and the two gardai radioed for back-up. Officers eventually gained access to Doyles home after a number of people tried to prevent them from doing so but Doyle was not there.

Doyle of Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving and assaulting Gda Ryan causing him harm on August 8, 2018. He has 66 previous convictions mainly for road traffic offences.

Gda Costigan confirmed that he was later arrested and Gda Ryan was taken to St Jamess Hospital for treatment. He had two broken teeth in the front of his mouth and one in the back.

Gda Costigan agreed with Nicola Cox BL, defending, that her client was heavily intoxicated on the day and has since apologised to Gda Ryan.

He agreed that none of his previous convictions were for violent offences and they had all been dealt with in the District Court. He has a supportive mother and partner who were both in court.

Gda Costigan further accepted that Doyle has not come to garda attention since his arrest.

Ms Cox told Judge Martin Nolan that her client has not taken drugs since the arrest. She said his father died by suicide a number of years previously which led him into drug addiction and criminality.

She said her client had limited intellectual capacity and has previously been assessed as having very low cognitive functioning.

Judge Nolan said Doyle was driving while disqualified and drove very dangerously in an attempt to get away from gardai.

He accepted his low level of intelligence but said he has no doubt that Doyle knows the difference between right and wrong and he knows he should not punch gardai or drive dangerously.

Judge Nolan said he thought Doyles misbehaviour was too great to allow for him not to go into custody before he suspended the final 14 months of a two-and-half year sentence. He also disqualified him from driving for five years.
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially early. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
The International Day of the Midwife was celebrated at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) yesterday, May 5. The day focused on how local midwives have risen to the extraordinary challenge of Covid-19 to provide safe care to the women and infants of the Mid-West.

The eventwith its 2021 theme of Follow the Data; Invest in Midwivesserves as a prominent reminder of the importance of midwifery, and the invaluable care that midwives provide.

While maternity care in the Mid-West has been dominated by unprecedented challenges, and there will be none of the celebratory events traditionally held to mark the occasion, the International Day of the Midwife remains a key date in the UL Hospitals Group calendar.

Special birth certificates will be given to the mothers of all babies born in UMHL this Wednesday to mark the special bond between midwives at UMHL and the new mums of the Mid-West and their children.

Hospital staff have also been promoting a national HSE campaign asking young people who are thinking about their careers to consider becoming a midwife. In March, the midwifery staff jointed the UL Junior Health Science Academy virtual careers fair for Transition Year students. And on International Day of the Midwife, midwifery staff are urging young people to reflect on the endless opportunities for midwives to learn and build their skills in a rewarding, joyful career.

Amy Barry, a midwife in UMHL describes how fulfilling her career has been for her: Every journey with women and their birth partners is inspiring and humbling, as we empower them to making informed choices. Its an enriching experience and a privilege to share in the joy of the birth of their baby.

Her UMHL midwife colleague, Amy Downes, adds: Describing what is most rewarding about midwifery is difficult to put into words. There are so many rewarding things. Remembering all the tiny tots who Ive heard cry their first cry is something that always brings a smile to my face. There is a great sense of honour in being given the opportunity to help mothers bring life into the world. They may not remember my name, but they will remember how I made them feel on that day and that is a very special privilege I have.

A midwife is central to preparing women and their families for the delivery of their new baby and is a vital presence during all stage of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. As a career, midwifery is diverse and progressive, with options available in clinical, management, education and research roles. Throughout their training, midwives can gain experience and skills across different specialist areas, such as gynaecology, neonatal, theatre and even home births.

Midwives provide care and support to women and their families while pregnant, throughout the birth and during the period after a baby's birth. Midwifery services are increasingly moving from the hospital to the community. There are now many opportunities for midwives to develop their career as the role of midwives continue to expand, these include clinical specialist roles and advanced midwifery specialist roles. Midwifery as a career is very rewarding, dynamic and self-fulfilling and we would encourage students thinking about their career options to consider midwifery.

Angela Dunne, Director of Midwifery for the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme explains why the career is a great choice for a student considering their options, or someone who might be seeking a career change: While many midwives start their career as a nurse and then chose the path of midwifery, students starting off today can specialise from the start and choose to study and train as a midwife Whatever pathway is taken, midwives can continue to learn and build their skills in what is truly a rewarding and joyful career. The HSE needs more midwives and there are a range of courses and job opportunities available in hospitals and communities across the country.

UL Hospitals Groups Director of Midwifery, Eileen Ronan, emphasised that since the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of social and physical distancing measures, normal service at UMHL has been largely uninterrupted, apart from visiting restrictions. No-one can minimise the impact these restrictions have had on women using our services, their partners and loved ones. The restrictions run counter to the spirit of joy and happiness traditionally associated with pregnancy and the arrival of new-born babies, and we are delighted to be in a position where we can safely permit circumstances in a phased basis that allow parents and their children closer contact at this most important time in their lives, Ms Ronan said

Its appropriate that this year in particular, we use the platform of International Day of the Midwife not just to celebrate our successes and the importance of midwifery, but also to remind women of the midwifery care and services that are ever-present at UMHL throughout the extraordinary times were living through as a result the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Ronan said.

Coordinating the local celebrations for International Day of the Midwife on site at UMHL this year is Linda OMahony, Clinical Skills Coordinator HDM, who works with registered general nurses undertaking the Higher Diploma in Midwifery as well as undergraduate midwifery students. Ms OMahony, who has been a midwife for 16 years, said: Today, were reflecting on how midwives have played such a central role in keeping our services going throughout the pandemic. Ive been a midwife myself for 16 years, and I think the pandemic has truly illustrated the importance for the midwifery service for women and their families in the Mid-West. Its a fantastic career, very rewarding and fulfilling, and I would encourage any student or anyone thinking about career options at the moment, to consider midwifery.

Further information on courses and education opportunities is available at www.nmbi.ie/education or at the following websites:

 University of Limerick - https://www.ul.ie/

 National University of Ireland, Galway - http://www.nuigalway.ie/

 University College Cork - https://www.ucc.ie/en/

 University College Dublin - https://www.ucd.ie/

 Trinity College Dublin - https://www.tcd.ie/

 Dundalk Institute of Technology - https://www.dkit.ie/
THE operator of a County Limerick-based windfarm has secured a temporary High Court order preventing a local landowner from digging up high voltage cables.

Anyone interfering with the cables, which connect the windfarm to the national grid, could suffer serious and or fatal injuries, the court heard.

The action has been brought by Dromada Windfarm (ROI) Limited, part of the SSE Group of companies, and operator of a 19-turbine windfarm at Clash South, Athea, Co Limerick against Denis Cremins.

The cables in question were laid over a decade ago on the verge of a public road next to lands owned by Mr Cremins located at Keale, Athea in Co Limerick.

The court heard that there was a long history to the matter, and there had been many engagements between the two sides.

However, the company said that Mr Cremins had set a deadline of May 5, 2021 before he would dig up the cables.

Dromada is very concerned that he will follow through with his threat to dig up the grass verge where the cables are laid. Such an action will put him and others at risk of injury or death, the company claims.

Seeking the orders Damien Keaney Bl for Dromada told the High Court that his client held discussions many years ago with Mr Cremins about leasing his property so it could add three more wind turbines to the windfarm.

It was also hoped that Dromada could run cables across Mr Cremin's property.

No agreement was ever reached. Mr Cremin in 2017, counsel said initiated legal proceedings against Dromada, over the entitlement to interfere with the landowner's property, which have not been not progressed.

Counsel said there had been considerable recent correspondence and engagement between them since 2019 after Mr Cremin threatened to dig up the cables.

He has also sought to have the cables deenergised.

Late last year counsel said Mr Cremin exposed some of the Dromada's cable ducting and safety marker tapes on the grass verge of the public road.

Counsel said at meetings held this year Mr Cremins had demanded "outrageous" payments of 7m and 4.5m from the defendant.

In the most recent series of correspondence counsel said that Mr Cremin had set a deadline of Wednesday, May 5, to dig up the cable, which aside from the serious health and safety issues would also result in the Dromada sustaining losses of 5,000 per day.

Counsel said an undertaking was sought from Mr Cremin that he would not interfere with the cable, but none was offered.

The company also was sent an email from a member of Mr Cremin's family saying that he was not prepared to back down.

Counsel said his side was willing to engage with and discuss all matters with Mr Cremin, and take into account relevant court decisions made subsequent to the construction of the windfarm.

However, no agreement has been reached.

The matter came before Mr Justice Senan Allen on Wednesday afternoon, who on an ex-parte basis, granted Dromada temporary injunction against Mr Cremins from Meenganaire, Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry.

The order restrains him from interfering with or accessing the plaintiff's machinery, electrical plant, including the high voltage cables connected to the windfarm which were laid on the public road near his property.

The judge said that he was satisfied from the evidence, particularly the concerns raised about Mr Cremin's health and safety and possible damage to the applicant's equipment, put before the court to make the orders sought.

The judge made the matter returnable to a date later this month.

However, the judge granted both sides liberty to apply to bring the matter back before the court on 24 hours' notice.
AT 9.10am on this soggy, blustery, first Monday morning in May, Dr Catherine Motherway stands on the balcony outside the Pegasus Suite of the Clayton Hotel Limerick with a heavy piece of crystal in hand.

Four nights ago, the head of the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Limerick was named Limerick Person of the Year for 2020. But a virus called Covid means it is only now that the actual award presentation is taking place.

Having just come off on-call duty, the mother-of-two who is the past president of the Intensive Care Society, is heading back home to County Galway with her new title. But this Cork native doesnt do airs or graces - her day job is saving lives, after all.

Seeing all those lovely videos of the other nominees and the fact they are all such wonderful people - I feel I was just doing my job, says a modest Dr Motherway as she settles into the sofa in the Claytons Grill Bar for a cup of coffee after her photoshoot.

Congratulations on your award, smiles the fresh-faced waiter after placing a small jug of milk on the table.

Thank you, smiles Dr Motherway, before continuing on. Those other people were doing absolutely amazing things and excelling in their field so I didnt actually expect it - it was a complete and utter and absolute shock.

At around 9.20pm during a virtual ceremony streamed live from the hotel last Thursday, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Michael Collins, handed over the all-important envelope containing the name of the Limerick Person of the Year 2020.

The judges who were tasked with selecting the winner were Mayor Collins, Dr Pat Daly, chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, and Donn OSullivan, editor of the Limerick Leader.

As soon as the MC for the night, RTEs Lorcan Murray, had uttered the words Dr Catherine Motherway, her phone began to light up with texts flying in from family and friends.

The consultant was close to trending online given the virtual love that was in the virtual air for her across Limerick and beyond.

When asked by Lorcan to put into words how she was feeling, Dr Motherway spoke immediately of accepting the award on behalf of all the staff in Limerick and around the country who have worked very hard this last year and, for our patients, I thank the panel.

For those who we have saved and for those we have lost I would think of those tonight and, in particular, I think of two of my colleagues who we have lost in the last year, this is an emotional moment, she said, her voice trembling.

The consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care was named the overall winner for her Trojan work on the frontline since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

She had been a calm, reassuring and authoritative voice on the impact of the pandemic when society was facing great uncertainty and was fearful of what might happen.

After logging off from the virtual ceremony which she had been watching on a laptop in her daughter Aoifes old bedroom in the family home in Ballinasloe, a still dazed Dr Motherway sat down and had a gin with her husband, Christopher Curley. I wasnt working the following day, I hasten to add, she smiles.

My phone was hopping to my utter amazement. To be fair, Ive been very overwhelmed by the good wishes Ive received from my colleagues at work who are all delighted and from friends and neighbours and family. Its been a bit overwhelming to be honest with you, continued Dr Motherway who also has one son, Ciaran Curley. Over the year weve lost a lot of patients - both Covid and non-Covid - weve had some very tragic deaths. Its been a very difficult time for people - even for people who lost people who didnt die from Covid. And its been lonely for people - those of us who have a job, arent we lucky! she asserts.

The consultant, who hails from Ladysbridge in County Cork and now resides in Ballinasloe, County Galway is unstinting in her praise of the Irish public who have abided, for the most part, by the strict Covid-19 rules.

The country did respond, she acknowledges, each and every time we had a surge everybody pulled back and realised we cant be doing this. Look at whats happening across the world - it is devastating.

This years Person of the Year 2020 nominees were: January, Anne Curley; February, Denise Chaila; March, The 68 Project; April, Castleconnell Boat Club; May, Dr Catherine Motherway; June, Michael Dowling; July, Emmet McNamara; August, Captain Liam Halpin; September, Sr Agnes Fitzgerald; October, Oisin OCallaghan; November, Tony Connolly; and December, Limerick Senior Hurlers.

The Limerick Person of the Year awards are sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern, and the Clayton Hotel Limerick, and this year they took place in association with IMS who live-streamed the ceremony.
Bangladesh on Thursday handed over 10,000 vials of antiviral injection Remdesivir to India as part of its medical assistance amid deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the neighbouring country.

India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Bangladeshs Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Toufique Hasan handed over 10,000 vials of Remdesivir to the representative of the Indian government at the Indian border port of Petrapole.

These 10,000 injections manufactured locally were sent as medical assistance on behalf of the people of Bangladesh at the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Covid-affected people of India, according to an official statement.

This was the first consignment of medical assistance by Bangladesh.

Last week, Bangladesh had offered to send emergency medicines and medical equipment supplies to India to combat the massive surge in the coronavirus cases.

The supplies include about 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral anti-viral, 30,000 PPE kits and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets.

"Bangladesh stands in solidarity with its close neighbour India at this critical moment and Dhaka is ready to provide and mobilise support in every possible way to save lives there," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The government said that if needed Dhaka would provide further support to India.

"The Government of Bangladesh expresses deep sorrow and condolences at the loss of lives in India due to the recent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement said, adding thoughts and prayers of Bangladeshis were with the people of India for alleviating their sufferings.

Over 40 countries have committed to provide India urgently required medical supplies like oxygen-related equipment and critical medicines to help it deal with an unprecedented second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi last week.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Qatars prosecutor ordered the arrest of Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al-Emadi to question him over an alleged abuse of power and misuse of public funds, state-run Qatar News Agency reported.

Al Emadi was named finance minister a day after Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took over leadership of the country in June 2013, and has held the role since. The prosecutor has launched an investigation, QNA said on Thursday. No further details were immediately available.

Al Emadi had been a stalwart of the countrys financial system, helping transform Qatar National Bank from a local champion into the regions biggest lender as its chief executive from 2007 to 2013. He currently serves as chairman of the banks board, is president of the executive board of Qatar Airways, and is also on the board of Qatar Investment Authority, the countrys sovereign wealth fund.

More recently, amid speculation that Al-Emadi had fallen out of favor, he was replaced as chairman of the Qatar Financial Centre -- a platform through which most foreign financial firms working in the country are registered and among agencies that encourage foreign investment.

Qatars dollar bonds held on to most of their earlier gains following the news, with the yield on the security due 2050 down about 5 basis points to 3.4%. The countrys stock market has closed for the weekend.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Sri Lanka on Thursday announced that all arrivals from India will be banned with immediate effect due to the record rise in Covid-19 cases in the neighbouring country.

Several countries like the UK, the UAE, Australia and Singapore have already banned travellers from India as well as other South Asian countries.

The Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday said that travellers from India will not be allowed to disembark in Sri Lanka. The decision has been taken as the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in India.

The Director-General Civil aviation in a letter to the CEO of the national carrier Srilankan Airlines has said, "in accordance with instructions received from health authorities of Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, it is hereby directed that passengers travelling from India will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka with immediate effect."

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, nearly 2,000 new cases have been reported during each of the last 5 days up from an average of 200 per day up until mid-April.

Described as the New Year cluster coming from the traditional New Year festivities mid-April, the current wave is from the fast-spreading UK variant, the health authorities said.

Sri Lanka had functioned as a transit hub for Indians visiting other destinations like West Asia and Singapore prior to which they needed to be quarantined for 14 days. This was an arrangement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The Sri Lankan tourism authorities were to continue receiving Indian tourists under a travel bubble for which special facilities were set up. This was despite the current difficult situation in India.

However, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued instructions to allow Sri Lankan migrant workers to return to the country.

Last week the Sri Lankan Navy announced as a Covid containment measure that they had increased surveillance of north and northeastern seas to check the possibility of infected Indian fishermen crossing the international waters and making contacts with the locals.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

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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Harvey Weinstein wants his money back.

The imprisoned producer  who is awaiting extradition to Los Angeles  filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Jose Baez, one of several lawyers who briefly represented him in his New York rape case.

He is seeking the return of $1 million in legal fees, arguing that Baez failed to substantiate the charges.

Baez  the Florida attorney best known for winning the Casey Anthony case  was Weinsteins lawyer for about five months in 2019. Baez charged a non-refundable retainer of $200,000 per month. Under their original agreement, Baez anticipated charging a total of $2 million over 10 months.

According to the complaint, Weinstein became dissatisfied with Baezs representation. The suit alleges that Baez was regularly preoccupied with other matters, regularly unavailable to communicate to Weinstein, and not directly involved with the compilation, investigation, research, and drafting of various high priority substantive legal work.

Much of that work was delegated to Baezs co-counsel, Ronald Sullivan, a Harvard law professor who ended up withdrawing from the case under heavy public pressure in May 2019.

According to the suit, Baez pledged to stay on the case after Sullivan withdrew. But he also threatened to back out, and at one point demanded immediate payment of the $1 million he had not yet received, the suit alleges. Baez informed the court he, too, was withdrawing in June 2019.

Baez is represented by Joe Tacopina, the New York power lawyer who appeared with Baez on the short-lived Fox reality show You the Jury. In a statement, Tacopina said Weinstein was a rapist who had made a legal blunder by suing Baez and thereby waiving attorney-client privilege.

Harvey Weinsteins lawsuit against Jose Baez and his firm is nothing more than yet another predatory act by a vile fiend, utterly lacking in credibility, Tacopina said. Unable to satisfy his sick deviant interests by preying upon vulnerable women from behind bars, Weinstein, the rapist, has sought to satisfy his avarice by seeking a financial windfall to which he is not entitled. In yet another legal blunder, Weinsteins lawsuit has opened the door to disclosure of damning statements by him which would otherwise have been shielded by the attorney-client privilege. Despite Weinsteins penchant for bullying, Jose Baez is an upstanding pillar of the legal community who will not be pushed around and looks forward to exposing Weinsteins claims for what they are, audacious lies.

After Baez dropped out of the case, Weinstein hired Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis, who led the trial defense in early 2020, along with Arthur Aidala. Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sexual act, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Aidalas firm is now handling his appeal.

Update: A Weinstein spokesman responds to Tacopina.

Mr. Tacopinas irrelevant tirade aside, Harvey Weinstein is lawfully enabled to receive fair and accountable legal representation. Mr. Weinstein and his attorneys view this as a simple fee disagreement that they expect will be settled amicably.

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When Steve McQueen first approached John Boyega about playing London police officer Leroy Logan in his Amazon Prime Video anthology series Small Axe, they were both amazed and puzzled by the story of the real-life trailblazer. Logan was a young forensic scientist who gave up that successful career to take on the challenge of a lifetime: He wanted to create change from within by becoming a police officer.

But in doing so, Logan faced the disapproval of his father, was seen as a traitor by his community, and encountered plenty of blatant racism inside the Metropolitan police force.

That was the key for me see, this guys made the decision that a lot of people wouldnt make, especially during that time, Boyega tells Varietys Awards Circuit podcast. And I was curious as to what kind of mind is behind a man that kind of makes this choice. Boyega soon met with Logan, and discovered they had various connections in the community, making his Small Axe installment, Red White and Blue, even more personal. Boyega also discusses his own advocacy, working with McQueen and even that Star Wars reference that McQueen managed to sneak in. Listen below!

Small Axe is a five-film anthology from director McQueen, set from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, inside Londons West Indian community. The films each tell a different story about the power of truth and resistance in the midst of racism and discrimination. And yes, the stories feel just as timely today. In Red, White and Blue, Boyega plays Leroy Logan, and while the story chronicles Logans early days in the force (he eventually became one of Londons top officers), it also details the relationship between Logan and his disapproving dad (played by Steve Toussaint).

Boyega remembers when McQueen approached him with Small Axe, and how the director described the characters that he wanted to portray, and real life people, real life situations that were a real pivotal part of black British history, he says. I was just like, OK, this dude is crazy genius, which is always a good thing in our industry, especially creatives. But at the same time, I just really believed in the goal. To shine a light on stories that havent been told before, that are kind of missing from the history books of film. I was just honestly excited by his expression about his experience growing up, the types of stories from the other films as well. I signed on to his creative vision.

In meeting the real-life Logan, Boyega discovered that the officer had volunteered with some of the youth groups that Boyega had been involved with as a kid in South London. And he had a chance to ask about Logans motivations in joining the police. I was asking him real, you know, stuff that I cant really say on here, but real, raw questions about the scenarios, or what he was thinking, and, you know, how could he have possibly reacted? Boyega says. He felt that it was worth giving up his career as a scientist and going into policing, because it was of benefit to the community. Down the line there would be more representation that will hopefully motivate other people to join. That thinking, its not for everybody.

Would Boyega have ever considered joining the force? Oh, hell no, hell no, he says. Raised in the sticks, no, dont do that. Nah, nah. But I think theres other ways of doing it. And thats why I was so curious to ask him what was motivating and in understanding him and representing this guy. It was cool to understand his perspective, but we all have different ways of doing, mine isnt that.

Small Axe may take place decades ago, but its subject matter is clearly just as timely today. That was even more evident over the past year, as the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others by police helped ignite a global movement to end police brutality, especially against Black individuals. Boyega made headlines last June for making an impromptu, impassioned speech at a Black Lives Matter rally in London.

First and foremost, Im Black, he says of speaking up. And the second thing really is, is just the sorrow that it gives you to see Black bodies continuously treated that way. And so it moves you regardless of your situation. I wasnt supposed to speak, [but] I was given the megaphone. And that was just what was naturally on my mind Its also [important] to stop ourselves from being mere spectators of these movements and situations and really try to align our own goals.

Later in the episode, the a chat with Ziwe, the comedian and author who went viral last summer when she hosted the Instagram live show From My Bedroom. Now, with a new platform on Showtime and partnership with producers at A24, she tells Varietys Danielle Turchiano about the overall universe she is creating.

And the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast roundtable kicks off Emmy season by discussing the early frontrunners, whats in store this FYC season and what theyre hoping to see as the campaign progresses.

Varietys Emmy edition of the Awards Circuit podcast is hosted by Michael Schneider, Jazz Tangcay and Danielle Turchiano and is your one-stop listen for lively conversations about the best in television. Each week during Emmy season, Awards Circuit features interviews with top TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much, much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts. New episodes post every Thursday.

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Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, the music event designed to inspire vaccine confidence and help get them to everyone, will air on Insight TVs linear channels.

The concert, pre-taped at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, before an audience of vaccinated frontline healthcare and essential workers, is hosted by Selena Gomez. It includes musical performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R, and joined by Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, and Sean Penn.

Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are serving as campaign chairs for the effort which aims to get financial commitments for vaccine procurement and medical tools and supplies. The event features special messages from His Holiness Pope Francis, President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Biden, and Indian acting icon Amitabh Bachchan. Additionally, President Macron of France, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and Prime Minister Plenkovic of Croatia will make appearances.

His Holiness Pope Francis called for a spirit of justice that mobilizes us to ensure true universal access to vaccines, and a temporary suspension of intellectual property rights. A spirit of communion that allows us to generate a different economic model that is inclusive, just and sustainable.

In their video address, President Biden said that the U.S. is working with leaders around the world to share more vaccines and boost production to make sure every country has the vaccines they need.

Amitabh Bachchan shared an urgent plea from India, the world epicenter of COVID-19 currently, saying: My country India is battling with the sudden surge of the second wave of COVID-19. As a global citizen I appeal to all global citizens to rise up, speak to your governments, your pharmaceutical companies, and ask them to donate, to give, to extend a helping hand to the public that needs it the most. Every effort counts.

Insight TV, the millennial-focused global channel and content producer, will be the only channel to broadcast Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World in 4K UHD HDR on May 9, 2am CET across North America, Europe and Asia.

Arun Maljaars, Insight TVs VP of content and channels, said: COVID-19 has sent shockwaves around the world and destroyed many peoples lives and livelihoods. For this concert to call on governments, philanthropists and the private sector to prioritize the equitable distribution of vaccines is admirable, and we at Insight TV are honored to be the only broadcaster to showcase this event in 4K UHD HDR.

The concert is produced by international advocacy organization Global Citizen, the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative, YouTube Originals, iHeartMedia, and Live Nation.

Elsewhere, the concert will be available to view on YouTube worldwide, ABC, CBS, Fox and iHeart in the U.S., AXS TV in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean and Multishow in Brazil.

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When H shows up for work in Guy Ritchies Wrath of Man, no one at Fortico Security has much reason to suspect he might have any motive other than protecting the cash for the armored-truck outfit. The new guy  who looks an awful lot like the bald bloke from the Crank and Transporter movies  doesnt waste words. His backstory checks out, as do his references. Hes a decent shot, but not so good that it would attract attention. Just another guard on an experienced team that recently lost two of its own in a bloody heist.

His first day on the job, however, some jokers try to rob Hs truck, and he cant help showing them he means business. What could have been a $2.5 million robbery winds up with his co-workers safe, the money secure and half a dozen would-be crooks dead. Not just dead, but plugged so precisely, its hard to ignore that H must be some kind of professional  and a hell of a better marksman than his employers took him for.

Ticket buyers will be considerably less surprised than the instant heros Fortico colleagues to learn that H has an agenda. Thats because H is played by Jason Statham, reuniting with Ritchie more than two decades after Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels launched both of their blockbuster movie careers, and its not for nothing that these two decided to team up again.

As the pairs crime-movie collaborations go, this latest project isnt nearly so flashy as career-high Snatch or the whirling, rococo mess that was Revolver. While Statham plays off the stoical tough-guy persona hes developed in the interim, Ritchie settles into the tense but relatively restrained mode of Christopher Nolan  specifically, The Dark Knight, easily the most influential action movie since The Matrix.

Ritchies own RocknRolla-coaster style has plenty of imitators, but here, its refreshing to see him calm down and deliver something thats intricate without being addled. The production adopts an elegant, almost monochromatic color palette, while composer Christopher Bensteads undeniably Zimmer-esque double-bassy score steadily saws away at our nerves, keeping audiences just this side of a heart attack for the better part of two hours. Like the H character, Wrath of Man walks into the room confident and secure in its abilities, professional, efficient and potentially lethal.

All of this is best experienced in a movie theater, if possible.

Though Ritchie and The Gentlemen co-writers Marn Davies and Ivan Atkinson have taken considerable liberties along the way, Wrath of Man serves as a remake of/improvement upon Nicolas Boukhriefs 2008 Cash Truck (Le Convoyeur), a tight 95-minute thriller little seen outside its native France. The setup is the same, though best left vague, considering the fun that comes in speculating as to Hs motives during the new films mysterious first hour: Is he a government agent? A criminal mastermind? Is he planning a heist of his own? Or did he join Fortico to thwart the next one?

The title is a clue, obviously, and in time, Ritchie reveals the reverse angles on that opening strike  a strategic coup, executed with almost military precision, in which a team disguised as construction workers stall the Fortico truck and steal its contents, killing both guards and a couple of civilians in the process. The first time we see the scene, the camera is locked down among the cash bags in the back of the vehicle, and its hard to make out what is going on exactly. The robbery might as well be happening to us, the viewers, so terrifying and immediate does it all unfold.

Ritchie will show the heist two more times: first from Hs perspective (as it happens, hes casing the Fortico headquarters when it occurs), then again from that of the squad that planned it  or more specifically, through the one good eye of the face-scarred renegade member (Scott Eastwood) who did all of the shooting. By this time, its more than clear how H relates to everything, as well as what his end goal is, which is more than can be said for the French film that opted for a more elliptical version of the same crime.

H wants revenge. And from the looks of it, he has nothing to lose, which makes him even more dangerous than what the characters backstory would suggest.

Without divulging his true identity, allow me to tease one detail I dont think Ive ever seen in another movie  this one involving yet another cash truck robbery in which H is along for the ride: The van is on a routine call when thieves surround it, forcing the driver (an affable meathead who calls himself Bullet, played by Holt McCallany) and H to exit the vehicle. H steps out and  Ritchie cuts to the debriefing scene back at the Fortico depot.

Already the director has established a punchy yet anti-gratuitous style that turns away from (or otherwise minimizes) the moments that might have been most upsetting to witness, leaving much of the violence off-screen. But to omit this particular showdown entirely? Turns out, not a shot was fired. The gang took one look at Hs face and hastily turned around, abandoning the scene of the crime. Not even John Wick has that effect on people. And this comes after the authorities have given him carte blanche. As a high-ranking FBI agent (played by Andy Garcia) puts it, Let the painter paint.

Enigmas abound in the clockwork-precise suspense puzzle. While not without plot holes, the mechanism grips as it gradually builds toward a climactic scheme to hit the depot on Black Friday, the biggest cash day of the year  a plan that hinges on an inside man. Or woman. Fortico manager Terry (Eddie Marsan) is suspicious of H, but also raises suspicions of his own. Grudge-minded John (Alex Ferns) controls access to the facility, always nervous Boy Sweat Dave (Josh Hartnett) has an itchy trigger finger, and lone female guard Dana (Niamh Algar) is revealed to have stolen from the company before. Any of them could be in on it.

Rather than merely rehashing Boukhriefs ideas, Ritchie comes up with striking, original set-pieces, favoring the aforementioned discipline of Nolans The Dark Knight (and before that, Michael Manns Heat, which shares this films industrial-looking Los Angeles backdrop) over his own more flamboyant M.O. of swooping camera moves and variable film speeds. A few years ago, when Sam Mendes left the Bond franchise, Ritchies name was floated as a possible replacement. He didnt take the gig, but Wrath of Man shows that he certainly could have, classing up his signature technique while never quite abandoning the cockney swagger. The approach would have suited the 007 franchise just fine. But who knows  he may have just minted his own instead.

Reviewed at the London Hotel screening room, Los Angeles, May 4, 2021. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 119 MIN.

Running Time: Running time: 119 MIN.

MPAA Rating: R

Production

(U.S.-U.K.) A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures release, presented with Miramax, of a Toff Guy Films production. Producers: Guy Ritchie, Bill Block, Ivan Atkinson. Executive producers: Louise Killin, Joshua Throne, Steven Chasman, Andrew Golov. Co-producer: Max Keene.

Crew

Director: Guy Ritchie. Screenplay: Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies, based upon the film Le Convoyeur, written by Nicolas Boukhrief, Eric Besnard and directed by Nicolas Boukhrief. Camera: Alan Stewart. Editor: James Herbert. Music: Christopher Benstead.

With

Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Laz Alonzo, Raul Castillo, DeObia Oparei, Eddie Marsan, Scott Eastwood.

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On Wednesday, TAMIU leadership proudly accepted and announced a gift of $1 million toward the petroleum engineering program by the Killam family, who were present at the conference.

With this contribution, our family hopes to inspire others to invest in TAMIU, because when we invest in higher education, we empower individuals to transform their lives and we enable the change that people desire to advance their lives, families and entire communities, Cliffe Killam stated.

The donation will be used toward an endowed professorship, which would allow the university to hire permanent faculty members in the petroleum engineering program with the money donated. This provides a gold standard mentor to students that are and will move forward toward the career field.

It means well be able to add to the caliber of our faculty.  Well be able to recruit and retain talented faculty that will add to the very fantastic and significant accomplishments that our faculty have already done, said Claudia San Miguel, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. But it will also mean that our students will have additional mentors and additional faculty members to provide research experiences.

One of the first decisions San Miguel made when she started the position was to prepare for the ABET accreditation. The agency of over 2,200 industry experts overlooks university programs and ensures they are up to professional standards, with a focus on natural sciences, computing and engineering.

She said that during the visit by the agency, Killam family members offered guidance to the university for a successful visit. As a result, both the petroleum engineering and computer engineering degree programs were greenlit and are now available for students.

And as of Spring 2021, three TAMIU students  Juan Jose Bustamante Jr., Ian Lopez and Armando Barbosa Jr.  will be the first graduates of the petroleum engineering certificate and are slated to graduate from the program in 2022.

Bustamante said that as part of the first class to receive the certificate, he senses the pressure to succeed, but he also feels honored to help pave the way for future students interested in the program and career field.

Reflecting Bustamantes sentiments, he expects the program to grow over time for students interested in the field. And while he sees that the oil career field tends to fluctuate, he believes that there will be a rise in demand, specifically with the application of advanced oil techniques to increase production.

To me this is a big step forward toward my career. Me and my friends are the first graduates at getting this certificate and this program is expected to grow, Barbosa said. I wish the best of luck to the future students.

Each student also gave their thanks to the Killam family along with TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz, who reminisced about the 300 acre land donation that was the foundation of the university and the efforts of the family throughout the years.

Arenaz spoke about a time where both he and David Killam discussed starting the petroleum engineering program and the obstacles placed by a 2011 engineering advisory committee. The approval was granted after three rejected proposals and a change in the committee leadership, but there was still pushback from the commissioner who told Arenaz and David Killam that Laredo students could not handle the math.

It is safe to say that with three graduates, the commissioner was wrong.

Mom and dad always believed in the power of education to transform peoples lives, David Killam said. As a member of the board of the University System of South Texas, she helped Laredo State University develop and grow until it became TAMIU in 1993. She was proud of TAMIU and the opportunities education applies to our community. We hope this gift opens the door to success for many future students.

Cliffe Killam reflected on his grandparents notion that when looking back, the community would realize that the university would be the most important thing to happen in Laredo during the 20th century.

And I would argue in the 21st century too, he continued. Why, you may ask? Because it brings caring experts and ideas from across the country and world to share new ideas and educate future generations of leaders that will have a big impact in Laredo and beyond.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
Danny Zaragoza/Laredo Morning Times

A migrant accused of being in the country illegally has been indicted for trying to escape from the detention area of a U.S. Border Patrol station, according to court documents.

An indictment filed on April 30 charged Francisco Paloblanco-Soto with escape from custody and illegal entry of a migrant. If convicted, Paloblanco-Soto could face up to one year in federal prison.


Pianist Rachel Thomson with cellist Inbal Megiddo.

Warkworth Music will present Cello Journey at the Warkworth Town Hall this month  a concert featuring two of Aotearoas top chamber musicians.

Warkworth Music says Inbal Megiddo (cello) and Rachel Thomson (piano) will take the audience on a musical OE with cherished pieces chosen to explore different musical cultures, styles and periods.

Join the duo as they enjoy the Spanish nightlife with de Falla, glimpse Japanese culture with Salina Fisher and bask in the Russian countryside with Shostakovich, before ending up in the German concert hall with Brahms.

Inbal Megiddo holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from Yale University and has performed as soloist with many of the worlds great orchestras in major concert halls around the world. Her work has included recitals at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the Staatsoper in Berlin.

She has also been guest artist at festivals, including the International Cello Congress in Japan and Israel, the Beijing International Chamber Music Festival and the Melbourne Cello Festival. She has given masterclasses at institutions around the world, including many of the major music schools. In high demand as a teacher, Ms Megiddo is currently Senior Lecturer in cello at the New Zealand School of Music.

Pianist Rachel Thomson grew up in Wellington and studied music at Victoria University. She gained a doctorate in piano performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music in the United States and is active as a teacher, adjudicator and accompanist.

The concert takes place at Warkworth Town Hall on Sunday, May 16, at 4pm. Tickets are $35 at the door, school students are free.

Info: www.warkworthmusic.org.nz
Mason Lee Miller, of Lockport, son of Kaitlyn LaJoie and John Miller, Jr., passed away June 5, 2021. Brother of Isaiah and Jeremiah; grandson of Kenneth and Jennifer LaJoie, Sandra Green and John Miller, Sr.; also survived by great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Services will be pr
At the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called on U.S. and Canadian officials to develop a reopening plan for the northern border "as soon as possible." During Schumer'sfirst visit to the Cataract City since he became Senate Majority Leader, Mayor Robert Restaino, left, presented him with a pair of Niagara Falls masks, one blue and one red. Schumer elected to wear the blue one. (James Neiss / staff photographer)
Violent protesters gather outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. State lawmakers across the U.S. are reconsidering the tradeoffs of facial recognition technology amid civil rights and racial bias concerns. Variants of facial recognition technology were used, including by ordinary people, to help identify those who took part in the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Gold & Silver Begin New Advancing Cycle Phase

Before going into detail regarding my latest research and cycle phases, I want you to think of these cycle phases as Advancing and Declining cycle trends. They act as a build-up of trend, then an unwinding of trend. In each instance, trends can be either Bullish, Bearish, or Neutral in nature. My research team and I believe a new Bullish Cycle Phase has begun in Gold and Silver. If our research is correct, the next Advancing Cycle Phase may prompt a broad rally in Gold and Silver.

Understanding Cycle Phase Analysis & Trends in Metals

We interpret these cycle phases as unique trend segments involved in a broader cycle scope. For example, over a longer-term rally, we may see many Bullish Advancing and Declining cycle phases take place  one after another. Conversely, we may see many Bearish cycle phases take place in an extended downtrend. Another type of cycle phase can also exist, the Reversal Cycle Phase  where price Advances in one direction and Declines in the opposite direction. This type of Rotation Cycle Phase exists as the current completed Cycle on the Gold chart, below.

As we are nearing the end of the current Declining Cycle Phase as seen in the chart below, we will soon begin the new Advancing Cycle Phase in Gold. Golds Reversal Cycle Phase that took place between December 21, 2020, and May 10, 2021, will likely close higher than the midpoint (or Apex) of the total Cycle Phase. This suggests a new bullish price trend has taken over and the price is more likely to move higher in the next Advancing Cycle Phase. If this trend continues, then the price will continue to rally higher in the Declining Cycle Phase as well  as we saw in the first Cycle Phase: between March 16, 2020, and August 3, 2020.

Gold & Silver Phase Tables  Will Price Continue A New Bullish Cycle Phase?

To help explain our Cycle research, weve put together these tables to detail the Cycle Phases and price logic we use to interpret each Advancing and Declining phase. Each table entry consists of an Advancing, then Declining Cycle Phase. Combined, they make up a complete Cycle Phase. We are measuring price at the midpoint (Apex) of the Cycle Phase to determine if any Advancing or Declining Cycle Phase is Bullish or Bearish in trend. If both Advancing and Declining Cycle Phases show the same trend direction, we define that completed Cycle Phase as Bullish or Bearish. If they differ in trend types, we define that completed Cycle Phase as a Reversal Phase.

Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report!

Gold has been in a downtrend recently while Silver has continued to stay somewhat bullish in a sideways price trend. You can see from the tables below, Gold recently completed a Reversal Cycle Phase (ending with a Bullish Declining Phase) while Silver has continued to exhibit Bullish Cycle Phases since March 9, 2020.

Both Gold and Silver ended their last completed Cycle Phases recently. Gold will end the last completed Cycle Phase on May 10, 2021. Silver ended its last completed Cycle Phase on April 12, 2021. The next Advancing Cycle Phase for both Gold and Silver will begin this week and next week  and will continue until July 19, 2021. After that, the Declining Cycle Phase will begin and last until late September, for Gold, and late October for Silver.

If our research is correct, we may see extended bullish trending over the next 6+ months in both Gold and Silver.

Silver Cycle Phases Continue To Show Stronger Bullish Trending

The following Silver Weekly Chart highlights the Cycle Phases and highlights the price trends for each Advancing and Declining Cycle Phase. While Gold has experienced an extended Bearish Cycle Phase over the past 5+ months, Silver has continued to show stronger bullish price Cycle Phases and continues to attempt higher closing price levels at the end of each Cycle Phase. We believe this suggests Silver is likely to see some explosive upside price trending when the $28.42 level (the higher YELLOW line) is breached. This level represents historical price resistance for Silver. Once this level is breached, we believe Silver will begin to advance higher very quickly.

Remember, we have until July 19, 2021, before the first Advancing Cycle Phase in Silver ends. This Advancing Phase may prompt a move above the $28.42 level and may attempt to rally above $30.00 as we have drawn on the chart (below). If the Declining Cycle Phase continues this bullish trend, we may see Silver trading above $32.00 ~ $33.00 before Halloween 2021. This would represent a +26.5% rally in Silver from the last completed Cycle Phase price level.

In closing, we want to suggest that a rally as we are proposing in Gold and Silver will also present a renewed risk factor for the US and global markets (potentially). In the past, we have seen precious metals rally while the US stock market rallies. It is not uncommon for precious metals to begin to move higher while the US stock market continues to move higher. This type of price activity simply suggests that global traders/investors are moving capital into Precious Metals as the US stock market climbs a strengthening wall of worry. This type of price action happened from 2004 to 2009  prior to the Credit Crisis/Housing Crisis.

As weve been suggesting for many months, the next few years are going to be full of incredible opportunities for traders and investors. Smart traders will quickly identify these phases of the market and will understand how to position themselves to take advantage of this next phase. You can learn more about how I identify and trade Gold, Silver, and the markets by watching my FREE step-by-step guide to finding and trading the best sectors.

For those who believe in the power of trading on relative strength, market cycles, and momentum but dont have the time to do the research every day then my BAN Trader Pro newsletter service does all the work for you with daily market reports, research, and trade alerts. More frequent or experienced traders have been killing it trading options, ETFs, and stocks using my BAN Hotlist ranking the hottest ETFs, which is updated daily for my premium subscribers.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Longford artist Emily Brennan has been announced as one of the 31 recipients of the inaugural PLATFORM 31 bursary, the national development scheme for artists to develop their practice and test new ideas of collaboration, research, audience development, place based arts and sharing their work.

Emily grew up on a dairy and beef farm just outside Lanesboro and was a pupil of Fermoyle National School before going to Mean Scoil Mhuire in Longford town.

Im not really sure how I got into it (art). I was just always drawing in my free time. I loved doing art as a subject for Junior Cert and then dropped it for the Leaving thinking that I was going into something biology based, Emily told the Longford Leader.

When I did the Leaving I got a place in dairy business UCD and veterinary nursing, Dundalk but I decided to defer them and do a one year PLC in art to see if I liked it.

After completing that year, I was offered a place on the fine art course in DIT and decided to go with that instead. Then when I completed my Bachelors in DIT I decided I want to start my own business. Myself and two others opened BKB Visual Arts Studio in Glasnevin in 2019, which is an interdisciplinary studio space for artists to make and display their work.

Emily mainly works through the medium of video and makes short films, but she often paints or draws during the research process.

Most of my work in previous years has focused on nature and the environment as a subject and I think this stems from my farming background, said Emily.

If I wasn't working as an artist, I would definitely be doing something involving animals and agriculture. The subject of environmentalism is huge and I like to tackle it in small sections, like our family farm or our relationship with the boglands. The way we deal with the climate crisis affects the lives of my family very directly.

One of Emilys larger bodies of work is a ten minute film called Gaia, which focuses on the example of one particular building in Clondra and its lasting legacy on the landscape.

The huge Atlantic Mills factory which produced denim and was sited for leaking chemical dyes and waste directly into the river Shannon, she revealed.

I like to use small scale stories like these to highlight a bigger picture.

The PLATFORM31 Bursary will allow Emily to refocus on her art practice, which she says has been neglected for the last two years.

Developed by the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers (ALAAO), in collaboration with the Arts Council, PLATFORM31 offers financial and developmental support for the 31 mid-career artists awarded.

Participating artists will receive an 8,000 bursary to invest in themselves and their practice, combined with participation in an advisory and developmental framework and a peer network.

The pilot scheme is envisioned as a platform for the participants to value their time, to showcase their work and their collaborations, sharing their learnings locally and nationally as a legacy of the project.

My attention has been on running the studio and I hadnt taken much time to produce anything new for a while now. The bursary allows me that time but has also put me in touch with so many other artists across the country who are working in similar areas, she said.

We have only met a couple of times so far but the conversations have been extremely stimulating and inspiring. Working as a visual artist can sometimes be a very individual endeavour but I find that I work best with others around me, motivating me.

I feel very lucky to be a recipient of the award. I am sure they received a huge amount of quality applications, judging the calibre of my peers who were also successful, she added.

I am very honoured as well to be the representative for my home county. I have lived in Dublin for a few years now but I don't think I'll ever really be a city person. I love coming home when I can, which hasnt been much in the past year.

The Arts industry is one that has been very badly affected by the pandemic, with artists all over the country and internationally struggling to make ends meet without the annual events that have kept them going.

Covid has affected my studio business in that we have had to close three different times now, said Emily.

We are just preparing now to reopen since closing in early January. We are lucky to be able to reopen at all and have such great studio members keeping the place going. We were also fortunate to receive support from the Arts Council late last year and that has been a huge help.

But it hasnt all been doom and gloom for Emily over the past 14 months. In fact, Covid has had its own role to play in Emilys art career.

In terms of my own artistic practice, Covid has probably been beneficial for it overall. I have had a lot of free time to think about what I want to do in the future and what type of work I want to make, she said.

Without that I probably wouldn't have gone for the PLATFORM 31 bursary.

That future shes had more time to consider will see Emily return to college in September.

I have been offered a place on a Masters course in UCD, which I plan to attend this September. It is a Masters in Cultural Policy and Arts Management and as we exit lockdown, I am really hoping that the majority of it will be in person classes, she explained.

This degree will heavily focus on the business side of the arts industry and this should give me much better ability to run a successful studio and gallery which is what I hope to do long term alongside my artistic practice.

Emilys advice to young artists hoping to pursue a career with their passion is to go for it, but only if you are very self-motivated.

An artistic career is completely self-driven and there won't be anyone telling you what you need to do and when, she said.

Its one of the harder areas to succeed in because it is solely based on you and your abilities. If you think you would love to become an artist but want a little more direction, I would recommend going into something like graphic design or even animation. There are loads of artistic careers but being an artist who can live off just making their art is very rare.
A Longford man who was previously cleared of the unlawful killing of another man following a row outside a pub in Co Longford two years ago has reappeared in court after being found guilty of dangerous and drink driving.

Gerard Melia (33), Derrygowna, Lanesboro, Co Longford was not at the scene when gardai came across a car which had crashed into a signpost at Derraghan Mor, Lanesboro, during the early hours of August 17 2020.

The Longford native, the court heard, had already been taken away by ambulance for treatment to bruised ribs and cuts to his hands when Garda Colm Satchwell came across the crash scene.

It was also revealed Mr Melia had taken off in a car which had been under repair at his fathers crash repair business after a row with his partner.

The court was informed the car in question was also not initially located and was later found parked up at the family run business.

In defence, solicitor Brid Mimnagh said Mr Melia later voluntarily went to a local garda station and spoke to officers over the incident.

The guards wouldnt have known anything about it, had he not called, she said.

She added her client was already under the radar of gardai at that time with Mr Melia due to stand trial accused of the unlawful killing of another man in a pub car park which dated back to August 2019.

Fifty-year-old Noel McGann died three days after being struck by Mr Melia at Leavy's car park, Foigha, Kenagh, Co Longford on 1 August 2019.

After almost four and a half hours of deliberations at Longford Circuit Criminal Court a jury of six men and four women found Mr Melia not guilty.

He (Mr Melia) was acquitted on (grounds) of self defence, said Ms Mimnagh.

She said her client was now attempting to get his life back on track and had not consumed any alcohol for the past six months.

Ms Mimnagh also told of how Mr Melia had gone to stay in Northern Ireland with his sister and had recently undergone a procedure to aid his rehabilitation.

She continued by saying Mr Melia had opted to drive that night after falling out with his now estranged ex partner, but continued to have a very good relationship with his one year old daughter.

It was initially claimed Mr Melia had been disqualified at the time but it was later revealed a postponement on the start of that ban wasnt due to commence until September, a month before the incident before the court took place.

Judge Hughes took a dim view of those revelations, arguing the point Mr Melia was well aware he had been on a special privilege when deciding to get behind the wheel of a car while over the limit.

You certainly have a history, I have to say, noted Judge Hughes as he handed down a four month suspended prison sentence for the drink driving offence.

That term was suspended for a period of three years with an identical sentence being issued for driving without insurance.

Fines totalling 500 in respect of both offences were also given, allowing Mr Melia three months to pay.
While gardai were conducting an Operation Lifesaver checkpoint at Marlfield village on Sunday, May 2, they were alerted to a suspicious looking insurance certificate on a vehicle's windscreen.

On further inspection, gardai noted that the disc was in fact false and photocopied.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged and is to appear in court at a later date.

Duo accused of assaulting man in Edgeworthstown to stand trial Two men who allegedly assaulted another man during a violent row in Edgeworthstown over two years ago are to be served with books of evidence.
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(Alliance News) - Ireland's services industries picked up last monthA ahead ofA the government endingA a third coronavirusA lockdown, according to a survey of around 400 businesses published on Thursday.

The jump was the strongest since the pandemic started, going byA April'sA purchasing managers' index, whose compilers said "total activity and new business both increased at the fastest rates since February 2020."

Published by Allied Irish BanksA and IHS Markit, which produces monthly PMIs covering manufacturing and services in dozens of countries, the survey reported rising employment in media, telecoms and financial services, but said there was "broadly no change" in tourism or leisure, sectorsA unlikelyA to reopenA until later thisA year.

The AIB Ireland services business activity index rose to 57.7 points in April from 54.6 in March. This was above the neutral market of 50 points and also above the measure's long-term trend level of 54.8.

"Although much of the services sector remains in lockdown, the data are encouraging," said AIB economist Oliver Mangan.

In April, the government slightly relaxed a lockdown in place since late last year,A widening theA 'non-essential' travel limit from fiveA kilometres of a homeA andA returningA all classesA to school.

A wider relaxation will see non-essential retail reopen from May 17, a week afterA in-person religious services resume and nationwide travel is allowed again,A though services businesses such as pubs, restaurantsA and hotels will have to wait until June.

Some pubs have been forced to stay closed since March 2020, with Ireland's restrictions regularlyA listedA asA Europe's longest-lasting and most restrictiveA in aA University of Oxford ranking.

DublinA was on Wednesday again criticisedA for forcing arrivals from fiveA fellow EU member states to quarantine in expensive hotels, with French Ambassador Vincent GuerendA slamming the requirement,A which has not been emulated elsewhere in the bloc,A as "unnecessarily harsh".

As a result of the services improvement, the composite output index rose to 58.1 points in April from 54.5 in March, signalling the fastest growth rate for the private sector in Ireland since 2018.

The composite index is a combination of the services and manufacturing sector readings. On Tuesday, AIB and IHS Markit had said the Ireland manufacturing PMI rose to 60.8 points in April from 57.1 in March.

source: dpa

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) -A Private equity firm Carlyle is among suitors eyeing up Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC's infant nutrition arm in China, Sky News reported on Thursday.

Sky reported that the buyout firm is among a number of parties preparing to put forward offers for the Greater China unit of Mead Johnson ahead of a deadline on Thursday.

Citing sources, Sky said Yili, one of the biggest existing players in the country's infant nutrition market, was also expected to bid. The sale is expected to fetch up to USD2 billion.

https://news.sky.com/story/carlyle-among-suitors-for-reckitts-1-4bn-chinese-infant-nutrition-arm-12298435

Mead Johnson Nutrition, a US baby formula maker, was bought by Reckitt for USD18 billion in 2017.

By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Thursday said the demerger of its South African coal business, called Thungela Resources Ltd, was given the go-ahead by shareholders at a general meeting on Wednesday.

The global miner said Thungela shares are set to be admitted to trading on the Main Board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on June 7, if all remaining conditions are satisfied.

On the same date, Thungela will also be admitted to the standard listing segment of the UK Official List and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

A total of 94% of Anglo American shareholders voted in favour of the demerger, while the remaining 6% voted against.

Thungela produced 16.5 million tonnes of thermal coal in 2020.

Anglo American was trading 0.8% higher at 3,292.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning, and was up 1.3% at ZAR656.63 each in Johannesburg.

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - A tense post-Brexit standoff between France and Britain eased Thursday, as London recalled two navy vessels sent to Jersey and protesting French fishermen returned home without blockading the island's main port.

The latest blow to cross-Channel relations was caused by angry French fishermen protesting over new fish licensing arrangements on the Channel island following Britain's departure from the EU.

At dawn, a flotilla of around 50 trawlers had massed in front of the Saint Helier harbour on Jersey, a picturesque self-governing territory that is dependent on Britain for its defence.A

Fears of a blockade prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to send two Royal Navy gunboats to the area, with France following suit by sending two of its own coast patrol vessels.

But after the fishing vessels withdrew in the afternoon, Johnson ordered the return of the navy vessels.

"Given the situation is resolved for now, the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels will prepare to return to port in the UK," said a statement from his office.

"We remain on standby to provide any further assistance Jersey requests."

Jersey lies just off France's northern coast and its rich fishing waters were previously open to French boats before Brexit tore up the previous arrangements.A

In the middle of the afternoon, after hours of bobbing around while letting off the occasional smoke flare, the French trawlers began withdrawing.

"The show of force is over, now it's politics that has to pick up the baton," said Dimitri Rogoff, president of the fishing association in the French Normandy region.A

The British navy vessels HMS Severn and HMS Tamar were sent to Jersey's waters to "monitor the situation", the UK government said, while a French military source said the situation was "very calm overall".

Johnson spoke to Jersey's Chief Minister John Le Fondre on Wednesday and the pair "stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions", according to a statement.

In the run up to Thursday's protest, French fishermen had been loudly complaining about new licensing requirements announced by Jersey authorities.

They view the paperwork as deliberately obstructing them a the same charge made by other French boat owners who have denounced delays in the licensing process for access to British waters.

At the end of last month, more than a hundred French fishermen briefly blocked trucks carrying British fish to processing plants in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

French Maritime Minister Annick Girardin escalated tensions with Jersey on Tuesday by warning that France could cut off electricity supplies to the island, a threat condemned by London as "unacceptable".

Jersey Minister for External Relations Ian Gorst told AFP that Girardin's comments were "completely inappropriate".

"Let's not have rhetoric, let's not have threats a let's sit down with the EU," he said. "We have to do the hard work and find ways to resolve the issues."

But France's Europe Minister Clement Beaune accused Britain of being to blame for the spat, insisting that French fishermen should have the right to continue working in these waters.

"Our wish is not to have tensions, but to have a quick and full application of the (Brexit) deal," he told AFP.A

One of the French patrol boats deployed to the area was from the gendarme military police force, while the other was a coastal security vessel operated by the maritime ministry.

The escalating tensions landed on the front pages of most British newspapers.

"Boris sends gunboats into Jersey," read a Daily Mail headline, while The Daily Telegraph said Johnson had sent the navy to the island to "face the French".

On social media, some pointed out that the standoff was taking place just a day after the 200th anniversary of the death of Napoleon, whose rivalry with the British crown was legendary.

Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst from the Eurasia Group consultancy, suggested Johnson's decision to deploy the navy would give him a boost on a day when Britons were voting in local and regional elections.

"Although feelings are running high among the fishermen, some concessions over licences is likely to eventually calm matters," he wrote.

The scenes in Jersey stirred memories of the so-called "Cod Wars" of the 1960s and 1970s between Britain and Iceland which saw London deploy navy vessels to protect British trawlers.

In October 2018, dozens of French scallop fishermen faced off with a handful of British rivals off Frances coast, with a few vessels ramming into each other amid stone-throwing and smoke-bombs.

By Sameer AL DOUMI with Adam Plowright and Joe Jackson

source: AFP

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Macomb County

Adult spelling bee coming to Clinton-Macomb Public Library

Zoom event available for those age 18 and up only
Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue is asking Macomb County prosecutors to reconsider a plea deal that would result in a Shelby Township woman receiving probation after she badly abused a puppy earlier this year.

Amber Sunde, 26, pleaded guilty in Macomb County Circuit Court on April 1 to one felony count of third-degree torturing an animal. She could be sentenced to up to four years in prison next week by Judge James Biernat Jr.

Detroit Pit Crew members expressed their outrage over the plea arrangement Wednesday on social media.

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"Apparently in Macomb County, if you continuously beat your puppy to the point of fracturing his skull and breaking numerous bones (which did so much damage that his leg will need to be amputated) and then you try to drown the puppy, you will be given a nice plea deal from the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, which includes no jail time and just two years of probation," the group said in a Facebook post.

In response, County Prosecutor Peter Lucido in an online post spelled out the rationale his office considered in approving the deal, including the fact that Sunde is seeking mental health treatment and has no prior criminal history.

"There is no excuse for the heinous manner in which the defendant treated her dog," Lucido said in his post.

According to prosecutors, officers from the Utica Police Department responded Jan. 4 to a "disturbing call" concerning a woman allegedly throwing a 6-month-old puppy into the Clinton River multiple times. Police found a woman holding a small, wet dog that appeared to have suffered trauma.

The puppy, named Lux, suffered numerous injuries including a broken leg and fractured skull, according to the Detroit Pit Crew Rescue organization. Pit Crew personnel said Lux also had endured other injuries during its short life, including a broken front leg that never healed properly.

Police were able to stop the suspect and took custody of the dog. Lux is recuperating at a foster home.

Lucido said Sunde started mental health treatment on her own, which the Mental Health Court is monitoring. If she successfully completes the probation, she will still have a criminal conviction of animal abuse on her record, Lucido added.

If Sunde fails to complete her treatment, she will be jailed, according to the prosecutor.

"Ultimately, the sentencing Judge has complete control and authority over the sentencing of the defendant  which also may include jail time," Lucido wrote in his post.

Detroit Pit Crew also said if Sunde completes her probation, the felony conviction will be removed from her record "as though it never happened." Lucido said that wasn't true and amounted to "misinformation."

Warren-based attorney William Barnwell declined to comment on the plea bargain arrangement he worked on.

"I will say we cannot incarcerate ourselves out of a mental health crisis in this country," Barnwell said.

Both the prosecutor and Detroit Pit Crew expressed their thanks to the Utica Police Department for rescuing Lux and seeking medical treatment for him.

Motorcyclist suffers serious injuries in early morning Clinton Twp. crash A man is reported to be critical condition after he crashed the motorcycle he was driving Thursday morning on Groesbeck Highway north of the C

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine expected to be approved for 12-15 year olds Dr. Daniel Passerman has three children in the 12-15 age group and, whether they like it or not, they will be receiving the Pfizer COVID vaccine when it becomes available.

Voters approve homestead and sinking fund for Memphis schools The renewal of an 18-mill non-homestead millage and a 1-mill, five year sinking fund millage were approved by voters in Memphis Community Scho
Take a few minutes and scroll through some of the local news from the past week:
Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue is asking Macomb County prosecutors to reconsider a plea deal that would result in a Shelby Township woman receivi
Memphis Elementary and the district's other schools will be supported by the sinking and non-homestead assessments.

MediaNews Group file photo
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, using 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.

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Shakira took to social media to voice her frustration at the police repression towards people protesting a tax reform imposed by the government in Colombia.

As many as 19 civilians have lost their life and more than 70 have been injured after almost a week of protests in her native country and she demanded a solution.

"The bullets will never be able to silence the voice of the one who suffers," Shakira wrote on Twitter.

"And it is essential that we should not be deaf to the clamour of our own.

"I ask the government of my country to take urgent measures.

"STOP NOW the violation of human rights and restore the value of human life above any political interest."
Elite Researcher 2021: "I find solutions for problems that we don't even have yet."

Elite Researcher 2021: "I find solutions for problems that we don't even have yet."

Chemist Gemma Solomon is an explorer in the world of molecules, where among billions of molecules, she looks for precisely those that can help us in, among other things, our green transition, by using power and heat better. Today, she receives the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's prestigious Elite Research Prize 2021 as one of Denmark's most skilled and talented researchers in her field.

In a microcosm consisting of a nearly infinite number of molecules, the vast majority of which remain unknown to humanity, 40-year-old chemistry professor Gemma C. Solomon moves about in her day-to-day life. Through her work at the University of Copenhagen's Nano-Science Center, Professor Solomon searches for new molecules that, with their unique properties, can help us humans solve some of what may be our biggest problems - both current ones, as well as those of the future.

Today, she receives the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's Elite Research Prize 2021. In addition to the honor, the prize comes with one million kroner for her research and a 200,000 kroner personal honorary gift.

"I am enormously grateful to have received the award and for all the support that I've received from mentors, colleagues, the Department of Chemistry and the rest of the University of Copenhagen, ever since I came to Denmark from Australia in 2010. I couldn't have done any of it alone," says Professor Solomon.

Discovered the most "current-shy" molecule ever

In 2018, Solomon and her colleagues and collaborators managed to find the most current-insulating molecule ever identified. The result was revolutionary because it shifted the theoretical boundary for how electrically insulating something can be. This discovery in the field of quantum interference is one which could contribute to changing the way we create computers and other electronic appliances.

"In my work with electronic and thermal transport in molecules, I'm very interested in exploring how nature controls processes, so that we can learn from them and perhaps design molecules that are able to solve specific problems for us by transporting electricity and heat more efficiently and greenly," says Gemma C. Solomon.

According to Professor Solomon, it is "just" about finding the exact molecules that, by way of their unique properties, can move at the fundamental physical boundary that our electrical circuits and other technology are at today.

"An enormous number of molecules exist in the world, so of course there are a few of them that can solve our problems. We just need to find them," she says.

A city slicker gets lost in the woods

Studying the molecular world is basic research in its purest and most beautiful form. It is a world in which Solomon, using her classic, basic scientific method tries her hand thousands of times, where solutions to specific problems are landmarks on the horizon.

"Sometimes it's like being a city slicker who is suddenly dropped off in the woods, with no idea about the life that exists there. But if a problem leads to a hint, one has a way into the world of molecules that might lead to greater understandings," she says, adding:

"My research is basic research, so my discoveries are, to a large degree, possible solutions to problems that we don't yet have. Actual applications may be 20 or 50 years away. But if I make my research open and accessible and tell the world about it, there may be a company or other researchers who can use it for something that I myself don't yet have the fantasy to imagine."

The Elite Research Prize is not Gemma C. Solomon's first prize here in Denmark. In 2019, she received a silver medal from the Danish Academy of Sciences for an outstanding basic scientific achievement. And in 2020, she was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, where former prominent members include H.C. rsted, Niels Bohr, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.

Facts:

Name: Gemma Claire Solomon

Title: Professor of Nano-Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen

Born: 1980, Australia

Residence: Gentofte

Previous awards:

* Silver Medal, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters 2019

* Lowdin Lecturer, Uppsala University 2016

* Torkil Holm Prize 2014, Danish Academy of Technical Sciences

* C. G and R. J. W. Le Fevre Student Lectureship 2005, Sydney University Chemical Society

* The Janet Elspeth Crawford Prize in Chemistry 2002, The University of Sydney

* The University Medal, The University of Sydney

###

This story has been published on: 2021-05-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Queen Elizabeth, with a full displacement of 65,000 tons, is the largest aircraft carrier in the history of British navy. But the UK has only one carrier-borne squadron thats fully equipped with 12 F-35Bs, which hinders the carriers combat force.

By Ling Yunzhi

The British Defense Ministry recently announced that the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier would lead a naval fleet to set sail in May to Asia Pacific for a 7-month mission that will take them through more than 40 countries. The maiden voyage of the aircraft carrier to Asia is the largest-scale overseas military operation by the UK in recent years.

The Indo-Pacific has become such a popular geopolitical concept lately that countries like the US, Japan, Australia, and India are trying to promote and shape it. As the region assumes more strategic importance, the UK also begins to view it as a primary testing field to flesh out its global Britain vision. It has made constant moves, including releasing statements, signing the defense cooperation agreement, dispatching patrol ships, and joining military exercises, with a view to enhancing its maritime position and power in the region.

To be fair, Britain has its reasons for taking the Indo-Pacific strategy as the core of its global Britain blueprint.

On the one hand, Brexit has taken a serious toll on the old empires reputation, credibility and appeal in Europe, and London, refusing to be marginalized, attempts to secure a foothold in the global order by flexing its military muscles around the world. Shifting its diplomatic and defense focus to the Indo-Pacific region can, if only faintly, ramp up the waning clout of the imperial has-been.

On the other hand, Britains stronger interference in Indo-Pacific affairs is also driven by the strategic consideration to follow Americas lead and intensify security cooperation with Japan and the US in order to curb the rise of emerging major powers. With its strategic devaluation because of Brexit, the UK is eager to rebuild its special partnership with the US.

Currently, the international situation is evolving apace. The China-US strategic struggle is aggravating, and the Biden administration is swelling the ranks of the so-called democratic states. The UK decides to take side with its big brother and play along with its ally policies at this point. The British aircraft carrier strike group will visit India, Japan, ROK and Singapore during the mission, all of which are considered western allies working together to counter Chinas expansionism in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Underpinned by international political power, the global Britain vision is intended to protect British interests and revive its global influence in an age of intense geopolitical rivalry.

As a major European power outside the EU, a NATO leader, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a member of the G7, Britain still commands sizable strategic resources in diplomacy, security and politics, but the huge gap between its ambition and its capability makes it highly uncertain how far the country can go in its veering toward the Indo-Pacific region.

Besides, another issue that the UK cannot avoid in its Indo-Pacific shift is how to deal with the escalating China-US competition. If it cannot find its right place in the strategic competition between the two major powers and just blindly follow in Americas steps in making waves in the Indo-Pacific region, it will only bring adverse effects on regional security and stability and on the realization of its global Britain vision.

(The author is a researcher at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Development Studies, Nanjing University)

Editors note: This article is originally published on thepaper.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Further to the oil spill disaster caused by the MV Wakashio in August 2020, AfrAsia Foundation raised more than Mur 2M through a call for action. The funds were allocated to three main projects.

The first being the Immediate action (back in Aug 2020), where the Foundation donated personal protective equipment to volunteers through the NGO Eco-sud and purchased materials for the making of boomers.

The second project is the collaboration with Round Table Mauritius & Club 41 to support the families of Mahebourg Espoir Education Center (also known as Mespoir) by donating MUR 1,000,044.00 to provide them with basic food and household items. The targeted beneficiaries (fishermen, beach hawkers, boat skippers, leisure crafts workers, fish mongers and staff, oyster and sea food pickers) have been directly affected by the oil spill and are still struggling to make ends.

Vouchers for specific basic food/hygiene necessities will be distributed on a monthly basis to the parents/responsible parties of the students of the Center for 12 months to 29 families, representing a total of 131 individuals.

Launched in September 2017, AfrAsia Foundation acts as the social arm of AfrAsia Bank and its subsidiaries. Our vision of Shaping A World of Difference is translated through projects in 3 main pillars; Education, Health and Environment to help build thriving communities and create an impact in the Mauritian Society.

In line with AfrAsia Banks Sustainability Strategy, the Foundation has adapted the integrated approach of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Round Table Mauritius (RTM) is an organisation of diverse young like-minded individuals who devote their free time to assist notable charitable causes and build friendships. Round Table has been present and engaged in Mauritius for over 50 years. The Mahebourg Espoir cause has been one of these causes where the Round Table Mauritius has been joined hands with Club 41 Mauritius and the Afrasia foundation to assist those affected in the aftermath of the MV Wakasio oil spill .

Since 2011, Mahebourg Espoir Education Centre welcomes teenagers from underpriviledged background coming from villages of La Chaux and Beau Vallon.

As school drop-outs and poverty is the reality of the beneficiaries, the center has as main objective to offer a non-formal education to the students.

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A global security firm with personnel in Massachusetts has agreed to make changes to its training methods after one its security guards choked and punched an 11-year-girl in Boston in 2019, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced today.

The agreement between New Jersey-based Securitas Security Services USA Inc. and the state, approved on Wednesday, will be in effect for two years as part of a pretrial probation consent agreement, according to Rollins office. If the company complies with the terms, then the criminal charges against Securitas brought in connection with the conduct of 36-year-old Mohammad Khan, of Cambridge, will be dropped on May 4, 2023.

Khan was working as a security officer on June 9, 2019 in the Primark store at 10 Summer St. in Boston when he saw an 11-year-old girl take several items, prosecutors said previously. Those items were believed to be valued at around $175.

Authorities said Khan, a 6-foot-1-inch, 225-pound man, grabbed the girl and pulled her back into the store. Security footage released by the Suffolk County District Attorneys office showed him grab the girl by the head and neck before throwing her to the ground.

Khan punched her in the face while pinning her to the ground, prosecutors said, even after Boston police officers intervened. Securitas co-workers and witnesses urged him to stop.

Khan was under explicit orders not to touch customers, including suspected shoplifters, prosecutors said. Khan and his employer Securitas were subsequently charged with assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count each of civil rights violations.

The actions of Mr. Khan and the company which employed him were deeply troubling in part because the company had reprimanded him several times previously for excessive force. This pretrial consent agreement will help ensure that nothing like this happens again in any Massachusetts retail outlet that hires Securitas personnel as guards, Rollins said, in a statement. The agreement notes that there are 292 such locations in Massachusetts and 92 of them are in Suffolk County.

The changes to Securitas training methods address de-escalation of high-risk situations, management of aggressive behavior, unconscious bias and handling and processing of juvenile offenders, according to Rollins office.

The agreement also calls on Securitas to implement an updated records retention policy at all retail locations in Massachusetts to deter the deletion or evidence of video evidence, Rollins office said. All videos and written records of arrests or use of force complaints will be stored in a separate computer that only management can access.
A man died after being struck by an Orange Line train in Boston late Wednesday, news outlets reported.

Th individual, whose age wasnt detailed, was hit by the train at the Chinatown MBTA station, Transit Police told Boston 25 News.

Foul play isnt suspected in the persons death. Transit Police detectives were investigating the scene, according to the news outlet.

Shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, the MBTA posted a tweet saying Orange Line services were suspended between North Station and Back Bay due to a person under a train at the Chinatown station. Passengers were asked to use the Green Line for alternate services.

No further information about the mans death was immediately released.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced another 108 businesses would receive a collective $5 million in small business grants under a COVID-19 grant program.

These relief grants were designed to help the hardest hit businesses, specifically targeted to certain groups and sectors that were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and in many cases couldnt access some of the federally available business support programs, Baker said from his podium at the Panela Restaurant in Lowell, a recipient of the states grant program.

To date, the state has awarded more than $687 million to 15,112 business. He said 46% went to women-owned businesses and 43% of awards went to minority businesses.

One of those is Panela Restaurant, a family-owned Colombian restaurant in Lowell. Viviana Acevedo emigrated from Colombia at age 15 and enrolled in Lowell High School. After graduating, she studied at Le Cordon Bleu and worked at various restaurants before opening Panela with her parents and brother. The restaurant aims to bring Colombian ingredients and flavors to fine dining, the website states.

I couldnt have asked for a better city to land, said Juan Acevedo, Vivianas brother, who works at the restaurant. One of the things that I love the most about the city is the diversity. Just on this street alone you could visit about seven different nationalities of restaurants.

Gustavo Acevedo, her father, chopped vegetables in the kitchen as Baker shared the familys story from his podium.

Since then, Panela has been a fabric of this community and a well-known spot for many, the Republican governor said as he stood in front of a colorful mural spotlighting freshwater and people carrying fresh produce.

Gov. Charlie Baker visits Panela restaurant in Lowell to talk about grants that are helping small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.POOL PHOTO/Lowell Sun/Julia Mala

The grant program overseen by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation helped Panela stay open and continue to pay its staff, Juan Acevedo said.

It was the perfect time, he said.

Amplify Latinx Executive Director Rosario Ubiera-Minaya praised the Baker administrations efforts to prioritize minority- and women-owned businesses during the latest grants. She said Amplify Latinx and other community partners worked with MGCC and state officials on linguistically diverse resources to get those business owners to apply for relief.

This doesnt happen by accident. The success of this program happens when you make a concerted effort and you are intentional about directing these funds specifically again to support our minority communities, Ubiera-Minaya said. This strategy is really about collaboration.

Business relief programs continue to see high demand nationwide. The federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund has received more than 186,000 applications in the first two days, the Small Business Administration said. The $28.6 billion fund drew applications from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and five U.S. territories.

In Massachusetts, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to drop this week. State health officials on Wednesday reported another 888 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active infections to 21,300 down from 22,248 a day earlier.

Officials reported 13 COVID-related deaths, bringing the death toll to 17,306.

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A little over a month after Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law shoring up the unemployment system and reducing the premium increases facing employers to fund jobless benefits, lawmakers and administration officials are once again looking for a way to provide businesses relief from spiking costs.

The law Baker signed on April 1 authorized $7 billion in borrowing to stabilize the states unemployment insurance trust fund, strained by a flood of joblessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and limited the average rate hike to 18.5 percent instead of the nearly 60 percent increase employers would otherwise have to pay.

Some businesses soon found they were nonetheless facing dramatic increases in their unemployment tax payments, as one component of their UI costs, known as the solvency assessments, jumped from a rate of 0.58 percent in 2020 to 9.23 percent in 2021, surprising many.

Mike Doheny, the undersecretary of labor and general counsel at the Executive Office of Labor and Economic Development, told participants in a virtual Small Business Day event Wednesday that he could not yet offer definitive answers but that the administration was looking to be able to propose a solution to this very, very shortly.

I want everyone to know that the administration is working on this issue - the rate notices that went out earlier - is aware of course of the hardship that its caused so many businesses, and we really are looking for a way to find some relief for not all only small businesses but frankly all businesses in the commonwealth, Doheny said.

Last month, the Department of Unemployment Assistance notified employers that the due date for their first quarter UI payments would be pushed back from April 30 to June 1, saying the administration was evaluating the solvency rate increase and will provide more information at a later date.

Speaking at the same virtual event as Doheny, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said state officials are aware that the clock is ticking as June inches closer.

In my opinion, it would be better to solve this problem in advance before those bills are due rather than have folks have to pay them and then have us have to figure out a system of maybe rebating a payment that was in excess of what ultimately it needs to be, the Gloucester Republican said. Were trying to accelerate this effort as much as we possibly can.

One complicating factor, Tarr said, is that while the state stands to receive billions of dollars in federal aid through the American Rescue Plan Act, detailed guidance on how that money can be spent is not expected until mid-May.

You can understand that theres hesitance to necessarily commit funds from that act in advance to the issue of addressing the solvency assessment, he said. Notwithstanding that, there are a number of us that continue to press for that very thing to be the case.

Tarr and House Minority Leader Brad Jones in April sent a letter to Baker, House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, urging them to use ARPA money or other federal dollars to replenish the UI trust fund and alleviate the assessment rate sticker shock facing businesses.

Fifty-five lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate, signed onto that letter, Tarr said. He said he hears regularly from colleagues looking to take some sort of action on the issue, and that any forthcoming fix would likely be a standalone kind of approach rather than contained in the state budget.

The Small Business Day event, which included panels on both Tuesday and Wednesday, was hosted by groups including the National Federation of Independent Business, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and local chambers of commerce.

Jon Hurst of the Retailers Association told participants that many of the factors that contributed to the multibillion-dollar deficit forecast for the unemployment fund over the next few years were not the fault of business owners -- he pointed to the benefit levels and qualification standards in Massachusetts, government-mandated closures, and fraudulent unemployment claims -- and said that there needs to be a shared responsibility with government.

You need to tell them that every dollar you have to expend in UI taxes, unfair UI taxes, is another dollar in wage growth that is not going to happen, he said.

Speakers noted that the higher costs associated with the solvency assessment land as the state is planning for a fuller economic reopening, with an Aug. 1 date penciled in for a complete lift of remaining business restrictions.

Bob Luz of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association said Massachusetts is behind many other northeastern states in the reopening process. Baker has said the Aug. 1 date could be moved up depending on the progress in public health data, and Luz said we need to hold them to it.

NFIB state director Christopher Carlozzi said an earlier full reopening would be particularly important to seasonal businesses and regions like Cape Cod that rely on summertime activity.

Under this current scenario, well lose two good summer months if we dont do something, if we dont move quicker in Massachusetts, he said.

Carlozzi added, Its very important we keep pace with our neighbors, to not lose that revenue to our New Hampshires and our Connecticuts and Rhode Islands. They have beaches, too.
In just two days since applications could be accepted as part of the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, more than 186,000 applications have been received, the Small Business Administration announced on Thursday.

The program, which was part of the American Rescue Plan, provides economic aid to restaurants and other businesses that faced economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initial applications came from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, the SBA said.

Of the 186,200 applications received about half were from priority businesses. A quarter came from businesses owned by women. About 16% of the applicants were socially and economically disadvantaged, the SBA said.

The first 21 days of the program are dedicated to priority businesses. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications.

Priority businesses are defined as businesses that are at least 51% owned by one or more individuals who are women, veterans or socially and economically disadvantaged.

The SBA defines socially disadvantaged as individuals who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias.

The SBA defines economically disadvantaged as individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same business area who are not socially disadvantaged.

Our nations restaurants have been among the first and worst hit by this pandemic, which is why weve been working as fast as possible to meet businesses where they are and get this much-needed relief into their hands, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said in a statement. As directed by Congress, were prioritizing historically underserved communities and smaller businesses to ensure this relief is going to those who need it the most.

About a third of the applications came from businesses with under $500,000 in annual pre-pandemic revenue, representing some of the smallest restaurants and bars in the country, the SBA said.

Restaurants and bars are eligible for economic aid equal to revenue loss related to the pandemic with a cap of $10 million per business and $5 million per location.

Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. The uses include business mortgage expenses, rent payments, outdoor seating construction or purchasing masks and other safety equipment.

Approved applicants should expect an average of 14 days for processing, review, approval and funds distribution.

Those interested in applying to the program should visit sba.gov/restaurants for sample application, program guide, and more. The application window will remain open until funds have been fully exhausted.

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Active COVID cases in Massachusetts fell further on Wednesday as infections statewide continue to decline, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health.

Officials reported that there are now 21,300 active infections, down from 22,248 reported on Tuesday.

The declining number of known active cases now puts Massachusetts at an active case level it hasnt seen since early November, prior to the holiday surge and a mini-surge in April.

State health officials confirmed another 888 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Thats based on 85,569 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health.

Officials also announced another 13 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 17,306.

The seven-day average of positive tests on Wednesday is 1.5%, down from 1.6% the day before.

Since the pandemic began, officials have confirmed 649,855 total COVID-19 cases across the state.

The number of COVID patients currently hospitalized on Wednesday is 485, down from 516 reported yesterday. Of them, 135 are in intensive care, and 81 are intubated, data shows.

There have been a total of 6,404,145 COVID vaccine doses administered in Massachusetts to date, and 2,714,443 residents are now fully vaccinated. Roughly 53% of the state have received at least one dose, and 39% are now fully vaccinated.

Over the last two weeks, 861 cases were confirmed in children younger than 4, down from 1,042 reported the week before. Officials reported 1,055 infections in children between the ages of 5 and 9, down from 1,156 since the last update. And 1,263 infections were confirmed in children between the ages of 10 and 14, which is down from the 1,396 reported on April 28, according to data released on Wednesday.

There were 1,753 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 infected with COVID over the last 14 days, down from 2,037 since the last update.

And this week, officials confirmed another 2,969 cases among 20-somethings, down from the 3,988 reported during the last update.

Total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 13,620

Berkshire County: 6,375

Bristol County: 65,256

Dukes County: 1,285

Essex County: 95,948

Franklin County: 2,491

Hampden County: 51,056

Hampshire County: 8,994

Middlesex County: 132,967

Nantucket County: 1,498

Norfolk County: 54,015

Plymouth County: 48,157

Suffolk County: 91,321

Worcester County: 75,756

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Eyeing coronavirus variants that are causing global concern, Moderna announced an agreement Thursday with the Swiss government to provide the country in the next year 7 million doses of the Cambridge-based companys COVID-19 booster vaccine, which has shown to offer more protection against strains of the virus.

The agreement between the biotechnology company and the Swiss Federal Government for 7 million doses of the booster vaccine by next year includes an option for another 7 million shots for delivery during the second half of 2022 or first quarter of 2023, according to a statement from Moderna.

Earlier this week, Moderna announced promising news about its booster vaccine, detailing how early data from the its Phase 2 study in the United States showed the additional shot provides some level of increased protection for already vaccinated individuals against certain newly detected variants.

The announcement Thursday follows two earlier agreements between Moderna and Switzerland to supply a total of 13.5 million doses of the companys two-dose coronavirus vaccine, which was authorized for use in the country on Jan. 12.

Switzerlands purchase of the 7 million booster vaccines under the newly announced agreement is subject to regulatory approval of the additional shot, Moderna noted.

We appreciate the partnership of the Swiss Federal Government and their continued support demonstrated by this new supply agreement for doses of Moderna variant booster candidates, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said. We are encouraged by the new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective against these newly detected variants, and we will continue to make as many updates to our COVID-19 vaccine as necessary to control the pandemic.

Modernas Phase 2 study has shown that a single 50-microgram dose of the mRNA-1273 or mRNA-1273.351 vaccines given as boosters to previously vaccinated individuals increased these individuals antibody responses against the virus and two variants of concern, the B.1.351 strain that was first identified in South Africa and the P.1 variant that originated in Brazil.

According to Modernas study, a dose of the mRNA-1273.351 booster offered greater protection against the B.1.351 variant than the mRNA-1273 shot.

As of April 10, the estimated proportion of coronavirus cases reported in the United States in the prior two weeks with the B.1.351 lineage was roughly 1%, while the P.1 strain made up 3.7%, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The federal agency has pointed out the two variants appear to spread more easily and quickly than other strains, potentially leading to an increased number of COVID-19 cases, a strain on health care resources, additional hospitalizations and more deaths.

So far, studies have shown that the antibodies generated through currently authorized coronavirus vaccines recognize many variants of concern, according to the CDC.

This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway, the agency said.

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There are just over a dozen Massachusetts communities still at high risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to the latest Department of Public Health data.

Last week, the number of cities and towns at high risk declined to 26. That number further dropped this week, to 13, amid a sustained reduction in COVID activity. There are no communities in Worcester County, Suffolk County, Barnstable County, Hampshire County, Berkshire County, Franklin County and Norfolk County listed in the red.

If you are having trouble viewing this map, click here.

Here is the list of high risk communities by county:

Bristol County: New Bedford, Taunton

Dukes County: Edgartown

Essex County: Haverhill, Lawrence

Hampden County: Chicopee, Springfield

Middlesex County: Dracut, Littleton, Lowell

Nantucket County: Nantucket

Plymouth County: Brockton, Rochester

New cases have been declining for nearly two months as the pace of vaccinations started picking up in recent weeks with the expansion of eligibility to all residents 16 and older. On Wednesday, CVS Health announced it would be offering walk-in vaccine appointments at most pharmacy locations in the state. Six of the states large-scale vaccination sites are also welcoming walk-ins beginning on Monday.

Those sites include the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, Natick Mall, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, the DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers and the Hynes Convention Center and Reggie Lewis Center, both in Boston.

Risk designations  which are colored, grey, green, yellow and red based on infection levels  are determined using several metrics for three population categories: communities with a population of less than 10,000; between 10,000 and 50,000; and greater than 50,000.

For communities with fewer than 10,000 residents, grey will be assigned if there are 10 total cases or fewer; green if there are up 15 cases; yellow if there are up to 25 cases; and red if there are more than 25 cases.

For communities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents, grey will be assigned if there are 10 total cases or fewer; green if there are less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents and more than 10 cases; yellow if there are 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 5% or more; and red if there are 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 5% or more.

And for communities with more than 50,000 residents, grey will be assigned if there are 15 total cases or fewer; green if there are less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents and more than 15 cases; yellow if there are 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 4% or more; and red if there are 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 4% or more.

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John Davis, former provost and under secretary for Museums, Education, and Research at the Smithsonian Institution, has been named president and chief executive officer at Historic Deerfield.

Davis will succeed Philip Zea, who is retiring from Historic Deerfield after 18 years.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to welcome John as the next president and CEO of Historic Deerfield, Joe Gromacki, chair of Historic Deerfields Board of Trustees, said. John is someone who demonstrates the ability, aptitude, and desire to take Historic Deerfield to a new level of impact and success as we move into the next chapter of Historic Deerfields institutional life. He has demonstrated a deep passion for Deerfield as a place, as well as a strong recognition of its importance in the American cultural landscape.

In a statement, Davis said he was excited to be tapped for the top post at Historic Deerfield, which marks its 70th anniversary next year.

Deerfield is a cultural asset to the entire nation. Its ability to tell Americas story in a way that captures the experiences of the diverse groups of people that lived and worked in the village demonstrates the relevance and transformative power of American history, art, and material culture in our society, he said. I look forward to working with the staff, board, and community as we envision an even more impactful Historic Deerfield for the future.

Davis is currently the interim director of Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City. Previously, he served as provost and under secretary for Museums, Education, and Research at the Smithsonian, from 2017 to 2020. As provost, Davis was responsible for 19 museums, nine research institutes, 22 libraries and archives, and the National Zoo

Prior to his time with the Smithsonian, Davis served as executive director of Terra Foundation for American Art Europe in Paris and executive director of Global Academic Programs. Among his responsibilities was to oversee the Terra Summer Residency in Giverny and manage the foundations historic buildings and landscapes.

Davis is a former faculty member and administrator at Smith College in Northampton, serving for five years as its associate provost and dean for Academic Development. He was a member of the Deans Council of Five Colleges, Inc., partnering with colleagues at Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst to develop collaborative programs and joint hires.

He has authored or co-authored seven books and museum catalogs and contributed dozens of essays to other publications.

Originally a native of northeastern Ohio, Davis and his husband, Jason Heffner, will move to Deerfield later this summer.
Company President and CEO Vincent Sorgi said Thursday during a conference call with financial analysts that most workers continue to work remotely during the pandemic and the company doesnt expect to deviate for at least a few more months and perhaps the end of summer for some of our locations.
Restaurants and businesses have been thanking nurses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but are especially showing their appreciation this week.

National Nurses Week begins Thursday, May 6 and lasts until May 12, which was the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

During this week, restaurants are offering discounts and freebies to nurses.

See the full list below.

Chipotle is offering 250,000 free burritos for healthcare heroes.

To all the hard-working, extra-shift-taking lifesavers who put the care in healthcare, we want to thank you for all you do, the company said. Chipotle does ask workers to verify with the ID.

Dave & Busters offers 10% off food & game play for those who show a valid military or First Responder ID.

Dunkin is offering nurses a free medium hot or iced coffee on Thursday to those who show an ID.

Insomnia Cookies is offering anyone with nurse in their job title to get 1 free 6-pack of classic cookies with any in-store purchase or one free cookie with no purchase required. Any proof of employment such as work ID or pay stub is required.

Lululemon offers a 25% discount to active emergency first responders, nurses, doctors, support workers in hospitals, acute care facilities and long-term care facilities.

Outback Steakhouse is offering 10% off the entire check to nurses, doctors, medical staff, military veterans, servicemen and women, police, firefighters and first responders. A valid medical, state or federal service ID is required.

Staples is offering 25% off in-store purchases to health care workers and first responders that have their ID.

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Ten people have been arrested following a monthslong, multiagency drug trafficking investigation in five counties, the New Hampshire attorney generals office said Wednesday.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of about 6 pounds of fentanyl and 11 firearms. It covered the counties of Coos, Carroll, Belknap, Merrimack and Rockingham.

The men and women arrested on Monday and Tuesday lived in northern New Hampshire, and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Two people also were arrested on outstanding warrants.

It wasnt immediately known if the group had lawyers.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal needs about 56,000 people.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern needs about 21,000.

And  hemmed in by state borders and facing a slow growing population in Central and Western Massachusetts  theyll likely only find them by looking east toward the fast-growing Boston suburbs.

But how to do that while keeping the districts centered on, and responsive to, the central and western part of the state, a goal both Neal, D-Springfield, and McGovern, D-Worcester, say is do-able: ensuring that both regions maintain two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The alternative being having one seat in Westerns Massachusetts and another where the center of gravity has shifted completely east of Worcester,

Thats two seats of the nine seats in the 435-member house apportioned to Massachusetts following the 2020 Census.

I love Boston. Its a great city, McGovern said. But places like Worcester and Springfield, places in Western Massachusetts and in Central Massachusetts deserve a say. Too often the political clout in Massachusetts is in the east.

Congressmen Jim McGovern and Richard Neal during a recent visit to Worcester.

But in the current Congress, Massachusetts clout is in the west. McGovern is chairman of the Rules Committee which influences the introduction and process of every piece of legislation.

Neal is chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means which has jurisdiction over nearly every spending bill. And as senior of the Massachusetts and New England delegations, hes the one who helps other representatives secure seats on coveted committees

I think we are a good team for the western part of the state. I hope that continues, McGovern.

Both Neal and McGovern are confident that Berkshire County can remain represented by one Congress member, not split into two districts. Keeping the county together has been a long time priority for that regions state delegation.

But its the state legislature that makes the decision, McGovern said. The reality is that none of us in the congressional delegation are drawing the map.

Seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned by population. Census results released last week show that the Massachusetts population grew by about 7.22% to just more than 7 million people. All the districts have to be nearly equal in population, so 7 million divided by nine gives you about 781,000 people per district.

And Neals district  with its current borders has a population of about 723,000 as of the Census Bureaus 2019 estimates. McGoverns district  also currently drawn  has about 759,750 as of the 2019 estimate.

Congressman Richard Neal speaks during the annual Law Day ceremony held on the steps of the Roderick Ireland Courthouse in Springfield, May 3, 3021. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

Redrawing those districts is the job of the Massachusetts Special Joint Committee on Redistricting which conducts its first regional hearing this week.

State Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield, is on the committee and said the Census Bureau has promised that by the end of September they will have the detailed town-by-town data theyll need to make decisions. Each district must have about the same population.

The goal is to make sure that every person has the same vote. Thats the real goal, he said.

Williams said the Boston districts now represented by Stephen F. Lynch and by Ayanna S. Pressley will shrink in land mass while maintaining the required population because those areas grew.

We need more people. There is nowhere to get them down here, Williams said.

The committee is also in charge of drawing up new districts for state House of Representatives and State Senate Districts, also based on population and also based on the recent census.

The district now held by Pressley is the states only majority minority U.S. House district, one where most of the people are Black or brown.

Williams said he would have liked to use Holyoke and Springfield as the centers of another majority minority district, but it doesnt look like the numbers will support it.

Tuesday, Democratic candidate for Gov. Ben Downing called for the redistricting process to be taken away from lawmakers and given to an independent commission. Downing was a state Senator representing Berkshire County.

Massachusetts state government is marked by inertia, incumbency, and insularity -- three things that our current redistricting process protects at all costs, Downing said in a news release. By putting current elected officials in charge of drawing our political maps, we invite power preservation to supersede fair representation.

Neal pointed out that when he was first elected to the Congress in 1988 the district was still drawn with numbers from the 1980 Census.

Back then, he represented 521,549 people. Today, that number is more than 200,000 people higher. Thats the equivalent of adding a second Springfield.

But Neal said hes up to the challenge, pointing out over the years his district has stretched as far east as Framingham and Bellingham. Hes represented communities so far east that they are in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The district he presented in the first decade of the century didnt include all of Hampden County, but did include communities of the Blackstone River Valley. Today, his district goes only as far east as Dudley and Southbridge in Worcester County.

The Congressional map changed in the Pioneer Valley a decade ago because Massachusetts lost a seat following the 2010 Census.

Back then, Barney rank was saying he would retire. That would have made it easy to eliminate his district. Then he didnt retire.

Samantha Pettey, assistant professor of political science at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, wrote part of a book on that redistricting process.

Amherst Democrat John Olver did retire, she said. So what were two Western and Central Massachusetts districts became one, with Neal picking up the Berkshires, Holyoke, Westfield and the rest of western Hampden County from Olver and McGovern moving into Amherst, Northampton and Franklin county communities Olver used to represent.

Now -retired U.S. Rep. John Olver reacts to remarks during a symposium at UMass held in his honor in this file photo form 2012.

Sometimes, districts are drawn to political advantage. The word gerrymander comes from Massachusetts, Pettey notes. (It comes from Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry, who, in 1812, redrew the lines of a Senate district in Essex County so it would favor the Jeffersonian Republicans over the Federalists.)

But Massachusetts is heavily Democratic today.

And if you drew anything too crazy, Gov. Charlie Baker would just veto it, she said.

McGovern reminds observers that he was elected in 1996 in a district that was drawn for Republicans. They called it the Ivy League District because it included towns like Princeton and Dartmouth.

McGovern defeated the U.S. Rep. Peter Blute in that race, the last Republican to serve in the House from Massachusetts.

Pettey said that as districts get bigger, they get more varied economically, ethnically and politically. Thats why former Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse saw an opportunity against Neal in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Morse saw more left-leaning communities where he thought Neal might be weak. Neal won the primary, but not every town.

Big districts  Neal already represents about half the states landmass  make campaigns a harder job.

Its almost like they are running U.S. Senate races, she said.

McGovern said he helped form last year a special committee on modernizing the House. Its looking at things like video conferencing, remote voting and modern communications both during the pandemic and permanently.

How do you adequately represent the pandemic?' he said. How do you keep Congress running.

As for the balance of power in Washington, Neal said New England did well, retaining both seats in Rhode Island and fewer Democratic seats than expected were lost in other states.

McGovern said much depends on how districts are drawn to give Republicans an advantage. There goes that word gerrymander again .

I think the majority of the people in this county are more in line in general with the Democratic Party then with the current Republican party, he said.

Im confident that we the democrats will still maintain control of the House when all this is done and I trust that we will maintain control of the Senate.

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HOLYOKE  When the COVID-19 vaccine bus arrived, Maria and Gilberto Vargas and other members of their church were ready to step aboard.

The couple was among more than 120 people who were vaccinated on Thursday when Holyoke Health Center and Tufts Health Plan  Harvard Pilgrim Health unveiled the areas first mobile clinic at Veterans Park on Maple Street.

The couple, who live in Springfield, learned about the free, walk-up clinic on Wednesday from a congregation member.

A customer passed the information to her and she passed it to us and we passed it to all the brothers and sisters in the congregation, said Vargas, adding her husband is the pastor of Jehova Tsidkenu in Chicopee. A few of them have come already. We want the congregation to be safe.

As vaccine supplies become more available the key now is to reach people who have a more difficult time getting a shot because they do not have transportation, have limited internet access, do not speak English or cannot take time off work, said Jay Breines, executive director of Holyoke Health Center.

One of the most difficult efforts is to reach people who are hesitant about getting the vaccine, he added.

Tufts-Harvard Pilgrim Health officials rolled out the first vaccine bus 10 days ago in eastern Massachusetts and are parking it in East Boston, Chelsea and Everett. The second bus will travel back and forth between Holyoke and Chicopee for the next eight weeks, said Adam Scott, senior vice president of health care services for the company.

We are hoping to give between 200 and 300 vaccines a day. Our goal is to vaccinate upward of 20,000 people across the Commonwealth over the next two months, he said.

Studies show all the communities the bus is visiting have been hard-hit by the virus and more people have had COVID-19 than have been vaccinated, Scott said.

We thought communities of color with access barriers around language and transportation really needed buses to bring them to mass vaccination sites and what we heard pretty loudly from the community is, if that is all we can get thats great but we really need the vaccine to come to us, he said. Theres no reason we cant do that.

DPV transportation provided a bus. The seats were replaced with four curtained-off stations where shots can be administered, he said.

Holyoke Health Center, which receives doses of vaccine from the federal government because they care for an underserved population, is providing the doses and the staff to give them, Breines said.

Gathering with other community leaders from the two communities, Holyoke Acting Mayor Terence Murphy said he is hoping to get the bus to as many different neighborhoods as possible.

He encouraged people who have gotten vaccinated to spread the word that they didnt have major problems to improve the health of the community.

Its about getting the vaccine to people who cant get to the vaccine sites, Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau said, adding the city is operating a regional site with Holyoke, Granby and South Hadley at the Knights of Columbus on Memorial Drive and CVS, Stop & Shop and Walgreens.

He repeated that it takes the collective efforts of everyone to let the community return to normal and urged people to get a vaccine wherever they can.

The bus will use different vaccinations, depending on the supplies available. Thursday the two-shot Moderna was being administered so the bus will return to Veterans Park at the same time in four weeks so second doses can be administered.

Health care workers handed out appointment cards so people know when to show up for their second vaccination. They also took down names, phone numbers and email addresses to send reminders, said Kristen Halbert, accounts manager for Archipelago Strategies Group which has been hired to do a lot of the outreach.

We have a whole team who will chase down people to make sure they get their second dose, she said.

The outreach effort includes working with local community members to find out the best spots to bring the bus to reach the most number of unvaccinated people. They are also knocking on doors, phoning people and putting up posters, Halbert said.

The bus will be available to the two communities at any time over the next two months. One of the ideas if it can reach people who may not be able to take several hours off work to get to a mass vaccination site and get back, but can get inoculated during their half-hour lunch break if the bus is nearby, Scott said.

It will return to Maple Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and is scheduled to be parked at the Boys and Girls Club on Meadow Street in Chicopee on May 13 and 14. The following week, it will be parked at the Holyoke Community College Health Education building on Jarvis Avenue to reach residents of nearby housing complexes. The rest of the schedule has not been set but it will go wherever there is a need, Breines said.

When partners talked about heading to the Willimansett neighborhood Jason Reed, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club, welcomed the bus to park his lot, which is close to two housing complexes and local businesses.

Our parents will be the first ones we do outreach to, he said. We will let them know they can get a vaccine when they are picking up their children.

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Dr. Daniel Ellsberg was roughly five minutes into responding to a students question on wargaming nuclear conflict with the Soviet Union when the time for his answer ran out.

That was a fairly common occurrence. The famed whistleblower had at age 40 leaked the Pentagon Papers, top-secret documents on the Vietnam War. Now, he had been given a time limit on his comments by Christian Appy, a renowned professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It wasnt that Ellsberg would ramble off-topic. It was that for every question, he simply had so much to say.

In 2019, the university acquired Ellsbergs personal archives  a treasure trove of 500 boxes of material encompassing personal letters, government reports and other papers he saved over a lifetime of activism.

Charles Sennott, a UMass graduate, journalist and founder of the GroundTruth Project, a nonprofit media organization, had recently moderated a panel for WGBH on which Ellsberg sat.

The pair discussed how to honor the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers publication. After speaking with Appy, they eventually landed on a coordinated effort between the GroundTruth Project and UMass. Operating under the title Truth, Dissent and the Legacy of Daniel Ellsberg, it would involve a podcast hosted by Sennott, a conference held at UMass and a year-long seminar examining Ellsbergs life through the archives.

Thats how Ellsberg found himself last September on Zoom, walking Appys class through the minutiae of Cold War-era nuclear strategy.

Its a testament to his motor, UMass senior Peter Jones said of Ellsbergs innate ability to break down a topic. He turned 90 a few weeks ago and is still incredibly sharp. He can recall factual details down to the day things happened.

Each of the students in Appys class, co-taught this semester by journalism professor Kathy Roberts Forde, focused on a specific aspect of Ellsbergs life over the course of the year. Some studied his upbringing and early years, others his leak of the Pentagon Papers, or his extensive anti-nuclear work later in life.

Jones focused on Ellsbergs transformation from a foreign policy hawk, who worked on plans for the Vietnam War, to a dove whose release of top-secret materials helped end U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Of particular importance was the period between 1965 and 1967 that Ellsberg spent working in Vietnam. There, he witnessed massive discrepancies between the information being supplied to the American public and the on-the-ground realities.

Ellsberg wasnt a 1960s hippie, Jones said, but this period revealed for him the deception government leaders were propagating for the sake of escalating the war.

When Jones and his peers walked into the classroom in mid-August, they already knew this wouldnt be a run-of-the-mill history seminar.

Daniel Ellsberg, seen here during a March 28, 2012 appearance in South Hadley, will take part in a two-day online conference marking the 50th anniversary of the release of the Pentagon Papers.

Each of the roughly dozen students had to apply to the course over the summer. They appeared in person, during a semester where the vast majority of the instruction was virtual. And they had been granted direct access to UMass Special Collections and University Archives, where the Ellsberg papers are housed.

But perhaps most noticeably, when they first entered the classroom, the students saw a space completely tricked out with microphones and cameras, Jones said.

Mitch Hanley, the GroundTruth Projects audio producer, was present for every class session this year, recording the students conversations with Ellsberg, his wife Patricia and more than a dozen other guest speakers. Sennott usually tuned in through Zoom, but appeared in person a number of times.

In the classroom, Hanleys recording equipment dotted the room, snatching dialogue and natural sound from group discussions and conversations with guests to be used in Sennotts podcast, The Whistleblower. At the end of the year, the audio recordings will be added to the Ellsberg archives as historical documents.

There are literally mics everywhere, junior Talya Torres said. He has microphones in the middle of the room. He mics the professors. Hes picking up everything that we talk about.

Two of Sennotts podcast episodes are out already, with three more to follow. The final installment will arrive on June 13, 50 years to the day after the New York Times first published the Pentagon Papers.

The class audio, Sennott said, is priceless.

Their questions have been incredibly precise, he said. Ive never seen a class so engaged.

On Sept. 8, when Ellsberg first visited the class, Jones asked if he thought he was capable of releasing the Pentagon Papers in 1964, before he saw first-hand the war in Vietnam.

If you could go back and talk to 1964 Daniel Ellsberg, could you have convinced him to act that way? he said.

Thats a new question! Ellsberg responded, grinning. Of all the questions Ive had in the last half-century, its wonderful to run into a new one.

Outside of class, the students spent their time sorting through the boxes of archives, looking for materials to help their research projects. There are now many more than the 500 boxes of papers that originally arrived from Ellsbergs home. Just last month he sent 90 more.

The papers came largely unorganized, and UMass archivist Jeremy Smith has spent the past year-and-a-half making steady progress documenting the contents. Each box, Jones said, can take four to five hours to go through.

The labels on the boxes are general  Correspondence 1965-1969, for example  and the variety of materials inside has surprised some students.

Thered be a box with the entirety of the New York Times trial coverage, Torres said, referring to the Times Supreme Court battle for the right to print the Pentagon Papers. Right next to that there would be a shrimp recipe and a photo of him and his family.

One of her classmates found a letter from Jonestown, the South American cult community, from a person who admired Ellsbergs classified leak. Partway through the year, Torres pulled a tablecloth out of a box. It was covered in math equations Ellsberg had written directly on the fabric.

Other archival materials have been more pertinent to the students research projects. Torres, researching Ellsbergs espionage trial for releasing the Pentagon Papers, found handwritten letters with suggestions on how he should testify.

Please develop a firm, but pleasing, insistence that a questioner explain what he means when he refers to classified information, or to secret documents, one letter read.

At last weeks conference, the culmination of the year-long recognition of the Pentagon Papers release, Smith said that while the disorganization the boxes arrived in made finding specific items more difficult, it allowed for students to make discoveries on their own.

They were seeing things I hadnt seen and maybe hadnt been seen by anyone outside Dan Ellsberg and anyone that helped him organize the papers, he said.

Ellsberg is basically a hoarder, Torres remarked. He keeps everything. Jones concurred.

But intertwined with all the specific names, dates and conversations that the nonagenarian Ellsberg can recall are personal, grandfatherly moments.

A student at one point asked Ellsberg about the magic tricks he would do for the young Vietnamese children while he was working there during the war. Oh, Ill do a trick for you right now, historys most famous whistleblower said, and he pulled out a handkerchief.

Looming over the course all year have been the striking similarities between the topics the professors and students studied and the present day. The year 2020 saw a nationwide racial reckoning and a president distorting the truth to historic proportions, just as in the 1960s and 1970s. But it also featured continued discussion of the War in Afghanistan and whether it could ever succeed, a parallel to the Pentagon Papers revelations about Vietnam half a century ago. Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post journalist who reported on the Afghanistan Papers, which showed that the war there was considered unwinnable, appeared on a panel during the conference.

On Friday, the students made up the conferences opening panel. They described a course unlike any other offered at UMass, featuring exclusive access to untouched archives, a professional media company documenting their every discussion and renowned guest speakers, many of whom were also panelists at the conference.

This is not a class you just take for a grade, Jones later said. I think a lot of those sentimental moments get lost in the midst of finals work, but when I reflect on college, this class will be one of the first things I think of.

The conferences second panel featured Appy, Sennott and Ellsberg, who, because of a recent bout with Bells Palsy, elected to keep his camera off.

These students are exceptional, Sennott said. They have been the stars at the center of this year-long project.

Ellsberg offered a similar assessment.

Chris, in your class, I was very impressed by those young people, he told Appy during the conference. Its inspiring to me to see the lessons they drew.
UPDATE: The launch of the NASA rocket was postponed to 8:02 p.m. Friday, May 14, according to the Wallops Flight Facility.

Keep your eyes peeled for a rocket in the sky Friday night.

Although liftoff will be hundreds of miles away, Massachusetts residents may still be able to spot the National Aeronautics and Space Administration rocket as it flies from a Virginia launching site late Friday.

The mission is called the KiNETic-scale energy and momentum transport eXperiment, or KiNet-X for short. Using NASAs Black Brant XII suborbital sounding rocket, officials are seeking to explore energy movement in space, according to a statement from Keith Koehler, a spokesperson at the administrations Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The rocket launch from the facility in Wallops Island, Virginia is scheduled for 7:58 p.m. Friday. Theres a 40-minute liftoff window, and backup launch days run through May 16, Koehler noted.

Liftoff may be visible across the eastern seaboard of the United States, from Maine all the way down to Florida, NASA detailed. Bermudans should also be able to see the rocket more than a minute after it starts its ascent.

The administration published an image showing when the rocket should be able to be seen after lifting off from the Virginia facility. In Massachusetts and the rest of southern New England, its expected to show up in the sky 30 to 60 seconds after the launch.

Americans as far west as Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee should be able to see the rocket 90 to 120 seconds following liftoff, according to NASA.

As part of the mission, barium vapor clouds will be released from the rocket, forming north of Bermuda roughly 9 and a half to 10 minutes after the launch. NASAs seeking to cause a magnetic field disturbance and energize electrons, Koehler said. The clouds should be able the be viewed from the island and much of the east coast of the United States.

Theres one main question the mission is trying to study, NASA noted: How are energy and momentum transported between different regions of space that are magnetically connected?

For example, auroras, also known as the Northern Lights, form when electrons collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules in Earths upper atmosphere close to space.

The electrons in Earths space environment and in the solar wind have relatively low energies. Yet the aurora is generated by very high energy electrons, said Peter Delamere, KiNET-X principal investigator from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. What is the energization mechanism?

Another example of energy and momentum transport, NASA explained, is Jupiters interaction with its third-largest moon, Io.

Slightly larger than Earths moon, Io is the most volcanically active object in the solar system and has a tenuous atmosphere, which interacts with Jupiters space environment and causes an auroral spot to show up in the planets atmosphere, according to NASA.

We know the power generated by Ios interaction, and we know the auroral power from the spot, Delamere said, but how are energy and momentum transported along the connecting magnetic field line?

The KiNET-X mission is like a mini-Io, the administration noted.

The two vapor clouds from the rockets payload will be released at an altitude of roughly 217 to 249 miles above the Atlantic Ocean, around 540 to 560 miles downrange from Wallops and just north of Bermuda, according to officials.

The barium particles arent expected to cause highly visible colorful clouds, which have been signatures of past missions from Wallops that used vapor tracers, Koehler said. The vapors arent harmful to the environment or public health, he pointed out.

After being released and exposed to sunlight, the vapor clouds will quickly ionize, taking on a violet color. For roughly 30 seconds, when the un-ionized component of the vapors has diffused away, the spherical clouds should take on a green and violet hue, NASA said.

In general, the human eye does not see violet colors very well in darkness, the administration detailed. The KiNET-X clouds will therefore be more difficult for the casual observer to see than some of the previous vapor missions.

Specialized cameras in Bermuda and on an aircraft will be used to observe the energy interactions, according to NASA.

This is a very simple experiment with known input parameters that will allow us to quantify the flow of energy to the electrons, Delamere said. It is possible the KiNET-X payload will generate auroral emissions on a very small scale, but that is an unknown aspect of this experiment. In-situ instruments will, however, measure the energized electrons directly.

Live coverage of the mission will be available on the Wallops IBM video site starting at at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The NASA visitor center at the site wont be open for viewing the launch.

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SPRINGFIELD  The Springfield/Hartford area has missed out on 130,000 new jobs since 1990, jobs that could have come here if the region had the commuter rail service enjoyed by other East Coast cities.

Thats the major differentiating factor, the availability of rail, said Jessica Jones, senior analyst for the engineering firm AECOM.

Improving rail service from New York City to Boston through Hartford, Springfield and Worcester could cost $6.4 billion to $9.4 billion over a 10-year-buildout. But that expenditure would yield $47 billion to $84 billion in new gross regional product over 30 years, according to a study AECOM prepared for Connecticuts Capital Region Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, said Kimberly H. Robinson, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Thats a 10-to-1 return. I think it would be transformative.

The economic improvement would come in the form of recapturing 20,000 to 40,000 professional services jobs and 97,000 to 115,000 construction jobs, and in the form of transit-adjacent housing and commercial development, according to the study. The 25-page report is available online at crcog.org.

U.S. Reps. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and Rep. John B. Larson, D-Hartford, announced the findings Thursday at Springfield Union Station. Both men said the funding is realistic under the Biden administrations proposed $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan.

Neal said funding passenger rail from central and Western Massachusetts into Connecticut is a matter of regional equity.

Boston deserves a first-class transportation system, he said. But its not the only city in New England that deserves a first-class transportation system. We pay for the MBTA.

Larson and Neal said they have discussed the project recently with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

And Larson said the region has the political clout to get it done. Neal is chair of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven, is chairwoman of Appropriations. U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, is chairman of the Rules Committee.

The time is now, Larson said.

McGovern and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey stumped Wednesday in Worcester for a plan to make a $5 billion-a-year investment in passenger rail.

This Capital Region Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission study announced Thursday expands on a Massachusetts Department of Transportation study of east-west rail from Boston through Worcester and Springfield to Pittsfield. That study, finalized in January, was criticized in part for ignoring the economic impact passenger rail would bring.

The plan announced Thursday fills that gap, said Lyle Wray, executive director of the Capitol Region Council of Governments, detailing how it ties Springfield and Hartford with their colleges and ready workforce to Boston and New York City. It also brings opportunity to urban centers, he said, and addresses global warming by getting cars off the road.

Local rail boosters have criticized the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker for moving slowly on the east-west rail project. Neal said Thursday that hes changed Bakers thinking on the project and discusses it with him regularly. The two will meet next week in Washington.

In Connecticut, the project involves double-tracking the rail lines, improving a Connecticut River bridge in Windsor Locks and opening new train stations. The line was already improved somewhat to allow for the CTrail Hartford Line service, which extends from New Haven to Springfield.

Al Raine of AECOM said improvements to the track between Boston and Springfield could get the trip down to 90 minutes. And it could be frequent and reliable, not just one train a day as exists now.

Wray said the proposed service is already on Amtraks wish list map of service expansions it wants to make by the year 2035. In fact, the map also envisions expanded service from Springfield north to Montreal and west to Albany.

Neal said Amtrak has been to Springfield Union Station on scouting missions recently. The congressman was the driving force behind the $103 million rehab of the station.

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Advocates renewed their push Wednesday to create a so-called millionaire tax in Massachusetts.

The proposed constitutional amendment is needed to help funnel additional dollars into public education, public colleges and universities, and the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation, supporters said.

The proposal is being pushed by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, and religious groups.

Massachusetts communities of color in particular are being harmed by inequitable access to transportation and higher education, Pablo Ruiz, deputy director of the SEIU State Council, said during a press conference Wednesday.

Before the pandemic the Massachusetts economy was working great for a few at the top but that prosperity wasnt reaching most of our people, he said. A few multimillionaires are hoarding their wealth.

Opponents have warned that revenues could fall well short of projections if the millionaire tax causes wealthy taxpayers or business owners to flee the state.

Some Republican leaders have also said any attempt to undo the states flat tax amounts to a cash grab.

The proposed 4% surtax on the portion of an individuals annual income that exceeds $1 million would generate about $2 billion in revenue and be earmarked for investments in education and transportation, backers said. The $1 million threshold would be adjusted each year to reflect cost-of-living increases.

Sabrina Davis, an organizer with the Coalition for Social Justice and Bus Riders United, said she grew up poor in Fall River and relied heavily on public transit, falling back on more expensive cab rides when the buses werent running.

Our family used public transportation because we couldnt afford a car. We had to schedule our lives around the bus schedule, she said during the press conference. It felt like a vicious cycle. I needed a job to save up for a car, but I needed a car to get a job.

The business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation is urging lawmakers to hold off on voting on the initiative until 2022 to give themselves more time to consider the states revolving economic circumstances, weigh the potential negative impacts of the change, and get a better sense of federal tax law changes under consideration by Congress.

Once the initiative is approved by the constitutional convention, no further changes can be made to the question before it is put to voters, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Eileen McAnneny said in a written statement last week.

Taking more time to fully understand the changing economic and fiscal climate is a reasonable and critically important next step, she added.

In 2019, lawmakers moved the proposed constitutional amendment one step closer to the ballot by approving the measure by a 146-48 vote during a joint session of the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

The proposed amendment needs a second vote during the current 2021/2022 session to be placed before voters on the November 2022 ballot.

The Massachusetts House and Senate will meet in a combined constitutional convention for the first time during the current legislative session on May 12.

The states constitution currently requires that all income be taxed at uniform rates. An earlier, similar effort to raise taxes on about 20,000 of the states wealthiest residents was knocked off the 2018 ballot after a legal challenge by several business-backed organizations.

The Supreme Judicial Court threw out that version of the millionaire tax, ruling it violated restrictions placed on citizen initiatives by combining taxes and spending in a single ballot question.

Because the current proposal  though identically worded  was initiated by legislators rather than through voter petitions, legal experts have said its unlikely to face the same legal roadblock.
BOSTON  The states highest court heard oral arguments Monday in the appeal of Cara Rintala, the Granby woman convicted in 2016 of first degree murder in the killing of her wife.

Annamarie Cochrane Rintala was 37 when she was found strangled on March 29, 2010 at their home.

The basis for the appeal hearing, granted by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, includes defense allegations the prosecutions paint experts findings lacked scientific rigor; and that superior court judge presiding over the trial, Mary-Lou Rup, now retired, had abused her discretion.

The defendants lawyer is disputing prosecution evidence related to paint found at the scene of the dead body, questioning the methodology used to determine how fast that took to dry.

The defense lawyer also alleges it is wrong to assume paint was intentionally poured on victims body intentionally by Cara Rintala, saying this played a determining role in her conviction.

The lawyer also claimed during the May 3 hearing that Rintalas defense attorney at the time probably made a mistake by failing to aggressively challenge the paint evidence as presented by the prosecutors.

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivans office prosecuted the case against Rintala, which resulted in two hung juries, before her conviction during a third trial before Rup.

Northampton Attorney David Hoose represented Rintala during the three murder trials.

Her new attorney, Chauncey B. Wood, during arguments before the high court on Monday, said Hoose blundered by not seeking an evidentiary hearing when the DA, at the third trial before Judge Rup in Superior Court, introduced the paint expert.

Wood said he is not inclined to use as a defense before the SJC any alleged failures on the part of Hoose, to properly represent her, saying Hoose is among the finest lawyers in the state.

First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, who prosecuted the previous trials of Rintala, is representing the office in the defenses appeal to the SJC.

Prior to adjourning, the court did not say when a decision might be rendered.

Previously, Superior Court Associate Justice Jane Mulqueen rejected Cara Rintalas motion for a new trial in a decision written on Dec. 13, 2019.

In January, Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey rejected a plea from Cara Rintala to be released from prison pending an appeal of her 2016 conviction for first-degree murder.

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CHICOPEE  Owners of a popular Springfield-based restaurant are planning to build the first free-standing Hot Table, complete with a pick-up window, on Memorial Drive.

John DeVoie, who owns the fast-casual eatery with his brother Christopher DeVoie and investor Rich Calcosola, is hoping to build an about 2,000 square-foot restaurant on Memorial Drive on a vacant lot to the right of the Aldi Supermarket.

The company appeared before the Planning Board for a preliminary site plan review Thursday night. After a discussion about the plans, the meeting was continued until next Thursday to give people time to review the meeting, which will be posted on ChicopeeTV and make any comments, which is the protocol for the Planning Board since it is holding all meetings remotely, said James Dawson, assistant planner.

The property is zoned for business and has adequate parking, so DeVoie said he does not expect serious problems with the proposal.

That area on Memorial Drive was always on our radar and a piece of real estate became available, he said, adding the amount of traffic generated by other businesses on Memorial Drive made Chicopee attractive and some customers urged him to expand there.

Hot Table, which specializes in paninis, soup and salads, was founded in 2007 in the Breckwood Shops in Springfield. About two years later it opened a restaurant in the Tower Square Mall with an entrance on Main Street in Springfield and later opened its corporate offices on the 23rd floor of the Tower Square office building.

The business now owns seven different restaurants with the others in Enfield, Connecticut; Glastonbury, Connecticut; Hadley, Marlborough and Worcester. It also is planning others in Framingham, Westfield and West Hartford, Connecticut, DeVoie said.

The Hot Table team has just submitted a preliminary plan set to the Planning Board. The plan set is currently under review and will be discussed further during the Planning Board meeting, Mayor John L. Vieau said. I look forward to working with the Hot Table team during the permitting process.

If approved by the city, the owners will invest about $1.5 million into the project and expect to create about 30 jobs, most of them part-time. The business is usually open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, DeVoie said.

This is the first time we are buying the land and building a building, DeVoie said. The rest of the businesses are in leased spaces.

One of the things he hopes to include is a pick-up window, since online ordering with pickups and deliveries saved Hot Table financially during the shutdowns and past 15 months of the coronavirus.

The window isnt a drive-through like fast food because the paninis are not prepared ahead of time. Instead, people order through an online app or by phone and either pick it up or Hot Table works with delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grub Hub and Door Dash, he said.

We shut down in March and by April my partners and I wondered if we would have a company anymore, DeVoie said.

All restaurants faced financial upheavals because of the pandemic and Hot Table saw an 80% loss in business. But, owners pivoted and built a robust takeout and delivery system, which started really taking off in the fall, he said.

He joked that he has tried to black out all memories of 2020 and is instead comparing the current business numbers with those of 2019. The numbers are actually higher than pre-COVID totals, and that is with Springfield office buildings still half-empty, which contribute to the lunch business.

One of the things they found worked well is the shelf service. Essentially people would order and pay online and the food was cooked, packed up and placed on a pickup shelf. All customers had to do was run in, grab their order from the organized shelf and leave.

It works great and people love it, DeVoie said.

Hot Table is seeing some slow return to in-person dining as the number of people vaccinated increases and the infection rate is slowly declining statewide.

The design also includes an area for outdoor dining, that became popular last spring and summer when scientists agreed there was less possibility for transmission of the coronavirus outside.

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His eyes welled with tears, while hers filled with an infants trepidation of seeing someone for the first time. She worked to make sense of this new, smiling face that bore a resemblance to other faces shed come to know during her seven short months.
SPRINGFIELD  The first time Springfield police officers Giselle Made and Natasha Rodriguez met Mara Millan and her daughter Avril, they wanted to pose with them for a picture but there was no time.

On Thursday, the two officers made the time.

Made and Rodriguez paid a surprise visit to Millans Pine Point home to deliver some flowers as an early Mothers Day present, and to finally pose for that picture.

The first time they met Millan, it was part of another delivery. On the morning of Nov. 4, they helped Millan give birth to Avril inside her Margerie Street home.

Oh, my gosh! Millan said as Made and Rodriguez, accompanied by Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood, walked into her driveway as she was unloading her car.

They had let Millans sister know they would be popping in with some flowers, but the sister apparently did not pass the information on, which made the moment when they walked into the driveway an actual surprise.

Thank you so much, she said when handed the flowers.

The two officers and Clapprood then posed with the family for photos and cooed at the baby, who smiled back.

In a brief interview, translated by Made, Millan said it was very emotional for her to see them again.

They helped me a lot, she said of Made and Rodriguez. It was scary.

Asked how the visit, the flowers and the well-wishing made her feel, she replied muy importante, Spanish for very important.

Clapprood said that with National Police Week coming up, it was a good way to celebrate the good work that police do in the community. Made and Rodriguez were able to help someone who needed help, and it is good for them to be recognized for it, Clapprood said.

With everything that police are going though, this was a good opportunity to recognize two officers who did a good job in a stressful situation, she said.

The two officers, both Latina, were able to communicate well with Millan during a stressful time and to set her at ease, she said. Everything turned out so well, we just have to honor her and her baby, Clapprood said.

Made is on the ordinance squad, while Rodriguez is normally assigned to the Quebec Unit, which operates in the city schools. When the schools were closed last fall due to COVID-19, she was reassigned to the uniformed patrol as a floater, covering sectors in the city where she was needed.

And on that day in Millans home, both were needed.

Rodriguez said she responded to a call for a woman in advanced labor, and when she arrived, there were already other officers on the scene  male officers  and medics from AMR. Made arrived seconds later, and the two female officers, who each have their own children, took the lead.

I have three kids of my own, so instantly instinct kicked in, and it was definitely natural for me, I guess, Rodriguez said.

Officer Made arrived as well, and literally she had one leg, and I had the other leg and it was a tag-team effort, she said. (Millan) pushed away and she did an amazing job.

She directed the father to hold Millans head and to help keep her calm.

At the time they arrived, Millan was already in advanced labor, and could not have been put in an ambulance. There was simply not time for that, Rodriguez said.

The baby was already crowning. She was ready to come and meet the world.

The birth, they said, was relatively quick and uncomplicated. After that, mom and baby were taken to the hospital to be checked out.

It was a beautiful experience. I think we all cried and got emotional that it was a beautiful, healthy girl and that everything was smooth, Rodriguez said.

Although they received some childbirth training as part of basic first aid instruction at the police academy, Made said, theres nothing like a hands-on experience.

The only regret they had was of not getting a photo to mark the occasion. Their visit Thursday made up for that. With Mothers Day approaching, it seemed like a natural time to have a visit.

Usually, an officer is dispatched to calls, they respond to the situation, and then move on to the next call. But Rodriguez said she could not help thinking about the baby over the past few months.

We see a lot of negativity, but when a good thing happens, its like you want to follow up, Rodriguez said. So I did wonder how the baby was doing and how the mom was doing. Today was an awesome experience, for me at least, just to see her alive and well, and so happy.

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SPRINGFIELD  A proposed biomass wood-burning plant in East Springfield was dealt another blow Wednesday night when the citys Zoning Board of Appeals ruled that a building permit for the project has expired.

The board voted, 4-1, that Palmer Renewable Energys building permits for the project, issued in 2011, and extended by the building commissioner, lapsed due to inaction on the permit for more than 180 days.

The decision follows a ruling by the state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), on April 2, that revoked the states air permit for the biomass project.

The City Council filed the appeal of the building permit, and councilors cheered Wednesdays decision.

Lawyer Peter Durning, of Boston, representing Palmer Renewable Energy, said Thursday that the zoning boards ruling will be appealed, likely in Land Court or Superior Court.

Palmer Renewable Energy is proposing a $150 million, 35-megawatt power plant at 1000 Page Blvd., at the corner of Cadwell Drive, that would convert wood to electricity.

Opponents, including city councilors, say the biomass project would worsen air pollution and harm public health. The company has defended the project as state-of-the-art, saying it would not worsen air quality nor be harmful to health.

The effort to bring a biomass project to Springfield has triggered a legal battle between the company and opponents for more than a decade.

The company is challenging the states decision to revoke the air permit.

At-Large Councilor Jesse Lederman, who was a lead sponsor of the building permit appeal issued a statement saying the ruling by the zoning board makes clear that the City Council is acting on the right side of the law when it comings to ensuring that the Springfield Zoning Ordinance is properly and fairly enforced to protect the people and neighborhoods of the City of Springfield.

Council President Marcus Williams said the ruling shows the council continues to act in the best interest of the people of the city. He thanked he zoning board for recognizing and upholding the conditions which would invalidate this building permit.

Tremendous victory for the City of Springfield and her people, said Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton.

Fenton said he thanks everyone who has worked with the council in the biomass fight over the years.

Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish, he said.

The company has argued that it did proceed with work on the project and that permits remained legally valid during appeals.

I think we demonstrated that given the tolling periods for the prior appeals and the application of both the Permit Extension Act and the COVID Emergency Act that as a matter of law, the building permits are still effective, Durning said.

Project opponents had filed multiple appeals with the city, state and the courts over the past decade regarding local and state approvals..

The council was assisted in its appeal of the building permit by the Conservation Law Foundation, providing legal services on a voluntary basis at no charge to the city.

CLF is honored to represent the Springfield City Council in this matter to ensure community voices are heard and the law is fairly enforced, said Attorney Johannes Epke of the Conservation Law Foundation.

The zoning board members that voted in favor of the council appeal of the permit were Walter Gould, George Bruce, Norman Roldan and Eddie Corbin. Voting in favor of the company was Daniel Morrissey.

The state, in revoking the air permit, also cited delays in the project among its reasons as well as environmental concerns.
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 Italys 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.

Rosa Maria Esilio, right, widow of Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, reacts during the trial in Rome, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A jury in Rome has convicted two American friends in the 2019 slaying of a police officer in a drug sting gone awry, sentencing them to life in prison. The jury delivered more than 12 hours before delivering the verdicts late Tuesday against 21-year-old Finnegan Lee Elder and 20-year-old Gabriel Natale. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)AP

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, Elders 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.

One of Elders 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, didnt 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 wasnt 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-betweens 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 Regas family, said the jurys 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 Italys 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.
Nobody wants to see someone who has fallen behind on the rent after losing her job because of a coronavirus-related business shutdown thrown out of her apartment and told to fend for herself. No one could rationally argue that such a fate is deserved.

Pretty much everyone should be able to agree on that.

But this doesnt mean that the story cant get awfully complicated.

On Wednesday, a federal judge threw out a national eviction moratorium that had been extended by the Centers for Disease Control. Upon first hearing that news, one might be tempted to find the decision abhorrent, cruel, heartless.

But after even a moments reflection, that reaction wouldnt necessarily hold water.

The judge, Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, didnt rule on the morality of the matter. Nor did she base her decision on her feelings, or those of others. She ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has twice extended the eviction moratorium that was first put in place in September 2020 by then-President Donald Trump and was then briefly extended by Congress, had overstepped its authority.

This seems a fairly defensible position, no matter ones feelings about the issue.

Both an old-fashioned bleeding-heart liberal and a dyed-in-the-wool conservative should be able to agree that in our nation, where the rules are still supposed to mean something, sweeping decisions with broad and lasting implications should be made by those who are answerable to the voters, not by an unelected body that can do as it sees fit. Because if things are allowed to work that way, a different unelected body could decide otherwise on some other matter. And chaos would reign.

Most folk, no matter their political leanings, should also be able to see that protecting tenants from eviction, while laudable, will quickly have consequences, especially for smaller landlords. Imagine someone who owns a building with three apartments. And two of the three tenants stop paying the rent.

Think hell have an easy time making the mortgage? Not for long.

Helping tenants makes sense, but not at the expense of landlords. Or the rule of law. Congress has money in the pipeline for exactly this situation, and must work to get it into the hands of those who need it as quickly as possible.
Police are investigating the beheading of a statue of Jesus Christ outside a church in Waltham over the weekend, news outlets reported.

The Jesus statue, located in front of St. Charles Borromeo Chapel on the south side of the city, had its head and hand knocked off. The vandalism was reported to police late Sunday, according to WBZ.

The beheading of the statue, which can be seen on the churchs lawn at 51 Hall St., likely took place between Saturday night and Sunday morning, Terrence Donilon, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Boston, told Boston.com.

Pastor Michael Nolan of the church is hoping the damage to the statue was accidental and that someone comes forward if they have information about what happened, WBZ reported.

It pains me to see any attack on the faith, on the religion of any believers or any church or religion, he told the news outlet.
Massachusetts lawmakers reaffirmed this week their commitment to enact child welfare reforms in the wake of 14-year-old David Almonds death in October.

But they disagree on how to advance those reforms: either fast-track it through a House bill backed by Speaker Ron Mariano or send a similar Senate bill for review in the Joint Committee for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, the traditional route for legislation about the state Department of Children and Families.

With Senate version hopefully we can find a way to be able to hear the bill in our committee, and we can come together with a bill that makes sense between both of those bills, said Sen. Adam Gomez, the committees Senate chair.

Two of the Almond triplets, David and Michael, inexplicably were sent back to their fathers one-bedroom apartment in Fall River in March 2020 despite their father John Almond and his girlfriend, Jaclyn Coleman, making minimal progress in their action plan to qualify for reunification, according to a report by the Office of the Child Advocate.

Seven months later, Davids body was found unresponsive, emaciated and covered in feces. Michael was emaciated, but responsive. David was pronounced dead at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Fourteen-year-old David Almond of Fall River, Massachusetts died on Oct. 21, 2020 after being found living in abhorrent conditions, according to authorities. He's remembered as a joyous, kind and dedicated kid, who loved his triplet brothers. (OCA)

During a more than 10-hour legislative hearing on Tuesday, officials in nearly every institution that came in contact with David Almond cited communication problems that enabled the boys to move in with their father despite the lack of proof that their father and fathers girlfriend could properly care for them. Those same communication issues, others said, prevented complaints from moving forward about Davids father and girlfriend, who now face charges in Davids death.

One of the things that I think that really came out of the hearing is the lack of communication amongst the agencies, said Rep. Michael Finn, a West Springfield Democrat and the committees House chair.

While agency leaders expressed a willingness to address the factors that contributed to Davids death, Finn said he sensed an unstated uncertainty about how to improve communication across institutions because everyones in their silo.

In the ninth hour, lawmakers turned to a pair of proposals theyre advancing in hopes of improving standards for reunifying children under DCF custody and their parents after authorities say Almonds father and the fathers girlfriend failed to care for him and one of his triplet brothers, who all were diagnosed with autism.

Both bills would update DCFs reporting requirements, create a child welfare data reporting task force and require the commissioner to establish and periodically update internal review policies to require reviews before families can be reunified.

But the House version, H.88, incorporates the proposed foster parents bill of rights, mandate a report on the impact of virtual visits and COVID-19 and create statewide and local child fatality review teams.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan B. Lovelys proposal, S.32, would mandate three-year performance plan that measures improvements in safety, performance and wellbeing with the first plans due by March 31, 2023. The Senate proposal would also require DCF to submit data reports on performance during a state of emergency.

A similar bill stalled in the Legislature in 2020 but resurfaced the last night of session. Lawmakers couldnt agree on the details and failed to pass the legislation, according to the State House News Service.

Under Mariano, the House proposal went through the House Ways and Means Committee and was approved without a hearing or debate, SHNS reported.

The bill joined a series of proposals House leaders sought to fast track early in the new session without a public hearing, such as the climate bills and unemployment insurance relief bills, having finalized proposals at the end of the last session.

Asked about the lack of process of fast-tracking those bills in March, Mariano told reporters, most of the legislation that moves forward have had hearings before ... new legislation will go through the process and, as always, its going to have a hearing at the committee.

Pool photo by Sam Doran/State House News ServiceSam Doran/State House News Service

While the Senate and House agreed on fast-tracking the climate and unemployment bills, the Senate didnt take up the Houses child protection bill. Senate leaders on March 11 referred the bill to the children and families committee for review, setting it the traditional legislative path like Lovelys bill was. Once in the committee, lawmakers could schedule hearing on the bills, review them and determine whether they should advance.

The House responded on March 29, stating it didnt concur.

The Senate should take action on H.88 as a branch, and if they wanted to pursue the other bill as well, they should do that through the committee process, Finn said, but the House has already spoken.

House and Senate leaders remain at an impasse more than a month later. After Tuesdays hearing, Mariano called for the Legislature to approve the House bill.

While the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities works on further reforms this session, we must immediately address the gaps so evidently exposed in this case, the Quincy Democrat said. The legislation the House passed in March is a first step in that effort. It includes policies related to reunification, collateral checks, and case transfers, and continues the Houses history of prioritizing improvements at the Department of Children and Families.

After the hearing, Senate President Karen Spilka said she looked forward to working on legislative solutions but made no mention of any particular proposal.

As both a social worker and a legislator, the health and safety of children has been and always will be my priority, and a priority of the Senate, Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, said in a statement. I look forward to working with the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, members of the Senate, the House, and stakeholders to take what we have learned to address the systemic failures that led to Davids death and make the necessary reforms to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening in future.

Despite the procedural clash, Gomez remains hopeful he and the other committee members can reach on consensus on how to advance DCF reforms in the wake of Davids death.

I can honestly just think that its in limbo and it wont be able to move forward without us talking about H.88, he said, adding the committee still has to take a closer look at the bills before it. It was our first oversight hearing. We havent heard any of the bills as of yet. Those are things I look forward to working on with my co-chair.

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Massachusetts housing advocates say a federal judges decision to vacate a nationwide eviction moratorium eliminates the last defense for tenants struggling to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ruled on Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overstepped in barring certain evictions during the pandemic, effectively vacating the national eviction moratorium that froze nonpayment eviction cases for eligible tenants.

Hours later, Friedrich agreed to temporarily stay her decision after the U.S. Justice Department asked for a hold while it appeals the ruling, Reuters reported.

What this judges decision means about evictions is that our state lawmakers just cant count on the stability of the federal eviction moratorium as a sort of silver bullet to keep people in their homes, said Helen Homefries Matthews, spokesperson for City Life/Vida Urbana.

As the fate of the CDCs eviction protections comes under threat, housing advocates urge lawmakers to pursue state-specific protections, such as the COVID-19 housing equity bills filed in this legislative session following the states lapse of its own eviction moratorium.

This is exactly why we need the COVID-19 housing equity bill passed now, said Rose Webster-Smith, executive director at Springfield No One Leaves. We have said since Governor Baker lifted the moratorium that the CDC moratorium would be struck down and now we may be on the precipice of a huge crisis with an already overwhelmed shelter system.

North Carolina adopted its own eviction moratorium that mirror the CDC moratoriums protections, while California and, until October, Massachusetts had eviction pauses in place that were considered stronger than the CDCs rules. The Bay States moratorium, for example, protected all tenants, not just those facing nonpayment evictions.

Since Gov. Charlie Baker let the states eviction moratorium lapse in October, the state has seen some 14,000 eviction filings submitted statewide  nearing pre-pandemic levels despite the persisting pandemic.

Matthews and other housing advocates say the CDCs eviction protections are too narrow  in part because it lacks protections for no-cause evictions  but note that the moratorium has prevented some families from being forced out of their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrea Park, lead housing attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, said tenants who qualify for the CDC eviction moratorium first need to know about its existence to take advantage of the protections. Even then, judges may strictly interpret the moratorium and exclude someone who attorneys say should qualify for the federal protections.

At the same time, she said, the CDC moratorium has appeared to discourage some lawyers from submitting eviction filings. That could change if the moratorium lapses.

People need that protection, but at the same time, its not a solution. Its not a true moratorium and we should not be letting people fall through the cracks and getting evicted when we have the ability to pay back a significant amount of the arrears, Park said, referring to the federal funding Massachusetts could receive in federal housing assistance.

Massachusetts received more than $400 million in new federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Baker plans to distribute the funds through the administrations eviction diversion initiative. Housing advocates say the funds arent reaching tenants fast enough to prevent evictions and landlords can decline the rental assistance and decline a tenant anyway.

When asked about the prospects of resuming the eviction moratorium, Baker has told reporters in recent months that the state plans to continue offering mediation through its eviction diversion initiative, but not a moratorium.

The Legislature did not act on a bill that would have extended and expanded the eviction moratorium in October as Baker let the moratorium expire. Lawmakers instead folded a provision in the fiscal 2021 budget to require a judge to pause an eviction case if a tenant has a pending application for emergency rental assistance, which Baker ultimately signed into law.

The new legislative session, which began Jan. 6, drew a housing equity bill by Reps. Frank Moran and Kevin Honan in the House and a Senate version by Sen. Pat Jehlen.

The bills, H.1434 and S.891, would require a landlord to pursue and cooperate with rental assistance programs before evicting a tenant, reinstate a foreclosure moratorium and require forbearance depending on federal policies, require the state to improve the distribution of rental assistance funds.

The legislation would also prevent a landlord from starting an eviction due to COVID-related nonpayment unless everyone has sought short-term emergency rental assistance and all other opportunities to help the tenant pay rent despite the pandemic. Landlords whose buildings have been flagged for violations of building or sanitary codes would not be able to file a COVID-related eviction.

The Massachusetts Trial Court reported 10,357 eviction filings between December and March alone, including 2,072 eviction filings in March, according to a report filed to the Legislature in mid-April.

Eviction filings are just one step in the process, but when executions are issued and enforced people are forced to leave the places from which theyve been evicted. Of the 1,750 executions issued between December and March, more than three-quarters of them are due to nonpayment of rent during the pandemic, according to the Mass Trial Courts report.

Another 113 or 6% were for no-cause evictions, 169 or 9% were for cause evictions, 3% were fo foreclosures and the remaining 6, less than 1%, were labeled other.

The numbers dont reflect the tsunami of evictions housing advocates warned of if the state eviction moratorium lapsed  housing advocates say thats in part because the CDCs eviction moratorium has created a chilling effect in evictions  but theyre nearing pre-pandemic levels despite the persistence of community spread of COVID-19.

An eviction during a pandemic is a risk to our collective health, so the stakes are extremely high, Matthews said. The CDC enacted an eviction moratorium because they understood that it would literally prevent deaths, and thats really what it continues to be about.

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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
The supermarket, at the north end of the Westgate Mall, will total 63,000 square feet, nearly double the size of an aging Weis it will replace near the middle of the shopping center. It is unclear what, if anything, is planned for that interior space following Weis move to the end of the mall.
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Car rental: $705 for a week for a Ford Focus at Budget. Several cars were offered through the surprise agency and also labeled supplier choice, which means you wont know what vehicle youre getting or through what agency. That rate showed at $519 on Hotwire, but when I clicked through, a message said the price had changed and that I should nab it before it goes up again. The tab was now $622 through Ace Rent a Car in conjunction with Hotwire. When I clicked through again, the listing noted that there was no free cancellation.
Atlanta, GA (30303)

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To put it simply, we were already behind pre-COVID, fell even further behind during the COVID-19 pandemic and are heading into an exacerbated crisis with the least number of resources we ever had available, said Jessica McKenty, director of advocacy at The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and advocating for families and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Schlert launched the Year of the Real Presence in the diocese last month. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the diocese, it is meant to reacquaint Catholics with a core teaching of the faith, that Jesus is literally present in the Eucharist. Schlert is also using the celebration to encourage a return to Mass as the pandemic eases.
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.
No such restrictions exist at the federal level. Variants of facial recognition technology were used, including by ordinary people, to help identify those who took part in the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Police also used it at some protests last year staged against coronavirus-related mask mandates, and some activists have used it to identify police officers engaged in misconduct.
It is currently in an advanced state of disrepair, and in several places could well collapse in the near future, the report read. If the meteorologists are correct in predicting future costal storms, there is also the possibility that one of those storms could wipe out the Boardwalk in its present condition, unless it has been rebuilt, with disastrous and wide-spread negative implications for everything that we want to do to restart and recover Atlantic City.
The fear of losing health insurance is even more pronounced among Black workers, who are 50% more likely to remain in an unwanted job than their White and Hispanic counterparts (21% to 14% and 16%, respectively).

"Healthcare costs have become so high that many Americans are unwilling to risk any disruption in their coverage even if that means higher and higher premiums and deductibles and sticking with a job they may not like," said Tim Lash, chief strategy officer for West Health, a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable successful aging. "Americans are increasingly concerned that they will get priced out of the U.S. healthcare system and are struggling to hang on in any way they can."Earlier this year, an estimated 46 million or 18% of the U.S. population reported that they could not afford healthcare if they needed it today. In this latest survey, three times as many Americans or approximately135 million adults, are worried that they will eventually be priced out of healthcare if they are not already.Specifically, more than half of respondents report they are "concerned" or "very concerned" the cost of healthcare services (53%) and prescription drugs (52%) will become unaffordable. More Americans worry about rising healthcare costs even more than losing one's home (25%) or job (29%).Black and Hispanic adults have modestly elevated concerns about the rising costs of healthcare compared to White adults. Two-fifths (42%) of respondents, in turn, report concern that they would not be able to pay for a major health event, including 49% of Hispanic adults and 47% of Black adults.Majorities Support Select Government Action to Contain Cost of CareSubstantial concerns about the rising cost of care and medicine likely play a role in explaining why most respondents in the survey support the federal government taking a bigger role in lowering healthcare costs regardless of their political affiliation, racial background, or type of insurance.About three-quarters favor setting limits on prescription drug price increases (77%), capping hospital prices in areas with few or no other hospitals (76%), and having the government negotiate lower prices for some high-cost drugs without lower-priced alternatives (74%).Another 65% support placing government limits on prices for out-of-network care (65%). Those with private insurance were just as likely as those on public health plans including Medicare and Medicaid to favor government intervention."Polling data from West Health and Gallup continue to demonstrate that most Americans are supportive of an elevated government role in curtailing the rising costs of care," said Dan Witters, Gallup senior researcher. "How elected officials respond to this is unfolding, but there seems to be substantive public support for a number of specific proposals that are on the table."This latest West Health-Gallup survey was conducted by web between March 15 and March 21, 2021 with 3,870 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as part of the Gallup Panel. For results based on this sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error at the 95% confidence level is +2.2 percentage points for response percentages around 50% and is +1.3 percentage points for response percentages around 10% or 90%, design effect included. For reported sub-groups, the margin of error will be larger, typically ranging from 3 to 4 percentage points.Source: Newswise
Detecting IPHs 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 probe can provide real-time analysis of biological processes involved in vascular disease, providing new insights and potentially new ways to track the progress of chronic disease."It detects 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.It is made of two components that can host fluorescent (glowing) molecules - one '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.Probe detects increase in the fluorescence 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.Source: Medindia
People find love in the most unimaginable places and thats exactly what happened with this girl from Lucknow. Nupur Gupta and a boy from the Netherlands, Attila Bosnyak, met in Goa and fell in love.

According to CNN Travel, the couple met in Goa in February 2019. Nupur was in Goa for a two-week period to teach Yoga. One day, in between her yoga practice she went for a swim in the ocean and didnt know that the tide was too strong for swimming.

 Instagram/Attilla

She swam further away than usual and was caught amidst the strong waves and also felt that she was getting pulled into the ocean. She then tried to swim away but couldnt reach the shore and was soon gasping for air.



Then she saw a man coming towards her. It was Attila who tried to swim to her and grabbed her hand. He tried to pull her out of the ocean but wasnt able to do that alone.

 Instagram/Attila

He then waved to the lifeguard and he swam along with Nupur and brought her to the shore.



When the two reached the beach, Nupur saw that Attila was bleeding from his back, thighs, and fingers.

She said, My heart sank when I saw that because it just made me realize that what this man just did to help someone, to help me.

Since then they both started meeting and kept on seeing each other for the time they were in Goa. They later also kept connected on WhatsApp and video calls and later decided to meet again.

 Instagram/Attila

Then Attila arrived at the Delhi airport to meet Nupur and they traveled together to Lucknow, stopping at Agra to visit the Taj Mahal.



And in Agra, in front of Taj Mahal, Attila went down on one knee and proposed  not for marriage, but to be in a committed relationship and make it work. Nupur agreed.

Later, both got married to each other in March 2020 in a small wedding in the Netherlands.

 Instagram/Atilla

What do you think of this love story? Let us know in the comments section below!


India is currently in a dangerous state, given the petrifying second wave and increasing deaths in the country.



While the nation is battling the virus, the state of Kerala is doing its best to make the most of the resources, especially, amid the given shortage.

 Twitter/Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the opportunity on Wednesday and lauded the efforts of the the Kerala government for lessening the Covid-19 vaccine wastage. '



He also mentioned that this is important as it helps strengthen the fight against Covid-19.

He took to his Twitter handle and wrote "Good to see our healthcare workers and nurses set an example in reducing vaccine wastage. Reducing vaccine wastage is important in strengthening the fight against COVID-19."

Good to see our healthcare workers and nurses set an example in reducing vaccine wastage.



Reducing vaccine wastage is important in strengthening the fight against COVID-19. https://t.co/xod0lomGDb  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2021

PM Modi's reply came in after Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, took to Twitter to appreciate the hard work put in by health workers.



He wrote "Kerala has received 73,38,806 doses of vaccine from GoI. We've provided 74,26,164 doses, even making use of the extra dose available as wastage factor in each vial. Our health workers, especially nurses have been super efficient and deserve our wholehearted appreciation!"

Kerala has received 73,38,806 doses of vaccine from GoI. We've provided 74,26,164 doses, even making use of the extra dose available as wastage factor in each vial. Our health workers, especially nurses have been super efficient and deserve our wholehearted appreciation!  Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) May 4, 2021

The union health ministry mentioned that, so far, the centre has given around 17.02 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses, free of cost to the states and union territories and will also receive around 36 lakh doses, in the coming days.

 Instagram/Kerala_explore

The ministry also stated that out of 17,02,42,410 COVID vaccine doses, the total consumption is 16,07,94,796 doses, which includes wastage as well.



People have been having mixed reactions to this whole situation and here's what they had to say:

Sir where is vaccine? It's not available anywhere,why inspite of being largest producer are we facing acute shortage of vaccine  VIKRAM (@Gobhiji3) May 5, 2021

Under the great leadership India is marching forward in covid battle and it will be victorous as always

achieves another milestone by administering more than 16 crores 4 lakhs doses of covid vaccine.  Shalabh Garg  (@ShalabhGarg19) May 5, 2021

Modi ji Bengal ko bacha lo please  Rishika (@Losttt_Soul_) May 5, 2021

Providing vaccine doses in adequate numbers and allocating funds to the states are also important in fighting the pandemic. Don't assume that your obligation is only doing lip service like this.  Red Indian (@roteIndischer) May 5, 2021

I 100% agree on this.@narendramodi please do something. as a young BJP supporter our confidence is shaking seeing you not setting right priorities. New parliament building cannot be priority for our nation at this point of time.  ANURAG SINGH (@ANURAG0701) May 5, 2021

@PMOIndia @narendramodi Sir, under your auspices take the bulk covid vaccine from #bharathbiotech & @SerumInstIndia and supply to various vaccine filling companies for filling, so that we can achieve fast vaccine distribution to #India #CoronaVaccine #CovidIndia #CovidHelp  Lakshmi Narayana (@lnreddyc) May 6, 2021

Dear @narendramodi ji irrespective of business the trail tweet message is worth apply right now., Becoz so many #people are #dieing and #families are becoming #orphans  Lakshmi Narayana (@lnreddyc) May 6, 2021

you also show something like the health workers doing sir... if this is the speed of vikash then acche din will not come in next 500 years ..............please focus on health infrastructure instead of central vista its least imp now  Dr somnath bhattacharya (@Drsomnathbhatt2) May 5, 2021
The internet can be a bizarre place. Although, not nearly as bizarre as the world of biological sciences.

If men having unfounded anxiety about their penises and their size wasnt enough already, a study led by a group of Japanese scientists has come to the conclusion that men with larger noses, tend to have larger penises.

 iStock

This study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between stretched penile length and nose size, wrote researchers from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.

 iStock

So, basically, what the researchers did, was examine the recently deceased body of over 120 men, and measured their noses, and the length of their penises, among a plethora of their things.



They discovered that men with snouts around 2.2-inch snouts packed larger penises that were longer than the world average of 5.2 inches.

 iStock

On the other hand, cadavers, whose noses were shorter than 1.8 inches, stood at 4.1 inches. All those in between the two measurements were of average size.



FYI, the average Japanese penile length is about 4.5 inches.

How did they get cadavers to go erect, is a question that is best left unanswered.

 iStock

If this wasnt hilarious enough, the concluding remarks of the study, definitely were. It read, the reason why stretched penile length and nose size are related is still unclear and that they needed live study subjects for a more detailed study.

 iStock

Twitter, meanwhile, had a field day with this scientific study.



We know that's a lie, this guy has the cutest smallest nose pic.twitter.com/vwDGPmdmlu  Mustang Togi (@MustangTogi May 4, 2021

RIP Shock G pic.twitter.com/ksneznxCyV  Brian Knotts (@brianknotts May 4, 2021

As we said, it is a question best left unanswered.

Now, wait a minute...

"To determine the connection, scientists examined the bodies of 126 recently deceased middle-aged men, measuring everything from the cadavers" pic.twitter.com/xxaPGvx681  Leon Langford (@MasonLLL May 4, 2021

The only thing that gets bigger every time you talk about your penis size is your nose, Pinocchio! pic.twitter.com/UXmdR3eg2D  Sudhish Kamath (@SudhishKamath August 6, 2017

I took a picture of a very aroused elephant at the LA Zoo once. I can confirm that this factoid about nose and penis size to be TRUE.  Scott (@the_real_scott May 4, 2021

You know what, thats a good idea.

penis size should work like pinnochio's nose, but instead of lying it gets bigger every time you respect women  hot girl bummer (@notactuallyarat June 27, 2020

Another great idea actually, if you come to think of it.

I hope when I die they dont use my body to conduct any nose to penis size comparisons. I feel like I should put this in my will.  Jerrod (@HandsomeJer May 5, 2021

Seriously though, what do you make of this study? Should these be given credence, or just brushed away and taken as a joke? Let us know in the comments below.
Yesterday it was announced that 5G trials in India have commenced, however the Government did not grant permissions to Chinese companies for the same. Beijing has now expressed deep concerns over the move and said that it would not be "conducive to the innovation and development of related Indian industries."

 Unsplash

The Indian Department of Telecommunications granted approvals to a dozen companies to conduct six-month trials for 5G technology. Companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL were given permission to test equipment made by companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT.



Notably, Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE who have been operating in Indias telecom sector for years were not part of the picture. In reaction to the move, Wang Xiaojian, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, said in a statement that showed, concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers in India.

Relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making a contribution to Indias infrastructure construction in telecommunications, Xiaojian said.

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.

 Unsplash

This is not the first time a country has left out Chinese players in the expansion of 5G networks. The US and UK have previously banned companies from using equipment from the two Chinese giants and many in India are demanding the same. Xiaojian said that China 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.


Meridian, MS (39302)

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Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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By Peng Xin and Cheng Cimin

It's been seven years since the crisis in Ukraine started and the situation gets tense from time to time. However, the Ukrainian government has never waged a large-scale war against the Eastern Ukraine civilian armed forces. Since February this year, the situation in the Eastern Ukraine region has become tense again. The Democratic establishment in the US has always regarded Russia as its old foe, while Ukraine seemed to see an opportunity to ride on US's coattails and wanted to show toughness against Russia in exchange for the support of the US since Joseph Biden took office.

For the US, the existence of the Eastern Ukraine situation can make the European Union (EU) more dependent on the US for security and create obstacles to Russia-Europe relations. It would be more cost-effective to drive European countries to lead while weakening the strength of Russia and the EU. In other words, it is in the interests of the US that the situation in Eastern Ukraine is constantly fermenting but ultimately remains not resolved. Of course, the US will try its best to prevent the situation from backfiring. A few days ago, the US even cancelled the planned entry of two destroyers into the Black Sea, which was interpreted by the outside world as avoiding frontal confrontation with Russia.

For Russia, it is also in its best interest to maintain the status of "no unification and no independence" in Eastern Ukraine. Under the current circumstances, it is impossible for Russia to swallow the Eastern Ukraine region without a big fight with the West. However, it can use NATO's requirement that the newly joined member states have no territorial disputes to make a fuss about the situation in Eastern Ukraine and obstruct the process of Ukraine's accession to NATO. Therefore, after showing muscles and a tough stand, Russia pushed the boat along the current and gave Ukraine and the West an out.

In contrast, the attitudes of European countries on the Ukrainian issue are more contradictory and divided. On the one hand, Europe has the internal motivation to accept more former Soviet republics in order to expand its security depth and strengthen their overall strength. On the other hand, Europe also fears Russia, who has a powerful armed force and nuclear arsenal. Compared with the US, European countries do not want direct armed conflict with Russia. Within Europe, compared with Eastern European countries that tend to be tough on Russia, the 'old European' countries such as France and Germany are more willing to improve EU-Russian relations due to their different security perceptions and overall consideration of European interests. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for Russia to withdraw its troops to ease the situation during a phone call with Vladimir Putin recently.

Ukraine knows the thoughts of outsiders but it cannot do much. Ukraine knows that it is impossible to regain the Eastern Ukraine region through war without the direct support of the West. Ukraine will lose everything if they are not careful. Its seemingly tough postures such as increasing troops to cater to the will of the US are largely out of desperation; otherwise it will be difficult to obtain substantial support from the US. However, it is precisely by seeing through the two faces of the US and NATO, as well as the true ideas of Russia, that Ukraine can make some bold but safe moves. It seemingly showed loyalty to the US in a reckless manner and relied on the retreat of the US and Europe to ease the tension it provoked without losing any dignity. This may be said to be a strategy, but it also reflects Ukraine's helplessness.
When this happened there were police milling around doing nothing even after the breech [sic]. Gary walked around the back of the building and climbed the stairs walking right into the rotunda. He stood there and heard and saw tear gas blasts. The police were right next to him as Gary poured water on their eyes. He stayed to chat w the police who were calm. Prior to Gary getting in evidently one woman was shot. ..., the post said.
Last year was a record year for Chinese imports of zinc ores and concentrates with a total of 3.82 million tonnes  20.4% higher than the 3.18 million tonnes brought in over 2019.And the trend has continued into 2021; March imports of 361,743 tonnes were up by 17.7% from the same month of 2020, according to Chinese customs data released last month.With zinc mines around the world suffering from reduced output due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in key producers Peru and Bolivia, increased demand from China has contributed to spot TCs for zinc concentrate dropping to near three-year lows.

Fastmarkets assessment for the zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China, was $65-80 per tonne on April 30, up from $60-74 per tonne in March...
By Chris Murphy

These days, if you join Dr. Caitlin Martin in a Zoom meeting youre likely to find her multitasking. Shell pay close attention to whatever workshop or presentation or discussion is going on, but at the same time shell be methodically crafting away with two long knitting needles. When Martin met me, virtually, to reflect on her upcoming graduation from Miami and her new job as an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, those needles kept jutting into her frame, as if themselves curious of what she had to say.

Theres something rather apt about knitting being Martins main hobby. About her ability to understand a cardigan or a shawl for each of its interlaced threads. As a scholar, Martin operates much the same way. Shes driven to make change in her field of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC). She appreciates, however, that change is inseparable from the exacting work in research and assessment that creates it.

For her dissertation, chaired by Elizabeth Wardle, Martin investigated the role of professional development programslike those shes led here at the Howe Center for Writing Excellence (HCWE)in enacting institutional-wide change at 3 colleges: a large flagship university, a liberal arts college, and a small, Hispanic-serving institution (HSI). She wanted to find out how program leaders support faculty as they think about how writing is taught and learned, and how those ideas can result in redesigned curricula, new student learning outcomes and assessments, or innovative pedagogical practices. Central to Martins inquiry was cultural historical activity theory, which posits that any system we work within is inherently bound up in rules and traditions developed throughout that systems history. In the case of universities, its quite a long history indeed. Systemic change in WAC, therefore, can only come with an intimate understanding of the history of WAC systems.

In late March, Martin defended her dissertation, Facilitating Institutional Change Through Writing-Related Faculty Development, before her committee of Wardle, Jason Palmeri, Elizabeth Hutton, John Tassoni, and Thomas Poetter. Also observing were Martins mother, Diana, a longtime K-12 educator in the Indiana public school system, and her father, Tom, a retired mail carrier. Martin spoke expertly on the gaps that currently exist between theories of change and practice in WAC. She demonstrated how faculty training programs that focus on individual teachers can yield limited reach and, thus, limited return. Martin advocates for more team-oriented models, where groups of faculty collaborate on solutions to a shared curricular problem.

When told that she passed her defense, Martin donned a handmade crown adorned with white paper flowers and topped by an angel between whose wings arched the phrase Holy Crap. The crown, a gift from Wardle, was a perfect send off for Martin, a master of crafting whos also well-known for her uncanny ability to combine professionalism with her outgoing personality. Her networking at conferences, for instance, is the stuff of legends. By her friends accounts, Martin has yet to come across a preeminent scholar in the field she couldnt approach cold and soon engage in a substantive, and friendly, conversation.

Caitlin Martins dissertation defense was a celebration of her exceptional scholarship on matters of leading change in Writing Across the Curriculum initiatives (Martin in bottom frame).

Martin now finds herself living a post-dissertation life thats in turns surreal and weird. Certainly, the defense marked an endpoint of sorts. It was the culmination of 5 years spent studying, researching, teaching, and working at the Howe Writing Initiative (now the Howe Center for Business Writing) and the HCWE. But Martin also recognizes that the Miami chapter of her life will constantly source new beginnings. She can return to it to inspire future scholarly work, inform her professional practices, and remember the close-knit community of faculty and student writers she came to know so well.

Perhaps this lasting impact Miami has made on Martin, and vice-versa, can be best illustrated by a story she shares about attending an HCWE workshop the week following her dissertation defense. Martin regularly drops in to HCWE events and has hosted plenty of her own, but this particular workshop, focused on Collaborative Writing During Covid, was of special interest to her. Thats because Gaile Pohlhaus, Keith Fennen, and Elaine Miller were leading it. These philosophy faculty comprised one of the first teams Martin worked with as a Graduate Assistant Director co-coordinating the Faculty Writing Fellows program. Also, one of Martins many bylines in the Miami Writing Spotlight Series featured the philosophy teams efforts in making expectations of philosophy writing visible to their students. The team-based faculty development Martin argues for in her dissertationPohlhaus, Fennen, and Miller are exemplars of it.

As Martin listened to the philosophy team share how they embraced the social nature of writing by finding ways to write together virtually during the pandemic and, later on in the session, respond artfully to audience questions about threshold concepts and writing genres, she says she became emotional. Fond memories of working with the team from the summer of 2017, when they were Fellows, and then on through the years surfaced. The full-circle feeling of the moment was only enhanced by the fact that Pohlhaus, Fennen, and Miller had made an indelible impact on her dissertation. Martin learned from them to research like a philosopher and read genealogically, looking for links between scholarship over time. It was her own threshold concept, one that completely changed how Martin approached reading for her dissertation. She began to process sources in chronological order, keeping detailed citations and tracing connections that could help her understand the material better and identify new, intricate patterns of scholarship.

It feels bittersweet to be leaving Miami, Martin says. Shes excited for whats ahead at Embry-Riddle, where shell join the Humanities & Communication Department as an assistant professor. Shes entering what she refers to as a liminal space, which is something shes become accustomed to in her research and administrative work. Theres WAC-oriented change planned on campus, but for now Martin expects to mainly teach first-year writing and take advantage of the opportunity to better understand the schools writing culture. Martin jokes that this may also be a perfect time to try to get a pilots license, since shell be teaching at an aeronautics university. Shell certainly miss Miami and her friends in Oxford a great deal, though, and regrets that the past year of pandemic has kept her out of the HCWE. That office, her academic home for 3 years, was indispensable. She did so much thinking there. And researching. And writing. And high-impact administration like leading Fellows and workshops and curating massive amounts of Center data for a recent 5-year Program Review.

Martins old desk is second in row of three arranged adjacent to another row of two in the southeast corner of the HCWE. In non-pandemic times, these desks were populated with Howe Graduate Assistant Directors. Close friends and scholars whose work often complemented each others, the group would do everything from hitting the Farmers Market or the Phillips gym together to hosting potlucks for reading, writing, and grading sessions. A sign Martin kept at her desk sums up their dynamic: Were not friends, the sign read. Were more like a really small gang.

Howe Graduate Assistant Directors at the 2019 National Advisory Board meeting (Martin second from left).

When the HCWE team returns to the office again well find Caitlins desk empty. That will be sad, as such things are, but well carry with us Martins enduring knitwork. The invisible string connecting our staff, faculty across disciplines at Miami, and yes, extending all the way to Daytona Beach, where it will perhaps join Caitlin in the cockpit of a plane floating tentatively over the central Florida swamplands, or, more likely, in a well-run and change-driven classroom, with students as grateful to learn from her as weve been.

Dr. Caitlin Martin is a PhD graduate of Miami Universitys Class of 2021. This Fall, shell join the Humanities & Communication Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an assistant professor. Follow her on Twitter (@cookingandcomp) for, as the handle implies, all things cooking and composition studies.
Of course, M. Night Shyamalan coming to the state obviously helps, but also that production on a small budget needs to have a chance, and that only happens if you get that portion specifically allocated toward other things, he says. Also, think about minorities who dont have access to these kinds of things. One of the things is an information gap  do people even know that these opportunities even exist? There has to be a way to facilitate and help people that are growing up and not even knowing these opportunities exist.
Following more than a year of event cancellations, lockdowns and restrictions, Huron County residents have some hope on the horizon with the announcement that the Huron Community Fair will be held in 2021.

You had nine people sitting there, looking at each other wanting desperately to vote yes and wanting it to happen, fair board President Clark Brock said. When we said we are going to, it lifted the weight off everyones shoulders.

Last year the fair, like everything else in the state, was forced to cancel its annual event due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, Brock said it broke the fair board members hearts to make the decision.

Huron County Health Department Public Health Officer Ann Hepfer said she has had conversations with Brock, and she was happy to hear the fair would continue, both as a public health representative and as a resident.

It is exciting, Hepfer said. It helps our mental health.

Hepfer said people need things to return to normal as the situation improves because the stress of the pandemic.

Our mental health has been very much impacted by people not coming out of their homes or being fearful, Hepfer said.

During a special board meeting of the Huron Community Fair Board, the board voted unanimously to hold the fair Aug. 1-7.

Brock said the board decided to proceed with the fair because the situation has been improving locally and statewide.

We are getting word and information that things should be getting better and things should be opening up, Brock said. Our carnival has played three festivals without any situations.

Brock said as the numbers in the county have been improving, the reluctance of board members started to wane, which led to the decision.

Every day we are feeling a little more positive and a little better, Brock said. We are feeling very good that at this point we will be able to hold the fair with minimal modifications.

Hepfer said recent guideline modifications from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services further show the improving COVID situation. MDHHS updated its epidemic order May 4 and lifted mask requirements for outdoor gathering of less than 100 people. Part of the epidemic order specifically addressed large outdoor events, such as festivals and fairs, allowing for more than 1,000 people to attend the fair provided safety plans are posted. The revised order also requires a density of no more than 20 people per 1,000 square feet.

We are going in the right direction, Hepfer said. Maybe if things continue to improve, the governor will open it up even more.

Brock said the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

Our phones and our email have been abuzz with people that are excited to register, Brock said.

Previously Brock has told the Tribune that the primary means of funding the Huron Community Fair is by its gate fees, and concerns earlier this year surrounded limitations that would impact attendance. Brock said with limitations being lifted, the fair board felt it was able to proceed and still offer enough space for attendees to remain safe.

Until we got to the point we could open our gates and get people in, it wasnt going to be fiscally possible, Brock said.

Although the fair was unable to be held last year, the fair board still conducted livestock animal shows that complied with state guidelines. This year the shows are scheduled to move forward as usual. However, as a statewide organization, 4-H has all in-person activities canceled. Because of this, youth need to register independently to show their livestock at this years fair.

Hepfer said the youth deserve to have the fair.

Those kids worked hard, she said. It was labor intensive and now they get to show it off and get the awards.

Brock said he expects the grandstand events to continue as well, and that it was nice reaching out to vendors and being able to say there was going to be a show.

Our understanding and our following of guidelines are that, with some modifications of how we do things, we could still have 1,000 people there, Brock said. Honestly I dont see that as an issue.

Hepfer said the return of the fair is the first step of many toward regular life resuming.

This is what we have been waiting for, that little bit of openness to give us some of that freedom back, she said.

To continue seeing improvements in local trends, Hepfer said it is important for vaccinated and unvaccinated people to still remain vigilant, socially distance, wash hands regularly, and wear a mask.

Brock said once the decision was made to reopen, board members were ready to start moving forward.

The decision was made, we know what we are going to do, now lets get to work, Brock said.
Justen Watkins, a self-proclaimed leader of The Base, had his bond revoked in 14A-1 District Court in Washtenaw County May 7, in part due to charges he faces in Huron County.

Watkins was recently charged with one count of breaking and entering in Huron County, which reportedly occurred while Watkins was out on bond.

State Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani asked 14A-1 District Court Judge Cedric Simpson to revoke Watkins bond because he had violated the courts previous bond conditions.

We have learned that he violated those bond conditions in two respects, Doddamani said. One, that he had contact with other gang members of The Base, which was a condition that this court imposed on Dec. 17  and second he picked up new criminal activity. We learned that this other gang member that he was associating with bonded him out of jail, and lived with him and just the following week after bonding him out of jail went out and committing another crime together.

I believe this shows just a blatant disregard for this courts orders, she continued.

Watkins defense attorney Olga Yermalenka challenged Doddamanis statement. Yermalenka said Watkins previously lived at the home that he is charged with breaking into.

When he was arrested and was in jail for a period of time and his property, including his vehicle, remained at that address, Yermalenka said. When he was released he eventually made his way back to the property to retrieve some of his belongings. He was not aware that the property was sold to someone else. It was sold with all of his belongings on the property.

Yermalenka told the court that Watkins had not been trespassed or evicted from the property, and there were no bond conditions that he not go to the property.

Another argument Yermalenka presented was that the person he was with when he went into the property, was a friend and not someone who was associated with The Base.

After two private conferences between the attorneys and the court, Judge Simpson revoked Watkins bond and ordered that he report to the Washtenaw County Jail by 2:30 p.m. May 7. Simpson also scheduled a bond hearing to provide Watkins a chance to challenge the revocation of the bond for May 17.

Watkins, and his counterpart Alfred Gorman, were scheduled for probable cause conferences in 14A-1 District Court before Judge Cedric Simpson for the charges they face in connection with an alleged incident in Dexter in December 2020.

Gorman and Watkins are facing charges of gang membership, unlawful posting of a message and using computers to commit a crime, each felony charges.

The allegations are that Watkins and Gorman used "intimidation tactics" and terrorized a family at their home. The men also reportedly posted messages to other members of a white supremacist group known as The Base, targeting the home, according to a press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, when she announced the charges.

The press release alleged Watkins and Gorman intended to intimidate Daniel Harper of the Antifa podcast I Dont Speak German, and the two uploaded photos of their activity at the home to The Bases channel on social media platform Telegram. However, the home they were at was not the home of Harper.

During Gormans May 7 hearing, his attorney requested a 30-day adjournment because he was new to the case and had not yet received the 12,000-plus pages of supporting documentation in the case.

Gormans probable cause conference was adjourned until June 3. It is expected that the court will issue another date and time for Watkins PCC after his bond hearing concludes.
HARTFORD  The prospect of a takeover of a Connecticut-based insurance giant sparked worries in the past few weeks among many elected officials about such a deal potentially sparking layoffs.

But that scenario no longer looms after insurance multinational Chubb last week called off its efforts to buy The Hartford. In turn, a number of public officials are expressing renewed confidence about the future of Connecticuts insurance industry, which has sustained fewer job losses in the past year than nearly every other sector.

This is the best place on the planet to be in the insurance business, state Rep. Kerry Wood, D-Rocky Hill, co-chairwoman of the state legislatures Insurance and Real Estate Committee, told Hearst Connecticut Media.

Acquisition offers rejected

Chubb announced that it would end its efforts to acquire The Hartford, after submitting three failed offers in the previous seven weeks. Its third and highest offer valued The Hartford at about $25 billion.

The chapter with The Hartford is closed, Chubb CEO and Chairman Evan Greenberg said in an April 28 earnings call. We have moved along. Beyond that... Im not going to now engage in talk about past events.

The attempted acquisition alarmed state legislators, who were worried about its potential impact on the Connecticut operations of the 1810-founded The Hartford, which ranked No. 160 on last years Fortune 500 list. Employing about 6,100 in its home state, it comprises one of the cornerstone companies of the Hartford region, which is known as the insurance capital of the world.

In an April 14 letter to The Hartford outlining its third bid, Chubb had sought to allay concerns by pledging to make Hartford a major technology and operations center, but lawmakers remained skeptical about the proposal.

I can feel the economy strengthening as we move towards 100 percent opening and through our commitment to the business community and workforce training, Wood said last week, before Chubb announced the end of its pursuit of The Hartford. This is Connecticuts time to rebuild and recover, and any job loss or threat of job loss at The Hartford would be a major setback.

Given The Hartfords size, there appear to be few other companies large enough to acquire it. Insurance and asset management giant Allianz has studied the feasibility of making an offer, Bloomberg reported in late March.

In response to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut Media, a spokesperson for Allianz said this week that in general, we do not comment on market rumors or speculations.

City officials, meanwhile, are focused on collaborating further with The Hartford. The company has been providing $3.3 million annually as part of a pledge made in 2017 with two other insurance giants, Aetna and Travelers, to give the city of Hartford a combined $50 million across a five-year span for community institutions such as the Hartford Public Library.

The Hartford has been one of our strongest, most reliable and most dedicated partners, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in an interview. I look forward to continuing to work with them hand-in-hand as we regain the momentum and energy that we had coming into the pandemic.

Resilient workforce

Boosted by insurance companies ability to operate in remote-working environments, the industry has avoided the massive job losses that other sectors have such as leisure and hospitality have endured since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

More Information In the past year, the finance and insurance sector has lost a smaller percentage of its jobs than the Connecticut economy as a whole. March 2021 Finance and insurance: 100,700 jobs statewide (-1.7% year over year) Connecticut economy: 1,580,300 (-6.1% year over year) March 2020 Finance and insurance: 102,400 jobs statewide Connecticut economy: 1,683,300 Source: Connecticut Department of Labor See More Collapse

Statewide, about 101,000 people worked in finance and insurance in March  a decline of 1.7 percent from a year ago, according to the state Department of Labor. As a whole, employment in Connecticut has decreased 6.1 percent in the past year.

Education services and transportation, warehousing and utilities are the only two sectors in Connecticut whose employment levels have fared better in the past year  with their statewide headcounts, respectively, dropping 0.3 percent and rising 11 percent.

In response to an inquiry from Hearst about its hiring plans in Connecticut, The Hartford said in a statement that we continuously hire as jobs become available across all of our functions and business lines. The company did not specify the number of Connecticut-based openings.

Hartford is the No. 1 location for concentration of insurance industry jobs, employing more than 63,500 Connecticut workers, according to the website of Connecticut Insurance & Financial Services, a MetroHartford Alliance initiative.

Theres no question that this pandemic is going to leave a lasting effect on work patterns, and we may well see companies keeping a hybrid of work-from-home and work-from-the-office, Bronin said. But I think there are also tremendous opportunities for us to continue building Hartford into a center of innovation in insurance tech and be a place where insurance startups and scale-up companies have enormous potential to partner with industry leaders. And I think we may also have enormous potential as a city to offer a much better deal for companies big and small that in the past have been paying a fortune to be located in places like New York and Boston.

In Bloomfield, about five miles northwest of The Hartfords headquarters, stand the main offices of Cigna, the largest insurance company headquartered in Connecticut. Cigna ranked No. 13 on last years Fortune list.

While the industry is concentrated in the Hartford region, it also maintains a significant presence in other parts of the state. Chubb and The Hartford have offices in Stamford, which is also a hub for re-insurance firms. W.R. Berkley, which ranked No. 402 on the Fortune list, is headquartered in Greenwich.

We have more actuaries, legal expertise and highly skilled professionals in the industry than anywhere else, Wood said. The captive insurance industry is currently expanding here. More subsidiary industries that support our large insurers are growing and expanding. Plus, the states Department of Insurance is widely known as having some of the best and brightest. I cant speak highly enough about the health of one of our largest industries.

Messages left this week for state Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, and state Rep. Cara Pavalock-DAmato, R-Bristol, the ranking members of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, were not returned.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
MIDDLETOWN  For this years volunteer project, members of the Mercy High School chapter of the Italian National Honor Society chose the local soup kitchen as the recipient of 35 trays of homemade lasagna.

Students who are a part of the Societa Onoraria Italica, Caterina di Siena, must complete a service project each year, according to a press release. In the past, students volunteered at the St. Sebastian Church Feast as ticket vendors, in the fried dough booth, and helping with food sales, it said.

This year, the students wanted to do something different, because many members of the Middletown community have a need and rely on the help of St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen for meals, according to the school. The society wanted to offer them something that they do not ordinarily get served, it said.

Mercy students wanted to extend the cultural experience beyond the classroom. Lasagna was a good option, and also a popular meal choice among Italians, the news release said.

With the help of the INHS officers, members of the Italian classes and even students that do not take Italian, 24 volunteers prepared nearly three dozen trays. Under the guidance of society moderator, Italian teacher and cook Daniela Aparo, the group worked to receive donations and supplies for the event, the press release said.

Some students donated grated cheese, ricotta, mozzarella and sauce. With collected funds, Aparo bought 30 pounds of meatballs, 40 pounds of lasagna sheets, 50 pounds of ricotta, 24 jars of sauce, 20 pounds of mozzarella, tablecloths, pans, lids, and other supplies courtesy of donations provided by the Mercy community.

A total of $520 was collected, even more than was needed, and the unused remainder ($113.99) was issued in a check to St. Vincent de Paul, the school said. Although it took lots of planning and calculating of product needed per tray, I would organize this event again in a heartbeat, and am looking forward to doing this again, Aparo said in a prepared statement.

Madilyn Carbone, 23, echoed Aparos thoughts, I had so much fun doing this, I hope we do it again next year!

The sister team of Catherine and Fiona Fay who made four of the 35 trays agreed, saying, we are willing to make more of them, according to the statement.

Students are required to complete service work each year with a minimum of 100 hours by graduation. Last year, they completed 10,743 hours of community service with local agencies making a remarkable economic impact of $333,570, according to Mercy.

Sophomore Ava Giansiracusa appreciated that she was making a difference, saying, I feel good knowing people are going to enjoy having lasagna for a meal.

Classmate Mia Pugliares added, I am happy to have helped make the lasagna. I am also willing to serve meals at St. Vincent de Paul if they need help.

I love what I do!, Aparo said in her statement. My job is so rewarding, and not just the teaching part of it. Through much planning, calculating, seeking donations, and bringing ideas to fruition, my Italian National Honor Society organized an outstanding lasagna making event to feed the less fortunate.

I know the guests at St. Vincent enjoyed an amazing lasagna lunch made with love by the Mercy High students, Aparo said.
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BRIDGEPORT  A 21-year member of the citys police force says he understands the optics and perception of the video footage showing him wrapping his arm around a suspects neck last weekend while trying to take the man into custody.

There were numerous bystanders attempting to inflame the situation yelling to get off him and off his neck, Bridgeport police Sgt. Sean Lynch wrote in a statement obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media. I am well aware of the optics and perception.

Lynch and other officers have become the focus of a Bridgeport Police Department investigation into how they handled the arrest of Kevin Thomas, 34, that was captured on police cameras as well as cellphone videos from bystanders who gathered to watch the incident on Sunday.

According to Lynchs statement and a police report of the incident, the sergeant was blind and in distress when the pepper spray he deployed blew back on him and the other officers.

In his statement, Lynch also noted that he is well aware of the dangers of putting someone in a chokehold, which is why it has been banned by police departments.

This scenario was not at that level. I was blind and in distress and pain from the spray and very concerned about being bit, Lynch stated. The angry crowd was a concern, but there was no angst toward Thomas. Due to the biting concern, I controlled his head only allowing him my shirt and body armor to bite until I could transition and push him back into the car with my right hand.

City activist Tony Barr, who posted a photo of Lynch restraining Thomas on Facebook, said he doesnt hold any enmity toward the sergeant, who has been with the department since November 2000. Barr said he feels the situation is a result of the officers not receiving proper training.

Thomas, of Goddard Avenue, was charged with interfering with police, assault on a public safety officer, second-degree breach of peace and fourth-degree larceny.

During his arraignment Monday in Superior Court he loudly proclaimed he was the victim of racism and innocent of the allegations until his public defender told him repeatedly to remain silent.

After posting bond, police said Thomas was arrested again Tuesday when they say he fled from officers who were responding to a 911 hangup call. Police said Thomas resisted getting into the rear of the patrol car.

Bridgeport police have not yet released video of Tuesdays arrest, but footage from Sunday shows Thomas also being resistant to staying inside the police cruiser.

The situation unfolded Sunday after officers were dispatched to Noble Avenue and East Washington Street for a domestic violence complaint, according to a police report.

When officers arrived, they found a red Kia sedan stopped in the middle of the street. The report states that Thomas was in the front passenger seat. The names of the other passengers have been redacted from the report.

The report states Thomas initially gave officers a false name and claimed another man in the car had attempted to stab him with a knife. Thomas and another man in the car then began arguing, the report stated.

According to the report, Thomas eventually got out of the car and went behind bushes at a nearby residence. The report states police discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for a Kevin Thompson.

The report states officers believed Thomas could be Thompson. Officers handcuffed Thomas and ordered him to sit on the sidewalk while they sorted it out, the report states.

The report states that Thomas began yelling that his name was not Thompson and urged officers to contact Officer Antoine Sistruck, who had earlier questioned him about a home burglary and could confirm his identity, the report states.

The report states Sistruck informed the officers that Thompson was wanted for possession of stolen property from a burglary.

When Lynch arrived, he ordered Thomas, who he believed was Thompson based on Sistrucks information, be placed under arrest, the report states.

Thomas then became combative, the report states. As an officer brought him to a police car, Thomas refused to slide into the backseat, the report states.

Due to his acts, officers were forced to push Thomas back into the vehicle, the report states.

Officer Bobby Hernandez was on the opposite side of the police car and pulled Thomas toward him as another officer continued to struggle keeping the man in the car, the report states. Thomas began repeatedly kicking the officer in the thigh and bit another officers arm and hand, the report stated. Thomas also head-butted one of the officers, according to the report.

However, the body cam and police cruiser footage of the confrontation does not show Thomas biting or head-butting any of the officers.

The report states Lynch then administered his OC spray, which blew back on him and officers Hernandez and Omar Jimenez, who were struggling to keep Thomas in the police car.

The three officers suffered temporary vision loss and respiratory impairment as they struggled with Thomas who had managed to get out of the police car, the report states.

Medics then arrived and offered to help Thomas if he agreed to go to an ambulance with them. However, as the stretcher was being set up, the report states Thomas resumed struggling.

They managed to get him on the stretcher, but he flailed and flopped down on the pavement, the report states, yelling, I cant breathe.

The report states he was reloaded onto the stretcher and secured in the ambulance and taken to Bridgeport Hospital.

The confrontation involving the medics was also not included in the video footage released by police.
Union officials said the state Department of Correction failed to inform them about former death row prisoners being transferred to other facilities as Connecticut prepares to close its maximum security prison.

There was no notice, said AFSCME Local 391 President Collin Provost, who represents 1,500 DOC employees, including correction officers, kitchen supervisors, maintenance staff, correction counselors and others. Its discouraging when you get a call from one of your members saying, Hey a death row inmate wound up in my general population, why didnt they tell anyone?

In February, the state Commissioner of Correction Angel Quiros announced the July 1 closing of Northern Correctional Institution, the states supermax prison where the former death row inmates were being held. On March 11, a federal court ruling deemed the special circumstances security status for death row inmates was unconstitutional.

This suddenly changed the landscape on how the DOC would move forward in dealing with those who had the special circumstances designation.

With the transfers becoming necessary, Provost said no input was sought from the correction officers or other union staff.

Thats the challenging part for my members. We werent brought into the conversation on how they were handling the transfer for those who are being held under special circumstances, Provost said.

The special circumstances designation became law when the death penalty was abolished in Connecticut in 2012. It requires former death row inmates to be held in more isolated circumstances than other prisoners, regardless of their behavior.

The DOC said it notified leadership of the unions, but there was little that could be done because the inmates needed to be transferred.

The agency communicated with leadership from all of the different unions associated with the Department of Correction, including the NP4 president representing front-line staff, said Karen Martucci, spokeswoman for the agency. There was no room for negotiating how this move would take place since the direction and timeframes were dictated through the legal court decision.

Four of the 10 former death row inmates, Richard Reynolds, Daniel Webb, Jessie Campbell and Todd Rizzo, who are serving life sentences, have been moved to the MacDougall Building of the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, a level four and five maximum security prison in Suffield.

Northerns four remaining inmates, Russell Peeler, Sedrick Cobb, Robert Breton and Richard Roszkowski, are expected to be moved by July 1.

Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes, who were convicted of killing three female members of the Petit family in 2007, have been serving their life sentences in a Pennsylvania prison and are not impacted by the transfers. Komisarjevsky was from Cheshire and Hayes was from Winsted.

The state Supreme Court in 2020 overturned the conviction of an 11th former death row inmate, Lazale Ashby, who will likely be retried.

The states former death row inmates were reclassified as special circumstances high security status by the General Assembly in 2012 in an offering to those legislators who were reluctant to vote in favor of abolishing the Connecticut death penalty, said state Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chair of the judiciary committee.

It made lawmakers feel better about what they were doing, said Winfield, who pushed for the end of the death penalty as a new state legislator in 2009.

Legislators were also keenly aware of the issues caused by Komisarjevsky and Hayes, who were convicted and sentenced to death in the killings of Michaela and Hayley Petit and their mother Jennifer Hawke-Petit during a Cheshire home invasion in 2007. Dr. William Petit, the sole survivor of the attack, and his family championed the death penalty for the two perpetrators.

The legislature abolished the death penalty prospectively, which meant the men on death row would still receive death sentences. Their continued confinement was defined by a separate change in the law, which required the state commissioner of correction to keep the 11 inmates who had received death sentences in the same isolated conditions as they were on death row.

That meant the former death row inmates were kept in separate cells with little opportunity to leave, few educational programs and no contact with anyone other than those serving under the same status, Martucci said.

Their sentences were converted to life without the possibility of release when the death penalty was abolished, Martucci said. They were managed by a state statute (CGS 18-10b) and their movement from Northern CI is in response to a federal appeals court decision declaring that part of that state statute is unconstitutional.

Reynolds, who was convicted in the killing of a Waterbury police officer in the early 1990s, challenged the special circumstances designation in federal court after the state Supreme Court ruled the law that abolished the death penalty prospectively was unconstitutional.

Reynolds won his case in U.S. District Court in 2019 on the grounds that the DOC failed to provide even minimal due process protections, including allowing him any advance notice or hearing on his reclassification to special circumstances high security status, records show. The ruling banned the DOC from enforcing the special circumstances status against any other current or future inmate, court filings said.

The DOC appealed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The Second Circuit court tossed out some of the U.S. District Courts ruling, but agreed with Reynolds that the law establishing the special circumstances designation was unconstitutional.

By the time the appeals court ruling was issued, Quiros had already announced his intent to close Northern under heavy pressure from prison reform advocacy groups.

The DOC has since been working on the transition of the former death row inmates to other facilities, Martucci said. They all will remain in maximum security settings, she said.

Well look at their risk and their needs and place them where it is most appropriate, Martucci said.

Union officials do not have a problem with the inmates being placed in the general population, Provost said.

The employees that I represent deal with violent people every day, he said. They dont have to be on death row to be violent. They could be serving a 10-year sentence or even be imprisoned for a violation of probation.

But Provost and several union members do have a problem with the agency not notifying staff that the former death row inmates were being transferred to certain facilities.

Correction officers are always on guard, Provost said. When they step into a restaurant and have a seat and then see a person who was formerly incarcerated walk in the door, it changes their perception. Its the same when any of the former death row inmates show up in your general population. Theres a change in your perception. Correction officers are responsible for the safety of all inmates. When you bring in someone with some notoriety, theres going to be a difference in how you look at things.
MIDDLETOWN  Workers at state mental health hospitals and addiction treatment facilities have reached a breaking point, and took to the streets Wednesday to demand action.

Frontline doctors, nurses, mental health workers, social workers and other health care workers lined the streets in the rain as they rallied to have Gov. Ned Lamont fill the vacancies in Middletown facilities.

Several dozen staff members from Connecticut Valley Hospital, Whiting Forensic Hospital and Albert J. Solnit Childrens Center North and South blocked traffic in Middletown, chanting as they blocked the intersection of Silver Street and Eastern Drive.

When they say cut back, we say fight back, they said. If we dont get it, shut it down.

The group is demanding Lamont to fill 345 vacancies at the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Children in Middletown.

These state facilities in Middletown provide essential lifelines for adults struggling with substance abuse and mental health challenges, and for Connecticuts at-risk children, the group said in a statement. Gov. Lamonts failure to hire staff has cut the number of addiction services beds down from 110 to 36 beds. The states women-only addiction inpatient unit was also closed due to staff shortages.

Max Reiss, Lamonts chief spokesman, said in statement Wednesday evening that the governor has followed up his words of support with action when it comes to funding these programs.

He did it in his state budget, and he proposed even more funding for these programs in his Connecticut Recovery Act Proposal, the statement said.

In a statement, DMHAS spokesman Art Mongillo said the agency is in the process of hiring and continues to actively recruit to fill current staff vacancies.

DMHAS and union staff share a mutual goal of providing high-quality client care and maintaining patient and staff safety across the continuum of DMHAS services, he said. DMHAS will continue the agencys practice of regular meetings and conversations with union leadership and members to hear union concerns.

During the hour-long rally, speakers told stories about how the staff shortages impacted their lives.

Short-staffing in these buildings is crazy, said Stephan Bobb, a mental health assistant at CVHs Woodward Hall.

Bobb said the baseline staffing of a unit in his facility is six people, but sometimes they only have four people available to respond to patients, including nurses who he said also have other responsibilities. He also said employees are exhausted from being mandated to work double shifts.

We have people on these units working 16 hours a day, at least four days a week, and folks make mistakes, he said. We are put in situations where we cannot adequately take care of patients.

Becky Simonsen, vice president of the union representing the state workers, said there is not enough staffing to keep the services running at these facilities.

At this point, we are at a breaking point, she said. In Middletown, the four facilities in Middletown, theres 345 vacancies just at those facilities. Statewide, for all of our agencies, its over 1,200 health care vacancies.

Simonsen said staffing is just collapsing in those facilities  to the detriment of employees and patients.

Most of all, its reducing services, she said. Our members cannot stand to see people waiting months and months on the waiting list to be treated for addiction. Its really a matter of life or death.
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After a year of unprecedented use of the National Guard at home while it still juggles its combat missions abroad, military leaders say their goals are to slow the operational tempo and to provide health care for the force.

"Our force has been heavily committed over the past 20 years in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and around the world," Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville told lawmakers Wednesday during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on the service's budget. "My concern is we want to make sure we reduce the op tempo of our troops, including the National Guard who have been heavily employed, whether that's home or overseas."

The past year has seen unusually high use of the National Guard at home as it has been deployed virtually nonstop to handle pandemic relief and civil disturbances, administer vaccinations, and protect the U.S. Capitol after the pro-Trump mob assault in January.

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Currently, there are 32,000 Guardsmen supporting pandemic efforts and just over 2,300 on civil disturbance missions in Georgia, Minnesota and Texas, according to the National Guard Bureau. That includes the Capitol security mission in Washington, D.C. Roughly 20,000 troops are deployed abroad in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the horn of Africa.

The extensive string of domestic missions has the potential to be a massive strain on the force. Guardsmen must maintain their civilian jobs and have no legal protections from employer retaliation while on state orders. They also aren't provided with child care.

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the head of the Guard, told lawmakers Tuesday that the lack of a free and premium health care service for troops is a key issue, one that Congress may need to address.

"What happens if they get sick or injured when they come off orders?" Hokanson said during a House Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday. "One of my most pressing concerns is premium free health care for every Guardsman who serves in uniform."

In their conventional roles, Guard members are entitled to purchase health and dental coverage through Tricare. Yet Hokanson's comment comes as lawmakers are increasingly examining the benefits and pay gap between National Guard troops and their active-duty counterparts.

Some have argued that bureaucracy and fine print on how troops are activated on domestic missions can unfairly strip Guardsmen of their benefits.

While on state orders, troops cannot file claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs if injured, do not earn a full housing allowance, or accrue benefits such as the GI Bill. However, if that same mission is federalized under Title 32, which keeps troops under state command but sends the bill to the federal government, Guardsmen earn all benefits and are entitled to the same health care as their active-duty counterparts -- but only after 30 days of service and if the president declares an emergency.

There is no bill on the table to provide free health insurance for Guard troops when they're off duty. So far, most efforts to achieve benefits parity for the Guard have focused on the GI Bill.

Delivering health insurance to the 441,539-strong force would be a massive expense for the government, but Congress appears to be in the early stages of looking into it.

"We're going to have a panel that addresses health services. Some things we need to understand is who lacks health insurance, whether or not folks have chosen not to sign up for it -- I want to see how this breaks down by state," said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., the chair of the House Appropriations Committee's defense panel. "I need to understand how Tricare fits into this."

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: How the Pandemic Spurred Congress to Rewrite GI Bill Rules for the National Guard
The Army has launched a new marketing campaign featuring soldiers transformed into anime characters to tell their personal stories in support of an upcoming recruiting surge known as Army National Hiring Days 2021.

"The Calling" is a series of short videos being aired on YouTube focused on five soldiers from difficult backgrounds. One begins with Army Reserve Spc. Jennifer Liriano narrating an anime-illustrated story of a frightening childhood memory.

"When I was four, my siblings and I watched my dad try to take his own life right in front of us," says Liriano, who grew up in a tough New Jersey neighborhood. "The police were called, and they rescued him. I grew up wanting to help people like my father, people who are suffering."

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When she grew older, she met an Army recruiter at school who listened to her goals, Liriano says in the video.

"He took me through all the different careers, and that is when it hit me: The Army is an Army of good people," she says. "Now, I serve in a combat support hospital doing what fulfills me the most."

The marketing effort launched this week uses these short, animated videos "to help as kind of complementary [effort] to what we are doing in Army National Hiring Days 2021," a massive recruiting effort scheduled from May 10 to June 14 that's designed to connect with about 60,000 young people from Generation Z, Brig. Gen. Patrick Michaelis, deputy commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, or USAREC, told reporters Wednesday during a telephonic roundtable.

Poster for The Calling, a new Army marketing effort featuring anime videos on YouTube. (U.S. Army)

The Army chose anime because the medium makes it possible to intertwine many moments in a soldier's life into one product, Army officials said.

"It's a distinct departure from our previous Army campaigns, both in its arresting kind of visual, this anime approach but also an intimate portrayal of those who serve," Michaelis said.

USAREC created the first Army National Hiring Days last year as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, describing three days that were heavily focused on virtual hiring events to attract young people.

This year's effort will feature bonuses, virtual job fairs and live events at schools and other public centers that are beginning to open back up as the pandemic subsides, he added.

Army senior leaders, Army Cadet Command, the National Guard and Reserves, and active commands such as Army Forces Command and Army Futures Command will broadcast a simple, unified message on their social media pages during the hiring days: "Join Us," Michaelis said.

"We are focused on the 150 career potential job opportunities for the Army, but we are really focused on 11 priority [military occupational specialties]," he said. "During the period of Army National Hiring Days, we have a $2,000 kicker bonus for those that meet the criteria against those 11 MOSs, so that we can carry ourselves through fiscal 2021 and set conditions for fiscal 2022."

The 11 MOSs, with their normal incentives, that are eligible for the $2,000 kicker bonus include:

11X Infantry, up to $9,000 bonus

18X Special Forces, up to $40,000 bonus

13J Fire Control Specialist, up to $9,000 bonus

13M Multiple Launch Rocket System Crewmember, up to $9,000 bonus

14P Air and Missile Defense Crewmember up to $9,000 bonus

35M Human Intelligence Collector, up to $40,000 bonus

35P Signals Intelligence Voice Interceptor, up to $40,000 bonus

37F Psychological Operations Specialist, up to $21,000 bonus

74D Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist, up to $9,000 bonus

89D Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist, up to $18,000 bonus

92R Parachute Rigger, up to $9,000 bonus

Last year, USAREC set a goal to capture 10,000 recruiting contracts out of the hiring days event. Leaders have not revealed how many contracts the 2020 event yielded, saying that some are still being finalized.

"We learned a lot of lessons out of that; we had a bold agenda last year," said Michaelis, who would not set a recruiting contract goal for this year's event. "What we learned in National Hiring Days 2020 was to fill the recruiters' funnel. We blew ourselves away last year by making over 30,000 leads in this very small period of time.

"Our goal this year is to get to about 60,000 leads. ... The conditions are right; we have learned how to streamline from a lessons learned perspective," he added.

Recruiters have refined the process of responding to recruiting leads to "make sure that within 72 hours, we are hitting those contacts that come into the system," Michaelis said.

"We find that if you wait a certain amount of time, if you spend too much time not contacting those folks, there is a point where interest starts to wane. ... This was a tough lesson learned from last year."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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An Army trainee was arrested Thursday morning in South Carolina after allegedly hijacking a school bus with 18 students onboard. Law enforcement officials say he'll now face multiple kidnapping charges.

The trainee, armed with a rifle and dressed in physical training gear, allegedly boarded a school bus that was headed to Forest Lake Elementary in Columbia, South Carolina, after fleeing Fort Jackson, a nearby basic training base, at about 7 a.m. The trainee told the bus driver he didn't want to hurt him, but needed a ride to the next town, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a Thursday morning press conference.

The children and the driver were eventually able to get off the bus unharmed.

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"The bus driver started driving, and the trainee brought the kids to the front of the bus," Lott said. "The kids started asking lots of questions to the suspect about whether he was going to hurt them or the bus driver. The suspect got a little frustrated."

The bus then stopped, and the kids and driver exited the vehicle. Lott said the Fort Jackson trainee then started driving the bus, but had trouble controlling it. He eventually fled on foot, leaving the rifle on the bus, according to Lott.

"[He] went through neighborhoods trying to get rides, trying to get clothes," he said. Police soon caught up with the suspect; Lott said he was in his third week of training at Fort Jackson and was "arrested without incident."

"He'll be charged with multiple counts of kidnapping and whatever charges we can put on him," Lott added.

The entire incident lasted about an hour. The needs of the students involved are being addressed, Lott said.

"You can just imagine they were scared to death, along with that bus driver," he said. "I will give the bus driver credit -- he kept his cool. He didn't overreact. He didn't get excited. He kept his cool enough that kept the situation calm. And I will tell you his main concern was the safety of those kids, and he did his job."

Officials at Fort Jackson said they were aware of the incident involving the trainee and were working closely with the Richland County Sheriff's Department to respond. No additional details about the trainee or the events leading up to the bus hijacking were provided by the Army.

Baron Davis, superintendent of Richland School District, said receiving the phone call about an armed man hijacking a school bus was horrifying.

"I've never been as scared in my life," he said. "... Every child is a precious child to all of us, and it was one of the ... scariest phone calls -- so many emotions."

Lott said the initial call his department received was about a man trying to wave down cars on Interstate 77. A parent of one of the children on the bus later flagged down a deputy to alert them that an armed man was on the school bus.

The trainee got onto the bus at Percival Road while it was stopped to pick up children, Lott said.

-- This story is developing and will be updated.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

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As countries around the world expand their military space efforts, one of the U.S.'s closest allies wants to develop deeper cooperation on the final frontier -- and hasn't ruled out creating a "Space Force" of its own someday.

"Never say never," said Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, chief of the Air Staff for the Royal Air Force, or RAF, for the United Kingdom.

"I don't think we're ... at the scale of the U.S. space enterprise yet, and I think that would be a distraction at this stage, but again, I would say never say never," Wigston said in an interview with Military.com last month.

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"We recognize that we're going to have to be prepared to spend more time understanding what's going on in space, and particularly the malign activity, and then be ready to protect against it," he said. "I think the role of organizations like the Space Force or the U.K. Space Command is only going to grow as we make more use of space."

Last month, the U.K. established its own Space Command to oversee roles and operations in its space domain, similar to U.S. Space Command. It is a joint command under the RAF comprising members of the Royal Navy, British Army, RAF and civil service.

"As space continues to grow in importance and as our space operators -- the men and women in the Royal Air Force, the army and the navy -- as they develop their own identity, then in the future we might go down the same road," Wigston said of forming a British Space Force.

For now, the Royal Air Force has other priorities.

"The United States Air Force in particular is in exactly the same phase as the Royal Air Force as we begin to try and understand what that future force mix will look like," Wigston said.

Like the U.S. Air Force, the RAF is considering fighter jets and autonomous drones fighting side-by-side.

"I want to see [Project] Mosquito loyal wingman remotely piloted autonomous combat aircraft on the wings of Typhoon and on the wings of the [British] F-35 [Joint Strike Fighter] this decade," Wigston said of the U.K. effort. The country chose Spirit AeroSystems of Northern Ireland to build a drone prototype earlier this year.

The U.K. will commit more than $2 billion to the Tempest fighter program over the next four years, he said. The optionally manned sixth-generation fighter is intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and is a joint venture between BAE Systems, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce and MBDA. It is expected to fly by 2035.

The Tempest is still in the conceptual stage. In about four years, the U.K. must make decisions on the jet's final design and construction; which nations to partner with for support elements, training and integration; and potential export customers, Wigston said.

The RAF is outlining what its future tactical units, equivalent to combat-ready squadrons, will look like over the next 20 years.

"Today, a tactical unit is made up of, let's say, eight Typhoons.  By 2040, that unit of eight Typhoons might actually be replaced by a formation that's made up of 100 swarming drones, 10 loyal wingman drones and just two piloted aircraft," Wigston said.

In January, the U.K.'s military research arm flew 20 different drones in a swarm formation test, the largest in an ongoing experiment to operate dozens of aerial weapons in unison to achieve an effect such as an airstrike or communications jamming.

"The force mix work will certainly change, the skills required will certainly change, and we've got to do the hard work now and work out what we think those changes will lead to," he said.

Wigston spoke about a number of other topics, from the U.K.'s effort to buy more F-35 stealth jets, to manned-and-unmanned teaming concepts for its naval and air forces. His comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Military.com: The minister for defence procurement has said the U.K. will buy more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. In February, your counterpart, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, made comments about bringing a new fighter into his service's inventory, which critics viewed as foreshadowing the stealth jet's demise. Are you concerned about the partnership you have with the U.S. on the F-35 program?

Wigston: I can't really speak for the United States debate, I'm afraid, but for the United Kingdom, we're absolutely committed to the F-35 program. We bought F-35 primarily to go onboard our two carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. And they're going to be in service to the late 2060s, early 2070s, so I'm buying a fleet of aircraft now that I need to be in service for almost 50 years. So right now, I'm entirely focused on continuing to build beyond the 48 that we've already ordered, and there will be discussions this year and next about the next order that we're going to make for our next batch of F-35s.

Military.com: The U.S. Navy wants to create a new mix of fighters and drones for its carriers -- nearly two-thirds of the aircraft could be unmanned, including the possibility of drone fighter jets, according to top aviation officials. Are you applying lessons from their studies to your carrier concepts?

Wigston: There's no question that we have to look at what technology allows us to do in all aspects of aviation. And one of the discussions we're having with the Navy is about where are the opportunities to start replacing piloted platforms now.

Military.com: Would the U.K. like to adopt any particular platform the U.S. has or is considering?

Wigston: I saw the Air Force flew the Valkyrie, and we're looking to fly a similar size, similar airframe, in two years' time; the Australians have already flown something similar as well. So we're all at a similar sort of stage ... for Mosquito, and I'm aiming to fly a demonstrator in 2023. It's along similar lines; it's an autonomous platform that has the performance of a combat aircraft that has the advantage of using every element of autonomous operation that we can introduce.

Military.com: There's been increased activity from Russia in Europe and the Arctic. How has that shaped studies on what your future forces will look like?

Wigston: That gets to the heart of what we've been working on over the last year. [To look at] the realistic view of the world we're going to face in the future -- recognizing that it is more unstable, it's more uncertain, complex, dynamic, and that we've facing threats from a more aggressive and more reckless Russia that is threatening its neighbors in Eastern Europe, our allies. We've got to be clear-eyed about Chinese expansion around the world, [and] that violent extremism is still a factor and could affect our lives. Then in all of that ... the threat systems, the technological advances, advances in  ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hypersonics mean that we're going to be challenged in the future in a way that we perhaps haven't been for the last three decades.  We're going to have to be ready to compete. That's the thing that's driving our thinking about all elements of our [and our allies'] force structures going forward.

Military.com: Would you say you have enough pilots and support members today to achieve these goals?

Wigston: Right now, we're in as good a place as I can hope to be, but that's as a consequence of the downturn in the civil aviation sector [because of the pandemic]. I'm acutely conscious that when life begins to return to how it was before, the civil aviation sector will pick up again, and I will have that challenge once again. [So] if you know about an air chief around the world who's got too many pilots, can you give me his or her phone number, please? It's a challenge we all face. And it's not just pilots. It's attracting the talent and the quality that we need.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

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The Defense Department is investigating whether a former Army officer abused his position, either employing video he made while on duty or misusing military media assets for a partisan political ad for his congressional bid.

In April, Harold Earls, who served as an officer for just shy of six years, announced he was running as a Republican in Georgia's 6th Congressional District, which consists of the northern Atlanta suburbs.

His announcement, which used footage of Gold Star families burying and mourning dead service members, and close-ups of graves, was met with scorn on social media and by eight soldiers with whom he served who spoke to Military.com on the condition of anonymity.

"We are working to determine if and what appropriate action may be required," Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told Military.com.

Earls' campaign launch ad focused almost exclusively on his military service. The video shows troops guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and others performing burial duties at Arlington National Cemetery, where Earls served for the bulk of his time in the Army. Footage also includes close-ups of graves where the names of fallen service members are clearly visible. That does not break any laws, but it is unclear whether Earls' campaign received the families' permission to use the images in a partisan advertisement.

Earls gives his campaign pitch in civilian clothes. It is unclear whether he was still in the Army at the time the footage was shot. He served from May 2015 to October 2020, according to an Army spokesperson.

Some of the footage he used is military video in the public domain, meaning it was created with government funds and available for public use, according to multiple soldiers interviewed. Only one clip in the ad displays a mandatory disclosure stating that the use of military imagery doesn't imply an endorsement. The video of funerals does not contain the same disclosure, making it confusing what is in the public domain and what Earls shot himself.

Soldiers who served with Earls and spoke with Military.com called the use of Gold Star families in a political ad tasteless. All said that if Earls owned any of the footage himself, and used it without the families' consent, it would represent a violation of morals. It is unclear what specific regulations might have been broken, or what actions the Defense Department would realistically take if Earls were guilty of any rule-breaking.

"While not really morally acceptable, it is allowed," a junior noncommissioned officer currently serving at the cemetery said in an interview with Military.com. "However, he did utilize footage of him walking through headstones and standing by the tomb. Those were shot when he had already left the Army and was not cleared with the cemetery. This is part of the footage that is currently being investigated and brought up the chain of command."

Another NCO who served with Earls said he is confused why the ad leans so heavily on his military service, or why it is relevant to his district, given he has never deployed overseas and got out of the service relatively quickly. Evidence is mixed on any advantages former service members might have in election.

"I'm looking at his site.  I'm not gonna act like I'm a big politics guy  but I can't even really tell he's running for office, or where. It's all about him, not about the place he's running. You can see the ego problems.  His whole campaign is about minimal service in Virginia for an election in Georgia," an NCO stationed at Arlington National Cemetery told Military.com on the condition of anonymity. "Aren't these [candidates] supposed to show off doing community projects or shaking hands with [business] owners or something?"

Most service members interviewed on condition of anonymity either identified as Republicans or said they don't care enough about politics to have an ideology.

Neither Earls nor his campaign responded to multiple requests for interviews and comment. However, he defended the heavy use of his uniform and gravesights to The Atlanta Journal- Constitution.

"Arlington is not just part of my history, it's part of our American history -- a story that must be told," he said in a statement to the paper. "The sacrifices of our fallen and their families who fought for ALL of us should never be forgotten, and should inspire us to seek what unites us instead of this strangling divide so many have given into."

It's not the first time that Earls had apparently levied his prestige position for personal advantage. In January 2020, he posted a photo on Instagram of himself at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to sell "Higher Calling," a book he and his wife wrote.

An Instagram screenshot showing Harold Earls IV pitching his book while in uniform. The caption is now edited and no long references the book. (Contributed screenshot)

In the post, Earls wrote about failing the test to become a sentinel, a prestigious title at Arlington for soldiers who are chosen to guard the tomb. It is one of the rarest badges in the Army, and typically earned by enlisted soldiers.

"When yesterday was finished I was exhausted. I had been sick this past week but pushed on, it wasn't enough. I passed the uniform [inspection] and knowledge [test] but failed the outside performance. It was heartbreaking," Earls wrote in an Instagram post. "It reminded me of a low point in my life that I talk about in our book A Higher Calling going on pre-sale 15 Jan."

In Earls' campaign ad, and in multiple photos online, he is wearing a Sentinel Badge. But there is no record of him earning the award in Army records reviewed by Military.com. However, there are photos of him being awarded the badge in early 2020. He did earn the Ranger tab, Expert Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge, among other standard awards.

While a cadet at West Point, Earl's enterprising activities also rubbed some the wrong way.

One of the shirts Harold Earls sold to fund his Mt. Everest trip. (Contributed photo)

One classmate who was junior to Earls said he sold him a shirt to fund his trek up Mount Everest.

"He was supposed to be my upper-class mentor at West Point when I was a plebe," a former cadet said. "He sat me down at the mess hall, asked me how I was, and told me to buy one of the T-shirts he was selling to fund his Everest climb."

During the climb, Earls lost his goggles and shared a pair with a Sherpa who developed snow blindness and nearly fell off the mountain, according to reporting from ABC News.

Georgias 6th is one of 47 House districts Republicans are targeting to flip in 2022, and will likely be one of the elections where both parties pour the most money into, according to reporting from CQ Rollcall. Democrats have a slim majority and have little room for error to hold onto their majority. It is unclear how many Republicans Earls will face in a primary election. If he moves onto the general election, hell face Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath, who won her last election with 54.6% of the vote. However, in 2018, she eeked by with 50.5% of the vote.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to show that, while there is no military record of Earls being awarded the Sentinel Badge, there are photos of him receiving it in early 2020.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from the State Department.

A Coast Guard cutter that famously helped evacuate 500,000 people during the 2001 terror attacks in New York might not be sold to Indonesia as planned.

Aan Kurnia, head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, told CNN he's not interested in purchasing the used cutter Adak from the U.S.

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"I prefer to build my own ships in Indonesia," Aan told CNNIndonesia.com.

A State Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the plan to sell the cutter is with the Indonesian navy, not the country's Maritime Security Agency.

The Biden administration notified Congress in April of plans to transfer two decommissioned Island-class patrol boats -- the and cutter Aquidneck -- to the Indonesian navy under the Excess Defense Articles program.

"As specified in our notification to Congress, these vessels will join other previously transferred platforms and systems used effectively by Indonesia over the years for its national defense, as well as countering piracy, securing key global maritime trade routes such as the Malacca Strait, and for maritime domain awareness," the official said.

The 110-foot patrol boat, originally based out of Highlands, New Jersey, is scheduled to be decommissioned this summer. Plans to sell it to Indonesia prompted pushback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Florida Reps. Gus Bilirakis, a Republican, and Charlie Crist, a Democrat; and New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican and Army Reserve officer, asked the State Department last month to keep the cutter in the U.S. The lawmakers are working with a group of veterans who plan to turn Adak into a 9/11 museum in Tampa Bay, Florida.

"There are scores of Tampa Bay area residents who survived the horrific terror attacks of 9/11 who would find great peace, joy, and comfort knowing they can visit with their children and grandchildren a museum dedicated to the historic 9/11 rescue effort," Bilirakis said in a statement.

Zeldin called the idea of selling "this significant historic symbol" to another country "incredibly shortsighted."

"As we approach the 20th anniversary of one of America's darkest days, the Adak serves as a reminder of American courage, sacrifice and resilience in the days and years following this attack on our freedom and way of life," he said.

Aan didn't address the politicians' comments in his remarks to CNN. He just said plans for Indonesia to buy the cutter weren't finalized, and that he preferred new ships over used vessels.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Adak's steering system was undergoing repairs at Station Sandy Hook in New Jersey. The steering mechanism was completely disassembled when the first aircraft hit the Trade Center, according to "Rogue Wave: The U.S. Coast Guard on and After 9/11." Electrician's Mate First Class Juan Vasquez rigged the Adak's steering system so Lt. Sean MacKenzie could get underway, the book adds.

MacKenzie steered the cutter by hand.

"Adak acted as a command and control center and On Scene Commander for all Coast Guard underway units in New York, to keep everyone out of the harbor save for the vessels directly providing rescue and assistance," according to "Rogue Wave."

The letter from Bilirakis, Crist and Zeldin says the Adak was able to coordinate the evacuation of more than 500,000 people stranded in lower Manhattan after two planes flew into the World Trade Center.

"Until the arrival of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma early the next morning, the Adak coordinated the evacuation of the half a million stranded office workers by making sure any vessel in the harbor was directly providing rescue and assistance," they wrote.

They suggested the State Department consider selling another one of the Coast Guard's cutters to Indonesia in its place.

The State Department official said there are no other decommissioned vessels available that meet the needs of the transfer to Indonesia.

"The availability of these vessels is driven by [Coast Guard] decommissioning schedules and the onward movement of personnel," the official added.

The U.S. has transferred several other Coast Guard vessels to countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including to Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The official said by strengthening partners with American defense vessels and other items, "we bolster our security at home."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Coast Guard Commissions New Cutter Named for Iraq War Hero
Some B-1B Lancer bombers have returned to flight operations after officials grounded the fleet last month over a fuel system issue.

The first aircraft resumed operations this week, Air Force Global Strike Command said in a news release Thursday. The command did not provide the exact number of Lancers that have returned to their missions following the safety stand-down or how many were affected by the fuel system issue, citing operational security.

"Individual B-1B aircraft will return to flight as inspections and maintenance directed during the stand-down are completed on each aircraft," a spokesman from the command said in an email.

Read Next: Fort Jackson Trainee Arrested After Hijacking a School Bus Full of Children

Gen. Tim Ray, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, grounded the fleet April 20 for inspections on the fuel filter housing. The issue was discovered when a B-1 began leaking fuel after landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, on April 8. Maintainers found a problem in its Augmenter Fuel Pump Filter Housing.

Over the last several weeks, maintenance and depot personnel disassembled the housings in each aircraft to check for leaks and defects, the command said in the release. Once a system was determined to be free of defects, it was reassembled and pressure checked before the aircraft returned to service.

"We are proud of the tremendous efforts of our maintainers and B-1 partners in identifying, inspecting and remediating any potential issues with the B-1B fuel filter housing," Maj. Gen. Mark Weatherington, 8th Air Force commander, who oversees the Air Force bomber force, said in the release. "The aircraft are still safe to fly, and we are confident that this stand-down has resulted in increased safety within the B-1B fleet."

The collaborative effort spanned both B-1 bomber bases, Ellsworth and Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and included support from personnel at the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The stand-down -- the fleet's third in three years -- comes as the Air Force is working to retire some of its B-1s, reducing the active fleet to 45 aircraft to better sustain the most functional planes.

Congress authorized 17 bombers to be divested, used for test purposes or sent to a museum. The Air Force has said it anticipates retiring those aircraft by the end of September.

Due to heavy use in the Middle East over a decade as the only U.S. supersonic heavy-payload bomber, the B-1 fleet saw repeated breakdowns and required extensive maintenance as frequent deployments caused the aircraft to deteriorate more quickly than expected, Ray said in 2019.

By the end of March that year, Ray had ordered a stand-down, marking the second fleetwide pause in about a year, after a rigged "drogue chute" was incorrectly installed in an ejection seat egress system. The bombers underwent a careful inspection process and slowly returned to flight lines starting that April.

The command had grounded the fleet the year before over another problem related to the Lancer's ejection seats. That stand-down lasted three weeks while the fleet was inspected.

The service plans to retire the entire fleet by 2036.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214.

Related: B-1 Bomber Fleet Grounded Indefinitely Over Fuel System Problem
Maj. Lisa Beum is a 2009 West Point graduate who went into the Military Police, transitioned to public affairs, and is currently serving at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.

When it comes to the Army Combat Fitness Test, we need to ask ourselves, "Why?" Army leaders say the new ACFT is designed to make soldiers more combat effective. However, this implies that the Army has been combat ineffective for the last two decades.

I am not against changing physical standards for soldiers to make a gender-neutral physical fitness test, but the ACFT has undergone multiple revisions due to perceived favoritism toward one sex. Additionally, it is highly inefficient and discriminates against the older or slightly broken soldiers who still have a lot to offer.

The Army needs to seriously reconsider the current ACFT standards and ask why? Why are these changes being implemented? What was so bad about the gender-based Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT? If the only reason for the change is to make ourselves more combat effective, then that is a surprise because I did not realize we had been losing the fight at the tactical level for the past 20 years.

I do not speak for all women in the Army, but I am writing here to represent those who may be too afraid to show opposition to the ACFT, or even to respond to recent articles about the test by Capt. Shaina Coss and Capt. Kristen Griest -- who both passed Ranger School and became infantry officers -- for fear of being "that girl" or not being "tough enough."

The men and women I have spoken to who oppose the current ACFT standards are some of the toughest and fittest military professionals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing; I admire them greatly.

I do not want to take away from Griest and Coss' accomplishments, but they represent a very small, elite group of outstanding women. My concern is that many people listen to them, believing they are the Army's spokeswomen.

I know people will dismiss what I have to say because I am a public affairs officer and not an infantry officer. But if you have doubts about my capability or aptitude because I am a PAO and not infantry, please speak to anyone who knows me: superior, peer or subordinate.

The ACFT is a logistical nightmare, just as a 2018 article in War on the Rocks predicted that it would be. Many who have attempted the test, including myself, will attest that it takes up exponentially more time, resources, personnel, funding for equipment and space than the APFT.

It took four weekends to test 1,000 West Point cadets on the ACFT, with more than 100 faculty assisting every Saturday. Testing ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and required a great deal of extra equipment.

By comparison, the APFT required a stopwatch; clipboard; pen and paper; and approximately 100 graders. You could test 1,000 cadets in about two hours.

If we want to change things up, consider the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test. It is efficient and easy to run; uses available resources; and, yes, still has gender-based testing.

Besides being extremely inefficient, the ACFT does not take into consideration older soldiers, as it is age-neutral. Do we really expect 50-something generals and sergeants major to perform at the same physical level as a 22-year-old sergeant or lieutenant?

It's also a test that leans toward one sex over the other. Gender-neutral does not equal gender equality. For those ladies who either disagree with me or can do it all, I am truly proud of you, but please realize that you are the exception, not the norm.

Another alternative is simply to have a minimum standard with no maximum. For example, if you need five leg tucks to meet the standard, and you complete five, you should be good to go. Why even have a maximum? It sets unrealistic expectations for many body types, and units will use the ACFT as an incentive for other rewards. It is already happening in units across the Army, so if you are incapable of "yeeting" a 10-pound ball 13 meters behind your head, which replicates nothing we do in combat, you will never achieve that four-day pass the battalion commander is giving out for maxing your score.

In her article, Griest wrote that the old APFT standard jeopardized readiness in combat units. I have two issues with this comment.

First, we need to get away from this idea that there are two parts of the Army: combat arms and non-combat arms. We have been in combat for 20 years, and I dare say that every single branch and functional area has deployed to a combat zone. Every branch has seen combat at least once in the last 20 years. We are all combat troops at this point. The Army recently published TRADOC PAM 525-3-1, Multi-Domain Operations, which outlines integration of all domains of warfare to deter and prevail.

Soldiers from a number of jobs regarded as supportive in nature are assigned to traditional combat units. Those troops deploy with the infantry, conduct the same training, live in the same environment, are held to the same standards -- and, often, are involved in combat. I was the PAO for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; I was jumping, rucking and training with that brigade. It is an infantry BCT, but all the supporting elements, including the PAO, did everything as a unit.

Second, how can Griest claim that the APFT jeopardizes readiness in combat units?

Throughout these past 20 years of conflict, we have used the APFT standard, and there have been significant contributions from women to our Army during that time.

The APFT standards did not decrease their readiness in combat. Thousands of women have been very successful, proving their worth and making our Army more combat-effective. Women have been thriving and leading from the front this whole time, so why do we need the ACFT now to prove ourselves and become even more combat-effective? We don't. Fitness is not a measure of competence.

I have always been an advocate for being in top physical shape: I scored 300s on my APFTs, led from the front with my platoon and kept up with the guys at the maneuver captains' career course. But I am never the best physically in any situation, and I am OK with that. It does not make me a bad officer and does not mean I am not driven.

The Army has a basic physical standard for a reason: to ensure that I am physically fit enough to meet the basic requirements of being a soldier. I, along with thousands of other men and women, have met those standards for years and have been flourishing. I bring value to the team with other talents and skills that my more fit counterparts do not necessarily possess. Our Army's greatest strength is our people and the diverse backgrounds, abilities and perspectives we provide.

I am 5 feet 3 inches tall, 133 pounds and fully aware that if I pushed myself harder, I could score higher on the ACFT and beat out a lot of the guys -- not all, but many. But at what cost? I pushed myself physically for many years to ensure I could keep up with the guys and be a good example to my soldiers. However, I am now one of those Army statistics: I have not only developed permanent back problems, but also suffer from infertility.

Although the Army has conducted studies to determine the percentage of women in the ranks with infertility, it does not know the cause and will not cover the costs for women to start a family beyond basic pill treatments. I am not alone in this plight. I do not blame the service at all for the choices I have made, but I wish I had been more informed about the prolonged effects of Army life on my body and the possible toll it could have on my wish to be a mother.

Before we start demanding more from women physically, we need to do more to ensure they are taken care of in the long run. Even among those who were lucky enough to be mothers in the military, I know many suffer from long-term effects of having to get in shape six months postpartum to complete an APFT and meet height and weight standards.

Thankfully, the Army has finally smartened up and delayed certain physical requirements to one full year postpartum. Still, I would like to see any man do a single leg tuck after enduring the physical trauma of childbirth. I think they would have a change of heart.

If the Army decides to keep gender-specific fitness testing, we will still be an effective service. Having two different physical standards for the genders is not the cause of disparities that may arise between men and women. It more likely stems from implicit biases that we may be unaware of and can correct by setting a good example.

I have changed many minds about being a woman, a public affairs officer and a soldier by working hard and being competent at my job. I add value and refuse to believe that men will judge me solely based on my physical performance. Will it play a factor? Yes. But by placing so much emphasis on this new physical standard, we send the message that being a good soldier and a good leader means scoring a 600 on the ACFT when we all know that is simply not true.

As the ACFT currently stands, even with the latest revisions, the Army could be eliminating an amazing fighting force, largely composed of women and older, seasoned soldiers. We need to reconsider.

Thank you to the women who came before me for creating a way for me and other women to follow, and thank you to the men who supported those ladies and me throughout our careers.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) has made it easier for deployed military personnel to access their online accounts while deployed.

In November 2020, the TSP introduced two-step authentication to its website. This added security measure requires users to log in as normal, but then they must provide a six-digit security code that is sent to their mobile devices before accessing the secure area of the website.

However, military users soon reported issues with this setup. Deployed military members could not access their TSP information on the secure website, because there is no telephone service in many locations where military members serve, such as field operations or aboard ships.

After realizing the problem, TSP administrators made a change to the two-step authorization process. Military members can now authenticate their account using their .mil or personal email, rather than their phone number. The six-digit code will be sent to their registered email address rather than their telephone number.

Members of all six branches of the military will be able to access their TSP account by using this revised authentication process. The change affects both active-duty and reserve members. Government civilians and retirees are still required to use a phone number to validate their identity using two-step authentication.

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Youve spent decades in the workforce earning a living, your schedule dictated by the demands of the job. All the while, youve been steadily adding to your savings so that one day you could get to this point. Retirement.

Now, theres no alarm to wake you up in the mornings and no boss to answer to. You can finally get around to crossing items off your bucket list  or simply have the opportunity to catch a midweek matinee movie.

The world is your oyster.

Life may feel more relaxed and carefree, but that doesnt mean you no longer have financial responsibilities. In fact, nows the time you might need to be even more diligent about budgeting your money.

Living on What You Have Saved

When you say goodbye to your 9-to-5, you also say goodbye to your regular paycheck. Youll rely on Social Security benefits, the money in your retirement accounts and any additional income, like a pension, to cover your expenses.

Sticking to a budget is vital so your retirement savings last. That money youve squirreled away in your working years has to stretch for decades. Remember, life on a fixed income means there are no bonuses, overtime or promotions to increase your cash flow.

How Much Should You Have Saved?

If youre already retired or nearing retirement age, hopefully youve done the math to determine whether youll have enough money to keep you afloat.

One popular rule of thumb is to have 25 times your average annual expenses saved up. But how much money you need in retirement depends on many factors, like your age, where you live and the type of retirement you want to enjoy.

If you want to retire at 60, rent a highrise in New York City and travel every couple of months, youll need considerably more money than a retiree who leaves the workforce at 70, lives in a paid-off home in rural North Dakota and just stays home and knits.

There are also a lot of unknowns in retirement -- like what medical conditions you could develop and exactly how many years youll need your money to stretch.

Thats why its important to have robust retirement savings and be cognizant of your spending in your golden years.

How to Make the Most of Your Nest Egg

To make your savings last, youve got to be prudent about how much you withdraw each year.

The gold standard has always been 4%, but new research has revealed a different number, said Chuck Czajka, a certified estate planner and owner of Macro Money Concepts in Stuart, Florida.

He said withdrawing 3% a year instead gives you a 90% success rate to last through a 25-year retirement.

Keep in mind, once youve determined how much you can withdraw per year, youll want to divide that amount by 12 to come up with how much to withdraw each month. Czajka recommends withdrawing money from your retirement accounts on a monthly basis rather than taking out all youd need for a whole year.

Meeting with a financial adviser can help you come up with a personalized plan to fit your individual situation.

As people approach retirement, they should work with a retirement professional to determine their expected retirement income, said Lisa Bamburg, a registered investment adviser and owner of Insurance Advantage in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Factoring in Income Beyond Your Savings

In addition to the money youve saved in your 401(k), individual retirement account (IRA), other investment accounts, military retirement check and Department of Veteran Affairs disability payments, a portion of your retirement income will come from Social Security benefits.

You can start collecting Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but youll receive less money per month than if you waited until full retirement age -- 66 or 67, depending on when you were born.

If you delay claiming Social Security benefits past your full retirement age, youll receive even more each month. However, theres no additional increase once youve reached age 70.

In addition to Social Security, you might have other sources of retirement income, like money from a pension plan or an annuity.

A report from the National Institute on Retirement Security found that many retirees dont have a great diversity in their retirement income, though more income sources provide for a more secure retirement.

The report found less than 7% of older Americans have retirement income thats made up of a combination of Social Security, a pension plan and a retirement contribution plan like a 401(k). About 40% rely on Social Security alone.

Social Security benefits typically are not the equivalent of what it takes for most people to maintain their standard of living, Bamburg said.

The Social Security Administration states its retirement benefits only replace about 40% of earnings for people with average wages -- more for low-income workers and less for those in higher-income brackets.

Take Stock of Your Essential Expenses

First youve got to get an overall look at your current spending. If you dont already have a budget or track your spending, pull out the past several months of bank or credit-card statements. Dig up old receipts if you tend to pay in cash.

Reviewing the past three months will help you find what you spend on average, but an even deeper dive  looking at the last six to 12 months  will give you a more accurate picture and will reveal things like your annual car insurance bill and holiday spending.

Group your spending into categories to get a good picture of where your moneys going. Youll have fixed expenses, like your mortgage, where the cost stays the same each month. Other expenses, like groceries or utilities, will vary. For those, you should calculate your average monthly spending.

Account for Changes

After leaving the workforce, youll probably notice some differences in your spending. Youll no longer have to pay for downtown parking near the office, dry-cleaning your suits or pricey lunches with coworkers. Your monthly retirement contributions will be a thing of the past.

However, not everything will be budget cuts. Youll have to account for new retirement expenses, like health-care premiums your employer previously covered. If youre 65, you can get health insurance through Medicare, but its likely youll have increased out-of-pocket medical costs as you age.

And of course, now that you have an influx in free time, you can pursue the things youve always wanted to do -- which means more new expenses.

Make Room for Fun in Your Retirement Budget

A big part of retirement planning is determining what type of lifestyle you want to have when youre no longer at work 40 hours a week.

Do you want to travel? Spend more time with your grandkids? Explore a new hobby? After youve covered your essential expenses, how you spend whats left in your budget is totally up to you.

Dont forget to include run-of-the-mill discretionary expenses, like cable, magazine subscriptions and dining out. It wont all be cruise ships and Broadway plays.

If youre married, be sure to share your vision for retirement with your partner, so youre both on the same page about how youll spend your time and money.

Adjusting Expectations to Reality

As you create your monthly budget, you may discover you dont have nearly as much money as you thought youd have in retirement. That doesnt mean you have to live out the rest of your life kicking yourself for not saving more. You have a few options to get by.

Take another look at your living expenses. Are there any ways you can cut costs? Slash your food spending with these tips to save money on groceries. Consider downsizing to a smaller home.

When it comes to your discretionary spending, look for ways to enjoy a more frugal retirement. Take advantage of senior discounts. Check out free activities at your local community center. Find ways to save money on traveling.

Although retirement means leaving your working days behind, you may find it necessary to pick up a side gig or part-time job to supplement your income. Seek out opportunities that match your interests so it doesnt feel like work.

Dont forget to enjoy this new stage of life. You worked hard -- you deserve it.

This article was originally published by The Penny Hoarder.

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Dr. Thomas Spriggs, environmental drinking water program manager at the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Europe Africa Central, teaches students from Department of Defense Education Activity Naples High School about water resources, quality and pollution prevention.
Sailors assigned to the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) participate in a sea-and-anchor evolution on the ship's foc's'le, April 30.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Day, which is the week of May 3 through May 7 this year, MLive, along with two generous sponsors, provided gift cards to Michigan educators from some of Michigans Best restaurants.

UMCU is proud to sponsor Feeding the Frontline Educators, an event dedicated to supplying meals to our local frontline teachers, said Julie Wigley, University of Michigan Credit Union, Vice President of Brand and Community Development. As a credit union focused on financial education and community involvement, we recognize the indelible impact all teachers and educators alike make in our community. We are honored to help feed the frontline and appreciate their tireless efforts every day.

Its been a stressful year for most of us, but for our frontline educators and teachers, the last twelve months have been a constantly changing situation that has required creativity and perseverance to get through. This small gesture of a food hug is just one way to say thank you to our hard working educators in Michigan.

Thanks to MLive for creating this incredible opportunity! We applaud such creativity. Our staff has certainly been challenged with some unusual demands due to COVID, and this promotion is a great marriage of generosity, and appreciation that will truly serve to reward and motivate our staff, said Julie Lanka, Secretary to the Superintendents at Kenowa Hills Public Schools. KHPS as well as Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside were selected as recipients of the gift cards.

Our A2 STEAM staff, like teachers around the world, have shown tremendous professional and personal perseverance while teaching during a pandemic, said Meg Fenech, principal at Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside. Their dedication, creativity, and innovation, especially while teaching in a hybrid fashion, is a testament of their service to the children and families of Ann Arbor Public Schools. The gift cards from MAIZ and acts of appreciation from our PTO, have buoyed their spirits. A2Gether we are supporting one another and will emerge from this pandemic even stronger.

Our efforts also supported two of our Michigans Best Restaurants, MAIZ Mexican Cantina in Ypsilanti, and The Local in Walker. Check out some of their delicious food below, that our front line educators will be enjoying with their gift cards, as they really are some of the best.

At Pro-Tech we are always looking for ways to support local businesses, as well as front line workers, said Lisa Purvins, Vice President and CFO of Pro-Tech Heating and Cooling. As a business owner, parent and concerned citizen, I understand how important a role that teachers play in young peoples lives. This past year has been difficult on everyone and we felt this was a great way to say thank you to the teachers and help some local restaurants too.

RELATED: MLive is feeding our frontline educators

Huge thanks to our generous sponsors, who made this special day happen.

Our sponsors:

Pro-Tech Heating and Cooling

https://protechgr.com/

University of Michigan Credit Union

https://www.umcu.org/Home

Educators at Kenowa Hills Public Schools got gift cards to The Local, one of Michigan's Best restaurants, thanks to the generosity of Pro-Tech Heating and Cooling.Photo provided by Julie Lanka, used with permission.

Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside school principal Meg Fenech receives gift cards from Jason Branham from MAIZ restaurant in Ypsilanti. MAIZ is one of Michigan's Best Mexican restaurants, and the gift cards were sponsored by the University of Michigan Credit Union.Photo provided by Jason Branham, used with permission.

MAIZ in Ypsilanti supplied gift cards for our frontline educators. They were on the search for Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant.MLive.com

MAIZ

Heres what we had to say about MAIZ from our search for Michigans Best Mexican Restaurant:

Super fresh from scratch cuisine is what youll find at this Ypsilanti gem. Owner Jason Branham fully admits that our food was terrible the first few months after they opened in 2013, but they sure have it figured out now.

Incredible, huge salads loaded with veggies and dressed with a zippy lime vinaigrette are a feast for both the eyes and the tummy. The very popular baked avocados come warm, and stuffed with pico di gallo, cheese and topped with an herby cilantro aioli.

We tried tons of tacos here, and loved that they had interesting vegetarian options, including a stand-out chipolte cauliflower.

Try the hand shaken mint lemonade for a non-alcoholic mojito, or one of their massive margaritas for something with more punch. Our favorite was the original chile ginger orange margarita, made with fresh squeezed juices for an entirely delicious drink.

MAIZ

36 E Cross St.

Ypsilanti, MI 48198

734-340-6010

https://maizmexican.com/

The Local in Walker provided gift cards for some of the front line educators in the Grand Rapids area.MLive.com

The Local

Heres what we had to say about The Local from our search for Michigans Best Chili:

The Local, is fairly new to the dining scene, having opened in October 2018. Partners Dirk Sweezer, Doug Mileski, Ryan Lewis and Drew Wright took a chance on this spot, thats been home to several restaurants over the years. It kind of started out as a joke, Sweezer said, but then we saw the potential here.

Things really got cooking when the team brought on Chef Davina Mama D Sheard last March. I think God sent her, Sweezer said. Since she started, Sheard has been making changes to the menu, bringing on some of her specialties like risotto, chicken and dumplings, and two kinds of chili.

The beef chili has a nice, deep flavor, which is surprising because there are no tomatoes in it. Instead, there are kidney beans, green peppers and onions and a hearty dose of cumin. Sheard has also brought her award-winning white chicken chili to The Local, and it is still winning here. Extra creamy with loads of shredded chicken breasts, and white beans, with just a touch of green chile, this chili is one of the prettiest bowls youll ever see. Topped with a bit of cheese, diced avocado, and crispy red and blue tortilla chips, its a feast for your eyes and your stomach.

Sheard went to culinary school a few years ago, when she was 35, just to prove to her four daughters that there is nothing that you cant do. We are so glad you did Mama D, because your cooking is amazing, and The Local is very lucky to have you.

The Local

4322 Remembrance Road NW

Walker, MI 49534

(616) 551-2607

https://www.thelocalgr.com/

Woman's Life Society Insurance sponsored meals today from Casey's Pizza and Subs. The meals were delivered to McLaren Port Huron.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

More Feeding the Frontlines:

See behind the scenes of Feeding the Frontlines in December

See behind the scenes of Feeding the Frontlines in November

Delicious deliveries: See how Feeding the Frontlines brought cheer in May

See how Founders has been Feeding the Frontlines through July
LANSING, MI  A former attorney who lost his license due to a criminal conviction has pleaded guilty to additional charges, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday.

Charles Malette, 40, of Chippewa County had his license revoked following a trial conviction for aggravated stalking last year. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one count of perjury, a 15-year felony, as well as one count of felony false pretenses, a five-year felony.

As part of the plea agreement, three embezzlement charges were dropped, though Malette agreed to pay over $50,000 in restitution related to those allegations.

Licensed attorneys must adhere to the high standards set by both legal and ethical codes, Nessel said in a statement. Im proud of the work done by my team to reach this plea agreement with Mr. Malette.

The embezzlement charges stem from three former clients alleging they paid Malette to file complaints in legal matters, but he never completed the work.

The perjury charge stems from an investigation into the defendants activity on a site called MyLife.com, which is described as a database to search peoples reputations. Detectives reviewed posts on the site during their investigation into the original aggravated stalking charges against Malette.

Later in Luce County, Malette testified under oath during a personal protection order termination hearing that he was unaware of the site. Malette admitted Tuesday to perjuring himself when he made those statements and that he was aware of the site and had used the site previously.

A sentencing date is scheduled for June 29 in Chippewa County Circuit Court.
This past Monday, when I sat down to my computer with a cup of coffee, I kicked off my 40th year as a professional journalist.

Everything I did that day, and how I did it, and who I did it with, and how it was presented and read and shared and digested by you and other readers, was different than it was May 3, 1982, the day I tapped out my first story for pay on a typewriter.

Except for one thing: The why.

Id be happy to have a beverage with you all and tell war stories. About the days we made so much money wed hire add-on employees to have on staff until an opening eventually occurred.

About finally being named the editor of a newspaper, and being told while my hand was still being shaken that my first duty would be to cut 20 pages out of the TV guide.

About being in a room with all my employees when our publisher told us we were cutting half the staff and taking the paper to three days a week  or else wed close.

About being flown to New York and being told to figure out new job roles, new staffing models, new ways to measure performance  and to make it work for a digital world that rapidly was moving away from the printed newspaper.

But thats not the story. The story as I enter my fifth decade in the news business is that why: Regardless of the technology, or the economics of our industry, journalism matters. Journalists matter. The stories matter.

What motivated me at 21 to ask uncomfortable questions and educate myself on issues and stay up after midnight writing city council stories motivates MLive reporters the same way now, every day. They are wired to be curious and tell stories, but they also all have that gene that wants to see truth come out, justice be served, and people to care about what is going on around them.

Journalists today have much more to deal with than when I worked in newsroom in 1982. The word online wasnt in anyones vocabulary, unless maybe you were a carpenter. I had one deadline a day. Reader engagement was someone coming into the newspaper office to pay their bill. And no one tracked and assailed me daily in some parallel universe called Twitter.

Most papers operated without true competition for the first half of my career. And I dont mean just economically. If you wanted the story, it pretty much came from us. The internet grew into something that let everyone be a publisher. Add smartphones, which made it more convenient  heck, even habitual  to find information in a flash, mix in the hall of mirrors called social media, and pretty soon you have information vertigo.

Some of you will email to tell me thats a good thing; we had it coming; we are fake news anyway.

Well, Ill tell you my take-away from 39 years and counting: You dont know how lucky you are to have professional journalists still around. These arent bloggers, or operatives with an agenda. They are people educated, trained and developed to follow standards for finding, vetting and presenting information.

Do we make mistakes? Of course. I know I have. But I wouldnt be writing this to you today if I hadnt learned early on to get the facts right, the quotes right, and the context right 99.9% of the time. Our work is reviewed by 1 million eyeballs a day.

Ive worked with some great journalists, and seen a lot of work that mattered. But the MLive journalists I work with today are as smart, dedicated and committed as anyone, in any decade.

They are more adaptive and more productive, more engaged with their work and the effect it has on readers, and they have to deal with a ton more scrutiny and external pressures than any of their predecessors.

Me? Ive been through a lot, but I dont think of it in terms of what was lost. I wish the entire industry made the money it used to, and had the number of bodies that once covered news across the country. Wed all be better for it.

And I cherish the trove of stories I have, both the ones under my old byline and especially the ones that happened inside the four walls of a newsroom.

But I dont have time for nostalgia, or regrets. I have a job to do.

# # #

On this weeks Behind the Headlines podcast, co-host Eric Hultgren turns the questions on me. Click the play button below to listen in as we discuss the changes in journalism and media over four decades, and what it means for all of us today.

John Hiner is the vice president of content for MLive Media Group. If you have questions youd like him to answer, or topics to explore, share your thoughts at editor@mlive.com.
LEELANAU COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man has been charged after he allegedly harassed and spit on media members in attendance for a visit from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

According to the Leelanau County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to Discovery Pier in the 13000 block of S. West Bay Shore Drive in Elmwood Township on Thursday. Whitmer was in the area to sign a bill supporting outdoor recreation.

Shortly after deputies arrived, they located and identified a 39-year-old Traverse City man who allegedly got into a heated verbal disagreement with another person in attendance.

Their discussion was overheard by members of the media who came to observe, police said. Shortly after the arrival of the media, the man assaulted one member of the media by forcefully grabbing a microphone out of her hand and throwing it.

He also spit on another member of the media, police said. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Leelanau County Correctional facility.

He was booked and lodged on two counts of assault and battery and one count of malicious destruction of property
ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor officials are voicing support for legislation introduced by state Sen. Jeff Irwin in hopes of restoring local control over guns on public property.

City Council unanimously OKd a resolution this week in support of Senate Bill 352, which would allow cities, townships and counties to prohibit firearms on their municipal properties.

Currently, state law prevents municipalities from governing firearms on city property and publicly owned properties and in municipal buildings, said Council Member Travis Radina, D-3rd Ward, who brought forward the council resolution.

The law proposed by Irwin would allow the city to make its municipal buildings and properties safer, Radina said.

We know unfortunately from an incident just a few years ago in Virginia Beach, where municipal employees were killed by someone who entered the building with a firearm, that this is a real problem and a real danger that faces municipal employees, he said.

And so I think this is a step toward showing our support for a law that would not only empower us as local legislators who are the closest to the potential problem, but would also help keep our community safe.

Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, introduced his bill last month and its still in committee.

A city or township hall should be a place where citizens can participate freely without fear of violence or intimidation, Irwin said in a statement.

Local governments have the responsibility to maintain safety in their buildings, but the Legislature removed their ability to restrict firearms in city hall, he said. We already prohibit firearms in courthouses as well as many other places like stadiums or schools. My bill would allow cities, townships and counties to make similar rules for their properties.

More than 43,500 Americans were killed by guns in 2020, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which reports 5,131 children were killed or injured by guns last year and there were 610 mass shootings across the country.

For much of the nations history, local governments traditionally had authority to enact firearm regulations, Radina said.

That is something that the state has taken away from us, he said.

Due to a change in state law in 1991, Michigan limits local governments authority to maintain safety on our property by prohibiting the responsible regulation of firearms, the council resolution states, arguing against state preemption.

Local laws serve an important purpose in addressing unique issues and dangers facing individual communities when it comes to gun violence, the resolution states, citing data indicating there were 20 mass shootings in Michigan last year.

Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, thanked Radina for bringing forward a resolution in support of Irwins bill.

Ill let the arguments about the safety that comes from this kind of thing be played out someplace else, he said.

If the bill makes it through the Legislature, city officials probably will have to seek legal advice on whether a ban on guns in city hall would withstand constitutional scrutiny, Hayner said.

Thats a question for the future, he said. Well see if it goes through.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  Families gathered for the third time Wednesday, May 5 to call for justice in the deaths of two highway construction workers struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver on I-94 in Ypsilanti Township last fall.

Nicholas Andres Sada and Davyon Desmon-Aereailes Rose, both 23 from Lansing, were killed when a suspected drunk driver entered a construction zone on eastbound I-94 near Harris Road in Ypsilanti Township and hit them at about 1:40 a.m. Nov. 7.

The driver accused of killing the pair, Ryann Danielle Musselman, 29, of Belleville, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of operating while intoxicated causing death. Musselman is currently free on $10,000 bond.

Family, friends of road workers killed in crash seek justice after waiting 5 months in court

About 50 people demonstrated around noon outside the 14A1 District Court in Pittsfield Township. They wore shirts with images of Rose and Sada and carried signs with phrases like Justice for our sons, Put drunk drivers where they belong - in prison and You can kill two people and get a $10,000 bond.

The mens families, friends, co-workers and unions, however, have been frustrated over how long its taken for this case to move through the system.

Nick Male, Sadas father, said his family is still reeling from the shock of waking to their doorbell ringing in the early morning, when Michigan State Police troopers arrived to say Sada had been killed.

When our doorbell rings, everybody panics in my house, he said. It takes you right back to that three in the morning doorbell ring that didnt have to happen.

Diana Rose-Stitt, mother of Davyon Rose, said that the penalty for what is believed to be a drunken driving incident might not be severe enough to keep it from happening again.

Michigans drunk driving laws are a joke, she said. Theres people out here killing others drunk driving and getting off with one year in prison.

Workers with Laborers Local 1191, who represented Sada, and Laborers Local 355, who represented Rose, joined family and friends in the roadside demonstration on Washtenaw Avenue. Union representatives called for better protections for road workers, including a requirement for the use of concrete barriers, additional traffic control from Michigan State Police or local authorities and an end to regulations that allow for night work.

Sada and Rose were longtime friends - both attending Everett High School in Lansing - before Sada helped Rose get a job at C&D Hughes Inc. after he returned from four years of military service.

Musselman was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 6. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Judge Tim Connors decision this week to order a new cleanup plan for the Gelman dioxane plume is being applauded by an Ann Arbor environmental group.

To me, this is a big win for residents of the Huron River watershed, said Rebecca Esselman, executive director of the Huron River Watershed Council, one of the plaintiffs in the legal case against polluter Gelman Sciences.

The watershed council applauds the judge for pushing Gelman to begin additional cleanup efforts, she said.

At HRWC, our goal continues to be to protect the Huron River, she said. We feel this order by Judge Connors, which advances key elements of the consent judgment, is a responsible strategy for protecting the Huron River. With this order in place, Gelman will begin a more aggressive cleanup, be required to achieve a higher treatment standard and carry out additional monitoring of the plume. Further, local governments and HRWC will retain legal standing allowing us to raise issues regarding implementation should they arise.

A map of the Gelman dioxane plume spreading through the Ann Arbor area, moving east through the city's west side toward West Park and branches of the Allen Creek drain system that discharge to the Huron River. Gelman Sciences is removing water from the ground using extraction wells and then treating it to remove dioxane. Treated water with lower levels of dioxane is then discharged to Honey Creek, which flows to the Huron River upstream of Barton Pond, Ann Arbor's main municipal water supply.

The litigation over Gelmans expanding plume of groundwater pollution has been in and out of court for decades and Connors heard hours of arguments in the case in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on Monday, May 3.

He told the parties hes going to order Gelman to implement additional cleanup and monitoring activities outlined in a consent judgment proposal from last year.

In addition to more pumping and treating of contaminated groundwater and attacking the plume at its source, the plan includes installing more monitoring wells.

Local elected officials didnt like certain elements of the negotiated settlement deal with the consent judgment so they rejected it last year, but now Connors is imposing elements of it while still allowing Ann Arbor, Scio Township and Washtenaw County to simultaneously seek a Superfund cleanup without being penalized and remain plaintiffs in the court case.

Connors plans to have the parties back for quarterly reviews of the case starting Sept. 1.

In the meantime, Gelman, which isnt happy it isnt getting concessions it wanted, is expected to appeal Connors ruling to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Judge orders new cleanup and monitoring protocols for Ann Arbor dioxane plume

Local officials have been reacting to Connors ruling this week with optimism.

County Commissioner Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, called it big news, while County Commissioner Katie Scott, D-Ann Arbor, called it good news and said she was over the moon when County Board Chair Sue Shink called to tell her about it.

We have momentum and the team and will to get this done!! she wrote on Twitter.

I hope this results in cleanup happening, because really at the end of the day thats what we need, so Im hopeful, Shink said during Mondays hearing.

Officials said they still want to avoid discharges of dioxane into First Sister Lake under the new cleanup strategy and thats expected to be a subject of more discussion.

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In 10-1 vote, Ann Arbor council punts on delving into Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Kathy Griswold went into this weeks Ann Arbor City Council meeting expecting council to vote down her proposal to hold a forum on Palestinian human rights.

Seeing lack of support to have the city facilitate a community conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 2nd Ward representative voted to indefinitely table her own resolution.

In a 10-1 vote Tuesday morning, May 4, council punted on the proposal. The only one opposed was Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, who has previously expressed interest in taking up the issue.

The tabling quickly drew backlash from anti-Israel protesters whove been speaking out at council meetings for years. In addition to the resolution Griswold was proposing to hold a forum, they have been lobbying council to pass a resolution in support of cutting off U.S. military aid to Israel.

You are weak, Mozhgan Savabieasfahani told council, calling members racist and shameful. I am furious and angry and I am trying to control my rage, because while you tiptoe around the most simple resolution to cut off guns to an apartheid state, people are dying, children are being shot in the face, children are languishing in Israeli jail.

Since theres no debate on a motion to table, the discussion before the vote Tuesday was brief, with only Griswold and Council Member Linh Song, D-2nd Ward, offering comments before Song made the motion.

Griswold, D-2nd Ward, said she wanted to apologize for any insensitive language in her resolution.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently investigating Israel for crimes against the Palestinian people, it stated pointing to a recent Washington Post column stating Israeli authorities are committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution according to a new report by global advocacy group Human Rights Watch.

Griswolds resolution called for the city to hold a community forum on Palestinian human rights by July 1 and noted council recently passed Songs anti-Asian hate resolution.

My intent in writing this was sort of to connect a chronology of what happened, Griswold said. I believe that as a council member, if I am to be involved in or sponsor such a community conversation, its important for me to bring it to council first.

She expected council to vote it down and she will independently work to organize a forum, she said.

I want to thank everyone whos reached out to me so far, she said. Its been a very, very productive conversation with very few exceptions. So ... Im more than willing to table (the resolution) and move forward working with the community outside of council ... as long as its not considered behavior unbecoming of a council member.

Song took issue with Griswolds resolution making a connection to her resolution condemning anti-Asian hate.

Its unfortunate because it perpetuates the forever-foreigner myth associated with the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities by connecting it with foreign affairs, she said.

Last months anti-Asian hate resolution reflects ongoing violence and harassment being committed against my community here in Ann Arbor and nationally.

Song said she called Arab, Muslim and Palestinian American residents to talk about Griswolds resolution and see if they support connecting anti-Asian hate with a conversation around Palestinian-Israeli relations and they said there is no connection and theres no request for the city to host a discussion.

The most poignant response I received was a reminder that we are entering the last 10 days of Ramadan, the most holy days when observers reflect deeply on relationships and bridge building, she said, adding one resident was concerned Griswolds proposal would hurt Jewish Americans.

Song said her daughters fourth-grade teacher who is Palestinian American also shared how she celebrates and educates the community on Arab and Palestinian American history and identities from pride, pain and trauma.

And that demonstrates how conversations are already occurring with our children, my own child, and community at large, she said.

Song moved to table Griswolds resolution for further community input on whether the city is the proper convener of a forum about the Palestinian people and Palestinian Americans.

Blaine Coleman, a frequent anti-Israel protester at council meetings, criticized council for effectively blocking the resolution.

You have Linh Song somehow pretending that the Palestinian community is against a Palestinian rights resolution? Come on, he said, also expressing disappointment that Council Member Ali Ramlawi, who is Palestinian American, didnt support it.

Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, said last week he has a lot of personal opinions on the issue and he needs to separate his political position from his personal position.

Hes not sure what the city can do that would move the needle with respect to an international conflict thats been going on 73 years, he said.

Its a charged issue and the city has a lot of other matters it needs to attend to closer to home, Ramlawi said.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - Seniors at Ann Arbors three largest high schools will have in-person, outdoor graduation ceremonies.

State restrictions on public gatherings prevent Ann Arbor Public Schools from having traditional, large indoor ceremonies, Superintendent Jeanice Swift said. But Pioneer, Huron and Skyline high schools will host two ceremonies with half the class in each outside so family members can attend and the district can remain in state compliance.

The class of 2021 joins a long tradition of AAPS graduates, and in hearing from our students and parents during this year, we understand that we all place a high value on the experience of celebrating high school commencement with an in-person ceremony that recognizes the accomplishments of our graduates, Swift said in a message to families on Wednesday, May 5.

This new plan is a departure from the schedule AAPS tentatively set in March, which had Pioneer, Huron and Skyline seniors graduating during outdoor ceremonies at Eastern Michigan Universitys Rynearson Stadium.

The times and dates for those ceremonies, however, remain unchanged and are:

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 1: Pathways at Huron High School

5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2: Huron at Huron High School

5 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3: Pioneer at Pioneer High School

6:30 p.m. Friday, June 4: Community at Pioneer High School

5 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 7: Skyline at Skyline High School

The district expects families of graduates at Huron, Pioneer and Skyline high schools will receive approximately four tickets to attend ceremonies, Swift said.

Seating at each of the high schools stadiums allows for social distancing between families. Capacity of AAPS stadium seating, as well as state guidelines on spectator limits, will determine exactly how many tickets can be issued for each graduate, Swift said.

For Community and Pathways graduates, the schools will communicate appropriate spectator limits based on stadium capacity and state guidelines.

The ceremonies will have many of the traditional commencement features, Swift said, with socially-distanced processionals and recessionals, student speeches and addresses by school leaders.

Most importantly, every graduate will be introduced as they walk across the stage to receive their diploma, Swift said.

Students will be seated in chairs on the field in front of a stage, while spectators will be seated in the home and visitor bleacher sections. Each school will communicate to graduates and families the specific details for their ceremonies, including spectator tickets.

Each of the ceremonies is a rain or shine event, Swift said, with an alternative plan that will take place the same day in the event of inclement weather. These plans would likely involve a modified ceremony, featuring a brief processional indoors for students to have their names read as they receive their diplomas, with their parents present for the conferring of the diploma.

All ceremonies will be broadcast live, and they will be replayed on CTN at later dates.

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.

The House, on Wednesday, also passed House Bill 4728, sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton with a vote of 60-48. It would also ban emergency orders to limit or shutdown high school commencement ceremonies.

READ MORE:

In-person high school commencements couldnt be banned under approved Michigan Senate bill

Michigan relaxes rules on masks, outdoor gatherings

Tentative dates for in-person graduation set by Ann Arbor schools

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FLINT, MI -- Two Flint men, each imprisoned for more than 25 years, have been granted parole, according to information posted online by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

The Michigan Parole Board granted parole to Richard McDonough Jr., 56, who had been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of molesting an 11-year-old girl more than two decades ago, and Leondais Smith, 50, who was serving two life sentences for second-degree murder.

Michigan Department of Corrections records show both men were paroled April 27 and will remain on supervision for the next four years.

Smith was sentenced in 1989 for his part in the killing of two Flint musicians -- Kimbrel T. Edwards and Maurice Givens -- in 1988. He apologized to the Parole Board the son of one of his victims during a hearing in December.

MLive-The Flint Journal files say Edwards, who was 31 at the time of his death, held a weightlifting record at Southwestern High School and played guitar and keyboards in various bands. Givens, 38, was a drummer and he and Edwards were close friends, family members have said.

Smith pleaded guilty to participating in the robbery, beating, and killing of Edwards and Givens, who police said were lured to a house on West Eighth Street by teenagers posing as prostitutes before they were ambushed, assaulted, and eventually run over repeatedly with their own car in a field near St. Agnes Catholic Church.

Smiths supervision conditions include not associating with anyone he knows to have a felony record and not using or possessing alcohol or intoxicants, according to the MDOC.

McDonough was sentenced to life in prison in 1995 after he pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He said during a parole hearing in January that he committed the crime at a low point in his life, while he was abusing alcohol and drugs, and while his personal life was in shambles.

Five witnesses testified on behalf of McDonough, including some with the Prison Creative Arts Project at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

His supervision conditions include having a responsible adult present if he is with a child 17 or under and remaining at least 1,000 feet from any student safety zone.

Michigans parole approval rate has been on the rise for several years and jumped to an all-time high of more than 73 percent in 2020, according to state statistics.

State law says that after serving a minimum sentence, a prisoner may still not be granted parole until the Parole Board has reasonable assurance, after consideration of all of the facts and circumstances, that the prisoner will not become a menace to society or a risk to the public safety, according to the MDOC website.

Although most parole decisions are made by three-member panels of the Parole Board, decisions for prisoners serving a life sentence like McDonough and Smith are made by a majority vote of all 10 members of the board.

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FLINT, MI -- Nearly four months after nine current and former government officials were charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis, none of their attorneys has agreed to a standardized contract proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

A spokesman for Whitmer confirmed Wednesday, May 5, that the contracts, which cap hourly rates for attorneys at $225 an hour and set a budget ceiling of $175,000, were provided to attorneys for former Gov. Rick Snyder and others after their clients were indicted in January by a one-man grand jury.

The administration has shared the contract with current and former state employees who have requested coverage of legal expenses associated with the investigation and prosecutions, Bobby Leddy, press secretary for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. The contract puts in place several reforms to ensure accountability and control costs. No contracts have yet been signed, but conversations about the contracts continue.

In February, an attorney representing Snyder, a self-made millionaire, characterized the proposed spending limits as unfair to his client and others and entirely unrealistic for anything other than routine white-collar criminal matters or investigations.

Snyder, 62, has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty for his role in the water crisis. Eight other current and former city of Flint and state employees, including several of the former governors top aides, were indicted after the state Office of Attorney General dismissed initial criminal charges related to Flint, restarted the investigation, and took the cases to the grand jury.

Whitmers push for changing the system of covering state employees attorney bills came after the state canceled a slew of contracts with law firms representing former and current state employees, one of which charged nearly $600 an hour.

Leddy said in many cases, records were missing and nearly $1 million was spent representing former officials from the executive office of the governor without any written contract in place and with no system for expert review of the charges.

As of May 20, 2019, the state had 67 separate legal services contracts with 227 amendments to 41 law firms that were paid more than $25 million for criminal and civil representation related to the water emergency, according to state records.

The proposed standard contract includes uniform terms, capped hourly rates for attorneys, associate attorneys and paralegals, and sets an overall budget ceiling of $175,000 per case with provisions for raising the ceiling only on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to the cost of providing private attorneys to current and former state employees, Michigan taxpayers have also footed the bill for $8 million paid to former special prosecutor Todd Floods law firm to prosecute the initial Flint water criminal cases before they were dismissed in June 2019.

Snyder is represented by Warner Norcross and Judd. His legal team said in a statement to The Journal that Whitmers standardized contract was wholly inadequate as proposed.

Beyond that, we do not comment about our financial arrangements with our clients, the statement says.

In March, Snyder attorney Brian Lennon wrote to Mark Totten, chief legal counsel for Whitmer, detailing objections to the terms of the standard contract.

We understand that cost controls and transparency are important, the six-page letter says, in part. So too should be the states interest in providing quality, effective legal services to former state officers and employees when they are charged with alleged crimes related to their public service.

Lennons letter seeks a separate, standalone contract to cover the substantial eDiscovery vendor charges that all defendants must incur and calls the proposed contract from the state woefully inadequate.

We understand that you and Governor Whitmer are seeking ways to reduce costs to the taxpayers. We share that goal, the letter says. However, the solicitor generals actions in this matter have guaranteed that the fees and costs needed to defend Governor Snyder and the other named defendants will far exceed the proposed spending limits in the revised contract.

Lennons letter says each defendant is expected to receive approximately 6.5 terabytes of electronic discovery consisting of roughly 21 million documents, all of which must be reviewed -- a cost that alone will be significantly more than your proposed $22,500 cap to cover pretrial, plea, post-trial and sentencing proceedings.

The letter is copied to attorneys representing the eight other individuals charged with Flint water crimes and says they also want a separate, standalone eDiscovery contract to cover those costs.

Randall Levine, an attorney for Richard Baird, a former top aide to Snyder, also called the states contract proposal woefully inadequate in an email to The Journal and said it would leave his client unable " to mount a genuine defense to the governments charges.

Baird has pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury, extortion, obstruction of justice, and felony misconduct in office.

In addition to Snyder and Baird, those charged with crimes related to the water crisis are former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eden Wells, two former Flint emergency financial managers, Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose, former Snyder Chief of Staff and Communications Director Jarrod Agen; Nancy Peeler, director of the MDHHS Program for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting; and former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft.

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Snyders lawyers complain they arent getting enough money to represent former governor

Former Gov. Snyder, 8 others criminally charged, accused of trampling trust of Flint people

Rick Snyders law firm at odds with solicitor general over Flint water documents
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County has hired its first chief inclusion officer, a new role tasked with overseeing the countys diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and ways the county can improve.

Currently the deputy administrative health officer at the Kent County Health Department, Teresa Branson was selected for the role, county officials announced Thursday, May 6.

We are fortunate to have someone as qualified as Teresa serve as our first Chief Inclusion Officer, said Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt. We elevated this role because we are committed to accelerating our efforts to be an inclusive workforce and to ensure we are being equitable in our service delivery. I am excited for Teresa to fulfill this role and help us expand our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Branson, who starts May 24, has previously held a number of public health education positions, both within KCHD and beyond. She also serves on numerous community and statewide boards, including the Michigan Community Action Team of the Governors COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force.

During her time at the health department, she facilitated health equity and social justice training sessions, as well as provided direction on the departments health equity initiatives and led programs aimed at reducing health disparities.

It is an honor to be selected as the first person filling this role at Kent County, said Branson. I look forward to working with our leadership teams, employees and community partners to build on the work that has already been done and to implement meaningful change that will make county government more responsive in meeting the diverse needs of our employees and community.

Branson holds a masters degree in health administration from Grand Valley State University and a bachelors degree in public health education from Central Michigan University.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners established the new chief inclusion officer role, who reports directly to Britt, in late March.

Over the past several years, the county has invested in programs aimed at increased equity and inclusion across its hiring, training and service delivery processes. Branson will oversee these efforts, as well as look at ways to improve the countys ability to serve both its employees and residents.

Teresa has a wealth of experience that will help us develop best practices and break through potential barriers. Our goal is to build a more welcoming workforce and community, Britt said.

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COOPERSVILLE, MI  When looking at a map of craft breweries in West Michigan a couple years ago, you could place pins marking several in Grand Rapids and the communities along Lake Michigan.

Other than Trail Point Brewing in Allendale, the map was empty in the area in and around Coopersville.

Jeremy Grossenbacher, a Coopersville native who fell in love with craft beer and food after spending a decade in Chicago, told MLive that those involved with opening Coopersville Brewing Co. hope it helps put Coopersville on the map in a region known for successful breweries.

I found that people still didnt really know much about Coopersville beyond a landfill, and roundabout, and a bunch gas stations, he said. I want to try to help maybe change some of that perception.

Grossenbacher said friends, neighbors and community members stepped up to financially support his vision to open a brewery in Coopersville at 1275 W. Randall St.

We had the desire to do a brewery, but were not millionaires by any stretch of the imagination, Grossenbacher said. We got cash from a lot of community people is really what it was, and different businesses that could be part of our build out and trade swapping and things like that.

A display of bricks inside the brewery marks the names of investors who provided at least $500 to become villagers or lifetime mug club members and a small ownership stake was provided to the skilled laborers and designers who built the bar, designed the tables and installed interior support beams.

Brick by brick, as a village, we built a brewery, Grossenbacher told MLive. I really do feel thats kind of how it came together. The community came together to help us realize what we wanted to do.

Related: Newly opened Coopersville Brewing Co. built brick by brick by the community

The brewery also places an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, with much of its barley, wheat, rye and hops coming from Michigan farmers.

17 Coopersville Brewing Company prepares to open

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PARMA, MI  Police are looking for a man who stole items from a party store in Parma not once, but twice in one day within a few hours, changing clothes each time.

On Monday, May 3, a man entered the Parma Party Store, 300 E. Michigan Ave., and stole items two times on the same day, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.

Video posted on the stores Facebook page shows the man taking a bottle alcohol and concealing it in his pants before leaving.

During the first theft, the man was wearing a black, zip-up hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and blue jeans.

He later returned to commit an additional theft, swapping the zip-up hooded sweatshirt for a gray University of Michigan hooded sweatshirt, police said.

Police released surveillance images of the suspect, posted on the Jackson County Sheriffs Office Facebook page, in hope of identifying him.

Anyone who believes they can identify the man is asked to contact Deputy Cory Caroffino at 517-768-7967 or ccaroffino@mijackson.org

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LENAWEE COUNTY, MI  Police are still investigating the death of a woman who was found dead in a Lenawee County river two weeks after being reported missing and say there is no danger to public.

The Michigan State Police along with the Tecumseh Police Department want to reassure the citizens of Lenawee County that the death of Jessica Fox is considered an isolated incident and the parks and recreational areas in and around Lenawee County are safe to enjoy and explore, the Michigan State Police stated in a news release.

Body found in Raisin River identified as missing Adrian woman

Fox, 30, of Adrian, was found dead April 8 in River Raisin, 18 days after her family reported her missing.

Police, still investigating, have not released her cause of death or any additional information regarding her death.

She was last seen alive about 4 p.m. on March 21 at the Indian Crossing Trails Park in Tecumseh, police said.

According to CrimeStoppers of Lenawaee County, video surveillance at the Perky Pantry gas station at 413 E. Chicago Blvd. in Tecumseh shows Fox inside the store a little after 3 p.m. on March 21.

The footage showed Fox getting into the passenger side of a tan Ford F-150 extended pickup and leaving the gas station at approximately 3:15 p.m.

The truck belongs to a friend of Foxs who stated they were at Indian Trails together and he left from 3 to 6 p.m. The friend said Jessica was waiting for someone to come pick her up but the friend didnt know who.

Family reported Fox missing on March 22.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman at 313-407-9379

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BENTON HARBOR, MI  Seven Michigan residents stole more than $250,000 from Walmart across 35 states, a federal indictment alleges.

Elisha Vary, of Jackson, and Adarius Ferguson, Christopher Campbell, Joshawn Wilson, Tipton Lamar Walker, Jaylen Sulton and Marquis Davis, all from Benton Harbor, face numerous felony charges.

They are accused of stealing more than $250,000 from Walmart between January 2019 and April 2021, according to a grand jury indictment filed May 4 in the United States District Court Western District.

The indictment was unsealed Thursday, May 6, after the FBI arrested Walker in Georgia, Davis in Benton Harbor and Campbell in South Bend, per court records. Wilson was arrested at Lilac Hills Apartments, 4411 Lilac Lane, in Kalamazoo.

Vary, Ferguson and Sulton had not yet been arrested, as of 4 p.m. Thursday, according to court records.

The indictment alleges that Campbell, Davis, Ferguson, Sulton, Walker, Wilson and Vary were involved in more than 80 thefts or attempted thefts and more than 150 fraudulent returns or attempted returns in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and at least 32 other states. There are additional people allegedly involved who are not indicted, according to court records.

The indictment alleges those involved would steal things like electronic vacuums, Beats by Dre headphones, Apple products and internet routers. Someone would then go into Walmart and use cash to purchase the same products, so they had receipts.

Then, someone would use that receipt to return the stolen items. This meant they would get cash refunds for the value of stolen items they returned, plus tax, the indictment said. The Walmart employee would give them the receipt back.

They would make part of the transaction code on the bottom of the receipt unreadable. Then they would use that receipt to return more items, despite already receiving a full refund during the first return when they used the receipt to return stolen products, the indictment said.

When these fraudulent returns happened in states other than Arkansas, California, Colorado, Missouri, Texas or Washington, the return process would cross state lines via wire communications, the indictment said.

Campbell, Ferguson, Sulton and Wilson are accused of stealing about $15,066 worth of high-priced electronics from a Walmart in Lenoir, North Carolina, on April 27, 2020.

Campbell and other, unindicted individuals are accused of stealing about $5,262 worth of high-priced electronics from a Walmart in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 26, 2019. Campbell is also accused of stealing about $7,495 worth of electronics from a Walmart in Manchester, Iowa, on Dec. 18, 2019.

In Dayton, Ohio, Ferguson and Wilson bought $542.88 of electronics on March 22, 2021, the indictment said. They then made a fraudulent return and received the whole amount back in a cash refund.

In total, the indictment lists 27 thefts and fraudulent returns. They allegedly occurred in stores from Kalamazoo to Texas to Colorado.

Davis was released on a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond. Wilson and Campbell were remanded to the United States Marshals Service, per court records.

Charges filed against the indicted individuals, according to court records, are as follows:

Campbell: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession of stolen goods after interstate transport.

Davis: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

Ferguson: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possession of stolen goods after interstate transport and five counts of wire fraud.

Sulton: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and possession of stolen goods after interstate transport.

Walker: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possession of stolen goods after interstate transport and two counts of wire fraud.

Wilson: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possession of stolen goods after interstate transport and wire fraud.

Vary: One count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation and possession of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.

The defendants all face potential forfeiture of various physical assets, and money, if convicted.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- The owners of a Kalamazoo bar under a police investigation over accusations of drink tampering have issued a public denial of any wrongdoing.

Jon Rockwood, part-owner of Y Bar & Bistro, took aim at a womans recent social media post that sparked media attention and protests against the bar in a video statement released on YouTube Wednesday, May 5.

My partner and I are outraged by recent allegations made on social media about our business practices, Rockwood says in his video message. Let me say in the strongest possible terms that these allegations are completely false.

We are cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation, and the facts of this matter will show we did none of what is alleged.

Related: Woman told police she was sexually assaulted after her drink was drugged at Y Bar in Kalamazoo

In the social media video, the woman claimed that more than a dozen people had drinks tampered with at the bar near the Western Michigan University campus in Kalamazoo.

She said in the video she went with a group of women to the bar, and when they woke up the next day, none of them had any recollection of the night before. She said they later tested positive for opiates.

On April 15, Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley announced the department had launched an investigation into the allegations of drink tampering at the Y Bar.

The womans allegation was not the first report of possible problems at the bar.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety police reports show a woman filed a report on Jan. 28, 2020, and told police she believed someone drugged her drink at the Y-Bar and raped her.

Then in November 2020, a 19-year-old Western Michigan University freshman reported to police that she was sexually assaulted in woods near the bar and did not remember a portion of the night. She had been to the bar earlier with friends.

In a video posted to YouTube, Rockwood went on to urge for the publics patience as the police investigation is ongoing.

Sadly, were living in a time when false, damaging information like this can be trumpeted as truth on social media, and the cancel culture threatens the livelihood of a small business owner like me, he said.

So I ask for your patience and your fair judgment as we await the outcome of the investigation, he said.

Related: Alleged drink tampering at Kalamazoo bar prompts thousands to sign online petition

Rockwood said the business good name is extremely important to us, and the press release acknowledges the allegations have momentarily crippled the business because of reduced income, but said the owners are relying on a loyal customer base who is coming back.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  The former Knights Inn motel in Kalamazoo has already began its transition to a home for those facing homelessness in the community.

Since the LIFT Foundation purchased the site in January, the hotel  now officially being called LodgeHouse  has provided a temporary home to more than 60 residents who had been facing homelessness.

Related: Kalamazoo motel being transformed into apartments for those without homes

Long-term plans for the project are to construct 60 furnished studio apartments and prioritize housing for those currently experiencing homelessness, such as those living in encampments, a news release from the foundation states.

Services will also be available onsite for residents, to help them transition to and be successful in their housing arrangements.

Renovations are already underway. In order to reach the goal of $2.5 million for the completion of this project, the LIFT Foundation and its partners are asking for donations.

Any amount helps in this collective effort to give people in our community a path out of homelessness, the release states. Very generous partners, including the City of Kalamazoo, LISC, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and Stryker Johnston Foundation, have made the work to date possible.

Donations may be made online at theliftfoundation.org/donate/ or by mailing a check payable to LIFT Foundation, A Nonprofit Housing Corporation to Lisa Willcutt c/o Lockhart Management and Consulting, 2725 Airview Boulevard, Suite 202, Kalamazoo, MI 49002.

For information about the LIFT Foundation and LodgeHouse, visit theliftfoundation.org/.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  As deaths from COVID-19 continue to mount in Muskegon County, the health director said interest in the vaccine is waning so much that she doesnt believe the county will meet the states goal needed to return to normal.

Another eight Muskegon County residents died in the past week from COVID-19, according to Public Health  Muskegon County. With vaccination rates high among older adults, the recent victims are younger, including one in his 30s.

Exactly half of eligible residents had at least started the vaccination process, which can involve two shots, as of Tuesday, May 4, said Kathy Moore, director of the health department. Nearly 41% had completed their vaccinations, she said.

As part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Vacc to Normal plan, lifting of restrictions will occur gradually as the vaccination rate rises. A 70% vaccination rate, calculated statewide and not on a county-by-county basis, will be needed to lift gatherings restrictions and the states face mask order.

Related: Whitmer officially ties reopening measures to vaccination rates

But Moore isnt confident Muskegon County will reach 70%.

I think its quite challenging to reach 70% this year, if at all, Moore said. I try to stay positive. Its just moving so slowly.

Hesitation for the vaccine is most pronounced among younger age groups, Moore said.

We just have to regroup and really look at the way we are offering the vaccines and make adjustments to reach them, Moore said.

The health department has had success working with smaller community partners, such as nonprofit groups, veterans organizations and churches, to host vaccination clinics, she said. Moore encouraged more organizations to step forward and help. To do so, they can call the health department at (231) 724-6246.

School districts, including Whitehall and Mona Shores, have hosted vaccination clinics for students age 16 and older from around the area, and are anticipating the expansion of vaccine eligibility to children as young as 12, Moore said.

Those seeking the vaccine can visit www.maskupmuskegon.org for locations. Meijer, CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies are offering walk-in vaccinations, and appointment-only community clinics at GE Aviation, 2140 Latimer Dr., are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With multiple COVID variants now circulating in the county, people are continuing to get very sick, Moore said. Health department and hospital statistics show that the numbers of very sick and dying people have not budged in recent weeks.

The death toll grew by eight, from 314 to 322 between April 28 and May 5, health department stats show. Thats after six people, two of them in their 50s, died the previous week.

The most recent deaths include three people, ages 89, 64 and 78 who died on April 30, and three people who died on May 3, at least two of whom were in their 50s, Moore said. She had incomplete details about the other deaths, saying one occurred April 30. A local obituary indicated a 38-year-old man died of COVID on April 28.

The most recent statistics for Mercy hospital indicated 49 COVID patients hospitalized on Tuesday, May 3, 18 of them in intensive care, according to the State of Michigan. On April 29, the number was lower, with 36 hospitalized, 14 of whom were in intensive care.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Muskegon County grew by 615 in the past week, to 14,238, health department figures show. The highest number of new cases were among young people under age 20.

The county on Wednesday reported 2,024 cases among people under 20, up 178 from April 28; 2,449 cases among people in their 20s, up 116; 2,297 cases among those in their 30s, up 132; 2,187 cases among people in their 40s, up 101; 2,088 cases among those in their 50s, up 50; 1,644 cases among those in their 60s, up 44; 918 cases among those in their 70s, up 12; and 630 cases among those age 80 and older, up 11. One case had an unknown age.

Ottawa County reported 31,302 cases and 392 deaths on May 5, which are increases of 905 cases and 11 deaths since April 28.

Oceana County reported 2,516 cases, an increase of 66. Deaths there remained at 49 as of May 5.

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SANFORD, MI - As a welcome home banner waved in the breeze, the Billings familys completed home was officially ready for their occupancy Wednesday after it had been destroyed almost a year ago.

Midland County Habitat for Humanity and United Way of Midland County paired up in a project that kicked off in January to assist families in rebuilding their homes after the major flooding disaster last year.

This project, reBuild Together, is an addition to the ongoing projects associated with the Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group.

The Sanford community has cared about the Billings family and I hope that they feel the love that has been poured out to them, even from people they may never ever meet have cared about their recovery and their future, Holly Miller, president and CEO of United Way of Midland County said.

Chris Billings home in Sanford was chosen for this revitalization project and is the first public reveal after completion. He bought the house in 2001 and raised his daughters in it.

Although the original house and belongings were washed away, Billings says hes beyond grateful for all those who stepped in to help his family get to this point after seeing the whole village and surrounding areas in devastation.

Weve all been sticking together, you know, so thats the biggest thing. Were sticking together as a community, he said.

This will be the first time in the Billings childrens lives that they will each have their own room.

Kayte Billings, 13, says this is an exciting time, but wishes her grandmother could be there as the family has been dealing with her loss. Nonetheless, she said she knows her grandmother loves her and Kayte is ready to make new memories in their home even though their childhood home was lost.

When you lose something that you love, you need to let it go. A new start will happen, she said.

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SAGINAW, MI - As seasonal agricultural workers make their way to Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local organizations are teaming up to promote vaccinations in migrant communities.

Migrant agricultural workers are active in many different state industries, from cherries to the Great Lakes Bay Regions sugar beets, said Dale Freeman, the director of Migrant Affairs at MDHHS. Theyre vital to not only harvest operations, but food processing and meatpacking as well, he said. They begin arriving around this time of year in larger numbers to assist asparagus production.

Our role has been to support them by engaging farmworkers and explaining to them about the vaccine, Freeman said. Were all working towards making sure that people are aware of the vaccines that are available.

Not only is the outdoor, close-proximity work putting them at infection risk, seasonal workers often live in communal environments, which could make the spread worse, Freeman said. Providing them with vaccinations helps them be safe and keep doing the jobs theyre here to do, he said.

I think that its a process and that were working through it, Freeman said. There are a lot of people who arent here in the state today we need to provide vaccinations for. Weve been very much wanting to work through issues with farmworkers and help them recognize that being vaccinated is the best way to protect themselves, their families and their communities.

Monica Reyes, director of the Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Council, played an active role in organizing vaccination clinics and outreach to the areas Latino community. The initial process and locations chosen for vaccination werent necessarily reaching them, Reyes said, and bringing vaccines to a place like St. Joseph Catholic Church where Latinos congregate helped them feel more at home, she said.

They were more likely to listen to something we were communicating through the church, Reyes said. We wanted them to feel safe and at home, and actually sought-out to get the vaccination for themselves.

Reyes got involved after seeing state data that Hispanics and Latinos were lagging behind in vaccination rates at the beginning, she said. A collection of community organizations came together to form a COVID Vaccine Coalition, Reyes said, with each having representatives on a committee performing outreach. Though statewide and grassroots efforts are doing much better at reaching vaccinating Michigans Latinos, they still need to continue, Reyes said.

Weve been very fortunate to work with Saginaw Public Health, who from the very beginning took our call and said okay, what do we need to do, Reyes said. We have experienced some hesitancy, were hoping to begin work with health centers for outreach through social media and media, continuing to work on ways to do outreach to hesitant populations.

In clinics held at St. Joseph in March, more than 500 people got their first shots, a mixture of parishioners, essential workers and some undocumented folks, said Gilberto Guevara, vice commander of the American G.I. Forum.

Bobby Deleon, president of the Mexican American Council of Saginaw, said the area is home to several DACA recipients, many of them doctoral students - whose parents are undocumented. The clinics are intended to help get those community members vaccinated as well, he said.

Were just trying to invite as many people as possible, Deleon said. At times, the clinics ask for various forms of ID which they may not have. That, in a sense, disqualifies them from getting a shot. What were doing at St. Joseph, were not asking for those. We believe anyone in the U.S., regardless of their status, should be eligible for a shot and even a second one.

Reyes is looking to potentially set up regular vaccine clinics at St. Joseph and continue to do outreach through the church. In the meantime, shes been directing people to the weekly clinic Great Lakes Bay Health Centers holds every Tuesday at the UAW Local 699, located at 1911 Bagley St., she said.

I cant say that were doing good until we have everybody vaccinated, until we have everybody convinced that this is a good thing to do, that its the right thing to do, Reyes said.

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SAGINAW, MI  After June, SodexoMAGIC will no longer provide food service for Saginaw Public Schools.

The shift away from the nutritional services provider will result in six layoffs, according to a WARN notice submitted to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development.

The WARN notice states that on or about April 16, Sodexo received notice from Saginaw Public School District that, effective July 1, the school district will no longer use SodexoMAGIC to perform nutritional services at Saginaw Public Schools. Instead, the school district has elected to self-operate these services going forward.

SodexoMAGIC will close its operation at 550 Millard St. at the end of June, resulting in the permanent layoff of six employees represented by Service Employees International Union, according to the WARN notice.

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SAGINAW, MI  In the late 1990s, a teenage German citizen living in Saginaw told authorities a male member of her household was sexually abusing her. As a result, she wound up in foster care for years, separated from her family while no criminal charges were filed against the man she said violated her.

The experience soured her belief in the justice system.

Decades on, the now-38-year-old woman took to the witness stand in a hearing for the man she said abused her, who is now charged with several felonies.

I have no faith in the court system because as a child they didnt believe me, the woman said, testifying in Saginaw County District Court. They stuck me in foster care and took me away from my family. They took my sisters away and we were left in a country with nothing and nobody. They werent protecting me. They stuck us in foster care just for more abuse to happen in foster care.

The woman testified during the April 29 preliminary examination of 55-year-old Scott J. Austin, who in February was arraigned on seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation.

Austins charges relate to alleged conduct that occurred between April 1996 and April 1999. Under Michigan law, there is no statute of limitations for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves penetration. Though the charge is currently a life offense in Michigan, Austin is charged under the law as it applied when his alleged crimes occurred, meaning the felonies are punishable by nine to 15 years in prison.

Questioned by Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Brooke N. Kozlowski, the witness said her mother and siblings moved with Austin from Germany to America, eventually settling in Saginaw. Austin worked as a mechanic at the time, she said.

The woman did not get along with Austin as a child, alleging he was physically abusive toward her mother, herself, and her siblings. To discipline the children, he would have them drop their pants and reach down to touch their toes, then he would spank them with a wooden paddle, she said.

Kozlowski asked the witness what Austin did to further make her uncomfortable.

Teaching me how to shave instead of allowing my mother to do it, she said. Legs, underarms, private parts, everywhere. He just would put the shaving cream on and shave and, you know, This is what a woman does.

Kozlowski asked if Austin did anything else and the woman described events that she knew did not feel right.

Such incidents occurred at night while the girls mother was sleeping, she said. The conduct continued for six or seven months before advancing to intercourse, she said. Often, Austin would abuse her at his place of employment, she added.

The witness said she resisted Austin a few times, to no avail. Kozlowski asked her what Austin would say when she considered telling someone what was going on.

Nobody would believe us, the witness said. Were from another country. Where would you go? You have no family here. As a child, youre taking that as hes going to do something to your family.

She also said Austin on at least one occasion took her to a nudist resort in Union City.

The abuse led the girl to run away from home at age 14. On coming back home, she learned her punishment was to accompany Austin to work for two weeks, she said.

I knew what that meant so I told my neighbor what was going on and she called it in, she said.

Police and Child Protective Services launched an investigation and removed the girl and her siblings from the home. No charges were filed against Austin, however.

For the next three to four years, the girl remained in foster care, during which she was subjected to additional physical abuse.

Questioned by defense attorney James F. Gust, the woman said she is a German citizen and a permanent resident alien in the U.S. She said that upon leaving foster care, she was largely left to fend for herself.

I was stuck in foster care because I was abused, called a liar, she said. Then when I turned 17, I was sent out back into the world with absolutely no identification, nothing. I had to basically just wing it. We have no family here. We have no money, we had nothing. We were basically homeless.

Gust asked her about the abuse she suffered in foster care.

In foster care, not everybodys out for the well-being of a child, she said. Its a check for a lot of people. It definitely made me feel like I spoke up and now Im being punished for speaking up.

Gust asked the witness why she had recently again come forward with the allegations.

There were accusations that he did this to another child, she said, adding she has spoken with one of her sisters about the matter. I was let down the first time. I wanted to reach back out, but it was scary. What Im doing now, as a child it damaged me. So now its like, just sitting in here with him, being around him

She said her sister recently made allegations to police, who in turn interviewed her.

The witness sister was to testify after her, but Saginaw County District Judge A.T. Frank adjourned the remainder of the hearing due to scheduling issues. The hearing is to resume at noon on Thursday, May 6.

Frank revoked Austins bond, though on May 3, the defendant was released from jail on a tether.

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Quarterly budgets for many state agencies, staffing cuts and additional limits on how state agencies can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic all remain on the table as Michigan lawmakers move forward with setting the states annual budget.

Both the state House and Senate appropriations committees reported initial proposals for the state budget to the floor this week, the latest step in ensuring state government agencies and programs are funded for the next fiscal year.

The states current $62.75 billion operating budget was signed last September after condensed, behind-the-scenes negotiations between lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration. The accelerated talks were relatively undramatic, overshadowed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding to public education and statutory revenue sharing for local governments stayed relatively flat despite the pandemic, buoyed by better-than-expected sales tax revenues and the initial wave of COVID-19 federal aid.

This years budget cycle has returned to a more typical process, with House and Senate appropriations leaders initially crafting separate proposals on how to spend state funds. The budget bills reported out of committee this week had primarily Republican support as Democrats expressed concern about many aspects of the plans.

In the House, many proposed state agency budgets are currently designed to operate on a quarterly basis, a departure from the annual budget cycle that House Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, said would help the Legislature be nimble in responding to economic changes.

The House-proposed budget also would reduce the number of unclassified positions within state departments, put in place requirements for opening Secretary of State and Unemployment Insurance Agency offices and prohibit state agencies from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of providing services.

The Senate plan reported to the floor includes a number of significant changes to the states Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, including decreasing salaries of the Unemployment Insurance Agency director and others in the department and cutting the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration budget by 20%.

The Senate Appropriations Committee opted not to include $290 million in funding proposed by Whitmer for water infrastructure improvements. The Senates plan also includes language in the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs budget aimed at preventing the department from disciplining licensees that dont enforce masking requirements for children under five.

Both the House and Senates school aid budget recommendations include a proposed per-pupil foundation allowance increase, ranging from $50 to $100 per pupil in the House and $125 to $250 per pupil in the Senate.

More changes to the budget plans could come when the budget bills are taken up on the floor. Once budget legislation is voted on by the full House and Senate, negotiations between chambers and the administration typically begin  although ongoing tensions between Whitmer, a Democrat, and the Republican-led Legislature could continue to complicate matters.

Fiscal future uncertain, but not as bad as initially predicted

Overshadowing the budget cycle are ongoing pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to have deep economic impacts at both micro and macro levels.

In the early months of the pandemic, experts feared state officials would have to fill massive budget holes to make up for lost tax revenue caused by the pandemic. An influx of federal aid and a big boost in online consumer spending has largely alleviated those concerns in the short term, but experts have warned federal stimulus dollars wont always be there to fill the gaps.

The Michigan Department of Treasury and the state House and Senate fiscal agencies projected in January that the state will collect $24.3 billion in revenue for the general and school aid funds, up $1.2 billion from estimates made last August. For the 2021-2022 fiscal year, officials predicted combined revenues would total $25.3 billion, $874.8 million more than the previous projection. Revenues are still down 2% compared to last fiscal year.

For now, income tax withholding payments from federal unemployment benefits, substantial changes in consumer spending habits and other indirect benefits from federal dollars are helping keep the state budget afloat.

While some industries are expected to rebound quickly as vaccines are distributed and the latest wave of COVID-19 cases subside, others hit harder by the pandemic, such as leisure and hospitality industries, could take years to recover, economists projected.

Whitmers budget plan

In February, Whitmer proposed a budget that clocked in at $67.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, boosted by one-time federal aid.

Her proposed 2021-22 budget would be a 7% increase from last years $62.8 billion mark with the additional money consisting of one-time appropriations from federal aid and some higher fees. It included increases for K-12 per-pupil funding, bridge repair, continued wage increases for direct-care workers and childcare assistance. Of the overall total, $11.4 billion comes from the states general fund and $14.1 billion comes from the school aid fund.

Whitmers budget proposal includes a 2% funding increase for K-12 per-pupil funding, which would increase spending by $82 to $164 per pupil, for a total spending increase of $203 million.

Whitmer proposed reducing the foundation allowance for cyber schools by $30.2 million in recognition of lower costs from not having to maintain a physical space, a suggestion Republican lawmakers did not include in House and Senate plans.

Federal funding in the mix

Conversations about the annual state budget are occurring in tandem with ongoing negotiations about how to spend the remainder of federal COVID-19 funds available to Michigan.

That money comes from coronavirus aid legislation recently passed by Congress and is intended to fund vaccination efforts, shoring up schools for a return to in-person learning and other relief for residents, such as rental and food assistance. To be spent, the money needs to be allocated by the Legislature with approval from the governor.

While the federal money is expected to ease pressure on the state budget by covering a wide range of COVID-19 related costs, especially for schools and local governments, disagreements between Whitmer and the Republican-led Legislature over the states pandemic response has complicated discussions on allocating the money.

Whitmer and legislative Democrats have advocated for a quick release of the funds to schools and state departments to hasten COVID-19 response efforts. Legislative Republicans have favored an approach of parceling out the funds over time and setting conditions around how certain funds can be spent.

Both the House and Senate appropriations committees in late April passed plans to allocate more of the federal funding in supplemental spending bills.

In addition to allocating funds for food assistance, rent and utility payments, COVID-19 vaccination and testing, grants for unemployed people, school funding, child care and local infrastructure investments, the $13 billion House plan currently on the table incorporates state and federal funds and also calls for quick payoffs of outstanding debt obligations, such as the Flint water settlement and the Michigan Venture Fund. It would also put $350 million back into the states rainy day fund and dedicate resources toward consolidating state office space.

Some of that proposed funding, including child care funding and hazard pay for state employees, would be tied to ending an order encouraging masks for children aged 2-4 and capping State Administrative Board transfers.

The latest Senate COVID-19 spending plan would allocate $4.4 billion in federal funding toward child care grants, food assistance, emergency rental assistance, COVID-19 testing, assistance for hospitals and nursing facilities and treatment for pandemic-related mental health and substance abuse.

About $387 million in federal transportation money would be allocated under the Senate plan, $261 million of which would be tied to legislation directing that funding to local road repairs. One of the bills in the Senate plan also includes school funding previously vetoed by the governor.

The latest House and Senate bills for allocating federal COVID-19 aid have not yet been taken up for floor votes.

What happens now

Both the House and Senate budget bills will soon be taken up on the floor for debate and votes by the full chamber.

Once thats done, lawmakers will begin negotiating with the other chamber and presumably with the Whitmer administration to resolve differences between the House, Senate and executive budget plans.

The hard deadline to get a state budget signed into law is Sept. 30, as the next fiscal year takes effect Oct. 1.

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The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has signed an agreement with SIC Life Company Limited for a group life insurance policy for its members nationwide.

The ceremony took place yesterday at the offices of MUSIGA.

The insurance package is to provide members of the Union who subscribe to the scheme with a comprehensive set of benefits when the need arises. These include death benefit, temporary or permanent disability payments, loss of spouse and critical illness benefits.

According to the Acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, This insurance scheme will ensure that members who sign on to the package will have protection in their time of need.

On his part, the Head of Group Business, SIC Life David Ankrah said, Its significant that MUSIGA is doing this to provide for its members in time of need. He assured that SIC Life being the state life insurer would ensure that members receive prompt payment when they file their claims.

The Greater Accra Regional Welfare Officer of MUSIGA, Alex Odoi described the insurance initiative as a welcome development which will ensure that all musicians who join the scheme will be protected in line with the provisions of the scheme.

Present at the ceremony were the Head of Alternative Business, Samuel Tindanbil, Beatrice Abotsivia and Andrew Asante of Group Business Department; as well as Jennifer Asare and Pamela Boateng all of the Corporate Services Department of SIC Life. Also present from MUSIGA were Samuel Kofi Agyemang, the National Treasurer; Chizzy Wailer, National Organizer and Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, Director of Special Projects and Communications.
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The opposition National Democratic Congress in the Volta Region is unhappy with the Akufo-Addo-led government over the seeming delay in putting up nine district hospitals in the region as promised by the President.

President Akufo-Addo as part of his 88 district hospitals initiative which was later reviewed to 111, promised to site nine of such health facilities in the Volta Region.

Meanwhile, a year down the line, leaders of the opposition NDC in the region say the government is yet to fulfill the promise.

In a statement, leaders of the NDC in the Volta Region said, a year on, their search reveals no work has begun to build any hospital as promised by the President.

Our search in all districts without hospitals in the region has revealed that absolutely no work has begun to build any hospital, not even a block has been laid anywhere to show any resemblance of commitment to the promise made by H.E. the President.

The party in a statement signed by its Volta Regional Communication officers, Sorkpa K. Agbleze and Delali Bright Kugbeadzor believed the government is sidelining the region from benefitting from the promised projects because it produced only one Member of Parliament during the 2020 polls.

The party said, national development should not be based on the number of seats won by the government in the region and we hope the region is not being punished for producing a single MP.

We dont want to believe national development is spread along the number of parliamentary seats won by the NPP as Mr. Freddie Blay, the NPP National Chairman wants the people of the Volta Region to believe.

This they say, is unscientific, ill-informed and retrogressive to Ghanas forward march to self actualization and will underpin the development agenda of President Akufo-Addo.

It is the resolve of the NDC in the Volta Region that it will be a great betrayal on the part of the party to remain silent after a year has elapsed since H.E. the President promised to build nine district hospitals in the region to help improve health delivery infrastructure to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

---citinewsroom
: VladPutin (Trump's Master), : Military

 : 

: BBS  (Wed May 5 11:54:27 2021, )



JERUSALEM  Yair Lapid, a former news anchor and leader of Israel's

centrist opposition, was picked to negotiate a new governing coalition

Wednesday, opening the possibility of Israel getting its first government

not led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in more than a decade.



President Reuven Rivlin tapped Lapid to make the next attempt to form a

government one day after Netanyahu failed to assemble a parliamentary

majority after 28 days of effort. Under Israels system, Lapid also has

four weeks to craft a power-sharing plan. If he falls short, the president

could open to the process to any member of the Knesset or call for Israels

fifth election since the spring of 2019.



Lapid will face a stiff challenge in trying to find common ground among the

range of anti-Netanyahu parties elected in March. As a bloc, they would

control enough seats to secure a majority. But ideologically, they range

from the far right to the far left of Israels political spectrum. They

also include Israeli Arab parties that traditionally play no part in

supporting governing coalitions but that may be needed this time.

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 136.]


The story of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Africa is slowly unfolding, as more and more countries across the continent receive shipments of the long-awaited vaccines.

These early shipments won't be enough for all. Some countries have used up the limited supply they have received, while others are still waiting. But some have them, and don't want them. This is a key challenge that vaccination drives face: vaccine reluctance.

Each country in Africa has its own mix of settings, histories and politics. This produces varied levels of trust and views on how serious COVID-19 really is. Some have questioned whether it even exists, or was fabricated by a foreign actor.

In order to understand public perceptions around COVID-19 and COVID vaccines, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched a 15-country study . This was done in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's Vaccine Confidence Project , which has an index that monitors public sentiments about vaccines.

The study's initial data was collected between August and December 2020. We found that the willingness to accept a COVID-19 vaccine was highly variable across the countries surveyed. However, there was generally a positive perception of the importance and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine, though a significant proportion of people expressed concerns around vaccine safety. This was driven by a mix of being influenced by mis- and disinformation, a lack of accurate information, and distrust in government or international bodies.

Since the study was completed, the public has been exposed to a lot more information. This makes things more complicated as it comes in dribs and drabs, creating a fertile ground for rumour-mongering. For instance, on the real, albeit rare, risks of blood clots . There are also now concerns that some of the vaccines have expired , although health officials encourage continued use as new vaccines typically start with a shorter suggested shelf life which increases as the vaccine is monitored over longer periods of time.

Moving forward, it is vital for health authorities and public policy makers to understand public attitudes and what is driving them. This is key in guiding much-needed communications and engagement strategies in the COVID-19 vaccine rollouts.

Willing to take it

We surveyed over 15,000 respondents from 15 countries. Of these, 42% reported that they had been exposed to a lot of disinformation, with men (45%) having seen more disinformation than women (38%). Those who had the most exposure to social media were the most likely to be reluctant about taking a COVID-19 vaccine if it were offered.

Nearly 50% of the respondents believed that COVID-19 was planned by a foreign actor. Of these, 71% pointed to China and 35% had heard rumours about the USA.

However, despite the exposure to mis-and dis-information, the study revealed that four out of five respondents (79%) would take an approved COVID-19 vaccine. This ranged from a high of 94% willingness in Ethiopia to a low of 59% in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This compares to a high of 98% willingness in Vietnam and a low of 38% in Serbia.

Changing situation

In other surveys run by the Vaccine Confidence Project  from 2020 to 2021  we have seen the toll that recent uncertainty has taken on public confidence. In Nigeria, for instance, confidence in the perceived safety and effectiveness of an approved COVID-19 vaccine has dropped precipitously in the past month.

When we started monitoring COVID-19 vaccine perceptions in May 2020, 49% of Nigerian respondents strongly agreed that an approved COVID-19 vaccine would be safe and 47% strongly agreed the vaccine would be effective.

In response to the same questions asked in March 2021  in the context of the new AstraZeneca vaccine risks being reported in Europe, with some countries temporarily suspending vaccination  we found a significant drop in confidence. This time only 25% of the Nigerian respondents said that they strongly agreed that the vaccine would be safe, and only 24% strongly agreed that it would be effective.

In the same month, one of the actors from MTV Shuga  a drama series popular across the continent  posted an Instagram poll to get a read on his followers' willingness to get vaccinated. Over 5,000 people in Kenya responded within 24 hours, with 84% of the responses saying no thanks or I'm not sure and only 12% responding yes please. Although the Instagram poll is not scientifically structured, it does offer insights into the general public's perception of the COVID-19 vaccines.

MTV Shuga followed with a similar poll in Nigeria, South Africa and Cote d'Ivoire to see how the Kenya results compared to other countries in the region. In Nigeria the responses showed 70% saying I'm not sure and 30% replying Yes, they're good for us. The results were similar in South Africa, where 69% said they were not sure, while 31% agreed that the vaccines were good for them. Respondents in Cote d'Ivoire were the most reluctant with 87% saying they were not sure about getting vaccinated and only 13% replying, Yes, they're good for us.

More confidence

It is clear that more confidence is needed around what will be an increasing flow of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa.

Read more: Interested in vaccine rollouts across Africa? Here's a map to guide you

Even though regulatory agencies and health bodies concluded that governments should continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine given its effectiveness in preventing serious COVID-19 related illness and death, for many, their focus and anxiety is around whether that very rare risk may happen to them or someone in their family.

We need to show empathy, not judgement, for those who are uncertain and asking questions about these new COVID-19 vaccines. It is an incredible scientific and collective achievement that we have not just one vaccine against COVID-19, but multiple vaccines. At the same time, vaccine hesitancy is understandable, and even normal, in the face of the speed and newness of these vaccines, and ever-evolving information. What is needed is consistent and transparent messaging to build confidence among those unsure about getting vaccinated.

Heidi Larson receives funding from European Union; UK National Institute for Health Research(NIHR); WHO; UNICEF; and research grants from Merck, GSK and J&J

Raji Tajudeen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Heidi Larson, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine And

Raji Tajudeen, Head of Division for Public Health Institutes and Research at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Fellow
President Emmanuel Macron declared Napoleon Bonaparte an existential part of France after laying a wreath at his tomb in Paris on Wednesday to mark the 200th anniversary of the former emperor's death amid divisive debate about his legacy.

Macron waited until the last minute to announce his plans for the bicentenary which was preceded by fierce arguments between those who wanted a celebration and others who called for a boycott.

Accompanied by his wife, Brigitte, Macron travelled to Les Invalides for the pomp during which the guests observed a minute's silence followed by the French national anthem.

"Napoleon Bonaparte is a part of us," said Macron in a speech at the Institut de France following the ceremony.

He said he wanted to carry out an enlightened commemoration of the former leader.

"From the Empire we have renounced the worst," Macron said. "From the Emperor we have embellished the best. We must look at our history face to face and as a whole."

Divisive

Napoleon remains one of the most divisive figures in French history. Advocates eulogise his huge contribution to the creation of the modern state while detractors rail against his imperialism and war-mongering.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the emergence of vocal anti-racism campaigners in France, Napoleon's decision to re-establish slavery in 1802 has become the focus of debate.

Macron, who has criticised attempts to topple statues of French figures involved in slavery, added: "The Second Republic repaired in 1848 this betrayal of the spirit of the Enlightenment."

Referring to the loss of human life for which Napoleon was responsible, Macron said the country had since put special emphasis on the value of human life.

And to underline the nuances, Macron condemned Napoleon's arbitrary exercise of a solitary power while hailing his skills as a strategist and a legislator.
Pork prices are up in the Navrongo Township, following a shortage of live pigs in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region.

Some owners of pork joints have to shut down their businesses in Navrongo, which is a central point of convergence of people from the Region, to have a taste of the delicacy usually cooked or roasted, using a variety of recipes.

The scarcity of pigs in the area was attributed to suspected swine flu, which killed most of the pigs last year.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Navrongo observed that only one pork joint operator out of eight operators on the major road leading to the Navrongo Township had opened.

Pork is a delicacy of most residents of Navrongo and beyond, some lovers of pork in the Bolgatanga Municipality travel to Navrongo to enjoy the meat, especially on weekends and on Navrongo market days.

At the 'Jacob Shabo's Special Pork Joint,' the owner, Mr Jacob Shabo, told the GNA that the pigs were very scarce.

I went far today before I got some pigs to buy. The pigs are very scarce these days.

He said the increasing demand vis-a-vis the low supply led to a price hike, adding that patronage was very high.

My customers do not complain about the price. The demand is even high this time that we don't get the pigs.

Mr Shabo said the cost of a pig, which weighed about 40 pounds and sold for GH120.00 last year, was now going for between GH230.00 and GH240.00, while a pound of pork which used to sell at GH7.00 was GH9.00.

I sometimes travel to Chebeili, Tangasogo, Tambwolwo, Kayaah and Songo all in Burkina Faso to buy the pigs.

Local prices are very high. I used to buy up to 20 pigs but now I am not able to get up to that, he said.

When the GNA contacted Dr Felix Oduro, the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Veterinary Officer, he confirmed that the population of pigs in the Municipality had reduced.

Even though Dr Oduro could not provide the total number of pigs in the area, he said many pork joints were not operating.

If you check the slaughter points, most of them have abandoned their businesses, so we realised that they are not getting the pigs, that is why most of them are not in business now, Dr Oduro said.

Dr Oduro indicated that there were some pig mortalities within the Municipality, and based on complaints by pig farmers, they suspected African swine fever.

He said most of the farmers reported late and the carcasses were usually not available for investigations to ascertain the cause of death.

The Municipal Veterinary Officer said most of the pigs were on free range, So when one pig is infected, there is a likelihood that others will be infected.

Definitely, when you get to hear some of these things, you are tempted to say it is swine flu, which has accounted for the shortage of pigs even though they may be some minor causes that might have caused their mortality.

Dr Oduro advised livestock farmers in the area to report any abnormalities they observed in their animals to the Veterinary Office for the appropriate action to be taken.

---GNA
The main suspect in the killing of a 25-year-old woman Harriet Kafui Hiatsi in Ho in the Volta Region has been remanded into police custody by the Magistrate Court in Ho.

The presiding judge, Akosah Agyare-Amoanpong, remanded 27-year-old Anthony Dordoye into the custody of the Central Police in Ho to reappear in court on May 19, 2021.

This was after the judge granted the plea of the prosecutor who requested more time to enable him forward dockets of the case to the Attorney General's Department for advice.

Anthony Dordorye, according to reports, tried to commit suicide after allegedly killing his girlfirend, Harriet Kafui Hiatsi.

He was, however, unsuccessful in taking his own life and was arrested by the police.

Upon hearing the plea of Justine Osafo, who represented the prosecutor in court, the presiding judge ordered the suspect, who has been charged with murder, to remain in custody.

Both families of the suspect and the deceased were present at the hearing on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

The deceased's family, however, said they believe the suspect killed their daughter by slitting her throat before trying to pass it off as a suicide.

An uncle of the deceased, Herbert Kumedzo, in an interview, said, Two people cannot be in a room for one of them to say he doesn't know how the other died, especially when the door was locked from the inside. We want the truth to be revealed and justice served.

Reports suggest that Mr. Dordorye allegedly killed Harriet Kafui Hiatsi after a brawl ensued between them.

Mr. Dordorye had allegedly accused the girlfriend of cheating on him.

The incident happened on March 22, 2021, at about 10 pm at Ho in the Volta Region.

---
France's immigration chiefs have awarded speedier citizenship deals to more than 1,000 foreign-born frontline workers to reward them for their services to the nation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Marlene Schiappa, the interior minister in charge of citizenship, said that 2,009 people, including 665 children, had been fast-tracked for naturalisation for showing their attachment to France during the health crisis that has killed more than 105,000 people in the country.

Last September Schiappa urged immigration officials to speed up the citizenship applications of essential workers who had actively contributed to the nationwide fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

She said she wanted them to be able to ask for citizenship after two years in France instead of the usual wait of five years.

Those involved include health workers, security guards, supermarket checkout workers, rubbish collectors, home-care providers and nannies.

On Wednesday, Schiappa published a video on social media of her telephoning some of the people who had benefited from the deal.

"I wanted to thank them in person," she wrote. "Welcome to our new compatriots!"

In 2020, 61,371 people acquired French citizenship, a decline of 20 percent compared with 2019.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has asked the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, to be proactive in addressing all issues responsible for the perennial flooding in the country.

The construction of illegal structures on waterways, indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage systems and other unsupervised human activities, he said, had led to the challenges currently faced by the country.

You must demonstrate tenacity of purpose, resilience and patriotism in dealing decisively with these issues, the Asantehene said.

A lot is expected of you as the Minister of Works and Housing. You should, therefore, not disappoint the President and Ghanaians in general in your new portfolio, he advised.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when the Minister paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi, as part of his three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region.

Mr Asenso-Boakye is in the Region to inspect ongoing development projects, especially housing facilities and the drainage systems, and identify with the factors leading to the recurrent flooding in some areas within the Metropolis.

He is also expected to interact with the agencies and departments under the Ministry to be abreast of the challenges militating against their effective work.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu entreated workers at the Ministry, especially the technical men, to offer the Minister expert advice in the discharge of his duties.

That, he said, would help him to be armed with the relevant information and the realities on the ground as he sought to chart a new course of action to bring growth to the sector.

It is your responsibility as technocrats to offer the new Minister the needed help, because teamwork is the way to go in achieving your objectives, the King noted.

Mr Asenso-Boakye expressed gratitude to the Asantehene for granting him the audience, saying he had taken his advice in good faith.

He called for all hands on deck to achieve the Ministry's mission and objectives.

---GNA
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.

'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 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, 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".
The Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region has kicked out nine of its office holders over their alleged involvement in some financial misappropriations.

The officers according to the assembly, have caused financial loss to the Municipality and must vacate their post with immediate effect for investigations to begin.

Mr Amos Ametsime, the Presiding Member during the Assembly's meeting on Wednesday, April 28, disclosed that the nine officers have either connived or have been negligent.

He said, the decision to let the alleged officers vacate their posts was borne out of a unanimous decision by the Assembly members for investigations to commence into the matter.

The names of the officers alleged to have caused financial loss to the Assembly are; the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Kwadzo Dekpo; Municipal Finance Officer, Mr Maxwell Nana Kodjo Appiah and the Municipal Internal Auditor, Mr Cephas Afetsi.

The rest are; the Municipal Budget Analyst, Mr Savior Kudiabor; Municipal work engineer, Mr Samuel Dompre; Municipal Planning Officer, Mr John Ntibre; Municipal Procurement Officer, Madam Antoinette Aheto; Accountant at the Municipal Treasury, Mr Fred Anyasor and the Municipal Stores Manager, Mr Wisdom Ahadzi.

Mr Ametsime said, the Assembly will put up a committee to investigate the case and those found culpable will refund the monies.

According to him, several funds meant for developmental projects in the Assembly were either misapplied or misappropriated through alleged dubious ways.

He added that several platforms were provided for the alleged persons to explain themselves but failed to avail themselves.

Further information chanced by ModernGhana News indicates that, an amount of GH111,000 said to have been allocated as covid-19 relief fund has been missing and cannot be accounted for by the Assembly.

Mr Gilbert Korbla Keklie, the Municipal Finance and Administration Sub-committee Chairman disclosed to the media that, about GH300,000.00 were budgeted for persons with disability (PWDs) in 2020 which the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) transfered an amount of GH221,869.44 to the account.

Mr Keklie added that, PWDs only received GH70,000.00 out of the said amount from the management whilst the assembly actually spent GH 206,860.31 in 2020.

He said the remaining GH136,860.31 which was mismanaged by the management of the Assembly cannot be accounted for.

He stated that, the same gross financial malfeasance is repeating itself this year and the Assembly has to be firm in dealing with it as quickly as possible before someone sells the entire Assembly to enrich him/herself.

ModernGhana News has discovered that the Keta Municipal Assembly is owing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) some a huge amount of money which resulted in total disconnection of the Assembly for the past two weeks.

Mr John Ntibre, the Municipal Planning Officer and Mr Wisdom Ahadzi, the Municipal Stores Manager in a swift response to the allegations leveled against them stated to the media that they were innocent.

This financial malfeasance at the Assembly drew the attention of a group calling itself Concerned Citizens Of Anloland.

The group in a press statement dated 20th April, 2021 stated that it will embark on a peaceful demonstration to demand an investigation into the transfer of some management members of the Assembly without proper investigation as well as indiscriminate sale of the Keta Sea Defence Reclaimed Land.

The release which was signed by Mr Setsoafia Dey and Mr Divine Pechepey Amedzrovi, who are leaders of the group stated that, the demo will be staged on Saturday, May 8.

The group are expected to use the main principal streets of Keta starting from Keta Busco junction through to Tiregagbor to the Keta Municipal Assembly Hall compound.
District Health Director of Krachi West district in the Oti region Victor Ahiaba has said the outbreak of the novel COVID-19 virus did not hinder their resolve to administer critically needed vaccines, including the malaria vaccine, to children.

He opined that despite the many restrictions that came with the COVID-19 virus including social distancing, the district health directorate devised means of giving out critically needed vaccines to support child growth and their wellbeing.

The Krachi West district health director Victor Ahiaba narrated that, because of the fear of the virus some of our mothers stop visiting the facilities and since our personnel were given PPEs we decided that we should be meeting them in smaller groups in their various communities.

While speaking in an interview with Edward A. Ken-Zorre, he added that we also deployed health personnel into peoples homes. For mothers that dont turn up and are due for a particular vaccine well ask a nurse to follow up with the vaccine. So, in the midst of COVID, service delivery is not disrupted and will continue to be so.

Situated along the Volta Lake, the Krachi West district is one of the 42 districts across Ghana benefiting from the pilot of the malaria vaccine in Ghana, and Victor Ahiaba has described as successful the rollout of the vaccine in the district.

While an assessment of the vaccines impact on malaria-related illness and death is still being assessed, he is of the belief that the vaccine has helped in drastically reducing the number of malaria cases within the district especially in children under 5 years.

He noted that malaria cases have generally reduced in the 2020 year under review where all suspected malaria cases were tested before given treatment.

He revealed that 16,761 general cases of malaria were recorded in the year 2020 as against 23,452 cases in 2019. For Children below 5 years, he indicated that there was a major reduction in cases where only 5,087 cases were recorded at the OPD in 2020 as against 7,319 in 2019.

In terms of malaria deaths under five years, in 2020 weve recorded none so comparing the cases before the implementation of the vaccine especially among the age group taking the vaccine, I think there is a reduction in cases and in a way, it can be attributed to the help of the vaccine the district health director explained.

Considering that many parts of the Krachi West district are island communities, the district is adopting several other interventions in fighting malaria as revealed by the district health director, Victor Ahiaba.

For instance, distribution of bed nets, well soon start the mass distribution among the population and children that are 18months and above we give them bed nets and also school kids, thats one of the channels that is used to give out the bed nets.

During the child welfare clinic, we give the mothers education on how to prevent malaria; especially sleeping under the treated bed nets and disposing of unwanted water.

Victor Ahiaba added that sometimes we organize community daubers to educate both the men and women on malaria and other preventable diseases and the radio education is also one of our major interventions which we do almost every week.
MUYAD Social Services, an Islamic NGO has called on the leadership of the Methodist Church of Ghana to render an unqualified apology to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghanaians for disregarding the GES directives.

This follows the decision by the Headmistress of the Wesley Girl's SHS to ban Muslim students from observing Ramadan prayers while on campus. This ignited reactions from the Ghanaian public as an affront to the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the country.

The GES issued a directive to help calm the rising tension and further asking Muslim students be allowed to fast but with an undertaken.

However, the Methodist Church of Ghana, caretakers of the Wesley Girl's SHS, issued a counter press release rubbishing the peace-intended directives from the GES.

The Muslim population and some well-meaning Ghanaians saw it as not right for the Church's leadership to disregard a directive of state supervisory body.

The group call on the leadership of the Methodist Church to apologize and retract what they described as 'needless opposition'.

Below is the full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

05/05/2021

ATTENTION ALL NEWS EDITORS:

METHODIST CHURCH OF GHANA: AN 'OPPRESSIVE, ARROGANT AND SHAMELESS THIEF'

.Before we proceed to the main subject above, let us remind ourselves on the legal framework of Ghana. Before the 1992 Constitution of Ghana came into force; any law, bylaw, regulations or rules that existed and contradicts the 1992 Constitution becomes diseffective. Again, no educational institution can set rules that contradict that of Ghana Education Service Code of Conduct for all educational institutions.

...

The Executives of MUYAD Social Service write to seek the attention of the distinguished leaders of Methodist Church of Ghana, a supposed 'dnified, guiders of virtues and preachers of love and peace', it has come to our notice the contempt at which the Church has 'arrogantly' disrespected its landlords (Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service) just in the name of trying to coverup a shame and disgrace your persistent oppression has brought unto thy self.

I know many of you reading this letter, in reaction to the Press Release issued under the authority of The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo responding to the Ghana Education Service's directive to Wesley Girl's SHS (a public school), are still wondering to understand why Methodist Church of Ghana is an 'OPPRESSIVE, ARROGANT AND SHAMELESS THIEF'.

Can a 'HUMBLE' Caretaker or Trustee 'ARROGANTLY' challenge a directive of its landlords and the laws under which you got the so-called school rules?

Did I read 'Mission Schools'? Please, The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, kindly help us to understand the legal definition of 'Mission Schools' in the jurisdiction of Ghana's education system.

Do we still have public schools classified as 'Missions Schools' in Ghana. Can ignorance and a deliberate calculated thievery be equated as pardonable?

If some of you, the leaders of various churches and Christian denominations, have deliberately used your smart tricks on Ghanaians to paint a negative picture as though, the churches still own the public schools which were ONLY ENTRUSTED in the care of various religious groupings in the country after the government used taxpayers monies to compensate all privately owned schools, the then 'Mission Schools', making those schools a public or government schools before even the 1992 Constitution of Ghana was promulgated.

I seek for a sincere answer from a sincere supposed child of God, DO THE CHURCHES STILL OWNS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH ARE UNDER THEIR CARE?

If you do not own something and you deliberately claim ownership of it, ARE YOU NOT A THIEF?

If someone who preaches LOVE AND UNITY in the Church room, but in their supposed schools turn to OPPRESS AND DISREGARD other human beings, neighbors and citizens against their religious commandments, are you not SHAMELESS PRETENDER?

Now, how does a Muslim fasting in accordance to her Creators commandments affects you in person, The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo? Does it reduce your title or does it demolition the school building?

What are rules? Who makes the rules? Are the rules of institutions powerful than the rules of the Creator and the Constitution of a country? Are rules sacrosanct and perpetual?

Can rules be amended to ensure HARMONY AND UNITY among fellow human beings?

So, who are those preaching that, DISRESPECT AGAINST AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP is a sin?

Disrespecting and challenging the authority and directives of the owners of a school giving to you to keep in 'TRUST' can then be classified as what action?

The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, will you consider resigning your position for allowing your EGO and Misguidance to bring shame to the entire Methodist Church of Ghana and as well disrespecting the entire citizens of Ghana who pay taxes which were used to develop the school to the level it is now?

If all Ghanaians decide to claim a pesewa of their taxes used to develop the Wesley Girl's SHS and all other Methodist schools in Ghana, can you pay those monies within a day?

The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, please and with due respect, Ghanaians demand an apology and retraction of your Press Release dated 4th May, 2021 and signed by The Rt Rev Michael Bossman.

Again, in unwarranted press release, you used a phrase "...renowned Muslim ladies"

Do you know who is a Muslim?

'Renowned Muslims' (those who submit to total will of Allah, the Creator) believes in RESPECT FOR ALL, ACCOMMODATIVE AND KNOWS THAT THERE IS NO COMPULSION AND OPPRESSION in practice of Islam.

Thank you for your time and anticipated humble apology and retraction.

Yours Fellow Citizens

Signed:+2AM-

Adnan Adams Mohammed,

Executive Director, MUYAD Social Services

+233244653664
Sayre, PA (18840)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The International Criminal Court will on Thursday sentence a child soldier turned Lord's Resistance Army commander for a litany of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Uganda.

Dominic Ongwen, 45, was found guilty in February of 61 charges including murders, rapes and sexual enslavement during a reign of terror in the early 2000s by the LRA, led by the fugitive Joseph Kony.

Prosecutors have asked for a 20-year prison term, saying Ongwen's own history as a schoolboy abducted by the LRA justifies a lower sentence than the maximum 30 years to life allowed by the ICC.

"This is one circumstance that sets this case apart from all the others tried at this court," ICC prosecution lawyer Colin Black told a sentencing hearing at the Hague-based court in April.

The defence is seeking a 10-year prison term for Ongwen, who went by the nom de guerre "White Ant" during attacks by his soldiers on refugee camps in northern Uganda.

Victims of his crimes have asked the court to impose the full life sentence.

Ongwen told the court that the LRA forced him to eat beans soaked with the blood of the first people he was made to kill as part of a brutal initiation following his own abduction aged nine.

"I am before this international court with so many charges, and yet I am the first victim of child abduction. What happened to me I do not even believe happened to Jesus Christ," Ongwen said.

'Gravity of the crimes'

The LRA was founded three decades ago by former Catholic altar boy and self-styled prophet Kony, who launched a bloody rebellion in northern Uganda against President Yoweri Museveni.

Its brutal campaign to set up a state based on the Bible's Ten Commandments left more than 100,000 people dead and 60,000 children abducted, eventually spreading to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.

Dominic Ongwen was found guilty in February of 61 charges including murder, rape and sexual enslavement. By ISAAC KASAMANI (AFP/File)

Judges said in their verdict in February that Ongwen personally ordered his soldiers to carry out massacres of more than 130 civilians at the Lukodi, Pajule, Odek, and Abok refugee camps between 2002 and 2005.

Civilians were locked in their homes and burned to death or beaten during the massacres, while mothers were made to transport the LRA's loot, forcing them to abandon their infant children by the roadside.

Ongwen was also the first person convicted by the ICC of the crime of forced pregnancy, for abducting and raping so-called "wives", some of whom were underage.

Prosecutor Black said that Ongwen's own history as a child soldier "does not in any way diminish the gravity of the crimes, nor does it diminish his criminal culpability".

"Nevertheless we consider them to be exceptional individual circumstances of a kind that warrant a significant reduction in sentence," he added.

Ongwen surrendered to US special forces who were hunting Kony in the Central African Republic in early 2015 and he was transferred to the ICC to face trial.
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Many years ago, Goka had a king, he was so wise and caring.

He didn't want to see any of his subjects live in poverty.

Everyday, he visited their homes, and those who were idle hands or had no work to do, he either employed them or taught them a trade that will feed them and their dependents.

But there was this particular subject of the wise king who always had a deaf ear to the good counsels of the king. His name was Agyapade or Inheritance.

Agyapade lived on his late father's property. Agyapade's father was an apothecary (or a medicine man), and he had this tree in front of his house with leaves that healed almost all ailments that plagued mankind. Even the Covid-19 we battle today would have bowed before the healing powers of the said magic tree.

When the father lived, these leaves were picked freely by the sick, and they will only come back and give some "thank-you-money" when its usefulness heals their sickness.

But upon the death of this good medicine man, his son Agyapade customised this blessed ancient tree. He enriched himself to bursting by selling the leaves at a cut-throat price to the poor sick people.

That alone is not a cause for worry to the Goka people and their wise king, but Agyapade will not join the major trades of the people. He'll not go to farm, or apply his hands on any craft, but sat at home always and insulted those who tilled the land as fools.

This infuriated the wise king. And one night, as all souls went to their slumber, sleeping, he (the wise king ) ordered his servants to cut down the magic healing tree, for he's discovered its undefiled type deep into the sacred forest.

Before the first cock crew, and Agyapade was up inspecting this his money-making-tree, as he does all mornings, he was welcomed by an unpleasant spectacle. The tree was down, and nothing even remained of the roots to give him the slightest hope of it sprouting again.

Agyapade wept for many days for his misery. How was he going to feed and live ostentatiously like before?

The wise king then came back to Agyapade and reproached him, telling him how foolish he was to banking all his hopes on one tree, which is easily made lifeless by the might of the axe.

Agyapade from that day forward worked for himself, and wherever he heard of a new trade, he followed, learnt and put its knowledge to use.

In no time, Agyapade's handiworks rewarded him greatly with deserving riches. And he changed his name to _Mabrmanya_ (I Worked To Gained).

Moral Lesson:

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't stop learning. Keep on changing yourself to the needs of the times, so you don't go hungry.

Today, many a Ghanaian and invariably, all African, are calling for the elected leaders to fix the country (#FixTheCountry). The people were promised a lot by the politician, using the numerous bequeathed resources as the fat cow that will be milked to quench our hunger.

Yes, the resources in gold, diamond, crude oil and name them; are exploited every day but they who were promised still lives in the squalor we were not long ago promised a reprieve from.

It's not substituting and alternating powers to our traditional parties, as seen in NPP to NDC and vice versa here in Ghana that will solve Africa's problems.

The status quo needs a complete overhaul. Africa needs a new building strategy. We can't continue banking on our inherited resources. The very resources that is effectively channelled through a long and wide alleys that irrigates the handiworks of a third country - the West and the East.

Resources depletes, they're not static. And as seen in the parable above, if like Agyapade's tree, our resources get their alternatives, we'll weep for want of food.

Or we're playing ostrich to the many changes of the world? Now clean energy is replacing greenhouse gas emitters in fossil fuels. Who knows what's next in line to our touted resources to suffer a fate of rejection?

We have the men, the talented African needs a fertile ground in good leadership to make ends meet out of his handiworks.

The *New Africa Movement* I lead, presents an alternative to the rebuilding of Africa. It doesn't lie in agitating for the incumbency to #FixTheCountry, for they're all sellouts, and whatever they'll do inflates our irredeemable debts, and mortgaging our sovereignty.

Rally round the new flag of Africa and join this crusade. Africa will be rescued and marched to the promised land soon with our own creativity. And our name will be changed to _Yabryanya_ (We Worked For).

Written by: Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord)

The Founder of The New Africa Movement

Contact: +233-249542111

Email: [email protected]
The Management of GCB Bank Ltd and Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) have resolved to foster stronger alliance in the interest of the two institutions and to help propel national growth.

While operating in different sectors of the national economy, the Management of the two institutions agree that collaboration will help lubricate the engine of growth in the strategic interest of Ghana.

This point was reiterated when the Managing Director (MD) of GCB Bank, Mr Kofi Adomakoh, paid a working visit to the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ato Afful, in Accra.

Partnerships like this would be very useful. You are the most dominant media institution in the country and I think, we coming from the same mother, it is important that we cooperate and collaborate in business and social events, Mr Adomakoh stated.

Mr Adomakohs visit was to introduce himself as the new MD of GCB Bank and to share ideas on how best Ghanaian companies could collaborate to build businesses of international character and magnitude.

He acknowledged that both the banking and the media industries have been evolving, very fast, adding, strategies are needed to take businesses to the next level and see how we can support each other.

We want to play a role in making sure that you get there. More importantly, there are also things that we can look at together and you can also help us disseminate what GCB wants to do along our various businesses, he said.

The disruption with COVID-19 and what has happened forced banks to get more digital to reach their customers. So those days when we had armchair bankers who sat in the office and waited for the customer to queue outside are long gone and it will even change more in the coming years, he explained.

He said that was one of the reasons why he was reaching out to the GCGL, which was one of its customers, to find out how the Bank could be of help to the company in the coming years.

,Mr Afful on his part, said the GCGL had enjoyed a fantastic relationship with GCB Bank over the decades, with the Bank being immensely helpful.

As an ongoing relationship, we will obviously be looking at upping the ante on both sides. We appreciate the services that you have rendered to us over the decades, he said.

Mr Afful said the GCGL recognised the fact that times had changed and, therefore, the company had rolled out several initiatives to ensure that the business remained sustainable.

Graphic is now doing thought leadership programmes in partnership with other stakeholders. Additionally, because of the traditional base of print, the leaders of this business over time saw it fit to venture into the printing, publishing and packaging business which led to the establishment of the subsidiary company GPAK, he said.

He said the GCGL also partnered another company to establish a courier services company that was into nationwide delivery.

The company also, through partnership, has renovated and expanded its clinic which used to serve only staff and family to now serve the entire public, he stated.

Furthermore, he said the company had some physical assets that it intends to develop and was therefore in discussion with some partners in that regard.

Mr Adomakoh was accompanied by Mr John Adamah, Mr Kojo Kwarteng and Mr Linus Kumi, Heads of Consumer Banking, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Banking Departments of GCB.
The day l read Uncle Sam Jonah's (KBE) speech, l was not necessarily moved, because he was doing what is either real or quasi-real - repeating what is known or perceptively known, or exaggerating what we know. Nevertheless, as Uncle Jonah is a business mogul, I was also interested in reading his tried wits in providing real and rare answers to Ghana's challenges.

Obviously, for many reasons including partisanship, Uncle Sam Jonah's speech circulated with the speed of light across social media and mainstream media. There were key issues that he emphasised in his flowery speech. He reminded, not revealed, to us of the long journey ahead of us - as we run a treadmill race against underdevelopment.

However, since these days, we have all mastered the art of identifying challenges and offering knee-jerk responses, l wanted more of Uncle Sam Jonah's sagacity.

Since Uncle Sam Jonah did not entirely convince me of his solutions to Ghana's challenges, l decided to cross-check how much transformation he has brought to the University of Cape Coast (UCC), my alma mater.

Since Uncle Jonah has been the chancellor of the UCC, for years, l was wondering how he has helped manage the university - a microscopic representation of Ghana.

As far as l know, the UCC has a long way to go, just like what he said about Ghana. While l am not oblivious of the politics of university ranking, my own UCC has hardly appeared on the international ranking index.

Given that the UCC also deserves better, what are we not doing right with the university's administration? Do we have enough teaching and learning materials, including a science laboratory that matches the global, iconic status of Uncle Sam Jonah?

Do we have relatively cheap and adequate accommodation for students? What about a regular supply of clean water for the university? And lest l forget, what about efficient school administration? If these are a tall list for Uncle Jonah, is the management of Ghana not equally dependent on the machination of global politics - world system theory?

Meanwhile, the University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology keep popping up on international rankings - with much to show the world.

If it is so difficult to lift Ghana from ground zero to the international stage, what about the UCC?

Perhaps, l am asking too much of Uncle Sam Jonah. But my point is simply that: leadership anywhere must be visibly impactful everywhere. Otherwise, we are all talking and indeed talking we are talking. So long us "talk is cheap", to reference Kwagyir Aggrey, let us keep talking.

Nevertheless, if we want a real impact with our talk, let us all help build Ghana. How much am l prepared to sacrifice to push Ama Ghana? Am l corrupt? Do l do in my own space what l accuse politicians of?

If the politicians are putatively failing us, we must all rescue the country.

Anyways, l hear Uncle Sam Jonah KBE successfully transformed the mining industry in Ghana - l may be wrong with what l heard, though.

Satyagraha

Prempeh Charles ([email protected]), African University College of Communications, Accra
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The Oti Regional Minister, Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, has questioned the commitment of the Ghana Federation of Disability to the advocacy for more Persons With Disability (PWD) in governance.

He questioned the commitment of the Federation for Disabled Persons in ensuring that its members are appointed into political office.

Many advocates took issue with President Akufo-Addo's ministerial list on the backdrop that he had not included many.

But, Mr. Makubu, himself a PWD, told Citi News that the Federation must first undertake an introspection of its approach to the advocacy.

Again, if you look at the Ghana Federation of Disability, we have an office set up, and I can tell you today, if we are to start advocacy, we should start from our own Federation. The management level personnel does not have a PWD.

What is more painful is that, when I was there, there was an accountant whose assistant was a PWD, the accountant resigned and a new one has been employed and is not a PWD when there is the assistant who had understudied the previous one. I side with them that we should always ask for more and be happy, but we should fix ourselves. The advocacy must start right from our home, he added.

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) expressed its disappointment in the list of persons appointed as deputy ministers in President Akufo-Addo's second term in office.

A few months ago, the Federation petitioned the President to at least consider the appointment of a person with a disability as the Deputy Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection but their plea was not granted.

This, the Federation says, is an action that hinders their advocacy for an all-inclusive government describing it as  unfortunate and regrettable.

When it comes to the advocacy of getting people appointed or employed, obviously whoever is appointing you will definitely have to do that on the basis that you have demonstrated some capability. So when it comes to the appointment of persons with disabilities, that has been our level of political participation but is that enough? the Minister added.

Joshua Makabu is the second person with a disability to be appointed as a substantive minister.

The first was Dr. Henry Seidu Danaa, a visually impaired; who served as Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs under former President John Mahama.

---citinewsroom
Dr Lawrence Lartey, the Director of Port Health at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), says measures are in place to halt the importation of COVID-19 cases into the country through the Airport.

We have our laid down rules and regulations, and we are working hand in hand with the relevant agencies to ensure that there is a limitation of the transmission of the virus by persons who travel in and out of the country, he said.

Dr Lartey in an interview said that Port Health was not compromising on the Guidelines for International Flight Operations on COVID-19 Safety at the KIA, which was generating positive feedbacks from the international community since its operationalisation in September 2020.

He said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had begun investigations into the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases recorded at the KIA from April 21 to 24 to ascertain what happened and said while they awaited the findings, Port Health was not losing its guard.

Dr Lartey said presently the number of coronavirus cases recorded at the KIA has reduced drastically as no COVID-19 cases were recorded by the Port Health between April 27 and 29.

He said his outfit would keep testing all passengers who arrived at the Airport to ensure that Ghana did not experience any wave, noting that the COVID-I9 Antigen test structure for passengers had not changed.

All passengers who arrived in Ghana are expected to come along with a PCR test results, which is not more than 72 hours old after which they are made to fill a health declaration form for another COVID test to be done by the Port Health, he said.

Dr Lartey said passengers who tested positive for coronavirus on arrival were sent to a holding area at the KIA to receive counselling and support before other processes.

He said to maintain uniformity in the protocols, results on any COVID-19 test at the KIA not sanctioned by Ghana Health Service was not recognised for any action.

If we sanction the test, we will take actions based on the results accordingly, but if any passenger goes out of their way to do an independent test, GHS will not take any decision based on the independent test results, he said.

Dr Lartey entreated the public to have confidence in the system and approach being used by Port Health for the good of all.

Frontiers Healthcare Services, managers of Ghana's COVID-19 testing programme at the Kotoka International Airport, in a letter to the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, drew attention to the high number of COVID-19 cases recorded at the Airport about two weeks ago.

Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service said the high numbers detected justified the setting up of the facility to test all passengers arriving in the country.

The Minority in Parliament, in a reaction, urged government to place a temporary ban on flights from COVID-19 hotspot countries until the high record of COVID-19 cases reduced in those countries.

As of April 29 this year, a total of 1,639 COVID-19 cases have been detected at the Kotota International Airport.

---citinewsroom
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is urging government to ensure greater involvement of chiefs in the fight against illegal mining.

The Asantehene says the seeming neglect of chiefs in the fight may have resulted in its failure hence the need to do things differently.

Speaking at the Manhyia Palace after some officials of the Minerals Commissions called on him, the Asantehene says chiefs must be made to play a role in the fight against galamsey.

He said chiefs must also be involved in the process of issuance of mining permits, adding that the failure to get chiefs involved in such processes, forces chiefs to get involved in the illegal mining themselves hence jeopardizing the fight.

The constitution even says all minerals are vested to the president, but we know that the gold is vested in the soil and the local chief is in charge of the soil. A stranger can be given a permit to mine on the chiefs land but the maps and licence for mining are given in Accra. Because the chiefs are not involved, they also join in the galamsey. If the chief is involved in the process, this will not happen, he said.

Illegal mining locally referred to as 'galamsey', has, over the past few years, dominated national conversations following a major campaign by Citi FM highlighting the devastating effects of the practice.

In 2017, Nana Akufo-Addo declared that he was prepared to put his presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey.

His declaration was amidst new measures such as the deployment of police and military personnel to arrest illegal miners across the country and the introduction of a community mining programme aimed at regulating small-scale mining in communities in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Recently, there have been complaints that the 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.

President Akufo-Addo again made public statements on the development, saying that there is a need for an open discussion on the subject.

The government, through the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources, subsequently 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.

As a result of that dialogue, the Lands Minister directed all persons prospecting or carrying out reconnaissance activities in forest reserves to cease within seven days.

The move is said to be one of many to be rolled out as part of efforts to deal with illegal small-scale mining in Ghana.

---citinewsroom
Turkey and Egypt have started diplomatic talks to restore ties frozen since the 2013 military coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi. Analysts predict such a rapprochement could have repercussions across the north African region, but Morsi's supporters could end up paying the heaviest price.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Egypt had agreed to high-level diplomatic talks in Cairo due to start in early May. The bilateral discussions are the first since the 2013 ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Huseyin Bagci, head of Turkey's Foreign Policy Institute, says Ankara's initiative is an attempt to counter growing isolation.

"There is an increasing bloc, increasing antipathy towards Turkey, Turkey cannot go on like this, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates it is too much," warned Bagci.

"It's not what Turkey intended to actually achieve; Turkey intended to become the leader, the regional player. Now only Qatar is supporting Turkey, and Qatar is not enough," he added.

Soft words, hard feelings

Last year, Cairo further turned up the pressure on Ankara, signing a deal with Athens to explore potential energy sources in Mediterranean waters contested by Greece and Turkey. But conciliatory Turkish words towards Cairo will not be enough to ensure a diplomatic breakthrough.

"Ultimately whether this new turn is going to be effective and deliver results does hinge on what Turkey does," said Sinan Ulgen, head of the Istanbul-based Edam Research Institute.

Ankara's support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or, as it's called in Arabic, Ikhwan, which was ousted from power in 2013 by the current President Fattah el-Sisi, remains a crucial point of tension between the countries.

"Egypt right now is acting against Turkey just because of the Turkish government's policy based on the theological background," said regional analyst Cem Gurdeniz. "When Turkey leaves the religious policy, I am sure Turkey-Egypt relations will be better."

Erdogan, who has Islamist roots, strongly backed Morsi and publicly wept over the Sisi-led crackdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood supporters. The Turkish president, to this day, continues to use the finger "Rabbia" symbol used by the Muslim Brotherhood and Sisi opponents at public rallies.

Egyptian opposition established in Turkey

Istanbul has become a center for Egyptian opposition television, broadcasting by satellite into Egypt. The Turkish city is also a base for many leading Muslim Brotherhood members. But, in a sign of Turkey's rapprochement with Egypt, there are increasing reports Ankara is starting to impose restrictions on opposition tv broadcasts. Speaking to reporters, Turkish foreign minister Cavusoglu appeared to confirm those reports.

"There are some opponents to whom we addressed the necessary warnings, especially those who exaggerate the extremist rhetoric against Egypt," declared Cavusolgu in April.

Analysts predict the price of Egyptian rapprochement will mean Erdogan will have to make painful concessions.

"Egypt is getting stronger with all the support it receives from all over the world, and Turkey is getting more and more lonely, and this is the problem of the Turkish government, I would say," said Bagci.

"Tayyip Erdogan and Sisi probably will not shake hands as presidents in the foreseeable future, but Turkey will not be supporting the Muslim Brotherhood as before," he added.

With Egypt and Turkey backing rival sides in the recent Libyan civil war and competing for influence in Sudan, analysts suggest a Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement could ease regional tensions. But difficult diplomatic talks are being predicted to lie ahead, given the recent animosity and distrust between the two sides.
The Africa Education Watch is calling for a stakeholder discussion to develop a code of conduct for public Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana.

This call comes on the back of the impasse between the Methodist Church and the Ghana Education Service (GES) over Wesley Girls SHS decision not to allow Muslim students in the school to take part in the Ramadan fast.

The Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has therefore advised the education stakeholder community not to miss this opportunity to fix this age-old governance challenge while facilitating the adoption, through dialogue and multi-stakeholder consensus, of a common Code of Conduct for all SHSs, irrespective of the religious denomination.

He added that the current situation, similar to the Achimota-Rastafarian issue, is a manifestation of the existing amorphous governance arrangement between GES and Public SHSs, especially mission schools, where schools are at liberty to develop their open rules.

In an earlier development, th e Ghana Education Service (GES) had directed the authorities of Wesley Girls' High School in the Central Region and other Senior High Schools nationwide to allow Muslim students to partake in the Ramadan fast.

However, the Methodist Church Ghana kicked against the Ghana Education Service' (GES) directive and said in a statement that the church it took a strong exception to the directive stressing that it cannot accede to the unilateral directive issued by the Ghana Education Service.

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Wesley Girls' High School jumped to the defence of the school, arguing that the parents of the students accepted the school's rules before enrolling their wards and, as such, the institution cannot be coerced into compromising its long-standing regulations on the basis of the students' religious preferences.

The school should not be forced to compromise its rules and regulations to accommodate students' individual preferences which border on religion. This is unsustainable.

---citinewsroom
Jacob Osei Yeboah

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The Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2020 Elections Jacob Osei Yeboah (JOY) says he never described the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor as an incompetent person when it comes to the fight against illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey.

According to him, a report by Onua FM claiming that he had slammed Hon. Jinapor is misleading and false.

In a disclaimer issued by his Communications Directorate, he noted that the publication is disinformation coming from Onua FM.

The disclaimer indicated that Despite the fact that the communication directorate had drawn the media houses attention of this error. Mr. Osei Yeboah never described Mr. Abu Jinapor as an incompetent minister, as his noble character and family values will not allow him to say that in the very early days of renewed efforts by the minister, Hon. Abu Jinapor.

Listening to the tape, JOY said due to the first term poor performance of the said sector that is why the President. H.E. Nana Addo had decided to bring Abu Jinapor as his eyes and ears to fix the mess, it said.

We are very disappointed in 3news.com. As a branch of the Media General Group, we were expecting a high level of professionalism and retraction when we drew their attention. To pick his words and twist for your news portal and selfish interest is unacceptable, especially in a sector where JOY has enormous expertise, the disclaimer added.

This publication has dearly affected JOY with calls from industry players. The first time his attention was drawn to it, we told Onua FM to retract it, only for the communication team to see the story on other media platforms.

We are by this statement telling the management of Media General to retract the said story otherwise we will not allow JOY to comment or participate on any program on Onua FM, it noted.

---DGN online
COVID-19 is overwhelming hospital oxygen systems. COVID-19 pneumonia creates breathing difficulties leading to low blood oxygen levels (hypoxaemia). Unable to get enough oxygen to supply vital organs, patients with hypoxaemia are at very high risk of death. Supplemental oxygen is the only treatment.

About 20% of COVID-19 patients globally have required hospital admission for oxygen therapy. But oxygen access was already a challenge for hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, particularly smaller facilities in more remote geographies. This is due to three major challenges :

low-quality, poorly functioning equipment, with inadequate access to maintenance and repair support;

lack of clinical and technical education and protocols;

deficiencies in local infrastructure  such as unreliable power supply  and management systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed these challenges, leading to horrifying situations, such as the one in India .

While the magnitude of this oxygen crisis is unprecedented, the reality of caring for patients without adequate oxygen systems is not new. Every year, around 15 million children are admitted to hospital with life-threatening low blood oxygen levels, due to pneumonia and other conditions like malaria, sepsis and premature birth.

We are part of a team of health workers, engineers and researchers who support hospitals and governments to build stronger oxygen systems. We've been doing this for more than two decades in Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.

Our new paper outlines the practical ways hospitals can immediately strengthen their oxygen systems. They can improve testing for oxygen levels (pulse oximetry) and oxygen use, support biomedical engineers, and expand on existing oxygen systems with robust equipment and smart design.

Policy makers and programme managers can use our recommendations to ensure investments in oxygen systems are more effective and efficient.

Poorly functioning systems

An effective oxygen system requires prompt recognition of those who need oxygen. It then needs a reliable supply and safe delivery to get it to them. Prior to COVID-19, there were gross deficiencies in many countries, illustrated by our detailed analysis in Nigeria.

Less than one in 20 patients had their blood oxygen levels measured. Without access to, and routine use of, pulse oximeters (which measure the level of oxygen in the blood), healthcare workers had no reliable way of determining who to prioritise.

While more than 80% of hospitals had some oxygen supplies, only 5% of oxygen concentrators worked properly. These machines concentrate oxygen from ambient air. Without access to spare parts or basic maintenance tools, biomedical engineers and technicians faced an impossible task.

Oxygen costs were high for patients and families. It cost them more than all other admission and treatment costs combined.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Our work with hospitals in Nigeria , Kenya , Papua New Guinea and elsewhere has shown that hospital oxygen systems can be improved and save lives.

Improving systems

To make oxygen delivery more effective and efficient, we offer these suggestions:

Pulse oximetry and oxygen use training: Healthcare workers must be trained in the use of pulse oximetry and oxygen provision. Taking someone's oxygen saturation level should be a standard procedure for all acutely unwell patients. It allows healthcare workers to target oxygen towards those who need it most and adjust the dose needed.

In many low- and middle-income countries, pulse oximetry and oxygen therapy are largely absent from medical and nursing curricula and clinical guidelines.

Education and support for healthcare workers should also cover basic checks and maintenance of vital equipment.

Assistance for biomedical engineers: Oxygen is a medicine that depends on technology. It requires effective teamwork between healthcare workers, technicians and managers. However, biomedical engineers and hospital technicians are frequently left out of decision-making processes. This means they often lack maintenance budgets or system support.

Engineers and technicians are already coming up with innovative solutions to make oxygen delivery more reliable and efficient. With training, tools, spare parts and access to stronger maintenance and transport systems, engineers and technicians can do much to optimise existing oxygen equipment and supply chains.

Expansion of existing oxygen systems: There are several oxygen source systems. These include: small oxygen bedside concentrators which concentrate oxygen from the air; oxygen plants used to fill oxygen cylinders for distribution; and bulk liquid oxygen which is produced by gas plants and delivered via tanker trucks to fill liquid oxygen tanks at major hospitals.

Robust equipment and smart design should be used to build on what exists. For instance, countries with extractive industries  such as mining  typically have better access to liquid oxygen. Recent experience in India shows that it is possible to divert industrial oxygen supplies for medical use. However, this is only useful if hospitals have the infrastructure and ability to safely store and use liquid oxygen.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have also released guidance on oxygen-related equipment and specific guidance for COVID-19. This will help health providers to make better use of what they have. For instance, it includes recommendations on the use of low-cost oxygen bedside concentrators distributing oxygen to patients using simple plastic tubing.

Benefits for the future

Over the past year, donors have sought to support low- and middle-income countries to boost their oxygen supply systems. For instance, UNICEF delivered over 20,000 oxygen concentrators and about 15,000 pulse oximeters to 94 countries.

Hospitals can use our practical installation guidance to put this equipment to use rapidly and effectively. Otherwise  without enough understanding on how to integrate them  there's the risk that they end up in equipment graveyards.

Improving patient outcomes always hinges on doing the basics well. The COVID-19 pandemic offers the opportunity to refocus efforts on the basics of acute care, knowing that improvements in oxygen will benefit patients both now and in the future.

Dr Bernard Olayo  founder and chairman of the Center for Public Health and Development  and Sheillah Bagayana  a Ugandan biomedical engineer  contributed to the research behind, and the writing of, this article

Hamish Graham has received research funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, USAID, UK FCDO, and Netherlands MFA. He is an advisor to WHO, UNICEF, Lifebox Foundation, and member of the Oxygen for Life Initiative, Every Breaths Counts, and United for Oxygen coalitions.

Adegoke Falade has received research funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He is member of the Oxygen for Life Initiative, Every Breaths Counts, and United for Oxygen coalitions.

By Hamish Graham, Paediatrician, Royal Children's Hospital; Research Fellow, Centre for International Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital And

Adegoke Falade, Professor of Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan
Rebels who launched an offensive in northern Chad, sparking clashes that claimed the life of veteran president Idriss Deby Itno, are in flight, the country's new defence minister said on Thursday.

"The security forces are thoroughly sweeping the operational area. Most of the prisoners are in the hands of the gendarmerie (police) and are being well-treated. The enemy is fleeing," Defence Minister Brahim Daoud Yaya told a news conference.

"We are never going to dialogue with terrorists."

The Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), a large armed group with a rear base in Libya, mounted an offensive on April 11 as the country was to hold presidential elections.

Deby, a former general who had been in power for 30 years, led the fighting against the insurgents.

According to the authorities, he died on April 19 from combat injuries in the Kanem desert region, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) north of the capital N'Djamena, close to the border with Niger.

Map of Chad locating the regions of Tibesti and Kanem, where clashes have occurred between the army and rebels. By Aude GENET (AFP)

"Libya is the terrorists' stronghold," the minister said.

He added, however, "I cannot accuse Libya of supporting the terrorists, as there is no state in Libya."

Deby's death occurred on the same day that he was declared victor in the presidential results and that the army claimed to have killed 300 FACT rebels, according to official announcements.

Another 246 rebels have been captured and handed over the judicial authorities, according to the authorities.

Fighting has been continuing in the area of Nokou, in the administrative region of North Kanem.

Last week, a Chadian military helicopter crashed there after what the army said was a breakdown, while FACT said it had downed the aircraft.

A military junta took power immediately after Deby's shock death, headed by his 37-yearold son Mahamat, a four-star general.

On Sunday it unveiled a 40-member transitional government, the key posts of which have gone to members of the former president's MPS party.

The military rulers have vowed to hold "free and democratic" elections following an 18-month transition period.
France has sent patrol ships, including a gendarme police vessel, to waters near the British island of Jersey, where around 50 French fishing boats gathered to protest over post-Brexit fishing rights. Ahead of Thursday's protest, the UK sent two navy ships to Jersey to monitor the situation, which prompted France to warn it "won't be intimidated".

"With around 50 fishing boats in the area, obviously we wanted to pre-position these two boats," a spokesperson for the French coast guard on the Channel and North Sea told AFP. One boat was identified as a gendarme police vessel and the other a maritime administration patroller.

The boats massed in front of the port of Saint Helier to draw attention to what they see as unfair restrictions on their ability to fish in UK waters after Brexit.

It was unclear if they intended to blockade the port, or if they would allow other boats in and out.

"It's incredible to have succeeded in getting everyone together," fisherman Camille Lecureuil told French news agency AFP onboard his boat.

Lecureuil, from the port of Carteret on the French coast opposite Jersey, said a cargo ship was due to leave Saint Helier.

"Everyone seems to have decided to stop it from leaving. Fishing boats are moving into position at the entrance of the port," he said.

"It's a peaceful protest. There's no reason for it to degenerate."

France warned on Tuesday that it was weighing its response after the UK imposed rules governing access for French fishing boats near the Channel Islands.

France's Maritime Minister Annick Girardin even suggested that France could cut electricity to the island as a last resort. Girardin accused Jersey, the largest Channel Island, of dragging its feet over the issuing of licences to French vessels under the terms of Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with Brussels.

Jersey, a self-governing British Crown dependency off the coast of France, has said it will require boats to submit further details before the licences can be granted, and pleaded for patience.

The deepening row over fishing is one of several disputes that have emerged between the UK and the European Union since London left the bloc's single market and customs union at the start of the year.

'Won't be intimidated'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday sent two navy patrol vessels to Jersey "as a precautionary measure", over concerns about a blockade at Saint Helier," adding that a blockade "would be completely unjustified."

French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune responded by saying France "won't be intimidated" by the navy deployment.

"Our wish is not to have tensions, but to have a quick and full application of the (Brexit) deal," he told AFP, after speaking to Britain's minister for relations with the EU, David Frost.

UK government minister Nadhim Zahawi said the two sides need to work "constructively" on "operational challenges that we need to fix together".

"This is an issue for the (European) Commission to work with our team," he told Sky News.
National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie W. Blay, has said the recent 'Fix the country now' agenda being pushed by some people is being inspired by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He, however, said the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government would never overlook all genuine concerns and problems affecting the country, adding it would not sit down for the NDC to use propaganda to destroy the good works the NPP is doing.

Mr. Blay, sharing his views on the 'Fix the country now' issues trending on social media, said yesterday that the NPP government would continue to work assiduously for the country to prosper for the benefit of all.

We shall not ignore what the people are saying but we shall also not dance to NDC propaganda, he said.

He reiterated that Ghana is a democratic country, you can have an opinion, maybe most of them are NDC people and maybe they are even referring to what then-candidate Akufo-Addo did say that when you are in power and people are complaining that things aren't going well, fix it. Of course, government is in the act of fixing the problems in this country.

He said President Akufo-Addo and his government are wide awake and the problems some of the people are complaining about are being worked on without delay.

We acknowledge that the solutions to the country's problems do not come overnight. It takes time and even in the era of COVID-19 Ghana we are doing everything possible to develop the country, he added.

He said Talk about dumsor, it's not the dumsor as we know it in the NDC era that took place for four years, a few problems that we are encountering. We are having problems with our distributing lines and definitely, efforts are being made to repair the broken down ones.

Mr. Blay said that we have explained that the situation is not a permanent situation, it's just a three-four months situation that people are making it look as if everything is broken down and we are not doing anything about it.

Mr. Blay said that all the issues that the 'Fix the country' agenda pushers are raising are already being done, adding so, if they say we should fix the country, definitely at our pace we are doing that, a pace that Ghanaians will be happy with.

He urged Ghanaians to continue to offer support for the Akufo-Addo government to deliver for them.

We shall continue to be open to constructive criticisms. We are a listening government and would not depart from doing what is expected of us as a government. Everybody in the country matter to us and we shall not take them for granted, he stressed.

---Daily Guide
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Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has assured Ghanaians that the Akufo-Addo led administration will fix challenges confronting the nation even though the country is battling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is true that not all Ghana's problem was solved in the first term of the Akufo-Addo's administration but it is true that Ghana made progress. Unfortunately, we were hit by Covid-19 pandemic and economic activities had to halt in many parts of the country and the growth that we were seeing and the speed all had to be brought down, Ghana is not the only country that has experienced this , many countries all over the world experienced this, he said.

He indicated that the consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic was that an economic challenge was sweeping the whole world and that has affected Ghana as well.

Mr. Nkrumah stated that government was working hard to find ways to contain the current economic challenges.

What government had do is to borrow a lot because revenues were not coming and you would still had to spend a lot to provide and protect for the people and so you find that our economy is not where we will all want it to be but that is where you must recognize the work that has been done so far and have confidence that if this administration was able to turn things around from 2017, this administration can turn around this challenges that we have had amidst Covid-19 and move us back to the path of growth.

The Information Minister made this known when he had an encounter with journalists during his tour of the North East region.

His comment follows a social media hashtag #Fixthecountry campaign ongoing in the country.

He urged the good people of the North East region to disregard the propaganda by the opposition NDC and see the massive projects completed and ongoing in the region even in the Covid-19 pandemic era.

Mr. Nkrumah appealed to journalists to continue to preach about the COVID-19 pandemic and the adherence to the health protocols to help prevent the spread of the virus.

 The wearing of the mask is the cheapest and the most effective way we can ensure that we protect the population but if you don't keep reminding them and they let their guard down we can be overtaken by a third wave.

He disclosed that President Akufo-Addo was committed to ensuring that the country gets more vaccines to vaccinate the entire population.

The Information Minister paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga at his palace in Nalerigu and also interacted with Information Department and party communicators in the North East region.

---DGN online
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The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana is urging the leadership of the Methodist Church to direct Wesley Girls Senior High School to allow Muslim girls to observe the Ramadan fasting.

In the wake of the Wesley Girls' High School religious controversies where the headmistress banned Muslim girls from fasting, the GES issued a directive that Muslims should be allowed to observe their religious obligations.

But the Methodist Church of Ghana, which is the management of the school issued a counter press statement to rubbish the directive by the GES.

However, in a press release from the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, it noted that the stance by the leadership of the Methodist Church smacks of tacit endorsement of the intolerant behaviour of the Headmistress and the Board Chairman.

The Muslim group has taken serious exception to this position which seeks to offset the directives of the GES, instructing the school to allow the practice of fasting and prayer by Muslim students.

We again take cognisance of the peculiar culture of every institution without exception. That notwithstanding, it is out of place for any institution, for that matter the Methodist Church, Ghana, and its actors to attempt to put its culture and regulations over and above the constitution of Ghana, part of the press release from the coalition reads.

It continues, We, therefore, wish to urge the Leadership of the Church to adhere to the GES directives and allow Muslim students to observe their religious obligations so that, they would also contribute to upholding the fundamental human rights of all citizens, as guaranteed by Article 21(1)(C) of the 1992 Constitution that states among other things.

The Coalition of Muslim Organisations says it wishes to serve notice to the Methodist Church that, they shall continue to remain calm as responsible citizens while they wait on the GES to work to bring the matter to a peaceful conclusion.

Read the full press release from the coalition below:
The former Ashanti Regional Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng has urged Ghanaians to put an end to negative work attitudes that militate against national development.

He further stressed that the change that all Ghanaians wanted to see could only become attainable with a positive change in attitude to work.

We must be very careful at our workplaces with attitudes that retard our progress.We must work for the best of this land and never cheat on the system. Ghanaians will make or unmake Ghana because even God works through mankind, Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng exclusively told Reynold Agyemang on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

Ghanaians should work as people who would someday give account to their maker as stewards and above all, Mother Ghana.

Mr. Daniel Agyenim Boateng advised Ghanaians to think of how to contribute their quota towards national development as they promote peace, co-existence, and entrepreneurship.

---KingdomfmOnline
Member of Parliament for Wa West Peter Toobu says the alleged national security officers who have been arrested for illegal mining in the Eastern region should be punished severely.

According to him, such a move will send a strong signal to the citizenry that government is now serious about the fight against illegal mining.

They should be handed the highest sentence. If they are escorted to Accra, that should be the end of the military involvement in the case. They should be handed to the prosecutorial powers for them to complete the work.

This matter should be treated expressly. If they are really stationed at the seat of government then they are probably backed by a higher power. If people from the jubilee House involved in wrongdoing are arrested, it helps the fight and whoever is helping in the fight, he the ex-police officer told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Thursday..

The suspects were on Tuesday transferred from the Asamankese police station, where they were sent after being apprehended by a mob, to the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters.

They were transported in the police branded Bus Wednesday morning under the guard of armed military personnel some of whom were on board the bus while others followed the bus with a military vehicle.

The youth of Akyem Akanteng on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, invaded the Atewa Forest reserve to arrest about seventeen (17) illegal miners including 14 National Security Operatives who claimed to be working at the Jubilee House.

The National Security Operatives sneaked into the forest at dawn to illegally mine gold.

The youth of Akyem Akanteng massed up and invaded the forest, disarmed the National Security Operatives, and rounded them up before handing them over to the forestry commission and Police who later came to the community.

---Starrfm
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Branch Manager in South Korea, Richard Zinleri, has been advised not to tolerate non-performing Ministers and government appointees in the second term of his Administration.

Any Minister or appointee who showed laxity in the performance of his or her duties must be sacked as soon as possible by President Akufo-Addo, Richard Zinleri exclusively told Kwaku Dawuroon Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

He [Akufo-Addo] should not be afraid to fire and as far as I am concerned, he has to be ruthless. Anybody who is seen not to be delivering should move and let somebody else come in, he added

He should be vigilant and work with those who demonstrated patriotism, the tenacity of purpose, and commitment to the good cause of the nation."

According to Richard Zinleri, governance is about serious business.

Therefore, it was expected of government appointees to be selfless and focused in their respective fields of endeavour to bring the government's vision to fruition.

He added that Mr. Akufo-Addo is fully aware that if his appointees fail, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will pay the political price in the next elections hence will not waste time in change non-performing ministers.
The sister of a black French man who died in police custody five years ago was to appear in court Thursday charged with defamation for publicly naming the three gendarmes involved in his death.

Assa Traore has become a figure of France's anti-racist struggle since her 24-year-old brother Adama lost his life after being handcuffed by police and pinned to the ground in the northern suburbs of Paris.

Experts have been unable to agree if he was suffocated, or whether an underlying medical condition was to blame. Investigations are ongoing.

In a series of Facebook posts published several years after Adama's 2016 death, Assa wrote: "I accuse the gendarmes of having killed my brother by crushing him with the weight of their bodies.

The gendarmes, whose first and last names were published, say they were forced to leave their assignments to protect the safety of themselves and their families.

Assa  who has led anti-racism street marches via her Justice for Adama online campaign  has already been convicted of violating the gendarmes' presumption of innocence, and ordered too pay a 4,000 euro fine.

Her supporters are planning a rally on Friday in front of the Paris Judicial Court, where the case is being heard.

'French George Floyd'

French protests against racial profiling and police violence especially in the poorer suburbs of Paris  have gained momentum since George Floyd's brutal killing in the United States.

The death of George Floyd has a strong echo in France in the death of my little brother, Assa Traore told the crowd at one rally.

What's happening in the United States is happening in France. Our brothers are dying.
The inflatable camping tents are set up at the foot of snowy mountains. (Photo by Liu Yibo)

By Liu Yibo and Chen Pengfei

BEIJING, May 6 -- Recently, due to sudden drop in air temperature, the troops of a field medical post under the Xining Joint Logistic Support Center, who were conducting a training exercise on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, quickly pitched up inflatable tents for camping at a certain designated area.

According to Yang Ming, an officer of the Military Installation Construction Section of the Center, the inflatable camping tent on trial this time is characterized by fast erection and efficient deployment, which can better support the troops in carrying out field missions.

Besides, the newly developed inflatable camping support system has adopted a closed arched structure featuring high tensile strength and good stability. It consists of 11 functional modules, such as commanding, maintenance, accommodation, bathroom and dining, and has good performance in concealment and anti-reconnaissance, better catering for the needs of field camping.

The inflatable camping tent can maintain a constant indoor temperature in a harsh environment of -30 C to -40 C with wind and snow. It can be used to build a forward support base, and also be carried by troops in field operations to provide concomitant support.

In the past few days, in order to promote the camping support capabilities, the Center has been conducting installation and trial run of the inflatable camping support system at an elevation of nearly 5,000 m to test its support performance under severely cold conditions in the plateau areas, and further clarified the applicable environment and the establishment process of a forward support base.
The Committee on Muslim Rights has accused the Deputy Chairman of the Scripture Union of Ghana, Dr. Samuel Ofori Onwona of hate speech against Muslims.

In a viral audio on social media, Dr. Samuel Ofori Onwona is heard making statements that the Committee on Muslim Rights statements have far-reaching consequences for national security.

According to the Committee, the alleged statements threaten national stability which is founded on religious pluralism, tolerance, and cohesion.

As a result, the Committee has filed a petition to the National Security Minister requesting for the Deputy Chairman of the Scripture Union of Ghana to be investigated.

We hereby call on your outfit to institute an investigation into these issues and apply the needed legal regime which in our belief, has been sufficiently breached by the subject, part of the petition from the Committee on Muslim Rights reads.

The committee shares the view that the matter is so concerning that if not addressed, could have a catastrophic implication on national security

The petition concludes, We shall standby to assist in any investigations that will help to unravel this monumental security breach. We would be disappointed if your outfit fails to act.

Below is a copy of the petition to the Ministry of National Security:
A year has passed since an Angolan dance troupe called Fenomenos do Semba released a video of themselves dancing in a courtyard in Luanda to the South African hit song Jerusalema by Master KG.

With over 16 million YouTube clicks , the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge swept the planet as social media users posted their own versions of the dance.

Its success has inspired me to offer some further reflections on the importance of the cultural meaning of this dance and its contribution to the creation of a Pan African aesthetic.

How Angolans celebrate

The dance video's success is related to deep-rooted elements that might go unnoticed at first sight. But, taken together, they convey the joyous and proud expression of a collective identity.

Despite not being danced to Angolan music and using steps that stem from different kinetic codes, the video is still representative of the main elements of the Angolan way of celebrating: food, music, dance  and brincadeiras (joking around).

The dance takes place in a communal courtyard situated between Luandan buildings. This open but protective space in itself represents a specific way of living in a community. In the recent past of civil war, these places of mutual exchange allowed people to preserve family units, overcome collective trauma and protect local languages and cultures from the threat of colonialism. Angolan troupe Fenomenos do Semba's Jerusalema dance challenge.

Writing on Facebook about their video challenge, Adilson Maiza, the leader of Fenomenos do Semba, said:

There is always a reason to be happy, always a reason to celebrate.

This same spirit of gratitude found more concrete expression in the now famous troupe's promotion of social initiatives. They have done things like distributing food in disadvantaged areas and promoting the foundation of the Angolan Dance Association for the promotion of dance in the country.

In this sense the presence of food is very relevant and it has surely contributed to the video's success. It reveals the genuine character of the reunion and the spirit of contentment through the symbolic act of eating. Indeed, in Angola, getting together with family and friends has a social, political and spiritual value. This was pointed out by Angolan writer Oscar Ribas in his 1965 book Izomba , about the importance of recreational centres in Luanda.

The value of gatherings gained even greater importance during the long night curfews that were at times common during the civil war (1975 to 2002). During this time dance and music seemed the only remedy to soothe a permanent fear. To the people who experienced the Angolan and South African reality of those years, the Jerusalema video is surely a reminder of the joy of being able to celebrate togetherness under any conditions.

The dance

The dance displayed in the video is commonly known as Danca da Familia (the Family Dance). It is not a traditional Angolan dance with a semiotic code. Nevertheless, it's frequently danced at weddings and parties. It mainly consists of a short sequence of steps, repeated within the same structure. Anyone can introduce variations and personal touches (toques) to the sequence. In other words, it is not a choreography but rather the repetition of a scheme.

The idea of a choreography does not belong to the Angolan conception of dance. Rather, dance is improvised and repeated with simple variations answering to specific rhythmic calls. It's never linked to a specific song.

Read more: Hip hop and Pan Africanism: from Blitz the Ambassador to Beyonce

Angolan dance is a performative act rather than a product. It is always the result of the encounter of new movements with a traditional but permeable frame, and it represents a specific conception of society and life.

Angolan dance stems from the expression of a circumstance. Songs register popular dialogues and events of daily life. Gestures come from activities such as drying wheat, tilling the land or, in more urban scenarios, imitating a crippled man (o coxo) or defending the value of gender diversity.

The peculiarity of the Jerusalema dance lies in its sequence, proposed by one of the participants and repeated in the same way in four directions. It does so with the same steps and the same rotation at the end of any sequence, while able to be embellished with any specific groove proposed by the main dancers. The troupe became well known in Angola, appearing on TV and working on social and dance initiatives. Courtesy Fenomenos do Semba/Facebook

The dance's character demonstrates the focal point of the dance transmission technique in many African contexts. This takes place in a playful context, without any formal teaching. It derives from a logic of movement developed over centuries and passed on through imitation and innovation.

Commonly danced in Angola and South Africa, but also in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congo Republic, Cameroon and Zambia, Danca da Familia could be defined as a neotraditional cultural product, borrowing the definition of British-Ghanaian philosopher, cultural theorist and novelist Kwame Anthony Appiah .

The music

The dance structure of Danca da Familia can be performed on different rhythms. During family celebrations this pattern is danced on more traditional rhythms like soukous (or sakiss) and pantsula , but also on coupe decale , azonto or Afrobeat songs, by those who do not know each rhythm's dance code.

All these music styles are appreciated by different generations in various countries. This dance structure embeds their specific vocabularies, reshaping them into a new cultural product. Danca da Familia can be adapted to all these rhythms, which is why it is often used at West African weddings in the south of the region, where continuous exchanges between ethnic groups have created mixed family units and multicultural traditions.

Read more: The Angolan dancers who helped South African anthem Jerusalema go global

Similarly, contemporary styles like Afrobeat or kuduro travel across the globe via TV and social networks, carrying symbols and proposing modes of self-representation that drive cultural legitimacy and recognition. In this context the creation of codes is often based on the recreation of traditions  reinforcing what Cameroonian philosopher and author Achille Mbembe affirmed by defining African identity as mobile and reversible.

This has now achieved the dignity of specific aesthetic criteria, nourished by improvisation and by freedom of expression.

Through these elements, Jerusalema's dance spontaneously promoted a more conscious concept of Africanity and sowed feelings of tolerance and contentment that have conquered international audiences.

This reminds me of the words of Kwame Nkrumah , former Ghanaian president:

All the fair, brave words spoken about freedom that had been broadcast to the four corners of the earth took seed and grew where they had not been intended.

Dr. Francesca Negro is an independent researcher in Comparative Literature and Performance studies. She is affiliated researcher with The Centre for Comparative Studies at the University of Lisbon while collaborating as consultant and teacher with various international institution.

By Francesca Negro, Associate research scientist, Universidade de Lisboa
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The National Chief Imam has called on the Muslim community to remain calm as his outfit works to resolve the current standoff at the Wesley Girls High School.

This comes on the heels of a statement issued by the Methodist Church Ghana, kicking against an earlier directive by the Ghana Education Service for Muslim students at Wesley Girls' High School to be allowed to fast.

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.

But the Office of the National Chief Imam says it finds the statement worrying and has called for immediate dialogue.

The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, in a Citi News interview, said this is the first time such an issue is coming up, and so we understand why most Muslims have become passionate about it. We dont fault them at all, however, we urge them to let calm prevail as we work to resolve the issue.

The Chief Imam has called for immediate consultations between the Christian and Muslim leaders. And we are hopeful that we will settle the issue amicably. We are employing the empathetic engagement to resolve this issue.

He further cautioned the Muslim community to be careful not to generalise the issue as it will breed religious divisions.

We are being careful not to make this issue a matter of religious confrontation. We acknowledge that there are Christian mission schools where Muslim students are treated well. So we will not be fair to the Christian community if we decide to generalise the issue.

We want to address the Wesley Girls High school specifically, together with other schools with similar issues.

Wesley Girls' High School faced criticism after it prevented a Muslim student from fasting during the ongoing Ramadan.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum had met with the Board of Wesley Girls' High School and advised the Ghana Education Service (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.

---citinewsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he was "absolutely in favour" of a global waiver, backed by US President Joe Biden, to remove patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The African Union hailed the proposal as "remarkable", while the European Union said it was "ready to discuss".

Emmanuel Macron's statement marked a shift for France, which had previously opposed such a move as likely to discourage innovation and argued that patents should be waived only as a last resort.

No French pharmaceutical company has managed to develop an approved Covid-19 vaccine so far.

Meanwhile, the Africa Union health watchdog praised the US support for the waiver as a "remarkable expression of leadership" at a time when poor countries are struggling to get enough vaccine doses.

"History will remember the move taken by the US government as doing the right thing at the right time to fight a terrible challenge which is unprecedented in our contemporary history," Dr John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), told a press conference.

'Extraordinary measures'

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said while intellectual property rights for businesses are important, Washington "supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines".

"This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures," she said in a statement.

President Biden had been under intense pressure from world leaders to agree to waive protections for vaccine manufacturers in order to ramp up production and get the jabs out to more countries as rich nations have swept up the majority of the doses.

The United States will participate in the negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) but cautioned that discussions "will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved", according to Tai.

Following the announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU was "ready to discuss" the US proposal in order to speed up vaccine production and distribution.

Calls led by India, South Africa

The global trade body has been facing calls led by India and South Africa since October 2020 to temporarily remove the intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines, in a move proponents say would help boost production in developing countries that so far have received far fewer jabs.

But that notion has until now met fierce opposition from pharmaceutical giants and their host countries, which insist the patents are not the main roadblocks to scaling up production, and warn the move could hamper innovation. WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been pressing for an international agreement to provide at least a temporary patent waiver.

"We need to have a sense of urgency on how we approach this issue of response to Covid-19 because the world is watching," she said earlier Wednesday, describing equitable access to the tools to fight the pandemic as the "moral and economic issue of our time."

(with AFP)
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology believe Ghana does not need to send a delegation anywhere for studies before the sanitation challenges in the country can be solved.

Dr. Emmanuel Marfo said Ghana has the expertise and the men to ensure the nation is free of filth but the expertise is not put into use.

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 currently in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to understudy that countrys waste management system and good environmental and sanitation practices.

The visit is to afford the delegation to learn 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 Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), 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.

Reacting to the issue on Thursday, May 6 on Onua TVs Maakye hosted by Adwoa Konadu-Yiadom and Ohemaa Acheampomaa, Dr. Marfo said: I dont know anything new they are going to bring to Ghana.

We have waste management experts in Ghana. We have the assemblies and I dont think they dont know what to do. It is the attitudes of the Ghanaian people.

The Member of Parliament for Oforikrom Constituency in the Ashanti Region said we should not dump refuse anywhere. People dump refuse indiscriminately and those who are going to arrest them also take money and leave them.

90% of the problem is attitude so if you go and study it, it gives you encouragement. They will bring the plan but the one to implement the plan will not.

He explained that the trip is important but the experts are in Ghana to help solve the sanitation challenges.

I will not say its not important but we have a lot of experts. At the universities they have them. What is left is the enforcement and those to work with. Let us hope they are going to bring something new in Ghana.

Dr. Marfo said Rwanda is a country that law works. They are law abiding and its a different contest from Ghana. They have gone through war but we have not gone through war, yet the laws are working.

---3news.com
President Akufo-Addo has expressed the hope that Parliament will speed up the vetting and approval of Special Prosecutor nominee, Mr Kissi Agyebeng.

This comes after Mr Akufo-Addo has accepted Mr Agyebengs nomination by the Attorney General.

A statement issued and signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, said The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has accepted the nomination of Mr. Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor, and has by letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, dated 29th April 2021, sought Parliaments approval of the appointment.

It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo accepted the resignation from office of Mr. Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor on 16th November 2020, and, in accordance with section 13(8) of the Office of Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), is required to appoint a replacement within six (6) months of the position becoming vacant.

To this end, the Attorney General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, on 16th April 2021, nominated Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, under section 13(3) of Act 959, to the President for consideration as the second occupant of the Office of Special Prosecutor.

Having been called to the Bar in October 2003, holding a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from Dalhousie University and Cornell Law School, being a Criminal Law lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, and also engaged in private law practice, President Akufo-Addo deems Mr. Kissi Agyebeng as being eminently qualified to become Special Prosecutor.

The President is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the confirmation process of Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, so he can assume the position without delay.

---3news.com
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Accra, Ghana U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan joined Vice President of Ghana H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on May 6, 2021, to outdoor a new U.S. government food security strategy.

The first activity is expected to attract $261 million in private sector financing to boost Ghanaian agribusiness.

The Honourable Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto also attended the virtual launch along with representatives of financial, agricultural, government, and private sector stakeholders.

The U.S. Global Food Security Strategy for Ghana (GFSS) is a five-year, interagency effort that aims to increase agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, and raise household incomes for millions of Ghanas agricultural workers. Under the GFSS, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is committing $19 million to support the initial activity, known as Feed the Future Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA).

The MFA activity, which will run for four years, seeks to increase access to agricultural finance in select staple and commodity value chains such as maize, groundnuts, shea, soy, mango, cashew, and other high-value export commodities. The initiative will focus on facilitating transactions among buyers and sellers of the commodity crops and promoting exports.

Ambassador Sullivan described this new program within the framework of the United States and Ghanas long-standing partnership to improve food security, increase trade and investment flows, and support resilient and inclusive economic growth. In her remarks, Ambassador Sullivan noted that, The U.S. Government reaffirms its commitment to assist Ghanaians to achieve self-reliance by helping businesses reap higher revenues and by strengthening trade between Ghana and the United States. With the ability to access loans at lower affordable rates, micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises, including women- and youth-owned businesses, will be able to grow their businesses, expand into new markets, create good jobs, and export their goods.

The MFA activity will mobilize investment for Ghanas agricultural sector to become an engine of sustainable growth, self-reliance, and shared prosperity. It will work to connect financial institutions, business advisory service providers, and agricultural enterprises, providing access to strategic partnerships, technical support, and smart incentives to help financing flow to where it is most needed and help more Ghanaians thrive.

About Feed the Future

Feed the Future is the U.S. Governments initiative to end global hunger. Led by USAID and driven by collaborative partnership across public and private sectors, including 11 U.S. Government agencies, Feed the Future addresses the root causes of poverty and hunger. This is done by boosting inclusive agriculture-led economic growth, resilience, and nutrition in countries with great need and opportunity for improvement.

About USAID

USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana's journey to self-reliance and advance an integrated approach to development. USAID promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.
HIV and AIDS is still in the system and remains a threat to society, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) has reminded Ghanaians on Wednesday.

Today people think that HIV is not a problem and they are relaxing, but I want to remind all that HIV and AIDS continues to be a major health and economic problem, which continuous to affect our social life, he stated.

He said HIV and AIDS was still causing havoc in society and there was the need for broader stakeholder discussion to help fight the disease in the communities.

Dr Ayisi Addo stated this at the second Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office project dubbed: GNA-Tema Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day seminar, which is a platform rolled-out for state and non-state actors to address national issues.

The event also served a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters towards national development in general and growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.

Dr Ayisi Addo noted that the mode of transmission of the disease has not changed, however the death toll has reduced due to interventions; however, that does not mean we should lower our quest over the disease.

He said the prevalence in the general population which constituted men, women, children among others was 1.7 per cent; prevalence among pregnant women was 2.0 per cent, any one pregnant has had unprotected sex.

The NACP Programme Manager said that transmission of HIV and AIDS from mother to child was 1.5 per cent and was not genetic, but was through breastfeeding, delivering process and other methods of transmission.

He said the prevalence among sex workers was 4.6 per cent because they were involved in multiple sexual intercourse and had numerous partners making it easy to contract the diseases.

Mr Ayisi Addo added that the prevalence among same sex partners, thus men was 18 per cent because sexual intercourse through the anus caused injuries, adding that the anus had micro-organisms, the white cells, which escalate the virus in the human system.

He indicated that the prevalence among people who had Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) was seven per cent because of existing conditions that facilitated the spread of the diseases.

He said HIV and AIDS was not a respecter of persons as it cuts across social, economic, or political status, hence the need for all to stay protected.

Dr Ayisi Addo emphasized the need to intensify education on prevention until a vaccine was found to prevent new infections and reduce the number of HIV positive patient.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager, Ghana News Agency, Tema, explained that the era where journalists sat down in the newsroom waiting for assignment or for event organizers to invite them for coverage was long gone, and said: it is an anachronistic journalistic practice; you can't set an agenda when you virtually depend on speeches for news.

He said society was losing confidence in the media, stressing that we must therefore move away from the control of politicians and influential people to be truly the voice of the people.

As the salt of the world, we are gradually losing our role  and will sooner than later be trampled under the feet of society, he said, and emphasized that the Media needed to draw a line between the quest for commercialization of news and service to the needs of the people, he said.

Mrs Dzifa Azumah, a Chief Editor, GNA Head Office, advised journalists to devote time in court and crime reporting, but do so accurately as failure to crosscheck facts could have dire consequences on you and maybe the parties involved in a case.

Mrs Joyce Benedicta Afutu, Director of Communications and Public Affairs National Commission for Civic Education; Ms Felicia McEwan Anamoah, Head of News, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Obonu FM, were part of the discussants for the second edition.

GNA
Minister of National Security, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has met the conveners of social media campaign dubbed #FixTheCountry.

The said meeting was held on Thursday, May 6.

This was made known by the Information Ministry on social media.

According to the Information Ministry, the said meeting was to afford the Minister the opportunity to dialogue with the conveners on their concerns.

The Information Ministry, in a Twitter post, said: In acknowledging the healthy conversation that has been started following a social media campaign, #FixTheCountry, the Minister invited the group to explore further dialogue on their concerns.

It further disclosed that Mr. Kan-Dapaah and the conveners agreed to engage in further discussions.

The conveners, in turn, expressed their pleasure at the invitation and the level of seriousness with which their concerns have been taken by the government. 

About the group and their planned demonstration

The #FixTheCountry hashtag has been in the social media trends in Ghana for about four days.

The hashtag has so far gathered over 600,000 tweets and other engagements on Twitter.

It was initially started by some young persons on Twitter, but some celebrities later joined the campaign to hold the government accountable.

An online petition which was launched to support the cause has gathered over 3,000 signatures.

They planned a demonstration on May 9, 2021, but their request for police protection was turned down.

They cited 'dumsor', unemployment and poor healthcare systems as proof of successive governments' mismanagement of the country.

The Command received a letter of notification on Tuesday afternoon of an intended demonstration slated for the 9th of this month. The Regional Command met the convener, who was accompanied by one other person. We told them that we understand their standpoint but then, there [are restrictions] on public gatherings, as such, the Command may not be able to provide the necessary security for the proposed demonstration, Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge said in a Citi News interview.


The Minority leader in Ghana's Parliament Hon. Haruna Iddrisu who double as the Member of Parliament for the Tamale South constituency has established talks with Northern Regional Minister for the welfare of the Region.

The two eminent persons, though from different political ideologies held the productive meeting at the offices of the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan.

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu was confident that, the Regional Coordinating Council under the able leadership of the Minister will help bring positive change in the region especially the grabbing and selling of Public lands, properties, and other social predicament.

According to him several self seeking individuals in the region have set a bad precedence for their parochial interest to the detriment of the larger populace which will in the long run, affect the proper development of the region and generations yet unborn.

This he said, their collaboration is aimed to combat such canker and make Northern Region a better place to stay.

Hon. Haruna appealed to the Minister to help reversed the already sold properties.

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan on his part called on political figures in the region to join hands in the development of the Region.

The Minority leader used the opportunity to congratulate the Minister on his assumption of office, after his nomination and subsequent vetting by the Parliament appointments committee.

In attendance was the Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Alhassan.

By Ibrahim Nurudeen
The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has secured an injunction against a planned protest by members of the social media movement, #FixTheCountry.

The Police had filed an ex-parte motion seeking an injunction against the planned protest.

The court ruled that the planned protest is prohibited until the restriction on public gatheringd is lifted.

It is hereby ordered that the organizers/conveners of Fixthecountry protest march, their associates, officers, agents, assigns, and workmen are prohibited from embarking on any demonstration on Sunday, 9th May 2021, or any other date until the restriction on public gatherings is lifted by the appropriate authority, the order secured by the police stated.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command had earlier indicated that it cannot sanction the proposed #FixTheCountry protest as it goes against the ban on public gatherings.

The group has been expressing its displeasure over the failure of successive governments to improve the living standards of Ghanaians on Twitter using the hashtag #FixTheCountry.

They cited 'dumsor', unemployment and poor healthcare systems as proof of successive governments' mismanagement of the country.

Citinewsroom
For me, that's the starting point, else this whole campaign will look like washing your feet with your socks on, will amount to zero.

President Akuffo Addo has in the last 4 years demonstrated nothing, but crass incompetence, gross mismanagement, mistrust, and propaganda inspired leadership.

The President has become a source of inspiration for persons who seek to rob this country as he and his ring of family cabal continue to mess Ghana up with utter impunity.

He has demonstrated nothing but gross incompetence and mass corruption across every sector of our national life.

The harsh reality remains, President Akufo-Addo lacks the ideas required to fix this broken nation and until we fix the mess sitting at the Jubilee House playing President, Ghana cannot be fixed.

Yes, I can't agree more with the reinforced media campaign weighed on various social media platforms to draw the attention of Ghana's ever-sleeping President, Nana Akuffo Addo and his gang of maleficent elements to pick up their thinking caps and fix this nation. At no point in time has the need to fix broken Ghana become so urgent as it's today courtesy the incompetent man sitting at the Jubilee House playing President, not only is he corrupt and incompetent but has this nauseating attitude of intolerance and indifference towards the plights facing Ghanaians in the face of the ensuing excruciating economic conditions.

The undeniable fact remains, under the erstwhile John Mahama administration time was vastly rich with hope for the future for the ordinary Ghanaian. Efforts were made to fix Ghana, for instance Ghana's Power generation capacity was almost doubled to address the decade old power crises, two oil fields were developed, he embarked on massive infrastructural undertakings to fix the country's infrastructural deficits etc... these were legacy projects needed to fix any broken nation and Mahama was on to fix,

He ...had vision to transform Ghana from broken nation to a nation that would not only be self-sufficient but also lay the foundations for a future take off...but sadly this beautiful vision was violently interrupted by same gang of disillusioned men who are curently messing up both the present and the future of Ghana.

President Mahama was bastardized, vilified, in short, he became a victim of a spirited vicious political propaganda aimed at getting overhyped Akuffo Addo into the then Flagstaff House....

Prior to the 2016 elections, the Npp through their surrogates in the media adopted what later become known as " a regime change agenda ". Networks of propaganda machinery were opened to peddle falsehood about President Mahama and his govt then.

Today the reality is here with us. Their darling boy, Nana Akuffo Addo whose name was trumpetted everywhere has in the last 4 years been nothing but an inferior replica of his hyped version.

President Akufo-Addo has today transformed Ghana from a broken nation into a Mess Republic at a thunder lightning speed and not only does Ghana require a fix but a total overhaul of the old cabal who are busily mortgaging the future of this country just to satisfy their old age orgies.

What President Akufo-Addo has created is debt-bound government with youth unemployment skyrocketing and knowing how incompetent he is, his government has created a hostile and a very intimidating atmosphere to crackdown on dissenting views. Putting target at the back of few journalists in the system who are ready and willing to speak to the issues and bring them to light has become the order of the day. Journalists who are free to operate are the zombi majority who always dance to the whims and the conveniences of gov't, by singing praises and Hallelujah choruses for their puppet masters.

I am Ivan Kyei Innocent and I'm no cynic

Ivan Kyei Innocent/ [email protected]
Former Deputy National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Madi Jibril, has said, the cost of living in the country has soared by 100 percent under President Akufo-Addo administration.

According to him, he said, Under President Akufo Addo's suppressive government, families have experienced the worst form of hardship with prices of food items, essential goods, and services, skyrocketing beyond the reach of average citizens.

Under President Akufo Addos incompetent administration, bloodletting and hardship has become the order of the day, Mahdi Gibril exclusively told Reynold Agyemang on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

According to him, fuel prices, the introduction of taxes, and other factors have increased the suffering of ordinary Ghanaians.

However, he stressed that the youth unemployment rate has soared due to collapsed businesses under Nana Addo.

Madi Jibril accused the Akufo-Addo administration of failed economic policies which has led to the incessant increase in cement prices.

---KingdomfmOnline
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Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia has reacted to the #FixTheCountry campaigners, assuring that the job of government is to fix problems.

Thousands of Ghanaians including celebrities have over the last couple of days campaigned on social media against rising economic hardship in Ghana.

At the heart of the protest are increase in fuel prices, dumsor, water crisis and generally poor economic conditions in Ghana.

Celebrities including actresses Yvonne Nelson, Efia Odo, John Dumelo, and a number of journalists have actively participated in the #FixTheCountry campaign.

For the most part of 2021, electricity supply to many parts of Ghana, especially the national capital, Accra, has been erratic.

But Dr Bawumia claimed in a Facebook post sighted by DGN Online that Government has since 2017 been fixing problems.

We are four months into our four year mandate, he wrote.

The job of government is to fix problems. This is what we have been doing since 2017, according to him.

The Vice President further claimed the covid19 pandemic has slowed down the global economy and caused increases in prices of commodities such as oil, cement and iron rods as well as overall cost of shipping.

He went on to list some problems Akufo-Addo has solved since 2017.

Below are slides of challenges/problems Dr Bawumia claimed have been solved:

DGN online
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The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong has cut sod for construction work to begin on Ultra-modern 68 lockable market stores among others at Akim Oda Premier Market.

The project which is under the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program would be funded by the World Bank.

According to him, out of 33 District Assemblies in the region, 4 of them including Birim Central Municipal Assembly qualified for the aforementioned projects.

Mr. Acheampong indicated that the projects when completed would contain 68 lockable market shops and ancillary facilities, 3,000-meter square pavement, and 600mm diameter concrete U drain.

He reiterated that the project has been divided into lots 1 and 2 of which lot 1 would be undertaken by a construction firm namely; New Era Discovery Company Limited whilst lot 2 would also be undertaken by Almuscom Company Limited.

Mr. Acheampong however charged the contractors to adhere to all guidelines stated in the contract document to ensure the long lifespan of the project.

He assured the public that the lot 1 project would be completed in the next 9 months whilst the lot 2 projects would also be finished in the next 6 months.

Mr. Acheampong emphasized that a similar project is also underway at Oda Nkwantanum and was quick to add that all projects when completed would help to improve the living standards of the residents.

In a related development, Mr. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda Constituency said, the performance of the Assembly was among the factors that made the Assembly acquires the said project. He made a passionate appeal to the staff of the Assembly to continue to discharge their duties in a transparent manner to ensure more projects are executed to address the basic infrastructural deficits confronting the Municipality.

According to him, Birim Central Municipality is known for sawmill activities among others and however indicated that the government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo would do all it takes to absorb the Oda Sawmill into the 1DIF project and also provide loans to owners of small scale enterprises to enable them to expand their businesses.

Mr. Alexander used the occasion to educate stakeholders on the appointment of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives and informed residents to remain calm and in no time, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives would be appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In a message, the Municipal Chief Executive for Birim Central, Mrs. Victoria Adu said the Birim Central Municipal Assembly is among the 25 Municipalities nationwide benefiting from the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Projects.

She however said the program is being implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with support from the office of Head of Local Government Service and the Regional Coordinating Council.

Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyere II, the Krontihene of Kotoku Traditional Area who chaired the programme informed the contractors to complete the project on time to make it serves its intended purpose.
Foreign tech giants including Twitter, Google, and YouTube are experiencing hard times as Russian authorities seek to tighten rules and regulations on information resources posted on the internet for the public.

The Federation Council and the State Duma, both houses of parliament, amended laws that monitor the overall operations and services offered by these tech companies.

The latest directives asked all foreign tech companies to remove all information resources critical about the government, politics, and business, so also information considered as promoting political extremism, child pornography, and other materials harmful to the society.

On its website, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has reminded the administration of social network Twitter, Google and YouTube about the need to bring their activities in accordance with the Russian legislation by May 15, failure to comply may result in payment huge fines or face absolute closure.

"The management of the social networks were once again informed about the need to remove all prohibited content by May 15," the statement said. According to Roskomnadzor, new prohibited materials have been identified on many social networks during the adoption of restrictive measures and will continue measures against the social networks up to its blocking.

According to local news reports, Google and Facebook may be fined another 20 million rubles ($267,000) each for refusing to remove prohibited content as requested by Russia's mass media and communications regulator, while Twitter faces a looming 24 million rubles ($320,000) penalty for a similar violation.

The watchdog has compiled similar protocols against TikTok and Telegram. And that TikTok had violated the procedure of restriction of access to prohibited information. According reports, TikTok has been slapped with 2.6 million rubles ($34,000) in penalties for violating the latest rules and regulations.

The statement says "Failure to remove information by the owner of a website or information resource in the information and telecommunication network Internet in the event an obligation to remove such information is statutorily required in the Russian Federation."

The Commission on the Investigation of Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs held a meeting at the State Duma in April.

"TikTok and some other foreign Internet resources, for quite a long time, have been demonstrating prohibited content in our country, including calls for teenagers to participate in unauthorized actions in Moscow and other Russian cities in January 2021. And also calls for violence and confrontation with law enforcement officers, calls for defamation of state symbols," the Commission's Chairman Vasiliy Piskarev told the meeting.

He urged, for instance, TikTok representatives how to prevent repetition of such activities in the future, and how to improve functioning of social networks in Russia. That would significantly enhance guarantees of the rights of Russian users. That also would be good for TikTok, as its mission is "to inspire creativity and bring joy and satisfaction."

On April 16, members of the Commission on the Investigation of Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs, chaired by held a meeting with Google and YouTube representatives via videoconference. Marco Pancini, Director for Google for Public Policy and Government Relations in European, the Middle East and African States and Marina Zhunich, Director for Government Relations Google Russia took part in the meeting.

The meeting participants discussed examples of repeated violations of Russian legislation by Google and YouTube, in particular, the procedure for restricting access to prohibited content. Chairman Piskarev recalled that YouTube had been demonstrating prohibited content, such as calls for minors to participate in protest actions in January-February 2021.

He said that the Commission had documented facts and other evidence that there had been uploaded lots of videos to YouTube, containing such appeals to teenagers, circumvented existing restrictions and rules.

Besides, there are some strange things with Google Maps. "For example, we see clearly that island of Sardinia is part of Italy, but at the same time such islands like Iturup, Kunashir, Habomai and Shikotan for some reason are not shown as part of the Sakhalin region of Russia. The Crimean Peninsula is also displayed incorrectly," said the parliamentarian.

"We insist that Crimea should be shown on the Russian version of the Google Maps not just so neutral like Crimean Peninsula but this region should be called the Republic of Crimea as it is in the Constitution and legislation of the Russian Federation," said Piskarev.

The Commission proposed to provide methodological assistance in clarifying the norms of the Russian legislation to specialists who moderate content in Google and YouTube for users from the Russian Federation.

Google provide wide range of tech services while Facebook operates network sharing information among friends. Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as tweets. The representatives have however expressed their willingness to cooperate, comply and continue business operations in the Russian Federation.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the remarkable track record of the Akufo-Addo Government in fixing problems gives hope that it is capable of tackling the economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ghanaians in recent weeks have lashed out at the government for hikes in prices of commodities leading to high cost of living, with hashtag 'Fixthecountry'.

Some economic pundits and industry players explained that it was due to the international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Facebook post, Vice President Bawumia, however, gave the assurance to the citizenry that Akufo-Addo's government was capable of solving the problems and would overcome the current economic meltdown.

"We are four months into our four year mandate. The job of government is to fix problems. This is what we have been doing since 2017," Dr. Bawumia wrote.

He added: "The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the global economy and caused increases in prices of commodities such as oil, cement and iron rods as well as overall cost of shipping.

"Nevertheless, it is very important to place the performance of our government over the last four years after inheriting an economy with no meat on the bone on record.

"Ours is a government that listens and cares. The facts and data speak for themselves," emphasised.

The Vice President then listed a number of problems the Akufo-Addo government had fixed in the last four years, which included positive economic indicators, social interventions to ameliorate the suffering of the people, job creation, improved agriculture, critical infrastructure development, digitization, among others.
The conveners of #FixTheCountry protest march have rejected the imposition of a ban on their demonstration slated for May 09, 2021.

The organizers of the march say the grounds for the ban placed on their planned protest by the police are unconstitutional and have no legal effect.

we are convinced that the Imposition of Restrictions Act,2020 (Act 1012)

is patently, and so clearly on the face of it, unconstitutional. In particular, it

subverts the clear emergency regime set forth under the Constitution itself; and

grants such extensive legislative powers to the President, beyond any bounds

allowed by the Constitution.

For this reason, we are unable to accede to your letter purporting to ban the

planned protest.

This is despite an Accra high court order further preventing the conveners from embarking on their street protest.

The High Court, presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, on Thursday issued a Restraining Order against the conveners from embarking on the planned demonstration.

The restraining order follows an ex-.parte motion filed by the police against conveners of the protest march pursuant to Section 1(6) of the Publk Order Act, 1991 (491).
COVID-19 raised its ugly head again leaving the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) worse off than before the first attack. When Jayant Sinha, Union minister for external affairs mentioned in March 2021 that not enough has been done for the MSME sector, it requires a deeper study. The only good thing that happened to the sector is the change in the definition of the twin criteria of investments and turnover.

There is a font-page ad of Amazon in The Hindu dated 14th April that boasts that 2.5 million MSMEs out of the targeted 10 million are digitised! Nobody has a clue about the share of the manufacturing sector in such digitisation. The government of India (GoI) has one dependable clue to show up that figurenamely, the goods and services tax (GST). But this figure also does not indicate the manufacturing MSME's contribution! Some 300,000 jobs are services sector and not in manufacturing where there is job loss.

Manufacturing sectors growth of 25% of the gross domestic product (GDP) holds the key for the $5 trillion economy of 2025 and for realising the dream of self-reliant India (Atma Nirbhar Bharat).

Being in the private sector that is presumably close to the heart of Central government, the MSMEs are also crucial for manufacturing growth and their contribution is just a wild guess. At the end of April 2021, except sugar, shampoo, agro-chemicals, fertilisers, drugs and pharma, all others in the manufacturing sector reveal a steep decline according to the latest report from Care Ratings.

In most discussions on MSME development, the need for a strong database is highlighted. The key question, however, is the purpose for which data is being collected and presented. In India, the two key sources of MSME data are MSME Census that has been abandoned after 2004; and the reports of the national sample survey.

Right from 2017, we come across data on MSMEs to be stable: 6.3 million units (manufacturing and services) of which manufacturing units are reported at around 1.5 million and contributing to 40% exports! What happened to the new units registered on Udyog Aadhaar on the MSME portal and various state portals?

Nowhere do we come across data on mortality of MSME units either in national statistics or state statistics! The Union government decided to abandon the census of MSMEs.

Some data on organised small and medium enterprises could be accessed from the annual survey of industries. But many states contest the data citing the difference in the units registered with them annually under such segments.

A Tell-tale Story

Let us now see the utilisation of a few important schemes out of over 116 schemes of the Union ministry and over 30 funds of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and quite a few schemes implemented by SIDBI exclusively.

Data sets throwing light on this issue are limited from both annual survey of Industries (ASI) and MSME ministry, but some interesting insights could be sourced from annual reports of the ministry of MSME, the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), the National Small Industries Corporation (NISC), SIDBI, Coir Board, and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Textiles that include a large number of handlooms, power looms, ginning mills, apparels, and ready-made garments, which constitute a significant part of the MSME sector.

The aggregates of these data cannot be extrapolated to the universe to draw any meaningful conclusions for policy intervention.

* Tamil Nadu and Kerala top the states with 4,463 and 9,206 units, respectively.

Data relating to credit is available from Reserve Bank of India (RBI), SIDBI, CGTMSE, TransUnion-CIBIL reports.

While the data on non-performing assets (NPAs) is available, data on revival and restructuring is unavailable either at macro level or at the state level in such reports.

RBI data on NPAs among the public sector banks as on 31 December 2019 reveals that NPAs among the large, medium, small, and micro units and those with loans below Rs10 lakh per capita are 19.1%; 18.7%; 11.3%; 11.1% and 7.9% respectively.

The cascading effect of the large and medium on the small and micro sectors is no less than 30%.

Banks lend less for small enterprises in manufacturing and also recover less.

They lend less and recover more for micro manufacturing enterprises, either through sale of collaterals or enforcement of guarantees (not necessarily the CGTMSE).

The NPAs among private sector banks and the non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) are correspondingly 3-5% and 7.6%, respectively. Banks lend more to medium enterprises and recover less.

For decades, the Union ministry of MSMEs (erstwhile SSI, Artisans and Khadi and Village Industries) and RBI have been issuing booklets and circulars directing banks to revive and restructure the sick and incipient sick units.

We do not find data on such revival or restructuring either in the annual reports of the ministry of MSMEs or in the trend and progress of banking in India reported annually by RBI. The state-level bankers' committee (SLBC) statistics of different states also do not reflect such data at least annually.

Revival of the MSE manufacturing and that of the medium and large manufacturing units are two different cups of tea. However, GoI and RBI should simulate the Telangana model for such efforts in all the MSME-intensive states.

Although SIDBI released a pre-pack in consultation with their asset reconstruction company (ARC) and in accordance with RBI guidelines, it lacks a track record of revival and restructuring, with the result that banks do not so much rely on SIDBI for this purpose. The credibility gap exists between them.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) pre-pack touted for the MSMEs does not have the reach to the intended sector.

While GoI has been supporting SIDBI with funds every year, fund-wise utilisation has not been evaluated and several funds are utilised marginally indicating the type of support this institution as nodal agency has been extending.

Vertical growth of the institutions or scaling up require a different incentives framework from the present one.

Banks, financial institutions (FIs) and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) lending to the sector could have helped digitisation in a smart way  by making it one of the terms and conditions of grant of the loans the MSMEs sought.

The sector has a surfeit of policy interventions but lacks manufacturing thrust. Anxiety to show the performance of the sector is more visible than the actual performance.

The district industries Centres (DICs) are the mainstay for MSME policy implementation and they do not get any support from the Union government. Twelve Union ministries have one or the other scheme for the sector and, yet, the sectors manufacturing abilities suffer for want of timely and adequate availability of resources.

(The writer is an economist and author of The Story of Indian MSMEs.)
We had mentioned in the Wednesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex may head higher. On Thursday, the indices opened higher and made decent gains. On the NSE, there were 1,052 advances, 847 declines and 91 unchanged.

The trends of the major indices in the course of Thursdays trading are given in the table below:

Coforge reported consolidated net profit grew to Rs 133 crore during the quarter ended 31 March 2021 against Rs 114 crore made in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Consolidated revenue grew 13% YoY to Rs 1,262 crore.

The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank along with transfer of management control.

Tata Steel reported consolidated profit of Rs 6,644.1 crore compared to a loss of Rs 1,481.3 crore in the year-ago quarter. Consolidated revenue grew 39% YoY to Rs 49,977.4 crore.

Hikal consolidated profit doubled to Rs 50.92 crore compared to Rs 24.47 crore a year ago. Revenue grew to Rs 532.46 crore from Rs 378.99 crore YoY.

Cupid has received a purchase order from Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation for supply of COVID - 19 Antigen-based rapid test kits worth Rs 10.50 crore.

JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals has forayed into the area of Nephrology with a new dedicated division called RENOVA which will endeavour to serve patients who are under treatment for chronic kidney disease.

Caplin Point Laboratories consolidated net profit rose 39% YoY to Rs 67.9 crore. Consolidated revenue grew 29.5% YoY to Rs 278.7 crore.

Bajaj Healthcare has received approval from India's drug regulator to manufacture and market Ivejaj, the oral Ivermectin, an approved medication in India for the treatment of COVID-19.

Zensar has been selected by Infinity Circle, a UK-based fintech company to be their design and technology services partner with the scope of engagement spanning across branding, UX, CX design, core platform development, global launch, and on-going support services.

Bajaj Finance has been granted authorisation by the RBI for issuance, operation of semi-closed prepaid payment instrument with perpetual validity.

Gillette India reported net profit of Rs 105.66 crore in March 2021 quarter against Rs 52.38 crore YoY. Revenue rose to Rs 536.62 crore from Rs 406.57 crore YoY.

Adani Green Energy reported consolidated profit of Rs 104 crore in March 2021 quarter against Rs 56 crore YoY. Revenue rose to Rs 986 crore from Rs 696 crore YoY.

Vakrangee has launched an online digital platform for providing partner services online to their customers.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
One of China's largest rockets which launched into the low Earth orbit last Wednesday, April 28, is likely to reenter the earth's surface, after a growing interaction in its atmosphere was believed to have dragged it down to fall back to Earth.

The 'uncontrolled reentry' of the said space debris is expected to crash on Earth over a few weeks or so. The huge rocket identified as the Long March 5B was carrying the 22.5-metric-ton Tianhe core module for the Chinese Space Station which will supposedly serve as main living quarters for astronauts as well as propulsion to maintain orbital altitude.

It was speculated that the Long March 5B will eventually deorbit itself, but an observation showed that the giant piece of space junk is 'slowly and unpredictably heading back to Earth'. The 30-meter-long, five-meter-wide Long March 5B core stage is in a 170 by 372-kilometer altitude orbit traveling at more than seven kilometers per second.

Should people worry about the crash-land?





SpaceNews said that the object's orbital inclination of 41.5 degrees means it "passes a little farther north than New York, Madrid and Beijing and as far south as southern Chile and Wellington, New Zealand, and could make its reentry at any point within this area."

It is known that water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface, and only a small fraction of land is inhabited. However, should the debris crashes on populated areas, experts say it would be the largest instance of uncontrolled reentry of a spacecraft to ever be recorded.

Typically, the biggest threat of space debris is the collision to other spacecrafts in the orbit. Over the years, satellite operators managed a maneuver to avoid collisions. Most of the space debris does survive reentry and burns up in the space's atmosphere. Generally, the chance of space objects reentering Earth and hitting someone is extremely small that you would rather go outside and watch it. However, experts say we cannot say with full certainty what fate awaits with this latest piece of space junk.

Also read: 4 Astronauts Back Home Safely in SpaceX's First-Ever Successful Night Splashdown

Space litters over the years

The Long March 5B is subsequent to a similar Chinese rocket that fell to Earth, landing in the Atlantic Ocean and reportedly left a trail of debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire.

While there was no record of serious damage to life, it is not a guarantee that the recent one is not dangerous. A similar occurrence one year before SkyLab's demise, the Soviet remote sensing (spy) satellite, the Cosmos 954, fell into Earth and spread radioactive debris over several hundred square kilometres in the region of Canada's Northwest Territories. The cleanup operation took months and had cost about C$6 million, which the Soviet Union only paid in half.

As per the 1972 Liability Convention, a UN treaty, the 'launching state' is responsible for the damage caused by their space objects, which the legal framework will apply after the occurrence of damage. In the case of Long March 5B, the liability would potentially fall on China.

While it sounds easier than it actually is, it is imperative that countries around the world work together to nurture and manage a more sustainable space activities in the future.

Also read: Human Waste May Bring Future Astronauts Back from the Moon
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - KFBB and Montana Credit Union are teaming up to host Shred Day 2021, where you can bring up to four bags or boxes of paper you would like to be shredded.

Private parties, not businesses, can visit the Montana Credit Union between 14th and 15th Street South right behind the Paris Gibson Museum of Art from 10:00 am 2:00 pm to demolish their records.

In addition to getting rid of documents, were also partnering with the Great Falls Food Bank to host a community food drive Thursday.
BROWNING, Mont. - The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council gave an update regarding the searches for three-year-old Arden Pepion and Leo Wagner, expressing condolences to their families as search efforts continue.

Chairman Timothy Davis said they are very thankful for all the food, water and manpower that have been donated to the searches.

The search for Arden Pepion has not been abandoned according to the update from the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, members telling Ardens family there are resources being dedicated to continuing the search as well as monitoring of the Two Medicine area.

They also stated they will do everything they can within their powers to help the Wagner family.

My heart is so heavy for these families as well as others who lost individuals, Stacy Keller, Secretary of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council said. Each time weve gone to D.C. weve met with the Department of Justice, requesting resources on cold cases, unsolved murders, you know. Were just as frustrated.

Anyone who has any knowledge of either Arden or Leo is encouraged to come forward.

You can watch the full update on the Blackfeet Covid-19 Incident Command Facebook here:
GREAT FALLS, Mont.  Great Falls College MSU will celebrate the 2020 and 2021 graduates with an in-person commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 8, at Montana ExpoPark in the fairgrounds.

The ceremony, which will be physically distanced and require face coverings, begins at 2 p.m.

Check-in for graduates and their registered guests begins at 1 p.m. Graduates were required to RSVP for themselves and as many as 10 guests beforehand.

Dr. Susan J. Wolff, who is retiring as CEO/dean of the college on June 30, will be the commencement speaker.

Great Falls College is graduating 278 students in 2021, and the college invited 2020 graduates to celebrate this year as well since last years ceremony was held virtually.

Of the 278 graduates in 2021, 31 are receiving multiple degrees, 54 are graduating with honors by having a GPA between 3.5 and 3.749 and 50 will graduate with high honors with a GPA of at least 3.75.

And 77 veterans, their spouses and dependents are graduating. And nine dual-enrollment student are graduating. In all, 314 certificates and degrees will be awarded.

Eagle feather ceremony

There also will be an Eagle Feather Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday in room B101 at Great Falls College for Native American graduates who are enrolled members of a tribe or descendants. Those honored during the transfer ceremony will receive a beaded eagle feather that they can carry across the stage at commencement. An RSVP was required to get an eagle feather.

Guest tickets

Graduates were eligible to RSVP for as many as 10 guests, and they already received wristbands for each of their guests. Those wristbands must be worn to gain access to the ceremony.

Face-coverings and physical distancing

Great Falls College will be following Montana University System, CDC and City-County Health Department guidelines. Face coverings will be required. Seating will be set up with ample space to physically distance.

Livestream available

The ceremony will livestreamed at https://youtu.be/wTU3a2ZiVag for those who cant make it.
HELENA, Mont. - Capital High machining students made 20 trailer hitch inserts for Mending Waters Montana, a local organization serving veterans.

Mending Waters Montana will pick up the trailer hitch inserts on Thursday.

A release from Central High School says Mending Waters Montana is devoted to the physical and emotional well-being of veterans through fly tying, flyfishing and outings. They work closely with the Fort Harrison Trauma Center and offering classes and a variety of outings.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Tax season is coming to a close and it's more important than ever to properly dispose of the documents you no longer need to protect your identity in the long run.

"It's tax season right now so you're handling more papers with personal information on it, W2s, anything like that. Store them securely in your home, but then when you don't need them, make sure that you shred them. There's different time frames for keeping documents like that, so make sure that you keep the things that you need, but when you're ready to dispose them, make sure that you do so in a safe and secure manner, Becky Timmons, Vice President of Marketing at the Montana Federal Credit Union said.

Private parties, not businesses, may visit the Montana Federal Credit Union between 14th and 15th Street South right behind the Paris Gibson Museum of Art from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.to demolish their records. People may bring up to four bags or boxes full of records they wish to permanently destroy.

"We recommend anything with your personal information on it; your name, your birth date, your Social Security number, phone numbers, and addresses are really something that if they were to get into the hands of someone with bad intentions, that could lead them to finding out your identity and income from bank statements bill medical record. If you have anything that you do not need anymore and think that you want to get rid of, please try to bring it down, we'll shred it for free just so your information stays out of garbage cans or landfills," Timmons said.

Our fifth annual Shred Day helps protect your private information to make sure this data doesnt fall into the wrong hands as cases of fraudulent activity continue in Cascade County. Tearing up or tossing important documents after you no longer need them isnt enough protection against identity theft or exposure.

"We have had so much fraud lately on our accounts and it comes from different directions. It's either online or people trying to deposit checks that aren't real, things like that. We do have stolen identity cases when somebody gets a Social Security number and starts taking out Credit or applying for loans in people's names. So we do see a lot of that. You really can never be too careful when it comes to your personal information so that's why we really stress properly disposing of your personal information so it doesn't get into the hands of somebody that could use it against you," Timmons said.

Were also teaming up with the Great Falls Food Bank to host a community food drive Thursday.
HELENA, Mont. - A man is facing several charges after a victim reported he choked her and held a machete to her throat.

Court documents say officers responded to a possible domestic disturbance at a house on Logan Street early in the morning on May 6.

The victim described to officers what happened, saying Tommy Simpson pushed her down and stepped on her leg, injuring her.

Simpson then reportedly put his forearm on the victims neck and grabbed her throat, impeding her ability to breathe before holding a machete to her throat and making a swiping motion.

Simpson was identified with a Wisconsin license return and placed under arrest.

Tommy Joe Simpson is accused of assault with a weapon and two counts of strangulation of a partner or family member.
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Experts recently discovered tiny worms can "see" light in the absence of their eyes or their heads. Planarians are a form of flatworm, they are soft-bodied creatures and lack complex organs.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

They possess two eyes that attach to a centralized bundle of ganglia in their heads and does the work of the brain, those eyes are very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. The worms make use of their cilia (tiny hairlike structures on their bodies) in the presence of UV light to crawl away.

But, it turns out that the wee worms that measure just some millimeters long are not in need of their eyes or their brains for detection of light. When scientists cut off planarians' heads, the worms still had the ability to sense UV light. Cutting off the head of an animal might seem like a strange way to carry out behavior experiments.

But planarians are known for not only surviving after being decapitated but also for regenerating missing body parts easily. Amputation is not a big deal for planarians; cut one into different pieces and all pieces will regenerate into a new worm, as stated by the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Munster, Germany.

Also Read: Researchers' Understanding of Color 'Upended' by an Eyeless Worm

Opsin

Planarians that are decapitated grow new heads easily, and experts can even twist the genetic instructions of the worms to cajole them into growing the heads of various species, Live Science reported previously.

In the current study, released online May 3 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the scientists discovered that planarian bodies possess cells that create a form of light-sensitive protein known as an opsin.

Arrays of these cells seen all over the periphery of the planarians' bodies manifested two opsins - NC R-opn 1 and NC R-opn 2 - while cell populations located at the central region only expressed NC R-opn 1.

Pigment cells were the cells producing just one opsin, the researchers found. The two opsins in the peripherally-located cells first detected UV light and then prompted movement in the headless worm, which crawled away in response to that light.

Snoozing Worms

Only adult worms have this light-sensing superpower; worms that are newly hatched couldn't detect UV light after their heads were cut off, implying that light-sensing cells in the worms' bodies mature after hatching, the researchers revealed.

The experts also discovered that when complete planarians were relaxing in a dormant sleep-like state, they would become lively in the presence of UV light, even when they didn't react to other visual stimuli. This implies that complete-body light-sensing helps in the protection of snoozing worms from UV rays that are harmful by activating movement when the worm is dormant and its vision is offline temporarily.

Related Article: Bizarre Plastic-Eating Wax Worm Might Be the Answer to Plastic Pollution

For more news, updates about worms and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
May 06, 2021 Aiming At China U.S., UK Launch Ethnic Guerilla War On Myanmar If you wonder what is happening in Myanmar there is no need to look further than these maps. China needs oil but its sea main supply route through the Strait of Malacca is vulnerable.

bigger Pipelines through Pakistan and Myanmar provide for alternative routes.

bigger The pipe, road and rail lines through Myanmar are not only in China's best interest but also a great chance for Myanmar to further develop. They are in its national interest. The U.S. and its allies are hostile to China. Threatening to cut its oil supplies is probably the most powerful tool in their box. Any alternative supply routes for China make this tool less powerful. The idea then is to prevent the possible use of these routes. Since its foundation after World War II Myanmar was ruled, sometimes more sometimes less brutal, by its anti-colonial military. The first U.S. plan to gain control over Myanmar was to install a 'democratic government' that would do its bidding. In 2010, under pressure of U.S. instigated color revolutions, the military conceded to allow a civilian government but kept much of its constitutional and economic power. In 2016 the U.S. preferred candidate Suu Kyi, the daughter of the former military leader and Father of the Nation Aung San, was installed at the head of a new government. But Aung San Suu Kyi turned out to be a nationalist and soon failed in the eyes of the U.S. regime changers. She was as friendly with China as the military and was equally aggressive against Myanmar's many ethnic minorities. Her eventual fall out with the military was not over those issues. The military owns key industries in Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi, and the 'civil society' people behind her, wanted a place at that trough. Elections in 2020, which excluded voting in many ethnic regions, brought overwhelming support for Aung San Suu Kyi. This alarmed the military as it feared that its main source of income would soon be endangered. On February 1 it launched a coup and put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. This brought a new chance for the U.S. to intervene. It immediately re-activated the 77 'civil society' organizations in Myanmar which it is financing through the CIA offshoot National Endowment for Democracy. Protest were launched together with attacks on Chinese companies and property. As I described it at at that time: So this is evidently a color revolution effort against the military. What is irritating with it is the speed with which it took off. Color revs usually require years of group building and leadership preparation. They need monetary and communication support as well as political directions from 'advisors' in 'western' embassies. Here it took only ten days to launch it. In 2005 the Bush administration cultivated the Myanmar 'civil society' and Suu Kyi, who was then under house arrest. It popped up in the 'Saffron color revolution' in 2007 and with Cyclone Nargis in 2008 when the Bush administration tried to use Responsibility to Protect (R2P) nonsense to get a military foot on the ground. But that all is a long time ago and after Suu Kyi had come to power there was no necessity to keep those efforts alive. Then again - under Myanmar's 2008 constitution the military was still effectively in charge. Together with Suu Kyi's large win in the latest election there may have been an long planned 'western' attempt underway to finally unseat the military from its privileged position and to pull the country out of China's orbit. But the chance for that eventually to happen is practically zero. Some 70% of Myanmar's population lives in rural areas. The protests occur only in the three big cities Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw and are relatively small. The military is ruthless and will have no trouble to take the protesters down. Whoever launched this nonsense should be held responsible for endangering those people. As I predicted the protests, and the strikes the color revolution apparatus induced in form of a Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), have since petered out: Although Thiha didnt want to abandon CDM, he also didnt want to lose his job amid a tanking economy. After weighing it up for a few days, he decided to get back to work. I have a loan from a microfinance company that I need to repay and a family to support  a wife and a five-year-old daughter, he said. It wouldnt be easy for me to get another job, particularly as Id have to change my career. There were just a handful of staff present when he turned up at his branch on April 20, but the number grew each day; by the April 29 deadline, about 80 percent had returned, although they were not yet wearing their KBZ uniforms. Its a scene being repeated around the country, as tens of thousands of striking bank workers slowly get back to work. This U.S. induced color revolution attempt against the military coup has failed. Now it is time for plan B - the Syria model: "If we can't have it we will destroy it!" A major Burmese ethnic rebel group has claimed to have shot down a helicopter belonging to the countrys military. The incident comes amid continuing protests against the recent coup that ousted Myanmars civilian government. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said the helicopter had been shot down on Monday in Myanmars northernmost province of Kachin. The aircraft is said to have been destroyed after Myanmars military launched airstrikes against the rebels.

...

Footage circulating online shows the helicopter  likely a Mi-17 transport-assault aircraft  sustaining an apparent hit from a portable anti-aircraft missile launcher. The Kachin (red) in the north east and the Karen (orange) in the south east have a long history of fighting against the Burman (dark violet) majority and for autonomy within Myanmar. During World War II Burma's National Army under Aung San fought on the side of Japan to kick the colonial power Britain out of Burma. Britain, which at that time also controlled India, used the Kachin and Karen to wage a guerilla war against Japan's Burmese proxy forces.

bigger Under the great Quad project to fight China those old ties have now been reactivated. Former Indian ambassador M.K. Bhadrakumar explains the project: [T]he operative part hidden from view concentrated on the creation of a government-in-exile (a National Unity Government.) Alongside, Britains MI6 sought to bring together Myanmars main ethnic separatist guerrilla groups, encouraging them to take advantage of the chaos to open a second front. Indeed, some degree of proximity has since developed between the Burman protesters in Yangon and Mandalay on one side and the non-Burman minority ethnic groups on the other side. Despite a history of mutual antipathy, they have a convergence today to bleed the military. It is an improbable coalition of Buddhists and Christians, but as an American analyst cautiously assesses, it is doable:

...

At any rate, by mid-April, the first major armed attack on the military took place by the Karen National Union, Myanmars oldest rebel group (which was originally created by the British colonial power as its proxy.) Such attacks have since become commonplace. Today, the so-called National Unity Government announced its intention to establish a Federal Union Army  a military force of defectors from the security forces, rebel ethnic groups and volunteers. This would be a watershed transforming the anti-military agitation to an armed confrontation with the military. Myanmar is entering the crucial stage where Syria stood in 2011. The Man Portable Air Defense (Manpad) missile used by the Kachin against a Myanmar army helicopter did not come out of nowhere. It must have come from the MI6 or CIA through Myanmar's wide open borders with Quad member India. (Fielding provisions for the Karen near the Thai border are likely more complicate as the Thai military is itself under U.S. color revolution pressure and would not like to help with such efforts.) There are more ethnic groups on both sides of the Indian border that can and will be used to wage a guerrilla war against Myanmar's military. With free supplies of modern weapons available to them they can create significant damage. Meanwhile the Juan Guaido like exile 'National Unity Government' will be used to pretend that there is real opposition to the military government. The 'Federal Union Army' will be a copy of the 'Syrian National Army' - a lose assembly of mercenaries and diverse warlord groups. 'White Helmets' like propaganda organization will likely also soon appear. The hope is to ignite a wide ranging civil war that will make any Chinese projects in Myanmar impossible to implement. Bhadrakumar finds that the project is well coordinated: The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar not less than three times in as many months since the military takeover in Myanmar. To be sure, Indias cooperation is crucial for the success of the Anglo-American enterprise in Myanmar. Myanmar figured prominently at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London on May 3-5. Jaishankar travelled to London and met with Blinken. Neither side divulged details, but a Deutsche-Welle report flagged that China was at the top of the agenda as the G7 foreign ministers discussed a range of human rights issues. Addressing the Myanmar coup and Russian aggression was also on the docket. It added that the G7 ministers watched a video from Myanmars National Unity Government to update the ministers with the current situation on the ground. The joint communique issued after the London meeting devotes much attention to Myanmar (paras 21-24). It expresses solidarity with the National Unity Government and issues call for comprehensive sanctions against the Myanmar military, including an arms embargo. The birth pangs of insurgencies are never open to public view, as intelligence agencies get the actors into play. The Myanmar situation has reached that point. This is the first big bash of post-Brexit UK (Global Britain) on the world stage. As so often in modern history, London will lead from the rear. Countermoves to the U.S. and UK plans will come from Russia and China. A week before the coup Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had visited Myanmar. On March 27 Russia's deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin was present at the annual Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyidaw. Russia has oil interests in Myanmar and sells weapons to its military. It is preventing any measures against Myanmar at the UN Security Council. In a sign that it knows what's at stake it has warned that sanctions against the military could lead to a full blown civil war. China has so far stayed quiet on the issue. It will try to keep a low profile. Any open Chinese intervention is out of question but Chinese help may become important if or when Myanmar's government comes under financial stress. It is sad to see that another little country, which wants nothing but to be left alone, will soon get destroyed in the 'western' attempt to keep China down. A proxy war between great powers no one but already rich people will benefit from. Posted by b on May 6, 2021 at 16:44 UTC | Permalink Comments
Have you ever wondered why you needed to warn a flight attendant when you lose a device in your seat?

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is issuing a warning after a phone stuck in the plane seat mechanism caught fire on a flight from Miami to London Heathrow.

The incident, which occurred on a British Airways flight last year, happened when a passenger flying in premium had fallen asleep in the lie-flat position. When they were woken up and asked to put her seat in the upright position, she then disappeared to the toilets and a flight attendant noticed smoke and a smell of sulphur coming from the seat.

At this point they heard a hissing sound and a large plume of grey smoke emitted from the seat in a tornado motion. They remembered seeing an orange glow in the seat area amongst the smoke," said the AAIB report.

The fire was put out with an extinguisher and the phone was found crushed in the seat mechanism.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has reported 166 previous events of Portable Electronic Devices becoming trapped in passenger seats in the last five years. Of these, 42 resulted in a fire or smoke in the cabin.

So next time you lose your device in the seat, make sure you let your flight attendant know, because the last thing you want is a smoking seat!
The video of a barber shaving off his own hair in solidarity with a man battling cancer has gone viral.

The clip was shared online by Neftali Martin, a barber who is currently undergoing cancer treatment.

Neftali, who has been suffering from the chemotherapy side effect of hair loss, had gone to get his hair shaved by his workmate Joel.

Neftali had set up a camera to capture the moment he said goodbye to his hair at his barbershop in Spain, watching silently as the razor was finishing his haircut.

But the moment his co-worker Joel took the razor to his own head and began shaving his bleach-blonde hair, Neftali became overwhelmed by the gesture, tearing up at his friend's supportive gesture.
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
The Lorain Fire Department was one of the first responder groups represented Jan. 28 at the Second Annual First Responder Appreciation Banquet in Lorain.
"It took a lot of time and preparation. It was very stressful. A lot more stressful than I thought it would be."

Lake Ridge Academy junior Alex Sandhu, 17

Pull Quote
Lorain County voters decided several ballot issues in the May 4 primary election and what local services will look like moving forward.
Environmental activists have accused a prince from Liechtenstein's royal family of shooting and killing Romania's biggest bear in violation of a ban on large carnivore trophy hunting.

In a statement, the Romanian NGO Agent Green and the Austrian NGO VGT said that Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein shot a bear named Arthur in a protected area of the Carpathian Mountains in March.

Special Permission

According to the NGOs, the Romanian environment ministry gave the prince. He lives in Riegersburg, Austria, with special permission to shoot a female bear that was causing damage to farms in Ojdula.

"In fact, the prince killed a male bear who lived deep in the woods and had never come close to human settlements," the NGOs say. "The bear called Arthur was identified as a wild specimen not accustomed to the man's presence and the food supplies he provided for many years by the Agent Green ranger in the area."

Four-Day-Hunt

The Associated Press announced that it had seen official hunting records confirming that Prince Emanuel was given a four-day hunting permit in Covasna County in March. On March 13, he "harvested" a 17-year-old brown bear for 7,000 (6,040).

Arthur the Bear

Arthur was 17 years old, according to Gabriel Paun, president of Agent Green, and was the largest bear ever seen in Romania and likely the largest in the European Union.

"I wonder how the prince could mistake a female bear visiting the village with the largest male that lived deep in the forest," Paun noted, adding that he believed it was "clear that the prince did not come to solve the issue of the locals but to kill the bear and take home the biggest trophy to hang it on the wall... they shot the wrong bear."

Related Article: Researchers are Sequencing Two Prehistoric Bear Species Using Only Prehistoric Poop Traces



Brown Bear Protection

Brown bears are protected under international and Romanian rule, and trophy hunting was banned in 2016. As provided by the environment minister, exceptions have been given by subsequent administrations in the case of bears who have suffered significant harm or have posed a danger to humans.

Trophy Hunting

"Trophy hunting must be banned [with no exceptions], "said Ann-Kathrin Freude, campaign organizer for VGT. Otherwise, as has occurred in much of Europe, tensions will intensify, and the ecosystem will become extinct. It is a disgrace to Austria that Prince Emanuel used a derogation to murder this lovely bear."

Tanczos Barna, Romania's environment minister, told Digi24 that deciding if the bear killed by the prince was the one protected by the derogation was "particularly difficult," but that an investigation had been initiated.

Reaching the Prince

Attempts to reach the prince's estate were futile, according to the Associated Press. According to the Blick newspaper in Switzerland, the prince said he would not comment on the issue.

Tanczos Barna, Romania's environment minister, told Digi24 that deciding if the bear killed by the prince was the one protected by the derogation was "particularly difficult," but that an investigation had been initiated.

"The bear faces many challenges to its life, including habitat loss, climate change, and human persecution," Freude said. The Ministry of the Environment must discuss the reasons, not the consequences, of the bear-man conflict."

Also Read: Beware! 7 Cute Animals that Can Actually Kill a Person

For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Moultrie, GA (31768)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
According to a recent survey, over 420 million wild animals have been traded in 226 countries over the last two decades.

Social Injustice

According to the researchers, income inequality pushes trade, and high-income countries should pay lower-income countries to protect biodiversity.

Global Wildlife Trade

One of the most serious threats to endangered species is the commercial trade in animals and plants.

According to the report, wild animals are often transported from low-income countries to wealthy developing countries.

Wild frogs, for example, are sold between Madagascar and the United States, and wild fish from Thailand is exported to Hong Kong.

Related Article: Despite Low Seizure Amount, Illegal Wildlife Trade May Boom Because of Covid-19



Lack of Socioeconomic Opportunities

According to the researchers, the existing multi-national agreements' lack of socioeconomic benefits can hinder the ability to combat harmful trade.

The study's lead author, Jia Huan Liew of the University of Hong Kong, suggested that countries that supply the most wildlife goods be given financial incentives to limit trade for a fixed period of time.

"If the goal is reached at the end of this time, the exporting nation will earn a pre-agreed amount," he told BBC News.

"Ideally, funding will come from developed countries, considering their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and their disproportionately large share of the global biodiversity market."

Related Article: Creating Socially Just Population Policies Advances Global Equity AND Mitigates Climate Change



Wildlife Trade Bans

Due to a variety of reasons, including bans on wildlife consumption in China, the researchers conclude the pandemic would result in a reduction in international wildlife trade. They argue that this should be seen as a starting point for reform.

"To stop going back to business as usual," Dr. Liew said, "We should use public understanding of the potential effects of eating wildlife goods to limit demand and make the Chinese ban on wildlife consumption lasting."

Related Article: Growth of Damaging and Invasive Species Linked To Pet Trade



Wealth Disparity

Between 1998 and 2018, the global trading network was more extensive among pairs of countries with greater wealth disparities, according to a report published in Science Advances.

Indonesia, Jamaica, and Honduras were the top exporters of wildlife goods, while the United States was the top importer, followed by France and Italy.

Reducing Demands for Vulnerable Species

Cites (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulates cross-border trade in wild plants and animals, with the aim of reducing demand for vulnerable biodiversity and encouraging populations to recover.

International Collaboration

Member nations are required to impose trade controls in their own countries under the convention, but opponents contend that Cites has little authority to comply with ineffective domestic legislation.

According to one survey by the non-governmental organization Traffic, between 2006 and 2015, 1.3 million living animals and vegetables, 1.5 million hides, and 2,000 tonnes of beef were legally shipped from Africa to Asia alone.

Also Read: Exotic Pets are Dying In Transit and Authorities Are Failing to Do Something About it

For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A point of order by state Rep. Tom Craddick ultimately killed Brooks Landgrafs radioactive nuclear waste bill.

Craddick reported late Wednesday night that Landgraf, a state representative from Odessa, told Craddick that he will not pursue this legislation further during the 87th Legislature.

(Wednesday), in the interest of the Permian Basin and House District 82, I called a point of order on House Bill 2692 by Rep. Brooks Landgraf", Craddick stated in a press release. The point of order was well taken and sustained by the speaker of the House. This legislation would have not added the protections needed to prevent a high-level radioactive waste ban in Texas.

Landgraf co-authored the bill that he said would ban the storage and disposal of high-level nuclear waste away from civilian nuclear power plants or university research reactors in Texas. Craddick wrote Wednesday night the bill was filed with the guise of banning high level radioactive waste. However, the decision as to whether Texas is a viable storage site for high level radioactive waste is reserved to the federal government.

The bill has been a struggle for Landgraf and its backers in Andrews County. Last week, the Republican Party of Texas called HB 2692  a BAD BILL on its official party Twitter account. Previously, Craddick of Midland and Tommy Taylor of Fasken Oil and Ranch publicly opposed the passage of the legislation.

Craddick added that Landgrafs bill was a tax and fee reduction for Waste Control Specialists. In addition, it allowed for Class A Radioactive waste to be transported and stored without containerization. It eliminated many of the contract requirements for the permit holder and opened the floodgates for uncontrolled amounts of radioactive waste in Texas.

When the low-level radioactive waste site in Andrews County was passed in prior legislative sessions these were all important elements to its passage. Craddick said, "Walking back on a promise to the Permian Basin is not an option."

House Bill 2692 is not eligible for further consideration at this time, Craddick wrote.

Dave Carlson, the president and chief operating officer of WCS, offered the following comment about the defeat of HB 2692, Our interests and the states interests are aligned and we remain committed to working closely with our community, our regulators and the State of Texas to ensure the facility remains viable, safe and an asset to the state and the states economy.

It was the second-straight session that Craddick, the dean of Texas House members, used a point of order to kill a Landgraf-led item. In 2019, Craddick used the measure to kill House Bill 2154 -- enabling legislation to House Joint Resolution 82, the so-called GROW Fund -- because Landgraf had changed the bill to include agencies and stuff we told people we wouldnt do, Craddick said at the time.
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.

ICYMI: Fully vaccinated can travel again, says new CDC guidance

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.

IN TEXAS: Travel & Leisure crowns two stunning Texas hotels best in world

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.
Closing Midland Airpark would outweigh any gains that the Midland City Council believes is possible with the airports relocation, according to an opinion article from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Tom Chandler, who resides in the Texas city of Heath, is the regional manager for the AOPA and he wrote in an opinion article that will appear in Thursdays Reporter-Telegram that the city of Midland isnt looking to move the executive airport along Loop 250 in north Midland but close it.

Building some additional hangars and associated taxiways at Midland International Air and Space Port would not offset the losses to the community if this airport were to close, Chandler wrote.

Chandler wrote that Airparks benefits to pilots and plane owners include its location and those benefits would be lost forever.

He also described the potential change of moving Airpark facilities to Midland International as the weakening of a proven economic driver. He wrote Airpark is home to more than 100 aircraft and sees more than 40,000 aircraft operations every year.

A 2019 study completed by Texas Department of Transportations Aviation Division revealed that Midland Airpark has a positive impact to the local community of $14.6 million annually, including 90 jobs, which represent $3.6M in payroll.

Chandler compared the closure of any airport to the removal of a highway offramp as offramps dramatically impact the economic viability and overall development of a community, he wrote.

The situation is even more pronounced when it comes to airports, Chandler wrote. Businesses, hospitals, law enforcement facilities and other critical infrastructure are located strategically to take advantage of the benefits an airport brings to the city. Each of these directly impact quality of life in Midland.

In April, the Reporter-Telegram provided details of a letter Mayor Patrick Payton wrote to the FAA about relocating Airpark. It included the citys commitment to design and build a new general aviation facility at Midland International based on current and future needs with modern, efficient, state-of-the-art hangars and other facilities.

He also mentioned in the letter that the city will save money maintaining one airport instead of two and the runways at the airpark will need expensive rehabilitation in the next five to 10 years. Additionally, moving the airpark would provide users with longer runways, an on-site air traffic control tower and greater security, according to Payton in the April Reporter-Telegram article.
Superintendents from around the Permian Basin came to Midland to talk COVID-relief funding and challenges that each faces in a post-COVID world.

The education leaders from West Texas and southeast New Mexico assembled Wednesday at the Bush Convention Center during the Permian Basin Education Leadership Summit  a first-of-its-kind initiative of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin and the Permian Strategic Partnership.

Officials, including Ector County ISD Superintendent Scott Muri, said this was an opportunity to discuss funding  specifically Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that are expected to help with the academic performance slide caused by coronavirus and its impact on education.

Not only did superintendents and other education leaders take part in discussion groups, but they heard about opportunities to work together and connect with organizations that can help when it comes to strategies to improve student performance, how to implement programs and taking part in accountability measures that will come with the combined hundreds of millions of relief dollars given to districts across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.

For instance, Muri said his district will receive more than $100 million in funding to be used over three or four years. Life-changing is how he described the cash injection to education in Odessa.

We know that our kids have a lot of unfinished learning, Muri said afterward. Many of our kids have been virtual for over a year. We have kids that have been missing from school for over a year, and just the learning they did occur wasnt optimized.

Were going to use this money to help our students recover some of that learning and then ensure that their mental health is taken care of. We know that some of our kids are struggling with mental health issues, because of the isolation caused by the pandemic. And so, our kids have a lot of needs right now. And these dollars are strictly to invest in children to improve their needs, academically, as well as socially.

Muri said ECISDs 32,000 student population includes 56 percent that live in poverty and challenges his district faces will include the recruitment of teachers. He said ECISD expects to need to fill around 380 positions.

Talent is really the biggest (challenge districts face), Muri said. It is recruiting teachers and other types of employees to our area. It is retaining, you know, great teachers in our area, it is developing high quality talent, it is creating pipelines to make sure we identify kids (kindergarten through 12th grade)  and develop pipelines into ultimately the classroom as a teacher. All of those are opportunities that we have in the Permian Basin. It's a common need that every district has, and to come together to create the geographic solutions is the right thing to do.

A unified region

Midland ISD Superintendent Angelica Ramsey said Midland ISD will receive around one-third of the federal relief funding as its neighbor to the west. She also said her district likely wont face the teacher shortage ECISD is expecting. She put her districts deficit there at around 50 teaching positions.

Ramsey did say the summit was a benefit to her as a new superintendent in the region. She said the district is in the process of a needs assessment and working toward a strategic plan.

She said she picked up ideas like mentorship programs that exist elsewhere and partnering with other districts to provide additional academic opportunities. Collaboration and not operating in silos, she said, is important.

We need to think collectively and work together instead of competing, Ramsey said. School districts typically kind of compete. You compete for teachers, talent, and instead of competing, we need to be competing to be our best selves as a global unit. And so for me, I'm super excited. I'm really hoping that this is Day 1. And I plan on continuing my collaboration with Dr. Muri and all the teams that I met here.

I think whats really important to know that today was the start of something really important, and that if we really do want to provide really strong academic outcomes for students, we actually have to intentionally work together here, receive input from our stakeholders and then hold ourselves accountable.
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Berlin Reporter Local business owner invited to Biden's Congressional address



Adam Hammill pictured in the doorway of Exile Burrito shortly before its grand opening last year. (File Photo) (click for larger version) WASHINGTON, D.C.  Adam Hammill of Berlin, owner of Exile Burrito and a Coast Guard veteran, was Sen. Maggie Hassan's virtual guest for President Joe Biden's joint address to Congress last Wednesday night.



Hammill opened his new restaurant during the pandemic; however, like many new businesses, he was not eligible to receive COVID-19 relief. Hammill raised this concern with Hassan, who successfully worked across the aisle to ensure that new businesses like Adam's will be able to access payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit.



"Adam represents the best of the Granite State, first serving our country as a member of the Coast Guard and then showing grit and determination by opening up a new restaurant during the pandemic," Hassan said. "Earlier in the pandemic, I talked with Adam about his experiences, and he raised the issue that new businesses were ineligible for COVID-19 relief funding. Because of advocacy from Adam and other new business owners, I led bipartisan efforts to successfully expand relief to new businesses as part of the American Rescue Plan. I am honored to bring Adam as my virtual guest to President Biden's joint address to highlight his efforts, and I will continue working to help small businesses across New Hampshire receive the support that they need to create jobs and thrive."



"The opportunity to be invited as Senator Hassan's virtual guest to the State of the Union is an honor. If asked a year ago if I thought I would have met Senator Hassan and helped inspire legislation that would aid other Americans who chose to start a business during this once in a century pandemic, I wouldn't believe it," said Hammill. "My first meeting with Senator Hassan, I explained as a new business owner I was unable to access the emergency stimulus or PPP loans because I opened my business in 2020. My second meeting with Senator Hassan we further discussed action steps to provide relief to start-ups. Not many Americans get the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a bill, it has been a civic honor to be a part of a bill that will aid other Americans who had the courage to start a business in the wake of a global pandemic. This experience is affirmation that bipartisan representative democracy is still alive, and serving small Main Street businesses."



The American Rescue Plan includes the bipartisan Recovery Startup Assistance Act that Senator Hassan introduced to provide payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit to new small businesses started during the pandemic. So far, many new businesses have been unable to access other COVID-19 relief programs. Furthermore, the December COVID-19 relief and government funding package included bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to allow eligible small employers to both participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and also claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers on payroll and pay for their health care coverage. Previously, small employers could not participate in both of these programs. WASHINGTON, D.C.  Adam Hammill of Berlin, owner of Exile Burrito and a Coast Guard veteran, was Sen. Maggie Hassan's virtual guest for President Joe Biden's joint address to Congress last Wednesday night.Hammill opened his new restaurant during the pandemic; however, like many new businesses, he was not eligible to receive COVID-19 relief. Hammill raised this concern with Hassan, who successfully worked across the aisle to ensure that new businesses like Adam's will be able to access payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit."Adam represents the best of the Granite State, first serving our country as a member of the Coast Guard and then showing grit and determination by opening up a new restaurant during the pandemic," Hassan said. "Earlier in the pandemic, I talked with Adam about his experiences, and he raised the issue that new businesses were ineligible for COVID-19 relief funding. Because of advocacy from Adam and other new business owners, I led bipartisan efforts to successfully expand relief to new businesses as part of the American Rescue Plan. I am honored to bring Adam as my virtual guest to President Biden's joint address to highlight his efforts, and I will continue working to help small businesses across New Hampshire receive the support that they need to create jobs and thrive.""The opportunity to be invited as Senator Hassan's virtual guest to the State of the Union is an honor. If asked a year ago if I thought I would have met Senator Hassan and helped inspire legislation that would aid other Americans who chose to start a business during this once in a century pandemic, I wouldn't believe it," said Hammill. "My first meeting with Senator Hassan, I explained as a new business owner I was unable to access the emergency stimulus or PPP loans because I opened my business in 2020. My second meeting with Senator Hassan we further discussed action steps to provide relief to start-ups. Not many Americans get the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a bill, it has been a civic honor to be a part of a bill that will aid other Americans who had the courage to start a business in the wake of a global pandemic. This experience is affirmation that bipartisan representative democracy is still alive, and serving small Main Street businesses."The American Rescue Plan includes the bipartisan Recovery Startup Assistance Act that Senator Hassan introduced to provide payroll assistance through the Employee Retention Tax Credit to new small businesses started during the pandemic. So far, many new businesses have been unable to access other COVID-19 relief programs. Furthermore, the December COVID-19 relief and government funding package included bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to allow eligible small employers to both participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and also claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers on payroll and pay for their health care coverage. Previously, small employers could not participate in both of these programs.

Berlin Reporter Gorham Middle-High School salutes Gold Tassel recipients City Council discusses abatement applications Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
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Coos County Democrat Surprise discovery rises from the ashes in Jefferson

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author JEFFERSON  The devastating fire that destroyed Jefferson's Town Hall turned up an amazing find for local history buffs and Jefferson residents alike. It was known that an old safe and vault existed, but the contents had not been opened for 30 years.



Of the find, Jefferson Historical Society President Joe Marshall said, "For myself, it was a complete surprise, in one way, that it survived at all, and in another, the sheer volume, age, and content of the material is amazing."



The safe had not been opened since 1991 as the combination was lost.



"Very few people alive today even knew anything was in there, and the vault fell out of day to day use in 1996 after the new town office addition was added that year," said Marshall.



Both the vault and the safe were moved to the Ingerson Transportation facility in the Meadows.



"Mitch Ingerson had offered to help the Town with opening the safe as the combination had been lost years ago. Even if that wasn't the case, the bronze tumblers of the lock had also melted in the extreme heat," explained Marshall.



The safe stands more than six feet tall and 49 feet wide, and more than two feet deep. The exterior door was warped therefore was removed via excavator. A key to the interior was found in the Town Offices.



"Mitch made quick work of the lock and had the safe open in about ten minutes. What was inside was a complete surprise, and Selectman Norm Brown was asked to stop by. He in turn contacted me to come check it out. It turned out the interior held up quite well, considering, and the contents are a veritable time capsule of our town's past," said Marshall.



Included in the find was a variety of old town records, burial permits, vital statistics, voter checklists and numerous hand-written ledgers, some dating back to 1801. There are hand-written reports of select board business and Town Clerk records as well.



"I have been involved with the Society for over 27 years, with no idea these existed. I was stunned by the sheer volume of information in the safe. With the scorching of some of the materials, it was apparent professional help was needed, and we asked Mitch Ingerson if we could keep the safe at his shop, closed, until we could get some assistance," said Marshall.



Marshall explained that there appeared to be no mold or mildew within and said the charring was harmless, but there is concern of acidification over time. Forty-three boxes of historical documents have now been sent to Massachusetts for experts in archival stabilization to assess.



"The Historical Society is partnering with the town to seek out and apply for grants that will be used to help fund assessments of what they have, repair what needs to be, and to correctly store these materials for future use. The contents of the vault dwarfed what was in the safe," said Marshall.



Marshall explained that this collection of material is "immense." "There were no fewer than 54 ledgers between the safe and vault, all handwritten and up to 500 pages in some of them. Individual pieces of paper may total several thousand," he added. It will likely take years to go through every document.



Lastly, Marshall said, "The historical information will probably take years to fully understand and quantify. The loss of our Town Hall is a tough row to hoe for this generation. But I'd like to think this 225th anniversary surprise coming out of the ashes will help us to appreciate it, and those who came before us all the more. We truly have an interesting past to explore and now more tools to do it." JEFFERSON  The devastating fire that destroyed Jefferson's Town Hall turned up an amazing find for local history buffs and Jefferson residents alike. It was known that an old safe and vault existed, but the contents had not been opened for 30 years.Of the find, Jefferson Historical Society President Joe Marshall said, "For myself, it was a complete surprise, in one way, that it survived at all, and in another, the sheer volume, age, and content of the material is amazing."The safe had not been opened since 1991 as the combination was lost."Very few people alive today even knew anything was in there, and the vault fell out of day to day use in 1996 after the new town office addition was added that year," said Marshall.Both the vault and the safe were moved to the Ingerson Transportation facility in the Meadows."Mitch Ingerson had offered to help the Town with opening the safe as the combination had been lost years ago. Even if that wasn't the case, the bronze tumblers of the lock had also melted in the extreme heat," explained Marshall.The safe stands more than six feet tall and 49 feet wide, and more than two feet deep. The exterior door was warped therefore was removed via excavator. A key to the interior was found in the Town Offices."Mitch made quick work of the lock and had the safe open in about ten minutes. What was inside was a complete surprise, and Selectman Norm Brown was asked to stop by. He in turn contacted me to come check it out. It turned out the interior held up quite well, considering, and the contents are a veritable time capsule of our town's past," said Marshall.Included in the find was a variety of old town records, burial permits, vital statistics, voter checklists and numerous hand-written ledgers, some dating back to 1801. There are hand-written reports of select board business and Town Clerk records as well."I have been involved with the Society for over 27 years, with no idea these existed. I was stunned by the sheer volume of information in the safe. With the scorching of some of the materials, it was apparent professional help was needed, and we asked Mitch Ingerson if we could keep the safe at his shop, closed, until we could get some assistance," said Marshall.Marshall explained that there appeared to be no mold or mildew within and said the charring was harmless, but there is concern of acidification over time. Forty-three boxes of historical documents have now been sent to Massachusetts for experts in archival stabilization to assess."The Historical Society is partnering with the town to seek out and apply for grants that will be used to help fund assessments of what they have, repair what needs to be, and to correctly store these materials for future use. The contents of the vault dwarfed what was in the safe," said Marshall.Marshall explained that this collection of material is "immense." "There were no fewer than 54 ledgers between the safe and vault, all handwritten and up to 500 pages in some of them. Individual pieces of paper may total several thousand," he added. It will likely take years to go through every document.Lastly, Marshall said, "The historical information will probably take years to fully understand and quantify. The loss of our Town Hall is a tough row to hoe for this generation. But I'd like to think this 225th anniversary surprise coming out of the ashes will help us to appreciate it, and those who came before us all the more. We truly have an interesting past to explore and now more tools to do it."

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South Jacksonville trustees are scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. today in Village Hall, 301 Dewey Drive.

The meeting will also be available online at bit.ly/3aXqJIQ or by phone at 312-626-6799 with meeting ID 993-584-5163 and passcode 62650.

Among the items on the agenda are:

 A statement of votes from the April 6 election, oaths of office and seating of elected officials

 Approval of tourism grants regarding Jacksonville Speedway and Jacksonville Main Street

 Approval of South Main Street billboard images

 Rezoning for Colony South

 Approval of prohibiting parking on the west side of Holliday Lane

 Darren Iozia
The annual refugee resettlement kerfuffle is under way.

As usual, on one side are the immigration expansionists: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, congressional Democrats and predictable GOP defectors, immigration lawyers who see dollar signs in their futures, resettlement agencies who also profit disproportionately, and the tirelessly active pro-immigration lobby.

On the other side are American voters, who want to see an admission cap thats consistent with the nations ability to absorb refugees, the current economy and, in 2021, the possible consequences from a still-threatening COVID-19. Americans also want to maintain the countrys well-deserved image as a compassionate, caring nation.

For decades, refugee admissions have been a political hot potato. Until President Trump set the annual level at 15,000, the previous levels ranged widely. Under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the U.S. resettled an average of 81,000 refugees annually. Then, President Trump gradually cut back to his final 15,000 cap  from 45,000, to 30,000, and to 18,000 during successive fiscal years.

Although President Trump set his 2020 cap at 15,000, the administration admitted only 12,000 refugees, a cautionary response to the coronavirus. The caps represent an upper limit on how many refugee applications the State Department is willing to review during a fiscal year, and not a mandated goal.

Since Biden entered the White House, the refugee debate has taken on another antagonistic dimension: Bidens waffling.

Biden, a cosponsor with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy of the Refugee Act of 1979, initially committed to extending former President Trumps 15,000 cap, a decision he said was justified by humanitarian concerns and is otherwise in the national interest. But after getting intense blowback from influential Democrats like Illinois Dick Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, immigration lawyers and resettlement profiteers, Biden quickly reversed his course, and signed an Executive Order that committed to a 125,000 refugee ceiling in fiscal year 2022-23.

Biden relented under heavy pressure from Durbin who had sharply reprimanded Biden, calling a 15,000 ceiling unacceptable. Biden also came under attack from immigration lawyers who scorned his cowardly failure to fulfill his campaign promise to lift President Trumps annual cap from 15,000 to 125,000. One immigration lawyer questioned why Biden is perpetuating Trumps racist, anti-immigrant legacy.

Most craven among Biden critics were nine taxpayer-funded refugee resettlement agencies: Church World Service, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, International Rescue Committee, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and World Relief Corporation. The International Rescue Committee whole-heartedly endorsed Bidens Executive order. The agencies have a keen interest in maximizing resettlement. In 2012, a critical analysis from the General Accounting Office found that agencies annual federally funded budgets are determined by the number of refugees they resettle.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform published a report that quantified for taxpayers precisely how much refugee resettlement costs. FAIRs study found that the cost of resettling refugees is about $1.8 billion per year, with about $867 million representing welfare payments. Other resettling costs include processing, education and housing assistance. That works out, FAIR research found, to a per-refugee cost to taxpayers of nearly $75,600 during the refugees first five resettled years.

Bidens backers insist that increasing refugee resettlement will preserve the U.S. position as the worlds most welcoming nation for migrants. But Americas status as the worlds most charitable  with or without admitting more refugees  cannot be challenged. In 2020, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees compiled data which showed that the U.S. was the top 2020 donor to UNHCRs global refugee activities. The nearly $2 billion in U.S. contributions is about four times the total contributed by the source that ranked second, the entire European Union which gave an aggregate $522 million.

Refugees qualify for immediate work permission. With millions of Americans unemployed, underemployed or COVID-19 furloughed, more employment-authorized refugees create unnecessary competition for increasingly scarce jobs that citizens and lawfully present residents deserve.

Bidens original reaction  to hold steady at 15,000 refugees for the upcoming fiscal year  was correct. Unfortunately, Biden didnt have the courage of his convictions, and folded under the pressure Democratic extremists put on him.

Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. He can be reached at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
Americans trust in the national news media is low and getting worse. Mainstream journalism has lost the respect of much of the public, though soul-searching and changes by the industry could reverse this trend.

A new study by Media Insight Project funded by The Associated Press and the University of Chicago found bedrock journalism values are respected less by much of the general public than other competing moral values. For example, the study reported that people who put more emphasis on authority and loyalty tend to be more skeptical about fundamental journalism principles. A mere 11% of Americans fully support all five of the journalism values tested. The study advises journalists to rethink how they frame their content to better resonate with broader audiences.

This new study doesnt surprise conservatives like me at all. A Gallup public opinion survey of Americans trust in institutions released near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic found eight of the nine institutions studied received a majority positive ratings  led by U.S. hospitals, with 88% approval. The media ranked dead last, and only the media received more negative than positive marks.

Tracking the nosedive in the medias reputation, Gallups editor in chief Mohamed Younis told me that Gallup polling in the time of President Richard Nixons impeachment showed 70% of Americans had confidence in the honesty of the media, yet today, only 40% of Americans say the same. Gallup has tracked a general decline in trust, but the drop is most pronounced among Republicans. When we spoke, Younis said 41% of independents approve of the medias work during the COVID-19 crisis, compared to 68% of Democrats but just 16% of Republicans.

A 2018 poll by Monmouth University found 77% of Americans believe that traditional media outlets publish fake news, an increase from 2017, when 63% of respondents said the same. Journalists would be wise to understand that a stunning 65% of Americans, according to Monmouth, said fake news applies to how media outlets make editorial decisions, while just 25% said fake news applies solely to media outlets spreading inaccurate information.

That means the term fake news is a much broader concept for most Americans than just misreporting facts  it has to do with newsrooms value judgments about what to publish and air. Conservatives often feel as though the media refuses to give full context and equal representation of conservative people and ideas  this is what many people mean when they say fake news.

In 2020, Monmouth also found that 76% of Republicans believed social media giants  which give millions of dollars to news outlets to create content and are widely responsible for spreading news media stories  could be held liable for bias in handling user content. The study found that then-President Donald Trumps executive order to examine how social media sites could be held liable for bias was supported by 46% of independents and just 16% of Democrats. This vast discrepancy in how Republicans vs. Democrats view social media bias suggests news organizations should think carefully about how their partnerships with tech firms lead some audiences to feel they are being treated unfairly.

Part of the medias value gaps can be explained by data from Pew Research, which in 2004 surveyed more than 500 reporters and editors. It found 34% of those in the national media identified themselves as liberal, but only 7% conservative. This contrasted with the 20% of the general public who described themselves as liberal and 33% as conservative. A 2014 survey by Indiana University found that only 7.1% of journalists called themselves Republicans, but 28.1% self-identified as Democrats. Are most journalists aware of this lopsided worldview among their ranks?

Part of journalists blind spots could stem from what another Pew study found: Americans from the Midwest and South  which generally have more conservative social mores  are severely underrepresented in online journalism. Pews analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data found workers from the South make up 37% of all American workers but just 21% of internet news publishing and broadcasting workers. And Midwestern workers comprise 22% of the American workforce overall but just 10% of online journalists.

Beyond the digital newsroom, more broadly speaking, one in five U.S. newsroom employees live in New York, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., yet those three cities are home to only 13% of all U.S. workers, according to Pew.

Progressives in the media these days speak of equity and inclusion, but the question is whether theyll include better ideological diversity in their work moving forward. Americas national unity depends upon it.

Carrie Sheffield is a senior fellow at Independent Womens Forum. She served as national editor for Accuracy In Media tackling media bias. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Granite State News Grant for Tuftonboro police facility increased by $110,000

by Elissa Paquette TUFTONBORO  Tuftonboro residents will be considering two warrant articles pertaining to proposed construction of a new police facility on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. under a tent on Davis Field, adjacent to Tuftonboro Central School. Chief Andrew Shagoury recently announced that the federal grant for the project is expected, upon final approval, to be $110,000 more than previously anticipated, bringing the total of the grant from $250,000 as stated in the warrant articles, to $360,000, a boon to the bottom line.



Shagoury, reporting on March call outs, listed a domestic violence incident involving a shooting on March 1, an alarm call on that same day, a motorist assist on the March 2, and responses to accidents on March 8 and 27. The March 8 auto accident involved a fatality.



The New Hampshire State Police also responded to the domestic violence incident, accosted the suspect and have taken over the case, says Shagoury.



Roberta French has been hired to fill the part-time administrative assistant position. Until she is able to catch up with the backlog of work, she is approved to work up to 34 hours weekly.



Department activity from January through March 31 includes 44 motor vehicle stops, eight summonses, 12 accidents, two arrests, four felonies, 19 offenses, 36 incidents and 1,132 calls for service. TUFTONBORO  Tuftonboro residents will be considering two warrant articles pertaining to proposed construction of a new police facility on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. under a tent on Davis Field, adjacent to Tuftonboro Central School. Chief Andrew Shagoury recently announced that the federal grant for the project is expected, upon final approval, to be $110,000 more than previously anticipated, bringing the total of the grant from $250,000 as stated in the warrant articles, to $360,000, a boon to the bottom line.Shagoury, reporting on March call outs, listed a domestic violence incident involving a shooting on March 1, an alarm call on that same day, a motorist assist on the March 2, and responses to accidents on March 8 and 27. The March 8 auto accident involved a fatality.The New Hampshire State Police also responded to the domestic violence incident, accosted the suspect and have taken over the case, says Shagoury.Roberta French has been hired to fill the part-time administrative assistant position. Until she is able to catch up with the backlog of work, she is approved to work up to 34 hours weekly.Department activity from January through March 31 includes 44 motor vehicle stops, eight summonses, 12 accidents, two arrests, four felonies, 19 offenses, 36 incidents and 1,132 calls for service.


Weinstein sues lawyer Jose Baez, seeks return of $1M in fees View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinstein wants his money back.

The convicted rapist is suing his one-time lawyer Jose Baez for breach of contract and is seeking a refund on $1 million in legal fees he says he paid the high-profile attorney for a short stint on his legal team.

Weinstein alleges Baez was regularly preoccupied with other matters, pawned off important work on other lawyers, was often unavailable to speak with him about his New York City rape case and later provided fraudulent billing records.

Baez, a Florida-based lawyer best known for representing Casey Anthony, joined Weinsteins defense in January 2019 and left six months later, saying the former movie mogul had tarnished their relationship by communicating only through other lawyers and by failing to abide by a fee agreement.

Weinstein, in the lawsuit filed Tuesday, claims he agreed to pay Baez and another lawyer $2 million in $200,000 monthly payments for their defense work on the landmark #MeToo case but that Baez violated New York law by stating in his agreement that his retainer was non-refundable and non-negotiable.

Messages seeking comment were left for Baez.

Weinstein, 69, was convicted in February 2020 of raping an aspiring actress in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant in 2006. He is serving a 23-year sentence in state prison. Last month, his lawyers filed appeal paperwork demanding a new trial.

Weinstein also faces a likely extradition to California, where he is charged with assaulting five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013.

Details of Weinsteins lawsuit against Baez were reported by Law 360.

Weinstein hired Baez, Harvard Law professor Ronald Sullivan and two other lawyers after splitting with Benjamin Brafman, the pugnacious New York City defense lawyer whod been with him since his arrest in 2018.

Baez first gained fame for representing Anthony, the Florida mom whose televised trial in 2011 ended in an acquittal on charges accusing her of killing her young daughter. Baez and Sullivan successfully defended New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez against murder charges in 2017. Hernandez, in prison for a 2015 murder conviction, killed himself five days later.

Sullivan left Weinsteins case in May amid backlash about his involvement.

Weinstein then asked Baez for an accounting of his work but Baez refused and threatened to leave the case unless he was immediately paid $1 million to cover the remainder of the agreed upon fee, according to Weinsteins lawsuit.

A few weeks later, Baez wrote the judge presiding over the case that Weinstein made representing him unreasonably difficult and insisted on taking actions with which I have fundamental disagreements.

In July 2019, Judge James Burke approved Baezs departure from the case. As he left the courtroom, Baez said: I feel like I won the lottery. Just kidding.

Weinstein continued to press the issue of legal fees with Baez, and last September his lawyer demanded a full accounting of Baezs work on the case.

Baezs office responded with a spreadsheet tallying $1,028,227 in fees, the lawsuit said.

__

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak

By MICHAEL R. SISAK

Associated Press
Somalia says it has resumed diplomatic ties with Kenya

Mogadishu, Somalia (AP)  Somalia says it has resumed diplomatic ties with neighboring Kenya after severing relations late last year.

A government statement on Thursday thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts. Kenyas presidency tweeted only that President Uhuru Kenyatta had received a special message from Qatars leader delivered by the foreign ministers special envoy for mediation of conflict resolution.

Somalia had accused Kenya of interfering in its affairs as the Horn of Africa nation struggled with talks on how to carry out a national election  a vote that has been delayed since early February. Somalias President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed recently caused an uproar by approving a controversial two-year term extension. That move brought extraordinary scenes of rival groups of soldiers firing on each other in the capital, Mogadishu. The president later backed off.

Somalias federal government had accused Kenya of meddling in politics in the countrys south, where Kenya has soldiers fighting the al-Shabab extremist group.

Somalias new statement said it and Kenya were resuming ties on the basis of non-interference in each others affairs.

Among other issues that have caused tensions have been Kenyas warm relationship with Somalias breakaway territory of Somaliland and a dispute over waters off the countries coastline.

By HASSAN BARISE

Associated Press
Blinken reaffirms US support for Ukraine amid Russia tension View Photo

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washingtons support for Ukraine at a meeting Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of Kyivs heightened tensions with Russia, fueled by Moscows recent troop buildup near their border.

The top American diplomat met with Zelenskyy during his one-day visit and reiterated the U.S. commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, while also underscoring the importance of Ukrainian efforts to tackle widespread corruption and carry out reforms.

Ukraine is facing two challenges: aggression from outside, coming from Russia, and in effect aggression from within, coming from corruption, oligarchs and others who are putting their interests ahead of those of the Ukrainian people, Blinken told a news conference after meeting with Zelenskyy.

By visiting so early in his tenure, before any trip to Russia, Blinken signaled that Ukraine is a high priority for President Joe Bidens foreign policy. His visit was highly anticipated in Ukraine, with hopes for increased military aid and strong support for NATO membership being voiced on the front lines of the battle against Russia-backed separatists in the east and in the halls of government in Kyiv.

Ukraine has seen an increase in hostilities in the east in recent months. Ukraines military says 35 of its soldiers have been killed by rebel attacks this year, a significant rise from the latter part of 2020. Russia, which claims it has no soldiers in eastern Ukraine, fueled the tensions this year by massing troops and conducting large-scale military exercises near the border.

Zelenskyy has made it clear that he wants significant action  a clear signal about the European and Euro-Atlantic prospect, as he said Monday on Twitter, referring to Ukraines aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. Postponing these issues for later, some day, (in) 10 years has to end.

Blinken said Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations were discussed with Zelenskyy and that the U.S. was actively looking at strengthening its security assistance to Ukraine, but didnt give details.

Zelenskyy also said the military support and the financial support from the U.S. is increasing, but didnt elaborate.

Both noted that while Russia has pulled back some of its forces from the border, a significant number of troops and equipment is still there. Blinken said Washington was watching the situation very, very closely, as Russia has the capacity, on fairly short notice, to take aggressive action if it so chooses.

I can tell you, Mr. President, that we stand strongly with you, Blinken said.

In Brussels on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said the 30-nation military alliance needs to stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments in and around Ukraine. We have seen some reduction in the number of Russian troops, but tens of thousands remain, and we also see that Russia has kept a lot of weapons, prepositioned equipment, and theyre also imposing restrictions in the Black Sea, Stoltenberg told reporters.

Efforts have stalled to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 14,000 people since it broke out in 2014. Zelenskyy has called for the U.S. to try to push these efforts forward by joining the negotiations of the Normandy Format that consists of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. Russia is almost certain to oppose any U.S. involvement in the negotiations.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine also was worried about Russias announcement last month that it was redeploying warships from its Caspian flotilla to the Sea of Azov, an extension of the Black Sea that borders Ukraine and Russia. There is now a big threat in the Sea of Azov; it is unprecedentedly large, Kuleba said.

Zelenskyy said he discussed security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov with Blinken, but wouldnt reveal any details.

He also said he invited Biden to visit Ukraine this year, and Blinken said the U.S. president would welcome the opportunity at the right time.

Earlier in the day, Blinken met with Kuleba, and they both joined Metropolitan Epiphaniy  head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which split from Russias Orthodox Church. They laid flowers at a memorial to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict in the east and toured St. Michaels Monastery.

Blinken also met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who tweeted that his visit to Kyiv was a manifestation of firm support and a high level of relations of two states, and with Ukrainian lawmakers.

Blinkens visit to Kyiv comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine, imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and accusations of hacking and election interference.

Last month, Biden suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for talks in a third country in an effort to defuse tensions. The Kremlin has been considering the proposal.

Asked by the Russian state news agency Tass on Thursday whether there was a list of possible places for the meeting, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had still nothing to tell about the possible meeting.

Kyiv-based political analyst Vadym Karasev said Washington was trying to avoid sharp and loud statements in order not to thwart the (possible) meeting of Putin and Biden, during which the issue of de-escalation near Ukrainian borders should be resolved for good.

Thats why Blinken used the whole arsenal of a sophisticated diplomat in order to becalm Kyiv on one hand by promising to increase military and financial support, and on other had not to force the question of Ukraines NATO membership, Karasev said.

Both Washington and Kyiv need one thing today  to avoid a hot war with Russia and to make Russian troops pull back from the Ukrainian border, Karasev said. If diplomatic methods are exhausted, only then one should expect vivid metaphors and loud accusations from loudspeakers.

By YURAS KARMANAU

Associated Press
Tuolumne County  Tuolumne County Public Health reports no new cases today. No COVID-positive residents are hospitalized and two were released from isolation. A total of 12 cases are considered active. This evening, Wednesday, May 6th is the health departments COVID Public Information Night. The public is invited to bring questions and participate at 6 PM via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92780952960 Meeting ID: 927 8095 2960 Passcode: COVID

Tuolumne County has a total of 4,115 cases split between 2,698 community cases and 1,417 Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) inmate cases, as of 4 PM today the California Department of Corrections counts two active inmate cases. Total community cases released from isolation are 2,622 and the total number of tests administered is 92,045. The county report lists 16,823 fully vaccinated residents and 4,891 individuals partially vaccinated.

Updated screening and other guidelines were detailed here yesterday.

For the week ending April 24, compared to the week ending April 17, Tuolumne has a Case Rate of 2.7 down from 3.5 and the Test Positivity Rate that dropped to 1.2 percent from 1.5 percent.

Calaveras County  The Calaveras public health report has three new cases since yesterday with the countys total COVID cases at 2,111. Active cases remain at 18 and recoveries increased three to 2,040 total. One Calaveras resident is hospitalized. In total there have been 981 men, 1,112 women, and 18 with no gender reported infected with COVID-19. The total number of people over 65 years old identified with COVID is 451 since the pandemic began. Calaveras reports 30,962 vaccinations given. Calaveras remains in the Orange Tier of the States Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Mariposa County  Mariposa County Public Health reports no new cases, one case is hospitalized and 5 cases are considered currently active. There are a total of 444 cases since the pandemic began. Mariposa County is in the Orange Tier.

Testing- The Mother Lode Fairgrounds testing site is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7 AM to 7 PM. The Groveland site is at the Youth Center, 18950 Hwy 120 on Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. Individuals can select the site location when making their appointment at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. More details, including Calaveras testing information, are in our events calendar here.

Vaccines  Individuals in Calaveras, Mariposa, and Tuolumne may register at myturn.ca.gov to schedule appointments. You can also call 833-422-4255 if you dont have an email (Mon to Fri 8AM to 8PM, Sat and Sun 8AM-5PM) for assistance. Due to technical issues, those who live in the 95223 area (Arnold) should enter 95222 as their zip code when searching for a location near you.

As of April 15th, eligibility has opened to everyone 16+ (Pfizer) and 18+ (Moderna) with photo ID, not currently sick with COVID-19 or had a flu shot within the last 14 days. As reported here, UC And CSU Schools Will Require COVID Vaccinations. Health and Human Services Agency Director Rebecca Espino recommends people who were infected with COVID-19 in the past also get the vaccine, as detailed here. More information about the local pharmacies and other places offering the vaccine are here.

County/Date

Tier Color Active

Cases New Cases

Total Cases COVID

Deaths Amador 5/4 8 2 1,770 38 Calaveras 5/4 18 9 2,108 53 Mariposa 5/5 5 0 444 7 Mono 5/5 3 0 1,019 4 Stanislaus 5/5 537 70 55,105 1,050 Tuolumne 5/5 12 0 4,115 64 For other county-level statistics view our page here.
Michael Daniel Wilson View Photos

Pioneer, CA  A teacher and students looked out their classroom window at Pioneer Elementary School last week in Amador County and saw a frightening sight  a man carrying a shotgun behind the school.

The call came into sheriffs dispatch just before 10 a.m. last Thursday from a school official reporting that the armed suspect was walking along the fence line of the campus, located in Pioneer. At the same time, the school went into lockdown.

A perimeter was set up around the school and deputies spread out combing the area for the suspect. Using the description provided by the witnesses, a records search was made that offered up a possible suspect, a nearby neighbor.

Deputies raced to that persons residence and upon their arrival, 61-year-old Michael Daniel Wilson of Pioneer came out of the home in a confrontational manner, according to sheriffs official, who added that he also refused to follow any commands. Wilson then suddenly ran back inside the house but exited it a few minutes later. That is when deputies subdued him, as he yelled and struggled while they handcuffed him.

Once inside the residence, deputies found the shotgun along with a handgun, both were loaded. Additional firearms were also discovered and about twenty-five grams of methamphetamine. Wilson admitted to being under the influence of illegal narcotics and alcohol.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli authorities on Thursday charged a Spanish woman under the countrys anti-terrorism laws, accusing her of funneling large sums of donations from European governments to a banned Palestinian militant group.

Juana Ruiz Sanchez was charged in a West Bank military court. Her indictment was the culmination of a more than year-long investigation into financing for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The group is regarded by Israel, the United States, Canada, and European Union as a terrorist organization.

Ruiz, a Spanish citizen and West Bank resident, has worked for Health Work Committees, a Palestinian non-governmental organization that provides medical services in the territory.

She was indicted on Israeli terrorism-financing offenses and other charges. The Palestinian NGOs senior accountant, former accountant and former purchasing department manager were expected to be charged with similar offenses in the coming days, according to the Shin Bet, Israels internal security agency.

Ruiz, 62, had been held by Israeli authorities without charge since her arrest at her home near Bethlehem on April 13.

Spains Foreign Ministry, which has provided her with consular assistance, said it would continue talking to Israeli authorities to improve detention conditions for Ruiz. The ministry also said Spain has controls to prevent aid money from reaching military groups.

We are open to examine any information that our partners want to share with us, it said.

Israeli human rights lawyer Gaby Lasky, who is defending Ruiz, said she only received the evidence against her client when the indictment was presented. She said the hearing was postponed until Monday to allow her to review the evidence. In the meantime, Ruiz, who she said denies all the charges, remains in jail.

The PFLP is a Palestinian Leninist-Marxist militant group that opposes the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It staged a number of airline hijackings in the 1970s and numerous attacks on Israeli civilians, including the 2001 assassination of then-tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi. It is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the main Palestinian national movement.

The Shin Bet began investigating the PFLPs finances following an August 2019 attack by the militant group in the West Bank that killed a 17-year-old girl and wounded her brother and father, an Israeli official said.

The investigation found at least seven Palestinian charities had funneled tens of millions of euros donated by European governments and organizations for humanitarian purposes to PFLP coffers.

The Israeli official said the probe found that the NGO, along with other aid organizations, including the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and Addameer, act under PFLP leadership and in accordance with the organizations directives, as a cover for promoting the PFLPs activities and funding.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The Health Works Committees did not respond to requests for comment, while PFLP representatives declined comment.

But Abdul Latif Ghaith, the founder of Adameer, which assists Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, rejected the accusations. He called the charges fabrications aimed at harming the work of legitimate groups that he said have credibility, operate with transparency, legality and legitimacy.

Although the PFLP is one of the smaller Palestinian militant groups operating in the occupied West Bank, its cash pipeline from Europe has developed considerably in the past decade, the official said. European governmental money helped build up this organization.

Israels Foreign Ministry called on European governments to step up oversight of donations to Palestinian organizations to ensure they dont wind up funding groups outlawed by the EU.

The EUs embassy in Israel said the bloc was ready for a full-fledged dialogue on these matters and vowed to take immediate appropriate measures against any group found to use its money inappropriately.

The EU is at the forefront of global anti-terrorism efforts, it said.

A petition calling on Israel to free Ruiz and the other detainees was signed by nearly 6,000 individuals and organizations in Spain, saying the aid group was attacked by Israel in a policy of repression, weakening and dismantling of civil society organizations of Palestine.

___

Associated Press writer Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.

By ILAN BEN ZION

Associated Press
Granite State News Electric bike ready for patrol

by Elissa Paquette

Officer Eric Larochelle stands with the Quiet Kat Apex Police Mountain Bike recntly donated to the Wolfeboro Police Department by David Thayer of Coyote Creek Outfitters, LLC, in Rochester. Larochelle and Officer Mary Devine will be the cops on the bike beat this summer. (Photo by Elissa Paquette) (click for larger version) WOLFEBORO  The Wolfeboro Police Department will have Officer Eric Larochelle and Officer Mary Devine on patrol this summer riding the Quiet Kat Apex Police Mountain Bike recently donated to the Wolfeboro Police Department by David Thayer of Coyote Creek Outfitters, LLC in Rochester. The bike has a 1000-watt E motor, front fork suspension, aggressive heavy-duty Kenda tires, police light package, police decals, and saddle storage bags, and it can reach top speed of 35 mph.



Rochelle, standing with the bike outside the police station on Monday, said after a training day riding the bike, he felt it should have a number, for "it is a cruiser." He enjoyed its speed and handling and capacity to access Wolfeboro's local trails. He pointed out that there are some deceptively long, steady ascents up Main Street that the bike makes easy. The left handle has the electric controls to ease into successive gears, and the right side has the mountain bike gears.



The rider can choose to pedal along with the bike in an electric gear or enjoy the ease of electric travel, like a moped, and switch back and forth between modes. Captain Mark Livie says operations will be enhanced in patrolling the downtown as well as the beaches and trails, which he expects to be busy this summer.



"It enables officers to interact at a more personal level with our community," he says.



The electric mountain bike can go 21 miles on a single four-hour charge. Livie expects the bike's charge to last for a shift or even more with the rider shifting modes.



So, look for officers on two wheels this summer, set up with sunscreen for a day outside and ready to say hello up close. WOLFEBORO  The Wolfeboro Police Department will have Officer Eric Larochelle and Officer Mary Devine on patrol this summer riding the Quiet Kat Apex Police Mountain Bike recently donated to the Wolfeboro Police Department by David Thayer of Coyote Creek Outfitters, LLC in Rochester. The bike has a 1000-watt E motor, front fork suspension, aggressive heavy-duty Kenda tires, police light package, police decals, and saddle storage bags, and it can reach top speed of 35 mph.Rochelle, standing with the bike outside the police station on Monday, said after a training day riding the bike, he felt it should have a number, for "it is a cruiser." He enjoyed its speed and handling and capacity to access Wolfeboro's local trails. He pointed out that there are some deceptively long, steady ascents up Main Street that the bike makes easy. The left handle has the electric controls to ease into successive gears, and the right side has the mountain bike gears.The rider can choose to pedal along with the bike in an electric gear or enjoy the ease of electric travel, like a moped, and switch back and forth between modes. Captain Mark Livie says operations will be enhanced in patrolling the downtown as well as the beaches and trails, which he expects to be busy this summer."It enables officers to interact at a more personal level with our community," he says.The electric mountain bike can go 21 miles on a single four-hour charge. Livie expects the bike's charge to last for a shift or even more with the rider shifting modes.So, look for officers on two wheels this summer, set up with sunscreen for a day outside and ready to say hello up close.


PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona House of Representatives has advanced a bill with a last-minute amendment that would ban racist, sexist, politicized or other controversial topics in schools and penalize teachers with fines.

Republican state Rep. Michelle Udall, who introduced the amendment Wednesday, said the newly amended bill is intended to ensure students are not taught that their race, ethnicity or sex determines their character.

Charter schools and state agencies would be prohibited under the Unbiased Teaching Act from discussing controversial issues in schools unless teachers give equal weight to divisive topics. Violations would result in $5,000 fines.

The bill will next head to the Senate.

The bill is similar to other legislation being proposed nationwide in an effort to prohibit critical race theory from classrooms. Critical race theory seeks to highlight how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today.

Udall, who chairs the House Education Committee, dismissed arguments that the bill seeks to ban conversations on racism.

We cannot allow children in our public schools to be taught that their skin color or ethnicity or sex somehow determines their character or actions. No forms of racism should be allowed to enter our classrooms, Udall said. Biased teaching needs to be stopped.

Chris Kotterman with the Arizona School Board Association opposed the bill, arguing biased teaching is not happening in Arizona schools. He also said the bills language is too vague and create continuous arguments over what is appropriate to teach and what is not appropriate.

The foundational argument is that there is some movement that teaches students, white students specifically, that they need to feel bad about the past sins of the country. Thats trash. Theres no one with any creditability thats teaching that to students, Kotterman said.

House Democrats voted against the bill, arguing that its unconstitutional and reminiscent of a 2010 law that banned Mexican-American studies and was later struck down in court.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A Florida man was convicted Thursday of trying to organize an armed response to supporters of former President Donald Trump for an expected gathering at the state Capitol in January ahead of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration.

Daniel Alan Baker, 33, of Tallahassee, was convicted of two counts of transmitting a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to kidnap or injure another person.

Baker used social media to recruit people in a plot to create a circle around protesters and trap them in the Capitol, according to the FBI. Court documents describe what it said were a series of threats of violence made by Baker, along with a prediction of civil war. Baker was described as anti-Trump, anti-government, anti-white supremacists and anti-police.

The free exercise of speech is central to our democracy, acting U.S. Attorney Coody said in a news release. However, the defendants threats of armed violence to inhibit expression of political views different than his own are both unlawful and dangerous.

There were nationwide alerts about potential protests at state Capitols the weekend before Biden was sworn in, prompted in large part by the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

In Florida, law enforcement agents were in position on the roof of the Senate and House office buildings, the Supreme Court and the Tallahassee City Hall, which is a block from the state Capitol, but no significant protests materialized.

Baker was kicked out of the Army in 2007 after going AWOL before being deployed to Iraq, according to authorities. An FBI affidavit said Baker was then homeless and largely unemployed for the following nine years, most of the time in Tallahassee.

If you are afraid to die fighting the enemy, then stay in bed and live. Call all of your friends and Rise Up! Baker wrote on a Facebook event page he created, according to the affidavit.

Baker is scheduled to be sentenced in August. He faces up up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on both counts.

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON

Associated Press
GOP governor race: Whos in first depends on whos in second View Photo

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP)  Being a voters second choice is usually a recipe for disaster for a political candidate, but in this years chaotic GOP gubernatorial race in Virginia, second-place status could be a winning ticket.

Seven candidates are vying for the Republican nomination at what the GOP is calling an unassembled convention this Saturday.

None of the four top-tier candidates  Pete Snyder, Amanda Chase, Kirk Cox and Glenn Youngkin  have established themselves as a clear front-runner. As a result, under the ranked-choice voting system the GOP is using, the winner will almost certainly need to be the second choice of numerous voters, and perhaps even the third choice, to secure the nomination.

Under the ranked-choice system  which has been adopted in Maine, Alaska, and a growing number of local elections around the country  voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives an outright majority, the last-place finisher is eliminated, and that candidates votes are reallocated to whomever those voters listed as their second preference.

The process continues, reshuffling votes until one candidate obtains an outright majority. Its designed to mimic the voting at a true convention, where delegates gather in a location, listen to speeches from the candidates, and hold multiple ballots until a winner gets a majority.

Last week, Cox put out an online ad explicitly asking delegates to name him as their No. 2.

I understand I might not be everyones first choice, Cox says in the ad. But if Im not your first choice, Id really appreciate you putting me down as your second.

In a phone interview, Cox said the rationale for such an overt plea is obvious.

Its not hard to do the math, he said. Theres seven candidates. I dont see anyone getting a majority on the first ballot.

Cox also said that when he makes calls to the tens of thousands of Virginians who have registered as delegates, its clear that many arent even aware they will be casting a ranked-choice ballot.

Cox, a former House speaker with a 30-year career in the House of Delegates, is often seen as the favorite of mainstream or moderate Republicans; but Cox said hes not targeting any particular candidates supporters in his plea for second-choice votes.

I would hope I have a pretty good chance with all of them, he said.

Chase, meanwhile, is taking the opposite approach: She says shes campaigning to be voters first and only choice.

I would never say I want to be No. 2, because that means youre losing, Chase said.

Indeed, shes asking her supporters to choose her in all seven slots on the ballot. As a practical matter, thats the same as choosing her first and leaving the other choices blank, but she said putting her name in all seven slots eliminates an avenue of chicanery, that someone might tamper with the ballot and fill in another name in the alternate positions.

The ranked-choice format is believed to be particularly troublesome for Chase, a polarizing figure even in her own party who has been most vocal in her support of former President Donald Trump and has spoken favorably about the Jan. 6 mob march on the Capitol.

Her supporters are her supporters, period, said Mark Rozell, political science professor at George Mason University. Shes not anyones second choice. Her support on subsequent ballots will sink.

The concern for fraud expressed by Chase was shared by multiple candidates, who prevailed on the GOPs state central committee to put procedures in place to ensure transparency during the counting process.

As a result, after delegates cast their ballots Saturday at 39 polling locations across the state, the ballots will be counted in a central location by multiple witnesses with candidate representatives in place as observers. The precautions will also slow the count  the party wont even begin counting ballots on Saturday and has advised it could take as long as a week to declare a winner.

The campaign of Youngkin, a former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group investment firm making his first run for office, declined to make him available for an interview. But in a written statement, he too was going for No. 2. If delegates are committed to another candidate, then I ask for their second choice vote and let them know that I am the best positioned to beat Terry McAuliffe in November as an outsider, Christian conservative, and successful business leader.

At some candidate forums, Cox and Youngkin have suggested that each might want the other to serve in their Cabinet if elected, possibly appealing to each others voters as second choices.

Rozell said it makes some sense that Cox and Youngkin might be able to garner second-place slots from each others delegates, while the same might be true for Chase and Snyder.

While all four candidates offer similar views on the issues, Chase and Snyders rhetorical styles are at times more appealing to those who favor a more combative tone. Chase has embraced the nickname of Trump in heels while Snyder frequently refers to himself as an outlaw conservative.

The delegates will also chose candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general on Saturday using the same ranked-choice voting system.

Democrats will choose their nominee from among five candidates next month in a state-run primary with no runoff. Whoever gets the most votes will win it, even if no one gets a majority.

___

This story corrects that Glenn Youngkin is a former co-CEO of the Carlyle Group, not a founding member.

By MATTHEW BARAKAT

Associated Press
ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP)  A convicted bank robber was found dead on a Southern California beach but the cause of his death remains under investigation, authorities said.

Christopher Andrew Gibson, 32, was found early Tuesday morning on a beach in Encinitas in northern San Diego County, according to the county medical examiners office.

In 2015, Gibson pleaded guilty to federal charges that he robbed two banks in Vista and one in San Diego, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Dubbed the bearded bandit because of his shaggy facial hair, Gibson would present notes to tellers demanding money and made off with more than $7,600 in cash.

The first robbery in 2014 was committed hours after Gibson was released from a detetention center where he was being held on unrelated charges, the FBI said.

Gibson was sentenced to five years and eight months in federal prison for the robberies. In December 2019, he was charged with escape for failing to report back to a halfway house and the next month he was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

It wasnt known where Gibson was living at the time of his death.
Disney Princess  The Concert will kick off a national tour in Macon, Georgia on Nov. 1 and the tour is set to stop in Lubbock next February.

The concert is set for Feb. 2, 2022 at The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences.
Leading industrial nations came out in support of Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, leading into this year's annual meeting May 24 to June 1.

It is the first time the Group of Seven as a whole has backed Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA. "We support Taiwan's meaningful participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assembly. The international community should be able to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan's successful contribution to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic," the G7 said in a joint communique Wednesday after foreign ministers gathered this week in London.

Taiwan said it is grateful for the G7's strong support. "#Taiwan thanks all G7 FMs and the EU for voicing such a strong support in the Communique for our meaningful participation in #WHO & #WHA. #LetTaiwanHelp and contribute to the global health system," Taiwan's main representative office in the U.S. said in a tweet.

Officials from Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei are also joining the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting as guests in London. "We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order, and express serious concerns about reports of militarization, coercion and intimidation in the region," said the communique, which was released after the meeting.

The statement comes as China steps up military activities, sending aircraft into Taiwan's air space. "It is very consequential that democracies are speaking with one voice on an important occasion like the G7 to underscore their support for Taiwan's participation" in the World Health Organization, said Bonnie Glaser, Asian program director at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.


Littleton Courier Chang Thai owner featured on Martha Stewart's 'Chopped'

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author

Emshika Alberini, owner of Chang Thai in Littleton, was featured on an episode of Martha Stewart's Chopped "Martha Rules." (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine  Owner of Littleton's popular Chang Thai restaurant, Emshika Alberini made her debut appearance on the Food Network's show 'Chopped' Martha Rules. Hosting the show was Martha Stewart, a familiar face to all those in the world of cooking. Alberini competed against 16 other chefs for a chance to win $50,000.



Much of Alberini's endeavors have been spurred on by the spirit of her late sister Ann Sriwipa who tragically passed away at the young age of 26 in 2006.



"She was a very talented chef and worked at a Thai-French restaurant in New Jersey. She always wanted to open a restaurant, where she would be the chef, and I would manage it," explained Alberini.



After her passing, Alberini took the devastating loss and turned it into the fuel that would drive her success.



"She gave me so many opportunities to cherish. She had such a strong personality, I couldn't do any of this without her spirit," said Alberini.



The journey to Chopped, actually began five years ago when Alberini was contacted by producers. Since then, she never knew when she would get the call and sort of brushed it off. Things changed in 2020 however, when Alberini was interviewed three times by producers.



"They had finally emailed me that I was top on the list, then I was notified three weeks later that I was chosen," explained Alberini.



The show, hosted by Stewart consisted of a five-episode series, filmed at Hidden Pond, a resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. During each show, four chefs were given a basket with ingredients unknown to them, until they open it.



"Actually, they film the opening of the basket five times, so we did have a bit of time to think about what we could do with it," said Alberini.



During the show, Stewart changed the rules, such as the timing for when a dish would need to be completed to throw chefs off their game.



Alberini's segment of the show was filmed in September, then aired in mid-April. During that time, the Littleton resident was able to speak with Stewart.



"I had met her before in NYC at other events. She is very sweet," said Alberini.



Alberini explained that there were roughly 24 cameras filming each segment, with four directly on her.



"We did our own makeup, and the promo video took about five hours to film. We had to film separate from other competitors so we wouldn't know what the others were saying," she explained.



During the episode Alberini received compliments from the judges on her Thai style mussel pancakes, but did not advance to the next round.



"It was a great experience, and it showed my children that anything is possible," Alberini said.



The entrepreneur has other accolades, such as being named one of the top 100 on the Cherry Bombe list, an independent magazine that celebrates women in and around the world of food and drink.



Keep an eye out for Alberini, who might find herself on national television again. KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine  Owner of Littleton's popular Chang Thai restaurant, Emshika Alberini made her debut appearance on the Food Network's show 'Chopped' Martha Rules. Hosting the show was Martha Stewart, a familiar face to all those in the world of cooking. Alberini competed against 16 other chefs for a chance to win $50,000.Much of Alberini's endeavors have been spurred on by the spirit of her late sister Ann Sriwipa who tragically passed away at the young age of 26 in 2006."She was a very talented chef and worked at a Thai-French restaurant in New Jersey. She always wanted to open a restaurant, where she would be the chef, and I would manage it," explained Alberini.After her passing, Alberini took the devastating loss and turned it into the fuel that would drive her success."She gave me so many opportunities to cherish. She had such a strong personality, I couldn't do any of this without her spirit," said Alberini.The journey to Chopped, actually began five years ago when Alberini was contacted by producers. Since then, she never knew when she would get the call and sort of brushed it off. Things changed in 2020 however, when Alberini was interviewed three times by producers."They had finally emailed me that I was top on the list, then I was notified three weeks later that I was chosen," explained Alberini.The show, hosted by Stewart consisted of a five-episode series, filmed at Hidden Pond, a resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. During each show, four chefs were given a basket with ingredients unknown to them, until they open it."Actually, they film the opening of the basket five times, so we did have a bit of time to think about what we could do with it," said Alberini.During the show, Stewart changed the rules, such as the timing for when a dish would need to be completed to throw chefs off their game.Alberini's segment of the show was filmed in September, then aired in mid-April. During that time, the Littleton resident was able to speak with Stewart."I had met her before in NYC at other events. She is very sweet," said Alberini.Alberini explained that there were roughly 24 cameras filming each segment, with four directly on her."We did our own makeup, and the promo video took about five hours to film. We had to film separate from other competitors so we wouldn't know what the others were saying," she explained.During the episode Alberini received compliments from the judges on her Thai style mussel pancakes, but did not advance to the next round."It was a great experience, and it showed my children that anything is possible," Alberini said.The entrepreneur has other accolades, such as being named one of the top 100 on the Cherry Bombe list, an independent magazine that celebrates women in and around the world of food and drink.Keep an eye out for Alberini, who might find herself on national television again.


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.
On my 27th birthday, my Mom gave me a gift I hadn't even asked for: My first slow cooker. I wasn't too thrilled at first (I was hoping for cash!), but within weeks I realized that it was probably one of the best gifts I had ever gotten. Not only did it make my meals a whole lot tastier, it also made my Sunday evening meal prepping way more convenient (yes, despite the name slow cooker it even saved me time).

Here's the thing, though: Every time that I'd be sitting at home Googling slow cooker recipes, this one simple word would keep popping up in every recipe that I found: Crockpot. As much as I loved my slow cooker, I got curious: What's a Crockpot and why is it different from a slow cooker? Let's dive right in.

Is a Crockpot the same thing as a slow cooker?

A quick Google search leads me to the official Crockpot website - Where the Crockpot is repeatedly referred to as 'The original slow cooker. Does that mean a Crockpot is simply a variation of the slow cooker? Are they the same exact thing after all?

After a little more research it becomes pretty clear: A Crockpot is a type of slow cooker  but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot.

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Crockpot is, in fact, the name of a brand that debuted the first slow cooker variation (a bean cooker marketed toward working mothers) over 40 years ago. Today, the Crockpot is a brand of slow cookers (and pressure cookers), and while there are other slow cooker brands (for example KitchenAid and Black+Decker), Crockpot is arguably the most popular one, especially considering the name is even being used interchangeably with the term slow cooker, even though they're not the exact same thing. You could compare that to brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid, that have become originators in their niche in the past (Who even uses the term facial tissue?!) only to go through a process called genericization when they got too popular.

But thats neither here nor there.

What are the differences between the two?

Now that we know that every Crockpot is a slow cooker but not every slow cooker is a Crockpot, let's have a look at the technical differences.

The most basic Crockpots offer three settings: On/Off, low slow cook, and high slow cook, which is comparable to many other slow cooker brands. Models have advanced over the years though, and now come with digital timers, a keep-warm setting, and other special options  like this Crockpot that you can conveniently control with an app on your phone.

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When we look at the material, it's evident that slow cookers and Crockpots consist of the same three components: Glass lid, pot, and heating element. However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot.

As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat. The pot of the slow cooker usually sits on a base that houses the heating element on the bottom, while Crockpots have their pots inside of a container (or crock) and get heating from all sides. Therefore, slow cookers heat up slower than crockpots, with the heat level higher on the bottom of the pot. This results in food cooking slightly differently.

Is one better than the other?

Both slow cookers and Crockpots look quite similar with their pots, lids and heating elements and both use moist heat to cook food over an extended period of time. Obviously, both are great options to make your meals healthier, cheaper and more convenient. But is one better than the other?

Since the heating element of most slow cookers sits on the bottom, some dishes might burn or stick to the bottom if not stirred. If you're planning to cook your meals mostly when you're not home or overnight, then sticking to a Crockpot might be a better choice, since the heat distribution is more even and there is no need to stir at all. Additionally, a Crockpot can cook bigger pieces of meat more evenly than a slow cooker and it makes them exceptionally tender.

There are plenty of slow cooker brands and some specialize in cooking specific things like stews, soups or meat, so it's important to know what you want from your future slow cooker. The brand aside, you should also pay attention to styles and sizes of slow cookers. For example, a 1-to-3 quart slow cooker is ideal for singles and couples, while larger families should go for 6-to-7 quart products.

Conclusion

My personal take? Being the proud owner of both a Crockpot and another slow cooker brand, I'd say that the Crockpot is better for beginners and also a bit more convenient. I love the fact that I can 'set and forget' with the Crockpot and have a delicious meal ready for me when I get home from work.

Also, if you're not vegetarian or vegan, a Crockpot might also be the better choice just because it makes the meat insanely tender and juicy. I'm personally not too much into soups and stews, so Crockpot is a better choice for me.

Take this with a grain of salt though  After all, I didn't even know what slow cookers and Crockpots were until I was 27.
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Italys 66th David di Donatello Awards are set to celebrate on May 11 a year of resilience for Cinema Italiano that also looks likely to germinate some creative renewal, just as Italian movie theaters start to reopen and production is booming.

Giorgio Dirittis biopic Hidden Away, about crazed primitivist painter Antonio Ligabue, Gianni Amelios wistful Hammamet, which reconstructs the Tunisian self-exile of scandal-plagued Italian leader Bettino Craxi, and dark drama Bad Tales by the DInnocenzo Brothers lead the crowded field for Italys equivalent of the Oscars, with no clear frontrunner.

Significantly, Hidden Away, which scooped 15 nominations, and Bad Tales, which scored 13, both star actor Elio Germano. And Germano also plays the lead in another standout title in the Davids race, Netflix Italian Original The Incredible Story of Rose Island, which landed 11 noms, including one for the pics producer, multihyphenate Matteo Rovere, whose Groenlandia Group is having a banner year.

Though male helmers lead the Davids pack, film critic Piera Detassis, who heads the Italian Film Academy that runs the awards, underlines the strong presence of women directors this year, citing Susanna Nicchiarellis Miss Marx, a biopic of Karl Marxs proto-feminist daughter Eleanor that tallied 11 noms, and Emma Dantes Sicily-set The Macaluso Sisters, which scored six. These titles are both nominated in the best film and best director categories.

Detassis (see interview) has also repeatedly pointed out that in the Italian prizes 66-year history a woman has never won a best director David.

On the positive side, she underlines that this year two female filmmakers feature among the first-time director nominees: Ginevra Elkann for delicate divorce dramedy If Only and Alice Filippi for smart teen romcom Out of My League. There are also two docs directed by women among the five nominated for best documentary.

Former Warner Bros. Italy exec Domizia De Rosa, who is president of Women in Film, Television & Media Italia, points out that in past editions of the Davids only two films directed by women have won for best picture. In both cases they were directed by Francesca Archibugi  in 1991 for Verso Sera, and in 1993 for Il Grande Cocomero (The Great Pumpkin). But despite the fact that her films were nominated in both categories Archibugi didnt win the best director statuette.

I can only hope that this will change this year, De Rosa says (see separate story).

The upcoming Davids see living legend Sophia Loren among nominees for her role as Madame Rosa, a former prostitute and Holocaust survivor, in Netflix Original The Life Ahead, directed by her son Edoardo Ponti. Life Ahead is also nominated in the original song category, for Io Si (Seen), written by Diane Warren, and co-written and performed by pop star Laura Pausini. Lorens closest contender for the actress nod is probably Alba Rohrwacher for her role as a betrayed wife in Daniele Luchettis potrait of a marriage The Ties, which opened the 2020 Venice Film Festival.

Sandra Milo, a great Italian actor of Lorens generation who unlike Loren never achieved much international fame, is being celebrated with a David di Donatello lifetime achievement award for a career comprising memorable turns in Federico Fellinis 8 and Juliet of the Spirits. Milo also worked with Jean Renoir and Roberto Rossellini, among other greats, and, more recently, with Gabriele Salvatores and Gabriele Muccino.

Actor and screenwriter Diego Abatantuono, best known internationally for his role as the burly, brash sergeant in Salvatores Oscar-winning ensemble comedy Mediterraneo, and well-known at home for a slew of mostly comic films, will also be feted with a career nod.

And Monica Belluccis stellar career is being celebrated with a Special David honoring her rare ability to be a global icon while always seeking to be creative in her work and to engage with the artistic community, said Detassis, who called Bellucci charismatic, cosmopolitan and at the same time deeply Italian.

Due to the pandemic, pics that skipped theatrical were allowed to participate in the Davids race this year. And a record-breaking percentage of voters, 91% out of the 1,578 members of the David di Donatello Academy, cast their ballots.

Also probably due to the pandemic, which has limited the number of available titles, films nominated for Davids this year have a distinctive flair. As Detassis says, there is a propensity for reconstructing history, both recent and past. Its as though in the year of the pandemic we are seeing a tendency towards storytelling based on memory and history as a need to cling on to reality and truth, the David awards chief notes.

The 66th Davids ceremony will be held as an in-person event simultaneously in two venues, Romes Fabrizio Frizzi TV studios and the Italian capitals opera house, with nominees in all categories physically present, aired live in primetime on pubcaster RAIs flagship RAI 1 channel.

Im very happy that RAI is supporting us and granted my wish to honor all categories by having everyone attend, which wasnt easy from a production standpoint, says Detassis.

Her only wish now is for more Italian movies to soon be out in local cinemas, which on April 26 started to gradually reopen.

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In 1975, San Antonio saw an unusual robbery at Frost Bank, the rise of strippers on the River Walk, a performance by the Rolling Stones, and most importantly the election of the city's first female mayor.

Lila Cockrell was elected to serve in April of 1975, pushing the city into the national spotlight, as it was the largest city in the nation with a female mayor.

RELATED: Vintage photos show tragedies, everyday life in San Antonio in 1979

Shortly after the election, Cockrell said winning was far more than a personal triumph. "I regard this as something that says to women that the doors are opening to their full participation in government," she said.

She earned the title of "the iron fist in a velvet glove" and served as the city's mayor from 1975 to 1981 and again from 1989 to 1991.

Cockrell died in August 2019 at the age of 97, leaving a long legacy of service to the city.

Her life of public service began well before 1975 but that was Cockrell's first as the leader of the city. The year also had its typical celebrations, storms and more all captured by photographers for the San Antonio Express News.

Keep scrolling to learn more about San Antonio's spotlight year.
There were once 340 warships.

Standing proud on the water in Suisun Bay, ready to head out and protect the country in a time of national emergency.

But there they sat, unmoved for decades, a floating phalanx on the horizon rusting into the bay, catching passing motorists' eye on 680.

The National Defense Reserve Fleet program started in 1946 at the end of World War II. At the time the Navy had a huge surplus of vessels from the war, and Suisun Bay became one of eight places around the coast where the warships were anchored.

Maintained by the U.S. Maritime Administration, the fleets served as a reserve of ships for national defense and national emergency, and provided a totem of security as the country lived through the existential dread of the Cold War.

At its peak in 1950, the program had more than 2,000 ships awaiting battle around America's coastline.

But decades passed, and the call to arms never came. The official name "reserve fleet" soon became known to locals as the "mothball fleet" to describe the long-defunct military ships. Some preferred the term "ghost fleet," reflecting the eerie sight of the forgotten vessels through the early morning fog.

Terry Schmitt/Hearst Bay Area

The dozens of hulking ships included some seafaring celebrities. The tugboat Hoga once saved soldiers and burning ships in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The USS Iowa also stood among them. That battleship fought in the Pacific during both WWII and the Korean War, and once took President Roosevelt to a meeting with Winston Churchill in Algeria at the height of the war.

The most notorious ship in the fleet may have been the Glomar Explorer, a highly-modified drilling vessel constructed by Howard Hughes. The Glomar was used by the CIA in a highly secretive campaign in 1974 to recover the wrecked Soviet submarine K129, near the coast of Hawaii, before retiring in Suisun.

In 1955 some locals noticed that the ghost fleet, as it was already known, was mysteriously shrinking.

"Our favorite beachcomber notes with some alarm that the Suisun Bay ghost fleet is shrinking," the Oakland Tribune reported. "No crews are seen to go aboard. No steam rises from the cold stacks. No orders are given to ghost helmsmen. Yet, over a short period, the fleet is growing smaller and smaller. What's the answer?"

The answer, it turned out, was that many of ships were towed to Seattle to be used as floating grain warehouses.

While not fulfilling their destiny at war, at least those vessels found some use, unlike the remaining ships that sat and rusted, unmanned and unloved.

"We had just about every kind of Navy ship here except for an aircraft carrier. We had guided-missile cruisers, frigates. We had a battleship for 10 years," Joe Pecoraro, longtime manager if the fleet, told KQED in 2017. "My dad used to call it Joes rusty navy, we had a lotta rust."

Attempts to scrap and sell off the floating junkyard in the 2000s were slowed by Coast Guard regulations that required the removal of barnacles and other sea creatures clinging to the ships' hulls. This caused toxic paint to flake off into the water, and fears of contamination put an immediate halt to the process, as it did to similar fleets in Texas and Virginia.

Gordon Peters/Hearst Bay Area

Researchers found that 20 tons of harmful chemicals, lead, hazardous paint and even asbestos were falling off the vessels. The fleet's pollution was particularly worrying as the site neighbors the environmentally sensitive Suisun Marsh, the largest salt marsh in the western United States.

This finally resulted in legal action against the federal government brought on by BayKeeper  an Oakland nonprofit that seeks to rid the San Francisco Bay of pollution and other environmental partners in 2007.

"We discovered based on a government study, that vessels were putting about 20 tons of pollution into the bay," Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director of BayKeeper, told NBC News in 2015. "The Ghost Fleet of Suisun Bay was pretty much an iconic tourist attraction. It's too bad they were heavily polluting our San Francisco Bay."

The action claimed that the ships were leaking fuel and collecting invasive species, while shedding metals and toxic paint. The fleet was a "floating toxic waste dump," said the nonprofit.

BayKeeper also said that the pollution levels from the fleet were harming bottom-dwelling species, like green sturgeon and Sacramento splittail, and the toxins were being introduced into the region's food chain.

The campaign was successful and in 2010 the federal government's cleanup and removal of the remaining 57 original ships began. Over 140 tons of paint and rust chips were collected in barrels and taken to a hazardous waste disposal facility.

The two most iconic ships found new homes  the Hoga is now housed at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, and the USS Iowa is now a floating museum at the Pacific Battleship Center in San Pedro, California.

But most were unceremoniously dismantled locally at the former naval shipyard on nearby Mare Island.

In late July 2017, the last two ships of the original fleet, the Cape Borda and the Cape Breton, were transferred to Texas, via Mare Island, to be fully dismantled and recycled for parts.

MediaNews Group/Bay Area News vi/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Technically the reserve fleet still exists, and according to the U.S. Maritime Administration, new ships can be added to the fleet. Of the original eight fleet sites, Suisun Bay is one of three that is still in operation and the only site serving the West Coast.

Today, it appears that six boats remain. Those ships are outfitted with screens and filters to keep pollutants out of the water, and the administration is regularly testing the water quality around the hulls.

To see the remaining ghosts, take the Lake Herman Road Exit from Highway 680 to the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet vista point.
Littleton Courier Bethlehem landfill notified of compliance deficiency

by Angel Larcom BETHLEHEM  Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued a Letter of Deficiency to North Country Environmental Services (NCES) for exceeding landfill capacity. The news came one month after the Conservation Law Foundation filed a civil complaint against the Bethlehem landfill.



According to the letter, NHDES Waste Management Division Assistant Director Sarah Yuas Kim informed NCES Manager Kevin Roy that the company had violated a permit modification from Aug. 15, 2014. The landfill secured NHDES approval for a Stage VI expansion last October.



NCES completed expansion construction in Dec 2020 with the intent to begin receiving waste last month. Stage VI extended its footprint beyond Bethlehem Zoning District V, which remains the only district that allows landfills.



On Feb. 18, NHDES issued a Notice of Findings (NOF) regarding facility capacity. In its response dated March 3, NCES provided a capacity evaluation with a plan entitled "2020 AFR Volume Remaining" that showed NCES had placed waste outside the permitted vertical limits of the landfill by up to approximately 16 feet in the northeast area of the landfill.



A permit modification for Stage VI, which slightly modified the permitted vertical limits in the subject area of the landfill, was approved on Oct. 9, 2020. The overfill exceeded the revised limits, and operating approval for Stage VI Phase I was not granted until March 19 of this year.



NHDES called for the immediate cessation of any additional waste outside the landfill's permitted vertical and lateral limits. The state agency also demanded that all waste matter outside those limits be promptly relocated to meet permit requirements.



Additionally, NCES was expected to submit an incident report with an accompanying plan and schedule for the waste relocation. The documents needed to be provided within five days of receipt of the letter. The landfill corporation was also expected to provide weekly written progress reports and an implementation plan to prevent the incident from occurring again in the future.



According to the letter, failure to comply with NHDES expectations could result in a referral to the New Hampshire Department of Justice for enforcement and potential monetary penalties. Copies of the letter were delivered to Casella engineer John Gay, the NHDES legal team, and Bethlehem town officials.



The Stage VI expansion on Trudeau Road extended the landfill's footprint into Bethlehem Zoning District III, which does not allow landfill operations. Although some say the extension violates a 2012 settlement agreement between the Town of Bethlehem and NCES, town officials have not addressed the issue. BETHLEHEM  Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued a Letter of Deficiency to North Country Environmental Services (NCES) for exceeding landfill capacity. The news came one month after the Conservation Law Foundation filed a civil complaint against the Bethlehem landfill.According to the letter, NHDES Waste Management Division Assistant Director Sarah Yuas Kim informed NCES Manager Kevin Roy that the company had violated a permit modification from Aug. 15, 2014. The landfill secured NHDES approval for a Stage VI expansion last October.NCES completed expansion construction in Dec 2020 with the intent to begin receiving waste last month. Stage VI extended its footprint beyond Bethlehem Zoning District V, which remains the only district that allows landfills.On Feb. 18, NHDES issued a Notice of Findings (NOF) regarding facility capacity. In its response dated March 3, NCES provided a capacity evaluation with a plan entitled "2020 AFR Volume Remaining" that showed NCES had placed waste outside the permitted vertical limits of the landfill by up to approximately 16 feet in the northeast area of the landfill.A permit modification for Stage VI, which slightly modified the permitted vertical limits in the subject area of the landfill, was approved on Oct. 9, 2020. The overfill exceeded the revised limits, and operating approval for Stage VI Phase I was not granted until March 19 of this year.NHDES called for the immediate cessation of any additional waste outside the landfill's permitted vertical and lateral limits. The state agency also demanded that all waste matter outside those limits be promptly relocated to meet permit requirements.Additionally, NCES was expected to submit an incident report with an accompanying plan and schedule for the waste relocation. The documents needed to be provided within five days of receipt of the letter. The landfill corporation was also expected to provide weekly written progress reports and an implementation plan to prevent the incident from occurring again in the future.According to the letter, failure to comply with NHDES expectations could result in a referral to the New Hampshire Department of Justice for enforcement and potential monetary penalties. Copies of the letter were delivered to Casella engineer John Gay, the NHDES legal team, and Bethlehem town officials.The Stage VI expansion on Trudeau Road extended the landfill's footprint into Bethlehem Zoning District III, which does not allow landfill operations. Although some say the extension violates a 2012 settlement agreement between the Town of Bethlehem and NCES, town officials have not addressed the issue.

Littleton Courier New memorial plaque dedicated in Franconia Funding approved for wastewater treatment facility Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
With less than a month left in the legislative session  and Texas Republicans split on which package of proposals might cross the finish line  HP, Microsoft, Unilever, Patagonia and two dozen other companies are urging state lawmakers not to pass new restrictions on voting.

In the biggest pushback so far by business against the GOP's legislative bid to ratchet up the states already restrictive voting rules, national companies joined in a statement voicing their opposition Tuesday with local businesses and several local chambers of commerce representing LGBTQ, Hispanic and Black members of the business community.

We stand together, as a nonpartisan coalition, calling on all elected leaders in Texas to support reforms that make democracy more accessible and oppose any changes that would restrict eligible voters access to the ballot, the businesses wrote in their letter. We urge business and civic leaders to join us as we call upon lawmakers to uphold our ever elusive core democratic principle: equality. By supporting a stronger trustworthy democracy, we will elevate our economy.

The statement does not address specific legislation, but comes as Texas Republicans press forward with bills in the name of election integrity despite little to no evidence of widespread fraud and warnings from voting rights advocates and lawyers that many of them would be disproportionately harmful to voters of color.

Following the recent passage of new restrictions in Georgia, major corporations began responding to criticism about staying out of that fight by largely coalescing around joint statements that generally stated their opposition to election changes that make it harder to vote.

In Texas, Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dell Technologies, headquartered in Round Rock stood alone in declaring their opposition to specific Republicans legislative proposals that would further restrict voting in the state.

The airline, which also signed onto Tuesday's statement, took aim at Senate Bill 7, one of the broadest pieces of voting legislation this year that restricts early voting rules and hours, how voters can receive applications to vote by mail and the distribution of polling places in diverse urban areas, among several other provisions. Dell came out against House Bill 6, which makes it a state jail felony for local election officials to distribute unsolicited applications to vote by mail, requires people assisting voters to disclose the reason a voter needs help casting a ballot  even if its for medical reasons  and enhances criminal liability for election workers treatment of partisan poll watchers.

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Microsoft previously raised concerns with HB 6's prohibition on proactively sending vote-by-mail applications  an initiative taken up by several Texas counties last year as voters sought to avoid the dangers of in-person voting during a pandemic.

Both favored by leadership in each chamber, SB 7 and HB 6 are the centerpieces of Texas Republicans effort this year to enhance voting restrictions following the 2020 election and the near-record turnout it garnered.

Both bills have faced intense pushback from local leaders, Democrats, civil rights groups and advocates for people with disabilities. That collective opposition has centered on concerns that the legislation will almost certainly make voting harder for groups Texas voting rules have long marginalized  voters of color, voters with disabilities, voters with limited English proficiency  or violate federal safeguards for those voters.

Some of those advocates have urged corporate America to wade into their push to stop the bills from advancing in the Republican-controlled Legislature  a campaign that has harkened back to 2017 when corporate outcry to a so-called bathroom bill to restrict transgender Texans access to public facilities helped stopped that measure from passing. But the business response to proposed voting restrictions in Texas has so far fallen short of that.

In the Texas House, the possible retribution for companies that have come out against the bills has been mostly symbolic so far. Republicans sought to inject the dispute into the chambers consideration of the states massive budget bill last month, offering amendments to withhold state funds from businesses that publicly opposed legislation related to election integrity. Those proposals were ultimately kept off the budget.

Those threats  coupled with Republican demands for corporations to stay out of policy disputes outside of their business realm  did not deter the companies that signed onto the letter. Patagonia has even been sharing its own analysis of "voter suppression legislation," which includes SB 7, HB 6 and several other bills, with other companies considering opposing proposed restrictions.

"Companies need to do more than solely focus on profit ... and empowering their communities can be really good for business and thats something we're seeing that's a good trend," said Corley Kenna, a spokesperson for Patagonia. "I hope more companies speak out on these issues, mostly because I think its important to have companies step up where government seems to be falling short."

In Houston, the proposed voting restrictions have divided the region's most prominent chamber of commerce with some members of the Greater Houston Partnership urging its leadership to denounce portions of SB 7 and HB 6 in light of the organization's commitment to oppose racial injustice. As passed in the Senate, SB 7 would prohibit various Harris County voting initiatives, including extended early voting hours and drive-thru voting that proved popular among voters of color, and would require the county to redistribute its polling places away from Houston's urban core, which has more Hispanic and Black residents, to suburban areas that have more white residents.

The influential organization's leadership ultimately moved to not speak out on the bills, so on Tuesday a group of 175 business leaders, including 10 members of the partnership's board, wrote to House Speaker Dade Phelan to oppose portions of the legislation, the Houston Chronicle reported.

As the legislation stands now, SB 7 is a duplicate version of HB 6 following a House Elections Committee vote to gut the Senate legislation and rewrite it, but the Senate can still revive its priorities. The full House may debate the bill as early as this week, but the final version of SB 7 will likely be decided behind closed doors.

Both Patrick and Phelan have separately defended the proposals as reforms to make elections more consistent throughout the state. But Patrick has deemed SB 7 a legislative priority while Phelan has said he supports the proposals from HB 6 that replaced the original language in the Senate legislation.

The reconstituted SB 7 is likely headed to a conference committee made up by members of the two chambers who will work to consolidate the differences between the two versions of the bill  and possibly bring back its original restrictions.

In a statement Monday, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, the Mineola Republican who authored the bill in the Senate, cheered its advancement in the House and waved at the possibility of a deal on the bill.

We are working together in this process and trust that the final product of SB7 will be a great collaborative piece of legislation that makes it easy to vote and hard to cheat, Hughes said.

Disclosure: Dell, Greater Houston Partnership and Microsoft 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.
Texas lawmakers are poised to enact sweeping restrictions on access to abortions, prohibiting the procedure before many women know they are pregnant, and opening the door for a potential flood of lawsuits against abortion providers.

The House on Wednesday gave initial approval to a priority heartbeat bill passed by the Senate earlier this spring, which was authored or sponsored by nearly every Republican senator and more than 60 members of the House. The legislation must still get another vote in the lower chamber before its sent to the governor, who has signaled that he is looking forward to signing it into law.

Abortion rights advocates say the legislation is among the most extreme measures nationwide and does not exempt people pregnant because of rape of incest. Beyond the limitations on abortion access, the bill would let nearly anyone  including people with no connection to the doctor or the woman  sue abortion providers, and those who help others get an abortion in violation of the proposed law. People who support abortion funds and clinics could also be hit with lawsuits, and lawyers warn those sued would not be able to recover some of the money they spent on their legal defense.

The unprecedented, extraordinary, and exceptionally broad language in the bills means family members, clergy, domestic violence and rape crisis counselors, or referring physicians could be subject to tens of thousands of dollars in liability to total strangers, nearly 400 Texas lawyers told House lawmakers in an open letter circulated by abortion rights advocates.

In a separate letter, more than 200 physicians said the bill would place doctors at risk of frivolous lawsuits and create a chilling effect where providers are reticent to give information out of fear of being sued.

The language in the bill is broad enough to open doctors from all specialties  like pediatrics and emergency medicine  up to lawsuits, the letter said, adding that as licensed physicians in Texas, we implore you to not weaponize the judicial branch against us to make a political point.

The bill, Senate Bill 8, bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected without specifying a specific timeframe, but a legislative analysis and its proponents have said that can be as early as six weeks.

State Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, the lead sponsor of the measure in the House, introduced the bill with a personal story.

She said her mother was given a dim prognosis of an abnormally developing baby but carried the pregnancy to term  and now 44 years and two days later, that little baby girl is standing in this chamber, her heart beating as strongly and as rapidly as it did all those years ago.

As she lays out before you, Senate Bill 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, Slawson added, to applause from other lawmakers.

But debate over the bill quickly became contentious, and Slawson did not directly answer a variety of questions from Democratic lawmakers, including about broader health topics like if access to contraception had anything to do with the rate of unintended pregnancies, or if women could become pregnant while menstruating.

State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, told Slawson that what she referred to as the sound of a heartbeat around six weeks is actually electrically induced flickering of fetal tissue, according to medical experts. At that stage of development, she said there is no developed heart.

I don't know that I agree with that, Slawson said.

Well, that's what the science says, said Howard, who grew emotional as the debate escalated and said later that the abortion debate is the worst day of the session every single session.

You guys know that there have always been abortions and there always will be despite the obstructions that youre putting in place here. Despite the self-righteousness of valuing life over what I value, which I highly resent. I also value the lives of the women and families who have to make these decisions, she said.

An amendment from Slawson carved out a class of people who cannot file lawsuits under the bill: Those who impregnated a woman through rape or incest. She also changed the proposed law to limit lawsuits to only perceived violations of the bill and not any breach of state abortion rules.

The legislation, which has an exception for medical emergencies, was passed with 81 votes in favor and 63 against. State Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, was the lone Democrat to vote for it, according to an unofficial tally. State Rep. Alex Dominguez, Democrat-Brownsville, was present but didn't vote.

Most abortions in Texas are currently prohibited after about 20 weeks. Pill-induced abortions are barred at 10 weeks, in accordance with federal guidelines. The abortion provider must perform a sonogram on the woman 24-hours before the abortion and give them information about medical risks, abortion alternatives and assistance available to those who follow through with their pregnancy.

More than 56,600 abortions were performed on Texas residents in 2019, according to state statistics, most of them in the first trimester.

The bills passage comes as conservative state houses across the country have tried to curtail abortion access, emboldened in part by the new conservative makeup of the Supreme Court.

States including Texas are now trying to ban abortions at various stages of pregnancy or for different reasons  and with a goal of teeing up challenges before the Supreme Court, Heather Shumaker, director of state abortion access at the National Womens Law Center said.

While heartbeat bills passed by other state houses have been blocked by the courts, Texas lawmakers believe legal language in their version makes it stronger.

But the provisions are controversial, and the lawyers who sent the letter to House lawmakers said they contravene the Texas Constitution and undermine long standing rules and tenets of our civil legal system.

Abortion providers and others could be sued later for conduct that was legal at the time  an ex post facto liability that violates the very bedrock of our legal system which requires notice and due process before imposing liability, the letter said.

Earlier Wednesday, abortion rights advocates hosted a morning press conference in protest of the measures, which they said would ban abortions before many women know they are pregnant.

To the surprise of many  particularly my male colleagues here in the Legislature  women's bodies are not clocks, Howard said at the press conference outside the Capitol. Periods are oftentimes irregular for many women. So unless you're very deliberately trying to become pregnant, you're likely not even considering at four weeks pregnancy  six weeks gestation  that you may be pregnant.

Former state Sen. Wendy Davis, who gained national attention for filibustering abortion legislation in 2013, said the legislation would disproportionately hurt those who cant afford to leave Texas to get an abortion.

What I know is that women like me, like my daughters, if they found themselves in that position, we would get in a plane, we would fly to another state, or we would get in a car and drive across state lines, she said.

Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization, celebrated the passage of the measure saying it was the "strongest pro-life bill to ever reach the Texas House floor."

This is a historic day for the state of Texas. The House has taken bold and wise action to protect innocent preborn children in the womb," Rebecca Parma, a senior legislative associate with the organization said in a statement.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
A presidential visit revealed some unknown facts about President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden.

Mainly that they're apparently secretly giants who tower over all past and present politicians.

FAKE TEXAN ALERT: This Yankee moved to Texas to run for Congress and it obviously didn't go well

The Bidens went to Georgia last week and visited former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter. The photo shows the Bidens looming over the Carters at very... ahem... unhuman-like heights.

People were quick with the reactions to the news that each Biden is seemingly 9 feet tall if we're only going off of appearances.

Houston's favorite Carters made an appearance.

Getting "Rosalynn Cartered" has even become a Thing now apparently.

HIGH TIMES IN D.C.: Jimmy Carter is fully aware his son smoked with Willie Nelson on the White House roof

But there is an explanation for why the president and first lady look like ventriloquists holding the Carters for a matinee performance.

The photographer likely used a wide-angle lens to capture everyone in the small space, thus distorting the Carters into hobbits alongside Gandalf, the Washington Post's Teo Armus reports.

And in case anyone is wondering: Biden is just 6 feet tall, not even the tallest president  President Abraham Lincoln was a cool 6 feet 4 inches tall.
San Antonios housing market is sizzling, conjuring memories of the sales boom before the last big bust.

During the coronavirus pandemic, prices and sales have surged as buyers seize on low interest rates and seek more space as they adjust to working from home.

The median price of a house sold in the area jumped 12 percent to $268,500 in March, according to the San Antonio Board of Realtors. Houses lasted an average of just 45 days on the market, down about 35 percent from 69 days a year ago.

If you look at the way prices have been going up, its almost behaving more like an auction market for prices, meaning that buyers are bidding up homes, said Molly Boesel, principal economist at CoreLogic, a real estate data analytics firm.

Its a frenzy that might bring to mind the housing bubble that played a big role in the Great Recession, which began in 2008. But economists and real estate agents say the conditions affecting the current markets hot streak are quite different  and were probably not in a bubble thats going to burst.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio panel denies request to raze historic West Side building

What we saw in 2006 and 2007 was a period of excess  excess lending, excess credit and excess with the build-up in the financial system over a period of time, said Chris Glynn, principal economist at Zillow, a real estate company.

Jim Gaines, an economist at the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, agreed, saying money then was being thrust out into the market by lenders as subprime mortgages and predatory lending practices mushroomed.

Anybody that could walk in and fog a mirror got approved for a loan, he said.

And, Glynn recalled, a flurry of risky new financial products were created in the lead-up to the Great Recession.

But lending standards have tightened since then. Prospective buyers often need higher credit scores and bigger down payments, and lenders are being more restrictive with debt-to-income ratios, Gaines said.

There was also an oversupply of houses during the Great Recession and construction slowed as the banking crisis deepened. This time, theres a dearth of available homes, which is driving up prices.

Were in the opposite situation by an extreme, said Jennifer Shemwell, president of Phyllis Browning Co., a residential real estate company with offices in San Antonio, Boerne and New Braunfels.

The inventory of available homes in the San Antonio area plummeted to 1.3 months in March, according to the San Antonio Board of Realtors, well below the six months of supply typically considered a balance between buyers and sellers.

Available homes are being snapped up quickly. Shemwell likens the situation to the toilet paper shortage at the beginning of the pandemic, when shoppers rushed to stores and emptied shelves.

We have many more buyers right now than there are houses for sale, she said. Theres a shortage, or a supply chain issue.

Its tight enough, in fact, that many buyers are sweetening their offers. They are offering well over the asking price, paying sellers closing costs, waiving protections such as the appraisal contingency and writing personal letters. In some cases, buyers are even dipping into their own pockets to fund offers that exceed the amount banks are willing to underwrite for a specific property.

New home construction is increasing but its still not keeping up with demand, Boesel said. Before the housing crash, inventory stood at about 10 months nationally; now its about two months.

That hangover from the last housing crash on the new home construction is really hurting supply now, she said. The fact that builders didnt build or maybe went out of business  its left us with very few homes on the market.

Another factor depressing supply is high materials costs, particularly for lumber. Prices have tripled over the past year, increasing the average cost of a new single-family home by nearly $36,000 to about $398,000, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Also, available land is harder to come by and pricier, Gaines said. And the approval process for getting permits is taking longer during the pandemic, and its difficult to find workers to build the houses.

Home construction in Texas this year could surpass 2005 levels, which would translate to about 180,000 new houses, Gaines said. Last year construction increased about 20 percent from 2019, and Gaines said hes expecting it to increase another 15 percent this year.

Even at that, though, we still arent going to have enough units to balance the market, he said.

The supply of houses has tightened as demand is surging. Buyers are eager to take advantage of low mortgage rates and move to a bigger space, not surprising given that theyre spending more time working from home. Many also saved money during the pandemic, including portions of their stimulus checks, Gaines said, and are ready to move up.

Demographic factors also are buoying the housing market. Millennials  the eldest of whom are turning 40 this year  are buying their first houses.

Texas population is growing and more companies are relocating here. People are arriving from more expensive locales such as California and New York, drawn to the tax environment and workforce, Shemwell said.

Investors are playing a role, too. Theyre bidding up prices on houses to be converted to rental properties or to fix up and resell.

And the pandemic upended seasonal patterns for residential real estate. Single-family home sales usually slow down in the winter and spike in the summer, but this past winter didnt see the usual slowdown. With families moving to the area and schools reopening in the fall, Shemwell is expecting a hot sales summer.

Right now everybody wants to live in Texas. A lot of people are moving to San Antonio, she said. Prices are going to continue to go up because the demand is outpacing the supply ... I see that going up for years to come.

All thats despite the fact Texas is still reeling from the pandemic. Employment was down 3.1 percent in March compared to the same month last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state added 99,000 jobs from February to March, but the unemployment rate of 6.9 percent was 2 percent higher than March 2020.

That puts a focus on another difference between today and the days of the Great Recession. Then, as people lost their jobs they started falling behind on mortgage payments and sliding into foreclosure. Foreclosure filings peaked at nearly 2.9 million in 2010, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data firm.

During the coronavirus pandemic, moratoriums on foreclosures have helped keep many borrowers in their homes. Filings during the first quarter of 2021 were up 9 percent from the prior quarter but down 78 percent from a year ago, ATTOM Data Solutions stated. Foreclosure sales recently resumed in Bexar County after a year-long pause.

Gaines said he expects a spike in foreclosures in the second half of 2021 or early 2022 but not at the level of the Great Recession. Borrowers who lost their job and are behind on payments could sell their house and get out from underneath their mortgages without going through foreclosure, he said.

Rising prices, tighter lending standards and limited inventory, particularly at the lower end of the market  are making it harder more many families to find a house and putting the dream of home ownership further out of reach.

Its also becoming more difficult to save for a sufficient down payment, as price growth outpaces wage growth and values rise.

That places a significant constraint, a significant burden, on new and younger and lower-income home buyers, Glynn said.

But there are bright spots for them. Low mortgage rates are helping some buyers, Boesel said. And as the pandemic recedes and homeowners who delayed selling put their homes on the market  and as construction bounces back  inventory could loosen.

It wont be quick, but it should start to ease, she said.

Prices are unlikely to decline, but the rate of increase may slow to single digit upticks, Gaines said.

Do we have a bubble? I dont think so. Are we going to have a bust to the bubble? I dont think so, he said. Unless we have a very major, major economic event and I dont see it. Could happen ... but right now thats not on the horizon.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Car accidents are stressful no matter the circumstances, but they are even worse when they result in injuries that seriously impact your life. Medical bills are piling up, and your injuries may leave you unable to work. You ask yourself should I call a lawyer after a car accident?

The simple answer is yes. But always make sure you are prepared with these questions to ask attorneys reviewing your car accident claim.

What Should I Do After My Auto Accident?

This is a common question for attorneys representing car accident victims, and their first response should be to seek out medical attention if you have not already. The extent of your injuries may not be immediately evident, and some car accident injuries may not reveal themselves for weeks, months, or even years after a crash. A medical professional will be able to diagnose injuries and damage that may otherwise be left unidentified and worsening over time.

What Steps Should I Take to Protect My Car Accident Case?

This is also one of the more common car accident questions received by personal injury attorneys. In addition to preserving evidence from the scene of the accident and after, your attorney will likely advise you to be wary of the adverse drivers insurer and may ask you to refrain from providing a recorded statement to the insurer until your attorney is able to review the facts of your accident with you.

What Deadlines Do I Need to Meet?

There are a number of deadlines you will want to be aware of when filing a car accident lawsuit. The one you need to be aware of before hiring an attorney is that you do have a limited amount of time in which to file your claim. This is called a statute of limitations and, in Texas, it typically means you have two years to file a lawsuit in which an injury has occurred. After that deadline, you have no legal recourse against the adverse driver. Your attorney will also their own deadlines to meet throughout your claim.

What Information Do I Need to Provide?

Like any lawyer, auto accident attorneys want to document all facets of your crash, case, and injuries. Asking an attorney what kinds of photographs, evidence, witnesses, documents, and other information will best serve your case can give you a better understanding of what items you are able to provide them.

How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?

When you ask a personal injury attorney this question, you should be looking for an honest answer. The truth is a lawsuit may take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to resolve, whether it be through settlement or trial. This is because ensuring you receive full financial compensation for your car accident injuries and damages takes time. Further, the insurance company will want to analyze and evaluate each photo, witness, and piece of information provided as part of your case.

How Often Will You Communicate with Me About My Car Accident Case?

Out of all the questions to ask a lawyer after a car accident, this one is asked far too little. Chances are you have never worked with an attorney before, and you may not be familiar with how some personal injury law firms treat their clients. It is essential that you ask the attorney if they will be providing regularly check-ins and updates on your case; ask if these check-ins will be calls, emails, or in-person meetings; and ask if the attorney themselves will be providing these updates or if you will be spending most of your time communicating with a paralegal. You should establish some basic communication protocols you would like for your case to avoid future issues and stress.

What Can You Do for My Case?

Remember, this is your case and, in the end, you have the most on the line. Do not be afraid to ask an auto accident attorney what he or she can do for you and how he or she plans to represent you. This will provide the attorney an opportunity to explain how your case will be handled and make the case of why they are a good match for you and your claim. Make sure they can provide a step-by-step plan for your case.

What Damages Can I Recover?

Every auto accident is different, and the damages available vary greatly from case to case. While typically, car accident lawsuits seek damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage, your attorney should be able to detail exactly what potential damages you are entitled to based on the facts of your accident and your injuries.

Will You Help Me Recover Future Medical Expenses?

As previously mentioned, injuries sustained in a car accident can be long-lasting or permanent and some may even worsen over time. An attorney should be able to determine if you will need frequent visits to physical therapists and chiropractors or whether your injuries may require surgery. They should also have a plan of how to demonstrate these future expenses to a jury should your case go to trial.

What Do I Do if the Insurance Company Makes an Offer?

Never take an offer from an insurer without first consulting with an attorney. The job of the insurance adjusters is to pay out as little as possible. They want to protect the insurance company's bottom line and are unlikely to offer a fair settlement out of the gate. Make sure you have someone in your corner with your best interests in mind.

Will My Case Go to Trial?

When considering what questions to ask a lawyer after a car accident, this one may tell you more about the attorney you are speaking with than it would seem. The truth is most cases settle out of court, and most plaintiffs never set foot in a courtroom. An attorney will likely tell you this upfront, but you also want to make sure your attorney is preparing for the off chance of a trial from day one of you hiring them. They should demonstrate confidence in their ability to deal with the insurer outside of trial as well as readiness to litigate against the insurer in front of a jury should the need arise.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Attorney?

The cost of hiring an attorney and how payment is processed will vary from firm to firm. At Thomas J. Henry Law, we work solely on a contingency fee basis. This means our clients pay nothing upfront and collect attorney fees and costs from the final verdict, settlement, or judgment. In other words, you pay us nothing unless and until we win your case. We offer FREE case consultation to all victims of auto accidents, and our fees are negotiated and agreed upon prior to you hiring us.

Taking the Next Steps

After you have met with an attorney and have gone answers to all questions to ask a lawyer after a car accident, you may want to move forward with hiring the attorney. That leaves one final question: how to ask a lawyer to represent you? This one is fairly easy, just ask. If an attorney believes your case has standing, they will want to take your case. In fact, they will probably ask you if they can move forward with your claim during your initial consultation. Attorneys want to start your claim as soon as possible as an early start grants you the best opportunity at securing maximum compensation.

What If I Have More Questions About My Car Accident Case?

If you have any additional auto accident questions or are unsure about how or when to call an attorney after a car accident, reach out to Thomas J. Henry Law. We have car accident attorneys in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Austin, TX available 24/7 to assist clients, and we would be happy to help you with any additional questions or concerns you may have about your car crash.

You may also want to check out these other Frequently Asked Questions about car accidents and other personal injury matters.
Could Rediscovery of Rare Owl Be a Hopeful Sign for Other Lost Birds? EcoWatch (Furzy Mouse).

Southern California warehouse boom a huge source of pollution. Regulators are fighting back LA Times

COVID-19: B.C. Centre for Disease Control now accepts virus can linger in the air Vancouver Sun

Mammals evolved big brains after big disasters Science Daily. Hopefully!

#COVID19

U.S. will back proposal to waive intellectual property rights and boost Covid-19 vaccine production STAT. Here is the US Trade Representatives Press Release:

These extraordinary times and circumstances of call for extraordinary measures. The US supports the waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help end the pandemic and well actively participate in @WTO negotiations to make that happen. pic.twitter.com/96ERlboZS8  Ambassador Katherine Tai (@AmbassadorTai) May 5, 2021

We will actively participate in text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) needed to make that happen. Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved. So, there will be fine print, and we will need to see it. Nevertheless, its better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick! (Oh, and see Sanders on May 2.)

Fauci: The U.S. has a moral obligation to help with global pandemic response Politico. Fauci: I am certainly not against anything that can get doses of vaccine quickly into the arms of people in the developing world. In Links 5/4: Fauci warns against discarding trade rules on Covid vaccines FT Fauci be nimble, Fauci be quick.

US move on vaccine intellectual property is a monumental moment in COVID-19 fight Sky News. Says WHO.

EU Ready to Discuss U.S. Plan to Waive Vaccine Patent Protection Bloomberg

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NVX-CoV2373 Vaccine Efficacy against B.1.351 in South Africa NEJM Novavax. From the Discussion: Although these findings require further confirmation, our observations suggest that vaccination with prototype-sequenced NVX-CoV2373 conferred a degree of cross-protection against an immunologic escape variant. Commentary:

Most important new report today, and highly encouraging: Real world vaccine effectiveness (E) in >380,000 people in Qatar to B.1.1.7 (UK) and B.1.351 (South Africa) variants, *100% E vs severe illness both* @NEJMhttps://t.co/JhP6zUt1LJ pic.twitter.com/Zkjk2ZpCo2  Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 5, 2021

Delayed production of neutralizing antibodies correlates with fatal COVID-19 Nature. From the Discussion: Specifically, our work suggests that there is a critical time window in which the neutralizing antibodies must develop to improve virological control and disease outcome.

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Mass-Vaccination Sites  An Essential Innovation to Curb the Covid-19 Pandemic NEJM. Well worth a read.

Ruckus in the skies: What happens when airline passengers refuse to wear masks LA TIme
Victors get to write history. The European Commissions Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has taken advantage of that opportunity in his newly-released La grande illusion. Journal secret du Brexit. Sadly the English translation is not due out until October and my French has decayed too much for me to digest his 500 page account in any reasonable amount of time, even if I could get my hands on a copy. But the English language reviews have picked out many telling anecdotes. Perhaps our readers of the French press will fill in other tidbits.

Barniers tome is important not just as a detailed account from one of the few who has a comprehensive view of the talks but also by the fact that hes flirting with entering the race for President of France next year. By contrast, the UKs negotiations were afflicted not just by regime change in the form of the ouster of Theresa May but also the revolving door of the Foreign Minister and Brexit Secretary posts. And the drip-drip-drip of bad Brexit news in the UK press isnt a great backdrop for one of the principals on the British side trying to splain what happened.

Well presumably see some reactions in the form of reviews from parties that had contacts with insiders and independent perspectives. I am sure Sir Ivan Rogers, who gave some important speeches while the talks were underway, will be asked to weigh in. Similarly, the RTEs Tony Connellys sources almost certainly included not just Irish but also EU diplomats.

As far as the hot takes are concerned, Barnier appears to hold to his signature measured style, enlivened by sharp and sometimes far from flattering observations. He strives to be fair-minded and more often has kind words to say about his British interlocutors than one would expect, with some notable exceptions as well as possible damning with faint praise constructions. However, most UK press outlets seemed to take a bit of umbrage at Barnier depicting the EU as the adults in the room compared to the unprepared and unrealistic UK.

Barnier thinks Brexit was nonsensical and Nigel Farage was mendacious.

Michel Barnier: "I do wonder what, until now, has prevented the UK from becoming 'Global Britain', other than its own lack of competitiveness. Germany has become 'Global Germany' while being firmly inside the EU and the eurozone." Ouch. Mega . So true. https://t.co/cT4OA4beSa  Edwin Hayward   (@uk_domain_names) May 5, 2021

2/ On his meeting with Nigel Farage, who, he says, told him the 350m Vote Leave bus message was a mistake: Yes, that was a mistake, I had told Boris not to do it, Barnier reports Farage as saying. "Could you be more cynical?" he asks  Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) May 5, 2021

But Barnier also makes clear that the execution was very poor. At least from the commentary I have seen thus far, Barnier sticks to his own vantage and is silent on some of the UKs biggest own goals, such as Theresa Mays disastrous decision to call snap elections after she had triggered what was supposed to be a 24 month Article 50 process. Recall that she lost two vital months to campaigning and then instead of striking a crushing blow to Labour, went from a comfortable Tory majority to a knife-edge. That gave the Ultras power they would not have otherwise had, since May now needed their every vote. And that allowed the Ultras to redefine Brexit into a more extreme project than anyone had presented during the referendum.

I recall also being shocked by May presenting her sides drop deads publicly and so early on.

Bernier was stupefied by the Lancaster House speech in which Theresa May laid out UK red lines. The number of doors she shut, one after the other, he marvels on 17 January 2017. I am astonished at the way she has revealed her cardsbefore we have even started negotiating  Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) May 5, 2021

Aside from not understanding negotiations (the EU leaders liked her personally for her evident sincerity but also found her to be emotionally disconnected), May could also have realized that she was boxed in by the Ultras and decided, given the limited runway, there was no point in pretending otherwise.

Barnier on May: a courageous, tenacious woman surrounded by a lot of men busy putting their personal interests before those of their country who exhausted herself, in a permanent battle with her own ministers and with her parliamentary majority. https://t.co/WVijbQAhdn  B.E.Andre #3Point5 (@B_E_Andre) May 5, 2021

Barnier, in what seems to be an oblique description, chides Donald Tusk for his cheap ploy of presenting May with a piece of cake (which May as a diabetic could not eat) and then putting up a photo of it on Instagram to make fun of UK cakeismat her expense. I do recall this was a period when the EU Council was particularly frustrated with May (if I recall correctly, shed been allowed to make a private presentation and what she said was utterly at odds with where the talks were and what was possible). Oddly Barnier does not appear to have mentioned a Brussels lunch with Theresa May,

Barnier remarkably is polite about the thick as a brick David Davis (see this article in FAZ, The Disastrous Brexit Dinner, for a sanity check), and praised Hillary Benn, Olly Robbins, and Kier Starmer. He respects Johnson as one might a toothy, feral animal. Barnier on Johnson, according to the Guardian:

A baroque personality  From the outset, he appears as he wants to be seen: warm, like a bulldozer, looking to muscle his way through  There is in his eye something authentic, mischievous.

Richard North pulled this tidbit on Johnsons brief tenure as Foreign Secretary:

As for Johnson, Mr Barnier lets rip as he writes about his resignation as Foreign Secretary. In truth, Boris Johnson committed so many errors and verbal outbursts that his nomination as head of the Foreign Office seemed incongruous in numerous capitals. And I can imagine that this was also the sentiment of many British diplomats.

From the Financial Times:

Michel Barnier openly wondered whether Boris Johnson was pursuing a madman strategy in Brexit negotiations and came close to losing faith in the UKs ability to keep its word during the gruelling talks, according to his diaries. The EUs chief negotiator for more than three years writes that the EU side was dumbfounded by the UK prime ministers unpredictable approach  which Barnier refers to at one point as political cinema Barnier writes on September 8 2020: The team currently in 10 Downing St does not measure up to the stakes and challenges of Brexit . . . I simply no longer have [a feeling of] trust. Well, we need trust to conclude an agreement. Ahead of a dinner in December 2020, Barnier confided to his diary his impression that Britains prime minister was inadequately prepared compared with his EU counterparts. During the meal in Brussels with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and a previous encounter with her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker, Barnier had the impression that Johnson had not taken the time to go into the detail himself, with his teams before the meetings. At the December 2020 dinner this impression was underscored when Johnson floated the idea of striking a defence and foreign policy co-operation pact with the EU if a broader future-relationship agreement could not be found. Barnier quickly pointed out to Johnson that this directly contradicted the UKs stated position against including these two areas in the future-relationship talks. Barnier says Johnson replied by asking his own team: Who gave that order? The Frenchman goes on to note: The theatrics continue.

BoJo winging it? Whod have thunk it?

Barnier does not hide his antipathy for Dominic Raab:

14/ Raab added: "If you dont accept these proposals, then it will be no deal and that will be your responsibility, which will bring up borders. Not our [responsibility].  Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) May 5, 2021

16/ We are searching for solutions together. And Dominic, if this threat is the new line of your govt, then the negotiations can end immediately. And I will prepare myself in the coming days to inform the EP and MS. We will regard the failure as being the fault of the UK.  Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) May 5, 2021

But the DUP appears to have been the most unreasonable bunch:

Thread on key quotes from @MichelBarnier book, this one will strike many as being so accurate. Barnier view on Arlene Foster & Diane Dodds. https://t.co/LEjexf63D3  Dougal (@DougalCMK) May 5, 2021

And Barnier warns at the end that Northern Ireland is a firekeg, primed to explode, and needs to be handled accordingly.

The longer reviews warn that Barniers prose is workmanlike and his editors didnt have him cut back some of repetitive praise of his staff. And the Financial Times Paris chief says that Barnier is seen as a dark horse in a Presidential run: hes not charismatic. But theres such a dearth of competence at the elite levels these days, and its too bad that it isnt given enough credit.
The Seychelles is a tiny country, with a population of less than 100,000 people. It is nevertheless providing a cautionary tale in what happens if you relax Covid protections and rely over-much on vaccinations as your Covid firewall. Its in the midst of a Covid outbreak so severe that it has had to reimpose lockdown-type measures like closing bars and schools, despite having over 60% of its adults fully vaccinated.

The trigger appears to have been reopening the archipelago for tourism. From Bloomberg:

Seychelles, which has fully vaccinated more of its population against COVID-19 than any other country, has closed schools and canceled sporting activities for two weeks as infections surge To date 62.2% of its eligible population is fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. That compares with 55.9% for Israel, the next most vaccinated nation.

Colonel Smithers added via e-mail:

The BBC article [cited below] did not mention that a few weeks ago Seychelles and Maldives opened their borders to tourism, somewhat to the envy of their competitor for tourist hard currency Mauritius. The big Mauritian hotel operators have hotels in Seychelles and Maldives and have been lobbying for Mauritius to open, too, and cited the example of the pair. This included getting a doctor heiress to a hotel fortune, amongst other sources of income, to write about the need to open in the islands largest circulation newspaper. She quoted that 60% vaccination figure as conferring herd immunity, which dad challenged in a BTL comment. Seychelles and Maldives reported that a few thousand visitors had arrived within the first week of opening and Emirates and Turkish Airlines, with their spokes and hub models centred on Dubai and Istanbul, had been the first airlines to return and to some fanfare. Seychelles and Maldives have been advertising that they are open for business in the likes of the FT and Guardian and on CNN in the past fortnight. Not just tourism, but people able to and wishing to work from home or just sit out the pandemic for a while in the tropics, not necessarily those with any connections to the archipelagos. One wonders if variants from around the world which render the current vaccines ineffective have caused this.

It is hard to blame vaccine choice. Seychelles used Sinopharm, which according to the BBC, has performed well, and AstraZeneca. And as you can see from the chart below, these vaccines dont require as much special handling as the mRNA alternatives, meaning the odds of spoilage would be lower. From the BBC (hat tip vlade):

The Seychelles, which has fully vaccinated over 60% of its population against Covid-19, is bringing back restrictions amid a rise in cases. The archipelago of nearly 100,000 people recorded close to 500 new cases in the three days to 1 May and has about 1,000 active cases. A third of the active cases involved people who had had two vaccine doses, the countrys news agency said. More than four-fifths of the active cases were among Seychellois people, with the remainder made up of foreigners.

We dont have more granular data as to whether the bad outcomes occurred heavily among citizens who werent far enough past their second shot to have received full immunity. But this is still not a good look. Again from BBC:

By mid-April about 60% of the vaccine doses administered in the country were Sinopharm, with the rest Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine doses, Bloomberg reported. Trials in China and the United Arab Emirates have put Sinopharm vaccine efficacy at 79% and 86% respectively.

I have been concerned that the odds of the new variants escaping the current vaccines has been underestimated. Note that experts outside the US have argued that an inactivated virus vaccine should offer better protection against variants than the mRNA vaccines, so the use of an old technology vaccine does not seem likely to be the cause of these results. For instance, from LiveMint in March:

Indias mass covid-19 vaccination drive, which began on 16 January, entered its second phase on Monday to include senior citizens and those over 45 years with comorbidities. The programme includes two vaccines. Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University, is based on a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus vector that encodes the spike protein. Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with National Institute of Virology, is an inactivated vaccine that uses killed SARS-CoV-2 virus, eliciting an immune response targeting more than just the spike protein. In an interview with Mint, Dr Shekhar Mande, secretary, department of scientific and industrial research and director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, spoke on how the antibody response by a killed virus vaccine is likely to offer greater protection against mutated variants of covid-19, than vaccines generating antibodies against spike proteins. Interestingly, the breadth of antibody response generated by a killed virus vaccine is likely to offer greater protection against mutated viruses, than vaccines that generate antibodies against the spike protein.

Note that a more technically-oriented article concedes the efficacy versus variants issue while still defending the mRNA approach. From Clinical Trials Arena:

Despite the theoretical potential of inactivated virus vaccines to offer a lead over other Covid-19 vaccine technologies against variants of concern, experts said they are unlikely to be a long-term solution. While it is logical that these vaccines could have better efficacy against variants that have mutations in the spike protein, they come with existing baggage such as relatively lower efficacy versus other Covid-19 vaccines, they noted. And though inactivated virus vaccines have an edge in initiating a T-cell response, the overall value of this mechanism is still unclear in the context of Covid-19 vaccine development, some added.

Hopefully the surge in Seychelles will focus some minds and lead to more caution about reopening. But given animal spirits and business clamoring for income, probably not.
Littleton Courier Franconia Police Department welcomes part-time officers

by Angel Larcom

Retired Raymond Police Sgt. Kerry Pomeroy (left) and Cpl. Zachary Bushway (right) of the Bethlehem Police Department recently joined the Franconia Police Department in a part-time capacity. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) FRANCONIA  The Franconia Police Department recently hired two new part-time officers to fill voids left by outgoing Cpl. Zachary Chicoine and Officer Gary Emerson. Kerry Pomeroy and Zachary Bushway joined the department earlier this year.



Cpl. Bushway has been a familiar face at the Bethlehem Police Department for at least five years, while Kerry Pomeroy brings 26 years of law enforcement experience to Franconia. He was a Sergeant when he retired from the Raymond Police Department but continued to serve on a part-time basis until he moved north.



"We traded a Zach for a Zach and a Gary for a Kerry," joked Franconia Police Chief Mac Cashin.



"Bushway agreed to come over the hill part-time to help us out when he can. He's a great guy. We are lucky to add him to the roster and appreciate his help," he added.



The Chief continued, "The Bethlehem and Franconia Police Department's back each other up all the time, so it was easy for Zach to transition over to Franconia for a while to help us out. It's been very seamless."



Pomeroy served on the New Hampshire SWAT Team for nine years. He also taught firearm and tactical training classes at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping before moving to the North Country.



"Kerry has a resume as long as my arm. In his 26 years, he has pretty much been there and done that. We are lucky to have his experience and hope he enjoys acclimating to the Franconia Police Department environment," he added.



"He seems like a good fit, and he's adjusting to the Franconia pace. He's got a great law enforcement knowledge base and is extraordinarily capable," noted the Chief.



Chicoine moved back to Alaska, where he accepted a job with the State Police. According to Cashin, Chicoine's law enforcement career began in Franconia in 2013.



"Zach immersed himself in law enforcement and soaked it up like a sponge. I am just so proud of this young man and the law enforcement professional he has grown into," said Cashin.



After several years of law enforcement service in Franconia and Sugar Hill, Emerson retired and joined the Littleton Parking Enforcement Department. Cashin said he hung up his gun belt and grabbed a ticket book.



"Gary is one of the nicest, most reliable, upbeat and helpful guys I have ever worked with, and he is sorely missed. We wish him luck with his new role with Littleton Police Department's parking enforcement unit and we thank him for his service," stated Cashin.



Despite the recent changes, the Franconia Police Department remains short-staffed. Sergeant Ryan Jarvis was deployed overseas around the same time that Chicoine moved to Alaska. Cashin said a return date had not yet been set.



"We found a pretty good balance with four part-timers and four full-timers, but we lost one full-time and two part-time officers all at once. Now that Sergeant Jarvis is deployed, the part-time officers really make or break us. With their help, we can schedule shift coverage when we're down," said the Chief. FRANCONIA  The Franconia Police Department recently hired two new part-time officers to fill voids left by outgoing Cpl. Zachary Chicoine and Officer Gary Emerson. Kerry Pomeroy and Zachary Bushway joined the department earlier this year.Cpl. Bushway has been a familiar face at the Bethlehem Police Department for at least five years, while Kerry Pomeroy brings 26 years of law enforcement experience to Franconia. He was a Sergeant when he retired from the Raymond Police Department but continued to serve on a part-time basis until he moved north."We traded a Zach for a Zach and a Gary for a Kerry," joked Franconia Police Chief Mac Cashin."Bushway agreed to come over the hill part-time to help us out when he can. He's a great guy. We are lucky to add him to the roster and appreciate his help," he added.The Chief continued, "The Bethlehem and Franconia Police Department's back each other up all the time, so it was easy for Zach to transition over to Franconia for a while to help us out. It's been very seamless."Pomeroy served on the New Hampshire SWAT Team for nine years. He also taught firearm and tactical training classes at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping before moving to the North Country."Kerry has a resume as long as my arm. In his 26 years, he has pretty much been there and done that. We are lucky to have his experience and hope he enjoys acclimating to the Franconia Police Department environment," he added."He seems like a good fit, and he's adjusting to the Franconia pace. He's got a great law enforcement knowledge base and is extraordinarily capable," noted the Chief.Chicoine moved back to Alaska, where he accepted a job with the State Police. According to Cashin, Chicoine's law enforcement career began in Franconia in 2013."Zach immersed himself in law enforcement and soaked it up like a sponge. I am just so proud of this young man and the law enforcement professional he has grown into," said Cashin.After several years of law enforcement service in Franconia and Sugar Hill, Emerson retired and joined the Littleton Parking Enforcement Department. Cashin said he hung up his gun belt and grabbed a ticket book."Gary is one of the nicest, most reliable, upbeat and helpful guys I have ever worked with, and he is sorely missed. We wish him luck with his new role with Littleton Police Department's parking enforcement unit and we thank him for his service," stated Cashin.Despite the recent changes, the Franconia Police Department remains short-staffed. Sergeant Ryan Jarvis was deployed overseas around the same time that Chicoine moved to Alaska. Cashin said a return date had not yet been set."We found a pretty good balance with four part-timers and four full-timers, but we lost one full-time and two part-time officers all at once. Now that Sergeant Jarvis is deployed, the part-time officers really make or break us. With their help, we can schedule shift coverage when we're down," said the Chief.

Littleton Courier New memorial plaque dedicated in Franconia Funding approved for wastewater treatment facility Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
(Natural News) An asteroid simulation exercise led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shown that our existing technology cannot take down a killer asteroid discovered six months before it hits the Earth.

Indeed, the exercise suggests that even a nuclear bomb isnt enough to break the asteroid apart because the rock is too big. It also shows that preparing a spacecraft to smash into the asteroid is not feasible given the small amount of time remaining before the collision.

What happens in the months leading up to an asteroid impact

NASA conducted the simulation exercise, called Space Mission Options for the Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Scenario, from April 26 through April 29 in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For the four-day drill, American and European scientists were given a simulated six-month timeline to hatch a plan to stop a fictitious rock on a collision course with Earth.

Details of the scenario  such as the probability of impact and where and when the impact might occur  were given to the participants piece by piece over the course of four days to simulate how a real situation might play out.

On its first day, the exercise started its timeline on April 19 where an asteroid that could hit the Earth was discovered. The asteroid, named 2021PDC, it was placed 35 million miles away and given an estimated five percent probability of hitting the planet on Oct. 20.

But next day, when the timeline was fast-forwarded to May, the participants found that the space rock actually had a 100 percent probability of impacting the Earth. Its predicted impact zones were in Europe or northern Africa.

The participants then started planning various missions to send a spacecraft to destroy the asteroid or deflect it off its path. But the team concluded that they wouldnt be able to launch the mission given the short timeframe and limitations in technology.

They even proposed nuking the asteroid to break it apart. Computer models showed that a nuclear bomb could reduce the space rock to a less destructive size. But the simulations stipulation that the asteroid could be anywhere from 114 feet to half a mile in size meant that there was little certainty a nuke could even make a dent on the asteroid. (Related: Not as easy as in the movies: Scientists say blowing up asteroids that threaten life on Earth will be extremely difficult.)

On day three, the exercise jumped to when the world was preparing for the collision. Data taken during the past few months showed that the asteroids expected impact location would somewhere around Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.

On day four, there was only less than a week before the impact. With the space rock only 3.9 million miles from the planet, astronomers were able to determine that the asteroid was much smaller than previously thought. It had a 99 percent probability of landing near the border of Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. By the time it arrived, it would explode and generate as much energy as a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, all that could be done was to evacuate residents of the affected regions.

Timeline of exercise was longer than most real-world scenarios

While the exercise gave the scientists several months to prepare, in reality, astronomers often detect incoming asteroids merely days or even minutes before impact. Such was the case of the Chelyabinsk meteor.

Known as the most destructive asteroid to hit Earth in recent times, the 56-foot-wide meteor exploded without warning above the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia in February 2013. The explosion was 30 to 40 times stronger than the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 and generated shockwaves that shattered windows and injured thousands.

But destructive as it was, the meteor was spotted only when it entered the atmosphere, at which point it was only a matter of minutes before it exploded. (Related: Astronomers detect closest asteroid to fly by the Earth six hours too late.)

In the years since the Chelyabinsk event, space agencies like NASA had ramped up efforts to protect the planet from a catastrophic asteroid impact. One such effort was conducting a simulation exercise.

Each time we participate in an exercise of this nature, we learn more about who the key players are in a disaster event, and who needs to know what information, NASAs planetary defense officer Lindley Johnson said after the latest simulation activity.

These exercises ultimately help the planetary defense community communicate with each other and with our governments to ensure we are all coordinated should a potential impact threat be identified in the future, Johnson went on.

Disaster.news has more about asteroid impacts and other cosmic disasters that affect life on Earth.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BusinessInsider.com

Space.com

Blog.NASA.gov
(Natural News) Governor Ron DeSantis better sit up and pay attention to whats happening in his state. Investigative journalist Tom Lemons had a career as a small-town newsman covering police activity, politics, and county business until one day, he dug into a scandal no one wanted him to find.

(Article by Megan Fox republished from PJMedia.com)

Lemons began investigating reports that the Dawn Center, a domestic violence shelter in Hernando County, wasnt what it was purported to be. Lemons interviewed former employees and women who sought shelter there who told a much different story of a government-funded flophouse with no rules and blatant theft of donations.

The house was disgusting, filthy, grossits a horrible place, said one resident. There were girls outside smoking pot, shooting dope in their cars, recalled another. Residents also reported witnessing child abuse that went unreported. Some of the women there would pull their three-year-old kids hair straight up and the staff wouldnt say anything. Former employees said they saw women drugging their children with bottles of melatonin so they could go out and party. Fathers reported that their ex-wives would kidnap their children in custody disputes and hide them inside the Dawn Center and the sheriff refused to go in and get them.

Lemons found that the Hernando County Sheriffs office responded to huge numbers of calls to the Dawn Center, which wasnt consistent with the rate from other shelters in the area. The Dawn Center receives huge amounts of federal money for victims of domestic violence through the Victims of Crime Act. But the women who have lived there say that the funding didnt go to help them.

When Lemons began investigating where the money went, he ended up losing his job. He was kicked off the county grounds and is no longer allowed to report there. He is now on trial after being arrested in what he says is a cooked-up scheme to silence him. Lemons wrote a book about the charges against him called Victim Shopping 101 and says the sheriff went shopping for victims to accuse him of crimes to get him off the investigation. Lemons says hes never met his accusers.

The Florida legislature got into the circus act and passed laws that, when put into place, will make Lemons documentary illegal. (Download it now before they force it off YouTube.)

Senate Bill 70 makes it a first degree misdemeanor, or a felony upon a second or subsequent conviction, for any person to maliciously publish, disseminate, or disclose any descriptive information or image that may identify the location of a certified domestic violence center.

Why did they do this? Lemons drone footage of the Dawn Center from the air embarrassed a lot of people. After Lemons got the footage of the run-down shelterwith cars all over the lot, overgrown grass, and trash lying aroundlawmakers made it illegal for anyone to take footage of a domestic violence shelter, claiming privacy concerns for the women there.

Lemons told PJ Media the law is absurd.

The shelter promotes their services and fundraising events all the time on social media. They have a Facebook page with all their staff for public view. There is also a website that gives the addresses and posts images of most domestic violence shelters around Florida. It just proves this law was created for one reason. To prevent my film from being distributed and force me to remove it.

If his documentary is removed, the women who say they were harmed by the Dawn Center will be silenced. Lemons interviewed many whistleblowers in his film. Former resident Ashley Weider has recordings of police intimidation when she came forward about the rampant drug use and prostitution happening on the Dawn Center grounds. Sheriffs deputies came to her house and threatened to put her in jail if she was lying. This event, she says, triggered a suicide attempt that led to the loss of her children.

Why would the sheriffs deputies do this? Maybe its because the sheriff himself is on the board of the Dawn Center that is receiving all kinds of money from the feds. Lemons documentary should be seen widely. Instead of investigating what looks like rampant corruption and abuse, the local media turned on Lemons, writing hit pieces about his politics and attendance at the January 6th rally for the president that ended in chaos. The local media has no interest in the multitude of eyewitness accounts that Lemons uncovered. Their only interest is in smearing the messenger.

Where have I heard this story before? St. Louis, Missouri. When hundreds of people came forward to members of the press begging for someone to listen to them claiming that family court is corrupt, the St. Louis press remained silent with the lone exception of KMOV, which did one mediocre nine-minute segment that left out all the important outrages against families. Since then, despite multiple new stories of horror, including child suicide and murder, the press has kept a tight lid on any allegations of corruption in the St. Louis County court system.

I sat down with Lemons and interviewed him about the pending charges against him and what he uncovered in this Florida county and the similarities between his investigation and minewhich has also uncovered some strange things happening with domestic violence funds that I havent been able to report yet. You can see that interview here. Watch his documentary before its illegal to do so.

Why are journalists being jailed for investigating wrongdoing by public officials? Who will fight for the freedom of the press to chase a story no matter where it leads? The lawmakers in Florida ought to be ashamed of themselves for not calling for investigations into the Dawn Center and, instead, writing laws to allow them to continue operating under the cover of darkness. Where is Governor DeSantis on this? Where are the champions of transparency? Audit the Dawn Center, not Tom Lemons.

Lemons says the fight has bankrupted him. He has a GoFundMe where people can donate to help him with the legal costs involved in fighting back. Lemons, if convicted of the charges against him, could serve up to 20 years in prison.

Read more at: PJMedia.com and Whistleblower.news.
(Natural News) The student body president of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was recently discovered posting extreme, racist, and violent rhetoric on social media.

(Article by Jenna Curren republished from LawEnforcementToday.com)

According to reports, some of this violent rhetoric included advocating for the targeted killings of law enforcement. In one of the posts to social media, the leader of VCUs student government, who reportedly identifies as transgender and non-binary, wrote:

I hate white people so much its not even funny.

The communist student body president of Virginia Commonwealth University (@VCU) is revealed to be behind an account that posted racist screeds & advocated for murderous violence. Taylor Marie Maloney's extremism actually earned them praise from @ACLUVA: https://t.co/48GuqfVSw3  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 27, 2021

In the now-suspended Twitter account @okrasocialist, VCU student body president Taylor Marie Maloney, tweeted in March:

Ur reminder to advocate for the [killings] of [kops].

Facebook flagged two of my posts showing far-left extremists in their own words as incitement to violence. But these individuals still have accounts on Facebook and/or Instagram. #antifa #BLM pic.twitter.com/OlGXUZwN64  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 28, 2021

The Post Millennial reported that the 20-year-old student body president was recently championed by the ACLU of Virginia for being the first openly transgender and non-binary person elected to the position to lead the student government at VCU. The group tweeted:

Taylor is a fierce advocate who is making strides for diversity in leadership. They are committed to justice for all and creating lasting change in their community and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication.

However, social media posts written by the communist activists have now surfaced showing their advocacy for killing cops, rioting, looting, vandalism, and hatred of white people.

When a follower of the black nationalist Nation of Islam group rammed his car purposely into Capitol Police, killing one of the officers back on April 2nd, Maloney reported celebrated his death. Maloney wrote via Twitter:

[L]ove this we need more of this.

#Antifa friends of Taylor Marie Maloney are mobilizing online to mass report accounts for sharing my news report exposing her posts calling for murder. https://t.co/48GuqfVSw3 pic.twitter.com/LGrDKDtlUy  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 28, 2021

On the day of the Derek Chauvin verdict, Maloney reportedly declared on Twitter that they hoped he was acquitted so that rioters could but this (expletive) to the ground. Maloney also made a number of racists posts on social media.

Maloney has taken to social media to also defend the two teenagers who were charged in the fatal carjacking of Uber Eats driver Mohammad Anwar, tweeting, in part:

im sorry, but a world where 13/15 year olds feel like they have to carjack is (expletive) up enough.

The student body president also recently called for the burning of city buses in Richmond, Virginia, tweeting:

when richmond gonna try up another bus? when are we gonna see some action again? i thought yall was anarchists.

Taylor Marie Maloney, was championed by the ACLU for being the "first openly transgender and non-binary person" student body president. Her/He/They/Them posts show advocacy for killing cops, rioting, looting, vandalism and hatred of white people.https://t.co/sa2qThiFQj  Pavulous (@pavulous) April 28, 2021

According to reports, during summer 2020, while protesting, Maloney was arrested for trespassing in Monroe Park in Richmond, Virginia. At the time of her arrest, Maloney was president-elect of VCUs student government association.

As student body president at VCU, Maloney oversees more than 30,000 students and how funds are distributed to over 500 student organizations on campus. Maloney is reportedly studying political science and government.

Maloney acknowledged receiving The Post Millennials request for comment on Twitter, but did not respond. Instead, in a tweet, she wrote:

I did say all these things.

A university spokesperson told Breitbart News that the school is aware of the comments made on social media. The spokesperson added that, calls for violence and hateful language do not reflect the position or values of VCU. The spokesperson stated:

The Student Government Association is a student-run organization. Neither the organization nor any of its members or officers speaks or acts on behalf of VCU. The university does not comment on whether disciplinary action has been taken against a student.

student body president of Virginia Commonwealth University @VCU, Taylor Marie Maloney has posted on social media that she hates white people and praising the killing of Capitol police officer William Evans by Noah Green, a Nation of Islam followerhttps://t.co/tOB05AnYa6  ultrapurwater (@ultrapurwater) April 29, 2021

Maloney is also an organizer for the Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN), a network of self-described radical college students across the state.

During summer 2020, the ACLU of Virginia filed a lawsuit against the state police and the Richmond Police Department on the VSPNs behalf for allegedly infringing upon the groups constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and protest.

Maloney also appeared on an episode of Race Capitols activism podcast, titled, Why All the Kids Are Communists (and Yours Should Be Too!). Amid the summer 2020 riots, Maloney also championed the toppling of statues in an interview with Style Weekly.

Read more at: LawEnforcementToday.com and Lunatics.news.
(Natural News) The thousands of Americans who died or become seriously injured after being jabbed with the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injection are victims not of the vaccines contents but of their own anxiety, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a private corporation posing as a government agency, say that an investigation they conducted determined that peoples own fears are responsible for vaccine adverse effects.

We knew we were going to see this, says Dr. Noni MacDonald, a Canadian researcher.

The CDC looked at vaccine recipients from California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, and North Carolina who reportedly became nauseous, started vomiting and experienced heart or chest pains after getting jabbed with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) injection. The corporation determined that none of these symptoms resulted from the vaccines themselves, but manifested because of anxiety in the recipients minds.

Because the J&J injection is the only one of the three currently in use in the United States that comes in one dose rather than two, the CDC claims that the most nervous and anxious people of all are probably opting for this one instead of the others.

Such folks are more highly predisposed to anxiety-related events, according to the CDC, which means that the jabs themselves cannot be blamed for the adverse events that many recipients are suffering.

If anything goes wrong with your injection, you were probably just too afraid of it

Another CDC report that looked at side effects reported by more than 300,000 J&J jab recipients determined that upwards of half of them experienced a sore arm, fatigue or headache post-injection. Another third reported chills or fever, while a fifth said they felt nauseous.

The CDC says this is perfectly normal, and MacDonald, who teaches pediatrics at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia says that up to 15 percent of adults are afraid of injections  the inference once again being that fear is what is making people sick.

Everybody thinks this is (only) young teenage girls, MacDonald joked. Well, it isnt.

If one person faints while getting an injection, it could cause another person to faint. This could then lead to a chain reaction where the whole room starts getting sick right after the needle is removed from everyones arms.

While the CDC quietly admits that rare reactions can occur that have nothing to do with anxiety, the AP headline and associated article reporting on the phenomenon seemingly want readers to believe that the jabs are generally safe and that only anxiety will cause you to get sick from one.

These people are not crazy, MacDonald added, downplaying the situation while making sure not to offend anyone who might be scared of injections for reasons other than what they contain and what reports say they are doing to people.

On Twitter, many were quick to see right through the governments new anxiety narrative. Some relayed horror stories about how their own doctors dismissed symptoms as being all in their head, which is medical abuse.

I had a doctor tell me years ago that my symptoms were in my head, one of them wrote. A second opinion diagnosed the true condition and I was referred to a thoracic surgeon. Moral of the story: Never believe the its in your head nonsense because that is a convenient copout for dumb doctors.

Another noted that she started to feel really sick about 30 hours after getting a Wuhan Flu shot. She suffered the worst headache she can remember and could not get up out of bed or find any type of comfort  was this all in her head, CDC?

Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) deception is everywhere. To keep up with the latest, check out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

APNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Since the Wuhan coronavirus, formerly known as COVID-19, became a pandemic, the virus has since mutated a couple of times and in doing so is infecting or reinfecting greater numbers of people.

Weve seen a couple of strains in the U.S. and more recently, and on a much more serous basis, a new strain of the virus has been rampaging in India.

Are these variants occurring naturally, or are they the result of human manipulation? Or worse, was COVID-19 designed to mutate and kill more people?

The latter is a distinct possibility, given the history of human interactions with manufactured vaccines.

The Bulletin, a noted scientific journal, published a story in September 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that provided details of a secret plan in Apartheid-era South Africa codenamed Project Coast.

The crux of the program was to create a controllable virus that could be weaponized against perceived enemies of the white-rule regime:

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. In addition to producing contraptions to inject poisons, Project Coast researchers developed techniques to lace sugar cubes with salmonella and cigarettes with Bacillus anthracis.

While there have been many biowarfare programs, including several that were far more elaborate and sophisticated, the South African program is particularly relevant in thinking through malicious uses of self-spreading vaccines. One of Project Coasts research projects aimed at developing a human anti-fertility vaccine.

The program was considered around the time there was growing concern of a population explosion on the planet that would tax available agricultural production, water availability, and other resources necessary to sustain life, The Bulletin noted.

Schalk Van Rensburg, who oversaw fertility-related work at a Project Coast laboratory, told South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a forum for examining the sordid history of the era and laying the foundation for future peace and tolerance, that he thought the project was in line with the World Health Organizations attempts to curb rising global birth rates, the outlet reported. According to Van Rensburg, Wouter Basson, the director of the biowarfare program, said the military needed an anti-fertility vaccine so that female soldiers would not fall pregnant.

But eventually, Van Rensburg and Daniel Goosen, a lab director, would tell South Africas post-Apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission that really, the intent behind the anti-fertility vaccine was inherently racist: It would have been secretly administered to black South African women without telling them what the drug was for.

Again, the project never got underway. There were some tests run on baboons, but there were never any human trials, and in 1995, 12 years after the program was conceived, it was shut down.

However, it got medical and scientific ethicists to thinking: What would stop future development of a destructive vaccine or virus? After all, some European countries in the 20th century implemented similar population culling programs.

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, The Bulletin reported.

Taken together, these strands of research could help enable ultra-targeted biological warfare, the outlet added.

Scientists dont yet know what variant of COVID is ravaging parts of India, the worlds second-most densely populated country and the worlds biggest democracy. Nor do they know how the variant evolved. But it did, and if prior reports claiming that COVID-19 was manufactured in a lab in Wuhan city, China, then why couldnt it be of a type that self-perpetuates (and kills)?

Project Coast proves that the technology existed two decades ago, as well as the desire to create such a horrible bio-weapon.

Sources include:

TheBulletin.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Angel of Death they called him. He was SS physician Joseph Mengele, and he functioned for the greater good as a Nazi doctor under the orders of one Adolf Hitler. Yes, Mengele conducted horribly inhumane medical experiments on the Auschwitz concentration camp prisoners, most of whom were children. Hitler and Mengele were both perverted child abusers and psychotic freaks, not so much different than the dystopian doctor named Richard Pan (a.k.a. dictatorial tyrant) of California, who hasnt yet been arrested for his domestic-terrorist-style approach to forced vaccination of Californias school children at gunpoint. Hes guilty of violating the Hippocratic oath thousands and thousands of times. Pan is the perfect example of what judges and prison wardens would refer to as a repeat offender.

Dr. Richard Pan is just like something right out of Communist China or the Black Mirror Netflix series (Marxist-style government and dystopian science fiction much like the CCP now). This guy is as evil as they come, but thats what gets you to the top in Washington DC, and that looks like where Pan (Democrat Senator of California) is heading fast, according to the demented and perverted Biden camp. God only knows how many California children have been maimed and killed thanks to Pans promotion of chemical violence and vaccine violence perpetrated upon children. Any who violate Richard Mengele Pans forced-medical-intervention mandates shall not attend school, public or private, in the state of California.

Pan first fell in love with mercury injections when he was a pediatrician. Then, he later helped propagandize the fake Measles pandemic so he could usher in the unconstitutional SB-277 back in 2015, the law that makes all California children get dirty vaccines no matter what, with no exemptions for medical, religious or personal reasons. Pan is the Angel of Death in California. Hes also known and the Mercury Joker, and for good reason.

Sinister Richard Pan, the Mercury Joker, loves medical violence perpetrated on children for the greater good (genocide)

Just like Joseph Mengele, Dr. Richard Pan has ZERO ethics, morals or concern for the safety of children. He loves medical experiments like mRNA, where children can die or get maimed from a vaccine for a virus that doesnt even affect kids. Pan also functions as a key propagandist, politician, and puppet for the dirty vaccine industry, much like Paul Joseph Goebbels functioned as a Nazi politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda. Goebbels was one of Adolf Hitlers most devoted freaks, just as Richard Pan will soon be a closest cohort of the Biden/CCP Regime thats running Washington DC, HHS and the CDC.

Now Pan is cracking down on the social media giants, instructing them to call anyone who opposes vaccines domestic terrorists and banning all speech against vaccines from all social media platforms forever. Pan always says the exact opposite of his mission and values. Hell claim hes pro-1st-Amendment and pro-childrens safety and protecting people from disinformation that endangers lives. Sure Mengele. Whatever you say. Forced vaccination is for the greater good, right? Should the Jews or Blacks be first to go? Is this Nazi Germany part II or a just fake race war in America? Are you partaking in the genocide and getting vaccinated yourself, Mr. Pan?

Joseph Mengele worked at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Human Genetics and Eugenics  thats how he got promoted to the rank of SS Captain

In most governments, especially dictatorships, the more evil a person is, the higher they rise. In 1943, thats exactly what took place for Joseph Mengele, who was so corrupt and evil that shortly after he was promoted to SS Captain, he got promoted again to become the highest ranking physician at Auschwitz concentration camp. Mengele not only hand-picked the humans he wanted to experiment on as they exited the trains, but he also was responsible for selecting all those who would be sent immediately to the gas chambers.

Mengele performed brutal, grisly and often lethal experiments on children. Just like Joseph Mengele, Dr. Richard Pan loves experimenting on innocent children, and thats why he pushes for forced vaccination at gunpoint in California. Many of Pans test subjects die as a result of these dirty, toxic inoculations, just as Joseph Mengeles patients died from infections, gangrene and invasive medical experimentation. Mengele carried out torture on over 1,000 child twins at Auschwitz as part of his warped idea of science, and at his blood lab the kids were injected with germs and chemicals several times a week, as attested by survivors of the living nightmare.

Have no doubts, the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines are a mass-medical experiment already being tested on more than 100 million people who, just like the Jews, had no idea what was REALLY taking place until it was too late.

Joseph Mengele and Richard Pan both endorse genocide by medical intervention through experimentation. That is why the Biden Regime loves Richard The Mercury Joker Pan, because he loves infecting children with poisons to make himself feel powerful. Its the same Nazi racial theory being played out now in America, except instead of persecuting just the Jews and gypsies (gays), now its every citizen they can brainwash into volunteering for their own demise, starting with Blacks.

The Biden regime believes that all Americans are degenerates, and they need an evil witch-doctor to lead the charge at HHS and the CDC. Will Richard Pan be the next Fraudulent Fauci? Currently, Pan is being considered as administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which operates as an arm of HHS. Pan will have more power to remove parental rights and health freedoms, but now on a national level instead of just in California.

Tune your internet frequency to ChemicalViolence.com for updates on how vaccines ARE the pandemic. Join forces with health freedom advocates and help stop evil Richard Pan from rising in power, like Joseph Mengele did.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

ChemicalViolence.com

NaturalNews.com

BBC.com
(Natural News) In case you have not noticed, the old normal is never coming back now that the globalists have tipped the dominoes to usher in the new normal. What comes next is a man-made extinction-level event (ELE) that will eventually depopulate the world to minimal levels.

Complicit in this conspiracy are bioterrorists from the government, large corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), secret societies and terrorist organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), all of which are working in cahoots to kill as many people as possible with deadly vaccines and other fake medical interventions.

Going beyond the Chinese origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) itself, of more pressing concern are the injections being widely dispensed that are reprogramming human DNA and turning people into walking spike protein factories. This is an irreversible phenomenon with deadly implications in the longer term.

Now that the dangerous and deadly COVID-19 vaccines have gained widespread use, the swiftly evolving worldwide regime defined by the Covid Super Vaccination Agenda will contribute markedly to the ELE, warns The Millennium Report.

Because of the RNA and DNA altering aspects of the Covid injections, these vaccinations cannot be undone. Consequently, those vaccinated individuals will either succumb to the ELE or become severely incapacitated to the point of becoming a great burden to their caretakers.

To learn more about the ELE being brought about by the widespread administration of Wuhan Flu shots, visit ChemicalViolence.com.

Chinese Virus injections are designed to kill you when the time is right

The five key elements to the ELE are the Chinese Virus bioweapon and its associated variants, chemical-biological aerosols being sprayed in the skies, the military deployment of 5G energy weapons, the annual flu vaccine program, and the injection of stealth Chinese Virus bioweapons.

All of these elements are working together to kill off the vast majority of the worlds population, leaving behind a much smaller slave class that will cater to every whim of the elite class. This is all in motion and taking place right before our very eyes.

According to The Millennium Report, the most important element, and the last to be deployed, is the almighty Chinese Virus injection. This quaternary weapon system is being tested in various forms all around the world from various drug manufacturers with different results.

It would appear as though the globalists are testing the lethality of one jab over another to figure out which one needs to be elevated to the top of the heap as the most effective at killing off the most people.

Coronavirus COVID-19, 5G 60 GHz millimeter wave, chemtrail-disseminated smart dust and vaccine-delivered digitized RNA are mutually intensifying quaternary weapons deliberately launched and coordinated to shut down a targeted city or nation, commit genocide, depopulate and / or trigger an ELE, the report further explains.

DARPA-Big Pharma bioengineers keep themselves busy reformulating vaccines to make them progressively more deadly. This is what the upcoming boosters are for, which have absolutely nothing to do with protecting people against Chinese Virus variants.

The whole thing is a depopulation scam that, sadly, millions of Americans are buying into hook, line and sinker without a second thought. On the flip side, there does appear to be a majority, at least currently, that is just saying no to the jab, no matter the pressure imposed on them.

Will it be enough to stop this heinous scheme? Unfortunately, said scheme is already in motion and will only progress with time. The endgame is total enslavement of the planet under a medical-fascist police state, which we are already seeing take shape right in front of us.

Check out The Millennium Report to learn more.

Sources for this article include:

MillenniumReport.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Denmark announced that it will no longer use the Johnson & Johnson Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine after more reports linking it to blood clots. The Scandinavian country previously dropped the AstraZeneca vaccine because of blood clots in some vaccinated citizens. Denmarks decision contrasted that of U.S. health authorities who lifted the suspension on the J&J vaccine.

The Danish Health Authority (SST) announced the suspension in a May 3 statement. It said that the benefits of using the [J&J] COVID-19 vaccine do not outweigh the risk of causing the possible adverse effect [of blood clots.] Therefore, the [SST] will continue the Danish mass vaccination program without the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

The statement noted that the decision to drop the J&J vaccine followed a review of international data conducted by Danish officials. A team of experts also contributed to the vaccine evaluation.

SST Deputy Director General Helene Probst said: In the midst of an epidemic, this has been a difficult decision to make  especially since we have also had to discontinue using the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. However, taking the present situation in Denmark into account, what we are currently losing in our effort to prevent severe illness from COVID-19 cannot outweigh the risk of causing possible side effects.

In mid-April, the Nordic country said it would no longer use the AstraZeneca vaccine for its immunization program. The Danish health agency announced the ban in an April 14 statement on its website. Based on the scientific findings, our overall assessment is that there is a real risk of severe side effects associated with using the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. We have, therefore, decided to remove the vaccine from our vaccination program, SST Director General Sren Brostrm said.

Both the AstraZeneca and J&J shot utilize an adenovirus vector to induce an immune response. However, the AstraZeneca vaccine requires two doses for protection while the J&J vaccine calls for only one dose.

U.S. opts to resume inoculations with J&J vaccine

Some patients in the U.S. have reported developing blood clots following vaccination with the J&J vaccine. American health authorities initially suspended the use of the J&J vaccine on April 13, but voted to resume its use less than two weeks later.

The single-dose COVID-19 shot had been linked to two patients developing blood clots. Nevada teenager Emma Burkey received the J&J vaccine on April 1 and experienced seizures on April 8, a week after her immunization. She subsequently underwent three surgeries to remove the blood clots that formed in her brain. Doctors managed to remove the clots and Burkey has since recovered.

Later, a 50-year-old woman died of a blood clot following her immunization with the J&J vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority said in an April 22 statement that the woman developed a blood clot in combination with very low platelets. The state health department added that she got immunized before the April 13 ban on the J&J shot.

These two cases alongside some others led to a temporary pause of inoculations using the single-dose vaccine. But this would not be for long as authorities voted to resume its use. A FOX 5 report said advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the suspension in a 10-4 vote on April 23.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky remarked: Above all else, health and safety are at the forefront of our decisions. Our vaccine safety systems are working. She added that the public health agency had identified adverse events out of millions of doses of the J&J vaccine and will continue to monitor them.

The CDCs decision echoed that of the European Medicine Agency, which is in charge of regulating vaccines in Europe. During an April 20 meeting, the European regulator acknowledged the blood clots and low blood platelets linked to the J&J vaccine. However, it reiterated that the overall benefits of [the J&J] COVID-19 vaccine  outweigh the risks of side effects. (Related: European regulators slap safety warning on J&J vaccine over deadly blood clots.)

J&J Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Stoffels expressed his gratitude to the CDCs Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the rigorous evaluation of [the] COVID-19 vaccine.

The [ACIPs] recommendation is an essential step toward continuing urgently needed vaccinations in a safe way for millions of people in the U.S., Stoffels said.

As the global pandemic continues to devastate communities around the world  we believe a single-shot, easily transportable COVID-19 vaccine with demonstrated protection against multiple variants can help protect the health and safety of people everywhere.

Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to read more about the serious reactions caused by the J&J and AstraZeneca Wuhan coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

SST.dk 1

SST.dk 2

DailyMail.co.uk

Content.GovDelivery.com

FOX5DC.com

EMA.Europa.eu
(Natural News) D.C. District Judge Dabney Friedrich has ruled that a Biden regime extension on Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) eviction moratoriums through June 30 will not stand.

The moratorium was first imposed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under Donald Trump, only to be extended by the Biden regime. This was putting some struggling landlords in the difficult position of having to liquidate their properties.

According to Judge Friedrich, the CDC greatly overstepped its bounds by imposing the moratorium, which was first included in the March CARES Act that was passed by Congress. It applied to all residential properties nationwide.

The pandemic has triggered difficult policy decisions that have had enormous real-world consequences, Judge Friedrich wrote in his opinion. The nationwide eviction moratorium is one such decision.

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.

Judge Friedrich added that the question for the court is a narrow one with a very simple answer.

Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium? It does not, he says.

By allowing squatters, the CDC is fueling the housing crisis

The CDC first invoked the Public Health Service Act back in 1944. It allows the agency to take certain measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states.

Because people who get evicted could move in with friend or family members and spread the Chinese Virus, according to the CDC, halting all evictions until the disease has passed was considered by some to be good policy.

In short, the government is bludgeoning private businesses to fix a problem it created, The Wall Street Journals editorial board wrote about a month ago before the moratorium was ruled invalid.

Suspension of rent and mortgage payments was justifiable last spring when states locked down and some 22 million workers lost jobs, the board added. But the jobless rate has dropped to 6% from 14.8%, and employers are desperate to hire.

Some landlords can no longer afford to pay their mortgages, utilities, or maintenance costs because non-paying renters are basically squatting their properties with the CDCs blessing.

These crisis programs are distorting the housing market. Home values have soared in the past year amid increased demand (see nearby), so some borrowers currently in forbearance could avoid foreclosure by selling. Government forbearance may be contributing to a housing shortage by keeping people in homes they cant afford and limiting supply for potential buyers.

Homelessness is soaring, thanks to the governments Covid-19 response

The governments approach to saving lives has led to a glut of homelessness as well. This surge began back when Donald Trump declared a national emergency for the Chinese Virus and has only increased ever since.

During the 1930s Great Depression, cities everywhere saw the growth of squatter areas and shantytowns, reports Zero Hedge about how history is repeating itself.

New Yorks Central Park became Hooverville, a giant slum right in the middle of Americas biggest and wealthiest city at the time. Whole areas in L.A., San Francisco, and many other towns across the U.S. have already become tent cities. These are ripe for crime, exploitation, drug trafficking, violence, disease, and political manipulation.

One thing to keep in mind about the CDC is that it is not even a government agency, but rather a private corporation. In other words, the private sector is destroying the country in the name of public health  and most Americans are apparently too distracted to care or do anything about it.

More related news can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Dr. Peter McCullough, one of the worlds premiere medical doctors who specializes in treating the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), told journalist Alex Newman during a recent interview that the United States government is lying about the true number of Chinese Virus vaccine reactions that are occurring.

The governments strategy, McCullough says, which is coordinated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO), has resulted in tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths that are being ignored or swept under the rug. This is unprecedented because the government has pulled past drugs and vaccines from the market for far less.

Between Dec. 14 and April 23, Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed jabs caused at least 3,544 deaths along with 12,619 serious injuries. Neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, are at all concerned.

A typical new drug at about five deaths, unexplained deaths, we get a black-box warning, your listeners would see it on TV, saying it may cause death, McCullough stated. And then at about 50 deaths, its pulled off the market.

Back in 1976 during the swine flu crisis, the U.S. attempted to jab some 55 million Americans but stopped the program after 500 cases of paralysis and 25 deaths were reported. Compare that to the Wuhan Flu shots of today, which are still being aggressively pushed despite untold thousands of injuries and deaths.

In the U.S. today [as of late March] we have approximately 77 million people vaccinated for COVID and we have 2,602 deaths reported, so its unprecedented how many deaths have accrued, McCullough further explained.

Then on March 8 the CDC announced on their website with very little fanfare that they had reviewed about 1,600 deaths with unnamed FDA doctors and they indicated not a single death was related to the vaccine. he added. I think that was concerning in the academic community.

Wuhan Flu shots are mass genocide

Had the CDC truly conducted such an investigation, McCullough says, it would have taken months to complete. Instead, the CDC rolled it out in a matter of days to declare all of the jabs safe and effective so the program would continue.

I have chaired and participated in dozens of data safety monitoring boards and sat on those committees and I can tell you that this type of work would have taken many months to review all the labs, the death certificates and all the circumstances of an event, McCullough explained.

It is impossible for unnamed regulatory doctors without any experience with COVID-19 to opine that none of the deaths were related to the vaccine.

Another factor to consider is that only about 1-10 percent of all vaccine-related deaths even get logged into the CDCs Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This suggests that many thousands more deaths are not even included in the official numbers.

Even without this missing data, Chinese Virus injections are already proving to be far more dangerous than seasonal flu shots. Every year, 20-30 deaths from flu shots are reported to VAERS based on 195 million injections. Wuhan Flu shots, on the other hand, have already caused at least 2,602 deaths based on 77 million injections.

So the U.S. government has made a decision, along with the stakeholders  the CDC, NIH, FDA, Big Pharma, World Health Organization, Gates Foundation  they have made a commitment to mass vaccination as the solution to the COVID pandemic and we are really going to be witness to whats going to happen in history, McCullough warns.

Were sitting on, right now, the biggest number of vaccine deaths, theres been tens of thousands of hospitalizations, all attributable to the vaccine, and going strong.

More related news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

LeoHohmann.com

NaturalNews.com
Plymouth Record Enterprise Ashland selectmen approve paving projects

by David Ruell ASHLAND  At their May 3 meeting, the Ashland selectmen approved the paving of Avery Street, Hillside Avenue and the sidewalk on Depot Street, and the hiring of a meter reader for the summer, and dealt with a number of other issues.



Public Works Director Craig Moore presented his annual request for road projects. He chose two roads where the pavement is breaking up, Hillside Avenue and Avery Street, and presented an estimate with a contingency fund of $91,302 from GMI Asphalt. The town crew will work to improve the drainage on both roads, installing new culverts, etc.,



before the paving begins. After some discussion of extending the sewer line on Hillside Avenue, the selectmen voted unanimously to approve the two road projects, with the money coming from the Road Improvements Capital Reserve Fund. Moore also presented a proposal to rebuild the Depot Street sidewalk, a project that has been in the



works for three years, but had been postponed for financial reasons. Of the two quotes for the project, Moore favored the cheaper one from GMI Asphalt of $31,467, noting that the company, which is working on the Main Street and Gordon Street sidewalks, will use the sidewalk paver from that larger project on the Depot Street job. The selectmen



agreed but, being concerned about cost overruns, limited the contingency fund to 5% of the quote. The Main Street and Gordon Street sidewalk project includes new granite curbs to replace existing granite curbs on part of the street. It had been suggested that some money could be saved by keeping the existing granite curbs, but Moore and the selectmen felt that the granite curbing should be consistent, and rejected the suggestion. The old granite curbs will be saved for the town's use on other projects. The brick sidewalk in the vicinity of the Common Man was originally installed by Alex Ray for his business. As those bricks will be removed for the new sidewalk, they will be offered to Ray. If he declines, Moore will save some for town use.



As the Electric Department is shorthanded, other town employees have been assisting in reading the electric meters every month. Water meters also have to be read monthly. However, the summer is a busy times for the Public Works Department and the utilities, so Director Moore (who is supervising the Electric Department in the absence of a



Superintendent) and Water & Sewer Superintendent Rusty Cross felt that it would be best to hire a seasonal full time worker for the summer, who would spend two weeks a month reading electric and water meters and the rest of the month mowing lawns and doing other tasks for the utilities. The selectmen approved the proposed summer job.



Interim Town Manager Fran Newton reported that the signed contract had been received from new Town Manager Fred Welch. His exact start date has not yet been set, but Newton reported that Welch was already researching various Ashland issues. At Welch's request, the selectmen voted to exempt him from the New Hampshire state retirement system.



Finance Officer Katherine Davis had presented the selectmen a draft Town Purchasing Policy to replace the present Purchase Order Policy. They briefly discussed the proposed policy, including emergency expenditures, but felt that the new Town Manager should have the opportunity to review it, so they postponed any action on the proposal. The selectmen also got a presentation on purchasing cards (also known as P-cards) which would replace the debit and credit cards now used by Town departments, from Kelly Smaldone and Beth Galperin of PFM. The advantages of the P-cards were reviewed. Finance Officer Davis felt that there was no downside in switching to the new cards. They will also be discussed with department heads at their next meeting. The selectmen were interested but took no immediate action.



At their April 19 meeting, the selectmen voted to raise electric rates by one and a half cents per kilowatt-hour, but did not hold a public hearing on the rate increase, as the law does not require such a hearing. After getting some feedback from the public, the selectmen agreed to hold a hearing or public information session at their May 17 meeting.



Chair Eli Badger and Vice Chair Andrew Fitch will serve on a committee to interview candidates for the Finance Coordinator and Finance Assistant openings. It was also felt that the incoming Town Manager should participate in those interviews, perhaps by Zoom. The Electric Department also needs linesmen. But Moore said that so far



all the candidates lack the necessary training and there is no one currently in the Department who can train them.



The selectmen reappointed Kathleen DeWolfe to another three-year term representing the town on the Pemigewasset River Local Advisory Committee. They agreed that Building Inspector Scott Vien could hold office hours for eight hours on one day instead of two four hour sessions on separate days.



Selectman Alan Cilley wanted to hear more from Eaton Corporation on their proposals for the Electric Department, The Public Works Director will try to arrange a presentation, particularly on upgrading the substation, for the meeting on May 17.



The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has some concerns



about the warrant article that transferred the funds from the Emma H. Scribner Trust to the new Scribner Building and Park Trust Fund. Trustee of Trust Funds Amanda Loud pointed out that the warrant article was approved by the NH State Attorney's Office, another state agency. The Finance Officer sent DRA all the information the Town had



on the warrant article, but has not heard back from them.



Chair Eli Badger read a proclamation from the selectmen proclaiming the week of May 2 through 8 as Municipal Clerk's Week and expressing appreciation for Municipal Clerks and particularly for Ashland Town Clerk Patricia Tucker. ASHLAND  At their May 3 meeting, the Ashland selectmen approved the paving of Avery Street, Hillside Avenue and the sidewalk on Depot Street, and the hiring of a meter reader for the summer, and dealt with a number of other issues.Public Works Director Craig Moore presented his annual request for road projects. He chose two roads where the pavement is breaking up, Hillside Avenue and Avery Street, and presented an estimate with a contingency fund of $91,302 from GMI Asphalt. The town crew will work to improve the drainage on both roads, installing new culverts, etc.,before the paving begins. After some discussion of extending the sewer line on Hillside Avenue, the selectmen voted unanimously to approve the two road projects, with the money coming from the Road Improvements Capital Reserve Fund. Moore also presented a proposal to rebuild the Depot Street sidewalk, a project that has been in theworks for three years, but had been postponed for financial reasons. Of the two quotes for the project, Moore favored the cheaper one from GMI Asphalt of $31,467, noting that the company, which is working on the Main Street and Gordon Street sidewalks, will use the sidewalk paver from that larger project on the Depot Street job. The selectmenagreed but, being concerned about cost overruns, limited the contingency fund to 5% of the quote. The Main Street and Gordon Street sidewalk project includes new granite curbs to replace existing granite curbs on part of the street. It had been suggested that some money could be saved by keeping the existing granite curbs, but Moore and the selectmen felt that the granite curbing should be consistent, and rejected the suggestion. The old granite curbs will be saved for the town's use on other projects. The brick sidewalk in the vicinity of the Common Man was originally installed by Alex Ray for his business. As those bricks will be removed for the new sidewalk, they will be offered to Ray. If he declines, Moore will save some for town use.As the Electric Department is shorthanded, other town employees have been assisting in reading the electric meters every month. Water meters also have to be read monthly. However, the summer is a busy times for the Public Works Department and the utilities, so Director Moore (who is supervising the Electric Department in the absence of aSuperintendent) and Water & Sewer Superintendent Rusty Cross felt that it would be best to hire a seasonal full time worker for the summer, who would spend two weeks a month reading electric and water meters and the rest of the month mowing lawns and doing other tasks for the utilities. The selectmen approved the proposed summer job.Interim Town Manager Fran Newton reported that the signed contract had been received from new Town Manager Fred Welch. His exact start date has not yet been set, but Newton reported that Welch was already researching various Ashland issues. At Welch's request, the selectmen voted to exempt him from the New Hampshire state retirement system.Finance Officer Katherine Davis had presented the selectmen a draft Town Purchasing Policy to replace the present Purchase Order Policy. They briefly discussed the proposed policy, including emergency expenditures, but felt that the new Town Manager should have the opportunity to review it, so they postponed any action on the proposal. The selectmen also got a presentation on purchasing cards (also known as P-cards) which would replace the debit and credit cards now used by Town departments, from Kelly Smaldone and Beth Galperin of PFM. The advantages of the P-cards were reviewed. Finance Officer Davis felt that there was no downside in switching to the new cards. They will also be discussed with department heads at their next meeting. The selectmen were interested but took no immediate action.At their April 19 meeting, the selectmen voted to raise electric rates by one and a half cents per kilowatt-hour, but did not hold a public hearing on the rate increase, as the law does not require such a hearing. After getting some feedback from the public, the selectmen agreed to hold a hearing or public information session at their May 17 meeting.Chair Eli Badger and Vice Chair Andrew Fitch will serve on a committee to interview candidates for the Finance Coordinator and Finance Assistant openings. It was also felt that the incoming Town Manager should participate in those interviews, perhaps by Zoom. The Electric Department also needs linesmen. But Moore said that so farall the candidates lack the necessary training and there is no one currently in the Department who can train them.The selectmen reappointed Kathleen DeWolfe to another three-year term representing the town on the Pemigewasset River Local Advisory Committee. They agreed that Building Inspector Scott Vien could hold office hours for eight hours on one day instead of two four hour sessions on separate days.Selectman Alan Cilley wanted to hear more from Eaton Corporation on their proposals for the Electric Department, The Public Works Director will try to arrange a presentation, particularly on upgrading the substation, for the meeting on May 17.The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has some concernsabout the warrant article that transferred the funds from the Emma H. Scribner Trust to the new Scribner Building and Park Trust Fund. Trustee of Trust Funds Amanda Loud pointed out that the warrant article was approved by the NH State Attorney's Office, another state agency. The Finance Officer sent DRA all the information the Town hadon the warrant article, but has not heard back from them.Chair Eli Badger read a proclamation from the selectmen proclaiming the week of May 2 through 8 as Municipal Clerk's Week and expressing appreciation for Municipal Clerks and particularly for Ashland Town Clerk Patricia Tucker.

Plymouth Record Enterprise Ashland teen wins Congressional Art Competition Vintage Fret Shop re-opens to the public Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
(Natural News) A dean at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, is essentially calling for United Nations shock troops to hunt down and silence all anti-vaxxers as a way to stop what he calls anti-vax aggression.

Echoing the fascism of genocidal maniacs like Hitler and Stalin, Peter Hotez displays his own brand of insanity by equating vaccine skeptics with cyber criminals and nuclear terrorism, calling for an armed counteroffensive run by law enforcement to target and attack all who oppose vaccines, including vaccine-damaged whistleblowers, apparently.

Somehow, NATURE thinks this is a scientifically-worthy rant to publish, since NATURE is of course part of the very same vaccine mafia thats currently targeting humanity for genocidal extermination.

Much like an increasing number of hostile doctors and medical researchers who have become dangerous vaccine zealots, Hotez has abandoned any remaining pretense of informed consent and now believes all of humanity should be forced at gunpoint to not merely take all government-mandated vaccines, but to be threatened into silence at gunpoint if they disagree with pro-vaccine propaganda.

He writes about all this in a seemingly deranged rant published by NATURE, which states:

Halting the spread of the coronavirus will require a high-level counteroffensive against new destructive forces.

Efforts must expand into the realm of cyber security, law enforcement, public education and international relations. A high-level inter-agency task force reporting to the UN secretary-general could assess the full impact of anti-vaccine aggression, and propose tough, balanced measures. The task force should include experts who have tackled complex global threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks and nuclear armament, because anti-science is now approaching similar levels of peril. It is becoming increasingly clear that advancing immunization requires a counteroffensive.

Hotez apparently supports vaccine violence against children, then calls those who oppose him aggressors

In his bizarre rant, Hotez claims there are targeted attacks on scientists but doesnt name a single scientist who has been physically attacked, harmed or killed by any so-called anti-vaxxer. To halt this fictitious aggression, he then calls for, quite literally, targeted (armed) attacks on anti-vaxxers, essentially explaining government forces must be weaponized and aggressively deployed against vaccine skeptics in order to stop anti-vax aggression by using a counteroffensive of law enforcement (who are obviously armed).

Meanwhile, the very thing he continues to push  unsafe, experimental vaccines  are inflicting medical violence against millions of innocent people around the world right now, spiking the VAERS-reported vaccine deaths by 16,000% in the first quarter of 2021 vs. the first quarter of 2020.

Vaccine violence against innocent men, women and children appears to be perfectly okay with Peter Hotez. It is the whistleblowers trying to stop all this vaccine violence who must be threatened at gunpoint and terminated from existence, he implies.

The real threat to humanity, says Hotez, is a vast anti-vaccine empire, which smacks of Hillary Clintons claim of a vast right-wing conspiracy.

And then, as you might suspect, he invokes the Russians.

Brighteon.com/7f831fef-269d-48bb-96b2-56baa5c43d29

Once again, its all The Russians

Hotez says Russian intelligence organizations are behind much of the vaccine disinformation thats currently published on the net. He then claims, without evidence, that such Russian disinformation campaigns are intended to destabilize the United States. Does he mean the same United States thats being deliberately destabilized by Joe Bidens lawless regime through wide open borders, mad money printing, rigged elections and tyrannical medicine?

Hotez claims anti-vaccine groups target Black communities, but deliberately lies and misleads NATURE readers, since the vaccine skeptics are actually warning Black Americans about Tuskegee-like medical experiments that have long been known to deliberately harm Blacks in the name of scientific progress. (Is Hotez a Tuskegee denier? A Holocaust denier?)

He laments the fact that tens of thousands of vaccine doses are going unused and claims anyone who expresses any concern over a covid vaccine  despite their shocking level of causing injuries and deaths  is falling prey to exaggerated fears and doesnt want to be treated like guinea pigs, for some reason.

Worst of all, Hotez yells fire! in a crowded theater and uses the powerful platform of NATURE to call for governments to be weaponized against vaccine skeptics, merely because he himself believes that he is right and they are wrong. Rather than picking up an AR-15 himself and hunting down and trying to kill vaccine whistleblowers, he begs government to commit the violence for him.

Sounds like a coward, not a scientist.

In my podcast, Im calling for readers and fans to pray for this sad monster of a man, to pray that he might set himself free from the evil demons who obviously possess his tired body, from what I can tell. Pray that he may return to God and seek forgiveness for the crimes against humanity being committed by whatever twisted, dark soul currently occupies his once-human body.

Heres how to contact him using publicly-available contact information published on the Baylor website. I insist that if you choose to contact Hotez, be polite and do not engage in the kind of threats of violence that he levels against others. We do not have to stoop to such lows, as we have truth, justice and God on our side.

Im also officially inviting Peter Hotez to an interview to allow him to answer questions, should he choose to do so. But Im not holding my breath

Peter Hotez:

Twitter: @PeterHotez

https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/peter-hotez-23229

Office phone: 713-798-1199

Email: [email protected]

Baylor College of Medicine (his employer):

Main number: (713) 798-4951

Be polite. No threats.
(Natural News) The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Thursday, April 29, that an underground nuclear waste storage tank in Washington state had been leaking gallons of contaminated liquid into the ground.

This was the second tank discovered to be leaking waste left from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The first was discovered in 2013.

The Washington State Department of Ecologys Nuclear Waste Program, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, is currently leading the sites cleanup.

Its a serious matter whenever a Hanford tank leaks its radioactive and dangerous chemical waste, Ecology Director Laura Watson said. Based on the information we have right now, the leak poses no immediate increased risk to workers or the public, but it adds to the ongoing environmental threat at Hanford.

The 75-year-old tank B-109 at Hanford Nuclear Reservation is estimated to be leaking 3.5 gallons of waste a day into the ground  the equivalent to nearly 1,300 gallons per year. Many more of the 149 single-walled storage tanks at the site are suspected of leaking.

This highlights the critical need for resources to address Hanfords aging tanks, which will continue to fail and leak over time, said Watson.

The tank holds 123,000 gallons of waste and is leaking into an area where an estimated 200,000 gallons have already leaked from unidentified tanks at the site.

Tank B-109 leak first suspected more than two years ago

The leak from Tank B-109 was first suspected in March 2019, when there appeared to be a small drop in the level of the liquid waste inside. Monthly checks showed the level stable until July 2020, when another drop was detected and the DOE launched an investigation.

Randy Bradbury, spokesman for Ecology, said his agency recognized that the tanks liquid level was decreasing more than a year ago but they werent sure of the cause. On Thursday, the DOE finally notified the Washington agency that the tank was indeed leaking.

According to Bradbury, controlling the leak will take years.

Theyre all very well into the ground, Bradbury said. This isnt something thats going to happen next week or next month.

Bradbury stresses that Ecologys main concern is preventing the waste from reaching the Columbia River, which is only 10 miles away from B-109. It will just basically sit around in the soil but in fact, it does migrate and some of it has migrated, he said. (Related: Blunder at Fukushima: Mistake may have contaminated groundwater with radioactive waste.)

After the leak was discovered by a contractor, the DOE sent a message to Hanford site employees. The department said the tank had been previously emptied of pumpable liquids, leaving a very small amount of liquid waste in the tank.

The department added that systems in the area captured and removed contaminants that reach the groundwater and ensured the protection of the Columbia River. An assessment showed the tank was releasing a small, slowly decreasing level of liquid that poses no increased health or safety risk to Hanford workers or the public.

Hanford site dates back to World War II

The Hanford Nuclear Reservation, which was constructed during World War II to make plutonium for nuclear weapons, includes tanks that contain various mixed waste materials made of both radioactive components and some of the most dangerous waste created over four decades, according to the states Department of Ecology.

Located near Richland in the southeastern part of the state, the site produced about two-thirds of the plutonium for the nations nuclear arsenal, including the bomb dropped in 1945 on Nagasaki, Japan. It is now the most contaminated radioactive waste site in the nation. In the past, more than 67 tanks at the reservation have been suspected to be leaking or have actually leaked.

Tank B-109 began receiving waste in 1946 and was taken out of service in 1976. The giant tank was constructed as part of the Manhattan Project that built the first atomic bomb and received waste from Hanford operations.

It was still full of waste at the time it was taken out of service, but no further waste was added.

Hanford needs new tanks

Local organizations have called on legislators to address the sites repeated tank leaks.

This new leak of B-109 puts a spotlight on the need for Congress and the Department of Energy to act immediately to increase funding for cleanup and design and build new tanks, as soon as possible, the Hanford Challenge, a nonprofit advocacy organization, said in a statement Thursday. Hanford needs new tanks now.

The Seattle-based watchdog group Heart of America Northwest said the leak releases radioactive waste that is dangerous for hundreds to thousands of years.

Theres no such thing as a small leak from a high-level nuclear waste tank, Heart of America Northwest Director Gerry Pollet said.

Meanwhile, an environmental impact statement from the National Environmental Policy Act said that numerous geologic problems with the Hanford Reservation have been pointed out.

Leaving the waste in the ground is just not acceptable, the statement read. There is not enough information to take a chance on leaving any radioactive waste in the ground.

Follow RadiationScience.com for more news and information related to radioactive nuclear waste.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

Ecology.wa.gov

ABCNews.go.com

CBSNews.com
(Natural News) Shi Zhengli, the Chinese virologist nicknamed Bat Woman for her research on coronaviruses of bat origin, lied when she said that there is no connection between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the military. This is according to a fact sheet released by the Department of State (DOS) that stated that WIV has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017.

The controversial virology institute participated in a project sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)  a state-funded scientific research institution  from 2012 to 2018. The project team comprised five military and civil experts who conducted research at WIV labs, military labs and other civil labs. This research led to the discovery of animal pathogens [biological agents that causes disease] in wild animals.

Results of the project were published by the NSFC on its website on Feb. 1, 2018. The NSFC stated that the project discovered over 1,640 types of new viruses by using the metagenomics technology, and that the research was performed by a civil and military team. As an advanced virology institution, the WIV has the only P4 lab  the highest biosafety level lab  in China and the biggest repository of bat coronaviruses in Asia. (Related: Award-winning scientist says coronavirus was created at Wuhan lab.)

Shi denied the connection between the WIV and the military at a public webinar on March 23.

I dont know of any military work at the WIV. That information is incorrect, Shi said. She didnt mention that the WIV was used by a Chinese military medical team in early 2020 for developing coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Shi also said that no WIV staff was infected with COVID-19. She told Science magazine in July last year that no pathogen leaks or personnel infections had occurred and that there is zero infection among staff or students with SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-related viruses.

But an investigation conducted by the DOS found that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019  before the first identified case of the outbreak  with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses.

In late March, overseas Chinese media reported that three WIV staff members started to have symptoms similar to COVID-19 as early as November 2019. Chinese state-run media China News disputed the report, claiming that it was based on rumors.

China News also reported that a Chinese specialist told the WHO investigation team, which visited China in February to investigate the origin of the virus, that cases dating back to 2019 were patients at WIV-related hospitals and not members of WIV staff.

Shi started investigating coronaviruses following SARS outbreak

Shi directs the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at WIV. She started to investigate coronaviruses when China suffered from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002 and 2003.

Beijing authorities said the SARS virus was transmitted from civets  a small, meat-eating animal endemic to Asia and Africa  to humans in southern Chinas Guangdong Province in November 2002. It then spread to other Chinese cities and neighboring Hong Kong because the regime didnt allow people to discuss this infectious disease in the first two months. SARS eventually killed at least 774 people and infected 8,096 people from 31 countries.

Chinese state-run network CCTV reported on Dec. 29, 2017, that Shi and her team didnt believe that civets were the natural hosts of SARS, and were only the intermediate host. They had already been investigating bats from different Chinese regions as possible virus hosts as far back as 2004.

In 2011, Shis team detected a SARS-like virus from bats living in a cave in southwestern Chinas Yunnan Province. They then named this virus WIV1 and conducted further studies. CCTV didnt report the details of the virus but said Shis team continued to get samples from the same cave for five years.

Since 2015, Shis team has been publishing their test results in international magazines, including Virologica Sinica, Nature and Lancet. Shi and her team published an article in Nature linking COVID-19 to bats weeks after the Chinese regime publicly announced the COVID-19 outbreak.

Shis team discovered a coronavirus in the bats that they had collected from an abandoned copper mine in Tongguan township, Mojiang county in Yunnan Province. Six miners had been infected while working there and three of them died.

China purges all references to studies done by Shi in NSFC database

Earlier this year, China purged all references to studies done by Shi in the NSFC database. This included the details of more than 300 studies, including those that investigated diseases that passed from animals to humans.

Those studies were carried out by the WIV and had been referred to by researchers as the most complete studies on animal-to-human transfer of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2  the virus behind COVID-19. (Related: Chinese Communist Party destroyed evidence linking Wuhan Institute of Virology to the coronavirus.)

Also gone are studies that are key to any investigation about the source of the virus  one is looking into the risk of cross-species infection from bats with SARS-like coronaviruses and the other is looking at human pathogens carried by bats.

In December 2019, the Wuhan lab altered its database of viral pathogens  the wildlife-borne viral pathogen database. The database included information on virus variants in other wild animals.

Experts believe changes were made to throw off investigators. Keywords such as wildlife or wild animals were deleted. The title was also changed from Wildlife-borne Viral Pathogen Database to Bat And Rodent-borne Viral Pathogen Database. The term wild animal was replaced with bat and rodent or bat and rat.

Other terms connecting the database with the outbreak were also deleted.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NewsWeek.com

DailyMail.co.uk
(Natural News) A new ad campaign in the city of Baltimore is targeting those hesitant or unwilling to take the experimental gene therapy shots. Baltimore city health bureaucrats have decided to get creative with their assertive measures and propaganda push for the vaccine, even resorting to nagging, shaming, and possibly even crossing a moral line.

(Article by Mac Slavo republished from SHTFPlan.com)

Some seem surprised that the government would cross a moral line yet thats exactly what theyve already done by intentionally mislabeling the gene therapy shots as vaccines so they can be used during the state of emergency they declared and at the same time, ensuring big pharma companies will not face any liability for the damages done (including the death) of those who take these shot.

COVID-19 mRNA Shots Are Legally Not Vaccines

Mimosas with the girls this weekend? It's a bad idea if you havent been vaxxed. Visit https://t.co/S8vddiR44T or call 443-984-8650

M-F 8:30am-6:30pm, Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm #BALTIMOREvsCOVID

photo by @fizkes pic.twitter.com/NTtAaYirFX  B'more City Health (@BMore_Healthy) April 30, 2021

Mimosas with the girls this weekend? Its a bad idea if you havent been vaxxed, says one of the recent ads posted by the citys health department, featuring a pouting woman being lectured by a male partner. But of course, all in the name of equality, the city also released the following ad of a woman lecturing her male partner for not taking the jab.

Hanging out at Kevins house is a bad idea if you havent been vaxxed. Have the conversation. Visit https://t.co/S8vddj8EWr or call 443-984-8650 to schedule your appointment!#BaltimoreversusCOVID pic.twitter.com/PO9rY6sMz9  B'more City Health (@BMore_Healthy) April 29, 2021

Other ads that were created appealed to the citys African-American residents, as well as Spanish-speakers  who were told no papers, no problem.

Baltimore gonna Baltimore pic.twitter.com/9iUtjs0dR9  Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) May 3, 2021

More than a few Baltimoreans recognized the ominous tropes from the much-panned UK ads, which seemed designed to instill fear rather than impart knowledge. Meanwhile, the city has taken a proactive approach, partnering with hospitals and pharmacies to create mobile vaccine teams to vaccinate those most at risk of severe Covid-19, ProPublica reported on Saturday. RT

11/ Back in Baltimore, as fewer people seek shots at mass vaccination sites, the city has taken a proactive approach, partnering with hospitals & pharmacies to create mobile vaccine teams to vaccinate those most at risk of severe COVID-19.  ProPublica (@propublica) May 1, 2021

It sure looks like half of the population may be as good as it gets for these shots, and that will diminish whatever role it is they play in the overall Great Reset to the New World Order. (Again, its just speculation at this point, so use your own discernment. All we know is that these shots play a part in the agenda or they wouldnt be pushing them so hard.)

The Baltimore City Health Department even played fast and loose with the separation of church and state, collaborating with Johns Hopkins University and area bishops to suggest what behaviors were permitted inside houses of worship. Basically, the ruling class will decide how, when, and where and all of the other rules for you when it comes to worshipping.

Today at 2:00 p.m., I will hold a press conference with @Bmore_Healthy Commissioner Dr. Dzirasa and @HopkinsMedicine to announce a partnership focused on safe worship for religious facilities during COVID-19. Tune in live on my Facebook page @MayorBMScott. pic.twitter.com/0ihlsKrrbL  Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) April 26, 2021

Not only that, but as of Monday, the state of Maryland is offering its employees a $100 payment to encourage vaccination. Governor Larry Hogan announced that the government was further encouraging state employees to get vaccinated to help keep themselves, their families, and their communities healthy and safe.

The program is projected to cost $5 million and will require participants to show certificates of vaccination to state government employees at the Human Resources Office  meaning one cant simply look like a state employee, one must actually be one. -RT

As of May 1, about 2.75 million Marylanders (about 46% of the states total population) have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 2.09 million, or 35%, were considered fully vaccinated.

The ruling class is running into problems convincing the other half of the public to just submit and take this shot. As we reported yesterday, now will come an all-out push to get as many people jabbed with this experimental gene therapy as possible so they can move on to the next step in the agenda.

Read more at: SHTFPlan.com and MedicalExtremism.com
(Natural News) The nations second-largest teachers union heavily lobbied the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to delay for as long as possible resuming in-person learning for public school students due to the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the group Americans for Public Trust revealed that there was extensive communication between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the CDC, and the Biden regime in the weeks leading up to the CDCs release of school reopening guidelines back in February.

Apparently, public school teachers all across the country have enjoyed not having to show up to teach students in person for the past year. To avoid ever having to come back at all, they are now bullying the CDC into continuing its fear campaign over the Chinese Virus in the hopes of keeping students at home forever.

The documents show a flurry of activity between CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, her top advisors and union officials  with Biden brass being looped in at the White House  in the days before the highly-anticipated Feb. 12 announcement on school-reopening guidelines, reported the New York Post.

One of the exposed emails, sent by AFT senior director for health issues Kelly Trautner on Feb. 1, thanks the CDC for participating in a rich discussion about school reopening with union president Randi Weingarten. Trautner referred to the CDC in this email as a thought partner.

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, Trautners email further admitted.

We believe our experiences on the ground can inform and enrich thinking around what is practicable and prudent in future guidance documents.

Public school teachers need to just fess up that they cannot stand their students

Walensky also spoke on the phone with Weingarten, another email shows. Weingarten is the former boss of New York Citys United Federation of Teachers. Several of the suggestions Weingarten made to Walensky were later adopted nearly verbatim in the final text of the CDCs reopening guidance.

In addition to not wanting public schools to reopen, the AFT also lobbied for special remote work concessions for teachers who have documented high-risk conditions or who are at increased risk for  COVID-19.

Any excuse not to have to go back to work seems to have been the AFTs goal, and it worked. A lengthy provision exempting teachers and even staff who have a household member with health risks from having to return back to class was inserted into the CDCs guidelines.

None of this was based on science, of course. It was a political move by the AFT to keep its members insulated from ever again having to see all those students of theirs in person.

What seems strange to me here is there would be this very intimate back and forth including phone calls where this political group gets to help formulate scientific guidance for our major public health organization in the United States, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco who says the CDC-AFT emails are very, very troubling.

This is not how science-based guidelines should work or be put together.

So far, this major scandal has been ignored by every mainstream media outlet besides the Post and Fox News. A media that claims to uphold science over all else sure is doing a poor job at rooting out the manipulative tactics of public school teachers.

More related news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) trickery and deception can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

PJMedia.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) New evidence has emerged to suggest that people who get injected for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) are being administered a different PCR test than people who are not injected, making it appear as though the vaccine was effective.

Remember when we warned you that PCR tests here in the United States were intentionally tuned too high, producing many false positives? Well, they are now being tuned too low for the vaccinated in order to produce almost exclusively negative test results.

In other words, if you receive an injection and are later tested with one of these lower cycle count PCR tests, you will more than likely test negative. If you have not been injected, then your PCR test will use a higher cycle count, more than likely resulting in a positive result.

More fraud, tweeted constitutional lawyer Rocco Galati about the news.

Test the unvaccinated at 43-45 cycles = 96.5% FALSE positives. But now they will test VACCINATED people at 28 cycles and poof! The vaccine magically works because the false positives come down. Really? Born yesterday but very early in a.m.

In case you do not believe us or Galati, check out this document from the U.S. Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which openly admits that two different PCR tests are now being used for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.

The American CDC uses a 40+ cycle threshold to inflate the number of Covid-19 cases and generate fear based on presumption, not deaths, reports Taps Newswire. 40+ cycles are also used in Canada. A 40-cycle threshold produces a 97 percent false positive rate.

Wake up, America! Youre being lied to about everything!

What this all means, of course, is that the CDC is once again propagating fraud in the name of science. This whole Chinese Virus plandemic is nothing but a scam intended to scare enough people into accepting total medical fascism  and it appears to be working just as planned.

This writer has published so many stories about these faulty PCR tests over the past year that one would think the entire country would know about the sham by now. Heck, the government is now openly admitting to it, and yet there are still too many people out there who believe every word that slithers out of the mouth of Anthony Fauci concerning the dangers of testing positive.

The societal fallout from all of this is exceeding that of previous world wars. People everywhere are dying from mental illness, lockdowns, masks, vaccines, and other fake medical interventions, believing these things to be the cure for the alleged pandemic. Nothing could be further from the truth.

International trial lawyer Dr. Reiner Fuellmich and his large worldwide network of lawyers have all the evidence that the pandemic is a crime against humanity, Taps Newswire says. They are preparing major class action lawsuits against the WHO and governments. Reiner Fuellmich says a second Nuremberg may be needed.

It is important to remember that our entire medical system has been weaponized. Drugs, vaccines, and other tools of Western medicine are largely a scam designed to enslave you with poor health and excessive government intervention into your life. Sound familiar?

The fate of humanity depends on people seeing what is happening, tweeted Dr. Tina Marie, M.D., in response to Galatis tweet about the PCR testing scam. I think many people will be forced to their knees before this ends.

Its time to bring down the house! wrote another. Other than passing on as much information as we can, how else can we help?

More related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) scamdemic can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TapsNewswire.com

NaturalNews.com

Twitter.com

CDC.gov
(Natural News) According to government data published at VAERS.hhs.gov, just 82 people died in 2020 after being vaccinated. But so far in 2021, there are 3,317 deaths that have been reported following covid-19 vaccinations.

Thats an increase of nearly 4000%, and were barely into the second quarter of 2021 (versus the entire year of 2020).

Less than half of the US population has been vaccinated so far, which means as that number increases, the deaths will increase, too. If this trend continues, we are likely to see somewhere between 12,000,  15,000 post-vaccine deaths reported to the VAERS system by the end of calendar 2021.

Heres the VAERS data captured on May 6th, 2021, when searching for death following vaccination:

Informed medical observers note that VAERS only captures anywhere from 1% to 10% of actual deaths or symptoms, which means that, reasonably, anywhere from 33,000 to 330,000 Americans have already died after taking covid-19 vaccines.

And the murderous vaccine industry is just getting warmed up.

Its likely that 50,000 Americans have already been killed by covid vaccines

So far, theyve only managed to vaccinate the low-hanging fruit of oblivious, gullible Americans who are too stupid to realize the government is lying to them. Now, theyre meeting so-called vaccine hesitancy, and theyre rolling out financial rewards, free beer and other silly incentives to try to inject another few million Americans who are dumb enough to trade their lives for a free beer. (Its not free then, is it?)

My well-educated guess is that right now, covid-19 vaccines have likely killed around 50,000 Americans. This puts the covid vaccine on par with the number of Americans killed in the entire Vietnam War. That makes sense because the vaccine industry is waging war on humanity, and by the time theyre done, they hope to exterminate billions.

This number is likely to exceed 250,000 by the end of this year, putting vaccine atrocities in the category of being, as Tucker Carlson said last night, The single deadliest mass vaccination event in modern history.

Vaccine violence is now being inflicted upon innocent Americans in an act of organized, coordinated genocide against humanity

We are witnessing a vaccine holocaust being inflicted upon humanity, and no one is allowed to say that anyone has suffered any harm whatsoever from the vaccine. To do so gets you banned, blacklisted and smeared. If you happen to be particularly effective at telling the truth about this vaccine holocaust, you will be named, doxxed and targeted by a complicit media that now works as the propaganda enforcement arm of the medical mafia. The Center for Public Integrity, a non-profit that claims to speak truth to power, recently hired a journalist to terrorize family members of Ty and Charlene Bollinger, hoping to dig up personal / family dirt that could be used to smear them in the press.

As I just wrote about yesterday, NATURE has published an article by a deranged pediatrician in Texas who is essentially demanding United Nations shock troops hunt down and silence all anti-vaxxers around the world, using counteroffensive measures and anti-terrorism enforcement squads armed with weapons.

Brighteon.com/7f831fef-269d-48bb-96b2-56baa5c43d29

This is sheer madness. Yet NATURE thought it qualified as science, somehow.

Truthfully, the pharma-controlled institutions of science and medicine have become a clear and present danger to the survival of humanity.

Watch Tucker Carlson drop a truth bomb on the vaccine industry when he asks why so many Americans are dying after taking covid-19 vaccine injections:

Brighteon.com/2a2fd903-220a-4b4f-86bf-0f78aaa8fd2a

As we have recently documented, the covid-19 vaccine is a self-replicating biological weapon system funded by Bill Gates, DARPA and the NIH to exterminate the human race. Many who have taken the vaccine shot are already dead, and millions more will die in the years ahead, in the United States alone.

Surviving this vaccine holocaust requires avoiding the deadly vaccine and even avoiding those who have taken it, as they are transmitting infectious components that are harming others nearby.

You can see all the data for yourself at VAERS.hhs.gov
(Natural News) The so-called mainstream media was one of the first American institutions to go over to the dark side  line up with the left-wing lunatics who belong to the Democratic Party and the deep state it controls.

Every decision made by mainstream media editors and reporters in terms of which major stories to cover and what angles to take is made with one question in mind: How will it help our political pals (Democrats) and hurt our political enemies (Republicans)?

While the major media have been trending left for decades, they went full-bore during the Obama administration, praising everything our first black president did (even the illegal stuff or rather, especially the illegal stuff) while lying near-daily about everything Obamas successor, Donald Trump, did (and said).

One of the things the garbage media did was to ridicule any claims made by the former president, his staff, and well-qualified experts who sided with Trump that China 1) is solely and exclusively responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) the virus did not emanate from some weird marriage of bacterial fluids between bats and some other animal, that it was instead essentially made in a lab and escaped.

Thats crazy, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Times, ABC/CBS/NBC/MSNBC/CNN, and the other mainstream outlets all proclaimed. No way thats possible! That crazy Trump is saying crazy things again!

That was then. Trumps no longer in office so while the same garbage media will never treat him fairly, they dont have to deal with him in that capacity any longer.

But COVID is still around and is still a thing; what to do now that they cant pin every death and every bad outcome from the virus on Trump anymore?

Answer: Shift strategies and provide Joe Biden with political cover at the same time while making it seem like hes the hero riding to the rescue on the white stallion to get to the bottom of the pandemic.

The Daily Wire notes:

When Donald Trump was president and Republicans were questioning the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, left-wing media outlets like The Washington Post couldnt call them liars fast enough. Back then, the Post insisted that only a stupid conspiracy theorist would suggest or question whether the coronavirus may have come from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Now, however, the Posts Editorial Board is saying that we need to fully investigate whether it was possible that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab.

For instance, on February 17, 2020, the Post claimed Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a Harvard-educated lawyer, combat vet, and former U.S. Army infantry officer, was out of his gourd for even suggesting that the virus came from a Chinese lab in Wuhan. Specifically, the Post said Cotton was pushing a coronavirus conspiracy theory that was already debunked  without really debunking him.

But on Friday, the Posts Editorial Board actively called for an investigation into the origins of the virus  which is essentially what Cotton called for last year.

The investigating team said the least likely pathway was an inadvertent leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, where the outbreak first exploded. The leak hypothesis was not investigated, although it is known that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was carrying out risky gain of function experiments on bat coronaviruses, which involve modifying viral genomes to give them new properties, including the ability to infect lung cells of laboratory mice that had been genetically changed to respond as human respiratory cells would, the Editorial Board wrote.

China has strenuously denied that a leak came from the lab, calling it a farce, and pointing instead to frozen food packaging from abroad. Whether China likes it or not, a serious investigation must encompass zoonotic spillover, the possibility of a laboratory leak and any other possibility backed by evidence.

Translation: Now that Trump is out of office, the media want to help Biden and Democrats become the heroes by finally pinning down the origin of COVID.

We dont have a legitimate media institution anymore, we have a Ministry of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels could have only dreamt about.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

DailyWire.com


It has been given the name "quick-mouthed frog turtle. Recently, paleontologists in Madagascar found a unique fossil of a new and extinct species of turtle that was well preserved, dating back to the late Cretaceous Period, which started about 100 million years ago. The species that was newly discovered would have possessed a frog-like face and fed by sucking in mouthfuls of prey-filled water.

The Quick-mouthed Frog Turtle

The ancient turtle was a freshwater species that is indigenous to Madagascar, possessing a shell length of about 25 centimeters (10 inches). It possessed a rounded mouth, flattened skull, and large tongue bones, all of which would have made it a good suction feeder and given it an appearance that looks like that of amphibians.

In a recent study describing the species, the scientists gave it the name Sahonachelys mailakavava, which implies "quick-mouthed frog turtle" in Malagasy, the language spoken by the native people of Madagascar. In 2015, researchers dug up the fossil of the turtle while looking for the remnants of crocodiles and dinosaurs at a site on the island that has a history of such finds.

While digging up the overburden - the typically uncovered layers of sediment above fossil-rich layers - the researchers were amazed to discover bone fragments from the shell of a turtle and eventually found an almost intact skeleton.

Also Read: Leatherback Turtles may become Extinct within 20 Years: Study

The Cretaceous Period

Walter Joyce, the lead author, and a paleontologist at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland told Live Science: "The sample is undoubtedly beautiful and definitely one of the late Cretaceous turtles that were well-preserved, known from all southern continents, in all regards, this is a rare exceptional finding."

The researchers are not certain on how far back the quick-mouthed frog turtle may have appeared or why and when it became defunct; but the new species "probably survived the enormous extinction event that led to the death of the dinosaurs" and ended the Cretaceous Period about 66 million years ago, Joyce said.

Suction Feeders

The scientists said quick-mouthed frog turtles were most likely to be suction feeders."This is an unusual form of underwater feeding and it is specialized, animal opens its mouth quickly and increases the size of its throat to quasi-inhale a large quantity of water, both the prey item of its choice," which would have included fish larvae, tadpoles and plankton, Walter said.

Its mouth shape, delicate jaws, and flattened skull are all significant signs that this turtle makes use of suction for feeding. Walter said Suction feeders need to make a large circular opening quickly through which they suck water, as the prey items are conveyed straight into the esophagus, suction feeders do not possess strong jaws, because they do not bite.

The turtle also possessed enlarged tongue bones for its size, which indicates it had strong muscles to permit the rapid expansion of its throat, Walter said

Related Article: Sea Turtle Sightings in Ireland & the UK Are Mysteriously Declining

For more news, updates about turtles and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
In this Sept. 29, 2020, file photo, Eddie Collantes stands with an American flag draped around his shoulders as he attends a debate watch party hosted by the Miami Young Republicans, Latinos for Trump and other groups in Miami.
Winnisquam Echo Former Spaulding employee indicted on charges of assault, drug possession

CONCORD  Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Thomas John Ball Poirier (age 39) of Tilton has been indicted by the New Hampshire Multicounty Grand Jury on charges of First Degree Assault on a person under 13 years of age, Second Degree Assault, Reckless Conduct, Obtaining a Controlled Drug by Deceit, and Possession of a Controlled Drug.



Mr. Poirier was formerly employed at Spaulding Academy and Family Services in Northfield. The charges allege that between Dec. 15 and 22 of last year, Mr. Poirier stole Methylphenidate, commonly known under the brand name Ritalin, which had been prescribed to Spaulding's residents, some of whom were children under the age of 13. The charges further allege that Mr. Poirier replaced the stolen medication with an unknown substance, and that, in doing so, he caused serious bodily harm to two children residing at Spaulding Academy and Family Services.



First Degree Assault is a class A felony that, when committed against a person under 13 years of age, is subject to an extended term of imprisonment of 10 to 30 years in the New Hampshire State Prison. The remaining four charges are class B felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of three and a half to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison.



Poirier will be arraigned in the Merrimack County Superior Court on a date to be determined.



The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Poirier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.



Senior Assistant Attorney General Thomas T. Worboys and Assistant Attorney General Stephanie J. Johnson of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are prosecuting this case. Investigator Robert J. Sullivan, also of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Detective Sergeant James DeCormier of the Northfield Police Department, investigated this case with the assistance of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Tilton Police Department. Spaulding Academy reported the matter to the Northfield Police Department.



Under New Hampshire law, the Attorney General is responsible for the prosecution of health care facility employees charged with willful abuse, mistreatment or neglect of a patient. Health care facility employees suspected of abusing their patients should be reported to the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit [271-1246], your local police department, or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services [(800) 949-0470]. CONCORD  Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Thomas John Ball Poirier (age 39) of Tilton has been indicted by the New Hampshire Multicounty Grand Jury on charges of First Degree Assault on a person under 13 years of age, Second Degree Assault, Reckless Conduct, Obtaining a Controlled Drug by Deceit, and Possession of a Controlled Drug.Mr. Poirier was formerly employed at Spaulding Academy and Family Services in Northfield. The charges allege that between Dec. 15 and 22 of last year, Mr. Poirier stole Methylphenidate, commonly known under the brand name Ritalin, which had been prescribed to Spaulding's residents, some of whom were children under the age of 13. The charges further allege that Mr. Poirier replaced the stolen medication with an unknown substance, and that, in doing so, he caused serious bodily harm to two children residing at Spaulding Academy and Family Services.First Degree Assault is a class A felony that, when committed against a person under 13 years of age, is subject to an extended term of imprisonment of 10 to 30 years in the New Hampshire State Prison. The remaining four charges are class B felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of three and a half to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison.Poirier will be arraigned in the Merrimack County Superior Court on a date to be determined.The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Poirier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Senior Assistant Attorney General Thomas T. Worboys and Assistant Attorney General Stephanie J. Johnson of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are prosecuting this case. Investigator Robert J. Sullivan, also of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Detective Sergeant James DeCormier of the Northfield Police Department, investigated this case with the assistance of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Tilton Police Department. Spaulding Academy reported the matter to the Northfield Police Department.Under New Hampshire law, the Attorney General is responsible for the prosecution of health care facility employees charged with willful abuse, mistreatment or neglect of a patient. Health care facility employees suspected of abusing their patients should be reported to the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit [271-1246], your local police department, or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services [(800) 949-0470].

Winnisquam Echo Belmont stars shine at Division III State Meet HealthFirst Family Care Center welcomes Kelley Watkins, APRN Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
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Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.


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By PTI

NEW DELHI: UnitedHealth Group on Thursday said it is donating USD 1 million (Rs 7.4 crore) through United Health Foundation in response to the growing coronavirus crisis in India.

This donation extends the company's global commitment to fighting COVID-19, including a previous donation of USD 1.5 million to India, UnitedHealth Group said in a statement.

The contribution will fund the procurement of 2,500 oxygen concentrators to help address India''s nationwide shortage of oxygen as well as other critical medical equipment essential for treating severe COVID-19 infection, it added.

The oxygen concentrators will be delivered to Niti Aayog to ensure they are deployed to state hospitals where the need is significant, the statement said.

"This additional contribution will provide much-needed relief with core medical equipment and supplies to help India''s health care professionals combat the devastating impact of COVID-19," Laura Ciavola, President of Optum Global Solutions, a UnitedHealth Group business, said.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Police investigating the bed allotment scam arrested six people, including two doctors, and are questioning four others. Investigations revealed the involvement of staff of private hospitals.Police registered two criminal cases in Jayanagar police station, under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act. Both cases were transferred to the Central Crime Branch.While Nethravati and Rohit were arrested by Jayanagar police on Tuesday, four others, including two doctors deputed in Bomannahalli Zone war room, were arrested by on Wednesday. The accused are Dr Suresh, Dr Rehan and Shashikumar, a staffer in the war room. The identity of the others is yet to be revealed.

Sources said Nethravati and Rohit had arranged beds for five patients and charged money from their families. They would negotiate the amount after knowing the profile of the patient. They charged between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 per patient. The money was credited to their bank accounts, an official said.Meanwhile, CCB police conducted searches in all eight BBMP zonal war rooms.
Roshne Balasubramanian By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Crisp pleats, perfectly tucked drapes and pallus fashioned in different variations. If you are a fan of flowy saris and wrapping yourself in them, 27-year-old Manikandans works as a sari draper will give you inspiration to further dabble in your pursuit of the six yards. I wanted to become a fashion designer. However, due to my familys insistence, I studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering. But the heart wants what it wants, doesnt it? After I graduated, instead of working in an allied field, I started working in clothing stores and thats when I learned the art of draping saris and understanding the fabric. Its been 10 challenging yet gratifying years in the industry, shares Mani, a native of Thiruvarur.

In the last decade, Mani has honed his sari draping skills by observing his seniors in the stores, watching YouTube videos and experimenting with self-invented sari draping styles and techniques. Earlier, I used to a be a sales executive and my responsibility was to only open the saris and place it on myself or the customer, for them to select one of their choice based on the colour, designs and the pallu and how well it falls on the body. Out of interest, I simultaneously learned to drape saris. I started with just four to five basic styles and grew to learn over 100. Now, from dressing up and draping mannequins for the social media account of a renowned retail store in the city to working with models, I have been able to carve a niche for myself, he beams.

However, in a society with assigned gender roles and stereotypes, recognition did not come easily for Mani. Sometimes, I get frowned upon for being a male sari draper; people tend to question my work based on my gender. But I dont let it affect the quality of my job. I let my work talk for itself, says the artist, who has been subtly breaking gender labels. Saris are now being worn by all and have become gender-fluid. So what is the hullabaloo around a man draping a sari? I want to normalise it, he asserts.

Discussing how being in an otherwise female-dominated field raised several eyebrows, he shares, I dont force anyone to get draped by me. Ultimately, the comfort of the model or the person who is to be draped is important and that will reflect in how they feel in the attire and carry it. But I show them my work and after that, when they are satisfied and comfortable, I work with them. Its important to create a synergy during drapingits not simple!

A master of over 100 styles, Mani can drape any sari in any style in under five minutes and has worked for brands and clients from across the globe. Clients have taken me to Malaysia to drape saris for their campaigns and these have been learning experiences. I have also worked on the ad campaign for a Sri Lanka-based brand. In Chennai, I get called for several assignments. Through my social media profile, I have been able to showcase my work, connect with people from all walks of life and get several opportunities. I am grateful for all that has been coming my way, he says.

Despite doing what he loves, Mani says he is in touch with reality. The key to happiness is not just having job satisfaction but also receiving fair remuneration for the work we do. During my days as a sales executive, I was underpaid. But I used the time as an opportunity to learn on the job. Now, with many people approaching me after seeing my work, I am getting paid what I deserve. I am happy that people have started acknowledging the work and services of people from this sectorotherwise it often goes unnoticed and a lot of bargaining happens, he notes.

Mani will soon be enrolling in a hairdressing course. My dream is to start a small boutique and cater to people looking for hair-do, sari-draping and make-up services. I want to create a mark in the beauty and fashion industry. I will also be learning to do make-up in the future, he says.

To see Manikandans work, visit Instagram page @manisareedrapist
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday indicated that the city doesnt have enough Covid vaccine doses and added if required quantity is ensured; vaccination could be completed within three months. The youth are coming out in large numbers to get vaccinated. If the vaccine is provided in sufficient quantity, we can achieve our target of vaccinating the entire Delhi in three months.

The process has started successfully but more supply of vaccines is the fundamental requirement right now, said Kerjiwal after his visit to the Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Rajendra Nagar where reviewed the inoculation drive.In Delhi, the vaccination drive has begun in both the private sector and in the government sector. We have received a very less quantity of vaccines.

Now the kind of infrastructure we have developed based on that we can ramp up the vaccination drive within 24 hours. I am very hopeful that we can reach that target but for that proper supply, sufficient supply of vaccines should be ensured, he added. On possibilities of lockdown extension, the CM said that restrictions would continue on the basis of the situation. Right now the citizens of Delhi want this lockdown to continue to stop the spread of this virus, he said.

Kejriwal said that the Delhi government is also working on increasing the number of oxygen beds across Delhi. We are arranging more and more oxygen concentrator and oxygen cylinders to run these dates. The CM also said that the government is working hand-in-hand with the Central government on the issue of oxygen supply and within some days the situation would improve.

He said that the government was continuously monitoring the demand for oxygen. Referring to deaths of patients in some hospitals due to short supply of life saving gas, Kejriwal said that there were some unfortunate incidents but right now they are working round the clock to ensure that thre are no fatalities in Delhi due to lack of oxygen.

PIL in HC for priority to disabled in vaccination

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 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. The plea has said that PWD have higher risk of contracting the virus as they require close contact with others due to personal care needs.

Allow import of self test kits, seeks plea

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and Delhi government to reply on a PIL seeking ramping up of testing in the city, import of self testing kits and ban on sale of fake or faulty N95 masks. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the ministries of Home Affairs and Health as well as the Delhi government and sought their stand on the petition, filed by lawyer Shweta Singh, which also seeks priority in vaccination to those who have not tested Covid positive in the last four months.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Three persons, including a police constable and prison staff member, who impersonated Task Force sleuths and extorted money from a kirana merchant at Jeedimetla, were arrested on Tuesday.The accused have been identified as Chidiri Amarnath, an Armed Reserve Constable deputed to the Hyderabad city police at Amberpet, G Srikanth, Warder at Nizamabad district prison and their friend Mohd Imran.

Police said Amarnath and Srikanth had hatched a plan to extort money from shops. They first sent Imran to enquire about shops which are selling gutka. From locals, Imran found that gutka is being sold at a store owned by Dinesh Kumar Mali at Shapur Nagar.

The trio approached the shop impersonating the Jeedimetla Task Force team and told him that they would register a case against him for selling banned items in his shop. To avoid the case, they demanded Rs 2 lakh from him and were reportedly able to extort Rs 50,000 from him.

Dinesh later became suspicious and alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and caught them red-handed. along with the extorted cash.Police found Srikanth was initially posted at Cherlapally Central Jail and transferred to the District Jail, Nizamabad. However, for the past six months, he was absent from duties.

Police probe

K Balaraj, Inspector with the Jeedimetla police station, said the three accused persons have been sent to remand. They are also probing if any more people are involved along with them
Arya UR By

Express News Service

KOCHI: The picturesque green groves and the simple life of rural villages she saw on a Malayalam travel magazine fascinated Kakkanad native Mitra Satheesh, an Ayurveda doctor. She decided to go on a solo drive to explore them. When the plan came to the execution level, her 10-year-old son Narayan hopped on too. The duo started its pan-India trip named, Oru Desi Drive on March 17, with a plan to cover the length and breadth of the country by road, in 100 days, covering more than 20,000 kilometres.

They had crossed 27 states and six union territories in 50 days as of Wednesday. However, the second wave of the pandemic hampered their trip, forcing the duo to wind up their tour early. We had to make a sudden change of plans as I had to get back to the Government Ayurveda Hospital, Tripunithura, for Covid duty. But we managed to cover all the states. We hope to reach Kochi before the second week of May, says Mitra who spoke to us from Jammu and Kashmir, a dream destination of her son.

Mithra updates the culture, food, art, architecture, lifestyle and titbits of every region that she visits through her Dekho Apna Desh hashtag on her social media page named Wind In My Hair. It was Narayans dream to see and feel the snow. I took him along on the trip to teach him the real world outside textbooks. My husband Satheesh and mother Radhamani encouraged me too, says Mitra who undertook a solo trip to Bhutan before embarking on Oru Desi Drive.

The duo starts its journeys at 5am every day, halts at homestays or huts in villages for the night. I get in touch with the friends residing in the respective places or just randomly get in touch with villagers. We prefer to eat lunch and dinner from the houses we visit. Breakfast is usually dry fruits and cornflakes with milk that we carry with us, explains Mitra.

Some of the unique instances that caught Mitras attention are the Salmora potters of Majuli village, century-old terracotta temples in Bishnupur in West Bengal and a sweet delicacy named Puthrekullu in Atreyapuram village in Andhra Pradesh.

Mitra adds that a lot of research went into the journey. Even then, the globetrotter faced unexpected hurdles during her well-planned trip. Like her visit to the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu. We had a chance to visit the temple and reached there on a chopper. But surprisingly there was no return chopper service. We embarked on a two-hour-long horse ride back to our halting station in Srinagar, but managed to get back safely. These plot twists make the trip fun, she quips.

NORTH-EASTERN ADVENTURE

One of her favourite memories from the trip is from the north-eastern part of India. According to her, there are many communities in states like Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland living far from the modern civilisation. They live in mud huts and make food from weeds. There are even people who eat out of plates made out of big leaves, like the Bodo community in Assam. There is a misconception that we will only get to eat non-veg dishes in northeastern states. I got to eat around 10 vegetarian dishes made using leaves and herbs. Also, when my son insisted on staying in one of their mud houses, the community let us, she says.

#UnexploredBasthar

On the outskirts of Chhattisgarh, there is Basthar district, an unexplored pocket of rural life. Many people warned me not to enter Basthar village which is prone to Naxal attacks. But there, I found many gentle people having unique culture and customs. We got to meet the Dhuruva tribal community in Jamawada village who spoke with me in Hindi. Their food habits are unique. They make gruel using ragi and rice and eat it with red ant chutney served in plates called Dhoni made from Sal tree leaves. One could even buy these red ants from the markets in the village, says Mitra.
By PTI

CHENNAI: Tamil crime thriller series "November Story", featuring Tamannaah Bhatia, will release on May 20 on Disney+ Hotstar VIP, the streamer announced Thursday. The seven-episode whodunnit, revolves around Ganesan (GM Kumar of "Avan Ivan"), a crime novel writer, suffering from Alzheimer's, who lives with his daughter Anuradha (Bhatia), an ethical hacker.

On November 16th, Anuradha finds her father in their abandoned house with the dead body of a woman, who has been covered in paint. As the police reach the crime scene, all evidence is pointing at Ganesan, however his daughter claims his innocence and embarks on a journey to unveil the truth, read the synopsis of the show.

In Ram Subramanian-directed show, Bhatia's Anuradha is described as a young, independent, fearless and intelligent woman, who takes it upon herself to save her father from being punished for a murder. The actor said portraying a strong female character was one of the most gratifying experiences in her career.

"With its compelling storyline and unique narrative, 'November Story' will keep audiences on the edge of their seats and hooked till the end as the mystery around the murder is uncovered," Bhatia said in a statement.

Subramanian said "November Story" is a classic murder mystery where the quest to find the truth behind the crime unveils a series of hidden truths. "We wanted to bring the Tamil audiences a crime thriller unlike any other they've seen before, in terms of both the storyline and the way it's brought to life. All the actors have delivered extraordinary performances, I am confident that it will grab the attention of audiences," he said.

Produced by Ananda Vikatan Group, the series also stars Pasupathy, Aruldoss and Vivek Prasanna among others. "November Story" will be also released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
By PTI

KOLKATA: BJP leader Tathagata Roy on Thursday said his party's top brass has called him to Delhi at the earliest, a day after he criticised some of the measures taken by the saffron camp's decision-makers ahead of the assembly elections.

The BJP pocketed just 77 seats in the just-concluded Bengal polls, with the TMC having bagged 213 constituencies.

The saffron party had set a target of winning over 200 seats.

Taking to Twitter, the former governor of two northeastern states -- Tripura and Meghalaya -- said, "I have been asked by the party's topmost leadership to come to Delhi ASAP. This is for general information."

Roy, during his interaction with reporters on Wednesday, had claimed that "unwanted elements" from the TMC was inducted into the BJP ahead of the assembly polls, and leaders having no idea or understanding of Bengali culture and heritage were made to helm the election campaign in the state.

On the migroblogging site, he also wrote, "In the depths of my frustration I think of my icons Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. How they had suffered and compared to that what is my suffering! Such thoughts, such suffering will not go in vain. Never!"

In a no-holds-barred diatribe aimed at state BJP minders and the Bengal unit chief, he further tweeted, "Kailash-Dilip-Shiv-Arvind (KDSA) foursome have dragged the names of our respected Prime Minister and Home Minister through mud and have sullied the name of the biggest political party in the world. Sitting atop Agarwal Bhavan of Hastings (W Bengal BJP's election headquarters)."

On Tuesday, Roy, known for his controversial remarks and tweets, had said that three new female entrants in the BJP from the tinsel town, who got defeated by big margins, are "politically stupid", raising several eyebrows.

"What great qualities were these women possessed of? Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dilip Ghosh & Co must answer (sic)," he had tweeted.

Reacting strongly to Roy's jibe at his industry colleagues, Kanchan Mallick, an actor who fought on a TMC ticket and won the Uttarpara seat, "It is insulting for them even though they belong to my rival party," he said.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: Take a look at how Bihar treats its healthcare facilities: 30 ventilators in the home districts of CM Nitish Kumar, health minister Mangal Pandey, two deputy CMs, Renu Devi, Tar Kishor Prasad, and Union MoS for health and family welfare-cum Buxar MP Ashwini Choubey, are not operational for last one year.

These 30 ventilators, provided to the state under the PM-Cares Fund last year, have been found lying unused in government hospitals of Nalanda, Siwan, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Saharsa and Buxar districts, besides other 177 new ventilators in the same condition in other districts for years. As many as 207 ventilators were allotted to Bihar for hospitals in 36 districts in March last year after they were purchased under the PM CARES Fund.

Since then, ventilators in 36 districts of the state have not been made operational simply because there are no operators. It shows how the state government is concerned about the health care system, said a senior doctor, preferring anonymity. Meanwhile, the state health society has decided to release these ventilators to private hospitals treating Covid patients for the next three months on some conditions. Applications have been sought from private hospitals, but sources said only a few private hospitals have responded to the offer so far.

As per official figures, six new ventilators are lying unused each in Siwan, home district of state health minister Mangal Pandey, Nalanda, home district of CM Nitish Kumar, Katihar and Saharsa of deputy CM Tar Kishor Prasad, West Champaran, the home district of another deputy CM Renu Devi and Bhagalpur-Buxar, which are home district and Lok Sabha constituency of Ashwini Choubey. When this newspaper tried to contact the state health minister and health officials to know the current status of these ventilators, none of them was available or responded.

Postpone weddings for some time, says CM Nitish

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has appealed to the people on Wednesday to postpone weddings and other functions for some time. A day after announcing an 11-day lockdown from May 5, Kumar tweeted saying that postponements of functions will help in breaking the Covid chain. He directed officials to take all steps to ramp up oxygen generation.
By PTI

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has suspended the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive for people aged 18 to 44, after the high court's order to modify the plan that prioritised inoculation of the economically weaker sections of society, an official said on Thursday.

The state government has constituted a committee headed by the state's chief secretary to finalise a fresh plan to distribute vaccines in the third phase in an equitable manner, the public relations department official said.

The state government in an order on April 30 said vaccines will be first given to the Antyodaya group (poorest among poor), followed by those in the below poverty line (BPL) category and then to people in the above poverty line (APL) group, in the third phase of the drive that began on May 1.

Hearing the intervention applications challenging the state government's decision, the Chhattisgarh High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to fix the ratio of allotment of vaccines in an equitable manner.

"In light of the HC's order, the state government has constituted a panel of secretaries, headed by chief secretary, which will deliberate on relevant aspects, including vulnerability, chance to spread the disease and the number of eligible persons in the group," the official said.

The court has directed to amend the state's April 30 order and said the state government must fix a reasonable ratio for allotment of vaccines to the Antyodaya group and persons belonging to the and APL categories, he said.

It will take some time for the committee to submit its recommendations and to finalise the fresh inoculation plan, the official said.

"Continuing the inoculation drive for the Antyodaya group will amount to violation of the court's order and therefore, the vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years is being suspended," he said.

The vaccination for people aged above 45 years will continue in the state, the official added.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday came up with a grim warning that a third Covid-19 wave in India was inevitable and admitted for the first time that B.1.617, an Indian mutant of the virus, could be fuelling the massive surge in the country. A phase three is inevitable, given the higher levels of the circulating virus, but it is not clear on what time scale this will occur. We should prepare for new waves, said K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Centre said on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: The industry and measures to save lives, livelihoods

Amid clamour for stricter measures to contain the spread of the fierce wave, Niti Aayog member (health), V K Paul, who also heads the national Covid-19 task force, did not rule out the possibility of a national lockdown to break the chain of the virus. Listing the Centres guidelines like night curfews and restrictions in districts with over 10% test positivity rate and more than 60% ICU bed occupancy, Paul said: In that direction there is a clear balanced advisory. At the same time, if anything more is required, those options are always being discussed, and decisions, as required, will be taken.

Meanwhile, data shared during the briefing marked the B.1.617 variant  also known as double mutant  as a variant of concern for the first time. Samples collected from at least 18 states, which underwent genomic surveillance, showed the presence of the variant. This variant, along with E484Q and L452R mutants, was first identified in February. Its spread has been exponential, overtaking several other local variants, including N440K and B.1.618, suggesting that it was more transmissible.

ALSO READ: Covid double mutant B1617, a variant of concern, says Centre

Data from other countries suggest that while E484Q can escape antibody neutralisation, L452R increases infectivity. According to the WHO, this Indian strain has been detected in at least 17 countries, including the UK, US and Singapore. Sources said that following a request by the UK government, India has agreed to send samples of B.1.617 for examining the efficacy of the available vaccines against it. Renu Swarup, secretary of department of biotechnology, said initial data has shown that vaccines in India effectively neutralised the variants in circulation. More work is underway to fully establish the findings, she added.

Link between variant, surge

The director of the National Centre for Disease Control said that an exercise was underway to establish the link between the rise of the variant and the progression of the disease in the country

Lockdown-like situation already in many states

Maharashtra: Lockdown-like curbs imposed since April 5

Odisha: Two-week lockdown since May 5

Andhra Pradesh: Two-week noon-to-6 am curfew starting May 5

Kerala: Mini-lockdown till May 9, night curfew

Telangana: Only night curfew so far

Tamil Nadu: Shops selling essential commodities can function till 12 noon

Karnataka: Corona Curfew extended till May 12

West Bengal: Shops to open from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm

Jharkhand: Lockdown since April 22

Madhya Pradesh: Staggered Janta Curfew in various districts

Uttar Pradesh: Corona Curfew till May 10 morning

Bihar: 11-day lockdown starting Wednesday

Punjab: Non-essential shops shut till May 15

Haryana: Lockdown from May 3-10

Rajasthan: Virtual lockdown from April 19 to May 3

Chhattisgarh: Lockdown extended till May 15

J&K: Corona curfew in 14 districts till Thursday morning; four districts under curfew till May 10

Northeast: Almost all states have clamped night curfew; complete lockdown in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and zero strategy of the Centre is pushing the country towards a complete lockdown.

Gandhi said he was against a total lockdown and urged the government to provide a financial package for the poor.

"Last year's unplanned lockdown was a fatal attack on the people and that is why I am against a complete lockdown.

"But the prime minister's failure and zero strategy on part of the central government are pushing the country towards a complete lockdown," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

ALSO READ | Kerala imposes lockdown from May 8 to 16 amid surging Covid cases

"In such a situation, it is essential to immediately provide a financial package and all kind of help to the poor people," he also said.

In an other tweet, Gandhi hit out at the government over the hike in petrol and diesel prices, saying elections are over and the loot has started again.

The Congress leader has been calling for a financial package for the poor and has asked the government to provide Rs 6,000 into their accounts to tide over the current crisis.

Gandhi had on Wednesday said that imposing a total lockdown is the only solution in the current situation.

India has seen a record number of 4.12 lakh cases and around 4,000 deaths in the last 24 hours and most states have imposed restrictions or imposed a lockdown.

ALSO WATCH:
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Police have arrested 46 people for taking out a religious procession at a village in Gandhinagar district to "eradicate coronavirus", an official said on Thursday. This is the second such incident in Gujarat in the last few of days.

DSP MK Rana said that all COVID-19 prevention norms were allegedly violated during the latest procession taken out in Raipur village of Gandhinagar on Wednesday. In a video that went viral on social media platforms on Thursday, around 100 men and women, many without masks, were seen participating in a procession in the village.

While women were carrying water pots on their heads, several men were leading the procession while beating drums. "After being alerted about the incident, we have arrested 46 men involved in taking out the procession," Rana said.

A section of people from the village believed coronavirus could be eradicated by pouring water on a local temple of their deity, he said.

All the 46 accused were booked for violating police notification regarding gatherings under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act, the official said.

On May 3, a similar incident took place at Navapura village in Ahmedabad where a large number of women carrying water pots on their heads took out a procession to a local temple, believing that pouring water on the temple would eradicate COVID-19.

Police had arrested 23 people, including the village sarpanch, for organising the event. The Gujarat government has already imposed a ban on all kinds of gatherings in the state in the wake of a surge in coronavirus cases.

On Wednesday, Gujarat reported 12,955 new coronavirus cases, raising its tally to 6,33,427, while 133 deaths pushed the toll to 7,912, as per the state health department.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Press Council of India on Thursday reiterated its recommendation to the Centre and state governments that journalists be included in the category of 'COVID warriors' and also given insurance cover.

In a statement, the print media watchdog commended the governments of Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh who have considered journalists among "frontline workers for their hard work in this pandemic situation" and have extended financial help to them.

The Press Council of India (PCI) reiterated its recommendation to the Centre and state/Union territory governments regarding insurance of journalists and for including journalists in the category of COVID Warriors.

While reiterating its resolution of September last year, the PCI urged all state governments, Union territories and the central government to frame and implement a group insurance scheme for the journalists on the lines of the policy framed by the Haryana government.

The Council also recommended to the central, state governments and the Union territories to include the journalists in the category of 'COVID warriors' like doctors, confer them with the same benefits and give immediate financial assistance to the families of all those journalists who died due to COVID-19.

The Council, therefore, urges the central government as well as state/UT governments to take necessary steps for the welfare of journalists, the statement said.

Fresh coronavirus cases and fatalities in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the tally of cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
Kanu Sarda By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Stressing that media discharges an important function in adding vitality to democracy, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that media cannot be restricted from covering court proceedings in any manner. A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah said. The media has the right to cover court proceedings but senior judges should exercise restraint and not make off the cuff remarks.

Technology has shaped social, economic and political structures beyond description. The world is adapting to technology at a pace which is often difficult to catalogue, and many of our citizens are becoming digital natives from a young age. It is understandable that they will look towards modern forms of media, such as social media websites and applications, while consuming the news.

This, understandably, would also include information reported about the functioning of courts, the bench ruled. The order came on a plea filed Election Commission against Madras High Court observations that had said the EC should probably be booked for murder for allowing political rallies while the country reels under a massive surge of Covid-19 infections.

A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged that the high courts remarks were harsh, but did not expunge them saying they do not form part of the judicial order. It will be retrograde to restrain HCs from making observations or gagging media from reporting observations. Courts have to remain alive to evolving technology of media, it is not good, if it is restrained from reporting judicial proceedings.
By PTI

BHOPAL: Junior doctors at six government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday went on an indefinite strike for their demands including better treatment facilities for their colleagues who contract coronavirus infection.

The junior doctors who serve in COVID-19 wards are not part of the strike but they too would join in if demands are not met, their association warned.

"We are trying our best to resolve the situation and expecting positive results today itself," Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang told PTI.

Of around 3,000 junior doctors, 15 to 20 per cent have been deployed to treat coronavirus patients.

They too will join the agitation if the state government did not give a written assurance to fulfil the demands by evening, MP Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) president Dr Arvind Meena said.

They did not want to go on strike during the pandemic but had no choice left, he said.

"For the last six months we have been drawing the state government's attention to our problems.

On May 3, we got assurance from minister Vishwas Sarang which has not been fulfilled yet," he told PTI.

"Twenty-five per cent of junior doctors have been infected by coronavirus to date.

We are demanding guarantee of bed allotment for the junior doctors who get infected," Meena said.

Besides, latest COVID -19 treatment should be made available to them as the treatment protocol keeps changing every two months due to virus mutation, he added.

"Most importantly, the state government should provide treatment to junior doctors in the cashless mode. At present we have to incur the expenditure which is reimbursed after submission of bills," Dr Meena said.

Another demand of agitating doctors is that their one year's fee be waived as the academic session could not be held due to the outbreak of coronavirus last year.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to Vikram Bhave, an accused in the case of killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013, saying there are "not enough reasonable grounds" to conclude that the allegations against him are prima facie true.

Bhave was accused of helping two other accused - Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar - who allegedly shot Dabholkar on August 20, 2013 in Pune, with a recce of the spot and escape route after the crime.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting a probe into the case.

A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale in its order noted that there were discrepancies in the prosecution's evidence.

"The material on which much emphasis has been placed by the CBI to link the appellant (Bhave) with the incident in question, does not appear to indicate that the accusation levelled against the appellant can be said to be prima facie true," the court said in its order.

The HC further said the CBI is still carrying out further investigation into the case to examine the larger conspiracy and hence, there is hardly any likelihood of trial commencing in the near future.

While granting bail to Bhave, the court directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two solvent sureties of the like amount.

It also directed him to appear before the police station concerned in Pune every day for a period of one month, followed by twice a week for two months and then once a week till the completion of the trial.

The HC also directed Bhave to attend the trial in the case and not to tamper with any evidence or witnesses.

It also directed him not to indulge in any illegal activities.

Advocate Sandesh Patil, appearing for the CBI, the prosecuting agency, sought a stay of the order.

However, the high court refused.

Bhave was arrested along with advocate Sanjeev Punalekar on May 25, 2019 by the CBI, on the basis of a statement given by Kalaskar.

Punalekar was granted bail by a sessions court in Pune in June 2019.

Bhave approached the HC earlier this year, after the sessions court in Pune rejected his bail plea.

It is the CBI's case that Punalekar had instructed Kalaskar to destroy the firearms used in the killing of Dabholkar.

According to the probe agency, Bhave (who used to work as Punalekar's assistant) had accompanied Kalaskar and Andure for a recce of the crime scene and showed them the escape route.

The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, murder and destruction of evidence, and under section 16 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), pertaining to committing a terrorist act resulting in the death of a person.

Appearing for Bhave, advocates Subhash Jha, Ghanshyam Upadhyay and Hare Krishna Mishra argued that apart from the alleged statement of Kalaskar, there is no evidence against Bhave to prove his complicity in the case.

The court in its order noted that the CBI may not be justified in wholly relying upon the statement of co-accused Kalaskar made in another case (killing activist-journalist of Gauri Lankesh) wherein Bhave is not charged.
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said 16 people have lost their lives in post-poll violence in the state, and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for their families.

Banerjee, during a press meet here, also said that her government will provide jobs of home guard to one family member each of all five persons killed in CAPF firing in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi area last month.

She further said that a CID team has initiated a probe into the incident of firing in Cooch Behar that took place when the voting exercise was underway for the fourth phase of assembly elections, on April 10.

"At least 16 persons - mostly from the BJP and the TMC and one of the Samyukta Morcha -- died in post-poll violence. We will pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to their family members. Our government will also provide jobs of home guard to the next of kin of Sitalkuchi victims," she said.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, the CM said that the saffron party was yet to come to terms with people's mandate.

She accused central leaders of inciting violence in the state.

"Not even 24 hours have passed since I was sworn-in as the CM, and letters, a central team have started arriving. This is because the BJP has not yet reconciled to the mandate of common people. I will request the saffron party leaders to accept the mandate," she told reporters.

"Please allow us to focus on the COVID situation. We do not want to engage in any squabble," she added.

A four-member fact-finding team of the Union Home Ministry, tasked with looking into reasons for the post-poll violence in West Bengal, arrived in the state on Thursday.

Led by an additional secretary of the ministry, the team visited the state secretariat and held a meeting with the home secretary and DGP, sources said.

The team, which will also assess the ground situation in the state, is likely to visit several areas in the city as well as South 24 Parganas, Godkhali, Sunderbans and Jaggadal, they said.

The ministry had on Wednesday sent a terse reminder to the West Bengal government to submit a detailed report on the post-poll violence and to take necessary measures to stop such incidents "without any loss of time".

It has also asked West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to give a report on the law and order situation in the state, particularly the violence that took place following the election results on May 2.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that 16 people have lost their lives in post-poll violence in the state.

The BJP has alleged that TMC-backed goons have killed a number of its workers, attacked women members, vandalised houses and looted shops.

Rejecting the charges, Banerjee had Wednesday said violence and clashes were taking place in those areas where BJP candidates emerged victorious in the assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MLA Firhad Hakim hit out at the Centre for sending teams instead of COVID-19 vaccines.

"They should send vaccines first, that's the responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are grieved that some people have died, and action will be taken against the culprits."

"But, what will happen to the inoculation process which is stalled because of the vaccine crisis?" Hakim said.
By ANI

SAMBA: Border Security Force (BSF) eliminated a Pakistani intruder near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba on the intervening night of May 5 and 6. "During the intervening night of May 5 and 6, around 2:35 am, BSF jawans shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the International Border in Samba sector, Jammu and Kashmir," the BSF informed.

However, there was no information on the identity of the intruder. Further details are awaited. In a similar incident, the BSF had shot dead a Pakistani intruder at the Indian border in Punjab's Firozpur district on the intervening night of May 2 and 3.

A ceasefire was announced between India and Pakistan from midnight of February 24 to 25. After discussions between the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan, the two sides agreed to cease firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors with effect from midnight of February 24 to 25.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry has asked West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to give a report on the law and order situation in the state, particularly the violence that took place following the election results last weekend, officials said on Thursday.

The Home Ministry had earlier asked the state government to submit a report but has not yet received it, the officials said.

The governor has been asked to assess the situation and submit his report to the ministry at the earliest.

The ministry has formed a four-member, headed by an additional secretary ranked officer, to investigate the post-poll violence.

The BJP claims six of its workers were killed by TMC supporters, a charge denied by the Mamata Banerjee-led government.

The home ministry dispatched a terse reminder to the West Bengal government on Wednesday to submit a detailed report on the post-poll violence in the state, warning it that the matter will be taken "seriously" in case it fails to do so, and asked it to take necessary measures to stop such incidents "without any loss of time", officials said.

In a letter dispatched on Wednesday, the home ministry reminded the West Bengal chief secretary 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, the officials said.

ALSO READ | Ministry of Home Affairs forms four-member team to probe post-poll violence in West Bengal

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, the letter said.

Therefore, necessary steps should be taken to prevent these incidents without any loss of time, it added.

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.

At least six people were killed in post-poll violence in different parts of the state till Tuesday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that TMC-backed goons have killed a number of its workers, attacked its women members, vandalised houses, looted shops of its members and ransacked its offices.

Claiming that at least 14 BJP workers were killed and nearly one lakh people fled their homes in post-poll violence in West Bengal, party president J P Nadda alleged on Wednesday that the chief minister's silence speaks of her involvement.

Banerjee rejected the charges, saying violence and clashes were taking place in those areas where the BJP candidates emerged victorious in the election.

Speaking to reporters at state secretariat Nabanna after taking oath, the chief minister also claimed that most of the videos of violence being shared on social media are either fake or old.

"I have noticed that violence and clashes are taking place in those areas where the BJP have won the elections. These places can be seen as black spots," she said.

Banerjee said when these incidents happened, law and order in the state was under the Election Commission (EC).

"Law and order in West Bengal deteriorated in the last three months. There were some sporadic incidents and not all were real, most were fake. The BJP is showing old videos," she said.

The TMC supremo said all the district magistrates (DMs) and superintendents of police (SPs) were asked to strictly deal with any emerging situation.

"If someone is found involved in any incident, we will deal with it very strictly. We are not going to tolerate any lawlessness here," she said.

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.

Banerjee had asked people on Sunday to show restraint and not indulge in any kind of violence.

The BJP on Wednesday claimed that 14 party workers were killed and nearly a lakh people fled their homes in post-poll violence, charges which were denied as fabricated by the Trinamool Congress.

ALSO READ | West Bengal: 50 per cent of BJPs 77 seats in dalit strongholds

BJP president J P Nadda at a press conference here claimed that 80,000 to one lakh people have left their homes in different parts of the state in the wake of Trinamool Congresss spectacular electoral victory and held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible, alleging her silence (on the violence) speaks of her involvement.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee after taking oath for a third term in office said she would take strict action to stop any lawlessness and pointed out till her swearing in, the states law and order were supervised by the Election Commission which had changed many top-level police personnel responsible for tackling such incidents.

Condemning the "brutal killings after the (election) results", Nadda alleged that 14 BJP workers have been killed and women molested and raped in various parts of the state.

The assembly election results were declared on May 2 with the ruling Trinamool Congress winning 213 of the 292 assembly seats.

"Mamata Banerjee's silence (on the violence) speaks of her involvement. She has blood on her hand," Nadda said.

During his two-day visit to the state from Tuesday, the BJP president visited the residences of some party workers who allegedly faced atrocities at the hands of TMC supporters.

Alleging attacks on BJP workers in Canning Purba constituency in South 24 Parganas district and destruction of villages, he said the people there have faced "(cyclone) Amphan last year and `Mamataphan this year".

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh however labelled the rival partys claims as fabricated and said most violence was because of intra-party spats within the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He also claimed that six TMC men had been killed.

Nadda claimed that people in north Bengal districts have been fleeing to neighbouring Assam to save their lives.

Asked whether the BJP was contemplating to seek imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution in West Bengal, he said that the procedure is that a report is sent by the governor, analysed by central agencies and Ministry of Home Affairs and a decision is then taken.

"So, it is for them to make the decision", he said.

Under Article 356, if a state government is unable to function according to Constitutional provisions, the Centre can take direct control of the state machinery.

ALSO READ | Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar terms West Bengal CM as 'Mamata Khan'

"As far as the BJP is concerned, even if it is a fit case (for the imposition of Article 356), we are people who fight democratically," Nadda said.

The chief minister speaking to reporters at state secretariat `Nabanna, claimed violence and clashes were occurring in areas where the BJP won the elections and added that most of the videos of violence being shared on social media were either fake or old.

"I have noticed that violence and clashes are taking place in those areas where the BJP have won the elections.

These places can be seen as black spots," she said.

The chief minister said that when these incidents happened, the law and order was under the Election Commission.

"The law and order in West Bengal deteriorated in the last three months. There were some sporadic incidents and not all were real, most were fake. BJP is showing old videos," she claimed.

"I will appeal to all political parties to stop this (violence). Or else, law will take its course. Bengal is a land of peace, heritage and here we stay in peace with people from every section of the society," she said.

Hours after taking oath as the chief minister, Banerjee held a top-level meeting with senior officials of the state government, including Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and Home Secretary HK Dwidevi on the present law and order situation.

She also reinstated Virender, as the Director- General of Police and Jawed Shamim as the ADG (Law and Order).

Both the officers were removed from their respective posts by the Election Commission ahead of the polls.

Meanwhile, Mamata on Wednesday 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 brought 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.

The government also suspended Debashis Dhar, SP of Cooch Behar district where four persons were killed in CISF firing during polling on April 10 in Sitalkuchi constituency.

Banerjee has already ordered a CID probe into the incident.

Dhar was replaced by K Kannan who had been sent to OCW (officer-on-compulsory-waiting) during the election.

Virendra, who was transferred by the EC, has been reinstated to his former position.

ALSO READ | Centre asks West Bengal government to send report on post-poll violence 'at once'

Neeraj Nayan Pandey, who had been made the DG in place of Veerendra, was now posted as 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 for alleged police excesses during a Left rally 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 got back his earlier post and he has been given the additional responsibility of ADG and IGP of the Armed Police.

Another transferred officer Sanjay Singh, officer-on- compulsory-waiting, has been posted as ADG and IG of Western range.

In the morning, the chief minister had indicated that she was not happy with the 'inefficiency' of the police in different areas.

"The administration was not under my control for the last three months. It was under the control of the Election Commission. There is some inefficiency. We will take decisions regarding this soon," she had said.

The state home department, in addition to this, has made some significant transfers like bringing back Monoj Verma as the commissioner of Barackpore Commissionerate.

Verma was transferred from Barackpore and was made IG of Counter Insurgency Force by the commission.

Similarly, Mitesh Jain who was made the commissioner of Asansol-Durgapur Commissionerate has been sent to compulsory waiting.

Ajay Thakur, presently posted as DIG, CID in the state police, was brought in his place.

Two more commissioners were transferred.

Gourav Sharma presently working as Commissioner of Chanadannagar Police Commissionerate has been sent to Siliguri Police Commissionerate as commissioner and Arnab Ghosh, presently posted as member secretary of West Bengal Police Reform Board, has been made the commissioner of Chandannagar in his place.

DIG, Barasat range, Mukesh has also been sent to officer-on-compulsory waiting.

The government has transferred SPs of 16 districts.

Among them are some officers who were shunted by the commission during the election.

Bhola Nath Pandey who was transferred by the commission following the attack on BJP president J P Nadda's convoy in Diamond Harbour has been made SP of Alipurduar.

Soumya Roy who was transferred as his wife was contesting the election has been brought back as SP Howrah (Rural).

Meanwhile, the government sent Rahul Majumdar who is presently posted as joint secretary at the Chief Minister's Office as the DM of Purulia district in place of Abhjit Mukhopadhyay.

Mukhopadhyay was sent to OCW in the personnel and administrative reforms department in the state secretariat.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: A self-styled godman in Jaipur has been accused of rape by four women devotees. The godman known as Tapasvi Baba has an ashram on the outskirts of Jaipur and the alleged rape incidents happened there according to an FIR filed by the women in Bhankarota police station located on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway. A woman who lived at the Ashram as an assistant to him has also been accused of cooperating in the Babas activities.

The real name of the Baba is Yogendra Mehta according to Bhankarota Police Officer Mukesh Chaudhary who is conducting the investigation into the case.

According to the police, one of the devotees, a 45-year-old woman, said that her husband and his family used to go the Babas Ashram in Mukundpura even before she was married. Later, she too started going to the Babas ashram for the past many years. One night when she stayed at the Ashram, the Baba called her to his room and said she should serve him to her best capacity. The Baba allegedly claimed, I am God. You serve me and surrender everything to the Guru.

Later, the Baba gave her a shot claiming that it was a form of prasad. Soon after that, she claims she started feeling giddy as the shot was laced with some intoxicant. Then the Baba raped her.

When she went to the ashram after six months, the Baba called and raped her again. When the woman protested, the Baba allegedly threatened her to stay quiet claiming that he had powerful connections.

She then stayed silent but stopped going to the Babas Ashram though her family continued to worship him. A few days ago, however, the woman was forced to come out with the truth as her husband was asked by the Baba to bring his 20-year-old daughter to the Ashram. The woman then narrated her trauma to her husband in order to stop him from taking their daughter to the Baba.

On hearing her ordeal, two other women in the family also said the Baba had similarly raped them. In addition, another woman devotee of the Baba has also come out with her nightmare of being raped by the same Baba.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Chaudhary, the SHO of Bhankarota Police station, said, We have registered an FIR under IPC sections of 376 and 384. Three of the four victims belong to one family. We are conducting a thorough probe on all aspects of the case which was registered on May 5.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: With the second wave of Covid-19 now spreading to villages of Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the extension of coronavirus-related curfew across the state till May 15.

Lock yourselves in and stop everything, I appeal all people of the state to stay indoors till May 15 and observe COVID-19 appropriate behaviour religiously to break the chain of the COVID-19 infection in the state, Chouhan said on Thursday.

Indore and Bhopal have imposed the curfew till May 10 morning and some districts including Jabalpur and Chhindwara imposed it till May 17, while Rewa's restrictions go on till May 15.

While the positivity rate in the state has come down from 25% to 18% in three weeks, the concerning aspect is that the pandemic is spreading to villages.

Some districts have done commendable work in controlling the spiraling positivity rate, while some other districts have more work to do. Im not naming those districts, as Ill take up the situation individually with district collectors, the CM said.

With the infection spreading into rural areas, the CM also announced that works/labour under the MGNREGA wont be allowed till May 15 in those villages, which has even a single positive case, while in villages with no positive cases also, the works will be allowed only with proper safeguards.

Well ensure that no one suffers by giving three months free ration to villagers, Chouhan assured.

Blaming marriages also for the spiraling number of cases, the CM said, no marriages will be allowed in May, marriages can be solemnized on muhurats (auspicious dates) in June. Marriages are meant to bring progress and prosperity and not misery, but allowing marriages to happen this month will end up plunging the lives of people into grave risk.

He also said that strict action will be taken against hospitals charging hefty sums from commoners particularly from poor people.

Currently over 500 hospitals are treating COVID-19 patients, but some of these hospitals are looting people, which will not be allowed at any cost. Weve started identifying and initiating action against such hospitals starting from the state capital Bhopal and similar action will be replicated against similar hospitals.

Well leave some hospitals for treating people who can afford costly treatment, but all others will have to treat people at fixed rates. Were working on war footing to ensure that all hospitals in the state treat the Ayushman Scheme card holder families free of cost. Were making arrangements for free of cost treatment of all poor, lower middle class and middle class people at hospitals, the CM maintained.

Meanwhile, the state reported 12,421 new COVID cases over the last 24 hours at a positivity rate of 18.23%, which was lowest in 24 days.

As many as 86 deaths too were reported during the last 24 hours, which also saw 12,965 recoveries.

While three districts, including Indore, Bhopal and Gwalior continued to report four-digit daily spike in cases, 34 other districts reported daily spike in triple digits, while remaining 15 districts reported double digit single day spike.

With this the state currently has 88,614 active cases, while the total positive cases since March 2020 have grown to 6,37,406 cases. Since March 2020, the state has officially reported 6160 deaths and 5,42,632 recoveries.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Three recently recruited militants of Albadar militant outfit were killed and another surrendered before troops during the early morning gunfight in Shopian in south Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

A police spokesman said four newly recruited militants of Abadar were trapped in a cordon laid by joint party of police, CRPF and army at Kanigam area of Shopian district in the early hours today.

He said police and security forces observed maximum restraint and tried their best to persuade the holed up militants to surrender.

An army official said multiple appeals for surrender were made by police and family members of the trapped militants.

However, the holed-up militants turned down the surrender offer. They fired and lobbed grenades at the joint search party. The forces retaliated leading to an encounter, the police spokesman said.

He said in the ensuing gunfight, three militants were killed and one militant Tauseef Ahmad surrendered before the troops.

The identity of three slain militants was being ascertained, police said. An army official said four pistols were recovered from the encounter site
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: A tribal organisation in Manipur opposed the burial of a Covid-19 victim questioning his citizenship but, eventually, the last rites were performed under the watchful eyes of the administration.

Dr Nehginpao Kipgen (42), who headed the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at the OP Jindal University in Haryana, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on May 2 and the body was brought to Manipur for burial in Kangpokpi district.

The United Naga Council (UNC) had mourned the demise but raised questions on Dr Kipgen's citizenship, stating that he was not an indigenous citizen of Manipur.

"Has he ever acquired Indian citizenship under due procedure? This question is undoubtedly important for an unfailing consideration in a multi-ethnic society like the State of Manipur," the UNC had said in a statement.

On being requested by the Thadou Inpi, the highest body of the Thadou tribal community, Kangpokpi District Magistrate Somorjit Salam had allowed the ambulance, carrying Dr Kipgen's body to stop briefly and people paid homage to him. The burial took place on Wednesday at Leikot village in Saitu-Gamphazol sub-division of the district. At both places, the Covid-19 protocols were followed.

Dr Kipgen was born at Teijang village in Myanmar but grew up in Manipur. His wife is from Churachandpur in the state and relatives are from Kangpokpi, the Thadou Students' Association said.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a first, the central government has approved appointment of military personnel of the three forces as the additional secretary and joint secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

The department has been pursuing these proposals since last February and prior to its formation, these positions were held by civilian bureaucrats.

Names of four armed forces officers have been approved in the circular issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

While Lieutenant General Anil Puri has been approved as Additional Secretary, Major General K. Narayanan, Rear Admiral Kapil Mohan Dhir and Air Vice Marshal Hardeep Bains have been named as Joint Secretaries in the Department of Military Affairs.

Till now these positions in the DMA were held by the uniformed officers as the officiating appointments.



The DMA that comes as a major reform in the higher defence management is in addition to four existing ones viz. the departments of defence, defence research, defence production and development and ex-service welfare. It came into being on January 1, 2020 with the appointment of General Bipin Rawat as the first Chief of Defence Staff. He was the first uniformed officer to be given the rank of the Secretary hitherto preserved only for civilian administrators. Also, two IAS officers, Rajeev Singh Thakur and Shantanu, were moved to the Department of Military Affairs.

The department that was created to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three services handles the integrated headquarters of the ministry of defence, the territorial army, procurement exclusive to services except capital acquisitions and jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the services through joint planning and integration.

The creation of the theatre commands is being pursued by the DMA.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

NEW Delhi: A crucial decision by the US administration to support a waiver on intellectual property protection on Covid-19 vaccines could help Indian vaccine makers produce inexpensive foreign-made vaccines, but experts caution that there are still hurdles ahead.

This initiative on such a waiver was first proposed by India and South Africa in October last year.

US president Joe Biden on Wednesday expressed his support for the waiver - in reversal to the countrys position earlier - and his remarks were followed by a statement from his top trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, who endorsed the negotiations at the World Trade Organization.

"This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures," Tai said in a statement.

The major decision by the Biden administration comes amid growing concerns that the huge Covid-19 outbreak in India could lead to outbreaks in other countries too, in times to come, even though most of them seem to be recovering from the infectious disease now.

ALSO READ | India's vaccine drive loses steam, second doses delayed

Experts in India, which has been struggling to ensure vaccine supply to a significant chunk of population due to acute supply shortage, while welcoming the move also said that this development should be seen with caution.

"To my understanding, it is a laudable step and will help countries like India in procuring higher doses of vaccines at lower costs if the World Trade Organisation agrees to the proposal and vaccine makers transfer their formula with local companies," said Manisha Gupta, an IPR expert.

She however also said that a possible hurdle in the way could be ensuring the quality of products if the foreign vaccine makers share the technology.

"Countries like India will have to ensure that only companies which are capable of maintaining quality get the license to make generic versions of the vaccines," she added.

Some others like IPR lawyer Deepshikha Malhotra also stressed that the advantage could ultimately depend on the agreements later between the patent holders and local license seekers once the waiver is granted by the WTO.

Also, she said, the companies which may get the license through the international agreements may have to fulfill all the regulatory requirements, as is the case now.

ALSO READ | Fully protected only after second dose of Covid vaccine: Experts

Former Union health secretary Sujatha K Rao, meanwhile, welcomed the development saying that it brings hope for much-needed vaccine equity to low- and middle-income countries.

"In days to come, it is likely to enable vaccine production at very affordable prices helping governments provide it free to all and the price will no longer be a barrier to access," she hoped.

A few trade experts though pointed out that most Indian vaccine companies seem to be happy to work through exclusive pacts and do not favour free technology transfers.

Serum Institute of India, for instance, has signed pacts with AstraZeneca and Novavax while Biological E has entered into an agreement with Johnson & Johnson for its Covid-19 vaccine.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: An air ambulance lost a wheel during takeoff from the Nagpur airport Thursday, but safely belly-landed at the Mumbai airport on a foam carpet, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

Foam carpet is created on the runway by spreading foam using fire extinguishers so that the plane does not catch fire during an emergency landing.

"A Jet Serve ambulance with a patient onboard lost a wheel during takeoff from Nagpur. Showing immense presence of mind Capt Kesari Singh belly landed the aircraft on foam carpeting in Mumbai," Puri said on Twitter.

This video captures the crucial moments after belly landing of the ambulance flight on foam carpet in Mumbai after it lost a wheel during takeoff from Nagpur.



All onboard are safe.

Kudos to the crew & ground professionals.



@DGCAIndia @CSMIA_Official pic.twitter.com/b7fgBef1x4  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 6, 2021

"All onboard are safe. Commendable effort by DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai) and other agencies," he added.

The plane was supposed to fly from Nagpur to Hyderabad.

But due to loss of wheel, it had to land in Mumbai.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan's car was vandalised at Panchkuri village in West Midnapore district on Thursday while he was visiting the area in connection with alleged post-poll violence on saffron party workers.

Muraleedharan alleged in a tweet that the "TMC goons" were behind the attack on his convoy.

"I went to West Midnapore to meet party workers who have been attacked and their homes were vandalised. I was moving from one house to another with my convoy and then all of a sudden a group of people started charging towards us and attacked," Muraleedharan said.

"I am safe, but my driver was injured, few car windows were also smashed," the minister told PTI.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha who was accompanying the minister claimed that the attack took place despite the presence of the police personnel.

An officer of Kotwali police station in West Midnapore said that they are probing into the incident of the attack on the minister's convoy.

"It happened at around 12. 30 pm today when some unidentified people attacked the minister's convoy," he said.

No one has been detained or arrested so far, the police officer said.

BJP president JP Nadda on Thursday condemned the attack and claimed that "TMC-sponsored" violence was in full swing in state after the assembly poll results were declared.

Condemning the attack, Nadda alleged that law and order has completely collapsed in West Bengal.

"If an Union minister can be attacked then what would be the condition of common man?" he posed.

"TMC-sponsored violence is in full swing in West Bengal after assembly elections in the state," the BJP president alleged.

He also claimed, "Murderous attacks on BJP workers, rapes happening in West Bengal and people in thousands are fleeing to save lives.

ALSO WATCH:
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: About half of the 77 seats won by the BJP in West Bengal were reserved for Dalits, including members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The state has 84 seats reserved for SC and ST candidates.

The saffron camp has won 38 of these seats. Among the SC/ST seats won by the BJP, 18 are in north Bengal, where the party has made deep inroads since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In all, the BJP won 31 seats reserved for the SCs and seven seats reserved for the STs.

Many of the seats are dominates by the Matuas, a Hindu religious sect comprising people who had immigrated from Bangladesh. They have been promised Indian citizenship by the BJP-led Central government through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed the CAA.

The saffron camp has also managed to retain its Dalit vote-bank in north Bengal regions where the Rajbanshi community forms a considerable chunk of the electorate. The Dalits, however, in Junglemahal voted against the saffron camp. The BJP won only in three constituencies out of 12 seats reserved for Dalits in Junglemahal.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) what procedure it follows for the repatriation of foreign nationals who are in India without any documents.

Hearing a plea on behalf of three Bangladeshi youths, including a minor, who were allegedly abducted from their country and brought here in March and want to return home, Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the MHA to place on record the procedure as well as the time period and formalities to be completed for the repatriation/deportation of such foreign nationals.

If there is any communication from the Bangladeshi High Commission in connection with the request letter for deportation served upon it, it should also be placed on record, the court said on Tuesday.

If the procedure to be adopted along with the timelines is not filed along with an affidavit by May 13, a senior official of the MHA shall remain present on the next date of hearing on May 17, it said.

On April 12, the court had issued notice to the ministries of Home and External Affairs, the Bangladesh High Commission, the Delhi government, the Border Security Force and the police, seeking their stand on the plea from three youths to send them back home.

According to the petition filed on behalf of the three youths, they had gone to see the Indo-Bangladesh border on March 4, 2021 along with an acquaintance who had given them some food after reaching close to the border.

After eating the food, the three lost consciousness and woke up on a platform of the New Delhi Railway Station on March 10, the petition, filed through advocates Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, Ritu Maity and Abhishek Anand, has said.

Subsequently, the three went to the nearby Kamla Market Police Station and narrated their story. The policemen gave them some money for food, the petition said, adding that they were later shifted to a homeless night shelter.

They made representations to the Bangladesh High Commission and government agencies of India and Bangladesh with the help of social activist Sunil Kumar Aledia, but received no response, the petition added.

Besides their safe return home, the plea has said they should not be arrested for lack of passport or visa and be provided food and shelter till they are sent back to their country.
By PTI

LONDON: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday expressed deep concern over the attack on Maldives Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and said that he knows that the Maldivian leader will never be "intimidated".

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) -- the main ruling party -- said that the explosion outside the residence of Nasheed, the country's former president, was an attempt on his life.

"Deeply concerned at the attack on Speaker @MohamedNasheed. Wish him a speedy recovery. Know that he will never be intimidated," Jaishankar, currently in London on an official visit, tweeted.

MDP chairperson Hussain Latheef said his party believes that it was "a terrorist attack to assassinate Speaker Nasheed".

The explosion took place outside Nasheed's residence in Male, just as he entered his car.

Nasheed, along with at least one of his bodyguards and a bystander, sustained injuries in the explosion, and were taken to a hospital.

"The extent of his injuries are unclear at this point," Sun Online reported.

Nasheed, 53, became the first democratically elected leader of Maldives.

He served as president from 2008 until 2012 when he resigned amid public protests.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: In perhaps the first of its kind development, the pandas (priests) in Madhya Pradeshs world famous religious city Ujjain have announced the haulting of post cremation rituals and ash immersion rituals on the ghats near the sacred Kshripra river.

In consultation with the local administration and discussion with other members of our body, weve decided to stop Uttar Karma Vidhan Sanskar and Asthi Visarjan (post cremation rituals and ash immersion) on all ghats between Kaliadeh Mahal and Shani Mandir, dotting river Kshipra in Ujjain till further orders of the local authorities, Ujjain Sri Kshetra Panda Samiti head Rajesh Trivedi announced on Thursday.

We appeal to all devout and pilgrims not to come to Ujjain for the Uttar Karma Vidhan Sanskar and Asthi Visarjan. With the situation already being grim in Ujjain, there is a risk of outsiders either contracting the COVID infection from local residents or else infecting local people in case visitors are asymptomatic cases. Stay wherever you are and perform all post cremation rituals there only to protect selves and others from the deadly infection, Trivedi appealed.

Besides Kashi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Ujjain in MP, is also the most frequented religious city, where people flock to perform post cremation rituals and ash immersion.

Ghats dotting the Kshipra river in the West MP city, including Gau Ghat, Siddhvat Ghat and Ram Ghat witness a huge rush of devotees, particularly those coming for post cremation rituals.

Ujjain is among the 30-odd districts of MP, which are witnessing triple digit daily spike in COVID cases.

During the last 24 hours, Ujjain reported 410 new cases and two deaths over the last 24 hours, while 454 patients recovered from the viral infection. Ujjain which is among the top five districts in MP in terms of COVID infection, has reported 14,500 positive cases and 155 deaths since March 2020.
Hindol Sengupta By

This essay is built upon a simple humanitarian premise, which is that countries in the Indian subcontinent, with many differences between them, could use the lessons from the COVID pandemic and create a new regional crack force - of health professionals, doctors, nurses and allied service people.

There are many reasons why this is a good idea, not least because of the shared challenges countries in South Asia face. Take the current situation on COVID-19: India, fighting a difficult second wave, now has more than 3,50,000 daily cases of infections from the coronavirus; neighbouring Pakistan had around 1,40,000 cases in April, its worst month since the crisis began; cases have been spiking in Sri Lanka too; Nepal just had its steepest single day surge, while Bangladesh is having a relatively better time dealing with the pandemic, but concerns remain high.

Overall, South Asia is one of the worst affected regions of the world, and it is also an area with historic challenges in healthcare infrastructure. But it has - over the years - developed one position of strength: It has great healthcare professionals.

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare officials from around South Asia are some of the finest in the world. In different parts of the world, especially in America and Europe, some of the finest doctors and nurses are of South Asian origin.

This existing talent pool could be structured as a crack force of South Asian medical professionals who could rise to tackle major healthcare emergencies in the region.

Such a team would be made up of some of the finest doctors, nurses and other health workers from all South Asian countries and their task would be to come together during a crisis and help resolve it no matter where it unfolds in the region.

These health workers would not be confined by politics and they would not be trapped in any disputes or conflict between two South Asian countries. Their task and role would be devoid of political identity - they would play only a critical humanitarian task.

By working across borders in real-life crisis situations in healthcare, they would be able to gather critical cross-country experience in tackling problems in every nation and be able to refer and compare that experience for the benefit of the entire region.

This team would have its own meetings, schedules and trainings that would be untied to any regional forum (for instance like the SAARC). This would help this team of doctors, nurses and others work solely in resolving crisis issues wherever these occur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already suggested a framework for a special visa for health workers across the region and a combined air ambulance facility. This could be expanded into a full-fledged medicine corps for South Asia - healthcare officials who would help, and who could even be airdropped, in regions of extreme emergency.

A special visa regime could give such a mission of critical health workers the flexibility and speed to be of maximum assistance. If you consider with care what the main lesson of the COVID pandemic is, it is easy to see the kind of crisis South Asia might face in the future.

Behind the spread of the COVID-19 pathogen lies the question of animal viruses crossing over to human populations. As population pressures and desire for mineral and other forms of extraction leads to more and more environmental degradation across the region, the chances of disease spreading widely are high. South Asia is also one of the regions of the world that is most vulnerable to climate change.

Pressures on healthcare will also come from rising temperatures, melting glaciers, deforestation and other issues of climate change. As South Asia becomes more polluted, with more dense urban populations, issues of waste management might become severe, as of course would air pollution.

Since South Asian neighbours share so many environmental resources, they must be more aware of their common future, and the fact that in order to thrive, deeper, more engaging cooperation is vital. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that viruses do not respect borders, and no one is really safe unless everyone is safe.

Such cooperation and collaboration would be critical for the future to meet the challenges that the region faces. It is important for all of us to realise that a new difficult age of healthcare challenges triggered by environmental issues is dawning upon us, and therefore the cooperative structures of yesterday are unlikely to be able to meet the demands that are to come soon.

Therefore, it is important to consider the creation of such a cross-national body devoted to health emergencies for our common better future.

(The writer is vice president & Head of Research, Invest India, the central government's national investment promotion agency. He can be reached at hindol.opinion@gmail.com)
Chandrajit Banerjee By

Today, the country is faced with a crisis of epic proportions. With several new mutant variants and a resurgence of infections, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread at a rapid pace, affecting lives, livelihoods and the economy.

With a national healthcare emergency of such magnitude, it is critical to take all possible measures at the earliest to arrest further spread of the crisis. A disaster response strategy with impactful measures in collaboration with all stakeholders can be developed, with a strong focus on saving lives and livelihoods.

The industry can be a powerful player in this strategy in multiple ways. The CII has provided inputs to the government on various dimensions of the response measures, including supply of critical care requirements, vaccinations and strengthening medical manpower resources.

To address the shortage of oxygen availability, we suggest direct vessels be used to import liquid oxygen and unloaded fast for the containers to reach key destinations. Support equipment needs to be imported including ISO containers, cylinders for liquid oxygen, personal oxygen concentrators for home treatment and PSA and VSA containers for hospitals.

Military oxygen generators, which are lightweight, modular and can be used for about 50 bedded hospitals, can also be imported. The industry is being encouraged to use their CSR funds in creating this pool.

For expanding domestic manufacturing, 20 leading manufacturers could be identified and provided support for importing some of the required components to reduce set-up time to about eight weeks. The CII has formed a task force to work with Central and state governments to raise oxygen supply through capacity enhancement and imports.

Tata group, Reliance Industries Ltd, JSW Group, Adani group, ITC Ltd, and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, amongst others, are helping hospitals with emergency medical supplies. The industry is diverting its industrial oxygen production to manufacture medical oxygen.

The challenge is the lack of appropriate containers to transport the gas, which is a hazardous material. Making transport arrangements for oxygen supplies linking to nearby factories is critical using multi-modal transport.

The requirements of healthcare workers must be ramped up to address the magnitude of the crisis we are faced with. Medical manpower such as retired medical personnel, doctors and nurses may be requested to join in the effort.

Nursing and medical students who have finished GNM/BSC training and are awaiting exams can be roped in. Medical specialists, PG seat aspiring doctors and specialists can be included. NRIs working abroad as doctors and nurses can be encouraged to come back for a national cause for a brief period and also be available for digital consultations.

Vaccination and testing are yet another top priority for the country. The CII recommends the distribution of vaccination supplies to states according to well-defined criteria. As per experts, population size, exposure and vulnerability can be mapped to supply specific required quantities to the states.

There is a need to scale up RT-PCR testing to double the current daily numbers both in urban and rural India. The requirements for testing kits can be met through imports or ramping up domestic manufacturing, including Rapid Antigen Self Testing Kits for use at home.

Also, vacant educational institution premises or other unused areas can be used for creating community testing facilities at scale.

On the logistics and infrastructure front, the CII has suggested the deployment of the Armed Forces and central security personnel for temporary medical facilities, logistics, infrastructure and personnel. The government has now given emergency powers to the Armed Forces for setting up such facilities.

It is important that the healthcare and frontline workers, who have gone beyond the call of duty at great personal risk to take the crisis head on, feel protected. There is a need to strengthen security at hospitals for medical personnel and protect people and property, which can be done by deploying military and paramilitary forces.

A central asset mapping control team should be created for monitoring supply of various essential critical care items as well as predicting possible occurrences of shortages and pre-emptively enhancing states capacities. Shortages may be made known to the industry for helping reach resources to the needy geographies as the wave moves across the country.

There is a need to strengthen logistics to reach supplies to the affected districts. Transportation must also be put in place for supplying the required medical drugs and oxygen on a continuous basis to districts where requirements are high, including Railways and road corridors, with minimal state border delays. With all of us working together on a war footing, India is certain to win over the second COVID wave.

(The writer is Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry and can be reached at cb@cii.in)
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: In an attempt to address the urgent need to augment oxygen supplies, especially after the deaths of Covid-19 patients in some districts due to its shortage, Karnataka on Wednesday approached the Centre requesting that it be allowed to use all of the oxygen produced within the state.

Large and Medium-scale Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, who has been given charge of oxygen augmentation, supply and procurement, said, The state has increased its oxygen production, but it is sent to other states as well. The Central Government has provided oxygen supplies to Karnataka from other states, but the supply is long overdue. I have consulted Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi to reduce the quantum of oxygen being shipped out to other states and to allow its use within Karnataka, he said.

As per the increased medical oxygen production capacities in Karnataka after the second wave hit hard, 14 industries produce a total of 1,767 tons of oxygen per day of which 865 tons is allocated to Karnataka. About 140 tons of medical oxygen produced in Karnataka is sent to other states. Shettar has asked for this oxygen also to be used locally, given the Covid-19 caseload. The State Government has also asked all industries to reduce steel production and increase oxygen production.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, too demanded that the Centre allow the state to utilise all the oxygen produced within. Oxygen allocated to the state does not meet even 50 per cent of the demand. The Union Government has to allocate oxygen depending on the demand in the state. People are dying due to oxygen shortage. The Chamarajanagar hospital, where 24 people died, requires 350 cylinders of medical oxygen every day. But, on the day of the incident, only 120 cylinders were supplied. It takes 48 hours for oxygen to reach Karnataka from Odisha. The government should allow the state to consume all of the oxygen that is produced here, he insisted.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has sent two liquid medical oxygen containers to Karnataka, with a capacity of 20 metric tons each, which arrived from Bahrain. The Centre has also assured of supplying two more tankers from Indian Oil Corporation. These tankers will be used for quicker augmentation of oxygen stocks across the state. Considering the shortage in the State, Karnataka has also sent containers to Odisha for refilling. Five empty containers have been airlifted to Odisha through IAF flights which will pick up about 74 MT of oxygen and reach Karnataka by road in a day or two, said Chief Minister Yediyurappa, while thanking PM Narendra Modi.According to Shettar, there are currently 170 oxygen transport tankers in the state. Of these, 68 are being supplied to other states
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: With Covid-19 cases on the rise, and more than six districts in Karnataka reporting over 1,000 cases each day, an extension of the existing Corona Curfew looks very likely, but Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa continues to bat for the status quo.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the CM said any changes to the existing curfew or decision on a possible lockdown will be taken only under the Central Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modis guidance. On Wednesday evening, Yediyurappa held a meeting with ministers to take stock of the situation in their respective districts, concerning oxygen, medicines and bed availability.

We have to implement the decision taken by PM Modi. We are also waiting for his directions. Based on it, we will take a decision, Yediyurappa said. He added that the PMs decision, based on a recent observation by the Supreme Court about total lockdown, would be binding on Karnataka as well.

Sources in the government suggest that while Yediyurappa is not keen on a total lockdown, the state anticipates such an announcement from the Centre, given the number of cases. In the absence of such an announcement by the latter, Karnataka will take a call on extending the existing curfew or adding more restrictions post May 10. The current close-down will continue to remain in force till May 12, lest the Centre changes plans. Ministers have been told to camp at their respective districts that they are in charge of and provide a daily briefing to the CM.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: In A sobering reminder as to how functions organised to celebrate joyous occasions with family and friends can end in tragedy in Covid times, an engagement function held at Chungam near Thodupuzha on April 19 has left a family shattered. Two persons have died and around 18 others have contracted the deadly virus, according to those in the know.

Over 150 people, comprising relatives from nearby areas and from abroad, had taken part in the function. Since Covid restrictions were not stringent then, some elderly members of the family were also in attendance. The function was held at the Chungam Parish Hall in Thodupuzha.The family is settled overseas and they had come here for their daughters wedding, said the ward councillor.

The engagement function was held on April 19, and the wedding on April 22 at Ettumanoor. We became aware of the case as people started testing positive after the wedding. Six members of the family tested positive. It is learnt that some relatives are still under treatment and on ventilator support at hospitals.

The councillor said the municipal authorities were not informed of the function.

Though strict restrictions were not in place, people were not being allowed to conduct functions without maintaining Covid protocol, the councillor pointed out. Sources said the region is yet to be declared a containment zone despite the police and health officials having been informed of the situation. Two relatives of the bride  C S Punnuse, 77, of Chungam, and Joseph Stephen, 84, of Mrala near Chungam  passed away on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Covid guidelines were followed, says family

Some people who had come from abroad after taking Pfizer vaccine doses have also turned positive, a source said. A relative of the family said that all Covid guidelines and proper social distancing were followed during the function.

Dr Sushama P K, deputy district medical officer and nodal officer in charge of communicable diseases, said the health department had not been apprised of any such incident in particular, but that general lapses taking place at such functions and events have been noted. With an increasing number of people getting infected, it is becoming difficult to contact and stay in touch with everyone who is testing positive. It is up to each individual to take precautionary measures against Covid-19, Dr Sushama said.
Krishnachand K By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not just the frontline workers who are exposed to the risks of handling Covid-19 cases and facing life-threatening situations. Christian priests who lead services have turned out to the latest vulnerable group. As many as nine priests in the state have succumbed to the second Covid wave over the past ten days. Six of them were from the Syro Malabar Church and three from the CSI church.

At least 15 Christian priests have died of the virus in other parts of the country since the second wave gained strength last month. Among the deceased is a senior bishop too. Archbishop Emeritus Antony Anandarayar, former archbishop of Puducherry-Cuddalore, died of Covid on Tuesday.

According to sources, over 100 priests from various Christian denominations are currently under treatment and in quarantine in the state after turning positive. A few of them are in critical condition, adding to the concern of church leaders.

Fr Bovas Mathew, official spokesperson of the Syro Malankara Church, said seven of the priests of who died recently were from the Thrissur archdiocese under the Syro Malabar Church. Priests of various Churches in the country are vulnerable to Covid infection because of the nature of their work and services towards society. They had to travel a lot even during the pandemic. For instance, a priest named Rajan Philip of the Orthodox Church died of Covid after he had to attend a service at a home. He had gone there for a prayer to help a Covid patient recover. That patient became negative but the priest tested positive. He succumbed to the infection 40 days ago. If we examine each and every diocese or Church, the number of deaths and infections may be higher, he said.

Over the past five weeks alone, more than 15 priests from various Churches and dioceses have lost the battle against the pandemic in the country, mostly in northern India. Of these, many are from Kerala. According to a report by Matters India, an online news portal focusing on the Catholic Church, as many as 14 priests have fell victims to the coronavirus infection between April 20 and 23. They were among more than 20 priests the Church lost to Covid since the middle of March, Matter India reported.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Church and a former president of KCBC, told TNIE that the Church has given clear directions to the priests to follow the Covid protocol strictly when they have services and programmes.

A lot of valuable lives have been lost. Some priests too have lost their lives. As leaders of communities, the priests have the onus to set a model by practising social distancing, wearing masks and by keeping hygiene to show that all can stay safe and healthy to achieve normalcy soon. Value your life and care for others lives, the Cardinal said.

Dr P Gopikumar, state secretary, Indian Medical Association (IMA) said religious gatherings and services should be avoided at least for a while to avoid a disastrous situation. The priests should suspend such services at least till the situation improves. The IMA has already recommended the government to impose a lockdown. Only that can reduce the spread. Compared to the first wave, young people are more prone to the virus now, he said.
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of a G7 ministerial meeting on Wednesday but were unable to narrow their differences over contentious historical issues.

The two first sat with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken but then continued their discussion between themselves.

Chung expressed objections to Japan's plan to discharge radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, adding there are "deep concerns" over Tokyo announcing the plan without "enough consultations" with its neighbors.

They also talked about the thorny historical issues of compensating Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual enslavement and forced labor but got nowhere.
DOUGLAS Mwonzoras MDC-T formation faces implosion after top executives, including his deputy Thokozani Khupe, were ordered to leave the party for recently defying a directive to withdraw financial impropriety charges they filed against him.

The resolution to purge defiant executives was read out to Khupe and her team on Wednesday this week following a national standing committee meeting held two weeks ago.

Besides Khupe, Mwonzoras axe is also likely to fall on party chairperson Morgen Komichi, Chief Ndlovu and several top executives after they insisted that Mwonzora should account for the $6 million illegally withdrawn from party coffers ahead of the partys extraordinary congress in December.

The resolution was smuggled as a way of bringing cohesion in the party cockpit and ensuring that the top leaders do not seem to be working against each other. They want Khupe, Komichi and Ndlovu to withdraw affidavits with the police, an insider said.

Khupe, who has been boycotting party meetings since she controversially lost to Mwonzora at an extraordinary congress held in December, reportedly dug in and challenged Mwonzora to come out clean on the matter.

MDC-Ts provincial chairman of the United States branch Dan Moyo yesterday confirmed the development.

I have heard from our structures and representatives in the standing committee that there has been an attempt to silence leaders who reported to the police over the missing funds. We cant be a party that condones criminality. If there is no theft, why ordering party members to withdraw their reports to the police? Moyo said.

But MDC-T presidential spokesperson Lloyd Damba denied reports of a looming purge, saying the party was simply working towards cohesion.

There is no ounce of truth in that. What we discussed were issues to do with leadership cohesion, institutional growth and strengthening. For us to achieve this, it means there must be peace in the cockpit, he said.

Asked whether Mwonzora was ready to stand trial in court to prove his innocence, Damba said the party congress had made a resolution that no funds were missing, hence Mwonzora had no case to answer.

He said the allegations that Mwonzora stole party funds were malicious. Komichi curtly said he was not aware of the issues. It was never said. Maybe I had gone out of the meeting when it was said, he said.

MDC-T activist Patson Murimoga recently mobilised for demonstrations against the party leader and wrote several petitions to compel Mwonzora to account for the missing party funds.

Yesterday, Murimoga claimed on social media that he had been fired from the party for refusing to withdraw theft charges against Mwonzora.

People of Zimbabwe, I want you to know that on April 14, MDC-T as a party made a resolution that all leaders who gave statements to the police over the $6 million stolen by Mwonzora should go back and withdraw the statements, Murimoga said.

Failure of which they said the youth assembly will deal with us. Right now, I have received a letter firing me from the party because I refused to go and withdraw my statement, he said.

However, party spokesperson Witness Dube yesterday dismissed Murimogas claims, describing him as desperate.

Patson Murimoga should focus on rebuilding his fallen musical career, seeing how he has become a stranded horse, voiced lamp post, tortoise singing for supper from enemies of the MDC-T, over funds that never went missing from our coffers, Dube said.

In a related development, Khupes chief aide, Kudzanai Mashumba two weeks ago filed a US$5 500 theft charge against Mwonzora, claiming the embattled MDC-T leader stole the money from his office at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in December 2020. The matter was reported under case number CR1303/21. Yesterday, Mashumba attempted to enter the party offices in the company of detectives investigating the matter, but was reportedly blocked by Mwonzoras aides. Newsday
K Ezhilarasan By

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: People of Thiruthuraipoondi constituency have fittingly elected one among them as their representative to the State Assembly. They believe K Marimuthu can be the one who could understand their issues as he himself is from humble backgrounds. The CPI candidate does not even have a concrete roof. He, along with his family, is living in a hut with thatched roof.

Marimuthu (49) has proved the popular idea that only the wealthy can win the electoral battle wrong by defeating AIADMK candidate C Suresh Kumar, whose asset value runs into crores. The winning margin is 30,068 votes. On the other hand, Marimuthu is a full-time CPI worker and his wife Jayasudha a farm worker. His familys total property, including his house, is worth a little over Rs 3 lakh.

The people of Kaduvakudi are brimming with joy as their fellow villager is set to enter the Assembly. Kaduvakudi comes under Thiruthuraipoondi constituency in Tiruvarur district. Manjula, a farm worker from Kaduvakudi, could not express her happiness in words. As she was speaking to Express, her eyes welled up with tears of joy. She said, When Marimuthu was just a party worker, he used to return to the village only by the last bus at 10.30 pm.

That was the extent to which he worked for the people. Now, he has become an MLA and it is truly a proud moment for Kaduvakudi. A lot of people are visiting our village now, that too through the battered thoroughfare. He has won many hearts here. His 12 year-old son Jayavarman is busy replying to the wishes pouring in on WhatsApp from his schoolmates and friends.

For the past three days, many people have been wishing my father. I have been thanking them in reply, said Jayavarman, who blushes at being called by some as MLAs son. Marimuthus daughter Thendral and wife Jayasudha are spending the days greeting the countless number of visitors at their home.

However, for Marimuthu, the victory adds up more responsibility. Earlier, he was on the side of raising grievances, but from now on, he has the onus to redress them. He told Express, The Thiruthuraipoondi constituency comprises underprivileged people, who are predominantly into farming and fishing, and they saw me as one among them.

It was media stories about my background that endeared me to the people. During the campaign, many of them shared their feelings for me. I am now committed to uplift the families that trusted me and voted for me. I will raise their issues in the Assembly, said the MLA-elect.
By Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: The government has decided to provide incentive to all categories of healthcare workers including Asha workers, ANMs, Health Inspectors, ward boys, technicians, nurses, doctors through an expenditure of Rs 5 crores, Lt Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan announced.

The Lt Governor was inspecting the Oxygen Generation facility at the Government General Hospital when she made the announcement. The inspection was made to ensure that the hospital infrastructure was capable to manage the load of patients arriving owing to the widespread coronavirus infection in the Union Territory.

She added that the infection was most prevalent among the youth and that around 60 per cent of the total affected belonged to the age group of 30-50 years.

"The situation is being monitored on a daily basis and necessary steps are taken to provide medical care. Even medical students are assisting the senior doctors," she said.

She asserted that there have been no deficiencies in oxygen supply to the patients requiring it, and said that Puducherry is currently providing 40 metric tonnes of oxygen to its hospitals.

"In addition to the existing 1276 oxygen beds in hospitals, an additional 800 beds have been added in government and private hospitals. Indoor stadiums are also being transformed to house beds in a bid to ensure the healthcare services continue without any hiccups. The government has been providing Remdesivir and medical equipment to private hospitals too," she said.

She confirmed that there won't be any shortage in the future too if people take measures to protect themselves from the virus, which is key to contain the spread of the virus. She appealed to the people to confine themselves to their houses and urged the youth to not go out.
By Express News Service

BJP State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar has stirred up another controversy by calling West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as "Mamata Khan/Mamata Begum". Stating that BJP has a cadre base of over 17 crores across the country, Sanjay issued a warning to conduct a 'Karaseva' to protect Hindus and BJP karyakartas in West Bengal.

Sanjay was speaking at a deeksha which was staged in protest against the alleged post-election violence by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in West Bengal.

The Karimnagar MP alleged that Mamata won the election with the funds which she had received from Bangladesh and the support of Rohingyas. Alleging that the BJP office was bombed and 18 party workers were killed in WB after elections, Sanjay said that even police officers were resorting to violence.

He alleged that instead of celebrating after winning elections, TMC resorted to violence against BJP workers using deadly weapons to give an impression on how the next five years would be. Sanjay said, "In a place where Kali mata is worshipped, a demon is ruling the State. Where were the socalled activists when Hindus and BJP karyakartas were attacked?"
By PTI

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Thursday handed over 10,000 vials of antiviral injection Remdesivir to India as part of its medical assistance amid deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the neighbouring country.

India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Toufique Hasan handed over 10,000 vials of Remdesivir to the representative of the Indian government at the Indian border port of Petrapole.

These 10,000 injections manufactured locally were sent as medical assistance on behalf of the people of Bangladesh at the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Covid-affected people of India, according to an official statement.

This was the first consignment of medical assistance by Bangladesh.

Last week, Bangladesh had offered to send emergency medicines and medical equipment supplies to India to combat the massive surge in the coronavirus cases.

The supplies include about 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral anti-viral, 30,000 PPE kits and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets.

"Bangladesh stands in solidarity with its close neighbour India at this critical moment and Dhaka is ready to provide and mobilise support in every possible way to save lives there," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The government said that if needed Dhaka would provide further support to India.

"The Government of Bangladesh expresses deep sorrow and condolences at the loss of lives in India due to the recent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement said, adding thoughts and prayers of Bangladeshis were with the people of India for alleviating their sufferings.

Over 40 countries have committed to provide India urgently required medical supplies like oxygen-related equipment and critical medicines to help it deal with an unprecedented second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi last week.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
By PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday announced that all arrivals from India will be banned with immediate effect due to the record rise in COVID-19 cases in the neighbouring country.

Several countries like the UK, the UAE, Australia and Singapore have already banned travellers from India as well as other South Asian countries.

The Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday said that travellers from India will not be allowed to disembark in Sri Lanka.

The decision has been taken as the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in India.

The Director General Civil aviation in a letter to the CEO of the national carrier Srilankan Airlines has said, "in accordance with instructions received from health authorities of Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, it is hereby directed that passengers travelling from India will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka with immediate effect."

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, nearly 2,000 new cases have been reported during each of the last 5 days up from average 200 per day up until mid April.

Described as the New Year cluster coming from the traditional New Year festivities mid April, the current wave is from the fast spreading UK variant, the health authorities said.

Sri Lanka had functioned as a transit hub for Indians visiting other destinations like West Asia and Singapore prior to which they needed to be quarantined for 14 days.

This was an arrangement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The Sri Lankan tourism authorities were to continue receiving Indian tourists under a travel bubble for which special facilities were set up.

This was despite the current difficult situation in India.

However, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued instructions to allow Sri Lankan migrant workers to return to the country.

Last week the Sri Lankan Navy announced as a COVID containment measure that they had increased surveillance of north and northeastern seas to check the possibility of infected Indian fishermen crossing the international waters and making contacts with the locals.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
By PTI

BEIJING: China's government on Thursday rejected criticism of its human rights and economic record by foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major economies and accused them of meddling in its affairs.

A statement Wednesday by G-7 diplomats in London "made groundless accusations" against China, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin.

He accused them of "blatantly meddling" in China's affairs.

"China strongly condemns it," Wang said at a press briefing.

Wednesday's statement added to diplomatic pressure on Beijing over its treatment of Uyghur and other minorities and reports of mass detentions, forced labour and forced sterilization.

ALSO READ | EAM Jaishankar joins G7 meet virtually after delegation members test COVID positive

The officials from the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Canada said they were "deeply concerned" but announced no formal action on reports of forced labour and other abuses.

The Biden administration wants to assemble a coalition to respond to China's economic and strategic assertiveness.

But some European governments are more cautious about dealing with the government of an important export market.

Beijing rejects complaints that it mistreats minorities and says camps in Xinjiang are for job training to promote economic development and combat radicalism among the western region's predominantly Muslim population.

G-7 governments should be working on improving access to coronavirus vaccines for developing countries instead of "making accusations and interfering with other countries in a condescending way," Wang said.

"Attempts to disregard the basic norms of international relations and to create various excuses to interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty and smear China's image will never succeed," he said.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani court hearing the case of death row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav has asked India to cooperate in the legal proceeding over the matter, saying appearing before the court did not mean a waiver of sovereignty.

A three-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, on Wednesday resumed hearing of the petition by Pakistan's Ministry of Law and Justice seeking appointment of a lawyer for Jadhav.

Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan told the bench that to comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan last year promulgated the law, CJ (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance, 2020, to enable Jadhav to avail himself of the statutory remedy, Dawn newspaper reported.

However, he argued, the Indian government deliberately avoided joining court's proceedings and was raising objections to a trial before a Pakistani court and had declined to even appoint a counsel for the IHC's proceedings saying it is tantamount to surrendering sovereign rights.

It appears the Indian government has objected, not for non-implementation of ICJ's verdict but to engineer default on the basis of which it would [try to] justify going to the ICJ again, he said.

The chief justice expressed surprise that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, which had approached the IHC seeking the release of five prisoners and had secured a decision in their favour, was questioning the legitimacy of the same court, the report said.

He observed that despite negative remarks of the Indian government about Pakistani courts, the IHC was considering the Jadhav case on humanitarian grounds to ensure a fair trial for him.

We are not against sovereign immunity of the Indian government but they should at least tell us how we would proceed to implement the ICJ's decision, the chief justice remarked.

The Attorney General read out two notes verbale of the Indian government related to Jadhav and said India had rejected the suggestion (of the IHC) of appearing before the Pakistani court.

The chief justice asked him to remind the Indian government that appearing before the court did not mean a waiver of sovereignty and the court had acknowledged their sovereign rights.

At one point, when Justice Aurangzeb remarked that if the Indian government would not respond, the court might dismiss the petition, the attorney general argued: This is exactly what the Indian government wants.

 The Attorney General believed if the matter was not pending before the IHC, the Indian authorities would have filed a contempt of court [petition] against Pakistani government with the ICJ for non-compliance of the latter's decision.

Lawyer Hamid Khan was of the opinion that the government should not have introduced a Jadhav-specific law.

The AG replied that the law was promulgated to comply with the ICJ direction.

The court asked the attorney general to take up the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its onward communication with the Indian authorities.

Further proceedings have been adjourned till June 15.

Jadhav, the 51-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.

India approached the International Court of Justice against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

The ICJ, in its 2019 verdict, had asked Pakistan to provide a proper forum for appeal against the sentence given to Jadhav by a military court.
By PTI

LAHORE: The administrations of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have announced to enforce a complete lockdown in their respective regions from May 8 to 15 to contain the spread of coronavirus during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Pakistan, a media report said on Thursday.

The announcements come as the country continues to witness a tremendous surge in the number of the coronavirus despite the measures being taken by the government, the Express Tribune reported.

"The public transport, tourist destinations, parks, business and shopping malls and markets will remain closed during the eight-day lockdown," Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said.

She said to ensure complete lockdown police, Rangers, and Army personnel will be deployed in the province in line with the decision of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to restrict movement of people during the Eid holidays.

Rashid said that pharmacies, medical stores, coronavirus vaccination centres, petrol pumps, food takeaways, small grocery stores, dairy, vegetable and fruit shops and meat shops will remain open during the lockdown.

Notices regarding the lockdowns were also issued by the administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and PoK.

Planning Minister Asad Umar, who heads the NCOC, had said recently that stricter precautionary measures along with an expanded vaccination drive have had a positive impact.

The pandemic first emerged in the country in February last year.

It started ebbing in July after seeing its peak in June, the report said.

However, the cases spiked towards the end of the year, dubbed by the experts as the second wave.

The third wave of the disease started in March, the report added.

So far over 18,537 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Pakistan since the beginning of the pandemic last year while the number of active Covid-19 cases is 845,833 as of May 5, media reports said.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday announced support for a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines, offering hope to poor nations that have struggled to access the life-saving doses.

India, where the death toll hit a new daily record amid fears the peak is still to come, has been leading the fight within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow more drugmakers to manufacture the vaccines -- a move pharma giants oppose.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that while intellectual property rights for businesses are important, Washington "supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines" in order to end the pandemic.

"This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures," she said in a statement.

Biden had been under intense pressure to waive protections for vaccine manufacturers, especially amid criticism that rich nations were hoarding shots.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), called the US decision "historic" and said it marked "a monumental moment in the fight against COVID19."

Tai cautioned however that negotiations "will take time given the consensus-based nature" of the WTO.

With supplies for Americans secured, the Biden administration will continue efforts "to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution," and will work to "increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines."

For months the WTO has been facing calls to temporarily remove the intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines, known as a TRIPS waiver in reference to the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.

But that notion has been fiercely opposed by pharmaceutical giants and their host countries, which insist the patents are not the main roadblocks to scaling up production, and warned the move could hamper innovation.

"A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem," the Geneva-based International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations lobby group said, describing the US move as "disappointing."

Countries such as New Zealand, however, welcomed the US announcement, while Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the move "tremendous news," adding that it would help his country manufacture mRNA vaccines locally.

France, on the other hand, has said it is opposed to the waiver, stating it prefers instead a donation-based model to help poor countries overcome a lack of vaccines.

- Devastating surge -

While the United States has reached the point of offering donuts and beer to entice vaccine holdouts to get their shots, India reported 3,780 new pandemic deaths and not enough doses to inoculate its people.

India has in recent weeks endured a devastating surge in coronavirus cases, with more than 380,000 infections reported on Wednesday.

K Vijay Raghavan, the Indian government's principal scientific advisor, said the country of 1.3 billion people had to prepare for a new wave of infections even after beating down the current wave, which has taken the country's caseload above 20 million.

In an effort to boost the country's collapsing health system, India's reserve bank announced $6.7 billion in cheap financing for vaccine makers, hospitals and health firms.

India's crisis has been partly fueled by a lack of vaccines. This has in turn exacerbated the global shortage as India is the world's biggest producer of Covid shots.

In London, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies committed to financially support the vaccine-sharing program, Covax.

But there was no immediate announcement on fresh funding.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Denmark, where the spread of the virus has been deemed under control, will open up cinemas and theaters plus gyms and fitness centers Thursday. And bars, cafes and restaurants, which have already reopened, will no longer require reservations.

All patrons, however, must present a "corona pass" certificate confirming they have either tested negative in the past 72 hours, been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19.

- 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.

More than 1.2 billion doses have been administered globally, but fewer than one percent in the least developed countries.

Vaccine shortages are not an issue in the United States, 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 US 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 authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.

But some experts question the wisdom of devoting limited vaccine supplies to a low-risk group instead of sharing them with high-risk groups abroad.

In the Middle East, Egypt announced a partial shutdown of malls and restaurants and called off festivities for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr to curb rising coronavirus cases.

And on Wednesday Argentina broke its record for Covid-19 deaths with 633 recorded fatalities in 24 hours, despite stepped-up measures to reduce movement of people across the country.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has backed an initiative by India and South Africa at the WTO to temporarily waive patent rules on COVID-19 vaccines, seen as a breakthrough in the global fight against the deadly pandemic by potentially expanding the supply of the vaccines and more affordable doses for less wealthy nations.

Announcing the major policy decision after intense internal debate and strong pushback from American drugmakers, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Wednesday said this is a global health crisis and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures.

"The (Biden) 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.

The Biden administration's decision will make it easier for the WTO's General Council to approve the proposal.

The General Council's meeting is currently underway in Geneva.

If approved, the waiver would allow production of vaccines to be ramped up and provide more affordable doses for less wealthy countries.

"We will actively participate in text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organisation needed to make that happen.

Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved," Tai said.

For the past several weeks, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, along with the diplomats from South Africa, had been meeting US lawmakers and officials regarding their proposal.

"We appreciate the US administration's announcement today of its support for waiver of IPR for COVID-19 vaccines," Sandhu told PTI on Wednesday.

The head of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the move a "monumental moment" in the fight against the pandemic.

"This is a monumental moment in the fight against #COVID19," he tweeted, adding that the commitment by President Biden and USTR Tai to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of US leadership to address global health challenges.

ALSO WATCH:

President Biden, as a Democratic candidate promised to support such waivers, but had been under pressure from American pharmaceutical giants to keep them in place, US media reported.

Over the last one month, Tai had extensive consultations with various stakeholders both within and outside the US.

The White House described it as a policy process.

"The administration's aim is to get as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible.

"As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the administration will continue to ramp up its efforts, working with the private sector and all possible partners to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution. It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines," Tai said.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said the Biden administration's support of a Covid-19 vaccine waiver proposal "put people over patents."

"To me it was a value statement," Murthy told CNN.

He emphasised the role of the US in helping lead the world through the global Covid-19 crisis, saying that "if we stick together, if we work together, if we help work and collaborate with countries around the world, I do believe we will turn this pandemic around."

The Biden administration took such a major decision despite stiff opposition from major pharma companies and US Chambers of Commerce, which argued that this will impact their intellectual property.

The Opposition Republican Party had also written to President Joe Biden and Tai expressing concerns over the proposal.

House Ways and Means Committee Republican leader Kevin Brady said that the world needs COVID vaccines now, but it shouldn't be done by damaging the pathway to new vaccines and cures the world will need in the future.

"Looking ahead to the next pandemic, it is dangerous for America to consent to strip away patents on lifesaving COVID vaccines now that cost businesses billions of dollars to develop at a historic pace - and to reward China with access to US innovation for a world pandemic China created," he said.

"The better solution to help our global neighbours is to solve the very real logistical hurdles slowing access to these vaccines, not undermine the incentives to develop them," Brady said.

On the other hand, more than 100 Democratic Congressmen and 10 Senators had written to Biden in support of TRIPS waiver.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden said pitching in to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic globally is essential to protecting Americans' health and accelerating economic recovery.

Meanwhile, PhRMA which represents America's leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies has said that the "decision will sow confusion between public and private partners, further weaken already strained supply chains and foster the proliferation of counterfeit vaccines."

PhRMA president and CEO Stephen J Ubl said this change in longstanding American policy will not save lives.

"It also flies in the face of President (Joe) Biden's stated policy of building up American infrastructure and creating jobs by handing over American innovations to countries looking to undermine our leadership in biomedical discovery," he said.

Nurses in the US on the other hand applauded the decision.

"The welcome statement by President Biden's US Trade Representative Katherine Tai joining this effort is a landmark decision that is also a tribute to healthcare and human rights activists, and nurses in particular, around the world who have been pressing for this humanitarian step," said National Nurses United (NNU) president Jean Ross.

"As nurses on the front lines, we can tell you with absolute certainty: People are dying and will continue to die because of strict IP laws that are preventing the generic production of COVID-19 vaccines," said NNU executive director Bonnie Castillo.
Atta Areqat, general manager at the Cinemark Playa Vista and XD movie theater in the Playa Vista neighborhood, of Los Angeles, talks with manager Norma Pinela about supplies, before opening to the public.
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Whippany, NJ (07981)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
NEW MILFORD  She was the kindest, caring, most giving individual, said Kimberly Silvay, when describing her close friend Cyndi Renna Define, who died Thursday of end-stage liver disease. She was 51.

On a Facebook page called Cyndis Liver Transplant Journey, Defines brother David Renna wrote Cyndi has now embarked on her journey to heaven to be with our parents. She passed early this morning peacefully.

Define, a single mother of three with stage 4 liver cirrhosis, went public with her search for a living liver donor in March.

Define was eligible for a transplant for a living donor up until about six weeks ago, according to Silvay, a Sherman resident, who wanted to be a donor herself.

I had gone through the whole process with Yale New Haven Hospital and I was in the midst of getting all my paperwork to go and have my blood work done, and I came down with COVID, Silvay said.

On the Facebook post earlier in the week, Renna wrote Define was initially being treated at Yale New Haven Hospital and was then transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on April 23, where she spent her last days.

For the past few months, Define had kept in close touch with New Fairfield resident Caitlin Balint, who recently received a donated liver  and they bonded.

After her article came out, I reached out to her and asked her if there is anything I can do to help, to let me know, Balint said.

The two women spoke every other week on the phone, and shared stories.

Listening to her symptoms, I felt like she was on the same path as I was, Balint said.

Define always seemed to stay positive and strong, according to Balint.

She said, Im going to beat it. I know theres a liver out there for me, Balint said. She was really optimistic and was trying to fight.

Prior to having children, Define spent more than a decade as a hairstylist at Adam Broderick hair salon and spa in Ridgefield.

She was here almost from the beginning and worked for quite awhile, and helped grow the business, Broderick said.

Broderick and Define became very close.

We just hit it off. She was just lovely and became a personal friend, Broderick said. She got very friendly with my sister and babysat for my nephew Chad.

Broderick said Define was a positive and wonderful person.

She was just a very grateful, caring person. She was somebody that you always would go out of your way to spend time with, he said

He added Define was an excellent hair stylist.

She was liked by everyone  co-workers and clients together. She was one of those people that nothing was a problem, he said. She really one of a kind, she had a very special, sparkly personality but was sensitive and deep. She was very special and shell be missed.

Anthony Primavera, Defines fiancee, recalls fond memories of Defines love of entertaining and making sure everything reflected the theme of the event in delightful design, he said.

He also reflected on their times attending Danbury Whalers and Hat Tricks games together, with all their kids and friends.

Renna recalled a wonderful childhood growing up with Define and the joy and excitement she had when she knew it was close to going to Disney World.

He added that, as a mother, she carried her family tradition onto her own children and shared that same excitement and joy she had growing up.

New Milford resident Karen Walsh, who was friends with Define for 18 years, said Define wanted to educate others about liver disease.

Cyndi told me recently that her wishes were to bring awareness to others about liver disease, which she began to achieve recently by posting and publishing her own story, Walsh said. She wanted to encourage others with liver disease not to procrastinate, and get their stories and pleas out to the public.

Walsh said she will greatly miss her friend.

We were very close, like sisters, for many years. She was a special, spiritually strong woman, Walsh said. Cyndis liver transplant journey may have ended but her mission lives on to help others in need of a liver transplant.

sfox@milfordmirror.com
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Champaign, IL (61820)

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Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Teaching Braille over Zoom hasnt been easy, but Alyssa Harpst, an itinerant teacher for Urbana school district students with visual impairments, has figured out how to make it work.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Everything about Wrath of Man is, in fact, about as manly as imaginable.

After a violent opening sequence involving the robbery of an armored truck, the theater-bound action movie  starring the incredibly manly Jason Statham  gives us a credits sequence consisting of myriad fiery images over which are displayed almost exclusively male names of everyone from the actors to the producers.

Heck, the directors first name is Guy.

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On his first film, 1998s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Guy Ritchie gave Statham his first big-screen opportunity. Ritchie then cast Statham in his second movie, 2000s Snatch, and again a few years later in Revolver.

Theyve reunited for Wrath of Man, a carnage-filled revenge tale that feels more like a recent Statham flick than a Ritchie joint. While it is likely to satisfy fans of action and of the actor, its a bit of a clumsy effort from the director even if Ritchie is able to produce some effective moments.

We meet Stathams Patrick Hill as he interviews for and accepts a job with Los Angeles-based Fortico Securities, the company whose armored car was robbed and the two men inside it killed. His new colleague Bullet (Hold McCallany) is a fan of nicknames  the business is home to Boy Sweat Dave (Josh Hartnett)  and decides Patrick will be known as H.

Like the bomb, says Bullet, impressed with the Brits physical stature. Like Jesus H.

Yep. Got it.

H immediately clashes with Sweat Boy Dave but otherwise mostly quietly goes about his job extremely competently  surprisingly well considering he squeaked by in the test required to get the position.

He even single-handedly thwarts the attempted robbery of a truck, terminating the would-be thieves with extreme prejudice  and tremendous efficiency.

Understandably, this makes him a hero around the office  and with Forticos owner (Rob Delaney)  but Bullet becomes suspicious theres more to H than he says.

Bullet is right, of course, and Wrath of Man enters into a herky-jerky stretch of nonlinear storytelling to show us who he really is, what brought him to Fortico and why.

Meanwhile, we spend an increasing amount of time with a group of ex-military men who served together overseas. Frustrated by how theyve been treated since returning to their country and a bit bored, they get into the business of robbing armored trucks.

As they were while on active duty, theyre led by the calculating Jackson (Jeffrey Donovan, "J. Edgar"), who rightly worries about the behavior of one of his men, Jan (Scott Eastwood, "The Outpost"). (Jan is the obligatory character who, despite explicitly being instructed not to do so, spends lavishly after a big score.)

Based on the 2004 French film Le convoyeur, Wrath of Man burns down a fairly predictable path constructed by Ritchie and his co-writers, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies.

Its hard to see what the non-linear approach really buys them  we jump ahead three months, then back five, etc.  other than building the mystery surrounding H. Of course, the movies trailer is only too happy to give all of that away, sooo  .

Less stylish and more visceral than much of Ritchies work, which in recent years has included The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Gentlemen  Wrath of Man takes violence a bit more seriously. But only a bit.

Ritchie has been better, as has Statham. Sure, the latter is believable as H kicks butt and sometimes takes names, but the nature of the story told in Wrath of Man doesnt give him a chance to flex the comedic muscles he displayed in 2019s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

Onetime leading man Hartnett (40 Days and 40 Nights, Black Dahlia) is fairly enjoyable in what ultimately is a minor role, and McCallany continues to display the type of on-screen presence that has made his Mindhunter character, Bill Tench, surprisingly compelling.

Yes, you will see a couple of women before Wrath of Man concludes, with Niamh Algar ("Raised by Wolves") getting the most screentime as Hs coworker Dana. However, this is every bit testosterone fest the early minutes would suggest.

As that sort of thing goes, Wrath of Man is merely fine.

Unless your feelings revolve around exactly how pain-inducing and bloody Hs revenge should be, please leave them at home.
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Age has never really come across the mind of Elizabeth Goodrich, who just turned 100 years old this week.
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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. 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." Dr. Dawood Darbar, UIC Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at College of Medicine

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."
Researchers from the University of Liverpool have shown the potential of repurposing an existing and cheap drug into a long-acting injectable therapy that could be used to treat Covid-19.

In a paper published in the journal Nanoscale, researchers from the University's Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) demonstrate the nanoparticle formulation of niclosamide, a highly insoluble drug compound, as a scalable long-acting injectable antiviral candidate.

The team started repurposing and reformulating identified drug compounds with the potential for COVID-19 therapy candidates within weeks of the first lockdown. Niclosamide is just one of the drug compounds identified and has been shown to be highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 in a number of laboratory studies.

Using their expertise in the fields of materials chemistry, long-acting drug delivery and pharmacology, CELT scientists used nanoprecipitation to form redispersible solid drug nanoparticle formulations of niclosamide that can be stored as solids, reconstituted with water and utilised as long acting injectables. Their research has demonstrated sustained circulating drug concentrations may be maintained for the duration of early infection after a single injection.

CELT is co-directed by pharmacologist Professor Andrew Owen and materials chemist Professor Steve Rannard at the University of Liverpool.

Repurposing drug compounds is much more than using existing medicines for a new disease. The existing active drug compound needs to be shown to be active at a significant level, then reformulated to address new challenges. The conventional route of administration may also not be relevant and modifying the way the patient receives the drug compound is highly critical to efficacy. Niclosamide is an ideal candidate to be taken forward as a potential long acting injectable therapeutic to treat Covid-19. This is still in early-stage development but the CELT team are currently working with a contract manufacturing organisation to take this forward towards scale up and clinical manufacture. This work is progressing well and if successful, human trials would be next. We envisage a future `Test-and-Treat' scenario where infected people are treated at the point of diagnosis with the full course of therapy in one injection." Professor Steve Rannard, Materials Chemist, University of Liverpool

Professor Andrew Owen said: "Repurposing of medicines for SARS-CoV-2 has yielded mixed results, with some clear successes for immunomodulatory drugs such as dexamethasone, and work underway to repurpose drugs like favipiravir and molnupiravir that were designed for other viruses.

"The ultimate utility of our long-acting injectable can only be determined in adequately powered and well controlled randomised clinical trials but unlike other drugs that have been explored for repurposing niclosamide target concentrations may be achievable in humans. The formulation has shown great promise in preclinical studies at a time when it is increasingly evident that drugs are urgently required to compliment the vaccines.

"A global pandemic requires a global solution, and it is critical that interventions are available to everyone and not to the privileged few. Accordingly, we are currently working to remove obstacles to availability in low- and middle-income countries to ensure equitable access if clinical success is ultimately demonstrated."

This research paper builds on previous reports released from the team in April 2020 and published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The CELT team have strongly advocated in further publications in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, that repurposing of drugs requires new strategies that encompass reformulation and specific dose optimisation that addresses the needs of SARS-CoV-2 treatment.

CELT is focused on repurposing existing medicines into slow-release formulations where drug effectiveness can be sustained over several months. This `long-acting' technology has already been successfully implemented in the fields of contraception and schizophrenia. It also has the potential to bolster global efforts to tackle - and even eliminate - major diseases affecting low- and middle-income countries, including HIV/AIDS.

The long-acting therapy development from the team was initiated and supported by funds from the EPSRC and the progression to scale-up and manufacture has received support from Unitaid. The team are actively seeking partners for the next steps of product development and translation.
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." 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.
A Yale-led study reveals that new medicines and vaccines approved for use in the United States are often unavailable in countries that hosted their clinical trials, suggesting that the benefits of drug research are not being shared equitably among populations that participate in testing.

The study, published May 5 in JAMA Network Open, covers 34 novel drugs sponsored by large pharmaceutical companies that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved between 2012 and 2014. Approvals were made on the basis of a total of 898 trials that were held in the United States and 70 other countries worldwide.

By analyzing the 563 trials for which location data was available, the researchers found that, five years after approval in the United States, only 15% of the drugs (5 of 34) were approved in every country that hosted trials.

Among the 70 countries that contributed research participants, 7% (five countries) received market access to the drugs they helped test within a year of FDA approval and 31% (22 countries) did so within five years. Approvals happened faster in high-income countries, such as Germany and Canada, while access was lowest in Africa, where none of the drugs were available anywhere except in South Africa, which had access to just 24% of the drugs after five years.

"We discovered substantial gaps in access to new medications that raise concerns about the equitable distribution of research benefits," said Jennifer Miller, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, founder of Bioethics International -- a nonprofit advocate for patient-centered medical innovation -- and the study's lead author. "Ensuring market access to medicines for the countries helping to develop them can help effectuate a bedrock principle of research ethics: that the benefits and burdens of research should be shared equitably among the people affected by it."

Clinical research for medicines and vaccines seeking FDA approval is largely conducted outside the United States, and increasingly in lower-income countries. While FDA-approval is necessary for drugs to become available in the United States, it does not ensure market access in other countries.

Research sponsors, such as pharmaceutical companies, must submit marketing approval applications to make the medicines and vaccines accessible in countries that hosted trials. While marketing access does not guarantee a patient can afford a medicine or vaccine, or that there is a reasonably sufficient supply of a pharmaceutical product, it is a critical precondition for access to new drugs, the researchers explained.

The 34 drugs were grouped into six treatment areas: infectious disease; cardiovascular disease and diabetes; autoimmune, musculoskeletal, and dermatology; neurology; and psychiatry. The study found that only one of the 34 medications was approved for marketing in all the countries where it was tested a year after FDA approval.

We found that the typical drug approved by the FDA was tested in 25 different countries. If the citizens of those countries never gain access to the new drug, then one has to ask why are they participating in the research in the first place? Just to see if it's safe for use in the United States and other wealthy countries?" Dr. Cary Gross, Study Co-Author and Professor, Medicine, Yale School of Medicine

Even five years after FDA approval, only 5 of 34 of the drugs, or 15%, were approved in all the countries, according to the study.

"Drug research across international boundaries provides U.S. patients access to new medications and vaccines, and could, in theory, maximize benefits for all: The U.S. contributes capital that other countries lack, while those countries contribute human volunteers and a workforce necessary to complete clinical trials expeditiously," said Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health and Policy Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and a co-author of the study.

"For these partnerships to be truly equitable, then the host countries must benefit from the research by quickly gaining access to the new medications after FDA approval."

To make the process more equitable, the researchers suggest that, as a condition of running clinical trials, governments of host countries require that pharmaceutical companies commit to submitting a marketing approval application within a designated timeframe after FDA approval.

They recommend that companies should consider adopting policies through which they will not test drugs in countries where they do not intend to sell the tested product. The researchers also call for transparent tracking, auditing, and reporting on product registrations in countries that host trials to assist in expanding access to new medicines and vaccines globally.
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.
On a sloppy spring day in mid-March, hundreds of Kurdish Americans gathered in a field outside Nashville, Tennessee, under a sea of black umbrellas. Some of the men carried a stretcher to an open grave, where a yellow backhoe waited.

In accordance with Muslim tradition, the body of Imad Doski  a prominent community leader  was buried within 24 hours of his death. He was another casualty of covid-19.

It hit people. They saw it happen to one of them, said Faiza Rashid, a nurse practitioner at the Amed Family Clinic, the Kurdish-run medical practice in town. It hit home.

Doskis death just six weeks ago became a wake-up call for many in Nashvilles Kurdish community  the largest in the U.S. The community has been growing and thriving since a wave of Kurdish refugees started arriving 30 years ago, fleeing Saddam Hussein and the Gulf War.

Doski was part of that early wave of immigrants, and he helped start the Salahadeen Center, which serves as a mosque, religious school and community center for Nashville-area Kurds.

Doskis untimely death  he was in his mid-50s and relatively healthy  persuaded many Kurds to be more open to the idea of vaccination, according to Rashid. After his death, the Salahadeen Center worked with the city health department to schedule on-site vaccination events.

Questions about vaccination during Ramadan

Immigrants were expected to have more vaccine hesitancy than most Americans.

But as Kurdish residents in Nashville have started to come around, new questions emerge. A top concern is how the vaccine interacts with the religious obligations of the month of Ramadan, which runs through mid-May.

Many Muslims are careful not to break their daily sunrise-to-sunset fast, and some interpret that as refraining from anything that enters the body. The local imam weighed in, saying the vaccine does not count as nutrition. Other Muslim leaders around the world have also found ways to make an exception for the vaccine.

Theres also concern that if the post-vaccination side effects become fairly severe, such as a fever, Muslims might have to break their fast to hydrate. This is typically allowed when someone gets sick during Ramadan, but the whole day has to be made up later in the year.

Nurse practitioner Redor Abdullah said hes been telling Muslims who hold more conservative interpretations not to risk waiting on the vaccine, even for a few more weeks.

I would recommend you get it and make up your fast another day, he said. Its better than getting the virus.

Some refugees have had traumatic experiences with health care

Nashvilles public health department has had to lean on health care workers in the Kurdish community because it doesnt have Kurdish workers of its own.

At the Salahadeen Center vaccination events, the people giving the shots are mostly white and English-speaking, with one standout exception: Sumaya Muhamed, a pre-med college student who is Kurdish American. Shes been trained to give covid shots because she also works part time at a pharmacy.

About 70% of the people who go to Salahadeen are just Kurdish-speaking, so they would all be at my table, because nobody else knew how to help them, she said.

Their need for cultural assistance goes beyond practical questions about safety. Muhamed explains that many of them are sorting through past trauma related to time spent in refugee camps, and the medical care they received there.

Most of the older Kurds in the Nashville area arrived in the U.S. as refugees, after years spent waiting in various refugee camps. While there, vaccinations were not a choice. And they werent always seen as safe. Muhamed said many developed infections.

I dont blame them, Muhamed said of first-generation arrivals. I would be asking the same thing if I went through that too.

Speaking Kurdish and being patient can help

Her own mother, Suad Abdulla, has been among the hesitant, or at least those who have been slow to get a covid shot. These days, Abdulla works as an English-language instructor in Nashvilles public schools, but as a child she lived in refugee camps in Turkey and has scars from vaccinations on both arms.

They were not switching syringes [between patients]. They were just putting it over the fire to sanitize it and use[d] the same needle to inject us with the vaccinations, she said.

At this point, its not a question for Abdulla of whether covid is a serious threat. She knows it is: Her uncle spent weeks in the hospital with a severe case.

Still, she felt reluctant to get the vaccine and concerned that there could be long-term side effects that arent yet known.

We want to be fully knowledgeable with what we are putting in our body, she said. We want solid data to give us evidence that this will work and wont cause adverse effects that are worse than the virus itself.

And yet, daughter Sumaya, with her pre-med knowledge and her pharmacy work experience, kept talking to her about it, explaining how the vaccines work and emphasizing how effective theyre proving to be.

It took a while to convince her  many weeks after teachers first became eligible to get their vaccine in Tennessee. But eventually she gave in, thankfully, Muhamed said.

Half-kidding, her mother said she would take the vaccine on one condition  that her daughter give it to her. So Muhamed saw her opening and, at a recent Salahadeen Center event, gave her mom the first dose before she could change her mind.

This story is part of a partnership that includes WPLN, NPR and KHN.
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 arteries - known as atherosclerosis - can 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.

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." Nicholas Long, Study Co-Lead Author and Professor, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London

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) molecules - one '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.
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.
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 flavor) 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 recognized 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. Likewise, diluted cigarette smoke disrupted normal cilia beat function, cell barrier integrity, as well as tissue structure." Fan Yu, Study Corresponding Author and Pre-Clinical Toxicologist, Imperial Brands

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 recognize 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 maximizing tobacco harm reduction."
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." Katrin Ounap, Professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Tartu Institute of Clinical Medicine
A team of scientists in Australia has recently investigated the health condition of Australian citizens who lost jobs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study findings reveal that job loss is associated with a deterioration in mental health but an improvement in physical health. Importantly, retaining employment has shown a positive impact on the overall mental health condition. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has put a tremendous burden on the economy and health of many countries worldwide. Because of the pandemic-related restrictions, millions of people have lost their jobs involuntarily. Such sudden economic shutdown has considerably impacted the overall mental and physical wellbeing of the general global population.

With the progression of pandemic and subsequent rolling out of vaccines, many countries are now withdrawing restrictions to boost the economy, leading to a resumption of employment at the individual level. In general, there is evidence indicating that unemployment has a significant negative impact on both mental and physical health conditions of affected individuals. However, in the context of pandemic conditions like COVID-19, not enough studies have been done to correlate between involuntary loss of jobs and the overall wellbeing of the working population.

In the current study, the scientists have evaluated how unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health conditions of the Australian working population. In addition, they have studied whether returning to work at the later phase of the pandemic has any positive influence on health.

Study design

This longitudinal study was conducted on Australian adults who were employed prior to the pandemic but lost their jobs early in the pandemic. A group of working individuals was also included in the study as a control group. A total of 2,603 participants completed the baseline survey between March and June 2020. Of them, 2,151 participants completed the follow-up surveys conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months after the baseline analysis.

Three health conditions, including psychological distress, mental health, and physical health, were assessed in the survey. Overall, the survey was designed to evaluate four specific questions: 1) Does being out of work early in the pandemic affect health six months later?; 2) Do health impacts differ for people not working if they are employed?; 3) What are the health impacts of changes in exposure to work?; and 4) How does the longitudinal context of changes in work effect health?

Important observations

According to the survey findings, higher levels of psychological distress, poorer mental health, and better physical health were observed in unemployed participants compared to that in employed participants at baseline. The same health conditions continued for 6 months. However, after 6 months, a rapid deterioration in physical health was observed among unemployed participants. In contrast, the physical health of employed participants showed deterioration after 6 months compared to that at baseline.

Throughout the survey period, an association between unemployment and poorer mental health condition was observed. In addition, a difference in health outcomes was observed between unemployed participants and employed but not working participants. Specifically, employed but not currently working participants exhibited higher psychological distress and poorer mental health than working participants. In contrast, better physical health status was observed among not working participants compared to that in working participants.

Regarding persistent health effects, the highest levels of distress and mental health deterioration and low levels of physical health were observed among participants who experienced sustained unemployment. A relatively lesser impact of work loss on mental health was observed in participants who were previously working but currently not working.

A more prominent negative impact of unemployment on mental health was observed in participants who experienced work loss more acutely. Importantly, the highest levels of mental and physical health were observed in participants who sustained their working status during the pandemic. However, participants who recently returned to work exhibited the lowest levels of physical health, which improved gradually over time.

Study significance

The study describes the changes in mental and physical health conditions experienced by Australian citizens due to COVID-19 pandemic-related alteration in employment status. The study findings highlight that both acute and sustained work loss have a severe negative impact on mental health. A gradual improvement in mental health and a temporary deterioration in physical health have been observed among participants who recently returned to work.

*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.
WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the Government of Sweden's announcement today to share 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the COVAX Facility to provide life-saving vaccines to people at risk from COVID-19 in low income countries.

Sweden's announcement that it will share 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with COVAX is a superb gesture that must be replicated urgently, and repeatedly, by governments around the world to accelerate the equitable rollout of vaccines globally." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization

Dr Tedros met today with Sweden's Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Per Olsson Fridh, during his visit to WHO's headquarters in Geneva.

COVAX urgently needs 20 million doses during the second quarter of 2021 to cover interruptions in supply triggered by increased demands for vaccines in India where COVAX's main supplier of the AstraZeneca product is based.

Dr Tedros added: "Such support will ensure that people in vulnerable countries, especially, in Africa, will be able to receive their second doses through the COVAX initiative. Sweden's generous support is very timely as it comes at a time when the world needs it most."

WHO and its partners are advocating for countries to make contributions, like Sweden's, to donate doses from their stocks to boost vaccine supplies to COVAX to deepen vaccination coverage in low income countries and to ensure populations in such places receive needed second doses. Several other countries have made similar commitments recently, including New Zealand and France.
Dave Lobeck is an Edward Jones Financial Adviser in Jeffersonville by day and a BBQ and food enthusiast on nights and weekends. Liz is his wife. You can contact Dave with your BBQ, cooking or grilling questions at davelobeck@gmail.com. You can also visit their YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/BBQMyWay
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, authored House Bill 1123 to limit the powers of the governor during a state of emergency. The bill was passed, vetoed by Gov. Eric Holcomb and is now the object of two lawsuits, one from Holcomb and one from a private citizen.
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Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

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Cloudy with a few showers. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

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Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

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Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

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Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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(Newser)  A California courtroom became the latest venue for a hot-mic incident last month when an insurance adjuster insulted the judge while monitoring the proceedings remotely. The Mercury News reports that Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Roberta Hayashi was trying to figure out where jurors should be seated during an April 21 hearing on a deadly 2016 car crash, and the confusion of the moment apparently annoyed someone watching via videoconference, per a transcript. Suddenly, out of the loudspeakers positioned around the courtroom, a voice complained, "Oh my God, this f---ing judge is an idiot." (The Los Angeles Times reports a slightly different variation: "Oh my God, the judge is a f---ing idiot.") Either way, Hayashi didn't appreciate the expletive, or someone calling her an idiot, and she sent the jurors out of the courtroom so she could figure out who said it.

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Vincent San Filippo, who was monitoring the trial for Liberty Mutual via the Microsoft Teams comms platform, was soon identified as the culprit. "I'm sorry you think Im an idiot, but I really think you ought to mute your microphone before you say that," Hayashi reprimanded him. She also called his wording "unacceptable," especially his use of profanity. San Filippo kept interrupting Hayashi to explain he was frustrated over trying to keep track of the seating arrangements, though she didn't accept that grievance. "Your personal frustration is not an excuse for inexcusably rude and disrespectful comments in open court," Hayashi retorted. San Filippo, for his part, was also clueless as to how he'd become the latest hot-mic victim. "I always mute my mic," he says, per the Mercury News. "I have no idea how it was on." He did apologize to Hayashi, and the trial was allowed to proceed, as Hayashi decided jurors hadn't known who'd spoken. (Read more videoconference stories.)
(Newser)  The Channel Island of Jersey isn't part of the United Kingdombut it is considered part of the British Isles, and the British government has sent in gunboats amid an escalating dispute with France. Two Royal Navy vessels patrol boats were sent to the island, which lies 14 miles off the coast of France, after rumors Wednesday that 100 French vessels were planning to blockade its port, the BBC reports. Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, gets around 95% of its electricity from France, and a French minister suggested Tuesday that it could be cut off as retaliation for new post-Brexit restrictions on French fishing boats in shared waters. French officials say the boats are planning to sail to Jersey and back as a protest, but they will not be blockading the port.

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Don Thompson, head of the Jersey Fishermen's Association, tells the Guardian that threats of a blockade are "pretty close to an act of war." A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that Jersey has his "unwavering support" and that the patrol vessels are being sent as a "precaution." The new fishing arrangement, which replaces a 200-year-old treaty, was introduced Friday, Chris Le Masurier, Jersey's leading oyster and mussel fisherman, says he can understand why the French are angry. He says the government officials are an "incompetent bunch of idiots" who informed fishermen of severe new restrictions on days they could fish and then "ran out of the office." (Read more Brexit stories.)
(Newser)  A soldier with Wisconsin's National Guard was arrested and charged for his role in the Capitol riot, after investigators say he drove with an associate to DC to attend a rally supporting then-President Trump. CNN reports that Abram Markofski, a private first class assigned to the 1st Battalion, 128 Infantry Regiment, is accused of four federal crimes, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and violent entry or disorderly conduct. Per Justice Department documents, Markofski and friend Brandon Nelson left the Madison area on Jan. 5, arriving the next morning in DC. After they listened to Trump speak near the White House, the two men made their way to the US Capitol, where they walked up the exterior stairs and entered the building, per the affidavit. Nelson told investigators that police were guiding people inside the building.

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Markofski's story didn't exactly align with that: He says one of the police officers inside the building told them, per the affidavit, "I can't make you guys leave. However, for your safety, you should leave." According to Nelson's account cited in the affidavit, they first found themselves in a room "with a dome-like ceiling," where they stayed for about 20 minutes, before going with the crowd into another room; he says he and Markofski were inside the Capitol for 40 minutes or so in total. Nelson was hit with the same charges as Markofski. Per the Washington Post, Markofski is the fourth active service member to have been charged so far in the Capitol attack. The others charged include two Army Reserve soldiers and a Virginia National Guard soldier who was also a civilian police officer. More than 40 veterans are also facing federal charges in connection with the riot. (Read more Capitol riot stories.)
(Newser)  The South Carolina House voted Wednesday to add a firing squad to the state's execution methods during a lack of lethal injection drugsa measure meant to restart executions in a state that once had one of the busiest death chambers in the nation. The bill, approved by a 66-43 vote, will require condemned inmates to choose either being shot or electrocuted if lethal injection drugs aren't available, the AP reports. The state is one of only nine to still use the electric chair and will become only the fourth to allow a firing squad. South Carolina last executed a death row inmate 10 years ago Thursday. The Senate approved the bill in March, 32-11, and Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has said he will sign it. Corrections officials said three of South Carolina's 37 death row inmates are out of appeals. But lawsuits against the new death penalty rules are also likely.

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"Three living, breathing human beings with a heartbeat that this bill is aimed at killing," said Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg, rhythmically thumping the microphone in front of him. "If you push the green button at the end of the day and vote to pass this bill out of this body, you may as well be throwing the switch yourself." South Carolina first began using the electric chair in 1912 after taking over the death penalty from individual counties, which usually hanged prisoners. The other three states that allow a firing squad are Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Three inmates, all in Utah, have been killed by firing squad since the US reinstated the death penalty in 1977. Nineteen inmates have died in the electric chair this century.

(Read more firing squad stories.)
(Newser)  It was his very first time at sea. It did not go well. Warrant Officer John Gregory is the first member of the doomed 1845 expedition in search of the fabled Northwest Passage to the East to be identified by DNA. All 129 explorers perished, most on King William Island in the Canadian Arctic, after the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror became wedged in ice. Shortly after departing England, Gregory wrote to his wife from Greenland, describing his first time observing whales and icebergs, per the New York Times. "Kiss baby for meand accept the same yourself," he added, per the Toronto Star. That July 1845 letter was the last his family heard of him. The engineer was in his mid-40s when he died on King William Island, probably within a month of 105 survivors abandoning the ships to search for a trading post in April 1848, per Phys.org. Some sailors were identified from marked graves.

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To identify Gregory, researchers matched samples taken from tooth and bone to a sample provided by a great-great-great grandson in South Africa. Researchers had put out a call for DNA from descendants in 2019. University of Waterloo professor Douglas Stenton, co-author of the study published in Polar Record, says the team compared 16 submitted samples to DNA extracted from 27 expedition members across nine sites on the 1848 path of retreat before getting the match. He adds more identifications might reveal what happened to the crews. "It's really a story of human endeavor in one of the world's most challenging environments, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life, for reasons that we still don't understand," Stenton tells the Times. There have been several theories, from cannibalism to freezing temperatures to lead poisoning. (The wreck of the HMS Erebus has given up treasures.)
(Newser)  A Texas attorney who specialized in representing clients facing charges of drug possession and driving while intoxicated is now seeing the culmination of his own legal troubles. The New York Times reports that on Monday, James Morris Balagia, known as the "DWI Dude," was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for an international fraud scheme that involved him swindling Colombian drug traffickers for more than $1 million. In a release, prosecutors say that Balagia, 65, and two associatesa Florida private investigator and a lawyer in Colombiatold cocaine traffickers represented by Balagia that if they paid extra "attorney fees," that money would go toward bribing US government officials to either reduce their prison sentences or nix the criminal charges against them completely. "In reality, there were no bribes or government officials," the release notes. Instead, Balagia pocketed the money, prosecutors say.

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The feds got wind of the plot via the drug dealers themselves, which, considering how they could have handled things with Balagia, was likely a lucky break for the attorney. "This defendant and his group were running a scam on ... some of the biggest drug dealers in the world," former US Attorney Joe Brown said previously, per the Dallas Morning News. "Fortunately for him, these drug dealers chose to turn him in to the FBI rather than handle it any other way." Balagia, who was arrested in 2017, was found guilty in 2019 by a jury of conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, as well as obstruction of justice, among other charges. His two associates are also now serving time in federal prison. Balagia, a former police officer, was also made to give up his law office in Manor, Texas, and hit with a $1.5 million judgment, per the release. (Read more fraud stories.)
Once on the scene, the owner told deputies a person sneaked inside the building in the middle of the night and made off with 100 Johnson & Johnson vaccines, Botox, and more than $100,000 in medical equipment. From there, the burglar busted through he wall of a nearby beauty salon, where he stole products like styling wands and towels.
(Newser)  Two US students were on Wednesday convicted of murdering an Italian police officer during a summer trip to Europe in 2019 when both were 19. Finnegan Lee Elder, now 21, and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, now 20, both from San Francisco, were found guilty of murdering Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, during a botched drug deal, the BBC reports. They were handed the maximum sentence, life in prison, the AP reports. Elder confessed to stabbing Rega 11 times but said he was acting in self-defense, not realizing Rega was a police officer. Natale-Hjorth was found guilty of helping Elder to conceal the weapon. Italian law allows accomplices to be charged with murder.

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Rega's partner testified during the trial that the pair had identified themselves as Carabinieri; Elder and Natale-Hjorth say they did not. The officers were in plainclothes and were not carrying weapons, in violation of procedure. Elder and Natale-Hjorth were sold aspirin when they tried to buy cocaine, stole the bag of the middleman who arranged the deal in retaliation, then got into an altercation when that man called police to intervene. The defense team argued Elder's history of psychiatric problems led him to have a constant fear of being attacked, the Guardian reports. They said he thought the police officers were drug dealers. Elder and Natale-Hjorth can appeal. (Read more Italy stories.)
(Newser)  "Boston George," the cocaine smuggler who inspired the 2001 Johnny Depp movie Blow, has died seven years after getting out of prison. George Jung's death Wednesday at age 78 was confirmed by posts on his official social media accounts, Fox reports. Jung started out smuggling cannabis in the '60s and moved into large-scale cocaine trafficking in the '70s after sharing a federal prison cell with an inmate who, along with Jung, became part of the Medellin drug cartel. He claimed to have made more than $100 million in his heyday. A post on his Instagram page says he died in his hometown of Weymouth, Mass. Jung, who'd been experiencing kidney and liver failure, died with girlfriend Ronda by his side, TMZ reports.

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Jung was released from prison in 2014 after serving 20 years, though he was sent back for much of 2017 after a 2016 parole violation. After he got out in the summer of 2017, he told the Patriot Ledger that neighbors were waiting to meet him when he returned to Weymouth. "I'm quite sure all those people years ago would sit at bars or dinner tables or whatever and call me a no good son of a bitch, but time passes, things age and wisdom," he said. In an upcoming docuseries, Jung describes himself as an "ambassador of the outlaws." TMZ reports that in the series, Depp says Jung was "one of my favorite people instantly" when they met while he was preparing for Blow. (Read more George Jung stories.)
(Newser)  Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to more jail time Thursday for participating in an unauthorized vigil to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, as Hong Kong authorities exert more control over dissent in the city. For years, Hong Kong was the only place in China where people were allowed to mark the anniversary of Beijing's crushing of the Chinese democracy movement, the AP reports. Despite the commemoration being banned for the first time last year, thousands of protesters defied authorities and proceeded to Victoria Park to light candles and sing songs. Police who were present at the vigil warned the protesters they may be breaking the law but made no arrests on the day itself.

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Wong and three district councilors had pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in an unauthorized assembly, and could have faced a maximum of five years in prison. Twenty other people face charges over the Tiananmen vigil but have not entered pleas. Wong, who rose to prominence as a student activist and was the face of the 2014 pro-democracy protests, is already in jail after being convicted of illegal assembly in other protests. He was sentenced to an additional 10 months. Councilors Lester Shum, Jannelle Leung, and Tiffany Yuen received sentences that range from four to six months for the Tiananmen vigil. Chow Hang-tung, vice chairperson of the group that organized the vigil, urged Hong Kong people and others around the world to continue remembering the Tiananmen crackdown by lighting a candle on June 4, wherever they are.

(Read more Hong Kong stories.)
(Newser)  Coronavirus isn't just spreading at Nepal's Everest Base Camp, but across the country, and in numbers that suggest it could be headed for a worse crisis than in neighboring India. Within a month, Nepal has gone from 100 daily COVID-19 cases to 8,600. That's about the same number of cases per capita "as India was reporting two weeks ago," per CNN. The Guardian describes a national test positivity rate of a shocking 47%, about double that in India. "What is happening in India right now is a horrifying preview of Nepal's future if we cannot contain this latest COVID surge that is claiming more lives by the minute," says Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina, chair of Nepal's Red Cross Society, per Reuters. Nepal only has 1,595 intensive care beds and 480 ventilators for 30 million people, per CNN. Just 7.2% had received at least one dose of vaccine by the end of April.

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"The government is trying its best, but we have a very weak and fragile healthcare system," health ministry rep, Dr. Samir Adhikari, said Monday, per CNN. "The situations are worsening day by day," he added. Thousands of migrant workers returned to Nepal from India just before a two-week lockdown was instituted in Kathmandu on April 29. A day later, the health ministry said infections had "increased beyond the control of the health system." Many Nepalis gathered for religious festivals in April and some traveled to India to celebrate Kumbh Mela. Among them were Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah, who were hospitalized with COVID-19 on their return, per CNN. International flights are banned as of Thursday, while Prime Minister KP Sharma Oliwho previously described the virus as "like the flu"is appealing to the international community for help. (Read more Nepal stories.)
(Newser)  A German woman embezzled $1.2 million from her employer, hid out on the Spanish island of Mallorca, and told her parents to say she was dead, authorities say. And she might have gotten away for it, if it wasn't for her giant poodle. The 47-year-old woman was tracked down to a villa on the island after she missed a court appearance in November and her parents claimed she'd died in a car accident in March last year, the BBC reports. The parents had a death certificate, but the solar power firm the woman worked for doubted their story and hired private investigators, who noticed that the woman appeared with a poodle in numerous photos on social media.

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Large poodles"giant" ones are standard poodles taller than 15 inches at the shoulderare very rare on Mallorca, and investigators spent a lot of time observing dog parks on the island, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports. They eventually spotted a man walking a poodle matching the description and followed a man walking it to an address in the southwest of the island. Police say that after they were notified that the woman was still alive and still on Mallorca, they arrested her in her carand found the poodle in the trunk. (Read more Spain stories.)
(Newser)  After a month without local transmission, Australia's largest city is warning of undetected coronavirus cases after a man in his 50s tested positive Wednesday. Authorities dont know how the Sydney resident became infected with a variant first detected in India, per Reuters. The sample matches that of a US traveler who tested positive in hotel quarantine last month, per the Washington Post, but contact tracers have found no link between the two people. Fragments of virus have also been found in sewage in several Sydney suburbs. "We know for a fact there's at least one person, if not more, walking around with the virus, not knowing they have it," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklin said in announcing three days of restrictions. These include limits of 20 people inside a home and mask requirements in indoor public spaces, per the Guardian.

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NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet was identified as a potential contact of the infected man after they visited the same cafe on Friday, per 9News. He's isolating for 14 days though he's reportedly tested negative. The manshown to have a higher than normal viral loadhad visited venues across the city in recent days, including four different stores selling barbecue supplies on Saturday and a butcher shop on Sunday. The source of his case may never be known. Authorities failed to identify the source of an August outbreak involving more than 100 cases in New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, after three months without local transmission, per the Post. New Zealand, which began allowing quarantine-free travel with NSW in April, says it will now halt that arrangement for 48 hours. (Meanwhile, Australia is taking flak for blocking citizens from returning home from India.)
(Newser)  Two travelers are facing a combined $50,000 in fines from the FAA, and not just for their lack of masks. Both are accused of assaulting flight attendants who called them out for their rule-breaking, per the Hill. A female passenger told to don a mask on a Feb. 7 JetBlue flight allegedly "grabbed a flight attendant's arm, causing her pain," and "struck the arm of another flight attendant twice and scratched his hand," the FAA says, per CNN. The agency says the woman, facing a $32,750 fine, also threw food and a bottle of alcohol and shouted obscenities. The flight bound for New York had to return to its departure point in the Dominican Republic.

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Less than two weeks earlier, a Southwest flight bound for Sacramento failed to leave the ground in Chicago after a passenger ordered to mask up hit a flight attendant with luggage, per CNN. That passenger faces a $16,500 fine. Four fines totaling $67,250 were issued Wednesday out of 1,300 passenger misconduct reports received since February, per CNN and WZDX. However, the FAA says it's "initiated about 20 enforcement cases and is preparing a number of additional enforcement actions," per Reuters. The agency has seen an increase in complaints about passengers even as the pandemic has reduced the number of people taking to the skies. It now receives several complaints per day, up from one every few days before the pandemic, per CNN. (Read more FAA stories.)
(Newser)  Love letters written by Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy to Gunilla von Post, a Swedish aristocrat he had an affair with in the 1950s, are going up for auction. RR Auction in Boston expects the collection of one full letter and two partial ones to bring more than $30,000, CNN reports. The letters were in the possession of von Post when she died in 2011. The two met in Cannes weeks before Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier married in 1953, when he was serving in the Senate. In 1955, von Post and Kennedy spent a week together in Sweden, according to the auction house, and he wanted to return. "I am anxious to see you. Is it not strange after all these months?" he wrote in one of the letters, per the Hill. "Perhaps at first it shall be a little difficult as we shall be strangersbut not strangersand I am sure it will all work and I shall think that though it is a long way to Gunillait is worth it."

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In 1956, Kennedy mentioned her upcoming marriage to a landowner. "I must say I was sad to learn that, after all, you are not coming to the US and you are marrying a farmer," he wrote, adding: "If you don't 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 lifeyou are wonderful and I miss you." The auction house said they met one more time, at a gala in 1958. Both were with their spouses, and von Post was pregnant. In 2015, the letters sold for $15,000 at another auction house. RR Auction sold a love letter from Kennedy to another woman in 2016. It was dated October 1963 and was never sent. Kennedy was killed the next month. Von Post wrote a book about her relationship with Kennedy, Love, Jack, in 1997. (Jackie Kennedy's letters to another man in the 1960s also were auctioned.)
(Newser)  GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik has emerged as a leading contender to replace Liz Cheney in the No. 3 spot among House Republicans, and on Thursday she helped strengthen that case on her own behalf during an interview with Steve Bannon. Coverage:

The 36-year-old New York congresswoman stressed her support for Donald Trump during the interview, a stark contrast with Cheney's continued criticism of him, notes CNN. Asked about party strategy for the 2022 elections, she said that her "vision is to run with support from the President and his coalition of voters," referring to Trump.

"We are going to run as an alternative to the Biden agenda," she added. "This is also about being one team. I'm committed to being a voice and sending a clear message that we are one team, and that means working with the President (again, referring to Trump) and working with all of our excellent Republican members of Congress." (Cheney, on the other hand, says the party is at "turning point" and must reject Trump's claims that Joe Biden stole the election.)

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Trump himself has endorsed Stefanik as a replacement for Cheney in the leadership post, notes the AP. The House could vote next week on ousting Cheney, a move backed by the top two House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise. "The careers of Cheney and Stefanik are seemingly racing in opposite directions, as if to contrast the fates awaiting Trump critics and backers in today's GOP," writes Alan Fram.

So who is Stefanik? The Wall Street Journal has a profile, noting that when she won office six years ago, she was one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress. She rose to national attention with her defense of Trump in the first impeachment hearing, specifically because of her sparring with Democrat Adam Schiff. Stefanik also has reportedly been pondering a run for governor in New York, though this new wrinkle of a potential move up the GOP leadership ranks changes things.

The Washington Post also has a profile of the Harvard grad, noting that she was a campaign adviser to Paul Ryan before running herself. But Stefanik "no longer wants to be identified with the traditional conservatives who served as her mentors," writes Paul Kane. "Instead, she wants to be placed squarely in Trumps 'America First' movement." The ideological shift mirrors that of her district in northern New York.

The CNN piece says Stefanik was largely viewed as a moderate before her embrace of Trump. That might be why the conservative Club for Growth voiced its disapproval of her to replace Cheney. Stefanik "is NOT a good spokesperson for the House Republican Conference," says the group in a tweet. "She is a liberal with a 35% CFGF lifetime rating, 4th worst in the House GOP. House Republicans should find a conservative to lead messaging and win back the House Majority."

(Read more Elise Stefanik stories.)
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De Blasio has set July 1 as the target date for the citys full reopening, saying vaccination is key to making the coming season the summer of New York City. Around-the-clock subway service is set to resume May 17, under guidance from Gov. Cuomo, with curfews for outdoor service at bars and restaurants ending that day, too. Curfews for indoor service are set to end May 31.
(Newser)  A shooting at an eastern Idaho middle school Thursday injured two students and a custodian, and a male student has been taken into custody, authorities said. The victims' injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, said Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson, per the AP. Police were called to the school around 9:15am, and students were evacuated to a nearby high school. Parents lined up to be reunited with their children. Bonneville County sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Lovell said the investigation is still underway and no additional information was available. He said the school was still in the process of accounting for and releasing all the students.

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Today we had the worst nightmare a school district could encounter," said Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin. We had a school shooting here at Rigby Middle School. What we know so far is the shooter has been apprehended. There is no further threat to the students. Rigby is a small city about 95 miles southwest of Yellowstone National Park. Rigby Middle School has about 1,500 students in sixth through eighth grades, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The attack appears to be Idaho's second school shooting. In 1999, a student at a high school in Notus fired a shotgun several times. No one was struck by the gunfire, but one student was injured by ricocheting debris from the first shell.

(Read more school shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Albert Pujols was cut by the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, abruptly ending the 41-year-old superstar slugger's decade with his second major league team. The Angels surprisingly announced the move to designate Pujols for assignment a day after he wasn't in their lineup for the slumping club's fourth consecutive loss, the AP reports. The three-time NL MVP for St. Louis was in the final season of a 10-year, $240 million contract with Los Angeles. Pujols is fifth in major league history with 667 career homers, and the first baseman is 13th in major league history with 3,253 hits. A 10-time All-Star and the oldest active player in the majors, he is batting .198 this season with five homers and 12 RBIs while playing in 24 of the Angels' 29 games. "Albert's historical accomplishments, both on and off the field, serve as an inspiration to athletes everywhere, and his actions define what it means to be a true superstar," team owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. "Since his Rookie of the Year season in 2001, Albert and his wife Deidre have generously given their time and resources to countless charities throughout the world. We are thankful to the entire Pujols family."

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The future Hall of Famer was unhappy at being left out of the starting lineup Wednesday night, per the Los Angeles Times, against a pitcher he's hit well. That decision reportedly came from the front office. Pujols joined the Angels after 11 seasons with the Cardinals, during which he won three league MVP awards, earned two World Series rings, received nine All-Star selections, won an NL batting title, and hit 445 homers while establishing himself as one of the greatest sluggers of his generation. Moreno persuaded Pujols to leave for the West Coast with a lavish contract, but the Angels have not won a playoff game during the concurrent tenures of Pujols and three-time AL MVP Mike Trout at the heart of their lineup. And though Pujols has crossed several statistical milestones with the Angels, the contrast in the two halves of his career is stark. He batted .328 with a 1.037 OPS in St. Louis, but hit .256 with a .758 OPS in Anaheim along with 222 homers  just under half his total for the Cards. Pujols earned just one All-Star selection in Anaheim, in 2015. The Angels made only one postseason appearance in Pujols' nine full seasons, getting swept by Kansas City in 2014.

(Read more Albert Pujols stories.)
(Newser)  The owner of a California bar has been charged with making and selling fake coronavirus vaccination cards. State investigators received a tip about the false cards, then began an undercover operation, ABC reports. The agents said they bought cards for $20 each from Todd Anderson on different visits to Old Corner Saloon in Clements last month before arresting him. The charges against Anderson, 59, include falsifying a medical record, falsifying a seal, and several counts of identity theft. Officials said the identity theft charge was added because the cards included names or logos for Pfizer, Moderna, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others.

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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's district attorney said. The FBI warned Americans in March not to post photos of their vaccination cards on social media. Officials have expressed concern that fake cards could be sold on marketplace sites such as OfferUp, EBay, and Shopify. The National Association of Attorneys General has told some sites to take down posts selling counterfeit vaccination cards and keep identifying information about the posters, per the Los Angeles Times. OfferUp said it usually spots and removes the posts in less than an hour. (Read more vaccinations stories.)
Against the odds, Axle was returned to his family safe and sound - with only a few scratches on him and a miraculous story to tell.

The three-year-old, who was wearing only a t-shirt, gumboots and a nappy, told his parents he fell down cliff at one point, hid from wild pigs and climbed up a tree to sleep with some bunnies.

"You must be the most relieved parent in all of New Zealand along with your partner," Rock host Andrew Mulligan told Glen.

"[Going from] thinking 'I'm going to be going out and collecting my son's body', to him being safe and coming home, it was pretty good mate!" Glen said.

The Rock ended the interview by surprising Glen and his family with tickets, flights and accommodation to see Guns N' Roses in Wellington later this year after Glen revealed that Axle had been named after the band's famous frontman, Axl Rose.
Rit, who posted the clip, told Newshub the video was filmed during Otago's "flo week" [flat orientation week] in February earlier this year.

"We were playing around with decks mixing drum and bass and he must have seen us from the outside," he said.

"He came in and asked if we could teach him and we jammed with him for about 15 or so minutes.

"He's a really popular figure around those flats."

Rit also revealed Kumar had his own TikTok account, which he encouraged others to follow.

Kumar is married with two daughters and was reportedly a nightclub DJ in Fiji before moving with his family to New Zealand in 2007.

"He has a huge passion for music and admits he still mixes up beats on his computer. He's really surprised the video has gone viral," the NZ Post spokesperson said.

Kumar's service delivery manager added he's a "well-loved figure" among the Castle Street students.

That is clear in the comments on the TikTok video, with other Otago Students quick to praise him.

"Yooo that guy drops off my parcels, didn't know he drops bass," one fellow student wrote.

"Release it right f**kin now or point me in the direction to find this masterpiece," wrote another.

"See you at Northern Bass postie bro," wrote another.

Others who lived in the area tagged in their flatmates and friends, often with the accompanying note: "It's our postman!"

And if you live in Dunedin and you're griping about a parcel which wasn't delivered on time, not to worry: The NZ Post spokesperson was quick to assure Newshub the Castle Street flat was Kumar's last delivery of the day.
Traffic has eased on a central Auckland motorway after a "police issue" resulted in a person being rushed to hospital with moderate injuries.

A lane was earlier blocked on the North Western along State Highway 1 below Grafton Bridge, police say.

The Grafton Rd southbound on-ramp was also temporarily closed as emergency services attended, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said - but has now fully reopened.
Thousands of New Zealanders are being monitored and contacted by public health services after a mystery case of COVID-19 closed the travel bubble to New South Wales.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield told The AM Show on Friday it's unlikely any returning New Zealanders will have been in contact with the positive cases - a husband and wife in Sydney - but caution is being exercised regardless.

Between 5000 and 6000 people have returned from New South Wales since the cases were identified and Bloomfield says they are all being chased up.

"The likelihood anyone was in the places of interest at the times specified is rare but we're contacting them all to make sure they know those locations."

The two Australian cases are genomically linked to a man still quarantined in a border facility who contracted the Indian variant of the virus. However, there is a missing link, as it's unclear exactly how the husband and wife caught the virus.

"We're still not quite sure of the link between the two new cases. We think the man got infected first [and then his wife] but we're not sure of the link between him and this case in managed isolation who returned from the US," says Bloomfield.
Hipkins fired up at Mitchell for equating "bureaucrats" with additional border workers taken on to help protect the country from COVID-19, as well as extra Ministry of Social Development (MSD) staff to help facilitate the wage subsidy.

"I would suggest when he talks about bureaucrats he might like to think about who he's talking about. It could be the thousand extra staff employed by MSD to provide, among other things, the wage subsidy that kept hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in jobs.

"It could be the extra 500-plus staff employed by MBIE [Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment] to protect our border against COVID-19.

"It could be the more than 300 extra staff employed by MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries] to deal with Mycoplasma bovis, which is critical to our primary industries.

"Those are the sorts of people he's calling bureaucrats."

The Government's pay freeze has come under fire from the Public Service Association (PSA), who described it as a "slap in the face" given many are the workers who helped to protect New Zealand during the pandemic.

The Green Party's Social Development spokesperson, Ricardo Menendez March, said on Twitter it was "appalling" that Finance Minister Grant Robertson "justified" the pay freeze to pay off debt.
The former US Ambassador to New Zealand is in no hurry to get back into politics, saying recent events have left him "disgusted".

Scott Brown was appointed by former Donald Trump in 2017. A former Senator, Brown endorsed the controversial former reality TV star in 2016 when his candidacy was still seen as a joke by many. As Ambassador, Brown defended some of the former President's views, such as keeping colonial statues in place and challenging the results of the 2020 election in the courts.

But he's had little contact with Trump or his team since leaving the role just before Christmas in December, except for "courtesy thank yous and follow-ups", he told The AM Show on Friday.

Two weeks after he left New Zealand, Trump supporters staged an invasion of the US Capitol in a doomed attempt to stop Trump's crushing election loss from being ratified. Five people died in the violence.

Brown couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Who would have thought we'd have kind of an insurrection going on? It was definitely a wake-up call. I'm pretty disgusted by politics right now. I miss you all."
The Chinese Embassy in Wellington responded on Thursday morning, saying the Parliament had interfered in China's internal affairs, something it "firmly opposes". Beijing has always denied abuses are happening in Xinjiang, counter to numerous independent reports and testimonials from people who have escaped the region.

"Using Xinjiang-related issues to pressure China will go nowhere but to harm the mutual trust between China and NZ," the embassy spokesperson said.

"We urge the New Zealand side to respect truth and facts, stop the erroneous practices immediately and uphold China-New Zealand relations through concrete actions. We hope the NZ Parliament will do more to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our two countries and people, not the other way around."

Asked about the embassy's response, Ardern said it was "not unexpected". She said there is "credible evidence of human rights abuses" in Xinjiang and that it was significant all MPs had supported the motion.

"There have been a number of statements that have been made globally on the human rights situation of the Uighur people, but unlike many others, there were no abstentions on our motion. Ours was one that was supported by the Parliament," Ardern said.

"That demonstrates the strength of feeling for New Zealand parliamentarians over the issue."

Other parliaments have passed similar motions in which there were abstentions, often by government members concerned about the message it would send to Beijing. However, many of those, such as in Canada and Britain included the word 'genocide'.

As it did after those parliaments declared genocides, China regularly releases statements accusing other countries of interfering in its domestic affairs. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also uses its local media arms, such as The Global Times, to criticise countries' actions.

The Green Party's Golriz Ghahraman, who during Wednesday's debate unsuccessfully tried to have 'genocide' added back to the motion, agreed that China's response wasn't "unforeseen".

"I think we knew that was going to be upsetting for them. I think we should be proud of our Government for not taking that into account when we passed the motion," she said.

"I am disappointed we didn't declare a genocide or that crimes against humanity are occurring. But I am also more disappointed that we aren't taking any further steps to ban slave labour products, for example."

During Wednesday's debate, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta explained the Government hasn't formally determined a genocide is occurring as any such designation should come "following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law".

Despite that, Aotearoa has frequently expressed its concern about activities in Xinjiang. It has done so independently, with Australia and with other international groups.

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.
It was really fun and silly and  it just felt like we were doing something really more creative than Ive done in a while, explained Greer. I was trying to sort of not pandemicize it, but truthfully like, if that could be a separate category  getting out of the house, doing something creative, like, feeling like an actor and an artist again  those were really kicka--. That was really great.
A six-year-old boy's life-saving medication has been held up at the border, prompting calls for the Health Minister to intervene.



Katy Thomas' six-year-old son Eddy has life-threatening epilepsy, which is treated with CBD oil imported from the UK. But they've run out, and the new batch they ordered is stuck at the border.

They've already had thousands of dollars worth of medicine destroyed by Customs.

Desperate, Thomas took to Instagram showing the severity of Eddy's seizures without CBD oil.

"He could breathe sweetly all throughout the night if he had his CBD - I certainly don't want to witness it anymore," Thomas told Newshub.
Travel will be paused from 11:59pm on Thursday and this will be under constant review. No other Australian states are included in the suspension.

Whole genome sequencing has linked the case to a recent returnee who arrived in Australia from the United States, but an epidemiological link has yet to be determined between the case and the returnee.

Advice Hipkins received from Australian authorities indicates there could be an intermediary between the community cases and the returnee.

Hipkins says anyone who has been in Sydney over the past week will be contacted, asked about their movements, and asked to take a test - however the overall risk to New Zealanders is deemed to be low.

"This isn't a decision we take lightly," he says.

He adds if any New Zealanders are using Australia's COVID-19 tracing app and they've scanned into locations of interest, they will receive push notifications.

Anyone who has visited one of the locations of interest is subject to the requirements of the New South Wales government and asked not travel to New Zealand.

Speaking to reporters, Hipkins defended the speed at which the travel pause was announced, saying health officials wanted to gather the right information before making the call. He ultimately "erred on the side of caution", he said.

The Government may end or extend the pause, Hipkins said, depending on what information comes to light on Friday.

A flight from Sydney, due to arrive at 11:55pm in Auckland on Thursday night, will still be able to land, even if it is delayed.
This livestream has finished.

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has fronted a press conference in response to the new community cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales.

A man, who is from Sydney, tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting a movie theatre, restaurants, a service station and a meat store in the city's eastern suburbs while he was unknowingly infectious. His wife later tested positive for the virus.

It marked New South Wales' first community case of COVID-19 in more than a month.

On Thursday evening, Hipkins confirmed all travel between New Zealand and New South Wales has been paused.

Watch the video above.


A Harvard astrophysicist says China appears to have a blase attitude when it comes to space junk, but it's highly unlikely its latest cast-off will hit anyone.

The Long March 5B rocket, which helped put a space station module into orbit at the end of April, is currently orbiting the planet at nearly 28,000km/h. At some point in the next week, however, it'll slow down thanks to atmospheric drag and plummet back to Earth.

Chinese government-run Global Times said the "thin-skinned" rocket would burn up in the atmosphere - but that's not what happened last year when a similar Chinese rocket was left to fall back to Earth on its own, pieces of it raining down in the Atlantic and on a west African village.

The current best estimate for when the current rocket, also known as CZ-5B, will hit the atmosphere is Sunday 2:34pm, plus or minus 21 hours. Orbiting every 90 minutes, where it will land is anyone's guess - New Zealand is in its flight path.
Antarctic melting could cause a "dramatic" rise in sea levels if countries fail to keep global warming below 2C (3.6 Fahrenheit), posing a serious threat to low-lying and coastal regions, researchers said on Wednesday.

If the upper temperature goal set in the Paris Agreement is exceeded, the melting Antarctic ice sheet could cause annual average sea-level rise of 0.07 inches (0.18cm) globally in 2060 and beyond, said the study published in the journal Nature.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, more than 190 countries agreed to hold global average temperature rise to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial times and strive for a limit of 1.5C.

Warming of 3C - a scenario that is more consistent with current policies - would push sea levels up by a "catastrophic" 0.2 inches (0.5cm) per year globally after 2060, the study added.
Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 65F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 65F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Half a million people have so far taken two COVID-19 vaccine doses and completed a two-week period after the second dose, making up 44% of the population eligible for vaccination, said the Ministry of Health.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry said that the number of vaccinated people reflects the extent of awareness and responsibility among citizens and residents of the importance of vaccination and its role in supporting national efforts to combat the pandemic.

The drive also confirms the positive response and interaction with the national vaccination campaign and its goals in immunising society and preserving the safety of everyone, said the Ministry.

It indicated that the national campaign aims to vaccinate the largest segment of eligible categories in order to enhance immunity to combat the virus to protect public health and safety.

It stressed the efficacy of various types of vaccines available in the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing the importance of acquired community immunity which contributes to reducing transmission rates and eradicating pandemic.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani hailed the level of cooperation between Bahrain and the European Union. Expressing the Kingdoms keenness, under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to develop cooperation in various fields, Dr Al Zayani yesterday received the head of the European Union delegation to Bahrain, residing in Riyadh, Ambassador Patrick Simonet.

Ambassador Simonet praised the important meetings he held with senior officials in Bahrain, which would contribute to more mutual understanding and cooperation. He also highlighted the European Unions keenness to strengthen cooperation with Bahrain in all fields, wishing the Kingdom further development.

The meeting was attended by the Ministrys Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrains Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, and Representative to the European Union and NATO, Dr Bahia Jawad AlJishi, the German Ambassador to Bahrain, Kai Boeckmann, and the head of the European Affairs Sector, Ahmed Ebrahim Al Qarainees. Minister Al Zayani expressed his contentment over his recent visit to Brussels and his meetings with senior officials of the European Union, saying it was an opportunity to exchange views and consult on ways to promote cooperation at all levels.

It was also an opportunity to sign cooperation mechanisms between the Ministry and the European External Action Service that will contribute to expanding cooperation and coordination between them. Minister Al Zayani expresses his aspiration for further communication and exchange of visits between senior officials from both sides.
Two years later, she was covering the radical Weather Underground group in New York City. She and fellow UPI reporter Thomas Powers won a Pulitzer Prize in 1971 for their five-part series on a member of the leftist group killed in a explosion in 1970 while building bombs in Greenwich Village townhouse.
Agencies | Makkah

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have agreed to form joint working committees in various media sectors to sustain communication and enhance media coordination in order to achieve their common goals.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Information Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi and Saudi Acting Minister of Media Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi during their meeting in Makkah.

Al Qasabi had extended an official invitation to Al Romaihi to meet in Makkah and discuss cooperation between the two countries.
The annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast was held Thursday morning at the Civic Arena, where community members were able to attend in person after last years event was held virtually.

The breakfast featured William Federer, a nationally known speaker and best-selling author who talked about Christianity and health care during challenging times throughout history.

(In) 1849, there was a health pandemic, it was called cholera; 150,000 Americans died of cholera. And the president of the United States was Zachary Taylor. He called for a national day of prayer and fasting, Federer said. (It was observed) the first week in August of 1849. By the end of the month, the death rates dropped off.

Federer said he thought this was an appropriate reminder that the nation has been through other health challenges.

Mayor Bill McMurray said he was excited to see the community gather again for the event.

It means a lot to get back together. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, that is what the Christian Brothers taught us at the beginning of every class: Let us remember that were in the holy presence of God, McMurray said. I felt that this morning. I think this was a very successful prayer breakfast and Im so grateful to everyone, especially our speaker.
St. Joseph has experienced a big increase in aggravated assaults in 2021, a trend that is sparking concern among local law enforcement agencies.

In the first three months of 2021, 103 aggravated assaults were reported to St. Joseph police. This is 120% more than the 46 reports during the same time in 2020.

Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said many of the aggravated assaults are not random.

What were seeing is primarily an increase in domestic assaults. Actually, the domestic assaults encompass the majority of our assaults, he said.

This is a concern around the region as Missouri was found to be the state with the second-highest rate of men killing women, according to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Officials with that organization said the biggest threat is often a spouse or intimate acquaintance.

But why the rise in assaults this year?

Thats the million-dollar question. Thats the question that as officers, investigators, YWCA personnel, victim advocates, all of us wish that we had the answer to, Wilson said. Theres substance abuse, there are emotional problems that need to be treated and the list goes on and on and on. We see all of that when were looking into these things.

As law enforcement and advocates work to help those who are reporting such crimes, they ask that victims continue reaching out.

Report, report, report. Keep calling us, Wilson said. If you are a victim of domestic violence, please reach out to somebody, us, a good friend, a hotline, whatever you need to do reach out. Do not be a victim in this. Let us know you need help so we can get you in that right direction.

Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has many resources around the state and Northwest Missouri. Locally, the YWCA works very closely with them, local law enforcement and the prosecutors office.
Those who farm in the shadow of the Missouri River do so with an appreciation of the high level of risk and reward.

In a good year, they work some of the richest, most productive farmland in the world. In a bad year, theyre looking at a very big lake.

Unfortunately, a 500-year flood has become more of a regular occurrence. All along the Missouri River, the last major flood in 2019 breached more than 100 levees and inundated 1.2 million acres. As the cleanup and repair process began, those in one levee district north of St. Joseph decided it was time to take a different approach.

In Atchison County, Missouri, where the 2019 flood left 56,000 acres underwater and caused $25 million in lost ag revenue, a 70-year-old levee wasnt just repaired. It was rebuilt in a new location, creating a setback that allows more room for floodwater in periods of high water.

It was not an easy decision. It was a tradeoff that left productive land to the whims of the Missouri River  and the federal governments river management policies  in exchange for providing greater protection for even more land on the other side of levee L-536.

Atchison County resident Max Peeler summed it up in a letter to the editor that was published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

We couldnt keep fighting the same fight, the same way, he said. The river just didnt have enough room to flow anymore. Thats why our levee district and landowners came together to build a levee setback and give the river more room to meander. This sure was a tough decision. It is never easy to give up farmland. But it was the right thing to do for our community.

The significance of the decision, and the cooperation between landowners, the state of Missouri, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Atchison County Levee District No. 1, cannot be understated. A similar setback approach was pursued in rebuilding part of the non-federal Rushville-Sugar Lake levee protecting farmland south in Buchanan County. That area, too, saw significant flooding that resulted in road closures and lost acreage two years ago.

Some say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. There are no guarantees  the river has proven that in recent years  but theres nothing insane about this new approach that could yield a better result for those who know all too well about the devastating impact of flooding in Northwest Missouri.

We wont know if these setbacks work until the next disaster visits those who make their living along the Missouri River. Everyone knows that day will come eventually.
A couple of years ago when I ordered a pizza and opened up the door, a former Wire Rope foreman was standing there with my delivery.

It shocked me at first. When I told a friend about it, his only reply was Oh how the mighty have fallen.

So when I took a Pizza Hut delivery driver job a couple of months ago, that statement played over and over in my head like a skipping record.

Here I was, Alonzo Weston, celebrated St. Joseph News-Press columnist, now a pizza delivery man.

Did I feel shame and disrespect? No.

Honest work disgraces no man, Id long believed. This job was no different than the millions of others Id had in my working career.

Ive worked as a factory laborer, janitor, vacuum cleaner salesman and a baker, to name a few of my many jobs before working at the News-Press.

This was just another vocational experience in a long line of others, only delivering pizzas wasnt to make a living but to supplement my retirement and keep busy.

Oldtimers told me shortly after I retired that the first few months after retirement Id be as wild as a dog let off a chain. With that newfound freedom, Id wake up late, stay up late, drink too much beer and visit friends. Thats what I did for a couple of months but, as the oldtimers said, at some point in retirement youll find out you need some structure and a reason to get up in the morning. You have to sorta re-invent yourself.

Never thought the reinvention for me would be pizza delivery man, but it is.

Every job Ive had gave me some valuable life experience. This was no different.

Ive lived in St. Joseph most of my life, and from delivering pizzas Ive been to places in town I never knew existed when filling orders.

As a newsman, Ive covered stories all over Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, but some places in my hometown were foreign to me as I delivered pizzas. Thank God for GPS.

Another thing, fast-food work isnt a menial, mind-numbing task for uninspired youth.

The youngsters I work with at Pizza Hut are college students or fresh out of high school. And making pizzas and running the place isnt an easy, mindless job.

It isnt just some long-haired, dumb kid making your pizza. Its someones son or daughter or grandchild. And there is a skill to making a pizza like there is with any other job. These kids need to be respected as such. Their job is to feed you and they go over and above to do that. They need our respect like with any other job.

My skills as a newsman were skills for that job. Skills for pizza making and delivery is a whole other skill set but no less noble. Every job, no matter how seemingly menial, is a noble one.

These kids I work with are teaching an old dog like me plenty of new tricks. For one, these kids are strongly calm in the face of customer insults and rudeness, a skill hard for many like me to master even though I worked in the public for years.

We can say the youth today are lost and have no manners or decorum, but I see they have all those traits and more when dealing with the public. These are the kids weve raised. Its the delinquents who get all the press.

Making pizzas is as noble a job as any and takes some skill. You better hope so if you want your food to come out right  and it does. These kids care about their job and the public they serve. Their mission is just as important.

My mission is to make sure your pizza is hot when you get it. Thats whats important for me now at this juncture in my working life. Its as important as any other vocation.

Im helping to feed people.
NEW FAIRFIELD  With no further guidance on COVID relief money, the Board of Finance decided Wednesday night to once again postpone recommending a 2021-22 budget.

The new date for the boards final markup of the proposed school and town budgets is May 12.

Two weeks ago, the finance board held off on the markups  not only to see if any updates came in regarding the federal funding, but to give residents a final opportunity to weigh in on the proposed $58.3 million spending plan.

There may not have been further grant guidance, but the finance board did receive feedback from several residents  most of whom are discontent with the fact that the proposed spending would raise the towns mill rate by 3.66 percent.

One resident living at The Woods at Dunham Pond said continued tax increases will drive her and her husband to leave town.

Connecticut and the town are taxing us to death, and we cannot continue to throw money into town projects that we will not be utilizing, she wrote in a letter to the finance board. We are all for good schools, but at what cost to low-income seniors?

The $45.4 million proposed school operating budget reflects a nearly 4 percent year-over-year increase, while the nearly $12.9 million municipal operating budget reflects roughly 4.9 percent increase. If approved as is, the combined budget would raise the towns mill rate to about 31.7.

A Possum Drive resident, who grew up in New Fairfield and has been raising her family in town, said she doesnt believe the increases are acceptable given all thats happened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there is wealth in this town, it is not true for the majority, she wrote in a letter to the finance board. I just think now is not the time to ask citizens to give more when they can barely get by.

Fire Chief Bruce Taylor also provided feedback, saying that many people in town are still recovering from last year and he believes a small increase is what taxpayers will tolerate.

I fully understand the obligation for the school project, but a proposed 3.66 percent (mill rate) increase to me is unacceptable, he wrote in a letter to the board.

With the feedback, Board of Finance members spent most of their Wednesday meeting discussing ways to reduce the towns projected 2021-22 mill rate increase, with many agreeing that it should be below 3 percent.

Given where we currently are with COVID and peoples loss of jobs and everything else, I personally believe that anything above 2.81 percent is not acceptable, finance board member Terry Friedman said. I don't even know if 2.81 would be accepted by the town, just based upon the feedback and the environment.

Finance board member Anthony Yorio said he would like to see the mill rate increase be as close as possible to that of the debt service: 2.81 percent.

We have to find a way to get there, and I think its (going to take) a lot of loose change from a lot of different places, he said.

Yorio said he doesn't believe the town will be able to use federal COVID relief money to reduce its 2021-22 operating budget.

What that money seems to be eligible for use is in capital projects, he said. When they talk about the fact that you cant offset or defer tax increases  what theyre basically saying is you cannot use that for your operating budget unless (its) COVID attributable. I think thats the guidance were going to see.

With no further cuts to the school and town operating budgets, it would take about $431,000 to bring the 2021-22 mill rate increase down to 2.81 percent, according to Finance Director Ed Sbordone.

First Selectman Pat Del Monaco said New Fairfields COVID relief allocation is at least $1.4 million, and further guidance on how the federal grant money can be spent is expected to come by May 11.

Board of Finance Chair Wes Marsh said if there is still no further guidance by its May 12 meeting  or if the federal funding cant be used to lower the mill rate increase  then the board will have to figure out a way to reduce the mill rate increase.

Following the final budget markup, the Board of Selectmen will schedule a town meeting  likely for the following week  on the recommended budget, Marsh said.

If the town meeting adjourns to a referendum, he said, taxpayers would get to vote on the 2021-22 spending plan sometime in early June.

If we get (the mill rate increase) under 3 percent and the right message comes out ... I will be very disappointed if it fails, Marsh said.
Three coronavirus variants -- the U.K., Brazilian and South African -- are spreading in Korea. So far, 551 cases of the U.K. variant, 71 cases of the South African variant and 10 cases of the Brazilian variant have been detected here.

But those are only the confirmed cases and the number could rise to 1,499 if all people who tested positive after coming into contact with carriers of the variants were infected with the same strains.

Gyeonggi Province saw the highest number of cases of the U.K. variant with 455, followed by the port of Ulsan with 320, though the incidence per head is higher in Ulsan. In Seoul, 79 cases have been detected.
The fact that Donald J. Trump, the Defendants erstwhile nemesis, is no longer President of the United States; and the Defendants other legal troubles (including but not limited to his conviction before Judge Gardephe), the Defendant is not quite as high profile as he once was.
3 1 of 3 Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





HARTFORD  The worst-kept secret in Connecticut politics is that despite avoiding the issue, Gov. Ned Lamont is preparing to seek a second term in 2022.

The recent migration of a Mississippi-based campaign manager named Travis Brimm, is further evidence the 67-year-old incumbent from Greenwich, who spent about $20 million of his personal fortune to win in 2018, is set to ride again.
NEW CANAAN  A New Canaan man has been charged in the fatal shooting of his wife at their Down River Road home, police said Thursday.

Albert Kokoth, 77, has been charged with second-degree assault, second-degree assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm, police said.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ -- The unmistakable face of the Sri Lankan family tea company Dilmah is Merrill J. Fernando and his invitation to customers: "Do try it!" The first tea grower to offer his tea to the world - picked, perfected, packed at source - and kindness was his cup of tea. The family tea business he formed around an uncompromising commitment to Taste, Goodness & ethical Purpose offers a playbook for business in a post-pandemic era. Faith, determination, dedication to taste, goodness, and ethical purpose characterize the Ceylon tea maker's story as he turns 91, and celebrates 71 years in tea.

Milestones are important. They chart one's progress, whether success or failure. Merrill J. Fernando, the founder of Dilmah, entered the tea trade in 1950, as one of a batch of five local youth to be trained in the esoteric art of tea tasting, then the preserve of the British. Despite the unshakeable self-belief that has taken him to his present eminence in the industry, even he would not have imagined the varied successes that he would eventually garner.

Dilmah is, undeniably, the global face of Ceylon tea. The brand, with the image of its founder, has carried the message of the purity and authenticity of Ceylon tea to over 100 countries in the world. However, it is not only in the promotion of the product that Fernando has made his contribution. Over the years, he has lent his weight to many initiatives that have benefited the industry and Ceylon tea in its totality.

In the early years, he championed several initiatives which created facilitations and remedied inequalities that hampered the local exporter of value-added tea. The tea industry then represented a long value chain, stretching from the local plantation to the retail market overseas, designed for the benefit of the British, allied multinationals and their local associates. He was successful in interposing his authority on this tightly closed system, with a mixture of guile, confrontation and leverage of influence, for the benefit of the local entrepreneur.

The conversion of many traditional orthodox tea factories to the more industrial CTC manufacture, in an uncritical emulation of the Kenyan model, would have become a reality decades ago if not for his reasoned but unrelenting opposition. Had that proposal been implemented, the diversity of Ceylon tea, its uniqueness, would have been obliterated by the depressing sameness of a mass-market product without individuality.

Similarly, the more recent effort to import cheap tea for blending and re-export, the "Tea Hub" concept proposed by exporters who were prepared to sacrifice the singularity of pure Ceylon tea in favour of short-term profit and denial of long-term damage, would have been launched if not for Merrill Fernando's fierce opposition. His was the lone voice raised against this scheme which, had it been implemented, would have temporarily enriched a few but impoverished the hundreds of thousands of producers.

Merrill embodies the philosophy he has always advocated, focusing on the significance that lies beyond success. His desire to share his profits has made an unquantifiable and lasting contribution to his community and beyond. In less-fortunate communities in his own country and overseas, thousands of lives have been touched by the initiatives of the Merrill J. Fernando Charitable Foundation - all funded by the profits of Dilmah tea. The foundation's guiding principle of empowerment with dignity underlines its settlor's wish to genuinely and positively impact people.

Then there is the multitude of biodiversity conservation, restoration, environmental education and research initiatives of Dilmah Conservation, again endowed by the profits from tea. As the passionate teaman celebrates his 91st birthday, his commitment is undimmed. In a corruptible and acquisitive society, it is rare that a successful businessman also becomes a force for the common good. Merrill J. Fernando is clearly one of the very few exceptions.

Media Contact

Spencer Manuelpillai

[email protected]

Mobile: +94777766846

Related Images

dilmah-founder-merrill-j-fernando.jpg

Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando

Dilmah founder Merrill J. Fernando's pursuit of tea & kindness continues as he celebrates his 91st birthday and 71 years in tea.

dilmah-founder-merrill-j-fernando.jpg

Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando

Dilmah founder Merrill J. Fernando's pursuit of tea & kindness continues as he celebrates his 91st birthday and 71 years in tea.

SOURCE Dilmah Tea
I think most New Yorkers were bewildered by the fact that he was out after a very short amount of time for such a long sentence and for such a well-known public crime. I think the average New Yorker wants to see justice done in cases of crimes of that magnitude, said Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Nassau).
OTTAWA, ON, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Collaboration with provincial partners and Indigenous communities is essential to walking the shared path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Renewing that relationship includes upholding and protecting Indigenous peoples' inherent right to self-determination, and ensuring community well-being and safety.

Today, Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald, the members of the First Nations Leadership Council, the Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General of Ontario, the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced the launch of a tripartite collaborative technical table to explore solutions to challenges associated with the enforcement and prosecution of First Nations laws and by-laws in First Nations communities within Ontario.

This collaborative table of officials and experts will provide a forum to work together, in the spirit of reconciliation, to identify the underlying obstacles and barriers to the enforcement and prosecution of First Nations laws and by-laws, and work towards developing recommendations on how to overcome them, as well as identifying pathways to support the implementation of those recommendations. More specifically, the collaborative table will:

discuss and identify COVID-19 related enforcement and prosecution issues

explore and prioritize other enforcement and prosecution matters that have been raised by First Nations communities within Ontario

identify potential solutions to the prosecution and enforcement issues, and develop pathways to support their implementation

discuss and identify pathways to support First Nations communities that wish to develop and assume greater control over the administration of justice within their communities

discuss any other relevant issues identified at the table

The collaborative table will undertake its work according to a set of guiding principles, based on the spirit of collaboration, recognition of rights and reconciliation. In its work, the table will seek to identify solutions that respect the diversity of First Nations and their laws and will seek to ensure equitable access to justice and improve community safety.

Quotes

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for First Nations' laws to be respected and implemented, in order to keep community members safe. First Nations Leadership work tirelessly to establish and maintain laws for the protection of their communities, but this is meaningless if those laws aren't enforced or prosecuted when necessary. I welcome the creation of the collaborative table as a necessary resource to remove these obstacles and create new pathways for enforcement and prosecution so that First Nations are able to keep their communities healthy and safe."

Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald

"The lack of recognition and enforcement of First Nations laws has limited our First Nations' ability to protect their communities for years. We acknowledge the commitment by the federal and provincial governments to work with us to find solutions. It is essential that this work upholds First Nations' right to govern through our own laws and justice systems, and supports our members in accessing justice in ways that respect their autonomy and self-determination."

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler



"The launch of this tripartite collaborative table is an important step in ensuring that access to justice is expanded in First Nation communities in Ontario. Collaboration between the Chiefs of Ontario, and the Governments of Ontario and Canada can help bridge jurisdictional divides to deliver effective and equitable access to justice for First Nation communities. I am honoured to be a part of this process and look forward to working together and supporting the work of this Table going forward."

The Honourable Doug Downey

Attorney General of Ontario

"We are extremely pleased with the launch of this tripartite collaborative table, which will explore the barriers and obstacles associated with the enforcement and prosecution of First Nations laws and by-laws within First Nations communities in Ontario. Tripartite cooperation like this is essential to developing new solutions and strategies to improve the community safety and well-being outcomes of First Nations peoples, and I am honoured to participate in this process."

The Honourable Sylvia Jones

Solicitor General of Ontario



"The safety and well-being of Indigenous people is an ongoing priority for our government. I welcome this new forum for collaboration between Ontario, Canada and the Chiefs of Ontario to work collectively towards addressing challenges and identifying solutions around the prosecution and enforcement of First Nations laws in order to improve community safety and well-being."

The Honourable Greg Rickford

Minister of Indigenous Affairs, and Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development



"The launch of this process is an important step forward. It will bring together federal, provincial and Indigenous partners to address challenges relating to the prosecution and enforcement of First Nations laws and by-laws. This collaborative table is a great opportunity to advance reconciliation and self-determination by improving access to justice for First Nations in Ontario."

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada



"I am very pleased that Canada, Ontario and the Chiefs of Ontario are coming together in this positive and collaborative manner to work to overcome challenges currently faced in enforcing and prosecuting First Nations laws in Ontario. The launch of this table is an important milestone and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address this important topic."

The Honourable Bill Blair, P.C., Q.C., M.P.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness



"One of the key ways we can support Indigenous self-government and self-determination is through working together to find and implement solutions to address the challenges of enforcing and prosecuting First Nations Laws. We are grateful to participate in this collaborative table, which will allow federal, provincial and First Nations partners to develop strategies which result in improved community safety and well-being."

The Honourable Marc Miller

Minister of Indigenous Services

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have committed to a cost-sharing arrangement that will ensure First Nations within the province can fully participate in the collaborative table.

Associated Links

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada

For further information: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 613-992-6568; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]; Mary-Liz Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]; Adrienne Vaupshas, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected]; Natasha Krstajic, Office of the Attorney General of Ontario, [email protected]; Stephen Warner, Office of the Solicitor General of Ontario, [email protected]; Christopher Hoyos, Acting Director of Policy and Communications, Chiefs of Ontario, 416-579-4998, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.justice.gc.ca


An estimated 10 to 20 percent of Canadians are either unbanked or underbanked, meaning they have limited access to everyday banking service. Instead, payments are commonly received via paper cheques that can be lost, stolen or require high fees to be cashed or deposited. These individuals  often our country's most vulnerable  could be receiving payments faster and more securely through prepaid disbursements.

The white paper, Modernizing Canadian Government Benefits and Tax Refund Delivery, highlights why prepaid solutions are needed to offer modernized, digital-first government payments to Canadians. It also provides insights into other countries that have already recognized the value of using prepaid as a key tool to deliver emergency relief and other benefits, including the U.S. and the UK.

"We commend the Government of Canada for its economic response to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the pandemic. While great progress has been made in getting money into the hands of Canadians faster, there is still work to be done," said CPPO Executive Director Jennifer Tramontana. "We believe the wider use of prepaid solutions for government disbursements can improve efficiency in government operations by reducing the use of paper cheques while also delivering better service to Canadians."

The government recognized as Canadians' preference for digital payments continue to increase, methods of paying or reimbursing Canadians must also adapt. As such the government created a request for information process to examine using alternative, digital payment solutions to eliminate paper cheques. During 2019, the Canadian government issued more than 30 million cheques to disburse funds to citizens and businesses, but this led to more than 800,000 unclaimed cheque payments for an outstanding value of $370 million.

As Canadian government agencies work to modernize payment delivery, the CPPO continues to provide data-based education on the benefits of prepaid to support wider financial access to all Canadians. Prepaid disbursements provide a high degree of security, flexibility and functionality while enhancing the timeliness of payments delivery.

The CPPO's report explores:

How prepaid products can be tailored to the specific requirements of government programs

How and why prepaid cards offer more controls and rapid access to funds

How prepaid is the gateway for financial inclusion serving the most vulnerable segments of society

Five use cases for how prepaid is innovating government payment disbursement

How Canada stacks up against other countries in the race to adopt prepaid solutions for delivering government relief payments

Get a copy of the white paper here.

About the Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization (CPPO)

The Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization (CPPO) is a not-for-profit organization and the collective voice of the $5B prepaid payments industry in Canada. The CPPO gives our members the intelligence, education, access and network to tap into this innovative payments community. Our members include issuing banks, networks, fintechs, program managers, processors and service providers.

SOURCE Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization

For further information: Media Contact: Jennifer Tramontana, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.cppo.ca/


HIGHLIGHTS:

Revenue of $53.1 million or $579 per carat sold in Q1 2021, 56% higher than Q1 2020. This includes diamonds sold through a combination of regular tenders, Clara, and through HB Antwerp ("HB") under the supply agreement announced in July 2020 .

or per carat sold in Q1 2021, 56% higher than Q1 2020. This includes diamonds sold through a combination of regular tenders, Clara, and through HB Antwerp ("HB") under the supply agreement announced in . Q1 2021 total operating cash costs of $29.24 per tonne processed (1) , 7% lower than Q1 2020.

per tonne processed , 7% lower than Q1 2020. Adjusted EBITDA (1) in Q1 2021 of $22.2 million , marking a return to higher levels of operating margin.

in Q1 2021 of , marking a return to higher levels of operating margin. Extension of the Karowe mining license for a period of 25 years to 2046, marking a critical step in the advancement of the Karowe underground expansion project.

Specials recovered (+10.8 carats) equated to 6.8% weight percentage of total recovered carats.

In January 2021 , the Company announced the recoveries of two, top white gem quality diamonds (341 carats and 378 carats) from ore sourced from the M/PK(s) unit within the South Lobe. Both stones were recovered unbroken.

, the Company announced the recoveries of two, top white gem quality diamonds (341 carats and 378 carats) from ore sourced from the M/PK(s) unit within the South Lobe. Both stones were recovered unbroken. In April 2021 , Lucara announced the 24-month extension of its novel supply agreement with HB, in respect of all diamonds produced in excess of 10.8 carats in size, from the Karowe mine, to be sold as polished.

, Lucara announced the 24-month extension of its novel supply agreement with HB, in respect of all diamonds produced in excess of 10.8 carats in size, from the Karowe mine, to be sold as polished. In May 2021 , Lucara received credit approved commitments from a syndicate of five international lenders for a senior secured project financing debt package of up to $220 million to fund an underground expansion at the Karowe Mine in Botswana .

(1) See Non-IFRS measures

Eira Thomas, President & CEO commented: "Lucara has bounced back in the first quarter of the year, demonstrating its resiliency at a time of continued uncertainty in respect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our solid performance in the first quarter reflects a stronger business environment, Lucara's continued focus on operational discipline and our innovative approach to sales. We also made significant progress towards the completion of a supplemental debt financing package with credit approved commitments received from five international lenders, in support of our plans for underground expansion. Our outlook for the diamond market remains strong, and with close to 20 years of future mining now ahead of us at Karowe, Lucara is highly levered to an improving diamond price environment, particularly in respect of large, high value gem diamonds, the hallmark of Karowe's production profile."

REVIEW FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021

Operational highlights from the Karowe Mine included:

Ore and waste mined of 1.1 million tonnes and 0.8 million tonnes, respectively.



0.67 million tonnes of ore processed resulting in 80,014 carats recovered, achieving a recovered grade of 11.9 carats per hundred tonnes.



188 Specials (+10.8 carats) were recovered from direct milling during the first quarter, representing 6.8% weight percentage of total direct milling recovered carats, in line with resource expectations.



2 diamonds were recovered greater than 300 carats in weight and 2 diamonds were recovered greater than 200 carats in weight.

Financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2021 included:

included: The Company recorded net income of $3.4 million during Q1 2021 (earnings per share of $0.01 ), as compared to a net loss of $3.2 million for Q1 2020 (loss per share of $0.01 ).

during Q1 2021 (earnings per share of ), as compared to a net loss of for Q1 2020 (loss per share of ).

Adjusted EBITDA (1) was $22.2 million as compared to adjusted EBITDA of $8.1 million for the same period in 2020.

was as compared to adjusted EBITDA of for the same period in 2020.

The value of the rough diamonds transacted through the Clara platform in Q1 2021 was $6.0 million over six sales, double the $3.0 million transacted on the platform in Q1 2020. Strong price increases have been observed in each of the sales conducted since the beginning of the year.

over six sales, double the transacted on the platform in Q1 2020. Strong price increases have been observed in each of the sales conducted since the beginning of the year.

As at March 31, 2021 , the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $27.9 million , an increase of $23.0 million from December 31, 2020 and net debt of $22.2 million . Following the quarter-end, on May 5, 2021 the Company's $50 million working capital facility was extended with Rand Merchant Bank , a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, London Branch.

(1) See Non-IFRS measures

DIAMOND SALES

Diamond sales in Q1 2021 were held through a combination of regular tenders, and the Clara platform, for diamonds less than 10.8 carats, and through HB under the supply agreement for those diamonds greater than 10.8 carats. The Company recognized revenue of $53.1 million or $579 per carat from the sale of 91,760 carats. Price recovery was observed in most size and quality classes. Included in this amount is variable consideration of $9.1 million which relates to "top-up" payments which arise from polished diamond sales in excess of the initial planned value paid to Lucara. Beginning in Q2 2020, all +10.8 carat diamonds mined from Karowe were sold to HB pursuant to the terms of the diamond supply agreement described below.

HB SUPPLY AGREEMENT FOR +10.8 CARAT DIAMOND PRODUCTION FROM KAROWE

Karowe's large, high value diamonds have historically accounted for approximately 60% to 70% of Lucara's annual revenues. Though the mine remained fully operational following the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, Lucara made a decision not to tender any of its +10.8 carat production after early March 2020 amidst the uncertainty caused by the global crisis and the significant weakness observed in the rough diamond market. The polished diamond market performed better through this period and subsequently, in July 2020, Lucara announced a groundbreaking partnership agreement with HB, entering into a definitive supply agreement for the remainder of 2020, for all diamonds produced in excess of +10.8 carats from our 100% owned Karowe Diamond mine in Botswana. This agreement was subsequently extended for a 24 month period, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.

Under the supply agreement with HB, Lucara's +10.8 carat production is being sold at prices based on the estimated polished outcome of each diamond, determined through state of the art scanning and planning technology, with a true up amount payable to Lucara on actual achieved polished sales in excess of the initial estimated polished price, less a fee and the cost of manufacturing. This unique pricing mechanism delivers regular cash flow for this important segment of our production profile.

Revenue from stones delivered to HB in 2020 will continue to be recognised in 2021 as polished diamonds are sold, and "top-up" payments are realised.

CLARA SALES PLATFORM

With global restrictions impeding travel for many diamond manufacturers, interest in Clara, Lucara's proprietary, secure, web-based digital sales platform, grew significantly in 2020 and that positive momentum continued through Q1 2021. Six sales were held in the first quarter with total sales volume transacted of $6.0 million, more than double the volume from the comparable period in 2020. Encouragingly, Clara also observed consistent price increases at each subsequent sale throughout the period. The number of buyers on the platform increased to 80 and the Company is maintaining a waiting list to manage supply and demand. Discussions continue with third party sellers to build supply.

KAROWE UNDERGROUND EXPANSION UPDATE

During Q1 2021, the Company spent $9.9 million on project execution activities for the Karowe underground expansion, including shaft and geotechnical engineering, surface infrastructure, dewatering and power line engineering and procurement. Site construction work commenced early in the quarter and in March the production and ventilation shaft box cuts were drilled and blasted to bulk excavation elevations. A significant amount of time and effort was also spent on due diligence related to technical, environment and social matters as part of ongoing project financing efforts.

This follows the $18.7 million spent on project execution activities in 2020 including: site earthworks, geotechnical test pitting and drilling, power line engineering, and works on the shaft design and engineering. In Q4 2020, the Government of Botswana ("GRB") approved the proposed powerline route and granted a 25-year extension to the Karowe Mine License to 2046, sufficient to cover the remaining open-pit life (to 2026) and the expected life of the proposed underground expansion, currently planned to 2040.

In March 2021, a mandate for a senior secured project financing package of up to $220 million (the "Mandate") to fund the underground expansion at Karowe was executed with a syndicate of five international financial institutions, including ING Bank N.V., Natixis, Societe Generale, London Branch, Africa Finance Corporation and Afreximbank (collectively, the "MLAs"). The formal Mandate included a non-binding indicative term sheet for debt facilities of up to $220 million (the "Facilities"). In May 2021, Lucara received credit approved commitments for a senior secured project financing debt package of up to $220 million from the MLAs. Closing of the Facilities is targeted to be mid-2021, with financing in place for the second half of 2021. The receipt of credit approved commitments is a key milestone in the project financing process for the Karowe underground expansion, which has an estimated capital cost of $514 million and a five-year development period. The balance of development capital is expected to come from operating cash flow generated by open pit operations at Karowe during the development period. Detailed due diligence is expected to be concluded in the near term. Financial closing of the Facilities is subject to satisfactory completion of definitive documentation, and satisfaction of certain terms and conditions, including appropriate KYC checks.

An investment decision, subject to receipt of all required authorizations and the arrangement of financing, is expected in H2 2021. Total expenditures on the underground project in 2021 are expected to be $105 million. Until financial close of the Facilities is complete and an investment decision is made, a limited amount of funding has been approved for H1 2021, based on the Company's ability to fund the initial capital expenditures from operating cash flow. Similar to the 2020 program, the 2021 program will focus on early works, including detailed engineering and design work, with the objective of mitigating key risks related to the development schedule.

DIAMOND MARKET

The diamond market began 2021 in a healthier position than it has at any stage over the past five years, resulting in increasing price performance in virtually all sizes and quality of diamonds in Q1 2021. This follows a challenging year in 2020 as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by global travel restrictions, low sales volumes, pricing pressure and overall, difficult economic conditions for miners, manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

During Q1 2021, the diamond market remained buoyant following a strong holiday sales period, particularly in China and the United States. Careful rough diamond supply management by the producers has also helped to re-balance polished diamond inventories and stabilize the market overall. COVID-19 remains a key concern, however, even as vaccination programs are being rolled out in many countries around the world. India, a major manufacturing centre for diamonds, is of particular concern heading into the second quarter as infection rates have increased dramatically, resulting in new lock-down measures.

UPDATE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE

Measures and guidelines implemented by the GRB in late March 2020, and the current state of emergency in Botswana, has still allowed for the Karowe Mine to remain fully operational throughout the pandemic as mining has been designated an essential service in Botswana. The current state of emergency has been extended and currently the published end date is September 30, 2021.

The Company continues to operate under its approved crisis management plan, designed to protect the health and well-being of our employees in Botswana and Canada as well as the financial well-being of the business. The Company has permission to conduct COVID-19 testing at our operations in Botswana and active testing of the workforce began in January 2021. Regular health screening, temperature checks and the use of infrared measurements are also a routine part of the operations.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS



Three months ended March 31, In millions of U.S. dollars except carats or otherwise noted 2021 2020





Revenues $ 53.1 $ 34.1 Net income (loss) for the period 3.4 (3.2) Earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) 0.01 (0.01) Operating cash flow per share* 0.06 0.02 Cash on hand 27.9 27.4 Amounts drawn on working capital facility 50.0 19.0





Average price per carat sold ($/carat)* 579 396 Operating expenses per carat sold ($/carat)* 215 201 Operating margin per carat sold ($/carat)* 364 195 Carats sold 91,760 86,178

(*) Operating cash flow per share before working capital adjustments, average price per carat sold, operating expenses per carat sold and operating margin per carat sold are Non-IFRS measures.

QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS  KAROWE MINE, BOTSWANA

















UNIT Q1-21 Q4-20 Q3-20 Q2-20(1) Q1-20 Sales











Revenues generated from the sale of

Karowe diamonds in the quarter US$M 53.1 42.3 41.2 7.3(1) 33.8 Carats recovered from Karowe sold for

revenues recognized during the period Carats 91,734 105,329 112,741 68,861 86,010 Average price per carat for proceeds

received during the period US$ 579 401 366 107(1) 393 Production











Tonnes mined (ore) Tonnes 1,100,622 748,296 678,110 683,282 878,087 Tonnes mined (waste) Tonnes 756,494 434,082 436,781 591,804 1,199,660 Tonnes processed Tonnes 673,646 684,768 646,447 705,421 639,430 Average grade processed cpht (*) 11.9 14.6 13.8 14.3 14.3 Carats recovered Carats 80,014 100,059 88,909 101,203 91,536 Costs











Operating costs per carats sold (see Non-IFRS

measures) US$ 215 205 192 174 201 Sustaining capital expenditures US$M 0.4 4.4 4.7 3.7 2.4 Underground expansion project US$M 10.0 8.3 4.8 3.9 1.7 (*) carats per hundred tonnes

(1) During the three months ended June 30, 2020 the Company made a deliberate decision to withhold from sale all +10.8 carat stones due to market uncertainty arising from the global pandemic. As a result, the quarterly revenue recognized during Q2 2020 and the average price per carat sold are not directly comparable to the other quarterly results presented in the table above.

2021 OUTLOOK

This section provides management's production and cost estimates for 2021. No changes have been made to the Guidance previously announced. These are "forward-looking statements" and subject to the cautionary note regarding the risks associated with forward-looking statements.

Karowe Mine (all amounts in US Dollars) Full Year 2021 Diamond revenue $180 million to $210 million Diamond sales 350,000 carats to 390,000 carats Diamonds recovered 340,000 carats to 370,000 carats Tonnes mined  Ore 2.8 million to 3.2 million Tonnes mined  Waste 2.8 million to 3.4 million Tonnes processed  Ore 2.6 million to 2.9 million Total operating cash costs per tonne processed (including (a) to (b) below): $28.00 to $32.00 (a) Cash cost per tonne mined (ore and waste) $5.00 to $5.50 (b) Cash cost per tonne processed $11.15 to $12.15 Botswana G&A expenses, including sales and marketing, per tonne processed $3.00 to $4.00 Tax rate 0% to 25% Average exchange rate  USD/Pula 11.0

Sustaining capital and project expenditures are expected to be up to $21.0 million in 2021, including expenditures associated with further upgrades to the XRT recovery circuit to create redundancy in the Large Diamond Recovery circuit and implementation of body scanning technology (to enhance security) which had originally been planned for 2020 but was delayed whilst regulatory approval was pending (required approvals were received in Q4 2020).

Proceeds from two unique collaboration agreements with Louis Vuitton and HB, both entered into in 2020, are expected to be realized in 2021. The objective of the collaboration agreements is to create a high jewellery collection from the historic 1,758 carat "Sewelo", the largest diamond ever mined in Botswana, and the 549 carat "Sethunya".

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, 3:00 p.m. UK, 4:00 p.m. CET.

CONFERENCE CALL:

Please call in 10 minutes before the conference call starts and stay on the line (an operator will be available to assist you).

Conference ID:

76196170 / Lucara Diamond

Dial-In Numbers:

Toll-Free Participant Dial-In North America (+1) 888 390 0546 UK Toll free 0 800 652 2435 All Other International Participant Dial-In (+1) 778 383 7413

Webcast:

To view the live webcast presentation, please log on using this direct link:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1456126&tp_key=287c91a276

The presentation slideshow will also be available in PDF format for download from the Lucara website (www.lucaradiamond.com).

Conference Replay:

A replay of the telephone conference will be available two hours after the completion of the call until May 14, 2021.

Replay number (Toll Free North America) (+1) 888 390 0541 Replay number (International) (+1) 416 764 8677

The pass code for the replay is: 196170 #.

On behalf of the Board,

Eira Thomas

President and Chief Executive Officer

Follow Lucara Diamond on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn

ABOUT LUCARA

Lucara is a leading independent producer of large exceptional quality Type IIa diamonds from its 100% owned Karowe Mine in Botswana and owns a 100% interest in Clara Diamond Solutions, a secure, digital sales platform positioned to modernize the existing diamond supply chain and ensure diamond provenance from mine to finger. The Company has an experienced board and management team with extensive diamond development and operations expertise. The Company operates transparently and in accordance with international best practices in the areas of sustainability, health and safety, environment, and community relations.

The information is information that Lucara is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on May 6, 2021 at 2:15pm Pacific Time.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This news release refers to certain financial measures, such as operating cash flow per share, adjusted EBITDA, average price per carat sold, operating cost per carat sold, operating margin per carat sold and operating cost per tonne of ore processed which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures may differ from those made by other corporations and accordingly may not be comparable to such measures as reported by other corporations. These measures have been derived from the Company's financial statements, and applied on a consistent basis, because the Company believes they are of assistance in the understanding of the results of operations and financial position. Please refer to the Company's MD&A for the first quarter, 2021 for an explanation of non-IFRS measures used.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements made and contained herein and elsewhere constitute forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and such forward-looking information included herein should not be unduly relied upon.

In particular, this release may contain forward looking information pertaining to the following: the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and cash flows and its plans with respect to the Karowe underground expansion project; the estimates of the Company's mineral reserves and resources; estimates of the Company's production and sales volumes for the Karowe Diamond Mine; estimated costs for capital expenditures related to the Karowe Diamond Mine; production costs; exploration and development expenditures and reclamation costs; expectation of diamond prices and the potential for the supply agreement with HB Antwerp to achieve both higher prices from the sale of polished diamonds and to provide more regular cash flow than in previous periods; estimates of variable consideration receivable pursuant to the HB supply agreement; changes to foreign currency exchange rates; assumptions and expectations related to the possible development of an underground mining operation at Karowe including associated capital costs, financing strategies and timing; expectations in respect of the development and functionality of the technology related to the Clara platform, the intended benefits and performance of the Clara platform, including ability to complete sales without viewing diamonds, the growth of the Clara platform, the timing and frequency of sales on the Clara Platform, and the quantum and timing of participation of third parties on the Clara platform; expectations regarding the need to raise capital and its availability; possible impacts of disputes or litigation; and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form available at http://www.sedar.com (the "AIF").

There can be no assurance that such forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of those factors discussed in or referred to under the heading "COVID-19 Global Pandemic" in the Company's most recent MD&A and under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, both available at http://www.sedar.com, as well as changes in general business and economic conditions, the ability to continue as a going concern, changes in interest and foreign currency rates, the supply and demand for, deliveries of and the level and volatility of prices of rough diamonds, costs of power and diesel, acts of foreign governments and the outcome of legal proceedings, inaccurate geological and recoverability assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral reserves and resources), and unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalations, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job actions, adverse weather conditions, and unanticipated events relating to health safety and environmental matters).

Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not assume any obligations to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE Lucara Diamond Corp.

For further information: Investor Relations & Communications: +1 604 674 0272, [email protected]; Sweden: Robert Eriksson, Investor Relations & Public Relations, +46 701 112615, [email protected]; UK Public Relations: Charles Vivian / Jos Simson, Tavistock, +44 778 855 4035, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.lucaradiamond.com/


Now in its 28th year, Canada's Best Managed Companies remains one of the country's leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian-owned and managed companies for innovative, world-class business practices. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

Spectrum Health Care Home care is one of Ontario's largest providers of home care, nursing and senior companionship services. We believe that home care is an increasingly critical solution to long term and elder care in our country. People are safer, happier, and achieve better health outcomes when cared for at home. Spectrum Health Care is a shining leader and innovator in the delivery and re-invention of this care. We know that patients overwhelmingly choose to recover and age at home rather than in hospital or long-term care facilities. We support people's preference to age and die in their place of choice. We do this with a talented and diverse team of personal support workers, nurses and senior companions who day in and day out keep individuals safe and cared for at home.

"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."

Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel comprised of representatives from program sponsors in addition to special guest judges. 2021 Best Managed companies share commonalities that include (but are not limited to) enabling a remote workforce, making employee health a top priority, acting with an increased sense of purpose and social responsibility, and a significantly heightened focus on cash flow.

"This award first and foremost belongs to our staff, who have selflessly and courageously demonstrated incredible care and compassion over the last year, and a true commitment to our vision  a world where people, and especially our seniors, have the choice and confidence to be cared for at home," said Sandra Ketchen, Spectrum Health Care President & CEO "I am thrilled to receive this designation, to be in such incredible company, and to celebrate the hugely impactful company our team has built over 40 plus years."

2021 winners of the Canada's Best Managed Companies award will be honoured at a virtual gala. The Best Managed virtual symposium will address leading-edge business issues that are key to the success of today's business leaders. The Best Managed program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.

SOURCE Spectrum Health Care

For further information: Jane Iordakieva, [email protected]

Related Links

www.spectrumhealthcare.com


Sunil Gandhi appointed to Chief Financial Officer and Adam Shea appointed to Chief Commercial Officer

Independent nominees Dr. Guy Beaudin, executive leadership advisor, and Drew Wolff, former Starbucks executive, to stand for election to Board of Directors

Independent Director Nitin Kaushal to step down following valued contributions to Valens' Board since 2018

KELOWNA, BC, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - The Valens Company Inc. (TSX: VLNS) (OTCQX: VLNCF) (the "Company," "The Valens Company" or "Valens"), a leading manufacturer of cannabis products, today announced the appointments of Sunil Gandhi as its Chief Financial Officer and Adam Shea as its Chief Commercial Officer, effective May 17, 2021. Additionally, the Company also announced that it has nominated Dr. Guy Beaudin, Senior Partner at RHR International, and Drew Wolff, former Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, International and Channel Development at Starbucks Coffee Company, to stand for election to its Board of Directors (the "Board") at the Annual General and Special Meeting of the Shareholders of The Valens Company (the "Meeting") to be held on May 25, 2021. Nitin Kaushal has decided not to stand for re-election to the Board and his term as member of the Board will conclude on May 25, 2021, after having served the Company as a valued Independent Director since 2018.

The Valens Company's Management Information Circular for the Meeting has been filed with the Canadian Securities regulatory authorities at SEDAR.com and can also be found on the Valens investor page of the Company website at https://thevalenscompany.com/investors/.

Management Team Appointments

Sunil Gandhi, appointed Chief Financial Officer of The Valens Company, brings 25 years of corporate and operational finance experience largely in the consumer packaged goods and alcohol beverage industries, with a demonstrated track record in refining operations and supporting growth for both large public companies and high-growth private enterprises. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trophy Foods Inc., a leading supplier of nut-based snacks, baking and confectionary products with operations in Canada and the US. In this role, he provided the strategic leadership to transform the operation and drive a business turnaround to achieve record profitability and improved employee engagement. Prior to that, Sunil served as Vice President, Finance for one of North America's largest private alcohol beverage companies, where he helped open new lucrative beverage categories and substantially increased profits over a three-year period. Throughout his career, Sunil has received diversified exposure across all aspects of corporate finance, specializing in financial and strategic planning, M&A, cash flow management, risk management and compliance, in addition to demonstrated success in building high performance teams. Sunil is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University. He is also an active board member of FEI Canada.

Adam Shea, appointed Chief Commercial Officer of The Valens Company, brings over 16 years of experience in commercial strategy with various consumer-focused organizations in the food, beverage, tobacco and cosmetics industries. Most recently, he served as the Vice President, General Manager - North American Foodservice of leading bakery company Weston Foods Ltd., where he developed commercial strategies for a complex portfolio of bakery categories among some of the top food fast-food chains, operators, and distributors across Canada and the US. In his prior role with Weston Foods, Adam led the North American sales strategy group which included customer insights and shopper marketing, trade marketing, category management, sales planning and commercialization. Before his career at Weston Foods, Adam held senior sales and marketing positions with Red Bull, Coty Beauty, and British American Tobacco, with core responsibilities ranging from category management and trade marketing to distribution, field sales and customer engagement. Adam specializes in product commercialization and has a strong knowledge of the Canadian and US consumer packaged goods landscape with significant B2B and B2C experience. Adam holds a Master of Arts from the Royal Military College of Canada, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Western University.

Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Chair of The Valens Company, said: "We are thrilled to have Sunil and Adam join the Valens team during this significant period of growth for our business. Valens has been off to a running start in 2021 and these new additions to our Management team demonstrate our commitment to fostering industry-leading growth within our organization. With Sunil's proven ability to lead companies to sustained profitability and Adam's expertise in commercializing top products for some of North America's leading food companies, we are well-positioned to continue to execute on our domestic and global expansion strategy  especially as we enter the US market. We welcome both Sunil and Adam to the Valens family and look forward to witnessing their immense talent firsthand."

Robson continued: "Chris Buysen will be transitioning from his current position as Chief Financial Officer to a new role. On behalf of the Board and the entire management team, I want to sincerely thank Chris for being a significant part of bringing the Company to where we are today."

Board Nominations

The Valens Company expects the following independent nominees to strengthen its Board with refreshed perspectives and diversified expertise in executive advisory, marketing, corporate development, and finance:

Dr. Guy Beaudin, Independent Nominee

Dr. Guy Beaudin is a senior partner at RHR International, a global senior leadership development firm comprised of management psychologists and consultants. He is responsible for the firm's business development and marketing activities for clients around the world. Guy is a recognized and trusted advisor to CEOs, boards of directors, and senior executive teams across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, assisting them in the process of leading transformational change in their organizations. Guy's practice includes the assessment and development of high-potential talent, senior team and board effectiveness and CEO succession, in addition to post M&A work in aligning teams and cultures in cross-border acquisition. Prior to joining RHR 25 years ago, he worked as an internal HR director for an international organization and has also worked in senior-level marketing and finance positions in manufacturing and financial services organizations. Guy has an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Montreal.

Drew Wolff, Independent Nominee

Drew Wolff spent more than five years in senior finance roles at American multinational coffeehouse chain, Starbucks Coffee Company. He holds deep functional expertise in financial planning and analysis, accounting, tax, M&A, and investor relations. Drew first served as Global Treasurer of Starbucks before taking on the role of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, International and Channel Development. In these roles, he was responsible for leading finance and accounting staff for the international retail stores and global consumer packaged goods business, global cash management, financial analytics and forecasting, and enterprise risk management for the Fortune 500 company. Before joining Starbucks, he had over fifteen years of experience in senior roles in banking and financial services including seven years at Barclays PLC in London with responsibilities that included financial planning, analysis and reporting as well as corporate affairs. Drew is an audit committee member at BECU, the largest community-based credit union in the US with $25B in assets, and an advisory board member at both Secure, a software platform for employer sponsored emergency savings accounts, and Academy Securities, a veteran-owned national investment bank. Drew has an MBA from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and a B.Sc. in Economics, with distinction, from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Dr. Guy Beaudin and Drew Wolff will stand for election to the Board at the Meeting to be held on May 25, 2021.

About The Valens Company

The Valens Company is a leading manufacturer of cannabis products with a mission to bring the benefits of cannabis to the world. The Company provides proprietary cannabis processing services across five core technologies, in addition to best-in-class product development, formulation and manufacturing of cannabis consumer packaged goods. The Valens Company's high-quality products are exclusively formulated for the medical, therapeutic, health and wellness, and recreational consumer segments, and are offered across numerous product formats, including oils, vapes, concentrates, edibles and topicals, as well as pre-rolls, with a focus on next-generation product development and innovation. Its breakthrough patented emulsification technology, SoRSE by Valens, converts cannabis oil into water-soluble emulsions for seamless integration into a variety of product formats, allowing for near-perfect dosing, stability, and taste. In partnership with brand houses, consumer packaged goods companies and licensed cannabis producers around the globe, the Company continues to grow its diverse product portfolio in alignment with evolving cannabis consumer preferences in key markets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Valens Labs Ltd., the Company is setting the standard in cannabis testing and research and development with Canada's only ISO17025 accredited analytical services lab, named The Centre of Excellence in Plant-Based Science by partner and scientific world leader Thermo Fisher Scientific. Discover more on The Valens Company and its subsidiaries at http://www.thevalenscompany.com .

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements

All information included in this press release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance and other statements of The Valens Company that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "trends", "forecasts", "future", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "anticipate", "to establish", "believe", "intend", "ability to", or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of these words or other variations thereof, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all disclosure regarding future results of operations, future outcomes of transactions, economic conditions, and anticipated courses of action. Investors and other parties are advised that there is not necessarily any correlation between the number of SKUs manufactured and shipped and revenue and profit, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others, Canadian regulatory risk, Australian regulatory risk, U.S. regulatory risk, U.S. border crossing and travel bans, the uncertainties, effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on licenses, expansion of facilities, competition, dependence on supply of cannabis and reliance on other key inputs, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the cannabis industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, limited operating history, vulnerability to rising energy costs, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability, risks related to intellectual property, product recalls, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth and litigation, many of which are beyond the control of The Valens Company. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by The Valens Company, and which may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of The Valens Company to be materially different from estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, please refer to The Valens Company's latest Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com or on The Valens Company's website at www.thevalenscompany.com. The risks described in such Annual Information Form are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Although the forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management's current beliefs and reasonable assumptions based upon information available to management as of the date hereof, The Valens Company cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The Valens Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Valens Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Nothing herein should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell securities of The Valens Company.

SOURCE The Valens Company Inc.

For further information: Jeff Fallows, The Valens Company, Investor Relations, [email protected], 1 647.956.8254; KCSA Strategic Communications, Phil Carlson / Elizabeth Barker, [email protected], 1 212.896.1233 / 1 212.896.1203; Media KCSA Strategic Communications, Anne Donohoe, [email protected], 1 212.896.1265

Related Links

https://thevalenscompany.com/


Benaiah Reid, 19, is walked out of the 114th Precinct in handcuffs on Wednesday, charged in the March 12 killing of Gudelia Vallinas, a mother of two struck by a stray bullet. Reid was arrested by U.S. Marshalls in Polk County, Fla. (Wes Parnell/for New York Daily News)
WINNIPEG, MB and TORONTO, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) has been recognized with the prestigious Canada's Best Managed Companies designation for its overall business performance and sustained growth. The 2021 Best Managed program awards 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.

Wellington-Altus credits this recognition to its early investment in technology, intentionally selective recruitment strategy, focus on innovation, and equity ownership model. In its fourth year, having also recently surpassed $15 Billion in assets under administration, the firm continues to blaze ahead.

On earning this designation during one of the most challenging years across the globe, Wellington-Altus Co-Founder & President Shaun Hauser noted that, "our investment in technology was originally intended to be a distinct business advantage in the marketplace. Throughout the pandemic, it became table stakes in allowing us to keep our employees safe with remote access. At the same time, our technology still allowed our company to grow at a continued brisk pace. What started as a dark cloud in March of 2020, turned out to be the brightest of silver linings for expanding our business in the marketplace."

Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel comprised of representatives from program sponsors, along with special guest judges. The Best Managed designation has become an international symbol of excellence, with active programs in 35 countries around the globe.

"Now in its 28th year, the Best Managed program has witnessed a stark shift in business sentiment since its inception, and simply focusing on the bottom line is no longer a recipe for success," said Peter Brown, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada's Best Managed Companies program. "New and continued winners of the program are increasingly showing a meaningful commitment to their people and purpose. Their determined focus has not only led them to remain competitive on the world stageparticularly during these turbulent timesbut to fostering more holistic organizations, united towards achieving a common goal."

Wellington-Altus Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Spiring said, "by embracing our entrepreneurial spirit and independence, we've created a secret sauce that resonates with, and attracts the best of the best. We're thrilled to have our strategic efforts recognized by a distinguished program like Canada's Best Managed Companies."

About Wellington-Altus Private Wealth

Founded in 2017, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) is the top-rated* wealth advisory company in Canada. With more than $15 billion in assets under administration, and offices across the country, Wellington-Altus identifies with successful, entrepreneurial advisors and their high-net-worth clients. For more information, visit wellington-altus.ca. *Investment Executive 2020 Brokerage Report Card.

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 visit bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

SOURCE Wellington-Altus Private Wealth

For further information: Danielle Nichol, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, 416-369-6215, [email protected]

Related Links

https://wellington-altus.ca/


The Bahamas is ready to continue to bring visitors the unparalleled vacation experience it is known for. Tweet this

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Launches Romance Magazine  On the heels of its incredibly successful trade and consumer virtual romance expo, From The Bahamas With Love, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation launched its digital romance magazine by the same name. The magazine features exclusive wedding planning content including top venue recommendations, bachelorette party planning inspiration and made in The Bahamas decor and styling tips.

Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina Expansion and Reconstruction Expected by Q4 2021  Famous among yachters, the highly anticipated reopening of Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina at Paradise Landing is slated for completion Q4 2021.

Lighthouse Pointe Reopens to Guests  On March 25, Grand Bahama Island's Lighthouse Pointe reopened to guests as part of the phased reopening of the Grand Lucayan Resort. The property features 200 guest rooms and a number of on-site restaurants.

John Watling's Distillery Reopens  The famed Bahamian distillery, John Watling's Distillery, reopened to visitors at the end of March. Free tours are available to visitors seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m

The Bahamas Launches Digital Payment Portals for Boaters and Fishermen - The Bahamas Customs & Excise Department and Ministry of Finance have developed electronic portals for boating and fishing permits to be booked online. Click2Clear, SeaZPass and Go Outdoors Bahamas ensure the ease of travel for all boaters and fishermen traveling to The Bahamas.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

The Bahamas Awarded Bronze in 2021 Adrian Award - The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will honor the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation with a Bronze Adrian Award in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category for its Still Rockin' campaign. Following Hurricane Dorian, BMOTA's Still Rockin' campaign highlighted the country's 14 major islands unimpacted by the storm, which contributed to the country's record-breaking year of 7.2 million visitors in 2019.

The Bahamas Honored with Nine Nominations in World Travel Awards  The Islands of The Bahamas have been selected as a shortlisted nominee in the 28th annual World Travel Awards and are nominated in the lead beach, cruise, dive, honeymoon and overall destination categories. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is also nominated in the Caribbean's Leading Tourist Board 2021 category. Voting is open now through August 2, 2021.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

[email protected]

Weber Shandwick

Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

Related Links

http://www.bahamas.com


One of the person from the nexus would contact a needy person who desperately wants a bed in a hospital, take cash from him for the bed they show blocked and allot the bed to the person. These beds were sold at extremely high prices and the price range depended on the status of the hospital where the person in need takes the bed.

Amid growing number of cases of Remdesivir counterfeiting and black marketing, a case where blocked beds were sold to the needy at a much higher price has emerged in Bangalore. With a massive surge in Coronavirus infections in Bangalore, it is close to impossible to find an ICU beds in the city, in such times, a nexus of people has been exposed by Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya.

In Bangalore, BU codes are generated for every person who tests positive and Bangalore is witnessing over 20,000 cases per day, but not all patients require hospitals, most of them are home-isolated . The nexus of people working in BBMP war rooms had access to these BU codes, they would pick-up random 5,000-6,000 BU numbers and would block beds in their names and, black-market these beds. These beds get blocked for 12-hours, so the gang would get 12 hours to black-market the bed and in case, the bed is not marketed, it would get unlocked automatically after 12 hours.

One of the person from the nexus would contact a needy person who desperately wants a bed in a hospital, take cash from him for the bed they show blocked and allot the bed to the person. These beds were sold at extremely high prices and the price range depended on the status of the hospital were the person in need takes the bed. Out of total 25,000-30,000 beds in Bangalore, 5,000 such beds were black-marketed in the last 5 days.

BBMP war rooms were set up a year ago to accommodate patients. Several MLAs and MPs were trying to arrange beds for people reaching out to them but whenever they would call these BBMP war rooms or coordinators, they would always report being short of beds. This led to the MLAs and MPs probing deeper into the situation.

Devastating instances of people running such scams and making money out of someone elses emergency have been surfacing and, these scams are even leading to deaths of people in some instances.
External affairs minister joined foreign ministers of other countries on a video link where they deliberated on ensuring fairer access to vaccine stock and increasing support for COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs on Wednesday, attended a virtual meeting with the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers fearing possible COVID-exposure. The withdrawal from a face-to-face meeting was decided in the wake of two Indian delegation ministers testing positive for COVID 19 in London.

External affairs minister joined foreign ministers of other countries on a video link where they deliberated on ensuring fairer access to vaccine stock and increasing support for COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccines and a diverse product line are the global answers to the raging Covid-19 pandemic, and India will play a role in achieving those goals, said External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Wednesday. The external affairs minister also stressed the dire need for transparency in these situations where geopolitics is undergoing a phase of transition in the wake of the Global Pandemic. The only long-term solution to the COVID problem is vaccination. Diversified manufacturing, unbroken supply chains, and sufficient resourcing will be needed for a global response. He promised that India will play its part.

Jaishankar also had a meeting with the British PM Borish Johnson, albeit virtually. Very good of PM Boris Johnson to reach out between the G7 sessions, he tweeted along with a photograph of the virtual meeting. Assured him that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and I will take forward the 2030 Roadmap. Committed to delivering on the Modi-Johnson vision of our ties, the ministers tweet further read.

Earlier the minister had also participated in an event organized by India Inc. in London where he said, I dont think that it is fair (to blame the government) either in terms of diagnosing the problem really and in assessing how the government responded to it. The minister stressed that India is facing an existential crisis and indulging in the blame game wont help. He also defended the election that took place in India amidst the second wave,  In a democratic country, you cant not have elections are a deeply democratic country, we are a deeply political country, he said.

The minister is in the UK on the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to attend the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting as a guest minister alongside 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 Britains Indo-Pacific policy to unite the worlds major democracies.
With 23 vacant storefronts in the downtown area, the Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee is working on having murals created to spruce up the unused brick and mortar locations. The murals would feature pictures of cultural and town buildings of New Canaan.

The village right now has an 11 percent vacancy rate in its 207 street-level store fronts, according to a count conducted by Hearst Connecticut Media on Monday, May 3.

To address the appearance of the stores, TEDAC member Amanda Martocchio showed a slideshow at the committee meeting Thursday, April 22 of black and white drawings for murals of empty storefront windows.

The renderings are of what Martocchio called remarkable buildings, including Grace Farms, the Glass House, Town Hall, the Fire Station, the Playhouse and the Eliot Noyes House.

The banners are expected to be either 45, 75 or 115 inches tall, which leaves room for people to see inside the facility. The banners will have information on the bottom including rental information on one side and a description of the local building featured in the picture on the other side.

The group is hoping to include QR, or quick response codes, a type of bar code that can be linked to information about the rental or the subject of the drawing.

The panels are expected to cost around $300 including installation, according to committee member BJ Flagg.

Though TEDAC plans to arrange the printing of the murals, the group discussed who should pay for them, the town or landlords and settled on a combination of both.

Members voted in favor of recommending the First Selectman Kevin Moynihan spend up to $2,500 on the project from the economic development budget.

Chairman Tucker Murphy said she thought she knew someone who may help sponsor some of the costs. TEDAC member Brock Saxe said the landlords should pay for their murals, suggesting it could be the landlords fault there are vacancies.

If landlords are expected to pay, it may take much longer to get this done, committee member Jack Trifero said, after expressing a desire to move the project along.

Charging the landlords may be the right thing to do, but landlords with two windows will not want to pay $600, it will slow it down, the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Laura Budd said.

Getting funds from the economic development budget is not ideal, but I dont have a problem with it to get it going, the chamber head said.

A few committee members said they wanted to find a few receptive landlords to display the murals, in hopes of influencing other landlords.

Trifero explained he has seen similar murals in vacant store windows in other towns and sometimes there appears to be 100 percent compliance. In those cases, he wondered if there were town regulations that mandated them.

Murphy wants to get business areas on Elm and Main streets cleaned up and beautified. The Department of Public Works could power wash the sidewalks and give everything a good scrub, she said.

She also plans to encourage business owners to clean around their space and put out plantings.

Soon, the American flags will by hung on the lamp posts, members agreed.

TEDAC has been focusing on emboldening cultural attractions such as Grace Farms, Glass House and the New Canaan Historical Society and Museum. The reasoning being they attract people to town.

Murphy, who is also Administrative Officer, said she wants to focus more on the businesses next.

Former tenants

1. 21 Forest St. Embody Fitness Gourmet

2. 21 Forest St. Pet Valu

3. 64 Main St. Subway

4. 70 Main St. Jos A Bank

5. 97 Main St. Garelick and Herbs

7. 107 Main St. Wave (moved to Elm)

8. 110 Main St. Patricia Funt Antique Store

9. 114 Main St. Donald Rich Antiques

10. 118 Main St. Greenwich Pharmacy

11. 118 Main St. Greenwich Pharmacy

12. 162 Main St. Fitness Studio

13. 170 Main St. Coldwell Banker

14. 94 Park St., Merrill Lynch (moved across the street

15. 36 Elm St. Space NK Apothecary

16. 103 Elm St. FatFace

17. 134 Elm St. Artful Mix

18. 137 Elm St. Irresistibles

19. 139 Elm St. Verizon (moved)

20. 1 Morse Court. Azzul shoe store

21. 7 South Ave. Mackenzies

22. 9 South Ave. Life Aquatic (moved)

23. 13 South Ave. Cobble Court (moved)
Witnesses told cops Smith, 40, was walking down the street when a man in a red-hooded sweatshirt crept up behind him and shot him in the head, authorities said. The killer ran off and has not been caught.
John Fonfara, D-Hartford, is proposing doing away with the statewide car tax. The disparity of the taxes paid on car XYZ in Greenwich is considerably less than the same car in New Haven. Thats a fact, so lets get rid of car taxes. Its even insinuated that it will be considered a tax rebate (for who?) for New Haveners. But then again maybe it isnt. The politicians could not figure out how to put the lipstick on this pig.

Where will New Haven and the other Connecticut cities make up $900 million (statewide) revenue? The article goes on for two columns of political double talk but, at the end of the day, our property taxes will increase dramatically. We all know it wont be the property taxes of the residents of the large cities in Connecticut, it will be all property owners. Martin Looney is already trying to get his hand in homeowners pockets with his so-called mansion tax on high-end homes across the state. The repeal of taxing motor vehicles gets the Democrats one step closer to a statewide bump in our property taxes.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
In this Jan. 6 photo, President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington. Former President Trump will find out whether he gets to return to Facebook on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, when the social network's quasi-independent Oversight Board plans to announce its ruling in the case involving the former president. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
The officers pulled the Camry over at W. 49th St. and 12th Ave. but when they stepped out of their vehicle the 44-year-old suspect hit reverse and rammed his Camry into their police car in a harried bid to escape, authorities said.
One person has been killed and 48 hoodlums arrested by the police in the mayhem that engulfed Mile 12 area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Th...





One person has been killed and 48 hoodlums arrested by the police in the mayhem that engulfed Mile 12 area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday.

The State Police Command said it has restored normalcy in the area as it arrested 48 suspected hoodlums.

Crisis had erupted at Gengere Community, Mile 12, Lagos State among some hoodlums at about 1.00 on Thursday 6th May, 2021.

According to Lagos Police Commands spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in the course of investigation, it was discovered that one Aliyu Shuaibu, stabbed one Sadiq Oloyo, both of Gengere Community.

He said Oloye lost his life before any medical attention could be given to him and that as a result of the incident, some hoodlums, on reprisal attack, went on rampage and caused commotion in the area.

On the strength of this development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, directed that additional men be deployed to the area to restore normalcy while forty eight (48) of them were arrest.

Police boss has ordered that the hoodlums should be made to face the full wrath of the law and serve as deterrent to others who might want to foment troubles in the state, he said.

Odumosu had on Tuesday, 4th May, 2021, ordered the arrest of 13 leaders of warring groups in the area who were fingered in the lingering crisis rocking Gengere Community, Mile 12, Ketu, Lagos on 30th April, 2021.

Odumosu has therefore affirmed that the command and other security agencies would adopt 24-hour patrol and surveillance in the area until the culprits involved in the crises were brought to book and law and order restored in the entire area.

The Commissioner, however, warned that the command would not tolerate any act of violence and lawlessness in any part of the state as all hands were on deck to suppress any criminal act within the ambit of the law.
Twitter has launched a prompt feature that will allow users to review offensive and abusive tweets before sending them. In a statem...

Twitter has launched a prompt feature that will allow users to review offensive and abusive tweets before sending them.

In a statement on Wednesday, Twitter said the feature will result in the prompt: want to review this before tweeting? while users are presented with three choices: tweet, edit, or delete when an abusive tone is detected.

It said the feature, which will come first to iPhones and later to Android devices as from Thursday, follows after it had been tested last year. The social network also said it has meaningfully reduced the volume of abuse.

Twitter added that, after a year of tests with the add-on, its users sent fewer offensive replies across the service.

The microblogging platform said, when prompted, 34 percent revised their reply or decided not to send. It added that after they were first prompted, users composed about 11 percent fewer offensive replies in the future and were also less likely to receive offensive replies.

Well continue to explore how prompts  such as reply prompts and article prompts  and other forms of intervention can encourage healthier conversations on Twitter, the company wrote.

Our teams will also collect feedback from people who have received reply prompts as we expand this feature to other languages. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to learn and make new improvements.
Renowned Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has expressed optimism that the remaining students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna will soo...





Renowned Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has expressed optimism that the remaining students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna will soon regain their freedom from their captors.

Gumi said negotiation was ongoing for the release of the students of the privately-owned university abducted by bandits on April 20, 2021.

Few days after their abduction, five of the students were killed by the bandits while the leader of the bandits, Sani Jalingo, said the remaining students would be killed if the government or the parents failed to provide N100 million and 10 motorcycles for the bandits.

The deadline to kill the remaining students had lapsed since Wednesday.

But on Thursday, Gumi while receiving the parents of the 27 Afaka students on a thank-you visit to his Kaduna residence, said the bandits had rescinded their decision to kill the students.

He said, The talk with the Greenfield University students abductors is also going on. you know they threatened to kill all of them after a particular deadline but after talking to them, they are now lowering their bar.

So, we thankful they have stopped killing. And we are still negotiating with them. I hope this Afaka case will also encourage to know that there is hope in negotiation and release the children.

While fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the visit, Gumi said the role he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo played were purely mediation roles, noting that fight was between the bandits and the government.

He explained that the bandits while attacking the government, attacked government institutions and innocent children.

Gumi said, The role myself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo played in the release of the 27 Afaka students is the role of mediators because the fight is not between us and them but between the bandits and the government.

What we understand is that these people are trying to attack the government by attacking the government institutions and take innocent children.

Having understood that we came to the conclusion that this is not a hopeless situation and that we can really go in and negotiate for the release of these children, which we did after so many ups and downs.

But in the long run, a conclusion was reached and these children are out. So, we are happy that, all of them are out and none was killed.

Earlier, the parents of the 27 abducted students had said they were his to thank him for the role played in securing their children from bandits.

Led by the chairman and the secretary of the Parents Forum, Malam Usman Abdullahi, Friday Sanni, respectively, begged the Islamic cleric to extend their appreciation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for their struggle to bring back their children
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says he represented Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, and other groups l...

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says he represented Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, and other groups like the Niger Delta Avengers not because he believed in the breakup of Nigeria but because he believed in the right to self-determination.

Keyamo said this during a recent NTA programme titled, One-on-One.

He further said no one could lecture him about human rights because the Supreme Court had said human rights should take the back seat when the nations unity is involved.

The minister said, No one can stand before me and tell me about human rights. I have seen everything. I represented almost all the separatist groups in this country  MASSOB, Niger Delta Volunteers Force, the Niger Delta Avengers.

I represented all of them in court. When Asari Dokubo was arrested, when he was calling for the division at that time and all that, I didnt support the division of course, let me be clear. I was only talking about the right to self-determination.

I was shouting human rights in the Supreme Court. What did the Supreme Court tell me to my face? I did that iconic case. They said Mr. Keyamo, when national security is involved and the unity of this country, human rights takes second place. That is what the Supreme Court told me. I did that case.

Keyamo was in January 2003 designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International for his activities as the leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Future Republic of the Niger Delta.

The minister, who now serves in the government of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), slammed the media for giving its platform to elements of disunity.

He said journalists must put patriotism ahead of professionalism.

Keyamo those calling for secession were being sponsored by those who could not defeat Buhari at the polls.
A driver was seriously injured Thursday when a tire detached from another vehicle and struck a car on Route 287 in Bergen County, New Jersey State Police said.

The crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. as a Ford Fusion was headed southbound on a section of Route 287 in Oakland, according to a preliminary report from State Police.

In the area of milepost 58, a tire detached from an unknown vehicle traveling in the northbound lanes, police said in a statement. The tire then crossed over the center median, entered the southbound lanes and struck the Ford, causing serious injuries to the driver.

Authorities did not release more information. Anyone who witnessed the crash was asked to call State Police Totowa Station at 973-785- 9419. Tipsters can remain anonymous, police said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Two officers were hurt in a melee with federal immigration detainees at the Bergen County Jail, a county sheriffs office spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The confrontation occurred Monday after detainees were spotted passing contraband between cells, according to Bergen County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Keisha McLean, who said a search revealed banned items, including an incendiary device.

Detainees were given lawful orders by officers to disperse, at which point the group corralled around officers and refused to lock in, McLean said in an email. For the safety of the officers, assistance was requested, a facility lockdown was ordered to provide adequate response to regain order.

Officers deployed oleoresin capsicum - commonly called pepper spray, the spokeswoman said. Two detainees were directly exposed to the spray and received medical care. Five of the detainees were placed in a disciplinary lockdown, she said.

Two officers were injured as they attempted to restore order, McLean said. The detainees involved in the melee were institutionally charged with rioting, refusing orders, and possession of unauthorized items.

Officials did not release the names of the detainees who were facing charges. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman referred questions to jail officials.

News of the incident was first reported by WNYCs Matt Katz. Authorities did not immediately release more details.

Controversy has swirled over the Bergen County Jails contract to house immigration detainees as opponents call for the facility to cut ties with ICE. Essex County recently announced it would end its contract with ICE after inking a deal to house inmates from Union County.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
St. Francis Medical Center, a community hospital in Trenton known for its cardiac care, signed an agreement to explore a sale to its neighbor and competitor Capital Health, according to an announcement by company executives Thursday.

Capital Health and St. Francis have signed a letter of intent to evaluate what the merger would mean for both institutions.

From its founding as the citys first hospital in 1874 to its important role as an acute care teaching hospital and Mercer Countys only provider of comprehensive cardiac surgery, St. Francis Medical Center has always put the needs of Trenton and surrounding neighborhoods first, said Al Maghazehe, President and CEO of Capital Health.

This approach aligns very well with Capital Healths mission, and we are committed to our shared vision of providing the highest level of care for the community.

St. Francis is a 238-bed facility owned by Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic hospital chains in the nation, with 92 hospitals in 22 states. St. Francis was running an $11.6 million deficit, according to the most recent IRS report available, from 2019.

Capital Health operates two hospitals  Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Capital Health Medical Center  Hopewell, as well as outpatient facility in the Mercer County area.

Both Capital Health and St. Francis Medical Center are deeply committed to caring for residents of our community, Daniel P. Moen, president and CEO for St. Francis Medical Center, said in a statement. The rapidly changing healthcare landscape presents challenges, but it is through a shared mission that both organizations look to expand services and positively impact the health and well-being of local and regional residents.

All three hospital provide a significant amount of charity care, or treatment for people who are uninsured. St. Francis was reimbursed $1.3 million and Capital Healths hospitals received $15.5 million from the state for charity care in fiscal year 2020.

Through a spokeswoman, Capital Health declined to comment or elaborate beyond what was contained in the announcement.

St. Francis was part of a proposed merger with Cooper University Health in 2017 that was later abandoned.

A St. Francis spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
Hungry for federal help to survive the coronavirus pandemic as programs also opened up for small businesses, a total of 186,200 restaurants, bars, and other food establishments sought aid under the new Restaurant Revitalization Fund in the first two days applications were accepted.

The $28.6 billion program was part of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus law.

It targeted one of the hardest-hit sectors of the economy. It provides grants of up to $10 million per business and $5 million per location to help make up a restaurants business losses after being forced to shut down or otherwise curtail operations due to the pandemic.

Biden on Wednesday visited a Washington, D.C., restaurant owned by Mexican immigrants. He ordered tacos and enchiladas, according to White House pool reports.

Some of the parts of our economy need special help, Biden said later at the White House. At the top of that list is our nations restaurants. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, our nations restaurants were some of the first hit and the worst hit.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

For the first 21 days, the government will only approve funding requests from restaurants and bars owned by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Those businesses accounted for 97,600 applications so far.

And 61,700 restaurants and bars with under $500,000 in pre-pandemic revenue were among the early applicants.

The SBA will begin considering all business applications on May 24.

The White House said 2.3 million restaurant jobs disappeared last year. The restaurant industry added 450,000 jobs so far this year, and 57% of restaurant and bar owners saying they planned to hire more employees in the next six months.

Restaurants are more than a major driver of our economy; theyre woven into the fabric of our communities, Biden said later at the White House. And so, for many families, restaurants are the gateway to opportunity, a key part of the American story.

Applications can be submitted at restaurants.sba.gov.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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Randall Apostalon was a handyman who preferred to be his own boss and made a living doing odd jobs for others.

It may have been that entrepreneurial spirit that got him killed.

Apostalons body was one of four found in a pick-up truck  his truck  at an airport parking garage in Albuquerque in early March. Some of them were dismembered, stuffed in storage totes and abandoned. A fifth man was found dead in his South Jersey home days later.

After a cross-country manhunt, Sean Lannon was arrested in St. Louis and admitted to killing all of them  his ex-wife Jennifer Lannon, Jetsen Mata, Matthew Miller, Apostalon and Michael Dabkowski.

In the weeks since then, more details about the crimes have slowly trickled out and charges have been filed against Lannon in all of their deaths, except for Apostolons.

New information, from Lannons own confessions and recent reporting, has illuminated the relationships between the alleged killer and most of his victims  but little about Apostolon.

Now, as the investigations continue and legal proceedings slowly begin, Apostalons family is left to mourn, to wait and to wonder why.

Randall Apostalon, 60, of Albuquerque, was killed in February.(Provided photo)

Apostalon was a slender 60-year-old Albuquerque native who lived in the city most of his life. He was one of five siblings born in an Air Force household, and his brothers Mark Apostalon and Dan Apostalon described him as a hard-working man with a good sense of humor.

He was a very dedicated and diligent worker, Dan told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview. He was very funny, sometimes to the point of being corny.

Dan said his brother made a go of landscaping in recent years and found enough success that at one point he was hiring people to work for him. That endeavor ended when Apostalon fell from a ladder and broke both ankles. Dan said after the accident, Apostalon, who struggled with drug use throughout his life, relapsed on painkillers and fell on hard times.

He lost his home and began couch surfing with friends as he tried to get clean again and put his life back in order. In the final few months of his life, Apostalon was staying with Tammie Perez, who previously told the Albuquerque Journal the two had lived together off-and-on for years.

After he lost his house, because of financial reasons, he ended up having to rely on the graces of his friends, Dan said. It became a little bit difficult for him.

Its unclear exactly how Apostalon became connected with Lannon.

Police said Lannon confessed to killing his ex-wife at their home in Grants in January, and then over the course of a few weeks, luring Mata and Miller back to the home to kill and dismember them, putting their bodies in totes in the yard before moving them to other storage areas. Lannon then left the home in Grants and was staying with a friend in Albuquerque in February with his three children.

Perez told the Albuquerque Journal that Lannon had asked to store some items in Apostalons storage unit. He stood to make $20 for the favor, according to Perez.

In his confession, Lannon told police he killed Apostalon after the older man requested more money for use of his truck. According to Lannon, storage bins containing the bodies of three other victims had already been loaded into Apostalons truck when Apostalon threatened to take them out if Lannon didnt give him more money.

Mark said its hard to believe his brother was killed because he asked for more money. Mark wonders if he had smelled the bodies in the totes and questioned Lannon.

Lannon later told police he killed Apostalon in Albuquerque on Feb. 24  the same day Grants police arrested Lannon on an outstanding warrant for assault.

Its unclear where the murder happened. Dan said police told the family that Apostalons storage unit was not associated with the crime, and the family has been allowed to access his belongings.

Mark said the last time he was with his brother was a little more than a week before he was killed, on Feb. 15.

He had a good heart, Mark said, speaking with NJ Advance Media in the living room of his Albuquerque home. And he was just a good person overall.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - MARCH 31: Mark Apostalon poses for a portrait at his home in Albuquerque, NM on March 31, 2021. (Adria Malcolm | for NJ.com)Adria Malcolm for NJ.com

This person that murdered him: I think he just bumped into him with this job, and it was a complete random thing, Mark said of the circumstances that appear to have brought Apostalon and Lannon together. And thats why again, I want to ask why? Why did you do that to him?

Whatever the circumstances, the outcome is sure. Apostalons body was found with the remains of three other victims, allegedly left by Lannon in the back of Apostalons red truck on the upper deck of a parking garage at the Albuquerque International Sunport. Hours later, Lannon boarded a flight back to New Jersey where hes accused of killing his boyhood mentor who he said sexually abused him when he was younger.

Lannons also claimed to have killed 11 more people in New Mexico. No evidence has yet come to light to support those claims.

Lannon is now at the Salem County jail, awaiting trial.

Mark said it shouldnt matter whether or not Lannons claims of abuse are true. It wouldnt excuse the murders.

If a person has these issues, they should seek counseling, he said. They shouldnt go murder 15, 16 people. Or one person.

Once the legal process plays out in New Jersey, Lannon will be extradited to New Mexico where he currently faces 14 charges of murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence in Grants for the killings of his first three victims.

Authorities in Albuquerque have yet to file charges in Apostolons death.

It will be some time before detectives are ready to file charges, Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

Mark said he understands the process has to unfold, and hes not frustrated with having to wait for his brothers case to be heard as long as Lannon is behind bars. And when he does appear in court, hes hoping it will be in person, rather than the current remote court sessions happening due to COVID precautions.

Were hoping justice, the justice system is going to prevail, Mark said. Because that man doesnt deserve to see the sun anymore.

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Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com.
Stockton University has joined the ever-growing list of schools requiring students to be vaccinated before returning to campus.

One of the most important steps we all can take to keep ourselves and each other safe is to get vaccinated, Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman said in a release. It is the responsible thing to do. The COVID-19 vaccine is now plentiful and available to everyone over the age of 16.

Kesselman said the decision was made after careful consideration and discussion with our peer institutions and state and local legal and health care professionals.

Stockton initially announced it was recommending students get vaccinated while it evaluated whether to make COVID-19 immunizations mandatory.

All Stockton students must submit complete vaccination documentation to Student Health Services at least two weeks prior to arrival on campus, but no later than Aug. 1, unless they have a medical or religious exemption, officials said.

The university president added that as of Wednesday, just a month after higher education employees became eligible, more than 35% of the employees of the Atlantic County university have voluntarily reported that they have been vaccinated.

To ensure that we can all return safely in September, and provide the college experience our students expect and deserve, Stockton will require all residential and commuter students receive a COVID-19 vaccine prior to the fall semester. https://t.co/gkywCUosBT pic.twitter.com/r0oLbzx7p7  Stockton University (@Stockton_edu) May 5, 2021

Stevens Institute of Technology, Kean University, Rider University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology have required the vaccine for both staff and students.

Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey City University, Montclair State University, Drew University and Princeton University are also requiring vaccines.

Everyone in New Jersey age 16 and older became eligible for a vaccine on April 19. Appointments may be found online at covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder or by calling 1-855-568-0545.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The more people go back to the subway, the safer it will be, the stronger the recovery will be, de Blasio said at a news conference. As a real New Yorker who lives in the city and has taken the subway all my life, I wouldnt hesitate at all to take the subway.
Only about one-third of New Jersey schools are fully in-person as of this week, as Gov. Phil Murphy pushes all of the states schools to reopen and sharply criticized the 15 districts that have remained totally virtual.

As of May 4, 450 school districts were hybrid, 15 were remote and 298 were fully in-person  the sixth week in a row the number of in-person districts increased. Forty-eight districts have different educational formats for different schools.

The number of in-person districts increased by 52, while hybrid and remote districts decreased by 21 and 32, respectively. The number of districts using different learning methods for different schools remained the same.

Although the number of virtual districts has been steadily decreasing, four public schools, seven charter schools, and four special service schools remain totally remote.

We know there are myriad reasons why the remaining districts have not taken this step, Murphy said at a Wednesday press conference. 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 has repeatedly called for all districts to reopen for either hybrid or in-person learning, announcing in March that some schools could relax social distancing measures.

Districts have cited concerns about the viruss spread as the main reason for delaying their returns to the classroom. Of the four public schools that remain remote, only one, Hillside, has a return-to-school date set for this year.

The number of students being offered each educational type does not take into account students who are voluntarily learning virtually, an option all schools must provide. When Newark, the states largest school district, re-opened for in-hybrid learning, just 39% of its 36,460 students returned to classrooms.

State officials have said that as of October, the most recently available data, about a quarter of students in a district with open schools were voluntarily learning virtually.

The option to learn virtually will be rescinded next year, and reserved only for students and teachers with medical concerns, Murphy said.

Some schools have remained entirely remote since last March, while other districts have changed formats as virus numbers have gone up or down.

There have been 263 outbreaks and 1,157 cases of the coronavirus linked to schools in New Jersey. For cases to qualify as an outbreak, they must be confirmed to have been transmitted in the classroom or during academic activities. All 21 counties have seen an in-school outbreak.

All New Jersey residents 16 and older are eligible for the vaccine. No vaccine has been approved for children under 16, although Pfizer is expected to receive approval for children aged 12 to 15 in the coming weeks. Studies on younger children remain ongoing.

The following 15 schools remain totally remote:

Pleasantville Public School District: Public

Englewood on the Palisades Charter School: Charter

Gray Charter School: Charter

Maria L. Varisco-Rogers Charter School: Charter

Jersey City Community Charter School: Charter

ST. JOSEPHS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND: Special Services

The Village Charter School: Charter

Trenton Stem-to-Civics Charter School: Charter

SHEPARD PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL: Special Services

Passaic City School District: Public

Paterson Public School District: Public

MATHENY SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL: Special Services

MONTGOMERY ACADEMY: Special Services

Cresthaven Academy Charter School: Charter

Hillside Public School District: Public

Thirty-two schools switched from remote to another type of learning this week:

KIPP: Cooper Norcross, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation: Remote to Hybrid

Cumberland County Board of Vocational Education: Remote to Hybrid

Discovery Charter School: Remote to Hybrid

Essex Regional Educational Services Commission: Remote to Hybrid

Newark Educators Community Charter School: Remote to Hybrid

BANYAN SCHOOL: Remote to Hybrid

FEDCAP - 4T (TEACHING, TRAINING, TOWARDS TRANSITION): Remote to Hybrid

WESTBRIDGE ACADEMY: Remote to Hybrid

HOLLYDELL SCHOOL: Remote to Hybrid

Bayonne School District: Remote to Hybrid

Empowerment Academy Charter School: Remote to Hybrid

Jersey City Public Schools: Remote to Combo

Union City School District: Remote to Hybrid

A. Harry Moore: Remote to Hybrid

Trenton Public Schools: Remote to Hybrid

CHANCELLOR ACADEMY: Remote to In-Person

Montague Township School District: Remote to In-Person

Berkeley Heights School District: Remote to In-Person

Cranford Public School District: Remote to In-Person

Elizabeth Public Schools: Remote to Combo

Linden Public School District: Remote to In-Person

Mountainside School District: Remote to In-Person

Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District: Remote to In-Person

The Barack Obama Green Charter High School District: Remote to In-Person

The Queen City Academy Charter School District: Remote to Hybrid

Township of Union School District: Remote to Hybrid

Union County Educational Services Commission: Remote to Combo

Union County TEAMS Charter School-High School/College LA: Remote to Combo

Union County Vocational-Technical School District: Remote to Hybrid

Westfield Public School District: Remote to Combo

Winfield Township: Remote to In-Person

JARDINE ACADEMY: Remote to Hybrid

Thirty-seven schools switched from hybrid to fully in-person learning this week:

Atlantic County Vocational School District

Folsom Borough School District

Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional High School District

Haworth Public School District

Moonachie School District

Tenafly Public School District

FORUM SCHOOL

HIGH POINT SCHOOL OF BERGEN COUNTY

INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

PARADIGM THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL

Lawnside School Distric

Mt. Ephraim School District

Middle Township Public School District

Glassboro School District

Clinton Township School District

Tewksbury Township School District

Henry Hudson Regional School District

Highlands Borough School District

Marlboro Township School District

Monmouth Regional High School

Red Bank Charter School

Bloomingdale School District

John P Holland Charter School

Little Falls Township Public School District

Passaic County Manchester Regional High School District

Totowa Public School District

Wanaque School District

West Milford Township Public School District

Andover Regional School District

Byram Township School District

Green Township School District

Hamburg School District

Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District

Stanhope School District

Stillwater Township School District

Sussex County Technical School District

Belvidere School District

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A demonstration calling for the termination of the Jersey City school teacher who went on a profane tirade toward his students will be held outside the school districts Claremont Avenue office on May 10.

Pamela Johnson, the executive director of Jersey Citys Anti-Violence Coalition Movement, said the aim of the rally Monday, which is expected to include parents and students, is to send a message to the district that the community will not stand for this type of behavior from a teacher.

Were rallying to send a message that we support our students and families and will not stand by and remain silent after a teacher berates Black students with language that is racist and destructive in nature, Johnson said.

Howard Zlotkin, a 20-year science teacher at Dickinson High School, was suspended with pay after going into a profanity-filled rant about George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, white privilege and his student during a class discussion on climate change. In the rant, Zlotkin called Floyd, who died last year at the hands of Minneapolis police while in custody, a f---ing criminal.

This action does not impede the investigation in any way. We want those investigating to know that we are not only watching, but we are taking action and using our voices.

Timmia Williams, a 17-year-old senior who was cursed at by the teacher, has said the tirade was aimed at four Black students.

I hear people whining and crying about Black Lives Matter, but George Floyd was a f------ criminal and he got arrested and he got killed because he wouldnt comply and the bottom line is we make him a f------ hero, Zlotkin said in the video.

In a letter to students, staff and parents Wednesday, Superintendent Franklin Walker addressed calls for Zlotkins termination.

The teacher in question is entitled to due process rights, as well as so-called tenure rights under New Jersey law, Walker said. In short, no tenured teaching staff member may be disciplined without due process and without the procedures of New Jerseys tenure laws being followed.

Phillip Feintuch, Zlotkins lawyer, declined to comment on the matter.

Ron Greco, the president of the Jersey City teachers union, said the school district directs its lawyers to develop tenure charges to be presented to the teacher. The school board would then vote to serve the teacher on those charges and the teacher would be afforded a hearing, Greco said.

You cant be called and (told) youre fired, Greco said.

Greco added the BOE would then vote whether to terminate the teacher. If the BOE cant decide on the termination, the vote would then be in the hands of the state State Board of Examiners, the states educator licensing agency.

The rally starts at 1 p.m..
Dog may be mans best friend, but dont tell that to Jean Cardenas.

The 20-year-old Englewood man was arrested early Thursday morning when the Secaucus Police Departments newest addition, K-9 Officer Strobe  a 17-month-old German Shepherd  tracked him down to to a hotel on Meadowlands Parkway.

Cardenas was charged with burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.

Miller said that a town resident reported his 2021 Toyota Corolla had been stolen from the Subway sandwich shop at 10 Meadowlands Parkway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and at 12:06 a.m. Clifton police notified Secaucus that the car had been used in a theft at a gas station on Route 3.

The driver, later identified as Cardenas, fled east on Route 3, and Secaucus police located the vehicle at the Red Roof Inn on Meadowlands Parkway, not far from the lot where it was stolen, Miller said.

Responding police officers secured the scene and summoned the departments Canine Unit, which consists of Police Officer Vince DeFazio and Strobe, who tracked Cardenas to the parking lot of the Extended Stay at 1 Meadowland Parkway.

All officers involved in this incident did a great job in preserving the crimes scene and utilizing our new crime-fighting tool to make this arrest, Miller said. This police department will continue to go above and beyond to protect Secaucus residents and their property.

Cardenas was arrested without incident and taken to the Hudson County jail. After his arrest, police found that Cardenas also had an active warrant out of Teaneck with no bail.

K-9 Officer Strobe will officially be welcomed to the department and town on May 11 at the Town Council meeting, Miller said.
Authorities are searching for a man they say murdered his mother in her Jersey City home early Thursday morning, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Jersey City police and firefighters responded to a small fire and disturbance at 18 Virginia Ave. just after 1 a.m. and found Jacqueline Nelson, 60, in the buildings first floor in critical condition. She was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center, where she died at 4:14 a.m., Suarez said.

Nelsons death marks the 12th homicide in Hudson County in 2021, with nine occurring in Jersey City.

The cause and manner of her death are pending the findings of the state Regional Medical Examiners Office, but police said in radio transmissions that she was pushed or thrown by her son, 29-year-old Terrance Nelson. It is believed that the 29-year-old also started the fire in the apartment.

Nelson, of Jersey City, has been charged with murder, Suarez said. He remained at large Thursday afternoon, and anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345.

People can also leave an anonymous tip on the Prosecutors Office official website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.
A former employee of a Carterets tax collection office manipulated computer records so a resident with an overdue tax bill didnt have to pay interest, a criminal complaint says.

Toni M. Johnson, who was charged Tuesday with tampering with public records, falsifying public records and computer theft, made $1,606.71 in past due interest disappear from the residents bill, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said.

At least one taxpayer in particular was customarily late in paying taxes (from 2014 to 2019) and never paid interest when collections were handled by Toni Johnson, the partially-redacted charging document states.

The taxpayer is not named.

Its not known if Johnson, 38, of Brick has hired a lawyer. She is due to make an appearance in Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick at 8:30 a.m. on June 3.

A borough spokesman hasnt responded to requests for comment from NJ Advance Media.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Hundreds of baby turtles have been rescued from storm drains at the Jersey Shore, but they werent mutant ninjas.

Over the past few weeks, volunteers scooped 826 diamondback terrapin hatchlings from storm drains in Margate, Ventnor and Ocean City, where they had been hiding from cold temperatures over the winter while surviving off yolk sacs, Stockton University wrote in a Facebook post.

Two volunteers Marlene Galdi and Joanne Freas often help turtles crossing busy roads at the Jersey, but more recently realized the babies are small enough to slip through the cracks of storm drains. The pair spotted the quarter-sized creatures swimming in the drains in Ocean City one day and used a custom scooper from a telescopic aquarium net attached to a bamboo pole to rescue them.

Another volunteer, Evelyn Kidd, has been rescuing baby turtles from storm drains for years and has trained local children in her neighborhood on how to scoop up the terrapins. Recently, she and the kids rescued the reptiles from drains on Absecon Island.

The women enrolled the hundreds of turtles they rescued over the past few weeks in Stockton Universitys Head Start program, where staff care for and rehabilitate the creatures for about a year before placing them back in the wild.

A terrapin that goes through the program is about two to three times larger than a wild terrapin of the same age, according to Stockton University. There are 1,108 terrapins receiving care under the program, which has reached capacity.

If you find a terrapin hatchling, Stockton recommends putting it in a shallow container of room temperature water filled up to the turtles shell and placing a rock or shell inside the container. The container should be out of sight of any hungry gulls or crows flying overhead. Healthy terrapins can be released at dusk into a tidal creek or bay area.

#WildlifeWednesday: In the past few weeks, Stockton University's Vivarium has welcomed 826 Diamondback terrapin ... Posted by Stockton University on Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
Dozens of New Jersey clergy are asking the states top court to more explicitly ban racial profiling during police stops, arguing that Black residents disproportionately endure scrutiny that causes tremendous damage to entire communities.

The Supreme Court should block officers from detaining people who only match the race and gender of a suspect, 66 ministers, rabbis and one imam wrote Monday to the seven justices.

A description containing only race, gender, or other extremely common features, without more, cannot contribute to a finding of reasonable, articulable suspicion, the brief said.

Religious leaders have long been vocal about the dangers of racial profiling, including when similar accusations against the State Police led to a federal takeover decades ago, and as new state data shows officers disproportionately using physical force on Black residents in recent years and months.

Mondays brief is part of ongoing court cases stemming from the 2011 arrests of two men, Jamar Myers and Peter Nyema.

After a Hamilton officer heard that two black males had robbed a 7-11, he happened to see Myers, Nyema and another man in a car, according to court records. He shone a light inside. The cop thought it was odd that the men didnt react, so he stopped them.

His hunch was correct.

The elephant in the room, is, of course, that here, the officers got it right, the clergy wrote. Myers and Nyema are not blameless victims, but participants in the robbery.

The two men later pleaded guilty, records show. Myers is currently in East Jersey State Prison for murder and robbery, according to prison records. Nyema was released late last year after spending years behind bars for robbery.

But just because the officers suspicion panned out didnt mean it was reasonable, women and men from across the state said in the brief.

All of us have provided pastoral services to members of our community who have been stopped by police because they are Black, religious leaders said. We have seen firsthand the trauma that our parishioners have suffered as a result of these stops, even when they only last for a few minutes and do not result in arrests.

The issue was bigger than the 2011 case, the brief said. Prohibiting officers from relying only on race and gender when detaining somebody is just good policing, they argued.

If a description is so vague it automatically includes thousands of people or if a person is far enough away, in time or distance, from a crime scene that dozens, or hundreds, of people may be included within the parameters of the search, insufficient information exists to justify it, clergy wrote.

Hamilton police did not immediately return a request for comment.

The brief was filed as part of Myers and Nyemas appeals challenging the stop that led to their arrests. The top court has not yet heard their cases.

The clergy are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Most are from churches, including Pulitzer Prize-winner Chris Hedges and Rev. Charles Boyer, a pastor and civil rights leader who helped lead statewide hearings about how police use force.

Two rabbis joined  Rabbi Joel Abraham, of Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, and Rabbi Vaisberg, of Temple Bnai Abraham in Livingston  as well as Imam Mohammad Ali Chaudry, president of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge.

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Blake Nelson may be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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You might see something streaking across the sky this weekend, but it wont be a meteor from the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.

NASA is scheduled to launch a rocket from the agencys Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia for a special space experiment, and it could be visible from many eastern states, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

UPDATE (MAY 8): NASA has scrubbed Saturday nights launch due to upper level winds not being within the required limits for a safe launch. The launch has been rescheduled for 8:03 p.m. Sunday, May 9, with a 40-minute launch window.

The launch is scheduled for 8:02 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. NASA says theres a 40-minute launch window, so the rocket could go up a little later than the official launch time. (The launch was originally targeted for Friday night, but it was pushed back to Saturday.)

ALSO: Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth this weekend. Should we be worried?

According to a map provided by NASA, the rocket may be visible from far southern New Jersey within 10 seconds of the launch, from most areas of New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania and New York City from 10 to 30 seconds after launch, and from far northern New Jersey, most of Pennsylvania and most of New York state from 30 to 60 seconds after the launch.

NASA says two harmless vapor clouds will form north of Bermuda about 9 minutes and 30 seconds after launch as part of the mission and those clouds may also be visible from the eastern United States.

This map shows when the NASA rocket may be visible after launch from the Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia. NASA says two vapor clouds will form north of Bermuda about 9 minutes and 30 seconds after launch as part of the mission and may also be visible from the eastern United States and Bermuda.NASA

Immediately after release of the vapor, the spherical clouds are a mixture of green and violet, but that phase only lasts about 30 seconds when the un-ionized component of the cloud has diffused away, NASA says. After exposure to sunlight, the vapor clouds quickly ionize and take on a violet color.

Viewing tips

Chris Bakley, an astronomy expert and astro-photographer from South Jersey, said no special equipment  such as a telescope or binoculars  is needed to see the rocket or vapor clouds. But clear skies and a clear view of the southeast horizon are essential.

The closer the launch is to sunset, the harder it will be to see, Bakley noted. So an earlier launch time would be best for people trying to see the rocket.

LAUNCH UPDATES  When is the next launch from Wallops? We got you covered with the latest sounding rocket mission updates:



 May 7  Black Brant XII

 May 26  Terrier-Improved Malemute

 June 24  Terrier-Improved Orion



Follow our website for more: https://t.co/yF9Vv6xJBP pic.twitter.com/LzNW4IkocT  NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) April 27, 2021

Weather outlook

In case the rocket launch gets postponed because of bad weather or other reasons, NASA has backup launch days running through May 16.

As of now, the National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies along the eastern shore of Virginia during the day on Saturday, with a slight chance of rain before 2 p.m., then mostly clear skies Saturday night.

Here in New Jersey, the viewing conditions could be marred by clouds in some parts of the state Saturday night, with forecasters calling for partly cloudy skies and a chance of rain showers before 8 p.m. in the northern region, partly cloudy skies in the central region, but mostly clear skies in the southern region.

The NASA mission is officially known as KiNet-X and the goal is to study how energy and momentum is transported between regions of space that are connected magnetically, according to CBS News in Boston. This study will help scientists better understand things like Auroras and how they are formed and their movement from place to place.

Note: This post was updated Thursday evening with the new scheduled launch date and updated weather forecasts for Virginia and New Jersey.

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
Before joining a small nonprofit organization in Hunterdon County, Tanner Alexander mostly kept to himself.

Now, one of his favorite things to do is make new friends.
Two New York men have been charged in a theft ring that stole nearly 300 checks worth more than $1.3 million from mailboxes in New Jersey and Connecticut before altering them and depositing them into accounts they controlled, authorities said.

Nigel Lynch, 19, of Yonkers and Alique Jordan Clarke, 20, of the Bronx each face up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said in a statement.

Lynch, Clarke and others swiped checks from mailboxes in Morris, Essex, Somerset, and Passaic counties, including many from in front of peoples homes between February and November 2020, prosecutors allege.

Morris County residents began reporting checks being stolen as early as Feb. 7, 2020 after seeing cars pull up to curbside mailboxes, according to charging documents. The cars were rentals secured by a person not named in court papers.

On March 30, checks were stolen from mailboxes in front of homes in Randolph, Denville, Lincoln Park and the Towaco section of Monville, court papers state. The next day, check were taken from the curbside mailboxes of homes in Millington and the Basking Ridge section of Bernards.

The thieves struck again April 5  hitting a mailbox in Wayne. The next day two residential mailboxes in North Caldwell were pilfered, authorities said.

Similar thefts took place in two Connecticut towns  Fairfield and Westport, official said.

Investigators got a break in the case on April 6, 2020 after residents in Essex and Passaic counties saw someone in a car stealing items from residential mailboxes and called police. Local cops in those towns saw a vehicle matching its description speeding in the area of the thefts. The vehicle was later found abandoned and then impounded by police. It contained mail that had been rifled through as well as a juice bottle and a plastic glove. Forensic analysis uncovered the fingerprints of Claude Anthony Burnet. Burnett, 23, of the Bronx was charged in December with bank fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to receive and possess stolen mail.

Clarke and Lynch made a first appearance by video teleconference on Wednesday.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
None of us can imagine what shes going through, but were going to be there for her, de Blasio said at the time. Were going to come help her in every way and try to make sure no other mom goes through it. It was horrible to see the sheer pain and shock that shes in.
A man who admitted robbing a Lakewood pharmacy at gunpoint last year and making off with just over $100 was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison, according to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office.

Elioenai Aguinaga, 32, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty to robbery on Jan. 27, authorities said.

Lakewood Police officers were called to Taylors Pharmacy on Madison Avenue for a report of a robbery on March 26, 2020 and learned that a man had entered the business, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a store clerk and demanded money from the cash register, the office said. The man made off with only $130, officials said.

After an investigation revealed that Aguinaga was the man who robbed the pharmacy, he was arrested on April 25 by the Lakewood Police and was lodged in Ocean County Jail, where he has remained since he was apprehended.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Back in the 1970s, a New Jersey rock group called Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show scored a hit with On the Cover of Rolling Stone.

The lyrics said no rock star can say hes made it big until he sees himself on the cover of the magazine.

That holds for politicians as well. When I was in the library the other day, I happened to see the governor of New York glaring out at me from the cover of the May 2020 issue of Rolling Stone. Andrew Cuomo Takes Charge, read the headline. The New York Governor on Leadership, Hard Truths and What Comes Next.

What came next, of course, was one of the most spectacular falls from grace in recent political history.

One photo shows Cuomo bumping elbows with a soldier as the hospital ship Comfort looms in the background. The Comfort would soon sail away after having treated a mere 134 patients despite a 1,000-bed capacity. Reports said the Cuomo administration had ignored the pleas of nursing home operators to have COVID cases sent to the ship.

That didnt stop Cuomo from banging out a book titled: American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It soon turned out that the leadership lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic was to not trust your life to a Northeastern governor with big ambitions. Details were still coming out last week about the Cuomo administrations cover-up. A New York Times article stated that it was far greater than previously known, with aides repeatedly overruling state health officials over a span of at least five months .

The problem for New Jerseyans is that our own ambitious governor copied Cuomos approach on COVID, right down to repeating almost word for word Cuomos infamous edict ordering nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients.

Murphy was not accused of any cover-up. But he did join Cuomo in trying to shift the blame to the nursing-home operators for not taking proper precautions. At the time those edicts were issued, the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published its study of the outbreak at a nursing home in Washington State. It warned of very rapid spread, despite early adoption of infection prevention and control measures.

Other governors took a different approach. The most prominent was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Republican DeSantis resisted the urge to impose sweeping stay-at-home orders of the type issued by the two Democratic governors. Instead he focused on protecting the elderly. He left it up to other adults to take what protective measures they desired.

The results are unequivocal. According to USAFacts, New Jersey leads the nation with 242.9 COVID deaths per 100,000. Second place goes to New York at 222.9 deaths.

Florida? Even though it has the second-most-elderly population in America, its death rate is just 123.3, below the national average.

Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is among those seeking the Democratic nomination to run against DeSantis next year, has said he intends to use the Republicans COVID stance against him.

Hes failed to lead during the greatest health and economic crisis of our lifetime, Crist said in a recent interview. Local officials were forced to fend for themselves without direction from our state.

Bring it on, said DeSantis.

I implore them, from my political interests, run on closing schools, he said. Run on locking people down. Run on closing businesses and ruining them. I would love to have that debate.

Here in Jersey, the Republican side of that debate is presented by state Sen. Declan OScanlon of Monmouth County.

Floridians have been without the benefit of Murphys fanatical guidance from the beginning without any negative health effect, OScanlon said. Ive been to Florida. There is no six-foot social distancing and there hasnt been for months.

OScanlon said its time for Murphy to follow Floridas lead and eliminate all restrictions.

Murphy addressed that question at his COVID press conference yesterday.

We will get to the point sooner than later where everything is on the table between today and complete normalcy, he said. The question is what and when.

For OScanlon, the answer is May 19. Thats the date Murphy has set for lifting restrictions on indoor dining. OScanlon said the governor should get rid of all the other restrictions as well on that day, including the six-foot social distancing mandates as mask mandates.

OScanlon credited the governor with doing a good job on vaccinations. But as a result, he said, anybody who wants a vaccination can have it in time to have a robust immune response by that day.

Sounds good to me. But ultimately this will be up to the voters. Murphy is up for re-election this November, as is the entire 120-member Legislature.

As for Cuomo, at this point elections are the least of his problems.

ALSO: What is it with liberals and their worship of being ordered around by the government? Check this piece from the Atlantic:

Even as the very effective covid-19 vaccines have become widely accessible, many progressives continue to listen to voices preaching caution over relaxation. Anthony Fauci recently said he wouldnt travel or eat at restaurants even though hes fully vaccinated, despite CDC guidance that these activities can be safe for vaccinated people who take precautions. California Governor Gavin Newsom refused in April to guarantee that the states schools would fully reopen in the fall, even though studies have demonstrated for months that modified in-person instruction is safe. Leaders in Brookline, Massachusetts, decided this week to keep a local outdoor mask mandate in place, even though the CDC recently relaxed its guidance for outdoor mask use. And scolding is still a popular pastime. At least in San Francisco, a lot of people are glaring at each other if they dont wear masks outside, Gandhi said, even though the risk of outdoor transmission is very low.
The litmus test for loyalty in the Republican party is a lie.

Swear fealty to Donald Trump by declaring that he was the winner in the 2020 presidential election  which he lost by 7 million votes -- and you remain a member in good standing in the GOP cult.

Suggest otherwise, and you end up like Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the few national Republicans left with a trace of integrity.

The Wyoming Congresswoman is about to lose her job as the GOPs third-ranking House member, because she contradicts the party line about an election result that is disputed only by Trump zealots -- an extraordinary reaction from a political party that loathes cancel culture and wokeness on social media, in classrooms, in Hollywood, in the workplace, or wherever Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head roil their safe spaces.

Cheney has been canceled because of her reaction to Trumps unhinged statement Monday, which read, The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!

Via Twitter, she replied, 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.

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.  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 3, 2021

That snapped it. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, now in contention to be this countrys worst-ever McCarthy, says that his caucus wants to replace Cheney because members are concerned about her ability tocarry out the message.

The Big Lie is the message, which is the point.

It is a screwball conspiracy theory, an authoritarian hallucination, the foundational falsehood of a warped ideology.

Every person of conscience draws a line beyond which they will not go: Liz Cheney refuses to lie. As one of my Republican Senate colleagues said to me following my impeachment vote: I wouldnt want to be a member of a group that punished someone for following their conscience.  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 4, 2021

And McCarthy now admits that if you cannot abide by it, youre out  even if you are a passionate conservative like Cheney, who voted with Trump 93 percent of the time.

So in this two-party system, there is one party that no longer accepts that elections have merit, and whose most extreme members support sedition and insurrection and attacks on the pillars of democracy.

Which means the GOP still embraces the demented ethos of Jan. 6, when a Trump-triggered mob attacked the Capitol and a Trump-obsessed Republican majority subsequently blamed it on Antifa. The Big Lie is still working, and an Orwellian scenario is our new reality.

Did you two reminisce about working together to re-take the Capitol in 2021? https://t.co/Nm87W2SZ2F  Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) May 5, 2021

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By David Mazeika and Wesley S. McCann

Fewer Americans trust the police than at any point in recent history. In 2020, 48% of Americans told Gallup they have confidence in the police, the first time this value has fallen below 50% in the polls 27 year history. Confidence differs greatly by race with 57% of white respondents having confidence in the police, but only 19% among Blacks. One of the easiest ways for law enforcement to improve trust and confidence for all is to be more transparent by proactively releasing data on police behaviors and public safety that agencies already collect.

Better data transparency allows for the improvement of policing, and therefore confidence in the police. It can blunt sensational media claims, help citizens, journalists and researchers independently assess whether programs, policies, or laws are effective, and ensure officers and departments are held responsible.

Trust has declined in recent years because the public is less confident that the police use proportionate levels of force, are held accountable and treat various racial groups equally. These sentiments mirror those of the Gallup poll in terms of racial breakdown, too. This is partly why a growing share of the United States population wants to be able to sue police officers when they commit misconduct. Again, improving transparency may curtail these attitudes.

Unfortunately, New Jersey and its approximately 450 municipal police departments do not publicly release timely, easily accessible data needed for transparency. Eighty percent of the 20 largest municipalities in the state release no data on any of the six metrics commonly used to study police  traffic stops, offenses, arrests, use of force, citizen complaints, and police misconduct. This includes Trenton, the states capital, which recorded a record 40 homicides in 2020, a rate nearly 10 times the national average. Newark, the largest municipality in the state, only posts arrest data, contained in hundreds of separate PDFs, and five-year-old summaries on police misconduct prosecutions and dispositions. Camden, held up as a paragon of reform after the summer of 2020, only shares traffic stop data but not on their own website.

There are many examples of both small and large cities in other states sharing data that illustrate what can be accomplished in New Jersey. Burlington, Vermont (pop 42,000) shares 10 years of arrests, offenses, traffic stops, and use of force. Cambridge, Massachusetts (pop 105,000) shares data on traffic crashes (since 2010), citations (since 2010), parking tickets (since 2014) and offenses (since 2009). Rochester, New York (pop 206,000) shares data on over 100,000 offenses since 2011.

The state and municipalities should take several steps to improve transparency and confidence in policing. The state should issue mandatory reporting requirements for the aforementioned data. While having a single state-wide program for each of the outcomes is challenging, we believe the data would be immensely valuable even if it is released separately on each departments website. Related, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) should require agencies to share a certain amount of data to receive accreditation. Currently, accreditation seems to only require agencies to have a written directive for agency records (accreditation standard 1.8).

Second, the NJSACOP, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, or another appropriate authority, should convene a professional society of crime analysts. Unlike other states (eg: Massachusetts), there is no state association of crime analysts in New Jersey. Analysts are embedded researchers in departments who analyze data, identify problems and patterns, and propose and evaluate solutions. A state association of crime analysts could foster, enhance, and curate these skills, and help departments become more data-driven and facilitate the release of data to the public. This in turn allows for more evaluations of department programs and policies, which leaves us more in the dark.

Finally, agencies should measure citizen satisfaction, trust, and confidence on a routine basis. Based on the most recent survey of law enforcement agencies from the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics, only nine out of 105 police departments surveyed in the state had conducted a formal study of residents crime experiences, fear of crime, or satisfaction with police in the past year. An agency cannot police without consent or address citizen concerns if it is not systemically soliciting their feedback.

Reforms are needed, but without open timely data, the public and researchers like us cannot assess their impact. After the numerous failures of law enforcement painfully exposed in recent years, New Jerseyans have a right to expect this level of transparency. The state is making an effort to improve public access to law enforcement data through the launch of its Use of Force Dashboard but New Jersey has a long way to go. By and large, the police are already collecting the data discussed here. Its time to share it with the public.

David Mazeika is an associate professor in the Criminology Department at The College of New Jersey. Wesley S. McCann is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Criminology at The College of New Jersey.

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Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have created a new commission to review regulations, rules, and executive orders in New Jersey  and took a shot at former Gov. Chris Christie in his explanation.

The veto is supported by a coalition of labor and environmental leaders but was criticized by a top business leader and Republican state lawmaker.

The measure (A4810) would have created the nine-member Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission to consider the impact that such rules have on the states economy and government. The panel  which would have included members of the states executive and legislative branches  would then have made recommendations to the governor on whether to repeal or amend certain rules that place an unduly burden on workers, businesses, or local governments.

The Democratic-controlled state Legislature passed it by overwhelming margins  35-0 in the Senate and 72-1 in the Assembly.

In his veto message, Murphy praised the sponsors for seeking to eliminate unnecessary and counterproductive rules and regulations and said he shares that goal.

But the Democratic governor wrote that the board would be nearly identical to the Red Tape Review Group established in 2010 by Christie, his Republican predecessor  a panel Murphy ended.

Murphy said the bill would create a permanent commission that could easily morph into a forum that seeks to undermine long-standing common-sense regulations that are designed to protect workplace safety, the environment, and public health.

Simply put, there is no need to revitalize a Christie administration-era commission that my predecessor set up to illustrate his commitment to slashing regulatory protections to a national audience, Murphy added, jabbing at Christie, who launched an unsuccessful bid for president in 2016.

While I fully acknowledge that certain members of that commission, including members of the Legislature, approached these issues in a reasonable manner, some of the commissions efforts  particularly those dealing with environmental rules  drew criticism, Murphy said. I disbanded that commission in part because of this history of distrust, and do not want to bequeath to my successors a permanent tool that many consider inherently anti-regulatory.

A coalition of 35 labor and environmental groups wrote Murphy a letter urging him to veto the measure, saying it has the guise of economic impacts but not so subtly looks to review and weaken regulatory protections for the state departments of labor and environment.

This bill may have been well intentioned, but the consequences could lead to additional administrative burdens and regulatory instability, the groups said.

Jeff Tittel, the former director of the New Jersey chapter of environmental group the Sierra Club, said he and others have been fighting this bill for years, saying it could be used to slow down and to derail regulations that impact the environment and workers.

The governor did the right thing by vetoing this legislation, Tittel said. Its a win for the environment.

On the other side, Michele Siekerka, president of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, lamented Murphys decision, saying it is disappointing as it is puzzling that he would reject a bill that provided a practical opportunity to make state government more efficient and responsive to business in New Jersey.

The GEARR Commission would have simply provided an avenue to evaluate how the economic benefits of regulations compare to any onerous burdens, Siekerka said. But with his veto, the governor appears to admit that he does not see regulatory burdens as an issue in New Jersey and is not interested in starting that conversation with our job creators.

State Sen. Steven Oroho, R-Sussex, a main sponsor of the measure, was also bothered.

Why is Governor Murphy opposed to making government more efficient and affordable? asked Oroho, who served on the Senates budget committee. By vetoing this legislation, hes essentially saying theres no problem with excessive bureaucracy in New Jersey or government being too expensive. If he took the time to speak to actual taxpayers or anyone trying to do business in the state, hed realize hes dead wrong.

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The Labor Department claimed it would be a seamless transition for claimants switching to the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program when the state triggered off of High Extended Benefits.

But John Flynn was one of the people the Labor Departments programming mistakenly excluded from the transition, and he was unable to certify as his claim showed up expired. After a week, the department said the issue had been resolved and claimants should continue certifying during open hours.

And while hes been able to certify, Flynn hasnt gotten his money in over two weeks. When he opens his claim, which is unpayable, it states in red letters that no action is needed on his behalf.

I hope I get backpay, but its more about the not knowing how long this will go, said Flynn, a writer for an ad agency who was laid off in March 2020. Im stuck in this claim not payable loop until Im not sure when.

The Labor Department believes all of these claimants (that had been missed) can again certify for benefits without issues, according to spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi.

The state no longer qualified for High Extended Benefits once the unemployment rate average below 8% for three months. The Labor Department said it would automatically transition those people to PEUC, which was extended through Sept. 4 under the American Rescue Plan, and claimants wouldnt have to do anything.

She would not say how many people continue to be affected by the programming problem, but said that whenever the volume of claimants that New Jersey has needs to transition to a new program, its possible the programming fails to capture everyone.

New Jersey claimants are no stranger to the technological hurdles in claiming unemployment benefits. Earlier this year, 75,000 unemployed workers went weeks without benefits due to a lapse in benefits and lag in creating new programs. And since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Labor Department has been flooded with unprecedented amount of claims which led to a backlog that still exists. Some people reported waiting more than a year for benefits.

Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo maintains the 54 independently functioning unemployment systems are to blame, and the constant changing of programs and guidelines due to federal mandates, he said during budget hearings.

Flynn argued its not just the fact that hes gotten no money  hes gotten no communication from the state Labor Department on whats going on with his claim, especially after 14 months of the pandemic. He hasnt received an email from the department since he first filed his claim at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and when it wasnt payable for the first three weeks.

If they say its a small subset of people, that means it should be easier to communicate with us, he said. I was hoping by the end of this week there would be a more specific statement about the specific problems, but they didnt say anything about our payments being delayed.

He said its frustrating to not be able to call the call centers, where the Asaro-Angelo says the staff has been tripled since the pandemic began. Flynn also reached out to his U.S. senator, state senator, and assemblyman.

It would be easier if they just came out and said it would be six to eight weeks and people can try to plan knowing theres at least a light at the end of the tunnel, Flynn said, adding he wants some clarity.

Delli-Santi said the department is very sorry when this occurs and that staff tries to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

We know claimants rely on these benefits to replace part of their income, and we strive to be as responsive as possible to all our claimants needs, she added.

The Labor Department also updated the claim status page Monday to show what benefit people are receiving and the remaining balance to help claimant understand where they are in the process, Delli-Santi said.

Adam Kaufman, an in-house personal trainer who stopped working at the beginning of the pandemic, echoed that hes received very little information about whats affecting his claim, which suddenly stopped April 10.

Kaufman receives Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), so he shouldnt have been affected by the High Extended Benefits switch. But the timing lines up, he pointed out, and he had the same issue that his claim came up as expired.

It leaves me very uncertain about what happens now. And because I havent filed the claim, I dont know if my claim lapses and what will happen, he said. It makes me anxious because I really dont know whats happening.

When he tries to call the unemployment office for more information, the recording says PUA claimants cant be helped by the unemployment agents. He filled out a form on the NJ.gov website but received an automated response without any information about how to fix his claim.

He suggested the Labor Department should communicate better with claimants on their Twitter feed, which tweets out the weekly unemployment numbers. Each tweet has dozens of replies from claimants whose payments suddenly ceased.

Received the same error message on today's make-up day that I was faced with last Sunday. After this week's press conference (where you attempted to shift blame), the email informing us the issue was fixed, and assurance we'd be able to claim, nothing has changed. #NJUnemployment  Ray Mungus (@RayMungus) April 30, 2021

While Kaufman has some money saved up for bills, it wont last longer than three or four weeks.

The most important thing from my point of view is to provide us with information. We need answers. They dont know the anxiety surrounding all this, and I have no choice but to sit here in this weird limbo, he said.

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Wave that ball GOODBYE!



Luke Voit sends a shot over the right field wall to give the RailRiders a 2-0 lead in the third inning. pic.twitter.com/ya8g3rKp3U  SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) May 5, 2021

They're goin' backkkk-to-backkkk! 



Miguel Andujar hits a moonshot to left and SWB leads by three. pic.twitter.com/fMw9jQ4tXJ  SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) May 5, 2021

There probably are some Major League clubs envious of the top of Scranton/Wilkes-Barres lineup for its first two Triple-A games.

Rehabbing Yankees first baseman/2020 MLB home run champ Luke Voit is leading off and 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar is batting second.

This one-two punch did some showing off in the third inning Wednesday night in Syracuse by blasting back-to-back home runs.

Facing Syracuse Mets right-hander Jesus Reyes, a 28-year old righty who logged five games of MLB experience with the 2018 Cincinnati Reds, Voit towered a first-pitch, two-run homer to right-center and Andujar followed with a homer to left on a 2-1 pitch.

Voit was 2-for-3 playing five innings at first base before being pulled, which was the plan, and he now has four hits in six at-bats with a walk over two games. He was the RailRiders designated hitter for all nine innings in Tuesday nights season-opening loss in Syracuse.

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Voit is scheduled to rest on Thursday, then play first base again on Friday and Saturday. If his left knee holds up, Voit could be off the injured list and playing first base for the Yankees by next Tuesday when they begin a three-game road trip in Tampa Bay.

Playing left field for the second night in a row, Andujar started his night 2-for-2 with a homer and sacrifice fly. The night before, he was 0-for-4 and grounded into two double plays.

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NEW YORK  Before Yankees manager Aaron Boones morning press conference, he stopped to talk with injured second baseman Rougned Odor.

Hes doing better (Thursday morning), Boone told reporters before a series finale with the Astros at Yankee Stadium.

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Odor sprained his left knee in a home plate collision with catcher Martin Maldonado in Tuesdays 7-3 victory over Houston.

Odor was racing home and scored on DJ LeMahieus slow roller to third base, which Alex Bregman threw away to first base, and Odor got tangled up with Maldonado, who suffered a trapezius muscle bruise on the play and has been considered day to day.

I dont have an exact timetable because its one of those things that will be symptomatic as far as his ramp up, Boone said. As the symptoms kind of start to dissipate, hell start to ramp up. I dont think its going to be a long thing still, but its going to be day to day here. Well see how he starts to ramp up and how hes responding each and every day.

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Boone also had positive news on starting pitcher Luis Severinos recovery from Tommy John surgery. Severino was set to face hitters for the first time next week in Tampa. Itll likely take place either Tuesday or Wednesday. Though the Yankees will be in town to face the Rays, Boone said he didnt expect that hell attend the live batting practice session.

I actually texted with Sevy the other day and hes doing really well, Boone said. Thatll be obviously another nice step for him.

The Yankees hope that Severino could return sometime in the summer, but havent been more specific than that.

I do have a little bit of a gray outline, Boone said, but its still obviously significant steps to be taken. I dont want to get bogged down nor will we with it. But Ill just say hes doing well and progressing.

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When one parent pulled up next to her to address the situation, he reportedly found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. The mom allegedly pointed the weapon, then raised it upward before saying those two ominous words.
Asbury and a group of male staffers were very aggressive with this kid, and he was just a little thing, the coworker said. You could tell the staff, the guys that were dealing with him, were angry. They werent deescalating him, they were escalating him.
In a cottage decked with beach shack bric-a-brac and coral colors, Seafood Sally's got rolling this month on Oak Street.

It's the second restaurant from chef Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney, the couple who run Marjies Grill.

That first restaurant has carved its own niche with its Southeast Asia-meets-Deep South approach. For Seafood Sallys, theyre out to create a family-friendly New Orleans seafood restaurant that adds a wider range of flavors and influences to the accustomed template.

What we've tried to do with Marjie's Grill, and what we want to do with this, is create a neighborhood joint  a place where you feel comfortable going anytime, said Carney.

The opening menu covers familiar ground, running through raw oysters, boiled seafood, fried seafood plates and sandwiches. The details under many dishes, however, let you know this menu was devised in 2021.

+17 Ian McNulty: At Mosca's, a false alarm, a timely reminder of what matters, a lot of garlic If any restaurant in the world has no need for a sign, its Moscas. Yet, when its sign went missing, it sparked an urgent need for me to return.

You can get the boiled shrimp, crawfish or blue crabs tossed with chili butter, based on the popular Viet-Cajun style of boiled seafood. The sides for boiled seafood are closer to backyard cooking than the normal seafood restaurant menu too: potatoes, sweet potatoes and turkey necks.

Raw oysters get a mignonette based on Vietnamese nuoc cham (a savory, sour, salty fish sauce mixture), and the chargrilled oysters are treated with more chili butter.

There's a hot fried chicken sandwich, and all the sandwiches (hot sausage, fried or blackened seafood) are made on Bunny Bread seeded buns.

The fish of the day comes fried, broiled or blackened, another throwback to classic seafood joint styles.

And here's an inside tip: You can ask for anything on the menu tossed with that chili butter  fried pickles, the catfish platter, the fried oysters on the Caesar salad, anything.

A long, wavy-shaped bar is a focal point of the new restaurant, and here Seafood Sally's partnered with Turning Tables, a local program working to increase equity for people of color in the bar and spirits business.

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Turning Tables founder Toure Folkes and advisor Geoffrey Wilson created the cocktails, which follow the playful beach vacation riff (and one is seafood boil themed); Turning Tables advisor Roxy Eve Narvaez consulted on a wine list meant for "seafood crushing," with crisp whites and chillable reds.

Carney and Jacobs are counting on the broad appeal of local seafood to draw people from the diverse neighborhoods that intersect in this area. They want to make a restaurant that feels accessible to all.

+10 Jamaican restaurant 14 Parishes brings the heat, the rum and a fresh spark to Oak Street Jamaican flags are flying high over Oak Street. In the open kitchen, chef Charles Blake is getting down into the roots of his native Jamaican 

Seafood Sally's opens amid a pop of new activity along Oak Street. The Jamaican restaurant 14 Parishes opened its own new location two blocks down the street (in the former Mellow Mushroom pizzeria).

The restaurant is in an old house that has been home to a succession of restaurants through the years, most recently La Casita. A fresh renovation transformed the interior, creating a few different seating areas and a semi-private back room.

The forthcoming restaurant already shares one trait with Marjie's Grill in its name. Marjie's was named in honor of Carney's mother. Sally's is named for Jacobs' grandmother.

Seafood Sallys

8400 Oak St., 504-766-8736

Initial hours Tue.-Thu., 4-10 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Marjie's Grill

340 S. Broad St., 504-603-2234

Thu.-Mon., 4-9:30 p.m.

Note: an earlier version of this story included information about the nearby Oak Street restaurant Cowbell reopening; those reopening plans have since been delayed and the story has been updated.

+9 With New Orleans desperate to fill restaurant jobs, workers bring new perspectives They came for jobs in food and hospitality. They found a meeting hall full of hungry eyes and eager invitations.
They came for jobs in food and hospitality. They found a meeting hall full of hungry eyes and eager invitations.

On Wednesday, dozens of restaurants, hotels and other companies turned a portion of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center into a giant recruiting office, the front line in an increasingly urgent effort to hire back a workforce that was slashed by the pandemics closure orders.

They met with a slight but steady flow of job seekers who walked through with resumes, checklists for what they wanted from employers and, in some cases, new perspectives on their own role in the business.

+17 Ian McNulty: At Mosca's, a false alarm, a timely reminder of what matters, a lot of garlic If any restaurant in the world has no need for a sign, its Moscas. Yet, when its sign went missing, it sparked an urgent need for me to return.

The pandemic that made massive numbers of Americans jobless is entering a new phase as restrictions ease and businesses try to rev up again. Thats stirring questions about how fast a battered economy can recover, what workers want after their pandemic experiences and what impact the latest round of unemployment benefits and stimulus payments will have on the future.

This job fair framed those issues within the citys critical hospitality industry.

Remember when we talked about post-Katrina changes in New Orleans? Well, this is post-pandemic, said Calvin Desdunes, who came scouting management jobs. You have to rethink how you do things.

Hes worked in hospitality all his adult life but has been out of work since last spring. As the industry builds back, he thinks its time to build in more support for people at all levels of the industry.

One pragmatic example: simply getting to work. Hes seen promising employees leave their jobs because of the cost of parking downtown and the travails of public transportation. More innovative transit options and free or subsidized parking for industry workers would be a good start, he said.

You need to support the entry level, you need that buser, you need that doorman, Desdunes said. You have to pay more attention to taking care of their needs so they can take care of yours. The better you take care of them, the better theyre going to take care of your customers and the better we all do.

The metro area had roughly 90,000 hospitality jobs before the pandemic, said Mark Romig, vice president of New Orleans & Co., the tourism agency that hosted the job fair. Companies are staffing at about half that level now, and he estimated they need to fill at least 30,000 positions to keep up with the current pace of business and whats expected in the near future.

There have always been jobs available in the industry, but weve never seen anything like this before, Romig said of the level of openings.

Most restrictions have been lifted for local restaurants, though the city has kept a six-foot distancing requirement between tables that still limits capacity. A bigger limit for many, however, is staffing, especially for full-service restaurants, which can only seat as many people as they can serve.

Every restaurateur in town has stories of former employees who left the field altogether or moved away in the pandemic. Some who planned to someday pursue other jobs found that someday arrived with a furlough notice last spring.

Others point to federal emergency unemployment benefits, recently extended to September, that provide as much or more than some hospitality jobs have typically offered.

The people who came to the convention center Wednesday, however, were looking for work.

Some were tentative about the prospects. Shaine Johnson came to see what kinds of jobs were available but said he didnt find any that offered enough pay.

These were mostly the types of jobs Im trying to avoid, he said.

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But a change in the business was evident to Sean Herman, who has worked as a bartender for more than 20 years.

I feel like a piece of meat in here, he laughed. If you have experience, they want you.

He was making $11 an hour plus tips at a downtown hotel before the pandemic. He was getting offers for $14 plus tips on Wednesday. Still, he wasnt sure hed found the right fit just yet.

I know Im being very picky, but everybodys hiring right now, he said.

The plethora of job openings is luring newcomers to the field too.

Teddy Morgan was hopeful hed find a fresh start at the job fair. He's worked for years as a garbage hopper, but now that he's 40 and feeling the physical demands of that work more he wants a new job with advancement opportunities.

I worked in restaurants when I was younger, Morgan said. I like meeting people, Im good at talking with people, I like that maybe if I start here I can move up.

He left Wednesdays event with an offer to start as a buser at Napoleon House, the historic French Quarter tavern.

Evangeline Hills and Jalesa Jones were touring the different employer tables together. Both 31, theyve each worked in restaurants and hotels since they were teenagers. They lost their jobs last spring but are eager to get back to work. Unemployment benefits have helped get them through the past year, but as young mothers both agreed they need more.

Theres just no way, not for us. We have to work, the unemployment check is not enough for our families, Hills said.

They like the hospitality field. They like that its reliable work, and they like the energy.

I like the hustle and bustle of it, it changes every day, new people every day, and you get to give them that true Southern hospitality, thats what we do here, Jones said.

They quickly received multiple job offers Wednesday, which theyre now considering.

I want a job where Im appreciated for my hard work and effort," Hills said. "That means recognition, promotions, raises, even just being singled out for what you do."

+5 Why dining out right now gives a taste of New Orleans at its best It dawned on me somewhere between the mussels steeped in potlikker at Boucherie and the silky-smooth mirliton soup poured over crisp fried oys

+7 French Quarter bar Peychauds takes a page, and name, from New Orleans cocktail history Just off Bourbon Street, a tiny new French Quarter bar is stepping into some very big shoes of New Orleans cocktail history.
Nike has completed the relocation of its Carrollton Avenue store to Elmwood Shopping Center, where it has opened a roughly 10,000-square-foot location in the former Pier 1 space.

The store, which opened April 15, remains one in the companys line of community stores, which pledge to hire within a 5-mile radius of their stores, as well as reinvest in and engage with the local community.

Will Place, Elmwoods director of development, said the center has been working with Nike on the move for about three years, but didnt find the right fit until the closure of Pier 1, which is now online-only.

Place said the size, the prominence of the spot and the benefits of being near some of Elmwoods other tenants  particularly the Ochsner Fitness Center  were selling points. There was also the centers access to East and West Jefferson and New Orleans via arteries like Airline Drive and the Earhart Expressway.

A lot of (retailers) come to Elmwood because they can have the one store and hit the entire market, he said.

Nikes community stores have typically opened in major cities  Chicago, East Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit  in neighborhoods in need of investment and revitalization.

Nike did not return a request for comment, but Place said Nike retained all of the Carrolton store employees in the transition. A message inside the entrance of the store reads Welcome to your Nike community. This is Elmwood. Your neighborhood. Your home court.

Nike has been transitioning its stores to focus on fitness, athleisure and lifestyle, not just shoes. And Place said it is moving to a direct-to-consumer strategy, in which it is reducing the number of other stores in which it sells its branded products to focus on its own retail outlets.
A man was shot to death outside a Central Business District store on Wednesday evening, witnesses and New Orleans police said.

The Police Department said at 5:11 p.m. that gunfire erupted at Canal Street and Roosevelt Way. Spokesman Jonathan Fourcade of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services said paramedics took a wounded 22-year-old man to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

UPDATE: Canal Street vape shop owner kills man he accused of threatening his business daily: NOPD

Employees at two nearby businesses, who would not give their names, said the shooting occurred outside Smoke Sum, a vapes and tobacco store in the 900 block of Canal. One of the workers said the victim was standing with about four people when there was an argument and two gunshots rang out. Others on Canal scurried away, another worker said.

At least five evidence markers were placed on the sidewalk in front of two businesses next to the smoke shop. At one of them, Seven Qi Spa, the door glass was shattered.

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Canal's riverbound lanes were closed between Roosevelt Way and Baronne Street. Employees at some closed businesses within the crime scene watched as police investigators packed away two bloodied pieces of clothing and other evidence in brown paper bags.

Phone calls to Smoke Sum were not answered, and the business did not return a message seeking comment.

The CBD and French Quarter, both frequented by tourists, have seen an increase in shootings in recent weeks. Five people who were shot at Bourbon and Canal on April 24 were among at least a dozen people wounded in five shootings on Bourbon dating from March 6, according to police.

After the April 24 shooting, the Police Department pledged to assign more officers to patrol Bourbon and surrounding areas, relying on overtime pay and adjusted work schedules to do so.

The surge in gun violence has occurred as New Orleans has been steadily lifting pandemic restrictions in response to waning coronavirus cases. It is all part of a broader uptick across the city in both homicides and non-fatal shootings, which are both up double digits as compared to the same time last year, when much of New Orleans was locked down to limit the spread of the virus.

An employee who works near the Smoke Sum said the rise in crime not only has made him feel unsafe, its been bad for business in a stretch of Canal already hit hard by the Hard Rock Hotel collapse in 2019 and the pandemic. Criminals are "bringing hard times to everyone, said the worker, who did not want to be identified by name. Im worried about coming to work.
The Louisiana House of Representatives has paved the way for nurse practitioners to practice independently of doctors, approving a bill Wednesday to keep in place an emergency executive order that Gov. John Bel Edwards issued earlier in the pandemic. The bill passed with a 60-41 vote and will proceed to the Senate.

House Bill 495 has divided medical professionals. Doctors say patient safety is at stake, and nurses say they already practice relatively independently and that giving them more leeway will fill a worrisome gap in a state with a shortage of physicians.

Inside the fight among Louisiana's major hospital systems and why it might become public soon A behind-the-scenes war between some of the states largest health systems could soon spill into public view at the State Capitol, after month

Under current law, nurse practitioners must have whats called a collaborative agreement with a physician. While nurse practitioners may own clinics, prescribe many medications and see patients on their own, they must have a doctor available by telephone at all times.

Many nurses say this is a costly and unnecessary requirement that the legislation would remove. Physician collaborators can charge thousands of dollars without ever coming into the clinic or reviewing patient care, said Kathy Baldridge, a nurse practitioner in Alexandria and president of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners. One of the association's members in Avoyelles Parish recently told Baldridge that a physician quoted a fee of $5,000 per month per nurse practitioner to be on call for a clinic.

There are some people who have never even met their collaborator," Baldridge said.

Baldridge said nurses do collaborate with doctors when they need to make referrals outside of the scope of their practice, but its often not the doctor named on their agreement and they dont pay the doctor to whom they refer patients.

In the 12 years that I have been a nurse practitioner, I have never called my collaborator with a patient question, Baldridge said.

Without a designated collaborator, it is illegal for nurse practitioners to see patients, which they say limits patients' access to care. Louisiana has an average of 26 physicians for every 10,000 residents. In big cities such as New Orleans, that number is closer to 35 per 10,000. But in 15 less populated areas, there are as few as five physicians per 10,000 residents, said Eric Peterson, a director at the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, who spoke in favor of the bill when it went before the Health and Welfare Committee on April 22.

+7 Effort to bring COVID vaccine to New Orleans' homeless shows challenge that lies ahead Two plastic tables were set up underneath the Pontchartrain Expressway on Thursday morning, sandwiched between lines of tents in the middle of

But doctors say patient safety is on the line because of the difference in training that nurses and doctors receive.

I know as a physician  how you can recognize something that is dangerous and address it appropriately, said Dr. Lisa Casey, a family medicine physician in New Orleans. That is not part of nurses training.

Doctors receive four years of training during medical school, then three to seven years of residency depending on their specialty. They may pursue a fellowship after residency for one to three years. They begin seeing patients in their third year of medical school. By the end of residency, a doctor has 14,000 to 19,000 hours with patients, Casey said.

Nurse practitioners complete a registered nurse program, which takes two to four years, followed by a two- or three-year masters degree. They are required to have 500 to 1,500 hours of supervised clinical practice before graduation. Most nurse practitioners are also required to have a bachelor's degree in nursing, which requires varying clinical hours depending on the program.

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HB 495 does not change the scope of practice of nurse practitioners, who refer patients outside of their parameters of care and may not treat some conditions such as chronic pain.

It doesn't make me a physician, Baldridge said. I can still only do what falls in my scope of practice.

But Casey said the legislation would inevitably decrease the number of patients for physicians, who are trained to diagnose medical conditions, and discourage would-be physicians from putting in the time, money and effort to become a doctor.

Theres a saying: You cant know what you dont know, Casey said. "If I listened to your heart and I couldnt tell that was a rhythm that was concerning or it never raised a red flag, I'm not going to call the cardiologist because I didn't recognize it as a problem.

Ochsner to invest millions on cancer center, new specialty pharmacy in Baton Rouge Ochsner Health System is spending $5.6 million on renovations at its cancer center in Baton Rouge and to build a new specialty pharmacy.

Lawmakers who voted for the bipartisan bill said Louisiana is losing providers at a time when its elderly population is expected to exceed the child population by 2035, according to the AARP.

The gap for access to care is only widening, Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Baton Rouge, the bill's sponsor, said at an earlier committee hearing. That is what this bill is about; it is about access to care. This bill will save peoples lives.

The bill was hotly debated on the House floor Wednesday. One amendment, which passed, added a requirement that nurse practitioners to work 6,000 to 10,000 hours with a licensed physician before they are allowed to operate independently. It also created a new board to provide oversight to nurse practitioners operating without collaborative agreements with doctors. Physicians have pointed out that nurses and doctors are governed by different boards with differing standards.

"Neither group likes what is in front of you right here with this amendment. The nurse practitioners are not happy, and the physicians are not happy," said Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, who is a nurse practitioner and sponsor of the bill. "We created what we felt was a middle ground."

"I've spent more hours on this bill than any other bill," said Rep. Christopher Turner, R-Ruston. "What we've done is we've created a pathway to independence."

A similar bill has been proposed four times over the last 12 years, Ivey said.

Fourteen other states allow full practice authority as soon as nurse practitioners obtain their license. Another 14 states allow full practice authority after practicing with a physician for a certain length of time.
When Gov. John Bel Edwards welcomed President Joe Biden to Louisiana on Thursday, the two Catholics briefly bonded over a token of their shared faith -- a pocket rosary.

The pair met on the tarmac of Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles on Thursday as Biden arrived in the state to tout his infrastructure plan.

In a video on Twitter, Biden can be seen pulling a small 10-bead rosary -- a set of Catholic prayer beads -- from his pocket to show Edwards. Edwards, in turn, pulled his own rosary from his pocket.

Watch the video below. Can't see it? Click here.

President Biden and @LouisianaGov Edwards share pocket Rosary rings upon Biden arrival in Louisiana.



(h/t @EmmanuelTouhey ) pic.twitter.com/gBfPAP21EV  Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) May 6, 2021

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Both men are devout Catholics. Biden attends Mass every Sunday and speaks frequently about how his faith shapes his values. Edwards is a rare anti-abortion Democrat, who credits his Catholic faith for his stance on abortion.

During Bidens Lake Charles visit, he spoke about the need for investment in infrastructure, highlighting the aging Interstate 10 bridge in Lake Charles and the Sewerage & Water Board Carrollton Plant in New Orleans.
As part of his promotion of the $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, President Joe Biden is making a couple of stops in Louisiana on Thursday to discuss projects to rebuild the nations bridges, highways, ports and other infrastructure.

New Orleans and Lake Charles, cities that were both mentioned in the White House's initial release of the plan in March, will get visits from Biden, starting with the southwestern city ravaged by Hurricane Laura and Delta last summer and ending at the Sewerage & Water Board Carrollton Plant in New Orleans.

Storm-weary Lake Charles residents eager to show President Joe Biden that challenges remain 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

White House and city officials have been tight-lipped about discussing the trip's details, but here is what we know so far about Biden's visit to Louisiana:

Lake Charles agenda

The southwestern Louisiana city is Biden's first stop on his day trip to Louisiana. According to a schedule released Wednesday evening, the President arrives at the Chennault International Airport at about 12:15 p.m.

From there, he'll travel to a site near the Calcasieu River Bridge, the stretch of Interstate 10 that officials have said is in dire need of being replaced.

Infrastructure damage from Hurricane Laura and Delta to Lake Charles and the surrounding area was part of the initial discussion surrounding Biden's plan. The fact sheet pointed out that $19 billion of the nearly $100 billion in climate change-linked damage came from Category 4 storm Laura alone.

At the bridge, Biden will discuss his American Jobs Plan at about 1:25 p.m. White House officials didn't go into further detail on which points he would highlight.

Biden last visited Lake Charles when he was vice president in 2010 to promote efforts for the area to recover from Hurricane Rita in 2005, and he also visited there in 2006 while he was a senator.

President Joe Biden to tour S&WB's Carrollton Plant this week, according to White House President Joe Biden has argued his wide-ranging, $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan is a solution to decades of underinvestment in roads, pipes

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New Orleans agenda

Shortly after he wraps up in Lake Charles, the President will fly out of southwest Louisiana at about 2:30 p.m. and land at the Louis Armstrong International Airport nearly an hour later.

White House officials announced that Biden, beginning at about 4:20 p.m., will tour the S&WB Carrollton Plant, home to the New Orleans utility's water purification equipment. It also houses its turbines, more than half of which have broken down in the past year even as the S&WB relies on them to power its network of pumps.

Along with Lake Charles, New Orleans was also mentioned in the infrastructure plan's initial fact sheet, specifically pointing to highways like the Claiborne Expressway that was built in the 1960s through the middle of Black neighborhoods.

+5 Biden infrastructure plan would 'redress historic inequities,' like this New Orleans highway The proposed $2 trillion infrastructure plan being unveiled by President Joe Biden Wednesday is aimed at fixing thousands of roads and bridges

Funds from the infrastructure plan would be utilized to reconnect neighborhoods divided by past highway projects, but the fact sheet didn't get into specifics.

Biden last visited New Orleans in July 2019 when he was running for president, and former congressman to New Orleans, Cedric Richmond, accompanied him. After Biden's victory, Richmond resigned and now serves as a senior adviser in the White House.

Biden's day trip to Louisiana ends at about 5:40 p.m. when the president boards a plane out of MSY back to Washington D.C.

NOPD was asked about road closures on Thursday in preparation for and during the President's visit, but they said all questions about Biden's trip should be directed to White House officials.

Thursday's events will only be open to the press. Continue to follow NOLA.com and its reporters for the latest updates on the President's visit.

Staff writers Tyler Bridges and Jeff Adelson contributed to this report.
The two did not know each other, he said. Witnesses recalled seeing a man with a knife strolling up behind the women, stabbing them and sauntering away like nothing happened, like Sunday morning, Patricia Lee told ABC affiliate KGO-TV. It was a pretty big knife, it had knuckles on the handle and the blade had holes in there like a military knife.
If state Rep. Ray Garofalo, a Chalmette Republican, had been engaged in some noble purpose last week  that is, if he had been putting forward a bill that would have been an actual benefit to anybody  then his statement that the states teachers should be made to teach the good, the bad, the ugly regarding slavery might legitimately be called a gaffe and treated as a no-biggie.

But Garofalo wasnt putting forward a good bill. He was offering legislation to promote the preposterous idea that a country that wiped out people who were already here and imported people who didnt want to be here isnt fundamentally racist, and isnt yet profiting from those great crimes.

His bill, which he ultimately dropped, would have prohibited the states public school teachers and college professors from teaching that either the U.S. or Louisiana is fundamentally, institutionally, or systemically racist or sexist. That means his bill would have shielded Louisianas students from lessons about the murderous invasion of Native land, lessons about Americas 350-year history of slavery and Jim Crow and lessons about how that has shaped today. So Garofalo gets no benefit of the doubt.

Why shouldnt his fellow lawmakers believe that his remark about the good of slavery was anything but a slip of the truth, especially when that argument remains a fairly common talking point among White southerners? Why should they doubt Garofalo thinks slavery had some benefits when he drafted a bill that would block teachers from pointing out that the U.S. government not only endorsed slavery but was enriched by slavery?

As absurd as Garofalos attempt to exonerate the United States is, his attempt to exonerate Louisiana is that much more so. Africans held captive in the United States dreaded few things as much as being sold downriver. Garofalos legislative district  which includes St. Bernard Parish and a sliver of New Orleans  is about as far downriver as one can go, but his bill would have promoted the fiction that Louisiana was and is as innocent as the country that took it over.

Death was common on Louisianas sugar plantations, according to the website for Whitney Plantation in St. John the Baptist Parish. The sugar districts of Louisiana, the website says, stand out as the only area in the slaveholding south with a negative birth rate among the enslaved population.

Is it Garofalos contention that its mere happenstance that the states largest prison is a former plantation  named for an actual African country, no less  and that 68% of the people in Louisianas prisons are Black? Is it his contention that Black Louisianians earn less, own less, get sick more often and die earlier because thats just the natural order of things?

Its important to note that the assertion in Garofalos bill that the country isnt sexist is no less bad than his denial of racism. But it was the remark suggesting that there was something good about slavery that prompted the Legislative Black Caucus and the New Orleans City Council to argue that he should be removed as chair of the House Education Committee. Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday that Garofalos removal would be justified.

Garofalo was presumably speaking to members of the Legislative Black Caucus last Wednesday (or at a minimum, including them) when he took the microphone on the floor of House and, without apologizing for a bill that disregarded and disrespected their history and their current day existence, said I consider us all family and as more than friends. He insisted that his remarks had been reported inflammatorily and said, I would hope that you would know better than the reports that are being made about me in the press.

The caucus was not impressed. State Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, said the language in the bill by itself was enough to offend, and state Rep. Gary Carter, D-Algiers, said Garofalo has disqualified himself from leadership.

Whether Garofalo loses his chairmanship will be left up to House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, but what a bad look it is that a lawmaker chairing a committee on education is in such great need of one.

Jarvis DeBerry is editor of the Louisiana Illuminator, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization based in Baton Rouge.
Today Peloton announced a voluntary recall on all of its treadmill machines after the death of a child and dozens of injuries reported with their product.

This arrives weeks after discussions with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall will affect roughly 125,000 Peloton machines, and roughly 1,050 other products in the U.S.

In 2020, Pelotons revenue was $1.8 billion, up from $915 million a year earlier. As a result, Peloton stock shares took a 14% dive.

The company's popularity shot through the roof during the pandemic, but did not sell a treadmill until 2018.

They are now advising consumers who have already purchased the now-recalled products to immediately stop using the equipment, and contact Peloton for a full refund or other qualified remedies.

Peloton said they are working on a repair that will be offered to treadmill owners in the coming weeks.

Full statement from Product Safety Commission on Peloton.
Lawrenceville, Pa. - Victaulic, a leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining, fire protection, and flow control solutions, recently celebrated the grand opening of its 220,000-square-foot manufacturing plant.

The company employs over 1,600 Pennsylvania employees and approximately 4,500 people globally.

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R), who attended the grand opening, commented, To create jobs, businesses need room to grow, and the Commonwealth stands ready to provide assistance to business facilities. Victaulics investment in our region will pay dividends in the years to come as companies relocate to Tioga County, bringing with them jobs, revenue, and new opportunities.

The Lawrenceville facility has added nearly 60 new jobs to Tioga County and anticipates adding around 40 more in the near future. Many of the new positions will likely be filled by local talent from the area's skilled workforce.

We are so grateful to Victaulic for joining our community and benefiting from our skilled workforce. It is great to have an opportunity to highlight a company like Victaulic as they expand their presence in Pennsylvania creating 90 new, skills-based jobs. This project is a testament to our great workforce and strengthened business climate, added State Senator Cris Dush.

Victaulic is excited to expand its Pennsylvania footprint and bring back to life the Lawrenceville foundry to support the growth of our customers, remarked Rick Bucher, President and CEO of Victaulic.

We appreciate the cooperation between state and local agencies as part of the site selection process, and we are very happy to be part of the Tioga community. Victaulic aims to be a good neighbor in every community where our employees work and live. We are especially proud to further our sustainable manufacturing practices and reuse this facility for the betterment of this community.

The Lawrenceville foundry will help continue Victaulic's growth plans as business demands continue to increase and places a manufacturing facility in close proximity to some of its major customers. The facility includes two foundry molding lines and will enable the manufacture of large-scale products.

Victaulics investment in Tioga County is a testament to the companys incredible track record of growth, vision and passion for the communities they serve. I look forward to welcoming this family-owned business with Pennsylvania roots to our community along with the jobs it will bring to our hard-working residents, said State Representative Clint Owlett, praising the company's investments in Tioga County and Pennsylvania as a whole.
Harrisburg, Pa.  After a year of overcoming challenges and going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is celebrating teachers across the state for their dedication to ensure every student has the tools to reach their full potential.

There could not be a more appropriate time to thank a teacher for their resilience, hard work, and persistence throughout this year. As an educator, I have seen how students gain inspiration and become encouraged through their lessons, said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, let's take a moment to remind our educators how valuable they are to our students success, and that their efforts are commended by PDE year-round, continued Ortega.

To celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is releasing a series of video messages on social media today from Governor Tom Wolf, Second Lady Gisele Fetterman, Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Joe Welch, Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega, and Acting Deputy Secretary and Commissioner for Postsecondary and Higher Education Dr. Tanya I. Garcia.

The video messages recognize Pennsylvanias current and future educators for their work and the lifelong impact they make on students.

This years national proclamation lauds education from the Biden Administration. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is a current community college educator.

PDE participates in or coordinates various programs that recognize educators for their contributions to students and the profession year-round.

The Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring K-12 teachers in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions to Pennsylvania's school-aged children. Due to the pandemic, the Teacher of the Year selection process was placed on hold. As a result, the 2021 Teacher of the Year finalists are now the finalists for Pennsylvanias 2022 Teacher of the Year.

PDE invites students, families, and community members to honor and recognize educator achievements at any time by submitting a nomination for Pennsylvanias Teacher of the Year.

The Wolf administration reports an additional $1.4 billion in programs from high quality pre-kindergarten through postsecondary opportunities for students during Wolf's tenure. In his most recent proposal, the governor included an additional $200 million for basic education, $30 million for high quality early childhood education, and $200 million in special education.




A quick Google of "chlorine shortage" would make any pool owner nervous.

News outlets nationwide have been reporting on shortages in chlorine-related products which are used in pools to disinfect the water and protect from waterborne illnesses.

Everyone is running out and coming here, said Pam Keefer, who is manager at Aquarius Pool & Patio in downtown Williamsport.

But according to Keefer we are okay on supply.

In 2020, Hurricane Laura did more than physically damage the state of Louisiana.

The natural event also lead to the destruction of a plant which produces chlorine.

Keefer explained other chlorine suppliers were generous enough to allow them, and other distributors, the opportunity to purchase more than normal, in order to keep up with eventual supply and demand.

But Keefer said she was advised the shortage could run all the way until 2022.

Despite the impending shortage, Keefer said there was no reason to hoard chlorine products.

Pandemic life inspired an organic boom in pool investments nationwide. At present there are over 5.2 million residential pools in the United States.

Chlorine is a purification agent which has been used for treating water since the early 1900s.

There are other options, Keefer said, noting that chlorine is not the only way to keep pools clean.

Consumers can use bromine, a chlorine alternative.

Ozonation is also a choice, but requires minimal amounts of chlorine to operate with the installation of an ozone generator.

Also by reducing your pool temperature to a colder than normal temperature will slow bacterial and algal growth.

In addition, use of ultraviolet light, in combination with chlorine, could reduce the intake necessary for the pool.
Lewisburg, Pa. -- Homicide suspect Tracy Ray Rollins Jr., 29, a truck driver of Dallas, Texas, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Rollins is accused of slaying former model Rebecca Landrith, 47, of Virginia, and allegedly leaving her body off an Interstate 80 ramp near Loganton in western Union County sometime overnight between Feb. 6 and 7.

Landriths body was found shortly before 7 a.m. Feb. 7 by a PennDOT worker at mile marker 199 near Mile Run along the off-ramp of Interstate 80 East.

The decision to waive the preliminary hearing means Rollins case will move to Union County Court where he could face trial.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Trooper Tyler Watson of Pennsylvania State Police at Milton, Landrith was shot at least 18 times in the head, neck and chest inside the cab of Rollins tractor trailer truck.

Rollins was arrested by state police in Connecticut on Feb. 10 after investigators followed a paper trail to track the suspect down. Through receipts found in Landriths jacket, police were able to match dates and times to surveillance footage at several restaurants and convenience stores in Wisconsin and Indiana.

It is believed that Landrith had traveled with Rollins for several months during his deliveries. She had allegedly gone by the name Leslie Myers.

Rollins was extradited back to Pennsylvania on Feb. 23 where he was arraigned by District Judge Jeffrey C. Mensch on charges of felony homicide and a misdemeanor of abuse of a corpse. Mensch denied bail with the reason being criminal homicide and no ties to the community according to court documents. Rollins has been committed to Union County Jail since then.

Mensch, whose courtroom is in Mifflinburg, presided Thursday morning at Rollins preliminary hearing which was held at Union County Courthouse in Lewisburg due to the case being of high interest to the public.

Chief Public Defender Brian Ulmer, court appointed attorney for Rollins, told Mensch that Rollins wanted to waive the preliminary hearing. The Commonwealth has advised they are willing to engage in accelerated discovery, some of which was presented today, Ulmer said.

Ulmer requested that the sheriffs office unshackle Rollins writing hand so he could sign waiver papers. Rollins sat at the defense table with Ulmer, as Union County District Attorney Pete Johnson sat at the nearby prosecutors table. Pennsylvania State Police at Milton troopers Watson and Jessica Nashcke also were present.

Members of Landrith's family, including her parents, step parents, and several siblings, attend the hearing via Zoom.

Mensch explained the process of the preliminary hearing to Rollins and asked if he had enough time with his attorney and if he knew that the waiver would move the case directly to trial court without attempting to drop charges or evidence. Rollins stated, thats correct, in reply.

Rollins did not have any questions for the judge. He is now scheduled for formal arraignment at 8:30 a.m. July 26 at the county court. At that point, Rollins may enter a guilty plea or have the case potentially go to trial.

The maximum penalty for criminal homicide ranges from the death penalty to life in prison. The abuse of a corpse charge carries a punishment of up to 2 years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
A senior Pentagon official has warned of North Korea's weapons and mass destruction and urged American and South Korean forces to prepare for the threat.

Jennifer Walsh, the acting under secretary of defense for policy, said Tuesday, "Given the risk that Kim Jong-un could seek to employ WMD in the course of or to stave off a conflict on the Korean Peninsula, [South Korea and the U.S.] must be ready for any number of WMD-related contingencies that require operating in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) contaminated environment."

Walsh made the remarks in a statement to a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. She claimed North Korea is continuing its WMD program, which is becoming a bigger threat, and the U.S. is cooperating with South Korea to increase their capability to remove biochemical contaminants.

In a report last July, the U.S. Department of Army said that North Korea has 2,500 to 5,000 tons of about 20 different kinds of chemical agents such as nerve gas. It speculated that about 50,000 people in Seoul could be killed if North Korea used a mere 1 kg of anthrax.

"Chinese entities and individuals continue to transfer proliferation-sensitive materials to North Korea, Iran, and other threat actors," Walsh added. "China has demonstrated lax enforcement of domestic export controls and multilateral sanctions regimes intended to prevent such transfers."

Vice Adm. Timothy Szymanski, the deputy commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, told the committee that it is "almost certain" that North Korea continues to acquire materials for the production and research of biochemical weapons, as well as for the production of nuclear and ballistic missiles.
Branden Michael Wolfe on Wednesday was ordered to spend more than two years in jail and two years under supervised release, according to a news release from the District of Minnesotas U.S. attorneys office. He is also required to pay $12 million in restitution for damage done to the Minneapolis Police Departments Third Precinct.
Lairdsville, Pa.  An Allenwood man was arrested for allegedly stealing a truck and shooting at the window of a residence in Moreland Township, Lycoming County, according to state police.

Lucas Drick, 21, was charged with felony theft and receiving stolen property for the incident that occurred on April 28.

According to Pennsylvania State Police at Montoursville, Drick had stolen a truck out of Washington Township and drove to a residence at Old Lairdsville Road where he allegedly shot at a window.

Drick was taken into custody a short time later. He was arraigned in front of District Judge Jerry C. Lepley and bail was set at $100,000. Drick was remanded to Lycoming County Prison.

Additional charges against Drick include a felony of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, misdemeanors of criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.

Docket Sheet
Snyder County, Pa. -- Flats of Blueberry, Serviceberry, Eastern Redbud, River Oak, and Eastern Sycamore trees arrived at the Snyder County Conservation District Tuesday, May 4.

PPL Electric Utilities staff will distribute thousands of these trees this week to conservation organizations, municipalities, and fourth graders as part of its free tree program.

"Since we could not open the program to every grade level in schools, we gave thought to the best age for recipients of the trees," said Tracie Witter, regional affairs director for PPL.

"We concluded that fourth graders are old enough to understand the value of trees and actively engage in planting them. Children at this age begin learning habits that they may carry into adulthood," Witter continued. "We hope to instill a lifelong interest in planting trees."

Started in 2017, the PPL Community Roots program has brought more than 90,000 free trees to 29 counties in Pennsylvania. This weeks delivery is just in time for spring planting.
Calhoun, GA (30701)

Today

An isolated thunderstorm possible this evening, then occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

An isolated thunderstorm possible this evening, then occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Education

County school board tables Alto Park name change discussion, vote

After a brief discussion, the Floyd County Board of Education decided to table the Alto Park Elementary School name change vote.

With the upcoming closing of Cave Spring Elementary School, Superintendent Glenn White said he wanted to figure out a way to help the families and students build a new connection to the school.

They had brought up a name change in passing but the topic was discussed in more detail at local school governance team meetings. Thats where the Coosa Elementary School name suggestion came from.

Glenn White

We had a genuinely positive response, but that was not the whole community, White said.

Public Relations Coordinator Lenora Doss sent out a survey to both the Alto Park and Cave Spring faculty and parents as well as community members who are subscribed to updates through the FCS website to get their opinions.

Around 300 people responded and a majority of them were positive.

However, because a name change was only mentioned in passing several months ago, board members said they felt out of the loop and didnt know what was going on until they saw the agenda and an article in the Rome News-Tribune.

They further discussed the issue of spending money on a new sign and having to change the branding of the school.

Theres a lot more to it than just a sign, said board member Jay Shell. It could cost $10,000 to $20,000.

Jay Shell

White said they also have a long term plan to eventually build a bigger school for that district, and they would then move the sign to the new building.

Chair Tony Daniel decided to table the vote to another meeting so that board members can take the matter into consideration.

Teacher attendance incentive

The board also discussed the possibility of a teacher attendance incentive.

White explained that it would be for teachers who are in the classroom full time, whether theyre working with one student or a whole class.

The way it would work is, teachers who use no more than two days of sick leave per semester would receive a $500 supplement. They would be able to get up to $1,000 per school year.

School board members then began questioning what to do if a teacher had an immediate family member pass away.

Right now, teachers get up to five days for bereavement under board policy. Board members talked about potentially making it three days before the teacher would lose the incentive for that semester.

Days spent on jury duty also wouldnt count against the incentive.

The board did not make a decision or vote on the matter.

Meeting with County Commission to discuss property

The school board later met with the Floyd County Commission in closed session to discuss the available properties they had, but no action was taken.

White has said in the past that they have too many buildings and not enough students.

The school system is planning to put the McHenry School building up for auction sometime this summer after they finish moving out some of the furniture.

Cave Spring Elementary School and Glenwood Primary School will be closed at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, making two more buildings potentially available for sale.

The Cave Spring Housing Authority, which has property near the school, has expressed interest in the school property. In February, White said the school board received a letter indicating the housing authoritys interest in the school, however he said other parties are looking at the property as well.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Homer Lopez, 20, fled the scene but returned and was arrested. Crystal Gomez, 35, his mother, was rushed to the hospital where she died. Two others were hospitalized with serious injuries, with admitted into surgery in critical condition. Two others were treated at the scene. Investigators believe Lopez may have been trying to break up a fight between two women with the blue Chevy Malibu involved in the crash.
Christopher Bauer was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBIs New Orleans office in late 2018, shortly after allegations were raised against him. But in his application to serve as a state trooper the following year, the 41-year-old pretended he was still employed with the agency and that he had never been dismissed or forced to resign because of disciplinary action.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
This isnt the first time AOC has reminded Cruz that he helped feed the Big Lie that brought thousands of Trump supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 to try and stop the certification of the 2020 election, which the 45th president falsely claims he won. Hundreds of those loyalists stormed the Capitol while the New York congresswoman and many of her colleagues were working in their Capitol Hill offices.
U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Lexington, left, stands outside Stonewall Jackson High School with student Tyler Burns, 17, of Quicksburg on Wednesday. Burns wrote an email to Cline asking him to come speak to his government class.
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.
The Nelson Algren Museum plans to celebrate Richard Wright's masterpiece "Native Son," which the Modern Library and TIME Magazine both ranked as one of the best novels of the 20th century.

The museum in Gary's Miller Beach neighborhood will host Ivy Tech Professor, youth advocate and TEDx curator Gary McKenya Dilworth at 4 p.m. on May 16 for a lecture on "Native Son" at the new Nelson Algren 616 Sound Stage at 616 S. Lake Street in Miller. The museum's two-part retrospective is titled "Richard Wright's Native Son, 80 Years Later."

"We'll provide a framework of how to approach the book and then follow up with a book discussion Sunday, June 27, also at 4 p.m.," said Sue Rutsen, co-founder of the Nelson Algren Museum of Miller Beach.

If it rains, the events will be moved from the outdoor venue to Nelson Algren Museum of Miller Beach at 540 S. Lake Street in Gary's lakefront Miller neighborhood.

Rutsen will give an introduction to Dilworth's talk on the book about 20-year-old South Sider Booker Thomas that is widely taught at universities and high schools.
It was absolutely horrific, Assemblyman Chris Ward, who was at the tide pools with his 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, told the Union-Tribune. It is just horrifying to see firsthand, because you know its a humanitarian crisis that brought them there.
GARY  Authorities recovered five firearms and arrested four men after a chase involving a stolen Dodge Ram, which lost a tire after its driver hit a curb, Lake County sheriff's police said.

An 18-year-old man from Indianapolis, a 20-year-old man from Gary, a 20-year-old man from Indianapolis and a 20-year-old from Valparaiso were all being held at the Lake County Jail pending the filing of formal charges, sheriff's spokeswoman Pam Jones said.

Police recovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine, an unloaded handgun, two loaded AR-style rifles and a loaded AK-style firearm from the gray Dodge Ram they were driving, she said.

The Ram had been reported stolen from a Chrysler dealership in Indianapolis, police said.

The pursuit began about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, when a sheriff's officer traveling west on Interstate 80/94 noticed the Ram re-enter traffic from the shoulder near the Burr Street exit in Gary, Jones said.

The Ram passed the officer and changed lanes without using a turn signal, police said.

The officer ran a check on the dealer license plate and learned it was registered to Eastgate Chrysler in Indianapolis, but no further information was available at that time, Jones said.
HOBART  A vehicle with flat tires wrecked into a ditch after leading a chase from Southlake Mall, police said.

At 9:03 p.m. Tuesday Lake County sheriff's police were in the area of Southlake Mall in Hobart when they saw a van run a red light in the 2800 block of U.S. 30, police reported.

The van, a red 2003 Dodge with Illinois license plates, continued driving east through the intersection, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr.

The driver then went through another red light at Colorado Street and police attempted to pull the vehicle over.

However, the driver sped up and crossed over a grassy median to flee. Officers saw a passenger who was leaning out of the car window and waving, and climbed into the back seat and then back into the front seat repeatedly.

The driver nearly struck several vehicles as it swerved through lanes erratically, police said.

As the chase continued west on U.S. 30 underneath the Interstate 65 overpass, the driver did a U-turn at the I-65 off-ramp to turn back east on U.S. 30. The suspect vehicle drove at high speeds east on U.S. 30 into Porter County, police said.
GARY  A man is at large after he stole a Lake Station squad car and led a chase Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The Lake Station cop car was ditched on the lawn of a home in the 2200 block of Marshall Boulevard in Gary, and the suspect took off on foot, police said.

Around 1 p.m. a Lake Station officer attempted to stop a maroon Chevrolet that was speeding, traveling 63 mph in a 45 mph zone at Hobart and Melton roads, said Lake Station Chief of Police James Richardson.

The vehicle fled, going briefly onto the Indiana Toll Road toward Gary. The driver barreled through a gate arm at the toll plaza at the Gary exit, ISP said.

The vehicle came to a stop near 23rd Avenue and Massachusetts Street in Gary, where police took all occupants into custody. Police arrested the driver, a 21-year-old Gary man, and put him into handcuffs in the back of a squad car.

As police were speaking to the other occupants of the vehicle, the Gary man got his hands in front of his body and climbed into the driver's seat of the police car and drove away, Richardson said.
Gov. Eric Holcomb began his second term as Indiana's chief executive less than four months ago, but already a Fort Wayne businessman is running to succeed him  nearly four years from now.

Eric Doden, a Valparaiso University Law School graduate and former president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., announced Thursday he's running for the Republican nomination for Indiana governor in the May 2024 primary election.

"Some in the political class might say it is far too early to launch a campaign for governor," Doden said. "I am committed to earning the trust of Hoosiers and will use this time to embark on a listening tour across all 92 counties."

"This campaign will be conducted in the way I believe will help Hoosiers, not political insiders."

Doden said his focus as governor will be to "restore and grow" Indiana's "main streets." He also wants to "enable success" for students and educators, "improve our broken healthcare system," and "create 21st century economic opportunities for Hoosier families."

He said the experience, vision and courage he developed leading state business recruitment initiatives under Republican former Gov. Mike Pence, and his work growing jobs in Allen County, will help him as governor "create greater opportunities in our communities."
Smith believes her election marks a turning point at a time when a national conversation about diversity and racial equality has been going on in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by since-convicted former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin.

"It shows the town is ready to embrace the unique population and diversity we have and they're no longer afraid of a change," Smith said. "And that's exciting to know because the town has changed demographically. ... And it's natural that your government would change with your town."

Other trustees took note of the historic nature of Smith joining a board that also includes five incumbents.

"As a person of color myself, congratulations for breaking down barriers," Abbasy said.

"What we are celebrating tonight is a great thing," Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust said. "I'm really looking forward to what we're going to accomplish together these next four years. The best is yet to come."

Smith said her top priority will be constituent services, "giving residents their voice and delivering on their services that they pay taxes for."
Biden administration backs lifting vaccine patents

The Biden administration said yesterday that it would support lifting patent protections on Covid vaccines, a breakthrough for efforts to produce more doses globally. The extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, said in a statement.

The U.S. had opposed a proposal at the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections in an effort to ramp up vaccine production. But its new support, made under growing pressure as the pandemic rages in India and South America, is no guarantee that a waiver will be adopted. The E.U. has also been standing in the way.

Response: The pharmaceutical industry responded to the decision with anger. The president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America called the announcement an unprecedented step that will undermine our global response to the pandemic and compromise safety.

Good news: The German company CureVacs new RNA vaccine, which could be ready next month, does not require that doses be kept in a deep freezer, like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. That means it could more easily deliver the power of RNA vaccines to hard-hit parts of the world.
As if we dont know what they are, as if the horribleness of Trump redeems them for relative measure.

Nah. No amnesia for me, thank you.

With respect to Dick Cheney, I ask you to recall just one thing: the torture program under the Bush administration. Hes said that if he had it to do over, he would torture again.

The torture gene must run in the family, for Liz Cheney praised the Trump administrations review of the treatment of terrorism suspects. As HuffPost reported:

Cheney also asserted that waterboarding works, and that it helped in securing crucial information leading to the capture of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (a debunked theory). Its been clear, certainly since we stopped the enhanced interrogation program, were not even in a position anymore, frankly, where were very often capturing people, Cheney said. We have nothing to do with people when we do capture them.

Furthermore, in 2009, she refused to denounce birthers on CNN, saying instead of Barack Obama, People are fundamentally uncomfortable, and theyre fundamentally increasingly uncomfortable with an American president who seems to be afraid to defend America. She later had to clarify that she, personally, didnt question Obamas right to be president.

In 2010, an ad by Liz Cheneys Keep America Safe group attacked Eric Holders Justice Department. It featured an Investors Business Daily headline that read, DOJ: Department of Jihad? and referred to some of the lawyers the department had hired as the Al Qaeda 7.

Even Republican lawyers, including Ken Starr, condemned the ad, writing in a letter:

To suggest that the Justice Department should not employ talented lawyers who have advocated on behalf of detainees maligns the patriotism of people who have taken honorable positions on contested questions and demands a uniformity of background and view in government service from which no administration would benefit.

A few weeks before the 2016 election, when an old tape of Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women became public, Cheney said, according to The Associated Press, that while Trumps comments were appalling, she was still supporting him and that, somehow, Hillary Clintons handling of her emails was worse than the Trump admission.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Wednesday about a Mississippi student who has struggled with remote learning during the pandemic misstated his brothers age. Jayciyon Coleman is 15, not 16.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Tuesday about Australias decision to temporarily bar Australian citizens from re-entering the country from India referred incorrectly to the ban. It is not the case that no other democratic nation had banned all arrivals from India; New Zealand blocked its citizens from returning from India for a time in April.

BUSINESS

An article on April 24 about the slander industry described incorrectly the process that Anytime Mailbox uses in handling its clients mail. The company scans the mail and uploads it to a secure server, but does not email it to its customers.

To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, please email nytnews@nytimes.com. To share feedback, please visit nytimes.com/readerfeedback.

Comments on editorials may be emailed to letters@nytimes.com.

For newspaper delivery questions: 1-800-NYTIMES (1-800-698-4637) or email customercare@nytimes.com.
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.
Despite those words, multiple children began using their cellphones to alert their parents about the situation. Some of them repeatedly asked the armed suspect if he was going to hurt them or the driver, causing him to get a little frustrated and order everyone to get off, Lott said.
Asian-American grandparents who spent months stuck inside during lockdowns are now afraid to go outdoors, said Carl Chan, the president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Chan has been one of the most prominent voices in the Bay Area Chinese community raising concerns about the attacks. In a measure of how common they have become, Mr. Chan himself was assaulted on a street in Oakland last week. On his way to visit a 69-year-old Chinese man who was recuperating after being attacked with a cane on a public bus, Mr. Chan was punched in the head by a man who called him a racial slur.

Im extremely concerned, Mr. Chan said on Wednesday of the continued violence against Asians. We have to stand up no matter how many attacks and stop this craziness.

In many cases, the police and prosecutors have struggled to establish a motive. A spokeswoman for the San Francisco District Attorneys Office, Rachel Marshall, said five people in the city have been charged with anti-Asian hate crimes this year. Others have been charged with elder abuse, including a 19-year-old man who was accused of fatally assaulting Vicha Ratanapakdee, a retired bank auditor from Thailand, on a chilly January morning.

Many of the assaults have occurred in and around the Tenderloin, a district that struggles with some of the citys most intractable social problems, including people suffering from mental illness and drug addiction who often live on the streets.

Two attacks in March carried out by a man the police identified as Steven Jenkins, 39, illustrate the hazy ambiguity that the street conditions can bring to some of these attacks.
Global health activists, who have been pressing for the waiver, praised the administrations decision. It is a truly historic step, which shows that President Biden is committed to being not just an American leader, but a global one, said Priti Krishtel, an executive director of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge.

But the activists said a waiver alone would not increase the worlds vaccine supply. It must be accompanied by a process known as tech transfer, in which patent holders supply technical know-how and personnel. Activists are also demanding that Mr. Biden use his leverage to ensure that manufacturing is scaled up around the globe, and not just by the pharmaceutical companies that now hold the patents.

No U.S.T.R. has made a pronouncement like this, said Asia Russell, the executive director of Health GAP, a global AIDS treatment advocacy group, using the abbreviation for the trade representative. And now the actions have to match the words.

The United States announcement is only one step toward a potential international agreement on suspending intellectual property rights. Negotiating the fine print of an agreement that satisfies countries around the world is a tall order. If an agreement can be reached at the World Trade Organization, it is far from clear what would happen next.

Lisa Larrimore Ouellette, a patent law professor at Stanford Law School, suggested that the Biden administrations move may help sway the drug industry to reach deals that they can live with.

Ana Santos Rutschman, a health law expert at Saint Louis University School of Law, said the drug industry now has a clear incentive to shift the debate to the global equity problem in accessing doses that we can actually produce, as opposed to getting into this enormous fight. The best bet for companies, she said, may be to take steps like donating more vaccine doses or selling them on a nonprofit basis to lower-income countries in need.

The debate over whether to relax intellectual property rules has stretched on for months. India and South Africa proposed the waiver last fall, seeking to suspend portions of an international intellectual property agreement dealing with issues like patents, copyrights and trade secrets. Under President Donald J. Trump, the United States opposed the effort. Other opponents have included Britain and the European Union.
WASHINGTON  Top Republicans moved swiftly on Wednesday to purge Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming from their leadership ranks for vocally rejecting Donald J. Trumps election lies, laying the groundwork to install a replacement who has embraced his false claims of voting fraud.

The move to push out Ms. Cheney as the No. 3 House Republican in favor of Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, a Trump loyalist who voted to overturn President Bidens victory in key states, reflected how thoroughly the partys orthodoxy has come to be defined by fealty to the former president and a tolerance for misinformation, rather than policy principles.

The Republican Party is at a turning point, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution, Ms. Cheney wrote in a searing opinion piece published in the Washington Post on Wednesday evening. She framed her fate as a referendum on the partys future and warned that Republicans must steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.

Ms. Cheney, 54, is a conservative who rarely defected from Mr. Trumps policy positions in Congress, but she has refused to absolve him or the party of their roles in fomenting the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol with groundless claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Ms. Stefanik, 36, is more moderate and has more often parted ways with Republicans over her years in Congress, but she has emerged recently as one of Mr. Trumps most vociferous defenders, willing to indulge and even amplify those claims.
The State Department announced on Wednesday that it would approve the voluntary departure of nonemergency U.S. government employees in India as the country battles a second wave of coronavirus infections.

According to a travel advisory posted on the State Departments website, the agency is urging U.S. citizens to take advantage of commercial flights out of India and has also approved the voluntary departure of family members of U.S. government employees.

Indias surge in Covid-19 cases has prompted other countries to take precautions concerning who is allowed within their borders. Earlier this week Australia began a travel ban, making it a criminal offense for its citizens in India to return home  a move some have condemned as overly harsh.

Last week, the Biden administration announced it would begin restricting travel from India to the United States, although restrictions will not apply to citizens or lawful permanent residents, their spouses, minor children or siblings as well as the parents of citizens or lawful permanent residents who are under 21.
Freyrs entry this year is another catchy disco track called 10 Years, this time about his marriage (How does it keep getting better? he sings in the chorus). He felt he had to keep the track similar in style to Think About Things, since Icelanders had voted for a fun disco tune to represent them at the competition, he said. It still took 12 attempts to come up with a new song he liked, he added.

The tracks so far not gone viral, but Freyr said that didnt bother him. I didnt go to try and recreate the success, because I know its impossible to predict something like that, he said. Luck has to be part of it.

Four other Eurovision returnees said in interviews that they found the pandemic to be the biggest hurdle to writing a new hit. For the first three or four months of the pandemic, I just didnt do any writing at all, said Jessica Alyssa Cerro, Australias entry, who performs as Montaigne.

I sort of got to November and was like, Hmm, I should probably start working on that Eurovision song, huh? she added.

Jeangu Macrooy, the Netherlands entry, said in a telephone interview that he similarly struggled. I was getting no inspiration  I was just sitting inside, he said.

Then, in December when he was trying to write entries for the contest, a host of thoughts and feelings around George Floyds murder and the subsequent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement started bubbling up inside him.
Ulven also provided a raw foundation thats now being built upon, both by her acolytes and also herself, as is clear from two excellent new releases: If I Could Make It Go Quiet, the first full-length girl in red album, and Blood Bunny, Moriondos major label debut album.

On the robust and vividly plain-spoken Blood Bunny, Moriondo, now 18, is a pop-punk whiz, deftly hopping between musical approaches from spare to lushly produced, and emphasizing intimate, cut-to-the-bone lyrics. Most songs are about relationships that dont quite congeal, like Manta Rays, when she sings, My therapist will tell me that its best to let it be/but I wanna light fires, I wanna explode/I want to be everything you want to know.

Moriondo writes with a winning bluntness, both about her own shortcomings and the objects of her obsession. I wanna be with her all day/Im a bitch to everyone else anyway, she shrugs on the crystalline Strawberry Blonde. On the frisky, muscular Take Your Time, she bemoans her fate of being in thrall to someone whos no longer around: I wanna know/what will it take to make you let me go/You dont fade like old stick and pokes.

Musically, Moriondo has absorbed several waves of punk praxis. On I Want to Be With You, shes a maximalist, comfortable with jet-engine-intense production, and Girl on TV is keenly tuneful, verging on Avril Lavigne, or even Ashlee Simpson territory. But some songs on this album, like Rly Dont Care and Favorite Band, are redolent of the earliest, and sparest, girl in red singles  direct production, and the simple joys of expressing oneself in first person, reveling in the emphatic, liberating power of the I.
So whatever else you think of the guy, he did find a way to leave Facebook.  SETH MEYERS

On the bright side, he still has a good excuse for forgetting his kids birthdays.  JIMMY FALLON

Thats a tough break for Trump. Now hes scrambling to figure out how hell keep in touch with his friends from high school.  JIMMY FALLON

And, look, I get why Facebook extended Trumps suspension. But you have to admit, it does seem pretty unfair to ban him from a website that began as a way to rate womens looks.  TREVOR NOAH

According to their oversight board, they deliberated and decided for the time being Trump will continue to be blocked on Facebook, Instagram and in bed with Melania, which is a weird thing for them to throw in.  JIMMY KIMMEL
He is still at the bar when news comes of the ritualistic murder of a young woman whose body has been hollowed out like a birchbark canoe. Colleagues immediately focus on a suspect who Lu does not believe is the killer. And that belief draws negative attention not only from those high on the political power scale, but from the actual culprit, whose proclivities fit the pattern of a great many serial murderers.

Klingborgs unvarnished prose allows Lus gently probing self-examination to emerge (a personality trait he shares with Inspector Chen, the star of Qiu Xiaolongs long-running series, which is wryly name-checked in the book). I wish Klingborg had been as adroit at animating the personalities of female characters, rather than falling back on stock descriptions of stunning beauty or seductive powers.

Shady Palms is one of those small towns where everyone truly does seem to know one another. Thats in part why Lila Macapagal left for college, but its also  as Mia P. Manansalas enjoyable and endearing debut cozy, ARSENIC AND ADOBO (Berkley, 308 pp., paper, $16), demonstrates  why she could return after the ignoble end to a toxic relationship and immediately pitch in at the familys Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosies Kitchen, which needs all the help it can get to stave off the financial wolves at the door.

If only the restaurant didnt attract the attention of a noxious food critic who happens to be Lilas ex. And who happens to keel over, dead, into a bowl of ginataang bilo-bilo. Lila, who becomes the prime suspect, will have to rely on her aunts and grandmother, her best friend and two potential suitors to extricate herself from the ensuing mess.

Manansala peppers the narrative with enough red herrings to keep readers from guessing the killer, but the strength of the novel is how family, food and love intertwine in meaningful and complex ways. When Lila bakes her signature ube crinkle cookies, made with purple yams, we are in for a delectable treat.
Sancton often takes time away from his increasingly harrowing descriptions of life on the Belgica to admire the ingenuity and bravery that so often comes from necessity, which helps the reader better understand a man like Amundsen, who is never too sick or scared of starving to death to rave about the beauty of the landscape. Cooks observations about what he termed polar anaemia, now more commonly referred to as winter-over syndrome and studied extensively by modern researchers, have stood the test of time, as have the occasionally MacGyver-esque treatments and protocols he created to keep (most of) the crew alive. These include an early form of light therapy during the many sunless months (stripping the men down and making them stand in front of a roaring fire) and his insistence that the men consume penguin and seal meat to fend off scurvy. Some of these skills he would use decades later to diagnose and treat the same condition in his fellow prisoners at Leavenworth, an only slightly more hospitable environment for humans than the Antarctic ice. Theres more scope in Madhouse for dark humor than for general levity, and Sancton knows when to employ it: Several Midtown Manhattan establishments started serving the Cook Cocktail  gin, lemon juice, egg white, maraschino, plenty of ice.

Although Sancton devotes the latter portion of his book to the post-Belgica exploits of Cook and Amundsen, its the blinking, confused return of the crew to civilization that really brings the narrative home. Attendees swarmed around the men, encircling and suffocating them much as the ice had. A journalist observing the festivities noted that the adventurers looked disoriented and unsettled by the attention. They had somehow become heroes and patriots of various nations in their absence, despite failing to set any records or reach the south magnetic pole, and the image of their wobbly disembarking in front of throngs of proud onlookers, first in Punta Arenas and then in Antwerp, reminds one of the end of Edward Lears poem The Jumblies:

And in twenty years they all came back,

In twenty years or more,

And every one said, How tall theyve grown!

For theyve been to the Lakes, and the Torrible Zone,

And the hills of the Chankly Bore;

And they drank their health, and gave them a feast

Of dumplings made of beautiful yeast;

And every one said, If we only live,

We too will go to sea in a Sieve,

To the hills of the Chankly Bore!

The men of the Belgica would soon discover that they themselves had returned to a very different world from the one they had left. While they had been trapped in the ice and choking down slabs of lightly seared penguin meat, Marconi had developed the first wireless telegraph, the Dreyfus affair had been widely reported on and, as Sancton puts it, the Spanish-American War had been declared, fought and settled in their absence.

Upon the crews return, men and women alike appeared unsettled by the presence of the expeditions survivors, which confused the explorers until Cook had access to a mirror again and saw what the civilians saw at a single glance: Our skins were rough, like nutmeg-graters; and our hair was long, stubborn and liberally lined by bunches of gray, though the eldest among us was less than 35 years of age.
The National Park Service put out a nationwide call for applications last week, saying the bison must be killed because they are using too many natural resources near the canyons North Rim.
1. Florida joined a growing list of Republican-led states in making it more difficult to vote.

The governor, Ron DeSantis, signed new voting restrictions into law that limit the use of ballot drop boxes and absentee ballots.

The next big move could happen in Texas, where Republicans are brushing aside objections from corporate titans and moving on a vast election bill that would be among the most severe in the nation.

During a bill-signing ceremony from West Palm Beach broadcast exclusively by Fox News, DeSantis praised the Florida legislation as the strongest election integrity measures in the country, though there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the presidential election.
He has never had any interest in doing anything but running the endowment as well as he could, Dr. Swensen said. He has a passion for giving back to an institution with a higher purpose. He never aspired to more money or a higher position.

Mr. Swensens disciples often eschewed Wall Street as well. Andy Golden, who runs Princetons endowment, said that Mr. Swensen had inspired people the same way he attracted them.

He showed that there was a way to compete hard and well in financial markets, he added, but to have our lives be about something that mattered more.

Mr. Swensen began his professional career on Wall Street, working three years at Lehman Brothers and three at Salomon Brothers. At Salomon he structured the first currency transaction known as a swap, involving IBM and the World Bank. But he was willing to leave that world behind when Yale approached him about taking the endowment job, even though it meant accepting an 80 percent pay cut.

For Mr. Swensen, endowment management seemed as much a calling as a career. When endowment managers used that post to burnish their resumes, he privately fumed that they had betrayed a trust to education.

When I see colleagues of mine leave universities to do essentially the same thing they were doing but to get paid more, I am disappointed, because there is a sense of mission, he said in an interview with The New York Times in 2007. People think working for something other than the most money you could get is an odd concept, but it seems a perfectly natural concept to me.

David Frederick Swensen was born on Jan. 26, 1954, in Ames, Iowa,and grew up in River Falls, Wis. His father, Richard, was a chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and then dean of its College of Arts and Sciences. His mother, Grace (Hartman) Swensen, became a Lutheran minister after raising their six children.
The U.S. opens up on vaccine patents

The Biden administration reversed course yesterday and came out in favor of suspending patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The move pits policymakers against drug companies, as infections in India, South America and elsewhere spiral, highlighting the urgency of more widespread vaccination.

Support for patent waivers has been growing, ever since India and South Africa introduced a measure at the World Trade Organization in October to suspend I.P. protections. Democrats and health activists argue that the move could lead to a surge in sorely needed doses: This is exactly the kind of leadership the world needs right now, said Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Drug stocks tumbled on the news. Major producers like Pfizer and AstraZeneca closed flat on the day, while smaller producers like Moderna and BioNTech  whose businesses depend on vaccine profits  tumbled. Companies whose vaccines havent yet hit the market, like Novavax, CureVac and Vaxart, were also down sharply.

Predictably, the industry punched back. Bidens move would undermine our global response to the pandemic and compromise safety, said Stephen Ubl, the head of the PhRMA trade group. And Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization said, Handing needy countries a recipe book without the ingredients, safeguards and sizable work force needed will not help people waiting for the vaccine.

There are major questions to consider:

How long will it take for generic producers plants to get up and running? And would todays vaccines be irrelevant by that point, if new variants prove resistant to existing shots?

How hard will it be to make the vaccines? The issue is especially pertinent for the mRNA shots based on breakthrough technology: Pfizer says its treatment uses 280 components from 86 suppliers and highly specialized manufacturing equipment.

Will this deter companies from making next-generation vaccines? Intellectual property is the lifeblood of biotech, Brad Loncar, a biotech investor, told The Financial Times. If you take it away, you dont have a biotech sector.

Dont expect action anytime soon. Until other big countries sign on, nothing will happen at the W.T.O. level, though European officials suggested today that theyre open to such a move. And any waiver would need to be accompanied by a tech transfer, in which patent holders supply generics makers with technology and personnel. That would also take time, said Scott Gottlieb, a former F.D.A. chief (and current Pfizer board member) who argued instead that President Biden should release more of the U.S. vaccine stockpile.

In the meantime, the move may prompt vaccine makers to act by donating more doses to countries in need. Moderna has also said it was willing to license its tech for postpandemic use.

HERES WHATS HAPPENING

The day in international economic diplomacy. Britain sent two naval vessels to the island of Jersey amid a dispute with France over fishing rights. The E.U. unveiled new plans to punish state-backed companies over unfair competition, a thinly veiled jab against China. And China indefinitely suspended economic relations with Australia.

Peloton recalls its treadmills. Shares in the at-home fitness company fell nearly 15 percent after it suspended sales of the Tread and Tread+, after warnings about reports of injuries and the death of a young child. Pelotons C.E.O., John Foley  who had pushed back against regulators  called the companys initial response a mistake.
There were still more than nine million people receiving unemployment insurance under state programs  or emergency programs that extend state benefits  as of mid-April, the latest data available. That total, which does not include workers on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, has fallen in recent weeks but has done so more slowly than new applications. At the peak of the crisis last spring, more than 20 million people were receiving benefits.

Economists should get a clearer picture of the labor markets progress on Friday, when the Labor Department will release data on hiring and unemployment in April. The report is expected to show that employers added about one million jobs last month, up from 916,000 in March. The leisure and hospitality industry, which was hit the hardest by the initial phase of the pandemic last spring, has led the way in the recovery in recent months, a trend that forecasters believe continued in April.

Even strong job growth last month will still leave the U.S. economy with millions fewer jobs than before the pandemic. Forecasters expect the report to show that the unemployment rate fell below 6 percent in April, down from nearly 15 percent last spring. But that doesnt factor in people  particularly women  who have left the labor force, including those caring for children while schools are closed. If those people were counted as unemployed, the jobless rate would have been above 9 percent in March and most likely close to that level in April.

Many employers have said in recent weeks that they would like to hire even faster but have struggled to find enough workers. Some have blamed enhanced unemployment benefits for discouraging people from returning to work. On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana said his state would pull out of a federal program offering enhanced benefits to unemployed workers and would instead pay a $1,200 bonus to recipients when they found new jobs.

Economic research has found that unemployment benefits can reduce the intensity with which workers search for jobs. But most studies find that the impact on the overall labor market is small, especially when unemployment is high. And Mr. Zhao and other economists say there are other reasons that labor supply might be rebounding more slowly than demand. Many potential workers are juggling child care or other responsibilities at home; others remain cautious about the health risks of returning to in-person work.
Lucinda Franks, a widely published writer and investigative journalist who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, died on Wednesday in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. She was 74.

Her family said the cause was cancer. She lived on Manhattans Upper East Side but spent her final months in Hopewell Junction, in the Hudson Valley, at the home that the family of her husband, the longtime Manhattan district attorney Robert M. Morgenthau, has owned for generations. He died in 2019 at 99.

A tough and scrappy reporter with an eye for the hot story, Ms. Franks began her journalism career with United Press International, where she won her Pulitzer in 1971. She was a staff writer for The New York Times from 1974 to 1977 and for The New Yorker from 1992 to 2006, and she freelanced for The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, New York magazine and other publications.

She wrote several books, including My Fathers Secret War: A Memoir (2007), about her fathers hidden exploits as an American spy behind enemy lines in World War II, and Timeless: Love, Morgenthau, and Me (2014), an account of her marriage to Mr. Morgenthau, which described in some detail how their differences in age, background and occupation had blossomed into romance.
Not to be able to see her was not an option for us, Ms. Cooper said, so the family contacted a local home health agency to hire someone to help her during the day.

It made us look at an alternative that we might not have looked at as hard, she said.

The pandemics toll on nursing homes drove occupancy down significantly  not just from the 132,000 deaths but also because of a decline in admissions. The 14,000 skilled nursing facilities in the United States now have on average a vacancy rate of slightly more than 25 percent, according to figures from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

But as immunization campaigns inside them began taking priority in the winter this year, with nearly three million residents and staff members fully vaccinated, the outlook improved somewhat. Nursing homes point to the steep decrease in Covid-related deaths, saying they have dropped by 91 percent since December.

While the industry has received $21 billion in federal funding under the CARES Act as part of congressional efforts to help health care facilities during the pandemic, nursing homes are lobbying for more federal aid to cover the higher cost of personal protective equipment, testing and staffing at their facilities. They say that they are losing tens of billions of dollars in revenue because of the pandemic and that many homes are at risk of closing.

But the deaths of so many elderly residents, captive in those homes, has deepened levels of anxiety and guilt among many families planning the next phase of care for an aging relative. Experts say rethinking the purpose of nursing homes is long overdue.
Ms. Harper, who still uses deodorant and does a daily wash of the parts that need to be done at the sink, said she was confident she was not offending anyone. Her 22-year-old daughter, who is fastidious about bathing and showers twice a day, has not made any comments regarding her new hygiene habit. Nor have the children at her school.

The kids will tell you if you dont smell good, Ms. Harper said, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children will tell you the truth.

Plumbing and upward mobility changed everything

Daily showers are a fairly new phenomenon, said Donnachadh McCarthy, an environmentalist and writer in London who grew up taking weekly baths.

We had a bath once a week and we washed under at the sink the rest of the week  under our armpits and our privates  and that was it, Mr. McCarthy, 61, said.

As he grew older, he showered every day. But after a visit to the Amazon jungle in 1992 revealed the ravages of overdevelopment, Mr. McCarthy said he began reconsidering how his daily habits were affecting the environment and his own body.

Its not really good to be washing with soap every day, said Mr. McCarthy, who showers once a week.

Doctors and health experts have said that daily showers are unnecessary, and even counterproductive. Washing with soap every day can strip the skin of its natural oils and leave it feeling dry, though doctors still recommend frequent hand-washing.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Two years ago, on a soggy January day at the University of Oregon, Peter Laufer, a journalism professor, picked up a copy of The New York Times and presented his students with a reporting challenge.

He read from a feature at the bottom of Page 2 that highlights an article from The Timess archives each day. It covered the experience in early 1960 of a fourth grader in Roseburg, Ore., not far from the college. She had written to her congressman for the names of Russian schoolchildren with whom she and her classmates could be pen pals, but the State Department denied the request, fearing they would be influenced by Soviet propaganda. The headline on the article read: U.S. Bars a Girls Plea for Russian Pen Pals.

Image Credit... The New York Times

Find that girl! Mr. Laufer told the class, an exercise designed to teach his students the skill of locating a source and, possibly, a bigger story. He thought she might still be living nearby.
Speaking with Hardy for this film, Penn reveals, among other things, his acute awareness of the interview as a mode of performance. Dressed in jeans and a denim shirt, an American Spirit cigarette almost ever-present in his hand, the often combative actor adopts a friendly mien and seems frank, engaging and unguarded. He speaks of wasting some time on nightlife in the aftermath of a divorce, and being galvanized by television coverage of the 2010 earthquake.

After asking a physician friend down there what was needed, and being told 350,000 vials of morphine, Penn got them. From the divisive president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, as it happens. After assembling a volunteer force, Penn went to Haiti and was increasingly astonished at how devastated it was.

The actor and filmmaker is the star here, yes, but Hardy also profiles Haitians and some expatriates in the medical field who were moved to go back to the country. Their commitment and insight fills out the chronicle. These days, the island country is increasingly hurricane battered. And Penn remains a fierce, and appreciated, advocate for its cause.

Citizen Penn

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. Watch on Discovery+.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. has portrayed his share of promising young men at risk, using his wholesome good looks and charismatic glow as a canvas for ambiguity. In Monster, which first premiered at Sundance in 2018, Harrison plays Steve, a New York honors student accused of playing lookout for a deadly bodega stickup.

Anthony Mandler, a music video director making his feature debut, switches between Steves lives before and after the violent event. One moment the budding young filmmaker is shooting street scenes with friends or a local dealer (ASAP Rocky) who takes an interest; the next, hes in jail and on trial, viewed as another anonymous Black defendant.
Rigby Middle School, about 45 miles from the states eastern border with Wyoming, was evacuated, and students were taken to Rigby High School, the local fire department said in a Facebook post.
The mother and daughter duo at the center of the family drama Paper Spiders are close enough to be casual about the things they fear. Dawn (Lili Taylor) frets about how Melanie (Stefania LaVie Owen) will soon leave home for college, but Melanie brushes off her worries with ease. Melanie breezily spends her days touring campuses and indulging in first high school romances. She trusts her mother to manage empty-nest concerns.

But Dawns run-of-the-mill anxiety soon explodes when she becomes fixated on the man who lives next door. Dawn is convinced this neighbor is bugging her home, and she rants about imagined attacks with rocks and electromagnetic rays. Melanie knows her mother is spiraling, but despite all their former closeness, she is unsure how to step into the role of caretaker.
A writer is thrown into the cyber snake pit when her op-ed criticizing Black Pete  a traditional Dutch Christmas character who typically appears in blackface  is published. Suddenly, swarms of disinhibited men inundate her Twitter account with death threats and misogynist nastiness. Oh, to be a woman online.

In The Columnist, a glossy and intentionally ridiculous psycho-thriller, the writer, Femke Boot (Katja Herbers), refuses to let the haters bring her down. She makes sure of that by becoming a literal troll hunter who spends her evenings stylishly executing unkempt dudes.

The director Ivo van Aart gets to the carnage quickly. Femke tips a neighbor off his roof when she discovers his toxic online presence, then slices off one of his fingers  the first in her soon abundant collection.
The Story of a Three Day Pass was based on one of the novels Van Peebles wrote in French, winning him a grant and a spot in the countrys directors guild. In 1967, he premiered the feature at the San Francisco International Film Festival  as part of the French delegation  next to art-house giants like Satyajit Ray and Agnes Varda. The movies title in French was La Permission, but Van Peebles took permission for himself.

Turners weekend leave should be the most ordinary thing in the world  a soldiers escape. But it cant be carefree for Turner, whose white commanding officer makes a big deal of trusting him with a promotion and a three-day pass. In a mirror, the goofily hopeful Turner sees his sarcastic reflection talking to him: the promotion, his mirror self says, is just a reward for being an obedient Uncle Tom. Van Peebles pits the two Turners against each other in a bewildering split screen.

That kind of double consciousness, and the feelings it churns up, loom over Turners journey. The soldier does have one perfect moment, early in his Paris trip. He steps into a bar, shades on and ready to unwind. Except he doesnt walk  he glides. The camera keeps him at center, poised and cool, as he moves through the drinkers and dancers. You might recognize the same dolly shot from Spike Lees movies, transporting you into the dream of a moment. But here it is in 1967  the unmistakable flourish of a Van Peebles joint.

Join Times theater reporter Michael Paulson in conversation with Lin-Manuel Miranda, catch a performance from Shakespeare in the Park and more as we explore signs of hope in a changed city. For a year, the Offstage series has followed theater through a shutdown. Now were looking at its rebound.

At the bar, Turner picks up a demure Frenchwoman, Miriam (Nicole Berger, who co-starred in the French new wave classic Shoot the Piano Player). Theres a sweet, awkward innocence to their flirting across language differences and dancing to the turtlenecked house band. They plan a trip to the countryside the next day. But Van Peebles shows how their experiences couldnt be more wildly different.

The two get settled in a Normandy inn, and their inner monologues are revealed in fantasy sequences during sex. You might say Van Peebles doesnt mince images: Turner visualizes himself as a squire returning to his estate and his maid Miriam, while Miriam sees herself running through a jungle, seized by African tribesmen, one played by Turner. When it comes to technique, Van Peebles is fearless, using hard cuts in edits and Godardian music cues, as well as collaborating on the score.
Mr. Yang has done little to allay concerns over conflicts of interest. He does not have his own office  his staffers work from home when they are not in the field  but he uses Mr. Tusks office for storage. He has also repeatedly embraced stances that would benefit both Mr. Tusks investments and his lobbying clients.

Mr. Yang has long been a fan of Bird, the e-scooter company that Mr. Tusk has an ownership stake in and that is participating in a city-governed program in the Bronx.

Every once in a while a Bird scooter feels like the greatest invention in the world, Mr. Yang tweeted in June 2019, before Mr. Tusk spoke to him about running for mayor.

Other ideas seem to have sprung more directly from the Tusk-Yang mind-meld.

One of Mr. Yangs very first proposals after announcing his run for mayor was that the city should put a casino on Governors Island. Mr. Yang argued the city could reap financial benefit from the casino, with the added benefit of making New York City more fun. Critics immediately pounced, noting that the island in New York Harbor is a peaceful respite so ill-suited to gambling halls that they are expressly forbidden in the islands deed.

Mr. Yang did not back down. Nor did Mr. Tusk, whose interest in casino investment is longstanding.

In 2018, his casino management company, then called Ivory Gaming, mounted a bid for a casino site in Las Vegas. He told Politico that if he won, he would put an ax-throwing facility inside the casino. The deal did not move forward.

Ivory Gaming ultimately spawned IG Acquisition Corp., a gambling concern that reportedly raised $300 million in the public markets to invest in the industry. Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate that Mr. Tusks publicly traded shell corporation is aiming to identify businesses in the leisure, gaming and hospitality industries with an enterprise value exceeding $750 million, with particular emphasis on businesses that are well-positioned for growth.

The casino issue in New York City is poised to become a major one for the next mayor. Starting in 2023, the state is expected to open bidding on three casino licenses for the area in and around New York City.
Its a wide-open race at this point, said Michael Mulgrew, the unions president.

Mr. Stringer, one of the best-funded candidates in the race, continues to attract money, and he expects to have raised at least $10 million before the campaign is over. A fund-raising email said he was just over $41,000 away from receiving the maximum amount of matching public funds.

A fund-raiser on Zoom this week went on as planned. And the campaign continued to purchase ads, a long-planned, multimillion-dollar effort seen as part of a final push to fulfill Mr. Stringers longtime goal of becoming mayor.

Some voters received surveys from a polling firm to examine how concerned they are about the sexual harassment allegations. Mr. Stringers campaign declined to comment.

Understand the N.Y.C. Mayoral Race Whos Running for Mayor? There are more than a dozen people in the race to become New York Citys next mayor, and the primary will be held on June 22. Heres a rundown of the candidates. Get to Know the Candidates: We asked leading candidates for mayor questions about everything from police reform and climate change to their favorite bagel order and workout routine. What is Ranked-Choice Voting? New York City began using ranked-choice voting for primary elections this year, and voters will be able to list up to five candidates in order of preference. Confused? We can help.



I actually think Scott still has a path, said Jonathan Westin, director of New York Communities for Change, a progressive grass-roots organizing group that rescinded its endorsement of Mr. Stringer last week. One of the main things Ive heard from my membership is, They did this to Joe Biden, they went after him and he still prevailed  a reference to allegations by Tara Reade in 2020 that Mr. Biden had sexually assaulted her.

Gregory Floyd, the president of Teamsters Local 237, which announced its support for Mr. Stringer after the allegations were unveiled, said many members of his 24,000-person union may even feel a personal connection with the candidate, including school safety agents who say they have been unfairly accused of abusing students.

They, more than anybody, understand what it is to be accused of something they didnt do, so this resonates with them, Mr. Floyd said.

Mr. Mulgrew said his members were also concerned about due process.

The basic work of why unions form is about workplace rules, and allegations are a major piece of workplace rules, he said. Their thing when they see something like this is, whats the due process?
Sheldon Silver, who dominated New York State politics for years as the Democratic Assembly speaker before being convicted on federal corruption charges, was ordered back to prison on Thursday, according to two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the matter.

Mr. Silver, 77, was in federal custody at a Lower Manhattan hospital on Thursday afternoon and was expected to be returned to the prison in Otisville, N.Y., later in the day, one of the officials said.

The move came just two days after prison officials let Mr. Silver return home on a furlough while he awaited a decision on his request that he be allowed to serve the balance of his prison term under home confinement. At that point, he had served less than a year of his six-and-a-half-year sentence.

That Mr. Silver was going back to prison so quickly suggested that his request had been denied, but a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on any aspect of his status.
Now even the supposed experts are coming up short on solutions. On Wednesday, Facebooks Oversight Board  a panel of journalists, activists, free-speech scholars and others selected by the company to pass judgment about what flies and what doesnt on the network  punted on its biggest decision to date, whether to reinstate Trumps account. The board declined to undo Facebooks Trump ban, but it also gave Facebook six months to issue clearer rules and make a final decision about Trumps account status.

At first I was surprised by the non-decision decision, but soon it began to make sense. Lots of people understand the danger to our society of a media controlled by a handful of too-powerful billionaires. It is staggering, for instance, to consider how differently the last five years might have gone if Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg or Jack Dorsey of Twitter had made slightly different programming decisions in the run-up to the 2016 election. Had Dorsey banned Trumps tweets in 2015, might he have altered the course of history?

But the billionaires are wary of exercising such power, lest they further alarm a public already skittish about their reach. Politicians, meanwhile, can yell a lot but cant do much; as private corporations with their own rights to free speech  guaranteed by a string of conservative Supreme Court decisions, among them Citizens United  social networks are free to run their sites however they please, and its hard to see any law that restricts these rights surviving constitutional review.

And if corporations and politicians arent going to solve the problem, what incentive is there for outside experts to issue firm edicts? Its unsatisfactory, but I can see how punting was the wisest course for members of the Oversight Board.

Hawley is a graduate of Yale Law School, a former clerk to the chief justice of the United States and a former state attorney general. I had picked up his book to see if, amid the general hopelessness in these debates about online speech, he might have come up with novel ideas about how to address our plight.

Alas, he hasnt. He spends a lot of time illustrating the power of tech companies, but his solutions are platitudinal  he writes that we should be revitalizing antitrust legislation, ending the corporate giveaways, protecting our fundamental constitutional right to free speech, and revising our overall economic and social policy to put working people first.

Well, OK, but how? Antitrust law has been gutted by many decades of jurisprudence by the very sort of conservative judges Hawley supports. Corporate giveaways  does Hawley mean the tax cuts that are his partys answer to seemingly every economic problem? And how would any edict about what tech companies must do to police speech square with the fundamental constitutional right to free speech Hawley praises?
To the Editor:

Re Turning on Cheney, the G.O.P. Bows to Trumps Election Lies (front page, May 6):

The Republican Party, by taking this action, highlights the fact that there is no room for those who are not extremists in the party. Why dont Representative Liz Cheney and other independent Republicans form a new party?

A new party made up of moderate Republicans and independent conservatives would offer voters who disapprove of the last four years a legitimate alternative.

Our democracy needs good options every election season.

Paul Feiner

Greenburgh, N.Y.

The writer is the Greenburgh town supervisor.

To the Editor:

Republicans decry liberal snowflakes and cancel culture, but they are so sensitive to hearing the truth about the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection stated out loud that they are about to strip Liz Cheney from her leadership position in the House of Representatives.
On April 23, in a little-noticed two-page order, the federal appeals court in Washington announced that it would rehear, as a full court, a case brought by a Guantanamo detainee, a Yemeni tribal sheikh named Abdulsalam Ali Abdulrahman al-Hela. The order vacated a decision by a three-judge panel of the court last August that had not only rejected Mr. al-Helas petition for habeas corpus on the facts of his particular case, but went on to declare in sweeping and conclusory terms that the constitutional guarantee of due process simply doesnt apply to Guantanamo detainees. The full court will hear the case on Sept. 30.

The order received almost no attention in the mainstream press. But within the community of lawyers and civil libertarians who still care about Guantanamo, the appeals courts announcement was a galvanizing event because there is every reason to suppose that the reargued case will come out differently. Simple math suggests as much. Of the nine judges who voted on whether to rehear the panel decision (the actual vote was not disclosed) six were appointed by Democratic presidents.

One of the courts newest judges, Gregory Katsas, is recused, presumably because he worked on Guantanamo matters while serving as deputy White House counsel in the Trump administration. The two other Trump-appointed judges are Neomi Rao, who wrote the panel opinion, and Justin Walker, who was not yet on the court when the case was first heard. The appeals courts gest-serving judge still in active service is Karen LeCraft Henderson, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. The court has one vacancy, created by Merrick Garlands departure to become attorney general. President Bidens nominee to replace him, Ketanji Brown Jackson, will presumably be confirmed and sitting on the court by September.

With Congress having channeled all the Guantanamo cases to the federal courts in the District of Columbia, there are too many data points over too many years to ignore the rigid partisan divide that has marked the handling of these cases. One Republican-appointed judge who tried to bridge the gap, Thomas Griffith, was a member of the al-Hela panel. He wrote a separate opinion that was sharply critical of the breadth of Judge Raos opinion. While agreeing that Mr. al-Hela was not entitled to habeas corpus, Judge Griffith went on to say:

The majority reads our precedent as foreclosing any argument that substantive due process extends to Guantanamo Bay. But we have never made such a far-reaching statement about the clauses extraterritorial application. If we had, we would not have repeatedly assumed without deciding that detainees could bring substantive due process claims.

He added: And if the majority feels that it must break new ground, it should at least do so forthrightly, acknowledging that it is taking a significant step that our court has thus far declined to take. Judge Griffith retired from the appeals court the following week.
The size of the staff in the 80 buildings that his company manages is also a factor, Mr. Wallack said, because well have to keep up with the cleaning of fitness rooms and community rooms.

For many landlords and management companies, the pressing questions used to be, How do we get residents to keep their masks on in the lobby? and How frequently do we need to sanitize the door knobs? These days, theyre more likely to ask, How do we get the staff vaccinated? and Can we force the staff to get vaccinated.

Wallack Management has sent notes to doormen and porters asking them to get the shots. And Mr. Janangelo, of Elliman Property Management, has tapped some doctors who sit on co-op boards to address the questions and concerns of employees in their buildings.

Weve made a big push to educate our building staffs about the vaccine and to make sure theyre being provided with research from the C.D.C. and the Department of Health because theres a lot of misinformation out there, said Robbie Janowitz, the senior vice president of Orsid New York, a residential property management firm. Were not strong-arming them, he added. But we want them to make decisions based on facts.

Orsid has had group meetings and one-on-one conversations to offer support to building employees, who, for whatever reason, are skittish about rolling up their sleeves. Further, thanks to a family connection, Mr. Janowitz has been able to get logistical support from Bnai Jeshurun, a synagogue on West 88th Street.

Someone here started a program to arrange vaccines for vulnerable members of our congregation and within the wider community, said Leah Silver, a Bnai Jeshurun member who is also Mr. Janowitzs cousin by marriage. The result: a dedicated text line to book vaccine appointments for the staff of Orsid buildings.

For its part, Local 32BJ of the Service Workers International Union, which represents building service workers, has encouraged employers to find incentives that will encourage and make it easier for employees to get the Covid-19 vaccines, said Kyle Bragg, 32BJs president. We dont think mandates work as well as incentives.
Steven Martin, a friend of Dehghanpour, contacted law enforcement in Omaha and Council Bluffs in the intervening years, encouraging them to look into her case, the World Herald reported. Jim Doty, of the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office in Iowa, took him up on it.
This article was revised shortly after publication to reflect an updated forecast from The Aerospace Corporation.

No, you are almost certainly not going to be hit by a 10-story, 23-ton piece of a rocket hurtling back to Earth.

That said, the chances are not zero. Part of Chinas largest rocket, the Long March 5B, is tumbling out of control in orbit after launching a section of the countrys new space station last week. The rocket is expected to fall to Earth in what is called an uncontrolled re-entry sometime on Saturday or Sunday.

Whether it splashes harmlessly in the ocean or impacts land where people live, why Chinas space program let this happen  again  remains unclear. And given Chinas planned schedule of launches, more such uncontrolled rocket re-entries in the years to come are possible.

The countrys space program has executed a series of major achievements in spaceflight in the past six months, including returning rocks from the moon and putting a spacecraft in orbit around Mars. Yet it continues to create danger, however small, for people all over the planet by failing to control the paths of rockets it launches.
(A small warning to potential dog owners: The study does not say anything about which breeds are grumpier. The scientists looked at differences in individual dogs, all of them pets.)

Dr. Pongracz conducted the experiments because he had noticed in earlier research that dominant and submissive dogs in households that had more than one dog showed differences in learning styles.

In both studies, the dogs task remained the same. Dr. Pongracz and his colleagues placed a favorite treat or toy in plain view behind a V-shaped wire fence. Instinctively, dogs would try to go straight toward the treat, which, sadly, doesnt work. They had to begin by going farther away from the treat to get around the fence to get close to it. To the dog mind, this is a very strange idea. The wonderful-smelling treat is right there. Why would you go away from it?

Its quite a difficult task for a dog when they are on their own, Dr. Pongracz said.

Dogs are social learners, meaning they can see what another (dog or person) does and then learn to do the same. In the earlier work, dogs that occupied a dominant position in a multi-dog home were hopeless at learning by watching other dogs while the more submissive dogs, perhaps practiced at keeping an eye on what other dogs were up to, did very well. But when a person demonstrated the solution, all the dogs performed the same.

Dr. Pongracz decided that in the recent experiment he would look at the relationship between dogs and owners. Owners filled out a questionnaire. And the dogs themselves did some tests as well. After conducting a statistical analysis of the results, from both the survey of owners and the dog tests, researchers concluded that a set of dog characteristics ranging from high levels of activity to snapping or snarling all belonged in the same category.
Sharon Pollock, an oft-produced Canadian playwright who was known for works that explored Canadian history and identity at a time when few of her contemporaries were doing so, died on April 22 at her home in Calgary, Alberta. She was 85.

Her daughter Lisa Pollock said the cause was cancer.

Ms. Pollocks works covered a wide range, but she was especially known for dramas inspired by historical events. Her best-known play, Blood Relations (1980), was a take on Lizzie Borden and the ax murders of her father and stepmother in 1892 in Massachusetts. (Borden was acquitted.) But most of her history-inspired plays involved Canada.

Walsh (1973), one of her first staged works, was about James Walsh of the North-West Mounted Police and his handling of Sitting Bull and the Sioux Indians who had come from the United States in the 1870s seeking refuge. One Tiger to a Hill (1980) was inspired by a 1975 hostage-taking at a prison in British Columbia.

These and her many other historical works didnt merely document an event; they used it as a jumping-off point to explore themes like racial tension. That was at the core of her End Dream, about a real-life 1924 case in Vancouver in which a Scottish nanny died under murky circumstances and a Chinese servant was charged. The charges were later dropped.
In this real estate market, Brooklyn agents can find renters for pretty much any apartment, even one in a vacant lot across from a Subway and a Smoothie King at the border of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. One Lilliputian even by New York City standards.

Meet the tenants: a Black woman named Angel (Starr Kirkland) and her white girlfriend Bae (Leana Gardella), who share the space in the Exquisite Corpse Companys imaginatively conceived and playfully executed Zoetrope, a live interactive show performed inside  surprise  an 8 by 12 trailer. A handful of audience members peek in through glass cutouts on three sides, listening through plastic headphones plugged into a mini MP3 player.

Its 2020, right at the start of the pandemic, and at first the stay-at-home orders land like news of a snow day: Angel and Bae dance around the apartment, smoke bowls, watch TV. But things quickly unravel. In various versions of the roughly 35-minute plot, they fall out about race and privilege; find emotional connection elsewhere; and fight about the struggle to buy groceries or get a flu shot.

The ending of the play is inevitable, but the path it takes to get there varies, depending on the audience. Directed by Porcia Lewis and Tess Howsam, Zoetrope is both a surreal diorama of the recent past and a voyeuristic choose-your-own-adventure-style performance.
Vicious mix of politics and the pandemic

State Department officials would not offer specifics on wait times for appointments and passport services at their embassies, but they said in a statement that Americans should expect delays when applying for nonemergency passport or citizenship services, and that operating hours vary significantly between embassies, as each is facing different Covid-19 restrictions.

Stateside, adult U.S. citizens can renew an expired passport by mail, a process which is currently taking 10 to 12 weeks, according to State Department officials. But in many countries abroad, citizens must apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate for the same service. Even in the countries where U.S. passport renewals are available by mail, travel documents for minors or for those whose passports expired before the age of 18 still need to be requested in person.

The situation, said the immigration attorney Jessica Smith Bobadilla, was created by a vicious mix of politics and the pandemic. The combination of Trump-era travel bans and the Covid-19 restrictions still in place seriously impacted the visa and passport-processing time frames and procedures by the Department of State like never before in recent history, Ms. Bobadilla said.

Appointments for sale

Mr. Shemesh, the dual citizen living in Israel, spent months logging onto the U.S. Embassys website daily at 10 a.m., which he heard on Facebook was the moment that appointments were released each day, to try to grab one. He repeatedly walked the two blocks from his Jerusalem apartment to the U.S. Embassy to ask the guards if they knew of any openings, and he sent multiple emails to consular officials. Everyone told him he simply needed to wait. Finally, with the deadline for his trip looming, he heard about a third-party broker in Israel who promised he could book him an appointment within weeks in exchange for $450.
A state senator in Ohio might have fooled anyone who watched a state board meeting this week into thinking he was attending from home if not for one thing: the seatbelt strapped across his chest.

Also, at one point he turned his head to look over both shoulders in what appeared to be an attempt to safely change lanes inside his home office.

In footage of the meeting, which was streamed live on Monday, the senator, Andrew Brenner, first appeared in a parked car. A few minutes into the call, Mr. Brenner moved his phone, left the meeting for a moment, then reappeared and changed his background to make it look as though he were sitting in a home office, surrounded by brown cabinets, a houseplant and hanging artwork.

But across his chest, a dark-gray seatbelt stood out against his dress shirt.

As he drove, Mr. Brenner, a Republican who represents an area north of Columbus, appeared to keep his eyes mostly ahead as he listened and responded to questions from members of the state Controlling Board, a body of elected officials who make adjustments to the state budget.
SACRAMENTO  He was new to politics but a working actor who has shared the screen with Kevin Costner. He posed. He swaggered. He did not obviously beg for the rotisserie chicken. He publicly refrained from his two favorite offstage habits, flatulence and belching, although at one point he did wash himself with his tongue as the cameras rolled.

Under a broiling Sacramento sun, Tag  a half-ton bear hired as a stunt by one of the Republicans hoping to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom of California in a likely fall recall election  hit all his marks in front of a campaign bus on Tuesday before heading home to Kern County in time for a dip and a nap.

By Thursday, editorial boards were fretting, a state senator was fuming, animal rights groups were calling for formal investigations and the Republican candidate who hired the bear, John Cox, was fending off questions about whether his rented mascot had been exploited.

I kissed the bear, actually, Mr. Cox said. Its a very tame bear.

As Californias nationally watched recall effort cleared yet another threshold this week, with a final count of some 200,000 signatures beyond the required 1.5 million or so, the bears appearance marked a new phase in the proceedings. Call it the circus phase.
After spending the weekend away, Cinda Mickols returned to her California house on Monday and found some unexpected visitors.

About 15 to 20 condors had descended on her home outside the city of Tehachapi in Southern California. At least 13 were hanging out on her deck  and there were several more on the roof.

When I arrived home Monday, I was both amazed and angry at the condors, Ms. Mickols said on Wednesday. To have that many condors on my house was surreal; they can be destructive and messy. Nature is amazing!

Her daughter, Seana Quintero, also thought it was odd to have so many condors, which are endangered and number about 160 in the state, gathered in one spot. So she tweeted about the condor mob with photos of the destructive visit. The birds wrecked the deck, ripped up a spa cover and knocked over plants this week.
The drug rehabilitation course, which was all that kept Mr. Channel from being released sooner, is not required for all inmates imprisoned for drug offenses, Mr. McDonnell said, adding that such decisions are made on an individual basis by the parole board. Mr. McDonnell said the programs were available only inside Texas prisons, so Mr. Channel would not have been able to finish the course while at home.

The Board of Pardons and Paroles values the treatment programs that are available within the institution and believe that they have been instrumental in helping to reduce the states recidivism rate, Mr. McDonnell wrote in an email.

Brittany Channel said her uncles death was unnecessary.

When he went to prison, it wasnt for a violent crime, she said. No one was victimized in any kind of way. And its just so hard for me to accept the way that the prison system treated that situation. Its mind-boggling to say the least.

In Florida, drugs were also at the center of Mr. Carters legal problems.

In November 2019, police officers found Mr. Carter sleeping inside a vehicle in Sanford, Fla., that appeared to have been involved in a collision, according to a police report. Officers found small amounts of heroin and cocaine in a black purse and arrested him, according to the report.

Mr. Carter told family and friends that he was confident he would be acquitted and out of jail within a month or two because he believed that the police search had been improper.

For Mr. Carter, the stakes in the case were high. When he was arrested, he was on parole after having served seven years of a 15-year drug trafficking sentence. If he was found to have violated his parole by possessing drugs, he would be sent back to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

But Jaya Balani, his lawyer, said that if Mr. Carter could prove the police search had been illegal, she could get the drug charges dropped and a parole violation would no longer be an issue.
A woman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with starting a fire in 2018 that burned more than 63,000 acres, damaged 20 homes and injured two people in Northern California, the authorities said.

The woman, Cynthia Ann Leroux, was arrested at her home in Mountain Gate, Calif., Shasta County and Cal Fire officials said in a news conference. Shasta County is about 200 miles north of Sacramento.

Ms. Leroux faces 18 felony charges related to the Delta Fire, which started on Sept. 5, 2018. The charges include two counts of arson of forest land causing great bodily injury and 16 counts for the destruction of homes, said Stephanie Bridgett, the Shasta County district attorney.

One truck driver suffered burns and another sustained a head injury as a result of the fire, Ms. Bridgett said.
Francois allegedly came up to the store and started banging on the glass Wednesday afternoon. When Abdelkader went outside to confront him, Francois allegedly reached for something in his pockets at which point Abdelkader shot him twice several storefronts away.
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.

The calls come at all hours, sometimes 15 a day, from some of Indias most oppressed and severely ill people, buzzing a cellphone that belongs to Dolly Arjun, an Indian-American physician assistant in Boston.

A few years ago, Ms. Arjun founded a telehealth program to provide free health care to members of Indias Indigenous tribes and to Dalits, who are at the lowest rungs of Indias entrenched caste system and have long faced discrimination. Dalits are typically the last to receive assistance in humanitarian disasters and often live in impoverished rural villages with no hospitals, medical care or schools.

Now, with a devastating wave of coronavirus infections surging across India, Dalits are facing a new peril, Ms. Arjun said. She said she was desperate to help, even though she is emotionally exhausted after a year of working with Covid-19 patients in Massachusetts.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the Afghan air force was handling about 90 percent of the effort, although it was unclear exactly how he was measuring the statistic. On the ground in Afghanistan, commanders say that they depend heavily on American bombers, fighters, drones and other warplanes, particularly for attacking Taliban forces that close to Afghan troops.

General Milley stressed that its not a foregone conclusion that the Taliban automatically win.

The United States, Mr. Austin said, will continue to support the Afghan military and government with financial aid and what the Pentagon calls over the horizon support  a military term for drone strikes and other efforts launched from aircraft carriers or warplanes from distant ground bases.

But the Biden administration has insisted in recent weeks that such strikes will be limited to advancing American counterterrorism aims. While the administration could say that providing air support from a distance for Afghan forces fighting the Taliban furthers those aims, that is not how the administration has presented the Afghanistan withdrawal to the American public.

The United States may also continue to train Afghan security forces  but in other countries  after the American withdrawal, General Milley said. He said that officials are still working out plans for how to continue support to Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon is looking at whether some maintenance contracts  provided by American contractors  can be turned over to Afghan control, officials said. The Afghan air force is dependent on American contractors to maintain and repair its fleet of warplanes.

Even though air support to the Afghan security forces has dropped considerably after the peace deal the Taliban and the United States reached in February 2020  which only allowed U.S. forces to defend Afghan troops in desperate situations  American reconnaissance drones and planes have been critical in helping the Afghans target insurgent positions with their own aircraft.

As part of the withdrawal effort, F/A-18 jets, AC-130 gunships, drones, F-16s and hulking B-52 Cold War-era bombers based in Qatar have all been brought to bear to provide cover as U.S. forces shut down the dozen or so remaining bases in the country.
WASHINGTON  The United States and Iran could each come back into compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal within weeks, a senior State Department official said on Thursday, on the eve of what could be a final round of negotiations before an agreement is brokered.

Significant hurdles remain. But the comments were an optimistic signal by the Biden administration that an American return to the accord between Iran and world powers could be within reach.

Briefing journalists on the condition of anonymity, the senior official described the likelihood of an agreement before Irans presidential elections in mid-June as both possible and doable. He did not rule out that it could come in the round of talks that begin on Friday in Vienna.

Still, the official cautioned that the United States and Iran continued to diverge on the extent to which each side needed to comply with the original terms of the 2015 deal  namely, unwinding economic sanctions by Washington in exchange for Tehran scaling back its nuclear program.
KYIV, Ukraine  Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told Ukraines president on Thursday that the United States strongly backed his countrys sovereignty against Russias military aggression but also warned that the embattled country was under threat from internal forces, including powerful oligarchs who thrive on corruption.

Mr. Blinken also said that, despite Russias recently announced plans to withdraw many of the 100,000 troops it had built up along the border with Ukraine in an alarming show of force this spring, a clear military threat remained.

Russia has pulled back some forces, but significant forces remain on Ukraines border, Mr. Blinken noted. And so Russia has the capacity on fairly short notice to take aggressive actions if it so chooses. Mr. Blinken added that the United States was watching this very, very carefully.

Mr. Blinken spoke at a joint news conference with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who effusively thanked the first senior Biden official to visit Kyiv since the departure of President Donald J. Trump from office. The former president ensnared Mr. Zelensky in a global scandal that the Ukrainian leader clearly hopes to forget.
Data for Progresss results have been on the more accurate side among its peers, though it relies entirely on so-called nonprobability methods  namely reaching people by email and text message  that havent gained full acceptance as an industry standard for political polls, at least not yet. (Thats partly because these methods involve using an already-limited universe  say, people who have cellphone numbers attached to their names on publicly accessible voter files, which accounts for only about three in every five voters  to draw ones sample.)

The report by Data for Progress amounts to an earnest recognition that it has encountered issues drawing a representative sample across the board. We want this to be out in the open so that we can all help to identify the root causes, Johannes Fischer, a lead methodologist at Data for Progress, said in an interview via Zoom.

With Democratic respondents, unlike Trump supporters, the report found that the most common problem was over-participation: Liberal activist-type voters, the report said, were so eager to express their views that they could quickly fill up much of the polls Democratic sample, unless proper adjustments were made.

So-called response bias is a big part of the reason innovative methods like text-to-web surveys have yet to win the full faith and confidence of the polling establishment. Still, its safe to say the reports findings speak to the broader issue of who is and who isnt willing to respond to surveys, across modes. And as more and more polling is done via the web and text message, these techniques demand the same scrutiny as traditional phone surveys.

Activist overrepresentation

By using voter files attached to peoples email addresses, researchers can piece together profiles of respondents based on publicly available data, including things like whether theyve ever volunteered for a political campaign.
NAIROBI, Kenya  Days after Somalias president relented on plans to extend his term in office following street battles and international condemnation, his government said on Thursday that it would restore diplomatic relations with Kenya, ending a monthslong standoff that had injected an additional note of instability into an already volatile region.

The Somali deputy minister of information said that Qatar had played a role in mediating between the two nations, and that the two sides would hold further talks in the near future on issues including trade and the movement of people.

The announcement, six months after Mogadishu severed relations with Nairobi, accusing it of blatant interference in its internal political affairs, came just days after tensions also ratcheted down on the domestic front.

On Saturday, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, facing huge domestic and international pressure, as well as infighting among rival security forces in the streets of the capital, backed down on a bid to extend his term and called for the resumption of election planning.
RIO DE JANEIRO  A police operation targeting drug dealers in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday morning left at least 25 people dead, including a police officer, in an operation that officials and human rights activists called the deadliest in the citys history.

The gun battle in Jacarezinho, a poor and working-class district controlled by the drug gang known as Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, also wounded at least two subway passengers who were struck as their train was caught in the crossfire.

Residents and human rights activists accused the police of using excessive force and questioned why the operation was launched at all, given a Supreme Court ban on law enforcement raids in the city during the pandemic.

Nadine Borges, vice president of the human rights commission at Brazils bar association, said a team of lawyers gathering facts had heard chilling preliminary accounts.
The following report compiles all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout Afghanistan for the month. It is necessarily incomplete as many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information. The report includes government claims of insurgent casualty figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified. Both sides routinely inflate casualty totals for their opponents.

May 28-31, 2021

At least 46 pro-government forces and 29 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in the final four days of the month, giving May the highest total death toll in a single month since July 2019. The deadliest attack occurred in Jowzjan Province, where the Taliban attacked a security outpost in Faizabad district, killing five pro-government militia members and three police officers and a civilian. The outpost was overrun by the Taliban. In Helmand, a car bomb attributed to the Taliban targeted a security base in Gereshk district, killing three commandos and four soldiers and wounding 52 others.

[Read the Afghan War Casualty Report from previous weeks.]

May 31 Herat Province: two civilians killed

During a firefight between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in Ghoryan district, two civilians were killed and five others were wounded.

May 31 Kabul Province: one police officer killed

A police officer was gunned down by unknown armed men in the 12th Police District of Kabul city, the capital. The attackers managed to escape the area. An investigation is underway.
HONG KONG  The U.S. Embassy in Beijing had good news to share: Student visa applications for Chinese nationals were resuming after a yearlong hiatus.

Spring has come and the flowers are in bloom, the embassy wrote in a Chinese-language social media post on Wednesday that included a video of a dog trying to jump over a fence. Are you like this doggy who cant wait to go out and play?

It backfired, big time.

The post on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform in China, could be read as a ham-handed attempt to be cute. But at a moment of heightened nationalism on the Chinese internet, it set off criticism  and accusations of racism  that were amplified by the ruling Communist Partys formidable propaganda machine.

The embassy quickly removed the post and apologized, but the damage was done. The spat is the latest thorn in a diplomatic relationship that is prickly at the best of times and has lately been at its most delicate point in decades.
Like elsewhere, fake reports online can sometimes be an issue in Hong Kong. Last year, rumors of shortages drove the hoarding of toilet paper and other supplies. Unsubstantiated reports of deaths in a subway station circulated for months in 2019 after the police attacked protesters with pepper spray and batons.

In Asia, countries such as Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia have passed laws in recent years to curb fake news. While those governments have described the legislation as important to prevent falsehoods leading to threats to public safety and national security, critics say they have been used to stifle dissent.

In Hong Kong, media freedom organizations said they worried that such a law would be used to target critical coverage, putting further pressure on the citys embattled news outlets.

There is no doubt it is the worst of times, said Chris Yeung, the chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Mr. Yeung said that the governments push against what it called fake news was an attempt to avoid accountability for public discontent.

They will also try to redefine the 2019 protests as something that happened because of misleading information, not because of wrong decisions by the chief executive, police misconduct or failed policies, he said.

Hong Kongs chief of police, Chris Tang, has warned that the police would investigate news outlets deemed to be endangering national security.

Agents of foreign forces disseminate fake news and disinformation to drive a wedge in the community, cause division in society and to incite violence, Mr. Tang told lawmakers last month. He singled out Apple Daily, a pro-democracy news outlet, for criticism, accusing it of inciting hatred in its coverage of schoolchildren attending a national security event hosted by the police in April.
U.S. President Joe Biden invited executives from 19 tech firms to the White House last month and told them, "These chips, these wafers... batteries, broadband -- it's all infrastructure. We need to build the infrastructure of today and not repair the one of yesterday. The plan I propose will protect our supply chain and revitalize American manufacturing." Companies like Intel and TSMC of Taiwan moved quickly to respond to Biden's call. Intel decided to restart its chip manufacturing operations, which it halted years ago, while TSMC now wants to build six new chip plants instead of just one. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who visited Washington last month, has also agreed with Biden to invest in semiconductors, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Japan and Taiwan are stepping up to respond to the U.S.' call to form a new semiconductor supply chain to diversify from over-dependency on China.

But Korea is showing no signs of responding. Samsung, the world's No. 1 memory chip maker, has made no progress on its pledge to build a chip plant in the U.S., while the government and ruling Minjoo Party have only held hearing with corporate representatives and formed one of their endless special committees. It's understandable that Korea is mindful of agitating China, which buys 40 percent of its semiconductor exports, but that does not mean it can sit on its hands.

Korea's microchip industry has no future unless it jumps on the U.S. bandwagon. Armed with overwhelming technological superiority, the U.S. still dominates the global high-tech industry. When Japan overtook the U.S. in the global memory chip industry in the 1980s, the U.S. tamed it with anti-dumping investigations and intellectual property lawsuits. Samsung and TSMC found lucrative niches and ended up thriving.

So far the U.S. has allowed Korea to take up 70 percent of the global DRAM market because it does not harm America's strategic interests. In other words, Korea's industry has thrived thanks to the strong alliance with Washington. The future of Korea's semiconductor industry goes hand in hand with the alliance. Korea must therefore consider a two-track approach of building system semiconductor plants in the U.S. to strengthen its weak points and manufacturing and selling ordinary chips in China. This cannot be done at the corporate level alone. What is needed is smooth cooperation between the government and businesses. When President Moon Jae-in sits face to face with Biden later this month, he must present him with a detailed semiconductor strategy or risk repeating Japan's defeat in the 1990s.


Little is known about the circumstances surrounding Nobles death. She was found around 3:50 a.m. by police in a gazebo after being shot twice. She was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A coastal town in Japan has provoked debate after spending nearly $230,000 in federal Covid-19 relief money on a 43-foot statue of a flying squid.

Noto, a fishing town where the squid is a delicacy, erected the statue in March in a bid to promote tourism after the pandemic subsides. The five-and-a-half-ton pink sea creature sits outside a squid-themed restaurant and tourist center.

Tetsuji Shimoyachi, a town official, said he hoped the statue would be a driving-force attraction in the post-Covid period.

But the giant squids unveiling provoked questions among some of the 16,000 residents of the town, roughly 180 miles northwest of Tokyo, who wondered whether there werent better uses of its emergency relief funds.
LONDON  What started as a relatively obscure dispute over fishing rights rapidly escalated into converging British and French naval ships, as French authorities threatened to cut off electricity this week to Jersey, an island of about 108,000 people.

To be clear: Britain and France are unlikely to go to war. But the flare-up is a bizarre chapter in relations between the countries, and a sign of the ongoing difficulties in a post-Brexit world.

By days end, tempers had cooled. The two sides pledged to work out differences over new licensing requirements for the French fishermen who have long worked the waters around the Channel Islands. After waving angry banners and shooting off flares, the French protesters sailed away.

For those confused by it all, lets get you caught up.

Im not great at geography, please start with the basics.

Jersey is an English-speaking island, about twice the land size of Manhattan, in the English Channel, about 14 miles off the northwestern coast of France.
Gerard Araud, a longtime French diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States, said: What is happening in Jersey is, on the one hand, totally silly. Threatening to cut off the electricity makes no sense.

Still, Mr. Araud said the indignant French reaction had a deeper subtext: the countrys sense of anger and loss at Britains departure from the European Union, where it had helped balance Frances relationship with Germany.

Relations had already soured on a range of issues as Britain finalized its divorce from the European Union. President Emmanuel Macron of France raised doubts about a coronavirus vaccine developed at the University of Oxford and produced by AstraZeneca, a British-based drugmaker, prompting charges of vaccine nationalism.

In December, Mr. Macron briefly cut off access to freight shipments to and from Britain to prevent a fast-spreading variant of the virus that was first detected in Britain from leaping across the English Channel.

At issue in Jersey are new licensing requirements the authorities imposed on French fishing boats, which have long worked the waters around the Channel Islands. Among other things, the vessels are required to carry equipment that allows their locations to be tracked.

Under the part of the Brexit agreement governing fishing, which went into effect on May 1 after a four-month grace period, Jersey granted fishing licenses to 41 French boats larger than 12 meters, or 39 feet. The problem, according to Marc Delahaye, the director of the Normandy Regional Fisheries Committee, was that the additional requirements were imposed without warning or consultation. The European Commission said that the British government had notified it of the changes last week and that it was in discussions with London.

As a crown dependency, Jersey is not part of Britain and has special status that gives it self-governing rights, including its own Legislative Assembly, as well as fiscal and legal systems. However, Jerseys reliance on French electricity makes its economy vulnerable, Mr. Delahaye said, noting that it was in the interests of the British and French governments to calm the situation.
The country first recommended the vaccine for people under 65, then suspended use of the vaccine in March over concern about blood clot. The government then limited it to people over 60. The change also represents a departure from some other countries, which have restricted the use of the vaccine to older people or stopped using it altogether. Younger people seem to be more susceptible to the clots.

The vaccination measures have made many Germans turn away from AstraZeneca in the hopes of snagging the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, which was created in Germany. Vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also administered in Germany, but the authorities said they would continue to be administered to priority groups until at least June.

The announcement on the AstraZeneca vaccine came as German federal lawmakers on Thursday voted to relax rules for those who are fully vaccinated.

Germany currently has a curfew in place in areas with high infection rates; households are limited in how many people they can meet, and nonessential shopping is restricted to those with recent negative test results. But under the new law, those who have been fully vaccinated or who have been infected with the coronavirus in the last six months would not have to follow those restrictions. In addition, they would be able to return from travel abroad without quarantining. The law would take effect as early as this weekend, if the measures are adopted by the federal council of states, which they are expected to be. Those who can present proof of a previous infection or vaccination would also be able to skip testing requirements currently in place for certain activities like going to hairdressers or shopping in nonessential stores.
If the pro-independence vote surges in Thursdays elections for the Scottish Parliament, momentum for another referendum on independence may become unstoppable.

It has weathered the conquest and loss of an empire, survived two world wars and witnessed more than one deadly pandemic. But now Scotlands ancient alliance with England is itself in poor health, and on Thursday it could take a serious turn for the worse.

When Scottish voters go to the polls to elect 129 members of Scotlands Parliament, strictly speaking the question of independence will not be on the ballot.

Yet as these photos vividly illustrate, Scotland is grappling with an uncertain future. Pressure is growing for a second referendum on whether to leave the United Kingdom, breaking up a 314-year-old union. If Scots vote in sufficient numbers for pro-independence parties in Thursdays election, the momentum for another plebiscite could become unstoppable.
Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High near 75F. SSE winds shifting to NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Percival Lugue, a graphic artist from the Philippines, has been collecting toys from various fast food chains since he was just 5-year-old. Now, at age 50, he holds the Guinness Record for the most fast food toys in the world, over 20,000 of them.

Lugue has held the record for the largest collection of fast food toys since 2014, when his tally stood at around 10,000 unique items, but he has been busy consolidating his record ever since, and now he has more than 20,000 toys. Like any child, he always liked playing with the toys he got with his fast food meals, but he always took care of them, so he was able to start his epic collection pretty early. Over the years, he has collected new items from various fast food chains, like McDonalds, Burger King and even the Philippines favorite brand, Jollibee, and compares the excitement of adding a new toy to his collection to experiencing Christmas morning as a kid.

Photo: Ryan Quintal/Unsplash

The toy is like a storyteller in itself, Percival Lugue told Reuters. For example, it gives me a glimpse of that particular period when I got it, the story of whats going on, what are the incidents that are attached in the acquisition.

The graphic artist, who built his three-story house in Apalit, Pampanga Province, specifically to store his collection in, dreams of one day putting the toys on display for the public, or even open a small museum of sorts and give people a chance to revisit their own childhood memories.

Although most of the 20,000 toys in Percivals collection come from personal purchases, he admits that he did have some help from friends and family. Sometimes he would guide them toward helping him, by inviting them to have lunch at a fast food restaurant, and would manage to complete a whole set of toys in one sitting.

I think its safe to say that, after doubling his collection in just seven years, Percival Lugue need not worry about someone else breaking his record anytime soon.

For more impressive collections, check out the worlds largest collection of plastic food, or the worlds largest collection of Hello Kitty memorabilia.
Bob Martineau

Finn Partners has hired Bob Martineau, environmental lawyer who served as commissioner of Tennessees Dept. of Environment & Conservation, as senior partner.

Based in Nashville, he will support the sustainability & social impact practice throughout the Finn Partners 11-state southeastern region.

Martineau will work with clients in the areas of environmental protection, energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and innovation. He also will team with Finn Partners' global healthcare practice on issues of public and environmental health.

Martineau served in the TDEC from 2011 to 2018, led the environmental practice at the Waller law firm, worked as senior attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency and edited the Clean Air Act Handbook.

Beth Courtney, managing partner of Finn Southeast, said Martineaus depth of experience will help clients maximize and communication leading-edge environmental initiatives."

Finn Partners, which had 2020 fee income of $108.9M, is O'Dwyer's fourth largest independent PR firm. It also ranked No. 4 in the environmental/sustainability category, chalking up fees of $6.7M.
With only days to go to this years Darkness Into Light, proudly supported by Electric Ireland, people across the country are getting ready to share One Sunrise Together on May 8th. Pieta and Electric Ireland are continuing to invite people to sign up at www.darknessintolight.ie and to take part in any way they can  walking, running, swimming, biking or simply sharing this special sunrise moment that can unite us all whilst still staying physically apart.

Due to Covid-19 guidelines, there are no organised walks this year, but these activities, carried out within Covid-19 guidelines, will help shine a light on suicide and self-harm, raising vital funds for Pietas suicide prevention and bereavement services. With over 22,848 calls and texts placed to Pietas free crisis line so far this year, support is vital to ensure this service remains freely available to everyone 24/7.

Four out of ten people who accessed Pietas services in 2020 cited loneliness as a trigger for their reaching out, so this years Darkness Into Light is about much more than raising funds; its about helping people feel connected. By taking part and sharing one sunrise together participants are showing solidarity with those who are feeling isolated in these difficult times. We may be physically apart again this year, but we can unite under the sunrise and share in its light and warmth together. So, this year Pieta together with Electric Ireland are asking the nation to experience One Sunrise Together, the very same sunrise that gives hope to those impacted by suicide every year.

Speaking about this years Darkness into Light, Emma Dolan, Pieta Clinical Director, said; Pieta is aiming to unite over 200,000 participants under one sunrise this year. The absence of organised walks means many of our supporters cant gather with their loved ones and will miss the solidarity of a group walk. Knowing others across the country are watching the sunrise together will bring comfort, a feeling of belonging to something bigger and being connected to others. It's more important than ever to help participants feel united this year and sharing a sunrise moment will do that.

Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director at Electric Ireland added; Every year, so many of our customers and staff join thousands of others across Ireland in solidarity to offer hope to, and raise vital funds for, those impacted by suicide and self-harm. Although we remain physically apart this year, we can all still experience that moment of hope by sharing a special sunrise on May 8th. Pietas commitment continues to inspire us all; in a year when generating hope has been more important than ever, we are proud at Electric Ireland to support Darkness Into Light for the ninth year. We would like to thank those who have already shown their support and encourage everyone else to sign up and get involved in any way they can next Saturday.

Darkness Into Light creates a safe space for those impacted by suicide to grieve and to feel connected with those who have also lost loved ones in this country and around the world  Darkness Into Light now being a global event. It has long been proven that music is a great connector and source of comfort which can reach into our emotions and make memories feel real, particularly during challenging times. Listening to a favourite song while taking part in Darkness Into Light this year may help direct emotions, access happy memories and help us feel connected to loved ones.

Mary Black, Pieta Ambassador and musician opened up about her experiences of postnatal depression on the Darkness into Light Late Late Show Special last year. She wants to remind people there is light at the end of the tunnel. It was only after seeking help that Mary, who is also mum to Conor, Danny and Roisin, found she could be happy and smile again. Pietas 24/7 Crisis Helpline is there to help anybody impacted or concerned about suicide or self-harm. Asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do and I would encourage anybody who needs it to seek help early said Mary.

Mary and fellow Pieta ambassador, Louise Cooney, have curated special playlists for Pietas Darkness into Light walk. You can find and listen to their playlists on May 8th via Pietas Spotify, or search Darkness Into Light 2021 - Sunrise Playlist on Spotify.

Sign up at darknessintolight.ie and share one sunrise together with the thousands already signed up. Pieta are urging the public to practice social distancing and adhere to Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all participants. Get involved with Darkness Into Light by walking, running, swimming, hiking, biking or simply sharing your sunrise snap using the hashtags, #BrighterTogether, #DIL2021. Because under one sunrise, were brighter together. Sign up now at www.darknessintolight.ie
An Garda Siochana is hiring for a position which has a starting salary of over 89,000.

The Head of Estate Management, which has the rank of Principal Officer, is responsible for the oversight, coordination and management of all accommodation requirements for An Garda Siochana.

The salary for this position starts at 89,072 but can rise to 109,547 after six years.

The Garda Estate comprises of over 560 Garda stations situated across 4 Regions and 19 Divisions.

The Garda Estate also extends to a significant number of non-station Garda facilities including national facilities such as Garda Headquarters at Phoenix Park in Dublin, accommodation for Specialist Units currently based at Harcourt Square (to be based in Military Road from 2022), the Garda College in Templemore and a range of other national, support, administrative and specialist accommodation and facilities.

In conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), Garda Estate Management provide a safe, modern, effective and efficient portfolio of Garda stations and facilities to support the delivery of best practice policing in Ireland.

This includes new buildings as well as refurbishments, extensions and maintenance of all Garda occupied properties.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 21 May 2021.

For further details including how to apply, see here.
On May 4, a day that is now globally known as May the fourth inspired by the famous catchphrase from Star Wars, an Illinois couple welcomed a baby boy that they already planned on naming Luke.
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With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com.
She did everything that she should have done to be hiking alone, her mother, Kerensa, told WLWT. She let everybody know where she was going, which trail she was going on, what time she was going into the trails.
St. Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St. Helier has a population of about 37,540  roughly one-third of the total population of Jersey  and is the capital of the island.
Anyone who arrives in Queensland from 1am on Friday who has visited a declared COVID-19 exposure site must immediately go into 14 days of hotel quarantine.
The Next Web 20 May 2021

On May 8, a piece of space junk from a Chinese rocket fell uncontrolled back to Earth and landed in the Indian Ocean near the..
You cant force a company to provide service to a jerk. That is the simple truth behind the Facebook and Insta ban on the former president.
BEIJING (AP)  China on Thursday suspended an economic dialogue with Australia, stepping up a pressure campaign that began over Australian support for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus.



Beijing also has blocked imports of Australian coal, wheat, wine and other goods, plunging relations to a multi-decade low. Prime Minister Scott Morrisons government has not offered any concessions.



The Chinese government accused Australia of taking steps to disrupt normal exchanges" due to a "Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination.



Beijing will indefinitely suspend all activities under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, said a statement by the Cabinet's planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.



China holds such dialogues with Australia, the United States and some other governments to discuss trade disputes and other economic issues.



China's relations with Australia, India and some other neighbors are increasingly strained by the ruling Communist Party's assertiveness abroad, including claims to disputed territory and accusations Beijing is trying to influence politics in Australia and other Western democracies.



China blocked imports of most Australian goods last year after its government called for an investigation into the coronavirus, which emerged in central China in late 2019.



Chinese ministers refuse to take calls from their Australian counterparts.



China is Australias No. 1 foreign market, but the sanctions impact has been limited because Chinese still mills still buy Australian iron ore, the countrys most valuable export.



Last month, Australia canceled two deals signed by the state government of Victoria with Beijings multibillion-dollar Belt and Road...
The German government said while they support global vaccine supplies, "the protection of intellectual property is a source of innovation and must remain so in the future."
Five European powers called on Israel to "cease its policy of settlement expansion" across the West Bank. Over 500 settlement homes are slated to be built in the territory.
G7 foreign ministers have hit out at China and Russia - but failed to establish any concrete actions against them.
Eurasia Review 28 May 2021

The UNs enthusiastic support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian dispute is well attested, but there is a certain..
Mr Perrottet has returned a negative COVID-19 test, but will continue to self-isolate for 14 days after learning he attended the same Sydney restaurant as a positive case.
Anthony Mason, who is white, is accused of driving though a mans yard as the victim sat on his porch with a dog Wednesday morning. As Mason crashed the truck into the porch, the 27-year-old suspect kept yelling racial epithets and threatening to kill the resident, according to police.
A jury in Italy has sentenced two Americans to life in prison for the killing of a police officer.
Beijing is freezing trade talks  that were last held in 2017  in an apparent tit-for-tat response to Canberra. Australia said the decision was "disappointing."
By visiting so early in his tenure, before any trip to Russia, Antony Blinken is signaling that Ukraine is a high foreign-policy priority for President Joe Biden's administration.
The International Criminal Court had found the former child solider guilty of 61 out of 70 counts, including murders, rapes and sexual enslavement.
In an escalating row over fishing rights, the UK is sending two Royal Navy patrol boats to Jersey to protect the Channel Island from a French blockade. Around 50 fishing boats have gathered at the entrance to St Helier harbour. They're complaining about post-Brexit fishing rights.
PA - Press Association STUDIO 06 May 2021

The European Commission has urged 'restraint' amid tensions between the UK and France over fishing rights around Jersey.Dana..
The US has backed plans to waive intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, but the idea faces stiff opposition.
At least 20 people, including a police officer, have died in a shootout with drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, according to local media.
PA - Press Association STUDIO 09 May 2021

A Royal Navy fishing patrol ship has returned to base after being scrambled to Jersey in response to the protest by French..
Tensions between Britain and France regarding fishing rights eased late Thursday as Britain withdrew two naval ships from the..

Eurasia Review 06 May 2021
Well, as you know, Im Black, Ford said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. And in our community there are a lot of things that take place. And I dont want to be a victim of those things. I thought if I had the camera, everyone would be honest and truthful.
The Israeli authorities say they are investigating an incident in which soldiers shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian boy.
The single-dose jab is less effective than its two part counterpart, but is still in line with the WHO's standards, Russian officials said. The EU is set to welcome Israeli tourists this summer. DW has the latest.
The German government said it was "surprised" by the decision. Moroccan-German ties have been tense in recent months.

Deutsche Welle 07 May 2021
The federal government says it will boycott events commemorating the 20th anniversary of a United Nations anti-racism conference in South Africa, citing the event's legacy of criticizing Israel.
Germany, the European Union's biggest economic power and home to a large pharmaceutical sector, has rejected the idea of waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines after the US threw its support behind a waiver.
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All rights reserved.

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Union Health Ministry said that the way the COVID infection is spreading in the country, it is clear that the third wave of the virus is inevitable.
Along with the efforts by the health professionals, the Armed Forces too have pitched in this battle against an invisible yet deadly enemy.
China has lashed out after New Zealand's Parliament declared "severe human rights abuses" are occurring there against the Uighur minority, saying it will "harm the mutual trust" between the countries. Parliament yesterday unanimously...
New Zealand health officials are in close contact with their Australian counterparts after a second positive case of Covid-19 in Sydney in the past 24 hours. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said decisions on what steps...
The new mom told Hawaii Pacific Health that it was just overwhelming and just nice that there was three NICU nurses on the plane and a doctor that were able to help stabilize him and make sure that he was OK.
Former Michigan Senate candidate John James told "Fox & Friends" on Thursday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer getting an award for her coronavirus response was "politically tone-deaf."
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday the U.S. has no plans to shoot down a Chinese rocket hurling back toward earth this weekend, but he hopes it will land in the ocean.
Scots are heading to the polls to elect the next Scottish Government  though the coronavirus pandemic means it could be more than 48 hours before all the results are counted.
The leaders of Scotlands political parties are heading to the polls to cast their own votes in the Scottish Parliament election.
No. 3 House Republican Liz Cheney was clinging to her post Wednesday as party leaders lined up behind an heir apparent, signaling that fallout over her clashes with former President Donald Trump was becoming too much for her to overcome. (May 5)


Fifteen Oregon counties are designated "extreme risk" for COVID-19 due to high infection rates. Linn County's public health office is working to convince residents to get their shots.
It was the most optimistic signal by the Biden administration that an American return to the accord between Iran and world powers was within reach.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn.  Celebrity pizza chef Bruno DiFabio has been sentenced to 30 days in prison for tax evasion. Known as Lord of the Pies, DiFabio was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Prosecutors say DiFabio and others schemed to hide income from his restaurants in Connecticut and New York, resulting in a [...]
The Department of Homeland security announced plans to host a walk-through at a migrant processing center in Donna, Texas Thursday night, but cameras will not be allowed inside the facility.
With a badly aging bridge as his backdrop, President Joe Biden stood in reliably Republican Louisiana on Thursday to pressure GOP lawmakers to support his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, calling it a "blue collar blueprint to rebuild America." (May 6)


A group of about 50 residents in Jacarezinho poured into a narrow street on Thursday afternoon to follow members of the state legislatures human rights commission as it conducted an inspection. They shouted justice while clapping their hands and some raised their right fists into the air.
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
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) denounces the systematic violations of human rights perpetrated by the security forces of the government of Colombia. The government of President Ivan Duque has deployed special units of the police and military to brutally repress broad based demonstrations that began on April 28, 2021...
USATODAY.com 05 May 2021

The lawyer for the family of a Black man shot and killed by police in Atlanta is blasting the city for rehiring the officer...
The AstraZeneca vaccine is being blamed for causing blood clots that have placed a 66-year-old Townsville man in ICU and an elderly Tasmanian man in hospital.Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young revealed the 66-year-old's...
Social media has been his weapon of choice for battling Republican dissidents, but Donald Trump is seeking to tighten his iron grip on the party.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations have called for greater engagement with Taiwan, and warned China not to escalate...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's willingness to talk with Egypt could forge renewed cooperation between the estranged regional powers and help efforts to end the war in Libya.



Relations between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated after the government of Mohamed Morsi, close to the Muslim Brotherhood, was toppled in...
Refugee advocates have welcomed President Biden's decision to raise the U.S. refugee cap from 15,000 to 62,500 this year. Community-based resettlement efforts are expected to become more prominent.
When all is said and done, this is not a government that has our best interests at heart. This is not a government that values..

Eurasia Review 03 May 2021
Bollywood NOW 14 May 2021

Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Swara Bhasker and many other celebrities took to their social media handles to honour the..
No one in New York State should ever have to worry about their boss stealing their paycheck, but for too many working New Yorkers thats just a fact of life, said Joseph Geiger, executive secretary-treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters. For years, unscrupulous contractors have flown under that radar in broad daylight and built their million-dollar bank accounts by stealing the wages of workers who dont know their rights or are too afraid to report the crime.
MrSloty Casino Review

Newcomer to the iGaming scene, MrSloty Casino represents an interesting choice for the fans of online gambling around the globe. Like the name suggests and not similar to a majority of online casinos these days, MrSloty puts a lot of emphasis on its video slots library, seeing how these games are by far the most popular choice among players.

Like many international operators, this casino is licensed and regulated by the Government of Curacao, making it a safe and reliable choice for everyone looking to try their luck in the virtual environment.

The instant-play website of MrSloty Casino is available in English, German, French, Italian, and Swedish, which further emphasizes the operator's goal to compete on the international iGaming market. The site itself is fairly simple in terms of design, but features a variety of filters and other convenient navigation options to help players find their favorite games with no effort.

Games

In the gaming department, MrSloty isn't far behind some of its bigger and more established competitors. Number of games and variety of providers featured on the site are similar to what most online casinos offer these days, with the exception of a few brands that feature virtually every provider under the sun.

Players will have no problems finding their way around the site thanks to user-friendly drop-down menus that allow quick access to main gaming categories such as slots, blackjack, baccarat, keno, roulette, other table games, and, of course, live dealer tables.

For those looking to further narrow down the search, there is also a provider filter that works in a similar fashion. MrSloty Casino features close to 20 game developers, including the likes of NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Merkur, Wazdan, Novomatic, Kajot Games, Konami, Playson, Amatic, Playtech, Quickspin, Aristocrat, Booongo Games, and more.

As mentioned, the focus here is on video slots, and the overall library is quite solid compared to other casinos of similar size and rating. The only thing really missing at the moment are progressive jackpot titles as MrSloty doesn't offer any of these. This comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the operator hosts both NetEnt and Yggdrasil titles.

Other than this, though, the casino offers everything a slots' fan could ask for, including the full scope of popular titles such as Book of Ra, Jack and the Beanstalk, Vikings Go Wild, Magic Mirror Deluxe II, Sakura Fortune, etc.

When it comes to other RNG games, MrSloty Casino is somewhat behind other operators as the selection is quite limited. This isn't much of a surprise, seeing how the operator is all about slots, but more variety would still be welcome. At the moment, the site offers a few basic versions of blackjack and roulette, as well as some baccarat games.

Despite this, the operator keeps up with other modern casinos, offering a live dealer section for those looking for some real-time live action. This section is powered by VIVO Gaming, so players won't find as much variety as with some other casinos, but there are still options like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, Casino Hold'em, and Caribbean Stud.

Banking

MrSloty Casino allows players to deposit, play, and withdraw in several mainstream currencies, namely EUR, AUD, and GBP. This isn't as versatile as what you might find with other operators, but it seems the casino has plans to expand this list in the future.

Where MrSloty could and definitely should do better to catch up with the competition is in the payment methods' department. We weren't to thrilled to see that the site only accepts Skrill and bank transfers as far as traditional options are concerned. The operator also supports cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash, which is a positive, but more e-wallets as well as credit and debit cards would be a welcome addition.

Deposit limits are on the lower side, while withdrawal times and limits are in line with industry standards. It's always important to mention when a casino charges no fees, and that's also the case with MrSloty as players don't have to cover any of the processing costs regardless of the method they use.

Mobile

Offering a mobile option is pretty much mandatory for online casinos these days. MrSloty Casino is no different than most modern-day operator, featuring an instant-play, mobile-ready site that works well across all types of phones and tablets.

Since the platform is entirely web-based, there is no need to download any apps and there are no restrictions in terms of operating systems. Android, Windows, and iOS users can enjoy their gaming sessions on the go without any problems.

VIP & Bonuses

At this moment in time, MrSloty Casino offers a very extensive and rather impressive welcome package for new players. The amount of extra cash on offer, especially for the first couple of deposits, beats pretty much anything we've had a chance to see recently.

Beyond this, though, the casino doesn't seem to offer much in terms of a VIP program or rewards for its loyal customers. Compared to other similar casinos, the operator has some catching up to do in this department. That said, MrSloty is a fairly new operator, so it might just be the case of figuring things out and deciding how they want to shape things.

Security & Fairplay

As mentioned, MrSloty Casino is licensed and regulated by the Government of Curacao. This licensing authority oversees hundreds of online casinos, so this is a pretty good indicator that players are dealing with a safe and trustworthy platform despite its novelty.

The operator sticks to all contemporary laws, regulations, and practices when it comes to handling and protecting the user data. Players can rest assured their information is handled with care and it won't end up in the wrong hands.

Support

Players have a few ways of getting in touch with the support department of MrSloty Casino. The easiest and the fastest one is through the live chat feature that's available around the clock. However, there are alternative contact methods such as email, on-site contact form, and direct phone line.

FAQ

Is MrSloty a safe and trustworthy online casino?

MrSloty Casino is licensed and regulated by Curacao and it operates in line with modern rules and regulations in the iGaming sector. Thus, we can say that MrSloty is a safe and trustworthy operator.

How good is the welcome bonus at MrSloty Casino?

The welcome offer at MrSloty Casino entails one of the more generous bonus packages you can find. There is plenty of extra cash up for grabs, especially on the first couple of deposits, and new players should definitely take advantage of it.

Can I play slots for free at MrSloty Casino?

Yes you can. MrSloty offers players a chance to play almost all games in a demo (free) mode. However, before you can do this, you will need to open a free account with the site.

Does MrSloty offer any other casino games besides slots?

Despite the name, MrSloty offers other casino games as well. You'll find electronic blackjack, roulette, and baccarat tables, as well as a live dealer section powered by VIVO Gaming.

What banking options does MrSloty Casino support?

At the moment, MrSloty Casino only supports Skrill and direct bank transfers, as well as several cryptocurrencies. The list of banking options is somewhat lacking, but this will probably change in the future.
The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday reported one COVID-19 death and 808 coronavirus cases, extending a week-long plateau trending slightly downward.

Oregon is averaging just under 800 cases a day, which remains higher than all but the peak between mid-November through mid-January. But cases and hospitalizations have slowed, if not declined, indicating progress clipping Oregons fourth wave.

Gov. Kate Brown this week announced indoor dining prohibition in 15 counties would be lifted, effective Friday, and she doesnt expect to renew the limits going forward.

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen told a legislative subcommittee Wednesday new known cases have been leveling off.

This for the first time is showing some faint signs of good news, Allen said, looking at a graph of new known cases.

He also noted that Oregon no longer has the fastest rate of new cases in the nation. The New York Times now ranks Oregon as having the third fastest number of new infections per capita in the past two weeks. But just looking at the past week, Allen said hes seeing a very slight downtrend.

Hospitalizations, meanwhile, dropped for the second consecutive day. But Allen said because hospitalizations tend to lag 10 days behind new infections, he expects hospitalizations to increase for several more days before declining in the long-term.

All of the numbers have got some trends to them that are encouraging, Allen said.

Vaccines: Oregon reported 30,994 newly administered doses, which includes 21,621 Tuesday and the remainder from previous days.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (4), Benton (17), Clackamas (119), Clatsop (2), Columbia (6), Crook (16), Curry (1), Deschutes (81), Douglas (12), Grant (2), Hood River (5), Jackson (40), Jefferson (3), Josephine (18), KIamath (37), Lake (3), Lane (43), Lincoln (1), Linn (36), Malheur (7), Marion (59), Morrow (2), Multnomah (164), Polk (15), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (8), Union (1), Wallowa (2), Wasco (1), Washington (84) and Yamhill (17).

Who died: Oregons 2,509th death linked to COVID-19 is a 41-year-old Lane County man who tested positive Nov. 18, 2020 and died Jan. 1, 2021 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Hospitalizations: 330 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, down 15 from Tuesday. That includes 83 people in intensive care, up four from Tuesday.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 188,417 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,509 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 3,123,136 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 1,331,526 people and partially vaccinating 553,940 people.

To see more data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/

-- Brad Schmidt and Aimee Green

bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
Starting Friday, Oregonians will be able to walk into Oregons largest COVID-19 vaccination clinic and get a shot without first making an appointment.

The Oregon Convention Centers decision to open the clinic up to all comers 16 years and older builds on its decision Monday to allow Oregonians to sign up for shots directly on its website, instead of them having to rely on a lottery system. And it comes just a day after a concerning drop in demand left the site administering only 80% of its doses, with a capacity to reach hundreds more Oregonians.

Were opening up options to make it as easy as possible to get a shot, said Wendy Watson, Chief Operating Officer at Kaiser Permanente Northwest, one of the four health systems operating the clinic.

The convention center joins Oregons two other mass vaccination sites in offering shots without appointments. Oregon Health & Science Universitys drive-in site at the Portland International Airport will be offering shots without prior reservations for a combined 11 hours this weekend, and the site at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, in Salem, also has been offering walk-in shots.

The changes reflect a drop in demand for the coronavirus vaccine in Oregon and nationally.

State health officials say virtually all providers have reported a decline in need for shots. And Oregonians are clearly getting shots at a far lower rate than before, even as supplies are growing. Oregon is averaging about 31,600 first or second shots a day, down 27% from the peak about three weeks ago.

The Oregon Convention Center gave just 6,400 shots Wednesday, Watson said, far short of its capacity of 8,000 per day, and administered about 500 shots short of capacity Monday and Tuesday.

The convention centers current goal is to come up with creative ideas to get people into the center to get vaccinated, Watson said. For now, that means working with community groups and schools to arrange for transportation to the clinic and allowing people who might have trouble signing up for an appointment to simply walk into the building.

The center could close sometime this summer if demand continues to fall, Watson said, and would gradually draw down operations in parallel to a decline in need.

But when that could happen and what the threshold is, precisely, is as yet unclear. Watson said the health systems running the convention center clinic are still working that out with the Oregon Health Authority, local health agencies and the governors office.

There is no magical line, Watson said.

Should the clinic decide to shut down, it will stop giving first doses of the vaccine and will then stay open for another four weeks to give people second doses, Watson said.

There is a likely spike in demand on the horizon, though, when the federal government is expected to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents, according to The New York Times. The convention center is preparing for that eventuality, making sure the clinic has the right resources on site, including appropriately dosed EpiPens for children who might have an allergic reaction to a vaccine.

The Oregon Convention Center clinic will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and closed Saturday and Sunday. Its hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Its now easier than ever to get vaccinated against COVID-19, said Michael Foley, a spokesman for the vaccination clinic. If anyone has been waiting to get vaccinated, now is the time to do it.

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com; 503-294-7674
The third and final suspect convicted in a 2019 fatal shooting of a man collecting cans in North Portland was sentenced to 20 years in prison, court officials said Wednesday, though under current law the teen will be out of jail by his 25th birthday.

Aaron Criswell admitted to his role in killing Ricky Malone Sr. and later taking the mans his car. Criswell was 15 at the time.

Two other teens, Eugene Woodruff and Richard Rand IV, who were 14 and 15, respectively, at the time of the shooting, admitted to their roles in the shooting last year and were sentenced to 20 years each. Because of juvenile sentencing laws, none of the three will serve their full sentences.

The convictions stem from a string of crimes that began early on the morning of Oct. 14, 2019. About 4 a.m., the three teens approached Ricky Malone Sr., 65, near North Mohawk Avenue and Columbia Boulevard. Malone had been collecting refundable cans and bottles.

The teens demanded Malone give up his car, a Toyota Avalon. When he refused, Criswell shot him in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to accounts given by Criswell and Woodruff to the police and outlined in court documents.

Investigators say before encountering Malone, the teens, one of them wearing a clown mask, had attempted to burglarize a home but ran away when the person who lived there yelled at them.

After shooting Malone, the teens took his car, and police began receiving calls that the vehicle had been involved in hit-and-runs, investigators said. The teens stopped at a Taco Bell about three and a half hours into the joyride then abandoned the car, according to court documents.

The teens were arrested 11 days later.

During their juvenile hearings, Woodruff admitted to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery. Rand admitted to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery. All three will serve their sentences at a juvenile correctional facility.

But under Oregons new juvenile sentencing laws, which went into effect last year, all three must be released from custody by their 25th birthdays at the latest, an idea that didnt sit well with Robert Malone, Ricky Malone Sr.s brother.

They could get paroled in a year or two years, Robert Malone told The Oregonian/OregonLive after Woodruff and Rand were sentenced. Thats the way the system is now. Our prayers are maybe theyll get rehabilitated and maybe theyll come out on the other side better people.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale
In the latest harassment allegation naming a Linfield University trustee, a 2019 graduate said she was at a senior dinner when the trustee asked why a group of beautiful young women students were all by themselves and then hugged, squeezed and winked at her as she prepared to leave.

The encounter on May 3, 2019, left the woman feeling uncomfortable, she said. She didnt go to university officials at the time but later wrote down the details in a letter that was to be presented to university leaders.

Her allegation was among a number of complaints that fired professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner took to Linfields board about what he believed was the universitys mishandling of sexual harassment complaints by students and faculty. He pressed for the board to adopt stricter guidelines on trustee-student interactions.

Pollack-Pelzner, a Shakespeare scholar who also served as a faculty trustee, said he reported the graduates account in February 2020 but the university didnt investigate it.

Linfield fired Pollack-Pelzner last week citing insubordination and other claims without notice and without a hearing.

The graduate recently spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive about the incident with trustee David Haugeberg but asked not to be named to protect her privacy.

Haugeberg, a McMinnville lawyer, didnt return multiple email or phone messages seeking comment. He remains a member of the board after stepping down as chair in 2017 after eight years in that role.

He is the fourth trustee named in complaints alleging harassment or abuse at university functions. He was named to the board in 1982, had taught business law at one time and also served as the schools general counsel in the past.

University spokesman Scott Nelson said that no student has ever come forward related to a complaint against Mr. Haugeberg. But he acknowledged the university received a written statement last year that purported to be from an unnamed student involving Haugeberg.

Nelson noted that the author of the statement wrote that she was sharing the letter to aid the investigation currently being undertaken by the Faculty Trustee (Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner) regarding the circumstances surrounding trustee interactions with the Linfield community at-large.

Even without a formal report or inquiry, the universitys Title IX coordinator read the letter in its entirety, consulted with the general counsel and determined the statements in the letter would not have amounted to a violation of university policies, Nelson said by email. Regardless of whether a complaint amounts to a violation, the university provides students with access to supportive measures to assist them with issues of concern. Because the author was unknown, the university could not offer that kind of assistance in this case.

The graduate said she had been invited to attend the Outstanding Seniors Dinner with trustees at the Michelbook Country Club in McMinnville.

She said Haugeberg walked up to a group of her friends and said something like, Oh, whats a group of beautiful young women doing all by themselves over here?

Haugeberg was sitting two seats from her at a table, she said, and he and other trustees were drinking during the dinner.

When she was about to leave, Haugeberg hugged me very closely and squeezed me very tightly. It was kind of weird. I pulled away. He smiled at me and winked at me, she recalled.

She said it left her thinking that this trustee was a little bit hands on and that his behavior seemed wildly inappropriate and gross, but she focused instead on her graduation, which was two weeks away.

Not long after, she shared what occurred with one of her professors. The professor asked if she wanted to report it, but she said no. That professor wasnt Pollack-Pelzner.

The graduate later wrote down her account to communicate with urgency the need for systematic change in the way the College handles such events in the future, she said in her letter. She shared her account after learning of another students lawsuit and sexual abuse allegations against another trustee following a school event, she said.

While she wrote that her experience at the May 2019 dinner didnt compare to those more serious allegations, it is indicative of what I would describe as a larger culture at Linfield, most present within the Board of Trustees, in which individuals who hold power are able to utilize it in order to obtain what they want, and if they do not receive it, to shame and silence the individuals with less power who are on the other end.

Pollack-Pelzner said he shared the letter as soon as he received it in a February 2020 email with board Chair David Baca, university President Miles K. Davis, the universitys Title IX coordinator and the schools general counsel.

Pollack-Pelzner said the former students account was an example of a pattern of behavior that he wanted the board to address.

He wrote then in his email: My only goal in sharing this information, besides fulfilling my duty as a trustee and my Title IX obligations as a responsible employee, is to prevent these kind of incidents from happening again.

Last year, former Linfield trustee David Jubb was indicted on allegations that he sexually abused four students in 2017 and 2019.

Two other trustees, board member Norm Nixon and Davis, were accused by a faculty member of inappropriately touching her at school events. An outside investigator substantiated the faculty members claims but said they didnt violate the universitys sexual harassment policies. Davis denied the allegation but issued a public apology for causing the professor discomfort.

The universitys general counsel at the time, John McKeegan, responded to Pollack-Pelzners email in February 2020, writing that the information should be directed to the Title IX office and not to trustees. Pollack-Pelzner had included the Title IX coordinator on his original email.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Chelsea Clinton earlier this week tweeted that Oregons attorney general should stop standing in the way of retrials for Oregonians convicted by nonunanimous juries in the state.

Today, state leaders should be taking every opportunity to use their power to end systemic racism, tweeted Clinton, an advocate and the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She tweeted, in support of Color of Change, a progressive nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization, and The Still In Prison campaign, which is working to raise public awareness about the impact of Oregons law.

It is not enough to denounce it when you have the power to end it. Oregons AG Ellen Rosenblum has the power to topple a racist law. And she must.

Today, state leaders should be taking every opportunity to use their power to end systemic racism. It is not enough to denounce it when you have the power to end it. Oregon's AG Ellen Rosenblum @ORDOJ has the power to topple a racist law. And she must. pic.twitter.com/lb16vETRBS  Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 3, 2021

Clinton was referring to a 1934 Oregon law that allowed juries to convict people of most felonies by a 10-2 or 11-1 vote. Louisiana was the only other state that allowed nonunanimous jury convictions until voters struck down the law in 2018.

Critics argued these laws were a relic from a racist past that marginalized minority jurors. Because Oregon is 76% white and 2% Black, according to U.S. Census figures, critics say its rare to see more than one or two Black jurors assigned to any jury. And if jurors of color dissent from the majority, their votes effectively dont count, critics say.

Last April, the U.S. Supreme Court found nonunanimous jury convictions unconstitutional in the case of Ramos v. Louisiana. It allowed Oregonians who were in the middle of their appeals process to have their convictions overturned and retried by the courts.

But hundreds convicted by nonunanimous juries remain in Oregon prisons because their cases and sentences were final at the time of the high courts decision. They are now seeking post-conviction relief in civil court in hopes of having the Ramos decision apply to them and to get a chance for retrials. Legal experts say Ramos does not apply retroactively.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum acknowledged non-unanimous juries are linked to racism, Clinton continued on Twitter. But she wont - yet - topple this racist monument.

Clinton then urged Oregon residents to call on the states attorney general to stand on the right side of justice & stop preventing new trials for those who were unconstitutionally convicted & imprisoned by non-unanimous juries.

In March, Rosenblum responded to critics of her position and said in a statement: I cannot resolve Oregons nearly 100-year practice of less than unanimous jury decisions by executive fiat. It is the courts that decide what the Constitution requires. And the legislature is the place to decide the best policy for the state based on the will of the people.

Rosenblum is waiting for another Supreme Court decision -- Edwards v. Illinois -- to provide a clear legal stance on applying the law retroactively to past nonunanimous jury convictions. Shes said reopening all of those cases would overwhelm the states legal system.

The attorney general reiterated her stance to Clinton via Twitter:

Thank you @ChelseaClinton for your passion and commitment to racial justice. We are working hard to find fair and equitable outcomes in all impacted cases. My promise to Oregonians is that I will continue to review cases through the lens of Justice and Fairness. In fact, we have already asked the courts for retrials in over 400 cases. Im confident well work together to right the wrongs of past injustice and achieve a more equitable state.

Thank you @ChelseaClinton for your passion and commitment to racial justice. We are working hard to find fair and equitable outcomes in all impacted cases. My promise to Oregonians is that I will continue to review cases through the lens of Justice and Fairness. https://t.co/MFkJfqalMW  Ellen Rosenblum (@ORDOJ) May 5, 2021

The 400 cases Rosenblum is referring to, however, were included in the Supreme Court decision because the cases were in the appeals process. Clinton and other advocates for prison reform argue that while Rosenblum doesnt have the direct power to apply the law retroactively, or make final decision about application, she can refuse to defend the cases or concede retroactivity.

--Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens
I am extremely disappointed with Linfield University President Miles K. Davis and its Board of Trustees for the peremptory firing of Professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner (Linfield University president defends firing of tenured professor, says he has no plans to resign, April 30). As a Linfield alumnus (B.A. 62) and a retired faculty member and administrator at three universities, I am fully aware of how shortsighted and contrary to all the principles of academic freedom this decision was. Moreover, as a member of several university accreditation examination committees, I can predict that this action could jeopardize Linfields accreditation.

Other universities, which made similar peremptory firings and which generated faculty votes of no confidence, similar to Linfield facultys recent action, have resulted in accrediting agencies suspending full accreditation status. That could cause significant disruption to Linfields enrollment, since lack of full accreditation limits students ability to receive financial aid. Board Chair David Baca must resign, and President Davis must be suspended, while a trusted blue-ribbon committee makes a thorough investigation of all the charges against the administration.

Pollack-Pelzner should be immediately restored to his status as a tenured faculty member. Anything less could prove fatal to Linfield, which would be a tragic end to the universitys legacy of more than a century and a half of distinguished service to American higher education.

David Dodson, Portland
WALLOWA  The Nez Perce Tribe took another step toward reestablishing itself in its traditional Wallowa County homeland Thursday, April 29, when it received the title to the now-former Wallowa Methodist Church.

The ceremony on the lawn behind the church included about 60 people, most of whom were Nez Perce tribal members from the Lapwai, Idaho-based reservation. Also in attendance were members of the United Methodist Churchs Oregon-Idaho Conference, which has held title to the land and building since it closed June 30.

It was a time of thanksgiving, reconciliation, tradition and blessing on all parts.

Its the transfer of deeds so this church is going back to the Nez Perce Tribe. Were very honored to be able to be here today for this, said Casey Mitchell, vice chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. Any land that comes back to the tribe is a blessing for us, considering this is originally our homeland that we were pushed out of.

Mary Jane Miles, a NPTEC member who was tapped at the last moment to hostess the event, spoke of the gratitude the Nimiipuu  Nez Perce in their own language, meaning the people  for receiving the land.

The bishop of the Oregon-Idaho annual conference of the United Methodist Church has indicated this is an opportunity to join in a partnership with the tribe, she said. This came to me this morning; I opened up my book and there it was: Luke 1:78-79 (she paraphrased) Our God will bring the rising sun to visit us, to guide our feet into the way of friendship, love, strength and peace.

At this, Miles looked to the sunny sky and seemed to acknowledge the fulfillment of prophecy.

The Nimiipuu  the people  are tied to this land, she said. I heard one of the ladies say this morning, We are here forever. It just seemed to warm my heart with what is happening today, how favored we are to be getting this land back to our homeland. And the Nimiipuu are here to stay and I thank you for your drums that just bring in the spirit of the Nimiipuu  as to how this all played out. The Creator is certainly going before us and doing things for our favor.  Most indigenous groups are the people and we are the people.

Speaking to the tribal drummers, who added an air of Nimiipuu authenticity to the occasion, Miles said in a motherly way, I was telling them this morning to behave yourselves. I watched these boys grow up, so I always tell them that when theyre drumming. I am so very proud of them.

NPTEC Chairman Shannon Wheeler, who headed the tribal delegation in accepting the property, was particularly moved at the experience.

As we think about this land and our people moving from here, being forced off of this land, and the year of sorrow as we left, Wheeler said. As the story is told, the last Nez Perce who left looked back and thought, We may never see this land again. Think about that; put yourself in that place at that time. Its who we are as the Nez Perce people and the tear that came down their face that day. We didnt do anything. All we wanted to do was live. All we wanted to do was live in peace.  So for those tears of sorrow at that time  today, if you shed a tear thats OK because theyre tears of joy now because of the land that is being gifted back to the Nimiipuu. The peoples tears of sorrow on that day will be tears of joy. That memory in our blood that flows to each of us, their sorrow is felt today. Our tears of sorrow and joy today will also be felt by our ancestors in the past. Thats what this means to us today.  Our Nez Perce people will think back and look at this day and remember the Methodist Church and their kindness in recognizing that the first people, the Nimiipuu and our rightful position here in this land here where we stand.

He also said that the people from the Methodist Church and others involved in the transaction will go down in history books alongside others who will be remembered for their kindness.

The final pastor of the church, Kaye Garver, also was on hand. She said that when the church closed, the congregation consisted of but five people, down from its peak of about 200 in the 1960s and 1970s.

We didnt have the money to do the needed repairs and pay the insurance, she said. It was a sad but necessary thing. The younger people wanted to move out of the county; they wanted to go to the city and everybody else aged.

Pastor since July 1, 1999, Garver recalled coming to the church somewhat hesitantly.

When I came here to interview for the job, I had my doubts as to whether or not this was going to work, she said. I pulled up outside and there was an angel stained-glass window and I said, OK, thats my sign. I walked in and there were three people I knew from church camps over on the coast and Im going, OK, thats my second sign. So this is where God has led me and the church has been just fantastic people.

Garver recalled how active the church had been in the Wallowa community.

Wed do a lot of things with the community. Wed do breakfasts on Memorial Day Weekend Sunday for the whole community. We would do other meals and dinners during the year for the community, she said. On Christmas Eve, ours was the only Christmas Eve service in town. We brought in people from all denominations for that Christmas Eve service.

But Garver thinks its fitting the property goes to the tribe.

Its a joy that, although we had to leave that building when it closed, that its now going to the Nez Perce, she said.

Laurie Day, director of connectional ministries for the Oregon-Idaho Conference UMC, confirmed the desire of the church to cement its relationship with the Nez Perce in turning over ownership of the property.

The church has a relationship with the Nez Perce Tribe and we checked with them to see if they would like to have the building and the property because they were the original inhabitants of this land, she said. Today is the ceremony where we are returning the property to the Nez Perce.

She said the cash value of the property didnt even come into play.

It was not part of our conversation in returning the property, she said. It was out of friendship and it was the right thing to do. It was not about the financial. It wasnt part of our decision, so it didnt factor into it.

Wheeler and Mitchell agreed that there are no certain plans as to how the property will be used. They said the NPTEC is expected to meet to make such plans.

The buildings old, so were not sure if were going to keep it, Mitchell said of the 1910 structure. The idea is everythings sky-high right now, as far as property goes. We do have a powwow in July here so we may use this as a camping ground and let the folks use the showers and the bathrooms when the powwows going on. We usually have it at the Tamkaliks (the Homeland Project in Wallowa).

Miles concluded the festivities on a solemn note.

Now I offer a prayer, in the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ, for this gathering that we are in as we walk and you go before us that you are leading into a place of peace that passeth all understanding. As the world goes, we know there is disunity, but in this particular occasion, we are against that and we rebuke it, she said. We thank you for what is happening with our brothers and sisters. We are grateful. We say all of this in Your Sons Name, Jesus, the Christ, amen.

--Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Two Republicans in the Oregon Senate have introduced a bill aimed squarely at the political ambitions of two of their fellow Republican senators.

Senate Bill 865 would ban anyone elected to a statewide elected office, a judicial position or the state Legislature from also holding a leadership role in a state political party.

That would currently affect exactly two people in Oregon: Dallas Heard and Dennis Linthicum. Both are Republican state senators, and both were elected to leadership roles in the Oregon Republican Party in February: Heard as its chair, and Linthicum as its treasurer. Heard is from Myrtle Creek and Linthicum is from Klamath Falls, both in southern Oregon.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena and Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale. Vale and Athena are in eastern Oregon. The measure states that it was introduced at the request of the local Republican parties of three eastern Oregon counties.

Hansell and Findley released a joint statement.

We have been contacted by our constituents both in and out of the Republican Party who are concerned about the mixing of party politics and legislative policy-making, the statement said. All of a sudden, certain votes are being seen as official positions of all Republicans in Oregon when they arent, and vice versa. There are potential conflicts of interest and ethical considerations, and we have a responsibility to ensure the integrity of the legislature is not in question.

A legislative aide for Heard said Wednesday that the senator was not available for comment. Linthicum did not respond to a request for comment. Neither lawmaker was present for Wednesdays Senate floor session, during which senators cast votes on a controversial gun safety bill that passed on yes votes cast solely by Democrats.

The bill to regulate party leadership is just the latest sign of division among Senate Republicans. Since the start of the session, the caucus has seen two of its members leave to become self-identified independents: Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas and Sen. Art Robinson of Cave Junction. Boquist and Robinson continue to vote with Republicans on most bills, but neither considers himself a part of the caucus.

And while some GOP senators have chosen to walk out as an attempt to deny majority Democrats a quorum during key votes on gun bills, a half-dozen Republicans have remained each time, including caucus leader Sen. Fred Girod of Lyons. The decision to stay and vote has spurred a recall effort against Girod, even though he voted no.

The measure is also not the first example of a split between lawmakers and the Oregon Republican Party this year. After the party released a statement calling the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol a false flag operation, the Oregon House Republican caucus issued a statement distancing itself from the state party.

As written, Senate Bill 865 would apply to any political party. Currently, there are no elected state officials serving on the Democratic Party of Oregons leadership. A spokesperson for the party declined to comment.

Chris Lehman clehman@oregonian.com
Two years ago, Merle Kirk asked Oregon legislators for help.

During a House committee hearing in February 2019, she told the story of the women in her family who have disappeared or were murdered over the last 60 years.

Kirk told lawmakers that her sister, Mavis Kirk-Greeley, died in 2009 after she was deliberately hit by a vehicle on the Warm Springs Reservation. The driver was never convicted of a crime. For Kirk, her sisters death echoed the 1957 murder of her grandmother, Mavis Josephine McKay, on the Yakama Indian Reservation and adds more grief to the loss of yet another relative.

My first cousin, Lisa Pearl Briseno, shes been missing since 1997, said Kirk, who is of Wasco, Warm Springs, Dine, and Yakama heritage. That affects our whole family. I was raised with her, she stayed with my dad and mom until she graduated. And so, shes like my sister. In Native ways, all our cousins are brother and sister.

Months after she testified in Salem, Kirk again shared her familys story at the first-ever listening session by Oregon officials working to address the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. A beadwork portrait Kirk made of her sister became a symbol of the movement in Oregon to draw attention to the murders and disappearances. The portrait graces T-shirts and pins at events drawing awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, often shortened to MMIWG.

As Kirk told her story, state legislators and federal officials across the U.S. and Canada were finally paying attention to activists like her who were demanding an end to the impunity that largely results in disappearances and murders of Native women and girls.

In 2019, Oregon lawmakers declared Missing and Murdered Women a statewide emergency. House Bill 2625, signed by the governor in May of that year, directed Oregon State Police to study how to combat the unsolved killings and disappearances of Native Americans.

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the states efforts. Last year, a series of statewide listening sessions with lawmakers, state agencies, law enforcement, and tribal communities in both rural and city environments was cut short, due to the states pandemic limitations on gatherings. Officials had planned 13 sessions, but held only five. While the state police released their report in September, the agency says its waiting on lawmakers to take additional action. Wednesday is a national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which includes boys and men.

I feel like thats a long time, Kirk said of the two years that have passed since her testimony before the Legislature. But I hope thisll give them time to get programs and all the things that are needed for the families and for the victims. In that meantime, theres a lot of families that have tried to report and not (been) taken seriously.

Lack of trust

One of the findings in the OSPs September report is that Native Americans are often reluctant to turn to the federal and state agencies tasked with investigating murders and disappearances, and dont expect law enforcement to take action on their behalf. The report found that law enforcement agencies need to strengthen their relationships with Native American communities in the state. Other recommendations included partnering on open and cold case investigations with the Operation Lady Justice task force formed under the Trump Administration and educating law enforcement personnel on the history of Oregons Indigenous people and the complexities between state and tribal law.

An OSP spokesman said the agency is waiting on more direction from the legislature before acting. Rep. Tawna Sanchez, the primary sponsor of the 2019 legislation, said the state police report will inform future legislation, which she expects to be introduced next year. The Oregon bill has been a model for other states, said Sanchez, whos of Shoshone-Bannock, Ute, and Carrizo descent.

Its not perfect, she said. Theres probably more we can do and learn.

Homicide is the third leading cause of death of American Indian and Alaska Native women. And on some reservations, where a patchwork of overlapping federal, state, and tribal jurisdictions can result in confusion about whos responsible for an investigation, the murder rate for women is 10 times that of the rest of the country.

A 2018 report by the Urban Indian Health Institute found that unsolved murders and disappearances of Native people is also a serious problem in major cities. But the institute found that tracking murders and disappearances is difficult. Misclassification of race by police departments and the lack of a centralized database creates barriers to understanding the scope of the problem and to investigating murders and disappearances.

A patchwork of data

Briseno, Kirks cousin, is one of 11 missing Native Americans listed in the first official Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons report issued by the Oregon U.S. Attorneys Office in February. Just as it was being finalized, human remains found on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation were identified as Tina Vel Spino, a 58-year old whod disappeared in August 2020. Because the exact cause of death has yet to be determined, Vel Spino is still classified as missing.

There are also eight Native people listed as murdered.

The report is the work of Cedar Wilkie Gillette, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregons first designated MMIP Coordinator and a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. Gillette, who began her job in June 2020, is one of 11 coordinators across the country. Among her first job is compiling a mix of local and national data into a centralized way of tracking murders and disappearances.

Theres national databases that have their own definitions of what they consider missing and murdered data, and what they would even consider data in Oregon, says Gillette. And they are largely inconsistent at the moment. Theyre not made to work together.

For example, the Oregon State Police say there are 13 unsolved cases of missing Native Americans and three unsolved murders in the state, while the National Crime Information Center says there are nine and three, respectively. And the University of North Texas National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database says there are eight missing Indigenous people in Oregon, but does not track murdered data.

Police agencies have also recorded murdered and missing Native Americans as members of other racial and ethnic groups, preventing them from being included in MMIP data. That happened in the case of Heather Cameron, a Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde member who has been missing in August of 2012. Not only was she misclassified as white in initial reports, but her last known location outside Redding, Calif., caused her to be excluded from Oregon data.

So right now, the national databases would not count her as Oregon data, says Gillette. They would count her as California data. But our office would count her as Oregon data because shes a tribal member from Oregon.

Gillette is now working with spreadsheets and websites to create a unified database that her agency can use to better track MMIP cases. And shes also working on a pilot project with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to develop a community response plan to MMIP cases, so the tribal government knows what resources are available and how to resolve the cases as quickly as possible. She hopes to have the plan developed in the latter half of this year. Meanwhile, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation announced the countrys first tribal community response plan in April.

Our great hope

One recent event thats inspired activists and officials is Deb Haalands ascension from New Mexico Congresswoman to the first Native American Secretary of the Interior. Shes already announced the creation of an MMIP unit under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with a $6 million budget  six times more than the DOJs Operation Lady Justice.

I have 100 percent faith in her, says Deborah Maytubee Shipman, founder of MMIW USA. Shes our great hope.

Shipman, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, founded her organization in 2015, after two friends were murdered in Gallup, New Mexico. The Portland-based group helps track missing women and girls all across the country, and it offers self-defense programs as well as support for families of victims.

Shipman says given the vast distances and stretched resources of many tribal police departments, its not uncommon for victims to feel isolated and helpless.

Because even if law enforcement gets to you, theyre going to leave so youre left there with that abuser, she said. Thats where we need to have more control over punishing these people.

Merle Kirk says shed like to see mental health support provided to the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, including a toll-free phone number for counseling. She also wants the media to highlight the cases, with available facts and suspects, akin to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations Taken documentary series. She says in neighboring Idaho, a billboard in Lewiston highlights the issue, and she adds that implementing a check in social media app or program could help families and friends track Native youth better.

On Wednesday, Native American theater group illiloo and the Indigenous Womxns Wellness Group of the University of Oregon will hold a night of poetry and remembrance in the Springfield-Eugene area. After participants hang red garments on trees along the Willamette River, there will be an honoring song and ceremony. Red dresses have become a symbol of MMIWG awareness, and each garment hung Wednesday represents a missing or murdered Indigenous woman.

Merle Kirk says she and other community members will wear red  including shirts with the beaded emblem of her sister  at gatherings on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

I just send out love, prayers, and hope and healing for all the families of the missing and murdered, says Kirk. And I pray that all the victims that are missing will return home for closure for everybody. Youre not alone, our families members are never forgotten. Always in our hearts and in our prayers.
Public safety is a partnership including the NYPD, prosecutors and the community. Liz Crotty knows we all have to work together to protect the residents of Manhattan, said Lieutenants Benevolent Association president Lou Turco. She is the best candidate to build on that partnership for safe streets in Manhattan.
SPOKANE, Wash.  Some Republican members of Congress from the Northwest are accusing a GOP Idaho lawmaker of conducting secret negotiations with the Democratic governor of Oregon over a controversial proposal to breach four dams on the Snake River to save endangered salmon runs.

But Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, replied that he has for several years been telling everyone who would listen about his proposal for a comprehensive solution to save salmon.

How is that secret? Simpson asked this week. My staff has had discussions with nearly every governor, member of Congress, and U.S. senator in the Columbia Basin on this proposal.

Simpsons plan to remove the Ice Harbor, Little Goose, Lower Granite, Lower Monumental dams also includes a 35-year moratorium on lawsuits, ending costly litigation over the dams environmental impact. That provision prompted more than a dozen Northwest environmental groups to oppose the plan. Democratic lawmakers have also been lukewarm to the proposal.

On Wednesday, Reps. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, and Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued a strongly worded statement upon learning of a Freedom of Information Act release detailing coordination between the offices of Simpson and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown regarding the proposal to breach the four dams.

For months, Rep. Simpson has been speaking with us about his sweeping dam-breaching proposal, touting transparency and an open process while telling us it was simply a legislative concept for the Northwest delegation to consider, the lawmakers, who oppose breaching the dams, said.

What he didnt tell us was that he has been coordinating for months with Oregon Governor Kate Browns staff behind the scenes to shepherd his proposal through Congress with little to no support from Pacific Northwest representatives  Republican or Democrat, the lawmakers said.

Its clear this proposal is not just a starting point, but rather a radical and fully-baked plan he is actively seeking to put into law, they said.

The three Republicans also suggest Simpsons discussions with Brown could hurt an agreement signed last year by the governors of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana to work together on solving an issue that has bedeviled the Northwest for decades.

The documents were released in response to a public information request by the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group that opposes Simpsons plan.

We rarely agree with Rep. Newhouse, but when it comes to removing the Snake River dams, we too insist that there must be a transparent, open process that involves all stakeholders, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. A deal made behind closed doors with just the good ol boys will be worse for salmon, worse for the river and worse for the region.

The center opposes Simpsons proposal, which would suspend key federal environmental regulations and exempt 80 other dams in the Columbia River basin from accountability for clean water and harmful impacts on salmon and other species.

In his statement, Simpson called the Center for Biological Diversity one of the extreme environmental groups that is opposed to my concept because it would end their business model of keeping the stakeholders in the region in perennial litigation over the four Lower Snake River dams.

Simpsons Columbia Basin Initiative, proposes removing the earthen portions of the four dams, while making all the regional stakeholders whole. Most of the proposed $33.5 billion cost of the plan would replace the power the dams generate, the barging capacity they provide between the Tri-Cities region of Washington and Lewiston, Idaho, plus irrigation and other benefits.

Browns office did not respond to a request for comment.

But Simpson on Wednesday issued a statement defending the proposal he has worked on for three years, involving some 300 meetings.

I expected pushback when this all started, he said. What I did not expect was colleagues with whom I have worked for a number of years on a number of issues to question my integrity, to insinuate I have lied about my motivation and in fact have nefarious intentions  to  what? Sabotage the economy of my own state?

-- The Associated Press
Oregon says it wont be ready to start providing paid family and medical leave benefits by a January 2023 deadline and has asked lawmakers to delay the rollout of the states long-anticipated program.

A bill introduced in the Oregon House on Tuesday on behalf of the Employment Department would give the state agency until September 2022 to adopt rules to establish the program and would defer the date when employers must begin paying into the program until January 2023  delaying both deadlines by a full year.

If the bill is adopted, Oregon workers would not start seeing benefits through the new program until September 2023, eight months after the program is currently supposed to go into effect.

Both advocates of the legislation and the Employment Department said the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the vital need for paid family and medical leave.

However, Patty Jo Angelini, a spokesperson for the Employment Department, said the timeline lawmakers set for the rollout of the program was always ambitious and that the agency was forced to shift its focus away from the program due to the pandemic.

Since Dec. 2019, the Oregon Employment Department has taken significant steps toward building the program, Angelini said in an email. However, the impacts of the pandemic over the last year, including the agencys need to shift nearly all efforts to administer unemployment insurance benefits to hundreds of thousands of Oregonians has made clear that to successfully implement an equitable and accessible PFMLI program, the implementation timeline would need to be adjusted.

Oregon became the ninth state to commit to offering a paid family and medical leave program when lawmakers enacted the Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program in 2019. At the time, proponents heralded the legislation as one of the most progressive paid family leave policies in the nation.

The law will provide Oregon workers who earned at least $1,000 in the preceding year with up to 12 weeks of paid time off to bond with and care for new children, navigate illness, care for family members with serious health conditions or seek medical treatment in cases of domestic violence.

The state and federal government already offer many employees access to up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave, but Oregons new law will offer generous paid benefits. Under the law, low-wage workers will have their entire paychecks covered during their leave. The benefits decrease as income rises.

The program will be funded by a payroll tax of up to 1% on employers and employees.

Sandra McDonough, president & CEO of Oregon Business & Industry, which supported the 2019 legislation, said the implementation of the program shouldnt be rushed to meet an arbitrary deadline and urged lawmakers to accept the Employment Departments request for more time to develop the program.

We appreciate the Employment Departments acknowledgement of the challenges throughout the past year for businesses and state agencies alike, McDonough said in an email. By delaying the implementation of the paid family and medical leave program by a year, they are ensuring that this complex implementation process is done the right way.

Andrea Paluso, executive director for Family Forward Oregon, which helped craft the legislation, said she wasnt surprised that the state had requested more time to implement the program given the strain the Employment Department has been under over the last year.

The Employment Department has had to put nearly all its resources toward responding to a flood of new unemployment claims resulting from the pandemic. The agencys ancient computer system proved wholly incapable of responding to the crisis early on, leaving nearly 200,000 Oregonians with unpaid claims for weeks or months last year.

While Paluso said she is disappointed that the agency is now asking to delay the paid family and medical leave program as a result, she said she is hopeful that the extra time will allow the Employment Department to roll out a better and more effective program.

Theres a lot of strain on our government programs right now with an unprecedented level of need, Paluso said. But I am hopeful because the signs show theres a real commitment to this program and a commitment to implementing it successfully and taking the time that it will take to do that.

Even if lawmakers do adopt the extended timeline, Angelini said it will still be an aggressive deadline for the Employment Department to meet.

She said the agency needs time to develop the policy, work with other state agencies to prepare for the implementation and build a modern technology platform so applications can be processed digitally.

We are committed to ensuring the program we launch is equitable, inclusive, and well-functioning, Angelini said. And that Oregonians have access to these much-needed benefits as quickly as possible.

Paluso said the pandemic has highlighted the vital need for paid family and medical leave, and the consequences of delaying those benefits.

Roughly 2.5 million women have left the workforce since the start of the pandemic, according to Labor Department data, in many cases due to increased challenges balancing work while caring for children or family members.

Every day that we dont have this program, families are at risk of falling behind, Paluso said, of losing their jobs, of losing income because they dont have these basic financial and job protections.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
This 2020 electron microscope made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention image shows the spherical coronavirus particles from the first U.S. case of COVID-19.
Adams said he doesnt make much of his jump ahead of opponent Andrew Yang  I dont focus on polls, dont even look at them, he told the Daily News  and polling in municipal elections is often spotty. But the hopeful said he does believe the race is entering a new phase.
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After nearly a year of being displaced by the dam failures and subsequent flooding last May, the Billings family was able to return to its newly rebuilt home in Sanford.

Family, friends and community agencies welcomed Chris Billings and his daughters, BethAnn, Kayte and Kristiena to their house on Wednesday afternoon.

The Billings home was the second house to be revitalized as part of Midland County Habitat for Humanity and United Way of Midland Countys Repair. Rebuild. Restore" program, which began earlier this year.

This has been a collaborative process. Working with Habitat for Humanity has been a huge blessing. They bring so much expertise and knowledge. Working together alongside the Long Term Recovery Group has really demonstrated the power of people coming together for a common cause, said Holly Miller, president and CEO of United Way of Midland County.

Billings, who has lived in Sanford for 20 years, lost his home after the floodwaters lifted the structure off its foundation and destroyed practically everything inside. He had already ordered his houses shell and had a new foundation laid by the time a disaster case worker with the Long Term Recovery Group recommended him for the Repair. Rebuild. Restore program.

While Habitat for Humanity worked out how to frame the foundation inside the house and collaborated with Billings to design the interior, United Way contributed $250,000 to its Rise Together Fund which helped finance the project and coordinated volunteer efforts.

Its a fabulous relationship in trying to not only overcome the flood but trying to maneuver how we can serve the community through a global pandemic, said Jennifer Chappel, president and CEO of Midland County Habitat for Humanity.

Billings helped when and where he could, working around his own schedule and his girls school schedules. On the weekends, he assisted Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager Erich Ostrander to install insulation, paint walls and work on other projects to keep things going on schedule.

Theyre a wonderful family to work with. They were very helpful, very kind, very patient. I think thats the greater part of this, because imagine how frustrating their situation has been. Im just grateful that theyre home, Ostrander said.

Billings expressed his appreciation for not only Habitat for Humanity and United Way, but also for local groups who brought food to his family, the hotel which housed them for seven months, community organizers who gave support in numerous ways, and the volunteers who worked on the house.

Over the past year, Billings has grown to love his neighbors and volunteers as family.

Its been a lifesaver. I dont know where Id be without them, Billings said.

Habitat for Humanity and United Way are continuing to look for the next project and are working with community partners to identify and fill area needs.

Theres still a lot of work left to do, Ostrander said.

If you need help rebuilding, dont be afraid to ask. There are a lot of people out there who dont want to ask. There is a lot of help out there, Billings said.

Pastor Matt Schramm of Memorial Presbyterian Church blessed the structure before the Billings family officially entered their new home.

May this day inspire and encourage those who are still on their way to recovery as well as those who might yet volunteer, Schramm said. God, bless all who enter these doors. May this be a beacon of hope and light in the darkness, and may the community symbolized in this effort speak hope into the lives of all.

Those interested in volunteering with Repair. Rebuild. Restore" projects can visit www.volunteerglbr.org. For rebuilding or housing assistance, call the disaster case managers at 989-374-8000.
To the editor:

The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network held its second mobile food pantry of this year on Thursday, April 15, at Faith United Methodist Church in Coleman. The food was provided free of charge from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint.

Thirty volunteers served 151 families with 18,167 pounds of food. The drive-thru distribution included frozen meats, apples, potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal and other boxed foods. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, the food was sorted and boxed in the church parking lot and the recipients of food remained in their vehicles for the food distribution. (This process will be standard for upcoming mobile events.)

After the food was distributed, the ladies of the church treated the volunteers to ta delicious lunch of sandwiches, coleslaw, chips, cookies and beverages. Three Coleman High School students who are members of the National Honor Society enjoyed the lunch before they returned to their studies. We are grateful for the volunteer service of Paige Lynch, Brayden Servis and Hunter Harsh.

The network is also very grateful to the many donors of food, money and time throughout the year to the network's mission of "Always food in every home." Midland County residents in (financial) need of food during the year may call 211 or the network at 989-486-9393 to leave your name and phone number.

The next MFP is scheduled tentatively for Thursday, May 13, in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church on Jefferson Avenue in Midland.

Thanks again to Pastor Scott Marsh and the generous congregation and community in Coleman for its partnering ministry every early-spring!

SALLY ANN SUTTON

Midland County EFPN
Shanghai brushes up for cosmetic festival

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-05-05 13:17

Shanghai kicked off its 2021 International Cosmetic Festival on Wednesday, part of a series of ongoing campaigns to spur consumption nationwide.

The monthlong event, co-hosted by Shanghai's Municipal Commission of Commerce and the government of Jing'an district, aims to enhance the metropolis' allure as a global hub for beauty and skincare products, organizers said in a press release.

A total of 24 cosmetics brands, including international labels Tom Ford and Sisley, as well as homegrown marques Chando and Perfect Diary, will roll out new offerings during the extravaganza.

Li Jiaqi, a household name known for recommending cosmetics through livestreaming, was selected as ambassador.

Highlights of the launch ceremony also included the unveiling of L'Oreal Group's North Asia Zone headquarters in Shanghai. The Chinese market registered nearly 38 percent year-on-year growth for L'Oreal in the March quarter, compared with 10.2 percent globally.

"L'Oreal is re-organizing itself and is creating this North Asia zone as a beauty golden triangle between China and Korea and Japan," said Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L'Oreal China. "Shanghai is the center of this golden triangle to grasp all these trends and continue to inspire consumers."

The activity falls under the umbrella of the second edition of Shanghai's 5-5 Shopping Festival, which debuted last May in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak to stimulate spending.
The freshly adopted Florida law  which passed the Legislature without Republicans being able to cite any specific instances of fraud  restricts when and how drop boxes can be used for absentee ballots, which were predominantly cast by Democrats in the last election cycle. The boxes, for instance, can now only accept ballots when election offices and early voting sites are open.
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 1995, file photo, a wolf leaps across a road into the wilds of Central Idaho. The Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group, is asking the U.S. government to cut off millions of dollars to Idaho that's used to improve wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities in the wake of legislation that could lead to killing 90% of the wolves in the state. (AP Photo/Douglas Pizac, File)
Eric Adams was there for my family when tragedy struck, and he stood with us to demand justice when the officers responsible for the murder of my son were not held accountable, Bell said in a written statement. There is no one else running for mayor who understands that public safety and justice must go hand-in-hand  and who can truly bring reform to the NYPD.
NORMAL  Members of the Graduate Workers Union at Illinois State University say they are waiting for a response from the administrations negotiating team following their latest counteroffer.

The two sides met via videoconference for a seventh time with an independent federal mediator on Monday. Negotiations began about 19 months ago.

The union, part of Service Employees International Union Local 73, said in a press release that it presented a comprehensive counterproposal to one presented by the administration on April 23.

That administration offer came after members of the union voted to authorize their bargaining team to prepare to strike. There are still several steps that must be taken before a strike can take place.

In its April 23 offer, the administration proposed two alternatives to stipend increases, both of which would add an additional year to the contract.

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One would increase minimum stipends in that additional year 7.5% to 12%; the other alternative would provide only 2% increases to the minimum stipends in the additional year but guarantees immediate increases at ratification and in each subsequent contract year to graduate teaching assistants who already earn above the new minimum stipends.

The union described as disappointing the 2% raise and a 10% reduction in fees that are part of that latest administration offer.

The administration said on its website, seiunegotiations.ilstu.edu, that under either alternative in its latest offer, ISUs minimum stipend would exceed the average minimum stipend at peer institutions.

The union said the counteroffer it presented on Monday included "substantial movement" in areas such as raises, fees and health insurance.

A continued sticking point appears to be language related to support for strikes.

The union has characterized the administrations position as a deal breaker and an attempt to take away legal rights. The administration said it does not violate the First Amendment and is consistent with language in contracts at other Illinois public educational institutions.

Another negotiation session has not been announced.

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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SPRINGFIELD  McLean County Deputy Clarence "Doc" Lanham was among those honored Thursday in Springfield, where members of Illinois law enforcement community gathered to remembered officers killed in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020.

In a ceremony at the Illinois State Capitol, the names of 16 Illinois officers killed in the line of duty over the past two years, as well as six historic honorees, were read and added to the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the Capitol grounds.

Lanham's honor comes 54 years after his death in July 1967. That night, he and deputy Wilford Schroeder took over the high-speed police pursuit of presumed armed robbery suspects on Illinois Route 9 from Gibson City.

The deputies finally got the man to stop his vehicle about 15 miles east of Bloomington after Schroeder fired warning shots. The man turned out not to be the suspect, but after they brought him into custody for reckless driving and fleeing police, Schroeder heard a thud and saw Lanham collapse out of the corner of his eye.

Lanham suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at 1:09 a.m. July 27, 1967, at the age of 60. McLean County Chief Deputy Hadley Welsch said the county sheriffs office had been trying to get Lanham on the state memorial for several years.

Speaking during the ceremony, Gloria Bodnar, member of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, expressed gratitude to the ongoing struggles police officers face on a day-to-day basis. She said names etched on the memorial walls would be remembered by friends and loved ones forever. Her husband, William Bodnar Jr., was killed in duty in 1974 and his name appears on the wall.

Its not how these officers died that made them heroes, its how they lived. We are here today to honor their life, their service and their stories, Bodnar said. This memorial stands as a symbol that is dedicated to the men and women killed in the line of duty whose names are now etched in stone.

We will say their names today. And we will remember their lives, and we will appreciate their service, and honor their sacrifice. Because thats what we can do, she added.

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs also spoke at the ceremony, offering his gratitude to the service of Illinois police officers and condolences to the families.

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Its been a difficult year, but not nearly as difficult as what these families experience every day, knowing their loved ones arent coming home again, Frerichs said.

Frerichs echoed words from President Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address, saying that the honored officers shall not have died in vain.

Today we are here, as we should be, to mourn those who have died so that we may live in peace, he said.

Ron Watkins, son of David Watkins, former President of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee who helped organize the construction of the memorial, said the memorial stands as a powerful testament to officers who have lost their lives.

This is really here for the surviving families. Its for them, and a memory for those officers, Watkins said.

Following remarks from speakers, memorial plaques were presented to the families and colleagues of each of the 16 officers added to the memorial wall.

David Johnson, president of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, closed the ceremony by saying the memorial forever will stand to honor the lives of officers who gave their lives in defense of the publics safety.

We come here not to honor how your family member died, but how they lived their life. Because that is their true mark that they left, Johnson said.

Lanham joins four other former McLean County deputies already on the memorial. To be included, the officer must have died while performing their job and have been submitted through an application process.

This of course was a heart-related condition, but its pretty clear that had this not happened that night, everybodys pretty confident that he probably would not have passed away that night, but the stress of the whole incident, the exertion he put into it, it contributed to his death, Welsch said.

The McLean County coroners report of Lanhams death concluded that it was avoidable.

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SPRINGFIELD  After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, members of Illinois law enforcement community gathered in Springfield Thursday to honor officers killed in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020.

In a ceremony at the Illinois State Capitol, the names of 16 Illinois officers killed in the line of duty over the past two years, as well as six historic honorees, were read and added to the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the Capitol grounds.

Speaking during the ceremony, Gloria Bodnar, member of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, expressed gratitude to the ongoing struggles police officers face on a day-to-day basis. She said names etched on the memorial walls would be remembered by friends and loved ones forever. Her husband, William Bodnar Jr., was killed in duty in 1974 and his name appears on the wall.

Its not how these officers died that made them heroes, its how they lived. We are here today to honor their life, their service and their stories, Bodnar said. This memorial stands as a symbol that is dedicated to the men and women killed in the line of duty whose names are now etched in stone.

We will say their names today. And we will remember their lives, and we will appreciate their service, and honor their sacrifice. Because thats what we can do, she added.

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs also spoke at the ceremony, offering his gratitude to the service of Illinois police officers and condolences to the families.

Its been a difficult year, but not nearly as difficult as what these families experience every day, knowing their loved ones arent coming home again, Frerichs said.

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Frerichs echoed words from President Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address, saying that the honored officers shall not have died in vain.

Today we are here, as we should be, to mourn those who have died so that we may live in peace, he said.

Ron Watkins, son of David Watkins, former President of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee who helped organize the construction of the memorial, said the memorial stands as a powerful testament to officers who have lost their lives.

This is really here for the surviving families. Its for them, and a memory for those officers, Watkins said.

Following remarks from speakers, memorial plaques were presented to the families and colleagues of each of the 16 officers added to the memorial wall.

David Johnson, president of the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, closed the ceremony by saying the memorial forever will stand to honor the lives of officers who gave their lives in defense of the publics safety.

We come here not to honor how your family member died, but how they lived their life. Because that is their true mark that they left, Johnson said.

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Toss a rock in Illinois and youre bound to hit a unit of government. Mosquito abatement districts, townships, drainage districts, joint water agencies, housing authorities, sanitary districts  Illinois has them all, in abundance. The official tally is 6,918, higher than in any other state.

But that might be a serious undercount. A recent report by the Civic Federation found the actual total to be 8,923. Only one other state has more than 5,000. We have more special purpose units than Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin combined.

If the total tax burden on residents is ever going to be reduced, some of those government bodies have to go. The Lake County Board noted in 2018, in reference to the Lakes Region Sanitary District, Every time customers of the LRSD flush their toilet, they pay four taxes and fees to three different government entities.

Cost is not the only consequence of the profusion. Voters cant possibly keep track of all the elected and appointed officials who run such bodies and have so much effect on the lives of ordinary people. In the April 6 election, 345 offices appeared on ballots in Lake County  and 220 races were uncontested. It makes a sham of democracy.

Fortunately, there are glimmers of hope on this front. In recent years, the General Assembly has passed measures making it easier to consolidate or dissolve government bodies  merge and purge. Last year, Lake County voters agreed to get rid of the office of recorder of deeds, assigning its tasks to the county clerk. Ela Township residents voted to dissolve their road district.

In 2018, the Lake County Board adopted a plan aimed at eliminating duplicative and unnecessary units of local government. It scrapped the LRSD and a drainage district in Mundelein and Vernon Hills, and its now taking steps to close the Lake Bluff Mosquito Abatement District, which has spent some $900,000 over the past decade.

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Board Chair Sandy Hart said her constituents worry about the environmental risks of spraying, and she thinks the county can handle any needed tasks at a lower cost. What are other municipalities doing? she asked. Are they spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on eradicating mosquitoes? I dont think so.

DuPage County says it has saved $145 million since 2011 by dissolving such entities as the Highland Hills Sanitary District and consolidating the election commission into the county clerks office.

Decisions like this are a welcome change in a state whose residents pay among the highest property taxes in the nation. As Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says, Especially at a time when local governments are facing severe revenue shortfalls as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, streamlining redundant services makes financial sense and would put Illinois governments in line with best practices.

And House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch should free House Bill 2994 from his Rules Committee. Sponsored by Tim Butler, R-Springfield, the bill would allow a vote on government consolidation in his district. Last week, when the bill appeared to be dying in committee, he chastised Welch for sitting on the bill for political reasons.

Move the bill, Mr. Speaker. Voters in Butlers district should be able to decide whether to combine their governments.

The elimination of any one of these tiny entities doesnt amount to much by itself. But a sustained drive to reduce their number would pay off in the long run. It brings to mind what Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu of South Africa said: There is only one way to eat an elephant  a bite at a time.

Chicago Tribune.

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On the 23rd of April, 2013, Tonaton.com made its entry into the Ghanaian online marketplace space.



Before its entry, the Ghanaian online marketplace industry could be described to be under-served.



Salt side which is on a mission to create leading marketplaces in under-served markets made a bold decision to bring online buying and selling to the Ghanaian people through Tonaton.com.



Starting with 0 ads and 0 users, the platform has grown into one of the top sites in the country.



Tonaton.com has been one of the most visited websites in Ghana receiving more than a million monthly unique visitors. These users spend an average of 10.54 minutes daily buying and/or selling on the platform.



Over its 8 years of existence, Tonaton has been recognized through several awards including Winner of 2015 Excellence in E-commerce Award  Maiden Ghana Auto Awards. The company was also honored as the Best Oil and Gas online jobs platform in the Oil and Gas Ghana Awards scheme.



To commemorate Tonatons 8th anniversary, the company has expanded to the Central and Western regions of Ghana, which aligns with its mission to bring the online marketplace experience to underserved markets. The company has over the years operated only from the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.



Tonaton.com has gained prominence due to its large listings of used and brand new items; from cars and vehicles, fashion, electronics, property, home appliances to beauty products. Tonaton, which means buy and sell in the Ghanaian Twi language has grown to become Ghanas Largest Marketplace for buying and selling anything.









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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I am humbled and honored to receive the endorsement of Valerie Bell, the candidate said in a statement. I look forward to working with her to ensure that not only is New York City able to come back, but that our city is fairer, more accountable and inclusive.
Board member of Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Michael Cobblah, has advised pupils in Adaklu Ahunda Kpodzi in the Volta region to utilize an ultramodern computer centre built by the foundation, to enhance their skills.



Mr Cobblah said this when speaking at the handing over ceremony held by Vodafone Ghana Foundation to present the new ICT facility to Adaklu Ahunda Kpodzi.



According to him, the new ICT facility is one of four projects implemented by the foundation through its Kindred Month programme aimed at boosting education.



Proficiency in ICT is now regarded as an important basic skill; it is a basic structure for information and knowledge. I hope and believe that the lab will contribute to ICT teaching and learning in the schools around this community, he said.



He further urged pupils in the community to utilize the new computer lab to gain practical know-how on the basics of computer and ICT. Its up to you to take advantage of it and improve your ICT skills, he admonished.



On his part, acting Headmaster of the school, Michael Amenyui, concurred, intimating that without knowledge in ICT, the 21st-century school pupil is in the wilderness and his or her future is bleak.



This facility will thus go a long way to help pupils of Adaklu Ahunda Basic School excel in their ICT exams, and in the future, work in technology companies like Vodafone Ghana, he encouraged.



While pledging his readiness to accommodate pupils from other schools in the community and beyond, Mr Amenyui encouraged the pupils to make maximum use of the facility.



Overall, after painting the centre, the foundation installed a Wi-Fi router, 15 sets of brand-new desktop computers, seven computer monitors to supplement other accessories, ten pieces of furniture, and a whiteboard.



The revamped ICT lab will facilitate ICT teaching and learning in the community, made up of 1,500 residents including 200 children at Adaklu Ahunda Kpodzi in the Volta region

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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Co-chairman for Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Steve Manteaw says Ghana cannot blame its failure to exploit its minerals on foreign companies engaging in mining and oil business in the country.



According to him, many countries with oil in commercial quantities including Ghana set up their own companies immediately after discovering oil in the country in order not to leave the oil exploration business to foreign companies alone.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Dr Steve Manteaw indicated that many of those countries with oil in commercial quantities have been successful due to the fact that they took charged of the oil business and contracted foreign companies to do the most difficult part of the work and pay them off.



He was of the view that Ghana could have adopted the same approach by making sure that GNPC has the capacity to exploit the countrys oil and rather task the foreign companies to do the labourer work so as to make the profit remains in the country.



Ask yourself that since GNPC was established, has it been able to develop its capacity to the level where it can take the oil bloc and exploit the oil? So, we cannot blame our failure on the foreigners who are doing mining or exploiting oil in the country, he chided.



He again said that the leaders of the country from the onset of the mining and oil businesses failed to negotiate well for the country as they sold the countrys raw materials very cheap to the foreign companies.



We go for negotiations, the raw materials belong to us but if we sell them very cheap, how do we turn round to blame the foreigners? If you are a poor negotiator, how do you turn round to come and blame the foreign companies that you went into negotiation with?, he asked.



He wondered how the foreigners can outwit our leaders in negotiations when they attended the same school and are even better academically than them [foreigners].



Another bottleneck Dr Steve Manteaw raised has to do with institutions that have been bastardized and turned to extensions of political parties in power; thus, any political party in power tends to employ its own people at GNPC as this status quo if continues to persist, will affect the development of the country.









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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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has charged all Ghanaians to join the battle against illegal miners in the country.



Illegal miners' activities have destroyed the country's forest reserves, waterbodies and the communities they operate.



As a result, there are incessant calls for action to be taken against illegal mining, also called galamsey.



The President has deployed 200 soldiers to remove all persons and mining logistics from Ghanas waterbodies.



The operation started on River Pra in the Central and Western Regions.



This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.



"In furtherance of the resolutions of the final communique, of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on April 14 -15, 2021 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 Ghanas water bodies. The operation commenced at 0600 hours on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 on the River Pra in the Central and Western regions of Ghana. Two Hundred (200) officers of the Ghana Armed Forces are involved in the operation," the statement read.



Addressing the galamsey menace in a panel discussion on Peace FM's flagship programme 'Kokrokoo', Allotey Jacobs called on Ghanaians to collectively support and help the President to accomplish his goal in the mining sector.



To him, only a 'stupid' person will refuse to join the crusade against illegal mining.



He feared the galamsey menace will have dire repercussions on the nation in the future if not stopped.



"Are we stupid as a nation? Are we stupid as Ghanaians? We need to be asking ourselves. If you're not stupid, then join in the crusade against the galamsey. That is what I will tell Ghanaians. If we're not stupid and we don't think ahead, beyond the box, that in the next 5 to 10 years; we won't have drinkable water, so we should join the fight against galamsey," he exclaimed.







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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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.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has emphasized government commitment to support the work of journalists in Ghana.



The Minister said this on Wednesday May 5, 2021, on a three-day tour of the North East, Upper East, Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions to engage with journalists. The tour forms part of government's efforts in taking inputs from relevant stakeholders amid ongoing discussions to restructure the country's media landscape and provide media personnel with the needed support in their day-to-day activities.



Part of the support mechanism the Minister noted is the provision of the Office for the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists to investigate reported attacks on journalists, validate same and take the necessary steps to seek legal redress.



As we have just finished with the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, you may have noticed on the front pages of today's newspapers that yesterday I opened the Office for the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists here in Ghana.



That office is just one additional layer to the many other layers of work that the government of Ghana and specifically the Akufo-Addo administration have been embarking on to deepen media freedoms and the freedoms of expression, he said.



He also admonished town folks to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 preventive etiquettes stressing that though our active cases has stabilized, now is the time we need to religiously wear our face masks and wash our hands intermittently to get rid of the virus entirely from the country.



Meeting with RCC



Beginning from the North East Region, the Minister visited the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) where he interacted with hosts of journalists to acquaint himself with the challenges they face particularly in the region proffering solutions to the myriad of challenges before paying a courtesy call to the Nayiri Palace.



Regional Minister Yadina Zakaria in his remarks expressed gratitude to the Minister for the engagement. He assured that the second term of President Akufo-Addo's tenure will bring more development projects that will improve on the living standards of the people in the region.



Appreciation



The Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Nabohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga on his part thanked the Minister for his visit. He took stock of ongoing developmental projects in the region describing it as unprecedented expressing his delight at how the current administration has brought development closer to locals.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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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

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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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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Former General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has backed calls for excavators used in illegal mining areas to be burned.



Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Atik Mohammed explained that the best sanction to deter people from engaging in illegal mining, also called galamsey, is the burning of the excavators.



According to him, seizing the excavators isn't enough because there have been incidents where people of high power have used their authority to return the excavators to the minng sites after they were seized.



"Let's not rule out the possibility that people abuse their powers in this country. That, of course, is something we all know. Nobody can pretend not to know that, in Ghana, if you have power; you can have anything and that power can solve almost every problem."



To him, " . . so that we won't find ways or give people the opportunity to get these excavators back on site, the best in my view is we should burn them".



He further argued, "I agree that we should burn the excavators. We must burn them and history must be guide. In 2017, we seized excavators. [Chairman] you know what came out of it. At the end of the day, it appeared that somebody had sold them out. Excavators that were seized . . . how did we get back to this point? The same excavators we seized, they're the ones back on site working. In what way did those excavators find their way back to the site? It is because, when we seized them, we were unable to manage the seized excavators. So, somebody somewhere either sold them out to the perpetrators again or a leader used his/her authority to retrieve them for somebody else."



Atik was of a strong view that setting the excavators ablaze will teach the owners (illegal miners) a big lesson and help in the fight against this menace.



"I strongly believe that this serves a strong deterrence . . . If we burn your investment, you tend to understand things better. When you lose your money, next time, you will make sure you do things according to the laws," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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If no one receives a majority, then the candidate with the least number of votes is removed and his or her second-choice votes are distributed to the rest of the candidates. The process continues until one candidate has a majority.
The remaining 27 students kidnapped almost two months ago from a forestry college in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna have been freed.



They were among 39 students seized from their dormitories by armed criminal gangs in March. A number of them had been released last month.



The authorities say the victims freed on Wednesday will be medically examined, after suffering the longest stay in captivity since armed criminal gangs intensified mass kidnappings of students for ransom in recent months.



The release of the abducted students came a day after their distraught families protested outside the Nigerian parliament in Abuja, demanding more action from the authorities to rescue the captives.



Sheikh Ahmad Gumi- a prominent Islamic cleric who has been spearheading negotiation efforts with various armed criminal gangs - told the BBC that he and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened to secure the release of the college students.



Its not clear whether a ransom has been paid.



Nigeria has seen a sharp rise of mass abductions of students since December with more than 800 taken as security situation continues to deteriorate across Nigeria. Most of them have been released after negotiations.

Source: BBC









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National Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), Sammi Awuku has called on government to exercise restraint in dealing with the people involved in galamsey.



He called on the government not to use a sledgehammer to whip the galamseyers into line but rather adopt a softer approach which, he believed, will equally effect the necessary changes.



He appealed to the government to guide and educate the galamseyers into doing mining the right way.



Referencing community mining, Sammi Awuku held strongly that what the galamseyers need is a better tool to engage in other alternative sources of livelihood.



He believed it is not always that a harsher punishment is the best way to change attitudes.



"Let's have some inspectors to guide these young people," he stated.



To Sammi Awuku, the fight against illegal mining will take awhile but however he was optimistic, through proper engagements with the players, it will be resolved.



"And when you engage these men, traditionally, it's difficult to change but when progress demands change, there must be. It will take awhile; this orientation. And for them to understand that there is the alternative livelihood; it can be farming. Number 2 is that we can help you to practice safe methods of mining."



He spoke to Kwami Sefa Kayi during a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Dr Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, has stressed the need for concerted efforts by all Ghanaians to fight the illegal mining menace.



He said it was important for traditional and religious leaders, media, civil society organizations and politicians to come together to support the government to restore environmental sanity in the country.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, he said illegal mining was causing serious devastation to the countrys forest and water bodies and there was the need for all to join the government to halt the menace.



Dr Nyarko pointed out that traditional rulers, who were the custodian of lands, had a critical role to play to stop the menace adding that, government alone could not do that.



The government alone cannot fight this fight, therefore the traditional leaders, media and the politicians should involve themselves to help put a stop to it, he stressed.



He praised Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, for his commitment to the fight against illegal mining and said the Minister needed the support of all to succeed.



Dr Nyarko harped on the need to enforce mining laws in the country, saying that all the major rivers that were the lifeblood of water systems across the country, as well as forest reserves were being destroyed as a result of unregulated mining activities.



He urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), to extend education to the mining communities to educate community members especially the youth to help the fight against galamsey.



The MP also advised parents who had children under the age of 15 and below who engage themselves in these activities to stop.

Source: GNA









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The current National Organising Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has filed his nomination to contest 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 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 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 dont 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 Im not able to do it I will resign , the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Tobinco Group assured.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Regional Center of Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), Saudi Arabia, to collaborate on projects in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.



In a signing ceremony which took place virtually concurrently in RCQE and IEPA in Cape Coast, the Director of IEPA, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom remarked that, IEPA is excited to be partnering with other Category II Institutes in education beyond West Africa, to learn, share ideas and partner on research. This partnership with RCQE is one of many that will promote the advancement of educational planning and excellence in West Africa specifically and globally as a whole.



The Director General of RCQE, Dr. Abdulrahman I. Al Medaires who signed on RCQEs part, was very positive about the partnership. He indicated RCQEs unwavering support to see to the implementation of the tenets of the MOU. He further said that, Saudi Arabia has had good relations with Ghana and that IEPAs attainment of a UNESCO Category II Status, further strengthens the bond already existing between the two countries for greater impact.



Note worthily, RCQE is the first UNESCO Category II centre in the world under the auspices of UNESCO that is specialized in issues of quality and excellence. RCQE is a significant initiative in the international development of education by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It concentrates on issues of quality and excellence in education and the provision of high-quality services to drive excellence.



The Head of Communications and Public Relations at IEPA, Nana Efua Rockson, explained after the signing that, this MOU, among other things, spelt out the modalities for collaborations in the areas of research, capacity building and educational technical support. IEPA is poised to raise the standards of educational excellence higher and that, such collaborations are essential in continually re-defining the implementation of IEPAs Strategic Thrusts.



It would be recalled that IEPA last year was officially assigned a UNESCO Category II status for the West African sub-region, the first of its kind in West Africa. After forty-five years of successfully training and developing Ghanas educational planners, administrators and leaders, it now has the blue-print to extend that success to the West African sub-region.



IEPAs establishment as a UNESCO Category II Centre is a testament to the Government of Ghanas commitment to implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Sammi Awuku has advised the troops deployed to the mining areas not to abuse their power.



Two hundred (200) officers of the Ghana Armed Forces have been sent with specific order to remove all persons engaging in illegal mining.



A statement issued by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah read; ''In furtherance of the resolutions of the final communique, of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on April 14 -15, 2021 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 Ghanas water bodies.



"The operation commenced at 0600 hours on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 on the River Pra in the Central and Western regions of Ghana. Two Hundred (200) officers of the Ghana Armed Forces are involved in the operation."



Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, the NPP National Organizer urged the troops to exercise good judgement as they execute the instructions of the President.



He admonished them not to use the exercise to cause damages, explaining, if care is not taken, small-scale miners with the right authorization may be victimized by the soldiers.



"President Akufo-Addo and the Minister will not be by the troops or personnel in every pit or site they will visit. The government is believing that the trust that both the government, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior because these are the two collaborative agencies and the Lands Ministry; it is the hope of government that they will exercise good judgement and good faith to help this exercise," he cautioned, adding ''if not, somebody can use this same exercise to cause damage''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) Greater Accra Chapter, has rewarded 21 workers for their sacrifices at the 2021 Regional May Day ceremony for their exceptional duties and sacrifices they made to the Nation.



They: Mr. Steven Nimo, Accra Branch Chairman, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union; Mr. John Abolatsi, Writer of Professional Humanitarian Sub- Union; Mr. Nicholas A. Akyaa, Health Service Workers Union; Mr. Martin Kofi Boateng, Public Service Workers Union; and Mr. God Fred Agyeman Boakye, Public Service Workers Union.



Others were Mr. Paul Akoba, General Agriculture Workers Union; Mr Seth Conney, Public Utility Workers Union; Mr. Emmanuel Asare, Public Utility Workers Union; Ms. Rita Lamptey, Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance Workers; Mr. Kenneth Anoma, Communication Workers Union; and Mr. Alhassan Musah Osman, Dean of Presiding Members Ghana, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union.



The rest were: Mr. Joseph Okpoti, Timber and Road Workers Union; Mr. Thomas Asibi Atia, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union; Mr Daniel Fuga, Commerce and Finance Workers Union; Mr Adams Asiru, General Construction and Manufacturing and Quarry Workers Union; and Mr. Samsun Agyapong, Ghana Mining Workers Union.



The list also covered Mr. Edward Kpobi, Union of Industry Commerce, La Community Bank; Ms. Agnes Ama Martey, National Association of Registered Mid-Wives; Mr. Kennedy Karikari, Mr. Ebenezer Nii Ayi Tagoe, Mr. Kenneth Anoma, all from the Communication Workers Union.



Mrs. Freda Stephanie Frimpong, TUC Greater Accra Regional Secretary, who presented the awards as part of the 2021 International Labour Day celebration, said the Union wanted to acknowledge workers who have sacrifices throughout the years to serve as stimulus for others to follow.



The Regional ceremony was on theme: Economic Recovery in an era of Covid-19: the role to social partners.



Mrs. Frimpong told the Ghana News Agency at Tema that workers have done well but some were outstanding, awards were given to deserving ones, it doesnt mean others havent done well, under the circumstance thats their strength for now.



Mr. Kenneth Anoma who is an awardee form Lucky Oil Company Limited, and former Union Secretary, commended the TUC for the recognition; my sacrifices have been acknowledged.



Mr. Stephen Nimo who is also a worker at the Ghana Railways Corporation who is the regional Chairman, said he was pleased to receive the award and he will work at all seasons for the country and will tell the youth to work hard.

Source: GNA









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The Muslim Caucus in Parliament has entreated the Muslim Ummah and the public to exercise self-restraint in the Muslim students fasting issue at the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.



A release, signed by Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, called on the Muslim Ummah, Muslim students and the youth to continue to remain calm as Muslim leadership engaged all stakeholders connected to the matter including the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to cordially resolve the matter in the interest of the country.



It said the Caucus together with representatives of stakeholders of the Muslim community met with the leadership of the Methodist Church and had cordial discussion on the matter, and were assured by the Presiding Bishop Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo and his team that the Church would meet the Board of the School and the Ghana Education Service to resolve the matter.



Subsequently, the Ghana Education Service (GES) issued a statement dated May 1 2021, giving middle-path directives which although did not satisfactorily resolve our concern but was accepted in the interest of peace.



However, the Caucus and leadership of the Muslim community led by the National Chief Imam were taken aback with a statement purported to have come from the Methodist Church dated May 4, 2021 and signed by the Administrative Bishop, The Right Rev. Michael A. Bossman, which appeared to be a response to the directives given by the Ghana Education Service.



The release said the leadership of the Muslim stakeholders was still waiting to hear from the leadership of the Methodist Church on the outcome of the meeting as they were assured.



It said Ghana had been an oasis of peace within the sub-region and across Africa due to the peaceful co-existence and mutual respect that existed among various religious groups in the country, and especially between Muslims and Christians.



We also wish to entreat fellow Ghanaians, especially our non-Muslim brethren who wish to comment on the matter publicly to exercise restraints in their choice of words and avoid politicising this matter of genuine concern to Ghanaian Muslims in the interest of peace and harmony.



Needless to say that we still have confidence in the leadership of the Methodist Church, the Minister of Education and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, together with the Board of Wesley Girls High School to resolve the issue without allowing it to degenerate into anything untoward, the statement

Source: GNA









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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





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has mounted a defence of his anti-corruption record, reiterating that the former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo was not forced out of office.



Mr Domelevo was first asked to proceed on accumulated leave in June 2020 by the President and was later asked to retire on March 3 this year after he returned from leave.



In an interview with US-based CNN on Monday (May 3, 2021), President Akufo-Addo said Mr Domelevo was not targeted but it was due to his attainment of Ghana's national retirement age of 60



Theres a time for retiring which is prescribed by statute, not my making. If you are 60 years old you are no longer supposed to be able to work in the public service The Auditor-General, like me, should be some of the first to recognize the laws in our country, he said.



He added that he was satisfied with his government's fight against corruption so far.



Am I satisfied that weve been effective? I will say yes. A lot has been done, and it is reflected in Ghanas growing position and rankings of corruption in the world. Weve gone up several notches since I came into office because we are dealing with these matters at the basic level, he said.



He also mentioned that anti-corruption institutions in the country were poorly resourced at the time he took over office in 2017, adding that he has ensured that they have been adequately resourced to work.



For the anti-corruption institutions of our country, when I came into office, [they] were very poorly resourced. We can talk all we like about corruption and make all the wonderful statements but if the instruments at your disposal for dealing with it are weak and blunt, you will get no result, 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 PRO Act would change that because it would finally hold corporations accountable. But the legislation is about so much more than one company and one CEO. Its also about our infrastructure, the future of American manufacturing and an equitable clean energy transition. Its about who will build and benefit from the next frontiers of research and innovation. Biden wants it made in America, with union labor. Thats why he asked Congress to pass and put the PRO Act on his desk.
An elder of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Mr R. O. Frimpong-Manso, has called for the formation of an inter-party committee against illegal mining in the country.



The inter-party committee, he said, should be under the chairmanship of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, and meet intermittently to review the fight against illegal mining.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Frimpong-Manso explained that all political parties were complicit in one way or the other in supporting illegal mining hence the need to deal with the problem once and for all with the involvement of all political parties.



Dialogue



He explained that although the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources organised a two-day national dialogue on addressing the illegal mining menace, it was not enough inviting political parties to make submissions or be present at the series.



He said the continuous review of the fight against illegal mining by the inter-party committee would help deal with the problem permanently.



Soldiers



Although the government despatched 200 soldiers in the aftermath of the dialogue to fight illegal mining, Mr Frimpong-Manso said it was not enough because it could be seen as acting on the spur of the moment.



He cited the activities of Operation Vanguard, which was hailed by many Ghanaians but ended up achieving virtually nothing.



Miners Brigade



Mr Frimpong-Manso further called for the establishment of a Miners Brigade to be permanently stationed in the regions and districts to enforce the laws on mining.



He said such trainees should also be imbibed with the spirit of discipline and nationalism so that they do not deviate from the task assigned them.



He said apart from being provided with paramilitary training, members of the brigade with a minimum qualification of senior high school (SHS) certificate should also be schooled on all mining laws to enable them to appreciate the task ahead of them.



He said the use of the military should only serve as a backup in case of challenges of law enforcement.



Cocoa



Mr Frimpong-Manso said failure to address the illegal mining menace would greatly impact negatively on not only the countrys food crops but cocoa production as well.



He, therefore, called for an all-hands-on-deck approach to deal with the illegal mining menace.



He explained that although some communities might not be directly affected by illegal mining, the impact of water pollution and crop production would affect every Ghanaian.



Background



The government, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, deployed 200 military personnel to flush out illegal miners destroying water bodies in the country.



The deployment was based on the suggestions the government received during the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining which took place from April 14 to 15, 2021.



The government recently renewed its commitment to fight illegal mining at a National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining, where stakeholders urged the government to take steps to strictly apply the countrys mining laws.









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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When evaluating suggested changes in governance  by candidates, incumbents, legislation or constitutional amendment  its wise to consider motivation.

So it should be for three proposed amendments to the state Constitution facing yes/no votes in the May 18 primary election.

Two of them deal with emergency governing power, who has it and for how long. Theyre controversial and political.

The third prohibits racial or ethnic discrimination. Not controversial, not political. Just makes one wonder what took so long. Still, a no-brainer symbolic reach for equality and justice, with a dash of catch up.

The other two amendments call for more thought. They both come from a toxic relationship between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican Legislature over Wolfs handling of COVID-19.

Both trim gubernatorial emergency power while expanding legislative power.

One lets the Legislature end statewide disaster declarations without consent of a governor. Current law gives such power solely to a governor.

The other allows a disaster declaration to end automatically after three weeks unless the Legislature extends it. Currently, declarations last 90 days, unless extended by the governor. Wolfs pandemic emergency has been extended since March 6, 2020, and remains in place.

So, consider: the target of these changes is Wolf, whos term-limited, leaving office in January 2023. But they apply to future governors, if voters approve them.

In other words, theyd alter the Constitution based on the politics of the day.

Good idea? Well, it seems likely to happen. For two reasons.

First, Pennsylvanians almost always vote yes on ballot questions. State records show during the last quarter-century, none were rejected, 18 of 18 approved.

Second, views of Wolfs pandemic management arent what they once were. An April 2020 Fox News poll showed 69 percent of voters approved of Wolfs handling of the crisis. Last month, a Muhlenberg College survey showed that approval rating at 40 percent.

This, of course, after a year of a constant narrative that Wolf played tyrant, refusing to even talk to lawmakers. And controversy over everything from his sloppy waiver process for life-sustaining businesses, to his moveable restrictions on bars and restaurants; from nursing home safety, to mask-wearing, to vaccine rollout snags, and more.

But Wolf isnt alone. As pandemic restrictions dragged on and public frustration grew, many governors, regardless of party, became less popular. A Newsweek analysis and Gallup ratings both show declines in public support for governors across the country.

The result? The Associated Press reports lawmakers in 45 states are looking to limit governors emergency powers, many while increasing their own powers.

Politics and governance, in other words, left a trail of discontent in the wake of efforts to save lives. Discontent likely fueled more by divided ideology than fact.

Given the hostile political spit in our state and nation, thats not surprising. But changing a constitution should be more about sound policy than raw politics.

So, ask yourself a few questions before voting on where to put emergency power.

Pennsylvania ranks 40th among states in total coronavirus cases per 100,000 citizens, lower than every neighboring state except Maryland.

Did Wolfs tough, my-way restrictions help make that happen? Or is it coincidence that our per capita case rate is lower than in a supermajority of states?

On the other hand, theres our over-large, over-perked, full-time Legislature, which meets on average 70 days a year and maintains a $200 million slush fund even during a pandemic. Its policies or lack of them consistently rank Pennsylvania among the worst-run states. It is better known for self-service than public service. And now it wants more power. Think thats a good idea?

Wolfs far from perfect. Made mistakes. And, even with a Ph.D. in political science, cannot or will not deal with the political world of our Legislature.

(A classic example of the difference between book-learnin and common sense.)

But in an emergency, somebody should be in charge, able to act quickly. Should it be a person at the head of government, invested with power by the voters of a state? Or an amorphous, contentious 253-member body accustomed to moving on anything important with all the speed of a three-toed sloth?

These two amendments, at heart, seek a referendum on one governors pandemic performance. Thats easy to stipulate: it was good, then it wasnt.

Does that merit changing the Constitution for future governors?

John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com.

More from PennLive

Check out PennLives 2021 primary election guide for voters
The newest information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health reveals that Philadelphia ZIP codes remain among the highest for new cases of COVID-19 this week.

Philadelphia ZIP codes make up nine of the top 15 spots this week, with the other highest numbers among Allentown, Reading, Easton, Chester and Pottstown ZIP codes. All of the highest numbers on the list are found in the eastern portion of the state.

Overall, new cases are down across the state compared to last week, and Governor Wolfs office has announced that COVID-19 restrictions on businesses will be lifted by Memorial Day. However, vaccination distribution has hit a plateau, with declining demand despite only about half of eligible Pennsylvanians having received at least one vaccine dose.

READ MORE: Pa. lifts COVID-19 restrictions on businesses on Memorial Day, mask order will end when 70% are vaccinated

These are the top 25 ZIP codes with the highest increases of new individual cases from last week:

1) 19124

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 68,965

Reported cases: 6,645

New from last week: 157

Increase: 2.4%

2) 19143

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 65,247

Reported cases: 4,690

New from last week: 151

Increase: 3.3%

3) 19120

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 74,971

Reported cases: 6,243

New from last week: 139

Increase: 2.2%

4) 18102

City/borough: Allentown

County: Allentown

Population: 49,583

Reported cases: 6855

New from last week: 130

Increase: 1.9%

5) 19136

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 34,470

Reported cases: 4,716

New from last week: 127

Increase: 2.7%

6) 18103

City/borough: Allentown

County:

Population: 46,333

Reported cases: 5,528

New from last week: 112

Increase: 2.0%

7) 19111

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 68,263

Reported cases: 6,468

New from last week: 111

Increase: 1.7%

8) 19149

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 59,633

Reported cases: 4,896

New from last week: 111

Increase: 2.3%

9) 18042

City/borough: Easton

County: :

Reported cases: 4,726

New from last week: 108

Increase: 2.3%

10) 19140

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 51,667

Reported cases: 4,836

New from last week: 108

Increase: 2.2%

11) 19134

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 61,509

Reported cases: 5,171

New from last week: 107

Increase: 2.1%

12) 19601

City/borough: Reading

County:

Population: 33,397

Reported cases: 4,043

New from last week: 106

Increase: 2.6%

13) 19013

City/borough: Chester

County:

Population: 35,345

Reported cases: 3,061

New from last week: 98

Increase: 3.3%

14) 19131

City/borough: Philadelphia

County: Philadelphia

Population: 44,972

Reported cases: 3,472

New from last week: 97

Increase: 2.8%

15) 19464

City/borough: Pottstown

County:

Population: 46,918

Reported cases: 3,572

New from last week: 95

Increase: 2.7%

For more stories on the coronavirus pandemic, vaccinations and precautions, see these other stories on PennLive:
A 4-year-old SpongeBob SquarePants fan got carried away while using his mothers Amazon account this week.

A New York Post report said the Brooklyn boy, named Noah, ordered nearly $3,000 worth of non-refundable SpongeBob SquarePants Popsicles on Amazon.

On Monday, a friend, Katie Schloss, set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost, the report said.

Schloss, a New York University student and social work intern said on the GoFundMe page that Noahs non-refundable popsicle order from Amazon was for 51 cases, containing 918 popsicles, which he had sent to his Aunties house. The total bill was $2,618.85, Schloss noted.

Schloss wrote that despite this being an adorable story, Jennifer Bryant, Noahs mom, simply cannot afford this.

Bryant, the mother of three, who studies social work at NYU, didnt know how she was going to be able to pay this off, in addition to student loans and all of her familys other expenses, Schloss wrote.

The Post said they did reach out to Bryant and will update their post if they hear from her.

However, at the time of this post, the GoFundMe page shows that donors have contributed a total of $5,811, which is well beyond the goal of $2,619 needed to pay off Noahs popsicle debt.

A grateful Jennifer Bryant wrote on the GoFundMe page, Thank you so much for your mind-blowing generosity. Bryant noted that surplus donations will go toward Noahs education and additional supports for her son, who she said has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

READ MORE:
Chapter 311 of the My Hero Academia (or Boku no Hero Academia, in its native Japanese) manga series will be released this Sunday, May 9.

The latest chapters typically premiere for free every Sunday before one is prompted to join Viz Media to unlock them.

Read free: Viz

My Hero Academia follows the story of Izuku Midoriya, who finds himself to be one of the few people in the world born without special abilities called Quirks. Then Midoriya is gifted with a Quirk of his own, launching him into various action-packed situations with a cast of colorful characters all exploring their own powers.

The manga has since been adapted into a wildly popular anime series which currently finds itself in its fifth season. The show has become one of the biggest hits in anime across the globe, with other series such as Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) welcoming it into their ranks. Each new episode currently airs every Saturday.

The three previous chapters (in this case 308, 309, and 310) are also always available to read for free for those who are a bit behind on the story.

Similar stories:
On May 6, 1937, one of the most famous news events of the 20th Century unfolded as the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. 35 of the 97 people on board were killed along with a crewman on the ground in the fiery crash.

The 804-foot dirigible left Frankfurt, Germany on a journey across the Atlantic Ocean, flying over New York City on its way to Lakehursts Navy Air Base. The airship, carrying 36 passengers and crew of 61, suddenly burst into flames while attempting to moor, quickly crashing to the ground.

The event was immortalized by a radio announcer named Herb Morrison as he described the scene with the Oh, the humanity!
A lengthy runway delay was made more bearable for passengers by a pilots thoughtful gesture.

The New York Post reports that an American Airlines pilot bought pizza for the passengers to ease a flight delay caused by severe weather. The accommodating gesture occurred during an American Eagle flight on May 4. American Eagle is a regional branch of American Airlines.

An American Airlines spokesperson told The Independent about the gesture, saying Rain or shine, our team consistently proves theyre the best in the business.

Passengers on American Eagle Flight 4798 had already experienced a 40-minute wait, due to the flights late departure. Then, while flying from Key West, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, the flight encountered severe thunderstorms. The Embraer ERJ-175 was forced to land in Charleston to avoid the turbulent weather. For an hour and 22 minutes the plane waited on the runway, the report said.

Reportedly, the pilot had the passengers welfare in mind  easing the wait by ordering pizza for everyone on the plane.

Finally, six hours after the initial takeoff from Key West, the flight reached its destination in Charlotte, the report stated.

American Airlines expressed its pride in the American Airlines team and its regional partners, including Republics crew members  who take great care of our customers every day.

READ MORE:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A federal judge on Wednesday allowed former reality TV star Josh Duggar to be released as he awaits trial on charges that he downloaded and possessed child pornography.

Magistrate Judge Christy Comstock ordered Duggar, 33, confined to the home of family friends who have agreed to be his custodian during his release and prohibited Duggar from any Internet-accessible devices pending his July 6 trial on the child pornography charges.

Duggar was indicted on the federal child pornography charges on Friday, a day after U.S. Marshals arrested him. He has pleaded not guilty.

I have full confidence in the United States Marshal Service to find you if you decide not to comply with these conditions of release, so dont make me regret this decision, Comstock said after a four-hour hearing conducted over Zoom.

You wont, your honor, thank you very much, responded Duggar.

Duggar starred on TLCs 19 Kids and Counting until it was pulled from the network in 2015 following revelations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. Duggars parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologized.

Duggar previously apologized for a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife.

Federal prosecutors cited Duggars admitted molestation as a sign that he was a danger to the community.

He has shown the court he has a history dating back 20 years that shows a sexual attraction to children and the deviousness of his activity, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall said.

Comstock said that, during his release, Duggar could have contact with his children only with his wife present. But the judge said Duggar could not be around any other minors, including other family members.

Federal authorities said they began investigating after a Little Rock police detective found child pornography files were being shared by a computer investigators traced to Duggar. A federal Homeland Security agent testified pornographic images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, had been downloaded in May 2019 by a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.

Agent Gerald Faulkner said multiple child pornography files were found on the computer and that more than 200 images had been found on the computer that had been deleted.

Faulkner said the images downloaded were among top five of the worst of the worst that Ive ever had to examine.

A monitoring program that sent reports to Duggars wife about his activity had been installed on the computer, but the images and videos were downloaded after software had been installed that allowed him to download them without being monitored, Faulkner said.

Duggars attorneys had argued that he wasnt a danger to the community and has not tried to flee since authorities began their investigation two years ago.

He has not left the jurisdiction, he has not left the country, he has not done anything at all other than continue to live his life in this judicial district where he has deep roots, Justin Gelfand, an attorney for Duggar said.

Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press wrote this story.
A school cafeteria worker in Louisiana was arrested after an investigation revealed she hosted a sleepover for several students at her home, according to KLFY.

Dawn Marie Baye, 38, was charged with 10 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and eight counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, the report said.

Baye was accused of hosting sleepovers for boys, ages 13-16, where they watched pornography, drank alcohol and participated in sexual activities, according to the report. That led to an investigation by police.

According to the report, Baye worked in the cafeteria at a school where she met some of the victims.

Following the investigation and discovery of information shared on social media, Baye was interviewed by police and later arrested, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet said. She has been booked with a $50,000 bond, Soignet said.
HONOLULU  Lavinia Lavi Mounga had no idea a baby was coming when she went into labor on a flight from her home in Utah to Honolulu last week.

I just didnt know I was pregnant, and then this guy just came out of nowhere, Mounga said during a video interview with Hawaii Pacific Health.

The baby boy, Raymond Mounga, arrived early at just 29 weeks while mom was traveling to Hawaii for vacation with her family.

Dr. Dale Glenn, a Hawaii Pacific Health family medicine physician, along with Lani Bamfield, Amanda Beeding and Mimi Ho  neonatal intensive care unit nurses from North Kansas City Hospital  were also on the plane and helped the new mother and baby.

Yeah, just overwhelming and just nice that there was three NICU nurses on the plane and a doctor that were able to help stabilize him and make sure that he was OK, Mounga said.

When deciding on a name, Moungas father suggested Glenn, in honor of the doctor who helped her during the flight.

Names are pretty important in our culture, said Mounga, who is Tongan. I didnt really want to name him Glenn.

Instead she asked Dr. Glenn, who gave his adopted children Hawaiian middle names, for a suggestion. He offered Kaimana, which is now one of the boys middle names.

The child will have to stay in the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit he is full term, about another 10 weeks, Mounga said.

In this undated photo provided by Hawaii Pacific Health, Lavinia "Lavi" Mounga holds her son Raymond Mounga at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu. (Taylor Ursulum/Hawaii Pacific Health via AP)AP

The aloha spirit is definitely felt here, she said about the care she has received in Hawaii.

Its very different from the mainland, Mounga said. It just feels comforting, and everyone is willing to help.

Caleb Jones of The Associated Press wrote this story.
The truth, however, is that the services may not be available in the quality and quantity needed to begin sending thousands of cases to nonprofit organizations. And theres an open question about what happens if a defendant simply refuses to go to rehab or counseling; are we sending them for medical treatment on pain of imprisonment for declining to go?
Update: Teacher disarms sixth-grade girl after she shoots 3 at Idaho school: sheriff

RIGBY, Idaho  A shooting at an eastern Idaho middle school Thursday injured two students and a custodian, and a male student has been taken into custody, authorities said.

The victims injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson said.

Today we had the worst nightmare a school district could encounter. We had a school shooting here at Rigby Middle School, Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin said. What we know so far is the shooter has been apprehended. There is no further threat to the students.

Police were called to the school around 9:15 a.m. Multiple law enforcement agencies were on scene.

Students were evacuated to a nearby high school, and parents lined up to be reunited with their children.

Rigby is a small city about 95 miles southwest of Yellowstone National Park. Rigby Middle School has about 1,500 students in sixth through eighth grades, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in todays tragic events, Gov. Brad Little said in a prepared statement. Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident.

More: After pleading for her return, husband charged with killing woman who disappeared in 2020
Capital Region Water discharged 584 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Susquehanna River  41 percent of all the water that entered the system  in 2020.

Last April, while most people were preoccupied with a global pandemic, the Trump-era U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised an alarm over Capital Region Waters failure to prevent sewer overflows.
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 6, 2021

A man who kidnapped and murdered his girlfriends infant son in 2013 has been deemed incompetent to stand trial for an indefinite amount of time. The debate over whether college students should be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to campus rages on, especially after yet another Pennsylvania school announced the implementation of such a rule. The state Game Commission has lowered its hunting limit on Canada geese. And you can now help contribute to spotted lanternfly research by buying (and drinking) wine.

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.
NOTE: This story has been updated to include the name of the other driver.

RALSTON  The Lycoming County coroner has released the identity of the mother and daughter who were killed Tuesday in a head-on collision involving two pickup trucks on Route 14 north of Ralston.

Elizabeth Morgan, 89, and her daughter Beverly Seeley, 70, both of Canton, were pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:10 p.m. accident, Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said Wednesday.

State police have yet to release any details about the accident that reportedly occurred when one of the trucks crossed into the opposite lane of traffic in the northern part of the county.

The two women were passengers in a northbound pickup driven by Fredric G. Seeley who, Kiessling said, was the husband of the younger woman.

State police have identified the other driver as James M. Carpenter, 75, of Mansfield, who was transported to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.

Police said he took measures to try to avoid the collision when the other pickup crossed into his lane.

Fredric Seeley was admitted to UPMC Williamsport Regional Medical Center, he said. No information was available on his condition or that of Carpenter.

The two-lane highway was closed for about four hours.

ALSO READ: Helmet manufacturer sued over disabling injury suffered by Pa. high school football player
By Vinny Vella, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

The call to Northampton Township police last week for an unattended fire on a lawn seemed routine. What detectives found was anything but: a dog that had been shot in the eye and barbecued on a makeshift grill.

As sickening as the abuse was, the story turned out to be even more tragic. The 8-year-old greyhound, named Bonanza, had been rescued a few years ago from a cell-like kennel at a racetrack in China that animal rights activists had once dubbed the worst racetrack in the world.

David Wolf and his partners at the Philadelphia-based National Greyhound Adoption Program had saved Bonanza and hundreds of other dogs, bringing them 10,000 miles for the promise of adoption and better lives in America.

The promise was never fulfilled. Instead, the dog ended up with Nikolay Lukyanchikov, the Northampton man police say killed and burned him outside his home last week.

Ive been doing greyhound adoption for 33 years, and there have been lots of ups and downs, Wolf said Wednesday. This is the worst thing to happen to any dog that was here. The worst.

A Bucks County man shot his dog and then barbecued it, police say

Lukyanchikov, 48, was arrested outside his home early Friday, intoxicated and unable to speak, police said. He had lit a fire with $100 bills and used the flames to burn Bonanza on a barbecue grate he placed over a fire pit, court records said.

In addition to an aggravated animal cruelty charge, he faces charges of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment and related offenses. He remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. There was no indication he had hired an attorney.

Northampton Police Chief Steven LeCompte said Wednesday that the investigation into Lukyanchikov remains active and that additional charges may be filed.

A woman who rented a room in Lukyanchikovs house knew where he had adopted Bonanza, and contacted Wolf about the dog. Through records maintained by the Philadelphia-based nonprofit, Wolf was able to confirm that Bonanza was adopted by Lukyanchikov in October 2019, a few months after he had been brought to the area from Macau, China.

As with all potential adopters, Lukyanchikov was the subject of a background check by staff at the National Greyhound Adoption Program, Wolf said. No issues were found, and the references he listed gave him positive feedback.

I cant stress enough the sadness of this dog, who came so far, Wolf said. Dogs get rescued all the time, but they dont often get rescued from the worst place in the world.

Bonanza was rescued from the Canindrome, which animal rights activists once called the worst racetrack in the world. A 2011 investigation by the South China Morning Post found that 383 underperforming dogs were killed there in 2010.

The track closed in 2018 after the Macau government told its operator to move the races out of the gambling meccas downtown to make room for redevelopment, the New York Times reported.

Wolf said the dogs, including Bonanza, required significant medical attention when brought to the United States. After treatment, they were all given new homes, and Wolf said his office routinely receives updates about the positive impacts the dogs have in their owners lives.

Bonanzas death is absolutely crushing, Wolf said. We worked so hard, and in this case so far, to give him a second chance.

More:

Man stole 14 properties in Philadelphia using forged names and documents: prosecutors

Man breaks into Pa. home, undresses, assaults woman and dog: police
WILLIAMSPORT  An unregistered sawed-off shotgun found in a Potter County cabin in 2019 cannot be used as evidence because a judge has ruled probable cause was lacking to issue a search warrant.

That weapon is the basis of three firearms charges in U.S. Middle District Court against the cabin owner, Thomas G. Stanko, 50, of Unity. Judge Matthew W. Brann on Tuesday ruled that nothing in the search warrant affidavit can be reasonably construed as implying the existence of firearms in the cabin.

The judge in his opinion provided this background on the case:

State police in April 2018 executed a search warrant at Stankos home and uncovered 28 firearms, several of which had been reported stolen.

That August, state police listened to telephone calls Stanko made from the Westmoreland County Prison to his girlfriend and mother during which he used coded language to describe locations in his home where he had stored firearms.

Four more firearms were uncovered during a second search of the home and another 13 were found in a storage unit after the girlfriend indicated to authorities he kept weapons there.

Between April and October 23, 2018, Stanko in calls from jail to his mother and girlfriend repeatedly referenced a remote cabin he owned in Potter County.

He asked them to travel there to make sure it was secure and instructed his mother to pay the taxes in cash or money order so as not to raise suspicion or alert law enforcement.

A federal agent in applying for the search warrant cited Stankos used of coded terminology and telling his mother to pay the taxes on the cabin in cash.

In granting the motion to suppress, Brann ruled that telling ones mother and girlfriend to check on and secure a property is not in and of itself criminal in nature. And while directing ones mother to not pay taxes by check to avoid alerting law enforcement is odd and certainly suspect, this fact alone does not tend to show that firearms are present in Stankos Potter County cabin.

The judge also concluded Stankos use of codes on two occasions does not establish a pattern and, even if did it, was not a pattern of continuing criminal activity.

The charges on which Stanko is awaiting trial are possession of an unregistered sawed-off rifle, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Stanko, who has been in jail since 2018 on federal and state charges in western Pennsylvania, has been described by police as a person of interest in the disappearance of Cassandra Edlyn Gross, 51, who he formerly dated.

Gross has not been heard from since she called her mother the afternoon of April 7, 2018, as she was headed to her home in Latrobe from lunch in Greensburg.

Her blind dog was found two days later wandering alone and her burned Mitsubishi Outlander was discovered the following day.

Two properties belonging to Stanko were searched in the investigation state police classify as a homicide. A judge in January 2019 declared Gross legally dead.

ALSO READ: Regulations permit Pa. construction firms suspension after criminal charges are filed: PennDOT
A woman wrote on Facebook about her husbands role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, leading to his facing federal criminal charges.

Gary Edwards, 68, of Southampton, Pa., is charged with entering a restricted building without authority, disorderly conduct, disruption of official business, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Edwards was released on a $100,000 bond after making his first appearance in court on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. More than 400 people nationwide have been charged in connection with the riot.

Court documents show that federal agents were tipped off to Edwards reportedly being in the Capitol by now-deleted Facebook posts from Edwards wife, Lynn Feiler Edwards.

Okay ladies let me tell you what happened as my husband was there inside the Capitol Rotunda, Lynn Edwards wrote, according to court documents. There was a small group of young men dressed in military garb who yelled we r going in! They broke the barricade down, ran up the steps, broke a window and climbed in. They broke some furniture. Then proceeded to storm the floors.

Lynn Edwards wrote that although her husband was in the Capitol, he calmly spoke with police and poured water into the eyes of officers who had been exposed to tear gas.

Although the posts were removed, an informant took screenshots and provided them to the FBI, documents show. Agents were able to use the information from the posts to match photos of Edwards to videos taken during the Capitol assault.

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Ten-year-old Gabriel Harris was riding his bike down a hill in front of the East Pennsboro Township Building last month when he entered an intersection and crashed into a northbound car that he didnt see coming.

The sudden crash April 9 on South Enola Drive broke both of his arms and caused a severe injury to his right arm, with uncontrolled bleeding that could have killed him within minutes.

Instead, first responders in East Pennsboro showed up, knew just what to do and had just the right equipment to save the boys life.

The rescuers quickly applied a tourniquet to Gabriels arm, keeping him alive so he could get further treatment at the hospital.

The responders were prepared for this emergency through free training and more than 200 donated tourniquets provided the year before by Holy Spirit Hospital and the Rotary Club Mechanicsburg-North..

You dont ever want anything to happen, said Jeanne Troy, president of the Rotary Club. But if it does and in this case it did, what they had handy saved a young childs life.

The training was part of a national program called Stop the Bleed that is designed to educate first responders and also the general public how to use tourniquets to save lives during emergencies.

Sometimes EMS are not the first ones the scene, its the public, said Juliet Altenburg, the Executive Director of Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundations. So we teach the public how to use tourniquets and other bleeding control measures.

Wednesday night, the East Pennsboro Township Board of Commissioners, the Rotary Club and the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation honored the first responders involved with saving Gabriel.

The honored first responders were Police Officers Matthew Roberts and Brian Ebersole as well Northeast Fire & Rescue Chief Joshua Matter.

East Pennsboro Police Chief Mark Green said the reason behind the national program came in part from previous mass casualties across the country where first responders noticed that people were bleeding out while waiting for ambulances to arrive. He embraced the program in his department and hopes it spreads far and wide.

The officers had the training and the tools and they were able to recognize the severity of the bleed right away because of their training, Green said. The tourniquets are just another tool for officers to help people. Each officer carries one on his tool belt.

First-aid training is part of officers initial training, but recognizing an arterial wound and treating it goes beyond that and thats where the hospitals free trauma training comes in.

The hospital periodically offers training to new officers who may have joined the department or refresher courses for veteran officers. The training teaches the proper location for a tourniquet, which is above the wound, and how to attach it so it effectively stops blood loss from the open wound.

Angela Hilbert, Gabriels mother, was very thankful for the officers and the training they received. She was working from home two blocks away when she got word of her sons crash.

Im so grateful they were there, that they had the proper training, that they had the tools that they had, said Hilbert. They essentially saved my child. ... I dont want to think would couldve happened if they didnt have that training or if they didnt have those tools.

Christian Harris, Gabriels father, was at work when he had heard what happened.

I appreciate everything that theyve done because honestly the other thing that kept going through my mind was he couldnt be here ... I wouldnt see him anymore, said Christian.

Gabriel broke his left wrist and had a cut and and two fractures on his right arm. After being discharged from the hospital, he has had two check ups and a third planned to make sure his arm is healing properly.

Again, they saved him, Im truly appreciative and thankful. ... I couldnt have asked for better township police. said Angela Hilbert.

The police showed that Wednesday night when they gave Gabriel a surprise: a brand-new bike to replace the one destroyed in the crash.

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The former Roseto police chief was convicted Tuesday of 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 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 (expletive) again, referencing a prior divorce, the papers say.

Defense attorney Matthew Goodrich said Gwozdz maintains he did not make threatening statements.

Mark Gwozdz, 48, of Palmer Township, told lehighvalleylive.com in 2019 that they were arguing over jointly owned property in Florida and Roseto. The statements were never even said, he said.

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 fire him.

Krome said hell also forward the conviction documentation to the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission.

Gwozdz had been the chief in East Bangor and in Portland and previously worked for the former Wind Gap Police Department.

Michelle Gwozdz called police after the argument in a home in the 500 block of Maple Street in Roseto, court papers say. Since Mark Gwozdz had 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. 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.

Mark Gwozdz will be sentenced June 16. Making terroristic threats is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio (AP)  Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Justin Layne reached a plea deal to resolve charges stemming from a traffic stop in Ohio last month where authorities said they found a loaded gun in his car.

Layne, 23, was arrested on a fourth-degree felony charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle following the April 23 stop in Willoughby Hills. That charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty Wednesday in Willoughby Municipal Court to a misdemeanor charge of possessing criminal tools and two traffic violations. Layne received a suspended 180-day jail sentence, must serve six months probation and perform 32 hours of community service.

Police stopped Layne around 1:20 a.m. when his Dodge Charger was going 89 mph in a 60-mph zone. A records check showed he was driving with a suspended license and he had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a traffic violation in another jurisdiction, police said.

They said they searched the car after smelling marijuana and seeing loose particles of it scattered throughout the vehicle. That search revealed a loaded Glock pistol in the center console, police said. They said Layne wasnt a licensed conceal-carry permit holder in Ohio.

Layne played 16 games but made no starts last season for the Steelers, who selected him out of Michigan State in the third round of the 2019 draft. He had 10 tackles on defense and 12 more on special teams last season.

The Steelers declined comment on the matter Thursday, while a message left for Laynes agent was not immediately returned.

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Ndlwana was hanging out with friends at a bar near her house. She went outside and told them that she would return shortly. She never came back and her friends called the police.
Lawyer Julian Falconer addresses the media outside of the coroner's court in Toronto, Thursday December 19, 2013. The role of coroners in investigating deaths in remote Indigenous communities is before Ontario's top court. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
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Rain showers this evening with mostly clear conditions overnight. Low 66F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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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.
On a sunny afternoon in downtown Aiken, a few dozen residents gathered in front of the SRP Federal Credit Union to come before God in prayer on the 70th National Day of Prayer.

The day is celebrated across the globe on the first Thursday in May and is an annual tradition in Aiken. Residents took turns manning the microphone and praying about whatever was on their minds.

Barb Rollins started the event by referencing Joel 2:1, which says, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand."

"Our nation is in peril," Rollins said. "I am sounding the alarm that we need to pray and put action to our prayers."

She then blew into a shofar, a ram's horn trumpet used for religious ceremonies, to give action to sounding the alarm.

"We pray for this community, Lord," intoned the Rev. Wesley Guyton of Randall Baptist Church. "We pray that you will continue to bring us together. We pray, Lord, that you keep us on one accord."

Guyton also spoke about the universal nature of prayer, saying with great emotion and emphasis, "We all can pray, we all can call upon your name, we all can petition you, Father, to keep us and hold us."

The Rev. Paul Bush, of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, prayed about the events of the past year, including the coronavirus pandemic that dominated 2020. Bush noted that while the pandemic could have helped create unity to fight against the virus, "man found a way to mess that up" and make COVID-19 political.

"We even allowed that to divide us, the very thing that couldve brought us together," Bush said. "So here we are again, asking for your mercy and your grace."

Bush continued by saying, "God, help us to realize that the only person that we belong to is you. So God, we ask that you have mercy on us; have mercy on leaders all over this land and country."

"Youre not just the God of America," Bush prayed. "Youre the God of the world; youre the God of every nation. Whether they acknowledge you or not, God, you are who you are, and we thank you for that."

There were also plans for an evening event at H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road, featuring prayer, scripture and music.

The theme of this year's Day of Prayer was "Lord Pour Out Your Love, Life and Liberty."

For more information about the National Day of Prayer, visit nationaldayofprayer.org.
An end-of-life decision is not something anyone ever wants to do, Hagen said. If it is the case where the animal is truly unsafe  again, making that decision in consultation with experts and professionals  then maybe it is an appropriate discussion to have with the expert that youre working with. And as heartbreaking as it is, it sometimes happens.
The Aiken City Council on Wednesday night decided to nix its citywide mask mandate, citing demonstrable progress in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, among other factors.

The citys mask requirements now sunset at 6 a.m. Thursday. Private businesses and property owners can still require masks be worn, and nothing bars a person from wearing a mask if he or she so chooses.

If somebody wants to wear a mask, wear a mask. If a business says you have to wear a mask, you have to wear a mask, City Council member Ed Girardeau said during the special-called meeting. Thats their prerogative. Its their business. Dont push that, lets all get along.

The controversial repeal passed 4-3, after an amendment to push back the expiration date failed. City Council members Gail Diggs, Lessie Price and Ed Woltz dissented.

All three have said they would be comfortable with a repeal in the near future, once more people are vaccinated. Memorial Day was floated.

I want to make something perfectly clear  perfectly clear. I am in support of removing this. I am in support of removing the masks, Price said Wednesday. The question is the timing.

Nearly 40,000 Aiken County residents had been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday morning. More broadly, about 32% of South Carolina residents had been fully vaccinated.

Mayor Rick Osbon and council members Kay Biermann Brohl, Andrea Gregory and Girardeau supported the rescission.

Girardeau and Brohl previously voted against enacting mask rules in Aiken; they have repeatedly expressed concerns about government overreach, not masks themselves. Osbon and Gregory were the swing votes Wednesday night.

The decision to end the mandate followed rounds of public comment, at points slathered in misinformation and at others punctuated by fed-up pleas.

I believe in civil liberties, and this violates that, said Jane Page Thompson. I am an adult with wisdom and patience, and I can determine whether or not my health risks require me to wear one of these.

Not a single person approached City Council on Wednesday to advocate for keeping the mandate in place.

The sooner we can end it, the better, Claude ODonovan said, adding, Lets go back to some sense of normalcy in Aiken, South Carolina.

City Council first enacted mask rules in July 2020, on an emergency basis, around the time the mayor tested positive for COVID-19. A more enduring mask mandate, one that did not need to be renewed every two months by supermajority vote, a high hurdle, was installed in November 2020.

Coronavirus cases in the Midlands skyrocketed around the busy holiday season  a little more than 2,000 new cases were reported Jan. 8, for example  but have since dramatically declined and plateaued. City staff has monitored the coronavirus caseload in and around Aiken, namely ZIP codes 29801 and 29803, according to City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh.

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster late last month urged governments to ax their leftover coronavirus-related regulations.

Local cities and counties need to drop any remaining restrictions they have in place. Its time to wrap this up or I will do it for them! the Republican governor tweeted April 28. A recent memo signed by Bedenbaugh acknowledged the threat.

No statewide mask mandate was ever issued; McMaster considered such action unenforceable and cumbersome. Neither the city of North Augusta nor Aiken County have established a mask requirement. The governments, though, have recommended mask use.

Several municipalities across South Carolina, including Isle of Palms, Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Easley, have lifted or are letting expire their mask mandates. Aiken is not an outlier in that regard.
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Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at a Thursday budget hearing endorsed a plan to craft nuclear weapon cores in both South Carolina and New Mexico, a vote of confidence as the multibillion-dollar venture clambers forward.

Asked by Rep. Ken Calvert of California if she supports the National Nuclear Security Administrations two-site approach to producing 80 plutonium pits per year, Granholm answered concisely: I do. Calvert, a Republican, was pleased.

The secretarys response Thursday aligns with previous comments shes made  and goes one step further in terms of specificity.

We have to modernize the nations nuclear arsenal, Granholm said at the White House in early April. We have to keep and maintain the stockpile to make sure that it is safe and effective, and we will continue to do that to ensure that we can deter nuclear aggression from other countries.

Federal law mandates the production of 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030. To meet the requirement and deadline, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Defense Department in May 2018 recommended producing the key warhead components in two places: the Savannah River Site, south of Aiken, and Los Alamos National Lab, near Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The National Nuclear Security Administration late last month approved a major project milestone, known as Critical Decision-1, for Los Alamos. A related, if not similar, decision for the Savannah River Site is expected soon; preliminary plans for South Carolina pit production were submitted to the federal government earlier this year.

The hearing at which Granholm testified Thursday focused on her departments fiscal year 2022 budget request. President Joe Bidens spending blueprint, published in early April, floated $46.1 billion for the Energy Department.

The National Nuclear Security Administrations potential share remains hazy. Granholm did not clear things up Thursday. The administration has pledged to provide more budget information in the near future.

Rep. Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, recently lobbied for $495 million for the proposed Savannah River Site pit factory, officially known as the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility.
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.

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.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Citing worker shortages in the state, Gov. Henry McMaster has asked that South Carolina stop participating in all federal pandemic-related unemployment programs, including weekly $300 payments that aren't set to expire for several months.

The extra payments, new jobless benefit programs and extended timelines to receive the aid were started as lifelines for the millions of Americans put out of a job because of COVID-19.

Now, McMaster is arguing that the enhanced benefits are contributing to a lack of applicants for open work spots, especially in the hospitality sector.

"What was intended to be a short-term financial assistance for the vulnerable and displaced during the height of the pandemic has turned into a dangerous federal entitlement, incentivizing and paying workers to stay at home rather than encouraging them to return to the workplace," McMaster said in a statement May 6.

More than 100,000 South Carolinians were receiving some kind of jobless aid as of the beginning of the month.

The governor's directive will go into effect June 30.

South Carolina is the second state this week to announce it will be opting out of the programs.

Montana's Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte made a similar announcement Tuesday, when he said the state would end expanded jobless benefits by June 27.

This change in South Carolina will affect six different programs that are currently in effect, according to a May 6 memo to McMaster from Dan Ellzey, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. That includes the extra $300 being paid weekly to claimants through federal funds. The American Rescue Plan had extended those benefits until Sept. 6.

But, under McMaster's ask, South Carolina will be ending that aid more than two months early.

Another program that's given jobless benefits to workers who are self-employed or independent contractors  classifications that don't typically qualify for the state's unemployment checks  would also end in South Carolina. The state would stop paying out those benefits and wouldn't process any new claims of that kind, Ellzey said in his letter.

More than 37,000 claimants received benefits through that program the week ending May 1, according to DEW.

Also, people who have exhausted their regular 20 weeks of unemployment benefits will no longer be eligible for payments, per the memo. One of the federal programs had tacked on an additional 51 weeks during which claimants could stay eligible for aid after the usual period was over.

South Carolina's normal 20-week limit for aid is on the low end compared to other states. Most offer 26 weeks.

In a statement, Ellzey said he agreed with the governor's move to end the programs, also noting a need for workers in the service sector.

"While the federal funds supported our unemployed workers during the peak of COVID-19, we fully agree that reemployment is the best recovery plan for South Carolinians and the economic health of the state," Ellzey said. "Last weeks initial claims numbers were the lowest since the pandemic began, and employers around the state are eager to hire and anxious to get South Carolina back to business."

For the week ending May 1, DEW reported 2,856 new claims.

Weekly claims in the state peaked at more than 87,600 last April.

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About $5.2 million of a payout total of $63 million from the week ending May 1 was from regular unemployment, according to DEW data that's updated weekly. More than half, about $37 million, was attributed to Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides the extra $300 benefit and would end next month per McMaster's request.

These enhanced unemployment benefits came up earlier in the day May 6 in the Legislature, when senators debated a bill that would allow South Carolina taxpayers to exempt up to $10,200 in jobless payments they received in 2020 from their income tax returns due May 15. Tax filers who received the benefits wouldnt have to pay taxes on that $10,200.

The bill would tie state tax law to the federal governments changes, which the Legislature does regularly to make it easy for taxpayers and the accountants who prepare their returns.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said that, while he supports conforming to federal tax law and quickly settling the issue for tax filers, he "had a little bit of heartburn" about the bill because of what it would exempt.

We were paying people more not to work, then we suspended the requirement they had to look for work, and now were going to forgive any income tax payments? Massey asked.

The Senate ended up postponing a vote on the bill. The House approved the measure unanimously a month ago.

While work search requirements for the unemployed had been temporarily suspended in South Carolina, they've been back in place since April 18, meaning anyone currently receiving jobless aid has had to look for openings to keep qualifying for payments.

That's a standard rule in South Carolina but had not been a requirement for about a year because of COVID-19 and a lack of available jobs earlier in the pandemic.

The department knows of 81,684 active job listings in the state, Ellzey said in his statement.

The leisure and hospitality sector, in particular, shed workers at a dramatic rate last spring, but, now, more than a year later, is struggling to staff up now that tourists have started to return.

While taking away these federal unemployment benefits is likely to "move the needle" for some claimants and prompt them to apply for work, this is "not a panacea," said Laura Ullrich, a regional economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

These extra payments are "part of the calculation" for people considering a return to work, Ullrich said, but it's not everything.

Issues with childcare, fear of contracting COVID-19 and other factors weigh into these decisions, too, she said.

Ullrich also noted that extra federal unemployment funds are likely only a deterrent for going back to work if a person's job doesn't pay well. A lot of workers can't replace their pay with jobless benefits.

That's more likely to be the case in a sectors tend to pay less, like leisure and hospitality.

While South Carolina and Montana are the only states so far to announce an early end to federal COVID unemployment programs, Ullrich said that, now that it's been done, she "wouldn't be surprised" if some other states follow suit.

Seanna Adcox contributed reporting.
The company that's building out a master-planned community in Berkeley County that's as large as the Charleston peninsula is set to come under new ownership.

California-based Brookfield Residential announced this week that it is acquiring Newland, the developer of the 5,000-acre mixed-use Nexton neighborhood between Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 176 near Summerville.

The sale of San Diego-based Newland, which is involved in 20 large master-planned projects around the country, is expected to be finalized June 1.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

A Nexton spokeswoman declined to comment on the pending sale.

"No major, significant operational changes are expected," said Brookfield spokeswoman Krista Ellingson.

She said the company's specialty is supplying homes and lots in constrained real estate markets such as Charleston, where a scarcity of homes on the market has dropped to less than a one-month supply, triggering bidding wars and pushing up prices.

"We just aren't a homebuilder, we invest in land to build homes and sell to homebuilders," Ellingson said. "We want to show our partners that we are in it with them."

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Bob McLeod, Newland's executive chairman, said the Brookfield deal "will provide more opportunities for the continued development of additional mixed-use masterplans well into the future as well as give us significant additional vertical development opportunities."

As of this week, Nexton has 1,266 occupied single-family homes in four subdivisions  Brighton Park, Del Webb, Midtown and North Creek. About 200 more are under development within the neighborhoods.

Nexton also has about 900 finished apartments in three complexes, with another 600 rental units on the way.

When build-out is completed in about 10 years, Nexton will have about 7,000 residences with about 17,500 residents. That will make it roughly equal to the current populations of Moncks Corner and Georgetown combined.

Brookfield Residential currently has no real estate operations in the Palmetto State. The Newland acquisition will expand its footprint to eight new markets, including Charleston, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington in the Carolinas, and five other areas where both companies have projects in the works.

Last year, Brookfield's revenue from home and land sales was $1.74 billion, about $200 million less than in 2019, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the company's annual report.

During the first three months of 2021, total revenue topped $444 million, about 30 percent more than the first quarter last year, when the coronavirus began to spread throughout the overall economy.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Brookfield Residential is part of Canada's Brookfield Asset Management, which oversees investment totaling $600 billion and is headquartered in Toronto.

Newland oversees the development of the Nexton tract for North America Sekisui House LLC. NASH, a subsidiary of Japans largest homebuilder, bought the property in 2017 from paper maker WestRock Co.'s former real estate division for $90 million.
COLUMBIA  An Army trainee who bolted from Fort Jackson while carrying an unloaded rifle hijacked a school bus May 6, eventually forcing off the students and driver as he tried to find a way home, law enforcement and military officials said.

In what he called a "very scary situation," Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said the 18 children on the bus and the driver were not injured after a ride with the armed trainee who was yelling at them.

There was six minutes they were traumatized, Lott told reporters. Six complete minutes the bad guy was on the bus with a gun.

The trainee left the fort without permission holding a rifle and went looking for a ride to another town, authorities said. He tried at first to flag down some cars.

About a mile from the fort's Forest Drive gate, the trainee got on a school bus at Percival Road and Eagle Park Road as children were boarding to go to Forest Lake Elementary School around 7 a.m.

The driver tells the trainee to get off the bus in a short video clip shown to reporters.

But the recruit  wearing a black T-shirt with "Army" printed across the chest, black shorts and water backpack  takes the rifle off his shoulder, points it at the driver and demands the driver close the bus door.

"Drive! Drive! Come on drive!" he yells as he stands behind the driver holding the rifle.

"Get out of town, now!" the recruit says later.

The trainee promised he would not harm anyone on the bus, Lott said.

The 23-year-old trainee from New Jersey, who has been identified as Jovan Collazo, did not have ammunition in his M4 carbine rifle, Fort Jackson's commander, Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle, said. The trainee was searching for new clothes and wanted to get dropped off at a bus station or airport to get home, the general said.

Students started calling their parents, and a parent flagged down a Richland sheriff's deputy to inform authorities about the armed man on the bus.

Lott said children were asking the trainee about what would happen to them and the driver tried to calm the recruit.

The trainee became frustrated and ordered the bus to stop. The kids and driver were let out at Alpine Baptist Church on Alpine Road just off Percival Road, about 4 miles north from where he got on the bus.

The trainee drove the bus another mile north but had difficulty handling it, Lott said. He abandoned the bus on Old Percival Road near Quincy Road, leaving the rifle behind.

The trainee was later captured by police near an overpass at the heavily traveled junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 20, about 2 miles south of where he abandoned the bus.

"I think God looked down on these kids this morning and wrapped his arms around them and took care of them," Lott told reporters during a May 6 news conference held in the Alpine Baptist parking lot.

Collazo was charged with 19 counts of kidnapping and one count each of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, carjacking with great bodily harm, pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, carrying weapons on school property and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the Sheriff's Office said.

The charges did not matter whether the rifle was loaded or not, Lott said.

Collazo is being held at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Collazo also could face military charges, including possibly being absent without leave and theft of a weapon, Beagle said.

The trainee was in his third of 10 weeks of training at the fort, Beagle said, a time when some recruits feel anxiety about being separated from loved ones.

That's what appeared to happen with the trainee accused of hijacking the bus, the general said. The trainee did not have any prior record of mental issues, Beagle said.

"He was a very quiet individual," the general said.

The trainee was supposed to carry his rifle at the fort, but recruits do not receive ammunition until their fourth week of training, Beagle said. Even then, the ammunition is limited to the shooting range and participants are screened for any shells before they leave, according to Beagle.

Fort personnel noticed the trainee was missing just before breakfast and began a search, Beagle said. He got about a half-hour head start, the general said, but the forests lining the 52,000-acre fort make it tough to determine an escape route.

"You're looking for a needle in a haystack," Beagle said of the Army's largest training base where 48,000 new recruits pass through each year.

Fort leaders will examine how the trainee was able to escape. Beagle said some other trainees have left the fort without permission during his three years in command, usually around Christmas or just before getting kicked out, but none had a weapon.

"For me, this was a key failure in our accountability processes that I will fix going forward because the outcome, potentially could have been much worse," Beagle said.

The hijacking comes three weeks after a White sergeant from Fort Jackson was suspended from duty after he was caught on video shoving a smaller Black man outside the sergeant's home in The Summit residential subdivision during a confrontation.

Beagle said he wants to avoid a repeat of incidents like those in the past three weeks.

"Bad things are unfortunately going to happen, and we hate when they do happen," he said. "We appreciate the fact that we do have a strong relationship (with the community) and we appreciate the understanding, even when something does not go well for us here at Fort Jackson."

Richland Two School District board Chairman James Manning told reporters the district has plans for emergencies like the hijacking, including informing parents.

"This is something that unfortunately we have to practice," he said.

In the wake of the bus hijacking, Richland Two trustees scheduled a special meeting for May 7 to discuss school bus security.

Richland Two Superintendent Baron Davis said the driver in the hijacking successfully used techniques that are part of training courses, called "Stranger at the Bus Stop," for de-escalating hostage situations.

The district plans to offer counseling to the students in the aftermath of the bus hijacking, Davis said.

"I have never been as scared as in my life upon receiving that call," Davis said. "Every child is a precious child to all of us."

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said the bus hijacking backs the city's efforts to have ordinances restricting firearms near schools and blocking people considered at high-risk from possessing guns. Both ordinances were struck down in state court this week in a lawsuit brought by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, who said the city overstepped its authority.

"This brings into clarity that we must all understand the gravity of doing what we can what to ensure the best interests of public safety," Benjamin said.
Maura Hogan is the arts critic at The Post and Courier. She has previously written about arts, culture and lifestyle for The New York Times, Gourmet, Garden & Gun, among other publications.
The recent election of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina's first female bishop aims to send a bold and resounding message: The Episcopal Church welcomes all.

The Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley was elected May 1 to be the diocese's 15th bishop during a virtual special meeting.

Once consecrated in October, Woodliff-Stanley will be the first female to serve as bishop in the more than 200-year history of the diocese.

She also will be the first full-time bishop of the diocese since 2012. During that time, the religious group has been led by two part-time provisional bishops, with the second retiring in December 2019.

Woodliff-Stanely called the diocese's decision to elect a female to its highest clergy office "bold."

"I'm overjoyed," she said. "I could not have imagined this was going to happen."

Fueled by a passion for racial justice and a commitment to inclusivity, Woodliff-Stanley hopes to engage in reconciliation work in South Carolina.

The bishop-elect has ties to the area; her grandmother was raised in Charleston.

But the minister also has roots elsewhere in the Deep South. Woodliff-Stanley, 58, was raised in Mississippi. She recalls the economic disparity between the state's White and Black communities, caused by systemic racism, she said.

Im old enough to remember the horrible segregation signs in restaurants," Woodliff-Stanley said.

She ended up serving as rector over a parish in Colorado  where she was engaged in the work of "anti-racism"  but was fueled to do even more after the 2014 death of Eric Garner, who died after a New York City police officer put him in a chokehold.

A network of faith and community leaders formed in Denver, sowing the seeds of what would eventually become the Black Lives Matter movement in the city.

"Black Lives Matter took on a different flavor (in Denver) because its roots were multiracial," Woodliff-Stanley said.

Among the movement's successes were renaming a neighborhood previously named after a businessman with ties to the Ku Klux Klan and helping to end the "exception clause" in the state's constitution that permitted slavery as punishment for a crime, a change that Colorado voters approved in 2018.

Woodliff-Stanley said she also supported Black-owned businesses in the state.

Coming to South Carolina, a state with its own struggles in trying to acknowledge its racist past, the bishop said she intends to take many of her cues from historically African American congregations and Black clergy leaders.

Woodliff-Stanley will lead 31 churches affiliated with The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in the eastern half of the state. Of those churches, six have African American roots.

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"I really intend to listen to those leaders and take my cues from them," she said.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Anson Street in downtown Charleston was established in 1822 as a racially diverse congregation.

Its rector, the Rev. Adam Shoemaker, was one of the several clergy members who helped elect Woodliff-Stanley as bishop.

Not only does she come with a background in social justice, but Woodliff-Stanley brings solid church administrative experience, Shoemaker said.

The bishop-elect serves as canon for strategic change for the Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York. She is also the senior vice president for strategic change with the Episcopal Church Building Fund.

I believe she will be an able shepherd for the diocese," Shoemaker said.

Woodliff-Stanely assumes the helm of the church at a poignant period in the diocese's history.

Many congregations are still remote after the COVID-19 pandemic forced churches to minister virtually.

"I think it has made them more creative," she said.

The church will retain its focus on inclusivity and remains LGBTQ-affirming, she said.

As the church eyes the future, it will continue to embrace everyone and promote God's justice and reconciliation, Woodliff-Stanley said.

"Thats really what I think the people of the diocese have asked me to anchor in, and that's what I intend to do," she said.

She also will take leadership amid legal disputes between the diocese and the group who broke away from the Episcopal Church in 2012.

A South Carolina circuit judge ruled last year congregations that broke away from the Episcopal Church in 2012 can keep their properties.

The Episcopal Church has legally challenged the 2020 court decision.

The Episcopal diocese represents more than 7,500 members, more than 100 priests and 15 deacons who are either canonically resident or licensed to serve in the diocese.
Though he may be best known for his work as Borat, including in the seminal 2006 film that became a worldwide phenomenon, Baron Cohens character work has colored 20 years of comedy, notably via his HBO series Da Ali G Show, his subversive Showtime saga Who Is America?, his 2009 film Bruno, and his memorable turn as French race-car driver Jean Girard in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
A grocery store turned church is about to take on its third life as Floor and Decor opens at 401 Roper Mountain Road in Greenville.

The 80,000 square foot store, which will employ 50, opens on May 13. Regular hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Professionals in the home construction, home improvement and repair, and real estate industries are invited to schedule a tour of the store by texting 864PRO to 26786.

The Atlanta-based company is celebrating the opening by giving away a $5,000 gift card. Registration for that prize begins May 13 and end June 12. Enter at floormakeovergreenville.com.

According to a company news release, Floor and Decor operated 135 locations in 31 states as of the end of 2020. The Greenville store is the chain's first in the Upstate and its second in South Carolina. It opened a store in North Charleston in October 2019.

7-figure home sales

Recent million-dollar residential sales in the Upstate.

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Quick hits

A job fair for positions with BMW Upstate will be held May 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at MAU Workforce Solutions, 7993 Pelham Road in Greenville. Starting pay is $17.70 to $18.70, with night shift employees eligible for a $500 starting bonus. According to a news release, The Blood Connection will also be at the job fair accepting blood donations until noon. More information is available at mau.com/jobfair.

If you've noticed caps and gowns downtown and wondered why, Clemson University graduation is this week at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville. Master's and Doctoral graduates walked on May 5. The undergraduate schedule is May 6 for the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, College of Education, and College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; May 7 for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, and the College of Business; and May 8 for the College of Science, and College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

United Community Bank, which is in the process of moving its headquarters to Greenville, ranked top in consumer banking customer satisfaction in the southeast, a position they company has occupied for seven of the past eight years in the annual J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study.

The rundown

A union dispute is causing issues at the Port of Charleston's new terminal, with shipping companies refusing to use the facility until the matter is resolved.

Lufthansa increased an existing 787 Dreamliner order, handing more work to Boeing's consolidated North Charleston manufacturing line that only recently began delivering aircraft after a delay cause by airframe flaws.

"South Carolina lawmakers gave the nod to wine-tasting rooms to help secure a $400 million investment by California winemaker E.J. Gallo in Chester County," The Post and Courier's Jessica Holdman reports.

Back for more next week. Email your tips, releases and newsy bits to rgilchrest@postandcourier.com and amitchell@postandcourier.com.
South Carolina reported 373 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 6.

An additional 273 cases are considered probable, meaning they were identified through rapid  also known as antigen  tests, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 373 confirmed, 273 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 484,392 confirmed, 98,114 probable.

Percent positive: 5.4 percent.

New deaths reported: 19 confirmed, 4 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 8,415 confirmed, 1,143 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 70 percent.

How S.C. ranks

South Carolina ranks 41st in the nation in the number of vaccines administered per 100,000 people as of May 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (54), Richland County (42) and Charleston County (34) saw the highest totals.

What about tri-county?

Charleston County had 34 new cases on May 6, while Berkeley County had 19 and Dorchester County had 14.

Deaths

One of the confirmed deaths from COVID-19 reported May 6 was someone age 18 to 34. Five of the patients were 35 to 64 years old. Thirteen were patients age 65 or older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 356 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of May 6, 94 were in the ICU and 51 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant state epidemiologist with DHEC, addressed some of the most prevalent myths that are circulating about COVID-19 online:

It isn't possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine because none of the available vaccines contain the virus.

Vaccines do not decrease your fertility or cause sterility.

It is impossible for the vaccines to alter the DNA.

"Don't be fooled by pseudoscience and conspiracy theories," Kelly said.
MYRTLE BEACH  Lawyers representing a Myrtle Beach woman who was in a 2016 car accident have reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with vehicle manufacturer Hyundai, resolving a claim that a seat back failure allegedly contributed to her injuries.

Seatback failure happens when the back of the front seat in a vehicle collapses during a collision.

A jury trial began April 26 in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Florence Division, but was halted after the settlement was reached mid-trial.

Hyundai Motor America, Inc., and Hyundai Motor Company were defendants in the vehicle-defect suit. Motley Rice lawyers Kevin Dean and Lee Heath along with Myrtle Beach co-counsel Amy Lawrence and Justin Lovely of The Lovely Law Firm represented the woman and her husband.

On March 25, 2016, the Myrtle Beach woman was traveling northbound on U.S. 501 when she was rear-ended in her 2019 Hyundai Elantra by a Ford truck. Court records alleged that she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck, but due to defects and undisclosed design changes, the woman suffered a compression fracture to her lumbar vertebra, orbital wall and floor fractures, optic nerve damage and intracranial bleeding, emotional distress and permanent scarring.

The woman sued Hyundai claiming, among other things, negligence and failure to warn and sought punitive damages.

Owners, drivers and their passengers should be able to trust that the manufacturers of their vehicles will test their products and assure they meet internal standards in the manufacturing process, and that their cars will keep them safe in accidents, Dean said. They shouldnt ever have to worry about an auto defect worsening their injuries.

We presented evidence over the first week of this trial that we believe proved that our client should have suffered only minor injury or whiplash. We believe our evidence also would have proven to the jury that her drivers seatback collapsed, was faulty, and caused our clients severe, life-threatening injuries and permanent damage. We are grateful that Hyundai thought it best to settle this case at this time, but no one should be put through the expense and stress of five years of litigation when a company seemingly knows their vehicle failed a customer. We were confident the jury would have also agreed with us.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Regarding the Saturday article about vision screenings for students in Title I schools, we optometrists have volunteered at hundreds of school screenings over the years without dilating childrens eyes.

Free glasses were provided with these screenings.

As Dr. Soyung Ailene Kim, a staff optometrist who works for Vision to Learn in Atlanta, mentioned, these are screenings and not complete eye exams.

But the benefits are real and amazing, as Henry Blackford, who launched Vision to Learn in the Lowcountry, has witnessed.

I received my first glasses around age 12, and suddenly I was able to see the assignments on the board. Realizing what a difference that can make is why I later became an optometrist.

I understand there may be concerns about setting a precedent for incomplete eye health exams, but for special need situations, there could be an exception to the law for nonprofit mobile units providing vision exams.

The need is there, and I hope the solutions are clear.

Lets help the kids who are struggling with vision problems. Its the right thing to do.

DONALD J. KOETS, O.D.

West 5th South Street

Summerville

Care for SC children

In a recent letter to the editor, the writer expressed sadness at Gov. Henry McMasters executive order to not permit children from the southern border to be housed in South Carolina.

The border crisis is not being managed by the Biden administration. The writer should write to the administration, which turned its back on the situation.

Our governor and our state leadership need to continue to focus on South Carolinas homeless, orphans and others in need of food and shelter as well as other state obligations.

Our funds are not infinite as one might like them to be.

I am sad for the children caught in the border crisis, but I believe that our charity begins at home.

Churches can coordinate with Homeland Security and their members may open their homes to those illegally crossing into our country.

Perhaps the letter writer may want to explore doing so.

DIANE SMITH

Barrier Island Court

Mount Pleasant

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A good, decent man

Walter Mondale, the progressive Democrat and two-term U.S. senator from Minnesota who served as President Jimmy Carters vice president and lost the 1984 presidential race to Ronald Reagan, has died at age 93.

Mondale was hailed for transforming the vice presidency into a true partnership, with regular intelligence briefings and weekly lunches with the president.

As the Democratic nominee in 1984, he chose as his running mate New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party ticket. They lost to Reagan in a 20-point, 49-state landslide.

South Carolinians got a glimpse of the man when he ate shrimp with the shell still on it, being unfamiliar with the Lowcountry delicacy. The Carter-Mondale ticket met at Beauforts marina. The late state Rep. Harriet Keyserling gave him a shrimp encased in a plastic cube at a state Democratic dinner.

Walter Fritz Mondale possessed a great sense of humor. I was with Harriet when he ate that shrimp and reminded him of it at one of Bill Clintons inaugurations in Washington, as he was hailing a cab.

This country needs more statesmen like Mondale, a good and decent man.

BUD FERILLO

Laurens Street

Charleston

Combat climate change

As recently reported in The Post and Courier, a group of more than 300 business leaders and investors, representing many of Americas largest companies, are calling on President Joe Biden to set ambitious and attainable targets for reduction of carbon emissions.

Recognizing the profound and worsening impacts of the climate crisis, they understand the need to swiftly establish emissions goals to protect the U.S. economy and the health of the American people.

Specifically, they urge him to target a 50% reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

This is a very encouraging development, as it is evidence of increasing support for efforts to combat climate change.

Many experts recognize a carbon fee as the most cost-effective tool for reducing emissions.

I belong to a volunteer group that supports the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. It would place a fee on fossil fuels and would return those fees, in the form of a dividend, directly to American households. This legislation would reduce emissions, create jobs, put money in our pockets, save lives, improve our health and spur energy innovation.

The Lowcountry is extremely vulnerable to climate change and quick action is needed to mitigate the damage.

We hope our lawmakers will support this legislation. I encourage my fellow citizens to learn more about this exciting, effective approach.

RONALD MALCOM

River Road

Johns Island
GREER  The Democratic Party's latest bid to loosen the Republican grip on U.S. Senate seats in South Carolina will feature at least two candidates from either end of the state.

Spartanburg County Democratic Party Chairwoman Angela Geter formally announced her candidacy May 6 in the 2022 race against Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

She joins Democratic state Rep. Krystle Matthews of Berkeley County in what is now shaping up as a party primary for the nomination.

Beneath a statue at Greer's Victor Memorial Veterans Park and with a handful of supporters and media on hand, Geter, an Air Force veteran of eight years who rose to the rank of sergeant, spoke of how she would be more present in the state than Scott.

Scott has taken on a national presence as the Senate's lone Black Republican and was tapped to offer the GOP's response to President Joe Biden's address to Congress earlier this month.

Geter said she would focus on three key areas: small-business development; rebuilding infrastructure such as water systems, roads and broadband access; and education at both the K-12 and college level.

"We are in a historic moment, and that moment demands something of us," Geter said. "For me, that means making this announcement."

A Scott spokesman, Bradford Traywick, declined to comment.

State Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson, who was at Geter's event, said that in addition to an overall effort to register more voters, particular attention will be devoted to women, who turned out in record numbers in the state's 2020 election.

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The election saw 1.4 million women vote  about 300,000 more votes than men and a trend Robertson said will only increase in the coming years.

"In 2020, we saw the largest turnout in the state's history," he said, "but most important of that turnout were women."

It was still not good enough for Democrats, as party nominee Jaime Harrison lost to longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Four years ago, Geter lost the Democratic primary to fill the vacant seat of state Rep. Harold Mitchell.

Democrats are still licking the wounds of dashed expectations after Harrison, a longtime lobbyist, raised more than $100 million to unseat Graham, bringing in money from across the country. In the weeks leading up to the election, polls and pundits indicated Harrison might have a legitimate shot to accomplish a feat similar to what ultimately happened in Georgia, where two Democratic challengers beat Republican incumbents.

However, despite the financial support and a blitz of ads, Graham won by 10 points.

In 2013, then-Gov. Nikki Haley appointed Scott to fill the state's junior U.S. Senate seat upon the retirement of Republican Jim DeMint. Scott retained the seat during a special election the following year, then against in the 2016 election. Scott won both elections by more than 20 points.

Jamie Lovegrove reported from Columbia.
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster has hired a veteran South Carolina Republican campaign strategist to lead his 2022 reelection bid, tapping Mark Knoop to take the reins after he managed state Attorney General Alan Wilson's successful 2018 reelection and served as political director for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's winning 2020 operation.

"Mark is a real political talent who knows South Carolina inside and out, and we are excited to have him lead our team as we share the message of our states great successes and bright future with the voters over the next 18 months," McMaster said May 6.

Longtime McMaster strategist Tim Pearson will continue in his role as general consultant, the same position he held for the 2018 campaign.

In his role with Graham and the S.C. Republican Party last year, Knoop oversaw an extensive ground game that helped propel the incumbent Republican to a double-digit victory, as well as lifting the party to other legislative wins around the state.

Knoop led Wilson to reelection by a similar margin, around 10 percentage points, in 2018. Like McMaster, Wilson also defeated GOP primary challengers after being forced into a runoff that year.

A Columbia-based consultant, Knoop said he is excited to now join McMaster's campaign.

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"Gov. McMaster has a proven record of putting South Carolina taxpayers and businesses first, keeping the economy strong through this historic pandemic, and fighting to protect our borders, our elections and our Constitution," Knoop said.

So far, two Democrats have launched campaigns to challenge McMaster: former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham and activist Gary Votour. More are rumored to be considering entering the race.

No Republicans have announced plans to oppose McMaster in the GOP primary, though Greenville businessman John Warren, who unsuccessfully challenged McMaster in 2018, and state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, have both indicated interest in running.

McMaster has already secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who also backed him in 2018 after McMaster supported his 2016 presidential bid. He also enjoys the support of the Republican Governors Association, a national organization tasked with electing GOP governors that typically aids incumbents.

In his last race, McMaster did not hire an S.C.-based campaign manager until August 2017 and then replaced her in January 2018 with longtime Graham aide Scott Farmer, who went on to guide the governor to victories in the GOP primary runoff against Warren and general election against Democrat James Smith.
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
Corvallis, Ore. residents awaiting and receiving COVID-19 vaccinations inside of Reser Stadium on the Oregon State University campus in February. On May 4, OSU leaders announced the university's decision to require students and employees to have a COVID-19 vaccine to participate in on-campus activities and instruction.
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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
Top cities key housing draws

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-05-06 07:12

Shanghai's new property projects remain popular during May 1-5

Growing enquiries for new home projects in major Chinese cities during the five-day Labor Day holiday are an indication of homebuyers' preference for living in the country's top-tier cities, experts said.

Meanwhile, disappearance of speculation on the property market in Shanghai and the stabilized residential market in Beijing have proved that tightening measures are successful in guiding the housing market on a healthy development path, they said.

Regardless of their location, new housing projects in Shanghai remained extremely popular during the holiday. A project in the remote Jiading district, launched a day ahead of the holiday, saw all 360 flats in its first phase sold out by Tuesday afternoon at an average price of 59,000 yuan ($9,113) per square meter, the Shanghai Securities News said in a report.

New projects in Beijing also saw a rise in visitors during the holiday, as property developers are trying to restore their capital flows through advertising tactics, China Securities Journal said. Eligible homebuyers, who do not yet own a property yet, accounted for most of the active visits in big cities during the holiday period, said Chen Sheng, president of the China Real Estate Data Academy.

"To be more specific, demand in big cities is being driven by first-time homebuyers, which is more or less matching with the new supply," said Chen.

Yan Yuejin, director of Shanghai-based E-house China Research and Development Institution, said the demand was largely due to flurry of new housing projects launched ahead of the holiday.

"The tightening measures for the property market do not necessarily mean that home transactions will perform poorly. In fact, the effective supply will allow potential homebuyers to purchase houses for living in," said Yan.

Since the beginning of the year, the Shanghai municipal government has announced a series of measures vis-a-vis land supply, land bidding, home prices and new home transactions, which have effectively eliminated speculative investment and protected the actual residential demand, according to experts.

On April 25, the Shanghai housing regulator announced to launch 13,969 new homes in 12 districts of the city, with the majority of them being set aside for new buyers. None of the projects was priced higher than similar projects launched in recent 12 months.

"Given the guideline of 'housing is for living in and not for speculation', local governments are resolute in creating a fair and transparent market for home purchases. This will ensure that more potential homebuyers can purchase their ideal homes and also ease the supply shortage," said Lu Wenxi, a researcher with Centaline Shanghai.

Considering the consistent introduction of tightening measures by local governments, as well as the fact that more buyers have bought their homes for living, the housing market in top-tier cities will further stabilize in the subsequent months, said Xu Xiaole, chief market analyst with the Beike Research Institute.
Garrett Rolfe, the Atlanta police officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks last summer, has been reinstated to his job, apparently with back pay. The Atlanta Civil Service Board reinstated Rolfe. It stated:

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 Boards findings of fact support this conclusion. Rolfe received notice of his termination only about an hour before Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced it. By rule, he was entitled to 10 days in which to defend his actions before he could be sacked.

The Board did not reach the question of whether, on the merits, Rolfe should have been fired. It seems to me that, if the facts are as I understand them, Rolfe has a good argument that he should not have been. Brooks had attacked Rolfe when the officer tried to arrest him. He stole Rolfes taser and fired at Rolfe. Only then did Rolfe fire back with his gun.

Although Rolfe has his job back, he faces criminal charges for felony murder, aggravated assault, and violation of oath. The charges were brought by a desperate, corrupt prosecutor who hoped, in vain as it turned out, to avoid defeat in an upcoming election by prosecuting Rolfe.

The felony murder charge seems absurd, as Andy McCarthy has argued. The same is true of the underlying assault charge. When a suspect forcibly resists arrest, steals an arresting officers taser, and shoots at the officer with it, shooting back at the suspect is not aggravated assault. Or so it seems to me.

Rolfe hasnt been demonized to the same degree as Derek Chauvin, and Brooks death did not cause Atlanta to burn the way George Floyds did in Minneapolis. Perhaps Rolfe will get a fair trial. If so, his chances of acquittal seem pretty good, I think.

In any event, he has won Round 1 by being reinstated as a police officer.
Nancy Pelosis father, Thomas DAlesandro Jr., was mayor of Baltimore during the 1950s. Like most politicians of that era  including the two most influential ones, President Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson  DAlesandro did not want to burn his bridges with either side of the civil rights divide. (The exceptions to this rule tended to be from the deep south or the firmly liberal north.)

Thus, DAlesandros record on race is mixed, as this Washington Times article shows. On the one hand, segregation was the order of the day in Baltimore with respect to housing and, until the Supreme Courts decision in Brown, education. DAlesandro did little if anything to combat segregation other than what was required of him by federal law.

Moreover, it was DAlesandro who, shortly after being elected mayor in 1947, dedicated a new monument to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. In his dedication speech, DAlesandro declared:

Today, with our nation beset by subversive groups and propaganda which seeks to destroy our national unity, we can look for inspiration to the lives of Lee and Jackson to remind us to be resolute and determined in preserving our sacred institutions. We must remain steadfast in our determination to preserve freedom, not only for ourselves, but for the other liberty-loving nations who are striving to preserve their national unity as free nations.

On the other hand, DAlesandro did not resist the Supreme Courts decision in Brown, as some southern governors did. Instead, he declared this is the law of the land, and it will be enforced and honored in Baltimore, Maryland.

This was the Eisenhower model. Take no position on the injustice of segregation. Instead, treat the issue as purely a legal one and emphasize the need to uphold the law.

In addition, DAlesandro worked as mayor with black political groups. This was the LBJ model. Gain the trust and support of black leaders while staying on the good side of their enemies through gestures (like the monument dedication) and policies that do not rock the boat.

In other words, Pelosis father was, on matters of race, a typical politician of his era. Pelosi has no cause to be ashamed of him, much less to denounce him publicly.

Unfortunately, in our woke era, historical figures are no longer judged in the context of their times. If that goes for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln  and it does with a vengeance for the woke left  then it certainly should go for Tommy DAlesandro.

Yet, even as she makes confronting Americas past racism a cornerstone of the Democratic agenda, Pelosi steadfastly refuses to criticize her fathers contributions to racial discrimination. I actually respect her for not throwing her father under the bus (Barack Obama threw his grandmother under it with less justification). Clearly, though, shes being hypocritical.

Pelosi wants Whites as a group not just to take responsibility for the complicity of some Whites in racism, but to pay reparations to Blacks. Yet, she wont own up to her fathers complicity in racism  complicity that, for example, prevented Blacks from obtaining housing in white neighborhoods.

Call it white Speakers privilege.

I agree with the take of the Heritage Foundations Mike Gonzalez:
In his opening monologue last night, Tucker Carlson stated that approximately 4,000 Americans, at a minimum, have died after being vaccinated against the Wuhan coronravirus. He cited data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Carlson also suggested that VAERS is underestimating deaths among the vaccinated. The actual number might be considerably higher than 4,000, he said.

The number of deaths caused by vaccinations might also be considerably lower, and probably is. Just because someone died after being vaccinated doesnt mean he or she died because of the vaccine.

Almost 150 million Americans have been vaccinated. You would expect a small fraction of that number to die during the course of a few months, whether vaccinated or not.

The Washington Post tries to quantify this:

According to CDC data, an estimated 8,000 Americans die every day of all causes. Thats 1 in every 41,000 people, every day. If you apply that number to 135 million people who are vaccinated, youd expect that more than 3,000 people who were vaccinated would be dying every day right now  again, of something. Thats significantly more than the 30 per day Carlson suggests is alarming. Even if you account for the gradual increase in vaccinations, the idea that wed be seeing hundreds and then thousands of vaccinated people dying per day is completely expected.

Does this mean that no one has died because of being vaccinated? The CDC says that a review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines.

I would be very surprised, though, if coronavirus vaccines havent killed a few of the nearly 150 million to whom they have been administered. But even if one accepts Carlsons figure of 4,000, thats still only a little more than one death per 40,000 vaccinations, if I did the math correctly. (Carlson did not discuss the number of alleged deaths from the vaccine in relation to the number of vaccinations.)

It seems irrational to decline being vaccinated against the virus out of fear of dying from the vaccine.

This doesnt mean that Americans should be punished for declining to be vaccinated. The vaccine can have side effects, some of them serious. A young, healthy person might rationally decide that the risk of being sick for a little while is outweighed by the risk of longer-term side effects (known and unknown), like the seriously adverse effect on hearing one of our neighbors experienced for the first time after being vaccinated.

In any event, it should be up to individuals, not the government, to weigh whatever risks vaccines might carry against the risk to them associated with becoming infected.

But what about the risk the unvaccinated pose to those with whom they come into contact who arent vaccinated? For now, that risk is real, though probably small.

However, well soon reach the point where virtually everyone who wants to be vaccinated (and certainly everyone at serious risk from the virus who wants this) is vaccinated. At that point, the risk of infection of the unvaccinated will be only to those who have chosen to assume that risk.

I think its right that the government is encouraging people to take the vaccine. I think its irresponsible for Tucker Carlson to serve up an analysis that seems to overstate the risk of dying from it.

However, I think Carlson is right that the government shouldnt punish people (e.g., restrict their right to travel) for declining the vaccine.
Yes, no matter what

Yes, but it depends on variety

No, for medical reasons, uncertainty

No, principle

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Godwin Susan and Isah Arah Zainab are thousands of miles apart  the former is in Nasarawa State, Northcentral Nigeria, while the latter resides in Zamfara, a state in the Northwest  but they are both victims of the impacts of climate change.

The loss in 2020 that left Susan, Zainab and indeed many smallholder women farmers in Nigeria lamenting is seen as alarming and a sign of what to come as climate change continues to hit harder across the country.

Nigerian rural women farmers play vital roles in agricultural production and are key to Africas most populous countrys food security. They account for 70 per cent of agricultural workers and 80 per cent of food producers but are at the receiving ends of the negative impacts of climate change.

There are pieces of evidence of climate change all over the country, says, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the government agency that documents weather and climate data.

These pieces of evidence are in the form of rising temperatures, more frequent and persistent heat and cold waves, severe coastal and inland floods and the ravaging wind storms, the agency said in one of its climate review bulletins.

According to Michael Mann, one of the worlds most influential climate scientists, the world has finally reached the point where it is not credible to deny climate change because people can see it playing out in real-time in front of their eyes.

Sudden stop of rainfall weeks after planting

For 13 years, Godwin Susan, 60, has ventured into farming and raised her five children with proceeds from her farm. But of her 13 years experience, Godwin says 2020 stood out as one year with losses for her and many smallholder farmersit was the year they were confronted by the impacts of climate change.

Farmers in her village were happy when the rain started earlier and never suspected it would stop suddenly, so they mobilised to farms as is the practice each year when rainfall starts. But something happened. For five weeks, the rain ceased and it was after Susan and many others had cultivated their farm  planted crops  it was also when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and movement was restricted.

An abrupt stop of rainfall and deadly floods across parts of Nigeria are stark reminders of the climate risks facing Africas most populous country. Many states in Nigeria rely on rain-fed agriculture which makes a larger number of small scale holder farmers vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change.

rain started earlier last year and we planted our crops early. But after planting, the rain ceased for almost five weeks, Susan recounts, but with sadness.

In Nasarawa State, our land is sandy and for rain not to fall for almost five weeks after we have planted, it means theres a lot of problems.

The mother of five has been cultivating groundnuts, maize, melon and cassava on her different plots of land. And when the crops started germinating, they ended up dying after the rain stopped.

Melon that we planted early was about to flower when rain stopped suddenly. It started drying up and eventually died. In fact, there were a lot of losses, she laments, unable to quantify her losses.

Susan was not unaware of climate change. She knew about planting early and using improved seedlings. What she did not know are its real impacts on farmers like her.

We have heard about climate change. We were always told to plant earlier and use improved seedlings. We used the improved seedlings and planted earlier but the rain that did not come, made it affect our farms, she shares her knowledge on climate change and experience afterwards.

Rising global temperatures, regular flooding and rising water level are parts of the impacts of climate change. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the farmers woes were compounded. They were helpless and survival was critical at the time. Because of movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was impossible for the troubled women to seek knowledge or advice from those that know about climate change.

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Things were very hard at that time, even to see the food to eat to survive was difficult let alone to find money to buy another seedling to farm again. Maybe they could have taught us one way or the other to scale through this problem. And since there was a lockdown, we were helpless, says Susan.

When the rain started falling again, it was already late for the farmers to replant their crops because the little we had was what we had already planted on the farm. The cost of clearing land and cultivating also jumped up by 100 per cent or more as a result of the pandemic.

What we usually spend N10, 000 to cultivate, last year, we paid between N20, 000 to N25, 000, the woman laments. People from neighbouring states used to come to cultivate our farms for us but last year, they couldnt come because of the lockdown.

Tomato, yam farms damaged by heatwaves

Before the 2020 unpleasant farming experience, Patience Emmanuel, a farmer and mother of two in Lafia whose speciality is tomato cultivation, had plans and was hoping to save to expand her farm but things failed to work out.

Just a week after she transplanted her tomato from the nursery to the main farm, the rain ceased. There was no drop of water for a week. It affected tomatoes and the yields were very low, Patience says.

From the same piece of land where she used to harvest between 70 to 90 baskets of tomatoes, only 17 baskets were harvested last year at a time the price also crashed to a record low of between N1,800 to N1,500 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as against between N2, 500 to N3,000.

This loss really brought down our income and the money at hands couldnt meet the family needs, she said.

Women in this category need more education on climate change much as they need the governments intervention to continue with their farming job. We need enlightened leaders that can help us in a poor situation like this before the coming of the next planting season, Patience pleads.

Monica Aleku whose farm is also in Lafia is mourning her loss from the 2020 farming experience, having lost more than half of the yam she planted when the rain did not fall as expected. After I planted my yam, the rain didnt fall for about a couple of weeks and there was too much sun which destroyed yams in the heaps, she recounts. I planted up to 2000 heaps of yams but I couldnt harvest up to 600 tubers of yam.

According to her, sales from her annual harvest from the farm could be as much as N180,000. But now she struggles to feed her family.

A looming hunger

In 2019, 34 million people globally were acutely food insecure due to climate extremes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the humanitarian impacts of climate change will be far worse in the decades to come if there are no drastic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nigeria faces a serious food crisis except the government takes necessary action, given the experiences of these women who form the fulcrum of the workforce in the agricultural sector.

The impact of these changes without adaptation could cost between six per cent and 30 per cent of Nigerias GDP by 2050, amounting to between USD 100 billion and USD 460 billion, says the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment, quoting a report by the Department for International Development (DFID).

Several experiences from across the world on climate change have shown that women are more vulnerable to its impacts. The household head finds it difficult to feed their families because most of their investment goes into farming and it is a seasonal trend.

If the government did not take necessary actions, there will be serious hunger, Susan raises the alarm because, like her, many other women such as Zainab Isah Arah, the coordinator of Smallholder Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFON) in Zamfara State, have lost huge investments in farming in 2020.

After the strange experience last year, as an integrated farmer, Zainab believes that climate change is already resulting in low production and food scarcity coupled with insecurity.

Now we dont have much to feed or meet our demand, she says with little or no hope that things may get better as the governments are not really facing the reality.

 we are battling climate change because we experienced a delay in rainfall. There was a draught at the point we were expecting rain and about to apply fertilizer. It seriously affected all the crops, says Zainab whose state, Zamfara, is one of the most affected by insecurity plaguing Northwest Nigeria. Her farms at Wanke, Sadau and Mohali were most affected by both irregular rainfall and floods.

She recounts how after the drought came flood that washed her beans plantation leaving her with little to no harvest. Putting her loss in the region of N200,000, Zainab lamented that the rain was just too much in the year 2020.

For my beans last year on the same piece of the farm before the flood, I harvested 15 bags but this year due to the flood I got just seven bags.

Like Susan and Zainab, Hajia Safiyah, whose rice farm was washed away in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, Northcentral Nigeria, after the 2020 flood, says there wont be any food security except if the government intervenes. Her experience is not different from those of others about the irregularity of rainfall.

About climate change, we dont know what was happening last year to farmers. Its not only COVID-19 that is farmers headache. We expected rain to start, but the rain didnt start and we have to embark on prayers, she says, looking dejected and hopeless.

But when it rained it resulted in flooding in Kogi State. The floods swept away our rice farms. Even our cassava farm was flooded. There would be food crises because right now, prices of food are going up even in the so-called bush markets in the villages. There wont be any food security with what we are experiencing and if the government did not come to our aid.

These women have similar expectations from their respective governments. We expect the government to assist us with inputs since floods have carried away our farms, Hajia Safiyah said.

Susan pleads: The actions we farmers are looking forward to from the government is to support those of us that can do dry season farming that may help reduce hunger.

For us in Nasarawa State, we dont practice dry season farming very much, especially women. We are not into it, she adds.

That is one of our charter of demands, that, if it is possible, we want the government to give us a big plot of land that can be used as a cluster farm. If the government fulfils that, we can farm as a group, everyone can farm whatever they want.

Building resilience of women farmers against climate change

It baffles both Susan and Zainab that their knowledge of climate change did not immune them from the pangs of destruction that it visited on them.

I had training on climate change. Its the ecological changes that occur due to some practices, says Zainab of her knowledge of climate change. She believes there should be more awareness creation and sensitisation for grassroots women about the issue.

Now even with the advancements in the weather forecast, they are just predicting and with the prediction is there any measure on the ground for farmers in terms of information sharing, or provision of seed to aid mitigation, she says.

Experts in climate change and agriculture believe that an adjustment to adapt to the changing situation is crucial for a country like Nigeria whose livelihood occupation of the majority of its population is subsistence farming.

Olumide Ojo, Resilience and Private Sector Engagement Manager at Oxfam Nigeria, says climate change issues are dynamic and approaches to them too have to be dynamic. To really address the problem, he argues that knowledge is what is needed for the vulnerable, particularly the women who are directly impacted by the effects of climate change.

What is needed to fight climate change is knowledge. The traditional approach has always been to plant early maturing crops, maybe you are expecting a shorter duration of the rainfall and you want your crops to have matured before the cessation of the rainfall, Ojo explains but adds that the knowledge has to be holistic.

In planting early, knowledge has to be holistic. We need to push out a holistic body of knowledge on managing climate change. Planting early in itself needs a lot of education because there are false starts of rainfall.

With the right kind of knowledge, women, according to Mr Ojo, can harvest as much output from a small farm size as what they will get from a large farm size without knowledge.

Mr Ojos position is shared by Dr Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, who also believes that solutions come from the people, not from protocols such as the Paris Agreement.

Dr Mwenda says a bottom-up approach is needed to build resilience. What works in the Netherlands, wont necessarily work in the Horn of Africa. People have their own ways of dealing with climate change. A bottom-up approach is needed to build resilience.

He shares how, in Kenya, his organisation and others led a local initiative in 2020 to combat climate change by introducing sunflower  a fast-maturing, drought-resistant crop in demand for edible oil.

Around 3,000 farmers were enlisted to the project, which majorly focused on women and youth.

We provided seeds and partnered up with Kenyan Bidco Africa to guarantee a market and a fair price for farmers. In less than four months, the project has produced results beyond our expectations and some life-transforming impacts that are already visible. We just need the will, and the spirit of partnership, he explains.

With the near non-existence of extension programmes in Nigeria, rural women farmers can do as much as the extension officers with the right kind of knowledge.

Gone were the days when we used to see them visit us but not now, we dont have them, Zainab says of the non-availability of extension workers.

Even when states and federal ministries of agriculture mount programmes on television, Zainab believes such is never enough for rural women who often dont have access to television.

Not enough, what they show on TV how many have access to a TV? And at the grassroots, we need sensitisation and practical examples.

Ojo says a homegrown solution to this challenge is engagement at the grassroots. If rural women are exposed to the same knowledge that a typical extension is exposed to for the same period of time, by the time you are evaluating their performance, the difference is always insignificant.

He argues that the farmers will understand the concept of extension from the perspective of a core practitioner rather than from the perspective of a service delivery agent that the extension officer is.

A core farmer is combining the knowledge with the practical know-how and she understands better from that perspective. Thats what we should be targeting at the women, he says.

How Nigeria is responding to the climate change challenge

Nigeria is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, the international deal aimed at tackling climate change. It ratified the agreement in 2017. Through this, it has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030, when compared to business-as-usual levels. This pledge rises to 45 per cent on the condition of international support.

In other words, if Nigeria were to follow a business as usual pathway, it would expect its emissions to reach around 900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2030, says Nigerias Carbon Brief profile.

According to the brief, Nigeria has pledged to reduce this to around 720 million through actions to tackle climate change. And, if it receives international support, it will try to keep its 2030 emissions to around 495 million tonnes.

It was the worlds 17th biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2015, the second-highest in Africa after South Africa.

While addressing the UN General Assembly in September 2019, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said the country stands resolutely with the international community in observing agreed carbon emission targets which I signed in 2015.

We have since issued two sovereign Green Bonds and have added an additional 1 million hectares of forested land taking our total forest coverage to 6.7 per cent through collective national effort, he added.

In 2017, Nigeria made its climate pledge where the government committed to reducing the countrys emissions by ramping up the rollout of solar energy production, improving energy efficiency and ending gas flaring. But experts knock the government for not doing much to meet up with the pledge since then.

The commitment to reducing carbon emission by the government by 2030 as captured in our NDC, that is, the Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement, everything that we are doing seems not to go with the agreement, says Mr Ojo.

Not much has been developed in terms of solar power for the country and power generation and distribution have also been abysmal. In the same 2017, statistics from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN), indicated that power generation in the country dropped from 3,959 megawatts on January 4 to 2,662 megawatts on January 22. Many households are powered by generating sets that contribute to carbon emission.

Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and use have increased by 16 per cent since 2015, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Carbon Brief report published in August 2020 reveals.

Support for this report was provided by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) through funding support from Ford Foundation.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has advised the general public to prioritise good hand hygiene as part of efforts to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Director-General of the agency, Chikwe Ihekweazu, gave the advice during an awareness walk to commemorate the 2021 World Hand Hygiene Day in Abuja on Wednesday.

Represented by the Head of Prevention Programme & Knowledge Management Department of the agency, Chinwe Ochu, Mr Ihekweazu said good hand hygiene can save lives and prevent the transmission of infections.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Hand cleanliness protects our lives they also save our lives! hand hygiene has become most important and relevant than ever, he said.

Marked on May 5 annually, World Hand Hygiene Day aims to maintain global promotion, visibility and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement around the world.

This years event is being commemorated at a time the world is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic which has already claimed over 3 million lives globally and 2,063 lives in Nigeria.

This year, the global Hand Hygiene Day theme is Achieving hand hygiene at the point of care, and the slogan is Seconds save lives  clean your hands!

The sub-theme for Nigeria is One Nation, One Plan: Turn Nigeria Orange!.

Good Hand hygiene

Mr Ihekweazu noted that good hand hygiene has been advocated as one of the most effective ways to prevent the COVID-19 diseases.

Since 2019, NCDC through the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme has led the countrys efforts to make hand hygiene day activities a major national event in order to raise the consciousness of Nigerians on these efforts, and their role in saving lives, he said.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the risk of care-associated infections in low and middle-income countries, particularly in patients admitted to intensive care units.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson of Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC), Nkoli Uwazurike, noted that hand hygiene could reduce major public health problem in Nigeria and has a significant impact in the fight against COVID-19.

Prioritising health workers

Speaking at the briefing, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, Saad Ahmed, reiterated that hand washing could help reduce the spread of diseases.

As simple as hand washing is , it actually saves a lot of life. There is a circle of infection and and we need to break that circle through hand washing. Hand washing can save us a lot, he said.

He noted that at the point of care, most health workers infect patients or get infected by patients, hence the need to promote hand hygiene.

In a message to mark the day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) calls on health care workers and facilities to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care.

The point of care refers to the place where three elements come together: the patient, the health care worker, and care or treatment involving contact with the patient or their surroundings, it said.

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The WHO slogan this year is CLEAN HANDS SAVE LIVES.
The entire country now allows anyone 18 and older to receive any of the three vaccines, and those 16 and older to get the Pfizer option since that brand has been approved for that younger age group. A ruling on the Pfizer vaccine for those 12 and older is expected by next week, according to The Associated Press.
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The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, on Thursday, said China is prepared to discuss sharing patents for the Coronavirus vaccines within the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Washington had already declared that it would be in favour of suspending intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines.

The U.S. said that it would actively engage in talks on this matter within the WTO.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations said it was disappointed with this decision.

The federation believes that the step would not help boost vaccine production and would not lead to any practical solutions.

China is ready to have a constructive dialogue within the WTO and to achieve a positive and fair solution, the spokesperson told a briefing, when asked if China was ready to give up the rights to its vaccines.

(NAN)
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination for External Candidates.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Head, Information and Public Relations Division of the council in Abuja, Azeez Sani, on Thursday.

The council Registrar, Godswill Obioma, during the announcement of results, said 41,459 candidates registered for the examination out of which 39,503 actually sat for it.

Mr Obioma explained that a total of 26,277 candidates obained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics while 34,014 candidates also obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

The registrar, who reiterated the councils zero-tolerance for examination malpractice, noted that appropriate standards and excellence were maintained right from the planning stage to the release of results.

He added that 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in the 2020 SSCE External as against 17,004 cases in 2019.

Mr Obioma noted that the reduction in the level of malpractice was a result of deepened monitoring of the examination by members of the Governing Board, Management and Senior Staff of the Council.

He further explained that in line with the councils zero tolerance for examination malpractice, four supervisors who were found culpable of aiding and abetting malpractice had been blacklisted and would no longer be engaged in the conduct of NECO examinations.

Mr Obioma said that the results of 256,000 candidates who missed some papers during the 2020 SSCE (Internal) due to the ENDSARS Protests in some states and who sat for those papers during the 2020 SSCE (External) are being released alongside external candidates.

One examination centre in Ogun State has been derecognised for intimidation and several attempts to induce NECO officials as well as aiding and abetting examination malpractice.

It is gratifying to note that the examination was at no extra cost to the affected candidates.

A further analysis of candidates performance indicates that a total number of 29,918 obtained credit and above in English Language while a total number of 34,061 candidates obtained credit and above in Mathematics.

The Registrar stated that year 2020 ushered in very daunting challenges essentially occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic and ENDSARS Protests in the pursuit of the Council mandates.

He said this necessitated the rescheduling of the various examinations organised by NECO, for instance, 2020 SSCE (External) which ought to have been concluded in November/December 2020 was conducted in February/March 2021.

According to him, in spite of these, we were not deterred rather we remained resilient and resolute in the conduct of our activities.

The registrar reiterated the councils commitment to conducting credible examinations to improve the quality of education in the country.

In view of the above, and based on approval of the Federal Ministry of Education, NECO has scheduled her public examinations for year 2021 as follows:

National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission of JSS 1 students into Federal Unity Colleges is scheduled for May 29.

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Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal is scheduled from July 5 to Monday, Aug. 16.

Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is scheduled for Aug. 23 to Monday, Sept. 6 in order to enable students at that level cover enough subject matter for the examination, he said.

The registrar expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, for finding him worthy to be appointed to serve and contribute to the development of education in the country.

He, therefore, enjoined candidates to access their results on NECO website www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration numbers.

(NAN)
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Nigeria on Wednesday recorded 52 new cases of the COVID-19 virus. The new cases were recorded in six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The new figure raised the total number of infections recorded in Nigeria to 165,273, an update published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Wednesday night indicates.

The country also recorded two new deaths on Wednesday, about seven days since it reported the last death from the virus.

This brings the total number of deaths from the virus in Nigeria to 2,065.

The number of deaths recorded from the virus has declined with only two deaths recorded in the last 21 days.

The new COVID-19 cases were reported in seven states: Taraba-18, FCT-9, Rivers-9, Lagos-7, Akwa Ibom-6, Kano-2 and Kaduna-1.

A breakdown of the data shows that 32 people were discharged on Wednesday after testing negative for the virus. This brings the total number of discharged persons after treatment to 155,403.

There was no recorded case of recovery from isolation centres across the country on Wednesday, according to the infectious disease body.

Todays report includes data from Taraba State recorded between 22nd April and 4 May 2021, the NCDC said.

Meanwhile, over 7,789 infections are still active in the country, according to the NCDC.

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 (WHO).

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.
Controversy has trailed the alleged planned reappointment of Folarin Gbadebo-Smith as the Director General of Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) Ibadan, Oyo State.

The workers of the institute are accusing Mr Gbadebo-Smith of administrative incompetence, fraud, and low research output in the past four years.

They protested on the streets of Ibadan on Tuesday.

This newspaper obtained a 10 page petition of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) addressed to the governing council of the institute on March 19.

The petition was signed by the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, Muyiwa Babatimehin; Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals and Research Institutions, Mathew Olagunju; and Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, Theophilus Tubi.

The unions, according to the petition, alleged that since the beginning of the tenure of Mr Gbadebo-Smiths administration in 2016, several research reports were ready for publication but not published, thereby risking their relevance, timeliness, and usefulness to the public.

In particular, less than 10 per cent have been published with policy briefs not extracted from any. Indeed, in the last one year, there have been over 40 unpublished individual research outputs and more than 10 unpublished, the petition read.

This is a monumental waste of government resources and also denying government and Nigerians at large valuable information that could have informed policy prescriptions.

The unions also accused the Director-General of non-adherence to laid down rules as regards staff management and deployment.

The Management of NISER under the leadership of Dr Folarin Gbadebo-Smith has for the past three years failed in their duty to conduct annual promotion exercise as and when due.

This has consequences on the payment of promotion arrears. There are many staff still being owed promotion arrears.

The 2018 promotion exercise witnessed some unprecedented twists especially for researchers moving to the Professorial Cadre (Associate Professor and Research Professors). The extant practise was for the Departmental Promotion Committees to meet and make recommendations to the Institute-wide Personnel Committee who verifies the submission of the various Departmental Committees after which the papers are sent for external review.

The twist in the 2018 promotion exercise was the truncating of the process after the recommendations of the different Departmental Personnel Committee(s) as the Director-General single-handedly constituted a non-statutory committee to review the already concluded aspect of the promotion exercise.

The recommendations of the tailored committee culminated in the non-promotion of any research staff to the Professorial Cadre to date. The effect of this disruption in the promotion process of 2018 is still with us to date.

NISER

NISER is a public research institute located in Ibadan, with a mission to provide information on economic and social ideas that will be pivotal to the nations development.

Its products and activities include publications of conference proceedings and research findings, organising of training workshops, and seminars.

The institute is divided into three departments: Economic Policy Research Department; Social and Governance Policy Research Department, and Surveillance and Forecasting Department.

It is headed by a director-general and has six zonal offices and liaison offices in Lagos and Abuja.

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More allegations

The unions also accused Mr Gbadebo-Smith of a deliberate refusal to use the official quarters used by his predecessors and instead preferred a hotel whenever he visits Ibadan.

The DG was more of a part-time Chief Executive who was hardly around to attend to pressing issues of the Institute and rules by proxy from his base in Lagos, where he actively runs his other private business concerns

The incompetence of Dr Gbadebo-Smith also resonates in his non-prioritisation of research activities in favour of contract components. While it may be true that the infrastructure in NISER is dilapidated, there has not been equivalent show of value for money released by the government.

It should be noted that the releases of the 2019 research activities did not in any way reflect in the expenditure analysis of the 2019 Capital Development Fund

The 2019 Capital Development Report also showed several spurious and unverifiable research activities used to siphon money from the Institute. Few among such activities include; N20 million purportedly for the Monitoring and Evaluation of ERGP Project; N10 Million purportedly for payment for DTA and transportation in respect of unspecified official trip; N40,752,110.15 purportedly for consultancy payment in respect of modelling for NISER, and N85,000,000 purportedly for N-Power Project.

This is in addition to other spurious and unverifiable research activities purportedly conducted by the Institute. The procurement process of the Institute is bedevilled with cases of contract splitting and non-adherence to due process. A few cases that will be referenced here include; the purchase of Prado SUV at a combined cost of N56,175,000.00 but which was split into various components to evade reaching the N50 million Tenders Boards limit.

Also very worrisome about the procurement of the Prado Jeep is the fact that the vehicle has not been seen anywhere around Ibadan since it was procured. The DG has continued to maintain his personal car with the resources of the institute and in recent times used chartered vehicles to come to Ibadan.

The workers also sent the petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The spokesperson of the anti corruption agency, Azuka Ogugua, did not respond to our calls and text messages, seeking information about the actions taken by the ICPC on the allegations against the NISER DG.

Protest over planned reappointment

As the unions await the investigation into the matter, activities were grounded in the institute on Tuesday as workers protested against an alleged plan to return Mr Gbadebo-Smith for a second term.

His current term expires on May 27.

Mr Muyiwa, who spoke on the unions behalf, told journalists that the DGs tenure suffered academic and administrative incompetence as seen in four years of low research output, poor staff welfare, non-conversion of qualified staff and refusal to promote some non-research staff.

No comments

Meanwhile, when contacted about the allegations levelled against him, Mr Gbadebo-Smith said he is not interested in speaking with the press on the allegations.

He said this was because an investigative panel has been set up by the Minister of State for National Planning on controversies generated by promotion, research and publication inadequacies at the institute.

Prompted further for comments, he said both the panel and the minister had told him not to grant press interviews on the allegations until the panels report is released.
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Hadiza Bala Usman is battling to keep her job as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, after President Muhammadu Buhari approved her suspension, senior government officials familiar with the development have said.

The suspension was approved on Tuesday by Mr Buhari but that action remained undisclosed until Thursday evening amid high-level efforts to ensure the decision is reversed.

NPAs executive director of finance and administration, Mohammed Bello-Koko, has been named to lead the organisation in acting capacity.

The suspension has been approved by Mr President but it could be reversed in the days ahead because top personalities are making efforts to ensure she remains in office and the suspension is reversed, one official, with inside knowledge of the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday asking not to be named for lack of authority to speak to the press.

The official said the suspension was to allow a probe of allegations of improprieties against Ms Usman to take place unhindered.

The probe is at the instance of the supervising transport ministry, headed by Rotimi Amaechi.

The official did not disclose exact details of the allegations against Ms Usman who has received praises for the reforms she introduced at the NPA and for standing up to some powerful interests in the maritime sector.

Ms Usman was reappointed to continue heading the NPA in Janaury by Mr Buhari several months before the end of her first tenure.

Among individuals said to be working to save Ms Usman are the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; a former head of state and a former defence minister, who are said to be working to resolve the stand-off between Ms Usman and the minister.

Yes, the suspension has been approved, another official confirmed, also asking not to be named and refusing to give details.

The ministry of transport did not officially confirm the development but an official there said a statement would be issued in the coming moments.

If an official statement is made, Ms Usman may have lost the battle to reverse the suspension.

Ms Usman did not answer calls placed to her telephone to comment for this report. She also did not reply a message.

President Buharis spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, were also not available for comment Thursday evening as repeated calls to their phones were unanswered
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A monarch in Oyo State has warned residents of his community against selling their lands to foreigners in order to curb insecurity.

Abdulganiy Oloogunebi, the Aseyin of Iseyin, said foreigners contribute to the security challenges rocking the Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa axis of the state.

Mr Oloogunebi while speaking in his palace on Wednesday said many perpetrators of kidnappings in the area are from Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

He also urged residents to be vigilant enough to keep track of new faces and suspicious movements of strangers in their domains.

The monarch also pledged that all traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun would ensure that their domains are safe from criminal activities that could hinder economic growth of the region.

It is very saddening that kidnapping and armed robbery are the trending issues in the country today, he said.

What happened in the old, where our people keep vigil in their communities against invaders and criminal elements is what we should resort to now. If you see any strange thing happening within your community, call the elders who will call on the King or Baale. This will help the security agencies to have tangible information to work with.

If you see a strange person that came from the forest to buy food for more than two people, it means they are camping there and might be doing something ominous, call on the people around and stop such person(s) for questioning and if he or she cannot give convincing explanation, call on the security agents, these are ways to foil criminal acts before they manifest.

I will also want to appeal to my people to stop selling lands to foreigners that they cannot ascertain their nationality. Recent security intelligence have shown that foreigners from Niger, Chad, Cameroon and other countries who do not even have proper documentation are buying lands from our people.

This action portends near and future dangers, those that sell such land are giving room for people that we do not know their ancestral and moral background to spread over our communities and wreak havoc, we have to stop this act, he said.
Members of the International News Media Association (INMA) elected 11 new executives to its governing Board of Directors during the non-profit organisations annual business meeting on Wednesday.

Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President, International, of The New York Times Company, was elected as Second Vice President of the Boards Executive Committee.

Executives elected to new Board terms or recently appointed to the Board are:

Alexandra Beverfjord, Editor-in-Chief and CEO, Dagbladet (Aller Media), Norway

P.J. Browning, President Newspaper Division, Evening Post Publishing, United States

Lotta Edling, Editorial Director, Bonnier News, Sweden

Chris Janz, Chief Digital and Publishing Officer, Nine, Australia

Mapula Nkosi, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Sun (Media 24), South Africa

Martha Ortiz, Chief Editor, El Colombiano, Colombia

Sivakumar Sundaram, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Bennett Coleman & Company Ltd. (BCCL), India

Siv Juvik Tveitnes, Executive Vice President of News Media, Schibsted, Norway

Gert Ysebaert, CEO, Mediahuis, Belgium

Belle Tayler, Head of Brand & Acquisition of Nine in Australia, meanwhile, has been appointed as chair of INMAs Young Professionals Committee, which oversees the associations Young Professionals Initiative.

New INMA Board terms begin June 1.

INMA President Damian Eales, global head of transformation for News Corp, lauded three executives departing the Board upon their terms expirations, including:

Espen Egil Hansen, formerly Editor-in-Chief and CEO, Aftenposten, Norway

Katharina Neubert, Director Business Development, Insider, United States

D.D. Purkayastha, formerly Managing Director and CEO, ABP, India

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Mr Eales also recognised Board members who have stepped down in the past year: Greg Piechota of Agora in Poland and Rika Swart of Media 24 in South Africa.

The INMA Board of Directors is the fiduciary body overseeing the associations activities worldwide.

The International News Media Association (INMA) is a global community of market-leading news media companies reinventing how they engage audiences and grow revenue in a multi-platform environment.

The INMA community consists of nearly 18,000 members at 900+ media companies in 79 countries.

INMA is the news media industrys foremost ideas-sharing network with members connected via conferences, reports, Webinars, virtual meetings, an unparalleled archive of best practices, and strategic initiatives focused on digital subscriptions, smart data, and product.
President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the death of one of the children of Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

In a statement released by the Presidency on Twitter, Mr Buhari condoled with Mr Adeboyes family.

My deepest sympathies to the family of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), on the passing of his son, Pastor Dare Adeboye. I pray that God Almighty will grant the departed rest, and comfort grieving family, friends & associates.

Premium Times earlier reported that Dare Adeboye died at the age of 42.

The younger Adeboye, who was a pastor of one of the branches of the church, reportedly died in his sleep on Wednesday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

His death was confirmed by the spokesperson of the RCCG, Olaitan Olubiyi, on Thursday morning.

It is true. The incident happened in Eket where he was based. I dont have the details for now. Maybe before the end of today, we will issue a statement, he was quoted to have told Punch newspaper.

Last year, Mr Adeboye described the deceased as his first miracle child.

Condolence pours in

Also, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, commiserated with the family of the deceased.

In a statement released by Mr Osinbajos spokesperson, Laolu Alande, he said, VP Osinbajo visits Daddy G.O, Pastor Adeboye & Mummy G.O this morning commiserating on the sad loss of our beloved Pastor Dare.

He was accompanied by Gov Abiodun & Minister Keyamo. May Pst Dares memory be blessed & the LORD grants fortitude to Daddy G.O, Mummy, the family & all

Also, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos commiserated with the family of Mr Adeboye .

Mr Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, expressed his sympathies, urging the deceased family, friends, associates and entire members of RCCG to take the death of Pastor Dare Adeboye in good faith.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said: no doubt the death of a loved one is usually painful as it is irreparable but we must always take solace in God especially if the deceased had lived a good life, just like the late pastor Dare Adeboye.

He said The pastoral and wise counsel of Pastor D as he was fondly called will be sorely missed by his family and the entire members of RCCG, especially in Eket, Akwa Ibom, where he played active roles as a cleric before he passed on.

I sympathise with Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife, siblings and widow of the deceased and the entire members of RCCG. I pray that God will grant the late Pastor Dare Adeboye eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, described the death as a significant loss.

In a statement released on Thursday, Mr Saraki said, My family and I send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to @PastorEAAdeboye, his family and the entire @RCCGHq Community over the passing of Pastor Dare Adeboye.

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We pray that the Almighty grants you all the much needed strength that you need as you mourn this significant loss, he added.

RCCGs official statement

However, the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) in a statement by its public relations on Thursday afternoon has officially confirmed the death.

It is with a deep and heartfelt sense of loss, we announce the departure of our beloved son, brother, husband and father, Oluwadamilare Temitayo Adeboye. Who went to be with the Lord on the 4th of May, 2021.

His life was well lived as he served the Lord without reserve,giving effortlessly and leading fearlessly. He was crowned by the Lord with blessings of 3 seeds and a beautiful wife.

Though shaken, our anchor remains Jesus Christ in whom we have the assurance that we will one day meet in a place where there is no pain.It is the wish of the family to be granted privacy at this moment and that prayers be offered on their behalf.

Oluwadamilare Temitayo Adeboye, June 9th 1978  May 4th 2021. Remain forever in our hearts.
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The Kaduna State Government has confirmed the release of the 27 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier broke the news, reporting that the students were on their way to the state capital.

However, the state confirmed their release in a statement signed by the states Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, but kept mum on reports of ransom payment.

The government rejoices with the freed students, their families and the management of the institution over this development.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai charged them to view their ordeal as a motivator to put the past behind and work hard towards a happier and successful future ahead, the official said on Wednesday evening.

The students were among 37 abducted on March 11, of which some were rescued earlier.

The bandits demanded N500 million as ransom for their release.

It remains unclear if the state government, which had insisted that it would not negotiate with bandits or pay ransom, changed its stance to secure their release.

A newspaper, Daily Nigerian, reported that there was a prisoner exchange with the bandits by the government. It said an arrested bandit was released in exchange for the students. The family of the students also paid ransom to the kidnappers, the newspaper reported quoting a security source involved in the negotiations.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how parents of the kidnapped students and scores of Nigerians protested 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.

As of the time of filing this report, the state government is yet to respond to the threats of the abductors, 24 hours after the expiration of the bandits ultimatum.
Controversial Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, has opened up on why some unruly youths on Wednesday attacked the official residence of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese over the rumour of his (Mbakas) disappearance.

There was apprehension in Enugu city on Wednesday over the news that Mr Mbaka, who heads the Adoration Ministry, was missing, having not been seen at the adoration ground, apparently.

The apprehension, understandably, followed Mr Mbakas recent exchange of words with a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, after the priest fell out with President Muhammadu Buhari and called for his resignation over the rising insecurity in Nigeria.

The angry youth marched to the bishops residence in the city and vandalised a section of the property on suspicion that the Bishop, Callistus Onaga, who had summoned Mr Mbaka to a meeting, may have handed over the fiery priest to security officials.

The bishop caused what happened  Mbaka

Mr Mbaka has, however, blamed the bishop, Mr Onaga, for the vandalisation of the bishops court.

He said the bishop ordered him to leave adoration ground, parish house and be on silence for 30 days, according to a report by the Vanguard newspaper.

Mr Mbaka said if the bishop had listened to his pleas that they should allow him to go back to the adoration ground to attend a scheduled programme and then use the opportunity to inform the worshippers that he would be holding house prayers for 30 days, the destruction done to the property would not have happened.

Mr Mbaka made the remark while addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters in Enugu after his reappearance.

I appreciate your patience, endurance, incomparable love, unquestionable solidarity and unique identification and commitment to God in this ministry.

God will keep you, bless you and it shall be well with you. You people have been looking for me, look at me here, Mr Mbaka told the crowd.

I wasnt with my phone because I decided to go in to pray to avoid dissonance at that time.

The miracle is that at the time I was with my phone calls were coming from here and there that you people were heading to Bishops court and Cathedral. Immediately I asked the group that I spoke with to ask you to go back. They insisted that they must see me otherwise they will not go. I spoke with them on video call but never knew they are over 47 groups.

I thought that having blessed the first group that they have gone. It was at that moment that I started receiving calls. I told them I cannot go anywhere unless I hear from my Bishop.

I thank God you have never attacked the wrong people. The DSS was not involved in what happened. But the Bishop gave an order that I should not come here from today. I should leave adoration house, parish house, that there will be no programme here for 30 days and I should stay silence for 30 days. So, I am telling you the truth of what happened.

The priest said when the bishop learnt of the vandalisation that was going on he told him to go address the youth and take them to the adoration ground.

When Bishop asked me to go and take you people back to Adoration, I asked him what happened now because you told me that I am going to stay away and silence for 30 days?

Then, he said I should go first and tell you people to go because things are getting worst (sic).

This is why people should understand how God works. I never disobeyed the church. People are busy misquoting me doing everything to close this ministry but by the grace of God they cannot do anything

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Mbaka a disgruntled contract-seeker  Presidential spokesperson

The presidential spokesperson, Mr Shehu, had described Mr Mbaka as disgruntled contract-seeker after the priest called for President Buharis resignation.

The priest did not deny discussing the contract award with the administration officials, but said he did it with the intention of helping to find a solution to Nigerias security challenges.

He said he had introduced three unnamed men to the administration, during Mr Buharis first term, with the hope that they would help them in conquering insecurity, (since) they have the platform to end the insecurity in this country in under one month.

It is most likely that Mr Onaga, in asking Mr Mbaka to be in silence for 30 days, was looking for means to tackle the controversy between the priest and the presidency.

Mr Mbakas Adoration Ministry operates independently, outside the control of the authorities of the Catholic Church.
The Finnish court trying Sierra Leonean Gibril Massaquoi for war crimes allegedly committed in Liberia has delayed hearings by nearly two weeks because of acute illness of two of the four judges, including Presiding Judge Juhani Paiho.

The Freetown hearings of the trial which began in Finland in February were to begin on April 28 but they have been pushed back each day since then as the judges recovered. The latest start date is now set for May 11.

The head judge is presently hospitalised due to typhoid fever and last week, one of our female judges was also in the hospital for the same ailment, said Thomas Elfgren, Detective Chief Superintendent of the Finland National Bureau of Investigations. We would have started on time had it not been for this unforeseen situation.

Elfgren rejected speculation that the delay was because of witnesses reluctance to appear. It is not because witnesses are afraid to testify, he said.

Elfgren was also keen to deflect any blame from the Sierra Leone government.

I want to thank both the Liberian and Sierra Leone government for not interfering in the process and allowing us to carry on an independent process. Because hearings in Liberia, could not have been done without the full support from the governments.

The Finnish Court moved from Liberia to Sierra Leone after hearing from more than 60 witnesses who testified that they saw a combatant with the alias Angel Gabriel commit atrocities in Waterside Market area of Monrovia and in villages in Lofa County in Liberias north.

In Freetown, the Finnish Court seeks to probe questions about Massaquois whereabouts during the last period of Liberias civil conflict from 2001-2003.

Many witnesses have claimed Massaquoi committed crimes in Waterside in 2003. The trouble for the prosecution case is that Massaquoi was supposedly under house arrest in Freetown in 2003 as a key informant in the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

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The court convicted multiple perpetrators including former Liberian President Charles Taylor with whom Massaquoi was close during the civil conflicts in both countries.

Sources have told New Narratives that Massaquois detention in Freetown at the time was not tightly secured.

They believe it was very possible that Massaquoi could have moved between the two countries without trouble. This may be one of the avenues prosecutors seek to explore during the Freetown hearings.

Massaquoi is being prosecuted in Finland for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Liberia. Massaquoi was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the RUF and an assistant to the rebel groups founder, Foday Sankoh, during the Sierra Leonean Civil War.

In 2005, he was granted immunity from prosecution for crimes in Sierra Leone in return for his testimony in the war crimes trials in Sierra Leone.

Finland granted Massaquoi residency for his role in the Sierra Leone Special Court. But when Civitas Maxima, of Switzerland and Liberia-based Global Justice Research Project presented Finnish investigators with evidence of Massaquois war crimes in Liberia, they charged him in March 2020 for his role in that war.

The court in Sierra Leone has been set up in a similar way to that in Monrovia but will see a traditional style of African fabric spread on the tables.

Detective Elfgren disclosed that the Finnish Justice Ministry requested his team to set up both courts the same way. Elfgren said that in order to make up for the time lost to illness, the court intends to interview 19 witnesses over a week and a half.

Elfgren said he was pleased to see Liberian reporters had traveled to Sierra Leone to cover the trial and hoped that they would stay for the duration.

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We very much understand that the delay of the proceedings has caused embarrassment to the media in arranging their work, but it is my appeal that the Liberia media remain here until the end of the hearings, because it is extremely important to know that whatever happens in this court room, will be taken to Finland for the judgment of Massaquoi.

Elfgren also answered concerns that the trial could be interrupted by Ramadan and prevent some Muslim witnesses from testifying.

Some of the witnesses are Muslims, and we are going to respect their religion and the rights to partake but we will have some witnesses who are Christian and are testifying so there would be no interfering with the hearings, he said.

Massaquois trial began on February 1 in the city of Tampere, where he had been living. Rather than transport dozens of witnesses set to testify to Finland in the midst of a pandemic, the Finnish court traveled to the witnesses.

As in Monrovia, the hearings in Freetown are being undertaken in a secret location to protect the witnesses from intimidation.

Witnesses identities will also be withheld.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Nigerias security chiefs are currently appearing before the Senate in plenary.

Their appearance is in response to an invitation by the Senate last week  over the security situation in the country.

The security chiefs include the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, and Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao.

Also present are the Director Generals of the State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency as well as the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

They arrived at the Senate plenary at 11:16 a.m. in the company of other security officers.

The senators want the security chiefs to brief them on the security situation across the country.

The lawmakers had also resolved that the Senate leadership should meet with President Muhammdu Buhari, to seek ways of addressing the security challenges bedevilling the country.

Prior to Thursdays meeting, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, appealed for understanding from his colleagues should the security chiefs request for a supplementary budget.

We should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request, he told his colleagues on Tuesday.

Thursdays meeting is being held behind closed doors.

Before the Senate went into an executive session, Mr Lawan commended the security agencies for their work in tackling insecurity in the country while he hoped that the debate will be fruitful.

He is expected to disclose their resolution afterwards.
Global food commodity prices rose for the 11th consecutive month in April, led by sugar, oil, and meat the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has said.

The FAO said this in its Food Price Index report released on Thursday.

The index tracks international prices of most commonly traded food commodities.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 120.9 points in April, 1.7 per cent higher than March and 30.8 per cent higher than its level in the same period last year.

The increase marked the eleventh conservative monthly rise in the value of the FAO Food Price Index to its highest level since May 2014.

And in nominal terms is 12 per cent below its all-time peak in February 2011, it said.

The FAO Sugar Price Index increased 39 per cent from March and reached levels nearly 60 per cent above those registered in the corresponding month last year.

The April rebound in international sugar price quotations was prompted by strong buying amid heightened concerns over tighter global supplies in 2020/21, due to the slow harvest progress in Brazil and frost damage in France.

Further support was provided by the strengthening of the Brazilian Real against the US Dollar, which tends to affect shipments from Brazil, the worlds largest sugar exporter.

However, the upward pressure on prices was somewhat limited by prospects of large exports from India and the slight decline in crude oil prices, the report said.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 162.0 points in April, up 1.8 per cent month-on-month, driven by rising soy, rapeseed and palm oil quotations more than offsetting lower sunflower oil values.

International palm oil prices continued to rise in April on concerns over slower-than-expected production growth in major exporting countries.

Soy and rapeseed oil values climbed further too, underpinned by respectively, firm global demand, including from biodiesel producers and protracted global supply tightness.

By contrast, international prices of sunflower oil contracted moderately on-demand rationing, it said.

In the report, the FAO Meat Price Index averaged 101.8 points in April, up 1.7 per cent from the slightly revised value for March, marking a seventh consecutive monthly increase and raising the index by 5.1 per cent above the corresponding month last year.

In April, bovine and ovine meat quotations rose, underpinned by solid demand from East Asia, amidst tight supplies from Oceania due to ongoing herd rebuilding and low inventories.

Elevated internal sales in some producing regions also supported bovine and ovine meat prices.

Pig meat quotations firmed on continued high purchases by East Asia, despite increased overall shipments from the European Union, while Germany continued with no access to the Chinese market over African swine fever concerns.

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Meanwhile, poultry meat prices remained steady, reflecting generally balanced global markets, the report said.

The report said the FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 125.1 points in April, up 1.2 per cent from March, resuming its climb after a short-lived one-month respite in March, and stood 26 per cent above its April 2020 level.

Maize prices rose 5.7 per cent in April.

With overall tightening maize supplies, on top of continued strong demand, maize prices stood 66.7 per cent above their values one year earlier and remain at their highest level since mid-2013.

Among other coarse grains, international barley and sorghum prices continued to soften, falling 1.2 and 1.0 per cent in April but remained 26.8 and 86.5 per cent above their respective values in the corresponding month last year, it said.

International wheat prices were generally steady in April, remaining over 17 per cent above their April 2020 values.

By contrast, international rice prices decreased again in April, mainly reflecting currency movements and slow trading activities, with persistent logistical constraints and freight costs continuing to hinder fresh deals, it said.

The report said the FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 118.9 points in April, up 1.2 per cent from March, rising for the eleventh consecutive month and lifting the index 24.1 per cent above its value a year ago.

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In April, butter quotations rose, underpinned by solid import demand from Asia, notwithstanding weaker internal demand in Europe.

Skim milk powder prices increased due to high import demand from East Asia, induced partly by concerns over potential shipping delays amid limited spot supplies from Europe and Oceania.

Cheese prices also increased due to high demand from Asia, amid lower-than-expected production in Europe and seasonally declining supplies from Oceania.

By contrast, quotations for whole milk powder declined slightly, reflecting lower import demand for the available supplies, following significantly high volumes traded recently, it said.
A U.S. court has affirmed the fugitive status of a controversial Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, who is currently on house arrest in Cape Verde, preparatory to his planned extradition to face money laundering charges in America.

Weeks ago, the details of Mr Saabs criminal case, which has been pending in the U.S. since July 2019, emerged from relative obscurity and took the centre stage of an international media sensation that was triggered by a BuzzFeed report.

The foreign medias report exposed how some Nigerian social media influencers were paid to campaign for Mr Saabs freedom through the promotion of hashtag FreeAlexSaab which was often built around his then ongoing case at the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.

In reaction to the Buzzfeed report, Twitter, in April, suspended some accounts linked to the #FreeAlexSaab campaign.

Even though, the ECOWAS Court had in its judgment delivered on March 15, ordered Mr Saabs release, the Cabo Verdean government refused to comply with the verdict, even as the archipelago countrys Supreme Court also promptly declared in a ruling that the government was not subject to the regional courts jurisdiction.

Fugitive status

The Southern District Court of Florida had first designated Mr Saab a fugitive on August 26, 2019 following his failure to appear to face the money laundering charges filed against him by U.S. authorities on July 25, 2019.

Mr Saab later submitted a motion urging the court to cancel the fugitive designation, saying he had the plan to argue in a future filing that his indictment should be dismissed because he is a diplomat of Venezuela entitled to immunity.

He also presented an alternative prayer for leave for special appearance to challenge both the fugitive status and the indictment, without physically appearing in the court.

In reinforcement of his case, he submitted to the court a copy of the March 15, 2021 judgment of the ECOWAS Court ordering his freedom and quashing the extradition proceedings initiated against him in Cape Verde.

He remains a fugitive

But the judge, Robert Scola Jr., in a ruling delivered on March 18, dismissed Mr Saabs motion, declaring that applicant would not be allowed to challenge his fugitive status and the validity of the charges pending against him without his physical presence in court.

Saab Moran is precluded from attacking his fugitive status and indictment until he is physically present in this jurisdiction, Mr Scola wrote in the judgment, a copy of which PREMIUM TIMES obtained on Thursday.

Saab Moran is a fugitive, Mr Scola declared in a reaffirmation of the courts previous declaration.

A party is a fugitive if he intentionally avoids arrest by fleeing, hiding within, or remaining absent from the jurisdiction, the judge added.

Why Saabs motion failed

The judge in dismissing Mr Saabs motion evoked the fugitive disentitlement doctrine, which according to him, limits access to courts by a fugitive who has fled a criminal conviction in a court in the United States.

Citing case laws to back his decision, the judge explained that under the fugitive disentitlement doctrine, a fugitive that has demonstrated such disrespect for the legal process has no right to call upon the court to adjudicate his claim.

In agreement with the U.S. governments arguments against Mr Saabs motion, the judge ruled that the defendants failure to present himself in the U.S. for almost two years and decline authorities request to do so constituted a constructive flight.

Saab Moran has been aware of the charges against him for almost two years and has had ample opportunity to present himself to United States authorities. He has declined the governments request to do so. This is sufficient to constitute constructive flight, Mr Scola added.

The judge said Mr Saabs argument that the fugitive disentitlement doctrine was not applicable to him because he was not based in the U.S., was untenable.

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Mr Scola said he had constructively fled because he had known about the charges against him for years and had ample opportunities to enter the jurisdiction and face the inducement and chosen against it).

Accordingly, the court finds that the fugitive disentitlement doctrine applies in this case and prevents Saab Moran from challenging his fugitive status or future challenges to his indictment, the judge ruled.

No special appearance for Saab

Mr Saabs alternative prayer for special appearance to enable him to challenge his fugitive status and validity of the charges while staying away from the court was also rejected.

The judge held that Mr Saab failed to establish the extraordinary circumstances and political undertone to warrant granting him special appearance in court.

Commenting on Mr Saabs argument that he was immune from the charges against him and that he had been ordered by the Government of Venezuela to avoid appearance in the U.S. court, Mr Scola said the court is unconvinced that these facts rise to the political undertones enumerated in the case law cited by the detainee.

Saab Morans unwillingness to submit to the courts authority, coupled with the inequity of allowing Saab Moran to challenge the indictment without having to submit to this Courts jurisdiction and the prejudice against the Government, does not justify a special appearance in this case.

Saabs appeals against ruling

Mr Saab had, from his house arrest in Cape Verde, immediately appealed against the U.S. courts ruling, while continuing waging legal battles against his extradition and for the archipelago countrys government to respect the judgment of the ECOWAS Court ordering his freedom.

He filed his notice of appeal against the U.S. district courts judgment on April 1.

Notice is hereby given that ALEX NAIN SAAB MORAN, defendant in the above named case, hereby appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from the Order Denying Motion to Vacate Order Conferring Fugitive Status and for Leave for Special Appearance to Challenge Indictment entered in this action on March 18, 2021, the notice of appeal read in part.

Arrest, court cases

A dual citizen of Colombia and Venezuela, Mr Saab was on June 12, 2020, arrested by Cabo Verdean authorities and Interpol on U.S. governments request.

Mr Saab said he was en route to a special mission in Iran as a Venezuelan diplomat when he was arrested in Cape Verde.

His supporters believe his travail is a fallout out of the diplomatic and political row between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments.

While entangled in the legal battle to stop his trial in the U.S., Mr Saab simultaneously launched separate suits in Cape Verde and the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, Nigeria, to stop his extradition to America.

A Cape Verdean court had already ordered his extradition to the U.S., but Mr Saab appealed against the decision.

On March 15, the ECOWAS Court ruled in his favour by ordering his release, after declaring his arrest and detention as illegal and violation of his fundamental rights.

The regional court also quashed the ongoing extradition proceedings initiated against him in Cape Verde.

But days after the verdict, the Cabo Verdean Supreme Court, in a ruling affirming the order for his extradition to the U.S., said its countrys government was not bound by the regional courts decision.

Mr Saab has further appealed against the judgment in the countrys superior Constitutional Court.

He, therefore, remains on house arrest in Cape Verde, pending the conclusion of the proceedings.

Inside $350 million money case against Saab

The U.S. government on July 25, 2019, filed one count of conspiring to launder money and seven counts of money laundering against Mr Saab and Alvaro Pulido Vargas, also known as German Enrique Rubio Salas

The authorities alleged in the charges seen by PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Saab and his co-defendant, Mr Vargas entered into a contract with the Government of Venezuela to build low-income housing.

Mr Saab and other co-conspirators allegedly paid bribes to Venezuelan government officials to approve false invoices for services not performed and to approve the purchase of goods never provided.

It was alleged that as a result of these bribes, Mr Saab and his co-defendant received payment on the fraudulent invoices.

Investigators alleged that Mr Saab and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of their scheme through wire transfers totalling $350,041,500.

Mr Saab and Mr Vargas were accused of distributing the funds using bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida.
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Nigerias Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has commended security chiefs for doing their best to tackle insecurity in the country.

He made this comment shortly before the meeting between the Senate and the security chiefs on Thursday.

The meeting, which held behind closed doors, had all the military chiefs in attendance.

Also present were the Director Generals of the State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency as well as the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

The meeting is sequel to an invitation by the Senate last week  over the security. situation in the country.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Lawan commended the security chiefs and assured that the National Assembly will remain a partner in progress.

I want to commend our armed forces and other security agencies for fighting the myriad of security challenges across the country. In the process, some have given up their lives.

We appreciate what you are doing because we know that you are doing your best with what you have at hand. I want to assure you and everyone that the challenges we face are taken seriously and extremely by the parliament.

Hardly a day passes without this Senate discussing one security incident or the other. And it has been so for many years, not only this session, he said.

While he hoped that the meeting will be fruitful, the lawmaker charged the Armed Forces and other security agencies to perform better because they have not achieved the optimum  a setback he attributed to inadequate resources.

We pray that at the end of this interaction, we will see better ways and means of providing the necessary resources to enable our Armed Forces to provide the national security that we need to protect the lives and property of citizens and to stabilise our environment for the economy to receive better investments for this country.

The lawmakers invited the security chiefs to brief them on the security situation across the country.

They had also resolved that the Senate leadership should meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, to seek ways of addressing the security challenges bedevilling the country.

Prior to Thursdays meeting, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, appealed for understanding from his colleagues should the security chiefs request for a supplementary budget.

He is expected to disclose their resolution afterwards.
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A cameraman attached to the Information Unit of Jibia Local Government of Katsina State, Ibrahim Dankabo, was on Monday killed during a kidnap operation by bandits.

The hoodlums also abducted many travellers in the area, local sources said.

A community leader in the area, Gide Suleiman, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Dankabo was shot dead in Kukar-Babangida in Jibia LGA where he lived, as he responded to a distress call from a female neighbour during a kidnap incident.

The kidnappers later went away with the woman who is the mother of a traditional title holder in Niger Republic, the source added.

Meanwhile, other residents said the attackers also abducted many travellers on the Katsina-Jibia road, most of whom are residents of Magamar Jibia.

We are living in constant fear of attack and abduction and we cannot ply some major roads. The security agents have advised residents to stop using the Gurbi road from Zurmi in Zamfara to Jibia in Katsina because kidnappers operate with impunity on the highway.

The security agents are on ground but the bandits operate at will without hindrance. The security agents seldom respond to distress calls. And one of two of their armoured vehicles in Jibia town has been grounded for at least two months now, a resident said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, said he had not yet been briefed on Mondays incident in Jibia.
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Another police officer has been killed as gunmen in the early hours of Thursday invaded a police facility in Obiozara, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the station at about 3 a.m., and set ablaze the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the administrative building

The main police station in the local government area was burnt down during #EndSARS protest, a resident in the area told PREMIUM TIMES.

The facility that has just been attacked was used by the police as their temporary station.

I called one of the police officers who said they were attacked early this morning by 3a.m., one inspector was shot dead. They burnt two offices  that of the DPO and the admin office.

They had burnt the main office during the #EndSARS, with some vehicles. They now relocated to another block around the station where this attack took place, a source said.

At the time of this report, it could not be ascertained if the gunmen made away with any equipment belonging to the police.

Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the attack.

She said the gunmen invaded the station in their numbers.

The latest attack is coming five days after a police officer was killed in another attack on Abaomege police station in Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

It highlights the worsening state of insecurity in the south-east and south-south region of the country where security agencies and other institutions of the law have come under series of deadly attacks.

The Federal High Court in Abakaliki was attacked last week and set ablaze by hoodlums.

Similarly, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Afikpo and killed two soldiers on duty last week.

The motive for attack on the Federal High Court, just like the attacks on security officials, is possibly to weaken state institutions that are in-charge of law and order, so as to create fear and confusion.

In Imo State, another South-east state, gunmen last month attacked and set ablaze the country home of the state governor, Hope Uzodinma.

With Boko Haram insurgency raging in the North-east, and banditry, kidnapping, and the ongoing bloody conflict between herders and farmers in different parts of the country, Nigerias security agencies seem to be losing ground, while the country bleeds.
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The chairman of Yagba west LGA of Kogi State, Pius Kolawole, has been freed by his abductors.

Mr Kolawole was abducted while travelling from Ilorin, Kwara State capital, to Kogi in company of a commissioner of the Kogi pension board, Solomon Adebayo, on Saturday.

Mr Adebayo was killed by the gunmen in the incident, this newspaper reported.

The spokesperson of Governor Yahaya Bello, Onogwu Mohammed, said the council chairman was released on Wednesday.

Mr Mohammed, however, said no ransom was paid, saying his release was owing to the joint efforts of police operatives and local vigilantes.

Pius Kolawole was released yesterday by the joint effort of the Nigerian Police, local Vigilantes and Hunter. No ransom was paid, he said in a text on Thursday evening.

According to him, the governor urged local government chairmen to sustain the war against criminal elements and not to loose their guards.

States across the country face security challenges involving killings and kidnappings of innocent individuals.

No fewer than 97 persons were killed and 8 kidnapped last week while 239 killed and 44 kidnapped in separate incidents across the country in the previous week.
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A man was lynched on Wednesday and his alleged accomplice arrested in Yamadawa Quarter in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State for allegedly attempting to snatch a car.

Witnesses said the men attempted to snatch the car from a resident but drew the attention of other residents who immediately cordoned off the area and caught the suspects.

The suspected robbers had allegedly made their move while residents were breaking their Ramadan fast Wednesday evening. But their move still drew the notice of some residents who raised an alarm.

The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, told reporters that the police moved to the scene following a distress call that armed robbers attacked a resident and attempted to snatch his Toyota Corolla car.

He identified the suspects as Abdullahi Ismail, 24, of Sani Mainagge Quarters, in Kano metropolis and Abubakar Hussain, 24, of Kankara LGA, Katsina State.

A pistol and a knife were recovered from them. Suspects sustained various injuries on their bodies and were rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital Kano for treatment. But Abdullahi Ismail was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, the police spokesperson said

The States Police Commissioner Samaila Dikko, has ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Command for discreet investigation, he said.
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Two of the Abia State University students who were abducted on Wednesday evening have escaped from their abductors, the Commissioner for Information in the state, John Kalu, has said.

The students were abducted inside a commercial vehicle along a highway in Okigwe, Imo State.

Mr Kalu told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday evening, that only one student was being held captive by the abductors, from the information available to the Abia State Government.

What I can tell you is that two of the students escaped. At this time, we only have confirmation of one student in custody of the hoodlums, Mr Kalu said.

Two of the students  two girls  escaped. One escaped from inside the jungle where they took them to, while the other escaped at the point of interception, where they were taken.

We have heard from the girl that escaped at the point of interception, he added.

The commissioner said the abductors have made contact with the parent of the female student who is in their custody.

He said, I have spoken to the parents of the girl, I have spoken to the fiancee of the girl, we are doing everything to ensure her release.

Abia State University is situated in a boundary community between Abia and Imo States.

The students were on their way back from Imo State to Uturu, Abia State.

From the information gathered by PREMIUM TIMES, it appears other people were abducted, alongside the students.

Abduction for ransom has been on the increase in Nigeria lately, with some top government officials sanctioning the payment of ransom to criminal gangs.

A handful of abducted college students in Kaduna, Nigerias North-west, were freed just last Wednesday after spending 55 days in captivity.

Several states, including Abia, in the South-east region, as well as the South-south, are grappling with severe security challenges, including deadly attacks on security agencies.

With Boko Haram insurgency raging in the North-east, and banditry, kidnapping, and the ongoing bloody conflict between herders and farmers in different parts of the country, Nigerias security agencies seem to be losing ground, while the country bleeds.
Faith might be enough, but the jerk burger ($9.99 with fries), house-ground chicken thigh imbued with jerk marinade and given some dry rub on the grill before getting finished in the oven to retain its juiciness, wont hurt at all. Get it with the Jamerican sauce. Ribs, too, equal parts Caribbean and Carolina, are a winner. Locals are bugging him to make mac-and-cheese to go with, but the menus still a work in progress.
At The Thursday meeting between senators and security chiefs, both parties discussed insurgency, banditry, terrorism and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria as well as the plans to contain them, Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed. The meeting, from which journalists were barred, lasted over four hours.

The appearance of the service chiefs at plenary was in response to an invitation by the Senate last week over the security situation in the country.

The security chiefs present at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo and the Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao.

Also present were the Director Generals of the State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency as well as the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

Apart from the briefing, lawmakers had also resolved that the Senate leadership should meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, to seek ways of mitigating the security challenges bedeviling the country.

Outcome of the meeting

Although Mr Lawan simply said the discussions focussed on insecurity and the way forward, the Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru, told journalists that the lawmakers were briefed on security and the analysis of the various operations and theatre of activities that the security personnel are engaged in.

The senators were also briefed on the topography across the six geopolitical zones, the complexities and the challenges being faced and ways to ensure a long lasting peace and security for the country.

Although prior to Thursdays meeting, Mr Lawan appealed for understanding from his colleagues should the security chiefs request for a supplementary budget, Mr Basiru said money was not discussed.

We did not talk about money. We did not talk about figures. We had a high level discussion on general challenges and requirements for us to have an efficient and effective security, he said. The details of what ever will go into supplementary appropriation can only be worked upon by the Ministry of Finance, which is an executive arm together with our relevant committee and such are not matters that we will go into details.

Of course, everybody knows that security is a serious matter for which you cannot take with levity when it comes to ensuring appropriate appropriation for that. We are ready to receive a supplementary budget. We dont have any doubt that there is synergy among the various security agencies. In fact, from the nature of the briefing that we received, it reassured us as elected representatives of the people that there is indeed a synergy.

For instance, we have a tremendous status quo report that a lot has gone into stemming the tide of insecurity in Nigeria. Perhaps, if not for that synergy and the efforts that have gone in terms of operationalising and putting the Nigerian security organisation, particularly the Air Force in proper shape, perhaps we would have been in a more terrible situation. So, the story is about how far we have gone but then there is room for improvement and we are committed to that improvement, he said.

The lawmaker also disclosed that some perspectives as to what happened recently in Chad was also considered during the meeting.

He said the Senate had confidence in the security chiefs.

So it is a very thorough discussion and I also believe that the forthrightness of the leadership of the security agencies showed the seriousness that they attached to that exercise. So, I believe that going forward, the confidence has been built between the security chiefs on one hand and the Nigerian parliament on the other hand and that would be a good signal of what we expect in the future.

In a separate interview with journalists, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume, said security matters that are not supposed to be disclosed to the press, were discussed.

He accused the media of not supporting the war on terror.

Part of the discussion that affects you is that Nigerian press is not part of the fight against insurgency. Many journalists are just looking for something that will cause sensation when reported. That does not help us, he said, refusing to explain further.

Like his colleagues, he assured that the Senate is concerned and necessary measures will be taken to curtail rising insecurity in the country.

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Thursdays briefing comes amidst growing cases of kidnappings, robbery and killings across the nation. It also comes weeks after the Niger State government confirmed that Boko Haram was operating in the state.

The Senate had also mandated its leadership to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and brief him about insecurity in the country.

It also mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs and National Security to meet with the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, on the regional implications of the insecurity in the country.
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Two police officers were killed during a gun attack on another police facility in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east, on Thursday.

The Divisional Police station in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state was razed by the gunmen during the attack which occurred in the early hours of the day.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said.

NAN reported that the attackers first razed the station, before they raided the police quarters where they killed the two officers.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Chris Owolabi, dispatched a tactical team for on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

The tactical team led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police was directed to have an on-the-spot assessment of the place.

The team was equally told to possibly identify and apprehend the hoodlums that perpetrated the attack, he said.

The police spokesperson said the bodies of the slain officers have been deposited at a nearby morgue.

He said the police had launched an investigation into the attack.

The attack on the Obosi police station is the first since Mr Owolabi took over as the new commissioner of police in Anambra on Wednesday.

Several states, including Anambra, in the South-east region, as well as the South-south, are grappling with severe security challenges, including deadly attacks on security agencies.

A police officer was killed in a similar attack on Thursday in Ebonyi State, in the South-east.

(NAN)
Until Nigeria works  and is seen to work  for everyonethe common manwill seek his own version of justice, one he takes with his own hands. Following Danladi Umars escape, I now fully expect that within the next two years, we are going to see a member of the elite face unconventional forms of justice.

Its been just over a month since the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCT), Danladi Umar was caught on camera physically victimising a security guard at a shopping complex. Mr Umars response was to say that the incident was an aggressive act performed against him by Biafrans, even though he was the aggressor and the security personnel involved were not even Southerners. He is still in office.

Danladi Umars official written defence is an absurdly false record of events that claims that he was attacked by a mob chanting secessionist and sectional slogans.

What Mr Umars revisionism made crystal clear to the 56 Nigerians who were somehow in the dark was that there is a hatred of the Igbo ethnic group, which so strong that a senior Federal Government official believes that merely signalling his hatred of the Igbo people should be enough to get him off the hook, even with the existence of conclusive video evidence showing his guilt. That he is still in office with nary a reprimand a month later, shows that he is right.

Danladi Umar did not make those statements expecting to be believed by any sane person. What he did was to signal his commitment to a socially binding hatred, in the expectation that the exhibitionism would attract support and grace from his superiors and peers. Given that as of the time of writing this, he is still on the job, it is safe to say that he calculated correctly.

Some would say that it makes no sense to have that type of widespread hatred, but it does when you admit that action does not have to be morally correct or sustainable in the long-term to be logical.

This brings memories of the wrongful accusation and subsequent murder of the 14-year-old African-American, Emmett Till, who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of flirting with a white woman.

Emmett Till was kidnapped from his uncles house, beaten, tortured, and shot in the head. His body was tied with barbed wire to a cotton gin fan and thrown into the Tallahatchie River.

But for all the focus on the misconduct of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, there is a bigger issue at play here. After his assault on the security guard, the gates of the Plaza were locked and he was prevented from exiting the premises. On another day, he might have been lynched.

The people arrested for his murder kept sending the signal that he was accused of flirting with a white woman and that was enough to eventually get them free. Was this because the case would have gone the same way if a white boy had been accused of flirting with a woman of any race? Not at all.

What happened was that there had been the deliberate cultivation of hatred for the Negro to enable the practice of slavery, and subsequently Jim Crow, and part of the price paid to maintain social cohesion in those circumstances was to overlook offences against the other side or even reward blatantly expressed hatred and bigotry.

These practices are allowed because they ultimately provide access to resources that would otherwise have to be earned in a much costlier manner. In Nigeria, this hatred is nurtured for the Igbos primarily, and slowly but surely all other Nigerians get placed in that category when theres a need for brutal ruthlessness.

Ethnic animosity between the Igbo and the Northern majority makes no sense. They dont share boundaries or interact enough to justify a significant amount of hatred or love. They are quite far from each other. The distance from Bauchi to Anambra is 760 kilometres. For context, the distance from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Italy is 475 kilometres and you must get across Croatia and the Adriatic Sea to get from one to the other.

France is in between Belgium and England and the distance from London to Brussels is 246 kilometres. We would find it absurd to hear that the people in these different countries hate each other because logic would suggest that the distance between them and the presence of other entire societies and nations separating them physically takes away the proximity and border clashes that could leave them with culturally rooted hatred for each other.

Physical proximity aside, Danladi Umar is 49 years old and was born after the Civil War. A Civil War that was not in any way fought on Northern soil, nor did it have the North facing aggression. You can keep looking at individuals but youll never find a compelling personal justification for the hatred of Igbos. It is important at this point to continue my American comparison, that the parts of America where the hatred for the negro was strongest, places such as Alabama and Missisipi, are among the poorest in America today. For the parts of Nigeria where pretty much every mistake is blamed on the Igbo people, well, look at the countrys Human Development Index map.

But for all the focus on the misconduct of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, there is a bigger issue at play here. After his assault on the security guard, the gates of the Plaza were locked and he was prevented from exiting the premises. On another day, he might have been lynched.

Nigerias current Animal Farm situation of one law for the powerful and another set of laws for everyone else, inevitably means most people will retreat to their ethnic enclaves and ultimately, some will take matters into their hands.

This resort to self-help is becoming increasingly common and stems from the slowness and outright inability of the Nigerian state to dispense justice in a fair and timely manner. It is especially obvious when a big man is concerned. A senator from Adamawa, Elisha Abbo, assaulted a shopkeeper and escaped any censure, even though the whole incident was captured by a camera. Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano State, was seen in several videos pocketing bribes, but everyone just moved on.

Those who manage to get justice often end up approaching foreign courts. Two landmark judgements against oil companies in Nigeria were gotten in courts in the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Those courts gave the aggrieved justice, when the Nigerian legal system could not.

A state functions best when laws apply equally to everyone, irrespective of their status in society. This is one of the main conditions under which cooperation between large groups is possible. It enables Yusuf from Nasarawa to cooperate with Emeka from Ebonyi and Kunle from Ekiti, trusting that they are all playing by the same rules.

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Where this is found not to be the case, a low-trust society takes root, which is exactly what Nigeria is. It is why the cooperation across ethnic groups and social classes that is necessary to take the country forward is absent. We are not all playing by the same rules.

Nigerias current Animal Farm situation of one law for the powerful and another set of laws for everyone else, inevitably means most people will retreat to their ethnic enclaves and ultimately, some will take matters into their hands.

Until Nigeria works  and is seen to work  for everyone, no matter what position you hold or what ethnic group you identify with, the common man, whatever that means, will continue to disconnect from the country, and as time passes, will seek his own version of justice, one he takes with his own hands. Following Danladi Umars escape, I now fully expect that within the next two years, we are going to see a member of the elite face unconventional forms of justice.

Cheta Nwanze is a partner at SBM Intelligence.
for the sake of their good works, if nothing else, narrators may at least momentarily retire from the bedside of the pair, while theyre trying to work out the last vestiges of a relationship that blessed the world so!

Bill and Melinda Gates had barely finished saying the D word when all kinds of marriage counsellors and grief-mongers besieged social media with suggestions of why they think the couple is breaking up.

The sentiments, ranging from the probable to the bizarre, with a sprinkling of fictional tales in between, have defied the couples request for privacy. Misery loves company. Some accounts even make you wonder if the composers might have had a bedside view of the 27-year-old marriage.

A break-up is a messy thing. You dont have to experience it to know. But for all those who are outside, looking in, it always seems that one or the other couple could have done this or that to save the marriage. A failing marriage is easier saved by outsiders.

In the case of the Gates, the couples explanation that they had to part ways because they believe they could no longer grow together as a couple in the new phase of their lives, didnt seem to satisfy the curious army of commentators in Nigerias social media space. They think theres more to it and if they cant find it, they will invent it.

Above the din of the rampant reports of killings, banditry and kidnappings, with scores of students of a private university in the North-West State of Kaduna currently held at gunpoint and distraught parents emptying their life-savings to pay ransom, the Bill-Melinda break up still managed to trend.

Not even the Twitter caution by @DrOlufunmilayo that, Bill Gates is not your problem as a Nigerian. His marriage/divorce is not a priority to you. Hes the richest man in the world (or was). Hell be fine, restrained the Twittteratti from evoking images of Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie, and Kanye West and Kim, and how, once again, money is at the root of this sad story.

The Gates break-up is somehow being framed as yet another irrefutable evidence that divinity, and not money, sustains a marriage. In other words, if the Gates had a little more god, the marriage might have been saved. Its the sort of awkward, largely conservative thinking that suggests that wealth and a successful marriage are incompatible.

Those who insist on beating us over the head with this argument ignore the tens of hundreds of marriages of ordinary folks that break up daily for mainly financial reasons. It may be an uncomfortable thing to say: But open your eyes. Money is a prolonger, not an abridger of marriage.

While infidelity, lack of commitment, and poor communication remain major factors in the collapse of many marriages, the final straws are often domestic violence and poor finances, not more or less of god, which quite often, can also be a weapon of blackmail.

I honestly dont understand the hypocrisy that refuses to acknowledge that money answers a good deal of marital misery, because it does, whatever the social media trope might say. But I get it. Hypocrisy is the unseen third party installed in many Nigerian homes by years of acculturation and pseudo-religion.

Dozens of stories about divorce from customary courts around the country that never make it to the front-pages are not because the parties dont have enough god in their marriages. A good number, in fact, have too much god, too little honesty, and certainly, insufficient money to make their marriage work.

A recent anecdotal research by a family lawyer, Akinboboye Adeniyi, published in a blog in February, showed a disturbingly steady rise in divorce cases in Nigerias two most populous cities  Lagos and Kano  with a similar trend also in Abuja, the countrys capital.

According to the report, in 2018 in Badagry alone (one local government in Lagos), 3,000 divorce cases were recorded, while Kano State had one million registered divorcees in 2019.

The report also said court records in Abuja show that over 2,000 cases were filed between 2019 and 2020, with an average of 30 cases daily. Yet, these figures are largely under-reported.

I honestly dont understand the hypocrisy that refuses to acknowledge that money answers a good deal of marital misery, because it does, whatever the social media trope might say. But I get it. Hypocrisy is the unseen third party installed in many Nigerian homes by years of acculturation and pseudo-religion. Were probably the worlds pretence capital. We just love to pretend.

If Melinda were a Nigerian wife, for example, not only her parents, but her entire community would have insisted that after 27 years, there is no new mountain left that the couple cannot climb together, even if it meant Melinda carrying her husband on her back! How can she tell her family that a marriage of over two-and-a-half decades to the worlds fourth wealthiest man has become irretrievably broken?

Wherever the pieces may be, Melinda would have to find them and put them together again, with or without help from Bill, if for nothing else, for the sake of what people might say, and of course, for the sake of their three children. Many marriages are held together, not by love, respect and honesty, but by the fear or shame of what people would say if the couple parts ways.

And how, it would be said, can Melinda even complain of an irretrievable breakdown in her marriage, when as it has now emerged, she may have set the stage by agreeing to a bizarre pre-nuptial arrangement that allowed her husband to maintain liaison with his former ex, Ann Winblad, which allowed the parties to spend spring every year together, playing putt-putt?

No one has blamed Ann Winblad for the collapse of the Gates marriage. Elsewhere, Melindas consent for her husband to play putt-putt with his ex, once a year, might be deemed as a commendable act of honesty. In Nigeria, however, it would be judged as spousal hara-kiri, a foolish endorsement of closet polygamy.

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The world will miss the work that the pair did as a couple but we should take comfort that their collective legacy would outlive their broken marriage. And who says the end of their marriage, however sad, is the end of separate lives of devoted charity?

In a society where people put God stickers on their car bumpers with the right hand and take a bribe with the left, a good number of marriages have improvised ways of reconciling with hypocrisy. They just put on a daily show of affection for outsiders, but inside suffer in misery and loneliness.

This is not a time to judge. Its a time to remember Bill and Melinda for all the great work that they have done together as a couple for humanity. As one article in the New York Times said, they have been powerful forces on the world stage, their vast charitable contributions giving them access to the highest levels of government, business and the nonprofit sector.

In Africa, plagued with malaria and other infectious diseases, their contributions have been phenomenal. In 2016, the Gates Foundation, which had invested $9 billion over 15 years in various initiatives, announced a fresh $5 billion in the continent to support health and other anti-poverty programmes across the continent.

Without the support of the Gates Foundation, its unlikely that Nigeria would have overcome the fight against polio, which it did to its eternal shame only last year, or that South Africa would have, by now, recorded progress in access to anti-retroviral drugs, which significantly cut its HIV/AIDS infection rates. The less endowed countries on the continent would certainly have been worse off, without the exemplary philanthropy of Bill and Melinda.

Even in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has left the world reeling, the Foundation has invested over $1 billion in research, vaccines and other forms of succour.

The world will miss the work that the pair did as a couple but we should take comfort that their collective legacy would outlive their broken marriage. And who says the end of their marriage, however sad, is the end of separate lives of devoted charity?

I know its hard to back off a broken marriage involving a couple that has been in the public eye all their lives, and especially for a pair worth over $124 billion, whose separation contract has not yet been unsealed.

But for the sake of their good works, if nothing else, narrators may at least momentarily retire from the bedside of the pair, while theyre trying to work out the last vestiges of a relationship that blessed the world so!

Azu Ishiekwene editor-in-chief of LEADERSHIP.
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The police n Jigawa State on Wednesday said they recorded 35 rape cases in the state between January and April this year.

The states police commissioner, Usman Gomna, at a media parley in Dutse, said there were more cases of rape and other unnatural offences than of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

Mr Gomna said while rape topped the crime chart within the four months with 35 cases, kidnapping dropped to the bottom with 10 reported cases in the state within the period.

The police chief some of the rape suspects had been charged to courts while others are still in police custody due to the ongoing industrial action by judiciary workers.

He said statistical analysis of the rape cases indicated that parents need to do more to safeguard their wards, saying negligence and bad parenting were resulting in a high rate of rape among vulnerable hawking children.

Some parents dont really care about their children. They send their underage children on errands to unsafe places. Also, some of the rape victims were hawking in unsafe places that exposed them to rapists.

READ ALSO: cases increase

It is better for parents/guardian to monitor their hawking children by stationing them in safe locations instead of them going around hawking in dangerous places, Mr Gomna said.

The Jigawa State Government had, in February, enacted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law stipulating stiff punishment for rapists, including death penalty for rape convicts who infect their victims with HIV/AIDS.

The law stipulates that rape victim(s) would be compensated with not less than N500,000, while the court would order rape offenders to be subjected to public shame through radio announcements.

Also, the law says the use of chemical, biological or any harmful substance that causes lifetime deformity to a rape victim will attract to the rapist life imprisonment without an option of fine, amongst other penalties contained in the new law.
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The Kaduna State government says the persons intercepted by the military in Tafa village in Kagarko Local Government Area of the state were not bandits but harmless migrating herders.

According to the government, the herders were moving from Dobi in Gwagwalada (FCT) and Gawu-Babangida, Lambata (Niger State) to their original stations in Jos and Bauchi.

The state commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made the clarification in a statement on Thursday.

This followed anxiety in the state that the herders were a new group of bandits moving into Kaduna.

Mr Aruwan said security operatives moved to the area after receiving distress calls from citizens on the movement of armed bandits in the Lambata-Kabbo area of Tafa village.

In response to the reports, troops and police operatives were mobilised to the area for confirmation and possible engagement.

The troops trailed the group to an open field at Toba village, Tafa, Niger State. Upon confirmatory checks, it was discovered that they were herders in transit from Dobi in Gwagwalada (FCT) and Gawu-Babangida, Lambata (Niger State) to their original stations in Jos, Plateau State and Bauchi, Bauchi State.

A head-count was conducted by the troops, which revealed 53 herders in the travelling party: nine adult males, seven young males, and 37 women and children.

A thorough inspection showed that they had three motorcycles and no dangerous or incriminating materials were found in their possession.

Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai thanked the troops for their prompt response in conducting the checks. He wished the herders a safe passage to their destinations.

The Kaduna State Government appreciates citizens responses and inquiries using the operations room numbers, 09034000060 and 08170189999, which are available 24 hours a day.

Security operatives in the region had rescued 13 kidnapped persons from bandits on Wednesday after a gun duel with the kidnappers.

The 13 citizens, originally from Dutse, were working at a farm called Tanadi Farm in Bakin Kasuwa in the Gwagwada general area of Chikun LGA when they were attacked by bandits.

However, soldiers trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and rescued their captives after a gun duel with the bandits.
Traditional powers, known in local parlance as African Juju, has the potency of ending the current spate of kidnappings and other crimes in the country, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi-Ekiti, Gbadebo Adedeji, has said.

The monarch made this known in Okemesi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti, at a news briefing preceding the grand finale of the 2021 biennial Okemesi Cultural Festival, slated for Saturday, May 8.

Mr Adedeji, a former Chairman of Ekiti Council of Obas, said it would therefore be wrong and erroneous for the people to abandon their belief in such alternative means of curbing crimes.

According to him, optimal use of African traditional powers will help in checkmating activities of bandits, especially wanton killings and kidnappings which now occur almost on a daily basis in many parts of the country.

He said for instance, no traditional ruler could be kidnapped so cheaply, except those who had made the mistake of jettisoning their beliefs in African charms and powers.

Mr Adedeji pointed out that culture has become a veritable source of income to many nations, saying the story should not be different in Nigeria.

He appealed to government to upgrade the Okemesi Cultural Festival, where the popular legendary masquerade, Oladunwo, was usually unveiled for residents, visitors and tourists to watch.

Attacks on traditional rulers are becoming too disturbing. How can bandits be kidnapping or shooting a traditional ruler dead just like that?

 I believe that going traditional will curb these senseless killings and therefore not out of place.

In the days of the old, there were wars and we had unique ways of fighting them and winning. Some people dont believe in it, because new found religions have taken over and reduced our faith in traditional power.

Some traditional rulers say they cant use charms to protect themselves, this is hypocrisy.

We are custodians of tradition and not wasters. Why are we running away from our tradition? How can an Oba be killed or kidnapped like a chicken? I find it appalling and difficult to believe.

It is not only the Obas, all of us must work hard to protect ourselves. Our forebears believed in God.

When did this insecurity start? Obas must get involved in tradition. Now I am happy that a lot of people are going back to that time of the old to defend themselves, he added.

Speaking about the relevance of the cultural heritage, the monarch said it would help in exposing the towns tourism opportunities like the Agbona Hill, the Fabunmi hall of fame and others to the outside world.

The traditional ruler appealed to the Federal and state governments to do the needful and upgrade the festival to international status.

The Ladunwo masquerade is our age-long cultural heritage, celebrated in secrecy before, but because we want to market it to the world, we have relaxed the myth surrounding it.

Nigerians do go to Cuba, Brazil and other Caribbean countries to watch all these, why not here in Okemesi or Nigeria?

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Osun Osogbo, Argungu Fish Festival, Ojude Oba in Ijebu, Calabar Carnival and many others are changing the economy of the nation and we want Ladunwo too to gain recognition globally.

We have established a website for the festival to advertise this ceremony to the world, because we are resolute to convert the culture to economic gains for our people and Ekiti, the Oba said.

He disclosed that the town had been working with the Police, Amotekun corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Oodua Peoples Congress and local hunters to monitor security situation for safety of tourists during the festival.

(NAN)
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The Ogun State government has been nominated to benefit from three federal governments agricultural pilot programmes amid efforts to further position the state as one of the major food producers in the country, an official has said.

This development was disclosed by the executive secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Paul Ikonne, when he led the management of the Authority to the office of the state governor in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Mr Ikonne said that Ogun will benefit from the Integrated Farm Estate, Garri Packaging Plant, a training programme on soil testing and extension services for 200 young graduates with science and agriculture-related degrees.

We are running programmes and projects which Ogun State has been slated to be one of the pilot states. NALDAs Integrated Farm Estate is going to be cited in Ogun State in the three senatorial districts of the state. The Integrated Farm Estate is a concept that takes in everything from production to processing, packaging, and marketing, we also have residential areas for farmers inside the integrated Farm Estate, Mr Ikonne said.

He said, Knowing that Ogun has the highest capacity in cassava production, our Garri Packaging Plant will be located in the state, thereby NALDA will be the off-taker from the farmers, we process it, package it accordingly and move it into the market.

Based on the presidents directive on soil testing and extension services, Mr Ikonne said they were training young Nigerians, and that Ogun State is expected to nominate 200 people in the first phase.

Ogun is one of the states in the pilot stage of this programme, it will nominate young graduates that have agric or science-related degrees that will undertake this intensive two-week training, he said.

Explaining further, the official said the state government nominees will be empowered by NALDA with soil test kits and implements to collect soil samples after the training and they will begin to generate money for themselves, thereby making a living from the programme.

Mr Ikonne disclosed that NALDA would not sit back and watch the state improve the worth of agriculture alone, and that they would also be re-activating the 700 hectares of land at Joga-Orile immediately, with the hope that the reactivation will increase the status of the state in food production.

In his response, Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun, attributed the success of his administrations agriculture project to the support of President Muhammad Buhari-led government.

He said his administration holds agriculture as a triple barrel pillar that allows the state to feed its people, create employment, as well as generate revenue for the state.

Also, Mr Abiodun noted that his administration recently started the construction of its international cargo airport to boost the agric sector.

He said the state also won a bid to become a special agric processing zone, with the state using the advantage of the cargo airport that seats on 5,000 hectares of land to its advantage.

He assured NALDA of the administrations support, especially with the provision of land for the purpose of the Integrated Farm Estate.

The governor submitted that his administration would also set up a team to look at ways of starting the Garri Packaging Plant in quick time and ensure that the youths and graduates benefit from the training programme on soil testing and extension services.
Four months after a 16-year old secondary school student accused the Ogun State Commissioner of Environment, Abiodun Abdul-Balogun, of attempting to rape her, the police and the state government are yet to act.

PREMIUM TIMES in January reported how a Senior Secondary 3 student, Barakat Melojuekun, alleged that the commissioner fondled her breasts and recited incantations to scare her in his apartment on December 31, 2020.

She said her screams forced Mr Abdul-Balogun to jump off her and offer her N2,000 to shut up.

The state police command later invited the commissioner for interrogation in early January but has failed to update the public on its investigation.

The allegations against the commissioner elicited outrage on social media and many Nigerians called for his removal from office and prosecution.

Hours after this newspapers report, the Ogun State Government announced the suspension of Mr Abdul-Balogun as commissioner.

The government in a statement signed by Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, said the commissioner should vacate his office pending the conclusion of the police investigation into the matter.

Although the government promised to inform the public of the police investigations outcome, nothing has been said four months after.

Commissioner threatens victims family

This newspaper also reported that Mr Abdul-Balogun threatened the family of the victim. This forced Miss Melojuekun, in a short video, to plead with Nigerians to allow the matter to be laid to rest.

She, however, did not retract the allegations.

You can recall that I was the young lady in the viral video about sexual harassment by the Commissioner for the Environment in Ogun State. I am using this opportunity to thank all meaningful Nigerians that showed their support and love towards this matter.

I now want to use this opportunity to appeal to meaningful Nigerians to please allow this matter to rest. Thanks, she said then in shaky voice.

When this newspaper confronted Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state police spokesperson, with the stance of the law that the matter is beyond the family, he accepted.

Mr Oyeyemi, told our correspondent in January that the victim and her family cannot withdraw the case against Mr Abdul-Balogun because it is an offence committed against the state.

The victim cannot withdraw the case because she is underage. More so, the family are not directly involved, so cannot withdraw the matter as well. If our investigation proved that the commissioner is guilty, we will charge him to court, he said at the time.

Activists criticise police, government

Four months after state government and the police initiated investigation, the public has been left in the dark on the matter.

Our correspondent, on several occasions, reached out to police spokesperson, Mr Oyeyemi, via telephone calls and text messages, seeking updates but he did not respond.

This newspaper encountered the same challenges with the state government as the SSG, Mr Talabi, did not respond to enquiries.

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The state governors spokesperson, Kunle Somorin, did not also respond to calls and text messages.

Not satisfied with the development, Olowolafe Dunsi, a social commentator and activist, said the failure of authorities to give update on the matter is suspicious.

A government that is ready to clean the system would have updated the public on happenings, he said.

It is sad that the police have also, in their usual manner, moved towards the side of the rich. Investigation into the case should not take more than a month but now in its fourth month and no one is taking responsibility. It is sad and barbaric. Dapo Abiodun must act before it is too late.

The convener of Reaching Minds Initiative, an NGO advocating for social justice, Abass Oyeyemi, insisted that authorities must ensure that the matter is not covered up.

We are surprised that despite the fact that Ogun govt, in 2020, took brilliant steps against Gender-Based Violence by inaugurating a Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Committee to respond appropriately to any infraction of the law, this is still happening.

Mr Abiodun needs not only to act but must act fast and ensure police speak on it findings. No one is above the law and this case should serve as a deterrent to potential defaulters.

We want serious media organizations like yours to follow the case to the end. This will help to protect (the) sexual wellbeing of women and girls.
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Tired of the incessant abduction in Ogun State, the youth in Ayetoro, Ilara and Abeokuta areas of the state on Wednesday staged a protest.

The youths protest followed the abduction of a commercial driver and three of his passengers on Tuesday.

The victims were reportedly abducted on the Abeokuta-Imala-Ilara-Ayetoro Road in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

They were said to be returning from Ilara Market in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state.

Angry residents on Wednesday stormed the streets to protest against the abduction. They reportedly barricaded the road and disrupted vehicular movement in the area where the abduction took place.

The husband of one of the victims, Mutiu Oderinde, told our correspondent that his wife was abducted alongside with others when she went to Ilara to help her mother in the market.

He urged the government to help rescue his wife alive.

The state police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said security operatives have been sent to the forest to rescue the victims and apprehend their abductors.

Our men are in the forest trying to locate the victims. We will ensure that they are rescued alive. They are the remnants of the ones we arrested recently, the police said.

The latest incident comes barely four days after two persons were abducted in Omu, a community near Ofada town in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Nigeria is facing various forms of security challenges and efforts by security operatives to curb this is yet to yield any reasonable result.
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The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has said his administration will not reverse the recently signed new minimum wage nor slash workers salaries despite the countrys economic crunch.

Mr Abiodun disclosed this on Wednesday during the breaking of fast (Iftar) with the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The governors statement comes a day after the Federal Government said it may be forced to slash workers salaries and merge agencies following the current economic reality.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said this at the policy dialogue on corruption and cost of governance in Nigeria organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Abuja on Tuesday.

But Mr Abiodun told APC leaders in his state that he would not go the way of the federal government, rather he would be creative in his bid to make the state economically viable and financially strong.

We are being very creative with financing. I was watching on television where I saw one of my brother governors say they might have to reverse the minimum wage. I want to assure you that Ogun State will not reverse on minimum wage, the governor said.

Speaking on the security challenges rocking the state, Mr Abiodun said his administration would soon relaunch the OPMESA, which, according to him, was recently resuscitated after years of neglect by the immediate past administration in the state.

We are taking the issue of security very seriously, be assured that we are doing everything we can, being the industrial hub of this country. Any act of insecurity is a sabotage against our plans to make our state very viable economically, we are going to fight it with everything, we are going to protect it with everything we have.

We have resuscitated OPMESA. We are going to launch it maybe in the next two weeks, so we are going to have Amotekun and that. We are going to fight with everything, we have the police, vigilante,civil defense, the military are still there and then we have the OPMESA.

OPMESA has gone for so many years because the previous administration did not take it very seriously, so, they withdrew it. But I went after that initiative and I got the Chief of Army Staff to finally approve it because like I said to him, I dont know of other states, but my state, I cannot afford insecurity, Abiodun stated.

The governor assured that he would promote equal participation, during the forthcoming local government election in the state.

The election is expected to hold on July 24, 2021.
The Lagos State Government has empowered at least 31,781 youth and women in fisheries, poultry, rice and horticulture value chains in the last two years.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, announced this at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday.

Mr Olusanya, who said the conference was to commemorate the second anniversary of the Sanwo-Olu-led administration, noted that 12,574 youth and women have so far been trained, while 19,207 were empowered.

She explained that the training was informed by the need to encourage more youth and women to participate in agriculture in order to reduce unemployment.

According to her, if the state is to succeed in attaining food security and self-sufficiency by 2023, the need to train more youth cannot be overemphasised.

The administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to growing the states agricultural sector and ensuring that it is less dependent on other states for the production of food.

As a result of this, the state has continued with the empowerment, training and capacity development of the youth and women in selected key value-chains such as fisheries, poultry, rice and horticulture, she said.

According to the commissioner, several initiatives have been implemented in areas where the state is considered to have some advantage.

One of such initiatives is the introduction of the Eko Schools Agric Comic and Agric App.

It is believed that this will stir up the interest of youths and teenagers in the agriculture sector.

Ms Olusanya said that 19,207 youth and women were also empowered across all the agricultural value-chains with inputs and productive assets through the annual agricultural value chains programme.

She noted that additional 1,577 Lagosians also benefited indirectly from the empowerment programme.

The commissioner said the state also partnered with Mastercard and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train additional 192 youth in various agricultural value-chains.

She said the partnership aimed at building skills and secure fulfilling work opportunities within the agriculture sector.

She stated that the collaboration was a strategic approach to agribusiness training to arouse the interest of youth in the agricultural space to enable them to make a decent living out of it.

The commissioner said 90 youth were trained and empowered in the cage fishing culture systems in Badagry.

The cage culture system of fish farming, she said, was one of the ways being championed by the state government to maximise the benefits of the abundant water resources which accounts for about 22 per cent of the states landmass.

Under the World-Bank-assisted Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project, the commissioner said 8,156 farmers and SMEs were identified, verified and given training in relevant areas of agribusiness.

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The APPEALS project is aimed at enhancing the productivity of small-scale farmers in the three identified value-chains of poultry, aquaculture and rice through capacity building, provision of infrastructure, and empowerment.

Also, 462 beneficiaries under the Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) are being trained in agribusiness management, soft skills among others, and have been empowered to start off production.

Other beneficiaries will equally be supported before the end of the year, the commissioner said.

(NAN)
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The members of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ondo State on Thursday petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, over the violent clash with members of a cult group.

The OPC in a statement by its Acting Coordinator, Nafiu Sarafa, made available to journalists also accused some

government officials of fueling the crisis.

Some six people had died from violent clashes in the ancient town of Owo, while two houses were set ablaze.

The OPC claimed that suspected members of a cult group were being sponsored to unleash mayhem on its members.

The statement noted that the commandant of the Congress in Owo had gone into hiding to prevent further bloody clash with the said cultists.

It added that in order not to take laws into their hands, it had ordered its lawyer to petition the state commissioner to ,as a matter of urgency, act and put the criminals under control.

This moment, many members of the OPC, including our commandant, have gone into hiding to avert further bloody clash with the cultists.

They are now going round the town unchecked, brandishing guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons to attack our members.

The statement said that to be law-abiding and abide by the principle of peaceful conduct of its leader, Gani Adams, the organisation directed its lawyer to write a petition to the Commissioner of Police.

According to the statement, the objective is to enable the CP to put the criminals under security watch and control while awaiting the response and quick action of the police and other security agents to the petition.

We implore our action Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to do the needful and set every machinery in motion to curb the ugly situation currently disrupting the peace of his hometown, Owo, he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Tee Leo-Ikoro, in an interview, said policemen had been deployed to the town to restore law and order.

(NAN)
The Lagos State Government says residents of the state are consuming food and agricultural produce worth about N5 trillion annually.

Abisola Olusanya, the commissioner for agriculture, made this known at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olus administration.

Ms Olusanya said the amount might increase to N6.3 trillion by 2030, if the population of the state grew to 30 million.

It is worthy to note that in terms of the amount of food we consume in Lagos on an annual basis, it is almost N5 trillion.

If the population is to grow to about 30 million by 2030, Lagos will likely need food worth N6.3 trillion on an annual basis, she said.

According to her, currently, Lagos is producing about 20 to 24 per cent of its food needs.

She added that about 76 to 80 per cent was sourced from other parts of the country or imported from other countries around the world.

We need to up our food production to be able to meet up with the demand that will be upon us.

Considering our departments and agencies, we have been saddled with the responsibility to ensure that in terms of food sufficiency level of Lagos, we up the numbers to 40 or 50 per cent by 2025, she said.

The commissioner said food sufficiency target grew from 18 per cent in 2015- 2018 to 24 per cent between 2019 and 2021, adding that it was expected to increase to 40 per cent by 2025.

Ms Olusanya said food was very critical to achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that the state government was not taking it for granted.

According to her, food is very critical and we shouldnt take it for granted; which is why in this ministry, we see it particularly as a very serious business.

If you are talking of low poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, education, life on land, life on water, whatever the SDG is, without food, it cant work.

Agriculture is the key; agriculture is the root to us in achieving the SDGs, Olusanya said.

She said all agencies and departments had been saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the ministry achieves all its set goals.

The commissioner listed the departments and agencies to include: Fisheries, Veterinary, Forestry, Agriculture Services, and Agriculture Business Departments.

Others are Lagos State Coconut Development Authority, Agriculture Lands Holding Authority, Agricultural Development Authority, and Lagos Agricultural Inputs Supply Authority.

(NAN)

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Human rights groups, lawyers, and advocates have called for the enforcement of the Anti-Torture Law of Nigeria (2017), a law which prohibits torture, cruel and inhumane treatment of individuals.

The call was made in Lagos on Thursday at a roundtable meeting on Ending Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria, which was organised by Avocats Sans Frontieres France (Lawyers Without Borders), a French international organisation.

Present at the roundtable meeting were representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Services, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Bar Association and other non-governmental organisations.

Several speakers at the roundtable emphasised the need to enforce the anti-torture act as one of the ways to end the impunity of human rights violations and use of torture by security agents.

The Anti-Torture Act 2017, which criminalises the use of torture, was passed by the eighth National Assembly and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2017.

Speaking at the event, Angela Uwandu, from ASF France, Nigeria said the discussions seek to address the core human rights violations of torture by security agencies, incidents of arbitrary detention and extrajudicial killings by security agents.

She said ASF France, Nigeria is executing a project tagged SAFE to bring all stakeholders together and discuss issues on human rights violation and torture of individuals.

Human rights violations are very prevalent in the Nigerian society and whenever there is a violation, it means there is a perpetrator and a victim. One of the things we aim to achieve is to ensure that perpetrators of human right violations are held to account.

The essence of bringing all stakeholders together is to ensure that incidents of human right abuses become very minimal and when they occur, perpetrators are held to account, she said.

Mrs Uwandu said if perpetrators are not held to account, the impunity with which human rights violations occur in Nigeria will continue.

Another speaker, Abiodun Odusote, a senior lecturer at the Faculaty of Law, University of Lagos, said the pervasive human rights violation in Nigeria is worrisome.

Violations as regards torture, cruel and inhumane treatments of arrested persons persist. There are a lot of unrecorded violations of human rights. Torture go on unhindered in many law enforcement agencies and there are ways to solve this in the long and short-term, he said.

Mr Odusote said the use of torture is prevalent amongst state violators, mostly by law enforcement agencies such as the police, the SSS and others.

Giving recommendations, the senior lecturer said setting up CCTV cameras, digitalising operations and setting up interview rooms in all law enforcement agencies will help to curtail human right violations.

He added that there is a need for taining and retraining of law enforcement officers and provision cater for adequate welfare for them.

Speaking on the enforcement of the anti-torture law, Mr Odusote said there is no mechanism to monitor the enforcement and compliance to the law as torture goes on every day by law enforcement agents.

Bola Akinseti, the representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General of the state, said Lagos government is doing a lot to reduce the cases of human right abuses.

Sometimes when the police send case files for advice, we discover there is no sufficient evidence or investigation to prosecute such persons. But when we send the files back for further investigations, we usually dont hear back from the police.

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We are aware that there are several people in detention awaiting trial, the state government is really doing a lot, she said.

Mrs Akinseti said the ministry of justice will take up cases of human rights abuses brought to its notice swiftly, urging the lawyers present to collaborate with the ministry.

Other participants at the roundtable expressed the challenges they encounter in intervening in cases of human right violations and the unresponsive nature of security agents.

Recommendations

Part of the recommendations made at the roundtable is the enforcement of the anti-torture law by the Nigerian government and monitoring of compliance across all security agencies.

The discussants also recommended that lawyers should be given free access to intervene at the earliest stage in respect of the Force Order 20 which established the PDSS (Police Duty Solicitor Scheme).

Efforts must be made to improve the welfare of the police officers. Officers of security agencies must be well equipped in tackling evidence gathering, the discussants recommended, adding that perpetrators of human rights violations be brought to account.
Despite the intervention of the police in the ongoing conflict at the Mile 12 area of Lagos State, the warring groups have continued to cause mayhem.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police arrested 45 suspects on Tuesday after a communal crisis broke out at Mile 12.

The police said the crisis is a result of an alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed, by one Alhaji Alidu, the Commander of Security Committee in Gengere Community, Mile 12.

The commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, also ordered the arrest of the leaders of the 13 warring groups causing unrest in the community.

Background

The Lagos police on May 2 said it got wind of a looming fight between some groups at Gengere, Mile 12 area, and was ready to suppress the activities of any violent groups or individuals.

Muyiwa Adejobi in the statement on Sunday said the police command had deployed officers to Mile 12 to fortify security in the area being a proactive measure put in place by the Commissioner of Police to forestall any attacks in Mile 12.

The crisis broke out in the area on Monday afternoon with several suspects arrested by the police. Following the arrest of members of the warring groups, normalcy was returned to the area and people and traders continued with their business.

The police intervention however did not birth a lasting result as the warring groups continue causing mayhem in the community, with some persons killed.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm the number of casualties as at the time of this report, although the police confirmed one death on Tuesday.

Renewed Attacks

As police officers struggled to curtail the Mile 12 crisis, the hoodlums continued to reinforce and launch attacks in the area.

Renewed attacks by the warring groups occurred on Thursday leaving residents, business owners and passers-by scampering for safety.

It is unclear whether the attacks are still a result of an alleged blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed.

It is as if they wait till the police leave, once they leave, the boys will start their fight again. We have not been able to open shops as there is fear of some people being killed, a shop owner at Mile 12 told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mile 12 is a no-go area at this time, they robbed this morning and started the fight again this afternoon, he said.

There is panic in the neighborhood over the attacks as some are feared killed in the crisis.

Police adopt 24-hour surveillance

In a fresh statement issued by Mr Adejobi, the police spokesperson on Thursday, 48 more suspects have been arrested by the police. The police confirmed one death from the crisis that broke out at midnight.

In furtherance of the commands commitment to maintaining law and order in Gengere Community, Mile 12, Lagos State, the Command has again arrested forty-eight (48) suspects in connection with the crisis that broke out between some hoodlums at about 1 am today, Thursday 6th May 2021.

In the course of investigation, It has been discovered that one Aliyu Shuaibu, m, stabbed one Sadiq Oloyo, m, both of Gengere Community, and lost his life before any medical attention could be given to him. As a result of the incident, some hoodlums, on reprisal attack, went on rampage and caused a commotion in the area. Mr Adejobi said in the statement.

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The Chief Superintendent of Police added that the police command is adopting 24-hour surveillance, with additional officers deployed to the area to forestall further attacks.

The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that the arrested hoodlums be investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to foment troubles in the state.

The police boss said the command will not tolerate any act of violence and lawlessness in any part of the state as all hands are on deck to suppress criminal acts.
The members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State loyal to Governor Kayode Fayemi and those backing the partys national leader, Bola Tinubu, have continued to be at logger heads in the state.

Although both principals are yet to officially declare their presidential ambition, analysts say they have begun to position themselves should the party zone their presidential ticket to the south.

The battle between the two groups took a different dimension on Monday when a member of the party and Chairman of Ado Ward 8, Clement Afolabi, was suspended for having links with the South West Agenda (SWAGA), a group campaigning for the candidature of the partys national leader, an act that was described as an anti-party activity.

According to a letter by the party at the Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, on Monday, which was signed by its Chairman and Secretary Michael Akinleye and Temitope Oluwasola, the Ward 8 Chairman was removed for misconduct and refusal to defend himself against the allegations made against him at the investigative panel sitting.

In line with the relevant portions of our party constitution and having refused to appear personally or in writing before the committee constituted to look at the various allegations against you in ward 8; we, the Ado Ekiti Local Government Executive Caretaker Committee of the whole house in our meeting today 3 May 2021 hereby remove you as Caretaker Chairman of APC Ward 8, Ado-Ekiti as guided by Article 21(B) vi(b), stated the letter titled, Removal From Party Office as Ward 8 Caretaker Chairman.

He was also directed by the party to submit with immediate effect all party documents to his deputy.

But the Chairman of SWAGA, Dayo Adeyeye, a former senator, while reacting to the suspension of the ward chairman, called on the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governor Mai Mala Buni to look into the matter which, he said, is threatening the party in the state.

He urged the partys national secretariat to place Mr Fayemi on the watch list of suspected disloyal members.

We consider the save face measure shoddily adopted in visiting undue punitive measure on Afolabi, who, purportedly, was showing support for the presidential choice of a top notch of the APC, a serious aberration, he said.

SWAGA is not unaware of the underground plots to frustrate the rising political profile of Asiwaju Tinubu in the south west and indeed Nigeria, as the undisputable choice to bring stability into our fragile democracy and lift the nation economically.

The ongoing attempt to plunder and decimate our party and then leave the carcassfor us to contend with, is not hidden. This we shall resist for the efforts of the builders of this democracy and many other Nigerians, who have toiled in endurance and are waiting to reap the gains.

While we condemn the lingering undemocratic approach of Fayemi to issues in recent times and insist on a call to order, we enjoin our party men and women across country, to feel free to identify with SWAGA. SWAGA is APC and APC is SWAGA. There is no way a member can commit anti-party offence for favouring the presidential choice of a party man.

Suspension is unacceptable

Also the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, also made an intervention, vowing to support Mr Afolabi in upturning his suspension.

He described the removal as unacceptable, the idea of illegal suspensions of members over their fraternity with a group within the APC.

The presidential aide told journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that the decision of the party was an assault on freedom of association as enshrined in the nations constitution.

Mr Ojudu explained that the ward chairman had not committed any infraction by identifying with a member of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections, describing the action by the party as an act of dictatorship in a democracy.

He said efforts would be made to challenge the removal of the ward chairman in the court, warning that Mr Fayemi should be mindful of his actions as governor.

He should realize that though he is in power today, he will not be there tomorrow, Mr Ojudu said.

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This is unacceptable. It is an assault on freedom of association as stipulated in the countrys constitution.

How could you sanction a man for identifying with the ambition of a member of his party? This fellow is a member of our party and he chose to go with Tinubu. What is wrong with that? What intolerance? This is dictatorship and not democracy.

We shall assist this individual to fight this assault on his right to the highest court in the land.

I am shocked that this is happening under the watch of Dr Kayode Fayemi. He should realise that though he is in power today he will not be there tomorrow.

I am really peeved. You are sacking a man for identifying with Tinubu? It is a shock and I just couldnt understand while you(Fayemi) and our party in the state should go this low.

Fayemi not involved

But the APC Director of Media and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Party Matters, Sam Oluwalana, denied that Mr Fayemi had anything to do with the removal of Mr Afolabi as ward chairman.

Mr Oluwalana said the suspension slammed on Mr Afolabi was undertaken at the ward level, which had the power to try any erring member, adding that Mr Fayemi and the APC at the state level never interfered in the crisis.

This was purely an internal crisis at the ward level. The APC is a party that respects the structures from the ward to national level. If you check your records, the former ward chairman was given a fair hearing, but he refused to make use of it, he said.

It was wrong and demeaning for Senators Dayo Adeyeye and Babafemi Ojudu, who are respectable members of our party to think that Governor Fayemi will descend so low to remove a ward chairman or do anything that will decimate our party.

A member of House of Representatives, Hon Sola Fatoba, who is from Ado Ekiti and even our party at the state level had started wading into the matter and we expected the duo of Senators Adeyeye and Ojudu to toe the same path. They shouldnt be stoking the crisis.

For the sake of emphasis, Governor Fayemi didnt know anything about the suspension and nobody should vent his anger on him. It was strictly a ward affair and it should be seen as such.
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The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has broken his silence on the ongoing conflict between his supporters and groups drumming support for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Tinubus presidential ambition over the removal of a party ward chairman in Ado Ekiti.

The party official, Clement Afolabi, was removed from office on Monday by the party executive at the Ado Ekiti LGA after he was accused of anti party activities.

According to a letter from the party secretariat at the Ado Ekiti LGA, Mr Afolabi was accused of anti party activities, but failed to appear before a panel to defend himself.

Following his removal, loyalists of the former Lagos State governor accused Mr Fayemi of masterminding the move, criticizing him for his alleged intolerance of those opposed to his perceived presidential ambition.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, who joined in the accusation against the governor, said Mr Afolabi was removed from office because he identified with a group called South West Agenda 2023 (SWAGA), noted for its campaign for Mr Tinubus presidential ambition.

The APC in Ekiti State and aides to the governor deny the allegations.

Mr Fayemi had, in the past, described SWAGA and its activities as anti-party, confirming his opposition to the groups activities in support of Mr Tinubu.

The governor said it was wrong for the group to have been conceived in the first instance, when the Lagos State Governorship Advisory Council(GAC) being chaired by Mr Tinubu had dissolved all groups in the APC in Lagos, for internal cohesion.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Segun Dipe, on Thursday, the governor said Mr Adeyeye erred when he linked him to the removal of a mere Ward Chairman.

We consider referring to himself (Adeyeye) as SWAGA Chairman within the APC as a misnomer, he said.

Perhaps Adeyeye needs to be reminded that the APC had since made pronouncements against setting up groups within the party.

Just last year June (2020), the Lagos APC, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu dissolved all groups within the party into the APC structure in the state.

Mr Dipe said according to a communique signed by the Governors Advisory Council, which is the highest decision making body within the Lagos APC, all groups, including the two most powerful -The Mandate Group and Justice Forum ceased to exist.

The resolution, Tinubu himself said, was to restate the often stated position that the only group known is the APC and not any of the factional groups, he said.

One then wonders where Adeyeye and his co-travellers derived their powers to float another group within the APC, which they are calling APC members to start porting to. If this is not an anti-party move, then we wonder what it is.

He said no amount of character assassination from the likes of Mr Adeyeye, would reduce his relevance, and would rather wave it off as one of the usual tantrums of a desperate politician in search of relevance.
American Legion Post 364 is continuing to give veterans turning 100-years-old a special birthday celebration. On April 29, dozens of members drove by a house on Vassar Street in Dearborn to honor two WWII veterans who would be turning 100 only two days apart.

Art Russell and Ed Gazell were both members of the United States Marine Corps, and served in the tank divisions in WWII. Russell is a veteran of the Korean War as well.

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Escorted by the Dearborn Police Department and the Dearborn Fire Department, members of the post drove slowly past the two men as they sat under a tent on the rainy Thursday evening. Veterans and supporters honked and waved as they drove by, and assembled afterwards to salute the two men and congratulate them on their milestone birthdays.

Mayor John OReilly, Police Chief Ronald Haddad, and Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) joined the event to congratulate Russell and Gazzell.

These WWII veterans have had long careers of service and have served our community, said Haddad before presenting them with 100th birthday citations. Youve been a shining example for all of us in the community to emulate. You will forever stand among the greatest generation.

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In addition to the certificates from the city, Post 364 Senior Vice-Commander Phil Smith presented Russell and Gazzell with medals commemorating their time spent at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. The famous training facility was formally commissioned in 1921, making it 100-years-old as well.

On behalf of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council, these medallions are for the greatest generation, Smith said. Freedom is not free because of men like you. Congratulations, gentlemen.

Xbox Series X delivery stolen in Dearborn Heights An Xbox Series X gaming system, valued at $769, was stolen the afternoon of April 26 from the front porch of a house in the 24100 block of Hop

Woman assaulted at Hines Drive park A 43-year-old Macomb Township woman was roughly and unexpectedly pushed and pinned to the ground by unknown assailants the night of April 30 i

Two utility trailers stolen following generator theft in Dearborn Heights Two utility trailers were reported stolen the morning of May 1 from the 24300 block of Joy Road in Dearborn Heights, just two days after a gen
An elderly woman was found dead inside a Dearborn Heights house on the morning of May 4. Her son has now been charged with first degree murder in relation to her death.

Police and firefighters responded to a 911 call to the house in the area of Pardee Street and Van Born Road.

The woman was unresponsive when they arrived and attempts to revive her were unsuccessful, officials said.

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Aaron Samir Akel, 45, was charged May 6 in connection with the homicide of Ibtisam Field, 73. Both were Dearborn Heights residents.

Field was strangled to death. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy alleges that Akel is the one who did it. He was still in the house when authorities arrived.

Akel had previously been convicted of assaulting his mother.

This is what we all fear in domestic violence cases, Worthy said. The assistant prosecutor appeared in court many times in this case. The defendant served his jail time and we worked with Mrs. Field with great care to craft a sentence that she supported to enable her son to get the help he needed. Very unfortunately, he refused to take advantage of the offered help.

Akel was arrested on Nov. 2 and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and misdemeanor domestic violence arising out of an incident involving his mother.

He pled guilty to a lesser charge on March 16, with the misdemeanor charge being dismissed completely.

Akel served several months in jail for the prior assault. He was released April 7 with three years probation and credit for 157 days served in jail.

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Field was at the April 7 sentencing hearing, where she asked the court to release Akel from jail.

She informed the court that she wanted her son to receive drug and mental health treatment and that she would like to have contact with him again.

The judge released him, but ordered no contact with Field, and that he receive treatment at a drug and alcohol facility.

Akel never responded to probation, and never went in for the treatment.

A probation agent attempted to follow up but was unable to reach him and began the process of filing an amended order with the court.

Despite the court order for no contact, Akel moved back into Fields house at some point prior to her death.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 14, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 26.

Brother wants his sibling, charged in shooting death of their father, behind bars 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.

+2 More charges for defendants in alleged Whitmer kidnapping case New charges have been added against three defendants in a case alleging a conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year.

+2 Feds: International cocaine trafficker busted A former Michigan resident, described by officials as leader of an international cocaine trafficking ring, is facing a federal drug charge following a task force investigation involving law enforcement from Oakland and neighboring counties, as well as federal officers.
Eddie Quinones Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy of possessing and distributing more than 100 grams of heroin with intent to distribute on Dec. 29, 2020, according to the Department of Justice.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Henry Ford College (HFC) President Russell Kavalhuna to the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS).

Housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the 17-member MCRS reviews, analyzes, and advises Michigan's rehabilitation programs and services. The MCRS works to improve public vocational rehabilitation services delivered by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).

Kavalhuna, of Dearborn, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the MCRS representing the Michigan Workforce Development Board for a term commencing April 30, 2021 and expiring Dec. 31, 2021.

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Kavalhuna earned his bachelors degree in aviation science from Western Michigan University (WMU) and a juris doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He has been the president of HFC since July 2018. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Flight Operations at the WMU College of Aviation, the nations third-largest collegiate aviation program. Prior to his position at WMU, Kavalhuna was a federal prosecutor and a commercial airline captain.

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I am honored to serve on this Council to improve opportunities for Michigan workers and create an inclusive, engaged workforce across our state, said Kavalhuna. Michigan Rehabilitation Services provides access to the workforce for individuals with disabilities and provides businesses with qualified, dedicated workers who will help grow our states economy. Preparing Michigan citizens for meaningful careers is a hallmark of the work we do at Henry Ford College. I look forward to joining the MCRS.

 Source: Henry Ford College

Teacher of the Year nominations now open for Dearborn Public Schools Nominations have now opened for the 2021 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Students Choice Award.

+2 Dearborn Heights police seeking man who robbed Walgreens with a knife The Dearborn Heights Police Department is seeking a man who robbed the Walgreens store at Telegraph and Van Born with a knife at about 1 a.m. May 5.
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)

Today

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
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
- New markets in Africa take IWG's expanding worldwide portfolio to 120 countries

ZUG, Switzerland, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IWG, the world's leading flexible workspace organisation has secured new franchise partners in Togo, Libya and Guinea to fuel the group's rapidly growing worldwide network in Africa and is also set to launch in Gabon.

Togo is one of the latest countries to embrace the economic growth opportunities afforded by flexible workspaces, with the Regus centre opening in May 2021 as a franchise operation in partnership with the Confortis International Group.

Located at 2447 Avenue de la Chance, the Regus centre occupies a strategic location within the new business district of GTA Lome II, in front of the General Directorate of LONATO, near the embassies and the headquarters of large companies and institutions and three minutes from the Presidential Palace. Regus Avenue de la Chance is just ten minutes from the airport and fifteen minutes from the Togolese port of Lome, the largest in West Africa. The port provides the capital with a geographic advantage with its state-of-the-art container handling equipment serving as a gateway to the landlocked countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The centre's high quality facilities including coworking space, private meeting rooms, a business lounge and state of the art technology will meet the needs of companies of all sizes, from start-ups to global corporations in this growing business hub. Regus Avenue de la Chance will offer 160 workstations as well as six meeting and conference rooms, across 1,000m2, in a ten storey building also featuring a hi-tech gym, restaurants and premium accommodation.

Regus Almutawasit will be opening in the heart of the Libyan capital, Tripoli in June in partnership with Alhareth Ghattour. More than a quarter of the oil rich country's population live within the capital city. The centre featuring excellent facilities including coworking space, meeting and conference rooms and a business lounge is in the capital's flourishing business hub on the Mediterranean coast. The area combines centuries of historical architecture with modern infrastructure, attracting multinationals from around the world.

Guinea , the world's second largest producer of bauxite, and a country with rich deposits of diamonds and gold will also be embracing the many benefits of flexible workspace with the opening of a Regus centre in May. Located just a few minutes from Conakry Gbessia International Airport, the Tour Niger centre is located in downtown Kaloum's business area and is within 500 metres of the Presidential Palace, ministries, the port as well as the city's major hotels and banks. Tour Niger, will be the most iconic newly built tower on the Conakry skyline. Regus is opening the centre in close collaboration with franchise partner, the Sonoco Group

IWG will open its first flexible workspace in Gabon , one of Africa's largest oil producers and the world's largest producer of Manganese. The Regus Serena Building, features 38 private offices, dedicated co-working space with 100 workstations and two meeting rooms. The Regus centre is located on the 3rd floor of the building and enjoys a privileged location in the Petit Paris area of Libreville, a 15-minute drive from Leon Mba International Airport.

Mark Dixon Founder and CEO of IWG said, "With the latest openings in Togo, Libya, Gabon and Guinea, we are delighted to expand our rapidly growing network to over 25 countries in Africa. Studies have shown that globally, the flexible workspace industry will support the creation of 30 million new jobs and we are proud to be playing a part in in unlocking the growth opportunities afforded by the sector to new markets across the globe."

A franchise opportunity with great returns and world-class support

Regus and parent company IWG are currently seeking driven, committed franchise partners to capitalise on the significant demand for flexible workspaces across Africa.

IWG has been running successful workspaces for over thirty years, ever since it founded the industry in 1989. It has developed its business model through many economic cycles. Its operating model is proven, demonstrably successful and can provide partners with a highly attractive return on their investment.

IWG provides multiple revenue streams, including monthly membership programmes commission for selling other locations within the brand's inventory and MyRegus app bookings, among others.

As part of its new programme, IWG offers comprehensive infrastructure to support franchisees throughout the lifecycle of their investment. The global IWG franchise team works closely with its franchisees to support with identifying locations and fitting out the centre, as well as growing their market footprint backed by world-class operational and marketing support and quality customer service and IT infrastructure.

For more information on IWG franchise opportunities, please visit https://franchise.iwgplc.com/.

For IWG media enquiries:

Simon Condon,

Group Head of Communications, IWG.

Simon.condon@iwgplc.com

0800 060 8703

Related Links

https://www.iwgplc.com/



SOURCE IWG Plc
Learning platform provider to offer flexible learning environment for more companies worldwide

AARHUS, Denmark, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ELEARNINGFORCE International (EFI), provider of the LMS365 learning management platform for Microsoft 365, announced strategic expansion of its operations in the DACH region. During 2020, LMS365 furthered its commitment to the German market by deploying LMS365 on the regional Microsoft datacenters in Frankfurt, securing a growing need for information security.

With the establishment of Elearningforce GmbH and the acquisition of the LMS365 business operations of Mauth.CC GmbH  a strategic LMS365 partner in Germany  the company continues its strong commitment to the rapidly developing market. Rainer Mauth, the founder of Mauth.CC, will join Elearningforce GmbH as managing director. EFI looks forward to bringing together the entire team of experienced and dedicated colleagues to combine competencies across Europe.

LMS365 today has more than 150 corporate customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Being the only learning platform built directly into Microsoft 365 and Teams, the solution provides a modern approach to organizing the training and development needs of large and medium-sized companies.

Lars Vestergaard, CEO, ELEARNINGFORCE International, said: "With this acquisition in Germany, we're addressing the needs of the customer and partner base for support and training in their local language. We build on a track record of customer understanding and this investment is designed to further help customers and partners in the region to develop and deliver an outstanding learning experience for their workforce on the Microsoft 365 platform."

Rainer Mauth, founder of Mauth.CC, said: "Having worked with LMS365 since 2011, I am excited to join the LMS365 team and look forward to leveraging the knowledge I've accumulated to further grow and serve the LMS365 customer and partner base. There is a huge demand for 'learning in the flow of work' and digitization of learning processes in the market."

Robert Nederby, director, DACH region, ELEARNINGFORCE International, said: "Having feet on the ground in Germany is crucial to provide German customers with even better service and support. Having a dedicated team in Germany is also a cornerstone for our ability to support the partner network and increase our reach across the DACH region."

About ELEARNINGFORCE

ELEARNINGFORCE International has approx. 1000 enterprise and public sector customers for its flagship offering LMS365 with over 4 million users. 50+ trusted partners have implemented the solution in more than 50 countries, with customers in all sectors, and deployments ranging from a few hundred employees to 50,000+ employees. LMS365, a Microsoft Preferred Solution, is one of the fastest growing cloud-based Learning Management Solutions in the market today. LMS365 provides a modern, integrated, and familiar learning experience as learning is now made possible within Microsoft Teams, Mobile and SharePoint Online. LMS365 is fast to install, highly configurable, easy to use and fully integrated with the rest of your digital workplace, including Microsoft 365, SharePoint & Teams. Website: www.lms365.com

PR Contact:

Shyna Deepak

Nadel Phelan, Inc.

831-440-2408

shyna.deepak@nadelphelan.com

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Related Links

http://www.lms365.com



SOURCE LMS365
RAMALLAH, Palestine, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC) held its ordinary general assembly on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Ramallah, Palestine. In its meeting, the general assembly ratified dividend distribution for registered shareholders as of May 4, 2021, of 16.65% of APIC's paid-in capital amounting to USD 96.2 million to date, 7.5% as cash dividends amounting to USD 7.215 million and 9.147 % as 8.8 million in bonus shares. Accordingly, APIC's paid-in capital will reach USD 105 million following the bonus share distribution.

Net profit attributed to APIC shareholders grew by 11% in 2020

In his statement, Chairman and CEO of APIC Tarek Aggad spoke of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused disruptions to businesses and its consequent negative impact on global economic activity. However, he noted that APIC's management was able to respond rapidly, effectively, and decisively to the challenges of the coronavirus crisis from its onset, forming a planning and oversight committee to supervise business continuity for all the group's companies during the emergency phase that worked to prioritize the safety of all employees and customers, ensure the stability and efficiency of operations and maintain customer services. Accordingly, these measures were instrumental in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on the consolidated results of the group in 2020, and furthermore, the group reported a good year-on-year growth rate. Total revenues reached USD 958.2 million in 2020, a growth of 16% compared to 2019. The group's net profits grew by 12.8% to reach USD 24.64 million, while net profits attributed to APIC shareholders rose by 11% and amounted to USD 19.86 million. Consequently, earnings per share increased to reach 21 cents in 2020, a growth of 10% year on year.

Investment expansions of the group's subsidiaries

Aggad added that in 2020, a number of APIC subsidiaries concluded new investment expansions. National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO), in partnership with Bank of Palestine, established Qudra Energy Solutions, a company that operates in the renewable energy sector using the leading technologies and solutions to offer solar energy as a strategic alternative in Palestine. Unipal General Trading Company acquired 80% of Al-Jihan General Trading Company in Jordan, which is active within the FMCG sector in Jordan and represents many leading brands within both the food and non-food categories. Sky Advertising and Promotion Company acquired 60% of Oyoun Media Company in Palestine, a move that will enhance Sky's portfolio within the Palestinian digital media services market.

USD 3.5 million investment in corporate social responsibility

In 2020, APIC doubled its corporate social responsibility budget in response to the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. A total of USD 3.5 million were invested in corporate social responsibility by APIC and its subsidiaries, representing 14% of the group's net profit, of which USD 2 million were dedicated to national efforts in Palestine and Jordan to fight the coronavirus pandemic by providing cutting-edge medical equipment and ambulances to the Ministry of Health, financial donations to national funds, as well as the distribution of thousands of food packages to support families living under exceptional circumstances. Additionally, APIC maintained its strategic support to institutions working in the education and health sectors, entrepreneurial projects, youth as well as to social, charitable, and humanitarian organizations.

About APIC

APIC is a foreign public shareholding investment holding company listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX: APIC). It holds diversified investments across the manufacturing, trade, distribution and service sectors in Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey through nine subsidiaries: Siniora Food Industries Company; Unipal General Trading Company; Palestine Automobile Company; Medical Supplies and Services Company; National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO); Sky Advertising and Public Relations and Event Management Company; Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers (BRAVO); Arab Leasing Company and Arab Palestinian Storage and Cooling Company, employing over 2,600 staff through its group of subsidiaries. More information, visit www.apic.ps

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640722/APIC_Logo.jpg

Weitere Links

http://www.apic.ps



SOURCE Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC)
Expansion has the goal to come closer to the startups and businesses

SAO PAULO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Datora Group, a 30 year Brazilian multinacional company specializing in telecommunications and Internet of Things, announces its arrival to the Israeli ecosystem in partnership with the Israeli company IBI-Tech. Currently, the organization also operates in Spain, United States, Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, France and Sweden.

Datora is on attracting international companies to Brazil, stimulating partnerships in the generation of business and competitive solutions, especially agrobusiness, cyber security, remote-work solutions, big data and telemedicine.

"Our goal is to be close to regional business and startups forming a great hub of innovation aims to became a global reference in disruptive technologies inclouding various sectors, and to follow Israel's contributions to 5G technology, which Israel has so much contribute", says Tomas Fuchs, CEO of Datora Group. The company is implementing a core for standalone 5G networks. The ideia is to offer it as a service for anyone who wants to enter the 5G auctions in Brazil.

"We also will work together with IoT equipment and sensor manufacturers as partners and facilitators of the local operation, bringing gains in logistics and simplifying the entry into the Brazilian market, in compliance with legislation", Fuchs explains.

There are some incentives in Brazil, like Telecommunications Surveillance Fund (Fistel), that will contribute to increase the sector's growth 2021, mainly leveraging new businesses related to IoT.

Datora Group

Datora Group is formed by Datora Telecom and Arqia (MVNO). Datora Telecom started operations in Brazil in 1993 and 3 years later was the first to supply VoIP in Latin America. Currently, it is present throughout the country and has offices around the world, with more than 2,000 clients, between operators and companies traveling more than 30 billion minutes annually and with more than 1 million IoT devices connected. In addition, it offers a complete portfolio of IoT and connectivity platform services/solutions. Arqia, the mobile technology unit of the Datora Group, was founded in 2011 to serve the IoT market, as well as being a facilitating platform for the entry of companies from any industry into the Virtual Mobile Operator market. The company, headquartered in Belo Horizonte (MG), was the first Virtual Mobile Operator (MVNO) to operate in the country.

Press information

VIANEWS Hotwire

Ricardo Muza  (11) 99963-1648 | [email protected]

Marco Merguizzo  (11) 99611-8971 | [email protected]

Brunno Rocha  (11) 99992-4748 | [email protected]

SOURCE Grupo Datora
MOSCOW, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Sputnik Light is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26)) of Sputnik V  the world's first registered vaccine against coronavirus.

The single dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4% efficacy according to analyzed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered as part of Russia's mass vaccination program between 5 December 2020 and 15 April 2021.

An efficacy level of almost 80% is higher than that of many two-dose vaccines.

Sputnik Light has proven effective against all new strains of coronavirus, as demonstrated by the Gamaleya Center during laboratory tests.

Phase I/II of the Safety and Immunogenicity Study of the Sputnik Light vaccine has demonstrated that:

Sputnik Light can elicit the development of antigen specific IgG antibodies in 96.9% of individuals on the 28th day after vaccination;

The Sputnik Light vaccine elicits the development of virus neutralizing antibodies in 91.67% of individuals on the 28th day post immunization;

Cellular immune response against the S Protein of SARS-CoV-2 develops in 100% of volunteers on the 10th day;

The immunization of individuals with pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 with Sputnik Light can elicit the increase of the level of antigen specific IgG antibodies by more than 40x in 100% of subjects 10 days after immunization;

No serious adverse events were registered after vaccination with Sputnik Light.

As of May 5, 2021, more than 20 million people globally have received their first shot of Sputnik V.

Sputnik Light is compatible with standard vaccine storage and logistics requirements, while also being affordable with a price of less than $10. The single dose regiment allows for immunization of a larger number of people in a shorter time frame, furthering the fight against the pandemic during the acute phase.

The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vector platform that has proven to be safe and effective, with no long-term side effects, as confirmed in over 250 clinical trials conducted globally over the past two decades (while the history of use of human adenoviruses in vaccine development started in 1953).

The two dose Sputnik V vaccine remains the main vaccination tool.

The Russian Ministry of Health, the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announce that Sputnik Light, a single dose COVID-19 vaccine, has received authorization for use in Russia.

Sputnik Light is the first component (recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26)) of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

The single dose Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4% efficacy according to analyzed data taken from 28 days after the injection was administered. An efficacy level of near 80% is higher than that of many two-dose vaccines.

The efficacy rate was calculated based on data obtained from Russians vaccinated with a single injection, having not received the second one for any reason during the mass vaccination program between December 5, 2020 and April 15, 2021.

The infection rate among vaccinated subjects from the 28th day from the date of the injection was only 0.277%. Over the same period, the infection rate among the unvaccinated adult population was 1.349%.

The following formula was used to calculate the vaccine's efficacy:

(Infection rate among

non  vaccinated adult population)  (Infection rate among the

fully vaccinated population) = 1,349%  0,277% = 79,4% Infection rate among

non  vaccinated adult population 1,349%

Phase I/II Safety and Immunogenicity Study of the single dose Sputnik Light vaccine was initiated in January 2021, and the interim results were received on March 10, 2021:

The results demonstrated that the vaccine can elicit the development of antigen specific IgG antibodies in 96.9% of volunteers on the 28th day after immunization;

Virus-neutralizing antibodies developed in 91.67% of volunteers on the 28th day post immunization.

Cellular immune response against the S Protein of SARS-CoV-2 developed in 100% of volunteers;

No serious adverse events were registered after vaccination with Sputnik Light;

The immunization of individuals with pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 with Sputnik Light can elicit an increase of the level of IgG antibodies by more than 40x in 100% of volunteers on the 10th day after immunization;

Sputnik Light demonstrated safety for all subjects, including those with pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

On February 21, 2021 the Gamaleya Center and RDIF launched a global efficacy study of Sputnik Light. The Phase III clinical study involving 7,000 people is conducted in multiple countries including Russia, the UAE, Ghana and others. The interim results are expected in May 2021.

As of May 5, 2021, more than 20 million people globally have received the first injection of the Sputnik V vaccine, containing the first component. There have been no cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) reported. The production of the vaccine meets the strictest standards, with four stages of purification (two chromatographic stages and two stages of tangential filtration).

The Sputnik Light vaccine is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vector platform that has proven to be safe and effective. The cost of the Sputnik Light vaccine globally will be less than $10, while it has simple storage requirements, at +2 +8, which provide for easy logistics. The one shot regimen allows for the vaccination of large groups of the population in a short time, helping to speed up the fight against the pandemic during the acute phase.

Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said:

"Sputnik Light will help to prevent the spread of coronavirus through the faster immunization of larger population groups, as well as supporting high immunity levels in those who have already been infected previously. Sputnik Light offers strong value in initial vaccination and re-vaccination, as well as boosting efficacy when taken in combination with other vaccines."

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), commented:

"The Sputnik Light vaccine significantly reduces the possibility of severe cases leading to hospitalization, with only one injection needed. The single dose regimen solves the challenge of immunizing large groups in a shorter time, which is especially important during the acute phase of the spread of coronavirus, achieving herd immunity faster. The characteristics of the vaccine provide for simple storage and logistics, while Sputnik Light has an affordable price of less than $10. The two dose Sputnik V vaccine remains the main source of vaccination in Russia, while the Sputnik Light vaccine will be exported to our international partners to help increase the rate of vaccinations in a number of countries in the face of the ongoing fight with the pandemic and new strains of coronavirus."

The safety of vaccines based on human adenoviruses has been confirmed in more than 75 international publications and more than 250 clinical trials conducted during the past two decades - while the history of use of human adenoviruses in vaccine development started in 1953. Adenoviral vectors are genetically modified viruses of the regular flu that cannot reproduce in a human body. When the Sputnik Light vaccine is used, the coronavirus itself does not enter the body as the vaccine only contains genetic information about part of its outer protein coat, the so called "spikes" forming its crown. This completely eliminates the possibility of getting infected as a result of vaccination while also causing the body's stable immune response.

The Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is one of the oldest research centers in Russia, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1991. The main focus of the center's research is the fundamental problems in epidemiology, medical and molecular microbiology, and infectious immunology. More information can be found at www.gamaleya.org

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
EIGHTY FOUR, Pa., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 84 Lumber, the nation's largest privately held building materials supplier, is launching a recruitment effort to fill immediate openings at manufacturing facilities and multiple retail locations in the Dallas region. The company will host a Hiring Event on May 13th from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Dallas West/I-30 (2100 N. Cockrell Hill Road, Dallas, TX). At the event, job seekers will learn more about the company culture and get the opportunity to be interviewed for open positions in the area that include manager trainee (MT); driver; sales coordinator; and lumber yard, warehouse, door shop, and production associate. Qualified job seekers may receive an offer of employment during the event.

"84 Lumber is seeking to fill more than 30 positions at four different locations across the Dallas region, including three stores and two production facilities," said Jorge Espinoza, divisional vice president at 84 Lumber. "We're growing along with the growth in the construction industry  here in the Dallas region and across the nation. We're looking for people seeking a fresh start."

Espinoza went on to detail the openings in the region:

Manager trainees (MTs) hired by 84 Lumber enter an intensive, one-on-one, on-the-job training program that teaches them about the company's business and puts them on a path to become a future leader within the enterprise. Starting compensation for manager trainees is more than $40,000 per year.

hired by 84 Lumber enter an intensive, one-on-one, on-the-job training program that teaches them about the company's business and puts them on a path to become a future leader within the enterprise. Starting compensation for manager trainees is more than per year. Lumber yard, warehouse, door shop, and production associates need no prior experience and perform essential functions behind the scenes  from the management of supply shipments to the operation of equipment. Production associates work in the manufacturing processes related to engineered wood products, trusses, and components. These associates can expect a starting pay of between $12 and $17 per hour based on experience.

need no prior experience and perform essential functions behind the scenes  from the management of supply shipments to the operation of equipment. Production associates work in the manufacturing processes related to engineered wood products, trusses, and components. These associates can expect a starting pay of between and per hour based on experience. Drivers load trucks and deliver materials to customer job sites. Hourly pay for the job is between $12 and $17 per hour depending on experience.

load trucks and deliver materials to customer job sites. Hourly pay for the job is between and per hour depending on experience. Sales coordinators perform essential customer service activities to support the sales associates and stores. Sales coordinators earn between $12 and $20 per hour based on experience.

"We are a family-owned company, which means we are committed to helping our employees build and cultivate a career with us. In fact, 95% of our store managers started in our manager trainee program," Espinoza said. "As we see it, 84 Lumber recruits individuals with a can-do attitude, a willingness to work hard, and a desire to learn. Once we find these people and they join the company, we teach and train them and find ways for them to grow with us."

Espinoza added that 84 Lumber expects it might find the right fit from all types of candidates  an individual with no construction experience, military veterans ready to embark on their next career challenge, or people with some previous work experience who seek to redirect their career.

Candidates interested in participating in the Hiring Event are asked to pre-register. To sign up, go to http://www.84americandream.com/dallas and complete the form. Once you are registered, you will receive an email from 84 Lumber with the link to apply for the desired position. To save time, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for positions online before they attend the event.

NOTE: 84 Lumber requires all attendees to wear a mask at the event. Recruits will also be asked to practice social distancing during the Hiring Event. In addition, candidates will be required to undergo a background check and drug screening prior to receiving an offer of employment.

To learn more about 84 Lumber, follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

ABOUT 84 LUMBER

Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84 Lumber Company is the nation's largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components and industry-leading services for single- and multi-family residences and commercial buildings. The company operates nearly 250 stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, custom millwork shops and engineered wood product centers in more than 30 states. 84 Lumber also offers turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking and drywall. A certified national women's business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy Knox, 84 Lumber was named by Forbes as one of America's Largest Private Companies in 2018 and one of America's Best Large Employers in 2019. For more information, visit 84lumber.com or join us at Facebook.com/84lumber and linkedin.com/company/84-lumber .

Contact: Jeff Donaldson, BLD Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (412) 347-8039

Photos: http://www.bldpressroom.com/84lumber/dallas-hiring-event

SOURCE 84 Lumber
"We're excited to announce the launch of our new Asia-Pacific Division and welcome Michael Chen to lead our efforts there," said Aaron Kirman, Founder and President of Aaron Kirman Group and President of International Luxury Estates at Compass. "Our alliances in Asia are unmatched, and sales to Asian buyers in the Los Angeles luxury real estate market comprise a sizable percentage of our overall sales. Los Angeles is the gateway to the Pacific Rim and remains a safe haven for investors. Launching this new division allows us to specialize to an even greater degree in this lucrative market."

According to Better Dwelling , the U.S. ranks at the top of the list of real estate markets for Asian buyer demand, with high-net-worth buyers preferring gateway cities such as Los Angeles. Aaron Kirman Group's clients are buying investment properties or part-time residences in the luxury segment.

"I'm pleased to be joining Aaron Kirman Group to further their efforts in the Southeast Asian real estate market," said Chen. "I look forward to the opportunity to bring my experience and connections to Aaron Kirman Group's clients."

Chen joins Aaron Kirman Group from Compass, in addition to his development company, Luxford Investment Group, of which he founded. Luxford provides services exclusively for ultra-wealthy domestic and international clients. Their partnerships include international publicly listed companies such as HuaYi Brothers and Septwolves.

A report on foreign investments issued by the National Association of REALTORS indicates 35% of Asia's $15 billion residential real estate investments in the U.S. are now in California compared to just 14% in New York[1].

About Aaron Kirman Group

Aaron Kirman Group, founded by Aaron Kirman, President of International Estates at Compass, has grown into a multibillion dollar-producing real estate team  $726 million in 2020 alone  built on a single guiding principle: to build a team where a group of like-minded individuals could support one another to rise together in competing within the most dominant and competitive market in the world. Based in Beverly Hills, California, Aaron Kirman Group is consistently ranked among the top 10 top producing teams by Wall Street Journal and Real Trends, setting price-per-square-foot records throughout Southern California. Check out Aaron Kirman and his team on their raved-about new show, Listing Impossible on CNBC. For more details, visit www.aaronkirmangroup.com or on Instagram @aaronkirman.group .

CONTACT:

Wicked+

Alicia Mistry

[email protected]



[1] https://www.capitalwatch.com/details/manuscript/475649913011703808.html

SOURCE Aaron Kirman Group
CALABASAS, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, today announced its intent to redeem (i) all outstanding shares of its 6.500% Series D Perpetual Preferred Shares (NYSE: AMH-D), $0.01 par value per share, for cash at a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, on June 7, 2021, and (ii) all outstanding shares of its 6.350% Series E Perpetual Preferred Shares (NYSE: AMH-E), $0.01 par value per share, for cash at a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, on June 30, 2021.

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of December 31, 2020, we owned 53,584 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that relate to beliefs, expectations or intentions and similar statements concerning matters that are not of historical fact and are generally accompanied by words such as "believe," "expect," "will," "intend," "anticipate" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These forward-looking statements include the payment and anticipated timing of the payment of distributions of the Company's preferred shares. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company's management considers these expectations to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control and could adversely affect our cash flows and ability to pay distributions. Additional information about these and other important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform to actual results or changes in expectations, except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Anne McGuinness

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

American Homes 4 Rent

Media Relations

Megan Grabos

Phone: (805) 413-5088

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent

Related Links

https://www.americanhomes4rent.com


ARLINGTON, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATP Flight School has opened a new advanced pilot training center at the Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY) in Arlington, TX. The modern facility represents the next evolution of ATP's 30-year presence training pilots in the Dallas area and is an integral part of addressing the post-pandemic pilot shortage.

The new Arlington facility joins ATP's 60 other locations to increase capacity and train 20,000 airline pilots over the next ten years.

Every aspect of the 13,875 square-foot facility was developed to deliver airline pilot training as efficiently as possible. Carefully designed classroom and briefing spaces complement an advanced simulator bay containing multiple flight training devices (FTDs). The ATP Arlington Campus also includes a new state-of-the-art FAA Certified Level 6 Cessna 172 FTD specifically designed for advanced training and successful certification outcomes. Dedicated ramp space provides a home to multi-engine Piper Seminoles and new Garmin G1000-equipped Cessna 172s - all meticulously cared for by ATP's onsite maintenance.

Aspiring pilots training at the facility can take advantage of the fastest track to becoming an airline pilot in ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program. Starting with zero experience, students graduate in just nine months and complete the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program at nearby ATP JETS using full-motion Airbus and Boeing simulators. Partnerships with Dallas-based regional airline Envoy Air provide graduates with a direct path to a career at American Airlines, while nearly 30 additional alliances offer pathways to all other major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines.

"With more alumni having gone on to fly for American Airlines than any other major airline, ATP is proud to make this investment in Dallas," said Michael Arnold, Director of Marketing, ATP Flight School. "The increased capabilities of the new Arlington flight training center will be crucial in meeting the training demands of the post-pandemic pilot shortage."

With a shortage of qualified airline pilots representing 10% of the total professional pilot workforce by 2023, the Arlington facility joins ATP's 60 other locations nationwide to increase capacity and train 20,000 airline pilots over the next 10 years.

Media Contact

Michael Arnold

Director of Marketing

ATP Flight School

904-595-7950

[email protected]

Related Images

atp-flight-school-arlington-tx.jpg

ATP Flight School - Arlington, TX

The new Arlington facility joins ATP's 60 other locations to increase capacity and train 20,000 airline pilots over the next ten years.

atp-flight-school-arlington-tx.jpg

ATP Flight School - Arlington, TX

The modern facility represents the next evolution of ATP's 30-year presence training pilots in the Dallas area.

atp-flight-school-arlington-tx.jpg

ATP Flight School - Arlington, TX

Carefully designed classroom and briefing spaces complement an advanced simulator bay containing multiple flight training devices (FTDs).

SOURCE ATP Flight School
I'm so proud of how our staff Sleeved Up. These results tell us that it was a good decision to make up our minds early. Tweet this

The high vaccination levels, along with continuing de-escalation of state restrictions, are enabling the expansion of Engage Life programs, larger group dining, the use of community amenities and increased family visits, as regulations allow.

For Atria's 15,000 U.S. residents, high vaccination rates bring confidence in resuming some pre-pandemic life. Sharon Laughlin moved into Atria Westminster (near Denver, Colorado) in March 2020 as the pandemic hit, and now she is ready to show off her decor in-person to family. "I wanted to take the vaccine so I could experience the life I planned for. I'm comfortable going back out into the world and gathering with people again. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to be vaccinated so early. It's a big sense of relief. I'm most excited to go back to church and have friends and family in to see my new apartment," Laughlin said.

"I was on the fence about getting the vaccine, but I know it was the right thing to do for our residents and to put the pandemic behind us," said Jill Biondo, Senior Engage Life Director at Atria Seville in Las Vegas, Nevada. "We remained vigilant in our protocols, so I always felt that I was working in a safe bubble but now that pretty much everyone in the community is vaccinated, the pandemic is at the back of my mind."

At Atria at Foster Square in Foster City, California, the vaccination levels also bring a new energy for residents and staff. "I wanted to make sure I protected not only our community, but also my family. I feel very proud of our vaccination rate. I am happy that we were one of the first Atria communities in the San Francisco Bay Area to receive our vaccinations," Allen Chin, Assistant Executive Director, said. "Above all, I am happy that we are resuming programs and more in-person visits. The lively energy in our vaccinated community now brings me so much joy."

"Statistically speaking, COVID-19 practically doesn't exist anymore in our communities. We believe the vaccine is the overwhelming factor in this progress, and we couldn't have gotten this far without our employees and residents warmly embracing the vaccine. The immunity afforded by the vaccine and our continuing safety protocols help make each Atria community a place where every resident can live their best life right now," Moore said.

About Atria Senior Living

Atria Senior Living is a leading operator of independent living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities in more than 200 locations in 28 states and seven Canadian provinces. We are the residence of choice for more than 20,000 seniors, and the workplace of choice for more than 12,000 employees. We create vibrant communities where older adults can thrive and participate, know that their contributions are valued, and enjoy access to opportunities and support that help them keep making a positive difference in our world. For more information about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter. For career opportunities and more information about working for Atria, visit AtriaCareers.com.

SOURCE Atria Senior Living

Related Links

https://www.atriaseniorliving.com


EWING, N.J., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Batiste, America's #1 Dry Shampoo brand, announced today a partnership with six Batiste brand ambassadors, a diverse group of females including a professional athlete, an entrepreneur, and standout content creators. These fans of Batiste will serve as brand advocates, sharing their different beauty routines along with tips on how to get an instant refresh between washes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo 2021 Ambassadors

Launching this month, the Batiste ambassador roster includes professional athlete Mallory Pugh; songstress and co-creator of Bridgerton: The Musical Abigail Barlow; founder of Summer Fridays and beauty entrepreneur Marianna Hewitt; makeup artist and YouTube sensation Iris Beilin; mom and lifestyle blogger Alex Garza; and digital creator and TikTok star Vi Luong.

"Batiste has been a part of my routine for years, and I am thrilled to be working with the brand alongside five other women that I admire and look to for beauty tips and recommendations," said Luong. "When considering products to recommend to my followers, I gravitate toward those that make me feel and look amazing. Batiste dry shampoo not only keeps my hair refreshed between washes, but I love that there is a Batiste for everyone  from amazing fragrances to products for different hair types and colors."

"We're excited to welcome these bold and beautiful female powerhouses to our Batiste family," said Stacey Ramstedt, VP of Marketing for Batiste. "Each of these women embody what Batiste stands for and we look forward to collaborating with them, as they share how they Batiste with their fans and followers."

As the leading dry shampoo brand in the world, the Batiste portfolio of hair products provides an instant refresh so that your style lasts longer between washes. The brand's dry shampoo is aluminum free and carries a superior rice starch formulation that revitalizes hair as it removes excess oils and boosts volume, leaving hair looking, feeling and smelling fresh and clean.

For more information about Batiste Instant Hair Refresh products, please visit batistehair.com.

About Batiste

From its UK heritage in the 1970s to launching in the U.S. in 2015, Batiste has become a haircare fixture on beauty vanities and in stylist kits around the world. As the #1 Dry Shampoo, Batiste provides hair with an instant refresh that leaves it feeling clean and smelling fresh, helping to extend your look between washes. The complete line of Batiste products includes over 20 dry shampoos tailored for specific hair colors, hair needs and fragrance preferences. Batiste products are vegan and sulfate free. For more information visit www.batistehair.com, or follow us on Instagram: @batiste_us.

Batiste is a registered trademark of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

For media inquiries please contact:

Maggie Lu

HUNTER

[email protected]

SOURCE Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Related Links

http://www.batistehair.com


TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Battle North Gold Corporation (TSX: BNAU) (OTCQX: BNAUF) ("Battle North" or the "Company") announces that it has filed its interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 ("Q1-2021"). Copies of these filings can be obtained at www.battlenorthgold.com or under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. All references to dollars herein are in Canadian dollars ("$") unless otherwise specified.

Financial Highlights

Cash position: As of March 31, 2021 , the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $34.8 million .





As of , the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately . Exploration and evaluation expenditures: For the three months ended March 31, 2021 , the Company spent approximately $6.3 million in expenditures related to drilling, maintenance and technical consulting fees, including work on the Feasibility Study for the F2 Gold Deposit at the Bateman Gold Project. Expenditures were higher by $3.2 million compared to the same period in 2020 due to development expenditures at the Bateman Gold Project and exploratory drilling.





For the three months ended , the Company spent approximately in expenditures related to drilling, maintenance and technical consulting fees, including work on the Feasibility Study for the F2 Gold Deposit at the Bateman Gold Project. Expenditures were higher by compared to the same period in 2020 due to development expenditures at the Bateman Gold Project and exploratory drilling. General and administrative expenses (including salaries and benefits, and consulting and professional fees): The Company spent approximately $1.7 million on expenditures related to general and administrative, salaries and benefits, and consulting and professional fees in Q1-2021, higher by $0.8 million due to higher professional fees due to the Transaction (described below) and investor relations expenditures than during the same period in 2020.

2021 Outlook

As of May 6, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $30 million. Essential ramp development work, stope definition diamond drilling, and engineering for both the ammonia treatment plant and the tailings management facility at the Bateman Gold Project are ongoing. However, certain other non-essential activities, including regional exploration at the Project, have been curtailed, suspended or deferred in accordance with the requirements of the arrangement agreement with Evolution Mining Limited.

2021 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders

As a reminder, Battle North will host its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders on May 11, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) via live audio webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/207274698 (the "Meeting"). For further details of the Meeting, please refer to the April 15, 2021 news release and management information circular (the "Circular") and other the materials for Meeting (collectively, the "Meeting Materials") available at www.battlenorthgold.com/EvolutionAcquisition or under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Battle North would like to remind shareholders to cast their votes for the resolutions that will be voted on at the Meeting in advance of the proxy voting deadline of 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 7, 2021.

The Board of Directors of the Company UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS that Battle North shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement.

The Company encourages Battle North shareholders to read the Circular and other Meeting Materials.

Enquiries Regarding the Arrangement and Meeting

Battle North shareholders with questions regarding the Arrangement and the Meeting should contact the Company's proxy solicitation advisor, Shorecrest Group Ltd.:

By Telephone: +1-888-637-5789 for toll-free North America

By Telephone: +1-647-931-7454 for International collect calls

By Email: [email protected]

Acquisition of Battle North by Evolution

On March 14, 2021, Battle North announced that it had entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Evolution pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of Evolution, Evolution Mining (Canada Holdings) Limited agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Battle North (the "Transaction") at a price of C$2.65 per common share in cash, for total consideration for all issued and outstanding shares pursuant to the Transaction of approximately C$343 million.

The Transaction will be implemented by way of a statutory plan of arrangement involving the Company, Evolution and Acquireco, pursuant to Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). The Arrangement is subject to approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") as well as Battle North shareholders at the Meeting.

On April 9, 2021 the Court granted an interim order that, among other things, authorized Battle North to call and hold the Meeting to approve the Arrangement. The hearing date for the application to the Court for the final order approving the Arrangement has been scheduled for May 17, 2021.

In order to become effective, at the Meeting, the Arrangement must be approved by an affirmative vote of at least: (a) two-thirds (66%) of the votes cast by Battle North shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereat, and (b) a simple majority (50%) of the votes cast by the Battle North shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereat, excluding the votes cast by such shareholders that are required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101.

The Arrangement is anticipated to be completed by the end of May 2021, subject to obtaining the approval of Battle North shareholders and the Court, as well as the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.

About Battle North

Battle North is developing the Bateman Gold Project to become the next gold producer in the renowned Red Lake Gold District in Ontario, Canada and controls the second largest exploration ground in the district. Battle North also owns a large gold exploration land package on the Long Canyon gold trend near the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Battle North's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BNAU) and the OTCQX markets (BNAUF). For more information, please visit our website at www.battlenorthgold.com.

BATTLE NORTH GOLD CORPORATION

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipated", "assumption", "contingencies", "developing", "estimate", "expectation", "exploration", "factors", "feasibility", "forward", "future", "may", "model", "need", "plan", "potential", "project", "risk", "strategic", "study", "subject to", "trend", "uncertainties", and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, should, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide or result in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the 2021 Outlook; and the Meeting, the Transaction and the Arrangement including the timing and outcome of the Meeting, the anticipated timing of the closing of the Transaction, the satisfaction of closing conditions (including required Battle North shareholder and Court approvals in connection with the Arrangement), and the merits of the Arrangement to Battle North shareholders (including the reasons and benefits for the Arrangement).

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth herein, as well as the current Technical Report for the Bateman Gold Project dated January 27, 2021 (the "Technical Report"), the Company's annual information form dated March 29, 2021 ("2021 AIF") and the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended on March 31, 2021 (the "Q1 2021 MD&A") and accompanying financial statements, all available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Battle North to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Arrangement will not be approved by the shareholders of Battle North; the failure to, in a timely manner, or at all, obtain the required Court approval of the Arrangement; the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to complete the Arrangement; the possibility that Battle North could terminate the Arrangement agreement as a result of a superior proposal that is not matched by Evolution or Acquireco; the effect of the announcement of the Transaction on Battle North's strategic relationships, operating results and business generally; significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation that could prevent or hinder the completion of the Arrangement; other customary risks associated with the Transaction as more particularly described in the Circular; the impact of any merger, acquisition or other strategic transaction involving the Company including any acquisition or other change in control of the Company; the "Risk Factors" in the 2021 AIF, the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the Technical Report and the Q1 2021 MD&A (and accompanying financial statements). The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2021 AIF and the other aforementioned documents.

The forward-looking statements referenced or contained herein are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the 2021 AIF, the Technical Report and the Q1 2021 MD&A (and accompanying financial statements). Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and Battle North disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Battle North Gold Corporation

Related Links

http://www.battlenorthgold.com/


BUCHAREST, Romania and SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 6, 2021 PRNewswire/ -- Bitdefender, a global cybersecurity leader, today announced that Matthew Selheimer, an accomplished industry veteran with more than 25 years' experience in cybersecurity, IT operations and enterprise applications, has joined the executive leadership team as Senior Vice President of Marketing. In his new role, Selheimer will be responsible for driving awareness of Bitdefender's market-leading products and managed services to fuel growth as demand for threat prevention, detection and response solutions increases.

"I'm excited to join Bitdefender at a pivotal moment in the company's history," said Selheimer. "Bitdefender's accelerated growth in business security is being driven by a unique ability to incorporate industry-leading native threat prevention within a cybersecurity portfolio for endpoints, cloud workloads and managed detection and response services. I look forward to contributing my expertise to drive go to market strategies that helps businesses become more resilient as they grapple with today's unpredictable cyber risk."

With more than two decades of experience in cybersecurity and enterprise applications, Selheimer has deep technical knowledge and a demonstrated ability to drive increased solution demand by applying modern marketing principles. Prior to Bitdefender, he held senior marketing, sales and business development roles for companies including Alert Logic, BMC Software, Deloitte & Touche, Informatica and others. Most recently, he was Chief Marketing Officer at PAS, a leader in industrial cybersecurity, where he helped lead the company to acquisition by Hexagon AB.

At Bitdefender, Selheimer will create and execute a marketing and communications strategy that engages buyers based on their real-world needs and connects those needs to the Bitdefender value proposition and technical capabilities across endpoint protection, endpoint detection and response, managed detection and response, and cloud workload security.

"Matt adds to an impressive roster of senior leaders recently added to the Business Solutions Group who bring proven experience in helping customers solve today's growing business security needs," said Steve Kelley, president and general manager of Bitdefender Business Solutions Group. "He is a transformational marketing leader, and his extensive experience for powering rapid growth through customer-centric brand positioning will be crucial in driving awareness for Bitdefender as we move forward in our journey and demand for cybersecurity solutions further increases."

About Bitdefender

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumer, business, and government environments, Bitdefender is the industry's trusted expert* for eliminating threats, protecting privacy and data, and enabling cyber resiliency. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers 400 new threats each minute and validates 30 billion threat queries daily. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence and its technology is licensed by more than 150 of the world's most recognized technology brands. Founded in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in 170 countries with offices around the world. For more information, visit https://www.bitdefender.com.

*Bitdefender has ranked #1 in 54% of all tests by AV-Comparatives 2018-2021 for real-world protection, performance, malware protection & advanced threat protection.

Contact:

Steve Fiore

Bitdefender

1-954-776-6262

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/833268/Bitdefender_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Bitdefender
Cultivation Progressing at Arkansas Cultivation Facility

VANCOUVER, BC, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state operator, is pleased to provide an update on construction in Ohio and cultivation operations in Arkansas.

BaM and NMG Ohio LLC have completed construction of the Ohio production facility and are in the final stages of obtaining local and state permits for operation. The production facility is located next to the Body and Mind dispensary west of Cleveland and anticipates producing a wide variety of Body and Mind branded offerings for the Ohio market.

"Our award-winning Body and Mind products have proven success in Nevada and California and we're looking forward to expansion to the Ohio market", stated Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "We continue to see strong growth in the Ohio market and applaud the recent announcement regarding measured expansion of dispensary licenses in the limited license state. Ohio has a population of roughly 11.5 Million (2019 US Census) and there are currently 52 dispensaries which have received a certificate of operation of 57 provisional dispensary licenses awarded. We intend to apply for new licenses as the process opens and continue to advance additional license applications across other jurisdictions."

Cultivation operations are advancing in Arkansas with Comprehensive Care Group. The cultivation facility was built out in 2020 and the required cultivation equipment has recently been installed. Last month, after receiving approval to begin cultivation operations from the State, seeds were sprouted and plant growth is now underway. "We look forward to increasing the number of plants over time as the state rules allow, and to be able to provide our Body and Mind flower quality to the patients of Arkansas," stated Trip Hoffman, COO of Body and Mind.

Arkansas is a limited license medical state with a population of over three million (2019 US Census). The State has currently approved 38 dispensaries with a total of 32 dispensaries currently open and six anticipated to open in 2021. In 2020, a ballot initiative was launched to qualify adult-use measures, however, the campaign fell short on signatures stemming from challenges around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company is pleased to announce that it will be presenting next week at the Canaccord Cannabis Virtual Conference on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations focused multi-state operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.

BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Ohio and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

SOURCE Body and Mind Inc.

Related Links

https://bamcannabis.com/


Pamela Cahanes enlisted in the Navy to fight for her county. Instead she had to fight Thomas Garner for more than [eight] minutes, only to lose her life. Assistant State Attorney Anna Valentini said in a statement. Were grateful we were able to win this fight for Pamela and her family. I hope they can rest easier knowing that tomorrow, and every day after, Thomas Garner is going to wake up in a jail cell knowing exactly why hes there.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Black women represent the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, and many new entrepreneurs are launching their businesses alongside corporate careers. The "side hustle" represents the future of business, and it underscores the need to support Black entrepreneurs with education and resources as more women venture into the world of owning a business.

Boss Women Media in partnership with Creme of Nature has launched a four-week Home Hustlers: Beauty Edition Program for women looking to take their small business to the next level. Two-hour virtual workshops will be held every Saturday in May, 12 Noon EDT  2 PM EDT/ 11 AM CDT  1 PM CDT, and will include panel discussions with business leaders, virtual classes, and opportunities to connect with like-minded women. Some of the speakers who will share expertise around entrepreneurship are Courtney Adeleye, Beatrice Dixon and Angela Simmons. The workshops will dive into topics such as writing a business plan, fundraising, running an online business, scaling and diversifying your revenue. The program will conclude with a pitch competition where attendees will have a chance to win $5,000 for their business.

"We're excited to partner with BOSS Women Media and the launch the Home Hustlers program providing education, mentorship and financial support to beauty entrepreneurs, nationally, as they launch their businesses," said Jolorie Williams, general manager of Revlon Multicultural and Contract Services. "Creme of Nature is a legacy brand that has dedicated over 40 years to supporting the needs of the Black community, from haircare to education and empowerment. Through our collaboration, we are committed to making an impact for the next generation of female entrepreneurs and leaders."

"Our mission is to create a space for Black women and empower them as leaders in communities across the country," said Marty McDonald, Boss Women Media founder and CEO. "We are especially proud to partner with Creme of Nature as they continue to support our vision and serve as an ally by helping women launch the businesses of their dreams, leading to long-term wealth and economic impact across the country."

For tickets and more information, visit Boss Women Home Hustler's Program HERE.

About Creme of Nature

For more than four decades, Creme of Nature has created a plethora of remarkable hair products to help women achieve their best hair. Creme of Nature is the first multicultural brand to offer hair care and styling products with argan oil with its Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morocco product line of more than 25 hair care and styling products that provide intense conditioning and nourishment. Fans can follow the brand online @CremeOfNature on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. For more information, please visit www.cremeofnature.com.

Media Contact

Nicole Newsum

646-642-3097

[email protected]

SOURCE Creme of Nature
The Blockchain for Government Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based non-profit organisation that works to advance use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain, protocol and distributed data network. The Initiative works with government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies to advance large-scale implementations of blockchain technology for the benefit of citizens, including through the delivery of e-government services, tools for greater financial inclusion and improved transparency, as well as applications that foster public good for municipalities and entire countries.

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative brought an international delegation to Sudan, led by Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen (USA) together with Ahmed Yousif, co-founder of Black Stone Data Solutions (Yousif was born in Sudan and now lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). They were joined by CEOs and founders of blockchain businesses working across a range of industries, spanning healthcare, supply chain management, financial services and smart cities, along with senior representatives from Bitcoin Association, including:

Muhammad Salman Anjum - Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the Middle East & South Asia (UAE/ Pakistan )

- Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the & (UAE/ ) Mohammed Ibrahim Jega  co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ( Nigeria )

 co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ) Stephan Nilsson - CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( Norway )

- CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( ) Robert Rice - CEO of Transmira ( USA )

- CEO of Transmira ( ) Phillip Runyan - managing partner of Veridat ( USA )

- managing partner of Veridat ( ) Patrick Prinz  regional manager for Europe & Head of Operations at Bitcoin Association ( Switzerland ).

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative organised the Republic of the Sudan's historic first-ever Blockchain Summit & Workshop, which was held at the Al Salam Hotel in Khartoum on April 8-9 under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation. The event welcomed government officials, business leaders and university students to learn how blockchain technology can build better digital infrastructure and grow the domestic economy through diverse use cases - including identity management; e-government services; public records; financial inclusion; Islamic finance; auditing; natural resource management and sustainability; smart cities; supply chain and cargo tracking; health care data; educational/professional certifications; and better transparency.

A prestigious line-up of speakers included the visiting BSV delegation together with senior figures from both the Sudanese government and multi-national NGOs with a permanent regional presence - including the United Nations Development Programme. They were joined remotely by experts from many international BSV and related businesses from around the world  including Centbee; EHR Data; Elas Digital; Faia; nChain; Predict Ecology; Smart Systems; VXPass; Weather SV; and Metastreme.

In addition to the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, the BSV delegation was also invited to separate meetings in the offices of the Central Bank of Sudan; the Ministry of Telecommunication & Digital Transformation; the Ministry of Interior Affairs; as well as at SudaTel (one of Sudan's leading telecommunication companies) and the 249 Startups hub for entrepreneurs in Sudan.

Speaking during an interview at the conclusion of the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, Hashim Hasabelrasoul Hashim, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for the Republic of the Sudan, said:

'The event was very great, very informative. The first-ever time in Sudan to have a blockchain ecosystem team to visit the country. People were very interactive, very excited about the event and I think that there will be many more to come after this event.'

'Having the blockchain ecosystem in Sudan itself is a huge success for us. Having the engagement with the experts with our team members - with the ministry, with the industry - private and government entities to promote working together in different groups to work out what is next.'

Minister Hashim also explained why blockchain technology can be so impactful for the Republic of the Sudan during this present period:

"In Sudan, we are in a transition period after thirty years of sanctions and thirty years of a bad regime. Now we are in a transition period in which we want to reform our country and reform the government. Digital transformation is a key pillar in this reformation. We are working on building a national strategy for digital transformation that aims to change the government from manual to digital, to make sure that the government will be more efficient, more smart, more in control and more transparent," he said.

"I can clearly see a role for blockchain throughout different verticals within the government; digital identification is one of many, financial inclusion, digital certifications and many more to come, where we can benefit from blockchain. We want to be the first and lead on this technology in the country because it will enable us to really depend on real data that is secure."

Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commenting at the conclusion of the trip, said:

"Blockchain can help us to build a better world and our trip to Sudan left us feeling even more inspired to make that vision a reality. On behalf of the global BSV ecosystem, we were honoured to lead this first-ever blockchain delegation to the Republic of the Sudan and extend our sincere thanks to Minister Hashim and the entire team at Sudan's Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for their warm hospitality and ambitious vision for the digital future of their country. As we explore opportunities for initial blockchain projects in Sudan, we know that BSV's massive scaling and focus on data network capabilities can provide the blockchain power needed to advance digital transformation for Sudan and greater Africa."

About BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative

BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative provides education and drives global adoption of blockchain technology by government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies in order to accelerate digital transformation and ignite economic growth.

The Initiative supports use of BSV because it is a massively scaled blockchain that handles high transaction volume and enables greater data capacity at fast speed for low fees  capabilities necessary to deliver distributed ledger applications at nationwide and multi-national levels. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises.

The Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global non-profit industry organisation that supports the BSV blockchain and use of Bitcoin's capabilities as a protocol (similar to Internet protocol) and powerful distributed data network. The Association regularly engages with global lawmakers and industry participants to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of blockchain technology.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1504741/BSV_Sudan.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1218683/Bitcoin_Association_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Bitcoin Association
WARWICK, R.I., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- THE DRIPBaR, focused on helping people obtain their best health using advances in intravenous therapies is expanding across New Jersey with the help of worldwide leading authority on business and entrepreneurship, Carl Gould. Gould a client and true believer of IV therapy is looking to expand THE DRIPBaR through franchising partnerships across the state and in metro areas like Newark, the suburbs of Philadelphia, and Atlantic City. The first location is expected to open later this summer in Butler, a borough in northern New Jersey.

"I wholeheartedly believe in THE DRIPBaR's concept and mission. Their overall goal is to help people through IV therapy. From cancer patients to the busy mom, THE DRIPBaR has something to help everyone," said Gould. "I want to bring New Jersey the best IV therapy you can get, and for me that is what THE DRIPBaR does."

The company's Chief Development Officer, Ben Crosbie, could not be happier to have Gould. Gould's company, 7 Stage Advisors, has mentored the launch of over five thousand businesses in 35 countries. The serial entrepreneur built three multi-million-dollar businesses by age 40 and is now committed to growing THE DRIPBaR.

"THE DRIPBaR is focused on helping people and that mission is what I have been committed to my whole life," said Gould. "THE DRIPBaR's dedication to the community, cutting edge treatments, and excellence in the industry will lead us to success across the state."

Intravenous therapy, which is also known as IV therapy, is the administering of nutrients and hydration directly into the bloodstream for immediate absorption and use by the body. It is the fastest way to deliver nutrients throughout the body, because it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly into the organs, resulting in a high absorption rate. THE DRIPBaR leverages this benefit and provides IV therapies that are designed to do everything from slowing the signs of aging to reducing brain fog and boosting energy.

At THE DRIPBaR, clients have 18 different IV lifestyle or health-support drips to choose from, including the "Flu Fighter" that can help the common cold, and "High C", which is typically for current or former cancer patients. For those who don't have time for a full vitamin infusion but want the benefit, clients can choose one of seven "quick shots" that give the body an added boost.

Each session ranges in price from about $100 to $200 and last from 25 to 40 minutes

"The quality and range of our offerings, and the consistent excellence of our services, will distinguish us as IV therapy grows in popularity," said Crosbie. "COVID-19 has created a new understanding in people that they need to be as healthy as they can be. Healthcare is no longer a passive activity, where people wait for an illness to strike and then react to it. More than ever people want to be in control of their own health, they want to be proactive. They want non-drug therapies to support their best health."

For more information about the franchise opportunity, visit www.thedripbar.com/own-a-dripbar.

About THE DRIPBaR

Founded in 2016 and franchising since late 2019, THE DRIPBaR is a Rhode Island-based franchise focused on helping people obtain their best physical and mental health using intravenous therapies. Through advances in cellular and biological science, THE DRIPBaR helps clients fight the consequences of chronic illness, address the effects of aging, and achieve a balanced wellness. With one location currently open and operating in Warwick, Rhode Island, THE DRIPBaR already has nearly 200 additional locations in various stages of development across eight states. For more information, visit www.thedripbar.com.

Contact: Sonya Webb, Franchise Elevator PR, (847)903-3060, [email protected]

SOURCE THE DRIPBaR

Related Links

https://thedripbar.com


Receives Silver Parity Certification from Women in Governance

Included in Bloomberg Gender Equality 2021 Index for third consecutive year

MONTREAL, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) CAE was awarded the Silver-level certification by Women in Governance for its efforts in promoting gender parity in the workplace. The company was also included in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index for the third consecutive year.

CAE received its certification at Women in Governance's 2021 Annual Recognition Gala which was held today and featured, as honorary co-presidents, Marc Parent, CAE's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Maria Della Posta, President of Pratt & Whitney Canada.

"Diversity and inclusion is part of our values and a strategic priority for CAE," said Marc Parent. "We are committed to advancing equality between women and men in the workplace and to encourage other business leaders to make a similar commitment. In the past few years, CAE has made progress in the attraction, development and retention of female talent and in promoting gender parity within our organization. We have launched unconscious bias training for all employees as well as a series of internal programs to equip and inspire women to take ownership of their careers within the company. In addition to our Professional Women's Network, we launched another employee resource group (ERG), voted by employees and focused on Women in Aviation and Technology. Externally, our CAE Women in Flight scholarship program encourages more women to aspire to become professional pilots."

The Women in Governance Parity Certification serves to recognize organizations that have achieved results by articulating a commitment to gender parity in the workplace, integrating it to the ecosystem of the organization and implementing mechanisms to achieve that commitment and sustain it over time. CAE was awarded the Bronze-level certification in September 2019.

This award follows the recognition CAE received earlier this year as one of 380 firms worldwide selected for inclusion in Bloomberg's 2021 Gender-Equality Index (GEI). The GEI tracks the performance of public companies committed to disclosing their efforts to support gender equality through policy development, representation and transparency.

CAE is a signatory of the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in the workplace.

About CAE

CAE is a high-tech company at the forefront of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world safer. Backed by more than 70 years of innovation, we continue to reinvent the customer experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare industries. We are the partner of choice for customers around the world who operate in complex, often dangerous and highly regulated environments where success is critical. As a result of our customers' ongoing need for our solutions, more than 60% of CAE's revenue is generated from recurring business. We have the largest global presence in the industry, with approximately 10,000 employees in 160 locations and training centres in more than 35 countries. www.cae.com

Follow our Twitter account @CAE_Inc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc

LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/company/cae

SOURCE CAE INC.

Related Links

http://www.cae.com/


MIAMI, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. ("Cansortium" or the "Company") (CSE: TIUM.U), (OTCQB: CNTMF), a vertically-integrated cannabis company operating under the Fluent brand, today announced the satisfaction of its obligations under an amended and restated promissory note (the "Promissory Note") dated January 16, 2020 in the principal amount of US$12,933,290.02 that was owing to Can Endeavour LLC ("Can Endeavour").

The Promissory Note had a maturity date of December 1, 2022; however, pursuant to the terms thereunder, Can Endeavour elected to convert the principal amount of the Promissory Note into 21,555,483 common shares of the Company at US$0.60 per share. The common shares have been issued by the Company to Can Endeavour and all accrued interest on the Promissory Note has been repaid in cash. Accordingly, the Company has satisfied its obligations under the Promissory Note and it has been cancelled.

The Promissory Note was originally issued in connection with the Company's acquisition of Fluent Servicing, LLC, in August 2018. Fluent Servicing, LLC is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

The common shares referenced in this news release have not been, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws. Accordingly, these securities may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Cansortium in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Cansortium Inc.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and operating under the Fluent brand, Cansortium is focused on being the highest quality cannabis company in the State of Florida driven by an unrelenting commitment to operational excellence from seed to sale. Cansortium has developed strong proficiencies in each of cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution activities, resulting in successfully operating in the highly regulated cannabis industry. In addition to Florida, Cansortium seeks to create significant shareholder value in the attractive markets of Texas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, where the Company has secured licenses and established operations.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol (OTCQB: CNTMF). Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "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, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on many opinions, assumptions, and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, 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 the factors described in the public documents of the Company available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Cansortium Inc

Related Links

www.cansortium.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 Nourish D.C. Fund is an excellent catalyst to support disinvested neighborhoods across Washington, D.C. - Ellis Carr Tweet this

Through the Nourish D.C. Fund, Capital Impact will work with a coordinated collaborative of technical assistance providers and lenders with deep roots in the District to support an equitable D.C. food system. The goal is to foster an inclusive food system that provides economic opportunities and access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, particularly in communities impacted by historic disinvestment and structural racism.

Capital Impact and partners will leverage this $1 million award to attract an additional $2 million to the fund, expanding its ability to support District food businesses including:

Deploying at least $3 million of financing

of financing Supporting food entrepreneurs' success with robust technical assistance

Awarding at least $200,000 of catalytic grants

of catalytic grants Launching the first Food Policy Innovation Award

"Inclusive food systems are critical to the health of communities, and to their economic prospects. Food businesses provide opportunities for improved health and wealth building for many people in the District. Now is the time to expand those opportunities to earn a good wage, work with dignity, and pass down wealth to the next generation, and the Nourish D.C. Fund is an excellent catalyst for that vision for all D.C. residents, particularly those in disinvested neighborhoods in the city," said Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance.

Through the Nourish D.C. Fund, Capital Impact will work with a number of key partners including Dreaming Out Loud (DOL), EatsPlace, the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif).

The Fund also represents another effort by Capital Impact and CDC Small Business Finance, which recently joined their operations and launched a transformative new enterprise to innovate how capital and investments flow into historically disinvested communities. Washington, D.C. is a pilot area of operations along with Detroit and Los Angeles.

"We are proud to be part of the Nourish D.C Fund. The combination of our small business lending expertise alongside Capital Impact's longtime local community development work will help us drive greater change within D.C. communities. This effort showcases the magnified impact we are capable of through our new enterprise with Capital Impact and our joint commitment to supporting the D.C. community and beyond," said CDC Small Business Finance's Chief External Affairs Officer Robert Villarreal.

How Nourish D.C. Invest Will in Local Food Entrepreneurs

Nourish D.C. will increase technical assistance, provide catalytic grants, and lending products to enterprises throughout the District, with a focus on programmatic and financial products for BIPOC-owned small businesses which have encountered historical barriers to accessing the technical assistance and capital needed for their businesses to grow and thrive.

These ranges will allow the Nourish D.C. Fund to meet the needs of food enterprises across the value chain (i.e. from small-batch processing where needs might be smaller to retail grocery where needs might be larger) and across life cycles of a business (i.e. from start-up where needs might be smaller to expansion where needs might be larger). Technical assistance delivery models may include one-on-one consulting; short-format seminars/webinars; access to a kitchen incubator; mentoring; and multi-day, cohort-based intensive training.

Through these tools, Nourish D.C. will increase entrepreneurs' business acumen and capital readiness and will compliment other District programs providing grants and resources such as the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund (NPF), the Great Streets Program, and the D.C. Capital Connector.

"We're at a moment where nourishing D.C. must be a comprehensive effort, driving holistic repair of our communities; supporting locally-owned food businesses is a vehicle for economic opportunity for Black and other marginalized folks and a lens into examining and dismantling the policies and practices of structural racism which have led to the racial wealth gap and unequal, racialized life outcomes," said Christopher Bradshaw, executive director of Dreaming Out Loud.

"The food industry provides a path to jobs and entrepreneurship for many people. EatsPlace is excited to be working with Capital Impact Partners to provide technical and financial assistance to this hard-hit industry," said Katy Chang, chef and founder of EatsPlace.

"We are excited to partner with Capital Impact Partners as they launch the Nourish D.C. Fund. Food businesses that promote access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods are needed in the District. This Fund is a major step forward in creating healthy, thriving communities in D.C.'s most underinvested areas," stated Marjorie Nemes-Galarza, interim executive director & CEO, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC).

"Driving access to healthy food in underserved communities is a key strategy of Wacif's commitment to an equitable economic recovery," said Wacif CEO Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. "We thank Mayor Bowser for her leadership on this issue and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Capital Impact Partners through the Nourish DC Fund."

Creating an Ecosystem of Impact

D.C. LEAF incorporates three separate programs to support local entrepreneurs including: the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, the Nourish DC Fund, and the Locally Made Manufacturing Grant Program.

A number of graduates of Capital Impact's Equitable Development Initiative were named as awardees during this announcement:

Thomas Houston's Medici Road, Inc. received a $500,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for his development at 4726 Sheriff Road, NE, which includes a community operated grocery store, coworking offices, and headquarters for Medici Road.

Medici Road, Inc. received a Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for his development at 4726 Sheriff Road, NE, which includes a community operated grocery store, coworking offices, and headquarters for Medici Road. Babatunde Oloyede's Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc. received a $300 ,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development of the Prosperity HUB. This project consists of a community culinary kitchen including catering and event space, retail Grab-N-Go Cafe, market, and makerspace showroom, and a small business incubator and service center with optional back-office support services.

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc. received a ,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development of the Prosperity HUB. This project consists of a community culinary kitchen including catering and event space, retail Grab-N-Go Cafe, market, and makerspace showroom, and a small business incubator and service center with optional back-office support services. D.C. Central Kitchen, Inc., which is being supported by graduates Diarra and Alexis McKinney of Rosewood Strategies, received a $340,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development of a 36,000 sq. ft. commercial facility on Buzzard Point that will play a catalytic role in the completion and opening of a retail cafe, production kitchen, and related office space.

To learn more about these funds and programs, read the D.C. government press release.

Capital Impact's Long-standing Investments in the Washington Metro Area

Capital Impact has extensive experience supporting businesses that improve local food systems, including more than ten years of experience managing good food funds in California and Michigan. Our inclusive food systems work has been specifically designed to build and support equitable food systems in communities in need of healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food and economic opportunities. Initiatives we have supported include the Michigan Good Food Fund, the California Freshworks Fund, the California Community Grocers Fund, and the DMV Good Food Fund Innovative Response Fund.

In addition to supporting local businesses, Capital Impact has played an integral role in expanding and preserving affordable housing in Washington, D.C. as the fund manager of the DHCD Preservation Fund. First selected to manage the fund in 2018, Capital Impact has leveraged funding from the D.C. government to deploy low-cost and flexible financing to private nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit developers that are working with D.C. residents to preserve their housing. A unique aspect of the fund is how it supports the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). TOPA gives residents of for-sale, multifamily, residential properties the right of first refusal to buy their properties, allowing them to work with mission-driven developers to purchase the buildings, maintaining affordable rents and preventing displacement and gentrification.

ABOUT CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS

Through capital and commitment, Capital Impact Partners helps people build communities of opportunity that break barriers to success. Through mission-driven financing, social innovation programs, capacity building, and impact investing, we work to champion key issues of equity and social and economic justice. Our commitment to community focuses on ensuring that individuals have access to quality health care and education, healthy foods, affordable housing, cooperative development, and the ability to age with dignity.

A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, Capital Impact has disbursed more than $2.5 billion since 1982. Our leadership in delivering financial and social impact has resulted in Capital Impact being rated by S&P Global and recognized by Aeris for our performance. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Capital Impact Partners operates nationally, with local offices in Austin, TX; Detroit, MI; New York, NY; and Oakland, CA. Learn more at www.capitalimpact.org.

SOURCE Capital Impact Partners

Related Links

www.ncbcapitalimpact.org


DEERFIELD, Ill., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) and the Caterpillar Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, announced today a series of targeted relief efforts to support countries struggling with a significant rise of COVID-19 cases.

As part of the Caterpillar Foundation's ongoing response to COVID-19 and commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities, it is collaborating with partners and relief organizations to provide essential medical supplies and improve equitable access to vaccines.

"Supporting communities in need around the world aligns with the Caterpillar Foundation's strategy and our company's values," said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby. "Through partnering with relief organizations, the generosity of our employees and the Foundation's platform, we are helping fight the spread of COVID-19 and give front-line workers resources to act quickly and save lives."

Currently, India is experiencing the world's worst outbreak; the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases has resulted in an overwhelmed healthcare system and shortage of oxygen throughout the country.

The Caterpillar Foundation is giving $1 million to help India's health system deliver care to families and communities by funding medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators and oxygen plant optimization, as well as critical medical supplies, across identified hot spot locations. In addition to the Foundation's efforts, Caterpillar India is providing an initial contribution of $1.4 million, enabling an additional supply of oxygen, donating beds with ventilator support to hospitals, supporting vaccination drives and setting up temporary relief shelters. Independent Cat dealers are also contributing oxygen solutions to address the shortage.

Additionally, in Brazil, the Foundation is donating $250,000 to help coordinate with local partners to deliver essential medical and basic service supplies to hospitals and communities to help combat the rising new cases and more than 400,000 deaths.

The Caterpillar Foundation, through its partnership with the UN Foundation and the WHO Foundation, is supporting the COVAX initiative to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations with a $500,000 gift. This partnership will help increase access to vaccines across the globe, including in India. Additionally, to continue the emergency relief work and address vaccine hesitancy  particularly among rural, Black and Hispanic communities in the United States  the Foundation is investing $250,000 to support the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative's COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative, "It's Up To You." Representing one of the largest public education efforts in U.S. history, the effort is designed to reach multiple distinct audiences throughout the country, answering top questions and empowering Americans with the information they need to make informed decisions for themselves and their families about the COVID-19 vaccines.

In 2020, the Caterpillar Foundation also donated $10 million to support response efforts and help organizations that have been directly impacted by COVID-19.

About Caterpillar

With 2020 sales and revenues of $41.7 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Since 1925, we've been driving sustainable progress and helping customers build a better world through innovative products and services. Throughout the product life cycle, we offer services built on cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise. These products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value to help our customers succeed. We do business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments  Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation  and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/social-media.

About Caterpillar Foundation

Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, has contributed nearly $810 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by building resilient communities that thrive in a rapidly changing world. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit caterpillar.com/foundation. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.

Related Links

http://www.caterpillar.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy's ongoing clean energy transformation and intense focus on customers are driving the company's success and growth, and will continue to do so well into the future, Chair, President and CEO Lynn Good told investors during the company's annual shareholders meeting today.

In 2020, "we made progress toward our carbon reduction targets as we look to deliver at least a 50 percent reduction by 2030, with the ultimate goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," Good said. "We achieved a major milestone in 2020, surpassing 40 percent carbon reduction from 2005 levels, and introduced a net-zero methane target for 2030."

Duke Energy announced more than 700 megawatts of new solar and wind energy projects in 2020, and continued to invest in modernization of the company's electric grid to increase service reliability and support clean energy technologies, she said.

She also highlighted the company's 2020 electric vehicle initiatives, including investments in new customer charging infrastructure in multiple states  plus a new pledge to electrify 100 percent of the company's own light-duty vehicles, and convert 50 percent of its medium-duty, heavy-duty and off-road vehicles to electric or other zero-carbon vehicles.

Overcoming pandemic challenges

Despite the pandemic and associated challenges, Duke Energy in 2020 continued to safely and reliably provide essential electric and natural gas service to its customers, Good said.

"Our priorities were very clear: take care of our customers and protect the health and safety of our employees. We were one of the first utilities to proactively waive certain fees and suspend disconnections for customers who were unable to pay their bills," she said.

"We also transitioned approximately 18,000 employees to remote work and put protocols in place to keep our frontline employees safe. Our workforce showed incredible resolve as they adjusted to new working conditions, maintaining our industry-leading safety results," Good said.

As the pandemic disrupted financial markets, Duke Energy also took immediate action to ensure the company's financial stability through low-cost loans and an aggressive, $450-million mitigation plan, she said.

"This response allowed us to deliver financial results within our updated guidance range for 2020, and continue paying our dividend, which we have now done for 95 consecutive years.

"But what matters most is our customers. In 2020, I'm proud that we surpassed our internal customer satisfaction target by nearly 15 percent," she said.

2021 momentum

Good also highlighted several 2021 milestones  resulting from productive collaboration with stakeholders  that have enabled the company to continue its momentum:

Coal ash settlement in North Carolina  "We reached a milestone settlement with the North Carolina Attorney General's office, the Public Staff and the Sierra Club regarding coal ash recovery  resolving the last remaining major issues on coal ash in North Carolina , and providing clarity for customers and investors. And last month, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved our settlement as part of our two rate cases."



 "We reached a milestone settlement with the Attorney General's office, the Public Staff and the Sierra Club regarding coal ash recovery  resolving the last remaining major issues on coal ash in , and providing clarity for customers and investors. And last month, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved our settlement as part of our two rate cases." Florida rate settlement  "The Florida Public Service Commission approved our settlement with consumer and business groups on a new multiyear rate plan to recover investments in our grid, solar generation and electric vehicle infrastructure."



 "The Florida Public Service Commission approved our settlement with consumer and business groups on a new multiyear rate plan to recover investments in our grid, solar generation and electric vehicle infrastructure." Other Florida initiatives  "We also received approval of the first three years of our Storm Protection Plans in Florida , representing a $6-billion investment to harden our grid over the next 10 years, and our Clean Energy Connection program that will provide Florida customers with 750 MW of new solar by 2024. Duke Energy Florida remains a valuable part of our company, and with its constructive business and regulatory environment, we're excited to advance our clean energy vision for the state."



 "We also received approval of the first three years of our Storm Protection Plans in , representing a investment to harden our grid over the next 10 years, and our Clean Energy Connection program that will provide customers with 750 MW of new solar by 2024. Duke Energy Florida remains a valuable part of our company, and with its constructive business and regulatory environment, we're excited to advance our clean energy vision for the state." Minority investment in Duke Energy Indiana  "We announced a minority investment in Duke Energy Indiana from GIC, an experienced investor in U.S. infrastructure, that will help fund our clean energy investments and grid enhancement plans, replacing the need for equity over the next five years."



 "We announced a minority investment in Duke Energy Indiana from GIC, an experienced investor in U.S. infrastructure, that will help fund our clean energy investments and grid enhancement plans, replacing the need for equity over the next five years." Customer initiatives  "We began to roll out Customer Connect, our new customer information system, as we bring new services and enhancements to our customers."

Other shareholder business



Also at today's meeting:

Good fielded shareholder questions on a range of topics. The company also will post responses to shareholder questions on its website.



Shareholders elected all 13 nominees to the company's board of directors, including three new board members:



Caroline Dorsa  Retired executive vice president and chief financial officer, Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.



W. Roy Dunbar  Retired Chairman and CEO of Network Solutions, LLC.



Michael Pacilio  Retired executive vice president and chief operating officer, Exelon Generation, Exelon Corp.



 Retired executive vice president and chief financial officer, Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.  Retired Chairman and CEO of Network Solutions, LLC.  Retired executive vice president and chief operating officer, Exelon Generation, Exelon Corp. A nonbinding shareholder proposal  titled, "Shareholder proposal regarding independent board chair"  did not receive a majority of shareholder votes cast.



A second nonbinding shareholder proposal  titled, "Shareholder proposal regarding providing a semiannual report on Duke Energy's political contributions and expenditures"  received a majority of shareholder votes cast.

A replay of the meeting will be posted on Duke Energy's investors page.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities  with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to operate or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Neil Nissan

800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
JACKSON, Mich., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, has declared a quarterly dividend on the utility's preferred stock.

The following dividend is payable July 1, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 7, 2021: $1.125 per share on the $4.50 preferred stock (NYSE: CMS_pb).

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com.

To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

SOURCE CMS Energy

Related Links

http://www.cmsenergy.com


We are at the end of the cul-de-sac when it comes to natural gas pipelines, Aspuru said. If we are cold in the 20s, the rest of the country is going to be in a heck of a deep freeze.
CHICAGO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In March, Crate & Barrel Holdings successfully launched its new Trade Program , delivering a superior level of service to designers and businesses with exclusive benefits. Following a challenging year for the restaurant and hospitality industries, Crate & Barrel and CB2 will take their commitment to design to the next level by investing in the " Taking Care of Business " contest. Crate & Barrel and CB2 are looking for small businesses in the hospitality industry that were impacted by COVID-19 for a chance to win a complete design refresh for brighter days ahead.

Crate and Barrel and CB2 will partner with renowned interior designers and friends of the brands to work with small businesses to create inspiring and impactful designs. Atlanta-based interior designer Michel Smith Boyd will lead the design for Crate & Barrel and Kara Mann and Ross Cassidy are confirmed for CB2.

"After such a tough year, it's great to see Crate & Barrel and CB2 support the design community and local businesses impacted by the pandemic," said Chicago-based interior designer Kara Mann. Michel Smith Boyd remarked, "A fresh look can breathe new energy into a space. Great design unites, and that's exactly what we intend to do!"

Whether you are a restaurant owner with an inspirational story, or a patron who wants to support your local coffee shop, you can nominate a favorite restaurant, bar or cafe for a chance to win a design refresh with the latest Crate & Barrel and CB2 products. Three local businesses will each receive up to $75,000 in product and interior design services.

"The restaurant and hospitality industry has been hit hard by the effects of the pandemic, causing businesses to close their doors, creating a ripple effect," said Crate & Barrel Holdings CEO Janet Hayes. "We understand the impact good design has on creating an inviting customer experience, and welcome this opportunity to brighten our local communities and support small businesses."

Submissions are open from May 6, 2021 - May 28, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET and the winners will be announced in June. To enter, visit www.cbtradeprogram.com/takingcareofbusiness/ . For more information on the CB Trade Program, and for trade professionals and businesses interested in applying, visit cbtradeprogram.com .

Contest Details

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Taking Care of Business Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (and DC) who are at least eighteen (18) or older at the time of entry who are the proprietor(s) of a restaurant/bar with a business license and storefront (the "Business"). Business cannot have a capacity of more than 100 seats. Business cannot be a chain or franchise and cannot have more than 3 locations. Business must have opened at least 6 months prior to the contest start date. Other restrictions apply. Contest starts on May 6, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends on May 28, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For Official Rules: cbtradeprogram.com/takingcareofbusiness. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Euromarket Designs, Inc. d/b/a Crate and Barrel and CB2, 1250 Techny Road, Northbrook, IL 60062.

About Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc.

Global specialty retailer Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc. curates inspiration for the modern home, connecting the creative work of artisans and designers to people and places around the world. Known for high-quality products, exclusive designs and timeless style since 1962, Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc. includes lifestyle brands Crate & Barrel, CB2, Crate & Kids and Hudson Grace. Today, the company is a member of the Otto Group and operates over 100 Crate & Barrel, CB2 and Hudson Grace stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, with franchise locations in 9 countries. More than 200 million customers visit the Company's stores and websites each year. To learn more, visit www.crateandbarrel.com and www.cb2.com .

SOURCE Crate and Barrel Holdings, Inc.
NEW CASTLE, Del., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DUMONT AVIATION GROUP, INC. is proud to announce that Dumont JETS has acquired a Gulfstream V for its charter operations. The new addition will join Dumont JETS's fleet after a complete interior refurbishment and installation of a Collins Venue Cabin Management System at Dumont's MRO facility in Bloomington, Illinois.

The introduction of the Gulfstream V to Dumont JETS's fleet gives its charter clients greater options for their long-range flight needs. "It truly is a game-changer, both for our charter clients, many of whom travel internationally on a regular basis, and our JETS business, as our clients return to European and other overseas travel," said Darrin Price, Chief Operating Officer at Dumont Aviation Group. "We take pride in delivering a full range of flight options and the highest level of service and equipment, and the Gulfstream V supports that mission perfectly," added Price.

About DUMONT AVIATION GROUP

DUMONT AVIATION GROUP, INC. is a proven leader in executive and commercial jet aviation. Our team specializes in aircraft charter, management, sales, maintenance, and parts from our established FAA Part 135 and Part 145 operations in Allentown, PA; New Castle, DE; and Bloomington, IL, and from our offices in New Castle, Orlando, Nashville and Miami; and from the Santa Ana, California office of our west coast affiliate Dumont JETS West. Dumont JETS is Dumont's premier aircraft sales, management and charter division serving clients throughout the country and internationally. Dumont MRO, the maintenance repair and overhaul division, delivers high-quality workmanship and unparalleled customer service from our three bases of operation. And Dumont PARTS, the aircraft parts division, provides customers with quick service and affordable and reliable aircraft parts backed with exceptional customer support from our PARTS team. Together, JETS, MRO and PARTS offers a premium turn-key solution for private aviation clients. Adventure begins here.

Contact Information:

DUMONT AVIATION GROUP, INC.

Daniel S. Piraino, CEO

[email protected]

Related Files

Dumont JETS Acquires Gulfstream V for Charter Operations.pdf

SOURCE Dumont Aviation Group, Inc.
The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Caterpillar Inc., Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Kobe Steel Ltd., Komatsu Ltd., Kubota Corp., Liebherr International AG, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., and Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd. are some of the major market participants. Factors such as infrastructure development, the development of healthcare facilities and disaster prevention projects, and the growth of the construction industry will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Excavator Market in Japan 2021-2025: Segmentation

Excavator Market in Japan is segmented as below:

Type

Crawler Excavator



Mini Excavator



Wheeled Excavator

Application

Construction



Mining



Utilities

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR44330

Excavator Market in Japan 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis and Scope

To help businesses improve their market position, the excavator market in Japan provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include Caterpillar Inc., Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Kobe Steel Ltd., Komatsu Ltd., Kubota Corp., Liebherr International AG, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., and Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd.

The report also covers the following areas:

Excavator Market in Japan size

size Excavator Market in Japan trends

trends Excavator Market in Japan industry analysis

Infrastructure development is likely to emerge as one of the primary drivers of the market. However, the inability to provide customization options affects customer satisfaction may threaten the growth of the market.

Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the excavator market in japan are designed to provide entry support, customer profile & M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Related Reports on Industrials Include:

Global Construction Dumper Market- The construction dumper market is segmented by product (articulated dump trucks and rigid dump trucks) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America). Download FREE Sample Report

Global Mini Excavators Market- The mini excavators market is segmented by end-user (construction, utility, and agriculture, and forestry), geography (Europe, APAC, North America, MEA, and South America), and key vendors. Download FREE Sample Report

Excavator Market in Japan 2021-2025: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist excavator market growth in Japan during the next five years

during the next five years Estimation of the excavator market size in Japan and its contribution to the parent market

and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the excavator market in Japan

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of excavator market vendors in Japan

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

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 Application

Market segments

Comparison by Application

Construction - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Mining - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Utilities - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Market opportunity by Application

Market Segmentation by Type

Market segments

Comparison by Type

Crawler excavator - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Mini excavator - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Wheeled excavator - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025

Market opportunity by Type

Customer landscape

Market drivers  Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Caterpillar Inc.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.

Kobe Steel Ltd.

Komatsu Ltd.

Kubota Corp.

Liebherr-International AG

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.

Yanmar Holdings 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 focus 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: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

Report Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/excavator-market-in-japan-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

Related Links

https://www.technavio.com/


SALT LAKE CITY, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. ("Extra Space") (NYSE: EXR), a leading owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and a member of the S&P 500, today announced that its operating partnership, Extra Space Storage LP (the "operating partnership"), has priced a public offering of $450 million aggregate principal amount of 2.550% senior notes due 2031 (the "Notes"). The Notes were priced at 99.849% of the principal amount and will mature on June 1, 2031. J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, Citigroup, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities, US Bancorp and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering. BBVA, BMO Capital Markets, BNP PARIBAS, BOK Financial Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Morgan Stanley, Regions Securities LLC, Ramirez & Co., Inc. and Truist Securities, Inc. are acting as the co-managers for the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about May 11, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Extra Space and certain of its subsidiaries.

The operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund potential acquisition opportunities, to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its lines of credit, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, copies of which, when available, may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Attn: Prospectus Department, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone: 1-866-803-9204; or BofA Securities, Inc. NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department or by email [email protected] A prospectus supplement related to the offering will also be available free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

About Extra Space Storage Inc.:

Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust and a member of the S&P 500. As of March 31, 2021, Extra Space owned and/or operated 1,969 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 1.4 million units and approximately 153.4 million square feet of rentable storage space offering customers conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. Extra Space is the second largest owner and/or operator of self-storage properties in the United States and is the largest self-storage management company in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information set forth in this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the terms, timing and completion of the offering of securities by Extra Space and the operating partnership, including the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or "intends," or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this release. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation those associated with market risks and uncertainties and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for an offering of securities, as well as the risks referenced in the "Risk Factors" section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc.

Related Links

http://www.extraspace.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FINN Partners, one of the largest independent communications agencies in the world, announced today that Robert J. (Bob) Martineau, veteran environmental attorney and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), has joined the agency as Senior Partner, leading the agency's burgeoning environment, energy and sustainability practice in the Southeast.

Former TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau Joins FINN Partners as Senior Partner to Lead Environment, Energy & Sustainability Practice in Southeast

Martineau will support the agency's global Sustainability & Social Impact Practice, leading a team of communications strategists for clients prioritizing sustainability throughout the 11-state Southeastern region. This Nashville-based environmental practice group counsels corporations forging leadership positions in the interrelated environmental, energy, social justice and sustainability areas that are shaped by rapidly evolving policy and climate issues. A national policy expert, he also will work closely with the FINN Global Health Practice at the intersection of public and environmental health. Martineau's specific experience includes representing companies in the areas of environmental protection, energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and innovation.

Martineau brings to FINN and its clients a wealth of experience that integrates many facets of the sustainability landscape. In addition to his cabinet-level position in Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's administration from 2011 to 2018, he led the environmental practice group at Waller, one of the Southeast's leading law firms; was a senior attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and co-edited the Clean Air Act Handbook.

"Bob's depth of expertise in environmental policy as it impacts a spectrum of business and industry sectors is unparalleled," said Beth S. Courtney, Managing Partner of FINN Southeast. "As our clients strive to navigate these issues and opportunities, we are delighted that Bob's knowledge and experience will help them maximize and communicate leading-edge environmental initiatives. Having collaborated with Bob on many projects and issues over the years, we also could not be personally more excited that he is joining our team at Finn Southeast."

Martineau also is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and a former Board Member of The Climate Registry. Additionally, while leading TDEC, Bob served as President of the Environmental Council of the States, the group that unites the commissioners of environmental agencies for the 50 U.S states.

"Bob's capacity to bring to clients his depth of expertise in environmental policy and regulatory compliance greatly enhances the scope of FINN's global Sustainability Practice," said Jane Madden, Managing Partner, Global Sustainability & Social Impact.

Martineau is recognized nationally as among the "Best Lawyers in America" (Woodward White, Inc); Chambers International Best Lawyers; International Who's Who of Environmental Lawyers; and Best Lawyers in the Mid-South. He was named Best of the Bar by Nashville Business Journal.

Martineau was named CEO of the Year by the Nashville Business Journal during his tenure as Commissioner of TDEC and received the Good Guy Award from the Women's Political Cooperative. He has long-standing roots in the Nashville community and is a graduate of Leadership Tennessee and Leadership Nashville; past president and board member of the Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and Cumberlands; past president of First Steps Inc; past president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Tennessee; and past president of Community Health Charities of Tennessee.

A published author, Martineau graduated from St. John's University and received his law degree from University of Cincinnati College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Ohio and is a member of the American Bar Association.

About FINN Southeast

Based in Nashville, FINN Southeast is part of FINN Partners, a full-service marketing and communications company and one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. FINN Southeast's talented public relations, marketing, advertising, creative and digital professionals provide local, regional, and national clients with exceptional reach and results. FINN Southeast incorporates team members across the southeastern United States from offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.com or @finnpartners.com/southeast.

About FINN Partners, Inc.

Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has more than quadrupled in size during the past 10 years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With almost 800 professionals, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. In addition, FINN provides its clients with access to top tier agencies around the world through its membership in the global network PROI. Headquartered in New York, FINN's other offices are in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Southern California and Washington, D.C. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.

SOURCE FINN Partners
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio and CHANDLER, Ariz., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Software, LLC  provider of America's #1 construction back-office solutions  today announced the acquisition of McCormick Systems, a leading developer of estimating and digital takeoff software based out of Chandler, AZ. This acquisition strengthens Foundation Software's ability to serve the construction community and become the dominant provider of back-office solutions for contractors.

McCormick Systems is a well-known, trusted, and respected vendor in estimating and digital takeoff for the electrical, plumbing and mechanical trades. By adding McCormick's suite of products and their expert staff, Foundation continues to diversify with industry-specific, best-of-breed technologies that serve the needs of contractors nationwide.

"McCormick is a great family company, and we're lucky to work with another team that has similar values to ours," said Mike Ode, CEO of Foundation Software. "From the very first call, we knew our teams and services would mesh well together. We're looking forward to building on these already excellent products and continuing to help contractors run successful businesses."

Through both development and acquisitions, Foundation Software aims to grow its product offerings to address the needs of commercial, industrial and government contractors of all trades. This acquisition helps Foundation fast track that goal for contractors within McCormick's market space.

Steve Antill, chief revenue officer of Foundation Software, also praised McCormick Systems for its sustained leadership in the industry.

"Adding McCormick to Foundation's family of products gives us another great solution to take to market," Antill said. "McCormick has been a leader in estimating options for contractors for over 40 years and has always done a great job taking care of their clients. We've never stepped into estimating before, so this will be a great opportunity for us to bring new offerings to a larger audience while working with a team of experts in the space."

Todd McCormick, owner and CEO of McCormick Systems, said that he looks forward to working with Foundation Software in his new role as Executive Strategic Director and commented on the positive synergy that will be created by bringing these two industry leaders together.

"In the late 70s, our founder and my father, Jack McCormick, introduced a product to solve the need for powerful estimating options in the electrical construction niche, which led to the creation of McCormick Systems. Since then, we've built our company into a dominant force in estimating and digital takeoff for electricals, plumbers and those working in mechanical trades," Todd said. "Throughout the years, McCormick has been committed to being the best in our niche. Now, with Foundation Software, I am confident that we've aligned ourselves with a company who will continue to improve our product offerings and serve our customers with the support and care they are accustomed to."

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Foundation Software will be represented by K&E.

Visit McCormick or Foundation Software to learn more about their products.

About Foundation Software, LLC

Foundation Software delivers job cost accounting, project management and mobile applications, along with payroll services, to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800 or email [email protected] .

About McCormick Systems

McCormick has grown to become recognized as the Nation's Leader in Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Estimating and Digital Takeoff Software. McCormick has thousands of contractor accounts throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and beyond. For information, call (800) 444-4890 or email [email protected] .

Media Contact

Tracie Kuczkowski | Director of Marketing

[email protected]

(800) 246-0800 x 7933

SOURCE Foundation Software, LLC
The Georgia Transmission team was comprised of Jeff Brogdon, manager, system protection and control; Sadel Fetic, principal engineer, system protection and control; and Addis Kifle, supervisor, system protection and control. Their paper, titled "Analysis of Microprocessor Relay Response on Surge Arrestor Protection Schemes," discusses the benefits of installing surge arrester protection schemes in certain situations.

"We are excited that Jeff, Sadel and Addis have received this well-deserved peer recognition," said Vice President for System Planning Joe Sowell. "Innovation, research and collaboration are core principles at Georgia Transmission, and we encourage all of our associates to pursue innovative solutions in their field. We believe that by constantly pursuing continuous improvement activities, we remain well-positioned to provide our members with the best in reliable service that they expect and upon which millions of Georgians rely. Receiving peer recognition for your research is not only a huge honor but a great report card on your research activities. Congratulations team!"

Surge arrester protection schemes, also known as fault bus protection, are used by utilities to extend the transformer zone of protection, shorten the duration of line outages and improve system reliability. This scheme typically consists of an instantaneous overcurrent element utilizing one or more current transformers connected in the earth fault path. In the paper presented by the Georgia Transmission team, they discussed the overall benefits of installing the scheme and provided best practices for setting a microprocessor relay to perform. The team further supported their discussion by providing readers with data from simulated scenarios.

About Georgia Transmission

Georgia Transmission Corp., a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), owns more than 3,500 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 760 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia's EMCs, providing electricity to more than 4.3 million Georgians. For more information, visit gatrans.com.

SOURCE Georgia Transmission Corporation

Related Links

http://www.gatrans.com


NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank, a market leading advisory firm specializing in the sale of intellectual property assets and domain name brokerage, is marketing for sale a gig/task platform and supporting software which was used to support the business of Sitehands. For nearly four years, Sitehands provided its corporate clients with information technology (IT) field services, generating approximately $51 million of revenue in 2019. The assets available for sale include the software code for the platform and the Sitehands trademark. The sale will be subject to approval of the bankruptcy court in which Sitehands' bankruptcy case is administered, and is being conducted by Salvatore LaMonica, as chapter 7 trustee of Sitehands.

Historically, the platform  which supported hundreds of clients and more than 20,000 service providers  has been used to offer on-demand IT field services. The software can be repurposed to deliver and track any type of service. It is fully integrated to provide effective onsite services, delivering accountability, real time updates and transparency for field service transactions.

Interested parties can receive a demo of the platform, which will address, among other things, a functional overview (including core objects, standard workflows and custom forms) and the technologies on which the platform is built.

The platform consists of a configurable workflow/state engine, an API to perform functions on the engine and connect to other systems of record, and a web portal. "The software provides immense flexibility," commented Hilco Streambank CEO Gabe Fried. "It has numerous possible use cases for delivery of any type of service in the field, and can be configured to support most industries through its custom form language, alerting and dashboarding."

Offers to acquire the Sitehands intellectual property assets are due by May 18, 2021, and an auction will be held on May 20, 2021.

Parties interested in the assets or learning more about the sale process should CLICK HERE or contact Hilco Streambank directly using the contact information provided below.

About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions including sales in publicly reported Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments.

SOURCE Hilco Streambank
DENVER, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Motto Franchising, LLC announced the sale of its 250th Motto Mortgage franchise since inception and continued growth of open offices nationwide. Established in late 2016 as the first national mortgage brokerage franchise in the U.S., the Motto Mortgage brand continues to surpass company milestones. Motto Mortgage franchises were sold at a record pace through the first quarter of 2021, setting a new annual high for the trailing twelve-month period ending March 31, with more than 70 franchises sold during the past year. There are currently more than 150 Motto Mortgage offices open in almost 40 states.

The brand's strong performance is quite an achievement for any franchise, let alone one less than five-years-old.

"The exponential growth we've seen with the Motto Mortgage brand and the diversification of franchise ownership across a multitude of leading real estate brokerage brands is exciting," said Ward Morrison, president, Motto Franchising, LLC. "Our increase in broker channel market share showcases the value of having a complementary mortgage business and the benefits of the franchise model."

In addition to franchise sales achievements, the Motto Mortgage brand has accumulated numerous accolades for franchise growth in 2021, including: ranking in the top 150 overall and 1st in miscellaneous financial services category on the Entrepreneur Franchise 5001 list, ranking #6 on the 2021 Top New franchise2 list, a 2021 Fastest-Growing Franchise3, and a Franchise Business Review Top 200 Franchise4 of 2021.

Motto Mortgage, a "Mortgage Brokerage-in-a-Box,"SM offers small business owners a meaningful way to diversify their revenue streams. The Motto Mortgage model creates an ancillary business for current real estate brokerage firms, but also offers opportunities for mortgage professionals seeking to open their own businesses and independent investors interested in financial services.

About Motto Mortgage

The Motto Mortgage network is breaking the mold by giving the power of choice back to consumers with less jargon, more transparency, and even more options to choose from as they shop for the right home loan. With over 150 offices open in almost 40 states, Motto Franchising, LLC's unique national franchise mortgage brokerage model is the first of its kind in the United States. Created to disrupt the mortgage industry, the Motto Mortgage network connects loan originators and real estate agents to provide a seamless, personalized experience and one-stop shop for consumers. Motto Mortgage is the second member of the RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. family of brands. Each Motto Mortgage office is independently owned, operated and licensed. To learn more about Motto Mortgage, or for license information for a Motto Mortgage office, email [email protected], or visit www.mottomortgage.com/offices.

1Franchise 500 and category ranking based on Entrepreneur magazine's analysis of data, including costs and fees, support, size and growth, brand strength, and financial strength and stability, from franchise disclosure and related documents dated August 2019 to July 2020 of 1,116 participating franchise systems.

2Motto Mortgage was named as an Entrepreneur Magazine 2021 Top New Franchise based on Entrepreneur magazine's analysis of data, including costs, fees, size, growth and brand and financial strength, from franchise disclosure and related documents dated August 2019 to July 2020 of 262 participating franchise systems that began franchising in the last 5 years (in 2016 or later).

3Motto Mortgage was named an Entrepreneur Magazine 2021 Fastest-Growing Franchise based on the net number of franchise and company-owned units added worldwide between July 2019 to July 2020 according to Entrepreneur magazine's review of unit lists and Franchise Disclosure Documents of 1,116 participating franchises across all industries.

4Ranking based on survey results collected by Franchise Business Review between January 2019 and November 2020 from nearly 28,000 franchise owners for 300 US and Canadian participating franchise brands with a minimum of 10 franchisees. Motto franchise owner participation rate in the survey was 46.9%, and all Motto franchise owners open for at least 30 days and in good standing were included in the survey.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a Motto Mortgage franchise. It is for informational purposes only. We will not offer you a franchise in states or other jurisdictions where registration is required unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration requirements in your state (or have been exempted therefrom) and a Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to you before the sale in compliance with applicable law. New York residents: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can be made by prospectus only. Minnesota Reg. No. F-8089; Motto Franchising, LLC, 5075 South Syracuse St #1200, Denver, CO 80237, 1.866.668.8649.

SOURCE Motto Mortgage
HONOLULU, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 6, 2021, the Board of Directors of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) (NYSE: HE) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.34 cents per share, payable June 10, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 20, 2021 (ex-dividend date of May 19, 2021). The dividend would be equivalent to an annual rate of $1.36 per share.

Dividends have been paid on an uninterrupted basis since 1901. At the indicated annual dividend rate and based on the closing share price on May 6, 2021 of $43.47, HEI's dividend yield would be 3.1%.

HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI's website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information; such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of the website. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI's website, in addition to following HEI's, Hawaiian Electric's and American Savings Bank's (American) press releases, HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings and HEI's public conference calls and webcasts. Investors may sign up to receive e-mail alerts via the Investor Relations section of the website. The information on HEI's website is not incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference.

Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms to review documents filed with, and issued by, the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings.

HEI supplies power to approximately 95% of Hawaii's population through its electric utility, Hawaiian Electric; provides a wide array of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through American, one of Hawaii's largest financial institutions; and helps advance Hawaii's clean energy and sustainability goals through investments by its non-regulated subsidiary, Pacific Current.

Contact: Julie Smolinski Telephone: (808) 543-7300

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hei.com


ODell was met with backlash after an April 21 meeting with Sheriff Marco Lopez and Superintendent Debra Pace to discuss adding guardians to charters without notifying members of a task force that reviewed the countys SRO program. Though he again acknowledged Thursday he had offended some on the task force of which he is a member, he doubled down on the move by saying, it was not in the purview of the advisory board.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Ford Village ("HFV," "the community") today announced that the auction held as a part of its court-supervised sale process has concluded with HFV OPCO, LLC, a newly-formed affiliate of Sage Healthcare Partners ("Sage") deemed as the highest or best offer. The transaction is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, as well as regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

In accordance with the terms outlined in the asset purchase agreement presented during the auction, Sage will acquire all of HFV's assets for $76.3 million, integrating Henry Ford Village into its expansive network of senior living communities. Additionally, Sage plans to increase programmatic activities for residents and employees while investing in the improvement of HFV's campus. Sage has also pledged to uphold HFV's current commitments to maintain the health, safety and lifestyle of its residents.

"HFV's leadership team and advisors are pleased with the results of the auction. We're confident that Sage, as the winning bidder, considers the long-term best interests of our residents, employees, and all the wonderful people that make HFV a true community," said Chad Shandler, Henry Ford Village's Chief Restructuring Officer and a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting. "Throughout the sale process, our guiding focus was to identify a path forward that upheld HFV's values and stabilized its financial position while allowing us to maintain the care and lifestyle our residents have come to know, love and rely on. Under Sage's ownership, we believe HFV will achieve just that while providing a distribution to unsecured creditors."

"The community at Henry Ford Village is vibrant, and Sage takes great pride in bearing the responsibility of preserving this community for years to come," said Avi Satt, President of Sage Healthcare Partners. "We're excited to bring a new chapter to the community's story and look forward to strengthening HFV financially while enhancing the lifestyle residents have come to love. HFV is more than an exciting addition to Sage's reputable portfolio, it is an opportunity to carry on the legacy of a long-standing and wonderful community."

Objections to the sale are due May 21, 2021. The transaction with Sage will be heard at a hearing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court currently scheduled for May 24, 2021.

Additional Information

All relevant sale-related court filings, as well as additional information about Henry Ford Village's Chapter 11 case are available at http://www.kccllc.net/HFV or by calling (866) 476-0898 for U.S./Canadian calls or (781) 575-2114 for international calls.

Henry Ford Village is represented in this matter by Sheryl Toby of Dykema Gossett PLLC. FTI Consulting is serving as Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) and restructuring advisor.

About Henry Ford Village

Henry Ford Village is a Senior Living Community in Dearborn, MI, that encourages making the most out of every life opportunity. Henry Ford Village offers three levels of care for those 62 and older including independent living options, rehabilitation services, and assisted living. Henry Ford Village sits on 35 acres of land, which is home to over one hundred clubs and activities, and top-of-the-line residential care facilities for its residents to engage in and rely on. For more information, visit www.henryfordvillage.com.

About Sage Healthcare Partners

Sage is a premier operator of senior housing and healthcare facilities. It was founded on the principles of providing high-quality resident-focused care, with genuine diligence and dedication, and to create a work environment of equal caliber. Sage owns, operates, manages and consults across the full continuum of care in the senior housing and healthcare space, specializing in independent living, as well as continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care.

Media Contact:

Rachel Chesley

[email protected]

SOURCE Henry Ford Village

Related Links

https://henryfordvillage.com


CORONA, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ikanik Farms, Inc. (CSE: IKNK.U) (FSE: DFMA) (the "Company" or "Ikanik Farms") has been advised by the Ontario Securities Commission that it will be issuing a failure-to-file cease trade order ("CTO") against the Company.

The order, a copy of which will be made public and available for review, will be issued as a result of the Company not having filed on or before April 30, 2021 the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "Audited Financial Statements") of Ikanik Farms, Inc., the reverse takeover acquirer in connection with the Company's reverse takeover transaction which closed March 30, 2021 (the "Transaction").

Two critical items have resulted in delays in finalizing the Audited Financial Statements.

Ikanik has prepared the Audited Financial Statements and is awaiting the valuations of Ikanik

subsidiaries by its valuation advisor (the "Valuation Advisor") and final audit by its auditors. With respect to the valuations, in connection with the Transaction, approval of the valuation methods contained in the Audited Financial Statements for the years ended 2018 and 2019 were obtained in connection with the Transaction shortly prior to closing on March 30, 2021 . Accordingly, the Valuation Advisor was unable to begin their valuation process for the Audited Financial Statements until receipt of such valuation approval methods in order to maintain consistency in valuations. Upon receipt, Ikanik instructed the Valuation Advisor to commence its valuation procedure immediately as this is the final outstanding item for its auditor to complete its audit. Although the Valuation Advisor did commence its review, the Company has been informed that the Valuation Advisor's analysts responsible for the valuation component of the Audited Financial Statements, who reside in India , contracted COVID-19, and as a result, such review has been delayed.

While the situation is largely out of the Ikanik's hands and is contingent on the day-to-day developments of the Valuation Advisor and the health of its staff, Ikanik has requested that the Valuation Advisor complete the valuation process as expeditiously as possible, whether this includes utilizing the previous analysts pending their full recovery or the transition to other Valuation Advisor personnel. Under the circumstances, the Valuation Advisor has advised that they will be able to complete their work, enabling its auditors to complete its audit, in each case on or before May 25, 2021.

The CTO will remain in place until such time as it is revoked following the filing of the Audited Financial Statements by the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to remedy its filing default and have the CTO lifted in a timely manner or at all.

The Company's management and board of directors are working expeditiously to ensure the completion of the audit and filing of the Audited Financial Statements.

The Company will make further announcements with respect to the status of the Audited Financial Statements as and when appropriate.

About Ikanik Farms

Ikanik Farms is a California based, Multi-National Operator (MNO) who is building a dynamic portfolio of brands, inspired by its passion for health and wellness, action sports, and supported by its vertically integrated retail, distribution and cultivation in CA and its medical grade cultivation and laboratory in Colombia. The company's leadership brings decades of expertise in R&D, cultivation, retail, branding, and corporate finance. Ikanik Farms' operation in Colombia, through its pharma division Pideka, holds both GMP-PHARMA and (GACP) Good Agricultural and Collection Practice certifications for its Casa Flores operating facility.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws (together, "forward-looking information). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future is forward-looking information. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should", and similar expressions, are forward-looking information, including, but not limited to: statements with respect to the Audited Financial Statements, including the anticipated delay in filing the Audited Financial Statements and timing to complete the Company's audit.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: changes in laws, a change in management, the inability to obtain additional financing, increased competition, hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and, regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in the forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and the Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ikanik Farms Inc.

Related Links

https://ikanikfarms.com/

SOURCE Ikanik Farms Inc.

Related Links

https://ikanikfarms.com/


DUBLIN, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Semiconductor Memory Market, By Type (Volatile and Non-Volatile), By Volatile Type (DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM and MRAM), By Non-Volatile Type (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM and Flash Memory), By Application, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2016-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Semiconductor Memory Market stood at USD110.30 billion in 2020 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 7.02% by 2026 due to rising memory requirements in the gaming, automobile, healthcare and telecommunication sectors. The growth in the market can be attributed to new technological advancements in portable memory-based electronics in the forecast years.



The Global Semiconductor Memory Market can be bifurcated into type, volatile type, non-volatile type, application and region. On the basis of type, the market can be segmented as volatile and non-volatile, where the non-volatile segment held market share of 50.61% in 2020, due to its function in the permanent storage of the computer hardware.



In terms of volatile type, the market is segmented into DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM and MRAM where the market share of DRAM was 35.34% due to its high storage capacity. In terms of non-volatile type, the market is segmented into PROM, EPROM, EEPROM and Flash Memory where the market share of PROM was 35.23% in 2020, due to the increased demand for BIOS and firmware in the computer hardware. The semiconductor memory market, on the basis of application, can be segmented into Consumer Electronics, IT & Telecommunications, Automotive, Medical Devices, Aerospace & Defence and others (Industrial, Smart Cards, Mp3 Players, etc.). The consumer electronics sector held market share of 30.54% in 2020, which in turn is expected to enhance the market growth over the forecast period. This growth is due to the increasing proliferation of electronics with the need for associated storage in the devices.



Major players leading the Global Semiconductor Memory Market are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, Micron Technology Inc., SK Hynix Inc., Intel Corporation, Broadcom Inc., Qualcomm Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Texas Instruments Inc., and Nvidia Corporation, etc.



The largest contributor to the Global Semiconductor Memory Market is Asia-Pacific with 35.56% market share in 2020. South Korea is the largest contributing country in the region with 32.25% shares, followed by China, India, Taiwan and Japan. The ongoing technological advancements and innovations for microcomputer-based systems are expected to fuel the Global Semiconductor Memory Market over the forecast years.



Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2016-2019

Base Year: 2020

Estimated Year: 2021

Forecast Period: 2022-2026

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the Global Semiconductor Memory Market from 2016 to 2020.

To estimate and forecast the market size of the Global Semiconductor Memory Market from 2021 to 2026 and growth rate until 2026.

To classify and forecast the Global Semiconductor Memory Market based on type, volatile type, non-volatile type, application, company and regional distribution.

To analyze and forecast the market size, in terms of type which are volatile and non-volatile.

To analyze and forecast the market size, in terms of volatile type which are DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM and MRAM.

To analyze and forecast the market size, in terms of non-volatile type which are PROM, EPROM, EEPROM and Flash Memory.

To analyze and forecast the market size, in terms of application which are Consumer Electronics, IT & Telecommunications, Automotive, Medical Devices, Aerospace & Defence, Industrial, Smart Cards, Mp3 Players, etc.

To categorize and forecast the Global Semiconductor Memory Market by region such as Asia-Pacific , North America , Europe , South America and Middle East & Africa .

, , , and & . To identify major drivers and challenges for the Global Semiconductor Memory Market.

To identify major trends in the Global Semiconductor Memory Market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, etc., in the Global Semiconductor Memory Market.

To conduct pricing analysis for the Global Semiconductor Memory Market.

To identify and analyze the profile of companies operating in the global semiconductor memory market.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Semiconductor Memory Market



4. Executive Summary



5. Voice of Customer

5.1. Brand Awareness

5.2. Factors Influencing Purchase Decisions



6. Global Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Type (Volatile and Non-volatile)

6.2.2. By Volatile Type (DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM and MRAM)

6.2.3. By Non-Volatile Type (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM and Flash Memory)

6.2.4. By Application (Consumer Electronics, IT & Telecommunications, Automotive, Medical Devices, Aerospace & Defence, and Others)

6.2.5. By Region (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America and Middle East & Africa)

6.2.6. By Company (2020)

6.3. Product Market Map

7. Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3. Product Market Map

7.4. Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Memory Market Regional Analysis

8. North America Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3. Product Market Map

8.4. North America Semiconductor Memory Market Regional Analysis

9. Europe Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3. Product Market Map

9.4. Europe Semiconductor Memory Market Regional Analysis

10. South America Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3. Product Market Map

10.4. South America Semiconductor Memory Market Regional Analysis

11. Middle East & Africa Semiconductor Memory Market Outlook

11.1. Market Size & Forecast

11.2. Market Share & Forecast

11.3. Product Market Map

11.4. Middle East & Africa Semiconductor Memory Market Regional Analysis

12. Market Dynamics

12.1. Drivers

12.2. Challenges



13. Market Trends & Developments



14. Competitive Landscape

14.1. Sony Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

14.2. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

14.3. Micron Technology Inc.

14.4. SK Hynix Inc.

14.5. Intel Corporation

14.6. Broadcom Inc.

14.7. Qualcomm Inc.

14.8. Toshiba Corporation

14.9. Texas Instruments Inc.

14.10. Nvidia Corporation



15. Strategic Recommendations



16. About the Publisher & Disclaimer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jc3bdg

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

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MOTHERWELL, Scotland, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Invizius Limited ("Invizius"), a biotechnology company developing treatments to suppress unwanted innate immune responses, today announces that it has closed Series A financing of 5.3 million. The financing was led by existing investors Mercia, Downing Ventures, Old College Capital, Scottish Enterprise, Solvay Ventures and new investors Calculus Capital and experienced life science entrepreneur and investor, Dr Jonathan Milner. Although already over-subscribed, the company's Series A remains open to other investors until June 2021.

Invizius will use the financing to complete a First-in-Man safety study in 2022 of its H-Guard Priming Solution to reduce the life-threatening inflammatory effects of haemodialysis.

There are currently 3.3 million haemodialysis patients worldwide who receive treatment multiple times a week. This number was set to increase by 6% year on year before the onset of COVID-19, however the increase in patients will now likely be higher given the long-term damage that the virus can wreak on patients' kidneys. For particularly ill patients with COVID-19, the virus can cause acute kidney failure which can eventually turn into chronic kidney failure  with the only treatment options being either lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant.

The H-Guard Priming Solution comprises a novel protein that lines the inside of the dialysis filter and helps dialysis to take place undetected by the body's immune system. This suppresses the blood's foreign body response, thereby preventing a repetitive, hostile inflammatory reaction that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications. The technology may also be used with other devices or treatments such as CRRT, ECMO, cardiopulmonary bypass, organ transplants and immunomodulating therapeutics.

Preparations are already well-underway to complete the First-in-Man safety study. Invizius has developed the protein manufacturing process with high confidence in purity and yield targets, and has received promising preliminary results from ex-vivo testing in human blood at University Medical Centre Groningen a leading European renal research centre. Invizius has established the regulatory pathway in North America and the potential for coincident approval in Europe.

Richard Boyd, Chief Executive Officer of Invizius, said: "We are very pleased with the continued support of our existing investors and delighted to attract two new high calibre investors. There is a global healthcare need and significant commercial opportunity for the proprietary H-Guard Priming Solution treatment which has the potential to improve quality of life and safety of patients on dialysis with kidney failure. Dialysis treatment can reduce life expectancy by two thirds and almost half of patients die from cardiovascular complications. We are initially targeting patients with high innate immune response to dialysis, a worldwide market estimated to be worth over 1.5 billion."

Professor Peter Mathieson, previously 19 years as a consultant nephrologist in the NHS and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: "Invizius has been founded on world-class research carried out at the University of Edinburgh by the company's CTO, Dr Andy Herbert, and backed by an excellent management team and high calibre investors. The H-Guard priming solution could revolutionize kidney dialysis, it has the potential to significantly reduce inflammation and its associated complications. I am very excited to see the company progress and bring this product to market."

About Invizius

Invizius Limited is a late pre-clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments to suppress unwanted innate immune responses, focused initially on reducing the life-threatening inflammatory effects of dialysis. Founded in 2017, the University of Edinburgh spin-out is developing its proprietary H-Guard Priming Solution, comprising a novel protein that lines the inside of the dialysis filter and helps dialysis to take place undetected by the body's immune system. This suppresses the blood's foreign body response, thereby preventing a hostile inflammatory reaction.

The company is looking to expand its product pipeline into other, high-value indications.

For more information on Invizius, please visit: www.invizius.com

New investors

About Calculus Capital

Calculus is a multi-award-winning fund manager. It launched the UK's first approved EIS fund in 1999 and has a 22-year track record of investing in UK companies, supporting their growth, development, scale-up and exit. It manages the multi-sector Calculus EIS Fund and Calculus VCT, as well as the Calculus Creative Content EIS Fund, which was launched in association with the BFI to deliver vital equity funding to the UK's most promising creative content companies.

Calculus Capital is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.calculuscapital.com

About Dr Jonathan Milner

Founder of Abcam plc, Jonathan is an entrepreneur and investor passionate about supporting UK life science and high-tech start-ups. He has provided investment and support to over 50 companies and has assisted three technology companies to IPO on the London AIM Stock exchange.

Jonathan gained his doctorate in Molecular Genetics at Leicester University after graduating in Applied Biology at Bath. From 199295, he was a post-doctoral researcher at Bath, following which he worked at the University of Cambridge in the lab of Professor Tony Kouzarides researching the molecular basis of breast cancer. He identified the market opportunity for supplying high-quality antibodies to support protein interaction studies, and in 1998, founded Abcam with Dr David Cleevely and Professor Tony Kouzarides.

Jonathan is also a non-executive director, investor and advisor to Start Codon, HealX, Shift Bioscience, Phoremost and Syndicate Room. He is also Chairman of Axol Bioscience and CamAllergy.

In 2015 Jonathan, with Professor Tony Kouzarides, co-founded the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge. Also in 2015 he co-founded, with Professor Laurence Hurst, the Milner Institute for Evolution at the University of Bath.

Jonathan's investments are managed by Meltwind Advisory LLP.

Existing investors

About Mercia Asset Management PLC

Mercia is a proactive, specialist asset manager focused on supporting regional SMEs to achieve their growth aspirations. Mercia provides capital across its four asset classes of balance sheet, venture, private equity and debt capital: the Group's 'Complete Connected Capital'. The Group initially nurtures businesses via its third-party funds under management, then over time Mercia can provide further funding to the most promising companies, by deploying direct investment follow-on capital from its own balance sheet.

The Group has a strong UK footprint through its regional offices, 19 university partnerships and extensive personal networks, providing it with access to high-quality deal flow. Mercia currently has c.872million of assets under management and, since its IPO in December 2014, has invested c.106million gross into its direct investment portfolio.

The Group raises its own Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) Funds and details about open offers can be found through Mercia's website.

Mercia Asset Management PLC is quoted on AIM with the epic "MERC" and includes the following wholly owned subsidiaries -

Mercia Fund Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 524856

Enterprise Ventures Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 183363

EV Business Loans Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 443560

www.mercia.co.uk

About Downing Ventures

Downing Ventures invests in innovative technology companies and pioneering founders across the globe with Early to Growth Stage funding across the Deep Tech, Enterprise and Healthcare sectors. The Downing Ventures team spans the UK, USA and Israel giving our portfolio a global perspective and expertise. The team are scientists, engineers, founders, visionary thinkers and story tellers. We have a portfolio of 71 companies as at September 2020. To find out more, visit www.downingventures.com

About Old College Capital

Old College Capital (OCC) is the University of Edinburgh's in-house venture investment fund. We aim to support the University's research, staff and students by investing in high-growth, early stage businesses associated with the University.

Contact Andrea Young, Fund Manager.

About Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's national economic development agency. We're committed to growing the Scottish economy for the benefit of all, helping create more quality jobs and a brighter future for every region.

About Solvay

Solvay Ventures is the Venture Capital fund of Solvay. Solvay Ventures invests in breakthrough technologies in advanced materials, devices and business model innovation. Operating since 2005, Solvay Ventures is currently investing out of a 80 million global evergreen fund and targets early stage investment opportunities (Seed through Series B). Beyond capital, Solvay Ventures looks to leverage the resources at Solvay to help accelerate technology and market adoption.

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 23,000 employees in 64 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet roadmap crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering a better life. The Group's innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world's top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of 9 billion in 2020. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB), and in the United States, where its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a Level I ADR program. Learn more at www.solvay.com.

SOURCE Invizius
"We're one of the only programs that has actually made it into hospitals as students. That really validates my choice."

Her cousin, Amanda O'Leary '21, of Pleasantville, N.Y., also enrolled in the nursing program, said it was rewarding "to help everyone move in the right direction and take a step toward normalcy."

As Iona joins in celebrating National Nurses Week, the College is also busy training the next generation. Iona's new Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing offers two pathways to a bachelor's degree: a traditional four-year undergraduate program; and an accelerated, 15-month, second-degree program for students who already have a bachelor's in another field. Iona accepted its first class of 18 elite, accelerated-degree students in the fall of 2020, and already nursing is the most sought-after program for the fall of 2021.

Dr. Sandra Dave, director of Iona's Nursing Clinical Arts Center, enlisted the help of students to administer the COVID-19 vaccine over a series of six clinics she set up in her private practice. Dave has been practicing as a family and gerontological nurse practitioner with her husband in New Rochelle for over 20 years, and she started working at Iona when the nursing program launched.

True to the profession of nursing, Dave said it's all about working to improve the health and well-being of the community  and doing so with compassion. "We had an instance where we actually had a patient burst into tears," she said. "One of our students went to comfort her, and she was saying, 'No, no, these are tears of joy.' And then she spun around and said, 'Actually, they're mixed with tears of sorrow, because I lost a lot of people through the pandemic.'"

Jonah Murasso '21, of Eastchester, N.Y., said the flood of emotions from patients has been common. He added that the vaccination effort has been "a great moment to be a part of. I could not be happier doing what we're doing here."

After graduating from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in integrative neuroscience in 2019, Murasso decided to pursue nursing because of the profession's versatility and job prospects. He chose Iona's accelerated program in particular, he said, because of the high caliber of experienced nursing professionals and educators leading the program.

"Looking at all the other nursing programs that are in progress now, we're one of the only ones that has been able to facilitate having classes in person and going to clinical hours in person," Murasso said. "We're one of the only programs that has actually made it into hospitals as students. That really validates my choice."

ABOUT IONA NURSING

Iona College's rigorous, values-oriented Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing offers two pathways to a bachelor's degree: a traditional four-year undergraduate program open to both freshmen and transfers; and an accelerated, 15-month, second-degree program for students who already have a bachelor's in another field. Both pathways prepare graduates to sit for the National Certification and Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Iona's nursing program is housed in a state-of-the-art, 7,500 square-foot learning facility complete with all of the newest equipment, technology and simulated learning opportunities. Small-group, clinical instructional settings with an 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio ensure personalized attention. Iona accepted its first class of 18 elite, accelerated-degree students for the fall 2020 semester, and already nursing is the most sought-after program for the fall of 2021. Learn more at www.iona.edu/nursing.

ABOUT IONA

Founded in 1940, Iona College is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre campus is just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of over 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona's LaPenta School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, a prestigious recognition awarded to just five percent of business schools worldwide. The Princeton Review recognized Iona's on-campus MBA program as a "Best Business School for 2021." Iona College also recently launched a new, fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility.

SOURCE Iona College

Related Links

http://www.iona.edu


The Kount Dispute and Chargeback Management Solution addresses a crucial need for businesses engaged in e-commerce: identifying, intercepting and deflecting disputes post-authorization and pre-chargeback, in real time. By utilizing data from issuing banks, the Dispute and Chargeback Management Solution can help consumers recognize transactions or receive a refund without further pursuing a costly chargeback. The solution comes at a key time, as the pandemic-fueled acceleration of digital interactions spurred consumers to engage with more, new-to-them e-commerce merchants. That increase in transactions increases the risk of chargebacks from fraud, friendly fraud, and legitimate disputes.

Businesses using the Kount Dispute and Chargeback Management Solution gain these benefits:

Improve the customer experience: Shoppers can gain better insight into orders and preserve the relationship with the company

Shoppers can gain better insight into orders and preserve the relationship with the company Consolidate chargeback management systems: Businesses can manage, act on, and resolve alerts from multiple sources in one place, as they occur.

Businesses can manage, act on, and resolve alerts from multiple sources in one place, as they occur. Reduce chargebacks immediately: Kount's integrations help businesses deflect chargebacks and disputes as soon as customers initiate them.

Kount's integrations help businesses deflect chargebacks and disputes as soon as customers initiate them. Streamline the refund process: Pre-built web hooks match transactions with alerts, so businesses can refund purchases automatically.

Pre-built web hooks match transactions with alerts, so businesses can refund purchases automatically. Inform future fraud prevention: Customers can proactively use chargeback and dispute data to adjust policies within their antifraud solution, blocking policy abusers before the next transaction.

Customers can proactively use chargeback and dispute data to adjust policies within their antifraud solution, blocking policy abusers before the next transaction. Save money: Save sales and resolve disputes before they become chargebacks by collaborating with issuing banks.

"The Kount Dispute and Chargeback Management Solution is a game changer for businesses engaged in e-commerce. Combined with Kount's AI and Identity Trust Global Network, businesses have unprecedented access to true end-to-end chargeback prevention. This allows businesses to accept more orders with confidence, while elevating the customer experience and protecting their company from fraud, including friendly fraud," said Brad Wiskirchen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Kount, an Equifax company.

ABOUT KOUNT, AN EQUIFAX COMPANY

Kount's Identity Trust Global Network delivers real-time fraud prevention and account protection and enables personalized customer experiences for more than 9,000 leading brands and payment providers. Linked by Kount's award-winning AI, the Identity Trust Global Network analyzes signals from 32 billion annual interactions to personalize user experiences across the spectrum of trust  from ensuring frictionless experiences to blocking fraud. Quick and accurate identity trust decisions deliver safe payment, account creation, and login events while reducing digital fraud, chargebacks, false positives, and manual reviews.

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

Lacey Briggs for Kount, An Equifax Company

[email protected]

Kate Walker for Equifax USIS

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The popular Facebook groups Leaving California and Life After California have attracted a total of more than 100,000 members eager to leave or who have already left California in hopes of a "better life." The overwhelming response has prompted community creator Terry Gilliam to expand to other regions.

Facebook Group - Leaving California - Shared resources, tools, and tips for relocating out of California for a better life

What started as a passion project in 2018 by Gilliam, a longtime California (soon to be Florida) resident has become a reliable resource for Californians seeking new home states. Reasons for the perceived exodus range from frustration over the high cost of living to a desire for more conservative politics.

"I was curious to learn if other Californians, besides me, were growing tired of the exorbitant cost of living that's become normal in California," Gilliam says.

The original group Leaving California was created and shared among friends and neighbors. Word spread quickly as more and more residents joined the community and the conversation, sharing their reasons for a potential move. Before long, it became apparent that members were not just dreaming, but genuinely interested in getting out. Gilliam, a career real estate professional, acknowledged the members' questions and assembled a list of trusted experts to offer tools, services and actionable steps toward relocation.

As interest grew and prospective movers turned into experienced transplants, it was time to begin a Life After California group where a new conversation could begin. Here the members share both cautionary tales and recommendations on moving vendors, packing, travel routes, towns and cities where they landed, employer recommendations, and stories of welcoming neighbors.

Top states Californians are heading to include Idaho, Oregon, Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee currently drawing the most.

By request Gilliam has added two new groups, Leaving the Left Coast in order to include Oregon and Washington, and Leaving Liberal States, a nationally targeted community.

For more information on Leaving California, Life After California, Leaving the Left Coast and Leaving Liberal States please contact the groups' founder, Terry Gilliam, at 925-408-8025, and [email protected].

Additional resources include the Leaving California YouTube channel

SOURCE Terry Gilliam
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Logan's Food Company is proud to announce that their new manufacturing facility which opened in March 2020 has been certified through the Safe Quality Food Program (SQF). Specifically engineered for efficiency, quality, and food safety, this 36,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will greatly expand the company's capabilities, allowing them to offer new and innovative products to their customers.

The SQF Program is administered by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in the United States and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The SQF Program is a rigorous and comprehensive food safety and quality program that is trusted by the food industry world-wide.

SQF Certification requires producers to develop and implement stringent food safety protocols that apply across all aspects of their supply chain. This requirement ensures that products are produced, handled, processed, and distributed in accordance with standards that are among the strictest in the industry. SQF Certification will enable Logan's Food Company to meet the highest possible food safety standards while demonstrating the company's commitment to manufacturing excellence.

"Logan's Food Company has always endeavored to be an industry role model and a trusted source of quality products for our customers and especially now during these extraordinary times. Achieving SQF Certification is an important part of that journey and it demonstrates to our customers that our operational and food production capabilities reach the highest standards," explained Kevin Logan, Vice President of Sales at Logan's Food Company.

"It was a strong effort on the part of our entire team to bring this certification to fruition. Our customers trust Logan's Food Company to create and deliver high-quality meal experiences every time they cook with our products," said Logan. "We feel this achievement highlights our company's longstanding dedication to quality."

About Logan's Food Company:

Logan's Food Company has been a family-owned and operated business ever since Cliff and Bonnie Logan first founded it back in 1987. The inspiration originated in a tiny kitchen, located in Alexandria, Virginia, where they had been testing their innovative spirit. After retiring from careers in the grocery food business, Cliff and Bonnie rapidly built up an extensive catalog of authentic, ethnic, and old-world style sausage recipes to offer their discerning clients.

Today, the company's dedication to quality and authenticity has brought its product to nearly every grocery store, hundreds of restaurants, and most foodservice distributors in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Media Contact:

Kevin Logan

703-212-6677

SOURCE Logans Food Company
We have the opportunity to accelerate growth of our platform by using support from Mastercard's network of innovators Tweet this

"Our main focus and goals for our service professionals have always been higher tips, immediate access to funds and overall empowerment through new financial tools", said David Tashjian, CEO of Tippy. "With Start Path, we have the opportunity to accelerate the growth of our platform by using support from Mastercard's network of innovators and experts and leveraging the success we have had in the beauty industry. This program will be instrumental for us to move forward and be able to empower more by replicating the model in multiple verticals".

Mastercard will work with Tippy to grow its footprint in other fintech-oriented verticals where tipping is an important source of income for its professionals, including hospitality, health/wellness, and tourism. Leveraging Mastercard's resources and relationships, the tipping platform will now look to expand not only domestically but also internationally.

"As the fintech landscape evolves at an unprecedented speed, Mastercard provides the infrastructure and assets to help fintech innovators grow and ultimately bring more people into the digital economy," said Amy Neale, Senior Vice President, Fintech & Enablers. "Through Mastercard Start Path, we're partnering with Tippy on their path to scale and providing the technology, expertise and resources to help drive a more inclusive economy."

Tippy recently completed a set of APIs allowing points-of-sale in each of its targeted verticals to integrate and offer Tippy's solution on a much broader scale.

"We couldn't be more excited about the partnership traction we're having with POS's in both the beauty space and other verticals," said Terry McKim, co-founder and CIO at Tippy. "And with tools like QR codes and Mastercard's Click to Pay, our presence in the tipping space will flourish."

For more information about Mastercard Start Path, visit https://startpath.mastercard.com/.

ABOUT DirectTIPS

DirectTIPS is the parent company of Tippy, a digital tipping system built for service industry professionals by industry professionals. Tippy's disruptive technology offers a suite of tools reducing business owners' processing fees and improving service providers' tips, helping them to meet and exceed financial goals. Tippy is headquartered in Fort. Lauderdale, FL and caters to a variety of sectors including beauty, hospitality and tourism. For more information, visit MeetTippy.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bright Idea PR: Aimee Adler Cooke | 561-302-6902 | [email protected]

SOURCE Tippy

Related Links

meettippy.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


May Fourth spirit celebrated

From:ChinaDaily | 2021-05-05 06:55

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 Chinaon 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.
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.
You opened Platinum Mitsubishi in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 2019, and opened a second store in Lancaster in 2020. I'll let that sink in for our readers  two new stores in the shadow of a pandemic, and yet, you have had tremendous sales success. How did you do it?

We are so excited about our early success with Mitsubishi. We love the company culture from top to bottom  side to side. Immediately after opening our first store, I knew I would jump at the chance to open a second store. That opportunity presented itself just prior to COVID, at a rather scary time, when the stores in Pennsylvania were mandated to close. When this happened, I took a different approach than some dealers would: I hit the gas. I knew that the only way my company would fail during the pandemic was if the whole country failed. I am a patriotic guy  I did not see that happening. So, I doubled down, chased the right property in Lancaster , and secured it. After that, we opened a business development/customer care center, and we hired a local news anchor to take our marketing and video content to the next level. We came out of COVID restrictions stronger. You have to risk it to get the biscuit! No matter how big your marketing budget, you can't buy loyalty, and your customers in Pennsylvania are loyal. How did you build those relationships?

We build relationships with our customers by building empathy. We put ourselves in their shoes. We give them the same level of respect and service that we would expect  no matter their situation. We focus on human interaction, which is an element of sales that gets lost so much in our industry. Our customers know that I am a hometown kid that has their interests at heart. They are our community  our family, and we treat them like it. I never see myself as the smartest guy in the room I strive to be approachable and be open to everyone. That is also the persona we've developed on social media: honest, approachable, local, and people are drawn to that. They are part of our success and we are part of theirs. You are a self-made man, and in your words, the embodiment of the American dream. Tell us about that.

I am proof that, with hard work, determination and grit, anyone can succeed in this life. I had a very rough childhood. My father died when I was 4 years old, and I was just angry at the world. I wound up in a detention home, and at 18, was released with no real opportunities in front of me and definitely no chance at college. Not a lot of people had any faith that I would amount to much. Then, I joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am forever indebted to the Marines for teaching me discipline, integrity, work ethic, leadership and many other skills that I still use every day. For a kid like me to become a dealer principal and reach the level of success that I have I just feel blessed. I strive to be a little bit better every day  for myself, my business and my family. My service taught me empathy, which as I said, is important. It taught me to recognize talent and surround myself with people a lot smarter than me. It taught me to take care of the people that take care of me and inspire the people in my life to achieve their dreams. That is what it is all about. Today, you have four kids (and three dogs), which we could hear loudly, joyously in the background of our phone call. What does it mean to pass along the legacy you built to them?

As someone who didn't grow up with much, it means the world to me to know that I am building a legacy for my four children. I am giving them something I did not have, but desperately wanted. It is the primary thing that gets me up in the morning, and pushes me throughout the day. Sometimes, I look at my kids, and I just smile thinking to myself that they have no idea how much I love them and that they are the reason I work so hard. I smile, because I am thinking about the future that I am creating for them, and that I am so lucky to still be here with them. My goal is to have 10 rooftops by the time I retire. 10 rooftops  10 places of empathy and inspiration  to pass on to them and to my employees. And how are you sharing your success with your community?

Whenever you achieve success, I believe it is your obligation to help those around you achieve success. Because of my story, I work most closely with Veteran charities and events. We are a proud, annual sponsor of the "Freedom Ride" in Tyrone, PA every July 4 that supports veterans in our community. We plan an annual "Gold Star Family 5k " in Carlisle, PA on Memorial Day, from which 100 percent of proceeds go to Gold Star families and children of service members killed in action. One of my close childhood friends was killed in Iraq in 2004, and he left behind three children. We grew up together and joined the Marines together. Knowing what it means to lose a parent at a very young age, and knowing the sacrifice our service members make for this country, it is important for me to give back in that way. As I said, family is important  to our business, to our community and in my life.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2020 Initial Quality study, ranking sixth overall and experiencing the greatest year-over-year improvement of any brand.

With headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, and corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Virginia, MMNA directly and indirectly employs more than 8,000 people across the United States.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at 615-257-2698 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Contacts

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

Lauren Ryan

Manager, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 404-862-8286

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Related Links

www.mitsubishicars.com


The island of Niue encompasses a total land area of roughly 100 sq mi. With a population of 1618, this country's culture and community are incredibly close-knit. Although My Life As A Woman: World Edition was able to acquire a story from at least one woman in every country globally, its creator was shocked to learn that a total of four women expressed interest in having their stories heard from Niue.

In a place where everyone knows their neighbors, it's no surprise that the book's author had to take extra care to get these women to offer a genuinely raw rendition of their lives, whether it be their struggles or triumphs. However, these Niue Island women's stories were well worth the effort and added an undeniable mark of bravery and thrill to My Life As A Woman: World Edition.

Niue Island residents typically leave to New Zealand for education, which is why the country's population remains so small. In addition to being one of the world's smallest countries, Niue is also one of the world's largest coral islands while boasting some of the Pacific's most epic scenery. The majority of the island's residents reside and work in Niue's capital and largest village, Alofi.

My Life As A Woman: World Edition is available for purchase on Amazon Kindle and Paperback. To learn more about the My Life As A Woman Project Initiative, visit https://www.mylifeasawomanproject.com/

About My Life As A Woman Project Initiative

This project is a collection of stories of women from different nationalities, religions, cultures, backgrounds, and ages, and compiled them in My Life As A Woman: World Edition. Together, these stories give an in-depth look at what women around the world have been through, what they are going through now, and how they continually overcome adversity.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE My Life As A Woman Project Initiative

Related Links

https://www.mylifeasawomanproject.com/


PHOENIX, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of National Nurses Day, Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide senior placement and referral franchisor, announced today it is offering nurses a discount franchise opportunity to encourage and honor aspiring nurse entrepreneurs. Starting in May, nurses will receive a 10 percent discount on the company's initial franchise fee.

"This initiative is our way to say thank you to nurses for their efforts and vital contributions to society," said Angela Olea, Assisted Living Locators Founder and CEO. "During this challenging time of COVID-19, many nurses are considering leaving their jobs due to burnout, overwork, and high-stress levels. Opening your own business and relying on your skills and certifications as a nurse, can be a new, refreshing opportunity. If you're an aspiring nurse entrepreneur, we encourage you to transition your nursing experience into your very own business through franchising."

Assisted Living Locators is a nurse-friendly franchisor with an affordable, low-cost investment and a comprehensive training and mentorship platform, according to Angela Olea. With 140 franchisees in 36 states and the District of Columbia, the company is ranked in Entrepreneur's 2021 Franchise 500 and the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing private companies.

Olea noted with 77 million baby boomers entering their senior years, there is a much greater need for senior placement services, making it growing industry sector. "That is why it is a good idea for nurses who want to open their own business to consider owning a senior care franchise," said Olea, who is also a Registered Nurse. "We provide an essential service that is continuing to grow."

Olea added that the Assisted Living Locators franchise system enables nurses to branch out from a traditional hospital role to be their own boss, make their own hours, and have unlimited earning potential, all while making a positive impact on seniors in their community.

"At Assisted Living Locators, we have many nurse franchise owners that have successfully made the shift from practicing nursing to running a business, and their nursing skills play a big role in their ability to perform well," Olea added.

Assisted Living Locators Northern Arizona franchisee Ashly Blackwell has been a Registered Nurse for eight years, providing care in local hospitals and home health care in her community. "My love and passion for helping others inspired me to pursue a nursing career," said Blackwell. "And now, with my Assisted Living Locators franchise, my expertise in nursing and senior living options allows me to provide comfort and guidance to seniors and families going through this challenging journey."

Patricia Russell, Assisted Living Locators Washington D.C. franchisee, has 25 years' experience as a long-term care nursing administrator before joining the company. "With my past nursing experience and this franchise opportunity, I have helped many seniors and their families transition back into the community living with dignity and a better quality of life," said Russell.

"With their compassion and dedication, nurses make outstanding franchise entrepreneurs," said Olea. "If you're interested in becoming an Assisted Living Locators franchisee, we encourage qualified candidates to apply as we expand across the U.S."

To learn more about Assisted Living Locators franchising, call 800-267-7816 or visit: www.assistedlivinglocatorsfranchise.com.

SOURCE Assisted Living Locators

Related Links

http://www.assistedlivinglocators.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NearU Services ("NearU"), a founder-led premier home services platform in the Southeast, today announced the acquisition of Mountain Air Mechanical Contractors ("Mountain Air" or "Company"), a well-established home services provider in Asheville, North Carolina. A trusted market leader since 1996, Mountain Air will further bolster NearU's customer service capabilities and extend its portfolio of services to western North Carolina.

NearU's Founder and CEO, Ashish Achlerkar, said, "Mountain Air has been a proven leader in the Asheville and western North Carolina markets for over 25 years. The Company's focus on delivering the best home service in the region is very aligned with NearU's mission. Carol and John Graham have built a great culture, taken great care of their team and loyally served a large customer base. NearU is committed to further building upon this great foundation at Mountain Air. NearU will deliver lasting impact through empowering the Mountain Air team and leveraging our process-driven, technology-enabled execution approach."

"At Mountain Air, our guiding principles of service, relationships and trust have allowed us to build one of the top local service providers in western North Carolina. The Company has thrived and has been a market leader since 1996 because of our incredibly talented and committed team. We are highly confident that the NearU team will take excellent care of our customers, invest in career opportunities for our employees, and take the legacy of Mountain Air to greater heights. We chose NearU as our preferred transition partner due to their team's integrity and thoroughness of their vision. NearU's approach is fair, unique, and exactly what the industry needs. We could not be more excited for the future of Mountain Air and our very talented team as they join the NearU family," said Carol and John Graham, Co-Owners of Mountain Air.

NearU Board Member and an HVAC industry veteran Doug Wilson said, "I have known the Mountain Air local brand from a long time, and John and Carol have truly built an outstanding business. I am confident that NearU will take great care of the Company's customers and employees to take John and Carol's legacy to greater heights."

Under NearU's ownership, the Mountain Air team will continue to operate under the reputed local brand of Mountain Air Mechanical Contractors. The Company will go on serving customers under the existing management team led by Brian McDonald, Ronald Hathcock and Dan Groves. NearU's operations, finance, and marketing teams have a well-defined value creation plan for Mountain Air, its employees, and its customers.

NearU continues to be well capitalized and is actively seeking other long-standing, highly reputable brands to join the rapidly growing NearU family.

About NearU:

NearU is an employee and customer-centric provider of essential home services with a focus on HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. NearU is well-capitalized and seeks to grow organically and through partnerships with leading HVAC and other skilled trade contractors. More information is available at www.NearU-Services.com.

About Mountain Air Mechanical Contractors:

Mountain Air is a leader in the heating and air conditioning services in Asheville, Arden, Hendersonville, Brevard, Weaverville, Fletcher, and the surrounding communities of Western NC. Established in 1996, Mountain Air has serviced thousands of residential and light commercial customers for their home services needs. More information is available at www.MountainAirMechanical.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Ashish Achlerkar

NearU Founder and CEO

(215) 341-7561

[email protected]

SOURCE NearU

Related Links

https://nearu-services.com


BOSTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Physicians Foundation today launched A Personal Crisis Management Plan to help physicians navigate their mental health needs. As part of the Foundation's Vital Signs initiative, the plan was created to help physicians, their colleagues and their loved ones access and have available the coping strategies and resources needed when navigating a moment of crisis.

This resource was inspired by Angela Chen, MD, Loice Swisher, MD, FAAEM, and Mary Jane Brown, MD, who introduced a personal crisis management tool for residents, like safety plans used by psychiatrists in suicidal patients. They found nearly 60% of participating residents agreed that the tool would help them manage a crisis. Nearly a third of the participating residents (31.8%) indicated that they had used their personal plan within the first three months of their internship.

"Whether it's stress, feelings of burnout or another challenge, physicians, just like anyone else, should feel comfortable seeking help," said Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation. "Our own research found that 58% of physicians reported experiencing feelings of burnout during the pandemic; however, when asked about mental health support, only 13% of physicians reported seeking medical attention."

The Physicians Foundation's 2020 Survey of America's Physicians: COVID-19's Impact on Physician Wellbeing also found nearly 1 in 4 physicians know a physician who committed or considered suicide. While physician suicide has been a crisis long before COVID-19, the pandemic has created a sense of urgency to better support physicians' mental health and wellbeing. This personal crisis management tool offers physicians and their loved ones a personalized, step-by-step plan to set themselves up for success in the event of a mental health crisis.

"We continuously hear from the loved ones of physicians who died by suicide that it could have been avoided," said Robert Seligson, CEO of The Physicians Foundation. "We hope this tool gets us one step closer in breaking the culture of silence around physician mental health issueshelping physicians not be in fear of being judged or losing their right to practice."

To explore Vital Signs, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org/vitalsigns. The website is intended for educational purposes only. If you need further guidance or are in a crisis, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255) for free 24/7 support.

About The Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients. As the health care system in America continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in its determination to strengthen the physician-patient relationship and assist physicians in sustaining their medical practices in today's practice environment. It pursues its mission through a variety of activities including grant-making, research, white papers and policy studies. Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded numerous multi-year grants totaling more than $50 million. In addition, the Foundation focuses on the following core areas: physician leadership, physician wellness, physician practice trends, social determinants of health and the impact of health care reform on physicians and patients. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Physicians Foundation
PORTLAND, Ore., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "NoSQL Market by Type (Key-Value Store, Document Database, Column Based Store, and Graph Database), Application (Data Storage, Mobile Apps, Data Analytics, Web Apps, and Others), and Industry Vertical (Retail, Gaming, IT, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026" According to the report, the global NoSQL industry was pegged at $2.41 billion in 2018, and is expected to hit $22.08 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 31.4% from 2019 to 2026.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities:

Rise in unstructured data, increase in demand for data analytics, and surge in application development business across the globe drive the growth of the global NoSQL market. On the other hand, complexities related with testing NoSQL applications curtail down the growth to some extent. However, growth in big data is expected to create multiple opportunities in the industry.

Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/640

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on NoSQL Market Globally (Pre and Post Analysis)

Due to global lockdown, the usage of social networking and online gaming has been increased. This fueled the demand for NoSQL application in the social networking and online gaming market.

The adoption of NoSQL applications in regions including North America and Asia-pacific has been increased amid COVID-19.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the NoSQL Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/640?reqfor=covid

The key value store segment to retain its dominance by 2026-

Based on type, the key value store segment contributed to more than two-fifths of the global NoSQL market revenue in 2018, and is expected to lead the trail by the end of 2026. The simplicity in implementation of database is a major driver of the segment. On the other hand, the graph based segment would register the fastest CAGR of 34.2% throughout the forecast period. The ability to support a large number of connections drives the growth of the segment.

The web apps segment to rule the roost:

Based on application, the web apps segments accounted for more than one-fourth of the global NoSQL market share in 2018, and is anticipated to lead the trail till 2026. NoSQL is emerging as one of the most suitable technological options for storing web app session information which drives the segment. At the same time, the mobile apps segment would manifest the fastest CAGR of 33.5% during the study period. Due to storage in schema-less format, app developers can comfortably modify applications without making any major infrastructure changes which augments the growth of the segment.

For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/640

North America to dominate in terms of revenue:

Based on geography, North America held the lion's share, generating more than two-fifths of the global NoSQL market. The higher awareness among North American users regarding the benefits of NoSQL technology is driving the adoption of NoSQL in this region. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific region is also projected to portray the fastest CAGR of 35.5% during the estimated period. This is due to rise in its adoption for social network development and app development purposes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Frontrunners in the industry-

Couchbase, Inc.

Google LLC

MarkLogic Corporation

MongoDB, Inc.

Neo Technology, Inc.

Objectivity, Inc.

Aerospike, Inc.

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

DataStax, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Official Press Release: NoSQL-market

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AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model):

AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports.

Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

About Allied Market Research:

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 domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
SUGAR LAND, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QuVa Pharma, Inc.("QuVa Pharma"), the leading national 503B outsourcing services company providing hospitals with essential medications in ready-to-administer injectable formats, today announced its latest financing, a $275 million senior debt facility led by investment vehicles managed by the Goldman Sachs Private Credit Investing("Goldman Sachs"), with participation from Owl Rock Capital Partners, LP ("Owl Rock"). The financing enables QuVa Pharma to meet the needs of its approximately 2,000 hospital customers, add more hospitals to the platform, and expand its 200 SKU product portfolio.

"We are delighted that Goldman Sachs and Owl Rock have agreed to partner with QuVa Pharma in the next phase of our expansion. Since commencing operations in 2015, QuVa has been at the forefront of demonstrating that the 503B industry has a meaningful role to fulfill in the delivery of healthcare to acute care patients," said Stuart Hinchen, QuVa Pharma's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. "This new funding reflects the national scale QuVa has achieved as the industry leader, and the importance of the 503B industry in meeting hospital's high quality standards and cost effectiveness requirements. The Company continues to pursue increased capacity needs through 2024, as well as expanding capabilities to incorporate approval of complex pharmaceutical products through the FDA product registration pathway."

QuVa Pharma continues to experience significant growth in demand for its broad, high-quality and cost effective product portfolio. The Company recently expanded operations to over 240,000 square feet of production capacity by adding 80,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, 503B registered manufacturing capacity to New Jersey operations. QuVa Pharma has plans to meaningfully expand Texas operations by 75,000 square feet in 2022. The growth of high quality cGMP compliant capacity has been complemented by multiple efforts, including plans to expand the national workforce in the near-term to over 1,000 employees and to continue to implement innovative automation initiatives unique to the industry.

"Bain Capital, along with our other partner shareholders, is pleased to secure the commitment and support of direct lending leaders Goldman Sachs and Owl Rock, which we believe reflects the quality of organization that has been built at QuVa Pharma over the past 5 years. We are all proud to have collectively committed scale capital to build domestic production for essential medications and create a world-class organization that every day ensures hospital and patient access to safe drugs. During this time of significant expansion, we will continue to support our accomplished management team as they further QuVa Pharma's industry leadership," said Andrew Kaplan, a Principal of Bain Capital Private Equity.

"We believe QuVa offers a compelling value proposition to hospitals in need of a reliable, cost-effective supply of essential injectable medications. After years of following the organization's strong and consistent growth, we are pleased to provide QuVa Pharma with a scale and flexible financing solution to support the Company's goals," said Alex Chi, Head of Americas Private Credit Investing at Goldman Sachs.

Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Goldman Sachs and Owl Rock. Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to QuVa Pharma.

For more information, please visit www.quvapharma.com or follow QuVa on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/quvapharma-inc-/.



About QuVa Pharma, Inc.

QuVa Pharma is a national, industry-leading, FDA registered 503B outsourcing services company that provides hospitals with essential medications in ready-to-administer injectable formats that are critical for effective patient care. QuVa was purpose-built to change the 503B industry for the better and is leading the way with unmatched expertise in cGMPs and sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the highest quality and safety standards so hospitals can more confidently and reliably focus on patient care. While leading cGMP processes, broad sterile-to-sterile product portfolio, and expansive capacity of 300,000 sq. ft. across four facilities are the foundation of success, it is with customer-focused services, transparency, and a patient-safety orientation that QuVa Pharma helps hospitals better meet their patient care and operational needs.

For product ordering inquiries, please contact QuVa Pharma Customer Service at 888.339.0874 or via email at: [email protected].

For media inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE QuVa Pharma, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.quvapharma.com


EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, will provide signals intelligence field services for the U.S. Air Force's Distributed Common Ground System, which collects, processes and analyzes intelligence.

RI&S will support seven different intelligence applications the Air Force uses to collect and correlate data under the new program, DCGS-Signals Intelligence Field Support (DSFS). The five-year contract, valued up to $175 million, will combine information from airborne, ground and other systems.

"Gone are the days of planning daily sustainment operations site-by-site. Now DSFS provides an enterprise support structure for all sustainment operations, optimizing mission coverage with fewer field engineers," said David Appel, vice president, Defense and Civil Solutions for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. "We're able to help ensure the highest level of operational availability for the system, all while reducing costs. With the open architecture baseline being declared fully mission capable, we anticipate greater improvement in analysts' efficiency and the ability to manage the availability of the system for all sites."

Under the contract, RI&S will leverage its mission domain knowledge to provide high mission availability in support of end-to-end operations  from creating a mission plan for an airborne sensor to receiving data, processing that data, and then either producing a report, storing it or enhancing it by fusing it with other data.

About Raytheon Intelligence & Space

Raytheon Intelligence & Space delivers the disruptive technologies our customers need to succeed in any domain, against any challenge. A developer of advanced sensors, training, and cyber and software solutions, Raytheon Intelligence & Space provides a decisive advantage to civil, military and commercial customers in more than 46 countries around the world. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the business generated $15 billion in pro forma annual revenue in 2020 and has 37,000 employees worldwide. Raytheon Intelligence & Space is one of four businesses that form Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses  Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense  the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Media Contact

Dana Carroll

C: 310. 343. 0511

[email protected]

SOURCE Raytheon Technologies

Related Links

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BOSTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The replacement of aircraft makers will be brutal - no not Airbus and Boeing, the other big names, starting with those making light aircraft, then those making regional aircraft. Stuck in the past, these cannot make what is now needed. It is therefore battery eVTOL startup Archer Aviation that just gained a $1 billion order from United Airlines eager to get customers to airports faster, zero-emission. United has an option on $0.5 billion more and the prospect of a fleet of 200. It is an investor and it has a collaboration agreement. Archer is floating at a scorching $3.8 billion.



The IDTechEx report "Manned Electric Aircraft: Smart City and Regional 2021-2041" is the first to forecast electric aircraft for 20 years ahead, while reflecting the realities of how the huge new $30 billion market that is identified will be structured.



The world's largest courier company UPS has ordered 10 Beta Technologies eVTOL for delivery 2024. UPS has an option on 150 if satisfied. They will hop freight directly between UPS premises in industrial parks, something previously impossible. Innovating like Tesla, dark horse Beta in Vermont slings the battery low for extreme stability as it is half the total aircraft weight. See the IDTechEx report, "Air Taxis: Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft 2021-2041" for full analysis. For example, it assesses how newcomer eHang delivers battery eVTOL as air taxis and firefighters with eHang expecting a permit for autonomous passenger eVTOL flights in China this year.





Possible value split of global manned-electric aircraft value market in 2041. CTOL= conventional takeoff and landing.

Bailie Gifford of Scotland, continuing to make a fortune out of being a major Tesla shareholder, has invested in the new eVTOL makers Joby of the US and Lilium of Germany, light aircraft usurpers newly enjoying a combined valuation of over $3.6 billion. Light aircraft newcomer Volocopter of Germany has a >0.6 billion valuation. Toyota, Intel, and Tencent strongly invest in these insurgents.

Even for conventional takeoff and landing, air taxi and pilot training companies now have to buy battery-electric fixed-wing aircraft or lose competitiveness. The best born-electric battery fixed-wing aircraft have half to one-fifth of the operating cost. They are so silent that they may be allowed to operate 24/7 giving a multiple of the usual payback from that alone. Only they have fast rate of climb. They are the Teslas of the skies.

Newcomer Bye Aerospace, with the performance of the Tesla S Plaid in range, silence, acceleration, and 99% reduction in engine parts, has over 720 orders. Leading the surge, its 2 and 4-seater battery aircraft prices have even risen to $489,000 and $627,000 this year because they remain the economic must-buy. You cannot easily copy such sleek composite-material battery aircraft and their software. Entirely designed to purpose, they use state-of-the-art electrics with much more to come. Brand enhancement is enjoyed by an operator when it buys the zero-emission future in this way. The longer glide path, simplification, and better control will reduce the light-aircraft death rate.

Possible value split of global manned-electric aircraft value market in 2041. CTOL= conventional takeoff and landing. Source: IDTechEx

Raghu Das, CEO of analysts IDTechEx adds, "Fossil-fueled cars will trend to valueless as they are banned in more and more places. Something similar will happen with quality battery-electric light aircraft enjoying less depreciation. The radically new capabilities will grow the market even beyond near-silent eVTOL. Neglect has meant that the General Aviation market has collapsed to one-fifth of its peak 50 years ago but the industry now has the Goldilocks scenario of needing to replace those old aircraft and having electric aircraft that bring back affordability while adding new mission capabilities. We estimate that the general aviation market will therefore grow over tenfold by 2041. Long before that, fossil and bio-fuel will be gone. As soon as authorities see the noise, land, and air pollution is avoidable they will ban or severely restrict the fossil fuel options. Sweden and Norway have already set dates."

The IDTechEx report, "Manned Electric Aircraft: Smart City and Regional 2021-2041" roadmaps the technology and forecasts the detail of electric aircraft demand leaping from near-zero to a $30 billion in 2041. Much earlier, the famous names in light aircraft will be toast.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/aircraft, or for the full portfolio of Electric Vehicle research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV.

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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SOURCE IDTechEx
NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Markle Foundation's Rework America Alliance , a unique coalition of civil rights groups, nonprofits, private sector employers, labor unions and educators, today announced the first regions in which it will partner with local community-based organizations to deploy resources to help job seekers connect to good jobs.

The Alliance is opening opportunities for millions of unemployed and low wage workers to move into good jobs, particularly for people of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the current economic crisis, and those who have built capabilities through experience but do not have a bachelor's degree.

The initial regions and organizations that will lead efforts locally are:

Atlanta, Georgia - Goodwill of North Georgia

- Goodwill of Austin, Texas - Austin Area Urban League

- Denver, Colorado - Mi Casa Resource Center, a UnidosUS affiliate

- Mi Casa Resource Center, a UnidosUS affiliate Finger Lakes region, New York - PathStone, in partnership with Rural LISC

- PathStone, in partnership with Rural LISC Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota - Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota and Urban League Twin Cities

and - Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota and Urban League Twin Cities Indiana and Colorado - Markle will expand its relationships with the states of Colorado and Indiana by providing the full suite of Alliance capabilities and partners, building on previous successful collaborations in both states through its Skillful initiatives.

In these regions, the Alliance will work closely with community-based organizations that serve workers so they can help job seekers: identify the good jobs that are in-demand, transfer the skills they already have to new jobs and find effective, affordable training, if needed, for those jobs. The Alliance is also working to secure commitments from employers to hire talented workers with nontraditional education and experience. Training and resources will be provided to employers to drive the adoption of inclusive, sourcing and talent management practices that focus on skills rather than degrees and remove bias in hiring. This initial deployment will be scaled nationally by worker-serving partners through their extensive national networks in communities throughout the country.

This work will draw on the knowledge and resources of more than 30 organizations, bringing additional data, networks, commitments, tools, and technical support from this wider group of Alliance partners. These partners include: Markle Foundation, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, National Urban League and McKinsey & Company, with AFL-CIO, CVS Health, Goodwill Industries International, Google, IBM, Microsoft, North America's Building Trades Unions, Rural LISC, UnidosUS, Workday, Zurich North America and other leading businesses, training, and workforce organizations.

"Working with local organizations is key to connecting people to good jobs," said Zoe Baird, CEO and President, Markle Foundation. "They understand the needs of their communities and have established trusted relationships within those communities that allow them to deliver support and guidance to those who need it most. They also have connections with employers, local government and other nonprofits, to help drive change across the labor market, with the backing of national bodies that can share this work more broadly in the future."

"As we begin the work of rebuilding a post-pandemic economy that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, coalitions like the Rework America Alliance are essential," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. "By creating economic opportunity in the communities hardest-hit by the pandemic, we enhance the resiliency of the nation as a whole."

"These community partners bring exemplary leadership and innovative ideas to the Alliance. The Atlanta Fed is excited to contribute to finding real-world solutions to current labor market challenges," said Stuart Andreason, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. "Though economic conditions are improving, we still see a 'less-than' recovery where many lower-wage workers and workers of color remain distressed. Efforts like the Rework America Alliance and the dedication of local organizations, like our hometown partners, can help make this a truly equitable recovery."

The selection process for identifying this initial set of regions and partners considered several factors including the underlying economic landscape in these locations, and the organization's commitment to creating a model to allow them to scale this work across their organizations nationally. The regions and partners selected reflect the first phase of deployment, with additional locations to be announced later in the year.

About The Markle Foundation

The Markle Foundation challenges itself and diverse partners to deploy their varied expertise to identify solutions to critical public problems and achieve systemic change. Today as advanced technology and automation change the very nature of work, Markle's priority is advancing solutions toward a labor market that will enable workers in America to move into good jobs in the digital economy. Markle's workforce initiatives include the Rework America Alliance, which draws on Markle's Skillful and Rework America initiatives. This work follows Markle's success in creating the policy and technology architecture that has enabled improvements in healthcare, national security, and access to the Internet. For more information, visit markle.org, follow @MarkleFdn and @ReworkAmerica on Twitter, and read our book, America's Moment.

Note to the Editor

For media inquiries, please contact Carrie Gonzalez, [email protected] or 917-705-6531

For more information about the regional organizations named in today's announcement, please visit https://www.markle.org/rework-america-alliance-local-partnerships

SOURCE Markle Foundation

Related Links

www.markle.org


GLASSBORO, N.J., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help New Jersey reach its goal of a 70-percent vaccination rate and provide the University community a sense of extra safety, Rowan University will requireand provide an incentivefor all students to be vaccinated. The requirement and incentive apply to all students who will live on campus, in affiliated housing or attend classes in person.

Full-time students who show proof of vaccination before July 31, 2021, will receive a $500 credit to their fall 2021 course registration bill. Residential students will receive an additional $500 credit to their housing bill. Part-time students will receive a prorated credit based on the number of courses taken in the fall. The incentive program includes all students who already have been vaccinated.

Students may opt out of the vaccination requirement in accordance with guidelines for the emergency use authorization of the current vaccines.

Residential students who are not vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Other students, such as athletes and those who are in majors where there is close contact with others, still may be required to test, even if vaccinated.

In addition, employee incentives are being developed in compliance with union regulations.

The incentive program is applicable for those who are fully vaccinated and will not be applicable to continuing boosters.

In a letter to the university, Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D., said:

"Our message today is simple. We believe the path to normalcy is through widespread vaccination and we want our entire community to commit to reaching the goal of widespread vaccination. If we work together, we can reach this goal and offer the Rowan University experience that our students and employees deserve."

SOURCE Rowan University

Related Links

http://www.rowan.edu


MECHANICSBURG, Pa., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical," "we," "us," or "our") (NYSE: SEM) today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and the declaration of a cash dividend.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenue increased 9.3% to $1,546.5 million, compared to $1,414.6 million for the same quarter, prior year. Income from operations increased 57.0% to $202.0 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $128.7 million for the same quarter, prior year. Net income increased 94.8% to $137.2 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $70.4 million for the same quarter, prior year. Net income included a pre-tax gain on sale of businesses of $7.2 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. Adjusted EBITDA increased 37.9% to $258.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $187.3 million for the same quarter, prior year. Earnings per common share increased to $0.82 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $0.40 for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted earnings per common share was $0.82 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $0.37 for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted earnings per common share excluded the gain on sale of businesses and its related tax effects for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. The definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA are presented in table VI of this release. A reconciliation of earnings per common share to adjusted earnings per common share is presented in table VII of this release.

Please refer to "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Select Medical's Results of Operations during the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021" below for further discussion regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic on Select Medical's operating results.

Company Overview

Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, the rehabilitation hospital segment, the outpatient rehabilitation segment, and the Concentra segment. As of March 31, 2021, Select Medical operated 99 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 30 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, and 1,809 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical's joint venture subsidiary Concentra operated 519 occupational health centers in 41 states. At March 31, 2021, Select Medical had operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com .

CARES Act Provider Relief Fund

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was enacted. The CARES Act provided additional waivers, reimbursement, grants and other funds to assist health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including $100.0 billion in appropriations for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, also referred to as the Provider Relief Fund, to be used for preventing, preparing, and responding to COVID-19, and for reimbursing eligible health care providers for health care related expenses and lost revenues that are attributable to COVID-19.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, Select Medical recognized $16.1 million of other operating income related to payments received under the Provider Relief Fund for health care related expenses and lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. This other operating income is included within the operating results of Select Medical's other activities.

Critical Illness Recovery Hospital Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenue for the critical illness recovery hospital segment increased 18.9% to $594.9 million, compared to $500.5 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the critical illness recovery hospital segment increased 27.9% to $113.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $88.6 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA includes $17.9 million of other operating income related to the outcome of litigation with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the critical illness recovery hospital segment was 19.0% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 17.7% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain critical illness recovery hospital key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Rehabilitation Hospital Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenue for the rehabilitation hospital segment increased 14.2% to $207.8 million, compared to $182.0 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the rehabilitation hospital segment increased 31.0% to $50.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $38.6 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the rehabilitation hospital segment was 24.3% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 21.2% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain rehabilitation hospital key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenue for the outpatient rehabilitation segment was $252.0 million, compared to $255.2 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the outpatient rehabilitation segment was $26.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $27.1 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the outpatient rehabilitation segment was 10.4% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 10.6% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain outpatient rehabilitation key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Concentra Segment

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenue for the Concentra segment increased 6.1% to $422.8 million, compared to $398.5 million for the same quarter, prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the Concentra segment increased 33.4% to $82.0 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $61.5 million for the same quarter, prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the Concentra segment was 19.4% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 15.4% for the same quarter, prior year. Certain Concentra key statistics are presented in table V of this release for both the first quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Select Medical's Results of Operations during the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021

Beginning in March 2020, state governments placed significant restrictions on businesses and mandated closures of non-essential or non-life sustaining businesses, causing many employers to furlough their workforce and temporarily cease or significantly reduce their operations. State governments also implemented restrictions on travel and individual activities outside of the home, closed schools, and mandated other social distancing measures. At the same time, hospitals and other facilities began suspending elective surgeries. In an effort to ensure hospitals and health systems had the capacity to absorb and effectively manage surges of COVID-19 patients, a number of waivers and modifications of certain requirements under the Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program ("CHIP") programs were authorized in March 2020, including certain regulations under the Medicare program which govern admissions into Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals. Specifically, Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals which are certified as long-term care hospitals ("LTCHs") became exempt from the greater-than-25-day average length of stay requirement for all cost reporting periods that include the COVID-19 public health emergency period. Select Medical's rehabilitation hospitals which are certified as inpatient rehabilitation facilities ("IRFs") could exclude patients admitted solely to respond to the emergency from the calculation of the "60 percent rule" thresholds to receive payment as an IRF. The COVID-19 public health emergency period has been extended and is currently in effect through July 20, 2021.

The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the actions of governmental authorities and those in the private sector to limit the spread of COVID-19, caused disruptions in each of Select Medical's segments; these disruptions were most significant within the outpatient rehabilitation and Concentra segments. By mid-March 2020, Select Medical's outpatient rehabilitation clinics began experiencing significantly less patient visit volume due to declines in patient referrals from physicians, a reduction in workers' compensation injury visits resulting from the temporary closure of businesses, and the suspension of elective surgeries which would have required outpatient rehabilitation services. Select Medical's Concentra centers experienced similar declines in patient visit volume due to businesses furloughing their workforce and temporarily ceasing or significantly reducing their operations. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to adversely impact patient visit volume in January and February 2021; however, in March 2021, both Select Medical's outpatient rehabilitation clinics and Concentra centers experienced patient visit volume approximating the levels experienced in January and February 2020, the months preceding the widespread emergence of COVID-19 in the United States. Although they have experienced temporary disruptions in their core businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Select Medical's outpatient rehabilitation and Concentra segments have been able to expand their services to provide COVID-19 screening and testing.

Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals have played a critical role in caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relaxation of certain admission restrictions have contributed to volume increases in certain of its hospitals. The revenue of Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals has also benefited from the temporary suspension of the 2.0% cut to Medicare payments due to sequestration, which began May 1, 2020 following the enactment of the CARES Act, and has been extended through December 31, 2021. Certain of Select Medical's rehabilitation hospitals experienced temporary declines in patient volume, beginning in March 2020, in areas more significantly impacted by the spread of COVID-19, such as New Jersey, and due to the suspension of elective surgeries at hospitals and other facilities, which consequently reduced the demand for inpatient rehabilitation services. Beginning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals modified certain of their protocols in order to follow the guidelines and recommendations for patient treatment and for the protection of their patients and staff members. This has resulted in increased labor costs, including increased contracted labor usage, as well as additional costs resulting from the purchase of personal protective equipment.

The unpredictable effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the duration and extent of disruption on Select Medical's operations, creates uncertainties about Select Medical's future operating results and financial condition. Select Medical has provided revenue and certain operating statistics below for each of its segments for each of the periods presented. Please refer to our risk factors previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for further discussion.





Critical Illness Recovery Hospital



















































Revenue



Patient Days



Occupancy Rate



Number of

Hospitals Owned(1)



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021



2020

2021



(in thousands, except percentages)

































January

$ 163,238



$ 199,611



22.3%



90,783

100,933

11.2%



69%

75%



100

99 February

165,375



190,703



15.3%



87,844

92,036

4.8%



72%

75%



100

99 March

171,908



204,558



19.0%



91,831

100,149

9.1%



70%

74%



100

99 Three Months Ended March 31

$ 500,521



$ 594,872



18.9%



270,458

293,118

8.4%



70%

75%



100

99





Rehabilitation Hospital



















































Revenue



Patient Days



Occupancy Rate



Number of

Hospitals Owned(1)



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021



2020

2021



(in thousands, except percentages)

































January

$ 61,673



$ 68,297



10.7%



32,111

34,404

7.1%



79%

82%



19

20 February

60,690



64,202



5.8%



31,813

32,178

1.1%



84%

84%



19

20 March

59,656



75,305



26.2%



30,644

35,857

17.0%



76%

85%



19

20 Three Months Ended March 31

$ 182,019



$ 207,804



14.2%



94,568

102,439

8.3%



79%

84%



19

20







Outpatient Rehabilitation













































Revenue



Visits



Working Days(2)





2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021





(in thousands, except percentages)

























January

$ 90,924



$ 76,763



(15.6)%



757,171

625,964

(17.3)%



22

20

February

88,239



77,063



(12.7)%



739,061

641,942

(13.1)%



20

20

March

76,086



98,135



29.0%



626,433

832,248

32.9%



22

23

Three Months Ended March 31

$ 255,249



$ 251,961



(1.3)%



2,122,665

2,100,154

(1.1)%



64

63







Concentra













































Revenue



Visits



Working Days(2)





2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021

% Change



2020

2021





(in thousands, except percentages)

























January

$ 141,236



$ 127,103



(10.0)%



1,032,069

867,793

(15.9)%



22

20

February

133,690



132,349



(1.0)%



965,741

869,910

(9.9)%



20

20

March

123,609



163,388



32.2%



879,585

1,057,871

20.3%



22

23

Three Months Ended March 31

$ 398,535



$ 422,840



6.1%



2,877,395

2,795,574

(2.8)%



64

63

_______________________________________________________________________________ (1) Represents the number of hospitals owned at the end of each period presented. (2) Represents the number of days in which normal business operations were conducted during the periods presented.

Stock Repurchase Program

The board of directors of Select Medical has authorized a common stock repurchase program to repurchase up to $500.0 million worth of shares of its common stock. The program has been extended until December 31, 2021, and will remain in effect until then, unless further extended or earlier terminated by the board of directors. Stock repurchases under this program may be made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, and at times and in such amounts as Select Medical deems appropriate. Select Medical funds this program with cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Select Medical did not repurchase shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Since the inception of the program through March 31, 2021, Select Medical has repurchased 38,580,908 shares at a cost of approximately $356.6 million, or $9.24 per share, which includes transaction costs.

Dividend

On May 5, 2021, Select Medical's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.125 per share. The dividend will be payable on or about June 1, 2021 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 19, 2021.

There is no assurance that future dividends will be declared. The declaration and payment of dividends in the future are at the discretion of Select Medical's board of directors after taking into account various factors, including, but not limited to, our financial condition, operating results, available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, the terms of Select Medical's indebtedness, and other factors Select Medical's board of directors may deem to be relevant.

Business Outlook

Select Medical is updating its business outlook following the reporting of its first quarter 2021 results. Select Medical now expects revenue for the full year of 2021 to be in the range of $5.7 billion to $5.9 billion and Adjusted EBITDA for the full year of 2021 to be in the range of $870.0 million to $900.0 million. Select Medical now expects earnings per common share for the full year of 2021 to be in the range of $2.41 to $2.58. A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the full year of 2021 is presented in table VIII of this release.

Select Medical reaffirms its target compound annual growth rates, provided most recently in its February 25, 2021 press release, for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and earnings per common share. Select Medical continues to expect its compound annual growth for revenue to be in the range of 4% to 6% and compound annual growth for Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of 7% to 8% from 2021 through 2023. Select Medical continues to expect compound annual growth for earnings per common share to be in the range of 17% to 20% from 2021 through 2023.

Conference Call

Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on each of its reportable segments, on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 9:00am ET. The domestic dial in number for the call is 1-866-440-2669. The international dial in number is 1-409-220-9844. The conference ID for the call is 8189262. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website www.selectmedicalholdings.com .

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available until 12:00pm ET, May 14, 2021. The replay number is 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID for the replay will be 8189262. The replay can also be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website, www.selectmedicalholdings.com .

Certain statements contained herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), including statements related to Select Medical's 2021 and long-term business outlook. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to factors including the following:

developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, additional measures taken by government authorities and the private sector to limit the spread of COVID-19, and further legislative and regulatory actions which impact healthcare providers, including actions that may impact the Medicare program;

changes in government reimbursement for our services and/or new payment policies may result in a reduction in revenue, an increase in costs, and a reduction in profitability;

the failure of our Medicare-certified long term care hospitals or inpatient rehabilitation facilities to maintain their Medicare certifications may cause our revenue and profitability to decline;

the failure of our Medicare-certified long term care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities operated as "hospitals within hospitals" to qualify as hospitals separate from their host hospitals may cause our revenue and profitability to decline;

a government investigation or assertion that we have violated applicable regulations may result in sanctions or reputational harm and increased costs;

acquisitions or joint ventures may prove difficult or unsuccessful, use significant resources or expose us to unforeseen liabilities;

our plans and expectations related to our acquisitions and our ability to realize anticipated synergies;

private third-party payors for our services may adopt payment policies that could limit our future revenue and profitability;

the failure to maintain established relationships with the physicians in the areas we serve could reduce our revenue and profitability;

shortages in qualified nurses, therapists, physicians, or other licensed providers, or the inability to attract or retain healthcare professionals due to the heightened risk of infection related to the COVID-19 pandemic, could increase our operating costs significantly or limit our ability to staff our facilities;

competition may limit our ability to grow and result in a decrease in our revenue and profitability;

the loss of key members of our management team could significantly disrupt our operations;

the effect of claims asserted against us could subject us to substantial uninsured liabilities;

a security breach of our or our third-party vendors' information technology systems may subject us to potential legal and reputational harm and may result in a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act; and

other factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" of the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 .

Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results or performance.

Investor inquiries:

Joel T. Veit

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

717-972-1100

[email protected]

I. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 (In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)



2020

2021

% Change Revenue $ 1,414,632



$ 1,546,463



9.3 % Costs and expenses:









Cost of services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization 1,200,371



1,293,449



7.8

General and administrative 33,831



35,403



4.6

Depreciation and amortization 51,752



49,620



(4.1)

Total costs and expenses 1,285,954



1,378,472



7.2

Other operating income 



34,021



N/M

Income from operations 128,678



202,012



57.0

Other income and expense:









Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries 2,588



9,919



283.3

Gain on sale of businesses 7,201







N/M

Interest income 



4,749



N/M

Interest expense (46,107)



(34,402)



(25.4)

Income before income taxes 92,360



182,278



97.4

Income tax expense 21,912



45,064



105.7

Net income 70,448



137,214



94.8

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 17,323



26,668



53.9

Net income attributable to Select Medical $ 53,125



$ 110,546



108.1 % Basic earnings per common share:(1) $ 0.40



$ 0.82





_______________________________________________________________________________ (1) Refer to table II for calculation of earnings per common share. N/M Not meaningful.

II. Earnings per Share For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 (In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Select Medical's capital structure includes common stock and unvested restricted stock awards. To compute earnings per share ("EPS"), Select Medical applies the two-class method because its unvested restricted stock awards are participating securities which are entitled to participate equally with its common stock in undistributed earnings.

The following table sets forth the net income attributable to Select Medical, its common shares outstanding, and its participating securities outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:





Basic EPS



Three Months Ended March 31,



2020

2021 Net income

$ 70,448



$ 137,214

Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests

17,323



26,668

Net income attributable to Select Medical

53,125



110,546

Less: net income attributable to participating securities

1,818



3,698

Net income attributable to common shares

$ 51,307



$ 106,848



The following tables set forth the computation of EPS under the two-class method for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:





Three Months Ended March 31,



2020



2021



Net Income

Allocation

Shares(1)

Basic EPS(2)



Net Income

Allocation

Shares(1)

Basic EPS(2) Common shares

$ 51,307



129,638



$ 0.40





$ 106,848



130,329



$ 0.82

Participating securities

1,818



4,594



$ 0.40





3,698



4,511



$ 0.82

Total

$ 53,125













$ 110,546









_______________________________________________________________________________ (1) Represents the weighted average share count outstanding during the period. (2) As of March 31, 2020 and 2021, Select Medical's capital structure does not contain any securities which could

potentially dilute basic EPS.

III. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, unaudited)





December 31, 2020

March 31, 2021 Assets







Current Assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 577,061



$ 750,274

Accounts receivable

896,763



959,715

Other current assets

120,176



125,325

Total Current Assets

1,594,000



1,835,314

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,032,217



1,053,880

Property and equipment, net

943,420



930,843

Goodwill

3,379,014



3,390,325

Identifiable intangible assets, net

387,541



384,322

Other assets

319,207



326,097

Total Assets

$ 7,655,399



$ 7,920,781

Liabilities and Equity







Current Liabilities:







Payables and accruals

$ 800,918



$ 874,389

Government advances

321,807



324,975

Unearned government assistance

82,607



101,814

Current operating lease liabilities

220,413



223,648

Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable

12,621



15,426

Total Current Liabilities

1,438,366



1,540,252

Non-current operating lease liabilities

875,367



894,526

Long-term debt, net of current portion

3,389,398



3,387,249

Non-current deferred tax liability

132,421



133,408

Other non-current liabilities

168,703



168,798

Total Liabilities

6,004,255



6,124,233

Redeemable non-controlling interests

398,171



445,931

Total equity

1,252,973



1,350,617

Total Liabilities and Equity

$ 7,655,399



$ 7,920,781



IV. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 (In thousands, unaudited)





2020

2021 Operating activities







Net income

$ 70,448



$ 137,214

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating

activities:







Distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries

8,479



11,633

Depreciation and amortization

51,752



49,620

Provision for expected credit losses

199



67

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

(2,588)



(9,919)

Loss (gain) on sale of assets and businesses

(7,339)



72

Stock compensation expense

6,903



6,709

Amortization of debt discount, premium and issuance costs

553



543

Deferred income taxes

9,364



(897)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business

combinations:







Accounts receivable

(53,928)



(60,142)

Other current assets

27



(4,425)

Other assets

2,248



961

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(53,447)



44,627

Unearned government assistance





19,207

Income taxes

11,413



44,618

Net cash provided by operating activities

44,084



239,888

Investing activities







Business combinations, net of cash acquired

(6,833)



(6,314)

Purchases of property and equipment

(39,208)



(39,719)

Investment in businesses

(9,848)



(6,571)

Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses

11,230



19

Net cash used in investing activities

(44,659)



(52,585)

Financing activities







Borrowings on revolving facilities

460,000





Payments on revolving facilities

(295,000)





Payments on term loans

(39,843)





Borrowings of other debt

6,487



8,915

Principal payments on other debt

(8,099)



(9,342)

Repurchase of common stock

(8,691)





Proceeds from issuance of non-controlling interests

1,679





Distributions to and purchases of non-controlling interests

(12,474)



(13,663)

Purchase of membership interests of Concentra Group Holdings Parent

(366,203)





Net cash used in financing activities

(262,144)



(14,090)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(262,719)



173,213

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

335,882



577,061

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 73,163



$ 750,274

Supplemental information







Cash paid for interest

$ 67,885



$ 52,470

Cash paid for taxes

1,135



1,343



V. Key Statistics For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 (unaudited)





2020

2021

% Change Critical Illness Recovery Hospital











Number of hospitals  end of period(a)

101



99





Revenue (,000)

$ 500,521



$ 594,872



18.9 % Number of patient days(b)(c)

270,458



293,118



8.4 % Number of admissions(b)(d)

9,533



9,859



3.4 % Revenue per patient day(b)(e)

$ 1,839



$ 2,024



10.1 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 88,570



$ 113,272



27.9 % Adjusted EBITDA margin

17.7 %

19.0 %



Rehabilitation Hospital











Number of hospitals  end of period(a)

29



30





Revenue (,000)

$ 182,019



$ 207,804



14.2 % Number of patient days(b)(c)

94,568



102,439



8.3 % Number of admissions(b)(d)

6,333



7,131



12.6 % Revenue per patient day(b)(e)

$ 1,732



$ 1,853



7.0 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 38,569



$ 50,534



31.0 % Adjusted EBITDA margin

21.2 %

24.3 %



Outpatient Rehabilitation











Number of clinics  end of period(a)

1,753



1,809





Revenue (,000)

$ 255,249



$ 251,961



(1.3) % Number of visits(b)

2,122,665



2,100,154



(1.1) % Revenue per visit(b)(f)

$ 104



$ 104



0.0 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 27,122



$ 26,329



(2.9) % Adjusted EBITDA margin

10.6 %

10.4 %



Concentra











Number of centers  end of period(b)

523



519





Revenue (,000)

$ 398,535



$ 422,840



6.1 % Number of visits(b)

2,877,395



2,795,574



(2.8) % Revenue per visit(b)(f)

$ 123



$ 125



1.6 % Adjusted EBITDA (,000)

$ 61,466



$ 82,015



33.4 % Adjusted EBITDA margin

15.4 %

19.4 %





_______________________________________________________________________________ (a) Includes managed locations. (b) Excludes managed locations. For purposes of the Concentra segment, onsite clinics and community-based outpatient clinics are excluded. (c) Each patient day represents one patient occupying one bed for one day during the periods presented. (d) Represents the number of patients admitted to Select Medical's hospitals during the periods presented. (e) Represents the average amount of revenue recognized for each patient day. Revenue per patient day is calculated by dividing patient service revenues, excluding revenues from certain other ancillary and outpatient services provided at Select Medical's hospitals, by the total number of patient days. (f) Represents the average amount of revenue recognized for each patient visit. Revenue per visit is calculated by dividing patient service revenue, excluding revenues from certain other ancillary services, by the total number of visits. For purposes of this computation for the Concentra segment, patient service revenue does not include onsite clinics and community-based outpatient clinics.

VI. Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021

(In thousands, unaudited)

The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is important to investors because Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as an analytical indicator of performance by investors within the healthcare industry. Adjusted EBITDA is used to evaluate financial performance and determine resource allocation for each of Select Medical's operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, income from operations, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying definitions, Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA for Select Medical. Adjusted EBITDA is used by Select Medical to report its segment performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings excluding interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on early retirement of debt, stock compensation expense, gain (loss) on sale of businesses, and equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries.



Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

2021 Net income $ 70,448



$ 137,214

Income tax expense 21,912



45,064

Interest expense 46,107



34,402

Interest income 



(4,749)

Gain on sale of businesses (7,201)





Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (2,588)



(9,919)

Income from operations 128,678



202,012

Stock compensation expense:





Included in general and administrative 5,437



5,460

Included in cost of services 1,466



1,249

Depreciation and amortization 51,752



49,620

Adjusted EBITDA $ 187,333



$ 258,341









Critical illness recovery hospital(a) $ 88,570



$ 113,272

Rehabilitation hospital 38,569



50,534

Outpatient rehabilitation 27,122



26,329

Concentra 61,466



82,015

Other(b)(c) (28,394)



(13,809)

Adjusted EBITDA $ 187,333



$ 258,341



_______________________________________________________________________________ (a) During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Select Medical's critical illness recovery hospitals recognized $17.9 million of other operating income related to the outcome of litigation with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.



(b) During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Select Medical recognized $16.1 million of other operating income related to the payments received under the Provider Relief Fund for health care related expenses and lost revenues attributable to COVID-19. Refer to "CARES Act Provider Relief Fund" for further discussion.



(c) Other primarily includes general and administrative costs.

VII. Reconciliation of Earnings per Common Share to Adjusted Earnings per Common Share

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021

(In thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. Items excluded from adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Select Medical believes that the presentation of adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are important to investors because they are reflective of the financial performance of Select Medical's ongoing operations and provide better comparability of its results of operations between periods. Adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to, or substitutes for, net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following tables reconcile net income attributable to common shares and earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis to adjusted net income attributable to common shares and adjusted earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis.



Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

Per Share(a)

2021

Per Share(a) Net income attributable to common shares(a) $ 51,307



$ 0.40



$ 106,848



$ 0.82

Adjustments:(b)













Gain on sale of businesses, net of tax effect of $3,419 (3,652)



(0.03)









Adjusted net income attributable to common shares $ 47,655



$ 0.37



$ 106,848



$ 0.82



______________________________________________________________________________ (a) Net income attributable to common shares and earnings per common share are calculated based on the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, as presented in table II.



(b) Adjustments to net income attributable to common shares include estimated income tax and non-controlling interest impacts and are calculated based on the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. The estimated income tax impact, which is determined using tax rates based on the nature of the adjustment and the jurisdiction in which the adjustment occurred, includes both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit.

VIII. Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Business Outlook for the Year Ending December 31, 2021

(In millions, unaudited)

The following is a reconciliation of full year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA expectations as computed at the low and high points of the range to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure. Refer to table VI for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a discussion of Select Medical's use of Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating financial performance. Each item presented in the below table is an estimation of full year 2021 expectations.



Range Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation Low

High Net income attributable to Select Medical $ 327



$ 349

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 83



83

Net income 410



432

Income tax expense 141



149

Interest income (5)



(5)

Interest expense 138



138

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (41)



(41)

Income from operations 643



673

Stock compensation expense 28



28

Depreciation and amortization 199



199

Adjusted EBITDA $ 870



$ 900



SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation
MOSCOW, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheremetyevo International Airport will offer special services and privileges to persons who survived the Second World War as part of its celebration of Victory Day. Military veterans, civilian war participants, war workers, siege survivors and concentration camp survivors will receive free admission to the VIP and business lounges, personal escorts and free parking and meals, as will the persons accompanying them.

Sheremetyevo terminals will be decorated with the traditional symbols of Victory beginning May 6 to begin the commemoration, and patriotic videos will be broadcast on hundreds of the airport's media screens. Employees will decorate their uniforms with symbolic St. George ribbons. On May 9, famous songs of the war years will be played in the terminals as well as congratulations and expressions of gratitude to our ancestors for what they accomplished for future generations.

On May 6, a traditional rally will be held with the participation of veterans and airport staff in the village of Nosovo at the Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers. Sheremetyevo employees will lay wreaths at the memorial and honor the memory of the fallen soldiers with a moment of silence. During the event, all the necessary anti-epidemic measures will be observed to protect the health of the participants.

On May 7 at noon and 2:00 p.m., Terminal B will host the Blue Victory Shawl dance flash mob organized under the auspices of the Russian Land Charity Fund with the participation of Rossiya Airlines. Flight attendants, airline pilots and volunteers will dance a waltz and perform a capella songs of the war years for passengers and guests of the airport. A team of volunteers for the Blue Shawl Women Support and Peace Building program of the Russian Land Foundation will distribute blue shawls to the audience - a symbol of a peaceful sky and female fidelity.

On May 8, the annual SVO motorcycle club's commemorative race will start from Sheremetyevo Airport. The race, which will be led by M.M. Vasilenko, Director of SVO JSC, is dedicated to the 76th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. During the race, members of the motorcycle club, who are drawn from among the management and employees of the Sheremetyevo Group of Companies, will visit places of military glory in Moscow Region and lay wreaths at war memorials.

Sheremetyevo also has joined the All-Russian civic and patriotic event "Memorial March Online." Passengers and guests of Sheremetyevo can learn how to join the All-Russian online march through videos broadcast on media screens in the terminals and at the airport's landside areas and join the rest of the country in honoring the memory of their brave grandfathers and great-grandfathers - war heroes.

On the eve of Victory Day, the airport will provide special services for veterans and participants of the Second World War:

Free parking at the airport (at parking lots of terminals B, D, F and flat parking lots);

Between May 1 and May 15 - free individual services in the VIP lounges of Terminals B and D, as well as free services in the Moscow , St. Petersburg and Sochi business class lounges in Terminal D and the Rublev and Kandinsky business class lounges in Terminal B for veterans and participants of the Second World War, accompanied by one person;

- free individual services in the VIP lounges of Terminals B and D, as well as free services in the , and Sochi business class lounges in Terminal D and the Rublev and Kandinsky business class lounges in Terminal B for veterans and participants of the Second World War, accompanied by one person; Between May 1 and May 15 - free services in the Sleep Lounge of Terminals B and D for veterans and participants of the Second World War accompanied by one person (stay up to 23 hours, subject to prior booking of the service at least 24 hours in advance);

- free services in the Sleep Lounge of Terminals B and D for veterans and participants of the Second World War accompanied by one person (stay up to 23 hours, subject to prior booking of the service at least 24 hours in advance); Services for passengers with limited mobility in the Saturn business class lounge in Terminal D and the Mercury business class lounge in Terminal B and personal escort services during pre- and post-flight procedures;

Between May 1 and May 31 - a 25% discount on purchases in Sheremetyevo Duty Free Heinemann and Sheremetyevo Travel Retail Heinemann stores for veterans and participants of the Second World War (Terminals B and D);*

- a 25% discount on purchases in Sheremetyevo Duty Free Heinemann and Sheremetyevo Travel Retail Heinemann stores for veterans and participants of the Second World War (Terminals B and D);* Between May 7 and May 9 - free baggage packing services, as well as luggage storage services in Terminals B and D;

- free baggage packing services, as well as luggage storage services in Terminals B and D; Between May 1 and May 15 - 50% discount on the PCR test for COVID-19 for veterans and participants of the Second World War, as well as for one accompanying person at the testing sites of the ArkhiMed laboratory in Terminals B and D.

On the eve of and during the celebration of the Victory Day, special services will be provided for veterans and participants of the Second World War at the airport restaurants and cafes:

On May 8 and 9, free meals and soft drinks from the menu will be served at the Kroshka Kartoshka restaurant in Terminals B and D and Mu-Mu restaurant in Terminal B;

and 9, free meals and soft drinks from the menu will be served at the Kroshka Kartoshka restaurant in Terminals B and D and Mu-Mu restaurant in Terminal B; On May 9 , free lunches for veterans and participants of the Second World War will be served at the Teremok cafe in Terminal B;

, free lunches for veterans and participants of the Second World War will be served at the Teremok cafe in Terminal B; Between May 7 and May 10 , free soft drinks will be served for veterans and participants of the Great Patriotic War in the Bread-Salt cafe in Terminals B and F, as well as Coffeeshop in Terminal B.

Detailed information on special services for veterans and participants of the Second World War can be found on the website: www.svo.aero or at the Sheremetyevo call-center, tel. +7 (495) 578-65-65 (calls within Russia are free).

Link to video recordings of the broadcast on media screens at Sheremetyevo airport: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/KRRNYmdmhdnpzg?w=1

* Product discount cannot be combined with other discounts and special offers. Discount does not apply to the purchase of tobacco products. It does not apply to goods at a special price, as well as goods of the categories "Clothes" and / or "Accessories" of the following brands: Maurice Lacroix, Frederique Constant, Rado, Tissot, Longines, Swatch, Omega, Bulgari, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-le- Coultre, Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Tag Heuer, Panerai, Pasquale Bruni, Messika, Magerit, Chaumet, Hermes, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Salvatore Ferragamo, Montblanc, Etro. At the same time, the offer extends to glasses of the brands Cartier, Bulgari, Chloe, Saint-Laurent, Gucci. Imperial Duty Free JSC reserves the right to terminate the offer without prior notice.

SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport

Related Links

https://www.svo.aero


LUXEMBOURG, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ShortDot is gearing up to launch its fifth new domain extension - .sbs, on May 6, 2021, in its Sunrise phase for trademark holders. Short for 'Side By Side', .sbs is a thoughtful three-letter domain extension well-suited for corporate social responsibility programs, social welfare groups, activists, charitable organizations, philanthropic initiatives, and finds valid applications for productivity platforms, online events, and serial multi-taskers. ShortDot will be donating a portion of every .sbs domain registration to a non-profit organization.

Sunrise is a 30-day period that gives trademark holders exclusive access to secure their trademarks in a new domain extension before making it available to the general public. Given that .sbs is the de facto domain extension for philanthropic initiatives and welfare movements, any trademark holder adopting a .sbs domain name will come across as a credible, reliable, and forward-thinking organization.

As ShortDot is gearing up for the Sunrise launch of .sbs, interest is growing swiftly among trademark holders and registrars alike. Nearly 50 registrars worldwide, including CSC Corporate Domains, EuroDNS, 101domain, and many more, have already become .sbs accredited registrars.

ShortDot was founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Lars Jensen, Kevin Kopas, Michael Riedl, and Christian Tecar. With .sbs and their recent launch of the .CFD domain extension, ShortDot is rapidly growing to become a formidable force in the domain industry.

"As a thoughtful, three-letter domain extension, we expect .sbs to strike a chord with philanthropic groups, corporate welfare associations, non-profit organizations, and social welfare workers from around the world," said Kevin Kopas, COO.

"This is our second domain extension launch in just five months, and I'm very excited with the positioning of .sbs. I genuinely believe that .sbs will enable corporations, welfare groups, and individual activists drive change and make a strong social impact online," said Lars Jensen, CEO.

ShortDot offers sales support for its registrar partners via design, development, lead generation, and customer retention programs. End users can search for and register their .sbs domain names at several ICANN accredited registrars worldwide. For more information about ShortDot, .sbs, and the upcoming Sunrise launch, visit www.nic.cfd.

Related Images

image1.jpg

SOURCE Shortdot SA
SALEM, N.H., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI) today announced that it has appointed Robin J. Davenport, Vice President of Corporate Finance, at Parker-Hannifin Corporation as an observer and advisor to its Board of Directors, and intends to nominate Ms. Davenport for election to the Board of Directors at Standex's 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

"We are delighted that Robin has agreed to serve on the Standex Board of Directors. She is a highly accomplished and respected executive with comprehensive financial and global industry expertise in the manufacturing sector. I believe her significant experience and success in the areas of M&A, capital allocation and corporate strategy will be a valuable addition to the current board of directors efforts. I look forward to working closely with her and the current members of the Standex Board as we further execute on our strategic and financial priorities," said President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board David Dunbar.

Ms. Davenport joined Parker-Hannifin Corporation, a global manufacturing leader in motion and control technologies, in 2004. She currently has responsibility for Parker-Hannifin's treasury, risk management, retirement plans asset management, corporate credit, economics and investor relations functions. From 2004 to 2014, Ms. Davenport served as VP, Business Planning & Development for Parker-Hannifin and was responsible for global corporate M&A, integration processes and strategic planning. Prior to joining Parker-Hannifin, Ms. Davenport held several executive roles at CNH Capital Corporation, a global leader in the manufacturing of capital goods. Ms. Davenport is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a BS degree in Finance and received an MBA in Finance and Management Policy from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

"Standex is a leading global manufacturer with a very strong foundation in high value industrial markets. I look forward to sharing my financial, strategic and corporate development insights in this new role and to serving on the Board of Directors," said Ms. Davenport.

About Standex

Standex International Corporation is a multi-industry manufacturer in five broad business segments: Electronics, Engraving, Scientific, Engineering Technologies, and Specialty Solutions with operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, India and China. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://standex.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this Press Release that are not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "should," "could," "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "continue," or similar terms or variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. There are many factors that affect the Company's business and the results of its operations and that may cause the actual results of operations in future periods to differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. These factors include, but are not limited to: the impact of pandemics such as the current coronavirus on employees, our supply chain, and the demand for our products and services around the world; materially adverse or unanticipated legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements; conditions in the financial and banking markets, including fluctuations in exchange rates and the inability to repatriate foreign cash; domestic and international economic conditions, including the impact, length and degree of economic downturns on the customers and markets we serve and more specifically conditions in the automotive, construction, aerospace, transportation, food service equipment, consumer appliance, energy, oil and gas and general industrial markets; lower-cost competition; the relative mix of products which impact margins and operating efficiencies in certain of our businesses; the impact of higher raw material and component costs, particularly steel, certain materials used in electronics parts, petroleum based products, and refrigeration components; an inability to realize the expected cost savings from restructuring activities including effective completion of plant consolidations, cost reduction efforts including procurement savings and productivity enhancements, capital management improvements, strategic capital expenditures, and the implementation of lean enterprise manufacturing techniques; the potential for losses associated with the exit from or divestiture of businesses that are no longer strategic or no longer meet our growth and return expectations; the inability to achieve the savings expected from global sourcing of raw materials and diversification efforts in emerging markets; the impact on cost structure and on economic conditions as a result of actual and threatened increases in trade tariffs; the inability to attain expected benefits from acquisitions and the inability to effectively consummate and integrate such acquisitions and achieve synergies envisioned by the Company; market acceptance of our products; our ability to design, introduce and sell new products and related product components; the ability to redesign certain of our products to continue meeting evolving regulatory requirements; the impact of delays initiated by our customers; and our ability to increase manufacturing production to meet demand; and potential changes to future pension funding requirements. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent management's estimates only as of the day made and should not be relied upon as representing management's estimates as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company and management specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if management's estimates change.

SOURCE Standex International Corporation

Related Links

http://www.standex.com


PETALUMA, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Staffing, a Northern California-based staffing and recruiting firm, has been named to Forbes Magazine's list of America's Best Recruiting and Temporary Staffing Firms in 2021. This is the second time Star Staffing has been recognized by Forbes after receiving this same prestigious award in 2020.

Star Staffing

This distinguished industry award is measured by Statista on behalf of Forbes to rank America's best temporary staffing firms. This recognition is based on over 26,000 nominations from participants in three target groups: external recruiters, HR/hiring managers, and candidates. The complete list consists of 150 Temp Staffing firms and was announced on May 6 and can be viewed on the Forbes website.

Star Staffing President Nicole Serres shares, "It's a distinctive honor to be recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Recruiting and Temporary Staffing Firms in America. This title is a testament to the tremendous job our team has done in building a strong reputation as a company that provides excellent guidance to its clients and employees. Despite this past year presenting us with turbulent changes and adversities in our global and local economies, we were able to step up for our community at a time when our company was needed more than ever. We helped numerous companies with transitioning to remote work, overcoming the various challenges posed by the pandemic, and providing employers with much-needed resources and support. We're grateful to our employees, clients, and team members for their resiliency and continued trust."

With strong ties to essential industries like food manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution, Star Staffing was declared an essential business early into the pandemic and maintains the commitment to recruiting essential workers during challenging times. Star Staffing stimulated the local economy by supporting jobless hospitality workers to find temp jobs in different industries while original jobs were furloughed. For companies that saw an influx of demand due to COVID-19, Star partnered with them to get quality employees into roles, stay safe and operational, and meet hyper-elevated production.

As part of the COVID-safe transition process, Star Staffing pivoted to launch a virtual webinar series with critical information employers needed including topics on Covid-19 Vaccine Policies in the Workplace and Your Wellbeing: How Self-care Impacts the Organization. The Star Staffing App further sets Star Staffing apart as innovative leaders and recruiting experts amid the post-COVID landscape.

About Star Staffing

Star Staffing is a certified women-owned, full-service workforce solutions firm focused on making the best match between employee and employer. Our offices are located throughout Northern California including Sacramento, Fairfield, Napa, Lodi, Hayward, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. Get all your hiring needs met at www.starhr.com

Media Contact:

Kate Gibbons

[email protected]

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SOURCE Star Staffing
"We are incredibly grateful for the support of Suburban Propane who is just as passionate about helping homeless and low-income women and children as we are," said Stephanie Page, executive director of Abby's House. "Access to hot and nutritious meals and grocery items can be difficult to come by for a woman on a limited income. The generosity from Suburban Propane helps to ease some of these worries for women so they can focus on securing or maintaining housing and building a more hopeful life for themselves and their families. We thank Suburban Propane for recognizing women at Abby's House in this special way for the Mother's Day holiday."

The catered meal and pantry items were sourced from local restaurant, Peppercorn's Grille & Tavern , who delivered and set up the brunch at Abby's House, as well as at additional affiliated Abby's House locations. 104.5 XLO was the media partner for the event, providing donated airtime to further raise awareness of the valuable mission of Abby's House.

"Abby's House is one of the truly historic service agencies in the City of Worcester. Since 1976, they have helped tens of thousands of women in dangerous and life-threatening situations," said Mayor Joseph M. Petty. "I want to thank the sponsors at Suburban Propane and Peppercorn's for providing over one-hundred meals this Mother's Day to Abby's House and making this day special for their clients."

"On behalf of Suburban Propane, we'd like to thank Mayor Petty, and we're honored to give back to the local community of Worcester, MA through our SuburbanCares platform. We are proud to have the opportunity to join forces with Abby's House, WXLO-FM, and Peppercorn's, to fill their pantry with much needed supplies, and to provide catered meals for the residents and staff to make their Mother's Day special," said Nandini Sankara, Spokesperson for Suburban Propane. "We hope this donation raises more awareness to the important mission of Abby's House and helps this organization and its residents in a meaningful way."

This initiative is part of Suburban Propane's SuburbanCares platform which is dedicated to supporting community efforts across the company's footprint in the United States. This year, Suburban Propane is undertaking initiatives to help children in underserved communities in Philadelphia, PA; Santa Fe, NM; Santa Rosa, CA; Charleston, SC; Detroit, MI; New Brunswick, NJ; and has fed healthcare professionals in some of the most COVID-19 affected regions in the nation; including Florida, California, Texas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC.

About Suburban Propane:

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH), a nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives, servicing over 1 million customers through its 700 locations across 41 states. The company proudly celebrated 90 years of innovation, growth and quality service in 2018. The brand is currently focused on three core elements including Suburban Commitment - showcasing the company's 90+ year legacy of flexibility, reliability and dependability, Suburban Cares - highlighting dedication to serving local communities across the nation and Go Green with Suburban Propane - promoting the affordable, clean burning and versatile nature of propane as a bridge to a green energy future. Suburban Propane is a New York Stock Exchange listed limited partnership headquartered in Whippany, NJ.

For additional information on Suburban Propane, please visit www.suburbanpropane.com/ .

About Abby's House

Abby's House (Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc.) was founded in Worcester, MA in 1976. A nonprofit organization, we provide shelter and affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services, to homeless, battered, and low-income women, with or without children.

Over the years, we have helped more than 14,000 women and their children reclaim and rebuild their lives, empowering them to lead self-directed lives filled with dignity and hope. For more information, please visit www.abbyshouse.org .

SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.

Related Links

http://suburbanpropane.com


NANJING, China, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Suning Group, today announced that it signed a framework agreement for the establishment of a New Retail Development Fund with Jiangsu Province State-owned Assets and Nanjing Municipal State-owned Assets. The New Retail Development Fund is jointly funded by Suning, State-owned Assets and Nanjing Municipal State-owned Assets and social capital, with a total size of RMB 20 billion.

As a local enterprise rooted in Jiangsu Province, Suning is always focusing on its main retail business, and actively integrating into the new development pattern of "dual circulation". The fund will support Suning in adjusting and optimizing its structure, revitalize high-quality assets, achieve transformational development, and promote the high-quality development of the new retail industry.

Based on market principles and the rule of law, the fund will adopt methods such as investing in Suning's high-quality assets and high-quality businesses under the premise of safeguarding investment risks. It will further utilize the leading role of Suning as a modern business circulation enterprise to realize win-win cooperation between state-owned and private resources, and to promote the sustained and rapid development of the modern commerce circulation system.

About Suning Group

Founded in 1990, Suning Group has two listed subsidiaries at home and abroad and more than 300,000 employees around the world, ranking the third in the Chinese private sector. Being committed to its mission of Leading the Industrial Advancements in Creating a Higher Quality of Life for All, it provides quality products and services to more than 700 million customers worldwide and has its business scope covering three main sectors: Retail, Real Estate, and Financial Service. Suning.com, the main subsidiary is a leading O2O smart retail service provider in China. In 2020, Suning.com maintained its position among the Fortune Global 500 and topped the 2020 List of China's 500 Most Valuable Brands with a brand value of RMB 296.815 billion.

SOURCE Suning Group
AUSTIN, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Texas Rent Relief program is helping renters get assistance with up to 15 months of rental assistance including back rent and up to three months of future rent, as well as utility assistance. As eviction moratoriums expire across the state, the Texas Rent Relief program is prioritizing applications for tenants whose landlords have filed for eviction in an effort to keep Texans in their homes.

"We are working hard to get the word out to landlords to hold off the eviction process because the Texas Rent Relief program is an opportunity to get back due rent and even secure up to three months of future rent stability for tenants," says Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA Executive Director. "Landlords can get up to 15 months of rent paid through this program, but only if they don't evict."

Through the Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP), courts can work with landlords and tenants to put a temporary stay on the eviction process while the parties pursue assistance through the Texas Rent Relief program. Of the 8,000 applications currently going through the TEDP, more than 50% have been approved for approximately $33 million in assistance. Another 3,600 applications are under review or in final review before approval for payment.

TDHCA is helping both TEDP eligible applicants as well as all Texas renters struggling to keep up with rent and utility payments during the pandemic. This program is a win-win for both tenants and landlords who need financial stability at this time.

Tenants can provide eviction information within their application, which will put the application in the priority group. If the landlord files for eviction after the application is submitted, the tenant can call 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368) to provide their court docket number, precinct number and county of the court information so their application can be prioritized.

A Second Chance for the Gray family

As of May 5, Texas Rent Relief has helped 10,000 households with aid totaling more than $67 million. Assistance continues to grow with an average of $4 million approved per day, with marked increases seen weekly.

The program has allowed Texans like Tunde Gray and his family of six in Tarrant County to stay in their homes and ensure their landlords are made whole. Gray fell behind on rent and utility bills when his wife was laid off from her job as a call center supervisor at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The family experienced an additional setback with their income because Tunde works for a technology company that serves the airline industry and he was forced to take a pay cut.

The Gray family heard about Texas Rent Relief through their landlord. They applied and received more than $10,000 in assistance to cover rent, late fees and utility bills.

"The late fees kept accumulating and I didn't know how I was going to come out of it until we found out about Texas Rent Relief," says Gray. "The program gave me a second chance to catch up on our bills and have a home for my family. We are very appreciative of Texas Rent Relief to get us through a difficult time, and I encourage anyone who needs help to apply."

Restored Faith in Houston

Jason Robertson lives in an efficiency apartment near downtown Houston. He worked in the service industry, most recently as a bartender and barista, but found himself unemployed at the onset of the pandemic. Before he knew it, he was 10 months behind on rent and the late fees were piling up.

"I was at the end of my rope," said Robertson.

His landlord was filing for eviction and told him about the Texas Rent Relief program. He worked with a member of the program team to apply using his mobile phone by taking pictures of the required documents and uploading them to the application.

In March, Robertson's application was approved, and he received $4,500 in assistance.

"Being whole with my landlord is like having the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders," Robertson said. "I was just scraping by, and I didn't think anybody really even cared about my situation. Getting help from Texas Rent Relief restored my faith in humanity."

Program Overview Dashboard

TDHCA launched a public dashboard to report on the Texas Rent Relief program's performance, available at TexasRentRelief.com. The dashboard, which will be updated daily, will provide information on the number of approved applications, total assistance paid, as well as geographic and demographic breakdowns of households assisted.

The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with past due rent, utility and home energy expenses as far back as March 13, 2020, current expenses and up to two months of expected expenses. After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, applicants can request three additional months of assistance if funds are still available. Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and meet other criteria to qualify for assistance. Full eligibility details at TexasRentRelief.com.

About the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit www.tdhca.state.tx.us or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.

SOURCE Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Related Links

http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us


LAKE BLUFF, Ill., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout his career Anthony Terlato pioneered quality wines and had an enormous impact on American's drinking habits and appreciation of wine and food. In 1979 Tony Terlato introduced American palates to Pinot Grigio and created a new category for white wine that remains in place to this day. His trailblazing career spanned more than sixty years, and he was regarded as 'The Father of Pinot Grigio'. Terlato passed away in June 2020, but the Terlato family, a proud four-generation family business, continue his mission of producing, importing, and marketing fine wines and giving back to their industry and communities. In recognition of his enduring contributions, Terlato has announced the Terlato Legacy Program: 1st Annual Anthony Terlato Tribute.

With over 40 years of leadership in luxury Pinot Grigio, CEO Bill Terlato traveled to the Northeast of Italy in 2012 to create the next chapter for their family and the category. In 2014, he released Terlato Vineyards Estate grown and bottled Pinot Grigio from Colli Orientali del Friuli, Italy's most renowned white wine region.

This year in partnership with premier beverage distributor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, the Terlato Vineyards Legacy Program established a challenge with Terlato Vineyards Pinot Grigio, the top-selling luxury Pinot Grigio from Friuli, to fund a charity in honor of Tony Terlato. With 15 markets competing to deliver the best performance, the enthusiastic competition was won by Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Illinois.

Their impressive efforts delivered a $40,000 donation to the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Terlato Vineyards and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits will each contribute $20,000 to support this important initiative.

CEO Bill Terlato said, "Our partnership with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is a source of great pride, and our father would be thrilled by what we've accomplished together. It is only fitting that the Illinois sales team earned this victory. Many on the team have worked with our family for years and we are pleased that the best performance was in our backyard to honor his legacy. We are thrilled that the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is the beneficiary of the donation as the restaurant community was near and dear to dad's heart."

The restaurant industry, the largest private-sector employer in Illinois has been overwhelmingly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Terlato Vineyards Legacy Program's generous $40,000 donation to the non-profit IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund will assist colleagues in the foodservice industry with their efforts to move forward during these challenging times.

Terry Brick, Executive VP and General Manager for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits noted, "Our entire SGWS Family is honored to win this national contest designed to recognize the outstanding legacy of Tony Terlato. We were able to win thanks to our team's passion for this brand and also thanks to our partners at Choose Chicago, with whom we recently partnered on Chicago Restaurant Week. This partnership expanded our ability to share Terlato wines with hundreds of participating restaurants and thousands of food and wine enthusiasts. Being able to donate $40,000 to the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is a remarkable tribute, one that we are confident Tony would be proud of, knowing how passionate he and the entire Terlato family is for the hospitality community here in Chicago and across the country."

"We are humbled and grateful for this generous contribution from Terlato Wines and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits," said Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association. "Since last summer, we have actively raised funds for the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which provides one-time, $500 cash grants to industry workers facing unforeseen financial crisis as a result of the pandemic. This remarkable gift will truly make a difference in the lives of others and will allow us to reach a milestone of disbursing more than $300,000 this spring."

More information on Terlato Wines International is available at https://www.terlatowines.com

Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits https://www.southernglazers.com/

Illinois Employee Restaurant Relief Fund https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/page/IRAEFReliefFund

SOURCE Terlato Wines International

Related Links

http://www.terlatowines.com


Democrats have labeled Trumps claims that he won as the Big Lie. Just this week, Trump issued a statement in which he sought to rebrand and take over the term Big Lie and give it the opposite meaning. The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!, Trump said.
The collection and the overall campaign was designed in close collaboration with key members of Prince's artistic camp, including creative director Trevor Guy; his beloved muse and close friend, Damaris Lewis, who began touring with him in 2012; and renowned photographer/director Randee St. Nicholas who captured art for the campaign and was a close collaborator with Prince for three decades.

"I'm very excited for this collection. I hope it inspires you to make your own rules, just as Prince did for so many decades," says Damaris Lewis. The multi-talented actress, model, and dancer first joined Prince's band the New Power Generation in 2012 on his Welcome 2 Australia Tour and continued performing alongside him during the final chapters of his prolific career.

"It's incredibly important to carry on Prince's legacy in a way that truly gets it right," says Randee St. Nicholas. "He challenged you to rise to his level of work ethic and intensity  not in a way that was threatening or fearful, you just didn't want to disappoint him. He made you want to be your best, perform at the highest caliber and step outside of your comfort zone. When shooting, it was important to embody this boldness and freedom."

Wende Zomnir, Urban Decay brand co-founder and a Prince fangirl dating back to the '80s, added that paying homage to Prince made sense for many different reasons. "We couldn't possibly imitate someone as legendary as Prince, and to compare him to a palette would diminish what he represents. It's easy to say why this collection makes sense on the surface  his makeup looks and our shared love of purple  but we did our best to reflect his energy on a deeper level. We found his ethos of not asking permission to be who he was and owning it so boldly aligned with our values of breaking the mold and championing all forms of beauty."

ABOUT URBAN DECAY COSMETICS

Urban Decay appeals to those who relish their individuality and embrace what makes them different. We have challenged the industry's definition of beauty since 1996, when we disrupted the sea of pink dominating makeup counters everywhere. From our all-encompassing, cruelty-free range of bold and velvety eyeshadowswhich include our bestselling Naked palettesto our award-winning eye pencils, budge-proof mascaras, and cult-status makeup setting sprays, our version of "pretty" has always been pretty different beauty.

ABOUT THE PRINCE ESTATE

The Prince Estate passionately presents Prince's life and work and cultivates opportunities to further his legacy. As the singular, authoritative source on all things Prince, The Prince Estate inspires and educates fans, celebrates Prince in his totality, and stewards Prince's legacy into the future.

Official Website: PRINCE.com

Official Store: Store.PRINCE.com

Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @prince

For more information, please contact:

Lauren Larkin and Vanessa Veltre

ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS

212.230.1800

[email protected]/[email protected]

For The Prince Estate, please contact:

Cara Hutchison

The Lede Company

[email protected]

SOURCE Urban Decay
" We could not be more excited to welcome adidas into our portfolio of brands, " says Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, President & CEO of Timex Group. " There are few truly iconic brands, and adidas, with its rich history and authentic style, is at the very top of the list. We see a strong and increasing interest in watches among young Millennials and GenZ, and we look forward to introducing our adidas Originals watch collection to this next generation of consumers. "

The new range launching in Spring 2022 will blend Timex Group's watchmaking and design expertise and adidas Originals' street culture inspiration and attention to sustainability. It will be sold across adidas owned stores, affiliates and e-commerce, and through Timex Group's global distribution network.

About Timex Group

Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces around the world. Timex Group is a privately-held company headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with multiple operating units and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As one of the largest watch makers in the world, Timex Group companies produce watches under a number of well-known brands, including Timex, Nautica, Guess, Gc, Ted Baker, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Versus, Missoni, Furla and adidas.

Join Timex on social media: @timex

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

About adidas

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 62,000 people across the globe and generated sales of  19.8 billion in 2020.

Contact Timex Group

Michala Oestereich

[email protected] | [email protected]

SOURCE Timex

Related Links

http://timexgroup.com


What do marketers need to thrive in a cookie-less world? Tweet this

The other thing worth pointing out is that a transition to consumer-first digital marketing practices means that the data and insights marketers will have to work with will look different from what they are accustomed to. Said differently, we're not simply replacing old processes with new ones that fit neatly into the same mould.

As we know, the increasing limitations on third-party access to cookies, MAIDs and other identifiers complicate the ability for marketers to know exactly who sees their campaigns. That's because as companies chart their individual paths to limit access to information related to their users, the deterministic approaches to link demographics to exposures that the industry previously used are no longer viable.

Instead of recognizing people and what devices they're using, measurement services now need to establish new ways to identify devices and the people who use them, in a manner consistent with applicable privacy requirements. To be effective, these identifiers need to be:

People centric

Persistent (stable over time)

Prolific (used consistently across the web)

Transferable (across different devices / access points to enable cross -platform)

In all likelihood, such identifiers won't be available to measure all digital impressions. To cover the gap, digital measurement will need to be augmented with an identity-less solution. To ensure maximum effectiveness, that solution should be probabilistic in design, relying heavily on machine learning, and contextual in nature, using clues and signals from how and where impressions are served in order to pinpoint user demographics.

It's a unique time for digital marketing, and there are really three key areas that tech companies will need to solve for as they make their way toward holistic measurement in this new reality. First, agreements between measurement companies and publishers will be critical in order to measure their audiences. To determine all other open-web audiences, companies will need to develop alternate identity solutions that leverage responsibly licensed third-party user registration data. Lastly, companies will need models for the anonymous web where individual and device identifiers are not present.

In this digital age, it's easy to lean into big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence for tomorrow's solutions. Importantly, brands and marketers cannot lose sight of the importance of actual people in modern marketing. People-based truth sets (panels) are more important than ever, as direct observation is critical to correct for bias and error.

As the evolution of measurement progresses, it's important to recognizeand plan forsignificant trend breaks. The environmental changes driving this evolution will fundamentally alter how we measure audiences. Given the change in the basis for measurement, notable trend breaks are to be expected.

ABOUT NIELSEN

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a leading global data and analytics company that provides a holistic and objective understanding of the media industry. With offerings spanning audience measurement, audience outcomes and content, Nielsen offers its clients and partners simple solutions to complex questions and optimizes the value of their investments and growth strategies. It is the only company that can offer de-duplicated cross-media audience measurement. Audience is EverythingTM to Nielsen and its clients, and Nielsen is committed to ensuring that every voice counts.

An S&P 500 company, Nielsen offers measurement and analytics service in nearly 60 countries. Learn more at www.nielsen.com or www.nielsen.com/investors and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE Nielsen Holdings plc

Related Links

http://www.nielsen.com


AUSTIN, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition") today announced it will host a conference call on Wednesday May 12, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2021, in addition to providing a business update.

Event: VolitionRx Limited First Quarter 2021 Earnings and Business Update Conference Call

Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Time: 8:00 a.m. Eastern time

U.S. & Canada Dial-in: 1-877-407-9716 (toll free)

U.K. Dial-in: 0 800 756 3429 (toll free)

Toll/International: 1-201-493-6779

Conference ID: 13719633

Cameron Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volition, will host the call along with Terig Hughes, Chief Financial Officer and Scott Powell, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations. The call will provide an update on recent developments and Volition's activities, including details of new and ongoing clinical trials, important events which have taken place in the first quarter of 2021, and milestones for 2021 and beyond.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations page of Volition's corporate website at http://ir.volition.com. In addition, a telephone replay of the call will be available until May 26, 2021. The replay dial-in numbers are 1-844-512-2921 (toll-free) in the U.S. and Canada and 1-412-317-6671 (toll) internationally. Please use replay pin number 13719633.

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases. Early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of NucleosomicsTM, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition is primarily focused on human diagnostics but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with a small laboratory in California and additional offices in Texas, London and Singapore, as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market.

NucleosomicsTM is a trademark of Volition and its subsidiaries.

For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website (http://www.volition.com) or connect with us via:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/volitionrx

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volitionrx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolitionRx/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolitionRx

The contents found at Volition's website address, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The addresses for Volition's website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are included in this document as inactive textual references only.

Media / Investor Contacts

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
MILWAUKEE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters Joint Council 39 announced its endorsement of Alex Lasry for Senate. The endorsement, which is the first labor endorsement for any candidate in the 2022 Wisconsin Senate race, was announced during a press conference this morning at Teamsters Local Union 200 in Milwaukee, Wisc.

"Alex Lasry is a candidate that working families in Wisconsin can count on to champion their issues in the Senate," said Joint Council 39 Political Coordinator Bill Carroll. "He has a long history of supporting organized labor and providing opportunities for marginalized workers. His efforts to provide union jobs as part of the Fiserv Forum construction is a prime example of his record of putting his support of organized labor into action."

Lasry has also been a vocal supporter of the PRO Act, a piece of legislation that would level the playing field for workers who want to join a union. Lasry stated that "if you're pro-worker, you're pro, PRO Act."

"I couldn't be more grateful to have the support of Teamsters Joint Council 39. I've said since day one that I will put Wisconsin's working people at the center of my campaign and it's an honor to have the backing of organized labor as we continue on this journey," Lasry said. "Receiving the first union endorsement of this race is an important step towards building the momentum needed to flip this Senate seat and start delivering real results for Wisconsinites."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Teamsters Joint Council 39 represents more than 18,000 workers at four locals across Wisconsin. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Bill Carroll, (414) 258-4545

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 39
"At Wolters Kluwer, we are committed to developing digital solutions that enable our customers to deliver deep impact by leveraging expert information, actionable insights, and intelligent tools," said Dean Sonderegger, head of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "We are honored that the 2021 American Business Awards recognized these solutions that improve workflows, enhance efficiency, and drive greater value."

M&A Deals on RBsourceFilings, which earned a Gold Stevie Award for Business Information Solution, boosts attorneys' negotiating position by giving them deep insight into the past agreements of deal counterparties, understanding of what is typical for the industry, and the past deals of an acquiring firm. Powerful full text search and browse tools guide attorneys to specific language that will boost their position, from a database of thousands of M&A agreements and over 800,000 individual clauses.

PracticePerfect, which won a Gold Stevie Award in the Legal Information Solution category, provides an interactive study aid designed to help law students understand core topics and test their ability to recall and correctly apply the law. PracticePerfect incorporates many elements of learning science, including practicing recall, spaced repetition, interleaving, feedback, and multiple contexts and modalities for richer memory encoding.

Federal Developments Knowledge Center with Cheetah Integration earned a Gold Stevie Award for Search Technology Solution and a Bronze Stevie Award for Legal Information Solution. The product provides all federal legislative, regulatory and executive content available in one location to streamline monitoring of federal information. Information is updated in near real time and categorized according to status, policy area, agency or type, improving discoverability and ensuring currency.

Kluwer Arbitration Practice Plus, which won a Gold Stevie Award in the Legal Information Solution category, provides practical tools and actionable guidance for legal professionals supporting them throughout the different stages of the arbitration process. The solution offers step-by-step guidance, comparative tools and reliable answers to help legal professionals minimize risk, make informed decisions quickly and develop a sound arbitration strategy.

Kluwer Competition Law (KCL), which won a Bronze Stevie Award in the Legal Information Solution category, provides a combination of in-depth analysis and primary source with current awareness and practice tools. Developed in collaboration with market leaders, KCL is supported with cutting-edge technology and embedded in the workflow of competition and antitrust practitioners.

Cheetah for Corporate Counsel earned a Bronze Stevie Award for Business Information Solution, and is designed to reflect the needs and everyday workflows of corporate counsel. The wide-ranging content and easy-to-use tools within the solution allow users to efficiently keep their business moving forward through increased response times, staying up to date on the impact of legal changes and risk mitigation.

All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations to The American Business Awards in a wide range of categories, honoring achievement in every aspect of work. More than 3,800 nominations were reviewed in the judging process this year by more than 250 professionals. Six of Wolters Kluwer's solutions earned a 2021 American Business Award.

About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media

Linda Gharib

Director, Brand & Communications

Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Related Links

https://www.wolterskluwer.com


Yasso continues to set a new gold standard in permissible indulgence snacking. On top of resetting new standards with the launch of frozen Greek yogurt sandwiches and Yasso Poppables in the past months, the brand's new Creamy Guarantee is a result of consumer demand. According to research conducted in 2020, creaminess is the number two purchase driver for premium novelty brands, second only to taste.

"At Yasso, we are dedicated to delivering on consumer satisfaction," said Craig Shiesley, Chief Executive Officer of Yasso. "From our Mintier Mint flavors to our snackable offerings, our Creamy Guarantee is another example of just how delicious our better-for-you products really are."

The guarantee reads that within 30-days of a customer's first purchase of Yasso Greek yogurt bars (product exclusions apply), if they are not completely satisfied with the creamy taste and texture they can complete a form on the Yasso website for a refund request up to $5.99 USD of the purchase price.

Yasso is available at retailers nationwide, as well as available for delivery direct to your door on yasso.com . To find a store near you, or learn more information about the Creamy Guarantee please visit Yasso.com/creamy-guarantee and follow the brand @yasso .

About Yasso

Kindergarten friends turned entrepreneurs, founders Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane set out on a mission to create desserts that deliver on everyday indulgence with great taste, quality ingredients and superb nutritionals. Since hitting store shelves in 2011 as the first to market frozen Greek yogurt, Yasso quickly became one of the fastest-growing dessert brands in the world, disrupting the brand ranks of deeply entrenched competitors and attracting a loyal following of brand enthusiasts. Yasso currently offers 13 flavors of novelty stick bars, four flavors of dipped chocolate bars, three frozen Greek yogurt sandwiches, and brand new Yasso Poppables, all of which can be found at grocery and club stores nationwide. Yasso is also an active, positive contributor to the community via its Game On! Foundation which inspires health and wellness for people of all ages. To find your local retailers and to learn more about Yasso, please visit www.yasso.com and follow @yasso .

Contact: Megan Minturn, (916) 770-0436, [email protected]

SOURCE Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt

Related Links

http://www.yasso.com


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

Gerelateerde links

http://www.investcloud.com


PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adient (NYSE: ADNT), a global leader in automotive seating, today announced second quarter 2021 financial results.

Q2 GAAP net income and EPS diluted of $69M and $0.72 respectively; Q2 Adj.-EPS diluted of $1.15

and respectively; Q2 Adj.-EPS diluted of Q2 Adj.-EBITDA of $303M , up $92M y-o-y; Q2 Adj. EBITDA margin of 7.9%, up 190 bps y-o-y

, up y-o-y; Q2 Adj. EBITDA margin of 7.9%, up 190 bps y-o-y Cash and cash equivalents of $984M at March 31, 2021 (cash used during the quarter to voluntarily pay down debt totaled ~$700M )

at (cash used during the quarter to voluntarily pay down debt totaled ) Subsequent to the quarter, Adient amended and extended its Term Loan B and exercised an early redemption option on the company's 7.00% senior first lien notes due 2026

Adient reaffirms FY21 Adj.-EBITDA of between $1.0B and $1.1B ; increased macro pressures (rising commodity prices and lower volumes) combined with phasing of normal business drivers (i.e., commercial settlements and engineering spend) expected to weigh on second-half Adj.-EBITDA

For complete details and to see reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures, visit the events section of the Adient investor website at www.investors.adient.com/events-and-presentations/events to download the full press release and earnings presentation.

Investor analyst conference call:

Adient's president and chief executive officer, Douglas Del Grosso, and executive vice president and chief financial officer, Jeff Stafeil, will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern to discuss the results. To participate by telephone, please dial 888-455-2945 (U.S.) or 773-799-3947 (international) 15 minutes prior to the start time of the call and ask to be connected to the Adient conference call. The conference passcode is ADIENT.

About Adient:

Adient (NYSE: ADNT) is a global leader in automotive seating. With approximately 77,000 employees in 32 countries, Adient operates 202 manufacturing/assembly plants worldwide. We produce and deliver automotive seating for all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our integrated, in-house skills allow us to take our products from research and design to engineering and manufacturing  and into more than 19 million vehicles every year. For more information on Adient, please visit www.adient.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Adient has made statements in this document that are forward-looking and, therefore, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be, deemed "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this document, statements regarding Adient's expectation for the strategic transactions in China, its deleveraging transactions and the amendment and extension of Adient's term loan credit agreement (collectively, the "Transactions"), timing, benefits and outcomes of the Transactions, as well as its future financial position, sales, costs, earnings, cash flows, other measures of results of operations, capital expenditures or debt levels and plans, objectives, market position, outlook, targets, guidance or goals are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" or terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward- looking statements. Adient cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Adient's control, that could cause Adient's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: Adient's ability to consummate the Transactions that may yield additional value for shareholders at all or on the same or different terms as those described herein, the timing, benefits and outcomes of the Transactions, the effect of the announcements of the Transactions on Adient's business relationships, operating results and business generally, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Transactions, the failure to satisfy conditions to consummation of the Transactions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals (and any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on these approvals), risks that the Transactions disrupt current plans and operations, including potential disruptions with respect to Adient's employees, vendors, clients and customers as well as management diversion or potential litigation, the effects of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general, and other risks and uncertainties, the continued financial and operational impacts of and uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic on Adient and its customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and other parties, the ability of Adient to execute its turnaround plan, the ability of Adient to effectively launch new business at forecast and profitable levels, the ability of Adient to meet debt service requirements, the terms of financing, the impact of tax reform legislation through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and/ or under the new U.S. presidential administration, uncertainties in U.S. administrative policy regarding trade agreements, tariffs and other international trade relations including as may be impacted by the change in U.S. presidential administration, general economic and business conditions, the strength of the U.S. or other economies, automotive vehicle production levels, mix and schedules, shifts in market share among vehicles, vehicle segments or away from vehicles on which Adient has significant content, changes in consumer demand, work stoppages and similar events, global climate change and related emphasis on ESG matters by various stakeholders, energy and commodity prices, the availability of raw materials and component products, currency exchange rates and cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements, and the ability of Adient to identify, recruit and retain key leadership. A detailed discussion of risks related to Adient's business is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Adient's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 30, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2021, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, available at www.sec.gov. Potential investors and others should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, Adient assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this document.

In addition, this document includes certain projections provided by Adient with respect to the anticipated future performance of Adient's businesses. Such projections reflect various assumptions of Adient's management concerning the future performance of Adient's businesses, which may or may not prove to be correct. The actual results may vary from the anticipated results and such variations may be material. Adient does not undertake any obligation to update the projections to reflect events or circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events. No representations or warranties are made as to the accuracy or reasonableness of such assumptions or the projections based thereon.

ADNT-FN

SOURCE Adient

Related Links

www.adient.com


NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This past March, 20 of the largest publishing platforms and ad exchanges met to discuss the future of digital advertising and how the proliferation of malvertising in the form of scams, coordinated phishing attacks and aggressive redirects has caused incalculable damage to the adtech industry. The main subject of the call was buyers.json, an industry initiative to develop rules for buy-side transparency in the digital advertising ecosystem.

Digital publishers are uniting to fight back against these bad actors. A petition at the microsite https://buyersdotjson.com/ permits the adtech industry to pledge support of buyers.json, a new standard in development at IAB Tech Lab, now available for public comment . The buyers.json file would increase buy-side transparency by providing sellers access to buyer identifiers, name, and buyer type (direct or intermediary). Thus, any attack in progress could be identified and expediently shut down across all DSPs, insulating the industry from unmitigated damage. Enterprises such as the Los Angeles Times, PubMatic, The Guardian, Meredith, Mail Online, and CafeMedia have registered their advocacy for industry adoption of buyers.json.

"Transparency, quality and efficiency in programmatic advertising are critical to delivering consumer value. PubMatic is glad to join this effort to promote Buyers.json, bring enhanced clarity to the industry, and protect publishers across the open internet. We also believe that this initiative will help legitimate buyers drive ROI by preventing malicious behaviors that could negatively impact their campaigns and the consumers with whom they are trying to engage online," said Eric Bozinny, Senior Director, Marketplace Quality, PubMatic.

"Malvertisers are malicious and exceptionally clever cybercriminal enterprises," said Louis-David Mangin, CEO of Confiant, one of the petition signers. "Malvertisers go to great lengths to create an appearance of legitimacy, complete with articles of incorporation, bank account numbers, executive LinkedIn profiles and more. Currently, these bad actors are indistinguishable from authentic advertisers until they inflict damage on a DSP, and then nimbly replicate the action across multiple DSPs. While sellers.json exists to protect brands from buying inventory from unscrupulous publishers, no such protection is in place on the buy side, placing publishers at constant and significant risk of third-party threats to their users, resultant lost revenue and substantial legal exposure."

In 2019, Confiant research found one in every 150 digital ad impressions to be malicious or disruptive, impacting 20 percent of user sessions. In addition to accelerating the prevalence of ad blockers and reducing the reach of DSPs, malvertisers are responsible for misappropriation of celebrity endorsement images that entice users to make fraudulent purchases and expose sensitive data, escalating legal liability for DSPs and causing untold damage to the reputation of the digital advertising industry.

On the microsite, buyers.json (buyersdotjson.org) , a white paper furnished by Confiant conveys the benefits of a united global adtech industry aligning to disable the digital organized crime ring that comprises malvertising. "The buyer transparency that the demand chain object brings will help publishers in a multitude of ways. Publishers would be able to better identify demand not only to reduce malvertising, but to improve ad quality, to reduce transaction failure, and to discover buyers who may be interested in more highly coupled partnerships. Publishers will have visibility into how buyers are making supply path decisions and potentially partner with them to choose a more optimal one. The utility of the demand chain object to the publisher community is hard to overstate." Patrick McCann, SVP Research Cafe Media

About Confiant, Inc.

Confiant's mission is to make the digital world safe for everyone. We defend publishers and ad platforms by helping them take back control of the ad experience and protect their users. Our solution protects reputation, revenue, and resources by providing real-time verification of digital advertisements. Confiant's technology actively blocks and detects malicious activity and low-quality ads. By providing industry-leading protection from malvertising, disruptive ads, and privacy risks Confiant empowers premium ad platforms and publishers with actionable data to ensure the digital ad ecosystem is safe and secure for everyone. We detect and protect billions of ad impressions per month for our clients, which include CBSinteractive, Magnite, Gannett, and Politico.

CONTACT: Kathleen McMorrow

The Communications Optic, LLC

Telephone: (973) 665-8167

SOURCE Confiant
This investigation was an example of how politics can be inserted into something thats good and distract us from the important work of helping people, said Neil Volz, deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. We didnt let it distract us, and as a result, a record number of returning citizens turned out and voted in our state.
"The ability to automate the time-consuming and tedious tasks will free up employees to add value on other projects." Tweet this

"I'm really excited about the custom reporting features and easy app integrations," says Dave Schwab, Chief Product Officer at AdvoLogix. "You're all probably familiar with the drudgery of outside counsel spend management. With the launch of our ELM product, legal teams will be well on their way to automating outside counsel invoicing and spend management. This is merely the tip of the AI iceberg for AdvoLogix in 2021. The ELM platform will free up your organization to focus on maximizing the impact of your legal operations and spend less time on minutiae, knowing the AI always has your back."

With the addition of their Enterprise Legal Management Platform, the AdvoLogix Spring 2021 Product Release once again demonstrates AdvoLogix leadership in the world of Legal Technology.

In addition to the new ELM product, AdvoLogix is also releasing further enhancements to their matter management toolset, including Google Docs integration, a major integration to increase file accessibility during your document management processes.

About AdvoLogix

Founded in 2006, AdvoLogix is a leading law practice and legal matter management solution that helps law firms, general counsel and state and local governments automate unique business processes and simplify legal matter management. The AdvoLogix cloud-based enterprise solution centralizes matter management, conforms to unique workflows and practice standards, and provides industry-leading security and reliability. AdvoLogix offers comprehensive configuration and integration with thousands of add-on applications to extend the solution to meet specific business needs. For more information, visit www.advologix.com and follow AdvoLogix on Twitter with @AdvoLogix.

Media Contact

Adam Aspelin

AdvoLogix/Marketing Coordinator

[email protected]

SOURCE AdvoLogix

Related Links

https://www.advologix.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee's (AJC) groundbreaking outreach to the Arab world through social media has reached new heights, having engaged millions of Arabic speakers across its platforms, the global Jewish advocacy organization announced today.

More than 90 million Arabic speakers have seen the content of AJC's Arabic Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube accounts since their launch in early 2020.

Of the 90 million engagements, there have been more than 20 million views of AJC's groundbreaking Arabic video series, 'An al-Yahud ("About the Jews") , which launched alongside its Arabic accounts, with the majority of viewers hailing from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The five videos released thus far cover:

In addition, AJC's Arabic social media accounts have accumulated more than 500,000 followers from across the Middle East and North Africa, and the number is rapidly growing.

"It's extraordinarily heartwarming to see the depth and breadth of engagement established between the Arabic-speaking world and AJC in such a relatively short time span," said AJC CEO David Harris. "We have made abundantly clear that outreach to both the Arab and the larger Islamic world is at the top of our 21st century agenda."

For years, Harris has spoken frequently about AJC's transformative initiatives in the Arab world and their essential importance for charting a new path for Arab-Jewish and Muslim-Jewish relations.

Both the Arabic social media accounts and the 'An al-Yahud video series build on AJC's unique, extensive, and longstanding engagement with partners in the Arab and Muslim worlds. As the leading Jewish organization engaged in this critical work, AJC representatives have met regularly over the past three decades with Arab and Muslim leaders across the Middle East and North Africa to exchange views on matters of mutual concern, among them the fight against extremism, Muslim-Jewish relations, and the shared interests of Israel and Arab states.

Recent achievements include the launching of the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council in the United States in 2016, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mecca-based Muslim World League (MWL) in 2019, the historic joint MWL-AJC visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2020, and the announcement of a new AJC office, in the United Arab Emirates, to open later this year.

https://www.ajc.org/news/ajcs-engagement-with-the-arab-world-reaches-new-heights

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


CHICAGO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) today announced the appointment of Alexandre "Ale" Eboli as executive vice president and chief supply chain officer, effective Aug. 2. Eboli will succeed Dave Biegger, who is retiring from the organization at the end of the current fiscal year.

In the role with Conagra Brands, Eboli will have end-to-end supply chain responsibilities for the company, overseeing the manufacturing, procurement, environment, health and safety, plant quality, logistics, and transportation and warehousing teams.

"Ale is an exceptional leader who brings a proven track record of success in strengthening supply chain operations," said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer, Conagra Brands. "We are excited to welcome him to Conagra, and I look forward to working together to ensure we deliver exceptional value for all of our stakeholders."

Eboli has 25 years of experience of global end-to-end supply chain leadership within the consumer packaged goods industry and has held a variety of roles in finance, planning, distribution, logistics and manufacturing. Prior to joining Conagra Brands, Eboli served as the Head of Supply Chain, North America for The Unilever Group, where he was responsible for overseeing manufacturing facilities and co-manufacturers producing personal care, food and ice cream products as well as the related planning, procurement, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, quality, manufacturing excellence and customer service functions.

"It's an exciting time to be joining Conagra Brands," said Eboli. "The company offers a culture of success, an exceptionally talented employee base, and a strong portfolio of iconic and emerging brands. I look forward to bringing my expertise to Conagra to help accelerate innovation and growth."

Eboli earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Engineering from Sao Paulo University.

About Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, and Slim Jim, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP, Duke's, Earth Balance, Gardein, and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.ConagraBrands.com.

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Mike Cummins, Conagra Brands

312-549-5257

[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.conagrafoods.com


HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a year where educators have been challenged to the extreme, alliantgroup is thrilled to partner for the third year with the Houston Independent School District to announce that Whitnee Boston of Gregory-Lincoln Education Center is 2021's Elementary Science Teacher of the Year.

Judging took place on May 4, 2021 virtually and at alliantgroup's national headquarters. This award, in partnership with the Houston Independent School District, is in its third year and was created to reward local teachers who are increasing student achievement and engagement through innovative lesson plans that emphasize the importance and intrigue of science. This award is just one of the many educational initiatives that alliantgroup is involved in as part of its continuing efforts to promote the importance of STEM education.

Even more challenging in a year where some teaching had to be remote, each finalist was chosen based on the innovative teaching methods they are using to get their students engaged and interested in the field of science. The finalists were chosen by HISD based on their implementation of a uniquely innovative lesson plan that effectively immerses their students in STEM fields. One finalist was chosen from each of the six Houston ISD regions.

"I am always so impressed and inspired by these teachers and how they share their passion for science with their students," said alliantgroup CEO, Dhaval Jadav. "In this difficult year, these teachers had to go the extra mile to teach and engage their students in lessons that usually require such hands-on learning. I truly commend them."

"Thank you so much, I am truly humbled because each and every teacher on this panel, I'm like in awe. You guys taught me so much, I look to you guys, you guys are amazing," said winning teacher Whitnee Boston.

These teachers will all be recognized not only with the cash prizes, but also media spots to highlight their commendable work. The grand prize winner of the alliantgroup Houston ISD Elementary Science Teacher Award was selected by an esteemed group of judges to include William T. Harris, Space Center Houston CEO; Jacquie Baly, Director at Governor Greg Abbott's University Research Initiative Board, University of Houston professor; Heidi Heitkamp, alliantgroup Strategic Advisory Board Member and Former North Dakota Senator; Tony Canales, Telemundo General Manager; and Sharron Melton, CW39 Anchor.

The five finalists will receive a cash award of $1,300 as well as $500 for their classrooms. The grand prize winner, Ms. Boston, will receive a cash prize of $3,500 as well as $500 for her classroom.

The other five amazing finalists were:

Mahrukh Naim Paige Elementary School Rebecca Munn Shadowbriar Elementary School Andrea Jaime Roosevelt Elementary School Ildemaro Gonzalez Northline Elementary School Sara Rodriguez Shearn Elementary School

The alliantgroup Elementary Science Teacher Award was created to reward local teachers who are increasing student achievement and engagement through innovative lesson plans that emphasize both the importance and fun aspects of science. For more information on the 2021 Elementary Science Teacher Award, as well as alliantgroup's other education initiatives, please visit alliantgroup.com.

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 18,000 businesses claim more than $10 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.

SOURCE alliantgroup

Related Links

http://www.alliantgroup.com


SEATTLE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amperity, the #1 enterprise Customer Data Platform for consumer brands, today announced the release of its latest major platform update, Amperity 3.5.

The release brings several product updates and platform improvements that enable enterprise consumer brands to turn first-party data into differentiated customer experiences. Amperity 3.5 also brings improved self-service features for IT professionals and analysts, as well as powerful marketing capabilities and integrations that unlock enhanced personalization options.

"We have new functionality, namely the ability to segment our offers and integrate systems we couldn't before. It used to take us eight days to meet our goal  now it takes us one day," said Carolina Kennedy, senior director digital lifestyle marketing at Tapestry.

"These upgrades bring a wave of new value for our customers who are navigating multiple business shifts, including re-engaging their businesses post-covid, accelerating customer personalization, and the deprecation of third-party identifiers. These are massive challenges facing today's enterprises and Amperity's top priority is ensuring we continually innovate on behalf of our users," said Chris Jones, chief product officer at Amperity.

Amperity 3.5's new capabilities include:

More omnichannel personalization use cases & channels

Upgraded connectivity to Google, Facebook, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Snowflake, as well as over 120+ additional new connectors across popular channels and personalization systems, including Adobe Experience Cloud, Oracle Responsys, Azure, AWS, Attentive, and more

New joint solutions with

Customer support provider Zendesk



AI-content generation and decisioning platform Persado



Multi-channel customer engagement platform Braze



Digital experimentation platform Optimizely

New multi-step campaigns and triggers based on customer transactions, behaviors, and campaign activities

Rapid segment insights with new visual segmentation tools and dashboards

Improved analytics & identity capabilities

Additional privacy-compliant anonymous identity capabilities to expand and manage audiences with no third-party cookie reliance

New Amperity-managed data warehouse that allows limitless creativity across popular BI tools such as Tableau and Looker

Workflow and auto-data labeling enhancements to make the Customer 360 even more turnkey for analysts and data administrators

Increased self-service & improved usability

Upgraded sandboxes to facilitate easier testing and experimentation outside of production, for IT professionals.

to facilitate easier testing and experimentation outside of production, for IT professionals. More ways to ingest data, up to real-time streaming (Parquet, Avro, streaming JSON, XML), with additional data normalization and auto-formatting, labeling for rapid unification onto the Customer 360

Simplified drag and drop omnichannel orchestration for point and click data sync across hundreds of systems with no code required

The addition of 190 data source integrations that enable data to be brought in from the majority of systems where customer data is collected or stored. Find the full list here

All Amperity 3.5 product updates and features are available today. To schedule a demo or to learn more about Amperity CDP, go to Amperity.com .

About Amperity

Amperity's mission is to help companies use data to serve their customers. The company has revolutionized the way brands identify, understand, and connect with their customers by leveraging AI to deliver a comprehensive and actionable Customer 360. This unified view improves marketing performance, fuels accurate customer insights, and enables world-class customer experiences. With Amperity, technical teams are freed from endless integration and data management, and business teams have direct access to the comprehensive data they need to build long-term customer loyalty and drive growth. Amperity serves many of the world's most loved brands, including Wyndham, Alaska Airlines, Michaels, Lucky Brand, Kendra Scott, Planet Fitness, Patagonia, Kenneth Cole, Tapestry, Crocs, Servco, First Hawaiian Bank, and many more. To learn more, visit Amperity.com.

SOURCE Amperity

Related Links

https://www.amperity.com


GREENWOOD, Ind., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HAPInss Brands, one of the world's fastest-growing health and wellness companies, today announced that it is has completed a custom manufacturing agreement for product development, innovation and supply with Alternative Laboratories, LLC., respected as one of the most innovative and successful pioneers of liquids, powders, tablets, capsules, and other unique nutritional supplements and delivery systems, with thousands of developed and nationally branded products, including over 50 first-to-market concepts and technologies.

"Understanding that Kevin invents and manufacturers products for many, many companies, I'm honored that we are able to create one-of-a-kind, life-changing products with his expertise and our scientific advisory board," says Robert Oblon. "That is helping us become the fastest-growing company in our industry, yet again."

Additionally, the customer manufacturing agreement will allow HAPInss Brands to distinguish its products from others in the direct marketing space by creating uniquely functional formulations and delivery systems with the help of the HAPInss Brands Scientific Advisory Board consisting of doctors, nutritionists and health professionals to bring next-generation formats to the market, allowing HAPInss Brands to further expand its industry-leading portfolio of product and manufacturing capabilities.

"We are delighted to collaborate with such a skilled and reputable formulating visionary like Mr. Thomas," stated Larry Cantrell, President of HAPInss Brands, "and we look forward to showcasing the incredible state-of-the-art facility Kevin built in Southwest Florida and the events we will have there in the very near future."

"I am extremely excited about the unlimited creative potential between Robert and I that flows from our daily innovation conference calls," says Kevin Thomas, founder of Alternative Labs. "It's so rewarding to perform at one's maximum potential when working with the right like-minded individuals."

About AmpLIFEi and HAPInss Brands

AmpLIFEi International is a health and wellness lifestyle company with exclusive marketing rights for HAPInss Brands' products serving freelance entrepreneurs. These two companies combined give customers and its freelance entrepreneurs more options to improve their lives in a more complete way. For more information about AmpLIFEi please visit www.AmpLIFEi.com

HAPInss Brands is a Nutritional Science company providing people with the latest technological advances specific to amplifying the state of wellbeing, also known as happiness. For more information about HAPInss Brands, please visit www.HAPInss.com.

About Alternative Labs LLC

Alternative Laboratories is a value-added private label contract manufacturer located in Southwest, Florida, specializing in the manufacturing and packaging of liquids, powders, tablets, capsules, cosmetics and other unique nutritional supplements and delivery systems. Its product formulation abilities and global raw material access provide its broad base of Direct Selling and retail brands and private label clients with unique "first-to-market" products and cutting-edge innovations. Its state-of-the-art facilities are proudly registered with the FDA, cGMP, Organic, and Kosher certified.

Contact: Amber-Lynn Cantrell [email protected]

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SOURCE AmpLIFEi International
Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases.

Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19

The advanced baby monitor market will witness a negative impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

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to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations.

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Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

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Major Three Advanced Baby Monitor Market Participants:

Angelcare Monitor Inc.

The company offers various types of baby monitors such as movement monitors, video monitors, and sound monitors.

Dorel Industries Inc.

The company offers HD WiFi baby monitor with smart audio parent unit under the brand Safety 1st.

Hisense Ltd.

The company offers baby monitoring devices such as Video Baby Monitor V24, SC-210 Digital Two-Way Audio Baby Monitor, SC-110 Digital One-Way Audio Monitor, and Babysense 7.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.



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Advanced Baby Monitor Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Advanced baby monitor market is segmented as below:

Product

Under The Mattress



Diaper Attachment



Smart Wearable



Other Formats

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Geography

Europe



North America



APAC



South America



MEA

The advanced baby monitor market is driven by innovations in technology and product design and features leading to premiumization. In addition, increasing awareness of SIDS in developed markets is expected to trigger the advanced baby monitor market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 10% during the forecast period.

More insights about the global trends impacting the future of the advanced baby monitor market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43824

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Report: www.technavio.com/report/advanced-baby-monitor-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. and BOSTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Appriss Health, a leader in cloud-based care coordination software and analytics solutions focused on behavioral health and substance use disorders, backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake") and Insight Partners, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of PatientPing, a leader in care coordination data and software solutions focused on patients with complex needs, and senior care. The transaction valued the combined company at over $1.5 billion.

Together, the companies expect to deliver on a shared mission of enabling better care for patients across the physical and behavioral health continuum. The combined software solutions help healthcare professionals collaborate on shared patients across the spectrum of care, which improves patient outcomes and lowers total cost of care. The acquisition creates a large and diverse care collaboration network across the country, connecting close to one million healthcare professionals in all 50 states and virtually all care settings including primary and specialty care, emergency departments, inpatient facilities, skilled nursing facilities, post-acute facilities, behavioral health treatment centers, pharmacies, home health agencies and state health agencies.

"Appriss Health is proud to serve a broader community of healthcare professionals with unique data insights, analytics, and real-time clinical decision support," said Rob Cohen, President of Appriss Health. "Through our combined technology solutions, clinicians and care teams will be able to connect and collaborate on a common platform to better support their patients' whole physical and behavioral healthcare experience. Together, we are well-positioned to deliver on one of the most significant issues facing our nation today  behavioral health care coordination. We have the joint technologies in place to not only benefit providers across the healthcare system, but also to improve public health for the better."

"Clinical encounters  in the ER, after surgery, after rehab in a skilled nursing facility, in an outpatient clinic, at a behavioral health facility  are fragile moments in our lives," said Jay Desai, Co-Founder and CEO of PatientPing. "Providers need information and tools that provide patients with the best possible care during and after an episode. Our products stitch together incredibly seamlessly to empower providers so they can improve care episodes and transitions."

"Ten years ago, we started with a very specific mission of delivering technology solutions to tackle the opioid crisis in the country. We knew back then that someday we would positively impact the health of every American. I am delighted to see us take a major step in that direction with this transaction," said Krishnan Sastry, CEO of Appriss. "I am impressed with the talent and passion in the PatientPing organization. Jay and Rob have been working to expand an outstanding team that is already well on its way to creating the best solutions for the markets we serve. I'm looking forward to sharing more details of our combined innovations in the months ahead."

The combined Appriss Health and PatientPing platform serves the largest integrated patient care delivery systems in the U.S., including 2,500 hospitals, 7,500 post-acute facilities, 25,000 pharmacies including every national pharmacy chain, and 43 state governments. Without comprehensive data and the right tools in the clinical workflow, caregivers struggle to formulate cohesive treatment plans, leading to disjointed and inefficient care that ultimately impacts the patient experience and health outcomes. In many cases, reduced coordination results in a lack of effectiveness and an increase in costs. While many providers and payers are actively implementing coordinated care models, to fully realize the benefits, they need software solutions that offer insights based on comprehensive data sets to communicate across a large network of caregivers. Appriss Health and PatientPing's combined software and analytics solutions will provide access to high-integrity clinical information and applications that are both accurate and enhance care offerings.

Evercore and District Capital Partners acted as financial advisors to Appriss, Clearlake and Insight Partners. Deutsche Bank acted as financial advisor to PatientPing.

About Appriss Health

Appriss Health is a leading SaaS platform for behavioral health care coordination and is a recognized leader in providing software and data analytics solutions to identify and mitigate Substance Use Disorders. Appriss Health's cloud-based software connects nearly one million healthcare professionals across 500 clinical software systems including over 140 electronic health records. The platform enables healthcare professionals to make better clinical decisions for over 1 billion patient encounters every year. Health plans, health systems, pharmacies, and federal and state governments rely on Appriss Health's platform, applications, and data analytics to positively impact patient outcomes and manage the rising financial and social costs of behavioral health issues. Visit www.apprisshealth.com to learn more.

About PatientPing

PatientPing is an innovative care collaboration platform that reduces the cost of healthcare and improves patient outcomes by seamlessly connecting providers to coordinate patient care. The platform enables providers to collaborate on shared patients through a comprehensive suite of solutions and allows provider organizations, health plans, governments, individuals, and the organizations supporting them to leverage real-time patient data to reach their shared goals of improving the efficiency of our healthcare system. PatientPing's network connects over 1,250 hospitals, 7,000 post-acute care facilities, and hundreds of other providers such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), social and human service agencies, urgent cares, and behavioral health organizations among others. Visit www.patientping.com to learn more.

About Appriss Inc.

Appriss Inc. is a data and analytics company on a mission to put knowledge to work for good in the world. Founded in Louisville, KY in 1994, Appriss's technology products and services help clients analyze trends, identify risks, and make better decisions that improve the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Guided by their "Knowledge for Good" philosophy, Appriss serves businesses, governments, healthcare institutions and commercial enterprises in over 25 countries across 4 continents. More information is available at www.appriss.com.

About Clearlake

Founded in 2006, Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are industrials, technology, and consumer. Clearlake currently has approximately $35 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 300 investments. The firm has offices in Santa Monica and Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @ClearlakeCap.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

Media Contacts

For Appriss Health:

Kim Warth

Amendola Communications

+1 303-918-9205

[email protected]

For PatientPing:

Sarah Larrow/Jill Anderson

SVM PR

+1 401-490-9700

[email protected]

For Clearlake:

Jennifer Hurson

Lambert & Co.

+1 845-507-0571

[email protected]

For Insight Partners:

Nikki Parker

+1 571-353-4273

[email protected]

SOURCE Appriss Health

Related Links

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CEDARVILLE, Ohio, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Social work majors seek to bear others' emotional burdens, but for Cedarville University sophomore Hannah Abel, she has an added difficulty to navigate: her sight. Diagnosed with Stargardt's at the age of 9 and pronounced legally blind, Abel refused to let it stop her from pursuing her dreams.

Stargardt's is a juvenile form of macular degeneration that causes the retina to deteriorate. "I can see better out of my peripheral vision, but it is still difficult to do all the normal things a person could," said Abel. "People think glasses fix it, but they just make things slightly less blurry."

Growing up, Abel, from Cedarville, Ohio, pushed herself to excel along with her classmates. Her sweet disposition and can-do attitude propelled her to graduate from high school and pursue her bachelor's degree in social work at Cedarville University.

Abel's heart to work with victims of domestic violence stemmed from her love for others and desire to play a part in remedying what she saw as a very broken system. "I want to tangibly help these people get out of difficult situations, whether that be at a shelter or in a counseling or therapeutic setting," she said.

Abel was met with incredible people and accommodations during her time at Cedar Cliff Elementary School and Cedar Cliff High School, and this has continued at Cedarville University. "I hate asking for help because I like to be independent," she said. "But throughout my whole life, I've had to learn that asking for help is not weakness. Asking for help is showing the strength that you're willing to humble yourself and say that you cannot do it alone."

"In domestic violence situations, people are often afraid to ask for help because it becomes a bigger problem and goes to the authorities, causing there to be legal implications," Abel continued. "But there is strength in asking for help, and I seek to carry that message into the social work field in the future."

Cedarville University is an accredited, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. www.cedarville.edu.

SOURCE Cedarville University

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NASHVILLE, N.C., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlantic Natural Foods, LLC (ANF), leading manufacturer of shelf-stable foods and the award-winning, plant-based Loma Linda brand foods, announced today the company has launched a new online store, which will allow fans of its brands and people looking for tasty, plant-based options to purchase its foods directly at AtlanticNaturalFoods.com. With more and more consumers shopping online in the past year, the company is committed to expanding its e-commerce capabilities and enhancing its digital footprint with this convenient online marketplace.

"We're always looking for ways to make it easier for people to enjoy our sustainable and healthy plant-based foods, and our new online store means added convenience for anyone looking to make the conscious switch to plant-based protein sources," states J. Douglas Hines, chairman, Atlantic Natural Foods. "Following the release of Netflix's documentary Seaspiracy, there's an increased awareness of the pitfalls of the fishing industry and the social and environmental impacts they have on our planet. We want to be there for shoppers seeking more affordable options."

Plant-based foods have quickly become more than just a trend, and the launch of Atlantic Natural Foods' online store will make its full range of foods more readily accessible, including:

Loma Linda Plant -based Meal Solutions (MSRP $3.99 )These completely plant-based, gluten-free and non-GMO foods can be prepared in the microwave in 60 seconds for a quick, delicious and satisfying meal that is bursting with flavor. Varieties include Pad Thai, Thai Green Curry, Tikka Masala, Chipotle Bowl, Greek Bowl and Hawaiian Bowl, which are inspired by global cultures; as well as others, like Ultimate Vegetarian Chili and Southwest Chunky Stew, offering more traditional tastes and flavors. Each provides up to 9g of protein per serving.

(MSRP )These completely plant-based, gluten-free and non-GMO foods can be prepared in the microwave in 60 seconds for a quick, delicious and satisfying meal that is bursting with flavor. Varieties include Pad Thai, Thai Green Curry, Tikka Masala, Chipotle Bowl, Greek Bowl and Hawaiian Bowl, which are inspired by global cultures; as well as others, like Ultimate Vegetarian Chili and Southwest Chunky Stew, offering more traditional tastes and flavors. Each provides up to 9g of protein per serving. Loma Linda Plant -based Meal Starters (MSRP $3.99 )These starters are simple, plant-based versions of favorite comfort foods, such as Taco Filling and Sloppy Joe, designed to jumpstart any meal. Each is non-GMO, gluten free, and offers from up to 6g of protein per serving.

(MSRP )These starters are simple, plant-based versions of favorite comfort foods, such as Taco Filling and Sloppy Joe, designed to jumpstart any meal. Each is non-GMO, gluten free, and offers from up to 6g of protein per serving. TUNO Plant-Based Seafood Alternative (MSRP $1.29 - $1.69 )This protein-rich, gluten-free food is made with non-GMO plant-based protein ingredients, with the light, flaky texture of seafood and nutritious omega 3s in a more sustainable form. Available in three varietiesSpring Water, Sriracha, Lemon Pepper and Sesame Gingerin 3oz. pouches, 5 oz. and 12 oz. cans.

(MSRP - )This protein-rich, gluten-free food is made with non-GMO plant-based protein ingredients, with the light, flaky texture of seafood and nutritious omega 3s in a more sustainable form. Available in three varietiesSpring Water, Sriracha, Lemon Pepper and Sesame Gingerin 3oz. pouches, 5 oz. and 12 oz. cans. neat (MSRP $3.99 )An easy-to-mix, all-natural egg replacement made with a unique mixture of nature's superfoods. This vegan, kosher-certified, shelf-stable, dry mix product offers the perfect baking companion where the egg is a binder. It's cholesterol free, and may be used in all your favorite baking recipes, such as cakes, brownies, cookies, muffins and more.

(MSRP )An easy-to-mix, all-natural egg replacement made with a unique mixture of nature's superfoods. This vegan, kosher-certified, shelf-stable, dry mix product offers the perfect baking companion where the egg is a binder. It's cholesterol free, and may be used in all your favorite baking recipes, such as cakes, brownies, cookies, muffins and more. Kaffree Roma (MSRP $7.99 )This caffeine-free, plant-based alternative to coffee is versatile and supports gut health. With low acidity, you can drink it anytime without the fear of an upset stomach or incorporate it into dessert recipes, such as cakes, cookies and more.

In celebration of the launch of its online store, Atlantic Natural Foods is currently offering a limited-time promotion. Through May 31, consumers can purchase a 6-pack of Loma Linda Plant-Based Meals for only $19.99, with free shipping. This plant-based starter pack includes Loma Linda Greek Bowl, Chipotle Bowl and Ultimate Vegetarian Chili.

For more information on Atlantic Natural Foods or to purchase its products, visit www.atlanticnaturalfoods.com.

About Atlantic Natural Foods

Headquartered in Nashville, N.C., Atlantic Natural Foods is the leading shelf stable manufacturer and provider of Loma Linda, TUNO, neat and Kaffree Roma brand products. Its mission is to provide affordable, sustainable and healthy sources of plant-based protein food for all lifestyles and people to live healthier, longer lives. The company operates its own manufacturing facility as well as a joint venture project in Thailand. The brands are sold throughout the U.S. and in 30 countries, including the U.K. and Australia. To learn more about Atlantic Natural Foods, please visit www.atlanticnaturalfoods.com or follow the brand on Facebook , Instagram or Twitter .

SOURCE Atlantic Natural Foods, LLC

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DEDHAM, Mass., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Net loss of $0.1 million or $0.00 per diluted share

or per diluted share Cash from operating activities of $8.4 million

Project Adjusted EBITDA of $48.2 million , reflecting lower water flows at Curtis Palmer

, reflecting lower water flows at Curtis Palmer Transaction with I Squared Capital targeted to close on May 14, 2021

Atlantic Power Corporation (NYSE: AT) (TSX: ATP) ("Atlantic Power" or the "Company") today reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Net loss attributable to Atlantic Power was $0.1 million or $0.00 per diluted share as compared to net income attributable to Atlantic Power of $29.5 million or $0.23 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2020. The year-over-year decline was primarily attributable to a foreign exchange loss as compared to a foreign exchange gain in the prior period (both mostly unrealized) and higher administration expense. Project Adjusted EBITDA was $48.2 million in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to $50.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. Lower water flows at Curtis Palmer were the primary reason for the decline in Project Adjusted EBITDA. Cash from operating activities of $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2021 was unchanged from the first quarter of 2020.

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 1 - Financial Results





(in millions of U.S. dollars)



Unaudited Three months ended



March 31,



2021 2020 Variance Project revenue $72.0 $72.8 ($0.8) Project income 32.4 24.7 7.7 Net (loss) income attributable to Atlantic Power Corp. (0.1) 29.5 (29.6) (Loss) earnings per share attributable to Atlantic Power Corp. - basic (0.00) 0.28 (0.28) (Loss) earnings per share attributable to Atlantic Power Corp. - diluted (0.00) 0.23 (0.23) Project Adjusted EBITDA 48.2 50.8 (2.6) All amounts are in U.S. dollars and are approximate unless otherwise indicated. Project Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; therefore, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Please refer to "Non-GAAP Disclosures" on page 10 of this news release for an explanation and a reconciliation of "Project Adjusted EBITDA" as used in this news release to Project income (loss).

Transaction with I Squared Capital

As previously reported, the Company is party to a definitive agreement with certain affiliates of infrastructure funds managed by I Squared Capital pursuant to which the Company's common shares, and the preferred shares and medium term notes of certain of the Company's subsidiaries, will be acquired for cash (the "Transaction").

In March and April of 2021, the Company received the required levels of approval from common shareholders and holders of the medium term notes and preferred shares of the Company's subsidiaries.

On April 29, 2021, the Company announced its intention to defease the Company's 6.00% Series E convertible unsecured subordinated debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") on closing of the Transaction and disseminated a notice and Q&A to holders of Convertible Debentures setting out additional details of the proposed defeasance, including how holders of Convertible Debentures can convert their Convertible Debentures in order to benefit from the "make whole premium" (as contemplated by the trust indenture governing the Convertible Debentures) and the risks and tax consequences associated therewith.

The Company has received the regulatory approvals required for the Transaction, including an advance ruling certificate from the Canadian Commissioner of Competition under the Competition Act (Canada) on February 5, 2021, the expiration of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 on March 9, 2021, and the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 2, 2021. Also in April 2021, the Company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission for the transfer of control of certain FCC licenses held by the Company or its subsidiaries. On April 19, 2021, the Company received a final court order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia approving the Transaction.

The Transaction remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain remaining third-party consents, and other customary closing conditions. The targeted closing date of the Transaction is May 14, 2021.

As previously announced, the Company's management team will not hold a conference call in relation to the first quarter 2021 financial results due to the pending completion of the proposed Transaction.

Financial Review of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

Consolidated Results

Project revenue decreased by $0.8 million to $72.0 million from $72.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. The major driver of the decrease was lower water flows at Curtis Palmer, which reduced generation by 41% below the 2020 period (23% below the long-term average). Revenues at Curtis Palmer were $5.5 million lower than in the year-ago period. This decrease was partially offset by revenue increases of $2.9 million at Cadillac, which did not operate following the September 2019 fire until the completion of plant repairs in August 2020, and $1.4 million at Morris due to higher fuel prices.

Project income was $32.4 million as compared to $24.7 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase of $7.7 million was primarily attributable to an $8.8 million change in the fair value of derivative instruments, partially offset by the modest decrease in project revenue discussed previously.

Net loss attributable to Atlantic Power Corporation was $0.1 million as compared to net income of $29.5 million in the first quarter of 2020. The $29.6 million decrease from net income to net loss was primarily attributable to a foreign exchange loss related to the revaluation of debt denominated in Canadian dollars of $3.2 million as compared to a foreign exchange gain of $20.6 million in the year-ago period. Another factor in the decrease from net income to net loss was a $7.4 million increase in administration expense related to the Transaction, including fees and expenses paid to third parties as well as an acceleration of incentive compensation expense. These negative variances were partially offset by a $7.7 million increase in project income, as previously discussed, and income of $1.7 million attributable to preferred shares of a subsidiary company as compared to a loss of $5.8 million in the year-ago period. The loss in the 2020 period was attributable to the preferred shares of a subsidiary company because the Company repurchased preferred shares at a discount to par during the period.

Loss per diluted share was $0.00 as compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.23 in the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was attributable to a net loss of $0.1 million as compared to net income of $29.5 million in the 2020 period. Shares outstanding were lower in the first quarter of 2021 than in the year-ago period, primarily due to repurchases of common shares in 2020 under the Company's substantial issuer bid and normal course issuer bid.

Project Adjusted EBITDA decreased $2.6 million to $48.2 million from $50.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. Project Adjusted EBITDA at Curtis Palmer decreased $5.4 million due to lower water flows than in the 2020 period. Allendale and Dorchester had a combined decrease in Project Adjusted EBITDA of $1.6 million due to maintenance outages in March 2021. Manchief had a $1.4 million reduction in Project Adjusted EBITDA primarily due to a forced outage in February 2021. These decreases were partially offset by a $3.1 million increase at Cadillac due to its return to operation and a $1.5 million increase at Oxnard due to its new contract and lower maintenance expense than in the prior period.

Segment Results

The Company has four reporting segments: Solid Fuel, which includes its biomass plants and its equity interest in the Chambers coal plant; Natural Gas, Hydroelectric and Corporate. Table 2 presents Project income (loss) and Project Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020.

Atlantic Power Corporation

Table 2 - Project Income (Loss) and Project Adjusted EBITDA by Segment (in millions of U.S. dollars)





Unaudited







Three months ended



March 31,



2021 2020 Variance Project income (loss)





Solid Fuel $3.0 $1.5 $1.5 Natural Gas 23.6 19.5 4.1 Hydroelectric 5.4 10.4 (5.0) Corporate 0.4 (6.7) 7.1 Total $32.4 $24.7 $7.7 Project Adjusted EBITDA





Solid Fuel $9.7 $7.8 $1.9 Natural Gas 28.7 28.2 0.5 Hydroelectric 10.3 15.3 (5.0) Corporate (0.5) (0.5) - Total $48.2 $50.8 ($2.6)

Cash Flow

Cash provided by operating activities of $8.4 million was unchanged from the first quarter of 2020.

Cash provided by investing activities was $0.2 million as compared to cash used in investing activities of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. Capitalized plant additions (mostly repairs at Cadillac) decreased by $9.7 million from the 2020 period. This favorable change was partially offset by the non-recurrence of $7.4 million of Cadillac insurance proceeds received in the 2020 period.

Cash used in financing activities of $26.0 million decreased $14.1 million from $40.1 million in the first quarter of 2020. The Company did not repurchase common or preferred shares in the first quarter of 2021, as compared to $14.6 million of repurchases in the year-ago period. This was partially offset by $2.1 million of higher debt repayment in the current quarter than in the 2020 period.

During the first quarter of 2021, the net decrease in the Company's cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents was $17.4 million.

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 3 - Cash Flow Results





(in millions of U.S. dollars)



Unaudited Three months ended



March 31,



2021 2020 Variance Net cash provided by operating activities $8.4 $8.4 $- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 0.2 (2.6) 2.8 Net cash used in financing activities (26.0) (40.1) 14.1

Liquidity, Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation

Liquidity

As shown in Table 4, the Company's liquidity at March 31, 2021 was $120.4 million, a decrease of $21.3 million from $141.7 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $17.4 million decrease in cash as described previously, most of which was at the parent. Revolver availability decreased due to a $4.1 million increase in letters of credit outstanding for a contractual requirement under the existing Calstock Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 4 - Liquidity



(in millions of U.S. dollars)



Unaudited





March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents, parent $7.0 $21.5 Cash and cash equivalents, projects 14.6 17.3 Total cash and cash equivalents 21.6 38.8 Revolving credit facility 180.0 180.0 Letters of credit outstanding (81.2) (77.1) Availability under revolving credit facility 98.8 102.9 Total liquidity $120.4 $141.7 Excludes restricted cash of (1) : $6.9 $7.1 (1) Includes $6.0 million and $6.8 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, from Cadillac insurance proceeds for the 2021 capacity payments received as part of the insurance settlement.

Balance Sheet

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company repaid $23.0 million of the APLP Holdings term loan and amortized $0.7 million of project-level debt at Cadillac. At March 31, 2021, the Company's consolidated debt was $557.0 million, excluding unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs, and the Company's consolidated leverage ratio (consolidated gross debt to trailing 12-month consolidated Adjusted EBITDA) was 3.7 times. On a net debt basis (consolidated gross debt net of $21.6 million of cash), the consolidated leverage ratio at March 31, 2021 was 3.5 times.

Capital Allocation

The Company did not repurchase any common or preferred shares in the first quarter of 2021, nor did it make any external investments or acquisitions, pending completion of the proposed Transaction.

2021 Guidance

The Company is not providing 2021 guidance pending completion of the proposed Transaction.

Operational Updates

Coronavirus Pandemic

With power generation deemed an essential service, to date, the coronavirus pandemic has not materially affected the Company's ability to continue operating its plants safely and reliably. The Company continues to monitor closely the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business, including taking extra precautions for employees working at the Company's plants. The Company has taken appropriate steps at its plants to ensure that health and safety guidelines are being followed, including plant sanitization. The Company continues to monitor fuel supply for its biomass plants (which generally have multiple suppliers including mills and other sources) to ensure that potential supply disruptions are minimized. While the pandemic has not materially affected financial results or plant operations to date, the Company is unable to predict the impact that it could have on its financial position and operating results due to numerous uncertainties.

Williams Lake

The plant has been operating at a de-rated level of approximately 57 megawatts for several months due to wet fuel and damage to the plant's air preheater. Fuel supply conditions have been consistent with the previous quarter, representing an improvement from earlier in 2020. This allowed the plant to continue operating through the end of April before becoming subject to the contractual curtailment from May through July. During the curtailment, the Company expects to undertake repairs to the air preheater and other routine maintenance.

Decommissioning of San Diego Projects

Decommissioning of the three sites is in the final stages, with expected completion and return of the sites to the Navy in the second quarter of 2021. The final expected cost of approximately $3 million net of salvage proceeds compares favorably with the previous estimate of $5 million net of salvage proceeds.

Maintenance and Capex

In the first quarter of 2021, the Company incurred $6.1 million of maintenance expense and $0.3 million of capital expenditures. These figures include the Company's proportional share of maintenance expenses and capital expenditures at equity method investments.

Commercial Updates

Oxnard (California)

On March 31, 2021, as previously reported, the Company executed a new agreement for the sale of capacity from the Oxnard plant for an additional two years, effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. The plant is currently operating under a Resource Adequacy (RA) agreement through December 31, 2021, under which it provides capacity to satisfy the load obligations of a community choice aggregator. The new RA agreement will meet the capacity needs of a different end-use customer but similarly provides fixed monthly capacity payments and allows the plant to potentially earn revenue from the sale of energy and ancillary services and other non-capacity revenues. The capacity payment under the new contract is modestly higher than the level in place for 2021.

Calstock (Ontario)

In December 2020, as previously reported, the Calstock PPA with the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation was extended on existing terms by one year, to December 2021. In early February 2021, the Ontario Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to engage with Calstock and report to the Ministry regarding potential five-year contract options. Discussions with the IESO have been ongoing.

Supplementary Information Regarding Non-GAAP Disclosures

A discussion of non-GAAP disclosures and a schedule reconciling Project Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to the comparable GAAP measure, can be found on page 10 of this release.

About Atlantic Power

Atlantic Power is an independent power producer that owns power generation assets in eleven states in the United States and two provinces in Canada. The Company's generation projects sell electricity and steam to investment-grade utilities and other creditworthy large customers predominantly under longterm PPAs that have expiration dates ranging from 2021 to 2043. The Company seeks to minimize its exposure to commodity prices through provisions in the contracts, fuel supply agreements and hedging arrangements. The projects are diversified by geography, fuel type, technology, dispatch profile and offtaker (customer). Approximately 75% of the projects in operation are 100% owned and directly operated and maintained by the Company. The Company has expertise in operating most fuel types, including gas, hydro, and biomass, and it owns a 40% interest in one coal project.

Atlantic Power's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AT and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATP. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.atlanticpower.com or contact:

Atlantic Power Corporation

Investor Relations

(617) 977-2700

[email protected]

Copies of the Company's financial data and other publicly filed documents are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml under "Atlantic Power Corporation" or on the Company's website.

************************************************************************************************************************

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent any statements made in this news release contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and forward-looking information under Canadian securities law (collectively, "forward-looking statements").

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements", which reflect the expectations of management regarding the future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities of the Company and its projects. These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company's future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "should," "project," "continue," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "target" or similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to present or historical matters. Examples of such statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the following:

the receipt of third-party consents necessary to satisfy closing conditions to the Transaction;

the ability of the parties to satisfy the other conditions to, and to complete, the Transaction;

the timing of the closing of the Transaction;

the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy and the Company's operations, including the measures taken by governmental authorities to address it, which may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and/or uncertainties;

the Company's expectation that its designation as essential will allow it to continue to operate through the coronavirus pandemic;

the Company's estimation that the cost of decommissioning the three San Diego projects will be approximately $3 million net of salvage proceeds and the work will be completed in the second quarter of 2021; and

projects will be approximately net of salvage proceeds and the work will be completed in the second quarter of 2021; and the results of operations and performance of the Company's projects, business prospects, opportunities and future growth of the Company will be as described herein.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not or the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Please refer to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information" in the Company's periodic reports as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") from time to time for a detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what are believed to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.



Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 5  Consolidated Balance Sheet



(in millions of U.S. dollars)



Unaudited





March 31, December 31,

2021 2020 Assets



Current assets:



Cash and cash equivalents $21.6 $38.8 Restricted cash 6.9 7.1 Accounts receivable 33.9 31.3 Current portion of derivative instruments asset - 0.4 Inventory 17.0 18.3 Prepayments 6.7 7.0 Income taxes receivable 2.0 3.2 Current assets held for sale 4.6 - Other current assets 0.3 0.3 Total current assets 93.0 106.4 Property, plant, and equipment, net 481.3 491.8 Equity investments in unconsolidated affiliates 91.8 85.0 Power purchase agreements and intangible assets, net 114.8 120.3 Goodwill 21.3 21.3 Operating lease right-of-use assets 4.1 4.6 Deferred income taxes 17.0 17.2 Other assets 0.6 0.6 Total assets $823.9 $847.2 Liabilities



Current liabilities:



Accounts payable $5.6 $6.3 Accrued interest 5.9 2.5 Other accrued liabilities 14.7 19.3 Current portion of long-term debt 90.8 95.7 Current portion of derivative instruments liability 9.9 11.0 Operating lease liabilities 1.8 1.9 Current liabilities held for sale 3.2 - Other current liabilities 0.4 0.2 Total current liabilities 132.3 136.9 Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and deferred financing costs 368.3 384.1 Convertible debentures, net of discount and unamortized deferred financing costs 85.5 84.1 Derivative instruments liability 5.4 8.1 Power purchase agreements and intangible liabilities, net 17.6 18.0 Asset retirement obligations, net 45.0 48.1 Operating lease liabilities 2.7 3.1 Other long-term liabilities 6.7 6.2 Total liabilities $663.5 $688.6 Equity



Common shares, no par value, unlimited authorized shares; 89,797,798 and 89,222,568 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 1,219.8 1,219.7 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (138.1) (139.9) Retained deficit (1,090.1) (1,090.0) Total Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders' deficit (8.4) (10.2) Preferred shares issued by a subsidiary company 168.8 168.8 Total equity 160.4 158.6 Total liabilities and equity $823.9 $847.2

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 6 - Consolidated Statements of Operations



(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)



Unaudited





Three months ended March 31,

2021 2020 Project revenue:



Energy sales $36.0 $40.7 Energy capacity revenue 29.8 28.0 Other 6.2 4.1

72.0 72.8 Project expenses:



Fuel 20.7 19.6 Operations and maintenance 21.1 20.7 Depreciation and amortization 14.3 15.6

56.1 55.9 Project other income (loss):



Change in fair value of derivative instruments 3.2 (5.6) Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates 13.4 13.7 Interest, net (0.3) (0.3) Other income, net 0.2 -

16.5 7.8 Project income 32.4 24.7





Administrative and other expenses:



Administration 14.1 6.7 Interest expense, net 11.4 10.8 Foreign exchange loss (gain) 3.2 (20.6) Other (income) expense, net (0.1) 2.6

28.6 (0.5) Income from operations before income taxes 3.8 25.2 Income tax expense 2.2 1.5 Net income 1.6 23.7 Net income (loss) attributable to preferred shares of a subsidiary company 1.7 (5.8) Net (loss) income attributable to Atlantic Power Corporation ($0.1) $29.5 Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Atlantic Power Corporation shareholders:



Basic ($0.00) $0.28 Diluted ($0.00) $0.23 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

Basic 89.4 107.2 Diluted 89.4 134.8

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 7 - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions of U.S. dollars) Three months ended Unaudited March 31,

2021 2020 Cash provided by operating activities:



Net income $1.6 $23.7 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:



Depreciation and amortization 14.3 15.6 Share-based compensation 0.1 0.4 Other gain (0.2) - Equity in earnings from unconsolidated affiliates (13.4) (13.7) Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates 6.9 6.0 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 3.1 (20.9) Change in fair value of derivative instruments (3.3) 8.2 Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs 1.3 2.0 Non-cash operating lease expense 0.5 0.5 Deferred income taxes 0.3 0.3 Change in other operating balances



Accounts receivable (3.1) (2.1) Inventory 0.2 2.8 Prepayments and other assets 1.6 (1.7) Accounts payable (0.9) (5.7) Accruals and other liabilities (0.6) (7.0) Cash provided by operating activities 8.4 8.4





Cash provided by (used in) investing activities:



Insurance proceeds - 7.4 Proceeds from sale of equity investment 0.5 - Purchase of property, plant and equipment (0.3) (10.0) Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 0.2 (2.6)





Cash used in financing activities:



Common share repurchases - (8.2) Preferred share repurchases - (6.4) Repayment of corporate and project-level debt (23.7) (21.6) Cash payments for vested LTIP withheld for taxes (0.6) (0.7) Deferred financing costs - (1.5) Dividends paid to preferred shareholders (1.7) (1.7) Cash used in financing activities (26.0) (40.1)





Net decrease in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents (17.4) (34.3) Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 45.9 82.6 Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period $28.5 $48.3





Supplemental cash flow information



Interest paid $6.8 $8.3 Income taxes paid, net 0.7 0.7 Accruals for construction in progress - 0.3

Non-GAAP Disclosures

Project Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure recognized under GAAP and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Investors are cautioned that the Company may calculate this non-GAAP measure in a manner that is different from other companies. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is Project income (loss). Project Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Project income (loss) plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, insurance loss (gain), other (income) expenses and changes in the fair value of derivative instruments. Management uses Project Adjusted EBITDA at the project level to provide comparative information about project performance and believes such information is helpful to investors. A reconciliation of Project Adjusted EBITDA to Project income (loss) and to Net income (loss) on a consolidated basis is provided in Table 8 below.

Atlantic Power Corporation



Table 8 - Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to Project Adjusted EBITDA (in millions of U.S. dollars)



Unaudited



Three months ended

March 31,

2021 2020 Net (loss) income attributable to Atlantic Power Corporation ($0.1) $29.5 Net income (loss) attributable to preferred share dividends of a subsidiary company 1.7 (5.8) Net income $1.6 $23.7 Income tax expense 2.2 1.5 Income from operations before income taxes 3.8 25.2 Administration 14.1 6.7 Interest expense, net 11.4 10.8 Foreign exchange loss (gain) 3.2 (20.6) Other (income) expense, net (0.1) 2.6 Project income $32.4 $24.7





Reconciliation to Project Adjusted EBITDA



Change in the fair value of derivative instruments ($3.2) $5.6 Depreciation and amortization 18.6 19.8 Interest, net 0.6 0.7 Other project income (0.2) - Project Adjusted EBITDA $48.2 $50.8

SOURCE Atlantic Power Corporation

Related Links

http://www.atlanticpower.com


SAO PAULO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Renewable Energy, a leading renewable energy company in the Americas, announced today that it has obtained a USD 150 million loan from IDB Invest, a member of IDB Group, and from DNB Bank ASA (the largest financial services group in Norway) to finance the construction of its Lar do Sol - Casablanca project, a 359MWp solar project to be developed in Brazil that will provide clean energy to Anglo American's operations in Minas Gerais.

The loan was secured from IDB Invest, including the Clean Technology Fund and the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas  Phase II, both administered by IDB Invest, together with a participation from DNB Bank ASA.

The plant will generate 805 GWh per year and the Power Purchase Agreement is, to date, the largest contract with a solar project for the supply of clean energy to a private offtaker in Brazil and indexed to the United States dollar. Lar do Sol - Casablanca's generation will be the equivalent of supplying energy to 390,000 houses per year according to the average consumption of a Brazilian family and will avoid approximately 50,000 tons of CO 2 emissions per year, which could be compared to removing 19,867 vehicles from the streets of Sao Paulo in the same period.

The Casablanca solar plant is part of Anglo American's strategy to use 100% renewable energy for its operations in Brazil as of 2022 and is integrated into its Sustainable Mining Plan which has a goal of reducing 30% of its global CO 2 emission by 2030.

This transaction was structured following a similar format used by Atlas Renewable Energy in a recently announced financing for its Jacaranda solar plant, which was also financed by IDB Invest and DNB Bank ASA. It also falls under Atlas' Green Finance Framework  a testament to the company's commitment to developing projects that protect and preserve the environment while adhering to the highest standards of social and environmental engagement. 100% of the photovoltaic solar modules that will be installed in Lar do Sol- Casablanca will use bifacial technology, increasing project performance with the aim of making electricity production more efficient through solar energy.

Furthermore, in line with Atlas Renewable Energy's commitment to an ambitious social engagement agenda, the company will be implementing social programs in the local community that actively promote diversity and inclusion. To achieve this, the company will expand its program "we are all part of the same energy" to Lar do Sol - Casablanca's construction site, an initiative created to train and develop technical skills and knowhow of over 200 women who live in the neighboring communities.

The program also entails promoting women who participate in trainings to have the opportunity to opt for skilled jobs within Lar do Sol - Casablanca's construction program. The company established a goal to integrate at least 15% of female representation within the total workforce, which aims to quadruplicate the number of women performing technical jobs in solar projects within the region. To that end, actions have been taken to ensure that women are not deterred from working at the project site due to family responsibilities. Among other things, the company will grant working mothers with children between the ages of 0-12 years old a financial incentive to cover childcare expenses. In addition to involving women in the construction process, Atlas has mobilized all contractors in the project to prioritize local minorities in the hiring process, looking to include at least 30% of afro-descendants within the number of women hired and at least 40% within the number of men hired. These goals are part of the company's approach to ensuring diversity and inclusion within the energy industry and promote equalitarian practices by empowering minorities across all its operations.

"We are pleased to achieve another successful financial close alongside IDB Invest and DNB Bank ASA, two institutions that have become important allies in structuring innovative financing solutions to help consumers transition to renewable energy. Moreover, we are extremely proud of our partnership with IDB Invest in creating a unique and ambitious social responsibility program that directly addresses diversity and inclusion within our value chain. We believe that clean energy should be responsibly sourced, therefore we are committed to tackling social inequalities and cultural biases from our line of work," said Carlos Barrera, Atlas Renewable Energy's CEO. "We look forward to continue accelerating the Brazilian market's renewable energy potential in a sustainable manner, while providing the best-in-class solutions to large energy consumers."

"This financing demonstrates IDB Invest's commitment to investing in clean energy and for helping companies dedicated to implementing decarbonization programs in their businesses," said Gian Franco Carassale, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Division at IDB Invest. "In addition, our institution is proud to work together with Atlas Renewable Energy to support programs where the inclusion of women and minorities is a priority. We hope to have more opportunities like this in the future."

"We are very proud to once again support Atlas Renewable Energy with this new financing in Brazil through IDB Invest," said Emilio Fabbrizzi, Managing Director and Head of renewables and infrastructure for the Americas at DNB Markets, Inc. "Apart from implementing a long-term and innovative structure for Brazil, we highlight that it is also aligned with Atlas Renewable Energy's Green Finance Framework, which was executed through DNB Markets, Inc. in 2019."

About Atlas Renewable Energy

Atlas Renewable Energy is a renewable energy generation company that develops, builds, and operates renewable energy projects with long-term contracts across the Americas. The current company portfolio is 2.2GW of contracted projects in development, construction, or operational stages, and aims to expand by an additional 4GW in the next years.

Launched in early 2017, Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest track record in the solar energy industry in Latin America. The company is recognized for its high standards in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects.

Atlas Renewable Energy is part of the Energy Fund IV, founded by Actis, a leading private equity investor in the energy sector. Atlas Renewable Energy's growth is focused on the leading emerging markets and economies, using its proven development, commercialization, and structuring know-how to accelerate the transformation toward clean energy. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the center of its project strategy, the company works every day to provide a cleaner future.

To know more about Atlas Renewable Energy, visit: www.atlasrenewableenergy.com

About IDB Invest

IDB Invest, A member of the IDB Group, it is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of US $ 13.1 billion in assets under management and 385 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that respond to the needs of its clients in a variety of sectors.

About DNB Bank ASA and DNB Markets, Inc.

DNB is Norway's largest financial services group and one of the largest among the Nordic countries in market capitalization. DNB Markets, Inc. is a subsidiary of DNB Bank ASA, and is a registered a U.S. broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC").The Group is among the world's leading banks in transportation, energy and seafood. The bank has a selective global focus on renewable energy, with a special emphasis on hydroelectric, wind and solar technologies and is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives with green solutions.

SOURCE Atlas Renewable Energy

Related Links

http://www.atlasrenewableenergy.com


NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- America's first new mainline airline in nearly 15 years  Avelo Airlines  today announced its first East Coast base at Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN). Avelo will start operations at HVN in 3Q 2021, bringing choice, low fares, and convenience to Southern Connecticut with a mix of popular to-be-announced nonstop flights to popular destinations.

HVN will be Avelo's second base, following its launch of service at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) last month. Avelo will operate single-class, fuel-efficient 737-700 Next Gen aircraft at HVN to provide a more comfortable, mainline jet experience versus the smaller regional jets that currently service the airport.

"We are very excited to partner with HVN as we begin to build our East Coast operations. Our surprisingly low fares and refreshingly smooth travel experience are sure to be embraced by residents of Southern Connecticut," said Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. "Tweed New Haven has enormous potential, and our first East Coast base is great news for Avelo, New Haven, East Haven and other local communities."

Avelo is investing $1.2 million into HVN to help upgrade and modernize facilities and operations. The airline will employ more than 100 Crewmembers at HVN by the end of the year, including pilots, flight attendants, customer support personnel, and technicians, most locally hired. Avelo's investment is part of a $100 million project for a new terminal and extended runway at HVN spearheaded by airport operator Avports that will result in the overall creation of up to 11,000 jobs in the area.

"It is critically important for us to work with partners who share our ideals to maintain the convenience that people love about Tweed New Haven, while respecting the existing character of the local cities and their communities that we serve," said Sean Scanlon, executive director of Tweed New Haven Airport Authority. "We cannot imagine a better air partner to do this with than Avelo, as an airline that prioritizes people with a culture of service."

More details about the Avelo base operations, and destinations served by Avelo and HVN, will be available in the coming months.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. Operating a fleet of next-generation Boeing 737 aircraft, Avelo offers Customers a refreshingly smooth experience, time- and money-saving convenience, and surprisingly low everyday fares. Avelo currently provides non-stop service between 11 destinations across the Western U.S. and its initial base at Hollywood Burbank Airport. For more information visit aveloair.com.

SOURCE Avelo Airlines

Related Links

http://www.aveloair.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Dear Shareholders,

We are pleased with our robust start to 2021. Revenue growth of 33% in the quarter exceeded our expectations and drove increased profitability, as we executed upon growing demand for TASER devices and software-heavy body camera bundles. Solid Q1 gross margin reflects a combination of strong TASER demand and fixed-cost leverage on higher-than-expected revenue, which also flowed through to the bottom line.

We are seeing healthy demand for new products, with new products bookings up 130% year over year, driven by productivity and real-time operations software solutions, VR training and transcription services. We are also successfully expanding into new markets, with new market bookings up 35% year over year.

Customers  and increasingly, communities, too  see us as a leader and key partner in the global drive to transform public safety. We hear stories daily about customers using our products to save lives and protect communities. Our software usage metrics are hitting new highs, and customers are enthusiastically supporting our mission to protect life and make the bullet obsolete.

As communities call for more public safety transparency, not only to record all interactions with the public but also to make reporting more transparent, we are helping agencies meet the critical needs of their communities. Our software products such as Axon Performance help agencies manage compliance with body-camera usage policies and foster greater transparency. In fact, data shows that Axon Performance is driving body-camera usage. For example, we've documented customers who have improved from recording only about half of their interactions with the public, to recording nearly four out of every five interactions, after implementing Axon Performance software.

"We deployed body-worn cameras to promote transparency and legitimacy in our community and we are committed to being accountable to the community we serve. Axon Performance is a key part of making sure the officers' cameras are on and recording when they should be. The Performance metrics have allowed officers and supervisors to monitor camera activations, and over the last nine months our activation rates have increased from 54% to 78%." --Kristofer Jenny, Police Sergeant at Napa Police Department, April 2021

Select Q1 2021 highlights

Our teams are executing on our 2021 strategic priorities of growing our core, scaling new products, unlocking new markets and driving efficiency to fuel growth.

Scaling new products:

Axon Fleet 3 beta trial underway, ALPR demand exceeding expectations: In April, we began beta testing our new AI-powered Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology at four agencies. We expect to launch Fleet 3 later this year featuring ALPR notifications and Respond for Devices with location updates and livestreaming. Our Fleet 3 backlog of orders has grown to more than 60 agencies and more than 2,500 vehicles, representing $25 million in bookings and higher-than-expected demand for our premium Fleet 3 bundle that includes subscriptions to both ALPR and Respond live streaming from the Fleet cameras.

Axon Fleet 3 with Advanced License Plate Reading (ALPR)

Axon Fleet 3's AI-powered camera system for ALPR makes it disruptively affordable enough for agencies to equip every patrol car. ALPR is a software subscription add-on that helps to reduce officer distraction and is useful for finding missing children and recovering stolen vehicles. Axon Fleet 3 will integrate ALPR capability in the dashboard camera of every patrol vehicle, allowing agencies to deploy more coverage at a fraction of the cost. Fleet 3 will also enable real-time telemetry and video streaming capabilities and will be compatible with 5G to leverage low-latency connectivity for enhanced real-time services and direct video offload to the cloud. We are simultaneously addressing industry shortcomings to improve data security, transparency and privacy as declining costs enable more widespread use of the technology.

Baltimore PD on track to become the largest agency to deploy Axon Records: Axon has conducted comprehensive in-person acceptance testing with users representing a diverse range of agency roles. Customer feedback is positive about the product's ease of use and the increased efficiency that the agency will gain. Training for officers on how to use the new system is underway and we are preparing for launch in the coming weeks.

Respond for Devices momentum continues to grow: Hundreds of agencies representing more than 60,000 sworn officers are now using Respond for Devices each month, including our newest feature, Priority Evidence Upload. This allows officers to immediately upload critical evidence over LTE right from their camera rather than waiting to get back to the station to dock their camera or separately connect to an app on their PC or phone. Moreover, our beta of the AutoTranscribe Digital Notepad lets Respond for Devices customers automatically upload all of the audio from their recordings over LTE. As a result, transcriptions are available immediately, enabling officers to expedite report writing rather than waiting until the end of their shift.

Unlocking new markets:

Growing international pipeline: Our deal pipeline in international markets is robust, with the largest new deal activity in Q1 2021 coming from Canada, the UK, Hungary, Brazil and New Zealand. We achieved exciting milestones in Italy with the municipal police departments of the cities of Venice and Udine becoming the first agencies to equip officers with TASER devices and Axon software licenses, and the local police in Latisana, Riviera Friulana becoming the first city to adopt Axon Fleet 2 along with our Interview solution. Meanwhile, the government of Ontario, Canada became the first province to deploy Axon Evidence across public safety agencies, highlighting the growing utility of our cloud software platform. Additionally, Axon completed a cyber security review from the Australian government, fulfilling a requirement from the country's federal and defense customers to provide an added level of security and assurances and enabling broader adoption of Axon's cloud solutions in Australia.

Driving efficiency:

Investments drive TASER device capacity, gross margin improvements: We are building additional manufacturing capacity to support our TASER device and cartridge manufacturing lines, in response to growing International and Federal demand and an increased install base. Investments so far in 2021 have resulted in an approximately 40% capacity increase in TASER 7 propulsion module and cartridge line production capacity, combined with greater per-person efficiency that will generate $1 million in gross cost annual run rate savings on the TASER 7. Thus far in 2021, TASER segment manufacturing and supply chain improvements are on track to result in more than $4 million in gross costs savings this year. Segment gross margins may continue to fluctuate based on customer and product mix.

Leveraging the Axon platform: An update on strategic partnerships and investments

To build the public safety ecosystem of the future, Axon is aligning with other innovators and technology disrupters. Our recently announced strategic partnership with Skydio, for instance, makes Skydio drones and autonomy software solutions available to agencies through Axon. This relationship paves the way for the integration of Skydio's offerings with Axon's product suite, which will drive ground-breaking evidence management, real-time situational awareness and scene reconstruction capabilities for agencies.

Axon's recent partnerships and investments are reflective of our vision to become synonymous with public safety  and equally important, allow us to leverage and expand our platform in a transformative manner. Our expanding ecosystem relationships are driven by our focus on customers and their growing needs for digital evidence management and real-time operations.

RapidSOS: In Q1, Axon invested $20 million in RapidSOS and recently completed a strategic partnership that will for the first time unify life-saving data from both Axon and RapidSOS on a single screen  delivering it to 911 telecommunicators and first responders in real-time. This data includes accurate location, medical and other incident-related information from over 350 million connected devices recognized as RapidSOS Ready, such as smart phones, as well as live footage from Axon Body 3 cameras, Axon Fleet cameras and Axon Air Drones. RapidSOS supports more than 4,800 emergency communications centers.

In Q1, Axon invested in RapidSOS and recently completed a strategic partnership that will for the first time unify life-saving data from both Axon and RapidSOS on a single screen  delivering it to 911 telecommunicators and first responders in real-time. This data includes accurate location, medical and other incident-related information from over 350 million connected devices recognized as RapidSOS Ready, such as smart phones, as well as live footage from Axon Body 3 cameras, Axon Fleet cameras and Axon Air Drones. RapidSOS supports more than 4,800 emergency communications centers. Cellebrite: Cellebrite completed a demo integration with Axon Evidence in April. Upon complete integration, Cellebrite's Pathfinder software will have the option to save device extraction data, such as from a mobile device, laptop, or drone, and the accompanying analytics directly to Axon Evidence. Separately, Axon also has agreed to invest $90 million in Cellebrite via an oversubscribed PIPE transaction in connection with Cellebrite's business combination with TWC Tech Holdings II Corp., a publicly-traded SPAC sponsored by True Wind Capital. Cellebrite is the market leader in digital intelligence  allowing agencies to collect, review, analyze, and manage investigative data from a broad range of digital sources such as mobile devices and PCs  and its solutions have been purchased by 6,700 public safety agencies and private sector enterprises in over 140 countries, helping millions of investigations globally. Cellebrite's solutions are complementary with Axon's and empower investigators to accelerate justice in legally sanctioned investigations.

Summary of Q1 2021 results:

Revenue of $195 million grew 33% year over year, on top of 27% growth in Q1 2020, reflecting strengthened demand across our product lines. Domestic revenue grew 37% in the quarter and international revenue grew 17%.

grew 33% year over year, on top of 27% growth in Q1 2020, reflecting strengthened demand across our product lines. Domestic revenue grew 37% in the quarter and international revenue grew 17%. Gross margin of 63.3% improved 310 basis points year over year, and was its highest in 10 quarters, reflecting strong demand for our premium TASER offerings, engineered lower build costs in our TASER segment and fixed-cost leverage.

Although we have experienced port constraints and some increases in raw materials costs, we have remained focused on closely monitoring our supply chain, and mitigating impacts to keep our gross margins predictable and our inventory steady. For instance, during the recent global slowdown in manufacturing affected by the blockage in the Suez Canal, we duplicated orders by ocean and air, and worked with suppliers to hold higher buffers for Axon on their shelves. We have also worked to mitigate raw materials cost increases through supplier negotiations and purchasing added non-expiring raw materials. We continue to bolster our strategic relationships in our supply chain, work to identify secondary sourcing, and build in shipping and inventory buffers, which has kept our supply chain execution solid.

Operating expenses of $174 million included $88.1 million in stock-based compensation expense.

included in stock-based compensation expense. SG&A of $127 million included $71.0 million in stock-based compensation expense.

included in stock-based compensation expense.

R&D of $47 million included $17.1 million in stock-based compensation expense.

included in stock-based compensation expense.

We recognized $75 million in expenses related to our eXponential Stock Performance Plan ("XSPP") and CEO Performance Award in the first quarter. As of Q1 2021, all 12 operational goals are considered probable.

in expenses related to our eXponential Stock Performance Plan ("XSPP") and CEO Performance Award in the first quarter. As of Q1 2021, all 12 operational goals are considered probable.

In Q1 2021, $9.8 million of stock-based compensation expense was tied to "catch up" expenses due to a 12th tranche being considered probable of attainment, $41.6 million was tied to acceleration in expected attainment dates, which means the time over which we record expense is shortened, and $6.5 million was tied to achieving a tranche in Q4 2020 that was certified as achieved during Q1 2021.

of stock-based compensation expense was tied to "catch up" expenses due to a 12th tranche being considered probable of attainment, was tied to acceleration in expected attainment dates, which means the time over which we record expense is shortened, and was tied to achieving a tranche in Q4 2020 that was certified as achieved during Q1 2021.



Since the CEO Performance Award was adopted in 2018, we have expensed $132.4 million of total potential expense of $246.0 million under the plan. Since the XSPP plan was adopted in 2019, we have expensed $94.8 million of total potential expense of $191.5 million currently projected under the plan for XSPP grants issued to date.

of total potential expense of under the plan. Since the XSPP plan was adopted in 2019, we have expensed of total potential expense of currently projected under the plan for XSPP grants issued to date.



For more details about these innovative stock-based compensation plans, which were approved by shareholders and align the interests of management and employees with shareholders, please see our online FAQ at investor.axon.com.

GAAP diluted EPS was ($0.75) based on GAAP net loss of $48 million . GAAP EPS was lower by approximately $1.33 due to expenses related to stock-based compensation. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.31 .

based on GAAP net loss of . GAAP EPS was lower by approximately due to expenses related to stock-based compensation. Non-GAAP EPS was . Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA grew 53% year over year to $45.8 million , representing a 23.5% margin on revenue.

, representing a 23.5% margin on revenue. Cash and cash equivalents and investments totaled $674 million at March 31, 2021 . Operating cash flow of $61 million was offset by a $20 million investment in RapidSOS (see strategic partnership update, above) and $10.5 million in capital expenditures.

at . Operating cash flow of was offset by a investment in RapidSOS (see strategic partnership update, above) and in capital expenditures. Axon has no debt.

Financial commentary by segment:

TASER











































THREE MONTHS ENDED



CHANGE





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

QoQ

YoY



(in thousands)













Net sales

$ 98,999



$ 135,761



$ 75,895



(27.1) %

30.4 % Gross margin



66.7 %



64.5 %



60.1 %

220 bp

660 bp

TASER segment revenue of $99 million grew 30% year over year on strong demand in the US, Canada and Brazil . The sequential decline is tied to seasonality. Also, Q4 2020 benefitted from a $20 million order from an international customer.

grew 30% year over year on strong demand in the US, and . The sequential decline is tied to seasonality. Also, Q4 2020 benefitted from a order from an international customer. Gross margin increased to 66.7%, the highest for the segment since Q3 2018, as we realized the benefits of strong demand for our premium TASER offerings and engineered lower build costs.

Software & Sensors











































THREE MONTHS ENDED



CHANGE





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

QoQ

YoY



(in thousands)













Axon Cloud net sales

$ 52,436



$ 50,343



$ 39,154



4.2 %

33.9 % Axon Cloud gross margin



75.1 %



77.7 %



75.3 %

(260) bp

(20) bp





































Sensors and Other net sales

$ 43,584



$ 40,036



$ 32,113



8.9 %

35.7 % Sensors and Other gross margin



41.1 %



36.3 %



42.0 %

480 bp

(90) bp

Axon Cloud revenue grew 34% year over year, reflecting growing adoption of our software features.

Axon Cloud gross margin of 75.1% includes expected costs to scale our cloud business. This includes low-to-no margin professional services costs, as well as expenses tied to standing up new cloud environments in new markets and geographies. We expect these factors to pressure gross margins as we further scale our cloud business. The software-only revenue in this segment, which includes cloud storage and compute costs, has consistently carried a gross margin above 80%.

Sensors & Other revenue grew 36% year over year, reflecting healthy demand for our body camera and Fleet hardware.

Sensors & Other gross margin was 41.1%. As a reminder, we manage toward a 25% gross margin for camera and sensors hardware, and the gross margin will fluctuate quarter to quarter depending on the customer mix.

Forward-looking performance indicators:















































31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

30 SEP 2020

30 JUNE 2020

31 MAR 2020



($ in thousands)

Annual recurring revenue (1)

$ 242,357



$ 221,263



$ 203,815



$ 183,498



$ 173,919

Net revenue retention (2)



119 %



119 %



120 %



119 %



119 % Total company future

contracted revenue (2)

$ 1,790,000



$ 1,730,000



$ 1,510,000



$ 1,340,000



$ 1,274,000

Percentage of TASER

devices sold on a recurring

payment plan



64 %



53 %



75 %



46 %



43 %





(1) Monthly recurring license, integration, warranty, and storage revenue annualized. (2) Refer to "Statistical Definitions" below.

Annual Recurring Revenue ("ARR") grew 39% year over year to $242 million . On a sequential basis, ARR increased by $21 million , reflecting robust customer demand for our growing suite of software tools.

. On a sequential basis, ARR increased by , reflecting robust customer demand for our growing suite of software tools. Net revenue retention was 119% in the quarter, reflecting our ability to deliver additional value to our customers over time and our de minimis annual churn rates. We drive adoption of our cloud software solutions through integrated bundling. We are seeing major cities upgrading their subscriptions at individual net dollar retention rates of 150% to 400% to take advantage of our growing suite of productivity and digital evidence management tools. Our law enforcement agency customers often sign up for five to ten-year subscriptions. This SaaS metric purposely excludes the hardware portion of customer subscriptions. We further define this metric under "Statistical Definitions."

Total company future contracted revenue grew to $1.79 billion . See definition of this metric under "Statistical Definitions."

. See definition of this metric under "Statistical Definitions." The percentage of TASER devices sold on a subscription was 64% in the quarter. As a reminder, Axon is transitioning its TASER hardware business into a subscription service. Domestic subscription orders were 70% of TASER devices sold in the quarter, reflecting this successful transition. International subscription rates are trending positively, and new markets often start out on a non-subscription basis, and we transition them to subscription over time.

Outlook:

The following forward-looking statements reflect Axon's expectations as of May 6, 2021, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. As our investments are yielding results ahead of our expectations thus far in 2021, we intend to continue investing for growth.

Our updated 2021 outlook is as follows:

We expect to achieve revenue in the range of $780 million to $820 million , which represents a $40 million increase at the midpoint over the $740 million to $780 million expectation communicated in February.

to , which represents a increase at the midpoint over the to expectation communicated in February. We are raising our expectations for Adjusted EBITDA to $140 million to $150 million , up from $125 million to $140 million previously.

to , up from to previously. We provide Adjusted EBITDA guidance, rather than net income guidance, due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting certain types of expenses such as stock-based compensation and income tax expenses, which affect net income but do not affect Adjusted EBITDA. We are unable to reasonably estimate the impact of such expenses, if any, on net income. Accordingly, we do not provide a reconciliation of projected net income to projected Adjusted EBITDA.

We expect stock-based compensation expense to be at least $175 million for the full year. However, as our stock-based compensation expense may fluctuate significantly based on changes in the probability of attaining certain operational metrics or attainment of such metrics and with changes in the expected or actual timing of such attainment, it is inherently difficult to forecast future stock-based compensation expense.

for the full year. However, as our stock-based compensation expense may fluctuate significantly based on changes in the probability of attaining certain operational metrics or attainment of such metrics and with changes in the expected or actual timing of such attainment, it is inherently difficult to forecast future stock-based compensation expense. Our expectations for capital expenditures of approximately $65 million to $70 million in 2021 are unchanged. These include investments to support capacity expansion and automation on TASER device and cartridge manufacturing, and are discussed in greater detail in our Q4 2020 shareholder letter.

to in 2021 are unchanged. These include investments to support capacity expansion and automation on TASER device and cartridge manufacturing, and are discussed in greater detail in our Q4 2020 shareholder letter. As we execute upon a scaling global profile and rapid 2021 growth, our early view of the business in 2022 includes approximately $920 million in revenue. We are extremely proud of the high level of execution from our teams that has set us up for continued top-line strength, solid margin performance and increased profitability.

Thank you for joining us on our growth journey,

Rick Smith, CEO

Luke Larson, President

Jawad Ahsan, CFO



Quarterly conference call and webcast

We will host our Q1 2021 earnings conference call webinar on Thursday, May 6 at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET.

The webcast will be available via a link on Axon's investor relations website at https://investor.axon.com (https://investor.axon.com/), or can be accessed directly via https://axon.zoom.us/j/92356790862.

Statistical Definitions

Bookings: We consider bookings to be a statistical measure defined as the sales price of orders (not invoiced sales), including contractual optional periods we expect to be exercised, net of cancellations, inclusive of renewals, placed in the relevant fiscal period, regardless of when the products or services ultimately will be provided, so long as they are expected to occur within five years. Most bookings will be invoiced in subsequent periods. Due to municipal government funding rules, in some cases certain of the future period amounts included in bookings are subject to budget appropriation or other contract cancellation clauses. Although we have entered into contracts for the delivery of products and services in the future and anticipate the contracts will be fulfilled, if agencies do not exercise contractual options, do not appropriate funds in future year budgets, or do enact a cancellation clause, revenue associated with these bookings may not ultimately be recognized, resulting in a future reduction to bookings. Bookings, as presented here, represent total company bookings inclusive of all products, and should not be confused with our historical reported measure of Software & Sensors bookings, which excluded TASER-related bookings. Certain customers sign contracts for time periods longer than five-years, which generates a larger-sized booking  but the expected exercise amounts after the five-year period is not included in bookings, as described here, in order to facilitate comparisons between periods.

Net revenue retention: Dollar-based net revenue retention is an important metric to measure our ability to retain and expand our relationships with existing customers. We calculate it as the software and camera warranty subscription and support revenue from a base set of agency customers from which we generated Axon Cloud subscription revenue in the last month of a quarter divided by the software and camera warranty subscription and support revenue from the year-ago month of that same customer base. This calculation includes high-margin warranty but purposely excludes the lower-margin hardware subscription contingent of the customer contracts, as it is meant to be a SaaS metric that we use to monitor the health of the recurring revenue business we are building. This calculation also excludes the implied monthly revenue contribution of customers that were added since the year-ago quarter, and therefore excludes the benefit of new customer acquisition. The metric includes customers, if any, that terminated during the annual period, and therefore, this metric is inclusive of customer churn. This metric is downwardly adjusted to account for the effect of phased deployments -- meaning that for the year-ago period, we consider the total contractually obligated implied monthly revenue amount, rather than monthly revenue amounts that might have been in actuality smaller on a GAAP basis due to the customer not having yet fully deployed their Axon solution. For more information relative to our revenue recognition policies, please reference our SEC filings.

Total company future contracted revenue: Total company future contracted revenue includes both recognized contract liabilities as well as amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. The remaining performance obligations are limited only to arrangements that meet the definition of a contract under Topic 606 as of March 31, 2021. We expect to recognize between 20% - 25% of this balance over the next twelve months, and generally expect the remainder to be recognized over the following five to seven years, subject to risks related to delayed deployments, budget appropriation or other contract cancellation clauses.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement the Company's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, we present the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share and Free Cash Flow. The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company's performance in comparison to prior periods. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance, and when planning and forecasting our future periods. A reconciliation of GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures is presented herein.

EBITDA (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Earnings before interest expense, investment interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Earnings before interest expense, investment interest income, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expense and pre-tax certain other items (described below).

Non-GAAP Net Income (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Net income excluding the costs of non-cash stock-based compensation and excluding net gain/loss/write-down/disposal/abandonment of property, equipment and intangible assets; loss on impairment; costs related to business acquisitions and investments in unconsolidated affiliates; costs related to the FTC litigation and pre-tax certain other items (described below). The Company tax-effects non-GAAP adjustments using the blended statutory federal and state tax rates for each period presented.

Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Earnings Per share) - Measure of Company's Non-GAAP Net Income divided by the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding during the period presented.

Free Cash Flow (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Cash flow from operating activities) - cash flows provided by operating activities minus purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets.

Caution on Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Although these non-GAAP financial measures are not consistent with GAAP, management believes investors will benefit by referring to these non-GAAP financial measures when assessing the Company's operating results, as well as when forecasting and analyzing future periods. However, management recognizes that:

these non-GAAP financial measures are limited in their usefulness and should be considered only as a supplement to the Company's GAAP financial measures;

these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company's GAAP financial measures;

these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered to be superior to the Company's GAAP financial measures; and

these non-GAAP financial measures were not prepared in accordance with GAAP or under a comprehensive set of rules or principles.

Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may be unique to the Company, as they may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. As such, this presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not enhance the comparability of the Company's results to the results of other companies.

About Axon

Axon is the global leader in connected public safety technologies. We are a mission-driven company whose overarching goal is to protect life. Our vision is a world where bullets are obsolete, where social conflict is dramatically reduced, where everyone has access to a fair and effective justice system and where racial equity, diversity and inclusion is centered in all of our work. Axon is also a leading provider of body cameras for US public safety, providing more transparency and accountability to communities than ever before.

You may learn about our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts by reading our ESG report at investor.axon.com.

We work hard for those who put themselves in harm's way for all of us. More than 249,000 lives and countless dollars have been saved with the Axon network of devices, apps and people. Learn more at www.axon.com or by calling (800) 978-2737. Axon is a global company with headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a global software engineering hub in Seattle, Washington, as well as additional offices in the US, Australia, Canada, Finland, Vietnam, the UK and the Netherlands.

Cellebrite and the Cellebrite Logo are trademarks of Cellebrite Mobile Synchronization Ltd.; Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc.; LTE is a trademark of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute; RapidSOS and the RapidSOS Logo are service marks of RapidSOS, Inc.; Skydio is a trademark of Skydio, Inc.; True Wind is a trademark of True Wind Capital, L.P.; and Twitter is a trademark of Twitter, Inc. Axon, Axon Evidence, Axon Performance, Fleet, TASER, TASER 7, Protect Life and the Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other countries. For more information, visit www.axon.com/legal. All rights reserved.

Follow Axon here:

Axon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/axon_us

Axon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/

Forward-looking statements

Forward-looking statements in this letter include, without limitation, statements regarding: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; proposed products and services and related development efforts and activities; expectations about the market for our current and future products and services; strategies and trends relating to subscription plan programs and revenues; strategies and trends, including the benefits of, research and development investments; the timing and realization of future contracted revenue; expectations about customer behavior; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results and future economic performance, including our outlook for 2021 and 2022 full year revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, stock-based compensation expense, and capital expenditures; statements of management's strategies, goals and objectives and other similar expressions; as well as the ultimate resolution of financial statement items requiring critical accounting estimates, including those set forth in our Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the potential global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; our exposure to cancellations of government contracts due to appropriation clauses, exercise of a cancellation clause, or non-exercise of contractually optional periods; our ability to design, introduce and sell new products or features; our ability to defend against litigation and protect our intellectual property, and the resulting costs of this activity; our ability to manage our supply chain and avoid production delays, shortages, and impacts to expected gross margins; the impact of stock compensation expense, impairment expense, and income tax expense on our financial results; customer purchase behavior, including adoption of our software as a service delivery model; negative media publicity regarding our products; the impact of product mix on projected gross margins; defects in our products; changes in the costs of product components and labor; loss of customer data, a breach of security, or an extended outage, including by our third party cloud-based storage providers; exposure to international operational risks; delayed cash collections and possible credit losses due to our subscription model; changes in government regulations in the U.S. and in foreign markets, especially related to the classification of our products by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; our ability to integrate acquired businesses; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and counter-party risks relating to cash balances held in excess of FDIC insurance limits. Many events beyond our control may determine whether results we anticipate will be achieved. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you consider forward-looking statements. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q list various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. These factors are intended as cautionary statements for investors within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act. Readers can find them under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and investors should refer to them. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K reports to the SEC.

Update on Legal Matters:

Axon v. FTC

Axon continues to both vigorously prosecute its Federal court constitutional case against the FTC and defend the FTC's separate antitrust administrative action against the company. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the FTC's administrative hearing that was scheduled to begin in October 2020.

As background, Axon's Federal court constitutional challenge against the FTC was dismissed in April 2020, without prejudice, for lack of jurisdiction, holding that Axon must first bring its claims through the FTC's administrative process. Axon appealed that ruling to the Ninth Circuit (No. 20-15662). In January 2021, a Ninth Circuit panel in a 2-1 split decision affirmed the district court ruling against Axon on the jurisdictional question.

In March 2021, Axon filed a petition for rehearing en banc, which was supported by multiple amicus briefs filed by the Atlantic Legal Foundation, the Washington Legal Foundation, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the US Chamber of Commerce, and New Civil Liberties Alliance. The petition argued that the panel's majority opinion conflicts with both Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit precedent.

The Court denied rehearing but granted Axon's motion to stay the appellate mandate pending the filing of a certiorari petition with the U.S. Supreme Court. That petition is due by September 13, 2021. The FTC's administrative case will remain stayed throughout the course of the Supreme Court proceedings.

Links to all Court filings and opinions can be found on Axon's FTC Investor Briefing page at https://www.axon.com/ftc.

As a reminder, in parallel to these matters Axon is evaluating strategic alternatives to litigation, which Axon might pursue if determined to be in the best interests of shareholders and customers. This could include a divestiture of the Vievu entity and/or related assets. While Axon continues to believe the 2018 acquisition of Vievu was lawful and a benefit to Vievu's customers, the cost, risk and distraction of protracted litigation merit consideration of settlement if achievable on terms agreeable to the FTC and Axon

For investor relations information please contact Andrea James and Angel Ambrosio via email at [email protected].

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)























THREE MONTHS ENDED



31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020 Net sales from products

$ 140,886

$ 174,116

$ 107,288 Net sales from services



54,133



52,024



39,874 Net sales



195,019



226,140



147,162 Cost of product sales



58,616



73,624



48,884 Cost of service sales



13,050



11,210



9,670 Cost of sales



71,666



84,834



58,554 Gross margin



123,353



141,306



88,608 Operating expenses:

















Sales, general and administrative



126,597



97,523



63,027 Research and development



47,018



38,008



26,381 Total operating expenses



173,615



135,531



89,408 Income (loss) from operations



(50,262)



5,775



(800) Interest and other income, net



585



3,265



941 Income (loss) before provision for income taxes



(49,677)



9,040



141 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes



(1,760)



(16,794)



(3,933) Net income (loss)

$ (47,917)

$ 25,834

$ 4,074 Net income (loss) per common and common equivalent shares:

















Basic

$ (0.75)

$ 0.41

$ 0.07 Diluted

$ (0.75)

$ 0.40

$ 0.07 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent

shares outstanding:

















Basic



64,036



63,639



59,609 Diluted



64,036



65,362



60,394

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SEGMENT REPORTING (Unaudited) (dollars in thousands)













































































THREE MONTHS ENDED



THREE MONTHS ENDED



THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 MAR 2021



31 DEC 2020



31 MAR 2020













Software



















Software



















Software





















and



















and



















and













TASER



Sensors



Total



TASER



Sensors



Total



TASER



Sensors



Total

Net sales from products (1)

$ 97,302



$ 43,584



$ 140,886



$ 134,080



$ 40,036



$ 174,116



$ 75,175



$ 32,113



$ 107,288

Net sales from services (2)



1,697





52,436





54,133





1,681





50,343





52,024





720





39,154





39,874

Net sales



98,999





96,020





195,019





135,761





90,379





226,140





75,895





71,267





147,162

Cost of product sales



32,945





25,671





58,616





48,138





25,486





73,624





30,248





18,636





48,884

Cost of service sales









13,050





13,050











11,210





11,210











9,670





9,670

Cost of sales



32,945





38,721





71,666





48,138





36,696





84,834





30,248





28,306





58,554

Gross margin



66,054





57,299





123,353





87,623





53,683





141,306





45,647





42,961





88,608

Gross margin %



66.7 %



59.7 %



63.3 %



64.5 %



59.4 %



62.5 %



60.1 %



60.3 %



60.2 %









































































Research and development



9,243





37,775





47,018





5,231





32,777





38,008





3,032





23,349





26,381







(1) Software and Sensors "products" revenue consists of sensors, including on-officer body cameras, Axon Fleet cameras, other hardware sensors, warranties on sensors, and other products, and is sometimes referred to as Sensors and Other revenue.



(2) Software and Sensors "services" revenue comprises sales related to the Axon Cloud, which includes Axon Evidence, cloud-based evidence management software revenue, other recurring cloud-hosted software revenue and related professional services, and is sometimes referred to as Axon Cloud revenue.

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. UNIT SALES STATISTICS (Unaudited) Units in whole numbers























THREE MONTHS ENDED













31 MAR

31 MAR

Unit

Percent





2021

2020

Change

Change

TASER 7

23,360

11,430

11,930

104.4 % TASER X26P

8,229

11,003

(2,774)

(25.2)

TASER X2

8,838

10,478

(1,640)

(15.7)

TASER Pulse

8,686

3,261

5,425

166.4

Cartridges

1,009,760

873,364

136,396

15.6

Axon Body

46,094

39,864

6,230

15.6

Axon Flex

1,565

3,074

(1,509)

(49.1)

Axon Fleet

1,440

2,676

(1,236)

(46.2)

Axon Dock

6,786

5,297

1,489

28.1























AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) Dollars in thousands

























THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:



















Net income (loss)

$ (47,917)

$ 25,834

$ 4,074

Depreciation and amortization



4,291



3,531



2,881

Interest expense



5



11



7

Investment interest income



(533)



(929)



(693)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes



(1,760)



(16,794)



(3,933)

EBITDA

$ (45,914)

$ 11,653

$ 2,336























Adjustments:



















Stock-based compensation expense

$ 89,610

$ 53,448

$ 20,195

Transaction costs related to strategic investments



385



109



833

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible assets



11



68



13

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net



45



293



517

Costs related to FTC litigation



233



522



6,135

Payroll taxes related to XSPP vesting



1,452









Unrealized net gain on strategic investment and warrants in

unconsolidated affiliate







(2,055)





Adjusted EBITDA

$ 45,822

$ 64,038

$ 30,029

Net income (loss) as a percentage of net sales



(24.6) %

11.4 %

2.8 % Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales



23.5 %

28.3 %

20.4 %





















Stock-based compensation expense:



















Cost of product and service sales

$ 1,489

$ 1,294

$ 590

Sales, general and administrative



71,015



43,007



14,970

Research and development



17,106



9,147



4,635

Total

$ 89,610

$ 53,448

$ 20,195



AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES - continued (Unaudited) Dollars in thousands

























THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

Non-GAAP net income:



















GAAP net income (loss)

$ (47,917)

$ 25,834

$ 4,074

Non-GAAP adjustments:



















Stock-based compensation expense



89,610



53,448



20,195

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible assets



11



68



13

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net



45



293



517

Transaction costs related to strategic investments



385



109



833

Costs related to FTC litigation



233



522



6,135

Unrealized net gain on strategic investment and warrants in

unconsolidated affiliate







(2,055)





Payroll taxes related to XSPP vesting



1,452









Income tax effects



(22,780)



(13,172)



(7,837)

Non-GAAP net income

$ 21,039

$ 65,047

$ 23,930



































THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share:



















GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share

$ (0.75)

$ 0.40

$ 0.07

Non-GAAP adjustments:



















Stock-based compensation expense



1.33



0.82



0.33

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible assets



0.00



0.00



0.00

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net



0.00



0.00



0.01

Transaction costs related to strategic investments



0.01



0.00



0.01

Costs related to FTC litigation



0.00



0.01



0.10

Unrealized net gain on strategic investment and warrants in

unconsolidated affiliate







(0.03)





Payroll taxes related to XSPP vesting



0.02









Income tax effects



(0.34)



(0.20)



(0.13)

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (1)

$ 0.31

$ 1.00

$ 0.40























Weighted average number of diluted common and common equivalent

shares outstanding (in thousands)



67,392



65,362



60,394







(1) The per share calculations for GAAP net income, Non-GAAP adjustments and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are each computed independently. Per share amounts may not sum due to rounding.

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)

















31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020



(Unaudited)





ASSETS











Current Assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 154,822

$ 155,440 Short-term investments



440,842



406,525 Accounts and notes receivable, net



185,373



229,201 Contract assets, net



72,472



63,945 Inventory, net



89,657



89,958 Prepaid expenses and other current assets



43,063



36,883 Total current assets



986,229



981,952













Property and equipment, net



112,119



105,494 Deferred tax assets, net



46,403



45,770 Intangible assets, net



8,642



9,448 Goodwill



25,194



25,205 Long-term investments



78,464



90,681 Long-term notes receivable, net



18,546



22,457 Long-term contract assets, net



26,341



20,099 Other assets



102,920



79,917 Total assets

$ 1,404,858

$ 1,381,023













LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY











Current Liabilities:











Accounts payable



19,791



24,142 Accrued liabilities



41,097



59,843 Current portion of deferred revenue



165,086



163,959 Customer deposits



8,134



2,956 Other current liabilities



5,667



5,431 Total current liabilities



239,775



256,331













Deferred revenue, net of current portion



116,107



111,222 Liability for unrecognized tax benefits



4,697



4,503 Long-term deferred compensation



4,825



4,732 Deferred tax liability, net



684



649 Other long-term liabilities



27,866



27,331 Total liabilities



393,954



404,768













Stockholders' Equity:











Preferred stock







 Common stock



1



1 Additional paid-in capital



1,044,724



962,159 Treasury stock



(155,947)



(155,947) Retained earnings



121,984



169,901 Accumulated other comprehensive income



142



141 Total stockholders' equity



1,010,904



976,255 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 1,404,858

$ 1,381,023

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)

























THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020

Cash flows from operating activities:



















Net income (loss)

$ (47,917)

$ 25,834

$ 4,074

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:



















Depreciation and amortization



4,291



3,531



2,881

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible assets



11



68



13

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net



45



293



517

Stock-based compensation



89,610



53,448



20,195

Deferred income taxes



(598)



(4,858)



(1,548)

Unrecognized tax benefits



194



98



341

Other noncash



2,615



2,876



1,156

Provision for expected credit losses



(335)



526



902

Change in assets and liabilities:



















Accounts and notes receivable and contract assets



31,298



(59,211)



(9,700)

Inventory



520



7,215



(8,630)

Prepaid expenses and other assets



(6,952)



(10,063)



2,277

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities



(18,062)



(16,479)



(3,562)

Deferred revenue



6,219



31,040



4,499

Net cash provided by operating activities



60,939



34,318



13,415

Cash flows from investing activities:



















Purchases of investments



(155,825)



(139,835)



(99,512)

Proceeds from call / maturity of investments



132,254



92,640



84,315

Purchases of property and equipment



(10,521)



(6,606)



(2,209)

Purchases of intangible assets



(41)



(64)



(45)

Proceeds of disposal from property and equipment



10



1



78

Strategic investments



(20,000)



(2,368)



(4,700)

Net cash used in investing activities



(54,123)



(56,232)



(22,073)

Cash flows from financing activities:



















Proceeds from options exercised











28

Income and payroll tax payments for net-settled stock awards



(7,045)



(923)



(5,190)

Net cash used in financing activities



(7,045)



(923)



(5,162)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents



(392)



2,279



(1,890)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash



(621)



(20,558)



(15,710)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period



155,551



176,109



172,355

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 154,930

$ 155,551

$ 156,645



AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Unaudited) (in thousands)























THREE MONTHS ENDED



31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 MAR 2020 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 60,939

$ 34,318

$ 13,415 Purchases of property and equipment



(10,521)



(6,606)



(2,209) Purchases of intangible assets



(41)



(64)



(45) Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure

$ 50,377

$ 27,648

$ 11,161

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL TABLES (in thousands)

















31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020



(Unaudited)





Cash and cash equivalents

$ 154,822

$ 155,440 Short-term investments



440,842



406,525 Long-term investments



78,464



90,681 Total cash and cash equivalents and investments, net

$ 674,128

$ 652,646

CONTACT:

Investor Relations

Axon Enterprise, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Axon

Related Links

www.axon.com


WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) today reported, on a U.S. GAAP basis, first quarter 2021 net earnings attributable to the corporation of $200 million (including net after-tax charges of $40 million, or 12 cents per diluted share for business consolidation and other non-comparable items), or 60 cents per diluted share, on sales of $3.1 billion, compared to $23 million net earnings attributable to the corporation, or 7 cents per diluted share (including net after-tax charges of $179 million, or 54 cents per diluted share for business consolidation and other non-comparable items), on sales of $2.8 billion in 2020. Ball's first quarter 2021 comparable net earnings were $240 million, or 72 cents per diluted share, compared to $202 million, or 61 cents per diluted share in 2020.

Details of comparable segment earnings, business consolidation activities, business segment descriptions and other non-comparable items can be found in the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that accompany this news release. References to volume data represent units shipped.

During the quarter, the company increased comparable earnings per diluted share by 18% on 8% global beverage volume growth and maintained strong aerospace backlog. In addition to focusing on team safety, the company's EMEA and South American beverage can businesses experienced notably stronger comparable earnings, the new beverage can manufacturing facility in Glendale, Arizona, started production and the Ball Aluminum Cup began national rollout distribution at retail late in the quarter. Significant demand growth for sustainable aluminum packaging continues to outstrip global supply and the cadence of capital investments to address contracted customer demand is accelerating.

"Positive momentum continues across our company despite anticipated startup costs and isolated operational impacts in our North American beverage can business due to winter storms and aerospace customer supply-chain disruptions experienced during the quarter. Global projects in North America, South America and EMEA are expected to add at least 25 billion units of contracted beverage can capacity by year-end 2023 (off a 2019 base of 100 billion units), projects are on track and will contribute meaningfully to 2021 and beyond. Our focus remains on our employees' safety, training and development, the efficient startups of EVA-enhancing capital projects to serve our customers' growth, the successful retail launch of the Ball Aluminum Cup and delivering value to our stakeholders in 2021 and beyond," said John A. Hayes, chairman and chief executive officer.

Beverage Packaging, North and Central America

Beverage packaging, North and Central America, comparable segment operating earnings for the first quarter 2021 were $140 million on sales of $1.3 billion compared to $146 million on sales of $1.2 billion in 2020.

Comparable segment earnings reflect 6% volume growth, the benefits from new contractual terms and higher specialty mix being more than offset by startup costs associated with three new manufacturing plants and the impact of lost production from winter storms.

Demand for aluminum beverage cans and bottles continues to outstrip supply across North America. The company's new Glendale, Arizona, facility successfully started up during the first quarter, and the company anticipates the new Pittston, Pennsylvania, facility to start beverage can production by the end of second quarter. The company further anticipates Glendale and Pittston to exit 2021 with four lines operational in each facility. As needed, both facilities are scalable to add incremental capacity throughout 2022 and beyond to serve consumer's growth for sustainable packaging, new product introductions and to offset cans currently being imported.

The timeline for the company's recently announced construction of a new aluminum end manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has been accelerated to align end capacity with even higher can demand. Bowling Green end manufacturing is now scheduled to begin in late 2021. Full-year 2021 startup costs are still anticipated to be in the range of $50 million.

Beverage Packaging, EMEA

Beverage packaging, EMEA, comparable segment operating earnings for first quarter were $100 million on sales of $796 million compared to $68 million on sales of $669 million in 2020.

First quarter comparable segment earnings reflect 5% segment volume growth, improving specialty mix and strong consumption trends in the U.K., Nordics, Egypt and Russia. Packaging mix shift to sustainable aluminum cans for traditional and non-traditional beverages continues to accelerate, and demand is outstripping supply. Despite protracted country-by-country COVID-19 lockdowns, additional beverage can line investments in the U.K., Czech Republic and Russia are largely on track to support regional contracted demand in 2021 and beyond.

During the quarter, the segment launched the world's first ASI (Aluminum Stewardship Initiative) certified can with a major customer in Spain. The cans are certified according to ASI's standards for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship.

Beverage Packaging, South America

Beverage packaging, South America, comparable segment operating earnings for first quarter were $93 million on sales of $487 million compared to $63 million on sales of $405 million in 2020.

Segment volume ended the quarter up 14% and specialty mix also increased to more than 65%. First quarter earnings reflect favorable price/mix and exceptional operating performance despite COVID-19 recurrences across South America. In Brazil, demand remains very strong and continues to outstrip supply as recyclable aluminum beverage packaging is favored over other substrates.

To support contracted volume growth and can-filling investments across South America, multiple can manufacturing investments are anticipated across our existing footprint in 2021 and beyond. The previously announced multi-line facility in Frutal, Brazil, is on schedule to begin production in the second half of 2021.

Aerospace

Aerospace comparable segment operating earnings for the first quarter were $35 million on sales of $424 million compared to $40 million on sales of $432 million in 2020. Contracted backlog ended the quarter at $2.2 billion and contracts won, but not yet booked into contracted backlog was $5.3 billion.

Segment results reflect the inefficiencies created from certain customer supply-chain disruptions, timing effects of certain sub-supplier contracts, and costs due to COVID-19 safety and other protocols. The company continues to win defense, climate change and Earth-monitoring contracts to provide mission-critical programs and technologies to U.S. government, defense, intelligence, and reconnaissance and surveillance customers. Contracted and won-not-booked backlog are expected to rise throughout 2021 and segment earnings remain on track to achieve double-digit growth. Hiring to support future growth and multiple projects to expand manufacturing capacity, test capabilities engineering, and support workspace remain on track.

Non-reportable

In addition to undistributed corporate expenses, the results for the company's global aluminum aerosol business, beverage can manufacturing facilities in India, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar and investments in the company's new aluminum cup business continue to be reported in other non-reportable.

First quarter results reflect higher year-over-year undistributed corporate expenses and marketing costs associated with the aluminum cup national retail launch. During the quarter, the company's global aluminum aerosol volumes increased low-single-digits and customers continue to pursue sustainable packaging solutions including the company's new Infinity aluminum bottle.

Outlook

"Global demand for aluminum packaging continues to grow. In 2021, we are allocating in excess of $1.5 billion in capital to support EVA-enhancing projects at returns higher than our 9% after-tax hurdle. As our cash from operations continues to increase and we maintain optimal net debt to comparable EBITDA ratios, we will accelerate return of value to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases," said Scott C. Morrison, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

"We continue to achieve at a high level due to our team's ability to adapt and work safely together. Our Drive for 10 vision and enduring culture allow us to successfully navigate short-term challenges and invest in long-term opportunities to enable growth for sustainable aluminum packaging and aerospace technologies. In 2021 and beyond, we look forward to growing our cash from operations and EVA dollars on an even larger capital base while returning capital to our shareholders and exceeding our long-term diluted earnings per share growth goal of at least 10 to 15%," Hayes said.

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 21,500 people worldwide and reported 2020 net sales of $11.8 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com , or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Conference Call Details

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) will hold its first quarter 2021 earnings call today at 9 a.m. Mountain time (11 a.m. Eastern). The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-920-5564. International callers should dial 212-231-2909. Please use the following URL for a webcast of the live call:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/569qbar7

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available from 11 a.m. Mountain time on May 6, 2021, until 11 a.m. Mountain time on May 13, 2021. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21993264. A written transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call's conclusion to Ball's website at www.ball.com/investors under "news and presentations."

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," and similar expressions typically identify forward-looking statements, which are generally any statements other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements and any such statements should be read in conjunction with, and qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements referenced below. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be different are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and fluctuations and changes in consumption patterns; availability/cost of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies, productivity improvements or cost reductions; unfavorable mandatory deposit or packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation; power and supply chain interruptions; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; currency controls; changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental actions, including business restrictions and shelter-in-place orders in any country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by us or in our supply chain, including imported raw materials; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the Company as a whole include those listed above plus: the extent to which sustainability-related opportunities arise and can be capitalized upon; changes in senior management, succession, and the ability to attract and retain skilled labor; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; the ability to manage cyber threats; litigation; strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the Company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events and governmental policies both in the U.S. and in other countries, including policies, orders, and actions related to COVID-19; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, and their effects on our operating results and business generally.

# # #

Condensed Financial Statements (First Quarter 2021)

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

















Three Months Ended



March 31, ($ in millions, except per share amounts)

2021

2020













Net sales

$ 3,125

$ 2,785













Costs and expenses











Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)



(2,493)



(2,215) Depreciation and amortization



(168)



(169) Selling, general and administrative



(157)



(131) Business consolidation and other activities



(7)



(115)





(2,825)



(2,630)













Earnings before interest and taxes



300



155













Interest expense



(67)



(71) Debt refinancing and other costs



-



(40) Total interest expense



(67)



(111) Earnings before taxes



233



44 Tax (provision) benefit



(32)



4 Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax



(1)



(25)













Net earnings



200



23













Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax



-



-













Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation

$ 200

$ 23













Earnings per share:











Basic

$ 0.61

$ 0.07 Diluted

$ 0.60

$ 0.07













Weighted average shares outstanding (000s):











Basic



327,811



325,346 Diluted



333,673



332,326

Condensed Financial Statements (First Quarter 2021)

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

















Three Months Ended



March 31, ($ in millions)

2021

2020













Cash Flows from Operating Activities:











Net earnings

$ 200

$ 23 Depreciation and amortization



168



169 Business consolidation and other activities



7



115 Deferred tax provision (benefit)



(2)



(36) Other, net



(147)



58 Changes in working capital



(703)



(1,037) Cash provided by (used in) operating activities



(477)



(708) Cash Flows from Investing Activities:











Capital expenditures



(363)



(213) Business dispositions



1



(17) Other, net



14



(4) Cash provided by (used in) investing activities



(348)



(234) Cash Flows from Financing Activities:











Changes in borrowings, net



1



198 Net issuances (purchases) of common stock



(5)



(88) Dividends



(50)



(51) Other, net



-



(34) Cash provided by (used in) financing activities



(54)



25 Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



(31)



(78) Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



(910)



(995) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - beginning of period



1,381



1,806 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period

$ 471

$ 811

Condensed Financial Statements (First Quarter 2021)

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

















March 31, ($ in millions)

2021

2020













Assets











Current assets











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 461

$ 801 Receivables, net



2,115



1,862 Inventories, net



1,399



1,354 Other current assets



262



224 Total current assets



4,237



4,241 Property, plant and equipment, net



5,570



4,499 Goodwill



4,416



4,270 Intangible assets, net



1,813



1,914 Other assets



1,943



1,621













Total assets

$ 17,979

$ 16,545













Liabilities and Equity











Current liabilities











Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

$ 766

$ 522 Payables and other accrued liabilities



4,218



3,481 Total current liabilities



4,984



4,003 Long-term debt



6,941



7,476 Other long-term liabilities



2,500



2,366 Equity



3,554



2,700













Total liabilities and equity

$ 17,979

$ 16,545

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements (First Quarter 2021)

1. Business Segment Information

Ball's operations are organized and reviewed by management along its product lines and geographical areas and presented in the four reportable segments outlined below.

Beverage packaging, North and Central America : Consists of operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that manufacture and sell aluminum beverage containers.

Beverage packaging, EMEA : Consists of operations in numerous countries throughout Europe, including Russia, as well as Egypt and Turkey, that manufacture and sell aluminum beverage containers throughout those regions.

Beverage packaging, South America : Consists of operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile that manufacture and sell aluminum beverage containers throughout most of South America.

Aerospace : Consists of operations that manufacture and sell aerospace and other related products and the provision of services used in the defense, civil space and commercial space industries.

Other consists of a non-reportable operating segment (beverage packaging, other) that manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers; a non-reportable segment that manufactures and sells extruded aluminum aerosol containers and aluminum slugs (aerosol packaging); a non-reportable operating segment that manufactures and sells aluminum cups (aluminum cups); undistributed corporate expenses; intercompany eliminations and other business activities.

The company also has investments in operations in Guatemala, Panama, South Korea, the U.S. and Vietnam that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and, accordingly, those results are not included in segment sales or earnings.















Three Months Ended

March 31, ($ in millions) 2021

2020











Net sales









Beverage packaging, North and Central America $ 1,296

$ 1,181 Beverage packaging, EMEA

796



669 Beverage packaging, South America

487



405 Aerospace

424



432 Reportable segment sales

3,003



2,687 Other

122



98 Net sales $ 3,125

$ 2,785











Comparable operating earnings









Beverage packaging, North and Central America $ 140

$ 146 Beverage packaging, EMEA

100



68 Beverage packaging, South America

93



63 Aerospace

35



40 Reportable segment comparable operating earnings

368



317











Other (a)

(23)



(10) Comparable operating earnings

345



307 Reconciling items









Business consolidation and other activities

(7)



(115) Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles

(38)



(37) Earnings before interest and taxes $ 300

$ 155

____________________ (a) Includes undistributed corporate expenses, net, of $26 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

2. Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures  Non-U.S. GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation. They should not be considered superior to, or a substitute for, financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Presentations of earnings and cash flows presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are available in the company's earnings releases and quarterly and annual regulatory filings. Information reconciling forward-looking U.S. GAAP measures to non-U.S. GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort. We have not provided guidance for the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, as they are not available without unreasonable effort due to the high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to certain special items, including restructuring charges, business consolidation and other costs, gains and losses related to acquisition and divestiture of businesses, the ultimate outcome of certain legal or tax proceedings and other non-comparable items. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors and could be material to our results computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Comparable Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Comparable EBITDA), Comparable Operating Earnings, Comparable Net Earnings, Comparable Diluted Earnings Per Share and Net Debt  Comparable EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, business consolidation and other non-comparable costs. Comparable Operating Earnings is earnings before interest, taxes, business consolidation and other non-comparable costs. Comparable Net Earnings is net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation before business consolidation and other non-comparable costs after tax. Comparable Diluted Earnings Per Share is Comparable Net Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. We use Comparable EBITDA, Comparable Operating Earnings, Comparable Net Earnings, and Comparable Diluted Earnings Per Share internally to evaluate the company's operating performance. Net Debt is total debt less cash and cash equivalents, which are derived directly from the company's financial statements. Ball management uses Net Debt to Comparable EBITDA and Comparable EBITDA to interest expense as metrics to monitor the credit quality of Ball Corporation.

Please see the company's website for further details of the company's non-U.S. GAAP financial measures at www.ball.com/investors under the "FINANCIALS" tab.

A summary of the effects of non-comparable items on after tax earnings is as follows:





















Three Months Ended



March 31, ($ in millions, except per share amounts)

2021



2020















Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation

$ 200



$ 23 Business consolidation and other activities



7





115 Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles



38





37 Share of equity method affiliate non-comparable costs, net of tax



6





30 Debt refinancing and other costs



-





40 Noncontrolling interest share of non-comparable costs, net of tax



-





1 Non-comparable tax items



(11)





(44) Comparable Net Earnings

$ 240



$ 202 Comparable diluted earnings per share

$ 0.72



$ 0.61

A summary of the effects of non-comparable items on earnings before interest and taxes is as follows:

















Three Months Ended



March 31, ($ in millions)

2021

2020













Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation

$ 200

$ 23 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax



-



- Net earnings



200



23 Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax



1



25 Tax provision (benefit)



32



(4) Earnings before taxes



233



44 Total interest expense



67



111 Earnings before interest and taxes



300



155 Business consolidation and other activities



7



115 Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles



38



37 Comparable Operating Earnings

$ 345

$ 307

A summary of Comparable EBITDA and Net Debt is as follows:





Twelve

Less: Three

Add: Three









Months Ended

Months Ended

Months Ended

Year Ended





December 31,

March 31,

March 31,

March 31,

($ in millions, except ratios)

2020

2020

2021

2021





























Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation

$ 585

$ 23

$ 200

$ 762

Add: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax



(3)



-



-



(3)

Net earnings



582



23



200



759

Less: Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax



6



25



1



(18)

Add: Tax provision (benefit)



99



(4)



32



135

Earnings before taxes



687



44



233



876

Add: Total interest expense



316



111



67



272

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)



1,003



155



300



1,148

Add: Business consolidation and other activities (a)



262



115



7



154

Add: Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles (a)



150



37



38



151

Comparable Operating Earnings



1,415



307



345



1,453

Add: Depreciation and amortization



668



169



168



667

Less: Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles (a)



(150)



(37)



(38)



(151)

Comparable EBITDA

$ 1,933

$ 439

$ 475

$ 1,969





























Total interest expense

$ (316)

$ (111)

$ (67)

$ (272)

Less: Debt refinancing and other costs



41



40



-



1

Interest expense

$ (275)

$ (71)

$ (67)

$ (271)





























Total debt at period end



















$ 7,707

Less: Cash and cash equivalents





















(461)

Net Debt



















$ 7,246





























Comparable EBITDA/Interest Expense (Interest Coverage)





















7.3 x Net Debt/Comparable EBITDA





















3.7 x

____________________ (a) For detailed information on these items, please see the respective quarterly filings and/or earnings releases, which can be found on our website at www.ball.com.



3. Non-Comparable Items





















Three Months Ended March 31, ($ in millions)

2021

2020













Non-comparable items - income (expense)











Beverage packaging, North and Central America











Business consolidation and other activities











Facility closure costs (1)

$ 1

$ (1) Individually insignificant items



-



(2) Other non-comparable items











Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles



(7)



(7) Total beverage packaging, North and Central America



(6)



(10)













Beverage packaging, EMEA











Business consolidation and other activities











Facility closure costs (1)



(2)



(2) Individually insignificant items



-



(1) Other non-comparable items











Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles



(17)



(16) Total beverage packaging, EMEA



(19)



(19)













Beverage packaging, South America











Business consolidation and other activities











Individually insignificant items



(1)



(1) Other non-comparable items











Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles



(14)



(14) Total beverage packaging, South America



(15)



(15)













Other











Business consolidation and other activities











Rexam acquisition related compensation arrangements



-



(6) Goodwill impairment charges in beverage packaging, other segment



-



(62) Reversal of certain provisions in beverage packaging, other segment



-



11 Loss from sale of and subsequent adjustment to selling price of steel food and steel aerosol business



-



(15) Loss on sale of China business and related costs



-



(23) Individually insignificant items



(5)



(13) Other non-comparable items











Share of equity method affiliate non-comparable costs, net of tax (2)



(6)



(30) Noncontrolling interest's share of non-comparable costs (income), net of tax



-



(1) Debt extinguishment and refinance costs



-



(40) Total other



(11)



(179)

















Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020













Total business consolidation and other activities



(7)



(115) Total other non-comparable items



(44)



(108) Total non-comparable items



(51)



(223)













Tax effect on business consolidation and other activities



2



17 Tax effect on other non-comparable items



9



27 Total non-comparable tax items



11



44 Total non-comparable items, net of tax

$ (40)

$ (179)

____________________ (1) The company recorded charges and revisions to previous estimates for the costs of employee severance and benefits and facility shutdown costs related to plant closures and restructuring activities.



(2) In the first quarter of 2021, the company recorded its share of equity method non-comparable items. In 2020, the company recorded its share of equity method non-comparable costs, principally related to the provision of additional equity contributions and loans to Ball Metalpack by its shareholders.

SOURCE Ball Corporation

Related Links

http://www.ball.com


FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today reported quarterly revenues of $4.9 billion for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021. This represents an increase of 15.4% over the prior-year period on a reported basis and was driven by the contribution of BD's COVID-19 diagnostic revenues, which totaled $480 million, as well as solid core business growth. On a currency-neutral basis, revenues increased 12.2%.

"We delivered strong revenue, earnings per share, and cash flow growth in the quarter and achieved several important milestones, most notably the recent submission of our 510(k) premarket notification for the BD Alaris System to the United States Food and Drug Administration," said Tom Polen, Chairman, CEO and president of BD. "We also continued our essential role in the fight against COVID-19 by developing innovative diagnostic solutions and supplying the frontline with products urgently needed for patient care and vaccination all while continuing to advance our growth and reinvestment initiatives. With our announced intention to spin off our diabetes business to shareholders, we are taking another bold step in our BD 2025 strategy, which focuses on unleashing our growth potential, delivering innovations for our customers, empowering our associates, and creating value for our shareholders."

Second Fiscal Quarter 2021 Operating Results

As reported, diluted EPS for the second fiscal quarter were $0.94, compared with $0.53 in the prior-year period, which represents an increase of 77.4%. Adjusted diluted EPS were $3.19, compared with $2.55 in the prior-year period, which represents an increase of 25.1%, or 22.7% on a currency-neutral basis.

Segment Results

In the BD Medical segment, worldwide revenues for the second fiscal quarter of $2.3 billion increased 7.4% versus the prior-year period on a reported basis and 4.7% on a currency-neutral basis. Medical segment revenues reflect growth in the Medication Delivery Solutions (MDS) and Pharmaceutical Systems units. Revenues in the MDS unit reflected strong performance associated with the unit's core products, despite continued lower utilization of healthcare globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. MDS revenue growth benefited from global sales of syringes relating to COVID-19 vaccination efforts and U.S. sales of catheters and medication delivery devices. International revenue growth in MDS reflects a favorable comparison to the prior-year quarter, which was impacted by COVID-19 pandemic-related declines in China. Performance in the Medication Management Solutions unit reflects a decline in the unit's international infusion systems business, partially offset by growth in the unit's international dispensing business. We submitted our 510(k) premarket notification to the United States Food and Drug Administration for the BD Alaris System in April 2021. The 510(k) submission is intended to bring the regulatory clearance for the BD Alaris System up-to-date, implement new features to address the open recall issues and provide other updates, including a new version of BD Alaris System software that will provide clinical, operational and cybersecurity updates. Revenues in the Pharmaceutical Systems unit reflect continued strong demand for prefillable products. Revenues in the Diabetes Care unit were comparable to the prior-year period, which benefited from increased U.S. orders from retailers and distributors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Diabetes Care revenues were unfavorably impacted by the accelerated timing of orders into the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 in preparation for a new product introduction.

In the BD Life Sciences segment, worldwide revenues for the quarter of $1.6 billion increased 42.5% over the prior-year period as reported, or 37.7% on a currency-neutral basis. The segment's growth was primarily driven by the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit's sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing of $480 million, which includes BD Veritor Plus System revenues of $290 million, with the remaining revenues related to the BD Max COVID-19 tests and specimen collection and transport. Growth in the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit was unfavorably impacted by the lack of a traditional influenza season in 2021. While routine diagnostic testing levels have not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, growth was observed in specific high-acuity settings like specimen management and ID/AST testing. Performance in the Biosciences unit reflects a strong recovery in demand for research instruments and reagents, as well as for clinical instruments.

In the BD Interventional segment, worldwide revenues for the quarter of $1.0 billion increased 2.1% over the prior-year period as reported and were flat on a currency-neutral basis. The segment's revenues reflect growth in the Peripheral Intervention and Urology and Critical Care units. The Interventional segment's revenue growth was unfavorably impacted by resurgences of COVID-19 infections globally during the quarter and also by a comparison to the prior-year period, which was only partially impacted by the pandemic. The decline in medical procedures and healthcare utilization is most pronounced in our Surgery and Peripheral Interventional units. Performance in the Peripheral Intervention unit reflects growth from sales of peripheral arterial disease solutions, including growth attributable to the unit's acquisition of Straub Medical AG, which occurred in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Peripheral Intervention unit's revenues also reflect strong growth in China. Revenues in the Urology and Critical Care unit reflect continued strength in sales of acute urology products and sales of the unit's targeted temperature management portfolio.

Geographic Results

Second fiscal quarter U.S. revenues of $2.5 billion increased 1.9% over the prior-year period. Growth in the U.S. was primarily driven by sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing in the Life Sciences segment's Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit, as noted above. U.S. revenues also reflect growth in the Medical segment's MDS unit and in the Life Sciences segment's Biosciences unit, as well as in the Interventional segment's Urology and Critical Care unit. As discussed above, resurgences of COVID-19 infections during the quarter in the United States unfavorably impacted revenues in the Interventional segment's Surgery and Peripheral Intervention units.

Revenues outside of the U.S. of $2.4 billion increased 33.0% from the prior-year period on a reported basis and 25.7% on a currency-neutral basis, primarily driven by COVID-19 diagnostic testing-related sales in the Life Sciences segment's Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit, as discussed further above. International revenues in the second quarter were also favorably impacted by growth in the Medical segment's MDS unit and Pharmaceutical Systems units, as well as by sales in the Life Sciences segment's Biosciences unit and the Interventional segment's Peripheral Intervention unit.

Capital Allocation

Cash and cash equivalents were $3.7 billion at the end of the second fiscal quarter. BD is committed to a balanced capital allocation strategy that includes both organic investments and tuck-in acquisitions, a competitive dividend, and the restart of a share repurchase program, while maintaining full investment grade credit ratings. The company currently has an outstanding share repurchase authorization with 7,857,742 common shares remaining.

BD has maintained a share repurchase authorization since 2013, giving the company the ability to repurchase shares of the company's common stock through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or other methods. The current authorization does not require the repurchase of shares and there is no guarantee that shares will be repurchased. The actual timing, manner, number, and value of shares repurchased under the program will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of BD's common stock, general market and economic conditions and other business considerations.

Recent Business Highlights

BD continues to advance an innovation-driven growth strategy. Highlights include:

BD announced 510(k) clearance of its Pristine Long-Term Hemodialysis Catheter, a differentiated product that adds to the company's diversified portfolio that supports clinicians who care for patients with end stage kidney disease who require hemodialysis.

BD acquired GSL Solutions, Inc., a provider of smart medication storage and tracking devices that expands BD's medication management capabilities to further meet the needs of retail and outpatient pharmacies.

The company announced several innovations in its COVID-19 diagnostic testing solutions portfolio:

BD, along with its partner CerTest Biotec, announced the addition of saliva to the CE marked VIASURE SARS-CoV-2 (N1 + N2) Real Time PCR Detection Kit for the BD MAX Molecular Diagnostic System, providing users more flexibility with three alternatives for specimen collection and offering patients a non-invasive way to be tested for COVID-19 with the sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR method.



BD was granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the BD Veritor Plus System rapid antigen test to be used for SARS-CoV-2 screening through serial testing of asymptomatic individuals.



The company announced it was granted FDA EUA for a new, rapid antigen test that can detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and influenza B in a single test with definitive positive or negative individual digital display readouts for all three in about 15 minutes.



BD announced it is collaborating with ImageMover to offer a companion mobile app that enables more streamlined reporting of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing results performed on the BD Veritor Plus System at everyday testing locations, such as schools and businesses.



BD announced a collaboration with Scanwell Health to create an at-home rapid test for SARS-CoV-2 using a BD antigen test and the Scanwell Health mobile app.



BD announced it received FDA EUA and CE Mark for a new combination molecular test run on the BD MAX System to detect both SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A+B in a single test, with results in two to three hours.

Corporate Responsibility

As a purpose-driven company working to create positive societal impact, BD has a long-standing commitment to Advancing the World of Health by expanding access to quality health care and supporting healthy and resilient communities throughout the world. We view sustainability as a portfolio of complementary initiatives and actions that help us achieve our long-term goals.

Recent and second fiscal quarter highlights:

BD is committed to racial justice and equity, and our purpose of Advancing the world of health  is a promise for all people. In this spirit, the company most recently committed to:

 is a promise for all people. In this spirit, the company most recently committed to: A donation in memory of George Floyd to a legal defense fund that advocates for racial justice.

to a legal defense fund that advocates for racial justice.

A donation to the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum to help combat anti-Asian bias and violence.



Sponsorship of the "Pioneers in Skirts" film.



A donation to four non-profit organizations committed to racial equity and social justice: The United Negro College Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, Americares, and The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), on behalf of nearly 6,000 BD associates who participated in a 21-Day Social Justice Challenge.



Providing a grant to YWCA Northern New Jersey to support racial justice training in local communities.

On Earth Day, BD affirmed its climate change targets as the first phase of its 2030+ sustainability goals. BD's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2040 across direct operations is consistent with our long-standing global health leadership. BD has committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 46% by 2030 (from its 2019 baseline) and to be carbon neutral across its direct operations by 2040. This science-based target is aligned with the 1.5C global emissions reduction pathway.

BD announced a $1 million commitment to UNICEF USA as part of the company's long-standing support of UNICEF's efforts to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

commitment to UNICEF as part of the company's long-standing support of UNICEF's efforts to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. The company announced its BD MAX Molecular Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis test was included in the moderate complexity automated NAAT class of molecular diagnostic technologies that were recognized for high diagnostic accuracy for tuberculosis testing by the World Health Organization (WHO) in advance of an update to its guidelines for TB diagnostic tests.

BD announced it is investing $65 million in its in-house capacity for manufacturing and sterilization for key supply chain infrastructure to increase the resiliency of U.S. medical device supply.

in its in-house capacity for manufacturing and sterilization for key supply chain infrastructure to increase the resiliency of U.S. medical device supply. The company is proud to have recently received several awards, including the Rapid Ratings Innovation Award for innovation and security in our supply chain, recognition by Clarivate as one of their Top 100 Global Innovatorsour sixth time being named to their list, and the Frost & Sullivan 2020 Global Technology Innovation Award.

Fiscal 2021 Outlook for Full Year

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the global economy and health care utilization trends. The company's fiscal 2021 outlook includes several assumptions, including no significant change in utilization or procedure volumes associated with COVID-19 resurgences. Management will discuss its outlook and several assumptions on its second fiscal quarter earnings call.

The company continues to expect fiscal year 2021 revenues to grow 12% to 14% on an as reported basis and 10% to 12% on a currency-neutral basis. Foreign currency is expected to contribute approximately 200 basis points to revenue growth.

The company continues to expect fiscal year 2021 adjusted diluted EPS to be between $12.75 and $12.85. This adjusted EPS guidance range represents growth of approximately 25% to 26% over fiscal 2020 adjusted diluted EPS of $10.20, and includes a contribution of approximately 100 basis points from foreign currency. On a currency-neutral basis, the company continues to expect adjusted diluted EPS to grow 24% to 25%.

Adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2021 excludes potential charges or gains that may be recorded during the fiscal year, such as, among other things, the non-cash amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related charges, spin-off related charges, and certain tax matters. BD does not attempt to provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP EPS guidance to the comparable GAAP measure because the impact and timing of these potential charges or gains is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict and is unavailable without unreasonable efforts. In addition, the company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. Such items could have a substantial impact on GAAP measures of BD's financial performance.

Conference Call and Presentation Materials

A conference call regarding BD's second quarter results will be broadcast live on BD's website, www.bd.com/investors at 8:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, May 6, 2021. The accompanying slides will be available on BD's website, www.bd.com/investors at 6:00 a.m. (ET). The conference call will be available for replay on BD's website, www.bd.com/investors, or at 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) and 1-404-537-3406 (international) through the close of business on Thursday, May 13, 2021, confirmation number 6334356.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Financial Tables

This news release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. These include revenue growth rates on a currency-neutral basis and adjusted earnings per share. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. BD management believes that the use of non-GAAP measures to adjust for items that are considered by management to be outside of BD's underlying operational results or that affect period to period comparability helps investors to gain a better understanding of our performance year-over-year, to analyze underlying trends in our businesses, to analyze our base operating results, and understand future prospects. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to measure and forecast the company's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts. We believe presenting such adjusted metrics provides investors with greater transparency to the information used by BD management for its operational decision-making and for comparison for other companies within the medical technology industry. Although BD's management believes non-GAAP results are useful in evaluating the performance of its business, its reliance on these measures is limited since items excluded from such measures may have a material impact on BD's net income, earnings per share or cash flows calculated in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, management typically uses non-GAAP results in conjunction with GAAP results to address these limitations. BD strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and cautions investors that the non-GAAP measures used by BD may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered replacements for, and should be read together with, the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliations of these and other non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached financial tables. Within the attached financial tables presented, certain columns and rows may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages and earnings per share amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts.

Current and prior-year adjusted diluted earnings per share results exclude, among other things, the impact of purchase accounting adjustments, integration and restructuring costs, certain legal defense and product remediation costs, certain regulatory costs, certain asset impairments, spin-off related charges and the impact of the extinguishment of debt.

We also provide these measures, as well as revenues, on a currency-neutral basis after eliminating the effect of foreign currency translation, where applicable. We calculate foreign currency-neutral percentages by converting our current-period local currency financial results using the prior period foreign currency exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current-period results. Reconciliations of these amounts to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the tables at the end of this release.

About BD

BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 70,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bd1/ and Twitter @BDandCo.

***

This press release contains certain estimates and other forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's future prospects and performance, including, but not limited to, future revenues and earnings per share, capital deployment, and the proposed spin-off of the diabetes business, including the anticipated benefits of the spin-off. All such statements are based upon current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. With respect to forward-looking statements contained herein, a number of factors could cause actual results to vary materially. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business (including decreases in the demand for our products, any disruptions to our operations and our supply chain and uncertainty regarding the level of demand and pricing for our COVID-19 diagnostics testing); product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or actions being taken with respect to our products; new or changing laws and regulations impacting our business (including the imposition of tariffs or changes in laws impacting international trade) or changes in enforcement practices with respect to such laws; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; legislative or regulatory changes to the U.S. or foreign healthcare systems, potential cuts in governmental healthcare spending (including China's volume-based procurement tender process) or governmental or private measures to contain healthcare costs, including changes in pricing and reimbursement policies, which could result in reduced demand for our products or downward pricing pressure; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; adverse changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets, including any impact on our ability to access credit markets and finance our operations, the demand for our products and services, or our suppliers' ability to provide products needed for our operations; the adverse impact of cyber-attacks on our information systems or products; competitive factors including technological advances and new products introduced by competitors; interruptions in our supply chain, manufacturing or sterilization processes; pricing and market pressures; difficulties inherent in product development, delays in product introductions and uncertainty of market acceptance of new products; adverse changes in geopolitical conditions; increases in energy costs and their effect on, among other things, the cost of producing BD's products; the remediation of our infusion pump business (including risks relating to regulatory clearance and market acceptance of the BD Alaris System); our ability to successfully integrate any businesses we acquire; uncertainties of litigation and/or investigations and/or subpoenas (as described in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission); issuance of new or revised accounting standards; risks associated with the impact, timing or terms of the spin-off; risks associated with the expected benefits and costs of the spin-off, including the risk that the expected benefits of the spin-off will not be realized within the expected time frame, in full or at all, and the risk that conditions to the spin-off will not be satisfied and/or that the spin-off will not be completed within the expected time frame, on the expected terms or at all; the expected qualification of the spin-off as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including whether or not an IRS ruling will be sought or obtained; the risk that any consents or approvals required in connection with the spin-off will not be received or obtained within the expected time frame, on the expected terms or at all; risks associated with expected financing transactions undertaken in connection with the spin-off and risks associated with indebtedness incurred in connection with the spin-off; the risk that dis-synergy costs, costs of restructuring transactions and other costs incurred in connection with the spin-off will exceed our estimates; and the impact of the spin-off on our businesses and the risk that the spin-off may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, including the impact on our resources, systems, procedures and controls, diversion of management's attention and the impact on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties, as well as other factors discussed in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that BD's spin-off will in fact be completed in the manner described or at all. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited; Amounts in millions, except share and per share data)









Three Months Ended March 31,





2021

2020

% Change

REVENUES

$ 4,907



$ 4,253



15.4

















Cost of products sold

2,661



2,520



5.6

Selling and administrative expense

1,148



1,025



12.1

Research and development expense

317



264



19.9

Acquisitions and other restructurings

52



75



(30.8)

Other operating expense

296







100.0

TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

4,473



3,884



15.2

OPERATING INCOME

434



370



17.4

















Interest expense

(124)



(134)



(7.5)

Interest income

2



2



22.0

Other expense, net

(8)



(38)



79.1

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

305



200



52.4

Income tax provision

6



17



(65.9)

NET INCOME

299



183



63.4

Preferred stock dividends

(23)



(38)



(40.6)

NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

$ 277



$ 145



90.6

















EARNINGS PER SHARE













Basic Earnings per Share

$ 0.95



$ 0.53



79.2

Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 0.94



$ 0.53



77.4

















AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands)













Basic

291,095



272,014







Diluted

293,547



275,037









BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited; Amounts in millions, except share and per share data)









Six Months Ended March 31,





2021

2020

% Change

REVENUES

$ 10,223



$ 8,479



20.6

















Cost of products sold

5,244



4,766



10.0

Selling and administrative expense

2,298



2,146



7.1

Research and development expense

608



535



13.7

Acquisitions and other restructurings

102



161



(36.5)

Other operating expense

296







100.0

TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

8,547



7,607



12.4

OPERATING INCOME

1,676



871



92.3

















Interest expense

(242)



(270)



(10.1)

Interest income

5



3



39.9

Other income (expense), net

24



(11)



331.2

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

1,462



594



146.0

Income tax provision

160



134



19.5

NET INCOME

1,302



461



182.8

Preferred stock dividends

(45)



(76)



(40.6)

NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS

$ 1,257



$ 385



226.8

















EARNINGS PER SHARE













Basic Earnings per Share

$ 4.32



$ 1.42



204.2

Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 4.28



$ 1.40



205.7



















AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands)















Basic

290,839



271,555









Diluted

293,499



275,173











BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in millions)





March 31,

2021

September 30,

2020



(Unaudited)



ASSETS







Cash and equivalents

$ 3,734



$ 2,825

Restricted cash

164



92

Short-term investments

24



20

Trade receivables, net

2,118



2,398

Inventories

2,895



2,743

Prepaid expenses and other

1,065



891

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

10,000



8,969

Property, plant and equipment, net

6,142



5,923

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

37,020



37,433

Other Assets

1,758



1,687

TOTAL ASSETS

$ 54,921



$ 54,012

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY







Short-term debt

$ 1



$ 707

Other current liabilities

5,375



5,129

Long-term debt

17,718



17,224

Long-term employee benefit obligations

1,425



1,435

Deferred income taxes and other liabilities

5,575



5,753

Shareholders' equity

24,826



23,765

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$ 54,921



$ 54,012



BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Amounts in millions)





Six Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020



(Unaudited)



OPERATING ACTIVITIES







Net income

$ 1,302



$ 461

Depreciation and amortization

1,113



1,067

Change in operating assets and liabilities and other, net

305



(332)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

2,721



1,196

INVESTING ACTIVITIES







Capital expenditures

(499)



(395)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(179)





Other, net

(186)



(147)

NET CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES

(863)



(542)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES







Change in credit facility borrowings





210

Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans

1,715



1,900

Payments of debt and term loans

(1,998)



(305)

Dividends paid

(528)



(505)

Other, net

(82)



(90)

NET CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

(893)



1,210

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents and restricted cash

17



(15)

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

981



1,849

OPENING CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

2,917



590

CLOSING CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

$ 3,898



$ 2,439



BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - UNITED STATES Three Months Ended March 31, (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)





A

B

C=(A-B)/B



2021

2020

% Change BD MEDICAL











Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 531



$ 518



2.4 Medication Management Solutions

440



449



(2.0) Diabetes Care

148



142



4.8 Pharmaceutical Systems

100



91



10.9 TOTAL

$ 1,220



$ 1,200



1.7













BD LIFE SCIENCES











Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 454



$ 413



9.9 Biosciences

121



108



12.2 TOTAL

$ 576



$ 522



10.4













BD INTERVENTIONAL











Surgery

$ 227



$ 249



(8.7) Peripheral Intervention

222



242



(8.2) Urology and Critical Care

217



202



7.0 TOTAL

$ 666



$ 693



(3.9)













TOTAL UNITED STATES

$ 2,462



$ 2,415



1.9

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - INTERNATIONAL Three Months Ended March 31, (continued) (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)

















D=(A-B)/B

E=(A-B-C)/B



A

B

C

% Change



2021

2020

FX Impact

Reported

FXN BD MEDICAL



















Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 468



$ 386



$ 21



21.2

15.7 Medication Management Solutions

126



119



9



6.3

(1.3) Diabetes Care

135



137



6



(0.9)

(5.4) Pharmaceutical Systems

361



309



22



16.7

9.5 TOTAL

$ 1,091



$ 951



$ 59



14.7

8.5





















BD LIFE SCIENCES



















Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 807



$ 420



$ 43



92.1

82.0 Biosciences

204



172



11



18.8

12.4 TOTAL

$ 1,010



$ 591



$ 54



70.9

61.8





















BD INTERVENTIONAL



















Surgery

$ 65



$ 63



$ 4



2.1

(4.0) Peripheral Intervention

198



157



13



26.1

18.1 Urology and Critical Care

82



76



5



7.1

0.9 TOTAL

$ 345



$ 297



$ 21



16.1

9.0





















TOTAL INTERNATIONAL

$ 2,446



$ 1,839



$ 134



33.0

25.7

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - TOTAL Three Months Ended March 31, (continued) (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)

















D=(A-B)/B

E=(A-B-C)/B



A

B

C

% Change



2021

2020

FX Impact

Reported

FXN BD MEDICAL



















Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 999



$ 904



$ 21



10.4

8.1 Medication Management Solutions

566



568



9



(0.3)

(1.9) Diabetes Care

284



278



6



2.0

(0.2) Pharmaceutical Systems

462



400



22



15.4

9.8 TOTAL

$ 2,311



$ 2,151



$ 59



7.4

4.7





















BD LIFE SCIENCES



















Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 1,261



$ 833



$ 43



51.3

46.2 Biosciences

325



280



11



16.3

12.3 TOTAL

$ 1,586



$ 1,113



$ 54



42.5

37.7





















BD INTERVENTIONAL



















Surgery

$ 292



$ 312



$ 4



(6.5)

(7.7) Peripheral Intervention

420



399



13



5.3

2.2 Urology and Critical Care

298



279



5



7.0

5.4 TOTAL

$ 1,011



$ 990



$ 21



2.1























TOTAL REVENUES

$ 4,907



$ 4,253



$ 134



15.4

12.2

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - UNITED STATES Six Months Ended March 31, (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)





A

B

C=(A-B)/B



2021

2020

% Change BD MEDICAL











Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 1,099



$ 1,038



5.9 Medication Management Solutions

917



912



0.6 Diabetes Care

298



281



6.2 Pharmaceutical Systems

180



174



3.1 TOTAL

$ 2,494



$ 2,404



3.7













BD LIFE SCIENCES











Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 1,469



$ 799



83.7 Biosciences

241



260



(7.3) TOTAL

$ 1,710



$ 1,060



61.4













BD INTERVENTIONAL











Surgery

$ 489



$ 505



(3.2) Peripheral Intervention

454



467



(2.7) Urology and Critical Care

445



409



8.8 TOTAL

$ 1,388



$ 1,381



0.5













TOTAL UNITED STATES

$ 5,592



$ 4,845



15.4















BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - INTERNATIONAL Six Months Ended March 31, (continued) (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)

















D=(A-B)/B

E=(A-B-C)/B



A

B

C

% Change



2021

2020

FX Impact

Reported

FXN BD MEDICAL



















Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 908



$ 814



$ 28



11.5

8.0 Medication Management Solutions

278



231



15



20.4

13.7 Diabetes Care

271



266



8



1.9

(1.3) Pharmaceutical Systems

621



525



34



18.4

11.9 TOTAL

$ 2,078



$ 1,836



$ 86



13.2

8.5





















BD LIFE SCIENCES



















Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 1,459



$ 834



$ 61



75.0

67.7 Biosciences

396



342



17



15.6

10.7 TOTAL

$ 1,855



$ 1,176



$ 78



57.7

51.1





















BD INTERVENTIONAL



















Surgery

$ 135



$ 133



$ 6



1.6

(2.9) Peripheral Intervention

392



327



20



19.6

13.6 Urology and Critical Care

171



161



8



6.2

1.5 TOTAL

$ 698



$ 621



$ 33



12.3

6.9





















TOTAL INTERNATIONAL

$ 4,631



$ 3,634



$ 197



27.4

22.0























BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND UNITS - TOTAL Six Months Ended March 31, (continued) (Unaudited; Amounts in millions)

















D=(A-B)/B

E=(A-B-C)/B



A

B

C

% Change



2021

2020

FX Impact

Reported

FXN BD MEDICAL



















Medication Delivery Solutions

$ 2,006



$ 1,852



$ 28



8.3

6.8 Medication Management Solutions

1,196



1,143



15



4.6

3.3 Diabetes Care

569



547



8



4.1

2.5 Pharmaceutical Systems

801



699



34



14.6

9.7 TOTAL

$ 4,572



$ 4,241



$ 86



7.8

5.8





















BD LIFE SCIENCES



















Integrated Diagnostic Solutions

$ 2,928



$ 1,633



$ 61



79.3

75.5 Biosciences

637



603



17



5.7

2.9 TOTAL

$ 3,565



$ 2,236



$ 78



59.5

56.0





















BD INTERVENTIONAL



















Surgery

$ 624



$ 638



$ 6



(2.2)

(3.1) Peripheral Intervention

846



794



20



6.5

4.0 Urology and Critical Care

616



570



8



8.1

6.7 TOTAL

$ 2,086



$ 2,002



$ 33



4.2

2.5





















TOTAL REVENUES

$ 10,223



$ 8,479



$ 197



20.6

18.2























BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED DILUTED EPS TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020

Growth

Foreign

Currency

Translation

Foreign

Currency

Neutral

Growth

Growth %

Foreign

Currency

Neutral

Growth % Reported Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 0.94



$ 0.53



$ 0.41



$ 0.05



$ 0.36



77.4 %

67.9 %



































Purchase accounting adjustments ($348 million and $340 million pre-tax, respectively) (1)

1.19



1.24







0.01

















































Integration costs ($33 million and $57 million pre-tax, respectively) (2)

0.11



0.21

























































Restructuring costs ($19 million and $18 million pre-tax, respectively) (2)

0.06



0.07

























































Transaction gain/loss, product and other litigation-related matters ($333 million and $199 million pre-tax, respectively) (3)

1.13



0.72

























































European regulatory initiative-related costs ($33 million and $27 million pre-tax, respectively) (4)

0.11



0.10

























































Investment gains/losses and asset impairments ($40 million pre-tax) (5)





0.14





















Impacts of debt extinguishment ($20 million pre-tax)

0.07























































Income tax benefit of special items ($(125) million and $(124) million, respectively)

(0.43)



(0.45)

























































Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 3.19



$ 2.55



$ 0.64



$ 0.06



$ 0.58



25.1 %

22.7 %





(1) Includes amortization and other adjustments related to the purchase accounting for acquisitions impacting identified intangible assets and valuation of fixed assets and debt. (2) Represents integration and restructuring costs associated with acquisitions, as well as restructuring costs associated with simplification and other cost saving initiatives. (3) The 2021 amount includes charges recorded to Other operating expense to record product liability reserves, including related legal defense costs, of $296 million. The amounts in 2021 and 2020 include charges of $37 million and $199 million, respectively, recorded to Cost of products sold related to the estimate of future product remediation costs. (4) Represents costs required to develop processes and systems to comply with regulations such as the European Union Medical Device Regulation ("EUMDR") and General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"). (5) The prior-period amount primarily represents a charge recorded to write down the carrying value of certain intangible assets in the Biosciences unit.

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED DILUTED EPS TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS (Unaudited)





Six Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020

Growth

Foreign

Currency

Translation

Foreign

Currency

Neutral

Growth

Growth %

Foreign

Currency

Neutral

Growth % Reported Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 4.28



$ 1.40



$ 2.88



$ 



$ 2.88



205.7 %

205.7 %



































Purchase accounting adjustments ($700 million and $688 million pre-tax, respectively) (1)

2.39



2.50







0.01

















































Integration costs ($66 million and $119 million pre-tax, respectively) (2)

0.22



0.43

























































Restructuring costs ($36 million and $41 million pre-tax, respectively) (2)

0.12



0.15

























































Transaction gain/loss, product and other litigation-related matters ($328 million and $258 million pre-tax, respectively) (3)

1.12



0.94

























































European regulatory initiative-related costs ($59 million and $44 million pre-tax, respectively) (4)

0.20



0.16

























































Investment gains/losses and asset impairments ($41 million pre-tax) (5)





0.15

























































Impacts of debt extinguishment ($30 million pre-tax)

0.10























































Income tax benefit of special items ($(204) million and $(146) million, respectively)

(0.69)



(0.53)











































































Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 7.74



$ 5.20



$ 2.54



$ 0.01



$ 2.53



48.8 %

48.7 %





(1) Includes amortization and other adjustments related to the purchase accounting for acquisitions impacting identified intangible assets and valuation of fixed assets and debt. (2) Represents integration and restructuring costs associated with acquisitions, as well as restructuring costs associated with simplification and other cost saving initiatives. (3) The 2021 amount includes charges recorded to Other operating expense to record product liability reserves, including related legal defense costs, of $296 million. The amounts in 2021 and 2020 include charges of $37 million and $258 million, respectively, recorded to Cost of products sold related to the estimate of future product remediation costs. (4) Represents costs required to develop processes and systems to comply with regulations such as the EUMDR and GDPR. (5) The prior-period amount primarily represents a charge recorded to write down the carrying value of certain intangible assets in the Biosciences unit.

BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FY 2021 OUTLOOK RECONCILIATION





FY2020

FY2021 Outlook (year-over-year % change)



Actual Revenues

Reported %

Change

Foreign Currency

(FX) Impact

Foreign Currency

Neutral % Change BDX Revenues ($ in millions)

$ 17,117



+12% to +14%

~ +2.0%

+10% to +12%









FY2021 Outlook



Full Year

FY2020

Full Year

FY2021 Outlook

% Change (Y/Y) Reported Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 2.71









Purchase accounting adjustments ($1.356 billion pre-tax) (1)

4.80









Restructuring costs ($95 million pre-tax) (2)

0.33









Integration costs ($214 million pre-tax) (2)

0.76









Transaction gain/loss and product-related matters ($631 million pre-tax) (3)

2.24









European regulatory initiative-related costs ($106 million pre-tax) (4)

0.38









Investment gains/losses and asset impairments ($100 million pre-tax) (5)

0.35









Impacts of debt extinguishment ($8 million pre-tax)

0.03























Income tax benefit of special items ($(395) million)

(1.40)









Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

$ 10.20



$12.75 to $12.85

+25.0% to +26.0%













Estimated FX Impact









~ +1.0%













Adjusted FXN Growth









+24.0% to +25.0%





(1) Includes amortization and other adjustments related to the purchase accounting for acquisitions impacting identified intangible assets and valuation of fixed assets and debt. (2) Represents restructuring and integration costs associated with acquisitions, as well as restructuring costs associated with simplification and other cost saving initiatives. (3) Includes amounts recorded to Other operating (income) expense, net to record product liability reserves, including related legal defense costs, of $378 million. Also includes a $244 million charge recorded to Cost of products sold related to the estimate of probable future product remediation costs. (4) Represents costs required to develop processes and systems to comply with regulations such as the EUMDR and GDPR. (5) Includes charges recorded in Cost of products sold and Research and development expense to write down the carrying values of certain assets.

Contact:

Investors: Kristen M. Stewart, CFA, SVP, Strategy & Investor Relations - 201-847-5378

Media: Troy Kirkpatrick, VP, Public Relations - 858-617-2361

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
BANGALORE, India, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Big Data Security Market is Segmented By Solution Type (Data Discovery & Classification, Data Authorization & Access, Data Encryption, Tokenization & Masking, Data Auditing & Monitoring, Data Governance & Compliance, Data Security Analytics, & Data Backup & Recovery), Deployment Mode (On-Premise and Cloud), Organization Size (Small & Medium Enterprise and Large Enterprise), and Industry Vertical (IT & ITES, Telecommunications, Healthcare & Social Assistance, Financial & Insurance, Retail Trade, Utilities and Others). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecast from 2020 to 2027. It is published on Valuates Reports in the Software & Services Category.

The global big data security market was valued at USD 13,720 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 54,237 Million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 18.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Big Data security is the processing of protecting data and analytics processes, both in the cloud and on-premise, from any number of factors that could compromise their confidentiality.

Major factors driving the growth of the big data security market are:

Big data is getting widely used by businesses and governments, with powerful analytics being used to guide decision-making. Thus the massive increase in data is fueling the need for big data security.

The implementation of Big Data protection in several verticals, such as banking, finance, government, and healthcare, is expected to increase as sophisticated cyberattacks become more common.

Cloud-based software, IoT, and the security ecosystem have all become more complicated as a result of the widespread use of digital payments. Hence businesses, including major technology firms, are increasingly adopting the Big Data environment.

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POST COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE BIG DATA SECURITY MARKET

Post COVID-19, the size of the global Big Data security market is estimated to be USD 16,257 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 54,237 Million by 2027.

The COVID pandemic has had a positive effect on the Big Data security market. As many companies were forced to turn to remote working and work from home, there is an increase in the generation of additional raw data. This has furthermore increased the probability of cyber-attacks, thereby driving the development of big data security frameworks and solutions.

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF BIG DATA SECURITY MARKET

Increase in digitization trends and increased penetration of digital devices such as smartphones and computers is expected to drive the growth of the big data security market. Furthermore, the growing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the data generated by various IoT devices have contributed to the rise in demand for data protection. With big data tools and analysis solutions becoming more prevalent in modern business infrastructure, big data protection solutions are becoming more popular to help protect enterprise and consumer data.

Rising cyber-attacks demand for scalable big data security solutions is expected to increase the growth of big data security market size. The primary goal of targeted attacks is to gain access to a company's or organization's network and steal sensitive data. Business-critical activities in companies are adversely affected as a result of these targeted attacks in terms of business interruption, intellectual property loss, financial loss, and loss of critical and confidential customer information. Hence to protect these massive data from such attacks, security becomes a mandate, thereby increasing the demand for big data security.

The deployment of web and cloud-based platforms has increased the need for security, thereby contributing to the growth of the big data security market. In addition, the introduction of actionable intelligence to reduce data loss and the prioritization of network-based paradigms are some of the other factors that drive market growth.

The introduction of cloud-based big data security solutions is expected to increase the big data security solution market. Cloud-based implementation of big data protection solutions will assist organizations in lowering costs associated with costly hardware storage, electricity, cooling, and the depletion of IT personnel required to continuously track the network to eliminate IT storage costs.

Request a Sample Copy of the Report For COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Big Data Security Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Manu-0L50/Big_Data_Security_Market

BIG DATA SECURITY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

By deployment, the cloud segment is estimated to be one of the most lucrative in the big data security market.

Unlike conventional on-premises deployment models, cloud-based big data security solutions provide a cost-effective way for businesses in a variety of industries to improve their security. One of the most important factors influencing the adoption of cloud-based security solutions over on-premises security solutions is pricing.

Based on region, The Asia-Pacific market is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

APAC includes some of the world's biggest economies, including China, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. Because of these countries' economic significance, a large amount of data is being transmitted through networks that are vulnerable to security breaches.

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Big Data Security Market Segments

Big Data Security Market By Solution Type

Data Discovery and Classification

Data Authorization and Access

Data Encryption, Tokenization and Masking

Data Auditing and Monitoring

Data Governance and Compliance

Data Security Analytics

Data Backup and Recovery

Big Data Security Market By Deployment Mode

On-premise

Cloud

Big Data Security Market By Organization Size

Large Enterprise

Small and Medium Enterprise

Big Data Security Market By Industry Vertical

IT and ITES

Telecommunications

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

Financial and Insurance

Retail Trade

Utilities

Others

Major Market Leaders in the Big Data Security Industry

IBM Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Google LLC

Amazon Web Services Inc.,

HPE

Talend Inc.,

Micro Focus Plc

Checkpoint Software Technologies Inc.

Fireeye Inc.

"We can also add the other companies as you want"

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SIMILAR REPORTS :

- The global Database Security market is projected to reach USD 4884.4 Million by 2026, from USD 2275.7 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 11.4% during 2021-2026.

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- The Global Cyber Security Market size is expected to grow from USD 158,425.94 Million in 2019 to USD 267,420.59 Million by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 9.11% during the forecast period.

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- The global Endpoint Security market is projected to reach USD 17870 Million by 2026, from USD 12860 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 4.8% during 2021-2026. The major factors driving the growth of the Endpoint Security Market size are the need to mitigate IT security risks, growing BYOD trends among organizations, and increase in the frequency of endpoint attacks.

- The global Physical Security market is projected to reach USD 102470 Million by 2026, from USD 74850 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 2021-2026. Because of the growing need for protection against increasing terrorist attacks, illegal immigration, and criminal activities in the region, North America is expected to lead the market. In addition, stringent government regulations for safety and protection, as well as technological advancements in physical security technologies such as video surveillance, are fueling the market's growth in North America.

- The global Network Security Market is segmented by Type Software Product, Hardware Product, by Application Bank, Government, Enterprise and by various regions.

- The global Security as a Service market size is projected to reach USD 16920 Million by 2026, from USD 6758.8

illion in 2019, at a CAGR of 13.5% during 2021-2026. The commercial segment dominated the industry, accounting for roughly half of the overall market share. Since they use a variety of security technologies such as electronic article monitoring systems, radio frequency identification systems, and video surveillance systems, retail companies are the leading contributors to this market segment.

- The Data Security Software Market is segmented by Type On-Premise, Cloud-based, by Application Individual, Enterprise, Others and by various regions.

- The global big data and business analytics market size was valued at USD 193.14 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 420.98 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2020 to 2027. The increased adoption of big data analytics tools by various organizations to provide enhanced & quicker decision-making and to provide competitive advantage by analyzing and acting on information in a timely manner is driving the global big data and business analytics market forward. Furthermore, the growing demand for cloud-based big data analytics tools among small and medium businesses has a positive effect on the market's growth.

To see the full list of related reports on the Big Data Security

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The beginning of a holiday Blind Employment Awareness Day (BEAD) was made official through a proclamation by Mayor Tom Barrett, and was observed across the city on May 6, 2021. Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI), a local nonprofit organization that makes supplies like pens, brushes and military kits for the US government, led the charge to create the day to show the importance of meaningful employment for people who are blind or visually impaired.

"This day is meant to encourage all people to learn more about how they can make the working world more accessible," said CJ Lange, president and CEO of IBVI. "The truth is, with the right tools and training, those who are blind or visually impaired can thrive in the workplace."

A little can go a long way

Beyond awareness, BEAD is about showing that with minor advancements in the workplace, people who are blind or visually impaired can succeed. Lange explained in a panel discussion at IBVI that key technology for employees includes computer screen readers like Job Access With Speech (JAWS) or magnifying electronic eyewear like eSight.

"A lot of employers may not be aware of these technologies, or there may be fear there," said Jeff Young, a project coordinator at IBVI who uses screen readers all day at his desk job. "You don't need to be afraid, you can diversify your workforce and hire blind and visually impaired people."

However, technology is only part of the solution. Businesses can also make tangible improvements to their workplaces, like adding textured floors, doors with windows and braille on signs. They can also set up public transportation options for staff who can't drive to work.

Local support makes a difference

As a part of the BEAD celebration, IBVI also invited local elected officials to their three facilities, in West Allis, Menomonee Falls and Janesville. As they visited, they got to see the IBVI operation, but also the importance of prioritizing meaningful employment.

"Work provides dignity and a sense of purpose," said Sue Conley of the Wisconsin State Assembly during her visit to the IBVI facility in Janesville. "I think with the right amount of thought, consideration, and the tools that folks need, anyone who has visual impairments certainly can work in an environment like this. You really make sure that they have everything they need to be successful. And that's important."

SOURCE Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired
DALLAS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomin' Blinds is helping small business America get Back to Business.

The national window treatment franchise is putting a call out to all small business owners, their teams and loyal customers for nominations as it launches its Back to Business contest. Starting on Thursday, May 6 in celebration of National Small Business Week, people are encouraged to submit a deserving business that will be entered into the contest for a chance to win updated window treatments (valued at $5,000) and a $1000 gift card to reinvigorate their office or storefront for post-pandemic success.

Nominations can be submitted via the Back to Business contest page. The contest will run through Wednesday, June 2, with the winner announced on Thursday, June 10 via the Bloomin' Blinds Facebook and company LinkedIn pages.

"Whether you own a pizza shop, a retail store or an office space  we want to hear from you," shared Kelsey Stuart, the CEO of Bloomin' Blinds. "While states and businesses continue to ease restrictions and open up, small business America still has a long road to recovery ahead, and we want to help. Entrepreneurship is no easy feat, and these courageous, charismatic owners that help bring communities together need our help."

As the world continues to grapple with the lasting impacts of the pandemic, small business America remains one of the most impacted sectors of the economy. Through this contest, Bloomin' Blinds hopes to a help small business in need while also encouraging and reminding Americans to shop and dine-out at their local small businesses to help the sector rebound.

Bloomin' Blinds provides both high-quality window treatments and installation alongside repair services. Serving over 66 territories across the U.S., Bloomin' Blinds is a family-run business that has quickly become a leading brand in the window covering industry. The award-winning franchise is led by three brothers  Kelsey, Kristopher and Kevin Stuart  and has built an incredible reputation recognized by both its customers and franchisees by living out its core value of treating everyone like family.

For more information about Bloomin' Blinds, visit: https://www.bloominblinds.com/

About Bloomin' Blinds:

Founded in 2001, Bloomin' Blinds is a family-run business that has created a niche in the window covering industry by providing both high-quality products and installation alongside repair services. Led by three brothers  Kelsey, Kristopher and Kevin Stuart  Bloomin' Blinds treats each franchisee like family and values the freedom that comes hand-in-hand with franchising. The concept's business model consists of mobile owner operators, making consultations and installations even more convenient for both consumers and franchisees. A testament to the success and recent rapid growth of the brand, Bloomin' Blinds ranked #160 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, #150 on Entrepreneur's Top Growth Franchises and was recognized as a Top 100 Low-Cost Franchise by Franchise Business Review in 2020. Serving more than 66 territories across the country, Bloomin' Blinds is quickly growing and plans to have 200 franchises open by 2025. For more information, visit https://www.bloominblinds.com/.

Media Contact: Liz Robinson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected], 847-702-8099

SOURCE Bloomin Blinds
SAO PAULO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BRASKEM S.A. (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6;NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK) announces today its results for 1Q21.

1Q21 HIGHLIGHTS:

Braskem - Consolidated:

In 1Q21, the Company's recurring Operating Result was US$1,266 million , 52% higher than 4Q20, mainly due to: (i) better spreads for PE, PP and main chemicals in Brazil , for PP in the United States and Europe and for PE in Mexico ; and (ii) higher PP sales volume in Europe . Compared to 1Q20, the recurring Operating Result in U.S. dollar increased 341%, due to: (i) better spreads for resins and main chemicals in Brazil , for PP in the United States and Europe and for PE in Mexico ; and (ii) higher PP sales volume in the United States and Europe and main chemicals in Brazil . In Brazilian real, recurring Operational Income was R$6,943 million , 54% and 444% higher than in 4Q20 and 1Q20, respectively, reflecting the 23% depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar.

, 52% higher than 4Q20, mainly due to: (i) better spreads for PE, PP and main chemicals in , for PP in and and for PE in ; and (ii) higher PP sales volume in . Compared to 1Q20, the recurring Operating Result in U.S. dollar increased 341%, due to: (i) better spreads for resins and main chemicals in , for PP in and and for PE in ; and (ii) higher PP sales volume in and and main chemicals in . In Brazilian real, recurring Operational Income was , 54% and 444% higher than in 4Q20 and 1Q20, respectively, reflecting the 23% depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. In the quarter, the Company recorded a net profit of R$2,494 million , up 195% from 4Q20, representing R$3.14 per common share and class A preferred share.

, up 195% from 4Q20, representing per common share and class A preferred share. Free cash flow in 1Q21 was positive R$1,766 million , explained mainly by (i) the recurring Operating Result in the quarter; (ii) the monetization of PIS/COFINS credits in the approximate amount of R$761 million ; (iii) the reduction in operating capex due to scheduled maintenance shutdowns in the United States and Europe and the operating adjustments carried out at the petrochemical complex in Sao Paulo in 4Q20; and (iv) the reduction in strategic investments. These positive impacts were mainly opposed by (i) the negative variation in working capital, mainly due to the impacts from higher prices for resins and main base chemicals in the international market on accounts receivable and from higher naphtha prices on the cost of finished goods in inventory; and (ii) the higher payments of interest in the quarter, which increased compared to the prior quarter due to the payment of interest on the bonds issued by the Company in 2020.

, explained mainly by (i) the recurring Operating Result in the quarter; (ii) the monetization of PIS/COFINS credits in the approximate amount of ; (iii) the reduction in operating capex due to scheduled maintenance shutdowns in and and the operating adjustments carried out at the petrochemical complex in Sao Paulo in 4Q20; and (iv) the reduction in strategic investments. These positive impacts were mainly opposed by (i) the negative variation in working capital, mainly due to the impacts from higher prices for resins and main base chemicals in the international market on accounts receivable and from higher naphtha prices on the cost of finished goods in inventory; and (ii) the higher payments of interest in the quarter, which increased compared to the prior quarter due to the payment of interest on the bonds issued by the Company in 2020. In line with the continuous commitment to its financial health and regaining its investment grade rating, the Company continued to reduce its corporate leverage, measured as the ratio of net debt to recurring Operating Result in U.S. dollar, which ended 1Q21 at 1.80x, down 39% in relation to 4Q20 (2.94x).

In the year to date, the recordable and lost-time injury frequency rate stood at 0.75 (event/million hours worked), which is 72% below the industry average, with the highlight the results for January, when the Company registered zero reported and lost-time injuries.

In February 2021 , the Company entered into a strategic partnership with the world's largest logistics company, A.P. Moller  Maersk, and PSA Corporation Ltd (PSA), one of the largest port operators in the world, for the utilization of its terminals in Singapore and initiate the transshipment operation to serve the Asian continent. The agreement will enable the Company to offer its clients in Asia regular access to its vast polymer portfolio, representing yet another step in its geographical diversification by creating more favorable logistics conditions for serving clients directly.

, the Company entered into a strategic partnership with the world's largest logistics company, A.P. Moller  Maersk, and PSA Corporation Ltd (PSA), one of the largest port operators in the world, for the utilization of its terminals in and initiate the transshipment operation to serve the Asian continent. The agreement will enable the Company to offer its clients in regular access to its vast polymer portfolio, representing yet another step in its geographical diversification by creating more favorable logistics conditions for serving clients directly. In April, Braskem was certified as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)  Compliance Modality by the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil . Being an OEA means being recognized internationally for adopting management processes that minimize events involving risks inherent to its import operations and that meet voluntarily criteria on compliance, reliability and safety applicable to the global logistics chain, as well as tax and customs obligations.

. Being an OEA means being recognized internationally for adopting management processes that minimize events involving risks inherent to its import operations and that meet voluntarily criteria on compliance, reliability and safety applicable to the global logistics chain, as well as tax and customs obligations. The Company's class "A" preferred shares (BRKM5) gained 121% in the year to May 5, 2021 .

The full earnings release is available on the Company's IR website: www.braskem-ri.com.br/home-en

Braskem will host conference calls to discuss its Results THURSDAY, May 06 at 13:00 a.m. US ET.

Additional information may be obtained from the Investor Relations Department at +55 11 3576-9531 or [email protected].

SOURCE Braskem S.A.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 57F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) ("Broadridge") today announced that it has priced $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.600% senior notes due 2031 (the "Notes") in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Broadridge intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under its term credit agreement providing for term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $2.55 billion ("Term Credit Agreement") and for general corporate purposes.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., TD Securities (USA) LLC., Truist Securities, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering.

The Notes are being offered pursuant to an effective registration statement only by means of a prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 212-834-4533, BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 800-294-1322, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 866-718-1649 and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 800-645-3751.

You may also visit www.sec.gov to obtain an electronic copy of the prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $4.5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 12,000 associates in 17 countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and other written or oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Broadridge may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature, and which may be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "assumes," "projects," "anticipates," "estimates," "we believe," "could be" and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. These risks and uncertainties include those risk factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 (the "2020 Annual Report"), as they may be updated in any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, Broadridge's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (filed on May 4, 2021). All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in the 2020 Annual Report and any such subsequent filings.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include:

the potential impact and effects of the COVID -19 pandemic ("COVID -19") on the business of Broadridge, Broadridge's results of operations and financial performance, any measures Broadridge has and may take in response to COVID -19 and any expectations Broadridge may have with respect thereto;

the success of Broadridge in retaining and selling additional services to its existing clients and in obtaining new clients;

Broadridge's reliance on a relatively small number of clients, the continued financial health of those clients, and the continued use by such clients of Broadridge's services with favorable pricing terms;

a material security breach or cybersecurity attack affecting the information of Broadridge's clients;

changes in laws and regulations affecting Broadridge's clients or the services provided by Broadridge;

declines in participation and activity in the securities markets;

the failure of Broadridge's key service providers to provide the anticipated levels of service;

a disaster or other significant slowdown or failure of Broadridge's systems or error in the performance of Broadridge's services;

overall market and economic conditions and their impact on the securities markets;

Broadridge's failure to keep pace with changes in technology and the demands of its clients;

Broadridge's ability to attract and retain key personnel;

the impact of new acquisitions and divestitures; and

competitive conditions.

Broadridge disclaims any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law.

Contact Information





Investors: Media: Edings Thibault Linda Namias Head of Investor Relations Corporate Communications (516) 472-5129 (631) 254-7711 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.broadridge.com


The broadband division of C Spire, a Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services company, started construction on the next-generation technology last month in 22 fiberhoods with plans to pass thousands of homes in the unincorporated area of the county over the next several months. Service is planned for the first customers this summer.

"More Alabamians need to be participants in the digital economy  not spectators" - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville .

Mobile County, with nearly 179,000 population outside of the city of Mobile and 10 other cities, will be one of the latest Alabama markets to get the ultra-fast broadband services from C Spire Fiber. The company already has rolled out service in the Jasper, Trussville and Helena markets and is starting construction in Northport and Tuscaloosa soon. Construction is underway in Pelham.

In January 2021, C Spire announced a $1 billion investment to speed the development and deployment of fiber broadband and network enhancements, and about $500 million is set to be spent on fiber expansion in Alabama over a five-year period. C Spire's deployment of all-fiber symmetrical infrastructure and ultra-fast broadband internet helps attract industry and improve Alabamians' quality of life.

"High-speed, all-fiber broadband internet service can be a game-changer for Mobile County and other Alabama communities," said Ashley Phillips, general manager of C Spire Home. "Our ability to provide symmetric speeds immediately solves real-world challenges associated with interactive learning, remote work and telehealth applications. That's good news as our FiberFast initiative continues."

As part of its expansion efforts, C Spire is also is actively seeking interest from other Alabama communities and towns seeking more reliable and faster broadband internet service based on the firm's crowdsourcing model, which relies on homeowner, business and renter demand to drive adoption.

Alabama ranks 38th nationally in broadband access and state leaders have made access to fast, reliable and affordable internet for rural areas a priority through state funding and creation of the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition, a group of community, business and government leaders dedicated to job creation, economic development and business growth.

C Spire Fiber is actively soliciting residents who want more reliable and faster broadband internet service based on the crowdsourcing model, which relies on homeowner demand to drive adoption. Consumers can place pre-orders for Gigabit fiber-based internet, Smart WiFi powered by Plume, Home Protection Plan and digital home phone service at www.cspire.com/fiber.

Unlike some other internet service providers, C Spire Fiber has no data caps, cancellation fees or long-term contracts. The C Spire division provides exact appointment times, world-class 24/7/365 customer service and over 99.99 percent reliability.

Local and federal government leaders lauded C Spire's decision to invest in the future of Mobile County. "Fast, dependable and affordable broadband is critical to quality of life, home values and new jobs in our communities," said Merceria L Ludgood, president of the Mobile County Commission. "We appreciate C Spire choosing Mobile County for this game-changing investment."

"More Alabamians need to be participants in the digital economy  not spectators, "said U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. "Gigabit internet is a powerful solution to the digital divide in our state and will benefit the people and businesses in Mobile County."

Mobile city residents who want to order C Spire Fiber or express their interest in the suite of services should go to www.cspire.com/alfiber and fill out the online interest form, including their name and address. Residents can also email [email protected] to learn more about how they can get service in their area.

About C Spire Fiber

C Spire Fiber is a division of C Spire, a privately-owned telecommunications and technology company driven to deliver the best experiences in wireless, fiber internet, and business IT solutions such as internet, VoIP, cloud and managed services. Read more news releases and announcements at cspire.com/news. For more information, visit cspire.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

SOURCE C Spire

Related Links

http://www.cspire.com


8 distinguished individuals from across the US will assemble to educate the medical community on cannabis treatments. Tweet this

The Cannabis Patient Care editorial advisory board includes the following:

Stanley Atkins , owner, The Good Medic LLC.

, owner, The Good Medic LLC. Ann M. Brum , founder and CEO, Joint Venture & Co.

, founder and CEO, Joint Venture & Co. Joshua Crossney , president, CEO, and founder, Cannabis Science Conference.

, president, CEO, and founder, Cannabis Science Conference. Me Fuimaono-Poe , FNP-BC, medical director and founder, Malie Cannabis Clinic.

, medical director and founder, Malie Cannabis Clinic. Stephen Mandile , veteran, activist, and consultant at Joint Venture & Co.

, veteran, activist, and consultant at Joint Venture & Co. Heather Manus, RN , CEO and founder member, Cannabis Nurses Network.

, CEO and founder member, Cannabis Nurses Network. Marion McNabb , DrPH, MPH, president, Cannabis Center of Excellence, Inc.

, president, Cannabis Center of Excellence, Inc. Patricia A. Patton , founder, Cannabis Business Alliance.

The advisory board members will work in collaboration to help Cannabis Patient Care achieve its editorial mission: to educate the medical community on the viable treatment options patients are experiencing with cannabis and the ongoing research into cannabis and cannabinoids worldwide. With recognized expertise ranging from medical research to advocacy work and personal experience as patients, the board members will also perform a range of functions, such as suggesting authors and topics for coverage and providing the editorial team with general direction and feedback.

"Several of our board members were instrumental in helping to launch Cannabis Patient Care in November 2020 and I am delighted to continue our relationship with them," said Megan L'Heureux, group editorial director of Cannabis Patient Care. "Each board member brings a unique perspective to the publication and I am thrilled to be working with them on our future issues and shared goal of educating the community."

For more information on Cannabis Patient Care editorial advisory board, click here.

About Cannabis Patient Care

Cannabis Patient Care magazine is an educational resource for patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers on the latest research, benefits, and treatment options cannabis provides for a variety of illnesses. Each issue of the publication will focus on a specific disease or ailment for which cannabis has been shown to be an effective remedy. The brand will cover the current research, patient testimonials, medical perspectives, and advocacy work. The mission of Cannabis Patient Care is to educate the medical community on the viable treatment options patients are experiencing with cannabis and the ongoing research into cannabis and cannabinoids worldwide. Cannabis Patient Care is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels.

Cannabis Patient Care Media Contact

Alexandra Ventura, 609-716-7777

[email protected]

SOURCE Cannabis Patient Care
IRVINE, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CB Resource, Inc. (the "Company" or "CBR")  a leader in community bank performance and risk management solutions announced the appointment of Mr. Long T. Huynh as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer ("COO").

Mr. Huynh joins CBR as Chief Operating Officer and will work closely with Mr. Jeff Rigsby, founder, President and CEO of CBR, on the Corporation's overall strategy and execution. Mr. Huynh will oversee the Company's performance and risk management solutions delivery, including product and service development, information technology, client success and related growth priorities.

"I am thrilled to be welcoming Long to CB Resource," said Mr. Rigsby. "Long brings over two decades of leadership experience within the community bank industry. Most recently, as Executive Vice President and CFO for a community bank headquartered in downtown Los Angeles with assets exceeding $1.5 billion. Long has extensive leadership and management experience as a Chief Financial Officer in a highly regulated and rapidly changing community bank space. His hands-on approach in leading bank financial performance, mergers and acquisitions, operations, IT, and regulator and investor relations will be indispensable skills in directing our single-minded focus in performance and risk management solutions for community banks where optimal performance is a non-negotiable."

"I am very happy to join the team at CB Resource as we continue to build a superior product and service solution for our valued community bank clients. I strongly believe that the CBR value proposition is very impressive, and I look forward to helping to unlock further value for all our stakeholders as we continue to execute on the Company's exciting growth strategy," said Mr. Huynh.

Long brings more than 20 years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer for community banks. His record of success was earned as CFO serving CBB Bancorp, Pacific Commerce Bancorp, County Commerce Bank, and others.

Mr. Huynh earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, emphasis in accounting from University of California at Santa Barbara, and his CPA from California State Board of Accountancy.

About CB Resource, Inc.

CB Resource, Inc. is a member company of Finance 500, a full-service broker-dealer serving over 2,000 banks nationwide. CBR's unique ability to ensure that its bank client's risk management and business performance priorities and in sync, provide a distinct competitive advantage. CBR is the only firm serving community banks that seamlessly integrates ERM, Strategic and Capital Plan solution within a fully integrated platform. These integrated solutions along with superior Board and Management reporting are setting a new standard serving community bank executives and their boards.

Contact:

Robert Finch

SVP, Director of Sales and Marketing

949.502.6910

[email protected]

SOURCE CB Resource
LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Europe, a pan-European exchange operator and a subsidiary of Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), today announced that Natan Tiefenbrun will join the company as Senior Vice President, Head of European Equities. In this new role, Natan will oversee Cboe's European equities trading business, reporting to David Howson, EVP, President Europe and Asia-Pacific, Cboe Global Markets. He will join in June and be based in Cboe's London office.

"We are thrilled to have Natan join the team. He has a long and highly successful track record in European equities trading and brings a unique skillset to Cboe," Howson said. "We are excited to leverage his expertise and extensive industry relationships in support of our strategic growth plans and enhance our position as one of the top European equities exchange operators."

Natan has led a distinguished career in European equities trading having held a number of senior roles in the industry. Most recently, he was Managing Director, EMEA Execution Services at Bank of America (BofA), where he worked since 2013. He led the firm's agency equities execution services in the EMEA region, including its high touch, portfolio trading and electronic trading offerings. During this tenure, he was a founding board member of the Plato Partnership, an industry consortium of buy-side and sell-side firms, and served on the Equities Board of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME).

Prior to BofA, Natan spent four years with the London Stock Exchange Group, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of Turquoise, a pan-European equities and equity derivatives trading platform. He began his financial career in 1993 with Instinet, where he spent 13 years developing and running the firm's portfolio trading, algorithmic trading and sponsored access business.

Tiefenbrun said: "Having been a client and partner of Cboe's equities business for many years, I truly appreciate the value all market participants gain from its thought leadership and focus on product innovation and cutting-edge technology. I am looking forward to supporting the team's continued growth and enhancing its European equities services to benefit all market participants."

Cboe Europe Equities is one of the largest pan-European exchange operators, with exchanges in the UK (Cboe UK) and the Netherlands (Cboe NL). It offers a suite of industry-leading equity trading services, including lit and dark order books, Periodic Auctions, Cboe LIS and Cboe Closing Cross (3C). Cboe Europe Equities market share was 17.9 percent in April 2021, its highest level since July 2020 and up from 15.4 percent in April 2020.

Cboe Europe is also expanding into equity derivatives through the launch of Cboe Europe Derivatives, an Amsterdam-based futures and options market, in September 2021, subject to regulatory approvals. Read the latest press release on that initiative here.

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 equity 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-C

CBOE-E

CBOE-OE

Cboe and Cboe Global Markets are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cboe.com


SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District Court of California heard arguments for and against the defendants' motion to dismiss yesterday in the Children's Health Defense (CHD) lawsuit , which claims that Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and three fact-checking outfits censor what CHD believes to be important public health posts and engage in racketeering activities against CHD. A ruling is expected soon.

According to CHD's Complaint, Facebook has conflicts with the Pharmaceutical industry and government health agencies and has economic stakes in telecom and 5G. Facebook currently censors CHD's page, targeting its purge against factual information about vaccines, 5G and public health agencies. Facebook-owned Instagram deplatformed CHD Board Chair Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on February 10 without notice or explanation in the current climate censoring anyone who questions the Pharma/Tech agenda or the safety of COVID vaccines.

This is an important First Amendment case testing the boundaries of government authority to openly censor unwanted critique of its narrative. Attorneys Roger Teich and Jed Rubenfeld argued before the court; CHD attorneys Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Mary Holland are also lawyers on the legal briefs.

Facebook has publicly stated it is assisting efforts of the CDC and WHO to censor unwanted speech about vaccines. CHD argues that Facebook's open collaboration with government makes it a proxy for government censorship, violating the First Amendment. The government's role in Facebook's censorship goes deeper than its close coordination with the CDC and WHO; it began at the suggestion of powerful Democratic Congressman and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who in February 2019 asked Facebook to suppress and purge internet content critical of government vaccine policies. The WHO issued a statement commending Facebook for coordinating its ongoing censorship campaign with public health officials.

CHD's lawsuit also challenges Facebook's use of so-called "independent fact-checkers," - which are neither independent nor fact-based - to create oppositional content on CHD's page, superimposed over CHD's original content, about matters of heated scientific controversy.

The court will decide whether Facebook's new government-directed business model of what CHD believes are false and disabling a nonprofit's donate button passes muster under the First and Fifth Amendments, the Lanham Act, and the federal racketeering statute. Those statutes protect CHD against online wire fraud and knowingly false statements disparaging to the organization, while the Constitution protects CHD against government censorship, even through third parties, and from uncompensated taking of its property interests.

"Social media giants are imposing a totalitarian censorship to prevent public health advocates, like myself, from voicing concerns and from engaging in civil informed debate in the public square," said Kennedy. "They are punishing, shaming, vilifying, gaslighting and abolishing individuals who report their own vaccine injuries. Anyone can see that this is a formula for catastrophe and a coup d'etat against the First Amendment, the foundation stone of American democracy."

Rita Shreffler

202-599-1461

SOURCE Children's Health Defense

Related Links

http://www.childrenshealthdefense.org


SAN DIEGO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC Founding Partner, David S. Schulman is working to help some of the teenagers impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic. He is serving as the Honorary Committee Co-Chair for the upcoming 2021 Walk the Talk event for Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT). JIT works to help foster-youth become self-sufficient after they leave the foster care system by teaching them life skills and connecting them with the resources to help them peruse their dreams from going to school to getting a job. Schulman is honored with the Co-Chair position because of his long-term advocacy for children as a family law attorney and his personal commitment to helping needy children in the San Diego community. Schulman has raised tens of thousands of dollars and much needed awareness about foster youth and their struggles. The family law practice that is his namesake, Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC, (MSM) is also a premiere sponsor of the event.

David S. Schulman; Moore Schulman & Moore, APC Founding Partner EMPOWER Walk the Talk 2021

"Life has been challenging for most everyone during the pandemic, but the impact has been dramatic for these teenagers who were already struggling. Now more than ever they need our help at this critical time in their lives. They just want a chance to fulfill their dreams of having a home for more than a few months at a time and to be able to better their lives by getting an education or a job. They are challenged to just get their basic needs met," says Honorary Co-Chair Schulman.

The Walk the Talk event gives a limited number of guests the opportunity to meet (live and virtually) and hear the challenges that these youth face. This unique venue gives guests the opportunity to get to know the very people their donations are helping in an environment where everyone feels safe, inspired and empowered. The event also celebrates the successes of the young people who have benefited from JIT's programs. The celebration is being held at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse on May 6, 2021.

About Attorney David Schulman

For more than two decades, Certified Family Law Specialist David Schulman has been advocating for children as minor's counsel and for families. His hard work and dedication have been honored with awards such as San Diego's Top Attorneys Award, The Family Court Judiciary's Norby Award, Southern California's Super Lawyers, a BV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the San Diego County Bar Association 100% Club and America's Top 100 Attorneys, among others.

About Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC

Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC is an AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rated law firm that is dedicated to pursuing efficient and cost-effective solutions for its clients. With more than 250 plus years of combined experience, the award-winning attorneys at Moore Schulman & Moore Family Law are prepared to take on a range of family law matters whether it is litigation or mediation. The founders of Moore Schulman & Moore are all board-certified family law specialists, classifying the firm's leading attorneys as experts in the field. Attorneys at Moore, Schulman and Moore understand that the family law system can be overwhelming, which is why it is their mission to provide honest, attentive and helpful counsel that will help provide the most timely and cost-effective solutions to minimize any emotional and financial stress to their clients. To learn more, go to www.msmfamilylaw.com or to Facebook.

Media Contact:

Lynn Stuart

(858)243-69878

[email protected]

SOURCE Moore Schulman & Moore APC
RICHMOND, Va., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Childhood friends Melissa Mason & Lillian Jackson banded together in 2018 to form a Brunch Group  Brown Skin Brunchin' in their hometown of Richmond, VA. The brunch group has now reached 17 additional cities and connected over 5000 black women over brunch. The duo set out to create a network of African American women that would provide meaningful and beneficial relationships. They found it difficult to organically network with people over a typical networking event, so they got creative.

Brown Skin Brunchin' Founders Las Vegas Brunch Group

The founders met in elementary school in their hometown of Richmond, VA over 30 years ago. They forged a lifelong friendship that would go on to create a massive brunch following. When the two moved to different states when they got older, they found it harder to make new connections with like-minded people. From that need, they sought out to build a network of professional black women. One important thing to the founders was to provide a networking opportunity in a causal laid-back atmosphere doing something that everyone can relate to - eat. The women gather once per month over brunch at a local restaurant. They purposely come with no set agenda, no topics, just good conversation and fun. Women leave the brunches feeling like they just had a good meal with their childhood friends.

According to cofounder Lillian Jackson, "When you have a conversation organically in a casual setting, you get to learn so much more about a person. Through that conversation you can identify opportunities that exist that might be beneficial. I have made so many connections with women over brunch that have afforded me new personal and business opportunities."

Brown Skin Brunchin' is a social group dedicated to bringing together women of color who desire to expand their personal and professional network in an unconventional way. The social group has chapters in 18 cities in the US with plans to expand to 50 cities by the end of 2021.

If you would like more information about the social group or are interested in having the group host a brunch at your restaurant, visit us online at www.brownskinbrunchin.com

Contact: Roberta Smith

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (804) 539-7038

SOURCE Brown Skin Brunchin'

Related Links

http://www.brownskinbrunchin.com


RALEIGH, N.C., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Civil-Military Innovation Institute Inc. (CMI2), a nonprofit organization focused on integrating academia and commercial industry into the Defense Innovation Base, today announced the further expansion of its North Carolina footprint into Research Triangle Park (RTP). CMI2 officially began operations at its new office in Durham on May 1.

CMI2 supports United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) activities to build a civil-military innovation workforce that advances the development of cutting-edge national security technologies and aligns the work of innovators from universities and non-traditional technology companies with the activities of the USDOD and public safety communities.

"Our mission to support DoD activities in the creation of an advanced civil-military workforce guides our team each day," said Adam Hanasky, CMI2's Managing Director. "Moreover, RTP is an optimal location to further advance our mission by bringing together the best and brightest North Carolina innovators for the common goal of national security."

Specifically, CMI2's efforts support the following:

workforce development programs in the delivery of high-tech opportunities relevant to national security;

funded opportunities in education and research focused on the creation of a civil- military innovation workforce at colleges and universities in the U.S.;

development of sustainable, high-tech workforce economic opportunities in non- traditional technology centers in the U.S.;

growth of underutilized physical and intellectual assets at universities, governmental partner institutions, academia, and industry through the financing of military and public safety technologies; and

advancement of tech research and commercialization of products designed to meet domestic military and public safety needs.

CMI2, which was recently awarded a $45 million cooperative agreement by the Army Research Laboratory to enable the transition of emerging technologies from universities to real-world applications, will use its new North Carolina operation as a platform for partnering with researchers and students at institutions like the University of North Carolina and Duke University  to speed the flow of lifesaving innovations from the lab to the battlefield.

"By being a part of the RTP community, we will have greater access to exceptionally talented people and the resources CMI2 needs to help the DoD meet the greater challenges it faces every day. We will be in the largest research park in the U.S. and at the center of three Tier-1 research universities, and our organization strongly believes these resources will undoubtedly advance our efforts as we help meet growing challenges in the areas of national security and public safety," Hanasky said.

CMI2 has offices in West Virginia, Mississippi, New York, and Maryland, and a presence in on-campus university innovation hubs at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Columbia University, New York, New York; and State University of New York Maritime College (SUNY-M), Throggs Neck, New York.

ABOUT CMI2

The Civil-Military Innovation Institute Inc. (CMI2) supports the creation and utilization of a dynamic civil-military innovation workforce. Offering senior military management expertise, university innovation executive management, and commercial research management capabilities, CMI2 supports client activities by the U.S. Department of Defense and public safety communities. For additional details, visit www.cmi2.org.

SOURCE Civil-Military Innovation Institute Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cmi2.org


CLEVELAND, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Whiskey's Underground Bourbon Whiskey finished with Black Cherry Wood was awarded a rare double gold medal and their Underground Rye Whiskey finished with Black Cherry Wood a gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). A competition whose awards are considered one of the most reliable indications of spirits excellence in the world. Wheat Penny Bourbon was awarded a Silver medal.

Cleveland Underground(R) Black Cherry Wood Bourbon and Rye Wheat Penny Bourbon (R)

The competition ensures equal consideration by having highly controlled blind tastings. Judges do not receive any information on the producer or the price point. They determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal based on tasting alone. Only those entries that receive a Gold medal from all the judges on a panel earn a Double Gold award.

In 2009 Tom Lix, founder, and CEO, set out to make bourbon and whiskey differently with technology. In 2013, the first bottles of Cleveland Whiskey hit the shelfs and in 2015, the Cleveland Underground series was born. "Accelerating the aging process was just the first step in applying technology to make whiskey differently." Tom Lix said, "Bigger and better opportunities lie in being able to make whiskeys with woods other than oak and the Underground whiskeys finished with Black Cherry Wood and Wheat Penny Bourbon are great examples of that."

Today, Cleveland Whiskey is in the process of moving into a larger facility in the heart of Cleveland. The new space, situated on the Cuyahoga river in the south flats, is ten times larger than the current space and will enable them to significantly increase production. Best of all, the expansion plans include a distillery brand experience that will be a "must-see" destination in the City of Cleveland.

"Our mission is simple; every day make good whiskey and do the right thing. Over the past year we have lived that by making and donating hand sanitizer to the frontline workers in our community including the Cleveland Clinic's 51,000 healthcare workers, nursing homes, Cuyahoga County's Police, Fire and EMS, and more. The awards help show we have delivered on the other part of our promise, we made good whiskey everyday too," said Tom Lix, founder and CEO of the company.

About Cleveland Whiskey

Founded in 2009, Cleveland Whiskey is a maker of Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Named "Whiskey Distillery Innovator of the Year," Cleveland Whiskey has won more than 100 medals and counting at competitions around the world. Unique finishes with woods that include black cherry, sugar maple, and apple, limited runs of coffee infusions plus local craft beer and honey barrel aged bourbons. We are always pushing the traditional limits of whiskey. Visit us at www.clevelandwhiskey.com. Follow us @clevelandwhiskey on Instagram and Facebook.

Media contacts:

Rebecca Harmon

Cleveland Whiskey

440-749-1798

[email protected]

SOURCE Cleveland Whiskey
STOCKHOLM, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An annual general meeting was held in Mentice AB on 6 May 2021. Below follows a summary of the resolutions made at the meeting.

Adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet, the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet and discharge from liability

At the annual general meeting the income statement and the balance sheet, the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet for 2020 were adopted. The meeting resolved to discharge each member of the board of directors alongside with the CEO from liability for the financial year of 2020.

Resolution on allocation of the company profit

The meeting resolved not to issue any dividend to the shareholders for the financial year of 2020 and to instead add the profit to the retained earnings of the company.

Election of board members, chairman of the board and accountant

The annual general meeting resolved that the board of directors shall consist of six ordinary members. The meetings resolved, to the board of directors, elect Lawrence D. Howell, David Ballard, Denis Gestin, Gosta Johannesson, Johann Koss and Eola Anggard Runsten as ordinary board members. More information regarding the members of the board of directors is presented on the company website, www.mentice.com.

Lawrence D. Howell was re-elected as chairman of the board.

The meeting resolved that the company shall have one accountant with no deputy accountant. The meeting elected KPMG AB as accountant for the company until the annual general meeting of 2022. It was noted that the certified accountant Fredrik Waern shall be the main responsible accountant.

Resolution on remuneration to the members of the board of directors and accountant alongside with remuneration to the audit- and remuneration committees

The annual general meeting resolved on remuneration for the board members consisting of a fixed amount of in total SEK 970,000 to be paid to the members of board of directors, of which SEK 100,000 shall be paid to Johann Koss, SEK 170,000 shall be paid each to Gosta Johannesson, Eola Anggard Runsten and David Ballard and SEK 360,000 shall be paid to Denis Gestin.

Furthermore, the meeting resolved that the remuneration to the company's accountant shall be paid in accordance with each approved invoice.

The meeting resolved that remuneration to the audit committee shall be SEK 40,000 for the chairman and SEK 20,000 for each other member. Remuneration to the remuneration committee was resolved to be SEK 40,000 for the chairman and SEK 20,000 to each other member.

Resolution to authorise the board of directors to issue new shares

The annual shareholders' meeting resolved to authorise the board of directors, until the next annual shareholders' meeting, on one or several occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, to resolve on new issues of shares and/or issues of warrants, entitling the holders to subscribe for new shares and/or issues of convertibles, entitling the holders to convert the convertibles to new shares. The purpose of the authorisation is to provide the board of directors with flexibility with regards to financing of the company and its accelerated expansion of the group, its markets and products. The maximum number of shares to be issued under this authorisation shall not exceed 2,476,885 shares, implying a maximum dilution of equity of approximately 10 per cent of all outstanding shares in Mentice AB at the time of this resolution proposal.

The resolutions in their entirety

The resolutions in their entirety are available at the company's webpage,

www. mentice.com .

About Mentice AB

Mentice (www.mentice.com) is the world leader in software and hardware simulation solutions for endovascular therapies. Our solutions help healthcare professionals acquire, retain, and enhance their procedural skills driving improved productivity and outcome

For additional information

Contact: Goran Malmberg, CEO Mentice AB,

e-mail: [email protected], tel: +46 (0) 703 09 22 22.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/mentice-ab/r/communique-from-annual-general-meeting-in-mentice-ab--publ-,c3342380

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/18275/3342380/1414086.pdf Communique from annual general meeting 2021 Mentice

SOURCE Mentice AB
LONDON, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consverge is pleased to announce Amar Rajani , Jeremy Davies and John Chase as co-lead investors of their latest investment round, they will also join the Consverge Advisory Board with immediate effect. Consverge unlocks the potential of Human Insight by streamlining and simplifying primary research sourcing by providing its clients with better access to, and results from global "Expert Networks'' and Independent Analysts through its technology-driven platform.

This exciting development underlines the importance of the industry as a whole ($1.5bn annually) and also the desire from clients for greater efficacy and scope in their searches. Consverge will use the capital to expand its workforce and invest in technology.

Amar Rajani is the Founder and Managing Director of Argella Limited, a company that provides specialist consulting services to FinTech, SaaS, and data businesses. Prior to this, he spent 17 years at Bloomberg LP as the Global Product Manager for the research management business.

Kumardeep Kharga, Co-Founder of Consverge, comments how Amar's appointment to the Advisory Board is a key growth driver for the business:

"Amar is a highly experienced research technology professional, with tremendous experience in this space. He has built products that connect people with research and was quick to recognize the opportunity that Consverge brings to unlocking the Expert Network Ecosystem."

Amar is enthusiastic about bringing his niche expertise in developing research, businesses, and products, to the Consverge team. Commenting on his appointment, he says, "Consverge is looking to change the Expert Network Ecosystem in the same way online financial research evolved in the early 1990s. The Expert Network industry has largely been untouched during this same period with providers of expert networks working in isolation and without the benefit of a platform can serve and benefit the entire industry."

Jeremy Davies is an experienced non-exec and advisory member on the board of several large companies and has significantly contributed to the private equity and hedge fund industry during his career. He was the Co-Founder and CEO of RSRCHXchange where he built the foremost investment research platform, raised VC money, and also managed a successful trade sale of the business.

Niraj Manek , Co-Founder of Consverge, explains why Jeremy's appointment to the Consverge advisory board is valuable:

"We are delighted to welcome Jeremy's highly experienced financial repertoire to advise Consverge through its future growth phases. His combined domain expertise in the research & content delivery segments will be valuable in giving rise to potential and exciting opportunities and strengthening Consverge's commitment as a trusted Expert Network and independent research aggregator in the industry."

John Chase is currently serving variously as Chair, Non-Exec, and Advisory Board Member across multiple industries internationally. Utilizing 20 years of investment banking experience advising top-tier companies on fundraising, risk management, and M&A, John is now helping companies design and implement successful strategies to scale, consolidate, and ultimately monetize their full potential.

Kumardeep Kharga, Co-Founder of Consverge, comments how John's appointment to the Advisory Board is a key growth driver for the business:

"John will assist with Consverge's future fundraising and optimal capital structure endeavours as well as the development of strategic relationships with key clients and partners. John's extensive network and the broad advisory background will be invaluable to Consverge as we scale our business Globally".

About Consverge

CONSVERGE is an Expert Network and Research Insight Aggregator platform that combines an unified experience with a design-led AI system to curate valuable business intelligence.

Consverge Limited operates globally with offices in London (UK), and Mumbai (India).

Learn more at: https://consverge.com

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Consverge
MIAMI, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Curve Health, a company that provides senior care within skilled nursing facilities through a platform that combines telemedicine, smart billing, health information exchange and predictive analytics, has announced its partnerships with Southview Acres Health Care Center in St Paul, MN and Affinity Healthcare Center in Paramount, CA. These partnerships come as skilled nursing facilities (SNF) seek innovative and safe ways to care for residents amid the challenges that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent study by Western Journal of Emergency Medicine found care provided through the Curve Health platform reduced SNF patient hospital admissions by up to 80%.

"When Tim Peck was in my facility on Long Island, I saw what an impact the platform could have and what it could mean for skilled nursing facility residents and staff. Since that time, I've been working to partner with Tim to bring the solution to Southview and facilities across Minnesota," commented Avi Katz, owner of Southview Acres Health Care Center. "The pandemic has opened the industry's eyes to the importance of telemedicine-based services in SNFs, and the regulatory environment now supports the growth of Curve and its partnership with forward-looking organizations like Southview. We're expecting the immediate accessibility of physicians to enable a more seamless patient & family experience and a significant decline in unnecessary hospitalizations."

Rob MacNaughton, CEO of Curve Health, commented, "The Curve Health platform improves the care experience for residents and providers, while having the patient and their families at the center of everything we do. Our solution is proven to enable remote physicians to collaborate with skilled nursing staff bedside to dramatically reduce unnecessary hospital transfers. The platform is truly transformative for the industry, and we're proud to put it in action for residents and staff of our partners in Minnesota and California, and beyond."

The integration of Curve Health's platform allows Southview Acres and Affinity Healthcare staff to improve patient outcomes by providing more personalized care for their residents. Residents are connected from their rooms directly with doctors and physicians through a tablet, allowing nurses on staff to execute on treatment plans. Higher visibility on the individual is made available through advanced predictive analytics, ensuring more accurate identification and treatment of medical conditions, and accurate execution of advanced care plans. Additionally, business intelligence analytics enable SNFs to improve staffing allocation, and smart billing features provide appropriate reimbursement for remote physician groups.

About Curve Health:

Curve Health is senior care without walls. Founded in April of 2020 on a platform that's reduced patient transfers from Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) to Emergency Departments by 80%, Curve advances connected senior care by bridging the silos that hinder healthcare delivery today; enabling physicians to remotely care for patients in SNFs, at home, in ambulances or wherever they may be. Curve combines telemedicine, a health information exchange, predictive analytics, and smart billing into a single platform, resulting in higher quality care + significant return on investment while ensuring the most seamless patient experience. To learn more visit: www.curvehealth.com

SOURCE Curve Health

Related Links

curvehealth.com


TEL AVIV, Israel, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybersixgill , the leader in threat intelligence enablement, today announced that Darkfeed, its automated indicator of compromise (IOC) solution, has received certification with ServiceNow and is available now in the ServiceNow Store .

Darkfeed provides organizations with real-time, automated identification of IOCs  augmented by crucial contextual data points that allow organizations to connect the dots between discrete events and the bigger picture. With Darkfeed, security teams accelerate their incident prevention and response. Powered by the broadest intelligence collection from the deep and dark web, users can block threats and enrich endpoint protection in real-time. In addition, security teams gain contextual and actionable insights with essential explanations to proactively investigate and mitigate new threats as they develop.

"Automated, accurate, and actionable threat intelligence provides the earliest warning signals available and helps security teams anticipate and block attacks," said Ron Shamir, VP products and tech alliances, Cybersixgill. "By enriching ServiceNow's offerings, we're helping organizations stay ahead of the threat curve."

Certification by ServiceNow is only granted to apps available in the Store and signifies that Darkfeed has successfully completed a series of tests to showcase Now Platform security, compatibility, performance, and integration interoperability. The certification also ensures that ServiceNow best practices are utilized in the design and implementation of Darkfeed.

About Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill's fully automated threat intelligence solutions help organizations fight cyber crime, detect phishing, data leaks, fraud and vulnerabilities as well as amplify incident response  in real-time. The Cybersixgill Investigative Portal empowers security teams with contextual and actionable insights as well as the ability to conduct real-time investigations. Rich data feeds such as Darkfeed and DVE Score harness Cybersixgill's unmatched intelligence collection capabilities and deliver real-time intel into organizations' existing security systems. Most recently, Cybersixgill introduced agility to threat intel with their CI/CP methodology (Continuous Investigation/Continuous Protection). Current customers include enterprises, financial services, MSSPs, governments and law enforcement entities.

To learn more, visit https://www.cybersixgill.com/ and follow us on Twitter: @CyberSixgill and LinkedIn .

ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, Now Platform, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Media Contacts

Matt McLoughlin

Gregory FCA on behalf of Cybersixgill

[email protected]

Laurie Ben-Haim

Cybersixgill

+1-646-300-9549

+972-52-7831911

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1447996/Cybersixgill_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Cybersixgill
NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DarwinHealth, a New York City-based biotechnology company, today announced a scientific research collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY). The research collaboration, the Novel Cancer Target Initiative (NCTI), employs quantitative systems biology-based algorithms, proprietary databases, and validated technologies to identify novel cancer targets (NCTs) across a range of tumor subtypes.

The methodology underpinning the NCTI is based on an understanding of critical mechanisms linked to tumor dependencies and maintenance beyond genetic mutations. To facilitate the discovery of NCTs, DarwinHealth will provide Bristol Myers Squibb proprietary information residing in its drug databases, including tumor context-specific analyses of Master Regulators of distinct tumor subtypes, as well as direct upstream modulators.

"The collaboration is focused on identifying novel, high-value cancer targets across a range of pre-selected tumor subtypes, with an eye towards identifying novel targets that are recurrent among different types of cancer, leading to the design and development of drugs with multi-subtype indications," said Gideon Bosker, MD, Chief Executive Officer, DarwinHealth. "Once identified and prioritized, these targets can undergo rigorous experimental validation to drive drug development for a new generation of anti-cancer therapies that could be developed by Bristol Myers Squibb."

"The novel cancer targets will be selected and prioritized based on their role as either Master Regulators (MRs) or Master Regulator Upstream Modulators (MRUMs) within the Tumor Checkpoint module of a specific human malignancy," said Professor Andrea Califano, Chair, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, and Co-Founder and Chairman of Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, DarwinHealth. "We believe that the mechanism-based insights, as provided by DarwinHealth's precision oncology-focused systems biology platforms, can substantially accelerate the development of drugs targeting non-oncogene dependencies that underpin and drive key cancer hallmarks."

The NCTI agreement represents an important extension and scientific leveraging of the ongoing Compound-2-Clinic (C2C) multi-year collaboration initiated with Celgene on August 28, 2019, which aims to assess, characterize, and prioritize for clinical development and experimental validation the oncology-relevant bioactivity of a pre-specified library of Bristol Myers Squibb compounds.

As part of the NCTI collaboration, DarwinHealth will receive an upfront payment and has the potential to receive development and commercialization milestone payments.

About DarwinHealth

DarwinHealth: Precision Therapeutics for Cancer Medicine is a "frontiers of cancer," technology-focused company, co-founded by CEO Gideon Bosker, MD, and Professor Andrea Califano, Clyde and Helen Wu Professor of Chemical Systems Biology and Chair, Department of Systems Biology at Columbia University. The company's technology was developed by the Califano lab over the past 14 years and is exclusively licensed from Columbia University.

DarwinHealth utilizes proprietary, systems biology algorithms to match virtually every cancer patient with the drugs and drug combinations that are most likely to produce a successful treatment outcome. "Conversely, these same algorithms also can prioritize investigational drugs and compound combinations of unknown potential against a full spectrum of human malignancies, as well as novel cancer targets," explained Dr. Bosker, "which make them invaluable for pharmaceutical companies seeking to both optimize their compound pipelines and discover mechanistically actionable, novel cancer targets and compound-tumor alignments."

DarwinHealth's mission statement is to deploy novel technologies rooted in systems biology to improve clinical outcomes of cancer treatment. Its core technology, the VIPER algorithm, can identify tightly knit modules of master regulator proteins that represent a new class of actionable therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers in cancer. The methodology is applied along two complementary axes: First, DarwinHealth's technologies support the systematic identification and validation of druggable targets at a more foundational, deep state of the cancer cell's regulatory logic so we and our scientific partners can exploit next generation actionability based on fundamental and more universal tumor dependencies and mechanisms. Second, from a drug development and discovery perspective, the same technologies capable of identifying potentially druggable novel targets based on master regulators, and upstream modulators of those targets. This is where the DarwinHealth oncotectural approach, with its emphasis on elucidating and targeting tumor checkpoints, provides its most important solutions and repositioning roadmaps for advancing precision-focused cancer drug discovery and therapeutics.

The proprietary, precision medicine-based methods employed by DarwinHealth are supported by a deep body of scientific literature authored by its scientific leadership, including DarwinHealth CSO, Mariano Alvarez, PhD, who co-developed the company's critical computational infrastructure. These proprietary strategies leverage the ability to reverse-engineer and analyze the genome-wide regulatory and signaling logic of the cancer cell, by integrating data from in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays. This provides a fully integrated drug characterization and discovery platform designed to elucidate, accelerate, and validate precise developmental trajectories for pharmaceutical assets, so their full clinical and commercial potential can be realized. For more information, please visit: www.DarwinHealth.com.

SOURCE DarwinHealth

Related Links

http://www.darwinhealth.com


LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The MFSA has approved a Class 3 VFAA Licence to Bequant Pro Limited to provide VFA services as a prime brokerage to Experienced Investors including: Custodian and Nominee Services; Reception and Transmission of Orders; Execution of Client Orders on behalf of other persons; Dealing on Own Account and Placing of VFAs.

"Our licences are the culmination of years of hard work. We have been collaborating with the MFSA since 2018 to embrace regulations in the digital assets industry as a forerunner in this space." said CEO George Zarya.

"As the industry matures and more institutions enter the space, a one stop solution is required to deliver to the growing needs of the market participants. Our Class 3 VFAA Licence serves as the epitome that we are able to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets by delivering a regulated prime broker that connects the digital assets ecosystem from exchanges and custodians to participants." he added.

Furthermore, Bequant Exchange Limited has been granted a Class 4 VFAA Licence to provide the following VFA services to Non-Experienced and Experienced Investors: Operate a VFA Exchange; Custodian and Nominee Services; Execution of Client Orders on behalf of other persons and Dealing on Own Account.

Bequant Exchange Limited and Bequant Pro Limited were incorporated in August 2018 in Malta, to take advantage of the digital assets framework that was introduced by the MFSA, one of the first regulators in the world to introduce a comprehensive regulatory regime back in 2019. Both companies have been operating in Malta under the provisions of the VFA Act.

"Being a regulated prime broker and exchange was part of our growth strategy heading into 2021 so we are proud to have achieved this milestone." said COO Sergiu Frasineanu. "The MFSA is taking a leading position to regulate the digital assets industry. We are delighted to promote crypto regulation in Europe together with the MFSA."

The regulatory approval arrived as Bequant delivered exceptional trading volumes this April. The exchange and prime brokerage delivered all time high volumes, with over 5 billion in volume traded across the exchange and over 38 billion across the prime brokerage respectively. This was supported by bullish market conditions and the expansion of Bequant's technical developments to serve a wider array of market participants.

About Bequant

BEQUANT is a one stop solution for professional digital-assets investors and institutions. Our breadth of products include prime brokerage, technology solutions, a fund administration service enhanced by an institutional trading platform providing low-latency access and superior liquidity.

The BEQUANT team is composed of experts from institutional, retail and digital financial services with experience in banking, derivatives, electronic trading and prime brokerage.

Websites:

BEQUANT Digital Assets Trading Platform: www.BEQUANT.io

BEQUANT Prime Brokerage Services: www.BEQUANT.pro

Social Media:

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*'Digital assets' as referred herein shall not be construed to include any digital assets that can be classified as financial instruments or electronic money.

SOURCE BEQUANT SERVICING LTD

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WOODBURY, N.Y., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year in early May school districts nationwide celebrate School Lunch Hero Day. This year, school foodservice provider E S Foods has joined the celebration by selecting 23 winners from across the country who have made a difference in their school districts in this most challenging year for school foodservice. These individuals were recognized locally and presented with an award at their school district.

The Annual School Lunch Hero Day was started by the School Nutrition Association several years ago to honor hardworking nutrition professionals. Between preparing healthy meals for students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, and offering service with a smile, school foodservice professionals are true heroes that deserve recognition.

"This past year was extremely challenging as they had to adapt and find creative ways to provide meals to children who were attending hybrid classes or virtual learning  yet they succeeded getting meals to kids whether it was onsite, curbside or home delivery," says Amy Josephson, Executive Vice President, E S Foods. "There are so many heroes in our industry that it was a daunting task just choosing 23, but we plan to continue the tradition by making it an annual event to reward many more School Lunch Heroes!"

Winners were selected from nominations made by E S Foods' regional sales directors who work closely with the school districts. Representing a sample of the 23 winners, these School Lunch Heroes illustrate the dedication of these foodservice professionals.

Des Moines Public Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, Iowa

Amanda Miller, Director of Food & Nutrition

While navigating the unknowns of the pandemic, it was important to feed the children in their community where food insecurity is a real issue for a lot of families. Amanda Miller, Director of Food and Nutrition for Des Moines Public Schools, said the nutrition staff were working 12+ hour shifts to pack and distribute meals. They had such a need that it created large traffic jams at their 22 initial distribution sites so they quickly expanded their sites to 50 locations around the city to be able to distribute meals quicker and easier for families.

Spring USD, Houston, Texas

Shelly Copeland, Director of Child Nutrition

Among the many achievements with her team in Texas, Shelly Copeland produced a departmental video for the community that described how they would handle meal distribution across many different methods including meals in the classroom, traditional in person service, remote feeding, and curbside. They wanted to make the public aware that they were taking precautions to feed their kids and provide a safe and healthy environment.

Fresno USD, Fresno, California

Barbara Stewart, Buyer II, Nutrition Center

Barbara Stewart and her Fresno Nutrition Team are determined to always find solutions for serving the Fresno Community and students during the pandemic. The Food Services Department offers all meals at no charge to all students regardless of income levels, a policy that reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that all students receive nutritious meals. Approximately 98,000 meals are served daily: 27,000 Breakfasts, 58,000 Lunches, 7,500 Snack snacks and 5,500 Super Snacks  that's every day, including weekends. Additionally, about 222,000 summer meals are served each year, bringing the total to nearly 18 million meals served per year. Stewart's dedication to "making it work" empowered the team to overcome every challenge and successfully provide healthy meals over the past year.

Seattle Public Schools, Seattle, Washington

Aaron Smith, Director of School and Nutrition Service

Seattle Public Schools Director of Nutrition Services Aaron Smith, along with District Executive Chef Emme Collins, and their team have given the Child Nutrition Program a complete overhaul that has earned them nationwide accolades and media attention. Through student suggestions and demand for new foods, Smith and his team conducted numerous student taste testing and selection panels to include plant-based proteins, increase in the vegetarian menu options, and ethnic flare menus. In addition, throughout the pandemic the team has been creative in making sure every student receives nutritious meals by incorporating many delivery and support operations. Smith was instrumental in forging a partnership with a local delivery company to do doorstep delivery to the children who did not have the means in which to do curbside meal pick-up at the several Seattle locations.

A leader in school foodservice for over twenty years, E S Foods today serves all foodservice channels with over 100 products that comprise their product categories of shelf-stable, frozen entrees, heat & serve, smart snacks and protein innovations. For more information, visit www.esfoods.com.

SOURCE E S Foods

Related Links

http://www.esfoods.com


CALGARY, AB, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) (Enbridge or the Company) held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders today. On a vote by ballot during the regular business proceedings at the meeting, shareholders approved the election of all 11 nominated directors proposed by management as listed in the Management Information Circular dated March 2, 2021. The detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below.



Votes For Votes Withheld

# % # % Pamela L. Carter 1,026,735,952 88.92 127,933,337 11.08 Marcel R. Coutu 905,791,449 78.44 248,901,234 21.56 Susan M. Cunningham 1,124,263,081 97.36 30,429,609 2.64 Gregory L. Ebel 1,006,918,694 87.20 147,774,068 12.80 J. Herb England 1,097,733,764 95.07 56,958,919 4.93 Gregory J. Goff 1,123,154,409 97.27 31,537,352 2.73 V. Maureen Kempston Darkes 1,114,944,283 96.56 39,748,478 3.44 Teresa S. Madden 1,135,741,737 98.36 18,951,025 1.64 Al Monaco 1,135,429,123 98.33 19,263,639 1.67 Stephen S. Poloz 1,149,252,784 99.53 5,439,977 0.47 Dan C. Tutcher 1,133,684,995 98.18 21,006,767 1.82

About Enbridge Inc.

Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. We safely and reliably deliver the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life. Our core businesses include Liquids Pipelines, which transports approximately 25 percent of the crude oil produced in North America; Gas Transmission and Midstream, which transports approximately 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.; Gas Distribution and Storage, which serves approximately 3.8 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec; and Renewable Power Generation, which generates approximately 1,750 MW of net renewable power in North America and Europe. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Media

Toll Free: (888) 992-0997

Email: [email protected]

Investment Community

Toll Free: (800) 481-2804

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Enbridge Inc.

Related Links

http://www.enbridge.com


PITTSBURGH, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) today announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement with Alta Resources Development, LLC (Alta), pursuant to which EQT will acquire all of the membership interests in Alta's upstream and midstream subsidiaries for approximately $2.925 billion, subject to customary closing adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, with an effective date of January 1, 2021.

Transaction Highlights:

Attractive valuation with high-margin and robust free cash flow generation

Projected annual free cash flow (1) of $300 - $400 million

of -

Projected annual adjusted EBITDA (1) of $550 - $600 million

of -

Purchase price implies an ~18% unlevered free cash flow yield (1)

Low leverage acquisition accelerates EQT's path back to investment grade metrics

Immediately reduces leverage (2) ; improving 0.3x by year-end 2022

; improving 0.3x by year-end 2022

Establishes a leverage (2) profile comfortably below 2.0x target

profile comfortably below 2.0x target Accretive to free cash flow per share

Projected to increase free cash flow (1) by 55%, or $2.0 billion , through 2026

by 55%, or , through 2026

Free cash flow per share (1) improves by more than 15% through 2026

improves by more than 15% through 2026 Adds highly prolific inventory with superior well economics in the core of the Northeast Marcellus

Integrated midstream assets and mineral ownership drive high margin operated development



Direct exposure to the geologic core through non-operated position

President and CEO Toby Rice stated, "Today marks another major milestone for EQT as we continue on our path to becoming the operator of choice for all of our stakeholders. The acquisition of Alta's assets represents an attractive entry into the Northeast Marcellus while accelerating our deleveraging path, providing attractive free cash flow per share accretion for our shareholders and adding highly economic inventory to EQT's already robust portfolio. In addition to increasing our long-term optionality, we believe this transaction accelerates both our path back to investment grade metrics and our shareholder return initiatives. We look forward to applying our differentiated modern operating model to maximize the prolific value embedded in these premier assets."

Asset Overview: Expansive Position in the Core Northeast Marcellus

300,000 core net Marcellus acres; 98% held by production

222,000 net acre operated position



78,000 net acre non-operated position

1.0 Bcfe per day of current net production, 100% dry gas

300-miles of owned and operated midstream gathering systems

100-mile freshwater system with 255 million gallons of storage capacity

Attractive firm transportation portfolio to premium demand markets

Existing hedge book covering approximately 35% of production through 2022

Strategic Rationale: Checks all the Boxes for Attractive Consolidation

This acquisition fits firmly within our strategic acquisition framework, while also establishing a significant and strategic position in the core of the Northeast Marcellus. We expect the acquisition to be accretive to both free cash flow per share and net asset value (NAV) per share, while also accelerating our deleveraging strategy and underscoring our commitment to achieving investment grade credit metrics.

Approximately 1.0 Bcfe per day of high-margin net production is expected to bolster our free cash flow profile by adding approximately $300-400 million of annual free cash flow(1) and a total of approximately $2.0 billion of free cash flow(1) through 2026, an improvement of approximately 55% compared to our pre-transaction outlook. As a result, this transaction is projected to accelerate our deleveraging strategy, comfortably pulling near-term leverage(2) below our 2.0x target. We estimate this transaction will improve leverage(2) by 0.3x and 0.5x by year end 2022 and 2023, respectively. Our improved leverage profile provides a compelling case for an investment grade credit rating and is expected to accelerate our strategy to return value to shareholders.

This strong free cash flow contribution is a result of Alta's low-cost structure, driven by low royalty burdens averaging 14%, direct mineral ownership, a premium firm transportation portfolio and an owned and operated midstream gathering system serving the operated acreage position. We expect the transaction to reduce EQT's pro forma annual corporate free cash flow breakeven(3) gas price by at least $0.10 per mmbtu.

Transaction Financing:

The total purchase price for the transaction is $2.925 billion, consisting of $1.0 billion in cash and approximately $1.925 billion in EQT common stock issued directly to Alta's shareholders.

We expect to fund the $1.0 billion of cash consideration with cash on hand, drawings under our revolving credit facility and/or through one or more debt capital markets transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. Bank of America, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. have jointly provided $1.0 billion of committed financing in connection with the transaction and we have access to over $1.4 billion of liquidity under our unsecured credit facility.

The stock consideration consists of approximately 105 million shares of EQT common stock representing $1.925 billion, based on the 30-day volume-weighted average price as of May 5, 2021. The transaction was unanimously approved by our Board of Directors. EQT shares issued as part of the transaction will be distributed directly to Alta shareholders, which represent a diverse set of financial institutions and individuals. No Alta shareholder will receive more than 5% of EQT's pro forma outstanding shares of common stock in connection with the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval by EQT's shareholders of the issuance of the common stock consideration. All post effective date purchase price adjustments will be netted against the stock consideration and are expected to result in a reduction of approximately 11 million shares issued at closing.

BofA Securities served as financial advisor to EQT, and Latham & Watkins, LLP is serving as EQT's legal counsel on the transaction. Citi Global Markets Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor to Alta, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as Alta's legal counsel.

About EQT Corporation

EQT Corporation is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day  trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do.

EQT Management speaks to investors from time to time and the analyst presentation for these discussions, which is updated periodically, is available via EQT's investor relations website at https://ir.eqt.com.

Investor Contact:

Andrew Breese

Director, Investor Relations

412.395.2555

[email protected]

Important Additional Information will be Filed with the SEC

This news release is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving EQT Corporation (EQT) and Alta Resources, LLC (Alta), and one or more of their subsidiaries. The issuance of the stock consideration for the proposed transaction will be submitted to the shareholders of EQT for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, EQT will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a proxy statement (the proxy statement). INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF EQT ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC BY EQT, IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EQT, ALTA, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by EQT through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or through EQT's website at www.eqt.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

EQT and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from EQT's shareholders in respect of the proposed transaction contemplated by the proxy statement. Information regarding the persons who are, under the rules of the SEC, participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of EQT in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding EQT's directors and executive officers is contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated April 20, 2021, which are filed with the SEC.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "forecasts," "plans," "projects", "estimates," "expects," "should," "will" or other similar expressions. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this news release specifically include plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements about the benefits of the proposed transaction involving EQT and Alta, including projected impacts on EQT's free cash flow, deleveraging, and production volumes; EQT's plans, objectives, strategies, expectations and intentions; and the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction. The forward-looking statements included in this news release involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. EQT has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events, taking into account all information currently available to EQT. While EQT considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond EQT's control and which include, but are not limited to, volatility of commodity prices; the costs and results of drilling and operations; access to and cost of capital; uncertainties about estimates of reserves, identification of drilling locations and the ability to add proved reserves in the future; the assumptions underlying production forecasts; the quality of technical data; EQT's ability to appropriately allocate capital and other resources among its strategic opportunities; inherent hazards and risks normally incidental to drilling for, producing, transporting and storing natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil; cyber security risks; availability and cost of drilling rigs, completion services, equipment, supplies, personnel, oilfield services and water required to execute EQT's exploration and development plans; risks associated with operating primarily in the Appalachian Basin and obtaining a substantial amount of EQT's midstream services from Equitrans Midstream Corporation; the ability to obtain environmental and other permits and the timing thereof; government regulation or action; negative public perception of the fossil fuels industry; increased consumer demand for alternatives to natural gas; environmental and weather risks, including the possible impacts of climate change; disruptions to EQT's business due to acquisitions and other strategic transactions; and uncertainties related to the severity, and the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. These and other risks and uncertainties are described under Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of EQT's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on February 17, 2021, as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs, and those set forth in other documents EQT files from time to time with the SEC.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and EQT does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss, excluding interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, depreciation and depletion, amortization of intangible assets, (gain) loss on sale/exchange of long-lived assets, impairments, the revenue impact of changes in the fair value of derivative instruments prior to settlement and certain other items that impact comparability between periods. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP supplemental financial measure used by the Company's management to evaluate period-over-period earnings trends. The Company's management believes that this measure provides useful information to external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate earnings trends because the measure reflects only the impact of settled derivative contracts; thus, the measure excludes the often-volatile revenue impact of changes in the fair value of derivative instruments prior to settlement. The measure also excludes other items that affect the comparability of results or that are not indicative of trends in the ongoing business. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net loss presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company has not provided projected net income (loss) or a reconciliation of projected adjusted EBITDA to projected net income (loss), the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Net income (loss) includes the impact of depreciation and depletion expense, income tax (benefit) expense, the revenue impact of changes in the projected fair value of derivative instruments prior to settlement and certain other items that impact comparability between periods and the tax effect of such items, which may be significant and difficult to project with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Therefore, projected net income (loss), and a reconciliation of projected adjusted EBITDA to projected net income (loss), are not available without unreasonable effort.

Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow Yield and Free Cash Flow Per Share

Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less changes in other assets and liabilities, less accrual-based capital expenditures excluding capital expenditures attributable to noncontrolling interests. Free cash flow yield is defined as free cash flow divided by market capitalization. Free cash flow per share is defined as free cash flow divided by the Company's outstanding shares of common stock. Free cash flow, free cash flow yield and free cash flow per share are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures used by the Company's management to assess liquidity, including the Company's ability to generate cash flow in excess of its capital requirements and return cash to shareholders. The Company's management believes that these measures provide useful information to external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies. Free cash flow, free cash flow yield and free cash flow per share should not be considered as alternatives to net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company has not provided projected net cash provided by operating activities or a reconciliation of projected free cash flow, free cash flow yield or free cash flow per share to projected net cash provided by operating activities, the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company is unable to project net cash provided by operating activities for any future period because this metric includes the impact of changes in operating assets and liabilities related to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements that may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. The Company is unable to project these timing differences with any reasonable degree of accuracy without unreasonable efforts such as predicting the timing of its payments and its customers' payments, with accuracy to a specific day, months in advance. Furthermore, the Company does not provide guidance with respect to its average realized price, among other items, that impact reconciling items between net cash provided by operating activities free cash flow. Natural gas prices are volatile and out of the Company's control, and the timing of transactions and the income tax effects of future transactions and other items are difficult to accurately predict. Therefore, the Company is unable to provide projected net cash provided by operating activities, or the related reconciliation of projected free cash flow, free cash flow yield or free cash flow per share to projected net cash provided by operating activities, without unreasonable effort.

Net Debt

Net debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Total debt includes the Company's current portion of debt, credit facility borrowings, senior notes and note payable to EQM Midstream Partners, LP. Net debt is a non-GAAP supplemental financial measure used by the Company's management to evaluate leverage since the Company could choose to use its cash and cash equivalents to retire debt. The Company's management believes that this measure provides useful information to external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies. Net debt should not be considered as an alternative to total debt presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company has not provided a reconciliation of projected net debt to projected total debt, the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company is unable to project total debt for any future period because total debt is dependent the timing of cash receipts and disbursements that may not relate to the periods in which the operating activities occurred. The Company is unable to project these timing differences with any reasonable degree of accuracy and therefore cannot reasonably determine the timing and payment of credit facility borrowings or other components of total debt without unreasonable effort. Furthermore, the Company does not provide guidance with respect to its average realized price, among other items that impact reconciling items between certain of the projected total debt and projected net debt, as applicable. Natural gas prices are volatile and out of the Company's control, and the timing of transactions and the distinction between cash on hand as compared to credit facility borrowings are too difficult to accurately predict. Therefore, the Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of projected net debt to projected total debt, without unreasonable effort.

SOURCE EQT Corporation (EQT-IR)

Related Links

http://www.eqt.com


"As an organization with deep roots in Los Angeles, Farmers is dedicated to giving back and making a meaningful difference in the community we are proud to call home," said Deb Aldredge, chief administrative officer for Farmers Insurance. "It's a privilege to be recognized by the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation for our efforts to support our hometown firefighters, whose selfless service, sacrifice and commitment we are grateful for every day."

As an industry leader in disaster response, Farmers Insurance has built upon its longstanding commitment to first responders in recent years. In 2020, the organization made the second largest contribution in Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation history by donating $525,000 and nearly 20,000 protective masks to Los Angeles firefighters.

"We are immensely grateful to Famers for their community leadership and outstanding support of the LAFD," shared Liz Lin, president of the LAFD Foundation. "The Los Angeles Fire Department salutes Farmers for their corporate citizenship, continued commitment to supporting first responders in their backyard, and dedication to raising awareness and funds for impactful initiatives."

"The LAFD deeply appreciates Farmers outstanding commitment to supporting our firefighters," added Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas. "Their spirited generosity has helped fund vital community programs and secure life-saving tools and equipment. The LAFD is honored to present Farmers Insurance with the Corporate Impact Award for their remarkable corporate citizenship, and their steadfast support of the men and women of this Department."

In addition to the Corporate Impact Award, the annual VALOR Awards ceremony celebrates and honors exemplary Los Angeles Fire Department members for their outstanding service and going above and beyond the call of duty.

To learn more about Farmers commitment to supporting communities and other philanthropic work, visit https://www.farmers.com/corporate-responsibility/ .

About Farmers Insurance

"Farmers Insurance" and "Farmers" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com, Twitter and Instagram, @WeAreFarmers, or Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

Contact: External Communications

Farmers Insurance

(818) 965-0007

[email protected]

SOURCE Farmers Insurance

Related Links

www.farmersinsurance.com


Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday announced a 11-member council of distinguished experts in economics, health, government, finance and development from around the world
PORTLAND, Ore., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Flavors and Fragrance Market by Type (Flavors and Fragrance), Nature (Natural and Synthetic), and Application (Food & Beverages, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Home Care and Fabric Care): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212027." According to the report, the global flavors and fragrances industry was projected at $28.19 billion in 2019, and is anticipated to hit $35.91 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.7% from 2021 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Increase in demand for ready-to-eat meals & fast food, introduction of new flavors, heavy inflow of investment in R&D activities, and high demand for flavors across European countries to produce commercialized clean label or green food products that are free of additives and other harmful chemicals fuel the global flavors and fragrances market. On the other hand, allergies associated with artificial flavors, chemicals, and preservatives impede the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, there is an upcoming trend of using natural flavors owing to rise in health awareness. This factor has created multiple opportunities for the key players in the industry.

Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5622

Covid-19 scenario-

The outbreak of the pandemic has led to distorted supply chain, scarcity of workers, and complete shutdown of hotels & restaurants. This, in turn, has impacted the global flavors and fragrances market negatively.

Also, the import and export restrictions on goods and several lockdown measures imposed by government bodies across the world are the major challenges faced by the exporters during this pandemic.

The fragrances segment to retain its dominance by 2027-

Based on type, the fragrances segment contributed to more than three-fifths of the global flavors and fragrances market share in 2019, and is expected to rule the roost by the end of 2027. The same segment would also register the fastest CAGR of 5.0% throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in demand for deodorants, perfumes, soaps, creams, talcum powders, and hair oils.

The synthetic segment to lead the trail-

Based on nature, the synthetic segment accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global flavors and fragrances market revenue in 2019, and is anticipated to lead the trail by 2027. In composition, they are often more flexible than natural varieties, which are limited to florals, musk, and botanicals. They can be produced in a single molecule laboratory and blended with essential oils to produce an endless array of fragrances. These factors propel the growth of the segment. The natural segment, on the other hand, would grow at the fastest CAGR of 5.4% from 2021 to 2027, due to rise in demand for clean label products globally.

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to dominate in terms of revenue-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the major share in 2019, garnering around one-third of the global flavors and fragrances market. The market across the same region would also exhibit the fastest CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Rise in purchasing power of the Asia-Pacific population, changes in their eating habits, increase in urbanization, lack of regulatory framework, wide customer base, growth in stress among individuals, and preference for tasty food products drive the market growth

For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5622

Key players in the industry-

Frutarom Industries Ltd.

Givaudan International SA

Huabao International Holdings Limited

Kerry Group, PLC

Symrise AG

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

Firmenich SA

Robertet SA

S H Kelkar and Company Limited

Sensient Technologies Corporation

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About Us

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.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Will Randall, President and CEO of Freeman, commented, "The exploration results demonstrate that targets both in close proximity and further afield from the known Lemhi mineralized gold oxide zone exist throughout the property. Since Freeman is the first company to have a large consolidated land package along the major northeast structure, we feel confident we are on the right track to make additional gold discoveries."

Table 1  Priority exploration targets and summarized description on the Lemhi property, Idaho

Priority Target Location Comments 1 Patents 16 rock grab samples with greater than 2.85 g/t Au (up to 450 g/t Au) over 200 meters along NW trend. Coincidental magnetic feature. 2 BLM Claims 8 rock grab samples with greater than 0.5 g/t Au (up to 32.8 g/t Au) over 100m. 3 BLM Claims 5 rock grab samples with greater than 0.5 g/t Au (up to 38.23 g/t Au) over 180m. 4 BLM Claims 2.08 g/t Au rock grab sample. Near historic 185m long EW trending gold in soil anomaly. 5 BLM Claims Priority magnetic feature similar to mineralization at Lemhi. Magnetic low at the contact of the intrusive and meta-sedimentary rocks. Near coalescing WNW and NE trending major structures (210m by 275m). 6 BLM Claims

and Patents 4 rock grab samples with greater than 0.24 g/t Au (up to 3.68 g/t Au). Near old trenches. Copper staining (Copper up to 1.68%). Along major WNW trending structure. 7 BLM Claims 7 rock grab samples greater than 0.5 g/t Au (up to 12.1 g/t Au) near old small scale adit. Heavily oxidized over 150m. Near contact with intrusion. 8 BLM Claims Rock grab sample with 1.765 g/t Au and 0.19% Cu. Coincidental magnetic feature 350m by 240m. 9 BLM Claims 6 rock grab samples with greater than 0.5 g/t Au (up to 17.53 g/t Au). Associated with large historic gold in soil anomaly over 1.2 km. 10 Patents IP Targets (labelled 1,2,8,9, 14 and 15) are high priority for drill testing. Coincident with Anomaly 11 (magnetic feature). 11 BLM Claims

and Patents 1.2 km linear NW trending magnetic feature with multiple cross cutting structures

Rock Grab Samples

Prospecting and sampling was completed over the entire Lemhi property. Of the 145 rock grab samples collected 54 returned assay values greater than 1 gram per tonne gold (g/t Au) and 20 greater than 5 g/t Au (up to 450 g/t Au). Of the 145 rock grab samples collected 27 samples contain greater than 10 grams per tonne Silver (g/t Ag), with values up to 219 g/t Ag. Mineralization was within phyllites, quartzites and quartz veins and appears similar to that of known mineralization at Lemhi. These results have identified five new exploration target areas for priority follow-up. Follow-up exploration at each of the target areas will include but not be limited to prospecting, mapping, soil sampling and possibly drilling. The results are shown on Figure 1 and highlights are in Table 2 (Targets 1, 2, 6, 7, 8; Figure 1).

* Rock grab samples are by their nature selective and are not necessarily indicative of the general geology or the grade within the Property. Ppm=parts per million or grams per tonne.

Ground Magnetics

During 2020, ground magnetics were collected over the entire Lemhi Property using GEM Overhauser walking magnetometers with DGPS. The regional grid was completed at 25 meter line spacing, and the known mineralized area was completed at 12.5 meter line spacing, totaling approximately 565 line kilometers of magnetics.

The purpose of the survey was to identify the prospective geological boundaries and structures throughout the property. Of known importance is the boundary between the intrusion(s) and the Proterozoic meta-sediments, where the known gold mineralization at Lemhi occurs along and near the margins of the defined intrusion. Of importance throughout the region is the presence of northeast trending structures interpreted to be associated with known mineralization throughout the region.

As shown in Figures 1 & 2 the survey was successful in identifying the boundary between the intrusion(s) and the Proterozoic meta-sediments, following clear extensions of the known gold mineralization at Lemhi. In addition, this boundary or contact has been mapped for 7 kilometers along a major northeast trending structure that follows the direction of important regional structures. The survey has also shown secondary west-northwest structures that intersect these major lineaments and boundaries. One such intersection occurs in the area where known gold mineralization has been defined by over 70,000 meters of drilling, while a second intersection has been interpreted 1.7 kilometers along strike and northeast of the known mineralization, such that is exhibits structural similarities to the known mineralization (Target 5; Figures 1 & 2).

Another NW trending high priority feature has been identified (Target 11; Figure 1 & 2). Target 11 represents a 1.2 km long linear magnetic body extending NNW, parallel to the intrusive contact, and located within a region favourable for extrusive bodies. The wavelength of the anomaly's magnetic signal suggests that the causative body is shallow and near surface. The northern end of the magnetic anomaly is intersected by a secondary fault, paralleling the main fault. IP targets 1, 3, 9, 15, and 16 border the southern end of the magnetic anomaly, while the centre of the anomaly is coincident with IP target 2, where the main fault that borders the north end of the mineralized area appears to terminate.

Data Compilation

After completing compilation of historical drill and resource related data, all historical data pertaining to surface exploration has been scanned and integrated into Freeman's database. The regional data identified two new additional target areas with coincidental gold in rock grab and gold in soil anomalies which were never followed up by previous operators. Historical samples at Targets 3, 4 and 9 (Figure 1) contain rock grab and chip samples with results from 0.015 g/t Au, up to 38.23 g/t Au. In total, 529 historical rock grab and chip samples were digitized of which 56 contained greater than 1 g/t Au.

3D IP Survey

A Dias Geophysical Limited 3D Induced Polarisation ('3D IP') was carried out during September and October of 2020. The survey area consisted of a 1.4 km X 1.4 km area centered over the area with known mineralization, which extends roughly 650 meters east-west by 500 meters north-south. The survey was designed to characterize the geophysical signature of the deposit and possibly define new areas of gold mineralization and extensions of the known mineralized zones delineated by drilling.

Two major contacts have been interpreted. The strongest one follows an east-northeast curvi-linear trend where chargeabilities are generally low and resistivities are very low to the south-southeast. This contact is also coincident with a magnetic high trend. The second major contact trends north-south, located on the west side of the survey block and is characterized by low chargeability coincident with low resistivities.

Three high priority and two moderate priority anomalies have been defined (Figure 2). The first high priority is an area of elevated resistivity that is partially coincident with the northern limit of the gold grade zone. The second is a large north-south trending zone of high resistivity and high chargeability located at the western boundary of the survey block that is unbounded to the west. The third is a zone of high chargeability located at the eastern border of the survey block and unbounded to the east. The first moderate priority is a north-south trending zone of high resistivity and high chargeability adjacent to the northwestern boundary of the gold grade zone that is only seen in the shallow depth slices. The second moderate priority is a zone of high chargeability that straddles the southwestern portion of the mineralized zone and is seen only on the deep depth slices. The anomalies require drill testing and are shown on Figure 2. If additional gold mineralization is intersected, the IP survey should be extended to define the extent of the anomalies. As well, 3D IP could then be used as an important exploration tool in other areas with coincident anomalies to better define buried mineralization.

Soil Samples

In order to further refine targets in order to get them drill ready Freeman anticipates completing soil surveys over the priority target areas in order to more accurately target discovery drilling. To ensure proper results orientation soil samples were collected in areas of known mineralization using three different soil sampling methodologies: (i) conventional B Horizon sampling; (ii) Ionic Leach sampling; and (iii) Mobile Metal Ion ('MMI') sampling. Samples were collected every 25 meters at depths of: 0 to 10 cm; 10 to 20 cm; 20 to 30 cm; and 30 to 40 cm. It was determined that Ionic Leach sampling at 20 to 40 cm's would be the best sampling methodology moving forward to not only detect buried gold, silver and copper mineralization but alteration using calcium and potassium.

Freeman has mobilized crews to site to complete Ionic Leach soil sample surveys over certain priority targets.

About the Lemhi Gold Project

The Lemhi Gold Project lies within the Idaho-Montana porphyry belt, a northeast-trending alignment of metallic ore deposits related to granitic porphyry intrusions that extend north-easterly across Idaho related to the Trans-Challis fault system, a broad (20-30 km-wide) system of en-echelon northeast-trending structures extending from Boise Basin more than 270 km into Montana. At Lemhi gold mineralization is hosted in Mesoproterozoic quartzites and phyllites within a series of relatively flat-lying lodes consisting of quartz veins, quartz stockwork and breccias. The mineralized lodes are associated with low angle faults, folding and shear zone(s). The mineralized zones have varying amounts of sulphides (pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenum, and occasionally arsenopyrite) and free gold is common. The mineralization remains open at depth and in multiple directions.

All rock samples were sent to ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada, an independent and fully accredited laboratory (ISO 9001:2008) for analysis for gold by Fire Assay and multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (select drill holes). Freeman has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control ("QA/QC") program where at least 10% duplicates, blanks and standards are inserted into each sample shipment.

The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P. Geo., VP Exploration for the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101.

About the Company

Freeman Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the development of its 100% owned Lemhi Gold property (the "Lemhi Project"). The Lemhi Project comprises 30 square kilometers of highly prospective land. The mineralization at the Lemhi Project consists of shallow, near surface primarily oxide gold mineralization that has seen over 355 drill holes but remains open at depth and in multiple directions. The Company is working towards de-risking the asset and producing a maiden National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate as a result of both brownfield and greenfield exploration.

On Behalf of the Company

William Randall, President & CEO

Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to statements relating to its future business plans. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are 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 the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Freeman Gold Corp.

Related Links

https://freemangoldcorp.com/


DUBLIN, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Bio LPG Market - Global Industry Analysis (2017 - 2020), Growth Trends and Market Forecast (2021 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Bio LPG market valuation to reach US$ 1.02 Bn by 2025.

With the LPG sector exploring almost a dozen different pathways to pave way for a decarbonized future, the bio LPG market is expected to register a double-digit growth. The publisher has predicted a remarkable 47% CAGR for the market between 2021 and 2025. However, the bid to reduce dependence on conventional LPG will be replete with several commercial and technological hurdles.



Produced from organic and renewable feedstock, bio LPG mimics the chemical structure of conventional LPG but with less than 80% carbon footprint, as per Liquid Gas Europe. The demand for impactful and affordable access to modern energy is increasing and this will continue helping the market gain impetus through the report's forecast period.



Bio LPG has recently been issued Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) by the UK Department of Transport. Several other policymakers are expected to join the bandwagon and recognize bio LPG as an effective method for reducing carbon footprint. The report identifies these developments as chief drivers of the market.

Possibility of Deriving Bio LPG from Multiple Sources



Bio LPG can be obtained in multiple ways, primarily as bioproducts, using diverse processes and feedstocks. The more prevalent method includes about 40% renewable vegetable oil such as palm, soy, rapseed, and others and 60% waste and residue materials such as feedstock. Other advanced processes include gasification through "Fischer-Tropsch" process, which converts hydrogen and carbon monoxide into liquid fuels.



There also are processes that are yet to make a mark. For instance, processes involving fermentation to LPG, the conversion of biomethane/ biogas, glycerin to propane, and others. The market is potentially going to need all these processes at various levels across various places in the world.



Europe Emerges Dominant



Europe produces nearly 90% of bio LPG and much of it is marketed in the region itself. To this day, Europe remains one of the highly lucrative markets, trailed by North America. As per this report, Europe accounts for more than 90% of the global market share hence its dominance is expected to continue through the course of the forecast period.



The presence of several leading players such as ENI, Nestle Oil, Total SE, Global Bioenergies, PREEM Group, and others has been giving tailwinds to the growth registered in the Europe market. In 2018, Nestle commenced the world's first largescale renewable production facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Backed by expansion strategies undertaken by some of the leading market players, Europe will continue boasting lead in the market.



Key Players to Aim at Capacity Expansion



Key players operating in the market are primarily focusing on strategic collaborations. While their intent is mostly set on strengthening their footprint, they also are focusing on novel opportunities.



For instance, in October 2020, Repsol announced its plans for building a low emission advanced biofuel plant in Spain. Meanwhile, in October 2020, Preem AB launched a project to rebuild its Lysekil refinery to become the largest producer of renewable fuel in Scandinavia.



Some of the companies profiled in the report are Total SE, ENI, Neste Oil, PREEM Group, Renewable Energy Group, AvantiGas, Irving Oil, Global Bioenergies, SHV Energy, and Diamond Green Diesel.

Key Insights into Bio LPG Market:

Commercialization of advanced chemical processes to boost production by 400% by 2025

By 2025, the global bio LPG demand to displace conventional LPG demand by 30%

The future of full-scale bio LPG production depends upon the favourable government policies related to usage of vegetable oil/palm oil as the key feedstock

Europe to lift bans or upgrade policies imposed on usage of palm oil for bio LPG recovery and to follow the sustainability in palm oil production program laid by Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO)

to lift bans or upgrade policies imposed on usage of palm oil for bio LPG recovery and to follow the sustainability in palm oil production program laid by Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) High future potential of bio LPG have urged oil & gas supermajors such as Royal Dutch Shell and Total to invest in bio LPG production facilities.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Definitions and Segmentations

2.2. Market Dynamics

2.3. Value Chain Analysis

2.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

2.5. Covid-19 Impact

2.5.1. Supply Chain

2.5.2. Raw Materials Impact Analysis



3. Price Trends Analysis and Future Projects, 2017-2025

3.1. Key Highlights

3.2. by Feedstock/by End-user

3.3. By Region



4. Global Bio LPG Market Outlook, 2017-2025

4.1. Global Bio LPG Market Outlook, by Feedstock, Volume (Kilo Tons) and Value (US$ Mn), 2017-2025

4.1.1. Key Highlights

4.1.1.1. Bio-oil

4.1.1.2. Cellulosic Organic Waste

4.1.1.3. Others (Sugar, Glycerine, Wet Waste, etc.)

4.1.2. BPS Analysis/Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Feedstock

4.2. Global Bio LPG Market Outlook, by End-user, Volume (Kilo Tons) and Value (US$ Mn), 2017-2025

4.2.1. Key Highlights

4.2.1.1. Residential

4.2.1.2. Chemical & Petrochemical

4.2.1.3. Industrial & Others

4.2.2. BPS Analysis/Market Attractiveness Analysis, by End-user

4.3. Global Bio LPG Market Outlook, by Region, Volume (Kilo Tons) and Value (US$ Mn), 2017-2025



5. North America Bio LPG Market Outlook, 2017-2025



6. Europe Bio LPG Market Outlook, 2017-2025



7. Asia Pacific Bio LPG Market Outlook, 2017-2025



8. Rest of the World (RoW) Bio LPG Market Outlook, 2017-2025



9. Competitive Landscape

9.1. Company Market Share Analysis, 2019

9.2. Strategic Collaborations

9.3. Company Profiles

Neste Oil

Total SE

ENI

Preem AB

SHV Energy

Diamond Green Diesel

Renewable Energy Group

Global Bioenergies

AvantiGas

Irving Oil

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tos0tt

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


HOUSTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American: GDP) (the "Company") today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Adjusted net income (net income prior to change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedges) was $7.1 million for the quarter. Net income was $4.5 million in the quarter ($0.34 per basic and $0.30 per fully diluted share).

Adjusted EBITDA was $20.3 million in the quarter. Discretionary cash flow ("DCF"), defined as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital, was $19.6 million in the quarter.

Production totaled 11.2 Bcfe in the quarter, or an average of approximately 125,000 Mcfe per day. The Company completed 9 gross (3.3 net) wells in the quarter. Production for the quarter was negatively impacted by weather. The Company is guiding to an average of 150,000-160,000 Mcfe per day for the second quarter, and maintains its guidance for the year of an average of 160,000 Mcfe per day.

Cash Expenses: Per unit cash expense was $1.07 per Mcfe for the quarter, broken out as follows:

Lease operating expense ("LOE") was $0.28 per Mcfe, which included workover expense of $0.04 per Mcfe;

per Mcfe, which included workover expense of per Mcfe; Production and other taxes were $0.06 per Mcfe, which included $0.04 per Mcfe for production taxes and $0.02 per Mcfe for ad valorem taxes;

per Mcfe, which included per Mcfe for production taxes and per Mcfe for ad valorem taxes; Transportation and processing expense was $0.36 per Mcfe;

per Mcfe; General and Administrative ("G&A") expense payable in cash was $0.29 per Mcfe; and

per Mcfe; and Cash Interest expense was $0.08 per Mcfe.

Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC"), defined as trailing twelve month Adjusted EBITDA divided by total assets less current liabilities, was 38% at quarter-end.

Cash Margin was $1.70 per Mcfe (61%), comprised of a net realized price including hedges of $2.77 per Mcfe less per unit cash expenses detailed above of $1.07 per Mcfe.

Well Result: The Company has recently completed its Lattin 3&34 No. 1 (76% WI) well in a new area northeast of its Bethany-Longstreet field in DeSoto and Caddo Parishes, Louisiana. The well, which has a usable lateral length of 9,934 feet had a 24-hour production rate of approximately 35,000 Mcfe per day.

THE COMPANY HAS POSTED A NEW PRESENTATION ON ITS WEBSITE THAT INVESTORS CAN ACCESS AT: http://goodrichpetroleumcorp.investorroom.com/presentations. The slides will be reviewed on the earnings conference call scheduled for today at 10:00 am central time.

To access the conference call, domestic participants should dial as follows:

PARTICIPANT DIAL IN (TOLL FREE): 1-888-317-6003



PARTICIPANT INTERNATIONAL DIAL IN: 1-412-317-6061



Canada Toll Free 1-866-284-3684



Participant Elite Entry Number: 0945541 Participants will need this Elite Entry number in order to join the conference. The Company encourages participants to dial in 10-15 minutes early to join the conference. Participants may also access the live audio webcast of the conference call through the following web link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/937/40711 or by accessing the webcast through the investor relations section of the Company's website.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

CASH FLOW

Adjusted EBITDA was $20.3 million in the quarter and discretionary cash flow ("DCF"), defined as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital, was $19.6 million in the quarter versus Adjusted EBITDA of $16.6 million and DCF of $15.4 million in the prior year period.

(See accompanying tables at the end of this press release that reconcile Adjusted EBITDA and DCF, each of which are non-US GAAP financial measures, to their most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

NET INCOME

Adjusted net income was $7.1 million in the quarter. Net income was $4.5 million in the quarter, or $0.34 per basic and $0.30 per fully diluted share, versus net income of $3.0 million, or $0.24 per basic and $0.22 per fully diluted share, in the prior year period.

(See accompanying tables at the end of this press release that reconciles adjusted net income, which is a non-US GAAP financial measure, to its most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

PRODUCTION

Production totaled approximately 11.2 Bcfe in the quarter, or an average of approximately 125,000 Mcfe (98% natural gas) per day, versus 12.5 Bcfe, or an average daily production of approximately 137,000 Mcfe (98% natural gas) per day, in the prior year period.

REVENUES

Oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives were $31.2 million. Oil and natural gas revenues prior to net cash payments of $0.7 million for settlement of derivatives was $31.9 million. Oil and gas revenues including cash settled derivatives were $29.0 million in the prior year period. Average realized price per unit was $2.84 per Mcfe ($2.72 per Mcf of gas and $57.88 per barrel of oil) in the quarter, versus $1.84 per Mcfe in the prior year period ($1.73 per Mcf of gas and $47.64 per barrel of oil). Average realized price per unit when incorporating the Company's settled derivatives for the quarter was $2.77 per Mcfe.

(See accompanying table at the end of this press release that reconciles oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives, which is a non-US GAAP financial measure, to its most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

OPERATING EXPENSES

Lease operating expense ("LOE") was $3.2 million in the quarter, or $0.28 per Mcfe, which included $0.5 million, or $0.04 per Mcfe, for workovers. LOE was $3.3 million, or $0.27 per Mcfe, in the prior year period, which included $0.5 million, or $0.04 per Mcfe, for workovers.

Production and other taxes were $0.6 million in the quarter, or $0.06 per Mcfe, versus $0.9 million, or $0.07 per Mcfe, in the prior year period.

Transportation and processing expense was $4.0 million in the quarter, or $0.36 per Mcfe, versus $4.9 million, or $0.39 per Mcfe, in the prior year period.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A") expense was $10.1 million in the quarter, or $0.90 per Mcfe, versus $13.3 million, or $1.06 per Mcfe, in the prior year period.

General and administrative expense ("G&A") was $3.5 million in the quarter, or $0.32 per Mcfe, versus $4.9 million, or $0.39 per Mcfe, in the prior year period. G&A expense payable in cash was $3.2 million, or $0.29 per Mcfe, versus $3.8 million, or $0.30 per Mcfe, in the prior year period.

(See accompanying table at the end of this press release that reconciles G&A expense payable in cash, which is a non-US GAAP financial measure, to its most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

OPERATING INCOME/LOSS

Adjusted operating income was $9.9 million for the quarter, which included a $0.7 million loss on cash settled derivatives. Operating income, defined as revenues minus operating expenses, totaled $10.6 million in the quarter. Adjusted operating income was $1.7 million in the prior year period, which included $6.0 million received for cash settled derivatives. The Company had an operating loss of $4.3 million in the prior year period.

(See accompanying table at the end of this press release that reconciles adjusted operating income, which is a non-US GAAP financial measure, to its most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest expense totaled $1.9 million in the quarter, which included interest payable in cash of $0.9 million incurred on the credit facility and non-cash interest of $1.0 million incurred primarily on the Company's second lien notes, which included $0.6 million paid in-kind interest and $0.4 million amortization of debt discount and issuance costs. Interest expense for the prior year period was $2.0 million, which included interest payable in cash of $1.2 million incurred on the credit facility and non-cash interest of $0.8 million incurred primarily on the Company's second lien notes, which included $0.4 million paid in-kind interest and $0.4 million amortization of debt discount and issuance costs.

(See accompanying table at the end of this press release that reconciles interest payable in cash, which is a non-US GAAP financial measure, to its most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure.)

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Capital expenditures totaled $29.3 million in the quarter, of which a majority was spent on drilling and completion costs, versus $18.4 million in the prior year period, of which a majority was spent on drilling and completion costs. The Company conducted drilling and completion operations on 14 gross (6.5 net) wells and added 9 gross (3.3 net) wells to production in the quarter. The Company reaffirms its full year preliminary budget of $75 - $85 million and the Board of Directors will review the remaining 2021 capital expenditure budget quarterly and adjust, if necessary, based on commodity prices and the goal of free cash flow generation from moderate growth in volumes and a further reduction in per unit costs.

BALANCE SHEET

The Company exited the quarter with $1.2 million of cash, $87.4 million outstanding under the Company's credit facility, and total principal debt outstanding, including the credit facility and second lien notes, of $117.8 million.

CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS DERIVATIVES

The Company had a loss of $3.3 million on its derivatives not designated as hedges in the quarter, which was comprised of a loss of $0.7 million on cash settlements and a $2.6 million loss representing the change of the fair value of our open natural gas and oil derivative contracts, versus a gain of $9.1 million on its derivatives not designated as hedges in the prior year period, which was comprised of a gain of $6.0 million on cash settlements and a $3.1 million gain representing the change in fair value of our open natural gas and oil derivative contracts.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

SPRING REDETERMINATION UNDER SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY

In conjunction with its spring redetermination under its reserve based lending facility, the Company and participating banks have reaffirmed the existing borrowing base of $120 million.

OTHER INFORMATION

In this press release, the Company refers to several non-US GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, DCF, Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC"), oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives, adjusted net income, adjusted operating income (loss), G&A expense payable in cash and interest payable in cash. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA, DCF and ROIC are good financial indicators of the Company's performance and ability to internally generate operating funds. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income should not be considered an alternative to net income (loss) applicable to common stock, as defined by US GAAP. DCF should not be considered an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities, as defined by US GAAP. Oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives should not be considered an alternative for oil and natural gas revenues, as defined by US GAAP. Adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered an alternative to operating income (loss), as defined by US GAAP. G&A expense payable in cash should not be considered an alternative to general and administrative expense, as defined by US GAAP. Interest payable in cash should not be considered an alternative to interest expense, as defined by US GAAP. Management believes that all of these non-US GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors because they are monitored and used by Company management and widely used by professional research analysts in the valuation and investment recommendations of companies within the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Unless otherwise stated, oil production volumes include condensate.

Certain statements in this news release regarding future expectations and plans for future activities may be regarded as "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. They are subject to various risks, such as financial market conditions, changes in commodities prices and costs of drilling and completion, operating hazards, drilling risks, and the inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering data relating to underground accumulations of oil and gas, as well as other risks discussed in detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Goodrich Petroleum is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company listed on the NYSE American under the symbol "GDP".















GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION SELECTED INCOME AND PRODUCTION DATA (In thousands, except per share amounts) Unaudited



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

Volumes











Natural gas (MMcf)

11,045

12,242



Oil and condensate (MBbls)

32

38



Mmcfe - Total

11,237

12,471

















Mcfe per day

124,857

137,042















Reconciliation of Oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives (non-US GAAP)



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

Oil and natural gas revenues (US GAAP)

$ 31,872

$ 22,983

Net cash (paid for) received in settlement of derivative instruments

(692)

5,969

Oil and natural gas revenues adjusted for cash settled derivatives

$ 31,180

$ 28,952





























Oil and natural gas revenues

$ 31,872

$ 22,983

Other

-

3







$ 31,872

$ 22,986















Operating Expenses











Lease operating expense (LOE excluding workovers - $2,721 and $2,843, respectively)

3,182

3,328



Production and other taxes

643

863



Transportation and processing

4,005

4,875



Depreciation, depletion and amortization

10,060

13,267



General and administrative (payable in cash - $3,216 and $3,780, respectively)

3,545

4,914



Other

(186)

8

Operating income (loss)

10,623

(4,269)















Other income (expense)











Interest expense (payable in cash - $912, $1,170, respectively)

(1,916)

(1,952)



Interest income and other

-

119



Loss (gain) on commodity derivatives not designated as hedges

(3,269)

9,138



Loss on early extinguishment of debt

(935)

-







(6,120)

7,305















Income before income taxes

4,503

3,036

Income tax expense

-

-

Net income

$ 4,503

$ 3,036













































Discretionary cash flow (see non-US GAAP reconciliation) (1)

$ 19,554

$ 15,385

















Adjusted EBITDA (see calculation and non-US GAAP reconciliation) (2)

$ 20,294

$ 16,648















Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

13,403

12,533

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (3)

14,840

13,849















Income per share











Net income - basic

$ 0.34

$ 0.24



Net income - diluted

$ 0.30

$ 0.22















(1) Discretionary cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. Management believes that the non-US GAAP measure of discretionary cash flow is useful as an indicator of an oil and natural gas exploration and production company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. The company has also included this information because changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements which the company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. Operating cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with US GAAP.













(2) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income and similar taxes, DD&A, share based compensation expense and impairment of oil and natural gas properties. In calculating adjusted EBITDA, reorganization gains/losses and gains/losses on commodity derivatives not designated as hedges net of cash received or paid in settlement of derivative instruments are also excluded. Other excluded items include interest income and other, adjustments per our 2019 Senior Credit Facility agreement for operating leases under ASC Topic 842 and any other extraordinary non-cash gains/losses.













(3) Fully diluted shares excludes approximately 1.4 million and 0.6 million potentially dilutive instruments that were anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION Per Unit Sales Prices and Costs Unaudited



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020















Average sales price per unit:











Oil (per Bbl)











Including net cash received from/paid to settle oil derivatives

$ 57.21

$ 56.23



Excluding net cash received from/paid to settle oil derivatives

$ 57.88

$ 47.64



Natural gas (per Mcf)











Including net cash received from/paid to settle natural gas derivatives

$ 2.66

$ 2.19



Excluding net cash received from/paid to settle natural gas derivatives

$ 2.72

$ 1.73



Oil and natural gas (per Mcfe)











Including net cash received from/paid to settle oil and natural gas derivatives

$ 2.77

$ 2.32



Excluding net cash received from/paid to settle oil and natural gas derivatives

$ 2.84

$ 1.84





























Costs Per Mcfe











Lease operating expense ($0.24 and $0.23 per Mcfe excluding workovers, respectively)

$ 0.28

$ 0.27



Production and other taxes

$ 0.06

$ 0.07



Transportation and processing

$ 0.36

$ 0.39



Depreciation, depletion and amortization

$ 0.90

$ 1.06



General and administrative (payable in cash - $0.29 and $0.30, respectively)

$ 0.32

$ 0.39



Other

$ (0.02)

$ -







$ 1.89

$ 2.19















Note: Amounts on a per Mcfe basis may not total due to rounding.











GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION Cash Flow Data (In thousands), unaudited











Reconciliation of discretionary cash flow and net cash provided by operating activities (non-US GAAP)



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended



March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020











Net cash provided by operating activities (US GAAP)

$ 21,164

$ 14,850

Net changes in working capital

1,610

(535)

Discretionary cash flow (1) $ 19,554

$ 15,385









































Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:









Net income

$ 4,503

$ 3,036

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities









Depreciation, depletion and amortization

10,060

13,267

Right of use asset depreciation

135

313

Loss (gain) on derivatives not designated as hedges

3,269

(9,138)

Net cash (paid for) received in settlement of derivative instruments

(692)

5,969

Share based compensation (non-cash)

339

1,156

Amortization of finance cost, debt discount, paid in-kind interest and accretion 1,005

782

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

935

-

Change in assets and liabilities:









Accounts receivable, trade and other, net of allowance

(560)

(173)

Accrued oil and gas revenue

(2,532)

3,735

Prepaid expenses and other

52

4

Accounts payable

6,797

(69)

Accrued liabilities

(2,147)

(4,032)

Net cash provided by operating activities

21,164

14,850

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:









Capital expenditures

(27,147)

(15,038)

Net cash used in investing activities

(27,147)

(15,038)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:









Principal payments of bank borrowings

(15,000)

-

Proceeds from bank borrowings

6,000

-

Proceeds from 2023 Second Lien Notes

15,000

-

Debt issuance costs

(171)

-

Purchase of treasury stock

(28)

(2)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

5,801

(2)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(182)

(190)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

1,360

1,452

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 1,178

$ 1,262



GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION Other Information and Reconciliations (In thousands), unaudited













Supplemental Balance Sheet Data















As of











March 31, 2021





















Cash and cash equivalents

$ 1,178





















Long-term debt, net

$ 116,459







Unamortized debt discount and issuance cost

1,383







Total principal amount of debt

$ 117,842



















Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA (non-US GAAP)





























Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

















Net income (US GAAP)

$ 4,503

$ 3,036



Depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A")

10,060

13,267



Stock compensation expense (non-cash)

339

1,155



Interest expense

1,916

1,952



Loss (gain) on derivatives not designated as hedges

3,269

(9,138)



Net cash (paid for) received in settlement of derivative instruments

(692)

5,969



Loss on early extinguishment of debt

935

-



Other excluded items **

(36)

407



Adjusted EBITDA (2)

$ 20,294

$ 16,648

















** Other items included less than $0.1 million and $0.04 million from the impact of accounting for operating leases under ASC 842 as well as interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.













Reconciliation of Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") (non-US GAAP)















For the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2021











Adjusted EBITDA (non US-GAAP, see reconciliation above)

$ 65,911





















As of March 31, 2021











Total Assets (US GAAP)

$ 226,633







Less: Current Liabilities (US GAAP)

(52,724)







Invested Capital ("IC") (non-US GAAP)

$ 173,909





















Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) (Adjusted EBITDA / IC)

38%



















Reconciliation of Adjusted net income (loss) (non-US GAAP)



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020



Net income (loss) (US GAAP)

$ 4,503

$ 3,036



Change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedges

2,577

(3,169)



Adjusted net income (loss)

$ 7,080

$ (133)















Reconciliation of Adjusted operating income (loss) (non-US GAAP)



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020



Operating income (loss) (US GAAP)

$ 10,623

$ (4,269)



Net cash received (paid) in settlement of derivative instruments

(692)

5,969



Adjusted operating income

$ 9,931

$ 1,700















Derivative Activity





























Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020



Change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedges

$ (2,577)

$ 3,169



Net cash received (paid) in settlement of derivative instruments

(692)

5,969



Net gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges

$ (3,269)

$ 9,138















Reconciliation of interest payable in cash to interest expense (non-US GAAP)





























Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

















Interest expense (US GAAP)

$ 1,916

$ 1,952



Amortization of debt discount and issuance cost and paid-in-kind interest

(1,004)

(782)



Interest payable in cash

$ 912

$ 1,170



GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION Other Information and Reconciliations continued (In thousands, except per unit amounts), unaudited













Reconciliation of capital expenditures



















Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

Net cash used in investing activities (US GAAP)

$ (27,147)

$ (15,038)

Cash calls received (utilized), net

(615)

-

Miscellaneous capitalized costs & ARO adjustments

(136)

(166)

Cost incurred in prior period and paid in current period

4,138

6,175

Capital accrual at period end

(5,576)

(9,330)

Total capital expenditures

$ (29,336)

$ (18,359)















Reconciliation of general & administrative expense payable in cash

to general and administrative expense (non-US GAAP)























Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021

March 31, 2020

General & administrative expense (US GAAP)

$ 3,545

$ 4,914

Share based compensation

(329)

(1,134)

General & administrative expense payable in cash

$ 3,216

$ 3,780



Oil and natural gas production (Mcfe)

11,237

12,471



General and administrative expense payable in cash per Mcfe

$ 0.29

$ 0.30



SOURCE Goodrich Petroleum Corporation

Related Links

http://www.goodrichpetroleum.com


COLUMBIA, Md., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global workforce transformation solutions provider GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Highlights

Gross profit of $21.4 million , or 18.7% on revenue of $114.6 million , for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $17.6 million , or 13.7% on revenue of $128.3 million , for the first quarter of 2020

, or 18.7% on revenue of , for the first quarter of 2021 compared to , or 13.7% on revenue of , for the first quarter of 2020 Net income of $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2020

for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of for the first quarter of 2020 Earnings per share of $0.09 for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss per share of $(0.08) for the first quarter of 2020

for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss per share of for the first quarter of 2020 Adjusted earnings per share of $0.24 for the first quarter of 2021 compared to an adjusted loss per share $(0.03) for the first quarter of 2020

for the first quarter of 2021 compared to an adjusted loss per share for the first quarter of 2020 We had no long term-debt as of March 31, 2021 compared to $12.7 million as of December 31, 2020

"The first quarter reflects the benefits of our solid execution, through what was a challenging time for many parts of the economy, and we begin 2021 from a position of strength with the ability to capitalize on the opportunities ahead," stated Adam Stedham, Chief Executive Officer and President of GP Strategies. "Our gross margin percentage, for the first quarter of 2021, is the strongest for the company in the last ten years for a first quarter. We believe that the learning industry has macroeconomic tailwinds that will propel our growth. We end the first quarter with improving market conditions, a focused strategy, no debt, significant availability under our credit facility and a higher margin profile."

Revenue

Our revenue decreased $13.7 million or 10.7% during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. The net decrease is due to a $12.6 million decrease in our North America segment, a $1.9 million decrease in our EMEA segment partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in our Emerging Markets segment. Excluding the effects of COVID-19, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange rate changes, our revenue decreased $6.7 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to the timing of the shipment of publications from the first quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2021. We estimate that the impact of COVID-19 resulted in at least a $7.0 million decrease in our revenue in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to the postponement of certain training events and other delays in client projects. In addition, our revenue decreased $2.8 million during the first quarter of 2021 due to a divested revenue stream resulting from the sale of our IC Axon Division on October 1, 2020. Offsetting these decreases, the foreign currency exchange rate changes resulted in a $2.8 million increase in U.S. dollar reported revenue during the first quarter of 2021.

Operating income (loss)

Operating income (loss) increased $3.6 million to operating income of $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to an operating loss of $0.4 million for the first quarter of 2020. The net increase is primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in gross profit to $21.4 million, or 18.7% of revenue from $17.6 million, or 13.7% of revenue primarily due to operating restructuring initiatives implemented in fiscal year 2020 that resulted in reduced costs and improved efficiencies. In addition, general and administrative expenses decreased $2.4 million. These favorable changes were partially offset by a $1.1 million gain on the sale of our Alternative Fuels Division in the first quarter of 2020, a $0.7 million restructuring charge incurring in the first quarter of 2021, a $0.6 million increase in sales and marketing expenses and a $0.3 million loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration in the first quarter of 2021.

Net income (loss)

Net income was $1.7 million, or $0.09 per share, for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of $1.3 million, or $(0.08) per share, for the first quarter of 2020. After accounting for special items, which are set forth in the Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Adjusted EPS below, Adjusted EPS was $0.24 and $(0.03) for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Investor Call

The Company has scheduled an investor conference call and webcast for 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Prepared remarks regarding the company's financial and operational results will be followed by a question and answer period with GP Strategies' executive management team. The conference call may be accessed via webcast at: https://services.choruscall.com/links/gpx210506.html or by calling +1 (833) 535-2204 within the US, or + 1 (412) 902-6747 internationally, and requesting the "GP Strategies Call." The presentation slides broadcast via the webcast will also be available on the Investors section of GP Strategies' website the morning of the call. Participants must be logged in via telephone to submit a question to management during the call. Participants may optionally pre-register for the webcast at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10155409/e74d321a8f.

The webcast will be archived on the Investors section of GP Strategies' website and will remain available for 90 days. Alternatively, a telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for one week and may be accessed by dialing +1 (877) 344-7529 in the US, or +1 (412) 317-0088 internationally, and requesting conference number 10155409.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization), Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share (Adjusted EPS), and free cash flow (cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures). The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for, or superior to, either net income, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or cash flow, as a measure of the Company's liquidity. In addition, because these measures may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS to the most comparable U.S. GAAP equivalents, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliations, along with related footnotes, below.

About GP Strategies

GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) is a global workforce transformation solutions provider of training, digital learning solutions, management consulting and engineering services. GP Strategies' solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services, customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, automotive, financial services, technology, and other commercial and government customers.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make statements in this press release that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about the anticipated effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related events on our business and results of operations. These statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from those we project, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related events that are beyond our control. For a full discussion of these risks, uncertainties and factors, we encourage you to read our documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in our periodic reports under the forward-looking statements and risk factors sections. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

TABLES FOLLOW

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,







2021 2020





Revenue $ 114,551

$ 128,281

Cost of revenue 93,110

110,667

Gross profit 21,441

17,614

General and administrative expenses 14,836

17,284

Sales and marketing expenses 2,468

1,839

Restructuring charges 699



Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration 269



Gain on sale of business 

1,064

Operating income (loss) 3,169

(445)

Interest expense 181

978

Other expense 823

500

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 2,165

(1,923)

Income tax expense (benefit) 441

(629)

Net income (loss) $ 1,724

$ (1,294)







Basic weighted average shares outstanding 17,325

17,082

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 18,153

17,117

Per common share data:



Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.10

$ (0.08)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.09

$ (0.08)







Other data:



Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 9,194

$ 3,424

Adjusted EPS (1) $ 0.24

$ (0.03)







(1) The terms Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company believes are useful to investors in evaluating its results. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP equivalent, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliations, along with related footnotes, below.

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,







2021 2020 Revenue by segment (2):



North America $ 72,329

$ 84,936

Europe Middle East Africa 29,973

31,898

Emerging Markets 12,249

11,447

Total revenue $ 114,551

$ 128,281







Gross profit by segment (2):



North America $ 14,493

$ 13,058

Europe Middle East Africa 5,050

3,776

Emerging Markets 1,898

780

Total gross profit $ 21,441

$ 17,614







Supplemental Cash Flow Information:



Net cash provided by operating activities $ 564

$ 9,847

Capital expenditures (455)

(467)

Free cash flow $ 109

$ 9,380







(2) Effective July 1, 2020, we began managing our business under a new organizational structure on a regional basis through our three geographic markets, North America, EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa) and Emerging Markets. Effective January 1, 2021 as a result of change in management, we transferred one of our businesses from our North America segment to our EMEA segment. In addition, we realigned some of our business between our OPS and TPS solutions to more accurately align with their focus industries. We have reclassified the segment financial information herein for the prior year periods to reflect the changes in our segment reporting and conform to the current year's presentation.

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Non-GAAP Reconciliation  Adjusted EBITDA (3) (In thousands) (Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31,







2021 2020 Net income (loss) $ 1,724

$ (1,294)

Interest expense 181

978

Income tax expense (benefit) 441

(629)

Depreciation and amortization 1,472

2,177

EBITDA 3,818

1,232

Adjustments:



Non-cash stock compensation expense 1,667

1,256

Restructuring charges 699



Severance expense 539

211

Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration 269



Foreign currency transaction losses 1,249

496

Legal acquisition/divestiture and transaction costs 850

1,038

Impairment of operating lease right-of-use asset 103

255

Gain on sale of business 

(1,064)

Adjusted EBITDA $ 9,194

$ 3,424







(3) Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) is a widely used non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance. It is presented as supplemental information that the Company believes is useful to investors to evaluate its results because it excludes certain items that are not directly related to the Company's core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back to net income, interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense, and other unusual or infrequently occurring items. For the periods presented, these other items are restructuring charges, severance expense, loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, foreign currency transaction losses, legal acquisition/divestiture and transaction costs, impairment of operating lease right-of-use asset, and gain on sale of business. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute either for net income, as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or for cash flow, as a measure of the Company's liquidity. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Non-GAAP Reconciliation  Adjusted EPS (4) (Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31,







2021 2020 Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.09

$ (0.08)

Restructuring charges 0.03



Severance expense 0.02

0.01

Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration 0.01



Foreign currency transaction losses 0.05

0.02

Legal acquisition/divestiture and transaction costs 0.04

0.04

Impairment of operating lease right-of-use asset 

0.01

Settlement of contingent consideration in shares 

0.01

Gain on sale of business 

(0.04)

Adjusted EPS $ 0.24

$ (0.03)







(4) Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share ("Adjusted EPS"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined as earnings per diluted share excluding the gain or loss on the change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration and special charges, such as restructuring, and other unusual or infrequently occurring items of income or expense. Management uses Adjusted EPS to assess total Company operating performance on a consistent basis. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the gain on change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration and other special charges, when considered together with our U.S. GAAP financial results, provides management and investors with an additional understanding of our business operating results, including underlying trends.

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)













March 31,

December 31,



2021

2020



(Unaudited)



Current assets:









Cash

$ 10,758



$ 23,076



Accounts and other receivables

87,230



110,575



Unbilled revenue

40,990



28,100



Prepaid expenses and other current assets

19,504



15,186



Assets held for sale

42,339



42,463



Total current assets

200,821



219,400



Property, plant and equipment, net

4,290



4,650



Operating lease right-of-use assets

19,025



20,862



Goodwill and intangible assets, net

125,314



126,245



Other assets

9,290



10,619



Total assets

$ 358,740



$ 381,776















Current liabilities:









Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$ 75,724



$ 91,572



Current portion of operating lease liabilities

5,049



5,523



Deferred revenue

19,583



16,509



Liabilities held for sale

7,487



5,868



Total current liabilities

107,843



119,472



Long-term debt





12,748



Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities

14,615



16,260



Other liabilities

9,686



9,950



Total liabilities

132,144



158,430



Total stockholders' equity

226,596



223,346



Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 358,740



$ 381,776





 2020 GP Strategies Corporation. All rights reserved. GP Strategies and GP Strategies with logo design are registered trademarks of GP Strategies Corporation.

SOURCE GP Strategies Corporation

Related Links

www.gpstrategies.com


Strong financial quarter with significant increase in adjusted EBITDA to $12 million on production of 30,556 gold equivalent ounces

(All dollar amounts expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted)

TSX: GPR | NYSE American: GPL

VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Great Panther Mining Limited (TSX:GPR; NYSE-A:GPL) ("Great Panther" or the "Company"), a growing diversified gold and silver producer focused on the Americas, announces unaudited consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021, from its three wholly-owned mines: Tucano in Brazil, and Topia and the Guanajuato Mine Complex ("the GMC") in Mexico.

"This quarter saw a meaningful increase in mine operating earnings and adjusted EBITDA thanks to the team's effectiveness as well as strength in metal prices and the benefit of a weaker Brazilian real," stated Rob Henderson, Great Panther's President & CEO. "We reduced our debt position to $27.6 million and ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet with $45.5 million in cash and equivalents. In addition, regional exploration and drilling was ramped up significantly at Tucano from which we are already seeing positive results that should contribute to increases in our mineral resource inventory."

First Quarter 2021 Highlights

Revenue of $52.5 million , a 9% increase when compared with the same period in 2020

, a 9% increase when compared with the same period in 2020 Mine operating earnings of $11.0 million , an increase of 85% compared with Q1 2020

, an increase of 85% compared with Q1 2020 Net loss of $0.3 million compared with a net loss of $40.5 million in Q1 2020

compared with a net loss of in Q1 2020 Adjusted net income1 of $1.7 million compared with an adjusted net loss of $3.5 million in Q1 2020

compared with an adjusted net loss of in Q1 2020 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of $10.3 million and $12.4 million compared with negative $30.6 million and $6.4 million , respectively, for Q1 2020

and compared with negative and , respectively, for Q1 2020 Cash flow from operating activities (before changes in non-cash working capital) of $7.3 million

8% reduction in consolidated all-in-sustaining costs ("AISC") 1 per gold ounce sold over Q1 2020

per gold ounce sold over Q1 2020 Reduced consolidated AISC (excluding corporate general and administrative expenses ("G&A")) 1 by 11% compared with Q1 2020 to $1,557 per Au oz sold

by 11% compared with Q1 2020 to per Au oz sold Consolidated metal production of 30,556 gold equivalent ounces ("Au eq oz"), inclusive of 24,978 gold ounces and 360,070 silver ounces

Successful completion of annual maintenance at Tucano, including replacement of the primary crusher and realignment of the SAG mill motor

Significant ramp up of exploration efforts with a 68% increase in drilling at Tucano compared with the same period in 2020

___________________________________ 1 Throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A, Great Panther has included the non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("non-GAAP") performance measures cash costs per gold oz sold, cash costs per payable silver oz, AISC per gold oz sold excluding corporate G&A expenditures, AISC per gold oz sold, AISC per payable silver oz, free cash-flow, mine operating earnings before non-cash items, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted net income (loss). Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Company's MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company's financial results reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Financial Highlights

(in thousands, except per oz, per share and exchange rate figures) Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Q4 2020 Revenue $ 52,570 $ 48,050 $ 68,708 Mine operating earnings before non-cash items1 $ 19,926 $ 14,248 $ 32,433 Mine operating earnings $ 11,029 $ 5,970 $ 22,144 Net loss $ (331) $ (40,464) $ 13,611 Adjusted net income (loss)1 $ 1,694 $ (3,475) $ 12,930 Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 12,369 $ 6,380 $ 26,513 Free cash-flow1 $ (10,662) $ (4,674) $ 9,057 Cash flow from operating activities $ 2,328 $ 11,758 $ 17,972 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 45,464 $ 38,795 $ 63,396 Borrowings at end of period $ 27,638 $ 50,419 $ 33,398 Net working capital at end of period $ 25,256 $ (16,244) $ 31,396 Earnings (loss) per share  basic $ (0.00) $ (0.13) $ 0.04 Earnings (loss) per share  diluted $ (0.00) $ (0.13) $ 0.04 Average realized gold price per oz2 $ 1,755 $ 1,577 $ 1,884 Average realized silver price per oz2 $ 25.35 $ 15.31 $ 25.06 Brazilian real (BRL)/USD $ 5.47 $ 4.46 $ 5.40 Mexican peso (MXN)/USD $ 20.02 $ 19.93 $ 20.59

Summary of Select Financial Results

Average realized prices for gold and silver increased to $1,755 and $25.35, respectively, for the first quarter of 2021 from $1,577 and $15.31 for the first quarter of 2020. The benefit of higher metal prices together with the impact on costs of a weak BRL were partially offset by moderate increases in production costs resulting in mine operating earnings of $11.0 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared with $6.0 million for the first quarter of 2020. After accounting for G&A and exploration, evaluation and development expenditures, operating earnings for the first quarter of 2021 were $3.1 million compared with a loss of $1.3 million in the prior year. Net loss for the first quarter of 2021 was $0.3 million after accounting for interest and financing charges, foreign exchange and derivative losses and income taxes compared with a net loss of $40.5 million for the first quarter of 2020. The net loss for Q1 2020 included a $26.0 million loss related to forward currency contracts on the BRL entered into in late 2019 and early 2020 to gain better certainty on BRL operating and capital costs at a time of significantly lower gold prices and foreign exchange losses of $10.8 million in Q1 2020, resulting from a significant weakening of currencies in the first quarter of 2020 against the USD. After making adjustments for derivative losses and foreign exchange losses, adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2021 was $1.7 million compared with an adjusted net loss of $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2020.

________________________________ 1 The Company has included the non-GAAP performance measures mine operating earnings before non-cash items, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, and free cash-flow throughout this news release and the accompanying Company's MD&A. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Company's MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company's financial results reported in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. 2 Average realized gold and silver prices are prior to smelting and refining charges.

Operational Highlights

Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Q4 2020 Total material mined  Tucano (tonnes) 6,898,581 7,115,135 6,605,369 Ore mined  Tucano (tonnes) 347,466 310,597 749,510 Ore mined  Mexico (tonnes)1 56,975 67,846 50,868 Tonnes milled  Tucano 796,035 811,197 901,854 Tonnes milled  Mexico (excluding custom milling)1 58,669 68,965 49,498 Tonnes milled  consolidated operations (excluding custom milling) 854,704 880,162 951,352 Plant gold head grade (g/t)  Tucano 0.90 1.09 1.23 Plant head grade (g/t Ag eq)  Mexico1 324 318 270 Gold oz produced  Tucano 22,996 26,176 32,017 Gold oz produced  consolidated operations 24,978 28,940 33,703 Au eq oz produced2 30,556 34,725 36,997 Gold oz sold 24,881 26,807 33,374 Au eq oz sold2 29,635 32,225 36,549 Cash costs per gold oz sold  Tucano3 $ 983 $ 1,032 $ 879 AISC per gold oz sold  Tucano3 $ 1,549 $ 1,752 $ 1,171 Cash costs per gold oz sold3 $ 954 $ 1,045 $ 905 AISC per gold oz sold, excluding corporate G&A3 $ 1,557 $ 1,749 $ 1,248 AISC per gold oz sold3 $ 1,738 $ 1,886 $ 1,318

_______________________________ 1 Includes Topia and the GMC. 2 Gold equivalent oz are referred to throughout this document. For 2021, Au eq oz were calculated using a 1:85 Au:Ag ratio, and ratios of 1:0.00049 and 1:0.00057 for the price/oz of gold to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively, and applied to the relevant metal content of the concentrates produced, expected to be produced, or sold from operations. The ratios are reflective of average metal prices for 2021. Comparatively, Au eq oz for 2020 were calculated using a 1:90 Au:Ag ratio, and ratios of 1:0.00064 and 1:0.00076 for the price/oz of gold to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively, and applied to the relevant metal content of the concentrates produced, expected to be produced, or sold from operations. The ratios are reflective of average metal prices for 2020. 3 Throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A, Great Panther has included the non-GAAP performance measures cash costs per gold oz sold, cash costs per payable silver oz, AISC per gold oz sold excluding corporate G&A expenditures, AISC per gold oz sold, AISC per payable silver oz, mine operating earnings before non-cash items, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), and free-cash flow throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Company's MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company's financial results reported in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The Company's operations are on track to meet previously announced consolidated production guidance for 2021 of 135,000 to 150,000 Au eq oz with AISC (excluding corporate G&A) of $1,350 - $1,450/Au oz sold. As disclosed in the Company's news release dated January 14, 2021, the second half of 2021 is expected to account for a least 55% of annual production guidance. The mine plan for Tucano also reflects more stripping in the first half of 2021 and therefore AISC is expected to be higher in the first half of 2021 than the annual guidance.

Production and AISC guidance here and elsewhere in this news release is forward-looking information that should be read in conjunction with the Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements section at the end of this news release and the Company's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company may revise guidance during the year to reflect actual results to date and those anticipated for the remainder of the year.

The Company continues to implement strict protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 within its mine sites and host communities. Although not significant, operations in the first quarter of 2021 were affected by the pandemic. Workforce shortages were experienced during the quarter at the GMC and Topia mines, and Tucano experienced disruption through to late April in its purchased oxygen supply with scheduled deliveries redirected to Brazil's hospitals to meet needed demand. The Company is monitoring the situation closely and working with local health authorities to ensure a safe work environment and support the health of local communities.

Refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 ("MD&A") for more details of the financial results and for reconciliations of the Company's non-GAAP performance measures to the nearest GAAP measure. The full version of the Company's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and MD&A can be viewed on the Company's website at www.greatpanther.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS, except as noted in the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Company's MD&A.

Additional information regarding Great Panther's COVID-19 response plan, preventive measures taken to date and the potential impact on operations are available in the MD&A, available on the Company's website at www.greatpanther.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET. Shareholders, analysts, investors and media are invited to join by logging in or calling in to the details below:

Live webcast and registration: https://www.greatpanther.com/investors/webcasts/

Canada and US Toll-Free: + 1 800 319 4610

International Toll: + 1 604 638 5340

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Webcasts section of Great Panther's website approximately one hour after the conference call. Audio replay will be available for four weeks by calling the numbers below using the replay access code 6660.

Canada and US Toll-Free: + 1 800 319 6413

International Toll: + 1 604 638 9010

Replay Access Code: 6660

ABOUT GREAT PANTHER

Great Panther is a growing gold and silver producer focused on the Americas. The Company owns a diversified portfolio of assets in Brazil, Mexico and Peru that includes three operating gold and silver mines, four exploration projects, and an advanced development project. Great Panther is actively exploring large land packages in highly prospective districts and is pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Great Panther trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE American under the symbol GPL.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Neil Hepworth, Chartered Engineer UK, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person, as the term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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 Canadian securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (i) expectations of the Company's 2021 consolidated production and cost guidance in the news release, ability to meet its production and cost guidance and the assumptions underlying; (ii) expectations regarding the ongoing drill programs and the ability for positive results to increase the Company's Mineral Resource inventory; (iii) expectations regarding the future impacts of COVID-19 and the Company's ability to continue its operations without interruption should the situation not be as anticipated; and (iv) the Company's plans to pursue acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio.

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the assumptions underlying the Company's Outlook of production and cost guidance continuing to be accurate, including the accuracy of the geological, operational and price and exchange rate assumptions on which the guidance is based, all as more particularly outlined in the Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020; continued operations at all three of the Company's mines in 2021 without significant interruption, additional costs, workforce or supply shortages due to COVID-19 or any other reason; continued operations at Tucano in accordance with the Company's mine plan, including the expectations regarding the ongoing geotechnical control of the Urucum Central South pit ("UCS") and related slope stability and the Company's ability to successfully access the mineralization in the UCS pit without additional costs or interruption; the accuracy of the Company's Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; ore grades and recoveries; prices for gold, silver, and base metals remaining as estimated; national and international transportation arrangements to deliver Tucano's gold dore to international refineries continue to remain available, despite inherent risks due to COVID19; international refineries that the Company uses continue to operate and refine the Company's gold dore, and in a timely manner such that the Company is able to realize revenue from the sale of its refined metal in the timeframe anticipated, despite inherent risks due to COVID19; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; assumptions regarding the cost of capital, decommissioning and reclamation, energy inputs, labour, materials, and supplies and services (including transportation); all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for the Company's operations are received in a timely manner on favourable terms, including the granting of permits for the expansion of the GMC tailings storage facility ("TSF") in time without condition which if not granted or conditioned, could result in an interruption to operations; the sufficiency of the Company's tailing storage facilities; Tucano will be able to continue to use cyanide in its operations; the ability to procure equipment and operating supplies and that there are no material unanticipated variations in the cost of energy or supplies; operations not being disrupted by issues such as pit-wall failures or instability, mechanical failures, labour disturbances and workforce shortages, illegal occupations or mining, seismic events, and adverse weather conditions; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that 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, regulatory, and social risks involving Great Panther's operations in a foreign jurisdiction; developments with respect of COVID-19 that may impact the Company's ability to operate as anticipated, including the risk for further workforce and supply shortages, and unplanned partial or full shutdown of the Company's mines and processing plants, whether voluntary or imposed, including the risk that shortages in purchased oxygen supply will decrease recovery rates and throughput; the inherent risk that estimates of Mineral Reserves and Resources may not be accurate and accordingly that mine production will not be as estimated or predicted; risk that dilution and mining recovery estimates used in the Mineral Reserve estimation do not accurately reconcile with the Company's ability to recover the tonnage, grade and metal content estimated in the Mineral Reserves; as the Company's mines, including, but not limited to its Mexican operations, do not have established Mineral Reserves, except for Tucano, the Company faces higher risks that anticipated rates of production and production costs, such as those provided in this news release, will not be achieved, each of which risks could have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to continue to generate anticipated revenues and cash flows to fund operations from and ultimately achieve or maintain profitable operations; open pit mining operations at Tucano have a limited established mine life and the Company may not be able to extend the mine life for Tucano open pit operations beyond 2023 as anticipated; gold, silver and base metal prices may decline or may be less than forecasted; fluctuations in currency exchange rates (including the U.S. dollar to Brazilian real exchange rate) may increase costs of operations; even though the geotechnical consultant have approved the restart of mining the UCS pit, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to continue mining and be able to access the UCS Mineral Reserves which may adversely impact the Company's production plans and future revenues; operational and physical risks inherent in mining operations (including pit wall collapses, tailings storage facility failures, environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather) may result in unforeseen costs, shut downs, delays in production and exposure to liability; planned exploration activities may not result in conversion of existing Mineral Resources into Mineral Reserves or discovery of new Mineral Resources; the potential for unexpected costs and expenses or overruns; employee and contractor relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities; the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner on favourable terms, including the granting of permits for the GMC TSF in time without condition which if not granted or conditioned could result in an interruption to operations at the GMC; the inability to continue to operate the Topia TSF as planned, or to commence stacking at Topia Phase III when Phase II TSF is no longer available; there is no assurance that the Company will be able to identify or complete acquisition opportunities of, if completed, that such acquisitions will be accretive to the Company; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in respect of Great Panther, in the MD&A and its most recent annual information form and material change reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and reports on Form 40-F and Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

There is no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove accurate or that actual results will not vary materially from these forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's current views of our near- and longer-term prospects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Great Panther Mining Limited

Related Links

www.greatpanther.com


MISGAV, Israel, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Helen Doron Educational Group is proud to win a prestigious Global Franchise Award for the third time, this time for Global Mentorship, following last year's win in the same category and in 2019 for Best Children's and Education Franchise.

Helen Doron Educational Group

CEO Helen Doron accepted the honour virtually. The 2021 Global Franchise Awards were selected by a panel of top industry franchise experts. According to the competitive criteria, the judging panel was looking for a brand that "demonstrates the highest levels of support for their franchisees during the COVID-19 crisis."

Global Franchise Magazine explained how the judges reached their decision to choose Helen Doron Educational Group, "2020 was a year that meant franchisors' mentorship abilities were relied upon more than ever. That was what our judging panel was looking for and exactly what they received when they read the Helen Doron Educational Group's entry.

Judges were impressed with the support systems that the brand implemented in response to the pandemic, how agile it was when it came to introducing vital new tech-led platforms, the multitude of ways in which its franchise network was supported despite the unprecedented disruption, and how founder and CEO, Helen Doron, was a shining light when it comes to the role and responsibility of a franchisor. Congratulations to the Helen Doron Educational Group on their second consecutive win in this category; it's a remarkable accomplishment."

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Doron elaborated, "We are delighted to accept award for our Global Mentorship and the 24/7 support we provide our franchisees and entire network during the pandemic.

"On hearing of the closure of many of our 1,100 centres in 38 countries, including our English franchises, Maths franchises and Kindergarten franchises, we immediately sprang into action right from the start of the crisis. With students and teachers stuck at home, we needed an effective and uniform way for teachers to teach online as a franchise. Our pedagogic team widened to include our teacher trainers worldwide, and together we created over 800 interactive online lessons within a month. We trained over 4,000 active teachers, and we kept our students learning, supported them with marketing materials and campaigns to keep our franchisees profitable.

Winning a third Global Award solidifies our commitment to providing ongoing mentorship as an example to the franchise world how important it is to react positively to a crisis and use it as an opportunity to extend the brand. Our franchisees and teachers are very appreciative of all the materials we provided, and many of them increased their student numbers. Daily tips were also created for parents, empowering them to take advantage of the time at home with their children. Games, activities, educational videos, and lessons were offered free of charge through digital channels.

Thank you for this award and the chance to once again demonstrate to the world that the Helen Doron Educational Group is here to give strong support in all circumstances."

For information on business opportunities, write to us: [email protected] and visit https://www.helendoron.com/franchising

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SOURCE Helen Doron Educational Group
ST. LOUIS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicuity Health, the nation's leading provider of high-acuity telemedicine services, announced that the company has been recognized by MedTech Breakthrough for the second consecutive year. The company earned recognition for the "Best Hospital Technology Implementation" for its successful expansion of its Rhythm CI remote inpatient telemetry monitoring service across a multi-state healthcare system.

MedTech Breakthrough is an independent market intelligence organization. Its MedTech Breakthrough Awards program evaluates the digital health and medical technology industry landscape each year with the aim of selecting and highlighting the "breakthrough" solutions and companies at the forefront of innovation. This year's program attracted more than 3,850 nominations globally. All MedTech Breakthrough Award nominations were evaluated by an independent panel of experts within the digital health and medical technology industries, with the winning products and companies selected based on a variety of criteria, including most innovative and technologically advanced products and service.

Hicuity Health's Rhythm CI remote inpatient telemetry service provides continuous cardiac monitoring delivered by certified telemetry technicians while alleviating the hospital's management challenge of operating a telemetry function. The offering pairs a highly-reliable monitoring infrastructure with an always-on, fully-staffed monitoring capability to provide hospitals, health systems, and other care venues with a customizable, protocolized approach to continuously track the heart rhythms of at-risk cardiac patient populations. Hicuity Health's telemetry service leverages technology and scale to reduce overall costs. Additionally, Hicuity Health absorbs responsibility for the recruiting, training, scheduling, and ongoing administration of telemetry staff. By partnering with Hicuity Health for telemetry monitoring, inpatient facilities enhance the ability of bedside nurses to focus on their primary responsibility  caring for their patients  without the distraction of monitoring waveforms or managing telemetry in addition to their primary responsibilities.

"In 2020, Hicuity Health was selected as a MedTech Breakthrough Award winner for offering the 'Best Remote Patient Monitoring Solution'," said James Johnson, managing director, MedTech Breakthrough. "In honoring the company with a 2021 award, we recognize an exceptional remote inpatient telemetry implementation with one of the organization's valued partners, which began as a cardiac monitoring pilot and, based on demonstrable success, quickly scaled across the entire health system."

The 2021 accolade honors Hicuity Health for a multi-hospital system implementation of its remote telemetry service. The effort built on a long-standing tele-ICU relationship and began with an initial single-hospital telemetry trial. Impressed by the enhanced workflow capabilities and patient and process outcomes, the health system further expanded the telemetry partnership with Hicuity Health to support bedside teams across the entire system. From an ambitious starting point, the telemetry partnership has grown to more than five-fold the original scope. Today, Hicuity Health is the nation's largest provider of remote inpatient telemetry monitoring services.

"Hicuity Health is honored to be recognized again for the Innovation and clinical delivery of our high-acuity care and monitoring offerings," said Lou Silverman, CEO of Hicuity Health. "The MedTech Breakthrough Awards program is focused on highlighting innovation and we appreciate the validation of our breakthrough acute care telemedicine solutions for the second year in a row."

For more than 15 years, Hicuity Health has pioneered telemedicine innovations. Serving a diverse range of clients and care venues  including health systems, hospitals, and post-acute care facilities  with an expanding portfolio of services that includes tele-ICU, remote inpatient cardiac telemetry, virtual sitter, and wearable smart device monitoring, the company is the leader in delivering expert care on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis to high-acuity patients in high-acuity environments.

To learn more about how Hicuity Health provides a growing range of acute care telemedicine services across a variety of care venues, including tele-ICU, inpatient telemetry, and virtual sitter services, please visit here.

About Hicuity Health

For more than 15 years, Hicuity Health (the new name for Advanced ICU Care) has pioneered telemedicine innovations. Serving a diverse range of clients and care venues  including health systems, hospitals, and post-acute care facilities  with an expanding line of services that includes tele-ICU, remote inpatient cardiac telemetry, virtual sitter, and wearable smart device monitoring, the company is the leader in delivering expert care on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis to high-acuity patients in high-acuity environments. Our innovation is highlighted by our proprietary HUB workflow management technology platform, which enables seamless care delivery and informs patient management across our 9 clinical care centers that serve our more than 100 hospital partners located in 27 states nationwide. Hicuity Health cares for more than 100,000 patients per year, delivering enhanced patient outcomes, tangible ROI, and expert clinical support for the bedside teams at our partner hospitals. To learn more about us, visit: www.HicuityHealth.com.

SOURCE Hicuity Health

Related Links

http://www.HicuityHealth.com


Known for their chic yet effortless aesthetic, the lemlem x H&M collaboration features easy-to-wear designs and artisanal details with modern elegance. For this collaboration, traditional handwoven materials often found in lemlem's pieces are translated into cover-ups, sundresses, tops, shorts, trousers, swimwear, jewelery and accessories. Crafted from more sustainable materials including organic linen, recycled polyester and Tencel Lyocell, each piece has a sunny, light and breezy feel. lemlem's signature stripes and color-blocking details are featured alongside soft textures. The color palette includes shades of blue, white, bright orange, soft pink, neons and a hint of pale yellow. The collection has a timeless feel aimed to be passed down from generation to generation.

"I love that H&M has always been at the forefront of doing really cool collaborations. So for lemlem, it's really exciting to be part of that group of brands that they've collaborated with. It's also the first time we have a whole lemlem look, with the jewelery really adding to the feeling and the woman that I want it to look like. My creative direction included the campaign, too, which was so much fun and special because I got to shoot with my daughter," says Liya Kebede, Founder and Creative Director of lemlem.

"With lemlem, you can't help but notice its ease and elegance, which Liya Kebede obviously and beautifully embodies, too. It was wonderful to have Liya's creative input at every step in this collaboration. We were also really happy to include more sustainable materials throughout the collection and just can't wait to launch it around the world," says Maria Ostblom, Head of Design at H&M.

H&M will donate $100,000 to support the lemlem Foundation, which aims to create a pathway out of poverty for women artisans in Africa.

To download images, click here

Shop collection, here

Contact Information:

[email protected]

SOURCE H&M

Related Links

www.hm.com


He was always happy and always wore a smile on his face, the family wrote. He saw greatness in everyone and gave so many people his love and support. Steves generosity of spirit was boundless. Just like he dealt with all experiences in life, Steve managed his illness with strength and grace, and wanted to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible. On his final day, he was surrounded by his wife and children, who he adored more than anything else in the world.
Previous work on terrestrial FSO transmissions focused on either indoors or areas with little atmospheric effects, like between two mountain peaks. Twenty years ago, there were nascent activities in FSO communications for urban settings, which faded because of technical challenges and competing RF wireless and wireline solutions. Interest in FSO communications is growing again with improved technologies and the drive for higher bandwidth services where wireline solutions are difficult.

At the forefront of these new developments, Yueying Zhan and her team of researchers achieved the real-time FSO transmission of 1,000 seconds of an ultrahigh-definition video stream between two buildings in Beijing. Zhan will report the results of their demonstration during a session at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC), being held virtually from 06 - 11 June 2021.

"In urban [settings], due to the influence of factories, automobile exhaust, and other factors, there are more particles, molecules, dust, and so on in the atmospheric channel than in other places, such as mountains," said Zhan. "These factors lead to serious attenuation of optical signals, resulting in very low received power."

The group used standard single-mode optical fibers on the transmitter side of the system to launch 16 ultrahigh-definition video streams as free-space optical signals. The key upgrade they made to the system for it to work was at the receiver, where they used an OM4 multimode fiber rather than single-mode fiber, resulting in a 10-decibel improvement to the signal coupling efficiency.

Video transmission with few errors was demonstrated in different parts of the day, different seasons, and different weather conditions.

The test range was limited to 2.1 kilometers because of obstructions in the high-density urban setting. From the high power margin in the 2.1 km link demonstration, the researchers expect to be able to easily extend this distance.

"Free optical communication can be regarded as the supplement of optical fiber communication," Zhan said.

For example, FSO communication can be used to extend communication access to areas where bandwidth is insufficient or where complex terrain limits the use of wired communications, providing a fast and flexible solution for broadband access. Additionally, a large-scale implementation of this technique can help eliminate dark zones between adjacent networks. FSO communication can also be crucial in a pinch, when backup or temporary emergency links may be necessary.

"In the unexpected natural or manmade disasters, when the original communication lines are damaged and it is difficult to recover immediately, emergency communication is needed," said Zhan. "Wireless laser communications can be rapidly deployed."

Furthermore, Zhan anticipates laser communications will soon be the primary method of intersatellite and deep space communications, augmenting RF and microwave communications.

Currently, the group is focusing on improving the performance of their system using channel coding for error correction and applying it in both terrestrial and space communications.

Hear from the Research Team

"Demonstration of 100Gbit/s Real-Time Ultra High Definition Video Transmission Over Free Space Optical Communication Links," Yueying Zhan, Yang Sun, Ziyuan Shi, Ning Yang, Lei Yang, Wednesday, 09 June 2021, 19:30 to 19:45 PDT (UTC  07:00). Session ID -W7E.3

Registration Information

Credentialed media and analysts who wish to cover OFC 2021 can find registration and other essential information in the OFC media room. View the OFC website for upcoming announcements on registration, schedule updates and more.

About OFC

The 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach, and learn, make connections and move business forward. OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of global companies and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is co-sponsored by IEEE Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc), IEEE Photonics Society, The Optical Society (OSA) and managed by OSA. OFC 2021, an all-virtual event, will take place 06  11 June 2021. Follow @OFCConference, learn more at OFC Community LinkedIn, and watch highlights on OFC YouTube.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students, and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications, and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings, and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions, and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC)
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 9-11, 2021, IndustryWeek will bring The Manufacturing & Technology Show back to the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The show's scope will expand dramatically this year, combining IndustryWeek's annual M&T event with Endeavor Business Media's Safety Leadership Conference and IDEA! Conference to serve the full spectrum of industrial leadership. A recent agreement reached with outside partners in the northeast Ohio regionMAGNET, The Smart Manufacturing Cluster, and Team NEOwill solidify the event's coverage and collaboration with the regional manufacturing community.

"Having the support and expertise of the teams at MAGNET, The Smart Manufacturing Cluster, and Team NEO positions The M&T Show to fulfill its promise of delivering strategies for excellence all the way from design to delivery to the innovative and expanding manufacturing community in northeast Ohio," said Travis Hessman, IndustryWeek editor-in-chief and conference program director. "We chose Cleveland as the location for this event with the intent of pulling the community into our planning and execution at the highest level. This agreement reached between our event management team and these influential organizations will ensure the entire ecosystem of manufacturing professionals at our show understand how important Northeast Ohio is when it comes to the global manufacturing landscape."

The event will showcase educational content, facility tours, a trade show of solution providers, and an exciting night out at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, all in the spirit of inspiring the manufacturing community from C-level executives to safety leaders to engineering teams as they strive for excellence across the intertwined manufacturing ecosystem.

"Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio proudly drives nearly half of our economy and the region is poised to become a national leader in smart manufacturing," said MAGNET VP of Operations Mike O'Donnell. "We are thrilled to have The Manufacturing & Technology Show back in Cleveland and to be working alongside the event management team to share the local expertise and innovative spirit of the manufacturing community of Northeast Ohio."

"This partnership elevates the tremendous work that our regional partners are doing to ensure that Northeast Ohio's manufacturers have global impact," said Jay Foran, Senior Vice President of Team NEO. "Bringing all of the decision-makers together and promoting the common values of digital transformation, innovation, leadership and talent for the new era of manufacturing helps align our community and others around the country."

The focal points in this collaboration will be on the recent release of the regional vision and plan called the Blueprint for Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio, tying in the existing event Future Factories into The Manufacturing & Technology Conference, and securing the correct industry experts to cover topics across the three educational conferences taking place at the show.

"We understand that our events will only be as strong as our connections to the local communities who host us," said John DiPaola, Manufacturing Group Publisher for Endeavor Business Media. "The history and mission of The Manufacturing & Technology Show and its supporting publications has been intrinsically connected to the work that MAGNET, The Smart Manufacturing Cluster, and Team NEO have been doing for years. The respect that is shown between all parties in this partnership will ensure an exciting, relevant, and innovative event experience unlike anything the industry has seen before."

Visit The Manufacturing & Technology show Website for registration and sponsorship information.

About Endeavor Business Media

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Endeavor Business Media, LLC was formed in late 2017 to acquire and operate trade publications, websites, events and marketing solutions. The company targets U.S. B2B audiences in the accounting, aviation, dental, facilities maintenance, fire & public safety, design engineering, buildings and construction, energy, manufacturing, industrial, technology, medical, securities, laser, lighting, oil & gas, public services, security, construction, vehicle repair, vending, and water & wastewater markets. The company has offices in Nashville, TN; Tulsa, OK; Nashua, NH; Birmingham, AL; Sarasota, FL; Skokie, IL; Fort Atkinson, WI; Arlington Heights, IL; Independence, OH; Santa Barbara, CA; Fort Collins, CO; and Overland Park, KS. To view the new website, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com.

About MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network

The mission of MAGNET is to play a vital role in growing the manufacturing sector in Northeast Ohio, thereby creating more vibrant communities, increasing economic inclusion, and building a stronger middle class in our region. Since 1984, MAGNET has offered a wide range of hands-on consulting services to manufacturers as part of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and Ohio MEP. These services, which include product and process development, workforce initiatives, start-up support, and lean/operations consulting, help companies grow locally and compete globally.

As manufacturers grow, they need to hire, train, and retain diverse employees; build relationships with other companies and organizations to address systemic issues; pioneer new products and services; and maximize use of smart technologies. MAGNET is uniquely positioned to help manufacturers address these challenges as Northeast Ohio builds a stronger, forward-thinking future.

About Team NEO

Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization accelerating business growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of the Northeast Ohio Region. As the designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we align and amplify local economic development efforts in the region's 18 counties; we conduct research and data analysis to inform local conversations and influence solutions; we market the Northeast Ohio Region; and we work to increase access to jobs, education, and training for the region's 4.3 million people. We do this to build a more vibrant regional economy  one that is more talented, equitable, competitive, innovative, resilient and prosperous. For more information, visit teamneo.org.

About the Smart Manufacturing Cluster of Northeast Ohio

The Smart Manufacturing Cluster of Northeast Ohio accelerates the growth and competitiveness of the Northeast Ohio economy through smart manufacturing implementation and innovation that leverages the region's rich manufacturing heritage, unique assets, and talented workforce. We lead the development of innovation roadmaps and serve as the platform for the regional Manufacturing Blueprint to accelerate adoption and maximize the value of technology. We connect knowledge, experience, tools, and networks with manufacturers to generate demand, increase productivity, spur product innovation, and develop talent and resources necessary to drive technology implementation and innovation. To learn more, visit smartmanufacturingcluster.org.

Media Contact: Danielle Blanchette, [email protected]

SOURCE The Manufacturing & Technology Show
PHILADELPHIA, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IntegriChain, delivering Life Sciences' only comprehensive data and business process platform for market access, today announced that Jen Sharpe, a Gross-to-Net (GTN) leader at the company, will present at Informa's upcoming Bio/Pharma CFO Digital Week. Sharpe is a GTN and Life Sciences accounting expert and runs the Revenue Analytics Collaborative, a network of 800+ business and financial professionals focused on Commercial, Government, GTN, and Trade/Channel data, processes, and systems. The presentation will focus on GTN digital transformation case studies and will feature GTN leaders Tina Knell from Bridgebio and Kary Callahan from Paratek. IntegriChain is a sponsor of the virtual conference, which runs May 11-13.

"Life Sciences manufacturers recognize critical data gaps in their gross-to-net systems and processes," said Sharpe. "Innovative teams such as those at Bridgebio and Paratek are tapping into the value of a unified data platform and automated GTN systems that deliver a single accurate, complete, and credible version of financial truth to all stakeholders, eliminating spreadsheet toil and freeing up their expertise to focus on driving the business."

Case Study: Real World GTN Transformation using Data and Analytics

May 13 10 am

Visualize successful GTN management on a unified data platform

Improve GTN accruals and forecasting with greater visibility into market access data and assumptions

Drive business with data digitalization and visualization with key metrics and trend analyses

Gain confidence in the GTN forecasts with near real-time access to data to increase efficiency and company-wide collaboration

About IntegriChain's GTN Solutions

IntegriChain offers a full suite of GTN Solutions, including:

GTN Accrual Management. An end-to-end solution for Market Access and Finance departments, pre-configured for all standard line items with robust out-of-the-box accrual methodologies, including inventory and pipeline adjustments to accruals, balance sheet reconciliation to ERP systems, and true-up functionality.

GTN Accrual Forecasting. Based on industry-standard forecast methodologies configured for each liability line item with the ability to execute multiple scenario analyses for forecasts along with functionality to compare scenarios to improve forecast accuracy, GTN modeling, and financial close efficiency.

GTN Analytics. Delivering visibility to comprehensive market access datasets that power the accuracy of GTN accruals and forecasting processes, best practices GTN reports and metrics, and visualizations of GTN trends that allow for better accrual and net-price predictability and decision-making.

GTN Advisory. IntegriChain industry experts routinely advise manufacturers on GTN readiness for launch, GTN process assessments, and GTN market analysis.

About IntegriChain

IntegriChain is Life Sciences' data and application backbone for patient access and therapy commercialization. More than 250 manufacturers rely on IntegriChain's ICyte Platform to orchestrate commercial and government payer contracting, patient services, and distribution channels. ICyte is the first and only platform that unites the financial, operational, and commercial data sets required to support therapy access in the era of specialty and precision medicine. With ICyte, Life Sciences innovators are digitalizing labor-intensive processes  freeing up their best talent to identify and resolve coverage and availability hurdles and to manage pricing and forecasting complexity. IntegriChain is backed by Accel-KKR, a leading Silicon Valley technology private equity firm. The company is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, with offices in Ambler, PA; Somerset, NJ, Raleigh, NC, and Pune, India. For more information, visit www.integrichain.com, or follow us on Twitter @IntegriChain and LinkedIn.

Contact

IntegriChain: Jennifer Guinan, Sage Strategic Marketing, 610.410.8111, [email protected]

SOURCE IntegriChain
Optimistic on Large Commercial Customers Adopting Software Services

DENVER, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP) (OTCQX: ITMSF) ("Intermap" or the "Company"), a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, today announced an interview with Proactive Investors to discuss the Company's business outlook.

Watch the interview here.

Intermap's Chairman and CEO, Patrick A. Blott, highlighted how the Company sees large commercial customers adopting its software solutions and elevation data-as-a-service (EDaaS) as the economy opens up. Mr. Blott also sees the aviation sector recovering quickly, along with a resurgence in government contracts after the coronavirus pandemic had delayed many programs. U.S. and allied governments represent Intermap's largest customer segment.

Intermap is listed on the TSX in Toronto under the symbol IMP and traded on the OTCQX in New York under the symbol ITMSF.

Visit intermap.com for more information.

Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be", "will consider", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP;OTCQX: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions. The Company's proprietary 3D NEXTMap elevation datasets and value-added geospatial collection, processing, analytics, fusion and orthorectification software and solutions are utilized across a range of industries that rely on accurate, high-resolution elevation data. Intermap helps governments build authoritative geospatial datasets and provides solutions for base mapping, transportation, environmental monitoring, topographic mapping, disaster mitigation, smart city integration, public safety and defense. The Company's commercial applications include aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation. For more information, please visit www.intermap.com.

SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation

Related Links

https://www.intermap.com/


TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Battle North Gold Corporation (TSX: BNAU) (OTCQX: BNAUF) ("Battle North" or the "Company") today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS") and Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC ("Glass Lewis"), two leading independent proxy advisory firms, have both recommended that Battle North shareholders vote FOR the special resolution approving the acquisition of Battle North by Evolution Mining Limited ("Evolution") as further described below at the upcoming Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 11, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) via live audio webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/207274698 (the "Meeting").

The Transaction

As previously announced by the Company on March 14, 2021, Battle North and Evolution entered into a definitive arrangement agreement pursuant to which Evolution has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Battle North (the "Transaction") at a price of C$2.65 per common share in cash (the "Consideration"), for total consideration for all issued and outstanding common shares pursuant to the Transaction of approximately C$343 million.

The Transaction will be implemented by way of a statutory plan of arrangement involving the Company, Evolution and Evolution Mining (Canada Holdings) Limited, pursuant to Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). The Arrangement is subject to approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") as well as Battle North shareholders at the Meeting by special resolution as described further below.

The Arrangement is anticipated to be completed by the end of May 2021, subject to obtaining the approval of Battle North shareholders and the Court, as well as the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.

The votes of all Battle North Shareholders are important regardless of the number of shares held. The Company encourages Battle North shareholders to read the Company's management information circular for the Meeting and applicable related Meeting materials (collectively, "Meeting Materials") in detail. Copies of the Meeting Materials are available at www.battlenorthgold.com/EvolutionAcquisition and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For details on how to vote, Battle North shareholders should refer to the Meeting Materials.

Your vote is important. To ensure your vote is represented at the Meeting, Battle North shareholders are encouraged to vote their shares prior to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 7, 2021, in accordance with the instructions mailed to you.

Enquiries Regarding the Arrangement and Meeting

Battle North shareholders with questions regarding the Arrangement and the Meeting should contact the Company's proxy solicitation advisor, Shorecrest Group Ltd.:

By Telephone: +1-888-637-5789 for toll-free North America

By Telephone: +1-647-931-7454 for International collect calls

By Email: [email protected]

About Battle North

Battle North is developing the Bateman Gold Project to become the next gold producer in the renowned Red Lake Gold District in Ontario, Canada and controls the second largest exploration ground in the district. Battle North also owns a large gold exploration land package on the Long Canyon gold trend near the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Battle North's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BNAU) and the OTCQX markets (BNAUF). For more information, please visit our website at www.battlenorthgold.com.

Battle North Gold Corporation

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipated", "believes", "may" and "will", and variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, should, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide or result in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the purchase by Evolution of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Battle North; the timing and outcome of the Meeting; the anticipated timing of the closing of the Transaction, and the satisfaction of closing conditions including but not limited to, required Battle North shareholder and Court approvals in connection with the Arrangement; and the merits of the Arrangement to Battle North shareholders (including, but not limited to, the reasons and benefits for the Arrangement described herein).

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, assumptions and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Battle North to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies, assumptions and other factors include: the risk that the Arrangement will not be approved by the shareholders of Battle North; the failure to, in a timely manner, or at all, obtain the required court approval of the Arrangement; the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to complete the Arrangement; the possibility that Battle North could terminate the Arrangement Agreement as a result of a superior proposal that is not matched by the other party; the effect of the announcement of the Transaction on Battle North's strategic relationships, operating results and business generally; significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation that could prevent or hinder the completion of the Arrangement; other customary risks associated with transactions of this nature; and the "Risk Factors" in the Circular, the "Risk Factors" in Battle North's annual information form dated March 29, 2021 ("2021 AIF") and the risks described in Battle North's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, if the Arrangement is not completed, and Battle North continues as an independent entity, there are risks that the announcement of the Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources by Battle North to the completion of the Arrangement could have an adverse impact on Battle North's business and strategic relationships, operating results and business generally. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies, assumptions and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of Battle North's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2021 AIF. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any forward-looking statement, whether expressed or implied.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and Battle North disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Battle North Gold Corporation

Related Links

http://www.battlenorthgold.com/


NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the New York office of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), a governmental agency entrusted with the promotion of Italian food, wine, and other alcoholic beverages in the USA, announces their partnership with KLG Public Relations to continue to educate American trade and consumers on Italian Spirits and keep the elevated perception of 'Made in Italy' top of mind in the press. This marks the Italian Trade Agency's second-ever Public Relations campaign on Italian Spirits in the US, following their inaugural efforts in early 2020.

The ITA partnered with 20 Italian brands to take part in the overarching Spirits Promotion Project, which will include trade events with major industry players such as the United States Bartender's Guild and Tales of the Cocktail. "We are honored to see familiar names get back on board with the project and excited to collaborate with smaller brands new to the US market", says Antonino Laspina, Italian Trade Commissioner, Executive Director of the USA.

Throughout the duration of the campaign, the agencies will work together to increase awareness of Italian spirits and the various spirit categories through strategic press outreach and product seeding. In order to leverage the quality, versatility, and authenticity of Italian spirits, the key categories that will be amplified through this campaign are Amaro, an herbal, bittersweet spirit, and Grappa, Italy's national spirit, as well as Limoncello and Vermouth, among other small niche categories. Both the ITA and KLG PR will work to highlight all of these individual brands as it pertains to category, production methods, ingredients and of course, cocktails.

"The ITA is thrilled to continue the promotion of Italian Spirits in the United States after the 2020 campaign, which was very successful despite the implementation of the US tariffs from October 2019 to February 2021, on top of the impact of COVID-19." states the Italian Trade Commissioner. He goes on to say, "The industry is slowly reopening its doors and we are excited to see the fascinating stories of Italian Liqueurs, Grappa, Amari, and Aperitifs transpire in the media, showcasing their palpable quality as the result of careful ingredient selection, strong passion, and centuries-old recipes. The ITA believes these public relations efforts will greatly benefit the industry by highlighting its deep connection to Italian territory and lifestyle which has undoubtedly been a major factor for its success internationally."

The initiative will include a variety of experiential programming that will target media and trade who are eager to learn more about Italian spirits and culture. With the understanding that the current global pandemic has created obstacles around travel, the ITA and KLG Public Relations will curate and introduce unique tasting opportunities allowing guests to explore Italian libations and culture stateside. To further educate and welcome consumers and media to the wide portfolio of Italian spirits, KLG Public Relations will showcase Italy's vast offering of Wine & Spirits to media and consumers, while highlighting a variety of upcoming occasions to enjoy Italian spirits.

About the Italian Trade Agency

Since 1926, the Italian Trade Commission, with 79 offices worldwide, has been the Italian government agency entrusted with the mission of promoting trade between Italian companies and foreign markets. The Food and Wine department, based in New York City, works on increasing the awareness of the Italian products in the U.S. by being the point of reference for trade and press and promoting Wine & Spirits through educational events, informational materials, special events and promotions. For all the activities regarding the alcoholic beverages, see http://italianspirits.us/

About KLG Public Relations

Established in 2016, KLG Public Relations is an award-winning Communications Agency that specializes in Wine & Spirits. Drawing upon founder Kate Laufer Gorenstein's decade of in-house PR experience, the results-oriented agency focuses on strategically delivering on brand goals and objectives, with an emphasis on driving sales for its exclusive clients through high-quality media coverage. In just five years, the New York Based agency quickly earned the privilege of representing industry icons as well as top celebrity-owned wine and spirit brands. KLG PR has also been named Small Agency of the Year and recognized for "The Best Brand Launch" and "The Best Food & Beverage Campaign" at various industry awards. https://www.klgpr.com/

Contact: Kate Laufer Gorenstein, [email protected]

SOURCE Italian Trade Agency; KLG Public Relations

Related Links

https://www.klgpr.com/


PHOENIX, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB), a vertically integrated cannabis company, announced today that its dispensary franchise, Unity Rd., has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with entrepreneur Kevin Waltermire to open three Unity Rd. shops. Due to the industry's unique business opportunities, Waltermire is seeking immediate entrance by purchasing an existing dispensary to convert into a Unity Rd. as well as applying for dispensary licenses in Michigan and Ohio. The $INLB and Unity Rd. teams are already working to identify potential acquisition opportunities across the two states as part of its support.

Waltermire is no stranger to the cannabis industry. He experienced the value of Unity Rd. first-hand when he played a critical role in developing the brand and shop design as the Director of Business Development for Unity Rd. from October 2018 to March 2020.

"Regardless of your professional background, opening a dispensary is an incredibly complicated and lengthy process," explained Waltermire. "The Unity Rd. franchise opportunity is the best way to eliminate a lot of the hurdles and ensure compliance and seamless operations. Their team is going to make it so much easier for myself and many others to enter this fast-growing industry."

Unity Rd. offers one of the safest routes for entrepreneurs looking to enter an industry that boasts high growth potential, helping franchise partners confidently enter the complex cannabis space. Its veteran team passes on their knowledge and trusted resources, as well as provides the ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. With a collective 120-plus years' experience in the legal cannabis industry, Unity Rd.'s time-tested Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) guide franchise partners through every operational function of the business.

"Franchising allows those who may not have the knowledge or access to necessary resources to have a viable opportunity to flourish," said Unity Rd. Chief Franchise Officer Mike Weinberger. "In my nearly two decades in franchising, I've never seen an industry quite like this [cannabis] that could benefit so much from the franchise business model. Beyond helping industry newcomers and existing operators find success, franchising is also helping standardize the cannabis industry."

Unity Rd. franchise partners now receive even more resources and supply chain connections as the brand was recently acquired by Item 9 Labs Corp., an award-winning cannabis operator.

"Having worked in the industry with product brands and dispensaries, I'm very aware of the supply chain issues many dispensary owners run into  I've seen it play out right here in Denver. So, when I heard the news of the acquisition and learned how Item 9 Labs would alleviate those pain points, I was sold," added Waltermire.

The combination of the Unity Rd. cannabis retail franchise and premium Item 9 Labs products makes Item 9 Labs Corp. one of the first vertically integrated cannabis franchise companies in the country. Known for its extensive catalogue of products, Item 9 Labs currently offers 75 active cannabis strains and 150-plus differentiated cannabis vape products as well as premium concentrates. As Unity Rd. grows its franchise network, Item 9 Labs plans to develop or partner with cultivation facilities in states where Unity Rd. franchise partners open cannabis retail shops. This move will give Unity Rd. operators front-of-the-line access to a reliable product supply chain.

Despite economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, the demand for cannabis products surged to unprecedented levels with nearly every state experiencing record sales throughout 2020. Growth is anticipated to continue in 2021 with a big year for cannabis law reform on both the state and federal levels  opening opportunities for the industry to explode, with industry projections to top $24 billion by year-end.

Currently, Unity Rd. has signed multiple agreements with 14 entrepreneurial groups across the country. The total investment ranges from $1 million to $2.5 million, including a $100,000 franchise fee for a single unit or $250,000 for three units. Parties interested in becoming a Unity Rd. franchise partner should have access to a minimum $1 million in liquid capital. Franchise partners may be owner-operators or passive owners with a designated, experienced manager running operations.

To learn more about Unity Rd. franchise opportunities, contact [email protected] or 720-923-5262, or visit unityrd.com. For additional information on Item 9 Labs Corp., visit item9labscorp.com.

About Unity Rd. :

Unity Rd. is bridging the two previously disconnected worlds of cannabis and franchising. The industry trailblazer is the first to bring the cannabis dispensary franchise model to the United Stateswith duality of prowess in both industries to back it up. Built up from a collective 200 years in the legal cannabis industry and franchising, the company helps eager operators enter the complex industry with ease. The marijuana franchise pioneer offers its partners the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. Launched in 2018, Unity Rd. has signed multiple agreements with more than 10 entrepreneurial groups across the country. Recently, it was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and one of the "Best Cannabis Companies to Work For" in both the dispensary and cultivation categories in Cannabis Business Times' elite 2020 list. The company is also the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award. For more information, visit unityrd.com.

About Item 9 Labs Corp. :

Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor, delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand. Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com.

Media Contact:

Liz Robinson, Fishman PR

Phone: 847-945-1300

Email: [email protected]

Investor Contact:

Item 9 Labs Corp.

Phone: 800-403-1140

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Item 9 Labs Corp.

Related Links

http://item9labscorp.com


ARLINGTON, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IWP Capital is pleased to welcome Jing Sun as part of its value-based research journey. IWP Capital wants to utilize the analytical and tech-oriented mind of Jing Sun. Prior to the recruitment, Jing Sun understood that IWP Capital offers the best screening, corporate, engagement, and proxy voting solutions. Jing Sun is also aware of the fact that IWP Capital works in collaboration with Catholic institutes, consultants, custodians, advisors, individuals, and platforms.

Jing Sun intends to render the best expertise and adhere to IWP Capital's specialized screening process based on "Social Responsible Investment Guidelines" of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In fact, Jing Sun finds the combination of different sources of data unique. Jing Sun wants to help IWP Capital improve its value-based research model and align various types of output to the specific needs of the clients. As far as business research goes, Jing Sun can play a vital role for IWP Capital.

In fact, the math and data analytical approach of Jing Sun would allow IWP Capital to opt for even more specific solutions for clients and improve the research analysis. But whether it's business research, value-based consulting, or proxy advisory and voting, Jing Sun wants to help IWP Capital drive more growth.

Interestingly, Jing Sun is proficient in programming languages such as Python, SQL, and SAS. She also has more than 4 years of experience in market research, credit rating, data analytics, and project management. Jing Sun is also familiar with complex qualitative analysis and major data analytics tools. She has advanced training in experimental designs, data mining, and mathematical modeling. It is also impressive that she is proficient in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Academically, Jing Sun has a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Mathematics. She did her master's in Applied Mathematics. Her key focus of interest is Statistics and understands the complexity of the algorithm, machine learning, data mining, database system, data analytics, business intelligence, data visualization, and design experiments.

Before Jing Sun did her master's degree in Applied Mathematics from Missouri University of Science and Technology, she did masters in Geotechnology in Architecture and Engineering. Jing Sun's experience as a data analyst for DaGong Global Credit Rating Group in China makes her a perfect fit for IWP Capital.

She can analyze complex data with due diligence and report the results to the leadership. It is crucial to understand that the top management takes key decisions based on analytics reports. And Jing Sun is more than capable to perform extensive business research and on-demand data analysis to offer the best financial services to clients.

As a new member of the IWP Capital, Jing Sun intends to create more value for IWP Capital's core client products with a goal to improve the client experience. Jing Sun can also help IWP Capital improve its overall capabilities and ensure clients get the results that cater to their specific needs. In retrospect, Jing Sun can help IWP Capital offer more sophisticated, logical, and calculated value-based financial solutions to clients.

Contact:

Sam Saladino

888-882-2046

[email protected]

SOURCE IWP Capital, LLC
"Female audiences are becoming more demanding and sophisticated when it comes to choosing a series that they want to get hooked on. They demand quality productions with emotional impact and substance. I'm convinced that " La Trampa del Amor " will resonate with the female audience in the U.S., because they are asking for stories like these, which masterfully combine humor and romance, essential elements that make a great difference these days," said Francheska Leon de la Barra, Marketing Manager of Kanal D Drama in the U.S. and LatAm.

Turkish actor and model Caglar Ertugrul (Kerem), and the dazzling Burcu Ozberk (Ayse) star in Kanal D Drama's new romantic comedy, which will captivate the Spanish-speaking audience in the U.S., right from the first episode. The series tells the story of Ayse, a humble young woman who works at a textile factory whose family includes two controlling older brothers. She dreams of going back to university and marrying her lifelong boyfriend Berk. Kerem, is part one of the wealthiest families in istanbul who happen to own the textile factory where Ayse works. He is smart and handsome, but also a playboy who is always struggling for his father's approval. After Ayse catches her boyfriend betraying her, she comes up with a plan to save her from an arranged marriage by trapping Kerem into marrying her. Skeptic at first, Kerem accepts to be part of Ayse's plan and their lives are bound to take a radical turn.

It should be noted that the stellar performance of Caglar Ertugrul (Kerem) in this series won him an award last year as best romantic actor in the Golden Butterfly Awards, which annually recognize the best Turkish TV productions. "La Trampa de Amor" (Afili Ask) was produced by Arc Film for Kanal D in 2019.

To watch the trailer for "La Trampa de Amor" visit: https://youtu.be/1he3YNi1tJo

Kanal D Drama is the first 24/7 Spanish-language Turkish drama channel. It is owned by Kanal D International Networks, which currently reaches 14 countries on three continents. It is the result of a strategic alliance between Kanal D International and Thema America, which is responsible for managing, operating, and distributing Kanal D Drama in Spanish in the United States and Latin America, including the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. The channel also features other international versions of Kanal D Drama in Albania, France, and Kosovo.

For more information about Kanal D Drama and its programming in the U.S., visit: www.kanalddrama.com

About Thema America:

THEMA, a Canal+ group company, is a leading distributor of thematic and multicultural content on all platforms for MVPDs (Multichannel Video Programming Distributors). It has a varied portfolio of more than 180 channels worldwide. Its portfolio includes, among others, Kanal D Drama, in association with Kanal D International; MEZZO Live HD, and Mexico's leading channels, Once Mexico and Canal 22 Internacional, and the Dominican Republic's Telemicro Internacional, among others.

About Kanal D International:

Kanal D is the leading national TV channel of Turkey broadcasting under Demiroren Media, Turkey's leading and Europe's fourth largest media organization, operating at television, newspaper, internet and magazine publishing and distribution industries. Kanal D is creating world class premium content as one of the top content providers in the world for 26 years. Kanal D International is the global distribution company of Kanal D, reaching to a wide profile of audience in more than 154 countries and territories, including Africa, Asia, the Balkans, Europe, Latam, Mena and the Far East, by providing award winning content including series and programs.

SOURCE Thema America

Related Links

http://www.kanalddrama.com


Some pockets of the south, Smallwood said, had high numbers of African American landowners. These were often Civil War veterans who used their service pay to buy land. North Carolina had many black landowners and their children were the first students attended A & T, which is short for "Agricultural and Technical," when it opened in 1891.
VALENCIA, Spain, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Network Intelligence and Automation company Kenmei Technologies announced today that they have partnered with Vodafone Group on its "Digital Network Program", with the aim of reducing operational costs, improving customer experience and increasing revenues.

Vodafone Group, the global leader in voice and data services, launched a well-defined strategy to keep their market leadership position with the introduction of the Digital Network Program initiative.

Under the Digital Network Program, Vodafone will be using advanced technologies to deliver next generation digital products to network engineers enabling networks to be more agile, efficient and secure, critical to meet the real time demands of cloud services, digitisation and mobility.

As part of the Digital Network Program strategy, Kenmei Technologies will deliver Network Intelligence and Automation use cases by integrating its ADELE platform with Vodafone's analytics platform running on the Cloud. As part of the agreement, the ADELE solution from Kenmei will be expanded to all European markets.

"The ADELE platform which has been designed from the ground up with a native Big Data architecture has allowed Kenmei to deliver an innovative solution to automate many operational tasks reducing costs and improving Customer Experience," commented Ali Wansa, Global VP Sales at Kenmei Technologies. "This is in line with Vodafone Group strategy and we are very proud to become a key partner within the Digital Network Program at Vodafone Group," added Ali.

A joint team of telecom experts and software developers from both companies, Vodafone and Kenmei, are actively developing use cases on top of ADELE platform.

"Through this collaboration, we have a significant opportunity to maximize benefits of our data ocean by implementing the most advanced Network Intelligence and Automation use cases provided by ADELE," commented Sherif Said, Digital Network Solutions and Insights Manager at Vodafone Group. "The perfect blend of telecom and IT knowledge brought by Kenmei Technologies to the Digital Program together with the network expertise of Vodafone's engineers ensures the success of the project," added Sherif.

About Vodafone

Vodafone Group is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone Group has mobile operations in 25 countries, partners with mobile networks in 44 more, and fixed broadband operations in 19 markets. As of 31 December 2018, Vodafone Group had approximately 700 million mobile customers and 21 million fixed broadband customers, including all of the customers in Vodafone's joint ventures and associates.

For more information, please visit: http://www.vodafone.com.

About Kenmei

Kenmei Technologies is a Spanish company based in Valencia founded by telecoms and software experts, focused on providing data intelligence through machine-based decision making methods, automating network operations and customer assurance, all designed to help operators deal with increasing network complexities.

For further information, please visit http://www.kenmei.ai.

SOURCE Kenmei Technologies
"From its founding as the city's first hospital in 1874 to its important role as an acute care teaching hospital and Mercer County's only provider of comprehensive cardiac surgery, St. Francis Medical Center has always put the needs of Trenton and surrounding neighborhoods first," said Al Maghazehe, President and CEO of Capital Health. "This approach aligns very well with Capital Health's mission, and we are committed to our shared vision of providing the highest level of care for the community."

"The health care industry is always evolving to advance medicine and improve delivery of care to the communities we serve," said Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., chairman of Capital Healthcare, Inc. Board of Trustees. "The changes we're seeing here in Mercer County are a reflection of what's going on nationally, but our neighbors in Trenton and nearby communities can rest assured that we will continue to keep their interests at the center of all we do."

Both hospitals are known for providing advanced care and for ensuring local access to high-quality, comprehensive and affordable health care services.

"Both Capital Health and St. Francis Medical Center are deeply committed to caring for residents of our community," said Daniel P. Moen, President and Chief Executive Officer, St. Francis Medical Center. "The rapidly changing healthcare landscape presents challenges, but it is through a shared mission that both organizations look to expand services and positively impact the health and well-being of local and regional residents."

"As a safety net hospital, ensuring the community has access to care is the heart of our mission," said Joseph Youngblood, II, J.D., Ph.D., Chairman, Board of Trustees, St. Francis Medical Center. "In response to a broad national transformation of health care, we look to combine our strengths with those of Capital, a healthcare leader, and grow services for our residents. Together, we are steadfast in our commitment to provide area residents, including the underserved with high-quality, comprehensive care and to improve the delivery of healthcare for our community. Our partnership with Capital Health will be a fitting legacy to the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for their decades of service to Trenton and Mercer County."

Capital Health and St. Francis now enter a period of due diligence. The process includes evaluation and discussion to determine how to best combine and enhance their capabilities to more effectively fulfill their missions to the citizens of Trenton and the surrounding area. Approvals will be necessary from State and Federal officials and others before the transaction is able to be completed. The new combined system will be Non-Catholic.

Throughout the process, Capital Health and St. Francis remain committed to sustaining and advancing the comprehensive, high quality services they provide to residents of the greater Trenton area. Areas of focus will include exploring opportunities to expand access to care and improved efficiency in health care delivery.

ABOUT CAPITAL HEALTH

Capital Health is the Central New Jersey/Lower Bucks County region's leader in providing progressive, quality patient care with significant investments in physicians, nurses and staff, as well as advanced technology. Comprised of two hospitals (Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Capital Health Medical Center  Hopewell), a Hamilton outpatient facility, and various primary and specialty care practices across the region, Capital Health is a dynamic health care resource accredited by DNV GL - Healthcare.

A four-time Magnet-designated health system for nursing excellence, Capital Health serves as a Level II regional trauma center, regional perinatal center (including a Level III NICU), and emergency mental health screening center. Capital Health also offers the region's first and most experienced Pediatric Emergency Department and most recently, New Jersey's first Autism-Friendly Pediatric Emergency Department. Capital Health also provides innovative programs such as Capital Institute for Neurosciences; nationally accredited Center for Comprehensive Breast Care; Center for Digestive Health; Marjorie G. Ernest Joint Replacement Center of Excellence; award-winning Cancer Center; and the Heart & Vascular Institute, which includes the region's first accredited Chest Pain Center. For more information, visit www.capitalhealth.org.

ABOUT ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

Accredited by The Joint Commission, St. Francis Medical Center has a long history of providing care to the community, having served Central Jersey residents for nearly 150 years. As an acute-care teaching hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, a member of Trinity Health, is known as the region's Heart Hospital. St. Francis is the only facility in Mercer County with a state-issued certificate of need to perform cardiac surgery, including open-heart surgery as well as minimally invasive, robotic heart surgery. The Center of Excellence for Heart Health also provides high-level cardiac catheterization, angioplasty services, sophisticated ablation and heart arrhythmia treatments and advanced diagnostics. St. Francis regional services also include its award-winning Stroke Program, as well as Emergency Services, Sleep Disorder Center, Behavioral Health Inpatient Service and HIV Program. It is a teaching hospital offering an internal medical residency program through Jersey Shore University Medical Center, as well as a School of Nursing and a School of Radiologic Technology. St. Francis' partner in care is LIFE St. Francis (Living Independently For Elders), a program for the all-inclusive care of the elderly based in Bordentown, NJ. The medical center provides care to patients throughout Mercer County, Burlington County, and nearby Bucks County, PA. For more information, visit www.stfrancismedical.org .

ABOUT TRINITY HEALTH

Trinity Health is one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, serving diverse communities that include more than 30 million people across 22 states. Trinity Health includes 92 hospitals, as well as 100 continuing care locations that include PACE programs, senior living facilities, and home care and hospice services. Its continuing care programs provide nearly 2.5 million visits annually. Based in Livonia, Michigan, and with annual operating revenues of $18.8 billion and assets of $30.5 billion, the organization returns $1.3 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. Trinity Health employs about 123,000 colleagues, including 6,800 employed physicians and clinicians. Committed to those who are poor and underserved in its communities, Trinity Health is known for its focus on the country's aging population. As a single, unified ministry, the organization is the innovator of Senior Emergency Departments, the largest not-for-profit provider of home health care services  ranked by number of visits  in the nation, as well as the nation's leading provider of PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) based on the number of available programs. For more information, visit trinity-health.org. You can also follow Trinity Health on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

SOURCE Capital Health

Related Links

http://capitalhealth.org


MONTREAL, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Lion Electric ("Lion" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. ("NGA") (NYSE: NGA), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today the completion of their previously announced business combination (the "Business Combination"). The Business Combination was approved by NGA stockholders at a special meeting held on April 23, 2021. Beginning on May 7, 2021, Lion's common shares are scheduled to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") under the new symbol "LEV", and its warrants are scheduled to begin trading on the NYSE under the new symbol "LEV WS" and on the TSX under the new symbol "LEV.WT."

The transaction, including the concurrent private placement (PIPE), resulted in proceeds of approximately U.S. $490 million to Lion, after payment of transaction expenses. Approximately U.S. $90 million of the net proceeds were used to repay outstanding credit facilities and debt instruments. The remainder of the net proceeds of the transaction are expected to be used to finance Lion's growth strategy, including the planned expansion of the Company's U.S. manufacturing capacity, the continued development of advanced battery systems, the planned construction of a highly automated battery system assembly factory in Quebec and other general corporate purposes.

"Today marks a big step forward in the evolution of Lion, as we accelerate our growth strategy to continue selling all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles on the cutting edge of technology, while developing new ones," said Marc Bedard, CEO  Founder of Lion. "We thank NGA, our investors and our Board of Directors for sharing and supporting our mission of being the leader in our industry as well as our vision which aims at improving our society, our environment and, above all, the quality of life of all around us".

Pierre Larochelle, the Chairman of the Board said, "We are excited to see this transaction successfully realized and congratulate the entire Lion team on this important milestone. We look forward to accelerating the development of Lion, and I believe we have the right strategy, culture and people to deliver growth and build value for our clients, employees, communities and shareholders".

Marc Bedard will continue to lead Lion's management team, overseeing the Company's strategic growth initiatives and expansion. He will be supported by Lion's existing executive officers: Nicolas Brunet, Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer, Yannick Poulin, Chief Operating Officer and Francois Duquette, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary.

Marc Bedard and Pierre Larochelle will be joined by Northern Genesis' Ian Robertson and Chris Jarratt on a newly formed board of directors consisting of eight directors, including six existing Lion Board members.

Ian Robertson, cofounder of Northern Genesis, commented "Lion now has a strong group of shareholders who are excited by its electric vehicles, its business model and opportunities for continued growth. Chris Jarratt and myself look forward to joining the Board of Directors and working with management of Lion as it embarks on the next stage of its life as a public company".

As previously disclosed, following the closing of the Business Combination, Lion expects to file with the Autorite des marches financiers a final non-offering prospectus to become a reporting issuer under the Securities Act (Quebec).

National Bank Financial, BMO Capital Markets and Roth Capital Partners, LLC served as financial advisors, and Stikeman Elliott LLP and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal advisors to Lion. Barclays Capital Inc. served as exclusive M&A and capital markets advisor, and Husch Blackwell LLP and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP served as legal advisors to Northern Genesis. Barclays Capital Inc. served as lead placement agent and BMO Capital Markets and Roth Capital Partners, LLC served as placement agents for the PIPE. Mayer Brown LLP served as legal advisor to the lead placement agent.

To celebrate the completion of the transaction, Lion's team will ring the closing bell at the NYSE at 4:00 pm EDT on May 7, 2021. A live stream of the event and replay can be accessed by visiting https://www.nyse.com/bell. A similar event will be held on May 10, 2021, when Lion's team will ring the opening bell at the TSX at 9:30 am EDT.

About Lion Electric

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles. The company creates, designs and manufactures all-electric class 5 to class 8 commercial urban trucks and all-electric buses and minibuses for the school, paratransit and mass transit segments. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles all its vehicles' components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" (which shall include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws) within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, including statements regarding the listing of Lion's common shares and warrants on the NYSE and the TSX and statements regarding the filing by Lion of its final non-offering prospectus. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "could," "plan," "potential," "future," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Lion's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding certain key elements of Lion's current objectives, goals, targets, strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of Lion's business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes and is not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Lion, and are based on a number of assumptions, as well as other factors that Lion believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct or that Lion's vision, business, objectives, plans and strategies will be achieved. Many risks and uncertainties could cause Lion's actual results, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Lion's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Lion anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lion's assessments to change. However, while Lion may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Lion has no intention and undertakes no obligation to do so, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lion's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Lion's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The complete version of the cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements as well as a description of the relevant assumptions and risk factors likely to affect Lion's actual results, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements are included in the registration statement on Form F-4 filed by Lion under its profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Lion Electric

Related Links

https://thelionelectric.com/


"Mark Takahashi brings a wealth of markets experience and has a keen grasp of the changing energy landscape," said PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana. "I look forward to working closely with him as PJM moves into the future."

Takahashi previously served as chief financial officer of Ascendant Group Limited, parent company of Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited. Prior to that, he was group director and chief financial officer of CLP Holdings Limited, one of two vertically integrated electric utility companies in Hong Kong, from 2008 to 2014, having been with the organization since 2003. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

"The world is in a massive energy transition, and I'm looking forward to working with the Board, PJM staff, and members and stakeholders as we seek to meet the challenges of that transition," said Takahashi.

The Board selected Takahashi at its May 5 meeting.

Earlier this week, PJM members elected Paula Conboy and Jeanine Johnson to the Board and reelected Sarah Rogers to serve an additional term.

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes over 85,103 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.

SOURCE PJM Interconnection

Related Links

http://www.pjm.com


NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a marked increase in anxiety and mental health disorders among American adults, and employers have a big role to play in better supporting their workers' mental health needs.

Rethink First, a leader in cloud-based behavioral and mental health treatment solutions, is bringing experts from its employer and mental health divisions together to present "Addressing Your Employees' Professional, Personal & Parenting Needs: Bringing Visibility to the Invisible."

Rethink

This virtual mental health summit will take place on Tuesday, May 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. ET. Experts from the fields of corporate HR, behavioral health and psychology will offer actionable solutions to help participants be more proactive in meeting employees' mental health needs.

"Our country is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and it's not going away as pandemic restrictions lift," said Mike Civello, Senior Vice President of Rethink Benefits, which provides evidence-based training tools and 24/7 virtual consultations for caregivers and managers who support neurodiverse individuals. "Employers have such influence over a large group of working people, and can make a real difference in their lives."

This free virtual learning session is open to all employers, benefits managers and HR professionals. Individuals can register for the event here.

"The curtain has been pulled back on challenges people have that are deeply rooted and are going to continue," said Joe Burton, founder of Whil, a provider of digital mental health training tools. "We know access to care is limited. Let's put tools in the hands of our employees to help them."

Rethink acquired Whil earlier this year, and has added its mental health solutions to the tools it provides to support employees' behavioral and mental health needs.

Keynote speakers will address key trends in mental and behavioral health services, and how employers can design benefits plans that can better meet the needs of high-stress employee groups.

Speakers include:

Sandra Kuhn , partner and national leader for behavioral health consulting at Mercer.

, partner and national leader for behavioral health consulting at Mercer. Josh Bersin , president and founder of Bersin & Associates, a recognized expert in corporate HR.

, president and founder of Bersin & Associates, a recognized expert in corporate HR. Sarah Lecuna , senior global benefits manager for Intuit.

, senior global benefits manager for Intuit. Christine Wenger , national manager for enterprise change management for Toyota Financial Services.

, national manager for enterprise change management for Toyota Financial Services. Dr. Darren Sush , a California licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

, a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Tara Cousineau , Ph.D., founder of BodiMojo, which helps teens with emotional intelligence and stress management.

, Ph.D., founder of BodiMojo, which helps teens with emotional intelligence and stress management. Joe Burton , founder of Whil.

, founder of Whil. Mike Civello , Senior Vice President of Rethink Benefits.

About Rethink First

Rethink First is a global health technology company providing cloud-based treatment tools, training and clinical support to employers, educators, behavioral health professionals and payers. Rethink serves thousands of clients globally, including more than 25 of the Fortune 100 and many of the country's largest public school systems and health plans. Rethink is owned by K1 Capital, a premier private equity firm focused on high-growth, enterprise software solutions.

Media Contact:

Eric Masters

919.495.3944

[email protected]

SOURCE Rethink
Also arriving in June is WWII German drama Turncoat , based on the bestselling novel by Siegfried Lenz and winner of the 2020 Seoul International Drama Awards for Best TV Movie.

In another first in June, MHz Choice will be premiering Caravan of Death, the streamer's first series from Chile. Based on the real life drama of Carmen Hertz, the series draws its name from the string of political executions led by Chile's infamous leader Augusto Pinochet in 1973.

Rounding out the slate is Allmen: The Mystery Of The Dahlias, the latest German TV movie based on Swiss author Martin Suter's gentleman art thief, and a new season of MHz Choice subscriber favorite The Art of Crime from France.

The full June 2021 schedule available here: https://mhzchoiceblog.com/premiere-schedule/

JUNE 1

THE ART OF CRIME SEASON 3, FRANCE, GAUMONT, NEW SEASON

Addictive mysteries with Nicolas Gob (A French Village) and Eleonore Bernheim (Murder In) as mismatched investigators chasing down missing paintings and solving murders in Paris.

RAINING CATS AND DOGS, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE FILM

Two down-on-their-luck strangers become improbable companions in misfortune.

JUNE 8

SEKTA, RUSSIA, VIDEOPLUGGER, NEW LIMITED SERIES

Russian thriller about a group of deprogrammers who rescue people from cults - but their latest assignment pushes them to the brink.

SURVEILLANCE, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE FILM

Hired to oversee the security of a superstore, Pierre soon discovers a dark secret and becomes a threat to the system he helped create.

JUNE 15

TURNCOAT, GERMANY, BETA FILMS, NEW LIMITED SERIES

Acclaimed World War II drama about a young Wehrmacht soldier torn between a sense of duty, guilt and his own conscience, who ultimately defects to fight with the Red Army. Co-starring Bjarne Madel (Crime Scene Cleaner) and Florian Lukas (The Weissensee Saga).

ALLMEN: THE MYSTERY OF THE DAHLIAS, GERMANY, BETA FILMS, NEW EPISODE

The latest TV movie based on Swiss author Martin Suter's humorous novels about gentleman-art-thief-turned-amateur-sleuth Johann Friedrich von Allmen. Starring Heino Ferch (Anatomy of Evil).

WELCOME, KANIUSHA, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE FILM

A teacher goes the distance to help a new student whose family is threatened with deportation.

JUNE 22

CARAVAN OF DEATH, CHILE, VIDEOPLUGGER, NEW LIMITED SERIES

Gripping Chilean drama based on the life of Carmen Hertz, a human rights lawyer who spent 40 years fighting to get justice for her husband's 1973 political execution.

PASSAGE OF DESIRE, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE FILM

Retired police detective Lola and her neighbor Ingrid investigate a murder.

JUNE 29

THE SECRET OF MANTA CORRIDOR, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE FILM

Lola and Ingrid's investigation into a missing hairdresser takes them to Indonesia.

About MHz Networks

MHz Networks offers viewers access to a library of the best television mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English through its subscription streaming service, MHz Choice. Select MHz Networks content is also available on DVD and on its free ad-supported service MHz Now, available on Samsung TV Plus. New MHz Choice customers receive a free 7-Day Trial. For more information, go to mhzchoice.com.

SOURCE MHz Networks

Related Links

https://mhznetworks.com/


OTTAWA, Ontario, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanometrics announced today that it has been awarded a Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) contract to supply the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) Equipment and Services for a new Canadian EEW detection and monitoring network.

NRCan is developing a Canada-wide earthquake detection system that will provide up to tens of seconds of warning in advance of the strong, damaging waves of an earthquake; and will alert Government Operations Centres and Critical Infrastructure Operators so they can undertake measures to ensure public safety and limit the economic impact.

Over the next four years, Nanometrics will deploy a solution composed of the following:

TitanSMA Accelerograph - a Class A Strong motion accelerograph designed for high precision observational and structural engineering applications, where scientists and engineers require exceptional dynamic range over a wide frequency band.

Apollo Server Data Acquisition and Archiving system - Server software system that enables installation on-premise as well as use in hosted configurations.

Nanometrics will draw on its experience in the design and installation of complete networks, including recent full-turnkey national EEW systems.

"As a Canadian company, we are proud to continue to build on our long-standing partnership with NRCan, from refreshing the Canadian National Seismograph Network to now participating in the design and deployment of Canada's Earthquake Early Warning System." Bruce Townsend, General Manager Seismology and Executive Vice President, Nanometrics.

According to NRCan, there are over 4000 earthquakes in Canada each year. Of these 4000, only about 50 are generally felt. The EEW system will be designed to alert for potentially harmful earthquakes along the west coast of British Columbia, the Ottawa River Valley, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway, and those occurring outside Canadian borders in the United States.

Nanometrics brings extensive experience in designing and deploying seismic networks and EEW systems in over 100 countries.

For more information about the project, please visit NRCan's Early Earthquake Warning System.

Photo(s):https://www.prlog.org/12868569

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Nanometrics
EDMESTON, N.Y., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NYCM Insurance has received the Nation's Best and Brightest in Wellness award for their highly successful employee wellness program for the 7th year in a row. The National Association for Business Resources hosts the more than 20-year-old program to recognize companies for promoting employee well-being, worksite health, and wellness. Winning companies were evaluated in areas such as: outcomes, analysis, tracking, participation & incentives, benefits and programs, leadership, employee input, culture, and environment.

"Throughout the year of 2020, the Nation's Best and Brightest in Wellness winners have demonstrated leadership and forward thinking as they pivoted their business and workforce through COVID-19. It is in these unique times that the Best and Brightest in Wellness winners excel and share their knowledge with others," said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO, Best and Brightest Programs.

NYCM recognizes that balance is essential in creating a well-rounded, sustainable wellness routine and is proud to offer employees an all-encompassing wellness program. Known by employees as "365 Passport to Wellness,'' the program focuses on inspiring team members to live a healthy lifestyle and find happiness by practicing various forms of wellness. The number "365" is included in the program title to reiterate that wellness is something we can and should commit to every day of the year. To encourage overall well-being, employee participation in the program is tracked for annual incentive opportunities. "We are excited and proud to accept this award for the 7th year in a row," says Lexi Wilcox of NYCM's People Development Team "During our time at home due to COVID-19, we have adapted our wellness program to be more inclusive than ever before. The true success comes from the dedication of our employees and leadership as we continue our journey forward as a team, stronger and healthier."

To learn more about NYCM's award winning wellness program, click here .

About NYCM. NYCM Insurance is a property and casualty insurance carrier that has been providing coverage to residents and businesses in New York since 1899. The company has grown tremendously over the last 120 years and is currently under the direction of founder VanNess Robinson's great grandson, V. Daniel Robinson II. Aside from the Edmeston headquarters, NYCM Insurance has three additional offices in Sherburne, Canajoharie and Orchard Park. With a team of over 800 employees, and a network of over 1,200 independent agents, NYCM Insurance is dedicated to providing superior service and a quality customer experience to their over 525,000 customers. Insurance lines include Home, Auto, Umbrella and Business. NYCM Insurance is rated A by A.M. Best Company. To learn more about NYCM's services, visit www.nycm.com.

Contact Jeremy Robinson, Senior Vice President of Customer Relations Management

[email protected]

800-234-6926

SOURCE NYCM Insurance
NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Odgers Berndtson, one of the fastest growing executive search firms in the United States and the sixth largest in the world, is pleased to announce the launch of its proprietary intelligence platform, OBDynamics, which uses big-data and machine learning to rapidly and accurately deliver data-informed talent intelligence and recruitment services.

Built on a continually updating data lake of 1.1 billion personal and corporate records, all of which are gathered in accordance with the most stringent international privacy regulations, OBDynamics' AI-powered platform augments Odgers Berndtson's traditional offerings, allowing consultants to provide highly detailed talent mapping and analytic services alongside top-end executive and middle market search.

"As the most extensive talent intelligence tool in the search industry, OBDynamics allows us to separate meaning from the vast web of digital noise, and enables our partners to find talent and analyze trends with heretofore unimaginable precision," said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson U.S.

"For our clients, OBDynamics breaks down into three primary utilities," Mr. Potter added. "The first is our Talent Intelligence offering, in which we use OBDynamics to build custom analytical maps of things like skills and talent distributions, compensation variation, career progressions, and pipeline analyses."

"The second is a product we call Talent Streams, which is often used in tandem with our Talent Intelligence service. Essentially, it is a highly customized name-generation product in which we provide tailored shortlists of ready-to-hire mid-level candidates to our clients.

"The third product," Mr. Potter continued, "is something we're calling Augmented Search Intelligence, and it is baked into every search we do now. Essentially, OBDynamics' research capabilities help us execute traditional executive searches faster and more accurately than before, generate more diverse fields of candidates, and find the proverbial unicorn candidates that no one else can find."

For example, the firm recently worked with an international electronics company to find a data scientist who had recent experience as a Silicon Valley-based streaming company, spoke Hindi, had professional and business connections in Western India, was willing to relocate to the company's offices in Mumbai, and had the mixture of technical and leadership expertise to build and manage a new team from scratch. "Talk about a needle in a haystack," Mr. Potter said. "Before OBDynamics, this search might have taken a year; instead it was completed in six weeks."

As cutting-edge tools so often are, OBDynamics' development was steered by necessity.

"OBDynamics was embryonic when the pandemic hit, and we retooled the program to fight the virus," said Kennon Kincaid, COO of Odgers Berndtson U.S. "In New York State, for example, the Governor's office asked us to help; within 48 hours we had used OBDynamics to identify 220,000 qualified healthcare professionals in New York and New Jersey and contacted them via SMS. Ultimately, 9,000 volunteers were willing to deploy to critical care epicenters, serve in their local communities, or assist with telehealth. Our team subsequently worked in similar capacities with the states of New Jersey, Louisiana, Alaska, Arizona, California, Texas, and Missouri." This body of work served as a basis for a publication by the renowned Hoover Institution entitled, "Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Mobilizing and Integrating Responses Across the Government and Private Sector," for which our COO served as an editor and our partners as contributors.

In the past year, Odgers Berndtson U.S. has also added four other new service offerings: Odgers Interim, a premier interim search business; The Berwick Group, a platform for recruiting middle-market executives; Leadership Assessment Services that help organizations make informed, metrics-based decisions about executive selection, high-potential identification, and succession planning; and OrgShakers, a human capital solutions team that provides organizational and other HR consulting services to clients.

About Odgers Berndtson

For more than 50 years, Odgers Berndtson has delivered executive search, leadership assessment, and development strategies to the world's biggest and best organizations. Odgers Berndtson's 250+ partners cover more than 50 sectors and operate out of more than 30 countries. The U.S. wing of the firm launched in 2011 and is one of the fastest growing search firms in the Americas. Odgers Berndtson currently has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

CONTACT

Steve Potter

Kennon Kincaid

Odgers Berndtson

[email protected]

[email protected]erndtson.com

SOURCE Odgers Berndtson

Related Links

http://www.odgersberndtson.com


DENVER, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Offen Petroleum ("Offen"), a leading independent fuel distributor, announced today that it is acquiring the business assets of Petromark, Inc., a motor fuel distributor, and Petromark Transportation, LLC, its affiliate trucking company, both headquartered in Harrison, AR (together as "Petromark"). Offen is a provider of motor fuel, propane, lubricants, and petroleum logistics services in 23 states in the Midwest and Western U.S. The business combination further expands Offen's footprint more deeply into Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Petromark is owned jointly by Stephen Lair and Steve Turner and is a significant wholesaler of motor fuels in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The company sells branded motor fuels under the Shell, Phillips 66, Valero, Sinclair, Conoco and VP Racing banners while also selling unbranded motor fuel to retailers. Steve Turner will be an advisor to Offen Petroleum and will assist with the continued growth of the business.

"I am very pleased that we are able to add such a successful business to further the growth of Offen Petroleum. Petromark is a perfect fit to the Ozark Mountain Energy business, which we acquired in December of last year," said Bill Gallagher, CEO of Offen Petroleum. "Petromark allows us the opportunity to strengthen our contract dealer business and deepen our presence in the Ozark Region. Additionally, I am pleased that Steve Turner will be joining us to share his wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to his customers that has made his company so successful."

The transaction is expected to be completed on May 18th with combined operations under the Offen Petroleum name starting on May 19th.

"Stephen and I have enjoyed the experience of operating in both the retail and wholesale fuel businesses through the years and we are pleased that a company, such as Offen, with the same dedication to operational excellence will continue to serve our valued customers," said Steve Turner. "I look forward to working with Bill and his team as we jointly grow this business."

Downstream Energy Partners LLC ("DEP") provided exclusive merger and acquisition advisory services to Petromark. DEP is a leading investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services to middle market companies within the downstream energy sector and is comprised of professionals who have decades of experience as both owner/operators and strategic financial advisors to energy companies. "Offen Petroleum is acquiring high quality wholesale fuel supply assets in a location strategic to their expanding footprint," said Jeff Traub, Partner of DEP, adding, "Messrs. Lair and Turner built an exceptional company and it's been a pleasure representing them in this transaction."

About Offen Petroleum

Headquartered in Commerce City CO, Offen is a growing distributor of fuels, propane, and lubricants that dedicates itself to serving its customers with the highest level of service. Offen is a portfolio company of Court Square Capital Partners, a New York based private equity firm. In addition to organic growth, Offen is a leading acquiror of companies in this consolidating marketplace. Offen distributes over 2.0 billion gallons of motor fuel annually and will serve customers throughout the Midwest and Western United States. In addition to branded and unbranded motor fuels, Offen sells propane, and lubricant products and solutions for the commercial, industrial, and passenger car segments, as well as diesel exhaust fluids used in emission controls.

More information on Offen can be found at www.offenpetro.com.

Contact: Chris Tofalli

Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC

914-834-4334

SOURCE Offen Petroleum
Reporters visit Qingpu New City for establishment of five "new cities"

By:Zhao Chunyuan | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-04-29 17:30





On April 28, a press briefing and media salon on Shanghai's five "new cities" was held at Qingxi Park in Qingpu district of Shanghai. More than ten Chinese and foreign media reporters gathered here to listen to three experts explaining the important impact of the five "new cities" on three key areas: Shanghai's economic growth and future development of the city; the integration strategy of the Yangtze River Delta; and the service of the domestic and international double cycle.

(Qingxi Park)

How should the next phase of development and construction of the five "new cities" be launched? Tang Zilai, counsellor of the Shanghai Municipal Government and professor of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, gave his thoughts and suggestions on the above issue. He believes that the core of the new city's development is a higher value segment of industry from general manufacturing to intellectual property manufacturing, and finally focusing on both advanced manufacturing and science and technology R&D. In addition, he also pointed out that in the era of the knowledge-based economy, high-end talents are the core resource of city competitiveness. Cities must attract high-end talents in order to attract high-end enterprises, because high-end enterprises follow high-end talents.

Wu Jiang, a professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University and former executive vice president of Tongji University, pointed out in his speech titled "people-oriented new city construction" that in order to become a desirable city, a new city must embody the concept of Better City, Better Life. This concept entails ensuring every person in the city has a strong sense of happiness. Such a sense of happiness should be obtained not only through the main core public service functions, but also through the convenience of daily life. As one of the most important measures to enhance the competitiveness of the city, the "15-minute community life circle" should be accelerated in the new city to achieve more convenient public transportation and more convenient daily services than in the central city of Shanghai.





At the second stop for a group interview, Chinese and foreign media reporters visited the HIT Artificial Intelligence Park to explore the industrial code of the Yangtze River Delta ecological green integrated development demonstration zone. HIT Artificial Intelligence Park settled in Qingpu district in 2016, which is a gathering platform for all-factor service enterprises with the merging of knowledge, information, capital and market. Since its establishment, dozens of artificial intelligence enterprises have settled in the park, covering many high-tech frontier fields such as robotics, drones and laser communication, which has become a major brand under which Qingpu is building a central science and innovation center.





The picture above right (where "TO" is located) shows the exact border between Shanghai and Jiangsu province

At the third stop, Chinese and foreign media reporters visited the Yuandang Lake Footbridge located at the junction of Qingpu district of Shanghai and Wujiang district of Suzhou, to see the city ecological protection at small scale. From the construction to the completion, the Yuandang Footbridge project only took 84 days. Yuandang Lake is one of the important transboundary water bodies in the "Yangtze River Delta ecological green integrated development demonstration zone. The ecological shoreline breakthrough construction in Yuandang Lake includes the Yuandang water environment treatment, water ecology restoration and water landscape reshaping, providing a good place for people to relax.
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)
NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Belo Sun Mining Corp. (TSX: BSX) (OTCQX: BSXGF), a Canadian based gold exploration and development company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Belo Sun Mining Corp. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Belo Sun Mining Corp. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "BSXGF." 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.

"Belo Sun is pleased to be joining the OTCQX Best Market and improving access to our American shareholders. Our team is focused on carefully advancing the development of the Volta Grande Gold Project while meeting and exceeding all social, environmental and health and safety protocols and considering the best interests of all stakeholders," said Peter Tagliamonte, President and CEO of Belo Sun.

Nauth LPC acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Belo Sun Mining Corp.

Belo Sun Mining Corp is a Canada-based gold exploration and development company. It is engaged in the exploration and development of properties located in Brazil. The company operates in two geographic areas: Canada and Brazil. It owns and operates Volta Grande Gold project, located in the municipality of Senator Jose Porfirio in northern Brazil and Patrocino gold project, situated in the Para State.

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


VANCOUVER, BC, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Residents and visitors of The City of Pompano Beach, will now have a better contactless parking experience thanks to PayByPhone.

The leading global provider of mobile parking payment solutions is expanding to parking spaces, on-street and off-street across the city, providing another contactless choice to drivers to pay for parking, additionally adding a new resident rate.

"We're excited to be expanding our contactless parking services across the South Florida area," said Roamy Valera, CEO of PayByPhone. "The City of Pompano Beach will be joining other South Florida area communities, including The City of Miami, University of Miami, Florida International University, Coral Gables, and Fort Lauderdale.

Residents are encouraged to visit Pompano Beach Pier Garage at 3460 NE 3rd Street to register for the new 20% discounted resident rate.

PayByPhone is a hassle-free solution for over 43 million registered drivers, allowing them to pay for parking with just their smartphone. The payment app sends text messages automatically, when a parking session expires, providing drivers the ability to extend their parking session without needing to return to their vehicle. Drivers can also begin a session without registering for an account, making it ideal for those who are short on time.

For more information, visit paybyphone.com

About PayByPhone

PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. A subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, PayByPhone is leading the way in the creation of the mobile future.

SOURCE PayByPhone Technologies Inc.

Related Links

paybyphone.com


ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, is proud to continue to invest in our military heroes during National Military Appreciation Month. May represents an opportunity for civilians to recognize and appreciate the service and sacrifice of our Nation's defenders.

The PenFed Foundation celebrates service members, veterans, military families and caregivers everyday through its ongoing programs: Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program (VEIP), Military Heroes Emergency Financial Assistance, and Dream Makers Home Buying Assistance Program.

Programs coming up this month include the VEIP Ignition Challenge, sponsored by MidCountry Bank, for veteran entrepreneurs in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Ignition Challenge is a competition in which entrepreneurs can identify their business impact and goals, compete for votes (online), and winners will receive funding and mentorship.

Also, on May 31, the PenFed Foundation will launch a student loan debt assistance initiative in partnership with student loan refinancing company Purefy to provide $100,000 in student loan relief to Black veterans in the Greater Washington area. To learn more, visit penfedfoundation.org.

The PenFed Foundation is proud to partner with generous supporters to make these initiatives possible. This Memorial Day, the Robert I. Schattner Foundation will provide a matching donation of $25,000 for all donations made to the PenFed Foundation. In addition, FCP Euro, a European car parts company based in Connecticut, will donate 5% of its sales over Memorial Day Weekend (May 28  May 31) to the PenFed Foundation to support its programs.

"We are proud to celebrate military heroes through our programs and in collaboration with military supporters during Military Appreciation Month," said PenFed Foundation President and retired Army General John W. Nicholson, Jr. "It's important to remember the service and sacrifice members of the military and veterans make not only this month, but every month."

For more information on events and programs happening during Military Appreciation Month, please visit https://penfedfoundation.org/military-appreciation-month/ .

About PenFed Foundation

Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to empowering military service members, veterans and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity. It provides service members, veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, homeownership, veteran entrepreneurship and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated corps of volunteers in its mission. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the Foundation provides. Equal Housing Opportunity. To learn more, visit www.penfedfoundation.org .

SOURCE PenFed Foundation

Related Links

https://penfedfoundation.org


OKLAHOMA CITY, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX MINERALS INC., "PHX" or the "Company," (NYSE: PHX), today reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended March 31, 2021.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2021, AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Production volumes for the second fiscal quarter of 2021 were 2,297 Mmcfe, decreased from 2,373 Mmcfe in the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and increased from 2,074 Mmcfe in the first fiscal quarter of 2021.

Net loss in the second fiscal quarter of 2021 was $0.5 million , or $0.02 per share, as compared to net loss $20.5 million , or $1.24 per share, in the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and net loss of $0.6 million , or $0.03 per share, in the first fiscal quarter of 2021.

, or per share, as compared to net loss , or per share, in the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and net loss of , or per share, in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales (1) for the second quarter of 2021 was $3.4 million , increased from $2.4 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and $2.7 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2021.

for the second quarter of 2021 was , increased from in the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. On April 30, 2021 , the Company closed on the previously announced acquisition of 2,514 net royalty acres in the SCOOP play of Oklahoma for approximately $8.5 million in cash and 1.2 million shares of PHX stock.

, the Company closed on the previously announced acquisition of 2,514 net royalty acres in the SCOOP play of for approximately in cash and 1.2 million shares of PHX stock. Reduced total debt 13% from $27.0 million as of Dec. 31, 2020 , to $23.5 million as of March 31, 2021 . As of April 30, 2021 , debt had been further reduced by $1.75 million to $21.75 million .

as of , to as of . As of , debt had been further reduced by to . Debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (1) ratio was 2.34x at March 31, 2021 .

ratio was 2.34x at . Approved the payment of a one cent per share dividend payable on June 4, 2021 , to stockholders of record on May 20, 2021 .

Chad L. Stephens, President and CEO, commented, "PHX continues to achieve excellent results towards its stated objectives of growing the company through the strategic acquisition of producing minerals with line-of-sight development in our core focus areas, high grading our asset base by divesting of lower margin assets outside of our core focus areas and reducing our debt to strengthen our financial position.

"During the quarter, production volumes increased 11% sequentially. Significantly, for the first-time in the last 10 years, royalty production volumes exceeded working interest production volumes, which illuminates our stated mineral-only growth strategy. The increase in our volumes and the improved realized commodity prices, resulted in adjusted EBITDA(1) excluding gain on asset sales of $3.4 million, which was an increase of approximately 26%, or $0.7 million, over the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

"With our improved financial performance, we were able to reduce our debt by $3.5 million, or 13%, from the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, which continues to improve our financial strength. Since the end of the second quarter, we paid down debt an additional $1.75 million, bringing our total borrowings to $21.75 million as of April 30, 2021. We now believe that our Debt to adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (1) will approximate 1.0x by calendar year end 2021. Overall, our credit profile has significantly improved, as compared to one year ago. We believe this puts us in a stronger position to allocate more of our capital to our stated strategy.

"Further, since quarter end, we completed our second equity offering over the last seven months which allowed us to fund our previously announced SCOOP-focused mineral acquisition in Oklahoma. This acquisition closed on Friday, April 30, 2021. We continue to see good deal flow and look forward to keeping you apprised of our efforts to continue to drive shareholder value."

(1) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section.

OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS



Second Quarter Ended



Second Quarter Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Mcfe Sold

2,296,802





2,373,135





4,371,139





4,651,622

Average Sales Price per Mcfe $ 3.63



$ 3.04



$ 3.38



$ 3.18

Gas Mcf Sold

1,735,820





1,529,367





3,211,276





3,177,194

Average Sales Price per Mcf $ 2.52



$ 1.64



$ 2.44



$ 1.89

Oil Barrels Sold

56,269





93,141





114,945





159,021

Average Sales Price per Barrel $ 55.89



$ 44.99



$ 47.73



$ 48.14

NGL Barrels Sold

37,228





47,487





78,365





86,717

Average Sales Price per Barrel $ 22.24



$ 11.05



$ 18.54



$ 13.14



Total Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

3/31/2021



1,735,820





56,269





37,228





2,296,802

12/31/2020



1,475,456





58,675





41,138





2,074,334

9/30/2020



1,423,602





55,626





46,737





2,037,779

6/30/2020



1,361,909





55,138





35,169





1,903,752



Royalty Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

3/31/2021



924,969





31,768





19,088





1,230,105

12/31/2020



487,925





27,840





14,948





744,653

9/30/2020



491,234





27,326





20,181





776,276

6/30/2020



544,249





28,468





16,574





814,501



Working Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

3/31/2021



810,851





24,501





18,140





1,066,697

12/31/2020



987,531





30,835





26,190





1,329,681

9/30/2020



932,368





28,300





26,556





1,261,503

6/30/2020



817,660





26,670





18,595





1,089,251



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS





Second Quarter Ended



Second Quarter Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Working Interest Sales

$ 3,851,478



$ 3,415,049



$ 7,759,002



$ 8,099,785

Royalty Interest Sales

$ 4,494,347



$ 3,802,569



$ 7,011,802



$ 6,711,671

Natural Gas, Oil and NGL Sales

$ 8,345,825



$ 7,217,618



$ 14,770,804



$ 14,811,456



































Lease Bonuses and Rental Income

$ 58,554



$ 22,092



$ 59,987



$ 549,791

Total Revenue

$ 6,079,493



$ 11,311,287



$ 12,272,137



$ 21,887,818



































LOE per Mcfe

$ 0.45



$ 0.65



$ 0.47



$ 0.59

Transportation, Gathering and Marketing per Mcfe

$ 0.57



$ 0.57



$ 0.59



$ 0.59

Production Tax per Mcfe

$ 0.19



$ 0.16



$ 0.16



$ 0.15

G&A Expense per Mcfe

$ 0.90



$ 0.92



$ 0.87



$ 0.95

Interest Expense per Mcfe

$ 0.12



$ 0.15



$ 0.13



$ 0.15

DD&A per Mcfe

$ 0.77



$ 1.42



$ 0.92



$ 1.36

Total Expense per Mcfe

$ 3.00



$ 3.87



$ 3.14



$ 3.79



































Net Income (Loss)

$ (499,723)



$ (20,454,814)



$ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)

Adj. Pre-Tax Net Income (Loss) (1)

$ 1,333,989



$ (1,338,550)



$ 1,535,619



$ 2,527,231

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$ 3,379,671



$ 2,381,541



$ 6,143,848



$ 9,573,688



































Cash Flow from Operations

$ 4,205,726



$ 4,009,901



$ 4,677,107



$ 6,108,342

CapEx - Drilling & Completing

$ 297,015



$ 34,490



$ 425,098



$ 139,755

CapEx - Mineral Acquisitions

$ 64,758



$ 81,422



$ 7,934,504



$ 10,254,016



































Borrowing Base

















$ 29,400,000



$ 45,000,000

Debt

















$ 23,500,000



$ 32,000,000

Debt/Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (1)



















2.34





1.14







(1) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section.

SECOND QUARTER 2021 RESULTS

The Company recorded a second quarter 2021 net loss of $499,723, or $0.02 per share, as compared to a net loss of $20,454,814, or $1.24 per share, in the second quarter 2020. This change in net loss was principally the result of increased natural gas, oil and NGL sales and decreased general and administrative expenses (G&A), lease operating expenses (LOE), transportation, gathering and marketing expenses, depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) and impairment expense, partially offset by a decrease in gain (losses) on derivative contracts and income tax benefit.

Natural gas, oil and NGL revenue increased $1,128,207, or 16%, for the second quarter 2021, compared to the corresponding 2020 quarter due to increases in natural gas, oil and NGL prices of 54%, 24% and 101%, respectively, and an increase in natural gas production volumes of 13%, partially offset by decrease in oil and NGL production volumes of 40% and 22%, respectively.

The decrease in oil production was primarily due to naturally declining production in high-interest wells brought online during the first quarter of 2020 in the Bakken play, as well as reduced drilling and completion activity in 2021, compared to 2020 in the Eagle Ford and SCOOP plays due to prevailing economic conditions. The decrease in NGL production was primarily attributable to production downtime and curtailments in high-interest wells in response to market conditions in the SCOOP and STACK plays, as well as naturally declining production in liquid-rich gas areas of the Anadarko Granite Wash play. Natural gas volumes increased as a result of acquisitions in the Haynesville Shale, which were partially offset by naturally declining production in the Fayetteville Shale, production downtime and curtailments in high-interest wells in response to market conditions in the STACK and SCOOP plays.

The Company had a net loss on derivative contracts of $2,348,143 in the 2021 quarter, as compared to a net gain of $4,071,577 in the 2020 quarter. The net loss on derivative contracts in the current period was principally due to the natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps being less beneficial in relation to their respective contracted volumes and prices at the beginning of the period, compared to such natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps being more beneficial in the comparative period causing a net gain.

The 22% decrease in total cost per Mcfe in the 2021 quarter, relative to the 2020 quarter, was primarily driven by a decrease in DD&A. DD&A decreased $1,595,701, or 47%, in the 2021 quarter to $0.77 per Mcfe, as compared to $1.42 per Mcfe in the 2020 quarter. $108,393 of the decrease was a result of production decreasing 3% in the 2021 quarter and $1,487,308 of the decrease was as a result of a $0.65 decrease in the DD&A rate per Mcfe. The rate decrease was mainly due to impairments taken at the end of the 2020 second quarter, which lowered the basis of the assets. The rate decrease was partially offset by lower natural gas, oil and NGL prices utilized in the reserve calculations during the 2021 quarter, as compared to prices used for the 2020 quarter, shortening the economic life of wells. This resulted in lower projected remaining reserves on a significant number of wells causing increased units of production DD&A.

SIX MONTHS 2021 RESULTS

The Company recorded a six-month net loss of $1,096,443, or $0.05 per share, in the 2021 period, as compared to a net loss of $18,562,700, or $1.12 per share, in the 2020 period. The change in net loss was principally the result of decreased G&A, LOE, transportation, gathering and marketing expenses, DD&A and impairment expense, partially offset by a decrease in natural gas, oil and NGL sales, gain (losses) on derivative contracts, gain on asset sales and income tax benefit.

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales remained relatively consistent with decreases in oil and NGL volumes of 28% and 10%, respectively, partially offset by increases in natural gas and NGL prices of 29% and 41%, respectively.

The decrease in oil production was primarily due to naturally declining production in high-interest wells brought online during the first quarter of 2020 in the Bakken play, as well as reduced drilling and completion activity in 2021, compared to 2020 in the Eagle Ford and SCOOP plays due to prevailing economic conditions. The decrease in NGL production was primarily attributable to production downtime and curtailments in high-interest wells in response to market conditions in the SCOOP play as well as naturally declining production in liquid-rich gas areas of the Anadarko Granite Wash play. Natural gas volumes increased as a result of acquisitions in the Haynesville Shale, which were partially offset by naturally declining production in the Fayetteville Shale, production downtime and curtailments in high-interest wells in response to market conditions in the STACK and SCOOP plays.

The Company had a net loss on derivative contracts of $2,602,179 in the 2021 period, as compared to a net gain of $3,253,683 in the 2020 period. The net loss on derivative contracts in the current period was principally due to the natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps being less beneficial in relation to their respective contracted volumes and prices at the beginning of the period, compared to such natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps being more beneficial in the 2020 period causing a net gain.

The 17% decrease in total cost per Mcfe in the 2021 period, relative to the 2020 period, was primarily driven by a decrease in DD&A. DD&A decreased $2,290,753, or 36%, in the 2021 period to $0.92 per Mcfe, as compared to $1.36 per Mcfe in the 2020 period. $381,457 of the decrease was a result of production decreasing 6% in the 2021 period and $1,909,296 of the decrease was as a result of a $0.44 decrease in the DD&A rate per Mcfe. The rate decrease was mainly due to impairments taken at the end of the 2020 second quarter, which lowered the basis of the assets. The rate decrease was partially offset by lower natural gas, oil and NGL prices utilized in the reserve calculations during the 2021 period, as compared to prices used for the 2020 period, shortening the economic life of wells. This resulted in lower projected remaining reserves on a significant number of wells causing increased units of production DD&A.

OPERATIONS UPDATE

During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, we converted 37 gross and 0.16 net wells in progress to producing wells. Our inventory of wells in progress decreased to 80 gross wells and 0.44 net wells.





















Bakken/





































































Three



Arkoma













































SCOOP



STACK



Forks



Stack



Permian



Fayetteville



Haynesville



Other



Total

Gross Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage:







































































As of 12/31/20



45





32





5





2





4





-





25





7





120

Net Change



-3





-19





-2





-





-1





-





-12





-3





-40

As of 3/31/21



42





13





3





2





3





-





13





4





80

Net Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage:







































































As of 12/31/20



0.09





0.16





-





-





0.14





-





0.16





0.07





0.62

Net Change



-0.01





-0.13





-





-





-





-





-0.03





-0.01





-0.18

As of 3/31/21



0.08





0.03





-





-





0.14





-





0.13





0.06





0.44

Gross Active Permits on PHX Acreage:







































































As of 12/31/20



29





15





10





7





-





-





-





13





74

Net Change



-15





-4





-4





-4





-





-





-





-7





-34

As of 3/31/21



14





11





6





3





-





-





-





6





40











































































As of 3/31/21:







































































Rigs Present on PHX Acreage



1





1





-





-





2





-





1





-





5

Rigs Within 2.5 Miles of PHX Acreage



5





11





1





-





3





-





5





2





27



Leasing Activity

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company leased 368 net mineral acres for $63,815.





















Bakken/





































































Three



Arkoma













































SCOOP



STACK



Forks



Stack



Permian



Fayetteville



Haynesville



Other



Total

During Three Months Ended 3/31/21:







































































Net Mineral Acres Leased



-





1





-





-





41





-





-





326





368

Average Bonus per Net Mineral Acre



-



$ 1,100





-





-



$ 483





-





-



$ 148



$ 173

Average Royalty per Net Mineral Acre

-



13%





-



-



25%





-





-



18%



18%



ACQUISITION AND DIVESTITURE UPDATE

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company purchased 18 net royalty acres for $362,486.





















Bakken/





































































Three



Arkoma













































SCOOP



STACK



Forks



Stack



Permian



Fayetteville



Haynesville



Other



Total

During Three Months Ended 3/31/21:







































































Net Mineral Acres Purchased



-





-





-





-





-





-





11





-





11

Net Royalty Acres Purchased



-





-





-





-





-





-





18





-





18

Price per Net Royalty Acre



-





-





-





-





-





-



$ 19,772





-



$ 19,772

Net Mineral Acres Sold



-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-

Net Royalty Acres Sold



-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-

Price per Net Royalty Acre



-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-





-



SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS CALL

PHX will host a conference call to discuss second quarter results at 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 6, 2021. Management's discussion will be followed by a question and answer session with investors. To participate on the conference call, please dial 888-506-0062 (domestic) or 973-528-0011 (international). A replay of the call will be available for seven days after the call. The number to access the replay of the conference call is 877-481-4010 and the PIN for the replay is 40717.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Statements of Operations



Three Months Ended March 31,



Six Months Ended March 31,



2021



2020



2021



2020

Revenues:









Natural gas, oil and NGL sales $ 8,345,825



$ 7,217,618



$ 14,770,804



$ 14,811,456

Lease bonuses and rental income

58,554





22,092





59,987





549,791

Gains (losses) on derivative contracts

(2,348,143)





4,071,577





(2,602,179)





3,253,683

Gain on asset sales

23,257





-





43,525





3,272,888





6,079,493





11,311,287





12,272,137





21,887,818

Costs and expenses:





























Lease operating expenses

1,030,651





1,542,199





2,035,063





2,723,870

Transportation, gathering and marketing

1,319,514





1,356,628





2,600,479





2,739,629

Production taxes

443,154





373,754





719,180





701,035

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

1,777,817





3,373,518





4,038,466





6,329,219

Provision for impairment

-





29,545,702





-





29,545,702

Interest expense

267,865





346,573





569,763





717,238

General and administrative

2,059,476





2,174,661





3,790,573





4,397,689

Other expense (income)

(102,261)





40,066





(98,944)





29,136





6,796,216





38,753,101





13,654,580





47,183,518

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

(716,723)





(27,441,814)





(1,382,443)





(25,295,700)

































Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(217,000)





(6,987,000)





(286,000)





(6,733,000)

































Net income (loss) $ (499,723)



$ (20,454,814)



$ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)

































































































Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.02)



$ (1.24)



$ (0.05)



$ (1.12)

































Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding:





























Common shares

22,429,777





16,384,687





22,403,678





16,362,057

Unissued, directors' deferred compensation shares

178,597





139,390





177,923





186,443





22,608,374





16,524,077





22,581,601





16,548,500

































Dividends declared per share of





























common stock and paid in period $ 0.01



$ 0.04



$ 0.02



$ 0.08

































Dividends declared per share of





























common stock and to be paid in quarter ended June 30 $ 0.01



$ -



















































Balance Sheets



March 31, 2021



Sept. 30, 2020

Assets













Current assets:













Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,270,482



$ 10,690,395

Natural gas, oil, and NGL sales receivables (net of $0

4,712,793





2,943,220

allowance for uncollectable accounts)













Refundable income taxes

2,448,871





3,805,227

Other

752,248





351,088

Total current assets

9,184,394





17,789,930

















Properties and equipment at cost, based on













successful efforts accounting:













Producing natural gas and oil properties

329,708,071





324,886,491

Non-producing natural gas and oil properties

21,012,897





18,993,814

Other

582,444





582,444





351,303,412





344,462,749

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

(265,863,136)





(263,590,801)

Net properties and equipment

85,440,276





80,871,948

















Operating lease right-of-use assets

649,500





690,316

Other, net

593,150





669,641

Total assets $ 95,867,320



$ 100,021,835

















Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity













Current liabilities:













Accounts payable $ 672,507



$ 997,637

Derivative contracts, net

3,000,530





281,942

Current portion of operating lease liability

129,672





127,108

Accrued liabilities and other

1,382,066





1,297,363

Short-term debt

-





1,750,000

Total current liabilities

5,184,775





4,454,050

















Long-term debt

23,500,000





27,000,000

Deferred income taxes, net

1,041,007





1,329,007

Asset retirement obligations

2,927,662





2,897,522

Derivative contracts, net

625,179





425,705

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

856,142





921,625

















Stockholders' equity:













Class A voting common stock, $0.01666 par value; 36,000,500













shares authorized; 22,825,226 issued at March 31, 2021, and













Class A voting common stock, $0.01666 par value;













24,000,500 shares authorized; 22,647,306 issued at September 30, 2020

380,268





377,304

Capital in excess of par value

11,150,749





10,649,611

Deferred directors' compensation

1,633,939





1,874,007

Retained earnings

54,402,724





56,244,100





67,567,680





69,145,022

Less treasury stock, at cost; 390,267 shares at March 31,













2021, and 411,487 shares at Sept. 30, 2020

(5,835,125)





(6,151,096)

Total stockholders' equity

61,732,555





62,993,926

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 95,867,320



$ 100,021,835



Condensed Statements of Cash Flows



Six Months Ended March 31,



2021



2020

Operating Activities



Net income (loss) $ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided













by operating activities:













Depreciation, depletion and amortization

4,038,466





6,329,219

Impairment of producing properties

-





29,545,702

Provision for deferred income taxes

(288,000)





(4,711,000)

Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage

(57,493)





(544,979)

Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage

64,047





559,462

Net (gain) loss on sales of assets

(62,097)





(3,265,449)

Directors' deferred compensation expense

100,254





140,130

Total (gain) loss on derivative contracts

2,602,179





(3,253,683)

Cash receipts (payments) on settled derivative contracts

315,883





1,530,912

Restricted stock awards

284,148





491,616

Other

31,544





7,225

Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:













Natural gas, oil and NGL sales receivables

(1,732,801)





1,168,943

Other current assets

(388,864)





(232,349)

Accounts payable

(340,404)





117,561

Income taxes receivable

1,356,356





(2,072,428)

Other non-current assets

56,545





50,010

Accrued liabilities

(206,213)





(1,189,850)

Total adjustments

5,773,550





24,671,042

Net cash provided by operating activities

4,677,107





6,108,342

















Investing Activities













Capital expenditures

(425,098)





(139,755)

Acquisition of minerals and overrides

(7,934,504)





(10,254,016)

Proceeds from sales of assets

21,000





3,376,049

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

(8,338,602)





(7,017,722)

















Financing Activities













Borrowings under Credit Facility

-





5,561,725

Payments of loan principal

(5,250,000)





(8,986,725)

Net proceeds from equity issuance

(53,482)





-

Purchases of treasury stock

-





(7,635)

Payments of dividends

(454,936)





(1,319,899)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

(5,758,418)





(4,752,534)

















Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(9,419,913)





(5,661,914)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

10,690,395





6,160,691

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,270,482



$ 498,777

















Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities





























Dividends declared and unpaid $ 289,997



$ -

Additions to asset retirement obligations $ -



$ 4

































Gross additions to properties and equipment $ 8,759,616



$ 10,229,121

Equity offering used for acquisitions

(250,000)





-

Net (increase) decrease in accounts payable for properties













and equipment additions

(150,014)





164,650

Capital expenditures and acquisitions $ 8,359,602



$ 10,393,771







Proved Reserves



Proved Reserves SEC Pricing



March 31, 2021



Sept. 30, 2020

Proved Developed Reserves:



Mcf of Gas

47,482,766





40,924,083

Barrels of Oil

1,096,654





1,148,989

Barrels of NGL

1,170,146





1,135,864

Mcfe (2)

61,083,566





54,633,201

Proved Undeveloped Reserves:













Mcf of Gas

2,403,400





1,448,690

Barrels of Oil

91,910





184,668

Barrels of NGL

27,920





83,993

Mcfe (2)

3,122,380





3,060,656

Total Proved Reserves:













Mcf of Gas

49,886,166





42,372,773

Barrels of Oil

1,188,564





1,333,657

Barrels of NGL

1,198,066





1,219,857

Mcfe (2)

64,205,946





57,693,857

















10% Discounted Estimated Future













Net Cash Flows (before income taxes):













Proved Developed $ 40,765,559



$ 33,270,804

Proved Undeveloped

3,913,169





5,659,479

Total $ 44,678,728



$ 38,930,283

SEC Pricing













Gas/Mcf $ 1.96



$ 1.62

Oil/Barrel $ 37.52



$ 40.18

NGL/Barrel $ 10.95



$ 9.95

















Proved Reserves - Projected Future Pricing (3)

















10% Discounted Estimated Future Proved Reserves

Net Cash Flows (before income taxes): March 31, 2021



Sept. 30, 2020

Proved Developed $ 73,345,570



$ 63,648,347

Proved Undeveloped

5,830,561





7,197,350

Total $ 79,176,131



$ 70,845,697

















(2) Crude oil and NGL converted to natural gas on a one barrel of crude oil or NGL equals six Mcf of natural gas basis

(3) Projected futures pricing as of March 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2020 basis adjusted to Company wellhead price



Derivative Contracts as of May 3, 2021

Period





















Collar Average



Collar Average

(Calendar Year)

Product

Volume Mcf/Bbl



Swap Price



Floor Price



Ceiling Price

Remaining 2021

Natural Gas



1,961,000











$ 2.35



$ 3.04

Remaining 2021

Natural Gas



1,025,000



$ 2.81

















2022

Natural Gas



2,200,500











$ 2.40



$ 3.12

2022

Natural Gas



377,500



$ 2.61

















2023

Natural Gas



86,000











$ 2.25



$ 2.96

2023

Natural Gas



84,000



$ 2.56























































Remaining 2021

Crude Oil



27,500











$ 36.78



$ 45.14

Remaining 2021

Crude Oil



79,000



$ 39.61

















2022

Crude Oil



68,500











$ 40.25



$ 50.35

2022

Crude Oil



59,000



$ 41.51



















Non-GAAP Reconciliation

This news release includes certain "non-GAAP financial measures" under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Regulation G. These non-GAAP measures are calculated using GAAP amounts in our financial statements. These measures, detailed below, are provided in addition to, not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes), included in our SEC filings and posted on our website.

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) plus interest expense, provision for impairment, depreciation, depletion and amortization of properties and equipment, including amortization of other assets, provision (benefit) for income taxes and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative contracts. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. We have included a presentation of adjusted EBITDA because we recognize that certain investors consider adjusted EBITDA a useful means of measuring our ability to meet our debt service obligations and evaluating our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:



Second Quarter Ended



Second Quarter Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net Income (Loss) $ (499,723)



$ (20,454,814)



$ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)

Plus:





























Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives

2,050,712





(3,442,438)





2,918,062





(1,722,771)

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

(217,000)





(6,987,000)





(286,000)





(6,733,000)

Interest Expense

267,865





346,573





569,763





717,238

DD&A

1,777,817





3,373,518





4,038,466





6,329,219

Impairment

-





29,545,702





-





29,545,702

Adjusted EBITDA $ 3,379,671



$ 2,381,541



$ 6,143,848



$ 9,573,688



Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Gain on Asset Sales Reconciliation

Adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales is defined as the adjusted EBITDA less gains on asset sales. We have included a presentation of adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales because we recognize that certain investors consider this amount a useful means of measuring our ability to meet our debt service obligations and evaluating our financial performance. The adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a presentation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA and of the resulting adjusted EBITDA excluding gain on asset sales for the periods indicated:



Second Quarter Ended



Second Quarter Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended



First Quarter Ended



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



Dec. 30, 2020

Net Income (Loss) $ (499,723)



$ (20,454,814)



$ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)



$ (596,720)

Plus:





































Unrealized (gains) losses





































on derivatives

2,050,712





(3,442,438)





2,918,062





(1,722,771)





867,350

Income Tax Expense





































(Benefit)

(217,000)





(6,987,000)





(286,000)





(6,733,000)





(69,000)

Interest Expense

267,865





346,573





569,763





717,238





301,898

DD&A

1,777,817





3,373,518





4,038,466





6,329,219





2,260,649

Impairment

-





29,545,702





-





29,545,702





-

Adjusted EBITDA $ 3,379,671



$ 2,381,541



$ 6,143,848



$ 9,573,688



$ 2,764,177









































Gain on asset sales

23,257





-





43,525





3,272,888





20,268

Adjusted EBITDA excluding





































Gain on asset sales $ 3,356,414



$ 2,381,541



$ 6,100,323



$ 6,300,800



$ 2,743,909



Debt/Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) Reconciliation

Debt/adjusted EBITDA (TTM) is defined as the ratio of long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA on a trailing 12-month ("TTM") basis. We have included a presentation of debt/adjusted EBITDA (TTM) because we recognize that certain investors consider such ratios a useful means of measuring our ability to meet our debt service obligations and evaluating our financial performance. The debt/adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of debt/adjusted EBITDA (TTM) may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a presentation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA on a TTM basis, and of the resulting debt/adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio:



TTM Ended



TTM Ended



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net Income (Loss) $ (6,485,780)



$ (70,112,244)

Plus:













Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives

7,842,624





(3,399,709)

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

(1,842,000)





(23,655,000)

Interest Expense

1,139,313





1,687,873

DD&A

9,023,030





17,088,140

Impairment

358,826





106,370,039

Adjusted EBITDA $ 10,036,013



$ 27,979,099

















Debt $ 23,500,000



$ 32,000,000

Debt/Adjusted EBITDA

2.34





1.14



Adjusted Pre-Tax Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation

Adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) plus provision for impairment, provision (benefit) for income taxes and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative contracts. We have included a presentation of adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) because we recognize that certain investors consider adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) a useful means of evaluating our financial performance. Adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted pre-tax net income (loss) for the periods indicated:



Second Quarter Ended



Second Quarter Ended



Six Months Ended



Six Months Ended



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020



March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net Income (Loss) $ (499,723)



$ (20,454,814)



$ (1,096,443)



$ (18,562,700)

Plus:





























Impairment

-





29,545,702





-





29,545,702

Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives

2,050,712





(3,442,438)





2,918,062





(1,722,771)

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

(217,000)





(6,987,000)





(286,000)





(6,733,000)

Adjusted Pre-Tax Net Income (Loss) $ 1,333,989



$ (1,338,550)



$ 1,535,619



$ 2,527,231



PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Oklahoma City-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core areas of focus. PHX owns approximately 255,000 net mineral acres principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, New Mexico and Arkansas. Additional information on PHX can be found at www.phxmin.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "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. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect the Company's current views about future events. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: our ability to execute our business strategies; the volatility of realized natural gas and oil prices; the level of production on our properties; estimates of quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and their values; general economic or industry conditions; legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; our ability to raise capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability; acts of war or terrorism; title defects in the properties in which we invest; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory or technical factors affecting our properties, operations or prices. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE PHX MINERALS INC.

Related Links

http://www.phxmin.com


HONG KONG, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep learning has become a popular emerging technology in recent years. Many university students are eager to equip themselves with such knowledge and skills in order to capture the opportunities brought about by the developments of innovation and technology in various industries. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Huawei jointly organised an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp in late April to share the latest developments of leading technologies such as digitalisation, machine learning and deep learning. Participants exchanged views on how to integrate digital technologies into different disciplines and facilitate interdisciplinary learning at local universities in order to create a "digital + talent" ecosystem.

In the bootcamp, participants got hands-on experience through the use of Huawei Ascend series products for different deep learning model training and reasoning experiments, including image classification, object detection, and mask wearing detection. Moreover, Huawei Cloud's ModelArts, a one-stop model automatic learning platform, can also be used for model training where the trained deep learning model will be converted to Atlas development kit to complete the inference process.

Professor Daniel Shek, Interim Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) of PolyU, said, "The cooperation between PolyU and Huawei in research development has been ongoing since 2007. In the past few years, we have advanced a variety of innovative technologies in different fields, including optical communications, microwave communications, big data, crowdsourcing platforms, wireless network surveying as well as automatic navigation, that pioneered the development of information and communication technology (ICT). Leveraging the innovative research applications of PolyU and the industry-leading competitiveness of Huawei, the bootcamp aimed to develop those AI systems that support impactful research with the ultimate goal of benefitting society with technologically advanced applications."

Professor Daniel Lau, Head of Applied Physics of PolyU, said, "Physics and AI are mutually related. While Physics helps formulate better AI models, AI can solve complicated Physics problems more efficiently, resulting in more new discoveries."

Mr Denny Deng, General Manager of Huawei's Hong Kong Representative Office, said, "Talent is one of the cores that supports the development of the digital industry, and universities are the base for talent cultivation. Huawei is honoured to cooperate with PolyU in deepening the integration among industry, academia and research sectors to nurture talent to meet industry needs. We aim to foster the development of smart industries and support digitalisation in different industries by building a local 'digital + talent' ecosystem."



Various departments of PolyU, including the Department of Building and Real Estate, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, have worked together with Huawei on a number of research projects on digitalisation with different scopes such as activity tracking on construction sites, object lifting function of robotic arms, and medical imaging analysis. In addition, some PolyU professors and researchers have also attended the "Huawei Certified ICT Associate - Artificial Intelligence (HCIA-AI)" training course offered by Huawei in late 2020.

PolyU will continue collaborative research in AI-related disciplines with Huawei, which has been providing invaluable advice and support to the University. PolyU believes the joint efforts in offering professional training and establishing innovation laboratories will help nurture digitalisation and AI talent and develop more impactful technologies and applications for the development of the local technology ecosystem.

SOURCE The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Related Links

https://www.polyu.edu.hk/


Redwire is under contract by Boeing to provide iROSA solar arrays for ISS. Redwire is responsible for the design, analysis, manufacture, test, and delivery of six new solar arrays that will augment power to the ISS. Using upgraded solar cells from Boeing's Spectrolab, each iROSA solar array is one of the most powerful solar arrays ever manufactured and will provide more than 20 kilowatts of power. Combined, the six new arrays will produce more than 120 kilowatts, substantially improving the overall power-generating capability of the ISS by 20 to 30 percent.

"Redwire is proud to partner with Boeing to provide critical infrastructure to support human spaceflight in low Earth orbit," said Andrew Rush, President and COO of Redwire. "The enabling iROSA technology will provide a crucial power boost to support important work being done on station, from exploration technology demonstrations to commercial activity."

"These innovative solar arrays will be added to the ISS at an important time as the crews continue to test critical technologies for deep-space exploration and to drive research that is improving life on Earth," said John Mulholland, VP and ISS program manager for Boeing.

The Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) is an innovative, ultra-lightweight, compact, modular and scalable solar array structure system developed by Redwire subsidiary Deployable Space Systems (DSS). For more than a decade, DSS has been developing advanced solar array technology to provide enabling performance and affordability for many mission applications. ROSA technology was successfully demonstrated on ISS in June 2017.

"We are proud to support this extraordinary mission and sustain humanity's only orbiting outpost with award-winning ROSA technology," said Brian Spence, President of DSS. "ROSA is a first-of-its-kind solar array system that delivers the highest quality, most affordable, and highest performance solar array structure solution available for a wide range of mission applications."

Various modular versions of ROSA are also being produced for NASA's DART Mission, Maxar's Power and Propulsion Element for NASA's Gateway program, the Ovzon 3 GEO spacecraft for Maxar's Legion-class satellites, and many other proprietary, civilian, and commercial applications.

About Redwire

Redwire is a new leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy. With decades of flight heritage combined with the agile and innovative culture of a commercial space platform, Redwire is uniquely positioned to assist its customers in solving the complex challenges of future space missions. For more information, please visit www.redwirespace.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "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 with respect to revenues, earnings, performance, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the businesses of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., Redwire or the combined company after completion of the Business Combination are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement governing the proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. or other conditions to closing in the merger agreement; (3) the ability to meet NYSE's listing standards following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; (4) the risk that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Redwire as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (5) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (6) costs related to the proposed business combination; (7) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (8) the possibility that Redwire may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (9) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and Redwire undertake no commitment to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed business combination between Redwire and Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. intends to file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement / prospectus and will mail a definitive proxy statement / prospectus and other relevant documentation to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination. It is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect to the proposed business combination. Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement / prospectus and any amendments thereto, and the definitive proxy statement / prospectus in connection with Genesis Park Acquisition Corp.'s solicitation of proxies for the special meeting to be held to approve the transactions contemplated by the proposed business combination because these materials will contain important information about Redwire, Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and the proposed business combination. The definitive proxy statement / prospectus will be mailed to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination when it becomes available. Shareholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the preliminary proxy statement / prospectus and the definitive proxy statement / prospectus once they are available, without charge, at the SEC's website at http://sec.gov or by directing a request to: [email protected].

This document shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination.

Participants in the Solicitation

Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. in Genesis Park Acquisition Corp.'s prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the SEC on November 24, 2020. Redwire and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. in connection with the Business Combination.

Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in the proxy statement / prospectus for the transaction when available. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement / prospectus that Genesis Park Acquisition Corp. intends to file with the SEC.

Media Contact:

Austin Jordan

[email protected]

321-536-8632

SOURCE Redwire

Related Links

http://www.redwirespace.com


LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Reuters, the world's largest multimedia news provider, announced today the launch of an agenda-setting leadership forum, which will place climate action at the heart of the mainstream business discussion.

From 4-7 October, 2021, Reuters IMPACT will bring together more than 25,000 attendees to hear from the world's leading political figures, scientists, CEOs and activists to explore how mainstream business can drive the innovations and investments needed to change our future and deliver a clean and inclusive tomorrow. Developed in collaboration with Reuters award-winning newsroom, Reuters IMPACT will be broadcast live and will share strategies and perspectives on how businesses can play a role in averting the impacts of climate change.

The virtual summit is built upon five central, interlinked themes: Energy, Built Environment, Food and Land Use, Transportation and Finance. Leading speakers at the first annual summit include:

Inger Andersen , Executive Director, UNEP

, Executive Director, UNEP Jean-Baptiste Djebbari , Secretary for Transport, France

, Secretary for Transport, Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas , Minister for Infrastructure, Brazil

, Minister for Infrastructure, Gilbert Houngbo , President, IFAD

, President, IFAD Tony Juniper , Chair, Natural England

, Chair, Natural England Anna Konig, Mayor, Stockholm, Sweden

Jennifer Morgan , CEO, Greenpeace

, CEO, Greenpeace Grant Reid , CEO, Mars

, CEO, Mars Fiona Reynolds , CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment

, CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment Remy Rioux, Chief Executive, French Development Agency

Grant Shapps , Secretary of State for Transport, UK

, Secretary of State for Transport, UK Adina Valean , Secretary for Transport, European Commission

, Secretary for Transport, European Commission Secretary Wong, Climate Minister, Hong Kong

Kongjian Yu, Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Landscape Architecture - Peking University

Josh London, Chief Marketing Officer, Reuters, and Head of Reuters Professional, said: "I'm delighted that Reuters IMPACT is able to create a forum where global leaders from business, government, science and sustainability convene to tackle climate action head on. Our industry-driven agenda, breaking news and networking sets the stage for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), just weeks later."

Reuters IMPACT follows the success of the inaugural Reuters Next leadership summit in January, which attracted more than 40,000 professionals from over 150 countries who came together to discuss future opportunities for change and growth, as well addressing the rifts and problems that our world and our societies face. Reuters Next returns 1-3 December, 2021.

The inaugural Reuters Next speakers included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg; Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai; European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde; BBC Director General Tim Davie; Filmmaker Waad al-Kateab; Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes.

Notes to Editors

About Reuters Events and Reuters Professional

Reuters IMPACT is produced by Reuters Events and powered by Reuters award-winning newsroom. Reuters Events delivers high-end conferences and exhibitions to diverse sectors including energy, sustainability, insurance, pharmaceuticals, transportation, travel, strategy and technology. Its offerings help senior business professionals stay at the forefront of change through insight sharing and networking with peers.

Reuters Next and Reuters Impact follow the launch of Reuters Professional  offering of global news coverage, commentary and industry-leading events to help professionals make smart decisions.

About Reuters

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider. Founded in 1851, it is committed to the Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias. With unmatched coverage in over 16 languages, and reaching billions of people worldwide every day, Reuters provides trusted intelligence that powers humans and machines to make smart decisions. It supplies business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Reuters: The Real World in Real Time.

Follow news about Reuters at https://www.reutersagency.com/en/media-center/ and @ReutersPR.

Media contact:

Joel Ivory-Harte

Communications Manager

Reuters Europe, Middle East & Africa

[email protected]

SOURCE Reuters

Related Links

https://www.reutersagency.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 of the 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 Rubber Gaskets And Seals market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Rubber Gaskets And Seals 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 have 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 rubber gaskets and seals suppliers listed in this report:

This rubber gaskets and seals procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Dana Inc.

Tenneco Inc.

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Flowserve Corp.

ElringKlinger AG

AB SKF

Smiths Group plc

Freudenberg SE

Aviation Industry Corp. of China Ltd.

James Walker Group Ltd.

Allied Seals International Inc.

National Rubber Corp.

Related Report on Heavy Industry Include:

To access the definite purchasing guide on the rubber gaskets and seals that answers all your key questions on price trends and analysis:

Am I paying/getting the right prices? Is my Rubber Gaskets And Seals TCO (total cost of ownership) favorable?

How is the price forecast expected to change? What is driving the current and future price changes?

Which pricing models offer the most rewarding opportunities?

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

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BANGALORE, India, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market is Segmented by Type (Front-end Equipment, Backend Equipment), by Application (Automation, Chemical control equipment, Gas control equipment, Others). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecast from 2021 to 2026. It is published on Valuates Reports in the Manufacturing Category.

The global Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment market is projected to reach USD 53200 Million by 2027, from USD 39510 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period 2021-2027.

Major factors driving the growth of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market are:

Growing consumer electronics market and rise in trend of miniaturization and technology migration.

High need for chips to offer computation power and connectivity for AI functions and increasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Rising demand for medical electronics, computers and other digital devices due to COVID -19 crisis. In addition to increase in demand there are other factors resulting in acute chip shortage.

View Report Details Before Purchasing: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-17M2831/covid-19-impact-on-semiconductor-manufacturing-equipment

MAJOR FACTORS DRIVING THE GROWTH OF SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT MARKET

Growing consumer electronics demand is expected to drive the growth of the Semiconductor manufacturing market size. Consumer electronics is one of the most important industries that rely solely on the semiconductor industry. Changing chip sizes and innovative architectures in various electronic devices have boosted semiconductor demand, which has benefited semiconductor equipment manufacturers.

Automotive industry players are constantly forming new collaboration and alliance arrangements in order to expand their market reach for advanced vehicle technologies. This would have a positive impact on the advancement of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market.

Furthermore, the rising demand for silicon-based sensors for IoT devices, as IoT device penetration rises as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, the spread of chip industries in emerging markets, the rise in the number of data centers and servers are all factors that could boost the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market.

The introduction of advanced technologies in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, such as AI and IoT, would accelerate their adoption in fabrication facilities. This, in turn, is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market players.

Request a Sample Copy of the Report For Growth & Trends Analysis on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-17M2831/COVID_19_Impact_on_Semiconductor_Manufacturing_Equipment_Market

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on application, the Chemical Control Equipment segment is expected to be the most lucrative in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment as it is required for the repeatable and reliable delivery of chemicals during the semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Based on region, North America dominates the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market. The increasing demand for hybrid and electric vehicles in the North American region has, in turn, increased the demand for semiconductors. The presence of well-known manufacturers has only added to the region's prominence in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry.

Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-17M2831/COVID_19_Impact_on_Semiconductor_Manufacturing_Equipment_Market

Top Major Key Players in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market

Tokyo Electron Limited

Lam Research Corporation

Asml Holdings N.V.

Applied Materials Inc.

KLA-Tencor Corporation.

Screen Holdings Co., Ltd.

Teradyne Inc.

Advantest Corporation

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation.

Plasma-Therm.

Rudolph Technologies, Inc

Startup Ecosystem

Others

Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market Segment by Type

Front-end Equipment

Backend Equipment

Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market Segment by Application

Automation

Chemical control equipment

Gas control equipment

Others

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- The global Semiconductor Inspection Equipment market was valued at USD 7305.99 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 11350.82 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.98% during 2021-2027.

- The global Semiconductor Materials market size is projected to reach USD 52410 Million by 2026, from USD 40420 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 3.3% during 2021-2026. APAC accounted for roughly 63 percent of the market, with Taiwan being the most profitable country. Taiwan's market growth has been fueled by the presence of leading semiconductor foundries such as TSMC and UMC, as well as a rise in semiconductor company investments.

- The increasing demand for semiconductor devices in several industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, and telecommunication among many others impacts the Semiconductor Photolithography Equipment market positively.

- Photolithography Equipment Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (UV (i-line), DUV (KrF, ArF Dry, ArFi), EUV), By Application (Front-end Manufacturing, Back-end Manufacturing) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- The global Advanced Semiconductor Packaging market size is projected to reach USD 24180 million by 2027, from USD 15670 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2022-2027. Top 5 manufacturers accounted for 43.06% market share in 2019.

- The global Bonding Films market size is projected to reach USD 874.9 Million by 2026, from USD 634.2 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 4.6% during 2021-2026.

- Jig for Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Electrofused Quartz Clamp, Fused Quartz Clamp), By Application (Semiconductor Manufacturing, Industrial Manufacturing) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- The global Wafer Cleaning Equipment market is valued at 5367.2 million USD in 2020 is expected to reach 9399.4 million USD by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.2% during 2021-2026.

- Semiconductor Wafer Cleaning Systems Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The single-wafer processing systems segment accounted for the major share of the semiconductor wafer cleaning equipment market during 2017. The dominance of this segment is due to the increased demand and sales volume.

- EUV Lithography Market is expected to increase from USD 1.24 billion in 2017 to USD 10.31 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 28.16% during the forecast period.

- Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. Factors such as increase in global DRAM and 3D NAND Flash shipments in 2016 and the limited capacity of silicon international manufacturers, resulted in tight supply of semiconductor wafer. With a market share of 65 percent in 2016, 300mm wafers are the most common semiconductor silicon wafers.

- Silicon Wafers Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (300 mm, 200 mm,  150 mm), By Application (Memory, Logic/MPU, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

- Semiconductor Detector Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2021 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation By Type (Surface Barrier Detector, Lithium Drifting Detector, High Purity Germanium Detector), By Application (Nuclear Power Plant, Astrophysical, Safety Inspection, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

To see the full list of related reports on the Semiconductor

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NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Velocity Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VEL).

If you are a shareholder of Velocity Financial, Inc. and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, free of charge, please visit us at:

http://pjlfirm.com/velocity-financial-inc/

You may also contact Robert H. Lefkowitz, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 212-725-1000. One of our attorneys will personally speak with you about the case at no cost or obligation.

Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP is a law firm exclusively committed to representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and other types of corporate misconduct. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://pjlfirm.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SOURCE Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP

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Chesapeake schools spokesman Richie Babb said there are no plans for on-site student clinics at the moment. Like other districts, theyve partnered with the health department and opened schools for vaccination events, some for the community and some for staff. He said if the health department wanted to host more clinics at schools  for students or otherwise  they would certainly help set them up.
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation ("Monmouth" or the "Company") (NYSE: MNR) in connection with the acquisition of the Company by Equity Commonwealth ("Equity") (NYSE: EQC). Under the terms of the merger agreement, Monmouth shareholders will receive 0.67 shares of Equity common stock for each Monmouth share that they own, representing implied consideration of $19.40 based upon Equity's May 4, 2021 closing price of $28.95. Existing Equity shareholders will own approximately 65% of the outstanding shares of the combined company and Monmouth shareholders are expected to only own approximately 35%. The combined company is expected to have a pro forma equity market value of approximately $5.5 billion.

If you own Monmouth shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

http://www.weisslawllp.com/MNR/

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

1500 Broadway, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether Monmouth's board acted in the best interest of Monmouth's public shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, the merger consideration adequately compensates Monmouth's shareholders and whether all information regarding the process undertaken by the board and the valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed to Monmouth's public shareholders.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

Related Links

http://weisslawllp.com


BRENTWOOD, Tenn., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DK) ("Delek") today announced that, based on the preliminary vote count provided by its proxy solicitor following the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Delek shareholders have overwhelmingly voted to elect all 8 of its highly qualified director nominees, Uzi Yemin, William J. Finnerty, Richard J. Marcogliese, Gary M. Sullivan, Jr., Vicky Sutil, Laurie Tolson, David Wiessman and Shlomo Zohar, to the Company's Board of Directors. Delek issued the following statement:

We appreciate the support of our shareholders. Moving forward, we remain firmly focused on overseeing and executing the Company's strategy and continuing to evaluate opportunities to drive value. We look forward to maintaining our constructive engagement with our shareholders and remain committed to acting in the best interests of the Company and all Delek shareholders.

The preliminary results indicate that shareholders have approved all other proposals considered at Delek's Annual Meeting. All Delek director nominees received approximately 90% or more of the voted shares, excluding those of CVR Energy, Inc.

The Company will file preliminary voting results with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a Form 8-K within four days of the Annual Meeting and will file final voting results on a Form 8-K/A once they are certified by the independent inspector of elections.

About Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining, logistics, asphalt, renewable fuels and convenience store retailing. The refining assets consist of refineries operated in Tyler and Big Spring, Texas, El Dorado, Arkansas and Krotz Springs, Louisiana with a combined nameplate crude throughput capacity of 302,000 barrels per day.

The logistics operations consist of Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE: DKL) ("Delek Logistics"). Delek US and its affiliates also own the general partner and an approximate 80 percent limited partner interest in Delek Logistics. Delek Logistics is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets.

The convenience store retail business operates approximately 253 convenience stores in central and west Texas and New Mexico.

Information about Delek US Holdings, Inc. can be found on its website (www.delekus.com), investor relations webpage (ir.delekus.com), news webpage (www.delekus.com/news) and its Twitter account (@DelekUSHoldings).

Safe Harbor Provisions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements concerning current estimates, expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects, opportunities, plans, actions and events and other statements, concerns, or matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. These statements contain words such as "possible," "believe," "should," "could," "would," "predict," "plan," "estimate," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "will," "if", "potential," "expect" or similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding throughput at the Company's refineries; crude oil prices, discounts and quality and our ability to benefit therefrom; share repurchases; cost reductions; payments of dividends; growth; investments into our business; the performance and execution of our midstream growth initiatives, including the Big Spring Gathering System, the Red River joint venture and the Wink to Webster long-haul crude oil pipeline, and the flexibility, benefits and the expected returns therefrom; RINs waivers and tax credits and the value and benefit therefrom; cash and liquidity; opportunities and anticipated performance and financial position.

Investors are cautioned that the following important factors, among others, may affect these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainty related to timing and amount of future share repurchases and dividend payments; risks and uncertainties with respect to the quantities and costs of crude oil we are able to obtain and the price of the refined petroleum products we ultimately sell, including uncertainties regarding future decisions by OPEC regarding production and pricing disputes between OPEC members and Russia; uncertainty relating to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the demand for crude oil, refined products and transportation and storage services; Delek US' ability to realize cost reductions; risks related to Delek US' exposure to Permian Basin crude oil, such as supply, pricing, gathering, production and transportation capacity; gains and losses from derivative instruments; risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions; acquired assets may suffer a diminishment in fair value as a result of which we may need to record a write-down or impairment in carrying value of the asset; the possibility of litigation challenging renewable fuel standard waivers; changes in the scope, costs, and/or timing of capital and maintenance projects; the ability to grow the Big Spring Gathering System; the ability of the Red River joint venture to complete the expansion project to increase the Red River pipeline capacity; the ability of the joint venture to construct the Wink to Webster long haul crude oil pipeline; operating hazards inherent in transporting, storing and processing crude oil and intermediate and finished petroleum products; our competitive position and the effects of competition; the projected growth of the industries in which we operate; general economic and business conditions affecting the geographic areas in which we operate; and other risks described in Delek US' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including risks disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings and reports with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith belief with respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Delek US undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which Delek US becomes aware of, after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

SOURCE Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.delekus.com/


DULUTH, Ga., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For E-commerce companies, the key to converting site visitors into loyal customers is always in the data. But one software solution stands out from the pack for its ability to make consumer data accessible, understandable, and valuable to online retailers. ShopFluency, a software solution that delivers fact-based, data-rich customer profiles, is empowering E-commerce companies with insights that support a chain-reaction marketing strategy toward increased sales. For businesses of all sizes and industry segments, new marketing efforts informed by ShopFluency insights have paid off quickly.

Recent case studies reveal that by using ShopFluency, online retailers are better able to reach audiences with a tailored marketing approach and exceed revenue goals.

An outdoor lifestyle, hunting and fishing apparel brand came to ShopFluency because they had ideas about their customers, but needed data to support their conclusions. The brand was ready to promote a new line, but questioned if the price point fit their customers. Unexpectedly, the profiles ShopFluency provided revealed a large portion of their consumers were more affluent than they had believed. This gave them the power to make more informed decisions on inventory, and to target new customer segments for digital and direct mail advertising. This shift allowed the brand to introduce a new, high margin direct-to-consumer product line, generating an additional $75,000 in the first quarter.

The platform is also proving valuable for social media campaign optimization. A family-owned peach and pecan farm began running ShopFluency-based audiences against Facebook customer-lookalike audiences. Within seven days, Pearson Farms was able to reduce the cost per purchase by 35% with a 39% improvement to return on ad spend.

For an e-Commerce bicycle craftsman and retailer, a deeper understanding of customers translated to a profitable, enhanced marketing strategy. Before ShopFluency, the owners believed their targets were adventure and extreme riders, and they focused the bulk of their spend on sponsoring professional cyclists. However, an analysis by ShopFluency showed that their best customers were actually either older and affluent or young business professionals. This data helped them redirect their marketing budget, creating a Facebook lead campaign that outperformed their previous customer audiences by 15%.

"ShopFluency has brought a big company game to our growing direct to consumer (DTC) e-Commerce brand. We now understand exactly who our target customers are and where to find them," said the bicycle retailer. "Since working with ShopFluency, we have not only been able to make strategic decisions with more confidence, but have also seen a 15% reduction in our cost per acquisition in Facebook by leveraging their audiences."

ShopFluency provides a set of profiles and recommendations as well as access to a list appended with profile data within a week.

To learn more about ShopFluency and its data-driven, game-changing customer profiles, visit www.ShopFluency.com or ShopFluency's LinkedIn page .

ABOUT ShopFluency

Launched in 2020, ShopFluency is a marketing analytics platform designed for e-commerce companies and marketing agencies seeking an "unfair" advantage over their competitors. ShopFluency combines your store's data with insights gleaned from multiple other sources to build fact-based, data-rich customer profiles, providing your team with the critical information needed to laser-focus its efforts on the highest value targets, increase retention, and lower your cost per acquisition. With ShopFluency, you'll finally have access to the kind of analytics and understanding previously reserved for Fortune 500 retailers.

SOURCE ShopFluency
PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vice President Kamala Harris and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island, visited Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) in downtown Providence, R.I., today to meet local social entrepreneurs and learn about their businesses. Also in attendance were Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman David Cicilline, and Congressman James Langevin.

The entrepreneurs presenting in-person to Vice President Harris were Dr. Eugenio Fernandez, Jr., founder of Asthenis; Sandra Enos, founder of Giving Beyond the Box; Sterling Stallman, cofounder of Incred-A-Bowl; and Philip Trevvett, cofounder of Urban Greens Co-op Market. In a "mini-pitch" modeled on SEG's traditional pitch night presentation format, all four of them described their business mission in two minutes and answered follow-up questions.

In the Vice President's comments, she said that to grow the U.S. economy, it's vital to consider the needs of small businesses. She emphasized that many small businesses are inherently engaged in social impact because they are such an important part of their communities, and that running a small business is usually not only about profit but also about having impact in a community and measuring success based on that impact.

"We were excited to host Vice President Harris and Secretary Raimondo and even more excited to hear how crucial impact and small business are to their agenda," said Kelly Ramirez, CEO of SEG. "They recognize that the entrepreneurs they met, and many others that are part of SEG's vibrant social impact ecosystem in Rhode Island and beyond, are helping our economy to become more just, equitable, and resilient."

"I was happy to tell the VP about our future plans," said Sterling Spellman, cofounder of Incred-A-Bowl. "We have a big vision for our Incred-A-Bowl Fresh Start program, employing people who are deemed unemployable or hard to employ. We plan to go nationwide by 2030 and give 2,500 people a chance to open their own Incred-A-Bowl and offer other people opportunities. We believe in a second chance for people to get back into the workforce so they can not only provide for themselves but help others grow personally and professionally."

About SEG

Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) creates positive social and economic impact by providing social entrepreneurs and enterprises with the tools and networks they need to thrive. It fosters an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders who work to enable a more just, equitable, and resilient economy. SEG operates statewide in Rhode Island from four programming sites in Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket/Central Falls. Its network of 600+ enterprises and 250+ business and community leaders contributes time, expertise, and funding to grow Rhode Island's social impact ecosystem. To learn more, visit www.segreenhouse.org.

Media contact:

Karen Donovan

Communications Director

[email protected]

401 383 4286

SOURCE Social Enterprise Greenhouse
DALLAS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") announced today it has donated to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in honor of the Company's 50th Anniversary. To commemorate this special occasion, Southwest is working with NFF to plant 1,000 trees for each of the carrier's 50 years of service. The 50,000 trees will be will be planted throughout California, Georgia, and Oregon, in an effort to help support wildfire recovery, restore native ecosystems, improve water and air quality, and reduce soil erosion. This $50,000 donation is being funded through the Southwest Airlines Foundation, a corporate advised fund housed within the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Protecting the Planet for future generations is important to Southwest, and the Company encourages Employees and Customers to support these efforts by visiting swa.is/treeplanting. For every dollar donated to the NFF, the organization will plant one treesupporting efforts to conserve the nation's forest, watersheds, wildlife, and recreation resources. Every donation made through this site will also count toward Southwest's one million Acts of Kindness challenge.

One Report Launch

Today, the carrier also announces the launch of its annual corporate social responsibility ReportThe Southwest Airlines One Report. This integrated citizenship report highlights Southwest's three-pronged approach to the triple bottom line of People, Performance, and Planet. The One Report highlights significant social, economic, and environmental events that occurred throughout 2020, all through the lens of citizenship.

New this year, the One Report includes expanded citizenship reporting. Since 2009, Southwest has reported on its citizenship efforts using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. In line with Southwest's efforts to continue providing transparency to its Stakeholders, 2020 marks the first time Southwest has also used the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) as guides for its One Report. This is in addition to expanding its previous GRI reporting.

"For 50 years, Southwest has connected People to what's important in their lives by providing friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines' Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. "This Purpose is at the core of our citizenship efforts and drives our desire to bring People together while being a good neighbor where our Employees and Customers work and live. Our ongoing work with organizations like the National Forest Foundation demonstrates one way we put our Heart in action, and there are many other great examples shared in the 2020 One Report."

To view the 2020 One Report and learn more about Southwest's citizenship efforts, including a video message from Gary Kelly, visit southwestonereport.com.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride/Crested Butte), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/ Bradenton, both on Feb. 14; Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs, Colo., both on March 11; Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif., both on April 12; as well as Fresno, Calif., on April 25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; and will begin service to Myrtle Beach S.C., on May 23; Bozeman, Mont., on May 27; Jackson, Miss., on June 6; and Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 29. The Company also has announced an intention to initiate new service to Bellingham, Wash., later this year.

The carrier issued its Southwest Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.

Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Related Links

http://www.southwest.com


DUBAI, U.A.E, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global surface disinfectant market is experiencing a huge surge in demand due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Rising number of patients getting hospitalized in emergency clinics and diagnostic centers has been fuelling the demand for surface disinfectants.

The surface disinfectant market is expected to follow a positive growth trajectory for the forecast period of 2021-2031. Panic purchasing of hand sanitizers and other disinfectants during lockdown led to uneven demand and increase in surface disinfectant market sales, evaluated ESOMAR-certified consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI).

According to UNICEF, worldwide nearly 2 billion patients and healthcare workers are at higher risk of infection due to lack of water. Sanitization requirements and wastewater purification using disinfectants can offer required solution. This will increase the demand for surface disinfectants.

"Surging demand for surface disinfectants in hospitals and other healthcare systems to curb the risk of hospital acquired infections provides a positive environment for surface disinfectant market growth," remarks the FMI analyst.

Request a report sample with 250 pages to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1177

Key Takeaways

The U.S. is predicted to be most lucrative market for surface disinfectant as consumers continue showcasing increasing healthcare spending.

Rising prevalence of highly infectious and chronic diseases in Germany is assisting in expansion of surface disinfectant market.

is assisting in expansion of surface disinfectant market. Government initiatives aimed at making quality healthcare better accessible will create opportunities for the market growth in India .

. Demand for surface disinfectants surged in China due to outbreak of COVID-19 outbreak. With new researches indicating the high effectiveness of hand sanitizers towards slowing the spread of virus, the demand is expected to soar during the forecast period.

due to outbreak of COVID-19 outbreak. With new researches indicating the high effectiveness of hand sanitizers towards slowing the spread of virus, the demand is expected to soar during the forecast period. Liquid surface disinfectants are expected to account for 56.5% of global surface disinfectant revenue share.

Prominent Drivers

Growing attentiveness towards hygiene and prevention of infectious diseases is expected to aid the surface disinfectant market growth.

Rising prevalence of hospital acquired infections boosts the surface disinfectant market sales.

Escalating use of surface disinfectant in water treatment plant and other water purification processes will enhance the surface disinfectant sales.

Key Restraints

Adoption of alternate mode of disinfection like Pre-sterilization, UV radiation for medical instruments hampers the market growth.

Harmful effects associated with application of surface disinfectant and lack of effectiveness restricts the market growth.

Insufficient knowledge regarding the usage and composition of chemical agents negatively affects the market demand.

Discover more about the surface disinfectants market with figures and data tables, along with the table of contents. You will also find detailed market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1177

Competitive Landscape

Leading players profiled by FMI operating in surface disinfectant market include 3M Company, Ecolab, Clariant International DuPont, BASF SE, Lonza Group, The Clorox Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Paul Hartmann AG, Carrollclean, LANXESS AG, Procter & Gamble, Steris Plc., Cantel Medical Corporation, Diversey, Inc., Whiteley Corporation, Gojo Industries, Inc., Arkema, Solvay SA, Thor Group, Metrex Research, LLC, Medline Industries, Inc., Pharmax Limited, Microban, Stepan Company among others.

According to FMI, Leading players are focusing to developing sustainable, safe and efficient products. They are also working towards reducing waste generation to reduce the negative environmental impact. They are also participating in strategic acquisitions to strengthen their global position. One such occurrence is the acquisition of Chemstar Corporation by Ecolab Inc. in 2019 with the aim to penetrate grocery and food retail markets.

More Insights on FMI's Surface Disinfectants Market

The latest market study on global surface disinfectant market by Future Market Insights gives a detailed segmentation for the forecast period of 2021-2031. In order to gain a better perspective of the global market potential, its growth, trends, and opportunities, the market is segmented on the basis of product type (high disinfectant, low level disinfectant, intermediate disinfectant), form (liquids surface disinfectant, gels disinfectant, wipes surface disinfectant, spray and foam surface disinfectant), end use (hospitals, diagnostics centers, ambulatory surgical centers, dental clinics, reference laboratories, critical care centers, academic and research institutes, etc) and across major regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Oceania, and Middle East & Africa).

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage on healthcare Domain

Sanitizer Market: The global hand sanitizer market report by FMI gives an in-depth insight on the future expansion prospects, trends and challenges that market is likely to face in the upcoming decade. Key statistics regarding key segments have been presented across prominent geographies, along with a detailed assessment of the market's competitive landscape.

Sterilization Wrap Market: Future Market Insights gives a detailed segmentation on the global sterilization wrap market with upcoming market trends, challenges and future growth dynamics across key geographies and prominent segments. The report provides a holistic approach, mapping the competitive landscape with detailed analysis on established players, new entrants, and opportunities likely to prevail across between 2017 and 2027.

Sterilization Equipment Market: The sterilization equipment market study published by FMI offers a comprehensive analysis and focused views on major trends expected to provide shape to future growth prospects. The report provides detailed analysis of the significant drivers, trends, challenges and opportunities prevailing for the forthcoming decade across key geographies along with competitive landscape of the upcoming decade.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact

Abhishek Budholiya

Future Market Insights,

1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower,

Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A,

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai,

United Arab Emirates

For Sales Enquiries: [email protected]

For Media Enquiries: [email protected]

Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/surface-disinfectant-market

Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/surface-disinfectant-market

SOURCE Future Market Insights
"We're proud to continue redefining what rugged looks like with the redesigned All-Terrain and Endurance tablet cases," said Brian Stech, CEO of Survivor. "Survivor leverages more than 25 years of innovation, industry-leading testing and trusted technology to provide solutions that are rugged enough to withstand the demands of commercial use, yet refined for everyday adventures at work, school and home."

Survivor All-Terrain and Endurance cases feature infused antimicrobial protection that eliminates and prevents 99.9% of surface bacteria, while offering long-lasting antibacterial and antifungal defense. Additionally, durable materials withstand medical-grade cleaning agents and smooth edges limit areas for bacteria growth while making them easy to wipe down.

Survivor All-Terrain

Built from the inside out to meet the standards published in US Department of Defense Military Standard 810G, the Survivor All-Terrain protects the iPad from extreme conditions, including drops, dust, sand, rain, impact, vibration, and a host of other environmental factors. Designed for the military, classroom, and field, features include:

3X military-grade drop protection with four layers of shock-absorbing materials.

Raised faceplate and integrated screen protector shield the device's screen from front-facing drops.

360-degree protection provided by sealed ports, buttons, and camera ring and a dust-proof mesh speaker liner that block out dust, debris and splashing of water from any angle.

For hospitals and other medical professional applications, the Survivor All-Terrain Medical features the same all-encompassing protection as the All-Terrain, made with FDA-compliant materials throughout the case and included kickstand/handstrap.

Survivor Endurance

The Survivor Endurance is a lightweight solution that provides rugged protection for the iPad in a variety of settings. Features include:

2X military-grade drop protection with three layers of shock-absorbing materials.

Dust-resistant TPU port and button covers seal out foreign debris to protect the iPad's vital connectors.

Screen-saving raised edge protects the iPad's screen in front-facing drops.

Survivor All-Terrain and Endurance cases include several additional features for heightened productivity and versatile iPad use. Integrated storage for Apple Pencil on the side of each case keeps the pencil secure, protected, and easily accessible for quick usage. An included combination kickstand/handstrap accessory enables handsfree landscape and portrait viewing, and secure, comfortable on-the-go device operation.

The Survivor All-Terrain and Endurance cases also include essential B2B functionality for customers in restaurants, hospitality, schools, hospitals and other industrial settings. Clear case backs allow for asset tagging and scanning through the material, and low-profile designs offer compatibility with industry-standard charging carts.

Survivor Modular Ecosystem

The Survivor modular ecosystem empowers businesses to accomplish more with their tech in any environment. In addition to the included kickstand/handstrap, the following accessories are compatible with the new All-Terrain and Endurance cases through a simple, one-step installation:

Tablet Stand (MSRP $69.99 )  360-degree device rotation, rubberized feet, and a compact, space-saving design make this essential for point-of-sale, front offices and tabletop displays.

)  360-degree device rotation, rubberized feet, and a compact, space-saving design make this essential for point-of-sale, front offices and tabletop displays. Cupholder Mount (MSRP $39.99 )  Adjustable base width, stand height and 360-degree rotation provides optimal viewing for both the driver and passenger seat.

)  Adjustable base width, stand height and 360-degree rotation provides optimal viewing for both the driver and passenger seat. Pencil Tether (MSRP $9.99 )  Securely attaches Apple Pencil to the kickstand/handstrap, allowing for quick and easy tethered use, providing peace-of-mind on the job site or on-the-go.

)  Securely attaches Apple Pencil to the kickstand/handstrap, allowing for quick and easy tethered use, providing peace-of-mind on the job site or on-the-go. Shoulder strap (MSRP $9.99 )  Premium nylon strap securely attaches to provide a comfortable fit while on the move and for extended periods of time.

)  Premium nylon strap securely attaches to provide a comfortable fit while on the move and for extended periods of time. Handstrap (MSRP $9.99 )  Nylon fabric and textured handplate provide a secure grip, while antimicrobial protection reduces bacteria growth.

Pricing and Availability

The Survivor All-Terrain (MSRP $89.99), All-Terrain Medical (MSRP $109.99) and Endurance (MSRP $79.99) cases for the iPad 10.2" (8th & 7th generation) are available now at GetSurvivor.com. They are also available for corporate/business-to-business opportunities through Ingram Micro, Synnex, Tech Data and reseller partners.

Survivor products undergo rigorous testing to ensure optimal dependability, durability and performance. They are guaranteed for life, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

For the latest Survivor product news, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter @GetSurvivor and Instagram @GetSurvivor.

Survivor is an Incipio Group Brand.

About Survivor:

Say the name "Survivor" and there is an instant connection, an association for tough, trusted and tested protection that exemplifies the brand and our namesake. Survivor pioneered the rugged protection category as the first brand to introduce the MIL-SPEC 810G standard into our case line up, a standard that remains at the core of our product foundation today. Our protection products were forged from the long-standing Griffin Technology heritage with a simple purpose; to build trusted, forward-thinking products that protect your tech, maximize utility and are made to last. Our award-winning products are built to protect in the most extreme environments, yet our adaptable modern aesthetic offers accessible style with proven protection. Survivor. Engineered for the front lines. Used by Everyone.

About Incipio Group:

Incipio Group is a global leader in consumer technology solutions operating an innovative and diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands at the intersection of design, functionality and lifestyle. The company has an award-winning product portfolio that includes protective cases, shells, sleeves, bags, power management, enterprise and B2B solutions sold under the Incipio, Incase, Survivor, Griffin, Kate Spade and Coach brands. Incipio Group has operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and China.

SOURCE Survivor
TAOS, N.M., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Taos Air will restart its popular service offering direct flights to and from AustinBergstrom International, Dallas Love Field, Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles, and McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. Service resumes July 1, 2021, just in time for Texas and California-based travelers to enjoy the Rocky Mountain adventures in Taos, including many of Taos Ski Valley's newest summer activities. Once again, Taos Air will offer a private flight experience at the price of a commercial airline ticket.

Taos Air is the easiest route to the Rockies for visitors from Texas and California. Prices are affordable and competitive, yet the travel experience is much more convenient than traditional commercial flights because of the ease of parking, simplified check-in, and reduced airport congestion that comes with a boutique charter service. Taos Air also offsets 100 percent of its carbon impact, making it the world's first carbon-neutral airline.

"We've been hearing from travelers how eager they are to get back on Taos Air," said Joe Zvada, Director of Aviation for Taos Ski Valley. "Visitors come to Taos to experience rich spiritual traditions, fine art, distinctive cuisine, and the raw, natural beauty of the landscape. As travel regains momentum, we know the pleasant and sophisticated experience Taos Air offers will be the perfect way to kick-off a visit to Northern New Mexico."

In addition to complimentary shuttle ground shuttle service between the airport and Taos Ski Valley's award-winning hotel, The Blake at Taos Ski Valley, Taos Air travelers will have abundant activities once they arrive in the ski valley, including:

The new Via Ferrata, situated at 11,500 feet in the sub-alpine ecosystem of Kachina Peak, features beginner through advanced climbing route challenges, a 100-foot skybridge, and a double-cable catwalk. Novice climbers can experience the thrill of cabled mountain travel under the supervision of a guide, and progress to vertical terrain with spectacular views of the Rio Hondo and Wheeler Peak Wilderness.

and Wheeler Peak Wilderness. The Green Chile Flow Trail is a lift-service mountain bike trail. From the top of Lift 4 all the way to the bottom of the Kachina Basin, the Green Chile flow track is 3.5 miles of buttery banked turns, amazing scenery, and fun for the whole family.

The new Blue Corn Trail will further expand the resort's intermediate mountain bike experience and will gradually expand throughout the summer and fall as the build-out is completed.

The newly renovated Williams Lake Trail is a wooded 3.7-mile intermediate trail culminating at a picturesque lake bordered by stunning mountain vistas or at the summit of Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico .

is a wooded 3.7-mile intermediate trail culminating at a picturesque lake bordered by stunning mountain vistas or at the summit of Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in . Scenic chair-lift rides allow riders to breathe in the cool, clear mountain air while enjoying spectacular alpine scenery of the Kachina Basin.

Summer service will consist of twice weekly service from each city to Taos between July 1 through September 27. Taos Air will also offer service for the winter 2021-22 ski season; the booking window will open up later this summer.

Visitors can book Taos Air tickets via TaosAir.com or by calling 833-359-8267 (FLYTAOS).

About Taos Ski Valley

Nestled among the pristine peaks of northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is undergoing a $300 million renaissance making it one of North America's premier vacation and adventure destinations. With over 300 inches of average annual snowfall, 300 days of sunshine and more than 1,200 skiable acres, Taos Ski Valley offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, breathtaking scenery and exhilarating terrain for every ability level for a spirited mountain experience unlike any other. The resort is maintaining its authentic charm while investing in new amenities both on-mountain and in the base area. Taos is the first ski resort in the world to earn the prestigious B Corporation certification demonstrating its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Taos Ski Valley is proud to participate in the Mountain Collective, a collaboration of iconic, independent ski destinations, and the Ikon Pass. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley, and see the future plans for the Ski Valley, please visit www.skitaos.com.

About Taos Air

Taos Air flights are public charters sold and operated by Advanced Air, LLC as a direct air carrier. Flights are subject to Department of Transportation Public Charter Regulations. Please visit www.taosair.com for more information on public charter flights.

SOURCE Taos Air

Related Links

https://www.skitaos.com/taos-air


CHICAGO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

As previously announced, TDS will hold a teleconference May 7, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) reported total operating revenues of $1,318 million for the first quarter of 2021, versus $1,261 million for the same period one year ago. Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $57 million and $0.48, respectively, for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $69 million and $0.59, respectively, in the same period one year ago.

"The TDS Family of Businesses made a strong start to 2021 and are well-positioned to achieve their strategic priorities," said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., TDS President and CEO. "UScellular and TDS Telecom produced impressive financial results and continued to provide essential communications, including high-quality data, video and voice services to our customers and communities. We are implementing our financing strategies to maintain a strong, yet flexible, financial foundation to fund our attractive investment opportunities, while also working to lower the cost of our balance sheet.

"UScellular increased service revenues, showing the positive effect of higher ARPU. Operational and cost discipline throughout the quarter also contributed to strong financial performance. Our attractive promotions are resonating with customers, and postpaid and prepaid handset additions strengthened compared to the same period a year ago. Investments in 5G and network modernization programs are on track reflecting UScellular's commitment to continue to meet customers' expectations for speed and reliability.

"TDS Telecom achieved excellent growth in residential customer connections and strong financial performance, driven by higher operating revenue in the first quarter. With the acceleration of its broadband strategy, 500,000 total customers are now taking broadband services, and more than half of all our customers now have 1Gig service available to them. This year, TDS Telecom has plans to double the number of service addresses that it built fiber to last year, building on the success of the program to-date."

2021 Estimated Results

TDS' current estimates of full-year 2021 results for UScellular and TDS Telecom are shown below. Such estimates represent management's view as of May 6, 2021 and should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. TDS undertakes no duty to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from estimated results.

2021 Estimated Results



UScellular Previous Current (Dollars in millions)



Service revenues $3,025-$3,125 $3,050-$3,150 Adjusted OIBDA1 $800-$950 $850-$950 Adjusted EBITDA1 $975-$1,125 $1,025-$1,125 Capital expenditures $775-$875 Unchanged





TDS Telecom Previous Current (Dollars in millions)



Total operating revenues $975-$1,025 Unchanged Adjusted OIBDA1 $290-$320 Unchanged Adjusted EBITDA1 $290-$320 Unchanged Capital expenditures $425-$475 Unchanged

The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measures, Net income or Income before income taxes. In providing 2021 estimated results, TDS has not completed the below reconciliation to Net income because it does not provide guidance for income taxes. Although potentially significant, TDS believes that the impact of income taxes cannot be reasonably predicted; therefore, TDS is unable to provide such guidance.



2021 Estimated Results

UScellular

TDS Telecom (Dollars in millions)





Net income (GAAP) N/A

N/A Add back:





Income tax expense N/A

N/A Income before income taxes (GAAP) $175-$275

$80-$110 Add back:





Interest expense 150





Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense 680



210

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1 $1,005-$1,105

$290-$320 Add back or deduct:





(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 20





Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1 $1,025-$1,125

$290-$320 Deduct:





Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 170





Interest and dividend income 5





Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1 $850-$950

$290-$320



Actual Results

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2021

Year Ended

December 31, 2020

UScellular

TDS Telecom

UScellular

TDS Telecom (Dollars in millions)













Net income (GAAP) $ 62



$ 24



$ 233



$ 100

Add back:













Income tax expense 27



8



17



18

Income before income taxes (GAAP) $ 89



$ 33



$ 250



$ 117

Add back:













Interest expense 39



(1)



112



(4)

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense 170



49



683



203

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1 $ 298



$ 80



$ 1,045



$ 316

Add back or deduct:













(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 5







25



1

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net (1)













(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net 







(5)





(Gain) loss on investments 







(2)





Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1 $ 302



$ 81



$ 1,063



$ 317

Deduct:













Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 42







179





Interest and dividend income 2







8



5

Other, net 











(1)

Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1 $ 258



$ 81



$ 876



$ 314





Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

1 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. TDS does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation above are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of TDS' operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of TDS' financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, and gains and losses, while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The table above reconciles EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income or Income before income taxes. Additional information and reconciliations related to Non-GAAP financial measures for March 31, 2021, can be found on TDS' website at investors.tdsinc.com.

Stock Repurchase

During the first quarter of 2021, TDS repurchased 162,500 Common Shares for $3 million and UScellular repurchased 54,900 Common Shares for $2 million.

Conference Call Information

TDS will hold a conference call on May 7, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

Access the live call on the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com or at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3155155/0CD2FBCBA421B063439060A77D169D23

Access the call by phone at (833) 968-2187, conference ID: 2661419.

Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to investors.tdsinc.com. The call will be archived on the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.

About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 9,100 associates as of March 31, 2021.

Visit investors.tdsinc.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: intense competition; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the ability to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs, including participation in FCC auctions; the ability to attract people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization; TDS' smaller scale relative to larger competitors; changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or wireless spectrum licenses and/or expansion of TDS' businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; difficulties involving third parties; uncertainties in TDS' future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on TDS and UScellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; conditions in the U.S. telecommunications industry; the value of assets and investments; the state and federal regulatory environment; pending and future litigation; cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security; disruption in credit or other financial markets; deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions; the impact, duration and severity of public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under "Risk Factors" in the most recent filing of TDS' Form 10-K, as updated by any TDS Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:

TDS: www.tdsinc.com

UScellular: www.uscellular.com

TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com

OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

United States Cellular Corporation Summary Operating Data (Unaudited) As of or for the Quarter Ended 3/31/2021

12/31/2020

9/30/2020

6/30/2020

3/31/2020 Retail Connections

















Postpaid

















Total at end of period 4,406,000



4,412,000



4,401,000



4,372,000



4,359,000

Gross additions 143,000



171,000



168,000



129,000



132,000

Feature phones 3,000



2,000



4,000



3,000



2,000

Smartphones 101,000



117,000



98,000



82,000



88,000

Connected devices 39,000



52,000



66,000



44,000



42,000

Net additions (losses) (6,000)



11,000



28,000



12,000



(26,000)

Feature phones (9,000)



(9,000)



(8,000)



(8,000)



(10,000)

Smartphones 6,000



12,000



8,000



11,000



(10,000)

Connected devices (3,000)



8,000



28,000



9,000



(6,000)

ARPU1 $ 47.65



$ 47.51



$ 47.10



$ 46.24



$ 47.23

ARPA2 $ 125.25



$ 124.87



$ 123.27



$ 120.70



$ 122.92

Churn rate3 1.12 %

1.21 %

1.06 %

0.89 %

1.21 % Handsets 0.92 %

1.01 %

0.88 %

0.71 %

0.95 % Connected devices 2.53 %

2.64 %

2.35 %

2.24 %

3.11 % Prepaid

















Total at end of period 496,000



499,000



506,000



496,000



494,000

Gross additions 62,000



56,000



65,000



62,000



57,000

Net additions (losses) (3,000)



(8,000)



11,000



2,000



(12,000)

ARPU1 $ 35.25



$ 35.15



$ 35.45



$ 34.89



$ 34.07

Churn rate3 4.37 %

4.24 %

3.59 %

4.05 %

4.67 % Total connections at end of period4 4,961,000



4,968,000



4,962,000



4,919,000



4,903,000

Market penetration at end of period

















Consolidated operating population 31,493,000



31,314,000



31,314,000



31,292,000



31,292,000

Consolidated operating penetration5 16 %

16 %

16 %

16 %

16 % Capital expenditures (millions) $ 125



$ 320



$ 216



$ 168



$ 236

Total cell sites in service 6,802



6,797



6,758



6,673



6,629

Owned towers 4,270



4,271



4,246



4,208



4,184







1 Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below:

 Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections.

 Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections.



2 Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.



3 Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.



4 Includes reseller and other connections.



5 Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total estimated population of consolidated operating markets.













TDS Telecom Summary Operating Data (Unaudited) As of or for the Quarter Ended 3/31/2021

12/31/2020

9/30/2020

6/30/2020

3/31/2020 Residential connections

















Broadband1

















Wireline, Incumbent 243,700



242,500



243,400



240,400



230,400

Wireline, Expansion 24,100



20,400



17,300



14,700



12,300

Cable 199,500



196,400



193,300



191,000



184,100

Total Broadband 467,300



459,300



454,000



446,000



426,800

Video2

















Wireline 63,000



63,000



62,300



61,400



59,000

Cable 79,600



81,400



82,300



83,200



84,600

Total Video 142,700



144,400



144,500



144,600



143,600

Voice3

















Wireline 255,000



256,900



260,000



261,800



259,100

Cable 53,700



53,900



54,400



55,300



54,800

Total Voice 308,700



310,800



314,400



317,100



313,900

Total Residential connections 918,700



914,400



913,000



907,800



884,300

Commercial connections

















Broadband1 34,400



34,000



33,700



33,400



33,200

Video2 19,400



19,700



19,700



20,300



20,600

Voice3 116,500



119,700



122,700



126,100



128,600

ManagedIP4 108,500



113,300



116,700



117,300



119,800

Total Commercial connections 278,800



286,700



292,900



297,200



302,200

Total connections 1,197,400



1,201,100



1,205,900



1,205,000



1,186,400





















Residential revenue per connection5 $ 56.97



$ 55.66



$ 55.66



$ 53.82



$ 54.30





















Capital expenditures (millions) $ 70



$ 147



$ 92



$ 75



$ 54





Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

1 The individual customers provided high-speed internet access through various transmission technologies, including fiber, DSL, dedicated internet circuit technologies or cable modem service.



2 The individual customers provided video services.



3 The individual circuits connecting a customer to TDS' central office facilities that provide voice services or the billable number of lines into a building for voice services.



4 The number of telephone handsets, data lines and IP trunks providing communications using IP networking technology.



5 Total residential revenue per connection is calculated by dividing total residential revenue by the average number of residential connections and by the number of months in the period.













Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020

2021 vs. 2020 (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)









Operating revenues









UScellular $ 1,023



$ 963



6 % TDS Telecom 249



240



4 % All Other1 46



58



(21) %

1,318



1,261



4 % Operating expenses









UScellular









Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion 765



732



5 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 170



177



(4) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 5



4



39 % (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net (1)







N/M

939



913



3 % TDS Telecom









Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion 168



160



5 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 49



52



(5) %

217



212



2 % All Other1









Expenses excluding depreciation and amortization 47



58



(19) % Depreciation and amortization 5



6



(17) %

52



64



(19) % Total operating expenses 1,208



1,189



2 % Operating income (loss)









UScellular 84



50



67 % TDS Telecom 32



28



12 % All Other1 (6)



(6)



3 %

110



72



52 % Investment and other income (expense)









Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 42



45



(7) % Interest and dividend income 3



6



(44) % Interest expense (53)



(37)



(45) % Total investment and other income (8)



14



N/M Income before income taxes 102



86



18 % Income tax expense 31



3



N/M Net income 71



83



(14) % Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 12



14



(9) % Net income attributable to TDS shareholders 59



69



(15) % TDS Preferred dividend requirement 2







N/M Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders $ 57



$ 69



(18) %











Basic weighted average shares outstanding 114



115



 Basic earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders $ 0.49



$ 0.60



(18) %











Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 116



116



 Diluted earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders $ 0.48



$ 0.59



(18) %



N/M - Percentage change not meaningful.

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.



1 Consists of TDS corporate, intercompany eliminations and all other business operations not included in the UScellular and TDS Telecom segments.













Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020 (Dollars in millions)





Cash flows from operating activities





Net income $ 71



$ 83

Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities





Depreciation, amortization and accretion 224



235

Bad debts expense 8



34

Stock-based compensation expense 10



11

Deferred income taxes, net 27



75

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (42)



(45)

Distributions from unconsolidated entities 23



25

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 5



4

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net (1)





Other operating activities (1)





Changes in assets and liabilities from operations





Accounts receivable 17



43

Equipment installment plans receivable (18)



23

Inventory 8



(52)

Accounts payable (115)



87

Customer deposits and deferred revenues 9



(9)

Accrued taxes 



(74)

Accrued interest 9



9

Other assets and liabilities (69)



(82)

Net cash provided by operating activities 165



367









Cash flows from investing activities





Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (220)



(377)

Cash paid for intangible assets (1,261)



(26)

Cash paid for investments 



(1)

Cash received from divestitures and exchanges 1





Net cash used in investing activities (1,480)



(404)









Cash flows from financing activities





Issuance of long-term debt 567



50

Repayment of long-term debt 



(2)

Issuance of TDS Preferred Shares 420





TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments (1)



(1)

UScellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments (1)





Repurchase of TDS Common Shares (3)



(6)

Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares (2)



(21)

Dividends paid to TDS shareholders (20)



(19)

Payment of debt and equity issuance costs (14)



(3)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests (1)



(1)

Other financing activities (3)





Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 942



(3)









Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (373)



(40)









Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash





Beginning of period 1,452



474

End of period $ 1,079



$ 434









Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited)

ASSETS









March 31, 2021

December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions)





Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,042



$ 1,429

Short-term investments 3



3

Accounts receivable, net 1,097



1,112

Inventory, net 145



154

Prepaid expenses 114



105

Income taxes receivable 188



187

Other current assets 53



36

Total current assets 2,642



3,026









Assets held for sale 1



2









Licenses 3,924



2,638









Goodwill 547



547









Other intangible assets, net 213



213









Investments in unconsolidated entities 497



477









Property, plant and equipment, net 3,951



3,972









Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,005



998









Other assets and deferred charges 627



652









Total assets $ 13,407



$ 12,525









Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY









March 31, 2021

December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)





Current liabilities





Current portion of long-term debt $ 6



$ 5

Accounts payable 360



508

Customer deposits and deferred revenues 202



193

Accrued interest 25



16

Accrued taxes 67



69

Accrued compensation 73



132

Short-term operating lease liabilities 134



129

Other current liabilities 96



101

Total current liabilities 963



1,153









Liabilities held for sale 



1









Deferred liabilities and credits





Deferred income tax liability, net 890



863

Long-term operating lease liabilities 941



940

Other deferred liabilities and credits 558



541









Long-term debt, net 3,991



3,424









Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 10



10









Equity





TDS shareholders' equity





Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share 1



1

Capital in excess of par value 2,488



2,482

Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share 408





Treasury shares, at cost (472)



(477)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3)



(4)

Retained earnings 2,830



2,802

Total TDS shareholders' equity 5,252



4,804









Noncontrolling interests 802



789









Total equity 6,054



5,593









Total liabilities and equity $ 13,407



$ 12,525









Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited)





March 31, 2021





TDS

TDS

Corporate

Intercompany

TDS

UScellular

Telecom

& Other

Eliminations

Consolidated (Dollars in millions)

















Cash and cash equivalents $ 479



$ 177



$ 564



$ (178)



$ 1,042





















Licenses, goodwill and other intangible assets $ 3,915



$ 761



$ 8



$ 



$ 4,684

Investment in unconsolidated entities 455



4



45



(7)



497



$ 4,370



$ 765



$ 53



$ (7)



$ 5,181





















Property, plant and equipment, net $ 2,419



$ 1,435



$ 97



$ 



$ 3,951





















Long-term debt, net:

















Current portion $ 2



$ 



$ 4



$ 



$ 6

Non-current portion 2,981



4



1,006







3,991



$ 2,983



$ 4



$ 1,010



$ 



$ 3,997









TDS Telecom Highlights (Unaudited)













Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020

2021 vs. 2020 (Dollars in millions)









Operating revenues









Residential









Wireline, Incumbent $ 85



$ 81



6 % Wireline, Expansion 7



4



80 % Cable 65



60



9 % Total residential 157



144



9 % Commercial 47



49



(6) % Wholesale 45



47



(3) % Total service revenues 249



240



4 % Equipment revenues 







9 % Total operating revenues 249



240



4 %











Cost of services 97



95



2 % Cost of equipment and products 







(1) % Selling, general and administrative expenses 70



65



9 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 49



52



(5) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 







N/M Total operating expenses 217



212



2 %











Operating income $ 32



$ 28



12 %



N/M - Percentage change not meaningful

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Financial Measures and Reconciliations (Unaudited) Free Cash Flow



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2021

2020 (Dollars in millions)





Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $ 165



$ 367

Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment 220



377

Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1 $ (55)



$ (10)







1 Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which TDS believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Related Links

www.tdsinc.com


WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union is proud to honor nurses during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, and all health care workers during National Hospital Week, May 9-15.

"On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the Teamsters Union, I want to send our deepest thanks and gratitude to all health care workers. Over this past year, during a global pandemic, Americans have witnessed just how significant health care workers are in getting patients the critical care they need," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "Teamster health care workers show great care and compassion for patients and their loved ones during their most trying of times, and for that, we are truly grateful."

"We cannot thank health care workers enough after this past year's seemingly never-ending COVID-19 surges. They work to alleviate pain and take care of patients with professionalism, sacrificing of themselves to help others," said Nina Bugbee, Director of the Teamsters Health Care Division. "It takes every person in the hospital and medical settingincluding an interdisciplinary health care team of Teamstersto provide excellent care. We are so proud of and commit to always protecting health care workers to the fullest extent through providing strong representation."

The Teamsters Union represents virtually every profession in the health care industry, including nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, CT and ultrasound technologists, emergency room technicians, blood collection specialists at American Red Cross and other medical facilities, along with many more classifications of health care workers, all of whom are vital to public health.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


New campus building names and memorials get attention and are worthy actions, but barely begin to unravel and remedy decades of systemic racism, exploitation, and their present-day manifestations at universities that are supposed to be vehicles for social repair and advancement. To push higher education to evidence a meaningful commitment to diversity, socioeconomic mobility, and justice, we need government action that ensures admissions reform, accountability for commitments to equity, and in many cases, institutional reparations.
WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Larson Tax Relief has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by The Denver Post Top Workplaces. This marks the 10th consecutive year that Larson Tax Relief has been honored with a Top Workplaces award. While COVID-19 has presented especially difficult times to many businesses, owners Jack and Ron Larson have continued to meet the challenges in a remote workplaces to provide a culture that embraces the employees while still providing superior customer services to their clients.

The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

ABOUT LARSON TAX RELIEF

Larson Financial, Inc., dba Larson Tax Relief, is a family owned and operated tax resolution firm that was established in 2005 by brothers Jack and Ron Larson. After working more than a decade in the industry, the brothers were inspired to create their own organization that is dedicated to an environment of honesty, integrity, and exceptional customer service. Since that beginning, Larson has been successfully building a team of trusted and experienced professionals to provide honest answers and real solutions that work for their clients. As a family owned business, the team at Larson understands that behind every client there is a real person that deserves the best service and representation available.

Larson has helped over 10,000 individuals and businesses to resolve their tax liabilities in all 50 states. Our experience, knowledge, professionalism, and customer service are unmatched in the industry. Contact us locally at 303-554-0778 or nationwide at 888-589- 0955.

http://www.larsontaxrelief.com

SOURCE Larson Tax Relief

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The ESOP Association (TEA) is making a multi-million-dollar investment into government relations and public awareness. Tweet this

"Selling a business to employees through an ESOP should be the first option any retiring business owner should consider when thinking about succession," Bonham continued. "But a lack of awareness, fear of regulatory second guessing, and inequities among business types when forming an ESOP create unnecessary hurdles. This is why we are investing heavily and re-organizing our public policy programs. We will bring more focus on the barriers to ESOP formation and work with lawmakers to resolve issues that have been allowed to linger for decades."

As part of this expansion, TEA today announced the hiring of Greg Facchiano as Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, a new position. Facchiano joins TEA after a 25-year career on Capitol Hill, having served in seven offices across six delegations at all levels. He most recently served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the Senate HELP Committee and prior to that was chief of staff to Reps. Lloyd Smucker and Joe Heck and held several legislative positions in the House and Senate.

"I am thrilled Greg has joined TEA to lead this new division," Bonham continued. "Greg has a well-deserved reputation for being a thoughtful, forward-leaning leader who can work with both sides of the aisle. He is an innovative communicator and recognizes the role technology and the power of organizing can have on an agenda. Our focus is to ensure ESOPs are part of the discussion whenever the topic is job security, economic stability, retirement savings, and addressing wealth and income inequality in America."

Said Facchiano, "I'm excited to join the great and growing team at The ESOP Association, working to promote employee ownership. I was immediately interested in this opportunity because of the dynamic changes and growth occurring at TEA. TEA is the leading voice of the bipartisan effort to expand and promote employee ownership, and I'm pleased to be part of its planned expansion."

As part of its expanding government relations function, TEA has promoted Paul Pflieger to Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications, and Nicole Reppert to Senior Director for Membership Engagement and Advocacy. Paul has been with TEA since 2018, primarily in a communications role, and Nicole has directed the PAC and grassroots development since March 2020.

TEA is working to develop its grassroots and grasstops network and launching several initiatives aimed at growing its presence, including both a Corporate Council and a Public Policy Council that will leverage its diverse and growing membership. TEA is the only ESOP advocacy organization supported by grassroots membership through a nationwide network of chapters.

SOURCE The ESOP Association

Related Links

http://www.esopassociation.org


RYE BROOK, N.Y., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced today the launch of the IMPACT (Influential Medicine Providing Access to Clinical Trials) research grants to increase enrollment of individuals from underrepresented communities in clinical trials. Clinical trials are vital to improving cancer treatment, giving newly diagnosed patients access to state-of-the-art therapies, and providing a lifeline when other treatments have failed. Yet, clinical trials overwhelmingly fail to represent certain patient populations such as ethnic and racial minorities and people in rural communities.

To overcome these inequities, LLS created the IMPACT research grants, which will award funding to major cancer research and treatment centers to establish a "hub and spoke" infrastructure to expand access to clinical trials in their region. Each of the "hubs" or major cancer centers will develop networks of trial sites in local community-based hospitals and clinics with significant underserved populations. The $3.75 million five-year program, designed with a unique and tailored approach to building engagement in underserved communities, is the first undertaking of its kind by a blood cancer organization.

"To get the full benefit of cancer research, we need clinical trials to reflect the diversity of the U.S. population," said Lee Greenberger, Ph.D., LLS Chief Scientific Officer. "But this is also about health equity, which is central to the LLS mission. Blood cancer does not discriminate, and people of every age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are affected and deserve the same choices in their care." Research has shown that populations at risk for cancer health disparities are also less likely than other groups to participate in clinical trials.

LLS has selected three projects for the first round of funding: Mayo Clinic in the upper Midwest, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the rural south and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Each five-year initiative anticipates increasing trial enrollment from underrepresented communities to at least 20 percent. An overview of the programs is below:

IMPACT at Mayo Clinic : Mayo Clinic Cancer Center partnered with the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network and Mayo Clinic Health System to address major barriers to clinical trials enrollment for minority patients with blood cancers. The program includes a network of 35 clinical sites throughout rural, underserved communities in Minnesota , Wisconsin and Iowa . The program also focuses on economically disadvantaged minority patients in urban areas of metropolitan Minneapolis .

: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center partnered with the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network and Mayo Clinic Health System to address major barriers to clinical trials enrollment for minority patients with blood cancers. The program includes a network of 35 clinical sites throughout rural, underserved communities in , and . The program also focuses on economically disadvantaged minority patients in urban areas of metropolitan . IMPACT at Vanderbilt University Medical Center: This effort, which leverages the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network and Baptist Memorial Health Care (Baptist), includes nearly half of the counties and parishes in the Delta Regional Authority, one of the most economically vulnerable areas in the United States . This area also has some of the country's highest cancer incidence and mortality rates. The LLS IMPACT program at Vanderbilt will increase clinical trial access, with the option to enroll in ten clinical trials across seven blood cancer types that will be open at nine Baptist locations around the region.

This effort, which leverages the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network and Baptist Memorial Health Care (Baptist), includes nearly half of the counties and parishes in the Delta Regional Authority, one of the most economically vulnerable areas in . This area also has some of the country's highest cancer incidence and mortality rates. The LLS IMPACT program at will increase clinical trial access, with the option to enroll in ten clinical trials across seven blood cancer types that will be open at nine Baptist locations around the region. IMPACT at Weill Cornell Medicine: While Weill Cornell Medicine is located in Manhattan , more than half of the annual blood cancer cases in New York City occur in residents who reside in nearby Queens and Brooklyn . Direct access to cutting-edge clinical trials is limited at the community hospitals that service those boroughs. The Weill Cornell Medicine IMPACT project, also supported by Genentech, is collaborating with New York-Presbyterian Queens and New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to build an infrastructure to increase enrollment in clinical trials at these sites. The program will provide education for community physicians, including training primary care physicians as clinical trial advocates, and community oncologists as experts in clinical trial protocols.

"Our team at Weill Cornell Medicine is thrilled to collaborate with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on this important initiative," said Dr. John Leonard, senior associate dean for innovation and initiatives and the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and a hematologist and medical oncologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "Our efforts to provide state-of-the-art care and research opportunities to all blood cancer patients  including those from under-resourced backgrounds  synergize closely with those of LLS through the IMPACT program. We are committed to these efforts and are excited to accelerate our research programs through this collaboration and close engagement with our community."

Mayo, Vanderbilt and Weill are co-funding the IMPACT grants, demonstrating their partnership with LLS and commitment to the program. This program was also made possible by philanthropic investment from companies including Bristol Myers Squibb and MorphoSys Foundation, as well as LLS donor investment from Louise and John Bryan, Edward J. Phillips Family Foundation, Rahr Corporation and Cal Turner, Jr.

LLS works on multiple fronts toward health equity for all blood cancer patients

LLS has programs in place across research, advocacy and patient services to address health disparities. These efforts include Myeloma Link, a community-based outreach and education program in African American communities, Spanish-language resources and services for patients and caregivers, and the Equity in Access research program, which will advance the study of underlying causes of inequitable access to care and identify policies, strategies and interventions to effect change. LLS is also leading a national study with the University of Florida to increase primary care providers' capacity to educate diverse patients with cancer about clinical trials.

Through its advocacy work, LLS is pursuing efforts to improve access to trials for underrepresented patients. For example, LLS and its advocacy partners played a key role in developing the Clinical Treatment Act, which requires Medicaid to cover trial-related care starting in 2022. LLS is also working to advance policies that will localize access to more care associated with trial participation, reducing the time and expense associated with travel. LLS's Urgent Need Program, in partnership with Moppie's Love and Charlie's Fund, Co-Pay Assistance Program, and Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Patient Travel Assistance Program, all provide financial assistance supporting underserved patients.

LLS Clinical Trial Nurse Navigators, registered nurses with expertise in blood cancer, are available to personally assist all blood cancer patients and caregivers throughout the entire clinical-trial process. For information, patients can contact an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, via live chat or email.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society



The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.



Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has regional offices throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the LLS Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., ET.



For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contact:



Irene Tung

Senior Manager, Mission Communications

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

[email protected]

(718) 414-7910

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)

Related Links

http://www.LLS.org


BOCA RATON, Fla., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Foster Care Month, Travelpro, the inventor of The Original Rollaboard suitcase, announced that they are partnering with the She Ready Foundation, a charitable organization founded by actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, to provide 1,000 pieces of luggage to youth in the California foster care system. As the official luggage partner of the She Ready Foundation, Travelpro has pledged its commitment to helping improve the experience and self-worth of youth moving through the foster care system, providing a new suitcase to store and transport their personal belongings.

Haddish was in the foster care system as a child, moving from home to home with all her possessions packed in garbage bags. Knowing firsthand how difficult and traumatic this process can be, she founded the She Ready Foundation intending to protect, provide resources and ensure normalcy for foster children. Haddish vividly remembers getting her first suitcase and how she felt receiving it, saying, "I felt like I was a traveler, like I had a purpose. I'm a person, I'm not garbage, and I got this  it's mine, and my things are in here. So wherever I go, I can take this with me, and I'm going somewhere."

"As a luggage company, the knowledge that children and youth in the foster care system are given plastic garbage bags to pack their belongings in is unthinkable - we knew we had to get involved," said Blake Lipham, CEO of Travelpro. "Every child deserves to feel valued and acknowledged, regardless of their situation, and we are honored to partner with the She Ready Foundation to make a positive impact on the lives of these children by providing Travelpro suitcases. We hope this is just the beginning of our partnership."

Dr. Thyonne Gordon, Executive Director of She Ready Foundation, expressed, "Travelpro stepped up for children in the foster care system during a time when many companies are standing down." She continued, "Our first distribution is for Foster Care Awareness Month in the Antelope Valley, where there is one of the largest populations of foster youth in LA County. So this couldn't come at a better time."

She Ready Foundation will partner with the Children's Law Center and CASA LA to store and distribute the luggage to youth going through the foster care process. In addition, Travelpro will make subsidiary shipments to be distributed this summer and periodically during 2021.

For more information about the partnership and to see how you can become involved during National Foster Care Month, visit www.travelpro.com/SheReady and https://www.shereadyfoundation.org/.

About Travelpro

For over 30 years, Travelpro has prided itself on design innovation and durability in crafting the highest quality luggage for travelers worldwide. Since transforming the ease of modern day travel with The Original Rollaboard wheeled luggage, Travelpro has been the brand of choice for flight crews and frequent travelers. The company is dedicated to building a lifelong relationship with its customers by consistently meeting and exceeding their expectations.

Among honors received, The Wirecutter, a cutting-edge source known for promoting the 'best gadgets and gear for people in the know,' ranked the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner as the best carry-on suitcase for the third year in a row. Additionally, Business Insider ranked Travelpro as a top luggage brand of 2021 and in April 2021, The Strategist named Travelpro's Platinum Elite 20" Expandable Business Plus Carry-On Spinner as one of the best rolling suitcases on the market.

Please visit Travelpro at www.travelpro.com for a full list of the latest products and retail locations. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/travelproproducts; Twitter at https://twitter.com/travelprointl; our blogs http://travelproluggageblog.com/; and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/travelprointl/.

About She Ready Foundation

She Ready Foundation is the creation of comedienne/actress Tiffany Haddish and serves as the voice of foster children suffering in silence. The mission is to empower, support and encourage children living in the foster care system. Adapting the belief of its' founder that, "Every child who is removed from their parents deserves to have a suitcase, a safe place to lay their head, and a platform to follow their dreams," the She Ready Foundation aspires to help make this happen through collaborative partnerships.

SOURCE Travelpro

Related Links

https://travelpro.com


The 12,000 square foot space in San Francisco located at 250 Fremont Street, next to The Avery, will feature four studios with 15 classes a day, 100 per week in over 15 different styles. To sign up for a class, visit https://trufusion.com/san-francisco/ . All classes will adhere to city and state COVID-19 guidelines. The San Francisco studio also features a juice bar serving smoothies, acai bowls and food options once COVID-19 guidelines permit. Another amenity TruFusion is known for is its spa-like locker rooms stocked with luxe skin products and dry bars for all class members.

TruFusion SF will also continue its outdoor yoga classes every Saturday at Rincon Park. These all-level classes are available at 10:30 a.m. every Saturday.

The dynamic group fitness destination brings community members together to reach their highest selves through physical, mental and spiritual breakthroughs by customizing a workout routine based on unique individual fitness interests, goals and experience. Studio owner and Bay Area native Kate Loughlin looks forward to serving her community with a safe place to come together in strength and resilience.

"I take great pride in providing a solution for the need to have multiple memberships to access the best classes in the city," said Loughlin. "My goals include creating an inclusive space focused on health and wellness and a destination for people to come to feel their best."

Integrated during its construction phase, TruFusion San Francisco features a state-of-the-art virus protection filtration system incorporating hospital grade disinfection technologies of both UV-c disinfection and ionization as a one-two punch to kill and capture 99.9% of airborne microorganisms and virus particles.

TruFusion is offering newcomers an introductory rate of $89 for an unlimited number of classes for one month. This offer is available until TruFusion SF's opening date of May 15. For more information and to sign-up for a class, visit trufusionsf.com.

TruFusion originally launched in Las Vegas in 2013 and now has 12 studios located throughout the country including Scottsdale, Miami, Denver, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, St. Louis and more.

About TruFusion

TruFusion, San Francisco is a dynamic group fitness studio who believes fitness is not a shape, size or number but an elevated state of being. At TruFusion San Francisco, members come together to reach their highest selves through physical, mental and spiritual breakthroughs by customizing a workout routine based on their unique fitness interests, goals, and experience, all under one roof. TruFusion breaks the mold with a powerful blend of traditional options such as Hot Yoga, Circuit Training, Boxing, and Cycle to fusion workouts including Power Yoga, Hot Pilates, KettleBooty, BarreBell, and TRX. A destination for people who see health and fitness as a part of their life, TruFusion San Francisco is packed with amenities providing members with everything they need pre- and post-workout, from luxury bath products to freshen up for the day ahead, to delicious, protein-packed smoothies for refueling after finding their edge.

SOURCE TruFusion
DALLAS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuesday Morning (OTCQX: TUEM), a leading off-price retailer of home goods and decor, today announced that Mr. Fred Hand, has been named Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective May 17, 2021. Mr. Hand is one of the most experienced and well respected off-price retail executives, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer of Burlington Stores, Inc.

Sherry Smith, Chairperson of the Board, stated, "After a comprehensive search for a new CEO and interviews with several high-quality candidates, we are confident Fred is the ideal choice to lead Tuesday Morning's future growth. Fred is an exceptional retailer with outstanding operating, merchandising, and leadership skills, and importantly has a deep understanding of the off-price business model. His record of strong leadership at Burlington and extensive experience at other leading retailers, will be instrumental in driving long-term value for Tuesday Morning."

Mr. Hand has served as Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Burlington since July 2020 and was responsible for leading its stores and real estate organizations. From January 2017 through July 2020, Mr. Hand served as Chief Customer Officer/Principal and prior to that served as Executive Vice President of Stores. Prior to joining Burlington, Mr. Hand served as Senior Vice President, Group Director of Stores of Macy's, Inc. from March 2006 to February 2008. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Hand served as Senior Vice President, Stores and Visual Merchandising of Filene's Department Stores. Mr. Hand held various other positions at The May Department Stores Company from 1991 to 2001, including Area Manager, General Manager, and Regional Vice President.

Mr. Hand stated, "I am honored and thrilled to take on the role as Tuesday Morning's next CEO. Tuesday Morning is an iconic brand with a great opportunity to lead in the off-price retail sector. I look forward to working closely with the Company's Board, management team and talented associates to take the Company to the next level. I am motivated to build this organization to one that will not just compete, but win."

Mr. Hand's appointment follows the previously announced transition of Steven Becker, who will step down from his role as CEO and Director. Mr. Becker will continue to serve in a consultancy role until September 30, 2021 to ensure a smooth transition.

The Company operates 490 stores in 40 states providing a solid footprint for future growth. It continues to provide a consistently attractive product mix of name-brand, high-quality products for the home at favorable prices for consumers.

About Tuesday Morning



Tuesday Morning Corporation (OTCQX: TUEM) is one of the original off-price retailers specializing in name-brand, high-quality products for the home, including upscale home textiles, home furnishings, housewares, gourmet food, toys and seasonal decor, at prices generally below those found in boutique, specialty and department stores, catalogs and on-line retailers. Based in Dallas, Texas, the Company opened its first store in 1974 and currently operates 490 stores in 40 states. More information and a list of store locations may be found on the Company's website at www.tuesdaymorning.com .

MEDIA:

[email protected]

SOURCE Tuesday Morning Corporation

Related Links

http://www.tuesdaymorning.com


Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin is part of the larger BG group of public hospitals focused on emergency services. With a high patient workload both day and night, the newly implemented AI solutions will allow physicians to increase efficiency and save critical time when it matters most.



Aidoc's solutions support and enhance the impact of radiologist diagnostic power helping them expedite patient treatment and improve quality of care by flagging acute anomalies in real time. To date, the company has secured an industry-leading 7 FDA clearances and 9 CE marks for life-threatening pathologies and is used in over 500 medical centers worldwide. Aidoc's impact on efficiency and positive patient outcomes has been proven across various facilities including a reduction of 36.6% in turnaround time, 2.8-day reduction in inpatient length stay and 10.4% reduction in ED length of stay.



"We are proud that Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin hospital selected Aidoc for the first deployment of Aidoc's AI solutions in Germany," said Alexander Boehmcker, Europe VP for Aidoc. "The German healthcare system is ranked as one of the best in the world, so it's only natural that hospitals and medical centers recognize the value of AI to assist radiologists with their workload and provide the highest level of care to their patients."

Media contact:

Marlee Ravid

Product Marketing Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Aidoc; Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin

Related Links

https://www.aidoc.com/


CLEVELAND, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncologists at University Hospitals (UH) have two new powerful tools in the fight against cancer following the announcement that Abecma & Breyanzi, from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), are currently being used to treat patients at UH Seidman Cancer Center.

"Providing these latest CAR T-cell therapies to our patients is just another way UH Seidman Cancer Center is leading the way in immunotherapy," says Ted Teknos, MD, President and Chief Scientific Director of UH Seidman. "Last fall, the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at UH Seidman was named in honor of Kimberly and Joseph Wesley. The Wesley Family donated $10 million to support groundbreaking research to bring new, life-extending immunotherapy treatments to patients. The research and clinical trials performed in the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy pave the way for new CAR T-cell therapies like Abecma and Breyanzi to become FDA approved and the standard of care as a treatment option for cancer patients."

Breyanzi is an intravenous infusion that is FDA approved for patients with non-Hodgkin's diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that has relapsed or is refractory (treatment-resistant) after having at least two other kinds of treatment.

"This cellular therapy, along with our in-house CAR T cell therapies, broadens the potential curative treatments for our patients. We are glad to be the first in Ohio to deliver this product to our patients." says UH Seidman oncologist Leland Metheny, MD.

The second newly FDA approved CAR T treatment currently available to UH patients is Abecma, by BMS, which is used to fight multiple myeloma. This new therapy is made by genetically engineering a patient's own immune cells to target BCMA, a molecule almost exclusively expressed on multiple myeloma cells, to mount a powerful, lethal attack against cancer cells.

Ehsan Malek, MD an oncologist at UH Seidman says, "With the approval of Abecma, we are able to deliver effective personalized therapy to achieve long remissions without the need for continued therapy. I think what makes CAR T-cell unique is that patients can enjoy a fairly long treatment-free period, which has not been a common option for patients with multiple myeloma so far."

For more information call UH Seidman Cancer Center 216-844-5432 (1-800-641-2422).

To schedule an appointment with a UH Seidman Cancer Center physician, call 216-844-3951.

SOURCE University Hospitals

Related Links

http://www.uhhospitals.org


LUMBERTON, N.J., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BLANCO introduces the URBENA faucet collection to the U.S. market. This collection features a slim, modern design, dual-spray control and a powerful pull-down sprayhead  concealed within its graceful, gooseneck spout. With a convenient swivel of 190 degrees, this faucet can easily clean every corner of the sink.

BLANCO SILGRANIT-Look Dual Finish URBENA Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Chrome/Concrete Gray BLANCO SILGRANIT-Look Dual Finish URBENA Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Chrome/Coal Black

Recognized with a prestigious Red Dot Design Award, the URBENA looks and performs beautifully. Tailor-made for modern kitchens, URBENA's ergonomically angled faucet handle facilitates a pleasant operating experience. Engineered for efficient cleaning using less water, URBENA fills pots and vases effortlessly while proudly offering an eco-friendly 1.5 GPM (gallon per minute) flow rate.

"The URBENA kitchen faucet collection integrates exceptional functionality with a sleek, modern style," states Edyta Drutis, BLANCO's Director of Brand & Communications for North America. "URBENA's award-winning clean lines, concealed sprayhead, angled handle and 11 finish options, make this faucet an exciting and elegant piece for modern kitchens."

URBENA coordinates with Lato soap dispensers and is available in two metal finishes, Chrome and Classic Steel. Nine dual finish color options combine Chrome with a matching SILGRANIT sink color in Anthracite, Biscuit, Cafe, Cinder, Coal Black, Concrete Gray, Metallic Gray, Truffle and White. List price from $645 to $725.

To download the full press release and images for PR and Social, click here.

About BLANCO

BLANCO is all about residential kitchen water hub systems that are meticulously designed down to the finest detail. The brand has won over consumers worldwide with its modern design, ergonomic handling and reliable product quality. All components, from the kitchen faucet to the sink and accessories, are perfectly integrated with one another. BLANCO systems make a significant contribution towards sustainably upgrading kitchens around the globe with everyday convenience when it comes to preparing food, drinking and cleaning.

Founded over 95 years ago, the company is now a leading manufacturer worldwide. With subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia, plus its trading partners, BLANCO has a presence in approximately 100 countries and offers its customers a portfolio that is tailored to consumer needs. The company headquarters and key production sites in support of North American demand are in Southwest Germany and Canada.

Established in 1925 by Heinrich Blanc, BLANCO is part of Blanc & Fischer Family Holding. BLANCO America has been proudly serving the U.S. market for over 30 years.

blanco.com

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SOURCE BLANCO

Related Links

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SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra AI, a leader in threat detection and response, today announced the availability of its Cognito platform in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Microsoft Azure. Organizations interested in using the Vectra Cognito platform across cloud, data center, networks and IoT/OT can now test or purchase Cognito on Azure Marketplace using their pre-existing agreements with Microsoft.

"MNP leverages cloud platforms to implement technology solutions for our clients at scale. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, our teams support the migration of critical business applications and databases to the Azure cloud platform," said Eugene Ng, Partner at MNP. "We are thrilled to have our cyber security partner Vectra AI software solution available to our clients in Azure Marketplace."

Account takeover in Office 365 has become the largest security threat vector in the cloud. The strategic approach allows the attacker to gain access to the data and privileges associated with the compromised account and then work their way laterally through the network.

Vectra offers four applications on the Cognito platform to address these high-priority use cases:

Cognito Detect for Office 365 and Azure AD finds and stops attacks in enterprise SaaS applications and the Microsoft 365 Ecosystem. The application offers visibility into Power Automate, Teams, eDiscovery, Compliance Search, Azure AD backend, Exchange, SharePoint, third party SaaS providers and more.

Cognito Detect provides the fastest most efficient way to prioritize and stop attacks across cloud, data center, applications, and workloads, as well as user & IoT devices and accounts.

Cognito Stream sends security-enriched metadata to data lakes and SIEMs in Zeek-format.

Cognito Recall is a cloud-based application that stores and investigates threats in enriched metadata.

Users of Vectra's Cognito platform can combine cloud and data center detections with in-depth information from Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for greater context and stop attacks at the endpoint. Cognito is also seamlessly integrated with Azure Sentinel to create custom workbooks for enhanced investigation, correlation, and automation.

"Vectra is focused on making things easier for its customers. Whether that requires helping security teams see and stop the most sophisticated cyberattacks at scale, or making it quick and easy to find, buy and deploy industry-leading threat detection and response technology," said Randy Schirman, Vice President. "For companies that rely on the global footprint, scalability, reliability and agility of Microsoft Azure, we now offer a one-stop shopping experience via a pre-approved and preferred purchasing channel."

Vectra's Cognito platform is available worldwide today on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. Purchases made through the marketplace also help streamline billing and procurement for joint customers. To learn more, please visit the Microsoft Azure Marketplace here.



The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling finished Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications and premium datasets. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use.

About Vectra

Vectra is the leader in threat detection and response  from cloud and data center workloads to user and IoT devices. Its Cognito platform accelerates threat detection and investigation using AI to enrich network metadata it collects and stores with the right context to detect, hunt and investigate known and unknown threats in real time. Vectra offers four applications on the Cognito platform to address high-priority use cases. Cognito Stream sends security-enriched metadata to data lakes and SIEMs. Cognito Recall is a cloud-based application to store and investigate threats in enriched metadata. Cognito Detect uses AI to reveal and prioritize hidden and unknown attackers at speed. And Cognito Detect for Office 365 and Azure AD finds and stops attacks in enterprise SaaS applications and the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. For more information, visit vectra.ai.

Press Contact

Allison Arvanitis

Lumina Communications for Vectra

[email protected]



SOURCE Vectra
Again, theres nothing to indicate that Cover and Thomas would be anything less that dutiful, serious members committed to rooting out the truth about May 31. But by virtue of their associations and experience  their connection to the subjects of this investigation  they cannot be allowed to serve. Nor should they want to risk tainting public perception of the panels important work by their presence on the commission.
NASSAU, Bahamas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers wishing for idyllic sandy beaches and irresistible blue waters will find their paradise in The Bahamas this summer.

NEWS

People-to-People Goes Virtual  The beloved program, connecting visitors with locals for 45 years, now offers five free virtual sessions with ambassadors in The Bahamas. To book, visit: https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/people-to-people.

Increased Airlift  American Airlines launches direct flights from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) June 5, 2021. Frontier Airlines also announced direct flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Nassau (NAS) four times a week starting July 2021.

Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Reopens  the Grand Bahama Island all-inclusive resort welcomes guests back this month with an oceanfront pool, watersports, white-sand beaches, ocean view rooms and more.

Resorts World Bimini's New Beach Destination  Located just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, Resorts World Bimini Beach will debut May 14, 2021, featuring lagoon pools, private cabanas, ocean view dining and more.

The Sugar Factory Heads to Baha Mar  the newest location will be set inside the New Providence resort featuring a restaurant, cafe, confectionary shop, retail store, carousel bar and CandyOcean, a new aquatic-themed immersive experience.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Nominated as Best Spa Destination  The Bahamas has been nominated for the Caribbean's Best Spa Destination award in the 7th annual World Spa Awards. Voting runs May 19 through September 8, 2021.

Top Incentive Travel Destination  Northstar Meeting Group survey revealed The Bahamas as a Top 8 Travel Destination for booking incentive travel in 2021, selected by event organizers, planners and incentive program professionals from all sectors.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

$250 Air Credit for Out Island Vacations  U.S. and Canadian residents can take their pick of 10 unspoiled and uncrowded Out Islands and receive an air credit of $250. Booking window: April 5 - May 10, 2021.

Extended Stay Deals  Guests who book an extended stay - 14 days or longer - at Grand Isle Resort on Great Exuma can receive up to 50% off. Margaretville Beach Resort in Nassau is also offering guests who stay 14 days or longer special pricing of up to 40% off regular rates.

Travel Advisor Appreciation  Celebrating "Travel Advisor Month" in May, Warwick Paradise Island  Bahamas is offering rates and a 3rd night free for travel advisors booking now through May 31, for stays through December 20, 2021.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

For an overview of The Bahamas' travel and entry protocols, visit Bahamas.com/travelupdates.

Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook , YouTube or Instagram .

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

[email protected]

Weber Shandwick

Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

Related Links

https://www.bahamas.com


"I dedicate this fight to the farm workers in California's Central Valley," said Jose Ramirez. Tweet this

On May 22, Ramirez will proudly enter the ring wearing the Wonderful Pistachios logo on his shorts, with additional branded gear being worn by his team during the fight. The fight will also raise awareness for causes close to Ramirez's heart.

"Now that I'm fully vaccinated, it's a big lift off of my shoulders as I head into the biggest fight of my life because I know I've done my part to keep myself, my family and my community safe," said Jose Ramirez, 2012 Olympian and Unified World Champion. "I dedicate this fight to the farm workers in California's Central Valley because they're the true heroes who have maintained our food supply in a safe and steady way during this hard time; thank you. And thank you to Wonderful Pistachios for continuing to support my dreams in the ring and in my community."

More than 86% of The Wonderful Company employees in California's Central Valley have now been vaccinated, as the company helped ensure Central Valley communities, who have often been left behind, have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. The partnership with Ramirez helped spread the message.

These efforts will be showcased in an upcoming installment of the ESPN docuseries "Blood, Sweat, and Tears," which will feature a behind-the-scenes look at Ramirez's life leading up to the fight, including footage captured in his hometown. Ramirez vs. Taylor (Part 1) airs May 9 on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT, with Part 2 debuting on May 16 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Wonderful Health & Wellness clinics in Delano and in Lost Hills, California, are open to anyone 16 and older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone interested can schedule a free appointment by calling 661-720-2660.

Ramirez (26-0, 17 KO) first claimed WBC gold in 2018 by defeating Amir Imam and has successfully defended the title three times (vs. Antonio Orozco, Jose Zepeda and Maurice Hooker). Most recently, Jose Ramirez defeated Viktor Postal on Aug. 29, 2020, to retain his WBC/WBO junior welterweight titles in a fight where Ramirez was also sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios. More details about his fight stats are available via Top Rank.

To stay up-to-date on the latest, follow Jose Ramirez on Instagram @jcramirez2012, or follow Wonderful Pistachios on Facebook at /WonderfulPistachios, Instagram at @WonderfulPistachios, and Twitter @WonderfulNuts.

Link to images of Jose Ramirez vaccination efforts: https://bit.ly/3fc8O2D

Wonderful Pistachios

Wonderful Pistachios is the world's largest vertically integrated pistachio processor and marketer. Located in California's Central Valley, our nuts are Non-GMO Project Verified, providing a smart, healthy choice for consumers around the world. Our nuts can be found in stores nationwide and online under the flagship brand, Wonderful Pistachios. For more, visit: wonderfulpistachios.com, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Wonderful Pistachios is part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $5 billion company that also has iconic brands such as Wonderful Halos, FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, JUSTIN Wine, and Teleflora. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr.

The Wonderful Company

Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Wonderful Company is a privately held $5 billion company dedicated to harvesting health around the world through its iconic consumer brands. The company's 10,000 employees worldwide are committed to bringing consumers everywhere the freshest, most wholesome pistachios, citrus, and pomegranates; bottling the finest water and wines; and creating colorful bouquets that are sure to touch the heart. This commitment is reflected in the company's market share: Wonderful Pistachios is America's No. 1 tree nut and America's fastest-growing snack; Wonderful Halos; POM Wonderful is the No. 1 100% pomegranate brand in America; FIJI Water is America's No. 1 premium imported bottled water brand; JUSTIN Wine has the No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon in California; and Teleflora is the world's leading floral delivery service.

The Wonderful Company's connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back at its core. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California's Central Valley.

To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr.

SOURCE Wonderful Pistachios
DUBLIN, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Tackifier Market 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The publisher estimates that the global market for tackifier would witness a CAGR of 4.53% over the considered period 2021-2028.



Factors such as the rising use of adhesives, coupled with a surge in demand from the tire & rubber industry, are motivating the progress of the studied market. Additionally, the demand for hot-melt adhesives in Asia-Pacific, along with the growing demand from packaging, construction, and pharmaceutical industries, is opening several opportunities for the tackifier market's growth.



However, the uncertainty relating to raw material availability and cost and inconvenience of usage in pharmaceutical applications, are major restraining factors impacting the global market's future.



REGIONAL OUTLOOK



The global tackifier market encompasses the regions of North America, the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.



The Asia-Pacific is anticipated to display the fastest growth rate in the global market over the assessed period. The region's growth is mainly motivated by the rising manufacturing sector that is expected to drive the demand for tackifiers in packaging, automotive, industrial machinery, and electrical industries. Here, over the years, China and India have observed substantial growth in automotive production, owing to the transfer of technology to western markets.



Furthermore, rising economies, rapid urbanization, and growing infrastructural activities, are likely to support the progress of the studied market across the region's nations. Besides, there is a well-established manufacturing base in China, Taiwan, and South Korea, which calls for the use of tackifiers for multiple applications. Hence, these factors are majorly driving the growth of the tackifier market across the APAC region.



COMPETITIVE OUTLOOK



The companies that are engaged in the tackifier market are WestRock Company, Mitsui Chemicals Inc, Yasuhara Chemical Co Ltd, Les Derives Resiniques Et Terpeniques SAS (DRT), Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Kraton Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Neville Chemical Co, TWC Group, Natrochem Inc, Guangdong Komo Co Ltd, Arkema SA, Teckrez Inc, and Lawter Inc.



Eastman Chemical Company manufactures and sells specialty additives, advanced materials, fibers, and chemicals. The company provides its products for application in various industries, including construction, aerospace, durable goods, filtration, and mining. Piccotac 1095 Hydrocarbon Tackifier Resin, offered by the company, is a narrow molecular weight distribution designed for application in the adhesives industry. It has a global presence across various countries, with headquarter located in the United States.





Key Topics Covered:



1. Global Tackifier Market - Summary



2. Industry Outlook

2.1. Impact of Covid-19 on Tackifier Market

2.2. Key Insights

2.2.1. Shifting Trend Towards Bio-Based Tackifiers

2.2.2. Growing Variety of Packaging Tapes

2.2.3. Development of Voc-Free Tackifiers

2.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

2.3.1. Threat of New Entrants

2.3.2. Threat of Substitute

2.3.3. Bargaining Power of Buyers

2.3.4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

2.3.5. Threat of Competitive Rivalry

2.4. Market Attractiveness Index

2.5. Vendor Scorecard

2.6. Key Market Strategies

2.6.1. Acquisitions

2.6.2. Product Launches

2.6.3. Partnership & Agreements

2.6.4. Business Expansions

2.7. Market Drivers

2.7.1. Growing Usage of Adhesives

2.7.2. Surge in Demand from Tire & Rubber Industry

2.8. Market Restraints

2.8.1. Uncertainty Regarding Raw Material Availability and Cost

2.8.2. Inconvenience of Usage in Pharmaceutical Applications

2.9. Market Opportunities

2.9.1. Demand for Hot-Melt Adhesives in Asia-Pacific

2.9.2. Rising Demand from Packaging, Construction, and Pharmaceutical Industries



3. Global Tackifier Market Outlook - by Product Type

3.1. Synthetic

3.2. Natural



4. Global Tackifier Market Outlook - by Form

4.1. Solid

4.2. Resin Dispersion

4.3. Liquid



5. Global Tackifier Market Outlook - by Application

5.1. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

5.2. Hot-Melt Adhesive

5.3. Other Applications



6. Global Tackifier Market Outlook - by Verticals

6.1. Packaging

6.2. Book Binding

6.3. Non-Woven

6.4. Construction/Assembly

6.5. Other Verticals



7. Global Tackifier Market - Regional Outlook

7.1. North America

7.1.1. Market by Product Type

7.1.2. Market by Form

7.1.3. Market by Application

7.1.4. Market by Verticals

7.1.5. Country Analysis

7.1.5.1. United States

7.1.5.2. Canada

7.2. Europe

7.2.1. Market by Product Type

7.2.2. Market by Form

7.2.3. Market by Application

7.2.4. Market by Verticals

7.2.5. Country Analysis

7.2.5.1. United Kingdom

7.2.5.2. Germany

7.2.5.3. France

7.2.5.4. Spain

7.2.5.5. Italy

7.2.5.6. Russia

7.2.5.7. Rest of Europe

7.3. Asia-Pacific

7.3.1. Market by Product Type

7.3.2. Market by Form

7.3.3. Market by Application

7.3.4. Market by Verticals

7.3.5. Country Analysis

7.3.5.1. China

7.3.5.2. Japan

7.3.5.3. India

7.3.5.4. South Korea

7.3.5.5. Asean Countries

7.3.5.6. Australia & New Zealand

7.3.5.7. Rest of Asia-Pacific

7.4. Latin America

7.4.1. Market by Product Type

7.4.2. Market by Form

7.4.3. Market by Application

7.4.4. Market by Verticals

7.4.5. Country Analysis

7.4.5.1. Brazil

7.4.5.2. Mexico

7.4.5.3. Rest of Latin America

7.5. Middle East and Africa

7.5.1. Market by Product Type

7.5.2. Market by Form

7.5.3. Market by Application

7.5.4. Market by Verticals

7.5.5. Country Analysis

7.5.5.1. United Arab Emirates

7.5.5.2. Saudi Arabia

7.5.5.3. Turkey

7.5.5.4. South Africa

7.5.5.5. Rest of Middle East & Africa



8. Competitive Landscape

8.1. Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd

8.2. Arkema Sa

8.3. Eastman Chemical Company

8.4. Exxon Mobil Corporation

8.5. Guangdong Komo Co Ltd

8.6. Kraton Corporation

8.7. Lawter Inc

8.8. Les Derives Resiniques Et Terpeniques Sas (Drt)

8.9. Mitsui Chemicals Inc

8.10. Natrochem Inc

8.11. Neville Chemical Co

8.12. Teckrez Inc

8.13. TWC Group

8.14. Westrock Company

8.15. Yasuhara Chemical Co Ltd



9. Research Methodology & Scope

9.1. Research Scope & Deliverables

9.2. Sources of Data

9.3. Research Methodology



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1kwoo

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


MAULDIN, S.C., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcelerate, Inc. (OTC pink sheets: XCRT) today announced it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to pursue a business combination with HS Pharmaceuticals, LLC of Greenville, SC. Over the past 14 years HS Pharmaceuticals has developed a platform of novel technologies centered around their patented and patent pending silicate particle research. Their research, in conjunction with leading universities and research facilities, has led to developments in healthcare in areas such as immunotherapy alternatives, topical therapies to combat infection and bacteria as well bone regeneration. For more information visit their website www.hspharma.com.

The LOI provides for XCRT to undertake its due diligence wherein its world-renowned team of clinicians and researchers will review HS Pharmaceuticals' operations, structure, and intellectual property. "During this process, Xcelerate, a rapidly emerging leader in assembling and developing early-stage medical technology, will determine how and in what structure HS Pharmaceuticals research and IP would fit within its business plan. The potential consolidation with HS Pharmaceuticals is further evidence that Xcelerate seeks to continue making headway in finding innovative acquisitions within the patent/engineering world. We remain focused on joining early-stage medical technology companies in a setting of controlled clinical care where these new developments can be trialed, tested and applied," said Xcelerate CEO Michael F. O'Shea.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) the Company's financing plans; (ii) trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations; (iii) the Company's growth strategy and operating strategy; and (iv) the declaration and payment of dividends. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements resulting from various factors.

Media contact: Justin Baronoff 561-750-9800; [email protected].

SOURCE Xcelerate, Inc.
SALT LAKE CITY, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenovate oversubscribed their $1 million Seed Round this past week. Angel investors from all over the country were excited to fund Zenovate's new comprehensive employee mental health and wellbeing platform.

With the funding, Zenovate will be investing into more mental fitness tools for clients including gamification and engagement tools, text-based therapy, and device integrations. This will add to Zenovate's service offerings, which already includes teletherapy, on-demand meditations, nutrition, fitness and more - further strenghtening the company's solution.

Amelia Wilcox, CEO and founder of Zenovate, stated: "The need has never been greater, and we are passionate about improving access to mental health care. People need help now, not in 8-12 weeks as is the case with most providers. This funding will enable us to break down even more barriers to care, and ultimately help more people."

Effective tools are in huge demand, and that need isn't going anywhere - according to Inc. Magazine , workforce wellness tools focusing on mental and emotional wellbeing is the #1 most desired benefit. According to the NCBI , 41% of adults are experiencing diagnosable mental health disorders since the COVID-19 pandemic. The seed funding will give Zenovate clients even more options to reduce their stress through increased personalization and more comprehensive wellbeing tools.

Zenovate's pivot into the world of mental healthcare is being backed by notable investors such as Eric Farr and John Wade of BrainStorm and HubSpot executive Dan Tyre.

About Zenovate

The Zenovate (formerly Incorporate Massage) #un-EAP platform provides the easiest way to understand and manage employee mental health. The app provides on-demand teletherapy and proactive care for employees, and real-time employee wellbeing data to companies.

Media Contact:

Holly Nielsen

800.556.2950

[email protected]

SOURCE Zenovate
HOLLISTER, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA iTech has selected ZeroAvia as one of ten finalists to present their innovative technologies at the 2021 Cycle I Forum on May 27, 2021. The finalists are recognized for their innovative approaches that can benefit NASA's missions or strategic priorities. The forum connects innovators with NASA chief technologists, industry experts, and investors who could invest in cutting-edge technologies to help propel them to market.

"We are very grateful for this opportunity to share more about our hydrogen-electric powertrain with this group of distinguished individuals," said Val Miftakhov, CEO and founder of ZeroAvia. "We believe that we offer the most practical solution to decarbonizing our skies and look forward to working with NASA to further our mission toward zero-emission flight."

ZeroAvia utilizes hydrogen-electric fueled powertrain technology to replace conventional engines in commercial aircraft. Adoption of this technology results not only in zero-emission flight but lower fuel and maintenance costs. The company completed its first electric flight in June of 2020 and achieved the world's first hydrogen-electric flight of a commercial-grade aircraft in September 2020.

"We are looking forward to seeing these entrepreneurs present technologies they hope will improve our world and help NASA push the boundaries of space exploration," said NASA iTech's Program Manager Maxwell Briggs. "These innovations could make us smarter, safer, healthier, more efficient, and more sustainable  whether we are living and working from our homes, offices, or even a spacecraft."

The 2021 NASA iTech Cycle I Forum is the pinnacle event of the current NASA iTech cycle, including three Ignite the Night events within the past year. This cycle sought technologies for more than a dozen focus areas and had entries from companies based in 32 states. NASA will recognize the top three teams at the end of the forum's program during a non-monetary awards ceremony.

About NASA iTech

NASA leads the way in scientific discovery of the Earth, of other worlds and of the cosmos. Advancing new technologies in aeronautics and space systems, NASA's missions expand the frontiers of human experience and allow American industry to cultivate a growing space marketplace. We collaborate with private industry every day. Through NASA iTech, we reach beyond traditional partnerships into early, independent innovation. NASA iTech helps us identify the innovations we will need in the future (and the people behind them). We connect innovators with investors who can help propel them forward, and industry leaders who can partner or invest in the technologies. Ideas may come from independent innovators, small or large businesses, academia, even other government organizations  anyone who may not have previously had a forum to present their solutions to NASA leadership or their industry partners. NASA iTech takes a fresh approach from traditional government programs. NASA gives no government funds and takes no ownership of the intellectual property.

About ZeroAvia

ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation, focused on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions to address various markets, initially targeting 500-mile range in 10-20 seat aircraft used for commercial passenger transport, cargo, agriculture, and more. Based in the UK and USA, ZeroAvia has already secured experimental certificates for its two prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA, passed significant flight test milestones, and is on track for commercial operations in 2024. The company's expanding UK operations are supported by grants from UK's Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, and ZeroAvia is part of the UK Government's Jet Zero Council. For more, please visit ZeroAvia.com, follow @ZeroAvia on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE ZeroAvia/Technica

Related Links

www.zeroavia.com


's ( ) Eytan Uliel answers shareholder questions following his presentation at the Proactive One2One Investor Conference (link below).

These questions begin with the Perseverance #1 well recently drilled in the Bahamas, with investors wanting to know why the cost ran considerably over budget, what caused the budget to overrun, how much was it, who is to pay for it and and is insurance available to cover some of the cost.

Uliel also addresses questions on the future of the licences in the Bahamas, questions about Trinidad & the upcoming Saffron #2 well, on Uruguay and about the recent board changes.

Finally he responds to concerns about the company share price as well as the vision for the business going forward.

Here is a link to the original presentation:

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/948181/eytan-uliel-commercial-director-of-bahamas-petroleum-lon-bpc-presenting-at-the-proactive-one2one-virtual-forum-29th-april-2021-948181.html
's ( ) Colin Bird present his plans to commence drilling at its prospecting licences in the Kalahari Copper Belt in western Botswana.

Data processing is now complete, interpretation and drill target selection work on the Heliborne-EM geophysical survey has been carried out over two priority licences in its highly prospective KCB Project.

Bird also updates investors on The Star Zinc Project in Zambia which has been fully evaluated and is now ready to commence production as a small mining operation.

And finally he remarks on which recently inked an agreement with PLC for a six-month exclusive period for the assessment of copper and gold assets in Cyprus.
Predictives strong cash position of more than $9 million at the end of April, ensures the company is well-funded to continue its aggressive multi-rig drill program, aimed at delivering a maiden JORC resource in quarter three.

s ( ) new resource drilling results at Bankan Gold Project in Guinea have extended the NE Bankan Central zone to the south at depth with higher grades.

The new broad high-grade results indicate that mineralisation may plunge towards the south at depth, forming a longer higher-grade, central zone than previously interpreted.

Notable intersections include 89 metres at 1.3 g/t from 140 metres and 7 metres at 3.1 g/t from 390 metres, 30 metres at 2.8 g/t from 188 metres to the end-of-hole, including 2 metres at 24.4 g/t from 188 metres, and 47 metres at 1 g/t from 12 metres.

"Excellent gold intersections

Managing director Paul Roberts said the company was excited that two new excellent gold intersections, 240 metres apart at depth are indicating that gold mineralisation may extend towards the south and form a longer, higher-grade central zone than previously interpreted.

Longitudinal projection showing gold endowment with pierce points located at the mid-point of drill hole intervals and new DD/RC drill results

He said: This, in turn, is expanding the deposits resource potential.

The oxide RC drilling program also continues to produce more shallow gold intercepts, which have the potential of contributing significantly towards low-cost gold production in the initial stages of a future open pit mining operation.

At present, three rigs are now diamond drilling the NE Bankan deposit at depth.

Ongoing receipt of impressively thick and continuously gold-mineralised intercepts in the central higher-grade zone has encouraged us to drill deeper and for longer than originally planned.

This additional drilling combined with the Bankan Creek infill drilling will be incorporated into the maiden resource estimate due to be reported in the September quarter.

Ongoing drilling program

RC and diamond drilling continues with three rigs currently diamond drilling at NE Bankan to support the maiden resource estimate, planned for quarter three.

Metallurgical test-work is scheduled to begin this month.

Two power auger rigs are active on the Bankan Project with the focus to explore for mineralisation beneath extensive artisanal workings on the Argo permit, around 20 kilometres to the north of NE Bankan, and explore a number of high priority structural targets identified in a recently completed aeromagnetic survey.

Managing director Paul Roberts is on-site in Guinea having met with principal geologist (West Africa), Aime Nganare and the Guinea Minister of Mines, His Excellency Mr Abdoulaye Magassouba, at his office in Conakry on May 3.

The Minister is taking a keen interest in the companys progress on the Bankan Project.
Ottawa, May 6 : 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 Xinhua news agency reported.

The Canadian government authorised 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 authorisation 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.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New York, May 6 : Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a close ally of President Joe Biden, is under consideration for appointment as the next US ambassador to India, according to several media reports.

Biden's Spokesperson Jen Psaki neither confirmed nor denied the reports on Wednesday, saying only at her daily briefing that she had no personnel announcements. She also said later that diplomatic announcements would be made "soon".

Always considered a key diplomatic position, the Indian mission has grown in importance with Washington's focus on the Indo-Pacific and in keeping with it Biden's administration appointed former acting Secretary of State Daniel Smith as its acting head last week.

Ambassador Kenneth Juster, a political appointee of former President Donald Trump, resigned in January when Biden took over.

US presidents have usually given a large number of ambassadorships to political allies and donors to the election campaigns and the India post has often been among them.

It is expected that Biden would select a high-profile appointee.

Garcetti was a co-chair of Biden's election campaign and was on the panel that vetted candidates to be his Vice President.

He is a Latino of Mexican descent and of the Jewish faith.

He was elected mayor in 2013 and is legally barred from running again when his second term ends next year.

The internet news site Axios first reported on Tuesday that Biden was considering Garcetti for the India ambassadorship.

But his spokesperson Alex Comisar said, "Axios story is speculative," and added, "We're 100 per cent focused on ending the Covid pandemic and passing a justice budget for the city." NBC TV reported on Wednesday that according to two unnamed knowledgeable sources Garcetti was in talks with the Biden administration about the position.

Although Garcetti's political experience has been confined to Los Angeles - he has been mayor since 2013 and city council president before that - he has an academic background in international relations.

He has a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University and was a Rhodes Scholar and has taught international affairs at the University of Southern California and diplomacy at Occidental College. As an academic, his research centred on nationalism in Southeast Asia and Northern Africa.

Mayors of US cities wield considerable influence and power controlling police, the taxation and budget, and schools.

As the mayor of the second-largest US city with a population of nearly four million - more than the population 21 US states have - and a budget of $11.2 billion, Garcetti has relatively significant administrative experience and political clout.

He was offered a position by Biden in his administration, but he said he turned it down because "my city needs me now".

Fifteen of the 23 ambassadors in New Delhi have been political appointees and included distinguished personalities like former governors Richard Frank Celeste and Chester Bowles (who served twice), former members of Congress including Kenneth Keating, Sherman Cooper and William Saxbe, and public intellectuals like John Kenneth Galbraith and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who had also been a senator.

Meanwhile, several media reports have said that Nicholas Burns, who has advised Biden on international affairs, is under consideration for ambassador to China.

He had been the main US negotiator with India for the civil nuclear agreement.

Starting as a career diplomat, he has held senior positions in Democratic and Republican administrations He was the under-secretary of state for political affairs in the administration of former President George W. Bush and a special assistant to former President Bill Clinton.

He is now a professor at Harvard University.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Sunny Leone has joined hands with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to feed 10,000 migrant workers in the city.

"We are facing a crisis, but together with compassion and solidarity we will come out ahead. I'm delighted to join hands with PETA India again -- this time to get protein-packed vegan meals to thousands in need," Sunny said.

The meals consist of daal and rice or 'khichdi' and often fruit.

Sunny was named PETA India's Person of the Year in 2016 and previously starred in the organisation's campaigns in support of vegan fashion, vegetarian eating, and dog and cat adoption and sterilisation. PETA and Sunny will donate food through Uday Foundation.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kanpur, May 6 : Continuing its crackdown on black marketing of life-saving medical equipment and medicines needed in the treatment of Covid patients, police in Kanpur have arrested two persons and seized huge quantities of medical equipment from their possession.

The police, on Wednesday, conducted raids on a tip-off and arrested Ashish a.k.a Sonu Gupta of Nath Nagar and Rakesh Mehra of Gilish Bazar area and seized 250 oximetres, 98 oxygen flow-meters, 226 digital thermometers, 34 mercury thermometers, 875 Covid test cards and four oxygen masks from their possession.

DCP crime branch Salman Taj Patil said: "There were specific inputs that Ashish a.k.a Sonu Gupta and Rakesh Mehra were selling life-saving medical equipment needed in Covid treatment at premium-at prices six to seven times higher than the printed rates. A joint team of the crime branch and Colonelganj police station raided the hideouts of the two and made the recovery." Patil said that the raiding team has been rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 5,000.

"We will book those arrested under relevant sections of IPC and send them to jail," the DCP added.

The police crime branch had recently busted a racket with the arrest of four persons involving two nursing staff of Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) hospital and a private hospital worker, who were selling Remdesivir injection vials in the black market.

The police had, earlier, seized 265 Remdesivir injection vials from the possession of three people including a Haryana resident in the city.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kanpur, May 6 : The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of IIT Kanpur has launched Mission Bharat O2, a 45-day open challenge for manufacturing high-quality indigenous, rapidly scalable oxygen generation units to help combat the emergency.

The manufacturing challenge task force will be led by Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Professor In-charge, Innovation & Incubation, IIT Kanpur, Srikant Sastri, President, TiE Delhi-NCR, and Rahul Patel, Head of Strategic Initiatives, SIIC, IIT Kanpur.

The SIIC had, last year, supported its incubated companies to develop indigenous products like Swasa N-95 mask and Noccarc V310 ventilator.

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, has appealed to entrepreneurs to apply for the challenge.

"IIT Kanpur carries a legacy of serving the nation in times of urgent need. When the first wave of Covid-19 hit India, SIIC incubated companies stepped up to deliver Swasa N-95 masks, which became a household name for protection and the Noccarc V310 ICU ventilator. Both products, developed locally, were testament to India's capability to innovate at par with global standards. As the second wave hits India, IIT Kanpur and SIIC have decided to support more indigenous innovators, this time to address the oxygen crisis in the country. I urge all eligible entrepreneurs to participate in Mission Bharat O2." Prof. Bandyopadhyay said, "SIIC and IIT Kanpur have a history of delivering quality products as per the country's needs. We did it with the Noccarc ventilator; we will do it again with Mission Bharat O2. We urge young innovators to come up in large numbers to support the nation at this time." Oxygen concentrator is a medical device with limited scope for product innovation, and hence SIIC plans to decentralise the manufacturing process by engaging quality SMEs across states.

Prof Bandopadhyay said, : An ideal case scenario would be to work with a set of manufacturers in different regions with the target production capacity of 100 units per day initially and scale up gradually." Srikant Sastri said, "Entrepreneurs usually get carried away by a big idea without acknowledging whether the problem it solves is as big. With Mission Bharat O2, SIIC IIT Kanpur has taken a step toward solving a major crisis the country is grappling with today. We believe the team will make a mark with its combined entrepreneurial experience and vision to serve the nation." All eligible Indian SME manufacturers can apply online and the initiative will help ease the pressure on hospitals and save lives.

Mission Bharat O2 makes a strong case for leveraging local, indigenous talent to innovate the manufacturing and supply chain for oxygen concentrators and plants.
Baghdad, May 6 : The Islamic State (IS) terror group attacked an oil field in Iraq's Kirkuk province, killing two security members and blowing up two oil wells, a government statement said.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said the IS militants on Wednesday blew up two oil wells and set them ablaze in the Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the capital Baghdad, reports Xinhua news agency.

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 the blaze at one well and were still working to extinguish the other.

Meanwhile, Issam al-Bayati from the provincial police told Xinhua that IS militants attacked the 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 terror group in 2017.

IS remnants have since melted into deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Ajit Singh died of Covid on Thursday morning. He was 82. Singh was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Gurugram after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Ajit Singh was the son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. He served as union minister in several governments. Prime Minister Naendra Modi, former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi and BJP chief J.P. Nadda expressed condolences on the death of former Union Minister.

At 9.10 a.m., his son Jayant Chaudhary tweeted in Hindi, "Chaudhary Sahib nahi rahe (Chaudhary Sahib is no more).

In a statement the family said, "Chaudhary Ajit singh ji was diagnosed as Covid positive on the 20th April. He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning, the 6th of May, 2021".

"Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn, cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare," the statement from the family said.

Singh's family appealed to people to pay respect from home following Covid protocols.

"As our Nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible. We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us," the family appealed.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
San Francisco, May 6 : As the Covid-19 pandemic ravages countries like India and Brazil, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the company is adopting a hybrid workplace, where around 60 per cent of Googlers are coming together in the office a few days a week, another 20 per cent are working in new office locations and 20 per cent are working from home.

Pichai said that it heartbreaking to see COVID surging in places like India, Brazil, and many others around the world.

"We'll move to a hybrid work week where most Googlers spend approximately three days in the office and two days wherever they work best. Since in-office time will be focused on collaboration, your product areas and functions will help decide which days teams will come together in the office," he said in a blog post late on Wednesday.

"There will also be roles that may need to be on site more than three days a week due to the nature of the work".

"By mid-June your PAs and functions will come back with a process by which you can apply to move to another office. In granting approvals, they'll take into account whether business goals can be met in the new location and whether your team has the right infrastructure in the site to support your work," Pichai informed.

The company will also offer opportunities for employees to apply for completely remote work (away from team or office) based on their roles and team needs.

"As with location transfers, your leads will evaluate whether remote work can support the goals of the team and business. 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 noted.

Going forward, Googlers will be able to temporarily work from a location other than their main office for up to 4 weeks per year (with manager approval).

"Product areas and functions will also offer focus hours so we limit internal meetings during times when people need to be heads down on projects," the Google CEO said.

The company said it will offer extra "reset" days to help employees recharge during the pandemic in 2021. The next global day off will be on May 28.

"The future of work is flexibility," Pichai said.
Mumbai, May 6 : Last year during Covid lockdown, Doordarshan struck gold re-telecasting "Ramayan", Ramanand Sagar's hit mythological series of the eighties. This year, as India has come to a standstill once again owing to the second wave of the deadly coronavirus, many soap makers seem to have picked up cue. Mythology seems to be flavour on the tube once again, as Indian television finds a ready homebound audience base.

A host of shows including "Vighnaharta Ganesh" and "RadhaKrishn" make for prime family viewing while the epics "Ramayan" and "Mahabharat" are being re-run on a private channel.

Shooting for mythological shows in the time of Covid is naturally tough, given the grandeur of set, costumes, heavy jewellery and the execution they demand. Also, no matter the precautions, actors would always have to take off their masks in front of the camera.

"Shooting in Covid times is tough because there are so many precautions. Actors are at high risk because while shooting we cannot wear a mask. If the team is good and precautions are being taken, actors are safe. You need to sanitise your hands and take precautions and see if people are wearing masks around you and sanitising their hands," says Riney Aryaa, who plays Goddess Laxmi in "Vighnaharta Ganesh".

She adds: "A lot of people touch actors for costume, hair and make-up. The costumes are so heavy and the temperatures are high and that makes it very difficult. We are in our jewellery and get-up for 16 hours." In times of despair as the lockdown, portraying a mythological character also entails a very different challenge. Shows in this genre are meant to spread hope during a crisis as the pandemic, as people look up to divine protagonists on the small screen with reverence. In turn, this means there is the need to be careful about portraying a character with authenticity more than ever, as these are characters people have immense faith in and are sensitive about.

This is something actress Madirakshi Mundle observes. She plays Devi Parvati in "Vighnaharta Ganesh".

"I feel fortunate to have essayed Goddesses on the TV screen. Sita, Lakshmi and Parvati are all Goddesses in our epics whose stories of virtue, ennobling qualities, benevolence and deep intrinsic strength we have grown up with and have a deep reverence for. They are often very commonly invoked as role models. People are attached to them and they are deeply integral to our culture and mythology. So, the audience's feelings towards them are of paramount importance when I essay such a role. People have a certain image they attach with such a character, in their minds," says Madirakshi.

For Tarun Khanna, who plays Hanuman in "Radhakrishn", the challenge about mythological portrayals is more universal. "Mythological shows are tough physically and a person has to be very good at Hindi," he says.

Here are some of the mythological shows that are currently a rage on the tube: RAMAYAN

The popularity of late Ramanand Sagar's tele-epic continues to grow with time. While the show broke several records upon re-release on Doordarshan during last year's lockdown, it has been brought back on Star Bharat this year. The show stars Arun Govil as Ram, Deepika Chikhalia as Sita, Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, Arvind Trivedi as Raavan and Dara Singh as Hanuman.

MAHABHARAT This 2013 series stars Saurabh Jain as Lord Krishna, Pooja Sharma as Draupadi, Sayantani Ghosh as Satyavati, and Shaheer Sheikh as Arjun. The show also stars Arpit Ranka as Duryodhana, Praneet Bhatt as Shakuni and Puneet Issar plays the role of Parshurama.

MERE SAI: SHRADDHA AUR SABURI The story of the show revolves around the life story of Sai Baba of Shirdi and talks of how he helps multiple people who seek him. His path of Dharma is highlighted in the series. The show stars Tushar Dalvi, Kishori Godbole and Vaibhav Mangle.

SANTOSHI MAA: SUNAYEIN VRAT KATHAYEIN The show is a sequel to the series "Santoshi Maa" and has been produced by Rashmi Sharma and Pawan Kumar Marut. Actress Gracy Singh plays the lead in the show. Actors Tanvi Dogra and Vijay Badlani are also part of the show.

RADHAKRISHN The series revolves around the eternal bond of love shared by Radha and Lord Krishna. The show stars Sumedh Mudgalkar and Mallika Singh and has been directed by Rahul Kumar Tiwari.

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Kabul, May 6 : The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has further intensified since the start of the withdrawal of the US-led forces from the country on May 1 as the Taliban militants have stepped up activities, officials said.

According to the security officials, the Taliban has intensified activities in Helmand, Zabul, Baghlan, Herat, Farah, Faryab, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces, and scores of militants and security personnel have been killed, reports Xinhua news agency.

Confirming impetus in fighting, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry Fawad Aman told local media on Wednesday that violent incidents have increased over the past three days, adding the Taliban militants have suffered huge casualties.

A total of 20 security personnel and 180 Taliban militants have been killed and 87 more insurgents injured, according to the official.

Fighting has increased since May 1, the day the US administration formally started pulling out its forces from Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has welcomed the foreign forces' withdrawal but blamed the US for violation of the Doha agreement under which Washington was bound to complete the withdrawal on May 1.

Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints and killed nine soldiers in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of northern Baghlan province on Monday night, stormed security checkpoints in the neighboring Burka district on Tuesday, and overran district headquarters early Wednesday.

Police described the district collapse as "tactical retreat" while the Taliban outfit claimed victory and said the district headquarters, police head office and all administrative offices in Burka have been captured.

Taliban militants have been attempting to overrun the key city of Lashkar Gah in the south and neighboring Ghazni and Farah provinces, but failed after suffering huge casualties and leaving 39 bodies behind outside Lashkar Gah, said an army statement on Wednesday.

Mujahid has rejected the claim as groundless, insisting that the armed group has inflicted casualties on government forces, saying 10 government soldiers were killed and 15 others captured in Baghlan province on Monday.
Seoul, May 6 : Samsung Electronics said on Thursday that it has developed an advanced chip packaging technology for high-performance applications as the South Korean tech giant eyes to expand its leadership in semiconductor solutions.

The world's largest memory chip maker said its next-generation 2.5D packaging technology, Interposer-Cube4 (I-Cube4), is expected to be widely used in areas like high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cloud and largest data center applicants as it creates enhanced communication and power efficiency between logic and memory chips.

I-Cube is Samsung's brand for its heterogeneous integration technology that horizontally places one or more logic dies, such as central processing units (CPU) and graphics processing units (GPU), and several high bandwidth memory (HBM) dies on a paper-thin silicon interposer and makes them operate as a single chip in one package.

Samsung said it used a unique mold-free structure for the I-Cube 4 solution, which incorporates four HBMs with one logic die, for better thermal management and stable power supply, reports Yonhap news agency.

The company added it also improved its yield with its prescreening tests and reduced the number of process steps to save costs and cut turnaround time.

With the latest chip packaging solution, Samsung said it will try to incorporate more chips in one package as the company is researching how to deal with interposer warpage and thermal expansion through changes to material and thickness.
Manila, May 6 : The Philippines government has decided ban travellers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka from entering the country in efforts to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Covid-19 variant first found in India, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

In a memorandum issued on Wednesday, Medialdea said all passengers coming from or who have been to these countries within 14 days shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines from Friday to 14, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the memorandum, arrivals before Friday 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 has already banned travellers from India until May 14 due to the deadly Covid resurgence in the South Asian giant.
Tel Aviv, May 6 : The number of foreign tourist arrivals to Israel jumped about 4.5 times or 350 per cent in April from March, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

The number of tourists who visited Israel last month thus increased to 30,200, from 6,700 in March and only 600 in April 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.

This increase came after Israel reopened its skies in mid-March, following a ban on incoming and outgoing flights imposed on January 26.

However, in the first four months of 2021, there was a 26.4 per cent decrease in the number of tourists, totalling 46,900, compared to 63,700 in the previous four months (September-December 2020).

This is also a decrease of almost 94 per cent compared to 733,600 in January-April 2020, as the first coronavirus case was discovered in Israel on February 27, 2020.
Jammu, May 6 : Border security force (BSF) troopers shot dead an intruder overnight on the international border in J&K's Samba district.

BSF sources said an intruder was found moving suspiciously near a BSF outpost on the Indian side of the international border in Samba sector during the night.

"The intruder was challenged, but he did not stop after which he was shot dead.

"The dead body of the intruder is lying near our post. A search operation is going on in the area", a source said.
New Delhi, May 6 : Beijing has expressed deep concerns over India's new telecom policy that does not permit Chinese telecommunication companies to conduct 5G trials in the country, saying the move is not conducive to the innovation and development of related Indian industries.

On Tuesday, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) granted approval to nearly a dozen companies to conduct a six-month trial for use and applications of 5G technology. The telecom service providers (TSPs) included Bharti Airtel, Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd, Vodafone Idea Ltd and MTNL who have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT.

There was no Chinese company -- Huawei or ZTE -- in the list that have been operating in India for several years.

Wang Xiaojian, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, said in a statement that China expresses "concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers in India." "Relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications," Xiaojian said.

"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".

Like the US and the UK, there have been demands from the industry stakeholders like the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to ban Huawei and ZTE Corporation of China from participating in 5G network rollout in India.

Xiaojian said that China 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".
Tehran, May 6 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the regime of US anti-Tehran sanctions has been shattere.

"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 on Wednesday.

The US knows that it has to return to law and assume its obligations pertaining to the 2015 nuclear deal, commonly referred to as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he said.

He expressed the hope that the ongoing nuclear negotiations aimed at reviving the deal in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and other remaining parties of the JCPOA, namely the UK, China, France, Russia and Germany, will bear results, reports Xinhua news agency.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran's senior negotiator in Vienna talks, said earlier that negotiating parties have reached "common ground in many cases", but there are still differences.

According to the JCPOA, Iran agreed in 2015 to roll back parts of its nuclear program in exchange for decreased economic sanctions.

However, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its JCPOA commitments since May 2019, one year after former US President Donald Trump's administration unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Tel Aviv, May 6 : Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, Yair Lapid, with the formation of a new coalition government, a day after the premier failed to do so.

In a statement on Wednesday, Rivlin announced that following a series of consultation talks earlier in the day with leaders of other parties, he came to the conclusion that Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party has "the highest chances" of forming a new government, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lapid has the support of 56 lawmakers, Rivlin said.

He now runs short of five lawmakers to form a majority coalition in Israel's 120-seat Parliament.

During the consultation talks with Rivlin, Naftali Bennet, leader of a seven-seat nationalist party called Yamina, said he is not ruling out a coalition with Lapid.

Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Ra'am, the party of the Islamic movement in Israel which holds four seats in the parliament, said he "will cooperate in a positive way with anyone who will be tasked with forming the government".

Rivlin said he is hopeful that "a stable government" will be established to avoid a fifth round of elections in two years, following a series of inconclusive previous ones and a lingering political deadlock.

Lapid now has 28 days to put together a new governing coalition.

In response to Rivlin's announcement, Lapid said he will work to form a unity government "as soon as possible".

"A unity government is not a compromise, it's our goal. We should form a government that will reflect the fact that we don't hate each other," he said, calling for a government in which "the left and the right work together to handle economical and security challenges".

If Lapid manages to form a government, it could end the long rule of Netanyahu, who has been in power for 15 years.

Netanyahu lost his mandate on Tuesday night after he failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a government.

Facing a criminal trial of corruption charges in three separate cases, the longest-serving Israeli leader is struggling for his political survival.
Asaram shifted to ICU in Jodhpur after testing Covid positive. Image Source: IANS News

Asaram shifted to ICU in Jodhpur after testing Covid positive. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, May 6 : Controversial self-styled 'godman' Asaram Bapu, serving a life sentence in connection with a rape case, has tested positive for Covid-19 and shifted to the ICU of MDM Hospital in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city, officials said on Thursday.

He tested positive along with 12 other inmates in the prison.

His corona test was done three days ago and his report came positive on Wednesday evening. The 80-year-old Asaram had complained of restlessness and his oxygen level was very low. Later, he was admitted to the ICU.

Many of his supporters reached the hospital after hearing the news.

Officials said that preparations are being made to shift Asaram to Jodhpur AIIMS.

Asaram is currently serving lifer in Jodhpur prison after being convicted and sentenced in the rape case.

Earlier, he had filed an appeal in the Rajasthan High Court against his sentencing in the rape case.

Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment by an SC/ST court in the case of rape of a 16-year-old girl.

In 2013, a minor girl had accused Asaram of raping her at Manai Ashram near Jodhpur. He was later arrested from Indore in Madhya Pradesh in 2014.
Chennai, May 6 : With the Covid -19 containment restrictions in force in Tamil Nadu from 4 a.m. on Thursday, the Southern Railway has put a cap on the travel of general public including students through the suburban train services.

The travel is now restricted only to frontline workers and to those employed in the essential services sector.

Both the frontline workers and those working in essential services sectors will be allowed to board the train after showing the identity cards.

The restrictions are in force till May 20, a communique from the Southern Railway said.

The restrictions will create difficulties to commuters who are working in the private sector and government sector as the suburban rail has been a major mode of transport for the people of Chennai.

Mariappan, an employee with a private company at Nungambakkam while speaking to IANS said, "Suburban train has been my mode of travel since past several years. I am not a frontline worker nor in essential services, but I am in a private company and if the suburban train services are not allowing people like us to travel, then it's difficult to commute." The railway has restricted the category of people to use train services as the state government has insisted that trains and buses can be run only with 50 per cent occupancy.
Washington, May 6 : After the independent Oversight Board upheld Facebook's decision to ban Donald Trump, the former US President said that this is the "political price" he has to pay for not just by Facebook, but by Google and Twitter as well.

Trump slammed Facebook, Google and Twitter and called them "corrupt".

"Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth," he said in an email to The New York Times late on Wednesday.

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.

"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.

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 Board stated that within six months of the decision, Facebook must reexamine this arbitrary penalty and impose one consistent with its own rules.

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.
Geneva, May 6 : The World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded the commitment by the US to temporarily lift intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines, an advance that may help produce more vaccines globally.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the decision on Wednesday saying that President Joe Biden's "administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines".

"This is a monumental moment in the fight against Covid-19. The commitment by the President of the United States Joe Biden and Ambassador Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative, to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of American leadership to address global health challenges," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement, on Wednesday.

"I commend the United States on its historic decision for vaccine equity and prioritizing the well-being of all people everywhere at a critical time. Now let's all move together swiftly, in solidarity, building on the ingenuity and commitment of scientists who produced life-saving Covid-19 vaccines," Tedros said.

Kai added that the US would participate in World Trade Organization negotiations to support the temporary waiving of protections, and work with the private sector and other partners to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution.

"The White House's support for the temporary waiving of intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines reflects the wisdom and moral leadership of the United States to work to end this pandemic," Tedros said.

Earlier Tedros, and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines.

"If we're going to vaccinate the majority of the adults to bring herd immunity, then the amount of vaccine we need will be significantly more than what we have now," Xinhua news agency quoted Tedros as saying during a WHO press conference on Monday.

A temporary suspension of IP rights for Covid-19 vaccines could be instrumental in vaccine manufacturing "in Africa and in other parts of the world where manufacturing is not happening", said Brown.

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Ramallah, May 6 : Palestine will set a new date for holding the general elections if Israel approves voting in East Jerusalem, according to Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye.

"Once Israel allows holding the general elections in East Jerusalem, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will immediately issue a decree to set a new date for the general elections in the Palestinian territories," Ishtaye said during a meeting on Wednesday with Lynn Hastings, the UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process.

"Holding the general elections is a Palestinian strategic decision and holding them in East Jerusalem is substantial," he told the UN official.

"Ignoring East Jerusalem means that we accept the rejected U.S. Deal of the Century," the Prime Minister said.

Last week, Abbas announced the general elections will be postponed until further notice, Xinhua news agency.

"We have decided to postpone the general elections until the participation of our people in East Jerusalem is guaranteed," the President said.

He stressed that the Palestinian people in East Jerusalem have the right to vote and run as candidates in the upcoming elections.

The Palestinian leadership insists on holding the general elections in East Jerusalem, as they want to elect a new parliament and a new president covering all Palestinian territories.

In January, Abbas announced the 2021 general elections will include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on August 31.

The Palestinians in East Jerusalem participated in the last presidential and legislative elections held in 2005 and 2006.
Kolkata, May 6 : The Myanmar junta has banned satellite television after imposing severe restrictions on the internet and media, provoking global rights groups to protest the military's tightening grip over information flow in the country.

The ruling State Administration Council announced this week that anyone using satellite dishes to watch television will face up to one year in prison or a fine of 500,000 kyat ($320).

The military junta claimed that "illegal organisations and news agencies" were broadcasting programs via satellite that threaten state security.

The ban appears targeted at independent Burmese language broadcasters such as the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and Mizzima, which have continued broadcasting via satellite since the junta revoked their operating licenses in March.

The ban will also affect foreign news channels broadcast via satellite into Myanmar.

"The satellite TV ban is a blatant attempt to deny access to independent news broadcasts and further isolate Myanmar's people," said Linda Lakhdhir, Asia legal advisor at Human Rights Watch.

"The junta should immediately withdraw its outrageous blanket censorship and end its relentless assault on news reporting." The ban on satellite television is part of the military's full-scale attack on the country's media, alleged Mizzima chief editor Soe Myint.

He told IANS the military crackdown now extends from ground to air in an unprecedented way and Myanmarese people can only look forward to the global community to redress their plight.

On May 4, the junta also announced that it was banning two more media outlets, Kachin-based 74 Media and Shan-based Tachileik News Agency, increasing the number to eight.

Many of those outlets, including 74 Media and Tachileik News, have responded with defiance to the junta's bans, vowing to continue their reporting.

In addition to banning media outlets, the security forces have aggressively targeted journalists for arrest.

At least 71 journalists have been arrested since the February 1 coup, of whom at least 48 remain in detention.

The authorities have charged many of those detained, including Japanese freelance reporter Yuki Kitazumi, with violating a new provision in the penal code adopted by the junta that makes it a crime to publish or circulate comments that "cause fear" or spread "false news".

Those convicted face up to three years in prison.

The authorities have imposed severe restrictions on the internet, making it very difficult for people to access or to share information.

Mobile internet data and wireless broadband have been turned off for more than six weeks, and Facebook and other social media platforms popular in Myanmar have been blocked since the coup.

"The Myanmar junta's increasingly desperate efforts to block those inside the country from accessing independent news and information won't hide the truth about its ongoing violations of rights," HRW's Lakhdhir said.

"Concerned governments should use their wide array of tools, including arms embargos and targeted sanctions, to pressure the junta to end its rights abuses and bring those responsible to account."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, May 6 : Telangana has reported 6,026 new Covid cases and 52 deaths during the 24-hour period.

The new cases pushed the state's cumulative tally to 4,75,748.

The death toll has mounted to 2,579. The case fatality rate rose marginally to 0.54 per cent but still below the national average of 1.1 per cent.

For fourth day in a row, the state reported more recoveries than the new infections.

A total of 6,551 people recovered from Covid during the 24-hour period that ended 8 p.m. Wednesday. With this, the cumulative number of recoveries has gone up to 3,96,042. The recovery rate improved further to 83.24 per cent against the national average of 82 per cent.

The number of active cases has also come down to 77,127. The number had crossed 80,000 early this week.

The government and private laboratories tested 79,824 samples during the 24-hour period. According to the daily media bulletin released by the health department, the state has so far conducted 1,33,47,076 tests. Samples tested per million population improved to 3,58,599.

The number of daily cases in Greater Hyderabad dropped to 1,115 from 1,225 the previous day. Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy district adjoining Hyderabad reported 418 and 403 cases respectively.

Out of 33 districts in the state, 12 reported cases in double digits.

Nalgonda continues to see surge in cases. The district reported 368 new cases. Nizamabad bordering Maharashtra, which had been witnessing a spike for the last 2-3 weeks, saw a downward trend.

Sangareddy recorded 235 new cases followed by 231 in Siddipet, 224 in Warangal Urban, 223 in Karimnagar, 206 in Nagarkurnool, 205 in Khammam and 204 in Mahaboobnagar.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Wednesday claimed that Covid situation in the state was under control and that a downward trend started in new cases. He hoped that the situation would soon return to normal.

The top bureaucrat also ruled out imposing lockdown in the state. He, however, said the government would consider High Court's suggestion for weekend lockdown or extension of night curfew beyond May 8.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, May 6 : The new Covid-19 containment restrictions enforced in Tamil Nadu by the state government have come into force from 4 a.m. on Thursday, officials said, adding the new measures will continue till May 20.

With new enforcements in force, heavy rush that was earlier witnessed in the roads of Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and other towns has come down.

Tamil Nadu Chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan in an order said that all state government offices will function with 50 per cent staff strength for a fortnight, beginning Thursday.

The order said that the secretaries to governments, head of departments, district collectors, will have an attendance schedule of the workforce.

The employees must be in shifts of either on alternate days or once in three days as per the requirement of the workload.

Private offices will also have to function with a 50 per cent workforce.

Public transport, railways, metro rail, public and private buses will operate with only 50 per cent of their occupancy.

Grocery shops (standalone) will be permitted to operate till 12 p.m.

Grocery and vegetable shops in shopping complexes are not allowed to operate.

All other shops other than grocery and vegetable shops will be closed. Shopping malls and other big shops have not been allowed to operate in the state since April 26.

State government and public sector outlets will be allowed to function till 12 p.m.

Restaurants will not be allowed to take sit-in customers while takeaways will be permitted from 6-10 a.m., 12-3 p.m., and from 6-9 p.m.

Cinema halls will remain shut and all social, political and cultural gatherings are prohibited in open or closed spaces.

"I think it is better to go for a lockdown rather than this. But the heavy financial losses is the reason for the government pulling back from the lockdown, it seems," Mukundarajan, an employee with a private company, told IANS.

"Anyway, people will have to cooperate on whatever measures the government adopt to contain the spread of the virus and thereby saving precious human lives," he added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, May 6 : Attacks against people of Asian descent aren't new in the history of the US, but recent spike in anti-Asian incidents post-Covid, panelists at a recent online seminar organised by top American think tank East-West Centre argued.

The context of the post-Covid violence against Asians is more worrying, Representative Ted Lieu told attendees at the 'EWC Live: Asian Americans Unsilenced' online seminar, covered by IANS.

With the numbers of anti-Asian attacks projected to grow, other panelists speaking at the seminar called for more activism and collaborations with other ethnic groups.

The issue of anti-Asian hate is getting attention "from the very highest level of our government", Lieu said, adding: "I think we're in a different political environment. I think you're seeing the political awakening of the Asian American community." Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said she expects more school-related cases in the days ahead, with schools increasingly returning to in-person learning.

Kulkarni said research in Canada, Australia and New Zealand show similar increases in anti-Asian incidents, and some of the solutions may have to involve international organizations like the World Bank and the UN, she said.

Actor Rizwan Manji, who starred in the Canadian situation comedy "Schitt's Creek" and NBC's "Outsourced", recalled after 9/11 only being offered roles as a terrorist.

Manji said that today the industry is producing more works that include Asians but not frequently enough.

"We need to have something that brings us to that next level," he said.

Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, president and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies said it is important in the current environment for the AAPI community to be represented and participate in policy decision-making, including greater representation at the cabinet level.

Representation in and by the media needs improving as well, said NBC's Asian-American reporter Kimmy Yam.

She called for more nuanced, sensitive coverage of Asian communities by knowledgeable reporters.

Many American scholars think the Donald Trump era, though brief, galvanised white supremacism in a way not seen in US in five decades.

"Trump anti-migrant demonization played into the post-9/11 psyche and posturing against China's rise, ending up villifying Middle Eastern and Chinese settlers. Even Sikhs with turbans are being mistaken as Iranians and attacked. Same is true of Koreans and Japanese being mistaken as Chinese," said Tuhin Sanzid, who runs a Bengali-English online site in US.

Sanzid, who studies race relations in the US closely, says even Bangladeshis and Indian Muslims who largely uphold a secular national culture are bracketed with '"troublesome" Pakistanis , Iranians or Arabs.

"Less than educated White Americans are as poorly informed as Trump who was idolized by a lot of them. Remember Trump messing up on South Asian geography to insist Bhutan was an Indian province," Sanzid told IANS.

"Ignorance explains hostile stereotyping and many absolutely peaceful and integrated Asians are seen with suspicion," he added.

A new study has found that there was nearly a 150 per cent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes across major cities in the US in 2020, while overall hate crimes fell by 7 per cent.

The study, titled "Report to the Nation: Anti-Asian Prejudice & Hate Crime", has been conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism (CSHE) at the California State University, San Bernardino.
Toronto, May 6 : Indian students will be the major beneficiaries of Canada's new one-time immigration programme which opened for applications on Wednesday.

Under the programme, over 90,000 international students and temporary essential workers, already in Canada, will be given permanent residence (PR).

Under it, 40,000 international students, 30,000 temporary workers in selected essential occupations and 20,000 temporary workers in health care will get permanent residence.

To be eligible, international students must have completed a post-secondary programme in Canada in the last four years.

Foreign workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in a health care profession or another pre-approved essential occupation.

Indian students will benefit proportionately more than others as they - numbering 220,000 last year - make up more than a third of all foreign students currently in Canada.

Before the pandemic closed international travel, Canada had planned to admit 341,000 immigrants in 2020.

The new PR programme aims at making up for the shortfall in immigration numbers in 2020 by prioritizing those already in Canada. Moreover, a record 401,000 new immigrants will be admitted in 2021.

Highlighting the significance of Wednesday's programme, Immigration minister Marco Mendicino said, "The pandemic has shone a bright light on the contributions of newcomers in essential jobs, as we have recognized the caregivers, cooks and cashiers as our everyday heroes. With this new pathway, we are recognizing their key role in our economic recovery, allowing them to set down roots in Canada and help us build back better. Our message to them is simple: your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lasting-and we want you to stay."
Washington, May 6 : US House Republican leaders have moved to expel Liz Cheney, the third-ranking party member who repeatedly spoke out against former President Donald Trump, from her leadership post by either publicly supporting or privately backing her replacement.

A spokeswoman for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the second-ranking Republican in the House, said in a statement on Wednesday that he supported Representative Elise Stefanik, a 36-year-old New York Republican, for replacing Cheney as House Republican Conference chair, reports Xinhua news agency.

"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," said Lauren Fine, the spokeswoman.

"Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for conference chair." Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the minority leader and a close ally of Stefanik's, was reportedly pushing Republican lawmakers to privately support Stefanik.

Stefanik, who not only defended the former President during his first impeachment proceedings in 2019, but also supported a legal action to overturn the 2020 election results, also reportedly got the endorsement from Trump, who gave the New York Republican a shout-out during a speech celebrating his acquittal in the Senate trial of his second impeachment in February, thanking her vigorous support.

Cheney's spokesperson Jeremy Adler said in a statement Wednesday that the feud between the Wyoming Republican and other rank-and-file House members "is about much more than a House leadership fight", adding: "Liz will have more to say in the coming days." Having survived a bid by Trump loyalists in Congress to oust her in February, Cheney, who voted in January to impeach him for inciting the deadly Capitol riot, has been in the hot seat again after her most recent criticism of the former president and his unsubstantiated claim of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

"The 2020 presidential election was not stolen," Cheney tweeted on Monday.

"Anyone who claims it was is spreading the big lie, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system." The Republican power reshuffle in the House will have immense implications for the 2022 midterm elections, in which the party vowed to take back majority from the Democrats.

"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," McCarthy said in an appearance on Fox News on April 30.

A vote within the Republican Party to replace Cheney could happen as soon as next week.
Cairo, May 6 : Egyptian and Turkish delegations led by senior diplomats held talks in Cairo in a bid to normalise ties and end eight years of rift between the two countries.

"Now.. the political consultations between Egypt and Turkey begins, chaired by Ambassador Hamdi Sanad Loza, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Turkish counterpart Ambassador Sadat Onal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Cairo," Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez tweeted on Wednesday.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

Egypt has designated the group a "terrorist" organisation.

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 normalisation of relations between the two countries", noting that the talks will be held on May 5-6.
New Delhi, May 6: The Pakistan Air Force : plans to build a new air base in Balochistan, stepping up the militarisation of the restive province. The PAF has also identified a piece of land for the air base in Nasirabad district of Balochistan.

According to a press release, PAF officials inspected the site along with the district administration on Sunday. The Dawn newspaper quoted Nasirabad Deputy Commissioner Azhar Shezad that a delegation of the PAF proposed a tract of land to be acquired for establishing the air base.

Nasirabad district comes under the Notal area in Balochistan. Officials hope that the development of the air base in the Notal area will shift focus from Jacobabad, Sindh, to Nasirabad. This will also create opportunities for the locals and bring about development of Nasirabad district. Another news report says that the PAF is likely to acquire 26,000 acres of land in the Notal area, most of which is uncultivated land.

This will be the PAF's second air base in the conflict-torn and underdeveloped region of Balochistan. PAF already has one at Samungli, near Quetta. With this plan, Pakistan will successfully militarise its Balochistan region as it is also developing the Gwadar port, part commercial and part navy port, with Chinese help.

The sparsely-populated Balochistan region comprises almost 40 per cent of Pakistan but has the lowest human development indicators in the country. The Baloch people, who feel exploited at the hands of the Pakistani government and the military, have been seeking independence from Pakistan and leading a decades-old insurgency. They say that Pakistan has been sucking out Baloch resources like gold, copper and coal without making an effort to improve the social and economic conditions of the people.

In mid-March this year, Baloch political activists placed the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Rights activist Ali Akbar Mengal told the UN: "The people of Balochistan are seen living in a military garrison and facing elimination on a daily basis... Only for the sake of the land needed for CPEC projects, thousands of people have been removed from their houses by force, hundreds of houses were burned and many people have become victims of enforced disappearances or were eliminated." This deeply-entrenched feeling among the Baloch that Pakistan has been exploiting its mineral riches in collaboration with China is fuelling the insurgency further.

The close-knit countries have together been working on the $64 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that seeks to connect different regions of the world through a network of rail, roads and ports.

A large part of the CPEC runs through Balochistan to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar, where China is developing a port. Though Gwadar is being developed as a commercial port, it will also receive navy ships. In an exclusive interview to State-owned Global Times, Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, said that the Gwadar Port is a commercial port that may receive port calls by ships of different navies.

China has already placed a large number of troops in Balochistan to protect its prized economic asset in the form of the CPEC. With Pakistan's decision to build another air force base in Balochistan, it will militarise the region further. It is also likely to alienate the Baloch people further.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Lagos, May 6 : Nigerian police have confirmed that more than 20 students abducted from a college in the state of Kaduna have been released.

Mohammed Jalige, a police spokesperson in Kaduna, who confirmed this to reporters in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization regained their freedom after spending 55 days in captivity, reports Xinhua news agency.

The students were abducted on March 11 by a group of unknown gunmen who attacked the college located in the town of Afaka.

Thirty-nine students were declared missing by the state government on the following day.

Two separate statements from the state government in early April confirmed 10 students of the college have been set free.

Jalige said the newly freed students are currently undergoing medical examination at a health facility in Kaduna.

A series of gunmen attacks recently happened in the northern part of the most populous African country, including attacks on schools and kidnapping of students.
FTSE100 made a bright start as Britain heads to the polls to deliver in effect a verdict on the PMs handling of Covid-19 or, in Scotland, whether to stay part of the UK. Londons blue-chip index rose 17 to 7,056.

The implications of the PMs Brexit strategy, meanwhile, continue to be felt with two Royal Navy warships sent to protect Jersey from furious French fisherman. The French have threatened a blockade of the island in a new dispute about fishing rights.

Next plc ) raised full-year profit forecasts again. The retailer, which has a habit of under-promising and over-delivering, posted a 1.5% dip in full-price sales for the 13 weeks to 1 May compared to the year before Covid.

, a Toronto-based computer chip maker, has priced its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange at 3.2bn at the top of the price range according to reports. The company licenses its semiconductor designs to other businesses in a model similar to UK chipmaker ARM Holdings.

Among the small caps, ( ) is expanding its data and technology division in Ireland. The plan is to create a dedicated centre to find pathogens such as coronavirus in water systems using artificial intelligence.

( ) has completed the treatment of all patients in a study on grass pollen-induced hay fever. The pharma company has developed an injection to help with symptoms.

( ) has reported encouraging initial results at the Hamersley iron ore project in Australia. The miner has conducted a maiden drilling programme.
Dharamsala, May 6 : In a first scientific evidence, Russian scientists have demonstrated that the body of a person in the rare spiritual meditative state of 'thukdam' is in a quite different state from the body of someone undergoing the ordinary process of death.

The scientists have established research laboratories in the Tibetan settlements in Bylakuppe and Mundgod in Karnataka where they have examined 104 monks in meditation.

They are carrying out a project of research into 'thukdam', the phenomenon that sometimes occurs when an accomplished meditator dies and their subtle consciousness remains in the body, even after clinical death.

Recently the scientists were able to observe a monk who was in 'thukdam' for 37 days at Gyuto Monastery.

They invited a forensic physician to examine the physical body at various stages after death.

These facts came to light in a virtual conversation between Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and Professor Svyatoslav Medvedev of the Russian Academy of Sciences and founder of the Institute of the Human Brain on Wednesday.

On query of Professor Medvedev that what value the study of 'thukdam' could have for humanity in general.

The spiritual leader replied Tibetan Buddhists believe that people go through a process of dissolution in the course of death.

Once some accomplished meditators cease breathing, the process of dissolution they go through includes three visions -- whitish appearance, reddish increase and black near attainment.

In the course of these three stages 80 different conceptions dissolve, 33 during the vision of whitish appearance, 40 during reddish increase and finally seven during the stage of black near attainment.

"We need to undertake more research and investigate more cases of 'thukdam' to establish whether the visions are associated with dissolution of the coarser elements.

"Since it is observed that the body of a person going through this process can remain warm, it may be that the dissolution of the earth, water and fire elements do not coincide with the three visions.

"When an ordinary person dies, there is a dissolution of the elements. Buddhists believe that beings go through past and future lives, so there is some bearing on this too. My own senior tutor Ling Rinpoche remained in 'thukdam' for 13 days. Recently, a monk at Kirti Monastery remained in this state for 37 days.

"This is an observable reality, which we need to be able to explain.

"There is evidence to see and measure. We can also find a detailed explanation of the inner subjective experience of the process of death in the Guhyasamaja Tantra texts. I hope scientists can take all this into account and come up with an explanation," His Holiness said.

Professor Alexander Kaplan, Head of the Laboratory for Neurophysiology and Neuro-Computer Interfaces, Moscow State University (MSU), asked what Buddhist ideas could help Western scientists to understand the workings of the brain? At this, the elderly Buddhist monk replied that in the past, modern science as it had developed in the West had tended to focus on external phenomena, things that can be seen and measured.

"Gradually people have begun to recognize that peace of mind has an important role to play in our day-to-day lives. Consequently, scientists have also begun to show an interest in how to develop peace of mind. Mental afflictions like anger, fear and frustration detract from our good health, so, never mind about our next life or our reaching enlightenment, all seven billion human beings alive today need peace of mind here and now.

"In order to achieve and maintain peace of mind, we need to understand the workings of the mind and the whole system of emotions. Buddhism outlines 51 mental factors in six categories: five ever-functioning mental factors; five ascertaining ones; 11 constructive emotions; six root disturbing emotions and attitudes; 20 auxiliary disturbing emotions and four changeable mental factors.

"On the basis of understanding these we can learn to tackle destructive emotions as they arise, even under difficult circumstances. Peace of mind is within our reach." Konstantin Anokhin, Director of the Institute for Advanced Brain Studies, MSU, wanted to know about evidence for the existence of past lives.

The spiritual leader told him that he has heard of cases of children who belong to communities that give past and future lives no credence, who apparently describe memories of past lives.

Among Indians and Tibetans, people who accept the idea of past and future lives, children with such recollections are not unusual.

"There was a boy born in Tibet, who, once he could talk, insisted to his parents 'This isn't where I belong, I want to go to India'. They brought him to India and came to Dharamsala. But even here he said, 'This isn't my place'. So, they took him to Mundgod Tibetan Settlement in South India.

"When they reached Ganden Monastery, the boy told them, 'This is where I belong' and led them to one of the houses. They went inside and pointing to a drawer, he said, 'My glasses are in there'. They looked and they were.

"In my own case, as a small boy, I recognised monks in the party searching for the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. I was able to remember their names. One of the principal procedures employed when seeking to recognize the reincarnation of a Lama is to show the candidate a number of possessions.

"If a child is able to recognize and select those items that had 'belonged to them before', it is taken as a positive indication. However, these memories fade as the children grow up.

"Something else that could be regarded as significant is that some children are able to study and learn much more readily than others. This is taken to imply that they are already familiar with the material from their studies in their previous lives.

"In my case I learned easily, which could be a sign of revising what I had learned before." His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.

In 1989, the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for Tibet. He was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal in October 2007, even in the face of protests by China.

The Dalai Lama now lives in exile in this northern Indian hill station along with some 140,000 Tibetans, over 100,000 of them in different parts of India.

Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.
Lucknow, May 6 : The gangsters may be dead but their legacy lives on. In the recent Panchayat polls, relatives of gangsters -- jailed or slain -- have won the people's mandate, mainly because of the influence their son wielded.

In Unnao, Shakun Singh, wife of late MLC Ajit Singh, has won the Zila Panchayat elections.

Ajit Singh, a mafia don turned politician, was shot dead at his own birthday party in a resort in Unnao in September 2004.

Kshama Devi, 68, has won as the village Pradhan for the second time in Prahladpur Khatta village in Baghpat district.

She is the mother of Rahul Khatta who had 32 cases of murder against him and was killed by cops in an encounter in August 2015.

The district administration had invoked the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act,1986 against family members of Rahul Khatta, but Kshama Devi is not bothered.

"My son was a victim of police brutality. A shy boy who barely interacted with villagers, Rahul resisted a former pradhan's attempt to grab a piece of land belonging to a poor widow. He was taken away by cops and tortured for days. When he came back, he was a different man. The entire village knows the story. No one sees him as a criminal here, but a victim of the system," Kshama Devi told reporters.

The feisty old woman is unfazed about the case against her family. "We know how to fight it out," she said.

In another case, Subhashna Rathi, 60, has been elected as village pradhan for the second time now in Gangnauli village.

She is the mother of Pramod Gangnauli who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head and was killed in a police encounter in January 2015.

Pramod's elder brother, Praveen Rathi, was injured in a police encounter and was sent to jail.

If local villagers are to be believed, Pramod was a crime reporter from whom police sought help to meet a few criminals. The meeting was fixed, but police killed two of them in an encounter and the entire blame fell on Pramod who had to take up arms to defend himself as cops refused to bail him out.

"People have elected me for the second time which proves that they believe in us. Everyone knows that my son was not a criminal," she said.

Another interesting case is that of Geeta Devi who has been elected head of Khera village. She is the mother of dreaded gangster Ankit Baba who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

Sources say that she enjoys the support of local leaders who have helped her win the seat.

A senior police officer, once posted as police chief in Meerut, said: "This is not a new phenomenon. Winning elections becomes easier for the families of gangster because most gangsters have a Robinhood image. They kill for money but never target the poor. In fact, most of them have kangaroo court where justice is doled out to the poor. This makes them popular among people and they manage to get their kin elected."
Cairo, May 6 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty held talks with US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the meeting on Wednesday was held "in order to discuss the developments of the GERD file and the Egyptian position in this regard", Xinhua news agency reported.

It did not provide further details.

Recent tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have failed to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project.

But Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the resources.

Sudan proposed a mediation quartet of the UN, the European Union, the US and the AU regarding the GERD issue.

Ethiopia, however, has announced its rejection to this formula.

In February, Ethiopia had announced that it would carry on with the second-phase 13.5-billion-cubic-metre filling of the GERD in June.

The volume of the first-phase filling last year was 4.9 billion cubic metres.
New Delhi, May 6 : Rajasthan Royals and South Africa batsman David Miller said that it has been surreal how the last few days have unfolded with the postponement of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) and the players returning home.

The tournament, which was held as India grappled with a raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, was postponed this week after multiple cases of the virus emerged within the tournament's bio-bubble. Miller was the last man from his squad to leave for his home.

"I wouldn't say I have been panicky... I mean I am still in a bubble which means I am safe," Miller told the Hindustan Times.

"Yes, there were other bio-bubbles that were breached and certain players tested positive. But we've been fortunate, which means not only all negative cases but also being really well looked after. So, I have nothing to worry. But now it's just about me preparing to get home and be with my family. But, yeah, surreal nevertheless," he said.

Miller said that while his family was scared, he always tried to convince them that the bubble was safe.

"They were worried of course, with all the news emerging out of here during the big surge in positive cases. So, there were messages and calls going back and forth quite often. But again, it was just about explaining to them the workings of a bubble and how we were in a safe environment," he said.

Latest updates on IPL 2021
New Delhi, May 6 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the constitutional authorities can do better than to complain and ask for shackles on the media.

The remarks were made by the top court in its verdict on the Election Commission's petition complaining about media reports on the Madras High Court telling the poll body it should be booked for murder for not stopping political rallies amid Covid.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said: "Open access to courts is a valuable safeguard to constitutional freedom. Freedom of the press is a facet of constitutional freedom of speech and expression." The top court said it does not find any substance in the prayer of the Election Commission to restrain media from reporting court proceedings and it is essential to hold judiciary accountable. The top court also observed that the remarks made by the Madras High Court were "harsh and the metaphor improper" and judicial restraint was necessary.

The top court emphasized that media cannot be stopped from reporting oral observations made by the judges during a court hearing.

The top court said: "Therefore we cannot stop the media from reporting. Constitutional authorities can do better than complaining and seeking for fetters on media." The top court noted that High Courts are constantly in touch with ground realities and during the pandemic they have done great work and have experienced anguish over the state of affairs.

Justice Chandrachud added that today the court has not been called upon to decide the constitutionality of the actions of the Election Commission. "We find here that the High Court was faced with rising cases of COVID and was reposed with the duty to protect the citizens," said the top court.

On April 26, the Madras High Court had castigated the Election Commission for the surge in COVID-19 cases amid the second wave of the pandemic.

The High Court held it responsible for the spread of the viral infection and called it most irresponsible institution. The High Court had added that its officials may be booked under murder charges.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Everyone talks of China overtaking the USA in GDP and 5G (in a digital world with multiplying 5G usages). Indians have always been ahead in the digital and mobile technologies, till of course, regulations and crony capitalism blocked growth. What is so special about 5G? Is it just a communication technology? 5G is the new global wireless standard after 1G to 4G networks, much faster and having lower latency, packing density etc. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices, both static and moving, and like everything in new technologies, evolving and changing fast. 4G Broadband earlier delivered deep web functionality to our latest technology Smartphones. 5G also requires new kind of regulation internalizing content and pricing regulation.

The US and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race. "I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space. This is a national emergency. The US needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out, we may have already lost that one, that's how dire the situation is," Schmidt told CNN recently. "If these technologies are built in China, for example, they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle," Schmidt said, pointing to the Chinese government's plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030. Indians have proved that they can move ahead very fast as they did both for liberalised 2G and 4G networks.

China's 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world, unless India is enabled to challenge them like the US did that to China, post 1980. According to CCS Insights, China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022. China is also expected to dominate through 2025, at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections, according to the GSMA. Mainland China is already the world's largest Smartphone market, and it also boasts the largest 4G market, with 843.7 million 4G subscribers. Based on a 5G study published by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, China's aggressive investments in 5G infrastructures will be key to the country's status as the world's largest 5G market soon, unless India challenges like it did for 2G and 4G.

We must also remember that seven Presidents after Nixon, helped China for political reasons. They might now help India and Japan in the peculiar political/geographical environment in Asia, where China can never collaborate with India or Japan.

China earlier grew with the help of stolen technologies from the US and the rest of the world. The US collaborated. It can no longer do so and hence China has invested hugely in R&D, and commercial use of new technologies- "David G. Goldman".

The US, India and some other countries flourished when they started operating on far better and fully digital 2G to 4G standards/technology and regulation (converged network and regulation). But there was a problem in some countries like India, where we could not migrate to a converged network/regulation due to the opposition of incumbent telecom operators, and tried to inefficiently operate on Unified Access License in 2004, and later moving to case to case regulations for 4G networks.

The US and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race. "I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space. This is a national emergency. The US needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out, we may have already lost that one, that's how dire the situation is," Schmidt told CNN recently. "If these technologies are built in China, for example, they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle," Schmidt said, pointing to the Chinese government's plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030.

China's 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world. According to CCS Insights, China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022. China is also expected to dominate through 2025, at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections, according to the GSMA.

Late, late 5G in India: GOI is looking at issues around high prices of spectrum and its limited availability/usage. We faced similar problems for 2G/3G in 2004, but were carefully dealt with in new unified access regulations, license fee and connectivity charges.

In its report titled 'Making India 5G Ready' in August, 2018 Inter-Ministerial High Level Forum for 5G (Paulraj Committee)', India anticipated the start of 5G in 2020. Based on the Report, the Government is creating an enabling framework for development of 5G services in India. Progress is slow as many new developments have taken place and the 5G services are expected to be introduced gradually and advance to a full range of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows. Indian IT technologists are far ahead of those in the world. 5G can unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits giving it the potential for being a transformational force for Indian society. It can help the country leapfrog the traditional barriers to development as well as advance the Digital India Mission. The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India can reach $1 trillion by 2035. But the progress in development in new services/usages is slow in India, and does not match with the high anticipated fee. There are thus apprehensions that India is set to miss the 5G bus due to lack of preparedness, spectrum issues, inadequate use-case development, uncertainty around sale of radio waves for 5G, etc. Inadequate availability of spectrum, high spectrum prices, poor development of use cases, low status of fiberization, non-uniform RoW issues, deficient backhaul capacity, etc. are some of the factors coming in the way of rolling out of 5G services in India, missing the target dates in the Report.

Globally 118 operators in 59 countries have deployed 5G network, though only China and S. Korea has progressed to significant commercial operation. China has already developed more than 5 lakh 5G base stations covering around 7-8 per cent of their population. Regarding status of deployment of 5G in India, 5G High Level Forum has given its report titled Making India 5G Ready'to the Government in August, 2018. 5G Hackathon had been organized and the Department have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development. Thirty out of 100 use cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges. The current reserve price of spectrum is one of the highest in the world, which needs to be rationalized taking into account per capita income, extremely low usage, and reserve price benchmarks of other countries, 5G trial applications have been submitted by the TSPs in the month of January, 2020, however, till date the guidelines for trials have not been made clear and there is no set date for commencement of these trials. Specrum allocation is also posing to be a big problem.

We have four times more people and four times less spectrum which means that spectrum available to one person is 1/16th of the global average. Availability of 175 MHz only in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz band will mean that approximately 50 MHz or so spectrum per operator could be allocated, which is far below the global average.

TRAI had recommended Rs.492 crore per MHz as reserved price for spectrum in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz for 5G which is far higher than the auctioned spectrum price in other countries. Comparison of unit pricing of 5G spectrum with other countries indicates that it is 07 times costlier than UK, 14 times costlier than Australia, 35 times costlier than Spain and 70 times costlier than Austria. Price recommended by TRAI is exorbitantly high and ranges from 3-70 times of the market determined price of the spectrum in other countries in absolute terms and is 16 times of the price in relative terms. They are of the view that there is a need to strike a balance between the Government's expectation to generate revenue from the auction and growth of the sector and the overarching impact of 5G across the sectors.

Fear of 5G deployments in China: Many reports overstate the extent of Chinese 5G deployment for several reasons. Chinese government's push to "accelerate user migration to 5G through measures such as package upgrade offer, and credit purchases, etc." Service providers then start encouraging customers to upgrade to 5G subscriptions regardless of their actual need, use, or device. Some companies reduce 5G subscription prices so much they are even cheaper than staying on a 4G plan. ITIF report suggests that by counting anyone on a 5G plan, even if they only have a 4G device connecting to 4G infrastructure, as a 5G subscriber, and measuring individual base stations instead of cell sites, China's 5G stats paint a misleading picture. Consider that China Telecom and China Mobile (the two largest operators in China) reported 150 million "5G package customers" as of September 2020. But according to China's Academy for Information and Communications Technology, only 94 million 5G devices had been shipped for all of China during the same time frame, indicating a sizable gap between the number of "subscribers" and actual 5G users. The number of 5G-capable devices alone is impressive, and the competitive threat from China justifies a thoughtful policy response, but no one should be worked into a panic by goosed stats.

Slow and steady may win the race. India won the race in 2G growth after 2010 (Comparison with Chinese growth ever.) Whereas the United States is pursuing a gradual, economical deployment of 5G, the problems with China's rushed 5G deployments are already starting to show. One of Huawei's own executives went so far as to call China's 5G "fake, dumb and poor," mostly due to poor integration with the 4G network. Another former official warned in a recent speech that China's 5G push could become a failed investment. While China is no doubt investing substantially in the expansion of its 5G network, including by pressuring its state-owned carriers to invest faster than the market demands, Chinese figures must be properly scrutinized when using them to make U.S./other country policy decisions.

National Strategy of 5G A 5G, will be a key driver of our Nation's prosperity and security in the new age economy towards which we are progressing fast. It will provide consumers, businesses, and governments with remarkably fast network connections that will enable tens of billions of new devices to harness the power of the Internet, transforming the way we live, work, learn, and communicate. Whole of government and industry led approach should be launched for faster rollout with demonstrable use cases. Spectrum cost should be rationalized to remove the artificial cost barrier.

A Indigenous and demonstrable use cases are the backbone of 5G because that will create the new economy.

A Indian government has to finalise the list of industries where it needs to achieve indigenous technological innovations, and handhold them for a profitable start.

(Pradip Baijal is former Chairman, TRAI, and has authored many books on Indian reforms)
Agra, May 6 : Agra-based fashion designer, Sharda Whabi, was found dead in her house in Jaipuria Sunrise Colony, possibly due to Covid.

She lived alone since her husband and two sons are based in Dubai.

The family authorised the local police to cremate her on Wednesday.

Ekta chowki in-charge Shailendra Chauhan, said that they cremated her body as per Hindu rituals and followed all Covid protocols after an authority letter was sent to them by her son Arjun.

A designer of international repute, she founded Krsadha fashion house and an NGO.

Whabi had participated in various fashion shows.

He added that her help, Bacho Bari, was also present at the cremation as per the wishes of the family who were connected on a zoom call at the time of the cremation. Her sons requested the police to hand over her ashes to the help.

Superintendent Police, city, Botre Rohan Pramod, said, as she was suspected of suffering from Covid-19, no neighbour went inside her house or was willing to touch her body.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : Over 67,000 people received vaccination against Covid-19 in the national capital on Wednesday, the Delhi government said here on Thursday.

As per the data shared by the Delhi Government, 47,086 people in the age group of 18-44 got vaccinated till 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A total of 5,230 people in the 45-59 age group were vaccinated, while 1,629 people, aged above 60, received the first dose of vaccine.

As many as 1,571 frontline workers and 591 healthcare workers were also given the first jab on Wednesday.

Over 11,200 people received the second dose of the vaccine during the same period, the data showed.

During an inspection visit to Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Rajendra Nagar (a newly set up mass vaccination centre) on Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that the state government wants to vaccinate every person in Delhi within three months if the Centre provides adequate vaccines to it.

"The Delhi government is also working on increasing the number of oxygen beds across Delhi. We are arranging more and more oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders to hospital beds. I am very hopeful that in the coming days we will be able to increase the number of beds in Delhi significantly," Kejriwal said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sanaa, May 6 : UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said that a recent UN-brokered negotiation between the country's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce any agreement.

The recently-concluded negotiation, which took place in Saudi Arabia and Oman, aimed to install a ceasefire across Yemen, including in the central province of Marib, where the Houthi rebels have been launching massive offensives on the governmental forces since February, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We have been discussing these issues for over a year now... Unfortunately, we are not where we would like to be in reaching a deal," Griffiths said in a statement on Wednesday.

"I will keep engaging the parties to the conflict and all involved and concerned actors and stakeholders to offer them opportunities to find common grounds to help advance the peace efforts," he added.

In February, the Houthis began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib, which hosts over 2 million internally displaced people.

The UN aid agencies have warned the Houthis that the assault on Marib could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.
New Delhi, May 6 : As the second wave of Covid-19 debilitates the country's health infrastructure and causes an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the need of the hour is a potentially life-saving vaccination dose. However, it may not even reach all the citizens, says Oxfam India, urging the government to move beyond profit-making strategies and save lives.

"The keyword here is 'share'. We live in a country of over 1,361 million people and yet two active vaccines are expected to serve every citizen even though they are being patented and controlled only by the pharma companies that created them. This discrepancy between need and supply is caused by limited dosage production which in turn also ramps up costs," said CEO Amitabh Behar, Oxfam India, in a statement on Thursday.

"What is problematic is the cost flexibility given to state governments and private buyers which will leave the door open for middlemen and increase the cost of a vaccine which is needed by millions during this crisis," he added.

India on Thursday recorded 4,12,262 fresh cases and 3,980 deaths in the last 24 hours, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The health ministry said that a total of 16,25,13,339 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 19,55,733, who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours. However, close to 600 million more Indians needed to be vaccinated, Behar said.

"An acute shortage of vaccine doses can only spell doom and it is critical that these vaccines be free and available for everyone. The government needs to adopt a 'People's Vaccine Plan' that serves all citizens and takes profiteering out of the equation. India needs a vaccine that is for people and not for profit and a vaccination module that is not only for those who have spending power," Behar said.

Behar also raised concerns that no cap has been placed on the vaccine price and individual companies are now free to declare their own costs. People are expected to pay over Rs 2,400 for two doses in the public system and Rs 3,600 in a private hospital. Comparative data suggests that most of India will be paying more than the richest countries of the world despite producing these vaccines domestically.

"These prices seem to have stemmed out of a producer declared monopoly price and not one that is "discovered" through competitive price. The rate fixed for India, equivalent to $5.25 also seems to be targeting the upper-middle-income groups in a country that is classified as a lower-middle-income country. Why is there such a lack of transparency in the fixation of these rates?" Behar said.

With India stepping into Phase 3 of its vaccination drive, the states have been burdened with the responsibility of making vaccines affordable. This decision to create two vaccine supply streams -- for the centre and the states -- marks a deviation from this historic precedent and is an abdication of responsibility by the centre, he lamented.

Without a universal free vaccination scheme to fall back on, a substantial share of the country's population will potentially be priced out of the vaccine, Behar said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Male, May 6 : The Maldives' Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) has declared that the island nation is experiencing the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as daily infections broke the local record for four consecutive days, local media reported on Thursday.

HEOC member Mohammed Ali on Wednesday said that a recent surge in infections has increased the chances for a spread of new variants, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) data showed that the record for new daily cases was broken for the fourth day.

A total of 734 new cases were detected on Wednesday, raising the total number of infections to 32,665.

Of these new infections, 540 were detected in the capital region of Greater Male, while the remaining were largely in inhabited islands.

The death toll currently stood at 74.

Ali was quoted by state-owned PCM News as saying that all ICU beds in the DH-11 Facility of Dharumavantha Hospital are currently occupied.

He said there was a shortage of healthcare workers to meet the needs of an increasing number of patients.
Srinagar, May 6 : Surrendered militant from the group of four Al-Badr terrorists made appeals to his trapped companions to surrender, but they refused to do so and fired indiscriminately at the security forces triggering an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said on Thursday.

Police said on a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in Kanigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, army's 44 RR and 178Bn CRPF.

During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender.

Family members of the trapped terrorists were also called to the encounter site to motivate and persuade them to surrender.

Police said due to efforts and utmost patience of police, security forces and repeated surrender appeals with the help of their family members, one of the trapped terrorist Tausif Ahmad ultimately surrendered and laid down his arms before the joint security forces.

"The surrendered terrorist later also appealed to his trapped companions to surrender, however, they turned down the surrender offer and fired indiscriminately on joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter," police said.

In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified asA Danish Mir, Mohd Umer Bhat both residents of Khajapora Shopian and Zaid Bashir Reshi resident of Raben Shopian. Police said as per its records, they were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr.

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has made a fervent appeal to all misguided youth who have joined terror ranks to shun the path of violence and return to mainstream as the society needs them and most importantly their parents.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

"The last rites of the killed terrorists shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in the last rites," police said.
New Delhi, May 6 : Everyone talks of China overtaking the USA in GDP and 5G. We now live in a globalised and digital world where productivity and technologies decide GDP growth. I have extensively written on both subjects, and find the subjects of immense interest to India. What is so special about 5G? Is it just a communication technology? We must remember that these technologies (IR3.0 technologies and later) changed the direction of GDP growths from the West to Asia after 1970, particularly China in this globalised, connected world. IR 1.0 and 2.0 technologies had helped most Western nations take over all nations in GDP growth when they increased their GDP 5 to 10 times, and most Asian nations went down 10 times between 1830 to 1970. Everything changed post 1970.

In his 2000 book, "The Coming Collapse of China", Gordon G. Chang predicted the end of China in 5 to 10 years, based on perceived inefficiencies of state industries, failure to build an open democratic society, and non-performing loans of big four state banks. In his 2012 book with the same title, he regretted non-collapse by 2011, and predicted this would happen in 2012 due to China's premature entry into WTO in 2001 (Julia Lowell also said so) would lead to a nation of contradictions with ruling class divided, leading to economic collapse.

But thanks to the strong leader Xi Jinping, and interminable term given to him by Politburo, China grew fast, because the international community was tolerant towards China, and USA encouraged China to grow, despite China not following WTO rules. China also committed thefts of technologies from the USA and West, and started its own units breaking all WTO rules. And though everyone knew of the events leading to this growth, the American MNCs having immense control over the State, supported this growth as it profited them (not the nation-through the carefully designed and almost irreversible supply chain structured by the Chinese industry). China prospered earlier because Deng the President till 1987, and later very influential till mid-90s, was very progressive, and despite contradictions, enforced market based rules. Tiananmen Square massacre and USA's indirect support also helped Chinese growth. (Despite visible opposition, he wrote a letter of support).

According to the third book by Chang published in 2020 "The Great US-China Tech War", he and other authors said that today both countries are engaged in a tech. war, and winner will decide who dominates 21st century. Beijing was not even a contender a decade back. America is now already behind in critical areas. The new technologies now operate on multiple national and international regulations. They also have to simultaneously operate on telecom, broadcasting, competition, security, privacy, AI and investment etc. regulations, making the operation difficult for small and emerging companies.

Today, US and China are engaged in a cold war, similar to US-Russian cold war, which was won by USA in 1980-90s, with disintegration of Russia without a bullet being fired. And all Presidents from Nixon to Obama supported Chinese growth, because it helped them destroy the cold-war rival Russia. China being a much bigger intriguer and a deceptive nation grew enormously with the help of seven Presidents after Nixon, and now challenges US. China earlier grew with the help of stolen technologies also. It is no longer so and has invested hugely in R&D, and commercial use of new technologies - "David G. Goldman".

US, India and some other countries flourished when they started operating on far better and fully digital 2G to 4G standards/technology and regulation (converged network and regulation). But there was a problem in some countries like India, where we could not migrate to a converged network due to the opposition of incumbent telecom operators, and tried to inefficiently operate on Unified Access License in 2004, and later moving to case to case regulations for 4G networks.

5G is the new global wireless standard after 1G to 4G networks, much faster and having lower latency, packing density etc. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices, both static and moving, and like everything in new technologies evolving and changing fast. 4G Broadband earlier delivered deep web functionality to our latest technology smartphones. 5G is still evolving and changing to more efficient solutions.

United States and other liberal democracies are falling behind China in the global 5G race. "I estimate that China is about 10 times ahead of us in the 5G space. This is a national emergency. The United States needs to get the necessary bandwidth and funding to the telcos to get that built out, we may have already lost that one, that's how dire the situation is," Schmidt told CNN recently. "If these technologies are built in China, for example, they are not necessarily going to follow our privacy rules or our ethics We have to be careful to win this battle," Schmidt said, pointing to the Chinese government's plan to lead the global market for AI by 2030.

China's 5G networks are among the most advanced in the world. According to CCS Insights, China will account for more than half of all 5G users by 2022. China is also expected to dominate through 2025, at which time it might represent 40 percent of global 5G connections, according to the GSMA.

Mainland China is already the world's largest smartphone market, and it also boasts the largest 4G market, with 843.7 million 4G subscribers. Based on a 5G study published by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the research arm of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China's aggressive investments in 5G infrastructure will be key to the country's status as the world's largest 5G market soon.

Another strength of Chinese networks is their international cooperation. They had even collaborated with fast growing Indian networks/regulation in 2005. China Mobile's cooperation with Ericsson reaches back to late 2015 when the companies began testing 5G radio technology, evolving network architecture toward 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and global knowledge- and experience-sharing.

In June 2017, tests on Huawei's 5G radio technology were completed, adopting 5G New Radio (NR), massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO), and other technologies to achieve over 6 Gb/s of single-user downlink throughput and over 18-Gb/s of cell peak rate. Huawei partnered with multiple vendors in the spirit of industry collaboration. The country's 5G market is heading toward a significant financial boom. According to Business Insider, the impact could account for 3.2 per cent of China's entire GDP in 2025, generate 8 million jobs, and add 2.9 trillion yuan in economic value by 2030. As hungry consumers demand more and more 5G services, the country expects a huge increase in the number of new companies, employment opportunities, and equipment sales.

Late, late 5G in India: India's history with wireless services began early. The first experimental wireless telegraphy links were demonstrated as early as 1902. However, widespread use of wireless technology had to wait for 90 more years. The first mobile phone service was launched in 1985 on a non-commercial basis, but it was only in 1995 that commercial/private services were started. The initial subscriber growth was modest, however new policy initiatives, beginning 2004, spurred rapid growth with the subscriber base reaching 560 million in 2009 and well over a billion by 2017 from 10 million in 2002. The growth rate also rose to 3 times of the Chinese growth ever in a few intervening years. Early deployment of mobile networks was based on 2G technology, with 3G technology entering service in 2010 and 4G in 2016. All mobile services from 2G to 4G offered services based on increasingly advanced phones, with smart phones arriving about a decade ago.

2G and the early 3G networks primarily offered voice services, but beginning with later 3G and now 4G technologies, the networks provided internet-based services like video, email, and social media. 4G technology has been a major inflexion in mobile technology with packet-switched data transmission and high-speed connectivity. The 5G technology's main benefits such as high speed, low latency, high connection density, greater reliability, and high energy savings are all conducive to enable Digital India use cases such as smart cities, smart manufacturing, smart agriculture, smart healthcare, to name a few.

The Fifth Generation (5G) mobile communication technology is a paradigm shift in the field of communications as it not only enables human to human communications but machine to machine communications in a digitally connected world with a variety of use cases. There are three key use cases of 5G. One of them, of course, is mobile broadband with very high throughput up to 20 Gbps, also called enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)'. This will provide substantial increase in broadband throughput over that of 4G. The other two important use cases of 5G are Ultra-high Reliable Low Latency (URLLC)' and Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC)'. These additional use cases result in a huge diversity of applications, which cannot be supported by previous generations of the mobile technology such as 4G. Significantly enhanced capabilities than those of 4G are possible in 5G. These are in terms of spectral efficiency, which can be as high as 30 bps/Hz, very low latency of less than a couple of milliseconds and very high-speed mobility support of up to 500 km/hour. But the problem today is very limited market for 5G usage but very high prices for spectrum etc. GOI is looking at issues around high prices of spectrum and its limited availability. We faced the similar problems in 2004, but were carefully dealt with in new unified access regulations, license fee and connectivity charges.

5G would unleash massive machine to machine communication by connecting a large number of devices, transforming many sectors such as Transport, Agriculture, Healthcare, Power grid etc. The ultra-low latency and reliable communication (URLLC) is another capability offered by 5G enabling newer applications such as vehicle to vehicle communication, remote robot assisted surgery, mission critical communication, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) etc. Some of these, for example, vehicle to vehicle communication, also called the V2X communication, may not require high speed data access but needs extremely low latency or response time. Similarly, applications such as robotic surgeries require very low latency coupled with high reliability of communication. Some other applications like AR or VR may not only need high speed data access but low latency communication as well.

In its Report titled 'Making India 5G Ready' in August, 2018 Inter-Ministerial High Level Forum for 5G India anticipated the start of 5G in 2020. Based on the Report, the Government is creating an enabling framework for development of 5G services in India. Progress is slow as many new developments have taken place and the 5G services are expected to be introduced gradually and advance to a full range of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows. Indian IT technologists are far ahead of those in the world. 5G can unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits giving it the potential for being a transformational force for Indian society. It can help the country leapfrog the traditional barriers to development as well as advance the Digital India Mission. The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India can reach one trillion USD by 2035. But the progress in development in new services/usages is slow in India, and does not match with the high anticipated fee.

There are apprehensions that India is set to miss the 5G bus due to lack of preparedness, spectrum issues, inadequate use-case development, uncertainty around sale of radio waves for 5G, etc. Inadequate availability of spectrum, high spectrum prices, poor development of use cases, low status of fiberization, non-uniform RoW issues, deficient backhaul capacity, etc. are some of the factors coming in the way of rolling out of 5G services in India, missing the target dates in the Report.

Globally 118 operators in 59 countries have deployed 5G network, though only China and Korea has progressed to significant commercial operation. Currently, the 5G network covers around 7 per cent of the world population. It is expected that 20 per cent of the world population will be covered by the year 2025. Major countries where 5G technology have been launched are USA, Canada, UK and European Union, Asia pacific countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Philippine etc. In Middle East, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain have also launched 5G. In Africa, 5G has been launched in South Africa. Mostly, 5G has been launched partially in these countries. Countries in Asia Pacific like South Korea, Japan and China have witnessed sizeable growth in 5G developments and possibly they are ahead of the curve.

China has already developed more than 5 lakh 5G base stations covering around 7-8 per cent of their population. Regarding status of deployment of 5G in India, 5G High Level Forum has given its report titled Making India 5G Ready'to the Government in August, 2018. 5G Hackathon had been organized and the Department have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development. 30 out of 100 use cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges. Even though the report of the 5G HLF has been released by the Department of Telecommunications in August, 2018 minimal implementation instructions have been issued so far. Spectrum issues which are at the heart of 5G are yet to be resolved. The TSPs, have submitted that spectrum bands for 5G are yet to be identified and made available to them. The current reserve price of spectrum is one of the highest in the world, which needs to be rationalized taking into account per capita income, extremely low usage, and reserve price benchmarks of other countries, 5G trial applications have been submitted by the TSPs in the month of January, 2020, however, till date the guidelines for trials have not been made clear and there is no set date for commencement of these trials. In the initial years, the core will be 4G and the radio access network will be 5G. First it will not be rolled out pan India, but in selected areas where the demand would justify the Capex.

Sufficient preparatory work has not been undertaken for launching of 5G services in India. As such, India has not moved beyond the modest beginning stage as compared to other countries in the world. Important point to ponder about India is; while 2G was deployed globally in 1991, it was deployed in India only in 1995; 3G was deployed globally in 1998 but deployed in India ten years later, i.e. in 2008. Similarly, 4G services were launched in India 7 years after their global launching in 2008. This reflects poorly on our planning and execution. Now when many countries are swiftly moving towards 5G technology, India is likely to witness its deployment only by early 2022, that too partially. So it is very likely that after missing the 2G, 3G and 4G bus, India is going to miss on 5G opportunities, unless time-bound action is taken in core areas where Governmental intervention is required. It is disappointing that the Government have hardly learnt from the past delays as the vision for 5G which was reflected in the constitution of the HLF and Expert Committees has not been transformed into action on the ground is not reflected in the policies formulated by the Government. The Government are yet to take action on many of the recommendations of TRAI/ITU and High Powered Paulraj committee, on issues which have direct bearing on 5G deployment.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has identified two broad spectrum ranges for 5G, the frequency range-I and frequency range-II. Frequency range-I extends from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz and multiple frequency bands have been identified for 5G in this large range. Frequency range-II is the millimeter wave band lying between 24.25 GHz and 52.6 GHz. Around 40 countries in the world have completed allocation of 5G spectrum. So far as allocation of spectrum for 5G in India is concerned, TRAI on 01.08.2018 had given their recommendation for the auction of spectrum, in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands for providing mobile services. Even after the lapse of more than 2 years since TRAI gave their recommendations for auctioning of spectrum, the auction of 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz in the prime band for 5G is yet to be done by the Department. Main problem is the reserve price, which is being looked at again.

5G ecosystem is currently available in three bands, lower band, Mid Band 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz and millimeter wave band (26 GHz and 28 GHz) for 5G deployment. Globally seven operators have deployed 5G in lower band, 82 operators have deployed in mid band and more than 8 operators have deployed in mmWave band. However, India at present does not have sufficient spectrum earmarked for 5G in any of these bands.

Department of Space and Defence are seeking spectrum in the bands identified for 5G. To make India 5G ready at the earliest, the Government need to allocate at least 100 MHz per operator in 3.5 GHz, at least 400 MHz per operator in mmWave (26,28,37 GHz) and at least 2x10 MHz per operator in each of these bands in Sub-GHz (600 MHz & 700 MHz). This is without taking into consideration the requirement of the operators in E&V band. In 3.5 GHz, which is basically the mainstream spectrum for 5G, almost every operator across the globe has 100 MHz. However, in case of India out of 300 MHz, 25 MHz are required for satellite uses. About 100 MHz between 3.3 and 3.4 GHz has been demanded by Defense. If this is deducted, only 175 MHz is available. DOT is deliberating with Department of Space (DoS) and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) for making sufficient spectrum available for 5G IMT services. The Department have stated that they have received very positive response and expressed the hope that the issue will be resolved. With regard to mmWave spectrum, the same is yet to be earmarked in India. The average 4G spectrum per operator in India is around one-fourth of the global average.

We have four times more people and four times less spectrum which means that spectrum available to one person is 1/16th of the global average. Availability of 175 MHz only in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz band will mean that approximately 50 MHz or so spectrum per operator could be allocated, which is far below the global average.

TRAI had recommended Rs.492 crore per MHz as reserved price for spectrum in 3300 MHz to 3600 MHz for 5G which is far higher than the auctioned spectrum price in other countries. Comparison of unit pricing of 5G spectrum with other countries indicates that it is 07 times costlier than UK, 14 times costlier than Australia, 35 times costlier than Spain and 70 times costlier than Austria. Price recommended by TRAI is exorbitantly high and ranges from 3-70 times of the market determined price of the spectrum in other countries in absolute terms and is 16 times of the price in relative terms. They are of the view that there is a need to strike a balance between the Government's expectation to generate revenue from the auction and growth of the sector and the overarching impact of 5G across the sectors.

Department of Telecommunications had approved financial grant for multi-institute collaborative project to set up Indigenous 5G Test Bed' for building end-to-end 5G Test Bed in India in March, 2018 with total cost of Rs 224.01 crore. The Test Bed was expected to be ready by October, 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the work of hardware design, fabrication and testing was adversely affected. The test bed is likely to be set up by October, 2021. The indigenous test bed is completely home-grown and it is first of its kind, wherein eight leading academic and research institutes have come together to build the test bed with Government support. The eight collaborative institutions are IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT). India's effort is unique with special focus on setting up a Test Bed that will be utilized by academic, industry, telecom operators and startups to develop solutions and use cases which can be India specific. The Test Bed is going to raise India's visibility in the global forums and standardization bodies. 5G Test Bed project is focused on developing IPRs in the country in 5G technology. Some of the IPRs generated by this project can also be utilized for product development for the Defence sector of the country. It is expected that technology spin-offs from this Test Bed will enable Indian industry and startups to enter the Indian and global markets for 5G telecom equipment, thus addressing a critical gap in our economic and security prospects.

China has been working on use case labs for last two years and claim to have more than 100 use cases for 5G which have been built through initiatives from Government, academia, operators and industry verticals. On the contrary, India does not have any applications or Use Cases which are ready to promote business case and capex investment by operators. Coordinated Government actions are required for enabling digital transformation across sectors. DoT is working with different Ministries/Departments for setting up of India specific Use Case in education, healthcare, agriculture, public safety, fintech, etc. So far, Institute of Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRT), an institute under RBI, in collaboration of Department of Financial Services, has come forward for setting up of 5G use case lab in Banking and Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI). The Department are also presently working with Food Safety and Standard Authority of India for setting up of use case lab in food safety certification and Ministry of Health, AIIMS, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for setting up of use cases in respective domains. To develop more use cases, the Department have organized 5G Hackathon and have shortlisted 100 use cases for further development. Out of these, 30 Use Cases will be demonstrated along with TSPs to learn 5G use cases and roll out challenges.

Government have allowed all applications for 5G trials, in limited areas and for a limited time, to test potential 5G India specific use cases based on enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC) and Ulrtra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) in isolation on noncommercial basis subject to strict safeguards. The Department have received 16 applications for 5G trials, using imported as well as indigenous technologies. 5G trials were likely to be started in 2-3 months. DoT have issued guidelines for assignment of spectrum for trials across all available spectrum bands on a nominal fee of Rs 5,000. Guidelines for experimental spectrum has also been issued. An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted under Member (Technology) in the Department of Telecommunications for monitoring and evaluation of 5G technology trials.

With regard to Indian entities/TSPs that have been issued experimental license, the Department have informed that so far one experimental (radiating) license for 5G Test Bed at IIT, Delhi has been issued on 20.04.2018 with 3 months validity and 5G field trials have not yet been permitted.

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (EMBB), Industry 4.0 is the main driver for 5G. Industry 4.0. is mooted in the concept of advanced manufacturing, also called Smart Manufacturing. Industry 4.0 based solutions enable better interoperability, more flexible industrial processes, and autonomous and intelligent manufacturing. Many countries in the world like USA, Germany, UK and Australia have allocated 5G spectrum for industrial development. For example, in Germany, Mercedes is setting up a factory entirely based on 5G, termed as Factory 56. Many countries are setting aside spectrum and laying out policies for industrial growth using 5G. Not only industry, captive users of mobile wireless communications are industries, police, paramilitary, fire, forest and mining, municipal corporations and public utilities as well as critical infrastructure services like Railways, Metros, Airports, Sea Ports, Refineries, Highways, etc.

Industry 4.0 will be one of the main drivers of 5G in days to come. However, the present licensing policy is not conducive to the growth of Industry 4.0. The manufacturing industry's choice and decision to come to India is heavily dependent on how quickly the Government of India can go ahead and allocate spectrum for 5G-driven industry. The issues relating to licensing and allocation of spectrum for Industry 4.0 need to be properly streamlined to attract the manufacturing industry to set up their base here and also to reap the full benefits of 5G in industry.

Fear of 5G deployments in China: Many reports overstate the extent of Chinese 5G deployment for several reasons. Chinese government's push to "accelerate user migration to 5G through measures such as package upgrade offer, and credit purchases, etc." Service providers then start encouraging customers to upgrade to 5G subscriptions regardless of their actual need, use, or device. Some companies reduce 5G subscription prices so much they are even cheaper than staying on a 4G plan. "With all of China's big telcos slashing 5G package prices in the past few months, it could well be that customers are being drawn in more by attractive tariffs than by a desire to get their hands on the latest hardware and its related capabilities." Chinese telecom providers listed 9 million 5G users in October 2019, a month prior to its actual activation.

ITIF report suggests that by counting anyone on a 5G plan-even if they only have a 4G device connecting to 4G infrastructure-as a 5G subscriber, and measuring individual base stations instead of cell sites, China's 5G stats paint a misleading picture. Consider that China Telecom and China Mobile (the two largest operators in China) reported 150 million "5G package customers" as of September 2020. But according to China's Academy for Information and Communications Technology, only 94 million 5G devices had been shipped for all of China during the same time frame, indicating a sizable gap between the number of "subscribers" and actual 5G users.

The discrepancy may be due largely to terminology: "5G package customers" is a blanket term often used by Chinese carriers to refer to anyone on a 5G subscription, regardless of whether they actually have a 5G device or access to a 5G network. China Mobile acknowledges that they count anyone "who has subscribed to 5G tariff plans" as a 5G customer. The number of 5G-capable devices alone is impressive, and the competitive threat from China justifies a thoughtful policy response, but no one should be worked into a panic by goosed stats.

Deployment figures are often further mischaracterized because of the way Chinese operators sometimes count each spectrum band as a separate "logical" base station instead of actual pieces of equipment. Just like how a Wi-Fi router can work on different spectrum (generally 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), a mobile base station can operate on multiple spectrum bands. American carriers would generally count a multi-spectrum base station as at most one piece of equipment. But some Chinese reporting apparently treats each individual spectrum band a base station supports as a different "logical site." A representative from Huawei explained that "a China Unicom base station supports GSM 900, GSM 1800, WCDMA 2100 and LTE. Most of the equipment is deployed in the same room at one physical site, but there are four bands, so there are four logical sites." As a result, Chinese numbers could easily be misrepresented as three to four times higher compared with how other operators tend to count equipment.

Slow and steady may win the race. India won the race in 2G growth after 2010 (Comparison with Chinese growth ever.) Whereas the United States is pursuing a gradual, economical deployment of 5G, the problems with China's rushed 5G deployments are already starting to show. One of Huawei's own executives went so far as to call China's 5G "fake, dumb and poor," mostly due to poor integration with the 4G network. Another former official warned in a recent speech that China's 5G push could become a failed investment. While China is no doubt investing substantially in the expansion of its 5G network, including by pressuring its state-owned carriers to invest faster than the market demands, Chinese figures must be properly scrutinized when using them to make US/other country policy decisions.

National Strategy of 5G 5G, will be a key driver of our Nation's prosperity and security in the new age economy towards which we are progressing fast. It will provide consumers, businesses, and governments with remarkably fast network connections that will enable tens of billions of new devices to harness the power of the Internet, transforming the way we live, work, learn, and communicate. Whole of government and industry led approach should be launched for faster rollout with demonstrable use cases. Spectrum cost should be rationalized to remove the artificial cost barrier.

Indigenous and demonstrable use cases are the backbone of 5G because that will create the new economy.

Indian government has to finalise the list of industries where it needs to achieve indigenous technological innovations, and handhold them for a profitable start.

(Pradip Baijal is former Chairman, TRAI, and has authored many books on Indian reforms)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Giving a boost to its bio-safety credentials, national capital's IGI Airport has deployed an AI-based system which ensures all Covid related precautions are followed by passengers as well as the staff.

Accordingly, the system alerts terminal authorities on any breach of social distancing norms.

It focuses on key areas of the airport such as entry gates, check-in counters, security check and hold zones.

The new system and associated protocols assume significance amid massive surge in Covid-19 infections.

"The use of advanced technology and implementation of robust protocols has made the IGI Airport as one of the safest zones in Delhi," DIAL Chief Executive Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said.

Besides, DIAL has formed 'Cross Function Teams' (CFTs), which include staff from DIAL Security, CISF and other stakeholders to ensure that Covid protocols are being followed by employees and passengers.

"These team carry out regular audits of the terminals to ensure COVID protocols are followed by all." "If they find any violations, they first ask the violators to comply with the procedures, but if he or she refuses they issue challan." Presently, over 15,000 employees, including of DIAL, airlines and others stakeholders, are working at Delhi Airport.

Furthermore, DIAL has installed a filtration system which ensures high air quality is maintained inside the terminal building.

"To ensure this, fresh air is injected inside the terminal every 10 minutes after passing it through HEPA filters and UV-C lighting, which cleans air from any kind of pollutants." Additionally, the company has made stay arrangements for essential employees for uninterrupted service at the airport.

"Company has arranged accommodation for operational team at different locations." At parallel are some frontline employees aged above 45 who have already been vaccinated. "Few are waiting for their second dose." Recently, in an effort to aide the country in the battle against the second wave, DIAL has set up a dedicated logistic facility for imported relief materials.

In addition, in a span of just five days - April 28 to May 2 - it has handled around 25 Covid relief flights totaling around 300 tonnes cargo, originating from various countries like the US, United Kingdom, UAE, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Germany, Qatar, Hong Kong, China amongst others.

At present, the Delhi Airport has the largest 'Cargo Hub Airport of South Asia' region, with two integrated 'Cargo Terminals' having annual cargo handling capacity of 1.8 million MT which is scalable to 2.3 million MT.

(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in)

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New Delhi, May 6 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at the Central government over the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, saying "elections over, robbery started again".

The Congress leader tweeted in Hindi, "Chunav khatam, loot phir shuru", followed by #PetrolDieselPriceHike.

His remarks as after the fuel prices rose for the third consecutive day, after remaining unchanged for several days between April 6 to May 3.

Petrol and diesel saw a 25 paise and 20 paise hike, respectively, in Delhi.

As per the latest hike, a litre of petrol and diesel will cost Rs 90.99 per litre and Rs 81.42 per litre, respectively, in the national capital.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
May 06 : Amidst the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Bollywood actors are trying to do their bit and contribute in relief work. Actor Jacqueline Fernandez You Only Live Once (YOLO) Foundation has partnered with Mumbai Roti Bank, an NGO, and distributed meals to the people in need in Mumbai today amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The actress on Tuesday announced the launch of YOLO Foundation to create stories of kindness amid the pandemic. Jacqueline also shared that she has joined hands with several NGOs in Mumbai to help the needy in which ever way she can.

Taking to her Instagram profile, the actress shared a bunch of pictures where she can be seen distributing food to the people as well as helping the staff of Mumbai Roti Bank in making food. While sharing the post, Jacqueline wrote, Mother Teresa once said, Peace begins when the hungry are fed. I was truly humbled and inspired to visit Mumbai @rotibankfdn today, which is run by former Mumbai police commissioner Mr. D Sivanandan. Roti Bank has prepared and distributed meals to millions of hungry people till date, even during the pandemic. They are the perfect example of what #kindnessbrigade aspires to do and I am honored to be of help to them during these times. We only live once! Let's make this life worth it by helping others in need and sharing the #storiesofkindness of those around us!

With Roti Bank, Jacqueline has targeted to provide 1 lakh meals this month. Fans applauded the actress and showered her with love. While many dropped heart emojis on her comments section. One fan wrote, She is the real heroine." Another wrote, "Wowww respect." Still another said, "Truly a God gifted Angel."

Roti Bank Foundation also took to their Instagram handle and thanked Jacqueline for partnering with them. A special THANK YOU to Ms. @jacquelinef143 You truly made our day special! Our highest gratitude and appreciation  we are so grateful for your support. We wish you the best of luck and success in your noble and charitable endeavour!

The NGO further wrote that ever since the lockdown took place in Mumbai, Roti Bank has ensured that no ones left hungry. Today we have successfully distributed over 1 Crore meals and we plan to continue our efforts with your help as well #OnePlateAtATime #WeAreInThisTogether.

Jacqueline also said that she will distribute masks and sanitisers to the Mumbai Police Force, who have been relentlessly working as frontline workers amid the pandemic.
Beijing, May 6 : China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Thursday that it would suspend all activities under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue framework set up in 2014, while accusing Canberra of a "Cold War mindset".

The move comes shortly after the Australian government scrapped two Belt and Road Initiative agreements with China, reports dpa news agency.

In a statement, the NDRC said its decision was based on the "current attitude" of the Australian government.

"Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination," the statement said.

China is Australia's largest trading partner.

The two countries have been locked in a trade dispute that escalated last year and saw China hit Australian wine, beef, barley and coal with trade tariffs and customs delays.

However, it is unclear whether the most recent move will have any practical effect.

Beijing was already refusing high-level meetings, according to Australian newswire AAP.

The last time both sides met under the economic dialogue was in September 2017.

Analyst Jeffrey Wilson from the Perth USAsia Centre told Australian broadcaster ABC the suspension would have "zero substantive effect" because Beijing has already placed sanctions so widely on Australian exporters over the last year.

"By going thermonuclear in 2020, China now has no substantive forms of leverage over Australia, and has to resort to largely meaningless acts of symbolism," Wilson said.
Gandhinagar, May 6 : The division bench of the Gujarat High Court has reprimanded the Gujarat government for not taking a "serious note" of its orders passed on real-time hospital bed availability during a hearing held over the second wave of Covid-19 in the state.

"We are pained at the approach by the state government and the Corporation. Orders passed by this Court are being completely ignored. For the last three orders, we have been mentioning this issue of real-time updates. But till today (Tuesday), nothing has been done by the State or the Corporation," the division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Bhargav D. Karia observed on Wednesday.

The bench was dissatisfied with the submission by Advocate Mihir Joshi, appearing for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) that the Ahmedabad Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association website updated data on hospital bed availability twice a day and was linked with the AMC's official website.

"This is only twice a day, not on real time basis. Whereas other corporations that are much smaller than AMC have real-time data available on their websites. Why is Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation lagging behind? "We have been wanting a dashboard with complete information of all the hospitals on a real time basis. As and when a patient is admitted, that vacancy will go as occupied. As soon as a patient is discharged, a vacancy will be added." The High Court bench insisted that updated information should be available at one place and patients should not be made to run from one hospital to another.

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday in its order said the steps taken by the state government to contain the spread of Covid-19 were not enough in the present situation and further restrictions needed to be imposed while keeping in mind the welfare of people at large.

Chief Justice Vikram Nath during the hearing on Tuesday stated: "The centralised system was such a big failure. People were waiting for 108 Ambulance for 48 hours. There were queues of your ambulances outside your hospitals." In its order, the court also directed the government to disclose the true and correct data with regard to coronavirus testing facilities available in each town and PHCs (primary health centres) so that people could undergo RT-PCR test at the earliest.

The court directed the Gujarat government to provide clear and transparent data on the availability of RT-PCR testing facilities during the next hearing scheduled on May 11.

The bench also asked the government to provide data on distribution of oxygen and the future plans to augment its supply from alternative sources as well as date-wise demand and supply of the life-saving gas for the past two weeks and future.

The court in its order directed the government to provide details with regard to the Remdesivir injections received from the Central government that was distributed to various districts, as against the demand received from each district/hospital for the last 15 days.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bogota, May 6 : At least 46 people were injured in further violent clashes in Bogota and other cities in Colombia after a seventh night of protest.

"We had a brutal escalation of violence. Thirty civilians and 16 police were injured," Bogota's Mayor Claudia Lopez tweeted on Wednesday.

The destruction meant fewer buses were running, she said.

There were renewed clashes between protesters and a special police unit, dpa news agency quoted the El Espectador newspaper as saying in a report.

Some 25 police stations were attacked and some were set on fire, according to the report.

There was further violence and destruction in other major cities including Medellin and Cali.

So far, 24 people have died in the protests, according to El Tiempo newspaper, citing the national ombudsman's office.

The protests began on May 5 when thousands of Colombians took to the streets to oppose a controversial tax reform that has since been withdrawn.

President Ivan Duque condemned the violence, and expressed his condolences to all those who had died during the protests, in a video shared on Twitter on Wednesday.

The UN and European Union expressed concern at reports of excessive police violence, but Duque did not address this.

In its now withdrawn tax reform draft, the government had wanted to reduce tax allowances, increase income tax for certain groups and abolish value-added-tax exemptions for a number of goods and services, to offset the deficits in the state budget caused by the pandemic.

However, protests continue with calls for further reforms.
New Delhi, May 6 : The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said it has so far provided more than 17.15 crore vaccine doses to States/UTs free of cost and more than 89 lakh doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.

The Ministry said, over 28 lakh doses in addition will be received by the States/UTs in the next 3 days.

The government said, implementation of the Liberalised and Accelerated Phase-3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination has started from May 1.

The Government of India has so far provided more than 17.15 crore vaccine doses (17,15,42,410) to States/UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 16,26,10,905 doses (as per data available at 8 am on Thursday).

More than 89 lakh vaccine doses (89,31,505) are still available with the States/UTs to be administered. States with negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to Armed Forces.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
's ( ) Gerry Brandon talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about expanding its data and technology division in Cork, Ireland, to create a European centre of excellence for the real-time detection of dangerous pathogens such as Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in water and wastewater systems.

Brandon also updates investors signing a MOU with China Resources Environmental Protection Development Limited, a subsidiary of China Resources Group, to form a joint venture (JV) for the manufacture and sale of environmental monitoring equipment.

And finally the launch of its Skin Trust Club app on Apples App Store in the UK and Ireland.
As we all know, a pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across the world and created havoc. For instance, you might have heard this term when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO. Although the history of pandemics is quite long and extensive, from the 1918 Spanish Flu to COVID-19 now, pandemics have always impacted life as we know it. It all started with the earliest recorded pandemic which happened during the Peloponnesian War. After it affected Libya, Ethiopia and Egypt, it not only crossed the Athenian walls but also lay siege to the Spartans -- as many as two-thirds of the population died of it. Even though this was the first ever pandemic, it was not as deadly in comparison to other subsequent pandemics.

One of the worst pandemics was "The Plague of Justinian". The number of deaths is unknown. It was the beginning of the first Old World pandemic of plague, the contagious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It started in 541 AD and ended around 750 AD. Scientists believe that the Plague of Justinian spread through fleas. Studies indicate the plague may have originated in China or India and was then transported to the fertile valleys of Egypt through trade routes since technology and medicines were quite old and some had not yet been discovered. Surprisingly, the plague doctors had to guess as to what might end this pandemic. They attempted treatments such as vinegar and water or told the patients to carry flowers around all day, but they all failed.

Now, let's come to one of the major pandemics, the 'Spanish Flu'. The Spanish Flu, which is also known as the 1918 Influenza virus, was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza virus. Lasting from February 1918 to April 1920, it infected 500 million people -- about a third of the world's population at the time -- in four successive waves. By the summer of 1919 the flu pandemic came to an end, as those that were infected either died or developed immunity.

History tells us that the worst pandemic recorded to date is 'Black Death', which killed roughly over 75-200 million people. Black Death was essentially a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Afro-Eurasia from 1346 to 1353. It was present mainly in Eurasia and North Africa. This plague was also caused by the Yersinia pestis. It was spread around through fleas. These bugs picked up the germs when they bit infected animals, then passed them to the next animal or person they bit. This pandemic eventually ended through the implementation of quarantines, that's right, the same quarantine that we are currently stuck in. The uninfected would typically remain in their homes and only leave when it was necessary, while those who could afford to do so would leave the more densely populated areas and live in isolation. I believe that if this same faith and patronage are to be followed now, the current COVID-19 cases will drop and we can return to normalcy.

Coming to the West African Ebola virus epidemic, which started on Dec 26, 2013 and ended by Jun 9, 2016, it killed over 11,323 people. It was deadly and dangerous and people again had no clue about the symptoms or how to stay safe from the virus. Researchers and scientists eventually found a solution i.e., a vaccine.

On December 31, 2020, the first-ever coronavirus case was recorded. As we all know, 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' stands for virus and 'D' for disease. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China and from there it travelled and spread across the globe. The cause of the coronavirus is unknown but that doesn't change the fact that it is fatal and destructive. In 2020, when the first lockdown happened, we were all quite alarmed and frightened as to where this would lead and how we would manage. We didn't realise that it was just the tip of the iceberg. Now that it's 2021, the situation has not gotten better but worsened. The cases are higher than ever, people are dying and in need of oxygen or plasma. In India, things are not looking good but we can also curb this situation and help out each other in these difficult times by donating plasma or money or even basic supplies, volunteering virtually. There is always something you can do to help others.

Although this article doesn't even come close to capturing all the deadly and disastrous pandemics, what we do know is that these pandemics have brought untimely deaths of our near and dear ones and a lot of pain and suffering to mankind. Not only this, but pandemics are also known to create havoc in human civilizations and disrupt life as we know it. But what I have learnt is that in the midst of a pandemic, there is always a greater sense of unity amongst the people also bringing out the goodness and kindness in people. As history is witness, we always end up adapting to such situations and find a solution to make it out of these pandemics. So, with this we must realise that a crisis can bring misery, difficulty and death, but it also brings forth hope, the strength of human spirit, the goodness of the human heart, and formidable will to say: "The show must go on." (Ojjus Chawla is a student of Class 10, Modern School, Barakhamba Road)

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New Delhi, May 6 : The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a four-member team led by an additional secretary-level officer to West Bengal to look into incidents of violence after the declaration of Assembly election results.

The MHA has also asked the West Bengal Governor to send a report on the law and order situation in the state.

According to the ministry, the team will review the situation in West Bengal and submit a report on the ground situation.

"The MHA team will submit its report on violence within 48 hours," an official said.

Earlier, advising the state government to take necessary actions to stop the violent incidents without any loss of time, the Ministry had sought a detailed report on the violence.

The ministry also issued a reminder to the government in this regard on Wednesday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadre attacked its workers and set its offices on fire.

On May 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also called West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the violent post-poll incidents in the state.

Modi had expressed serious anguish and concern over the worrisome law and order situation in West Bengal.

"PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at 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," Dhankhar had tweeted after the Prime Minister's call.

Amid reports of attack on the party workers, BJP president J.P. Nadda went to West Bengal and met the workers there who were attacked by the TMC supporters.

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which regained power in West Bengal for the third consecutive time, has come under severe criticism from the opposition BJP, Left and Congress for the post-poll violence.

The BJP alleged that around one dozen of its workers were killed by the TMC cadre. The BJP has claimed that the incidents of post poll violence are state sponsored.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Beirut, May 6 : French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian started talks with officials in Beirut on Thursday aimed at breaking the deadlock in forming a Lebanese government to grapple with the country's economic woes.

The French official, who arrived in Beirut at midnight, met Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Thursday, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported, without giving details.

Le Drian is also scheduled to confer with House Speaker Nabih Berri, dpa news agency reported citing NNA as saying.

The French embassy in Beirut has not issued an itinerary for Le Drian's visit.

According to a government official, Le Drian's exact mission is still unclear, but it mainly aims to break the political impasse in Lebanon.

The official said the French Minister "will be very firm with politicians accused of putting obstacles towards forming a new government".

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was tasked with forming a new Lebanese government in October.

But, he has failed so far, and due to political divisions among rival factions also to form a Cabinet made of experts to tackle the country's worsening economy.

Lebanon, a former French colony, is experiencing its worst economic crisis since its civil war ended in 1990.

The country has been under pressure from international financing institutions to introduce economic reforms and act against corruption.

France has been pushing for the formation of a new government since caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned following a devastating August 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion, which killed at least 190 people, injured 6,000 and displaced 300,000 others.

France and other countries have said that they would help Lebanon if a "government with a mission" is put in place to introduce much needed reforms in the country.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 6 : The Kerala Police on Thursday registered a case against the organisers of a retreat meet held by the Church of South India (CSI) at Munnar last month for breaking Covid protocols, said a senior Idukki district police official.

Speaking to IANS, R.Suresh, deputy superintendent of police-Muunnar, said the case was registered some time back.

"The case was registered based on a statement by the Deviculam Tehsildar. Among those who were present were priests and the bishop and others. The case is against all those who took part including the organisers. Now a probe will begin," said Suresh.

The retreat organised by the CSI Munnar church was held from April 13 to 17 and around 350 people including a large number of priests from the CSI Church, Thiruvananthapuram wing attended it. CSI moderator and Bishop of South Kerala diocese, A. Dharmaraj Rasalam, was also present.

Even though this retreat took place last month things hotted up after two priests who attended the event passed away due to Covid last week, while a few others including Bishop Rasalam tested positive.

This event would have gone unnoticed had it not been for a complaint which is believed to have originated from a section in the Church to the Chief Secretary.

But the Church however said that all Covid protocols were observed and some people turning positive happened weeks after the retreat took place.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : As the pandemic and the eventual lockdowns wreaked havoc on the economy and livelihoods, around 23 crore Indians have been pushed into poverty during the past one year, showed a report by Azim Premji University.

It said that the rural poverty rate increased by 15 percentage points and the urban poverty rate was up nearly 20 points.

"The number of individuals who lie below the national minimum wage threshold (Rs 375 per day as recommended by the Anoop Satpathy committee) increased by 230 million during the pandemic," said the report titled 'State of Working India 2021: One Year of Covid-19'.

It noted that though incomes fell across the board, the pandemic has taken a far heavier toll on poorer households. In April and May, the poorest 20 per cent of households lost their entire incomes.

In contrast, the richer households suffered losses of less than a quarter of their pre-pandemic incomes. Over the entire eight-month period (March to October), an average household in the bottom 10 per cent lost Rs 15,700, or just over two months' income.

Further, as per the report about 1.5 crore workers remained out of work by the end of 2020. About 10 crore people lost jobs during the nationwide April-May 2020 lockdown.

"Most were back at work by June 2020, but even by the end of 2020, about 15 million workers remained out of work," it said.

Incomes also remained depressed. Average monthly household income per capita in October 2020 (Rs 4,979) was still below its level in January 2020 (Rs 5,989).

Job losses were higher for states with a higher average Covid case load. Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, contributed disproportionately to job losses.

During the lockdown and in the months after, 61 per cent of working men remained employed and 7 per cent lost employment and did not return to work. For women, only 19 per cent remained employed and 47 per cent suffered a permanent job loss during the lockdown, not returning to work even by the end of 2020.

The report showed that younger workers were much more impacted, experiencing higher job losses, of a more permanent nature. Around 33 per cent of workers in the 15-24 years age group failed to recover employment even by December 2020. This number was only 6 per cent in the 25-44 years group.

Vice-Chancellor of Azim Premji University, Anurag Behar said: "The pandemic has revealed a systemic and moral failure that makes the most vulnerable always pay the greatest price for everything. We have to change this from the core." The report shows that the pandemic has further increased informality and led to a severe decline in earnings for the majority of workers resulting in a sudden increase in poverty. Women and younger workers have been disproportionately affected.

Households have coped by reducing food intake, borrowing, and selling assets. Government relief has helped avoid the most severe forms of distress, but the reach of support measures is incomplete, leaving out some of the most vulnerable workers and households.

The lead author of the report, Amit Basole, said: "Additional government support is urgently needed now for two reasons -- compensating for the losses sustained during the first year and anticipating the impact of the second wave. This can include continuing free rations beyond June, additional cash transfers, an expanded MGNREGA, and an urban jobs programme."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tokyo, May 6 : Tokyo needs to extend the current state of emergency as the number of new coronavirus infections has continued to increase, Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday.

Tokyo confirmed 597 new infections in the last 24 hours, hitting below 600 cases for the first time in 10 days, while Osaka, a hot spot in western Japan, reported 747 cases, reports dpa news agency.

"We are not in a situation in which the state of emergency can be lifted. We believe it's necessary to extend the measure," Koike told reporters.

She also warned of the "rapid spread of more transmissible new variants" of the virus in the Olympic host city.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is likely to announce the extension of the state of emergency in Tokyo and three western prefectures on Friday, just two and a half months before the start of the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

Last month, Suga declared the measure in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from April 25 to May 11, requesting bars and restaurants in the regions refrain from serving alcohol and offering a karaoke service.

Osaka also decided on Thursday to ask the central government to prolong the state of emergency, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said at a meeting with experts.

"It is very difficult to curb new infections in a short period of time," he said.

The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines began in mid-February, but its pace has been extremely slow.

Only 0.8 per cent of the population had been fully vaccinated as of Friday, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
May 06 : Author Twinkle Khanna today took to Twitter to respond to a troll who criticised her for urging people to donate towards COVID-19 relief when she herself can contribute as her husband Akshay Kumar is one of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood.

Recently, Twinkle urged her fans through an Instagram post to donate towards procuring oxygen supplies for the COVID patients as the country faces an acute shortage. She also informed that she and her husband Akshay Kumar recently procured and donated oxygen concentrators. Through her message, the diva urged people to work collectively to procure more oxygen concentrators.

Earlier in an Instagram post, Twinkle wrote that a friend messaged her who is looking for an oxygen cylinder for her grandmother. She further said that this is the story across the country, with friends, relatives, and strangers begging for air. The former actress further wrote Help them breathe When India is gasping for air, every little action matters, every contribution counts...we need your help to procure more oxygen concentrators largely for hospitals that are still desperately in need. Please...contribute."

Have donated 100 concentrators toward this cause&in multiple other https://t.co/wxYyujPCtT Ive said before,its not about me or you but what we can do collectively for those in need.Sad that at this point,instead of pitching in,we expend energy in pulling people down.Stay safe. https://t.co/N3qvcjayhe  Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) May 6, 2021

Responding to this appeal, a retired IAS officer asked Twinkle why she was urging others for donations rather than making the contribution herself. In a tweet in Hindi, former IAS officer Surya Pratap Singh wrote, Twinkle ji, your husband is among the richest artistes in this country. Rather than pretending to help by collecting donations, it would have been better if your family had been a little more big hearted.

Reacting to the tweet. Twinkle wrote on Twitter, Have donated 100 concentrators toward this cause & in multiple other ways. As Ive said before, its not about me or you but what we can do collectively for those in need. Sad that at this point, instead of pitching in, we expend energy in pulling people down. Stay safe.

Earlier in an Instagram post, Twinkle wrote that she and Akshay Kumar have managed to get 100 oxygen concentrators. Let's all do our bit, she wrote. Last month, Akshay Kumar had tested positive for COVID-19.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Washington, May 6 : Students at the Harvard University in the US will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the start of the new term later this year.

"To reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, Harvard will require Covid vaccination for all students who will be on campus this fall," the elite university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced on Wednesday.

According to the statement, exceptions would only be granted for medical or religious reasons.

Previously, a number of other Ivy League universities such as Yale, Columbia and Princeton had already introduced such a vaccination requirement.

Before returning to campus, students must have completed their vaccination with a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

This means at least two weeks must have passed since the last vaccine dose was administered, the statement added.

International students and others who do not have access to a vaccine before the autumn will be offered vaccination by the university upon their arrival.

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is considered one of the elite schools in the US, producing several presidents and dozens of Nobel laureates, among others.

More than 23,000 students are currently enrolled at the private university, which is known for its rigorous admissions standards.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Beijing, May 6 : China on Thursday sharply rejected criticism by the G7 Foreign Ministers as "groundless accusations".

"The G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting made groundless accusations against China, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs," dpa news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin as saying to reporters here.

"Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang ... are all China's internal affairs." The group of economically powerful democracies had issued a statement on Wednesday at the conclusion of their Foreign Ministers' meeting in London criticizing the persecution of the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang and Beijing's tough stance on Hong Kong.

Wang said the G7 group should pay more attention to the recovery of the global economy and help developing countries instead of fomenting conflict in the international community.

The spokesman also took exception to comments from within the group, including from German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, that the G7 group should counter China's vaccine diplomacy.

Wang pointed out that some G7 countries have suffered the most severely from the pandemic, even though they have widely developed medical technology.

The G7 should focus on international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic and equitable distribution of vaccines, rather than hoarding vaccines and making "vague and irrelevant remarks" about other countries' behaviour, the spokesman said.

"We urge relevant countries to face up to their own domestic problems, to correct their selfish behaviours in anti-epidemic efforts and stop over-stretching the concept of national security," Wang said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : US President Joe Biden has from time to time indicated that he wants to compete with China, not confront it. However, the passage of the Strategic Competition Act (SCA) of 2021 by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee (April 22) makes it clear that the US intends to push back China on a variety of issues, ranging from human rights to unfair economic practices.

The 21-1 panel vote sends 'The Strategic Competition Act' to the floor for a full chamber vote. Senator Bob Menendez, who introduced the bill said the overwhelming bipartisan vote for the legislative document made it "the first of what we hope will be a cascade of legislative activity for our nation to finally meet the China challenge across every dimension of power, political, diplomatic, economic, innovation, military and even cultural".

The bill aims to implement a range of investments, including $655 million in Foreign Military Financing funding for the Indo-Pacific region and $450 million for the Indo- Pacific Maritime Security Initiative. It also expands the powers of the US Committee on Foreign Investment, which analyses international financial transactions,to pick up on any national security risks.The legislation also designates $10 million for the US State Department to promote democracy in Hong Kong and includes several measures, to boost the defence capabilities of Taiwan.

The legislation comes at a time when relations between the US and China have become increasingly strained. The US has attacked China over cyber-attacks, and intellectual property theft originating from China, human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang Province and crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. However, unlike former President Trump, who was willing to go to any extent against China, the present administration appears to be caught between Russia and China as its main adversary. Therefore, even though the latest Act has bipartisan support, by itself this will not stop China from rising as a global power with its domestic autocracy and external aggression.

As and when this bill is approved by the US legislature, it would give the US administration the mandate to force Beijing to honour the 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that artificial islands China had built near the Philippine coastline, including at Mischief Reef, violated Manila's sovereign rights.

The State Department spokesman Ned Price had declined to comment specifically on the Menendez-Risch bill but said: "We have spoken of competition with China as a defining challenge for this administration, that we will enjoy the greatest amount of success when we work hand in hand with Congress, and when our proposals, find support on both sides of the aisle.We have been heartened that there is a good deal of bipartisan agreement when it comes to how we should and could approach the government in Beijing," he said.

It has been clear for the last decade or so that China presents a clear and present danger to the United States and its allies. This is both on account of its growing global economic clout and rising military power, which is getting more funds each year, despite the covid pandemic and economic slowdown within China. Of greatest concern to the global community should be China's military strength and particularly its nuclear and missile arsenal.

Recently, US intelligence reported that China has developed fast breeder capacity that will allow it to make far more plutonium nuclear warheads than US assessments had previously predicted.

Admiral Charles Richard, Commander of the US Strategic Command, informed the US Senate Armed Forces Committee recently that "...we became aware that this limitation (on production of nuclear weapons) has changed in an upward direction." He said that China's progress in activating a fast breeder reactor had greatly increased its capability and its nuclear stockpile was undergoing an "unprecedented expansion." He added that China was on track to achieve the goal of establishing a nuclear triad with the separate ground, air and sea-launched nuclear weapons by the middle of the current decade.

Last year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in its Annual Report, titled 'Chinese Nuclear Forces 2020', authored by Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda, discussed the state of play in the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF).

It claimed, "China is continuing the nuclear weapons modernization program that it initiated in the 1980s and increased in the 1990s and 2000s, fielding more types and greater numbers of nuclear weapons than ever before." Within the next five years, China aims to deploy close to 200 warheads on its land-based ICBMs, which could threaten the US.

It is impossible to say, how many nuclear weapons China actually has, but Kristensen and Korda offer their estimate of Beijing having a stockpile of approximately 350 nuclear warheads, of which roughly 272 are for delivery by more than 240 operational land-based ballistic missiles, 48 sea-based ballistic missiles and 20 nuclear gravity bombs assigned to bombers.

The report also states that 78 warheads are intended to arm additional land- and sea-based missiles that are in the process of being fielded. According to the US DoD's 2020 report to Congress assessing China's military capabilities, Beijing is estimated to possess a total nuclear warhead stockpile "in the low 200s".

Whatever the actual number of warheads that China has, the point is that the threat it poses to global security can only be assessed when studying the entire spectrum of weapons and delivery systems in China's inventory.

While China may not have enough fissile material, it is often forgotten that it has Pakistan and North Korea as reliable allies, who are always willing to lend a helping hand, when needed. More importantly, it must be noted that while the US currently has the lead in frontier and emerging technologies, China is playing catch up.

One of the recurring themes of the Pentagon's 2020 report on China is the strong emphasis placed by the PLA on the utilization of emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons systems, quantum computing and encryption, and hyper-sonics.

Thus, while the Strategic Competition Act is a step forward in the fight against China, the US will have to do much more and take multiple steps in the medium term to combat the growing threat from China.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, May 6 : The Patna High Court has directed the Bihar government to submit detailed reports on the available Covid-related facilities in hospitals and quarantine centres.

A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar issued the direction to the Bihar government following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Shiwani Kaushik.

The court has asked the Bihar government to submit reports about the oxygen tankers operational in the state.

It has also asked the municipal corporations and the Bihar state pollution control board to submit reports on the disposal of PPE kits and medical waste to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.

Besides, detailed reports on the availability of beds in hospitals and life saving drugs were also asked to be submitted before the court.

The Patna High Court is closely monitoring the coronavirus crisis on a day-to-day basis.

Earlier, cases related to corona were heard before the two-judge bench of Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Mohit Kumar Shah. Now, the High Court has changed the bench following which Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar will look into the proceedings now.

Meanwhile, Bihar police has cancelled the leave of all police personnel and officers till further orders.

The decision was taken amid the soaring Covid infections in Bihar.

To curb the spread of the lethal virus, the state government has imposed a lockdown for 10 days from May 5 to May 15.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Washington, May 6 : The Indian-American Sehgal Foundation, based in Des Moines, Iowa, announced that it will ship 200 oxygen concentrators to seven Indian states on Thursday.

"Working in close coordination with local partners and government officials, the Sehgal Foundation team on the ground in India is ensuring that the equipment is directly reaching those who need it the most in public hospitals in villages across 7 states," the American Bazaar quoted the Foundation as saying in a statement.

"In the coming week, more oxygen cylinders, ventilators, personal protective equipment, rapid diagnostic tests, and therapeutics will be sent." Sehgal Foundation teams are working with district administrators and local partners in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, according to the statement.

"To respond quickly during this catastrophic surge in Covid-19 cases in India, Sehgal Foundation has taken immediate action to reach the people in the greatest need." S.M. Sehgal Foundation, a Gurugram-based sister organization of the Sehgal Foundation operates in more than 1,000 villages, across 10 states, serving more than 2.5 million people.

Since a devastating second wave of Covid-19 surged in India, dozens of of US-based organizations have sent medical equipment to India.

Last week, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), which represents the 80,000-strong Indian American physician community in the US, airlifted the first batch of 1,000 of oxygen concentrators.

On May 3, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced it will donate more than $70 million worth of medicines to India.

Indiaspora, a non-profit, raised $1 million raised through its private donor network of members.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Comedian Vir Das on Thursday trained focus on the brighter side of life, to spread some cheer amidst the ongoing pandemic that has affected all.

Vir posted a witty note on Instagram that observes how the Covid pandemic and lockdown have brought out certain good things in us, too.

"No one has told me to go to Pakistan in about a month. Left and right are helping each other get beds. The conversation is about Antibodies and not Anti-nationals. We went from 'BOLLYWOOD IS ON DRUGS!' to literally helping each other get drugs. I'm not sure how long this version of social media lasts. Ima take a second to appreciate it today," the comedian wrote.

The actor-comedian shared his note with an emoji of crossed fingers as caption, denoting optimism. The post had garnered over 47,340 likes on the social media platform within an hour of Vir dropping it.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Brussels, May 6 : The European Union (EU) has decided to gradually lift travel restrictions on people entering the bloc from Israel.

So far, people coming from Israel are only to be allowed to enter the EU if their reasons for travelling are deemed essential, although some countries, for example Greece, have already opened their borders to vaccinated travellers from the Jewish state, reports dpa news agency This means that the EU recommends allowing non-essential travel from seven countries, namely Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

The bloc also recommends allowing Chinese citizens in, but this is subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

At the outset of the pandemic, all EU countries except the Republic of Ireland, and non-members Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland, banned all but essential travel.

The ban was slightly eased in early July last year, but the epidemiological situation in only a handful of countries was deemed good enough to allow people to travel from there to the bloc.

Exceptions apply to EU residents and their families travelling from countries whose citizens are not yet allowed to re-enter.

It is ultimately up to the member states to decide who they allow onto their territory, however.

The list of countries deemed safe is regularly re-assessed, and inclusion is based on the number of new coronavirus infections registered within the past 14 days.

Other factors include the measures a country takes to restrict the virus' spread, and its overall response to the pandemic.

The European Commission proposed an overhaul of the rules, suggesting allowing vaccinated people in.
Kolkata, May 6 : In a shocking incident, the convoy of Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan was attacked by a group of unidentified miscreants at Panchkhuri area in West Midnapore district on Thursday afternoon.

The BJP alleged that the attack was a handiwork of the TMC goons but it was strongly refuted by the TMC leadership alleging that the BJP leadership is provoking people to resort to violence.

The incident took place when Muraleedharan accompanied by BJP state leader Rahul Sinha was going to Ghatal in East Midnapore to meet some of the BJP supporters who were injured in the attack allegedly by the TMC goons. When his convoy was at Panchkhuri that falls under West Midnapore, suddenly there was brick batting on his vehicle and people came with sticks and other things and stopped his vehicle.

He posted a video on Twitter and wrote, "TMC goons attacked my convoy in West Midnapore, broke windows, attacked personal staff. Cutting short my trip." Later speaking to the reporters, the union minister said, "The attack was orchestrated by TMC workers. He said that the incident took place in the presence of police, adding that the Mamata Banerjee government has turned a blind eye. I shall give my report to the central government".

The Ministry of Home Affairs asked West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to send a report on the law-and-order situation in the state, sources in the government said.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the ruling Trinamool Congress is responsible for this. "The Trinamool violence has crossed all limits. So far 14 BJP workers have been killed and lakhs of people have left their homes. This cannot be democracy".

The Trinamool Congress leadership has strongly refuted the allegation. TMC district secretary of West Midnapore Ajit Maity claimed that nothing had happened and BJP was trying to create sensation.

Speaking to the media, veteran Trinamool leader Sougata Roy said, "Muraleedharan is a person from Kerala. What was he doing in West Bengal? They are now defeated and so they are trying to create disturbance in different areas. The BJP has won in most of the places where there are disturbances. I ask them to go back. We will take care of the law-and-order situation".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 6 : Non-residents undertaking transactions with Indian parties will trigger taxability under the domestic law in India even if they do not have physical presence in the country and operate digitised businesses.

Subhash Narayan New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) Non-residents undertaking transactions with Indian parties will trigger taxability under the domestic law in India even if they do not have physical presence in the country and operate digitised businesses.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has notified new rules for operation of business by non-residents under which any transaction over Rs 2 crore (apex $27,100) in respect of any goods, services or property carried out by them with any person in India including provision of download of data or software in India, will attract tax in India.

The provisions of Significant Economic Presence (SEP) that becomes the base for taxability of non-residents in India will also apply if the number of users with whom systematic and continuous business activities are solicited (or who are engaged in interactions) exceeds 3 lakhs.

The provisions of Significant Economic Presence (SEP) were introduced in the legislation in 2018 with an intent to tax non-residents operating digitised businesses which function without a physical presence. It meant that SEP of a non-resident in India shall constitute a 'business connection' in India.

These provisions were further amended vide Finance Act, 2020 which defined SEP as transaction in respect of any goods, services or property carried out by a non-resident with any person in India including provision of download of data or software in India, if the aggregate of payments arising from such transaction or transactions during the year exceeds a threshold or systematic and continuous soliciting of business activities or engaging in interaction with a defined number of users in India.

The new provisions are applicable with effect from Financial Year 2021-22. It had become fully functional now with CBDT notifying the thresholds for triggering SEP and consequently tax liability in India.

According to PwC, the Central government has now made it clear that economic presence in India by non-residents is not limited only to the physical presence in India but also includes a virtual establishment. But non-residents could offset the taxability under these provisions by exploring taking relief under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements.

( can be reached at subhash.n@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 6 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his gratitude for the supply of medical Oxygen amid rising cases of coronavirus.

"I express my gratitude on behalf of the people of Delhi for the supply of 730 MT of oxygen yesterday (May 5). I request you to supply the same amount of oxygen daily to Delhi," Kejriwal said in a statement.

In his letter, Kejriwal also urged the PM Modi for a daily supply of 700 MT oxygen to the national capital as demand of oxygen in Delhi has been rising for the last 15 days.

"Delhi has a requirement of 700 MT daily. We were continuously requesting the Centre to provide us oxygen. On Wednesday, Delhi received 730 MT oxygen for the first time. I express my gratitude on behalf of the people of Delhi for the supply of 730 MT oxygen. I request you to supply the same amount of oxygen daily to Delhi," he said in the letter.

Earlier in the day, the Centre told the Supreme Court that it has complied with its order and instead of 700 MT oxygen, it ensured a supply of 730 MT to Delhi for treating Covid-19 patients.

The top Court, while staying contempt proceedings initiated by Delhi High Court against central government officials for non-compliance of direction to supply 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi, had sought an answer from the Centre on Thursday morning.

The second wave of the Covid-19 in Delhi has put huge pressure on the public health system, with hospitals in several states reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen, beds, medicines and equipment.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
May 06 : Amitabh Bachchan is all set to return with another season of the most popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati. While he was working for Kaun Banega Crorepati season 12, the megastar was infected with coronavirus last year, but soon after recovering from the infection, Big B immediately resumed shoot for the reality show. Now, Senior Bachchan is all set to come back with Kaun Banega Crorepati season 13.

The legendary actor has hosted multiple seasons of the show. During season 12 last year, the actor adhered to all the protocols while shooting for the show amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sony TV shared a promotional video chip on its official Instagram handle, wherein Amitabh Bachchan can be seen walking in with a lot of swag as he announced that the registrations for the show will begin on May 10. Big B can be heard saying, "Kabhi socha hai ki apke or apke sapno ke beech ka fasla kitna hai - teen aksharo ka- Koshish (have you ever thought what is the distance between you and your dream? Its just three alphabetstry)."

The actor looked dapper in a three-piece suit. The caption to the video clip read as, Aa rahe hain phir ek baar Mr. @amitabhbachchan lekar #KBC ke sawaal! Toh uthaiye phone aur ho jaaiye taiyyar kyunki 10 May se shuru ho rahe hai #KBC13 ke registrations.

Earlier, in an interview, Abhishek Bachchan revealed that there was a time when Amitabh Bachchan faced massive financial crunch due to which Abhishek had to drop out of Boston University and fly back to Mumbai to be with his father. During those hard times, Amitabh Bachchan had to ask late filmmaker Yash Chopra to give him a film. He also said that during that time Kaun Banega Crorepati happened which helped to change Amitabh Bachchans career once again.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh Bachchan has a number of films in the pipeline. He will be seen in Jhund, Brahmastra, Goodbye, and MayDay. Recently, his film Chehres release date was postponed owning to the second wave of the coronavirus. Recently, he was cast in the Indian adaptation of The Intern, where he will share screen space with Deepika Padukone.
New Delhi, May 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Covid-19 situation in the country, during which he was informed about the 12 states which have more than one lakh active cases.

The Prime Minister was given a detailed picture of the Covid situation in various states and districts and was informed about the 12 states which have more than one lakh active cases at present. He was also apprised about the districts with high caseloads.

Modi was also briefed about the ramping up of healthcare infrastructure by the states. He directed that the states should be provided help and guidance about the leading indicators to augment the healthcare infrastructure.

The need to ensure quick and holistic containment measures were also discussed in the meeting. The Prime Minister noted that an advisory has been sent to the states to identify the districts of concern where the test positivity rate is 10 per cent or more and the bed occupancy in the hospitals is over 60 per cent for oxygenated/ICU beds.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the availability of essential medicines. He was briefed about the rapid augmentation in the production of vtal drugs, including Remdesivir.

Modi also reviewed the progress made on the vaccination front and the roadmap for scaling up the production of vaccines in the next few months. He was informed that around 17.7 crore vaccines have been supplied to the states.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the state-wise trends on vaccine wastage. He was briefed that around 31 per cent of the eligible population over the age of 45 years has been administered at least one dose of the vaccine.

Modi spoke about the need to sensitise the states that the speed of the vaccination drive shouldn't slow down. The citizens should be facilitated for vaccination despite the lockdowns, and the healthcare workers involved in the drive must not be diverted for other duties.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal, Mansukh Mandaviya and other ministers and top officials were present at the meeting.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, May 6 : A third booster shot of US pharmaceutical Moderna's Covid vaccine can rapidly increase the level of antibodies in previously inoculated people, according to data from its Phase 2 study.

The Phase 2 trial showed that antibodies produced by a single 50 mg dose of its booster shot was effective against the original form of the virus, as well as against two variants of concern first identified in South Africa (B1351) and Brazil (P1).

"We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective against these newly detected variants," said Stephane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, in the statement.

The pharma major's specifically designed second shot against the South Africa variant, showed even stronger immune response. The preliminary results have been described preprint in bioRxiv, the company said.

"Our mRNA platform allows for rapid design of vaccine candidates that incorporate key virus mutations, potentially allowing for faster development of future alternative variant-matched vaccines should they be needed. We will continue to make as many updates to our Covid-19 vaccine as necessary to control the pandemic," Bancel added.

For the trial, the company involved 40 participants, and they were administered the third shot six to eight months after taking the currently given two-shots.

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 New York Times reported.

Pfizer also recently announced that Covid vaccine recipients will "likely" need a third dose between six to 12 months after they're fully vaccinated.

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, the report said.

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 B1351; and a combination of the two in a single vaccine, the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The option allows for a 60-business day due diligence period

PLC ( ) announced has secured an option to acquire two prospecting licences for gold and nickel and located upon the Tati Greenstone Belt, Botswana.

The option allows for a 60-business day due diligence period and, should the miner exercise it, it will undertake the licence acquisitions through its newly formed 100% owned subsidiary Power Metal Resources Botswana.

The vendor is Vital Commodities, owned by Guernsey-based Equity Drilling Limited.

The Tati Greenstone Belt, located in the northeast of the country, contains many orogenic style gold deposits and several economically significant intrusive magmatic Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements rich sulphide deposits, the AIM-listed firm said.

"We recently formed Power Metal Botswana to provide a holding company for new acquisitions in Botswana and I am pleased to announce this first transaction, said chief executive Paul Johnson in a release.

Subject to due diligence, this acquisition would give the company exposure to a new strategic project in the heart of the Tati Greenstone Belt, an under-explored area which we believe holds considerable potential for new gold and nickel discoveries.

This announcement further confirms the company's commitment to expanding our operational interests in Botswana, which is a first-class destination for responsible exploration companies. Uniquely, the transaction incorporates an option fee that is convertible into a down payment against project drilling in Botswana.
Bengaluru, May 6 : In a tragic incident, a Covid patient died on his way to the hospital after his family members pleaded for a hospital bed in front of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's official residence Cauvery, here on Thursday.

Even though the CMO officials made arrangements for a bed and an ambulance, the patient was reportedly declared brought dead by the hospital authorities.

The deceased person has identified as Satish, a resident of Ramohalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

According to sources in the CMO, Satish's wife came along with her ailing husband aged around 50 years, and staged a protest in front of the CM's residence seeking a bed for her husband.

"After testing positive for Covid-19, my husband was convalescing at home. But unfortunately his condition deteriorated, and we could not get him admitted to a hospital despite all our efforts," the wailing wife told mediapersons.

According to her, the family members searched all around Ramohalli, which has about a dozen hospitals, but none were ready to admit her husband citing non-availability of beds.

"As the family was accompanied by a Covid patient, none were ready to evict them. After mediapersons intervened, the CMO officials within a short time arranged for a bed at the M.S. Ramaiah Hospital. An ambulance was also arranged, but the patient died on his way to the hospital," the source said.

The woman complained that she ran from pillar to post in and around Ramohalli in search of a hospital bed for her husband, and even her continuous efforts to get in touch with the Covid control rooms also did not yield any result, as all the helpline numbers were busy for the last two days.

"I could not bear to see my husband's deteriorating health condition. Therefore, I came all the way from Ramohalli with great difficulty only to seek the CM's intervention to get a bed for my husband, or else let him die here (in front of CM's house)," the source told IANS quoting the woman.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, May 6 : British Airways on Thursday said it has flown a Boeing 777-200 aircraft loaded with emergency aid to Delhi to support India in its battle against the coronavirus.

The airline commissioned a special project team to organise the flight (BA257F) that transported 27 tonnes of medical aid which landed in Delhi on Thursday morning.

The 1,349 items of aid were carried on an aircraft specially chartered by British Airways and supported by volunteers from the airline to ensure life-saving supplies reached India urgently.

"The aircraft loaded with more than a thousand items from the High Commission of India and charities including Khalsa Aid International and the largest Hindu Temple outside of India, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Neasden, London," the airline said in a statement.

"The load includes hundreds of urgent life-saving oxygen cylinders and shipments of oxygen concentrators, respirators and blood oxygen saturation monitors. British Airways is also donating care packages for families in need." Presently, British Airways is working in partnership with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is organising the UK's humanitarian response.

Since the pandemic's start, both the IAG Cargo and the British Airways have maintained a vital air link between London and India.

The latest aid on the scheduled flights was ferried as a special charter which was fully funded by the two companies.
New Delhi, May 6 : Billionaire investors. If we think of them, it's with a mixture of awe and suspicion. Clearly, they possess a kind of genius -- the proverbial Midas Touch.

But are the skills they possess transferable? And would we really want to be them? Do they have anything to teach us besides making money? In writing "Richer, Wiser, Happier" (Profile Books), award-winning journalist William Green has spent nearly 25 years interviewing these investing wizards and discovered that their talents expand well beyond the financial realm and into practical philosophy.

Green ushers us into the lives of more than 40 of the world's super-investors, visiting them in their offices, vacation homes, and even their places of worship -- all to share what they have to teach us.

Green brings together the thinking of some of the best investors, from Warren Buffet to Howard Marks to John Templeton, and provides gems of insight that will enrich you not only financially but also professionally and personally.

Green has written for Time, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, The New Yorker, The Spectator, and The Economist.

As an editor and co-author, he has collaborated on books such as "The Great Minds of Investing" as also "The Education of a Value Investor", the memoir of Zurich-based investor Guy Spier well-known for bidding $650,100 with Indian-American businessman and philanthropist Monish Pabrai for a charity lunch with Warren Buffet on June 25, 2008.
Ottawa, May 6 : With the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic having devastating impacts in India, Canada has announced that it is sending up to 25,000 vials of Remdesivir and up to 350 ventilators from its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to help respond to the critical situation across India.

This support, announced on Wednesday, complements Canada's work with its international partners to respond to the needs caused by the pandemic and to help save lives.

The Canada government is also providing support through UNICEF's response to the pandemic in India with the urgent provisioning of 1,450 oxygen concentrators. The funds for these operations come partly from the $230 million contribution to the therapeutics pillar of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, announced in December 2020.

This support is in addition to Canada's $10 million support to the Canadian Red Cross Society, which is supporting the Indian Red Cross Society's procurement of essential supplies and medicines.

The supplies identified for this donation will not compromise the continued efforts of the Covid-19 response at home in Canada.

The Canadian armed forces will provide airlifting support to transport these supplies to India.

"Canada continues to stand in solidarity with the people of India. We must all unite in this hour of need and work together in the global fight against this virus that is devastating lives across the globe," said an official statement quoting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marc Garneau.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is a global challenge and has reminded countries around the world that we are better off with each other's help. That's why the Canadian armed forces will support and transfer supplies to our friends in India to help defeat Covid-19. Throughout this pandemic and into the future, Canada will continue to be there for its allies in the Indo-Pacific region," said Canada's Indian-origin Minister of National Defence, Harjit S. Sajjan.

Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, added, "If there was ever a time for countries to support one another, it is right now. Canadians have always showed solidarity in times of crisis, and by sending these supplies, we will be helping the frontline workers carry out their life-saving work." The Canadian armed forces deployed a CC-150 Polaris aircraft from 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, on May 5 to deliver the vials of Remdesivir (brand name Veklury) and 50 ventilators that are ready for shipment to India.

Remdesivir is used in the treatment of patients with severe symptoms of Covid-19. Twenty-five thousand vials are equivalent to more than 4,000 courses of treatment.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : SpiceJet's air cargo arm SpiceXpress on Thursday airlifted 1,100 oxygen concentrators and other Covid-related medical equipment from Nanjing, China, to New Delhi.

The airline used its A330 wide-body aircraft to airlift the concentrators from Nanjing.

"The airline has airlifted more than 11,050 oxygen concentrators from the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and China so far," the airline said in a statement.

"These oxygen concentrators have been ordered by SpiceHealth and other organisations. SpiceHealth, a healthcare company launched by the promoters of SpiceJet, has been working actively with the state governments and hospitals across the country to address the issue of acute shortage of oxygen," it added.
New Delhi, May 6 : Tightening its noose around black marketeers, the Delhi Police on Thursday arrested two persons, including a nursing staff of Fortis Hospital, for selling Remdesivir injections at higher prices.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Outer North Delhi Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that acting on a tip off, a team of Narcotics Cell, Outer North District arrested two persons, identified as Avichal Arora and Pradeep Bhardwaj, along with 8 injections of Remdesivir.

Arora was apprehended from Shahbad Dairy area and was found to be in possession of two injections without any receipt or prescription.

Singh said that during interrogation, Arora disclosed that he procured the injections from Bhardwaj for Rs 30,000 per injection through one Payal Choudhary for further sale at Rs 40,000.

"At the instance of Arora, Bhardwaj was nabbed from Shalimar Bagh area. A search of Bharadwaj revealed six more injections of the same brand," the DCP said.

Singh said that during interrogation, Bhardwaj disclosed that the recovered injections were procured by him from one Amit Pahalwan of Kharkhoda in Haryana.

During interrogation, it was also revealed that Bhardwaj and Payal Choudhary (who facilitated the deal) were working in the Covid Ward of Fortis Hospital at Shalimar Bagh in Delhi as nurses.

He said that a case has been registered and a notice has been issued to Choudhary for joining the investigation.

The official added that efforts are continuing to apprehend Pahalwan, the ultimate source of the recovered injections of Maxvir brand reported to be illegally imported from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in another incident the police arrested one more person for selling Remdesivir injections at a high price.

Singh said that secret information was developed by Constable Vikas of the Special Staff of Outer North Delhi.

He said that following a tip off, the team of Special Staff arrested Kapil Dev Tiwari for indulging in black-marketing of Remdesivir medicine.

Singh said that in this regard, information was received from an informer that a person namely Tiwari was selling Remdesivir injections in the black and he may be contacted through his Whatsapp number provided by the informer.

"Constable Vikas acted as a decoy customer and asked the accused for a supply of Remdesivir injections, who responded and agreed to provide two Remdesivir injections for Rs 50,000 each.

"A trap was laid and Tiwari, a resident of Sarai Kale Khan in South Delhi, came to Rohini Sector 18 for delivery of two Remdesivir injections. He was caught red-handed with two doses of Remdesivir," the DCP added.

The official said that on interrogation, Tiwari disclosed that he runs a medicine shop in Jasola area of Delhi.

He also revealed that a salesman Rahul came to his office and provided him Remdesivir injections and he sold them at a higher price in the blackmarket.
Gurugram, May 6 : Gurugram district administration on Thursday launched a dedicated WhatsApp Covid-19 helpline to provide citizens access to critical information and a central repository of all Coronavirus resources.

The helpline is free to use and is available in Hindi and English. Citizens can send 'Hi' to the number +91 9643277788 on WhatsApp or click on https://wa.me/919643277788 to directly connect to the helpline.

It provides updated information about critical resources in the user's proximity such as RT-PCR centres and camps, online doctor consultations, status of availability of beds, registering oneself as a Covid-19 patient, care centres and more.

"This is a service for our citizens in Gurugram. Using this Covid patients and their families can reach out to us for help. We will try and provide the best possible care at home. I also thank partners like WhatsApp for stepping forward and supporting us in building this platform. Any organisation that wants to use this to deliver care to our citizens are most welcome to join us," said Yash Garg, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson, District Disaster Management, Gurugram, Government of Haryana, in a statement.

The helpline has been developed by a group of volunteers, private sector organisations and with the support of various departments within the Gurugram district administration. It is an integrated offering built on the WhatsApp Business API and will directly connect citizens to official and verified sources of information and medical services, thus enabling quick access and helping the administration streamline its relief efforts.

"We remain committed towards ensuring that people have access to verified sources of information through our platform. We are thankful to the Govt. of Haryana and the District Administration of Gurugram for giving us the opportunity to support their efforts. We encourage people to access the helpline for latest Covid-19 related information in their city", said Abhijit Bose, Head of India for WhatsApp, in the statement.

The helpline also has services of MyUpchar, Meddo and Dunzo integrated for the benefit of users. It has been developed by Infobip and Day Technologies are the technology providers, and is enabled by WhatsApp. The initiative has also been supported by The Dialogue and Deepstrat who are providing critical support to DC Gurugram in triaging citizen requests.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : On the invitation of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a meeting of the Council on Saturday as a special invitee.

The India-EU Leaders' Meeting is being hosted by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa. Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

An official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Modi will participate in the virtual meeting along with the heads of all the 27 EU Member States. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with US President Joe Biden in March this year.

The leaders will exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare cooperation; fostering sustainable and inclusive growth; strengthening the India-EU economic partnership as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The India-EU Leaders' Meeting is an unprecedented opportunity for discussion with all the leaders of the EU Member States. It is a significant political milestone and will further build on the momentum witnessed in the relationship since the 15th India-EU Summit in July 2020.
Kolkata, May 6 : Chasing a lead generated by SIGINT interception, Bangladesh counter-terrorism officials have nabbed a militant of radical Islamist group Ansar-al-Islam, who has admitted to planning an attack on Jatiya Sangsad (parliament).

Anwesha Bhaumik Kolkata, May 6 (IANS) Chasing a lead generated by SIGINT interception, Bangladesh counter-terrorism officials have nabbed a militant of radical Islamist group Ansar-al-Islam, who has admitted to planning an attack on Jatiya Sangsad (parliament).

Ansar radical Sakib has confessed to his plans to attack the parliament after his arrest from Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Wednesday evening.

Ali Hasan Osama, a radical preacher known as 'Banglar Osama' for his intemperate speeches, was also arrested from Rajbari district early on Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit Deputy Commissioner, Saiful Islam, told media persons.

Ali Hasan Osama is seen as a spiritual leader like Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, who was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in connection with secular blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider's murder.

Ansar use Osama's provocative speeches and books among their rank and file.

CTTC has reasons to believe that Sakib was member of the Ansar secret hit cell which was planning an attack on the Jatiya Sangsad. Other members of the cell and its leader are still at large, but CTTC has "useful leads" it does not want to reveal at this moment.

"The operation to foil the threat is still on and we are going for other members of the cell who are absconding," a CTTC official said.

It seems a Pakistani Islamist group, possibly Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e Mohammed was the mastermind behind the attack and the Ansar-al-Islam in Bangladesh was their preferred choice in the country to carry it out, they said.

They were operating in Bangladesh under cover of a Islamist humanitarian group working in Rohingya camps, the officials said.

Officials privy to Sakib's disclosure point to a plan in which a small cell would infiltrate the Jatiya Sangsad building and storm the hall during the session, lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately to kill maximum number of lawmakers.

Since most of them are from ruling Awami League, they would be "legitimate targets".

Sakib has hinted that their Pakistani handlers were interested in a high kill rate rather than hostage taking, which seemed the target of the attack on Indian parliament on December 13, 2001.

A similar max-kill strategy went into the August 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rally in Dhaka. BNP leader Tareque Rahman, believed to be close to Pakistan's ISI, is said to have commissioned the attack and his cronies planned with cooperation from ISI 'covert station' in Dhaka , according to Bangladesh intelligence sources.

"Essentially, the 1975 coup strategy of total elimination has influenced all these terror attack plans and this one would no different. The target is complete elimination of Awami League leadership to the extent possible, " said Bangladesh watcher Sukhoranjan Dasgupta, author of a book on the 1975 coup that wiped out almost all of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family.
Guwahati, May 6 : The number of elected MLAs with criminal cases and crorepatis (millionaire) increased by over 10 per cent in the recent Assam assembly elections compared to the 2016 polls, data analysis revealed.

The Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 126 winning candidates and found that 27 per cent winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves this time against 11 per cent last time. The analysis said that 34 winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves this time against 14 MLAs in 2016. The report said that 28 (22 per cent) winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases related to murder, attempt to murder, crimes against women.

Among the major parties, 9 (15 per cent) out of the 60 elected candidates from the BJP, 12 (41 per cent) out of the 29 winning candidates from the Congress, 10 (63 per cent) out of the 16 winning candidates from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

The ADR report said that out of the 126 winning candidates analysed, 85 (67 per cent) are crorepatis while 72 (57 per cent) MLAs in the 2016 polls were millionaires. Among the major parties, 43 (72 per cent) out of 60 from BJP, 21 (72 per cent) out of 29 from Congress, 3 (75 per cent) out of four from Bodoland Peoples Front, 8 (89 per cent) out of 9 from AGP and 8 (50 per cent) out of 16 from AIUDF have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore each.

The AIUDF's Siraj Uddin Ajmal, who was elected from Hojai constituency in central Assam, topped among the crorepati lawmakers with his total assets, both movable and immovable, valued at over Rs 111 crore followed by Congress' Siddeque Ahmed (Karimganj South) at over Rs 26 crore and BJP's Naba Kumar Doley (Dhakuakhana (ST) at over Rs 25 crore.

Of the 126 winners, 34 (27 per cent) studied up to Class 12 while 91 (72 per cent) are graduates and above and one is a diploma holder.

The ADR data also showed that 43 per cent of the winning candidates are between 25 and 50 years of age while 57 per cent are between 51 and 70 years of age.

In the recently held elections to the 126 member Assam assembly, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the dominant partner in 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. The 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 the 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.
Cruise ship operators looked to be holed below the waterline by the coronavirus pandemic but have recovered strongly. Have investors missed the boat?

It would be a brave investor who takes a punt on the shares of the cruise ship operators.

On the plus side, there is unquestionably pent-up demand from those besotted by life on the ocean wave. Without wishing to conform too much to ageist stereotypes, the vast majority of people who normally go on cruise ship holidays have probably had their first coronavirus (COVID019) jab and if they had not had the second already, it is probably imminent, at least for UK customers.

On the other hand, cruise ships were not referred to as floating Petri dishes for nothing at the height of the pandemic, and there exists an ever-present danger of an outbreak on one ship setting the whole industry back to Go (as opposed to Goa).

Putting the cess into Princess

Last year, the Diamond Princess, the Grand Princess, the Ruby Princess, the Oasis of the Seas and the Zaandam were among the cruise ships that suffered outbreaks of COVID-19.

At present, the guidance from the European Union on the gradual and safe resumption of operations of cruise ships in the European Union is that cruise operators need to ensure that cruises do not pose unacceptable health risks to passengers, staff and the general public, in particular when compared to other types of package holiday.

Were not there yet.

As for England (as opposed to the UK), domestic cruises will be permitted in England under step 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown, which is scheduled to take place no sooner than May 17.

The eagerly awaited step 4 is scheduled to happen no sooner than June 21. By step 4, the government hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact, which includes lifting capacity limits for domestic cruises.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against international sea-going cruise travel with no sign of it changing that advice.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has effectively barred vessels with a capacity for more than 250 passengers from resuming operations until further notice.

For all the brave talk in the industry, many operators have given up the ghost altogether while even some of the deeper-pocketed operators have reduced their fleets.

Heading for the scrapyard

According to the site Cruisecritic.co.uk, even relatively modern vessels  cruise ships have service lives of 40 years or more  are heading for the scrapyard or are being sold to rivals.

For instance, the UKs big beastie in the sector, ( ) has announced the sale of 13 ships.

In the meantime, those ships that have been given a stay of execution are either in dry-dock for refitting or are reportedly moored miles off the coast of Bermuda (It's a berth control problem, apparently).

German bank Berenberg thinks there is still good reason to be cautious about the timing and the pace of the resumption of services.

It recently grudgingly amended its earnings assumptions for cruise ship operators to take into account a more rapid recovery both in terms of a return to full occupancy and a net yield recovery. This brings us into line with the current euphoria surrounding recovery plays; however, we would stress that, in our view, this is likely close to the blue-sky scenario, it said.

Euphoria might be overdoing it a bit but the market has not been slow to recognise the cruise ship operators as recovery plays, as we can see from looking at the share prices of the two listed UK operators over three intervals.

Carnival

On January 25 of last year, when the viral outbreak was widely regarded as an Asian problem (like SARS before it), the shares traded at 3,118p.

By March 21, just before the UK abruptly went into lockdown and it was not just Carnival shareholders who were desperate to get hold of some toilet paper, the shares had slumped to 982p  a fall of 68%.

The shares now trade at 1,603p, up 63% since its March 21, 2020 low point.

Saga

Although not solely a cruise ship operator, ( ) does have two ships  the Spirit of Adventure (set to resume operations on July 26) and the Spirit of Discovery (set to resume operations on June 27).

The company had troubles before the pandemic hit but the lockdowns made matters much worse.

On February 15, 2020, the shares were priced at 672p but by May 9 they had slumped 67% to 223p. Since then the shares have recovered to 384.2p, a rise of 72% since the May 9 nadir.

So, have investors missed the boat?

Well, the share prices have not recovered to pre-COVID levels but there are good reasons for this, not least the crippling amount of debt operators such as Carnival have taken on board to stay afloat during the lengthy period when it was all outgoings and precious few incomings.

The industry is set to remain highly geared for a few years yet, according to Berenberg, unless fresh equity is issued. An equity issue might spark an initial hit to the share price but could put a floor under the share price longer term.

Given ship deliveries (albeit 80% financed), continued cash burn with services still suspended, and materially higher debt service costs, we see little prospect of the industry significantly reducing debt, which means that, despite the rapid recovery in EBITDA [underlying earnings] post-pandemic, leverage will be above 3x [annual EBITDA], in our view, until at least 2024, Berenberg said.

As the adage has it, it is better to travel in hope than to arrive and Berenberg for one seems sceptical about the current valuations of cruise companies, even if it remains firmly of the view that cruise guests love to cruise and will continue to go on cruises even after the negative headlines for the industry prompted by COVID-19.
New Delhi, May 6 : The Indian Army has set up a Covid Management Cell to bring in greater efficiency in coordinating real time responses to address exponential rise in Covid cases across the country, a statement said on Thursday.

"In order to coordinate multiple facets of staffing and logistics support, an exclusive Covid Management Cell under a Director General rank officer has been established which reports directly to the Vice Chief of Army Staff," the army statement said.

The force said that it help in assistance to civil administration in the form of testing, admissions in military hospitals, and transportation of critical medical equipment.

Further, the Army has deployed additional doctors, including specialists, super specialists and paramedics, at various hospitals.

The Defence Ministry has granted an extension to Short Service Commissioned doctors of the Armed Forces Medical Services till December 31, 2021, which has augmented the strength of AFMS by 238 more doctors.

To further strengthen the workforce of health professionals, those who have recently retired from AFMS have been re-deployed.

To cater to veterans and their dependents, additional contractual staff have been temporarily hired in 51 high-pressure ECHS polyclinics for night duty for three months.

The army has also mobilised its resources to assist the civil administration to tide over the current Covid-19 situation in the country. Army has provided 100 beds each at Lucknow and Prayagrajto cater to the surge in cases.

In Madhya Pradesh, a 40-bedded isolation facility has been set up along with ambulances at Sagar, while 100 beds each have been provided at Bhopal & Jabalpur and 40 beds at Gwalior.

A 50-bed isolation facility has been established in Namkum, Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, 60 ICU beds have been provided at Pune and 20 at Kamptee while 100 beds have been provided at Barmer in Rajasthan.

Besides, Army medical persons have been deployed at Ahmedabad and at Patna, and battlefield-nursing assistants (BFNAs) have been provided to Patiala administration for hospital management.

A total 200 drivers have been kept on standby for driving oxygen transporters to various parts of the country and 10 TATRA and 15 ALS vehicles are on standby to tranship medical supplies arriving at Palam airport.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : Amid the surge in the cases of Covid across the country, the Indian Railways on Thursday cancelled 28 pairs of Rajdhani, Duranto, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express trains until further orders.

According to Railway Ministry officials, the railways has decided to cancel the Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Duranto, Vande Bharat, Jan Shatabdi Express trains from May 9 until further orders.

The official said that the decision has been taken in the view of surge in the Covid cases and poor occupancy in the trains.

On Thursday, India recorded over 4.12 lakh cases of Covid and almost 4,000 deaths in last 24 hours.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, May 6 : A senior Shiv Sena leader on Thursday demanded that the Centre should take immediate steps to appoint Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as the head of the National Disaster Management Authority as the Covid-19 situation could worsen in the coming weeks.

Sena leader Kishore Tiwari - who is accorded a MoS status - made the plea soon after BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy also raised a similar suggestion.

Among other things, Swamy on Wednesday asked Gadkari to be made in-charge of the Covid-19 management amid the second wave, and the possibility of a third wave looming ahead that could target children, for which strict precautions are needed now.

Tiwari said that given the current trends of the Covid-19 spread in the country - with more cases coming up from north India as compared with the first wave in 2020, besides affecting the younger population nationwide - the country could see as many as 40 lakh new infections daily in the coming weeks.

This is largely due to increased awareness, higher testing and greater levels of precautions taken by the Centre and the states to determine the extent of the spread that is being witnessed in the ongoing second wave of the pandemic since February, he said.

"There is a need for a full-time person empowered to deal with the emerging situation as there will be huge demand for medicines, medical facilities, beds, oxygen, ventilators, etc. as the number of 'active cases' requiring hospitalisation goes up simultaneously," Tiwari contended.

In the past few weeks, Gadkari has contributed in a huge way by arranging for medicines, oxygen supplies and other requirements to cater to the growing Covid-19 demands using his goodwill with the corporates, industrialists and the civil society members in general.

Tiwari said that with a dedicated and experienced person like Gadkari as the NDMA Chairman - a post first occupied by the stalwart and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar nearly 18 years ago, the country could derive huge mileage in the ongoing war against the virus and bring succor to the people at large suffering since the past nearly 15 months.

The country's grim Covid scenario currently stands at 412,262 fresh infections and a whopping 3,980 fatalities taking the national tally to 2,10,77,410, besides 35,66,398 active cases and the toll to 230,168 with a death rate of 1.09 per cent.

Among the states, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected with 48,80,542 cases including 641,569 active cases and 72,662 deaths till date with a death rate of 1.49 per cent.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, May 6 : Actor Maniesh Paul took to Instagram on Thursday to post a conversation with a doctor about Covid protocols and information around the disease. The conversation was part of the first episode of his podcast, "The Maniesh Paul Podcast".

Maniesh shared snippets from the interview with the doctor where he asked common questions such as which test was important, whether it was necessary to keep an oxygen concentrator at home, and if we need to be scared of vaccination.

He is told it is important not to panic and that the second wave is always like a Tsunami.

"The Maniesh Paul Podcast Guys starting trrw!! On my youtube channel Thanks doctor @drgautambhansali1 for sharing some important info on covid...salute to all the doctors!!" wrote the actor.

In the podcast, the actor will be discussing topics like basic precautions to follow against Covid-19, the nature of the virus and other concepts related to the deadly disease.

The guestlist of "The Maniesh Paul Podcast" is expected to include actors, doctors, socialites amongst others.

Maniesh would be next seen in the film "Jug Jugg Jeeyo". The film stars Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, May 6 : Actor Anubhav Nanda, who plays Yakub in the web series "Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu", required to do a lot of action as well as dance in the series. He says he was able to do these effortlessly due to the work he has earlier done as a choreographer.

"Yakub involved a lot of fight sequences. I did all the stunts and action scenes by myself. Being a choreographer and dancer, I was able to nail all the dance sequences as well," he says.

The actor's character is great friends with actor Parth Samthaan's character Nawab in the series. The two actors are great friends off screen as well.

"I share a great bond, on-screen and off-screen, with Parth. Hitting almost all genres in the show as an actor, it was an unforgettable experience to work with the brilliant cast and crew," he says.

The story of the action drama is based in Mumbai, set in the 1990s. It also stars Arslan Goni, Arshin Mehta, Ganesh Yadav and Errol Marks.

The series is currently streaming on ALTBalaji.
Hyderabad, May 6 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao returned to his official residence on Thursday, two days after he recovered fully from Covid-19.

He returned to Pragati Bhavan after a gap of three weeks. He was undergoing treatment in isolation at his farmhouse in Erravalli since April 19 when he had tested positive.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, had developed mild symptoms after addressing an election meeting in Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly constituency on April 14.

He had undergone a CT Scan and other general medical tests at a private hospital in Hyderabad on April 21.

After the tests, he returned to the farmhouse where a team of doctors led by his personal physician Dr M.V. Rao was treating him.

Last week, Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests had given mixed results. He tested negative on April 28 when the antigen test was conducted. However, the RT-PCR test had not thrown any definite result.

Both the tests conducted on Tuesday were once again egative.

According to Chief Minister's Office, his blood tests were also normal. Doctors have declared that the Chief Minister has fully recovered from Covid.

KCR, who took over the health portfolio from E. Rajender after dropping him from cabinet due to allegations of encroaching lands of some farmers, is likely to hold a meeting with top officials soon to review Covid situation in the state.

He is also likely to take stock of the Covid vaccine availability and take some key decisions to procure vaccines for the free vaccination programme already announced by him.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has formulated a special strategy for the ensuing Kharif 2021 season and has proposed to distribute 20,27,318, almost 10 times more, seed mini kits than the 2020-21 season costing Rs 82.01 crores. The total cost for these mini-kits will be borne by the Central Government to boost the production and productivity of Tur, Moong and Urad. The following mini-kits will be distributed: 13,51,710 mini kits of arhar containing certified seeds of HYVs of arhar released during the last ten years and productivity not less than 15 qtl/ha- for inter-cropping.

4,73,295 mini kits of moong containing certified seeds of HYVs of moong released during the last ten years but productivity not less than 10 qtl/ha for inter-cropping.

93,805 mini kits of urad containing certified seeds of HYVs of urad released during the last ten years but productivity not less than 10 qtl/ha for inter-cropping.

1,08,508 mini kits of urad containing certified seeds of urad HYVs of urad released during the last 15 years and productivity not less than 10 qtl/ha for Sole Crop.

The above mini-kits used for inter-cropping and urad Sole Crop will cover an area of 4.05 lakh hectare in the Kharif season 2021 to be funded by the Central Government. In addition to this, the usual programme of inter-cropping and area expansion by the states will continue on a sharing basis between the Centre and the States.

Through consultations with the state governments, a detailed plan for both area expansion and productivity enhancement for Tur, Moong and Urad has been formulated.

Under the strategy, utilising all the high yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds that are available either with the Central Seed Agencies or in the States will be distributed free of cost to increase area through inter-cropping and Sole Crop.

Tur inter-cropping will be covered in 11 states and 187 districts. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

Moong inter-cropping will be covered in 9 states and 85 districts. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

Urad inter-cropping will be covered in 6 states in 60 districts. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Urad Sole Cropping will be covered in 6 states.

For effective implementation of the Kharif mini kit programme, a massive outreach with the concerned district will be held both through a series of webinars by the central and state governments to ensure that there are no hiccups. District level training programmes during the crop season will be organized through the District Agriculture Office and the ATMA network for good agriculture practices and the use of new seeds in subsequent seasons as well. The Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will also be roped in for effective implementation and training to the farmers.

The mini kits will be supplied by the Central and state agencies to the destination at the district level approved under the strategy by June 15, with the total cost of Rs 82.01 crores to be borne by the Central government. India is still importing around 4 lakh tonnes of tur, 0.6 lakh tonnes of moong and around 3 lakh tonnes of urad for meeting its demand. The special programme will increase the production and productivity of Tur, Moong and Urad to a great extent and will play an important role in reducing the import burden and propel India to become 'Atmanirbhar' in the production of pulses.

Looking at the production of 14.76 million tonnes in 2007-08, the figure has now reached 24.42 million tonnes in 2020-2021 (2nd advance estimates) which is a phenomenal increase of 65%.
Chandigarh, May 6 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Congress MPs from the state to put pressure the Centre to augment supplies of oxygen, tankers, vaccines and vital medicines to help the state government effectively fight the deadly second wave of the pandemic.

Exhorting the MPs to push the Centre to enhance the state's quota of oxygen and dispatch additional tankers on priority to enable lifting of the full allocated quota of 195 metric tonnes (MT) on a daily basis, he said Punjab was being meted out step-motherly treatment by the Centre in the matter of supplies needed urgently to battle Covid.

The Chief Minister said that BJP-ruled neigbouring Haryana had got a bigger oxygen quota and more tankers than Punjab.

Expressing concern over the issue, the MPs, from both Houses of Parliament, promised to utilise their MPLAD funds to set up oxygen generation plants in government hospitals, to complement the state government's efforts in tackling the exponential rise in patient load in Punjab, where a large number of patients are also coming from neighbouring states for treatment.

Besides shortage of oxygen, tankers vaccines and medicines, the state was facing issues even on the ventilators front, since there was no BEL engineer to install 108 of the 809 ventilators received from the Centre, said the Chief Minister.

Amarinder Singh told the MPs that despite the state's repeated pleas and his personal letters to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for increase in oxygen quota for the state by 50 MT, the state was still struggling with insufficient oxygen supply.

The 195 MT quota allocated was inadequate for the state to meet its present needs, and even that could not be completely lifted due to shortage of tankers, he noted, adding that the state was currently facing a backlog of 120 MT from nearby sources (Dehradun, Panipat, Roorkee).

The situation, he said, was grim as the state was currently managing on a 12-hour supply cycle.

On the vaccination front, the MPs expressed concern over the low supplies and repeated delays from the Centre.

The Chief Minister said the state government was continuously engaging with both, the Central government and the Serum Institute of India, to expedite availability.

"The Centre's apathy towards Punjab was also reflected in the fact that many other states had been given more vials of Tocilizumab, whose import and distribution was controlled by it," he said.

The state had sought 650 vials but was given only 200 in the initial stages, which were distributed to government and private hospitals, he added.

Even Remdesivir continued to be in short supply, as delivery of the 50,000 vials allocated to the state was extremely slow, he said.

The meeting also took serious note of the "poor response" of the Central government institutions in matter related to health and medical infrastructure in the state.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Greater Noida, May 6 : Italian Ambassador to India, Vincenzo de Luca, on Thursday switched on an oxygen plant at the ITBP Referral Hospital here, which is likely to provide some relief to the people of Greater Noida in the wake of the growing demand for oxygen caused by the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plant will supply oxygen to more than 100 beds at a time for the Covid patients admitted to the hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, de Luca said, "Italy stands with India in its fight against Covid-19. It also remembers the assistance provided by the ITBP when 17 Italian Covid positive tourists were taken care of by the force at its Chhawla facility in 2020." Manoj Singh Rawat, ADG, ITBP, thanked the Italian envoy for installing the plant, which was set up in just 48 hours.

D.C. Dimri, IG Medical, ITBP Referral Hospital, Greater Noida, said that the plant will provide uninterrupted oxygen supply to the Covid patients at the hospital.

Senior officials from the Italian Embassy and the hospital were present on the occasion.
New Delhi, May 6 : Drawing parallels to the second wave of Covid in 12 countries, foreign brokerage CLSA has predicted a peak in daily case additions for the ongoing wave to broadly happen in May for Maharashtra and June for overall India.

A report by CLSA said this should pave the way for some relaxations in lockdown rules in Maharashtra by mid-May to mid-June, which may be seen as a playbook for the rest of India.

This, along with a pick-up in vaccinations and comforting management commentary during the ongoing results season, should allay the worst investor fears about the second wave over the coming weeks, it added.

India's total tests, at 20 per cent of the population, is well below median of 50 per cent for key countries. This may suggest a higher level of underreporting of cases than other nations which also means the population with antibodies may be much higher than the reported cases, the report said.

The report delved into the detail from 12 countries which saw a notable second wave of Covid-19 to find trends in determining how this second wave may progress and end in India.

"Our findings show the 7DMA of daily case addition during the second wave in these countries to have peaked when reported cumulative infections hit a median level of 2.5 per cent of the population in the respective country (range of 1.3 per cent-6.6 per cent)," the report said.

Similarly, this peak coincided when incremental cases from the start to the peak of the second wave hit an equivalent of 2 per cent of the population (range of 0.5 per cent to 4.7 per cent), it added.

In these countries, it took a median time of nearly four months for the second wave peak from the bottom of the first wave (range of 2 to 6.5 months). At the peak of the second wave, the 7DMA of percentage positive cases in these countries hit a median level of 14.4 per cent, with the exception of Mexico (46.6 per cent).

The second wave has just crossed the four-month mark for Maharashtra but it has been a lesser 70 days for India. Therefore, India may get to this median mark of four months by mid-June 2021 and India ex-Maharashtra by end-June.

Based on the current 7DMA of case additions, reported infections will hit the median level of 2.5 per cent by mid-Jun 2021 in India while Maharashtra has already crossed this mark.

At the same pace, India may take nearly two months to get to incremental infections equal to 2 per cent of its population, from 0.5 per cent currently, during the second wave.

Maharashtra is currently at 1.8 per cent and should get to this level in less than a week, but India ex-Maharashtra may see a peak only by the second week of July 2021 at the current pace of cases.

India's 7DMA percentage positive of tests (20 per cent) has already crossed the median percentage positive.

Of the 12 countries, only four countries saw a pickup in vaccinations during the 2nd wave. As antibodies can come through vaccinations, an indicative sense of the population with antibodies could be total infections plus people vaccinated with both doses as a percentage of the population, the report said.

While this ignores the overlapping population, this total stood at median level of 9.1 per cent of population at the peak of the second wave for these countries.

India has vaccinated 1.7 per cent of its population with both doses so far. By end May 2021, total cases plus people vaccinated with both doses will cross 9 per cent of the population for overall India as well as India ex-Maharashtra. Maharashtra will reach this level by mid-May.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
JOG has announced results for 2020 this morning and all is as expected, after all much has happened since the year end and the company is on the brink of significant progress on the GBA project.

WTI $65.63 -6c, Brent $68.96 +8c, Diff -$3.33 +14c, NG $2.94 -3c, UKNG 61.36p +1.86p

Oil price

Nothing changes as oil continues to nudge forwards, the EIA inventory stats were fairly similar to the API, crude and distillates saw decent draws, only gasoline disappointed with a small build mainly as refinery runs increased by 1.1% w/w.

Jersey Oil & Gas

JOG has announced results for 2020 this morning and all is as expected, after all much has happened since the year end and the company is on the brink of significant progress on the GBA project. During the period they delivered 100% control across all of the GBA by acquiring interests from Equinor and CIECO. Also the 32nd Licensing Round Award has been completed at part-block 20/5e (within the GBA acreage)

Core GBA P50 Contingent Resources increased to 172 MMboe, from 124 MMboe in 2019, with four high graded, drill-ready exploration prospects at approximately 220 MMboe. Along with that, JOG has grown the GBA project team, expanding the size and capabilities of the Company commensurate with the requirements of operatorship of the GBA Development project.

Finally, Concept Select progressed during the period, focused on delivering detailed plans for a low-carbon development concept with highly attractive economics and an uplift in P50 Contingent Resources estimates for the core GBA to 172 MMboe in a three phase, low-carbon, conventional platform development. JOG has launched a farm-out process to seek an aligned partner to join the project and provide material funding.

JOG views the GBA as one of the most exciting developments in the North Sea, with the potential to deliver significant value to shareholders from 4 operated licences, 5 oil discoveries, 4 drill-ready exploration prospects and project lifetime pre-tax free cash flow for the potential core GBA development is forecast to be circa US$6.4bn, with an estimated project value of approximately US$1.7bn pre-tax NPV (10%).

Year-end cash position is 5.1 million, with no debt and since then the company has raised 16.6m in an oversubscribed placing and offer for subscription. This was done with strong support from institutional investors and leaves the balance sheet significantly strengthened.

Andrew Benitz, CEO of Jersey Oil & Gas, commented:

JOG is delivering on a strategy of focused growth, having successfully aggregated a significant portfolio of discovered resources in the GBA together with significant exploration upside. We have assembled an industry leading, multidisciplinary team of specialists who have delivered a significant upgrade in discovered and prospective resources and selected what we believe is the optimum development concept.

I would like to express my thanks to all our team and everyone involved in our GBA project, who have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure ongoing progress.

The GBA project will be a major investment for the UK, create many jobs and ultimately produce a vital domestically sourced and low carbon supply of energy. Our shareholder support is continually appreciated, and it is only through their investment that we can achieve our plans.

JOG is now in a key position for development of the GBA project and is well financed for that and it has built up a formidable team of experts to deliver it. Whilst one can never second guess timing of farm-out discussions the company can never have been better placed to show potential investors the progress that it has made and its ability to get GBA underway with the starting gun having been fired.

As for share price appreciation I see an imminent upward move now that the company is financed and a medium term target of 700p would not be out of the question. In the longer term I still believe that the companys value based on developing the GBA would be substantially more than this and would not rule out a multiple of that target price.

Genel Energy

Genel has an AGM statement today in which it announces production of 33,100 bopd, up 4% y/y in line with guidance with Sarta coming onstream and robust Tawke performance. Here, 12 wells are forecast on the licence in 2021, of which nine are at Tawke and three at Peshkabir. DNO has increased gross operated Tawke licence full-year 2021 production guidance to 110,000 bopd.

Sarta is producing at a mechanically constrained gross rate of c.8,500 bopd, pending ongoing surface facilities de-bottlenecking. These actions are expected to result in production once again reaching c.10,000 bopd in the near future, as a pilot project the short term is less important than ensuring that the drilling programme is right. So the fact that Sarta-5 and Sarta-1D wells are spudding next month with results at the end of 3Q and will be followed by Sarta-6.

Genel are forecasting ending 2021 with a material cash position and a strong balance sheet as the beginning of catch-up payments from the KRG get underway whilst continuing to invest in growth and of course paying a material dividend. This financial strength supports the paying of a material dividend, as we continue to offer investors a compelling mix of growth and returns. Pending approval of our final dividend of 10 per share at todays AGM, the ex-dividend date is 13 May, with payment on 14 June 2021.

Bill Higgs, Chief Executive of Genel, said:

The addition of production at Sarta and the robust performance of Tawke year-to-date has increased year-on-year production in line with guidance. With a strong balance sheet, our high-potential appraisal drilling campaign is now underway following the spud of the QD-2 well at Qara Dagh. With the increase in oil price and beginning of catch up payments from the KRG, despite our investment in growth and payment of a material dividend, we expect to end 2021 with a material cash position.

Another good set of results from Genel where every period seems to bring more potential for upside and the upcoming six months are no exception. There appears to be much more upside in the share price if one looks at these drilling programmes allied with the beginning of the KRG repayment programme.

Predator Oil & Gas

Predator has announced that the MOU-1 well remains on schedule to commence drilling during June 2021 in the area of the Guercif Petroleum Agreement, comprising the Permits I, II, III and IV, located in the Guercif Basin in northern Morocco. The MOU-1 well location is approximately 250 km due east of and on trend with the Rharb Basin, where shallow commercial gas production has been established for several years.

Well spud during June is dependent upon the completion of drilling operations for three wells for another operator SDX Energy in the Rharb Basin after which the Star Valley Rig 101 will be mobilised to Predator for the Guercif drilling. Drilling at MOU-1 is expected to take up to 20 days. Subject to the results of wireline logging the well will be completed for rigless testing.

As previously guided, results from MOU-1 may potentially de-risk up to 1,823 BCF of prospective High Estimate gross recoverable gas resources in the Tertiary and in the MOU-4 Prospect to provide the basis for a further drilling programme, including appraisal and exploration wells, when the Star Valley rig becomes available again later in 2021.

I have included the table that Predator has provided this morning, it gives an idea of just how substantial that it is and with such recovery rates.

The Company intends to release its Financial Statements for the period to 31 December 2020 prior to the commencement of the MOU-1 drilling operations together with an updated business development plan for Morocco. This plan will focus on building on the successful planning and imminent execution of the MOU-1 drilling programme as a means of leverage to assess additional value-accretive opportunities that we have identified.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of commented:

This is an exciting and exceptionally busy time operationally for the Company dominated by making preparations on the ground in Morocco for the imminent drilling of the MOU-1 well. Completion of the well will establish Predator as an operator in Morocco and opens up the potential not only for further drilling on a licence covering 7,269 km and containing multiple prospects, but also to assess additional opportunities where a proven operator can add value. There are a range of development options for gas in Morocco and results from MOU-1 will potentially determine which of these options can be progressed in the near-term and which parties may be the most appropriate candidate partners for a gas development.

After a number of false starts it looks like the drilling programme for Predator in Morocco is now imminent with all the excitement that it brings with it. Although the shares have performed very well in the year to date the scale of the Morocco campaign would dwarf recent performance should the well come in

Bahamas Petroleum

BPC has provided an update on the upcoming drilling of the Saffron #2 well in Trinidad and Tobago. Rig mobilisation to the field will commence on 9th May 2021, targeting commencement of Saffron-2 drilling on or around 23 May 2021. All equipment (including various re-usable items from Perseverance-1) have been mobilised to Trinidad, along with necessary contractor personnel.

Design of the Saffron-2 well includes a production completion, allowing for immediate oil production and sales on a successful well, with anticipated rates of 200  300 bopd, which it is estimated would provide more than US$1.8 million per annum of cashflow to the Company. Based on these pre-drill estimates, Saffron-2 would have a payback of 12-18 months and an ROI of in in excess of 200 per cent.

Following a successful Saffron-2 well, a further five to nine production wells are currently planned to be drilled in H2 2021 as part of an overall field development of up to 30 wells, these further five to nine wells are projected to deliver average daily production of up to 1,000  1,500 bopd, which it is estimated would provide US$8 million  $12 million of annual cashflows going forward (based on a US$60 / bbl oil price).

Eytan Uliel, CEO Designate of BPC, commented:

I am pleased to advise that rig mobilisation has been confirmed for the drilling of the Saffron-2 well, all major contractors and suppliers are in place, and we are operationally ready such that drilling activity can commence around 23 May 2021.

A successful Saffron-2 well will be a profitable well in and of itself, but more importantly will further our understanding of the Saffron field and enable us to plan for additional field evaluation and appraisal work, as well as to assess the optimal full-field development plan. In a success case, this well can be quickly brought into production, potentially adding 200-300 bopd of oil sales and $1.8 million or more of annual cashflow. A full-field Saffron development could see peak production of 4,000 bopd and around $25 million of annual cashflow  a material project by any measure, and one we are thus eager to get after.

As BPC moves on to Trinidad the opportunities that exist there now come into view which make this well and those following it equally important. As CEO Designate Eytan Uliel says, this could be a material project with very decent cashflow going forward, the fact that he makes the comment says a lot for BPC.

Echo Energy

Echo has announced its audited results for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 which include a fourfold increase in revenue to US $11.1 million (2019: US $2.6 million).

Favourable fiscal environment have led to the receipt of certain VAT payments, improving business cashflow. Santa Cruz Sur net daily production in 2020 totalled 1,966 boepd, 10.2 mmscf/d of natural gas and 259 bbls/d of oil and condensate. In 2020, Echos net cumulative production was 0.72 MMboe, 3,750 mmscf of natural gas and 94,693 bbls oil and condensate.

Company estimated reserves and resources as at 31 December 2020 net to Echos 70% interest: 1P (Proved): 3.13 MMBoe, 2P (Proved & Probable): 4.06 MMboe and Contingent Resources (High estimate): 7.20 MMboe (Best estimate 6.51 MMboe)

Martin Hull, Echos Chief Executive, commented:

Echos resilience during a very challenging year has ensured that we have been able to continue our operations efficiently and build firm foundations commercially and operationally despite the difficult external conditions. Not only have we made significant cost-saving efforts across the Company and rebalanced our financial position to provide increased flexibility, but we have also achieved tremendous operational progress across our SCS assets where we currently benefit from a favourable fiscal environment and attractive gas sales agreements with key customers. Moving forward, we are excited by the continuing expansion opportunities at our SCS assets, where we aim to maximise production potential, and we are also encouraged by the potential for new hydrocarbon and/or renewable energy prospects in neighbouring Bolivia and elsewhere in the Region. The framework for 2021 and beyond has now been set in place, and we look forward to capitalising on our various growth catalysts.

And finally

Last night Chelski beat Real Madrid 2-0 going through to play the Noisy Neighbours in the final on 29th May. In the Boropa Cup tonight the Red Devils visit Roma with a 6-2 advantage from the first leg, the Gooners host Villareal and are 1-2 down from the first match.

The British Lions squad has been named today and unsurprisingly Alun Wyn Jones is the captain. Surprised not to make the trip will be Jonny Sexton, Billy Vunipola, Henry Slade, , Kyle Sinckler and James Ryan whilst in the squad are Sam Simmonds, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes, Jack Conan, Chris Harris and Bundee Aki.
New Delhi, May 6 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the Central government for having "no strategy" to deal with the alarming Covid situation in the country, besides demanding a financial package for the poor people.

"Last year, the unplanned lockdown came as a deadly blow for the public. That is why I am against a total lockdown, but the Prime Minister has failed and the government's zero strategy is pushing the country towards another lockdown," the Congress leader said in a tweet in Hindi.

"It's necessary to provide a financial package to support the poor," he added.

On Tuesday, the former Congress President had attacked the Narendra Modi-led government for its "inaction" as "many innocent people" continued to lose the battle against Covid.

He had said that the only way to stop the apocalyptic march of the pandemic is an immediate, complete lockdown with the implementation of the NYAY scheme for the vulnerable sections.

"The government of India doesn't get it. The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown -- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections. Government of India's inaction is killing many innocent people," he had tweeted.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 6 : The Centre on Thursday moved the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court order to enhance daily liquid medical oxygen (LMO) allocation for the state for treatment of Covid-19 patients from the existing 965 MT to 1,200 MT.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah and sought an urgent stay on the order passed on Wednesday.

He submitted that the Centre would resolve the matter with the state.

However, the bench said it did not have papers in connection with the matter and it is not possible for it to pass any orders without going through the petition. The bench said it would go through the case files and order the registry to list the matter thereafter. The matter should be mentioned before the Chief Justice, the bench also added.

The Centre submitted that the High Court did not consider the rationale behind the allocation of oxygen to each state government.

In its order, the High Court said: "As an interim measure, we direct the Government of India to increase the cap on supply of oxygen to the State of Karnataka with immediate effect up to 1,200 MT per day. Depending upon the decision taken by the Government of India on the representation dated 30th April, 2021 and further representation which may be made by the State of Karnataka, the Court will consider of passing further orders in the next week as far as the quota of oxygen is considered." The High Court had noted that the reason being that there are number of reported incidents in Karnataka of death of Covid-19 patients due to non-availability of oxygen. "For upholding the rights of citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, this is the minimum requirement of the State which the Government of India will have to comply with," it added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Madrid, May 6 : Rafael Nadal continued his quest for a sixth Madrid Open title, beating Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday. However, world No. 3 Danii Medvedev crashed out, losing to Cristian Garin 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-1.

"It was difficult. The court today was slippery, it was very fast, very dry conditions. The ball was flying a lot. The beginning of the match was super tough," Nadal said during the on-court interview. "He was hitting every ball and hitting the spots. Very happy with the victory." This is the top seed's 15th trip to the last eight in the Spanish capital. The last time he didn't make it this far was 2012. Nadal will next play 2018 champion Alexander Zverev or tricky Briton Daniel Evans, who upset World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo.

The scoreline was straightforward, but there were difficult moments for the Spaniard. Nadal faced 0/40 in his first service game of the match at 0-1, but Popyrin made three consecutive errors to give away a golden opportunity to make a quick start and set the tone.

Popyrin did well with his first serve, winning 83 per cent of those points. But the World No. 76 did not land enough of his first deliveries (51%), allowing Nadal to work his way into points and turn rallies into a baseline grind. Although the aggressive qualifier battled hard to stay in contact with the home favourite, he was unable to find enough consistency to make it even closer.

In another game, Garin held on to beat Medvedev after a tough grind.

The Chilean Garin broke the Russian twice in the third set to reach the quarter-finals after 2 hours and 30 minutes. Garin won 75 per cent of his service points, hit six aces and faced just one break point.
Hyderabad, May 6 : In a significant development, former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy on Thursday called on Eatala Rajender, who was dropped from the Telangana cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao two days ago following allegations that he had encroached lands of some farmers.

Vishweshwar Reddy met Rajender at the latter's residence in Shameerpet. The former MP, however, told reporters after the meeting that he did not discuss politics with Rajender.

Reddy, who recently hinted at floating a new regional party with an aim to defeat the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the 2023 Assembly elections, said he met Rajender to show solidarity with him. He pointed out that Rajender's wife Jamuna Reddy is his close relative.

Reddy advised the former minister not to feel insulted with the Chief Minister's action.

Reddy, who was with the TRS till a few years ago, said that Chandrasekhar Rao has taken many wrong decisions and sacking Rajender is one of them.

He said the people of Telangana would support any decision taken by Rajender.

Reddy, who had quit the Congress in March, recently hinted at bringing together leaders of various smaller parties and even those TRS leaders who are unhappy with Chandrasekhar Rao to form an alternative.

Reddy, who was with the TRS before switching loyalties to the Congress, has already stated that both the Congress and the BJP can't be an alternative to the TRS.

An entrepreneur and one of the richest politicians in the country, Reddy has started consultations with leaders from various political parties on his plans to float a new political outfit. He had also made efforts to reach out to Rajender, who was believed to have differences with the Chief Minister.
Amaravati, May 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday discussed the Covid situation in the state, and the steps being taken by the state government to control the spread.

A release from the Chief Minister's office stated that the Prime Minister called up the Chief Minister, who briefed him on the steps being taken by his government to contain Covid and the treatment facilities being provided to patients.

Reddy also told the Prime Minister that the facilities in the state's hospitals have been improved and measures are being taken from time to time based on prevailing conditions.

Following rising Covid cases, Andhra Pradesh has imposed partial curfew from May 5 to May 18. Normal activities are allowed between 6 a.m. and 12 noon. However, curfew conditions are in force between 12 noon and 6 a.m., with exemption given only for emergency services such as hospitals, and Covid testing labs.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Patna, May 6 : The tension between the two major constituents of Bihar's ruling alliance intensified on Thursday, with Janata Dal-United MP Lalan Singh, who is considered close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, attacking BJP state President Sanjay Jaiswal for "doing politics over the lockdown".

"When the all-party meeting was held on April 17, none of the leaders suggested a lockdown in the state, apart from VIP President Mukesh Sahani. Now, some leaders are taking credit for the lockdown which is extremely unfortunate," Singh said without taking the name of Jaiswal.

"I saw the newspapers today where several leaders gave statements on lockdown. I am surprised that such leaders and parties are taking credit falsely. They cannot work in the interest of the state. We cannot expect much from such leaders and parties. I have brought the proceedings of all parties meeting held on April 17 where Jaiswal spoke only about weekend curfew. (RJD leader) Tejashwi Yadav also suggested weekend curfew in the state. Congress leaders did not even talk about any kind of lockdown." Earlier, JD-U leader Sanjay Jha, who is also seen as close to Nitish Kumar, also accused some leaders of "doing politics over lockdown". JD-U leader Upendra Kushwaha also attacked Jaiswal on this count.
Bengaluru, May 6 : Leading mining firm Vedanta on Thursday said it would set up two 100-bed hospitals for treating Covid patients at Karnataka's Chitradurga and Hubballi.

"The field hospitals in both towns will be equipped with critical care facilities, including 20-bed intensive care units (ICUs) and 180 oxygenated beds," said the Mumbai-based company in a statement here.

The Vedanta hospitals will support the state government's efforts to contain the virus spread by working with the local communities, it said.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, who is a BJP MP member from the state, tweeted that he had urged Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal to set up a hospital at his home town Hubbali.

Vedanta iron ore firm's director Krishna Reddy said that the twin hospitals were in line with the company's philosophy of care and giving back to the community in such pandemic times.

"We have planned initiatives to support the fight against the virus' second wave. We have also provided masks, sanitisers and groceries to the needy," said Reddy in the statement.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, May 6 : Making it clear again that lockdown will not be imposed in Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday said such a move would bring life to a standstill and would lead to total collapse of the economy.

Chairing the first meeting following his recovery from Covid-19, he said that he took this decision after examining the situation in the states where the lockdown was imposed and where the positive cases have not come down as well as taking into account past experiences.

"There is no use imposing lockdown. Since Telangana is the most happening state in the country, 25 to 30 lakh workers from other states are working here. We have seen how their lives were adversely impacted by the lockdown we imposed during the first wave. If they are dislocated, they will not come back," he said.

"Moreover, there is bumper yield of paddy in the state. Paddy is stocked in 6,144 procurement centres in the state and they are weighing it. Purchasing paddy is not a simple process. There are lakhs of people involved in the process. What will happen to the workers who came from other states and are working in the rice mills? What will happen to them if there is lockdown? If the workers go helter-skelter, how would one get them back," he asked.

"At the same time, we cannot stop the supply of essential commodities, milk, vegetables, fruits, emergency medical services, deliveries, sanitation and other such emergency and essential services. We are also importing from other states, vaccines, medicines, injections etc... these will be affected if the lockdown is imposed. If the lockdown is imposed, the government will become responsible for creating a panic situation. Hence, the government is not ready to impose lockdown. However, we will identify the areas where the cases are more and declare them as micro level containment zones and take the required measures," the CM said.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and urged him to supply the required vaccines, oxygen and Remdesivir to the state.

He brought to the notice of the PM that the oxygen supplies allocated to the state from Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu and Bellary in Karnataka have not been supplied so far.

KCR said since Hyderabad became a medical hub, people from nearby states are also depending on it for their treatment. He told the PM that 50 per cent of Covid patients in Hyderabad are from other states and this had an adverse impact on the availability of oxygen, vaccines and injections like Remdesivir.

He said the current availability of oxygen is 440 tonnes per day and it should be increased to 500 tonnes. The availability of Remdesivir is only 4,900 units and it should be increased to 25,000. He said the Centre had so far gave only 50 lakh doses of vaccine and it should also be increased based on the needs of the state. The CM requested the PM to ensure the supply of 2 to 2.5 lakh doses of vaccine per day and it should be supplied immediately.

Later, Union Minister Piyush Goyal spoke to the CM and assured him that oxygen would be supplied from the eastern states, instead of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The CM spoke to the companies manufacturing Remdesivir and asked them to increase the supply. He said, as on date, 9,500 beds with oxygen are available in government hospitals and wanted 5,000 more to be added within a week all over the state.

He also instructed the Chief Secretary to make arrangements to airlift 12 cryogenic tankers from China at a cost of Rs 1 crore each for the better oxygen supply.

He said that 5,980 Covid outpatient centres are created all over the state in PHCs, Community hospitals and area hospitals and wanted people to utilise the services.

The CM wanted that a special officer should be appointed to monitor the measures to contain the virus spread in the state. He instructed that all those who took the first dose of the vaccine should be given the second dose on priority.

KCR directed medical and health officials to purchase 500 oxygen enrichers. He suggested that more number of enrichers should be added immediately and wanted setting up of system that generated oxygen in a short time.

The CM said that the reports suggested the intensity of the second wave of coronavirus would come down by May 15. He wanted people to take precautionary measures to curtail the virus and they asked them to exercise restraint by themselves.

He advised people not to move in crowds, more than 100 should not attend the marriage ceremonies, frequently use sanitisers, wear masks and maintain physical distance at all times. Such precautions would only prevent the virus spread, the CM said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Islamabad, May 7 : The first batch of China's CanSino Covid-19 vaccines that the Pakistani government purchased in bulk has arrived in Pakistan, the CanSino Biologics Inc. said on Thursday.

Having arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, the bulk vaccines will be packaged locally to support Pakistan's fight against Covid-19, the company said.

On Monday, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan said that the local production of the single-dose CanSino Covid-19 vaccine is about to commence in the country to facilitate its vaccination drive, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The start of the local production of the CanSino vaccine will gradually make Pakistan largely self-sufficient in meeting its Covid-19 vaccine needs, he told local media.

In late March, the first batch of finished CanSino Covid-19 vaccines that the Pakistani government purchased from China arrived in Islamabad.

Earlier, the third phase trials of the CanSino vaccine had been conducted in Pakistan and it is the second Chinese Covid-19 vaccine that Pakistan approved for emergency use in the country.

Currently, Pakistan is facing a third wave of Covid-19 and the positivity rate has seen a sharp rise, forcing the Pakistani authorities to continue tightening the anti-pandemic measures and facilitating the vaccination drive.

A total of 4,198 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Pakistan during the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 845,833, out of which 18,537 died and 743,124 recovered, according to the data released by the country's health ministry on Thursday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As always, this selection brings together the diverse profiles and international palates of the judges. However, this year there is an added value to the event: the social factor.

As always, the selection is led by an international team of highly qualified wine professionals. Henry Davar, Thomas Curtius MW, Francesco Marchio, Brandon Tebbe MS, Richard Kershaw MW, Isao Miyajima, JC Viens, Jinglin Zhang, Sue Tolson, Vincenzo Donatiello, Paul Caputo, Irving So, Hayley Black and Niklas Bergqvist will guide the selection as the Panel Chairmen of the fifth edition of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, and will be present in Verona, Italy to taste and score the registered wines from June 16th to June 18th, 2021.

This edition is going to be special for everyone taking part in the tasting both because the exceptional safety protocols put in place will allow them to return to travelling and tasting wine together. As always, this selection brings together the diverse profiles and international palates of the judges, who are aided in promoting their selection by a range of cutting-edge communication tools that facilitate the announcement of the results. However, this year there is an added value to the event: the social factor.

No more screens, no more poor connections: the judges will be able to travel to Verona and be together. Nothing is quite back to normal: the tasting will be taking place in 2 rooms with a maximum capacity of 60 people in each, and every judge will have his/her own table arranged in a semicircle to make up Panels of 5 judges. This is very different from prior years, where each panel would be at the same table. But, it is a welcome step towards bringing judges and wines back together in the same place once more.

One year ago, who would imagine we would be able to receive judges from the U.S. together with judges from all over the world! On the basis of the legislation currently in force, judges will be able to reach Italy without the obligation of quarantine, staying for a maximum of 120 hours. It is going to be different, presenting once more a challenge for all involved. However, it will be worth the hard work to to give us a glimmer of life how we remember it and to continue bringing about 5Star Wines and Wine without Walls and promoting the Selection once more.

Find out more about the selection here https://www.5starwines.it/?lang=en.

___________

About: 5StarWines  the Book is the annual wine selection organized by Veronafiere, held in the lead-up to the biggest Italian wine fair in the world. The event is now in its fifth edition. 5StarWines  the Book is a blind tasting aimed at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals will taste and score  using a 100-point scale  participating wines. In the 2020 edition, over 2000 bottles took part in the competition and 847 were selected for inclusion in 5StarWines  the Book. The Guide is a useful tool both on the promotional and commercial side. It introduces international buyers and wine lovers to new wine products of great value. It guarantees wine quality, and it maintains and certifies their value at an international level.
Mid-South ACG Capital Connection June 17-18, 2021 "Its a very convenient way for professionals to grow their networks, discover new ideas, build business relationships, secure capital and bring value for the companies they represent."

The Mid-South ACG Capital Connection, an annual event that brings together professionals who plan, finance, and carry out transactions that grow companies and their communities, returns to Louisville this June 17-18.

Hosted virtually and highlighting Louisville's many attractions -- bourbon and racing in particular -- Mid-South is the deal nexus for a rich cross-section of private equity professionals, mezzanine lenders, investment bankers, service providers and corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

"Its a very convenient way for professionals to grow their networks, discover new ideas, build business relationships, secure capital and bring value for the companies they represent," said Brad Smith, chairman of the 2021 event and managing partner of MCM CPAs and Advisors. "It's an ideal way to channel business passion to achieve strategic results."

In its 12th year and co-produced by the Tennessee and Kentucky chapters of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Mid-South brings together hundreds of professionals who focus on investment capital and corporate growth needs. The event alternates between Louisville and Nashville each year.

This year, the conference reflects Louisville's distinct flavor and genteel hospitality with an "At the Races" kickoff and a curated premium bourbon-tasting reception. Expert panels will explore what M&A professionals should know about Bitcoin and crypto currency; Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) impacts; and "lessons learned" about deals in the current M&A climate.

The conference continues its popular private equity marketplace, investment banking connection meetings, small group networking lounges, and one-on-one deal meetings with virtually any conference attendee.

Registration is open now, and participation fees vary by registration class (private equity groups, investment bankers, ACG members and non-member professionals.) Register at: https://tinyurl.com/2021MidSouthCapConn

The conference LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/mid-south-cap-conn provides updated information regarding programming, speakers and panel topic announcements.

A partial list of private equity and investment bank participants for the 2021 Mid-South includes:

Blue Point Capital, CenterOak Partners, Chaffe & Associates, Citizens Capital Markets, Clearview Capital LP, Corporate Finance Associates, Gauge Capital, GenCap America, Inc., Heartwood Partners, Industrial Device Investments, McCarthy Capital, O2 Investments, Oaklyn Consulting, Prairie Capital Advisors, Raymond James, Saw Mill Capital, Shore Capital Partners, StoneHenge Partners LLP, Thompson Street Capital Partners, TVV Capital and WILSquare.

Mid-South's return to Nashville in June 2022 will be led by Bass Berry & Sims PLC Partner Tatjana Paterno, who is co-chairing this year's event.

MID-SOUTH SPONSORS:

Platinum: Frost Brown Todd

Silver: Bank of America | BKD CPAs & Advisors

Bronze: Accord Financial | Bass, Berry & Sims PLC | Brown Smith Wallace | GenCap America | MCM CPAs & Advisors | Shore Capital Partners | US Bank | Valuation Research Corporation | Weller Equity |

Other: Fifth Third Business Capital | Kraft CPAs | MidFirst Business Credit | Polsinelli | PNC Bank | Sapling Financial Consultants

About Association for Corporate Growth

Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth (http://www.acg.org) is the premier M&A dealmaking community with 59 chapters worldwide. ACGs global network comprises more than 100,000 middle market professionals who invest, own and advise growing companies. ACGs mission is to drive middle-market growth. ACGs 13,000 members leverage an array of exclusive benefits rich in dealmaking and networking opportunities.

About ACG Tennessee and ACG Kentucky

The Kentucky (http://www.acg.org/kentucky) and Tennessee (http://www.acg.org/tennessee) ACG chapters partner to produce the annual Mid-South ACG Capital Connection. ACG Kentucky connects corporate leaders, dealmakers and support professionals throughout Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana with programs that highlight private equity, finance, capital formation issues and trends, and through events that facilitate networking and business development. ACG Tennessee holds monthly meetings in Nashville and Memphis, features topics of interest to professionals in mergers and acquisitions in the middle market and promotes networking opportunities. Special events include an annual sporting clays outing and the Roaring 20s Awards that feature Tennessee's fastest growing companies.

Contacts:

Brad Smith, CPA, Chair, Mid-South; Managing Partner, MCM CPAs & Advisors | brad.smith@mcmcpa.com | 502-882-4325

Jane Ferrell, Chapter Executive, ACG Tennessee | acgtennessee@acg.org | 615-356-3761

Terry McWilliams, Chapter Executive, ACG Kentucky | acgkentucky@gmail.com | 502-410-2113
We are grateful to Ace Industrial Supplies for this donation as it allows us to continue helping the most vulnerable communities

Ace Industrial Supply, a leader in industrial tool wholesale and distribution, has donated 400 medical gowns and 300 KN95 masks to the non-profit organization, Homeboy Industries. The donation will help serve the Homeboy Industries communities and reflects the mission of Ace Industrial Supply, supporting Los Angeles programs that help individuals back on their feet.

Ace Industrial Supply believes that as Los Angeles County adapts into the new normal, workers and institutions helping vulnerable populations must receive an abundance of the necessary PPE to provide superior care.

The high-quality gowns feature a closed-back, necktie closure, elastic cuffs, and knitted sleeve cuffs for optimal protection from dirt, grime, dust, minor splashes, and particulates. The KN95 masks offer 4-layers of defense by utilizing a non-woven inner layer, melt blown filters, hot air cotton air filters, and a non-woven outer shell. KN95 masks are designed to reduce skin irritation and ensure comfort even during hours of usage. Their lightweight profile makes them easy to store and carry. Most importantly, KN95 masks deliver greater protection than standard disposable 3-Ply masks.

We hope that our donation will provide vital equipment to Homeboy Industries of Los Angeles and aid in the recovery process of the entire county, says Ace Industrial Supply CEO, Holden Stearns. Helping our local organizations who are proactively aiding those in need during these times is very important to us.

Homeboy Industries is committed to rehabilitating former gang members by providing re-entry programs and therapeutic support. Every patient undergoes a strategically planned 18-month program which helps them recover from trauma and prepares them with the skills to be readily employed. Homeboy Industries is located in the City of Los Angeles making it convenient for the communities of Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Atwater, Eagle Rock and North Hollywood to receive assistance. In its last 35 years in business, Ace Industrial Supply has donated and supported the West Los Angeles area through various charitable contributions.

We are grateful to Ace Industrial Supplies for this donation as it allows us to continue helping the most vulnerable communities, says Alegria Castro, Community Outreach Manager of Homeboy Industries. Working together to provide hope and assistance, boosts optimism during the uncertain times of this pandemic.

About Ace Industrial Supply

Ace Industrial Supply, Inc. of California distributes wholesale of industrial tools to a 275,000-clientbase. With over 6,000 different items available to be shipped to your business or home. We proudly sell top quality brands from Milwaukee Tools, Bosch, and more offering tools, compressor, jump starters, and other related products. To find out more information, visit https://www.acetools.com/.
Emmanuel Debuyck, founder and CEO of Adwanted Group. Photo Credit: Decode Media.

The development of the Adwanted Group, founded in 2012, is based on an active strategy of complementary and targeted acquisitions, allowing it to reach critical size more quickly and to create numerous commercial and technological synergies.

Since starting as a transactional solution provider, Adwanted Group has evolved into a leading software provider for the advertising and media industry (media planning, ad intelligence, data, inventory management, news media).

Supported until now by international business angels, Adwanted Group marks a new chapter with the arrival of Financiere Arbevel and Swen Capital, which allows it to double in size with the acquisition of Mediatel Limited in the UK.

Mediatel's services and technologies complement Adwanted Group's offering, which is structured around three categories: "Buy Side" (DSP, media planning, events, etc.); "Sell Side" (SSP/booking software, on-air conductor, events, etc.); and "Data", which brings together audience data and the information tools needed to decipher it. The acquisition of Mediatel allows Adwanted to strengthen its international presence and to export its technology and data solutions to the UK, where it was not previously present.

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING TOWARDS 2024

"Our plan is very clear, and we are aiming for an IPO within 3-4 years in order to achieve our ambition to grow from a regional advertising and media technology provider to a global leader," says Emmanuel Debuyck, the founder and CEO of Adwanted Group.

The advertising software market is highly fragmented, with a few players largely dominating the digital advertising segment; but the traditional market is consolidating and Adwanted Group is determined in playing a central role in this consolidation process.

"We attract and aggregate national champions within the group in a world where standardization is not yet present (unlike digital advertising), even though buyers demand it, says Debuyck. The same is true for media companies, which must now facilitate access to their traditional inventories to avoid the rush to digital - which is very easy to buy, but whose performance scores are still far from matching those traditional media that are totally reinventing themselves.

"What is interesting is that the more we expand our group, the more we appear as a magnet for independent players in our industry: since the end of last year, no less than 10 companies approached us to join our ecosystem," adds Debuyck.

Swen Capital Partners and Financiere Arbevel will help the group further solidify and structure its development, allowing the company to access new markets or execute acquisitions faster. Adwanted Group is looking at strengthening its position in the U.S. and Europe (with Germany being a target).

BECOMING A WORLD LEADER IN ADVERTISING INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGIES

Thanks to this acquisition, Adwanted Group now has a turnover of 20 million and a solid base in France, the United States and the United Kingdom, and intends to consolidate its positions in these regions and in Europe through additional acquisitions.

"Integrating Mediatel within Adwanted Group allows us to pursue our business objective of providing the media industry with a global standard, says Debuyck. Being in France and the US is obviously a good place to start, but playing on a global stage also requires a strong footprint in the UK before any further expansion. We are now in three of the largest advertising markets in the world.

For more information about Adwanted Group, please visit adwanted-group.com.

TESTIMONIALS:

Loic Jouan, Managing Director at Financiere Arbevel declares: "We are very happy to be able to give Adwanted the means to continue its international expansion. We have been seduced by the management team and a project in line with our convictions: supporting SMEs in their development and growth projects to make them leaders in their sector.

Diego Aponte, Managing Director at SWEN Capital Partners, says: "Adwanted has developed strongly over the past few years in France and internationally. With the acquisition of Mediatel (UK), the group has demonstrated its ambition to become the reference in its market. We are delighted to support Emmanuel and the entire team in this new phase.

Laurent Mouflin, Partner at Pax Corporate Finance, says: "We are delighted to have participated in this very structuring transaction for Adwanted Group and to have brought together management in New York and investors in Paris to enable the acquisition of a target in London.

Andre Coste, Founder and Managing Partner of Lazare Consulting LLC, says: "We have been advising Adwanted Group on their growth strategy and development since 2016. After the acquisitions of Carthage, CSE and OFFREMEDIA in France, and SRDS in the United States in March 2020, the acquisition of Mediatel allows Adwanted Group to take a strong position in the UK market and should drive synergies between the US, UK and France.

STAKEHOLDERS:

Target Company:

MEDIATEL GROUP, Derek Jones

Company:

ADWANTED GROUP, Emmanuel Debuyck

Investors:

SWEN CAPITAL PARTNERS: Jerome Delmas, Diego Aponte Vargas, Valentine Fauroux

FINANCIERE ARBEVEL: Thibault Prebay, Ghada Kneisel, Loic Jouan

Target, Corporate Lawyer:

SHERRARDS SOLLICITORS, LONDON: Jean-Paul Dacosta

Investors, Corporate Lawyer:

FIELDFISHER (Swen): Jean-Baptiste Van De Voorde, Manon Pierre, Sonia Dib

FIELDFISHER UK: Oliver Abel Smith

ARCHERS (Arbevel): Emily Pabot Du Chatelard, Thomas Juillard, Helene Testeil

Investors, DD Tax:

FIELDFISHER: Antoine Gabizon, Cedric Pavao

Investors, Social DD:

FIELDFISHER: Laurence Dumure-Lambert, Orianne Maurin

Investors, DD Contracts:

FIELDFISHER: Anne-Laure-Helene Des Ylouses, Lauren Mechri

Investors, DD Intellectual Propert:

FIELDFISHER: Nathalie Hadjadj-Cazier, Marina Poudevigne

Investors, DD Financials:

ODERIS CONSULTING: Julien Passerat, Augustin Dupont, Manon Assens

Investors, DD Technical:

KERISIT CONSULTING: Jean-Marc Kerisit

Company, Investment Bankers:

LAZARE CONSULTING: Andre Coste, Julie Comer

PAX CORPORATE FINANCE: Laurent Mouflin, Simon Petit, Damien Allard

Company, Corporate Lawyers:

LG AVOCATS (Lille): Liliane Gorczyca

NME LAW (UK): Nigel Jones, Samantha Cozen

Company, DD Legal Acquisition:

NME LAW (UK): Nigel Jones, Samantha Cozen

Company, DD Tax Acquisition:

MOORE & SMALLEY (UK): Colin Abrahams

About Adwanted Group

Adwanted Group, founded in 2012 and operating in Europe, Asia and North America, is an independent and international portfolio of cross-channel media and advertising technology platforms and advertising sales firms. In addition to the Adwanted platform, Adwanted Group operates subsidiaries including Carthage, Affinity Media, Audience Media, Media Opportunities and Access Outdoor. More information is available on Adwanted Group's website, on LinkedIn or by following @AdWantedCom.

About LAZARE CONSULTING

Lazare Consulting is an international growth strategy and M&A boutique firm based in New York City since 2016. Lazare Consulting assists clients in the United States, Europe/UK and Asia in defining and executing their growth strategy. The firm operates in the fields of technology, digital, e-commerce and marketing communication.

http://www.wearelazare.com

About PAX Corporate Finance

Independent investment bank, PAX Corporate Finance combines financial expertise and sector specialization, allowing it to efficiently accompany SMEs and their managers in the different stages of their development. With a team of 20 professionals including 6 partners, the company has completed more than 250 transactions since its creation in 2003.

About SWEN Capital Partners

SWEN Capital Partners is a benchmark player in the field of sustainable private equity investment in Europe; it has over 5.9bn* of assets under management through multi-strategy and direct strategy approaches based on its investment convictions in several asset classes and embedded in the services it offers. The investment firm is owned by the OFI Group, ARKEA and its employees; it has always placed ESG and Climate issues at the very heart of its approach to investment and offers its clients a range of innovative and sustainable investment solutions. SWEN Capital Partners provides support for entrepreneurs and its partners in a process of accompaniment on social, societal and/or environmental issues, which in its view is essential for useful finance.

http://www.swen-cp.fr

About Financiere Arbevel

Established in 1997 and acquired by its current managers at the end of 2008, Financiere Arbevel is an independent and entrepreneurial investment management company specializing in the small-cap and mid-cap companies in France. With AuM of over 2.2 billion euros, it employs a team of 35 investment professionals and its activity is organized into different businesses: mutual fund management, wealth management, alternative investment management, and institutional investment management. Its management philosophy is centered on financial and strategic analysis as well as a detailed knowledge of the companies in which it invests. In a world where economic growth is subject to more and more uncertainties, Financiere Arbevel seeks to identify areas of structural growth likely to create value in the long term. This small-and-mid-cap DNA is at the heart of Financiere Arbevel's investment approach and is now applied, in a "Cross Asset" logic, to all its strategies including through private bonds dedicated to non-listed SMEs through its fund Arbevel Dette Privee SME.
AllenComm was the recipient of Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in the recent Horizon Interactive Awards. Winning the Horizon awards this year has been particularly humbling and impressive. Our team along with our clients have created engaging, media-rich solutions to help our learners adapt to change and rise to todays fast-paced demands, said AllenComm Chief Learning Officer Anna Sargsyan.

AllenComm, a leader in the learning solutions development industry, was recently recognized with nine Horizon Interactive Awards for the design and development of transformative learning solutions created for its clients.

The AllenComm team of instructional designers, performance consultants, project managers, and agency-level creative team of writers, designers and software developers was recognized for its world-class course design and development with three Gold, two Silver, and four Bronze medals.

Were honored to be recognized with the Horizon awards for the work we do in collaboration with our clients, said Ron Zamir, AllenComm CEO. These awards represent the work of many of our Project Managers and more than 40 team members at AllenComm. We never take for granted how our customers and staff have stepped up in a very difficult year to continue to create performance-focused, customized business solutions that provide transformative results.

Awards were received in the categories that include Training/eLearning, Motion Graphics / Effects and Video / Instruction, and by industry. Judges weighed the projects based on the quality of UX design, creativity, technical, messaging, and effectiveness.

All of the awards were given based on learning solutions projects designed for clients in various industries. AllenComm clients for these projects, completed in 2020, included nonprofits organizations, as well as a large-scale financial services industry organization and a national group of restaurants.

Awards received for work with nonprofit clients include:



Bronze Medal: Nonprofit

Silver Medal: Training / eLearning

Bronze Medal: Nonprofit / Advocacy

Gold Medal: Training / eLearning

Awards received for work with our clients in financial services include:

Bronze Medal: Training/eLearning

Bronze Medal: Motion Graphics / Effects

Awards received for work with our clients in the restaurant and hospitality industry include:

Gold Medal: Restaurant / Food Industry

Gold Medal: Training / eLearning

Silver Medal: Video / Instructional

The Horizon Interactive Awards recognize excellence in media production, including websites, videos, online advertising, print media, and mobile applications. The competition is steep, with more than 20,0000 plus applicants on a yearly basis; entrants for the award come from all across the United States, as well as more than 40 countries internationally.

Winning the Horizon awards this year has been particularly humbling and impressive. Our team along with our clients have created engaging, media-rich solutions to help our learners adapt to change and rise to todays fast-paced demands, said AllenComm Chief Learning Officer Anna Sargsyan.

To learn more, please direct inquiries to media contact Emma Hartsfield. For more information about AllenComm and to view a digital portfolio, visit the website at allencomm.com.

About AllenComm

For 40 years, AllenComm has partnered with Fortune 500 companies to create and scale transformative learning solutions. Extensive instructional design experience, innovative learning technologies, and agency-level creative teams enable AllenComm to stand out in the learning landscape. Considered one of the top ten firms of its kind in the country, AllenComm wins over 40 awards year after year for their solutions. Partnering with AllenComm to supplement and support human capital management needs has helped customers reduce expenses, shorten onboarding periods, and raise the impact of sales and compliance efforts.
In April 2021, American Pure Products, a subsidiary of Viachem, acquired CBD company, Entity Labs, best known for its Entity Muscle Balm. Founder and President of Viachem and American Pure Products, Mike Efting, believes the Entity Labs assets align with the Viapure brand and the acquisition is a key part of Viapure's rapid growth.

The Viapure brand has already been gaining traction over the past couple of months. The addition of what Entity Labs brings to the table will spur even further success, said Efting.

American Pure Products, a wholly-owned subsidiary of specialty chemical, food additive and ingredient distributor, Viachem, launched Viapure in February 2020. Viapure is quickly making a name for itself in the CBD and health industries. Viapures products contain broad spectrum, 0.00% THC, water-soluble CBD oil derived from hemp grown in the USA.

The founder of Entity Muscle Balm, Jeff Beatty, created the product to fill a gap in the marketplace. A blend of thoroughly-researched essential oils, EMB is designed to soothe muscles and joints by enhancing the body's natural anti-inflammatory processes. It contains 300mg of CBD and zero THC, in alignment with Viapures four pre-existent products.

It was immediately clear to me that Viapure is a company that's conquering the CBD industry, which is why Entity Labs is thrilled to join forces, said Jeff Beatty.

Viapure strives to provide the best products for consumers and the best service for retailers, big and small. With Entity Labs now aligned with Viapure under American Pure Products ownership, the trailblazing brands can deliver a wider variety of exceptional products and secure success in the rapidly changing CBD industry.

For more information, contact Mike Efting at mefting@viacheminc.com or 972-265-0405 or Morgan London at morgan@fourcolumns.net or 844-368-7265 ext. 709. To learn more, visit http://www.viapure.com.

Viapure is America's #1 CBD brand sold exclusively through retailers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of specialty chemical, food additive and ingredient distributor Viachem, Viapure produces broad-spectrum CBD products with no THC.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.

While YouV Founder Michael Kerwin hasnt totally cured the disease, he has worked tirelessly to create a patented sunscreen designed to ensure your protection.

He was inspired by friends and family who have fatally suffered from skin cancer.

He created YouV Sunscreenthe first fluorescent sunscreen that allows customers to actually see where theyve actually applied.

Their sunscreen products protect from both UVA and UVB rays, the biggest threats to skin.

But its their black light technology that helps people see where they may have missed a spot and can apply sunscreen accordingly while still indoors or in the shade.

Michael Kerwin grew up in Groton, Massachusetts and attended the United States Military Academy.

While serving as an Officer in the United States Army, Michael created fluorescent sunscreen formulas and packaging prototypes during nights and weekends.

This year, Michael finally cracked the code, and created the worlds first fluorescent sunscreen.

YouVs unique formula balances its fluorescent ingredients without compromising its natural and healthy composition.

The result is a mineral sunscreen that is reef safe, vegan, hypoallergenic, and free of parabens. We only have one body and one Earth, why should we choose only one to protect?

After years of sunburns, Michael hopes YouV can change peoples lives and prevent the devastating effects of skin cancer.

YouVs SPF 30 mineral sunscreen is available on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaelkerwin/youv-sunscreen).

More information about YouV can be found at https://www.youvsunscreen.com/
While operating in the digital age enables our team and client base to span the globe, our Frisco roots give us a competitive advantage simply through unwavering community solidarity and notoriety. - Rex Kurzius, CEO of Asset Panda

The Frisco Award Program has chosen asset tracking software company, Asset Panda, for its 2021 Best of Frisco Award in the Software Companies category.

While operating in the digital age enables our team and client base to span the globe, our Frisco roots give us a competitive advantage simply through unwavering community solidarity and notoriety, said Rex Kurzius, CEO of Asset Panda. This supportive, yet competitive environment fuels the innovation that makes Texas-based companies a force to be reckoned with.

Each year, the Frisco Award Program identifies local companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These companies enhance the positive image of small businesses and help make the Frisco area a great place to live, work, and play, through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2021 Frisco Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Frisco Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Asset Panda

Founded in 2012, Asset Panda is a powerful and flexible cloud-based asset management platform designed to help the world work smarter. The platform is designed with flexibility in mind, which allows Asset Panda to be configured to work the way the user does, for any kind of company. The company is committed to providing its customers with outstanding customer service and a constantly improving product. Click here to learn more.

About Frisco Award Program

The Frisco Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Frisco 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 Frisco 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.
Boston Childrens Museum Milk Bottle Receives 2021 Preservation Award Hood is proud of our longstanding partnership with Boston Childrens Museum and are thrilled that the restoration of this beloved landmark is being honored with this recognition.

Boston Children's Museum has received the 2021 Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award by Preservation Massachusetts for the renovation of the historic Hood Milk Bottle structure. The award recognizes preservation projects that are transformative, catalytic, embrace the community, create partnerships, and revitalize the best of the past to make something good for the future.

With the generous support of long-term partner, HP Hood, the iconic Milk Bottle underwent a major renovation in 2020 to its facade and infrastructure. In addition to the complete renovation of the facade, the Milk Bottle has new windows, new awnings, new exterior lighting, and new HVAC system.

Hood is proud of our longstanding partnership with Boston Childrens Museum and are thrilled that the restoration of this beloved landmark is being honored with this recognition, said Lynne Bohan, Vice President of Communications, HP Hood LLC.

The Milk Bottle was built in 1934 by Arthur Gagner of Taunton, Mass., to dispense the homemade ice cream he produced. Standing 40 feet tall and weighing in at 15,000 lbs., the Milk Bottle was one of Americas first fast-food drive-in restaurants and an authentic example of the Coney Island style of architecture. If real, it could hold 58,620 gallons of milk.

The Milk Bottle stood as a landmark on Route 44 in Taunton until it was abandoned in 1967. It was left in disrepair for years until Hood purchased the deteriorating structure, rescuing it from oblivion. Hood had the Bottle refurbished and donated it to Boston Childrens Museum. In 1977 the Milk Bottle was placed aboard a barge for its Great Bottle Sail through Boston Harbor to the Museum Wharf, now Childrens Wharf at 308 Congress Street, where it serves as a destination landmark delighting millions of people from around the world and the city of Boston.

In fall 2006, the bottle was "uncapped"its original top half was sliced off and preservedso that its base could be moved slightly and rebuilt on the new Milk Bottle Plaza. A renovated bottle was put back in place and officially re-dedicated by Boston Mayor Menino on April 20, 2007, thirty years to the day after it was moved to Children's Wharf.

Wessling Architects served as the Preservation Architect for the Milk Bottle renovation. Their design restored the deteriorated building exterior while also providing critical interior improvements that will help the building better function as a successful concession stand.

The challenge with this restoration was to maintain the historic character of this iconic structure while replacing constantly deteriorating exterior materials with more durable options for this waterfront location, said Scott Winkler, Associate at Wessling Architects. We felt that the renewed commitment of Boston Childrens Museum and Hood to maintain this important piece of history deserved to be recognized with a preservation award.

South Coast Improvement Company was the general contractor that renovated the Milk Bottle.

Nineteen projects from Plymouth to Springfield will be celebrated during the month of May, culminating in a live virtual celebration on Thursday, May 20. The event coincides with National Historic Preservation Month, which celebrates the nations heritage through historic places.

About Boston Children's Museum

Boston Childrens Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Childrens Museum can be found at http://www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Hours and Admission

The Museum will be open in May on Saturday and Sunday and beginning June 2 Wednesday-Sunday with two set daily time slots, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:30-4:30pm. To reduce touchpoints and enable timed visits, all ticketing will be done online. Members must also make reservations online. There are a limited number of visits reservations available for each time slot. Adults, $18, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $18; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.

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This acquisition is an important step in our journey to help more than one million businesses grow, said Andy Powell, CEO of CallRail.

CallRail, a marketing platform that helps businesses accelerate growth with marketing analytics and communications tools, announced today it has acquired PhoneWagon, a New York City-based call tracking software company.

The acquisition immediately extends CallRails leadership position and market share in the call analytics space, solidifying CallRail as the clear choice for call tracking and analytics for small-to-medium-size businesses (SMBs). With access to CallRails wider platform, PhoneWagon customers gain greater visibility into which marketing strategies drive revenue and generate the highest-value leads.

Im thrilled to welcome PhoneWagons customers to CallRail, said Andy Powell, CEO of CallRail. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to providing powerful, intuitive, and cost-effective marketing solutions to businesses and their marketing agencies.

CallRail's marketing platform combines marketing analytics and communications into a single experience. In addition to industry-leading Call Tracking, the platform also offers multi-touch attribution insights into the full customer journey via Form Tracking, automated call transcription and AI-powered call analysis via its Conversation Intelligence product, and integrated communication tools through its Lead Center product. PhoneWagon customers will benefit from access to these solutions as well as future platform innovations.

CallRail and PhoneWagon coming together just makes sense, said Ryan Shank, PhoneWagon CEO. CallRail has an established track record of proven innovations that serve the specific business needs of its SMB and marketing agency customers, and moving forward PhoneWagon customers can also benefit from this track record. This acquisition creates even more opportunities for innovation, with the customers being the clear winners.

CallRails history of innovation spans more than a decade, with the company recently celebrating its 10th anniversary. The company was founded by CEO Andy Powell, then a small business owner. Unable to find the call tracking technology he needed for his online business, he built it instead.

Over the past 10 years, CallRail has evolved from a call tracking product to a comprehensive marketing platform that helps small businesses market smarter, drive more high-quality leads, centralize communications, and turn leads into loyal customers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology that helps SMBs engage with their customers and adjust their strategies to a changing environment. To close out 2020, CallRail received a $56M investment from investors Sageview Capital and Leaders Fund, showing a strong vote of confidence in CallRails growth trajectory and the value its platform continues to provide its customers.

This acquisition is an important step in our journey to help more than one million businesses grow, said Powell.

To learn more about CallRail, or set up a free trial, visit https://www.callrail.com/signup/.

About CallRail

Since 2011, CallRail has helped small businesses and the agencies that serve them to optimize their marketing spend and increase valuable leads. Now serving more than 180,000 businesses, CallRails marketing platform delivers the tools businesses need to market smarter, drive more quality leads, centralize communications, and convert leads to customers. CallRail fits into existing workflows, integrates with several major marketing and sales platforms including HubSpot, Facebook, Salesforce, and Google Ads and Analytics, and scales with each customers needs as they grow.

The Atlanta-based marketing platform is powered by a community of over 200 passionate and hardworking employees. CallRail has been featured on the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies and Deloitte Tech Fast 500 lists for five consecutive years. The company also earned a spot on Inc. Magazines 2018 and 2019 Best Places to Work list, and the Forbes Best Startup Employers list in 2020. For more information or to view a demo of the platform, visit http://www.callrail.com.

About PhoneWagon

PhoneWagon combines sophisticated call tracking software with a modern business phone system that helps companies drive more calls, understand what happens on those calls, and convert more of those callers into customers. PhoneWagon allows your entire team to communicate with customers from a shared inbox on any device. PhoneWagon is based in New York City. For more information, visit https://www.phonewagon.com/.
Web Hosting in Canada from 4GoodHosting comes with an opportunity to build a website in as little as 30 minutes.

You dont need to have any web development skills at all to be able to build a website these days, as many web hosting providers in Canada and elsewhere are making a website builder available to their clients now. Top Canadian web hosting provider 4GoodHosting has had customers using their existing website builder for years now, but it is now replacing that option with a better one  a Sitepad website builder that is a major improvement in regard to what youre able to create with it.

Paired with affordable web hosting from the company these websites can be a cost-effective way for any new business, venture, or personal endeavor to get the visibility you want on the World Wide Web. But using this new website builder for web hosting customers may be the right choice for others who dont have the same concerns even.

Thats because using the web hosting providers Sitepad website builder can make websites that are much more impressive than people might expect. Thats made possible by Sitepad and their:



Powerful design options that are easy to use with drag n drop functionality that users say make it an easy-to-use website builder

500+ pre-made templates that let users choose a theme and start to quickly envision what their web pages are going to look like

70+ unique design widgets that can implement specific website design features with one touch

Full integration capability with most User CPs  including cPanel with 4GoodHosting web hosting in Canada

Fast-response customer support right when you need it

As mentioned, 4GoodHosting is offering a free demo of this new Sitepad website builder through its website, and you will almost certainly be able to build a website for yourself in that time. In fact, youll likely build it and revise it a few times and you may well see the value in then continuing to use it after the free trial ends. The site.pro website builder is another one thats being offered by the web hosting company.

Anyone who wants a DIY website should take advantage of this offer and consider also enjoying the best in reliable VPS hosting in Canada that is also affordably priced. 4GoodHosting implemented new SSD servers in January of 2021 for better performance, lower power consumption, and data security afforded to customers.
's Tony Locantro discusses an update this week from ( ) in which it's revealed two additional, more potent drug candidates for its cholesterol lowering program. Locantro also talks ( ) which has completed negotiations to facilitate becoming 100% beneficial owner of the historical Birrigrin Mining Centre, adjoining its Gidgee South Gold Project in Western Australia and Hammer Metals Ltd ( ) which has raised $5 million for its exploration program at Mount Isa. He also updates on the performance of Dogecoin which has jumped above 60 cents as speculative trading in crypto appears to continue.
Tim Best has joined CATMEDIA as the agency's new VP of Marketing & Creative Services. [Tim Best] brings with him a wealth of experience with high profile clients, and he is already fitting in extremely well with our talented team, said Catherine Downey, CATMEDIA CEO.

CATMEDIA is excited to announce a recent addition to its Marketing & Creative team, as Tim Best has joined as the companys new Vice President of Marketing & Creative Services.

Recruiting Tim here corresponds with the significant growth were seeing as a company right now, with greater demand from our current clients, as well as from new clients requesting our services, said Catherine Downey, CATMEDIA CEO. He brings with him a wealth of experience with high profile clients, and he is already fitting in extremely well with our talented team.

New VP Brings Decades of Advertising Experience

A big idea generator, writer, and brand strategist with an impeccable eye for design,Tim Best has a well-established reputation for strengthening client relationships and winning new business. In his 20+ year career, he has developed numerous multimedia campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, utilizing digital, social, and traditional media that have resulted in exceptional ROI.

Recruited to CATMEDIAs Atlanta headquarters from Denver, Best brings with him experience from notable ad agencies like McCann-Erickson, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, BI Worldwide, as well as a Nashville-based agency he co-founded, Frank/Best International. Throughout his career, he has served clients in a variety of industries, including Allstate Insurance, Coca-Cola, GM, Gatlinburg Tourism, Honda Power Equipment, Michigan Economic Development, Toyota, Walmart, and numerous hospitals and health care providers throughout the country.

A writer and broadcast producer by background, he has also taught copywriting at the University of Alabama and is the recipient of over 200 creative accolades.

Im proud to be a part of the dynamic CATMEDIA team, Best said. Were doing marketing, of course, but also providing a variety of educational tools that makes a hugely important difference in peoples lives.

ABOUT CATMEDIA

CATMEDIA is an award-winning agency that specializes in advertising, creative services, media production, program management, and training. As a national leader working with highly regulated clients, breaking down complex issues, and effectively communicating to a wide array of audiences, we take an innovative approach to everything we do. A Women-Owned Small Business and past recipient of the Georgia Small Business of the Year, we have provided world-class customer service and solutions to a variety of government and commercial clients for nearly 25 years, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Join us at the nation's only academic conference that focuses on cybersecurity education at community colleges.

The Community College Cyber Summit (3CS) is seeking proposals for breakout sessions for its event Nov. 5-7 in Dayton, Ohio.

3CS is the only national academic conference focused on cybersecurity education at community colleges. Anyone in the cybersecurity field can submit a proposal that follows one or more of the following tracks: evidence-based, instruction, practice, program development or student. The types of breakout sessions include Cybersecurity Skills Development Workshops, which are seven-hour workshops on the first day of the Summit; half-day cybersecurity hackathons; three-hour hands-on labs; two- and one-hour labs; one-hour demos; panel presentations; and papers.

"Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, is one of the premier colleges in the United States", states Dr. Bob Spear, 3CS Chair. "Name another community college that employs a 'chief scientist'! Sinclair's cybersecurity program features cutting-edge technology and innovative teaching. Sinclair also teaches developing technologies that have cybersecurity components, like autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) and unmanned aerial systems (drones). All of this technology and innovation will be on full display during the 7th Community College Cyber Summit (3CS), which will be hosted by Sinclair November 5-7, 2021. Join us at the nation's only academic conference that focuses on cybersecurity education at community colleges."

Those who submitted a proposal for the 2020 3CS, which was canceled, can be considered for this year. Any new entries should make sure the session has a take-away for participants, who include people new to the cybersecurity field, journeyman professionals and advanced practitioners.

The theme of this years Summit is Applying the NICE Framework to Emerging Cyber Technologies. Any proposed sessions should identify the specialty area and associated work roles within the NIST/NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.

Submissions are due by June 15. For more information or to submit a proposal, visit http://www.my3cs.org/call-for-proposals-2021.

About Community College Cyber Summit:

The Community College Cyber Summit (3CS) is organized and produced by the National CyberWatch Center, National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), and National Cybersecurity Training and Innovation Center (NCyTE), which are all funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The outcomes of 3CS will leverage community college cybersecurity programs across the nation by introducing the latest technologies, best practices, curricula, products, and more. To learn more, visit http://www.my3cs.org.
Community Unit School District 300 Joins the Illinois Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

Today, Community Unit School District 300 announces it has joined the Illinois Purchasing Group, a regional purchasing community by BidNet. Local government agencies throughout Illinois utilize the purchasing group for bid and vendor management. Community Unit School District 300 invites all potential vendors to register online with the Illinois Purchasing Group to access its upcoming solicitations by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/illinois.

Community Unit School District 300 joins the Illinois Purchasing Group and the community of 16 participating local government agencies located throughout Illinois. Along with a variety of bid and vendor management solutions, Community Unit School District 300 gains access to a bid library to help with bid creation, a shared pool of vendors, and association with like-minded purchasing professionals in the area.

Collaboration is important to us, says Diane White, Director of Purchasing of Community Unit School District 300. We think the bid library will really help us save time in drafting more effective bids and access specifications, White continued. Plus, it allows our potential suppliers easier access our bids, while providing a vendor portal to post bid questions, and upload documents.

Vendors interested in doing business with Community Unit School District 300 and other nearby government agencies are encouraged to register at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/illinois. Benefits of joining the Illinois Purchasing Group include:



Centralized location for bids from all 16 participating agencies

Bid alerts customized to the vendors products or services

Reliable and timely delivery of notifications, addendums and documents

Advanced notice of Term Contract expiration

E-Bid and E-Quote Submission

The Illinois Purchasing Group is one of BidNets regional purchasing groups throughout the country. It provides Community Unit School District 300 a bid and vendor management solution, document and addendum distribution, and tracking of all activity throughout the procurement process.

About Community Unit School District 300:

District 300's central mission is to ensure all students are college or career ready upon graduation.

District 300s academic department focuses on a progressive and rigorous curriculum, relevant assessments and continuous improvement of instruction and student learning. They strive to offer students many opportunities to discover their passions and skills in order to enable them to achieve this mission.

Community Unit School District 300 has the sixth largest student enrollment in Illinois with over 21,000 students, covering 118 square miles. The District provides Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade education in an area of 118 square miles in Northwestern Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago. District 300 is comprised of three (3) high schools (grades 9-12), four (4) middle school (grades 6-8), one (1) school (grades K-8), sixteen (16) elementary schools (grades K-5), one (1) school Pre-K, and one (1) alternative school. District 300 employs approximately 2100 Full Time Employees (FTE).

About BidNet Direct:

BidNet Direct, a mediagrif product, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. BidNet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Illinois Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit http://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Dunkaroos Freeze "Combining our coffee experience with pop culture favorites from our first decade, our new menu is Da Bomb!" - Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is bringing back the 90s in a big way. In May, Crimson Cup Coffee Houses are featuring a limited edition 1991 Blend Coffee and four retro coffee drinks.

Combining our coffee experience with pop culture favorites from our first decade, our new menu is Da Bomb! said Founder and President Greg Ubert.

The lineup starts with 1991 Blend, a light-roasted combination of Guatemalan and Peruvian coffees sourced through long-term farmer relationships.

From there, the Columbus roaster pays a hella good homage to 90s trends with four limited-edition brew bar drinks.

Rocket Power Punch

Named after the Nickelodeon cartoon that premiered in 1991, this beverage is refreshing, fun, and exciting.

We begin with the coffee cherry fruit, called cascara, and add hibiscus, grapefruit bitters, simple syrup, and an orange slice, said Coffee House Manager Jacob Hill.

Our baristas then shake the drink with butterfly pea powder to add even more deliciousness and turn the whole drink a gorgeous shade of purple, served with a crazy straw. If you like fruit punch, you will love Rocket Power Punch. Woogity, Woogity, Woogity!

Lemon Warhead Cold Brew

A throwback to the intensely sour and then lusciously sweet 90s candy, this drink combines sugary citrus candy notes with 1991 Blend cold brew for a caffeine kick. The result is refreshing, bright and happily sweet and sour!

French Toast Crunch Latte

A staple of the early 90s, French Toast Crunch cereal was discontinued in 2006, then brought back in 2014.

Crimson Cups homage to this fan favorite combines tasty notes of brown sugar French toast, maple syrup, and, of course, milk!

Available hot and iced and served with whipped cream, French Toast Crunch Latte comes topped with a few of those adorable little French toast cereal pieces.

Dunkaroos Freeze

This epic frozen latte recreates the taste of kids favorite 90s frosting and cookie-dunking duo!

To kick your nostalgia into high gear, we top it with sweet, beautiful blue whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles, Hill said.

These anniversary brew bar drinks  plus retro enamel pins and fanny packs  are available for a limited time at Crimson Cup Coffee Houses in Clintonville, Upper Arlington and Tallmadge, Ohio. Order ahead for curbside or drive-thru pickup using the Crimson Cup App. Drink prices start at $4.50.

Hill said the coffee team is busy experimenting with even more retro drinks. To keep up with our latest innovations  and have a chance to win fun prizes  download the Crimson Cup App or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is celebrating 30 years of Coffee + Community. Since May 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced craft coffee for consumers and wholesale coffee customers. It is a 2020 Good Food Award winner, 2019 Golden Bear Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee franchise alternative program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cup also supports life-enriching projects through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, promoting the education, health, sustainability and economic growth of small-plot coffee farmers and their communities.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also operates several Crimson Cup Coffee Houses and a new Crimson retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.
The Law Firm Competitive Match Tool will highlight for law firms their both known and unknown competition at the office and practice area level in real time so they can get a more accurate picture of their competition and use that information for better strategic planning," said Laura Leopard.

Leopard Solutions, the leading provider of accurate and verified attorney and law firm data, has released the Law Firm Competitive Match Tool, the newest offering as part of its Business Intelligence Suite of reports and predictive analytics.

The Law Firm Competitive Match Tool enables law firms the ability to quickly identify statistically probable competitors in each practice and office. Law firms can benchmark their competitors based on our Leopard Law Firm Index Score, attorney ROI (success in attorney retention) and Growth Decline metrics. This is the first tool of its kind.

Using more than 20 years of attorney data, the Law Firm Competitive Match Tool provides visual charts and predicative analytics that enable law firms to better understand who their competition is as they look to both develop and retain clients, grow practice areas and industry focus as well as expansion of offices.

Law firms typically monitor and benchmark their firm against 5 to 10 competitors, said Laura Leopard, CEO of Leopard Solutions. The Law Firm Competitive Match Tool will highlight for law firms their both known and unknown competition at the office and practice area level in real time so they can get a more accurate picture of their competition and use that information for better strategic planning.

The Law Firm Competitive Intelligence Match Tool is the fifth report and search tool to be released as part Leopard Solutions Business Intelligence Suite. The Business Intelligence Suite is utilizes over 20 years of Leopard Solutions research to provide predictive analytics on topics such as law firm mergers and acquisitions, ROI of lateral and entry level attorney hiring, attorney and corporate counsel connections and law firm health and stability, through the Leopard Law Firm Index, which highlights the Leopard Top 250, a dynamic ranking of the top 250 global firms based on attorney growth, retention and diversity.

Contact us to learn more and schedule a demo.

Phil Flora, Vice President of Sales and Marketing

phil@leopardsolutions.com.

About Us

Leopard Solutions delivers the highest quality, most accurate and in-depth information on the legal market, leading law firms and attorneys with easily searchable products.

From business development solutions to competitive intelligence to lateral recruitment to our curated and customizable market research reports, Leopard Solutions offers a wide range of data solutions for law firms and legal departments. Leopards data and technology is continuously updated to ensure market relevance and competitive edge.

We are a proud WBE organization that has grown into one of the most recognized and trusted legal market data providers in the United States. Leopard Solutions high level of quality and depth is unmatched in the industry. For more information, visit our web site and follow us on LinkedIn.
I am so excited to once again be involved with live events! The energy that participants bring to the event, along with the networking and camaraderie, is unmatched by any virtual conference!

Home health professionals around the country have faced a tough year and are emerging battle-hardened but eager to move forward. DecisionHealth is proud to be moving forward with their audience by offering cutting-edge education and lessons learned in the new business ecosystem. The responsible, in-person reunion will take place August 1619, 2021, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The series of events starts with the annual Home Health Administrators Summit, August 1618. The nations top thought leaders and agency heads come together to discuss, identify, and develop strategies to operate in a post-pandemic world. Attendees will get the latest recommendations on infection control and vaccine policy for staff and patients, Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) benchmarks, and best practices to recruit and retain qualified clinicians. They will leave energized to leverage new opportunities related to telehealth, marketing to new payers, and untapped referrals sources. Learn more at https://store.decisionhealth.com/home-health-admin-summit.

Next is the return of the popular Home Health Coding Summit, August 1619. It features two concurrent tracks focused on coding accuracy (including COVID-19 codes), the importance of coding in PDGM, a look at new codes and guidance updates, strategies for professional development, process improvement around timely billing and gathering documentation, and more. With opportunities for attendees to participate in practice scenarios with coding experts, they could achieve a measurable improvement in coding accuracy. Learn more at https://store.decisionhealth.com/home-health-coding-summit.

Home Health Coding Summit Speaker Arlynn Hansell, PT, HCS-D, HCS-H, HCS-O, COS-C, owner of Therapy and More, LLC, says, I am so excited to once again be involved with live events! The energy that participants bring to the event, along with the networking and camaraderie, is unmatched by any virtual conference! Along with some high-level deep dives into the coding of body systems, well also be offering interactive sessions, reviewing actual documentation, query situations, and much more!

The final event is the Home Health Payment Summit, August 1718. The introduction of the pandemic while PDGM was so new created many challenges for home health agencies. This event looks back at how PDGM has impacted agencies and providing the guidance attendees need to revive their revenue cycle. The curriculum will focus on the top billing and payment concerns, updates, and the latest PDGM changes to ensure accurate reimbursement without compromising quality care or specificity in documentation. Learn more at https://store.decisionhealth.com/home-health-payment-summit.

Annette Lee, RN, MS COS-C, HCS-D, president and founder of Provider Insights, Inc., and speaker at both the Home Health Coding Summit and the Payment Summit, adds, I am looking forward to the return of our in-person conferences this year for so many reasons  both personal and professional! I miss the smiles and the small talk  from sharing personal events in our attendees lives, to the celebrations of professional changes we watch our conference friends evolve into! I also miss the sharing of experiences, from hearing Yes-I had that denial too! to the laughs in the classroom. But, most of all, I miss the energy of the attendees! I can't wait to see everyone in August!

Attendees can choose to attend any or all of the programs, tailoring curriculum to their role in order to support compliance, coding accuracy, and proper reimbursements.

If you have any questions about event pricing or discounts for groups, contact a Customer Service representative at 1-855-225-5341 or HCEvents@hcpro.com.

Regarding COVID-19 safety, we provide updates on each of our event websites on the latest guidelines and advisements for meetings as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local mandates. To view all the safety measures that Caesars Palace Las Vegas has implemented, please visit https://www.caesars.com/health-and-safety.

To review HCPros event policy, please visit https://hcmarketplace.com/cancellations.

###

About DecisionHealth

DecisionHealth is the industrys leading source for home health agencies and medical practice facilities to receive the latest news, analysis, and regulatory guidance on Medicare coding and reimbursement, benchmarks, payments, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance through its flagship publications, as well as a wide selection of coding books, educational events, and online tools. Visit http://www.decisionhealth.com.

DecisionHealth is a sub-brand of HCPro specializing in providing the latest healthcare regulatory information through industry-leading publications, continuing education, online coding platforms, instructor-led training, events, consulting services, and more for over 34 years. Learn more at http://www.hcpro.com/.
Lulea University of Technology and its Activity Lab are a highly relevant partner for us, and we are proud to be entering this agreement with them. - Carine Zeier, CEO Dele Health Tech

Leading fall technology company Dele Health Tech today announced the commencement of a collaboration agreement with Lulea University of Technology in Sweden.

The agreement will see the two parties collaborate on knowledge sharing, research, and joint development relating to falls and fall technology.

Lulea University of Technology, with four campuses and an enrollment of 19,000, is known for its Human Health and Activity laboratory.

Built in 2018, the laboratory is a smart-home and educational training environment for developing technologies, assessment methods and interventions to improve safety and autonomy for everyday activities within the home. Human balance, falls, and fear of falling are central themes within the research at the Department of Health, Education and Technology.

In addition to knowledge sharing and development, it is planned that Dele will contribute sensor hardware and data fusion fall technology software into the Lab, for integration and research purposes.

Together, the collaboration will investigate use cases and roles that data fusion and privacy-centric sensors can be applied to in home and clinical situations.

Dele Health Tech CEO Carine Zeier said the following regarding the agreement:

Lulea University of Technology and its Activity Lab are a highly relevant partner for us, and we are proud to be entering this agreement with them, she said.

There is much both parties can learn from each other, and we anticipate this partnership will spawn insights that will continue driving our innovations within fall technology, she said.

Lulea University of Technology Professor in Pervasive and Mobile Computing Kare Synnes commented as follows, regarding the agreement.

Dele Health Tech is a leading technology developer of real-time data processing, analytics and distribution through their IoT-platform for home-based health services. LTU is therefore very pleased to announce this strategic collaboration with Dele Health Tech, whose software and sensor solutions will be a key part of our research on future technologies, and to show-casing these future technologies for municipalities, he said.

The partnership officially commences in May 2021.
I am thrilled that Dr. Alfonso Romero-Sandoval has accepted my invitation to become Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pain Research.

Dove Medical Press is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Edgar Alfonso Romero-Sandoval , as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pain Research. Professor Romero-Sandoval is currently Associate Professor in Anesthesiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC (U.S.). The Romero-Sandoval laboratory explores neuroimmune interactions in surgical and neuropathic pain and neuropathies induced by diabetes or chemotherapy. The current major focus of this lab is placed on phenotypic changes in immune cells governed by endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria function and dysfunction. An additional area of study is the endocannabinoid system in the context of pain and how the cannabis market in the U.S. is shaped and could affect cannabis user patients.

The journals Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Michael Schatman, commented : I am thrilled that Dr. Alfonso Romero-Sandoval has accepted my invitation to become Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pain Research. Alfonso was my first Associate Editor-in-Chief, and has been a loyal and productive lieutenant for the past 5 years in that capacity. He is the consummate scientist, and his work at the Wake Forest School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology, particularly on the resolution of post-operative surgical pain, is gaining international attention. With the recent expansion of the Journal of Pain Research, Dr. Romero-Sandoval will continue to serve in the role of Section Head Editor of the Pre-Clinical/Scientific section while assisting me in the day-to-day running of the Journal.

About The Journal of Pain Research

The Journal of Pain Research is an international, peer-reviewed, open access, online journal that welcomes laboratory and clinical findings in the fields of pain research and the prevention and management of pain. Original research, reviews, symposium reports, hypothesis formation and commentaries are all considered for publication.

This journal is a member of and subscribes to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The Journal of Pain Research is the official journal of the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience.

About Dove Medical Press

Dove Medical Press Ltd is part of Taylor & Francis Group, the Academic Publishing Division of Informa PLC.

We specialize in the publication of Open Access peer-reviewed journals across the broad spectrum of science, technology and especially medicine.

Dove Medical Press was founded in 2003 with the objective of combining the highest editorial standards with the 'best of breed' new publishing technologies. We have offices in Manchester and London in the United Kingdom, representatives in Princeton, New Jersey in the United States, and our editorial offices are in Auckland, New Zealand.
Okay, Im 80  Now What?: Finding God's Purpose for the Rest of My Life: Has It Changed?: an engaging story straight from the authors journey, these beautiful words are the result of Esthers own interpretations and realizations into the Holy Word. Okay, Im 80  Now What?: Finding God's Purpose for the Rest of My Life: Has It Changed? is the creation of published author Esther Titus, a widow, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother spending her glorious days with her family in Alaska.

Titus shares, As a follower of Christ, I have a purpose in each day I live. What is that purpose? How do I find it? The Bible says to call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding' (Prov. 2:36).

Gods purpose did not change as I aged. His purpose when I left home to begin nurses training at age nineteen was the same when I moved to Alaska as a widow at age seventy-five. The words on these pages are the result of my own digging into Scripture to see what God asks of me. It is my testimony regarding His leading in the past and my personal challenge to follow His purpose for the rest of my life. As I do what I know to do, the Lord will guide the next step, and then the next, one at a time. What He asks of me is a yielded heart when He says, Follow Me, serve Me, worship Me' to the end of my life.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Esther Tituss new book is a well-versed account born from a woman who just welcomed her 8th decade on Earth. This captivating story will surely inspire the readers that their living years are also their learning years.

View a synopsis of Okay, Im 80  Now What?: Finding God's Purpose for the Rest of My Life: Has It Changed? on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Okay, Im 80  Now What?: Finding God's Purpose for the Rest of My Life: Has It Changed? at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Okay, Im 80  Now What?: Finding God's Purpose for the Rest of My Life: Has It Changed?, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Courtroom Insight announced today that the global law firm, Eversheds Sutherland, has officially launched Courtroom Insights litigation knowledge management solution for client use.

Courtroom Insights knowledge management solution enables law firms to capture, share and analyze critical information about expert witnesses, arbitrators and judges. The software combines internal law firm data and relationships with reliable third-party data sources to leverage broad knowledge sharing and analytics.

Robert D. Owen, nationally recognized litigator and leader on the Eversheds Technology Committee, explained, Eversheds consistently seeks to improve the efficiency and quality of its litigation work flows to ensure the best outcomes possible for our clients. During our beta testing of Courtroom Insight, our attorneys reported that expert witness research projects that used to take 10-15 hours were completed in less than five hours. This kind of improved research quality and efficiency provides a direct benefit for our clients.

Scott Bailey, Director of Research and Knowledge Services, said, I am a big fan of having our various subscription products communicate with one another. Courtroom Insight does an outstanding job of seamlessly integrating directly into its platform our internal firm knowledge and experience with external content. The solution provides a true one-stop shop for critical intelligence about expert witnesses and arbitrators.

About Courtroom Insight

Courtroom Insight, headquartered in San Ramon, California, offers the leading knowledge management solution that enables law firms to capture, share and analyze critical information about expert witnesses, arbitrators and judges. For further information, please visit https://www.courtroominsight.com or https://www.linkedin.com/company/courtroom-insight/

About Eversheds Sutherland

As a global top 10 law practice, Eversheds Sutherland provides legal services to a global client base ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to the largest multinationals, acting for 70 of the Fortune 100, 61 of the FTSE 100 and 128 of the Fortune 200. With more than 3,000 lawyers, Eversheds Sutherland operates in 69 offices in 32 jurisdictions across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In addition, a network of more than 200 related law firms, including formalized alliances in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa, provide support around the globe.
The Karonie Project is directly along strike to Silver Lake Resources' Aldiss Project and along strike to the south of Breaker Resources' Lake Roe Gold Project.

( ) (FRA:45A) has intersected broad zones of silica-altered dolerites in initial drilling at the Parmelia prospect within the wider Karonie Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.

Observations of core from the eight-hole reverse circulation (RC) program for 1,128 metres show varying amounts of sulphides and quartz veining, like those drilled back in 2020.

In addition, extension drilling to the south has intersected target lithologies in holes around 60 to 70 metres south of the previous drilling.

Chief executive officer James Wilson said he was delighted that the first holes at Parmelia intersected some promising down-dip structures.

Exciting time for company"

He said: Visually this looks very similar to what we intersected last year with varying levels of silica alteration, quartz veining and sulphides.

Importantly the structure is occurring where we predicted, implying a broadly sub-vertical orientation.

At Warrior, we have also intersected silica altered dolerites accompanied by pyrrhotite mineralisation, which is interpreted to help explain the magnetic anomaly.

Although it's early days, we are very happy with the progress so far on only two of the four zones to be tested as part of the drill program.

This is an exciting time for the company as we target advanced exploration projects with aggressive drilling.

Exploration activities are proceeding in line with our 2021 objectives, targeting our existing walk-up drill targets at Karonie.

Assays expected in May

Drilling at Parmelia is systematically targeting high priority targets down dip of existing mineralisation, as well as along strike while the program at Warrior is designed to target a coincident magnetic and gravity high.

At Parmelia, the silica altered dolerite as seen in the previously drilled up-dip holes was intersected in all five of the holes drilled.

Holes PARC017 and PARC022 intersected significant widths of alteration with associated quartz veins and sulphides which the company believes represents a continuation of the Parmelia mineralised structure down dip in a sub-vertical orientation.

At Warrior, the first holes have successfully intersected the bedrock geology, with geological logging of hole WARC002 noting intercepts of black shales, silica altered dolerites with quartz veining and pyrrhotite and pyrite, with pyrrhotite mineralisation interpreted to be contributing to the Warrior magnetic anomaly.

The first batches of samples have been submitted to the laboratory with assays expected in May.

Considerable land package

Alchemy has built a considerable land package in the Carosue Dam-Karonie greenstone belt in the Eastern Goldfields region and has an 80% interest in Lachlan/Cobar Basin Projects in New South Wales.

Alchemy also maintains its interest in the Bryah Basin Project in the gold and base metal-rich Gascoyne region of Western Australia, where Superior Gold Inc (CVE:SGI) and Sandfire Resources Ltd ( ) are continuing to advance gold and base metal exploration, respectively.
Over the past year, we have been challenged to be more responsive than ever. Our technological innovations have allowed us to increase our speed to hire and fill critical positions on a national level.

Favorite Healthcare Staffing celebrates its 40th anniversary this year as one of the industrys fastest growing healthcare staffing providers. Founded in 1981 as Favorite Nurses, the companys 31 operation centers employ Nursing and Allied Health professionals nationwide.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Favorite has experienced rapid expansion and mobilized more than 16,000 healthcare professionals across the country. Favorite also saw monumental growth with its Travel Nursing Division growing over 1000% in the first quarter 2021. The company is in the process of increasing recruitment efforts through hiring an additional 100 healthcare recruiters for the Travel Nursing Division located in Overland Park, Kansas.

Favorites expansion comes at a significant time in the companys history, as this year marks their 40th anniversary. With exciting new ventures planned for the near future, Favorites new Corporate Headquarters, located in Overland Park, KS, is being built at 98th and Metcalf in the Kompass Tower. Favorite continues to invest in state-of-the-art technology and their innovative mobile app that allows employees to manage their schedule, submit timecards, and search for new job opportunities.

At Favorite, we pride ourselves in creating jobs and providing qualified and dependable talent whenever, wherever needed, said Chris Brink, Favorites President. Over the past year, we have been challenged to be more responsive than ever. Our technological innovations have allowed us to increase our speed to hire and fill critical positions on a national level.

This week, Favorite commemorates its anniversary on their annual holiday, Favorite Friday. During the week they recognize the efforts of their branch and corporate employees. The holiday kicks off the beginning of National Nurses Week where they honor their temporary nursing professionals who emulate Favorites core value of others before self.

About Favorite Healthcare Staffing

Favorite Healthcare Staffing is the nations premier provider of healthcare professionals, offering a full range of travel nursing, per diem, allied health, non-clinical and emergency relief staffing, as well as permanent placement opportunities. Favorite continues to set the industry standard for quality, service and integrity in healthcare staffing and services.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has joined The Alliance for Asian American Justice (The Alliance). The Alliance is a national pro bono initiative committed to providing legal support and advocacy to victims of anti-Asian hate.

Comprising Fortune 1000 general counsel and top law firms throughout the country, The Alliance is designed to coordinate and drive pro bono resources from member firms on behalf of victims to assist and support them in obtaining legal remedies. Victims of anti-Asian hate crimes often lack access to legal services and support due to language and cultural barriers, among other inhibiting factors. The Alliance has said it will work with victims to bring lawsuits seeking compensatory and other civil remedies or to collaborate with law enforcement so that those committing the attacks are brought to justice. The Alliance will also help victims find specialized legal services, social services, and other community support.

The Alliance will also work in collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and other frontline legal, civil rights, and community organizations.

Greenberg Traurig is proud to join The Alliance and is committed to bringing about meaningful change by dedicating the firms robust global Pro Bono Program resources to victims of discrimination and racism, said Greenberg Traurig Los Angeles Shareholder Candice E. Kim, who is the firms representative on The Alliance.

Last month, Greenberg Traurig issued the below statement in light of the rise in crimes against Asian Americans:

We Are Better Than This

Already it has been a difficult 2021 for the Asian community given the growing incidents of traumatic and extremely violent crimes against Asian Americans  in our own backyard most recently in Atlanta, and across the nation in Queens, NY, San Francisco, CA, Denver, CO, and other cities. Hate is never OK. It is not who we are as a nation. The crimes against Americans of Asian descent or origin have no place in our society. And we cannot remain silent.

Because of the current situation, these crimes are particularly heinous in that they target people of color, a population that has been disproportionally affected by the health and economic fallout of the pandemic.

We urge community leaders of every race, religion, ethnic background, gender, or gender identity and expression, to raise their voices and denounce those responsible; address conditions that compromise the safety of communities of color; silence false information and thinly veiled racism delivered in public forums; and take swift and measurable action to end hate crimes, prioritizing the safety of Asian Americans everywhere.

Unfortunately, hate knows no boundaries  not racial, ethnic, economic, or gender lines. Action is the key and the timeframe is urgent because an attack on Asian Americans is an attack on all of us. To combat it and win, we must double down, and stand together, forging personal and community relationships, having open conversations, and reaffirming that we are better than this.

About Greenberg Traurigs Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firms efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 certification, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com
Vannessa Kaufman Over the past 30 years, Vannessa has represented affluent families, the financial community, corporations, investors, and celebrities with co-ops, condominiums, and townhouses throughout Manhattan.

Haute Residence is pleased to welcome Vannessa Kaufman to the exclusive Haute Residence Network as its representative in the Park Avenue luxury real estate market of New York City, New York.

One of New York Citys premier real estate brokers for top-tier living and principal of one of the industrys most technologically advanced and forward-thinking teams.

Vannessa Kaufman, Senior Global Real Estate Advisor and Associate Broker, joined Sothebys International Realty in 2009. Since her affiliation with Sothebys International Realty, Vannessa and her team have consistently ranked in the top 50 teams nationwide. Personally, Vannessa ranked in the top 25 brokers in the country within Sothebys International Realty in 2018. She was also elected by her peers as the first agent on the board of directors at REBNY.

Through her dedication, concern, and understanding for her clients and her profession, Vannessa has assembled a team of top real estate professionals who engender her core values whilst maintaining their individual expertise and strengths. Vannessa and her team are fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and English.

Formerly, Vannessa was president and founder of an esteemed high-end real estate boutique firm, Andrew Emmet & Co., which she named after her two sons.

Over the past 30 years, Vannessa has represented affluent families, the financial community, corporations, investors, and celebrities with co-ops, condominiums, and townhouses throughout Manhattan.

Discerning buyers and sellers entrust Vannessa to guide them through every step of the real estate process and she ensures all objectives are consistently being met with exceeded expectations. Vannessa has lived through many markets due to her years of experience. She is an outstanding negotiator, hardworking, and is always discreet. She is highly respected by her peers for her professionalism, ethical standards, and knowledge. Vannessa has an innate ability to listen, read between the lines, and discern her clients needs and desires. Her business has been built on referrals and repeat business.

Vannessa has held many positions at the Real Estate Board of New York and is currently a sitting board member. She has also served as a member of the Ethics Committee, member of Interfirm, member of the Arbitration Committee, two-time co-chair of the Rental Committee, board member of ResidentialNYC.com, member of the Eastside Committee, graduate, a founding member of the prestigious NYRS post graduate accreditation, and founding member of NYRAC. In addition, she is an accredited Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and Certified Buyer Representative (CBR).

Visit Vannessa Kaufman's Haute Residence profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/vannessa-kaufman/

Visit Vannessa Kaufman's website: https://www.vannessakaufmanre.com/

ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.

The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts.

HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com
HMSHost Logo

Who: HMSHost, world leader in travel dining, is hosting two job fairs to fill full-time & part-time positions at various restaurants located at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, including Starbucks, Chelseas Kitchen, La Grande Orange, Barrio Cafe, Cowboy Ciao, Shake Shack, Blanco Tacos & Tequila, Olive & Ivy, ZinBurger, and San Tan Brewery!

What: Global restaurateur HMSHost is holding two job fairs to hire permanent full-time & part-time associates for: Restaurant Assistant Managers, Starbucks Baristas, Host/Hostess, Cashier/Crew Members, Dishwasher/Utility Workers, Line Cooks, Lounge Club Attendants, Starbucks Assistant Managers, and Starbucks General Managers. Pay varies by position and experience. HMSHost offers an array of benefits from a 401K Plan, Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurances, Vacation Pay, Sick Pay, Holiday Pay, Free Meals, Free Parking/Bus Pass and much more!

When:



Tuesday, May 11, 2021 from 8 a.m.  12 p.m. MST

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 from 8 a.m.  12 p.m. MST

Where: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - HMSHost Office: 1250 E Hadley, Suite 6 in Phoenix, AZ 85034

Attendees must have a face mask and stay socially distanced of 6 feet. Be prepared to wait outside, and please bring 2 forms of ID. The dress code is business casual.

To RSVP and Day-of Contact: Celeste Fuentes, Celeste.Fuentes@HMSHost.com or Judy Cimochowski, Judy.Cimochowski@hmshost.com

For Media Inquiries about HMSHost: Shayna Iglesias, Shayna.Iglesias@HMSHost.com or (240) 271-0443.

About HMSHost

Global restaurateur HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining for travel venues. HMSHost operates locations all over North America and is part of Autogrill Group, the worlds leading provider of food & beverage services for people on the move. Visit HMSHost.com for more information.

EOE  Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled  DFWP  Background checks will be required prior to beginning employment.

#HMSHost
HR4 President and Founder, Heather Macpherson: Jays impressive track record and experience scaling private Software As A Service (SaaS) companies without extensive outside funding will be a huge asset to HR4. Jay is also a caring and empathetic leader who will have a positive impact on our people and our customers. Im really proud of the suite of applications weve built and how happy our customers are to this point. That said, we have ambitious aspirations and Jay brings a new level of confidence and set of experiences that I believe will be invaluable to continuing our evolution at the next stage. Macpherson, who has built an impressive career and several businesses consulting with automotive dealers, will remain active in HR4 as President and Head of Product, while also serving on the company board.

I couldnt be more thrilled for the opportunity to join the incredible team at HR4 as we enter the next stage of growth as a leader in ROI-focused Human Capital Management solutions and an employer of choice for exceptional talent. said new CEO Hedges. From the moment I met Heather, Bri and the team at HR4, I knew they were building a special company. HR4's suite of apps and how they impact the bottom line of 250 happy customers is inspiring. Heather saw the opportunity to bring some lessons Ive learned scaling other privately-owned and self-funded tech companies to help guide the growth at HR4. Were going to have a lot of fun and savour every moment of this journey as we bring the message of improved profits and employee experience to a much wider audience over the coming years.

Jay holds two decades of experience leading growth in a variety of successful SaaS companies. Jay has led large global revenue teams as they exceeded aggressive growth targets at companies like Roadmunk, Avanti, Vision Critical, Uberflip and Citrix. Jay holds a BA from Brock University, an MBA from Cornell Universitys Johnson Graduate School of Management and an LL.M in Global Business Law from The University of Toronto. Jay brings wide-ranging experience in fast-growing technology companies to support HR4s direct sales expansion in the North American automotive industry as well as developing a partner strategy to address other key verticals.

About HR4

HR4 Ltd. was founded in 2013 and provides a suite of modern applications to help businesses maximize profitability. HR4 helps over 250 automotive dealers and other businesses improve their bottom-line by an estimated $10,000 per employee per year. Solve turnover with more applicants and faster hiring. Remotely onboard and train new hires faster. Mobile schedules and time tracking to improve productivity. Pre-built sales training so salespeople hit targets faster. Plus, many more apps to improve employee experience and maximize profit.
Hypersonix selected as an Honorable Mention in "On the Rise: 0-4 years in business" category of Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards We are honored to be recognized by this prestigious publication as contributing a world-changing idea to our society. Our mission at Hypersonix is to help todays commerce enterprises truly drive revenue growth through what amounts to a comprehensive inter-connected AI system.

The winners of Fast Companys 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring 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.

Fast Company, an industry leading technology & business publication, selected Hypersonix as an honorable mention in the On the Rise: 0-4 Years in Business category of its 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. This award comes on the heels of Hypersonix's AI technology being successfully deployed at several large and mid-sized consumer commerce enterprises, resulting in revenue and profitability growth. The company was recognized in the awards AI and Data category, which considered projects that harness the power of data, machine learning, or artificial intelligence to understand the world and empower change.

By delivering advanced visibility, monitoring, and predictive and prescriptive intelligence, Hypersonix enables consumer commerce businesses to pull together and study disparate data signals and their influence on outcomes in real time. This ability leads to actionable insights, resulting in immediate and smart decisions.

Now 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.

We are honored to be recognized by this prestigious publication as contributing a world-changing idea to our society, said Prem Kiran, Founder & CEO, Hypersonix. Our mission at Hypersonix is to help todays commerce enterprises truly drive revenue growth through what amounts to a comprehensive inter-connected AI system. This system ties to every aspect of their core business, learns from them, monitors them and then recommends timely action.

Todd Michaud, President & Chief Commercial Officer, Hypersonix, added, The success of todays commerce enterprises is defined by how fast and how many high-quality decisions they are able to make to stay ahead of their competition and adapt to the rapidly changing consumer demands. We agree that our technology is world-changing as it enables large to medium enterprises to take advantage of both external and internal data signals,and transform them into successful outcomes. This is powered by Hypersonixs ML-based revenue management capability, which is business-ready, easy to consume using natural language (NLP), and continuously observing and self-learning. The solution has already become an integrated part of several top e-commerce, retail, hospitality, and consumer packaged goods businesses around the globe.

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.

Hypersonix was founded in 2018 by a team of former executives from SAP, PayPal and IBM. Besides being featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and TechCrunch, Hypersonix was named a 2020 Cool Vendor by Gartner. The company is headquartered in San Jose, CA.

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.
Drivers can save hundreds of dollars per year on car insurance if they know how to compare car insurance quotes correctly. With just a few tips, drivers can get the best deal on car insurance., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents several tips that can help policyholders to compare different car insurance quotes.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-compare-car-insurance-quotes-2/

Finding car insurance quotes is not that hard anymore. With just a few clicks, drivers can discover dozens of quotes from insurance providers that are allowed to sell policies in their areas. However, comparing two different quotes can be tricky for most drivers. Finding the differences between a good and a bad policy might be harder than most drivers think.

To compare different car insurance quotes and to find the best insurance plan, drivers should follow the next tips:



Compare car insurance quotes online for free. Drivers can simply enter their ZIP code on a brokerage website and check the offers made by providers that sell policies in their areas. Sometimes, drivers will see a general price range for car insurance policies in their areas. At the very least, they can see the names of companies offering auto insurance in their region.

Request customized quote forms from multiple insurers. To get a more accurate idea of which insurance provider is the best, drivers should complete several quote forms from different insurers. In these forms, customers will have to submit their personal information such as age, gender, driving record, and other information.

Verify coverage conditions and compare identical insurance plans. Different car insurance companies have different standard policies. While some insurers will display their basic liability insurance by default, other providers might show the price for full coverage car insurance, which includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Also, car insurance plans can vary based on coverage limits.

Check J.D. Power ratings. Every year, J.D. Power publishes two studies. The first study is the U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, where they reveal how easily were customers able to process an insurance claim and if the policyholders were satisfied with the claims process overall. The second study, Insurance Shopping Study, reveals how competitive were the insurance companys prices and how easy was the shopping experience for customers. Its not uncommon for certain companies to consistently rank better than their competitors in terms of claims satisfaction and insurance shopping.

Check out the complaints about each insurance provider. Drivers can do that by checking The Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) site. The NAIC offers two types of complaint reports. First is the Closed Complaint Counts by Code, where drivers can find out the reasons why complaints were filed against a particular car insurance company. The second is the Closed Complaint Ratio Report, where policyholders can see the number of complaints adjusted by market share. When looking at complaints, drivers can find various information such as reasons for complaint, complaints by type of insurance, a description of what happened, denial of the claim, charging extra fees, and more.

Look for discounts that are unique to each provider. Some providers offer discounts exclusive to that company. For example, some insurers are specialized in insuring high-risk drivers and they can offer better rates for these drivers than most insurers. Other discounts that may be unique at one provider include complimentary rental car insurance coverage, discounts to active duty or retired military personnel and their families, discounts for police officers, nurses, doctors, teachers, and more.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
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 Forensic Science Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 145 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 14 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Forensic Science Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-forensic-science-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Forensic Science Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Arizona State University

Ashford University

Carlow University

Champlain College

Florida International University

La Salle University

National University

Nova Southeastern University

Oklahoma State University

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Saint Leo University

Stevenson University

University of Central Florida

University of Florida

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/.
"Companies have been challenged to make sure that the office is safe when their employees return. It would really be a shame to now go back and not to make some sort of changes." Adrienne Harbarger, senior design project lead, CBRE Design

Zonez http://www.zonez.com, a division of Allied Modular http://www.alliedmodular.com that has more than 30 years of experience, recently launched of the one of a kind, patent pending solution with its new Clean Zonez Panels.

Clean Zonez http://www.cleanzonez.com was introduced on the heels of the CDCs guidance that the coronavirus is airborne, along with WHO's revised statement on April 30, 2021 finally acknowledging the aerosolized threat of COVID-19. The CDC has suggested that personal air cleaners use HEPA filters to enhance air cleaning wherever possible.

It has become clear that indoor air quality is probably the most important aspect of returning to work. The air we breathe is the most shared resource of any workplace. The moment employees return to share the office space, they are then sharing the air.

This all makes perfect sense. At the same time, companies are starting to ask, "do we need to do anything once they say its safe to return to work?" This is an interesting question but, with a very obvious answer, you absolutely should!

Consider the fact that a majority of employees have been working from home for over 1 year now. During this year long pause, companies have been reevaluating office with an opportunity to address employee wellness to make sure that the office is safe when their employees return. As they return to work, it is not hard to imagine that employees will be anxious to see how that time has been used and to see what investments have been made.

How will an employee feel if they return to the office after this unprecedented year to learn that their employer did nothing to enhance the safety and well being of the office? Would anyone feel valued by an employer doing nothing?

Fortunately, there is an easy, cost effective solution. Companies can demonstrate their commitment to employee well being with Clean Zonez. Clean Zonez solutions not only help to make the workplace safer by filtering the air, they enhance overall productivity as well.

Harvard Business Review published a fascinating study on the impact air quality has on productivity and cognitive thinking. Their findings suggest productivity benefits from doubling the ventilation rates are $6,500 per person per year. Imagine investing as little as $300 per employee and generating a return of $6,500 per year!

Take action and show your employees that your value their well being by visiting Zonez https://zonez.com/air-filtration/

Zonez currently operates out of three facilities across the country in Orange, CA, Nashville, TN and Austin, TX.

For interview requests please contact sales@zonez.com

For more about the innovative Clean Zonez solutions or to receive a Spec Sheet Click here CleanZonez https://cleanzonez.com/
Laws of Motion, a disruptive startup venture known for its innovative fit tech and cutting-edge American manufacturing, has been honored by Fast Companys 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards for its Hero Initiative, a purpose-drive pivot into PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic. These awards recognize 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.

Prior to COVID-19, Laws of Motion made perfect-fitting womens apparel using 144 data-driven sizes, an algorithm-powered fit quiz, and on-demand, zero-waste manufacturing in the United States. Laws of Motions Founder & CEO, Carly Bigi, contracted Covid-19 in early March 2020. While facing the worst of her symptoms, Bigi watched as the country suffered too  non-essential businesses closed, healthcare providers wore tablecloths as gowns, and temporary morgues launched across NYC. Bigi told the team this is when we dig into the ingenuity and innovation that got us here and we do everything we can do help. The team agreed that pivoting its Americas-based supply chain to help tackle the dire shortage of PPE in the US wasnt only the right decision  it was the only decision. That week, Laws of Motion launched the Hero Initiative.

The Hero Initiative has three clear objectives: 1) empower its community of influential, powerful women to stay home to help save lives, 2) manufacture PPE for the government during a worldwide shortage, and 3) donate PPE to frontline heroes in need. The brand offered Hero Robes, a silky navy robe made of its dress lining, that comforted customers at home and connected them to a shared purpose during such a helpless time. Laws of Motion donated 10 masks for each Hero Robe purchased, and, in total, has donated nearly one million masks to frontline healthcare heroes.

Laws of Motion knew if they could produce perfect-fitting dresses, then they could make medical-grade gowns. The startup specialized in on-demand, zero-waste production in the United States, which meant it could move fast  a critical need due to PPE import delays and unavailability. Laws of Motion pivoted its entire supply chain and during the 6-week apex of Covid-19, produced over 5 million pieces of PPE.

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. The 2021 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Brazil to Denmark to Vietnam.

Bigi said I am honored and humbled that Fast Company has named the Laws of Motion Hero Initiative as a World Changing Idea. The Hero Initiative is all about our heroes. Whether you are a hero at home helping to flatten the curve, a hero at work powering an essential business, or a hero on the frontlines fighting tirelessly to help save lives - thank you. You are our hero.

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.

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.
The company will complete analysis of 1-metre re-split samples for significant intervals while having started planning for the first bedrock drill testing of the Railway target.

Miramar is awaiting assays for aircore drill holes as well as the 8-Mile diamond holes

s ( ) phase-2 drilling has extended the strike length of the Railway target within the Gidji Gold JV Project in Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia to more than 1 kilometre, indicating that the target is potentially at the intersection of WNW and NW-trending structures

The company has now received all results for its phase-2 aircore holes testing the Railway target, one of four targets outlined following phase-1 drilling completed in December 2020.

Railway target showing phase-1 (1-metre re-splits) and phase-2 (4-metre composite) aircore results.

Several of the new holes ended in supergene gold anomalism of >0.25g/t gold.

The company will complete analysis of one-metre re-split samples for significant intervals and has started planning for the first bedrock drill testing of this target.

Miramar is waiting on assay results for a number of aircore drill holes and the 8-Mile diamond holes.

Numerous opportunities for discovery

The Gidji JV Project is around 15 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie and consists of three granted tenements and 14 applications covering a strike length of around 15 kilometres.

Miramar purchased an 80% interest in the Gidji JV project tenements as part of its recent IPO.

The project is within the Boorara Shear Zone, a major mineralised structure that hosts the Paddington and Boorara gold deposits along strike.

Gidji has been poorly explored despite its location close to several major gold deposits.

Miramar believes the project contains numerous opportunities for the discovery of an economic gold deposit within proximity to existing mining and processing infrastructure.
Peanut, Butter, and Jelly kids: Unleashed: a sweet installment in The Grandma Jelly series. Peanut, Butter, and Jelly kids: Unleashed is the creation of published author, Lena Dodley, a loving mother, and grandmother who hopes to inspire children everywhere.

Dodley writes, Are you a good neighbor? Will you do a good deed? If we knocked on your door would you help Peanut, Butter and Jelly?

"Timing is everything when you lose something you love. Whether it is a dog or a cat, a hat or a glove.

"No worries! This story will show you good things can happen in the end. Peanut, Butter and Jelly kids at it again.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Lena Dodleys new book is an important object lesson for children everywhere.

Read along to find out where the neighborhood pets could have run off to as you meet the neighbors who reach out for help from Peanut, Butter, and Jelly.

View a synopsis of Peanut, Butter, and Jelly kids: Unleashed on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Peanut, Butter, and Jelly kids: Unleashed at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Peanut, Butter, and Jelly kids: Unleashed, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Our Fellows have demonstrated deep passion for the purpose of social justice and are willing to work to reveal and address the ugly truths of racism, poverty and inequality.

LexisNexis Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of information and analytics, launched a new Fellowship initiative from its African Ancestry Network (AAN) and LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation (LNROLF) as a part of its commitment to eliminate systemic racism in legal systems and build a culture of inclusion and diversity at the company. The program was created in partnership with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Law School Consortium (HBCULSC), including Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, Howard University School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Southern University Law Center, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.

The LexisNexis Fellowship consists of twelve law school students from the six law schools that make up the HBCULSC in its inaugural cohort, selected from a large, competitive applicant pool. The Fellows that have been selected for the 2021 Fellowship Cohort are Charles Graham, Jr. of Thurgood Marshall School of Law of Texas Southern University, Darnell-Terri Andrews of Southern University Law Center, Ebony Cormier of Southern University Law Center, Emony Robertson of Howard University School of Law, Feven Yohannes of Howard University School of Law, Herb Brown of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Jamal Bailey of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Kailyn Kennedy of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Oscar Draughn of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, Paris Maulet of Thurgood Marshall School of Law of Texas Southern University, Pearl Mansu of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, and Shayla McIntyre of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law.

Our Fellows have demonstrated deep passion for the purpose of social justice and are willing to work to reveal and address the ugly truths of racism, poverty and inequality. One cant help but feel an immense sense of hope, courage and achievement working with this group. Like many leaders who have gone before, the Fellows will work to build their own legacy of leadership in advancing the rule of law, said Ronda Moore, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at LexisNexis Legal & Professional.

Each Fellow will be awarded $10,000 and will spend nine months engaging in a unique experience that will accelerate their career, develop their leadership skills, and create opportunities to make a real difference. LexisNexis employees will work with Fellows on projects with the shared goal of eliminating systemic racism in our legal system and implementing solutions while advancing the four key elements of the rule of law  equality under the law, transparency of law, independent judiciary, and accessible legal remedy. The Fellowship began with a Fellowship Virtual Orientation held on March 8, 2021. LexisNexis will invest in the Fellows development by providing dedicated mentorship and recurring professional development sessions that will enhance Fellows technology, data analytics, and leadership skills.

The core mission of advancing the rule of law which underpins LexisNexis and its foundation has never been more important than it is today. We applaud the work being undertaken by the Fellows to expose elements of systemic racism in the legal system and address these challenges through a rule of law-framework, said Ian McDougall, President of LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation.

Virtual programming that showcases the work of the Fellows will be shared through various initiatives internally for LexisNexis employees and externally with the HBCUs and key partners. At the culmination of the Fellowship, Fellows will present the results of their individual projects to the LexisNexis Legal & Professional CEO Mike Walsh, the Executive Team, and the HBCULSC Deans.

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that helps customers increase productivity, improve decision-making and outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 160 countries with 10,400 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

The African Ancestry Network (AAN) is organized as an official network for employees of African descent at RELX. AAN embraces RELX corporate diversity initiatives aimed at improving the companys competitiveness by increasing the representation, development, promotion, and retention of black employees.

About LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation

LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has the mission to advance the rule of law around the world. The foundation efforts focus on the four key elements of the rule of law: transparency of the law, accessible legal remedy, equal treatment under the law, and independent judiciaries.


Partnering with a leader like Ad Fontes Media was an easy choice because they are a true leader in both news literacy content and media source bias/reliability data, said Randal Heise, co-owner of Mackin.

Mackin, a leading provider of K-12 print and digital fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as educational curriculum materials, is pleased to announce it has partnered with Ad Fontes Media, the media bias intelligence leader, to provide K-12 schools around the world with access to Ad Fontes Medias in-depth news literacy curricula and data.

Over the last 15 years, the news landscape has changed dramatically and there have been relatively few curriculum materials and resources to help teachers navigate these changes. As a result of the distribution alliance, over 130,000 K-12 schools will now be able to discover Ad Fontes Medias news literacy offerings during the procurement process. This is the first time Ad Fontes has commercially marketed its content analysis methodology instruction and databases to the educational market.

Partnering with a leader like Ad Fontes Media was an easy choice because they are a true leader in both news literacy content and media source bias/reliability data, said Randal Heise, co-owner of Mackin. Right now, the demand for their solutions is very strong, particularly with English, social studies, and journalism teachers, as well as with librarians who teach information literacy.

Under the terms of the partnership, Mackins customers will now be able to access and buy Ad Fontes Medias offerings through their existing MackinVIA digital content management platform, including Ad Fontes Medias:

SUMMA News Literacy Program  A program which teaches students to analyze the news and create their own Media Bias Charts.

The SUMMA News Literacy Program comes with a full-online curriculum for teaching Ad Fontes Medias content analysis methodology and an interactive software platform for students to perform their analysis and produce their resulting charts.

Interactive Media Bias Chart Educator Pro Version  A database of news bias and reliability scores with automatic filtering tools.

Ad Fontes Medias solutions encourage critical thinking and student engagement. They also provide a fun way to discuss current events and are easy to learn and use.

Ad Fontes Media founder and CEO Vanessa Otero said, The fact that Mackin is helping educators get the resources they need to teach students how to evaluate and detect misinformation, fake news, and bias should be recognized. In todays world, these skills are more important than ever. Ultimately, students need to be able to critically think and evaluate the veracity of all news content themselves.

Mackin is headquartered in Minnesota and has been serving educators for nearly 40 years. Ad Fontes Media is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, and launched in 2018.

About Mackin

Mackin is a Minnesota-based, family-owned company which takes great pride in providing the highest-quality, age-appropriate library and classroom materials for PK-12 schools as well as public library Children's and Young Adult collections. Known for their substantial catalog that boasts more than 18,000 publishers with over 3 million print books, Mackins ever-growing digital catalog now includes more than 3 million digital products including eBooks, databases, audiobooks, read-alongs, and video resources  all available through their free, multi-award-winning digital content management system, MackinVIA. For more information, visit http://www.mackin.com or call 800-245-9540.

About Ad Fontes Media

Ad Fontes Media is the media bias intelligence leader and producer of The Media Bias Chart which rates media sources in terms of political bias and reliability. The organization was founded by patent attorney Vanessa Otero with the goal of combating political polarization. In 2021, Ad Fontes Media launched its flagship Ad ApexTM solutions suite, a family of integrated media bias solutions. Ad ApexTM allows Ad Fontes Medias app, brand, media, and media technology partners to access its comprehensive news source ratings so they can use them in media planning, in support of their brand purpose and values. https://adfontesmedia.com
Going beyond standard curriculum options and enabling students to explore different cultures and career choices is an excellent way to ignite love of learning and help students find their place in our global society.

As families continue to look for full-time online learning options for the 2021-2022 school year, the sheer volume of options can be overwhelming. It is critical that students taking classes online have access to quality curriculum that is designed from the start to inspire learning and promote collaboration. Massachusetts Mayflower Academy (MMA), a full-time online private high school is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year at https://go.vhslearning.org/applynow.

The accredited online private high school is powered by the nonprofit VHS Learning and offers more than 250 unique online high school courses. The courses range from core subjects and electives to 24 Advanced Placement courses and a variety of Honors options.

Most families over the past year have used emergency remote learning programs and are now looking for something more. Our courses are led by teachers who have been thoroughly trained in online teaching best practices, and all of our courses are designed from the start to be conducted fully online and use effective online tools and techniques, said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. Weve utilized our 25 years of experience in online learning to create interesting courses that help keep students engaged. In fact, we contributed to the National Standards for Quality Online Learning, so families can be trust that our online courses, online teaching and online program is of high quality.

This fall, the private high school is offering three new courses: Chinese 1, Chinese 2, and Early Childhood Education 1: Development and Practices.

Chinese 1 will introduce students to Mandarin Chinese, the official language in the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Course participants will learn the Pinyin pronunciation system for listening and speaking as well as simplified Chinese characters for reading and writing. By the end of the course, students will be able to type short responses and paragraphs in Chinese with proper syntax and sentence patterns. To provide context and make student learning engaging, topics including the arts, literature, customs, and the history of Chinese-speaking people, will be introduced throughout the course.

Chinese 2 builds upon the foundation developed in the Chinese 1 online course. Students will learn more complex sentence construction and phrasing, and they will work towards the Intermediate Low proficiency level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Chinese 2 also continues to build student knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, including the arts, literature, customs, and history of Chinese-speaking people.

In the Early Childhood Education 1: Development and Practices course, students will visit a local early childhood education setting (e.g., pre-school, Kindergarten, childcare center, home childcare, etc.) and make in-person observations. In addition, students will create lesson plans, share lesson plan ideas, and participate in faculty meeting discussions with peers. They will also be required to do the following:



Identify characteristics of various developmental stages in young children;

Create developmentally appropriate experiences for young children;

Explain and apply basic protocols, laws, and procedures in the early childhood education setting;

Identify the various types of early childhood education programs and their purposes; and

Justify responses to complex hypothetical dilemmas in the early childhood education setting.

Engaging students is especially important to a successful learning experience, said DeFuria. Going beyond standard curriculum options and enabling students to explore different cultures and career choices is an excellent way to ignite love of learning and help students find their place in our global society. Massachusetts Mayflower Academy stands ready to help families use online learning to its full advantage as they navigate their educational options this fall.

About Massachusetts Mayflower Academy and VHS Learning

Massachusetts Mayflower Academy is an accredited full-time online private school. The academy enrolls students from across the United States and around the world in its college preparatory diploma-granting high school program. Graduates have gone on to such prestigious colleges as Bates College, California Institute of the Arts, Temple University, and Boston University.

Massachusetts Mayflower Academy is operated by VHS Learning, a nonprofit organization providing high-quality online high school courses since 1996. Certified teachers personalize each student's learning plan and provide access to more than 250 unique online courses, including 24 Advanced Placement courses. For more information, visit MassachusettsMayflowerAcademy.org
Our amazing nurses deserve to be celebrated as they work compassionately and go above and beyond to care for their residents.

National Senior Housing Operator Meridian Senior Living is celebrating National Nurses Week, May 612, 2021, by recognizing and honoring its nurses in its more than 75 senior living communities across the U.S. In 1991, the American Nurses Association declared the week-long event starting on May 6 and ending on May12, the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. Since then, nurses are recognized for their significant contributions to the well-being of others every year on May 6th through May 12th.

We are so proud of our well-deserved nurses and recognize them and their dedication to our mission of enriching the life of every person we serve, said Kacy Kang, President and Chief Operating Officer, Meridian Senior Living. Our amazing nurses deserve to be celebrated as they work compassionately and go above and beyond to care for their residents.

Facing obstacles with the global pandemic, nurses in Meridian communities stepped up to the challenge and exceeded residents and family members expectations. Each nurse works diligently to create an environment that is safe and engaging while delivering the same high level of care. Meridian Senior Livings Regional Director of Clinical Services Christina Harris is recognized with the Superhero WOW! Nurse award for her courage and valor during this unprecedented time. She spearheaded a mission to deliver care filled with compassion and emotional support to treat affected residents that exceeded expectations on many fronts. Ms. Harris not only battled the pandemic in her assigned Meridian communities, but also traveled without hesitation to other Meridian communities to treat those residents as well.

Meridian communities partaking in National Nurses Week will commend their nurses with activities such as granting special awards and distinguishing them, their amazing accomplishments, and their heart-felt stories on social media. Learn more about Meridian Senior Living and find a community near you by visiting meridiansenior.com.

About Meridian Senior Living:

Meridian Senior Living, a privately held company based in Bethesda, Maryland, owns and operates seniors housing communities across the country and provides operational consulting to 24 communities in China. With more than 75 communities in 20 states and more in development, Meridian is one of the largest seniors housing operators in the U.S. The company prides itself on providing the highest quality care, exceptional lifestyle programming and a distinctive dining experience for its residents. For more information on Meridian Senior Living, visit meridiansenior.com.
Nine Startups Selected for the mHUB Industrial IoT Accelerator We created the mHUB accelerator to expedite the path to commercialization for high potential hardtech startups and provide them with early seed capital thats so scarce for hardware as compared to software

mHUB, one of the nations leading independent hardtech innovation and manufacturing centers, will welcome nine high-growth startups to Chicago to participate in the premiere cohort of its Accelerated Incubation, a six-month, hands-on accelerator focused on hardtech product development and commercialization. The nine selected teams were chosen from a pool of nearly 500 applicants, 27% of whom were international teams.

"Chicago has long been renowned for its world-class tech and manufacturing ecosystemmaking it a magnet for entrepreneurs looking for their next big break," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "These regional strengths simply cannot be replicated elsewhere and further Chicago's reputation as one of the leading cities for new businesses to grow and prosper. I want to congratulate mHUB on the launch of their accelerator program, thank them for choosing Chicago and look forward to welcoming the nine startups in this initial cohort to our great city."

The cohort is the result of a rigorous selection process that included an advisory of industry experts, venture capitalists, manufacturers and serial entrepreneurs. The startups selected are demand-driven, solving real manufacturing and logistics challenges, putting the industry on a path to higher resiliency, productivity, worker safety and sustainability.

We created the mHUB accelerator to expedite the path to commercialization for high potential hardtech startups and provide them with early seed capital thats so scarce for hardware as compared to software, said Haven Allen, mHUB co-founder and CEO. The Midwest regions history as a manufacturing capital as well as its current recognition as a hotbed of investment activity means that the future of hardtech innovation can and will happen here.

mHUB's mission is to be at the forefront of that reality and address the historic barriers early-stage physical product startups have experienced. The mHUB Industrial IoT accelerator provides access to capital thru a $15M Product Impact Fund, currently being raised, and follow-on investment opportunities from the programs corporate partners as well as access to over $6M of equipment and resources. It matches seasoned mentors to each startup, focuses on business and leadership training and offers access to a broad manufacturing ecosystem. Being situated in Chicago, one of the nations largest manufacturing regions, mHUB hosts a supplier network of over 500+ U.S. manufacturers and growing. The region also has broader corporate and academic engagement in smart manufacturing. Further, Chicagos venture capital community has been gaining clout for impressive ROI and rapid deal activity.

Ive lived in cities all over the world, now in the Bay Area, and have never found anything comparable to mHUBs accelerator program, said Ilayda Buyukdogan, co-founder and CEO of Compocket, one of the programs nine participating startups. Hardware innovation is inherently capital intensive. mHUB has built a facility and community around recognizing that the next wave of breakthrough technology will be focused on our physical environments and how we measure them. Its exciting to officially join a community that sees hardware innovation as both imperative and opportunistic.

In alphabetical order, cohort teams include:



Ant Robotics (Oakland, CA): building a robot operation and dispatching system for warehouses and factory floors;

Ascent Integrated Tech (Champaign, IL): enhancing PPE with sensors and communication capabilities that improve safety and productivity in hazardous environments;

Compocket (San Francisco, CA): miniaturizing electronic measurement instruments in pocket format that connect to smartphones;

Iothic (Oxford, England): providing IoT end-to-end systems with post-quantum resistant security and a full interoperability communication platform;

Maxwell Labs (Minneapolis, MN): designing component cooling solutions based on solid-state using thermo-electric coolers controlled by machine learning algorithms;

Propulsioneers (San Francisco, CA): developing technology building blocks designed for autonomy and driven by software for maximum output and minimal footprint;

Rapids Air Quality (Grand Rapids, MI): creating local air pollution monitoring solutions for cities to bring greater transparency to the disparities of air quality within communities;

Stroma Vision (Chicago, IL): building computer vision models to understand human physiology in industrial settings and stop preventable accidents;

Third Wave (Chicago, IL): building a customizable, low-code IoT platform to rapidly deploy end-to-end wearable solutions, such as their product CareBand, that use long-range, low power connectivity.

The post pandemic momentum we are seeing around smart manufacturing, edge computing and industrial robotics was echoed in the hundreds of conversations we had with startups from around the world, said Thierry Van Landegem, executive director of mHUBs Accelerated Incubation IIoT cohort. The startups weve selected will be active drivers in the Industry 4.0 disruption that is happening.

The hyper-resourced program will commence on May 17th in Chicago. It is supported by partners Avnet and Panduit who will engage with the startups over the course of the program, providing mentorship and guidance for strategic connections within industry.

mHUB will launch additional sector-specific accelerators approximately every six months for the next three years with the next cohort focused on Medtech later this year. For more information visit http://www.mhubaccelerator.com.

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About mHUB

mHUB is a leading independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation center that exists to convene the entrepreneurial ecosystem around physical product innovation to ensure that the manufacturing industry continues to accelerate, grow and thrive. The mHUB community includes over 428 active and alumni startups and small businesses supported by a deep talent pool of product designers and developers, entrepreneurs, engineers and manufacturers, corporate leaders, industry experts, mentors and investors. mHUB provides a hyper-resourced environment to entrepreneurs with the goal of commercializing new hardtech innovation that will lead to new businesses, intellectual property, investment, revenue and job creation. Since launching in 2017, the mHUB community has generated more than $430M in revenue, launched more than 1,256 products, hired more than 2,153 employees, and raised nearly $702M in capital. For more information go to http://www.mhubchicago.com.

About Avnet

As a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, Avnet has served customers evolving needs for an entire century. We support customers at each stage of a products lifecycle, from idea to design and from prototype to production. Our unique position at the center of the technology value chain enables us to accelerate the design and supply stages of product development so customers can realize revenue faster. Decade after decade, Avnet helps its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at http://www.avnet.com.

About Panduit

Since 1955, Panduits culture of curiosity and passion for problem solving have enabled more meaningful connections between companies business goals and their marketplace success. Panduit creates innovative electrical and network infrastructure solutions for enterprise-wide environments, from the data center to the telecom room, from the desktop to the plant floor. Headquartered in Tinley Park, Ill., USA and operating in 112 global locations, Panduits proven reputation for quality and technology leadership, coupled with a robust partner ecosystem, help support, sustain, and empower business growth in a connected world. For more information, visit http://www.panduit.com.
MomentFeed's Enhanced Local Photos helps multi-location businesses scale and maximize the SEO value of their location-specific images. MomentFeed elegantly streamlines the entire local photo experience, turning a cumbersome process into a simple way to rise above the competition when consumers search for businesses like theirs.

MomentFeed, the leading provider of Proximity Search Optimization, today unveiled Enhanced Local Photos, to help multi-location businesses scale and maximize the SEO value of their location-specific images on Google, Apple Maps, Yelp, and other discovery networks.

SEO-friendly images play a considerable role in a brands organic search ranking and shopper engagement. In fact, research shows that businesses with at least one Google My Business photo receive 42% more requests for directions. And the more photos the better. Brands that have more than 100 images on Google My Business experience 520% more calls, 2,717% more direction requests, and 1,065% more website clicks than the average business.

Forward thinking retailers, restaurants, and other businesses managing hundreds or thousands of locations are taking note and elevating photo optimization as part of their overall near me search strategy.

Though it may appear straightforward, the DIY approach to local photos isnt really feasible for brands with extensive content libraries to keep updated and optimized across thousands of store locations, said MomentFeed CEO Nick Hedges. MomentFeed elegantly streamlines the entire local photo experience, turning a cumbersome process into a simple way to rise above the competition when consumers search for businesses like theirs.

MOMENTFEED MAKES OPTIMIZED IMAGE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION EASY

For each brand store location, the Enhanced Local Photos offering delivers professionally shot local photos, optimized for best practices and SEO, and provides:



A dedicated photo account manager

Photo brief development

Arrangement of local photographers

Professional photo recommendations for each location

Automatic loading and publishing to a brands listings for each of its locations

WHY LOCAL PHOTOS MATTER

Local listing photos on discovery networks like Google, Apple Maps, and Yelp communicate information to both consumers searching for a product or service and search engines that are tasked with providing the most relevant results to that consumer. Photos play a key role in which search query result a consumer selects. An optimized photo also provides digital information that can help search engines understand the relevancy of that image, which can result in a lift in ranking and visibility.

MASTERING THE ART OF LOCAL IMAGE MANAGEMENT

Photo and image optimization is the sum of a number of elements, and an effective strategy combines these important practices:

ADHERING TO GOOGLE'S RECOMMENDED PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS. Though discovery networks have varying photo specifications, Google represents the biggest search and lead opportunity. Accordingly, Google photo requirements should drive overall direction.

USING A VARIETY OF HIGH-QUALITY IMAGES ON A BRAND'S LISTING, INCLUDING FOR THE COVER PHOTO. Exterior photos or storefront photos help customers recognize a business as they approach from different directions. Interior photos help customers get a sense for the environment and ambiance of a business. Photos of employees at work help customers easily understand the type of work a business does.

REGULARLY ADDING NEW PHOTOS TO SHOW LOCAL RELEVANCE OR SPECIALTIES. The focus should be on professional photos that convey an authentic local look, or updates when a location experiences major changes like a remodel.

ALWAYS OPTIMIZING PHOTOS FOR LOCAL SEO. Brands should use high-quality images that Googles recognition engine can easily pick up and use keywords when naming image files. Keyword-rich image tags, meta descriptions, and geotags should be added to local photos.

Image optimization is just one aspect of a complete local social strategy. Optimizing search ranking requires brands to adeptly manage all the signals that determine local search rankings including data accuracy; location profile completeness; ratings and reviews; on-page signals; and local-social publishing and advertising. For more information on MomentFeeds Enhanced Local Photo offering or the MomentFeed platform, go to: http://www.momentfeed.com.

ABOUT MOMENTFEED

MomentFeed is the leading Proximity Search Optimization platform trusted by many of the largest multi-location brands in the restaurant, retail, automotive, hospitality, and financial services industries. Proximity Search Optimization is gaining significant interest from CMOs of multi-location, national brands and franchises as a way to show up locally, at the precise moment a customer has a need. MomentFeed makes it possible for national brands to execute hyperlocal marketing campaigns at scale  driving local awareness, in-store traffic, and more calls for appointments and orders.

Founded in 2010, MomentFeed is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. An Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Company, it was also named a Comparably Best Company.

For more information visit http://www.momentfeed.com | Twitter| LinkedIn | Facebook
Recognizing that burnout and stress have a negative impact on the personal and professional lives of faculty, staff, and trainees, as well as the quality of care that patients receive, the Mount Sinai Department of Surgery has launched the Stress Intervention Tools (SIT) program to help surgeons work through their emotions, reduce their anxiety, and manage crises.

Burnout has long been common among surgeons, but reports suggest that it has become more prevalent and acute during the COVID-19 pandemic. In its 2021 General Surgeon Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report, Medscape noted that the percentage of general surgeons who reported being happy outside of work declined from 84 percent to 67 percent. Furthermore, approximately 35 percent of general surgeons reported that they are burned out and depressed, and 83 percent of those experiencing burnout indicated they felt that way before the pandemic began. And six out of 10 general surgeons reported that burnout has had at least a moderate impact on their lives.

Long before the pandemic hit, it became apparent to me we needed to have a strategy in place that would be more effective in helping our surgeons, trainees, and administrative staff to manage the stress they were experiencing due to increasing demands placed upon them, said Michael L. Marin, MD, the Jacobson Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Surgeon-in-Chief of the Mount Sinai Health System. Given that some people have a stigma about psychiatry, I cultivated the idea for a program led by a mindfulness trainer who could listen, talk through challenges, and equip our team with tools that enable them to address their internal strife and prevent crises from occurring.

An innovative, holistic initiative, SIT meets people where they are, helping them build resilience, manage situations, work through emotions, and increase their sense of calmness and well-being through a range of interventions, including a seven-week mindfulness stress management course known as the Surgeons Seven, guest speaker presentations, and one-on-one sessions. Led by Jane Lodato, Chief of Wellness for the Department of Surgery, the program was developed in collaboration with Dr. Marin using research-based interventions. Ms. Lodato, a member of the second international cohort of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program sponsored by the University of California, Berkeleys Greater Good Science Center, uses first-hand insights into the resilience required to manage fast-paced, high-stress environments she acquired through her previous experience in executive positions.

There are many health care organizations offering mindfulness programs and other forms of support that are invaluable, but we believe that SIT takes a unique embedded approach to stress management that is proactive, integrated, and personalized, said Ms. Lodato. By offering one-on-one consultations on demand, we are able to provide them with specific practices that can be used to manage almost any situation as it unfolds without missing a beat. The more they practice using their awareness tools, the more they rewire their neural pathways, becoming mindful and less encumbered by the stressful situations we face each day. The goal is to help all learn to reduce stress, fatigue, or the sense of being overwhelmed in order to gain balance, confidence, and joy in work and in life.

From my perspective, the real value of SIT is that it helps improve interpersonal relationships, whether that is with my colleagues or my patients, said Peter Faries, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery, and Professor of Surgery, and Radiology, at Icahn Mount Sinai. Through the one-on-one sessions in particular, I have gained more awareness not only of the factors that contribute to my own reactions to situations but those that influence the reactions of others. That increased understanding enables me to manage interactions and situations in a more empathetic and psychologically healthy way, which benefits everyone involved.

The launch of the program reaffirms Mount Sinais longstanding commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of its faculty, staff, and trainees. Previous initiatives have included the Office of Well-Being and Resilience, which connects people with support services, and the Mount Sinai Center for Stress, Resilience and Personal Growth, which is addressing the psychosocial effects of COVID-19 on health care workers. Through these undertakings, Mount Sinai has set standards among health care centers for addressing burnout and stress, and SIT has the potential to build on that legacy.

Based on the benefits we are seeing so far, I believe the program can have a meaningful impact on the professional and personal quality of life for people who work in health care even in a post-COVID-19 setting because the ability to more effectively manage emotions, anxiety, and stress will always have value, Dr. Marin said. Our goal now is to gather more data on the programs effectiveness to see how we can grow and improve it and then we can start to share it with other specialties and health systems.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality carefrom prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty and our physicians in the top 1% of all physicians nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.


Implementing restorative practices during attendance meetings with families is key to our efforts in addressing educational equity and student re-engagement, notes Katy Wood, Coordinator - Student Support Services at Murrieta Valley USD, Murrieta, CA.

Murrieta Valley Unified School District (Murrieta Valley USD), A California Model School Attendance Review Board District for the 2020-21 school year, has implemented RaaWee TDPS as their collaborative platform. RaaWee, an added toolset, supports the districts goal of boldly and aggressively advocating for justice, equity, and access for all students, parents, and staff.

This focus translates to Murrieta Valley USDs attendance and engagement efforts as ensuring that all students have equitable access to the academic and social opportunities provided by our districts programs. Student attendance and engagement work is foundational equity work. It is critical to assessing how our programs serve our student groups equitably and shining light on opportunities to improve. The data provided by RaaWee supports Murrieta Valley USD's partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education to address district-wide equity and student re-engagement goals. The implementation of RaaWee K12 TDPS has proven to be an invaluable tool to fulfill these goals.

Implementing restorative practices during attendance meetings with families is key to our efforts in addressing educational equity and student re-engagement, notes Katy Wood, Coordinator - Student Support Services at Murrieta Valley USD, Murrieta, CA. The strength of these practices and tools facilitates strategic collaborations within and outside of the school district.

Using RaaWee and interpreting the data in this platform has shifted the district away from punitive interventions, historically used to address chronic absenteeism/truancy issues to a highly supportive, compassionate, and restorative approach. Awareness and rollout of these new techniques are being provided to district, community, county, and state stakeholders in a series of training events. For more information on the district Restorative Practices efforts contact Katy Wood, Student Support Coordinator at kwood@murrieta.k12.ca.us or 951-696-1600 ext. 1027.

Saleem Qazi, CEO of RaaWee K12 Solutions, states, We at RaaWee see this collaborative and restorative approach to re-engaging students after a year of distance learning as a most important use of our tools. Murrieta Valley USDs response to the pandemics resulting loss of learning is a model for districts across the country.

For more information on the RaaWee K12 Truancy and Dropout Prevention System or Murrieta Valley USD and its RaaWee K12 TDPS and restorative practices implementation, please contact RaaWee K12 at 972-782-4287 or Murrieta Valley USD at 951-696-1600.

About RaaWee

RaaWee K12 Solutions has a core mission to ensure that every student with challenges in attending school is identified immediately and is provided access to the school resources quickly, resulting in successful student outcomes. The RaaWee K12 Truancy and Dropout Prevention System is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive collaboration platform to implement attendance improvement strategies. It includes five modules to address the many aspects and stakeholders in the attendance improvement chain: Attendance Intelligence (AI); Collaboration and Interventions (C&I); Preventions; Interventions App; and Court Documentation Management.

For further online information about RaaWee K12 Solutions, please visit us at http://www.RaaWeeK12.com.
Gym+Coffee, Irelands leading athleisure brand and global community, is delighted to announce a partnership with International superstar and Irish national, Niall Horan. Niall has invested in Gym+Coffee, becoming a shareholder with an aim to support the business and help raise the profile of the brand internationally.

Gym+Coffee CEO, Niall Horgan commented: We are so excited for Niall to officially come on board and support a business like ours. Over the last 10 years Niall has represented Ireland with optimism, inclusivity, energy and positivity on a global stage and has become a household name across the world. He is what we aspire to become as a business. We hope that with his guidance and direction Gym+Coffee can emulate some of the success hes had and proudly represent Ireland internationally.

Investor + advisor Niall Horan commented, Ive been a fan of Gym+Coffee for some time both as a brand and a business. I love the idea of the community they created around the brand and their goals to Make Life Richer. The first time I bought some Gym+Coffee gear I was struck by the high quality of the clothing and I was delighted to see they were an Irish brand with a serious team behind their operation. As I looked into it more I started to understand their ambition and Im delighted now to become part of the team that will hopefully bring the brand to a wider audience.

Niall joins Gym+Coffee as an investor, shareholder and advisor and we look forward to achieving together on a global scale.

About Gym+Coffee

GYM+COFFEE IS AN IRISH ATHLEISURE and lifestyle brand with a focus on building a sense of Community. We believe in facilitating fun things to do, an awesome crew, and quality gear.

Since 2017, we have been producing high-quality, Irish-designed clothing offered through our e-commerce platforms in Europe, the UK, North America, Australia + New Zealand, as well as through our soon-to-be 7 retail Clubhouses in Ireland and the UK.

In 2020, we launched our first collection of sustainable athleisure products and continue to broaden our positive impact through partnerships with One Tree Planted, Waste2Wear, and The Sanctuary Runners.

In 2021, the Gym+Coffee Make Life Richer Collective of Ambassadors was launched, bringing together athletes and fitness + health professionals to represent and support our wider community.
Onslow, WA is expected to experience an uplift in investment activity from resource companies supporting the two significant offshore gas projects owned by BHP and Chevron.

The mobile concrete batching plant can produce a range of high strength quality concrete products.

( ) (OTCMKTS:CAULF) has reached an agreement with Kuuwa Rentals to lease a T4 Sami Mobile Concrete Batching Plant (CBP) in Onslow, WA.

The CBP can produce a range of high strength quality concrete products which Cauldron plans to make available to customers in the region.

Uplift in investment activity anticipated

Kuuwa is a hire company based in Onslow having majority ownership by the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC).

Cauldron plans to further its commercial relationship with Kuuwa by hiring mobile equipment required to operate the plant, following Shire approval.

The region is expected to experience an uplift in investment activity from resource companies supporting the two significant offshore gas projects owned by BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) and Chevron ( ).

Cauldron views these as potential markets for concrete sales once the plant has been re-commissioned.

Mobile concrete batching plant

The high summer and autumn temperatures limit effective transport distance of high-quality concrete.

Many of the potential projects, currently in planning, require delivery of concrete outside the effective trucking distance from the town of Onslow.

The CBP is mobile allowing the facility to be moved to any project site which is expected to commence construction.

Low carbon focus

Cauldrons green low carbon focus can also be explored with green concrete where cement potentially can be partially or completely replaced with alternative commodities with similar pozzolanic properties but without its carbon footprint.

Cauldron CEO Jess Oram said: The relationship between Kuuwa and Cauldron is yet another step towards reducing the gap between Indigenous Business and the mining industry.

A partnership formed on Thalanyji land makes it even more exciting. Our minds are firmly set on concurrently expanding our exciting interests in gold at Blackwood in the golden triangle of Central Victoria, and all business opportunities that present in Onslow.

We have been in the Onslow district since 2005 and are starting to build on many of the trust-based relationships we have established there.

We hope to establish a similar presence in Blackwood.
California-based industrial automation and IIoT manufacturer Opto 22 has updated its flagship groov product line with new models designed to run the latest version of Inductive Automations Ignition IIoT/SCADA platform. The new groov EPIC processor, GRV-EPIC-PR2 (PR2), and groov RIO edge I/O module, GRV-R7-MM2001-10 (MM2), both ship with Ignition Edge 8.1 pre-installed and include expanded memory and storage to support future versions. These releases target the growing market of edge-oriented applications like operational equipment effectiveness (OEE), predictive maintenance (PdM), remote condition-based monitoring (CbM), and digital transformation/IIoT.

The relationship between Opto 22 and Inductive Automation has always been a natural fit, and the popularity of Ignition Edge on groov EPIC clearly demonstrates that, said Benson Hougland, VP of marketing and product strategy at Opto 22. With Ignition Edge 8, Inductive has made it even easier to design robust edge-of-network systems, so we doubled down on our commitment to the platform with new models that let our customers in the Ignition community take full advantage of its features.

Opto 22 became the first Ignition Onboard partner in 2017 when it introduced Ignition Edge to its groov product line. The groov EPIC edge controller uses Ignition to provide embedded OPC UA and MQTT/Sparkplug B communication, as well as optional features like database transaction management and manufacturing execution system (MES) operations. Now, with one Ignition Edge 8 license, Inductive Automation includes all of its OPC UA drivers, allows external client access to the embedded OPC UA server, and introduces mobile HMI and web scripting options.

The groov EPIC PR2 processor aims to support this and future releases with more than double the storage capacity of the original PR1 and nearly double the RAM. PR2 is fully compatible with existing groov EPIC I/O, power supply, and chassis options and provides Ignition 8 developers with an automation environment that integrates PLC, PC, and network gateway functions into a single, secure edge device.

The groov RIO MM2 module introduces Ignition support to Opto 22s edge I/O family, which debuted in Q1 2020 with the groov RIO MM1. In addition to the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability and multi-signal I/O channels of its predecessor, the MM2 provides nearly double the memory and storage. With Ignition onboard, it can function as a gateway to PLCs and other third-party devices as well as send a variety of traditional I/O signals directly to on-premises and cloud-based Ignition servers.

The quality and functionality of the new groov EPIC and groov RIO models work perfectly with Ignition 8.1, said Don Pearson, VP of sales and marketing at Inductive Automation. Designing and building out robust architectures starting with highly functional edge-of-network systems has never been easier than now. We value our relationship with Opto 22 and we are pleased that our customers in the Ignition community can now benefit even more from that partnership.

Availability

The groov EPIC PR2 processor (GRV-EPIC-PR2, $1995) and groov RIO MM2 module

(GRV-R7-MM2001-10, $895) are available this month. For additional information and application advice, contact an Opto 22 pre-sales engineer: 951-695-3000 or toll-free, 800-321-6786.

About groov

Opto 22s groov product line combines real-time I/O sensing and control with the connectivity many of todays projects require: field sensors and devices, legacy PLC systems, software applications, remote equipment, and cloud services. groov RIO is a flexible edge I/O module designed to quickly connect traditional wired sensors and switches directly to Ethernet networks without intermediary control or communication hardware. groov EPIC combines multi-option, real-time PLC control and modular I/O with a variety of other automation functions, including a web-based HMI server, an OPC UA server for integrating 3rd-party PLC data, and gateway capabilities for segmenting and securing automation networks.

About Opto 22

Opto 22 designs and manufactures industrial control products and Internet of Things platforms that bridge the gap between information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT). Based on a core design philosophy of leveraging open, standards-based technology, Opto 22 products are deployed worldwide in industrial automation, process control, building automation, industrial refrigeration, remote monitoring, and data acquisition applications. Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A., Opto 22 products have a worldwide reputation for ease-of-use, innovation, quality, and reliability. For over 40 years OEMs, machine builders, automation end-users, and information technology and operations personnel have and continue to trust Opto 22 to deliver high-quality products with superior reliability. The company was founded in 1974 and is privately held in Temecula, California, U.S.A. Opto 22 products are available through a global network of distributors and system integrators. For more information, contact Opto 22 headquarters at +1-951-695-3000 or visit http://www.opto22.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
Quantum Healths unique approach and proven results have changed the healthcare landscape for the better.

MedTech Breakthrough, an independent market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global health and medical technology market, announced today that Quantum Health, the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company, has been selected as the winner of the Best Overall Patient Engagement Company award in the fifth annual MedTech Breakthrough Awards program.

Quantum Health proactively engages benefits plan members through its proprietary Real-Time Intercept Smart Engine, an advanced technology platform that leverages comprehensive industry, member and provider interaction data. The analytics from these combined omni-channel interactions enable Quantum Health to assess risk and engage members up to 120 days before a first claim is received. This early interaction ultimately sets members on the best path to positive health outcomes and helps prevent unnecessary costs along the way, both for them and their employers.

The RTI Smart Engine is just one example of how Quantum Health uses artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML) and a cloud-based tech stack to turn real-time data into meaningful real-world insights that transform members' healthcare experiences, produce industry-leading satisfaction scores, and drive continual innovation for Quantum Healths self-insured clients.

We use the best of technology to power our unique human-centered approach to healthcare navigation. Our goal is to improve the healthcare experience for all members and their families, while also making sure our employer clients realize cost savings and enhanced member satisfaction," said Shannon Skaggs, president of Quantum Health. We are honored to receive this award. It validates that we are delivering on our mission, and it is a testament to the innovation and commitment of the entire Quantum Health team.

The MedTech Breakthrough Awards honor excellence and recognize innovative thinking and success in a range of health and medical technology categories, including robotics, clinical administration, telehealth, patient engagement, electronic health records (EHR), mHealth, medical devices, medical data and many more. This years program attracted more than 3,850 nominations from more than 17 countries throughout the world.

Quantum Health created the healthcare navigation category and is the first company in the navigation space to be recognized by MedTech. Their human-centered approach to innovation and the application of cutting-edge technology creates a more personalized experience for members and helps employers realize savings through cost efficiencies, said James Johnson, managing director, MedTech Breakthrough. Quantum Healths unique approach and proven results have changed the healthcare landscape for the better. We extend our sincere congratulations to everyone at Quantum Health for winning our Best Overall Patient Engagement Company award, and we look forward to their continued success and innovation in the future.

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About MedTech Breakthrough Awards

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the MedTech Breakthrough Awards program is an independent program devoted to honoring excellence in medical and health-related technology companies, products, services and people. The MedTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough health and medical companies and products in categories that include Patient Engagement, mHealth, Health and Fitness, Clinical Administration, Healthcare IoT, Medical Data, Healthcare Cybersecurity and more. For more information, visit MedTechBreakthrough.com.

About Quantum Health

Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Health's proprietary Real-Time Intercept model identifies opportunities for early intervention in a members healthcare journey, resulting in better engagement, outcomes and cost efficiencies. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ohio. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, and a Great Place to Work by FORTUNE Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. The Women Presidents' Organization has ranked Quantum Health as one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Columbus Business First has honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work. To learn more about the company, visit http://www.Quantum-Health.com, and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact:

James Johnson

Managing Director, MedTech Breakthrough

jjohnson@medtechbreakthrough.com


Glogi Smart Glove Glogi is a very effective product in all of our warehouse operations. During the process of our employees, we both achieved a speed increase of more than 50 percent and reduced human errors to almost zero.

Thread in Motion, which develops industrial wearable technologies and integrated software, recently announced its new product Glogi. Sabanc Holding and CarrefourSA, a subsidiary of Carrefour Group, also uses Glogi in 11 warehouses, which provides 50 percent efficiency in time and cost.

Especially used in logistics processes, smart gloves are used in many business processes such as goods entry and exit, picking, sorting, goods counting, e-commerce operations. Speaking about the product and the company, Founding Partner and CEO of Thread in Motion, Kadir Demircioglu said, Since the day Thread in Motion was founded, we have taken it as our duty to listen to our customers and to respond to their requests by receiving their feedback. Especially with the effect of the pandemic, we released the smart glove Glogi in order to adapt to the big change in the logistics industry; Thus, we achieved the customer satisfaction we aimed by both improving the processes in logistics and increasing the operation speed by fifty percent. We now export the gloves that we developed together with our engineers to eight different countries. This is a great source of pride for us.

Glogi smart gloves are used in CarrefourSA warehouses

The smart glove Glogi is actively used in 11 warehouses of CarrefourSA. It breaks new ground in the logistics industry with its hands-free ease of use and weight of only 45 grams. In addition, considering the happiness and ergonomics of the employees, the new generation hand terminals are easily integrated into the existing systems in CarrefourSA warehouses.

We make the right decisions by analyzing the right information.

CarrefourSA Logistics Manager Halit Nadir Gul said, Our paths crossed with Thread In Motion in 2019, after a short demo period, they quickly integrated and our team started using the Glogi smart glove. Glogi is a very effective product in all of our warehouse operations. During the process of our employees, we both achieved a speed increase of more than 50 percent and reduced human errors to almost zero. Moreover, we are in a position to measure the information collected from the field and make more accurate decisions, this is very valuable for us."

The company exports to 8 different countries, exceeding the valuation of $13 million.

Exporting to eight different countries mainly Germany and USA, the company optimizes all processes in the logistics sector by providing data analysis thanks to the software platform. Thread In Motion is getting stronger day by day with the valuation of over $13 million with the investment made by Sabanc Holding Corporate Venture Capitals Sabanc CVC.

About Thread In Motion:

Thread In Motion is a technology company established in 2016. Developing smart wearable devices and software used in sectors such as automotive and retail, especially in logistics operations of all sectors, the company exports to eight different countries, including Germany, USA, China, the United Arab Emirates and Poland.

About CarrefourSA:

CarrefourSA, a subsidiary of Sabanc Holding and Carrefour Group, has 718 markets, 11 warehouses operating in 51 provinces with 11.000 employees in line with the vision of "Next Generation Market" also with the online market Carrefoursa.com. It reaches more than 500 thousand customers a day.
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced six U.S.-based finalists for the European Inventor Award 2021, including microbiologists at Boston's Northeastern University, Kim Lewis and Slava S. Epstein, who developed a device to separate and incubate single strains of bacteria in nature; Indian-American chemist Sumita Mitra, the first person to apply nanotechnology to the production of dental materials; and Chinese-American Bo Pi and Yi He, who have developed the worlds first fingerprint sensor able to check both a fingerprints pattern and the presence of live blood flow.

Lewis, Epstein, Mitra, Bo Pi, and Yi Hi are all finalists in the Non-EPO countries category. Meanwhile, Serbian-American Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, who has dedicated her decades-long career to developing an ex vivo tissue engineering technique for more precise tissue cultivation, is nominated for a lifetime achievement award for her innovative contribution to biomedical engineering.

SOLVING THE OLDEST PROBLEM IN MICROBIOLOGY

Epstein and Lewis' 'iChip' device solves the oldest problem in microbiology: only 1% of microbial cells produce colonies in a petri dish, the source of virtually every antibiotic today. Overuse of these leads to drug resistance and the evolution of 'superbugs'. But trying to grow the remaining 99% of bacteria was seen as an unproductive field of work, and microbiologists accepted that the majority of bacterial strains were simply inaccessible in a laboratory setting. However, Epstein and Lewis discovered the missing ingredient in conventional petri dishes: nutrients from the bacteria's native soil. The difficulty lay in separating strains of bacteria, because unlike pure colonies in a lab, bacteria in nature intermingles, making it difficult to split them.

What was needed was a device capable of isolating and incubating single strains of bacteria in their natural environment. As a result, Epstein and Lewis developed a thumb-sized device, the iChip, which isolates bacterial cells in compartments and sustains them with nutrients from soil. Their work has enabled researchers to develop the first new class of antibiotics in decades, teixobactin.

The iChip works by capturing single microbe cells and exposing them to nutrient-rich soil through a polycarbonate membrane with very thin pores of between 20 and 30 nanometers. This creates an effect a little like a plastic supermarket bag with tiny holes. Bacterial cells are isolated in compartments, sustained by nutrients from soil that are able to pass through the membrane.

Epstein and Lewis, who are splitting their time between academia and iChip-related projects, will begin Phase I trials for teixobactin with their private company, SME NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals, in 2022.

It would not have been possible to start a company without filing patent applications, says Lewis. The first question that an investor asks is what you own, and the only thing we owned was our IP.

Commenting on the iChip, EPO President Antonio Campinos said: "Epstein and Lewis have created a tool that enables scientists to access and cultivate microorganisms that were not available before. This could help researchers find new antibiotics, tackle drug resistance and, ultimately save lives. And they show how patents play an important role in turning innovation into a business.

RESTORING SMILES WITH NANOMATERIALS

Meanwhile, finalist Sumita Mitra created a new composite to repair teeth that has many advantages over conventional materials. Mitras material overcomes the limitations of previous dental composites, which were too weak to be used on biting surfaces or quickly lost their polish.

Previously, dentists seeking to perform natural-looking tooth repairs relied on the aesthetically pleasing but weak composite microfills, and stronger but less attractive hybrid composites. A problem was the size of the filler particles  usually dense, large particles like quartz that had been milled down. The resin wore away quickly, resulting in fillings that lost reflectivity and polish.

Mitra became aware of the limitations of composite materials while working in the oral care division of US multinational 3M. At the time, nanotechnology was emerging as a field of research and Mitra decided to explore how these developments applied to dentistry.

Her idea was to replace composite fillers with ultrafine nanoparticles measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers in diameter, smaller than the wavelength of visible light, resulting in a material which retains its shine. At first, Mitra and her team incorporated uniform nanoparticles measuring less than 20 nanometers into resins. Although these were strong and looked attractive, they were difficult to mold, making them unsuitable for dentistry.

Next, she and her team developed a technique for creating linked clusters of nanoparticles, called nanoclusters, combining single nanoparticles of varying diameters and resulting in a strong, durable and shiny material, with excellent handling properties. By adding pigment and altering their chemical composition, the nanoparticles could be matched to individual patients' teeth and layered to create a more natural finish.

Commercialized as Filtek Supreme Universal Restorative since 2002 by 3M, the technology is now in use by dentists worldwide.

The use of nanotechnology gave me the opportunity of making a new material, says Mitra. It restores people's smiles and improves the quality of their lives.

Commenting on Sumita Mitra's invention, EPO President Antonio Campinos said: Mitras invention takes what was an emerging technology at the time  nanotechnology  and applies it to a new sector to provide a solution for dentists and relief for patients. Patents have protected Mitras material and helped ensure that her invention remains commercially successful nearly 20 years after its launch.

LIVE FINGERPRINT SENSORS FOR GREATER SECURITY

Chinese-American innovators Bo Pi and Yi He have been nominated for developing the worlds first fingerprint sensor able to check both a fingerprints pattern, and the presence of live blood flow. Their technology protects users against fake fingerprint copies, which can be used to access smartphones or other protected devices unlawfully.

Bo Pi and Yi He determined that despite the security of mobile fingerprint scanners, these could still be 'spoofed' with devices that mimicked human fingerprints. Deciding that normal fingerprint-scanning technology was not secure enough, the two set about creating a device that could detect the blood flow  or lack of it  in whatever was pressed against the phone device.

Pi and Hes ground-breaking sensor was developed for the Chinese multinational Shenzhen Goodix Technology. The technology is a key security feature in many smartphone models, with additional fingerprint verification applications planned by Goodix in the coming years.

Pi and Hes technology delivered an industry-leading biometric solution. Their invention shows how innovation can help protect our privacy and security, said EPO President Antonio Campinos, announcing the European Inventor Award 2021 finalists. For the inventors, protecting their intellectual property with patents helped facilitate cooperation, attract licensing partners and helped their technology gain a foothold in multiple markets.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT NOMINATION FOR ADVANCES IN TISSUE ENGINEERING

Nominated for the life-time achievement award is Columbia University Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic. With over 53,400 citations and more than 420 journal articles, Vunjak-Novakovic is one of the most highly cited engineers in the world, and her life's work in regenerative medicine has provided life-changing opportunities to replace diseased tissue and organs in patients.

Replacing damaged or worn-out tissue has long been a goal of biomedical scientists. The mainstream approach when Vunjak-Novakovic began her career was to combine cells and biomaterials, then insert these into the body, so the transplant could regenerate tissues.

Her pioneering alternative led to growing cells in a laboratory by carefully controlling environmental factors like temperature, pH, nutrients, and oxygen, to issue the type of tissue they developed into, and then implanting this in the body.

Vunjak-Novakovic's primary focus with the company she cofounded, Epibone, has been facial surgery. This involved scanning the damaged area to define the precise shape of the defect, and using this to create a 3D model of the bone replacement. Next, the data is fed into a microfabrication device to carve a piece of pig or cattle bone into the same shape, creating a scaffold for the new bone tissue to grow in. This 'scaffold' is then populated with stem cells from the patient and grown in a bioreactor, mimicking conditions in the human body.

EPO president Antonio Campinos commented: Over her lifetime, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic has made a major contribution to tissue engineering, one of the most promising ways to prolong the human lifespan and improve quality of life. Her scientific innovation, entrepreneurial mindset and patented inventions offer the prospect of safer rehabilitative medicine in musculoskeletal, heart and lung conditions, welcoming a new era in regenerative medicine.

The winners of the 2021 edition of the EPO's annual innovation prize will be announced at a ceremony starting 1:00 pm EDT (19:00 CEST 17 June) imagined as a digital event for a global audience.



Video and photos of Kim Lewis and Slava S. Epstein can be accessed here.

Video and photos of Sumita Mitra can be accessed here.

Video and photos of Bo Pi and Yi He can be accessed here.

Video and photos of Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic can be accessed here.

Watch the digital award ceremony from 1:00 pm EDT (19:00 CEST) onwards on June 17, 2021 at http://www.inventoraward.org

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN INVENTOR AWARD

The European Inventor Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. Launched by the EPO in 2006, it honours individual inventors and teams of inventors whose pioneering inventions provide answers to some of the biggest challenges of our times. The finalists and winners are selected by an independent jury consisting of international authorities from the fields of business, politics, science, academia and research who examine the proposals for their contribution towards technical progress, social development, economic prosperity and job creation in Europe. The Award is conferred in five categories (Industry, Research, SMEs, Non-EPO countries and Lifetime achievement). In addition, the public selects the winner of the Popular Prize from among the 15 finalists through online voting.

ABOUT THE EPO

With 6,400 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralized patent granting procedure, inventors can obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 44 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.
Remote work is key to overcoming barriers of employment and providing equitable opportunities no matter someones life circumstances. Symbas platform will make it easier for mentees to engage and build community remotely with their mentors and ensure meaningful relationships.

Today, Symba announced a collaboration with Naamal to power their virtual mentorship program for refugees. The program is implemented with the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT), which provides educational opportunities to registered refugees, forcibly displaced people, and host country citizens.

Naamal works with organizations such as MIT ReACT to empower refugees through skills training, mentorship, and remote work, including paid internships. Going virtual has allowed this program with MIT ReACT to expand globally, with 50 mentees in the current cohort. Mentees represent 22 countries and are located mainly in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States, as well as in some parts of Europe and the Philippines.

Our virtual mentorship program matches our learners with mentors who are skilled professionals, providing a safe space to build camaraderie and trust between the pair. We hope that this working relationship will facilitate further development of our learners professional skills as they simultaneously progress through remote internships in their field. At Naamal, we are optimistic that this experience will provide the opportunity for our mentees to advance and sustain careers across geographic borders, says Lorraine Charles, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Naamal.

Symba is excited to power the important work Naamal is doing to open up the workforce for refugees with its platform, which helps organizations manage and scale their talent development programs. Program participants have already gone through skills training to develop advanced competencies in computer and data science and are scheduled to start the mentorship program this month.

Were proud to partner with Naamal to support global talent development opportunities for refugees, says Ahva Sadeghi, CEO and Co-Founder of Symba. Remote work is key to overcoming barriers of employment and providing equitable opportunities no matter someones life circumstances. Symbas platform will make it easier for mentees to engage and build community remotely with their mentors and ensure meaningful relationships.

About Symba

Symba, an all-female founded tech startup, powers global talent development programs with its management platform. The team has designed over 5000 talent development experiences, partnered with over 450 universities, and was featured in the Washington Post and TechCrunch as a leader in the remote work revolution.

Symbas platform supports the management of remote, hybrid, and in-person talent development programs, including internships, bootcamps, accelerators, apprenticeships, and more.

Led by a young and diverse team, Symba is building a platform with a purposeto open up the workforce. Symba helps businesses adapt to the future of workadopting remote operations, investing in the next generation of talent, and committing to diversity and inclusion.

For more information, visit symba.io.

About Naamal

Naamal was born out of research and observations about the economic situation of refugees in the Middle East. They knew that there had to be a better way for forcibly displaced people to earn a living than to be subjected to informal work in precarious conditions and in indignity.

Naamal provides refugees and other vulnerable populations training in marketable skills required in the global labor market and links them to these jobs. They aim to shift the narrative of refugee employment with remote work.

For more information, visit naamal.org.

About MIT ReACT

The MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT) is an initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that provides educational and professional opportunities to talented and motivated refugee, displaced, and underserved learners where they live. Launched in 2017, MIT ReACT identifies, aggregates and cultivates ideas, solutions, and best practices, providing access to relevant learning resources and professional development opportunities to learners from around the world, opening up digital accelerated pathways to higher education and fulfilling careers in STEM. MIT ReACTs cornerstone programthe Certificate in Computer and Data Science (CDS)offers a microcosm of MITs open learning ecosystem, integrating four components that leverage strengths of MIT: academics, entrepreneurship, experiential learning, and networking.

For more information, visit react.mit.edu.
Abbi and Ty Whitaker stand outside their Reno agency. The Abbi Agency is an elite firm well-known for its fierce, independent and true approach to marketing. Im thrilled that well have the opportunity to step forward as representatives of the state of Nevada on the global stage.

The Abbi Agency, an integrated marketing firm with offices in Reno, Las Vegas, New York and the United Kingdom, has joined the premier international communications network IPREX. The Abbi Agency, which provides performance-driven solutions for travel destinations, technology firms, healthcare organizations, and government agencies, will now provide its clients with access to IPREXs global network of communication agencies with 1,250 staff and 96 offices worldwide.

Vice President of Client Strategy at The Abbi Agency Connie Anderson said IPREX has already become a part of the agencys fabric, serving with existing partners to pitch, win and serve client accounts across the wide cross-section of business verticals in which the agency excels, including healthcare, government, technology and destination marketing around the globe.

The Abbi Agency is an elite firm well-known for its fierce, independent and true approach to marketing. Im thrilled that well have the opportunity to step forward as representatives of the state of Nevada on the global stage, Anderson said. Joining IPREX opens up new possibilities for collaboration with agency partners from around the world and, more importantly, allows each of us to benefit from one anothers unique perspectives and expertise. We look forward to working with our peers to unlock new opportunities for all of us, and to provide our clients with a new level of excellent service going forward.

The Abbi Agency is staffed by 30+ experts in marketing, public relations, public affairs, social media, web design, creative development, content marketing, data analysis, event promotion and coordination, and market research. The full-service agencys strengths lie in its approach to developing persona-driven marketing initiatives deployed as stories across a number of media channels.

Incorporated in 2008 by founder Abbi Whitakers expertise in public relations, the agency intrinsically applies PR principals to all service areas, providing its clients with a strong storytelling narrative. Whitaker has been awarded as a PR News 2020 Top Women in PR honoree, 2019 Ragan Top Women in Communications Award recipient, and serves on the Forbes Agency Council and INC Masters.

"We are so excited to officially welcome The Abbi Agency into the IPREX family, said Julie Exner, IPREX Global President. We have multiple partners who have worked with their agency to great success on client projects, and we are looking forward to extending their expertise to the rest of the network through the agency's offices in Reno, Las Vegas, New York, and now, in Europe."

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About The Abbi Agency

The Abbi Agency is an integrated creative, digital and public relations agency with offices in Reno, Las Vegas, New York City and London. The agency has executed award-winning integrated marketing campaigns for clients including Visit Carmel, North Lake Tahoe, Travel Nevada and more. The agency works extensively in the travel and tourism industry, while also growing robust healthcare, technology, economic development, construction, next-gen brands and public affairs divisions of the company. Learn more at theabbiagency.com.

About IPREX

IPREX is a $425 million network of communication agencies, with 1,250 staff and 96 offices worldwide working across the spectrum of industry sectors and practice disciplines.


As one of the leading real estate and construction law firms in Austin, The Kelly Legal Group is well-versed in the intricacies of the local real estate market in this booming city. The attorneys at KLG provide counsel to real estate investors looking to expand their portfolios, protect their assets, and make smart decisions for their businesses. Investors are welcome to schedule consultations to find out how a skilled real estate attorney can help them by providing support and advice on a wide range of legal matters.

The real estate attorneys at The Kelly Legal Group assist real estate investors with extensive portfolios and those who are just beginning to purchase investment property. A real estate attorney can handle:

Commercial leases

Zoning laws

Real property rights and land use

Foreclosures

Cooperative representation

Real estate development law

Distressed properties

Short sales

Closings

Landlord-tenant disputes

Contract disputes

While a real estate attorney cannot offer legal advice during a consultation, they can listen to an investors concerns and business objectives, then explain how working with an experienced law firm can help them reach their goals. In the competitive Austin real estate market, a real estate lawyer is not an option, but a necessity.

Austin-area real estate investors who have questions about legal matters relating to their business should contact The Kelly Legal Group to inquire about scheduling an appointment for a consultation.

About The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC

The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC is a boutique real estate and corporate law firm located in Austin, Texas. Founded by attorney Jeffrey S. Kelly, KLG strives to provide its clients with competent legal advice, first-class service, and rapid matter resolution. Over the years, KLG has expanded its practice areas beyond business and real estate to include wills & estates, personal injury, aviation, and criminal law.

To learn more, visit https://www.kellylegalgroup.com, call 512-505-0053 to schedule a free consultation, or stop by The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC office at 4934 West US Highway 290 Sunset Valley, Austin, TX 78735.
ThunderCat Technology is pleased to announce they have been awarded a new VITA Network Products and Services contract. This is the second VITA contract ThunderCat has been awarded and will broaden the portfolio of products and services they can supply their customers throughout Virginia. ThunderCat is proud to be a member of the Virginia SWaM program as a Virginia based Small and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business and looks forward to being able to better serve their customers through this contract.

Were very excited to have been awarded the VITA Network Products and Services contract. As a VITA COTS Software contract holder for two years, we have built great customers relationships throughout the Commonwealth. We look forward to expanding those relationships in support of their network requirements, which we have extensive expertise in. Were honored to be in the position to serve the great State of Virginia through these contracts, said SLED Director, Kent Stokley.

VITA Network Products and Services

Contract Number: VA-210320-TCTL

Contract End Date: 6/30/24

About ThunderCat Technology

Currently ranked #48 on the Solution Provider 500, the award winning ThunderCat Technology is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that delivers technology products and services to government organizations, educational institutions, and commercial companies. Led by a combat-wounded CEO, ThunderCat is a systems integrator that brings an innovative approach to solving customer problems in and around the datacenter by providing strategies for Data Storage, Networking, Cyber Security, and Cloud Transformations. A proven leader, ThunderCat Technology provides and optimizes technologies from best of breed manufacturers. Clients include DOD, DHS, VA, Treasury, FBI, State of Virginia, State of NY, Sony, VISA, and CareFirst http://www.thundercattech.com.

About VITA

VITA equips and empowers Virginia's executive branch in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, governance and procurement services. We drive critical business connections between Virginians and their government. VITA connects, protects and innovates for Virginia's technological future. To learn more visit https://www.vita.virginia.gov/
Victor Villasenor, three-time Pulitzer-prize submitted and National Bestseller author, is issuing a series of official Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) through ViciNFT representing his own works in support of charity. The first NFT auction begins Thursday May 6th at 9 AM Eastern Time and ends 5 PM Eastern Time May 11th, 2021 on OpenSea at the official Victor Villasenor auction.

Overcoming dyslexia to write 5 best sellers, Villasenor has supported over a dozen charities for over thirty years. His first NFT in support of charity, assembled by ViciNFT, represents:

A handwritten quote inspired by his grandmother, Dona Margarita, on the manuscript of Burro Genius, which at the time was titled Witness A Man. It includes an original picture of Victor in his home in Oceanside, California.

The inscription reads: It took Victor Villasenor over 40 years to get Burro Genius into its final form with many iterations and titles along the way, including Witness A Man. The handwritten quote inside this iteration comes from Victors grandmother, his inspiration. Victor may sit by himself when he writes, but he is never alone.

Victor has signed the quote in the NFT with his unique signature. Consistent with all ViciNFT offerings, 25% of NFT auction revenues will go to one or more charities. Bidders may bid on the NFT on OpenSea using Ether (ETH).

Victor Villasenors NFT designer, ViciNFT, is the leading carbon-neutral provider of NFTs, and, beyond a mandatory 25% of revenues provided to an artist or authors charities of choice, ensures an additional donation to a climate conservation fund. ViciNFT is led by Bill Gladstone, a literary agent and best-selling author who has represented Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle, musician Neil Young, Pamela Anderson, Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, and Thom Hartmann. ViciNFT helps creators like Victor Villasenor curate, design, market, and nurture NFTs and digital collectables for the common good.

Regarding the launch of the first NFT in support of charity, Victor Villasenor said: I am honored to be the first author providing Vicinft with author-based collectables. He added, I owe my success as a writer to my family, my high school English teacher, and to the many wonderful authors whose books I have read and who have inspired me. I am sure that NFTs will inspire future writers and provide funds which will be helpful to the many charities I have supported over the years, especially those that help our young people to realize that we are all geniuses and our main job today is to help heal our beloved Mother Earth and take us humans off the most endangered list.

Regarding Victor Villasenors first NFT, ViciNFT partner Bill Gladstone noted: This is a ground-breaking opportunity to recognize creative artists, musicians, authors, poets, and visionary thinkers. Victor Villasenor is one of Americas most cherished authors. His books are assigned to tens of thousands of students annually and Victors favorite activity next to writing is giving presentations at kindergartens, high schools, and universities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Victor is the epitome of a generous soul making him the ideal creator to launch a collection of unique NTFs for our global, common good. Mr. Gladstone adds: I represent many wonderful authors whose books have raised awareness of important global issues. I anticipate that the success of Victor Villasenors Official NFT series will create opportunities for many authors and artists to help millions of people throughout the world.

The results of Victor Villasenors first NFT auction will be announced Tuesday evening from the ViciNFT website following the close of the auction on OpenSea at 5pm ET on Tuesday, May 11. Those looking to bid on the auction should proceed to the official Victor Villasenor auction.

ABOUT VICTOR VILLASENOR

Victor Villasenor is an acclaimed, Mexican-American writer best known for the Nonfiction National Bestseller saga Rain of Gold. He has been submitted three times for the Pulitzer Prize, and Crazy Loco Love was chosen as the Best Biography in English at the 2009 International Latino Book Awards.

ABOUT VICINFT

ViciNFT designs and launches non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for creators, including actors, fine artists, musicians, and thespians. Its works are carbon neutral, and include a mandatory charity component equal to 25% of auction proceeds, making NFTs for the common good. The company is led by Partner and Co-Founder, Bill Gladstone.
Victoria Adams Phipps, VP of Engagements and Impact of Fourth Economy Consulting The time has come to begin building these economies of the future, with the insistent goals of equity, inclusion, and long-term growth," said Phipps.

Victoria Adams Phipps joins Fourth Economy Consulting, a national economic development strategy firm, as the Vice President of Engagements and Impact. She will lead client engagements involving equitable community development, private-public partnerships, cultural economy, and entrepreneurship.

Phipps was named the Young Economic Development Professional of the Year by the International Economic Development Council and Top 40 Under 40 in the Economic Development Industry by Jorgen Consulting and Development Counsellors International. Previously, as the Chief Strategy Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance, Phipps led relief efforts that generated $1.5M in direct relief for New Orleanians, including gig economy workers, hospitality workers, and small businesses. Phipps led strategy and production of The Idea Villages New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, an annual event celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and new thinking in New Orleans and the surrounding region. The event was a major contributor to New Orleans economic rebound post-Hurricane Katrina.

Phipps joins Fourth Economy in their tenth year as a community and economic development strategy firm with a mission to ensure that the economy serves the people. Working with communities nationwide, Fourth Economy recently released an Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan in Ramsey County, Minnesota focused on equitable development.

The past year highlighted the importance of building sustainable, diverse, and resilient economies that are equipped to provide access and opportunity to all its participants, said Phipps. The time has come to begin building these economies of the future, with the insistent goals of equity, inclusion, and long-term growth.

More about Victoria Adams Phipps and Fourth Economys work can be found at http://www.fourtheconomy.com.

About Fourth Economy

Fourth Economy is a national community and economic development consulting firm. Powered by a vision for an economy that serves the people, our approach is centered on principles of competitiveness, equity, and resilience. We partner with communities and organizations, public and private, who are ready for change to equip them with tools and innovative solutions to build better communities and stronger economies. Learn more at http://www.fourtheconomy.com.

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Recent drilling has further expanded the shallow Sigma Lode target and extended Gamma Lode, intersecting broad, high-grade mineralisation outside the current 1.7-million-ounce Aphrodite resource.

The latest results point to the immense potential for further reserve and resource growth, says CEO.

( ) has intersected broad zones of shallow high-grade gold mineralisation at the cornerstone 1.7-million-ounce Aphrodite Deposit within its flagship 3.07-million-ounce Bardoc Gold Project in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia.

The new intercepts, which are all outside the current resource model, highlight the potential for future upgrades and possible growth in resources and reserves once modelling and optimisations are completed.

Best results from Sigma Lode, which is immediately southeast of the planned open pit at the Aphrodite Deposit, include:

5 metres at 17.7 g/t gold from 109 metres;

15 metres at 1.49 g/t from 97 metres; and

7.7 metres at 2.98 g/t from 133.3 metres.

The Aphrodite Deposit is a multi-lode system around 20 kilometres north of Excelsior/Zoroastrian deposits, where the processing facility for the Bardoc Gold Project will be located.

At present, the overall project hosts an ore reserve of 1 million ounces and BDC is confident of growing this.

Demonstrate huge upside

Bardoc Golds chief executive officer Robert Ryan said the new drilling results demonstrated the huge upside across the broader Aphrodite region, which the company was only just beginning to unlock as it continued its steady progress towards financing and development this year.

He said: Its hard to believe how under-explored an area like Aphrodite can be, being just 60 kilometres north of the centre of Kalgoorlie!

The latest results point to the immense potential for further reserve and resource growth outside of our current mine plan, importantly with much of the upside coming from recently delineated shallow supergene mineralisation which is expected to contribute to our free-milling processing plan.

The shallow Sigma Lode is currently not included in our ore reserve and the latest results will allow further mining studies to be conducted.

Early mining studies have already revealed open pit potential at Sigma, with latest results showing that there is also significant underground potential at the deposit.

Gamma Lode

The company has also intersected mineralisation at Gamma Lode just 450 metres east of the Aphrodite stage 2 open pit, which has a mining reserve of 2.9 million tonnes at 1.8 g/t gold for 168,000 ounces.

Drilling intersected promising geology with best results of:

9 metres at 2.36 g/t from 70 metres; and

16 metres at 1.04 g/t from 76 metres.

The drilling is still wide-spaced at a nominal 40 x 40 metres spacing and has the characteristics of the shallow mineralisation above the Phi and Alpha Lodes.

Future work for Gamma will include geological interpretation which will control a future resource model and also drive targeting of the likely location of the deeper underlying high-grade shear-hosted mineralisation.

Ryan added: Meanwhile, new intersections on the Gamma lode have highlighted potential for a new mineralised zone outside of the current 1.7-million-ounce resource.

Located 450 metres to the east of the main resource, Gamma has the potential, similar to Sigma Lode, to provide further mining options within the greater Aphrodite area.

Diamond core drilling on Sigma Lode has provided vital structural data, which is improving the resource model and future exploration targeting.

Other drilling

The company is also undertaking diamond drilling to test depth extensions at Zoroastrian, outside the current resource.

It has completed aircore drilling across the Bardoc Tectonic Zone and is now awaiting assays.

Next steps

The company is engaged in financing discussions for the Bardoc Gold Project with a final investment decision on track for the September 2021 quarter.

Other work includes:
2020 was a year we had to put a lot of our plans on hold, says Karl Hindle, CEO, including spinning off SailFish Systems, our managed hosting offering, but as recovery proceeds we are poised to take advantage of this growth wave.

Wellspring Digital, the Frederick MD digital marketing agency announces the opening of an office to serve the Austin TX market as the company executes its post-pandemic expansion strategy. The new office is being established because of increased demand for Wellspring Digitals service offerings not only in SEO and Digital advertising but in the rapidly growing Marketing Automation sector.

We are looking to increase our market penetration in the Frederick market and consolidate our position as the digital marketing vendor of choice, says Jon-Mikel Bailey, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, however, our strategy is to select target cities with growth potential and high current demand for our services, and Austin is our first out of region site.

Wellspring Digital currently includes the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, FITCI, and TechFrederick as well as a number of local businesses including Hi Lo Auto Sales, Diversified HVAC, MainSpring, and TirePros within its client roster, with national clientele including UBIS, Somoroff, MLS teams, music industry clients and Fortune 100s.

2020 was a year we had to put a lot of our plans on hold, says Karl Hindle, CEO, including spinning off SailFish Systems, our managed hosting offering, but as recovery proceeds we are poised to take advantage of this growth wave.

Wellspring Digital was founded in January 2017 and has grown from a one-man start-up operation to ten staff in four years. Our growth plans were interrupted by Covid, says Bailey, however we are now executing on our expansion strategy placed on hold during the pandemic and aim to grow to $3M in annual recurring revenues over the next three years.

Wellspring Digital plans to create three positions in the Austin TX metro office this year which will be managed by Sammye Klein, Workflow & Team Manager who joined the firm at the start of the pandemic. In addition, three positions will be created in the Frederick MD location while the company is looking to open a third location in Florida in Q3 2021.

If you would like to learn more about Wellspring Digital, please contact us or call Jon-Mikel Bailey on 301.383.8351.

About the Company

Wellspring Digital is a full-service digital marketing firm with locations in Fairfield, PA, Frederick, MD, and Austin Metro, TX. We specialize in Digital strategy, marketing automation, SEO, paid search, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and website design & development with SailFish, a managed business hosting platform built in the Cloud.
"Women, particularly those who are the head of a household, often have to choose between the immediate demands of family and making a living. It keeps them under-employed." - Santhanalakshmi Shanmugam, Minnodi, LLC

Santhanalakshmi Shanmugam appreciates the unique challenges women face when entering the workforce, especially in the demanding fields of science and technology. She founded Minnodi, LLC, a Maryland-based Women Owned Business focusing on IT/Pharma consulting and staffing agency headquartered at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), to help business leaders and potential employees connect. Now, shes going a step further. The company recently achieved certification as a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Womens Business Enterprise (WBE), in tandem with offering free IT and HR management courses through Aavanee, a Frederick-based non-profit organization. The group focuses on affecting change through the education of women as a means to financial stability.

Santhanalakshmi says their mission resonated with her own experience. I was able to go to college and pursue a degree, but it was still hard. I have had to put goals on hold to take care of others who rely upon me, so I understand. Women, particularly those who are the head of a household, often have to choose between the immediate demands of family and making a living. It keeps them under-employed. And its a far-reaching challenge because it affects the individuals, their families and the employers who struggle to find qualified workers. I think 2020 really turned a spotlight on this issue and how much it affects our greater economy.

Minnodi LLC and Aavanees first collaboration, an 8-week course on Basic IT Admin training, graduated 5 trainees. A second session on Human Resource Management finished with 11 trainees, including 6 women. Sometimes, the coursework needs to start with the most basic information. If they have never touched a computer, says Santhana, thats where we start. A second session of Basic IT Admin Training is now under way.

Friend and mentor, Kathie Callahan Brady is CEO of FITCI. She says Minnodis ability to connect with students is mirrored in its own focus on knowledge and improvement. Seeing this business evolve in the short time theyve been at FITCI is testament to their passion. We do a lot of training for members here and its not always glamorous, but it is the foundation of success. Minnodi magnifies that by helping others get ahead. Now, being certified as a Women Owned Small Business will extend that benefit even further.

Santhanalakshmi is encouraged. As a business founder, being certified is in important milestone because it recognizes how far we have come, while encouraging the whole team to push even further. That includes supporting other women and organizations like Aavanee. There is a great satisfaction in making a difference

Minnodi also offers training that ranges across Cyber security, Web & Graphics Design, IT Programming, Project Management and more, in addition to helping client companies boost their internal resources. The companys Learn Connects platform bridges the gap between students and instructors.

About Minnodi

Minnodi LLC, is a Maryland-based certified Woman Owned Small Business with 15+ years of experience in Science/Pharma, Information Technology consulting, staffing solutions and regulatory advisory services. Minnodi helps a range of businesses augment internal resources by delivering optimized solutions on time and within budget, whether acquiring new talent or elevating the skills of current staff to support growth.

About FITCI

Advised, Guided & Governed by CEOs. We, the CEOs of FITCI will meet you where you are in your business! Our promise is to provide our fellow CEOs with our most supportive, yet critical advice and connections; the kind we want for our own businesses. The Advisory Board is comprised of the best, brightest, and most proven CEOs who are actively engaged in supporting the local entrepreneurial community, ensuring businesses flourish in Frederick. FITCI specializes in the strategic business support of local entrepreneurs in the early stages of mostly science and technology-based businesses.

About Aavanee

Aavanee is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Frederick, Maryland. It is focused on helping women and families, to make the world a better and happier place.
Reporting its financial results for the first time since announcing its plan to sell its trade division to HarperCollins, learning technology company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said first quarter sales dipped 3.7%, to $146 million, compared to the first period of 2020. Still, its loss from continuing operations plunged to $49 million from $338 million last year, a figure which includes a one-time charge of $262 million. The company also said that it had adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of $15 millionthe first time, HMH noted, it had positive first-quarter EBITDA since the company went public in 2014.

Results do not include the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media group, which is now classified as a discontinued operation. Sales in the trade unit jumped 12% in the quarter, to $42.7 million, and the pre-tax loss was cut to $2.9 million, from $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2020. HMH said it still expects the sale to HC to be completed in the current quarter, which ends on June 30. The company expects to earn net proceeds of about $337 million from the sale, and will use those proceeds to pay down debt.

HMH had nothing else to say about the trade division other than to note it will enter into a "transition services agreement" with HC to perform certain support functions for a period of up to 12 months. While HMH still awaits the completion of the sale, it has already closed its New York City office.

In prepared comments on the quarter, HMH CEO Jack Lynch said: "We entered the new year keenly focused on executing our Digital First, Connected strategy. As our market stabilizes, our first quarter results represent a strong start to the new year. We continue to see impressive growth in important key performance indicators, positioning HMH amongst the largest and fastest growing companies in the edtech market."
Sales were up across all major Simon & Schuster divisions in the first quarter of 2021 over the comparable period in 2020, CEO Jonathan Karp told PW. The strongest increase came in the publisher's international division, where revenue was up 21%. Karp noted that S&S companies in both Canada and the U.K. expect record years.

Overall, revenue in the quarter increased 8.8% over 2020, to $185 million, and operating income increased to $27 million from $15 million. (Current S&S parent company, ViacomCBS, treats S&S as a discontinued operation pending the completion of the sale to Penguin Random House; there was no update on when the sale might by concluded.)

In the U.S, digital sales rose 8% in the quarter and print book sales had a healthy increase, Karp said. The digital increase was driven by audio, where sales increased 17%. E-book sales were about flat, with Karp noting that the format had a sales surge in late March last year when the pandemic first hit.

Sales were up in both the adult and children's divisions. In the adult group, Karp pointed to the success of Sanjay Gupta's Keep Sharp, The Code Breakers by Walter Isaacson, and Sister Souljah's Life After Death and The Coldest Winter Ever as among the top sellers. In addition, a book that S&S had delayed because of the pandemic, The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, has also done well, particularly at independent bookstores. And Karp said a number of the publisher's major commercial authors saw gains in the sales of their most recent books, in particular Jennifer Weiner and Jack Carr. In the children's group, books by new authors Tracy Deonn (Legendborn) and Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights), combined with Cassandra Clare's newest, Chain of Iron, to boost revenue in the division.

Karp had no comment on protests by S&S employees about the company's decision to sign Vice President Mike Pence to a book deal and its decision not to drop Post Hill Press as a distribution client after the company signed The Fight for Truth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy by Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of two Louisville, Ky., police officers that shot six bullets that killed Breonna Taylor. S&S is not distributing that title.
The London Book Fair has announced a schedule of topics and conferences that will be covered during its virtual online book fair, which will be spread across the month of June and into July. Starting on June 7, there will be four days of single-topic conferences: Introductions to Rights on June 7; The Writers Summit on June 8; What Works? Education Conference on June 9; and Research & Scholarly Publishing Forum on June 10.

The fair will then reconvene on June 21 and 22 with two days of talks and panels, including Industry Insights sessions, focused on publishing industry issues. June 23 will focus on tech and offer Digital Technology: Whats Next for Publishing, and the 24th will offer a focus on childrens books and edutainment, as well as scholarly publishing and human resources development.

The week of June 29 will provide conversations with winners of the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards; a separate stream of events will be available for authors and translators. The final day of the online fair on July 1 will offer insights into the business of books from the bookseller perspective.

Among the authors participating will be Matt Haig.

All content will then be available to view from July 2 - 16.

In creating The Online Book Fair we hope to be able to offer something for everyone, Andy Ventris, director of the London Book Fair, said. The Online Book Fair will be a chance to take stock of the challenges the industry has faced over the past year, and to celebrate the resilience, creativity and progress which the industry has shown throughout this adversity.
New York City, NY (11385)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
New York City, NY (11385)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Alkane produced 16,000 ounces of gold at the Tomingley Gold Mine in NSW during the March quarter which exceeded stockbroker Ord Minnetts expectations by 33%.

( ) non-executive chairman Ian Gandel has shown confidence in Alkanes ambition of becoming Australias next multi-mine gold producer by acquiring shares worth $2.92 million.

Gandel purchased 3,400,000 shares in on-market trades at an average price of 85.91 cents per share for a total consideration of $2,920,940, taking his holding in Alkane to more than 150 million shares in indirect interests.

Tomingley beats expectations

Alkane produced 16,000 ounces of gold at the Tomingley Gold Mine in NSW during the March quarter which exceeded stockbroker Ord Minnetts expectations by 33%.

Ord Minnett expects Tomingley to rejuvenated by FY24, with gold output to double (back) to 80,000 ounces per annum at a low cost of A$1300/ounce for a 10+ year mine-life.

High-grade mineralisation at Boda

Earlier this week, Alkane confirmed the intersection of further high-grade mineralisation at the Boda Prospect in Central West New South Wales.

Boda is a landmark porphyry gold-copper system, within the Northern Molong Porphyry Project (NMPP), which Alkane believes has the potential to be a large, tier one gold-copper project.

Drilling continues at Boda and Boda Two, testing extensions and adding definition to the identified mineralised systems.

An air-core drilling rig and one high-capacity reverse circulation (RC) drilling rig will be mobilised onsite next month supporting the ongoing diamond core drilling at Boda, Boda Two, as well as regional targets within the NMPP.
New York City, NY (11385)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 90F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
With the partnership, Community Fibre will bring its full fibre broadband network to 4,000 EastendHomes residents, offering high speed internet connectivity up to 1Gbps or 3Gbps depending on the areas.

The growing fibre broadband provider will work with the social landlord over the next year to upgrade the building management systems (including door entry, CCTV and lift monitoring) to 100% full fibre to increase energy efficiency and security of the buildings.

Six of EastendHomes community centres located across Tower Hamlets will be provided with Community Fibres Gigafast connection for free. This initiative follows as a pilot roll-out has started at Wager & Royston street onto Bede Estate in March, expanding to Holland Estate in April.



Community Fibre aims to get all of EastendHomes main blocks enabled with its 100% full-fibre within the next six months. Once installation will be completed, the residents will have the option to select Community Fibre as their broadband provider, with packages from 20 per month. They will also have the option to add Community Fibres Home Phone plan and the Community Fibre TV package, offered in partnership with Netgem, for an extra fee.

The past year has shown how critical it is to allow people to stay connected. As a London-based internet service provider, we believe all Londoners have the right to access fast, reliable broadband at an affordable price, as much as any other key utility services," commented Community Fibre CEO Graeme Oxby. "Our partnership with EastendHomes is the way forward to help us achieve this goal and empower more London communities to stay connected and build an inclusive digital future in the capital city.

John Henderson, Managing Director of EastendHomes, added: Digital inclusion is at the heart of EastendHomes partnership with Community Fibre and a belief that access to affordable, reliable broadband is fundamental in 2021. Our agreement will ensure all our buildings are providing high speed full fibre broadband to keep our residents connected and support them with their everyday needs. Free Wi-Fi at each of our community centres also means there is always a friendly place for our residents to go online.
For the quarter ended 31 March 2021, revenue increased 25.7% year-on-year to $3.6153 billion with Q1 net earnings leaping 41.5% on an annual basis to $1.440 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 18.9% on a reported basis compared with Q1 2020, but down 1.7% on a rebased basis, to $1.367 billion.The companys fixed mobile convergence campaign was also gaining momentum in the quarter with FMC penetration increasing to 29% from 23% in Q1 2020. The company reported that it had built 113,000 new premises during Q1, including 80,000 in the UK and Ireland.And it was in the latter two territories that Liberty found its growth engine. Out of a total of 38,000 net additions in the quarter, UK and Ireland through Virgin Media contributed 31,000, a startling increase compared with 1,000 losses a year earlier. Virgin added 24,000 customers to its Lightning broadband footpri nt in the three-month period and reported its strongest first quarter customer additions since 2017. It also posted record-low Q1 cable churn, an acceleration in converged bundle growth and a 300% boost in new broadband subscribers.Across Europe, the first quarter results also showed , Belgiums Telenet lost 5,000 customer relationships in Q1, an improvement compared with a loss of 8,000 in Q1 2020, primarily driven by continued commercial momentum while Swiss operator Sunrise UPC gained 4,000 customer relationships in Q1, as broadband growth was partially offset by legacy video losses.
Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.

Tomorrow

Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
It aims to become a leading Australian lithium producer, riding on high lithium demand as countries globally seek to adopt more environmentally sustainable energy policies

At the ASX debut: From left, non-executive director Dianmin Chen, non-executive chair Warrick Hazeldine and managing director Jamie Wright

( ) made its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) following the completion of a heavily oversubscribed IPO, which raised $10 million through the issue of 50 million shares at an issue price of $0.20 per share.

The IPO has been supported by a strong mix of institutional investors, resource-focussed funds, sophisticated and retail investors.

Established in 2018, Global Lithium is focused on its emerging lithium discovery Marble Bar Lithium Project (MBLP), about 180 kilometres southeast of Port Hedland, near the town of Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The company aims to become a leading Australian lithium producer, riding on high lithium 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 companys shares traded in the range of 26.5 cents to 30 cents with more than 7.5 million changing hands in the first three hours of trading.

Look forward to creating shareholder value

Global Lithium chairman Warrick Hazeldine said: It is a proud and exciting day as we list as a publicly-traded Australian company and we look forward to creating shareholder value through the successful exploration of our Marble Bar Lithium Project located in the globally renowned Pilbara region of Western Australia.

I wish to thank all parties involved in the formation of the company and completing this IPO, particularly Argonaut, our financial adviser and lead manager.

I personally welcome all new shareholders to the register and I look forward to regularly updating the market on our exploration activities.

After two years of successful exploration activities, this is a great time to bring this investment opportunity to the market.

Its a great time to be in the lithium industry and Global Lithium is one of only a handful of opportunities for investors to gain exposure to lithium via the ASX.

Primary focus after listing

Proceeds from the IPO 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% lithium oxide at the Archer deposit.

The companys primary focus after listing is to grow the Archer deposit.

The directors of the company are confident that further exploration will result in an increase in the size of the Archer deposit and that the remaining MBLP project area is also highly prospective for additional discoveries.

Global Lithium will also consider acquisition opportunities or further tenement applications which it considers a strategic fit to its operations.
Goldie Hawn portrays a Russian ballerina who falls in love with an American correspondent (played by Hal Holbrook) in the 1974 film, "The Girl from Petrovka." Source: Kinopoisk.ru

{***"The Girl From Petrovka conveys the Soviet spirit in an American way***}

This is a story about a story. Although the original is mine  meaning I expanded the first story into a novel I hoped would convey some of the spirit of Soviet life  its so-to-speak sequel, upon which I remain a puzzled onlooker, is more interesting: further confirmation for anyone who needs it that fact can be stranger than fiction. But the facts here are somewhat complicated. To put the summary less abstractly, the leading character of my The Girl From Petrovka, published forty years ago, came to life far beyond the powers of my pen, and she, my invented Okyabrina, still mystifies me.

Thats why my decades-long search for a key player of story two, the former correspondent of a prominent American newspaper, is becoming more desperate. He may be dead: to be more specific, story number one, my novel, was published in 1971. The said Moscow correspondent of non-fictional story two was full of confidence as well as surprise when he informed me that the girl from Petrovka was no creature of my imagination but a living, still restless person.

He told me a friend and fellow Moscow correspondent of his, who represented the Baltimore Sun forty years ago  and whom Ill call Joe for a reason that should become clear in a minute  answered a telephone call to the Suns office from a woman whose voice was unmistakably young and full of exceptional determination in the service of daydreams. That was a good fit for who she said she was.

Im the girl from Petrovka, she declared. Ive served my term and Im out, so can we meet? Shed called the Sun because the male protagonist of The Girl From Petrovka, of course fictitious, was its Moscow correspondent, who, by the end of the book, dimly realizes hes fallen in love with the imaginative Russian lass of the title. And now that she was out  out of a relatively mild labor camp  the real person wanted to meet that particular journalist: after serving a sentence of several years, shed no doubt need help in smuggling herself back into Moscow.





This was moving but also confounding. How did the former camp inmate who had called Joe know about him? And who was she to begin with? Not really, not possibly the girl from Petrovka because apart from the books make-believe, there was no such person. It was, I wont apologize for repeating because I remain baffled, a work of fiction, a slightly fanciful, half-satirical novel that of course hadnt been published in Russia.

However, a young woman, a real one, had been sentenced to a labor camp for transgressions on which the novel drew in its narration of its female protagonists Moscow adventures. And in the book I had her, my fictitious heroine, pronounce the name of the Baltimore Suns correspondenta job Id picked out of the hat for my male protagonist  Zhoe for Joe.

According to the Izvestiya feuilleton that inspired my tale, the shameful young criminal, as the Soviet authorities chose to see her, wasnt registered to live in Moscow, which made her residence there illegal to begin with. More than that, she was a parasite, meaning she had no visible means of support; certainly didnt work in any capacity approved by the teachings of V. I. Lenin. Without overtly calling her a prostitute, the article hinted at that by mocking and bemoaning her supposedly scandalous way of life that included a series of lovers and devotion to all kinds of frivolous activities, including dressing in unorthodox clothing and spending days and nights in one or another form of freeloading pleasure instead of joining the struggle to build socialism by contributing socially useful labor.

In short, she seemed to me a free spirit, which is what attracted me as a model for my flighty heroine, the irrepressible Oktyabrina. (The old Russian calendar had the November Revolution taking place in October.) So while make believe, she was based on that element of truth.

An excerpt from Izvestiyas coverage of her trial:

Once again, the court asks you to consider your behavior. Dont you regret the way you lived?

The defendant: I lived the way I wanted to. I dont see whats wrong with that. I mean, I didnt hurt anybody, did I?

{***The Girl from Petrovka goes to Hollywood***}

The Girl from Petrovka goes to Hollywood

The making of the 1974 film told at least as much as the novel had about lifes meanings and mysteries. All set for filming in Yugoslavia, its permission was cancelled and crew expelled at the last moment because the Kremlin was in one of its periodic rages against Belgrade, which appeased it by abandoning its participation in an undertaking that was certain to offend the wholesome Soviet proletariat. When the Sunday Telegraph of London sent me to Vienna to write about the shooting that would be resumed there, a secretary in the unit office scolded me roundly when I reached for a copy of the shooting schedule.

Who do you think you are?

II wrote the novel.

What novel? So what?

Goldie Hawn, the female lead, agreed in her way by suppressing a yawn and allowing that shed given up trying to read it after a few pages. On the other hand, The New Yorkers wild praise  the only good American novel about modern Russian life I can remember Oktyabrina Matvyeva joins the ranks of memorable  and heroic  women of modern fiction  came with all sorts of deep meanings that had never occurred to me. And my fifteen minutes of fame would arrive with globe-circling news of an episode involving Anthony Hopkins, the male lead. Unlike Goldie Hawn, Hopkins was determined to read the book, but couldnt find a copy in London bookshops. Waiting for an underground train to take him home, he ignored repeated warnings to never touch an identified package because the threat of IRA bombs were then disturbing the citys peace. The wrapped object he picked up from where it had been lying on a station bench was the very book hed set out to buy, a one in a million shot  but actually closer to one in a hundred million because it was a proof copy Id lent a friend months before, begging him to be careful with it because Id marked it up with a red pencil. He lost it the same day, somewhere in London.

Goldie Hawn. Press Photo



What a coincidence! Hopkins enthused. But why was it dotted with red spots, have you any idea?

Now Im still looking for the Baltimore Sun correspondent whose name I lost together with that of his friend who told me the inventive girl had called Joe and was trying to sneak herself back into Moscow, from which shed been banned. Since shes surely in her sixties now, I dont have much time. I want to hear what happened to her before and after her imprisonment. Together with that, I want to start repaying all I owe her with some of the luxury Izvestiya berated her for loving, starting with a delicious dinner. Meanwhile, the moral of the story may be plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme isnt always true. Russias startling changes since my novel appeared include ethics and activities that are nearly opposite in some ways to those imposed by the old socialist austerity and Puritanism.

Russians apparent determination to disconnect with their former selves is what makes Goldie Hawns fairly recent account of her participation in the film relevant. The largest of its inventions and misunderstandings  Ms. Hawn seemed driven to muddle things even more  may have been her assertions that The Girl From Petrovka was a true story and that poor George, meaning yours truly, had a hard time when Oktyabrina, that creature of my frail imagination, was sent to Siberia, a place not mentioned in the book.





Still, Goldies impression of Russia from a brief visit in 1973 for absorbing its feel before the filming, was perceptive about what enamored many old Russian hands during my years there as a student and journalist. Although appalled by spirit-crushing Soviet rules and restrictions, she fell in love with the Russian people, with their passion, their longing, their spiritFor the first time of my life, I began to see that material wealth really doesnt bring a sense of well-being or contentment.





One more thing puts a sad ending to both stories, in a way  I hope temporarily, until I can solve the story one-story two mystery. The Baltimore Suns Moscow bureau no longer exists. It was closed not for lack of interest but as a victim of the budget squeezes that have cut the number and variety of American bureaus by more than half. Is that progress?





{***Recreating the spirit of a distant place by Nora FitzGerald***}

Recreating the spirit of a distant place by Nora FitzGerald

Nora FitzGerald of Russia Beyond the Headlines spoke to George about his book 40 years after its first publication.

RBTH: How long did you live in Moscow? What brought you there and what brought you home again?

George Feifer played a Red Army soldier in a movie based on his novel. Press Photo



George Feifer: I lived in Moscow for about ten years, on and off, including one as a graduate student at Moscow University. The need to recover from excessive emotional stimulation brought me home.

RBTH: What prompted you to write "The Girl from Petrovka?"

G.F.: Not to compare Russia during the late Soviet period to Germany during rise of the Nazis, some of Christopher Isherwood's great "Goodbye to Berlin" became my model because its story about an adventurous young woman seemed to recreate the spirit of a distant, often incomprehensible place. I mean the doings of Sally Bowles that became the basis for "I Am A Camera" and "Cabaret."

RBTH: Did you anticipate how enormously well received The Girl from Pretrovka would be?

G.F.: I prefer not to answer trick questions.

RBTH: You also played an extra in the film. What is your fondest memory from the filmmaking?

G.F.: That it took place at all, after the crew was booted from Belgrade. Too many movies die before the first day of principal filming when broke free-lancers traditionally get paid.

RBTH: Of all your books, concerning Russia, do you have a favorite? What can you tell a new reader about "Moscow Farewell"?

G.F.: That it came closest to saying what I wanted to, and the complimentary comments Russians still send me almost make it all worthwhile.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
T-34 tanks take the position. The 3rd Byelorussian Front. A 1944 photo. The Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. Source: RIA Novosti

For successive generations, the T-34 became an icon of the Soviet victory in WWII. Driving straight off the cobblestones of Red Square to halt the Nazi advance outside Moscow in 1941, the legendary war machine has seldom rested since.

When Soviet T-34s rolled into Berlin in 1945, the battle tanks fighting days might have seemed nearly over. But the "nut", as crews called it because of its hexagonal turret shape, was only just beginning its odyssey through the worlds conflicts. Over five more decades, the war machine would clatter across the Egyptian sands, the Cuban jungle, the savannah of Angola and far beyond.

Today it can still be found in arsenals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vietnam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Yemen, North Korea, the Republic of Congo, Cuba, Laos, Mali and Namibia.

Having fought against the United States and its allies in Korea and Cuba, the T-34s American lineage is, however, less well known.

The tank evolved from the light Soviet BT (bystrokhodny tank/high-speed tank) of the 1930s, which had been derived from the American M1931 Christie tank.

First brought to the Soviet Union as a turret-less example under the designation of farm tractor, the Christie and subsequent Spanish variants provided a basis for Soviet designer Mikhail Koshkin.

In the years before WWII, Koshkin worked intensively on the T-34, combining robust armor and heavy firepower while preserving road performance and ease of maintenance and production.

The maiden batch of tanks was due to be reviewed by Joseph Stalin in Moscow on 17 March, 1940 after driving 1,250 miles to the capital. It was a risky decision by Koshkin to take the tanks through public land, since the NKVD secret police could have deemed this revealing state secrets.

But the tanks arrived on schedule and without major incident, having driven on a secret route through snowbound forests, fields and rough terrain.

Impressed by what he saw, Stalin affectionately dubbed the tank little swallow, and its start in life was assured. This triumph was marred, however, by the death of 42-year-old Koshkin, who had caught pneumonia during the arduous drive to Moscow and did not recover.

The tanks adoptive father was engineer and tank designer Alexander Morozov. He was the man who finally sent the T-34 into combat, and then adapted it to take on new and increasingly formidable German opponents on the battlefield.

In December 1943, the T-34-85 rumbled into action with a new turret and 85 mm gun, which saw it though to victory in 1945.

The T-34-85 remained the backbone of the Soviet tank forces until the mid-50s, and also served as a training platform for crews until the 1970s, never being formally decommissioned from service.

Its largest post-WWII deployment was in Korea, when the tank came up against the USSRs former American allies. Since Koreas mountainous landscape precluded mass tank battles, they were used in small groups, often with unpredictable results.

The first fight between the T-34-85 and the American M24 tank took place on July 10, 1950 during the Battle of Taejon. The U.S. 75 mm shells proved ineffective against the Soviet front armour and two U.S. tanks were quickly knocked out. The encounter only turned against the North Koreans after US infantry used 3.5-inch bazookas to destroy seven T-34s.

A Russian made T34/85 tank knocked out in Taejon, Korea, on 20 July, 1950. Source: Wikipedia.org

The tide swung still further with the deployment of the U.S. M26 Pershing on 17 August, 1950, when the Pershings 90 mm cannon quickly dispatched three T-34s in this first clash of the battle tanks. .

With technical parity, the better trained and tactically prepared U.S. crews quickly bettered the North Koreans, who by the end of the year had lost almost 100 T-34-85s in tank-on-tank fighting, and twice as many to aircraft and bazooka hits. Meanwhile, the North Korean tanks destroyed only 34 U.S. vehicles.

While the T-34-85 had met its match in the US Pershing and M46 Patton, it still surpassed the M24 Chaffee, a derivative of the M4A3E8 Sherman that carried better armament.

The Soviet-built tank made the headlines again in April 1961 during the defeat of Cuban counter-revolutionary forces at the Bay of Pigs.

Armed with ten Shermans and 20 M8 armored cars, the US-backed invasion forces knocked out one Cuban government T-34 as they briefly broke out of their beachhead.

Personally commanding the Cuban forces, Fidel Castro rode on the first of a column of T-34s which knocked out two Shermans during the counter-attack on the landing area.

Isolated victories aside, the T-34 was increasingly showing its age against the next generations of battle tanks.

During the 1967 Six-Day War, Egypt lost 251 T-34-85s, almost a third of its overall tank losses. Ironically, the T-34 also fought alongside its old WWII German foes, the PzKpfw.IV and the StuG.III, in the Syrian forces engaged in the conflict.

If the Israeli tanks won a clear victory on the Egyptian front of the war, the loss ratio on the Syrian front favoured the Arabs, who lost a total of 73 T-34-85, T-54 and PzKpfw.lV tanks against 160 destroyed Israeli tanks.

This was the last war in the Middle East where the T-34 fought as a battle tank. But it still saw action in later conflicts as immobile firing emplacements or converted into self-propelled guns.

The tank next saw major action again during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, when 32 Greek T-34-85s were able to halt the advance of 200 Turkish M47/48 Patton tanks. The Greeks lost 12 tanks, including four that were abandoned, against 19 Pattons destroyed.

The T-34 then fought in the Angolan civil war, where Cuban units armed with the Soviet tank helped repel attackers from South Africa and Zaire.

Finally, the stalwart fighting machine made its mark in the ensuing civil war in the Balkans, fighting on all sides as a legacy item of the Yugoslavian armed forces.

Today, when the T-34 would at last seem to have been consigned to museums and history books, it still does not rest easily.

The T-34 reportedly saw action in 2014 too, when pro-Russia fighters in eastern Ukraine removed at least one display example from its pedestal, and after a quick overhaul took it into combat once more.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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Comet Resources Ltd (ASX:CRL) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Comet Resources has primary focus on copper-gold with multiple price catalysts expected over the next six months

Comet Resources Ltd (ASX:CRL) 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.



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.
Short on details, the U.S. presidents policy

positions still leave plenty of room for speculation.

The Biden administration recently announced it had completed its North Korea policy review. The White House, through several public statements in recent days, dropped crumbs of details about its approach towards the Kim Jong-un regime and its advancing nuclear weapons program. Depending on the policy slant, statements could be interpreted in different ways and mean entirely different strategies towards Pyongyang.

There hasnt been a shortage of speculation about Bidens potential policies towards North Korea. Based on prior U.S. dealings with the Kim dynasty, some informed guesses about Washingtons approach towards Pyongyang under the new administration can be had. Heres mine.

First, we know the White House will take a calibrated practical approach and is open to diplomacy with the North Koreans. There may be a temptation to magnify the second half of this comment provided by White House press secretary Jen Psaki and deem this a reflection of the Biden administrations absolute willingness or desire to engage with the Kim regime.

The ball may be in North Koreas court, but when, how and in what direction Kim decides to pass the ball back to the U.S. will in turn determine Washingtons policy options in response  and Kims fate.

But this assumption may rest more on the expectation  or hope  that the new U.S. administration will seek to salvage the remnants of Washingtons engagement over the past four years with Pyongyang at summit meetings in Singapore and Hanoi and resuscitate the momentum for talks and eventual negotiations for denuclearisation. If there is one lesson learned from the summitry with North Korea, however  recall the four-point Singapore Joint Statement and the Hanoi meeting that culminated in no deal  its that talks with the North Koreans should be considered warily.

An informed guess might instead rest on what the administration coins as its calibrated practical approach. Not surprisingly, this suggests a break from the Trump administrations pendulum swing from fire and fury to summitry sparse in substance. At first glance, calibration alludes to moderation of some kind. A calibrated approach towards North Korea may imply that Washington has a range of policy measures or responses to Pyongyangs actions. To borrow the Kim regimes words, the U.S. may press for corresponding measures to North Korean actions.

For example, Pyongyangs missile provocations may be met with sanctions, diplomatic rebuke or, in some cases, Washington downplaying the threat. Likewise, the Norths continued, irreversible rehabilitated behaviour to verifiably reduce its nuclear threat or address the Kim regimes shoddy human rights record may help Kim Jong-un earn acknowledgement from the U.S. for progress and reforms. Measure for measure, in short.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Seoul, 17 March 2021 (Ron Przysucha/U.S. Department of State/Flickr)

Second, the Biden administration has opted to emphasise the words denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, rather than the denuclearisation of North Korea. This may be problematic, as co-opting the former expression may lend the impression that Washington is subscribing to the Kim regimes agenda of weakening the U.S.South Korea alliance and evicting U.S. troops from Seoul. Or, at minimum, this may suggest an overlooking of the far-reaching implications of the expression. Such language may be welcomed by some countries  South Korea, notably  that prefer to subscribe to a different interpretation of the term, on the grounds that it will be less threatening to Pyongyang and thus more effective in convincing Kim to engage in denuclearisation talks.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens recent comments that the U.S. will look to see not only what North Korea says but what it actually does may suggest Washingtons watchfulness of Pyongyangs moves. Should this be the case, perhaps the U.S. will attribute greater accountability to North Korea for the regimes words and actions. It may also spell political, diplomatic and economic consequences for any distasteful behaviour on Pyongyangs part.

In the same vein, Blinken told reporters that it is up to North Korea to decide whether it wants to engage or not. Rather than attributing deference or control to the Kim regime, Blinkens comments may serve as a diplomatic yet onerous warning to Pyongyang that the heavy burden of engagement rests with the regime. The ball may be in North Koreas court, but when, how and in what direction Kim decides to pass the ball back to the U.S. will in turn determine Washingtons policy options in response  and Kims fate.

All of this is indeed speculation, although we may not be in the dark for much longer. U.S. President Joe Biden is slated to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on 21 May for their first in-person summit since the inauguration. The two sides are expected to discuss a range of policy issues, including curbing the Kim regimes nuclear ambitions and addressing its poor track record on human rights. The Biden administration may unveil its North Korea policy in full after the U.S.South Korea summit.

In the meantime, the guessing games will continue.

Soo Kim is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and adjunct professor at American University. She was previously an analyst in the Central Intelligence Agency. She holds an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University SAIS and BA in French from Yale University.

This article appeared originally at Lowy Institute's the interpreter.
President Biden recently announced ambitious plans to install huge offshore industrial wind facilities along Americas Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coasts. His goal is to churn out 30 gigawatts (30,000 megawatts) of wind capacity by 2030, ensuring the U.S. leads by example in fighting the climate crisis.

Granted 30 by 2030 is clever PR. But what are the realities?

The only existing U.S. offshore wind operation features five 6-MW turbines off Rhode Island. Their combined capacity (what they could generate if they worked full-bore, round the clock 24/7) is 30 MW. Mr. Biden is planning 1,000 times more offshore electricity, perhaps split three ways: 10,000 MW for each coast.

While that might sound impressive, it isnt. It means total wind capacity for the entire Atlantic coast, under Bidens plan, would only meet three-fourths of the peak summertime electricity needed to power New York City. Again, this assumes the blades are fully spinning 24/7. In reality, such turbines would be lucky to be operating a top capacity half the time. Even less as storms and salt spray corrode the turbines, year after year.

The reason why is there is often minimal or no wind in the Atlantic  especially on the hottest days. Ditto for the Gulf of Mexico. No wind means no electricity  right when you need it most.

Of course, too little wind isnt the only issue. Other times, theres too much wind  as when a hurricane roars up the coast. Thats more likely in the Gulf of Mexico. But the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 had Category 4 winds in Virginia, Category 3 intensity off Cape Hatteras (NC), Long Island and Rhode Island, and Category 2 when it reached Maine. It sank four U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships.

When storms or hurricanes hit, turbines can be destroyed. Repairing or replacing hundreds of offshore turbines could take years.

If the White House is planning to generate all that power using common 6-MW turbines, our coastlines would need a hefty 5,000 of the 600-foot tall monsters dotting them. The Washington Monument is 655 feet tall.

Going instead with 12-MW turbines, like the 850-foot-tall GE Haliade-X turbines Virginia is planning to install off its coast, America would still need 2,500 of the behemoths  just to complete Phase One of Bidens plan. 30,000 megawatts by 2030. Even if these were all plopped in the Atlantic, it still would not be enough to meet New York States current electricity needs.

And what about the environment?

How many millions of tons of steel, copper, lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, concrete, petroleum-based composites (for turbine blades) and other raw materials would be required to manufacture and install the turbines and undersea electrical cables, especially where deep-water turbines are involved?

How many billions of tons of ore would have to be mined, crushed, processed and refined  considering that it takes 125,000 tons of average ore for every 1,000 tons of pure copper metal?

Not only would nearly all of this mining and manufacturing require fossil fuels, but much of it would be done in China, or in other countries by Chinese-owned companies. Haliade-X turbines are also manufactured in China. And much of the mining and processing is done under horrid workplace safety and environmental conditions, often with near-slave and child labor.

More turbines will also kill countless birds and bats. Turbine infrasound and other noise have been implicated in disorienting and stranding whales and dolphins. The numbers, height and low-frequency turbine noise also interferes with surface ships, submarines, aircraft and radar.

Nuclear power or billions of batteries (or retained fossil fuel power plants) will have to back up every megawatt of intermittent, unreliable wind power, so that society can function every time the wind fails. That means more raw materials, transmission lines and costs.

Even with massive taxpayer subsidies, electricity generated by offshore turbines will cost many times what we are paying today, even in New York and California. That will have especially heavy impacts on energy-intensive industries, hospitals, and poor, middle-class, minority and fixed-income families.

Economic, environmental and climate justice reviews must fully, carefully and honestly assess every one of these factors. No expedited or climate emergency shortcuts should be permitted.

President Biden likes to say offshore wind energy is clean, green, renewable and sustainable. Wind itself certainly is. But harnessing the wind (or sun), to meet the needs of modern civilization is not  especially in ocean environments.

Claiming otherwise is a mirage  a scam. Maybe thats why the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management already canceled two wind projects off Long Island. The costs and impacts are enormous, and local opposition was high. Do climate activists in and out of the Biden Administration expect otherwise anywhere else?

Craig Rucker is president of the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org), a free market environmental organization dedicated to people and planet.
As a helicopter carrying Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo hovered above a parade of illegal immigrants streaming across the southern U.S. border, the two observers shouted into their headsets to be heard over the roar of the rotors.

One exchange, in particular, between Abbott and Bartiromo summed up Republican frustrations with the current administration.

Have you spoken with the president? The vice president? Do they reach out to you to get an update on things? Bartiromo asked.

In a word, no, Abbott replied. Very different from the prior administration.

Republicans have argued since Biden took office, he has ignored the influx of migrants, if not outright encouraged them -- many of whom are unaccompanied children -- to make the dangerous trek.

The White House refuses to call the situation a crisis, they note. Vice President Kamala Harris, deputized by her boss to address the root causes of the situation, has not traveled to see the border surge firsthand, they complain. And now, according to Republicans, something new illustrates how the White House is not taking the crisis seriously: Two of the four governors from states sharing a border with Mexico report that they still have not spoken with Biden or Harris.

We are aligned with Gov. Abbott, C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, told RealClearPolitics, adding that Ducey has said for weeks that the Biden administration is divorced from reality when it comes to border security. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. The administration has not reached out to us on this issue.

The White House denies that characterization. An official told RCP that the administration is in close touch with leaders across both Arizona and Texas. To clear up any confusion, the aide added that this includes governors and members of their team, but also the congressional delegation, the senators, and local elected officials too.

This border state outreach also includes California. A spokesman for Gavin Newsom said the governor -- a Democrat -- is often in touch with the administration. As is the case with most issues critical to California, Daniel Lopez told RCP, the governor and his administration have been in regular communication with the White House and senior Biden-Harris administration officials about our collective efforts to support newly arrived migrant adults and families at our southern border.

While acknowledging some communication between state and federal governments, Arizonas governor insists it is his side that has reached out.

As a result of this effort, the governor met with White House staff when he was in Washington last month. During that conversation, the governor advocated that the president deploy troops to assist overwhelmed agencies like ICE, and CBP  just as Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump did to deal with the very real issues at the border, a Ducey spokesman told RCP.

To date, he concluded, that request has not been fulfilled.

The migrant surge has threatened to spoil the honeymoon period for the new president. More than 172,000 illegal immigrants, the most in two decades, were apprehended in the month of March. According to internal government documents, officials expect to see 117,000 unaccompanied minors this year, a projection that would shatter the previous high, recorded in 2019.

Joe Biden has earned positive marks so far from the American public, with 54% approving his job performance and 41.5% disapproving, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. But a recent survey by Quinnipiac University shows significant dissatisfaction on the border question. Only 29% of Americans approve of how the president is handling the migrant crisis while 55% gave him a failing grade on the issue.

According to a March survey of more than 2,000 registered voters by RealClear Opinion Research, 70% of Americans say they want the new administration to deal with the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. It was among their top concerns, second only to getting the pandemic under control.

But Biden hardly mentioned illegal immigration in his first address before Congress. Nor did he present a plan to increase security along the southern border, opting instead to blame the previous administration and urge Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. This lack was of bipartisan concern.

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, Sen. Mark Kelly said in a statement released right after the president wrapped his remarks. Newly elected in a purple state, the Arizona Democrat promised to continue holding this administration accountable.

Kelly has remained in close contact with Ducey, and according to a spokesperson for his office, pressed Biden a number of times on the issue of the border. In conference calls and letters to the president, the senator has pushed for additional federal resources to shore up the situation.

D.C. has failed Arizona on border security and immigration here for decades, Kelly said Monday after a tour of a Tucson Border Patrol station. Washington needs to do better and Im going to continue to push Washington to do better.

The administration insists it is getting ahold of the situation. 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, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. Thats our objective.

She reported that, while there were more than 5,000 children in federal custody in March, that number has been whittled down to 600. The number of hours in custody for the unaccompanied children, she added, is down from 131 hours in March to 30 hours, on average.

Clearly, were not done, Psaki said. Theres a lot of work ahead. Migration is a dynamic and evolving challenge, but the president has a plan and were working on implementing it.
Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar plans to revive the economy, fix America's infrastructure and ease poverty have spawned comparisons between him and Franklin D. Roosevelt. At the 100-day mark of the Biden presidency, David Gergen, who has advised presidents of both parties, wrote, "Biden is off to an excellent start -- arguably, one of the best since Roosevelt."

And Biden hasn't discouraged such talk. He now has a giant portrait of FDR in the Oval Office, right across from the Resolute Desk.

But while there may be likenesses between those two presidents' agendas, the less glamorous Harry Truman also deserves inspirational face time. Truman and Biden both came from modest small-town origins. Unlike the aristocratic Roosevelt, they knew firsthand about middle-class striving.

It's not surprising, then, that the Biden agenda seeks to recreate the Golden Age for the American middle class -- the postwar years of 1947 through 1973, when productivity doubled but so did the median compensation of full-time workers. Truman was instrumental in launching it.

Truman understood that the well-being of workers depended on factors beyond the magic of the market. Widespread prosperity needed a third player in addition to business and labor. That player was a government willing to impose social norms through tax policy, the minimum wage and protection for organized labor.

As World War II was ending, impatient workers launched destabilizing strikes. And so, in November 1945, Truman held a conference to create a new labor policy through which postwar abundance would be broadly shared. The participants came from business, the labor movement and -- at Truman's insistence -- government.

The business community came eagerly on board. As Eric Johnston, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told the conference: "Labor unions are woven into our economic pattern of American life, and collective bargaining is a part of the democratic process. I say recognize this fact not only with our lips but with our hearts."

Truman proposed a national health care plan, which didn't happen, and higher taxes on the top incomes, which did. Biden's agenda both strengthens the Affordable Care Act and seeks to raise taxes on the top incomes.

Unlike Roosevelt's New Deal, Truman's Fair Deal took a strong stance on civil rights. New Deal programs broadly discriminated against Blacks. The National Recovery Administration, for example, gave preferences to white job seekers and allowed lower pay scales for Blacks.

Roosevelt appointed a few Blacks to token jobs. Truman put nonwhites in positions of real power, notably William Henry Hastie, the first African American federal appellate judge.

Biden just announced a racially diverse slate of judicial nominees. It includes sending Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, considered a springboard for the Supreme Court.

Biden is pursuing racial equity in some controversial ways. The COVID-19 relief bill includes a $5 billion fund for minority farmers only. And the infrastructure package says that 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy must go to "disadvantaged communities." How that would work is unclear.

The offshoring of American jobs and technological change of course accelerated workers' loss of economic security -- and helped end the Golden Age. But the ditching of norms that only government could enforce also played a part.

Ronald Reagan cut taxes on the rich. Then George W. Bush did, and then Donald Trump. The federal minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 an hour. In 1973, it was equivalent to $9.81 in today's dollars.

Biden seems to be summoning his inner Harry Truman and bringing back the third player. In assuring a stable and happy middle class, the market has a job to do, but so does government.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
President Biden is clearly in a Franklin D. Roosevelt frame of mind. Summing up his policy vision in an address to a joint session of Congress last week, he referenced FDRs Depression-era motto We do our part.

Yet many of us who study Roosevelts New Deal cringed at Bidens reference. This phrase accompanied the Blue Eagle, an emblem created to increase compliance with the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. Economists rarely agree on much, but we are nearly unanimous in acknowledging that NIRA was a harmful policy. By using this phrase to justify his own agenda, President Biden should hope he is not repeating FDRs policy mistakes.

Bidens team would do well to study the history of the NIRA. The law dramatically increased government control of the economy, giving D.C. bureaucrats the power to approve prices, control worker wages and hours, and limit business operations. It also disallowed many forms of competition across the economy, with the goal of protecting workers and stimulating recovery.

It didnt work. Prior to the NIRA, Roosevelt had done much right. As a result, industrial production rose an astounding 57% between March and July 1933. But the recovery was brutally derailed when the NIRA arrived on the scene. Starting Aug. 1, 1933, firms had to abide by the laws restrictive rules. As though a switch had been flipped, the Depression roared back with a vengeance. Between August and November 1933, manufacturing output fell 49%.

It turned out that we do our part did far more harm than good. Businesses that did their part were allowed to display the Blue Eagle in their store windows and on their packaging. (The accompanying NRA abbreviation indicated approval by the National Recovery Administration, created to oversee the laws implementation.) But President Roosevelt asked Americans to boycott businesses without the emblem. Then, as now, the government of the United States pitted workers and businesses against each other, hurting both in the end.

The government did its part, too  and it was painful. When federal agents caught Washington, D.C.s Liberty Baking charging five cents a loaf  a penny below the NIRAs required minimum price  proprietor Pete Theodore was ordered to return his Blue Eagle to the local postmaster. Once the companies lost the label, they struggled to attract customers and retain workers, damaging the local economy instead of strengthening it.

In addition to being boycotted, guilty firms also potentially faced fines and imprisonment. In April 1934, Jacob Maged was sentenced to 30 days in jail for pressing a suit for 35 cents, five cents below the NIRA minimum. After three days in prison, the judge told Maged to fall in line like a good little soldier. Photographers captured the humbled Maged putting the Blue Eagle up in his shop window, ready to now do his part by charging 40 cents per suit.

The irony is that proprietors who violated the NIRA did more for the economy than those who abided by it. They produced more output, charged lower prices, and worked more hours than allowed  all of which are key ingredients to the economic growth that communities need. Hence why economists resoundingly state that the NIRA held back economic recovery. It should come as no surprise that the economy grew again after the Supreme Court ruled the NIRA unconstitutional in May 1935.

It is doubtful that President Biden knows this history. Yet it bears directly on his partys vision for federal policy. Policymakers who now tout massive programs that will expand the federal governments size and power likely view Roosevelts tenure as the model of good governance. But the centerpiece of his rule  the NIRA  is among the most coercive, and damaging, economic policies in U.S. history. It may sound nice when President Biden hearkens back to we do our part, but Americans should want no part in repeating the mistakes that worsened the Great Depression.
The company is hopeful that through the partnership with Alternative Solutions LLC in Washington DC, which has reciprocity with 32 other US states, it can expand access for the HOPE range.

Zelira will receive a licensing fee and ongoing royalties on sales of HOPE in Washington DC.

( ) ( ) has launched its HOPE range of autism spectrum disorder products in Washington DC through its partnership with Alternative Solutions LLC, a licensed manufacturer and distributor of medical cannabis products.

Washington DC has reciprocity with 32 other states in the USA with approved medical cannabis programs.

This expands access for Zeliras HOPE range of products to patients registered in all the 32 States, as they can legally purchase medical cannabis products at an approved dispensary in Washington DC.

The company will receive a licensing fee and ongoing royalties on sales of HOPE within this territory.

Huge step forward

Zelira Therapeutics managing director Dr Oludare Odumosu said: The successful launch of HOPE in Washington DC is a huge step forward in Zeliras strategic focus on expanding access to HOPE throughout the USA.

We look forward to partnering with alternative solutions to support the growth of our product in these new markets.

Shares have been more than 15% higher intra-day to A$0.061.

Customer uptake and sales trajectories

HOPE is now available at the National Holistic Healing Center, a medical cannabis dispensary near Dupont Circle, whose dedicated team assists patients in treating their symptoms through ailment-strain alignment.

With the gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions, Zelira remains focused on further expanding the distribution of HOPE through licensing agreements in each approved market across the US.

The experience of HOPE products in its launch state of Pennsylvania provides Zelira with confidence that customer uptake and sales trajectories will be similar in Washington DC and other markets.

Alternative Solutions CEO Matt Lawson-Baker said: We are thrilled to partner with Zelira in bringing HOPE to Washington DC and look forward to bringing patients scientifically formulated medicines they can trust.

About Zelira

Zelira is a leading global therapeutic medical cannabis company with access to the worlds largest and fastest-growing cannabis markets.

The company owns a portfolio of proprietary revenue-generating products and a pipeline of candidates undergoing clinical development that are positioned to enter global markets.

It has two proprietary formulations under the HOPE brand that are generating revenues in Australia, Pennsylvania and have been licensed in Louisiana and Washington DC with other states in the US expected to follow.
KINGSLEY [mdash] Eldon T. Melosh, 76, of Kingsley passed away on June 4, 2021. He was a resident of Kingsley since 1973. He is survived by his son, Edward Melosh and two grandchildren, Zachary and McKenzie Melosh. A Celebration of Edward's Life will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Satu
The campus and city news desks have compiled a list of events going on throughout the upcoming week that are open to the public. The list features de-stressing activities, live performances and a day of remembrance and recognition for the enslaved people of Athens.
The IRS has been granted permission by a federal court to demand information from the Kraken exchange concerning any customers that conducted at least US$20,000 worth of cryptocurrency transactions between 2016 and 2020

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been authorised by a federal court to serve summons against the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange as American authorities seek to crack down on tax dodgers.

On Wednesday, the federal court in the Northern District of California authorised the IRS to serve a John Doe summons to Payward Ventures Inc, Krakens parent company, in order to obtain information about taxpayers that conducted at least US$20,000 worth of cryptocurrency transactions through the exchange between 2016 and 2020.

Gathering the information in the summons approved today is an important step to ensure cryptocurrency owners are following the tax laws. Those who transact with cryptocurrency must meet their tax obligations like any other taxpayer, said David A. Hubbert, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments Tax Division.

John Doe summons are used by the IRS as a summons for a tax investigation when the relevant taxpayer is unknown to authorities and cannot be identified by name.

While Kraken itself is not being accused of wrongdoing, the summons form another segment of a growing crackdown by the IRS on those seeking to avoid paying tax on crypto assets, which the federal government considers property.

In April, crypto payments firm Circle received a federal court order to deliver identifying documents for its customers engaged in similar crypto transactions.

Similar activities are underway on the other side of the Atlantic, with UK tax and customs authorities to begin demanding information on holdings in cryptocurrency for taxpayers that it investigates for tax evasion and avoidance
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The company said this planned rapid expansion represents the most significant growth expansion in its history and positions it to have a significant presence as a provider of accessible healthcare services in Mexico

The agreement brings the companys total number of future clinics in Mexico to 203, all corporately owned and operated

Jack Nathan Medical Corp. ( ) ( ) has said its subsidiary JNH Medico Mexico S.A. DE C.V. has signed an addendum to its ongoing Master Service Agreement (MSA) which now gives an additional 153 new locations for medical clinic expansion, throughout the country.

This brings the companys total number of future clinics in Mexico to 203, all corporately owned and operated. JNH Medico Mexico is a provider of primary care medical clinics located in Walmart Supercentres and other Walmart Mexico formats under the Jack Nathan Health brands.

The company said this planned rapid expansion represents the most significant growth expansion in its history and positions it to have a significant presence as a provider of accessible healthcare services in Mexico. The planning and opening of new clinics will begin immediately and build on the companys 18 existing clinics, it added

This landmark expansion is a giant leap forward to revolutionizing health care in Mexico. It is tremendous news for both citizens and visitors to Mexico. Jack Nathan Health, in partnership with Walmart, is now positioning itself to become the largest physician-serviced health care network in Mexico. Walmart Mexico services communities in which we operate," said Jack Nathan chairman and chief executive officer George Barakat in a statement.

"The addition of a country-wide Telemedicine operation onboarding to all Walmart Mexico online brands, further extends our reach by providing convenience and care to underserviced communities, aging demographics and taking care of loved ones. All by providing instant access. Providing expanded access to quality healthcare services is critical to preventative health and wellness.

This expansion more than 10 folds our footprint both physically and digitally within a vast region where there is incredible demand, amidst significant shortages for quality healthcare. This surging demand, coupled with our ability to quickly open new clinics, is expected to result in sustainable revenue and a noticeably short time to achieve accretive clinic operations. We are proud to move this initiative forward as it positively impacts the communities it serves and the physician opportunities it represents. This massive expansion also represents significant employment opportunities for citizens in Mexico. At Jack Nathan Health, we believe that we are going to Revolutionize Health Care as we embark on this historic growth phase.," he added.

Jack Nathan Health provides a wide range of health care services at its Mexican locations, all located within Walmart stores that also provide access to ample parking, on-site pharmacy, grocery, and retail. Clinics provide communities with increased access to consistent, quality, affordable healthcare, including primary and family healthcare.

The new JNH clinics in Mexico will reach a wide range of population and will provide access to quality healthcare for people living in rural areas, tourist destinations, small, mid, and large-sized cities. This expansion will be the first step towards the creation of a new ecosystem in Mexico based on a patient-centered model.

Laura Camacho, country manager of Jack Nathan Health Mexico commented: Our state-of-the-art clinics, along with Telemedicine services, bring significant access and growth to innovative healthcare solutions. Coupled with the convenience of being located inside Walmart, ample access to parking, and other amenities, this expansion is fulfilling Jack Nathan Health's mission to provide a full circle of care that enables people to live their best lives.

Jack Nathan Medical Corp., operating as Jack Nathan Health is one of Canadas largest health care networks. Jack Nathan Health is an innovative health care company that is improving access for millions of patients by co-locating physician and ancillary medical services conveniently located inside Walmart stores.

The company was established in 2006 and continues to expand its international footprint, delivering exceptional, state-of-the-art, turn-key medical centres in 76 Walmart locations across Canada including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as in Mexico.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Beckley, WV (25801)

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 64F. 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%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 64F. 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 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
BANTAM - A new business is up and running, bringing health care to residents doorsteps.

Mobile Care Partners of Connecticut provides acute and chronic primary medical care for adults ages 18 and older in their homes in Litchfield County, Southbury and the Greater Danbury area.

The practice offers a range of services, including physicals, chronic disease management, sick visits, in-home point of care testing, labs and imaging, infectious disease care and telemedicine.

Owner Dr. Lindsey Maloney, DNP, developed the business with CEO Leonardo Ghio to meet the growing health care needs of the community and changing health care industry.

Residents of the region welcome the opening of a practice of this type.

Ghio emphasized the business focus on providing continuity of care for those who cant get out and providing quality time for the patients.

We address mobility, essential and transportation needs, he said.

Maloney, a Litchfield County resident who began her healthcare journey as a CNA in the nursing home setting, said the majority of the patients have been geriatric.

The practice serves millennials, working professionals and high risk or disabled adults and offers care for an array of needs, ranging from a flu shot to complex medical needs.

Maloney, who speaks English and Spanish, is versed in all areas of family medicine. She received structured infectious disease training, expanding her primary care services to include HIV, tuberculosis, STIs, and hepatitis.

She also has a special interest in the LGBTQ+ community and is known for her sexually competent care, including hormone replacement.

For more information, call Mobile Care Partners of Connecticut at 860-419-5925, email info@mcpct.com or visit https://www.mcpct.com.
TORRINGTON  The Prime Time House clubhouse is busy during lunchtime, when members are again gathering for a meal and to catch up with friends.

The clubhouse, part of Prime Times services for with adults with mental illness, reopened in March after being closed to visitors for more than a year. Members come from in and around Torrington.

We have about 90 people who come to Prime Time House for our services on a regular basis, people with mental health issues  schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, said Program Director Zak Ritchie. For lunch, we average 15 or 20 people a day. They come here for the companionship and the services.

Im so glad to be back, said Tracy, a member of Prime Time House since 2010. I spent a lot of time with family (during the pandemic), but I like coming here. It helps to be around people. Isolation is the worst.

Clubhouse members are responsible for keeping the building clean, greeting visitors and making sure they get the help they need. They also participate in activities  book discussion groups, an art club and a cultural club. A sign language club is in the works.

The house is a network of support for people who need guidance, acceptance and companionship.

Members also have responsibilities. Some work in the kitchen, or help with clerical, financial and other office-related tasks  things that help them build their confidence while learning skills that lead to employment. According to Executive Director Christina Emery, the program is an empowering model, one thats person-centered and that reduces hospitalizations and incarcerations.

Another member, Althea, was busy preparing for a cultural club meeting. She, too, was happy to be back with her friends and staff at the clubhouse. During the lockdown in 2020, when people were told to stay home, Prime Time House kept in touch with everyone, she said.

Staff called me two or three times a day sometimes, to check on me, she said. We had food deliveries from Prime Time and from the food bank. Food costs went up last year, and it was hard to buy things, so we were glad to get the help.

Arthur comes to the clubhouse daily to be with his friends. Coming back to a group setting was a change, he said, after having stayed home alone for months.

It wasnt easy, because I got used to being alone, Arthur said. But they called me. Now that were back, if I dont show up, someone cares enough to reach out and ask if Im OK.

Prime Time House receives support from a number of business and nonprofit sponsors as well as the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

The career services center, overseen by Director Adam Lytton, Emery said it is an important element of Prime Time House, giving people the ability to earn their own money and live independently. Recently, the center expanded its reach with a homelessness prevention program.

Were expecting an onslaught of people looking for help  not just clients, but others in the community, Emery said. As the (executive orders regarding rent forgiveness and evictions) end, people are realizing they need help. Case manager Sammantha Johnson works with people to find out what types of services they need.

More than 35 people so far have applied for assistance with Johnsons help. We started a case management program in April with referrals from CAN, the Community Access Network, she said. After I schedule an appointment, I do an intake interview with them, and help them fill out an application for assistance, to find out what kind of help they need, job experience, life skills.

Theyre not always just disabled people, but people who are in immediate risk, Lytton said. Maybe they just got a notice to leave (their rental), or theyre unemployed. Theyre already in a crisis mode, and havent experienced homelessness. Once they call 2-1-1, they are put in touch with us. We can recommend resources to them.

The career center serves adults 18 and older with individual job placement and support. Its a chance for someone to work when theyre ready to get that job, Emery said. Work, routine and earning money is an important part of a persons mental health. We meet people coming out of jail or treatment or a shelter. Charlotte Hungerford Hospital or the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network refers them to us.

Prime Time House also matches clients with employers looking for workers. Quite a few employers (of essential businesses) have reached out to us, Lytton said.

To learn more about Prime Time House and its services, visit www.primetimehouse.org or call 860-618-2479.
The gold and silver producer, which operates mines in Brazil and Mexico, posted revenue of US$52.5 million for the three months to March 31, 2021

The company's net loss came in at US$331,000 compared to a net loss of US$40.4 million in the same quarter a year earlier

Great Panther Mining Limited (TSE:GPR) (NYSEAMERICAN:GPL) (FRA:G3U) saw firmer metals prices and a weaker Brazilian real help it to post a solid set of first-quarter results.

The gold and silver producer, which operates mines in Brazil and Mexico, posted revenue of US$52.5 million for the three months to March 31, 2021, up 9% from US$48 million in the first quarter of 2020.

The net loss came in at US$331,000 compared to a net loss of US$40.4 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Mine operating earnings at US$11 million were 85% higher than in the first quarter, 2020, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA was US$10.3 million and US$12.4 million, compared to a loss of US$30.6 million and US$6.4 million, respectively, for Q1 2020.

"We reduced our debt position to $27.6 million and ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet with $45.5 million in cash and equivalents," Rob Henderson, Great Panther CEO said in the results statement.

"In addition, regional exploration and drilling was ramped up significantly at Tucano from which we are already seeing positive results that should contribute to increases in our mineral resource inventory."

The average realized prices for gold and silver increased to US$1,755 and US$25.35 respectively in the three months, compared to US$1,577 and US$15.31 for the first quarter of 2020.

This, along with the impact on operating costs of a weak Brazilian real were partially offset by moderate increases in production costs, the firm noted.

All-in-sustaining-costs (AISC) across the group were reduced by 11% in the quarter compared with Q1, 2020 to US$1,557 per ounce of gold sold, while across its mines, Great Panther generated 30,556 gold equivalent ounces, including 24,978 gold ounces and 360,070 silver ounces.

The miner repeated its previously announced production guidance for full-year 2021 of between 135,000 and 150,000 ounces of gold equivalent. The second half of 2021 is expected to account for a least 55% of this annual production guidance, it noted.

Based in Vancouver, Great Panther owns assets in Brazil, Mexico and Peru, which includes three operating gold and silver mines, four exploration projects, and an advanced development project.

Shares in New York nudged up 3.6% to US$0,83 each.

----Updates for share price---

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
POTTSVILLE  A Harrisburg man's appeal was denied Wednesday for summary charges of disorderly conduct and prohibited outdoor burning after his political protest at the courthouse.

Eugene P. Stilp, 70, of Harrisburg, was arrested Aug. 13 for lighting flags on fire in a metal trashcan on Sanderson Street between the county courthouse and the county prison. Stilp's purpose was to protest against former President Donald Trump. He has held similar demonstrations in 24 cities in Pennsylvania.

Pottsville police Officer Jonathan Randolph and Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin testified against Stilp, both of whom were on the scene Aug. 13.

Stilp was arrested for violating the City of Pottsville's outdoor burning ordinance, which states, "The burning of solid waste, recyclable materials, yard waste and construction debris within the City of Pottsville is hereby prohibited."

Stilp's attorney, Aaron D. Martin, of Harrisburg, argued that the flags Stilp burned did not fall under solid waste, recyclable materials, yard waste or construction debris.

Martin also cited a subsection of the ordinance, which allows "fires used exclusively for recreation/cooking which are contained within a metal, brick or similar fireproof receptacle," as well as the International Fire Code's exception for fires lit for ceremonial purposes.

Pottsville attorney Thomas P. Pellish argued that while he respects Stilp's right to protest, if that protest "is inconveniencing people, it shouldn't be lawful."

Judge Charles Miller ruled that the charges would not be dismissed, as the fire posed a danger to the area and required the road to be closed.

"This was not a recreational burning," Miller said. "The court's ruling is that you had to secure a permit for this. The spot that you picked, maybe in your opinion, was safe, but that's the main thoroughfare from the county courthouse to the county prison."

Stilp will have 30 days to appeal to Superior Court. Stilp said after the hearing that he thought the judge's ruling was "superficial."

"At what point do we find out if the First Amendment is alive and well in the City of Pottsville?" Stilp said.
Man not injured after vehicle crash

LEWISTOWN VALLEY  A Tamaqua man escaped injury when the 2019 Nissan Frontier he was driving crashed on Valley Road in Walker Township around 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

State police at Frackville said Christopher Baker, 56, of Tamaqua, was driving east when he failed to negotiate a left curve, went off the road and about 70 feet down an embankment, hitting several trees with the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Police said Baker fled the area on foot after his vehicle became stuck in a swamp.

As a result of the crash, police said Baker was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Police investigate 2-vehicle crash

HOMETOWN  State police at Frackville investigated a two-vehicle crash that happened on Route 309, just south of Pine Street, in Rush Township, around 9:10 a.m. Saturday.

Police said Samantha Postupack, 25, of Tamaqua, was driving a 2005 Volvo 540 south when she failed to see and ran into the back of a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jesus Garcia-Almaras, 39, of Hazleton, who was stopped in front of her.

Both drivers then moved their vehicles into a private parking lot, police said. Police added that as a result of the crash, Postupack was cited for following too closely.

Both drivers and a passenger in the Garcia-Almaras vehicle  Juana Perez Lopez, 41, also of Hazleton  all escaped injury, police said.

2 people cited after incident

SHENANDOAH  Two people were arrested by state police at Frackville after an incident on North White Street around 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

Police said they were called to a landlord-tenant dispute that resulted in a 55-year-old Shenandoah woman and a 46-year-old Shenandoah man making accusations of physical contact against each other.

Police did not identify the two people involved but said that citations for harassment against each will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Driver runs car into parked vehicle

HOMETOWN  State police at Frackville investigated a crash that happened on the parking lot of the Hometown Farmers Market in Rush Township around 12:40 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Zoe Downs, 20, of Weatherly, was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla when she struck a parked 2020 Nissan Rogue and left the scene with her vehicle parked near the other vehicle.

As a result of the crash, police said Downs was cited for careless driving.

Police: 2 people break into home

SHEPPTON  A burglary that happened at 77 W. Pine St. in East Union Township around 4 p.m. Sunday is being investigated by state police at Frackville.

Police said Lorie Reimiller, of Stillwater, reported that two people riding ATVs arrived at the property, appeared to be extremely intoxicated and laid on the front porch of the home and also tried to open the front door.

One of the two, a man, then went to the side of the house where he forced open a double door, pulling the left hinge screws out of the door jamb, police said.

The man then pushed a plexiglass flap on an inner door loose, unlocked the door and the two entered the home but left almost immediately through the front door without taking anything or causing additional damage, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Police investigate home burglary

NEW PHILADELPHIA  State police at Frackville are investigating a burglary that happened at 247 Valley St. between midnight Thursday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

No other information was available, and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 570-874-5300.

Police: Vehicle theft in City of PottsvillePOTTSVILLE  The police are investigating a theft of a vehicle that was reported around 1:15 p.m. Saturday.

Patrolman Grant Yoder said the owner of a green 1996 Toyota Rav 4 reported parking it in the 400 block of East Railroad Street the previous day with the key in the glove compartment and discovering that the SUV was gone on Saturday.

Police said the investigation revealed that around 2:30 a.m. May 1, an unidentified man walked east on Railroad Street to the area of the Toyota, entered the unlocked vehicle and drove away, traveling east.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pottsville police at 570-628-3792.

Woman had minor injuries after crash

DEER LAKE  A Pottsville woman suffered minor injuries when the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta she was driving crashed on Route 61, Centre Turnpike, in West Brunswick Township around 6:20 p.m. April 21.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Heather Maccarone, 33, was driving south about 60 mph when the front drivers side tire of her car blew out, causing her to lose control and hit a concrete barrier.

Police said Maccarone did not require transport to a hospital and that Deer Lake-West Brunswick Township firefighters assisted.
The possibility of impeachment hangs over Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovages Jr.s head after lawmakers took the first steps Wednesday in the state House of Representatives.

State Reps. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township; Joe Kerwin R-125, Lykens; and Tim Twardzik R-123, Butler Township, have introduced a resolution calling upon the House Judiciary Committee to begin an investigation of Halcovage. Four women have accused the commissioner of sexual harassment and assault and, earlier Wednesday, a judge issued two sexual violence protection orders against Halcovage.

This is very rare for legislators to ask for the investigation of a public official, the legislators statement reads. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, we believe it to be necessary. Today, we start the process of impeachment. As Schuylkill County representatives we have an obligation to our constituents to determine the facts in this case and proceed accordingly.

The House resolution empowers the House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Courts to subpoena witnesses and other materials, and take testimony. The committee will determine whether an impeachment or removal from office is required due to alleged misbehavior in office and violation of public trust. After the committee concludes its work, it will be up to the House of Representatives to impeach Halcovage.

A majority of the 203-member House, which would be 102 representatives, must vote to impeach Halcovage for the matter to move to the state Senate. There, two-thirds of the 50 senators, a total of 34, must vote to convict Halcovage for him to be removed from office.

The representatives, as well as state Sen. David Argall, R-29, Rush Township, have called on Halcovage to resign. Argall said Monday that he has tried to speak with Halcovage but the commissioners lawyer has advised him to not speak with Argall.
POTTSVILLE  The legal proceeding Wednesday that led to the filing of two sexual violence protection orders against Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. raised questions among the press and agencies representing it.

Reporters for the Republican Herald and Lehighton Times News were in Courtroom No. 4 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse waiting for a protection from abuse hearing to begin when they were told they would not be permitted to stay. Both addressed on the record that such hearings are by law open to the public, including the press. They nonetheless had to leave as ordered by senior Judge Robert J. Eby, who is from Lebanon County court but commonly does PFA hearings in Schuylkill County.

Eby said there was concern about sordid details being made public and said attorneys for both sides had requested the hearing be closed.

A 75-page federal lawsuit filed March 16 by four women who accuse Halcovage of sexual harassment and assault includes graphic details of the allegations.

Upon news of the reporters being barred, the Republican Herald contacted the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Paula Knudsen Burke, local legal initiative attorney in Pennsylvania for the RCFP, called the AOPC and court officials in Schuylkill and Lebanon counties.

Burke received a return call from Schuylkill County Court administration around noon saying Eby had provided a statement that read: There was no hearing and the case was resolved by agreement.

Burke is pursuing whether there is a transcript of the proceeding.

It is not uncommon in PFA hearings for parties to settle or resolve a case without a hearing and testimony, but typically that is a discussion between the parties or their attorneys and a judge is not involved, Burke said.

Stacey Witalec, press secretary for the AOPC, who upon contact from the Republican Herald on Wednesday made contact with Schuylkill County officials in addressing the matter, said later that while standard PFA hearings are open to the public, they can be closed if the case involves sexual violence.

Ebys ruling that ordered the sexual violence protection orders was ultimately filed in the county prothonotarys offices as is normal procedure. Witalec also provided the documents.

According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, a sexual violence protection order is designed to protect victims of sexual violence from further abuse or intimidation by their abuser, regardless of whether or not criminal charges have been filed against the perpetrator.

The key difference to a protection from abuse order is in the relationship between the abuser and the victim.

While PFAs require an intimate or household relationship between the two parties, a SVPO does not and is available to victims of sexual violence who are at continued risk of harm from their perpetrator, according to the coalition.

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for PNA, said PFA hearings by state and U.S. Constitution are open to the public. Also, Pennsylvanias Unified Judicial System public access policy makes PFA files public, except for the victims address, work address and work schedule. Everything else, including victim names, is public unless sealed for good cause, she said.

Later Wednesday, the state House of Representatives reported that it would begin the process of impeachment against Halcovage.
POTTSVILLE  Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. must not harass or communicate with two women who asked for protection against him or he risks legal sanctions, a judge decided Wednesday.

However, Lebanon County Senior Judge Robert J. Eby did not ban Halcovage from the courthouse, as some employees have sought.

Defendant is under no prohibition from being present at any work place location, Eby wrote in a three-page order issued for each of the two plaintiffs.

Those orders went into effect immediately and will not expire until March 22, 2024.

Pursuit of the sexual violence protection orders, which Eby granted with the consent of the women and Halcovage but without any admission of wrongdoing by the latter, marks the latest step in the situation involving allegations that the commissioner has sexually harassed women at the courthouse since he took office in 2012.

Wednesdays orders bar Halcovage from having any direct or indirect contact with the women, who were identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. They also prohibit him from abusing, harassing, stalking or threatening them.

Additionally, the orders forbid Halcovage from going to the womens residences, one in Orwigsburg and the other in West Mahanoy Township, according to the rulings.

They also prescribe the possible punishment Halcovage could receive for violating the order.

A violation of such an order is considered indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom. It can be punished by a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000; a minimum $300 fine is mandatory.

The proceeding started at 9:30 a.m. and included an attempt by Eby to bar the press and public from any hearing. Members of the media who were present objected.

Shortly after that, Eby, the parties and their lawyers left the courtroom and did not return. Before they left, Halcovage could be seen through a window in the courtroom door standing and speaking at the defense table, although it was not known why he was speaking or what he said.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Tobin said members of his office eventually were told they were no longer needed in the courtroom.

County Human Relations Director Heidi Zula and Assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr. also had entered the courtroom. Neither, however, would talk about what occurred behind closed doors.

I cant comment, being that its a civil matter, Zula said.

Roth was equally reticent.

Its a personnel matter and I have no comment, he said.

Halcovage, a Republican, has faced increasing pressure to resign his office in the wake of the allegations. His fellow commissioners, Chairman Barron L. Hetherington and Gary J. Hess, state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, and state Reps. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Jerry Knowles, R-124, and Joe Kerwin, R-125, are among those urging him to step down.

An internal human relations investigation called the allegations against Halcovage credible and said he would have been fired if he were an employee. However, since he is an elected official, he can be removed from office only by impeachment and conviction by the state Legislature.

Twardzik, Knowles and Kerwin on Wednesday introduced a resolution asking the House Judiciary Committee to start a investigation of Halcovage, the first step in the impeachment process.

Four of Halcovages alleged victims have filed a federal lawsuit against him and several other county officials. That lawsuit, in which the women seek unspecified damages and demand a jury trial, is pending before Scranton-based U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

Catherine W. Smith, Philadelphia, the plaintiffs lawyer in both Wednesdays cases and the federal lawsuit, said after the hearing that there was no testimony. Instead, she said, the parties reached the agreement after negotiations and conferences.

Smith declined to say whether Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 are litigants in the federal lawsuit, but did say they still are county employees.

We were prepared to prove that they were the victims of sexual violence and/or continued intimidation connected with sexual violence on the part of Mr. Halcovage, she said.

Smith also said there were additional allegations in the requests for the orders that she anticipates adding to the documents in the federal lawsuit.

Amy L. Kruzel, Allentown, Halcovages lawyer, could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the proceedings.

Halcovage also could not be reached at his office or by telephone for comment on Wednesdays proceeding or the start of the impeachment process.
POTTSVILLE  While county Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. was elsewhere in the courthouse Wednesday morning as the subject of a protection from abuse hearing, his fellow commissioners agreed to cover the cost of sexual harassment training and recommended changes to the countys sexual harassment policy.

Commissioners Chairman Barron L. Hetherington and Gary J. Hess approved inserting $90,000 into this years budget for the human resources department to cover a $125 an hour contract with Hubric Resources, Wyomissing, to provide an interim human resources director and in-person sexual harassment training, and a $45,000 contract with attorney Tom Heimbach to help with county litigation and labor relations.

Hubric has already provided the training for all county employees; it took place between March and April, County Administrator Gary R. Bender said. He said sexual harassment training is done every two years and in the past has been done online through the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

However, with the allegations against Halcovage, the department felt it was best to do it in-person, which the commissioners agreed to, Bender said.

Halcovage is the defendant in a federal lawsuit filed by four county employees who accuse him of sexual harassment and assault.

Doreen Kutzler was the interim human resources director Hubric had provided before the current director, Heidi L. Zula, was hired in January.

Updates to the sexual harassment and non-discrimination policy would list the human resources director or, in her absence, an employee designated by the county, as the Equal Employment Opportunity officer, the individual who ensures the policy is followed and conducts investigations. Zula said the county can designate any employee.

The policy previously named the director and designee, but Zula said the change names the positions and not individual employees. They were not made as a result of the allegations against Halcovage, but as a matter of convenience.

When people change positions, we have to continually update (the policy) with their names if the positions changed, she explained. It makes things clearer by referencing the positions.

It will be voted on at next weeks commissioners meeting.

Before Zula recommended the changes, Palo Alto resident Jeffrey Dunkel asked in submitted comments read by Hetherington why the changes were made to the policy after the recent legal actions.

It seemed as if any employees can be removed from office for behavior like Mr. Halcovages, he said.

Row officers call for ban

Meanwhile, three row officers continued calls for Halcovage to be banned from the courthouse. Clerk of Courts Maria T. Casey asked the commissioners to make a motion for the ban.

You cant operate government like this, she told the commissioners just before the salary board meeting. Its not businesslike.

Hetherington urged Casey not to continue her remarks as they deal with personnel matters and occurred after the regular meeting.

Register of Wills Theresa Santai Gaffney said Halcovage could work remotely. She said after the meeting that she believes that would benefit county employees.

The staff can resume their roles and do their job, Gaffney said.

County Treasurer Linda L. Marchalk also said Halcovage should be banned from the courthouse.

Casey said she came from the hearing, which did not end up occurring after the case was resolved by agreement, according to the presiding judge. Casey said Halcovage retaliated against some of the women who filed the lawsuit by having their salaries reduced and that a portion of the policy allowing a public official to be censured needs to be reinstated.

All three women have previously called for Halcovage to resign.

Caseys reference of salary reductions involved a 3-1 vote by the salary board on March 17, the day after the lawsuit was filed, to create the positions of tax claim director and assistant tax claim director in the bureau and chief assessor and deputy chief assessor. The commissioners voted 2-1 to transfer two of the women to new positions while leaving the other two posts open.

Hess, saying the change amounted to a demotion, voted against both moves, while acting Controller Sharyn Yackenchick, the only non-commissioner member of the salary board, voted yes on the reorganization, as did Halcovage and Hetherington. Yackenchick said her vote was based only on making the offices operate more efficiently without regard to who is holding any particular office.

The employees connection to the alleged sexual harassment was not discussed as part of the vote.
Some level of incompetence is as inevitable in government as in any other large enterprise. But Pennsylvanias government is unique in continually forcing residents to root for incompetence as a lesser evil than corruption.

Over the last decade, Pennsylvanians have seen a steady parade of high-level public officials perp-walk into prison  an attorney general, county judges, senior leaders of both parties in the state House and county commissioners  and the forced resignations of others, including two Supreme Court justices.

Such hubris is as appalling as it is expensive. This time its the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System, the larger of the two gigantic state pension funds that, together, are underfunded by more than $60 billion.

Because of that, each of Pennsylvanias 500 school districts annually must give PSERS an amount equal to 34% of its payroll, an amount that would put any private-sector enterprise out of business. That is in addition to the state governments contributions to PSERS and the plan covering state government employees, which together total nearly $5 billion a year.

For that kind of money, taxpayers deserve honesty and transparency, at the very least.

Instead, PSERS has been caught by the news media for fudging its earnings claims and passing on $25 million in additional costs to taxpayers rather than school employees. Its not clear whether that was inadvertent. As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, federal authorities are examining how PSERS leaders reacted when internal estimates revealed that earnings would not meet their projections.

Now, the agency has been served with federal grand jury subpoenas regarding its $3 million acquisition of land in Harrisburg for construction of a new headquarters. It has hired a law firm, the contract with which identifies the parcels in question.

And, in classic Pennsylvania fashion, the law firm will be paid up to $367,500 in public money as the feds examine whether the agencys conduct was incompetent or criminal.

Neither is acceptable. Regardless of the inquirys outcome, its obvious that PSERS requires reform and change at the top.
Thank you to the Republican Herald for the front page on April 30. Frank Zangari, the fire chief, consoling a victim of a tragedy. Yes, folks. Thats the real anthracite region.

Shenandoah



The Republican Party has absolutely no interest in working with the president. If Joe Biden was to announce that he has discovered a cure for cancer, Lindsey Graham would be on Fox News complaining that the president is trying to put doctors out of work.

Shenandoah



I read in the paper the other day about Frank Zukas discussing all the high-price businesses and warehouses coming to the county. I hunt up around the airport and I see the jets landing with what I would imagine are the CEO, and executives of these companies. My question is what kind of impression of Schuylkill County are we giving these people when they drive out the airport road to either 901 or 81? The road is a disgrace.

Pottsville



Just wondering where all the outrage went by the Democrats and the media regarding the kids in cages and the illegal immigrant issue. You dont see anything in the paper. Shame on you guys. Just sweep it under the rug and I guess it goes away. Good thing it wasnt Donald Trump or it would be front-page news.

Orwigsburg



To the person from Mahanoy City who said the infrastructure proposal will create all these jobs, well, only 6% of the proposal goes for bridges and roads while the rest goes for all of the projects. You talk about creating good jobs, right now there are businesses that cant get workers because there are people quitting them to go on unemployment and making more on unemployment.

Pine Grove



I see in Thunder-Enlightning somebody complaining bout the price of ice cream. If thats the case, it being too expensive, dont buy it. There is nothing you can do about it. You cant call Mr. Biden up and say, hey, things cost too much because he doesnt care. Hes got the idea that he can raise everything, give things away and thats the end of it. Sorry it happens, but everybody has to pay the freight.

Tamaqua



Why does Schuylkill County has major drug problems? Maybe because of the example of drug dealers getting sentenced to nine months instead of nine years. Judges and the D.A. are sending the wrong message to drug dealers.

Barnesville



Open the paper today and see on the front page the 14-year-old girl from Mahanoy City going to the Supreme Court allowing her to say the f-word. At 14 years old, I think they should arrest the parents for not raising the child properly and then wash her mouth out with soap, like they would have happened years ago. This is what is wrong with our country today.

Brandonville



With regards to shrinking the Pennsylvania Legislature, how many of our courageous representatives and senators are willing to vote themselves out of their cushy jobs?

Frackville
Olympian Sushil Kumar is under the scanner of Delhi Police after he went missing on Thursday. He was one of the accused in the Chhatrasal Stadium scuffle incident where a 23-year-old, Sagar Kumar, a former junior national champion lost his life on late Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Kumar had claimed that his wrestlers had nothing to do with the incident and unknown people created a ruckus.

They weren't our wrestlers, it happened late last night. We have informed police officials that some unknown people jump into our premises and fought. No connection of our stadium with this incident: Wrestler Sushil Kumar on an incident of brawl



(File pic) pic.twitter.com/qBtS9FiTiL  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

Apart from deceased Sagar, few other wrestlers were injured and hospitalized for treatment. On Wednesday, the police had also arrested one person identified as 24-year-old Prince Dalal from Jhajjar, Haryana with double-barrel-loaded guns in the Chhatrasal Stadium firing case. Police also revealed that another accused, Sonu Mahal is a close associate of gangster Kala Jathedi and was earlier arrested in a robbery and murder case.

"Several teams have been formed to trace out alleged persons including Sushil Kumar. We're probing the role of Sushil Kumar as allegations have been made against him, we sent our team to his house but he was not found", Addl. Dy Commissioner of Police-I, NW Delhi said to ANI.

Chhatrasal Stadium case

On the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, a quarrel had broken between wrestlers at Chhatrasal Stadium. When police reached the site on hearing sounds of firing, it was found that five cars were parked in the parking area of the stadium. Investigation has revealed that Sushil Kumar, Ajay, Prince, Sonu, Sagar, Amit, and few others were allegedly involved in the case. The police inspected five vehicles and a case was registered at PS Model Town. The crime scene was further tested by forensic experts of FSL, Rohini.

The information regarding the death of Sagar was received from Trauma Centre Civil Lines, Delhi.

"During the course of the investigation, information regarding the death of injured Sagar and injury to Sonu was received from Trauma Centre Civil Lines, Delhi. Several teams have been formed to trace out the alleged persons. Technical evidence relating to this incident have been obtained," said the police.

(Inputs from ANI) (Image: ANI)
Expanding its arsenal of drugs to battle the massive second wave of COVID-19, the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Wednesday granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to Swiss pharma company Roche for the antibody cocktail 'Casirivimab and Imdevimab' in India. The decision was taken based on data filed with the U.S. regulators and the scientific opinion of a European regulatory panel.

Confirming the news, Roche Pharma India MD V Simpson Emmanuel said, "With the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in India, Roche is committed to doing everything we can to minimize hospitalizations and ease pressure on healthcare systems," He added, "This is where neutralizing antibody cocktails like Casirivimab and Imdevimab can play a role in the fight against COVID-19 and in treatment of high-risk patients before their condition worsens."

Roche's India distribution partner for the drug, Cipla's MD and Global CEO Umang Vohra said, "This partnership with Roche is a significant step in enabling access to promising treatments in furtherance to our purpose of 'Caring for Life'".

The antibody cocktail is to be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40 kg) who are confirmed to be infected with SARS-COV2 and who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease.

The drug already has similar authorization in the United States and is used in European non-hospitalized patients. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had taken the drug when he contracted the disease

COVID situation in India

The development holds relevance at this time when India is dealing with the second wave of COVID-19. Since April 15, India has been witnessing a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. On April 4, the country recorded over 1 lakh cases, which doubled in a span of ten days and has been seeing a rise ever since, with now, over 3-lakh cases being reported every day.

Keeping up with the daily record, the country on Wednesday reported 3,82,315 new coronavirus infections, pushing the active cases in the country to 34,87,229 comprising 16.87 percent of the total infections. The recovery rate so far stands at 82.03 percent, with a count of 1, 69,51,731 recuperated from the disease. The fatality rate, on the other hand, stands at 1.09 percent, with 2,26,188 fatalities, 3,780 reported in the last 24 hours. From the outbreak of the pandemic, the country has reported 2,06,65,148 cases.
The broker's analysts noted that the company's activities are fully funded into 2022 and that it benefits from experienced management

"Tier 1 gold mines are generally defined as those that produce at least 500 thousand gold ounces per year, a mine life exceeding 10 years, and costs in the lower half of the industry cost curve," the Noble analysts said

Noble Capital has started coverage of Ltd ( ) (OTCQX:GTBAF) (FRA:0G6A) saying that its Dixie Lake project in Red Lake is a district-scale gold discovery with potential to become one of the world's few Tier 1 gold mines.

The broker rates the stock 'Outperform' and targets C$26 or US$21 per share. Great Bear shares in Canada were changing hands at C$14.57 and in New York for US$14.56 on Thursday.

"Tier 1 gold mines are generally defined as those that produce at least 500 thousand gold ounces per year, a mine life exceeding 10 years, and costs in the lower half of the industry cost curve," said Noble analysts.

"Based on drilling results over the life of the project, we estimate mineral endowment potential of at least 10.0 million gold ounces with significant growth potential. While Great Bear is preparing to be able to advance the project into production, we think the company is a promising candidate for acquisition by a senior or intermediate gold producer," they added.

The Noble analysts also highlighted the firm's 2020 presentation by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum the A.O. Dufresne Exploration Achievement Award in recognition of "the knowledge, vision, and dedication in discovering and developing the Dixie Project as a world-class deposit".

The analysts also noted that the company's activities are fully funded into 2022 and that it benefits from experienced management.

"Catalysts for the stock include continued positive drill results that better define existing zones and step-out drilling to expand the existing zones and to discover new ones, along with publication of a maiden resource estimate in late 2021 or early 2022 and subsequent preliminary economic assessment," they added.

The company's wholly-owned Dixie project comprises 9,140 hectares of contiguous claims that extend over 22 kilometres (km). It lies around 25 km southeast of the town of Red Lake, Ontario.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
As India battles the pandemic, the Indian Army has set up a COVID Management Cell to bring greater efficiency in coordinating real-time responses to address the exponential rise in Coronavirus cases across the country, a statement said on Thursday. The Indian Army also said that assistance to civil administration in Delhi is already being provided in the form of testing, admissions in military hospitals and transportation of critical medical equipment.

Indian Army helps battle COVID-19 pandemic

"In order to coordinate multiple facets of staffing and logistics support, an exclusive COVID Management Cell under a Director General rank officer has been established which reports directly to the Vice Chief of Army Staff," the army statement said.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, the Indian Army has been at the forefront of COVID response at the national level. It has deployed considerable medical resources to assist civil authorities especially at the five COVID hospitals already functional or in the process of being established at Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna.

Chief of Naval Staff calls on PM Modi

Earlier on May 3, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him about the initiatives taken by the Indian Navy to battle the pandemic. As per the statement, PM Modi reviewed all the initiatives taken by the Navy to assist the countrymen in these tough times.

The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral informed PM Modi that the Indian Navy has reached out to all state administrations and have offered to help in terms of hospitals, beds, transportations and other such things. He also apprised the Prime Minister about Naval hospitals being opened for use of civilians in various cities across the country. Admiral Karambir Singh also informed that the medical personnel in the Navy have been deployed at various locations across the country to manage COVID-19 duties.

Stating that the Naval personnel as being provided Battle Field Nursing Assistant Training, the Chief of Naval Staff further mentioned that the Navy is helping to increase the availability of medical oxygen in places like Lakshadweep as well as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He also apprised PM Modi that the Indian Navy is transporting Oxygen Containers as well as other supplies from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Singapore to India.

Rajnath Singh reviews efforts of the Armed Forces

Earlier on May 1, the Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting, in which he reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces in supporting the civil administration in the fight against the second wave of COVID-19. In the meeting, Rajnath Singh was briefed about the many initiatives being taken by the forces, which includes the Indian Army setting up more than 720 beds in various States, 500-bed hospital being set up in Lucknow that will be functional in a brief time of two to three days, and another hospital being set up in Varanasi which will be functional by May 5, both by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Besides, setting up beds in hospitals, he was also given a brief on steps to increase staff in hospitals. He was further informed that 600 additional doctors are being mobilised through special measures such as calling to duty those who had retired in the last few years while the Indian Navy has deployed 200 Battle Field Nursing Assistants to assist in various hospitals.

It was added that the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has also deployed 300 cadets and staff at various locations in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Haryana. He was also informed about the telemedicine service, to be operated by health veterans, that will begin soon to provide consultation to those patients who remain at home.

As per government data, while transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out several sorties from Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai and within the country, the Indian Navy dispatched four ships  two to the Middle East and two to South East Asia  to transport filled oxygen containers to India. As of May 01, 2021, IAF carried out 28 sorties from abroad, airlifting 47 oxygen containers with 830 MT of capacity, while from within the country, it carried out 158 sorties, airlifting 109 containers with 2,271 MT capacity. The Navy and the Air Force have also supplied nearly 500 portable oxygen cylinders from their stores to various civilian hospitals.

COVID-19 situation in India

India so far has recorded over 2,10,77,410 positive cases, out of which 1,72,80,844 have successfully recovered and 2,30,168 have died. As per the latest reports from MoHFW, in the past 24 hours, 4,12,262 new cases, 3,29,113 fresh recoveries and 3,980 deaths have been reported. Currently, the total number of active cases in the country is 35,66,398.

(Image: Pixabay- Syaibatulhamdi, PTI)
The Indian Navy has ramped up its efforts to support the countrys administration and people in their battle against the lethal coronavirus contagion. Nearly a week after launching Operation Samudra Setu II, it has now deployed nine warships to bring in Liquid Medical Oxygen and associated medical equipment from foreign countries in the Persian Gulf and South East Asia. For the operation, all three Naval Commands, i.e. Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam and Kochi are being used.

"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 was quoted as saying by PTI.

On May 5, naval ship Talvar entered the port of New Mangalore in Karnataka ferrying two 27 tons of liquid oxygen tanks from Bahrain. On the same day, INS Kolkata, which has been deployed in the Persian Gulf, left Kuwait with two 27 ton oxygen tanks, 400 oxygen cylinders, and 47 concentrators. In addition, four warships are currently en route to Qatar and Kuwait, to embark on around nine 27-ton oxygen tanks and more than 1500 oxygen cylinders from these countries.

Meanwhile, naval ship Airavat left Singapore with more than 3600 oxygen cylinders, eight 27 ton (216 tons) oxygen tanks, 10000 Rapid Antigen Detection Test Kits & 7 concentrators. At present, INS Jalashwa also stands deployed in the region as a standby to embark on medical stores at short notice.

INS Shardul, which actively participated in Operation Samudra Setu last year to repatriate stranded Indian citizens stuck abroad has also been put to use. The ship is currently on its way to the Persian Gulf to bring three liquid oxygen filled cryogenic containers.

04 warships to Qatar & Kuwait, to embark around nine 27-ton Oxygen tanks & more than 1500 oxygen cylinders. #INSJalashwa deployed in #SouthEastAsia, standing by to embark medical stores.#INSShardul on its way to Persian Gulf to bring 3 oxygen-filled cryogenic containers (4/n). pic.twitter.com/pgAHidYSVB  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 5, 2021

Second wave

The viral apocalypse is continuing to wreak havoc across the country. According to the latest tally by MoHFW, the caseload of COVID-19 infections rose to 2,06,65,148 on May 6. Out of which, 2,26,188 lost their lives while 1,69,51,731 recovered. There are a total of 34,87,229 still active coronavirus cases in the country.
At the invitation of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating in the meeting of the European Council on May 8 as a special invitee. The India-EU Leaders' Meeting is being hosted by Portugal PM Antonio Costa as Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

PM Modi will participate in the meeting along with the Heads of State of all the 27 EU Member States. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with US President Joe Biden in March this year. The leaders will exchange views on the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare cooperation; fostering sustainable and inclusive growth; strengthening the India-EU economic partnership as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The India-EU Leaders Meeting is an unprecedented opportunity for discussion with all the leaders of the EU Member States. It is a significant political milestone and will further build on the momentum witnessed in the relationship since the 15th India-EU Summit in July 2020, the government said in a statement.

PM Modi speaks to EU chief

Ahead of the virtual India-EU leaders meeting on May 8, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a telephonic conversation with PM Narendra Modi, during which the two leaders exchanged views on the existing COVID-19 scenario in India and the EU.

An official statement from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said that PM Modi expressed his appreciation of the EU and its member states for mobilizing rapid support for Indias fight against the second wave of Coronavirus.

Good call with the Prime Minister in preparation for the EU-India Summit. Team Europe stands in deep solidarity with our democratic partner India. We are providing rapid support and are delivering assistance to fight COVID-19, Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet on Monday.

There is clear momentum to strengthen our strategic relations on trade, digital, climate change & multilateralism. I'm encouraged by the prospect of intensifying our trade & investment relations. This would tap into a huge potential to the benefit of our businesses & citizens, she said.
The BJP on Wednesday had called for a nationwide dharna within its party to protest the post-poll violence that ensued after the West Bengal assembly elections. The saffron party's Telangana unit also staged a protest at the party's office in Hyderabad. The protest was led by Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay. Sanjay alleged that the ruling TMC was attacking BJP workers across West Bengal.

"Many houses of Hindus and BJP party workers have been set on fire, women are being physically assaulted and the party offices of BJP are being destroyed," Sanjay said. He added, "In protest against the atrocities happening against BJP leaders and party workers, all across the country various BJP leaders are holding protests. Even in Telangana, BJP party workers are holding protests across various districts against these attacks."

Bandi Sanjay also hit out at the TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and claimed that she has "turned West Bengal into a land of illegal migrants from Bangladesh". In addition, he also remarked on BJP's performance in the West Bengal elections and stated that the party is getting stronger as it won 77 seats.

BJP's oath against 'politics of hate'

BJP chief JP Nadda and the party's newly-elected MLAs on Wednesday took an oath against TMC's 'politics of hate'. In addition, the BJP also boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of Mamata Banerjee. BJP National President JP Nadda in his address to the MLAs at the Hastings Election Office stated that they have been elected as an opposition. In addition, he also remarked that the oath-taking by BJP MLAs was a mark of respect to accept the people's mandate in the West Bengal Elections and also highlight post-poll violence allegedly by TMC goons. Nadda also stated that the opposition is boycotting Mamata Banerjee's oath-taking ceremony to protest against the violence. In addition, he has also assured that the saffron party will 'dismantle' political violence in West Bengal

Post-poll violence in West Bengal

Following a major victory, violence has gripped West Bengal with TMC cadres allegedly attacking BJP and Left workers in the state. The BJP and the CPI(M) have alleged that its workers were being killed in the name of its 'victory celebrations' after the results. The Home Ministry has therefore sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government pertaining to the alleged violence in the state. In addition, several human rights bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) have also raised concerns over the violence in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled state and sought an inquiry.

West Bengal elections and results

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won a landslide victory in the recent assembly elections. The TMC defeated the BJP with a clear majority. The EC's data stated that the TMC won 213 seats while the BJP garnered 77 seats. However, the other alliance consisting of Congress-Left-ISF had failed to win a single seat. On the other hand, independent candidates have bagged two seats. The BJP gained 74 more seats than the previous election with a vote share of 38.13% against TMC's 47.94%. Even so, Mamata Banerjee was defeated by her ex-aide Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram who had joined the BJP.

(With ANI Inputs)
Shortly after Union Minister V Muraleedharan's car was attacked in West Bengal's Panchkhudi by TMC goons, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar while addressing a press conference on Thursday said that whatever happened in the state is "absolutely shocking". Speaking about the attack on his Ministerial colleague, Prakash Javadekar said that anything could have happened.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "If Ministers can be attacked then who is safe in Bengal? It is a state-sponsored terrorism, state-sponsored violence aimed at BJP workers and voters. Due to this post-poll violence, thousands of BJP workers had to flee from their house to take shelter elsewhere. They have been beaten. So far 14 workers have been murdered and over 1,000 houses have been burnt in this post-election violence by TMC."

Calling the current violence in Bengal an "unprecedented violence post-election" that India has witnessed, Javadekar said that the Centre not only condemns this but also demands strict and strong action against this "worst kind of violence". Stating that this kind of poll violence has shamed democracy norms of the country, he said, "This shows that what Mamata Banerjee was speaking during campaigning that after election results, all the security forces will go and then it will be only TMC is what is actually happening in the state currently."

Bengal: TMC goons attack Union Min Muraleedharan's car

Earlier during the day, Union Minister V Muraleedharan's car and convoy were attacked in Bengal's Panchkhudi. After this incident, the Union Minister took to his official Twitter handle and alleged that the attack was perpetrated by Trinamool Congress (TMC). Informing that the TMC goons had attacked his convoy in West Midnapore by breaking windows and attacking personal staff, Muraleedharan said that he is cutting short his trip due to this.

This latest development comes after the Ministery of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday sent a 4-member team to look into the post-poll violence in West Bengal. The Centre's team was expected to take stock of the ground situation in the state and then send a report to the government within 48 hours.

Earlier on Wednesday, the MHA had dialled the West Bengal Chief Secretary for a report on the disorder and warned to take the matter seriously if a report was not furnished immediately. The Home Ministry had first sought a report from the Mamata Banerjee-led government on May 3 after incidents of attacks on workers of the opposition parties began surfacing following TMC's thumping victory in the assembly polls.

Post-poll violence in West Bengal

After the Trinamool Congress recorded a landslide victory in West Bengal, political violence gripped the state with its workers running rampage and engaging in anarchy in the name of 'victory celebrations.' Both the BJP and the Left have confirmed reports of attacks on their party cadre. The saffron party has also alleged that the miscreants were torching the houses and damaging the properties of BJP leaders who had contested the polls.

On May 5, as Mamata Banerjee took oath as the Chief Minister for her third consecutive term, the BJP boycotted her swearing-in ceremony taking an oath against 'politics of hate' instead. Gathering at the Hastings Election office, BJP MLAs along with party president JP Nadda assured that the saffron party will 'dismantle' political violence in the state. Nadda who concluded his 2-day visit to Bengal had also visited houses of the party workers who had been targeted in the days subsequent to the May 2 result.

Several human rights bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) have also raised concerns over the violence in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled state and sought an inquiry.

(Image: ANI, PTI, Twitter: @VMBJP)
Archaeologists have unearthed the earliest known human burial in Africa in southeast Kenyas MSA layers of Panga ya Saidi (PYS), a cave site on the tropical upland coast. A skeleton of a roughly 2.5 to 3-year-old toddler in a flexed position on a pillow dating to 78 thousand years ago was excavated. While scientists argue that the human burials in the Middle East and Europe are some of the oldest, the African grave of the child is one of the earliest known across the continent, according to new research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The cave sediment and the bones helped scientists unveil the details of the evolution of the funerary practices in Homo sapiens.

#ICTSNews

The CENIEH in collaboration with @MPI_SHH and the National Museums of Kenya, co-leads a study on the oldest human burial in Africa, dating back to 78,000 years old. pic.twitter.com/uiRJpn2r81  CENIEH (@CENIEH) May 5, 2021

The micromorphological analysis of the burial pit content found that the grave belonged to a period known as the Middle Stone Age and that the pit was deliberately excavated. The presence of little or no displacement of the unstable joints during decomposition points of the body confirmed the finding to be the oldest known human burial in Africa. Although, scientists found the preservation of some primitive features which supports increasing evidence for the modern-day traits of the burial practices. The recently discovered burial sheds light on how Middle Stone Age (MSA) populations interacted with the dead, the study purported. Researchers named the ancient toddler Mtoto, a Swahili word that means child. He was buried in the sheltered part of the cave as per the traditions of symbolically significant burials at the time.

"What counts as symbolism, and whether is it archaeologically visible is quite complicated," explains Dr Louise Humphrey from natural History Museum in a statement. "This burial might be symbolic, and it certainly goes beyond the purely perfunctory. They have obviously taken care to arrange the body in the grave, including putting it in a headrest. I think there is a personal manifestation of loss."

[Burial was found at Panga ya Saidi cave. Credit: CENIEH]

[Discovery of this burial will hopefully spur other researchers on to start looking for more. Credit:CENIEH]

Pit transported to National Museums of Kenya

The excavation was led by archaeologist Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, Max Planck archaeologist Nicole Boivin who started the work at the site in 2010. As archaeologists kept digging the ancient pits, signs of Mtotos burial appeared in 2013 but the fragmentary bones visible were extremely fragile to move. Later, the sediments lab tests proved that the burial was exposed to sunlight about 78,300 years ago.

Excavators then transported the entire pit to the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi in 2017 for further research and analysis. Paleoanthropologist Maria Martinon-Torres at the National Research Center on Human Evolution in Burgos, Spain, and her team led the research by CT imaging to create digital versions of the PYS bones. The childs two teeth found in the pit indicated that it had died aged approximately 2.5 to 3 years. A study of the collarbone and two ribs indicated that it was wrapped in a shroud, and as per the dentures in the skull base and attached neck bones, its head was laid at rest on a pillow.
For thousands of displaced Tigrayans, home is a dilapidated secondary school in the regional capital, Mekele.

More than 7,000 people have been registered at the Hadnet General Secondary School, although daytime numbers appear smaller when some venture into the city.

There are new arrivals each week at the school, which has been converted into a makeshift camp for the homeless.

Nothing is taken for granted here - but it's a wretched existence for the displaced.

They include some who once were wealthy landowners in the western part of Tigray, but had their land annexed by ethnic Amharas who say the land was originally theirs.

Wegahta Weldie is a 21-year-old accounting student from Mai Kadra, scene of the six-month-old conflict's first known massacre.

She and her family fled after first hiding in a maize field and walked hundreds of kilometers (miles) to reach Mekele.

"As we were fleeing, we would step on dead bodies. Many people had been killed and it was very dark. I could not tell whether they were my relatives or not," she says.

The young woman adds she knows of one Amhara who died in the Mai Kadra violence, but stresses that many victims were Tigrayans, like her.

Ethiopia's federal government says ethnic Amharas were killed in Mai Kadra by fighters of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

But many Tigrayans who have spoken to The Associated Press say they were targeted, too.

Ethiopian troops and allied forces, including soldiers from neighbouring Eritrea, pursued fighters loyal to the Tigray regional party.

The party's leaders long dominated the national government before being sidelined by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The fighting remains intense in some areas, complicating efforts to help the displaced people or reach rural communities where some fear the real toll is yet to be known.

The United Nations human rights office has said all sides are accused of committing abuses against civilians.

But far more of the killings, rapes, and mass expulsions are attributed to Ethiopian forces, Amhara regional forces, or, especially, allied troops from Eritrea.

The Tigray conflict has displaced more than one million people, the International Organization for Migration reported in April, and the numbers continue to rise.

Many have fled to neighbouring Sudan, but others are scattered all over Tigray, in small groups of hundreds or thousands like at the secondary school in Mekele.

Most of them are women and children, including babies strapped to the backs of mothers queuing up for food, which is in short supply.

The community relies heavily on donations from aid workers and local well-wishers.

Birhanu Haile, who serves as the camp's coordinator, says the displaced want nothing more than return to their homes.

"They would like to rebuild their lives, to go back to their land, to farm it to go back to their trade. We want to be able to go back to our land again," he explains.

Birhanu himself found shelter at the school as one of the thousands of displaced.

He lost his land and his house in western Tigray has been occupied by ethnic Amhara who now claim the area as their own.

His wife and two children are refugees in Sudan. Two nephews were killed.

The memories are so painful that Birhanu Haile sometimes forgets to eat.

The international community is increasingly concerned about the fate of the estimated six million people of Tigray, which lies north of the federal capital, Addis Ababa.

There are concerns that the region might face mass starvation, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

ICRC spokesperson Alyona Synenko says farmers normally start to prepare for the next planting season about now.

Ethiopia only has one planting season, so if the displaced are unable to return to their land, extreme food shortage could be the result in the months, Synenko says.

The United States has cited "ethnic cleansing" in parts of western Tigray.

It was the first member of the international community to use a term that refers to forcing a population from a region through expulsions and other violence.

The federal government disputes the allegation of ethnic cleansing, saying no civilians were targeted in such a way.

Last week, Ethiopia's Council of Ministers designated the TPLF as a terrorist organisation, almost certainly ending hopes for peace talks.

But the TPLF, like some others in Ethiopia, is an ethnic-based party that has long represented the people of Tigray in accordance with the 1995 constitution.

The constitution enshrines ethnic federalism in the East African country of more than 110 million people and over 90 distinct ethnic groups.

Mekele has been held up by Ethiopia's government as an example as it asserts a return to normal in Tigray.

But the displaced at the Hadnet General Secondary School continue to cling to a marginal existence as they long for their homes.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
China's decision to suspend an economic dialogue with Australia is "regrettable", Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese said Thursday.

Beijing's move steps up a pressure campaign that began over Australian support for a probe of the coronavirus and has disrupted exports to China, which is Australia's biggest foreign market.

"This is unfortunate," Albanese said. "We do need dialogue with China. It can't be just on their terms, though."

Relations have plunged to a multi-decade low since Beijing blocked imports of Australian coal, wheat and other goods over the past year.

But it has failed to force Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government to offer concessions.

The Chinese government accused Australia of taking steps "to disrupt normal exchanges" due to a "Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination."

China's relations with Australia, India and some other neighbors are increasingly strained by the ruling Communist Party's assertiveness abroad, including claims to disputed territory and accusations Beijing tries to influence politics in Australia and other Western democracies.

Beijing blocked imports of most Australian goods last year after Canberra called for an investigation into the coronavirus, which emerged in central China in late 2019.

China is Australia's No. 1 foreign market, but the sanctions impact has been limited because Chinese steel mills still buy Australian iron ore, the country's most valuable export.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
China has reported at least 18 cases of double mutant coronavirus variant first discovered in India, state media reported on May 5. Three Chinese nationals, who had worked near Delhi, tested positive for the virus after they travelled to China last month via Kathmandu. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention fears more COVID-19 cases of the double mutant variant but denied the risk of cluster infections due to strict screening.

The three people were reportedly working at a mobile phone company in Noida and had travelled to New Delhi in a chartered car on April 19. Later, they travelled to Kathmandu with protective clothes, N95 respirators, goggles and gloves and headed to Chinese city of Chongqing. South Chinas Zhejiang province and Shanghai have also reported imported cases and asymptomatic cases from India.

The CDC field notes said, supporting [the conclusion] that the Covid-19 infection on these three patients probably occurred in India.

They stayed in a hotel in Nepal for two days and then flew to southwest Chinas Chongqing on April 21 and immediately tested positive for Covid-19 after landing in Chongqing, the CDC Weekly report said.

One Indian among 18 cases

According to China's state-run Global Times, other than these three cases an Indian man also tested positive for B.1.617.2 variant. He had landed at Shanghai airport from Niger via Paris. Further, CDCs chief epidemiologist Wu Zunyou said that "COVID-19 strain prevalent in India has been detected in some cities in my country, and everyone is very concerned." However, he did not specify the names of the cities where these cases have been reported.

China has reported a total of 90,721 Covid-19 cases and 4,636 deaths since the start of the pandemic, with the last death recorded this January. Flights between India and China have been banned since last year and while China was to report the first case of coronavirus, the country crawled back to normal by implementing strict lockdowns and restrictions. India, on the other hand, reported 4.12 lakh new coronavirus cases and 3,980 deaths due to the virus.
Foreign Ministers Group of Seven (G7) countries rebuked China on issues concerning Hong Kong, human rights violations in Xinjiang and military assertiveness in the South China Sea. They raised serious concerns about the regional stability amid China's unilateral actions.

G7 Leaders reiterated their serious concerns over human rights issues in China including alleged forced labour camps and a crackdown in Hong Kong against anti-government protestors and the persecution of the Uyghur minority in the province of Xinjiang. G7 ministers on Wednesday, in a joint statement said,

"We continue to be deeply concerned about human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet, especially the targeting of Uyghurs, members of other ethnic and religious minority groups and the existence of a large-scale network of "political re-education" camps and reports of forced labour systems and forced sterilisation."

Disputes over the South China Sea have compelled several foreign entities to outpour their opinions and inculpate China. Leaders raised concerns about the situation in and around East and South China Sea. The G7 ministers said-

"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in and around the East and South China Seas. We underscore the importance of peace and stability across Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross- Strait issues."

The said ministers reiterated their strong opposition to any "unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order and express serious concern about reports of militarisation, coercion and intimidation in the region." The statement incorporated certain other dialogues too. They said,

"We call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to end the targeting of those who defend rights and freedoms and democratic values, to uphold the independence of the judicial system and to ensure cases are not transferred to the mainland."

The leaders of G7 urged China to uphold its commitments to act responsibly in cyberspace, including refraining from conducting or supporting cyber-enabled intellectual property theft. The ministers also supported Taiwan's meaningful participation in World Health Organisation forums and the World Health Assembly in a bid to strengthen global cooperation.

Soured relations between EU & China

In a recent development, the EU pledged to block the EU-China investment deal while dozens of Brussels lawmakers denounced China's attempts to "gag" European critics via sanctions. The EU's take on China has hardened over a period. According to South China Morning Post, at a debate in the European Parliament more than 30 members took the floor to condemn the sanctions imposed by Beijing last month. They denounced the sanctions and targeted a host of elected officials, ambassadors, academics and think tanks.

The EU reiterated their serious concerns regarding human rights issues in China including alleged forced labour camps and a crackdown in Hong Kong against anti-government protestors and the persecution of the Uyghur minority in the province of Xinjiang. Denouncing the retaliatory sanctions, the MEPs slammed Chinese attempts to "interfere in the democratic life of our nations and our European Union".

Soured relations between China & Australia

Australia scrapped the controversial Belt and Road (BRI) agreement with China claiming the deal was contrary to the national interest. Australia's PM Scott Morrison eliminated the agreement signed between the State government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of China signed in 2018. This termination might mean an end to further Sino-Australian cooperation in the fields of industrial production, biotechnology and agriculture.

Soured relations between China & its neighbouring countries

Disputes over the South China Sea, have compelled several foreign entities to outpour their opinions and inculpate China. In a recent development, international public opinion raised concern over the domineering Coast Guard Law of China stating that Beijing uses the law to legalise violence caused by its coast guard forces in order to serve the country's unilateral sovereignty claim in the East Sea alias South China Sea.

China has been more assertive in sovereignty disputes of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The said islands are subject to a territorial dispute and are in whole or partly claimed by numerous countries, namely, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims virtually all of the South China Sea while the Philippines claim the Spratly Islands as being within its exclusive economic zone alias West Philippines. A United Nations tribunal dismissed China's claim to virtually claiming all sovereignty of the South China Sea. Earlier, Beijing had rejected this ruling.

Lately, it appears China's Xi Jinping has witnessed a cold shoulder while countries across the globe either cleared their stance or strengthened their relations with one of the world's largest trading resource.
The company said the drill results, in conjunction with previous assays, have identified the existence of potential shoots of skarn mineralization beginning about 265 m above the Fernandez Zone

Golden Tag said this geologic discovery could potentially be repeated in other areas over the Fernandez Zone

Golden Tag Resources Ltd ( ) ( ) announced drill results from its 100% owned San Diego project in Durango, Mexico, which included 286.02 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (80.5 g/t silver and 0.3 g/t gold) over 18.43 metres (m).

The company said the results, in conjunction with assays from previous drilling, have identified the existence of potential shoots of skarn mineralization beginning about 265 m above the Fernandez Zone, which could connect or be parallel to the western edge of Fernandez.

"We are pleased by the results from holes 21-54 and 21-55 because they demonstrate that potential shoots of skarn mineralization extend up towards the surface from the Fernandez Zone. Golden Tag Resources CEO Greg McKenzie said in a statement.

Reviewing these results and our overall model with Orix Geoscience has the company encouraged that this geologic discovery could potentially be repeated in other areas over the Fernandez Zone, McKenzie added.

Particularly prospective is the eastern side of Fernandez, and the mineralization associated within the Montanez Zone.

Golden Tag noted that a total of 4,510 m of diamond drilling has been completed in eight holes with more than 3,800 samples having been submitted to the lab for analysis.

It added that Holes 21-56A and 21-57 have been logged and samples have been sent in for analysis with assay results pending.

The San Diego project consists of four mining concessions encompassing 91.65 hectares in Mexicos Velardena Mining District.

The Velardena District hosts several mines that have been producing silver, zinc, lead and gold for the past 100 years.

The Toronto-based company considers San Diego to be one of Mexicos largest undeveloped silver assets, with an estimated indicated resource of 31.6 million silver ounces at an average grade of 60 g/t and 438 million pounds of zinc, along with an inferred silver resource of 83.8 million ounces at 62 g/t and 1.2 billion pounds of zinc. The resource estimate, completed in 2013, is based on 59 holes totalling 33,000m.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
A Belgian farmer has extended his country's border with France - by accident.

The farmer moved a large stone apparently because it was blocking the path of his tractor.

He didn't realise it was a border stone erected more than 200 years ago to mark the frontier between Belgium and France.

His mistake made Belgium bigger than it should have been as he placed the stone several metres into French territory.

The issue came to light after it was noticed by a group of French history enthusiasts who have a passion for border stones and enjoy comparing how they're positioned on maps.

A neighbouring farmer, Guy Jouniaux, wasn't happy about the matter.

He said it meant he had lost more than two metres of his land.

The mayor of the Belgian village of Erquelinnes, David Lavaux, said the Belgian and French foreign ministries would need to form a border commission to decide - once and for all - exactly where the border should be.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Rotterdam Zoo welcomed a new baby Asian elephant to its herd. Born in the early hours of Wednesday morning - liberation day in the Netherlands - the male is the fifteenth healthy elephant born at the zoo.

The as-yet-unnamed elephant was born at 00.03 a.m. CET (10.03 p.m. GMT) to his 20-year-old mother Bangka as her third child.

The zoo said the calf was on its feet and searching for milk within a few minutes of its birth.

During the delivery Bangka recieved support from her mother Irma, who is now a grandmother again.

A baby elephant weighs an average of 80kg at birth and the gestation period takes around 22 to 24 months, the longest of any mammal.

Rotterdam Zoo remains closed due to coronavirus restrictions in the Netherlands. However, animal lovers can follow the progress of the calf via the zoo's webcams.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The European Union is set Thursday to allow the United States, Canada and Norway to join one of its military projects aimed at speeding up the deployment of troops and equipment around Europe.

EU defense ministers will give the green light for the three to join the bloc's "military mobility" project, designed to ease bureaucratic procedures which slow troop deployments considerably.

It's the first time that the EU will allow outside countries to join its system of military projects and marks a sign of improving EU-NATO cooperation.

Germany's defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer described it as a big step for Europe, for NATO and for trans-Atlantic relations.

The ministers were also discussing plans to set up a military training mission in Mozambique to help the government there in its fight against extremist rebels.

The UN World Food Program recently warned that the humanitarian crisis caused by the insurgency in northern Mozambique is rapidly spiralling, with more than 950,000 people in urgent need of food aid.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels that developments in the country were becoming "more and more an issue of concern."

Such a mission in Mozambique could be launched in the second half of 2021, and the EU is weighing whether to supply the army there with military equipment.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed displeasure over the functioning of the country's diplomats & embassies in foreign countries and said that they should take a leaf from the book of Indian embassies who were functioning pro-actively. Addressing a meeting with Pakistan ambassadors, Pakistan PM Imran Khan claimed that he had received complaints from his countrymen in Saudi Arabia that the Pakistan embassy was unresponsive. Imran Khan said that he had started to receive feedback about the functioning of Pakistan embassies a year-and-a-half ago and that he was shocked by their 'callousness'. Moreover, he went on to cite other complaints from overseas Pakistanis on the citizen portal and rued over the 'unfortunate' manner in which the embassies treated or responded to their countrymen. Imran Khan said instead of helping the poor workers, the ambassadors dealt with them the way the British used to treat them during the colonial period.

"We cannot continue like this...Embassies' foremost work is to service the diaspora and then they should work to bring investment into the country that is going through very bad financial conditions right now," Imran Khan said.

Imran Khan asks Pakistan embassies to take a leaf out of Indian embassies' book

The meeting came in the wake of Islamabad calling back its ambassador from Saudi Arabia last week along with six other officials on complaints of mistreatment towards the Pakistanis working in the kingdom. Talking about the functioning of the embassies and the diplomats, Pakistan PM Imran Khan categorically stated that there was a need for change and that such a system could work in the colonial era of the British, not in the current era of Pakistan. He said that the biggest job of the embassies was to serve the Pakistani diaspora in various parts of the world and to bring in investments for the country at a time when Pakistan was burdened by a big financial crisis. Imran Khan drew a parallel between Indian and Pakistan embassies and noted that the former worked 'proactively' to bring investments for India as opposed to the latter's efforts.

                                                https://t.co/WA7Ah49m9Q  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 5, 2021

Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will embark on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday during which he will discuss all areas of bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom's top leadership, as the two nations work to rebuild ties after recent setbacks. He has been invited by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. The Foreign Minister and other members of the Cabinet will be part of his delegation, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement. The Prime Minister's consultations with the Saudi leadership will cover all areas of bilateral cooperation including economic, trade, investment, energy, job opportunities for the Pakistani workforce, and welfare of Pakistani diaspora in the Kingdom. Several bilateral agreements/MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit, according to the FO.
Maldives on Wednesday imposed night curfew in lieu of a sudden spike in the COVID-19 cases across the island nation due to public assembly amid the ongoing local election. The cases also surged due to the indoor gathering in the holy month of Ramadan, and the onslaught of tourists from abroad. On Wednesday, Maldives health protection Agency announced the concern of the rising cases and chaired a special committee to discuss measures for the containment of fresh COVID-19 infections. The country quickly ramped up its vaccination campaign as it announced the second dose drive of Indias exported Covishield vaccine at the Social Center and Hulhumale' Vaccination Center for the population that was administered with the first shot in February. This is to ensure that people receive their second dose before the 12-week period is over, the health agency said on Twitter as it appealed to the public to come forward and get the jab.

According to Maldives health ministry data, the confirmed coronavirus cases surged from 318 recorded the previous week to 734. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih directed the closure of all government offices from May 5 to 15 in the Greater Male Region (Male, Hulhumale, Villingili, Thilafushi, and Gulhifalhu), as a precautionary measure, a press release from his office read. All employees were asked to work from home. All essential services were exempted from the curbs. Maldives started its mass inoculation campaign on February 1 and had managed to immunized at least 19 percent of its total 557,426 population, according to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Vice President @FaisalNasym leads daily Health Emergency Coordination Committee meeting; discusses approaches to curb the current spike in Covid-19 cases. pic.twitter.com/cEiaZF5NBH  The President's Office (@presidencymv) May 6, 2021

Strict caution advised for health safety

Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced that it was tightening the COVID-19 curfew hours and was imposing restrictions on nonessential movements, including in the Greater Male Region. While the local population was advised to exercise the strictest caution in adherence to the health protocols, tourists were asked to produce mandatory negative PCR tests to enter the country. Last month, as the Maldives held its local council's election on April 10 at schools, government buildings, and stadiums, health authorities feared the spread of the virus due to large gatherings. As the elections coincided with the Ramadan festivities, people also gathered to offer prayers in the capital Male contributing to the onslaught of new infections.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on May 5 dismissed the link between his austerity drive and a metro line disaster that killed at least 24. As shattered families began burial of all the victims following the tragedy on Monday night (local time), Obrador rejected the suggestions from employers association Coparmex that the accident was connected to public spending cuts. On May 3, a section of elevated track collapsed in Mexico City bringing down a train full of passengers and then crashing down, leaving the entire nation shocked and devastated.

"The metro maintenance has a sufficient budget. It's authorized by Mexico City's legislative assembly. What does that have to do with austerity?" said the Mexican President, who is a left-wing populist, while also accusing Coparmex of being part of the conservative opposition.

As per the Associated Press report, the Mexico City Metro is reportedly among the worlds cheapest with tickets costing nearly 25 cents. However, the metro rail has recorded at least three serious accidents since its inauguration over two decades ago. In March 2020, a collision between two trains at Tacubaya station killed one passenger while leaving at least 41 injured. Back in 2015, a train did not stop on its time and crashed into another at Oceania station injuring 12 passengers. In another accident in 1975, at least 26 people were reportedly killed.

Investigation into Mexico City Metro collapse

Even though Mexican President has denied any link between austerity drive and Mexico City Metro collapse, an investigation is being carried out by the prosecutors and Norwegian company, DNV. As per the Bangkok Post report, the inquiry into the disaster could uncover more difficult questions for Obrador who has taken a pledge to tackle the deep-rooted corruption in the country. Following the Monday night incident, even the authorities are placed on the receiving end of severe backlash from one of the metro labour unions. The Union leaders have also accused the authorities of ignoring their early warnings about damage to the overpass that collapsed. "The workers are afraid, we have no guarantees," union leader Jesus Urban told the Milenio newspaper.

Image credits: AP
Britain's Prince William said on Tuesday his daughter had a "lovely birthday" after the princess turned 6 on Sunday.

During a visit to Babcock Vehicle Engineering in the UK town of Walsall, William said the young royal was growing up "very fast".

Unlike her pervious birthday, when the UK was in the midst of its first coronavirus lockdown, Charlotte was able to celebrate her special day with another family, the Duke of Cambridge added.

William, second-in-line to the throne, spoke during a visit to the business which specialises in converting vehicles for the emergency services and security forces.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The U.K. has granted full diplomatic status to the European Unions ambassador to the country, in a reversal of policy that settles one of the disputes that have strained relations between the two sides since Brexit.

In a joint statement Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said they had reached an agreement that was based on goodwill and pragmatism.

Under the so-called Establishment Agreement for the EU Delegation to the U.K., the EUs ambassador to London will now have a status consistent with those from states around the world. The EUs staff will also have the same privileges and immunities that other delegations have in the U.K.

The changes bring an end to one of the rows that have soured relations since the U.K. left the EU in early 2020. The U.K. had sought to justify its decision not to grant full diplomatic status to Joao Vale de Almeida, the bloc's first ambassador to London, on the grounds the EU is not a state even though other countries give it equivalent credentials.

Many thought the U.K.'s stance was petty and aimed purely at helping Prime Minister Boris Johnson to draw as many concessions as possible from the EU during their post-Brexit discussions last year. Though a trade deal was eventually sealed on Christmas Eve, there are many lingering tensions between the U.K. and the EU, not least over Northern Ireland, which is the only land border between the two.

The change of course came during a discussion between Raab and Borrell on the margins of the Group of Seven meeting of foreign ministers in London.

They also discussed cooperation on foreign and security policy and ways of stepping up joint work on climate change ahead of this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

They also discussed efforts to kickstart peace talks in Cyprus and stressed the need to build momentum for the next meeting of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots after their failure last week to make headway in the latest U.N.-sponsored effort on the future of their ethnically divided island.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Lavinia "Lavi" Mounga had no idea a baby was coming when she went into labor on a flight from her home in Utah to Honolulu last week. Mounga said she didn't know she was pregnant, and then the baby "came out of nowhere" while flying to Hawaii.

The baby boy, Raymond Mounga, arrived early at just 29 weeks while mom was traveling to Oahu for vacation with her family.

A Hawaii Pacific Health family medicine physician and three neonatal intensive care unit nurses from North Kansas City Hospital were on the plane and helped the new mother and baby.

The child will have to stay in the hospital in Hawaii until he is full term, about another 10 weeks.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
NextLeaf Solutions (CSE: OILS- OTCQB: OILFF) CEO Paul Pedersen joined Steve Darling from Proactive to bring news the company has validated and entered an initial supply agreement with a B.C.-based hemp supplier for CBD rich biomass.

Pedersen shares with Proactive more about the deal and about receiving another patent for extraction, purification and delivery of cannabinoids. This Patent is in Europe and is the companys 70th issued globally.
A member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Wednesday during his visit to Sudan that issues over the Renaissance dam should be resolved peacefully through negotiations.

Senator Christopher Coons said that Ethiopia has the right to build a dam and reap the benefits of hydroelectric power, but that Sudan also has the right to receive technical information about the dam's flow and safety issues.

Negotiations are ongoing between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan aimed at resolving a yearslong dispute over the giant structure that Ethiopia is building on the Nile's main tributary.

There are also tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia over a longtime border dispute that centres on large swaths of agricultural land Sudan says are within its borders in the al-Fashqa area, which Ethiopian farmers have cultivated for years.

The Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, which has resulted in an influx of refugees into Sudan, has exacerbated the situation.

US-Sudanese relations are entering a new phase after its name was removed from the US list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

(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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One of Cambodias wealthiest families with close ties to Prime Minister Hun Sen late last year acquired a British payment services provider, Connectum Limited. That company generates millions of dollars in revenue each year, serving as an intermediary between small businesses and major credit card firms like Visa and MasterCard.

Heng Sokha, wife of former Transport Ministry secretary of state Ing Bun Hoaw, took ownership of Connectum in November 2020. Experts say that should raise red flags for British financial regulators.

For one thing, Heng Sokhas spouse is a former lawmaker and top official who should be subjected to additional scrutiny over the sources of wealth because of his links to the Cambodian government that date back decades. Bun Hoaw has previously leveraged government connections for profitable enterprises such as collecting tolls on the U.S.-government-funded Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville highway.

But thats only half the story. The other half relates to the company they have acquired.

Connectum, which markets itself as a private bank although it is not licensed to operate as a bank, was set up seven years ago by a Latvian national who was an executive at two Latvian banks that have been implicated in money laundering scandals. The executive, Edgars Lasmanis  whose father has been on the run for years over unrelated bribery charges  briefly made an accused serial fraudster a partner in Connectum.

Making matters even murkier, clients of Connectum have included a Russian cryptocurrency outfit now facing trial in Russia for allegedly swindling its customers of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

To join the dots in this complex saga, Radio Free Asia has delved into the past of two families -- the Cambodian clan of Bun Hoaw and the Lasmanis family of Latvia. We then examine how their stories have intersected in the footloose world of British finance.

Ing Bun Hoaw and his wife Heng Sokha in a photo posted on Facebook by user Mao Moni Roath, April 23, 2021

Bun Hoaw's road to prosperity

Investing or parking money abroad is a well-trodden path for Cambodias monied elite with ties to Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. Its a trend that Radio Free Asia has documented in a series of investigative reports.

Bun Hoaws road to prosperity opened up after he established a trading company in Phnom Penh in 1993, around the time that Cambodia was holding its first democratic elections. That company would go on to be known as the AZ Group, which these days has holdings in India, Singapore, Myanmar and the United Kingdom. While there is little record of what the companys early activities were, it was clearly successful at whatever it did. By 1996, Bun Hoaw was made an oknha  a traditional honorific that from the mid-1990s became a way of formalising the patronage relationship between the CPP and the countrys emerging class of business tycoons.

In 2001, the AZ Group was granted the right to collect toll fees on Cambodias National Road 4. Covering the 140 miles between Phnom Penh and its main port city Sihanoukville, the road was originally constructed in the 1950s with the support of the U.S. government, which financed its renovation in the early 1990s.

Anti-corruption campaigners complained that the concession had been granted to the AZ Group behind closed doors without a competitive or open bidding process. Others noted wryly that it had been granted as a build-operate-transfer contract, despite the building of the road having been completed years earlier with funds from the U.S. government.

Bun Hoaw further formalized his relationship with Cambodias ruling party when in 2003 he was elected to the National Assembly as a CPP representative for Takeo province. His election heralded a flurry of favorable treatment by the government for the AZ Group.

A month before the 2003 elections, the AZ Group was awarded a multimillion-dollar government contract to establish a system for making international phone calls via the internet in Cambodia. In the summer of 2003, the government took out a $30 million loan from China on behalf of the AZ Group to bankroll the creation of a new mobile phone network.

The AZ Group introduced tolls for taxis and passenger vehicles on National Road 4 in late 2004. The move triggered protests by drivers that was brutally put down by police armed with assault rifles and cattle prods.

The company did not renovate the road. It is the same since the Americans built it. The government should not allow the company to charge us money since the company didnt do anything to the road, one of the protesting taxi drivers told the Cambodia Daily at the time.

But the perks kept rolling in for the AZ Group, which was also granted a license to search for bauxite in Mondulkiri province. That license was subsequently transferred to Australian mining giant BHP Billiton, which left the country a few years later amid allegations it had paid $2.5 million in bribes to Cambodian government officials. Also in 2005, AZ Group subsidiary ING Holding was sold a 44 percent stake in the state-owned Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia.

The bond between Bun Hoaw and the CPPs top brass was cemented in 2006, when he was appointed as a member of the central committee of the Cambodian Red Cross. Presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sens wife Bun Rany, the Cambodian Red Cross has been described as the humanitarian wing of the CPP.

ING Holdings Co., Ltd, brochure posted at ing-holdings.com

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 capitalization 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.

Lasmanis: Patriarch on the run

Around the time Bun Hoaw was first making his way in Cambodian business, Leonids Lasmanis, the father of Connectums founder, was working his way up the leadership of the national border guard in the newly independent country of Latvia.

Like Cambodia, Latvia in 1993 held its first democratic elections following the end of the Cold War. Situated on the Baltic Sea and bordering Russia, Latvia was one of 15 successor states to the Soviet Union attempting to forge their own path following the collapse of communism.

But Leonids Lasmanis has faced more setbacks than Bun Hoaw during his countrys transition. He was fired as the national border guard commander by the president in June 1993 over a missing cache of automatic rifles. Leaving behind the military life to pursue a career in politics, Lasmanis next made headlines in 2000 when  by then a deputy in the Riga city assembly  he drunkenly shot himself with his service pistol.

The wound was not fatal, however, and he survived to face another round of ignominy in 2006, when prosecutors charged him over a March 2005 plot to bribe city councillors with tens of thousands of euros. Rather than face trial with his alleged co-conspirators  who were all convicted  Lasmanis fled, reportedly to Russia, and as recently as last year was on the most wanted list of the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol.

Leonids Lasmanis could not be reached for comment and Latvian court officials told RFA that they were unable to comment on the case.

Leonids Lasmanis in a photo that was circulated by Europol

Like father, like son

While the father was running into trouble over bribery allegations, his eldest son, Edgars Lasmanis, was making his mark in the finance sector -- and facing unwanted media attention. At age 27, he was head of marketing at the Latvian bank Multibanka when in April 2005 it was designated by the US Treasury as primary money laundering concern.

The Treasury claimed Multibanka had allowed its confidential banking services and Swiss-style numbered accounts to be used by international criminals to facilitate financial crime by allowing criminals to disguise illegal proceeds.

As its de-facto spokesperson at the time, Edgars led the banks response to the press, denying that Multibanka was involved in money laundering or that it did not know the identities of many of its customers.

Fifteen months later, however, Multibanka had changed its tune. Following a review of its entire portfolio the bank informed the Treasury that it had terminated its relationship with more than 2,600 customers who were, according to a Treasury report, unwilling or unable to comply with Multibankas enhanced information collection and verification standards. Simply put, these were customers the bank could not properly identify. The cull cost Multibanka 98 percent of its non-resident accounts and more than half of its resident accounts.

Edgars left Multibanka in 2008 to join another Latvian bank, Latvijas Pasta Banka, as its vice president. In 2012, Latvijas Pasta Banka (since renamed LPB) took on as clients a variety of offshore shell companies and individuals with ties to Moldovan political figures. Over the next two years the accounts opened with LPB on behalf of those shell companies would play a crucial role in an illegal scheme that saw $1 billion siphoned out of three major Moldovan financial institutions, according to a report commissioned by the National Bank of Moldova in 2015.

The Latvian financial regulator fined LPB 305,000 euros ($360,000) in July 2016 for failing to stop payments connected to the Moldovan fraud. Edgars left the bank in 2017, a year before it would be hit with a further penalty of 2.2 million euros ($2.6 million) for further violations of anti-money laundering rules.

A screenshot from an advertisement of Latvijas Pasta Banka

Director for a day

In March 2014, while still a vice president at LPB, Edgars Lasmanis founded Connectum Limited in London  the company that would be acquired by Bun Boaws wife in late 2020.

Within 12 months of setting up the company, Lasmanis had recruited as co-owner an Estonian by the name of Juri Paal. Paal was made a director of the company around the same time, on March 5, 2015. Mysteriously, on July 30 of the same year, the company filed documents stating that Paal no longer owned any shares in the company and that he had resigned his directorship retroactively, backdating his resignation to March 6.

Thats not how normal firms work, according to Graham Barrow, a financial crime expert who advises banks on compliance issues.

Its indicative of something not quite right. Its really hard to say what that might be for sure, Barrow added. When Im working with banks, on a bank-side investigation, youre looking for anomalies and red flags  and change of control is one of those.

It is not just Paals fleeting presence that would raise the eyebrows of compliance professionals, either. Just two years earlier he was doing business under his birth name: Juri Zitin.

In April 2013, Estonian daily newspaper Post Timees tied Zitin to what it described as the largest money laundering case in Estonia. The alleged scheme involved some $75 million worth of Russian rubles being transferred to bank accounts in Estonia, where the money would be converted into either euros or dollars and driven back across the border to Russia. The newspaper quoted a written statement by Zitin in which he confessed to having spread negative information about employees of Estonias anti-money laundering agency on the orders of the schemes alleged architect.

Screenshot from Companies House website

Kremlin-tied clients

In 2016, two years after Lasmanis established Connectum, it reported its first profit, albeit just 819 ($1,123). But that number was soon to increase exponentially. For the year leading up to March 2018, the company reported 2.3 million ($3.1 million) in profits and claimed to be holding 82 million ($112 million) in client funds. The company reported similar successes the following year.

In the year leading up to March 2020, the companys annual profits doubled to 4.5 million ($6.1 million). In the early months of that financial year, in July 2019, Connectum had picked up a new client: CryptoUniverse.

The company offers facilities for customers to mine digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. Registered in Estonia in 2018, the bulk of CryptoUniverses physical operations are based in Russia, where criminal complaints were filed against it and its directors in the summer of 2020 following a raid of its offices by police. In March 2021, a St. Petersburg court ordered that the company must face trial over the allegations, which involve sums of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Even before CryptoUniverse became the subject of a criminal investigation, there were red flags that anti-corruption experts say should have concerned compliance officials at Connectum.

CryptoUniverses website is described as being operated by a Scottish shell company called Miotech Impex LP. Established in 2017, Miotechs registered partners are two Hungarian individuals whose names have been listed as the managers of shell companies implicated in fraud and corruption cases from Ukraine to Cyprus.

In October 2019, CryptoUniverse entered into a joint venture with Dmitry Marinichev, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. The venture converted into a Bitcoin mining facility an aluminium factory that had fallen into disuse after its owner, Putin-ally Oleg Deripaska, became the subject of U.S. sanctions. The sanctions were lifted in January 2019, but the former aluminium plant has continued operating as a digital currency mining hub.

CryptoUniverse did not respond to a detailed request for comment, but these activities ought to have been raising some red flags for Connectum, according to Ben Cowdock, lead investigator at Transparency International UK.

You'd have thought through the course of, firstly, their due diligence on this Bitcoin start-up in Russia, and then of subsequent transactions that they were seeing from that, there would have been some suspicious activity generated from that which they should have been able to spot, Cowdock told RFA.

Red flags for regulators

While there is no evidence that Connectum has broken any laws, experts consulted by RFA said that a number of factors contribute to the company having a high risk profile  especially now that it has been acquired by a family linked to Cambodias ruling elite. At the minimum, they said, the banks dealing with the company and the regulators that oversee it should be keeping a close eye on Connectums activities.

As the wife of a former lawmaker and secretary of state, Heng Sokha is what is known as a politically exposed person, or PEP. Financial institutions are obliged to perform a higher level of due diligence on PEP clients and monitor their transactions for signs that they might be funded with the proceeds of crime or corruption.

Whoever they bank with would be expected to identify those relationships and appropriately risk rate them, Barrow told RFA. And theyd have to be high risk. I cant imagine a bank ever taking these people on, certainly not in the U.K.

While neither Edgars Lasmanis nor Juri Paal responded to detailed requests for comment on the issues raised in this article, Barrow told RFA that their checkered pasts ought to have been noted by the Financial Conduct Authority, the British financial regulator.

All persons wishing to manage or own an FCA-regulated firm in the U.K. must first pass the regulators fit and proper person test. Among the criteria is whether the person, or any business with which the person has been involved, has been investigated, disciplined, censured or suspended or criticised by a regulatory or professional body, a court or Tribunal, whether publicly or privately.

Lasmaniss senior position at Multibanka and Latvijas Pasta Banka during their run-ins with the U.S. Treasury and Latvian financial markets regulator appear problematic in this regard.

Barrow said that the adverse publicity generated by Lasmaniss fugitive father and Paals various brushes with controversy should absolutely have been taken into account by the FCA when deciding to approve Connectums license application.

It definitely has a bearing because one of the things you need to do is look at what they call adverse media, Barrow said. Does that affect your financial propriety, your ability to act with due care and diligence? And its a big deal.

The company and its new owner are a curious pair in that it is hard to tell whether Heng Sokhas Cambodian business ventures and political connections pose a greater risk to Connectums reputation or if the companys past owners and activities pose a greater risk to hers. Since Connectum has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the issues raised in this article and has made no public statements about its change in ownership, what brought Sokha and her new venture together remains shrouded in mystery.

What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that there is a definite pattern emerging of politically connected Cambodians making multimillion pound investments in British real estate and businesses.
Pin Kimseng, who died in Cambodian police custody on May 3, 2021, is shown in an undated photo.

A Cambodian detainee said by authorities to have died of pneumonia was actually killed in custody, the young mans mother says, citing injuries seen on his body after it was returned.

Pin Kimseng, a 21-year-old resident of Banteay Meanchey provinces Poipet city, had been detained in February in connection with a theft and was found dead on May 3 after prison officials sent him for medical treatment at a referral hospital in Battambang.

Hospital head Kak Seila wrote on Pin Kimsengs death certificate that he had died of pneumonia, but the victims mother, Met Soksan, said her son was in good health when he was detained and had never had pneumonia in the past.

Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service, Met Soksan, 41, said she saw bruising and other signs of physical assault on her sons body when it was returned to her.

His head was swollen, with blood running out of both ears, and his neck was limp and appeared to be broken, she said, adding an appeal to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to find answers in the case.

Even if I get nothing in return, I at least want to know what my son did wrong to deserve being tortured to death like this. This is a grave injustice, she said.

A video taken of Pin Kimsengs body after his death, and obtained by RFA, shows visible bruising on his neck and blood flowing from both ears, staining his face.

Met Soksan added that she has already reached out to the provincial office of Cambodian rights group ADHOC for help in filing a complaint in the courts and other relevant government departments to seek justice for her son.

Pin Kimseng was arrested by Battambang provincial police and sent for detention in early February in connection with a case of theft committed in the provinces Kamrieng district, and during his three months in custody he made two phone calls to his family, sources said.

Allegations of drug use

Speaking to RFA on May 6, Nuth Savanaspokesperson for the Interior Ministrys General Department of Prisonsdenied that Pin KImseng had been tortured and repeated the Battambang hospitals claim that he had died of pneumonia.

We dont recognize this as a case of torture, he said, adding that Pin Kimseng had a history of drug use that had likely contributed to his death.

I asked for explanations from our drug experts, and they said that he appeared to have used a type of drug that seriously affected his health when he tried to stop using it, he said.

Chhan Touch, a U.S.-based Cambodian doctor working in Lynn, Massachusetts, called that explanation nonsense, telling RFA that pneumonia doesnt cause a victims head to swell, or cause blood to flow from his ears, or break his neck.

Based on the descriptions weve heard, I believe that he most likely died of torture, he said.

Also speaking to RFA, Battambang provincial ADHOC coordinator Yin Mengly said the circumstances of Pin Kimsengs death raise doubts and suspicions that should now prompt further investigations by authorities.

Why did he have pneumonia only three months after being placed in detention, when he had never had this disease before? Yin Mengly asked.

Both the provincial prison and the hospital should have written more detained reports regarding the conditions leading to his death, so that the public can believe that he really did die of pneumonia, he said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The five, two of whom were convicted in absentia, received 18-20 months in prison and hefty fines.

Mother Nature activists call for an end to development on the Boeung Tamok Lake in Phnom Penh, in a screenshot from a video posted on July 30, 2020.

A court in Cambodias capital sentenced five members of an environmental watchdog to between 18 and 20 months in prison Wednesday for incitement, prompting condemnation from family members and rights groups who said the convictions were unjust and had dealt a blow to freedom of expression.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court handed Mother Nature activists Long Kunthea, Phuong Keo Raksmey and Chea Kunthin 18 months in jail, and Thon Ratha 20 months, for inciting serious social unrest, while group founder and Spanish national Alejandro Gonzales-Davidson was given 20 months in prison on the more serious charge of conspiracy to incitement. Additionally, all five were fined around U.S. $1,000 each.

Both Gonzales-Davidson and Chea Kunthin were sentenced in absentia and warrants were served for their arrest. Thon Ratha, Long Kunthea and Phuong Keo Raksmey had been in pre-trial detention for more than nine months, which will count as time served towards their sentences.

Thon Rathas wife, Batt Raksmey, expressed disappointment that the court did not provide her husband with justice and instead chose to punish him for his work protecting the countrys natural resources.

I no longer believe in the court, I no longer believe in the lawI only believe in law of Karma, she told RFAs Khmer Service.

I believe that one day those who cut down the forests will perish, and those who protect the destroyers will reap what they sow.

Batt Raksmey called for local and international nongovernmental organizations to intervene in her husbands case.

Long Kuntheas sister, Long Sok Srey Lin, told RFA that the court had accused her of something she hadnt done, and suggested that the verdict was a threat aimed at preventing people from taking part in environmental activism.

She didnt do anything illegal; she is simply a youth who loves the environment and had warned the government that dredging lakes will impact society, which is her own opinion, she said.

Nonetheless, her suggestion was turned into some kind of offense for inciting riots that was punished with 18 months in jail, which I think is very unjust.

Calling into an RFA live show on Wednesday, Gonzales-Davidson called the conviction against him and his fellow Mother Nature members ridiculous.

I am willing to return to Cambodia to face the sentence if [Prime Minister] Hun Sen will give me an entry visa, said the activist, who was expelled from the country in February 2015 and placed on a blacklist that prevents his return to the country.

I dont think this ridiculous sentence will scare people from working to protect natural resources in Cambodia. Instead, this puppet court sentence will encourage more and more youths to join hands and commit to protecting the countrys environment.

The activists lawyer, Sam Chamroeun, told RFA that the courts verdict is unacceptable because the prosecution did not provide any evidence to prove his clients guilty. He said that he plans to discuss an appeal of the ruling with his clients.

We cannot accept the courts verdict and we will discuss with our clients what to do next, because we have one month to appeal, he said.

Condemnation from observers

Wednesdays sentence drew deep concern from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, which expressed its support for the activists.

Speaking up to protect #Cambodia's environment, threatened by illegal logging and exploitation, is admirable. We urge their release so all can hear their message on protecting natural resources, the embassy said in a message on Twitter.

Local and international human rights organizations took a harder line against the ruling and called on Cambodias High Court to reverse it.

Ny Sokha, the head of the human rights unit of Cambodian rights group Adhoc, said the environmental activists had committed no wrongdoing in protecting the countrys natural resources and expressed regret over the verdict.

They simply made requests and showed their concern [about the destruction of natural resources], he said.

Why accuse them of inciting social unrest and opposing the government? This ruling reflects a failure to implement democracy and is inconsistent with the principles of our constitution.

Bogus criminal charges

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), applauded the activists for their bravery in shining a light on corruption and rights abuses connected to crony business projects that threaten Cambodias natural resources and biodiversity.

Robertson called the convictions part of the Cambodian governments continued vendetta against Mother Nature that officials hope to destroy through bogus criminal charges.

Cambodia obviously thinks this outrageous and unacceptable persecution of these activists for exercising their rights and standing up for the environment will not be noticed by the international community because they are distracted by the [coronavirus] pandemic, he said in a statement from Bangkok.

Foreign governments, U.N. agencies and donors should demand this wrongful conviction be reversed, and these three currently detained activists be immediately and unconditionally released.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The judge said he wanted to deter others from attending similar protests in future.

A court in Hong Kong on Thursday handed jail terms to jailed democracy activist Joshua Wong and three opposition members of the city's District Council for attending a vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.

Wong was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment, while district councilor Lester Shum was jailed for six months. Fellow councilors Tiffany Yuen and Jannelle Leung were each handed four-month sentence.

All four had pleaded guilty to taking part in last year's candlelight vigil, which was attended by thousands of people in Victoria Park despite a ban by the authorities, ostensibly to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.

District Court judge Stanley Chan said he wouldn't consider a non-custodial sentence, as none of the defendants had shown "sincere remorse."

He said he had reduced some of their sentences in view of the fact that they were holders of public office.

As the judge read out the sentence, there were shouts of "objection!" from the public gallery. Judge Chan warned that anyone causing a disturbance could face charges of contempt of court, calling on them to "express their emotions outside the court."

Protesters also gathered outside the building, chanting "Shame on political trials!" and "Remember the victims of June 4, 1989!"

Chan said Shum and Wong had received longer sentences because they had criminal records linked to separate "illegal assembly" charges, and that all four had "deliberately, openly and in a premeditated way" flouted the ban to achieve political goals.

Shum, Yuen, and Leung look likely to lose their seats, as their sentences are longer than the maximum prison term allowable for a serving member of the District Council.

Wong and the other defendants appeared in good spirits, waving to friends and family in the gallery.

"Literally speaking, the defendants were showing that they enjoyed greater freedom than the rest of the public," the judge said, adding that the freedom of speech promised to Hong Kong wasn't absolute, and citing the need for a deterrent to future illegal assemblies.

Wong will serve his new prison sentence after the current one ends in August.

Likely deterrent effect

Wong, Shum, and Yuen also stand accused of breaking a draconian national security law after they took part in a democratic primary for elections that were scheduled for September 2020, but were postponed until December 2021 by the government.

Barrister Chow Hang-tung, vice chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said the sentences would likely have a deterrent effect on future public protests.

"I think it will deter people from expressing themselves politically, because the court has erased the boundary between peaceful and violent protest," Chow said. "It is trying to nip [dissent] in the bud."

"This is wrong, and breaches international human rights covenants, and violates people's right to freedom of speech under the Basic Law and constitution," she said.

Zhang Xianling, a member of the Tiananmen Mothers victims' group thanked the people of Hong Kong for holding mass vigils for those who died in the massacre every year since it happened.

"I have always felt that they were an expression of Hong Kong's regret and mourning for those young patriots, and a condemnation of their murders," she said.

"I oppose their sentences ... I think they are unreasonable," Zhang said.

Journalist wins award

The sentences came as a journalist punished for investigating a mob attack on passengers in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019 won one of the city's Human Rights Press Awards.

RTHK -- which was recently restructured to make its editorial content more compliant with government directives -- won the Chinese-language documentary award for a film about the attacks made by freelance producer Bao Choy and five colleagues. Choy was recently fined for "illegal" use of a vehicle license plate search facility during research for the film.

The judges called Choy's film "7.21 Who owns the truth?", "an investigative reporting classic."



RTHK reported that it will not be accepting any awards during a transition period, as a review of its operations is conducted by the new Director of Broadcasting, Patrick Li.

An executive producer who headed the hard-hitting documentary series Hong Kong Connection, resigned on Thursday after management quashed his pitches for documentaries about the Tiananmen vigil attended by Wong and the other defendants, and for a follow-up on the Yuen Long mob attack.

Meanwhile, national security police raided the children's clothing store Chickeeduck, which is known for its statue of a protester modeled on the 2019 protest movement known as "Lady Liberty."

"They had a search warrant from to search a shop that hasn't violated any laws, but they gave no reason," store owner Herbert Chow told reporters. He said national security police had said "I don't have to answer your questions," when asked how the store allegedly broke the national security law.



Reported by Gigi Lee and Lu Xi for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The family of Guangdong-based website user Niu Tengyu, who is currently serving a 14-year jail term for allegedly posting a photo of the daughter of ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping, say he has been injured in detention.



Niu, 22, was jailed in the southern province of Guangdong after someone posted a photo of Xi Mingze to meme site Zhina Wiki, an act that was later blamed by police on Niu's Vulgar Wiki.



His mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had visited him at the Maoming No. 1 Detention Center on , their first meeting since his detention in .



The half-hour meeting was closely monitored by prison guards, she told RFA on .



"When I saw my son , he was all smiles, but holding back tears," she said.



"You have to take care of yourself, Mom," he told me. "Try not to worry too much about me."



She said Niu had been framed, and incorrectly accused of uploading the photo.



"This is an injustice, and he is the fall guy, particularly now that the appeal didn't overturn [the sentence]," Niu's mother said.



She added: "He was very pale, with no color in his face at all," she said. "When he was home, he had a rosy complexion, and he was in very good health."



"He didn't show signs of mental breakdown, but was very lucid, and kept trying to comfort me," she said.



However, Niu was unable to hide the fact that he was unable to use at least two of the fingers on his right hand, she said.



Niu's rights attorneys, Bao Longjun and Wang Yu, were recently detained after they filed a complaint over torture Niu had suffered while in police detention.



During his detention over a 45-day period in , the complaint says, police beat Niu several times, resulting in injuries and nerve damage to his right hand, which has never recovered.



Bao told RFA's Cantonese Service on that the lawyers were filing a complaint with the authorities in Guangzhou about their client's treatment, which also included allegations that he had been stripped, suspended from the ceiling and his genitals burned with a lighter.



After months in detention, Niu Tengyu was handed a 14-year jail term on Dec. 30, 2020 by the Maonan District People's Court in Guangdong's Maoming city, which found him guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," "violating others' privacy" and "running an illegal business."

Reports at the time indicated that 23 young people detained around the same time in connection with the Vulgar Wiki case had also been tortured and mistreated in detention.



An overseas-based editor of Zhina Wiki, who gave only a nickname, Mr. L, admitted to RFA on that he was responsible for posting Xi Mingze's photo, calling the case against Niu and the others "a huge miscarriage of justice."



Bao, who recently lodged an unsuccessful legal appeal against Niu's sentence and verdict, said the case was riddled with violations of legal procedure, and that the appeal was denied without a court hearing.



He said he is no longer technically Niu's attorney, as his instructions ended when the appeal was rejected.



He said the authorities are putting pressure on Niu and his family not to hire another lawyer, or to renew his instruction.



"It was very clear from this visit [from Niu's mother] that the detention center is under pressure from higher up," Bao told RFA.



"Niu Tengyu is being prevented, under duress, from handing over any written documents or signatures to his mother," he said. "That makes it very difficult for us to get involved."



Another young person connected to Vulgar Wiki, Gu Yangyang, was apparently released owing to high-ranking connections in Shanghai, Niu's mother said.



"Gu Yangyangs mother can really call the shots in Shanghai," she said. "They are very powerful people, so ordinary people have no way to even reach them."



Reported by Yitong Wu and Chingman for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Jia Ao for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
People wonder if even stricter quarantine measures are about health or testing their loyalty.

In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, a staff member, right, of the Pongnam Noodle House disinfects the hands of a woman coming into its restaurant in Pyongyang, North Korea.

North Korea is confusing its citizens by telling medical workers to prepare for battle against coronavirus with stricter quarantine measures, all while still claiming the country remains virus free, sources in the country told RFA.

The government has been touting its success in preventing the virus with increasingly strict emergency quarantine measures. But now the people wonder if there really are no confirmed cases in the country if the authorities are saying healthcare personnel are on the front lines of a war against the virus.

Recently, the Central Committee ordered health agencies here in South Hamgyong province to make sure that emergency quarantine projects are carried out completely, a resident of the eastern coastal province told RFAs Korean Service.

The order emphasizes the role of medical and healthcare workers as the first line of defense in the emergency quarantine battle, a key task presented and the second plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons, referring to a key meeting in February.

According to the source, the materials distributed with the order say to increase the roles and responsibilities of quarantine workers.

As the first line of defense in our war on the virus, they are fighters who should play a leading role, the source said.

The materials said that the number of global infections continues to increase as new variants of the coronavirus spread rapidly around the world. They say that the majority of the newly confirmed cases are the variants, and this serious situation only highlights the importance of healthcare workers, said the source.

Since the beginning of the pandemic North Korea has maintained that it is virus free, but this is widely doubted by outside experts, who point to Pyongyangs extensive measures to keep COVID-19 at bay, including sacrificing its economy by closing the border with China and suspending all trade.

Additionally the government has locked down entire cities and counties where the virus was suspected to be spreading, cancelled major cultural events, and hospitals have been known to hastily cremate patients who died of flu-like symptoms.

According to the source, the new preparations for war against COVID-19 are causing the people to doubt the governments outward claim that the virus has had no impact on the country.

The reality is that residents are just not able to speak about it openly. Many question why there are lots of people who die from a high fever and cold symptoms with unknown causes are hastily cremated without showing their bodies to their families, the source said.

The materials also emphasize that healthcare workers should take pride in their positions, as it is an important opportunity to verify their loyalty to the party, the revolution, and their love for the people through the emergency quarantine projects in their regions, said the source.

Another source, a resident of nearby North Hamgyong province, told RFA that authorities there were doing their best to ensure that factories, companies, farms, and residential districts were properly equipped to implement the quarantine measures.

All this is because the party distributed materials from the central government to healthcare workers, asking them to devote themselves to the emergency quarantine project to prevent an influx of infectious diseases and telling them that they are responsible for the fate of the whole country and all the people, said the second source.

Local residents are confused by the messaging, according to the second source.

They dont know how the authorities can say there are no confirmed cases or deaths from coronavirus due to the success of the emergency quarantine system in place, but they are putting so much emphasis on strengthening it, the second source said.

Because the materials frame healthcare workers and residents in terms of loyalty to the party and the revolution and love for the people, they wonder if all this is really to prevent coronavirus or if it is really a test of their loyalty.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, 24,542 people tested for coronavirus in North Korea as of April 15, but no confirmed cases were reported. North Korea tests roughly 700 people for the virus each week.

RFA reported last year that North Korea held special public informational lectures where authorities revealed that COVID-19 was spreading in three geographically distant parts of the country including North Hamgyong.

In March 2021, a North Hamgyong official told RFA that the Ministry of Health kept data on suspected coronavirus patients and those who died from related symptoms, saying that at that time the number of suspected cases in the province was about 13,000, with more than 100 deaths.

Reported by Jeong Yon Park for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Myanmars shadow government of ousted former lawmakers created a Peoples Defense Force (PDF) on Wednesday to prevent killings and other violent acts against the people by the military junta that seized power from the elected government on Feb. 1. The National Unity Government (NUG), as the parallel body is known, said the PDF is a precursor to a Federal Union Army that would comprise a majority ethnic Bamar militia and the countrys ethnic armed groups to fight the powerful national military.

Min Ko Naing, a Myanmar pro-democracy activist and former 88 Generation Students Group leader, is a member of shadow governments advisory council on the PDF. He has been a vocal critic of the military regime, calling it bloodthirsty for its killing of hundreds of peaceful protesters and other civilians. In an exclusive interview with reporter Khin Maung Soe of RFAs Myanmar Service, Min Ko Naing discusses the new militia, the status of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), and the juntas push to reopen schools. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: What can you tell us about the newly formed Peoples Defense Force?

A: The NUGs Ministry of Defense announced it. It has been widely known among the people as a Federal Army, [but] we cannot get to that level overnight. We will have a federal army only when we consolidate forces from all ethnic armed groups. We have repeatedly mentioned that these forces are for the protection of the people and for the security of the people. The NUG has also stated that clearly. Now, some people have completed their military training, while others new trainees have started their programs. In the free territories there are many groups undergoing military training. This is also an indication that NUG has fulfilled one of the requirements as a sovereign government. By international standards, we can say we have a government. We have a controlled territory and borders. We have a population that resides in that territory. Finally, we have security forces who protect that population. Many young people are traveling to join the training. They are traveling to the free territories under the control of ethnic armed groups where they will have everything they need.

For all of the peoples government, the main advantage is the support that comes from the populace. All in all, victory depends on the faith and the psyche of the people. All forces who believe in justice and righteousness are now shaping the destiny of this country, swiftly and effectively.

RFA: Its been three months since the military coup took place. How do you assess the resistance of the people and the response of the military government?

Min Ko Naing: With regard to the resistance movements, after 90 days, they have turned into guerilla protests. This is the reality. Its because of the violent crackdowns, arrests, torture and murders committed by the regime. But, the advantage weve got is that people have to understand how to keep the revolution going. Now, the peoples movement is clearly divorced from the military council. We all now understand clearly that we can never be reconciled. The guerilla protests could grow into a full-blown revolution at any time. We could fill the streets with protestors again any time. We have shown that in the past weeks.

With regards to CDM, we have repeatedly stressed that the CDM is not just about employees who stop going to work. It also means not paying taxes, not buying lottery tickets, and boycotting products made by military-controlled firms. It means boycotting any activities that could contribute to their revenue. The CDM participants also need to change the kinds of activities they are participating in because the number of persecutions of CDM participants has grown. On the other hand, we have seen police and soldiers defecting and becoming part of the CDM. The movement has become stronger. For example, in Chin state, as many as 15,000 employees from the health and education sectors have participated in the CDM. About 250 of them are police officers and soldiers who left their units. Around 200 of them are high-level staff from the General Administrative Office.

With regard to the international support, we have formed the NUG out of the sacrifices and resistance of the people. It just didnt fall out of the sky. In addition, we have secured agreements and have cooperated with the ethnic armed groups. Weve got many works in the pipeline to be done. One success has been in the financial sector with bank employees joining the CDM. Even if banks reopen now, it wont reverse the damage that has been done. If the junta reopens banks, the people will come to withdraw their money en masse. The authorities recently made an announcement urging people to open new accounts at the banks  an indication that the junta now is experiencing a severe cash deficit.

[Another point is that] during the recent ASEAN meeting [on the crisis in Myanmar], Myanmars military leader was not riding in a vehicle displaying the national flag. He was referred to as the military commander-in- chief, not as the head of state. The junta has been trying to use the ASEAN meeting as victory.

RFA: What can you say about efforts to support CDM participants?

Min Ko Naing: We have detailed records about it. Since the establishment of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CPRH) [a group of legislators who won seats in the November 2020 elections and who are aligned with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi], we have records of government employees signing up to join the movement. The CRPHs website has records of all of these activities. For example, in Kayah state, hundreds of members of the police force have joined the CDM. The records from a group called Firm Hands say that they have sent as much as 500 million kyats (U.S.$ 317,000) during the last three months. There are many other groups who are contributing to the movement. We have had ongoing discussions on how to support employees who participate in the CDM. There are efforts to intimidate and arrest employees involved in the CDM. Some workers have considered quitting their jobs. Under the law, authorities cannot arrest workers for quitting their jobs. I think we should issue guarantees for those who do quit. Once the new civilian government has been installed, their services and labor will be reclaimed. The peoples government has guaranteed that.

RFA: In which ways is the junta feeling the pinch of actions of opposition by ordinary people?

Min Ko Naing: For example, why do so many people want to withdraw their money from the banks like the military-owned Myawaddy bank? Why are there long lines in front of the banks? This is because of peoples lack of trust in the banks. People know about the shortcomings of the financial sector, so I think they are withdrawing their cash as a strategy to defeat the regime. Those who always believe in luck have stopped buying lottery tickets because they dont want to contribute to the juntas revenue. The very actions that people have taken also are counted as a form of participation in the CDM.

RFA: Some colleges have started the semester, and the military government is also starting a new school year for high schools. What do you suggest that students, parents, and teachers should do regarding the commencement of the school year?

Min Ko Naing: They should think about authorities real intentions behind this action. Do they really mean to give education to young people or do they intend to trick to the world with a scheme showing photos of people going back to their normal routines? Everybody knows what they intend to do, but they dont seem to be thinking much about the consequences of reopening schools just to have photos of people returning to their routines. Schools could become hot spots for beginning of new waves of protests. I can imagine the birth of school-based boycotts and the rise of peacock flags on the school walls. This tactic of showing images of people engaged in their normal routines as a sign of the regimes victory is obsolete. Which students would have peace of mind when there are military trucks parked at campuses and monitoring the students around the clock?

We have seen that the role of student unions is critical. These students have capacity and creativity. Some students have launched online education programs to continue their regular learning. All in all, students and parents should think how safe they feel about returning to the schools when there are soldiers pointing their guns at them in school compounds. In an environment where the military has been persecuting the people, they should ask if they should cooperate with them to fulfill their goals. I believe I dont need to tell them what to do. These students have both passion and intelligence. On the scales of both, I know they will make the right decision. I know they will make the best use of this opportunity of the authorities restarting the new school year to achieve the revolution.

Reported by Khin Maung Soe for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Supporters say the Peoples Defense Force is the first step toward forming an alliance with ethnic rebel group.

The shadow government of ousted former lawmakers in Myanmar have formed an armed militia aimed at opposing the military junta that seized control of the country in a coup on Feb. 1 and killed more than 760 people who protested against the army takeover, organizers said Wednesday.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said the creation of the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) was exercising the authority given to it with the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) in November elections.

The three-week-old NUG said the force is necessary to prevent killings and other violent acts against the people by the junta, which calls itself the State Administration Council (SAC).

Today, May 5, we formed the Peoples Defense Force. Preparations for this army were made a long time ago. A lot of time has gone into training, said Khin Ma Ma Myo, the NUGs deputy minister of defense.

Training is more important than manpower and weapons. A defense acquisition department has been established under the Ministry of Defense, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The NUG statement called the PDF a precursor to a Federal Union Army which would team up the majority ethnic Bamar militia with Myanmars many armed ethnic rebel groups to fight the well-trained Myanmar military.

The ethnic groups have been supporting anti-coup dissidents by providing shelter and training, but many powerful ethnic armies have sat out the conflict so far, and some remain distrustful of the NUG, which is made up of representatives of the government they were fighting before the coup.

The Karen National Union (KNU), which represents the Karen ethnic minority, whose state in eastern Myanmar has been under attack by junta warplanes, voiced support for the new militia, and is discussing fighting a common enemy, according the groups top foreign affairs official, Padoe Saw Tawnee.

I think there will be a lot to discuss, such as the formation of units, he told RFA.

Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar-based political and military analyst, told RFA the important lesson from the opposition against the coup, called the Spring Revolution, is the need for an armed uprising.

People have learned two valuable lessons from all this. They have learned that they have to fight back with weapons and that all ethnic groups must unify to fight this military dictatorship, said Hla Kyaw Zaw.

David and Goliath

An anti-school reopening protest with red paint in Insein, Yangon, Myanmar, May 5, 2021. Credit: Citizen Journalist

The NUG is also attempting to gain recognition from the international community.

At a U.S. House Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday, Myanmars representative to the United Nations Kyaw Moe Tun, who was appointed prior to the coup, called on the U.S. and other countries to offer support to the NUG.

The international community's recognition and engagement with the NUG is a critical step to take, and it could pave the way to end the violence, to save the lives of innocent civilians and protect them from the militarys brutal and inhumane acts, to restore democracy in Myanmar, and provide humanitarian assistance to the people in need, he said.

Despite the NUGs optimism, the defense forces goal of taking on the Myanmar military is unrealistic, said Thein Tun Oo, a former army officer and executive director of the pro-military think tank the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies.

They have issued many statements and most of their officials are just working on paperwork for the rival government, he said.

But in a sign that support for the junta among some ethnic groups is eroding, the Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the Rakhine people in the countrys westernmost state, announced it had halted its cooperation with the junta, which had given a Rakhine leader a seat on the SAC.

The military regime had not met demands for the repeal of the terrorist designation of its affiliate, the Arakan Army (AA), and the release of arrested on terror charges during a two-year-long war, the ANPs leader said.

We have made requests and proposals in the interests of our state, but they were all ignored We are not happy with the current situation and there is no point of going on like this if we want to see some positive development, ANP Chairman Thar Tun Hla told RFA.

Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst who writes for IHS-Janes security and defense publications, told RFA last month that a fight between an alliance of ethnic armed organizations and the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw in Burmese, would be a "David and Goliath contest"

"If you look at all the ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, youre looking maybe at around 75,000 to 78,000 armed troops. Now, on the Tatmadaw side, the army is in total probably around 350,000, so its significantly larger," he said, speaking before the formation of the NUG in mid-April.

He added, however, that a loose combination of ethnic armies "in their own areas conducting operations against the Tatmadaw at the same time  would be a very, very significant problem for the Tatmadaw despite their firepower and despite their numbers."

Local militias kill troops

This handout from Kachinwaves taken and released on May 5, 2021 shows people standing beside a portrait of Wai Phyo, also known as Thiha Thu, during his funeral after he was shot dead during a crackdown by security forces on demonstrations by protesters against the military coup in Hpakant in Myanmar's Kachin state. Credit: KACHINWAVES / AFP

Recent days have seen local militias kill junta troops in Chin state, near the border with India, and the downing of a military helicopter in northern Kachin state, as well as a series of attacks in other parts of Myanmar in which outgunned civilians have taken up crude arms and killed more than two dozen security forces.

In the Chin state capital Hakha, the Chin Defense Force (CDF) said an army soldier was killed in a shootout in front of the Innwa Bank Tuesday night, the latest of nine soldier deaths since May 2.

In a township outside Mandalay, the countrys second largest city, about 20 people armed with machetes and knives attacked a police post guarding a Chinese oil pipeline at dawn on Wednesday, killing three police guards.

"I heard gunshots around 5 a.m. What we learned is that five policemen were on duty at the police post and two escaped. Three died, a local resident who requested anonymity told RFA. The military later came to our village and were checking peoples movements and searched houses.

An unknown attacker threw a hand grenade into the house of the administrator of a village near Tamu in the northwestern Sagaing region, killing his mother, daughter and granddaughter, a local resident told RFA.

The administrator was asking people to hand over their arms and was checking houses. This started an exchange of fire between the Tamu Defense Force and the military. During the commotion the house was bombed, said the resident of Tamu, a city near the border with India where local had killed 14 soldiers in a series of attacks in late March and early April.

In Myanmars largest city Yangon, bombs went off in front of the junta-aligned Moe Gaung Hospital and some ward administrators were attacked and killed, witnesses said.

The bombing followed another bombing Tuesday night of a building that had formerly been the Armed Forces Records Office building and was just opened as a hospital by junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing last weekend. There were no reported injuries in the earlier blast.

RFA attempted to contact military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on Wednesdays violence but he could not be reached.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar (AAPP), security forces have killed more than 769 people across the country since the coup. Nearly 3,700 people have been arrested, while nearly 1,460 are at large but facing arrest warrants.

Human Rights Watch and over 200 other nongovernmental organizations from around the world on Wednesday called on the United Nations Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar.

No government should sell a single bullet to the junta under these circumstances, the groups said.

Imposing a global arms embargo on Myanmar is the minimum necessary step the Security Council should take in response to the militarys escalating violence."

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
"Our posture's gonna be that we're posted outside of DC, awaiting the president's orders. We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, in November, looking ahead to Jan. 6
The motion fell short of labeling the situation genocide, as other Western nations have in recent months.

Lawmakers in New Zealand on Wednesday unanimously agreed that severe human rights abuses are taking place in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and called on the government to work with all relevant instruments of international law to being these abuses to an end.

The motion, put through the House of Representatives following a debate, follows the U.S. State Departments designation in January of the situation in the XUAR as genocidea term that has since been applied by parliaments in Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.K. A recent vote to adopt a similar resolution failed in Australias parliament.

While the vote represents the strongest move to date condemning rights abuses in the XUAR by New Zealand, whose economy and regional influence is dwarfed by nearby China, it fell short of labeling them part of a policy of genocide by Beijing. Members of the ruling Labour Party sought to have the term removed from the motion, which was initially proposed by the right-wing minority ACT party.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the passage of the motion, calling it a statement that is strong and that is clear.

Ahead of Wednesdays vote, ACT Deputy Leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Brooke van Velden told members of the House that evidence of a genocide in the XUARwhere authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since 2017is voluminous, from multiple sources, and credible.

It is also true that the Uyghur people have been engaged in terrorism across China, she said.

This should not be without consequence, but genocide is not a justifiable consequence for anything. It is certainly not justifiable to show absolutely no mercy as [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] called for in the Peoples War on Terror centered on Xinjiang.

Van Velden warned lawmakers that genocide does not require a war.

It does not need to be sudden, it can be slow and deliberate, and that is what is happening here, she said.

She noted that China must be recognized as a perpetrator of genocide under the 1949 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, citing a state-sponsored intent to destroy a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

Specifically, she pointed to acts carried out by authorities that include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the destruction of a group, preventing births, and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

She also stressed that the vote should not suggest that New Zealand was seeking to punish China as a nation or its people, but rather to hold Chinas ruling Communist Party government accountable for its actions in the XUAR.

A day earlier, she had expressed concern that the label was removed from Wednesdays motion, calling it a sad state of affairs that we need to soften our language to debate the hard issues.

New Zealand must assert ourselves and our values and not be picked on by one country, she said.

We cannot sit by as a democratic nation as a genocide is happening in one of our largest trading partners. Its a matter of human rights.

Watered down motion

Dolkun Isa, president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) welcomed the unanimous vote, but said he was troubled by the decision to omit the label of genocide from the motion.

This is still a positive step in the right direction because all members of the New Zealand Parliament from across all parties have voted unanimously to recognize Chinas severe human rights abuses of Uyghurs, he told RFAs Uyghur Service.

Were deeply grateful for the strong support of New Zealand. At the same time, we call on other democratic governments to break their silence and recognize Chinas Uyghur genocide.

Luke John de Pulford, a human rights campaigner who founded the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China along with political representatives from seven other democracies, told RFA that the originally proposed wording for the motion had mirrored what was passed by the U.K. parliament last month.

He said the approved version had been watered down, ostensibly because New Zealand either isnt in a comfortable enough place in their bilateral relationship to speak freely about what's happening in China or that theyre not comfortable with declaring these things as genocide and crimes against humanity without having had some kind of international investigation.

It is a step in the right direction, but New Zealand should not prioritize their bilateral relationship with China over speaking up their values, he said, adding that the government should quickly move to take corresponding actions over the motion.

Jilil Kashgary and Alim Seytoff. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The pair had worked to raise awareness of the socially and politically explosive issue of land grabs in the country of 95 million people.

Vietnamese land-rights activists Can Thi Theu (left) and Trinh Ba Tu are shown at their trial in Hoa Binh province, May 5, 2021.

A court in northern Vietnams Hoa Binh province on Wednesday sentenced land-rights activist Can Thi Theu and her son Trinh Ba Tu to eight years in prison each for posting online articles and livestream videos criticizing the government for its handling of a deadly land-rights clash last year.

The eight-year terms for the pair, who worked to raise awareness of the socially and politically explosive issue of land grabs in the country of 95 million people, will be followed by three years each on probation, the courts judgment said.

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.

Three police officers also died in the clash.

Speaking to RFAs Vietnamese Service after the trial, defense attorney Dang Dinh Manh said that the sentences of eight years in prison and three years probation were within the range of outcomes expected by the defendants and their lawyers.

Both the mother and the son were well prepared for the trial, Manh said, adding, They were calm, strong, and steadfast. Ive been involved in many political cases, but Ive never seen anyone like them before.

Theus daughter Trinh Thi Thao and daughter-in-law Do Thi Thu were allowed into court for the trial, but Theus husband Trinh Ba Khiem, who arrived without identification, was not permitted to attend.

Following the trial, Thao and Manh posted accounts of Theu and her sons statements in court, where both declared they had been the victims of forced evictions ordered by Vietnamese authorities, who they said fail to represent the countrys people.

Theu also said she had been held by police in a small cell housing 10 people, some of them infected with HIV/AIDS, and that when her cellmates fought she attempted to separate them and was injured in the fighting, causing her to bleed.

Her request to be tested afterward for possible infection was turned down by detention center officials, she said.

Tu said in court that a prosecutor named Vu Binh Minh had once cursed at him, and that an investigator told him he would receive a six-year term if he pleaded guilty, whereas he would otherwise be sentenced to a full eight years.

Responding to questions about their posting of livestream videos, both mother and son said they had published the videos to tell the world about land grabs in Vietnam and to call attention to what they called the wrongdoings and crimes committed by government officials.

'Travesty of justice'

In a May 5 statement, rights group Amnesty International condemned the sentences handed down to Can Thi Theuwho had been jailed twice before in 2014 and 2016 for protesting government-ordered seizures of landand her son, calling their conviction a travesty of justice.

Can Thi Theu and her son, Trinh Ba Tu, are brave human rights defenders who should be protected by the Vietnamese government, not harassed and locked away, said Emmerlynne Gil, Amnestys Deputy Regional Director for Research.

The authorities in Viet Nam should overturn this unjust conviction without delay and immediately and unconditionally release Can Thi Theu and Trinh Ba Tu. They were convicted solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.

The Vietnamese authorities must release all those unjustly imprisoned in Vietnamese jails, said Gil.

While all land in Vietnam 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.

'Anti-state materials'

Also on May 5, police in coastal Vietnams Phu Yen province arrested Nguyen Bao Tien, 35, a distributor for the now-shuttered Liberal Publishing House, charging him with disseminating anti-State materials under Article 117, according to state media reports.

From August to October 2019, police investigators said, Tien had received 68 parcels containing books with contents opposing Vietnams communist government. He had then sent 24 of the parcels to other people and had kept the remainder in his home, where they were found by police, investigators said.

The Liberal Publishing House was founded in Ho Chi Minh City in February 2019 by a group of dissidents who wanted to challenge the authoritarian, one-party governments control of the publishing industry, and the government later that year launched a targeted campaign aimed at shutting down the publisher and intimidating its writers and associates.

Security forces questioned at least 100 people across the country, and searched the homes of at least a dozen, confiscating books on democracy and public policy printed by the publishing house, according to Amnesty International.

In June 2020, the Liberal Publishing House was awarded the Prix Voltaire for its devotion and courage by the Geneva-based International Publishers Association.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Richard Finney.
MINSK -- Dzyanis Urbanovich, a Belarusian opposition leader and no stranger to longtime leader Alyaksandr Lukashenkas security apparatus and jails, was snatched off the streets of Minsk on April 21 and locked up in a prison that has become synonymous with torture.

Urbanovich, leader of the outlawed Malady Front (Youth Front) movement, was sentenced the next day in a trial that he says lasted all of three minutes and thrown back into a overcrowded two-person cell at the notorious Akrestsina detention center.

Versed in the harsh conditions at Akrestsina, Urbanovich was nonetheless shocked by a new tactic the guards employed.

It was hot in there, and they poured in a bucket of bleach, Urbanovich recently recounted to Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. The air became thick with the fumes and you couldnt breathe. Your eyes started to tear up and your throat burned. You became wobbly, swaying here and there. You needed to rinse your mouth with water and spit it out.

The recent use of bleach at Akrestsina has been confirmed publicly by at least one other Belarusian jailed there and highlights what observers say are Lukashenkas increasingly aggressive measures aimed at eliminating the remaining opposition to his rule.

Displaying the oppositions colors of red and white -- be it on banners or even socks -- can result in arrest, detention, or a fine.

Lukashenka, a 66-year-old former Soviet collective farm manager who has ruled Belarus since 1994, has pushed changes through in his rubber-stamp parliament that further criminalize criticizing the government or taking part in unsanctioned demonstrations. Other pending changes would make it a crime for reporters to cover unsanctioned protests or stream them online.

Belarus has been rocked by protests since Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the landslide winner of an August 9 election amid claims the vote was rigged against Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a political novice and arguably the biggest threat to Lukashenkas decades-long rule. More than 30,000 have been detained and thousands beaten or even tortured in the governments brutal crackdown.

The Belarusian NGO Vyasna says there are now 369 political prisoners in Belarus. Many opposition leaders are either in prison or have fled Belarus. Hundreds of journalists have been targeted as well, many simply for reporting on the protests.

Hard Authoritarian Or Soft Totalitarian?

To demonize the protest movement, Lukashenka has also recently pushed unfounded claims that the opposition -- allegedly backed by Washington -- was plotting to murder his family and depose him, prompting one of his top Interior Ministry officers to describe regime opponents as wild dogs.

While public discontent remains high, the price of protesting the Lukashenka regime has become increasingly high, with people either out of work, out of the country, or too scared to risk harsher penalties by taking to the streets, explained Kamil Klysinski, a senior fellow at the Warsaw-based OSW Center for Eastern Studies.

In the past few months, the regime has evolved from what Id call medium authoritarian to hard authoritarian or even soft totalitarian, Klysinski told RFE/RL in e-mailed remarks. His opponents are punished for everything, even for flags or clothes with the illegal white-red-white symbol. Its an unprecedented situation, and thats why there is no activity on the streets.

Protests that once attracted as many as 200,000 people in Minsk in the wake of the disputed election are long a thing of the past. In recent months, flash mobs and other subtler forms of protest have become the norm.

Tsikhanouskaya, who left for Lithuania after the vote, conceded in February that the pro-democracy movement had lost the streets. She had hoped to reignite it on March 25, or Freedom Day, when Belarus marked the anniversary of the founding of the first, albeit short-lived, democratic Belarus republic in 1918.

Ahead of the planned nationwide rallies at that time, Ivan Tertel, the head of the KGB state security agency, claimed to have uncovered plans to destabilize Belarus. State-run television showed Interior Ministry troops preparing for mass unrest, and a top Interior Ministry official talked of dealing harshly with protesters, whom he had described as enemies of the state.

Given the threats and ongoing arrests, the large crowds never materialized. Nevertheless, more than 200 people were arrested that day at modest marches across the country, according to Vyasna.

Lukashenka chose a deterrence strategy, unleashing a new wave of repression to nip in the bud any fresh wave of mass protests, explained Alesia Rudnik, a Belarusian analyst based in Sweden.

Dozens of journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens were arrested, Rudnik explained in e-mailed comments. The regime introduced draconian laws on extremism and mass events. Right in this period, state TV started to actively produce more advanced propaganda materials with new narratives and stories. All this indicates Lukashenka is attempting to strengthen his power.

Changes to the country's mass-media law -- passed by the rubber-stamp parliament in April -- would make it illegal for journalists to "discredit" the state, or livestream mass unauthorized gatherings, among other draconian measures. Average Belarusians face stiffer penalties for criticizing the government or taking part in unsanctioned rallies, according to changes to the countrys Criminal Code. The proposed changes have been denounced by rights activists, including Human Rights Watch.

'They Started Coughing, Retching'

Urbanovich said conditions at Akrestsina -- one of the most notorious detention centers in Belarus -- worsened around the time of the planned mass demonstrations coinciding with Freedom Day.

Up until Freedom Day, things were more or less the same, he said. There were mattresses, books, board games. And then on the 27th, it all changed. First, they took out the mattresses, and then gradually by April 1, there was nothing left. And after April 1, they began to deal with us physically.

Mikalay Kazlou, a member of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian Opposition (KRBA) and leader of the opposition United Civil Party (AHP), was also jailed for 15 days at Akrestsina around the same time, having been snatched off the streets of Minsk on March 22. He also described being subjected to bleach or chlorine.

"They poured in two buckets of highly concentrated chlorine," Kazlou told Current Time. So high, that after about half a minute everyones eyes began to tear, their noses began to run, they started coughing, retching. Some turned blue because the concentration was too high.

Officials of the Lukashenka government denied the bleach claims.

Illegal Socks?

Meanwhile, reports appear on a near-daily basis of Belarusians being detained or fined for merely displaying anything with the colors red and white, which are associated with the opposition and the first republic flag.

Natalia Sivtsova-Syadushkina had the red-and-white banners hanging from her Minsk apartment balcony ripped down by Belarusian security officers on March 24. She was charged with illegal picketing and fined 2,030 rubles ($794).

The next day, Freedom Day, she was stopped on the street and fined 2,320 rubles ($900) for wearing "socks of the wrong color -- red and white.

Now I owe 4,350 rubles, Svitsova-Syadushkina told RFE/RL.

I dont have that kind of money to pay the fines, even though I work.

According to Vyasna, more than 300 people were detained in April and at least 98 people were sentenced the same month on what it described as politically motivated charges, notably for the use of red-white symbols.

Coup Plot?

On April 17, Lukashenka made bizarre claims that an assassination attempt was being prepared against him and his two sons, as well as a military coup, to be carried out by a group of foreign security services, probably the CIA and the FBI and approved by the top political leadership in the United States. Washington quickly denied what it called the absurd claims.

The same day, Russian security services reported they had detained two people in Moscow for allegedly planning a military coup in Belarus. Yuras Zyankovich, a Belarusian-born lawyer who also holds U.S. citizenship, and Alyaksandr Fyaduta, who served as Lukashenkas spokesman in the 1990s, were extradited to Belarus.

The claims came days before Lukashenka traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Lukashenka has leaned on amid growing international isolation for his regimes crackdown.

Moscow probably had a hand in the concocted plot, argued Klysinski, allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin -- who was facing growing international criticism at that time over a troop buildup around Ukraine, as well as over the treatment of imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny -- to cast himself as a bulwark against the perfidious West.

Moscow exploits this plot because it needs to fuel anti-Western -- mainly anti-American -- propaganda and they are doing this quite intensively. At the same time, the Kremlin can show itself in the role of defenders of [the] post-Soviet area, of [the] independence of smaller and weaker republics, Klysinski said.

[Lukashenka] simply keeps going back to the same familiar bag of tricks, especially when he feels he is getting the upper hand."

Putin reaffirmed Lukashenka's claims during an address to parliament on April 21 and accused the West of pretending that "nothing is happening."

For Lukashenka, accusing foreign forces -- even Russia, as before the disputed presidential election -- of plotting his downfall is nothing new, explained Kenneth Yalowith, a fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington who served as U.S. ambassador to Belarus in the 1990s.

When I was there, he accused me on national TV of leading a NATO ambassadors plot against him. He simply keeps going back to the same familiar bag of tricks, especially when he feels he is getting the upper hand, Yalowitz told RFE/RL in e-mailed comments.

Like the supposedly foreign-inspired unrest that Belarus warned about before the oppositions Freedom Day marches, the latest coup plot was ostensibly timed for the May 9 celebrations of the end of World War II in Europe, another time when the opposition has been calling on backers to take to the streets again.

After Belarusian state broadcaster ONT on April 25 aired a program on the alleged conspirators, Mikalay Karpyankou, a deputy interior minister in charge of the ministry's troops, said the regime opponents were mad dogs.

According to Karpyankou -- no stranger to brutal threats and actions -- opponents of the government have crossed a line with their plans and actions, putting them in league with international terrorists.

"This means that the fight against them will be fought as the Israeli forces fight their terrorists. The fight against them will be carried out in the same way as the most humane state fought against Osama bin Laden and his followers," Karpyankou said, referring apparently to the United States,in comments reported on April 29.

Lukashenka, for now at least, may have won the battle on the streets, but Rudnik notes he may be running out of time, albeit perhaps slowly.

Economic crisis, pressure from the democratic world, less support from the former electorate, and a lot more -- these are the factors of instability for Lukashenka today, Rudnik said. Forecasting whether he finds means to overcome these pressures, economic crises, and lack of trust is difficult. But I would lean toward two or three years more with Lukashenka, quite a short term in a 27-year perspective.

Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Tony Wesolowsky with reporting by Current Time and RFE/RLs Belarus Service.
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for a high-level international conference on resolving the crisis in her country.



Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter it is crucial to hold such a conference with the participation of the Belarusian democratic forces, national governments, parliaments, and civil society groups from the European Union, Russia, Britain, and the United States along with representatives of Alyaksandr Lukashenkas regime.



Tsikhanouskaya on May 6 also called on the European Union to publish a comprehensive plan for Belarus that will help civil society and the countrys economy.



Tsikhanouskaya said she sent these requests in a letter to the foreign ministers of the European Union and the foreign relations committees of the EU countries on May 4.



Earlier on May 6, Tsikhanouskaya testified virtually before a U.S. congressional commission, also requesting a high-level conference in her remarks.

She called on the United States to use diplomacy to further isolate Lukashenka, to underscore his point of political no-return has passed.



Describing human rights abuses and relentless political repression" in her country, she asked Congress to increase its support for civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders in exile and in Belarus.



The opposition leader claims to have won last Augusts presidential election and has sought to unite opposition forces in the face of a brutal crackdown on mass protests by Lukashenkas regime.



The United States and the EU have imposed sanctions on senior figures in Lukashenkas government over what they say was a fraudulent election and ongoing human rights abuses.



In April, the United States said it would not renew a special license authorizing transactions with nine state-owned Belarusian companies.



Tsikhanouskaya called those sanctions "among the most effective measures," but she called on Washington to punish other entities and regime figures in her country, namely those responsible for human rights violations in Belarus.



Tsikhanouskaya also noted the strain on her family since her husband, vlogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was arrested last year after he and other opposition politicians and activists demanded election officials allow independent candidates to register for the election.



Tsikhanouski, who ran a popular YouTube channel called The Country For Life, faces many more years in prison if convicted of the charges against him related to his attempt to participate in the election.



"For almost a year, my children have been asking me every day where their father is and when he will be back," said Tsikhanouskaya, who ran in her husbands place after he was arrested.



Tsikhanouski is one of more than 300 political prisoners caught up in the crackdown. Almost 30,000 people have been detained since the election, according to human rights groups. Tsikhanouskaya put the number of people detained at more than 35,000 and said there were more than 3,000 criminal cases. At least eight people have been killed, she said.

With reporting by AFP and dpa
A Bulgarian couple is in custody in Germany on suspicion of involvement in a human trafficking ring that allegedly brought pregnant women to Greece, where the babies were born and then sold to traffickers.

The 58-year-old man and his 51-year-old wife are suspected of having recruited at least nine poor pregnant women from Bulgaria to go to Greece as part of the trafficking operation, according to authorities in Germany. They were detained last week in Neunkirchen, a town near Germany's border with France.

Bulgarian authorities had issued a European arrest warrant for the couple, who are now in custody awaiting extradition.

They were indicted in February along with their son for "participation in an organized crime group for trade in newborn babies on the territory of Greece," Bulgarian prosecutors said in a statement on May 5. Their son is already under arrest in Bulgaria.

The three were accused of recruiting pregnant women from across Bulgaria to travel to neighboring Greece to give birth and sell their newborn babies to intermediaries for the equivalent of between $3,000 and $4,300. Mothers usually received only a fraction of the amount, with the larger portion pocketed by the traffickers.

The Greek partners of the gang are suspected to be part of an international baby trafficking network, the Bulgarian prosecutors added.

If found guilty the couple and their son could face jail sentences of between five and 15 years.

Greece has become a common destination for baby trafficking operations because stringent conditions for adoption have encouraged many parents seeking a baby to turn to illegal alternatives.

Although the waiting time for a legal adoption in Greece was reduced in a 2018 law, the illegal networks persist.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
NUR-SULTAN -- The fact that it hasn't completed its clinical trials hasn't stopped thousands of Kazakh citizens from getting their first shot of the domestically developed coronavirus vaccine QazVac.

The two-dose vaccine is still in its third stage of studies, which are expected to be completed in July. But QazVac's developers -- the state-backed Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems -- insists the vaccine is safe and effective.

The institute claims QazVac has shown a 96 percent efficacy against the virus during second-phase testing.

No serious side effects have been reported among the vaccine recipients since the QazVac rollout began on April 26. The Health Ministry says 50,000 doses of QazVac have been distributed across the Central Asian country of nearly 19 million people.

Id support vaccination with QazVac once I see enough published data [that backs the developers claims].

But some independent experts have expressed skepticism due to what they describe as insufficient testing information, as well as the relatively small number of participants in QazVac testing thus far.

By the QazVac developers own admission, some 3,000 people took part in the trials that began in September. For comparison, the study for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine involved more than 43,000 participants.

Lesbek Kutymbetov, a QazVac developer, said the team is fully confident that the vaccine is harmless. He added that the research institute has been involved in vaccine production for decades.

QazVac was developed using the traditional method of taking a dead virus to spur an immune response from the body, Kutymbetov explained. After testing the vaccine on animals, Kutymbetov was the first person to get a QazVac jab in its early trials.

According to the QazVac manufacturer, it doesnt need to be stored in freezers like the prominently used Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. QazVac can be kept in regular refrigerators.

Like the other coronavirus vaccines, its not yet clear how long QazVac will give immunity from the coronavirus to someone. Early research showed antibodies lasted about half-a-year and then their numbers decreased in the seventh month, Kutymbetov said.

'No Time To Write Articles'

QazVaq developers havent published much information about their research on the vaccine, with Kutymbetov saying that they dont have timeto write articles.

Asel Musabekova, a French-based expert on cellular and molecular biology, said a lack of information makes it impossible to assess the vaccines safety and efficacy.

They could at least publish the results of the first and second phases of the clinical trials," she said. "Id support vaccination with QazVac once I see enough published data [that backs the developers claims].

Musabekova also said QazVac developers should have recruited a much larger pool of participants during the trials.

Rare side effects can only be seen in large-scale clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people, the Kazakh-born expert explained.

Limited Choice

The lack of information, however, hasnt dampened the mood among many Kazakhs who stood in line to get injections across the country.

Aigul Nurlybekova, a 27-year-old resident of the capital, Nur-Sultan, received her first QazVac shot on April 28. The second dose should be taken three weeks later.

I contracted coronavirus last summer. Six months later, when I heard about QazVac, I decided to get inoculated with it," Nurlybekova said, adding that she trusts the domestically made vaccine.

Five days since getting the injection, Nurlybekova said she hasnt experienced any major side effects.

Almaty resident Ardak Bukeeva did her homework before opting for QazVac over the Russian-made Sputnik V, a second vaccine option that is offered in Kazakhstan.

A journalist by profession, Bukeeva visited the research institute in February and spoke with the QazVac team to inquire about the vaccine they were developing.

Bukeeva told RFE/RL that at the end it was the institutes years of expertise as well as the tried-and-tested vaccine ingredient -- the fully neutralized virus -- that convinced her to choose QazVac for herself and her family. She received her first dose on April 27.

I hope it will be effective against the various coronavirus strains that we hear about every day, in India and elsewhere, Bukeeva said.

Both women say many of their friends and acquaintances who have received QazVac injections havent had any serious side effects and are content with the vaccine.

But some Kazakhs took to social media to share their reservations about the sparse information on QazVac.

Where are the research results? Where is the evaluation by foreign scientists? Not much is known about the components of the vaccine -- there is almost no data, Nur-Sultan resident Viktoria Murzintseva wrote on Facebook.

I can't even find decent domestically produced underwear anywhere, [let alone a coronavirus vaccine], wrote a more skeptical Nur-Sultan resident, Aigul Fort.

So far, more than 1 million people in the Central Asian country -- about 5.7 percent of the population -- have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, mostly Sputnik V.

The resource-rich nation has also placed an order with Beijing for a million doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine.

Some Kazakhs say theyre patiently waiting until more is known about the coronavirus vaccines in general before deciding whether to get one or not.

I will wait. Im in no hurry, wrote Kazakh social-media user Zhanargul Omarova. I will continue to wear a mask, wash my hands. Im not going to weddings or parties and I have no plans to travel abroad anytime soon.

There has been an official total of some 332,000 cases of the coronavirus in Kazakhstan, with 3,796 deaths as of May 5. Many observers and media outlets say those figures are grossly underreported due to government officials trying to hide the actual numbers.

Written by Farangis Najibullah in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
Latvia has recognized the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide, drawing an angry response from Turkey.



The Baltic nations parliament passed a resolution on May 6 condemning and recognizing the tragedy with 58 of 100 lawmakers voting for the measure.



The Turkish Foreign Ministry slammed the decision as a "null and void attempt to rewrite history for political motives."



National governments and parliaments in some 30 countries have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. President Joe Biden did so in a statement released on April 24 -- Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

During and immediately after World War I, Armenians and many historians say as many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed, in what Armenians call "The Great Crime." Armenians have documented mass murder, banditry, raping of women, pillaging of property, and other atrocities.



As the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, Turkey objects to the use of the word genocide and says that hundreds of thousands of Muslims also died in Anatolia at the time due to combat, starvation, cold, and disease.
It was one of the most sophisticated digital fraud operations in the history of the Internet, by some accounts scamming between $10 million and $30 million over the roughly four years it existed.

Dubbed Methbot by security researchers, the operation used thousands of infected computers around the world to falsely inflate web traffic to dummy websites and defraud advertisers. A related, overlapping scam, dubbed 3ve, used infected residential computers linked to real human users.

This week in a U.S. federal court in New York City, the Russian man accused by U.S. authorities of being a ringleader of the group, Aleksandr Zhukov, went on trial for wire fraud, money laundering, and other charges.

One cybercrime researcher described the setup used to run the Methbot network as the most costly botnet fraud in history.

Extradited to the United States after being arrested in Bulgaria in November 2018, Zhukov has pleaded innocent. Seven other people, mainly Russians, have also been indicted.

The cybercrime in my indictment is just [the] imagination of [the] FBI, and I wish to go to jury, Zhukov told the U.S. court in April 2019.

The case is the latest example of U.S. law enforcement going after alleged Russian cybercriminals around the world, a trend that has infuriated the Kremlin, which has accused the United States of hunting Russian citizens.

But written into the code of the Methbot case, theres also technical intrigue: The network of servers that was allegedly used by the hackers has been under scrutiny to determine whether it was used by Russian state-backed hackers, or intelligence agencies, to hack into U.S. political parties

Differentiating between what is cybercrime and what is nation-state activity, such as espionage, is getting increasingly difficult, especially concerning Russia, Mathew Schwartz, executive editor of the industry journal DataBreachToday, told RFE/RL. In part, this is because some individuals who have day jobs as government hackers -- or contractors -- seem to hack the West in their spare time -- for fun, patriotism or profit.

'Are You Gangsters? No, We Are Russians'

According to U.S. court records, the Methbot scam first took form in September 2014, when Zhukov and five other men from Russia and Kazakhstan allegedly rented more than 1,900 computer servers at commercial data centers in Texas and elsewhere and used them to simulate humans viewing ads on fabricated webpages.

Eventually, the scam grew to include more than 850,000 Internet addresses, supported by hundreds of dedicated servers located in the United States and in Europe, mainly in the Netherlands.

In a September 2014 text message obtained by U.S. investigators and published by prosecutors, Zhukov, who had moved to Bulgaria in 2010, allegedly bragged about the scope of the scheme to another man who was part of the effort: You bet! King of fraud!

Are you gangsters? No, we are Russians, the other man responds, according to a U.S. transcript.

In December 2016, White Ops, a U.S. cybersecurity company that specializes in digital ad fraud and botnets, published a report that pinpointed much of the technical information about the operation and its financial damages. Those findings were later corroborated by researchers at Google.

Differentiating between what is cybercrime and what is nation-state activity, such as espionage, is getting increasingly difficult, especially concerning Russia.

Methbot, White Ops concluded, was the largest and most profitable advertising fraud operation to strike digital advertising to date.

On November 6, 2018, Bulgarian police raided the apartment in the Black Sea port of Varna where Zhukov was living and, with U.S. law enforcement present, questioned, then arrested, Zhukov, seizing his computer hardware and cell phones. U.S. authorities unsealed a 13-count indictment against him and seven other Russian and Kazakh nationals later that month.

Zhukov was extradited to the United States two months later, in January 2019.

Another key player was a Kazakh man named Sergei Ovysannikov, who allegedly was involved in the overlapping botnet scheme called 3ve. The scheme was tied to at least $29 million in fraud and allegedly involved more than 1.7 million infected computers. Because the infected computers were in homes, they were linked to real human beings, making it harder to detect.

However you want to look at it, from an illicit profit-generating perspective, that counts as super lucrative, Schwartz said.

Ovysannikov was arrested on a U.S. warrant in Malaysia in October 2018. He later pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court.

Yevgeny Timchenko, another Kazakh national who was also allegedly linked to the 3ve scheme, was arrested in Estonia the same month as Zhukov and later extradited. The other men named in the indictment are still at large, according to U.S. officials.

The Steele Dossier

Though the fraud allegedly committed in the Methbot and 3ve schemes was lucrative, the underlying technologies and infrastructure used have interested security researchers and experts tracking state-sponsored hacking efforts, particularly those involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and other countries with developed hacking capabilities.

The complicated setup used to run the Methbot network was extensive and expensive, according to one cybercrime researcher, who described it as the most costly botnet fraud in history.

A sizable number of the servers that the Methbot operation rented and utilized were owned and maintained by companies affiliated with XBT Holding S.A., which is owned by a Russian venture capitalist named Aleksei Gubarev.

That holding includes a group of web-hosting businesses also known as Webzilla, which has operations in Dallas, Texas, as well as in Russia, and which has specialized in services aimed at Internet advertisers, gaming companies, software developers, and e-commerce businesses. Among its web-hosting domains are DDoS.com, 1-800-HOSTING, and SecureVPN.com.

A series of reports by the McClatchy newspaper network and the Miami Herald documented how major web viruses have spread via XBTs infrastructure.

While known within the tech industry, Gubarevs name and his companies burst into wider public view in January 2017 with the publication of a collection of memos written by a former British spy named Christopher Steele.

The memos, which were written in 2016, included salacious, unverified allegations against then-U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. It later emerged that the work was commissioned by a Washington law firm on behalf of the Democratic Party.

The collected memos, which had circulated among reporters in Washington but were published first by BuzzFeed, were known as the Steele Dossier.

One memo alleged that XBT/Webzilla and affiliated companies played a key role in the hack of Democratic Party computers in the spring of 2016, which resulted in the leak of e-mails that many believe helped harm former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons campaign against Trump. The memo also alleged Gubarev had been coerced into providing services to Russias main domestic security agency, known as the FSB.

Subsequent U.S. intelligence reports and law enforcement indictments blamed the hack on Russias military intelligence agency, known as the GRU. Russias foreign intelligence agency, called the SVR, has been implicated both in that hack and the more recent SolarWinds intrusion of U.S. government and corporate servers.

Gubarev has denied the allegations and sued BuzzFeed in U.S. court for publishing the Steele Dossier. That lawsuit was ultimately thrown out, but during the process, a technical expert who had served as chief of staff of the FBIs Cyber Division in Washington, D.C., testified on behalf of BuzzFeeds lawyers.

The expert, Anthony Ferrante, said that Russian cyberespionage groups had used XBT servers to conduct spear-phishing campaigns against Democratic politicians, and XBT-owned infrastructure had been used to support Russian state-sponsored cybercampaigns.

Ferrante asserted that the size of the Methbot operation, and the fact that a large number of IP addresses were first added to XBT-affiliated servers in late 2015 and then suddenly shut off in December 2016, meant an XBT employee would have had to do that manually.

That, he said, pointed to the likelihood that XBT managers knew the companys infrastructure was being used for illegal activity.

Additionally, the operation was a large scale botnet, which is consistent with statements made in the [Steele] Dossier, Ferrante wrote.

'Unsung Heroes'

A press spokesman for Ferrantes Boston-based consulting company declined to comment further on the case.

Gubarev, who reportedly lives in Cyprus, could not be immediately located for comment.

In an e-mail to RFE/RL, however, his U.S. lawyer confirmed that XBT had hosted some of the Methbot operation. But, he said, Gubarev and XBT executives were in fact unsung heroes because, he said, they canceled the account in December 2016, after the publication of the White Ops report, and preserved hard drives as evidence.

The reason that the government is able to make its case now is because of the fast action by Mr. Gubarev and Webzilla, Val Gurvits, a lawyer based in the Boston suburb of Newton, told RFE/RL.

Gurvits also said that while bad actors misused Webzillas network, not a single reputable source found that Webzilla was at fault for any such misuse.

The truth is that my clients have always taken extraordinary measures to ensure that its networks are not misused, he said.

In court arguments on May 5, Kostyantyn Bezruchenko, chief technical officers for Webzilla and Servers.com, indicated that Zhukov knew Gubarev personally, having invited him to attend a concert on Cyprus in September 2016. Zhukov flew in from Bulgaria on a private jet, Bezruchenko told the court, and Bezruchenko then joined Zhukov on the jet in flying back to Bulgaria.

Schwartz, of DataBreachToday, said the Methbot case shows how blurred the line has become between run-of-the-mill online criminal activity and state-sponsored cybercampaigns of the sort used not only by Russian intelligence, but also the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. National Security Agency, and intelligence agencies around the world.

He also said agencies are increasingly using commonly available malware, and even criminal-run infrastructure, as part of the cybercrime-as-service ecosystem.

For spies, using infrastructure built by -- and for -- criminals makes sense, because it's more difficult for victims or foreign intelligence agencies to tell if any given activity is criminal or government run, he said.
Russian researchers say more than 150 endangered seals have been discovered washed up dead on the shores of the Caspian Sea over the course of several days.



Viktor Nikiforov of the Moscow Marine Mammals research center said on May 6 that the Caspian seals have been found on the shores of the sea in the region of Daghestan.



The exact cause of the deaths is still unknown.



They may have been caused by "industrial pollution, fishing, or poaching when seals get caught in the nets," Nikiforov said, adding: "Maybe this is the consequence of climate change or several causes at the same time."



Alimurad Hajiyev, the director of the Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development of the Daghestan State University, said that many of the marine mammals were found entangled in fishing nets.



The researchers said the seals were discovered some 100 kilometers south of the regional capital, Makhachkala, and 50 kilometers north of the city.



The Federal Fisheries Agency in the North Caucasus said it had dispatched inspectors to carry out a count.



The Investigative Committee said it was also looking into the matter.



The Caspian seal is the only mammal living in the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water.



The endemic species has for decades suffered from overhunting and industrial pollution in the sea, and their number is now estimated at less than 70,000, down from more than 1 million in the early 20th century.



In December 2020, Russian authorities reported the death of more than 300 seals on Dagestan's Caspian shore.

Listed as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2008, the seal was included in Russias Red Data Book of endangered and rare species this year.



The Caspian Sea, shared by five riparian states -- Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan -- boasts vast oil and gas reserves.



Pollution from hydrocarbon extraction and declining water levels are posing a threat to many local species and putting the future of the sea itself at risk.

With reporting by AFP and TASS
The European Union has approved the participation of NATO members the United States, Canada, and Norway in a project aimed at speeding up the movement of troops and military equipment around Europe.



The May 6 decision marks the first time the EU has opened up an initiative from its Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact, which aims to deepen defense ties, to outside partners.



The pact was agreed by EU leaders in December 2017 amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over Russia's aggression in Ukraine.Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March 2014 and has been backing separatists in eastern Ukraine in a war that has killed more than 13,000 people since April 2014.



The bloc has since earmarked 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) from its joint budget until 2028 to improve so-called military mobility, something NATO deems as crucial in the event of a conflict with Russia.



Beyond border red tape, the smooth deployment of forces whether by land, sea, or air is also often hindered by ill-adapted infrastructure.



At their first in-person meeting in more than a year in Brussels, the 27 EU defense ministers discussed Russias recent military buildup in annexed Crimea and on the Ukrainian border.



"The debate reaffirmed the EU's position that Russia must de-escalate and reduce tensions," and that the full implementation of the Minsk agreements aimed at putting an end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine "is key to a lasting political solution," according to a statement.

The ministers also gave the greenlight for the United States, Canada, and Norway to join the blocs military mobility project, led by the Netherlands.



The three countries "expertise will contribute to the project and, with it, to improving military mobility within and beyond the EU, the blocs foreign policy chief and meeting chairman, Josep Borrell, said in a statement.



It will make EU defense more efficient and contribute to strengthen our security.



German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer hailed the move as a "quantum leap in concrete cooperation when it comes to ensuring that troops can be deployed in Europe across national borders."



"Talking about military mobility, making sure that troops can be moved across borders within Europe is a very important issue not only for the European Union but also for NATO," she added.



NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who met with the EU ministers, also welcomed the move, and noted that "non-EU allies play an essential role in protecting and defending Europe."



The United States and its NATO allies have enhanced their presence in the eastern part of the alliance, in part to help reassure Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland that they will be defended in case of any Russian aggression.



Canada is leading a NATO battlegroup stationed in Latvia, and non-EU member Norway is involved, too.

A reminder of the continued tensions in the region came on May 6 when Estonia filed a protest with Moscow a day after a Russian aircraft allegedly violated its airspace for the second time this year.



The military said an IL-96 plane belonging to Russia spent about one minute in Estonian airspace near the Baltic Sea island of Vaindloo in what the Foreign Ministry called a serious incident.



The crew did not present a flight plan and failed to maintain radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services, the military and officials said.



Moscow said it disputes Tallin's characterization of the facts.

EU defense ministers also discussed on May 6 a project to set up a 5,000-strong military force that could be deployed quickly to a potential conflict zone. The plan has the backing of 14 member countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Russian lawmakers to withdraw three bills under discussion, saying they "would add new dangerous tools" to an already "significant arsenal of legislative weapons" being used in the country's crackdown on dissent.

HRW said in a statement on May 5 that two of the bills proposed by a group of lawmakers the day before would expand the impact of Russia's law on "undesirable" organizations.

One bill would extend the ban on participating in activities of organizations blacklisted by Russian authorities as "undesirable" beyond the country's borders, allowing the government to ban foreigners residing in Russia and stateless persons from taking part in the activities of such groups.

It also would allow the Russian authorities to designate a foreign or international organization as "undesirable" if they decide that such a group acts as an "intermediary," transferring funds or property to support the operations of "undesirables."

Another new bill involving "undesirables" introduces amendments to the Russian Criminal and Criminal Procedural codes to make it easier to open criminal cases on charges of affiliation with "undesirable" organizations.

'Death By A Thousand Cuts'

The third bill would allow the authorities to impose lengthy bans on potential candidates for the parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, if they are associated with groups deemed "extremist," even if they were associated with the group before it received that designation.

"These bills are a far-from-subtle attempt to deprive the Kremlin's political opponents of legal means of political participation and to instill ever more fear into Russia's civil society.

"For years now, and with particular ferocity in the past six months, the Russian authorities have been trying to inflict death by a thousand cuts on civil society and meaningful political opposition," Hugh Williamson, HRW's Europe and Central Asia director said in the statement.

The bills appear to be thinly veiled attempts to target Russian politicians and activists even remotely associated with jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

A court in Moscow is expected to designate the FBK and Navalny's two other groups -- the Citizens' Rights Defense Foundation and his regional teams -- "extremist" later this month following a request by the city's prosecutors. One FBK lawyer, Lyubov Sobol, has announced her intention to run for a seat in the State Duma in September.

HRW emphasized that it was "hardly a coincidence that the bills are being proposed only a few months before the September parliamentary elections."

"There appears to be a clear aim to isolate Russia's civil society and force many of its activists abroad into self-imposed exile under a threat of criminal sanctions, as well as to delegitimize and punish anyone affiliated with or actively supporting...Navalny," Williamson said.

"Russian authorities need to stop the attempts to drag the country behind a new Iron Curtain and start demonstrating respect for fundamental human rights and democratic values."

The pressure on Navalny has intensified greatly in the past eight months, starting with his poisoning in Siberia in August 2020.

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 Putin's 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.
A Russian journalist labeled as a "foreign agent" has turned the tables on several local lawmakers in the northwestern region of Pskov, sending them money to make them associates.

Denis Kamalyagin, the chief editor of the Pskovskaya gubernia newspaper who was labeled by a court as a "foreign agent" in December, said on May 5 he transferred unspecified amounts of money via his mobile phone to the region's governor, the mayor of the regional capital, Pskov, and a lawmaker representing the region in the Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma.

Kamalyagin told Dozhd TV and the media outlet Meduza that he transferred the money in January and informed the Justice Ministry about it in a report that he must provide regularly as "a foreign agent."

He said his goal was to prove that the law on "foreign agents" must be reconsidered.

"It is clear that according to current law, anyone who has a personal website and receives money from abroad can be designated a 'foreign agent,'" Kamalyagin said, pointing out that the law had been applied selectively so far.

"In theory this means that during the election [campaign in September], these comrades would have to allocate 15 percent of their [campaign] billboards to show that they are associated with foreign agents," Kamalyagin said.

Only after he publicly announced the stunt did the three officials transfer the money back.

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 targeted foreign-funded media.

In 2017, the Russian government placed RFE/RL's Russian Service on the list, along with six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time, a network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

At the end of 2020, the legislation was modified to allow the Russian government to include individuals, including foreign journalists, on its "foreign agents" list and to impose restrictions on them.

The Russian state media monitor Roskomnadzor last year adopted rules requiring listed media to mark all written materials with a lengthy notice in large text, all radio materials with an audio statement, and all video materials with a 15-second text declaration.

The agency has submitted hundreds of complaints against RFE/RL's projects to the courts, with the total fines levied at around $1 million. RFE/RL has appealed the moves.

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 court in the western Russian city of Pskov has denied an appeal by RFE/RL contributor Lyudmila Savitskaya contesting her inclusion on Russia's controversial register of "foreign agent" media.

The Pskov court ruled on May 5 that Savitskaya's inclusion on the Justice Ministry's list was lawful. Savitskaya's attorneys said they would appeal the ruling.

Savitskaya and four other people -- RFE/RL contributor Sergei Markelov, human rights activist Lev Ponomaryov, artist and activist Darya Apakhonchich, and Pskov newspaper editor Denis Kamalygin -- were included in the "foreign agent" media list in December 2020.

The ministry did not give any justification for why these individuals were listed. All five are appealing their inclusion on the list.

In court on May 5, Justice Ministry representatives presented as evidence against Savitskaya articles she had written about anti-government protesters, alleged torture in Russian prisons, and the blocking of electronic communications in the areas around prisons.

In addition, they presented a large number of documents marked "for official use only" from the Interior Ministry, the Prosecutor-General's Office, and other agencies that Savitskaya and her attorneys were not allowed to examine.

Savitskaya's defense argued that none of the materials presented indicated that she was working at the behest of any foreign power.

In her closing remarks to the court, Savitskaya argued that she was merely doing her job as a professional journalist.

"These days, not a single state mass-media outlet is reporting about the real problems confronting people, But Radio Svoboda does," she said, referring to the Russian Service of RFE/RL.

"I was labeled a 'foreign agent' because I am shouting out to everyone about injustice and about people who are being persecuted. But everyone needs to know that the real foreign agents today are sitting in the Kremlin and in the State Duma, because they are working against Russian citizens and against a happy Russia in the future, while I am working for them," she added.



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. At the end of 2020, the legislation was modified to allow the Russian government to include individuals, including foreign journalists, on its "foreign agents" list and to impose restrictions on them.

In 2017, the Russian government placed RFE/RL's Russian Service, six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time on the list.



Earlier this year, Russian courts began imposing large fines against RFE/RL for failing to mark its articles with a government-prescribed label as required by rules adopted in October 2020. 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."
DUSHANBE -- Tajik authorities say 19 people were killed and 87 injured in clashes along a disputed segment of the border with Kyrgyzstan last week, in their first official data on the violence.

The official statement by the authorities of the northern Sughd region on May 6 said that all of the victims were from villages close to the border. It did not provide any more details.

RFE/RL correspondents from the area have reported that 20 people, including 11 military personnel, were killed during the violence.

Tajikistan's official statement comes after the deadly violence erupted on April 28 and lasted for almost three days after the Tajiks tried to install security cameras on disputed territory near the border of the two Central Asian states.

Kyrgyz authorities have said that 36 Kyrgyz citizens died in the skirmishes, while 189 people were injured and 58,000 were evacuated.

Like many other border areas in Central Asia, almost half of the 970-kilometer-long Kyrgyz-Tajik border has not been demarcated, leading to tensions over the past 30 years. The latest fighting was the heaviest in years and raised fears of a wider conflict between the two impoverished neighbors.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on May 6 visited villages in the southwestern Batken Province that were heavily affected by the clashes.

In the wake of the violence, Japarov discussed the situation with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who invited the Kyrgyz leader to the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, to discuss border issues.

After the phone call, it was officially announced that Japarov will visit Tajikistan in late May.

However, during a meeting with residents of the village of Margun, Japarov said he will not visit Tajikistan "until Kyrgyz-Tajik border issues are resolved."

The European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Russia have all urged both sides to respect the cease-fire agreement.

Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan host Russian military bases.

Prosecutors from both countries have launched criminal cases over the deadly violence, accusing each other of deliberately "encroaching" into each other's territory.
Hasan Akbarov, a 31-year-old Tajik border guard, was shot dead the day before he was set to celebrate his sister's wedding. In Kyrgyzstan, border officer Isfana Bekzod Yuldashev died in the same conflict days before his 31st birthday. Their families are among those whose lives were shattered by two days of violence.
ASHGABAT -- World War II veterans in the isolated Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan have been ordered to pay for the gifts they are scheduled to receive on behalf of the authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov at a Victory Day commemoration marked annually on May 9 in a majority of former Soviet republics.



RFE/RL correspondents report from the eastern region of Lebap that local authorities ordered the war veterans and the veterans of labor during the war to collect money for their own gifts.



Last year, authorities in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic ordered the veterans to pay for gifts from the president and medals they received for the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II.

Several people told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the amounts requested by the authorities were much higher than the price of the gifts the veterans received from the president last year.



The amount of money and the prices of the gifts for this year remain unclear.



Before 2020, the government gave the veterans 200 manats ($55 at the current official exchange rate and $5.5 at the black market rate) each year on Victory Day as a mark of appreciation for their WWII service.



Authorities in neighboring Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan said earlier that war veterans and veterans of labor during the war will receive equivalents of $950 and $2,350 respectively on May 9.



Russian authorities announced this week that war veterans will receive 10,000 rubles ($135) each on Victory Day this year.

Turkmenistan has been caught up in an economic crisis in recent years despite being home to the world's fourth-largest proven natural gas resources.



The coronavirus pandemic has worsened the situation, though the Turkmen government has denied both the economic crisis and the presence of COVID-19 in the country despite substantial evidence otherwise.



According to Human Rights Watch, Berdymukhammedov, "his relatives and their associates control all aspects of public life, and the authorities encroach on private life."



Turkmen regional authorities recently issued an order saying that lines at state stores could be no longer than four people long after the president's son publicly said that "crowds near stores discredit" his father.
KYIV -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States is considering Ukraines request for "additional" military assistance to help deter Kremlin aggression following a massive buildup of Russian forces near their shared border and in annexed Crimea.



Kyiv has requested U.S. air defense systems and anti-sniper technology, along with a possible deployment of Patriot missiles in Ukraine.



Blinken told RFE/RL on May 6 in an interview in the Ukrainian capital, where he met with the country's top leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that the Pentagon is "looking at what additional assistance -- beyond the very significant assistance that we've already provided, including equipment -- would be helpful to Ukraine right now. Thats a very active consideration."



The United States has provided nearly $5 billion in financial, humanitarian, and military aid -- including lethal, anti-tank weapons -- to Ukraine since 2014, when Russia forcibly annexed Crimea and backed separatists in two of its eastern provinces, sparking a war that has killed more than 13,000.



Blinken's first trip to Kyiv since being tapped by President Joe Biden earlier this year to lead the State Department comes just weeks after Russia deployed more than 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine and in annexed Crimea in what the United States called an act of intimidation.

Russia has withdrawn some of the troops and equipment, but much still remains, posing a serious and immediate threat to Ukraine, Blinken said.



"Russia has the capacity on pretty short notice to take further aggressive action, so we're being very vigilant about that...and also making sure that we're helping Ukraine have the means to defend itself," Blinken said in the RFE/RL interview.

Ukraine has called on the United States to threaten to exclude Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system as a way to deter Kremlin aggression.

Some analysts say exclusion from SWIFT, which facilitates secure and fast communications between financial institutions, would be a significant blow to Russias economy.



Blinken said the United States "will consider every reasonable option" to deter Kremlin aggression against Ukraine, but declined to comment directly on the possibility of using SWIFT.



The top U.S. diplomat reiterated the Biden administrations message that the United States is not seeking an escalation with Russia.



However, he said the United States does not accept the concept of "spheres of influence" and will respond to any Kremlin aggression that threatens Washingtons interests or those of its partners.

"If we allow those principles [of no spheres of influence] to be violated with impunity, then that is going to send a message, not just to Russia. It's going to send a message in other parts of the world as well, that those rules don't matter, that countries can behave any way they want, he said.



Blinken said it was a recipe for an international system that falls apart.



Last month, the United States and the European Union sought to send a global message about its stance on human rights and democracy when it announced coordinated sanctions against Russian officials over the incarceration on Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Those sanctions came on the heels of punishments imposed on a series of Russian individuals and companies in connection with the Kremlin's alleged poisoning of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny with a nerve agent and the hacking of U.S. government agencies.



Those alleged actions have increased the already severe strains in ties between Russia and the West, long seen by both as being close to, at, or below Cold War lows since the start of aggression against Ukraine in 2014.



Russia has continued to pressure Navalny and his supporters even after this imprisonment, seeking to shut down his network, which has published journalistic investigations into alleged corruption among the nation's top officials.



To that end, in the May 6 interview, Blinken condemned Russias mounting pressure on independent media, including RFE/RL, saying it was a sign of Kremlin weakness.



"I think that countries that deny freedom of the press are countries that don't have a lot of confidence in themselves or in their systems. What is there to be afraid of in informing the people and in holding leaders accountable?" he asked.
MANSFIELD -- Discussions about water -- the stuff kids like to play in and the same stuff adults have to pay for -- were key topics for discussion Wednesday night at Mansfield City Council.

Local lawmakers, while approving a contract to operate the city's only public pool this summer and accepting a donation for two new splash pads in two other parks, also took a deep dive into water and sewer finances.

The discussion occurred during a hybrid in-person/online session. Six of nine council members were in attendance while three participated remotely, as did all members of the city administration.

Council met a day later than normal due to Tuesday's primary election.

City Council finance committee chair Jon Van Harlingen, who represents the 3rd Ward, led a discussion that began two weeks ago when Joe and Reba Matern, owners of Matern Metal Works, Inc., asked when the city plans to move forward with the Touby Run Flood Mitigation Hazard Project.

The $15.5 million dry dam project is aimed at protecting homes and businesses in the city's north end flood plain, which officials have also said is key to also spurring economic development.

The 903-foot-long dry dam was proposed to be built just west of North Lake Park and would have a capacity of 135 million gallons. Officials said it would prohibit flooding except during the "100-year" rain events.

The city administration proposed the project in 2018 after several years of study. Properties and easements were acquired for the project and engineering for the work was done.

The program was ultimately was put on hold in March 2019 until anticipated revenue from the $17 million water meter program, being funded by a bond, was realized. The replacement program was expected to be completed in 2020, but the ongoing installation program has been slowed, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Van Harlingen, using a chart, said the city has taken on an additional $50.6 million in water and sewer fund bond debt in recent years, including $10 million for state-mandated improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and $35 million for state-mandated improvements at the water treatment plant.

He said before bonds were approved for the projects, the city's bond debt for water and sewer was $6.4 million. Van Harlingen said that debt, as of this week, was at $57.1 million.

"I don't regret these expenditures. These are all EPA driven. It's extremely responsible and we are responsible for our citizens to supply a good supply of water, safe and sanitary, and what's left over, we have to take care of that, too," Van Harlingen said. "This is all EPA driven."

The delay in the still ongoing citywide water meter replacement program, which was aimed at generating additional revenue by more accurately counting water usage, has meant a delay in the expected revenue.

Van Harlingen said the water and sewer revenue was a combined 14.4 percent below budget in 2020. In the first three months of 2021, he said, the city should have received 25 percent of its revenue for the year.

The sewer revenue was on track, he said, but only 17.3 percent of the water revenue flowed into the city's coffers.

"Keep in mind sewer rates went up another 3 percent this year. It's already built in. The (2021) water rate (increases) are just now coming into effect.

"In my opinion, we have not had two solid years yet in these water funds to see how these new water meters are going to pan out," he said.

Mayor Tim Theaker and Public Works Director David Remy said the pandemic has directly impacted the water meter installation effort.

"The coronavirus we encountered is what has put our community at a different pace than other communities (in the past). (COVID-19) has changed the norm and that's where we have encountered a little bit of a problem," Theaker said.

Remy said the city has followed the advice and guidance from Suez, the contractor in charge of the project, in terms of trying to finish installing almost 19,000 new water meters.

He said the city hopes to have the work completed by July 1, but that is dependent on residents' willingness to make appointments and allow the installers to enter their homes.

"COVID hit us when we were about to start installations and it delayed the entire process by almost a year," Remy said. "We have worked extremely diligently with those who have COVID concerns to push their appointments to the end of the process when things are freeing up and more open and people might feel more comfortable.

"COVID has really thrown us a curve ball and thrown Suez a curve ball on getting the project completed," Remy said.

Van Harlingen said he would likely schedule a public utilities committee meeting to continue discussions about the dry dam project after several council members said it's an issue that should be brought back to the table for consideration.

6th Ward representative Kimberly Moton was one of the council members concerned about the flooding issue.

"I have grown up in the area all my life, for the most part. To see what happens during the floods, it's just terrible," Moton said. "I would like for us to keep that in mind. Economically, I don't want to see any businesses have to relocate or to move."

Also on Wednesday, City Council:

-- approved a $35,587 contract with the Mansfield Area Y to operate the pool at Liberty Park this summer.

-- voted to accept a $168,000 Richland County Foundation grant to install and maintain new splash pads at Johns Park and North Lake Park. 4th Ward Council member Alomar Davenport thanked Parks & Recreation manager Mark Abrams and RCF for combining to make the splashpad project happen on the north end. "I think the kids on the north end, and all over the City of Mansfield, will enjoy the splashpads," Davenport said.

-- approved demolitions of unsafe structures at 53 Florence Ave., 236 Gerke Ave. and 1092 Pawnee Ave.

-- approved paying Pioneer Technology $32,296.22 for the Mansfield Municipal Court Clerk of Courts office for a software maintenance agreement. It's also expected to discuss appropriating $50,000 from the unappropriated court computerization fund and $50,000 from the unappropriated court costs fund for a change in mail delivery service. None of the expenses come from the city's general fund.

-- accepted a $500 donation from the Remy-McCullough Family Trust to be used for Safety Town.

-- accepted a $60,000 grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to be used for a portion of the cost for a family violence liaison officer.

-- accepted a $51,300 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Justice to offset costs incurred by the Mansfield Police Department for costs associated with COVID-19.

-- approved the one-year renewal of a software maintenance agreement for $77,791.31 with the Tyler Technologies Corp.

-- accepted a $4,800 grant from the Richland County Foundation to hire an intern in the Community Development Department.

-- authorize the safety-service director to trade in old police department armory items to offset the cost of patrol rifles.

-- approved purchase of a Versalift 47-foot aerial unit on a Dodge 5500 chassis cab at a price not to exceed $171,575. The bucket truck, primarily used by the city's signs and signals department, will replace older, outdated models, Remy said.

-- approved a change to city ordinances that will allow veterinary services to occur in areas zoned "office service district." The change will allow Phillips Animal Hospital, a longtime practice at 581 S. Main St., to move into a larger facility at 371 Cline Ave. The change will not allow overnight kenneling of animals not in need of medical care.

Dr. Jordan Phillips, whose practice is the key provider for the Richland County Humane Society and Richland County Dog Warden, addressed council and said the change will allow for the "quiet part of veterinary care while excluding the noisy part." The Cline Avenue address is the former home of an Akron Children's Hospital facility.

-- heard a letter from Carolyn Dollisch, 1426 Harding Ave., who expressed frustration about she said were the ongoing zoning violations by a business in her area. Cheryl Meier, chair of council's zoning committee, said the issue would be addressed during a future committee meeting.
LONDON -- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, members of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, and law enforcement officers from around the state gathered Thursday for the 33rd annual Ohio Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony to honor the 809 Ohio officers who have died in the line of duty since 1823.

"The sacrifice these brave men and women made to protect us all from harm can never be fully repaid, so it is our duty to honor them and never forget them, Yost said. They took an oath and followed it until the end, and they will forever be remembered as heroes.

Honored at todays ceremony were those who died in 2019 and 2020:

-- William L. Brewer Jr., Clermont County Sheriffs Office

-- Jorge R. Del Rio, Dayton Police Department

-- Officer Anthony Dia, Toledo Police Department

-- Officer Kaia LaFay Grant, Springdale Police Department

-- Adam McMillan, Hamilton County Sheriffs Office

-- James M. Skernivitz, Cleveland Police Department

-- Officer Dale J. Woods, Colerain Township Police Department

There were also three historical inductions during this years event:

-- Patrolman Charles William Giles, Ironton Police Department, End of Watch: Nov. 26, 1988

-- Police Officer Claude McCormick, Oakwood Public Safety Department, End of Watch: Aug. 29, 1933

-- Special Policeman William T. Hyatt, Wellsville Police Department, End of Watch: Feb. 25, 1923
MANSFIELD -- Training on how to save a life is one thing. Putting that training into action can be something far different.

Thankfully, two Mansfield Area Y employees didn't hesitate when a member collapsed face first after leaving the 750 Scholl Road facility on April 5, just before 2 p.m.

For their lifesaving efforts, Ashley Pifer and Jen Jeffery were honored Thursday morning with a proclamation from Richland County commissioners.

After another member saw the man collapse and alerted YMCA staff, Pifer and Jeffery responded quickly, finding the man unresponsive and without a pulse near the parking lot.

Pifer, the Y's former aquatics director, and Jeffery, the current aquatics director, have been well schooled in lifesaving procedures. In fact, they teach the techniques to lifeguards at the facility.

The duo immediately began initiating multiple CPR rounds and also used an automated external defibrillator, restoring the man's heartbeat even before Mansfield Fire Department paramedics arrived to take over and transport the man to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.

Mansfield Area Y President/CEO Cristen Gilbert described her staff's response to commissioners.

"All signs pointed to nothing ... not good for this gentlemen," Gilbert said. "I am extremely proud to honor these ladies who gave a man (his) life back."

"Since then, we have heard from him and he is doing well," she said.

Gilbert said it's not the first time the local YMCA has experienced a serious medical emergency.

"We seem to have the grace of God with us," she said. "Typically, we have nurses who are always working out. We have police officers working out. Those first responders typically come and do their civic duty.

"At this point, it was on our staff and that's why I am so grateful. It speaks to not only their trainings, it's that they can react and respond. A lot of times people can be certified and trained, (but) they can be tend to get a little apprehensive at the scene. (Pifer and Jeffery) just knew what to do. We are so grateful," Gilbert said.

The proclamation, read by Commissioner Cliff Mears, lauded their "outstanding judgment and prompt action" and said the duo's "altruism and split-second decision making played an integral role in the health and well-being of another Richland County resident."

Jeffery has worked for the YMCA for 16 years, including the last seven in Mansfield. Pifer, now the director of community engagement and volunteerism, has been with the local Y for 12 years.

Also attending the meeting from the Y were James Twedt, vice president of operations, and Sara Baker, director of development and marketing.

Also on Thursday, commissioners approved a request from Jotika Shetty, executive director of the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, to apply for $280,000 in special CARES Act Community Development Block Grant funds for a project to benefit The Domestic Violence Shelter in Mansfield.

The DV Shelter recently acquired an adjoining property and will use the funds to link the buildings and renovate the new space, increasing its capacity by 70 percent, Shetty said.

Shetty said domestic violence incidents and deaths around the state have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and the application for the funds will likely be approved.

Commissioners also approved spending $11,777.32 from the county's capital improvement fund to help the Ohio Special Response Team purchase 15 new radios. The local volunteer group assists local first-responders when called upon for assistance.
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Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

Thunderstorms, some with heavy rain this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some with heavy rain this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

Today

Heavy thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Heavy thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

A few passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
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Dear Mediator:

My house is at the top of a hilly street. The neighbor below me (#2) has a large backyard tree. The next-over neighbor at the bottom of the hill (#3) just told me she has frequent plumbing problems because the roots from the #2 tree are choking her water lines. Her plumber said since the plumbing in our three houses is connected, all three of us should pay to fix this problem. But my plumbing is fine. Are there any legal ramifications for me?

Feeling Ensnared in Santee

Dear Ensnared:

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One of the great surprises in community mediation is how much distress trees cause in neighborhoods. And the tree problems you cannot see are usually more vexing than the ones you can.

Above ground, a tree is a resplendent gift from nature. If it starts growing too large for its surroundings, there usually is ample time to anticipate the damage and plan on mitigation.

Below ground, tree roots can be marauders that destroy infrastructures where no one is looking. By the time wreckage becomes apparent, repair bills could be substantial  and they wont get any smaller with the passage of time.

An early step in any conflict management is to reframe the dispute as a shared problem the parties can tackle together. When we pool ideas and assets, we can generate solutions that wouldnt surface in us-vs.-them legal channels.

Such cooperation is useful when grappling with invasive trees because the rules of this game are jumbled. Assigning individual liability can be as bewildering as it is contentious.

California tree laws are clear about one thing: The health of a live tree takes precedence over the property rights of a person. From there, the legal landscape gets tangled.

If roots from your neighbors tree encroach onto your property, you have a limited right to trim them back. But following an appellate decision in the 1994 case of Booska v. Patel, you cant do anything to harm the root system or threaten the life of the tree.

If the underground invaders cause substantial damage to your property, your neighbor might be liable. But proving substantial harm and seeking redress eats up time and money. Meanwhile, the tree roots continue to spread and ravage.

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The best advice for settling such disputes was handed down by the Booska v. Patel appellate court when it chided the antagonists that neither party has considered what would be the neighborly thing to do to resolve this problem.

In your situation, the neighborly (and smart) thing is for you three to team up and explore all options for addressing this predicament before it gets worse. During this research phase, set aside any consideration of who pays for what, and focus on possible fixes.

Your two first steps are to seek guidance from local government agencies (including elected officials who assign staff as liaisons to constituents) and to ask several plumbers and tree experts for professional assessments of the problem.

Prolonged drought conditions have forced tree roots everywhere to tunnel more aggressively toward scarce water sources. Such large-scale disturbance usually means a lot of people are grappling with the same adversity.

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If the three of you join forces, you will have a greater capacity for ferreting out novel solutions. Your requests for assistance will carry more weight. And you will develop a valuable camaraderie.

At the end of the process, if one or two of you gets stuck with the whole bill, anyone who isnt required to pay should consider chipping in a modest amount. This would be a very neighborly thing to do and a wise investment in future relations.

Steven P. Dinkin is a professional mediator who has served as president of the San-Diego based National Conflict Resolution Center since 2003.

Do you have a conflict that needs a resolution? Please share your story with The Mediator via email at mediatethis@ncrconline.com or as an online submission by visiting www.ncrconline.com/MediateThis. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

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If you have questions, please email me at lora.cicalo@sduniontribune.com
Sanford, NC (27330)

Today

Thunderstorms early, mainly cloudy late with a few lingering showers. Low 69F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, mainly cloudy late with a few lingering showers. Low 69F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
SANFORD  The Central Carolina Community College Foundation has received funding from the RPM Foundation to support the restoration of a 1940 Ford by the colleges Automotive Restoration Technology program.

The grant allows the college to purchase the supplies needed to turn this 1940 Ford into a show-worthy vehicle that will be used for student instruction for years to come.

We were thrilled to receive the 1940 Ford project grant from RPM Foundation, said Kiel Rhodes, Automotive Restoration instructor at the college.

A grant like the one received enables students to see and participate in completing a real world project. Support for these learning projects helps students acquire hands-on skills and helps give them the confidence needed to be a successful restoration technician, Rhodes said.

The RPM Foundation is proud to support great programs like Central Carolina Community Colleges restoration school, said Nick Ellis, RPM Foundation executive director.

It all comes full circle here  Creative Workshop, one of the shops in our network, referred the donor of the 40 Ford project, RPM assisted the school project with grant funding, and when the students learning on this project eventually enter the workforce, the industry is strengthened. To an organization like ours that exists to preserve skills and promote careers, its a perfect situation, Ellis said.

The 1940 Ford was donated and the project started in January 2020.

The 40 Ford is a customized vehicle, so when finished would be considered more of a street rod than an original restoration, said Rhodes. The vehicle needed sheet metal work, body work, as well as paint work and upholstery. There were also some mechanical and wiring issues that needed correcting. It will then need to be completely reassembled. It has been a great teaching project.

The goal is to have the vehicle project completed by November.

The Automotive Restoration Technology program takes pride in the opportunity to instruct the next generation of automotive restoration enthusiasts. The program provides hands-on instruction in a wide range of unique restoration skills such as metal/panel forming, welding, wood working, upholstery, body work, engines, electrical, painting and restoration research.

The program offers participants the option of earning a diploma or certificate.

To learn more about the Automotive Restoration Technology program, visit www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/automotiverestoration.

The CCCC Foundation is grateful for the generous support from the RPM Foundation, said Dr. Emily C. Hare, the foundations executive director. Thanks to this RPM grant, our Automotive Restoration Technician students will receive valuable hands-on training in becoming skilled craftsmen.
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New species of frog has been discovered in the Philippines and while it may look no different from other species in the nearby islands, its distinct mating call and differences in genome make it a fantastic find.

In their study, "A New, Morphologically Cryptic Species of Fanged Frog, Genus Limnonectes (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae), from Mindoro Island, Central Philippines" in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology, researchers from the University of Kansas described the fanged frog as a "cryptic species". This is because the frog was concealing itself from biologists for so many years, said KU Biodiversity Institute doctoral student Mark Herr, the study author in a Phys.Org feature.

For the last 100 years, scientists assumed that these frogs were no different from the other frogs on other islands in the Philippines have indistinguishable features. But researchers analyzed the frogs and discovered that they are genetically isolated. They also found out that elicit a unique sound, having used acoustics to know that the species are distinct.

Identical to Acanth's Fanged Frog in Palawan

KU scientists working in Mindoro Island in the Central Philippines gathered genetic samples of the locally popular Mindoro fanged frog or Limnoncetes beloncioi several years back but haven't studied them until recently. Due to its similarities to an identical fanged frog in the neighboring Palawan Island named Acanth's Fanged Frog, scientists thought they were of the same species.

ALSO READ: New Species of Poisonous Pumpkin Toadlet with Glowing Bones Found in Brazil

Researchers measured hundreds of the frogs, taking into consideration the length of their digits, width of the toe, the length of a particular segment of its leg, and diameter of its eye, to accurately compare populations statistically.

After running statistical analyses on body size and shape and a component analysis that takes into account the measurements to compare frog morphology in the multivariate space, researchers found nothing different based on their physical attributes, as noted in ResearchGate.

Genetic Tests

Because these fanged frogs stay in islands that are separated by miles of ocean, researchers thought the frogs might not be the same species because they different mating call sounds, Earth.com revealed in a feature. They would then finally check the frogs' genome and discovered that the Mindoro Fanged Frog was indeed a unique species.

Researchers ran genetic analyses of the frogs, utilizing specific genetic markers and a molecular clock model to take a basic estimate of the time the frogs had been separated from one another. Researchers discovered that the Mindoro and Palawan Fanged Frogs are related, but separated for two to six million years.

The frogs' fangs are used in the battle to reach prime mating sites and to defend themselves against predators. The Mindoro Fanged Frog, which is a stream frog, is at times hunted for food.

Morphologically the Same, Genetically Different

Yet the frog's unique mating call, which is different from the Acanth's Fanged Frog in Palawan, was a challenge for researchers to record. But with the help of local people in the islands, researchers were able to record the frogs' characteristic call sounds.

Yet while researchers indeed discovered the Mindoro Fanged Frog is of a distinct species using new technology, genetic information and bioacoustics data, they emphasized that morphologically, the frogs' physical attributes have not diverged. They said such species formation unaccompanied by morphological differentiation is labeled "cryptic speciation."

RELATED ARTICLE: Tropical Clawed Frogs Invade Southern Florida: Could Potentially Spread Diseases on Native Amphibians

Check out more news and information on Frogs on Science Times.


Three terrorists were killed and another surrendered on Thursday morning after an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said. A group of four new recruits of Al-Badr terror outfit were trapped in Kulgam area amid a cordon and search operation. Acting on a specific input about the militant presence, police and army had started a joint operation on Wednesday night.



Police said turning down the surrender offer, the trapped terrorists fired and lobbed grenade on the joint search party.



"One newly recruited terrorist namely Tausif Ahmad surrendered," police said. "Three terrorists were killed. Search is going on."



Army said multiple appeals for surrender were made by the police and family members of the trapped terrorists. "Restraint was exercised to avoid any collateral damage," army said.



Four pistols were recovered from the slain terrorists. The joint operation is over.






On the invitation of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a meeting of the Council on Saturday as a special invitee.

The India-EU Leaders' Meeting is being hosted by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa. Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.



An official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Modi will participate in the virtual meeting along with the heads of all the 27 EU Member States. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with US President Joe Biden in March this year.



The leaders will exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare cooperation; fostering sustainable and inclusive growth; strengthening the India-EU economic partnership as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.





The India-EU Leaders' Meeting is an unprecedented opportunity for discussion with all the leaders of the EU Member States. It is a significant political milestone and will further build on the momentum witnessed in the relationship since the 15th India-EU Summit in July 2020.
With continuous attacks on BJP workers, BJP organised countrywide agitation against these attacks.

Central Cultural and Tourism State Minister (Independent Charge) Sri. Prahlad Singh Patel, yesterday on 05 May 2021, attended agitation in Bhopal and his own constituency Damoh, there he blamed Mamta Banerjee for the attacks on BJP workers in West Bengal, Mr. Patel demanded to impose Presidents rule in the state.

Mr. Patel further imputed on West Bengal government to provide patronage to violence, after winning election TMC started attacking on BJP workers. He further alleged that Ms. Mamta Banerjee cautioned earlier, that after election result they will beg for their lives, but no one paid attention then. BJP workers are being killed and female workers are being gang raped, there is anarchy in the state.

Mr. Patel alleged that intruders are loved and Nationalists are annihilated, this is TMC government of W. Bengal. He further said that this is the matter of deep concern that attackers belonged to a specific section, law and order in the state is on peril. This is why BJP is working during the hard times of Corona pandemic to awake the people.

Mr. Patel said Mama is pseudo Naxalite, she is more tyrant than a real Naxal. She is habitual to rule through gun power and violence. But she should not forget now BJP will play a strong role of opposition in the state. We will not tolerate any despotic rule, rowdy act and violence anymore.
Mother's Day is this weekend, which means it's time for moms to put their feet up and play role reversal by having kids and husbands cater to their whims for a change.

And while you might still have time to score a last-minute gift from local stores, you can also show mom how much you care about her by taking her out for a picture-perfect brunch at a Seattle restaurant or treating her to a relaxing meal in bed by snagging takeout.

Many places are still offering to-go cocktails, meaning you can make her day bubbly and bright by starting out with mimosas in bed.

From brioche French toast to Dungeness crab eggs benedict, keep reading for some favorite spots around Seattle dishing out brunch in honor of mom this weekend.

Bo T via Yelp

1. Oddfellows

There's a reason that Oddfellows ends up on every Seattle brunch roundup  they are seriously that good. The beloved Capitol Hill restaurant reopened this spring with a new and improved street patio and deck just in time for sunny days.

From beignets dusted in powdered sugar and served with jam, pancakes topped with tangy lemon curd and homemade biscuits and eggs, their simple yet elegant menu is sure to please.

Paul L. via Yelp

2. Meet the Moon

Tucked away in Leschi on the shore of Lake Washington, Meet the Moon's moist, fluffy, house baked cinnamon roll topped with cream cheese icing is an extra sweet way to show mom you care.

The restaurant is currently offering preorders of popular dishes and cocktails for takeout as well as cards, planters and other goodies in case you forgot to get mom a present.

Melissa N/Yelp

3. Rockcreek Seafood and Spirits

Nestled above Fremont's troll, RockCreek doles out smoked bacon and fresh oysters settled above thick slices of brioche and smothered in lemon-dijon hollandaise.

Enjoy the comfort of rustic, cabinlike quarters alongside an extra side of puffy beignets packed with caramelized apple with ricotta. The restaurant is also all about pulling in all the globally sourced and eco-friendly seafood they can get their hands on, meaning you can feel good about what you eat.

Courtesy Toulouse Petit/Yelp

4. Toulouse Petit

The 12-year-old Cajun-Creole bistro nestled below Queen Anne opens its doors for all manner of bennies and scrambles at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Its a cozy neighborhood favorite, so wed suggest snagging a reservation for your table in advance.

Pigs Out S. via Yelp

5. Sawyer

Seated in a renovated 1920s sawmill in Ballards neighborhood, the chic Sawyer pulls out the cast iron skillet to show off their famed cinnamon roll monkey bread smothered in cream cheese frosting. Brunch is only available on Sundays, perfect for mom's special day.

Natee P/Yelp

6. Portage Bay Cafe

With locations in South Lake Union, Roosevelt, and Ballard, Portage Bay is sure to be bustling this weekend with people treating their mothers to poached eggs embellished with Dungeness crab. Luckily, you can make reservations online to secure your seat.

Janie A via Yelp

7. Arthur's

Even if you're stranded over in West Seattle due to the bridge closure, you've still got some brunch options to treat mom. Arthur's housemade chorizo pairs perfectly with sauteed tomato, house made cheese, cilantro avocado pan sauce and sourdough bread for a scrumptious egg bake. They also offer a fancy take on avocado toast with trout or prosciutto.

8. Geraldine's Counter

This Columbia City brunch staple is known for their all-day breakfast menu which includes french toast, chicken-fried steak, biscuits and gravy and the famed ''Geraldine's casserole'' with hash browns, sausage, cheese and eggs.

Jennifer Long / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

9. Fat's Chicken and Waffles

The name is the true tell-all of this quaint cafe in the Central District that does southern fare right. From fried chicken dripping with butter and syrup atop crispy waffles to catfish and collard greens, Fats has not failed to divvy out a darn good brunch. The restaurant is currently only open for takeout and delivery, so treat mom to breakfast in bed.

Jen L via Yelp

10. Olmstead

A newcomer in the crowded Capitol Hill brunch scene, Olmstead's specialty is the classic English toad in the hole made on thick cut brioche with egg, Gruyere, bacon and caramelized onions. The restaurant is also offering to-go mimosas, frose (frozen rose) and bloody Mary kits, so you can get mom's day started off right.

Lucas Anderson via Cafe Flora

11. Cafe Flora

Madison Valley's Cafe Flora is a vegetarian brunch favorite in the Emerald City with seasonal menus rotating throughout the year and a focus on using locally sourced ingredients. Dine in their airy atrium and munch on baked goodies like their famous vegan cinnamon rolls.
An international team of scientists has discovered a cryptic new species of fanged frog living on Mindoro and Semirara Islands of the central Philippines.

Fanged frogs are members of Limnonectes, a large genus of frogs that includes at least 75 scientifically recognized species.

They are distributed from India to China and Indochina, through the Thai-Malaysia Peninsula, and across the Sunda Shelf landmasses (Borneo, Sumatra, and Java), the Malukus, the Lesser Sunda island chain, parts of western New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Genetic samples of the new species, the Mindoro fanged frog (Limnonectes beloncioi), were collected several years ago on Mindoro Island in the central Philippines but werent analyzed until recently.

Because of its nearly identical physical similarity to a fanged frog on the island of Palawan, called the Acanths fanged frog (Limnonectes acanthi), it was assumed to be the same species.

However, because the fanged frogs inhabit islands separated by miles and miles of ocean, University of Kansas doctoral student Mark Herr and colleagues had doubts they were the same species, in part because they had different-sounding calls.

The researchers decided to analyze the frogs genome and determined the Mindoro fanged frog qualified as its own distinct species.

This is what we call a cryptic species because it was hiding in plain sight in front of biologists, for many, many years, Herr said.

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 couldnt tell them apart physically.

We ran a bunch of analyses  and they do indeed look identical to the naked eye  however, 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.

The frogs fangs likely are used in combat for access to prime mating sites and to protect themselves from predators, he added.

The Mindoro fanged frog, a stream frog, is sometimes hunted by people for food.

The teams paper was published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology.

_____

Mark W. Herr et al. 2021. A New, Morphologically Cryptic Species of Fanged Frog, Genus Limnonectes (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae), from Mindoro Island, Central Philippines. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109 (1): 188-210; doi: 10.1643/h2020095
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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.
Keene, NH (03431)

Today

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
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The first U.S. location of Fugetsu, a Japanese okonomiyaki chain, is shutting down in Santa Clara but has reopened inside a longtime Japanese restaurant in Sunnyvale.

Fugetsu will close for good at 2783 El Camino Real after Sunday, May 9, said Shinya Fujimoto, who owns the U.S. restaurant. But as of Wednesday, the Japanese chains popular okonomiyaki  crispy, savory pancakes adorned with a sweet secret sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and toppings like fried egg and fish roe  are available at Sunnyvale Japanese staple Rokko. Fujimotos partner owns Rokko, so when his lease was up in Santa Clara it was an easy transition to keep Fugetsu alive in the Bay Area  and to be able to serve okonomiyaki on hot plates in a dining room for the first time since last March.

At the Sunnyvale outpost the food is being prepared by a chef who was trained at Fugetsu in Japan, Fujimoto said. The okonomiyaki batter gets mixed with cabbage, pork, shrimp and other fillings and is cooked slowly to preserve a fluffy, tender interior with a simultaneously crispy exterior. The desired texture and quality take time: The okonomiyaki takes about 20 to 30 minutes to cook properly, and is only flipped once.

We cook it very slowly to capture the cabbage inside the crispy layers, which makes it very flavorful, Fujimoto said. Were very particular about that to create that same level of okonomiyaki that we offer in Japan.

In addition to the classic options, Fugetsu serves okonomiyaki with pork, scallops, potato or spicy cod roe. The local outpost also makes two versions that arent available in Japan: an ebi mayo okonomiyaki topped with shrimp, green onions and melted cheese, and another with stewed beef, a fried egg and pickled ginger.

Another favorite at Fugetsu is yakisoba noodles, stir-fried with pork, shrimp, scallops, cabbage and other mix-ins. Fujimoto was unable to source the noodles from Japan, so he spent three months working with a local noodle company to create a comparable stateside version. Theyre thick  measuring over  of an inch  and have a mochi-like, chewy texture. You can also order modanyaki, the child of okonomiyaki and yakisoba, with the noodles added as a topping.

Fujimoto is an okonomiyaki fan turned owner. Hes a native of Osaka, Japan, where Fugetsu was born as a tiny street stand after World War II. The owners of the stand, hard-pressed for food, put whatever they had on hand into a batter and cooked it, Fujimoto said. Okonomi means anything you want, he said. The affordable, comforting dish quickly helped Fugetsu become a hit in Osaka and beyond.

Fugetsu is now a global chain with 80 locations. Fujimoto, a Silicon Valley engineer who would make an annual pilgrimage to the restaurant on trips to Japan, eventually approached the owners about bringing Fugetsus okonomiyaki to the United States. He opened the first store in Santa Clara in 2016.

Fugetsu is serving largely the same menu at Rokko, though they plan to gradually add new dishes. Fujimoto hopes to reach new diners at the Sunnyvale location, especially in Mountain View, Palo Alto and the northern Peninsula.

The Santa Clara Fugetsu was too small to justify opening inside at limited capacity during the pandemic, so the restaurant tables equipped with special griddles to keep the okonomiyaki warm remained closed. But the okonomiyaki establishment can now offer in-person, dine-in dining at Rokko, which will continue serving its own menu as well.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

As good as takeout is, you cant beat the experience and the quality of food that just comes out of the kitchen, Fujimoto said.

A second outpost of Fugetsu, a takeout-only store in San Jose, remains open. Fujimoto had planned for it to be a sit-down restaurant but retooled the concept in the middle of construction once the pandemic hit. He took inspiration from department stores in Japan that sell grab-and-go food. The San Jose market serves okonomiyaki to go as well as Japanese snacks, bento boxes and onigiri from Shalala Deli.

Fugetsu. 190 S. Frances St., Sunnyvale. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. fugetsu-usa.com/#

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: ekadvany
When Zuni Cafe reopens for indoor dining in a few weeks, itll shift from a traditional tipping model to adding a 20% service charge to diners bills  a way to boost wages for the restaurants lowest wage workers. The San Francisco institution will join a long list of Bay Area restaurants that have switched to a service charge in the past several years, though some businesses have struggled to maintain a tipless model because of higher taxes and difficulty in retaining staff.

For Bay Area diners accustomed to tipping 20% on a meal, little will change: The service charge will automatically be added, with no requirement to tip on top of it.

But behind the scenes, Zuni chef Nate Norris is hoping the swap will mean that kitchen staff can be paid more. The move comes as restaurant owners across the Bay Area are rethinking what equity means in the industry  and in many cases, are raising pay or changing their tipping systems to appeal to cooks and dishwashers amid a significant staffing shortage.

Earlier in the pandemic, other local restaurants have declared similar efforts: San Francisco fine dining spot Sons & Daughters announced itd swap out tipping for a service charge to raise wages, and Menlo Parks Flea Street added a service charge distributed equally to all workers. Cotogna, the esteemed San Francisco Italian restaurant, now has an added service charge, too.

This attempt to be more equitable isnt universally appealing, though. Some former Zuni servers, laid off at the start of the pandemic, told The Chronicle they cant afford to return to the restaurant under the changed system. They said a proposed pay rate of $24 per hour is about half what they were earning pre-pandemic and isnt a living wage in San Francisco. The new system at Zuni, located at 1658 Market St. in Hayes Valley, was first reported by SFGate. (The San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another.)

Norris confirmed that $24 per hour is the starting rate being offered to front-of-house staff but said some have negotiated for more. Line cooks will also start at $24 per hour. Across the board, Zuni employees who previously didnt receive tips should see a 20%-40% increase in wages.

Management started considering a major change to employees pay about six months ago in order to address the long-standing wage gap between front-of-house employees, such as servers and bartenders, and back-of-house employees, such as dishwashers and line cooks.

We need to create better, more fair compensation that people can live on and survive on and have only one job and make ends meet  thats what our motivation is, Norris said.

The pandemic provided an ideal transition point, as the restaurant has been open only for takeout and limited outdoor dining. During this time, the majority of Zunis employees have been back of house  so the restaurant switched to a pooled tip system, where all workers get a cut of gratuities. Cooks are now accustomed to getting paid more and it wouldnt make sense to go backward, Norris said.

Norris didnt want to move forward with a restructured tip pool because he believes its inherently inequitable and goes against efforts to dignify and professionalize the hospitality industry. Data has shown that tipping encourages racism, sexism and harassment.

We dont feel its fair to have customer discretion determine the value of labor, he said. I dont think we have any critical mass of guests at Zuni who use racial animus, bias or abusive practices to determine how they tip our workers, but Im 100% sure some do.

But some servers say they feel like they deserve to earn their higher wages than back-of-house employees because theyre the ones representing the restaurant to diners. Its also a physically demanding job, with servers constantly moving between three levels of the restaurant on concrete floors. Brenda Arellano, a former Zuni server who recently decided to move on from the restaurant industry, said the changes seem to go against Zunis pro-worker stance thats displayed in the restaurants social media posts.

I was surprised and confused to see this, she said. I appreciate that this is a real tricky time, but how is this helpful when youre taking from one worker to pay another worker?

One longtime server at Zuni said hed consider returning if the restaurant bumped up the pay to $35 per hour. Alternatively, hed return if the restaurant created a new tip pool so servers shared a percentage of tips with back-of-house employees. Pre-pandemic, servers only shared tips with front-of-house staff like the host, bussers and bartenders.

Were just sad, Arellano said. I think people want to come back and be able to feel like they can take care of themselves.

There are some positive consequences for turning a tipped minimum wage into an actual wage, though. Norris pointed out that under the new model, if a server is sick and shouldnt come into work, they wouldnt need to think about the potential lost tips. If they got injured at work, workers compensation insurance would pay them based on their higher wage.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

The restaurant will soon join a long list of establishments in the Bay Area that have added a service charge to be able to pay their staff equitably, while not eliminating tips outright.

Previously, some major restaurants across the U.S. that moved to a no-tipping model reverted to accepting tips for a variety of reasons, including an increase in taxes and worker dissatisfaction. Perhaps most notably, New York restaurateur Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality Group and Thad Voglers now-closed San Francisco establishments Trou Normand and Bar Agricole made the switch to no-tipping and then reverted. Voglers businesses employed a service charge, while Meyers did not.

Some diners also dont like service charges because they want the power to leave less money if they feel they received poor service. In a 2018 Zagat survey, 33 percent of diners said they opposed tipless systems.

But many Bay Area restaurants have successfully maintained their service charge models, from casual brunch favorite Zazie to fine dining destination Lazy Bear.

Its unclear exactly when Zuni will open indoors and the new pay structure will begin  in part because the restaurant will need to convince enough previously tipped front-of-house staffers to come back first.

Norris acknowledged that hell likely lose some of Zunis great, experienced servers who earned the restaurant a James Beard Award for outstanding service because theyll go to another restaurant that will pay them more. Hes hoping some will want to be part of the new Zuni.

Wage compression is part of this: dishwashers and cooks and servers wages are all going to be closer together, he said. Were trying to raise all these boats together.

Assistant food editor Tanay Warerkar contributed reporting.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
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As of Monday April 26th 2021, article 28a of the National Ordinance Spatial Development Planning (Lrop) presented by the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure, Mr. Egbert Doran, has gone into effect again.

The main purpose of the aforementioned National Ordinance is to allow the Government to establish development plans, commonly referred to as zoning plans, to better manage and guide the spatial development of the country.

Article 28a. regulates the requirements for a civil works permit, which will allow the Minister to review certain planned works prior to approval. This will ensure that the works will not cause undesirable and irreversible damage to the environment and are executed with concern to the environment and that the works fit within the Government Spatial Development Vision. In addition, the article allows the government to impose conditions on the execution of the works.

The intention of this article is not to obstruct any developments. Therefore, persons will require prior approval by the Minister for the following works and projects of profound nature:

- The excavation, raising, leveling or explosion of land;

- The construction of roads and other pavements;

- Works and projects that impact the water management and the ground water level;

- The felling and clear cutting of trees or other cultivation;

- The demolition of structures;

- The filling and/or dredging of water.





A civil works permit is not the same as a building permit. However, both permits can be applied for at the same time. If you intend to carry out any of the above works or projects, you must apply for a civil works permit, effective April 26, 2021. You can do this via the usual building permit application form, which can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of VROMI. An appointment to submit a permit request can be made online at http://bit.ly/vromiappointment

Within 60 days after your application has been submitted, the minister will make a decision whether or not to grant the permit. If granted, the permit will be published in the National Gazette along with other approved permits from the same period.

During the public review period of 6 weeks, persons can object or appeal the decision (based on Article 3 of the National Ordinance Administrative Jurisdiction (Landsverordening Administratieve Rechtspraak (Lar))

The civil works permit may only be used:

- After the time limit for submitting a notice of objection or appeal has expired without a request for a temporary injunction being filed.

- After a decision has been taken on a request for temporary injunction.





The following fees are required for the civil works permit:

- For processing a request for a permit: Naf 150,-; and,

- For granting the permit: Naf 150,-





More information on article AB 2021, no. 6, van de gepubliceerde Landsverordening tot wijziging van de Landsverordening ruimtelijke ontwikkelingsplanning i.v.m. het herinvoeren van artikel 28a (including the explanatory memorandum), can be downloaded (in Dutch) from: http://www.sintmaartengov.org/government/AZ/laws/Pages/Official-Publications.aspx , under the section 2021
Why yes, Jane Coaston, we do need to have a national conversation about wine descriptions.

Coaston, the host of the New York Times opinion podcast "The Argument," called for such a conversation in a tweet this week. Her case in point was a particularly egregious example of winespeak:

Lagaria wines express varietal character and terroir within a classic and modern concept.

It's an absurd sentence, though one small caveat may be in order. A Google search reveals its source to be the website of Empson USA, an importer that sells, among other things, wines from an Italian winery called Lagaria (not to be confused with the Italian region Liguria). It's rendered as a pull quote on Empson's website, which makes me think it's possible that the sentence originated with the winery and that its full effect could be getting muddled in an Italian-to-English translation.

Regardless, the point stands: Unintelligible sentences about wine are pervasive.

But just for fun, let's try to explicate this one. The first problem here is "varietal character," a term commonly used in wine circles. It refers to the idea of a grape variety  in Lagaria's case, Pinot Grigio  tasting the way you'd expect it to taste. In other words, this isn't some crazy newfangled take on Pinot Grigio. It's probably a pale color, light in its weight and tastes fruity. A very Pinot Grigio-esque Pinot Grigio. I know what the author means here, but in this context, without any further explanation, it comes across as confusing and unclear.

The next roadblock is "terroir," an untranslatable French term that we most often take to mean "a sense of place." It's the idea that a wine has some unique features attributable to the place where the grapes grew. No, you can't literally taste the rocks in the vineyard's soil, but it's undeniably true, to my mind, that certain vineyards convey distinctive markers in the resulting wines. If you've ever had Heitz Cellar's Cabernet Sauvignon from Martha's Vineyard in Napa Valley, you know that there's a unique eucalyptus note that the wines always carry.

Drinking with Esther newsletter Sip, savor and share with The Chronicle's wine critic in her weekly newsletter. SIGN UP

Terroir is the one thing in this Lagaria quote that I feel fine about. The word can be hard to wrap your head around, but that's kind of the whole point. My favorite definition of terroir comes from the wine writer Matt Kramer, who translates it as "somewhereness." I admit that throwing around an erudite-sounding French word in conversation isn't doing wine writers any favors, but I'm sorry, I just think that terroir is a beautiful, efficient word, and I refuse to stop using it.

Now we get to the weird part, "a classic and modern concept." I really don't have a clue what this means  and isn't it an oxymoron? Wouldn't something have to be either classic or modern? But it's clearly getting at something to do with winemaking traditions: whether the winery tried to make a wine that tastes similar to "classic" examples of Pinot Grigio, or a wine that aligns with other "modern" producers.

In some wine regions, these types of classic versus modern distinctions are meaningful. In Italy's Barolo, some "modern" winemakers have made a point of diverging from the area's "classic" winemaking traditions. One of the modernists' main changes was to start aging their wines in different sorts of barrels than the ones that were traditionally used, resulting in wines that tasted fruitier, with more rich, toasty-oak flavors than the old guard preferred. (Believe it or not, a documentary has been made about this conflict, which is known as "the Barolo Wars.")

It's not inconceivable, then, that one would want to discuss classic and modern concepts when it comes to wine. Still, if there's a classic-modern culture war that Lagaria is engaging in with its Pinot Grigio, I'm not aware of it. I'm going to chalk this part of the sentence up to nonsense.

So I think we can say that there's a simple reason why this sentence is unhelpful. Basically, it is focused on archetypes: How does this wine compare to other Pinot Grigios, to other wines from this part of Italy near the Dolomites? Is it typical, is it varietally correct, is it what you'd expect of a wine like this?

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

To even be able to ask those questions requires a lot of prior knowledge of Italian Pinot Grigio.

This is why wine language so often fails when it goes outside its innermost circles. The most accessible type of wine language, even when it's just in the realm of "this wine tastes like lemons," is already asking a lot of our brains. It requires us to think in abstractions, connecting the taste of a wine in a glass to the memory of what an actual lemon tasted like. Once you add "a classic and modern concept" to the mix, forget it.

As Coaston points out, the conversation about wine descriptions is not yet national. Given everything else that's going on, it should not be a national-conversation top priority. But we have been engaging with it in these pages for some time. And this is a good reminder of the fact that the wine lexicon needs to be held to account  not only for being obnoxiously esoteric, as the Lagaria quote is, but also for the racist, classist and sexist undertones it often reinforces, as we've discussed before.

That reality is registering with those of us who talk about wine for a living, and I think that California's wine industry is in the process of a reconfiguration. That's a good thing. In the meantime, at least obnoxious wine language is dependable for one thing: a good laugh.
Ever since a fire ignited in her kitchen two years ago, what used to be the fan over Linda Thomas stove has been a scorched metal hole. The window above the sink has been broken for about six years, she said. A corner of the living room ceiling has bulged for three years, strained by sewage that sometimes enters the house, she added.

Thomas, who lives with her son, said his autism has devolved amid the disarray. Thomas said San Franciscos Department of Building Inspection inspected her unit years ago and shes requested repairs from management multiple times.

Weve been complaining for years and years, she said inside her apartment Wednesday. How can I live like this?

Thomas has lived just blocks from City Hall at the 193-unit Plaza East Apartments, headquartered at 1300 Buchanan St. but stretching over a couple streets, since 1993. The 1950s-era complex where Mayor London Breed grew up was rebuilt in 2001, when St. Louis-based affordable housing developer McCormack Baron Salazar came in as co-owner and manager after the plan for construction and financing was already fixed by San Francisco Housing Authority.

Two decades later, the chronically underfunded site suffers from a backlog of repairs. Supervisor Dean Preston, who has said San Francisco has failed the residents of Plaza East, held a hearing Thursday. The Housing Authority, management and tenants all agree rehabilitation is urgently needed.

The city will pump $2.7 million into the site, most going to immediate repairs, and will seek community suggestions on revitalizing the property, potentially rebuilding it into mixed-income housing with new federal financing.

We own that something needs to change, Tonia Lediju, chief executive officer of the San Francisco Housing Authority, told The Chronicle. It will get an opportunity to be rebuilt and redeveloped. ... In the meantime, we need to ensure that we have safe and decent housing.

Jeff Cretan, Breeds spokesman, said the mayor knows what its like to feel ignored and to live in unacceptable conditions, and her goal is to transform public housing for residents at Plaza East and locations across the entire city.

Martha Hollins, a tenant since the 1990s and president of the Plaza East Resident Council for nine years, said trying to fix problems has been like trudging through mud.

I have hope that we can get things moving in this community that should have been moving a long time ago, Hollins said. But my feelings are mixed about whether the right things get done or not or whether the things they say theyre going to do get done. Im holding my breath.

Tenants in at least 15 units plan to sue management over systemic violations of civil, health and safety codes that render apartments uninhabitable, according to their lawyers Conor Granahan and Joshua Ezrin. Complaints include inadequate heat, faulty plumbing and electrical wiring, pests, appliances that dont work, mold and mildew, and lack of security.

Dennis Williams, who moved into the complex in 2001 and is spearheading the lawsuit after settling another with management a couple years ago, said conditions are horrible and criticized City Hall inaction.

Hollins did not support legal action, but said she would continue to try to hold management accountable.

Adhi Nagraj, senior vice president for development at McCormack Baron Salazar in the Bay Area, couldnt comment on pending litigation. He attributed deferred maintenance to chronic federal underfunding. Currently 19 units are vacant because there isnt enough money to renovate them and prepare them for lease.

What we are committed to is to ensure that the residents of Plaza East have homes where they can feel safe and where they can thrive, Nagraj said. This underfunding of subsidies over the years has resulted in a lack of an ability to address maintenance issues in a preventative manner as opposed to after they happen, so work orders tend to be reactive, not proactive.

Department of Building Inspection senior housing inspector Luis Barahona said tenants filed three dozen housing complaints in 15 years, with 19 still open or recently closed. He said Plaza East presented particular challenges with a breakdown of communication between management and tenants. Inspectors often have trouble contacting both, he said.

To address issues, the San Francisco Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development gave a $2.7 million loan to management and the Housing Authority, which co-own the property. Of that, $2.5 million will be used to fix fire alarms, sewers, electrical work and replacing appliances. Work starts Monday. The remaining $198,000 will provide social services, including job training. A local company  John Stewart Management  will take over management in June, a change planned for a couple years, Nagraj said.

Yolanda Marshall, who moved into the complex 14 years ago, didnt believe the loan would make a dent, calling it a joke and slap in the face. Marshall said her stove didnt work for three years and her family was terrorized by mice for five years, buying loft beds and a bucket to avoid going to the bathroom. She got a cat to point out holes so management would fill them.

Marshall plans to join the lawsuit.

Even if I do get away from here, I dont want someone else to suffer, she said outside her home Wednesday.

New money wont be enough to fix security issues. Tenants said nonresidents park blocking the streets and gang violence has left bullet holes on the walls. The complex had security guards until a couple of years ago, and Hollins wants to bring them back, while other tenants want fencing to seal off a through street.

The needs are so profound that just a rehab may not be feasible or the best path, Lydia Ely, the mayors deputy director of housing, said at the hearing.

The city already submitted a request with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that would have allowed it to demolish the property, but HUD discontinued that application because the request didnt prove rehabilitation is not cost-effective, spokesman Ed Cabrera said. HUD generally considers rehab not to be cost-effective if it exceeds 57.14% of total development costs. The agency expects the city to address the short and long-term challenges at Plaza East and improve the quality of units the families are living in, he said.

The city is pursuing a different refinancing option to get increased subsidies to potentially build a mixed-income site similar to other public housing properties in San Francisco. Management met with tenants 12 times since last summer and will start again this month to get suggestions about future plans, Nagraj said.

The city promises no one will be displaced if its rebuilt, but some residents are fearful. In 2001, only 193 of 276 units were rebuilt.

They shouldnt redevelop because theyve been allowed to deteriorate, but then move other people in and we lose our communities, said Williams, who added that his family has called the Fillmore district home for generations. We were already gentrified, thats why we were in those slums.

Hollins said she dreams of a future where Plaza East is a place children are proud to be from.

I hope God helps me to live long enough to see that, she said.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench

Editors note: This article has been corrected to show the accurate date of the fire in Linda Thomas apartment. It was two years ago.
A pair of high school friends from the Bay Area were found guilty Wednesday of stabbing an Italian police officer to death after a botched drug deal during a 2019 vacation in Rome.

A jury found Finnegan Lee Elder, 21. and his friend Gabriel Christian Natale Hjorth, 20, who met while students at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, guilty of homicide for repeatedly stabbing an Italian carabinieri officer, following a scuffle, and killing him on July 26, 2019, days after he returned from his honeymoon.

The Bay Area men, then 18, said they acted in self defense after being attacked by two men who did not identify themselves as police. The Associated Press reported the verdict from Rome. They were also found guity of attempted extortion, resisting a public official and carrying an attack style knife without just cause.

Murder carries a life sentence in Italy, which does not have a death penalty.

As the defendants were escorted out of the courtroom, Eldersfather, Ethan Elder, called out, Finnegan, I love you, the Associated Press reported. The slain officers widow, who held a photo of her dead husband throughout the 14-month trial, sobbed and hugged his brother.

Police and prosecutors in Rome said the Marin men purchased what turned out to be fake drugs from an Italian man in Rome. When the two teenagers returned to the location, they allegedly stole the backpack of the man who had pointed them to the purported dealer and demanded 100 Euros and a gram of real cocaine in exchange for the backpack, according to polce.

The men arranged to meet the dealer near their hotel, but the Italian man instead called police. Two plainclothes paramilitary police officers, including Cerciello Rega, responded to the scene. Police say Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times and Natale Hjorth punched and kicked his partner, Andrea Varriale, before running back to their hotel room.

Varriale told investigators that both officers identified themselves as law enforcement and showed their badges, the Associated Press reported. But the two men said they did not and that the officers attacked them, forcing them to fight for their lives.

Elder admitted to stabbing Varriale but under Italian law, accomplices can also be charged with homicide. Natale Hjorth hid the knife in the ceiling panels of their hotel room after the stabbing, where it was later found by police, the AP reported.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Faced with a defiant mayor who has refused to heed mounting calls for his resignation, Windsor officials requested Thursday that the Sonoma County District Attorneys Office authorize a grand jury investigation into Dominic Foppolis willful or corrupt misconduct in office.

The obscure and quasi-criminal process is yet another route to potentially unseat Foppoli, who was a rising Wine Country politician and winery owner until several women accused him of sexual assault in Chronicle investigations last month.

I have been asked by our Town Council to request that your office consider commencing grand jury proceedings against Mayor Foppoli, Windsor Town Manager Ken MacNab wrote in a letter to District Attorney Jill Ravitch.

MacNab cited the magnitude of the allegations and that they involved conduct both outside his official duties as Mayor and conduct alleged to have occurred while the Mayor was acting in his official capacity, and may indicate a dangerous pattern of behavior and troubling character flaws that render him unfit to hold public office.

In a a statement, Windsor Town Council members said the action was provided for in California State law and is a method for removing local elected and appointed officials from office.

Brian Staebell, the chief deputy district attorney for Sonoma County, said Thursday that Ravitch had forwarded MacNabs letter to the California Attorney Generals Office.

One of Foppolis accusers is Esther Lemus, who is not only his colleague on the Town Council but also a deputy district attorney for Sonoma County. The office had already referred a criminal investigation into Foppoli to the state attorney general because its prosecutor was among the accusers.

Foppoli, who has repeatedly and emphatically denied assaulting any women, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Earlier Thursday, he sent a statement to the town blasting Windsor residents leading an effort to recall him from office.

They do not have Windsors best interests in mind, Foppoli said. They seek to advance their own leadership by any means necessary including tearing me down with false allegations.

In addition to Lemus, six women have told The Chronicle that Foppoli, elected to Windsor Town Council in 2014 and first appointed mayor in 2018, groped, raped or otherwise sexually assaulted them in incidents that allegedly took place between 2002 and 2019. Foppoli went on to become Windsors first elected mayor in November 2020.

Foppoli announced last month that he would step back from his mayoral duties, but defied a near-universal chorus of calls for his resignation.

More than two dozen elected officials, including his Town Council colleagues, all eight other Sonoma County mayors, and both U.S. representatives from the North Bay, have urged Foppoli to step down. Foppolis older brother, Joe Foppoli, said the mayor had agreed to relinquish his title as chief executive officer of Christopher Creek, the winery north of Windsor that they co-own.

As an elected official, Foppoli can be removed from office by a felony conviction or a recall vote. The civil grand jury process, which is rare and often proceeds in conjunction with a criminal investigation, is another possible path.

Although the grand jury cant remove Foppoli from office itself, it can make that recommendation to a judge depending on its findings, according to Robert Weisberg, a professor of criminal law at Stanford University.

There are a lot of levers of power here, Weisberg said. A civil grand jury, although it cant kick the guy out of office all on its own, can play a very significant role in making the case for it.

Robert Pittman, counsel for the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, said the Sonoma County civil grand jury is empowered to investigate allegations of misconduct against elected officials in the county and recommend their removal through what is known as an accusation.

The current grand jury, comprising 19 county residents, concludes its term on June 30. The next grand jurys term will begin July 1.

Each of Californias 58 counties has a civil grand jury, normally volunteer residents selected annually under the supervision of the presiding judge of the Superior Court. Although they have subpoena powers, civil grand juries generally investigate matters related to local governments and produce reports and recommendations that identify specific inefficiencies or mismanagement. They are distinct from criminal grand juries that prosecutors convene to consider criminal charges.

Under state law, however, civil grand juries also have the unique power to investigate allegations of misconduct against elected officials and, if they decide the allegations are credible, file an accusation in Superior Court with the assistance of a prosecutorial agency.

Accusations are rarely brought  less frequently than once a year in the state, said Karen Jahr, a retired attorney and a current trainer and past president of the California Grand Jurors Association, which provides training and other support to the California grand jury system.

For accusation proceedings, Jahr said, all testimony is taken under oath in front of a court reporter. There is no definitive list of the types of misconduct that will support an accusation; however, past upheld accusations have involved the alleged commission of crimes connected to the officials duties.

In addition, the alleged misconduct must have occurred while the official was in office, and within the past six years. For an accusation to proceed, the official must still be in office, and 12 of the 19 jurors need to sign on. The accusation can also be rolled into charges that have been brought in a concurrent criminal case.

In the case where there is a criminal investigation going on, the grand jury can hold back to allow the criminal investigation to go forward first, Jahr said. There can be concerns that concurring investigations might butt up against each other.

If the defendant either doesnt answer, pleads guilty or is convicted by a separate trial jury of the allegations laid out in the accusation, the punishment is immediate removal from office per a judges order.

Grand juries ordinarily spend about six months conducting a civil investigation and writing their report, Jahr said. Weisberg estimated that a process like that of Windsors could take less than a year.

Although relatively rare, the civil grand jury process has played out twice in recent years in Contra Costa County.

In 2017, the Contra Costa civil grand jury found that the countys district attorney had engaged in misconduct when he routinely used campaign funds for personal spending. Mark Peterson resigned and pleaded no contest to a felony perjury charge as part of a concurrent criminal case.

Most recently, however, Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer faced a civil grand jury accusation that he had made sexual and racist comments to employees in his office. The misconduct case ended in 2020 in a mistrial, and Kramer has now filed a legal claim asking the county to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills.

Alexandria Bordas and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexandria.bordas@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @crossingbordas, @cdizikes
A Novato grade school has been spared the chopping block following a weeks-long campaign by parents who said their district violated its equity pledge by nominating three of its more diverse campuses for closure.

The decision to halt closure plans comes as the Novato Unified School District, like other districts around California, wrestles with difficult choices following years of declining enrollment and revenues.

The conflict began in January, when Novato Unified Superintendent Kris Cosca announced that the district would consider closing one of eight elementary schools due to a projected $10 million deficit exacerbated  but not caused  by the pandemic.

The reality is that most of our challenge with declining enrollment is simply because there are fewer kids living in Novato, Cosca said during a virtual community meeting last month. One of the key drivers of enrollment in our schools are local birth rates. Weve seen that local birth rates coming out of the Great Recession dropped precipitously. They have simply not rebounded.

With the district anticipating some of its smallest kindergarten classes on record over the next few years and fewer than 7,000 total students by 2030, a group of volunteers called the 7-11 committee was tasked with choosing three elementary schools for possible closure, and selected Lynwood, Rancho and Lu Sutton. All three nominated schools are mostly nonwhite, while at Lynwood and Lu Sutton, the majority of students are Latino and qualify for free or reduced-price meals, state data shows.

The 7-11 committee further narrowed the choice to Rancho and Lu Sutton, prompting demonstrations by parents from both schools. On April 28, Cosca announced the committee had made the gut-wrenching decision to recommend closing Lu Sutton, the more low-income and more diverse of the two schools, next year.

On May 4, the school board halted closure plans and instead formed an independent ad hoc committee to study the issue further. The decision was met with relief by parents of the 387 students at Lu Sutton, who worried about being displaced to schools farther away.

I feel very happy because my sons school will no longer be closed, Rosa Mazariegos, parent of a Lu Sutton fourth- grader, said in an email translated from Spanish. We have many parents that must walk their children to school, and its difficult to walk when its raining, cold or very hot.

Several parents logged onto the virtual school board meeting Wednesday night to criticize the 7-11 committees process of selecting schools before determining the criteria by which a recommendation should be made.

It was a hasty decision to put [Lu] Sutton, Rancho and Lynwood on the short list, parent Katie Sherwood told the board. The three schools on the short list were the most socioeconomically challenged and ethnically diverse in the district. They shouldve used their criteria on all eight (elementary) schools.

Hamilton Meadow Park Elementary, the largest grade school in the district, actually has the highest percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students at 75.6%, but Lynwood and Lu Sutton are No. 2 and 3, respectively. Rancho is No. 6.

Of the five schools that werent considered for closure, four have the highest proportions of white students.

Although Lu Sutton students are 73% nonwhite and 57% Latino, almost all of the parents who spoke on its behalf Wednesday were white. Parent Aleka Seville told The Chronicle that the Latino communitys conspicuous absence was caused by the districts lack of transparency.

The fact that this process was happening during a pandemic means that any parents who dont have home internet access, are not familiar with Zoom or are not comfortable speaking English were absolutely not heard, Seville wrote in an email.

Parent Sophia Osotio welcomed the decision to spare Lu Sutton and bring in Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke to lead a committee that helps determine what happens next.

I am very relieved that Mary Jane Burke from the county is stepping in and will hopefully make things better, Osotio said during the meeting. For the past couple of weeks, it has felt like it was NUSD versus our community.

Some parents wanted to ensure that the ad hoc committee conducts community outreach before making any recommendations. Parent Suely Rodas said via text that any school closure decision will affect the most vulnerable community in Novato.

It feels like we have won a battle, but now we are dependent on the county to be our voice, now that it has escalated to the point where they had to step in, Rodas said.

Burke told parents and community members at the meeting that she wanted to stabilize the process. She told The Chronicle that she did not foresee school closures in the near future.

The district has determined that they have tabled the issue of school closure, Burke said in a phone interview. So that will not be part of the conversation.

Malavika Kannan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: Malavika.Kannan@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @malavikawrites
A 15-year-old Mexican gray wolf named Garcia has died at the San Francisco Zoo, officials announced Wednesday.

Garcia, who zoo officials described as being uncharacteristically bold, curious and playful, was well-known and loved by zoo guests and staff, zoo officials said.

He was never one to miss a meal, and would enthusiastically guard favorite food prizes from his brothers Prince and Bowie, zoo officials said on Twitter.

Zoo officials said Garcia had recently experienced a decline in quality of life and was being treated for undisclosed age-related conditions. He died on Tuesday, zoo officials said.

Mexican gray wolves are a rare subspecies of the gray wolf in North America and historically roamed mountainous regions in central Mexico, southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Zoo officials said Mexican gray wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild and up to 15 years at zoos.

Garcia and his two brothers, Prince and Bowie, came to the San Francisco Zoo from the Wildlife West Nature Park in New Mexico in 2016 when they were all 11-years-old, zoo officials said.

The three wolves were part of a collaborative program with the Association of Zoo & Aquarium Mexican Gray Wolf Species Survival Plan and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, which works to grow the wolf population and release viable wolves into the Mexican Wolf Recovery Area.

Zoo officials said the three wolves werent eligible for release, but Garcia and his brothers were part of on-going health studies and inclusion in assisted reproductive efforts for the purpose of cryo-preservation of sperm for genome banking of mature wolves. Garcia lived in the zoos Wolf Canyon habitat.

Tanya Peterson, the CEO and executive director of San Francisco Zoological Society, said in a statement that the wolves represented a turning point in the conservation of Mexican gray wolves.

Garcia served as an ambassador for his wild counterparts, zoo officials said, and educated zoo visitors about the misconceptions of wolves and the challenges of habitat loss and human wildlife conflict.

He will be missed! zoo officials said.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
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.

A judge subsequently sent the man, Patrick Thompson, to a state hospital after finding he was not competent to face those charges.

Thompson, 54, was arrested Tuesday evening by San Francisco police and booked into jail on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder and two counts of inflicting injury on an elder thats likely to cause great bodily injury.

The victims in the case were in stable condition as of Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The arrest came three years after Thompson was transferred to a state hospital in Napa following a San Francisco judges ruling that Thompson wasnt competent to stand trial on his 2017 criminal charges.

Thompson was later placed in a mental health diversion program, which defense attorneys at the San Francisco Public Defenders Office said he successfully completed in August 2020, according to court filings. Diversion programs allow defendants criminal charges to be set aside while they complete community programming and other requirements.

Judges can dismiss cases for defendants who complete diversion programs, but it was not clear from the court filings whether a judge ordered any such dismissal for Thompson.

Officials with the Public Defenders Office, which represented Thompson, did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

San Francisco police officers responded to the area of Fourth and Stockton streets just before 5 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a double stabbing.

Officers found the two victims, ages 63 and 84, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Police and medics rendered emergency aid to the victims before they were transferred to a hospital.

San Francisco police said Wednesday afternoon that the older victim had initially suffered life-threatening injuries, but her medical status has since been upgraded. The 63-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators located an image of the suspect and recognized him as Thompson from prior police contacts, officials said. Police found Thompson at the 600 block of Eddy Street, where he was taken into custody at about 7 p.m.

Both victims were Asian, and investigators were still working to determine whether the attack was motivated by racial bias, police said.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office is still receiving evidence and information from police and will announce charging details on Thursday.

Attacks on our (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community and especially on our elderly residents are horrifying, not just to the victims who suffer physical injury but to the entire AAPI community that has been living in fear, Boudin said. We will hold those who commit these acts of violence and hate accountable.

The attack comes amid a wave of violence against people in the Asian community, with many of the high-profile attacks occurring in the Bay Area.

A GoFundMe page created by the grandchildren of one of the victims said their grandmother was waiting at a bus stop when she was stabbed with a long knife in her right arm and entered her chest.

These Asian hate crimes need to stop, Victoria Eng, granddaughter of the older victim, said on the GoFundMe page. Our hearts go out to all those who have been injured, killed or affected by this wave of racist crimes toward the Asian community.

The page, which did not identify the victim, had raised over $40,000 by Wednesday afternoon.

Thompsons earlier encounter with the criminal justice system stemmed from three separate cases in 2017: one for a misdemeanor contempt of court order, the second for felony assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm and battery, and the third for felony battery with serious bodily injury, court records show.

A judge declared a doubt to Thompsons competency in November 2017, prompting his transfer to the Napa hospital in February 2018.

Thompson received mental-health treatment there for schizophrenia and psychotic disorder. He returned to San Francisco in July 2018, according to court records filed by Thompsons attorneys at the public defenders office.

In October of that same year, a judge granted Thompsons release from custody on the condition he be placed on electronic monitoring. Thompson remained on the electronic monitoring for three months, and was accepted into San Franciscos Mental Health Diversion program in January 2019.

Public defenders on Aug. 17 filed a motion for a judge to dismiss Thompsons case and find that he had successfully completed the diversion program.

In the motion, Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Nguyen wrote that Thompson was able to live independently and responsibly while he was enrolled in the diversion program.

He has gained insight into his mental illness and has learned how to maintain medication compliance on his own, she wrote.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco District Attorneys Office declined to comment on Thompsons earlier case.

Reports of Anti-Asian hate crime have spiked in many major cities  including San Francisco  so far in 2021, according to a report by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino. In San Francisco, hate crimes rose by 140%  from five to 12  in the first quarter of 2021, the report shows.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
If you live in California, you probably think that our state is beyond the medieval assaults on reproductive rights that we see in the rest of the country.

But did you know that California is home to the worlds largest womens prison? And that a California district attorney filed murder charges against two women  Adora Perez and Chelsea Becker  for experiencing stillbirths, allegedly caused by drug use?

The truth is, mass incarceration and the lingering War on Drugs are some of the biggest threats to reproductive justice  no matter what state or county you live in. California is no exception. Our criminal justice system has long been used to control women and gender-nonconforming peoples bodies. From 1997 to 2013 the state forcibly sterilized nearly 1,400 mostly brown and Black incarcerated individuals. And while that abominable practice has ended, others remain.

Californias new Attorney General Rob Bonta is now in charge of this system. As a legislator, Bonta was at the forefront of the effort to pass AB 732, improving access to medical care for incarcerated pregnant people. As AG, he can continue this leadership by approaching his new role with reproductive justice front of mind. That means defending every persons right to make decisions about their body in a safe and supportive environment.

Bonta can start by working to overturn convictions obtained by reactionary prosecutors who target pregnant people, as well as changing the pervasive punitive mind-set that enables them.

This mind-set is currently embodied by Kings County District Attorney Keith Fagundes, who in 2018 prosecuted Adora Perez for her stillbirth, in what was widely acknowledged as a clear defiance of state law. Perez initially received inadequate legal counsel and pleaded guilty to manslaughter for losing her fetus, a crime that doesnt exist in California. She is currently three years into an inexcusable 11-year sentence.

Just one year later, Fagundes, emboldened by his success, imprisoned a second woman, Chelsea Becker, under nearly identical circumstances. Becker was held in jail for over a year on a jaw-dropping $2 million bail. She has since recently been released on her own recognizance while she awaits trial.

The charges against Perez and Becker are a fundamental threat to all Californians. Organizations like the ACLU have warned that if people can be imprisoned for stillbirths, then what prevents them from being criminalized for pregnancy loss resulting from not wearing a seat belt, not getting robust prenatal care, or working a stressful or physically strenuous job?

Before he left office to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed briefs in Perezs and Beckers cases, arguing that under Californias law, women cannot be prosecuted for losing their pregnancies. Were hopeful that Bonta will continue where Becerra left off, fighting on behalf of Perez and Becker.

But he should go further.

We need an attorney general who will push back against prosecutors who impose draconian sentences over what should be health care issues. Absent reform, the punishments of people like Perez and Becker could scare others away from the getting the care and support that they need.

On the state level, we grossly misallocate resources, devoting a staggering amount to prosecution and incarceration  almost $20 billion in the governors recent budget  while leaving programs that provide health care, housing, and promote economic stability woefully underfunded.

If we want better pregnancy outcomes, we need policies that address poverty, houselessness, food insecurity, and other inequities plaguing communities across California.

Our misplaced budget priorities are felt most profoundly in low-income Black and brown communities  the very same communities that are most subjected to targeted policing and disproportionate sentencing. In Alameda County, for example, between 2013 and 2017 Black infant mortality was 8.7 per 1,000 births compared to 3 per 1,000 in the white population.

Rebalancing the scales will take a coordinated effort.

To protect reproductive rights in California, we need to shift the states mind-set from, How can we punish this person? to How can we support them?

Freeing Adora Perez and Chelsea Becker is a start in that direction, and toward ensuring California lives up to its reputation as a reproductive justice champion.

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks represents the East Bay in the California Assembly. Felicia Espinosa is the Central Valley Director of Advocacy at Root & Rebound, which provides economic wellness, social, and legal services to systems-impacted women of color in the Central Valley.
WASHINGTON  Earmarks are back in fashion in Washington, and Northern California lawmakers are looking to cash in.

If local lawmakers have their way, up to $119 million in federal funding for projects ranging from community centers to policing improvements to wastewater treatment facilities could flow into the Bay Area, with tens of millions more going to surrounding congressional districts.

Its unlikely that every project will be funded, as the new earmarks system caps the total pot of money available at about $15 billion. But the list of projects shows the competition will be fierce from local lawmakers to bring home the pork, as earmarks have colloquially been known for years.

Officially, the requests are labeled community project funding, a rebranding for a practice that was outlawed a decade ago over concerns about waste and corruption. But the essence of the program is the same: Lawmakers may request pots of money for specific causes in their districts, often infrastructure-related.

Republicans banned earmarks after the Tea Party wave handed them control of Congress in 2011, citing concerns over improper spending and backroom deals. But Congress has struggled to pass spending bills in the years since, something many experts attribute to the absence of earmarks. The dedicated set-asides offer lawmakers concrete accomplishments they can campaign on in their home districts.

Now with full control of Washington, Democrats have revived the practice, but with specific rules. Lawmakers were required to publish their requests online, certify they and their family have no financial stake in the project, not ask for money for any for-profit entities and demonstrate community support for the recipient.

In the House, requests for the 2022 budget were due last week. Every Bay Area Democrat requested funding for the maximum allowable 10 projects, for a total of around $119 million.

Livermore Rep. Eric Swalwell had the biggest total request, asking for more than $23 million for his East Bay district. Most of that was for two projects: $5 million for the Valley Link Sustainability Blueprint  developing a climate-friendly approach to the planned 42-mile commuter rail system  and $10 million to upgrade the Upper San Leandro Drinking Water Treatment Plant in Oakland.

Reps. Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Jared Huffman of San Rafael each requested around $14 million, and San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speier had the smallest total, at $6 million.

The requests themselves benefited a wide range of projects. Many involved wildfire preparedness in the region, including an emergency operations center in Santa Rosa requested by St. Helena Rep. Mike Thompson, a firebreak and vegetation management asked for by Eshoo and a wildfire research center at San Jose State University requested by San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren.

A large number of projects fell under the traditional definition of infrastructure, like roads, bridges, transit and pedestrian improvements, including with an environmental focus. Many are health-related, including mental health support, or focused on underserved populations.

Thompson requested money for the Vallejo Police Department to have a trauma-informed mental health response unit, and Lofgren put in for money for a local Planned Parenthood center. Eshoo and Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna both asked for money for the San Jose Public Library system, which spans their districts.

And it wasnt just Democrats who sought money. House Republicans also voted to withdraw their internal earmark ban and split over making requests.

Eschewing earmarks were House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Rep. Tom McClintock of Elk Grove (Sacramento County), and Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare.

But in Northern California, GOP Reps. Doug LaMalfa of Richvale (Butte County), Jay Obernolte of Big Bear Lake (San Bernardino County), and David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County) did make requests  sizable ones.

Valadao put in for $37 million for his Central Valley district, LaMalfa for $24.7 million for his northern district and Obernolte requested $11 million for his Western California district.

The projects were similar to Democrats requests. Many were infrastructure-related or designed to help underserved communities. Both LaMalfa and Valadao put in money for body-worn camera programs for local law enforcement departments. LaMalfa, whose district includes Butte County, which was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, also requested money for wildfire mitigation projects, including fuels reduction in Nevada County and a North San Juan fire suppression system.

These are the types of community projects that are for government to help advance, LaMalfa said in a statement announcing his requests. I will continue to work to help North State communities improve the lives of our citizens through advocating for good policies and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
As the number of COVID-19 cases in India rose, the Bharatiya Janata Party decided that if it could not control the pandemic, it would try to control the narrative.

by Prabir Purkayastha

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its brutal march across India. Figures of new infections reached 355,828 on May 3which accounted for more than 62 percent of the worlds new infections on that day. As hospitals run out of beds, ICU capacity, and even oxygen, these factors have been contributing to the already skyrocketing death toll in the country. Dead bodies in mortuaries, crematoria and burial grounds speak of the awful toll of the pandemic.

Indias daily numbers of COVID-19 cases have outstripped infection rates in other countries like the United States and Brazil. The end of the surge is nowhere in sight as more states and cities slip into the grip of the pandemic. The new confirmed cases are rising quite steeply in states like Karnataka, Bihar and West Bengal even as numbers in cities like Mumbai and Delhi are beginning to flatten. What is more worrying is that the positivity rates are rising quite steeply, indicating that the actual number of infected people is even higher.

After the first wave subsided in December 2020, the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory against the pandemic. Perhaps it truly believed in its own propaganda. At any rate, it was busy, chest-thumping on its great success. At the World Economic Forum in January, Modi said, In a country which is home to 18 percent of the world population, that country has saved humanity from a big disaster by containing corona effectively. The BJPs National Office Bearers meeting in February applauded the Modi governments performance in keeping the first wave of the virus under check. The party unequivocally hails its leadership for introducing India to the world as a proud and victorious nation in the fight against COVID, said a press release issued by the BJP. This pyrrhic victory and these vainglorious claims are doubly painful as India grapples with a second wave that makes the first wave seem like a trailer.

The BJP was focusing on how to convert this so-called success into electoral victory in state elections when the second wave struck. As the numbers began to rise, the BJP decided that if it could not control the pandemic, it would try to control the narrative. It went on the offensive, with its troll army amplifying the message that the state governments have failed; people are to be blamed for abandoning the safety norms of masks and social distancing; everyone is to be blamed but the Modi government. This, notwithstanding the central governments signal of a return to normalcy by holding public rallies, election campaigns and huge religious gatherings such as the Kumbh Mela. If people did relax their adherence to the COVID-19 norms, they were only following the example of the leadersModi and otherson the dais during political rallies and roadshows, who appeared maskless while addressing large crowds during these events.

The first COVID-19 wave in India peaked around mid-September in 2020, touching nearly 100,000 new infections per day. It had gone down to about 10,000 by mid-February. This period should have been used to strengthen the public health system: increasing the numbers of hospital beds and ICU facilities, stepping up oxygen production and building a supply chain for delivery of medical oxygen. Tragically, the central government, which has centralized all powers under the Disaster Management Act, refused to prepare itself, or the states, or the public, for this second wave.

The worst failing in the current crisis is the lack of oxygen supply. When the lungs of patients are affected due to the virus, the most important medicine is oxygen. This shortage of oxygen has added to the rising death toll, as patients requiring oxygen are unable to get admissions in hospitals; they are dying as hospitals run out of oxygen; and oxygen cylinders are not available for home treatment. During the last week of April, several hospitals in Delhi reported that they had only a few hours of oxygen left. Failed oxygen supply has resulted in the deaths of patients in various hospitals, even in elite hospitals in the capital. If this is the situation in the nations capital, and that too in elite hospitals, one can only imagine the plight of hospitals elsewhere in small towns and rural India.

That is the core of the current crisis. The major reason for deaths during a pandemic is when the number of serious patients outstrips the availability of hospital beds and the supply of oxygen. That is when fatalities start mounting. This is the case now in India.

In the first wave in India, the spread was limited to a few states, and to certain densely populated areas. This time, it is spreading across almost all states, and affecting a much larger cross-section of people.

Why didnt the government prepare for a rise of this magnitude? This government is, unfortunately, completely centralized; only the prime minister and his trusted lieutenant, Amit Shah, the home minister, can act. The other ministers are harnessed only to dismiss any criticism, even constructive criticismfrom former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for example. Modis sights were set on winning the elections in the east, particularly West Bengal where the BJP recently faced a decisive defeat. Modi continued to hold political rallies and only stopped when he realized the poor optics of being in electioneering mode amid a major pandemic. By then it was too late, and his poor handling of the situation on the ground led to his partys defeat in the West Bengal elections.

The central government has also failed to ensure a smooth vaccination rollout and has provided misleading information about vaccinations, which might not address the immediate crisis, but will help with controlling any future waves that may follow by creating herd immunity. The governments announcement about having vaccinated 157 million people as of May 3 is misleading. While 157 million vaccine doses have been given, only about 27 million people have received the two required doses as of May 3.

At the beginning of April, states such as Maharashtra, Delhi and Punjab were complaining about their vaccine supplies running low. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan dismissed these complaints by states as politicizing their failures to control the spread of pandemic. The figures of vaccinations, however, reflect a different reality than the one claimed by the health minister and show that the number of vaccine doses given per day has indeed fallen drastically in mid-April in comparison to what it was in early April.

With the vaccine supply still constrained, the Modi government has failed to explain why it is now proposing that everyone above the age of 18 be vaccinated under the third phase of its vaccination drive. No explanation has been offered, nor a plan announced on how the country will ramp up its production and delivery to meet the expanded target.

The central government has mostly abandoned its responsibility to ensure that vaccines are available for the entire population, after its initial push to inoculate health workers and people above the age of 45. The government said that it will continue to provide 50 percent of the countrys vaccine production to states and union territories for free under the third phase of the National Vaccine Strategy. The rest of the 50 percent will, however, have to be acquired by the state governments and the private hospitals from the two vaccine suppliers in IndiaSerum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech. The center has also removed all price controls on vaccines, creating a competition for scarce vaccines among the states, which will ultimately benefit the private suppliers. Instead of a well-thought-out plan to increase vaccine production, distribute it centrally and vaccinate all the people, this appears to be a cynical exercise in abandoning the central governments responsibility and shifting the blame to the state governments for failing to vaccinate the people.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), in collaboration with Bharat Biotech, had developed Covaxin. There is no reason why ICMR-NIV should not have given licenses to other vaccine manufacturers, including half a dozen public sector units that are idling today, to ramp up production of this vaccine. Instead, the Modi government granted the rights to produce the vaccine, which was created with public-sector technology and public money to Bharat Biotech only. And no explanation has been given about why the Modi government refused to take issue with the United States on its denial to provide vital supplies for the production of vaccines in India until it reached the current crisis.

The Modi government believes in centralizing all political power in its hands and letting the free market, led by big capital, solve the problems of the country. And if this policy fails, it can always blame the state governments, the anti-national forces and, finally, the opposition for its own failures.

This article was produced in partnership by Newsclick and Globetrotter.

Prabir Purkayastha is the founding editor of Newsclick.in, a digital media platform. He is an activist for science and the free software movement.
WASHINGTON  Republicans are firing back at Rep. Zoe Lofgren over a compilation she created of their social media posts related to the 2020 election and Jan. 6 insurrection, filing a complaint against her that was made public Thursday.

The complaint is all but certain to be dismissed; the San Jose Democrat and chair of the House Administration Committee maintains that her report was within House rules. But the escalation reveals how high tensions remain between Democrats and Republicans as the GOP continues to spread baseless doubt over President Bidens win over Donald Trump in the November election.

Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter filed the complaint last month with an arcane House commission, the Communications Standards Commission. That six-member panel oversees what has historically been known as the franking privilege  the ability to communicate with constituents on the taxpayers dime, postage free. It has been renamed this year to incorporate digital communication.

At issue is Lofgrens social media review of House Republicans who voted to reject Electoral College results. The certification of those results was interrupted on Jan. 6 by a pro-Trump mob that breached the Capitol in a deadly insurrection that sent lawmakers and former Vice President Mike Pence evacuating to safety. The compilation of 1,900 pages of social media postings includes a foreword from Lofgren that suggests some GOP representatives may have aided and abetted the insurrection.

Carter alleges that Lofgren abused official House communications to disparage colleagues and to link to political websites, which were contained within the public social media messages, including his, that she published.

Carter closed his complaint by alleging Lofgren was being divisive, including a reference to cancel culture, a term frequently used by conservatives to deride backlash to disagreeable viewpoints.

It serves only to further divide the House at a time when we should all be committed to unity and healing, Carter wrote. It attempts to bring so-called cancel culture into the rightful debate between members of Congress.

But Lofgren defended herself in a reply, saying that it is part of Congress duty to investigate any officeholders potential role in an insurrection.

It is ironic that the complainant has accused me of somehow violating standards of civility and decorum by simply publishing other members own words, Lofgren wrote.

The commission consists of three Democrats and three Republicans, and a majority vote is required to sustain a complaint. In the event of a tie, the commission issues a finding of no violation, making it unlikely Lofgren will be found to have violated House rules.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
A new report issued Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a variant of COVID-19 first identified in California may more frequently cause serious disease than other variants and may weaken antibody treatments.

The B.1.427/B.1.429 variant was identified in California in December and went on to become the predominant variant in the state, according to the New York Times. It has spread to many states across the country.

The report documents analysis by the Colorado Department of Public Health looking at cases of B.1.427/B.1.429 between Jan. 4 and March 20 in Colorado. They found the strain went from making up 3% to 4% of cases in late January to 20% to 22% of cases in early March.

B.1.427 and B.1.429 refers to two different lineage names, but the strains are closely associated and are often referred to as the California variant or the "West Coast strain," according to the California Department of Public Health. The B.1.427/B.1.429 is associated with approximately 20% increased transmission. In comparison, the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom is thought to have 50% increased transmission.

UCSF infectious diseases expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong said the findings presented in the report are not surprising. "Californians should take strong note but not be too concerned immediately for a variety of reasons," Chin-Hong, who wasn't an author on the study, wrote in an email. "Most who would get severe disease have already been vaccinated which makes this a different context from before, and currently approved vaccines still work very well against this variant despite some overall diminished response. In general, vaccines generate many more antibodies than we need to protect against SARS CoV2)."

He added that what is concerning is unvaccinated individuals, especially those who are older or who have concomitant medical conditions, may be at a higher risk for severe disease and death with this variant. "This is a very different time for these individuals than one year ago," Chin-Hong wrote.

The CDC report includes analysis of 327 B.1.427/B.1.429 specimens collected by the Colorado Department of Public Health across roughly three months. Among 211 patients with symptom information available, 91% were symptomatic and 14% hospitalized, the report said. There were eight (2%) deaths, and based on available data, seven (2%) vaccine breakthrough cases.

"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," the study authors concluded.

The authors also wrote that B.1.427/B.1.429 may be resistant to the monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab. Colorado's department of health issued an advisory on March 22 recommending against monotherapy with bamlanivimab, and last month, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the Emergency Use Authorization for monotherapy with this product.

While the findings are concerning, a recent story in the LA Times suggests the presence of B.1.427/B.1.429 in California may have helped the state.

"Although the highly contagious U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) is believed to cause significant problems in the latest surge in Michigan, the California variant (B.1.427/B.1.429) is possibly keeping a lid on the U.K. variant in California," the LA Times reported. "The California variant, though more contagious than the conventional strain, is less contagious than the U.K. variant  and if you had to choose between the two, the California variant is the better one to deal with."
A lot can happen in a week.

The latest version of the federal United States Drought Monitor map shows increasingly dire drought conditions throughout California and the entire San Francisco Bay Area region is in "extreme drought." Last week, portions of the nine-county regionincluding a large portion of Santa Clara County and parts of Alameda and San Mateo  were still in the less critical "severe drought."

The map classifies the level of dry conditions on a color-coded scale from "abnormally dry" (yellow) to "exceptional drought" (maroon). The May 6 map shows the most severe, "exceptional" conditions developing along the southern portion of the state's eastern border with Nevada and Arizona. "Extreme drought" (red) covers most of southern and northern California, and "severe drought" (orange) is spread across small swaths of the state.

Climatologist David Simeral, the map's author, said the conditions in the Bay Area are not surprising as the state saw back-to-back dry water years and he expects conditions to deteriorate further moving into summer months. (The water year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, and it's how scientists measure annual precipitation.)

"Looking at precipitation totals for the past 12 months, portions of San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, Sonoma, and Alameda counties all had areas of record dryness for the period," Simeral, who works for the Western Regional Climate Center, wrote in an email. "Looking at other indicators, like reservoir levels in your area and statewide, the situation is not looking good with the states largest reservoirs running below normal levels for this time of year after another poor year in terms of snowpack. Marin Countys reservoirs are in really poor shape at 50% of capacity systemwide, whereas, theyd normally be at 90% full this time of year.

---

The last drought in California ran from 2012 to 2016, and at its height in 2014, all of the state  100%  was covered by severe to exceptional drought from May 13, 2014, to July 29, 2014, and 81.92% was covered by exceptional to extreme drought from Aug. 5, 2014, to Oct. 28, 2014.

Today, severe to exceptional drought covers 92.88% and exceptional to extreme drought 73.31%.

While conditions aren't as severe as they were at the height of the last drought, they are headed in that direction and intensifying at a rapid rate.

"The most alarming aspect [of the California map] is the fact that conditions are currently in really poor shape and were only just beginning to move into dry season," Simeral wrote. "The situation is only going to intensify as we move through the summer months. Its hard to pick whats most alarming because theres cause for concern from a variety of angles, such as, impacts to the agricultural sector, diminishing reservoir levels, impacts to ecosystem health, wildfire potential, and impacts to sectors that receive less attention like recreation such as river rafting operations and fishing."

The federal government releases a new Drought Monitor map depicting drought conditions across the country every Thursday, and news organizations and Twitter users often share the latest release, with the map going viral.

With the situation worsening in California, the map has become a poster child for a looming drought as the amount of red indicating extreme drought increases every week. California has seen back-to-back winters marked by dry conditions and major reservoirs across the state are at half-capacity.

The Drought Monitor is a joint effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The weekly map isn't a forecast but rather is a reflection of the precipitation from the past week.

While the map takes into account precipitation totals, it indexes a wide array of indicators, including groundwater storage, river levels, soil moisture, satellite-based assessments of vegetation health and more.

The map is a mechanism to measure drought that's mainly applied to agriculture, and the USDA uses it for the basis of decisions about agricultural financial assistance. But the map is used well beyond the agricultural community.

"The weekly map represents a current snapshot of drought conditions nationally and is an integral part of drought planning, preparedness, and mitigation efforts at national, regional, and local levels," Simeral said. "Also, its used by the general public and the media."
A futuristic-looking vessel is slated to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge on Thursday evening and travel across San Francisco Bay.

No, it's not a prop for the filming of a Marvel movie.

The French-owned Energy Observer is a 100-foot, hydrogen-powered catamaran making a statement about clean energy as it travels around the world, proving zero emission travel is possible.

A massive science experiment on the water, the entirely self-sufficient vessel is the first of its kind and powered by the wind, the sun and self-generated hydrogen.

If theres no sun or wind, or if its night, stored hydrogen  generated by electrolysis powered by the solar panels and two wind turbines  will take over, Victorien Erussard, captain and founder of Energy Observer, told the London Guardian when the boat first set sail more than four years ago.

Energy Observer

A crew on board the boat is testing multiple renewable energy solutions in extreme ocean environments and learning how these systems can work together to translate into everyday use, according to a statement from Energy Observer.

The boat started its seven-year voyage in Saint-Malo, France, in 2017 and arrived in the United States for the first time when it docked in Long Beach on April 22.

"After three years spent navigating European waters, were going to discover and share a whole new level of energy transition in the Pacific, which is just thrilling," Victorien Erussard, captain and founder of Energy Observer, said at an event in Long Beach. "Were also quite proud to get the chance to show the Californians that the French are also quickly breaking new ground, both in their area of expertise in the maritime world, and also on land.

Already covering more than 30,000 nautical miles, the boat has visited a long list of destinations, from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Nassau, Bahamas, to the Canary Islands off Africa. Before arriving in California, it passed through the Panama Canal and stopped in the Galapagos Islands.

The boat is expected to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge at 5:30 p.m. tonight and will be on view adjacent to the Exploratorium and Pier 9 through May 13, when it will set sail for Hawaii, then cross the Pacific to Tokyo.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk will host "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, and creator Lorne Michaels is no doubt thrilled about the outrage this move has already managed to stir. Plenty of people on social media had thoughts on "SNL" giving a platform to the controversial billionaire and SpaceX founder, who has gained even more notoriety this past year by downplaying the coronavirus pandemic.

Some "SNL" cast members were among those skeptical of the move, including Aidy Bryant, who reposted a tweet from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that pointed out that the 50 wealthiest Americans own more wealth than 165 million Americans combined, deeming it "a moral obscenity."

When Musk tweeted "Let's find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is" along with a devil emoji, Bowen Yang wrote on Instagram, "What ... does this even mean." Neither Chris Redd nor writer Andrew Dismukes seemed thrilled by Musk landing the gig. (This was countered by Michael Che calling Musk's appearance "exciting" and Pete Davidson telling Seth Meyers, "I don't know why people are freaking out.")

Alas, Musk is part of a long tradition of the show's stars and writers speaking up about hosts they can't stand. It is a bit more unusual for this to happen before the episode airs, but not unprecedented. In 1991, when comedian Andrew Dice Clay was announced as host, cast member Nora Dunn boycotted the show because she was so disgusted by the "hateful" misogynistic jokes in his stand-up routine.

"I don't want to be part of providing an arena for him to make himself legitimate because I don't think he is," she told the Associated Press. "Although I feel he has a right to express himself, I have a right to strongly state my position."

Shortly after, musical guest Sinead O'Connor also announced she would no longer perform. "It would be nonsensical of 'Saturday Night Live' to expect a woman to perform songs about a woman's experience after a monologue by Andrew Dice Clay," she said in a statement.

Michaels appeared irritated about both, telling the Los Angeles Times that he respected Dunn's decision but wished she had talked to him before going to the press. As for O'Connor, he complained, "We're not asking her to endorse Andrew Dice Clay - we were merely asking her to sing two songs. What gets lost in all of this is that this is a comedian we're talking about."

While Michaels hasn't addressed the cast's comments about Musk, an anonymous source told Page Six that the creator "won't ever make them do anything they don't want to do" and they can skip the episode if they feel strongly. This chatty source added, "Whether you like him or not, Elon is a very interesting character. ... He's very much a showman."

A few other "very interesting characters" who have hosted over the years managed to tick off the "SNL" stars so much that they publicly vented. Tina Fey famously let loose about Paris Hilton - who hosted "SNL" in 2005 - during a 2006 interview with Howard Stern, saying the socialite was "awful" and "unbelievably dumb and so proud of how dumb she is."

Bill Hader and Jay Pharoah agreed in a 2018 "Watch What Happens Live" appearance that Justin Bieber, who pulled double duty as host and musician in 2013, was among the worst. "He just was in a bad place," Hader said, explaining that most guests are typically on their best behavior. "Maybe he's in a better place ... but then, it was rough."

Several "SNL" mainstays were vocal about how much they hated working with Steven Seagal in 1991. "He just wasn't funny, and he was very critical of the cast and writing staff," Tim Meadows told Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller in their "SNL" tome "Live From New York." "He didn't realize that you can't tell somebody they're stupid on Wednesday and expect them to continue writing for you on Saturday." David Spade confirmed this on Rob Lowe's podcast last year, and said Seagal clashed with the writers on sketches. "He was too cool and he had his image. He couldn't be relatable," Spade said.

Michaels joined in on the fun: In 1992, host Nicolas Cage fake-fretted during his monologue that the audience probably thought he was "the biggest jerk who's ever been on the show." Michaels appeared to assure him, "No, that would be Steven Seagal."

Of course, one of the most famous incidents that drew plenty of anger - from both inside and outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza - was the enlisting of then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump as host in 2015. The former "Apprentice" star had hosted once before in 2004 to less-than-rave reviews from the stars: Maya Rudolph said in a Vanity Fair interview that the cast was irritated when Trump was announced as host, and Seth Meyers told Howard Stern that Trump "didn't have any sense of humor."

Things didn't go any better a decade later. Kenan Thompson said that at one point, Trump interrupted a table read to take a phone call. Bobby Moynihan said that Trump didn't realize one sketch - in which Moynihan played his racist "drunk uncle" character as a huge Trump fan - was making fun of him. "He was like, 'Thank you so much. That was so nice to hear such nice things being said.' And I was like, 'You moron,' " Moynihan told the Daily Beast.

Taran Killam spoke out multiple times, telling NPR that Trump's episode "was not enjoyable at the time and something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on."

"Most of the cast and writers were not excited to have him there," he said in an interview with Brooklyn Magazine the following year. "I didn't get the feeling that he was excited to be there, and it felt like a move for ratings from both sides."

And that, in a nutshell, is the reason the show will continue to court polarizing celebrities to take the helm: ratings. Hosts from Trump to Clay generated big viewership numbers, and the producers are clearly banking on the fact that Musk's appearance will do the same.
When Chef Nate Norris started as a cook, he was highly aware of the pay inequality that plagued restaurants. He had never worked in a restaurant where he had access to customer tips and knew that co-workers who worked in the front of the house positions, such as servers or bartenders, would make two to three times more than he and his fellow cooks did.

This behavior was (and is) typical of the restaurant industry as a whole. But as Norris moved up in his career and became the chef at San Franciscos famed Zuni Cafe, hes now pushing to implement a huge change: mainly moving to a tip-free model that is meant to ensure all employees are paid equitably.

The move is unprecedented, particularly for a restaurant of Zunis stature. For Norris, it's really important that people are paid fair wages and that their work is valued properly.

But not everyone is happy about it.

Under chef Judy Rodgers, Zuni paid 100% of employee health insurance premiums for back of the house employees, with no payroll deductions. That was before Norris arrived at Zuni in 2004. Now that he is in the position to influence change at Zuni, hes looking to level the playing field even further.

What Norris proposed, and Zuni Cafe is implementing with their upcoming return to indoor dining in a few weeks, is an elimination of tipping and the addition of a mandatory 20% service charge for guests. That 20% charge will then be allocated for payroll costs, primarily wages and increases in taxes, he said.

A lot of my career, I would have viewed [the pay equality gap] through the lens of, kind of bitterness and unfairness, and it had some animosity towards the staff members who were better compensated than I was, because of structural inequities, Norris told SFGATE. So as I've grown and matured, the way I would articulate it right now is, I'm not mad that the servers have been making a good wage. I am upset that we don't have a system that makes it easier for the back of the house employees to also have that good wage.

The switch to this tip-free model has been in discussion with management since six months ago, as Zuni began thinking about reopening for indoor dining. There are still a few questions to work out, Norris said, as when asked whether customers would still be allowed to tip on top of the fee, but the 20% charge itself is settled upon.

Another reason for the move to a tip-free model is to eliminate some of the issues, such as sexual harassment and racism, around tipping itself, a custom rooted in slavery. What we do know, generally, is that the higher the wage and the less dependence on tips, the less of the biases that emerge from tipping can impact workers, said Saru Jayaraman, president of advocacy group One Fair Wage and director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley.

It's now irrefutable that tipping is racially biased because implicit bias of customers results in servers of color getting less than white servers, she continued. It's now irrefutable that tipping and sexual harassment are correlated. And of course the highest levels of sexual harassment exist where tips replace wages. So that workers get a sub-minimum wage and are reliant on tips, but even on top of the wage, tipping can engender sexual harassment.

Pointing to One Fair Wages research paper Roadmap to reimagine restaurants: A new path after COVID-19, Norris said he appreciated how it outlined alternatives to using tips to supplement staff pay. The various models provide more stability of income and take away any potential for abuse of workers that come with tipping.

"We want to step in and say like, 'No, we the business, in negotiation with our staff, get to determine what wages are fair and that's not going to be based on things like race or gender, other things that are inappropriate and unfair to base it upon,' but the customer frequently does with tipping," Norris said.

There are some employees at Zuni Cafe, however, who are against the move to becoming tip-free. Marshall C., who was granted anonymity per Hearst's ethics policy, is a former server at Zuni Cafe who was laid off during the pandemic and recently received an offer to return to his position under the new model. When he heard the news that the restaurant was eliminating tips, he said he was completely blindsided about the switch.

I was trying to crunch the numbers in my head and do the math because I was out on a trail [when I got the call] and it just didn't seem like it would possibly work, Marshall said. ... I came back home and I did the actual math, and I would be going into debt if I accepted their offer. And I'm a single man, no children, no car payment, no student debt. I just need my rent, and my utilities and my food paid. I wasn't even able to get my rent necessities paid with what they were offering.

According to Marshall, what Zuni offered was an hourly wage of $24, with no tips. (Norris declined to share the amount offered to returning team members, when asked.) Before taxes, Marshall would earn about $840 a week, which he said would be 35 hours at most. Previously, Marshall was paid the San Francisco minimum wage with tips on top of that  which he estimated to be an average of $200 per shift. His pay before taxes, under the tipping model, was a little over $1,500 a week.

Brenda Arellano, another former server at Zuni Cafe, was also extended an offer to return. Although she has decided to leave the service industry for other reasons not related to the tip-free model, she was also stunned, saying she was surprised at the change, especially given that the restaurant received a James Beard Award for Outstanding Service in 2018.

I think there's really great people there and I totally understand that they are a business trying to survive, especially in San Francisco. I get that, Arellano said. But to build your restaurant on the backs of workers and think that $24 [an hour] is an appropriate amount is really disturbing.

It's not so much that I prefer the tipping model, Arellano later added. She said that while she wanted to get back of the house workers paid more, she wanted more thoughtfulness put into a sustainable wage. I'm just more appalled that [Zuni] thinks that $24 is a start [for] seasoned veteran workers, is OK. And I'm like, Are you living off that money? Are you living off that wage? And I'm for a redistribution [of wages], or trying a new model, and I understand that there's a lot of trial and effort in the restaurant industry when you open a new restaurant, but I just don't understand why they think that math is OK. ... Put your money where your mouth is.

By Marshalls account, at least seven front of house workers have turned down the offer to return to Zuni based off of the new model; Norris said that there have been a number of front and back of house staff that have chosen not to return, for various reasons. No new hires have been made for front of house positions, Norris continued, but five servers who worked at Zuni prior to the pandemic have accepted offers under the new service charge model.

Norris acknowledged that the wages for employees that rely on tips would require some reduction, given the higher end range of tips that can be earned while working a busy Friday or Saturday night shift, but not a large reduction.

I'd say one of my most personal concerns is that there will be a small downward shift in the overall compensation for some of our front of the house staff members, primarily servers that probably had the best shifts in the pre-pandemic time, which is basically how you made your money, Norris said.  I have some concerns that some of those people will no longer choose to work with us.  I need our guests to see things through that lens and that, the chicken being more expensive, the Caesar salad being more expensive, whatever it is ... that we're more expensive than our neighbors or our competitors because [the] competitive advantage we're offering is that when you come to Zuni, we are going to be able to say that nobody in the restaurant earns less than this much money per hour.

The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im

Mikey Knab, director of High Road Restaurants, said that there is a hurdle to asking employees to sign on to a tip-free model, but there are benefits to it.

There will be positions that will be better paid at a traditional legacy model tips system, like lead servers and bartenders that have a real good following, Knab said. You know, those kinds of folks are used to making like 500 bucks on a Friday or Saturday night and in a service charge model. So that is a challenge, but the floor gets raised immensely for everybody else, like the porter, the dishwasher, the bussers, the runners, the hosts, the prep cooks.

Marshall said he enjoyed working at Zuni and had nothing bad to say about the restaurant otherwise.

As long as they're paid accordingly to standards and what the going rate is for whatever their position is, out of the revenue, then yes, it's equitable because it was a career choice, Marshall said,  and it's different work, it's different pay. I base my salary, my income off of my personality, my knowledge of the product and my style of service and my competence. And the back of the house is different. They don't, they're not seen and they don't go off their personality and their knowledge, they go off their skill and their production, so it's a completely different career path and we're quite aware of it going into it, what career path we've chosen.

And I think that taking money from one area of the restaurant in front of the house to pay another area of the restaurant, the back of the house, is, I think the saying is like taking from Peter to pay Paul or something like that, Marshall added.

Norris, however, disagreed with the assertion that the restaurant could just pay the back of house more out of its existing profits.

I wish I could say, Well, Zuni Cafe earned a 20% profit every year, so we can take half of that profit and just sink it into wages. That's not the reality, Norris said. "Zuni is a successful business, it's great, but it takes every single day working.  Its not like we can say, Well, Mr. Pilgram [Zunis owner, Gilbert Pilgram] you should just take less of a cut and that will solve all our equity issues here in compensating the restaurant. The model is failed.

The tip-free model has been explored in the past by restaurants, most famously in 2015 by restaurateur Danny Meyer in New York, implementing a Hospitality Included model where tips were eliminated and compensation for employees were baked into the menu at 13 of his restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern and Porchlight. A few other notable chef-owners followed suit, like Tom Colicchio and David Chang, but most  including Meyer  had returned back to tips by 2018, as Eater reported.

There were some lessons learned from Meyers move into a tip-free model, and fair pay is something he still champions. There have also been plenty of successful versions of that tip-free model implemented by restaurants, too, including in the Bay Area: Comal in Berkeley and Zazie in San Francisco have eliminated tips and instituted their own models that work for their restaurants, Eater reported. Findings from an MIT researcher cited by the Roadmap to reimagine restaurants found that there are at least 233 US restaurants that have been publicly recognized for going tip-free. Of these, only 21, or 9% reverted back to a tipped house model.

But theres also a question of whether customers will buy into the no-tip move with the 20% service charge. Norris, of course, is hoping they will; and there are signs that the pandemic could help with that. Knab noted that customers have been willing to pay more for food during the pandemic, including with third-party delivery apps, stating, I feel like they've opened up an opportunity for [restaurant owners] to be less scared of increasing menu prices  which could work in Zunis favor.

The primary source of the redistribution is the customer, Norris said. The vast majority of money that's going to be used in the business to create better pay equity in the restaurant is the customer, the customer is in the position to create this more equitable environment. The customer has to be challenged to think of it in that way. I would imagine most of our regular customers at Zuni Cafe have significant capital gains income every year  and I am certain that none of the staff that work at Zuni Cafe have any earnings except for their labor.

Its important to Norris that the public, including Zunis customers and staff, know why the restaurant is making this change and provide transparency.

It's been part of my advocating for this change: We're not going to do it quietly, we need to do this and make sure it's talked about, Norris said. It's important to me that we're not just saying, 'Hey, customer, give us more money.' We need to provide some transparency for the customer. Although I think we have a lot of trust out there from our guests, it doesn't seem fair to just say, 'Well, everything's going to get a whole lot more expensive and that's just the way it should be and trust us.' We need to be somewhat transparent and we're not going to be an open book restaurant, but we can say like, 'OK, well, nobody in the restaurant earns less than this and everybody has their health care taken care of in such a way. Everybody earns such an amount of paid time off and things beyond just cash compensation that provides for a valuable place of employment.'

The core thing that drives me to do this really well [is] just to make sure that the people that work in this industry with me, the people that work with me at the restaurant, have a valuable place of employment for them, whatever that may be.

Clarification: After publication, Nate Norris clarified his earlier statement regarding the starting wage stating, The offer of $24 hourly starting wage for some service staff members is not representative of all offers. Wage negotiations with currently laid off workers are ongoing. We understand that the changes we are implementing are challenging for some workers and very much desire to find agreements that ensure fairness and foster a desire for currently laid off workers to return.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:30 p.m., May 6, to correct the spelling of Zuni Cafe's owner, Gilbert Pilgram.
Akari Myo was walking home from the bus stop after working the closing shift at Boba Guys in Hayes Valley one March evening when she noticed something peculiar: three unfamiliar cars, parked on the street she lived on.

Weird, Myo thought. There usually werent that many cars. But she was almost home, and kept walking.

The running footsteps came from behind. Myo turned around, terrified. From the shadows had emerged a dark figure that was now rapidly approaching. The thief grabbed her shoulder bag and tried to pry it off her shoulder. Little did he know that Myo was prepared.

In her hand was a bottle of pepper spray that she had bought online just days before  a purchase spurred by her concerns about the increasing number of attacks on members of the Asian community, especially among elders and other vulnerable groups, in the Bay Area. It was time to use it.

The pepper spray worked, and the thief gave up. But Myo, 19, still fears taking public transportation to and from work.

One Bay Area initiative, Cali Kye Cab, aims to help Asian Americans like Myo make essential trips safely by paying for their rides.

Heres how it works: Asian Americans in the Bay Area seeking a ride reimbursement of up to $40 are instructed to send a screenshot of their receipt, a description of what the ride was for, along with either a selfie or an explanation of why the ride was necessary to Cali Kye Cabs Instagram direct messages or email account, before requesting the amount listed on their receipt from Cali Kye Cab through Venmo or Zelle.

Kye Perrot, a self-employed business and people operations consultant based in Santa Clara, was inspired to start Cali Kye Cab in April after learning about Cafe Maddy Cab, an Instagram account created by food blogger Maddy Park that covers ride costs for Asian American women, LGBTQ people and elders in New York City.

Perrot said she reached out to Park, who gave her some suggestions to help her get started. The next morning, Cali Kye Cab was born.

From there, the initiative took off. Many people showed their support for the initiative by sending donations. (Since April, the group has raised $13,000 to cover rides.) Others volunteered, donating their time and energy to help the cause.

Vicky Tran is one of eight primary volunteers on the Cali Kye Cab team, where she helps with operations, marketing and public relations efforts. Tran also assists Kye with managing the initiatives Instagram account.

Tran said she wanted to offer her skills in marketing and outreach especially in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings in March, which left eight people dead, including six Asian women. For Tran, the tragedy hit close to home, as she personally knows many people who work at spas.

She hopes Cali Kye Cabs efforts will make her fellow Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, community members  especially those who do not have the financial means to pay for ride-hailing services  feel safe during times of uncertainty.

Tran added that during her time as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, she sometimes would have to decide between paying for a ride home at night after attending extracurriculars or using the money to buy books for school. She hopes the initiative can prevent cost from being a barrier to peoples safety.

Cali Kye Cab has captured the attention of many, including Malcolm McFarland, a community organizer for Lyft in Northern California. McFarland said he first learned of Cali Kye Cab through social media and reached out to Perrot to discuss ways Lyft could help support the initiative as part of Lyfts commitment to supporting broader racial equity work through the Lyft Up program.

According to McFarland, Lyft is providing Cali Kye Cab with access to some free and discounted rides for Perrot to distribute, though he did not disclose the number of rides Lyft has provided. He emphasized Lyft is working directly with Perrot to ensure Cali Kye Cabs needs are addressed.

Cali Kye Cab recently announced a partnership with Lyft allowing AAPI community members to request a Lyft code for an essential trip up to $40 by filling out a form on their newly launched website. In addition to partnering with Lyft, the initiative is working on creating flyers with QR codes leading to their website. The flyers will then be distributed at grocery stores and community centers. Perrot said she hopes this will help Cali Kye Cab reach the elderly AAPI community.

Other outreach efforts include the translation of social media infographics into six languages besides English.

While the reception of Cali Kye Cab has generally been positive, some online commenters have criticized the initiatives requirements  namely, the now-changed selfie requirement.

Why have you given yourself the additional burden of deciding who looks Asian enough for your help and whose reason for travel is valid? wrote one commenter on Instagram. These barriers will discourage valid recipients more than they will prevent abuse of the service.

Perrot responded by changing the requirements  people who do not want to share a selfie can instead fulfill the requirement by providing an explanation of why the trip is necessary.

Over the past month, Cali Kye Cab has reimbursed approximately $5,000, covering about 200 rides, Perrot said. It has also broadened the range of people who can use its services. Currently, any AAPI community member in need of a ride for essential purposes, such as going to work, is eligible.

This was not always the case. Initially, Kye had intended the service to be for Asian women and elderly people. After receiving community feedback, she expanded it to include the LGBTQ community before settling on the current iteration.

Perrot also noted that Cali Kye Cab is not about stopping the Asian hate. There are other efforts working to stop Asian hate, such as recent legislative actions aimed at combating the rise of violence against Asian American community, she added.

While Myo still plans on carrying pepper spray in the near future, she said she feels a lot safer knowing that there is a community backing her up.

(Cali Kye Cab) is about providing comfort, providing a service to the community by a community member, Perrot said. Its providing that warmth so that people dont feel alone.
Mamata Banerjee will now be the prime face of opposition in Indian national politics

Mamata Banerjee, the Iron Lady who conquered West Bengal fighting BJP's election war machine single-handedly. She will be the central face of opposition in 2024 after the Bengal Assembly elections won in 2021!

by Anwar A. Khan

TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee swear-in as West Bengal CM for the third consecutive time. On Monday last, she met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and claimed to form the next government.

After landslide victory of West Bengal, winning a two-thirds majority, taking more than 200 seats in the 294-seat state assembly, Mamata Banerjee has now coalesced her position in Indian national politics.

For the 66-year-old Mamata Banerjee, the political journey from the restive alleys of Nandigram and Singur in 2007-08, when she waged a relentless battle against the Left Front government, to 'Nabanna', the seat of power in Kolkata, was as captivating as it was punishing.

A popular and prominent political figure among the Indian political firmament, she has often stood out in a crowd with her strikingly upright posture, a stance many attributes to her skill as a mass-people politician since her debut in politics.

She is now believed to be the tallest political leader in Indian politics. She leads a very simple life and her life is full of struggles.

The just concluded West Bengal polls has commenced her political sagacity. She is now set to dominate all-India based politics. With her own formidable and independent political experience and skill, she is set to national politics of India.

Her extraordinary history of experience and work in progressive advocacy policy, the media, education, and womens issues, however, greatly informed her as she found her direction, established her agenda and relied on professional political contacts. In terms of her life experiences and her evolving vision as peoples politician, Mamata Banerjee is unprecedented in comparison to others in the present-day India.

She could genuinely relate to people who were suffering, without regarding to gender, age or socioeconomic class; it has given her confidence. While the gesture was purely symbolic, it also has a positive effect on the veterans, giving them a sense of hope about her policies.

As part of this general role, she undertakes frequent trips aroundWest Bengal, to even the most remote regions, where she comes to inspect various new peoples welfare-oriented programes  usually without announcement so programe supervisors cannot suddenly disguise problems. Sometimes the issues she feels needed addressing, change or improvement hinged on small matters; other times, she detected a consensus among the recipients of the programmes.

While she might be said to have exemplified her own unique style of simple politics, she is following popular looks of her era, rather than seeking to popularize her own stylus for others.

It sounds well when prominent journalist and celebrated columnistSyed Badrul Ahasan has written, Her politics has always been that of a street fighter. Or Her politics worked. Today, the Left stands decimated; the Congress is comatose; and the BJP licks its wounds. Or She reached out to all Bengalis, Hindu and Muslim, informing them that the heritage of Bengal -- underscored by secularism, by a collective adherence to its poetry and its multifarious religious manifestations -- was under assault from the votaries of Hindu nationalism and needed to be saved.

The populous Indian state of West Bengal has emerged as a key battleground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, which is looking to extend its national domination and dislodge one of Modi's sharpest critics.

To win power in the eastern state, where a month-long election began, Modi's right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had deployed its formidable election machinery, backed by deep pockets.

The party brassincluding Modi and his powerful home minister Amit Shah  has also been relentlessly campaigning, flanked by local leaders poached from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has ruled the state since 2011 and is headed by firebrand Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The BJP currently controls a dozen of the country's 28 states, with alliance partners in several others. But it has never won power in West Bengal, whose 90 million people make it the fourth most populous state.

"A victory in Bengal would mean that they are closer to their one-nation, one-party ambition," said political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Winning states is key to controlling the upper house of the federal parliament whose members are elected by state assemblies. The BJP already has a huge majority in the lower house of parliament and will be in a better position to enact legislation through parliament, analysts say.

Mamatas victory in West Bengal could also weaken political opposition against the Modi government's recent moves, including a months-long farmers agitation over new farm laws, Mukhopadhyay said.

Modi's politics and policies through the pandemic has thus fallen flat inWest Bengal.

The BJP also faced a formidable opponent in Banerjee, the incumbent chief minister who campaigned from a wheel-chair after a recent accident.

"Do not look at individual candidates, cast your vote for me," Banerjee says in her public rallies. Her centrist party came to power when it ousted the Communists who had ruled the state for more than 30 years.

A TMC lawmaker, Mahua Moitra, said that while the party had only a tenth of the BJP's resources it would rely on its track record and grassroots organisation to retain power.

"The development work on the ground for the last 10 years is undeniable," Moitra said.

At the BJP headquarters in the heart of West Bengal's capital Kolkata, groups of upbeat party members sat in powwows every day during the elections, but it finally tuned boomerang to their court.

Though Alok Haldar, a BJP member, said low-level corruption during the TMC's long years in power had helped his party make inroads."Voters will teach them a lesson," he said.

But Mahua Moitra, referring to allegations of graft made by critics against the TMC, said that there had been "great efforts" to clean up the party at the grassroots level."There is no doubt in my mind, at all, that we are coming back," she said. And that her prediction came true.

Banerjee is now India's only woman chief minister.

Despite the defeat, Modi's BJP made substantial gains, making it the main opposition party as its tally in the state legislature went to nearly 80 seats from just three seats won in 2016.

Modi, his colleagues and regional politicians campaigned aggressively in five state elections despite the coronavirus pandemic. The results were seen as a test of the impact the pandemic's second wave was not having on support for him and his right-wing BJP.

Banerjee, a sharp critic of Modi, largely conducted a one-woman campaign to retain power by leading scores of public rallies.

"It is a stupendous performance by Mamata Banerjee because Modi was determined to win Bengal, but it's clear that his entire political machinery and strategy was unable to defeat her," said Diptendu Bhaskar, a political analyst in Kolkata, West Bengal's capital.

Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee led her party to one of its biggest political victories in the past three decades by single-handedly stopping the BJP juggernaut in Bengal, paved the way for her return as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.

The West Bengal Assembly polls saw a high-voltage campaign with the BJP putting all its might into the State. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders campaigned vigorously in the State holding several public meetings and road shows, but all turned into no-hoper.

The victory also puts the 66-year-old Trinamool Congress chairperson at the forefront of national politics with all the leaders of Opposition parties congratulating her for the massive win.

Mamata Banerjee, the Iron Lady who conquered West Bengal fighting BJP's election war machine single-handedly. She will be the central face of opposition in 2024 after the Bengal Assembly elections won in 2021!

-The End 

The writer is an independent political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs
RIO DE JANEIRO - At least 25 people were killed in a police raid Thursday morning in what police and researchers are calling one of the deadliest police shootings in the history of this notoriously violent oceanside metropolis.

Shortly after dawn, police entered the sprawling favela called Jacarezinho, sending in bulletproof helicopters, armored vehicles and dozens of heavily armed police officers to do battle in one of the strongholds of the powerful criminal gang, the Red Command. Police said the criminal group had been enticing children into its ranks.

The conflict dragged on for hours as residents huddled inside their homes, unable to leave. Images showed blood splashed across alleys and households, a room piled with bodies, and people scurrying across rooftops clutching rifles as black-clad police moved into the vast warren of squat brick houses.

By early afternoon, 25 people had been killed, including one police officer.

Even in a city long accustomed to extraordinary police violence, where authorities frequently wage warlike operations inside neighborhoods under the control of criminal organizations, the death toll was shocking, showing the enduring grip of violence on Latin America's largest country.

"Really grim moment in Brazil," said Robert Muggah, co-founder of the Igarape Institute, a Rio-based think tank that tracks trends in violence. "These shootings are obviously routine in Rio de Janeiro, but this is unprecedented, in that it's the operation that has generated the largest number of deaths, ever."

He called it a "dangerous reminder of the persistence of police violence in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil."

In a statement published to social media, police mourned the death of the officer, Andre Leonardo de Mello Frias. Police said the operation was launched based on "concrete intelligence information."

"The criminals reacted forcefully," police said in a statement. "Not only to flee, but with intent to kill. Unfortunately, the warlike scenario imposed by these criminal groups proved the importance of these operations so that they don't grow stronger."

Police violence and crime has in recent years been one of Brazil's most polarizing political discussions. Police forces kill thousands of Brazilians every year, most Black and poor. In 2019, police killed about 5,800 people.

The violent operations have been encouraged by a cadre of political leaders who have won recent elections running on a message that warlike tactics are necessary to curb crime and regain control of territories lost to gangs. "A cop who doesn't kill isn't a cop," President Jair Bolsonaro once said.

Thursday's killings left many in the country shocked and outraged. Some questioned whether police were flouting a court ruling last year that forbade them from storming favelas during the pandemic unless under "absolutely exceptional" circumstances. Others said the brief respite in police violence that held in the early months of the pandemic was largely over. Some called it a large-scale execution.

"In this badly planned operation a police officer was killed," said Silvia Ramos, a social scientist at University Candido Mendes. "And this operation became one of revenge. And police simply killed more than 20 people."

Renata Souza, a state representative raised in Complexo da Mare, a dangerous and large favela frequently targeted by police, called the liberalization of police violence a "policy of death."

"Security police should be about justice and not vengeance," she tweeted Thursday. "The governor of Rio is following in the steps of the president and is making genocide a state policy."

- - -

The Washington Post's Heloisa Traiano contributed to this report.
One can be sure that she is not going to become more civil in her utterances and for the next five years , she will focus mainly on abusing Prime Minister Modi rather than focusing on improving the economic conditions and social harmony in the state.

by N.S.Venkataraman

During the recent election campaign in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee declared herself as a street fighter , even as she was campaigning for third term as Chief Minister of West Bengal.

During the election campaign , Mamata Banerjee spoke little about the economic and industrial progress achieved during the ten years of her Chief Ministership but she focused more about her street fighting capability and dharna politics.

Obviously, she must have come to the conclusion during the ten years of her Chief Ministership that the West Bengal people only want a street fighter as Chief Minister, even if the person would not be an able and forward looking administrator. Obviously, the electoral verdict shows that Mamatas conclusion was correct.

In the typical pattern of her past methods, she suddenly announced that she had been attacked in Nandigram and she claimed that the attack resulted in a fracture of her leg. Then, she converted herself to be a wheelchair campaigner during the election period .. Several orthopaedic specialists doubt whether it was a serious fracture. On the other hand, it was opined that it could be a sprain , since she was able to move about in a wheelchair waving her hands in all directions and constantly turning her body in several directions without showing any sign of pain. She was confident enough to enact this what appears to be a drama , since she was confident that most people in West Bengal can be convinced to believe that she was a victim of violence.. Again Mamata Banerjee was right in thinking that she could get sympathy votes by projecting herself as a victim of violence .

The main theme of her campaign during the election was alternating between heaping abuse on the Prime Minister Modi and heaping abuse on the Election Commission. Many people believe that Mamata Banerjee was brainwashing her followers to make them think that the Election Commission was motivated against her, so that a massive agitation can be launched against the Election Commission and blaming it , in case she were to lose the election. But, she has won the election in a big way , which obviously indicates that there was no malpractice against her.

However, she lost the election in Nandigram and she is not accepting the defeat gracefully. She is now blaming the Election Commission for her defeat , as if some mischief has been done in counting . This is typical of her past behavior, as she never hesitated to abuse or blame anyone or any agency , if situations were not in her favour.

Immediately after the election, Mamatas party men indulged in huge violence resulting in the death of persons belonging to opposition parties and some of Mamatas party men appear to term it as an event for celebration of victory.Typical of her past behavior , she is blaming BJP for violence, even before investigating the details , though BJP appears to be victim of violence in this case.

One can be sure that she is not going to become more civil in her utterances and for the next five years , she will focus mainly on abusing Prime Minister Modi rather than focusing on improving the economic conditions and social harmony in the state.

With the recent victory in the election and becoming the Chief Minister of the state for the third term, Mamata Banerjee should be feeling confident that her demonstrative public postures, hurling abuses against opposition parties and use of vituperative language have been proved as the correct strategy to stay as Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Certainly, having her way so far with all its faults, Mamata Banerjee would seek the position of national leadership in the coming days and dream that she can dethrone Prime Minister Modi.

As she learns nothing and forgets nothing , her goal of dethroning Modi would becomeA pipe dream. She is essentially a state level leader and would continue to remain so, as she does not have the attributes to become a national leader.

Now, emboldened more than ever by her recent victory in West Bengal, the governance in West Bengal will go for a toss, as Mamata Banerjee would continue to use impolite language and involve herself in public demonstrations and political postures. By such methods , she will certainly get media publicity, particularly since the media likes to focus only on such behavior of political leaders . However, as the country has seen enough of Mamata Banerjee now, she will go no further.
The high expectations in the agency over Cohens imminent departure are not due to any operational failures, but reflect the disgust at his behavior and fears that he was politically motivated

by Yossi Melman

Many of the Mossads 7,000 employees  certainly the senior ones at the highest level  are eagerly awaiting the retirement of their commander and chief, Yossi Cohen, in a months time.

Cohen, who met with U.S. President Joe Biden and also CIA Director William Burns in Washington last week, is expected to continue with his farewell events over the next month. The highlight will be a party scheduled for the final week of May, apparently in the spacious hall of a new building at Mossad headquarters in Glilot, just north of Tel Aviv. Invitations (without an exact location) have already been sent out by email.

The sense of eagerness about Cohens departure does not stem from operational or intelligence failures. In fact, the opposite is true: During Cohens tenure  which was extended to five-and-a-half years  the Mossad had a number of impressive achievements, not only in the fight to delay and disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, but in gathering intelligence on Hezbollah, Syria and ISIS activities all over the world.

The reason for the high expectations is that in Israels spy organization, people are sick and tired of Cohens behavior, his cult of personality; his close ties to the media and wealthy Israeli and foreign businesspeople; the loyal service he provides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and the suspicion that has arisen more than once that his considerations are political.

Cohen will turn 60 in September. He was born in Jerusalem to a religious Zionist family, was a member of the Bnei Akiva National Religious Party youth movement and served in the armys Nahal infantry brigade.

At 24, without an impressive military or security record, he joined the Mossad in 1984 and completed its cadets course. Upon graduation, he was sent to serve as a case officer in Tzomet  the division responsible for identifying, recruiting and operating agents. One of the cadets with him was the renegade Victor Ostrovsky, who was kicked out and in revenge wrote a book smearing the Mossad and his fellow cadets, including Cohen.

Ilan Mizrahi, one of Cohens bosses and later the agencys deputy director, spoke about him recently on Channel 13 News. He was full of superlatives and said that back in the early stages, the Mossad realized that Cohen was destined for greatness.

Cohen himself did not hide his aspirations. A former senior Mossad official mentioned recently how he heard from him, even when he was filling junior positions, that he believed that one day he would be the agency chief. He spent most of his career in Tzomet. He stood out for his elegant clothes. His colleagues used to mock his affectations and used them to play tricks on him, even during operations.

He served in the Mossad station in Western Europe, and after that was promoted and became the head of two other branches overseas.

In the 1990s, he took a break to go into business. He joined up with a young man who had left the Mossad and was considered to be a wunderkind, to found a digital ad firm called Image ID. Cohen was the marketing manager.

Even back then he had a talent for public relations. In that respect, he recalls to a great extent Netanyahu, who, after finishing his degree at MIT, worked as a sales agent for the Israeli Rim furniture company.

When Cohen realized that Image ID was not going anywhere, he returned to the Mossad, where he stood out once again. His creativity and cunning, as in the organizations motto, enabled him to rise to be selected as the head of Tzomet.

Then-Mossad chief Meir Dagan was hugely impressed by Cohen and, in 2005, appointed him head of a special project for recruiting agents and running them in operations to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons program. Later, Cohen was named deputy director of the agency under Tamir Pardo. He came to the attention of Netanyahu and his wife Sara after he participated in a number of meetings on the Iranian issue in the Prime Ministers Office.

Netanyahu was not disappointed by Cohen after he named him head of the National Security Council in 2013. Cohen wrote two controversial opinions in support of Netanyahus stances: one justified the natural gas agreement that enabled the company owners to sell it for inflated prizes, allegedly because of its beneficial effect on Israels relations with Egypt and Jordan; the other concerned the need for Israel to purchase more submarines and missile ships.

In spite of his closeness to Netanyahu, Cohen spent a number of nerve-racking months before he was appointed Mossad director in 2015. He thought the job was his, but Netanyahu hesitated.

While he was waiting, Cohen began looking for career alternatives, talking with the billionaire businessman Arnon Milchan and his Australian partner James Packer about forming a cybersecurity company. Packer, as Haaretzs Gidi Weitz reported in a riveting investigation last week, offered to compensate Cohen to the tune of $10 million.

Pardo thought Cohen was not a suitable fit to lead the Mossad, but included his name among the three candidates he presented to Netanyahu. The other two, who also served as deputy directors of the agency, were Ram Ben Barak (now a lawmaker) and N. The latter was Pardos preferred candidate, but Netanyahu did not ask Pardos opinion. Dagan, who was no longer serving in any official position, recommended Cohen.

When Netanyahu interviewed the candidates, he asked if they would be loyal to him personally. N. and Ben Barak were shocked, and replied that they were loyal to the country. Netanyahu announced the news of Cohens selection in a live broadcast.

Tehran in his sights

As Mossad chief since 2016, Cohen made a number of organizational changes  including establishing a strategic-diplomatic directorate, which handles Israels growing ties with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. These are relations that Cohens predecessors had also nurtured and pushed.

From the very beginning, Cohen spoke about the need for the Mossad to be a more operational organization, even though it was already that during the days of Dagan and Pardo.

Among the operations attributed to the agency under Cohens leadership are the killings of Hamas engineers in Malaysia and Tunisia, and obtaining information on jihadists plans to attack Israeli and Jewish targets outside of Israel and passing it on to respective foreign security services.

But Cohen sees his crowning achievement as the Mossads daring operations against Iran  first and foremost the theft of Irans nuclear archive in January 2018. The operation, urged on by Netanyahu and Cohen, put the wind in the sails for then-President Donald Trump to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran that May and then impose harsh sanctions.

Like Netanyahu, Cohen thought all along that the nuclear agreement was bad and looked for ways to thwart it. In July 2020, an explosion took place in an aboveground facility for uranium enrichment in Natanz. Four months later came the killing of Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who for two decades was in charge of Irans weaponization  the most important stage in the process of assembling a nuclear bomb.

Last month, Natanzs electric system caused serious damage to the underground chamber where the facilitys centrifuges are located. The operation occurred under Cohens watch and should be credited to him.

Operations like these are the work of teams involving hundreds of desk officers, intelligence analysts and researchers, cybersecurity experts and agents in the field who risk their lives and remain anonymous. Many of them are proud of their achievements but unhappy that their charismatic commander leaves the impression that it was all done single-handedly.

The Mossad is an organization that operates on the principle of continuity: Each chief harvests the fruits his predecessor grew and invests in making sure his successor enjoys the same inheritance.

More than that, the operations described above, and many more, are the result of long-term planning, information-gathering and penetration. The final stage is only the tip of the iceberg. The decision about if and when to give the orders is an operational-intelligence decision, but it can unfortunately often be political.

Thats exactly where the claims of Netanyahu-Cohen critics come in: They suspect that the timing of recent sabotage operations against Iran attributed to the Mossad or the Israel Defence Forces isnt accidental, and that they were designed to undermine the United States intentions to return to the Iran nuclear deal.

Problematic behavior

Alongside the many successful operations of the past five-and-a-half years, its important to remember that Cohens tenure was also filled with personal problematic behavior.

His close ties with businesspeople continued while he headed the Mossad, based on the principle of cast thy bread upon the waters. Among other things, real estate magnate Alfred Akirov and diamond dealer Beny Steinmetz were invited to give lectures at Mossad headquarters. Cohen befriended Milchan and Packer, who recently admitted that he is bipolar.

Just like the prime ministers reckless son Yair Netanyahu, the Mossad chief allowed himself to be hosted in Packers posh suite at Tel Avivs Royal Beach Hotel and with his help (and that of Milchan), established a connection with the Indian tycoon Ratan Tata. The Packer connection resulted in Cohen getting several free tickets to a performance by Mariah Carey (Packers girlfriend at the time).

The Civil Service Commission looked into the matter, but decided to close the case. However, the latest revelation by Weitz, concerning a $20,000 cash gift Cohen allegedly received from Packer for his daughters wedding, is in a different league.

Cohen also tried to mediate a business dispute between the car importers Rami Ungar and Michael Levi, an affair that also involved the private detective and ex-Mossad operative Aviram Halevi.

But perhaps the culmination of Cohens problematic and baffling behavior took place when he reportedly flew in a private plane to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to meet with former President Joseph Kabila and the diamond magnate Dan Gertler. Gertler is under U.S. sanctions in connection with allegations of bribery involving Kabila. U.S. President Trump lifted the sanctions on Gertler just before leaving the White House; Biden reimposed them in March. It is unprecedented for a Mossad chief to travel to a foreign country and meet with a former leader of that country without informing the serving head of state first.

Cohens efforts to organize meetings between Netanyahu and Arab leaders before the last election had the whiff of politics to them. Nor did Cohen hide his aspirations to one day be the prime minister of Israel.

For better or worse, the Cohen era has shown that Israel can no longer rely on a relationship solely of trust between the Mossad chief and the prime minister (who has the power to appoint the agency head without any need for cabinet approval). Whatever government comes to power in Israel next must urgently pass a Mossad law, similar to the Shin Bet security service law of 2002, that regulates the organizations activities.

Twenty years ago, then-Justice Minister Yossi Beilin proposed legislation that would have regularized the status of the Mossad like the CIA bill does, and defined its authority, rights and responsibilities to the public and legally, and established the responsibility of the state to Mossad operatives  who in many cases work overseas on missions that violate other countries sovereignty.

The idea has been raised again and again over the years, and even reached the stage of a written bill during the terms of Dagan and Pardo. Netanyahu and the Justice Ministry backed the draft, but after Cohen took over as Mossad chief, the bill was shelved. We can only hope that D., the deputy director of Mossad who Netanyahu picked five months ago to be Cohens successor, will act to advance this law.

Through no fault of his own, D. finds himself in the midst of a serious political crisis and so, contrary to his personal feelings and to democratic norms, his name has so far been barred from publication. Orna Barbivai, chairwoman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said recently she would look into the matter.

With the end of Cohens term, one of D.s most urgent tasks will be to restore the Mossad to its role of collecting intelligence and engaging in special operations the way it has traditionally operated: As a covert organization, operating behind the scenes and avoiding PR and politicization  and where decisions are made in the interests of the state, without fanfare.

Yossi Melman is an Israeli writer and journalist, works for the Haaretz newspaper, where this piece first appeared.
After 20 years of the incredible destruction caused by this war, and after inflaming animosity between all the Afghan groups, the United States has returned to the exact policy prescription of Abdul Haq: political dialogue.

by Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad

The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 was criminal. It was criminal because of the immense force used to demolish Afghanistans physical infrastructure and to break open its social bonds.

On October 11, 2001, journalist Anatol Lieven interviewed the Afghan leader Abdul Haq in Peshawar, Pakistan. Haq, who led part of the resistance against the Taliban, was getting ready to return to Afghanistan under the cover of the U.S. aerial bombardments. He was, however, not pleased with the way the United States had decided to prosecute the war. Military action by itself in the present circumstances is only making things more difficultespecially if this war goes on a long time and many civilians are killed, Abdul Haq told Lieven. The war would go on for 20 years, and at least 71,344 civilians would lose their lives during this period.

Abdul Haq told Lieven that the best thing would be for the U.S. to work for a united political solution involving all the Afghan groups. Otherwise, there will be an encouragement of deep divisions between different groups, backed by different countries and badly affecting the whole region. These are prescient words, but Haq knew no one was listening to him. Probably, he told Lieven, the U.S. has already made up its mind what to do, and any recommendations by me will be too late.

After 20 years of the incredible destruction caused by this war, and after inflaming animosity between all the Afghan groups, the United States has returned to the exact policy prescription of Abdul Haq: political dialogue.

Abdul Haq returned to Afghanistan and was killed by the Taliban on October 26, 2001. His advice is now out-of-date. In September 2001, the various protagonists in Afghanistanincluding the Talibanwere ready to talk. They did so partly because they feared that the looming U.S. warplanes would open the doors to hell for Afghanistan. Now, 20 years later, the gulf between the Taliban and the others has widened. Appetite for negotiations simply does not exist any longer.

Civil War

On April 14, 2021, the speaker of Afghanistans parliamentMir Rahman Rahmaniwarned that his country is on the brink of a civil war. Kabuls political circles have been bristling with conversations about a civil war when the United States withdraws by September 11. This is why on April 15, during a press conference held in the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Sharif Amiry of TOLOnews asked U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the possibility of a civil war. Blinken answered, I dont think that it is in anyones interest, to say the least, for Afghanistan to descend into a civil war, into a long war. And even the Taliban, as we hear it, has said it has no interest in that.

In fact, Afghanistan has been in a civil war for half a century, at least since the creation of the mujahideenincluding Abdul Haqto battle the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan government (1978-1992). This civil war was intensified by the U.S. support of Afghanistans most conservative and extreme right-wing elements, groups that would become part of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other Islamist factions. Never once has the United States offered a path to peace during this period; instead, it has always shown an eagerness at each turn to use the immensity of the U.S. force to control the outcome in Kabul.

Withdrawal?

Even this withdrawal, which was announced in late April 2021 and began on May 1, is not as clear-cut as it seems. Its time for American troops to come home, announced U.S. President Joe Biden on April 14, 2021. On the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense clarified that 2,500 troops would leave Afghanistan by September 11. In a March 14 article, meanwhile, the New York Times had noted that the U.S. has 3,500 troops in Afghanistan even though [p]ublicly, 2,500 U.S. troops are said to be in the country. The undercount by the Pentagon is obscurantism. A report by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, furthermore, noted that the United States has about 16,000 contractors on the ground in Afghanistan. They provide a variety of services, which most likely include military support. None of these contractorsor the additional undisclosed 1,000 U.S. troopsare slated for withdrawal, nor will aerial bombardmentincluding drone strikesend, and there will be no end to special forces missions either.

On April 21, Blinken said that the United States would provide nearly $300 million to the Afghanistan government of Ashraf Ghani. Ghani, wholike his predecessor Hamid Karzaioften appears to be more of a mayor of Kabul than the president of Afghanistan, is being outflanked by his rivals. Kabul is buzzing with talk of post-withdrawal governments, including a proposal by Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to form a government that he would lead and that would not include the Taliban. The U.S., meanwhile, has consented to the idea that the Taliban should have a role in the government; it is now being said openly that the Biden administration believes the Taliban would govern less harshly than it did from 1996 to 2001.

The United States, it appears, is willing to allow the Taliban to return to power with two caveats: first, that the U.S. presence remains, and second, that the main rivals of the United Statesnamely China and Russiahave no role in Kabul. In 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in Chennai, India, where she proposed the creation of a New Silk Road Initiative that linked Central Asia through Afghanistan and via the ports of India; the purpose of this initiative was to cut off Russia from its links in Central Asia and to prevent the establishment of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which now runs all the way to Turkey.

Stability is not in the cards for Afghanistan. In January, Vladimir Norov, former foreign minister of Uzbekistan and the current secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), addressed a webinar organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. Norov said that Daesh or ISIS has been shifting its fighters from Syria to northern Afghanistan. This movement of extremist fighters is of concern not only to Afghanistan but also to Central Asia and to China. In 2020, the Washington Post revealed that the U.S. military had been providing aerial support for the Taliban as it made gains against ISIS fighters. Even if there is a peace deal with the Taliban, ISIS will destabilize it.

Forgotten Possibilities

Forgotten are the words of concern for Afghan women, words that provided legitimacy for the U.S. invasion in October 2001. Rasil Basu, a United Nations official, served as a senior adviser on womens development to the Afghan government from 1986 to 1988. The Afghan Constitution of 1987 provided women with equal rights, which allowed womens groups to struggle against patriarchal norms and fight for equality at work and at home. Because large numbers of men had died in the war, Basu told us, women went into several occupations. There were substantial gains for womens rights, including a rise in literacy rates. All this has been largely erased during the U.S. war over these past two decades.

Even before the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988-89, men who are now jockeying for powersuch as Gulbuddin Hekmatyarsaid that they would undo these gains. Basu remembered the shabanamas, notices that circulated to women and warned them to obey patriarchal norms (she submitted an opinion piece warning of this catastrophe to the New York Times, to the Washington Post, and to Ms. Magazine, all of whom rejected it).

Afghanistans last communist head of governmentMohammed Najibullah (1987-1992)submitted a National Reconciliation Policy, in which he put womens rights at the top of the agenda. It was rejected by the U.S.-backed Islamists, many of whom remain in positions of authority today.

No lessons have been learned from this history. The U.S. will withdraw, but will also leave behind its assets to checkmate China and Russia. These geopolitical considerations eclipse any concern for the Afghan people.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Noam Chomsky is a legendary linguist, philosopher, and political activist. He is the laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona. His most recent book is Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet.

Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.
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South Bend Tribune

With the end of the school year just around the corner, local high schools are making plans, seeking health department approval and moving forward with celebrations to recognize the Class of 2021.

Heres how schools across St. Joseph County are planning to celebrate their second year of graduations during the coronavirus pandemic.

South Bend

The South Bend Community School Corp. will repeat its outdoor graduation ceremonies at Four Winds Field, organized at the South Bend Cubs home last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Outdoor graduation ceremonies for the districts five high schools and Adult Education program will be spaced out over three days beginning June 3.

Students will be allowed a limited number of guests, and masks will be required among all participating graduates, staff and visitors.

High-risk individuals are encouraged to tune into a livestream of the weekends events.

Graduation events include:

Rise Up Academy: 4:30-5:30 p.m. June 4 (doors open at 4 p.m.)

Adams: 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 4 (doors open at 5:45 p.m.)

Adult Education: 9:30-10:30 a.m. June 5 (doors open at 9 a.m.)

Clay: Noon to 1:30 p.m. June 5 (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)

Washington: 2:30-3:30 p.m. June 5 (doors open at 2 p.m.)

Riley: 3:30-5 p.m. June 6 (doors open at 2:45 p.m.)

Mishawaka High School

Mishawaka High School will have commencement at 6 p.m. May 28 outdoors at the school's stadium.

Mishawaka school leaders planned a staggered ceremony last summer to recognize graduates in smaller groups after Indianas Back on Track reopening plan limited large group gatherings.

Students this year will be allowed up to four guests.

Penn High School

Penn High School will celebrate its Class of 2021 this year with an outdoor graduation at 7 p.m. June 4 at the schools TCU Freed Field.

Last year, Penn had a virtual graduation in late May. The school scrapped plans for an in-person commencement in July after state plans delayed their progression to full reopening.

A district spokeswoman said the high schools plans have been reviewed and approved by the St. Joseph County Health Department.

Students this year must register in advance of the ceremony and will be allowed up to two guests.

Ticket holders for each graduate will be asked to sit together and masks will be required. A rain date is set for 7 p.m. June 6.

The ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

More information on attending this years commencement in-person and virtually is available on the Penn High School website at penn.phmschools.org/main-news/class-2021-commencement-information.

Saint Joseph High School

Saint Joseph High School is planning an indoor commencement at 2 p.m. May 30 at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

Students are allowed four guest tickets each, or six for families with two students graduating this year, with additional tickets available upon request.

Saint Joseph celebrated last years graduates with an outdoor commencement in the summer at the high schools Leighton Stadium.

Morris staff will assist this year with socially distanced seating among students and guests, and masks will be required. Students and guests will be encouraged to self-screen for coronavirus symptoms before attending.

Marian High School

Marian High School also plans to celebrate its commencement this year at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

The school is planning a celebration at 7 p.m. May 28 for 140 graduates and their families using a safety plan approved by the St. Joseph County Health Department.

Marian will offer limited ticketing, but the event will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

Career Academy

As they did last year, graduates at South Bends Career Academy will celebrate in a drive-thru style ceremony in the parking lot of the academys sister school, Success Academy.

Commencement is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 29.

Cars are expected to line up in the Success Academy parking lot facing a stage and screen for the graduation processional.
By Dan McMenamin

Bay City News

Wednesday marks three months since Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced LeRonne Armstrong as the city's new police chief.

Armstrong is an Oakland native who started with the Police Department in 1999 and took over as its chief in February amid a sharp spike in violence in the city, with the homicide rate well above recent years and several hate crime attacks reported on Asian community members.

In addition, the department continues to be subject to federal oversight to oversee reforms mandated in a police misconduct case settlement back in 2003.

The chief spoke recently with Bay City News Managing Editor Dan McMenamin in an interview about what the Police Department is doing to address crime in Oakland, efforts to regain trust in the community, and priorities for the department's budget.

Q&A with Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Note: interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Question: You just started as chief in February. Have you had any priorities, first-day or first-month stuff, you were targeting and have you been able to accomplish it? How's it gone since you've taken over these first couple months now?

Armstrong: Well, if you've been covering Oakland for a long time, you know how challenging Oakland can be, right? From day one, I hit the ground running, really wanted to demonstrate to everybody that there was a change at the top, that there was going to be a difference at the department.

The first thing I started off was by talking about my three priorities: first, reducing violent crime in the city of Oakland, that Oakland should be a safe city. Me as somebody that was born and raised here, that lives here, I want to live in a city that's safe, for people in this community to feel like Oakland is a safe place to raise a family, safe place to go out and enjoy the fabulous restaurants and nightlife that we offer here. That really for me is my sort of North Star, making Oakland a safe city.

The second thing is that we've been under federal oversight for far too long. That 18 years with our negotiated settlement, it's a priority for me to get this department into full compliance. And so that's been my focus.

And then last thing but just as importantly is strengthening our relationship with the community. Obviously with calls for defunding and other things, it's clear that there's a need to strengthen this relationship so that people understand the value that this Police Department brings to the community -- that it's much safer with us than without us.

So really that's been my challenge and from day one I put a new executive team in place, half of my executive team is made up of women, the most diverse team we've ever had. My first week I was challenged with spikes in crimes related to our Asian community, so I immediately addressed that by creating a position out of the office of the chief of police called the community liaison officer, and that officer is able to communicate with the community in their own language. We've seen tremendous benefits as a result of that, and they have been building relationships with Chinatown, meeting with the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, meeting with our merchants in the area, and also working closely with even community volunteers that are present in Chinatown.

We had a reduced budget as a result of COVID, the city of Oakland faced some financial difficulties, and that forced us to not only make cuts in the Police Department but all departments across the city. And it decimated our specialized units, we didn't have a sideshow detail anymore. We had reduction in staff in our Ceasefire teams, our traffic officers ... so that meant we had to come up with new strategies. One of the things I did was reorganize the department's focus on violence to create a new violent crime operations unit where I centralized some of the department's resources to be more focused on violent crime.

You know it's been a bunch of changes I've made since I've been in office. I will say that crime is still a challenge, we currently sit at 45 homicides, a 181 percent increase; we had 16 at the same time last year.

Question: So what do you think the reasons for that are? Are you identifying what some of the causes might be for the spike in crime?

Armstrong: Our Ceasefire strategy has been our primary strategy for violence reduction for many years. The pandemic meant we could no longer practice Ceasefire like we had done traditionally, which centered around direct communication. We couldn't do call-ins, which is the foundation of Ceasefire. We couldn't do what we call custom notifications, which are one-on-one messages with those at the highest risk of being involved in violence, whether it's committing a shooting or being the victim of the shooting.

Our most-vulnerable communities were already being impacted by COVID, but now they're being impacted by violence. And so recognizing people have lost jobs, people have lost income, people have lost housing -- all of these things are contributing factors. Also, you're dealing with the fact that everybody is at home now, for a year, something people hadn't experienced. Kids are out of school, communities are compressed because of "everybody stay home" orders, and I think tensions can be high.

We've seen violence occur, both group and gang violence has increased, but we've also seen sort of community violence increase, people's response to conflict has been to pick up firearms and use them. What we would traditionally see as a non-violent conflict has resulted in a violent response. We know COVID is having a tremendous impact in multiple ways, it will be interesting as they study this when we come out of this, what are the overall impacts. But we've definitely seen the impacts that it's having in the city of Oakland.

Question: You're the first Black chief born and raised in Oakland. Do you think that helps, having an Oakland native lead the department? I think the count was something like 12 acting or interim chiefs in 12 years, it's been kind of a revolving door. Do you think maybe having some stability and someone from the city itself will help calm things down?

Armstrong: Yeah, that's what I've seen. My team and I have been walking in communities across the city, and everywhere we go, I've been welcomed with open arms and well-received by the community and I think that matters. I spent my entire career working with the community, being accessible to the community. Me being in this position has just opened up an opportunity for people to believe there's going to be change, to feel like there's someone at the seat that they know and are familiar with, but also feel like someone that understands their problems, that understands the circumstances that they face. But they know I have the compassion, I have the heart and that I care about what's happening in our community, and that matters to people.

There's a lot of people that come into this position with the idea that 'I want to be the chief of Oakland, and it's a great job and a high-level position,' but it takes more to be an effective chief in the city of Oakland, I think you actually have to care, you actually have to be on the ground, with the people, connecting with the people to build trust, because you're not going to get anything done in the city if they don't trust you.

Question: You mentioned how COVID has affected everything as far as crime. How has it affected the day-to-day routine of officers, are they pretty much all vaccinated? Have there been some hesitant to get the vaccine, or early in the pandemic hesitant to handle a case if it's going into a home where someone might have COVID?

Armstrong: Initially, we wrestled with the same fears that everybody wrestled with, the unknown of what's going to happen if I go into somebody's home. We've been constantly adjusting, our officers, the vast majority of them have been vaccinated, which is good. We worked with the mayor and governor to open up opportunities for our officers to be vaccinated at the Coliseum site as well as the Alameda County site. So we've encouraged the officers, but not only our officers, our professional staff, to all be vaccinated because we're going to be in this building, going to be in environments around each other.

I want to also recognize the Police Commission, our Oakland Police Commission, actually advocated that officers be vaccinated, that we be pushed to the front of the line because officers are going out there every day, coming into contact with community members and they should feel safe. So really appreciate them stepping up as well, and the mayor has been tremendous. From the outset, we were the first department that was given access to COVID testing, that was really her working closely with the state to make that offer to us. We've also had a lot of donations, even from community members, of PPE. People have brought in masks, sanitizer. That's the story that's not being told in the community, that silent majority of people that actually care about their officers, and want to see them actually not be infected with COVID, want them to be healthy so they can come out and do their jobs.

Question: Another consequence of COVID is the rise in attacks on Asian community members. I know you mentioned some of that, but are there certain things you're doing like increasing patrols in Chinatown?

Armstrong: The Chinatown liaison officer was really critical to begin to change that dynamic. We've increased patrols in that area, brought in our command post and posted that in Chinatown as well. But most importantly, we've opened lines of communication with our Chinatown community. I think that's where we've seen the biggest gap, we weren't getting Chinatown residents and community members to actually report crime. We've now created a hate crime tips line for our Chinatown community. We've also partnered with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office for the creation of their hate crimes task force, which is also not only working with the department about our hate crime investigations, but they're also charging those investigations, educating the community on how to report hate crimes. So I think it's just a combination of resources and support that we've put into the Chinatown community. And we've seen over the last month and a half, a huge reduction in crimes in Chinatown.

Question: You mentioned the court monitor, and there's issues of transparency, and with the state of police affairs and "defund the police" campaigns, so what do you think the department can do to get more trust in the community among people that are still calling for the department to lose funding compared to its current status?

Armstrong: I just think that we've got to do a better job of making sure we're transparent with the community, that we are letting the community know that this department has been committed to reforms; that we have been one of the most progressive police departments in the country; that we have pushed for initiatives that have reduced overall stops by 60 percent over the last four years, particularly in the African American community. And so that was intentional, that has really been the department's effort to reduce our footprint, to stop over-policing in certain communities.

Also, we practice a thing called intelligence-led policing, which essentially requires officers to be focused, laser-focused, on those involved in violence as opposed to just making stops. One of the things we are excited about is we've emphasized de-escalation, and that's led to a huge reduction in officer-involved shootings. Some data that was just released actually shows the Oakland Police Department has the lowest officer-involved shooting rate of any department per 10,000 arrests. That's an intentional effort on the behalf of the department, to better train our officers and emphasize de-escalation. While we see all these incidents happening nationally, we should all find some solace in the fact that the Oakland Police Department is seeing our numbers go in a different direction, that we're using less force and not more, that we're seeing less fatal interactions between Oakland police officers and community members.

One of the key things that's been challenging for us in this pandemic is the increase in sideshow activity. It's just something we hadn't seen to this degree; and with the cut in resources, for several months we were unable to address it at all. When we talk about the defunding, over time, I think the politicians in our city, the council members, have actually recognized the community's call for more sideshow-related enforcement. So they reallocated dollars to the department three weeks ago to increase sideshow enforcement because of the loud outcry from our community. These things are so violent, not only are they taking over intersections, even in residential areas, they're leading to gunfire consistently. Now that we have really reinvested in our weekend deployment, we're seeing an increase in arrests, in tows. This is our effort to say that with the proper resources, we can address this issue of sideshows.

Question: So last question, you've talked a bit about the funding, when the City Council will be doing its next round of budget discussions, are there certain things you want to prioritize? And then the council is also discussing the MACRO (Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland) program, so can you just talk about priorities and thoughts on MACRO?

Armstrong: Our priority is the resources to address violent crime, sideshows, and compliance with the negotiated settlement agreement. We are in full support of the MACRO program, we believe that if there's an alternative group that can respond to calls of mental illness, that we would love to move those calls over to that group. The question for us is just when that resource is available to us. We will definitely be open to work closely, and we have been working closely, with the fire department for their development of the MACRO program.

Any additional resource that can open up more time for officers to respond to 911 calls for service is a good thing, not only for the department but for the city. That means that for those that are in crisis, or having an emergency and they pick up the phone and call 911, it's more likely that we'll be there sooner than we were.

As I talk about reform, I like for people to understand that in previous years we would do 10 hours a year of firearm training. What I've done is really taken away that 10 hours a year of firearms training and transitioned that into 10 hours of de-escalation training, with scenario-based training. I believe that if you take the gun out of an officer's hand and put them in front of screens to help de-escalate a situation, and actually rely on other tools that minimize the need particularly to use lethal force but force overall, it leads to better outcomes.

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

SANTA CRUZ (BCN)

A teenager has been arrested as a suspect in the slaying of an unsheltered Santa Cruz man in January, police said Wednesday.

Daniel Hartley, 37, was pronounced dead at about 6 a.m. Jan. 17 in the 700 block of Emeline Avenue. Hartley had moved to Santa Cruz in 2019 from Pennsylvania.

The suspect in Hartley's death is 16 years old and was arrested April 15, according to police. He was extradited to Santa Cruz County from Livingston, Texas, and was a Santa Cruz County resident when the killing took place, police said.

When officers found Hartley Jan. 17, he had suffered blunt force trauma to his head.

Anyone with information about the slaying is asked to call Detective Connor Bridges at (831) 420-5830 or leave information anonymously on the tip line at (831) 420-5995.

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South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  Under normal circumstances, the 22 cadets sitting in the auditorium of the South Bend Police Department on Monday would be 150 miles south in Plainfield, Ind., going through training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Instead, due to COVID-19 restrictions and delays at ILEA, cadets from agencies around Michiana are temporarily completing their training in South Bends police department using a combination of in-person instruction, Zoom and pre-recorded lectures.

This is the first time that we can remember that something like this has happened. Its kind of been born out of necessity with the pandemic, said Jennifer Fults, deputy director of ILEA.

Normally, police departments send new recruits to receive state-mandated training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, which runs a 15-week curriculum a handful of times each year.

However, COVID disrupted ILEAs typical schedule. The academy shut down for four months in 2020 and when it did start up again, class sizes were reduced from as many as 160 cadets per class to around 110.

The shutdown and restricted class size created a backlog of recruits around the state, which ILEA is hoping to remedy through regional training sites like the one taking place in South Bend.

They reached out to several departments in Indiana and ours was one of them, said Chris Brady, an officer with South Bend police who is facilitating the academy. We have a good working relationship with them and theyre familiar with a lot of our instructors.

When ILEA was shut down last year, South Bend sent a handful of recruits to train in Hobart, Ind., but the current partnership with ILEA means recruits can train even closer to home, as Brady, along with Sgt. Ken Stuart and Fults are coordinating efforts to communicate ILEAs curriculum to the class of 22 Michiana cadets.

I think its going rather well. Obviously, there are some things we ran into and we deal with that, Stuart said. We get that it is tough for any kid, any student to learn from a Zoom-type setting, but we try to make it interactive as much as we can.

The classes in South Bend use the same ILEA curriculum and include in-person instruction from ILEA teachers whenever possible. If an ILEA instructor isnt able to commute to South Bend to teach a section, the academy uses recorded lectures or Zoom instruction. Even for subjects using recordings, Stuart and Brady are bringing in certified instructors from local agencies to answer questions the cadets have.

The goal was to get as much live instruction as we could, Brady said.

Fults said the academys emergency driving and physical tactics units will still be taught in Plainfield, though firearms training will take place in South Bend, with Brady and Stuart as instructors. South Bend, Terre Haute and Anderson are currently the only police departments in the state hosting the regional training sites.

Of the 22 recruits in the class, three will graduate into the South Bend Police Department, soon bringing the departments total count of sworn officers to 223 out of a budgeted strength of 243.

The rest of the cadets are all from local agencies, including Mishawaka and Elkhart city police departments and St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaPorte and Marshall county departments, which is a unique boon to holding the training locally, Brady said.

I can say youre meeting the people you have a high likelihood of working with, Brady said.

Brady added that getting training closer to home is easier on recruits with families and the departments cost for each cadet is the same as when training is held in Plainfield.

Despite those advantages and her evaluation that the South Bend academy has been doing a phenomenal job, Fults said its unlikely ILEA will teach its curriculum at individual departments once COVID-19 restrictions at the Plainfield academy are lifted.

We are just better equipped to cover all the topics on the curriculum even though local departments have many subject matter experts, Fults said. It makes it a more consistent program to have everybody trained here at the academy.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the price of housing has risen in some relatively cheap places in the U.S. and fallen in some expensive ones. These dynamics were already apparent before covid-19, as superstar cities in the U.S. and abroad began to price themselves out of reach for many of the workers who kept them going. Then came a contagious disease that (1) temporarily shut down most of the things that make superstar cities attractive and (2) led employers to experiment with remote work on an unprecedented scale, making it easier to disconnect superstar-city jobs from superstar-city real estate prices.

Still, there's this pesky thing that happens when the price of housing rises a lot in a place where it used to be cheap: The place stops being cheap. Consider Boise, Idaho, which saw the sharpest rent increases over the past year of the 519 U.S. cities for which the economists at Apartment List make monthly rent estimates. Four years ago, renting a two-bedroom apartment or house in Boise cost 25% less than the national average, and even early last year it cost 17% less. As of April, it cost 1% more.

No, 1% isn't a lot more, and Boise remains a bargain compared with many of the places people are arriving from. There are 30 California cities in Apartment List's database with average April two-bedroom rents more than twice Boise's $1,144. But for those who aren't earning big-city wages and don't have bank accounts padded by big-city real estate gains, Boise is getting to be somewhat expensive. For those hoping to buy rather than rent, it has been for a while: According to Zillow's home value index, the price of the "typical" mid-range house in the Boise metropolitan area passed that of the typical house nationally in 2013, and as of March it cost 53% more.

To get a better sense of the strains that the great pandemic migration may be putting on typical workers' housing budgets in some of the places where people have been moving, I compared the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent estimates of median wages by metropolitan area (from May 2020) to Apartment List's April 2021 metro-area rent estimates, which combine findings from the Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey with monthly data from the company's own for-rent listings. The National Association of Realtors publishes a similar metro-area housing affordability index on a quarterly basis, but given how much rents have gone up in some places over just the past few months, it seemed worth trying a timelier measure. And yes, I could have done something similar with Zillow's home-value data, but renters could use some more attention, right?

My exercise revealed that yes, there do seem to be some interesting things going on with housing affordability at the moment. Judging by the number of hours a median-wage worker in a large metropolitan area (population of a million or more) would have to labor to pay the average monthly rent on a two-bedroom apartment, the usual suspects on the West and East coasts are still pretty unaffordable, but so are a few places that might surprise you.

By this measure, Orlando is less affordable than San Francisco, and Austin and Las Vegas less affordable than San Jose. They're not more expensive in absolute terms, of course; someone moving from San Francisco or San Jose would still find all those places to be pretty cheap, especially if they were able to keep working at San Francisco or San Jose wages. But most people in Orlando and Austin and Las Vegas don't have that option.

Sort through all 177 metro areas for which both wage and rent data are available, and nine of the top 15 are in California, mostly smaller metro areas within commuting or at least go-into-the-office-a-couple-of-times-a-week distance from the state's big coastal metropolises. (Metropolitan Boise comes in 70th place in this ranking, at 60.6 hours.)

Also relevant is that 12 of these 15 metro areas touch either an ocean or the Gulf of Mexico (and the three that don't - Riverside-San Bernardino, Napa and Vallejo-Fairfield - aren't far from the Pacific). Coasts both attract people who can live anywhere and constrain an area's ability to expand, neither of which is good for housing affordability.

Constraints on expansion of the housing supply are what has driven the real estate crisis in coastal cities. Some are physical: Most of the metropolitan areas in the above charts come in near the top of Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Albert Saiz's ranking of metros with the smallest amount of developable land (land that is pretty flat and not underwater) within 50 miles of the core city. California's Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Susana and Topatopa Mountains, is both the least developable and least affordable metro area in the country.

Since the 1960s, the East and West Coasts (California in particular) have also experienced what economists Chang-Tai Hsieh of the University of Chicago and Enrico Moretti of the University California at Berkeley term a "property rights revolution" of anti-development activism and regulation that's made it even harder to build enough new housing to satisfy demand. This revolution coincided, and to some extent collided, with a big increase in agglomeration. That's the economic value created by gathering lots of skilled knowledge workers in the same place - a phenomenon described by Moretti in his influential 2012 book "The New Geography of Jobs."

In a paper that was published in the American Economic Review in 2019 but circulated widely for several years before then, Hsieh and Moretti estimated that if land-use restrictions in just the New York, San Jose and San Francisco areas had been the same as that of the median U.S. city from 1964 to 2009, thus enabling them to house more people than they actually did, U.S. gross domestic product would be 3.7% higher. A few weeks ago, George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan discovered that Hsieh and Moretti made a simple mathematical error and that, according to their model, GDP would actually be 14% higher. That's a lot of lost output!

The sudden move to remote work occasioned by the pandemic seemed to offer a workaround. If knowledge workers could be as productive gathered virtually as crammed into New York high rises or Silicon Valley office complexes, then maybe those development constraints in high-priced cities wouldn't matter so much. Moretti, in an interview last month with Vox, said he doubted "the economic geography of the U.S. will be profoundly different in the long run" because remote working probably won't permit companies to access "those particular advantages that come from agglomeration." But he also acknowledged that the share of remote work will likely remain higher than it was before covid-19.

I'm not going to try to predict here how many of us will be working from home 10 years from now, but the shift over the past year has already been enough to send rents and home prices spiraling downward in some in-demand cities. If lots of new housing is built in these places, the price pressure could ease. Boise had an earlier stint as a fairly expensive place during the 1990s tech boom (chipmaker Micron Technology is based there), and price increases subsequently slowed to less than the national pace as lots more housing was built.

Still, the characteristics that attract remote workers - most of the metropolitan and micropolitan areas with the highest percentages of remote workers before the pandemic are in the mountains or on the beach - also serve to constrain new development. The remote workers themselves may add to those constraints by bringing new attitudes to town. Boise now has its share of Nimbys, too. In a few smaller, even more scenic metro and micro areas such as Boulder, Colorado; Bozeman, Montana; and Bend, Oregon, the combination of mountains, rising opposition to development and high demand have driven home-purchase prices up to or past the levels of metro Boston and New York, although they've still got a ways to go to catch San Jose and San Francisco.

The larger non-Californian-or-Northeastern metro areas on the least-affordable list are generally there for different reasons. In Las Vegas and Phoenix, overbuilding during the housing bubble led to a wipeout from which local home builders are still struggling to recover, with employment in construction still down 40% from its 2006 peak in Las Vegas and 25% in Phoenix compared with less than 2% nationally. It's down 18% in Florida, which also suffers from chronic housing-affordability issues because wages are so low.

Wages are higher in the big metro areas of Texas, whose wide-open spaces and loose regulatory policies have been the great counterexamples to the constrained cities of the East and West coasts. But even these may finally be reaching the point where their affluence and sprawling size become limitations. This is most obvious in Austin, but neither San Antonio nor Dallas-Fort Worth score particularly well on affordability either, with each requiring almost 62 hours of median-wage work to pay the average monthly rent on a two-bedroom apartment. Again, all these places still look cheap to a coastal Californian. But without coastal-California wages (and in particular San Jose-San Francisco wages), they're really not so affordable anymore.

Where is housing still affordable even for the locals? I'll start this time with the most affordable of all metro areas, a list full of places that it's hard to envision remote workers flocking to anytime soon.

To me the standout here is Akron, a leafy, centrally located city of about 200,000 with a lively-ish downtown, a big university and a national park less than 10 miles from both. It's also part of the same combined statistical area - sort of a mega metro area - as the almost-as-affordable Cleveland, a city that's gotten tolerably good press ever since the construction of Progressive Field and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the mid-1990s but has managed to keep on shrinking at both the city and metro-area level.

Restrict the ranking to metro areas of a million people or more, and there are a lot of such attractive-seeming cities.

Some of these places are already magnets for skilled younger workers (Pittsburgh, Columbus and Indianapolis stand out, but they're not the only ones). Others are iconic cities that fell on hard times but have been making a comeback (Detroit and New Orleans). One is my beloved former home (Birmingham). All the ones I've spent time in (I've yet to visit Milwaukee or Grand Rapids) are pretty nice places to live, and have either excess existing housing or make it easy enough to build that real estate costs aren't a major hurdle for most residents. I can sort of see why someone with no previous connection to them might not want to pick up and settle there as a remote worker. But for employers trying to navigate the shifting post-pandemic geography of jobs, they may deserve a closer look than they've been getting.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

- - -

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He was the editorial director of Harvard Business Review and wrote for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is the author of "The Myth of the Rational Market."
JAMIE LEE CURTIS called more magazine a few months ago. She had an idea for a story and photo shoot. The result is in the issue that hits newsstands today. The actress is photographed in her underwear as she looks in the privacy of her own bedroom, without benefit of stylists, makeup or flattering camera angles.

Curtis, famously fit in movies such as "Perfect" and "True Lies," looks like what she is: a 43-year-old mother of two. Squishy in the middle. Chunky in the thighs. Flabby in the back. Thick at the knees and ankles.

On the next page of the magazine is another photograph. It's Glam Jamie, as Curtis calls her gussied-up self. She's gorgeous in a sleek black dress -- carefully chosen to elongate and slim her torso -- and sling-back heels with ankle ties. The magazine reveals, at Curtis's request, that the transformation took 13 people and three hours.

Obviously, it is no great revelation that movie and television stars hide their physical flaws from the public, that the perfection we see on film is a fantasy created through lighting, makeup, clever camera angles and gauzy lenses.

Yet Curtis's true-life photograph has created the loudest press buzz since the magazine began publishing four years ago. The story has been picked up everywhere from Liz Smith's gossip column and the "Today" show to MSNBC's "Nachman," CNN Headline News, the London Daily Telegraph and USA Today.

Why?

Because in 2002, more than three decades into the women's movement, it is still a radical act for a woman to accept her body as it is.

"We knew the article was important," said Susan Crandall, editor-in-chief of the magazine, targeted to women in their 40s and 50s. "But we didn't know how huge it would be. Even a 23-year-old assistant at the 'Today' show, after we were on last week, said that the article made her feel so much better about her body."

'Today' interviewer Campbell Brown seemed aghast at Curtis' boldness, as if being photographed as she really looks is more shocking than being photographed topless (as Curtis was in "Trading Places").

"There is no way I would sit down for a magazine photo shoot with no makeup,

no control tops, no wonder bra," Brown said to the actress. "Were you scared at all?"

"What I'm scared of is that that's what women have become accustomed to needing to feel good about themselves," Curtis replied. "And show business and media and magazines don't help by promoting these images of women that are completely airbrushed, that are completely altered, to then give you, the unsuspecting buyer, this fake sense of that that's what people are supposed to look like."

Curtis has just written her fifth children's book, "I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem," which is what prompted the idea for the photo.

"I felt that if I'm going to try to promote something where I'm trying to explain self-esteem to children, I needed to live it," she said on the "Today" show. "And for me to live it means I need to be the person I look at every morning when I wake up and stand in the mirror, you know, kind of as God intended me to look."

The impossible ideal of the perfect body -- what we ought to look like -- has been etched in our brains since our first Barbie. One photo won't change that. But it is a reminder of where the revolution fell short. As we were getting the world to accept us for who we are, we never figured out how to accept ourselves.
When it comes to sparkling wine, there are a ton of different options out there, but for many it comes down to the choice of Champagne versus Prosecco. It's a battle of Italian versus French sparkling wines.

If youre not familiar with the differences between the two, it goes beyond the nationalities of each sparkler, and involves the grapes used, the production process, and even when you might drink each one (though theres no bad time for either, in our book). Read on for the differences between Champagne and Prosecco, according to certified sommeliers.

The production process

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When we talk about Champagne, we're talking about wines that undergo a specific process  known as the traditional method or the methode Champenoise  and that are made, specifically, in the region of Champagne, France, says Hannah Selinger, a Certified Sommelier and freelance lifestyle writer.

The easiest way to understand this production is that grapes are fermented, turning their sugars into alcohol, yielding a byproduct of carbon dioxide, which is not contained. The resulting wine is then bottled and fermented a second time, but this time the carbon dioxide is captured, says Selinger. The result is a wine that is double-fermented and bubbly. I don't want to get too far in the weeds here, but there are also only certain grapes that can be used in Champagne (technically seven, but the three most prominent varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier).

Champagne also undergoes a process called Riddling. Riddling refers to what happens during Champagnes second fermentation in the bottle. Its essentially a gentle tilting of the bottle over the course of months and months so that the neck of the bottle collects the dead yeast cells, which are then extracted from the bottle, says Selinger.

Sometimes this is done by hand, sometimes the winemaker uses a machine called a gyropallette. Proseccos process is a little simpler, and accounts for the difference in taste and the carbonations texture.

Prosecco, which comes from the Veneto region of Italy, is made using the so-called 'tank method,' says Selinger. A still wine is produced, just like in Champagne, and then the wine is fermented a second time in an enclosed tank that prevents the carbon dioxide from escaping, thus making the wine bubbly.

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This is why you might find the bubbles in Prosecco to be a little rougher than the smooth little pearls floating up from a glass of Champagne. The bubbles, or bead, in tank method wines will be larger and coarser, and the wine will have a less uniform texture than wines made by the traditional method, says advanced sommelier Michael Scherzberg. However, this method is appropriate  and even preferred  for sparkling wines emphasizing fruit and varietal aromatics rather than the toasty, nutty, creamy flavors derived from the breaking down of the yeast lees in the traditional method. The traditional method, in this case, refers to how Champagne is made.

In other words, Prosecco has larger and coarser bubbles and a fruitier flavor, while Champagne is smoother, with smaller bubbles and warmer, earthier flavors.

Where the wine comes from

Youve probably heard this before, but where the wine is made is integral to its name. Case in point: If youre drinking sparkling wine from France that isnt officially labeled as Champagne, its probably not  even if its made using the methode Champenoise, says Selinger.

Instead, its probably something called Cremant.

Other sparkling wines that come from France that are made in the same way but that are not in the designated region are allowed to use the title Cremant, which specifies that they are methode Champenoise, but not from the area of Champagne, she says.

Cremant can also be made from all different kinds of grapes, not just those used in Champagne, so Selinger says the difference in taste might be noticeable even to casual drinkers. Thats not a knock, though, she says  Cremant is super delicious  its just different. It's just a matter of what a grape tastes like, she says.

Its the same for Italys Prosecco: Just like how all French sparkling wine isnt Champagne, not all Italian sparkling wine is Prosecco  though Prosecco is the most important and renowned Italian sparkler, says Michelle Erland, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and an Italian Wine Ambassador through Vinitaly International.

Prosecco, says Selinger, is a designation of place and grape. She says that Prosecco can only be produced in its specific Italian denominazione di origine controllata (designation of origin, or DOC) and only from one grape: the Glera.

Authentic Prosecco DOC is easily distinguishable by the government seal, which must be applied on each bottle, adds Erland.

The price tag

So if theyre both sparkling wines, what makes Champagne so expensive  and special-occasion-worthy? Aside from sheer brand recognition (what drink screams fancy more than Champagne?) a lot of the price comes from the more elaborate production process, which not only involves the delicate riddling process, but in general takes longer than you might expect.

Basically, there is more labor and more equipment and more time involved in making Champagne, making it more expensive, says Selinger. Champagne takes at least 18 months to go to market, which means winemakers have to charge more for it.

And thats an accelerated timeline  Vintage Champagnes are aged for up to three years! Prosecco, on the other hand, can be made in just 30 days, which accounts for its comparatively cheaper price.

The purpose

While both are delicious for drinking on their own, one is probably the winner if you want to mix the sparkling wine with other elements. No one disagrees that a splash of Champagne makes for a great topper for some cocktails, but if youre wanting to get serious about mixed drinks, Proseccos relatively affordable price tag makes it a better option. It pairs well with the traditional Italian dishes as well as other international cuisines, says Erland  and a decent Prosecco drinks well on its own. With its moderate alcoholic strength, Prosecco DOC can be used for aperitifs, toasts and at social gatherings, she says.

Personally, I use it for cocktails, like bellinis, for which it's well suited, adds Selinger. To me, Champagne is a more serious wine, but not in a bad way. I prefer Champagne to Prosecco if it's just a matter of drinking.
The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people work, with massive offices in SOMA going empty and tech workers making an exodus out of San Francisco to places like Texas for greener grass, cheaper rent and nonexistent state income taxes. The result has been not only employees relocating to work remotely, but also a string of high profile company moves in 2021 and 2020, either shifting their headquarters, expanding to cities outside the Bay Area or simply putting their San Francisco offices up for lease.

The most notable move might not have been by a company but rather an individual. Back in May of 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk threatened to close his Fremont factory because of coronavirus restrictions. Although he has decamped for Austin, where he is building what he described as an "HQ," no news has broken since about the Fremont factory's future. However, given Musk's reputation for impulsiveness, its future is anyone's guess.

The organization sf.citi has done a thorough job of tracking some of the most prominent tech exodus news and data, reporting on the 16.3 million square feet of office space in San Francisco that is currently vacant. They surveyed companies in January 2021 and found that 63% of those asked plan to downsize or have already downsized their offices. The results of the survey also showed that only 14.6% of companies polled plan to have their employees return entirely to in-person work.

Additional data compiled by San Francisco venture capital firm Initialized Capital showed that new tech companies may not see Silicon Valley as the fruitful start-up landscape that it used to be. Only 90 companies were surveyed, so the findings should be taken with a grain of salt, but the amount of companies who said the Bay Area would be their first choice to headquarter a company dropped from 41.6% in 2020 to 28.4% in 2021. However, some prominent tech CEOs are still trying to rally companies to keep San Francisco in the front of their mind, like Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson, who posted his commitment to the Bay Area on Twitter with the hashtag #committothebay.

Here's a list of companies we've reported on in the past year who've decided to pack their bags, as well as several prominent companies catalogued on sf.citi and reported on by other sources like the San Francisco Business Times. As more are announced, we'll be adding to this list regularly.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

HPE, which had 5,992 employees in the Bay Area at the time of the announcement in 2020, isn't closing its San Jose campus, but will be moving its headquarters to Houston. In the company's fourth-quarter earnings release of 2020, President and CEO Antonio Neri cited remote work resulting from the pandemic being a large factor.

Oracle

Redwood City-based multinational tech company Oracle, with 18,121 employees in the Bay Area at time of the announcement, is also moving to Texas. In December 2020, it revealed it would be moving to Austin and implementing "a more flexible employee work location policy."

Uber

Although Uber has so far not officially made an announcement regarding its Mission Bay campus, the San Francisco Business Times reported that the ride-hailing company has "softly" marketed its lease on about 300,000 square feet of its more than 1 million-square-foot, four-building headquarters near Chase Center. Uber hasn't officially moved into the offices yet, making the rumored news even more dramatic for its employees.

Airbnb

As reported by the San Francisco Business Times, Airbnb listed 78,565 square feet of office space in SOMA on the market. The move comes on the heels of the announcement that Airbnb would be establishing a technology hub closer to the East Coast. The announcement says the company is looking for a city whose leaders will commit to "promote economic empowerment for its citizens"  perhaps a critique of the Bay Area's high cost of living  as well as other factors such as a "diverse technical talent pool" and an environment that people want to make their long-term homes for "hundreds of technical and non-technical roles over time."

Digital Realty

Digital Realty, a data center company with 1,500 employees worldwide, announced in January that they'll be moving to Austin, citing "central location, affordable cost of living, highly educated workforce and supportive business climate." The company already had about 20% of its workforce and 30 data centers in Texas, and at time of publication, have 97 employees on LinkedIn listed as working in San Francisco.

Salesforce

Although it's a stretch to say that Salesforce is relocating out of the Bay Area, one could say that its new headquarters is the cloud. The company announced in February that it would make its pandemic-related remote work policy permanent and has canceled a lease at a forthcoming downtown office in San Francisco. It has also subleased a portion of the offices at 350 Mission St., leaving Salesforce Tower as a divisive and underused monument.

Yelp

Recommendation-based website Yelp, which was parodied in late 2020 with a SOMA billboard, has put most of its S.F. headquarters up for lease. Yelp told SFGATE the following regarding the decision: "We plan to continue to maintain our presence in the locations where we currently have offices, including our headquarters in San Francisco."

Twitter

Another ubiquitous San Francisco tech company (and constant presence in the intro skyline on HBO's "Silicon Valley") has put its prominent SOMA headquarters up for lease. The 1355 Market St. offices listed 104,850 square feet up for lease following the announcement of a permanent work-from-home option for employees.

Pinterest

Design-minded social media site Pinterest has announced the cancellation of the construction of a high profile expansion of its San Francisco offices. Abandoning the 490,000-square-foot expansion was a costly decision for the company as the project had a $89.5 million termination fee.

Sf.citi also lists several other prominent companies who've downsized their Bay Area locations, including Wish, Stripe, Paypal, Brex, Optimizely and Credit Karma. See their full list here.

Katie Dowd, Joshua Bote, Tessa McLean, Andrew Chamings and Susana Guerrero contributed reporting to this article.
Sharon, PA (16146)

Today

Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms this evening. Clouds lingering later. Low near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms this evening. Clouds lingering later. Low near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Contributed photo

SHELTON  Social media safety will be the focus of a virtual parent night sponsored by the intermediate school and the citys police department.

This will be a Zoom event from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 19. State Trooper Kate Cummings will be hosting the program which is open to parents, guardians and caregivers, and will focus on tips and strategies for keeping children safe online.
WALLINGFORD  When Aliza Shapiro asked her ill 5-year-old daughter Vada, If you could have anything you want, what would you have? the child said, a cookie.

When told to give another answer, Vada responded, a unicorn.

Vada, who suffers from a rare, debilitating nervous system disorder involving a hemisphere of the brain, actually got her third choice  a puppy. And now, she has something better than a cookie or unicorn  Vada has a best friend, her mother said.

Penny, an adorable mini golden retriever  so gentle shell sit next to Vada in her pink Cadillac Power Wheels car  has been not only an emotional support and friend to Vada at a time the pandemic shut down the girls social life, but Penny also is making the girl physically stronger by keeping her active as she battles Rasmussens encephalitis.

Aliza Shapiro / Contributed photo

Theyre together all the time except for doctors appointments, and, even then, Penny comes along for the ride, Aliza Shapiro said. The goal is when Pennys old enough is for her to be trained as a service dog for mobility.

For now, Penny keeps Vada moving and building muscle strength and balance through play  they walk, toss the ball, climb stairs, follow each other and play tug of war with a rope. They even do tricks together.

Rasmussens encephalitis is a rare inflammatory condition that attacks one hemisphere of the brain and causes epilepsy and cognitive decline that affects both physical and mental ability, Aliza Shapiro said. Doctors believe Rasmussens encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder, but they are not sure, Shapiro said.

Vada lives with muscle weakness  she cant lift her right foot, and she wears a brace  and has numerous seizures each day, but not the type that make a person lose consciousness.

Shes a very happy little girl. Youd never know what she lives through every day, Shapiro said, noting Vada even dances through the seizures, when she can.

Aliza Shapiro / Contributed photo

Vada receives physical therapy and occupational therapy, and soon will start speech therapy because sometimes she cant find the right word even though she knows what she wants to say. She has tried 11 seizure medications, and is on now on three such medications, Shapiro said.

The only known cure for the disease is a major surgery in which surgeons disconnect one hemisphere of the brain, possibly becoming seizure-free, Shapiro said. The patient can learn to walk again, but it would cause some loss of fine motor control and vision impairments, she said.

The brain surgery could be in the future for Vada, as some of those who have had it have graduated from college, married and gone on to lead independent lives, Shapiro said. Vadas affected side is on the left, which might put her language ability at risk were she to have surgery.

The question about what Vada might wish for was posed by Shapiro because the family contacted Make-A-Wish Connecticut at the suggestion of a professional at Boston Childrens Hospital, where doctors had confirmed Vadas Rasmussens encephalitis following a surgery in January.

Aliza Shapiro / Contributed photo

The organization, headquartered in Trumbull, was able to grant the wish because of a donation of more than $10,000 from Quality Subaru in Wallingford.

We chose this because were trying to make a childs life better, said Jack Blanchard, customer relations manager for the Wallingford dealership. It is a beautiful, beautiful dog and they bring a lot of happiness to people in general  that unconditional love.

In addition to the dog, which was flown in from a breeder in Utah, Vada received a year of veterinary care for Penny as well as toys, dog accessories, dog food and a gift card to Petco.

Vada chose the name Penny off a list provided by her parents and that made Shapiro happy because her late mother, Pamela, had the nickname Penny.

When the Shapiros decided they wanted a mini golden retriever breed because it is small and sheds less, they contacted a breeder in Utah with a long waitlist. But the breeder, Michelle Taylor, was so touched by the story that she made Penny available, as she had held her out of a litter.

Aliza Shapiro / Contributed photo

Aliza Shapiro and Vadas father, Ethan Shapiro, said Penny is like a dream puppy  easygoing, smart and playful  but not over-playful.

Shes amazing. We could not have gotten a better dog, Aliza Shapiro said. I knew it was going to be a good dog because the breeder treated her dogs like their family dogs.

Ethan Shapiro, a dog person who grew up with dogs and is in charge of Pennys professional training lessons, said, Everything we are doing is to set her up to be service dog and help Vada.

Aliza Shapiro / Contributed photo

Once that happens, when Penny is old enough, she can accompany Vada to appointments.

Vada gives Penny a good morning kiss each day and sings her lullaby each night  All is Found from Frozen II  Where the north wind meets the sea, theres a river full of memory. Sleep, my darling, safe and sound. For in this river all is found.

I love Penny, Vada told a Register reporter.

When Vada met Penny for the first time, she exclaimed, Oh, my God, its my dog, and kept hugging her. She had seen pictures.

Contributed photo

Since there has been a pandemic and Vada hasnt started school yet, the only playmate shes had is her beloved older sister, Mila, 9. The family moved here from Florida a few years ago and thats where Vadas best friend lives.

Emotionally, its just having a best friend, Aliza Shapiro said of Penny.

Ethan Shapiro said the medical ordeal has been tough.

It gets to the point where you cant do anything for your kid and theres no worse feeling in the world, knowing theres nothing you can physically do to make your child better, he said.

Carin Buckman, spokeswoman for Make-A-Wish Connecticut, said the organization is in the business of delivering hope  more important in these trying times.

Hope is a superpower that kids living with critical illnesses, like Vada, have been tapping into long before many of us heard the word lockdown, Buckman said. The promise of a wish is so much more than a temporary escape. As weve seen with Vada and her puppy Penny, her wish has given Vada a wellspring of strength to keep fighting for better days.

Anyone interested in contacting the Shapiros can do so by emailing penny.jeanphotography@gmail.com.
Greg Swiercz

South Bend Tribune

MISHAWAKA  The city is trying to set up a COVID-19 assistance program for local restaurants with unused federal money it has for coronavirus-related help.

The measure  patterned after a similar program in South Bend administered by the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce  would set aside $250,000 for grants up to $5,000 for up to 50 restaurants in the city of Mishawaka.

The Mishawaka Redevelopment Commission is expected to take up the measure in a special meeting on Monday.

The city received $295,210 in September from the federal government in COVID money, which has restrictions on how it can be used.

So far, the money has not been spent. City Planner Ken Prince, in remarks sent to redevelopment members, said the city approached several local social service agencies that got money in the past for pandemic-related needs to see if they needed more resources.

The Mishawaka Food Pantry requested $45,000 for its food-supply and rental assistance programs, Prince said.

The Chamber subsequently offered to run the city restaurant assistance program. Prince said the $250,000 would be offered for the program to businesses that meet certain criteria.

Restaurants or bars must be public, independently owned or headquartered in the city and must be licensed. They also have to document at least one job retained and held by a low- to moderate-income employee and would have to show theyve made investments to increase the safety of patrons and their employees.

Applicants also would have to be free from any outstanding health orders or code violations from the city.

If accepted by the commission, the restaurant assistance program will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval.

In January, South Bend made innovation grants of up to $2,000 available to the 250 restaurants licensed by the city. The South Bend Common Council appropriated $500,000 for the program.

The South Bend criteria for the grant was similar to the Mishawaka proposal.

Several restaurant owners said in January they had spent much more than the $2,000 grant amount on measures to stay open.
Page Content

A new Indiana statute sets out the process for pregnant workers to seek a reasonable accommodation from their employers. The new law applies to employers with at least 15 employees. It goes into effect on July 1.

Pregnant workers may already qualify for a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, which applies to employers with at least 15 employees.

The new law provides that an employee may request, in writing, an accommodation related to pregnancy, childbirth or any related medical conditions. The employer must respond to the employee's request within a reasonable amount of time. Under the new law, however, the employer is not required to provide an accommodation. Existing federal or state law may require that an accommodation be provided.

Additionally, an employee who seeks an accommodation under the new law is protected from discipline, termination, or other forms of retaliation for seeking or using an accommodation. An attempt to accommodate or failure to accommodate an employee's request is not considered disciplinary or retaliatory.

Indiana's law is meant to be an expansion of existing state and federal protections and does not limit, diminish, or affect any state or federal laws concerning sex discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, family and medical leave, disability, or childbirth discrimination.

Indiana joins a majority of states, Washington, D.C., and at least four cities that have laws on their books regarding pregnancy accommodation. Critics of Indiana's law, including Gov. Eric Holcomb, argue it does not provide enough protection for pregnant workers. Three other pregnancy accommodation bills were introduced by the Indiana Legislature, with a wide variety of protections for pregnant workers. Given Holcomb's stance on this issue and the number of bills introduced this legislative session on the subject, discussion over this issue may not be over and could be debated by the Indiana Legislature in 2022.

Dorothy Parson McDermott and Drew C. Ambrose are attorneys with Jackson Lewis in Indianapolis.  2021 Jackson Lewis. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission.
The destruction meant fewer buses were running, she said.

"We had a brutal escalation of violence. Thirty civilians and 16 police were injured," Bogota's Mayor Claudia Lopez tweeted on Wednesday.

Bogota, May 6 (IANS) At least 46 people were injured in further violent clashes in Bogota and other cities in Colombia after a seventh night of protest.

There were renewed clashes between protesters and a special police unit, dpa news agency quoted the El Espectador newspaper as saying in a report.

Some 25 police stations were attacked and some were set on fire, according to the report.

There was further violence and destruction in other major cities including Medellin and Cali.

So far, 24 people have died in the protests, according to El Tiempo newspaper, citing the national ombudsman's office.

The protests began on May 5 when thousands of Colombians took to the streets to oppose a controversial tax reform that has since been withdrawn.

President Ivan Duque condemned the violence, and expressed his condolences to all those who had died during the protests, in a video shared on Twitter on Wednesday.

The UN and European Union expressed concern at reports of excessive police violence, but Duque did not address this.

In its now withdrawn tax reform draft, the government had wanted to reduce tax allowances, increase income tax for certain groups and abolish value-added-tax exemptions for a number of goods and services, to offset the deficits in the state budget caused by the pandemic.

However, protests continue with calls for further reforms.

--IANS

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Ali Hasan Osama, a radical preacher known as 'Banglar Osama' for his intemperate speeches, was also arrested from Rajbari district early on Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit Deputy Commissioner, Saiful Islam, told media persons.

Ansar radical Sakib has confessed to his plans to attack the parliament after his arrest from Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Wednesday evening.

Ali Hasan Osama is seen as a spiritual leader like Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, who was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in connection with secular blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider's murder.

Ansar use Osama's provocative speeches and books among their rank and file.

CTTC has reasons to believe that Sakib was member of the Ansar secret hit cell which was planning an attack on the Jatiya Sangsad. Other members of the cell and its leader are still at large, but CTTC has "useful leads" it does not want to reveal at this moment.

"The operation to foil the threat is still on and we are going for other members of the cell who are absconding," a CTTC official said.

It seems a Pakistani Islamist group, possibly Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e Mohammed was the mastermind behind the attack and the Ansar-al-Islam in Bangladesh was their preferred choice in the country to carry it out, they said.

They were operating in Bangladesh under cover of a Islamist humanitarian group working in Rohingya camps, the officials said.

Officials privy to Sakib's disclosure point to a plan in which a small cell would infiltrate the Jatiya Sangsad building and storm the hall during the session, lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately to kill maximum number of lawmakers.

Since most of them are from ruling Awami League, they would be "legitimate targets".

Sakib has hinted that their Pakistani handlers were interested in a high kill rate rather than hostage taking, which seemed the target of the attack on Indian parliament on December 13, 2001.

A similar max-kill strategy went into the August 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rally in Dhaka. BNP leader Tareque Rahman, believed to be close to Pakistan's ISI, is said to have commissioned the attack and his cronies planned with cooperation from ISI 'covert station' in Dhaka , according to Bangladesh intelligence sources.

"Essentially, the 1975 coup strategy of total elimination has influenced all these terror attack plans and this one would no different. The target is complete elimination of Awami League leadership to the extent possible, " said Bangladesh watcher Sukhoranjan Dasgupta, author of a book on the 1975 coup that wiped out almost all of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family.

--IANS

anvesha/vd


"Now.. the political consultations between Egypt and Turkey begins, chaired by Ambassador Hamdi Sanad Loza, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Turkish counterpart Ambassador Sadat Onal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Cairo," Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez tweeted on Wednesday.

Cairo, May 6 (IANS) Egyptian and Turkish delegations led by senior diplomats held talks in Cairo in a bid to normalise ties and end eight years of rift between the two countries.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

Egypt has designated the group a "terrorist" organisation.

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 normalisation of relations between the two countries", noting that the talks will be held on May 5-6.

--IANS

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In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the meeting on Wednesday was held "in order to discuss the developments of the GERD file and the Egyptian position in this regard", Xinhua news agency reported.

Cairo, May 6 (IANS) Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty held talks with US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River.

It did not provide further details.

Recent tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have failed to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project.

But Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the resources.

Sudan proposed a mediation quartet of the UN, the European Union, the US and the AU regarding the GERD issue.

Ethiopia, however, has announced its rejection to this formula.

In February, Ethiopia had announced that it would carry on with the second-phase 13.5-billion-cubic-metre filling of the GERD in June.

The volume of the first-phase filling last year was 4.9 billion cubic metres.

--IANS

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During the call on Wednesday, Erdogan stated that he expects the shipment of the vaccines to be sent from Russia as planned within the scope of the agreement, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ankara, May 6 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the delivery of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccines during a phone call, the Ankara government announced.

Turkey approved the emergency use of the Sputnik V vaccine last week, after signing a procurement deal with Russia for 50 million doses.

The first shipment is expected to be delivered sometime this month, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

Erdogan and Putin also addressed cooperation opportunities in the fight against the pandemic, steps to improve relations between Turkey and Russia, as well as regional issues during the phone conversation, according to the government.

--IANS

ksk/
South Bend Tribune report

South Bend Tribune

ELKHART  A Concord High School teacher is expected to be fired after reportedly making "inappropriate comments of a sexual nature," according to the school district.

Wednesday, school administrators learned of the alleged comments made by a male teacher and the allegations were reported to the Concord Community Schools Police Department. The Department of Child Services, in addition to school administration, began their own investigations.

The teacher has been placed on leave and the school district has began the processes of terminating his employment. The teacher is prohibited from returning to any school property or contacting students.

The matter remains under investigation by law enforcement and school officials. The Tribune is not naming the teacher because, as of Thursday morning, he has not been charged with a crime.
Manila, May 6 (IANS) The Philippines government has decided ban travellers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka from entering the country in efforts to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Covid-19 variant first found in India, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

In a memorandum issued on Wednesday, Medialdea said all passengers coming from or who have been to these countries within 14 days shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines from Friday to 14, reports Xinhua news agency.
"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 on Wednesday.

Tehran, May 6 (IANS) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the regime of US anti-Tehran sanctions has been shattere.

The US knows that it has to return to law and assume its obligations pertaining to the 2015 nuclear deal, commonly referred to as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he said.

He expressed the hope that the ongoing nuclear negotiations aimed at reviving the deal in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and other remaining parties of the JCPOA, namely the UK, China, France, Russia and Germany, will bear results, reports Xinhua news agency.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran's senior negotiator in Vienna talks, said earlier that negotiating parties have reached "common ground in many cases", but there are still differences.

According to the JCPOA, Iran agreed in 2015 to roll back parts of its nuclear program in exchange for decreased economic sanctions.

However, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its JCPOA commitments since May 2019, one year after former US President Donald Trump's administration unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

--IANS

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Seoul, May 6 (IANS) South Korea reported 574 more cases of Covid-19 as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 125,519.

The daily caseload was down from 676 in the previous day due to fewer virus tests on the Children's Day.

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.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Permanent solutions were needed to ensure employers in New York state take precautions to keep their employees safe during public health emergencies involving airborne illnesses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

The governor said it became clear during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that many employers did not have such guidelines, which he temporarily rectified through the use of Executive Orders.

Cuomo signed into law the NY Hero Act  the first of its kind in the United States  which outlines enforceable healthy and safety standards that private employers have to follow to keep their employees and communities safe.

The NY Hero Act also gives workers the authority to help keep themselves and their workplace safe from disease.

This is a historic step forward for working people and a preventative measure that will ensure were better prepared for the next public health crisis, Cuomo said.

The state Department of Labor (DOL) will develop and be responsible for enforcement.

The standards will encompass several different areas of workplace safety, including what type of ventilation indoors is necessary and when employees would need to wear face masks  two standards that employers dealt with when employees returned to work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Companies with at least 10 employees will also be required to form a special oversight committee to monitor implementation of new safety standards, NYNow reported.

If a business doesnt adopt a safety plan it faces a $50 fine per day, up to $200 per day if there are multiple violations within a six-year period, according to the report. Employees could bring their employers to court for law violations.

The law takes effect in 30 days.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Two American tourists were sentenced to life imprisonment Wednesday in the 2019 stabbing death of an Italian police officer.

Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, were found guilty by a jury in Rome of charges including homicide and attempted extortion, the New York Post reported.

The defendants, who are from California, maintained they were unaware the Carabinieri paramilitary officer was a member of law enforcement, saying they had acted in self-defense, according to the report.

The victim, Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, was called to investigate an extortion attempt involving the tourists and a purported street-level cocaine dealer, the Post reported.

The defendants said they mistook Rega and his partner  both working in plain clothes  as violent criminals targeting them on a dark street when the deadly fight ensued.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Monsignor John Paddack, a former top administrator at two Catholic high schools on Staten Island, has been named in a pair of new sex-abuse lawsuits filed this week, bringing the number of accusers up to at least a dozen.

In an interview with the Advance/SILive.com, attorneys from Jeff Anderson & Associates slammed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, for his handling of sex-abuse allegations against Monsignor Paddack, who previously served as principal of Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood and as a dean at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Huguenot.

Monsignor Paddack is named in two lawsuits filed on Tuesday against the Archdiocese of New York and other defendants under the New York Child Victims Act.

Monsignor Paddack is not listed as a defendant in either lawsuit and these two latest filings are not connected with the prelates service on Staten Island, but he has been accused of abuse in previous lawsuits stemming from his time at both Monsignor Farrell and St. Joseph by-the-Sea high schools.

The latest legal actions include a lawsuit by an anonymous male plaintiff identified in court filings as ARK 382, alleging abuse from 1987 to 1989, when the victim was 12 to 13 years old. The alleged abuse occurred at Incarnation R.C. Church in Washington Heights, where Monsignor Paddack was a parochial vicar from 1984-1991. The church is listed as a defendant.

Monsignor Paddack also is named in a lawsuit as the alleged abuser of an anonymous plaintiff identified as ARK 383 from 1996 to 1998 when the male victim was 15 to 17 years old. That suit alleges abuse took place at Incarnation and also Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx where Monsignor Paddack was a faculty member from 1991 to 1998. Both the parish and the high school are listed as defendants.

The two new filings allege that Monsignor Paddack engaged in unpermitted sexual contact with the victims.

Plaintiffs relationship to defendants and Msgr. Paddack, as a vulnerable child, parishioner, altar boy, student, and participant in church activities, was one in which Plaintiff was subject to the ongoing influence of defendants and Msgr. Paddack, each of the lawsuits state. The culture of the Catholic Church over plaintiff created pressure on plaintiff not to report the abuse plaintiff suffered.

According to both lawsuits, the defendants knew or should have known that Msgr. Paddack was a danger to children before Msgr. Paddack sexually assaulted plaintiff.

Prior to the sexual abuse of plaintiff, defendants learned or should have learned that Msgr. Paddack was not fit to work with children. Defendants, by and through their agents, servants and/or employees, became aware, or should have become aware of Msgr. Paddacks propensity to commit sexual abuse and of the risk to plaintiffs safety.

PRIOR FILINGS

We represent 12 survivors and were aware of a total of 15 lawsuits that have been filed under the Child Victims Act that allege Monsignor Paddack sexually abused boys, according to Trusha Goffe of Jeff Anderson & Associates.

He is an extraordinarily cunning predator who uses attention and kindness and his position in a really effective way to abuse children, Jeff Anderson said.

At parishes and schools where Monsignor Paddack worked, he typically held positions of authority that gave him opportunities to groom, isolate and abuse his victims, according to Goffe and Anderson.

So he had a triple whammy of power there, Anderson said. Hes a powerful priest, he is the teacher and hes also the principal, so hes got extraordinary points of access and unbridled power.

Although many of the accusers have decided to remain anonymous in their filings, Joseph Caramanno described in an interview with the Advance/SILive.com in 2019 how he sued after he allegedly was abused by Monsignor Paddack from 2001 to 2002 during school hours inside what then was the educators private office at St. Joseph by-the-Sea.

Monsignor Paddack was an academic dean and an educator at St. Joseph by-the-Sea from 1998 to 2002 when he became principal of Farrell.

Joseph Caramanno speaks about alleged abuse he suffered at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School at the hands of Monsignor John Paddack, inset. (Staten Island Advance/Rebeka Humbrecht)

A lawsuit filed in 2020 alleges that Monsignor Paddack sexually abused a boy at Monsignor Farrell in the early 2000s. The Archdiocese of New York and the high school in Oakwood were listed as defendants in that filing.

Joe Caramanno went very public with this and the other survivors all demonstrate and report to us very credible patterns of conduct by [Monsignor Paddack] where he uses gifts, where he uses attention, where he targets kids who seem to be vulnerable, but not just those that are, and uses his kind of gentle, caring, soft-spoken ways to isolate these kids in a variety of locations, Anderson said.

LAWYERS CRITICIZE ARCHDIOCESE

In February 2019, Jeff Anderson & Associates included Monsignor Paddack on its own list of alleged abuser priests, but the monsignors name was missing from an Archdiocesan list released to the public in April 2019 of priests credibly accused of sex offenses.

Given the number and scope of accusations, the attorneys question why Monsignor Paddack was allowed to voluntarily step down in 2019 as head of Notre Dame R.C. Church in Manhattan and remains a priest.

They say that hes on voluntary leave, in other words, he took a leave, not Dolan putting him on administrative leave for purposes of investigation, Anderson said, and so that is what the archdiocese status is, which means they claim hes not doing public ministry, but they are providing him the safe harbor, the pay, the privilege and the position there and still giving him cover, claiming that hes wrongfully accused, so the archdioceses position has not changed.

Anderson called the archdioceses handling of the matter stunning, disturbing and dangerous.

Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the archdiocese, said the Archdioceses Lay Review Board has not yet probed the allegations against Monsignor Paddack.

He remains a priest, although he is not permitted to function as a priest at this time, Zwilling said. The review board does not take action on any case while there is a civil case pending, and so has not looked into the allegations against Msgr. Paddack, and will not do so until the litigation has concluded.

In an interview regarding abuse allegations, Monsignor Paddack previously said: Nothing happened, believe me. I have a 50-year record of teaching. And its a good record, believe me. I think theyre seeing the advertisements on television and in the paper, and a chance to make money. Very sad, and it could ruin a reputation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An unlicensed driver from the Bronx was caught with a stash of drugs inside an Arizona iced tea can during a car stop by police in Port Richmond, authorities allege.

Reginald Paul, 41, of the 1300 block of Washington Avenue, was driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla with a forged, temporary Ohio license plate when the sedan was pulled over by police on April 29 at about 10:20 p.m. in the vicinity of Post and Port Richmond avenues, according to the criminal complaint and police.

Police recovered drugs that Paul intended to sell inside an Arizona iced tea container with a twist-off lid that was stowed between the suspects leg and center console, the complaint alleges.

The container held 75 clear glassine envelopes of heroin, three clear plastic twists of champagne-colored, powdered fentanyl and five tablets of the opioid addiction-treatment drug buprenorphine and antidote naloxone, police said.

The drugs are mine, the criminal complaint quoted the suspect as saying to police. I bought them in Carnarsie [Brooklyn].

Police allegedly found two glass pipes with heroin residue in the trunk.

His license had been revoked or suspended, according to the complaint.

Paul has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of a forged instrument, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle license violation.

The suspect has been released under supervision and is due back in Criminal Court on Aug. 2, according to public records.

An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



RELATED COVERAGE: Crime on Staten Island
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD reined in a horse that got loose in Stapleton Wednesday afternoon.

The chestnut mare was seen trotting down Ward Avenue, eating grass and sauntering through the neighborhood just before 6 p.m.

NYPD officers responded to the scene and later requested the departments emergency service units as the horse made its way to nearby Austin Place, according to an NYPD spokesman.

The horses owner was not present, police said.

The horse made its way over to the Goodhue Community Center, near Lafayette Avenue, before officers were able to corral the animal at around 6:18 p.m., according to police.

The horse was brought back to its residence at around 7:01 p.m., a police spokesman said.

It was not immediately clear if the horse observed yesterday was a chestnut mare named Morgie that is well-known in the neighborhood. The animal appeared to have different facial markings than Morgie.

Morgies owners could not immediately be reached.

A horse was on the loose on Austin Place in Stapleton. (Staten Island Advance photo)

Morgie was purchased by Ayat Masoud and Abdul Elenani in May of 2019. While they were initially boarding her at a ranch in New Jersey, they later discovered they could keep her right here on Staten Island.

One day we randomly came across the fact that its 100% legal to have a horse as a pet in New York City, Masoud told the Advance/SILive.com. We were house hunting way before that, and we had already gotten a closing for this house.

In order to keep Morgie in tip-top shape, Masoud and Elenani said they take her for rides once a day, when possible, and once every two days, at minimum.

According to the Health Department, its perfectly legal to keep a horse as a pet in New York City  as long as it is used strictly for recreation, and not for commercial purposes.
South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  After a round of court testimony Thursday, whether the South Bend police tapes case goes to trial still hangs in the balance.

St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Steven Hostetler heard arguments to determine if a group of former or current police officers have legal standing to challenge the release of certain audio recordings that allegedly contain racist comments and discussion of illegal activity.

Hostetler said he intends to issue a ruling on the matter by this evening.

Thursdays hearing also saw testimony from former police department communications director Karen DePaepe, who revealed there are nine conversations between five individuals recorded on the tapes. DePaepe also said in court that she took notes of the conversations at the time she made the recordings and can identify all five people.

The issue of the police tapes dates back to Feb. 4, 2011, when DePaepe came across recorded phone calls on the line of Brian Young, a captain at the time, while she was troubleshooting equipment. Young had unknowingly inherited a telephone line that previous officers used to record calls.

For now, the jury trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, though if Hostetler finds the officers lack standing, the trial will be canceled and the judge may potentially rule the tapes can be released publicly.

This case has been going on a long time and its important to get the right answer, not the quick answer, Hostetler said at the end of Thursdays hearing.

Daniel Pfeifer, an attorney representing the officers, said the judges ruling on standing will not bring closure in the case because the issue of whether certain tapes were made illegally will remain unresolved.

Whatever the courts ruling is, its not going to be the end of the case, Pfeifer said. After 11 years, there needs to be some resolution.

Thursdays hearing centered on whether a group of current and former officers, James Taylor, Scott Hanley and Sheldon Scott, have standing to challenge the Common Councils motion to subpoena for the tapes. The officers all claim they had conversations of both private and personal nature with Young during the time his line was being recorded.

Attorneys for the parties sparred in questioning DePaepe regarding who is on the tapes and her motives surrounding the creation of the recordings.

DePaepe testified that the tapes in question, which she said consist of nine conversations between five people on five cassette tapes, do not include any discussions involving Taylor, Scott or Hanley.

DePaepe also said she made extensive notes of the recorded conversations at the time and knows the identity of each person on the tapes, though she was not asked, and did not say, who was recorded.

Pfeifer questioned DePaepes credibility during the hearing, stating she has a motive to dislike Young and Steve Richmond because they were involved in a departmental investigation that led to her husband, who worked in the unit at the time, being demoted. Pfeifer also pointed to other testimony that indicates there are recordings of people who DePaepe said werent on the tapes.

She says whos not on the cassettes, but she doesnt say who is on the cassettes, Pfeifer said in his closing arguments.

DePaepe remained calm while speaking from behind a Plexiglas screen used for all witnesses due to COVID-19 safety measures.

Hostetler has previously ruled tapes made before Feb. 4, 2011, the date DePaepe discovered Youngs line was being recorded, can be disclosed because they were not made illegally. However, the judge has also said none of the tapes may be released until all appeals are exhausted.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A political operative lost his job three years ago when a campaign volunteer accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Willowbrook parking lot.

On Thursday, Naflan Doole, 25, lost his freedom.

Doole, lowered his head onto the defense table and wept as a jury convicted him of one felony count and three misdemeanor charges stemming from the attack on the 19-year-old victim on July 25, 2018, in his car in a parking lot at the College of Staten Island.

The Graniteville resident, however, was acquitted of the most serious charges against him  first-degree criminal sexual act (formerly classified as sodomy) and attempted first-degree rape.

State Supreme Court Justice Alexander Jeong ordered Doole held without bail pending sentence on May 27.

The Graniteville resident, who was garbed in a dark suit and open-collared black shirt, faces up to four years in prison, plus 10 years post-release supervision, on the top conviction charge  third-degree criminal sexual act.

He was also convicted of attempted third-degree rape and two counts of forcible touching. Those charges are all misdemeanors.

The defendant potentially faced up to 25 years behind bars had he been convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act.

Based on the nature of the charges in the indictment, the jury concluded Doole had not subjected the victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.

However, he was guilty of subjecting her to sexual contact after she clearly expressed that she did not consent to engage in such act, according to the indictment.

A reasonable person in Dooles situation would have understood the womans words and acts as an expression of lack of consent under all the circumstances, the charges said.

The trial was first criminal jury trial to start on Staten Island since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

A second trial in an unrelated assault case, which began afterward, resulted in an acquittal on Wednesday.

The jury in Dooles trial reached its verdict after deliberating a total of about 16 hours over five days, according to statements made in court.

After the panel left, Dooles sister wept in the audience and had to be helped out of the courtroom.

This f------ justice system is so f----- up, she wailed.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said the verdict ensures justice is served.

My office is committed to prosecuting sexual predators like this defendant, and we will always work tirelessly to ensure those who commit such reprehensive acts of violence against women are held accountable, said the D.A. The victim in this case courageously took the witness stand, and we are thankful for the bravery she has shown in testifying and standing up to her abuser.

McMahon commended Assistant District Attorneys Amir Fadl and Lisa Davis for their hard work in prosecuting the case and also thanked the jury for its service.

Mario Romano, Dooles lawyer, said the defendant will appeal.

While my client is relieved with the not-guilty verdict on the top two counts, he maintains his innocence on the charges for which he was convicted, said Romano. On behalf of Mr. Doole, I want to thank the jury for their tireless dedication and attention they gave to this case each and every day of this trial.

Both Doole and the victim testified at the trial, which began with opening statements on April 20.

At its core, the trial pitted the womans word against the defendants.

The two presented starkly different accounts of the events that transpired.

Last week, the victim testified Doole sodomized and tried to rape her in the back seat of his car while she was dizzy and ill after drinking vodka with him.

The woman said she told Doole multiple times to stop, but he would not.

Doole took the stand afterward and said the woman had come on to him very persistent(ly), and the sex was consensual.

He said she did not seem sick or uncomfortable, and her did not take advantage of her.

However, in a series of phone calls and texts with the woman and her boyfriend immediately after the incident, Doole had denied having any physical contact with her.

The woman had angrily accused him of trying to rape her.

Im going to f--- you up. Im going to f--- your life up. No ones ever going to hire you, the woman said, according to her recorded phone call with Doole which prosecutors played for the jury.  Do you think youre slick with this s---? Im going to f------ destroy your life.  You thought I was stupid. But you were wrong at the end of the day.

The woman testified she became irate because Doole lied to her during the phone call and said nothing had happened.

The defendant said he had lied because he didnt want his wife to know he had been unfaithful.

He also said he was sticking to a story the woman had concocted to prevent them from getting into trouble.

The womans boyfriend was a childhood friend of the defendant. Doole was married at the time.

According to Doole, the woman said she would say she drank four small bottles of vodka, vomited, passed out in the back of his car and that nothing happened between them.

However, she didnt stick to the plan, Doole said.

The defendant said he and the woman actually had each consumed two airplane-size bottles of vodka, which he had in his glove compartment.

He said she never blacked out in his car or threw up.

Doole testified the woman initiated the sexual encounter.

One thing led to another and we started making out, Doole testified.  She said that she really wanted to do it right then and there.  She said, Lets f---.

In contrast, the woman testified she had gotten sick and dizzy and went into the rear seat to rest.

Doole then came back and proceeded to attack her, she said.

She said she tried to resist a bit at first, but then I just sort of gave up.

Hours after the incident, the woman was examined at Bellevue Hospital. A rape kit later showed a positive match to Dooles DNA, according to testimony.

The defendant was arrested on Nov. 2, 2018, shortly after the rape kit results became available.

At the time of the episode, Doole was an assistant campaign manager for Charles Fall, a Democrat running for the North Shore Assembly seat. Fall won the election that November.

The woman was a volunteer for Falls campaign.

Fall ultimately fired Doole after learning of the allegations.

A defense witness, Dr. Rachael Connington, an anatomic and forensic pathologist, testified there was no indication in the womans medical records that she had been injured.

Dr. Connington did not examine the victim herself.

Given a hypothetical situation similar to the woman s account of the incident, the doctor said one would expect she would have suffered abrasions and bruising on several parts of her body.

However, under cross-examination by Fadl, the prosecutor, Dr. Connington confirmed the absence of injury does not mean a consensual act occurred.

The verdict was not without some suspense.

Romano, the defense lawyer, requested a mistrial before the jury resumed deliberations Thursday morning.

The panel had gone home early Wednesday after one juror felt sick. That juror returned on Thursday and said she felt better and could continue to deliberate.

But she also said in an abundance of caution, she had taken a test on Wednesday to see if she had COVID-19, despite not having any symptoms.

The test results were not available Thursday morning when the panel convened.

Romano said he feared jurors might not give their full attention to deliberating or might want to reach a quick verdict for fear of exposure to the juror who had felt sick.

Questioned by Jeong, the judge, the group said it had no reservations about resuming deliberations and did not feel rushed to return a verdict.

Based on that response, Jeong denied a mistrial.

The juror was kept at a safe distance from the rest of the panel during deliberations on Thursday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  As schools and colleges make plans to return students full-time to in-person school in the fall, some may require students and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Three coronavirus vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson  were approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  which facilitates the availability and use of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means the vaccines have not received formal approval for use by the FDA.

Pfizer is the only vaccine available for people 16 years old and over, but emergency use authorization for kids 12 to 15 years old could be approved sometime soon by federal health regulators. And clinical trials are continuing on kids younger than 12 years old.

The other two emergency authorized vaccines available in the United States are Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, approved for people 18 and older.

And because the vaccines are only approved under the EUA, that means the shots cant be mandated by New York State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

By law, you cant mandate a vaccine approved under an emergency use authorization, he said, about whether the state can mandate vaccines. So you cant say, for examples, college students must have a vaccine. You cannot mandate a vaccine under an EUA. You can mandate measles which had a full approval, et cetera, but you cant mandate these vaccines, which are still all under emergency use authorization.

Cuomo clarified that, as governor, he cant legally mandate that people take the vaccine.

But private organizations, like private colleges or schools, could choose whether vaccinated or unvaccinated people can enter a space.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

WHAT ABOUT YOUNGER STUDENTS?

When it comes to New York City public schools that teach students in 3-K through 12th grade, there is currently no mandate in place for older students to get the COVID vaccine, according to the city Department of Education (DOE). However, the agency is encouraging all eligible students and staff to get vaccinated at one of the many sites across the city.

The agency said it will continue to be guided by applicable local, state and federal laws.

The DOE explained that, with the exception of the flu vaccine for pre-K students, all student vaccination requirements are mandated by the state. The city mandates the flu vaccine for pre-K students.

We are thrilled that so many staff in our school communities have received a vaccine in one of the numerous sites across the city and the data shows that New York City schools are the gold-standard in health and safety, said Katie OHanlon, DOE spokesperson. We encourage all eligible students, staff and families to join the millions of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated and help lead our citys comeback.

And Catholic schools also arent currently mandating the vaccine for staff or students.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York currently do not mandate COVID vaccinations for staff or students, said TJ McCormack, a spokesman for the Archdioceses school system.

IMMUNIZATIONS CURRENTLY REQUIRED

Required immunizations are nothing new for schools in New York State. Children attending day care, and pre-K through 12th grade in the state must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school.

The required immunizations are under state public health law  mandating every student entering or attending public, private, or parochial school in New York State to be immune to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, varicella and meningococcal.

Public health law also requires students attending post-secondary institutions, colleges and universities to demonstrate proof of immunity against measles, mumps and rubella.

The only exemption from immunizations are medical exemptions, which are allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents him or her from receiving a vaccine. There are no non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements in the state, after the state ended religious exemptions in 2019.

SOME COLLEGES REQUIRING VACCINES

Some colleges, like the University of California and California State, said they will only require vaccines in the fall once the FDA gives formal approval.

Rutgers University in New Jersey was the first college to announce it would mandate vaccines, and many others followed suit, including St. Johns University, which has a campus on Staten Island.

...St. Johns will require all students to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and, to provide proof of vaccination before returning to campus for the fall semester, the Rev. Brian J. Shanley, president of St. Johns University, said in an email to students last month.

Staten Islands other two colleges  Wagner College and the College of Staten Island (CSI)  told the Advance/SILive.com last month that they havent made plans to mandate the vaccine for students for the 2021-2022 school year.

If a college or university requires students get inoculated, federal law requires colleges and schools to provide accommodations for those with medical exemptions, and most are also offering religious exemptions for the COVID vaccine.

 Associated Press material was used in this report.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City will expand its teacher pipeline programs to recruit and train new teachers in schools, particularly in high-needs areas like special education and underserved communities, education officials announced.

The city Department of Education (DOE) announced during Teacher Appreciation Week that Mayor Bill de Blasios proposed executive budget includes support to grow the teacher pipeline back to pre-pandemic levels, after budget cuts led to a reduction in training program sizes last year amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.

New York City teachers put their hearts and souls into the work of supporting and inspiring our students, no matter the circumstances, said Schools Chancellor Meisha R. Porter. They are the cornerstone of our school communities -- and we always, but especially now during Teacher Appreciation Week, recognize their hard work and dedication.

There will be 900 new Teaching Fellow participants in the fall cohort this year, up from 75 last year, the DOE said. In this program, participants are placed directly into a classroom teaching full-time with salary and full benefits after completing a robust training period. These participants continue taking night classes working toward teacher certification at a partner university.

The DOE also projected that there will be 300 paraprofessional-to-educator pipeline participants, up from 25 last year. And a new substitute-to-educator pipeline pilot program will train 25 current substitute teachers to work in District 75 schools  schools that teach special education students.

There was also a full funding restoration to the NYC Teaching Collaborative, which recruits and trains mid-level career professionals to teach in high-needs areas.

This brings a total of 2,000 pipeline participants, the DOE stated, which will result in 1,250 new hires from these programs for fall 2021  up from about 500 last school year. An additional 800 participants will start training during the upcoming school year and will be ready to teach by fall 2022.

The expansion of pipeline programs was made possible by investments from federal, state, and local government.

The programs build on the DOEs efforts to increase diversity in teaching staff. In the most recent year, approximately 75% of new hires in these programs were teachers of color.

Graduates of these programs also go on to serve the most vulnerable students, with two-thirds of last years hires becoming secondary special education teachers. The DOE also works to invest and providing growth opportunities for current school staff  with approximately one-third of pipeline participants coming from other roles in school communities like substitutes, paraprofessionals, aides, and more.

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which requires the mayoral administration and City Council to reach an agreement to pass a final plan by July 1, boosts spending for the city DOE by $2.3 billion, according to the citys budget documents.

Some items in the budget include money to increase Community Schools, universal 3-K for All across the five boroughs, and funds towards the academic recovery of students amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month, the mayor announced an additional $600 million annual investment in Fair Student Funding (FSF) for city public schools, beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, thanks in part to federal and state funds.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Saturday Night Live comedian and The King of Staten Island star Pete Davidson is committing to his blossoming film career, but it comes at a price.

Davidson, who lives in St. George, spoke about getting his tattoos removed while a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers this week. In the interview, he disclosed that he needs to get to set three hours early so he can have his body art covered before filming.

I didnt think theyd put me in stuff, Davidson said. I thought after SNL, I thought it was a wrap.

The comedian, whose tattoos were front and center in The King of Staten Island, said he never thought he would have the chance to act, so removing his tattoos is a move he is making for his professional career.

Davidson told Meyers that burning off tattoos is worse than getting them. Not only are they like burning off your skin, youre wearing these big goggles so you cant see anything, he said.

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, Davidson saidd. So Ill just be sitting there all high off the Pro-Nox, which I actually quite enjoy. Its actually pretty fun. And then, all of a sudden, Ill just hear, Are you keeping the Stewie Griffin smoking a blunt?

Meyers jokingly replied that knowing youll have to have a tattoo audibly described to you by a medical professional if you ever want to get it removed is a good thing to remember when deciding to get one.

Yeah, its really embarrassing, Davidson said with a laugh.

Davidson has been talking about removing his tattoos since December when he complained about how long his tattoo coverup makeup takes during a Q&A session for The King of Staten Island.

During his sitdown with Meyers, he explained that tattoo removal is a compromise he is willing to make for acting gigs. He added that his age stops him from landing many roles.

People dont realize that Im, like, kinda old, Davidson said. Im like 27, but in Hollywood, thats like 40.

While Davidson may feel like a Hollywood has-been, the industry says otherwise. Netflix announced recently that the Staten Islander will play New York punk icon Joey Ramone in an upcoming biopic. He also landed a part in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, premiering Aug. 6.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Generations of Staten Islanders have bore witness to some of the most tragic events in U.S. history.

Communities destroyed by the flood waters of Hurricane Sandy. The Twin Towers collapsing across the bay in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. An aircraft collision overhead, raining bodies and machinery onto the borough.

Predating all of them, however, was the Hindenburg.

Eighty-four years ago today, the luxury, hydrogen-filled airship was expected to revolutionize trans-Atlantic travel, offering a 2  day trip from Europe to the U.S. And in a sense, represented renewed faith after seven years of the Great Depression.

But instead, while attempting to dock the zeppelin in Manchester, N.J., it burst into a fiery heap, killing 36 people. A shaken radio announcer from Chicago who watched burning bodies running from the crash uttered the phrase: Oh, the humanity!

U.S Officer reading the list of fatalities in the 1937 Hindenburg disaster in New Jersey. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)Getty

Moments prior to the crash, Staten Islanders watched the massive aircraft passing overhead.

Across from Staten Island came this little dot, Nick Rakoncza recalled in a 2012 interview with NJ.com. And it got bigger and bigger and bigger as it got near. Finally, it passed almost over our head -- she was about 400 feet in the air.

The little boy couldnt understand what was holding that thing up.

Soldier guarding the Hindenburg wreckage following the 1937 tragedy that occurred within miles of Staten Island. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

People were in the observation deck windows, Rakoncza told the news outlet. The windows were down. They were waving their hands, their handkerchiefs, their hats. I waved back. I dont know if they saw me, but I waved back -- not realizing, of course, the next day some of those people might not be alive.

There had been passenger craft disasters with higher death tolls, but the Hindenburg was unique in that it was filmed and broadcast live on the radio; forever preserved in the annals of history.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- State Sen. Andrew Lanza is among a growing list of politicians upset by the citys decision to remove Columbus Day from the Department of Educations (DOE) calendar.

On Tuesday, the DOE released the 2021-2022 public school calendar which shows Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October, which this year falls on Oct. 11, the day that has typically been Columbus Day.

The New York Post reported that Lanza plans to introduce a bill that would rename the second Monday in October Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.

Lanza told the Post the bill is likely to read along the lines of: Columbus Day required to be one of the days included with official school holidays and remembrance.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was asked about the change during a press briefing on Wednesday and said the process wasnt handled right and the change was made without input from him or Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter.

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. 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, de Blasio said.

I think also saying, as it has been done in many parts of the country, its a day to think about history and honor indigenous peoples as well. I agree with that too. So, the process wasnt right, but the end result is going to be a day to honor Italian American heritage, a day to honor Indigenous Peoples. I think thats a good way forward, he continued.

STATEN ISLAND POLS SLAM MAYOR, DOE FOR CHANGE

Many of Staten Islands expressed outrage over the change and how it was handled.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis slammed City Hall, alleging the administration of trying to rewrite history and cancel Christopher Columbus.

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, City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo said.

City Councilman Joe Borelli said celebrating and recognizing Indigenous Peoples shouldnt come at the expense of another group of people. Doing it under the radar only adds to the cowardice now regularly on display by the woke left, Borelli 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.

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KOTA KINABALU, May 6 (Sin Chew Daily) -- A 101-year-old woman takes the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.



Zhong Gui Zhen encourages other senior citizens to do the same to protect themselves and their families.

Zhong is encouraged by her children to take the vaccine.

Her daughter-in-law Zhang Yu Fen told Sin Chew Daily Zhong is an open-minded and positive person.

She is not fearful of the side effects after the injection.

"I asked her what if there were side effects after taking the injection that she might leave us, would she still want to take the injection?"



Zhong replied that the government wanted people to get vaccinated.

"We have to help ourselves and others too. Everyone will have to die sooner or later."

She also said she was not fearful of death as God is with her.

Zhong, who is wheelchair-bound, is currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment in order to walk again after an operation.

Zhang said her mother-in-law watches TV news every day and knows what's happening in Malaysia, Taiwan and China.

Before taking the injection, Zhong asked the nurse about the vaccine.

The nurse told her the vaccine was manufactured by Pfizer.

Zhang said she was shocked by her mother-in-laws question.

Doctor told them Zhong would be under medical observation for several days after taking the injection as she complained about slight pain on her arm.

Zhong would be taking the second injection on May 24.




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ARISS contact is scheduled for students at Green Bank Elementary Middle School, Green Bank, West Virginia, USA

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts.

ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).

This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students at the Green Bank Elementary Middle School, WV and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei, amateur radio call sign KG5GNP. Students will take turns asking their questions. English is the language that will be used for this contact. Both onsite and remote access will be provided to the student body at the time of the contact per Covid-19 guidelines. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners who are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio relay ground station.

Amateur radio operators, using the call sign N8RV, will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 7, 2021 at 8:35 am EDT (Green Bank, WV), 12:35 UTC, 7:35 am CDT, 6:35 am MDT and 5:35 am PDT).

Green Bank Elementary Middle School (GBEMS) (281 students in grades k-8) is located in rural Pocahontas County, West Virginia, and will host this ARISS contact. Another 350 students in the Pocahontas County High School will also attend the ARISS contact event (in-person and remotely). GBEMSs STEM classroom curricula are augmented with student club activities that include engineering, computer coding, and robotics.

In preparation for the ARISS contact, the schools science curriculum added courses in electronics, wave physics, and communications theory. These classroom studies and lab activities include the topics: orbital mechanics, Doppler effects, signal tracking, sky and land coordinates, and signal processing. Student courses also highlight the ISS as an example of international cooperation for a common goal and integrated this aspect into the social studies curriculum covering the course topics: distributed project participation, agreements and treaties, and organizational structure. In advance of the ARISS contact, the GBEMS Ham Club was formed for 6th through 8th graders. Members of the Eight Rivers Amateur Radio Club (ERARC) will provide equipment, technical, and operational support for the ARISS contact, and ham radio mentoring and support for the school ham club.

The school has also partnered with the Green Bank Observatory (GBO), an adjacent NSF research facility, which provides educational and staff support to the school. GBO staff are also founding members of the school ham club and, along with ERARC members, conduct curriculum-supporting youth activities. These include antenna-building, radio direction-finding, and a high-altitude balloon launch and tracking. Because GBEMS is located within the West Virginia Radio Astronomy Zone, radio transmissions by the schools ham club members must be coordinated with the GBO per FCC requirements through an agreement between the school and the National Radio Quiet Zone office.

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/GreenBankObservatory/live/ and https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87052256434?pwd=

dUYxeFJVMFFvaHBW

NnRMOG10TTZ5dz09.

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What made you decide to become an astronaut?

2. Is the ISS heated or do you wear bulky suits because it is always cold?

3. How often do you have to replenish the Oxygen tanks from earth?

4. Have you ever lost contact with The Base? What are you supposed to do if that were to happen?

5. What can you see from the Space Station that you cant see from Earth? Other space craft, monuments, Earth patterns, stars?

6. If you have any downtime, what do you do with it? (e.g., hobbies, past times, fun).

7. What are you allowed to bring to the ISS and what did you choose to bring?

8. How do you solve problems with each other if you get into arguments?

9. Does your food go to the top of your mouth when you eat because of microgravity? Does it feel different to eat or drink in space?

10. What do you do about trash?

11. Is it possible for an animal to be pregnant in space?

12. Has there ever been a critical failure? What protocols do you have in case there is a critical failure, and do you have to do drills or practice what to do if that happens?

13. What are the emotional challenges in space?

14. How is your sleep or work schedule different in space than it would be on Earth?

15. How do you get news from Earth? Were you worried about COVID affecting your support system on the ground?

ARISS  Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations on the ISS

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASAs Space Communications and Navigation program.

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.
The worlds richest man Jeff Bezos sold about $US2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) of Amazon.com stock, his first big disposal this year after offloading more than $US10 billion worth of shares in 2020.

Bezos sold around 739,000 shares this week under a pre-arranged trading plan, according to US Securities and Exchange Commission filings. He plans to sell as many as 2 million shares, according to a separate filing.

Jeff Bezos has cashed in some of his Amazon stock. Credit:AP

The retail tycoon continues to hold more than 10 per cent of Amazon.com, the primary source of his $US191.3 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

In the 15 years after Amazon.com went public in 1997, Bezos sold about a fifth of the online retailer for roughly $US2 billion. The value of his stake has ballooned in recent years to such an extent that he can now sell relatively small amounts for billions of dollars.
The University of Technology Sydney is providing a $2 million boost for Australian researchers, offering an additional 70 domestic research scholarships this year as pandemic border restrictions continue to keep away international students.

Professor Kate McGrath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) at UTS, said the increase in scholarships to 234 from 163 last year would help underwrite this next generation of Australian researchers.

This investment is critical to maintain the universitys research capacity over the coming years, particularly to fill the gap that will continue as long as borders remain closed to international research students, she said.

UTS research student Raissa Gill is looking into how bushfires affect water quality.

Supervisors are seeking 70 students to help with several hundred research projects such as looking into new bioplastics that capture carbon, assessing the impacts of bushfire smoke on coastal waters and exploring artificial intelligence in 6G networks.
The NSW governments inland water strategy is under siege with the upper house rejecting its scheme to license irrigators extraction during floods and a federal agency dismissing its river plans.

The governments flood plain harvesting regulations, published only a week ago, were disallowed in the Legislative Council on a vote of 21-15, as most crossbenchers aligned with Labor to reject the plans as inadequate.

A cotton farm near Bourke. The issue of how to license water take by farmers during periods of flooding remains unresolved after the NSW upper house voted to disallow the latest regulations put forward by the state government. Credit:Nick Moir

At stake were potentially billions of dollars worth of water licences as the government attempts to reconcile restrictions on water take from the Murray-Darling Basin with the many unlicensed dams and other structures that irrigators have built in recent decades to capture overland flows.

Justin Field, the independent MP who introduced the disallowance motion, said that before licences were granted clear targets for downstream flows must be set in law to ensure that the other water licence holders, downstream communities and the environment get their fair share of these flows.
The older man has grey hair, and is a bit doddery. Hes mishearing his wife, repeatedly. Better get your hearing tested! the ads voiceover says light-heartedly.

Its hilarious!

Hearing loss is a serious challenge that brings with it many frustrations for a diverse range of people. Credit:Viki Lascaris

Please excuse the sarcasm. The truth is, its not at all funny. Hearing loss is a serious challenge that brings with it many frustrations for a diverse range of people.

I discovered this last year when my daughter, aged eleven, experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss: she went to bed one night with normal hearing, and woke the next morning with profound, permanent hearing loss in one ear.
Gothenburg celebrates 400 years with special callsign SE400G Sweden's SSA reports SE400G is on the air to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Gothenburg



The City of Gothenburg who want to celebrate by developing the city into an even better place to visit, live and work in.



Hisingens Radio Club SK6AW is participating in the celebration of the 400th anniversary by activating the special callsign SE400G during the period May 1 to July 21, 2021.



The members of SK6AW will activate SE400G on different modes and possibly use the signal in different contests during this period. All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW continuously, but no traditional QSL cards will be issued.



The special callsign is published on QRZ.com with associated information about Gothenburg's 400th anniversary.



Source SSA https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size It was as if parts of Daniel Carr fell away, never to reappear, as he spun from conflict to conflict. East Timor. Iraq. Afghanistan. When he left the Australian Army in 2018, there wasnt much left of the young man who signed up in 1996, keen to go soldiering. Ive got whats called a dissociative disorder, Carr says, his words coming slowly. I dont feel empathy. Im very hyper-alert. I no longer drive a vehicle because I became very erratic and dangerous. I nearly drove straight into a tree with my family in the car. Loading Carr is among the uncounted Australian veterans who suffer various extremes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and associated mental health burdens.

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He is also among many of those whose lives have been consigned to the shadows who agreed to emerge for the camera of award-winning photographer Chris Hopkins. Many of these veterans have contemplated or attempted suicide. Their portraits speak volumes. Virtually all of them say they know of comrades who have taken their own lives. Daniel Carr served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He says the royal commission will be very raw and painful for a lot of people but its a necessary evil. Credit:Chris Hopkins Carr attributes his survival to the support of his wife, Maryanne, and treatment in a string of psychiatric wards. Without Maryanne, he says, I wouldnt be here. As Australia finally prepares, through a royal commission, to confront suicides among veterans, those afflicted with the fallout of seeing and experiencing too much while serving the military cautiously welcome the inquiry. I nearly drove straight into a tree with my family in the car. Daniel Carr

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The royal commission will be very raw for a lot of people, very painful, says Carr. But its a necessary evil. Carr, once of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment - serving in East Timor in 1999 and Iraq in 2004 - and the 2/14th Light Horse Regiment in Afghanistan in 2004, eventually suffered a breakdown while stationed at Puckapunyal in Victoria. He and Maryanne and their two autistic children - a daughter aged 18 and a son, 16 - now live near Hervey Bay in Queensland, a place Carr describes as calming. Hes not the man I fell in love with and married, but were still here and together, says Maryanne, speaking on their 20th wedding anniversary. The Hervey Bay area has become home to a significant community of veterans, many of whom suffer PTSD. I felt lost Daniel Spain, who was discharged from the army suffering depression after returning from an eight-month posting in Afghanistan, finally found the support he needed among other veterans in Hervey Bay.

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I was struggling, there was lots of alcohol involved, and I felt lost, says Spain. I was 22 when I was in Afghanistan. I was gung-ho and I wanted to be there, but I dont think I was developed enough to always deal with the stress of situations. When I was discharged I only knew the military and I didnt know how the world outside worked, even the most simple things. I had two periods in the public psychiatric ward at Townsville hospital after attempts at suicide. I slit my wrists once and accidentally took too much of my medications another time. Daniel Spain was discharged from the army suffering from depression. He is a part-time social worker at a hospital in Hervey Bay where I see people like myself coming in. Credit:Chris Hopkins The woman who became my wife, Jess, decided we should sell the house in Townsville and come to Hervey Bay to engage with our families. I found a sense of belonging here. I got in contact with the veterans community and I started getting peer support from older veterans whove seen it all.

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With support from his wife, their families, the veteran community and access to mental health treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), Spain describes himself as pretty good now. He is a part-time social worker at a hospital in Hervey Bay where I see people like myself coming in. And he became president of a group called Veterans of Australia, formed under the guidance of members of the Vietnam Veterans Association to assist and advocate for younger veterans. I only knew the military, I didnt know how the world outside worked. Daniel Spain Its motto is honour the dead, but fight like hell for the living. You have to pull back the mat Kathryn Simeon spent 17 years in the navy but suffered a serious back injury when a 100-kilogram electrical transformer fell on her while aboard HMAS Canberra.

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London: Foreign Minister Marise Payne has given the strongest sign yet the controversial ban on flights from India - and harsh penalties to Australians who try to enter the country - will be lifted.

Last week the federal government banned all flights from India until May 15 and announced anyone who tried to travel to Australia from India could face a $66,000 fine as well as five years jail.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon London time after a virtual meeting with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australias foreign minister suggested the measure would not be renewed, and flights would resume.

Based on the advice we have at this point, we fully expect it not to be extended beyond that date and we intend for facilitated flights to resume beyond that, Senator Payne told reporters at Australia House.
With the world in stupor at the tragedy caused by a tsunami that rolled at 700km/h across the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day, 2004, I boarded a Qantas flight at Sydneys international airport.

On board were teams of Australian doctors specialising in primary and acute care and infectious diseases, plus piles of tents, water containers, tools of all sorts and medical supplies.

A woman pulls away her crying relative as she reacts to the burning funeral pyre of their family member who died of COVID-19. Credit:AP

We flew through the day and the night, landing at Colombo in Sri Lanka and at Male, the capital of the usually blissful Maldives, disgorging doctors and their supplies at both traumatised places.

At each of these stops, just four days after the tsunami had killed about 225,000 people in a dozen countries, bedraggled Australian citizens filed aboard, desperate to get home.
First published in the Sun Herald on May 8, 1966

Jets are racing to Sydney from London and New Zealand with supplies of the worlds rarest blood. It is needed to save the life of a Sydney man.

He is in a bad way ... Dr G. T. Archer of the Sydney Blood Bank. Credit:Staff photographer

He is Kevin Abberton, 39, of English Street, Camperdown, whose blood is in the rare cdE-cdE group.

He was admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Wednesday suffering from severe loss of blood due to hemorrhaging. He is described as desperately sick.
NSW has reported no new local coronavirus cases, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the source of infection in an eastern suburbs couple may never be found.

There was a slight jump in testing numbers on Thursday as Sydneysiders were told of potential exposure sites after the couple tested positive earlier this week.

People wearing face masks in Sydneys CBD, after the NSW government introduced new restrictions on Thursday. Credit:Louise Kennerley

In the 24 hours to 8pm, 13,339 tests were recorded, up from 11,579 in the previous 24 hours.

Although their infection has been genomically linked to a traveller from the US who entered quarantine last month, the eastern suburbs couple have no known links to the quarantine or hospital system, leading health authorities to believe COVID-19 may be spreading within the community.
A new variant of COVID-19 that has been circulating undetected in Sydney mysteriously spread via a quarantine hotel, forcing the state government to reintroduce mandatory masks and caps on household gatherings.

NSW reported an additional local case on Thursday: the wife of an eastern suburbs man aged in his 50s who tested positive a day earlier, prompting venue alerts in the citys east, northern beaches and the west.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced restrictions for Greater Sydney, as authorities search for the missing link between a quarantined traveller and eastern suburbs couple. Credit:Janie Barrett

Genomic sequencing revealed the mans infection was linked to a returned overseas traveller from the US, who was quarantined at the PARKROYAL hotel at Darling Harbour last month.

However, it is not known how the man, who has no known links to the hotel quarantine or hospital systems, caught the virus, leading health authorities to believe there is at least one person in the community who does not know they have been infected.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed at a western Sydney school.

Emergency services were called to Glenwood High School about 1.15pm on Thursday after reports of a stabbing.

A student is expected to be charged following a stabbing at Glenwood High School. Credit:Google Maps

The 16-year-old boy was treated for multiple stab wounds to his stomach and to his back. He was taken to Westmead Hospital where he remained on Friday morning. His condition had improved from serious to stable.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested at the school and taken to Quakers Hill police station. He was charged overnight with two counts of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
One out of every eight calls for an ambulance in Victoria does not require a patient to be taken to hospital and calls are often for minor ailments, new figures reveal, at the same time as the states emergency health service is battling an overcrowding crisis.

Fresh government data obtained by The Age shows almost 22,000 people who called an ambulance in the first three months of this year  about 12 per cent  did not require transport to hospital and received lower-grade care.

Paramedics Bianca Jackson, Lindsay Mackay and Matt MacDonald. Credit:Penny Stephens

Quarterly response times that will be released on Friday will show critically ill patients are being responded to within the target time at a percentage rate in the mid-70s  the worst performance since 2015. Data that spans a shorter time frame shows response times have dipped well below 72 per cent in recent weeks.

Paramedics, who say they are being sent to people complaining of back pain, cold and flu symptoms and irregularly coloured faeces, have joined forces with Health Minister Martin Foley to ask people to stop calling triple zero when they do not really need emergency treatment.
Bogota (Colombia), May 5, 2021 (SPS) -This Wednesday a conference will be held in the Colombian capital of Bogota on Western Sahara, in which legal and historical issues related to the conflict in Africa's last colony will be discussed.

The conference, which will be organized under the title "Western Sahara: the last colony of Africa", will be led by experts and academics who will address details about the last vestiges of colonialism on the African continent.

The experts and academics will also answer questions of a legal and historical nature that will be asked by the attendees, in an open debate, which will be transmitted directly by the Facebook social network. SPS

125/090/TRA
Western Australias 19,300 households in urgent need of an affordable home are staring into the homelessness abyss with only one property in the entire state within reach for low-income earners.

Service providers are struggling to keep up with the thousands of people needing immediate help, with one tenancy and legal support group reporting a 500 per cent increase in the number of clients on the brink of eviction.

Tony Pietropiccolo, the chief executive of counselling service Centrecare, said the provider was answering hundreds of calls and online enquiries every week involving more than 500 children.

Were getting thousands of calls a month with people absolutely desperate to find a home. We cannot keep up, he said.
Two of the nations top policy experts, Bernie Fraser and Andrew Podger, have urged Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to dump at least part of his stage three personal income tax cuts and use the money to increase spending on aged care and other critical services.

As a long-running public survey showed support continuing to decline for the $17 billion a year tax cuts to middle and high-income earners, Mr Fraser and Mr Podger said future budgets would face a revenue squeeze if the tax cuts were maintained.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But tax experts said without the reforms, the nations personal tax system will become increasingly reliant on the incomes of high wage earners and overly complex.

The budget will extend for another year the low and middle-income tax offset, heading off a tax increase of up to $1080 next year for 10 million workers earning less than $126,000. The government remains committed to its legislated stage three cuts, which deliver their largest benefits to people earning more than $200,000 a year.
So Morrison and those around him are confident they have a majority of voters behind them on banning travellers. They are probably right. Voters have rewarded state premiers for slamming their borders shut. Morrison used to complain about Labor premiers like Mark McGowan and Annastacia Palaszczuk for doing this. Now he just copies them. Loading But the Indian ban is not as popular as it first looked. Labor MPs like Ed Husic warned last week against severe restrictions on Australians coming from India. Then the Indian community responded with fury to the decision last weekend. Then some of the governments own backbenchers caught up and pushed back. Why? Because they could feel the anger in their communities. A lot of that anger is about the way this was done. It was plain dumb to issue an emergency determination at midnight. It was daft to do so without any warning to the people being targeted, yet community leaders say they got no hint of the sanctions in an online meeting with Foreign Minister Marise Payne earlier on Friday. This is what happens when politicians give themselves unchecked power: they eventually use it in the dead of night. The sanctions in the Biosecurity Act date back to 2015, including the ultimate penalties of $66,600 in fines and five years in jail, but the move to invoke them in the pandemic was made on March 18 last year in an emergency declaration from Governor-General David Hurley, at Hunts request.

Parliament has never reviewed that declaration. Worse, it cannot strike it down in the way it can with most regulations, which are usually disallowable instruments and subject to votes in either chamber. To compound the problem, last Fridays move cannot be disallowed by the Parliament, either. Morrisons response to the backlash was to search for someone to blame. When radio station 3AW host Neil Mitchell pointed out on Thursday that it was a mistake to emphasise the punishment, Morrison denied doing so: Well, we didnt. The media did. He said the government did not accentuate the penalties. Wrong. The jail terms were in the fourth paragraph of Hunts statement. That response, blaming the media, suggests Morrison is learning all the wrong lessons. His message this week was that Australians could trust his government with this far-reaching power because it would never be used. The real lesson is that the government needs to wield its power with more care.

Governments will always find it easier to punish than to help, so the severe sanctions on travellers from India have highlighted the vacuum in Morrisons border policy: his inability to create a bigger quarantine facility, faster, to assist Australians coming home. Loading (This includes Australians who chose to leave the country during the pandemic to go to India or elsewhere: they were overseas after the government approved their travel.) The Howard Springs camp near Darwin is the key to bringing more people home, thanks in part to decisions by state leaders to cap arrivals in hotel quarantine. The camp is forecast to reach a capacity of 2,000 at the start of June. It has been at least six months since the government talked about expanding Howard Springs. The camp was named in the quarantine review by former public servant Jane Halton as an ideal reserve location for 3,000 people. National cabinet backed her recommendation on October 23.
Household gatherings will be restricted to 20 visitors and masks compulsory in indoor areas across Greater Sydney, as health authorities work to trace two new local COVID-19 infections.

NSW reported two new coronavirus cases on Thursday, after the wife of a man from Sydneys eastern suburbs who tested positive on Wednesday morning was also found to have the virus.

Cars queuing at the St Vincents Hospital Bondi Beach Drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The man, aged in his 50s, 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.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced new restrictions for Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains enforceable from 5pm Thursday until 12.01am on Monday, in light of the community transmission, which brought an end to a month without local cases.
The Victorian government has, since February, paid as many as 550 hotel quarantine workers their full salary of at least $75,000 a year, despite them not working a single day on site.

The government has also contracted hotels into the quarantine program and paid them millions for the service before cutting them out of the scheme without the sites hosting a single guest.

Hundreds of hotel quarantine employees have received payment in full despite not working in hotels. Credit:Joe Armao

With several Melbourne quarantine hotels not receiving returned travellers as the government works to improve their ventilation, about 200 staff are on standby awaiting their reopening, which for most hotels will not occur until next month.

A further 280 employees have been idle since February but are scheduled to return to work at the Stamford Hotel in the CBD when it reopens to travellers later this week, a spokeswoman for COVID Quarantine Victoria (CQV) confirmed.
Beijings decision to suspend a high-level economic dialogue with Australia has no practical effect. But it conveys important information nonetheless.

It has no practical effect because its like getting the news that your big trip to Bali scheduled for next month has been cancelled.

Neither Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison nor Chinas President Xi Jinping are in a mood to back down. Credit:Joe Armao/AP

Youve known that for quite a while already. The border is shut. No one is going anywhere. The new email in your inbox is just a formality.

Likewise, President Xi Jinping imposed a total ban on any visits with Australias prime minister - and other ministers - more than three years ago.
Paris: Britain has dispatched two navy patrol boats to the British Channel Island of Jersey after France threatened to cut power supplies to the island did not grant full access to French fishermen under post-Brexit agreements.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged his unwavering support for the island after he spoke with Jersey officials about the prospect of a blockade by French fishermen, some of whom have vowed to bring the island to its knees.

Johnson stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions, a spokesperson for Johnson said. As a precautionary measure, the UK will be sending two offshore patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

Gorey Harbour in Jersey.

Earlier, Frances Seas Minister Annick Girardin said she was disgusted to learn that Jersey had issued 41 licences with unilaterally imposed conditions, including the time French fishing vessels could spend in its waters.
Beijing: The largest section of the rocket that launched the main module of Chinas first permanent space station into orbit is expected to plunge back to Earth as early as this weekend at an unknown location.

The uncontrolled re-entry is being tracked by the US Space Command, the US military said.

Usually, discarded core, or first-stage, rockets reenter soon after lift-off, normally over water, and dont go into orbit like this one did.

The core module of Chinas space station, Tianhe, on the Long March-5B Y2 rocket is moved to its launching area in southern Chinas Hainan Province last month. Credit:Xinhua/AP

Chinas space agency has yet to say whether the core stage of the huge Long March 5B rocket is being controlled or will make an out-of-control descent. Last May, another Chinese rocket fell uncontrolled into the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Lions Clubs of Antigua and St. Maarten reaped success in their recent initiatives with the help of the Caribbean Lottery who donated US$2,700 and US$700 respectively to the organizations eye screening project and charity raffle.



Several students have been assisted with prescription glasses through the US$2,700 sponsorship by the Caribbean Lottery to The Lions Club of Antiguas eye screening project while the US$700 which was handed over to The St. Maarten Lions Club went towards their various outreach activities.



The ongoing eye screening project of The Lions Club of Antigua aims to improve the quality of learning by providing students with access to improved vision care.



Desiree Edwards, President of the club, explained, In the months preceding the national lockdown, one thousand three hundred and ninety-three (1393) students were screened with over two hundred and eighty-four (284) students in need of glasses.



In response to this significant need, Edwards noted that the club partnered with a few Optometrists and Ophthalmologists to deliver glasses to the students. She also thanked the Caribbean Lottery for its contribution towards the project as it was a significant benefit to most of the students this year who are from low-income families.



Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Fundraising Committee for The St. Maarten Lions Club, Carmen Lake noted that the humanitarian efforts of the organization to help the less fortunate can only be met with community and business support and was grateful for the assistance rendered by the Caribbean Lottery.



The Clubs President, Mr. Alphons Gumbs echoed similar sentiments, noting that the event would not have been a success without the support of the Caribbean Lottery and the wider community.



We note that we are in challenging times economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however as one of our corporate sponsors, you still find it worthy to support our cause and for that, we extend special thanks to the Caribbean Lottery for their continued support to the Sint Maarten Lions Club.



He added that the general proceeds from the fundraiser will also help to cover the cost for the slate of activities for the clubs current 50th Anniversary celebration.

Site Operations Manager at the Caribbean Lottery Miss Paula Williams observed, The Lions Club is a particularly important group within our society, especially in these unprecedented times. We are glad that we were able to support the humanitarian efforts of The Lions Clubs of Antigua and St. Maarten. We are confident that the children who benefitted from the eye screening project are at ease as they continue their online learning. It is also good to know that the Lions outreach activities can go a stretch further in St. Maarten with the success of their recent fund-raising event.
by Col R Hariharan

Chinese defence ministers visit

The recently held Quad summit, which transformed an informal frame work of the US, India, Japan and Australia, into a formal grouping with a broad range of objectives in the Indo-Pacific seems to have triggered China into action in South Asia.

Chinas State Councillor and defence minister Gen Wei Fenghe made a two-day visit to Colombo after making a fleeting visit to Dhaka on May 27.





The Chinese defence minister called upon President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and post pandemic economic recovery. The Chinese ministers high-level delegation included Deputy Chief of Staff of Joint Staff Department under Chinas Central Military Commission Lt General Shao Yuanming and Major General Ci Guowei. This would indicate Indian Ocean strategic security issues, in the wake of the Quad summit, could be one of the topics of discussion.

However, the President tweeted Had a fruitful discussion with #china defense minister General Wei Fenghe this morning. This visit will further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

After he met with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the PM tweeted, I conveyed my gratitude to the govt of China for the generation donation of Sinopharm vaccines & PPE kits since the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. Of course, 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine has not yet been cleared for use by Sri Lankan health authorities so far, for want of trial documentation, is a matter of detail.

After meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gen Wei remarked peaceful development and win-win cooperation is the global trend and right way forward. He added, in a not-so-subtle reference to the Quad, that certain major countries were keen to form cliques and factions and seek regional hegemony, which goes against peoples shared aspiration and severely harms the interests of regional countries.

The Chinese minister had made similar reference during his Dhaka visit, when he met President Abdul Hamid and discussed furthering military cooperation between the two countries. He added to jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides should make joint efforts against powers outside the region setting up military alliance in South Asia and practising hegemonism.

Gen Wei is the second highest ranking visitor to Sri Lanka from China after the onset of Covid 19 pandemic. In October 2020, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for foreign affairs of the CCP Yeng Jiechi visited Colombo. His visit came in the wake of the four Quad members meeting in Tokyo pledging to increase their participation in a regional initiative  Free and Open Indo-Pacific  aimed at countering Chinas growing assertiveness in the region.

Even as General Wei was waxing eloquent about Chinas relations with Sri Lanka, a political controversy was raging over the control mechanism for the prestigious Chinese-aided Colom Port City project, which is getting ready to go on stream. The infrastructure is now being developed for building a modern city. The project is a part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Sri Lanka executed by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), by investing $1.4 billion in reclaiming land. It is now preparing to market and build support facilities.

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill (CPECE) to regulate the special economic zone to be created there, was presented in parliament during the month. The bill is now before the Supreme Country for clearance as required by Sri Lankan law, before it is voted in parliament. Though the project to create Colombo Port Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on reclaimed land with Chinese assistance had the blessings of previous governments, it has triggered a huge controversy. Many fear it would further plunge the country in Chinas debt trap diplomacy, like the Hambantota port project did.

The Bill provides for setting up of a Colombo Port City Commission consisting of five or seven members. The Commission would be the decision maker on all matters of the SEZ, to include clearing of applications to do business, giving tax breaks and concessions on customs, VAT, import and export provisions and gaming laws, not available at present to investors elsewhere.

According to the Bill, the President shall nominate the members of the Commission, with power to unilaterally and replace them. The process totally excludes the collective responsibility of the Cabinet and parliament. This has reinforced the existing fears of the people that the Executive President was concentrating too much power in his hands, after the 20th amendment to the constitution.

Not unexpectedly, though the opposition parties the United National Party (UNP) and its clone the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) welcomed the project, they are opposed to the bill. Leader of the opposition Sajith Premadasa of the SJB has said if the Bill was enacted, the country will become servile to foreigners. He called it an insidious tactic violating the Constitution in a blatant attempt to betray the sovereignty of the country. SJB leader Lakshman Kiriella pointed out that 25 laws of parliament would not apply to the SEZ. He wanted the government to ensure the SEZ is overseen by parliamentary panels. The Jantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader said the Bill was tantamount to creating a Chinese province in Sri Lanka.

As many as 12 petitions including those of the opposition parties are before the Supreme Court challenging the Bill. Sri Lanka government can present an amended Bill based on Supreme Courts recommendations and pass it in parliament.

Mounting Covid-19 concerns

There are indications that Sri Lanka is also facing a new wave of Covid-19 pandemic which has hit many countries, particularly India. From a low figure of 220 new cases on April 7, during the last three weeks of the month, daily figure touched an all- time high of 1466 new cases on May 28. With Covid pandemic count recording over 1000 fresh cases on two successive days towards the end of the month, public health inspectors have urged the government to implement a complete lockdown for a period of two weeks to prevent a complete breakdown of health services in the country.

According to Sri Lanka governments published data, the country has recorded 106, 484 confirmed Covid cases up to April 30. Out of this 95445 people have recovered, while 667 people have died.

Sri Lanka had been following the isolating of Covid clusters as a strategy though there is evidence of community transmission. Former speaker Karu Jayasuriya and leader of the National Justice Movement has cautioned the government not to underestimate the looming pandemic threat. He said the country had only 300, 000 doses of vaccine and nearly 900,000 people need to be given second dose. He appealed to the government for urgent action on this. He also urged the government to take all measures to provide adequate hospital facilities to cope with any situation. He appealed to all parties to come together on this issue.

However, in spite the mounting Covid numbers, Sri Lanka has not yet decided to close the airport or restrict tourist arrivals. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said a decision on this would be taken after considering all parties concerned and in accordance with health authority recommendations. Sri Lanka had been keen to encourage tourists from India, one of the biggest markets for Sri Lanka tourism and creating a travel bubble with India was aggressively pursued so far. However, the huge spike of pandemic cases in India has dampened the move, at least for the time being.

It is significant that China had pledged to set up a reserve of emergency supplies with South Asian nations, during talks with five countries in the region on combating Covid-19. In an online conference held on May 27, Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan discussed ways to against Covid-19 according to the Chinese ministry statement. India, Bhutan and Maldives did not attend the conference.

[Col R Hariharan, a retire MI specialist on South Asia and terrorism, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90. He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies. E-mail: colhari@gmail.com ]
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Toontje Buncamper of the USP faction in parliament, on Wednesday forwarded a letter to the council of ministers expressing his concern about the progress of the ongoing cleaning of boat wrecks in the Simpson Bay Lagoon and its shorelines and the Oyster Pond while the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season approaches. While he praised the organization for the decommissioning of the wrecks, the MP stated that it is unfortunate that the wrecks on the French part of the lagoon are not part of this program and that he is extremely concerned that the environmental aspect of the works will not meet its potential long term goal.

The MP also noted that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season starts in 26 days and the water in the lagoon shows no regard to the border. MP Buncamper questioned if any sort of agreement exists with the French part of the island regarding the removal of the wrecks in their waters to safeguard what can still be salvaged of our lagoon and more disturbing to the MP is the Oyster Pond lagoon has been left unattended since the passing of Hurricane Irma in 2017 due to the World Banks statement that they do not carry our works in disputed territories. While I understand the World Banks position, I cannot understand our governments position nor that of the Netherlands the MP mentioned. We are all aware of what part of the Oyster Pond Lagoon is being disputed, yet we allow the lagoon to suffer serious environmental damages because of the nonchalant behavior of the Netherlands. In his letter addressed to the council of ministers, MP Buncamper noted that after Hurricane Irma the French government discharged a barge into the Oyster Pond Lagoon and cleaned up nearly all of the sunken vessels there. I cannot accept that our government has not yet contacted the Ministry of Foreign affairs in the Netherlands to indicate clearly which specific area of the Oyster Pond Lagoon is under dispute with the French Government, to enable the World Bank to amend the ongoing project for the removal of shipwrecks to include the Oyster Pond Lagoon.

MP Buncamper warned against allowing the cleaning team and their equipment to leave the island before completing the project, which will result

in the environmental destruction of the Oyster Pond Lagoon for unnecessary reasons.

The French government has indicated to the Dutch Government, and by extension the St. Maarten government, exactly what portion of the Oyster Pond Lagoon they claim is their territory. So, we can at least start to clean up the rest while we discuss the disputed part. In my opinion, such a compromise cannot be too farfetched the MP stated. This will show that we truly care about the environment and that we are willing to do more than just talk about it MP Buncamper concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:---On Wednesday, May 5th the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley made a site visit to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).

The Minister was greeted by the Medical Director Dr. Felix Holiday, World Bank Project Manager Ms. Ingeborg Verwoerd, Contract Manager St Maarten General Hospital Ms. Erika van der Horst

and the Facilities Manager Mr. Michael Sargeant.

An introductory presentation was given to the Minister, which shed light on the developments at SMMC. The presentation depicted the overall progress and the financial standings from past to present. The Minister was able to see a detailed outline of the construction plans, the timelines, the way the construction is progressing, and what the end product is expected to look like.

Minister Ottley was pleased that the improvements are advancing without having to wait on the new General Hospital to be built. "This really makes me happy to see that SMMC is making strides in the right direction to better serve our country while we await the General Hospital. Ottley said.

The St. Maarten Medical Center is adding outpatient units for both oncology and dialysis services, two operating rooms, and a state-of-the-art MRI facility.

The Minister told the hospital representatives that these efforts should be made known to the public and he congratulated the Interim Director and his colleagues on a job well done.

The Minister asked for transparency throughout the expansion process of SMMC and the construction of the St Maarten General Hospital. Minister Ottley stated that; not only is it time for the people to have faith in our Medical System but that we owe it to the people to see this project through in its entirety.
SABA:--- The renovation will start of the Government Administration Building in The Bottom is scheduled to start in late May. The public will be informed as to how this will affect public services.

During a recent retreat with the Executive Council, the Island Council asked to include the grounds surrounding the Government Administration Building into the renovation plan. In the opinion of the Island Council, the grounds can use a thorough upgrade.

The long-discussed upgrade of the courtroom was tabled and the Island Council has requested the Executive Council to make haste with this project as it is important that the people can easily follow the meetings of the Island Council.

The Public Entity Saba has a new website, www.sabagov.nl, where all publications of government will be available, including press releases, notices, and vacancies. Training and education of civil servants are ongoing. A new education plan will include opportunities for civil servants who want to further their education. The Saba Reach Foundation will be involved and execute parts of the education plan.

Discussions on the themes such as the workweek, vacancies, job evaluations, function house, and salary table, an organization ordinance, (proactive) communications, and the governing accord in the Netherlands were also discussed and will require further deliberations. The latter was mentioned as presently the Netherlands is preparing such an accord. The Island Council deemed it necessary to make all efforts to get Sabas needs and wishes in the agenda of The Hague and to have these included in the Dutch governing accord where possible.

Various policies

The new Youth Policy Plan was presented to the Island Council during the retreat. The plan seeks to outline the obligations of the Public Entity Saba, the Dutch Government, various stakeholders, families, and young people themselves. The policy is both an acknowledgment of the specific needs of young people and formal recognition of their potential and unique contribution for further development. The Culture Policy Plan is also ready and was submitted to the Island Council in April. A new traffic ordinance is being drafted, which will be discussed during a town hall meeting. A new first draft of the Saba Development Plan is being worked on and will be ready for input by the Island Council in June.
PHILIPSBURG:---This week, USLAUNDRY collaborated with White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation on a COVID-19 vaccine information session for all its employees.

USLAUNDRY is an industrial laundry that serves the hospitality and health care industry in Sint Maarten for over 25 years.

The company considers it very important to have all its staff members vaccinated against COVID-19. USLAUNDRY wanted to have its employees make a well-founded decision by having the WYC experts share facts regarding the pandemic, available vaccines, and debunk myths from the internet in the process.

In an effort of making sure all team members are well informed Bregje Boetekees, Director of White & Yellow Cross, visited the laundry to provide the information. From the point of view of the company, empowering everybody to get the COVID-19 vaccine avoids not only employees getting seriously ill but also helps to protect those around them.

Moreover, the company hopes that herd immunity will contribute to the tourism comeback of the island. Amongst others, USLAUNDRY is an important supplier for many hotels and tourism players on the island.

The two-hour workshop answered many questions and took away doubt from various employees. Registration forms in English, Spanish, and Creole were given out after the meeting to be able to register for the vaccine right away.

USLAUNDRY is grateful for the assistance of the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation in providing instruments for a successful comeback of the island.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Since the first outbreak in March was announced as over in May 2020, Colombo high command approach could not keep the COVID-19 spread under control, despite blaming people.

by Kusal Perera

As we all know, we are into a severe crisis with the third wave of this COVID-19 spread that has now affected all districts and Colombo listed as the worst. For over 01 year,COVID-19 has broughtvery serious breakdowns in social lives and on the already crumbling economy.

Fatalities has now reached over 700 from 604 since Sinhala-Tamil New Year. Month of May began with a further increase and the daily number recorded was 1,923 on 03 May. We need a complete change in approach for too many reasons.

It was predicted with Sinhala-Tamil New Year shopping and festivities this outbreak could be far worse than the two previousoutbreaks. Neglect of social responsibility was clearly in show with the urban affluent flocking to Nuwara-eliya for holiday fun and the religious Sinhala Buddhists trekking Sri Pada for worshiping.There were also State functions openly violating health guidelines for prevention with ruling party leaders as chief guests. Blame for the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus nevertheless was on the ordinary people.They remain the lot who are arrested for violations.

Let me stress, the present Colombo-centric approach with preventive guidelines slapped on society as Ordersdecided and announcedby the Task Force on COVID-19 Control and often enforced by the police has created an unnecessary gap between people and prevention. Lack of trust in enforcement agencies has prevented some from providing information and even avoiding treatment.

Since the first outbreak in March was announced as over in May 2020, Colombo high command approach could not keep the COVID-19 spread under control, despite blaming people. Thus,over the past 09 months we were into two new outbreaks without any definite plan, each more severe in extent and in impact to the one before.

Re-opening and closing of both public and private schools during the past year have been erratic to say the least, ruining the future of over 4.5 million students. Education has become intolerably chaotic with totally alien online teaching dumped on students and teachers without any pre planning and preparations. So are universities and higher education institutes.

In the formal economic sector, factory workers are insecure with employers wanting to maximise profits using COVID-19 pandemic crisis to reduce numbers in their workforce too. Added is neglect of establishing preventive measures in factories by employers. In Katunayake, Koggala FTZs and in other places, factories face closure with fair numbers of workers often tested and reported as positive. There are instances where villagers had demanded closure of factories.

Rural economy is dragged on for survival. Most Sunday fairs have lost their vendors and customers, with less transport available. Produce collectors donot come to villages as before and cashflows have shrunk.

Rapidly increasing positive and fatality numbers have brought heavy pressure on all hospital staff and a scarcity on essential human and material resources. Need for increased numbers of beds, ventilators, oxygen and ICU facilities have created more uncertainty in society. They also create a new demand for more special trained nurses and technical staff. On the side lines, there is confusion over vaccination programmes continuing.

COVID-19 prevention is not about accommodating increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases for hospitalised treatment. It is about seriously reducing infections in society.

We therefore need to shift to a Community based COVID-19 Preventive Programme made public immediately. A programme that will be carried out by local field healthcare workers, under the MOH and the MOH Office established as the Local COVID-19 Preventive Unit.

For a community-based preventive healthcare programme the Public Health Inspectors (PHI) and the Family Health Service Officers(FHSO  decades ago Midwives) are two extremely important and indispensable field health workers, who should be given total responsibility in COVID-19 preventive workalong with the Grama Niladhari (GN) of the division.People know them in their work areas. It is important for people to trust officers who come to them, to provide all required information.

The total community-based preventive healthcare programmeshould be accompanied by a detailed working programme designed by few very selective Community Healthcare experts, with PHIs and FHSOs represented through their trade unions. The policy plan I propose should include,

01. MOH offices to be established as COVID-19 preventive Units under the MOH, with PHIs and FHOs given responsibility to monitor all households in their respective areas (roughly about 1,000 to 1,500) supported by the GNs.

02. all field staff in MOH offices and GNs should be provided with PPE, masks, face covers and necessary resources immediately.

03. a Special Duty Allowance (SDA) not less than Rs.5,000 should be given as incentive for strenuous all day work and health risk.

04. Socio-economic life in the district should be regulated and monitored under the District Secretary, supported by Divisional Secretaries and all MOH in the district.

05. Special plan should be included for reopening of schools during the next 06 months beginning 01 June and maintenance of safe public commuting, with special attention given to public employees including teachers.

06. Employers should be instructed to immediately arrange for PCR testing of all factory employeesand provide transport for their factory employees within districts.

07. District Secretariat should update and maintain a District data-base made available as open source for all Citizens

This in short is a proposal for a clear plan that should be made public immediately. Proposals for increasing PCR testing, requesting more beds, oxygen, ICU facilities are immediate necessities to meet the chaos that is being heaped on society, but is no answer to the accelerated spread.

The writer, Journalist, Political Commentator and Social activist
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PARKING IMPACT

The total number of parking stalls that will be lost as a result of the streetscape project will be 17.

The 300 block will lose eight stalls.

The 100 block will lose five stalls.

The 200 block will lose four stalls.

The diagonal parking along the east side of the street will be removed and replaced with parallel parking.

There are almost 1,100 public parking stalls within a block of Cedar and more than 3,000 public and private parking stalls in the downtown area, according to Greg Kruschke, the community development manager for the city.

Discussions on the time limits for the on-street parking is expected to begin shortly. Some business owners within the project zone have requested shorter parking limits and ample signs to direct people to the long-term parking lots.
Medford, NJ (08055)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Through tears, a celebrity chef and TV personality Bruno DiFabio begged the judge for leniency.

As a federal judge sentenced him to 30 days in prison, DiFabio admitted to committing tax evasion as he sat in his attorneys Southport office for the virtual hearing on Thursday.

Everything is true, he said. I engaged in negligent behavior and Im not proud of it. I did this fully knowing that I was doing something illegal and I minimized the extent of it. And I allowed it to go on as I became more successful in business and I opened up more restaurants. I did this out of arrogance and I am very sorry and I do understand the impacts of my behavior.

DiFabio, a Ridgefield resident who became known as Lord of the Pies for his self-affirmed affinity as a pizza geek, asked Judge Victor A. Bolden to consider a variety of factors in determining his sentence, including his efforts to make amends in the five and a half years since he was charged with the federal crime.

If there is any leniency, sir, that can be afforded to me, I shamelessly ask you to consider my mother, DiFabio said, adding that the 73-year-old woman relies on him daily.

DiFabios accolades included being named world pizza champion six times, and he has owned and operated more than 30 restaurants, including one in London, over the course of 25 years, according to his attorney.

His businesses include Pinocchio Pizza in New Canaan, Wilton and Pound Ridge, N.Y.; Amore Cucina and Bar in Stamford; ReNapoli Pizza in Old Greenwich; and Amore Pizza in Scarsdale, N.Y.

DiFabio and his attorney, Joseph Martini, requested a probationary sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser requested a 30 to 37 months in jail, in line with state statute and sentencing guidelines.

Schmeisser, prosecuting the case for the government, encouraged the judge to hand down a sentence to send a message to deter this type of conduct.

How do you sentence someone who frankly epitomizes, and frankly is a public face for many of, the small businesses in Connecticut, Schmeisser questioned. How will you send a message that can make it clear to those out there who are sort of similarly situated as business leaders to pay their taxes, to not pay people under the table?

Bolden sentenced DiFabio to 30 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised released. The judge said should he violate the terms of his release, DiFabio could face up to an additional two years in prison.

Im sure there are those out in the public who will say, My gosh, you can do this and get 30 days, Bolden said. Ill say this: I always try to make a sentence that is focused on not just the crime, but also the person in front of me.

DiFabio said he committed the crime because he was complacent and got lazy.

It was just a lazy thing not to have to pay attention to numbers, he said.

DiFabio told the judge he now has a degree from Cornell University in food and beverage management and has become laser-focused on learning more about the food industry.

I promise you that I would never, ever repeat the horrible mistakes that Ive made because I have educated myself fully, DiFabio told the judge. You can put your trust in me.

The judge said he weighed a variety of factors in his decision, including all the positive things others had to say on his behalf. Bolden said that indicated to him there was more to DiFabio than the crime he committed.

Bolden told DiFabio  who is known as a pillar of the community and helps with renovations and volunteers at a shelter for those experiencing homelessness in the South Norwalk community  that it was clear he had work you still have to do, and said he acknowledged that it could be jeopardized by a lengthier prison term.

Martini requested that Bolden recommend the federal facility in Danbury, or one closest to Connecticut.

DiFabio agreed to surrender for his prison sentence on July 12. DiFabio must also pay $816,954 in restitution  of which he has already paid $125,000.

Between 2013 and 2016, federal authorities said DiFabio and Steven Cioffi intentionally withheld cash from the businesses operating account, reducing the amount they claimed on their personal income tax returns. In 2018, DiFabio pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.

Cioffi pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return that same year. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison last month.

Authorities said the scheme was aided by James Guerra, a New York-based accountant and Idalecia Lopes Santos, a bookkeeper based in Queens Village, N.Y. All four were also aware some employees of the businesses were being paid off the books, according to federal authorities.

Santos pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in 2019. Guerra pleaded guilty to willful failure to collect and pay withholding taxes earlier this year.

Prior to sentencing, Martini wrote at length about DiFabios difficult upbringing in court filings requesting the judge impose a sentence without imprisonment. DiFabios parents, both of whom emigrated from Italy, met through an arranged marriage and later divorced.

When Mr. DiFabio was about 3 years old, he and his mother went to live with his maternal grandparents in an apartment in Yonkers, where they lived with two of his mothers siblings, who were only 12 and seven years his senior. It was there that Mr. DiFabios mother raised him in the basement of his grandparents apartment. He did not have his own room, but rather he slept on a bed that was tucked in the corner of the main living space next to the boiler room, Martini wrote.

In his youth, DiFabio cared for his mother during her epileptic seizures. When he was a teenager, he went to live with his father in Greenwich for the better school system. After graduating from college, he opened his first pizza restaurant in New York.

Over the course of the next 25 years, up until the investigation in these proceedings, Mr. DiFabio continued to work night and day to successfully build his reputation in the pizza business, Martini wrote.
St. Lukes School Senior Student Marguerite DeMarco, from the St. Lukes School Class of 2021, was recently awarded the prestigious American Society of the French Academic Palms Scholarship. This sought after scholarship is granted to one American high school student each year to study the French language, and culture through an immersion-style approach in a French-speaking country.

Students from across the nation with an enduring and deep interest in the French language and Francophone culture are invited to apply. All applicants must complete a complex application, including an essay written in French, and submit letters of recommendation from their teachers.

Before applying, DeMarco conducted extensive research to determine the best program to fit her needs.

DeMarco is excited for the opportunity to spend four weeks next summer studying in France, where she will travel through Paris, Aix en Provence, Brittany, and the French Alps. As part of her independent study, DeMarco will also research French culture and language and conclude the four weeks with a presentation on her findings. The program is fully immersive, so she will live with a host family and speak French throughout her stay.

I am extremely honored to have received this scholarship, and I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for me not just to learn the language but also learn about the people and the culture that makes France so special. I am really excited to be able to visit the country that I have been interested in for years, DeMarco said.

She shared that her interest in the French language started when she was about six years old. Her brothers teacher was from New Orleans and told her that the name Marguerite was French for daisy. That immediately sparked her interest in learning more about the language. At St. Lukes, DeMarco was able to learn the language officially. I am so grateful to have been able to pursue my passion, DeMarco said.

The teachers of the French program could not be more proud of Marguerite. Considering the prestige of this prize and the history of the American Society of the French Academic Palms, it is such a significant accomplishment and honor for her, St. Lukes Upper School World Language Department Chair, said.

I am so incredibly excited for Marguerite! Living in France allowed me to make friendships that have lasted a lifetime. But, just as importantly, it enabled me to reflect deeply on my values and purpose. Marguerites innate curiosity about people and culture was always palpable, and I am delighted that she will have this extraordinary immersion experience to reflect and grow as a leader, St. Lukes Upper School French Teacher, said.

St. Lukes School is a secular (non-religious) private school in New Canaan for the fifth grade through the 12th grade.

St. Lukes Mission is an exceptional education that inspires a deep love of learning, a strong moral compass, the commitment to serve, and the confidence to lead. St. Lukes Center for Leadership advances our mission by helping students develop exceptional leadership ability. For more information, visit www.stlukesct.org.
I called some doctors offices around here and asked them to send people over, but I didnt get a warm response, Ahmad said.  I called one of the agencies here for farmworkers and told them to send them over. They asked me which vaccine I have, and when I told them they said they dont want that one.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
There is a specific breakfast one that we created, Eggs Botanic, our take on a classic eggs Benedict, he explains. Instead of an English muffin, we put it in on Cuban bread. We press it so its kind of like a Cuban sandwich, so its nice and crispy on both sides. And then we do avocado, some Black Forest ham, and then we do some poached eggs. And the thing that makes it Cuban for us is we do a mojo hollandaise. So its your traditional hollandaise but we spike it with mojo sauce, which, you know, is citrusy, garlicy, herbaceous.
By creating density you establish that critical mass of population thats necessary to support the variety of lifestyle amenities that you cannot sustain with a smaller, more dispersed population, Trantalis said. As long as you can find ways to keep people out of their cars and encourage them to walk to the grocery store and places of interest, then youve succeeded in establishing a lifestyle that everyone benefits from.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Ashtabula, OH (44004)

Today

A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Former Comcast contractor Patrick George Forbes was fired in 2015, but he continued to offer to rig cable boxes to get every premium channel and high speed internet access for anyone willing to pay between $20 and $180 cash. He also fraudulently set up Comcast accounts using stolen identities of the living and the dead, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Romania does not feel threatened, but worried about Russia's increased military presence in the region, and thanks to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Black Sea "is partly also a NATO 'lake'," Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday.

He participated in EPC Talks Geopolitics, an online debate. In this context, he spoke about the role of our country on the eastern flank of NATO, agerpres.ro confirms.

Asked if Romania feels threatened by the Russian military's increased military presence in the region, Aurescu said: "We do not feel threatened. Romania is a NATO ally, part of the Alliance - the most successful and strongest military alliance in history. We do not feel threatened, but at the same time we are worried when we see a massive deployment of such troops, such a demonstration of military force in the region. We cannot help wondering what the reason is for this, what kind of concern Russia wants to convey to us, as NATO allies in the region."

The minister was also asked "what could NATO do to prevent Russia from turning the Black Sea into a 'Russian lake'".

"Thanks to NATO allies, the Black Sea is partly also a NATO 'lake'. We cannot give up being present in the region as members of the Alliance and I think it is important to continue to promote our values in the region," he said.

He said that "it is important for NATO to continue the defence and deterrence in the area and that, at the same time, protracted conflicts in the area pose a threat to regional security and beyond."

At the same time, he showed that our country wants "more allies in the multinational brigade in Romania".

"We have Poland, forces of some allied countries - Portugal, Italy and others - but we need a greater presence on the ground (...). In recent years we have seen an increase in naval presence in the Black Sea and more NATO ships are coming and we are organizing joint exercises, within the stipulated limits," he pointed out.

Moreover, he spoke of the need for cohesion on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance.

"It is necessary and we must make more efforts regarding the cohesion of the Eastern Flank. It is clear that Russia sees the Eastern Flank as a whole. And we must see things that way," Aurescu pointed out.

In this context, he spoke about the allied military presence in Romania.

"If we have a constant rotation and a multiplied NATO presence in the Black Sea - and we have seen something like this in recent years - I think we can say that there is a relevant naval presence of NATO in this region. It does not mean that we should not do more. And I think it is important that, at the NATO Summit, in the discussions in which we negotiate the future NATO strategic concept, strengthening the components of deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank, including the Black Sea and the southern flank, it would be a very relevant thing for Romania and for the region, but also for NATO as a whole," he pointed out.

Thus, he stressed that "security in the Black Sea area is an integral part of NATO security."

According to the Foreign Minister, the Rail-2-Sea and Via Carpatia projects "are not only necessary for the economic development of the region, but also in terms of military mobility".

"We do not believe that the level of military mobility is satisfactory. Therefore, projects connecting the northern part with the southern part of the Eastern Flank, which coincide with the northern and southern part of the Three Seas Initiative region, are very important. We need such projects," Bogdan Aurescu said.
Prime Minister Florin Citu announced that 100,454 people have been vaccinated against COVID in the last 24 hours.

"100,454 people vaccinated in the last 24 hours. We promised it, we did it! Romania, let's do it, it's possible!," Florin Citu wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis, in Constanta, said Romania was doing "extraordinarily well" in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, saying more than 100,000 people would be immunized in one day, agerpres.ro confirms.

The president brought to mind that from the end of this week those interested will be able to go to vaccination centers without scheduling in the online platform.
The President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, was, on Thursday, a guest at Elisabeta Palace, where she met with the Crown Custodian, Margareta.

"Her Majesty and Prince Radu invited the President of the Senate to lunch. The Crown Custodian and the President of the Senate discussed the royal actions of 2021 to strengthen local communities and promote Romania's interests in the European Union and in the world. Possible joint projects between the Legislature and the Royal House of Romania were also discussed," informs a release posted on the Facebook page of the Royal Family of Romania, agerpres.ro confirms.
BOCA RATON  A man was shot by another driver who fired at least four bullets at his vehicle this week on Interstate 95 in Boca Raton, the latest in a string of shootings on Floridas most dangerous highway.
The Minister of Health, Ioana Mihaila, considers that giving up wearing a protection mask is feasible as of August 1, yet only in open and uncrowded spaces.

"It depends on where we are giving up the mask. I am also encouraging to not wear the mask in certain conditions, outside closed spaces, in places where there is no crowd, and for these areas I believe that August 1 is a feasible deadline," Mihaila declared, on Wednesday evening, for the public TV broadcaster TVR1.

The Minister of Health expressed her desire that, along with the involvement of family doctors, the number of those vaccinated against the novel coronavirus to surpass 100,000 people per day, reports Agerpres.

Furthermore, Ioana Mihaila announced that the order regarding testing for COVID-19 in pharmacies could be published this week, so that as of next week, depending on how quickly the necessary tests will be delivered, this procedure could be effectively started.
An in rem criminal case has been opened in the shooting of a bear in the Ojdula area, the facts investigated being for poaching and the use of a weapon, the representatives of the Covasna County Police Inspectorate (IPJ) informed.

The Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office with the Targu Secuiesc Court, Valentin Teodorescu, confirmed for AGERPRES that IPJ Covasna was notified ex officio on Wednesday, "based on media materials" and that he is waiting for the documents from the Police, in order to register the criminal case in the records of the Prosecutor's Office.

According to him, the facts for which investigation is being carried out are, "in principle, poaching and the use of weapons", agerpres.ro confirms.

Agent Green Organization and VGT condemned in a press release on Wednesday the killing of the brown bear Arthur by the trophy hunter, Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein, who came to Romania in March in Ojdula (Covasna County), to shoot it.

"Arthur was 17 years old and was the largest bear seen in Romania and probably the largest living in the European Union. The measurements of the corpse indicate that Arthur had 593 points out of 600, which is the maximum possible in the trophy hunting industry. I've never heard of such a record score before. I wonder how the prince could mistake a female bear with cubs coming to the village with the largest male bear that lived in the depths of the forest. It is clear that the prince didn't come to solve the locals' problem but to kill the bear and take home the biggest trophy to hang it on the wall. We are dealing with a game of poaching, since they shot the wrong bear," said Gabriel Paun, president of Agent Green.

Environmental activists claim that, in reality, the prince did not kill the problem bear, but a male bear who lived in the depths of the forest and who had never come near the localities. "Arthur the bear has been observed for several years by Agent Green's ranger in the area and was recognized as wild and unused with human presence and food sources. Its habitat was the Natura 2000 Oituz-Ojdula ROSCI0130 protected area," states the quoted source.

According to Agent Green, the brown bear is a species strictly protected by European Union (EU) law and the Berne Convention, and derogations are exceptions that occur in extreme cases on a case-by-case basis, after a thorough assessment of the situation, the lethal method being the last solution when the alternatives (including relocation) have failed and the problem bear endangers human lives and households.

The European Commission (EC) has approved a budget for member states to compensate immediately and fairly any farmer who suffers damage on their own land or in areas where they have a contract to practice agriculture, the organization notes.

The Minister of Environment, Tanczos Barna, declared on Wednesday that two parallel investigations, one of the National Environmental Guard and another of the Forest Guard, were started in the case of the bear that was extracted from Covasna County, at a hunting association, and underscored he would not comment on the case so as not to influence investigations.
The Ministry of Economy unequivocally supports the 5G Law sent to Parliament, and the notification sent by the ministry came following a communication with the European Commission, Minister of Economy Claudiu Nasui said on Thursday.

"I spoke with the Prime Minister, we unequivocally support the 5G law sent by the Government to Parliament. We received clarifications from the Commission on this topic because we are a national contact point with the commission for Directive 2015/1535. Being a national contact point we are compelled, if we receive communications from the EC, to pass them on to the relevant institutions," Nasui pointed out in a statement sent to AGERPRES.

According to him, the European Commission sent clarifications to the ministry in which it stressed that Romania was preparing a law for the introduction of 5G infrastructure, which if it contained technical regulations, according to Directive 2015/1535, the Commission should be notified about them, agerpres.ro confirms.

"Following an analysis at the Government's level according to which the normative act is not subject to the notification procedure, the parliamentary procedure for adopting the law can go further. Sending the notification by the Ministry does not change the support for 5G legislation in Romania. It is a technical communication issue with the Commission," explained the Economy Minister.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Florin Citu said he was surprised by the information regarding a request of Minister of Economy Claudiu Nasui to postpone the debate in Parliament on the draft law on the implementation of 5G networks.

According to information published on Thursday in the public space, Minister of Economy Claudiu Nasui asked the Senate leadership to postpone the debate on the Law's measures referring to information and communication infrastructures of national interest and the conditions for implementing 5G networks on the grounds that all procedural steps before sending the draft to Parliament had not been observed.

On April 15, the Government approved a draft law on the adoption of measures on information and communications infrastructure of national interest and the conditions for the implementation of 5G networks.
Senate Deputy Chair Alina Gorghiu of the National Liberal Party (PNL) says Economy Minister Claudiu Nasui should learn parliamentary procedures, drawing his attention to the fact that only the government can ask the Legislature to postpone debate on the 5G law.

"It is good for some ministers to learn a little procedure. It is difficult to understand why the Ministry of Economy is sending letters to Parliament to postpone the 5G law, submitted by emergency procedure by the government of which I am a member. It is hard to understand as a procedure, because it is not a minister, but only the government, possibly through the Department for Relations with Parliament, who could submit the request to us; but, especially politically and strategically, because we all know how important and pressing this subject is. The decision stages have already been ticked off: the political one, within the coalition, the security one, within the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT), and the executive one, within the government. When the government decides something, when the coalition agrees on a subject, does a minister correspond on these decisions? In fact that is a theme that regards national security, a law that follows Romania's commitments to the USA and the EU," Gorghiu wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

She expressed her conviction that the 5G bill will continue its parliamentary journey by emergency procedure, and Nasui "will do his best to quickly communicate to any interested international bodies that the process is ongoing", agerpres.ro confirms.

"PS: In the meantime, Minister Nasui made the necessary clarification, namely that 'the piece of legislation is not subject to the notification procedure, and so the parliamentary procedure for adopting the bill can go further'. Probably this analysis should have been done before sending the letter, but it is good to confess our mistake," added Gorghiu.

On April 15, the government approved a bill on the adoption of measures related to information and communication infrastructures of national interest and the circumstances for the implementation of 5G networks.

According to information published on Thursday, Nasui asked the Senate leadership to postpone the debate on this law, on the grounds that not all procedural steps had been observed before sending the bill to Parliament.

Subsequently, Nasui said that the Ministry of Economy unequivocally supports the 5G bill submitted to Parliament, and the notification was sent after communication with the European Commission.
The National Association of Romania's Travel Agencies (ANAT) is calling for an alternative epidemiological analysis of holiday destinations for Romanians, according to an ANAT press statement released on Thursday.

The solution suggested by ANAT would be a set, predefined index, so that the persons who return from vacation from a destination with an index below the set value will no longer have to go into quarantine. ANAT officials claim the model is successfully applied in other European countries.

"First of all, let us congratulate you on the way in which the mass vaccination is being carried out, which we consider to be going very well and give us hope that we will return to normal soon! However, we cannot but notice that this obviously gratifying thing for Romania also has negative consequences on the movement of people to countries with a higher epidemiological index than Romania and, implicitly, on tourism, which has been hard tried for more than a year. Romania's index today is 128, smaller than most countries where Romanian tourists usually prefer to travel, but people who have not yet got vaccinated must be quarantined on their return to Romania," underlines ANAT in an open letter sent on Thursday to Prime Minister Florin Citu and Minister of the Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Claudiu Nasui.

Thus, ANAT is calling on the Romanian government for support with identifying an alternative epidemiological analysis of holiday destinations for Romanians, such as a preset, predefined index, under which people returning from vacationing in such destinations should no longer be forced into quarantine. For example, if the index is set at 500, all Romanian citizens who return from countries with an epidemiological index below 500 and are not vaccinated should be exempted from quarantine. That model is successfully applied in countries such as Portugal (index set at 500) and Iceland (index set at 700).

"In addition, protocols may be established to allow persons returning from countries with an index higher than the one set nationwide to take a PCR test or a rapid antigen test at the airport upon entry into Romania, and exempting from the quarantine mandate the people testing negative, thus avoiding many unpleasant situations for travelers who have already purchased packages of travel services or individual travel services," according to ANAT Chairman Dumitru Luca, reports Agerpres.
Speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban on Thursday met David Muniz, the charge d'affaires of the United States of America in Romania, underlining the importance of continuing and deepening the strategic partnership between Romania and the USA, which is "one of the important pillars of Romania's foreign policy."

"I had the pleasure to welcome today to Parliament Mr David Muniz, the charge d'affaires of the United States of America in Romania, to discuss the bilateral relationship and economic co-operation. This year we celebrate 10 years since the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between the United States of America and Romania. In our conversation, we appreciated the importance of continuing and deepening the strategic partnership between Romania and the US, one of the important pillars of Romania's foreign policy," Orban wrote on Facebook.

He also mentioned military and security co-operation with the United States inside NATO, agerpres.ro confirms.

"I also appreciated the security and defence co-operation with the United States of America inside NATO and Romania's particular role as an ally in the Black Sea and on the eastern flank of NATO," he added.
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You can contact your admissions office and request an offer better aligned with one you received from a competing school, or ask for your offer to be reevaluated based on new achievements youve accomplished since applying. Keep in mind that the final decision will be at the schools discretion, meaning theres no guarantee youll walk away with more aidbut its worth a try.

3. Use a scholarship database. Enrolling in scholarship databases can make it easier to find and apply for scholarships. Scholarship.com, for example, allows users to search for scholarships based on selected criteria. These databases are marketed as free for users, but keep in mind that theyre likely selling your data to colleges or their marketing partners in order to make money.

4. Consider attending a two-year school first. Community college gives students the opportunity to earn credits toward their bachelors degree at a much cheaper cost than earning them at a four-year institution, Mayotte says.
Around the time of the conversations about the statue, the park started planning the creek project. The Christopher Columbus commission was a pivotal point for our board of commissioners because through those discussions and that process, it became more clear to the organization that, as silly as it sounds, the land was here long before it was a park, Reininger said. It was really reframing our history of what we celebrate within the park.

And yes, the creek project had to maintain intentional elements of what makes it a Victorian park  stones for seating will have cut edges instead of natural ones, and some flowers will stand in more formal rows. The plantings or stones themselves will hold a certain meaning for the Osage people that will require some interpretation through tours, signage or information on the parks website.

The East Stream area of Tower Grove Park will provide a location where community members can enjoy the beauty of native plants and animals utilized by the Osage and get a glimpse of our perspective on the world and universe at large, Andrea Hunter, Osage Nation tribal historic preservation officer, said in a statement. The Osage Nation is grateful to be able to share our culture in this historic park.
Broward County public schools already has a similar policy ensuring students wont wear mask in the outdoor heat: It says that masks arent required for any student outside of any school, district building, or at a school/district sponsored activity while the student is engaged in strenuous physical activity as long as the student is socially distanced from other people not wearing masks. And, students participating in indoor physical activities are required to wear a face covering, including weight rooms and physical education classes.
ST. LOUIS  Lobbyist and political consultant David Barklage has been indicted on a felony tax charge, documents unsealed Thursday show.

Barklage failed to report $443,633 in income from 2012-2014, the indictment says, meaning he failed to pay $151,843 in taxes for those years.

A total of $209,499 came from a Missouri political campaign, $30,000 was from lobbying fees and $122,580 came from an independent media producer, the indictment says.

During that period, Barklage was half owner of Barklage and Knodell and the sole owner of The Barklage Company, the indictment says.

Barklage, 60, of St. Louis, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on April 28, but the indictment was sealed until Thursday. He is scheduled to plead not guilty to the charge Friday morning.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith, who is prosecuting the case, declined to comment Thursday.

Barklage could not be immediately reached for comment. A statement from his lawyers office reads, in part, Mr. Barklage maintains his innocence throughout this process. We look forward to reviewing the Federal Governments evidence regarding Mr. Barklages personal taxes.
Another $175 million could go to city coffers to offset pandemic-related revenue losses. An estimated $78 million could go toward various public safety initiatives.

Under the legislation, Missouri cities and counties would be required to report their American Rescue Plan expenditures to the panel, which could also hold hearings, take testimony, review contracts and issue public reports on the local spending.

The committee would be made up of members of the Legislature, Gov. Mike Parsons budget director and designees of the state treasurer and auditor.

The measure would require local governments to send in their receipts within 30 days to report how they spent the federal money.

The panel would not have the ability to block spending by local governments.

The legislation would allow the committee to oversee federal money from February of this year until January of next year. The committee would expire at the end of 2023.

While some local officials objected to the proposed legislative oversight, spokesmen for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and County Executive Sam Page said separately they are willing to share information with state lawmakers.
Myrick has worked for the district since 2002 and has been the general counsel since 2016. During the past five years, Myrick has fiercely fought to keep the districts public records private whenever possible, especially when the media were seeking information about the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting in Parkland. She has defended School Board members when they have held meetings that the media viewed as violations of the state Sunshine law.
And so Missouris Democrats and Republicans already have their talking points ready, even before the coming summer surge of violent crime in the city. They already know what theyre going to say and to which audience they will address those comments. Irrelevant are the names of the victims or their stories. Just blanks to be filled in.

St. Louis Democrats: Defund cops, reimagine policing.

Missouri Republicans: Less cops bad, more cops good.

St. Louis Democrats: More guns bad, less guns good.

Missouri Republicans: More access to guns, less access to voting.

And so it will go. Meanwhile, real people are dying. Kids need protection. Neighborhoods are falling further behind as more and more people leave this city and seek safety in the suburbs or other states.

There was a phrase made popular several years ago by futurist and forecaster Paul Saffo: Strong opinions, weakly held. The idea is that it is alright for people to have opinions, beliefs, codes to live by, even ideologies. But if evidence comes to light that proves that belief is false, its foolish to ignore the evidence simply for consistencys sake.

Its easy to see Missouri Republicans more guns and St. Louis Democrats less cops ideologies heading straight for each other like a dangerous game of chicken. For the sake of the hundreds of murder victims and thousands of shooting victims history tells us to expect in the months to come, I hope someone is willing to turn the wheel.

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Some high-tech companies, like Twitter (which forecasts indefinite at-home work for some of their employees), Google and Facebook that are leading the move to at-home work have offered $1,000 stipends for equipping the home office. But despite these efforts, there is no federal law or administrative rule for compensable equipment. The vast majority of those working from home are not covered by supportive state laws, generous high-tech employers or unions, so there are few organized voices raising the issue or seeking solutions.

We hope raising the issue on the pages of the Post-Dispatch will inspire managers and owners to consider the burden employees are shouldering for at-home work and take action to help ease the financial burden. Companies can consider cafeteria-style plans, amounts graduated by level and time spent in remote work. This also strengthens companies assertions of workers as employees rather than independent contractors.
Gillibrands bill would require that sexual-assault cases be assigned exclusively to specially trained military prosecutors, removing senior commanders from the process.

Her research, she told National Public Radio, shows that oftentimes there is bias when its a he-said, she-said case. And Ive looked at every case, several years, at four of the largest military bases to see how do these cases turn out. When its he-said, she-said, more often than not, they [commanders] believe the he, the perpetrator.

In 2019, more than 7,800 sexual-assault reports were filed involving service members, yet only 7% resulted in convictions, according to Defense Department data.

Speaking to reporters last week, Grassley acknowledged the years of disappointment Gillibrand has faced but seemed hopeful that her persistence would finally pay off. If you are right, you eventually win out in the Congress of the United States. Sexual assault cannot be tolerated anywhere, but particularly in the military, he said.

Ernst, the only female combat veteran representing the GOP in the Senate, has long campaigned to fix weaknesses in the military justice system. Cruz, who doesnt typically align with Democrats on such issues, said he is proud to be a part of this legislation. Providing for the nations defense includes protecting those who protect us from sexual violence, he said. This marks one of the extremely rare occasions when this newspaper can declare it stands in full agreement with the junior senator from Texas.
In March 2021 Indonesia put into service the KRI Alugoro, the first submarine built in Indonesia. This was also a first for Southeast Asia, where Indonesia has been developing and expanding its ability to build warshipsfor over a decade. The Alugoro was built with the assistance of South Korea, which delivered to two similar subs with the understanding that the third was built in Indonesia, a process that included the transfer of submarine construction technology and training Indonesian shipyard staff. This co-production deal with South Korea was first proposed 18 years ago. There were extended negotiations, lots of delays, agreement on design and cost (about $335 million each) and construction of the Alugoro began in 2016.The two subs built in South Korea entered service in 2017 and 2018. The Indonesian subs are called the Nagapasa class after the name of the first one. Indonesia ordered three more of these boats in 2019, all to be built in Indonesia. There is no start date yet for the three additional subs, which may be three more Nagapasas because the cost of the second three is similar to the first three. Indonesia may opt for or three of the similar but larger Son Won class subs South Korea began building in 2002. These are larger and more expensive, but also considered equal to the latest Chinese subs.

Indonesia was satisfied with performance of the first two Nagapasas and is apparently waiting to see if the Indonesian-built boat performs as well. So far that seems to be the case, as the Alugoro went through strenuous sea trials, as is common with all new submarines. Some Indonesian officers and crew from the first two South Korean built boats spent some time on the Alugoro during trials and found performance similar to what they experienced in the South Korean-built boats.

The Nagapasa boats are based on the South Korean Jang (or Chang) Bogo class subs, which South Korea had already built nine of. These subs were is an improved version of the German Type 209, but built in South Korea under license. The South Korean Navy put nine locally built Chang Bogos into service between 1993 and 2001. It is a proven design and that was a major selling point. The Nagapasas have improved sonar, radar and fire control equipment, similar to what South Korea is installing in new subs or older Jang Bogos that refurbishes its every ten years. These subs typically remain in service for about 30 years.

The Jang Bogos are 1,200-ton boats that are 55.9 meters (174 feet) long, have a top speed while submerged of 39 kilometers an hour, and a top surface speed of 20 kilometers an hour. Range is 20,900 kilometers at a surface speed of 7.4 kilometers an hour. Endurance is 50 days and the highly automated boat has a crew of only 31. The Nagapasas have berths for about 40 personnel indicating larger crews of planned use or carrying special operations troops for some reconnaissance missions. Armament is 14 torpedoes fired from eight 533mm (21 inch) tubes.

Since 2003, when Indonesia began looking for ways to expand its submarine force and replace two older (entered serviced in 1981) German subs, South Korea has been the leading candidate to supply the new subs. The first obstacle Indonesia ran into was the high cost of replacement boats. New subs can cost over half a billion dollars each, although Russia was offering better prices on new Kilos. But Indonesia had a bad experience with Russian subs back in the 1960s. The two German type U209 boats they bought in the 1980s as the Cakra class proved sturdy, effective and durable.

The Carkas are now old boats and one of them was lost at sea in April 2021. It was found after three days on the ocean floor 850 meters (2,700 feet) down. This is 350 meters deeper than the boat was designed to go. Keeping a diesel-electric sub in service past 40 years means the older boat will go to sea less often and be used mainly for training. This provides the more recently built boats with trained crews, rather than have each sub devote some of its time to ensuring that new crewmen are ready. It was found that the lost sub had more people on board than there should have been and may have been carrying out risky maneuvers, especially for an older boat, when the fatal malfunction occurred.

South Korea has an interest in what happened here because Indonesia made a deal with South Korea, which also operates German subs, to refurbish their German-built Cakras. The first one took two years, but in addition to replacing worn parts and checking for any hidden damage, lots of new navigation and weapons systems were installed and it returned to service in 2005. The boat that recent sunk completed its refurb in 2012. The two refurbished Cakras were good for at least another ten years. As the second Cakra was finishing its refurbishment in 2011, the Indonesian Navy finally obtained the money for new Nagapasas.

South Korea was eager to get the business, as South Korean shipyards are building more warships, including subs. Doing the Indonesian refurbs at a favorable price made South Korea a leading contender to supply Indonesia with new boats.
Soldiers assigned to 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade ready their aircraft at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on Apr. 22, 2021 as part of the first Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise of the AH-64Ev6 helicopter. The unit is the first in the U.S. Army to receive and field an entire battalion of the new aircraft. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Wilkins, 7th Infantry Division)

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Russians are dismayed at the performance of their economy compared to the East European countries that also lost their communist government (and Russian occupation forces) after 1990. Those nations quickly established economic, diplomatic and military links with Western Europe and the rest of the developed nations. Russia tried to do the same but was hampered by more corruption and less experience with free market economies. In 1991 Russia had been without a free market economy for 70 years. There were was no tradition of free market economics. East European countries (as well as China) were different. They had not lost their free market economies until the late 1940s, meaning it was only 45 years since communism replaced free markets. These nations also had a lot of expatriates in the West who had prospered in the free market and still had ties with family back in the communist homeland. A lot of those expatriate kin were welcomed back even if they talked the local language with an odd accent. This made a big difference but Russian politicians chose to ignore this and blame the poor Russian economic performance on outsiders, namely the West. In 2014 the blame game turned violent when Russian invaded Ukraine, partly because Ukrainians wanted to emulate the East European nations. The invasion triggered economic sanctions from the West. Then there was a technical revolution in extracting oil (fracking) that turned the U.S. and Canada into major oil producers and exporters. This cut the world prince of Russias main export, oil and natural gas, by more than half. Over the next five years the major East European nations (Poland, Romania and Hungary) grew about 4 percent a year while Russian GDP grew by less than one percent a year. By 2019 most East European nations, including Turkey had higher per-capital income than Russians. This loss was widely felt, and experienced in Russia.

One thing most Russians have vivid memories of is that the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was not a sudden event. The emerging economic collapse was felt personally by most Russians who lived through the 1980s. In the 1990s the details of how this collapse happened became public knowledge. This revealed many surprising facts for everyone, inside and outside the Soviet Union. During the 1947-1991 Cold War figuring out how much the Soviet Union (communist Russian empire) was actually spending on defense was difficult for Russians as well as foreigners. Until near the end of the Soviet Union, the Russians never published an accurate defense budget. For most of the Cold War the official budget, the one available to most Russians and all foreigners, showed a number that was less than 25 percent of what the U.S. spent.

In the last few years of the Cold War a reform minded Russian leader published more accurate defense spending data. This showed annual defense spending that was about 70 percent of what the Americans spent. It was worse than that, something most Russians were unaware of. Russia was actually spending about 20 percent of GDP on the military, a percentage more than three times what the U.S. spent. The government went public with the actual defense spending to explain why the Soviet Union had such a low standard-of-living than the West. As long as the defense spending remained so high, poverty would increase each year. By the 1980s this was visible with growing food shortages and less spending on infrastructure, housing and things that mattered most to the majority of Russians. The Soviet Union was not defeated militarily but economically. The Soviet Union literally fell apart in 1991, with half the population forming themselves into 14 new nations. At the end, Soviet leaders didnt fight this because it couldnt rely on the security forces. Most of them were conscripts who knew how bad life was. Even many career officers, especially the younger ones, were not willing to fight to preserve the Soviet Union.

Russians are not enthusiastic about this renewed Cold War, especially since they appear to be losing it the same way they lost the first one. The current Russian leader, former Cold War KGB officer Vladimir Putin, has spent two decades ruling Russia by subverting the constitution that limits national leaders to two terms. Making yourself president-for-life didnt work during the Cold War and isnt working now.

May 5, 2021: In northwest Syria (Latakia and Hama provinces) Israeli air strikes destroyed several Iranian targets, most of them warehouses for storing newly arrived weapons. Latakia, which includes the Syrian Mediterranean coast, a large pro-Assad population and two Russian bases (one air and the other naval), is rarely hit with Israeli airstrikes. Russian warships have been seen escorting Iranian ships illegally delivering petroleum and weapons to Syria and that means Iran has more targets in the province that the Israelis go after.

May 3, 2021: In northeastern Syria (Hasaka province) Russian and Turkish troops have been conduction more joint patrols along the border with Turkey to keep Islamic terrorists out of Turkey and preventing more fighting between Turks (or their mercenaries) and the Kurdish forces that control Hasaka. The latest joint patrol was the longest yet, covering over a hundred kilometers. Russian troops also seek to keep the peace between the Kurds and aggressive Syrian Army soldiers.

May 2, 2021: Myanmar (Burma), formerly part of the British colonial holdings in South Asia, has a new military government seeking to maintain its close ties with China and Russia while it struggles to establish control of the country three months after a February 1st coup. China promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the new military rulers of Burma. Within two weeks Russia also proclaimed support for the military government. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the elected civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their connections in China and was the main reason China has sold $1.4 billion worth of military equipment to Burma since 2010. Russia sold $800 million worth. Together China and Russia accounted for over 90 percent Burmese spending on imports of military gear. Russia also has a veto at the UN and uses it to protect the Burmese military government.

The coup has not worked out as planned because the country is now sliding towards economic crisis and civil war. Anti-government demonstrations continue despite troops and police being ordered to open fire. Some of the demonstrators are shooting back. So far over a thousand demonstrators have been killed by the security forces and ten times that number wounded or arrested. The Burmese military is comfortable with a cozy relationship with China and Russia but most Burmese are not. This has led to Chinese businesses being attacked and some have been set on fire. The alliance of separatist northern tribes, which reached a peace agree with the elected government in 2016 refused to recognize or cooperate with the military government. Burmese military leaders were surprised at the extent and duration of mass protests during the last three months. By popular agreement the economy is shut down and the generals have to worry about the morale and loyalty of their troops because of the months of popular protests and being ordered to open fire on fellow Burmese. The many foreign companies that manufacture in Burma have been evacuating their employees and that means getting those closed facilities operational again will take time.

The military still has income because during their decades of rule (from 1962 to 2010) they came to control many businesses and some of those were joint ventures with China. A lot of Chinese firms pay the Burmese military directly for joint ventures. This provides the military with at least a billion dollars a year, assuming the Chinese operations can keep functioning. The Chinese operations in Burma now face sanctions. Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. Russia is of little help economically but is one of the few nations supporting the military government. Chin and Russia are offering advice but the major problem is the weakening morale and resolve of the troops and police. China has a border with Myanmar but so far there is no talk of Chinese military intervention, probably with heavily armed peacekeepers. A token number of Russians could be added to that force.

May 1, 2021: Russia concluded over a month of training near the Ukrainian border and inside Donbas areas it controls. Russia tried to portray this as the buildup for a possible invasion of Ukraine. At the same time the Russians were not willing to negotiate with the Ukrainian president, who has been trying, for two years to get some direct peace negotiations going with Russia. That has not happened because Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected president of Ukraine by a large margin in early 2019 was not a politician but proved a lot more capable than the Russians expected. Worse, Zelensky quickly demonstrated that he was more of a threat than the professional politician he replaced. Since taking power in 2019 Zelensky quickly replaced notoriously corrupt or incompetent government and military officials. Zelensky then tried to get negotiations going between himself and Russian leader Putin. The Russians did not want that, and their response has been stunts like the current invasion threat. Zelensky didnt flinch because he could do the math. The Russians had sent the equivalent of six combat brigades, accompanied by additional artillery (gun and rocket) units moving to the border as well as a buildup of combat aircraft and warships in the Crimean Peninsula, the one Ukrainian province Russia was able take in 2014 and annex. While the Crimean operations was winding down Russia tried to use the same tactics to seize two provinces in eastern Ukraine. This area was also known as the economically important Donbas (Don River Basin) region. Surprisingly, for the Russians, Ukrainian forces quickly responded to the 2014 Donbas seizure effort and after months of intense combat there was a stalemate, with Russian holding half the territory it sought. Since 2015 the equivalent of half a dozen Ukrainian combat brigades face a slightly smaller force of ethnic Russian residents of Donbas, plus volunteers (mercenaries) from Russia and thousands of Russian soldiers pretending to be volunteers. In the last few months, a Russian buildup of forces stationed near the Ukraine border suddenly consisted of about seven combat brigades. Russia also brought warships to the Donbas Black Sea coast and in position to attack the two main port cities there. The air force buildup in Crimea and increased EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment along the border is either another training exercise or Russia seeking to take Donbas, and maybe more, by force and then declare peace. This would increase the costs of occupying Donbas and incur additional sanctions. This is already costing Russia several billion dollars a year. Moreover, most of the Russian troops assembled near the border were newly inducted conscripts getting their first extended exposure to operating in a simulated combat zone. These conscripts were not ready for a fight, but to learn out to fight.

The Ukrainians also know that the Russian army has, since the 1990s, become smaller than the American army. Thats a first. The Russian army is also much smaller than the better equipped Chinese army, something Russia does not wish to dwell on with foreigners. Currently the Russian Army has about 20 combat brigades that are potentially combat ready, depending on how much training the annual influx of new conscripts received. That means many combat ready Russian brigades are always in the process of actually becoming combat ready. The current concentration of brigades on the Ukrainian border is the majority of combat brigades the Russians have available in western Russia. In such a large country, the Russian army has always been spread thin in peacetime and always training lots of new conscripts.

The Ukrainian ground forces have 170,000 active-duty troops versus 350,000 for Russia (and over 500,000 in the U.S.). Since 2014 Ukraine has reorganized and upgraded its ground forces and currently has as many combat ready brigades as Russia. Ukraine also has more reserve troops, who are better trained and dedicated than their Russian equivalents. In other words, Ukraine is not exactly helpless against a Russian invasion but most of the fighting would take place in Ukraine and civilian casualties would mostly be Ukrainian, as would the property damage. Worst case is the Russians would not achieve a quick victory, and would have to propose a peace deal Ukraine would accept. As much as Ukrainians would like to humiliate their ancient Russian oppressors militarily, no Ukrainian leader wants a war with Russia. But it is up to Russia to start such a war and this time Russian blinked.

Nearby, Russian warships in the Black Sea were not blinking and had once again closed the Kerch Strait to Ukrainian ships. This is illegal according to international law and agreements Russia has long recognized. The only potential hazard in the Black Sea is the appearance of American warships to challenge the illegal blockade of the two major ports in eastern Ukraine. This will earn Russia some more Western sanctions but nothing worth backing off in the Black Sea. Besides, there is a new government in the United States and this is what Russian does when testing the new president to see what Russia can get away with.

April 25, 2021: Over the last few years India has cut military imports by a third, mainly by making major reduction in what it buys from Russia. While India still imports Russian combat aircraft, that policy is in trouble because of the relatively poor Russian aircraft performance, compared to Western aircraft, when it comes to reliability and combat effectiveness. Russia has not been able to fix these problems. In response to the loss of Indian arms purchases in general, Russia has offered Pakistan weapons similar to what China delivers and Russia points out that having two main suppliers creates competition that great for the customer. Pakistan is not jumping at the Russian offer.

India wants to continue reducing its dependence on imports, even it means accepting clearly inferior (to Western and Chinese alternatives) weapons. During the Cold War India declared itself neutral but became a major importer of Russian weapons because they were cheaper and Russia more willing to transfer manufacturing technology so India could build many of the Russian weapons under license. Pakistan obtained most of its imported weapons from European and American manufacturers.

After the Cold War both Pakistan and India made major efforts to develop and produce major weapons systems and both largely failed. Except for nuclear weapons, which both nations developed internally by the late 1990s, and ballistic missile tech based on what they could obtain from China and Russia respectively, Pakistan and India have handled their failures to develop and build their own conventional weapons differently. India believes its nuclear weapons aimed at China will prevent major losses on the border while Pakistan, even with superior Chinese weapons, is not a major threat.

With China the major threat India has to obtain the best weapons possible to deal with that. As a result, the remaining imports, which are still substantial, concentrate on systems India cannot produce at all. This includes first-line jet fighters like the Russian Su-30, and the French Rafale. India still buys air defense and electronic items from Israel and specialized UAVs from the United States. Russia has more modern and recent fleet of the latest Russian tank models. In fact, India has more of these T-90 tanks than Russia. India is trying to eliminate its dependence on Russia for modern warships but continues to encounter problems with Indian built nuclear submarines. Indian ballistic missiles appear to be competitive, as are their nuclear weapons. The new restrictions on military imports are forcing the armed forces and Indian manufacturers to catch up in the areas of developing and manufacturing competitive modern weapons. This isnt easy because India has a long, and growing, list of locally developed systems that failed, even after several generations of improved models.

Russia tried to obtain and absorb Western weapons development and manufacturing tech, and was making progress when all those efforts disappeared with the 2014 sanctions.

April 19, 2021: Russia now has another reason to be angry at Turkey. Ukraine and Turkey are openly and enthusiastically working on ways to increase the economic and military links the two have established over the last decade. Recently Ukrainian and Turkish leaders held the ninth meeting of the Turkish-Ukrainian High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Both countries emphasized the importance of protecting Ukraines territorial integrity and the need to reduce tension in the Black Sea region. The Cooperation Council discussions focused on eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatist forces have been fighting since 2014. At the end of the conference Ukraine referred to Crimea and the Donbass region as temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and praised Turkeys support for the restoration of Ukraines territories. Turkey does not recognize Russias 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and Turkey announced it was ready to provide "necessary support" to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine peacefully. Doing that involves offering Ukraine Turkish armed UAVs to. Turkey would not say it would become directly involved with Russian forces. Ukraine considers Turkey the only other nation besides the United States to offer direct aid versus the current Russian invasion threat to invade the rest of Ukraine.

Economically, Turkey and Ukraine are increasingly active, with military tech flowing both ways. This comes as the world the world has learned just how important Ukraine is to Russia, and many other countries, as a source for key military items. After 2014 Russia had to revise its warships and helicopter production plans because Ukraine was the only source for key components. China, then Turkey, turned to Ukraine for some of these items because sanctions had made it impossible to obtain the items from the West. Most recently Ukraine has provided Turkey with key tech for tanks and helicopters. Turkey has already exported UAVs to Ukraine. These previous exchanges between Turkey and Ukraine were done quietly, but now the Turkish military aid to Ukraine are receiving more publicity and Russia is not happy. After all Russian and Turkish forces are facing each other in the Caucasus (Armenia) and Africa (Libya) as well as Syria. Turkey and Russia are technically allies in Syria but that alliance is falling apart.

April 16, 2021: In southeast Africa (Mozambique) Russian military intervention hit another setback. In Mozambique Islamic terrorist violence has been growing since 2017 and in 2019 Russia offered discreet help with that. In late 2019 about 200 Wager Company military contractors showed up in northeastern Mozambique where the Islamic terrorists were threatening a $20 billion natural gas production facility built by French firm Total and the key to future Mozambique prosperity. This is not the first appearance Wagner in Africa. For several years Wagner military contractors, who were mostly veterans, have been working in Libya and several locations in Central Africa. Russia is also on good terms with South Africa, which also provides mercs to African nations. Most of the Russian and South African mercs have combat experience and have proved effective at safeguarding economic assets like mines and natural gas facilities. After a major clash with the Islamic terrorists in early 2021, Wagner suffered over a dozen casualties and suddenly disappeared. It is unclear if these Russians have left the country of are keeping out sight while the Russian government decides to pull them out or reinforces them.

Mozambique needs foreign military help because the local military forces are small and not well trained, armed or led. The military only has 15,000 personnel, 80 percent of them in the army which is organized into ten light infantry battalions and some support units. Three of the infantry battalion are designated special forces, but lack sufficient training and equipment to qualify as special. The air force and navy are much smaller and have few operational aircraft and ships. The army received a lot of weapons from Russia from 1975 until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. China has since been selling Mozambique some weapons and ammo but most of the military gear is elderly and often not operational.

The air force has a handful of Russian and French helicopters and about a dozen Tucano armed trainer aircraft. The navy includes patrol boats and a small contingent of marines. These forces were supplemented after 2019 by Russian mercenaries, followed by South African military contractors belonging to DAG (Dyck Advisory Group), which brought some helicopter gunships with. Both these military contractors went to Mozambique with the approval of their respective governments.

April 11, 2021: Turkey openly called Ukraine and Russia to peacefully end their confrontation over Russian efforts to seize and absorb Ukrainian territory. Turkey indicated it would help resolve the Russia-Ukraine dispute but did not specify how Turkey. This statement came the day after Turkish leader Erdogan met with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky.

April 5, 2021: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province), Russian airstrikes and aerial recon missions continue, especially in the Mayadeen Desert, a thinly populated region near the more populous Euphrates River Valley. Russia is starting a month-long campaign to inflict some major damage on the local ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) forces.

The largest town in the area is called Mayadeen as is the largest military base. Since 2018 Deir Ezzor province has been the scene of a multi-sided battle between ISIL, SDF (Syrian Kurds), Syrian army, Iranian and Russian mercenaries as well as smaller numbers of Russian special operations troops and lots of Russian warplanes overhead. For about a year now the Russians have been are using a combination of special operations troops, military contractors and Syrian mercenaries. The Syrian mercs on the Russian payroll include at least one unit comprised of Palestinian refugees, who have lived in Syria for decades. When the civil War began in 2011 most of the Palestinians sided with the rebels, a betrayal the Assads, their long-time host and protector, was understandably bitter about. Signing up as Russian mercs was a way for Syria based refugees to win back the trust of the Assads. The current operation is part of a much larger and longer effort, lasting into May, to find and destroy the ISIL hideouts known to be in the desert but difficult to pinpoint and bomb. By the end of the month several hundred 200 ISIL men had been killed and over a dozen hideouts and hidden storage had been found and hit with airstrikes and followed up with the mercs coming in to search for bodies and anything useful in finding out details of more ISIL operations and locations. One of the more significant air operations came about two weeks after the campaign began. Several ISIL training and assembly area were found near Palmyra. This the town is astride the main road from Deir Ezzor province to Damascus and long fought over because of its strategic importance. ISIL was apparently planning some major operations in the area because over 200 ISIL men died when the unexpected Russian airstrikes began. The camps were carefully camouflaged to make aerial reconnaissance less likely to spot anything. That worked until it didnt. Emergency escape plans failed because of the large number of aircraft and UAVs assigned to the attack and the presence of the Russian mercenaries in the area.

April 3, 2021: In northwest Syria (Idlib province) there continues to be a lot of rocket and artillery fire in the southern Idlib de-escalation zone where such attacks are technically forbidden. This zone is near the main Russian Hmeimim airbase in neighboring Latakia province. Latakia is vital to the Assad government because it is the most loyal province and contains the Mediterranean ports and the Russian airbase. Most of the Latakia population is Shia, as is the Assad clan. For years Syrian forces used artillery against Idlib Islamic terrorist bases identified Russian aerial reconnaissance. Recently Russia has reinforced the security around Hmeimim airbase by bringing in an FSB (former KGB) border surveillance aircraft and a detachment of Hezbollah gunmen to increase ground patrol around the base.

The Islamic terrorist rebels in Idlib are losing control of their half of Idlib province. This bothers the Turks the most because that means there is no one group to negotiate with. It also means Idlib will become so chaotic that it can no longer defend itself. Turks, Syrians and Russians can move in a take possession of an area populated by thousands of Islamic terrorists. their families and remaining supporters. Not what you would describe as a victory, but then nothing in Syria is.

April 2, 2021: Syria and Russia signed a long-promised deal for two Russian companies to explore offshore Syrian waters for oil and natural gas. There are already large natural gas deposits being extracted by Israel in an offshore region near the Lebanese border. It turns out that these large deposits of natural gas, because of new exploration tech, can be found offshore (and a few on shore) throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, especially coastal areas from Egypt to Greece. This has caused a growing number of disputes about exactly where the maritime borders are and who actually owns which offshore area. The two Russian exploration firms were assigned areas near the Lebanese border and Lebanon has already disputed the Syrian interpretation of the maritime border. Russia and Syria signed the original offshore exploration agreement in 2013 based on the huge proven (with exploratory drilling) fields found and being developed off northern Israel. One reason Russia intervened militarily in Syria during 2015 was to protect their exploration rights off Syria. Israel has confirmed that its offshore natural gas wealth off the coast was enormous and keeps getting better.

In late 2014 Israel announced a third major natural gas discovery off their coast. This one was worth over $100 billion dollars. The two previous ones were worth over a trillion dollars. By 2o18 Israel found that their natural gas fields were actually 14 percent larger than earlier estimated. These discoveries make Israel largely energy independent and a major exporter of natural gas. This is a recent development as serious exploration for natural gas off the Israeli coast only got started in the late 90s and since then more and more natural gas has been found offshore in the eastern Mediterranean, from Lebanon to Egypt. Israeli commercial production began in 2013 with the completion of pipelines extending 150 kilometers offshore. Israeli GDP was continuing to grow without the natural gas discoveries but with the natural Israel becomes largely energy independent and an energy exporter as well. Israel went on to signs long-term natural gas export deals with Jordan and Egypt worth nearly $20 billion.

Syria is hoping for a trillion-dollar natural gas bonanza offshore. The Russians firms will earn billions if they find that gas and supervise the drilling and construction of infrastructure to extract, store and distribute, inside Syria and to export customers, the natural gas. Having Russia as a partner in this means Russia has something worth fighting for in the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. This offshore natural gas wealth is another reason why Russia maintains good relations with Israel, even if that angers Iran and Turkey.
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client D.R. Smith Co., Inc. (dba, Air Compressor Service) to Northwest Pump. The transaction closed April 30, 2021.

Air Compressor Service (ACS) located in Everett, Washington, sells, services, and repairs all types of air compressor products, serving business customers throughout the Puget Sound and western Washington area. The Company is a Gardner Denver authorized distributor, and also services and sells a wide range of other industry-leading compressors, vacuum pumps, air dryers, filtration, lubricants, and other products, including rebuilt equipment.

ACS has a strong emphasis on recurring scheduled preventative maintenance programs for each customer, which help maintain strong relationships, and provides ongoing equipment sales opportunities. The revenue mix includes equipment sales, parts, service labor, lubricants and other revenue.

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Northwest Pump (NWP) has been an industry leader in selling and servicing petroleum products since 1959. They offer top quality products, decades of experience, and unparalleled customer service. When they added their industrial division over 20 years ago, those same qualities were established immediately. Employee-owned since 2006, that pride in ownership is reflected throughout the entire operation.

With 18 branches located from Anchorage, Alaska, Honolulu, Hawaii, and throughout the Western States, NWP is the largest retailer of petroleum equipment and industrial pumps and compressors in the West.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A  Western Region, Stephen Crisham, and his team lead by Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, Paul Hajek, supported by Vice President Mergers and Acquisitions, Chad Comroe, successfully closed the transaction. Executive Managing Director Tom Braun established the initial relationship with ACS.

It was a great pleasure working with both the seller and the buyer. Air Compressor Service is a very profitable and well-run company and Northwest Pump was extremely professional during every stage of the deal, said Hajek.

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named the company the 2017 and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year and 2020 Valuation Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005352/en/

For more information:

Carl Doerksen

972-232-1125

cdoerksen@generational.com

Source: Generational Equity
Successful Health Care Investment Executive with Extensive Business, Scientific and Medical Knowledge, as well as Broad Industry and Investment Experience

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell transplants for serious medical conditions, today announced the appointment of Anula Jayasuriya, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., to the Companys Board of Directors, effective as of May 4, 2021. Dr. Jayasuriya is a successful healthcare private equity executive and venture capitalist with extensive clinical, industry, entrepreneurial, and investment experience. Dr. Jayasuriya is the Founder & Managing Director of EXXclaim Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on catalyzing innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in Womens Health, and a Co-founder of Evolvence India Life Science Fund (EILSF), the first fund in India to focus exclusively on healthcare and invest in Indian pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and contract services companies. Dr. Jayasuriya received a B.A. from Harvard University summa cum laude, a M. Phil. in pharmacology from the University of Cambridge, an M.D. and Ph.D. (in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics) from Harvard Medical School and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Jayasuriya is a successful healthcare investment executive with deep insights and experience in the clinical development of a wide range of medical products. We are delighted she will be joining our Board of Directors, stated Al Kingsley, Lineages Chairman of the Board. Dr. Jayasuriyas appointment reflects an overall commitment to ensuring that our Board reflects a broad range of expertise and perspectives as Lineage works to position itself as a leader in the field of cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

I am excited to join Lineages Board at a transformational time in the Companys history, stated Dr. Jayasuriya. Lineage is pioneering a new branch of medicine by advancing its off-the-shelf cell transplant therapies toward later stage clinical trials. These products have the potential to address multi-billion-dollar market opportunities and greatly improve the lives of patients. I look forward to helping the Company as it positions itself for success in 2021 and beyond.

Anula Jayasuriya, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Dr. Jayasuriya is the Founder & Managing Director of EXXclaim Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on catalyzing innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in Womens Health, and a Co-founder of Evolvence India Life Science Fund (EILSF), the very first fund in India to focus exclusively on health care and invest in Indian pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and contract services companies. Dr. Jayasuriya has applied deep business, scientific, and medical knowledge in her career as a pharmaceutical company executive, private equity executive, and venture capitalist, providing her with a broad experience base spanning clinical, executive, entrepreneurial, and financial roles. She was among the first investors to recognize the untapped opportunity in the unmet needs in womens health.

Integrating her passion with her investing expertise, in 2013 Dr. Jayasuriya founded EXXclaim Capital, which has invested in a portfolio of diverse Womens Health companies ranging from digital health, medical devices, and diagnostics to consumer products. EXXclaims first investment, nVision Medical, was acquired in 2018 by Boston Scientific Inc. In 2006, she co-founded EILSF, focusing exclusively on investment in Indian pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and contract services companies. Dr. Jayasuriya was previously a partner with Skyline Ventures in Palo Alto, and prior to that with the German/US venture capital firm TVM, in San Francisco. Her prior positions include VP Business Development at Genomics Collaborative Inc., Vice President, Global Drug Development at Hoffman-La Roche for opportunistic infections in AIDS and Transplantation, and Director, Outcomes Research at Syntex Laboratories.

Dr. Jayasuriya received a BA from Harvard summa cum laude, and an MD and PhD (in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics) from Harvard Medical School. She interned in Pediatrics at Boston Childrens Hospital and received an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. Dr. Jayasuriya also holds a M. Phil. in pharmacology from the University of Cambridge, in England.

About Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineages programs are based on its robust proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated in-house development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed to either replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineages clinical programs are in markets with billion dollar opportunities and include three allogeneic (off-the-shelf) product candidates: (i) OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the developed world; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; and (iii) VAC, an allogeneic dendritic cell therapy platform for immuno-oncology and infectious disease, currently in clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the Company on Twitter @LineageCell.

Forward-Looking Statements

Lineage cautions you that all statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, in some cases, can be identified by terms such as believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, design, intend, expect, could, plan, potential, predict, seek, should, would, contemplate, project, target, tend to, or the negative version of these words and similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Lineage advancing its off-the-shelf cell transplant therapies toward later stage clinical trials and the potential of those products to address multi-billion-dollar market opportunities and greatly improve the lives of patients and Lineages positioning for future success. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Lineages actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release, including risks and uncertainties inherent in Lineages business and other risks described in Lineages filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lineages forward-looking statements are based upon its current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading Risk Factors in Lineages periodic reports with the SEC, including Lineages most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and its other reports, which are available from the SECs website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Lineage undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

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Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. IR

Ioana C. Hone

(ir@lineagecell.com)

(442) 287-8963

Solebury Trout IR

Gitanjali Jain Ogawa

(Gogawa@soleburytrout.com)

(646) 378-2949

Russo Partners  Media Relations

Nic Johnson or David Schull

Nic.johnson@russopartnersllc.com

David.schull@russopartnersllc.com

(212) 845-4242

Source: Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
Learn4Life offers personalized learning and one-on-one support for low-income high school students and dropouts

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit high schools for at-risk students, recently received approval to open a school in San Antonios Edgewood Independent School District (EISD). Beginning in August 2021, Learn4Life will open to serve existing EISD students who are credit deficient or at risk of dropping out. Enrollment will be open for all students in the community who would benefit from personalized, one-on-one instruction to be successful in high school.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005289/en/

A Learn4Life student interacts with her supervising teacher while holding her baby. (Photo: Business Wire)

Texas has approximately 3.6 million students, or 67 percent of its student population, who are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch, a measure of poverty within a school district. Within the EISD, 91 percent of students get free or reduced-price lunch, which is significantly higher than the statewide average.

Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, Superintendent of Edgewood ISD, explained that, Our main district outcome is to graduate all students to be college, career and military ready at their expected date of graduation. We want to ensure as many opportunities as possible are available to our students, so they can accomplish the goal of graduating high school and building a better future for themselves. This partnership allows us to connect with students who may feel graduation is not a possibility, but we are here to tell them it is!

Click to tweet: Opportunity Youth in San Antonio will have a new option this summer for a flexible and personalized high school education. #Learn4LifeSchools #OpportunityYouth.

For 20 years, Learn4Life has committed to breaking the dropout cycle by creating classrooms of one for at-risk students who have struggled in traditional schools and fallen so far behind, they lose the opportunity to graduate with their classmates. Through a personalized learning model, students receive one-on-one support, a flexible schedule, wrap-around services and job skills training  all with trauma-informed practices.

This partnership is extremely important to ensure we are serving students who have become disenfranchised or feel left behind. We intend to reach out to these students and get them re-enrolled so they can complete their high school education which will, in turn, open up significantly more opportunities for them, stated Chad J. Humphrey, Chairman of the Board, Learn4Life-Edgewood.

Learn4Lifes network of schools annually serve more than 47,000 at-risk students in Texas, California, Michigan and Ohio. These students have endured traumas such as foster care, homelessness, hunger, abuse, bullying, illness, political/religious refuge and even human trafficking. Seventy-four percent are from low-income households, many are pregnant or parenting, and most enroll after dropping out, more than a year behind in credits. Its trauma-informed approach helps teens develop resilience to support a positive transition to adulthood after they earn their diplomas.

Learn4Life is successful with 90 percent of its students  reengaging them in their education, helping them graduate, and preparing them for a life beyond high school with job training and placement. Nearly half enroll in post-secondary education after graduating from Learn4Life.

Understanding even small interruptions to a students momentum can derail their educational progress, Learn4Life kept students engaged during the pandemic  first by providing more than 20,000 laptops and hotspots, and then ensuring one-on-one meetings with teachers and tutors continued online. Each Learn4Life teacher is responsible for about 35 students  unlike most high school teachers who have as many as 180 students.

Putting students back into schools means putting money back into the state. Instead of creating a lifelong drain on public resources, the thousands of dropouts saved go on to become productive, contributing members of society. Every dropout who earns their diploma is six times more likely to vote1; 67 percent less likely to be unemployed2 and six times less likely to be incarcerated3. Watch this video to learn more about Learn4Lifes model to change students stories.

The school is located at 1922 S. General McMullen Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78226. Enrollment is now open at Learn4Life.org/edgewood.

About Learn4Life

Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 47,000 students  including full-time and intersession students  we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

About Edgewood ISD

Edgewood ISD provides an exceptional learning experience that engages, empowers, and prepares students to compete and reach their highest potential in an ever-changing world.

1 CIRCLE. Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election: The Educational Gap Remains, 2012.

2 Cassidy, Mike. No One is 5.8 Percent Unemployed. U.S. News & World Report, December 10, 2014.

3 Keeping Kids in School  Dropout Prevention & School Discipline. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California. February 2015.

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Ann Abajian, Learn4Life

(844) 515-8186

PR@learn4life.org

Keyhla Calderon Lugo, Edgewood ISD

(210) 862-9655

Keyhla.Calderon-Lugo@eisd.net

Source: Learn4Life
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Northwell Health has awarded $1.3 million toward the research and development of four employee-driven projects that have the potential to transform the future of health care. After a one-year hiatus, the health system renewed its annual ideas showcase  known as the 2021 Innovation Challenge  and came away with two potentially transformative projects: a 3D imaging device to identify tissue pressure injuries early and a spleen stimulator to treat bleeding.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006043/en/

From left: Dr. Jared M. Huston, Northwell Health President & CEO Michael Dowling, Anne Marie McDonough and Alina Segal, winners of the 2021 Innovation Challenge. Credit Northwell Health. (Photo: Business Wire)

Northwell tapped into the marketplace of ideas by giving employees an opportunity to receive funding through the internal competition. Now in its fifth year, the 2021 Innovation Challenge drew 74 submissions in two categories, which were winnowed down to seven finalists. Two winners along with two runners up were announced on May 3.

Innovation and creativity are the essence of good organizations who strive to excel and move forward, said Michael Dowling, Northwell Health president and CEO. We have a lot of innovation in the health system and these submissions are representative of what weve seen over the years at Northwell Health. We started this Innovation Challenge five years ago and since then we have funded nine projects. At this moment, each one is on its way to commercialization.

The care delivery category winner, Use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) for Early Detection of Tissue Pressure Injury, is developing a 3D device to facilitate early detection of various ulcers at Staten Island University Hospital. Alina Segal, a specialist physical therapist, and Anne Marie McDonough, senior director of Rehabilitation Medicine.

This device will introduce a 3D capability to assist nurses and other clinicians in detecting, assessing and monitoring tissue pressure injuries, said Ms. Segal. It will also be a valuable tool for managing surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers and amputations, among many other uses.

The science category winner, Treating Bleeding and Bleeding Disorders via High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation of the Spleen, is a project in collaboration with General Electric using a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) stimulation of the spleen to treat bleeding and bleeding disorders. Jared M. Huston, MD, vice chair for education and system chief for the Division of Surgical Education, is a lead researcher in the development of the device that can be worn on a belt and remotely stimulate clotting in the case of trauma, surgery, or other invasive procedures where blood loss could prove deadly.

Currently, bleeding complications result in substantial morbidity and mortality across nearly every field of medicine and surgery, said Dr. Huston, an associate professor at the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, part of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We are excited to move this potentially life-saving innovation forward with the goal of improving care for millions of patients.

The runners up examine an artificial intelligence-driven algorithm that limits the need to wake hospitalized patients unnecessarily and a therapeutic drug candidate externally validated by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease as a potential treatment for HPV infection.

The winning teams were selected by the following panel of judges: Melynda Barnes, MD, chief medical officer at Ro; Arianna Huffington, CEO of Thrive Global and co-founder of HuffPost; Thomas Manning, executive chairman for the Northwell/Aegis Ventures AI Joint Venture; and Lonny Reisman, MD, founder and CEO of HealthReveal. The winners each earned $500,000 awards to bring their concepts to market. Two additional teams received $150,000 and will work with internal resources at Northwell to advance their ideas.

Northwell has been able to tap into the ingenuity of our internal team members to identify solutions which can transform care and care delivery, and leverage expertise across the system to conduct proof of concept related to these innovations, said Richard Mulry, interim president and CEO of Northwell Holdings, Northwells for-profit arm. Northwell Holdings, which encompasses Northwell Ventures, manages a portfolio of 15 early-stage companies, invested in development of three medical devices created by Northwell physicians, advances the commercial potential for internal innovation and development of commercial joint ventures.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York States largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 76,000 employees  18,900 nurses and 4,800 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners  are working to change health care for the better. Were making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006043/en/

Jason Molinet

516-321-6705

jmolinet@northwell.edu

Source: Northwell Health
Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, will provide signals intelligence field services for the U.S. Air Force's Distributed Common Ground System, which collects, processes and analyzes intelligence.

RI&S will support seven different intelligence applications the Air Force uses to collect and correlate data under the new program, DCGS-Signals Intelligence Field Support (DSFS). The five-year contract, valued up to $175 million, will combine information from airborne, ground and other systems.

"Gone are the days of planning daily sustainment operations site-by-site. Now DSFS provides an enterprise support structure for all sustainment operations, optimizing mission coverage with fewer field engineers," said David Appel, vice president, Defense and Civil Solutions for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. "We're able to help ensure the highest level of operational availability for the system, all while reducing costs. With the open architecture baseline being declared fully mission capable, we anticipate greater improvement in analysts' efficiency and the ability to manage the availability of the system for all sites."

Under the contract, RI&S will leverage its mission domain knowledge to provide high mission availability in support of end-to-end operations  from creating a mission plan for an airborne sensor to receiving data, processing that data, and then either producing a report, storing it or enhancing it by fusing it with other data.
TORONTO, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Belo Sun Mining Corp. (Belo Sun or the Company) (TSX:BSX OTCQX: BSXGF) is pleased to announce that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol BSXGF. The OTCQX Best Market is the highest market tier of OTC Markets, and trading on OTCQX will enhance the visibility and accessibility of the Company to U.S. investors. Belo Suns common shares will continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol BSX. U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Belo Sun is pleased to be joining the OTCQX Best Market and improving access to our American shareholders. Our team is focused on carefully advancing the development of the Volta Grande Gold Project while meeting and exceeding all social, environmental and health and safety protocols and considering the best interests of all stakeholders, said Peter Tagliamonte, President and CEO of Belo Sun.

About the Company

Belo Sun is a Canadian-based mining company with a portfolio of gold-focused properties in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on the development of the Volta Grande Gold Project. Belo Sun trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol BSX and on the OTCQX under the symbol BSXGF. For more information, please visit www.belosun.com or contact Investor Relations at +1 (416) 309-2137.

Caution regarding forward-looking information:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the trading of the common shares of the Company on the OTCQX. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.belosun.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Source: Belo Sun Mining Corp.
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 HEMs 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 HEMs FRA Business.

About Huber Engineered MaterialsHuber 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 CorporationJ.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), operates a diverse portfolio of companies: CP Kelco, Huber Engineered Materials, Huber Engineered Woods and Huber Resources Corp. With locations around the world, our businesses create products used in a broad range of applications including personal care, food and beverage, agricultural nutrients and adjuvants, building materials, flame retardants and smoke suppressants, as well as sustainable forestry services. Founded in 1883, Huber is one of the largest family-owned companies based in the US. For more information, visit www.huber.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:Lea VolpeDirector, Corporate CommunicationsJ.M. Huber Corporation678.247.7128 phonelea.volpe@huber.com

Source: J.M. Huber Corporation
CONTINUE TO DELIVER REVENUE GROWTH AT BOTH ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY STORAGE SEGMENTS

REITERATE 2021 ANNUAL ADJUSTED EBITDA GUIDANCE

INCREASED ENERGY STORAGE PIPELINE TO 2 GW

RENO, Nev., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Change (%) GAAP Measures Revenues ($ millions) Electricity 145.0 142.9 1.5 % Product 8.6 47.4 (81.8

)% Energy Storage 12.7 1.8 589.1

% Total Revenues 166.4 192.1 (13.4

)% Gross margin (%) Electricity 44.9 % 50.0 % Product 6.6 % 22.0 % Energy Storage 62.4 % (5.6 )% Gross margin (%) 44.3 % 42.6 % Operating income ($ millions) 49.9 61.1 (18.3 )% Net income attributable to the Companys stockholders 15.3 26.0 (41.4 )% Diluted EPS ($) 0.27 0.51 (47.1 )% Non-GAAP Measures Adjusted Net income attributable to the Companys stockholders 24.1 26.0 (7.3 )% Adjusted Diluted EPS ($) 0.42 0.51 (17.6 )% Adjusted EBITDA1 ($ millions) 99.2 106.0 (6.4

)%

(1) Reconciliation is set forth below in this release

Our first quarter results reflect continued strength from our Electricity and our rapidly growing Energy Storage segments that were able to partially offset a $9.9 million reduction in gross profit in the Product segment that was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the $4.9 million of insurance income related to Puna that was received in the first quarter of last year, commented Doron Blachar, Chief Executive Officer. We continue to show revenue growth in both the Electricity and Energy Storage segments and are expecting to maintain growth and improve Adjusted EBITDA.

Ormats pipeline of energy storage projects continues to expand, and we have secured large quantities of batteries that will be delivered over the next four years on competitive terms in order to support our growing needs, added Mr. Blachar. This segment continues to contribute positive Adjusted EBITDA and we are increasingly confident that growth will accelerate.

This year we will lay additional groundwork to accelerate the growth of our Electricity and Energy Storage segments, added Mr. Blachar. Governments around the world continue to support renewable energy, and the current U.S. administration has indicated an eagerness to invest in infrastructure, particularly for clean energy. We are well-positioned to take advantage of these trends. We expect to increase our combined geothermal, energy storage and solar generating portfolio to approximately 1.5 GW by 2023, with a significant contribution coming from our energy storage business. This will enable an annual run-rate of $500 million in Adjusted EBITDA towards the end of 2022.

FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders was $15.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to $26.0 million, or $0.51 per diluted share in the first quarter of last year, representing a decrease of 41.4% and 47.1%, respectively, mainly as a result of the February power crisis in Texas, which led to emergency regulations impacting our Rabbit Hill energy storage project, as well as the slowdown in Ormats Products segment;

Adjusted net income attributable to the Company's stockholders was $24.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share compared to $26.0 million or $0.51 per diluted share in 2020. Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders in the first quarter of 2021 was adjusted to exclude a one-time net expense of $12.1 million pre-tax and $8.8 million after tax related to the February power crisis in Texas, which caused a significant increase in demand for electricity on the one hand and a decrease in the electricity supply in the region on the other hand, leading to a significant increase in the Responsive Reserve Service market price. The following is a breakdown of the pre-tax net expense as recorded in our P&L: Revenue of $5.4 million under Energy Storage segment Expense of $3.0 million under General and Administrative Expenses Loss of $14.5 million under Derivatives and Foreign Currency Transaction Gains (Losses);

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6.4% to $99.2 million, from $106.0 million in the first quarter of last year mainly due to a $9.9 million reduction in Product segment gross profit this quarter and BI insurance income of $4.9 million recorded in the first quarter of last year (a reconciliation of GAAP net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below in this release);

Electricity segment revenues increased slightly compared to the first quarter of last year, supported by a contribution from newly added capacity at the Steamboat Complex and from Punas resumed operation, partially offset by curtailments in the Olkaria complex in Kenya due to COVID-19 and lower resource performance in the complex that caused a reduction in generation. We are evaluating a recovery plan to restore the complexs generating capacity;

Product segment revenues decreased 81.8% to $8.6 million, down from $47.4 million in the same quarter last year, impacted mainly by COVID-19;

Product segment backlog stands at $37.2 million as of May 5, 2021;

Energy Storage segment revenues were a record $12.7 million compared to $1.8 million in the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly related to higher revenues at our Rabbit Hill project driven by the February power crisis in Texas, and revenues from our Pomona asset in California which was acquired in July 2020;

We announced the commercial operation of the 10 MW/40 MWh Vallecito Battery Energy Storage System (Vallecito BESS). The Vallecito BESS provides local resource adequacy to Southern California Edison (SCE) under a 20-year energy storage resource adequacy agreement. In addition, the facility will provide ancillary services and energy optimization through participation in merchant markets run by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO);

The Puna power plant is currently generating approximately 20 MW. We plan to connect two injection wells during the second quarter and are targeting close to full capacity in mid-2021. While the enactment of the new PPA, signed with HELCO at the end of 2019, was recently delayed by the PUC, we will continue selling electricity under our existing long-term PPA;

McGinness Hills expansion is completed and we are in late stage of start-up; and

We released two energy storage systems for construction, the 20 MW/MWh Andover and the 7 MW/MWh Howell, that are located in New Jersey and will sell ancillary services to PJM. We are targeting commercial operation in the first half of 2022.

2021 GUIDANCE

Total revenues of between $645 million and $680 million;

Electricity segment revenues between $570 million and $580 million; The electricity segment includes $33 million from the Puna power plant in Hawaii, assuming we will meet our target of bringing the plant close to full operation in mid-2021;

Product segment revenues of between $50 million and $70 million;

Energy Storage revenues of between $25 million and $30 million;

Adjusted EBITDA to be between $400 million and $410 million; Adjusted EBITDA attributable to minority interest of approximately $32 million.



The Company provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a Non-GAAP financial measure for the three months ended March 31, 2021. However, the Company is unable to provide a reconciliation for its Adjusted EBITDA guidance range due to high variability and complexity with respect to estimating forward looking amounts for impairments and disposition and acquisition of business interests, income tax expense, and other non-cash expenses and adjusting items that are excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.



DIVIDEND

On May 5, 2021, the Companys Board of Directors declared, approved, and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share pursuant to the Companys dividend policy. The dividend will be paid on June 1, 2021 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 18, 2021. In addition, the Company expects to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share in each of the next three quarters.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

Ormat will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and other matters discussed in this press release on Thursday, May 6th, at 9 a.m. ET. The call will be available as a live, listen-only webcast at investor.ormat.com. During the webcast, management will refer to slides that will be posted on the website. The slides and accompanying webcast can be accessed through the News & Events in the Investor Relations section of Ormats website.

An archive of the webcast will be available approximately 60 minutes after the conclusion of the live call.

Investors may access the call by dialing:

Participant dial in (toll free): 1-877-511-6790 Participant international dial-in: 1-412-902-4141 Conference replay US Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529 International Toll: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10154447

ABOUT ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES



With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (REG), with robust plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market and to establish a leading position in the U.S. energy storage market. The Company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter  a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. The Company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed for utilities and developers worldwide, totaling approximately 3,200 MW of gross capacity. Ormat leveraged its core capabilities in the geothermal and REG industries and its global presence to expand the Companys activity into energy storage services, solar Photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage plus Solar PV. Ormats current 932 MW of geothermal and Solar generating portfolio is spread globally in the U.S., Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, and Guadeloupe and its 83 MW energy storage portfolio is located in the U.S.

ORMATS SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat's plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management's current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties.

For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" as described in Ormats Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2021 and from time to time, in Ormats quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that are filed with the SEC.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the Three-Month periods Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Revenues: Electricity 144,988 142,856 Product 8,643 47,411 Energy storage 12,721 1,846 Total revenues 166,352 192,113 Cost of revenues: Electricity 79,851 71,368 Product 8,074 36,978 Energy storage 4,780 1,949 Total cost of revenues 92,705 110,295 Gross profit 73,647 81,818 Operating expenses: Research and development expenses 876 1,619 Selling and marketing expenses 4,276 4,794 General and administrative expenses 18,606 16,745 Business interruption insurance income  (2,397 ) Operating income 49,889 61,057 Other income (expense): Interest income 263 402 Interest expense, net (19,016 ) (17,273 ) Derivatives and foreign currency transaction gains (losses) (16,866 ) 393 Income attributable to sale of tax benefits 6,355 4,132 Other non-operating income (expense), net (331 ) 78 Income from operations before income tax and equity in earnings (losses) of investees 20,294 48,789 Income tax provision (3,007 ) (18,148 ) Equity in earnings (losses) of investees, net 542 (735 ) Net income 17,829 29,906 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (2,570 ) (3,873 ) Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders 15,259 26,033 Earnings per share attributable to the Company's stockholders: Basic: 0.27 0.51 Diluted: 0.27 0.51 Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the Company's stockholders: Basic 55,988 51,036 Diluted 56,735 51,526





ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

For the Periods Ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 376,630 448,252 Marketable securities at fair value 27,735  Restricted cash and cash equivalents 88,449 88,526 Receivables: Trade 139,711 149,170 Other 10,513 17,987 Inventories 38,408 35,321 Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 20,876 24,544 Prepaid expenses and other 22,613 15,354 Total current assets 724,935 779,154 Investment in unconsolidated companies 104,519 98,217 Deposits and other 52,956 66,989 Deferred income taxes 119,217 119,299 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,148,589 2,099,046 Construction-in-process 471,548 479,315 Operating leases right of use 15,627 16,347 Finance leases right of use 8,336 11,633 Intangible assets, net 189,249 194,421 Goodwill 24,237 24,566 Total assets 3,859,213 3,888,987 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses 148,071 152,763 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 12,686 11,179 Current portion of long-term debt: Senior secured notes 24,963 24,949 Other loans 36,240 35,897 Full recourse 26,168 17,768 Operating lease liabilities 2,935 2,922 Finance lease liabilities 3,171 3,169 Total current liabilities 254,234 248,647 Long-term debt, net of current portion: Limited and non-recourse: Senior secured notes 306,891 315,195 Other loans 276,186 284,928 Full recourse: Senior unsecured bonds 698,271 717,534 Other loans 59,601 59,556 Operating lease liabilities 12,332 12,897 Finance lease liabilities 5,851 9,104 Liability associated with sale of tax benefits 107,105 111,476 Deferred income taxes 87,421 87,972 Liability for unrecognized tax benefits 3,094 1,970 Liabilities for severance pay 18,202 18,749 Asset retirement obligation 64,354 63,457 Other long-term liabilities 6,086 6,235 Total liabilities 1,899,628 1,937,720 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 9,706 9,830 Equity: The Company's stockholders' equity: Common stock 56 56 Additional paid-in capital 1,264,828 1,262,446 Retained earnings 558,644 550,103 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (6,920 ) (6,620 ) Total stockholders' equity attributable to Company's stockholders 1,816,608 1,805,985 Noncontrolling interest 133,271 135,452 Total equity 1,949,879 1,941,437 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity 3,859,213 3,888,987

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

For the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

We calculate EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for (i) termination fees, (ii) impairment of long-lived assets, (iii) write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities, (iv) any mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives, (v) merger and acquisition transaction costs, (vi) stock-based compensation, (vii) gain or loss from extinguishment of liabilities, (viii) gain or loss on sale of subsidiary and property, plant and equipment and (ix) other unusual or non-recurring items. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net earnings as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a performance metric because it is a metric used by our Board of Directors and senior management in evaluating our financial performance. However, other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three-Month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Three Months Ended March 31 2021 2020 (Dollars in thousands) Net income 17,829 29,906 Adjusted for: Interest expense, net (including amortization of deferred financing costs) 18,753 16,871 Income tax provision (benefit) 3,007 18,148 Adjustment to investment in an unconsolidated company: our proportionate share in interest expense, tax and

depreciation and amortization in Sarulla 2,465 2,677 Depreciation and amortization 40,829 35,288 EBITDA 82,883 102,890 Mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivative 2,086 (561 ) Stock-based compensation 2,097 1,989 Merger and acquisition transaction costs 484 540 Reversal of a contingent liability (418 )  Allowance for bad debts related to February power crisis in Texas 2,980  Hedge losses resulting from February power crisis in Texas 9,133  Settlement expenses  1,188 Adjusted EBITDA 99,245 106,046

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company's stockholders and Adjusted EPS

For the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

Adjusted Net Income attributable to the Company's stockholders and Adjusted EPS are adjusted for one-time expense items that are not representative of our ongoing business and operations. The use of Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders and Adjusted EPS is intended to enhance the usefulness of our financial information by providing measures to assess the overall performance of our ongoing business.

The following tables reconciles Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders and Adjusted EPS for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Three Months Ended March 31 (Dollars in millions except, per share data) 2021 2020 Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders $ 15.3 $ 26.0 One-time net expense related to February power crisis in Texas $ 8.8 $  Adjusted Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders $ 24.1 $ 26.0 Weighted average number of shares diluted used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the

Company's stockholders 56.7 51.5 Diluted Adjusted EPS 0.42 0.51




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 ShackerChief Executive Officer

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:info@core1labs.com1-866-347-5058

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.

Source: Core One Labs Inc.
18,000 Meter Drill Program Planned to Expand Gold Mineralization at FG Gold and Gold Creek Projects

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2021) - Karus Gold Corp. ("Karus Gold" or the "Company") announces details on its planned 2021 exploration program on the 1,000 square kilometer ("km") South Cariboo Gold District in British Columbia (Figure 1). Karus Gold is planning a multi-staged program to realize the following objectives:

FG Gold Expand newly discovered Lower Zone mineralization on-strike and down plunge of the 3.6 km historical resource area with a targeted drill program Continue to delineate controls for high-grade mineralization to apply to the additional 14 km of known strike Expand the potential strike of the controlling structure beyond the current 20 km with mapping, geochemistry, and geophysical surveys

Gold Creek Expand gold mineralization and test structural controls to further define deposit with targeted drilling Expand the number of drill targets with mapping, geochemistry, and geophysical surveys

South Cariboo Gold District Area Add new gold prospects to district inventory with property-scale airborne VTEM geophysical Develop drill targets at know gold occurrences on the district-scale land package using a mix of mapping, sampling, and geophysics



Karus Gold CEO Andrew Kaip comments, "Our 2021 exploration program is designed to unlock value of the South Cariboo Gold District and demonstrate the potential of FG Gold to be a major orogenic gold deposit. Orogenic gold deposits are some of the world's largest, having size and grade potential due to the geologic origins."

Mr. Kaip continues, "By the end of 2021, our aim is to demonstrate the FG Gold project is much larger than the historical resource suggests. We plan to establish the controls and expand the known gold mineralization at Gold Creek and advance several new targets on the property to the drill stage."

Karus Gold anticipates mobilization to the South Cariboo Gold District in late May, subject to financing and permitting, starting with a Phase 1 drill program at the Gold Creek project before moving onto the FG Gold project. Exploration activities are planned to increase through the summer months and peak with upwards of three drill rigs. At FG Gold, the majority of drilling will be directed toward expanding the footprint of gold mineralization down dip of the 3.6 km of known gold mineralization. Historical drilling within this area only tests to an average of 100 meters ("m") below surface. Karus Gold has secured the necessary drill and exploration services contracts to complete the 2021 program and is awaiting the necessary permits from the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, which are anticipated to be received by mid-May 2021.

FG Gold

Past Exploration

At FG Gold, past exploration has identified near-surface gold mineralization along a 3.6 km trend to a depth of on average of 100 m below surface that supported a historical resource. 2020 diamond drilling by KORE Mining Ltd. (TSXV:KORE / OTCQX:KOREF), (Karus Gold was spun out of KORE in January 2021), tested the continuity of gold mineralization down dip of this historical resource area. Results from this drill program successfully intersected high-grade gold mineralization over broad widths up to 330 m down dip. Highlight intersections include 12.4 m of 4.3 g/t gold in hole FG-20-376 and 14.3m of 6.4 g/t gold in hole FG-20-377 from the newly discovered Lower Zone (Figure 2 and 3). These results suggest the Lower Zone now hosts a mineralized footprint of approximately 650 m of strike and over 300 m down dip of historical drilling. Drilling further strengthens the understanding of the geology and highlights underground potential for FG Gold with 3.6 km of mineralized strike and unconstrained depth potential.

The cross-section in Figure 3 (Section line A to A' on Figure 2) shows the location of FG-20-376, 185 m up-dip from the 14.3 m of 6.4 g/t gold at 386 m downhole in hole FG-20-377. The 20.9 m of 2.9 g/t gold at 239.4 m, including 12.4 m of 4.3 g/t gold at 239.4 m downhole in FG-20-367 demonstrates continuity of gold mineralization for 330 m along the Lower Zone down dip from historical drilling.

Structural analysis and re-interpretation of historical drilling carried out prior to initiation of 2020 drilling by Karus Gold highlighted significant potential for expanding high grade gold zones below the extents of historical drilling. 2020 drilling was designed to test the hypothesis that high grade gold zones correlating to plunge lines within both limb and hinge zones and are extendable both at depth and along strike. Gold-bearing quartz vein swarms appear to be correlated with high-deformation areas and hinge/limb areas of locally folded strata. The orientation [azimuth] of the drilling was intended to delineate potential continuous 'mineral-shoots' within the mineralized zones.

2021 Exploration Program

The focus of the 2021 drill program at FG Gold will be to demonstrate continuity of gold mineralization along strike and further down dip to expand the overall footprint of gold mineralization at FG Gold. Drilling will be completed by upwards of three diamond drill rigs with a minimum of 15,000 m of drilling planned in 2021, subject to financing and permitting.

The Company also plans to complete detailed geological mapping on surface to support the development of a robust geological model for gold mineralization, and along with grided soil and IP geophysical surveys, delineate additional areas of gold mineralization along a >20-km trend, providing many opportunities for resource expansion and new discoveries on-strike and downdip. Figure 4 is a regional view to the northwest of the host rock potential of the Eureka syncline and that extends through Eureka Ridge and highlighting the tens of kilometers of exploration potential relative to the area of historical drilling.

In conjunction with 2021 exploration drilling at FG Gold, the Company will also initiate a review of the drilling that supported the historical resource area to design a drill program to validate historical drilling. This program, combined with an improved geological model on the controls of gold mineralization will form the foundation of a future resource estimate for FG Gold.

The previous drilling targeted stratigraphic controls on mineralization and did not penetrate into the bulk of the host-rock structure. Drilling was largely done with reverse circulation ("RC") drilling and narrow core to generate shallow bulk-disseminated gold intercept models. Within the current resource there appears to be mineralized corridors or chutes that are open at depth in the host rock.

More information on the NI 43-101 technical report dated December 16, 2020 "Technical Report on the South Cariboo Gold District" filed under Karus Gold's Profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Karus Gold's website at www.karusgold.com.

Gold Creek

Past Exploration

Drilling by KORE Mining in 2020 at the Gold Creek project completed an initial test of the 1,000 m long gold in soil geochemistry anomaly that defines the Camp Creek zone. In total, KORE Mining drilled five holes totaling 1,530 m (Figure 5). Drill holes GC-20-42 to GC-20-44 tested 400 m of strike potential south east of previous drilling. All three holes intersected anomalous gold mineralization, including:

11.8 m of 0.63 g/t gold beginning at 153 m down hole in GC-20-42

24.9 m of 0.44 g/t gold beginning at 151.7 m down hole in GC-20-43

Drill holes GC-20-40 and GC-20-41 were drilled outside of the Camp Creek trend and intersected anomalous silver-base metal mineralization.

2021 Exploration Program

Karus Gold is planning a two phased drill program totaling 3,000 m in 2021 at Gold Creek, subject to financing and permitting. The initial phase of drilling will be designed to determine the orientation of high-grade gold mineralization at the Camp Creek zone where past drilling has intersected:

9 m of 5.5 g/t gold beginning at 16 m down hole in GC-17-34

8.8 m of 7.6 g/t gold beginning at 136.3 m down hole in GC-17-35

3.1 m of 8.6 g/t gold beginning at 28 m down hole in GC-18-36

Phase 1 drill results will be used to build an enhanced geological model for gold mineralization at Gold Creek with a Phase 2 program designed to expand the extend of high-grade gold mineralization at Gold Greek along strike and at depth. Coincident with drilling, the Company is planning further grid soil and IP geophysical surveys to better delineate zones of gold mineralization at Gold Creek.

Regional Geology

The South Cariboo Gold District ("District") hosts 110 km of the Eureka thrust structural trend ("Trend") that drives gold mineralization in the District. The Trend is highly prospective for orogenic gold deposits, some of largest in the world, and includes the Company's FG Gold and Gold Creek projects. The District is accessible with local power, well developed road network and skilled local labour from multiple current and past operating mines.

2021 Exploration Program

To fully evaluate the potential of the District, the Company plans to complete regional-scale mapping and prospecting and follow-up grid soil and IP geophysics over a number of known mineral occurrences on the property. The goal of this program will be to improve our understanding of these earlier stage targets and advance them to the drill stage. Work will also focus on identifying new areas of gold mineralization within the highly prospective District.

About Karus Gold

Karus Gold is 100% owner of the 1,000 km2 South Caribou Gold District that includes the drill-stage FG Gold and Gold Creek projects in British Columbia. Karus Gold is supported by strategic investors Eric Sprott; and insiders, together with the management and Board, own approximately 59% of the basic shares outstanding.

Further information on Karus Gold and its assets can be found on the Company's website at www.karusgold.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting us as info@karusgold.com or by telephone at (888) 455-7620.

On behalf of Karus Gold

"Andrew Kaip"

Chief Executive Officer

(647) 515-7858

Investor Relations

Nima Shafigh - Kin Communications

(604) 684-6730

KAR@kincommunications.com

QA/QC and Qualified Person

Once the drill core was received from the drill site, individual samples were determined, logged for geological attributes, sawn in half, labelled, and bagged for assay submittal. The remaining drill core was then stored at a secure site in Horsefly, BC. The Company inserted quality control samples at regular intervals within the sample stream which included blanks, preparation duplicates, and standard reference materials with all sample shipments intended to monitor laboratory performance. Sample shipment was conducted under a chain of custody procedure.

Drill core samples were submitted to Bureau Veritas' analytical facility in Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. Sample preparation included drying and weighing the samples, crushing the entire sample, and pulverizing 250 grams. Analysis for gold was by method FA450: 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.005 ppm and upper limit of 10 ppm. Gold assays greater than 10ppm are automatically analyzed by method FA550: 50g fire assay fusion with a gravimetric fusion. Metallic screen techniques were employed to assay gold mineralized zones thought to contain coarse gold. Approximately 1000 grams of coarse reject material are pulverized and screened. Two splits of the fine fraction are assayed, as well as all material that does not pass through the screen (the coarse fraction). The final gold assay reported is a weighted average of the coarse and fine fractions.

Bureau Veritas is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays, and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. Parameters for Bureau Veritas' internal and Karus Gold's external blind quality control samples were acceptable for the analyses returned.

Technical information with respect to the South Caribou Gold District contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael J. Tucker, P.Geo, who is Karus Gold's VP Exploration and is a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the technical matters of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "suggests" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Such factors include, among others: risks related to exploration and development activities at the Company's projects, and factors relating to whether or not mineralization extraction will be commercially viable; risks related to the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration of minerals, , such as unusual and unexpected geological formations; uncertainties regarding regulatory matters, including obtaining permits and complying with laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, site safety and other matters, and the potential for existing laws and regulations to be amended or more stringently implemented by the relevant authorities; risks related to title to the Company's properties, including the risk that the Company's title may be challenged or impugned by third parties; the ability of the Company to access necessary resources, including mining equipment and crews, on a timely basis and at reasonable cost; competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties from other mining companies, many of which have greater financial, technical and other resources than the Company, for, among other things, the acquisition of mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel; access to suitable infrastructure, such as roads, energy and water supplies in the vicinity of the Company's properties; and risks related to the stage of the Company's development, including risks relating to limited financial resources, limited availability of additional financing and potential dilution to existing shareholders; reliance on its management and key personnel; inability to obtain adequate or any insurance; exposure to litigation or similar claims; currently unprofitable operations; risks regarding the ability of the Company and its management to manage growth; and potential conflicts of interest.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Figure 1. Location of the 1,000 km square South Cariboo Gold District





To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7720/83115_d83c4151e4ad7941_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Location of FG Gold Diamond Drill Holes and Section Lines





To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7720/83115_d83c4151e4ad7941_002full.jpg

Figure 3. Cross Section A to A' showing FG-20-376 (View to Northwest)





To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7720/83115_d83c4151e4ad7941_003full.jpg

Figure 4. View to the Northwest of the Eureka Syncline showing the Property-scale Potential to Expand Gold Mineralization Potential at FG Gold

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7720/83115_d83c4151e4ad7941_004full.jpg

Figure 5. Gold Creek Drill Plan Map Showing Gold Grade Histograms along the drill hole trace.





To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7720/83115_d83c4151e4ad7941_005full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83115
LAS VEGAS, NV, May 6, 2021 OTC PR WIRE Alkame Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: ALKM), today confirmed its long-term commitment to its new Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) product line and entering into a contract to supply PPE to Aladyn Protection Systems, LLC.

Aladyn is a global wholesale distributor of PPE supplies specializing within the tourism and hospitality markets, with a logistic center located in Miami, Florida.

The agreement ramps up Aladyns purchase of PPE inventory from Alkame with the intended order size doubling every ten weeks to a target $1 million in total purchases from Alkame in the first year.

In 2020, Alkame first shifted its manufacturing focus toward the production of quality PPE products such as hand sanitizer for first responders and the medical sector. A lengthy amount of time went into licensing, regulatory, compliance inspections, certifications, and formulations. The manufacturing shift first paid off with PPE sales to the State of Oregon.

As 2020 progressed, Alkame was able to secure a Canadian distribution partner for PPE products and provide the necessary information and documentation to allow for export.

The first temporary shift into the PPE sector can be viewed as a long-term opportunity, adding to Alkames regular co-packing business, which anticipates a sales resurgence as the economic impact of Covid-19 abates.

Aladyn specializes in servicing companies in the tourism and hospitality sector, offering a wide selection of high-quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through a system of scheduled purchases, as well as specialized consulting, personal service, and the best prices.

With more than 30 years of experience in international trade, offices in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, direct relationships with recognized manufacturers and certified logistics companies, Aladyn is your comprehensive solution for all your PPE needs.

About Alkame Holdings, Inc.

Alkame Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded holding company that operates with a focus in distinct sectors: health and wellness, technology, manufacturing, and distribution. The Companys wholly owned subsidiaries manufacture and distribute products with an emphasis on utilizing an enhanced water technology with several unique properties. The water technology is supported by four independent human clinical studies. There are a multitude of product applications we currently, or have capability to, utilize with our technology to produce and/or add value to, including but not limited to, consumer beverages, CBD/hemp products, pet products, horticulture, agriculture and aquaculture applications, and hand sanitizers.

For more information, visit www.alkameholdingsinc.com.

Alkame Holdings, Inc. Investor Relations

Website: www.alkameholdingsinc.com

Email: info@alkameholdingsinc.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Companys current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that Alkame will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Companys contracts, the Companys liquidity position, the Companys ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

SOURCE: Alkame Holdings, Inc.
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BCM One, a leading provider of NextGen Communications and Managed Services, announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in-person and online, has named BCM One's UCaaSone as a 2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award winner.

UCaaSone is cloud-based, enterprise-grade communications and collaboration service ideal for a hybrid workforce that streamlines communications across a business. It provides businesses with a secure and efficient way to talk, chat, message and video collaborate, enabling employees and customers to communicate in whatever way they desire. BCM One has a dedicated UCaaS practice and a team of voice engineers and voice specialists that provide white-glove installation, project management and ongoing technical support and training post-install.

"UCaaS solutions provide businesses with modern communication and collaboration capabilities, and we've invested in not just delivering those benefits to our clients but doing so with white-glove service delivery," stated Derrick Dike, Director of UCaaS at BCM One. "It's gratifying to have our efforts recognized by TMC."

"It gives me great pleasure to honor BCM One as a 2021 recipient of TMC's Unified Communications Product of the Year Award for their innovative solution, UCaaSone," said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. "Our judges were very impressed with the ingenuity and excellence displayed by BCM One in their groundbreaking work on UCaaSone."

Winners of the 2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award are announced online and highlighted in INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine online.

For more information about BCM One, visit www.bcmone.com.

ABOUT BCM ONE Founded in 1992, BCM One is a leading provider of NextGen Communications and Managed Services to IT leaders and channel resellers nationwide. Serving over 18,000 customers and 7,000+ channel resellers, BCM One offers UCaaS, SIP Trunking, Managed SIP, Microsoft Teams, Managed SD-WAN, Managed Connectivity, Microsoft Azure, Technology Expense Management and Network Monitoring and Management. BCM One prides itself on its long-standing client relationships backed by their mission statement, "To Provide a World-Class Experience with Every Human Interaction." BCM One's family of brands include: SIP.US, SIPTRUNK, nexVortex and SkySwitch. To learn more about BCM One, visit www.bcmone.com.

ABOUT INTERNET TELEPHONY MAGAZINEINTERNET 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.

For Media Inquiries:Paula Como KauthOffice: 212.906.7255 | pckauth@bcmone.com

Related Images

unified-communications-product-of.png Unified Communications Product of the Year Award BCM One Wins 2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award

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SOURCE BCM One
SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvancingX, a research and technology leader for markets such as space exploration and the defense industry, selected Biostrap to help advance safety and optimize performance of its career astronaut candidates.

This partnership may provide space science the tools necessary to develop accurate countermeasure interventions...

A leader in remote population monitoring and biometric science, Biostrap will play a key role in monitoring the health of career astronaut candidates by capturing clinically reliable data with its wrist-worn biosensor. This partnership may provide space science the tools necessary to develop accurate countermeasure interventions, mitigate risk and keep astronauts safe on Earth and in outer space.

"We want our candidates to be safe," said Claire Ghan, Aerospace Medicine and Survival Specialist at AdvancingX and former US Army Medical Logistics Specialist, adding that having access to clinically validated biometric monitoring with Biostrap will enable them to have preventative measures in place, in case something comes up. "Stress can manifest in many different ways. Mental health might deteriorate or aggravate an underlying condition we didn't know about."

Career astronaut candidates face extreme physiological and mental stress as they go through the training designed by NASA employees, AdvancingX team members and astronaut trainers.

Although AdvancingX has already implemented strategies for cognitive and psychological analysis, psychological responses always have physiological effects. For example, a statistically significant increase in biometrics such as heart rate and respiratory rate may be indicative of stress or something more serious.

"Through continuous biometric monitoring as well as comprehensive sleep and activity analysis, we can start to establish baselines on an individual level and monitor the effects of stress as per deviations in that baseline," said Kevin Longoria, Chief Science Officer at Biostrap.

Machine learning and advanced algorithms will be able to further quantify the level of stress career astronauts are under and how their physiology adapts throughout their training.

Longoria added: "When we start to understand their [career astronauts] physiology and their response to various stressors and develop additional psychophysiological constructs, we can better understand and control the environment, implement more individualized and data-driven training standards and ultimately help these candidates optimize their performance and readiness for the rigors of space in the safest and most efficient manner possible.

"With the Biostrap monitoring devices, I'm getting insights about my different sleep cycles and I'm learning that getting a lot of deep sleep is important for recovery and how it is linked to my HRV and my resting HR," said Lucie Poulet, PhD, NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at Kennedy Space Center and AdvancingX Career Astronaut Candidate. "I can see how Biostrap will help me during the next AdvancingX challenges by monitoring my exertion level and guiding me to recover during challenges to feel better and be more efficient and alert."

Scientists at both companies are also looking at the long-term potential of this partnership. Gathering data of some of the highest performers in the world will open the doors to new scientific discoveries including developing new biometrics and algorithms and translating that data not only into space but optimizing human health here on Earth, too.

"If you're looking to be an astronaut, knowing how to get there is key," said Dr. Eduardo Diaz, CEO of AdvancingX, adding that they are currently recruiting in 120 countries.

Applicants anywhere in the world will have the opportunity to wear a Biostrap and contribute to science, human performance and space exploration.

"All that data we will be able to collect from people in 120 countries, including data trends and statistics, will allow us to start seeing patterns between performance of applicants, candidates and commercial astronauts," Dr. Diaz said. "Comparing that data with that of career astronauts, to me is amazing, it's a game changer."

About Biostrap Biostrap is a remote monitoring platform that democratizes clinical-grade health data and insights. Facilitating data collection through a proprietary and clinically reliable wrist-worn device, Biostrap utilizes machine learning to provide actionable data to improve sleep, recovery and performance. Biostrap analyzes each heartbeat for 29 unique parameters on its secure servers to ensure data reliability and is referenced in 14 publications and has 22 clinical studies validating its biometric measurements against gold standard medical diagnostics and use cases in specific medical conditions. Providing an individualized approach to consumers via an app and web dashboard, Biostrap also delivers customizable remote monitoring solutions for medical, clinical and fitness professionals. With its Biostrap Labs research division, Biostrap offers wellness companies the opportunity to validate the efficacy of their products and services in a real-world setting. For more information on Biostrap's latest products and to stay up to date on company news, visit www.Biostrap.com and follow the brand on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The Biostrap app is available for iOS on the Apple App Store and Android on the Google Play Store.

About AdvancingX AdvancingX is a research and technology leader in collaborative predictive team metrics, optimal team design (OTD) and improving human-machine teaming for advanced markets including space exploration and the defense industry. AdvancingX is the evolution of human factors combining NASA-patented technology, leveraging advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) and AdvancingX IP to support ongoing development of novel approaches and solutions such as "a functional approach aimed at identifying causal relationships to situational outcomes" and "multivariate monitoring for human operator and machine teaming." AdvancingX applies its peer-reviewed research findings to support Career Astronaut team selection, training and mission operations with partners around the world. Some of the training includes Neutral Buoyancy EVA/IVA operations, Navigation and Task Workload - Subterranean (Isolation/Environmental). For more information visit http://www.advancingx.com and follow AdvancingX on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE Biostrap
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "If you are a former steel mill worker in the Northeast, Midwest or West Coast and you have just been diagnosed with mesothelioma or their family member please call attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste at 800-714-0393 to make certain the best possible financial compensation results happen for you. Frequently mesothelioma compensation for a steel mill worker can exceed a million dollars as Erik Karst of Karst von Oiste is always happy to discuss. The key to the best possible compensation for mesothelioma is having a very skilled team of lawyers who know what they are doing-and who will go the extra mile in determining how, where and when a person like this was exposed to asbestos.

"We know there are lots of online 'freebies' or things that appear to be free when it comes to mesothelioma and or mesothelioma compensation. If you have mesothelioma or this is your loved one--please do not start ordering online 'freebies' unless you want a lawyer stampede with around the clock unsolicited phone calls and even lawyers making unwelcome visits to your home-especially in smaller towns where steel mills once thrived. If you are a former steel mill worker with mesothelioma or their family member-please call attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste at 800-714-0303 for an explanation of how mesothelioma compensation works along with answers to your other questions. We think you will be glad you did." www.karstvonoiste.com/

The Mesothelioma Victims Center is extremely passionate about assisting former steel mill workers with mesothelioma in the following states:

Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, Erie)

Indiana (Gary)

West Virginia (Wheeling)

Illinois (Chicago)

Kentucky (Ashland)

North Carolina (Charlotte)

Alabama Birmingham

New York (Lackawanna)

Ohio (Youngstown, Akron)

For information about steel mill locations throughout the United States please refer to the following map: https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1l83KG05Yxac2ZL9CaqwJO1oahUk&hl=en_US

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. High risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include Veterans of the US Navy, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, miners, pulp or paper mill workers, printers, factory workers, railroad workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, welders, pipefitters, insulators, firemen and construction workers. In most instances a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. https://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

The average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is about 70 years old. This year between 2,500 and 3,000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. www.karstvonoiste.com/

The states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a former steel mill worker with mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. www.karstvonoiste.com/

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma.

Media Contact:

Michael Thomas800-714-0303304618@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center
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 InformationInvestor Relations+1 415-658-8333ir@textainer.com

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SOURCE Textainer Group Holdings Limited
TICKERS: ARU; AUIAF

Source: Streetwise Reports (5/6/21)

Noble Capital Markets commented in a research report that Aurania Resources Ltd.'s Lost Cities project is presenting "an abundance of drilling targets for a variety of metals and the potential to make multiple discoveries in its large concession package."



In a May 3 research note, Noble Capital Markets Inc. analyst Mark Reichman stated that junior mining company Aurania Resources Ltd.'s (ARU:TSX.V; AUIAF:OTCQB) "exploration program is providing an abundance of drilling targets for a variety of metals and the potential to make multiple discoveries in its large concession package."

Reichman noted that Aurania Resources' management advised in an update late last month that it is operating two drills at its Lost Cities project that are focused on the Kuri-Yawi gold-copper target and the Tsenken N1 copper-silver target. The company noted that it has located two new target areas, including a highly prospective silver-zinc area named Shimpia North, from its stream sediment sampling and regional exploration efforts.

The analyst noted that drill work at both the Kuri-Yawi and Tsenken N1 targets is continuing as scheduled and that the Shimpia North discovery is a positive development with strong potential.

Reichman explained that the Shimpia North discovery is an extension of the high-grade silver-zinc-lead ore at Tiria-Shimpia and therefore expands the total length of Tiria-Shimpia by 7 kilometers, to 22 kilometers. Exploratory results from six grab samples collected at Shimpia North "yielded promising results," including grades as high as 40 grams of silver per ton in one particular sample.

The analyst stated that Aurania will continue deploying its first drill at Tsenken N1 and will then relocate it to work at Tsenken West; after that, it will commence drilling at Tiria-Shimpia. The second drill will continue work at Kuri-Yawi and then be redeployed to the Kuri-Yawi 2 target.

Reichman added that Aurania is now in the process of selecting specific sites for drilling at the Tiria-Shimpia target area and plans to commence drilling during this quarter. Reichman noted that Aurania's management team may also be considering adding a third drill at Tiria-Shimpia.

Noble Capital Markets currently has an Outperform rating for Aurania Resources with a target price of US$3.75/share. The stock is currently trading at around US$2.57.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Stephen Hytha compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Aurania Resources. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Disclosures for Noble Capital Markets, Aurania Resources, May 3, 2021

Company Specific Disclosures

The following disclosures relate to relationships between Noble and the company (the "Company") covered by the Noble Research Division and referred to in this research report.

The Company in this report is a participant in the Company Sponsored Research Program ("CSRP"); Noble receives compensation from the Company for such participation. No part of the CSRP compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed by the analyst in this research report.

Noble has arranged non-deal roadshow(s) with investors in the last 12 months. The Company has attended Noble investor conference(s) in the last 12 months.

Noble intends to seek compensation for investment banking services and non-investment banking services (securities and non-securities related) within the next 3 months.

Noble is not a market maker in the Company.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Named WSJ 'Best on the Street' Analyst and Forbes/StarMine's "Best Brokerage Analyst." FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87.
Mathew Z. Rosiere, 37, of Fond du Lac, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021. He was born on May 18, 1984, in Pawnee, OK, the son of Michael Z. Rosiere and Sandra K. Kennedy. While he was in high school, he was active in football and wrestling. Mathew loved hard rock music, played
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.
Its a far cry from the museums of old. Modern, bright, and housed inside the instantly recognisable historic landmark that is the old Fire Station in Katikati; the Western Bay Museum is an establishment renowned in our community.

The museums beautifully curated exhibitions, hands-on experiences, outdoor engagement areas and many passionate volunteers bring to life the stories on which the foundations of the Western Bay of Plenty are built.

Exhibitions are updated three times a year, keeping the museum fresh and exciting for visitors regular and new.

Etiquette & Elbow Grease is the museums current exhibition. Visitors can step back in time and learn how pioneer women of the Western Bay made a gracious life out of the toil and drudgery by making tasks easier and adding a touch of glamour to their everyday lives.

And its not just exhibitions. The museum also runs school programmes that provide an immersive learning experience for students.

One of these programmes sees students step into the early 1900s, wearing clothes of the time and participating in a traditional classroom.

Etiquette Exhibition poster.

A nature-based school programme offers environmental education in the outdoor area of the museum, with children learning the importance of environmental protection through water testing and lessons on native ecology.

While the little museum has a lot to give, Museum Manager Paula Gaelic says there are even greater things in store ahead.

The Museum is a place of learning, fascination and research for heritage, history and Taonga. We want to build on that and take it to the next level.

Behind the scenes of any reputable museum are highly qualified museum professionals. There is a science and high skill set required in correctly preserving and conserving museum collections, which really goes unnoticed.

There is also building compliancy considerations like climate-controlled environments, lux level lighting requirements, insect and pest controls, handling and storage requirements and generally following the best museum practices and our Code of Ethics.

We also take our role and responsibilities seriously with regard to The Treaty of Waitangi and Maori in Museums; a strong Iwi relationship and partnership is part of our Big Dreams philosophy.

With the financial assistance of Te Papa National Services Te Paerangi, the museum has had a professional evaluation in these regards, and from this has come a Museum Development Plan.

One focus of the Museum Development Plan is facilitating the return of Taonga from other museums within New Zealand and around the world to local Whenua.

Paula says to enable this to happen, the museum needs to have an appropriate storage facility and a suitably qualified collections curator.

All going to plan, we are employing a collections curator this year. They will be responsible for digital cataloguing, digital exhibitions and a digital research library. They will also manage the process for assessing and acquiring any new items for the collection.

This role is pivotal in being able to request and receive local Taonga from other New Zealand and overseas museums to be returned to Whenua.

There are at least 600 Maori Taonga housed in other museums that belong to Ngai te Rangi, some which travelled around the world in the Te Maori Exhibition in the 1980s and pre-European carvings from Waiau Road. They cannot be returned until we have a Museum Qualified Collections Curator and reach storage and workspace compliancy. We do not assume anything but certainly hope over time we will partner with Iwi to fulfil this Big Dream.

Other plans include creating a strong focus on Te Puke School visits, securing an exhibition space in Te Puke, and constructing an extension to display Maori history artefacts.

Western Bay Museum school programme.



The Western Bay Museum recently received $40,000 in TECT funding to help cover operating costs and to deliver on their strategic and development plans. Paula says the museums relationship with TECT is paramount to its success.

With funding from TECT, we can preserve and conserve our history, deliver exciting exhibitions, support our education sector with hands-on history, and educate the next generations to look after and understand the wonder of their environment in their backyard.

We also allow many volunteers to dedicate their skills and talents to an important cause with satisfaction and self-worth. TECTs funding allows this to happen as museums are not a business, so we are extremely reliant on operational grants.

Support from TECT also will enable us to start on delivering on our Museum Development Plan. Our plan is crucial to our development as a reputable institution, preserving our history and endeavouring to reach the highest standards in museum best practice. As with any professional qualification, there is a science and skillset that enables one to deliver, unlike one without this level of expertise.

Te Papa National Services Te Paerangi announced that Western Bay Museum is the most progressive museum in the country at present. Museums are like Libraries, not to be gauged by financial profit but by our place in society, with social, environmental and educational rewards. We are so grateful for TECTs support in helping us maintain this place.

To learn more about the Western Bay Museum, visit https://www.westernbaymuseum.nz/
Like Trump, DeSantis keeps revealing his thin skin, and his willful attacks on the press are dangerous in a free society. A Fox News spokesperson said afterward that the cable news channel did not request or mandate that the May 6 event and/or interview with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) be exclusive, but the fact that Fox News would be a willing accomplice to this stunt shows it has become a national joke masquerading as a real news organization.
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The overhaul of streets surrounding the Thirty Eight Elizabeth development, including Elizabeth Street, Devonport Road, First Ave and the lane between Elizabeth Street and First Avenue is one step closer with the contract being awarded to Hawkins.

Works are starting on First Avenue this week, with the installation of a central raised crossing.

The streetscape upgrade is planned to be completed in time with the Thirty Eight Elizabeth development.

The upgrade of Elizabeth Street aims to create an attractive and safe, people-friendly environment for everyone to enjoy.

This will entail a pedestrian-focused, slow-speed environment for Elizabeth Street and its surrounds.

The upgrade also contributes to the green necklace of connected walkways around the city centre and reflects the redevelopment of Taurangas city centre as a place for people.

This project is part of councils continuing journey to bring life back to the city centre and create a great place to live, work and visit.

Hawkins, who are also leading the construction of the Thirty Eight Elizabeth development, have been confirmed as the construction partner for the council-led streetscape improvement.

This will allow for close coordination of the two projects.

Gareth Wallis, General Manager: Community Services at Tauranga City Council acknowledges the importance of the upgrade for the city centre.

The city centre plays an important role as the commercial, cultural and civic heart of the sub-region and our community has told us that a vibrant city centre is one of the top things theyd like to see changed, says Wallis.

Upgrading Elizabeth Street is another step towards this and one of many projects aiming to attract more people to live, work, play and invest in the city centre.

It will increase business and economic activity and provide a space for everyone to enjoy and to move around safely.

We will be working closely with Hawkins, our construction partner, and the surrounding businesses to make this project happen and keep people informed as we work our way through the development.

We are very pleased to see councils support of this critical area of town with the upgrade of Elizabeth Street, says project manager of Thirty Eight Elizabeth Brett Nicholls.

It will complement the transformational Thirty Eight Elizabeth development, which will be home to the new flagship Farmers retail store, along with boutique food and beverage offerings- all on track to be open for Christmas shopping.

"The first display townhouse and apartment will be available for public viewing in the last quarter of this year too. Construction of the towers, and fit out of the apartments, will be ongoing until early next year.

Murray Robertson, Executive General Manager, Hawkins is looking forward to the project come to life.

"We are delighted to be involved and to have the opportunity to make a real difference in improving not only Elizabeth Street for the businesses and their customers but also to add to the city centre experience," says Robertson says.

Works on much-needed underground renewals are already underway. Those works have been completed on First Avenue and are due to be completed on Elizabeth Street and Devonport Road by July 2021.

Construction of the streetscape upgrade will be completed in stages. Businesses will remain open during construction.

For more information, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/elizabethstreet.
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Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien OConnor has announced an acceleration in the process of free trade negotiations with the United Kingdom.

The UK is currently New Zealands sixth-largest trading partner and considered a long-standing trade ally.

UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss, and I spoke today about the progress we are making in our negotiations to put in place an ambitious, comprehensive FTA that will support sustainable and inclusive trade, says OConnor.

The Government suggest a free trade agreement with the UK will provide increased opportunities for New Zealanders to access the UK market and will contribute to New Zealands Covid-19 trade recovery strategy.

We agreed that good progress towards this objective was made at the fourth round of talks. We also committed to accelerating the process from here, with a view to working towards agreement in the coming months.

Teams will now intensify talks, with chief negotiators meeting monthly and the next formal rounds of talks scheduled for early June and July.

The UK are continuing to adjust to a post-Brexit trading platform and reinforcing an agreement with New Zealand will be seen as crucial.

Round Four of negotiations concluded last week with a number of chapters of the agreement either concluded or substantially advanced.

I am also pleased that negotiators provisionally agreed the framework for the FTA this round, with chapters now under negotiation that put into action New Zealands Trade for All strategy, says OConnor.

This includes outcomes that support our environmental sustainability and climate action agendas, and advance the interests of Maori, women entrepreneurs, and small business.

This will be New Zealands first FTA to include dedicated chapters on trade and gender and consumer protection, alongside proposals that are being discussed on environment, labour, cooperation on indigenous interests, SMEs, development, and anti-corruption.

I also emphasised to Secretary Truss that we still have a significant amount of work to ensure the market access outcomes, particularly for agriculture, reflect the ambition we have jointly set for the FTA  an ambitious, comprehensive deal that removes tariffs, OConnor concludes.
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I do not understand who would oppose anti-riot legislation except those who riot. Theres nothing in the bill that prevents peaceful assembly and protest. Your entire piece is no more than a series of bumper stickers. For all of your criticism of the governor, Florida is becoming the most popular destination for people who are tired of living under the restrictive laws of Democrat-run states and cities. If the governor wants to become President DeSantis, he has my vote.
Buffalo, N.Y.  An Atlanta man was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for his role in a romance scheme that defrauded a person from Western New York out of more than $220,000, according to federal prosecutors.

Tochukwu Okerulu, aka MT, 35, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

Okerulu was accused of participating in a scheme to obtain money and property from an unsuspecting person using romantic language and appealing to the persons emotions, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say he conspired with others to defraud a person in Western New York by falsely expressing a romantic interest in them, prosecutors said. The person sent more than $220,000 to Okerulu and other members of the conspiracy, prosecutors said.

Okerulu also was accused of defrauding 29 other people across the country out of nearly $1.8 million through romance frauds and other schemes, prosecutors said.

If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000, prosecutors said.

Staff writer James McClendon covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach him at 914-204-2815 or jmcclendon@syracuse.com.
Rome, N.Y.  Im in trouble, grandma, and I need help.

Thats the call a Rome woman got Tuesday from a girl who claimed to be her granddaughter. The caller told the woman shed been arrested by troopers after a car accident and was in custody in a holding facility, according to the Rome Police Department.

A man who identified himself as the girls lawyer got on the phone and asked the woman for $9,000 to get her granddaughter out of custody, police said. Desperate to help, the grandmother obliged.

It was only after shed handed over the cash that she discovered shed been scammed, police said.

Rome police are asking the public for help finding the people who tricked the grandmother and stole her money. In particular, police have asked Rome residents in the neighborhood with security cameras to see if they captured images of the man who picked up the cash.

The scam used to steal from the woman is called the grandparent scam  a scheme where fraudsters pose as beloved grandchildren in desperate need of money to help with an emergency, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The scam has duped people across the country.

They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize its a scam, the FTC said.

The scammers who targeted the Rome woman on Tuesday added compelling details to make their scheme seem real: The girl who called the woman used her real granddaughters first name, police said. The fake lawyer called himself Mr. Bateman, police said, and told the woman her granddaughter would have a hearing at 4:30 p.m. in Rome City Court.

The fake Mr. Bateman told the woman there was a gag order in place and urged her not to talk to anyone about the case, police said.

The woman withdrew $9,000 to bail out the girl she thought was her granddaughter. She then returned to her home, where Bateman sent a man he called a courier from the court to pick up the cash, police said.

The fake courier showed up at the womans home around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. He drove away in a car with its front and back license plates covered, police said.

When the courier left, the woman went to Rome City Court for her granddaughters hearing. But when she arrived, court staff gave her troubling news, police said: The case shed come to watch did not exist.

The grandmother called her real granddaughter, who confirmed she wasnt in trouble and had not asked for money.

Police described the man who posed as a courier as a thin Black man who appeared to be in his 20s. He had braided hair, police said, and was wearing tan work boots and a brown tracksuit.

The car driven by the fake courier was a black, newer-model Honda Accord with tinted windows and dark-colored rims.

Investigators believe he drove in the area of Laurel Street, Union Street and Massena Avenue. Police asked anyone in that area who has security cameras to review any footage taken between 4:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday to see if they captured the suspect or the suspects vehicle on video.

Police encouraged anyone with information about the scam to call Patrolman James Richardson at (315) 838- 1902. Tipsters can also share information by calling the departments tip line at (315) 339-7744 or submit tips through Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers.

How to protect yourself from grandparent scams

If you get a call from someone claiming to be a loved one in desperate trouble, the FTC advises you to:

Dont act immediately.

Test the callers identity by asking questions a stranger couldnt answer.

Call your loved ones true phone number or run their story by another family member.

Dont send cash, gift cards or money transfers.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
With recreational marijuana now legal in New York, Syracuse University is launching a new set of courses to prepare workers for careers in a new and somewhat complicated new field.

Starting in June, SUs University College will offer non-credit, or certificate, programs in several aspects of the emerging cannabis industry. Its produced in partnership with California-based cannabis education company Green Flower.

The four distinct programs will cover law and policy, business, health and medicine, and agriculture and horticulture.

Each program consists of three 8-week courses over a 6-month period and students can proceed at their own pace within that timeframe, said Michael Frasciello, dean of SUs University College. Students receive online instruction in their chosen topic area from expert faculty members vetted and selected by Green Flower.

At the end of the program, without the need for a full University degree, students obtain a certificate they can use to land jobs or advance in their careers, Frasciello said.

Each of the four University College cannabis programs starts June 28 and lasts about six weeks. The cost is $2,950 per program. Enrollment is open now.

The legal recreational marijuana business, coupled with the New Yorks existing medical marijuana and hemp/CBD businesses, is poised to become what state officials predict will be a a $4 billion a year industry that could create 30,000 to 60,000 within a few years.

Ive read reports recently that this is the fastest growing industry in the country, Frasciello said. This is what we do at University College  programming to market sensitivity, where things are headed.

And, given that the marijuana law just took effect last month, University College put its program together in a hurry. The college began discussions on the cannabis program more than a year ago as New York made its first attempts at legalizing marijuana.

The partnership with Green Flower, which has similar partnerships with schools around the country, helped it take shape quickly, Frasciello said.

Registration is still underway, but so far it appears that many of those enrolling are already working in the industry and are looking to upscale their positions, he said.

The fact that we were able to get this thing launched so fast speaks to the market awareness and the mission of the college in workforce development, he said. Were creating a pathway for people to advance in this industry without full degrees.

On its web site, Green Flower offers this description of what it offers:

We believe that trusted cannabis education is the key to empowering businesses, investors, advocates, researchers, and enthusiasts. Since our creation in 2014, weve partnered with leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and icons from around the industry to create e-learning content that helps people get more involved with cannabis, advance their careers, train their teams, and replace myths with facts. ... Whether youre interested in growth and education for your team, growing your own career, cannabis medicine, starting a business, investing in the space, cultivation, changing outdated laws, or anything else cannabis-related, Green Flower can arm you with the education to make it happen.

University College has introduced programs in new or developing programs in the past, such as a launch of esports management and egaming certificates and degrees in recent years, Frasciello said.

With cannabis, the potential exists for expanded programs in the future, he said.

Lets assume that the projections for the industrys growth are reasonable, Frasciello said. Its not unrealistic think that we can expand these programs, non-credit or even for credit. There could be new dimensions to the industry that we could tap into. We would want to program for that.

Read more on marijuana and cannabis at syracuse.com/marijuana:

Business, policy, social equity experts to lead NY Cannabis Insider virtual networking event

Legal marijuana in NY: What you need to know about possession, growing, business opportunities

Some of New Yorks Indian nations plan to jump into the legal marijuana business

New Yorks huge boost for medical marijuana: Heres what patients need to know now

Are marijuana and weed the same thing? Pot nicknames, explained (video)

CNY towns, villages, cities will have to decide: Should we ban retail marijuana sales?

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Syracuse, N.Y.  An Onondaga County judge has ruled unsubstantiated allegations of misconduct against Syracuse police officers do not have to be released under open records laws.

The ruling Wednesday came after the New York Civil Liberties Union sued the city and its police department for access to all allegations of misconduct against officers.

Judge Gerard Neris decision falls in line with an opinion from the Committee on Open Government, a state agency that issues guidance on open records laws. Neris decision is at odds with decisions of other judges, including in Erie County, where a judge found unsubstantiated allegations could be released under open records laws.

Just last year, state lawmakers repealed a law shielding police disciplinary records and findings of misconduct, section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law, giving the public greater access to such documents. The repeal of the law came after then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. During Chauvins nearly 19-year career, he racked up 18 complaints. Sixteen were closed without discipline.

The NYCLU said it planned to appeal Neris decision in a Wednesday statement.

These records are key to accountability, a statement from the organization said. Being able to compare when the Syracuse Police Department did impose discipline against when and why it did not remains vital to vindicating the publics right to complete information about the police misconduct that takes place in their communities.

The lawsuit stemmed from a public records request filed in September 2020 by the NYCLU for all allegations of police misconduct. Part of the request -- regarding unsubstantiated or yet to be substantiated complaints of misconduct -- was denied by the city in November 2020.

On March 18, the NYCLU filed the lawsuit on which Neri ruled.

In the lawsuit, the NYCLU argued the repeal of section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law allowed municipalities to release all unsubstantiated and substantiated complaints.

Among other arguments, the NYCLU said the New York State Legislature had intended in the repeal of the section of the Civil Rights Law to allow for the release of unsubstantiated allegations. It also argued that decisions in Schenectady and Buffalo that allowed for the release of unsubstantiated complaints should be considered by Neri.

Neri, a former Liverpool police chief, wrote that the decision in Buffalo did not actually support the NYCLUs position.

Neri also argued previous cases that predate the repeal of 50-a established that the release of unsubstantiated complaints was an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

He ultimately ruled the public interest in the release of unsubstantiated claims do not outweigh the privacy concerns of individual officers.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Mayor Ben Walsh is inviting neighbors and community members impacted by the conditions at the Skyline Apartments to detail their complaints at a public hearing next week.

City officials will hold a nuisance abatement hearing Monday morning with Green Skyline Apartments LLC, the company that owns the 12-story building at 753 James St. That company is owned by Tim and Troy Green.

Input from the public is an important part of this process. It will help ensure the property owner is held accountable and that conditions at the property are improved, Walsh said.

The hearing is a chance for the owners to outline steps taken to improve safety and security at the building after the city declared it a nuisance. If city officials determine the owners havent made the needed improvements, they could shut down the building, seek to take over management or possibly bring criminal charges.

The hearing will also provide an opportunity for tenants and others to testify about the building and their experience.

The meeting will be held in the Common Council chambers on the third floor of Syracuse City Hall, 233 E. Washington St. at 10 a.m. Monday. It will be open to the public. Anyone attending will be required to wear a mask, submit to a temperature check and keep proper physical distancing.

It will be the first in-person public meeting at City Hall since last fall as the building begins reopening to the public next week.

Anyone who cannot attend to speak at the meeting can write a letter to: Skyline Apartments Nuisance Abatement Hearing, ATTN: Mayor Ben Walsh, City of Syracuse, 233 E. Washington Street, Syracuse, 13202.

Police Chief Kenton Buckner signed a nuisance abatement order for Skyline in March, following the murder of 93-year-old Connie Tuori. The complex has deteriorated for years, becoming a source of multiple calls daily for police officers and other emergency personnel.

At the same time, the citys code division declared the common areas in the building unfit for human occupancy, which allowed the county and the Syracuse Housing Authority to cut off subsidy payments to the owners.

Some longtime tenants have described harrowing conditions, particularly on the buildings top floor, where Tuori lived. Theyve described situations where non-tenants take over apartments from people with mental disabilities or drug issues, then use the apartment as a base for criminal activity.

The murder at Skyline prompted harsh action from City Hall as well as scrutiny from lawmakers and advocates. Walsh has said the city was doing everything it could even before Tuoris death, including inspections and putting pressure on the owners. Meanwhile, lawmakers and candidates running against Walsh this year have argued that the mayor acted too slowly.

That pressure has ramped up in the last month or so. Walsh announced he would form a new city unit dedicated solely to dealing with issues at big apartment buildings like Skyline.

The Greens are still trying to sell the building, which they bought in 2016. The asking price is around $16.5 million.
Cynthia Rivera is the owner of CW Academic and Career Strategies LLC, based in Corning.

During his address to a Joint Session of Congress last week, President Joe Biden discussed his administrations efforts to lower skyrocketing healthcare prices. But patients dont need to wait on Washington to enjoy substantial healthcare savings. We already have the right, as a result of a federal rule that took effect at the beginning of the year, to know real healthcare prices before care. This right gives us the pricing power to identify quality care at less expensive prices and put downward pressure on healthcare costs.

I know the benefits of real healthcare prices firsthand. Ive saved approximately $2,000 this year by shopping for just two common procedures. Ive also learned the hard way how the healthcare status quo, which blinds patients from prices until after their bills arrive, financially devastates ordinary Americans.

Last fall, my doctor diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis and prescribed physical therapy. I was nervous about the price, but administrators affiliated with Guthrie hospital, in Corning, didnt provide it. I took nine semi-weekly physical therapy sessions before stopping because I still hadnt received any pricing information. My concerns were validated when the bill finally arrived weeks later for $4,340, of which Im responsible for $2,759 after my health insurers contribution. (A subsequent related bill has raised my direct expense to more than $3,000.)

If I knew upfront that the price of this treatment was so high, I never would have agreed to it. I would have shopped for private physical therapy alternatives that can be purchased for around $100 per session without insurance. Im outraged not only by my inflated bill but also by this countrys bizarre healthcare system that hides prices from patients.

The financial burden of this expense has been significant. It forced me to limit holiday giving and charitable donations. It has curtailed how much I can help my family back in Puerto Rico. And it is preventing the progress of my new small business.

My story is seemingly universal. Roughly two-thirds of Americans avoid care each year due to fear of unknown crippling costs. And the Urban Institute estimates that one-in-six Americans  and one-in-five minorities  has medical debt in collections.

My bill also scared me off getting my annual mammogram/ultrasound that I require and the foot MRI that my doctor recommended. Once bitten by the American healthcare beast, I was shy to return out of financial fear.

Thats when I decided to shop to identify substantial savings and enjoy financial certainty, which all patients deserve. Cayuga Medical Center quoted me a cash price of $1,039 for my mammogram. Arnot Ogden Medical Center nearby quoted me $1,098. Finally, I found Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, which charged only $239 for the same procedure. And while nearby hospitals often charge thousands of dollars for an MRI, Open MRI of Elmira quoted me a cash price of just $395. I had both high-value procedures earlier this year without having to file an insurance claim.

When more patients follow in my footsteps and choose less expensive providers, price-gouging hospitals will have to lower their prices to keep their customers. Shopping can create the competitive market needed to put runaway cost trends in reverse.

But before we can shop, we need access to real, upfront prices, as is our legal right beginning this year. Hospitals have been slow to comply with this price transparency requirement. Yet patients can follow my lead and demand upfront prices before care. As my experience shows, consumers can lower their healthcare costs by shopping far more than waiting on Washington.

Also on Syracuse.com: Federal stimulus covers health insurance for many who lost jobs, but confusion remains
By Bethany Bump | Times Union, Albany

New York lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that will require hospitals and nursing homes in the state to establish and implement minimum staffing levels for nurses and other direct care staff.

The legislation, which is now on its way to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos desk, is intended to combat chronic understaffing that caregivers have complained about for years but which finally gained attention during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the legislation was hailed by health care unions, consumer advocacy groups say it doesnt go far enough to ensure patients and residents receive adequate care.

Nurses have always been healthcare heroes at our loved ones bedsides and for the last year, they have also served on the frontline of a global pandemic, state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Tuesday. These bills will ensure that our nurses, whether in hospitals or nursing homes, are working under conditions that allow them to best help their patients and save lives.

Requirements

One of the bills would require the state health commissioner to establish minimum staffing standards that include at least 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident per day. At least 2.2 of those hours must be provided by certified nurse aides and 1.1 by licensed practical nurses or registered nurses.

The bill also requires nursing homes to publicly disclose their staffing levels in a fashion that is visible and accessible to residents, families and staff.

Facilities have until Jan. 1, 2022 to comply and may face penalties if they fall short.

The recent Covid-19 outbreak has brought attention to the level of care being provided to residents in nursing homes, but the truth is many residents in these facilities have not been receiving a sufficient level of services needed for them to thrive for years, the bill text reads.

The other piece of legislation passed Tuesday focuses on hospitals, which would be required to form clinical staffing committees made up of at least 50 percent nurses and direct care staff. Committees would be charged with developing an annual staffing plan that includes specific guidelines or ratios for determining how many patients a nurse can be assigned at a time, and how many nurses and ancillary staff should be present on each unit and shift.

Plans must be submitted to the state Department of Health by July 1 each year  along with any data from the previous years adopted plan  and will be posted on the departments website and in a public area of the hospital.

Staff who report violations of the plan will be protected from retaliation, according to the legislation. The Department of Health will investigate violations and may require corrective actions or civil penalties.

The legislation would also create a nine-member independent advisory committee charged with evaluating staffing standards and other quality metrics under the new law. The committee must submit a report to the Assembly, Senate, and their respective health committees by Oct. 31, 2024 outlining any further legislative action that may be needed to improve working conditions and care in hospitals.

Reaction

Unions representing nurses and other health care staff applauded the legislation after years of fighting for minimum staffing standards.

The New York State Nurses Association called attention to specific language in one of the bills, which notes that minimum staffing standards set by the commissioner cannot supersede those contained within a collective bargaining agreement.

These bills are a major step forward for every patients right to safe, quality healthcare, NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez said. We will, of course, continue to advocate for our patients and organize around our goal of transforming our healthcare system into one that guarantees equity in healthcare for all New Yorkers.

1199SEIU, whose members have been picketing statewide for better staffing, echoed the sentiment.

But consumer advocacy groups say the legislation doesnt go far enough, particularly when it comes to nursing homes.

While this bill is a step in the right direction by creating minimum nursing home staffing ratios where no ratios currently exist, we have several major concerns with this legislation, the groups said in a joint statement.

Signing on to the statement were AARP New York, the Long Term Care Community Coalition, the Center for Elder Law & Justice, Metro Justice, the Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled, the Community Service Society of NY, and Human Rights Watch.

They argue the bill should raise the minimum hours of care required per resident per day to 4.1  a threshold identified by a landmark federal study as necessary for meeting basic clinical needs.

They also take issue with caveats in the bill that could potentially allow nursing homes to dodge penalties for non-compliance because of mitigating factors. Indeed, the legislation directs the state health commissioner to take factors such as natural disasters, emergencies and acute regional labor shortages into account when designing their penalty system.

Much more is needed to better protect our seniors residing in nursing homes to ensure they receive the best care possible, the groups said.
New York  In a possibly futile effort to please both Italian Americans who celebrate Christopher Columbus and racial justice advocates who accuse him of genocide, the New York City public school system has designated Oct. 11 as Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.

The double-naming of the school holiday happened Tuesday after a calendar for the 2021-2022 school year was initially posted with Oct. 11, which is Columbus Day, a state holiday, labeled simply Indigenous Peoples Day.

The change, which was made without the knowledge of the citys mayor, drew swift condemnation from elected officials, including Democratic state senators Diane Savino and Joe Addabbo, who called the renaming of Columbus Day block-headed and said it did terrible disservice to a difficult and complex conversation.

The city Department of Education then backtracked and changed the name again.

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, department spokesperson Danielle Filson said in a statement.

That compromise then drew fresh condemnation Wednesday from New Yorks Italian American governor, Andrew Cuomo, who said it was divisive to force the two groups to share a holiday.

I support an Indigenous peoples holiday, but I also support Columbus Day. You can have an Indigenous peoples day without intruding on Columbus Day, Cuomo said. Why insult or diminish the Italian American contribution? Why? Theres no need and its unhealthy for the body politic.

Cuomo, a Democrat, said Columbus Day will remain a state holiday. It is also a federal holiday.

The legacy of Columbus has drawn scrutiny in recent years, with cities and states around the country renaming the second Monday in October to honor the Indigenous populations that were decimated by violence and disease after Europeans arrived in the Americas.

Some states have created a holiday for Indigenous people on a separate date. Oklahoma did the opposite, recently moving its existing Native American Day so that it would fall on the same day as Columbus Day.

New York is leagues behind other states and cities, said Cliff Matias, cultural director of the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which presents educational programs about Native American culture in New York-area schools.

Matias called the Columbus Day renaming compromise just another crude attempt by the powers that be in New York City to go against the tide in this country.

But Columbus has fans in New York, where tens of thousands of Italian Americans march through Manhattan in a show of ethnic pride every Columbus Day.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he backed the compromise.

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, de Blasio said.

The Democratic mayor, who speaks frequently of his own Italian heritage, said that neither he nor Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter was consulted about the initial switch to just Indigenous Peoples Day.

Asked about the matter at a virtual news briefing, de Blasio said the process of changing the name wasnt right, but the end result, its going to be a day to honor Italian American heritage, a day to honor Indigenous peoples, I think thats a good way forward.
TAHLEQUAH [mdash] Louis Allen Bohanon, age 61, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 31, 2021, at his home in Gideon, Oklahoma with his family by his side. He was born October 15, 1959, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Louis Cain Bohanon and Beulah Mae Ryals. He was raised by his stepfather, Leon 
On Sunday the state of alarm in Spain ends. PM Pedro Sanchez's central government will not extend the regime that allows the limitation of rights and freedoms in exceptional circumstances such as the coronavirus health crisis.

The end of the state of alarm will have immediate consequences: the main one is that the majority of curfews and perimeter lockdowns will end.

Without the state of alarm, any decision that restricts the free movement of the general public requires the backing in law. So, from Sunday onwards, these measures may only be adopted through judicial endorsement in the regional courts.

However, the Juntas president, Juanma Moreno warns, "It will make us less functional in something that requires such speed as the fight against a pandemic does."

In Andalucia, it is not foreseen, at the moment, to request the authorisation either to keep the region closed or to approve a new night curfew.

Moreno said that from 9 May, the regional governments will be "naked, in the hands of a judge" and unable to take measures "such as telling a infected person not to leave home or close a municipality or a province if they exceed five hundred cases per hundred thousand inhabitants."

The Junta hoped that PM Sanchez would make a move to extend the state of alarm after the Madrid elections, but the central government has maintained its decision not to prolong it.

Faced with this scenario, Andalucia is working on a "gradual" plan to ease restrictions, according to Moreno, who was speaking this Wednesday during an event in Granada.

Perimeter lockdowns

The first request that the regional government will take to the courts, will be to obtain judicial endorsement for the perimeter closure of those municipalities that exceed the rate of 500 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, a request that will also be extended to the provinces - although the latest data shows the region is still far from that situation. The average 14-day cumulative incidence rate in Andalucia yesterday was below 200.

But not everything will change. The regional governments have powers to modify the hours of commerce and hospitality. Although the Junta has not yet announced that it plans to extend the current business closing time, which stands at 10.30 pm except for restaurants and bars, that cannot accept new customers after that time, but may close at 11pm.

Moreno justifies maintaining the current restrictions "because coronavirus has not gone away and people continue to get infected, suffer and die every day."

Public health law

Public health law allows the regions to take the necessary measures to control communicable diseases, but in practice these decisions must have the approval of the judicial authority. And experience shows that judges do not always consider regional government requests to be legal. It happened in February, when the courts allowed the bars in the Basque Country to reopen, ruling that they did not pose a serious risk despite the escalation of the third wave.

This week Spains central government has approved a decree so that the regions can fast-track appeals against regional court decisions to the Supreme Court. The decree will harmonise the measures throughout the country, claims central government, by giving the last word to the Supreme Court.

But the Junta's head, Juanma Moreno, believes this is insufficient and claims, "This could have been avoided with goodwill, governance and leadership."

The end of the state of alarm, therefore, also means the beginning of a new struggle between the central government and the regions.
Bureau Veritas assigns full suite of smart ship notations to innovative Furetank chemical tanker

Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, has, for the first time, assigned the complete suite of smart ship class notations to a 17,997 dwt chemical tanker, Furetanks FURE VINGA.

Designed by the Swedish engineering company FKAB and built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng, the vessel is operating in the Swedish Gothia Tanker Alliance fleet.



FURE VINGA has been equipped with smart systems for monitoring the ships hull condition (H), as well as integrated machinery (M) and navigation (N) systems. Therefore, the vessel is in compliance with all tier 1 requirements included in the Rule Note Additional Service Feature SMART (NR675) issued in January 2021, and is granted SMART (H1, M1, N1). The associated requirements have been specifically developed to set a benchmark for the safe and reliable design and operation of smart systems on board ships, covering both hardware and software, and includes extensive on-board system and integration testing.



The vessel is already state-of-the-art from an environmental and energy efficiency perspective  the ship has optimized hull lines and is fitted with a ducted propeller as well as being equipped with a dual fuel engine capable of burning both liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid bio-gas (LBG). A UPS battery pack for hybrid operation lowers fuel consumption and prevents black outs. The high level of digitalization and integration of on-board systems and equipment adds to its innovative character. Computer based systems incorporating smart functions for the collection, transmission, analysis and visualisation supports the crew with informed decision-making to enhance safety and optimize operations and maintenance.



Gijsbert de Jong, Marine Chief Executive for Bureau Veritas Nordic region, explained: As the maritime industry continues its digital transformation journey, improving safety and minimizing operational risk using smart technology for monitoring and decision support makes a lot of sense. Furetank have achieved this across the key systems of FURE VINGA and therefore the ship has become the first BV classed ship to be assigned the full suite of smart notations. This, in turn, provides the ship owner with an additional  digital  differentiator in the charter market.



Lars Hoglund, Managing Director for Furetank, said: We always have safety, quality and environmental care as our main priorities. This is why we equip our new vessels with the latest technology in order to be able to deliver the best possible performance to our clients. Our new generation of intermediate sized oil and chemical tankers get us to the next level in terms of on-board system integration. We are happy to work with Bureau Veritas as they support innovative solutions with relevant classification notations and technical requirements, which set new standards in our industry.



Bureau Veritas is a trusted partner to achieve the safety and environmental compliance of a wide range of ship types. Our experience leading research programs, and participation in industry and regulatory bodies ensure we understand the challenges faced by owners as well as yards. Our dedicated rules and tools continually evolve, supporting our clients work to improve the performance of their vessels.






Kpler Crude Oil Research

OPEC+ seaborne exports up 690 kbd in April as the organization starts to gradually increase output.

The volumes below reflect Kpler expectations of OPEC+ market supply reductions. They account for variation in exports and in onshore inventories. These totals are not a proxy for production. Kpler data shows OPEC+ seaborne oil exports increased by 690 kbd to 26.8 mbd in April. This increase comes after a 580 kbd fall m/m in March and as oil supply was expected to rise following OPECs+ decision to ease very gradually the cuts for the next 3 months. Last weeks JMMC meeting saw OPEC+ stick to its policy of gradually reviving oil production, despite worries over Indias oil demand. As per the decision, overall OPEC+ production should increase by 350 kbd in May, 350 kbd in June and 450 kbd in July. On top of this, Saudi Arabia will also gradually unwind its voluntary cuts by 250 kbd in May, 350 kbd in June and 400 kbd in July. This decision has been taken in the aim of stabilizing prices in anticipation of a strong recovery in global demand. With the vaccine rollout proving a success in the US and Europes situation improving, global oil demand has started to pick. On the bad news front, India, which is the second largest seaborne oil importer, is experiencing the most difficult situation. The worsening of the pandemic there could affect the global demand recovery. Most OPEC+ members - including leaders - start boosting exports in April In April, only Russia (+130 kbd) and Kazakhstan (+20 kbd) were technically allowed to ease cuts. Apart from these, OPEC+ production was only expected to rise from May onwards, but our data shows that most members already boosted exports in April. Leaders Russia and Saudi Arabia increased their m/m exports by 9.5% and 2.7%, up by 270 kbd and 154 kbd respectively. Algeria registered the most significant increase in its exports, which rose 37.5% from 354 kbd to 487 kbd while the UAE and Iraq have exported 230 kbd and 100 kbd more m/m. Russian producers seem to be eager to bank on the upcoming economic reopenings in Europe as exports to European countries jumped 142 kbd, while shipments to China fell by 116 kbd. This is piped ESPO exports to Daqing have remained stable at just around 600 kbd over the past months. The UAE also posted a strong jump. Indeed, their exports increased by 230 kbd (or 11%) to 2.3 mbd. This increase comes a month after ADNOC started a new pricing strategy with the launch of a new Murban futures contract. This decision is expected to boost all UAE grades exports (Murban, Upper Zakum, Das, Umm Lulu) by limiting the destination restrictions for all these grades and by removing the risk involved with benchmarking against Dubai. Exports of the Murban grade jumped 150 kbd. However, the increase in ADNOC's exports is probably linked to storage draws: onshore inventories fell by 7.58 mb on the month, slightly more than the exports increase on a daily average basis. Indian oil imports fall 190 kbd m/m, could fall by another 800 kbd in the coming weeks Although Indias economic growth factors remains relatively strong, the worsening of the Covid pandemic could affect the global demand recovery. Indian oil imports fell 190 kbd in April and such a trend could continue as low storage capacity gives limited room to manage oil price volatility. Onshore inventories currently hold around 106 mb, against an all-time high of 116 mb, and a nominal capacity of 143 mb. Floating storage in India is currently quite low, at 1.9 mb, but hit a high of 17.8 mb in April last year due to covid-19. Despite the tough situation, Saudi Arabia's shipments to the country jumped by 223 kbd to 786 kbd, a six-month high. This comes after a feud between both countries' energy ministers led to a decline in oil trade in February and March. A US-Iran negotiations breakthrough is near, with up to 1.7 mbd of additional volumes hitting the market by end-2021 Furthermore, the impact on supply of the Iran-US nuclear talks must be considered. Indeed, Iran has already boosted its exports since Bidens election, averaging 670 kbd since his arrival at the White House  and our estimates are likely to be revised upwards as we receive more information  against 340 kbd in the six months prior to the US elections. Although arrivals of Iranian oil to China have fallen 150 kbd to 464 kbd in April, we expect a lot more arrivals to take place in May and June, potentially averaging close to 1 mbd over the two months. More Iranian exports are a possibility as negotiations are moving forward. NIOC has the ability to produce 4.5 mbd of crude and condensate and a potential to export around 2.5 mbd at capacity (we saw a maximum of 2.8 mbd shipped in May 2018 just before the US exited the JCPOA). This is an upside of about 1.7-1.9 mbd to the current situation. We believe production ramp-up, which has already started - could take up to six months after sanctions on oil exports are lifted.




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Florida Department of Health has ended its daily reports of COVID-19 activity and has shuttered its dashboard that had provided a visual account of cases, deaths, testing and other information since March 2020.
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Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 61,152 Thanked: 204,115 Times

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Today's premium car features coming to tomorrow's mass market cars



1. Almost all common nice-to-have features were first offered in premium flagship cars, be it parking cameras, ABS, airbags, cruise control and so on. And it's not just features - even CRDI diesels, direct-injection turbo petrols and dual-clutch ATs made their debut on luxury cars before eventually coming down to <10-lakh rupee models.



2. Eventually, the ones that manufacturers think will become popular are mass-produced, bringing their costs down rapidly. When mass production happens, that's when you see them getting common in the mainstream cars. I call it the "democratization" of features !



3. Whenever there is a fresh new car launch, the OEM wants to stand out and one of the easiest ways to accomplish that is via a snazzy new feature set. It only takes one manufacturer to create demand + buzz around a feature, for every other brand to follow. Case in point = the MG Hector & its panoramic sunroof. Now, it's become an expected feature for anyone spending 20 lakhs on an SUV / Crossover.



4. In rare times, the mass market brands beat luxury cars too! Case in point = Apple CarPlay & Android Auto which populated hatchbacks & compact sedans far earlier than it did the 50 - 75 lakh cars.



5. The Koreans (Hyundai-Kia) are generally the first-movers in bringing technology from the Germans to the mass market. You can send a thank you note to them.



6. Downside? With more features & tech coming to cars, you can expect prices to keep rising.



Therefore, if you want to know what features will become common in the mass-market cars of 2025 - 2030, you only need to look at the premium cars of today, then apply some thought & logic to which might get popular in mainstream segments tomorrow. Here are the features that I think will be seen in 6 - 14 lakh cars in the coming decade:



ESP



Just like ABS is saving lives today and has been made mandatory by the Indian government, so too will ESP. ESP is a life-saving technology that can help even a newbie driver if the tyres start to lose their grip in corners or during an emergency manouveur. The technology is fast becoming commoditized in India. It is cheap, mass-produced and you will definitely see it in budget hatchbacks tomorrow. Proof? The Maruti Swift recently added ESP to its offering . I'm betting big on ESP.



Front Camera + Parking Sensors



You can get a factory-fitted reversing camera even in cheap Marutis & Hyundais today. The same democratization of "visibility" will happen at the front end. Although small cars don't really need a front camera due to their size, this is a feature that will be appreciated by newbies & first-time car owners for sure. The hardware is already dirt cheap. I'll go a step further and say that 360-degree cameras are going to see a jump too (already available in the <9-lakh rupee Nissan Magnite).



An impressive sound system, perhaps even a subwoofer



Tata took the lead here by providing really good ICE setups (for the price) in cars like the Tiago & Nexon. You can almost feel the pressure on other manufacturers as customer expectations have risen. I feel that better quality sound from 6 speakers will become ubiquitous in the cars of tomorrow, similar to how a good camera is expected from even 15 - 20k smartphones. Subwoofers - which make a HUGE difference to the sound quality - will also enter many more cars. IMHO, a great sound system is the easiest way to differentiate your cabin. And it's more enjoyable than a panoramic sunroof for sure as the owner can use it for 100% of his driving time. As someone who lives on music and test-drives all mass market cars, I couldn't be happier. Nothing quite like a very early morning, a new important car, an empty highway and good speakers.



More Airbags



Thanks to GNCAP and some responsible media platforms (like Team-BHP ), the customer is becoming a lot more safety-conscious. Considering the high fatality rates on Indian highways, well, better late than never is all I can say! Due to them becoming mandatory in India (driver-side airbag), production has already been ramped up like anything and airbags have become cheap to buy for the OEM. I expect to see 4 - 6 airbags in more hatchbacks. We'll have to wait for the next-generation launches though, as it's not easy to add airbags to an existing model. Got to appreciate brands like Hyundai & Ford for offering 6 airbags in their compact cars much before anyone else did.



Safer Structures



Further to my previous point, customer awareness, government legislation & bad press (especially) is going to force manufacturers to offer structurally safer cars. Nothing ruins a manufacturer's sleep more than negative media articles, and there's no one better to force them to do something than a government order. The OEMs have realised that safety is slowly becoming more & more important to customers, and are planning their next-generation cars accordingly.



Better Automatics



Today, the AMT is more or less the standard AT in cheap cars, thanks to the big guys like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata and gang selling them by the thousands every month. But customer satisfaction isn't high, owner complaints are frequent, the driving experience poor and long-term reliability remains patchy. ATs are a new thing for India's mainstream customer today as we have traditionally been an MT market. But as the customer becomes more mature & accepting toward ATs, he is going to demand a proper, smoother AT. After all, if a proper AT costs 1 lakh and an AMT is for 45k, what is the difference of 55k in EMI terms? Hardly anything in the 5 year loans which are popular with today's car buyers.



Ventilated / Cooled Seats



This will take a bit of time, and won't become as common as say, ESP or more airbags. But more cars are going to get this feature for sure, especially the ones that can command a little premium in the showroom (B2 hatchbacks, Compact SUVs, MPVs). Ventilated seats aren't just nice-to-have, they are also incredibly useful in the hot Indian summers & greatly elevate comfort levels, especially on long drives.



LED Headlamps



Their costs have fallen, the technology is far superior to halogens & bi-xenons, and Maruti even offers LED headlamps in cars like the Baleno! I feel LED headlamps will eventually become like "halogen" units and you'll see them even in models like the S-Presso / Santro. Vid6639 adds that the mass market will most likely see the reflector LEDs, and not projector-type LEDs which are more expensive (e.g. Seltos gets reflector LEDs as well). Vid6639 says that, post LEDs, laser-guided headlamps like in the latest BMWs, will become the next big thing in 10 years. You can bet that the 2030 Hyundai Creta will feature laser-guided eyes!



Digital Instrument Clusters



Thanks to smartphones, the price of digital screens has fallen so rapidly that I feel it's cheaper for an OEM to offer a digital cluster than an analogue one! I hate this trend as I prefer pure & classy analogue dials, just as I do with watches. I feel that analogue dials add a certain classiness to the cabin if done well. A



TPMS



So good! You can thank the Chinese for mass-producing TPMS kits. Simple, cost-effective, a life-saver (on highways especially) and money saver (longer tyre life). TPMS will soon become as ubiquitous as touchscreen head-units are today. In fact, thanks to touchscreens (which also serve as a display for other functions), TPMS will penetrate deeper into the economy segment.



Wireless Phone Charging







Rear Sunblinds



Almost every luxury car has a retractable sunblind on the rear windscreen. This feature has become all-the-more important since the sunfilm ban by the Supreme Court. The rear sunblind greatly elevates comfort levels for rear passengers and as an added bonus, it makes the car look bad ass from the rear too (tinted glass look). Not just the rear windscreen, I believe that sunblinds will soon be coming to rear windows too.



Ambient Lighting



Am surprised this isn't already standard in Maruti Altos! Reason = LED strips are dirt cheap today and for a tiny price, they can transform the look of your cabin at night. Improving the interior ambience is important to cheap cars with cheap interiors. I just hope manufacturers don't go overboard by making their cabins look like a Diwali night! And at the very least, please do make the brightness levels adjustable via the soon-to-be-standard touchscreen ICE.



Automatic headlamps & wipers



Imagine a product planning meet going like this - "does it offer convenience?". Yes. "Does it add value to our topmost variant?". Yes. "How's the pricing from our suppliers?". Dropping fast. You can bet that top variants of hatchbacks will offer auto headlamps & wipers one day. The feature is already commonplace in Compact SUVs, while some hatchbacks too (e.g. Altroz) are equipped with auto headlamps & wipers. Coming soon to the mass market for sure.



Sporty bodykits



Cars are increasingly becoming commoditized and the differentiation between same-segment cars is getting slimmer by the day. The space, power rating, equipment etc. is more or less similar in any C1 or C2 segment sedan today. The main differentiators are looks, brand & pricing. In their quest to stand out and offer more individuality to customers of the highest-trims, the smart manufacturers will start offering factory-fitted body kits. Toyota is the master of this and has sold really good kits on the Liva, Corolla Altis, Fortuner etc. The



More Interior Choices



In their quest for differentiation and to extract more money from buyers of higher variants, the big brands will definitely offer you a little more spice for your cabin. Think of tastefully done highlights (like Kia), interior panels that are body-coloured or contrast-coloured etc. Just like you get dual-tone exteriors. Further, I feel more manufacturers are going to give you cabin options on C2-segment sedans and crossovers. It's already available on many premium cars where darker interiors are matched to lighter body colours and vice versa. More customers will have the opportunity to choose from light or dark interior themes. All-black cabins will go up in popularity as well.



Paddle Shifters



Paddle shifters are nothing, but nicely shaped buttons on the steering wheel. There is nothing mechanical about them, it is purely electronic commands and hence, cost-effective. I expect to see more Compact SUVs (just introduced in the 2021 Sonet) and C2 segment sedans (Verna 1.0 Turbo gets them) to offer them. Penny-pinching Honda too offers paddle shifters in the Amaze, as does Ford in the EcoSport. This will remain a premium feature though - like ventilated seats - and offered on the higher variants of cars that can get away with charging a premium. Let me tell you 6 undeniable facts about features:1. Almost all common nice-to-have features were first offered in premium flagship cars, be it parking cameras, ABS, airbags, cruise control and so on. And it's not just features - even CRDI diesels, direct-injection turbo petrols and dual-clutch ATs made their debut on luxury cars before eventually coming down to <10-lakh rupee models.2. Eventually, the ones that manufacturers think will become popular are mass-produced, bringing their costs down rapidly. When mass production happens, that's when you see them getting common in the mainstream cars. I call it the "democratization" of features3. Whenever there is a fresh new car launch, the OEM wants to stand out and one of the easiest ways to accomplish that is via a snazzy new feature set. It only takes one manufacturer to create demand + buzz around a feature, for every other brand to follow. Case in point = the MG Hector & its panoramic sunroof. Now, it's become an expected feature for anyone spending 20 lakhs on an SUV / Crossover.4. In rare times, the mass market brands beat luxury cars too! Case in point = Apple CarPlay & Android Auto which populated hatchbacks & compact sedans far earlier than it did the 50 - 75 lakh cars. Cheap-thinking BMW actually wanted to charge owners an annual fee for Apple CarPlay!5. The Koreans (Hyundai-Kia) are generally the first-movers in bringing technology from the Germans to the mass market. You can send a thank you note to them.6. Downside? With more features & tech coming to cars, you can expect prices to keep rising.Therefore, if you want to know what features will become common in the mass-market cars of 2025 - 2030, you only need to look at the premium cars of today, then apply some thought & logic to which might get popular in mainstream segments tomorrow. Here are the features that I think will be seen in 6 - 14 lakh cars in the coming decade:Just like ABS is saving lives today and has been made mandatory by the Indian government, so too will ESP. ESP is a life-saving technology that can help even a newbie driver if the tyres start to lose their grip in corners or during an emergency manouveur. The technology is fast becoming commoditized in India. It is cheap, mass-produced and you will definitely see it in budget hatchbacks tomorrow. Proof? The Maruti Swift recently added ESP to its offering. I'm betting big on ESP.You can get a factory-fitted reversing camera even in cheap Marutis & Hyundais today. The same democratization of "visibility" will happen at the front end. Although small cars don't really need a front camera due to their size, this is a feature that will be appreciated by newbies & first-time car owners for sure. The hardware is already dirt cheap. I'll go a step further and say that 360-degree cameras are going to see a jump too (already available in the <9-lakh rupee Nissan Magnite).Tata took the lead here by providing really good ICE setups (for the price) in cars like the Tiago & Nexon. You can almost feel the pressure on other manufacturers as customer expectations have risen. I feel that better quality sound from 6 speakers will become ubiquitous in the cars of tomorrow, similar to how a good camera is expected from even 15 - 20k smartphones. Subwoofers - which make a HUGE difference to the sound quality - will also enter many more cars. IMHO, a great sound system is the easiest way to differentiate your cabin. And it's more enjoyable than a panoramic sunroof for sure as the owner can use it for 100% of his driving time. As someone who lives on music and test-drives all mass market cars, I couldn't be happier. Nothing quite like a very early morning, a new important car, an empty highway and good speakers.Thanks to GNCAP and some responsible media platforms (like Team-BHP), the customer is becoming a lot more safety-conscious. Considering the high fatality rates on Indian highways, well, better late than never is all I can say! Due to them becoming mandatory in India (driver-side airbag), production has already been ramped up like anything and airbags have become cheap to buy for the OEM. I expect to see 4 - 6 airbags in more hatchbacks. We'll have to wait for the next-generation launches though, as it's not easy to add airbags to an existing model. Got to appreciate brands like Hyundai & Ford for offering 6 airbags in their compact cars much before anyone else did.Further to my previous point, customer awareness, government legislation & bad press (especially) is going to force manufacturers to offer structurally safer cars. Nothing ruins a manufacturer's sleep more than negative media articles, and there's no one better to force them to do something than a government order. The OEMs have realised that safety is slowly becoming more & more important to customers, and are planning their next-generation cars accordingly.Today, the AMT is more or less the standard AT in cheap cars, thanks to the big guys like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata and gang selling them by the thousands every month. But customer satisfaction isn't high, owner complaints are frequent, the driving experience poor and long-term reliability remains patchy. ATs are a new thing for India's mainstream customer today as we have traditionally been an MT market. But as the customer becomes more mature & accepting toward ATs, he is going to demand a proper, smoother AT. After all, if a proper AT costs 1 lakh and an AMT is for 45k, what is the difference of 55k in EMI terms? Hardly anything in the 5 year loans which are popular with today's car buyers.This will take a bit of time, and won't become as common as say, ESP or more airbags. But more cars are going to get this feature for sure, especially the ones that can command a little premium in the showroom (B2 hatchbacks, Compact SUVs, MPVs). Ventilated seats aren't just nice-to-have, they are also incredibly useful in the hot Indian summers & greatly elevate comfort levels, especially on long drives. Here's a good discussion on the topic. Among owners of cars with ventilated seats, the feature has a near 100% satisfaction rating. You can be rest assured that car manufacturers have taken note.Their costs have fallen, the technology is far superior to halogens & bi-xenons, and Maruti even offers LED headlamps in cars like the Baleno! I feel LED headlamps will eventually become like "halogen" units and you'll see them even in models like the S-Presso / Santro. Vid6639 adds that the mass market will most likely see the reflector LEDs, and not projector-type LEDs which are more expensive (e.g. Seltos gets reflector LEDs as well). Vid6639 says that, post LEDs, laser-guided headlamps like in the latest BMWs, will become the next big thing in 10 years. You can bet that the 2030 Hyundai Creta will feature laser-guided eyes!Thanks to smartphones, the price of digital screens has fallen so rapidly that I feel it's cheaper for an OEM to offer a digital cluster than an analogue one! I hate this trend as I prefer pure & classy analogue dials, just as I do with watches. I feel that analogue dials add a certain classiness to the cabin if done well. A majority of BHPians also prefer traditional dials over digital ones. Hope manufacturers don't blindly jump onto this trend!So good! You can thank the Chinese for mass-producing TPMS kits. Simple, cost-effective, a life-saver (on highways especially) and money saver (longer tyre life). TPMS will soon become as ubiquitous as touchscreen head-units are today. In fact, thanks to touchscreens (which also serve as a display for other functions), TPMS will penetrate deeper into the economy segment. I hate the technology as it stands today , but as with any new tech, it is fast evolving and will become the standard one day. Thanks to Bluetooth, no one uses AUX cables for audio anymore. It'll be the same with wireless phone charging. It has already entered the VFM segments via the Sonet & Magnite, while Maruti (Vitara Brezza) & Renault (Kiger) are offering the same as an official accessory.Almost every luxury car has a retractable sunblind on the rear windscreen. This feature has become all-the-more important since the sunfilm ban by the Supreme Court. The rear sunblind greatly elevates comfort levels for rear passengers and as an added bonus, it makes the car look bad ass from the rear too (tinted glass look). Not just the rear windscreen, I believe that sunblinds will soon be coming to rear windows too.Am surprised this isn't already standard in Maruti Altos! Reason = LED strips are dirt cheap today and for a tiny price, they can transform the look of your cabin at night. Improving the interior ambience is important to cheap cars with cheap interiors. I just hope manufacturers don't go overboard by making their cabins look like a Diwali night! And at the very least, please do make the brightness levels adjustable via the soon-to-be-standard touchscreen ICE.Imagine a product planning meet going like this - "does it offer convenience?". Yes. "Does it add value to our topmost variant?". Yes. "How's the pricing from our suppliers?". Dropping fast. You can bet that top variants of hatchbacks will offer auto headlamps & wipers one day. The feature is already commonplace in Compact SUVs, while some hatchbacks too (e.g. Altroz) are equipped with auto headlamps & wipers. Coming soon to the mass market for sure.Cars are increasingly becoming commoditized and the differentiation between same-segment cars is getting slimmer by the day. The space, power rating, equipment etc. is more or less similar in any C1 or C2 segment sedan today. The main differentiators are looks, brand & pricing. In their quest to stand out and offer more individuality to customers of the highest-trims, the smart manufacturers will start offering factory-fitted body kits. Toyota is the master of this and has sold really good kits on the Liva, Corolla Altis, Fortuner etc. The Sportivo 1st-gen Fortuner did sell better than expected, and was the inspiration behind the Legender. Customers of the topmost trims give the OEMs F-A-T profit margins, and I think they are going to entice more clients with sporty bodykits. But again, these will only be offered on the topmost variants. Inspiration taken from the AMG-line of Mercedes & M-Sport BMWs.In their quest for differentiation and to extract more money from buyers of higher variants, the big brands will definitely offer you a little more spice for your cabin. Think of tastefully done highlights (like Kia), interior panels that are body-coloured or contrast-coloured etc. Just like you get dual-tone exteriors. Further, I feel more manufacturers are going to give you cabin options on C2-segment sedans and crossovers. It's already available on many premium cars where darker interiors are matched to lighter body colours and vice versa. More customers will have the opportunity to choose from light or dark interior themes. All-black cabins will go up in popularity as well.Paddle shifters are nothing, but nicely shaped buttons on the steering wheel. There is nothing mechanical about them, it is purely electronic commands and hence, cost-effective. I expect to see more Compact SUVs () and C2 segment sedans (Verna 1.0 Turbo gets them) to offer them. Penny-pinching Honda too offers paddle shifters in the Amaze, as does Ford in the EcoSport. This will remain a premium feature though - like ventilated seats - and offered on the higher variants of cars that can get away with charging a premium. Last edited by Eddy : 4th May 2021 at 12:58 .
CptSlow Newbie

Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Lucknow Posts: 7 Thanked: 58 Times

Pune to Lucknow on a Gixxer - Let's bring our bikes home



The rides:





The riders:





Motorcycles in the picture: Suzuki Gixxer 2015 BS3 (belongs to me, 61,000km on the odo)

Suzuki Gixxer 2018 BS4 (my friend's, 8,000km on the odo)

You wont see a lot of pictures in this travelogue because I am not someone who takes pictures. Its not that I dont want to, its usually because I tend to forget. I would stop at the side of the road, admiring the most beautiful lush green valley I have ever laid eyes on, but it would never occur to me to take out my phone and capture it. I am trying to change this habit but clearly this thread is not going to be an evidence of my efforts.

So without wasting much time let me elucidate the WHEREs, the WHYs and the HOWs in detail which led the two of us on this journey.



A Prologue to The Ride

So I left for Johannesburg in January 2020 for work, leaving the motorcycle with my friend for safekeeping. Both of us worked in Pune so it was an easy decision for me. I was supposed to come back to Pune after a year or so and he was supposed to take care of my bike like using it for some short rides within the city, getting it serviced based on his convenience, etc. But then in March something unexpected happened which neither of us anticipated or planned for  we had a nationwide lockdown. After managing for a couple of months of WFH in his rented apartment in Pune and seeing the uncertainty around the situation my friend decided to terminate his lease and move back to his hometown to spend more time with his parents. It all happened in such a hurry that he had no time to arrange transport for the motorcycles. So he left both of our motorcycles at another friends place in Pune itself.



When I got back to India in November I went straight to my hometown (Lucknow) instead of Pune since we were to continue working from home until further notice. Meanwhile the bike was just sitting and gathering dust in Pune where my friend left it with no one attending to them since June! Now riding has always been a therapeutic experience for me. Like how people meditate, riding (and driving too, to some extent) for me has always been that activity which sooths you after a tough day, calms your nerves. Like a medication which gets you better and energizes you, freeing your mind of all the negativity. So my bike wasting away in Pune while I am in Lucknow without a ride was a situation I wasnt able to come to terms with. Eventually by February 2nd week I gave in and decided that its time to get the bike home.

Next step was convincing my friend to accompany me and make the ride together as this was going to be my first multi-day ride and I was apprehensive about going solo. It didnt take much effort; he saw the opportunity and was easily convinced. Now we had to decide the dates for our journey. By this time I had resigned from my company and this presented us an opportunity which we didnt wanted to miss. I had to travel to Pune anyway to return my companys assets (laptop, access card etc.) so we decided to use this trip for our purpose. So the start date was set  we will fly to Pune on Thursday, 1st April (my last day with the company) and then plan our ride around it.



How the Ride was almost cancelled

Getting the bikes ready:

Now both our Gixxers were left completely unattended, unmoved for more than 10 months and we werent sure what kind of problems to expect when we try to get the bikes moving. We did some Google search and read on various forums that gave us a heads-up on the problems we may encounter: Definitely a dead battery.

Tyre pressure loss leading to damaged sidewalls if the bike wasnt put on center stand.

Rusting of various metal parts if kept in a humid place.

Fuel in the tank may cause rusting and may turn into a gel like substance. So we decided that after we reach Pune on Thursday I will complete my office formalities and then give the bike for service and repairs. We allocated until Friday end of day for this and decided that we will start our ride latest by Saturday morning. Based on this plan my friend applied for leaves with his company. I didnt have to worry about leaves since it would be transition period to my new company where I wont be starting the work from first day itself.

When we finally got to our bikes by Thursday afternoon these were the actual issues we were faced with:



Friends Gixxer: Dead battery.

Low tyre pressure (10 PSI in both the tyres). Since it was on middle stand all this time with front tyre touching the ground there was no damage to tyres. Moreover 10 PSI doesnt cause such a bend in the sidewalls if the bike is kept unladen. We put the bike on center stand, pulled the choke, tried to kick-start and after maybe 15-20 kicks the engine sprang to life. Pulled the throttle a little to keep the engine from dying out for 2-3 minutes and thats it, bike was ready to roll. Got the tyre pressure corrected from a nearby pump and now we had a proper running bike with very weak battery to travel in and around the city. The battery kept charging as we rode the bike and in few kilometers reached a level where the self-start button started working.



My Gixxer: There was no engine oil left.

Rear alloy wheel was bent because of which tyre was not able to hold the pressure for long. Apparently this was already present before leaving the bike with my friend, not because the bike was stationary for so long. The battery was surprisingly not dead. The self-start button was working. Also the bike started in just the second kick and that is when I noticed that the engine oil was completely drained. I immediately turned off the engine to prevent any damage.



Flaw in the Plan

So all we had to do was service both the bikes and get the rear wheel replaced on mine. That is when we encountered a big challenge  none of the authorized service centers in Pune had the alloy wheel in stock! We phoned a few of them and the answer we got was that we need to pay an advance to place the order and will only receive the wheel in 7-8 days. Now this was going to completely derail our plans since we didnt have the time to wait a week for the wheel to arrive. After completing the last day formalities at my office we had some burgers at McDonalds and started discussing on what to do next. We decided to check with some local puncture repair guys and see what they suggest or if they could probably arrange the wheel from somewhere. Now all of them unanimously suggested the same thing - insert a tube in the tyre and use it like a tyre with tube. All of them vouched that its perfectly safe and that I wont even notice the difference. Having never heard of this before, I was intrigued. Since all of them were suggesting the same thing I even considered it briefly but when I gave it some more thought I decided against it. It didnt sound very safe and I was not willing to try something so drastically different just before a 1500km ride, so we dropped the idea. By now it was 6pm in the evening we decided to go back to our hotel and call it a day since we were very tired.



Next morning during breakfast we decided to visit the authorized service centers in person and see if they can suggest any options. I wasnt very hopeful though about this idea, so I also reached out to Agarwal Packers and Movers to arrange for transporting the bikes to Lucknow.

Continuing with our original plan, we first visited Aryan Suzuki in Baner (our hotel was in Hinjawadi). I had good experience with their SA who was always helpful and patient with my queries so thought of starting our search there. Obviously they did not have the wheel in stock (we knew this because we spoke to them on phone the day before) but when I explained our situation they checked on their portal to see if any other service center nearby has it in stock. They came up with 2 names  one in Ahmednagar (different city 150km away so not really an option) and another in Pimpri, Shiv Suzuki. We tried to reach Shiv Suzuki on phone but nobody answered so we decided to go there directly. While we were on our way they called back and told they dont have it in stock and gave me couple of contact numbers of other service centers to check. Again, none of them had the wheel.



Lucky Break

Then we went to Autonity Suzuki in Wakad as it was close to where we were. Same story again. They too gave us a contact number which turned out to be of Dhone Suzuki in Swargate. That was our breakthrough! They had the specific wheel in stock so we asked them to please hold one unit for me while I bring my bike to them, but then they tell me that its half day today so they will close by 1pm and wont be able to change it today (it was already 11:45am and I was in Wakad. Swargate was at least 40 minute ride away). I decided to buy the wheel from Dhone Suzuki and get it fitted at a tyre shop. Only after trying at 2-3 different shops we found one who agreed to change the wheel for us.



Now it was time to get my bike moving and bring it to the tyre shop. Bought a bottle of engine oil, filled up the bike and pumped some air into the rear tyre using the tyre inflator we had. By the time wheel was changed it was already 3:30pm and we still hadnt got the bikes serviced yet.



Aryan Suzuki to the rescue

Our plan of starting the ride by Saturday morning didnt seem realistic anymore but we still decided to give the bikes for servicing to Aryan Suzuki that time itself. Now we were faced with a choice  either spend the Saturday morning getting the bike serviced and try to leave by afternoon or we handover the bikes for transportation and catch a flight back to Lucknow. It was my friends decision to make because his leave plan will be affected due to this delay. But when we reach the workshop by 4pm they made it fairly easy for us, by promising to service both the bikes by 5pm the same day! We were so pleasantly surprised! Apparently they didnt have any vehicle in the workshop for service or repairs so all the mechanics were sitting idle. Suddenly 5-6 of them started working on our bikes and serviced it in under 90 minutes! The following repairs were done on our bikes:



My Gixxer: Turns out that the oil leak was due to loose drain bolt so nothing fixed there.

Oil filter & air filter changed. Friends Gixxer: Oil, oil filter, air filter changed.

Front brake pads changed. And that was it! We had our bikes with us by 5pm on Friday and we were still on track to start our ride on Saturday morning as planned! We couldnt believe our luck!



The Ride

So this was going to be our first multi-day ride. We used to go on day rides quite frequently ranging from 250 to 400km and the most I had done in a day was 460km on a solo ride from Pune to Ozarde falls near Koyna dam. So we were not complete novices. But since neither one of us had any experience of riding long hours day after day we were quite nervous about it. Being away from riding for more than a year wasnt helping either.

We started out by finalizing the roads we will be taking after consulting with couple of friends who had some idea about the quality of roads on this route. Based on that we decided on the following route:



Pune  Nashik  Dhule  Indore  Guna  Jhansi  Kanpur  Lucknow



Something like this:





Plan was to reach Dhule as early as we can on day-1 and then see if we still had the energy and time to make it to Indore. There were no proper cities/towns between Dhule & Indore and we did not wanted to ride after sunset so we decided to spend the night either in Dhule or Indore but not anywhere in between. From Indore we would reach Jhansi next day and from there reach Lucknow on the 3rd day. We realized that it was quite ambitious considering our experience level but still decided to give it a try. Well, the actual ride turned out to be quite different from our plan (who could have guessed )



DAY 1  April 3, Saturday



We checked-out from our hotel and started by 6:20am on Saturday with the target of reaching Nashik by 10-10:15am.



Loaded and ready to roll





We maintained good pace. Stopped in Narayangaon for some tea, stopped somewhere between Alephata and Sangamner for some pictures and continued to Nashik. Reached Vitthal Kamat restaurant just before Nashik city for breakfast by 9:45am and were out of the city by 10:45. Quite satisfied since we were maintaining the pace and on target even though we stopped for tea and pictures.







Its from here on that things started going off-track for us. My friends wrist started hurting, especially the right one (a chronic issue which was lying dormant for some time). Because of this we kept stopping every 30-40 minutes to relieve the pain. This severely affected our pace and we only managed to reach Dhule by 3:30pm, so there was no possibility of reaching Indore by sunset. Also considering his wrist pain we decided to book a room there in Dhule and settle down for the day.



Distance covered: 360km  Pune to Dhule



Major stops: Breakfast  Vitthal Kamat Restaurant, 10km before Nashik



Hotel: Hotel Residency Park, Dhule (2,000 INR/night for AC room)



Road conditions: Pune to Alephata was decent, not much to complain about. At times there were good 4 lane roads but there were also sudden diversions. Also the road goes through many villages and towns so its best to start early and try to cross this stretch before 7-7:30am.

Alephata to Nashik was absolutely beautiful and good quality. 4 lane throughout with beautiful countryside.

Nashik to Dhule was also good but riddled with speed-breakers. Every few kilometers there would be a 4-way crossing or a median in the divider and you would have speed-breaker before it. They werent difficult to spot and there was always a sign-board but still annoying nonetheless.









DAY 2  April 4, Sunday



After a tiring first day we both slept like a baby and woke up feeling really fresh. My friends wrist also stopped hurting but we werent sure how quickly the pain will come back once we start riding. We were anyway behind our target, so I suggested we take it slow and add an extra day to our trip. We decided to reach Indore at a comfortable pace and then explore our options depending on the wrist pain and how much time we had until dark. Checked out from the hotel and started at 6:30am, immediately stopped to refuel and then continued for 50km before stopping for tea and poha.



That's me and the poha





Just after crossing into MP





My friend was feeling much better and was pain free so we decided to make good use of this opportunity. Covered good distance at decent pace and reached Indore (265km from Dhule) by around 1pm. In between we stopped at Narmada River Bridge (10:15am, 180km from Dhule) to rest and take some photos and then for snacks (11:30am to 12:20pm, 240km from Dhule).



The mighty Narmada





Riding buddy





After we crossed Dewas and stopped for fuel (Rojwas Toll Plaza, 370km from Dhule, 50km from Dewas) my friends wrist started hurting again but not as bad as the day before. By now it was already 3:15pm and I was not seeing any decent hotels nearby apart from Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department motel in Biaora some 100km away. So he decided to brave the pain and ride till Biaora. In between we stopped a couple of times to give his wrist a rest and finally reached at 5:30pm. The motel was right at the bypass so we didnt had to travel into the city. The rooms were nice and the motel itself was beautiful.



Road to Biaora





Now according to our plan we were supposed to be in Jhansi by now. Being a good 300km behind our target it was clear that we would have to add another day to our trip. This had my friend worried because he would have to extend his office leaves. So he proposed that instead of riding to Lucknow together over next 2 days and then going to his hometown Budaun (near Bareilly), he will directly ride to Budaun (Biaora to Budaun and Biaora to Lucknow is roughly the same, 12 hours by road) and we will part ways at a point which was convenient for both of us. That way he will save a whole day traveling from Lucknow to Budaun and can resume work without extending his leaves. This plan actually made a lot more sense. We mutually agreed that Gwalior will be that parting point, where we will stay overnight and then leave for our respective homes the next morning. With this plan in mind we went to bed in the hopes to start early tomorrow.



Distance covered: 485km approx. - Dhule to Biaora



Major stops: Hotel Shakti Palace for brunch, 30km before Indore



Hotel: MPT Motel, Biaora (1800/night for AC room)



Road conditions: Absolutely wonderful. Again it was 4-lane throughout with some sections being 6-lane. From Dewas to Biaora the traffic was very less but road was made out of concrete which caused lot of tyre noise. There were flyovers going over the villages with strict entry control which helped in maintaining our speed even while we were crossing those villages.



DAY 3  April 5, Monday



We only managed to start by 6:45am. Gwalior was not very far, only 325km, so we were a bit relaxed and did not try to rush with anything. It was a beautiful morning and we had an amazing time riding in the cool weather and on empty, well paved roads.



Somewhere before Guna





Change of plans:

We reached Guna by 8:15 and stopped for tea & poha. We continued towards Shivpuri and stopped at a small tea stall on the highway somewhere between Shivpuri and Gwalior. By now it was just 11:30am and thats when I realized Gwalior is just an hour away. I started wondering if instead of staying overnight in Gwalior maybe I can continue riding and try to reach Lucknow the same day. I checked the ETA to my home and it was 7:30pm (350km from Gwalior) which I thought was doable. Usually I dont prefer riding in the dark but when I checked the route on Google Maps I noticed that last 150km or so, starting just after Etawah, was actually on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. I had been on that expressway few months ago in my dads car and road was just phenomenal and without much traffic. So I reasoned that if I can manage to reach Etawah before dark then riding on the expressway after sunset wont be that difficult. Only thing was that I had no idea if motorcycles were allowed on this particular expressway. To confirm this I asked a friend in Lucknow to enquire or do a search on Google and try to find from multiple credible sources if bikes are allowed or not. So by the time we stopped for our next break some 10km before Gwalior my Lucknow friend confirmed that bikes are indeed allowed. He actually went a step ahead by driving to the beginning of Expressway in Lucknow and enquiring with the police and several auto drivers to double check. So the decision was made, I was going to continue riding towards Lucknow after Gwalior. I conveyed this plan to my riding buddy which made him reconsider his decision of staying in Gwalior. He reasoned that he too can continue riding at least till Agra so next day he will have fewer kilometers to cover to Budaun.



The solo part:

With that thought we bid each other goodbye and parted ways when we reached Gwalior. I had a clear idea about my route  reach Etawah (165km from my location) via Bhind and from there climb onto the Expressway continuing till Lucknow (215km from Etawah). After parting ways I took the outer ring road and stopped immediately after taking the Bhind exit for some quick snacks. Since I was riding solo now I was able to cover longer distances between stops. Started from Gwalior at 2:15pm and reached Bhind by 3:30. After another 10 minute stop I decided only to stop again when I reach the Expressway.



Road from Gwalior towards Bhind was a 2-lane road with no dividers but well paved. Not a lot of potholes but there was moderate traffic all along which restricted my cruising speed. But as soon as I crossed UP-MP border the quality of road deteriorated massively. It was very difficult to maintain speeds of 40 until I reached Etawah bypass and after that the road got better but traffic got denser. Easily the worst stretch I have travelled in the last 3 days. Finally reached Expressway by 4:40pm where I stopped for quick bite and drank lots of water. Getting onto the Expressway I paid the toll amount in cash which was Rs. 194 if I remember correctly.



Rest of the ride was quite blissful, monotonous and uneventful. Stopped a couple of times to give my butt some rest and to hydrate and crossed the expressway by 7:20pm. Just like I had thought, faced absolutely no problems riding in the dark on expressway as there was no traffic at all and the road was butter smooth. To my surprise my friend was waiting at the end of Expressway with a chilled bottle of Maaza (we have location sharing active on Google Maps which is where he was tracking me). We hung out for half an hour after which I rushed to my home, completing approx. 750km that day  a day well spent in my books.



Final route:

Pune - Nashik - Dhule - Indore - Biaora - Shivpuri - Gwalior - Bhind - Etawah - Lucknow







Some pictures to finish the travelogue:



















This travelogue is not about a leisure ride. Or maybe it is. You see, I could have opted to transport the bikes but I didn't, so an argument can be made. But let's not dwell on that and waste time because it hardly matters. We riders just look for an opportunity to ride and then try to come up with excuses to justify it to those who question our sanity but deep down we all know the truth. So this is a tale of how two motorcycle lovers who were separated from their motorcycles for more than a year, in order to end their miseries embarked on a journey to bring their rides home the best way they know  riding it.Motorcycles in the picture:You wont see a lot of pictures in this travelogue because I am not someone who takes pictures. Its not that I dont want to, its usually because I tend to forget. I would stop at the side of the road, admiring the most beautiful lush green valley I have ever laid eyes on, but it would never occur to me to take out my phone and capture it. I am trying to change this habit but clearly this thread is not going to be an evidence of my efforts.So without wasting much time let me elucidate the WHEREs, the WHYs and the HOWs in detail which led the two of us on this journey.So I left for Johannesburg in January 2020 for work, leaving the motorcycle with my friend for safekeeping. Both of us worked in Pune so it was an easy decision for me. I was supposed to come back to Pune after a year or so and he was supposed to take care of my bike like using it for some short rides within the city, getting it serviced based on his convenience, etc. But then in March something unexpected happened which neither of us anticipated or planned for  we had a nationwide lockdown. After managing for a couple of months of WFH in his rented apartment in Pune and seeing the uncertainty around the situation my friend decided to terminate his lease and move back to his hometown to spend more time with his parents. It all happened in such a hurry that he had no time to arrange transport for the motorcycles. So he left both of our motorcycles at another friends place in Pune itself.When I got back to India in November I went straight to my hometown (Lucknow) instead of Pune since we were to continue working from home until further notice. Meanwhile the bike was just sitting and gathering dust in Pune where my friend left it with no one attending to them since June! Now riding has always been a therapeutic experience for me. Like how people meditate, riding (and driving too, to some extent) for me has always been that activity which sooths you after a tough day, calms your nerves. Like a medication which gets you better and energizes you, freeing your mind of all the negativity. So my bike wasting away in Pune while I am in Lucknow without a ride was a situation I wasnt able to come to terms with. Eventually by February 2nd week I gave in and decided that its time to get the bike home.Next step was convincing my friend to accompany me and make the ride together as this was going to be my first multi-day ride and I was apprehensive about going solo. It didnt take much effort; he saw the opportunity and was easily convinced. Now we had to decide the dates for our journey. By this time I had resigned from my company and this presented us an opportunity which we didnt wanted to miss. I had to travel to Pune anyway to return my companys assets (laptop, access card etc.) so we decided to use this trip for our purpose. So the start date was set  we will fly to Pune on Thursday, 1st April (my last day with the company) and then plan our ride around it.Now both our Gixxers were left completely unattended, unmoved for more than 10 months and we werent sure what kind of problems to expect when we try to get the bikes moving. We did some Google search and read on various forums that gave us a heads-up on the problems we may encounter:So we decided that after we reach Pune on Thursday I will complete my office formalities and then give the bike for service and repairs. We allocated until Friday end of day for this and decided that we will start our ride latest by Saturday morning. Based on this plan my friend applied for leaves with his company. I didnt have to worry about leaves since it would be transition period to my new company where I wont be starting the work from first day itself.When we finally got to our bikes by Thursday afternoon these were the actual issues we were faced with:Friends Gixxer:We put the bike on center stand, pulled the choke, tried to kick-start and after maybe 15-20 kicks the engine sprang to life. Pulled the throttle a little to keep the engine from dying out for 2-3 minutes and thats it, bike was ready to roll. Got the tyre pressure corrected from a nearby pump and now we had a proper running bike with very weak battery to travel in and around the city. The battery kept charging as we rode the bike and in few kilometers reached a level where the self-start button started working.My Gixxer:The battery was surprisingly not dead. The self-start button was working. Also the bike started in just the second kick and that is when I noticed that the engine oil was completely drained. I immediately turned off the engine to prevent any damage.So all we had to do was service both the bikes and get the rear wheel replaced on mine. That is when we encountered a big challenge  none of the authorized service centers in Pune had the alloy wheel in stock! We phoned a few of them and the answer we got was that we need to pay an advance to place the order and will only receive the wheel in 7-8 days. Now this was going to completely derail our plans since we didnt have the time to wait a week for the wheel to arrive. After completing the last day formalities at my office we had some burgers at McDonalds and started discussing on what to do next. We decided to check with some local puncture repair guys and see what they suggest or if they could probably arrange the wheel from somewhere. Now all of them unanimously suggested the same thing - insert a tube in the tyre and use it like a tyre with tube. All of them vouched that its perfectly safe and that I wont even notice the difference. Having never heard of this before, I was intrigued. Since all of them were suggesting the same thing I even considered it briefly but when I gave it some more thought I decided against it. It didnt sound very safe and I was not willing to try something so drastically different just before a 1500km ride, so we dropped the idea. By now it was 6pm in the evening we decided to go back to our hotel and call it a day since we were very tired.Next morning during breakfast we decided to visit the authorized service centers in person and see if they can suggest any options. I wasnt very hopeful though about this idea, so I also reached out to Agarwal Packers and Movers to arrange for transporting the bikes to Lucknow.Continuing with our original plan, we first visited Aryan Suzuki in Baner (our hotel was in Hinjawadi). I had good experience with their SA who was always helpful and patient with my queries so thought of starting our search there. Obviously they did not have the wheel in stock (we knew this because we spoke to them on phone the day before) but when I explained our situation they checked on their portal to see if any other service center nearby has it in stock. They came up with 2 names  one in Ahmednagar (different city 150km away so not really an option) and another in Pimpri, Shiv Suzuki. We tried to reach Shiv Suzuki on phone but nobody answered so we decided to go there directly. While we were on our way they called back and told they dont have it in stock and gave me couple of contact numbers of other service centers to check. Again, none of them had the wheel.Then we went to Autonity Suzuki in Wakad as it was close to where we were. Same story again. They too gave us a contact number which turned out to be of Dhone Suzuki in Swargate. That was our breakthrough! They had the specific wheel in stock so we asked them to please hold one unit for me while I bring my bike to them, but then they tell me that its half day today so they will close by 1pm and wont be able to change it today (it was already 11:45am and I was in Wakad. Swargate was at least 40 minute ride away). I decided to buy the wheel from Dhone Suzuki and get it fitted at a tyre shop. Only after trying at 2-3 different shops we found one who agreed to change the wheel for us.Now it was time to get my bike moving and bring it to the tyre shop. Bought a bottle of engine oil, filled up the bike and pumped some air into the rear tyre using the tyre inflator we had. By the time wheel was changed it was already 3:30pm and we still hadnt got the bikes serviced yet.Our plan of starting the ride by Saturday morning didnt seem realistic anymore but we still decided to give the bikes for servicing to Aryan Suzuki that time itself. Now we were faced with a choice  either spend the Saturday morning getting the bike serviced and try to leave by afternoon or we handover the bikes for transportation and catch a flight back to Lucknow. It was my friends decision to make because his leave plan will be affected due to this delay. But when we reach the workshop by 4pm they made it fairly easy for us, by promising to service both the bikes by 5pm the same day! We were so pleasantly surprised! Apparently they didnt have any vehicle in the workshop for service or repairs so all the mechanics were sitting idle. Suddenly 5-6 of them started working on our bikes and serviced it in under 90 minutes! The following repairs were done on our bikes:My Gixxer:Friends Gixxer:And that was it! We had our bikes with us by 5pm on Friday and we were still on track to start our ride on Saturday morning as planned! We couldnt believe our luck!So this was going to be our first multi-day ride. We used to go on day rides quite frequently ranging from 250 to 400km and the most I had done in a day was 460km on a solo ride from Pune to Ozarde falls near Koyna dam. So we were not complete novices. But since neither one of us had any experience of riding long hours day after day we were quite nervous about it. Being away from riding for more than a year wasnt helping either.We started out by finalizing the roads we will be taking after consulting with couple of friends who had some idea about the quality of roads on this route. Based on that we decided on the following route:Pune  Nashik  Dhule  Indore  Guna  Jhansi  Kanpur  LucknowPlan was to reach Dhule as early as we can on day-1 and then see if we still had the energy and time to make it to Indore. There were no proper cities/towns between Dhule & Indore and we did not wanted to ride after sunset so we decided to spend the night either in Dhule or Indore but not anywhere in between. From Indore we would reach Jhansi next day and from there reach Lucknow on the 3rd day. We realized that it was quite ambitious considering our experience level but still decided to give it a try. Well, the actual ride turned out to be quite different from our plan (who could have guessedWe checked-out from our hotel and started by 6:20am on Saturday with the target of reaching Nashik by 10-10:15am.We maintained good pace. Stopped in Narayangaon for some tea, stopped somewhere between Alephata and Sangamner for some pictures and continued to Nashik. Reached Vitthal Kamat restaurant just before Nashik city for breakfast by 9:45am and were out of the city by 10:45. Quite satisfied since we were maintaining the pace and on target even though we stopped for tea and pictures.Its from here on that things started going off-track for us. My friends wrist started hurting, especially the right one (a chronic issue which was lying dormant for some time). Because of this we kept stopping every 30-40 minutes to relieve the pain. This severely affected our pace and we only managed to reach Dhule by 3:30pm, so there was no possibility of reaching Indore by sunset. Also considering his wrist pain we decided to book a room there in Dhule and settle down for the day.360km  Pune to DhuleBreakfast  Vitthal Kamat Restaurant, 10km before NashikHotel Residency Park, Dhule (2,000 INR/night for AC room)Pune to Alephata was decent, not much to complain about. At times there were good 4 lane roads but there were also sudden diversions. Also the road goes through many villages and towns so its best to start early and try to cross this stretch before 7-7:30am.Alephata to Nashik was absolutely beautiful and good quality. 4 lane throughout with beautiful countryside.Nashik to Dhule was also good but riddled with speed-breakers. Every few kilometers there would be a 4-way crossing or a median in the divider and you would have speed-breaker before it. They werent difficult to spot and there was always a sign-board but still annoying nonetheless.After a tiring first day we both slept like a baby and woke up feeling really fresh. My friends wrist also stopped hurting but we werent sure how quickly the pain will come back once we start riding. We were anyway behind our target, so I suggested we take it slow and add an extra day to our trip. We decided to reach Indore at a comfortable pace and then explore our options depending on the wrist pain and how much time we had until dark. Checked out from the hotel and started at 6:30am, immediately stopped to refuel and then continued for 50km before stopping for tea and poha.My friend was feeling much better and was pain free so we decided to make good use of this opportunity. Covered good distance at decent pace and reached Indore (265km from Dhule) by around 1pm. In between we stopped at Narmada River Bridge (10:15am, 180km from Dhule) to rest and take some photos and then for snacks (11:30am to 12:20pm, 240km from Dhule).After we crossed Dewas and stopped for fuel (Rojwas Toll Plaza, 370km from Dhule, 50km from Dewas) my friends wrist started hurting again but not as bad as the day before. By now it was already 3:15pm and I was not seeing any decent hotels nearby apart from Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department motel in Biaora some 100km away. So he decided to brave the pain and ride till Biaora. In between we stopped a couple of times to give his wrist a rest and finally reached at 5:30pm. The motel was right at the bypass so we didnt had to travel into the city. The rooms were nice and the motel itself was beautiful.Now according to our plan we were supposed to be in Jhansi by now. Being a good 300km behind our target it was clear that we would have to add another day to our trip. This had my friend worried because he would have to extend his office leaves. So he proposed that instead of riding to Lucknow together over next 2 days and then going to his hometown Budaun (near Bareilly), he will directly ride to Budaun (Biaora to Budaun and Biaora to Lucknow is roughly the same, 12 hours by road) and we will part ways at a point which was convenient for both of us. That way he will save a whole day traveling from Lucknow to Budaun and can resume work without extending his leaves. This plan actually made a lot more sense. We mutually agreed that Gwalior will be that parting point, where we will stay overnight and then leave for our respective homes the next morning. With this plan in mind we went to bed in the hopes to start early tomorrow.485km approx. - Dhule to BiaoraHotel Shakti Palace for brunch, 30km before IndoreMPT Motel, Biaora (1800/night for AC room)Absolutely wonderful. Again it was 4-lane throughout with some sections being 6-lane. From Dewas to Biaora the traffic was very less but road was made out of concrete which caused lot of tyre noise. There were flyovers going over the villages with strict entry control which helped in maintaining our speed even while we were crossing those villages.We only managed to start by 6:45am. Gwalior was not very far, only 325km, so we were a bit relaxed and did not try to rush with anything. It was a beautiful morning and we had an amazing time riding in the cool weather and on empty, well paved roads.We reached Guna by 8:15 and stopped for tea & poha. We continued towards Shivpuri and stopped at a small tea stall on the highway somewhere between Shivpuri and Gwalior. By now it was just 11:30am and thats when I realized Gwalior is just an hour away. I started wondering if instead of staying overnight in Gwalior maybe I can continue riding and try to reach Lucknow the same day. I checked the ETA to my home and it was 7:30pm (350km from Gwalior) which I thought was doable. Usually I dont prefer riding in the dark but when I checked the route on Google Maps I noticed that last 150km or so, starting just after Etawah, was actually on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. I had been on that expressway few months ago in my dads car and road was just phenomenal and without much traffic. So I reasoned that if I can manage to reach Etawah before dark then riding on the expressway after sunset wont be that difficult. Only thing was that I had no idea if motorcycles were allowed on this particular expressway. To confirm this I asked a friend in Lucknow to enquire or do a search on Google and try to find from multiple credible sources if bikes are allowed or not. So by the time we stopped for our next break some 10km before Gwalior my Lucknow friend confirmed that bikes are indeed allowed. He actually went a step ahead by driving to the beginning of Expressway in Lucknow and enquiring with the police and several auto drivers to double check. So the decision was made, I was going to continue riding towards Lucknow after Gwalior. I conveyed this plan to my riding buddy which made him reconsider his decision of staying in Gwalior. He reasoned that he too can continue riding at least till Agra so next day he will have fewer kilometers to cover to Budaun.With that thought we bid each other goodbye and parted ways when we reached Gwalior. I had a clear idea about my route  reach Etawah (165km from my location) via Bhind and from there climb onto the Expressway continuing till Lucknow (215km from Etawah). After parting ways I took the outer ring road and stopped immediately after taking the Bhind exit for some quick snacks. Since I was riding solo now I was able to cover longer distances between stops. Started from Gwalior at 2:15pm and reached Bhind by 3:30. After another 10 minute stop I decided only to stop again when I reach the Expressway.Road from Gwalior towards Bhind was a 2-lane road with no dividers but well paved. Not a lot of potholes but there was moderate traffic all along which restricted my cruising speed. But as soon as I crossed UP-MP border the quality of road deteriorated massively. It was very difficult to maintain speeds of 40 until I reached Etawah bypass and after that the road got better but traffic got denser. Easily the worst stretch I have travelled in the last 3 days. Finally reached Expressway by 4:40pm where I stopped for quick bite and drank lots of water. Getting onto the Expressway I paid the toll amount in cash which was Rs. 194 if I remember correctly.Rest of the ride was quite blissful, monotonous and uneventful. Stopped a couple of times to give my butt some rest and to hydrate and crossed the expressway by 7:20pm. Just like I had thought, faced absolutely no problems riding in the dark on expressway as there was no traffic at all and the road was butter smooth. To my surprise my friend was waiting at the end of Expressway with a chilled bottle of Maaza (we have location sharing active on Google Maps which is where he was tracking me). We hung out for half an hour after which I rushed to my home, completing approx. 750km that day  a day well spent in my books.Final route:Pune - Nashik - Dhule - Indore - Biaora - Shivpuri - Gwalior - Bhind - Etawah - Lucknow Last edited by CptSlow : 6th May 2021 at 00:23 .
Looking to summon the entire family even when some loved ones are out and about? Google Assistants Broadcast feature can now do just that, thanks to a recent update. Google is also rolling out a long-awaited improvement to the Assistants Family Bell feature.

Set to go live today, Google Assistants enhanced Broadcast feature can now reach members of your family group on their phones as well as on Google smart speakers and displays.

For example, you could say Hey Google, tell my family, dinner will be ready in an hour from the Google Nest Hub Max in the kitchen, and Google Assistant will broadcast the message to all the other Google speakers and displays in your home, as well as on the iPhones and Android phones of any on-the-go family members.

Google Family members can now receive broadcasts from Google Assistant on their phones as well as from Google smart speakers and displays.

If you receive a Broadcast from Google Assistant on your phone, youll be able to reply by voice, or you could tap out a reply by hitting the Reply button.

The update brings Google Assistants Broadcast feature more in line with Intercom on Apples HomePod speakers, which can send broadcasts to family members on a variety of devices, including iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and CarPlay devices.

Previously, the Google Assistant mobile app only let you create Broadcast messages on your phone, not receive them.

Family Bell improvements

Google also unveiled some updates to its Family Bell feature, which lets you set Google Assistant to remind family members when class is about to start, when its time for a snack, when lunchtime begins, and so on.

Ive become a dedicated Family Bell user since the feature first arrived last summer, particularly given that our third-grader has been full-time remote this year.

Frustratingly, however, Family Bell reminders haveuntil now, at leastbeen restricted to sounding from only one Google smart speaker or display. That means my daughter wouldnt hear the Time for morning meeting! bell on the Nest Hub Max in the kitchen if she happened to be downstairs.

Ive been bugging Google reps about this issue for months now, and it looks like theyve finally done something about it. Starting today, Google says its rolling out the ability for Family Bells to ring on multiple Google speakers and displays rather than just one. In other words, no more excuses for missing your daily math meetup, kiddo.

Besides multi-speaker Family Bell functionality, the Family Bell feature will support eight new languages in the coming weeks, including French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Hindi, and Korean.

Also coming soon to Family Bell: the ability to simply say stop to silence a bell, rather than having to preface the command with Hey Google.
Elon Musk and SpaceX have done it, and it was not an easy feat for the Mars-bound spacecraft, as Starship SN15 has recently stuck its landing using two Raptor engines and safely completing its test run. It is unknown whether the Starship SN15 will conduct further tests to look into its other features, but the sure thing is that the "Full-Stack" test flight is coming soon.

The company may have had three consecutive explosions on its previous test flights, with the SN9, SN10, and SN11 all having met combustion upon its return to the surface. However, one of the Starships mentioned above, the SN10, has seen a successful landing which gave SpaceX the chance to gain knowledge before it met its doom.

The company has been through ups and downs, and from the SN11's last flight in March, no other Starships were released with the likes of SN12, SN13, or SN14 and has immediately jumped to SN15. Amidst this success was also the return of the Falcon 9 rocket booster which helped bring Starlink satellites to orbit, soon servicing more than 500,000 applicants.

Read Also: Elon Musk Confirms Reason Why We Need Bigger Rockets: NASA Simulation Shows Earth Can't Handle Asteroid Impact

SpaceX Starship SN15 Landing Success

History was made in Boca Chica, and this is the first Starship that SpaceX has landed without any occurring problems which happened before, during, or after it has gone into its landing maneuver. This achievement by SpaceX means that the private space company is one step closer to its goals of setting foot on Mars, its destination before 2030.

Based on the recently concluded YouTube live stream of SpaceX, almost everything that the engineers and flight testers of the Starship were textbook. From its launch from the facility to the spacecraft reaching its intended high altitude, using its AFT Flaps to transition, and landing the SN15 smoothly, SpaceX has attained its most awaited achievement yet.

The SN15 landed using two Raptor engines that fired up as it underwent its landing maneuver, this differs from previous Starships that either used one or three of the engines, which all miscalculated its descent. Moreover, the same data or landing procedure would be used by engineers to ensure a safe return to the surface for following Starships.

Elon Musk Says SN15 Landing is 'Nominal,' Full Stack Soon?

In a Twitter statement and update of SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk (@elonmusk), he said that "Starship landing nominal," meaning that it has achieved its desired results and satisfaction is pouring into him. Moreover, the win for the company has fans screaming for more, and by more, it suggests the next step of going to Mars.

Starship landing nominal!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2021

Probably, the next step for SpaceX, Musk, and the SN15 would be another test flight, but this time, it would be the "Full-Stack" flight which would include the Super Heavy Rocket booster underneath the Starship. This combination of "full-stack" would be the setup it would use as it heads towards the Red Planet, on its actual mission.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Launch in Florida Seen as Far as Washington

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Written by Isaiah Richard

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Rachel Maddow has blamed Google that it has been hiding search results to the bottom of the page, and gives her advertisements that redirect to another unrelated ad instead. With this occurrence, Maddow of MSNBC said that she is switching engines, but was exposed to have malware or bad extension, which is not Google's fault.

How do you know you have malware if it is unseen or undetected by a computer firewall? Well, chances are a user would not, until the PC malfunctions or gives a glitch that makes it function unexpectedly. This is what Rachel Maddow has been allegedly experiencing with her Google search engine, which she belligerently called out via social media.

Google has been cleaning up its efficiency and aims to optimize its search results and other elements under it, especially with its Play Store efforts of removing unwanted or misleading apps from appearing. While most tech companies and users are targeted by malware daily, sometimes people would not even consider that they are infected as they remain unknowing of the incident.

Read Also: Are Apple Products Hackable? 'Mind-Blowing' Bug Used to Spread Malware Tricking macOS

Rachel Maddow is Badly Infected by Malware, Blames Google

In the recent tweet of the TV and talk show host from MSNBC (@maddow), Maddow believes that it was Google's fault, as to why she is getting unoptimized search results and gets misleading advertisements instead. She has narrated her experience, which is enough to let people know her situation and what is wrong with her Google search.

Oldster here. As dependent on Google as anyone.



But! this belligerent new thing where search results jump down the page to make room for un-labeled ads, and then when you click a result, google instead opens a new tab with an ad you weren't trying to click...



Grrr. I'll switch.  Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) May 4, 2021

With this, Google Public Search Liason, Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) has addressed her issue and said that this is not what Mountain View's search engine does on a normal basis. Instead of unwanted and mistargeted search ads, Google's engine posts the exact or related search first, before going to the ads section inserted in the page.

We don't have "unlabeled" ads. Any ad in our Search results are labeled. Happy to see an example of what you're concerned about here to pass on to the team.  Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) May 4, 2021

Sullivan was also joined by another Twitter user who seems to have experienced the same situation to explain what has happened, and has suggested that she might be experiencing a malware infection. In this particular case, it might be adware, especially as everywhere Maddow has allegedly clicked, takes her to another tab and showed irrelevant ads.

Yes, none of this matches with how we serve ads. They're labeled. They don't jump into results after the results have been generated. The new tab stuff sounds odd.  Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) May 4, 2021

How to Know if You Have a Malware

Malware has an ingenious way of disguising or hiding from a computer, more so if it was a sophisticated and orchestrated attack against a person. Most of the time, malware cannot be detected by antivirus software and even Microsoft's Defender program that protects against threats or viruses.

If something is up with one's computer and is not acting the way it should have been, chances are it has a malware infection, as it is deeply embedded into systems. Moreover, threat actors already have disguised themselves in websites, emails, or other elements found on the internet, that activate once clicked.

Related Article: Google Photos' Unlimited Free Storage Will Expire on June 1 -- How To Get More Space?

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Facebook's Oversight Board maintains the suspension of Former President Donald J. Trump from the platform. But not until the social network further decides the fate of the former leader's account in six months.

The technology conglomerate restricted access to both Trump's Facebook and Instagram, on January 7. And that is about to extend.

Trump, in a report by Reuters, has answered back and called the decision and the overall banning across social media "a total disgrace." He even goes on to threaten these companies to soon "pay a political price."

Read Also: Facebook Asks iOS 14.5 Users to Turn On Ad Tracking via ATT-What is Apple's ATT and Should You Do It?

What is the Exact Decision?

"The Oversight Board has upheld Facebook's decision to suspend Mr. Trump's access to post content on Facebook and Instagram," the board said on its website.

The independent board agrees with Facebook that Trump violated its policy on "Dangerous Individuals and Organizations." The said policy disallows any support for violence.

The board points out two posts that "severely violated Facebook's Community Standards and Instagram's Community Guidelines." First, the post with a video that reads: "We love you. You're very special." And secondly, the post including words such as "great patriots" and "remember this day forever."

Moreover, these two posts praise and support violence, the board says.

Additionally, the posts were made on January 6, wherein a mob entered the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Oversight also pointed out Trump's significant influence which could legitimize violent acts. The board goes on to say that "the reach of his posts was large, with 35 million followers on Facebook and 24 million on Instagram."

Indeed, the board agrees on the decision of the social media giant to suspend. However, it calls out how the suspension was implemented. It further reiterated that the indefinite suspension is not parallel to the company policies. Specifically, the rule says that the company could not keep off a user in an undefined time.

The board insists the social network to review and assess the decision in the next six months. It further disagreed and called the indefinite suspension of Trump's account "not appropriate."

What is the Oversight Board? Who are They to Decide?

It is now clear, therefore, that indefinite suspensions are not welcomed in Facebook's policies. Thanks to the independent body that pointed it out. But who are they to decide the fate of Facebook's decisions?

The board is a set of independent panels that Facebook set out to deliberate its decision. It is, more specifically, composed of "20 former political leaders, human rights activists, and journalists," according to The New York Times.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg birthed the idea to have a Supreme Court-like body in 2018. Zuckerberg further said in a speech that he or the company did not want to have the last say on which posts to remove.

Trump's Own "Social Media"

Trump's former campaign manager first hinted that he will have his own social media, sans the cancel culture. Well, the "social media" turns out to be the blogging site WordPress.

Furthermore, as the tech conglomerate decides the fate of Trump's account, it seems like the former president will have to stay on the blogging site.

Related Article: Experts Suggest Users to Delete Facebook Account This 2021, Highlighting 3 Reasons

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The US government has created a major step during a pandemic by backing the COVID-19 vaccine waivers for the patients.

Currently, the health crisis continues to impact the country as the Biden administration looks forward to the expansion of vaccine manufacturing and distribution.

US Commits to Support Waivers on Vaccine Intellectual Property

On Wednesday, May 5, Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative said that the Biden administration is strongly believing in the intellectual property protections that's why they ended up with the waiver support for COVID-19 vaccines.

"As our vaccine supply for the American people is secured, the Administration will continue to ramp up its efforts - working with the private sector and all possible partners - to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution. It will also work to increase the raw materials needed to produce those vaccines," Tai added in the statement.

Read Also: Pfizer Vaccine to be FDA-Authorized for 12 to 15-Year Olds Next Week

CNBC reported that there was a significant drop in the stock of the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers around the world which include BioNTech, Moderna, and Pfizer. This occurred when the news about the potential waivers erupted.

At the time, Moderna recorded a decline of 6.1%, while Johnson & Johnson ended with 0.4%.

However, the US government's decision sparked some confusion among the manufacturers spearheaded by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade group of pharmaceutical companies in the United States.

The association rejected the government's support in waiving IP protections. Currently, Pfizer, Johnson % Johnson, and AstraZeneca are the vaccine manufacturers which are members of the organization.

According to the group's CEO, Stephen J. Ubi, the administration's action could undermine the global pandemic response which could also affect safety.

Moreover, Ubi added that it will only perplex the private partners and the public, as well. He continued that it will promote the widespread use of counterfeit vaccines and will weaken the currently damaged supply chains.

This week, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) encouraged the countries to discuss the implementation of the temporary vaccine patent waiver.

Countries such as India and South Africa support this move so that the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the developing countries could ease off.

According to a person familiar with the US government's plans, the discussion among WTO members could be time-consuming since it will first require the approval of 164 members.

Furthermore, the anonymous official said that there were already discussions involving the stakeholders and vaccine makers. The source also added that what the Trade representative aims for is a friendly negotiation with the concerned individuals to improve the supply chain.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said that he will be working on the discussion about the vaccine patent waiver proposal. This follows the country's urge to combat COVID-19 through effective distribution and procurement.

WHO Commends US in Supporting IP Protections

According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO, what the US government did in supporting the IP's temporary waiver was commendable on their part.

Dr. Tedros said that the Biden administration's action is a "monumental moment" to battle the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. He praised America's leadership in tackling the global health problem amid many obstacles.

Related Article: Moderna COVID-19 Booster: New Shots Bring Better Protection Against Variants like South Africa, Brazil Strains

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(Photo : Pixabay/Pexels ) Contrary to the common assumption that tech use is harmful to children, an Oxford research published on Tuesday says it is not factual.

Contrary to the common assumption that tech use is harmful to children, an Oxford research published on Tuesday says it is not factual.

Alarmingly, some laws or even as simple as household rules are derived from the said idea.

According to the Oxford Internet Institute, there is "little evidence" to associate teen technology use with mental health problems.

About 400,000 adolescents, aged 10 to 15, from the United States and the United Kingdom took part in the Oxford study.

In addition, the Oxford Internet Institute conducted the study for 30 years -- from 1991 to 2019. In which it compared social media use, gadget use, and even watching TV to signs of depression, behavioral problems, or suicidal tendencies.

Moreover, the study saw small drops of association throughout the years. In between the said period, there was a small increase between social media use and emotional problems. The study, however, reiterated that the change was only slight.

Read Also: Pfizer, AstraZeneca Vaccine Side Effects Are Not Too Bad, Study Suggests

Tech Use and Mental Health Misconception

The researchers refute the belief that gadgets-use of teenagers is dangerous. They go on to say that the misconception is not borne out of data and research available.

The lead author of the Oxford study, Professor Andy Przybylski, said via an Oxford Press Release that: It is too soon to draw firm conclusions about the increasing, or declining, associations between social media and adolescent mental health."

Przybylski goes on to add that: "It is certainly way too soon to be making policy or regulation on this basis."

Moreover, in December 2020, another study mirrors Oxford's claim. The Technology, Mind, and Behavior journal study further said that: "A person's daily usage of smartphone or even screen time did not predict depression, anxiety, or even stress symptoms."

To further propel the study of the link between mental health and tech use, Przybylski strongly urged tech companies to be more transparent in data.

"The data exists within the tech industry," Przybylski claimed. "Scientists just need to be able to access it for a neutral and independent investigation."

Other Studies Beg to Differ

Forbes reported that multiple reports linking teenage suicide and depression to social media use. The news media company even noted that, among the study, women are subject to be more affected.

In addition, Forbes also cited the World Health Organization's recommendation to children in 2019 "to spend no more than one hour in front of a screen a day in order to boost physical activity."

Also, a study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry in 2019 begs to differ too. It specifically says that three hours of social media news could lead to higher risks of mental health problems.

Furthermore, Forbes also raised the possibility of inaccuracy in the study as it only used self-reported data from questionnaires.

Related Article: Microgravity Simulation Discovers Psychological Damage to Astronauts

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite have once again been leaked, revealing that it would come with five color options and two S-pen holsters.

Meanwhile, another leak confirms that the official name for Samsung's upcoming tablet is Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite.

The latest reveal drew excitement and confusion as the Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite does not only follow its predecessor's naming convention, the addition of "+" in the "Lite" series seemed like it is canceling each other.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite Leaked Renders

The leaked renders of Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite show that the five color options would include shades of blue, white, green, pink, and the previously leaked black color.

On Wednesday, May 5, reputed tipster Evan Blass also leaked mock-ups of the Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite in pink color, along with a Book Cover and an S-pen stylus in matching color.

The leak also shows the two S-pen holsters, with one carved below the dual camera array and the other placed inside, along the book cover's spine.

Additionally, the leak shows the power and volume keys at the right side of Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite's frame, as well as the USB-C port and speaker at the bottom.

Moreover, leaker Roland Quandt defends the name chosen for the Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite, pointing out that the "+" indicates the larger than usual screen size and "Lite" suggests it is less powerful than the flagship model.

guys, it is pretty easy... S7+ Lite because: + specifies 12.4" screen size, lite bc less powerfull than regular S7+. Nothing that crazy about it.  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) May 5, 2021

Quandt's reveal makes much more sense, given that prior leaks suggest that the upcoming Samsung tablet could have been named Galaxy Tab S8e.

Also Read: Samsung to Make Amazing High-Refresh Rate OLED Screens for Next-Gen iPhones

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite: Leaked and Rumored Specs

Details about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite are still under wraps, but previous leaks and rumors suggest that it would come with a 12.4-inch IPS LCD screen with equal-sized bezels.

According to Sam Mobile's report on Jan. 22, the Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite would be launched in Wi-Fi, LTE, and 5G variants, and would likely come with One UI 3.1 based Android 11 OS.

The three variants were given model numbers SM-T730 for WiFi, SM-T735 for LTE, and SM-T736B / SM-T736N for the 5G variant.

The Galaxy Tab S7+ Lite is also rumored to be powered by Snapdragon 750G processor supported with 4GB RAM.

Other technical details such as its storage option, battery capacity, and camera configurations have not yet been revealed.

Some rumors suggest that the upcoming Samsung tablet would be launched in late May or June 2021, and as a mid-range tablet, its price is speculated to be around $349 to $499.

The price speculation was based on rumors that it would not have any significant upgrade, and that Samsun had been making their products cheaper since the release of the Galaxy S20 models.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Specs Leak: RAM, Battery, CPU, and More

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Written by Leigh Mercer

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Xiaomi has taken over Apple in the second spot in market share, at least in Europe. Yet, still far away from Samsung's leading spot.

Chinese electronic company Xiaomi is said to have a 23% share in the region's smartphone market, market analyst firm Canalys data showed via Android Authority. Meanwhile, Apple, not far away from Xiaomi, still has 19% of the market.

The analyst firm also showed that Xiaomi is ahead of both Samsung and Apple regarding the overall growth percentage. The Chinese brand saw a whopping 85% growth year-on-year. Moreover, the other two giant brands made 21% and 22% growth, respectively.

The data, indeed, showed that Xiaomi is booking an impressive growth, but still far from Samsung's 35% share of the market. Two Asian brands are now ahead of the Cupertino company in Europe.

The recent feat of Xiaomi is, in fact, impressive as it is still a relatively new name in the European market. On the other hand, Apple has been in the said market for over a decade now, Android Authority said in a report.

Some may argue that Apple and Xiaomi are apples and oranges. The latter is known to focus on budget phones, while the former has always been known for its premium products.

However, the Chinese company is further tapping the premium line too. And we have yet to see what is about to unfold.

Read Also: Xiaomi New Mi Mix Rumors Same Frame with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2; Specs, Prices, and Release Date!

Apple Still Reign Second in Other Parts

Canalyst data showed that in a narrower perspective, Apple still reigns number two in Western Europe. Xiaomi only had 17% of the share, while Apple, on the other hand, still had 25%.

Therefore, it is safe to say that Xiaomi should thank Eastern Europe for helping it dethrone Apple in the overall region.

Huawei is Falling Out

While other brands in the data are seen to have been growing, Huawei's share is decreasing. It is still largely attributed to the United States sanctions.

Furthermore, in 2020, United Kingdom banned all of Huawei's 5G equipment. It is due to the speculations that China uses the company's devices for spying. Huawei, on the other hand, thinks the decision is more political than a security matter.

The said company now ranks fifth in the market share data. To add, it now only owns a single-digit three percent share. Its annual growth also, alarmingly, decreased by 81%.

In addition, Huawei now ranks behind Oppo. The latter, however, saw the most significant growth at a tremendous 153%.

Xiaomi's Flagship Phone Is Coming To Europe

It was reported by GizmoChina early this week that Mi 11 Ultra, the flagship phone of Xiaomi, is reaching Europe on May 11. 11, noticeably, must have been a lucky number.

However, the Mi 11 Pro will reportedly be exclusive to China.

Related Article: Xiaomi Poco M3 Review: 48MP Triple Camera, 6000mAh and Snapdragon Mobile Phone for Just $149!

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China's popular car company, NIO, takes its competition against Tesla to the next level. The giant EV manufacturer is expected to start doing global deliveries, and it will start in Norway, Europe, which will be the car creator's first market outside China.

The NIO ES8 high performance electric SUV gets 2 electric motors which produce a combined output of 643 hp and 840 Nm of torque, enabling the AWD ES8 to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. It is powered by a 70 kWh battery pack which promises a 355 km range. #NIO pic.twitter.com/dF6RDL5eZR  PowerDrift (@PowerDrift) December 19, 2017

On the other hand, Tesla's Chinese EV manufacturer competitor plans to ship its ES8 SUV to the new market this coming September. However, this could still change depending on NIO's final decision to encounter some issues before the shipments.

After that, China's giant car company also plans to deliver its ET7 sedan and Europe this coming 2022. Aside from this, NIO is also expecting that its Norway branch will also have a total of 50 staff, which is a great increase from its current 15 employees.

Other Upcoming Plans of NIO

According to Nikkei Asia's latest report, the giant EV manufacturer will soon open its first overseas store in Oslo by September. NIO plans to do this together with an 18,000 square meter service center.

ICYMI: @FIAFormulaE joined us for #NIODay in Beijing & the launch of our #ES8 electric SUV. Here is their wonderful feature about our whirlwind 23 hours long trip to China #BlueSkyComing https://t.co/SAcGX4qA4Q pic.twitter.com/RXvT2fN1tm  NIO (@NIOGlobal) January 11, 2018

Also Read: Tesla Bull Says Elon Musk Will Announce a Tesla Delivery Van In About 12-18 Months

On the other hand, Marius Hayler, NIO Norway branch's general manager, confirmed that the tech giant company also plans to expand its store network to other Norwegian cities.

"From day one, our goal has been becoming a global brand that provides high-quality products and services to global users," explained William Li, NIO's founder and chief executive.

He added that the Chinese car company will not have a problem once shipping its ES8 electric SUV since Norway is one of the countries with the most friendly people toward electric cars.

Back in 2020, NIO was able to sell more than half of its new cars in Norway. The electric vehicle manufacturer was able to increase its 2019's 42% selling record to 54.3% back in 2020, as reported by CNBC.

NIO ES8 Electric SUV's Features

Express Drives reported that NIO's ES8 electric SUV is the company's first product to have a range of 500 kilometers. On the other hand, this SUV model receives front and rear motors with all-wheel drive.

Aside from this, the ES8 electric SUV also has active air suspension on all trims and an all-aluminum body and chassis. Thanks to this innovation, the company is able to reduce its weight.

On the other hand, the interior of NIO's electric SUV is spacious and provides a sense of luxury and hi-tech features. If you want to know more details, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about NIO and other competitors of Tesla, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: New Tesla Crash in Fontana Sees 1 Dead, 2 Injured as EV Slams Person Helping Truck Driver: '40% Safer' Allegedly Flawed?

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Facebook has finally launched a new Nextdoor clone feature called Neighborhoods. The popular social media platform's new capability allows you to connect with those users near you. It can also connect you with a geographically defined community of people.

Facebook also explained that it released the new Neighborhoods feature since most people are now using various apps and other online platforms to connect with their friends and family because of the ongoing pandemic.

Right now, Facebook users are asking for tips and recommendations tips in local groups. Aside from this, they also meet neighbors who share common interests and offer support to local businesses through the giant social media platform.

For the past few years, these connections grew since various governments implemented restrictions to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus.

How Neighborhoods feature works

The giant social media app's new Nextdoor-like feature requires you to create a profile. Once you have one, you will be allowed to add your favorite places, interests, and a bio. According to Android Headlines' latest report, the profile only allows 18 years and older users.

On the other hand, Facebook also explained that the offered options will allow you to understand the Neighborhood Directory. You can also introduce yourself in a post.

Also Read: Snapchat May Face a Lawsuit Due to its Speed Filter That Allegedly Promotes Reckless Driving

Aside from this, you can also do other online activities, like answering Neighborhood Questions and commenting on your friends' posts.

BGR also reported that the new Neighborhoods feature also has another great capability to choose your role within your Facebook Neighborhood. One of these roles is a socializer.

"You can find vibrant local Facebook groups about your area, or you can create your own Neighborhoods-bounded groups based on your interests," said the giant social media platform.

"Admins of local Facebook Groups can add their Group into Neighborhoods to make it easy for people living nearby to find it," added Facebook.

Is it better than Nextdoor?

Since Facebook based its new Neighborhoods feature is based on Nextdoor, both connect various users, allowing them to exchange helpful goods, information, services. To make it simple, both of them have the same functionalities.

This means that it is hard to conclude which one has the upper hand. Aside from this, Neighborhoods is still a new feature. You still need to wait a few more days or months to see the users' opinions regarding the new social media capability.

For more news updates about Facebook and its upcoming features, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: WhatsApp Pay Relaunches in Brazil, Peer-to-Peer Transactions Available Again

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Streamlabs offer useful and popular livestreaming software available, and it works on some of the biggest platforms like Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube. Now, it will be available on TikTok thanks to a new partnership between the companies.

TikTok and Streamlabs Partnership

Streamlabs confirmed on May 6 that it is an early partner in the TikTok for Developers program, which means that TikTok users can go live using Streamlabs OBS app for desktop and mobile. This will give livestreamers access to tools like donation data, tipping, and analytics, and on-screen alerts.

Aside from the Streamlabs OBS software for Mac and Windows, people can also use the Streamlabs mobile to go live and get the same functionality, according to Engadget.

The Streamlabs widgets available will also work with TikTok, and streamers can create a custom merch store and sell gear directly on TikTok using the new integration.

Also Read: Content Creators: How to Get YouTube to Pay You As Much As $25,000 Per 1 Million Views

While TikTok is known for shorter form video content, it has also let users go live. Avid streamers who already use Streamlabs to go live on other platforms will likely be interested in giving this a try.

Those who have not used it before may appreciate being able to broadcast live to TikTok using a more advanced and flexible setup at their computer instead of their phone.

Paying Creators

TikTok's partnership with Streamlabs is just one of the many moves that social media platforms are doing to help creators get paid while posting their content.

According to 9to5 Mac, Twitter plans to release its new Spaces audio feature to all users within this year, and the company has been implementing new features to make the social media platform more interesting for content creators.

Also, 9to5 Mac found additional evidence on iOS that Twitter is developing a Tip Jar feature to let Twitter Spaces users support content creators with donations.

The new Tip Jar feature will be found within live Spaces, and it can be integrated with popular payment services like Patreon, Bandcamp, Venmo, and Cash App.

Once this option goes live, people listening to a Space on Twitter will easily send money to the host of the conversation.

Twitter Spaces is Twitter's answer to Clubhouse, a new social network that is entirely based on live audio chats. Spaces have been in development for some time, but now Twitter has launched the new audio platform as the feature was released last month.

This follows Twitter's recent announcement that it is planning to release a paid subscription service called Super Follow, which will allow users to get exclusive content from other users by paying $4.99 a month. But it is not clear when these features will be available to users.

While this is an attempt to increase the revenue of Twitter, both Super Follow and Tip Jar should make the social network even more interesting for creators, as they will be able to monetize their content more easily.

Twitter confirmed to AdWeek that it has been testing this option with a couple of users before launching it worldwide.

Related Article: Clubhouse Allows Monetization for Content Creators Within The App

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Five more women have come forward to speak out about unresolved sexual harassment complaints at the LSU medical school in Shreveport, offering accounts that are strikingly similar to allegations made last month by four women in federal complaints that led to the suspension of Dr. Ghali E. Ghali as chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport.

The women, who filed federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints April 12, gathered in Shreveport Wednesday for a press conference to remind LSUs Board of Supervisors of their plight.

Supervisors are meeting Thursday to name the new LSU System president and chancellor. LSUs new leader will take ownership of an ongoing scandal in which administrators are accused of covering up sexual misconduct allegations reported by young female students over a period of years.

My clients have been faced with a massive public relations campaign against them, and no one in the state seems willing to protect them, said lawyer Allison A. Jones, who represents the four women who filed EEOC complaints. The Board of Supervisors is meeting tomorrow. They should take this opportunity to act.

In their EEOC complaints, Jones' four clients outlined allegations that 16 medical students reported sexual harassment by an administrative faculty member and that the dean of admissions required good-looking female applicants and students to write book reports on pornographic stories. The LSU Health Sciences Center employees who students went to for help suffered retaliation from Ghali, according to the EEOC complaints.

LSU medical school chancellor suspended after criticism of his handling of sexual harassment claims Dr. Ghali E. Ghali, chancellor of the LSU medical school in Shreveport, was put on administrative leave Tuesday, a day after four employees fi

Ghali did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. But he has denied the allegations and pointed out that the two administrators accused of sexually harassing the students were forced into retirement within days of his being made aware of the issue. He also said that LSUs Title IX office, named for the federal statute concerning the handling of sexual harassment claims, had closed the case on the students and two administrators about a week before interim President Tom Galligan suspended Ghali on April 13  the day after the EEOC complaints had been filed.

The five additional women who came forward Wednesday are not part of any lawsuit and the incidents they reported happened a few years ago  too long ago for an EEOC complaint to be filed.

Three of the women, former employees, detailed how Ghali kissed them on the mouth unbidden, which supports allegations in the EEOC complaint. A fourth former employee alleged Ghali patted her on the butt while with a group of colleagues, then laughed about it.

The new reports reiterate the same allegations of retaliation that were outlined in the EEOC complaints.

The fact that there are new people coming forward with allegations of misconduct and confirming the allegations of my clients is hardly surprising, Jones said. I believe we have seen just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to misconduct at LSU Medical School in Shreveport. For some reason, there is reluctance to do what must be done  and this is to clean house and permanently change the current leadership at LSU Medical School in Shreveport so that the culture can become one that promotes gender equity and diversity and is conducive to their mission to teach, heal and to discover.

Most of the complaints allege that Ghali retaliated against medical school physicians, professors and staffers who exposed the harassment of students by Dr. F. Scott Kennedy, who had been the dean of admissions for years. Kennedy abruptly retired last month after Ghali addressed the complaints with him. There was no answer at Kennedys house on Wednesday.

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Sierra Smiths experience in 2012 during the admissions process at LSU Health Shreveport caused her to give up on a lifelong dream of being a doctor.

Then a 20-year-old with excellent grades, she said in an interview Monday that her meeting with Kennedy quickly turned awkward when he asked: What would you be willing to do to have an acceptance letter sitting on my desk?

His ideas included dropping everything she knew and moving to Seattle to become a yoga instructor. He then said, "I need to close the door, so I can take in the fragrance of your ambience. You smell like an angel that dropped from heaven."

He led the discussion towards books, landing on Fifty Shades of Grey, a best-selling British novel with explicit erotic scenes. He was quick to tell me that the book didn't even come close to comparison with him and his wife's sex life."

+2 LSU allegations expand at Shreveport med school: Pornographic book reports, offensive jokes, more Four employees of LSU medical school in Shreveport  two of whom are physicians  filed complaints Monday with the federal government saying L

She told her mother, then reported the incident to other members of the medical school. They told her they had heard similar stories from other applicants and that nothing could be done. It was suggested that Smith not bring it up again.

Their response disappointed me, said Smith, who deferred her application and studied occupational therapy.

Ghali often kisses women unsolicited, at least according to affidavits by women who work at the medical school. One recalled him kissing five or six women on the lips while handing out service pins at an employee appreciation banquet. They were at a loss for gracefully deflecting it and so, allowed it to occur, said one affidavit.

Another former professor, Dr. Michelle Arnold, recalled Ghali kissing her on the mouth in front of male colleagues. This was a prolonged kiss, Arnold recalled, followed by Ghali laughing about the incident.

It was a power thing. Everything there (LSU Health-Shreveport) is about power. To show my who held the upper hand and that they have some level of control, Arnold said.

When Arnold was passed over for tenure, after receiving support at every level of review but the chancellors office, she took another job out of state and left Louisiana.
Lawmakers in the state House want New Orleans and four neighboring parishes to come up with a plan to help the state pay off a hefty debt to the federal government for upgrades made to the region's flood protection system after Hurricane Katrina.

House Concurrent Resolution 6 pushed by Rep. Jerome "Zee" Zeringue, the Houma Republican who chairs the House budget committee, comes years after the deal was struck for the improvements. But the debt now is coming due, with the state on the hook for anywhere from $1 billion to $3 billion, depending on how long Louisiana takes to pay the federal government back the money owed.

The House voted 60-34 Monday for Zeringue's proposal, sending it to the Senate for consideration and facing opposition from the lawmakers who represent the parishes being asked to pony up the money.

Zeringue said he's asking Orleans, St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes to "provide some good faith effort to the rest of the state."

"It's not asking for a specific percentage. It's not asking for a tax," Zeringue said. "It's simply that those that benefit from the system help."

Who should pay for post-Katrina levee debt? Resolution asks New Orleans area to step up Louisiana's House Committee on Appropriations on Monday advanced a resolution directing the governing authorities in New Orleans and four subu

Lawmakers who live in the five parishes noted that state officials signed the agreement with the federal government agreeing to the debt repayment, not the parish government leaders. They suggested Zeringue was unfairly trying to change the terms.

"It wasn't part of the agreement initially that St. Charles Parish would be on the hook for this obligation," said Republican Rep. Greg Miller of Norco.

The measure doesn't specify how much money the five parishes would have to offer. It would direct the parish governing authorities to devise a plan for "contributing" to the debt and provide that plan to the House and Senate by Dec. 1.

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After Katrina devastated the New Orleans region in 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a multibillion-dollar hurricane-protection system across Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes.

The agreement, finalized in 2009 under former Gov. Bobby Jindal, called for the federal government to pay the full cost of rebuilding the Corps' flood-control system that failed during Katrina, along with additional structures authorized in 1965 that weren't complete when Katrina hit.

The agreement also called for sharing the cost of building new projects to help the region withstand a 100-year storm  such as floodgates, pump stations and surge barriers. The federal government committed to paying 65% of those costs, and fronting 35% to be repaid by the state.

The deal didn't require the state to begin repaying its share for a decade. Congress authorized forgiveness of the sizable interest that has been accruing on the debt if Louisiana makes an initial payment of $400 million before Sept. 30 and repays the entire $1.1 billion construction cost by Sept. 30, 2023.

If the state can't meet those terms, the 30-year repayment with interest is estimated to cost $3 billion.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is asking lawmakers to consider borrowing more than $1 billion across several years to repay the federal government more quickly and lessen the tremendous interest that otherwise would be owed.

Zeringue said Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary parishes have had to pay a cost share toward levee work in their area. He said that if Louisiana has to borrow $1 billion to pay off the flood protection system in the New Orleans area, that would leave fewer dollars available to do other state-financed construction work.

"I appreciate you bringing this. I think it's a sense of fairness here," said Rep. Bill Wheat, a Ponchatoula Republican.
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President Joe Biden pledged help with hurricane recovery and argued in favor of replacing Lake Charless dilapidated and nearly 70-year-old Interstate 10 bridge as he visited the city on Thursday to promote his massive plan to rebuild the nations infrastructure.

The longtime politician also made sure to throw in an anecdote about meeting legendary former U.S. Sen. Russell Long when Biden was 29.

But while Biden spoke of helping the region get back on its feet, the majority of his 30-minute speech was about his wider national infrastructure plans, and there were few specifics on what actions he would take regarding storm recovery in and around Lake Charles.

The president, dressed in a navy blue suit with aviator sunglasses, spoke along the city's waterfront adjacent to its downtown, the hulking I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River and its arched truss in the distance behind him.

The citys 22-story Capital One tower and its dozens of blown-out and boarded-up windows, perhaps Lake Charless most prominent example of the damage left in the wake of the two hurricanes that devastated the region in August and October last year, was also within sight.

Signs around his podium included a picture of the bridge with the slogan: Getting America Back on Track. A smattering of local officials, along with Gov. John Bel Edwards, were in attendance, as was a group of workers in hard hats whom Biden spoke with after finishing his speech, exchanging fist bumps with a few.

Congressman Clay Higgins, who represents the area, did not attend and could not be reached for comment. U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy joined Biden on the New Orleans leg of the trip, as U.S. Rep.-elect Troy Carter, who will be sworn in next week.

Its hard to believe that you got hit as badly as you have within the timeframe you have, Biden said of Hurricanes Laura and Delta, which ripped through southwestern Louisiana last year.

He added later: I believe you need the help. Were going to try to make sure you get it. But the people of Louisiana always have picked themselves up, just like America always picks itself up  I promise you were going to build back better than ever, more resilient.

But Biden's message was much more focused on infrastructure than hurricane recovery. He pitched a new I-10 bridge as part of his $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan, questioning why its taken so long.

It shouldnt be this hard or take so long to fix a bridge thats this important. It makes no sense, Biden said. But the truth is across the country, we have failed. We have failed to properly invest in infrastructure for half a century.

Earlier, Edwards and Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter also made pitches for hurricane relief along with a new bridge. Local officials have been concerned that the region's dire recovery needs would be overshadowed by the focus on the bridge and the infrastructure bill.

Edwards, who compared pocket rosaries with Biden when greeting him upon his arrival, also spoke of repairing infrastructure statewide.

Our needs still far exceed our means. The bridge behind me is a fitting example of that, the Democratic governor said. Louisianas roads and bridge infrastructure right now is rated at a D-plus. And Mr. President, my wife and your wife are educators, but you dont have to be an educator to know that a D-plus is simply unacceptable.

Lake Charles residents hope Joe Biden doesn't forget hurricane relief amid infrastructure pitch LAKE CHARLES -- President Joe Biden visits this hurricane-wracked city on Thursday, and the location of his speech along its waterfront leaves

Hunter spoke of the hurricanes as well as a severe winter storm that hit the area in February. The Republican mayor noted that though he and Biden were from different parties, they could agree on the need for infrastructure and help for his city.

Lake Charles is a great American city and we continue to need a great American response, Hunter said.

Later in the day, Hunter said he would have liked to have heard a proposed supplemental (storm relief) package, and when I say that I include that message to President Biden and Congress.

However, he added that during his short meeting with Biden before his speech, the president seemed very receptive to the regions concerns.

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Hunter also expressed frustration with political divisiveness and posturing in Washington in general, which he sees as preventing progress on storm relief.

Im really getting tired of the search for headlines and social media shares and points with a politicians base rather than actually getting some things done for disaster recovery, he said.

Speaking of the lack of the kind of storm relief local officials say is needed, he said that is a failure of Washington, D.C., and I include all of Washington, D.C. in that comment. And I am tired of the political grandstanding and the political divisiveness and the polarization of D.C. filtering down and affecting the ability of people to come together and work to help southwest Louisiana.

Local officials in Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish see federal hurricane relief as long overdue and desperately needed to help move more residents back into their homes and reopen businesses that havent been able to do so more than eight months after Hurricane Laura, which was followed six weeks later by Hurricane Delta.

Category 4 Laura was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S., with winds of up to 150 mph, causing an estimated $19 billion in damage in the state. Delta, a Category 2 storm, left behind further misery and followed an eerily similar path.

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire said he believes both hurricane recovery and infrastructure are important and made the case in a brief meeting with Biden before his address.

+6 Storm-weary Lake Charles residents eager to show President Joe Biden that challenges remain 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

I did tell him Trump couldnt get us a bridge, but Im confident you can, Abshire said.

Lake Charles estimates that some 3,000 residents remain displaced, while that number rises to around 4,000 for all of Calcasieu. FEMA has been providing mobile homes and travel trailers as temporary residences.

A population analysis recently published in The New York Times provided a disturbing figure: Lake Charles was estimated to have lost some 6.7 percent of its population in 2020.

Local officials say the number was to be expected and they believe many have since returned. More needs to be done to bring the rest back, they say, with Lake Charles estimating its housing needs alone at more than $230 million.

As for the bridge, few if any will argue that it shouldnt be replaced. It was completed in 1952, before the I-10 existed, and was later integrated into the interstate system.

A local task force on replacing the bridge says it was designed for a 50-year lifespan  meaning 2002  and with a capacity for 37,000 vehicles per day.

The task forces Jim Rock said recent counts put the total at 90,000 vehicles, including many large trucks traversing the key artery stretching nationwide from Los Angeles to Jacksonville. The White House says it currently carries over 80,000 vehicles daily and that its last inspection listed it in poor condition.

Rock said the bridge is regularly inspected by the state and it is deemed safe for travel, but if it were to be shut down, traffic would be nightmarish.

Beyond those issues, Rock said other safety hazards include the bridge's steepness and its lack of shoulders.

The cost of replacing it has ranged between $600 million and $800 million, he said, with the state likely to cover around 10%. Current plans call for tolls to cover much of the rest.

The biggest hurdle is funding, said Rock.

These bridges are very expensive, and theres only so much money that can come out of the state coffers. And with President Biden here today, particularly with him talking about infrastructure, we think this is a key piece of infrastructure that is sadly overdue to be replaced with a bigger and better bridge. Were right here in the epicenter of energy in the United States with the LNG traffic and the business that we have here with the industry.
Plans for a gas-fired economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a boost in next weeks federal budget, with nearly $40 million set aside to fast-track pipelines, storage projects and billionaire Andrew Forrests proposed LNG import terminal.

Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said infrastructure would be crucial to prevent supply shortfalls and ensure reliable and affordable gas for consumers.

Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor says new gas infrastructure is needed to prevent supply shortfalls for industry and households. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Gas-storage projects at Golden Beach and Iona in Victoria, an expansion of the South West Victorian pipeline, and the Forrest-backed LNG import terminal at Port Kembla in NSW will share the funding to accelerate their development.

Gas is a critical enabler of Australias economy and helps to support our manufacturing sector that employs over 900,000 Australians, Mr Taylor said.
Hundreds of food, hospitality and retail businesses in central Melbourne will bear the brunt of a wave of business failures and insolvencies in the next six weeks after government safety nets and protections were removed.

After a year-long pause to help firms survive the COVID crisis, the Australian Taxation Office started chasing business debts in early March and a leading credit agency predicts business wind-ups will increase in coming months partly as a result.

Melburnes CBD has yet to see crowds return to pre-COVID levels Credit:Chris Hopkins

Credit analysts say as many as 400,000 businesses across the country could fail over the next 12 months and many in central Melbourne are expected to be among the hardest hit. Some businesses in the most-endangered sectors are unlikely to make it to the end of the financial year on June 30.

Restaurant and Catering Association chief executive Wes Lambert said that while overall spending on restaurants and cafes had recovered to levels not seen since 2019, Australias inner cities were being left behind.
The tensions seemed to deepen further when Gayle King, co-host of CBSs This Morning show and a close friend of Harry and Meghan, revealed on US television that subsequent phone calls between father and son had proved unproductive. Of course it wasnt always this way. When Meghan, 39, first arrived on the Royal scene in 2016, Harry and Charles had arguably never been closer, while William was said to have had the cooler relationship with his father. When the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, came round in 2017, aides begged William to acknowledge his fathers role in their upbringing when he addressed journalists before the screening of an ITV documentary but he flatly refused. Charless only mention came in another documentary for the BBC that year when it was left to Harry to pay tribute, saying: He was there for us; he was the one out of two left and he tried to do his best and to make sure we were protected and looked after. It is thought this was done with Meghans encouragement after the American former actress stressed the importance of Harry remaining as close as possible to the one parent you have left. Both children of divorce, at that point Meghan enjoyed a close relationship with her own father, Thomas Markle Snr, with whom she lived full-time until her adolescence following the Hollywood lighting directors divorce from her mother, Doria Ragland, in 1987.

Yet their once tight bond was irretrievably broken after Mr Markle appeared to conspire with a paparazzi photographer before the Royal wedding in May 2018, and then pulled out of the ceremony at the last minute due to ill health  leaving the bride with no one to walk her down the aisle. The soon to be newlyweds were so distraught they were both left in tears. Loading Sensing their deep anguish, Charles was only too willing to do the honours for his adored soon to be daughter in law in the absence of Mr Markle, 76, who lives in Mexico. He had taken an instant shine to the Northwestern graduate, who shared his passion for holistic remedies and impressed him early on by taking an interest in British military history and the arts. Both Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, took great delight in hosting Doria for afternoon tea when she landed in the UK for the Windsor wedding, with one Royal insider describing them as having got on like a house on fire. Yet as Harry and Meghan began to plan a departure from The Firm in a bid to seek financial independence in the US, which with TV and book deals is now coming to fruition, cracks in familial relationships soon appeared.

Although, as the Queen put it, recollections may vary as to what exactly happened in the months leading up to the Sussexes bombshell announcement, it is accurate to say Harry felt let down by his father after he attempted to speak to him and his grandmother face to face, only to be blocked by Royal aides. Yet palace insiders have since put a different spin on those events. They claim the Sussexes had a propensity to blame the staff when they did not get their own way and according to one well-placed source: He [Charles] ploughed money into the wedding and into Frogmore [the couples Windsor home] and did his utmost to make them feel financially supported but then when they said they were upping sticks, he had less and less inclination to take calls. Meghan insists her new book, for which she is believed to have received an advance of between 250,000 and 500,000, involves warmth, joy and comfort. She said: My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make-up, as much as it does with me. Yet is it likely to resonate with either Charles or Mr Markle, who is still estranged from his daughter? According to psychologist Linda Blair, even though the book talks about fatherhood in a generic way, Its always important if you want to make something public that everybody you talk about is on board with it. When people have a difficult time, they react in one of three ways. The first is to say: My past is not going to control me, Ill forge ahead and see what happens. The second is not to be conscious of it but to idealise it and the third is to remain stuck in misery and feel you cant rise above it.

No one is necessarily able to write their way forward  it should be simply an offloading of freedom to let go and not to prescribe the future. Loading Laverne Antrobus, a consultant child and educational psychologist at The Tavistock Clinic, says for those who have experienced trauma in their childhood, becoming a parent can stir things up in a way they cant anticipate. It really does bring losses into quite sharp focus, she says. The moment you have your own child, you have that relationship that speaks to the unspoken bits and creates a narrative in your mind that you really have to work hard to understand. Harry and Meghan will both have to manage something about loss in very different ways, she suggests. Its incredibly important for this subject matter to be talked about because its the undoing of a lot of adults who cant get past a loss. While parents will often go to extra lengths to try to create for their own children the childhood they didnt have themselves, it remains to be seen whether putting pen to paper will be enough to heal their own family troubles and persuade Meghan and Harry to take their own fatherly relationships off the bench.
Suzi Taylor, glamour model turned star of reality television show The Block in 2015, is a free woman, vowing to get on with her life and enjoy freedom as she left a Brisbane court on Thursday.

Ms Taylor, whose full name is Suellen Jan Taylor, had more than 70 charges against her dropped by police in the Brisbane Magistrates Court earlier in the day and was released that night.

However, Ms Taylor did plead guilty and was convicted of about 30 other offences on Thursday. The 50-year-old was not punished further, having served 202 days in custody.

Outside court, she referenced the separate deprivation of liberty, extortion, fraud, attempted fraud and assault charges she was found not guilty of after a Brisbane District Court trial last month.
Victorians should be shocked by the latest leaked hotel quarantine report which reveals months of bungles and mismanagement in the system when we were told it was fixed. Sloppy practices, untrained staff and poor hygiene standards should be of great concern to millions of Victorians still traumatised from last years lockdown.

Missed tests and wearing the same mask for long periods of time are worrying, but what is of most concern is the governments willingness to mislead the public and deflect blame for outbreaks. This has the potential to do much greater harm.

The Holiday Inn quarantine hotel at Melbourne Airport was the source of one of Victorias outbreaks. Credit:Penny Stephens

After a decade of decay, trust in public institutions and parliaments increased during the pandemic.

According to the Trust Index, when compared to 28 other nations, Australia saw the largest jump in the overall trust of its government towards the end of last year.
More than 48,000 family violence perpetrators breached intervention orders in Victoria in 2019-20 and the response to this by authorities was inadequate.

The final report of Victorias Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor also found services for child family violence victims were unable to meet demand, that a chronic shortage of public housing was affecting those trying to flee family violence, and very high numbers of intervention order breaches are a widespread concern.

Waiting lists for help for child victims are long and services are inadequate five years after Victorias royal commission. Credit:Shutterstock

Five years on from Victorias Royal Commission into Family Violence, implementation monitor Jan Shuard found long waiting lists and a lack of data about child victims of violence remained significant gaps, and that family violence workers still dont feel confident working directly with children.

There is not enough emphasis on intervening early, and being clear about the roles and responsibilities of all parties in ensuring that children receive the support they need as early as possible, says the report, tabled in State Parliament on Thursday morning.
A Yarra Trams IT worker has been charged with stealing phones and laptops worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company and then selling them.

Paul Hewer faced Melbourne Magistrates Court last month on charges of stealing laptops and phones worth about $230,000 from Yarra Trams over two years, court documents reveal.

Sacked Yarra Trams IT worker Paul Hewer has been charged with stealing laptops and computers from Melbournes tram operator. Credit:Facebook

Mr Hewer worked in Yarra Trams operational and control management systems section, where his job involved distributing laptops, phones and tablets to staff.

Police allege that between September 2018 and October 2020 he sold 132 Dell laptops.
The federal government redirected cash from a $31 million safety program into a selected group of churches and cultural events after a key minister rejected department advice that ruled the projects ineligible.

Assistant Minister Jason Wood handpicked the projects to receive taxpayer funds for security services and equipment in a decision that cut funding to recipients that scored more highly in the Home Affairs departments analysis of their merit.

Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Wood intervened to make sure the grants went to projects including a Catholic parish in south-east Melbourne, a preschool in Gulargambone in NSW and an African music festival.

The decisions came after Peter Dutton, the senior minister running the budget program, diverted money from a previous funding round to help 53 handpicked projects, in another sign of the power of ministers to award valuable grants regardless of advice from their departments.
Renewable energy developer Neoen says it will press ahead with its Queensland wind farm despite the federal government controversially vetoing public funding for the project and overturning an independent agencys advice to support it.

The board of the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF), which was set up to support infrastructure investment, had recommended a loan of up to $280 million for Neoens $380 million Kaban wind farm, located west of Cairns in the Atherton Tablelands.

Northern Australia and Resources Minister Keith Pitt says he will table in Parliament his reasons for vetoing a recommendation to lend up to $280 million to a wind farm. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

It was revealed on Thursday the federal Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt used powers under the laws governing the NAIF to veto the funding.

Mr Pitt wrote to NAIF chief executive Chris Wade on March 29 and told him to reject Neoens loan. He said the wind farm would not provide firm power to the energy grid and he was not convinced it would contribute to lower energy prices.
The opposition benches were left empty for most of question time on Thursday after Labor MPs followed their leader Jodi McKay out of the chamber when she was expelled from the NSW lower house.

In the latest chaotic scenes to erupt at State Parliament this week, Labor walked out en masse after Speaker Jonathan ODea kicked Ms McKay out of the house after she refused to follow his orders.

The moment the opposition walked out of NSW Parliament following Labor Leader Jodi McKays expulsion from the chamber.

The spectacle in the lower house followed an extraordinary display in the Parliaments upper house on Tuesday night, when chaos erupted over the election of a new president.

Ms McKay immediately labelled Mr ODea biased and insisted he was favouring the Coalition because it had been plunged into minority government.
WA has recorded another day of no new community COVID-19 cases, with the government to relax restrictions from Saturday.

Premier Mark McGowan tweeted that no new cases had emerged from 2367 tests conducted on Wednesday. As a result, many restrictions including wearing masks eased, but they will remain mandatory on public transport and at events or venues with more than 1000 people.

The difference between government responses to COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW and WA have again been thrust into the spotlight. Credit:Getty/WAtoday

The state has recorded three new COVID-19 cases related to overseas travel, with these people currently in hotel quarantine.

The contrast between state outbreak responses is again in the spotlight as New South Wales grapples with a mystery case but urges business as usual while Western Australia mulls whether restrictions can ease after two hotel quarantine clusters in as many weeks.
With the advent of 4K streaming boxes and dongles, you no longer need to settle for an inferior picture or trade in your television entirely when it gets too old to run the latest apps.

Its certainly convenient to have streaming services built into your television. Unfortunately, its only a matter of time until the next big show is on a service which your television isnt smart enough to handle.

The tiny Fetch TV Mini 4K brings apps and broadcasts to your screen without sacrificing quality.

Sometimes you can get lucky. My old LG 4K OLED initially missed out on Apple TV+ and AirPlay streaming. While they would be handy, I stuck to my guns and refused to replace a perfectly good television.

My stubbornness paid off, as this year LG finally blessed my television with these Apple services. But if the firmware update fairy doesnt pay a visit to your fancy television, consider a 4K streaming box or dongle.
On Wednesday, Helena Osorio, 24, a nurse, stood at the edge of the rally in Bogota. I am in pain for Colombia, I am in pain for my country, she said. All that we can do to make ourselves heard is to protest, she went on, and for that, they are killing us. The marches began last week after Duque proposed a tax overhaul meant to close a pandemic-related economic shortfall. By Sunday, amid demonstrations across the country, he rescinded the plan. Demonstrators take part in a candlelight vigil for the victims of the past days of protests in Cali, Colombia. Credit:Getty Images But the unrest has not abated. Instead, fuelled by outrage at the governments response, the crowds have only grown.

Demonstrators now include teachers, doctors, students, members of major unions, long-time activists and Colombians who have never before taken to the streets. Truckers are blocking major highways. And on Tuesday, demonstrators in the capital burnt buses and lit more than a dozen police stations on fire, singing the national anthem, yelling assassins! and sending officers running for their lives. This is not just about the tax reform, said Mayra Lemus, 28, a school teacher. This is about corruption, inequality and poverty. And all of us young people are tired of it. The demonstrations are, in part, a continuation of a movement that swept South America in late 2019, as people took to the streets in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua and elsewhere. Each countrys protest was different. But in all of them, people voiced their grievances over limited opportunity, widespread corruption and officials who appeared to be working against them.

Loading Then came the pandemic. Latin America was hard hit by the virus in 2020, with cemeteries filling past capacity, the sick dying while waiting for 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 by an average of 7 per cent. In many places, unemployment, particularly among the young, spiked. In 2021 the COVID-19 situation has only worsened. While wealthier countries prepare to reopen, a deadly variant of the virus originally found in Brazil, called P.1, has ripped through Latin American populations, recently pushing many countries to their worst daily death tolls.

For months, as people stayed inside or struggled to survive amid dwindling incomes, the anger and frustration that had been manifested during protests in 2019 was still simmering. Loading Then, in Colombia, Duque announced his tax reform, one of the first attempts in the region to try to deal with the economic shortfall exacerbated by the pandemic. While the measure would have kept in place a critical pandemic-era cash subsidy, it would have also raised prices on many everyday goods and services. Soon, long-brewing resentment spilled over into the streets. On Tuesday, Duque said he would open a national dialogue to find solutions to fiscal problems and other challenges.

It is vital to have all the institutions, parties, the private sector, governors, mayors and leaders of civil society in conversation he said. The results of this space will be translated into initiatives we can act upon quickly. But the call for national dialogue was similar to one he made in 2019, and many civil society groups have said that discussion produced few results. Despite the government announcing the withdrawal of an unpopular tax reform bill and the resignation of the finance minister, social unrest continues in Colombia. Credit:Getty Images Duque, a conservative, has lost significant popularity since the beginning of the pandemic, according to polling from the firm Invamer. And analysts say he is at his weakest point since he came to office in 2018. The police and military response has made a national conversation built around compromise extremely difficult, said Sandra Borda, a political analyst and columnist for the newspaper El Tiempo.

He has no political capital, she said. People cannot sit down to dialogue with a government that by night kills people who protest and by day extends a hand in conversation. I think there will be a lot of upheaval, she went on. And I think this next year and a half will be terrible for the government, terrible for Colombian society and with very few long-term solutions. Colombia will hold presidential elections in 2022. For decades, the country has elected conservative leaders. But Gustavo Petro, a left-wing former mayor of Bogota and former member of a demobilised guerilla group, now leads in the polls. Duque, limited by law to one term, cannot run for reelection. The governments response to the recent protests could be a significant factor in next years vote. On Saturday night, Santiago Murillo, 19, a student in his final year of high school, was headed back to the home he shared with his parents in the midsize city of Ibague, and crossed through a crowded protest.

Two blocks from home, according to his mother, shots rang out and he fell to the ground. In a video, a witness can be heard shouting. Is he OK? the witness says. Can he breathe? Breathe! Breathe! Breathe! A passing delivery man loaded Murillo onto his motorbike and rushed him to a clinic. There, his mothers anguished cries were captured on tape. Son, take me with you! Son, I want to be with you! Doctors could not revive him, and residents of Ibague held a protest vigil in his name the next day. I asked them to protest civilly, said his mother, in peace.
The Broadway production of Six has announced an official return date of September 17 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The musical, which was scheduled to open the night Broadway shut down, will celebrate its belated opening night on October 3.

Single tickets for Six will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 10 at 10am ET. Early access tickets are currently on sale through Monday, May 10 at 9:59am. The production and theater will follow all New York State, New York City, and CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of actors, staff, and patrons, with protocols potentially including face coverings, health screenings, and more.

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six features the six wives of Henry VIII reclaiming their identities as they transform from Tudor Queens into Pop Princesses. The musical originated as a student production by the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society, which played a one-month run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. After subsequent runs in London and Edinburgh, it played a limited run at the Arts Theatre before touring the UK and reopening on the West End earlier this year.

The musical is codirected by Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. The design team includes Emma Bailey (set design), Gabriella Slade (costume design), Paul Gatehouse (sound design), and Tim Deiling (lighting design). The score features orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton.

Casting will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Adrianna Hicks, Andrea Macasaet, Abby Mueller, Brittney Mack, Samantha Pauly, and Anna Uzele created their roles in the North American premiere of Six at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2019 and subsequently toured the show around North America before moving to Broadway in 2020.

Watch the official trailer for the Broadway production below:
Up for debate:

Live legislation tracker

Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics.
A shopkeeper puts out signs to advise consumers that the store is open for business in the Pavilions Monday, March 8, 2021, in downtown Denver.
If you still doubt that the former Seward Park urban renewal site is finally poised for redevelopment, heres some additional proof. The Department of Buildings has approved a pre-demolition plan two buildings on site #5 of the Essex Crossing mixed-use project. According to city records, the DOB signed off on the application at 400 and 402 Grand St. on April 4.

The name on the application is Donald Capoccia, the head of BFC Partners, one of four firms collaborating on the redevelopment project. There are still six residents living in 400 Grand. Not long ago, they were given a tentative move-out date on June 30, although the city said that could probably be pushed back. The residents have been pushing for eventual relocation to the Essex Crossing project (an update on their situation is coming up later today). A shoe store and the LES Jewish Conservancy lease ground floor commercial space in the buildings.

Our initial story Wednesday afternoon indicated that the Buildings Department had approved demolition. Last night, Delancey Street Associates (DSA), the development team, released the following statement in response to that report:

We have not obtained a demolition permit. In keeping with our scheduled commitment to start construction in April 2015 we have been working on design along with all of the steps to close on construction financing, including demolition of the building. This is the the first step of a 6 to 12 month process, which is the opening of an application so that a means and methods plan can be reviewed. This is the mechanism by which DOB reviews and comments on the proposed process, staging, safety methods, etc. of demolishing the building. The means and methods plan is the first item of a 13 point checklist, which must be completed prior to the building owner getting a permit to demolish a building. It should be noted that DSA does not even own the building and therefore couldnt get a demo permit (other requirements for this include utility terminations and a vacant building). To reiterate, the only reason the process was started is that it can take upwards of a year before a permit can be obtained. We regret that this has caused concern and will work to improve our communication.

Developers plan to build apartments, a grocery store, at least one school and a 15,000 square foot park on site 5.
Medical personnel discuss patients that had been admitted for testing for the coronavirus March 13, 2020, at the entrance of Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine.
New Jersey businesses struggling to find workers to keep economic recovery going, according to reports
Staff Reporter

Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
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.
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.
People wait in line at the check-in area to enter the United Center mass COVID-19 vaccination site Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Chicago. The site expects to administer 6,000 shots per day at full capacity and will remain open seven days a week for eight weeks.
Governor Mark Gordon has directed the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) to partner to temporarily reopen and operate nine previously closed rest areas for at least the duration of the 2021 tourist season.

With the summer season just around the corner, Im glad we will be able to reopen these facilities to travelers, Governor Gordon said. We are glad to have this chance to find a temporary solution.

WYDOT and WOT along with the Governor's office will work together to secure a temporary federal funding source to allow the nine rest areas throughout the state to reopen.

"WYDOT is extremely grateful to Governor Gordon and Director Shober for identifying new federal funds to temporarily reopen our rest areas for the tourist season," said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner.

Officials closed the rest areas in June 2020 as a cost-savings measure due to budgetary shortfalls.

The nine rest areas include:

Lusk on US 18

Guernsey on US 26

Greybull on US 16

Moorcroft on I-90

Star Valley on US 89

Sundance on I-25

Upton on US 16

Orin Jct on I-25

Chugwater on I-25

Each of these nine rest areas are a valuable tourism tool, said Diane Shober, executive director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. Certainly, a clean facility is important to the visitor experience, but it is also a powerful marketing platform to distribute travel guides and other trip-planning resources. As travelers are stretching their legs, they are also gathering information on local events, attractions, restaurants, campgrounds and lodging, which all can lead to extended stays and increase visitor spending.

The rest areas should reopen ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
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MBABANE  Fresh from being part of a Grammy award-winning album, Ndumiso Manana has now been featured as a songwriter in a newly-released South African movie, Barakat.

Manana is a liSwati music producer and songwriter of note who is currently based in neighbouring South Africa and has since made a name for himself to date. Notably, he has worked with Burna Boy, a Nigerian Grammy Award-winning artist whom he featured in his album Twice As Tall. Twice as Tall is widely considered the Naija artists most mainstream offering to date. The 15-track album includes features from Naughty By Nature, Stormzy, Chris Martin, Sauti Sol and Youssou NDour. Manana was part of the artists who helped in the writing of one of the songs titled Time Flies which was part of the album.

He worked with the well-known Sauti Sol from Kenya. They are an afro pop band formed in Nairobi. In an interview with Manana, when asked how the feature came about, he said he had studied with the music supervisor of the movie in college and he approached him wanting to make music for the project. We then shared ideas with him and that is when we worked together and obviously they loved my work, which is why its in the movie, he said. The 27 year-old further said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he was honored and privileged to have been part of such a big project and for the producers and directors of the movie to acknowledge his work.

It really has been a great year for me despite the coronavirus and its restrictions I have been able to put out a few projects of my own that I have been proud of and this is one of them. It truly is an honour and I feel privileged, said Manana. According to news24.com, the movie Barakat, which will be out in South African cinemas this May, stars veteran actress Vinette Ebrahim as matriarch Aisha Davids, a widow who has to preserve the peace between four sons struggling to come to terms with the death of their father, two years later.

Celebrate

Zunaid, Zaid, Yaseen and Nur return to their family home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr (or Labarang, as its called in Cape Town), the celebration that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadaan. Theyve never dealt with their fathers death and the void he has left behind. Joey Rasdien, Mortimer Williams, Keeno-Lee Hector and Danny Ross play the roles of the four sons. Other cast members include Quanita Adams, Bonnie Mbuli, Leslie Fong and June van Merch.


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Oneonta, NY (13820)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Steve Wildsmith was an editor and writer for The Daily Times for nearly 17 years; a recovering addict, he now works in media and marketing for Cornerstone of Recovery, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Blount County. Contact him at wildsmithsteve@gmail.com.
IF YOU GO

Townsend Spring Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8

WHERE: Townsend Visitors Center, 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend

HOW MUCH: $10 to park (benefiting the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department)

CALL: 865-448-6134

ONLINE: https://www.smokymountains.org/what-to-see/spring

BAND SCHEDULE, MAY 7

11 a.m.: Bluegrass Friends. Noon: Spur of the Moment Band. 1 p.m.: Carolina Bluegrass. 2 p.m.: Tim Decker and Tennessee River. 3:30 p.m.: Spur of the Moment Band. 4:30 p.m.: Tim Decker and Tennessee River. 5:30 p.m.: Wilson Family. 6:30 p.m.: Bluegrass Friends. 7:30 p.m.: Steve Jordan Band. 8:30 p.m.: House Mountain Grass. 9:30 p.m.: Carolina Bluegrass.

BAND SCHEDULE, MAY 8

11 a.m.: Bluegrass Friends. Noon: Tim Decker and Tennessee River. 1 p.m.: Carolina Bluegrass. 2 p.m.: House Mountain Grass. 3:30 p.m.: Spur of the Moment Band. 4:30 p.m.: Steve Jordan Band. 5:30 p.m.: Wilson Family. 6:30 p.m.: Tristar Travelers. 7:30 p.m.: Andy Stinnett and Friends. 8:30 p.m.: Tim Decker and Tennessee River. 9:30 p.m.: Carolina Bluegrass.
MANZINI  A police officer based in Mbabane was granted a partly suspended sentence by the court after he was arrested for assaulting his 13-year-old stepdaughter.

Mbongiseni Talos Thwala (39) of Elulakeni was arrested and charged for contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act in that he assaulted the 13-year-old daughter of his lover, when he kicked, slapped and pushed her onto a concrete floor. This, Thwala did on January 14, 2021 near Matsapha. After the incident, a medical report suggested that due to the assault, *Simmy suffered a fracture on her left arm. According to evidence submitted by Simmy before Matsapha Magistrate Lucia Lukhele yesterday, the minor was visiting her mother at the Matsapha Police Camp, where she (mother) resides with Thwala.

Errands

She narrated that after her mother left the house to run errands in town, she was left home alone with Thwala, when, at about 6:30pm, Thwala left the house to answer a phone call outside. Simmy informed the court that as she was standing by the front door, Thwala violently pushed her aside so that he could go out and answer his cellphone. When the call was concluded, Simmy said she took the opportunity to address Thwala about the ill-treatment she received from him on a frequent basis, to which he ignored her. She stated that even after she threatened to report his behaviour to her biological father and uncles, Thwala still, did not answer any of her questions, let alone address the minor concerns. However, after about 10 minutes, Simmys mother was said to have arrived at the house and shockingly, while her mother watched helplessly, Thwala started assaulting the minor by kicking her and slapping her on her face.

To the shock of Simmy and her mother, Thwala was said to have taken his assault to another level when he suddenly manhandled the minor, picked her up and dropped her on a concrete floor of the house. Simmy, who at this point looked to her mother to help her, had to resorted to raising the alarm, after seeing that her mother was frozen in shock, and was not making any attempts to assist her. I had no choice but to escape from Thwalas wrath, so I fled the house and requested assistance from officers, who were worried about me. They assisted me by calling my father, who arrived hastily to take me to the police station and later, the hospital, she relayed.

Assistance

When asked why her mother did not render assistance to her, Simmy said she had, in fact, questioned her mother about that. But, the response she received was not what she expected.
Oil City, PA (16301)

Today

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Protesters demand that the authorities entirely withdraw the now-suspended extradition bill and retract its characterization of the demonstrations as a riot on June 16, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

4 Hong Kong Democracy Activists Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Jail

Four Hong Kong activists were found guilty on May 5 and sentenced to jail for their involvement in unauthorized anti-Beijing protests on National Day in October 2019.

The heaviest sentencefour years and eight monthswas handed to 40-year-old janitor Chan Hang, who was caught on camera throwing objects at police and burning a banner on the street during unrest in Tsuen Wan that day, the South China Morning Post reported. He was convicted of rioting and arson.

Judge Ernest Michael Lin Kam-hung sentenced the othersChan Kam-kwok, a 21-year-old kitchen worker; Lee Chun-man, a 27-year-old programmer; and Kwok Siu-kam, a 24-year-old social work assistantto jail terms of more than four years. They were convicted even without evidence of violent acts, SCMP reported.

The judge, who ruled that even non-violent participants at the scene shared culpability, found the three guilty of rioting, claiming that their black attire and presence in the eye of the storm were enough to constitute evidence that they had either taken part in the riots or abetted others to do so.

The activists were sentenced under Hong Kongs national security law, imposed by Beijings rubber-stamp legislaturethe Peoples Congressin June last year.

The protests and unrest took place on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, which celebrates the Chinese Communist Partys rise to power in 1949. Days before the anniversary, Hong Kongs Civil Human Rights Front was denied a permit by Hong Kong police for an annual march to protest the CCPs rule.

Ignoring this, the four democracy activists called on Hong Kongers to join demonstrations in their own names.

Rallies held at multiple locations, including Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin, and Sham Shui Po, were initially peaceful but violent incidents occurred later during the day. Tsang Chi-kin, an 18-year-old male student, was shot dead by Hong Kong police.

According to Hong Kong-based Headline Daily, police have made 100,242 arrests between June 9, 2019, and Feb. 28. About 2,521 cases have entered judicial proceedings, including 720 suspects charged with rioting. Other alleged offenses include charges of illegal assembly, arson, and insulting Chinas national flag.

Under Hong Kongs national security law, Beijing can punish any action it deems as secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Tanya Chan, a former legislative councilor in Hong Kong, stated on the day of its approval that the law marked the death certificate of Chinas one country, two systems policy.

The next day, the Hong Kong Bar Association issued an official statement, arguing that the Hong Kong national security law erode[s] the high degree of autonomy guaranteed to the city under the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermine[s] core pillars of the One Country, Two Systems model including independent judicial power.
Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are audited at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 29, 2021. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP/Pool)

Arizona Elections Chief Alleges Problems in Maricopa County Audit of 2020 Election

Arizonas top elections officer Katie Hobbs on Wednesday alleged multiple points of concern regarding the forensic audit of the 2020 presidential election currently underway in Maricopa County.

In a letter (pdf) to former Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a Republican who is the state Senates liaison for the audit, Hobbs outlined 13 points of concern over how the audit is being run. This included seven points of concern over counting procedures that the state Senate and audit contractor Cyber Ninjas disclosed, as well as six points of concern over what her observers saw at the audit site.

Under terms of a lawsuit settlement filed on Wednesday, defendants Bennett, Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, and the lead auditor, Florida-based Cyber Ninjas have 48 hours to respond to Hobbs concerns. If the concerns are not addressed, Hobbs could take them back to court for breach of contract.

Related Coverage DOJ Raises Concerns About Maricopa County Election Audit

The audit began on April 23 and continues at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, a venue the auditors have booked and secured until May 14.

Hobbs, a Democrat, alleged that the procedures governing the audit do not ensure accuracy, security, and transparency.

Im not sure what compelled you to oversee this audit, but Id like to assume you took this role with the best of intentions, she told Bennett in the letter. It is those intentions I appeal to now: either do it right, or dont do it at all.

The Arizona Democratic Party filed a last-minute lawsuit against state Senate leadership to try to stop the audit from going ahead but their bid to immediately halt it was rebuffed by a judge. The settlement means the case has concluded.

The settlement in ADP v Fann requires the Senate to have procedures to protect our ballots, election equipment, and data. Today, I put the Senate on notice that security shortfalls remain and must be addressed under the agreement, Hobbs said in a statement.

The official Twitter account for the audit, run by Bennets team, said late on Wednesday that Hobbs continues to make baseless claimes [sic] about this forensic audit but has never led an election audit in her entire career. The message declared, The audit continues!

The group furthermore encouraged Twitter users to retweet if they think audits are a state right. Another statement released later on Wednesday reads, Democrat [Secretary of State Katie Hobbs] who does not support election audits or transparency now wants the Federal Government to get involved in the Arizona Senate forensic audit. Arizona has the authority to conduct this audit without interference from the Feds!

Bennett did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the contents of Hobbs letter.

He told the Arizona Capitol Times late Wednesday of Hobbs concerns, I think that most of the things in her letter are completely unfounded. And the ones that have a little bit of legitimacy can be dealt with pretty easily.

Bennett did not elaborate as to what concerns would fall into the latter category.

Real-time camera footage of Maricopa Countys large-scale audit of the 2020 election, Maricopa County, Ariz. (Screenshot/The Epoch Times)

Among the seven concerns based on the disclosed procedures, Hobbs alleged that there were no procedures for hiring qualified, unbiased counters. She noted that former State Representative Anthony Kern, a Republican, has been among the people counting the ballots in the audit.

Kerns name is listed on the ballot not only as a candidate for State Representative but as a Presidential Electorthe exact race for which he is counting, Hobbs wrote, adding, While these facts would be disqualifying in any professional recount or audit, unfortunately, there are additional reasons why Mr. Kern is not trustworthy to fulfill this role.

Hobbs in her letter also took aim at a number of procedures that she said appear better suited for chasing conspiracy theories than as a part of a professional audit, which included using UV lights to search for watermarks, measuring the thickness of ballots, searching for folds in ballots, and looking at ballots under a microscope.

She said these measures are completely unnecessary steps if the goal of the audit is to validate the election results.

She also questioned how tally sheets from ballot counters would be added up, and noted that her office had received no real explanation over the matter other than that an accounting firm will handle it later.

This is not transparency. Further, it appears that a single person enters the totals from the tally sheets into an electronic spreadsheet, leaving wide open the opportunity for error, inadvertent or otherwise, she wrote. At minimum, a bipartisan team of at least two individuals should aggregate the tally sheets or otherwise confirm that data is entered accurately for aggregation.

In addition to concerns over the disclosed procedures, Hobbs alleged in her letter that observers from her office have seen a number of problems, which include inadequate physical security of ballots, unattended computers at the forensic analysis tables, constantly changing rules in the audit procedures since the beginning of the audit, and frequent violations of the procedures that do exist.

The Arizona Republican-led Senate previously hired four out-of-state firms to carry out the audit, which are Wake Technology Services, CyFIR, Digital Discovery, and Cyber Ninjas.

The state Senate has said that the broad and detailed audit will validate every area of the voting process and includes, but is not limited to, scanning all the ballots, a full hand recount, auditing the voter registration and votes cast, the vote counts, and the electronic voting system. This includes examining some 2.1 million ballots, as well as voting equipment that includes 385 tabulators.

Bennett told The Epoch Times on Monday that the audit may last longer than originally planned. An analysis of the equipment used in the 2020 election was completed over the weekend, but reviewing other materials will need more time, he said.

President Joe Biden was the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Maricopa County in decades.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Australias First Gas-Hydrogen Hybrid Power Station to Help Replace Coal

New South Wales has secured an $83 million (US$64 million) gas-hydrogen hybrid power station, Tallawarra B, following the planned closure of the Liddell coal-fired power plant in 2023.

The closure of Liddell was announced in 2019 and will see the exit of 1,680 MW of reliable energy from the power grid, which forced the NSW government to scramble for alternative sources of power and set a target of 1,000 MW to replace the loss in energy capacity partially.

EnergyAustralias Tallawarra B will contribute 316 MW of capacity to the National Electricity Market, playing a crucial role in Liddells replacement.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the project was essential in providing dispatchable energy and supporting the industry and jobs.

Delivering enough electricity to power around 150,000 homes at times of peak demand, the project is expected to deliver a $300 million boost to the economy and support about 250 jobs during construction, Barilaro said.

The Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said that the new energy supply from Tallawarra B would help secure the states electricity supply following Liddells termination and keep energy prices low.

Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia on Apr. 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

This is a win for households and businesses across New South Wales and the broader National Electricity Market, particularly our local manufacturers who will benefit from additional dispatchable generation, Taylor said in a media release.

Taylor said that Tallawarra Bs dispatchable energy generation would help avoid unnecessary price hikes and reliability risks, particularly evidenced by the abrupt closure of Victorias Hazelwood coal-fired power station in 2017an energy deficit which saw wholesale energy prices skyrocket by 85 percent.

The power station has received a funding commitment of $78 million from the NSW government, with a further $5 million from the Federal Government to make the project hydrogen-ready.

While Tallawarra B will initially function solely as a gas-fired power station from 2025, over five percent of the plants fuel consumption will be green hydrogen, amounting to 200,000 kg of hydrogen per year.

Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen created through electrolysis using renewable energy, a method that involves an electric current splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Earlier this year, the NSW Government had set a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with a pledge of $750 million to go towards emissions reduction as part of an overall $11.6 billion investment over the next 10 years.

NSW Minister for Energy Matt Kean said that the Tallawarra B project would support the path to net-zero by utilising gas and hydrogen in tandem.

A cubic-meter tank containing liquid hydrogen at Kobe Port Island plant in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 26, 2020. The special shipping terminal has been built to import liquid hydrogen from Australia. (Etienne Balmer/AFP via Getty Images)

This project sets a new benchmark for how gas generators can be consistent with NSWs plan to be net-zero by 2050 by using green hydrogen and offsetting residual emissions, Kean said.

However, the gas-hydrogen power station has been criticised by environmental groups, including the Climate Council, who have said that it is at odds with NSWs net-zero commitment.

Australia doesnt need new gas. Renewables and batteries provide affordable electricity, create jobs and reduce emissions, a Climate Council spokesman said in a media release.

The spokesman pointed out that NSW already had existing renewable energy projects, and suggested that the addition of a gas-fired power station was unnecessary.

The NSW Government recently created the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmapa world-leading renewable energy and storage plan to roll out over the next decade, he said. Its latest move to back gas makes no sense.

Why would the Government back expensive, polluting gas power when renewables and batteries are cheaper, more efficient and quicker to build? the spokesman said.

Safety at the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Gas Venture near Karratha in the north of Western Australia on Jun. 17, 2008. (Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had previously announced Australia would be investing in gas as part of its Gas-Fired Recovery, supporting families and business by making gas and energy more affordable.

The government has proposed gas as a lower-emission alternative to coal.

A report by CSIRO (pdf) says that compared with coal, domestic gas use for power generation will reduce emissions by an estimated 31 or 50 percent, depending on the type of gas turbine used.

In an interview with 2GB, Taylor said that the push against gas did not support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and only served to disadvantage Australian families and businesses.

The ironic thing about gas is that a lot of the anti-gas activists say, well, its important to get rid of gas because of the emissions. Frankly, more gas in our system right now will bring down emissions, Taylor said.

What weve got is these activists who are acting against the interests of Australia, against the interests of Australian manufacturing, against the interests of Australian small businesses and households.
People visit the Forbidden City in Beijing during the Labor Day holidays, which take place from May 1 to May 5, on May 3, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Has More Billionaires Than New York

Forbes Reveals True Identities of Beijing's Richest People

Beijing has overtaken New York for the first time to become the city with the most billionaires in the world. According to Forbes 2021 list of the worlds richest people, released in early April, Beijing has 100 billionaires, more than New York, which has 99.

Beijings richest are mostly engaged in technology, e-commerce, manufacturing, education, bio-manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and real estate.

The richest person in Beijing is Zhang Yiming, founder and CEO of technology company ByteDance Ltd., with a fortune of $35.6 billion. Video sharing social platforms Douyin and TikTok, an overseas version of Douyin, are both products of the company.

The richest newcomer to Beijings new rich list is 34-year-old Wang Ning and his family. Wang made his fortune selling Blind Box, a kind of toy. His company Pop Mart was listed in Hong Kong in December.

ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming

Some of these Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled companies are involved in Internet, cyberspace, and AI technologies and are of special concern to U.S. and international security.

The headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok, is seen in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

On Sept. 25 last year, legal documents filed in court by The Department of Justice stated that ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming is a mouthpiece of the CCP and that his company has close ties to the Beijing authorities, which endangers the security of Americans. The document said Zhang had made public statements that showed he was committed to advancing the CCPs agenda.

Trump administration officials have said that while Zhang is not a member of the CCP, he publicly apologized to the regime in April 2018 for one of ByteDances apps, saying the product went the wrong way and contained content that was not consistent with core socialist values.

The Trump administration also submitted a separate document on Sept. 25 last year, pointing out that theres a lot of evidence that ByteDance has close ties to the authorities in Beijing, and its Beijing office employs 130 CCP members.

Department of Justice officials said ByteDance is subject to the CCPs laws, which could require the company to assist and monitor intelligence activities under the direction of the Party.

Douyin and TikTok Censorship

On Aug. 6 last year, then-President Donald Trump signed two executive orders prohibiting any American company or individual from conducting transactions with TikToks parent company, ByteDance, and WeChats parent company Tencent after Sept. 20, 2020.

In his executive order, Trump said TikTok obtains a large amount of information from its users, including location data, browsing and search history, as well as activity information on the Internet and other networks.

This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans personal and proprietary informationpotentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage, the executive order said.

TikTok also reportedly censors content that the Chinese Communist Party deems politically sensitive, such as content concerning protests in Hong Kong and Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. This mobile application may also be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party, such as when TikTok videos spread debunked conspiracy theories about the origins of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

The Washington Post reported on Sept. 15, 2020, that a search for #HongKong on TikTok would show interesting selfies, food photos, singing parties, etc., making it hard to find anything about the Hong Kong protests. The search of #Tianananmensquare on TikTok shows about 20 videos, most of which are (people) joking that this bloody incident never happened.

The Guardian reported in September 2019 on how TikTok censors videos that upset Beijing. TikTok has detailed censorship guidelines, requiring uploaders to review videos that mention Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence, or Falun Gong, the report said.

The censorship guidelines divide banned content into two categories: Posts promoting Falun Gong will be flagged as serious violations; posts on Tibetan independence, Taiwans relations with China, and Tiananmen Square will be marked for yourself only, meaning can only be watched by the uploader but restricted from sharing.

The Epoch Times previously reported that Douyin falsely accused the U.S. military of launching a biochemical virus, discredited the United States and other countries fighting of the epidemic, and sowed discord between overseas Chinese and other ethnic groups. TikTok denied the Tiananmen Square massacre and blocked anti-Communist information. Douyin and TikTok have become heavy weapons in the CCPs anti-American information war.

People visit a booth of Qihoo 360 at the Light of Internet Expo ahead of the 5th World Internet Conference in Wuzhen in Chinas eastern Zhejiang province, on Nov. 6, 2018. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Tech Giants Qihoo 360 and QI-ANXIN

On Forbes Beijing rich list, at number 727, is Zhou Hongyi, chairman and CEO of Qihoo 360 Technology, with a fortune of $4 billion. Qi Xiangdong, chairman of cybersecurity company QI-ANXIN, ranks 925th with $3.3 billion.

Both companies have played a major role in helping the CCP set up its firewall and use AI technology to monitor Chinese people.

Qihoo 360, the full name being Beijing Qihoo Technology Co., Ltd., was founded by Zhou Hongyi in September 2005. It is an Internet company specializing in cybersecurity.

In 2012, Qihoo 360 joined the CCPs GFW Great Firewall project. The main role of the project is to monitor communications on the network, to disrupt, block, and screen the transmission of content that does not meet the official requirements of the CCP.

The National Business Daily, a Chinese newspaper, said in an article published in February 2013 that products by Qihoo 360 were suspected of violating users privacy and causing serious security risks.

Qihoo 360 was added to the U.S. Commerce Departments export control blacklist in May 2020.

QI-ANXIN Group, founded in 2014, is one of Chinas largest cybersecurity companies and is chaired by Qi Xiangdong, formerly president of Qihoo 360.

According to its official website, the Group has developed into a leading domestic cybersecurity provider based on big data, artificial intelligence, and secure operation technology.

Chinese state media has also reported that QI-ANXINs customers cover most central government departments, enterprises directly under the central government, and banks.

On July 22, 2020, QI-ANXIN was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Chinese media reported that according to the prospectus, the companys fundraising plan focused on six projects, including the construction of cloud and big data security protection and management operations center, industrial Internet security service center, and so on.

In 2017 Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally instructed the Cyberspace Administration to focus on controlling the global Internet so as to replace the influence of the United States, according to internal CCP documents recently obtained by The Epoch Times.
Australian flag flutters in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 14, 2016. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

Beijing Indefinitely Suspends High-Level Economic Dialogue With Australia

The Chinese regime has indefinitely suspended all future activities under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, following last months termination of the Belt and Road Initiative agreement by Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

While the move has been publicised by several Chinese state-owned media, one expert has called the action mere symbolism.

On Thursday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the statement claiming that Recently, some Australian Commonwealth government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of a Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination.

Based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth government toward China-Australia cooperation, the NDRC of the Peoples Republic of China has decided to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue.

The Dialogue was established in 2013 under the former Gillard government by Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Trade Minister Craig Emerson.

The third and last meeting held under the Dialogue was in 2017, when Prime Minister Scott Morrison, then treasurer, met with Chinese investors and Chair of the NDRC, He Lifeng.

Despite the suspension, China will likely continue to buy large quantities of Australian iron ore, which has seen prices balloon to ten-year highs.

Coal operations at the Port of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia on Nov. 18. 2015. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Further, dialogue between Australian ministers and their Chinese counterparts has been largely non-existent over the past year, as Beijings trade war against Australia ran its course.

Meanwhile, the NDRC has also been a key driver behind the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In 2018 and 2019, the state body signed two BRI agreements with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

These agreements were cancelled by Foreign Minister Payne last month, who said they were inconsistent with Australias foreign policy objectives. The BRI has been accused of being a trojan horse and leaving developing countries heavily indebted due to predatory loan practices.

In response to the cancellation, the Chinese Embassy in Canberra said the move was unreasonable and provocative.

While Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged Australia to revoke the decision or Beijing would resolutely take strong actions.

Suspension of the Dialogue marks the first major material response to the BRI being axed.

Jeffrey Wilson, research director of the Perth USAsia Centre, said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had run out of ammunition.

By going thermonuclear on trade in 2020, they now have no substantive ways to punish Australia anymore and have to scrap around for impact-free acts of pure symbolism, he wrote on Twitter.

China has placed sanctions against practically all Australian exports it can, investment has collapsed, and intergovernmental discussions are non-existent, he added. It now has no substantive leverage over Australia and has to resort to largely meaningless acts of symbolism.

Over the course of 2020, Beijing implemented a series of tariffs and suspensions targeting key Australian exports, including coal, beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, lamb, and cotton.

The economic coercion campaign began after Australia led the charge in calling for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
President Joe Biden takes questions from reporters in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on May 5, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Biden Supports Big Tech Cracking Down on Disinformation, White House Says

President Joe Biden is supportive of Facebook and other Big Tech companies taking action to combat disinformation and misinformation, the White House said after Facebooks Oversight board upheld the technology giants decision to suspend former President Donald Trump.

The presidents view is that the major platforms have a responsibility related to the health and safety of all Americans to stop amplifying untrustworthy content, disinformation, and misinformation, especially related 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; weve seen it from a number of sources, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington.

He also supports better privacy protections and a robust anti-trust program. So 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 added.

Psaki said the administration believes in First Amendment rights but that platforms should have the ability to police information that is deemed misleading.

Biden took questions after making remarks later in the day but was not asked about the decision.

The Facebook Oversight Board, a purportedly independent body that can overrule the companys decisions, said earlier Wednesday that the tech giant rightly suspended Trump in January following the U.S. Capitol breach.

Trump posted two pieces of content that were said to have severely violated Facebooks guidelines. In one post, he told supporters that the 2020 election was stolen from us while urging them to leave the Capitol. In another, he wrote that events like the breach 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.

Trump has said his comments following the breach were totally appropriate. In response to the board decision, he said that 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.

Board members also ruled that Facebook cannot suspend people indefinitely. The company has six months to decide whether to ban Trump permanently or allow him back on the platform.

Republicans decried the boards ruling, calling for legislative action to rein in or break up Facebook.

For every liberal celebrating Trumps social media ban, if the Big Tech oligarchs can muzzle the former President, whats to stop them from silencing you? Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote in a statement.

But Democrats, who impeached Trump over his pre- and post-breach remarks, largely focused on praising the decision.

Donald Trump is no voiceless victim. He earned his suspension from Facebook by spreading dangerous, violence-inciting lies. Our nation is still living with the consequences of the deadly insurrection Trump incited, & there is a clear & present danger that he will do it again, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) alleged.
MBABANE - Its a yellow gifts galore!

With MTN Eswatini Mobile Money (MoMo) having turned 10 years, customers of the company stand to win E1 million in prizes and cash for the rest of 2021. Yesterday, MTN Eswatini celebrated 10 years since their Mobile Money service came into existence. This means that the service was established in 2011. The company celebrated the 10-year mark through an intimate celebration which was attended by a few staff members, who were entertained by award-winning saxophonist Zwile Bhembe, rapper Madoda Oxygen Nsibandze and Nompendulo Yema Nsibandze at MTN Eswatini Headquarters in Ezulwini.

Amazing

MTN Eswatini Fintech Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Shongwe said it had been an amazing 10 years since the company introduced MoMo in the Kingdom of Eswatini, saying when they started, they closed the year 2011 with about 39 000 registered users. While this may look like an insignificant number today, it was a huge achievement for us then. It took a lot of public engagement, persuasion and creativity to get people to register and trust the MTN MoMo platform. Even after we hit 300 000 registered MoMo subscribers, we faced another obstacle. We discovered that only about 20 per cent of those subscribers were actively using MoMo. Hence, we had to be aggressive in customer education, said Shongwe.

Interest

He said to stimulate public interest, they would at times drive to communities with well-known personalities, which created a good rapport with the communities. We remain grateful to the different artists, most of whom were community based, for helping us explain how money was going to come out of mobile phones, something that initially sounded crazy to community members. One side of the MTN MoMo story that is barely told is how this product became a vehicle that promoted different artists within their communities, Shongwe said. He said in addition to being a financial platform, MTN MoMo became a platform for showcasing local talent and exposed artists who were barely known by the rest of the country. In the past 10 years, MTN has enabled emaSwati to have access to a safe and reliable payment system. MTN is proud to have been one of the first few pioneers of financial inclusion in Eswatini, said Shongwe.


Kurt Campbell, then U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, speaks at a press conference at the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 13, 2012. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Bidens Approach to China Draws From Both Trump and Obama: Senior Official

President Joe Bidens China policy looks like an amalgam of the Trump and Obama administrations: a blend of the formers collaborative approach with the hardline stance of the latter, according to the White Houses top aide on Asia.

Its an interesting compilation and combinationalmost an amalgamof elements from President Obama and President Trump, Kurt Campbell, a top official responsible for Indo-Pacific affairs at the National Security Council, said at The Wall Street Journals CEO Council Summit. I think there is wisdom in some of each approach, even though theres some contradictions as well.

Bidens cabinet took in a number of Obama-era veterans, including Campbell himself.

Washington under Biden has signaled willingness to work with Beijing on issues such as climate change and North Korea, while keeping the Trump administrations vocal stance on the Chinese regimes human rights record, from its repression in Xinjiang and Hong Kong to military aggression against Taiwan.

Were interested in practical, clear areas where we could work together on issues where we share mutual concerns, Campbell said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who served as deputy secretary of state during Obama years, has defined the U.S. relationship with China as a multifaceted one consisting of adversarial, competitive, and cooperative aspects. Our purpose is not to contain China, to hold it back, to keep it down. It is to uphold this rules-based order that China is posing a challenge to, he said in a May 2 interview with CBS 60 Minutes.

Biden officials have emphasized working with allies to counter Beijing. The United States has imposed coordinated sanctions with the European Union, Canada, and the UK on Chinese officials responsible for Xinjiang abuses. Katherine Tai, the new trade chief, said she would keep Trumps trade tariffs on China in place. Administration officials and lawmakers have defended aggressive spending in chip manufacturing to reduce U.S. reliance on China, another policy initiated under the Trump administration.

Were likely to see steps that are both offensive and defensive, said Campbell. That includes investments in some key technologies and efforts to prevent certain kinds of encroachments in areas of significance for American businesses operating in China, he said.

While Washington has continued to deepen ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island that Beijing claims as its own, Campbell on Tuesday stopped short of vouching for an explicit U.S. promise to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

In a same day discussion hosted by Financial Times, Campbell warned that a shift to strategic clarity would bring significant downsides, adding that any U.S.-China confrontation over Taiwan would broaden quickly and fundamentally trash the global economy in ways that I dont think anyone can predict.

The best way to maintain peace and stability is to send a really consolidated message that involves diplomacy, defense innovation and our own capabilities to the Chinese leadership, so they dont contemplate some sort of ambitious, dangerous provocative set of steps in the future, he said.

Challenges from Chinese regime were the subject of a 90-minute opening session as the Group of Seven gathered for their first in-person meeting since the pandemic.

While the United States would like to welcome China as an integral member of the international order, it has to depend on Beijing playing by the rules, a senior State Department official said in a briefing about the G7 meeting.

Theres this reality that while we want to make sure Chinas playing by the rules of the road, we also all want to benefit from Chinese economic activity, so long as theyre not stealing our IPR [intellectual property rights]  or using that technology to invade into our societies like weve seen with Huawei, 5G, the official said.
A woman passes a newspaper stand showing a magazine with a picture of Chinese leader Xi Jinping on its cover, in downtown Shanghai, China, on March 12, 2018. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

Bloomberg Forum Moves Back to Singapore Amid Concerns Over Press Treatment in China

BEIJINGThe Bloomberg New Economy Forum will move to Singapore this year, in part because of the very concerning conditions journalists face in China, according to comments by Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg reported by the Financial Times.

The Nov. 16-19 event will be limited to 400 participants, with sustainability as well as COVID-19 and how countries can recover from its impact among topics for discussion, according to a media release on Thursday.

Bloomberg, the billionaire founder of Bloomberg News and the former mayor of New York City, also cited logistics as a reason to hold the event in Singapore, the Financial Times reported.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for elaboration on his comments.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday that he was not aware of the situation, but said that in China journalists legal right to interview and report is fully safeguarded by the law.

In March, the Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) said Beijing had used coronavirus prevention measures, intimidation and visa curbs to limit foreign reporting in 2020, ushering in a rapid decline in media freedom.

Last year Chinese authorities detained Haze Fan, a Chinese national working for Bloomberg News, as well as Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen working for Chinese state media, on suspicion of endangering national security. Both remain in detention.

The first Bloomberg New Economy Forum, in 2018, was to be held in Beijing but was shifted to Singapore amid rising tensions between China and the United States. It was held in Beijing the next year, and returned to the Chinese capital virtually in 2020 due to the pandemic.

By David Kirton
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)

CCP Journal Reveals Xis Judgment, Time and Momentum on Beijings Side

Commentary

On April 30, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) official bi-monthly journal, Qiushi (which translates to Seeking the Truth), published Xi Jinpings speech on Chinas development blueprint, delivered at a seminar for high-ranking officials on Jan. 11, 2021; his current views revealed in the article shed light on why the CCP has taken an all-out confrontational stance in recent months.

In his speech, Xi proclaimed, time and momentum are on our side, that is where our strength and confidence lies.

Xi emphasized Chinas economic self-reliance through its internal circulation that can defuse any international disruptions and always enables China to survive and sustain its growth amid all kinds of foreseeable and unforeseeable storms and turbulent waves.

It is quite clear that the CCP leadership is well aware of the difficulties it faces domestically and internationally, but it is rather difficult to see the logic behind Xis claim that the time and momentum are on their side, let alone the confidence that he claims the CCP has.

On February 25, Qilian county of Qinghai Province published a speech by the countys Party secretary, He Bin, who talked about Xis two judgments: on the global dynamic landscape, Xi sees the grand trend that the East is rising and the West is declining; on the strategic relations between China and the United States, Xi views the United States as the biggest source of chaos in the world today, and the biggest threat to the countrys development and security.

According to He, Xi believes that the United States is bound to fall and that the CCP will sooner or later replace it, so the CCP must challenge it.

On January 15, the Chinese website Guancha (which translates to The Observer) also reported that Chen Yixin, a protege of Xi and secretary-general of the CCPs Political and Legal Affairs Committee, conveyed a similar message from Xis speech: With a pandemic only seen once in a century, the world has entered into a period of turbulent change only seen once in a century While the international landscape is shifting in Chinas favor, the U.S. containment and suppression is a major threat, becoming an unexpected encounter and a protracted battle. The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting both challenges and opportunities in crisis, and the continued global pandemic rampage will have a significant impact on all aspects of the world, as reported in the headline.

The article published in the Qiushi Journal basically confirmed the above, revealing Xis main judgments on the current situations both at home and abroad.

The World Is Chaotic

Xi said that China is the worlds second-largest economy, the largest industrial country, with the largest foreign trade in goods and the largest foreign exchange reserve. Apparently, Xi sees that as the capital for world domination.

The world today, characterized most notably by chaos, is undergoing a great change unprecedented in a century. How well the global COVID-19 pandemic has been controlled in a country is indicative of how good or superior the countrys leadership and system are. Time and momentum are on our side, and that is where our strength and confidence lie, Xi said.

Xis above words fully revealed the CCPs real intention of using the pandemic to seek hegemony. In fact, the CCP had deliberately concealed the critical information on the origin of the CCP virus at the beginning and let the virus spread outside of its borders. But to the CCP, the ensuing global pandemic is even regarded as a tool to bring the so-called time and momentum in its favor and its strength.

Xi believes that democracy cannot compete [with dictatorship] in the 21st century because [democracy] takes too much time to reach consensus.

Biden also is aware of Xis ambition to rule the world, as he put it in his recent address to the Congress: Xi is deadly earnest about becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world.

Biden got it right on Xis global ambition but wrong on what to do to counter it. As to Xi, he believes now is a good opportunity to confront the United States for supremacy. Xi believes that China, strategically, has unprecedented opportunities that outweigh its challenges. He urged all CCP officials to mobilize all the positive factors that can be mobilized, unite all the forces that can be united, and do the best to get our things done and to achieve our set goals with perseverance.

Unprecedented Rise in Internal and External Risks

The CCP has hurt the world by seeking hegemony with the pandemic, which has seriously hurt China at the same time.

When Xi gave his big talk about time and momentum, confidence and important strategic opportunities, he was to establish his authority and appease the CCP officials. In the meantime, he avoided admitting a string of serious mistakes he has made. These include the CCPs mask diplomacy, wolf warrior diplomacy, and its global disinformation campaign to deflect blame over its initial mishandling of the pandemic outbreak, all of which have led to its isolation and troubles internationally, especially the rapid breakdown of Sino-U.S. relations.

While refusing to acknowledge many of his decision-making mistakes, Xi had to admit the current internal and external difficulties he faces.

As he put it in his speech, with the main issues at home and the profound changes in the international balance of power and an unprecedented rise in internal and external risks, we must have a heightened sense of future crises, be mindful of the worst-case scenarios, and be ready to deal with more complex and difficult situations.

Compared to external woes, Xi is more worried about the actual internal crises, as he put it, If the foundation of security is not firm, the edifice of development will collapse. He stressed that officials must do the following: both dare to fight and be good at it, and strengthen ourselves comprehensively, especially to enhance the strength of deterrence; prevent big ups and downs; ensure the stability and security of the supply chain of the industrial, and prevent the disorderly expansion and barbaric growth of the capital market and enterprises; prevent the risk of large-scale unemployment, and effectively resolve all kinds of mass incidents; implement different control measures at different stages, and effectively deal with all kinds of issues related to national security.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4, 2021. (Leo Ramirez/AFP via Getty Images)

These remarks are actually about internal security issues. When the CCP faces huge external pressure, the first thing it worries about is whether the regime will collapse and whether its leaders will still be able to hang on to their power.

Xi added, The Soviet Union was the worlds first socialist country and achieved brilliant successes, but then it failed and disintegrated. One of the major reasons was that the Soviet Communist Party broke away from the people and became a privileged bureaucratic group that only defended its own interests.

Ironically, who in the CCPs powerful elites today would believe in so-called socialism?

CCP officials have all become what Marx described as privileged powerful capitalists, only that they have gone much farther than those of the former Soviet Communist Party. In this case, the CCP acted out yet another example of the complete failure of Marxs theory, which, however, is being used to maintain the CCPs power and its own interests. The CCP is following in the footsteps of the former Soviet Union, and what the current CCP leadership does is accelerating this historical process of its downfall.

Truth Behind Domestic Circulation

Xi said, Economic globalization has been put in reverse gear, undergoing deep adjustments. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the trend against globalization, prompting each country to be more focused on its domestic market. As a result, the global industrial supply chain has been partially broken, and many Chinese enterprises cant get the foreign personnel and raw materials they need, cant export the goods theyve made, and have to shut down production. I feel that the situation is very different now, the environment that used to favor trading massive quantities of goods between countries has changed. Last April, I proposed establishing a large domestic circulation as the main [economic] driver, he added.

Xis remarks show that the CCP top leaders are well aware that the good days for their dominance over the global supply chain are gone and they have no choice but to bet on a domestic circulation.

Xi even quoted Mao Zedong as saying, No matter how complex, serious, and disastrous the circumstances are, the first thing a military commander needs is to organize and use his forces independently. It is common to be forced by the enemy into a disadvantageous position; the important thing is to regain a favorable position quickly. Failing to do so would mean a defeat ahead.

Recently, when Xi visited the Xiangjiang River Battle Memorial in Guangxi province, he hailed the CCP former Red Armys spirit of being fearless of death to charge forward, and persevering in the most difficult times.

Obviously, the CCPs overly aggressive behavior follows its logic of taking the initiative, but that may only serve to accelerate its downfall. As for its bet on a domestic circulation, few in the CCP or among ordinary Chinese people really think that it would work. Moreover, if Xi were to take this path, it would be difficult for China to sustain its status as the worlds second-largest economy, the largest industrial country, with the largest foreign trade and the largest foreign exchange reserves, let alone to contend for supremacy.

Nonetheless, Xi claimed that the domestic circulation is a preemptive move and a proactive strategic choice, yet in reality, it is more about convincing CCP officials at all levels to rally behind his leadership and to demonstrate loyalty to him. But that can hardly fool most CCP officials, especially those who have settled their family members and personal assets overseas.

The Qiushi journal has probably withheld a lot of content that cannot be disclosed, but the information revealed so far should well explain the CCPs recent moves toward full-scale confrontation with the outside world. The CCPs top brass tries to take the so-called initiative in a difficult situation, to show its assertiveness on the world stage in order to promote internal unity and hang on to its power. More importantly, it covers up a series of mistakes it has made to sustain its popularity and power amid internal fighting.

Xis big talk could hardly ease the concerns of CCP officials at all levels. On April 30, the CCP held a meeting of the Politburo to assess the current state of Chinas economy and economic work, but the tone of the Party media coverage was significantly lowered, and once again, Xi gave no separate speech, either.

Perhaps Xi felt that it was difficult to convince members in the Politburo, so the Qiushi Journal had to make public a past speech that Xi made on Jan. 11.

The CCPs political situation seems to be far less calm than it appears. Thirteen online financial companies have just been subjected to close scrutiny by the regime, perhaps signaling the beginning of yet another wave of internal fighting.

It remains to be seen whether the CCP will be able to gain a favorable position with its tough stance against its neighbors and the West.

Yang Wei has been closely following China affairs for many years. He has been contributing political commentary on China for the Chinese language Epoch Times since 2019.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A freight train transporting containers laden with goods from London, arrives at Yiwu railway port station in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province on April 29, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Funds Trans-Eurasia Trains in a Bid to Decouple From US

The Chinese regime paid subsidies to maintain and develop the freight train operations that connect China with Central Asia and Europe, according to government documents exclusively obtained by The Epoch Times from a trusted source. Experts said that this railway would allow China to build ties with other countries in a bid to decouple from the United States.

The Chinese regime is preparing for a potential decoupling from the United States, as well as maintaining its fragile economic system, by using the freight train to export more products to Europe and Central Asia, Tang Jingyuan, U.S.-based China affairs commentator, told The Epoch Times on May 4.

In 2020, the trade between the United States and China reached 4.06 trillion yuan (about $627.14 billion), which accounts for 12.6 percent of Chinas foreign trade, according to official data.

In 2019, amid the U.S.-China trade war, the United States was the second largest importer of Chinese products, buying $418.5 billion worth of goods, and suffered a $295.8 billion trade deficit, according to a report by Chinas Ministry of Commerce. In 2018, when the trade war started, the trade between the United States and China amounted to $633.52 billion, accounting for 13.7 percent of Chinas total foreign trade, and China enjoyed a $323.33 billion trade surplus, the Ministry reported.

Jin Canrong, one of Beijings top China-U.S. relations specialists, also said China is creating new business circles as it anticipates a potential decoupling from the United States.

The leaked documents obtained by The Epoch Times stressed the importance of the Trans-Eurasia Logistics, a railway that connects China with Central Asia and Europe. The documents were issued by Chinas northern Hebei provincial government, Baoding city government, and Changchun city government.

The Trans-Eurasia Logistics, also called the China Railway Express (CR Express), was launched in March 2011 and is a key part of the regimes Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road). It ships the goods from over 40 Chinese cities to about 90 cities in over 20 countries, including Germany, UK, Spain, France, and Italy, which brings a big trade benefit to Beijing.

From June 2020 to today, over one thousand trains have transported freight goods in BRI regions. The CR Express is a super tool that stabilizes the foreign trade of China, the Chinese State Council (cabinet-level) posted on its website on April 20.

A freight train transporting containers laden with goods from the UK, is prepared ahead of departure from DP World London Gateways rail freight depot in Corringham, east of London, on April 10, 2017. (ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Government Subsidies

The exclusive documents show that the Chinese government subsides created this prosperous railway transport.

The Hebei provincial government released an internal document on March 5 to roll-out the ten most important tasks in the province. Foreign trade was one of the tasks and the CR Express is a key tool.

[Each government] should research and develop policies to give subsidies to the international freight trains. [We must] operate the trains to Central Asia and Europe stably, develop more trains to other cities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN], and maintain the transportation channels for the foreign trade, the document stated.

A series of government documents from Baoding city in Hebei mentioned the CR Express. Baoding would use the trains to sell products to Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia.

According to a document that was issued by Baoding authorities on June 29, 2017, the trains would help the city to export 250,000 metric tons of goods valued at $2 billion to Belarus, and 150,000 metric tons of goods valued at $1.2 billion to Lithuania every year.

A screenshot of a document issued by the Baoding city government on June 29, 2017, which stresses the importance of the China Railway Express. (Screenshoot via The Epoch Times)

The document said the train helped the city to develop its BRI projects, including a hospital in Lithuania and industrial parks in Minsk, Belarus and Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The space of the China-Belarus Industrial Park is 91.5 square kilometers [35.33 square miles], which is equal to one third of the total area of Minsk  it is the largest industrial park that China operates overseas, with the best investment policies. This is the biggest cooperation investment between China and Belarus, as well as the key project of BRI, the document described.

From its website, the parks official name is Great Stone, and the Chinese enterprises that have factories in the park are selling products to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) or former Soviet Union countries.

The Baoding government explained in the same document that the Chinese regime plans to export materials to Minsk and assemble products there, which would cut costs and generate more profit.

Authorities in Changchun, the capital city of northeastern Jilin Province, issued a document which claimed that the majority of the CR Express trains are operated by state-run companies and they rely on state subsidies because its a common issue that [transportation agents] cant collect enough orders to ship goods from Europe back to China.

A freight train transporting containers laden with goods from the UK, departs from DP World London Gateways rail freight depot in Corringham, east of London, on April 10, 2017. (ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese state-run China Business Journal reported on July 27, 2019 that China Railway requires each freight train to have 41 containers, and the majority of the CR Express trains arent fully loaded. About 20 percent of the containers on the outbound trains are empty, the report quoted staff from the Urumqi Railway Bureau.

There are more empty containers found in the inbound trains. Sometimes, only one of the 41 containers [of an inbound train] contained goods, the report quoted a staff from China Railways headquarters in Beijing.

The Next Federation, a Chinese summit organizer and partner of state-run media Xinhua and China Economy, published an article on Dec. 20, 2020, in which it said: The local city government pays around $3,000 per container per trip for all CR Express trains.

The report said many cities had to find a way to deal with the empty containers in Europe and Central Asia because they cant collect any goods, and the cost to ship the empty containers back to China is more expensive than making a new container.

The report said some city governments pay 1 billion yuan (about $154.47 million) annually as subsidies, others pay 1 million yuan (about $154,470) per train as subsidies, because the income of the shipping cant cover the cost.

The report commented that the CR Express is the Chinese regimes contrivance to damage the maritime hegemony of the United States, because the regime believes that creating a competitive transportation channel can change the global supply chain.

According to official data, to ship one container, the transportation cost of the CR Express is 25 percent of the cost that is transported by flight; and the duration of a CR Express trip is about 33 percent of a trip by sea. Based on several global transportation services websites, the CR Express needs three times the amount of time to ship a container than a plane, and costs double than a ship.

A crane transferring a container to a train of the China Railway Express in the Chinese border city of Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Region on April 18, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Prepare for Decoupling

Jin Canrong, a professor and associate dean of the School of International Studies at Beijings Renmin University of China, talked about the potential U.S.-China decoupling in a video that was posted on YouTube on June 22, 2020.

Jin said the U.S.-China relations is deteriorating.

Its possible that the United States will decouple from us in economy, technology, and education, Jin said. After the pandemic, I estimate that the United States and China will become more strategically hostile. At that time, the United States will decouple from China.

Jin then talked about the solutions, which included setting up business circles without the United States, such as doing business with countries in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.

China expert Tang Jingyuan reviewed the government documents and said: Its clear that the Chinese regime wants to build a new trade channel with Europe and Central Asia by using this railway project. At the same time, the project opens a door to allow Beijing to form closer economic ties with these regions.

Analyzing the motivation behind the railway, Tang believes that China is preparing for a potential decoupling from the United States and to fulfill its ambition in becoming the worlds largest economy.

The Chinese regime eagerly teams up with Europe, by which it believes that the combination can become stronger than the United States in economic terms. Then the Beijing authorities will find a way to get rid of Europe and become the leader, Tang added.
China in Focus (May 5): Chinas Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Development

New reports say that two weeks before announcing that the coronavirus is contagious, China had already started developing a vaccine.

A Chinese luxury car brand has been exposed. One drivers experience seems to highlight the brands quality control failings, while other anecdotes point to problems even before the cars make it off the lot.

A major American manufacturer has been slapped with a $13 million fine. The penalty comes after it handed sensitive data over to several other countries, including China. Among the leaked info are technical details related to military aircraft designs.

The European Union and India discuss a global infrastructure agreement. It could provide an alternative to Beijings Belt and Road Initiative.

A resolution is condemning forced organ harvesting in China. Texas state senators unanimously passed the motion. And a specialist explains why its needed.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
Soldiers stand on the deck of the transport dock Yimen Shan of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy as it participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong Province, on April 23, 2019. (MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Unveils Three New Warships on Navy Anniversary

The Chinese regime recently unveiled three new warships to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Navy. The ships will be part of the regimes South China Sea fleet. One Chinese media outlet claims that the move is meant to intimidate Taiwan, neighboring countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and the United States.

The three warships unveiled by Xi on April 23 are Changzheng-18, a Type 094A ballistic missile submarine; Dalian, a Type 055 destroyer; and Hainan, a Type 075 amphibious assault ship. Xi attended the commissioning ceremony, and personally presented the CCPs military flag and naming certificates to the captains and political commissars of the new ships.

According to state-run media China Global Television Network (CGTN), the Changzheng-18 is capable of launching a second-strike, which means that it can respond to an attacker with powerful nuclear retaliation.

Dalian can act as a guardian ship to carriers like Liaoning and Shandong, while Hainan would be used to land on enemy territoriesa mission similar to the well-known Normandy landingsand act as a command ship during such operations, CGTN reported.

Sailors stand near fighter jets on the deck of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning as it participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chinas PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern Chinas Shandong Province on April 23, 2019. (MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Three New Warships Send a Strong Message

The CCPs mouthpiece Global Times cites a high-profile commentary by a Chinese military expert as claiming that adding three new warships will greatly enhance the Chinese Navys ability to seize islands in the South China Sea, as well as its secondary nuclear counterattack capability.

Meanwhile, Beijing-based DWNews said that this move contains significant political semiotics that targets Taiwan, countries in the South China Sea region, and the United States. The warships serve as a warning.

The report said the CCPs first warning is aimed at Taiwan: the Chinese military has the ability to seize the island, and the Dalian and Hainan ships can carry out this combat mission.

The second warning is meant for the neighboring countries in the South China Sea: the CCP has the ability to solve the disputes in the region by force.

The third warning is for the United States: Beijing can use the Changzheng-18 as a powerful tool to defend the country when its conventional weapons are not powerful enough, the report said.

On the same day when the three new ships were unveiled, state-run media Legal Daily published an article titled, Reporting to the Party Flag from the Ocean. It states that the goal of the CCPs Navy is to resolutely listen to the Partys command, accelerate the transformation and development, build a first-class navy, and be ready for war at any moment.

According to Su Ziyun, director at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) in Taiwan, the unveiling of the ships clearly indicates that the CCPs naval strategy is to be defensive in the North and offensive in the South, Taiwan newspaper United Daily News (UDN) reported.

According to Sus analysis, the CCP is constrained by Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in the northern and eastern zones; while the South China Sea is a deep water zone, the region is conducive to the overall development and training of the CCPs surface and underwater fleet, the report said.

The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chinas PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern Chinas Shandong Province on April 23, 2019. (MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Xi Rallies the Troops

After handing over the three warships to the South China Sea fleet on April 23, Xi Jinping visited the Red Army Long March Xiangjiang Battle Memorial Park in Guilin city, Guangxi Province on April 25, state-run media Xinhua reported.

Xi declared that the Xiangjiang battle was an important historical event that decided the fate of the CCPs revolution, and called on the people to persevere in the most difficult times in order to achieve miraculous victories, according to the report.

He urged the Chinese troops to think of the Long March of the Red Army and the bloody battle on the Xiangjiang River, even if the difficulties are great, Xinhua wrote.

Soon after Xi gave his speech, Xinhua released a short video called The Blood Stained Xiangjiang River and published an article titled, Why Xi Jinping Attaches So Much Importance to This Crucial Battle. The article emphasized the heavy losses the CCPs Red Army suffered during the battle, and encouraged the Chinese people to love the Party and to love the country.

The so-called bloody battle of Xiangjiang took place between late November and early December in 1934, and it was the first civil war between the CCP and the Kuomintang. The CCPs Red Army lost nearly 70 percent of its troops. The number of its soldiers dropped from nearly 100,000 to 30,000. The Red Army was besieged by the Kuomintang army and was forced to flee to Southwest China.

The CCP has always claimed that this fleeing process was the 25,000-mile Long March and called it Going North to Fight the Japanese. However, the battlefield where the Japanese troops were fought was not in the southwest, but in the northeast of China.

Provoking Japan, the US

On April 25, the same day that Xi gave a speech on the Xiangjiang battle, Xinhua published an article, claiming that a fleet of Chinese marine police vessels were cruising in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. In addition, Xinhua reposted an article from state-run media Reference News, titled, Japanese Media: Chinese Ships Come Too When the U.S. Military Practices Airdrops Around the Diaoyu Islands.

Citing an April 23 Nikkei report, Xinhua reported that while the U.S. military conducted drills near the Diaoyu Islands (known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands), Chinese maritime police vessels and fighter planes had approached from the sky and sea to provoke.

Xinhua rarely quotes Japanese medias narrative about the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, stating that Article 5 of the treaty stipulates that the United States is obliged to defend Japan should its territories come under attack, and that the Japanese and U.S. leaders have repeatedly confirmed that the waters of the Diaoyu Islands are also applicable to this provision.

The article also quoted Nikkei as saying that, If Chinese forces land on the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands, the U.S. forces will join the Self-Defense Forces [of Japan] in a counterattack to seize the islands.

In response to Xinhuas rare action of directly quoting a Japanese media outlet, U.S.-based China expert Li Yanming told the Epoch Times that the CCP is openly provoking the U.S.-Japan alliance.

At this sensitive moment when the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea is heating up, the CCPs media deliberately quoted the Japanese medias account of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. This is to openly provoke the U.S.-Japan alliance and to demonstrate the CCPs ambition to gain global domination, Li said.

The CCP has already begun its full-scale military expansion. Not only did it [CCP] provoke Taiwan and other countries in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, but it also called out the United States, which is committed to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The CCP is stirring up nationalistic sentiment at home, which has greatly increased the risk of military conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, Li emphasized.
A DHS handout photo showing a nearly empty temporary processing facility for migrants in Donna, Texas, on April 30, 2021. (Department of Homeland Security)

Rep. Cuellar Disputes DHS Photos of Nearly Empty Migrant Facility

A Texas Democrat who has been critical of the White Houses immigration policies said that recent photos from Border Patrol facilities in southern Texas are misleading.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) suggested that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which operates the Border Patrol facilities, is falsely creating the impression that a site in Donna, Texas, is being emptied of unaccompanied children. He said the youths have been simply moved to a nearby facility thats operated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

All theyre doing is theyre moving kids from one tent to the other tent and saying, Oh, theyre not in the Border Patrol [custody], Cuellar told Border Report.

The DHS says the children are in HHS custody but declined to disclose the location, according to Border Report. Officials at DHS didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times for comment.

The agency said the recent photos demonstrate the tremendous progress that DHS and its partners have made to safely and efficiently transfer these children out of CBP custody and into the care of HHS.

Photos released May 4 by the Biden administration show the Donna facility nearly empty, in contrast to photos released in March that showed throngs of youths being packed tightly into the facility.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says unaccompanied minors are spending less time in federal processing facilities.

Immigrant children inside a pod in a Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas, on March 30, 2021. (Dario Lopez-Mills/Pool via Reuters)

The amount of time children spend in [Border Patrol] custody is down 75 percent, from 131 hours at the end of March to under 30 hours now, Psaki told reporters this week.

In March, immigration agents apprehended over 172,000 individuals seeking to illegally enter the United States. According to the latest report by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 351,800 encounters were made in the first three months of 2021, compared to 107,700 during the same period in 2020.

Republicans, including Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, have said President Joe Biden is sending mixed messages on immigration and have called on the president to reinstate Trump-era policies to stem the tide of illegal migration into the United States.

If you want to stop the disaster thats unfolding here and will only get worse in the coming months, President Biden, you should declare a national emergency and deploy the vast powers of your administration to stop whats happening here, Ducey said during a news conference last week in Yuma, Arizona.

Since taking office, Biden has halted the construction of the border wall, ended the Migrant Protection Protocols, and limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement enforcement priorities. Last month, the Department of Defense, meanwhile, canceled wall projects that were financed with funds that were initially allocated for the military.
Deputy Pulls Over Biker Who Just Saw Friend Die, Offers a Shoulder to Lean on Instead of Ticket

A routine traffic stop recently turned into much more when a traffic officer encountered a distraught biker on a Florida highway.

Hillsborough County master deputy Donald Rizer was on his usual traffic patrol on Dale Mabry Highway when he pulled over a biker for an exhaust pipe violation.

Rizer quickly observed that the rider, in his 20s, was upset about something else apart from being pulled over.

As soon as I got out of my vehicle and I started walking up to the gentleman, I could hear him very emotional. I mean, he was already very emotional. Rizer told FOX 13.

In a body camera video posted on Hillsborough County Sherriffs Office Facebook page, Rizer asked the rider how he was doing, at which point he began sobbing.

I had had a horrible week, he told Rizer in the video. I saw my friend die in front of me.

Rizer decided to try talking it out with the rider, assuring him he would not get a citation; the officer just wanted to ensure he was okay.

I am glad I stopped you if you were emotional like that, Rizer told the rider in the video.

When you get a chance to talk to people, you know, that can help you, it really can. Because I dont want to see anybody die in a motorcycle.

In the video, the rider confided to Rizer, Youre the first person I actually talked to.

The officer consoled the motorcyclist, advising him that it is always good to talk when in need of help.

It is not just about stopping people, giving people tickets. I mean, you have to be a social worker in this job too, Rizer told the news station.

You have to wear many, many hats and be able to take one off and put another one on very quickly. And clearly, he should not be riding a motorcycle in that state.

Rizer gave the rider a warning about his exhaust pipe.

He handed him a checklist to go through and his personal cell phone number, telling the rider to give him a call if he needed someone to talk to.

Thats a warning for the exhaust, this is the checklist I was telling you about, just read it, familiarize yourself, Rizer is heard saying in the body camera video.

And that is my personal cell phone number if you ever need to talk, alright?

Rizer told Fox 13 that the man has not yet called but he is ready to listen whenever his phone rings.

Watch the video:

(Courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office)

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Florid Gov. Ron DeSantis is seen during a meeting at the governor's office in Tallahassee, Fla., on April 1, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

DeSantis Announces $1,000 Bonus Checks to Florida First Responders: Were Funding the Police

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a round of one-time $1,000 bonuses for first respondersincluding firefighters and law enforcement officerssaying on May 5 that were funding the police and then some.

DeSantis traveled to Satellite Beach, Temple Terrace, and Fort Myers to announce the bonuses for around 174,000 first responders across the state, including for paramedics, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.

Some want to defund the police. Were funding the police and then some, and thats what were here today to say, the governor stated at a news conference in front of the Satellite Beach Police Department, drawing nods of approval and applause from first responders and members of law enforcement who stood alongside DeSantis at the event.

Some want to defund the police. In Florida, were funding them & then some by providing all of our heroes $1,000 bonuses. This represents more than 174,000 first responders across the state!  pic.twitter.com/ZMcB9T620g  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 5, 2021

The governor took note of the so-called anti-riot bill he signed into law in late April, praising lawmakers for including provisions that make it harder for local governments to defund the police. The measure, called HB 1: Combating Public Disorder, says local authorities cant cut their police budgets without approval from the state.

The mission has been accomplished on a lot of what we set out to do to support our men and women in law enforcement this legislative session, DeSantis said. When we passed our anti-rioting bill, we had a very strong provision in there that said, we are not going to let local governments defund law enforcement  and if you try to do it, were going to fight back.

The governor authorized the bonuses in March, and they are included in the 2021-22 Florida state budget, which has yet to be signed. However, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is working to immediately implement this bonus program, his office said in a statement.

The DEO has allocated around $208 million for the bonus program, which includes 49,405 sworn law enforcement officers, 40,732 emergency medical technicians, 35,811 firefighters, and 33,185 paramedics in the state.

Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said in a statement that, when the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus reached Florida, our first responders worked overtime to protect our communities and get people the care they so desperately needed.

I say all the time that these men and women work 24/7, 365 days a year to protect our communitiesand they performed with honor and distinction during this global pandemic, Patronis said, adding that the bonus means a lot to these first responders and their families who had to live through this crisis.
Diner in Louisville Seen Drawing Handgun as Armed Black Lives Matter Protesters Swarm Restaurant

A man was seen brandishing a firearm at Black Lives Matter protesterssome of whom appear armedin Louisville, Kentucky.

Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley told Fox News that multiple armed protesters entered the restaurant property, which included outdoor dining space at La Chasse, a restaurant located in the 1300 block of Bardstown Road.

A reporter with the Louisville Courier-Journal tweeted several photos and videos showing the confrontation. An older man with a blue shirt is seen holding a small, Derringer-like pistol.

During the encounter both patrons and protesters brandished firearms, Smiley told Fox News. This incident occurred after the arrests of southbound protesters in the area on the 1500 block of Bardstown Road. The arrests of that group were made after protesters repeatedly blocked the roadway despite officers giving multiple verbal requests for them to utilize the sidewalk.

The protesters were carrying signs that made reference to the officer-involved shooting of Breonna Taylor, whose death sparked protests in the city all of last year. They also had Black Lives Matter signs and shirts. Last week, the Department of Justice announced it would investigate Taylors death even though Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron last year cleared the officers in her death.

A female protester, according to the Courier-Journals footage, was seen with a pink pistol holstered on her hip. Other videos showed three men carrying rifles, wearing tactical vests, and carrying holstered pistols.

Officials confirmed that at least five people were arrested on Saturday.

The photos and video showing the man brandishing a firearm in the midst of protesters and agitators drew immediate comparison to an incident last year in St. Louis, where a man and his wife were seen holding firearms after protesters were marching down a private street. Mark McCloskey, the man seen in St. Louis, told Fox News that the Louisville man has my tremendous respect.

Ive been saying for 10 months now that thats what everybody needs to do. Theyve got to stand up for their rights and not get bullied  and thats what the Second Amendment is there for, he said. I think if youre sitting there having a nice lunch and people storm in, and theyre armed, youve got every right to stand up and defend yourself, McCloskey said.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey are slated to go on trial in November.

Boy, that guys a champion, McCloskey added this week. Hes got a heck of a lot of courage, and I wish everybody else in the country would stand up and not take it sitting down.
MATSAPHA - History was rewritten at UNESWA as for the first time, lecturers, non-academic staff members and students went on strike and put Kwaluseni Campus on lockdown.

This took place yesterday and it lasted the whole day. As a result, the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) administration had to inform the students who were supposed to write their examination papers between 9am and noon, together with those who were expected to sit for their different papers from 2pm to 5pm, that their exams had been postponed indefinitely. It is worth noting that Kwaluseni Campus houses the head offices of the institution, which strives to be the university of choice in Africa.

Assembled

At around 8am, members of the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) who are demanding cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) for 2018/19 and 2019/20, assembled at the campuss main gate, where they found police officers who prevented them from locking out students who were going in and out of the institution. This was because some had come to write their examination papers, while others would go there to study in preparation for the exams. Collectively, the lecturers and non-academic staff members are demanding 14 per cent CoLA for the aforesaid two financial years as for 2018/19, their demand is 8.6 per cent, while for 2019/20 they pegged it at 5.4 per cent. On the other hand, the institution tabled zero per cent as a counter offer and they reached a deadlock.

The matter went to the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC), where a certificate of unresolved dispute was issued, which was used by the trade union to conduct a balloting process for or against the strike action. A majority of its members voted for the strike. At the universitys main gate, the members of ALAAP locked the gates used by motorists, which meant that no car went inside or outside the institution. Therefore, students and staff members had to use the pedestrians gate. As a result, they left their cars outside the campus and due to lack of parking, some parked on private plots and along the main road.

At 9am, when the students who were supposed to write their examination papers arrived at the examination rooms, through a memorandum, they were told that their exams had been postponed. According to the affected students, the memorandum said they would be informed in due course on when they would write their examination papers.
DOJ Raises Concerns About Maricopa County Election Audit

The U.S. Department of Justice on May 5 raised concerns about the security of ballots and the potential for voter intimidation related to the ongoing 2020 election audit in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Pamela Karlan, principal deputy assistant attorney general with the DOJs Civil Rights Division, cited news reports to inquire, in a letter (pdf) to Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, about the custody of the ballots currently under review by a group of private contractors. Karlan also complained that a portion of the audit work that involves canvassing addresses on the ballots may amount to voter intimidation.

The first issue relates to a number of reports suggesting that the ballots, elections systems, and election materials that are the subject of the Maricopa County audit are no longer under the ultimate control of state and local elections officials, are not being adequately safeguarded by contractors at an insecure facility, and are at risk of being lost, stolen, altered, compromised, or destroyed, Karlan wrote, citing a pair of news articles as the source for her assertions.

Related Coverage Arizona Elections Chief Alleges Problems in Maricopa County Audit of 2020 Election

One of the articles Karlan cited claims that there were security lapses in the audit process. The only evidence the article offered were the opinions of a local Democrat politician and a security expert, both of whom formed their conclusions based on a video prepared by a local news channel. The second and third articles cited by Karlan were published in January and February, before the venue and the contractors for the audit were selected.

Karlan also raised concerns about a plan by one of the audit contractors, Cyber Ninjas, to verify the validity of certain voter registrations with questionable addresses by dispatching people to verify whether the voter lived at the address on the registrations.

This description of the proposed work of the audit raises concerns regarding potential intimidation of voters. The Department enforces a number of federal statutes that prohibit intimidation of persons for voting or attempting to vote, Karlan wrote, citing a section of the Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation.

Past experience with similar investigative efforts around the country has raised concerns that they can be directed at minority voters, which potentially can implicate the anti-intimidation prohibitions of the Voting Rights Act.

Such investigative efforts can have a significant intimidating effect on qualified voters that can deter them from seeking to vote in the future.

Fanns office didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who opposes the audit, wrote on Twitter that shes glad to finally see an enforcement agency ready to protect Arizona voters.

On the heels of my letter highlighting security shortfalls at the audit and potential for voter intimidation, DOJ is raising those same concerns, including that ballots arent properly safeguarded, Hobbs said.

Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers, a Republican, issued on Twitter late on May 5 what appeared to be a warning in response to the DOJ letter.

Justice Department  you need to stay in your lane. Do not touch Arizona ballots or machines unless you want to spend time in an Arizona prison, she wrote.

The Brennan Center for Justice think tank and two other groups asked the DOJ last week to send monitors to observe the audit, relaying concerns that auditors were violating federal law.

Specifically, we believe that the senate and its agents, including Cyber Ninjas, are 1) violating their duty under federal law to retain and preserve ballots cast in a federal election, which are and have been in danger of being stolen, defaced, or irretrievably damaged, and 2) preparing to engage in conduct which will constitute unlawful voter intimidation in violation of the Voting Rights Act and other federal laws, Wendy Weiser, Elizabeth Howard, and Hannah Klain from the center at the New York University School of Law said.

But former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a Republican tapped by Fann as the audits liaison, told The Epoch Times that the letters fundamental assertions were completely unfounded.

We will be sending a rebuttal letter I guess for lack of a better word to the same people they sent it to. We welcome DOJ or anyone else to come see whats really happening, because the ballots are secure, and theres no risks or any of the things that claim there are, he said.

The audit is taking place at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Education Secretary Confronted at Budget Hearing for Prioritizing 1619 Project in K-12 Education

At a budget request hearing Wednesday, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) confronted Education Secretary Miguel Cardona over a proposed new rule that would direct a federal grant to prioritize the teaching that America is inherently racist.

Cole, a vice ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was deeply concerned by the Education Departments new priority criteria for a $5.3 million American History and Civics Education grant. The proposal, which is currently undergoing a 30-day public comment period on Federal Register, specifically cites the New York Timess 1619 Project and the works of critical race theorist Ibram X. Kendi as exemplary materials for K-12 educators to use.

The 1619 Project, which sought to reframe U.S. history, consists of a collection of essays that argue, among many other controversial claims, that the primary reason for the American Revolution was to preserve slavery. Its historical accuracy has also been challenged by a variety of scholars, including the projects own fact-checkers.

These references have politicized civics education, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and created an impression that the administration cannot be trusted to promote civics education in a bipartisan, non-ideological way, Cole told Cardona, noting that this controversy is also threatening legislation he cosponsored to expand civics education in American schools.

Civics education, in my view, ought to heal what divides our country and this proposal, in my view, exacerbates that, the congressman added.

In response, Cardona explained that the proposal is not meant to dictate curriculum at the federal level, but to make clear the kind of content his department wants grant applicants to incorporate into their curriculum.

The Education Department does not mandate curriculum, nor does it lean in one way or another, Cardona said. What it does do is provide parameters for grants to be submitted, clarity so that those who are submitting grants can submit.

Yes, we have a divided country, but our education system is going to unite us, he added. The goal here is to build community, help students engage in their learning, and grow together.

But that Registry notice did not unite us and is doing quite the opposite, said an unimpressed Cole.

In a statement to The Oklahoman after the hearing, Cole said Cardonas responses were contradictory and unclear. As a former history professor, I certainly support the desire to offer diverse perspectives in education, he told the newspaper. However, it is concerning and out of line for the department to cite the 1619 Project as factual, historical analysis.

Coles concerns are shared by a group of 39 Senate Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). In a letter sent to Cardona last week, the senators argued that history and civics education should focus on actual knowledge about Americas institutions and historical development, rather than activist indoctrination that 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, the senators wrote.
Elites In Hollywood Pushed a Subversive AgendaInterview With K. Lloyd Billingsley

The Chinese government places heavy restrictions on Hollywood filmmakers looking to get their movies into China, but for many in the industry, censorship is not seen as something new. Many look to history and point to the Hollywood Blacklist during the Cold War, and claim that the United States also had its own forms of film censorship. Yet, there are a few gaps in this story, and to fill in the missing parts in the commonly accepted narrative, we sat down for an interview with K. Lloyd Billingsley, a Policy Fellow at Independent Institute; and author of several books including Hollywood Party for which he collected exclusive documents from the Soviet Union and within the United States on the story behind the Hollywood Blacklist.

Were being heavily censored by Big Tech. Our solution? Create our own independent platform free of censorship.

Join us today on EpochTV. Weve got a country to save: http://epochtv.com/Crossroads
French fishing boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey to draw attention to what they see as unfair restrictions on their ability to fish in UK waters after Brexit, on May 6, 2021. (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images)

EU Warns UK Against Breaching Post-Brexit Pact in Jersey Fishing Row With France

The European Union said on Thursday that the UK has not respected the post-Brexit trade agreement when it imposed additional conditions on French fishing boats in the English Channel.

The latest fishing dispute was triggered when the local government of Jersey said French boats would be required to obtain licenses to carry on fishing in the islands waters.

French fishing communities complained that some boats which had operated there for years were suddenly having their access restricted.

The European Commission said on Thursday that additional conditions attached to the new licenses represented a breach of the trade deal.

Spokeswoman Vivian Loonela said that under the deal, any new specific conditions that limit EU fishing activity in UK waters need to comply with the objectives and principles that have been set out.

Also, but it is an important point, these conditions have to be notified in advance to the other party, so that there is sufficient time to assess and to react to the proposed measures, she told a Brussels briefing.

Based on that, we have indicated that until we have received further justifications from the UK authorities, we consider that these new conditions should not apply.

Earlier on Thursday, dozens of French fishing boats gathered at the port of St Helier, the islands main port, in protest against Jerseys new fishing rules.

The UK government dispatched two Royal Navy shipsHMS Severn and HMS Tamarto patrol in waters around Jersey as a precautionary measure following warnings French fishing boats could try to blockade St Helier.

HMS Tamar leaves Portsmouth, England, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

In response, the French maritime authority said it was sending two police patrol boatsAthos and Themisto the island to ensure the protection of human life at sea.

Ian Gorst, Jerseys external relations minister, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had reiterated his personal support for the island on Thursday.

We agreed that all sides remain committed to engaging with our partners in the EU and France to resolve the concerns arising from the issuing of fishing licenses under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which led to todays protest, Gorst said.

Earlier this week, Frances Seas Minister Annick Girardin said her country may cut off electricity supplies to Jersey, which imports 95 percent of its electricity from France.

Girardin said she was disgusted to learn that Jersey had issued 41 licenses with unilaterally imposed conditions, including the time French fishing vessels could spend in its waters.

Reuters and PA contributed to this report.
Family Never Gave Up on Mentally and Visually Challenged Son Despite Doctors Advice

When a couple were told by doctors to not have much hope for their newborn son who was mentally and visually challenged, the parents relied on their faith and decided to give him a chance; and in doing so they have overcome numerous hardships and defied the odds.

This is the story of how we learned through our  son what is truly important in Gods sight, Joyce Jones told The Epoch Times via email. This is our story of how we are so thankful that we believed God and not the doctors that said, Just put him in a home and forget about him.

When Joyce was pregnant with Darren, she experienced headaches in the first trimester. However, doctors told her she shouldnt worry as every mother had headaches.

Joyce and her husband, Tom, welcomed Darren on April 18, 1973. He weighed only 5 pounds 14 ounces (approx. 2.6 kg). Joyce wondered why he was so tiny despite having a full term.

After Darrens birth, Joyce said doctors diagnosed him with Microcephalic, which is a birth defect where the babys head is smaller than expected, often due to abnormal birth development.

Though his body would grow, he would likely remain helpless as long as he livedlittle more than a vegetable. As to treatment? There was none. Dont get your hopes up. Dont waste your time and money, they told us, the mother of four said, recalling the doctors words.

However, despite the doctors advice, Darrens parents decided to forge ahead to find Darrens potential, even if that meant seeing a little progress. They tried to erase the negative thinking and only focused on the positives.

Keeping a diary about his condition and our feelings became a therapy in itself, Joyce said. Writing helped us cope with the daily hurdles we faced and was an instrumental guide as we structured our approach to life in those most difficult of times.

The parents also focused on early and prolonged intervention. As soon as Darren was home from the hospital, they gave him nutritional supplements. Grinding up pills, mixing them with jelly, peanut butter, or anything to get Darren to take the supplement was not fun, Joyce said.

From when Darren was born up until the age of 2, various doctors insisted that the little boy would never sit up, see, or talk. However, Darren defied the odds and his parents were overjoyed when he began to take his first steps, see a little bit, and talk at the age of 2. I still cry with joy thinking about it, Joyce said.

The first time Darren uttered a word, Joyce said, was when he was 20 months old. The family at that time was remodeling a 100-year-old house while raising two children. As they were refinishing doors of the houses dining room, Darren tugged his moms skirt and instead of crying he appeared to say his first word which was oor.

Joyce further asked him to show her what he meant, and the little boy ran towards one of the doors in the dining room, and pointing at it, kept repeating the word oor.

I picked him up and hugged him, tears brimming in my eyes. And so, the door to speech was finally opened for Darren. More words came slowly at first and always without the beginning sound, but they came, Joyce said.

As Darren grew older, he encountered challenges on his path, but with the strong support of his family, he could conquer them with ease. At the age of 3, he was bullied by kids in his neighborhood who considered him different. Instead of getting upset with them, Joyce explained to them the truth about his condition and from then on the neighborhood kids forged a special bond with Darren.

When he was 4, Darren mastered the big wheel. The little boy was able to separate the tasks of balancing first and then pedaling.

It usually takes a 6-year-old to master riding a two-wheel bike, Joyce said. He jumped on the bike and was peddling down the sidewalk just as though hed been riding a two-wheeler all his life.

After many failed attempts of joining a special education school, Darren was finally eligible to attend special education in a public school. At the end of the year, Joyce was asked by his teacher to make Darren read pages 14 of the worksheets. Joyce thought Darren would have made some progress through the year but didnt anticipate what was to come.

The little boy surprised his mother by reading each word of the story. Not without some stumbling and long pauses, but he read it! Joyce said. And I cried and I still cry when I tell the story.

Darren also went on to learn swimming and participated in a Special Olympics swim meet where he won state gold, leaving everyone in shock.

Darren continued to surprise everyone around him by attempting to talk, walk, swim, and master the wheels; but the biggest amazement to his family came when he began drawing.

Darren only sees peripherally. He has no central vision, Joyce said. At about 8 feet Darren doesnt recognize us when out and about unless we speak. An eye specialist even once told his parents that, Darrens eyes are the worst he has ever seen other than a completely blind person, Joyce said. However, art still happens to be his favorite activity.

In 2017, Darren took part in a statewide drawing contest for the disabled and won 5th place out of the 255 entries submitted to the Missouri Art contest.

His presentation, titled Blind Inspiration, was a story of his life that was presented through the movie Cars. Darren explained that he was like Mater, who was handicapped. Mater was rusty, had no hood, only one headlight, but he was kind and considerate to others and wanted to help others, Joyce said, referring to Darrens presentation. McQueen does not have headlights. Race cars rely on the lights around the track. Darren said, I rely on the light from the Lord.

Thus a large poster of Darrens life came to life.

Despite the challenges the family faced, such as navigating through Darrens behavior issues, and more, they held onto a philosophy that was Trusting in God  not yourself, Joyce said, and thus they have been able to brave through every storm.

As Darrens parents solved every problem that came their way, they wanted to share their joy, love, and success with others. They thus wrote a book called, The Little Boy That Could When Doctors Said He Couldnt.

Our book is about searching outside the box for success when your child seems less than what you hoped for, Joyce said. They have since received an overwhelming response from people inspired by the book.

As for Darren, who is currently 47, he enjoys working, talking, listening to books on tape, and caring for the familys rescue dog.

He is a joy to be with and we are blessed to have him here, Joyce said.

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
An officer from the New York Police Department places barricades outside the apartment building of Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, personal attorney to former President Donald Trump, in Manhattan on April 28, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

FBI Raid Appears to Be Political Retaliation Against Giuliani, Trump: Basham

The FBIs recent raid of Rudy Giulianis apartment and office appears to be a form of retaliation against him and one of his clients, former President Donald Trump, the Democracy Institutes Patrick Basham says.

From the outside, it appears crystal clear that this is a political retaliation against Giuliani and against Trump and the Trump inner circle, more broadly defined, Basham, director of the think tank, told NTD, part of Epoch Media Group, in a recent interview.

FBI agents seized devices belonging to Giuliani in the April 28 raid, according to court filings.

Giulianis lawyer has said the search warrants suggested Giuliani illegally neglected to register as a foreign agent. He and Giuliani have disputed the accusation.

The FBI declined to comment, via email.

Basham said the FBI has increasingly been used as a political tool in recent years, with Trump and those close to him bearing the brunt of the impact.

What has happened with the FBI clearly over the past several yearsat a minimumis that the FBI has been weaponized for political purposes. In recent years, that has been primarily against Trump and those surrounding him, Basham said.

What the FBI is trying to do here is not I think so much get Rudy Giuliani, but get compromising information if it exists on Donald Trump and others in Trumps inner circle, and most importantly, to scare off, to warn off anyone connected with Donald Trump  so that they steer clear of him and they do not do or say anything in public to support the president.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during a briefing at the White House on Sept. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Prosecutors in the case asked a judge this week to appoint a special master, or an outside judge, to review the records seized from Giuliani and another lawyer, Victoria Toensing, in a bid to combat accusations of political animus. Quoting a judge who agreed to appoint a special master after agents raided Michael Cohen, who at the time was a lawyer for Trump, prosecutors said the appointment of a special master would be for the perception of fairness, not fairness itself.'

Basham also reacted to New York Times editor Dean Baquet acknowledging the paper failed to verify information from anonymous sources in falsely stating that Giuliani was briefed by the FBI on allegedly being the target of a Russian intelligence operation.

The New York Times and two other media outlets later corrected their reporting on the matter, though the misinformation still lingers.

This is what happens when the media dont check their sources, dont drill down to the details. And they just go with allegations that are unproven, Basham told NTD.

At a minimum, its malpractice. We see again and again the incompetence of mainstream media outlets. Obviously, theres a litany of errors here. One would like to think, if I can put it in these terms, it is only about incompetence. But the incompetence is so legion, there are so many examples over such a period of time, especially towards President Trump and those of his inner circle, including Rudy Giuliani, its hard after a while not to become more cynical, and think that this isnt simply incompetenceit might actually be conscious misinformation.
Film Review: Minari: Korean Immigrants Succeed in America by Enduring Like Water Celery

PG-13 | 1h 55min | Drama | 12 February 2021 (USA)

Minari did for the 2021 Academy Awards what the pop song Gangnam Style did for music in 2012; it gave notice to America that Korea can come over here and throw down an artistic gauntlet on our own turf. Not only can Korea play in our movie and music playgrounds, but it can also score bigin this case a best supporting actress Oscar.



Coming to America, Korean Version

Its the 1980s. Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun), his wife, Monica (Yeri Han), and their son David (Alan Kim) and daughter Anne (Noel Kate Cho) arrive from California to put down roots in the Arkansas outback.

(LR) Jacob (Steven Yeun), David (Alan S. Kim), Anne (Noel Cho), and Monica (Yeri Han), in Minari. (A24)

Jacob, by trade, inspects baby chickens at a poultry farm (more like a chicken Auschwitz, replete with smoke billowing from heaps of incinerated baby roosters who are of no monetary use to human society). He determines their sex; his wife also does this.

Jacob understandably hates this job and intends to use the familys new stretch of 50 acres to grow the kinds of vegetables that local Korean-Americans have a hard time getting their hands on.

Its a good plan; hes put in the research and informs Monica that if things go as planned, In three years we can quit chicken sexing. Monica, however, is appalled at their living conditions. They gave up a supportive Korean community and regular work in California to live in a double-wide trailer in tornado land.

(LR) Jacob (Steven Yeun), David (Alan S. Kim), Anne (Noel Cho), and Monica (Yeri Han), in Minari. (A24)

She despises the wheels on it, and labels the entire situation as existing in this hillbilly place. One can palpably access the Edward Hopper-like loneliness of America as experienced through her foreign sensibilities.

To give Monica a helping hand, they invite her mom, Soonja (played by Korean screen legend Yuh-jung Youn who won for best supporting actress), to come live with them, in traditional Asian style. She arrives bearing gifts: deer antler broth, anchovies, gochugaru (chili peppers), and that for which the movie is namedthe minari plant. Minari (water celery) is a leafy green vegetable that is used in Korean cooking; its sort of an edible weed that grows near water.

David (Alan S. Kim) and Soonja ( Yuh-jung Youn), in Minari. (A24)

Generation Gap

Little David initially doesnt like grandma. She doesnt bake cookies like a normal grandmother, and she swears too much. Hes averse to having to sleep in the same room with her because she smells like Korea, but she immediately captures the audiences heart with her mixture of irreverent elder wisdom, mischief, and humor. Monica: Im sorry you have to see how our life is now. Soonja: Are you crying again? Why? Because the house has wheels? Its fun!

Grandma Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn) teaches her grandson where the minari plant likes to grow, in Minari. (A24)

Grandson David is a chronic bed-wetter, and grandma teases him about it. She also makes terrible-tasting Korean herbal tea for his heart condition. (He has a small hole in his heart.) David flushes the tea down the toilet and then gets practical-joke revenge on grandmas making fun of his bed-wetting: He wees in the cup instead, and when grandmas distracted with watching professional wrestling on TV (Somebody will get killed!), David replaces her tea-cup with his pee-cup. He gets the intended reaction, but grandma also appreciates a good practical joke, and eventually they become fast friends.

Tribulations

So Davids got a heart defect, moms lonely, frustrated, and angry, dad is harried and put-upon, and grandma is frail. They have no choice but to bear these crosses. However, friendly neighbor Paul (Will Patton), who offers to work for Jacob, dispensing many prayers, exorcisms, blessings, and speaking in tongueslikes to bear an actual life-sized wooden cross up and down the backwoods dirt roads on Sunday. Thats his form of church.

Husband Jacob (Steven Yeun) and wife Monica ( Yeri Han ) have one of many tense moments, in Minari. (A24)

Theres perhaps a nod to Robert Redfords The Milagro Beanfield War, where the main character, Joe Mondragon, steals forbidden government water to irrigate his crops. Jacob, pooh-poohing the advice of a local water dowser about how to find waterfinding that much too witchytells son David that Koreans will use their heads and scientific deduction to not have to pay for superstitious water divining. When the well he deduces eventually runs dry, Jacob ends up using the family trailer water to irrigate crops.

Son David (Alan S. Kim, L) and his father, Jacob (Steven Yeun), figure out the best place to dig a well in Minari. (A24)

Monica tells her mom, He thinks I dont know. They soon have no shower or cooking water. Speaking of water, three of the Chinese five elements theory of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are well-represented in the filmtheir ability to nurture and also to destroy the plans of humans.

Overall

Minari is timely: The Yis white neighbors are quite nice. Sometimes, though, largely due to the harmless naivete of children, the occasional ignorant comment or assumption crops up, such as: Whys your face so flat? Its not. Wanna sleep over at my house?

One cute instance is a little girl in church who approaches the Yis daughter, Anne, and tries to speak her language, asking Anne if she can let her know if she gets a word right. She speaks some gibberish of the ching-chong type and eventually hits on an actual Korean word. When informed of its meaning, the delighted child says, Thats so cool!

So basically, while Jacob and Monica fight constantly throughout the film about whether Jacob is putting the farm before the family, much of how their life ends up running its course is dictated by fate, and as mentioned, the elements have much to do with this. In a sense, the films characters are bystanders in their own story. The only real cultural assimilation we see is the family going to church, and hard-headed Jacob finally coming around to the rural Arkansan cultural method of locating water.

The minari plant is obviously significantly symbolic. The essence of its character is that it endures hardship well. And so this would fundamentally be a lesson about going with the flow, since nature ultimately decides things, as well as the ability to endure, forbear, and stay the course in life.

The Golden Globe Awards disqualified Minari from the best drama category, due to its having too much spoken Korean. But its kind of a tough call: Most of the cast is Korean, and yes, its mostly in Korean with subtitles, so it was treated as a foreign language film, yet its director, Lee Isaac Chung, is Korean-American. It was produced by American companies (and Brad Pitt), takes place in Arkansas, and basically explores the American immigrants problem of how to assimilate while holding on to ones roots. In any case, Im thankful that it won something major.

(LR) Jacob (Steven Yeun), David (Alan S. Kim), Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn), Monica ( Yeri Han ), and Anne (Noel Kate Cho) in Minari. (A24)

Minari was up for six Oscars, and won, as mentioned, best supporting actress at the 93rd Academy Awards. I recommend watching the movie, and then Yuh-jung Youns charming, endearing Oscar speech on YouTube.

Minari

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan S. Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Yuh-jung Youn, Will Patton

Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: Feb. 12, 2021 (USA)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times. Mark has 20 years experience as a professional New York actor, a classical theater training, a BA in philosophy, and recently narrated the Epoch Times audiobook, How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World: https://www.thespecterofcommunism.com/en/audiobook/

Rotten Tomatoes page: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/mark-jackson/movies
Pharmacist arranges all the empty vials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in Toronto, Canada, on April 19, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

Five Australians Suffer Blood-Clots in One Week After AstraZeneca Jab

Five Australians have developed blood clotting syndrome after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in the past week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has confirmed.

They are a 66-year-old man in Queensland, a 74-year-old man and 51-year-old woman in Victoria, a 70-year-old man in Tasmania and a 64-year-old man from Western Australia.

Four of them have already left the hospital, while the Queensland man is currently being treated in the intensive care unit. He was rushed to Townsville hospital while suffering abdominal pain five days after getting the first dose of the AstraZeneca jab on April 30.

I dont believe in coincidences, he told The Courier Mail. If Im fighting fit, vertical, extremely active one minute and then on my death bed the next. The only thing thats changed is the AstraZeneca vaccine that Ive had.

There is a problem here. I nearly died. I dont want anyone else to go through that.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits the CSL AstraZeneca vaccine manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 12, 2021. (David Caird-Pool/Getty Images)

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr. Jeannette Young said his case was a direct result of the vaccination.

My thoughts go out to him and his family at this very difficult time for them, Young said.

The Queensland man has been diagnosed with thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot forms either in a vein or an artery. The condition can be life-threatening if the blood clot travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in the lungs blood vessels.

A total of 11 blot-clotting cases had been recorded since the beginning of the vaccine rollout, with about 1.4 million doses administered.

TGA Head Adjunct Prof. John Skerritt said many of the people who developed the symptoms had serious and significant underlying health conditions and added that those with pre-existing clotting conditions did not show an increased risk.

He also said this is only a rare adverse event, stressing the benefits of this vaccine for the over 50s still very significantly exceeds the risks.

Remember that the risk of serious illness or death dramatically increases by every 10 years of age once you turn 50, Skerritt said.

Sadly, we see that Australia is not immune from community transmission, and were certainly not immune from cases coming in through hotel quarantine.

Remember that the risk of serious illness or death dramatically increases by every 10 years of age once you turn 50, and by being vaccinated were not only protecting ourselves, but we are also protecting our loved ones, he added.

The Tasmanian health department had held an expert alert advisory panel to review the rare blood-clotting case, public health acting director Dr. Scott McKeown announced.

I want to reassure Tasmanians that vaccination remains the best way to protect against severe illness and death from COVID-19 and is a core element of the pandemic response, McKeown said.

Australian immunisation experts report that the overall rate of this rare syndrome is about six per million people vaccinated.

AstraZeneca vaccine is Australias only locally-made shot, with 50 million doses to be manufactured onshore to vaccinate the majority of the population. However, health authorities last month no longer recommended the jab for people younger than 50 due to a rare but fatal blood clots event.
Florid Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a report from a member of his administration during a meeting at the governor's office in Tallahassee, Fla., on April 1, 2021. (Screenshot via Epoch Times)

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs GOP-Backed Election Bill Limiting Mail-In Voting, Drop Boxes

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 6 signed a Republican-backed election integrity law that places restrictions on ballot drop boxes and mail-in ballots.

When signing the bill, the Republican governor said it would place Florida ahead of other states in preventing any potential voter fraud.

Right now I have what we think is the strongest election integrity measures in the country, he said. Were also banning ballot harvesting. Were not going to let political operatives go and get satchels of votes and dump them in some dropbox.

The bill (pdf) would require signature verification for voters; revise distance limits for people at polling places, early voting sites, and related sites; have election workers monitor ballot drop boxes; and include more identification requirements for dropping off ballots.

The legislation would place limits on who can return a finished mail-in ballot and prevent election officials from entering consent agreements; it would also require voters to submit yearly requests for mail-in ballots, according to the text of the bill.

Drop boxes must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, the bill states, adding that they must be monitored in person.

The prohibition on the use of private funds for election-related expenses is an apparent response to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other groups having provided funding to some states and locals last year to help run elections. Republicans have expressed concern that the funding mostly targeted Democrat-aligned areas and hurt the GOP.

The new measure dropped a wet signature requirement that was in earlier versions of the bill, whereby a physically signed signature is kept on file to verify a voters signature.

Me signing this bill here says: Florida, your vote counts. Your vote is going to cast with integrity and transparency, and this is a great place for democracy,' DeSantis said on May 6.

Several Democrat-aligned groups, corporate news outlets, and corporations panned the bill as being unfairly restrictive, while the NAACP and Common Cause have stated they would immediately file a lawsuit in court alleging that it disenfranchises black, Latino, and disabled people.

Were actively trying to suppress peoples right to vote, Democratic state Rep. Michele Rayner said on April 28 on the state House floor, alleging the measure would be the revival of Jim Crow in this state, without elaborating or providing evidence for the claim.

Democrats have been unilaterally opposed to the election measures signed by DeSantis and Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, as well as bills that are currently being debated in Texas and Arizona. After Kemp signed Georgias bill several weeks ago, multinational corporations such as Delta and Coca-Colaand their CEOsechoed claims made by Democrats saying the bill would disenfranchise minority voters, prompting calls from Republican lawmakers to reject funding from such companies.

Kemp and Republicans also said that Democratic talking points about the Georgia bill were misleading, saying, Its easier to vote in Georiga with the new law than it is in New York.

Minutes after DeSantis signed the bill, election attorney Marc Elias said his team filed a lawsuit challenging the bill on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Black Voters Matter Fund, and the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans.

SB 90 does not impede all of Floridas voters equally, the lawsuit alleged. It is crafted to and will operate to make it more difficult for certain types of voters to participate in the states elections, including those voters who generally wish to vote with a vote-by-mail ballot and voters who have historically had to overcome substantial hurdles to reach the ballot box, such as Floridas senior voters, youngest voters, and minority voters.

But conservative groups praised the measure.

Governor DeSantis has led the fight for election integrity reforms in Florida every step of the way. We applaud the governor for signing SB 90 this morning, a strong bill that will ensure it remains easy to vote and hard to cheat in the Sunshine State, Jessica Anderson, the executive director of Heritage Action, said in a May 6 statement.

Correction: A previous version of this article included an item that wasnt part of the bill. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in front of Napoleon's tomb during a ceremony to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte's death, at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris, France, May 5, 2021. (Christophe Petit Tesson/Reuters)

Frances Macron Commemorates Napoleons Ode to Political Will

PARISPresident Emmanuel Macron laid a wreath at Napoleon Bonapartes tomb on Wednesday, commemorating the bicentenary of the death of an emperor who overthrew the nascent Republic before expanding Frances empire in bloody battles across Europe.

Numerous past presidents have shunned paying tribute to one of Frances most divisive leaders, but in a speech at the Institut de France, established by Napoleon on the banks of the river Seine, Macron said history should be confronted.

Napoleon was to some a military genius, a modernizer, and national hero. To others, he was an imperialist, warmonger, and enslaver.

The anniversary was a time for enlightened commemoration though not celebration, Macron said. He described Napoleons decision to restore slavery as a betrayal but praised a man who helped shape modern-day France.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron speak with Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg as they leave after a ceremony to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon Bonapartes death, at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris, France, May 5, 2021. (Christophe Petit Tesson/Reuters)

If his splendor resists the erosion of time, it is because his life carries in each of us an intimate echo, Macron said. Napoleon is a part of us.

Napoleon seized power in a 1799 coup, overthrowing the fledgling democracy that deposed the monarchy. Battlefield victories spread his power across Europe before his defeat to the British at Waterloo.

He rolled back advances in womens rights and reversed the abolition of slavery in Frances colonies as France and England fought for supremacy in the West Indies sugar trade.

A master administrator, he created Frances penal code as well as the administrative system of prefets and Lycee high schools that exist today.

Outside Les Invalides where Napoleons tomb lies, several dozen pro-Napoleon supporters chanted Long live France, long live the emperor.

The life of Napoleon is an ode to political will. The path of a child from Ajaccio who became the master of Europe shows clearly that a man can change the course of history, said Macron, Frances youngest leader since Napoleon.

The anniversary had become deeply politicized in a country that is one year out from a presidential election.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Macrons main challenger 12 months out from the vote, criticized the president for not celebrating the legacy of an eternal French hero.

Hard left lawmaker Alexis Corbiere previously had said there should no homage to a person who buried the first republican experience of our history.

Napoleon died in exile on Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean at the age of 51.

By Elizabeth Pineau
MBABANE  The death toll of the passengers of the kombi which was involved in a horror crash at Gobholo on Tuesday afternoon has risen to 10.

The accident is believed to have been caused by the kombis faulty brakes and left residents of Gobholo reeling from shock. Eyewitnesses said the kombi plunged down a 60-metre cliff, landing in the Gobholo River. The latest death toll was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati. The deceased have been identified as Xondile Lukhele (Sihlongonyane) (30), Somandla Maseko (27), Siphiwe Shabangu (53), Linda Mabuza (18), Phindile Tsela (50), Lucy Magagula, Bhekumuzi Mdluli (29), Mfanzile Magagula and Gcebile Dlamini, who died while undergoing treatment at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Dlamini died yesterday morning and her next of kin have not been identified yet. One of the victims has still not been identified.

Survived

Some of the passengers who survived the accident were identified as Mthobisi Mavuso (14) of Gobholo, Joseph Dlamini (Kasiko), Thandeka Mabuza (24) from Ntsintsa and Thulani Dlamini (33) from Sitseni. Three of survivors sustained serious injuries and are currently recuperating at the Mbabane Government Hospital, while Thulani was treated and discharged on the same day following the accident. In an interview with some of the survivors, they mentioned that it was their first time to see the kombi in the area. They stated that the kombi showed signs of being faulty, making them uncomfortable to board it, although they continued with the ride.

Abraham Dabulabhande Mdluli who is a father to the deceased driver, Bhekumuzi, said although his sons demise was shocking, he had been followed by misfortunes in the past.

Brake

Mdluli said his son, a few years ago, survived an accident along the Dlangeni Road. According to Mdluli, his son had been requested by some Chritians to take them to a certain church when the vehicle experienced a brake failure, landing in a huge donga. He said the accident was not severe and he escaped unscathed with the Christians. He, however, fractured his leg such that doctors had to insert certain metals in it. Following the accident, Mdluli said his son left to work in South Africa, where he drove tractors. Mdluli passed his condolences to the relatives of the deceased passengers, adding that he was at pains that his son was the alleged cause of all the deaths. If only he died alone and not with the passengers who had entrusted their lives to him, he said.
Fullerton Shoots Down Ban on Unoccupied Short-Term Rentals

Fullerton City Council has rejected a complete ban on whole-house short-term rentals (STRs).

The council during a May 4 meeting instead proposed shortening the cap on unoccupied STRs in an attempt to compromise after being hit with lawsuits from parties on both sides of the issue.

It will vote during its May 18 meeting on an amended ordinance that would reduce the limit of total allowable whole-house STRs within the city from 325 to 100.

I think 100 is a good number, Councilman Fred Jung, who proposed the cap, told The Epoch Times on May 5.

Its a compromise that would get us across the finish line and be done with this thing.

The issue dates back to the previous council, which implemented the original ordinance that placed a cap on whole-house rentals.

Jung called the ordinance a terrible decision.

No one would have known about short-term rentals in the city, were it not for the previous council, Jung said. They took it upon themselves to make and craft an ordinance that didnt need to exist.

Soon after the ordinance went into effect, a hotel and restaurants union threatened litigation, claiming the city didnt follow the California Environmental Quality Act. Many of the union members are hotel and restaurant workers, and the STRs provide competition for vacation rentals.

As a result of the legal threat, the current council moved to ban whole-house STRs, and the proposed ordinance made it through its first reading on April 20.

STR property owners then filed a lawsuit to counter the councils decision, claiming the ban would jeopardize the income of whole-house STR owners and the livelihoods of those wishing to rent them within the city.

The council voted during its most recent meeting to throw out the whole-house STR ban.

Jung proposed to limit the cap to 100, since there are not that many whole-house STRs operating within the city to begin with. He said that out of the citys 47,000 homes, about 64 are STRs, with even fewer whole-house rentals.
Attendees take part in G-7 foreign ministers meeting in London, UK, on May 5, 2021. (Ben Stansall/Pool via Reuters)

G-7 Scolds China and Russia Over Threats, Bullying, Rights Abuses

LONDONThe Group of Seven scolded both China and Russia on Wednesday, casting the Kremlin as malicious and Beijing as a bully, and expressed support for Taiwan and Ukraine.

Founded in 1975 as a forum for the Wests richest nations to discuss crises such as the OPEC oil embargo, the G-7 this week addressed what it perceives as the biggest current threats: China, Russia and the coronavirus pandemic.

G-7 foreign ministers, in a 12,400-word communique, said Russia was trying to undermine democracies and threatening Ukraine while the Chinese communist regime was guilty of human rights abuses and of using its economic clout to bully others.

There was, however, little concrete action mentioned in the communique that would unduly worry either Chinese leader Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The G-7 said it would bolster collective efforts to stop Chinas coercive economic policies and to counter Russian disinformationpart of a move to present the West as a much broader alliance than just the core G-7 countries.

I think (China is) more likely to need to, rather than react in anger, it is more likely going to need to take a look in the mirror and understand that it needs to take into account this growing body of opinion, that thinks these basic international rules have got to be adhered to, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Russia denies it is meddling beyond its borders and says the West is gripped by anti-Russian hysteria. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) says the West is a bully and that its leaders have a post-imperial mindset that makes them feel they can act like global policemen.

We will work collectively to foster global economic resilience in the face of arbitrary, coercive economic policies and practices, the G-7 ministers said on China.

They said they supported Taiwans participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assemblyand expressed concerns about any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese regime sees Taiwan as a part of its territory and has threatened war to bring the island into its fold. It opposes any official Taiwanese representation on an international level. Taiwan, a self-ruled island, is a de facto independent country with its own democratically elected government, military, constitution, and currency.

On Russia, the G-7 was similarly supportive of Ukraine but offered little beyond words.

We are deeply concerned that the negative pattern of Russias irresponsible and destabilizing behavior continues, G-7 ministers said.

This includes the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraines borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea, its malign activities aimed at undermining other countries democratic systems, its malicious cyber activity, and (its) use of disinformation.

Vaccines

On the coronavirus pandemic, the G-7 pledged to work with industry to expand the production of affordable COVID-19 vaccines, but stopped short of calling for a waiver of intellectual property rights of major pharma firms.

We commit to working with industry to facilitate expanded manufacturing at scale of affordable COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics and their component parts, the G7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

They said the work would include promoting partnerships between companies, and encouraging voluntary licensing and tech transfer agreements on mutually agreed terms.

By William James, Guy Faulconbridge and Elizabeth Piper

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
Relatives carry a coffin with the body of terlevion journalidst Nemat Rawan he was shot dead by gunmen, in Kandahar Province on May 6, 2021. (Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images)

Gunmen Shoot Dead Former News Anchor in Afghanistans Kandahar

KABULA former journalist who worked for Afganistans finance ministry was shot dead by gunmen in the southern city of Kandahar on Thursday, provincial officials said, as violence mounted across the country amid a U.S. troop withdrawal.

No group immediately claimed responsibility but government officials and Western powers usually blame Taliban insurgents for such attacks, which they deny.

Nimat Rawan, a former news anchor at ToloNews, Afghanistans largest private television station, was shot dead on Thursday morning, provincial police spokesman Jamal Naser said. Police were investigating, he said.

Many similar killings have taken place in recent months, often targeting journalists, civil society activists, government officials, and judges.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the terrorist group was behind the shooting of Rawan in Kandahar. In tweets on Wednesday, Mujahid had warned against propaganda and one-sided broadcasts by some media outlets.

If this continues, the responsibility for the next steps will fall on the media officials and its staff themselves, he said.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack and said the attackers could not silence the peoples freedom of speech.

Afghan security forces are locked in daily combat with the Taliban, which has waged war to overthrow the foreign-backed government since it was ousted from power in Kabul in 2001.

The United States has begun to pull out its forces under an agreement reached with the Taliban in talks last year, although it has missed a May 1 withdrawal deadline. Critics of President Joe Bidens decision to bring the troops home say the Taliban will try to sweep back into power.

In just two days, the Taliban captured a second district in the northern province of Baghlan on Thursday, provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat said.

Six Afghan security forces were killed in a Taliban night-time attack on their outpost in the central province of Ghazni, a local official said.

The Afghan government says the Taliban have killed and wounded more than 50 troops in attacks in at least 26 provinces during the last 24 hours, while its forces killed dozens of Taliban over the same period.

By Hamid Shalizi
Half-Way There: South Australian Dying Laws Move One Step Closer

South Australias upper house voted to pass euthanasia legislation overnight, marking the 17th attempt at passing the laws in 25 years.

Members of the Legislative Council passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, 14 to seven, via a conscience vote.

Halfway there, Labors Shadow Attorney-General Kyam Maher wrote on Twitter at 1.24 a.m. Thursday AEST after a lengthy debate.

Maher sponsored the Bill along with lower house MP Susan Close, making South Australia the fourth jurisdiction in the country to legalise euthanasia following Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania earlier this year.

Maher says he was motivated to introduce the laws after watching his mothers struggle with a terminal illness.

The Bill contains 68 safeguards and provisions for those wishing to end their lives, including being at a minimum age of 18 and a resident of South Australia for at least 12 months.

A general view of the South Australian Legislative Council during the opening of the South Australian Parliament in Adelaide, Australia on February 5, 2020. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

The patient must be suffering an incurable disease or condition and have a life expectancy of fewer than six months, or 12 months if the condition is a neurodegenerative disease.

It also requires patients to show they have decision-making capacity, be able to give informed consent, and must undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners who are unrelated to the person.

A final sign-off is needed in the presence of two independent witnesses.

Maher and fellow Labor MP Clare Scriven played down concerns around elder abuse or coercion, saying there was no evidence of such incidents.

They cited Victorias experience with euthanasiawhose laws came into effect in mid-2019.

In the first years of new legislation there tends to be strict adherence, but culture changes over time and therefore practice changes over time, Scriven said during the Parliamentary debate.

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, she said.

Heath Harley-Bellemore, vice-president of the Western Australian Legal Theory Association and a researcher into voluntary assisted dying, found that Victorias experience also placed considerable responsibility on doctors to assess patients on whether they had the capacity to make an independent decision on euthanising themselves.

Safeguards also became mere checklists for general practitioners, who were already managing significant day-to-day workloads.

There is seemingly no active policing outside of paperwork compliance. While there is a criminal penalty for those who do such a thing, monitoring such an issue and launching an investigation is difficult and unlikely, he wrote in The Epoch Times, noting that the laws were unable to prevent doctor-shopping either.

Tasmanian State MP Michael Ferguson, who opposed euthanasia laws during Parliamentary debates in March, said, A key foundation of law in Western civilisation is the prohibition of intentional killing.

In the sincere but misdirected attempt to end all suffering, that foundation is being undermined and eroded, he told Parliament in December.

And if that occurs, we are left with no foundation and no coherent basis to continue to believe in the fundamental dignity of human life.
Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong is seen in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre after jailed for unauthorised assembly near the police headquarters during last year's anti-government protests in Hong Kong, China Dec. 3, 2020. (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Jailed for Further 10 Months Over June 4 Assembly

HONG KONGHong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong will face an additional 10 months in jail for participating in an unauthorised assembly on June 4 last year to commemorate the 1989 crackdown on protesters in and around Beijings Tiananmen Square.

It was the first time the vigil was banned in the global financial hub, with police citing coronavirus restrictions on group gatherings, as it did for all demonstrations last year. It is expected to face a similar fate this year.

Still, tens of thousands of people lit candles across the city in what was largely a peaceful event last June, bar a brief skirmish with riot police in one neighbourhood.

Commemorations of the Tiananmen crackdown are banned in mainland China, but Hong Kong traditionally held the largest vigils globally every year, having been promised certain freedoms when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, including rights of expression and assembly.

Wong, 24, already in prison due to other illegal assembly convictions and among 47 activists charged under the citys sweeping national security law, was sentenced in the District Court on Thursday.

A 15-month sentence was reduced to 10 due to his guilty plea.

Judge Stanley Chan also sentenced Lester Shum, Jannelle Leung and Tiffany Yuen to between four and six months. Twenty others facing similar June 4 Tiananmen Square anniversary charges are due to appear in court on June 11.

Freedom of assembly is not unlimited, Chan said.

The anniversary struck an especially sensitive nerve in the former British colony last year, falling just as Beijing prepared to introduce new security legislation which punishes anything China sees as subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

This year, the June 4 Tiananmen Square anniversary event is particularly awkward for Beijing, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party.

When asked whether commemorating the victims of Tiananmen would violate the new security law, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam last month said it was important to show respect to the Party.

China has never provided a full account of the 1989 Tiananmen Square violence. The death toll given by officials was about 300, most of them soldiers, but rights groups and witnesses say thousands of people may have died.

Wong was given a 13.5 month sentence in December over an unlawful anti-government rally on June 21, 2019 and an additional four-month sentence for participating in an unauthorised protest in October 2019 while also breaking a government law against wearing face masks.

While in prison Wong was arrested in January on suspicion of breaking the new security law, which was introduced in July 2020, by taking part in an unofficial vote to pick opposition candidates for a since-postponed election, which authorities describe as a vicious plot to overthrow the government.

By Jessie Pang
How the Biden-Harris Migration Fix Would Throw Good Billions After Bad

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 didnt 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, didnt 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.

This article was written by Vince Bielski for RealClearInvestigations.
ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations Officers arrest criminal aliens with criminal records who are subject to removal from the United States, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2020. (Michael Johnson/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

ICE Deportations Hit Record Low in April

Arizona AG says Biden admin is 'abolishing ICE through administrative acts'

The number of deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April has hit a record low, the agency told The Epoch Times on May 6.

The figure comes amidst a 20-year record-high number of illegal border crossings.

ICE completed 2,962 deportations last month, not including Title 42 expulsions, a reflection of the restrictions that the Biden administration has placed on the agency.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has concentrated its limited law enforcement resources on threats to national security, border security, and public safety, an ICE spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.

This has allowed ICE to focus on the quality of enforcement actions and how they further the security and safety of our communities rather than the simple quantity of arrests and removals.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released an operational update in April that stated more than 172,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in March along the Southwest border.

Compared to February, March saw a 100 percent increase of unaccompanied minors from Central America18,890, the agency stated.

ICE continues to implement the civil immigration enforcement priorities directed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Jan. 20, to focus our limited resources on threats to national security, border security and public safety, the spokesperson wrote. ICE will continue to carry out its duty to enforce the laws of the United States in accordance with the Departments national security and public safety mission.

Last week, as part of a court-ordered finding related to a lawsuit Arizona and Montana filed against the DHS, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovichs office announced that they acquired internal documents and emails from the federal government that convey a shocking disregard for the safety of American communities by the Biden Administration, said Brnovich. The Biden Administration and its radical allies are effectively abolishing ICE through administrative acts.

Administrative records discovered as part of the lawsuit against DHS and ICE officials resulted in 5,000 pages of records, out of which only 170 werent redacted.

Arizona and Montana are the first states to find the information.

His office stated that the states are challenging DHSs interim guidance that presumptively halts nearly all deportations outside of three narrow categories.

The two states took legal action in March in order to halt the Biden administrations new immigration regulations, which they claim would cause an adverse effect on the states.

According to Brnovichs office, emails in the records disclose that a high-ranking ICE official said the new policy would cause an approximately 50 percent decrease in ICE arrests.

In addition, other data pointed out that the policy could lead to felons convicted of murder, kidnapping, assault, sexual assault, weapons, and other serious charges being set free into communities.

The Epoch Times reached out to DHS for comment.
A photo from a game camera that caught illegal aliens walking through private ranch land in Jim Hogg County, Texas, on March 25, 2021. (Courtesy of Susan Kibbe)

Increasing Number of Illegal Aliens Evading Border Patrol; 42,000 in April

McALLEN, TexasWith Border Patrol agents overwhelmed by family groups and unaccompanied minors, more illegal aliens are escaping into the interior of the United States and fewer drugs are being seized.

During April, more than 177,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended by Border Patrol, according to preliminary Customs and Border Protection (CBP) numbers, as provided to Jaeson Jones, former captain in the Texas Department of Public Safety.

A further 42,620 illegal aliens escaped arrest by Border Patrol, which are known as gotaways.

During February and March, the gotaway number was around 30,000 per month, or 1,000 per day. Thats now up to almost 1,400 per day.

What gotaway numbers really signify is the level of infiltration coming into the country thats getting past CBP at the border, Jones told The Epoch Times.

The gotaway number is generally considered a conservative amount, as many more are believed to have slipped through undetected. The number is calculated from agents submitting information on anyone they observed getting away, or they noticed clues (including tracks or debris) signifying that someone has gotten through, or from cameras or sensors.

The gotaway numbers dont reflect the number of illegal border-crossers who run back to Mexico if theyre chasedthose are counted separately as turnbacks, and for April, that number was around 14,500. Most likely, those people will continue to try until they get through.

The increasing gotaway number reflects Border Patrols focus being forced into humanitarian care as single males and females slip through the gaps.

But it also signifies something else and that is that more drugs are also flowing into the country. If you cant catch the people, you cant catch the dope either, Jones said.

The number of gotaways is being reflected in the issues that counties north of the border are currently facing.

At least five Texas counties have issued declarations of local disaster, while one school district is warning its parents to please be watchful of your children as they are playing outside, walking home from school, or generally out of the house.

Landowners and ranchers dozens of miles north of the border have long dealt with illegal aliens traversing their land as they try to evade Border Patrol highway checkpoints and law enforcement. They commonly leave gates open, which mixes stock; destroy fences and gates; light fires; break into properties; and steal valuables.

But todays human smugglers and illegal aliens evading capture are different. The smugglers are armed, and the illegal aliens are often convicted criminals.

While the Biden administration has called the unprecedented surge in numbers a challenge, neither the president nor the vice president has visited the border.

On April 25, when a reporter asked Vice President Kamala Harris why she hasnt visited the southern border, she replied, Im not going to play political games.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on May 4, After coming into office, our administration immediately jumped into action to address the influx of migrants at the bordersomething that began during and was exacerbated by the Trump administration.

However, the number of total apprehensions by Border Patrol this April (177,431) is 10 times the apprehensions from April 2020, when Border Patrol caught 17,106 people. In 2019, during the previous crisis, the number was 109,415.
School board member Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher speaks during debate on the confirmation of Louis Fountain as the district's new director of equity, inclusion and belonging. in Johnston, Iowa, on May 3, 2021. (Screenshot The Epoch Times/Johnson Community School District)

Iowa School Board Appoints Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Despite Controversial Social Media Posts

JOHNSTON, IowaA local school board in Iowa approved a director of equity, inclusion, and belonging despite social media posts that denounced black conservatives with racially insulting language and expressed fear and distrust of the police.

The nominee refused to apologize, saying his posts reflect his and others experiences.

On May 3, the school board of Johnston, a suburb of Des Moines, approved Louis Fountain as its newest administrative team member by a 61 vote.

In late April, the district had announced Fountain as its choice for the position. But on April 27, reports surfaced that Fountain had made several controversial social media posts.

Some Johnston residents asked the board to delay the vote and give the community an opportunity to hold a town hall meeting to discuss the issue.

Give yourself time to process all of the facts and give them fair thought before making your decisions, said Johnston resident Roxanne McGee, who questioned if students of law enforcement officers or conservative families would feel a sense of inclusion and belonging.

Mary White, another Johnston resident, said she doesnt believe parents in the district are racist but they are being viciously attacked and not included in the educational content taught their children.

A war on police is being commenced, White said. Teaching our children to be scared of the badge is not going to help the situation. These are people that I work with. These are people that I entrust my life with. This inherently is wrong.

White questioned if Fountains social media posts violated the districts own policy.

Does the district now condone these statements, she asked. Do they publicly condone these actions? It is in violation of your own policy.

The districts policy states that while employees have a right to speak out on matters of public concern, the district has the right to respond when personal use of social media interferes with the employees ability to perform his or her duties or affects the districts efforts to provide educational services.

If you submit or post information or comments that are not related to the District, your activities may still result in professional repercussions, the policy states.

Mr. Fountain is bringing a rich set of skills, relationships, and experiences to our district, Superintendent Laura Kacer said, as reported on the districts website. He is passionate about equity and inclusion and we are excited to have him here in Johnston to do this important and needed work.

Social Media Posts

Fountain announced publicly on his Facebook page he was beyond excited to be Johnstons pick on April 22. His social media account was subsequently scrubbed, although The Epoch Times saved several posts before they were deleted.

On Feb. 18, he posted: Herschel Walker didnt forget he was BLACK, he just doesnt want to be.

Fountain liked two comments referring to Kanye West and Walker, two black conservatives, by a derogatory name used for blacks who are said to sell out to whites.

Fountain advocated against police being in schools, referring to a school-to-prison pipeline if police are present there.

He also said he fears the police driving behind him. History has shown me to fear the badge more than to fear a gun.

On May 31, as Black Lives Matter protests were taking place in Des Moines, Fountain shared 10 detailed tips for taking part in a protest, with advice such as: Water makes pepper spray worse. Use baking soda in water or liquid antacid in water. Dont wear contacts.

In one post, Fountain vowed to pack the electoral map on his next trip so he knows where not to stop for gas.

He also shared a photo of the fly that landed on former Vice President Mike Pences head during the vice presidential debate, saying, usually flies land on [expletive deleted].

Despite these and other posts, Fountain was approved by the school board.

Board Members Comment

At the May 3 board meeting, Jennifer Chamberland, one of the six members who voted yes, said she struggled with the topic and understands the concerns, but she added that as a white person, I dont necessarily have to understand why comments are made in that regard.

She said that while she hopes all students are included in the inclusiveness, the position is more geared toward creating equity with our minority populations.

So for that, to say that our focus should be on making sure that white kids feel accepted is not to my understanding necessarily what we should be focusing on.

Board member Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher also voted for his confirmation. She said as a person of color on the board, she received messages that were absolutely offensive, hurtful, and disgusting from the community.

Mangra-Dutcher said she feels the same way as some of Fountains posts.

I will say right here in front of everybody, there are places in the state that I dont feel comfortable stopping in, she said. I have stopped in some place and been told, We dont serve people like you.

Jeanie Kerber, the boards vice president, asked the community to open up their hearts and their minds to Fountain.

I just cant ignore the parallel that Mr. Fountain is likely experiencing right now and that of not being welcomed and told that he does not belong here, she said. Every student belongs here. I believe that Mr. Fountain belongs here.

Alicia Clevenger was the only member to vote against Fountains confirmation. While she supports the position, she was frustrated she wasnt allowed to ask Fountain questions.

If we were hiring a special ed teacher, and they had 800 comments that were great, but they had three that we had questions about, I struggle to believe that we wouldnt ask questions, she said. I wanted to know how can he say those things about Herschel Walker and then teach our kids about inclusivity. We have children of color in our district from conservative homes.

After the vote, Fountain thanked his supporters for fighting for him.

Many of the comments I have made about what it is to feel safe in America as a black person reflect the experiences that I and many others have had, Fountain said. I do not apologize for this.
Finnegan Lee Elder (R) shows a crucifix to co-defendant Gabriel Natale-Hjorth before a jury began deliberating their fate in their trial for the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer on a street near the hotel where they were staying while on vacation in Rome in summer 2019, in Rome, on May 5, 2021. (Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo)

Italian Court Hands 2 US Tourists Life Sentences for Murdering Police Officer as Teens

ROMETwo 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 defense 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 Italys penal code, criminals serving life terms can be eligible for parole after 21 years, if they have a good behavior record.

The defense 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 Regas widow, clutching a photograph of her dead husband, was in the courtroom and sobbed after the verdict was announced.

Rosa Maria Esilio, widow of slain Carabinieri military police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, speaks to the media after U.S. citizens Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth were found guilty of the murder of her husband, in Rome, Italy, on May 5, 2021. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

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.

The second policeman, Andrea Varriale, denied this and said they clearly identified themselves. He hugged his slain partners 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.

Police officer Mario Cerciello Rega (R), 35, and his wife on his wedding day in June 2019. (Screenshot via Reuters)

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 apologized 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.

By Crispian Balmer and Cristiano Corvino
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has announced the postponement of its flagship event, LiftEx Bahrain, to March next year amid global uncertainities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event was to be held from September 27 to 28 this year at the Gulf Hotel and Convention Centre, Manama.

Announcing the decision, CEO Ross Moloney said: "As the situation is still somewhat unclear due to the pandemic, with international travel restrictions currently in place, and some organisations putting a hold on employees travel until the end of the year, LEEA is concerned that running LiftEx this year will affect the results for our exhibitors and compromise the success of the event."

"Furthermore, the Minister of Labour in Bahrain has suggested that early next year is a far more suitable time to hold the show, he added.

Moving forward, Moloney said "the current exhibitors have to simply transfer their booking to the new March dates, or if this is not practical, participation can be cancelled without penalty."

The LEEA is the leading representative body for all those involved in the lifting industry worldwide. It is the authoritative representative body for its members who work in every aspect of the industry - from design, manufacture, refurbishment and repair, through to the hire, maintenance and use of lifting equipment.

The association has played a key role in this specialised field for over 75 years, from training and standards setting through to health and safety, the provision of technical and legal advice, and the development of examination and licensing systems, said Moloney.

"We are bitterly disappointed that we cannot hold an in-person show this year, but are confident that with more time for the vaccination rollout and pilot testing for exhibitions and live events, we will all enjoy a successful show in March," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) speaks during a news conference with other House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 10, 2020. (Erin Scott/Reuters)

Jordan Says Votes Are There to Oust Cheney From House Republican Leadership

There are enough votes to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from her position as House GOP Conference chair, according to a top Republican member.

Cheney, the No. 3 GOP member in the lower chamber due to her position, is facing pressure because of her continued attacks on former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, summarized the problem during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News.

You cant have a Republican conference chair reciting Democrat talking points. You cant have a Republican conference chair taking a position that 90 percent of the party disagrees with, and you cant have a Republican Party chair consistently speaking out against the individual who 74 million Americans voted for, he said.

The caucus will likely gather next week and oust Cheney, according to Jordan.

I think that for sure the votes are there and I think it will happen, most likely next Wednesday, he said.

Cheney and Trump have traded barbs for months. Cheney drew the former presidents ire when she became the highest-ranking House GOP member to vote with Democrats to impeach him for the second time. She believes his words and actions led to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Cheney survived a closed-door vote in early February. But back then, the only two Republicans above her supported her. Now, one openly does not while the other has suggested a change is needed.

Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) participates in a news conference in Washington on March 9, 2021. (Erin Scott/Reuters)

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, Lauren Fine, a spokesperson for House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), told The Epoch Times via email.

Scalise is the No. 2 Republican in the House.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Tuesday that Republicans had concerns about Cheneys ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message.

Cheneys office has not returned requests for comment.

In an op-ed on Wednesday in The Washington Post, Cheney said the GOP is at a turning point, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution.

She decried Trump continuing to maintain he is the true winner of the 2020 election while describing herself as a conservative Republican who reveres the rule of law.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who is seeking to supplant Cheney in her leadership role and is a strong Trump supporter, appeared on War Room on Thursday, a show hosted by former Trump adviser Steven Bannon.

My vision is to run with support from the president and his coalition of voters, which was the highest number of votes ever won by a Republican nominee, in 2020, she said, referring to Trump.

This is also about being one team, she added later. And Im committed to being a voice and sending a clear message that we are one team, and that means working with the president and working with all of our excellent Republican members of Congress.

Cheney is also in peril of losing her seat in the House, the only one Wyoming has in the lower chamber.

A poll this week indicated that many more voters in the state view Cheney unfavorably than favorably, the complete opposite of their view of Trump.

Over half of the respondents said they would vote for whomever runs to replace her in the Republican primary, regardless of who it is, versus 14 percent who said they would re-elect her.

The poll, conducted for the Club of Growth, was of 415 likely Republican primary voters on April 21 or April 22. The margin of error was plus/minus 4.9 percentage points.

Several Republicans have announced bids against Cheney in 2022, including state Rep. Chuck Gray.
Logos of the Big Tech giants are displayed on a tablet on Oct. 1, 2019. (Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images)

Louisiana Senate Rejects Bill Allowing Social Media Companies to Be Sued for Limiting Speech

A bill that would allow Louisiana residents to sue social media companies for deleting or limiting religious or political speech has failed to advance in the state Senate.

The proposal, known as Senate Bill 196 (pdf), would also have allowed legal actions against social media companies with more than 75 million users that use an algorithm to disfavor or censor a users religious or political speech. The bill could have allowed a user in the state to claim actual and punitive damages of up to $75,000.

Under the proposal, users dont have a cause of action when a social media company takes actions against hate speech, calls for violence, obscene or pornographic content, or operational errors.

The Republican-controlled Senate on May 4 voted 1918 for the bill, falling one vote short of the 20-vote majority needed to advance the measure to the House; a similar bill has also failed to garner the required support in the House. The bill was reconsidered on May 5 and has been returned to the calendar for further action or consideration at a later time.

Republicans and conservatives across the nation are championing legal measures to combat what they see as unfair moderation and censorship of conservative speech on social media. This comes after multiple Big Tech companies such as Facebook and Twitter increased policing of user speech, in particular during the lead-up to the 2020 election and following the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Former President Donald Trumps accounts have been permanently suspended on Twitter and banned on Facebook because the social media companies decided that Trumps posts violated their content standards.

Bills similar to Louisianas have been introduced in other states, but none have been enacted. Meanwhile, some Republican-led states have also proposed other measures to prevent Big Tech companies from using their monopoly to police speech they dont agree with.

For example, Florida proposed that it would seek to penalize social media companies that de-platform candidates during an election. The legislation would fine companies $100,000 a day until the candidates access is restored. Texas is considering similar legislation.

The Louisiana bill, introduced by Sen. Jay Morris (R-West Monroe), advanced to a Senate committee last week.

In defending the bill, Morris told the committee that the legislation would protect freedom to express ones political and religious opinions without having a building full of people in California deciding what the American public, in particular the Lousiana public, can see or hear or write about.

Chris Sevier, a supporter of the bill and a lawyer, provided testimony at the hearing, arguing that Morriss bill was the solution to perceived censorship by social media companies. He argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal statute, allows for states to create laws to defeat an immunity defense, commonly referred to as the Section 230 immunity defense, which provides social media companies that dont act as publishers with a shield from civil action.

Morris didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Opponents of the bill argue that the measure is unconstitutional and violates federal law. Eric Peterson, the director of the Pelican Center for Technology and Innovation, argued in the committee hearing that the bill isnt a targeted solution to deal with the issue of censorship but instead would create a slew of problems for Louisiana.

He argued that websites that were not intended to be targeted by this bill such as eBay, Amazon, and Spotify may also be caught in the language of the proposed law.

A number of antitrust investigations into digital giant companies are underway. The Justice Department previously said they have opened antitrust probes into major digital technology firms and have filed a lawsuit against Google over anti-competitive allegations. Similarly, Texas has also filed its own antitrust lawsuit against Google.
A farmer moves a conveyor from storage bins on his farm near Lisiuex, Saskatchewan, in this file photo. (CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)

Mandated Agriculture Census Meets Farmer Dissent, Evasion

This month Statistics Canada will conduct its first mandatory Census of Agriculture since 2016, but some farmers say the government wont find out much.

Years ago, a farm wife told this reporter how she explicitly told a census taker on the phone: Ill tell you the truth this time, but I cant promise you I will next time. And I know most of my neighbours dont.

When the census taker asked why, the woman replied: Because we tell you were growing such-and-such a crop, and then the buyers know. Then they wont give us a good price for it because they know theres a lot out there.

Legally, however, the questions must be answered. The 2021 version of the mandatory survey, which is conducted every five years, has 74 questions covering 33 pages. The revised version was created following extensive consultations in 2017. The new set of questions was sent to 10,000 farmers in 2019 on a voluntary basis, but only 3,864 responded.

Statistics Canada says providing accurate information is in the best interest of farmers. The information is used by the government to support programs and international trade negotiations, as well as to obtain a sense of the safety of the food supply chain and how farmers have been affected by the pandemic. The information is also used by industry associations to gain a better understanding of the size of their industries, says spokesperson Antonia Lafkas.

Statistics Canada continues to appreciate the participation and co-operation of farmers across Canada who understand the importance of accurate information for evidence-based decision-making, Lafkas said in an email.

Im Not Doing It

But some farmers have invented ways of evading the survey.

In Swift Current, Saskatchewan, retired farmer and rancher Charlie Lamb wont answer the survey, and tried not to even while he still farmed. He told The Epoch Times in an interview that you never know who  youre talking to in the first place and that you arent gonna tell them the truth, no.

Rod Hutton sold his farmland near Glentworth, Saskatchewan, in 2012. He shared a census story with The Epoch Times from his farming days.

After the survey was dropped off, the lady kept calling week after week after week, and [asked] Is it done? And I said, No its not, and no Im not doing it. She says, Ill give you another week or Im going to show up. So she made an appointment.

Hutton found out that if he answered no to having farm animals, he could save himself additional questions. So he kept insisting that the chickens he had were pets, despite the census taker repeatedly asking, but do you eat them or sell them?

She finally wrote down PETS, Hutton said.

I skipped probably a third of the whole survey, because surveys are not meant to really tell the truth anyway, he added.

Skepticism

With some irony, Huttons wife, Kathryn, became a local census taker in 2006. In an interview, she said many farmers grumbled that they always got the long-form census and that the agriculture census should not be done during seeding.

The government already has all that stuff. So why are they asking us about this? she recalled farmers telling her. She explained that its because for AgriStability, if you want to be in it, you have to have your inventory report. So, they should know how many cattle you have, and how much grain you have, and all that.

AgriStability is a national program jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments to help farm operations manage their business risks, such as production loss, increased costs, or market conditions.

Then again, the agriculture census is very extensive.

Its quite detailed. So, you have to do some digging and some homework in order to find out all those values, Kathryn Hutton said. People just lie because they put down a ballpark figure and they might not even know.

Statistics Canada seems to be aware of the problem. When it was considering changes for 2021, some evaluation questions included Can farmers easily answer this question? and Will farmers be willing to answer this question?

Kathryn Hutton said being a census taker was not always pleasant.

I remember stopping at the post office in town and getting an earful about the agriculture census. And thats when I told the person that was working there, If people arent honest about it, then how can the government develop effective programs?

But shes more skeptical now.

If the government is in it, Im pretty sure its not going to be for our benefit, she said. They just come at taking your stuff away from a different angle.

The agriculture census asks respondents to disclose their Canada Revenue Agency business numbers and all legal or operational names for other businesses they own or operate, whether or not those businesses are related to agriculture.
Maricopa County Refuses to Provide Routers to Election Auditors

Arizonas Maricopa County is refusing to turn over routers or router images to election auditors, defying a judges ruling.

The Maricopa County Attorneys Office informed former Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett of the decision this week. Bennett is the Arizona Senates liaison for the audit.

The county was told late last month, while delivering subpoenaed election materials to the state Senates custody, that delivering routers, or even images of routers, posed a significant security risk to law enforcement data utilized by the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office as well as numerous federal agencies.

We had previously believed that the risk would be eliminated by redacting the law enforcement data on the routers and not producing it. But we were informed that redaction did not eliminate the risk, Joseph LaRue, deputy county attorney, told Bennett in a letter obtained by The Epoch Times.

A spokesman for the county told The Epoch Times via email that its technology professionals determined the information contained in Maricopa Countys routers can be used as blueprints to intercept sensitive county data.

Maricopa County has more than 50 different county departments, and the routers the Senate subpoena commanded the County produce support all of these departments, not just elections operations. This includes critical law enforcement data that, by law, cannot be disclosed, as well as Maricopa County residents protected health information and full social security numbers, he added.

By providing the routers, or even virtual images of routers, sensitive data and the lives of law enforcement personnel could be endangered. The County is continuing to study this issue, and routers remain in the countys custody for the time being.

Bennett and Senate President Karen Fann, a Republican, did not respond to requests for comment.

Ballots cast and machines used in the 2020 election are examined by auditors hired by the Arizona Senate at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 29, 2021. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP/ Pool)

The subpoenas issued by the state Senate to the county last year say auditors require access or control of all routers, tabulators, or some combinations thereof in order to garner the system logs.

The subpoena in question was for electronic machines used in the election. Each machine has a log, or record.

The county tried to rebuff the subpoenas, but a judge in February ruled the county must comply with them.

County officials forced auditors to count ballots and review equipment offsite but delivered the materials to the teams late last month. The exclusion of the routers was not reported before this week.

Maricopa County officials said separately on Wednesday that two laboratories tested the voting equipment in February and found no evidence that election machines were connected to the Internet.

But Bennett said on KFYI on Monday that auditors could not confirm that unless they had access to the logs.

Here we are several weeks into the audit, and we still dont have some of the information that was subpoenaed by the state Senate from Maricopa County, he said.

They told me personally weeks ago that they had taken all the routers and the internet connections and the hubs and everything out of the building so they could send it to us, and we would have the logs when we got into those devices, we would be able to see those logs, that nothing was connected to the Internet during the election. And lo and behold, they dont show up in the equipment that they said would be delivered to us, Bennett added.
Three women wave the Australian flag at a new installation at the site Lieutenant James Cook is believed to have first stepped ashore on April 29, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

New Curriculum Garners Further Criticism From Faith Based and Indigenous Communities

The Australian national curriculum draft continues to attract criticism for its changes to history and civics, which has removed references to Australias democratic and Christian heritage and increased the amount of content relating to the perspectives of Aboriginal Australians.

Jacinta Collins, the executive director of the National Catholic Education, said the Catholic sector supported the reviews intent to produce a curriculum that focuses on essential knowledge and skills.

In relation to potential changes to the teaching of Christian heritage, we would be concerned if broadening the curriculum to be more encompassing of other faiths and the teaching of Indigenous culture and history comes at the expense of Judeo-Christian heritage, Collins told The Epoch Times.

She referred to the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (pdf), which highlighted the important role education has in the development of young Australians, including spirituality, and believed the new curriculum should adopt that approach.

Humanities is richly connected to Christian faith and morals through art, music, literature, history, philosophy, etc., and this should remain a vital part of the national curriculum, Collins said.

A general view of the site where Captain James Cook is believed to have first stepped ashore on April 29, 2020, in Sydney, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Nick Carter, executive director of the Menzies Research Centre, wrote an op-ed in The Australian harshly criticising the airbrushing of Western culture from the national curriculum.

Every trace of the Judeo-Christian tradition has been expunged, Carter wrote. The concept of liberalism, Australias defining principle since 1788, appears not at all.

He said that the glaring omissions of these concepts and references explains why the civics syllabus failed to contextualise Australian values or recognise their importance properly.

Carter also said he believed the draft did little to declutter and help teachers navigate the current curriculumone aspect of what the review originally sought to do.

This pained effort to be inclusive means the curriculum hesitates to prioritise anything at all, Carter said.

Criticism from Indigenous Australians

An example of how the draft fails to prioritise content properly is the inclusion of indigenous maths into the curriculum, where children will learn how Aboriginal cultures calculated.

Indigenous education academic at the Australian Catholic University Anthony Dillon told 3AW radio that he did not even know what Aboriginal maths was but welcomed the greater focus on Aboriginal history.

Keep it in the history class for a start, Dillion said. Teach on those things that we can agree, like the dates that the British arrived, and encourage students to do their own research. Have them look at both sides of the argument.

Elected member of the Alice Springs Council Jacinta Price at the National Press Club in Canberra, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Jacinta Price, councillor of Alice Springs, criticised the draft for leaving Aboriginal history open to complete misinterpretation and manipulation.

Aboriginal Australia no longer belongs to Aboriginal Australia but is a narrative controlled by those who are descendants or identifiers, Price told The Daily Telegraph. Education is no longer education but ongoing indoctrination.

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine said he had concerns that the new curriculum reflected the dumbing down of the education system, adding that the authors were trying to insert critical race theory into the classroom.

He also criticised the use of the term First Nations to describe Aboriginal communities, saying it was a term from Canada and had little relation to Australia.
A demonstrator wearing a mask painted with the colors of the flag of East Turkestanhow some separatist Uyghurs refer to the region of Xinjiangand a hand bearing the colors of the Chinese flag, attends a protest denouncing China's treatment of ethnic Uyghur Muslims, in front of the Chinese consulate in Istanbul, on July 5, 2018. (OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)

New Zealand Parliament Condemns China Over Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang

Fails to declare CCP's treatment of Uyghurs as a 'genocide'

The New Zealand parliament on Wednesday unanimously passed a motion that declared China was committing severe human rights abuses on the Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Politicians in parliament declared they were gravely concerned about the severe human rights abuses taking place against Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. They called on the Ardern government to work with all relevant instruments of international law to bring these abuses to an end.

The New Zealand Government, in concert with others, will continue to call upon China in the strongest terms  We call on China to uphold its human rights obligations, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a speech to parliament.

The conservative opposition ACT Party, who brought the motion to Parliament, accused the Labour Party of working to water down the original motion, which said China was committing genocide against the Uyghurs.

Act Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden told news outlet Stuff.co.nz that the Labour Ardern government said they would not support the motion unless the term genocide was removed.

Its a sad state of affairs that weve needed to soften our language to debate hard issues, van Veldon said. But what I have done is to ensure that our Parliament is able to talk, debate, and discuss the human rights abuses of the Uyghur people in China.

Van Veldon also called out the Labour party for its weakness.

We know that a genocide is taking place. The evidence is voluminous, from multiple sources and credible, she said. Here in New Zealand, other parties, who had the power of veto, would not allow this debate to proceed if the motion mentioned genocide.

New Zealand China expert Prof. Anne Marie Brady also commented on the watering down of the quote. In a post on Twitter, Brady said that it would be unimaginable for New Zealand to consider letting the United States dictated to the government what it could and count not debate.

She said it was sickening to see how our political representative let pressure from the [Chinese Communist Party] CCP stop them from speaking up on the Uyghur genocide.

Imagine if the US government dictated to @NZParliament MPs what it could & couldnt debate? New Zealanders would not stand for it Sickening to see how our political representatives let pressure from the CCP stop them from speaking up on #UyghurGenocide https://t.co/TXzpU52lF7  Professor Anne-Marie Brady (@Anne_MarieBrady) May 4, 2021

Both opposition and government politicians have said they are pleased with the parliamentary statement.

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said she believed that the fact that the motion passed with the support of all elected parliamentarians made it an effective message.

We have a statement that is strong, and that is clear, and that has the support of parliament, Ardern said.

Im pleased that unlike many other countries, where theyve been abstentions from motions, where government parties, in particular, have not voted in favour, we have a statement that is strong, and that is clear, she said on Wednesday.

There was discussion in parliament that the use of the term genocide was politicising the crime.

Foreign Minister Mahuta said that the government was very aware that there was a potential issue in the motion but noted that although the NZ government had not formally designated the situation as genocide, that did not mean they were not concerned.

This is not due to a lack of concern, Mahuta said. Genocide is the gravest of international crimes, and a formal legal determination should only be reached following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law.

Worry Over Chinese Backlash

The criticism of the Labour government comes after political leaders from Labour and the Opposition National Party noted that there was a potential for NZs trade relationship to be hit if it made a declaration of genocide.

Clearly, the Chinese government wouldnt like something like that. I have no doubt it would have some impact [with trade]. Thats hardly rocket science, Trade Minister Damien OConnor said, reported the Australian Associated Press.

Likewise, opposition National Party Trade Spokesman Todd Muller said that New Zealand had strong commercial and cultural connections with China, reported Stuff.co.nz.

It is the depth of those personal relationships that will guide us through this difficult conversation because the conversation will be difficult, he said.

He noted that he understood that Beijing would view the issue as a matter for its own consideration. But he said, We share one planet.

This Parliament and the five million people we represent believe that it is a basic human right 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 [genealogy], Muller said.
Firearms are seen at a gun shop in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 13, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Oregon Senate Passes Gun Control Bill, Heads to Governors Desk

The Oregon Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would require people to keep unattended guns locked up, ban firearms in the Oregon Capitol building and airports, and would permit schools to ban guns. It now heads to the governors desk to be signed into law.

After a brief debate, the safe-storage bill, Senate Bill 554, passed the state Senate on a vote of 17-7, with all Republicans voting no.

The bill mandates that gun owners secure unattended weapons with trigger locks or in locked compartments. Those who dont would be strictly liable for any injuries or property damage. If a minor gets ahold of an unsecured firearm, the guns owner would face a maximum $2,000 fine.

It would also require that a gun owner reports a lost or stolen weapon within 72 hours when they reasonably should have known it was missing.

Democratic Sen. Ginny Burdick of Portland, who introduced the bill, said Wednesday that 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, she said. Suicides are increasing. Gun violence is increasing. A firearm that is not safely stored is a threat.

Burdick added, 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 gunits a tragedy, and we can help prevent these tragedies. By passing Senate Bill 554 today, we help prevent these tragedies.

Critics of the bill argue that forcing people to keep guns locked up could waste precious moments if they need to defend themselves against armed intruders.

Opponents have also said the bill is an infringement on the constitutional right to bear arms.

As usual, the Second Amendment is under attack because attacking it is a perennial favorite with Democrats and has been for years, James Purvine of Eugene, Oregon said about the bill in written testimony to the House Committee on Health Care.

States that have passed laws requiring some level of firearms safe storage include California, Connecticut, and New York, Allison Anderman, senior counsel at Giffords, said.

Similar bills this session have failed in Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, and Virginia.

If signed into law by Gov. Brown, the bill will take effect on the 91st day after the legislature adjourns.

Browns office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel survey several ships believed to be Chinese militia vessels in Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, in a handout photo distributed by the Philippine Coast Guard on May 5 and taken according to source on April 27, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters)

Philippines Tells Fishermen to Ignore Beijings Ban on Fishing in South China Sea

MANILAThe 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 countrys 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 Chinas 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 Beijings sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea.

An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated the Chinese regimes claims, but the Chinese regime has rejected the ruling.

Tensions between the two countries have recently escalated after Manila accused the Chinese regime 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.
Bluff and mountain ridge-lines are silhouetted at sunset in the Bears Ears National Monument outside Blanding, Utah, on May 11, 2017. (George Frey/Getty Images)

Radical 30 x 30 Plan Will Ensure That This Land Will No Longer Be Your Land

Commentary

Moving rapidly to transition the United States away from fossil fuels in the name of combating climate change, the Biden administration is employing a mix of executive authority and legislative action to force the transformation.

While much attention is focused on which climate-related provisions ultimately make it into the administrations massive infrastructure bill, a little-noticed White House initiative launched a few days after the Biden Inauguration seeks to restrict the use of lands and watersboth public and privateto activities that serve the administrations green objectives.

The 30 x 30 Plan is contained in Executive Order (EO) 14008, Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore Scientific Integrity Across the Federal Government, which was issued on Jan. 27. Section 216 of the EO calls on the United States to achieve the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.

In a Department of Interior fact sheet, the administration says only 12 percent of lands are permanently protected, adding that the same holds true for 23 percent of the nations waters. Exactly how these shares are to be expanded to 30 percent remains a mystery, because the White House has provided scant details.

The EO instructed a slew of federal agencies to develop implementation strategies within 90 days, but when the 22-page report, America the Beautiful, was released on May 6, it was largely limited to generalities about restoring biodiversity and tackling climate change.

Some of the language in the Biden plan appears to be taken from a 2019 report by the left-leaning Center for American Progress (CAP). CAPs report, How Much Nature Should America Keep?, outlines how the United States can thoughtfully, equitably, and justly protect 30 percent of its land and water. According to CAP (and now the Biden administration), 12 percent of the land is currently protected in its natural state, which includes wilderness areas, National Parks, wildlife refuges, and private land conservation easements.

With the federal government, mostly through the Department of Interiors Bureau of Land Management, owning about 27 percent of the nations land, this leaves a lot of federal land unprotected, not to mention the remaining over 70 percent of land in private ownership or managed by state, local, and tribal governments.

A Radical Vision

The origins of the 30 x 30 plan can be traced to the creation of the Wildlands Project in 1991. Dave Foreman, formerly with the Wilderness Society and founder of Earth First!, guided the projects fortunes in its early years, together with conservation biologists Michael Soule and Reed Noss. The Wildlands Project aimed to return 50 percent of the continental United States to a natural state.

Rooted in a school of thought known as Deep Ecology, which rejects the idea that some living things have greater value than others, the Wildlands Project called for establishing a system of core wilderness areas where human activity would be prohibited. Biological corridors would link the core areas, serving as highways allowing nonhumans to pass from one to another.

Our goal is to create new political realities based on the needs of other species, Foreman told Science News in 1993.

Since renamed the Wildlands Network, the group has remained faithful to its founding agenda. On its website, the Wildlands Network says it seeks to reconnect, restore, and rewild North America so that lifein all its diversitycan thrive. As an example of the kind of rewilding it would like to see, the Wildlands Network touts a recent report identifying a large swath of potential habitat for jaguar in the central mountains of Arizona and New Mexico.

What began three decades ago as musings on the outermost fringes of the environmental movement now serves as a template for federal climate policies contained in a White House executive order. And true to Foremans Wildlands vision, Bidens 30 x 30 would create new political realities.

This has not escaped the attention of congressional representatives from districts and governors of states that would bear the brunt of what they fear is a massive federal land grab in the making.

In a March 16 letter to Biden, 64 members of the House Western Caucus expressed their concerns with the initiative. They pointed out that the federal government already manages 640 million acres of land (one million square miles), 90 percent of which is west of the Mississippi River.

Western states will be disproportionately impacted by policies set in place to achieve the 30 by 30 goal, which we fear will impact revenues-derived and jobs that depend on multiple-use public lands, they wrote.

Our lands and our waters must remain open to activities that support our rural economies and help us achieve our agriculture, timber, recreation, energy, and mineral needs.

Lest anyone have any doubts about the land-grabbing character of what the White House is undertaking, on Feb. 11, Scott de la Vega, Bidens then-acting secretary of the interior, revoked a Trump-era order requiring state and local governments to have a voice in federal land acquisitions within their jurisdictions.

With the consent of state and local officials eliminated, Washington bureaucrats, using money from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, can add to the already enormous federal estate.

Constitutional or Statutory Authority

Alarmed by what they fear is Washingtons interference in state land-use decisions, governors from 15 states stretching from Alabama to Alaska have signed a letter of protest to the White House.

[We] are not aware of any constitutional or statutory authority for the President, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other federal agency to set aside and permanently preserve 30 percent of all land and water in the United States, they wrote. Nowhere in the laws of our nation is the authority delegated by Congress to the President or executive branch agencies to unilaterally change the policies governing land use in America.

Obtaining the 30 percent goal would require your Administration to condemn or otherwise severely limit the current productive uses of such lands, infringing on the private property rights of our citizens and significantly harming our economies.

Elsewhere in the executive order, the White House makes it clear that oil and gas development on federal land will be severely restricted. But, as the governors letter points out, private lands containing farms, ranches, orchards, and out-of-favor natural resources, are also in the crosshairs, albeit in ways Biden officials have yet to lay out.

Of further concern are the words at least in the EOs goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. The goalposts can always be moved, and there is nothing to keep the next goal from being 50 by 50.

As a Wyomingite, I watched with horror the War on the West by Carter, Clinton, and Obama, but Biden is outdoing them all with his plans that will destroy the ability of Wyoming, the other 11 western states, and Alaska to survive economically, says William Perry Pendley, who ran the Bureau of Land Management for President Trump. But because Biden cannot reach his goal without private property elsewhere, we are all westerners now.

Bonner R. Cohen, Ph.D., is a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research and a senior policy analyst with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
People marched for lifting more restrictionsespecially removing the requirement to wear masks on May 1, 2021, in Boston, Mass. (Learner Liu/Epoch Times

Rally in Massachusetts Calls for Removing COVID-19 Mask Restrictions: Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTSDr. Shiva Ayyadurai, entrepreneur and former U.S. Senate candidate, spoke to more than 1,000 people in a recent rally in front of the Massachusetts State House on Saturday.

His research reveals that prolonged use of face masks may increase the risk of oral and heart diseases. With some states easing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, more and more people are standing up and calling for the lifting of more restrictions, especially removing the requirement to wear masks.

Prolonged mask use increases the temperature and lowers pH in the mouth, thereby adversely affecting the oral microbiome leading to molecular pathways involved in periodontal disease that results in gum bleeding, bone deterioration, loss of teeth, and destruction of the oral immune system, as well as causing cardiac valve disease, and increased risk of stroke, Ayyadurai said.

He said that working people should not rely on political parties, but need to act by themselves. How do we win? We win by going back to what has worked before in history, a bottom-up movement. Let go of billionaires, let go of Kennedys, let go of Republicans, let go of Democrats. Build a movement from the bottom up. They dont give a damn about you. I am telling you that right now. The people right next to you care about you.

His slogan, truth, freedom, and health, was echoed by other speakers in the rally.

Sandi Garofano, a grandmother and an educator with 20 years of experience in early childhood education, said that masks may restrict childrens visual learning and hinder their emotional development.

I have a granddaughter who will be turning a year old in July. I have to wear a mask around her. That was the only way I could see her. She refused to come to me. It tore me apart. She cried. She didnt respond to my soft voice, Garofano said in front of the crowd outside the State House.

Dr. Robin Frost, another speaker at the rally, said that truth, freedom, and health combine into a system in which freedom to move and communicate plays the key role.

So if we cant do that, we cant get to the truth,  and without the truth, we dont have our health,  without your health, you are restricted in your freedom. So it is a vicious cycle, she said.

Recently, people in other states also took to the streets to oppose mask mandates, vaccine passports, and other restrictions.

Last Wednesday, thousands of parents protested outside the Connecticut State Capitol against a new bill eliminating religious vaccine exemption in schools. Local parents and organizations also filed a federal lawsuit against the bill, which was signed by Democrat Governor Ned Lamont on April 28.

On the same day, hundreds of people rallied in Augusta, Maine, to protest against business lockdown. Naomi Wolf, a famous author who attended the rally, said that such restrictions ruin peoples lives, but dont have much effect in stopping the virus.

Last October, the World Health Organizations Special Envoy on COVID-19 David Nabarro urged world leaders to stop using lockdowns as the primary control method. Stop using lockdown as your primary control method, develop better systems for doing it, work together and learn from each other. But rememberlockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer, he said.

Florida has taken the lead in lifting all of its COVID-19 restrictions, which could bring encouragement to protesters in other states.

On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning COVID-19 vaccine passports and also issued an executive order that suspends all local pandemic emergency mandates effective July 1.
Aramex, a leading global provider of logistics solutions, has posted revenues of AED1.425 billion ($387 million) in the first quarter of the year (Q1) compared to revenue of AED1.152 billion in Q1 2020, reflecting an increase of 24%.



The growth was driven by increased demand for Express business including cross border e-commerce and last mile services, an Aramex statement said.



Operating profit declined 20% to AED79 million compared to AED100 million in Q1 2020, while operating margins fell to 5.6% compared to 8.6% in the same period last year.Q1 2021 EBITDA margins came in at 11.9%, down from 16.0% in Q1 2020. The decline in operating profit and EBITDA was impacted by an increase in line haul costs on the back of global capacity constraints caused by supply chain disruptions the industry continues to face due to the pandemic, an Aramex statement said.



The capacity shortage during the quarter was further exacerbated as the global Covid-19 vaccines transportation and distribution gathered pace. Subsequently, net profit for the period decreased 32% to AED46 million compared to AED67 million in Q1 2020.



Aramex maintained a strong balance sheet with a negative net debt position of AED353 million, indicating a strong cash balance as at 31 March 2021. This solid financial position enables the Company to continue investing in scaling operations, rolling out digital solutions and executing on future opportunities including value-enhancing acquisitions.



Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said:We are incredibly happy to report that in Q1 2021 we witnessed revenue growth across all our business lines, an indication that the global economy is staging a gradual recovery and that business and consumer confidence is improving. We are very encouraged by the double-digit growth in our revenues which was predominantly driven by healthy increase in demand from cross border e-commerce and last mile services. The top line growth was also driven by strong recovery in our B2B services lines, particularly from the healthcare and FMCG sectors.



Over the course of the quarter, we were well prepared to handle the surge in Express volumes with zero impact on our service standards thanks to our digitally-enabled, efficient and reliable operations, enhanced last mile infrastructure and dedicated teams working around the clock.



We were able to further penetrate the healthcare and FMCG verticals and capture greater market share in our core markets thanks to our efforts over the last two years to build our capabilities and expertise. As a business, we continue to focus on diversifying our revenue streams, and this will translate into sustainable, resilient long-term growth for our shareholders.



However, the impact of Covid-19 continues to weigh on our operating margins because of relatively high line haul costs. The downward pressure on margins will likely continue for the remainder of the year, however, will slowly start to abate as we continue to explore ways and redesigning our line haul network. Also, our strategic focus of investing in our digital transformation will continue to drive down costs and enhance profitability over the long run, he added.



Q1 2021 Business performance highlights



Aramex's International Express business, which includes Shop & Ship, surged 35% to AED647 million, compared to AED479 million in Q1 2020 driven by growth in cross-border e-commerce activities in the US, UK, Hong Kong and other Asia origins into the GCC. Operating profit was weighed by higher line haul costs.



Domestic Express business revenue grew23%, to AED356 million, compared to AED289 million in Q1 2020 led by a 36% surge in domestic e-commerce volumes in core markets, notably from Saudi Arabia. Freight-Forwarding business witnessed a 10% increase in revenue to AED288 million from AED262 million in Q1 2020 driven by a sharpened commercial focus that resulted in new business gains across different segments.



Logistics & Supply Chain Solutions business increased10% to AED105 million from AED95 million in Q1 2020mainly driven by new business gains in E-commerce, Food &Cold Chain sectors, as well as new Oil & Gas contracts.



Thomas Kipp, Chief Operating Officer at Aramex, said:Over the last three months, we focused our efforts on ramping up operations including expanding our last mile infrastructure to support the increase in shipment volumes driven by a boom in global e-commerce and demand for our last mile services. We have also streamlined processes and accelerated roll out of technology-enabled operating solutions to increase efficiencies, reduce delivery times, and further improve service quality to our customers.



While we continue to deal with relatively inflated line haul costs, we are leveraging our strong relationships with existing partners and evaluating opportunities to enter into strategic alliances and acquisitions to drive operational synergies and alleviate pressure on margins.



Commenting on the outlook for the remainder of 2021, Bashar Obeid said:We are optimistic that the global economy will manage a sustained recovery underpinned by the collective efforts of the public, private sectors and international community in delivering on the global vaccine program. To that end, we are incredibly proud of the vital role Aramex is playing in delivering and distributing vaccines to over 170 countries, as part of the Hope Consortium.



However, we believe that not all industries will enjoy an equal recovery; the boom in the e-commerce will continue at its current accelerated rate and the Healthcare and FMCG sectors will continue to grow and increase their reliance on businesses like ours as key supply chain enablers.



In terms of Aramexs strategic priorities for the remainder of the year, we are doubling down on three areas. Increasing and further diversifying our revenue source and consolidating our leadership position in core markets through acquisitions. Continue to invest in our business and accelerate digital transformation to further enhance efficiencies and customers satisfaction. And finally, managing line haul costs and improving margins by cultivating strong relationships with our existing partners and unlocking further value from potential strategic partnerships, Obeid concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
A Chinese laborer works at a construction site of Colombo Port City, a part of China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road plan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Fitzgerald Unveils BRIDGE Act to Counter CCPs Belt and Road Initiative

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that seeks to counter the Chinese regimes Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)one of the worlds most ambitious and controversial development programsciting immediate and long-term risks to national and economic security.

The bill (pdf), named the Build Responsible Infrastructure Development for the Global Economy (BRIDGE) Act, directs the Department of State to develop a comprehensive, government-wide strategy on countering the BRI, which was launched by the Chinese regime in 2013 with the aim of building Beijings geopolitical influence along trade routes linking China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.

It requires the submission of a report from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and relevant authorities regarding the scope of efforts by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to utilize the BRI to undermine the United States-led international world order.

The BRIDGE Act also requires a detailed strategy regarding how the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Commerce intends to counter the initiative.

Fitzgerald said in a statement that the legislation is aimed at countering Chinas growing influence and will hold the Biden administration accountable to combat Chinas BRI.

The BRIDGE Act will ensure the U.S does not sit idly by while China uses the BRI as an instrument of global influence, the Republican lawmaker said. The Biden Administration has signaled they want to counter Chinas predatory behavior, this legislation is a step in the right direction and will hold the Administration accountable to this commitment.

Since its launch, the lawmakers office said, the BRI has shown the world that it can have serious consequences for U.S. foreign policy and economic security by giving Beijing the power to dictate unfair bilateral arrangements for its own strategic benefit.

Fitzgerald added, Already, the BRI covers countries representing more than half of the worlds population and more than one-third of global economic output, packaging cheap and corrupt infrastructure deals to developing countries vulnerable to instability.

In recent years, China has lured many developing countries into a debt trap through its BRI, pouring billions of dollars into their economies to help build massive infrastructure projects.

In 2017, Sri Lanka handed over control of its key port of Hambantota to Beijing via a 99-year lease, after it was unable to pay off over $1 billion in debt for the BRI port project.

The Chinese communist regime has come under fire for using debt as a tool to gain political and economic leverage over other nations and silence them about the regimes human rights violations.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said this week that the initiative is used by the CCP as coercive debt traps to advance their interests.

Last month, Australia canceled two BRI arrangements with Beijing that were signed by the Victorian state government, saying they werent consistent with its national interest.

Emel Akan contributed to this report.
Demonstrators attend a Black Lives Matter protest to express solidarity with US protestors in Melbourne on June 6, 2020 (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Report Calls for Fresh Approach to Indigenous Suicide Crisis

Living in safe and clean environments, having access to modern services that individuals find personally meaningful, possessing the necessary skills to function in the 21st century, developing a robust sense of self-worth, engaging in personally meaningful activities, and practising personal responsibility.

These are the recommendations of a new Centre for Independent Studies report by Indigenous researcher Anthony Dillon, Ph.D, to address the crisis of high suicide rates among Indigenous Australians.

Dillons recommendations take what he calls a strengths-based approach that assumes that people mostly do okay when both the aforementioned external and internal conditions are right. As thousands of Indigenous Australians prove every day, he said.

Despite plenty of action by governments, committees, research, and reports, the suicide crisis persists, prompting Dillon to call for a fresh approach.

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that in 2019 there were 27 Indigenous suicide deaths out of every 100,000 people compared to 12.9 non-Indigenous suicide deaths for the same period. The numbers are tragically even higher for young Indigenous boys and girls aged 14-19 years.

Anthony Dillon, Ph.D, identifies as part-Aboriginal Australian and is a researcher with the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University.

Dillon says a fresh approach should start with the premise that the causes and solutions for Indigenous suicide are fundamentally the same as non-Indigenous suicide.

He says there needs to be recognition that there are a set of factors that make death by suicide more likely for Indigenous Australians.

This involves placing greater emphasis on early intervention rather than suicide-specific programs and focussing on rural and remote areas where the risk of suicide is most significant.

Dillon also wants to dispel the notion that only Indigenous people are best placed to address Indigenous suicide and recognise that non-Indigenous people can be just as helpful in solving the crisis.

Suicide of a non-Indigenous person is no less tragic than the suicide of an Indigenous person, but best available statistics show that Indigenous people are far more likely to take their own lives, and so it warrants additional attention, Dillon said.

Sea of Hands art installation as part of National Reconciliation Week 2016. (William West /AFP via Getty Images)

Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians, making them far more likely to take their own lives than non-Indigenous Australians, where it is the twelfth leading cause of death.

Dillon also argues that academic and government reports have contributed to a barrier to solving the problem by continuously framing high Indigenous suicide rates due to despair about colonisation.

Although colonisation was disruptive, Dillon says Indigenous Australians arent victims of the past but only victims of their view of the past.

It is not the past that sustains or causes some Indigenous people to live in deplorable conditions today, yet it is the past that is often blamed, he said.

Dillon argues that all races and civilisations have a past of being conquered and dispossessed, but while that history may contribute to problems that exist, they were not a direct cause.

And, more importantly, it is not something that can be changed, so to focus on it diverts energy from solutions that can make a real difference, he said.
Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif., on Jan. 21, 2021. The city recently raised its sales tax, which inadvertently affected a neighboring, unincorporated community. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Rossmoor Taxpayers Get Answer to Sales Tax Confusion

Residents of an unincorporated Orange County, California, town said they were recently overcharged taxes for sharing the same zip code as a neighboring, higher-taxed city.

The issue dates back to last November, when Los Alamitos voters narrowly passed Measure Y, which allowed the city to raise its sales tax by 1.5 percent. The tax hike was proposed due to concerns that Los Alamitos would run out of money due to the economic impact of the global pandemic, coupled with other budgetary worries.

The measure was introduced to generate additional revenue to mitigate cuts of essential services and public safety. Voters passed the measure by less than 140 votes, enabling the city to increase its sales tax to 9.25 percent; Los Alamitos now ties Santa Ana in having the highest tax rate in Orange County.

In unincorporated Rossmoor, which shares the same zip code as Los Alamitos, the tax hike doesnt apply, yet residents were starting to notice they were being charged at the higher rate, and many began filing complaints with the Rossmoor Community Services District.

The statewide minimum sales tax is 7.25 percent. Without special enabling legislation, the maximum rate is 10.25 percent. Rossmoors tax base is 7.75 percent.

The district reached out to Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents the area, for clarification.

In an April 26 memo addressing the issue to Joe Mendoza, general manager of the Rossmoor Community Services District, Foley said, We have issued and received guidance from county counsel. The short answer is Rossmoor residents are not subject to Los Alamitos Tax.

Foley concluded that while Rossmoor shares the same zip code with the City of Los Alamitos, it keeps its same base 7.75 percent tax rate, and that Los Alamitos differing sales tax should only be imposed in the citys jurisdictional boundaries, not in unincorporated areas.

Our commitment to the community is to solve problems. Rossmoor residents shouldnt have to pay for taxes they havent voted to increase, Foley told The Epoch Times via email. Im glad our office could get to the bottom of it.

Struggling to Stay Afloat

In a report presented to the Los Alamitos City Council in July 2020, city staff addressed its fiscal changes.

Due to significant strains placed upon the citys finances by outside forces, the city is currently facing a significant structural budget deficit, the report stated. These challenges have resulted in projected structural shortfalls growing from $1.6M in 2021-22 to over $3.4M in 2027-28, and approximately $3.7M by 2030.

Recognizing that the city would need to take extraordinary measures in order to mitigate these projected deficits and loss of existing reserves, the city council took the proactive step of developing a plan to focus on building future fiscal sustainability for the City of Los Alamitos.

City officials considered alternative sources of funding, including raising property taxes, but ultimately took the staff recommendation and chose to support raising the sales tax. The staff report estimated that a one-cent local sales tax would generate more than $3 million annually.

Follow the Money

Foleys memo provided the district with information for residents on determining geographic tax rates for Californians.

The Rossmoor Homeowners Association recommends that residents who want to avoid being overtaxed use as their Rossmoor billing and shipping address showing that Rossmoor is their legal address.

Rossmoor residents should always confirm that theyre being charged the 7.75 percent rate. If they find theyve been charged a different rate, they should notify the seller and request a refund or correction.

If all else fails, residents can contact the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for assistance in resolving any problems with overcharging.
Rubio Leads Bipartisan Thrust Urging Biden to Fight for Religious Freedom Worldwide

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on May 5 led a bipartisan group of legislators calling on President Joe Biden to take a more decisive role in protecting religious freedom across the world and fill the position of ambassador at large for international religious freedom, something the president hasnt done in more than 100 days in office.

Biden is urged in the letter (pdf) to fill the vacant position, which, prior to Jan. 20, had been occupied by former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump. The lawmakers also called for the appointment of a director of international religious freedom within the National Security Council, a role previously held by Sarah Makin-Acciani, who earlier served as an aide to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Religious freedom, one of the most basic human rights for all people, has historically been an area of sincere bipartisan support and agreement in American foreign policy, the lawmakers wrote. While acknowledging the federal governments significant strides in promoting the rights of people of faith across the world and condemning the persecution of religious minorities, the legislators wrote that the current state of international religious freedom is one of deepening crisis with government restrictions on religion rising to a record high.

They cited Pew Research Centers 11th annual study of restrictions on religion, released in November 2020, which shows that government restrictions on religion have reached the highest level globally in more than a decade.

Some countries in the Asia-Pacific region saw all-time highs in their overall government restrictions scores, Pew Research Center wrote in a note accompanying the study. This includes China, which continued to have the highest score on the Government Restrictions Index (GRI) out of all 198 countries and territories in the study.

Pew noted that the Chinese regime restricts religion in a variety of ways, including banning entire religious groups (such as the Falun Gong movement and several Christian groups), prohibiting certain religious practices, raiding places of worship and detaining and torturing individuals.

A 2020 State Department report on human rights practices in China found that using a broad definition of extremism, Chinese authorities have detained, since 2017, more than one million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Muslims in transformation through education centers, or detention centers, designed to instill patriotism and erase their religious and ethnic identities.

In their letter, the lawmakers noted the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims and other members of ethnic and religious groups in Xinjiang, adding that Chinas hostility toward religion and people of faith extends to Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians, some of whom are unjustly imprisoned for their faith.

Also, people of faith suffered in the past year as governments around the world used the COVID-19 pandemic to justify religious persecution, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedoms 2021 annual report.

In 2020, religious freedom conditions in China deteriorated, the commission wrote in the report (pdf). The regime intensified its sinicization of religion policy, which is a push to aggressively consolidate Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dominance over faith groups and meld them into the CCP.

Besides calling for the vacant posts to be filled, the lawmakers urged Biden to engage in various religious freedom initiatives with international partners.

It is crucial that international religious liberty remain a top priority of United States foreign policy, they wrote.

The letter came on the same day as the European Unions appointment of a new special envoy for freedom of conscience and belief. The nomination of Christos Stylianides, formerly the European commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, was announced on May 5 by Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, who wrote on Twitter: Freedom of religion or belief is under attack in many parts of the world. The appointment of [Stylianides]  shows we are determined to protect the rights of all faiths and beliefs.

The Biden administration has been criticized for backing away from promoting religious freedom abroad after progress made under Trump. In March, Secretary of State Antony Blinken overturned an executive order signed under the Trump administration that required federal agencies to prioritize international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of United States foreign policy.

Blinken announced that the Biden administration would take a broader approach, which includes a focus on the rights of immigrants and refugees, victims of human trafficking, LGBTQ individuals, and womens access to abortion and birth control. Blinken criticized the Trump administration for what he characterized as an unbalanced emphasis on religious freedom over other concerns.

Olivia Enos, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told the International Christian Concern that focusing on the broader human rights issue would just hamper its broader foreign policy interests and human rights commitments.

I think it would be a huge mistake for the Biden administration not to build momentum from the work done by the Trump administration to promote religious freedom.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to reporters prior to the Senate Republican luncheons at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Sen. Cruz Meets With Trump, Discusses Retaking House and Senate

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sat down to have dinner with former President Donald Trump at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday and discussed the Republican Partys intent of regaining control of Congress, the senator said.

Had a great dinner tonight with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Cruz wrote on Twitter.

Hes in great spirits! We spent the evening talking about working together to re-take the House & Senate in 2022, he added, along with a photo of the two having drinks and smiling at the camera.

Trump told Sean Hannity in an interview last month that Republicans running for Congress should get behind Trumps Make America Great Again agenda if they want to win.

Should anybody that wants to run for the House or the SenateShould they take this Make America Great Again agenda and fight for those things that you fought for the four years you were president? asked Hannity.

If they want to win, yes. Weve expanded the Republican Party, Trump, who remains one of the most popular figures in the Republican Party, said. We have the biggest Hispanic vote. The governor called me up, he said since Reconstruction, Trump said, referring to the Civil War.

If you want to win and win big, you have to do that. You have to do it, he added.

Last week, Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) vowed they would not take donations from corporate political action committees (PACs). Cruz and Hawley are both considered potential presidential candidates.

In my nine years in the Senate, Ive received $2.6 million in contributions from corporate political-action committees. Starting today, I no longer accept money from any corporate PAC. I urge my GOP colleagues at all levels to do the same, Cruz wrote in an op-ed.

Hawley joined Cruz soon after.

Yes! Corporate America has put Americans last. They ship our jobs to China, mock middle Americas way of life, try to control our speech and run our lives. Its time we stood up to them. I wont take corporate PAC donations & Ill fight to break up their monopoly power, he wrote on Twitter.

No other Republicans joined them but Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said he was the first Republican to swear off money from federal PACS.
Attorney General Merrick Garland is seen at the Department of Justice in Washington on April 21, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

Senators Object to Amnesty for Academics Funded by China

Eight Republican senators arent happy that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is moving forward with amnesty for researchers who admit getting past funding from foreign sources.

Americas successful research enterprise is built on reciprocity, integrity, and transparency. These values foster a free exchange of ideas and ensure that researchers and institutions receive the benefit of hard work, the senators told Attorney General Merrick Garland in a May 5 letter made public on May 6.

As a result, America attracts the best and brightest. It needs to stay that way. But the United States must also take reasonable steps to protect taxpayer-funded research from theft, diversion, and ultimately weaponization against our own long-term national interests.

This is a complex problem, but an amnesty program rewarding individuals who broke federal law to steal U.S. taxpayer-funded research is simply not the answer.

Signers of the letter include Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, John Cornyn of Texas, Charles Grassley of Iowa, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Todd Young of Indiana, and Rob Portman of Ohio.

Their letter was prompted by information the senators didnt describe to Garland, but that suggested to them that the DOJ is launching in a few weeks the amnesty program first reported in January by The Wall Street Journal.

The senators noted that DOJ has not consulted with Congress on this amnesty program. It is also our understanding that DOJ did not properly consult with the relevant Inspector General community.

Inspectors General from large grant-making agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, are on the frontlines of combatting grant fraud by corrupt researchers seeking to take advantage of the openness and funding that the U.S. research enterprise provides, they wrote.

More than a dozen cases have been filed in recent months by the DOJ against researchers who failed to disclose their foreign funding sources for projects involving sensitive U.S. technologies, including several involving China.

The senators told Garland theyre worried about the effect that this amnesty program will have on those ongoing criminal cases and the signal that it sends to future researchers contemplating breaking U.S. law to steal research or hide affiliations with foreign governments or militaries.

They pointed as an example to a January DOJ announcement of charges being filed against Dr. Gang Chen, an MIT professor who was indicted for failing to disclose various appointments with the PRC  often in exchange for financial compensation, and was serving in several advisory roles for the PRC and PRC entities [when he] applied for and obtained a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant in order to fund a portion of his research at MIT.

At the time of Chens arrest, The Epoch Times reported that he has pleaded not guilty and is supported by MIT [and] is not the only prominent academic figure to be arrested and charged with failing to disclose connections to Chinese research institutes.

At least half a dozen have been arrested in the last year or so. They include Charles Lieber, the chair of the Harvard University Chemistry Department, who is accused of concealing his participation in an ambitious, state-sponsored Chinese effort to recruit top scientists and engineers from around the world to work in China, The Epoch Times wrote.

The senators are also worried that the DOJ program will undercut recent efforts by Congress and the Trump administration to deter Chinese theft of U.S. research and technology.

In section 1299C of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, P.L. 116-283 (Jan. 1, 2021), Congress required the Secretary of Defense and other government agencies to work with higher education institutions to limit foreign influence and exploitation of U.S. technology within the Department of Defense research, science and technology, and innovation enterprise, the letter to Garland says.

In addition, section 1281 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020, P.L. 116-92 (Dec. 20, 2019) built on a provision from the prior years NDAA, requiring the Secretary of Defense and other government agencies to provide training and resources to limit foreign influence, protect national security information, and protect against threats to institutions of higher education, including counterintelligence information developed for academic researchers based on identified threats.

The senators requested a briefing detailing the scope, nature, and timeline of DOJs amnesty program by no later than May 12. The short timeline for the briefing is unusual, as such congressional requests typically allow two or more weeks for fulfillment.

A DOJ spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be contacted at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
A "We are hiring!" sign is seen in front of the Buya restaurant in Miami, Fla., on March 5, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Short-Term Help Is Doing Long-Term Harm to the Economy, Killing Small Businesses

Commentary

The mounting evidence can no longer be ignored. Unsubstantiated and politically motivated COVID-19 lockdown policies and imprudent relief measures are causing serious, lasting damage to the foundations of American economic prosperity.

Having brought the economy to its knees through unwarranted and undependable lockdown measures that forced millions of Americans out of work and businesses across the country to close, the U.S. government is now going out of its way to encourage the workforces COVID-19 casualties to stay homeneedlessly postponing our economic recovery.

Lockdowns necessitated the need to support the workers affected by them, but now those lockdowns are easing and businesses are trying to get back to normal. Continued stimulus payments may be good politics, but theyre terrible economics. Workers are being disincentivized to work.

The National Federation of Independent Businesss Uncertainty Index (pdf) increased by six points in March, driven largely by a current labor shortage. An astonishing 42 percent of small-business owners reported being unable to fill job openings, according to the survey.

Owners are frustrated with mounting unfilled job openings as qualified and willing candidates are scarce, the NFIB report stated.

This labor scarcity appears to be affecting all sectors of the economy. Yet its a veritable crisis for small businessesso much so that small-business owners across the country are going to extreme lengths to attract employees, including offering signing bonuses and significant wage hikes, and even paying people just to show up to job interviews. The restaurant industry is being hit particularly hard, especially major fast-food franchises, which are having to close dining rooms, cut operating hours, and slash employee hours. This is causing those few existing employees on payroll to work extreme hours, and burnout is becoming a problem.

The cause of this severe labor shortage is easily explained. Potential job candidates are getting enhanced unemployment benefits that are going to last for several months, noted NFIB Illinois Director Mark Grant. Put simply, the government is paying people to not work, and theyre disincentivizing the work ethic thats the backbone of America. Unfortunately, Americas workforce is responding to the bad incentives.

Stimulus and unemployment are killing the workforce, said one McDonalds franchisee, who couldnt reopen his dining room due to the labor shortage crisis. A New York restaurateur echoed that sentiment, blaming the labor shortage on government assistance where people would rather stay home and pocket their cash. Another restaurateur put it even more bluntly, saying, Nobody wants to leave their couch.

The recent COVID-19 relief package doubles the amount an individual could receive through Sept. 6 and expands the pool of individuals who can receive them. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation now offers $300 per week on top of local benefits. In New York City, for example, where the maximum weekly state benefit is $504, unemployed individuals can now receive up to $804 per weekover $200 more per week than theyd make working eight-hour days at the citys generous $15 minimum wage.

The situation is truly ridiculous. Bad government lockdown policies did untold economic damage, and now bad government economic relief measuresostensibly designed to stimulate that damaged economyare in fact making a proper economic recovery much more difficult.

And a proper economic recovery is a recovery for every level of worker in every economic sector. I hope and pray that the economy as a whole will bounce back eventually. Wall Street will continue to grow, and giant corporations will continue to see increased profits. But what about your favorite local bistro? Whats going to happen to that local burger joint you loved as a kid? What does the future hold for that amazing little bar that makes the best cocktail youve ever had?

The government should be encouraging people to get back to work, not giving them reasons to avoid doing so. If we dont reverse course soon, small businesses as we know them could be gone forever, and the common men and women who rely on themthe dishwashers, the waitresses, the bartenders, the cashiers, and the cookscould be condemned to state dependency for generations.

Papa John Schnatter is the founder and former chairman and CEO of Papa Johns International, Inc.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A man prays and mourns in Orange, Calif., on April 5 next to a memorial set up in front of a business building where four people were killed on March 31, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Sole Survivor of March 31 Mass Shooting in Orange Leaves Hospital

SANTA ANAThe only survivor of the March 31 mass shooting in Orange has been released from the hospital to heal at home and mourn the deaths of a son and daughter who were among four people killed in the rampage.

Blanca Ismeralda Tamayo was released from UCI Medical Center on May 5, two bullets still lodged in her head, the Orange County Register reported.

Tamayo is recovering from wounds she suffered in the shooting at the real estate office where she worked. Among the fatally wounded victims were her 9-year-old son, Matthew Farias, and her 28-year-old daughter, Jenevieve Raygoza, who was herself a mother of two young children.

After Tamayo exited the hospital, wearing a T-shirt in memory of Matthew, she clutched at her chest and wept when asked about the boy who reportedly died as she tried to shield him from the gunman.

He is an angel of God, she said.

In the days after the shooting, Tamayos survival was very much in doubt. She spent days unconscious, her body functioning with the assistance of machines.

Dr. Michael Lekawa, one of the University of CaliforniaIrvine Health trauma surgeons who treated Tamayo, said on May 5 that such wounds are difficult to survive.

This is a great outcome, Lekawa said. I think we can only expect to see more and more improvements as time goes on. I think shes going to do very well.

Tamayo left the hospital wearing a protective helmet and bearing a scar on the right side of her face. She spoke little, mostly to thank medical staff, and avoided talking about the shooting that changed her life.

Sometime after 5 p.m. on the afternoon of March 31, a gunman arrived at Unified Homes real estate office in Orange armed with a semi-automatic handgun, ammunition, pepper spray, and handcuffs, and opened fire.

In addition to Tamayos son Matthew, those killed were the companys owner, Luis Tovar, 50; Raygoza, who was Tamayos daughter with Tovar; and another employee at the office, 58-year-old Leticia Solis Guzman.

Tamayo, a Santa Ana resident, also worked at the real estate firm, which specializes in mobile homes. That day, she had brought Matthew to the office.

The man charged with the shootings is Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, 44, the husband or ex-husband of a former employee at the real estate firm.

The suspects attorneys have said Gonzalezwho was shot in the head by a police officer during a gun battlehas been unable to communicate with them.

On May 5, Assistant Public Defender Ken Morrison told Orange County Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham that As of today, he remains the same as he has for some time.

Authorities have not released additional details about the investigation, and have not discussed any suspected motive.
The funeral program for 1-year-old Davell Gardner Jr. sits on a table at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in New York City, on July 27, 2020. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Suspected Hoolie Gang Member Charged in Relation to Toddlers Fatal Shooting in Brooklyn

Authorities in New York City charged a suspect on Wednesday believed to be connected to the fatal shooting of a toddler boy who was struck by a stray bullet while attending a cookout party with his family in Brooklyn last summer, police announced Thursday.

Dashawn Austin, 25, was taken into custody on charges that include murder and attempted murder for allegedly shooting and killing 1-year-old Davell Gardner on July 12, 2020, an incident that sent shockwaves throughout the state.

Gardner was seated in his stroller at the cookout party located near the Raymond Bush Playground in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood when several men started firing shots at the direction of the party, authorities said at the time.

The baby boy was caught in the gunfire and hit once in the stomach. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead a short time later.

Three other menaged 36, 35, and 27also became victims after a rain of bullets struck people at the party. They were treated for gunshot wounds at local hospitals.

Davell Gardner Sr., 25, the father of the baby Davell Gardner Jr., killed in July in a park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, celebrates his life on Sept. 12, 2020.(Laura Bonilla Cal/AFP via Getty Images)

Relatives of the dead and wounded grieve near the scene in Brooklyn where a 1-year-old child was shot and killed in New York City on July 13, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

This is a powerful moment of justice, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a virtual news briefing Thursday, noting that Davells death is the most heartbreaking thing in the world.

Austin has been described by officials as a suspected Hoolie street gang member, The Associated Press reported.

He is one of 18 alleged members of the street gangranging in age from 19 to 33who are accused of various crimes, including three other killings and four non-fatal shootings that prosecutors say stemmed from clashes with a rival gang.

Eleven defendants were arrested Wednesday, six were in custody on other charges and one remains at large, AP reported, citing prosecutors.

The NYPD released images of three people in August wanted in relation to the cookout party shooting. Police said Thursday the investigation remains ongoing. Additional arrests related to the crime are possible.

????WANTED????for a Homicide of a 1 Year old in front of 464 Madison St. #bedfordstuyvesant #brooklyn @NYPD79Pct on 7/12/20 at 11:30 PM ????Reward up to $10,000????Seen them? Know who they are?Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!????Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! #YourCityYourCall @NY1 @News12BK pic.twitter.com/yJ88X7J0Lh  NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) August 17, 2020

The incident happened after a bloody July 4th weekend that saw 52 people shot in the nations most populous metropolis in the span of 72 hours. The incident prompted multiple officials, including then-President Donald Trump, to comment on the wave of gun violence in the city that left at least seven people dead.

Law and Order. If @NYCMayor cant do it, we will! Trump said in a Twitter post.

A GoFundMe page set up at the time in support of the family of the 1-year-old boy reads they need answers to the crime and they need it now.

The fundraiser has raised over $28,000 since it was launched in July 2020.

From NTD News
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a session of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Nov. 28, 2019. (Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via Reuters)

Ten Belarusians File Criminal Case Against Lukashenko in Germany

BERLINTen Belarusians have asked Germanys federal prosecutor to open a criminal investigation against President Alexander Lukashenko and security officers for alleged crimes against humanity during a crackdown on protests.

Lawyers who brought the case for the 10, who are now living across Europe, cited universal jurisdiction laws that allow Germany to try crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.

All clients have reported of spurious arrests, torture, and abuse during the days of their imprisonment  Each of our clients has suffered severe health consequences, the lawyers said.

Minsk did not immediately comment. The Belarusian authorities have characterized the protesters as criminals or violent revolutionaries backed by the West and described the actions of law enforcement agencies as adequate and necessary.

Lukashenko has faced street protests since a presidential election last August that the opposition says was rigged to enable him to win. Police have arrested thousands of protesters.

Germanys universal jurisdiction laws were used in February to secure a guilty verdict against a former member of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads security services for abetting the torture of civilians.

The Syrian precedent showed that if the will of the law enforcement agencies is there, they can do it,' said Onur Ozata, one of the lawyers.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in self-imposed exile in Lithuania, welcomed the legal filing.

There will never be impunity in Belarus, and todays news is a clear example of this, she said in a statement.

In March, the United Nations top human rights body agreed to set up a team of investigators to gather evidence about the alleged excessive use of force and torture by authorities in Belarus.

Yury Ambrazevich, the Belarusian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, described the UN move as yet another attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of our state.

By Kyiv newsroom
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the newest national airline of the UAE, will continue to fly to Greece twice a week, providing UAE residents with exciting travel opportunities and experiences over the summer period and beyond.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently flies to Thessaloniki every Thursday and as of July will fly twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays, while to Athens every Friday and as of June twice per week on Mondays and Fridays. Fares start as low as AED199 ($54), with tickets on sale on wizzair.com (which also has an Arabic booking website) and the airlines mobile app.

Since April 19, permanent residents of UAE can enter Greece without being quarantined. They must provide a negative PCR test taken by swab up to 72 hours before the arrival, or hold a certificate of vaccination in English issued by a public authority. The vaccination needs to have been completed at least 14 days before arrival to Greece. The certificate should include the full name of the passenger, the type of vaccine, the number of doses taken and the dates.

Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: With travel restrictions easing for UAE residents wanting to fly to Greece and the summer heat of the UAE fast approaching, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is ideally positioned to offer safe, efficient, hassle-free, ultra-low fare travel options. Athens and Thessaloniki provide incredible historic and cultural experiences and we look forward to enabling people to witness all that Greece has to offer.

Passengers are requested to follow physical distancing measures introduced by the local health authorities and are encouraged to make all purchases prior to the flight online (e.g. checked in luggage, WIZZ Priority, fast security track), to minimise any possible physical contact at the airport.

With a fleet composed of brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft, the airline will have the lowest environmental footprint among its competitors in the region. - TradeArabia News Service
Tennessee Legislature Bans Critical Race Theory in Public Schools

The Tennessee Legislature approved a measure that bans the Marxist-inspired critical race theory from being taught in the states public and charter schools.

The legislation prohibits teaching students that any race or sex is superior to any other or that an individual is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive due to their race or sex. It also forbids teachers from instructing students that the United States is inherently sexist or racist, and it also bans teaching that the U.S. government should be violently overthrown.

Generally, critical race theory redefines U.S. history by claiming that the nation was built through the struggle between oppressors, typically white people, and the oppressed, or various minoritiessimilarly to Marxisms reduction of human history to a struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

State Rep. John Ragan said that proponents of critical race theory are engaging in the pursuit of political power by advancing their agenda.

We have much work left for our children to be able to realize the full promise of our nation. To fulfill that promise, our children must be educated, that they stand as individuals, equal before our laws as they will one day stand before the Creator, Ragan, a Republican, said on the floor of the Assembly on May 4. They must learn their identity is defined by the content of their character, not the color of the skin, their sex, ethnicity, or membership in some social class.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, a Republican, noted that the theory posits that the rule of law does not exist, only political power.

That is the very definition of critical race theory, Kelsey said. I was subject to this teaching 20 years ago in law school and know it very well, and that is the very definition of it.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign the measure into law. He hasnt vetoed a bill since he took office.

Democrats voiced opposition to the bill, claiming that it would promote revisionist history.

I do not cast blame, but I think we do have to admit that slavery did occur, state Sen. Brenda Gilmore, a Democrat, told her colleagues. It was a dark period in our history. We have to acknowledge the wrongs of our society, even when its a difficult conversation to have.

However, the bill doesnt mention slavery and allows for the teaching of the historical oppression of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion, or geographic region.

Other states are considering or have passed similar measures that prevent the instruction of critical race theory in the classroom, such as the Oklahoma Legislature, which voted to pass a similar bill last week.

Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Firearms are pictured in an exhibit hall at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center during the NRA's annual convention in Dallas, Texas, on May 6, 2018. (Loren Elliott/AFP/Getty Images)

Texas Senate Approves Permitless Carry of Handguns

The Texas Senate approved a bill on May 5 that would allow eligible residents 21 years and older to carry a holstered handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit, also known as constitutional carry.

House Bill 1927 passed the Republican-led Senate in an 1813 vote following a lengthy debate and will now head back to the House to debate amendments and settle differences between the two chambers versions. The House had passed the measure in mid-April.

Gov. Greg Abbott has previously signaled that hes supportive of such a measure and told WBAPs Rick Roberts last week that he was willing to sign it.

Once the Senate passes it out, the House and Senate will convene and work out any differences and get it to my desk and Ill be signing it, Abbott said.

Under current Texas law, residents are required to obtain a permit to carry handguns. To obtain the permit, applicants must complete classroom training, pass a written exam, submit fingerprints, and pass a proficiency demonstration.

Republicans say the proposed law will help remove some barriers for Lone Star State residents to carry a handgun and hence save them time and money.

State Sen. Charles Schwertner previously defended the bill at a committee meeting following the Houses passage of the measure.

Right now, we have the license to carrythe LTCand it is a hurdle for some individuals to avail themselves of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and I think that is a hurdle that should be removed. Thats what this bill does, he said.

Opponents of the law, including state Democrats, have expressed concerns that the proposed bill would allow individuals to obtain a handgun without appropriate training or background checks. Some members of law enforcement have also expressed concerns about the bill.

Austin Police Interim Chief Joseph Chacon said at a press conference last week that he believes the proposed law would make our streets less safe and will make law enforcements jobs harder.

Guns are easier to obtain than ever before, and it has become more common for people to use them. Weakening training regulations and effectively eliminating training requirements is not the direction that we should be going right now, Chacon said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who previously expressed worry that the Senate lacked the votes to pass the measure, issued a statement on May 5 welcoming the passage.

I am proud that the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1927 today, the Constitutional Carry bill, which affirms every Texans right to self-defense and our states strong support for our Second Amendment right to bear arms. In the Lone Star State, the Constitution is our permit to carry, Patrick said.

The National Rifle Association had previously expressed support for the measure, saying in a statement that its time for Texas to join the 20 other states that have legalized this personal protection option.

Last month, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law his states version of a permitless carry measure.
The Washington Posts Toy Weapons vs. Cops

On Monday, April 19, Edgar Luis Tirado went on a one-man crime spreeimportant details of which are not recorded in the Washington Posts often cited Fatal Force database of killings by police.

Other accounts, though, were clear about the threat Tirado presented. The 28-year-old Texan, who suffered from bipolar disorder, started small, stealing from a Fiesta Mart in Far North Dallas early in the afternoon. When store workers tried to stop him, he produced a black revolver, pointed it at them, and then ran.

The next police heard of Tirado, it was nearly 4 P.M. He was in a school parking lot, wielding the handgun in an attempted carjacking. When police caught up with him half an hour later, he reached for the gun, which he had in the back of his pants, and leveled it at officers. The police held their fire, and Tirado fled.

Half an hour later, the man robbed a CVS drugstore, threatening the store manager with his pistol. When the police next caught up with Tirado, he ran across multiple lanes of traffic, dodging cars and leaping over concrete barriers before turning and again aiming his revolver at police. This time, officers shot and killed him.

But the Posts Fatal Force tally notes Tirados death simply: He was a 28-year-old Hispanic man with a toy weapon.

One might be forgiven for thinking, from that descriptiona toy weaponthat Tirado had an orange plastic water gun or some other obvious plaything. But Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia explained at a press conference that Tirado had in hand a replica handgun, a fake that looked exactly like a revolver. It wasnt just police who thought Tirado had a real revolver; the grocery and drug store employees who found themselves on the business end of Tirados fake gun believed it to be the real deal.

So why does the Posts seminal database for researchers on police violence, begun in 2015, call it a toy weapon when even the short wire report it carried on the killing notes it was a replica handgun?

RealClearInvestigations reached out to the Posts Fatal Force team for comment or explanation, but got no response.

Using the word toy is a bit deceiving, says Patrick Burke, the executive director of the Washington DC Police Foundation. These are made to look like lethal weapons, and often an officer doesnt have the time to distinguish whether it is real or fake.

The paper didnt always fail to distinguish between fake guns and toy guns. When it was two years into the Fatal Force project, which won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2016, the Post reported that 86 people in its tally had been killed by police while brandishing weapons that looked real but werent. Many had been carrying BB guns, others had pellet guns or replica weapons. The Post labeled only two as carrying toy guns.

Typical from that early period is the entry for Dana Bruce Ott, a 63-year-old white man with a toy weapon, who was shot in 2015 by Colorado Springs police. In that entry, the Post noted that Ott was killed when he aimed what turned out to be an air rifle at officers and approached them. The phrase what turned out to be makes it clear that in the moment of confrontation, the weapon looked like a real gun.

But today the reader will likely look in vain for such clarifying qualifications from the Post. Since the beginning of 2020, its Fatal Force database has described 34 of those shot by police as wielding toy weapons, differing from the outside local reports referenced as sources, which make clear that all but three of those weapons were realistic-looking fake guns, including replicas, BB guns, and pellet guns. The three outliers were also not toys per se, but other objects that looked like guns.

Most if not all of these items are not toys, said Alan Kaufman, a senior vice president at the Toy Association. Instead, they are non-powder guns such as BB, pellet, airsoft, and paint guns. These items very often look much like powder guns, often intentionally, Kaufman says. He emphasizes these items are definitely not toys.

The distinction would likely be readily evident to shoppers perusing Amazon.comwhose founder, Jeff Bezos, owns the Washington Post. It sells toy guns as well as many replica pellet and BB guns, including revolvers nearly identical to the gun used by Tirado.

But in the Post database, when it comes to most cases involving BB guns and the like, readers are left with the impression police regularly shoot suspects armed with nothing more threatening than a childs plaything.

How should Post readers judge the case of Malcolm Comeaux, who was killed by FBI agents attempting to arrest him? The Houston Chronicle quotes police saying that Comeaux suddenly grabbed what appeared to be a black revolver handgun from his waistband as the agents had their guns drawn. Detectives later determined that the object was a pellet gun that resembled a handgun.

According to the Post, Comeaux was a 24-year-old Black man with a toy weapon.

This article was written by Eric Felten for RealClearInvestigations.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is seen during a congressional hearing in Washington on April 15, 2021. (Amr Alfiky/Pool/Getty Images)

CDC Adopted Language From Top Teachers Union in School Reopening Guidance

The second-largest teachers union in America was in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on school reopening guidance, even successfully getting some of its recommendations inserted into the official guidance, newly released records show.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its president, Randi Weingarten, spoke multiple times with top CDC officials in the days leading up to the agencys Feb. 12 publication of the guidance, according to internal emails (pdf) obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Americans for Public Trust, a watchdog group.

Weingarten discussed the pending guidance with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Feb. 1. A teachers union official then emailed a slew of CDC and White House officials, thanking them for the rich discussion and expressing hope that lines of communications will remain open, and that we can serve as a true thought partner as you continue the important work toward safe reopening of schools.

The official provided a lengthy paragraph that Weingarten committed to providing the CDC.

I just wanted to circle back and extend my gratitude for the language you have provided us, Walensky responded.

Regrets for my delay in reply but I wanted to be certain you knew it is being worked into (with just a few small tweaks) the school opening guidance. We have also included the executive summary you suggested. Please know we are listening and working hard to ensure your confidence and partnership in this endeavor.

Nearly every word from the 123-word paragraph made it into the final product.

Weingarten spoke with Walensky again on Feb. 7, calling the health directors cell phone. The call was scheduled to take about 15 minutes.

On Feb. 11, just one day before the release of the official guidance, an AFT official again emailed a slew of CDC and White House officials, urging them to adopt the following sentence, In the event high-community transmission results from a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, a new update of these guidelines may be necessary.

The guidance ended up including the following line, In the event of increased levels of community transmission resulting from a variant of SARS-CoV-2, updates to this guidance may be necessary.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, meets with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on March 18, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

After the emails were made public this week, Republicans demanded answerswith some calling for Walensky to step down.

Shes allowed her guidelines to be polluted by a political organization, and in my opinion, loses all validity, and needs to resign, Rep. Greg Murphy (N.C.), a physician, told NTD.

Top Republicans including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the ranking member on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, pressed Walensky in a letter about the revelation that the CDC adopted language suggested from the AFT virtually word-for-word.

The hundreds of pages of emails also show potentially inappropriate political influence from the White House over CDCs guidance process, they wrote, accusing Walensky of shifting her own position on school reopening between Feb. 3 and Feb. 12.

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, they added.

In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, Weingarten said the union represents educators and other so-called frontline employees.

So naturally, we have been in regular touch with the agencies setting policy that affect their work and lives, including the CDC. In fact, we contacted the agency more in 2020 during the Trump administration than we have during the Biden administration in 2021requesting additional guidance, questioning policy, providing testimony and offering an educator and healthcare worker perspective, she said.

And while we have at times been concerned about their conclusionsas we were initially with the change in classroom physical distancing ruleswe respect deeply that the CDC career staff has always taken its responsibility seriously. We appreciate that under Dr. Walenskys leadership, the CDC welcomes stakeholder feedback, as opposed to ignoring it.

The organization also said that the union has been working since April 2020 to reopen schools safely and knows in-person learning is best for students.

The CDC did not respond to an inquiry. Walensky was not asked about the emails during a virtual briefing on Wednesday.

On the day the reopening guidelines were published, Weingarten praised the CDC, saying the agency met fear of the pandemic with facts and evidence.

The CDC has produced an informed, tactile plan that has the potential to help school communities around the country stay safe by defining the mitigation and accommodation measures, and other tools educators and kids need, so classrooms can once again be vibrant places of learning and engagement, she said at the time.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington this week that the CDCs longstanding best practice is to engage with organizations and groups that are going to be impacted by guidance and recommendations issued by the agency.

It doesnt mean they are taking everything they want or even a percentage of what they want, but its important to understand the implementation components. They do so to ensure that recommendations are feasible and that they adequately address the safety and wellbeing of the individuals the guidance is aimed to protect, she added.

Other stakeholders the agency consulted include the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Association of School Nurses, and the National Governors Association.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley gives remarks during the 19th annual September 11 observance ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 11, 2020. (Erin Scott/Reuters)

Top US General Warns of Potential International Instability

WASHINGTONThe world may be entering an era of potential international instability with the increasing threat of the Chinese regime and the advent of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics that could prove decisive to warfare, the top U.S. general warned on Wednesday.

Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, compared the current era to other major geopolitical shifts in world history, including the fall of Rome and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

We are entering a period of potential international instability, Milley said in an address at Howard University. Milley said that threat of the Chinese regime was changing the status quo after decades in which the United States essentially was the unchallenged global military, political and economic power.

He warned that the geopolitical change was being accompanied by technological innovation in robotics, hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and other technologies.

And they are extraordinarily disruptive and potentially decisive in the conduct of war, Milley said.

Milleys remarks came just days after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the United States needed to prepare for a potential future conflict bearing little resemblance to the old wars that have long consumed the Pentagon.
Supporters of Soldier A and Soldier C react after the case against the two former paratroopers collapsed at the High Court in Belfast on May 4, 2021. (Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images)

Trial of 2 Veterans Accused of IRA Leader Murder Collapses

Two former paratroopers accused of the murder of an Official IRA leader have been formally acquitted after prosecutors offered no further evidence at their trial.

The veterans trial at Belfast Crown Court collapsed after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed it would not appeal against a decision by Justice OHara to exclude statements given by the ex-soldiers about the shooting of Joe McCann in 1972. It 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 judges ruling will have an impact on the other military cases before the courts. 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, OHara 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 McCann, its decision not to appeal against the judges ruling means the case could not proceed.

After the prosecution confirmed it would be presenting no further evidence in the case, OHara told the defendants: In the circumstances Mr. A and C I formally find you not guilty of the charge of murder.

Moments later the two accused, dressed in suits and ties, walked from the court.

After Tuesdays short hearing, 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.

The family of McCann is expected 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 (130 feet), 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.

McCanns 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.

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, OHara 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 Irelands 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.

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: Im 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.

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.

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.

By David Young and James Ward
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) questions witnesses during a House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 21, 2019. (Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

Twitter Says Account Suspension of Stefaniks Press Aide Was an Error

Twitter has restored the account of Rep. Elise Stefaniks (R-N.Y.) communications director after briefly suspending it in error, although the press aide, Karoline Leavitt, insists it was a purge in their ongoing effort to silence conservatives voices.

The account of Leavitt, who served as an assistant White House press secretary in the Trump administration, went offline on May 5, prompting Stefanikher current bossto accuse the social media company of unconstitutional overreach and of silencing our voices and freedom of speech.

BIG TECH on the MOVE! Twitter just suspended my Communications Director, Stefanik wrote in a tweet. An unconstitutional overreach SILENCING our voices and freedom of speech. Republicans are united in fighting back against Big Techs tyranny. Millions of Americans will not be silenced!

The account was suspended in error, a Twitter spokesperson told The Hill, adding that the move has been reversed, and the account has been reinstated.

Leavitt took to Twitter to announce that shes been released from Twitters Conservative Jail, but pushed back against the notion that it was an accident.

This was not an error, as Twitter claimed. This was another purge in their ongoing effort to silence conservatives voices! she wrote. We cannot back down to Big Tech Giants! Our movement is too important!

Twitter didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment about Leavitts claim.

Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt suggested the suspension had something to do with her following multiple conservative accounts.

The only reason I can think that Twitter would have suspended me is that I followed several Republican members of Congress and GOP activists at once last night, and within minutes, my account had been suspended, Leavitt told the outlet.

Stefanik, who was recently endorsed by Trump to replace Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as the House Republican Conference chair, remained unconvinced that the lockout of her communications director was an accident.

Reacting to a tweet by CNN correspondent Donie OSullivan, who noted the Twitter spokespersons error remarks, Stefanik wrote, Why does this ONLY happen to conservatives?! Absolutely outrageous. Because Big Tech is corrupt. Thats why.

OSullivan remarked in a follow-up tweet that it really doesnt help Big Techs argument that they are not censors of the right when apparent errors like this happen.

Conservatives have long held that Big Tech is silencing voices of those on the right. In a recent case, government watchdog group Judicial Watch claims that Iowa state officials worked with Big Tech last year to censor posts related to the 2020 election.

Judicial Watchs claim is based on 624 pages of records it received from the office of the Secretary of State of Iowa as a result of a June 2020 open records lawsuit (pdf) filed by the watchdog.

These records are yet another example of state officials conspiring with Big Tech to deny Americans their First Amendment rights, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.

Iowa officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.
President Donald Trump addresses reporters in the Oval Office of the White House after receiving a briefing from law enforcement on "Keeping American Communities Safe: The Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leaders" on July 15, 2020 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images)

Twitter Suspends From the Desk of Donald J. Trump Account

Twitter has suspended an account of unclear origin that seemed nominally affiliated with former President Donald Trumps newly launched communications platform From the Desk of Donald J. Trump.

Visitors to the account, which has the handle @DJTDesk, are met with the message Account suspended. A Twitter spokesperson told The New York Post that it pulled the account because it seemed to be intended either to circumvent Trumps Twitter ban or to promote related content.

As stated in our ban evasion policy, well take enforcement action on accounts whose apparent intent is to replace or promote content affiliated with a suspended account, a spokesperson told the outlet.

Yet sources close to the former president told The New York Post that the @DJTDesk account was not created by anyone on Team Trump.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Twitter with a request for comment on the @DJTDesk account suspension.

The @DJTDesk account came online around the time Trump unveiled a new communications platform, coming several months after he was suspended from Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms. Called From the Desk of Donald J. Trump, the new platform appears on Trumps personal website and features social-media-like posts from the former president.

Trumps most recent post on the site focuses on the theme of election fraud, while taking aim at the media, Big Tech, and the Democrat Party for what Trump alleges is collusion to perpetuate the term The Big Lie when speaking of 2020 Presidential Election Fraud.

They are right in that the 2020 Presidential Election was a Big Lie, but not in the way they mean, Trump wrote. When they try to sell the American people the term The Big Lie, which they do in unison and coordination, think of it instead as the greatest Fraud in the history of our Country!

Its not clear whether Trumps new communications platform will be developed into a full-fledged social media website. Currently, its not possible to create user accounts or reply to Trumps posts, and Trump is the only poster, although visitors can like his posts by clicking a heart-shaped icon.

Facebooks oversight board upheld Trumps ban from its platform on Wednesday, prompting a fiery missive on From the Desk of Donald J. Trump, with the former president saying 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. 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, Trump wrote.

In a statement announcing its decision to extend Trumps Facebook ban, the oversight board said in a statement that, Trumps posts during the Capitol riot severely violated Facebooks rules and encouraged and legitimized violence.

The two posts in question involved Trump, who was president at the time, urging people taking part in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order while maintaining that this was a fraudulent election.

Facebook Oversight Board Director Thomas Hughes said during an appearance on MSNBC that the suspension of Trump was necessary to keep people safe.

The board also found that Facebook inappropriately termed the suspension indefinite.

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.

Since being de-platformed, Trump has relied on sending out emailed statements to issue endorsements and offer criticisms of certain politicians.

In March, a former Trump campaign advisor, Corey Lewandowski, said the former president would launch a social media website in three or four months.

What weve seen from Big Tech and the cancel culture is if you dont agree with their philosophy, theyre going to cancel you, and were going to have a platform where the presidents message of America First is going to be able to be put out to everybody and therell be an opportunity for other people to weigh in and communicate in a free format without fear of reprisal or being canceled, he said in a Newsmax interview.

The Epoch Times has contacted Trumps Save America PAC for comment.

Jack Phillips and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
UK Sends Naval Ships to Jersey Amid Fishing Dispute With France

The UK government has dispatched two Royal Navy ships to Jersey as French fishing boats gathered near the island in protest over post-Brexit fishing rights.

Downing Street said that HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been sent to the region as a precautionary measure and the UK and Jersey governments would continue to work closely on the issue.

The two ships will monitor the situation amid concerns of a possible blockade at the port of St Helier, the islands main port.

French fishing boats protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey to draw attention to what they see as unfair restrictions on their ability to fish in UK waters after Brexit, on May 6, 2021. (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson talked to Jerseys local leaders on Wednesday evening and stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions and for dialogue between Jersey and France on fishing access, Downing Street said.

Johnson pledged his unwavering support for Jersey and said that any blockade would be completely unjustified.

On Tuesday, Frances Seas Minister Annick Girardin said her country may cut off electricity supplies to Jersey, which imports 95 percent of its electricity from France.

Girardin said she was disgusted to learn that Jersey had issued 41 licences with unilaterally imposed conditions, including the time French fishing vessels could spend in its waters.

In the (Brexit) deal there are retaliatory measures. Well, were ready to use them, she told Frances National Assembly.

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, well do it if we have to.

Stephanie Yon-Courtin, a French MEP and member of the EU Fisheries Committee, called on the people of Jersey and the UK government to understand that our fishermen need to carry on working.

This situation is all the more sad because historically Jersey and the French fisherman have always had very cordial and pretty good relations for the past decade, she told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Thursday.

Some of Jerseys people need to understand, and Jerseys government and UK Government, have to understand that our fishermen need to carry on working.

Ian Gorst, Jerseys minister of external affairs, said the island is not seeking to bar boats which have historically fished in Jersey waters and insisted the dispute can be resolved amicably.

It is important that the UK government responds firmly to threats, he told BBC News.

Weve heard disproportionate threats from Paris and now with a potential blockade, but the answer to the issues that are being faced are without doubt talking and diplomacy, he said.

Reuters and PA contributed to this report.
Katherine Tai addresses the Senate Finance committee hearings to examine her nomination to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021. (Bill O'Leary/Pool via Reuters)

US, China to Assess Phase 1 Deal Soon, Biden Trade Chief Says

WASHINGTONU.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Wednesday she expects to engage in the near term with Chinese officials to assess their implementation of the Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries, with the outcome to influence the fate of Washingtons punitive tariffs on Beijing.

Tai told a Financial Times online event that she respects the need for continuity in U.S.-China trade policy, including the two-year trade deal implemented last year by the Trump administration.

Its the agreement that we have, its the agreement that we will work from, that we will build from, Tai said.

Im very much looking forward to formally meeting my Chinese counterparts and assessing their performance and measuring what they have to say, pressing our interests and backing up a path forward, she added.

Tai said she has not had any formal contact with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, who negotiated the Phase 1 deal for Beijing, or with any other top Chinese officials, but expects to do so in the near term.

Asked whether U.S. tariffs on some $370 billion worth of annual Chinese imports imposed by former President Donald Trump would be lifted by President Joe Bidens administration in the near term, Tai said much would hinge on the conversations with Chinese officials and the effectiveness of the Phase 1 deal.

The Biden administrations approach to Trumps tariffs also depends on the vision that we form in terms of where we want to drive this particular and very important relationship.

Trade Review

Tai and other senior Biden administration officials are conducting a top-to-bottom review of U.S.-China trade policy. Trump launched a tariff war between the worlds two largest economies in 2018. Washington and Beijing signed the Phase 1 trade deal in January 2020.

The pact, which expires at the end of 2021, called for China to boost purchases of U.S. exports by $200 billion over two yearsa target that Beijing is far behind in meeting. The Chinese regime also pledged to make regulatory changes on intellectual property protections, agriculture biotechnology and financial services access for U.S. firms.

Tai said one of her top hopes for areas of cooperation with China is on fighting climate change, a major policy push for Bidens administration. Cooperation will be needed among many economies to address global warming, she said, but climate issues present opportunities to develop new industries and compete more fairly based on innovation.

Asked whether the United States would launch free trade negotiations with Taiwan, Tai said that any trade and economic engagement with Taiwan must be coordinated with other policy objectives of the Biden administration, both foreign and domestic. She downplayed prospects for a full free trade deal with Taiwan.

I want to disconnect this idea that the only way we do affirmative trade engagement, trade enhancement is through a free trade agreement. Lets think about flexibility, the kind of tools that we have, lets stay light on our feet, Tai said.

By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- For the first quarter of 2021, NIO's vehicle margin rose to 21.2% from negative 7.4% for the prior-year period mainly driven by higher deliveries and solid average selling price, and the gross margin also grew to 19.5%, William Li, founder, chairman and CEO of NIO said at an earnings call after the startup released its Q1 2021 financial results.

Currently, NIO's costs in the items like BOM (bill of materials) are quite stable, said Stanley Qu, NIO's vice president of finance. He added the increase in vehicle margin was mainly thanks to the higher take-rate of NIO Pilot and 100kWh battery pack, which contributed 8,000 yuan ($1,240) and 5,000 yuan ($770) per car to the first-quarter profit. The take-rate of the 100kWh battery pack was around 25% in the first quarter and is expected to be maintained over the next several months.

During the reporting period, NIO delivered 20,060 new vehicles, including 516 ES8s, 8,088 ES6s and 7,456 EC6s, representing a hike of 422.7% from the previous year and an increase of 15.6% from the previous quarter.

In April, the company celebrated the 100,000th mass-produced vehicle rolling off the assembly line. It took NIO only nine months to achieve the production volume for the second 50,000 vehicles.

For the second quarter of 2021, the company expects to deliver 21,000 to 22,000 vehicle.

ET7; photo credit: NIO



NIO launched its fourth production model, the ET7, at this year's NIO Day in January. At the Auto Shanghai 2021, the interior of the smart flagship sedan model was unveiled to the public. According to William Li, the company is energetically advancing the production and the tests of the ET7 and will possibly start delivery in the first quarter of 2022 despite the challenges it is facing in volume production.

As the first model based on NP2 (NIO Platform 2.0), the ET7 embodies NIO's ambition to rapidly release all-new generation of products and lead the industry in using many new technologies. The aim makes NIO face a big challenge in ET7 volume production partly as its suppliers of LiDAR, chips and other devices should achieve mass production much ahead of their schedules according to NIO's plan.

As for the production capacity, due to the shortage of semiconductors, NIO suspended the vehicle production in the Hefei-based JAC-NIO manufacturing plant for five workings days from March 29, which had some negative effects on the production and delivery in April. William Li said the whole supply chain will keep facing a huge challenge in production capacity in the second quarter of 2021.

To ensure sufficient production capacity for our upcoming products, together with our partners, we have kicked off the planning and building of a new plant in Xinqiao Industrial Park in Hefei, concluded William Li.
On 3 May 1976, Deutsche Lufthansa, the leading German airline, landed for the first time at Dubai airport. Proud to have this long and successful history in the UAE, Lufthansa is celebrating its 45th anniversary in Dubai with a special anniversary promotion.

This promotion is available until May 24 and offers very attractive fare discounts of up to 45 per cent compared with the regular ticket prices. It applies to fares for flights departing from Dubai to Europe and North America. Some fare examples: An all-inclusive roundtrip fare Dubai-Madrid is now available for AED1,775 ($483) in Economy Class. A booking in Premium Economy starts at AED3,195 ($869.6) for a flight from Dubai to Rome and a fare Dubai-Amsterdam for Business Class can be purchased already starting AED6,135 ($1,669.9). More than 20 destinations in the US and Canada are getting close at reach, e.g. to New York, ranging from AED3,775 ($1,027.5) in Economy Class to AED13,255 ($3,607.9) in Business Class.

Lufthansa is looking back to a long tradition and commitment in the UAE, said Heinrich Lange, Senior Director Sales, Gulf, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Lufthansa Group Airlines. We are very proud to commemorate 45 years of service to passengers in the UAE, especially in a year where the UAE are celebrating their 50th anniversary of existence. Dubai is and always has been a key destination in Lufthansas Middle East network, as we connect nonstop not only to Germany and Switzerland, but also beyond to almost all parts in the World, especially to Europe, the USA and Canada. Even during these recent challenging pandemic times, Lufthansa resumed its flights to Dubai as early as possible already in July 2020 with three weekly flights and is back to offering an increased schedule of a daily departure since December. Our airline is a recognised and esteemed partner in the aviation sector of the GCC and anniversaries like those we are celebrating today serve as testament to that fact.

The booking period for this promotion ends on May 24. The travel period offers huge flexibility as it spans until March 31, 2022, the Business Class tickets are valid until December 15, 2021. - TradeArabia News Service
The Federal Reserve building is seen on March 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. - Mortgage rates are finally ticking up in the United States, one year after the Federal Reserve cut its lending rate to boost the economy as the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, but that's not expected to cool the hot housing market. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

US Financial Regulators Moving Very Fast to Take on Climate Change

WASHINGTONFinancial regulators around the world are rushing to implement models to measure the financial risk arising from climate change. Central banks including the Federal Reserve may soon begin to implement climate stress tests of banks, which may limit financing for industries such as mining, oil, and gas.

The worlds largest central banks are pondering how to promote green financing, as they seek to introduce regulatory frameworks to mobilize more money for green and low-carbon investments.

Critics, however, argue that the proposals to introduce climate stress tests aim to defund the fossil fuel industry and steer funds to fashionable but unprofitable investments.

Stress testing, developed after the Great Recession, is a process by which central banks determine whether a financial institution has enough capital to weather various economic risks.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is one of the pioneers in investigating and deploying concrete plans to address climate risk. The bank is currently piloting a framework for climate stress tests that involves 2,000 banks in the euro area and is planning to publish the result of its exercise in July.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the ratings firm Moodys on May 6, Carmelo Salleo, head of stress test modeling division at the ECB, said that modeling financial risk derived from climate risk is still in its infancy and theres a lack of consensus among experts on how to develop the model.

Hence, the scientists at the ECB had to start from scratch and do all the steps from finding the relevant data to thinking of different ways to model it, he said.

But the good news is, it can be done with some investment, he said.

The purpose of the stress test modeling is to identify climate-related physical and transition risk factors facing banks and companies.

Physical risk refers to costs that arise from extreme weather events such as floods and wildfires. And transition risk is defined as financial risk arising from policy changes in the process of moving towards a low-carbon economy.

According to Salleo, increasing carbon taxes, for example, would affect some companies disproportionately and that generates financial risk for these firms.

The Bank of England announced last year that it would implement its first climate stress test on financial institutions in June. The test will require banks and insurance firms to determine whether they have enough capital levels to mitigate potential losses from climate change.

The developments in Europe have encouraged U.S. regulators to explore ways to mitigate climate-related risks facing the U.S. financial system.

Following the November 2020 presidential election, the Federal Reserve declared climate change as a potential threat to financial stability and formally joined the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System. The network, established three years ago, promotes green finance and aims to develop recommendations for central banks to manage risks and to mobilize capital for green and low-carbon investments, according to its website.

The group has more than 100 members and observers, including the Peoples Bank of China, the ECB, and the International Monetary Fund.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Fed officials have repeatedly affirmed the governments commitment to addressing climate-related risks to financial stability.

Speaking at the webinar, Emilie Mazzacurati, global head of Moodys climate solutions said that there is a significant push in the United States to incorporate climate change risk into bank oversight.

Weve seen very strong signals from the Biden administration, that climate is one of the top priorities, Mazzacurati said.

Weve also seen a lot of strong signals from the different financial supervisory agencies, including the Fed. So I expect that this is a space that is going to move very fast in the U.S. going forward.

The Fed hasnt yet proposed a framework to address climate change but its in the very early stages of considering stress scenarios, Fed Chair Jerome Powell told the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee in March.

In January, the U.S. central bank created a Supervision Climate Committee to study potential implications of climate change for financial institutions and markets.

Critics, however, fear that the financial regulators could weaponize their authority to force banks and private companies to defund fossil fuel industries.

A group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter in December to the Fed, raising concerns about the central bank potentially introducing climate-related stress tests for banks.

We urge you not to entertain implementation of such [climate related] scenarios without due consideration of their methodological shortcomings and challenges, the group stated in the letter.

They cited shortcomings of frameworks introduced by some European regulators and urged not to mirror the paths they took.

According to John Cochrane, an economist at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, the Fed and other central banks are rushing to take on climate change.

Yes, we are decarbonizing the economy, but similar transitions from horses to cars, from trains to planes, or from typewriters to computers did not cause even a blip in the financial system. Companies and industries come and go all the time, Cochrane wrote in an article in City Journal.

So why is there pressure for financial firms to disclose absurdly fictitious climate risks and change investments to avoid them? Clearly, these proposals aim to defund the fossil fuel industry before alternatives are in place and to steer funds to fashionable but unprofitable investments by regulatory subterfuge.
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. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

US Tracking China Rocket Debris That May Reenter Atmosphere in Days

The U.S. Space Command is tracking debris from a Chinese rocket that sent part of a planned space station into orbit last week and may reenter Earths atmosphere this weekend, the White House said on May 5.

The debris comes from the Long March 5B rocket launched on April 29 to deliver a new roughly 25-ton module for Chinas Tianhe space station. The debris has since reached orbital velocity, meaning its circling the planet instead of falling back to Earth within a predetermined area as usually happens with the debris from U.S. launches.

Losing its ability to restart its engines, the debris is tumbling on a trajectory toward Earth at more than 17,000 miles per hour and its reentry point cant be accurately predicted yet.

Its exact entry point into the Earths atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry, which is expected around May 8, U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Mike Howard said in a statement on May 4. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

The United States is committed to addressing the risks of growing congestion due to space debris and growing activity in space and we want to work with the international community to promote leadership and responsible space behaviors, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a news briefing.

The debris, measuring 98 feet (30 meters) long and 16 feet (5 meters) wide, will partially burn up as it collides with molecules while reentering Earths atmosphere.

Because the modules orbital inclination is 41.5 degrees, the debris is anticipated to reenter the atmosphere in a range somewhere between a little farther north than New York, Madrid, and Beijing, and as far south as southern Chile or Wellington, New Zealand.

A Long March 5B rocket, carrying Chinas Tianhe space station core module, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Chinas Hainan Province on April 29, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Long March 5 series is Chinas most powerful rocket and has been launched seven times in history. The Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern Chinas Hainan Province is its official launch center.

The Chinese regime announced the launch on April 29 as a success.

This isnt the first time debris from Chinese space missions has fallen uncontrollably back to Earth.

In 2017, a Long March 5B rocket had a failed launch after one of two core engines failed shortly after take-off, Chinese state media reported. The rocket fell back to Earth from the atmosphere.

In 2018, Chinas Tiangong-1 defunct space station reentered the earths atmosphere and mostly burned up over the middle of the South Pacific near Tahiti, which likely created a gorgeous and magnificent show, the Chinese space authority reported.

Last year, another Chinese Long March 5B rocket fitted with a prototype version of Chinas next-generation crew capsule tumbled back to earth. It was the largest object to fall out of orbit in decades.

A Long March 5B rocket, which is expected to launch Chinas Tianhe space station core module on April 29, at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern Chinas Hainan Province on April 23, 2021. (STR/China News Service (CNS)/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese regime is preparing to send a crewed spaceshipShenzhou 12to dock with the Tianhe in June. Chinese media reported on April 15 that the Long March 2F rocket and the spacecraft were shipped to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Chinas Gansu Province to be readied for the launch.
Venezuelan regime leader Nicolas Maduro speaks in a press conference in Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Feb. 17, 2021. (Carolina Cabral/Getty Images)

US Vows to Work With Partners to Keep Pressure on Venezuelas Maduro

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed on Tuesday that Washington would work with partners in the region to maintain pressure on Venezuelan regime leader Nicolas Maduro for a peaceful return to democracy.

In pre-recorded remarks to a conference on Latin America, Blinken also said the Biden administration would continue criticism of the repression of human rights in Cuba.

Blinkens stern words came just a day after a senior White House official made clear in an interview with Reuters that the administration was in no rush to ease sanctions on Maduros Socialist government or make major gestures toward Communist-ruled Havana.

That officials comments appeared aimed at dampening speculation that President Joe Biden might start loosening the screws on Venezuela in response to Maduros agreement to allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to begin operating there and the release to house arrest of six former executives of U.S.-based Citgo in an apparent goodwill gesture.

Blinken also gave no sign that Washington saw a diplomatic opening in Maduros moves. The administration is reviewing crippling sanctions imposed on the OPEC nation by Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, as well as Trumps rollback of Obama-era detente with Cuba.

The brutal Maduro regime has systematically repressed the rights of its citizens, Blinken told the conference, which was sponsored by the Americas Society and Council of the Americas. Its abuse, corruption and mismanagement have stoked the humanitarian crisis.

We will continue to work with our partners across the region both to alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people and to exert pressure on the regime so the country can peacefully return to democracy, he said.

Speaking earlier, Gregory Meeks, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, insisted there was a window of opportunity for U.S. engagement created by Maduros overtures.

Blinken also urged countries to press Haiti to organize free elections by year-end and for Nicaragua to make electoral reforms to ensure a free vote in November.

The White House official told Reuters that Maduro was sending signals to the administration but it would not ease sanctions without concrete steps toward democratic elections.

Bidens aides have made clear they continue to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas rightful president.

Dozens of countries have backed Guaidos claim following Maduros re-election in 2018 in a vote Western governments called a sham. But Maduro has retained the support of the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba.

By Matt Spetalnick
Hotel quarantine workers in PPE are seen at the Intercontinental Hotel in Melbourne, Australia, on April 8, 2021. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Victorias Hotel Quarantine Manager Stood Down After Breaching Infection Control Protocols

A senior public servant who was responsible for managing infection control protocols for Victorias hotel quarantine program has been stood down following reports of alleged compliance breaches.

Matiu Bush, who has been involved in the program since June, was stood down by Victorian Police Minister Danny Pearson on May 4 after it was revealed by The Australian that he refused to undergo a mandatory test when visiting one of the quarantine sites. Bush has been stood down with full pay.

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, Pearson said on May 5, reported The Australian.

Thats not what I expect from a senior leader, a senior manager with CQV (COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria) and thats why I felt the most appropriate thing to do was for Mr Bush to be stood down pending that review.

According to The Australian, it is alleged that Bush had to be counselled for initially refusing to undergo a mandatory test after visiting the Intercontinental Hotel at 12.05 p.m. on April 20.

Im the head of IPC and I override that protocol, Bush reportedly told an Australian Defence Force (ADF) member working at the hotel.

The ADF member then referred Bush to Victoria Police in the hotel lobby, but Bush then proceeded to leave the hotel without signing out, according to The Australian.

Emma Cassar, head of CQV, said Bush was tested at another location on the same day.

On another occasion, Bush, IPC director Giulietta Pontivivo and another staffer, entered the Pullman Hotel at 12:57 p.m, according to The Australian.

When asked to sign-in through their personal QR code, the trio refused saying that had been vaccinated and were not required to sign-in, but instead manually signed the visitor log.

Later at 3:30 p.m. they entered the Mercure Hotel main entrance as another person was leaving the hotel.

Both walked past the sanitising station without sanitising and also did not change masks, the incident report obtained by The Australian says. When approached by reception staff they said (they) had ducked out for coffee, and that the hotel is empty anyway. They were asked to sign in and said they had done so at the Pullman.

Bush did not sign out upon his departure from the hotel, and was subsequently reported as an IPC breach.

From an IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) perspective, the risk was minimal, if not zero, Cassar said, though she conceded their behaviour was not befitting of a leader.

Other incidents reported by The Australian 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.

The incidents reportedly occurred at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, Novotel and IBIS at Melbourne Central, InterContinental Melbourne and Sheratons Four Points Hotel.

The Nebuliser and Victorias Third Lockdown

Documents obtained by The Australian also claim that Victorias third lockdown in February was not caused by a man using a nebuliser at the Holiday Inn.

The outbreak sparked a five-day lockdown of the state in mid-February.

According to the leaked report, the proposed working hypothesis was that the leak was caused by a staff member who swabbed a woman in an open doorway inside the hotel. The virus then spread through the corridor, before pooling outside the door of the room where the man with the nebuliser was staying with his partner and infant.

But, Cassar denies this claim and maintained that the states third lockdown was caused by the nebulisera claim also maintained by Acting Premier James Merlino.

The nebuliser was a significant contributor to that outbreak, full stop, Merlino said parliamentary question time on May 5.

Merlino also told reporters the incidents proved hotel quarantine was not a fit for purpose model.

In response, Opposition Leader Michael OBrien said the Andrews government was not addressing the flaws in the states quarantine system.

Todays revelations of breaches prove the government has not learnt the lessons from those tragic deaths or from the inquiry that followed, he said.

A minister is responsible for everything that occurswhy has no minister taken responsibility for these shocking failures and resigned?

Every single day we see new evidence that this government still hasnt got hotel quarantine right, he told reporters.

However, Merlino said: If we took advice from the Liberal party, wed still be in lockdown.

Victoria recorded 2 new cases of COVID-19 from returned overseas travellers in the 24 hours to midnight on May 5. Both people are in hotel quarantine. No new locally acquired cases were recorded.

8,163 people were immunised at the states vaccination hubs on May 5.

AAP contributed to this report.
WA Voting Reforms Could See Regional Australia Lose Representation

The Western Australian Labor Party has announced that the Upper House will face a complete overhauldespite Premier Mark McGowans repeated assurance stating otherwiseleading some to call into question McGowans integrity following an election promise saw record high regional support.

Despite McGowans expressed support for enhanced regional representation in Parliament, the restructure will serve to achieve the exact opposite, says head of law at Sheridan Institute and former law reform commissioner Augusto Zimmermann.

The plans to reform WAs Upper House voting system will result in considerably less regional representation, Zimmermann told The Epoch Times.

The Premier objectively lied to the public during his election campaign, he said. This sort of duplicitous behaviour is something that you would only expect from a dishonest politician.

Currently, the Legislative Council, or Upper House, is WAs Senate-style house of Parliament, representing 6 population-varying regions equally across all of WA. Each region receives 6 seats in the Upper House, for a total of 36 seats.

The six regions of the Western Australian Legislative Council (Maltonaj83)

However, some have called for a restructuring of the system after the election saw votes cast in one rural region worth 6.22 times more than those in the metropolitan area and one seat elected after receiving only 98 votes.

This is despite a similar, varying level of representation in the Australian Senate, which sees New South Waleswith a population of over 8 millionand Tasmaniawith a population over 500,000both receive 12 seats in the Senate.

Electoral Affairs Minister John Quigley announced the formation of the Ministerial Expert Committee to advise the government on the reform, saying that an unequal representation of voters was undemocratic and that a system was needed in which votes were represented more equally.

It is a fundamental tenet of democracy that all citizens be treated equally under the law, and it is obvious that the Legislative Council voting system is failing in that basic duty, Quigley said.

Professor of Political Science at the University of Western Australia Benjamin Reilly supported the decision for an overhaul, saying that one of the main problems in the current system was malapportionmentregions represented equally despite greatly varying populations.

Those regions have hugely different populations but elect the same number of politicians, Reilly told The Epoch Times. What that means is that if you live in Perth, for example, your vote for the Legislative Council is worth about one-seventh of similar votes in mining and agricultural regions.

Reilly said that the need to overhaul the Upper House has been long-standing and that several academics had already been writing to the government to address the issue.

Weve been writing collectively about this problem for a while, warning that this could happen, publishing academic articles and so on, he said. No one really paid much attention.

However, National Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition Mia Davies accused the Labor Government of appointing a committee that was handpicked to achieve the exact outcome it wanted.

WA National Party leader Mia Davies addresses gold sector workers protesting outside Parliament House in Perth on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

The advisory panel is a group of academic activists who have publicly advocated for reform to introduce one-vote-one-value in the Legislative Council, Davies said.

The panel will deliver a pre-determined outcome for the Premier under the guise of equity for all voters, she said.

Ill consider their academic arguments on equity when I see equity for access to health care, education, affordable transport and communications for regional Western Australians.

The recent state election saw an unprecedented landslide victory, with Labor securing 53 out of 59 total seats in the Lower House and 22 out of 32 seats in the Upper House.

While the Upper House is independent of the Lower House, it shares the work of legislating and scrutinising government performance and expenditure.

Labors overwhelming dominance in both houses has resulted in a lack of strong opposition, an outcome which some believe may challenge the due democratic process.

Zimmermann pointed out that decreasing the representation of rural areas, which typically garner seats from the National Party, could provide Labor with an even greater advantage in future elections.

This may obviously advantage Labor in the next election, Zimmermann said. And I am quite sure it will have a negative impact on the National Partys rural representation in the WA Parliament.
When Addressing City Finances, Dont Play the Blame Game

Commentary

After reviewing my ranking of Orange County cities based on their per capita unrestricted net positions, a resident approached his city council for an explanation.

He was informed, in writing, that it is just a single indicator of the financial health of a city. This is true. It is a temperature gauge. And since every city has an annual audit and a quantifiable population, it is a simple tool to start the conversation about fiscal sustainability.

Every city has a different story. But all municipalities should strive to have a positive unrestricted net position, just like good businesses should have positive retained earnings.

Those stories begin to unfold with a little analyzing. In the case of one city, which were not naming, financial experts weighed in on the reasons for fiscal discrepancies. Many of them didnt pass muster.

Here are the four reasons cited by this citys finance staff, followed with my responses.

Lack of Land

The city claimed cities that are built out, and lack the ability to develop land, tend to be financially worse off.

My response? Many cities have little or no developable real estate left with which to add more homes, businesses, or retail shopping opportunities. But they do have an annual increase in real estate tax revenues of two percent.

With housing prices increasing, turnover in ownership provides an additional increase in annual revenues. If the new owner purchases a home in the city for $1 million, and the prior long-term owner had an assessed value of $500,000, then the tax revenues on that property will double.

Cities with developable land, such as Irvine, will also have to add additional services and increase staffing for an increasing population.

Leaning on lack of land is a weak argument.

New Cities Excel

The citys finance department also claimed: Cities that are newer dont need to replace buildings and infrastructure yet, so they tend to be better off.

This is also a weak argument. The State of California mandates that all homeowner associations require the owners of the structures pay monthly dues that include funding for reserves.

Reserves are established to pay for future large expenditures, such as new roofs for condominiums or townhouses, or resurfacing streets that the city does not maintain.

Unfortunately, California does not require this discipline of itself or its cities. That is why you have elected officials shocked that the roads are in such poor shape and that a gas tax needs to be increased immediately.

If every city were to methodically set aside funds for future infrastructure improvements, then they could be paid for without the need for councilmembers to scramble for financing strategies.

A Contracting Perspective

Cities that have police or fire in-house versus contracting out tend to be worse off, the city said.

This is probably one of the more honest observations that can be made.

Newer cities that contract for police services with the Orange County Sheriffs Department and fire services with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) have an interesting accounting advantage. They do not have to report the unfunded actuarial accrued liability (UAAL) for the expensive pensions of public safety employees.

This liability is reported on the countys and the OCFAs balance sheets. Where things may get interesting is when a city decides to leave the county or OCFA. Will it be sued for the liability that accrued during the citys contract period? Or will the city claim that the annual fees charged for services should have included its proportional share of the UAAL during that period?

One of the top financially-ranked cities is Laguna Beach. It does not have much in the way of developable land. It has a rustic and functional city hall. And it has its own police and fire department.

The Wealth Advantage

Cities that have a higher median income and higher income home prices tend to be better off, the city said.

This could explain why Laguna Beach is faring well. One source stated the average home price in this city is $2.5 million. Yet, Newport Beach has high average home prices and it is near the bottom of the rankings. It is improving because it is aggressively addressing its UAAL for pension obligations.

A city with a large unrestricted net deficit has to go back in time and determine, year-by-year, what decisions were made to incur this result.

More likely than not, it was due to decisions made by previous city councils in approving defined benefit pension plan enhancements, retroactive to the date of hire, and providing lifetime medical benefits to retired city employees.

Both benefits are rarely found in the private sector. They are too expensive. But for years, these decisions created massive unfunded liabilities that, until recently, did not even have to be reflected on the balance sheet. Not being told the true financial costs, no wonder city councilmembers agreed to what the bargaining units asked for.

And no wonder everyone seems to be in a state of denial now.

You do not need to look for excuses.

Well-run cities had managers in place who told the truth and said no to certain union requests. Poorly- run cities acquiesced to the union demands and managers also personally benefited from the enhancements.

So why tell the city council to vote against these lucrative incentives? Peeling the onion, year-by-year, and providing the true cost ramifications with current knowledge, will tell the true story of every city.

John Moorlach is a former Orange County Supervisor who most recently served as a state senator. He previously spent 12 years as Orange Countys Treasurer-Tax Collector, and led the county out of bankruptcy.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
HARTFORD  The often-emotional nationwide political battle over ballot access reached the state Capitol on Thursday, but the House of Representatives, in a bipartisan vote, approved legislation that could change the Connecticut Constitution and create procedures for early voting.

The 115-26 vote came after a 90-minute afternoon debate. Twenty-two Republicans joined Democrats in approving the first of two proposed amendments to the Constitution. The bill next heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass and allow Connecticut voters to decide on Election Day, 2022, whether they want early voting options.

A more controversial resolution to expand the availability of mail-in balloting will reach the House next week and will be a heavier lift. It would need 17 House Republicans joining all Democrats to reach the 75 percent approval needed for it to also be on the 2022 statewide ballot.

Thats unlikely to happn, people in the legislature say. That measure is more likely to win a simple majority this year come before state voters in 2024 after the next General Assembly election, under state rules that require either 75 percent approval in both houses or majority approval in General Assembly votes separated by an election.

Democrats have a 97-54 majority in the House and a 24-12 edge in the Senate.

The issues come at a time when Republican-dominated legislatures around the country, in reaction to false claims that Donald Trump won re-election, are passing laws to limit voter access, including action Thursday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Republicans who supported of the early votng bill included Rep. Harry Arora, of Greenwich; House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford; Rep. Patrick Callahan of New Fairfield; Rep. Laura Devlin of Fairfield; Rep. Vincent Ferraro of West Haven; Rep. Stephen Harding of Brookfield; Rep. Kathy Kennedy of Milford; Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria of Seymour; Rep. Jason Perillo of Shelton; Rep. Terrie Wood of Darien; Rep. David Yaccarino of North Haven, and Rep. Joseph Zullo of East Haven.

Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, said she was encouraged by the bipartisan vote. I was disappointed that we didnt have a unanimous vote, but thats to be expected, she said. We urge the Senate to act quickly.

I think its pretty self-explanatory after the last year in this country, said Speaker of the House Matt Ritter outside the Capitol prior to the House session. At the end of the day, folks, Connecticuts Constitution puts us in a bad place by not allowing early voting.

The early voting amendment ballot question, which was under-promoted and not clear and failed in a 2014 statewide election, was revived in the House and Senate in 2019, but not by the 75 percent margin, thus the need for another votes this year.

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia have varying kinds of early voting.

Another pending bill would expand automatic registration beyond the state Department of Motor Vehicles to other locations, such as state colleges and universities; and allow those convicted felons on parole to also cast ballots.

As lawmakers debate election access issues, Youll hear things about fraud, Ritter said. People love to use the word fraud or they will point to one example when things didnt go right. In a society where voting is really the core of our democracy, people are going to vote not because of one random story from another state.

He added, Has there ever been fraud in elections? Yes, there has. It is so rare, it is such an unlikely crime that we should enfranchise the 99.999 percent of good actors in our state and not punish everybody for that.

The early voting measure is expected to pass the Democratic-dominated state Senate. If ratified by state voters, it would allow the General Assembly to establish details, such as the length of time for balloting before the traditional November election days, said state Rep. Dan Fox, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, who introduced the legislation on the House floor at 3:50 p.m. Thursday.

Fox noted that the question voters would see on the ballot would read: Shall the Constitution of the State of Connecticut be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting? Fox said that if approved, the committee would develop rules that would later come before the House and Senate.

During the debate, Republicans criticized the questions lack of details.

I, for one, believe that a vision should be in place before we vote on it, said Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, ranking Republican on the elections committee, who voted against the bill. We need to have a plan. I think its fair that the voters of Connecticut have some information, if this passes, whats going to happen?

She was critical of the open-ended nature of the early voting, depending on the legislature in 2023. What is the cost to the towns? I dont want to vote on a blank check. Its very frustrating, the way we operate here.

Rep. Stephanie Thomas, D-Norwalk, vice chairman of the committee, said national polling indicates that 60 percent of the nation approves a 15-day period of voting. She recalled a committee public hearing in which hundreds of people testified in favor of the bill, at a time when COVID-19 has people afraid of appearing in public; weather events can be a hindrance; and busy workers have long commutes that can interfere with their proximity to the polls between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Its a unique and wonderful opportunity to empower our citizens, Thomas said.

Rep. Bill Buckbee, R-New Milford, said he had no problem amending the Constitution with important resolutions like this, but he voted against it. I think the people dont have the information, as we dont, so Im glad its going to the people, he said, adding that the state has an antiquated voter database. I think were putting a fresh coat of paint on a car thats not running well.

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, noted that there could be no amendments to the proposal, because it was approved in the previous legislature in that exact wording.

Election law should never be a partisan issue, Candelora told reporters inside the Capitol before the debate. When it becomes partisan, I think we all should be concerned. He noted that early Thursday, after a partisan debate and vote, the Senate approved legislation to allow no-excuse, mail-in balloting in municipal elections this year. The bill, now pending before the House, includes a pilot program for several towns and cities to create ballot signature-verification processes.

He said voter identification requirements and the length of time for early voting are major issues that have to be worked out. I think there is a level of discomfort in ruling on these provisions, Candelora said during the House debate.

While we are trying to balance the ability for people to have access to voting, we have to be mindful of protecting the integrity of the vote, Candelora said. Sadly,whether it be from foreign interference or movements throughout the country, there has been growing concern about our election laws and whether our elections are valid.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
NORWALK  The city has received $446,000 from the governors office and Department of Public Health to help promote COVID-19 vaccine access.

More than $13 million was awarded to 27 municipalities in the state. The grants were announced in a statement from Gov. Ned Lamonts office Monday.

The intended use of the funds is to form partnerships between local health, community organizations, and vaccine providers to promote and increase vaccine equity, according to the statement.

Connecticut received the federal funding as part of a nationwide effort to ensure people in underserved communities, including communities of color and ethnically diverse communities, have equal access to COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the statement.

Norwalk Health Department applied for the grant in April, but the funds will go toward more than just the health department, city spokesperson Josh Morgan said. The application was prompted by conversations between the city and its vaccine providers, he said.

To qualify for the grant, municipalities had to identify their community and provider partners and describe activities the partnerships would undertake with the funds to address vaccine inequity in their coverage area.

Its not just the health department, its many local agencies working together to get the community vaccinated, Morgan said. Public health workers, the bedbound program, mobile clinics.

The funds will be put toward operating more vaccination clinics and related efforts including labor, materials and logistics to run clinics and conduct community outreach, he added.

That can include door-knocking and phone calls, early morning and evening clinic hours, or much smaller and very specific community-based clinics, Morgan said.

As of April 30, half of Norwalks 89,000 residents have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to DPH data, while about 31 percent are fully vaccinated.

Norwalk residents are getting vaccinated at a very successful rate, but getting the first 50 percent vaccinated is much easier than the second 50 percent, Morgan said. We cant do this alone, and will rely on our trusted community partners and voices to help residents overcome obstacles and barriers to getting vaccinated.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
HARTFORD  An independent review of the city police departments handling of a former detectives dead pool about the location of the first homicide of the year found the response to be timely and effective, but the discipline was excessive.

Integrated Security Services, a New York firm hired to analyze the situation, also concluded in the report released Thursday that outside pressure on the high-profile case should not have affected the disciplinary process.

While social media can broaden the conversation and be the genesis for greater transparency, it also has the potential to create unwarranted turmoil, the report stated. Allowing alternate authorities, armchair experts and social media evangelists to influence a legitimate authority undermines responsible police professionals and does not serve the public interest. Law enforcement leaders are trusted to manage professionally as illustrated in this instance by the executive leadership at the Hartford Police Department.

On Dec. 2, 2020, Detective Jeffrey Placzek, of the Hartford Police Departments Major Crime Division, sent a text message to 20 people, most of them current or former members of the department, according to the report.

The text outlined a dead pool where those participating would put up $20 to wager on the location of the citys first homicide of 2021.

Lt. Paul Cicero, head of the Major Crime Division and the departments public information officer, was among the texts recipients, along with two Major Crime sergeants.

Sgt. Anthony Rykowski, Placzeks direct supervisor, spoke with him the day after the text was sent, according to Hartford police. The text was later leaked to a local blog, which planned to publish the message. Cicero then told Police Chief Jason Thody about the message and sent an email to the division about the inappropriate message, according to the report.

Placzek was ultimately demoted to the rank of officer. Cicero and Rykowski were also disciplined for failing to supervise their subordinates and raise the issue earlier.

In a prepared statement released Thursday with the report, Thody defended his actions at the time.

I believe that the callousness and lack of compassion expressed in his text was in no way humorous and was profoundly damaging to our community, he said. I believe that transfer, demotion and suspension were absolutely justified.

It will take a long time to repair the damage this incident caused to the community, the department, and the relationship we share, he continued. I stand by the need for swift, meaningful, and fair discipline to discourage this type of behavior, and encourage supervisors to do the right thing quickly. Members of the community were deeply impacted and lost faith in the police department. The department's reputation was damaged and our officers along with it.

Thody said the report highlights the need for improved interaction between police and the community, including a better understanding by officers of the community they serve.

The report also notes the importance of officers mental health, considering the high work load during 2020.

We have taken steps to increase access to mental health supports, including through expanded in-service training, a more proactive employee assistance program, and developing a more active chaplain corps, Thodys statement said.
Jenny Nelson has always believed that theater is more than just a diversion  it can also be a tool for doing good in the world.

Theater is entertainment. Theater is escapism. But theater can also be activism, said Nelson, director of education and community engagement at the Westport Country Playhouse.

With that in mind, she and playwright Jose Casas will lead CampWCP this summer at the playhouse. The program is a new, in-person social justice theater camp for middle school-aged children. Due to COVID restrictions, only 10 spots are available in the camp, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 6 through July 30. Registration is first-come, first-served.

The camp will be split into two classes. Nelson will teach acting in the morning and Casas will teach playwriting and production in the afternoon. By the end of the camp, all the young artists will have created their own piece, focusing on the question What does home mean to you?

At the camps conclusion on July 31, students will share their original creations, in-person, at the playhouse for an invitation-only event for their family and friends.

Nelson said, in the past year, people have spent so much time at home, theyve had a lot of time to think about the idea of home and what it means to them.

Its a wide enough and specific enough concept that it can really generate discussion, she said.

In addition to teaching theater skills, Nelson said, the camp will also have presentations from local activists who will talk about housing in the community.

The potential for theater to educate and inspire has always been of interest to Nelson. In addition to her work with the playhouse, she is also the associate artistic director of Collective Consciousness Theatre, a social justice theater in New Haven.

I think, with young people especially, finding ways to give them tools and resources to activate their voice is important, Nelson said.

The fee for the four-week camp is $750. To ensure that all young artists have equal access, scholarships and payment plans are available. Registration will run through June 1 at https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/campwcp/.

Because space is so limited, Nelson said she expects the camp to fill up quickly.

Were pretty sure well end up with a waiting list, she said.

Campers will receive a limited edition CampWCP t-shirt; a copy of instructor Jose Casas play, somebodys children; and a bound copy of the play collectively created through the camp.

Masks will be worn by staff and campers at all times; social distancing and health protocols will be followed, including OEC and local Covid-19 guidelines.
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 ensure 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.
Kiersten Washburn tried three times to get her sourdough starter going. Finally, on the fourth, she found success.

"He's been alive and well ever since," Washburn, who graduated from Central Michigan University in December and is preparing to study speech pathology and as a graduate student in the fall, said Thursday. It was the first day of the summer farmers' market season in Mt. Pleasant.

It's also the source for all of Washburn's sourdough products.

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Washburn's sourdough boules debuted last summer during the Saturday farmers' market, quickly gaining a reputation for excellence among customers who shopped there.

She expanded into cookies and lemon bars.

Once the Saturday farmers' market ended, Washburn, who came to Mt. Pleasant from Olivet, continued to bake from her apartment with delivery and pick-up options.

For the Thursday farmers' market, she's added baguettes and will offer featured items like scones and coffee cake throughout the summer. She also plans to try her hand at speciality loaves of bread.

Washburn draws passion from food in general, which she often gives as gifts.

"It's a way I show love to others," she said.

She was drawn to baking sourdough for a pretty simple reason.

"I love a good sourdough and couldn't find it here," she said.

So she set out to self-teach how to make great sourdough bread. Michigan's climate poses a challenge to getting the starter right.

She uses standard kitchen equipment and a standard kitchen oven and before the end of last season was mixing everything by hand. Now she has a mixer.

Preparing her bread for market is a process that stretches out for approximately 20 hours over two to three days, she said. Wednesday, she spent eight to nine hours just baking it.

The other products took an additional 12-23.

In between school right now, it isn't taking a bite out of her studies. She also works as a barista at Live Oak coffee shop in Midland.

READ MORE:

+2 Corbin Redman won't be sentenced as adult in shooting death of sister Corbin Redman will not be sentenced as an adult in the Aug. 20, 2019 shooting death of his 11-year-old sister Addison at their home in Gratiot

Five Breckenridge HS athletes part of two COVID K-12 outbreaks Five students on two Breckenridge High School teams are part of three new school-related COVID-19 outbreaks reported in Gratiot County.

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.
New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday gave in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank Ltd.

The extent of respective shareholding to be divested by GoI and LIC shall be decided at the time of structuring of transaction in consultation with RBI, an official statement said.

Government of India (GoI) and LIC together own more than 94 per cent of equity of IDBI Bank (GoI 45.48 per cent, LIC 49.24 per cent). LIC is currently the promoter of IDBI Bank with Management Control and GoI is the co-promoter.

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 policy holders.

This decision of LIC's Board is also consistent with the regulatory mandate to it to reduce its stake in the Bank.

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 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 finance developmental programmes of the Government benefiting the citizens.

UNI NY SHK2159
Corbin Redman will not be sentenced as an adult in the Aug. 20, 2019 shooting death of his 11-year-old sister Addison at their home in Gratiot County's Arcada Township.

However, during a designation hearing Wednesday in 29th Circuit Court, Judge Shannon Schlegel said she would "not adjudicate (Redman) as a juvenile today" due to procedural matters that had to be worked out.

Redman, now 17, was 15 when the shooting took place. He was initially charged with open murder and felony firearms and pled not guilty.

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However, during a Feb. 1 circuit court hearing, he admitted to accidentally shooting his sister and was charged with the careless discharge of a firearm causing injury or death.

During the hearing Prosecutor Keith Kushion called two witnesses, Rebbeca Schalow from the Gratiot County Department of Health and Human Services, and Heidi McMurphy from the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Both had been tasked with completing pre-sentencing reports regarding Redman and family members.

Schalow, a children's service specialist, told the court that she had reviewed documents from the prosecutor, school and law enforcement, and had interviewed Redman, his mother, father and sister both together and individually.

It was her recommendation that DHHS could better meet Redman's needs if he was sentenced as a juvenile.

The department would require all family members to participate in therapy, counseling and psychological evaluations.

Redman would also be under supervision of DHSS and be required to take part in other programs and services it could offer, Schalow said

Although the department would assist if needed, it would be the responsibility of the family to pay for any services provided, she added.

Although Redman struggles with academics, "feels socially isolated" and was bullied in school, DHHS would help him complete his education and "make sure he can graduate and have a successful life in the future," Schalow said.

DHHS is looking for what's "in the best interest of the public and Corbin Redman," she noted.

It was also her recommendation that Redman would be under court supervision until he's 21.

McMurphy, who is a parole and probation agent for MDOC, also reviewed all of the reports and spoke with Redman and other family members.

She said it was not her job to recommend whether or not he be sentenced as an adult or juvenile but to determine what his sentence should be if considered an adult.

Due to Redman having no juvenile criminal record and that he pled to a reduced charge, which was not a felony but considered a high court misdemeanor, the DOC recommended he be sentenced to 150 days and placed on probation for three years, the most allowed,

Although the agency could also require Redman to undergo further counseling and therapy it would have 'no jurisdiction over the family" to do the same.

At the conclusion of witness testimony Kushion recommended that the judge not sentence Redman as an adult.

"The people can't meet the burden of proof by a preponderance of evidence," he explained. "It's in the best interest of the public that Corbin be adjudicated as a juvenile."

He said that DHHS has more services to offer and could require the entire family to take part in therapy and counseling, which the DOC could not, and the fact that Redman would remain under the department's supervision until age 21, were also primary reasons for his recommendation.

Kushion also noted that if Redman had simply admitted in the beginning that the shooting of his sister was an accident that is how the case would have proceeded then.

Schlegel asked Schalow and DHHS to come up with another report regarding specific guidelines for what the juvenile sentence would include.

She also ordered that all current bond conditions, such as Redman wearing a tether and be under the constant supervision of his mother, father or grandfather, to continue until a disposition hearing takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, June 7 in circuit court.

Five Breckenridge HS athletes part of two COVID K-12 outbreaks Five students on two Breckenridge High School teams are part of three new school-related COVID-19 outbreaks reported in Gratiot County.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine expected to be approved for 12-15 year olds Dr. Daniel Passerman has three children in the 12-15 age group and, whether they like it or not, they will be receiving the Pfizer COVID vaccine when it becomes available.

New coronavirus cases steady in the mid 2,000s New daily coronavirus cases seem to have plateaued between 2,000 and 3,000 as more and more people acquire vaccines against the deadly virus.

$30 million Ithaca schools bond proposal fails again For the second time in seven months Ithaca Public Schools has had a bond proposal rejected.

+2 Union Township store owner pulls gun, sends would-be robber running An armed robbery at a Mt. Pleasant convenience store was thwarted in the early-morning hours Tuesday when the store owner also pulled a gun an

+4 Looking back: 2020's Top stories in mid-Michigan, #5 to #2 (Were counting down the top mid-Michigan stories of 2020 as determined by online pageviews. Here are #5 to #2. Tomorrow we look at top COVID 
11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley addresses a throng of reporters during a press conference Wednesday. Stanley and Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze, right, shared the podium and spoke about the arrest of Barry Morphew, 53, charged with first degree murder.
Sevierville, TN (37876)

Today

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
New Delhi, May 6 (UNI) Nepal will suspend international flights from 23:59 local time on May 6 due to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

The decision to ban international and domestic flights was made on Sunday, after the country recorded the largest increase in cases - 7,137 new cases of COVID-19.

The overall case tally in Nepal exceeded 351,000, with over 287,000 recoveries and 3,400 deaths.

Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi said the decision to suspend international traffic will be in effect until May 14.

UNI XC-RHK1106
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An Allen Park man stands accused of being connected to more than 100 fraudulent unemployment insurance accounts.

Christopher Dominic Niebel, 43, was arrested May 6 in connection with a federal criminal complaint charging him with obtaining unemployment benefits authorized by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by means of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations, by using the personally identifiable information of others that he had unlawfully obtained.

The complaint affidavit says Niebel held himself out as a tax preparer under the name Tax Guy Chris with an office on Park Avenue in Allen Park. He's alleged to be responsible for or associated with over 100 fraudulent unemployment insurance accounts. The total amount of unemployment benefits paid through those fraudulent accounts by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency from March through August 2020 was approximately $849,000.

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Niebel was the account holder on at least 28 of the bank accounts to which the unemployment benefits were electronically transferred. These benefits included regular unemployment benefits, but were mostly pandemic-related unemployment benefits provided through the CARES Act.

Authorities state in the affidavit that there is probable cause to believe that Niebel executed a scheme to defraud and obtain state and federally funded unemployment benefits by means of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations and in doing so committed several federal crimes, including but not limited to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The state's Unemployment Insurance Agencys Fraud Division found that Niebel was associated with approximately 119 different fraudulent claims. Of these fraudulent claims, approximately 111 were successful and received some unemployment benefits.

A special agent for the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, stated in the affidavit he received the records of approximately 47 different bank accounts. These bank accounts were associated with approximately 49 different fraudulent unemployment accounts. Of these 47 different bank accounts, approximately 28 accounts listed the account holder as Niebel.

One person cited in the affidavit, whose Social Security number and name was used in this alleged scheme, resides in California and said she never filed for unemployment benefits in Michigan and never gave anyone permission to file a claim on her behalf.

Sign up for our daily morning newsletter Click here and then look to the right side for the sign up to the morning newsletter for The News Herald, and you can get the top headlines de

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hiyama. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Michigan UIA.

The arrest was announced by Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin. Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Irene Lindow, U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Douglas Zloto, U.S. Secret Service, and Acting Director Liza Estlund Olson, Michigan UIA.

Downriver firefighter, wife each require amputations after motorcycle crash in Florida A Downriver firefighter and his wife each have lost a leg as a result of a motorcycle accident while vacationing in Florida.

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 
Being held outdoors, most farmers markets have fewer concerns than indoor events that attract large crowds.

But theyre hardly immune to the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, now going into its second year.

Locally, the Lincoln Park Farmers Market participated in a COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall for southeast Michigan Farmers Markets on April 28, put on by the Michigan Farmers Market Association.

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The purpose of the virtual town hall, which was also available for four other regions of the state, was for Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regional food inspectors and Michigan farmers markets market managers to reflect on lessons learned during the 2020 market season, look ahead to 2021 as well as explore best practices for safe market operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The MDARD food inspectors were available via break out rooms to answer the market managers questions.

It was highly informative, and it was helpful to have the MDARD inspectors for southeast Michigan in the meeting as well, said Leslie Lynch-Wilson, treasurer of Friends of Lincoln Park Farmers Market. We really enjoyed the breakout rooms where we could ask questions to a MDARD inspector.

The other southeastern farmers markets that participated were: Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market, Oak Park Farmers Market, Inkster Task Force Farmers Market, South Lyon Farmers & Artisans Market, Downtown Rochester Farmers Market and the Livonia Farmers Market at The Wilson Barn.

Sign up for our daily morning newsletter Click here and then look to the right side for the sign up to the morning newsletter for The News Herald, and you can get the top headlines de

Lincoln Park Farmers Market is coordinated by the Friends of the Lincoln Park Farmers Market.

More information is available at lpfarmersmarket.org as well as at 313-427-0443 or lpfm@inbox.com.

The Lincoln Park Farmers Market is held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday from June 6 to Oct. 31 in the parking lot at the southwest corner of Fort Street and Southfield Road, Lincoln Park.

+3 Lincoln Park Farmers Market opens with vendors, fresh produce available Sunday For those who havent had an opportunity to visit a farmers market, or have visited one and cant wait for another one to set up  wait no more.

+2 Lincoln Park Farmers Market open only three days this season due to COVID-19 The bad news is that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on the Lincoln Park Farmers Market.
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.

Police Sgt. Bryan Wheeler and his partner, Officer Krystal Tulacz, rushed to the house to assess the situation just before noon April 24.

Upon their arrival, Wheeler said they tried to do their due diligence and speak with the daughter outside the house since she was the one who called for help.

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Her mom had to keep a bear hold on her, Wheeler said. She was apprehensive about coming outside to talk. She wouldnt look at us and she latched on to her mom.

It soon became clear to Wheeler that things were not what they seemed.

Officers realized the child has some anxiety and mental challenges and were told by the parents that she has not yet been diagnosed with autism, but believes she is autistic.

They had been struggling trying to get her diagnosed and find resources for help.

Wheeler knew this was an opportunity to do something the department has never done before.

He retrieved the 911 Ready Bag from their patrol car that was just placed there a few weeks prior.

The township received the bags through Mimis Mission, an organization based out of Woodhaven providing help and resources to Downriver community members who have children with autism.

They contain items that are calming to those with autism, such as noise canceling headphones, a weighted blanket, bottled water, a snack, a sensory noodle and squishies.

According to Wheeler, the sensory noodle did the trick, and the officers were amazed.

It was like a green jelly rope toy, Wheeler said. As soon as she grabbed it, her demeanor changed and she was able to speak to us.

It wasnt until then that officers learned the girl was having an outburst and her father went to hug her to calm.

He was actually trying to soothe her, Wheeler said.

Officers believe the dad might have held her a little too tight and it upset her.

That was the best way she could communicate it, Wheeler said of her claim that she was choked.

Wheeler said he has not had a lot of interaction with anyone autistic and understood that the Ready Bags might help, but seeing was believing.

Witnessing the transition in behavior made him appreciate the work Police Chief Jeff Watson, police Lt. Andy Starzec, police Officer Bryan Ramsey and fire Lt. Ryan Raumen went through to get them for the department.

They worked with Lisa Viella, founder of Mimis Mission, for over a year learning about autism and helpful things to know as a first responder.

The township received 27 bags from the mission and was the first department to sign on.

They promote the usefulness of the bags, but believe there is no better way to endorse them than with a successful police run.

Other communities are getting onboard with the bags, as well.

The Woodhaven Police Department recently teamed with the mission to get the bags into patrol cars there, as did the Trenton Police Department.

Sign up for our daily morning newsletter Click here and then look to the right side for the sign up to the morning newsletter for The News Herald, and you can get the top headlines de

Trenton Deputy Police Chief Michael Oakley said the department has had several interactions with the same individual over the last few years.

It would have been helpful if we had this bag then, Oakley said.

Other departments with bags are Allen Park, Flat Rock, River Rouge and Rockwood.

At least two other Downriver communities are in talks with Vilella on having them placed inside their vehicles, as well.

Resident reports dog stolen, discovers motorist took him and he was euthanized A string of unfortunate circumstances led to a tragic ending May 1 for a family now grieving the loss of their 14-year-old family dog, Rusty.

Alleged argument over children ends with father shot multiple times; mom charged with murder An alleged argument between an estranged couple who share two children turned deadly inside a River Rouge house.

Brother wants his sibling, charged in shooting death of their father, behind bars 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 b

Downriver firefighter, wife each require amputations after motorcycle crash in Florida A Downriver firefighter and his wife each have lost a leg as a result of a motorcycle accident while vacationing in Florida.
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Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Thursday, 6th May 2021: The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, a leading democracy and human rights advocacy organization since 2008, has written to the National Chairman and the Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as well as Chairmen and Secretaries of their Anambra State Chapters; reminding them of the existing rotation of power or seat of the Governor of Anambra State. The letters were duly received and acknowledged by all the recipients on Tuesday and Wednesday, 4th and 5thof May 2021 and had become importantly necessary in view of the scheduled 6thNovember 2021 Governorship Election in the State. Intersociety had in its letters reminded the leaders of the three major political parties of the need to respect the principle of power rotation among the States three Senatorial Districts of Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra South and ensure that it is judiciously applied in processes leading to the 6th November 2021 Governorship Election.

The leaders of the three major political parties were further informed that Intersociety had carefully studied the rotation of the seat of the Anambra Governor among the States three Senatorial Districts since 29th May 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule and irrefutably found that Anambra South Senatorial District, beyond arguments, sentiments and excuses, is the Senatorial District to produce the next Governor of the State. It is also the finding of Intersociety that out of total of 23 years of the occupation of the Anambra Governorship Seat since 29th May 1999, Anambra South, in the eyes of the law, has occupied it for only four years against eleven years for Anambra Central and eight years for Anambra North. The political leaders were also reminded that Anambra South District is made up of Ihiala sub zone (Ihiala and Ekwusigo LGAs), Nnewi sub zone (Nnewi North and Nnewi South LGAs) and Old Aguata sub zone (Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South LGAs).

Going down memory lane, the leaders of the named political parties were statistically given the following breakdown: that with a four year tenure, renewable once, if re-elected; Anambra State was governed for four years (29th May 1999-29th May 2003) by Dr. CC Mbadinuju from Ihiala sub zone of the Anambra South District; governed nearly three years (29th May 2003-17th March 2006) by Dr Chris Ngige (who was later ousted by the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal on 15th March 2006) from Idemmili sub zone of the Anambra Central District; governed eight years (17th March 2006-17th March 2014) by Mr. Peter Obi from Anaocha sub zone of the same Anambra Central District; and being governed eight years (17thMarch 2014 to end by 17th March 2022) by Mr. Willie Obiano from Omambala sub zone of the Anambra North District; totaling 23 years, out of which Anambra South has taken only four years.

Supporting its strong position, Intersociety further drew the attention of the leaders of the three main political parties to Sections 14 (4) and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as it concerns governorship shift or rotation in Anambra State and reminded them that while Section 42 prohibits all forms of social, economic, cultural and political discrimination and domination, Section 14 (4) provides that: the composition of a State, a local government council or agencies of such Government shall be done in a manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within the area (i.e. district balancing or rotation) and conduct its affairs in such a manner as to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the area and the Federation of Nigeria.

APGA Must Conduct Credible & Transparent Primaries : We congratulate APGA as a party and Governor Willie Obiano as its leader for building a permanent national secretariat (APGA House) at Katampe Extension in Cadastral Zone B07 in Abuja. We also thank Senator Victor Umeh for his open endorsement of governorship power shift to Anambra South. However, we totally disagree with him over his collective endorsement of Prof Charles Soludo. While it is the constitutional right of Senator Umeh to support any aspirant of his choice, we are against the pluralization of his endorsement particularly the mentioning of the Governor of the State who is an institution.

As a matter of fact, Intersociety is totally against imposition of any aspirant as a governorship candidate of APGA, or APC, or PDP which was why in our advocacy for power shift in the State, we never canvassed for anointment of any aspirant as a candidate, rather we had in the said letters appealed for collective political understanding among the three Senatorial Districts on the need to respect, concede and support the turn of the Anambra South to produce the next Governor of the State through all inclusive and credible primaries and election proper. Our grand aim of writing the referenced letters, therefore, is to appeal to the key leaders of the three major political parties to appeal and convince their delegates to vote for popular and credible aspirants from Anambra South as Governorship Candidates of their Parties in the forthcoming Election. APGA and its delegates are hereby called upon and prayed to refuse to be stampeded but to vote conscientiously in their forthcoming Governorship primaries and ensure the emergence of the most popular and credible aspirant from Anambra South as APGAs Governorship Candidate.

Signed:

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair, Barr Chinwe Umeche, Head of Democracy & Good Governance and Barr Chidimma Udegbunam, Head of Campaign & Publicity

Contacts: Phone/WhatsApp +2348174090052, Email: [email protected] , Website: intersociety-ng.org
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Former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make history by instituting a Commission of Inquiry into the violent and non-violent agitations in Nigeria to make recommendations as a way of de-escalating the rising tension in the land and a process for the renewal of their march to nationhood.

Anyim said that it is only an independent conducted engagement with fact-based recommendations arrived at with the participation of the citizens that will provide an enduring solution to the nation's security challenges.

In an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari captioned. " The state of insecurity in the nation, My suggestions " , the former Senate president said that military actions or even foreign help alone cannot bring permanent solutions to ethnic conflicts or nationality agitations and called on President, you need to create a platform to hear Nigerians out.

He maintained that every violent agitation originates from a non-violent agitation that was not attended to.

Anyim lamented that Nigeria is bedeviled with violent and non-violent agitations, stressing that the current violent agitations originated from non-violent agitations like ,Boko Haram which he said started as a non-violent procession.

He pointed out that herders/farmers clashes which has degenerated into a deadly conflict with many states now bloody and theaters of war; ethnic conflicts in Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Benue, Plateau states etc. which are escalating to an unmanageable scale .

Anyim frowned on the activities of Armed Bandits which operates virtually in all states of the federation particularly Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto and has overwhelmed the Law enforcement agencies not to talk of kidnaping which he said has become occupational in most parts of the country.

To worsen matters, he lamented that Boko Haram, has acquired new impetus that they now overrun the military and have even expanded their base to Niger State while IPOB has become a regional challenge.

Former Senate president also decried agitations for restructuring which according to him are scaling up in

momentum, ethnic consciousness and allegiance even among the elite are far eroding national concerns adding that all these and many more coupled with gross downturn in the national economic, social and political space has become an apparent threat to our nationhood.

"There is no gainsaying that reservations about the continued existence of Nigeria is building up to a dangerous time bomb. I make bold to say that no solution except one birthed by an independently conducted engagement with fact-based recommendations arrived at with the participation of the citizens will provide an enduring solution.

" I wish to note that every violent agitation originates from a non-violent agitation that was not attended to. Today, Nigeria is bedeviled with violent and non-violent agitations. It is also a fact that the current violent agitations originated from non-violent agitations e.g.,Boko Haram started as a non-violent procession; the herders/farmers clashes which has

degenerated into a deadly conflict with many states now bloody theaters of war; ethnic conflicts in Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Benue, Plateau states etc. which are escalating to an unmanageable scale .

"Armed Banditry in virtually all states of the federation particularly Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto which has overwhelmed the Law enforcement agencies, kidnaping which has become occupational in most parts of the country.

" To worsen matters, Boko Haram, has acquired new impetus that they now overrun the military and have even expanded their base to Niger State. IPOB has become a regional challenge.

"On the non-violent side, agitations for restructuring are scaling up in

momentum, ethnic consciousness and allegiance even among the elite are far eroding national concerns. All these and many more coupled with gross downturn in the national economic, social and political space has become an apparent threat to our nationhood.

" I am to add, that it must be known that military actions or even foreign help alone cannot bring permanent solutions to ethnic conflicts or nationality agitations. Mr. President, you need to create a platform to hear Nigerians out.
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The recent news report that the Okordia-Rumekpe 14-inch crude truck line operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) discharged some 213 barrels of crude oil into Ikarama community in Bayelsa, has again brought to our consciousness that though Nigeria prides itself as the giant of Africa and the most populous black nation in the world, yet, it is still riddled with third world challenges.

Essentially, while clarifying that an estimated 1.34 hectares of land was polluted by the leakage which followed a rupture on the pipeline, SPDC among other things confirmed that probe into the incident had been concluded, Noting that out of the 213 barrels of SPDCs bonny light crude stream leak, some 110 barrels are recoverable from the ongoing recovery exercise at the site, leaving an estimated spilled volume at 109.12 barrels.

Admittedly, these claims by Dutch oil giant are verifiable facts but may not be the only explanation. Their clarification notwithstanding, there are indeed reasons that qualifies such happening in the Nigerias oil and gas industry as a reality that demands holistic analysis.

Lets begin with reality.

Aside from the awareness that spillage occurs, communal rights to a clean environment and access to clean water supplies are violated in such cases, and, the oil industry, by its admission, has abandoned thousands of polluted sites in the region which needs to be identified and studied in details while communities adversely affected are adequately compensated for their losses, this latest spill is coming weeks after a similar one from a ruptured pipeline facility managed by one of the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger Delta that reportedly ravaged Benikrukru and adjourning communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state. And another in the early hours of Sunday, March 14, 2021, at Polobubo/Opuama Communities, Warri North Local Government Area, of the state, could settle.

Such litany of spillages also include but not limited to, namely; the historic large scale spillages in places such as the Ogoni Land, Rivers state and the Erovie community in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government of Delta state 1990s, both in the Nigerias South South geopolitical zones, of which their negative impacts lingers.

Are these the only explanations/examples? The answer is a definite no, as there exist yet other critical reasons/concerns why we should view the situation as a crisis.

First and very fundamental is the inability of Nigeria and Nigerians to appreciate, and treat crude oil spillage and environmental pollution resulting from exploration/crude oil production related activities as a national calamity.

The second is the stunning consciousness that gas flaring/environmental degradation resulting from crude oil prospecting/production related activities in the country is under reported. This second concern stems from a recent comment which according to media report was credited to the Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, (NOSDRA), Idris Musa, who stated that findings by his agency showed that an average of five oil spills was recorded daily in Nigeria. Musa, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said, In 2018 we had about 600 oil spill incidents and in 2019, we had over 700 oil spill-impacted sites across the country. .

This wakeful comment becomes even more relevant to the present discuss when one remembers that Nigeria according to reports is dotted with about 139 gas flare locations spread across the Niger Delta both in onshore and offshore oil fields where gas which constitutes about 11 percent of the total gas produced are flared.

More than anything else, it brings to mind the questions as to; what exactly impedes the development of the petroleum sector and Niger Delta region? Is there no legislative works? Why is such legislative framework not providing a strong source of remedy for individuals and communities negatively affected by oil exploration and production in the coastal communities? If these frameworks exist, why is it not effective and enforceable? Is the framework as comprehensive as a legal solution to the issues of oil-related violations? Why has the nation not learned a valid lesson from the Dutch government where all operators are required to restore their areas of operation back to how nature intended?

Regardless of what others may say, the truth is that if as a nation, we are desirous of developing policies that will engineer prosperity in the oil and gas sectors while saving the people of the region, then, we must be ready to locate the strategic triangles that hold the key to success.

Separate from the fact that success requires a careful analysis of the various kinds of knowledge needed to make innovation possible, the need for the nation to straddle the middle ground has become necessary since both the ministry and sector has for a very long time manifested signs of an institution with neither primed nor positioned potentials. And as we know, any organization, be it private or public that fails to search for its potentials leaves its survival to chance.

At this instant, looking at both the operational templates of the Ministry and how the Up, Mid and the downstream players of the Petroleum industry has become reputed for non-compliance to set rules, it will not be a wrong assertion to conclude that the critical factors fueling crude oil spillage/gas flaring can be divided into the following; the existence of multiple but obsolete regulatory framework which characterizes the oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria; Federal Government failure to get the nations refineries back to full refining capacity; the Petroleum Ministrys inability to get committed to making International Oil Companies(IOCs) adhere strictly to the international best practices as it relates to their operational environment; And finally, non-existence of clear responsibility/work details and action plans for agencies and parastatals functioning under the ministry.

The above failures have as a direct consequence; cast a long dark shadow on the ministry, the sector and the region.

To explain these points beginning with the first challenge, it is worth commenting on that the business of crude oil exploration and issues of oil production in the country is regulated by multiple but very weak laws and Acts of which most of these laws not only complicate enforcement but are curiously too old-fashioned for the changing demands of time. Thereby, creates loopholes for operators, especially the International Oil Companies (IOC) to exploit both the government and host communities.

Some of these laws/Acts in question that has been in operation since the 1960s but currently not achieving their purpose includes but not limited to; the Petroleum Act of 1969, The Harmful Waste(Special Criminal Positions etc), Act 1988, Mineral Oil Safety Regulation 1963, Petroleum(Drilling and Production) Regulation 1969 (Subsidiary Legislation to The Petroleum Act), The off-shore Oil Revenue (Registration of Grants)Act 1971, Oil in Navigable Act 1968, Petroleum Production and Distribution(Anti Sabotage) Act 1975, Associated Gas Re-injection Act 1979, Associated Gas Re-injection(continued Flaring of Gas) Regulation, Associated Gas Re-injection(Amendment) Decree 1985, Oil Pipeline Act Chapter(CAP)338, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria(L.F.N.) 1990, and Gas Flare prohibition and punishment) Act 2016 among others.

Without minding their number, concepts, provisions and definitions, these laws have become obsolete, old-schooled and out-fashioned to the extent that it now provide leeway for the operators in the sector to exploit both the government and host communities.

Using the Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Positions etc), Act 1988, to prove how defective these laws have become, it was described somewhere, as insufficient the definition of harmful waste by the Act based solely on its impact on human beings, and does not include its impacts on the environment and animals.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly suspended Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

The President asked the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello Koko, to take over from her in acting capacity.

Usman was first appointed as the Managing Director of the NPA in 2016. In January, the President reappointed her for another five years.

The reason for her suspension is still sketchy at the time of this report .
The Oakland County Elections Commission will consider, for a third time, petition language to recall four members of the Rochester Community S
A family was awoken at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday by its smoke detectors, allowing them to escape their burning home.
GRACE KINNICUTT is News Editor for The Vidette. She can be contacted at gkinnic@ilstu.edu Follow Kinnicutt on Twitter at @GKinnicutt

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A Novi man is facing federal charges in connection with an unemployment insurance fraud scheme that used prison inmates identities to file fake claims, officials announced Thursday.

Terrell Dwayne Mason, 39, is charged with aggravated identity theft, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. The criminal complaint alleges he defrauded Michigans Unemployment Insurance Agency by illegally using identities of state and federal prison inmates to file claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, using his relationship from a UIA employee to process the claims. Its alleged that the claims resulted in payments of more than $300,000, which would have grown to more than $800,000 if the fraud had gone undetected.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office-Eastern District of Michigan, Mason is on supervised release after serving a prison sentence for a federal conviction for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. He was tracked and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in Oklahoma on a warrant for allegedly violating terms of his release. Proceedings are pending for U.S. District Judge Robert Cleveland to address those alleged violations.

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The criminal complaint resulted from an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Trial requires a felony indictment, which may or may not be sought after the investigation is completed.

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STEF keeps up the work to help elephants as COVID impact continues

There has been a significant decline in the elephant population of Southern Thailand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Phang Nga Province, which normally has more domesticated elephants than any other Southern Thailand province, the elephant population has dropped by a third of its normal number, reports the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF).



By The Phuket News

Thursday 6 May 2021, 03:10PM

The Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) is keeping up its work to help elephants left in dire circumstances due to the pandemics impact on the economy. Photo: STEF

A survey in 2019 recorded 401 domesticated elephants in Phang Nga, whereas the most recent figures from the department of provincial livestock gives the current number as 270, the UK-registered charity explained in a release issued today (May 6).

This fall in elephant numbers is linked directly to the pandemic and the decimation of Thailands tourist industry (even now there is a COVID emergency decree in place in Thailand). Without tourists to visit the elephant parks and sanctuaries that abounded in the region, there is no income and therefore no money to buy food for the elephants.

The realisation that the COVID-19 lockdown would affect the tourist industry for the long term meant that many mahouts had little choice but to return to their homes and families, many of which are in the north of Thailand. Of course, they took their elephants with them, and so, at least for now, Southern Thailand has been depleted of its elephant population. Some owners transported their elephants to Surin, a major elephant centre in northern Thailand, from where some government support is being provided during the pandemic. But this is a journey of about 800 miles (more than 1,200km), and many owners cannot afford the cost of a truck ride for their elephant over such a distance, STEF explained.

Most of the elephant parks and camps in Southern Thailand are now closed, and some will never reopen. Only a few parks or sanctuaries are still operating, and these are managing to care for their elephants only as a result of their own fundraising efforts. Some of these parks have even taken in other elephants from owners who were struggling to feed them. Adult elephants drink around 100-200 litres of water a day and consume 200-300kg of vegetation, costing around 10 (just over B430) a day to feed.

When the lockdown first came to Thailand, many elephant parks in the region had closed almost overnight and simply told the elephant owners to remove their animals. But these owners were mostly mahouts who had one or two elephants contracted to a tourist park. Without any income from the park, the mahouts were left struggling to feed their elephants and they had no money to send back to their families, STEF noted.

It is not practicable to let domesticated elephants roam free to find their own food, as there isnt enough natural forest left in Thailand. These elephants are used to being cared for by humans and, left on their own, would be unlikely to be accepted by a wild herd and would probably struggle to find adequate food; there would be inevitable conflict with farmers and landowners as well as the risk of severe injury on roads, the foundation explained

Aware of the impending crisis as the parks closed their doors, the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) stepped in to provide food for the elephants in need. The Feed the Starving Elephants campaign, which ran from April to July last year, raised over 40,000 (about B1.736 million) and volunteers on the ground in Southern Thailand delivered over 700 truckloads of food. As the drift north began last summer, and the number of elephants in the region declined, STEF was able to wind down its campaign.

When tourists eventually return to Southern Thailand in significant numbers, hopefully the elephants will return too. For so many people, the chance to get up close, to stroke and feed these magnificent creatures is the highlight of their holiday, STEF noted in the release .

The Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) is a UK-registered charity run almost entirely by volunteers. Since it was founded in 2017, STEF has raised funds to build a new Elephant hospital  the STEF Veterinary Centre Khok Kloi  in Phang Nga province, north of Phuket.

For the last four months STEF has been providing a mobile veterinary clinic, run by their veterinary officer Dr Aon, who has treated numerous clinical cases in the region as well as providing health inspections and general advice. All these services are provided free of charge, and are vital in helping to care for the many elephants remaining in Phang Nga and adjacent provinces.

STEF continues to raise funds to provide all the necessary veterinary equipment needed for its elephant veterinary centre, which is due to be fully operational within the next two months.

The only other elephant hospital in Southern Thailand is the government funded Krabi hospital which is three hours drive by car (about four to five hours in an elephant truck).

STEF is dedicated to protecting Asian Elephants in Thailand by providing health care, promoting high standards of welfare and conservation, and encouraging education, so that elephants can maintain their important role in Thai culture for generations to come.

For more information about STEF, email info@southernthailandelephants.org or visit SouthernThailandElephants.org
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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Effective May 31, 2021, the state of Pennsylvania will be lifting all COVID-19 mitigation orders.
"We take seriously the comments, reactions and feelings that are being represented by those on social media and others reaching out to the school district and school." - North Penn School District statement.

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Even though art-making is mostly a solitary pursuit involving artists ensconced in their studios  naturally socially distanced  the past year has had a significant impact on artists.

The gallerists at browngrotta arts in Wilton decided to look at changes across the board, not just the pandemic, as a sweeping theme in their annual spring Art in the Barn exhibition. This years show, Adaptation: Artists Respond to Change, will open on Saturday, May 8 and will run through May 16.

The exhibition surveys how the nearly 50 fiber artists represented were affected by changes in their personal lives and work practices or because of changed circumstances. In some cases, artists have moved to a new country, have endured health challenges or have even lost a kiln in a mudslide.

Gallerists Tom Grotta and Rhonda Brown said even though they have been working with these artists for some time, they were surprised by what they learned. With a strong online presence, the gallerys audience is mostly global, as is its stable of artists (only a few are based in the U.S.).

We started thinking about how many of our artists had over time different changes in their lives that have resulted in a change in their work, Brown said.

Noting that one thing they like about the artists they represent is that they dont tend to do the same kind of work, Grotta said artists surprised them when submitting work for this exhibition. We got different bodies of work that we did not expect, he said. Some did not have access to their studios so they made different works than if they had been in their studios.

The contrast in art styles, even by the same artist, is apparent in the work of Korean-Swedish artist Jin-Sook So, whose two pieces here are from stainless-steel mesh material sewn inside vividly colored cloth. They are on view in the front hall of the barn (and on the catalogs title page). Resembling a folded square and rectangle respectively, the works are quite dramatic and reminded the artist, during their creation, of her childhood and playing with bojagi, a traditional Korean wrapping cloth. The pieces are clearly the same artist but they do seem to be coming from different places, Brown said.

Pennsylvania artist Lewis Knauss poignantly noted he found it difficult to focus on his work in the early months of the pandemic, so he tackled a project he had been procrastinating for about two decades.

As the pandemic went on into months and then a year, I was trying to do some work - and my work is very time involved - and I just could not sit there and do it, so I started cleaning out the studio, he said. The first thing that I dealt with was 40 years worth of slides, which was thousands and thousands of them.

Over the years, Knauss kept reference slides of landscapes hes photographed as texture inspiration for his art. In this recent clean-out, he transformed them into a new work of art he calls Old Technology Landscape, made from woven and knotted linen, paper twine and Ektachrome slides. The slides are random but woven together in a manner where they create a landscape made out of images of landscapes. I could remember all those travel experiences so it was like sitting and seeing my entire life pass before me as I constructed that piece, he said. Given that digital imaging has subsumed slides as a technology, this artwork in particular references change and evolution. It also is the first time he has incorporated slides in his art.

The evolution of artmaking can also be seen in Blair Tates work, which is represented with two pieces here. Small Gemelli, the earlier of the two dating to the 1970s, is one of her first works to focus on weaving and can be likened to words making up sentences the way the woven strips make up the artwork. Tate created Pangaea, which is being exhibited side by side with Small Gemelli, during the pandemic; it shares that same realization, and is a continuation of her weaving technique.

While the pandemic is but one of several examples of change the exhibition explores, Brown noted several artists commented on how their mental state was impacted by the pandemic.

Japanese artist Hisako Sekijima said she had to change her work process in order to overcome the stress. Some also made art differently, relieved of keeping a certain level of inventory or meeting gallery deadlines.

American artist Mary Merkel-Hess did a very minimalist piece for this exhibit that was much more time consuming then normal but it is a piece that she did more for herself than meeting a normal gallery deadline, Grotta explained. I have wanted to be more minimal for some time now, the artist is quoted in the catalog. The pandemic lockdown provided the time to focus on that.

Hours are 10 to 5 daily with a max of 15 guests at any given time, timed reservation tickets are being sold. For more information about the exhibition, visit browngrotta.com.

Andrea Valluzzo is a freelance writer.
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.
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Today

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
HIGHLAND  City officials on Friday announced a partnership with Schlafly Beer to revitalize a 71-year-old building into a Schlafly brewpub.

The yet to be named brewpub at 907 Main St., Highland, will be Schlaflys first in Illinois. It is expected to open in the late fall of 2021, joining its three current facilities in Missouri.

Were very excited to welcome Schlafly to Highland, said Breann Speraneo, Director of Community Development for Highland.

Were a vibrant community with many downtown festivals, and we look forward to Schlafly hosting their own festivals in town, Speraneo said. We know that Schlafly will fit in perfectly with our motto of Celebrate Today.

Schlafly plans to hire 50-60 people for the Highland establishment, according to released information, and will begin taking applications later this summer. A kitchen also is being added to the building.

The 3,420-square-foot base of the building, previously the Highland Chamber of Commerce, has sat empty for about three years.

Schlafly officials said they will work with Highland and TJO Holdings to create an 80-seat restaurant and a three-season patio able to seat 100 guests. Schlaflys signature beer styles and pub fare will be on the menu, as well as specialty beer brewed just for Highland.

There will also be an onsite retail experience for Schlafly gear, growlers and brewpub-only special releases.

Contributing to the cities that we live and work in is an integral part of the Schlafly Beer mission, said Schlafly CEO Fran Caradonna.

When David Schlafly was approached more than 12 months ago, we had to carefully consider how we could make a mark during such a difficult time across many industries, especially hospitality, Caradonna said. Were thankful that the city of Highland has been an exceptional partner so we can work together to revitalize a space that will serve residents for years to come.

The historic Schlafly Tap Room opened in 1991 as the first brewpub in Missouri after Prohibition. Once destroyed by fire, the building was bought and rehabbed after sitting vacant.

Schlafly Bottleworks, built in 2003, is an anchor for the small business district in Maplewood, Missouri. And Schlafly invested in kitchen and restaurant/brewery operations improvements at the former Trailhead Brewing Co. in St. Charles, Missouri, before opening Schlafly Bankside in May 2020.

Our team knew that it was imperative to find a longstanding partner to become an integral piece of the community for years to come, said Speraneo. With Schlaflys respected reputation in the brewing industry and positive guest experiences across the St. Louis metro area, we found a perfect fit.

Schlafly co-founder Tom Schlafly said the familys brewing dream began in Highland.

After immigrating from Switzerland, the Schlaflys landed in New Orleans in May of 1854 and made their way up the Mississippi and settled in the town now known as Highland, Illinois, he said. Now, 167 years later, David and I are excited to give back to the same community where our ancestors set roots so many years ago.

Schlafly Beer is St. Louis original, independent craft brewery producing about 30,000 barrels per year. Their creations include English Pale Ale, Pumpkin Ale and Coffee Stout.

Schlafly recently expanded its Midwest distribution to Oklahoma and Indiana. Its products are now available in 16 states, primarily surrounding Missouri and the East Coast.

For more on the company and its beers, visit Schlafly.com.
EDWARDSVILLE  Three people were charged as a result of an April 9 drug raid conducted by the Wood River Police Department and ILEAS SRT.

The charges were filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office on Tuesday, May 4.

Charged were James R. Smith, 52; Scott C. Baldwin, 54; and Stacey M. Baldwin, 46, all of the same S. 10th Street address in Wood River.

Smith was charged with aggravated unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony. The others were each charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine a Class 3 felony.

The cases were presented by the Wood River Police Department.

According to court documents and Wood River Police Department Facebook posts, on April 9 a raid was conducted on the house after an investigation by the departments drug unit.

Smith allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Both Baldwins allegedly were found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine.

Bail was set for $50,000 for Smith and $15,000 each for the Baldwins.

Other drug-related felony charges filed May 4 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Lonnie P. Campbell, 51, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on May 3 Campbell allegedly was found to be in possession of between 5-15 grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Daniel W. Thomas, 46, of Madison, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On March 24 Thomas allegedly was found to be in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Howard L. Baker, 40, of Hazelwood, Missouri, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. On Aug. 31 Baker allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, and was driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Cyle R. Traster, 34, of Carlinville, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). On Dec. 20, 2019, Traster allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Michael S. Causey, 46, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the IDNR. On Jan. 14, 2020, Causey was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Melissa A Winkle, 42, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the IDNR. On Winkle allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Robert L. Shanks, 48, of Wood River, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On April 16, Shanks allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Shelby N. Watson, 26, of Gillespie, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Nov. 17, Watson allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Jeremy A. Mitchell, 41, of Collinsville, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On April 21, Mitchell allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of heroin. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Jeromy J. Chevalier, 45, of Pawnee, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Illinois State Police. On Nov. 17, Watson allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Thalia M. Jateff, 28, of Highland, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the St. Jacob Police Department. On May 3, Jateff allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 200 grams of Alprazolam. Bail was set at $20,000.
ARCHBALD  More than a century after coal miners began using a small red brick building at the end of Laurel Street to store oil for the Gravity Slope Colliery, borough officials hope to transform the former oil house into a coffeehouse.

The borough is in the preliminary planning stages of renovating the former coal mining building in hopes of finding a tenant to use it as a coffee or ice cream shop. According to an Archbald Borough Historical Society infographic inside the oil house, the colliery was built in 1913, at the peak of Archbalds coal industry. It closed in 1955 when the Delaware and Hudson Coal Co. closed the colliery due to excessive mine flooding.

With a faded brick interior, concrete floor, wooden roof and large glass windows overlooking the Lackawanna River, the borough-owned building is structurally sound but lacks utilities, borough Manager Rob Turlip said during a recent tour of the site.

Were not going to change the structure of the building whatsoever, he said.

The borough would run water, sewer and electric utilities to the building while also looking to make it wheelchair accessible. Turlip envisions an extended concrete slab beneath the building, initially used as a loading area, being repurposed as an outdoor patio.

While everything is still preliminary, Turlip said he hopes work will begin within the next year.

In recent years, the oil house received a new roof, doors and windows, Turlip said, explaining a committee formed to work on the building has since fallen by the wayside.

The idea to use it as a coffee shop came up while interviewing candidates for the boroughs newly formed community and economic development committee, Turlip said.

Austin Burke, the former president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is working on the project with the borough as the volunteer grants consultant. With a fishing pier just outside and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail running past the building, it seems a shame not to try to get more utilization out of the oil house, Burke said.

Thousands of people use the heritage trail near the oil house every month, said Owen Worozbyt, the Lackawanna Heritage Valleys trail and environmental projects manager. The proposed coffee would be 20 miles into the trail  dead center in the 40-mile route.

Having amenities like these along the trail is a fantastic idea, Worozbyt said.

Burke expects to hold meetings with borough council, the mayor, the borough historical society and colliery committee to discuss the project. They are looking to bring in professionals for price quotes, he said, and they would also like to bring in an experienced coffee shop operator for guidance.

Burke noted the sites historic setting. The colliery once employed thousands of people, and remnants of the mining operation are still visible around the oil house, including the shifting shanty and fan house, Burke said. The shifting shanty was a place for miners to change into and out of their coal-stained mining clothing, and the fan house circulated air into the mines below. He believes the shop would add to the quality of life in the area, giving people a place to relax and socialize.

People will see that its a community that honors its past but certainly seizes its present, Burke said.
Lackawanna County plans to sell its former visitors center at Montage for $1.25 million, but officials would not disclose the potential buyer as negotiations continue.

Officials pulled from commissioners Wednesday agenda an agreement with Hemingway Development Limited Partnership for sale of the partly vacant Moosic property. Hemingway planned to sell the property to a third party, county General Counsel Donald Frederickson said, noting the county is currently exploring a direct sale to that third party. He would not identify the would-be buyer.

Efforts to reach Hemingway Development officials were unsuccessful.

The center on Glenmaura National Boulevard cost $3.1 million to construct. It was billed as the gateway to the county and region when it opened amid fanfare in November 2000, perched prominently above Montage Mountain Road and boasting a distinct train station-themed design.

Hemingway transferred to the county a 2.23-acre parcel that now houses the center for $1 in April 1999. A covenant attached to the property limits its development to a single commercial structure that must serve principally as a visitors center and for ancillary use as county government offices. Any agreement for another entity to use the space for other purposes requires Hemingways written consent.

Commissioners approved an agreement in 2005 with Hildebrandt Learning Centers, a daycare center chain, to use space in the center. Bright Horizons, a daycare chain that bought Hildebrandts 40 centers nationwide in 2015, currently occupies part of the building.

The Bright Horizons agreement would transfer with the sale of the center, Frederickson said. The restrictions established by the covenant would be addressed in the sale agreement with the potential buyer, he and county solicitor Frank Ruggiero said.

When it opened, the 15,000-square-foot, two-story center hosted a gift shop, a visitor reception desk and the Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau. By the time Curt Camoni became bureau executive director in August 2017, most of his administrative staff had moved to the Scranton Electric Building in downtown Scranton. Bureau employees handling visitor services duties worked out of the center part time roughly until the bureau consolidated operations at the county-owned Gateway Center, 135 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, in early 2019, Camoni said.

When that was built, a visitors center needed a larger area to welcome guests, he said, noting times have changed. We do have that presence and all the same services available for people who do walk-in, but much more of what were doing happens on our website (visitnepa.org).

The sale of the property to a private entity will make it taxable, county Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers said. Sale proceeds would be deposited into the countys general fund, according to officials.
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.
More than 795,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the United States.

A stroke is when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to lose oxygen and nutrients. The resulting symptoms may include weakness, imbalance, difficulty speaking and swallowing, problems with memory and thinking, pain, altered sensations, visual deficits, trouble with bowel and bladder control, and mood changes like depression. While aging increases stroke risk, strokes can occur at any age.

Stroke rehabilitation is an essential part of recovery. Physical therapy focuses on strength, balance, coordination and endurance. Occupational therapy helps with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, writing and eating. Speech therapy addresses speech, swallowing and cognitive deficits. All these therapies are available in hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, at home and in outpatient clinics. When and where patients begin rehabilitation is contingent on their medical stability, physician recommendations, insurance eligibility, personal preferences and family supports.

Successful recovery depends on multiple factors: the part of the brain the stroke occurred in and the amount of damage it caused; the age, motivation and general health of the stroke survivor; available family and social support; and participation in high-quality neurorehabilitation therapies. While recovery is greatest in the first few months after a stroke, gains are possible even years later thanks to a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. This is the brains ability to reorganize its circuits after injury in response to new learning experiences. Undamaged parts of the brain take over functions previously performed by the damaged parts. Neuroplasticity is how stroke survivors relearn lost functions.

Research has identified the active ingredients of therapies that drive neuroplasticity. The therapy must be focused, intense and repetitious, just like the practice we do to learn any new skill, from playing an instrument to mastering a sport. In stroke rehabilitation, training is tailored toward relearning the specific skills impaired by the stroke. Therapists choose engaging activities that are meaningful to the patient to promote greater neuroplasticity. Depending on the setting where therapy is provided, therapists may combine these active ingredients with various technologies to promote recovery in stroke survivors.

For example, harness systems ensure safety during walking and balance training. Electric stimulation may improve strength in weak muscles of the body or throat. Instrumented treadmills and balance platforms provide feedback to patients about the success of their movements to speed learning. Wireless monitors encourage patients to train at optimal effort levels. Computer interfaces and video games increase patient engagement and measure progress. Robotics support weakened limbs during practice of functional tasks.

More important than the specific technology used is the expertise of the rehabilitation team working with the patient to develop an appropriate treatment plan and the patients adherence to that plan, including any recommended home exercises.

Once rehabilitation ends, it is not necessarily permanent. Stroke survivors are usually eligible for rehabilitation services any time there is a change in status, such as worsening of physical or speech functions. They should ask their physician for a referral to therapy if they have more trouble moving around, inability to participate in daily activities and self-care, increasing imbalance or falls, or declining endurance. Rehabilitation techniques and technologies are constantly improving, offering new hope to survivors of stroke.
May 6, 1936

Canned goods seized

Dr. Arthur Davis, Scrantons Public Health director, ordered that 300,000 containers of canned goods be seized and placed under police guard.

The canned goods, valued at $40,000, were purchased at a public auction by Giant Markets. It was discovered the canned goods were damaged in the winter flooding in Williamsport. The cans were then shipped to Philadelphia where they were put up for public auction at William Comly & Sons, on Second Street.

City health inspectors found many of the cans were rusted, and tests of the products found the food was not fit for human consumption.

Officials from Giant Market met with Davis and Scranton Mayor Stanley Davis about the confiscation. It was agreed that the lot of cans would be split up and stored under lock and key at Giants two warehouses in the city.

The officials with Giant Market said they were working to reach a financial settlement with the Philadelphia firm that handled the auction.

City health officials said they were working with the state to figure out who would need to dispose of the canned goods. Arthur Davis said if the city health department was given the responsibility of destroying the cans it would consume his entire budget.

School court to be launched by city district

The Scranton School District announced they would launch school court at the districts administration building on North Washington Avenue on May 7.

The purpose of school court was to stop truancy within the district.

Hearings would be held weekly, where the truant student along with their parents and teacher would appear before school Superintendent Dr. John H. Dyer and August Hoffman, head of compulsory education.

After hearing testimony, Helen Matthews, the districts psychologist, and Helen ODonnell, visiting teacher, would meet with the students teacher and parents to develop corrective measures to stop the student from being truant.

At the movies

Captain January at the Ritz, Small Town Girl at the Strand, The Singing Kid at the Capitol, Special Investigator at the Family Theater, Next Time We Love at the West Side, Sylvia Scarlett at the State and These Three at the Riviera.
Super students

Local residents were among the University of Scranton students inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the only existing international honor society in the computing and information disciplines.

Students inducted include: Sabrina Alvarez of Moosic, a junior information technology major; Harshdeep Kahlon of Scranton, a junior computer science major; and Donald Vispi of Peckville, a graduate student software engineering major.

Undergraduate requirements for induction into the honor society include junior academic standing, completion of 18 credits in computing sciences and a grade point average of 3.2 or higher. Graduate requirements for induction include completion of 15 credits in software engineering courses and a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The universitys chapter of the honor society was established in 1985 ...

... Local residents were among the 44 University of Scranton students inducted into Upsilon Phi Delta, the national honor society for graduate and undergraduate students in healthcare administration programs.

Students inducted include: George Gustin of Scranton, Rutu Patel of Scranton, Brittany Zamber of Tunkhannock, Elizabeth Golosky of Greenfield Twp., all seniors pursuing health administration degrees, and Sassan Akhondi of Scranton, a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in health administration.

Students must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 for induction, according to the university, whose chapter was established in 2002 ...

... Local residents were among the 32 University of Scranton students inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society.

Students inducted include: Daniel Gaydon of Plains, a doctoral student pursuing a doctorate degree in business administration; Christina Parry of Peckville, a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in accountancy; Kanak Chattopadhyay of South Abington Twp., a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in business administration in operations management and a business analytics degree; Jared Cohen of Clarks Summit, a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in business administration in finance; Nicholas DeAntonio of Lake Ariel, a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in business administration in marketing and finance; Enis Murtaj of South Abington Twp., a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in business administration in accounting; Ann Amentler of Drums, a senior pursuing a finance degree; Joseph Beyrent of Ransom Twp., a junior pursuing an operations management degree; Derek Bowen of Roaring Brook Twp., a junior pursuing an accounting degree; Robert Dempsey of Scranton, a junior pursuing a finance degree; and John Shea of Friendsville, a junior pursuing a finance degree.

To be considered for induction, students must rank in the upper 7% of the junior class, upper 10% of the senior class or upper 20% of the graduating masters class, according to the university, whose chapter of the honor society was established in 1997 ...

... Local students who attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nations oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

The students include: Emily Fellin of Drums; Alice Koech of Plains; Talia Williams of Scranton; Portia Woodward of Sweet Valley; Taylor Stemrich of Wapwallopen; and Erin Morris of Wilkes-Barre.
Local civic leaders want to hear about your favorite things in Northeast Pennsylvania and are asking you to post about them on social media on Friday with the hashtag #570Day.

Friday, which is May 7, is being celebrated as the first ever 570 Day, an initiative created by the Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visit Luzerne County to spotlight some good things in the 570 area code.

After this long year of the pandemic, we thought it would be good to bring a positive movement to our area to celebrate the people, places and amenities, said Christine Mackin-Meluskey, president of the rotary club.

The organizations have been promoting it on Facebook and Instagram and plan to frequently post and repost about it on Friday.

They are hoping people from all over the area post about their favorite things with the hashtag #570Day as a way to promote the region.

A lot of times people in the area dont know all the amazing things that are right outside their doorsteps, Mackin-Meluskey said. Its something people can take and make their own. Individuals could post about their favorite places to eat or go hiking.

Organizers plan to make 570 Day an annual event every May 7.

570 Day aims to shine a light on all the good things we have in our corner of Pennsylvania, from beautiful hiking trails with scenic views to great food and unique businesses, said Megan Filak, membership and marketing coordinator for Visit Luzerne County. There are so many incredible people and places across Northeast Pennsylvania and 570 Day is a way to call attention to that. Its easy for anyone to participate and to celebrate the area. On Friday, May 7, show what you love about the 570 area by posting photos, videos or stories to social media using #570Day.
London, KY (40741)

Today

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
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Cresaptown, MD (21502)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms this evening with a few showers possible overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms this evening with a few showers possible overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Graveside services for Johnny Rack Whiddon, 76 of Thomasville will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Rev. Gerald Horne will officiate. Mr. Whiddon passed away June 5, 2021 at his residence. Born February 3, 1945 in Cairo, he was the son of the late J.C. Wh
ALBANY  Four years ago, IBM surprised the semiconductor industry by unveiling the world's first 5 nanometer computer chip developed at its clean room lab at Albany Nanotech on Fuller Road, the most advanced chip technology ever developed at the time.

On Thursday, IBM is making public yet another major breakthrough that demonstrates it remains at the vanguard of computer chip invention  the creation of the first working 2nm chip  with 50 billion transistors crammed onto a silicon chip the size of a fingernail.

And this cutting-edge device was made right here in our backyard.

It's another celebrated milestone not only for New York-based IBM but also for the Capital Region and its reputation as a premier hub for computer chip research and manufacturing.

"This is the world's first test chip with 2 nanometer technology," Mukesh Khare, vice president of Hybrid Cloud Research at IBM told journalists Wednesday from his office at Albany Nanotech. "It's very exciting. And it was made right here in Albany where the breakthrough took place."

The timing couldn't be more promising for New York state, which is currently in the running to attract not only a second computer chip factory at GlobalFoundries' Fab 8 campus in Saratoga County but potentially two more factories, or fabs, being planned by Intel and Samsung, both of which partner with IBM on chip research in Albany.

IBM, with its headquarters in Westchester County, has been the cornerstone of Albany Nanotech, which is home to SUNY Polytechnic Institute, for two decades.

And New York state has made sure that IBM has felt at home to do its most important semiconductor work here, providing the company with hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support over that period to provide IBM and its research partners with the most advanced chip manufacturing equipment and clean room facilities available anywhere in the world.

The IBM innovation reflected in this new 2nm chip is essential to the entire semiconductor and IT industry, said Dario Gil, director of IBM Research. It is the product of IBMs approach of taking on hard tech challenges and a demonstration of how breakthroughs can result from sustained investments and a collaborative research and development ecosystem approach.

So what exactly is so special about a 2nm chip? First, the chip itself is not 2 nanometers wide, which would make it invisible to the naked eye and smaller than a single strand of DNA.

Instead, the 2 nanometers refers to an industry milestone, or node, for shrinking certain features that has historically correlated to the size of the gate of the transistors on chips that control the flow of electrons and the movement of instructions around the device.

Years ago, the nodes no longer reflected the true gate size and became more of a marketing description. For instance, this new 2nm chip has a gate size of 12nm, although IBM says some of the other features are as small as 2nm.

Either way, as the chip nodes continue to get smaller, the chip architecture also gets smaller, allowing IBM and others to cram more and more transistors on the chips, driving down the cost to make them more powerful and more energy efficient.

For instance, IBM's 2nm chip has 20 million more transistors than the 5nm chip it made in 2017, leading to a nearly 50 percent increase in performance over chips used in most of the latest mobile phones and computers in use today which use 7nm chips. (Apple's latest iPhone uses 5nm chips made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which is also close to unveiling its own 2nm chips.)

IBM doesn't make its own chips anymore after selling off its two chip fabs located in Dutchess County and Vermont to GlobalFoundries, which announced last week it has moved its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to its Fab 8 campus in the town of Malta where it employs 3,000 people.

But GlobalFoundries only makes chips down to the 14nm node, which represents the lion's share of chips made today for all but the most high-end electronic devices like the iPhone.

Instead, IBM contracts out the manufacturing of its chips for IBM servers to Samsung, which partners with IBM at Albany Nanotech. Intel recently announced it would join IBM in Albany as well.

The hope is that either Intel or Samsung  or perhaps both  might potentially locate chip manufacturing facilities in the Capital Region or somewhere else in upstate New York to be close to IBM's research operations, just as GlobalFoundries did a decade ago when it was doing all of its research with IBM. GlobalFoundries has since cut back drastically on research spending after deciding it could make 14nm chips in Malta for its customers for the foreseeable future.

GlobalFoundries as well as Samsung and Intel are all looking at possibly building fabs in New York after the Biden administration, urged on by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, has proposed spending $50 billion to provide incentives to chip makers to expand their domestic manufacturing and chip research operations to ensure that the U.S. keeps pace with China in chip making.

IBM and Albany Nanotech, which is operated by a quasi-state entity called NY-CREATES, are planning on trying to land some of that $50 billion in funding to establish a new national chip research lab in Albany that would only further bolster the Capital Region's reputation in the industry as the best place in the country to develop and make chips.
3 1 of 3 Mike Groll/Empire State Development Show More Show Less 2 of 3 James Keivom/Provided by Empire State Development Show More Show Less 3 of 3





ALBANY  Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, has launched a searchable online database of business, workforce development and infrastructure projects that receive state funding through the agency.

The Database of Economic Incentives is hosted on the Open NY website, the state's public data platform. The new database lists the loans, grants, and tax credits given to more than 1,000 projects statewide that have received a combined investment of $18.4 billion from both the government and the private sector. It will be updated every three months.
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.
Tacos were the salvation of 2020. Well, tacos and pizza, but the proliferation of taquerias gave us tiny Mexican outposts built around takeout and offering comal-cooked tortillas, some even nixtamalizing their own corn masa dough. We were treated to pork al pastor dripped with pineapple, tacos de lengua respecting the deliciousness of tongue and nationally trending birrias for dipping in broth. So Im not sending you to Norte Azul Cantina in Stephentown for tacos or transformative Mexican.

But post-pandemic needs hit differently. Online threads are still awash in people looking for outdoor dining with ample space; those still hesitant about dining in; and customers with reasonable concerns about restaurant plates. There are people trying to dine with a larger group or with children  often tricky in small spaces with socially distanced tables. And thats where Norte Azul Cantina might hit the spot.

Its order-and-pickup window, paper plates and an expansive lot with 20 picnic tables offer something close to contactless outdoor dining with ample room to move and breathe. For now, the restaurants small bar and dining room is mostly off limits, except for occasional private groups, but the back bar has a new semi-al fresco extension, with a timber barn dining room scenting the air with freshly milled wood. A retractable garage door is flung open on a gravel patio and fire pit despite the evenings rain. Occupying the custom blond-wood booths and well-spaced tables is an older crowd, the majority wearing flannel. In colder temps, an old wood cookstove emits radiant heat and keeps a late-night, one-pot meal hot after the kitchen has closed. Perfect for Jiminy Peak powderhounds seeking apres-ski.

Norte Azul Cantina tops its white-boy tacos the Tex-Mex way, with lettuce, tomato and cheese; stuffed burritos ooze cheese; doughy fried chimichangas are the size of a small baby; and a full page of syrup-laced margaritas come in flavors from strawberry to prickly pear. I respect the shake of tajin chile-lime salt in the Scotch bonnet-spiced mango. Even if we couldnt take the sugar high of house sangria, we could slap a lid on it and take it home to a 20-something sitter who could. A quick chat with our friendly server turned up something off-menu: an Oaxacan Old Fashioned made with mezcal and far less sweet.

We knew Rich Matthews and partner Jared Barton, the former chef-and-manager duo from The Shop in Troy, had relocated to Stephentown and landed afresh at Norte Azul. Chef-owner Melanie Hunt opened the restaurant in early 2019 as a second venture to her popular, long-running Blueberry Hill Cafe in New Lebanon. Hunt describes her business as a group effort: Her brother, local builder Brian Hunt of Brian Hunt Construction, built the timber-frame barn and hammered together faux light fixtures with those on order stuck in pandemic delays. A local friend milled the wood.

Operations, like so many, have been impacted by the uncertainties of staffing. Table service is limited to drop-and-go. On busy nights its window service only. Hand-cut white corn tortilla chips come in a paper bag, and we eat from cardboard boxes to-go. Hunt moves her line crew between businesses as needed. When we dined, Matthews was working the kitchen; the following week, he was holding down Blueberry Hill.

The kitchen fires out orders quickly: Sweet, sticky seared-tuna tacos are loaded with guava glaze, sriracha crema, avocado crema and cabbage slaw. Theres a lot going on, but I wish the soft flour tortillas had seen some heat. Bite-sized fried avocados are thickly breaded but firm enough to dunk, if you wish, in chipotle ranch; the tortilla-swaddled chimichanga inflated like puff pastry in the fryer oil, making it greasy and stretchy inside. You can have stuffed jalapenos or chicken wings in sweet glaze, or hearty chili and Tex-Mex greens. Were puzzled by a touch of cinnamon in the tortilla chips and guacamole needing salt or lime, but its freshly mashed, and Im here for that. Better, the kitchens slow-cooked proteins shine: Shredded chicken is juicy; slow-cooked barbacoa beef and carnitas pork falls effortlessly apart.

Lets get this right. Pandemic reviewing is a minefield of gratitude to restaurants for reopening and sympathy for the undulations gripping business, from staffing shortages to COVID-19 protocols. There are Tex-Mex joints in most upstate towns  usually a watering hole for locals, priced to fill bellies and convenient for takeout. Norte Azul Cantina has the usual tacos and burritos, sweet margaritas and a selection of local cider and beer, from Nine Pin to Common Roots. And space. Lots of outdoor space.

Unless youre gliding the smooth miles of Route 22, enjoying the rural landscape of Stephentown en route to Jiminy Peak (winter) or Williamstown, Mass., (summer), you might not go. And thats OK. Norte Azul Cantina is giving Stephentown quick bites, fast service and cheap drinks. And its popular as hell.

Susie Davidson Powell is a British freelance food writer in upstate New York. Follow her on Twitter, @SusieDP
WASHINGTON  Lawmakers are pushing to add a bipartisan package of limousine reforms, that were born from the horrific 2018 Schoharie limo crash, to must-pass transportation legislation that they say will increase the chances the safety measures becoming law.

Kevin Cushing, father of Patrick Cushing who died in the crash that claimed 20 lives, said he breathed a "sigh of relief" this week when he learned the federal bill has come so far. For more than two years, Cushing has been advocating for passage of the legislation, sharing his family's tragedy in hundreds of emails and letters to members of Congress.

"I don't think we're at the finish line yet, but at least I can see it," Cushing said.

On Thursday, U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko, Antonio Delgado and Elise Stefanik, along with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, will reintroduce their package of new limousine regulations.

Schumer, who sets the agenda in the Senate, signaled he will push for passage as soon as possible.

"As majority leader, I will not rest until limo safety is prioritized, ensuring the lives lost in Schoharie are not in vain and our roads are forever safer," Schumer said.

The legislation would require limos to have seatbelts for every passenger and comply with federal seatbelt standards. It would close the loophole that allows used vehicles to be converted into limousines without meeting federal safety standards. It would require limousine operators to prominently display a vehicle's most recent inspection date, along with the results and any repairs that were made. The bill would also incentivize states to impound unsafe limos in order to be eligible for federal funding.

In 2019, the Capital Region congressional delegation introduced the legislation on the one year anniversary of the Schoharie crash. The legislation passed the House in 2020, but was not taken up by the Senate.

Lawmakers are negotiating to add the package to a larger transportation omnibus, which could carry the bill to final passage. Tonko will push for a congressional hearing touching on limousine safety reforms.

"For too long, the families of those souls lost in the deadly Schoharie limo crash have shouldered the burdens of grief and responsibility without federal resolution," Tonko said. "As we turn the corner on this pandemic and seek a return to many of lifes celebrations, Americans should be able to trust the limousine carrying their loved ones is safe. That isnt the reality today."

After crashes in Long Island and Schoharie, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed limo reform legislation in February 202o, requiring seatbelts and allowing the state to impound defective vehicles  similar to the federal bill.

In 2018, a group of friends, most of them from the Montgomery County area, rented a limousine for a birthday celebration at a brewery. En route, the limousine traveled more than 100 miles per hour down a winding country road, blew through a stop sign, sped through the parking lot of the Apple Barrel County Store  where two pedestrians were fatally struck  and crashed into a ditch, killing the driver and all 17 passengers.

"This had real impacts on 20 families," Cushing said. "We really don't have any control over what happened. What we might have some control over being an advocate to change laws so now one else has to get a doorbell rung in the middle of the night and open it up to two state troopers to tell you that your son is dead."

Cushing is in regular contact with the other families who lost someone in the crash and have supported the push for federal reforms.

"Deadly limousine crashes in New York state have revealed gaping holes in the nations road safety rules and Congress must act to set adequate safety regulations that will save lives," Gillibrand said.

In addition to the new laws, criminal prosecution of the limousine company operator is expected to proceed, although no trial date is currently set.

The National Transportation and Safety Board, in its 2020 report on the crash, blamed the state Department of Transportation and Department of Motor Vehicles for failing to stop the limo company, Prestige, from renting out the Excursion to unsuspecting customers who were unaware the nearly 20-year-old vehicle had failed numerous safety inspections and had been slapped with violations for operating an illegal limo service.

State Sen. James Tedisco has asked the state Inspector General's office to investigate whether the Cuomo administration covered up mishandling of oversight of the limo company. It's unclear whether that investigation was conducted.
ALBANY Elise Stefanik is riding the Big Lie to one of the most powerful jobs in the Republican Party.

The Big Lie, of course, is Donald Trumps evidence-free claim of a stolen election, a bald untruth that Liz Cheney calls out as dangerously unpatriotic. For that, the congresswoman from Wyoming is being evicted from her position as GOP conference chair, which made her the No. 3 Republican in the House.

Into the void steps Stefanik, the North Country congresswoman, who on Wednesday received Trumps endorsement for the job and seems increasingly likely to get it. Her primary qualification: She lacks Cheney's integrity.

In fairness, Stefanik hasn't exactly agreed that the election was stolen. But neither will she say it wasnt stolen.

You might describe her as agnostic on the topic, if not for her Jan. 6 vote, cast hours after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, against certifying vote tallies. She also spread mistruths about the election and backed a lawsuit, filed by the attorney general in Texas, that sought to disenfranchise millions of voters.

It's all gross and dishonorable. A politician who winks at the Big Lie, as Stefanik has, is putting ambition ahead of country, personal gain ahead of patriotism. It says nothing good about our politics, the country or the Republican Party that her cynical pandering is paying off, at least in the short term.

In summary: Cheney insisted on the truth, and her party will purge her for it. Stefanik went along with the lie and is set to be rewarded.

"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."

Warmongering? That, at least, might be accurate. One irony, though, is that Cheney's voting record is more conservative and supportive of Trump than Stefaniks. But policy doesn't matter. Neither do facts.

What matters is fealty. What matters is obedience in a party that increasingly resembles a NXIVM-style cult. What matters is keeping your mouth shut when a former president spouts nonsense.

Money matters, too.

House leadership positions are largely about raising cash, and Stefanik has become a financial juggernaut with a national profile. She raked in $1.1 million from 30,000 donors in the first three months of 2021, the sixth consecutive quarter in which shed raised a seven-figure sum.

Clearly, Stefaniks unprincipled flip toward Trump has paid off. It's almost hard to remember that back in 2016 she endorsed the Republican nominee without uttering the distasteful mans name. Its easy to forget she was once considered a neocon in the mode of, um, Dick Cheney.

That was before she grabbed a MAGA hat and climbed aboard the U.S.S. Trump, becoming one of the former presidents biggest defenders during the first impeachment and co-opting his language and style. And perhaps her impending elevation to a House leadership position is an answer to those of us who wondered why she would tie herself to an unpopular president likely to lose his reelection bid.

Heck, maybe we should credit Stefanik for foresight and Machiavellian plotting.

"Your bete noire will be the third ranking Republican in the House of Representatives," one reader wrote Wednesday. "She must be laughing and laughing"

Maybe so. And Stefaniks status will grow if she wins reelection in a redrawn 21st Congressional District next year as Republicans retake the House. At this moment, both seem possible, if not likely. But the accumulation of power does not justify Stefaniks acceptance of false claims about the election. Her dishonesty and cynicism arent forgivable because they provide short-term gain.

In the long run, the purging of Cheney will be damaging to the GOP, destroying a shrinking partys credibility and appeal to moderate voters. The damage to the country will be lasting, too.

"The 2020 presidential election was not stolen," Cheney tweeted. "Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system."

Poisoning our democratic system. Thats exactly right.

A stomach-turning aspect of all this is that Stefanik  and many other elected officials in the party  must know Cheney is telling the truth. After all, if the North Country congresswoman really believes the election was stolen, why not say so?

Yet the truth-teller must go. Into the void steps Elise Stefanik.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
ALBANY  The husband of state Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie's chief of staff was sentenced Thursday to 76 months in prison and ordered to pay $136,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for his earlier guilty plea to cocaine trafficking and tax evasion charges.

Orlando Dennis, 32, who was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States in 2008, had been described by federal prosecutors as a $25,000-a-year bakery delivery driver who had been living a lavish lifestyle from drug trafficking.

Jevonni Brooks-Dennis, Heastie's chief of staff, who married Dennis in 2017, wrote a letter to the federal judge in her husband's case seeking leniency and describing him as "a loving husband, father, brother, and a friend to many.

"In our relationship he has always gone above and beyond to make sure both myself and our children are happy and taken care of," her letter continued. "It always warms my heart to see the loving relationship he shares with our daughter and the joy he takes in being a dad."

Dennis also received letters of support, describing him as caring and hardworking, from co-workers, supervisors and a former high school principal.

The U.S. attorney's office offered a contrasting view of Dennis, describing him as the leader of a drug trafficking group who lied about the source of his income and threatened violence against someone he believed responsible for losing a bag of cocaine at an airport.

They said prior to his arrest, Dennis "had for years been making hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash profits that are unexplained by any legitimate business, suggesting that this was not his first narcotics offense." They asked the judge to sentence him to between 87 and 108 months in prison.

Brooks-Dennis, who federal prosecutors said had apparently benefited from her husband's illicitly gained wealth, was not accused of wrongdoing. Still, her government salary was not enough to support their opulent lifestyle that included large expenditures on designer clothing and accessories, prosecutors said in court filings. Assembly payroll records indicated that around the time of her husband's arrest, Brooks-Dennis was paid about $75,000 in a six-month period  from September 2019 to March.

Between 2015 and 2019, Dennis had made more than 630 cash deposits totaling more than $600,000 into his bank accounts. Those deposits were made as he had an annual take-home pay of less than $10,000 after money was withheld for child-support obligations from a prior marriage, according to court records.

The banking records showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash deposits and withdrawals by both Dennis and his wife, prosecutors said, that the government described as "unexplained wealth."

"For instance, from June 2018 through December 2019, the defendant spent more than $12,000 at Christian Louboutin, more than $1,500 at Gucci, more than $1,300 at Burberry, and more than $1,000 each at Louis Vuitton, Moschino, and Prada," the U.S. attorney's office wrote in a pre-trial motion filed last year, before Dennis would plead guilty. "The defendants wifes records for 2018 to 2020 include four transactions totaling nearly $7,000 at Christian Louboutin and nearly $9,000 in hair extensions in a single year."

Prosecutors also outlined what they said was a "calculated and coordinated effort" by Dennis to "carefully structure deposits," including many that were made by his wife. During a two-day period in May 2019, for instance, Dennis and his wife made a series of deposits ranging from $300 to $4,000 that added up to more than $15,000 in cash in their respective bank accounts.

Dennis was arrested on federal drug charges in January 2020 at John F. Kennedy International Airport for his alleged role in trafficking $100,000 worth of cocaine from Jamaica seven months earlier. He was arrested after flying in from the Caribbean island, where he'd been for about a month.

The case against Dennis took shape in June 2019 when U.S. Customs agents discovered a large amount of cocaine in a bag that was left unclaimed on a baggage carousel at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The bag had been flown there on a flight from Jamaica, where Dennis had been that month.

Brooks-Dennis remains employed as Heastie's chief of staff.
ALBANY  New York lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that will require hospitals and nursing homes in the state to establish and implement minimum staffing levels for nurses and other direct care staff.

The legislation, which is now on its way to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos desk, is intended to combat chronic understaffing that caregivers have complained about for years but which finally gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the legislation was hailed by health care unions, consumer advocacy groups say it doesnt go far enough to ensure patients and residents receive adequate care.

Nurses have always been healthcare heroes at our loved ones' bedsides and for the last year, they have also served on the frontline of a global pandemic, state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Tuesday. These bills will ensure that our nurses, whether in hospitals or nursing homes, are working under conditions that allow them to best help their patients and save lives.

Requirements

One of the bills would require the state health commissioner to establish minimum staffing standards that include at least 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident per day. At least 2.2 of those hours must be provided by certified nurse aides and 1.1 by licensed practical nurses or registered nurses.

The bill also requires nursing homes to publicly disclose their staffing levels in a fashion that is visible and accessible to residents, families and staff.

Facilities have until Jan. 1, 2022 to comply and may face penalties if they fall short.

"The recent COVID-19 outbreak has brought attention to the level of care being provided to residents in nursing homes, but the truth is many residents in these facilities have not been receiving a sufficient level of services needed for them to thrive for years, the bill text reads.

The other piece of legislation passed Tuesday focuses on hospitals, which would be required to form clinical staffing committees made up of at least 50 percent nurses and direct care staff. Committees would be charged with developing an annual staffing plan that includes specific guidelines or ratios for determining how many patients a nurse can be assigned at a time, and how many nurses and ancillary staff should be present on each unit and shift.

Plans must be submitted to the state Department of Health by July 1 each year  along with any data from the previous years adopted plan  and will be posted on the departments website and in a public area of the hospital.

Staff who report violations of the plan will be protected from retaliation, according to the legislation. The Department of Health will investigate violations and may require corrective actions or civil penalties.

The legislation would also create a nine-member independent advisory committee charged with evaluating staffing standards and other quality metrics under the new law. The committee must submit a report to the Assembly, Senate, and their respective health committees by Oct. 31, 2024 outlining any further legislative action that may be needed to improve working conditions and care in hospitals.

Reaction

Unions representing nurses and other health care staff applauded the legislation after years of fighting for minimum staffing standards.

The New York State Nurses Association called attention to specific language in one of the bills, which notes that minimum staffing standards set by the commissioner cannot supersede those contained within a collective bargaining agreement.

These bills are a major step forward for every patients right to safe, quality healthcare, NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez said. We will, of course, continue to advocate for our patients and organize around our goal of transforming our healthcare system into one that guarantees equity in healthcare for all New Yorkers.

1199SEIU, whose members have been picketing statewide for better staffing, echoed the sentiment.

But consumer advocacy groups say the legislation doesnt go far enough, particularly when it comes to nursing homes.

While this bill is a step in the right direction by creating minimum nursing home staffing ratios where no ratios currently exist, we have several major concerns with this legislation, the groups said in a joint statement.

Signing on to the statement were AARP New York, the Long Term Care Community Coalition, the Center for Elder Law & Justice, Metro Justice, the Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled, the Community Service Society of NY, and Human Rights Watch.

They argue the bill should raise the minimum hours of care required per resident per day to 4.1  a threshold identified by a landmark federal study as necessary for meeting basic clinical needs.

They also take issue with caveats in the bill that could potentially allow nursing homes to dodge penalties for non-compliance because of mitigating factors. Indeed, the legislation directs the state health commissioner to take factors such as natural disasters, emergencies and acute regional labor shortages into account when designing their penalty system.

Much more is needed to better protect our seniors residing in nursing homes to ensure they receive the best care possible, the groups said.
TROY  Residents urged the City Council Thursday night not to hire six community police officers but to instead invest money in meeting city needs for additional social services, recreation and programs to battle systemic racism.

Late Thursday, the City Council had not yet taken action as it listened to residents speaking during the public forum. Nearly all said the city must combat racism in the police department and aid the Black community as well as other minority residents.

"We need investment. We don't need more police," Amy Halloran told the seven council members.

Earlier Thursday afternoon community police reform groups rallied outside the city police headquarters on State Street where they called on the Council to vote against adding six officers to the police department and to instead direct money to community services.

We need our elected officials to take what were saying seriously and take action, said Daquetta Jones of the Peoples Council of Troy.

The Peoples Council and other citizens organizations seeking police reform condemned the proposed expansion of the police force to 137 members by hiring six officers to be assigned to community policing positions. The groups also spoke against the final Troy Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Report.

The report fails to acknowledge the racial bias in policing that exists in Troy. And, thus it fails to explicitly address eliminating that bias, Jones said.

The residents and citizens organizations attempted to convince the Council to reject giving final approval to Mayor Patrick Maddens request for about $182,731 in funding to hire the six police officers this year. The council voted 5-2 at its Finance Committee meeting to support the police hirings. The council was discussing the resolution, which is in a budget transfer measure, when Thursday night.

They needed to convince two Council members to switch their votes to defeat the measure.

Jessica Ashley, of the Justice Center of Rensselaer County, said the city has not addressed the racial issues in the citys communities and those that exist in the police department. Ashley said the city has refused to deal with the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin in April 2016 during a police DWI stop. She pointed to the pending federal civil rights lawsuit brought against the city by Thevenins family, which the city has fought.

Bob Blackmon, also of the Justice Center of Rensselaer County, said he strongly objected to the white supremacist attitudes of police officers toward people of color and that anti-racist training must be provided.

Cleaning and paving city streets, more recreation programs and improved parks, diversion programs, a community center in the North Central neighborhood and community outreach programs are among the programs opponents of the police hirings have suggested as better ways to improve living in the city and to aid the minority community.
ALBANY  The chair of the citys Community Police Review Board is accusing an Albany police detective lieutenant of making several racist and disparaging remarks during a meeting of the citys Citizens Police Academy last month.

In a letter to the Common Council posted on the boards Facebook page, CPRB Chair Nairobi Vives said that on April 14, Detective Lieutenant Howard Schechter made pejorative comments about the largely Black neighborhoods of Arbor Hill and the South End  and referred to victims of sexual assault as promiscuous.

Vives identified Schechter, who has been with the department for at least 35 years, as a presenter at the meeting, which took place on Washington Avenue Extension. She said his comments about the Black community led her to correct him and, ultimately prompted her to walk out of the meeting along with Melody Harkness, the CPRBs program manager.

"It was too much for me to be made to sit in a room to listen to," Vives told the Times Union. "I just had to stop it  because I take my role in this CPRB very seriously. If I am to be held to try to improve the relationship between the community and the police department, it has to go both ways, and the trust and the rebuild and what needs to happen can't happen if this is the pervasive attitude within the department."

Vives said Schechter  who she noted is close to retirement  spread "racist myths" that members of the Black community do not care about "Black on Black" violence in their communities.

Through a police spokesman, Schechter declined comment.

The goal of the Citizens Police Academy is to increase understanding between citizens and police through education.

Through the weekly classes, the police will hope to dispel suspicions and misconceptions and increase rapport between the citizens of Albany and the police, stated a city website for the program. The citizens, in turn, make officers more aware of their feelings and concerns.

In her letter, Vives said all other presenters at the academy had been pleasant and professional, even though they have at times offered what she views as biased content. In the wake of Schechter's alleged remarks, Vives said she wants city police to hire an outside consultant, approved by the Common Council and CPRB, to reform the academy program.

Vives also asked the Common Council to enact an amendment so CPRB members are not mandated to take classes at the Citizens Police Academy.

CPRB members should not be required to complete this program until the Common Council can be assured that racist myths are no longer part of the education it offers, Vives wrote.

The Times Union reached out to Mayor Kathy Sheehan, city Police Chief Eric Hawkins and Common Council President Corey Ellis.

David Galin, the mayor's chief of staff, said in a statement that the city received a complaint on April 19. The department's Office of Professional Standards is investigating the matter, he said, adding that the mayor's office made a referral to the chief diversity officer to assist in the investigation.

"The city of Albany is taking the claims very seriously as the representations described in the complaint do not reflect the values or expectations of this administration," Galin said.

On April 14, Vives said, she went to the meeting with Harkness and Victor Person, another CPRB member. She said Schechter, while referring to an officer-involved shooting, said in his opinion it was the only bad one." She said that without any warning, he showed several graphic images mostly of bloodied and beaten Black and Brown bodies.

At the end of his presentation, she said, Schechter touched upon police reform. According to Vives, he said that in the current climate, many people are focused on police-involved shootings.

He then made the statement that they only care when a cop shoots someone but they dont care about the hundreds of other shootings when they are killing each other, Vives said.

Vives said she interjected and told Schechter his remarks were not true and that members of the Black community work daily to stop all killing.

He responded, now raising his voice, that he doesnt see Alice Green complaining when theyre killing each other,  Vives said, noting the reference to Green, a community activist and founder of the Center for Law and Justice in Albany.

After I objected further, he said that they wouldnt get killed if they just followed lawful orders, Vives said.

Vives said Schechter continued to make problematic remarks, including that he "always said that there are more drugs on SUNY's campus than in Arbor Hill but they're not killing each other at SUNY."

Vives said she left the meeting. She said she later learned that Schechter became angrier following her departure and said that he could not understand how Vives and Harkness could be put in charge of CPRB when, as he saw it, she did not want to hear other views.

Vives said it was troubling to learn later that Schechter allegedly made similar comments four years ago that led to a complaint. She said she wants him to be held accountable for his comments and not be allowed to simply retire without any discipline for his remarks.

"Despite the bold display of his racist sentiments, APD continues to employ him, allow him to collect and handle evidence and spread his views to the public while representing APD," she said.

Vives said the notion that Black communities do not care about "Black-on-Black" violence is a persistent white supremacist myth.

"As if racist myths weren't enough, the presenter's comments show a profound failure to show what it means to be a police officer and to serve and protect the public," she said.

"Murders by private citizens and murders by public servants are not the same kind of thing," Vives said. "When a private citizen murders someone they commit a terrible crime, but they do not violate any public trust because they do not work for the public. Police officers work for all of us."

"Of course, people protest differently when police kill someone; we pay their salaries and they are supposed to protect us," she continued. "Anyone who can't understand the special outrage prompted by police killings does not deserve to serve the public as a police officer."
WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is scheduled to meet on Monday with the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans, as she looks to dismantle opposition to her becoming the next GOP conference chair.

Three congressional sources confirmed the meeting to the Times Union on Thursday. News of the gathering comes as a few Republicans have expressed reservations about the more moderate voting record of Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, as compared to that of incumbent GOP conference Chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming.

But in addition to her policy views, Freedom Caucus members want the meeting to ensure they won't be ignored, a source familiar with the situation said. The far-right caucus has had fights with Cheney and has felt sidelined by GOP leadership at other times.

Cheney was not a good listener," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "People just want to make sure Stefanik is a good listener.

CNN reported multiple members of the Freedom Caucus voiced deep reservations on a Wednesday night call about Stefanik as the consensus choice for Republican conference chair  even as they conceded she has the votes to succeed Cheney. A House member on the call told CNN the Freedom Caucus has concerns about Stefanik's moderate voting record and her uneven stance on a wide range of issues the group prioritizes, including immigration and LGBTQ rights.

Another source described the Monday meeting to the Times Union as Stefanik's move to "reassure them of her conservative bona fides" and "shore up support."

Stefanik spoke on the podcast of former Trump ally Steve Bannon Thursday to spread a message of GOP unity as she seeks the role, which would catapult her to the number three House Republican position.

"This is also about being one team," Stefanik said. "And Im committed to being a voice and sending a clear message that we are one team, and that means working with the president and working with all of our excellent Republican members of Congress.

Drawing a contrast with Cheney, Stefanik said she would "run with support from the president [Trump] and his coalition of voters."

Cheney is in hot water with the caucus because of her outspoken criticism of Trump and her party's false claims that Trump's 2020 election loss stemmed from widespread fraud. Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and she voted in favor of certifying the 2020 election results.

"We Republicans need to stand for genuinely conservative principles, and steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality," Cheney wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post Wednesday.

Stefanik voted in the opposite way on both matters and has advanced her own debunked claims about the election.

But while Stefanik is the pro-Trump candidate of the two, Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, has the stronger conservative record.

A respected conservative group that focuses on taxing and spending issues called Club for Growth announced its opposition to Stefanik's candidacy on Wednesday. Stefanik voted against the 2017 Republican tax law because it enacted a cap on state and local tax deductions, she said at the time.

"Elise Stefanik is NOT a good spokesperson for the House Republican Conference," the group tweeted. "She is a liberal with a 35% CFGF lifetime rating, 4th worst in the House GOP. House Republicans should find a conservative to lead messaging and win back the House Majority."

The conservative group Heritage Action scored her at 56 percent in their last rating, while it rated Cheney at a score of 82. Heritage Action did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Perhaps a nod to these issues, Stefanik sent out a fundraising email to her supporters Thursday night that repeatedly used the word "conservative" and was signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

"As a conservative governor, I am proud to support leaders in Congress who stand up for their principles and our conservative movement," Reynolds said. "She is one of those leaders who will never back down and I believe she is the future of our Republican party and the conservative movement."

Multiple congressional aides told the Times Union that their boss's choice for GOP conference chair will not be about Stefanik's voting record, as much as her ability to fundraise, form a coalition and stay on message.

Stefanik has received the backing of the top two House Republican leaders and Trump. Six other House Republicans sent public statements of support for Stefanik to the Times Union.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who also voted to impeach Trump, is standing by Cheney.

"She stands for truth-telling and integrity, and she isnt afraid to stand for what matters. On Nov. 3 ... Joe Biden was elected president of the United States. On Jan. 6 ... our democracy was attacked by an angry mob who had been fed lies and conspiracies about a stolen election," Kinzinger's spokeswoman Maura Gillespie said. "These are the facts and its important that leaders take responsibility in sharing that truth."

Stefanik is widely believed to have enough support to secure the role of GOP conference chair in a vote that could come as soon as next week.

Cheney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Patrick Chiou embraces the joke about him in Albany. It goes, Does the building have a roof on it? Yes? Then Im not interested.

Chiou, now eight years into his career as a developer in the city, has some major reconstruction jobs behind him. In 2018, he led the renovation of 800-804 Broadway, a previously dilapidated set of brick buildings marked with red X signs to let firefighters know they were structurally unsound. There are 15 apartments there now, financed in part with a $1.53 million construction loan from the Community Preservation Corporation and federal and state historic tax credits.

Chiou is a 2006 graduate of the University at Albany. After graduation, he went home to Long Island and became a nightclub promoter. His parents, Taiwanese immigrants, could only take so much of that before they started nudging him to do more with his life and paired him with a friend from their church. Chious first investment in Albany was a two-family at 498 Washington Ave. He remembers feeling naive about managing property and navigating the citys regulations. Eventually he sold the property and bought others, evolving into a niche  he buys distressed properties, guts them and rebuilds. The result is a product that doesnt need continuous, expensive maintenance. Chious strategy, which often relies on leveraging debt, is a tough one to explain to his parents.

Their attitude is, never go into debt. If you want something, you have to have the money upfront, but thats not how we build wealth now, Chiou said.

Still, when the unexpected happens, its a rough ride.

Chious current project is a collection of row houses and two additional buildings along Clinton Avenue in Arbor Hill. The deal, which included assistance from the state, was done before the COVID-19 pandemic started. In addition to the logistical difficulties it brought, Chiou also watched his budget increase from 20 to 30 percent because the cost of building materials went up dramatically.

If we hadnt started, I mightve put it on hold. Right now, Im just eating it. I tell the people I work with, its not like were gambling, were not walking into the casino. Its real estate and its an investment.

The Clinton Street project is Chious first foray into affordable housing. While the other units in his portfolio rent for market rate, when complete the apartments under construction will go to renters whose income is 80 percent or less of the area median income  $79,000 for a family of four. Chiou said he first considered buying the property before, but what made it possible was the Small Building Participation Loan Program, which provides gap funding for the preservation and improvement of rental properties, along with a loan from the Community Preservation Corporation. Property managment is handled by Chiou's company, Albany Management Group.

Chiou said other investors might have been scared away from the project because of a stigma around renting to tenants in Arbor Hill, but he doesnt see it that way.

Everyone deserves to live in something nice, he said. If youre living in a rundown, crappy apartment youre going to wake up every day hating the world.

Chiou bought two-family homes along North Lake Avenue before he got involved in a big project "People said Id find bad families there and have a hard time collecting rent, but its not true," he said. In his experience, there are good families in Arbor Hill, people who choose it over other parts of the city because their families and friends are there.

Chiou expects Clinton Street to be move-in ready in two months. Next up is the former St. Johns Catholic Church on Green Street. Chiou hopes to build 27 apartments there, but his plan still needs approval from the city. He understands neighbors get impatient waiting for work to begin, and ask what hes waiting for on the Church of the Holy Innocents on North Pearl Street, for example.

The buildings I take on are not easy projects, they take a long time to put together and I need to be in the right financial situation, but for me (Holy Innocents) is a passion project. I have a plan for three apartments there, he said.

Chiou believes Albany has moved forward light-years since he first started buying property in the city. After all the investment in apartments in downtown Albany, the area needs services.

I know its a tough thing to talk about now because of the pandemic, but Id like to see more restaurants, grocery stores and places for the people now living here to shop.
BENNINGTON, Vt.  Three southern Vermont newspapers  the Bennington Banner, Brattleboro Reformer and Manchester Journal  are being sold to a software and currency trading entrepreneur with a number of businesses in the region.

The daily Bennington and Brattleboro papers and weekly Manchester publications have been operated by New England Newspapers Inc., which also publishes the Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.

They are being sold for an undisclosed sum to Paul Belogour of Guilford, Vt., who earlier this year incorporated Vermont News and Media LLC, according to published reports.

The deal is set to close on May 14. New England Newspapers will continue to print the Vermont publications for at least the next five years. Belogour is also buying UpCountry magazine, which is distributed in Berkshire County and southern Vermont.

Belogour, reports said, has told staffers at the Vermont papers they are all being retained.

New England Newspapers in 2016 purchased the Berkshire Eagle from Alden Global Capital, a large hedge fund that has been investing in newspapers nationwide, often cutting staff and other expenses in order to increase profits. They are current in talks to buy Tribune Publishing, which runs a number of papers including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun.

The local owners, since buying the Berkshire Eagle from Alden, have invested in the paper, which won a 1973 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. They have hired staff and added content.

A native of Belarus, Belogour attended Northeastern University in Boston on a rowing scholarship, reports said.

He went on to start a foreign exchange firm, CBFX, which was later sold. He then developed a currency exchange trading platform. Vermont newspapers noted that he owns a brewery and real estate in the area.

Neither Belogour or a spokesman for New England Newspapers Inc. could be reached Thursday for comment.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
Twinning Signs

His Worship the Mayor, Mr John Goncalves MBE GMD, has seen the coming to fruition of a project that he was keen to undertake during his tenure, that of the procuring and installation of Gibraltar  twinned with signs for the main entry points into our city.

Gibraltar is twinned with the cities of Goole (England), Ballymena (Northern Ireland), Kingston (Jamaica) and Funchal (Madeira). The twinning of cities is undertaken in many countries, to highlight historical and cultural links and deepen the bond of friendship between the city pairs.

This project has received the full backing of the Gibraltar Tourist Board and the Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and The Port, The Hon Vijay Daryanani MP.

Minister Daryanani said: I think this is a great initiative from His Worship the Mayor. It is important to show our historical and cultural links with our twinning cities and I look forward to exploring the possibility of pursuing other city pairings.

The signs, placed at the Airport Terminal, Frontier, and the City Hall, will remind Gibraltarians and visitors alike of the links between Gibraltar and these four cities, all of which have had an influence in the forging of our cultural identity over the years.
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union

The article "Plans to add police restarts debate," April 26, stops short of telling the full story about the proposal to hire six new Troy police officers and assign them to community policing. Those of us who oppose the proposal completely understand and appreciate the need for a kinder and gentler form of policing. In fact, we believe we understand that better than do Troy's public officials.

Our community just completed the process that resulted in Mayor Patrick Madden's submission of a report laying out a plan to comply with Executive Order 203. That process consisted of several public forums and online meetings with a collaborative group. I attended all of those events, and not one person mentioned the need for additional police officers. Overwhelmingly, the comments focused on systemic racism in the Troy Police Department and the need for anti-racism training for the existing force.



Everyone is in favor of community policing but feel that most, if not all, current officers should be so trained. In fact, the proposal to hire additional officers is an admission that the current force has failed in this regard.



The real issue in Troy is systemic racism in the department, something that the police chief continues to deny. Providing anti-racism training would most certainly include community policing. That is the answer, not hiring additional officers.
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.
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
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Vonage Reveals Newly Enhanced Partner Experience

By Luke Bellos - Editor, Virtual PBX

As a part of the companys recent strategic growth initiative, cloud communications provider Vonage has unveiled redesigned versions of the Channel Partner Program and Partner Experience Portal.

These new versions boast a wide range of updated features that are leveraged by Vonages Communications Platform (VCP), which incorporate the use of APIs, unified communications, and advanced contact center solutions. The companys newly developed platforms are designed to promote improved customer interactions, expand revenue potential, and foster business growth with advanced cloud capabilities.

"Our channel partners are one of our most important relationships," said Vonage Channel Chief Jim Regan. "We heard our partner feedback and enhanced our Channel Partner Program and Partner Experience Portal, doubling down on our commitment to helping them succeed by continuing to invest in our Channel model, tools, and infrastructure to support our partners in key markets and make it even easier for them to do business with us."

Vonage representatives believe that these re-designed programs will assist in creating new partner opportunities in untapped territories including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

"The way we work has fundamentally changed and now, more than ever, businesses rely on cloud communications to seamlessly connect employees, customers and partners across the globe to drive better engagement experiences and business outcomes. Regan added Vonage is committed to bringing those solutions to customers in partnership with our trusted partner community."

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
From 3 to 16 March 2021, the World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a border Operation in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in the context of a regional WCO/Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) joint project for the implementation of WCO Programme Global Shield (PGS) by East African Customs and Revenue Authorities. The final results were presented during a virtual operational debriefing meeting held on 5 May 2021.

A total of 8.5 metric tons of chemical precursors, as well as 1 metric tons of other toxic chemicals and dangerous goods were seized at major entry and border-crossing points during the two-week Operation, along with 6 kg of heroine, 6.5 kg of cocaine and 1 metric ton of cannabis. In addition, and for analysis purposes, more than 1 000 metric tons of licit precursor chemical shipments were checked and recorded.

The success of the Operation clearly highlights the benefit for East African Customs administrations of including security measures as a priority in their strategy, and the need for a coordinated approach to control and facilitation in the region, said WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya. The Secretariat appreciates Members support for the new PGS GLOBAL initiative and invites other government agencies to join hands in protecting borders from dangerous substances, Dr. Mikuriya added.

The PGS is a multilateral WCO initiative aimed at building capacity among Customs and other law enforcement frontline officers to secure the supply chain by detecting, and seizing precursor chemicals as well as additional materials used by terrorists to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Tackling terrorist threats and securing borders require both multi-agency and multi-stakeholder approaches. Consequently, the Operation included Customs, police and other border law enforcement agencies, and was conducted with the support of INTERPOL. The setting up of joint Customs/Police control units at major border-crossing points, and the use of smart communication channels, contributed to the success of the Operation.

Prior to the Operation, the WCO/JICA joint project organized a regional PGS Train-the-Trainer workshop as well as multiple national PGS trainings for Customs and other law enforcement agencies, including training on detection tools and methods, together with communication strategies and information exchange. Relevant detection kits and equipment were procured and provided to all participating countries in advance of the Operation.
[May 06, 2021] 95% of Healthcare Insurers Report Concern on Achieving Compliance with the No Surprises Act

H.R. 3630 or The No Surprises Act (NSA), which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides protection nationwide for patients from surprise medical bills and prohibits balance billing for certain out-of-network care. Although this is good news for patients facing crippling and often unexpected medical bills, healthcare insurers and providers must hustle to adjust systems, processes, and technological capabilities to comply beginning January 1, 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005273/en/ Unpacking the No Surprises Act (Photo: Business Wire) According to a recent survey by Zelis, the leading payments company in healthcare, nearly all (95%) healthcare insurers expressed concern about the ability of the healthcare system to achieve compliance with the NSA by the deadline.1 While some states - Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Washington - have existing balance billing laws to protect patients from unexpected and excessive healthcare costs, the NSA brings more complexity to the pricing, negotiation and settlement, and arbitration proceses at a national level.



In the survey of more than 100 executives representing 85 U.S. healthcare payers: More than a majority are concerned about adhering to the timelines required (64%) and transparency requirements (61%)

More than one-third (41%) expressed concern about setting the appropriate reimbursement levels, managing the Independent Dispute Resolution process (41%) and provider directory requirements (39%) "The No Surprises Act impacts all healthcare organizations, from large health plans and systems to small medical offices and individual providers," said R. Andrew Eckert, Zelis CEO. "Like Zelis, leaders across our industry are convening to dissect the details of the legislation because understanding the law and implementing it are equally important. Insurers will need tools and to invest resources into operationalizing the requirements."

From the patient-facing Advanced Explanation of Benefits through to adjudication, arbitration and settlement, alignment with the NSA requirements will require companies to adapt internal capabilities or outsource solutions, most likely a combination. Companies may have to alter their infrastructure and processes to administer all aspects of the law. "The multiple requirements mandated in these policies will be a very difficult lift for providers and payers. The healthcare industry at large will have to move quickly to understand and implement the data, technology and process requirements necessary to comply," said Matthew Albright, Zelis Chief Legislative Affairs Officer. According to proprietary research, the ability to provide accurate advanced explanation of benefits to member-patients and the tight timelines of within 160 days post-service which providers and insurers must complete adjudication, remediation and arbitration will be the most challenging areas for the system to tackle, particularly for substantial claims. For more unpacking of the NSA from legislative and clinical experts at Zelis, the leading healthcare payments company, visit the Zelis No Surprises Act Information Hub. About Zelis As the leading payments company in healthcare, we price, pay and explain healthcare for payers, providers, and healthcare consumers. Zelis was founded on a belief there is a better way to determine the cost of a healthcare claim, manage payment-related data, and make the payment because more affordable and transparent care is good for all of us. We partner with more than 700 payers, including the top-5 national health plans, Blues plans, regional health plans, TPAs and self-insured employers, 1.5 million providers and millions of members, enabling the healthcare industry to pay for care, with care. Zelis brings adaptive technology, a deeply ingrained service culture, and an integrated pre-payment through payments platform to manage the complete payment process. For more information, visit us at www.zelis.com and follow us on LinkedIn. 1 Survey of 116 healthcare payer executives representing 85 payer health plans, third-party administrators (TPAs) and health planned-owned TPAs, conducted by Zelis in January 2021 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005273/en/

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AEye to Present on the Role of Next Generation LiDAR in Achieving Safe, Reliable Autonomy at Top Industry Events

AEye, Inc., ("AEye") the global leader in active, high-performance LiDAR solutions, today announced that AEye executives will present virtually on AEye's intelligent LiDAR, automotive-grade ADAS, and requirements for L4+ autonomy at the following conferences in May:

Tuesday May 11th, 8:50AM PT: Financial Times Future of the Car 2021

The Future of ADAS: How Do Car Companies Add Value in Safety and Performance?

Speaker: Blair LaCorte - CEO, AEye

Discussion to cover: What is ADAS and how does it impact the way the car industry uses autonomy; entering of major tech companies and how they will change dynamics; and the future of ADAS.

Wednesday, May 12th, 7:00AM PT: AEye's Active LiDAR: a Live Driving Demo

Speaker: Jordan Greene - Co-Founder and VP of Corporate Development, AEye

In this session, co-founder Jordan Greene provides a live driving demonstration that showcases how AEye's system is accelerating adoption of automotive-grade LiDAR solutions that save lives.

Wednesday, May 12th, 7:00AM PT: CLEO Conference

Achieving Level 5 Autonomy (News - Alert) in Self Driving Cars

Speaker: Luis Dussan, Founder and CTO, AEye

This workshop will aim to answer the fundamental question: will weever achieve Level 5 autonomy? And if so, how do we get there? It will cover topics such as hardware challenges, edge cases that must be solved, the upgrade of city infrastructures, and legislation to address concerns of liability and accountability.







Speaker: Jordan Greene - Co-Founder and VP of Corporate Development, AEye

AEye's co-founder Jordan Greene will speak to and showcase, via a live interactive driving demo, the role of intelligent software and firmware in improving probability of detection and reducing false positives.



Wednesday, May 26th, 11:00AM PT: PAVE

Automotive Grade and Beyond

Speaker: Jordan Greene - Co-Founder and VP of Corporate Development, AEye

This PAVE virtual panel will discuss what "automotive grade" means, why it exists, what it takes to qualify new technologies to that level, and the redundancy and other demands that driverless vehicles make above and beyond automotive grade.

Wednesday, May 26th, 1:30 PM PT: BootstrapLabs Coffee Break Series

Applied AI and Autonomous Transportation

Speakers: Jordan Greene - Co-Founder and VP of Corporate Development, AEye Dr. Allan Steinhardt - Chief Scientist, AEye

A 30-minute interactive conversation to discuss how AEye is revolutionizing autonomous mobility using iDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging). Using the principles of automated targeting systems and biomimicry, AEye's active iDAR is able to see and understand everything in its surroundings, while intelligently focusing on what matters in order to enable safer, smarter, and faster decisions in complex scenarios.

Recordings of recent presentations can be viewed here:

Reuters Car of the Future 2021 | LiDAR: Key Enabler for Safe Autonomy

Automotive Sensors and Electronics Summit | Sensors 2.0: It's All About the Software

About AEye

AEye is the premier provider of high-performance, active LiDAR systems for vehicle autonomy, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and robotic vision applications. AEye's AI-enabled and software-definable iDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging) platform combines solid-state active LiDAR, an optionally fused low-light HD camera, and integrated deterministic artificial intelligence to capture more intelligent information with less data, enabling faster, more accurate, and more reliable perception. The company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and backed by world-renowned financial investors including Kleiner Perkins and Taiwania Capital, as well as GM Ventures, Continental AG, Hella Ventures, LG Electronics, Subaru-SBI, Pegasus Ventures (Aisin), Intel Capital (News - Alert) , SK Hynix and Airbus Ventures.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005452/en/
[May 06, 2021] Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Launches Nevada Doula Program To Improve Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has partnered with Reno Doula Project to launch a new maternal health program in Washoe County that makes doula services available to the Medicaid health plan's pregnant members at no cost. This program was designed in response to Nevada's poor health outcomes. According to America's Health Rankings, Nevada ranks 46th of the 50 states when it comes to women and children's health, mostly due to the state's low physician-to-population ratios. "Anthem recognizes the complexity of health and is committed to developing unique solutions that address the needs of the communities we serve," said Lisa Bogard, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada, Medicaid. "By offering innovative solutions and addressing barriers, we can make healthcare simpler, more accessible and help improve the health of our state." Doulas are professional labor assistants who provide education as well as physical and emotional support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. They support pregnant people in both hospital and home birth settings by answering questions, addressing concerns and helping to develop a birth plan. Doulas do not replace birth partners; they work with them to improve birth experiences by offering a soothing voice, helping with breathing exercises and giving advice on labor positions. They can also advocate for birth parents and have been very helpful in filling support gaps during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when nurses and other medical professionals were stretched thin. "Our partnership with Anthem is critical to our mission at the Reno Doula Project and offers the potential to dramatically improve birth outcomes in Northern Nevada," said Sarah Walton with the Reno Doula Project. "Anthem is enabling us to provide our services, education and support to vulnerable and at-risk women who would otherwise be unable to afford a doula. These are the people who need us most, and Anthem is connecting us." According to the Journal of Perinatal Education, studies show that mothers living in underserved communities who are paired with a doula have better birth outcomes. Doula-assisted mothers are four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, two times less likely to experience birth complications, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding. Research also indicates doula-assisted mothers have lower healthcare costs, reduced cesarean sections and fewer preterm births.



Women who are Medicaid beneficiaries are at the highest risk of poor birth outcomes in the United States, and women of color are especially vulnerable. These women face many barriers to accessing doulas, but Anthem and the Reno Doula Project are working together to remove access barriers and eliminate health disparities. At the legislative level, more and more states are beginning to recognize how doulas can help decrease mortality and improve birth outcomes for women and infants covered by Medicaid. Minnesota and Oregon's Medicaid programs have covered the cost of doula services for several years, and in 2019, Indiana and New Jersey passed bills providing Medicaid coverage for doula services. This year, Nevada introduced Assembly Bill 256, which calls for Medicaid coverage of doula services. If passed, it will facilitate and expedite the expansion of Amerigroup's doula program beyond Northern Nevada.

Currently, Anthem is working with provider partners in Washoe County to make referrals for services provided by Reno Doula Project. More than a dozen pregnant women have already enrolled in Anthem's doula program, and there is capacity for many more. Healthy, successful births among enrolled participants are already being reported. Anthem Medicaid members in Northern Nevada who are pregnant and interested in learning more about doula services are encouraged to speak with their doctors, contact Anthem or submit an information request at www.renodoulaproject.com/anthem-medicaid-doula-pilot. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada helps improve health care access and quality for more than 600,000 Nevadans by developing innovative care management programs and services. Anthem's top priority is the health and well-being of its members and enabling access to comprehensive health care. Through health education and community outreach programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Care health Plan of Nevada, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. To learn more, visit www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS_news or on Facebook (News - Alert) at https://www.facebook.com/AnthemMedicaid/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005388/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Aria Systems' Cloud Billing and Monetization Platform Now Live with Leading Singapore Communications Services Provider, M1

Aria Systems, the leader in helping enterprises grow subscription and usage-based revenue, today announced that M1 has successfully implemented and launched Aria's (News - Alert) billing and monetization platform as part of the Singapore-based telecommunications provider's digital transformation journey. Aria is now supporting M1's consumer business, with commercial accounts soon to be added. "Aria's modern billing platform is a key component of our efforts to digitalize our business and offer our customers personalized services along with more flexible and fully customized plans," said Nathan Bell, Chief Digital Officer, M1. "The Aria platform provides us with greater real-time visibility into network and customer activities that enhances our made-to-measure experiences for our customers, while offering us space for innovation." In addition to core billing capabilities, Aria has deployed a number of business-specific applications configured to support M1's new hyper-personalised, self-service offerings now vailable to customers. The Aria solution offers M1 the ability to automate actions and personalize customer communications based on individual profiles and demographics, including geographic location, payment history, and longevity as a customer.



"M1 now has a modern, agile billing platform that allows the company to offer customers product bundles and billing plans tailored to their needs, automate its internal operations, and accelerate new revenue generation from 5G services," said Tom Dibble, President & CEO, Aria Systems (News - Alert) . "For Aria, this implementation builds upon our track record of successful execution in the telecommunications industry. As M1 expands Aria into additional lines of business and geographies, we look forward to growing our partnership and supporting M1's innovation efforts." About Aria Systems

Aria Systems' cloud-agnostic monetization platform is the analysts' choice, top ranked by leading research firms. Innovative enterprises like Adobe, Allstate, Comcast (News - Alert) , Subaru, and Telstra depend on Aria to accelerate time to market and increase flexibility, enabling them to maximize customer value and grow recurring revenue through subscription and usage-based offerings. For more information, visit www.ariasystems.com.

About M1

M1, a subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, is Singapore's first digital network operator, providing a suite of communications services, including mobile, fixed line and fibre offerings, to over two million customers. Since the launch of its commercial services in 1997, M1 has achieved many firsts - becoming one of the first operators to be awarded one of Singapore's two nationwide 5G standalone network license, first operator to offer nationwide 4G service, as well as ultra high-speed fixed broadband, fixed voice and other services on the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NGNBN). M1's mission is to drive transformation and evolution in Singapore's telecommunications landscape through cutting-edge technology and made-to-measure offerings. For more information, visit www.m1.com.sg View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005244/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Atlas Renewable Energy executes its 2nd USD Finance Project in Brazil's Renewable Sector with IDB Invest and DNB Bank

SAO PAULO, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ -- Atlas Renewable Energy, a leading renewable energy company in the Americas, announced today that it has obtained a USD 150 million loan from IDB Invest, a member of IDB Group, and from DNB Bank ASA (the largest financial services group in Norway) to finance the construction of its Lar do Sol - Casablanca project, a 359MWp solar project to be developed in Brazil that will provide clean energy to Anglo American's operations in Minas Gerais. The loan was secured from IDB Invest, including the Clean Technology Fund and the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas  Phase II, both administered by IDB Invest, together with a participation from DNB Bank ASA. The plant will generate 805 GWh per year and the Power Purchase Agreement is, to date, the largest contract with a solar project for the supply of clean energy to a private offtaker in Brazil and indexed to the United States dollar. Lar do Sol - Casablanca's generation will be the equivalent of supplying energy to 390,000 houses per year according to the average consumption of a Brazilian family and will avoid approximately 50,000 tons of CO 2 emissions per year, which could be compared to removing 19,867 vehicles from the streets of Sao Paulo in the same period. The Casablanca solar plant is part of Anglo American's strategy to use 100% renewable energy for its operations in Brazil as of 2022 and is integrated into its Sustainable Mining Plan which has a goal of reducing 30% of its global CO 2 emission by 2030. This transaction was structured following a similar format used by Atlas Renewable Energy in a recently announced financing for its Jacaranda solar plant, which was also financed by IDB Invest and DNB Bank ASA. It also falls under Atlas' Green Finance Framework  a testament to the company's commitment to developing projects that protect and preserve the environment while adhering to the highest standards of social and environmental engagement. 100% of the photovoltaic solar modules that will be installed in Lar do Sol- Casablanca will use bifacial technology, increasing project performance with the aim of making electricity production more efficient through solar energy. Furthermore, in line with Atlas Renewable Energy's commitment to an ambitious social engagement agenda, the company will be implementing social programs in the local community that actively promote diversity and inclusion. To achieve this, the company will expand its program "we are all part of the same energy" to Lar do Sol - Casablanca's construction site, an initiative created to train and develop technical skills and knowhow of over 200 women who live in the neighboring communities. The program also entails promoting women who participate in trainings to have the opportunity to opt for skilled jobs within Lar do Sol - Casablanca's construction program. The company established a oal to integrate at least 15% of female representation within the total workforce, which aims to quadruplicate the number of women performing technical jobs in solar projects within the region. To that end, actions have been taken to ensure that women are not deterred from working at the project site due to family responsibilities. Among other things, the company will grant working mothers with children between the ages of 0-12 years old a financial incentive to cover childcare expenses. In addition to involving women in the construction process, Atlas has mobilized all contractors in the project to prioritize local minorities in the hiring process, looking to include at least 30% of afro-descendants within the number of women hired and at least 40% within the number of men hired. These goals are part of the company's approach to ensuring diversity and inclusion within the energy industry and promote equalitarian practices by empowering minorities across all its operations.



"We are pleased to achieve another successful financial close alongside IDB Invest and DNB Bank ASA, two institutions that have become important allies in structuring innovative financing solutions to help consumers transition to renewable energy. Moreover, we are extremely proud of our partnership with IDB Invest in creating a unique and ambitious social responsibility program that directly addresses diversity and inclusion within our value chain. We believe that clean energy should be responsibly sourced, therefore we are committed to tackling social inequalities and cultural biases from our line of work," said Carlos Barrera, Atlas Renewable Energy's CEO. "We look forward to continue accelerating the Brazilian market's renewable energy potential in a sustainable manner, while providing the best-in-class solutions to large energy consumers." "This financing demonstrates IDB Invest's commitment to investing in clean energy and for helping companies dedicated to implementing decarbonization programs in their businesses," said Gian Franco Carassale, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Division at IDB Invest. "In addition, our institution is proud to work together with Atlas Renewable Energy to support programs where the inclusion of women and minorities is a priority. We hope to have more opportunities like this in the future."

"We are very proud to once again support Atlas Renewable Energy with this new financing in Brazil through IDB Invest," said Emilio Fabbrizzi, Managing Director and Head of renewables and infrastructure for the Americas at DNB Markets, Inc. "Apart from implementing a long-term and innovative structure for Brazil, we highlight that it is also aligned with Atlas Renewable Energy's Green Finance Framework, which was executed through DNB Markets, Inc. in 2019." About Atlas Renewable Energy Atlas Renewable Energy is a renewable energy generation company that develops, builds, and operates renewable energy projects with long-term contracts across the Americas. The current company portfolio is 2.2GW of contracted projects in development, construction, or operational stages, and aims to expand by an additional 4GW in the next years. Launched in early 2017, Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest track record in the solar energy industry in Latin America. The company is recognized for its high standards in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects. Atlas Renewable Energy is part of the Energy Fund IV, founded by Actis, a leading private equity investor in the energy sector. Atlas Renewable Energy's growth is focused on the leading emerging markets and economies, using its proven development, commercialization, and structuring know-how to accelerate the transformation toward clean energy. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the center of its project strategy, the company works every day to provide a cleaner future. To know more about Atlas Renewable Energy, visit: www.atlasrenewableenergy.com About IDB Invest IDB Invest, A member of the IDB Group, it is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of US $ 13.1 billion in assets under management and 385 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that respond to the needs of its clients in a variety of sectors. About DNB Bank ASA and DNB Markets, Inc. DNB is Norway's largest financial services group and one of the largest among the Nordic countries in market capitalization. DNB Markets, Inc. is a subsidiary of DNB Bank ASA, and is a registered a U.S. broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC").The Group is among the world's leading banks in transportation, energy and seafood. The bank has a selective global focus on renewable energy, with a special emphasis on hydroelectric, wind and solar technologies and is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives with green solutions. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atlas-renewable-energy-executes-its-2nd-usd-finance-project-in-brazils-renewable-sector-with-idb-invest-and-dnb-bank-301285015.html SOURCE Atlas Renewable Energy

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[May 06, 2021]

Brookwood Starboard CRE Brokers Lease at 50 Fremont Street in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookwood Starboard, a full-service firm of real estate advisors, brokers and developers, announced today the lease of the 40th floor at 50 Fremont Street in San Francisco.

The 41-story high-rise office building was originally built in 1983 and is conveniently located on the corner of Fremont and Mission Streets, in the South Financial District. The office is less than a five-minute walk to public transit stations including BART, SF MUNI, and the California Street Cable Car.

Baker Tilly, a leading advisory CPA firm, will occupy the 40th floor, which boasts dramatic views of the San Francisco Bay. Brookwood Starboard broker Barry Bram represented the tenant in concert with Steve Lane from VOIT Real Estate, based in Orange County.

"This is a fantastic space for Baker Tilly. They wanted to find a single floor that was large enough to accommodatetheir prior multi-floor offices for their San Francisco team, and which had impressive views reflecting the stature of the firm," explained Barry Bram, Broker with Brookwood Starboard. "The location of the building and cache of the tenant roster is a great fit for Baker Tilly, and the views are certainly awesome."







To learn more about Brookwood Starboard CRE or to contact Barry Bram or see available listings, visit brookwoodstarboard.com .

About Brookwood Starboard CRE

Brookwood|Starboard is a California general partnership between The Brookwood Group, Inc. and Starboard Commercial Real Estate, Inc. The partnership provides comprehensive real estate services with the ability to invest in and develop projects as principals. The Brookwood|Starboard Team includes individuals with skill sets and experiences in San Francisco Bay Area market analyses, brokerage, project planning, entitlements, purchase and lease transactions, project capitalization, development, and marketing.

Media Contact:

Natalie Wolfrom

PR for Starboard CRE

415-609-7092

nwolfrom415@gmail.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brookwood-starboard-cre-brokers-lease-at-50-fremont-street-in-san-francisco-301285412.html

SOURCE Starboard Commercial Real Estate
[May 06, 2021] BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative completes historic first official visit to the Republic of the Sudan

ZUG, Switzerland, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The BSV blockchain ecosystem's Blockchain for Government Initiative recently completed a historic week-long official visit to Khartoum, Republic of the Sudan, at the invitation of and under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation. The visit centred around Sudan's first-ever Blockchain Summit & Workshop, a two-day event held April 8-9 and led by the BSV blockchain ecosystem. The conference and surrounding meetings explored how blockchain technology can advance digital transformation as the country rebuilds and re-emerges after 30 years of isolation from much of the world. The Blockchain for Government Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based non-profit organisation that works to advance use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain, protocol and distributed data network. The Initiative works with government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies to advance large-scale implementations of blockchain technology for the benefit of citizens, including through the delivery of e-government services, tools for greater financial inclusion and improved transparency, as well as applications that foster public good for municipalities and entire countries. BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative brought an international delegation to Sudan, led by Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen (USA) together with Ahmed Yousif, co-founder of Black Stone Data Solutions (Yousif was born in Sudan and now lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). They were joined by CEOs and founders of blockchain businesses working across a range of industries, spanning healthcare, supply chain management, financial services and smart cities, along with senior representatives from Bitcoin Association, including: Muhammad Salman Anjum - Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the Middle East & South Asia (UAE/ Pakistan )

- Chief Mate at InvoiceMate and Head of the BSV Hub for the & (UAE/ ) Mohammed Ibrahim Jega  co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ( Nigeria )

 co-founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions ) Stephan Nilsson - CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( Norway )

- CEO of UNISOT and Abendum ( ) Robert Rice - CEO of Transmira ( USA )

- CEO of Transmira ( ) Phillip Runyan - managing partner of Veridat ( USA )

- managing partner of Veridat ( ) Patrick Prinz  regional manager for Europe & Head of Operations at Bitcoin Association ( Switzerland ). BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative organised the Republic of the Sudan's historic first-ever Blockchain Summit & Workshop, which was held at the Al Salam Hotel in Khartoum on April 8-9 under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformatio. The event welcomed government officials, business leaders and university students to learn how blockchain technology can build better digital infrastructure and grow the domestic economy through diverse use cases - including identity management; e-government services; public records; financial inclusion; Islamic finance; auditing; natural resource management and sustainability; smart cities; supply chain and cargo tracking; health care data; educational/professional certifications; and better transparency.



A prestigious line-up of speakers included the visiting BSV delegation together with senior figures from both the Sudanese government and multi-national NGOs with a permanent regional presence - including the United Nations Development Programme. They were joined remotely by experts from many international BSV and related businesses from around the world  including Centbee; EHR Data; Elas Digital; Faia; nChain; Predict Ecology; Smart Systems; VXPass; Weather SV; and Metastreme. In addition to the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, the BSV delegation was also invited to separate meetings in the offices of the Central Bank of Sudan; the Ministry of Telecommunication & Digital Transformation; the Ministry of Interior Affairs; as well as at SudaTel (one of Sudan's leading telecommunication companies) and the 249 Startups hub for entrepreneurs in Sudan.

Speaking during an interview at the conclusion of the two-day Blockchain Summit & Workshop, Hashim Hasabelrasoul Hashim, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for the Republic of the Sudan, said: 'The event was very great, very informative. The first-ever time in Sudan to have a blockchain ecosystem team to visit the country. People were very interactive, very excited about the event and I think that there will be many more to come after this event.' 'Having the blockchain ecosystem in Sudan itself is a huge success for us. Having the engagement with the experts with our team members - with the ministry, with the industry - private and government entities to promote working together in different groups to work out what is next.' Minister Hashim also explained why blockchain technology can be so impactful for the Republic of the Sudan during this present period: "In Sudan, we are in a transition period after thirty years of sanctions and thirty years of a bad regime. Now we are in a transition period in which we want to reform our country and reform the government. Digital transformation is a key pillar in this reformation. We are working on building a national strategy for digital transformation that aims to change the government from manual to digital, to make sure that the government will be more efficient, more smart, more in control and more transparent," he said. "I can clearly see a role for blockchain throughout different verticals within the government; digital identification is one of many, financial inclusion, digital certifications and many more to come, where we can benefit from blockchain. We want to be the first and lead on this technology in the country because it will enable us to really depend on real data that is secure." Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commenting at the conclusion of the trip, said: "Blockchain can help us to build a better world and our trip to Sudan left us feeling even more inspired to make that vision a reality. On behalf of the global BSV ecosystem, we were honoured to lead this first-ever blockchain delegation to the Republic of the Sudan and extend our sincere thanks to Minister Hashim and the entire team at Sudan's Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Transformation for their warm hospitality and ambitious vision for the digital future of their country. As we explore opportunities for initial blockchain projects in Sudan, we know that BSV's massive scaling and focus on data network capabilities can provide the blockchain power needed to advance digital transformation for Sudan and greater Africa." About BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative BSV's Blockchain for Government Initiative provides education and drives global adoption of blockchain technology by government bodies, NGOs and public sector agencies in order to accelerate digital transformation and ignite economic growth. The Initiative supports use of BSV because it is a massively scaled blockchain that handles high transaction volume and enables greater data capacity at fast speed for low fees  capabilities necessary to deliver distributed ledger applications at nationwide and multi-national levels. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises. The Initiative is led by Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global non-profit industry organisation that supports the BSV blockchain and use of Bitcoin's capabilities as a protocol (similar to Internet protocol) and powerful distributed data network. The Association regularly engages with global lawmakers and industry participants to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of blockchain technology. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1504741/BSV_Sudan.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1218683/Bitcoin_Association_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bsvs-blockchain-for-government-initiative-completes-historic-first-official-visit-to-the-republic-of-the-sudan-301285597.html SOURCE Bitcoin Association

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[May 06, 2021] Canadian Wealth Management Firms Must Show Commitment to ESG Investing to Grow Business, J.D. Power Finds

With nearly $700 billion in financial assets poised to be transferred to the next generation in Canada by 2026, full-service wealth management firms need to do a better job of catering to the needs and values of this emerging demographic of younger investors or risk losing current and future business. According to the J.D. Power 2021 Canada Full-Service Investor Satisfaction Study,SM released today, Millennials and Gen Z1 investors who strongly believe their investment firm is committed to ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) investing are twice as likely to increase their investment compared with those who don't perceive this commitment (31% vs. 16%, respectively). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005033/en/ J.D. Power 2021 Canada Full-Service Investor Satisfaction Study (Graphic: Business Wire) Younger investors who strongly believe their investment firm is committed to ESG are much more willing to act as avid brand ambassadors while those who say they don't see a commitment become detractors. The study also shows that 22% of investors under age 40 clearly see the commitment for ethical investing from their full-service investment firm, while 46% say they either have doubts about their firm's commitment to ESG or don't know about it. This trend is echoed among older age groups as well. "We are at the tipping point of a massive generational wealth transfer," said Mike Foy, senior director and head of wealth intelligence at J.D. Power. "Investors in Canada-especially younger ones-increasingly want their investments to align with not only their financial goals but also their values. Wealth management firms and advisors have a critical role to play in helping them do this, and they can't afford to wait for clients to ask them about it." Following are some key findings of the 2021 study: Most investors say their needs aren't being met: Only 36% of investors say their wealth management needs are completely being met by their firm and this has a significant effect on their level of satisfaction (+173 points on a 1,000-point scale). When investors are using more advanced products related to their needs, such as estate planning and philanthropic giving, their perception about their needs being met increases to 43 from 32%. Overlooking the next generation: Among a significant portion of investors consisting of Pre-Boomers and Boomers, 59% say they were not asked by their advisor about the needs of beneficiaries, and only 23% say the advisor initiated a conversation between the client and their beneficiary. These conversations have a significant effect on investor satisfaction-710 among those who had a conversation vs. 652 among those who did not-but also present a missed opportunity to further engage the next generation of investors. Younger investors crank up digital interaction: Investors under age 40-a group already more digitally engaged than older investors-have substantially increased their usage of digital channels to interact with their advisor or firm since the onset of the pandemic. The digital channels most frequently cited as being used more often are email (29%), mobile app (22%) and website (20%). Pandemic fueled investment amendments: A notable 40% of all investors indicate they are financially worse now than before the pandemic. More than half (57%) of Millennial and Gen Z investors say they have made changes to their finances during the past year, compared with just 30% of Gen X and Boomer investors. Even among the most affluent investors with more than $500,000 in assets, 33% have amended their financials due to the pandemic, further stressing the importance of financial advisors to stay in touch with clients as their needs and circumstances change.



Study Ranking Assante ranks highest in overall investor satisfaction with a score of 714. National Bank Financial (696) ranks second, and iA Securities/HollisWealth (690) ranks third.

The Canada Full-Service Investor Satisfaction Study, now in its 16th year, is redesigned for 2021. As a result of the study redesign, scores are not comparable to those of previous years. The study measures overall investor satisfaction with full-service investment firms in seven factors (in order of importance): people; trust; products and services; value for fees; ability to manage wealth how and when I want; problem resolution; and digital channels. The study is based on responses from 3,577 investors who make some or all of their investment decisions with a financial advisor. The study was fielded from December 2020 through February 2021. For more information about the Canada Full-Service Investor Satisfaction Study, visit

https://canada.jdpower.com/financial-services/canada-full-service-investor-satisfaction-study. To view the online press release, please visit http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2021044. 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 modelling capabilities to understand consumer behaviour, 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 company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: http://www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info 1 J.D. Power defines generational groups as Pre-Boomers (born before 1946); Boomers (1946-1964); Gen X (1965-1976); Gen Y (1977-1994); and Gen Z (1995-2004). Millennials (1982-1994) are a subset of Gen Y. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005033/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Chad LaGrange Joins CRST as Chief Commercial Officer

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc, one of the largest privately held transportation companies in the United States, has named Chad LaGrange Chief Commercial Officer. LaGrange brings 20 years of commercial and customer service leadership experience to CRST. Prior to joining CRST, LaGrange most recently served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development for Collins Aerospace, where he was responsible for global sales, marketing and new business development for the Avionics Business Unit. During his tenure he held positions of increasing responsibility in Commercial and Government Systems businesses, including Sr. Director of Sales for the Business and Regional Jet market, Sr. Director of Global Customer and Product Support and Sr. Director of MilitaryAvionics and Helicopters. Prior to joining Collins, LaGrange was in the U.S. NAVY as an Airman.



LaGrange is a licensed FAA Airframe and Powerplant aircraft mechanic, holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in project management from DeVry University, and an executive MBA from Colorado Technical University. "Chad's experience with complicated, enterprise-wide projects and large customers in a fortune 500 company makes him an ideal fit for this role. Chad's honed sales and marketing expertise, demonstrated leadership and track record of success, combined with CRST's team of experienced, transportation industry sales professionals, will accelerate CRST's growth trajectory." said CRST CEO Hugh Ekberg. "He has a career full of building teams and delivering record breaking business growth by leveraging marketing analytics and the talent of his teams. We are thrilled to have an executive of Chad's caliber join our leadership team and we look forward to the value he will bring to our customers."

About CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. Cedar Rapids, Iowabased CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. is one of the largest privately held transportation companies in the United States. CRST provides a broad array of transportation solutions, including team expedited, flatbed, dedicated services, truckload capacity solutions, transportation management, high-value product white-glove services and big and bulky home delivery and installation. For more information, visit www.crst.com or call (800) 736-CRST (2778). Contact:

mediarequests@crst.com

319-390-2691 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chad-lagrange-joins-crst-as-chief-commercial-officer-301285636.html SOURCE CRST

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[May 06, 2021] Cyber Readiness Institute Calls on Biden Administration To Make Small-Business Cybersecurity a National Priority

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) is urging the Biden Administration to take specific actions to protect small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which are vital components of global supply chains, from cyber attacks. In a White Paper released today, "The Urgent Need to Strengthen the Cyber Readiness of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses , " the non-profit Institute notes that SMBs need easier access to cybersecurity resources and require prescriptive, easy-to-adopt programs that impact their everyday operations and focus on human behavior. The recent attacks on the U.S. digital infrastructure through the compromise of SMBs underscore the urgent need to address critical gaps in national cyber defenses. SMBs are essential components of global supply chains, operated by the U.S. government and large corporations, and create potential risks for these organizations if they are not cyber secure. "We are at an inflection point and the need for action to support SMBs is urgent," said Kiersten Todt, Managing Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute. "SMBs are critical components of our digital economy and there are fundamental actions we can take to help them become more secure and resilient to make our nation stronger and cyber ready." In a survey of U.S. SMBs for the White Paper, CRI found that only 18% are confident (strongly agree) that their organization s prepared for a cyber incident and would know how to respond. Additionally, over 70% of U.S. SMBs welcome government efforts to do more to help make organizations in the supply chain cyber ready.



CRI has outlined five policy and program recommendations for the federal government to implement quickly: Create an SMB Cybersecurity Center . Today, no single government agency curates cybersecurity resources, from multiple, vetted sources, for SMBs. Given the ongoing work to support SMBs by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the recent allocation of additional resources to the agency, CISA is the recommended agency to perform this function.

. Today, no single government agency curates cybersecurity resources, from multiple, vetted sources, for SMBs. Given the ongoing work to support SMBs by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the recent allocation of additional resources to the agency, CISA is the recommended agency to perform this function. Establish Cybersecurity Incentives . Tax credits to SMBs that invest in cybersecurity can incentivize cybersecurity efforts.

. Tax credits to SMBs that invest in cybersecurity can incentivize cybersecurity efforts. Set Cybersecurity Standards . The market needs minimum standards for cybersecurity that all organizations must follow, including SMBs. These standards should be founded in a risk management approach that allows each business to address their cybersecurity vulnerabilities based on their mission, assets, and resources.

. The market needs minimum standards for cybersecurity that all organizations must follow, including SMBs. These standards should be founded in a risk management approach that allows each business to address their cybersecurity vulnerabilities based on their mission, assets, and resources. Launch National Cyber Squads . Expand the existing CyberCorps with government-funded Cyber Squads of student interns to help minority-owned SMBs and to fill a desperately needed talent pipeline. By doing so, we will also be educating the next generation of cyber leaders.

. Expand the existing CyberCorps with government-funded Cyber Squads of student interns to help minority-owned SMBs and to fill a desperately needed talent pipeline. By doing so, we will also be educating the next generation of cyber leaders. Roll Out a National Cyber Readiness Education Campaign. Awareness is critical for SMBs and the entire population. We need an aggressive, accessible, and easy-to-understand nationwide awareness campaign that focuses on a single, impactful cyber issue, such as passwords. About the Cyber Readiness Institute

The Cyber Readiness Institute is a non-profit initiative that convenes business leaders from across sectors and geographic regions to share resources and knowledge that inform the development of free cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). CRI was co-founded by the CEOs of The Center for Global Enterprise, Mastercard, Microsoft, and PSP Partners, as a follow-up action from the work of the 2016 Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. Our members also include ExxonMobil, General Motors, and Principal. Our mission is to advance the cyber readiness of SMBs to improve the security of global supply chains. CRI's resources focus on human behavior and emphasize employee education and awareness. To find out more, visit www.BeCyberReady.com.

Contact:

Josh Zecher

josh@vrge.us View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyber-readiness-institute-calls-on-biden-administration-to-make-small-business-cybersecurity-a-national-priority-301285664.html SOURCE Cyber Readiness Institute

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The WCO STCE Programme started adapting its training curriculum for virtual delivery in 2020 with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This refined version of the STCE curriculum is then being translated in different languages, in order to allow the biggest number of customs officers to be trained in their own mother tongue.

As a result of this effort, from 27 to 30 April 2021 the STCE team delivered its first training for Portuguese speaking Customs Administrations. The course saw the participation of officers from five Countries (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique and East Timor) who had the opportunity to discuss about their national Strategic trade control systems and learn from each others experiences. They were also introduced to the newly translated Portuguese version of the STCE Implementation Guide.

The WCO also counted with the support of one accredited STCE Expert Trainer from the Angolan Customs and a Customs Expert on licensing and commodity identification from the Portuguese Customs, who walked participants through the status of their national STC systems implementation and delivered part of the curriculum, from the international legal framework to the different commodity modules to the STCE Risk Management.

On the last day, the STCE team asked participants to provide feedback on the online course, and received very positive comments and useful suggestions. For instance, one participant wrote All themes touched by the training were valuable. They helped to understand the responsibilities of customs officials in a different way, more focused on aspects related to security.

Whilst waiting for the moment when in-person trainings are possible and safe again, the WCO Security Programme keeps organizing and delivering online capacity building events for WCO members. For more information on the Programme, please contact WCOSecurityProgramme@wcoomd.org.
[May 06, 2021] DoubleVerify Expands into MENAT Region To Meet Increased Advertiser Demand for Media Quality Verification

DUBAI, UAE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DoubleVerify ("DV") (NYSE: DV), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, today announced the expansion of its business into the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region. To support its operations, DV has appointed two new business directors  Johara Abdelmoumen and Wassim Mneimneh  both of whom join with extensive experience of the region. Based in DV's Dubai office, they will be tasked with addressing the needs and requirements of local brands and agencies regarding media quality and performance. "The MENAT region has seen a substantial rise in digital media consumption, particularly across social media," said Tanzil Bukhari, Managing Director EMEA at DoubleVerify. "Many brands in the region are already allocating significant budgets across digital media and in line with the fast evolving news cycles we're witnessing, the need for independent measurement is also growing. The expansion of our local team is crucial, as it lets DV be hyper-responsive to our customers' needs  helping them maximize their digital media investments. Ultimately, DV's expansion into the region exemplifies our commitment to support global advertiser customers wherever they are doing business, and underscores the company's drive to verify everywhere."



Gosia Wajchert, Regional Director MENAT at MediaBrands, commented, "Brand safety, ad fraud, and viewability have only become more critical and complex across the digital advertising ecosystem worldwide. DV's leading media verification solutions and local team will be vital in helping us ensure we are making smart, brand-safe placements in a fast-evolving online environment." For more information about DoubleVerify, contact: sales@doubleverify.com.

About DoubleVerify DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments  globally. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503738/DoubleVerify_Tanzil_Bukhari.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1389301/DoubleVerify_Logo.jpg Contact:

Charlotte Sexton

+44 (0)7500 556672

charlotte.sexton@archetype.co

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[May 06, 2021] Forcepoint Acquires Remote Browser Isolation Innovator Cyberinc

AUSTIN, Texas, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Forcepoint, a global leader in data-first cybersecurity solutions that protect critical information and networks for thousands of customers throughout the world, today announced the company has acquired Cyberinc. Cyberinc delivers intelligent remote browser isolation (RBI) technology that gives administrators granular control that enables them to minimize risk without impeding user productivity. Today's distributed enterprises amplify challenges for security teams that already must adapt to rapidly evolving hybrid workforces and ever-expanding SaaS applications. The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture, which reinvents fragmented networking and security products as converged, cloud-native services, provides a compelling path forward. According to Gartner, "by 2025, at least 60% of enterprises will have explicit strategies and timelines for SASE adoption encompassing user, branch and edge access, up from 10% in 20201." "Forcepoint is executing on our vision for the industry's most comprehensive Data-first SASE offering that delivers risk-based data security everywhere, over every channel, to give customers consistent enforcement anywhere their people work," said Manny Rivelo, CEO of Forcepoint. "The acquisition of Cyberinc's Smart Isolation capabilities is the first of many investments Forcepoint will make to enhance user productivity, lower operational burdens and eliminate traditional monolithic products through a best-in-class SASE cloud service." The Forcepoint Data-first SASE platform enables enterprises to use the cloud to transform their network and security architectures. It goes beyond simply protecting access to resources; by putting data security first, Forcepoint's SASE is able to simplify connectivity, and unify security policy enforcement everywhere employees, partners and customers use data across the distributed enterprise. Remote browser isolation has become a key component utilized within modern SASE architectures. Cyberinc has developed the industry's first Smart Isolation capability that is context-aware and adapts the browsing experience with dynamic risk assessment, powered by the Cyberinc Threat Intelligence Service. This new capability intelligently adapts web rendering according to the risk levels of the page or web element with two complementary approaches to renderingSecure Streaming and UX Optimized. The Secure Streaming model renders elements remotely and securely sends harmless pixels to the endpoint for the strongest security. The UX Optimized model intelligently renders harmful pages and web elements remotely while rendering the less harmful pages and elements locally to deliver a etter user experience.



Forcepoint will integrate Cyberinc's Smart Isolation capabilities within the company's current SASE offering, including Cloud Security Gateway (web and cloud security), Private Access (Zero Trust Network Access), Email Security gateway and Next-Generation Firewall to offer enterprises of all sizes better visibility and control to protect against advanced threats as well as theft or loss of sensitive data, wherever people are working. "Like Forcepoint, Cyberinc understands the key to modern security is to get ahead of the threat and prevent breaches before they happen. Our shared vision is to intelligently adapt to the changing levels of risk posed as employees click on links or web pages while balancing a better native user experience and security," said Samir Shah, CEO of Cyberinc. "Forcepoint has the broadest portfolio and the best expertise to deliver a data-first SASE experience today. I look forward to working with their engineering and development teams to rapidly advance integration of our industry-first smart isolation technology with the rest of Forcepoint's security offerings."

Forcepoint Development Center in Mumbai As part of the acquisition, Forcepoint will also establish an innovation center in Mumbai that brings together and builds upon Cyberinc's India-based technical and engineering talent. The Cyberinc technology and employees are joining Forcepoint as part of the company's global innovation development teams to help accelerate new SASE capabilities with risk-based RBI innovation. The acquisition of Cyberinc's Smart Isolation technology expands Forcepoint's RBI portfolio including Forcepoint Remote Browser Isolation powered by Ericom announced in July 2020. To learn more about Forcepoint SASE, please visit https://www.forcepoint.com/use-case/sase-security. Additional Resources Blog: Taking Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) to the Next Level in SASE

Taking Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) to the Next Level in SASE Video: Cyberinc Isla Isolation Platform overview 1 Gartner, "2021 Strategic Roadmap for SASE Convergence" by Nat Smith, Neil MacDonald, Lawrence Orans and Joe Skorupa. March 25, 2021 - ID G00741491 About Forcepoint Forcepoint is the global leader for data-first cybersecurity. Forcepoint's behavior-based solutions adapt to risk in real-time and delivered through a cloud-native SASE security platform that protects users, devices, and networks as people access the web and cloud, prevents the theft or loss of sensitive data and intellectual property no matter where people are working, and eliminates breaches caused by insiders. Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint creates safe, trusted environments for thousands of enterprise and government customers and their employees in more than 150 countries. www.forcepoint.com About Cyberinc Cyberinc prevents web, email, and document-based threats before the breach. The company uses a Zero Trust model, powered by isolation-based security, to shrink the exposed threat surface and eliminate the risk of breach from an inadvertent click or document download. The company simplifies security by preventing threats before they cause damage. Cyberinc is trusted by business and government institutions around the world. More information can be found at www.cyberinc.com. Media Contacts

Forcepoint Media Contact:

Rachael Lyon

Rachael.Lyon@Forcepoint.com

(512) 664-1724 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/forcepoint-acquires-remote-browser-isolation-innovator-cyberinc-301285416.html SOURCE Forcepoint

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[May 06, 2021] French Ministry of the Interior Chooses Motorola Solutions to Modernize Frontline Policing With 30,000 Body-Worn Cameras

Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI (News - Alert) ) today announced that the French Ministry of the Interior will deploy 30,000 of Motorola Solutions' VB400 body-worn cameras to its National Police and the Gendarmerie (military police) to modernize policing. The roll-out of body-worn cameras, valued at $17.5 million (15 million), is one of the largest ever deployed and is expected to start in July 2021. The deployment will support the French government's goal to improve trust and safety in policing by having all law enforcement officers wearing body-worn cameras. "Maintaining safety and integrity in all interactions between police and the community is a major priority for the National Police and the Gendarmerie, and video technology plays a vital role in achieving this," said Jack Molloy, executive vice president, product and worldwide sales. "After a rigorous testing and competitive process, our solutions ranked superior in performance, usability and the ability to seamlessly integrate into the workflows of France's frontline police. We are proud to be their chosen partner and are committed to ongoing innovation with the French Government." The rugged VB400 is designed to protect both the police and the public with its intuitive recording function and the extended battery life that lasts beyond the shift with up to 12 hours of recording. Motorola (News - Alert) Solutions will also prvide a broad range of accessories including helmet cameras for motorcycle officers to capture high-definition footage even when riding at high-speed. Future innovations can include Holster Aware which automatically activates a recording and live-streams body-worn camera footage if an officer draws his or her weapon as well as an Android (News - Alert) -compatible application which enables officers to view and categorize footage in the field.



The cameras will be deployed with VideoManager evidence management software which is essential to improving efficiency as video increasingly becomes part of an agency's workflow. The cameras seamlessly upload recorded video directly into VideoManager, where it is securely stored in-country and organized using time, date and location, together with incident data added by officers. "This partnership follows a number of significant body-worn camera deployments," said Jack Molloy. "Since moving into the body-worn camera market, we have quickly become a global player due to our differentiated solution that integrates into our mission-critical ecosystem spanning voice communications, command center software, and video security and analytics."

This is the latest in a series of global body-worn camera deployments both within enterprises and law enforcement agencies. Additional deployments include: Co-op in the U.K. as well as Metro Nashville Police, Romania National Police and London Ambulance Services. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications and analytics. Our technologies in land mobile radio mission-critical communications, command center software and video security & analytics, bolstered by managed & support services, make communities safer and help businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com. Follow @MotoSolutions on Twitter

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Like @MotorolaSolutions on Facebook MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2021 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005277/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Generational Equity Advises Design Space InPharmatics in its Sale to ProductLife Group

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Design Space InPharmatics, LLC to ProductLife Group. The acquisition closed April 23, 2021. Located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, Design Space InPharmatics (DSI) offers one-stop, full-service regulatory and CMC consulting to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, leveraging multidisciplinary teams comprised of close to 50 manufacturing, quality, and regulatory affairs experts. DSI consultants bring decades of experience to every stage of the regulatory and product development process, from initial selection of development and manufacturing sources, design and evaluation of the investigational manufacturing process through the scale-up for commercialization to and through approval. Over the last ten years, the Company has contributed to more than 60 original INDs, 25 NDAs/BLAs and produced materials for more than 50 interactions with the European and U.S. agencies. Headquartered in Paris, France, ProductLife Group's (PLG) mission is to improve human health by delivering regulatory compliance services for the safe and effective use of medical solutions. For almost 30 years, PLG has supported clients through the entire product life cycle, combining local expertise with global reach spanning more than 110 countries. PLG provides consulting and outsourcing services in the areas of regulatory affairs, quality and compliance, vigilance and medical information, covering both established products and innovative therapeutics & diagnostics. With a goal of continuously improving the value delivered to people and customers, PLG is committed to long-term partnership, innovation, flexibility, and cost efficiency. The strategic acquisition of DSI, which further strengthens PLG's biopharma capability and provides a strong foothold in North America, is the next step in PLG's global expansion plan. This new alliance will pave the way for further acceleration of the two companies' growth plans by allowing clients to benefit from additional expertise, as well as from PLG's extensive geographic reach. "I've been very impressed by DSI. Their experts all have decades of practical industry and agencies interaction experience, providing an unparalleled perspective on how to navigate new product development in a complex and evolving regulatory environment and ultimately arrive at market in the mos efficient way. We will leverage this experience to support our clients in their global efforts to accelerate the path to approval and to implement compliant drug development strategies," commented Xavier Duburcq, PLG CEO.



"Together PLG and DSI will be able to support clients in all stages of the product lifecycle, from pre-clinical work to post-approval compliance though the review and approval processes and market-entry strategy. This is a very exciting step for us all," Duburcq added. Commenting on the merger with PLG, Edward Narke and Anthony Durning, co-founders at DSI, and Brian Lihou, newly appointed General Manager of DSI, said, "We could not be more pleased to become part of a global leader in the life sciences regulatory and compliance industry. Joining PLG is exciting, both for DSI as a business, as well as for our clients, which will now have access to additional specialist expertise and international coverage spanning more than 100 countries."

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, and his team led by Managing Director, M&A, Moses Shmueli, with the support of Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tristan Keeffe, successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director Ashok Tandon established the initial relationship with DSI. "The success of DSI was led by Edward Narke and Anthony Durning, two exceptional entrepreneurs, who envisioned and executed very thoughtfully to build such a valuable company. With PLG as a partner, I expect to see DSI continue to grow and I look forward to following the continued achievements of the combined entities," said Shmueli. About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2017 and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year and 2020 Valuation Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005053/en/

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[May 06, 2021]

Germany beats FDI expectations in 2020

BERLIN, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (GTAI)  Germany Trade & Invest's annual FDI report shows the country attracting more foreign business investments in 2020 than experts had predicted. GTAI has documented 1648 international companies who set up shop with greenfield investments, expansions and relocations last year. There were also 372 M&A transactions.

The 2020 figures were down nine percent compared to 2019.

"The decline is anything but surprising considering the global coronavirus crisis," says GTAI CEO Robert Hermann. "But the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) predicted that foreign business investments would decline by fifteen percent, so nine percent is ultimately positive news."

American businesses led the way with 254 projects in Germany, followed by Switzerland (219) and China (170).

"The numbers show that last year, eve during the pandemic, Germany remained attractive to foreign companies," Hermann says. "The trend toward large-scale projects also continued."







Germany is becoming more and more attractive as a business location for e-mobility companies, with major expansions by US carmaker Tesla and Chinese battery producer SVOLT. Other popular sectors for projects were ICT and software (19 percent), business and financial services (17 percent), consumer goods (ten percent) and machinery manufacturing (nine percent).

Download: FDI reporting 2020 in Germany

Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTAI supports German companies setting up in foreign markets, promotes Germany as a business location and assists foreign companies setting up in Germany.

Contact:

Jefferson Chase

Senior Manager, Communications

Germany Trade & Invest

Friedrichstrae 60

10117 Berlin

+49 30200099170

jefferson.chase@gtai.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/germany-beats-fdi-expectations-in-2020-301285330.html

SOURCE Germany Trade & Invest
[May 06, 2021] Global Wireless Sensors Market to Reach $15.2 Billion by 2027

SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new market study published by Global Industry Analysts Inc., (GIA) the premier market research company, today released its report titled "Wireless Sensors - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics". The report presents fresh perspectives on opportunities and challenges in a significantly transformed post COVID-19 marketplace. FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 16; Released: May 2021 Executive Engagements: 4501

Companies: 185 Players covered include ABB Ltd.; Emerson Electric Company; Endress+Hauser AG; General Electric Company; Honeywell Sensing and Control; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric SA; Siemens AG; STMicroelectronics NV; Texas Instruments, Inc.; Yokogawa Electric Corporation and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Technology (Bluetooth, WiFi & WLAN, Zigbee, WirelessHART, Other Technologies); End-Use (Industrial, Medical, Energy, Defense, Agriculture, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry. Abstract- Global Wireless Sensors Market to Reach $15.2 Billion by 2027

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Wireless Sensors estimated at US$5.4 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$15.2 Billion by 2027, rowing at a CAGR of 15.9% over the analysis period 2020-2027. Bluetooth, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 18.9% CAGR and reach US$5.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the WiFi & WLAN segment is readjusted to a revised 13.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period.



The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.5 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 21% CAGR The Wireless Sensors market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.5 Billion in the year 2020. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$3.5 Billion by the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 20.6% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 11.9% and 14.9% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 13.8% CAGR.

Zigbee Segment to Record 14.8% CAGR

In the global Zigbee segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 14.2% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$802 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$2.1 Billion by the year 2027, while Latin America will expand at a 16.1% CAGR through the analysis period. MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today's busy business executive's intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android. About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world's only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: ZA@StrategyR.com LINKSJoin Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Complimentary Preview of the Report

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Info411@strategyr.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-wireless-sensors-market-to-reach-15-2-billion-by-2027--301285792.html SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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[May 06, 2021] Government of Canada investing to position Canada as a global leader in cyber security

$80-million investment will support cyber security research and development, commercialization, and skills and talent development OTTAWA, ON, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - With the digital economy continuing to grow rapidly, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber security is an ever-increasing concern for Canadians and businesses. A strong cyber security sector will cement Canadians' trust in the digital economy. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring Canada is a global leader in cyber security innovation and talent development. Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, launched the new Cyber Security Innovation Network program. This program is being launched with an investment of $80 million over four years. The program will fund the creation of a national network composed of multiple centres of expertise on cyber security that are affiliated with post-secondary institutions from across Canada, in collaboration with partners in the private sector, not-for-profits, provincial/territorial/municipal governments and other Canadian post-secondary institutions. The network will work with these partners to enhance research and development, increase commercialization, and develop skilled cyber security talent across Canada. This announcement supports the principles set out in Canada's Digital Charter. Quotes "Strong cyber security expertise and innovations are key to protecting Canada's data and intellectual property and to maintaining the competitiveness of Canada's businesses. Today's nnouncement builds on the Digital Charter's commitment to safeguard Canadians' digital privacy and security. It will also help maintain Canada's role as a world leader in cyber security, creating well-paying jobs and economic growth."



 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick facts

Cyber security is the protection of digital information and the infrastructure on which it resides.

According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian cyber security industry contributed over $2.3 billion in GDP and 22,500 jobs to the Canadian economy in 2018.

in GDP and 22,500 jobs to the Canadian economy in 2018. Canadian businesses reported spending $7 billion in 2019 to prevent, detect and recover from cyber security incidents.

in 2019 to prevent, detect and recover from cyber security incidents. The Cyber Security Innovation Network is in line with the objective of the National Cyber Security Strategy to support an innovative and adaptive cyber security ecosystem.

The network and the strategy seek to support research, innovation, cyber skills and knowledge that will position Canada as a global leader in cyber security.

as a global leader in cyber security. Canada's Digital Charter and its 10 principles offer a comprehensive approach to building Canadians' trust and empowering Canadians to reach their full innovative and economic potential.

Digital Charter and its 10 principles offer a comprehensive approach to building Canadians' trust and empowering Canadians to reach their full innovative and economic potential. The CyberSecure Canada program aims to encourage small and medium-sized organizations to improve their cyber security by implementing a baseline set of security requirements and completing a certification process. Associated links Cyber Security Innovation Network

Cyber Security Innovation Network program guide

National Cyber Security Strategy Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

For Canadian Science news, follow @CDNScience on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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[May 06, 2021] Guidewire Software Announces Promotion of PartnerConnect Consulting Partner, Fincons Group

Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently, today announced that Fincons Group has been promoted to PartnerConnect Consulting Select partner. The PartnerConnect Consulting partner program includes three relationship tiers: Select, Advantage, and Global Premier. The tiers are designed to recognize partners based on achievements and contributions such as insurance industry expertise, the number of Guidewire certified employees, and the achievement of specializations. Fincons Group, headquartered in Switzerland, with a footprint in Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, is one of the leading organizations in international business consulting and system integration, which supports insurers along their digital transformation journeys, playing an integral and strategical role in Guidewire Cloud implementations of InsuranceSuite products since 2019. "We congratulate Fincons Group on its promotion within our PartnerConnect program and recognize the contributions they have made to our business," said Lisa Walsh, vice president, Alliances, Guidewire Software. "Our mutual customers benefit from their technical expertise, functional skills and market knowledge, and we are excited to strengthen our relationship with Fincons Group as we continue to expand our work with them more broadly." About Fincons Group AG Fincons Group is a business consulting and system integration company with almost 2,000 resources, headquartered in Switzerland with significant presence in Italy and Switzerland and growing footprint in the U, US, Germany, and France. Fincons Group provides a broad range of services in different industries, with a BU focused on Financial Services and Insurance. Leveraging both its partnership with Guidewire and its smart shore delivery model, Fincons Group aims to strengthen its offering and expand its market presence in the Insurance industry, in Europe and the US.



To learn more, please visit https://www.finconsgroup.com/. About Guidewire PartnerConnect

Guidewire PartnerConnect Consulting partners provide consulting services such as business transformation and strategy, implementation and related solution and delivery services. To date, Guidewire Consulting practices worldwide include over 11,000 consultants who have been trained or are experienced in Guidewire products. Guidewire PartnerConnect is an invitation-only program. For more information about Guidewire PartnerConnect please visit https://www.guidewire.com/partnerconnect. About Guidewire Software Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We combine digital, core, analytics, and AI to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 400 insurers, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, run on Guidewire. As a partner to our customers, we continually evolve to enable their success. We are proud of our unparalleled implementation track record, with 1,000+ successful projects, supported by the largest R&D team and partner ecosystem in the industry. Our marketplace provides hundreds of applications that accelerate integration, localization, and innovation. For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) : @Guidewire_PandC. NOTE: For information about Guidewire's trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005301/en/

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[May 06, 2021] HSBC USA introduces Green Deposits for Commercial Clients

HSBC today announced the introduction of Green Deposits in the United States, giving businesses an option to put cash reserves to work to support decarbonisation and a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future. HSBC is continuing to work with clients to enhance their treasury activities with a sustainability agenda by offering a new, simple deposit product with stable principal and predictable returns. The funds that clients place in Green Deposits are used to finance environmentally beneficial projects. Eligible categories of green projects are aligned to the HSBC Green Bond Framework and Green Loan Principles, ensuring a portfolio of green assets that meet industry standards. Green project themes include renewable energy, energy efficiency, efficient buildings, sustainable waste management, sustainable land use, clean transportation, sustainable water management and client change adoption. "HSBC is innovating to drive the global transition to net zero carbon emissions, and at the heart of our ambition is a commitment to work with our customers who are on their own journey to lower emissions," said Drew Douglas, Head of Liquidity & Cash Management, US and Canada. "Green Deposits is another way that we are mobilizing finance to help clients meet their sustainability aspirations." HSBC is embedding sustainability into its products and services, including access to capital markets, lending, transaction banking and advisory services. The bank's net zero strategy, announced in October 2020, aligns its provision of finance with the Paris Agreement goal of net zero by 2050 across all sectors in its client portfolio. HSBC expects to provide between $750 billion and $1 trillion in financing and investment to enable its clients' net zero transition between 2020 and 2030.



HSBC also has launched Business Plan for the Planet, a global campaign to build further awareness of the importance of a net zero economy, and to showcase how HSBC can empower businesses with the understanding, the capabilities and the resources to help them make a low-carbon transition. Note to editors:

About HSBC HSBC USA HSBC Bank USA, National Association (HSBC Bank USA, N.A.) serves customers through retail banking and wealth management, commercial banking, private banking, and global banking and markets segments. It operates bank branches in: California; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Maryland; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Virginia; and Washington. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. In the United States, deposit products are offered by HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Member FDIC, investment and brokerage services are provided through HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., (Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC) and insurance products are provided through HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc. HSBC Commercial Banking For over 150 years we have been where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities. Today, HSBC Commercial Banking serves over 1.3 million customers across 53 markets, ranging from small enterprises focused primarily on their home markets through to corporates operating across borders. Whether it is working capital, term loans, trade finance or payments and cash management solutions, we provide the tools and expertise that businesses need to thrive. As the cornerstone of the HSBC Group, we give businesses access to a geographic network covering more than 90% of global trade and capital flows. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005119/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Hyloris Announces Extension of Footprint of Maxigesic IV into South America

Broadening of the addressable market for Maxigesic IV in Latin America and the Caribbean to 17 countries



Maxigesic IV has potential to combat the opioid epidemic in pain management Liege, Belgium  6 May 2021  Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext Brussels: HYL), a specialty biopharma company committed to bringing innovative treatments that offer added value to underserved patient populations, today announces that its partner for Maxigesic IV, AFT Pharmaceuticals (AFT), has extended its existing license and distribution agreement with Pharma Bavaria International for the commercialisation of Maxigesic IV, a novel, patented, non-opioid treatment for post-operative pain, in South America. The extended collaboration further builds on the agreement signed with Pharma Bavaria in February 2020 for the commercialisation of Maxigesic IV in 12 countries in Central America. Following multiple licensing deals with strong local players over the past 12 months, Maxigesic IV is now licensed in >100 countries across the globe, including the major markets in Europe and the U.S. The focus over the next 24 months will now shift towards accelerating regulatory submissions and launches in these territories. Stijn Van Rompay, Chief Executive Officer of Hyloris, commented: We are pleased that AFT has extended its existing agreement with Pharma Bavaria, a strong international player that promotes and distributes innovative pharmaceuticals in >45 countries, with focus on major growth regions and emerging economies, and an existing portfolio of hospital-based injectable pain medications. Todays news further demonstrates the urgent need for safer and more effective non-opioid pain treatments in the post-operative hospital setting, and the potential of Maxigesic IV to address that need. Globally, approximately 1.2 billion vials1 are sold per year in the non-opioid analgesic space and the market for pain medicines in Latin America is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.5% until 2027.2 About Maxigesic IV p align="justify">Maxigesic IV has been developed under the development collaboration agreement signed in 2012 between Hyloris and AFT Pharmaceuticals. Maxigesic IV is a unique combination of 1000mg paracetamol with 300mg ibuprofen solution for infusion for use post-operatively. Results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial in 276 patients following bunion surgery demonstrated that Maxigesic IV was well-tolerated and had a faster onset of action and offered higher pain relief compared to ibuprofen IV or paracetamol IV alone in the same doses. Moreover, the superior analgesic effect of Maxigesic IV was supported by a range of secondary endpoints, including reduced opioid consumption compared to the paracetamol IV and ibuprofen IV treatment groups (P<0.005)3. An additional exposure study has demonstrated Maxigesic IVs efficacy and safety in an expanded population group over a longer treatment period4. Maxigesic IV is protected by several granted and pending patent applications. The preparations to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by AFT are progressing well.





About Hyloris Pharmaceuticals

Hyloris is a specialty biopharma company identifying and unlocking hidden potential in existing medications for the benefit of patients and the healthcare system. Hyloris applies its knowhow and technological innovations to existing pharmaceuticals and has built a broad proprietary product pipeline that has the potential to offer significant advantages over currently available alternatives. Hyloris currently has two partnered, commercial-stage products: Sotalol IV for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and Maxigesic IV, a non-opioid post-operative pain treatment. The Companys development strategy primarily focuses on the FDAs 505(b)2 regulatory pathway, which is specifically designed for pharmaceuticals for which safety and efficacy of the molecule have already been established. This pathway can reduce the clinical burden required to bring a product to market, and significantly shorten the development timelines and reduce costs and risks. Hyloris is based in Liege, Belgium. For more information, visit www.hyloris.com and follow-us on LinkedIn. For more information, please contact Hyloris Pharmaceuticals: Marieke Vermeersch

VP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

M: +32 (0)479 490 603

marieke.vermeersch@hyloris.com

Disclaimer and forward-looking statements Hyloris means high yield, lower risk, which relates to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for product approval on which the Issuer focuses, but in no way relates or applies to an investment in the Shares.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified using forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. These statements relate to future events or the Companys future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. 1 IQVIA

2 Research and Markets 2020

3 Daniels et al, 2019, Clinical Therapeutics

4 Maxigesic IV Phase 3 study. Study ID No AFT-MXIV-11. NCT04005755. Submitted for publication Attachment Hyloris Press Release Maxigesic IV South America



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The DMPT successfully held its 60th Meeting - for the fourth time in a virtual mode - from 26 to 29 April 2021. The Meeting included Focus Groups (FG) breakout meetings of the Implementation Support Focus Group (ISFG) and Data Modelling Focus Group (DMFG) that met in parallel on 27 April and in a joint session on 28 April 2021.

The Meeting was chaired by Ms. Louritha Green of the United States. There were 145 participants registered for the Meeting from Members representing 54 different Members, representatives of International Organizations and the private sector.

The Meeting was opened by Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, Director of the WCO's Compliance and Facilitation Directorate. Mr. Das welcomed all participants and pointed out the importance of the DMPT's work for data standardization as a fundamental measure for the efficient implementation of digitization, allowing Customs administrations and relevant stakeholders to sustain their activities in the time of the pandemic, while adhering to health protocols.

In this Meeting, The DMPT received and processed 11 Data Maintenance Requests (DMRs) submitted by Costa Rica. All DMRs will be incorporated to version 3.11.0 and improve the WCO Data Model for the requirements of a modern single-window environment, namely Costa Rica's "VUCE 2.0", which covers 161 processes with 16 public institutions.

The DMPT also discussed and agreed on a draft update of its Terms of Reference. The amendments were necessary to consider that the DMPT will now report directly to the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) with the dissolution of the IMSC.

In connection with the ongoing work on Version 4 of the WCO Data Model, the DMPT has concluded a workflow that will facilitate Members being able to put forward proposals for new features and enable the DMPT to plan for a product roadmap.

The workflow was elaborated in a mini-group in the intersession under the Version 4 Product Manager Mr. William Slusher from the United States.

In the Focus Group breakouts, the ISFG discussed the preliminary draft update to the My Information Package Specification. The ISFG agreed to continue reviewing the draft update in the intersession with a view to approving the update in September 2021.

The DMFG continued reviewing the alignment of the WCO-Universal Postal Union (UPU) Joint Message Standards (Version 2 of CUSITM and CUSRSP) with the current version of the UPU Derived Information Package (DIP). The work will be continued in the intersession, noting the need to submit the final outcome to the WCO UPU Contact Committee in December 2021.



Regarding the railway data harmonization, the DMFG took note of the work done in the intersession and discussed several remarks that arose from the harmonization activity. Members are invited to share their national transit dataset with the Secretariat and support the Secretariat in mapping them with the WCO Data Model to prepare a recommendation for a harmonized dataset to the Autumn Session of the PTC.

Canada presented a case study on implementing the proposed conformity criteria based on Canada's Commercial Accounting Declaration. The DMFG agreed to incorporate the information based on Canada's exercise in the intersession to conclude the work on Syntax conformity in the next Session.

The DMPT wrapped up its discussion by adopting the new work programme for 2021/2022.

The Chairperson and the Director, Mr. Das, thanked Ms. Adrienne Morey from Canada for her active and valuable contribution in the DMPT over the past five years. Due to her well-deserved retirement, this was her last time to participate in a DMPT meeting.
[May 06, 2021] Infinity Members Approve Merger Between Infinity Credit Union and Deere Employees Credit Union

Infinity Credit Union is proud to announce that members approved the merger with Deere Employees Credit Union of Moline, Illinois. The unique interstate merger provides a mutually beneficial pool of resources to enhance member experience and explore opportunities in technology and innovation. Each credit union will retain local control in their region, including keeping their respective names, identities, and branches to continue serving their local communities. To accommodate the merger, Infinity has transitioned to a state-chartered credit union and removed "Federal" from its name. Member deposits will continue to be guaranteed by the NCUA up to $250,000. "The goal of the merger is to combine resources in order to offer more benefits to our members and to drive further growth and expansion in our respective communities," said Infinity CU President/CEO Elizabeth Hayes. The newly-joined organization will be headquartered in Moline and led by DECU President/CEO Kurt Lewin. Elizabeth Hayes, Infinity CU's President and CEO, will assume the role of Maine Market President and will led the employees, operations, and community partnerships in Maine. The combined credit union will provide more opportunities for employee growth, training, and professional development. There will be no reduction in employees; conversely, Infinity plans to add wealth management services and other opportunities to their suite of products. The merged credit union represents more than 60,000 members and holds $1.5 billion in assets.



About Infinity Credit Union Guided by our vision to do banking differently to keep you a step ahead in life, Infinity Credit Union has been serving Cumberland and York counties and the city of Bangor since 1921. We are a not-for-profit cooperative committed to the enrichment of Maine communities through financial inclusion, community service, and our dedication to Banking With Heart. To learn more about us, visit www.infinityfcu.com and follow us on social media @infinitycreditunion.

About Deere Employees Credit Union Deere Employees Credit Union, headquartered in Moline, Illinois, serves Deere & Company's 60,000 world-wide employees and retirees and their families; contract employees for John Deere and employees of wholly owned subsidiaries or joint venture of John Deere; employees of John Deere Dealers and their families. Offering financial products and services to more than 42,000 members, DECU operates 25 branches located inside John Deere facilities across the country. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005726/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Investing in Indigenous-Led Economic Development in Nova Scotia

YARMOUTH, NS, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's forest sector is a vital source of revenue and employment across the country for Indigenous communities. The Government of Canada is investing in projects to equip them with the tools needed to promote further economic opportunity in the forest sector and within their communities. The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South ShoreSt. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today announced $48,000 in funding for Acadia First Nation to: Create a standing timber inventory to track present and future sales of hardwoods, softwoods and value-added products, including silviculture recommendations;

Purchase a firewood processor to increase the safety and efficiency of the community's production of firewood. This project will help the Acadia First Nation build capacity and support the transfer of knowledge through their forest management plan and understanding of potential sales of timber in their woodlot. It will further benefit the diversification of wood products available in Nova Scotia's forest sector. Funding from Natural Resources Canada is provided through the Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program, which supports Indigenous-led economic development opportunities in Canada's forest sector. By investing in forest sector technologies, we provide greener solutions that tackle climate change and build a low-carbon economy. Today's announcement builds on Budgt 2019 funding of $12.6 million for the IFI program to support Indigenous-owned forest businesses that build capacity and create jobs in communities increasing and diversifying forest sector opportunities.



The forest sector brings value, both economically and spiritually, to Indigenous communities. This project builds a stronger Indigenous forest sector that thrives and sustains its economic resilience. 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 "When Indigenous Peoples can participate more fully in Canada's economy, our entire country benefits. This investment will help Acadia First Nation use their traditional lands to grow a forestry business that is sustainable and profitable. That means good jobs, more revenue for their community and a stronger, more diversified forest industry in Nova Scotia." The Honourable Bernadette Jordan

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Member of Parliament for South ShoreSt. Margarets "Through Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program, we will continue to invest and support sustainable forest resource management practices while providing meaningful training and employment in the Forestry Sector." Deborah Robinson

Chief, Acadia First Nation "The activities supported under Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) program will assist Acadia First Nation's strategic management decisions in enhancing economic return from harvesting while promoting the concept of Netukulimk  achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity or productivity of our environment and enhancing forest health." Jeff Purdy

Councillor, Acadia First Nation "This program administered by Natural Resources Canada assists Acadia First Nation to navigate through these uncertain times with strategic planning toward sustainable markets while practising management that will create employment and promote forest ecological well-being." Rachel Stevenson

Director of Economic Development, Acadia First Nation Associated Links Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) Program

Homalco First Nation

Homalco Forestry Initiatives Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.canada.ca/en/news.html. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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[May 06, 2021] L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Announce Sky Warden ISR Strike Aircraft

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) and Air Tractor have teamed to produce the AT-802U Sky Warden, an affordable, production-ready aircraft designed for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and other missions in extreme combat environments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005203/en/ Sky Warden is based on the rugged and capable Air Tractor AT-802, which features the largest payload capacity of any single turbo engine aircraft. (Photo: Business Wire) Sky Warden is based on the rugged and capable Air Tractor AT-802, which features the largest payload capacity of any single engine turboprop aircraft. It hosts L3Harris' world-class family of communications, sensors and airborne ISR solutions. The platform is backed by the company's extensive turnkey ISR operation experience. The multi-mission platform provides the operator agility and flexibility to identify, track and react to counter threats. It merges the capabilities of larger ISR and armed aircraft into one resilient package. It is also capable of takeoff and landing on unimproved airstrips - allowing the aircraft to be deployed and co-located with special mission operators. "Air Tractor aircraft were developed precisely to operate in austere environments with limited infrastructure," said Jim Hirsch, President, Air Tractor, Inc. "Our aircraft are built to offer unparalleled flexibility, essential ingredients for special mission oerators."



"Our mission systems, platforms, direct operators and sustainment teams have supported more than 1.3 million combat hours of special operations ISR and attack missions in the past 10 years," said Luke Savoie, President, Aviation Services, L3Harris. "Combining that experience with Air Tractor, one of the largest turboprop aircraft OEMs in the world, enables our team to design and provide a mature platform capable of operating anywhere in the world and provides the tools needed to support any mission." Sky Warden's name commemorates two best-in-class, multi-mission special operations combat platforms. It merges the deep history of the Vietnam era A-1E Sky Raider with the present-day U-28, which uses the callsign "Warden" during combat operations. Sky Warden combines their heritage and capabilities to collapse the stack, providing one aircraft capable of multiple mission roles. Learn more about the Sky Warden's legacy and how it brings modern technology to the ISR strike mission at www.L3Harris.com/SkyWarden.

About L3Harris Technologies L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers' mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com. About Air Tractor, Inc. Air Tractor is a leading manufacturer of purpose-built aircraft for agricultural, firefighting, and utility applications. Air Tractor aircraft can be found in more than 30 countries around the world and are supported by a global network of Air Tractor dealers. Air Tractor delivered its 4,000th aircraft in March 2021 and has manufactured aircraft for 46 years. https://airtractor.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about system capabilities are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005203/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Leaf Home Solutions Opens Six New Offices, Expands Water Business to Midwest

HUDSON, Ohio, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaf Home Solutions (LHS) is once again adding to its roster of locations for two of its brands, LeafFilter Gutter Protection and Leaf Home Water Solutions. "Our growth each month with LeafFilter is based on customer demand in these regions, which is exciting to see hundreds of offices later," said Jeff Beck, CEO and President of Leaf Home Solutions. "With Leaf Home Water Solutions, we've enjoyed the opportunity to gain traction in Florida and are looking forward to bringing the business near our headquarters in Northeast Ohio." LeafFilter Climbs t 117 North American Locations





LeafFilter, the largest gutter protection company in North America, now offers 117 locations spanning the U.S. and Canada. With new offices this month in Edmonton, Alberta; South San Jose, California; Wichita, Kansas; St. Charles, Minnesota; and Everett, Washington, the company is looking forward to offering the best gutter protection on the market to ensure customer homes are safely protected. Since 2005, LeafFilter Gutter Protection empowers homeowners to eliminate gutter cleaning hassle with its award-winning and patented technology, scientifically designed to keep everything out of the gutters except water. See if LeafFilter serves your neighborhood in the U.S. or Canada and schedule a free estimate today.

Leaf Home Water Solutions' Fifth Office Lands in Cleveland

After expanding in Florida with its first four offices, Leaf Home Water Solutions is excited to announce growth plans with its new location in Cleveland, Ohio. Since its launch in January of this year, the brand has excelled within the water filtration market and is looking forward to making waves near the shores of Lake Erie with cleaner, safer water. Leaf Home Water Solutions pairs homeowners with the ideal whole-home water filtration system for their needs by testing tap water with free cutting-edge digital water tests. The product line tackles both city and well water's unique demands, with a team of industry experts with an intense dedication to customer service. To schedule a free water test for your home, visit the Leaf Home Water Solutions website. About Leaf Home Solutions

Leaf Home Solutions is North America's leading tech-enabled direct-to-consumer provider of branded home solutions. Our innovative products enhance the safety, enjoyment, and comfort of homeowners and their families and protect the condition and enhance the appearance and value of their homes. Customers value our quality products and the exceptional service we deliver through our end-to-end DTC sales and service model. Our proprietary data-driven platforms for marketing, customer service, field services, and talent management driven by our "Today-Not-Tomorrow" culture underpin our competitive advantage and high, sustained growth. Learn more about Leaf Home Solutions at www.leafhomesolutions.com. For more information, contact: media@leafhome.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leaf-home-solutions-opens-six-new-offices-expands-water-business-to-midwest-301284474.html SOURCE Leaf Home Solutions

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[May 06, 2021] MetroNet and City of Bryan Announce Partnership to Build 100% Fiber Optic Network

MetroNet and the City of Bryan recently announced that MetroNet will be bringing its 100 percent fiber optic internet, TV and phone to businesses and residents within the City of Bryan. The City of Bryan is the first Texas market that MetroNet will partner with. MetroNet will fully fund the construction of their 100 percent fiber optic network in Bryan, providing residents and businesses with symmetrical, Gigabit speed internet service. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005246/en/ "As our city continues to grow, it is highly beneficial for residents and businesses to have choices for accessing fast, reliable, and affordable internet, TV and phone services," said Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson. "This tremendous investment by MetroNet will make unprecedented capabilities available to everyone who lives, works and visits our city, giving Bryan the infrastructure and competitive edge needed to attract and grow business and high-wage jobs. Beyond television and telephone services to residents and businesses, this ultrafast internet will also support teleworking and distance learning and be a vital connection to the internet for our residents." MetroNet is bridging the digital divide as one of the fastest-growing providers of fiber optic high-speed broadband services in the nation and is known for its superior customer service provided through a strong local presence. MetroNet delivers affordable, symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gigabits with no long-term contracts to homes and businesses in underserved communities in America. The company expects its network to be available to over 1 million residential households and business locations in the near term, bringing competition for these services to hundreds of communities. "We are fortunate that states such as Indiana, Minnesota, Florida, North Carolina and now Texas, MetroNet's 11th state, are partnering with us to future-proof their cities, create growth and foster economic development opportunities," said John Cinelli, MetroNet President & CEO. "We are excited to have Bryan invite us into our first Texas market and are thankful for the support and leadrship of Mayor Andrew Nelson of Bryan and his extraordinary team."



Cinelli expects construction to begin this fall, with the first customers coming online in the spring of 2022. Residents and businesses that are interested in MetroNet services may soon visit construction.metronetinc.com to indicate their interest and to receive updates on construction. MetroNet will establish a retail storefront located in Bryan, Texas for customers to have direct access to customer service and sales. Customers will be able to visit the store to speak with customer service representatives and sign-up for services.

In new MetroNet markets, residents will receive communication by mail about construction activity in their neighborhood 30 days prior to starting and the company provides additional messaging, such as yard signs, to let residents know when the temporary construction process is beginning in their neighborhood. MetroNet crews are marked by ID tags and branded vehicles. Additionally, MetroNet plans to hire local market management positions, sales and customer service professionals, and service technicians to support the Bryan area. For those interested in joining the MetroNet team, visit metronetinc.com/careers to search available positions and submit applications. About MetroNet: MetroNet is a 100 percent Fiber Optic Company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The customer-focused company provides cutting-edge fiber optic communication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet, full-featured Fiber Phone, and Fiber IPTV (News - Alert) with a wide variety of programming. MetroNet started in 2005 with one fiber optic network in Greencastle, Indiana, and has since grown to serving and constructing networks in more than 100 communities across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas. MetroNet is committed to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunication services to communities - services that are comparable or superior to those offered in large metropolitan areas. MetroNet has been named in the top 50 small and medium companies on Glassdoor and has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award recognizing MetroNet among the Best Places to Work in 2020. In 2020, MetroNet was awarded the Vectren Energy Safe Digging Partner Award from Vectren. For more information, visit www.MetroNetinc.com. About City of Bryan: The City of Bryan, Texas is a growing community of 90,000 located in the heart of the Texas Triangle, within easy driving distance of Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas. Bryan is a community rich in history and culture with a vibrant downtown, bustling arts scene and award-winning school district. Bryan is home to the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and the Texas A&M University RELLIS Campus. As a family-friendly community with strong business support, Bryan is the epitome of "The Good Life, Texas Style." Find out more at www.bryantx.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005246/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Monroe Capital Becomes United Nations-Supported Principles for Responsible Investment Signatory

Monroe Capital LLC ("Monroe") today announced it has become a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment ("PRI") as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental, social and corporate governance ("ESG") principles. The PRI works to understand the investment implications of ESG factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole. Launched in New York in 2006, the PRI has grown to more than 3,900 signatories, managing over $103 trillion AUM. "Monroe Capital is proud to become a signatory of the UN-supported PRI. This establishes the firm's goal to be a leader in responsible investing within the private credit markets," said Chris Lund, Assistant Portfolio Manager, Monroe Capital. "As a new signatory, the firm will continue to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and utilizing responsible investment practices to help create a better world." "We are committed to applying these principles across every phase of the firm's investment process including origination, underwriting, monitoring, and middle and back-office operations," said Ted Koenig, President & CEO of Monroe Capital. "We encourage the same in businesses we invest in and believe that responsible, sustainability-driveninvesting is not only good for our business and our investors, but can be a catalyst in helping to tackle some of the largest challenges facing our society."



This action follows Monroe's 2019 commitment to participate in the UN Global Compact, which requires participants to abide by ten principles in four categories: Human Rights, Sustainability, Labor and Anti-Corruption. Combined with the UN PRI, commitments to these frameworks create a clear pathway for Monroe to continue operating as a leading corporate, global citizen while enhancing its efforts to integrate ESG factors throughout the investment process. Fiona Reynolds, CEO of the PRI, commented: "We are very pleased to welcome Monroe Capital as a PRI signatory. Asset managers such as Monroe Capital play an important role in sustainable investing by incorporating ESG factors into their investment strategy and ownership decisions. We look forward to working with the team."

About Monroe Capital Monroe Capital LLC ("Monroe") is a premier boutique asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, asset-based lending, specialty finance, opportunistic and structured credit, and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe's platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality "alpha" returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2020 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, 2020 Lender of the Year, and 2020 CLO Manager of the Year, Americas; Creditflux as the 2020 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year; and Global M&A Network as the 2020 Small Middle Markets Lender of the Year. For more information, please visit www.monroecap.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005231/en/

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[May 06, 2021] New report from the Secure Identity Alliance offers in-depth guidance on fighting back against passport fraud

Blending detailed analysis of the current document fraud landscape with a comprehensive guide to emerging defensive technologies, the Secure Identity Alliance "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report serves as an in-depth resource for issuing authorities and border control bodies alike PARIS, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With cross-country and international travel starting on a gradual path back to pre-pandemic volumes, the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) has today launched an all-encompassing look at travel document security in the form of its new "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report. "As with any kind of document fraud, passport fraud is a serious crime that ultimately serves as a foundation for much bigger threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, and drug smuggling," says Philippe Barreau, Chairman of the Board at the SIA. "One of our greatest priorities at the Secure Identity Alliance is ensuring that relevant authorities are armed with the latest information to counter those dangers at the source. This report is testament to that responsibility." The "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report is available in two different versions  one designed for a general audience, and one written specifically for border authorities and law enforcement agencies. While the first version is available on SIA website, the latter of the two includes a range of exclusive insights into emerging fraud trends and ways to combat them; it will be distributed by Interpol for the purposes of security. The "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report has been written and published by the SIA's dedicated Secure Document Working Group and the content therein was sourced from organisations including France's National Document and Identity Fraud Office, Central directorate of border police, and Interpol's Counterfeit Currency & Security Documents (CCSD) Branch. "Some 100 million travel documents were reported lost or stolen in 2020[1]," says Joachim Caillosse, Chair of the SIA Secure Documents Working Group. "And according to Frontex Risk Analysis, passports represented 47% of the fraudulent documents detected at European Union external borders in 2019. From semi-professional forgers and counterfeiters to well-equipped, highly sophisticated criminal networks, those responsible for safeguarding their borders now need to fend off an ever-expanding array of threats. To do that, they need to design and issue travel documents that are advanced enough to deter even the most determined and capable of fraudsters."



While the "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report offers authorities a range of guidance on the tools and techniques that can be employed in the fight against document fraud, it also acknowledges the importance of ensuring that legitimate bearers can still enjoy a frictionless travel experience. "While the security of travel documents is of paramount importance, authorities also need to be sure that passengers are not delayed unduly and that frontline controllers can quickly and easily verify the authenticity of a document and if the holder is the legitimate one. It's a fine balance, and one that we aim to address as part of this paper", Caillosse concludes.

The public version of the "Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them" report is available for download now from the SIA website here. The restricted, more explicit, version of this guide is limited to law enforcement agencies and authorities. It is accessible on the web page of the INTERPOL Travel and ID Documents Reference Centre, access to which is governed by strict rules and regulations. If you work for police, border control agency, immigration or other relevant governmental authority, please contact INTERPOL's Counterfeit Currency and Security Documents Branch for more details: CCSD@interpol.int These critical issues will be discussed in depth at a free webinar running at 14:30 BST / 15:30 CET / 09:30 EDT on Thursday 6th May 2021. Register here. Note to Editors: About the Secure Identity Alliance Secure Identity Alliance is dedicated to supporting the provision of legal, trusted identity for all, and to drive the development of inclusive digital services necessary for sustainable, worldwide economic growth and prosperity. We believe legal, trusted identity is the cornerstone of rights protection, social inclusion and digital economic development - and the access point to a wide range of essential public and private services. We bring together public, private and non-government organizations to foster international collaboration on the issues of legal identity, to help shaping policy and to provide technical and implementation guidance for national and international ID systems. Its Board Members are Idemia, IN Groupe, Thales and Veridos. For more information on the Secure Identity Alliance, visit: www.secureidentityalliance.org. Follow the Secure Identity Alliance at @secureidentity1 Press Contact: Stephanie de Labriolle stephanie.delabriolle@secureidentityalliance.org [1] https://www.interpol.int/How-we-work/Databases/Stolen-and-Lost-Travel-Documents-database View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-from-the-secure-identity-alliance-offers-in-depth-guidance-on-fighting-back-against-passport-fraud-301285353.html SOURCE Secure Identity Alliance

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[May 06, 2021] Nextech AR Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) Selected to Host the Canadian Higher Education Information Technology Conference

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. ("Nextech" or the "Company") (OTCQB: NEXCF) (NEO: NTAR) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29) a diversified leading provider of augmented reality (AR), virtual event live streaming experiences plus services for 3D ads, eCommerce, and education, today announced that the Canadian Higher Education Information Technology Conference (CANHEIT), the national conference for IT professionals in higher education, has selected Nextech AR's Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host this year's virtual 2021 conference, taking place May 31-June 4. As the only national conference for IT professionals in higher education in Canada, CANHEIT brings together staff, managers and senior administrators responsible for the management and evolution of their campus information and learning systems and digital infrastructure, to collaborate and showcase best practices. This year's virtual conference will be hosted in partnership with Concordia University and CUCCIO and includes major sponsors such as Amazon, Dell (News - Alert) and D2L. Through their VXP, Nextech will work with CANHEIT to invite attendees back to Concordia University's Montreal campus for an immersive and memorable virtual conference. Through the platform, Nextech will offer attendees access to a virtual exhibitor hall with 30 to 40 chat-enabled exhibitor booths, breakout rooms and interactive virtual networking spaces. Attendees will also have access to AR portals showcasing different elements of the campus and enabling them to virtually step into a different world to experience a realistic glimpse of what it's like to attend the university. France Bigras, AVP and CIO of Concordia, host for CANHEIT 2021, comments, "It's been a fantastic experience organizing the first ever virtual CANHEIT conference with a company like Nextech. As we continue to adapt to an ever-changing world of virtual learning and interactivity, it was important for us to select a robust all-in-one solution to host our premier event and provide attendees and sponsors alike with a truly unique experience." "We're beyond excited to host CANHEIT's 2021 virtual conference on our VXP and couldn't be more thrilled to transform their previous in-person conference into a truly immersive virtual experience," says Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech AR. "Our platform's stand out AR/VR capabilities coupled with our company's overarching goal of creating new and exciting ways of bringing global communities together, has allowed us to successfully support dozens of major conferences and events that have made the switch to virtual. We look forward to continuing to bridge the gap between the physical and digital world to encompass the "get out of your seats" experience for attendees." Nextech's platforms have serviced dozens of Fortune 500 businesses such as Amazon, Viacom (News - Alert) , Johnson and Johnson, Bell Canada, UNESCO, Dell Technologies, Luxottica, Vulcan Inc , Boehringer Ingelheim, TEDx, Grundfos, and Arch Insurance. Security is a core feature of the company which reported a breakthrough in security with the help of Fastly, an edge computing company. Bringing token authentication to the edge greatly enhances security and performance, which is essential for Nextech to collaborate with additional Fortune 500 companies in the near future.



To learn more about Nextech AR, please visit www.Nextechar.com About CANHEIT

CANHEIT is the only national gathering of IT and Higher Ed Professionals which brings together IT leaders and CIOs from universities, colleges, technical and institutes. It's a forum for professionals to explore the latest best practices, opportunities and challenges within the world of higher education technology. About Nextech AR Nextech develops and operates augmented reality ("AR") platforms that transports three-dimensional ("3D") product visualizations, human holograms and 360 portals to its audiences altering e-commerce, digital advertising, hybrid virtual events (events held in a digital format blended with in-person attendance) and learning and training experiences. Nextech focuses on developing AR solutions however most of the Company's revenues are derived from three e-Commerce platforms: vacuumcleanermarket.com ("VCM"), infinitepetlife.com ("IPL") and Trulyfesupplements.com ("TruLyfe"). VCM and product sales of residential vacuums, supplies and parts, and small home appliances sold on Amazon. On behalf of the Board of Nextech AR Solutions Corp.

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. Forward-looking Statements The NEO has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be," "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements of Nextech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. 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. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005352/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Phocas Appoints Prominent Chief Financial Officer for New Growth Cycle

IRVINE, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Phocas Software today announced the appointment of Dave Boorman as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Boorman successfully managed Phocas' recent AU$45 million capital raise, then accepted a permanent role. As CFO, he will support the data analytics software company's expansion plans as the investment capital is deployed, propelling Phocas to reach the next milestones in its growth plans. Boorman brings a wealth of experience from senior finance roles with multi-nationals and listed companies, including Seven West Media and Vodafone, most recently serving as the CFO for Network Ten during the transformational years before its sale to CBS Corporation. Myles Glashier, CEO of Phocas, said, "Dave knows how to plan and execute for growth. We are excited to have someone of his caliber join our leadership team. It gives me confidence that Phocas is a sought-after culture and a company with a great future." "Dave will work with the global team to map out and follow our sustainable growth path, one with good returns for all of our stakeholders, including our people, our customers and the planet," added Glashier. The company is already using investment funds to bolster a product development hub in Christchurch, New Zealand. Phocas will add 40 more software engineers, including machine learning specialists to its existing team by year-end. "Phocas' financial performance in its bootstrapped-phase, resilience during te pandemic and the culture impressed me. Phocas does a great job of developing data analytics and reporting solutions that people need, are straightforward to implement and easy-to-use," said Boorman.



Phocas launched its cloud-based financial planning and analysis solution, which broadens its offering to the mid-market finance team, helping them modernize spreadsheet-based processes and share financial data in a secure, companywide way. Boorman added, "The mid-market finance office is moving towards corporate financial performance reporting  accelerated by the disruption of the pandemic  but it never had an accessible solution like Phocas that knits all the financial processes together. Finance teams can quickly determine the drivers of performance, model scenarios, determine cash positions and deliver reports with new efficiencies. It's an exciting time to be joining Phocas."

About Phocas

Phocas Software ( www.phocassoftware.com ) provides a company-wide and industry-matched SaaS data analytics solution across the major markets of Australia, US and the UK. Phocas makes it easy to drill down from high-level visual summaries into the underlying data and arrive at insights to make better decisions in manufacturing, distribution and retail businesses. Phocas provides a consistent user experience centered around simplicity, usability and performance. From day one with Phocas, users get tracking and reporting on essential KPIs and metrics that are specific to role and industry. Users can also add custom measures, dimensions, dashboards and scorecards to meet the unique reporting needs of their businesses. Phocas raised AU$45 million in 2021 to continue to add predictive analytics to core products and build value-add financial solutions for modern finance teams. US media, Kevin Wilson, kevin.wilson@phocassoftware.com

International media, Katrina Walter +613 402-703-708 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phocas-appoints-prominent-chief-financial-officer-for-new-growth-cycle-301285912.html SOURCE Phocas Software

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[May 06, 2021] ReCharge Announces $277 Million in Growth Capital from Summit Partners, ICONIQ Growth and Bain Capital Ventures to Power E-Commerce Subscriptions

ReCharge, the leader in subscription e-commerce, today announced that it has raised $277 million in growth capital from Summit Partners, ICONIQ Growth, and Bain Capital Ventures. Founded in 2014, the company was self-funded for over five years before accepting outside financing. The company also announced the appointment of Andrew Collins, Managing Director at Summit Partners to its Board of Directors, and Aaref Hilaly, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, and Yoonkee Sull, Partner at ICONIQ Growth will join the company as Board Observers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005257/en/ ReCharge co-founders Oisin O'Connor (CEO) and Mike Flynn (CTO) (Photo: Business Wire) "We believe the most successful bootstrapped companies learn to operate with the utmost efficiency and a disciplined focus on growth. The ReCharge team identified a true product-market fit and built a product that customers love - which has fueled strong organic growth as the business has scaled," said Andrew Collins, Managing Director at Summit Partners. "We believe in the ReCharge mission and are thrilled to partner with Oisin, Mike and the entire team to help e-commerce brands build meaningful, long-lasting relationships with their customers." E-commerce has evolved quickly as consumers and brands alike seek convenience and connection. As brands pursue direct relationships and consumers increasingly use their purchasing power to reflect their values, a new generation of direct-to-consumer brands is emerging. ReCharge helps these brands to grow by allowing them to easily add subscriptions offerings to their business, ultimately turning one-time transactions into loyal, repeat customers. ReCharge has experienced exponential growth, doubling its processing volume each year for the past five years. The company, which is cash flow positive, has now processed over $5.3 billion in transactions and more than doubled annual recurring revenues from 2019 to 2020. "Our merchants are seeing a huge benefit from the addition of subscription offerings to their businesses," said Oisin O'Connor, CEO and co-founder of ReCharge. "Whether you're a direct-to-consumer or an omnichannel brand, subscription soluions strengthen a brand's relationship with their customers and make it easy for consumers to make repeat purchases. Our partnership with Summit Partners, ICONIQ Growth and Bain Capital Ventures equips us with both capital and company building expertise that helps to solve new customer challenges and expand our reach through new products and services."



From its core offering as a subscription billing platform, ReCharge has expanded to a broader set of products designed to help e-commerce businesses increase revenues and reduce operating costs. Today, the company powers subscriptions for 15,000 merchants and 20 million subscribers worldwide. ReCharge powers some of the biggest and fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands such as Harry's, Oatly, Fiji Water, Billie, and Native. "We have been with ReCharge since the beginning, and we've always been impressed by their pace of innovation and responsiveness to customer feedback," said Leonid Tsiuliupa, CTO of Ka'Chava, ReCharge's first customer in 2014. "We're excited to see this investment and am confident the new capital will help the company create even more value for their customers and further strengthen our relationship with ReCharge."

Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA (News - Alert) , ReCharge offers a fully remote working environment, which includes more than 300 team members in 10 countries. Over the past year, a number of executives joined ReCharge from technology companies such as Headspace, Klarna, Qualtrics, and Duo Security. The company has nearly doubled its headcount in the past year and plans to use the new capital to continue hiring, accelerate product development, and market expansion. ABOUT RECHARGE

ReCharge is the leading provider of subscription management software for e-commerce. Since 2014, merchants of all sizes have used ReCharge's billing and payment management solutions to grow their business by increasing customer lifetime value and reducing customer churn. Today, ReCharge powers subscriptions for nearly 20 million subscribers across 15,000 merchants, including fast-growing brands such as Harry's, Oatly, Fiji Water, Billie, and Native. Though based in Santa Monica, CA, the remote-first company is distributed across 10 countries around the world. ReCharge is privately funded by Summit Partners, ICONIQ Growth, and Bain Capital Ventures. For more information, visit: https://rechargepayments.com/. ABOUT SUMMIT PARTNERS

Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $23 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 500 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. These companies have completed more than 160 public equity offerings, and more than 200 have been acquired through strategic mergers and sales. Summit has partnered with more than two dozen companies across the e-commerce and consumer landscape, including a.k.a Brands, Akeneo, Brooklinen, Jungle Scout, Klaviyo, MercuryGate, Philz Coffee, Quay Eyewear, Reverb.com, Sezane, ShipMonk, Sifted, Syndigo and TinyPrints. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn. ABOUT BAIN CAPITAL VENTURES

Bain Capital Ventures partners with disruptive founders to accelerate their ideas to market. The firm invests from seed to growth in startups driving transformation across industries, from SaaS (News - Alert) , infrastructure software and security to fintech and healthcare to commerce and consumer tech. The firm has helped launch and commercialize more than 240 companies, including DocuSign, Jet.com, LinkedIn (News - Alert) , Redis Labs, Rent the Runway, Rubrik, SendGrid and SurveyMonkey, as well as a number of commerce tech leaders such as Alloy Automation, Attentive, Flow, Jet.com, Material Bank, Mirakl, and ShipBob. Bain Capital Ventures has $6.1 billion in assets under management with offices in San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Palo Alto (News - Alert) . Follow the firm via LinkedIn and Twitter. ABOUT ICONIQ GROWTH

ICONIQ Growth partners with exceptional entrepreneurs and leaders who drive global impact and change. We are inspired by visionaries defining the future of their industries by building company cultures that endure. Our unique investment platform harnesses the power of ICONIQ Capital's vibrant ecosystem of founders, pioneers, and business leaders with the goal of delivering tangible value and amplifying our portfolio companies' success from early growth stage to IPO and beyond. ICONIQ Growth's portfolio of innovators include Adyen, AirBnB, Alibaba, Alteryx, Automattic, BambooHR, Braze, Chime, Collibra, Coupa, Datadog, Docusign, Gitlab, Marqeta, Miro, Procore, Red Ventures, Relativity, ServiceTitan, Snowflake, Sprinklr, Truckstop, Uber, Wolt, and Zoom, among others. For more information and a complete list of portfolio companies, please visit iconiqgrowth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005257/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Report: Enterprise Deep Tech Investment Driven By Intense Competition, Looming Business Challenges

High-stakes enterprise investment in deep tech solutions is largely driven by the threat of industry competition, with substantial R&D budgets and jobs on the line, according to a new report from Seeqc, the Digital Quantum (News - Alert) Computing company. Deep tech is a classification of technology aimed at providing solutions based on substantial scientific or engineering challenges to previously intractable problems. This category includes solutions such as autonomous vehicles, blockchain/cryptocurrency, quantum computing, advanced A.I./machine learning and more. Seeqc surveyed more than 200 large enterprises (those with more than 1,000 employees) to investigate how pioneering companies discover, evaluate and eventually invest in deep tech solutions. The report, "Out of the Lab, Into the Market: Deep Tech's Enterprise Future," found that business decision-makers are under immense pressure and time constraints to source solutions to fast-approaching business challenges. Business Leaders Investing In Deep Tech Solutions To Solve Custom Problems The report states that 57% of large enterprises actively investigating deep tech solutions are doing so to solve a specific existing or emerging business problem. This majority is in contrast to those investing to solve less defined business challenges that span their entire companies' operations. "Large companies are well aware of the competitive advantage deep tech partnerships can bring them in the long term, the challenge is finding technology providers that can develop tailor-made solutions for business problems that matter the most," said John Levy, CEO and co-founder of Seeqc. "The data shows that the traditional 'boil-the-cean' enterprise approach simply isn't tenable from an investment standpoint for these types of emerging technologies for the majority of companies," continued Levy.



While companies are forging ahead to solve specific challenges, the report also shows they're keeping a close eye on their competitors' progress. Either real or perceived, fear of their peers' progress is a major investment driver - more than one-third of respondents (37%) said that keeping up with competition was their number one reason for investigating deep tech solutions. The State of Enterprise Investment

Given that many deep tech applications are still in their nascent stages of development, companies are sourcing partnerships from a diverse range of providers to find the best solutions. The report shows a majority of enterprise decision-makers (54%) are IT leaders or C-suite executives who are willing to partner with deep tech vendors of varying size and origin. Lacking a clear precedent or playbook for these types of investments, companies are investing equally in established companies, venture-backed companies and startups, their internal resources and universities or government-funded initiatives. Where are companies sourcing partnerships? Established corporations - 29%

Startups and venture-backed companies - 25%

Internally developed resources - 24%

Universities or research centers/government-funded initiatives - 21% Investing Under Tight Timetables Most respondents (58%) said they expect to see ROI from deep tech investments in only 1-5 years. While specific technologies each come with their own implementation timetables, deep tech's impending business impact is accelerating with each dollar spent. "It will be years before the average person has access or reason to use something so advanced as a quantum computer or benefit from a fully autonomous vehicle, but the enterprise applications for these technologies are already making themselves apparent in today's most data-intensive industries," Levy said. "Imagine building a quantum computing application, for example, sufficient to simulate the safety and efficacy of clinical drug trials - without ever testing them on a real person. Or even an advanced A.I. application that can simulate entire ecosystem models, helping companies and governments better manage and combat the effects of climate change. This is the scale of the challenges companies are working to solve with today's deep tech investments - but it all starts with the ability to perform a single application," concluded Levy. To read more about the state of enterprise deep tech investment, download the full report here. About Seeqc: Seeqc is developing the first fully digital quantum computing platform for global businesses. Seeqc combines classical and quantum technologies to address the efficiency, stability and cost issues endemic to quantum computing systems. The company applies classical and quantum technology through digital readout and control technology and a unique chip-scale architecture. Seeqc's quantum system provides the energy- and cost-efficiency, speed and digital control required to make quantum computing useful and bring the first commercially-scalable, problem-specific quantum computing applications to market. The company is one of the first companies to have built a superconductor multi-layer commercial chip foundry and through this experience has the infrastructure in place for design, testing and manufacturing of quantum-ready superconductors. Seeqc is a spin-out of HYPRES, the world's leading developer of superconductor electronics. Seeqc's team of executives and scientists have deep expertise and experience in commercial superconductive computing solutions and quantum computing. Seeqc is based in Elmsford, NY with facilities in London, UK and Naples, Italy. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005201/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell Comments on Appeals Court Victory Ending Santa Barbara's Vacation Rental Ban

After 4  years of litigation in Kracke v. City of Santa Barbara, on May 4, 2021, the 2nd District Court of Appeal certified the decision for publication and affirmed the trial court victory, which overturned Santa Barbara's short-term vacation rental ban in the coastal zone. Theo Kracke was awarded his costs. This litigation has been closely followed and has statewide implications. During the appellate case, the California Coastal Commission filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Kracke's case while the League of Cities filed one in support of the City. The victory means the banning of short-term rentals within California's coastal zone is considered a "development" under the Coastal Act and, therefore, requires Coastal Commission approval. Travis Logue and Jason Wansor, attorneys with Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell LLP, represent Kracke. Kracke said, "The City fought us every step of the way. City leaders must finally accept the fact that STVRs are a permissible use. Now is their prime opportunity to draft fair regulation of STVRs rather than continue to waste taxpayer money and seek review by the California Supreme Court." According to Logue, "We've been in litigation now for nearly 5 years and the City of Santa Barbara has tried to bury our client in legal fees. Today's decision is a victory for all Californians who use vacation rentals along the coast. It is certified for publication, which means it has binding legal authority in California and may be cited by other lawyers. I sets statewide precedence that cities and counties may not outright ban STVRs in the coastal zone like Santa Barbara relentlessly tried. They are, however, allowed to meet and confer with the Coastal Commission to enact reasonable regulations. The City of Santa Barbara elected to repeatedly ignore the Commission for the last 6 years and now must pay the price."



The Court of Appeal ruled the City failed to properly obtain the Coastal Commission's input or approval: "The City cannot act unilaterally, particularly when it not only allowed the operation of STVRs for years but also benefitted from the payment of transient occupancy taxes. In other words, the City did not merely 'turn a blind eye' to STVRs. It established procedures whereby a residential homeowner could operate a STVR by registering it with the City, obtaining a business license and paying the 12% daily transient occupancy tax. When the City abruptly changed this policy, it necessarily changed the intensity of use of and access to land and water in the Coastal zone. Instead of 114 coastal STVRs to choose from, City visitors are left with only 6. This regulatory reduction is inconsistent with the Coastal Act's goal of 'improving the availability of lower cost accommodations along the coast, particularly for low-income and middle-income families.'" The Court of Appeal continues, "We agree with the trial court that 'the City cannot credibly contend that it did not produce a change because it deliberately acted to create a change' in coastal zone usage and access. This change constituted 'development' under the Coastal Act and, as such, required a CDP or, alternatively, an LCP amendment certified by the Commission or a waiver of such requirement. Without the Commission's input and approval, the court appropriately struck down the City's STVR regulation in the coastal zone."

Kracke v. City of Santa Barbara (Case No. 56-2016-00490376) was filed on November 30, 2016 in the City of Santa Barbara. Mr. Kracke's lawyers successfully changed the venue to Ventura. The City unsuccessfully tried to get the lawsuit dismissed on three occasions - the City filed two demurrers and an anti-SLAPP Motion, even arguing Kracke's suit was an effort to chill the City's First Amendment right to free speech. At the trial court level on March 8, 2019, Judge Borrell ruled in favor of Kracke. The City filed its appeal on September 6, 2019. The 2nd District Court of Appeal heard oral argument on March 10, 2021 and affirmed the trial court's decision on May 4, 2021. The City has the option to petition the California Supreme Court to hear the matter, though its chances of success would be slim. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006235/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Slate Office REIT Announces 10-Year Lease Renewal with Government Tenant for Over 100,000 Square Feet

Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN) (the "REIT"), an owner and operator of North American office real estate, announced today the completion of a 10-year lease renewal with a government tenant for over 100,000 square feet in Atlantic Canada. "We are pleased to report this significant long-term lease renewal with one of our key government tenants. This is an excellent outcome that further enhances the durability of the REIT's income and supports our net asset value," said Steve Hodgson, Chief Executive Officer of Slate Office REIT. "This transaction highlights the improving market fundamentals in Atlantic Canada and is reflective of the long-term commitment to office we are seeing from tenants across our portfolio." Renewal Highlights The Province of New Brunswick is a key tenant and represents 35% of the gross leasable area at Kings Place in Fredericton

Completed with a rental rate increase that is consistent with other increases the REIT has seen across its portfolio

Increases the REIT's weighted average lease term ("WALT") in Atlantic Canada to 5.8 years from 5.2 years

Increases the REIT's WALT for the total portfolio to 5.5 years from 5.3 years About Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN)

Slate Office REIT is an owner and operator of North American office real estate. The REIT owns interests in and operates a portfolio of 34 strategic and well-located real estate assets across Canada's major population centres and includes two assets in downtown Chicago, Illinois. 60% of the REIT's portfolio is comprised of government or credit rated tenants. The REIT acquires quality assets at a discount to replacement cost and creates value for unitholders by applying hands-on asset management strategies to grow rental revenue, exend lease term and increase occupancy. Visit slateofficereit.com to learn more.



About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a leading real estate focused alternative investment platform with approximately $6.5 billion in assets under management. Slate is a value-oriented manager and a significant sponsor of all of its private and publicly traded investment vehicles, which are tailored to the unique goals and objectives of its investors. The firm's careful and selective investment approach creates long-term value with an emphasis on capital preservation and outsized returns. Slate is supported by exceptional people, flexible capital and a demonstrated ability to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more. Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators. SOT-SA View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005371/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Talent Operating System from Beamery Now Available on SAP Store

LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beamery today announced that its Talent Operating System is now available on SAP Store , the single digital marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. Beamery's Talent Operating System integrates with SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting and delivers a solid foundation of talent data that helps business and talent leaders drive strategic transformation, adapt quickly to changing talent needs, reach diversity recruiting targets and support internal mobility.

"We're delighted to announce the availability of our Talent Operating System on SAP Store, allowing us to better reach the ecosystem for SAP SuccessFactors solutions," said Abakar Saidov, Co-founder and CEO at Beamery. "Integration with SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting provides a continuity of data and streamlined user experience, placing Beamery in a good position to support enterprises as they transform how they attract, engage and retain top talent. In turn, this helps deliver a better recruiter and candidate experience  at scale  for businesses using SAP technologies." Beamery's Talent Operating System allows talent teams to unify candidate and applicant data, redefining how they plan and manage talent acquisition and talent management. It also aids in identifying and engaging with potential high performers, optimizing the end-to-end talent experience, and identifying the skills and capabilities organizations need to build their workforce of the future.

Beamery's Talent Operating System gives talent teams the ability to: Efficiently build talent pipelines, engage with qualified talent and uncover well-fit talent with powerfl automation and integrated AI

Automatically resurface silver medalist candidates and segment and target priority contacts for nurture

Curate tailored, branded experiences for candidates to reinforce their employer brand and value propositions

Manage key talent initiatives like Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and internal mobility, remove bias from hiring processes, and demonstrate impact with powerful self-service reporting

Protect teams and data with rigorous compliance to meet international privacy requirements and data quality standards

Access end-to-end insights with custom reporting and dashboards around recruiting performance, diversity, attribution, engagement and more

Accelerate time to value customer typically go live within 6-12 weeks and see immediate impact



store.sap.com . It delivers a simplified and connected digital customer experience for finding, trying, buying, and renewing more than 1,800 solutions from SAP and its partners. There, customers can find the SAP solutions and SAP-validated partner apps they need to grow their business. And for each purchase made via SAP Store, SAP will plant a tree. Beamery is a partner in the SAP PartnerEdge program. As such, it is empowered to build, market and sell software applications on top of market-leading technology platforms from SAP. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs  quickly and cost-effectively. The program provides access to all relevant SAP technologies in one simple framework under a single, global contract.

About Beamery

Beamery's mission is to put talent transformation at the heart of every business. Our Talent Operating System lets companies attract, engage, and retain the best talent - it's the one solution that enterprises need to deliver exceptional experiences at every stage of the talent journey, and build meaningful relationships with their future employees. We are lucky to be one of the fastest growing companies in the world, and even more lucky that the people at Beamery are not only superb at their jobs, but are a reliable, friendly bunch who leave egos out of the equation. We are a team that cares about the right outcome above everything else. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties described in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 20-F, that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. SAP cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which SAP has no obligation to update and which speak only as of their dates. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talent-operating-system-from-beamery-now-available-on-sap-store-301285487.html SOURCE Beamery

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[May 06, 2021] Working Parents Expectations of Employers are Shifting in the Wake of the Pandemic

As working parents across the country are reentering the workforce in the wake of the pandemic, they're returning with new concerns and expectations of employers when it comes to work-life balance, benefits and their career paths. The 2021 Parent Confidence Report, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of KinderCare Education, has revealed how COVID-19 has caused a seismic shift in working parents' expectations of employers. "For some time now we've seen the evolution of working parents' attitudes and expectations of their employers to provide stronger child care benefits. The pandemic only accelerated that change," said Jeff Gerkin, senior vice president for KinderCare Education at Work. "The nature of work is forever changed in the wake of COVID-19 and to support employee retention and engagement, employers must evolve. Our report shows us that now is the time to act. Employers need to change their child care policies and benefits to address the needs of their workers now and in the future." Employers like Children's Hospital of Orange (News - Alert) County, Adventist Health and Tyson Foods understand that child care benefits are no longer optional perks for employees - they're essential to attract and retain top quality employees. Adventist Health has seen the immediate benefits of providing employees with flexible child care options. "Two things are going to impact people: transportation and child care. Because schools were closed, daycare facilities were closed," said Nicole D'Uva, associate vice president of Employee Health & LifeWork Strategies at Adventist Health. "You would think that our workforce would be beaten down and tired. And I can tell you that there has never been a lapse of gratitude. So when you talk to these parents who are utilizing KinderCare ... it's like the cavalry had arrived. People started to take a deep breath and become reinvigorated again." Here are some additional findings from the 2021 Parent Confidence Report: Working Parents Expect Better Child Care Support from Employers While many employers have stepped up to support their employees during these unprecedented times, the report shows there is more to be done: A majority of parents (76 percent) say being confident in child care allows them to excel at work;

Yet nearly half of parents say their employer doesn't understand the needs of parents today during COVID-19;

In fact, nearly four of 10 parents (38 percent) give their employers' child support policy a C- grade or lower;

Almost half of working mothers (47 percent) give their employers' child care policies a C- grade or below compared to 29 percent of working fathers;

Six out of 10 parents (62 percent) believe employers or government should offset the cost of child care; and

One in four parents are not aware of their emploer offering any child care benefits, let alone increasing those benefits as a result of the unique challenges they face while parenting during a pandemic.



Work-Life Balance Takes on New Meaning, Especially for Working Moms For working parents, especially working moms, the boundaries between home and work have blurred as they've navigating pandemic parenting:

More than one in five of working moms (22 percent) are dissatisfied with their work-life balance, compared to one in eight working dads (12 percent);

Parent-child time continues to be interrupted by work, with nearly half of working parents (46 percent) say they rarely have quality time with my child that is uninterrupted by work; and

Pre-pandemic, parents estimated their children interrupted roughly 9.5 hours of their work week. By November 2020 that number increased to 13 hours, nearly two whole working days. There are real concerns about the pandemic's impact on careers Parents, especially working moms, are concerned about the long-term impact that pandemic parenting will have on their careers: One in five working mothers are worried that they will have to quit their jobs in the next six months to take care of their children;

Nearly half of working parents (46 percent) feel that their career growth will be on hold as they navigate child care needs;

Nearly 6 in 10 (59 percent) of working dads say they would take a pay cut to work for an organization that provided quality child care; and

Almost half of working dads (47 percent) believe they will be overlooked for promotions because their child is at home and is interrupting work. Full results from KinderCare Learning Centers' Parent Confidence Report are available here. About the Parent Confidence Report 2021 Before the pandemic lockdown, KinderCare asked over 2,260 US parents with children ages 12 and under about their parenting confidence, work-life balance, and satisfaction with employers between January 30, 2020 to February 15, 2020 through an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll. Last fall, KinderCare and The Harris Poll surveyed 1,004 US parents with children ages 12 and under to see how the pandemic has impacted them. About KinderCare Education KinderCare Education is America's largest private provider of early childhood and school-age education and child care. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 40 states and the District of Columbia: In neighborhoods, with KinderCare Learning Centers that offer early childhood education and child care for children six weeks to 12 years old;

that offer early childhood education and child care for children six weeks to 12 years old; At work, through KinderCare Education at Work , providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and

, providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and In local schools, with Champions before and after-school programs. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 1,500 early learning centers. In 2021, KinderCare earned its fifth Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award - one of only four companies worldwide to win this award for five consecutive years. To learn more, visit KinderCare Education. To learn more visit us online at KinderCare, on Facebook or on Instagram. For resources, information, and activity ideas for parents and teachers of young children please visit KinderCare.com/blog. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005696/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Everest Medicines Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea for Sacituzumab Govitecan-Hziy in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

SHANGHAI, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products in Greater China and other parts of Asia, announced today that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in South Korea has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (SG), an investigational treatment for adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease. "We are very pleased that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea has granted Orphan Drug Designation for SG, which we believe has the potential to become a transformative treatment for patients around the world living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer  a highly aggressive disease with limited treatment options," said Kerry Blanchard, MD, PhD, CEO of Everest Medicines. "Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women in South Korea, and the incidence for this disease continues to climb rapidly in the region. As we work closely with local regulatory bodies to bring this innovative treatment to patients in South Korea as quickly as possible, we look forward to continuing to expand our international footprint outside of China and adding to our recent New Drug Application submission for SG in Singapore earlier this year." Orphan Drug Designation is granted by the MFDS to pharmaceuticals used to treat diseases with a prevalence of 20,000 patients or less in the Korean population, pharmaceuticals used to treat diseases for which appropriate therapy and pharmaceuticals have not been developed, or pharmaceuticals that have been significantly improved in terms of safety and/or efficacy, compared to existing alternative therapies. About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive disease and accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancer types worldwide. The median age of breast cancer diagnoses tends to be younger in Asian than western countries, and the percentage of the TNBC molecular subtype has been increasing in the past 10 years. TNBC cells lack sufficient estrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptor expression to benefit from the use of hormonal or HER2-directed therapy. Overall survival among patients with this form of breast cancer has not changed in the past 20 years, which highlights the need for advances in therapeutic options for these patients. In South Korea, the growth in breast cancer incidence in recent decades has been one of the fastest in the world.[1] It is the leading cause of cancer death in South Korean women. Statistics from the International Agency for Cancer Research indicate that breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer diagnoses in South Korea in 2020, accounting for 23.7% of total cases.[2] About Sacituzumab Govitecan-Hziy Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (SG) is a first-in-class, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed at TROP-2, a membrane antigen that is over-expressed in many common epithelial cancers. SG is approved in the United States under the trade name Trodelvy. Under a licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc., Everest Medicines has exclusive rights to develop, register, and commercialize SG for all cancer indications in Greater China, South Korea, and certain Southeast Asian countries. In October 2020, SG was included in the updated 2020 China Guidelines for the Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer, compiled by the Breast Cancer Expert Committee of the National Cancer Control Center, the Breast Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, and the Cancer Drug Clinical Research Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association. About Everest Medicines Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record of high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of eight potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules, many of which are in late stage clinical development. The Company's therapeutic areas of interest include oncology, autoimmune disorders, cardio-renal diseases and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com.







[1] Kang SY, Kim YS, Kim Z, Kim HY, Kim HJ, Park S, et al. Breast Cancer Statistics in Korea in 2017: Data from a Breast Cancer Registry. Journal of breast cancer. 2020;23(2):115-28. doi: 10.4048/jbc.2020.23.e24. PubMed PMID: 32395372. [2] Factsheet, Korea: Globocan 2020: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/410-korea-republic-of-fact-sheets.pdf

SOURCE Everest Medicines

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[May 05, 2021] American Tower Corporation Prices Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT (News - Alert) ) today announced the pricing of its registered public offering of 9,000,000 shares of common stock at $244.75 per share. The offering was upsized from the previously announced offering size of 8,500,000 shares. The underwriters of the offering have an option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The net proceeds of the offering are expected to be approximately $2,147.1 million (or approximately $2,361.8 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. American Tower (News - Alert) expects to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facilities and term loans, to finance the recently announced Telxius transaction and to pay related fees and expenses. If for any reason the Telxius transaction is not completed, American Tower expects to use the net proceeds from these offerings to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. BofA Securities is acting as lead book-running manager for the offering. Barclays, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets are also acting as joint book-running managers with respect to the offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The offerings are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and xchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) "). Each offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement relating to such offering and the accompanying base prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.



Alternatively, you may request the documents relating to the offering by contacting BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Barclays, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Email: Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com, Telephone: (888) 603-5847; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Email: prospectus@citi.com, Telephone: (800) 831-9146; Morgan Stanley, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; or RBC Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098, Attention: Equity Syndicate, Email: equityprospectus@rbccm.com, Telephone: (877) 822-4089. 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 www.americantower.com. Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company's goals, beliefs, expectations, strategies, objectives, plans, future operating results and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not necessarily based on historical facts. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the Company's forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those factors set forth in Item 1A of its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the caption "Risk Factors." The Company undertakes 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/20210505006214/en/

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[May 05, 2021] NEXCOM Develops Advanced 5G Solution Based on Award Winning Thales Cinterion IoT Technology

TAIPEI, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ -- NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network appliances, is launching a new universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) solution to meet the massive demand of wireless connectivity in today's dynamic IT environments. NEXCOM's latest arrival to their expanding uCPE product line, the DTA 1164W, leverages the award-winning Thales Cinterion MV31-W Ultra High Speed IoT Modem Card to deliver 5G cellular connectivity and capabilities. Together, the Intel Atom C3000R processor powered uCPE packs enhanced security features that deliver excellent performance per watt and PoE (Power over Ethernet) functionality while providing multiple connectivity options, such as WiFi5/6 and 4G LTE/5G in a single compact appliance.



This long-awaited 5G enabling network appliance has received high attention from notable operators in Taiwan and key players in the telecom sectors across the world. Wireless broadband has triggered IT professionals to seek cost and time efficient alternatives for fast deployment and easy maintenance without sacrificing networking and computing performance. The DTA 1164W--designed under such context--provides a great solution that showcases all the features needed by a variety of IT scenarios.

"To collaborate with Thales for 5G enabling is a strategic move from NEXCOM in terms of product positioning and marketing," said Allan Chiu, VP of Network & Communication Solutions at NEXCOM. "We are proud to have such a reliable partner as Thales whose expertise and global presence helps NEXCOM not only during the development stage, but also for the entire product life cycle, including sales and services, and we will continue to work together on further challenges." "The Thales partnership with NEXCOM brings 5G cellular connectivity to this first-of-its-kind 5G universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) and it marks a significant transformation in wireless connectivity," said Sashidhar Thothadri, VP IoT Products Global Sales, Analytics & IoT Solutions, Thales. "Our award-winning Cinterion IoT Modem Card delivers ultra-high-speed 5G enhanced mobile broadband with 4G fallback, ensuring extremely low latency and higher throughput. With trusted 5G reliability, uCPE delivers the most advanced and secured capabilities to meet the most demanding last mile connectivity priorities. About NEXCOM NEXCOM was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Integrating diverse capabilities, NEXCOM operates six global businesses, including the Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit, which focuses on high performance computing and network technology and is committed to helping customers build network infrastructure. NCS's network application platform is widely adopted in CDN, Cyber Security Appliance , Load Balancer, uCPE , Router, SD-WAN, Edge Computing, Storage, NVR, and other network applications. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexcom-develops-advanced-5g-solution-based-on-award-winning-thales-cinterion-iot-technology-301285126.html SOURCE NEXCOM

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[May 05, 2021] Revolut Doubles Down on Transparency with New Review Page and Updated Pricing

Revolut Singapore customers who use the platform for cross-border transfers will today see a new review page providing information on exchange rate, fees, and estimated arrival time

It also introduces a new remittance fee. The fee is 0.3% of the amount sent, starting at a minimum of S$0.30 , and capped at a maximum of S$9 , and is one of the most competitive in the market. Example: If a customer sends SG$1,000 of MYR to Malaysia , he pays S$3 at Revolut but almost twice as much at a competitor

, and capped at a maximum of , and is one of the most competitive in the market. Example: If a customer sends SG$1,000 of MYR to , he pays at Revolut but almost twice as much at a competitor Metal Plan customers will continue to enjoy unlimited fee-free transactions, while Premium plan customers will enjoy 1 fee-free transaction a month SINGAPORE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Remittance customers can look forward to significant savings if they switch to Revolut from its competitors today. The UK-fintech will be charging a fee for remittances but is keeping its commitment to giving customers some of the most competitive rates in the market. Standard and Premium plan customers will be charged a fee for cross-border transactions. The fee will be 0.3% of the amount transferred, starting at a minimum of S$0.30, and capped at a maximum of S$9. Revolut will continue to apply interbank rates for currency exchanges. The Interbank is the top-level wholesale market through which most currency transactions are channelled and, as such, Revolut is able to offer excellent exchange rates. Maintaining the alue proposition for its paid plans, Revolut's Metal plan customers will enjoy an unlimited number of fee-free cross-border transfers, while Premium plan customers will get 1 fee-free cross-border transfer a month.



The implementation of this new fee does not affect Revolut's standing as one of the most competitive providers of remittance services in the market. A recent comparison against some competitors reveals that Revolut's fee remains one of the lowest. (See table below)





Case in point: If a customer wants to send S$5,000 of PHP to the Philippines, the fee he pays is the maximum S$9. At a competitor's, he could end up paying 3 times more. Customers were informed a month ago via email about this fee implementation. Before confirming their transfer, a customer will be shown a review page that displays information such as, the amount that will be exchanged (SGD), the amount the recipient will receive, the exchange rate applied, and the fees due (SGD). James Shanahan, CEO of Revolut Singapore, says: "Revolut started as an alternative foreign exchange service to help customers save money on transfers and currency exchange rates. If you compare our updated fees and rates against those of our competitors, you will find that we are still giving customers more for their money." A customer will stand to enjoy significant savings if they switch to Revolut from its competitors. This table illustrates the differences in fees between Revolut and a competitor: For more details on Revolut's updated international transfer pricing, visit https://blog.revolut.com/en-sg/understand-revolut-remittance-fees/ ABOUT REVOLUT Revolut gives its customers the power to spend, transfer, and control their money without sky-high fees. Since its launch in 2015, Revolut has expanded significantly beyond its origins as an FX product, adding new features such as Gifting, Rewards, Bill Splitting, Group Vaults and Donations. Revolut's ambition is to be the world's first financial super-app. Revolut does not charge a fee when customers exchange currencies in-app during London FX trading hours. It now has over 15 million customers and has processed more than 1bn transactions worth over US$100bn. SOURCE Revolut

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[May 05, 2021] Base.vn - A Vietnamese SaaS Platform Startup Acquired by FPT Corporation

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 4th 2021, Base, one of VIISA portfolio startups held the Technology Industry Blockbuster Event with the participation of special guests. The event marked an important milestone in the development of this SaaS platform in Vietnam. At the event, Base.vn announced their strategic cooperation with Vietnamese technology giant FPT Corporation under a non-disclosure M&A deal. This cooperation promises to bring optimal, improved and perfect corporate governance solutions to widely disseminate in Vietnam and the world. Established in August 2016, Base.vn is known to be one of the pioneers in the field of building a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business management platform in Vietnam. The solutins from Base.vn range from work and performance management, information and communication management, human management and development to customer and business management. In more than one application, these solutions are grouped to solve different enterprise problems. Unique and easy to use with high performance, Base.vn is currently trusted by more than 5,000 customers including top corporates as well as a large number of SMEs in Vietnam. To date, Base.vn is perceived to be the number 1 enterprise platform with 5 million launched projects, 13 million monthly used times and created 12 million jobs.



Accompanied by VIISA at pre-seed stage and follow on funding at seed stage, with the continuous support in terms of business development and fundraising. Base.vn consecutively brought back proud titles. The platform has received many honors awards in the category of digital transformation where "Outstanding Digital Platform" at "Make in Vietnam Digital Product" in 2020 is an example. Base.vn is the third startup under VIISA portfolio that we officially witnessed their the next step of the meaningful journey with new investors. After nearly 5 years of actively supporting startups in Vietnam, VIISA has invested in 40 companies in both forms: direct investment and through an acceleration program. In which, Urbox, The Bank, Goong, iSpeaking, Drobebox are notable startups with remarkable tractions.

For 2021, VIISA will focus on directly investing in startups from Pre-Seed to Seed stage, opening opportunities for founders to meet and exchange expertise with experts, fund support and other business services. With that orientation, in the first quarter of this year, VIISA has been investing in startups in the Fintech and Financial Solution segments. About VIISA: Established in January 2017 by FPT Ventures and Dragon Capital, VIISA is an innovative startup investment fund that seeks and supports startups with great growth potential. With the newly launched business model, any founder can meet with the VIISA team to discuss and improve the business model, receive support in technology, business partners, investment in capital and help to raise capital in the next round. SOURCE VIISA

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Challenger Learning Center Offers In-person Camps

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Camps filling quickly, early registration encouraged.West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Challenger Learning Center (CLC) at Paducah will hold its summer camps a bit differently this year. The center will offer small, in-person summer camps beginning June 7.A variety of camp themes and dates will be offered for students rising into kindergarten through seventh grade. COVID-19 protocols including face masks, social distancing and hand washing will be in effect. Each camp session is limited to 14 campers. Camps are filling up quickly. Early registration is encouraged.T-shirts will be for sale through Thursday, May 13. All campers must bring their own lunch. Registration information can be found at clcpaducah.org, click on Community Programs.The 2021 Summer Camps at the CLC are listed below.STEM: EdventuresThese two-hour sessions are for rising kindergarteners - first graders. What is a scientist or an engineer? Young scientists will conduct experiments and more in STEM: Edventures I. While young engineers will design and build their own creations in STEM: Edventures II.Participants can choose only one Edventures I or Edventures II session.STEM: Edventures IFee: $18June 7 or 8, 9 - 11 amJune 9 or 10, 12:30 - 2:30 pmSTEM: Edventures IIFee: $18June 28 or 29, 9 - 11 amJune 30 or July 1, 12:30-2:30 pmSTEM: ExplorationFee: $60Time: 9 am - 3 pmThis two-day camp is for rising second - third graders. Campers will go on a journey through space as they learn about our stars, constellations and beyond during hands-on experiments and activities. Their journey will include a tour of our STARLAB planetarium.Choose only one session:June 14-15June 16-17July 12-13July 14-15STEM: ExpeditionFee: $90Time: 9 am - 3 pmThis two-day camp will take campers who are rising fourth - seventh graders on a journey through the solar system as they travel to both the Moon and Mars in our hands-on simulators. Campers will participate in training and team building activities prior to their missions.Choose only one session:June 21-22June 23-24July 19-20July 21-22Rebel Camp:Fee: $90Time: 9 am -3 pm Young Jedi will want to attend this special two-day camp created just for them! Participants, rising fourth - seventh graders, will join in activities and experiments, including light sabers and carbonite, based on the popular movie series.Choose only one session.June 7-8June 9-10Register online here (https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ChallengerLearningCenteratPaducah#/selectSessions/2980640) A 6.25% online processing fee will be applied. The center is currently still closed to guests. Therefore, in-person registration cannot be offered.Due to smaller than usual class sizes, the only way the CLC can guarantee a camp spot is by its online registration process. If anyone is unable to register online, the CLC can send a paper form that must be returned via mail with a check. If mailing a check, the center cannot guarantee will receive desired camp. If the camp is full, the CLC will return individual's check and place their child/children on our waitlist.For more information about WKCTC's Challenger Learning Center at Paducah, visit clcpaducah.org .View Online:http://westkentucky.meritpages.com/news/wkctc-s-challenger-learning-center-offering-limited--in-person-summer-camps/20049AttachmentsLearning Center at Paducah offering limited, in-person summer camps. Early registration encouraged.http://app.readmedia.com/news/attachment/150577/CLC_logo.jpg [5]
[May 05, 2021] E-commerce Aggregator, Una Brands, raises AUD50 million in Seed Round from heavy hitters to acquire and scale brands in Australia

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- E-commerce startup, Una Brands, announced today a AUD50 million Seed Round to buy and scale e-commerce brands with majority of acquisitions happening in Australia. The round ranks amongst the highest ever seed investment raised by an Australian startup. The company uses advanced technology to optimise and automate company identification, product placement, and marketing across a broad range of distribution channels. In 2020, Una Brands was founded by CEO Kiren Tanna, former CEO of Rocket Internet Asia and founder of foodpanda and ZEN Rooms. He is backed by four Co-Founders spread across APAC, namely Adrian Johnston, Kushal Patel, Tobias Heusch, and Srinivasan Shridharan. Adrian, had of the Australia office, shared: "We estimate that there are more than 10 million third-party sellers on regional platforms across APAC. The COVID lockdown created a huge surge in e-commerce demand, with a peak demand increase of over 100 per cent in many cases."



Adrian adds that Una Brands can help progress companies to the next level. "When a business gets beyond a certain size, business owners find that they do not have the time to do what they love as they get bogged down in the operational process. By partnering with Una Brands, brands can turbocharge their growth into new markets and channels." The funding round is backed by leading global investors: 500 Startups, Kingsway Capital, 468 Capital, Presight Capital, Global Founders Capital and others. Una Brands has also secured investment from Maximilian Bittner, currently CEO of Vestiaire Collective and former CEO of Lazada.

Una Brands will focus on acquiring companies with strong independent branding and annual revenue between AUD400,000 and AUD10 million. They are platform agnostic, acquiring businesses across leading e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, Shopify and more. About Una Brands Una Brands was founded by e-commerce experts, to provide a fast and fair way for e-commerce business owners to sell their companies. Una Brands buys businesses with a long-term competitive advantage and strong brands and grows them in new markets and on new platforms. Una Brands is platform agnostic, acquiring businesses across leading e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, Shopify and more. For more information on Una Brands, visit https://www.una-brands.com . For press inquiries: Asia PR Werkz

Kimberley Pereira

+65 9226 0061

kimberley@asiaprwerkz.com SOURCE Una Brands

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[May 06, 2021] Fiverr Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR), the company that is changing how the world works together, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2021. Complete operating results and management commentary can be found in the Company's shareholder letter which is posted to its investor relations website at investors.fiverr.com. "We continue to capitalize and execute on the ongoing digital transformation as we delivered one of the strongest quarters in Fiverr's history with outstanding results across the board, supported by continued execution on our strategy," said Micha Kaufman, Founder and CEO of Fiverr. "Fiverr's business momentum remains strong and resilient as we continue to scale at accelerating levels while leading companies through this new world of work." Ofer Katz, Fiverr's President and CFO, added, "We are thrilled with the Q1 results we delivered, we kicked the year off with 100% y/y revenue growth and continued focus, discipline and execution in the business. As a result of our continued momentum and the visibility built into our business model, we are providing strong guidance for the second quarter of 2021 and significantly upgrading our full-year 2021 guidance upwards." First Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights Revenue in the first quarter of 2021 was $68.3 million, an increase of 100% year over year.

Active buyers as of March 31, 2021 grew to 3.8 million, compared to 2.5 million as of March 31, 2020, an increase of 56% year over year.

Spend per buyer as of March 31, 2021 reached $216, compared to $177 as of March 31, 2020, an increase of 22% year over year.

Take rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 27.2%, up from 27.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, an increase of 10 basis points year over year.

GAAP gross margin in the first quarter of 2021 was 83.1%, an increase of 310 basis points from 80.0% in the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP gross margin in the first quarter of 2021 was 84.1%, an increase of 250 basis points from 81.6% in the first quarter of 2020.

GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2021 was ($17.8) million, or ($0.49) basic and diluted net loss per share, compared to ($6.2) million, or ($0.19) basic and diluted net loss per share, in the first quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2021 was ($0.3) million, or ($0.01) basic and diluted net loss per share, compared to ($2.6) million, or ($0.08) basic and diluted net loss per share, in the first quarter of 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA1 in the first quarter of 2021 improved to ($0.7) million, compared to ($2.9) million in the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA margin was (1.0)% in the first quarter of 2021, an improvement of 740 basis points from (8.4%) in the first quarter of 2020. Financial Outlook We are introducing strong Q2'21 guidance and upgrading our full-year 2021 guidance, as business momentum continues in 2021. Given the uncertainty of the ongoing impact and unprecedented conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic on economies globally, we will provide investors with updated business trends as they evolve.







Q2 2021 FY 2021 Revenue $73.0-$75.0 million $302.0-$308.0 million Year over year growth 55-59% 59-63% Adjusted EBITDA $5.0-$7.0 million $19.5-$24.5

1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measure" for additional information regarding this and other non-GAAP metrics used in this release. Conference Call and Webcast Details Fiverr will host a conference call to discuss its financial results on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the call can be accessed from Fiverr's Investor Relations website. An archived version will be available on the website after the call. Investors and analysts can participate in the conference call by dialing (866) 360-3590, or (412) 317-5278 for callers outside the United States, and mention the passcode, "Fiverr." A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until Thursday, May 13, 2021, beginning one hour after the end of the conference call. To listen to the replay please dial (877) 344-7529, or (412) 317-0088 for callers outside the United States, and enter replay code 10153698. About Fiverr Fiverr's mission is to change how the world works together. Since 2010, the Fiverr platform has been at the forefront of the future of work connecting businesses of all sizes with skilled freelancers offering digital services in more than 500 categories, across 9 verticals including graphic design, digital marketing, programming, video and animation. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2021, over 3.8 million customers bought a wide range of services from freelancers across more than 160 countries. We invite you to become part of the future of work by visiting us at fiverr.com, read our blog and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) March 31, December 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) (Audited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 183,355 $ 268,030 Marketable securities 160,540 129,372 User funds 120,327 97,984 Bank deposits 90,000 90,000 Restricted deposit 346 346 Other receivables 6,549 5,418 Total current assets 561,117 591,150 Marketable securities 280,382 228,048 Property and equipment, net 6,176 6,265 Operating lease right of use asset 14,875 15,611 Intangible assets, net 10,520 5,884 Goodwill 15,844 11,240 Restricted deposit 2,589 2,589 Other non-current assets 1,044 415 Total assets $ 892,547 $ 861,202 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Trade payables $ 4,728 $ 3,622 User accounts 112,320 92,027 Deferred revenue 8,254 5,957 Other account payables and accrued expenses 50,206 40,396 Operating lease liabilities, net 3,255 3,307 Current maturities of long-term loan 530 560 Total current liabilities 179,293 145,869 Long-term liabilities: Convertible notes 356,950 352,034 Operating lease liabilities 12,648 13,861 Long-term loan and other non-current liabilities 2,370 4,035 Total long-term liabilities 371,968 369,930 Total liabilities $ 551,261 $ 515,799 Shareholders' equity: Share capital and additional paid-in capital 532,466 517,444 Accumulated deficit (190,417 ) (172,573 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (763 ) 532 Total shareholders' equity 341,286 345,403 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 892,547 $ 861,202 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) Revenue $ 68,320 $ 34,150 Cost of revenue 11,546 6,820 Gross profit 56,774 27,330 Operating expenses: Research and development 16,873 9,974 Sales and marketing 42,639 18,221 General and administrative 11,087 5,590 Total operating expenses 70,599 33,785 Operating loss (13,825 ) (6,455 ) Financial income (expenses), net (3,974 ) 331 Loss before income taxes (17,799 ) (6,124 ) Income taxes (45 ) (31 ) Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders $ (17,844 ) $ (6,155 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders $ (0.49 ) $ (0.19 ) Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares 36,057,885 32,076,421 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) Operating Activities Net loss $ (17,844 ) $ (6,155 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,318 965 Amortization of discount of marketable securities 1,823 (271 ) Amortization of discount and issuance costs of convertible notes 4,904 - Shared-based compensation 10,483 2,762 Net income (loss) from exchange rate fluctuations (91 ) 194 Changes in assets and liabilities: User funds (22,343 ) (7,928 ) Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities, net (529 ) - Other receivables (708 ) 448 Trade payables 1,090 (584 ) Deferred revenue 2,274 1,010 User accounts 20,293 7,138 Other account payables and accrued expenses 4,106 2,725 Non-current liabilities (241 ) (2 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 4,535 302 Investing Activities Investment in marketable securities (125,998 ) (36,786 ) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 39,930 37,088 Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired (8,878 ) - Purchase of property and equipment (311 ) (131 ) Capitalization of internal-use software (142 ) (285 ) Other receivables and non-current assets - 52 Net cash used in investing activities (95,399 ) (62 ) Financing Activities Payment of deferred issuance costs related to follow on offering (376 ) - Payment of convertible notes deferred issuance costs (34 ) - Proceeds from exercise of share options 4,788 1,948 Tax withholding in connection with employees' options exercises and vested RSUs 2,322 2,272 Repayment of long-term loan (134 ) (120 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 6,566 4,100 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents (377 ) (301 ) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (84,675 ) 4,039 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 268,030 24,171 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period $ 183,355 $ 28,210 KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Annual active buyers (in thousands) 3,812 2,450 Annual spend per buyer ($) $ 216 $ 177 RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP GROSS PROFIT (In thousands, except gross margin data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) GAAP gross profit $ 56,774 $ 27,330 Add: Share-based compensation 279 70 Depreciation and amortization 437 474 Non-GAAP gross profit $ 57,490 $ 27,874 Non-GAAP gross margin 84.1 % 81.6 % RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP NET LOSS AND NET LOSS PER SHARE (In thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders $ (17,844 ) $ (6,155 ) Add: Depreciation and amortization $ 1,318 $ 965 Share-based compensation 10,483 2,762 Contingent consideration revaluation, acquisition related costs and other 1,320 (129 ) Convertible notes amortization of discount and issuance costs 4,904 - Exchange rate income (loss), net (455 ) - Non-GAAP net loss $ (274 ) $ (2,557 ) Weighted average number of ordinary shares - basic and diluted 36,057,885 32,076,421 Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders $ (0.01 ) $ (0.08 ) RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (In thousands, except adjusted EBITDA margin data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) GAAP net loss $ (17,844 ) $ (6,155 ) Add: Financial expense (income), net $ 3,974 $ (331 ) Income taxes 45 31 Depreciation and amortization 1,318 965 Share-based compensation 10,483 2,762 Contingent consideration revaluation, acquisition related costs and other 1,320 (129 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ (704 ) $ (2,857 ) Adjusted EBITDA margin (1.0 %) (8.4 %) RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (Unaudited) GAAP research and development $ 16,873 $ 9,974 Less: Share-based compensation 4,102 1,042 Depreciation and amortization 187 116 Non-GAAP research and development $ 12,584 $ 8,816 GAAP sales and marketing $ 42,639 $ 18,221 Less: Share-based compensation 2,588 527 Depreciation and amortization 639 330 Contingent consideration revaluation, acquisition related costs and other 297 121 Non-GAAP sales and marketing $ 39,115 $ 17,243 GAAP general and administrative $ 11,087 $ 5,590 Less: Share-based compensation 3,514 1,123 Depreciation and amortization 55 45 Contingent consideration revaluation, acquisition related costs and other 1,023 (250 ) Non-GAAP general and administrative $ 6,495 $ 4,672 Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures This release includes certain key performance metrics and financial measures not based on GAAP, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP net income (loss) and Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share as well as operating metrics, including GMV, spend per buyer, active buyers and take rate. Some amounts in this release may not total due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. We define GMV or Gross Merchandise Value as the total value of transactions ordered through our platform, excluding value added tax, goods and services tax, service chargebacks and refunds. We define active buyers on any given date as buyers who have ordered a Gig or other services on our platform within the last 12-month period, irrespective of cancellations. Spend per buyer on any given date is calculated by dividing our GMV within the last 12-month period by the number of active buyers as of such date. Take rate is revenue for any such period divided by GMV for the same period. Management and our board of directors use these metrics as supplemental measures of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP because they assist us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis, as they remove the impact of items not directly resulting from our core operations. We also use these metrics for planning purposes, including the preparation of our internal annual operating budget and financial projections, to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of our strategic initiatives and to evaluate our capacity to expand our business. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP net income (loss) and Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share as well as operating metrics, including GMV, spend per buyer, active buyers and take rate should not be considered in isolation, as an alternative to, or superior to net loss, revenue, cash flows or other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. These metrics are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP metrics is an appropriate measure of operating performance because they eliminate the impact of expenses that do not relate directly to the performance of our underlying business. These non-GAAP metrics should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or other items. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP metrics used herein are not intended to be a measure of free cash flow for management's discretionary use, as they do not reflect our tax payments and certain other cash costs that may recur in the future, including, among other things, cash requirements for costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on our GAAP results in addition to using Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP metrics as supplemental measures of our performance. Our measure of Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP metrics used herein is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies due to different methods of calculation. See the tables above regarding reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. We are not able to provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures guidance for the second quarter of 2021, and the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 to the comparable GAAP measures, because certain items that are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures cannot be reasonably predicted or are not in our control. In particular, we are unable to forecast the timing or magnitude of share based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, income or loss on revaluation of contingent consideration, convertible notes amortization of discount and issuance costs and exchange rate income or loss as applicable without unreasonable efforts, and these items could significantly impact, either individually or in the aggregate, GAAP measures in the future. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expected financial performance and operational performance for the second quarter of 2021 and the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, our expected future Adjusted EBITDA profitability, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: our ability to successfully implement our business plan during a global economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that may impact the demand for our services or have a material adverse impact on our and our business partners' financial condition and results of operations; our ability to attract and retain a large community of buyers and freelancers; our ability to achieve profitability; our ability to maintain and enhance our brand; our dependence on the continued growth and expansion of the market for freelancers and the services they offer; our ability to maintain user engagement on our website and to maintain and improve the quality of our platform; our dependence on the interoperability of our platform with mobile operating systems that we do not control; our ability and the ability of third parties to protect our users' personal or other data from a security breach and to comply with laws and regulations relating to consumer data privacy and data protection; our ability to detect errors, defects or disruptions in our platform; our ability to comply with the terms of underlying licenses of open source software components on our platform; our ability to expand into markets outside the United States; our ability to achieve desired operating margins; our compliance with a wide variety of U.S. and international laws and regulations; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and to successfully halt the operations of copycat websites or misappropriation of data; our reliance on Amazon Web Services; our ability to mitigate payment and fraud risks; our dependence on relationships with payment partners, banks and disbursement partners; our dependence on our senior management and our ability to attract new talent; and the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 18, 2021, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements that we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release are inherently uncertain and may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. In addition, the forward-looking statements made in this release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006224/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Greece's Eurobank Selects Temenos to Reimagine Wealth Management for the Digital Age

Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announces that Eurobank in Greece has selected Temenos Wealth to strengthen its position in wealth management and affluent segment services. Eurobank, the third largest bank in Greece, will use Temenos Wealth to create a fully-digital investment portfolio management service offering Robo-Advisor and Goal-Based Investing apps to target the mass affluent and affluent market. These growing market segments want personalized offerings and are used to convenience through digital channels. With the Temenos solution, Eurobank combines an efficient back-office and product-building engine with modern omnichannel customer experiences powered by AI to meet the segments' high expectations. The new Robo-Advisor app will allow Eurobank's customers to create or adjust a desired portfolio, based on personalized criteria such as risk tolerance, target dates and asset size, by themselves or with an advisor. The solution manages the investments automatically in line with the target allocation model. Goal-Based Investing will enable Eurobank's customers to define specific financial goals, such as a holiday home purchase or retirement, view simulation results illustrating how they can achieve those goals, and then put the investment plan into action. Eurobank will implement Temenos Wealth in two phases. Firstly, to bring to market the new Robo-Advisor service. Secondly, to deploy Temenos Wealth for all investment portfolio services, including execution, advisory and discretionary services for clients in Greece. Concurrently, the bank will replace its middle and back-office systems with Temenos Transact, adopting Temenos' Europe Model Bank approach that incorporates local functionality to accelerate implementation and MiFID compliance purposes. Temenos Wealth covers all the front-to-back needs of a modern wealth management firm, from digital wealth to CRM to portfolio management, securities and core procesing, market data management, analytics, AI and more. Its modular design will enable Eurobank to implement the components they need.



Stavros Ioannou, Eurobank's Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Group Chief Operating Officer, commented: "We have selected Temenos to unify all our investment portfolio operations on a single, modern technology platform. We are working intensively and at all levels, towards completing our digital transformation, constantly upgrading our systems, structures and services, adopting to current trends and increased appetite for concrete, safe and innovative digital services, quickly and effectively. Always putting our clients first, we believe that this new agreement and Temenos' expertise will enable us to provide new, functional solutions to our customers, helping them simplify their everyday lives and their wealth's management." David Macdonald, President - Europe, Temenos, said: "Temenos is proud to extend its relationship with Eurobank for the platform modernization of its wealth operations in Greece. Temenos' market-leading technology will enable Eurobank to create enticing front-office experiences while achieving back-office efficiency with a high degree of automation. This capability is essential to provide the services that customers expect at attractive price points, helping Eurobank gain new customers and prepare for the future."

Eurobank Group is a robust financial organization that operates in six countries, with a strong presence in Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Serbia, Bulgaria and the UK. As of December 2020, the Group had 11,501 employees working across 625 customer service locations and managing 67.7 billion in total assets. In 2019, Temenos announced digital transformation projects with Eurobank's subsidiaries in Cyprus and Luxembourg. - Ends - About Temenos Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence. Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8%, half the industry average, and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks' IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005806/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Whatfix Announces Partnership with C-Clear Partners to Help Organizations Bolster Their Digital Transformation Initiatives

Leading Digital Adoption Platform further strengthen stronghold in Europe by extending its digital adoption offerings to the European market through the Benelux region SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Whatfix , a leader in Digital Adoption Solutions ("DAS"), today announced that it has launched a strategic partnership with C-Clear Partners , to help organizations across the Benelux region accelerate their digital transformation initiatives by driving the adoption of CRM platforms such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics. C-Clear Partners helps companies shape, create and manage their customer strategy. They focus on crystalizing customers' CRM business needs and objectives and translate them to processes that are easy to understand, create extra value, and are highly efficient. C-Clear Partners is based out of Belgium. This partnership will help C-Clear Partners' customers in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and public sector industries enhance their employee experience, reduce their support and training overhead, and maximize the return on their technology investments. As businesses learn to adapt to the lasting effects of COVID-19, digital transformation continues to be a top priority as they continue to adjust to the "new normal" of work. In fact, worldwide IT spending is forecasted to surge to $3.9 trillion in this year alone, a 6.2 percent increase from 2020. Those who invest large budgets in implementing new enterprise software and expect to see immediate results often encounter inadequate digital adoption due to poor user adoption, training costs, and enormous support tickets. Through Whatfix's contextual, interactive, and real-time in-application guidance, C-Clear Partners can now help their customers achieve their desired outcome of significantly reducing the support and training overhead, improving sales productivity, and reducing the time to launch newly implemented CRM tools like Salesforce.



"User adoption of new enterprise software and justifying technology spend are some of the most challenging aspects for businesses today," said Khadim Batti, CEO and co-founder of Whatfix. "We're excited to extend our digital adoption offerings to the European market by partnering with C-Clear Partners in the Benelux region to help their customers quickly adopt their CRM tools and get the most out of their technology investment. Our partnership with C-Clear Partners also underscores the need for solutions like ours on a global scale, especially as the "new normal" of work continues to evolve." "Designing for a great experience is the best way to gain the trust and loyalty of users. Now that we've partnered with Whatfix, our combined solution ensures that our customers reap the benefits of powerful platforms such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics even faster and continue to do so in the long run," said Kasim El Bastani, Partner at C-Clear Partners.

To learn more about Whatfix and its Digital Adoption Solutions platform, please visit https://www.whatfix.com/ . About C-Clear Partners Based in Mortsel, Belgium, C-Clear Partners is focused on improving customer engagement processes. They achieve this by concentrating on 4 pillars: Shaping your Customer Strategy and transforming it into an actionable plan based on your business objectives. Creating your customer facing processes and designing state-of-the art customer platforms. Managing and improving your processes once they are live. Last but not least, we have a dedicated team of experienced consultants who can guide our customers during large CRM implementations. About Whatfix Whatfix is a Digital Adoption Solution that disrupts Application Training, Learning, and Support content by providing Contextual, Interactive, Real-Time, and Autonomous user guidance - driving additional adoption and productivity gains. Whatfix has a proven record of increasing employee productivity by 35%, reducing training time and costs by 60%, reducing employee case tickets by 50% and increasing application data accuracy by 20%. Whatfix is based in San Jose, San Francisco, London, Melbourne, Sydney and Bangalore. Media Contact

Frances Robinson

Lumina Communications for Whatfix

whatfix@luminapr.com

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[May 06, 2021] Invesco Office J-REIT, Inc.: Notice Concerning the Request for Purchase to Counter Against the Tender Offer

Invesco Office J-REIT, Inc. (TOKYO: 3298) (hereinafter referred to as "Investment Corporation") hereby disclosed a Notice Concerning the Request for Purchase to Counter against the Tender Offer. Notice Concerning the Request for Purchase to Counter against the Tender Offer (PDF)





View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005476/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Hypervolt Selected to Present at CleanEquity Monaco 2021

LONDON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanEquity is an annual invitation-only event hosted by Innovator Capital, the London-based specialist investment bank. The 30 best-in-class sustainable technologies must meet high standards set by the selection committee. The conference provides an intimate and collegiate setting for inventors and entrepreneurs to share their stories with delegates - key decision makers looking to assist them with reaching their commercial and strategic goals. In 2020 we joined forces with EarthX TV and opened our doors to a live, global audience. During the two day conference, over 28,000 people tuned in. We shall build on this success in 2021. The vision of EarthX is to bring business, government, academic institutions, nonprofits and the public together to create long-term sustainable change. EarthX bridges the divide on environmental issues. Other partners and sponsors include Prince Albert II of Monaco's Foundation, Cision, Cranfield University, the Monaco Economic Board, and Taronis Fuels. Hypervolt has been identified by an expert panel as one of the world's most innovative sustainable technology companies and ha been selected to present to selected sovereign, corporate, family and professional investors & acquires, policy makers, end users and international trade media.



Hypervolt designs and builds next generation EV charging technology. As the World switches to 100% electric transport, Hypervolt believes charging should be smart, facilitate a low carbon energy system, and be cost-effective for everyone. Hypervolt has been recognised for its vision of charging as a smart tech opportunity. While today's most common products are conventional electrical devices, Hypervolt has identified an opportunity to apply its World-class software to charging for seamless user experience and energy system benefits, accelerating the uptake of EVs. After a successful first growth phase in the UK, Hypervolt is now scaling fast following three core principles: obsession with design, UX and customer service, with proven results; the company has the UK's leading score on Trustpilot. The company is ahead of target for 1.3m ARR in 2021 and seeking new partners to help grow its production.

Hypervolt is raising 1.5m in a Series A to scale its existing products, develop new ones, and launch a disruptive payment model based on recurring software revenues to reduce upfront cost for customers. The company is offering preferential benefits to those joining a pre-funding round prior to appearing at CleanEquity in July. In addition to presenting at Monaco, Hypervolt's team will be featuring on TEDx, Fully Charged and at COP26 throughout the year. Hypervolt is presently raising 500k in private pre-funding prior to launching on Crowdcube. The private round is almost full subscribed and will close by June. To find out more about participating in the raise, please contact invest@hypervolt.co.uk or visit www.hypervolt.co.uk. About Innovator Capital Limited

Innovator Capital (ICL), established in 2003, is a London based specialist investment bank focusing on health and sustainable technology companies; advising on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, IP, business & corporate development. ICL's mission is to assist IP rich private & public companies with finding the right investors, acquirers, customers, licensees and commercial partners. Event website: https://www.cleanequitymonaco.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypervolt-selected-to-present-at-cleanequity-monaco-2021-301284851.html SOURCE Innovator Capital

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[May 06, 2021] Xantrion Recognized as Bay Area Best Places to Work for 2nd Year in a Row

OAKLAND, Calif., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Xantrion has been recognized as a winner of the 2021 Bay Area Best Places to Work, an awards program presented by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Select employers from the Bay Area will be named winners of the award on May 7th, 2021. These winning organizations will be honored for having created exceptional workplaces that their employees value highly. Award applicants were evaluated and ranked across 5 categories according to the number of Bay Area employees. The ranking found companies in the region whose employees rate them as the highest on such values as fun, collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits offerings and other amenities as well as management practices. The rankings will be unveiled on May 7 th, 2021 in the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal.



"Being recognized in this year's Best Places to Work results is true validation of our efforts to deliver employee experiences we can be proud of. We've created a culture that cares deeply about valuing our employees and the value they create for our clients", said Anne Bisagno, President, Xantrion. About Xantrion

Experts in cybersecurity and technical support, Xantrion provides outsourced IT services for midsized companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its team of IT experts brings impeccable technical and business skills to every assignment. Featuring an award-winning strategic approach, SOC2 Type II certified security practices, 24/7 help desk, fixed fees, and a 99.9% uptime record, Xantrion is a proven partner for managed IT and security services.

About 2021 Bay Area Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantum's scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best. Media Contact

Anne Bisagno

(510)-272-4701

abisagno@xantrion.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xantrion-recognized-as-bay-area-best-places-to-work-for-2nd-year-in-a-row-301285213.html SOURCE Xantrion Inc.

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[May 06, 2021] Involta Acquires SecureData 365 Data Center in Canton, Ohio

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Involta , an industry-leading hybrid IT, cloud computing, and data center services company, announces today its acquisition of the assets of SecureData 365 and employees in Canton, Ohio. This acquisition adds a new data center and a highly skilled team to Involta's national portfolio, further empowering its ability to enable digital transformation for enterprises in northeast Ohio. With this acquisition, Involta will help accelerate SecureData 365 customers' hybrid IT journeys. With this acquisition, Involta will help accelerate SecureData 365 customers' hybrid IT journeys. Integrating data center solutions with strategic consulting, managed services, and public and private cloud options can improve both customer and employee experiences. This holistic approach is vital in today's digitally-focused environment. "Involta and SecureData 365 are very much aligned on values. We're committed to leading with superior infrastructure and services, operational excellence, and people who deliver," said Bruce Lehrman, Involta Founder and CEO. "Together, we'll continue to focus on people, process, and technology to meet our customers' needs. We're excited to welcome SecureData 365customers and staff to the Involta team, and we're looking forward to innovating and navigating today's complex landscape together."



SecureData 365 is an award-winning data center operator headquartered in Canton, Ohio. Designed from the ground up to deliver unwavering power and connectivity via multiple redundant systems, SecureData 365 offers the stability and reliability enterprise customers require. Involta launched in 2007, providing purpose-built data centers to underserved markets. Today, the company pairs strategic IT consulting with owned colocation facilities and infrastructure assets to solve critical hybrid IT challenges. Scalable and flexible solutions customized to meet needs related to performance, compliance, and security are delivered to customers in the healthcare, financial services and manufacturing sectors.

Recently, Involta was recognized on CRN's 2021 MSP 500 List in the Security 100 category and its 2021 Tech Elite 250 for the fifth year. Moreover, the company has been designated a top cybersecurity firm by Crain's Cleveland Business. In 2020, Involta added capacity to both its Cleveland and Pittsburgh facilities and unveiled its aggressive Edge to Innovation initiative. "We are excited to bring our SecureData 365 Canton infrastructure and team under the Involta umbrella," said Michael Campanelli, Executive Vice President at SecureData 365. "We've always believed in the power of our facilities, our people, and our service to transform technology for our customers. With Involta, we'll now be able to offer our customers a greater range of IT services to support their digital transformation. We're looking forward to blending our teams and working together." About Involta

Involta, an award-winning national IT service provider and consulting firm, orchestrates digital transformation journeys by using well-defined and rigorous processes to deliver hybrid cloud solutions, consulting, and data center services tailored to their customers' business drivers. By pairing strategic consulting with the unique ability to leverage owned colocation facilities and infrastructure assets, Involta empowers businesses across the country with the security and reliability they require. Involta's ongoing mission to help customers optimize performance begins with partnership. The personalized approach starts with understanding its customers' needs and earning their trust to ultimately deliver Superior Infrastructure and Services, Operational Excellence and People Who Deliver, in keeping with the brand promise. Involta provides customers with the power to transform their technology and the freedom to focus on their core business. Media Contact:

JSA

1.866.695.3629

jsa_involta@jsa.net View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/involta-acquires-securedata-365-data-center-in-canton-ohio-301285182.html SOURCE Involta, LLC

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[May 06, 2021] Biden Tax Proposal Could Boost Tax Master Network's Core Service

CINCINNATI, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Gravity Companies Inc. (OTCQB: FGCO) announced that the corporate tax increase included in President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package, could juice even more demand for their subsidiary Tax Master Network's tax planning service. "Choosing the right entity structure is a fundamental question for every business owner," said TMN CEO Edward A. Lyon. "This bill affects every business operating as a C corporation or including a C corporation in their entity mix." In April, Biden announced plans to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. That higher rate could upend the current balance between passthrough entities taxable corporations. Naturally, business owners could look for ways to minimize the change. This could drive membership to TMN's planning platform. Implementing those strategies could drive demand for Financial Gravity's broker-dealer, insurance, and turnkey asset management provider arms. TMN provides a platform for CPAs, EAs, and financial advisors to use proactive tax planning to protect their clients from the brunt of higher taxes. Members enjoy several SAAS-based planning and client contact tools, plus a comprehensive suite of marketing, sales, and technical tax training resources. The network helps members transform from typical volume-based businesses into mor-profitable margin-based business. Interested professionals can visit www.TaxMasterNetwork.com to learn more.



About Financial Gravity Companies, Inc.

Financial Gravity Companies, Inc. is the parent company of the best of bread stock brokerage, investment advisory, asset management, tax planning for business and personal, and financial advisor services companies. Financial Gravity's mission is to provide truly comprehensive financial guidance through our unique combination of services that include tax planning and the ability to deliver in-depth advice on a comprehensive range of investment services and products. For investment advisors, tax advisors, and financial advisors we provide platforms to access proprietary and non-proprietary tools and services to deliver what is best for clients, all coupled with technology to deliver a state-of-the-art experience. www.financialgravity.com Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Financial Gravity's business, and Financial Gravity undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biden-tax-proposal-could-boost-tax-master-networks-core-service-301285229.html SOURCE Financial Gravity Companies, Inc.

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[May 06, 2021] Shift Technology Secures $220 Million in a Series D Investment Round Led by Advent International

PARIS and BOSTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Technology, a SaaS provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision automation and optimization solutions for the global insurance industry, today announced the company closed a Series D investment round of $220 million. The round was led by Advent International, through Advent Tech, with participation from Avenir and others. Previous Series C participants Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, General Catalyst, and Iris Capital also joined the round. The latest funding round brings total investment in Shift to $320 million and a market valuation of more than $1 billion. The investment will fuel the company's execution of its vision to revolutionize the policyholder experience through wide-ranging products that apply AI and advanced data science to key insurance processes. "Since its founding in 2014, Shift has made a name for itself in the complex world of insurance," said Thomas Weisman, a Director on Advent's technology investment team in London. "Shift's advanced suite of SaaS products is helping insurers to reshape manual and often time-consuming claims processes in a safer and more automated way. We are proud to be part of this exciting company's next wave of growth." Initially known for its award-winning fraud detection and claims automation software, in January 2021 the company introduced the Shift Insurance Suite to enable insurers to apply AI-based decision automation and optimization technology to an even wider array of critical processes across the policy lifecycle, including underwriting, subrogation, and compliance. The company now serves more than 100 customers in 25 different countries and has analyzed nearly two billion claims to date. With this latest round of funding Shift will advance in its mission to drive digital transformation in the global insurance industry By supplying the tools and technology required for insurers and their employees to make the best decisions possible, Shift is enabling carriers to deliver exceptional business and policyholder outcomes. Shift will use this investment to expand its presence in key geographies including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In the U.S., the company will look to further penetrate the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market as well as expand into the health insurance sector, an area in which Shift sees a large opportunity. The funding will also be used to drive R&D efforts in the creation of new solutions to address emerging decision automation and optimization requirements for forward-thinking insurers.



"The entire Shift team has worked tirelessly to build this company and provide insurers with the technology solutions they need to empower employees to best be there for their policyholders. We are thrilled to partner with Advent International, given their considerable sector expertise and global reach and are taking another giant step forward with this latest investment," stated Jeremy Jawish, CEO and co-founder, Shift Technology. "We have only just scratched the surface of what is possible when AI-based decision automation and optimization is applied to the critical processes that drive the insurance policy lifecycle." This investment marks Advent's sixth growth equity investment this year. As part of Advent's long history of technology investing, the firm has significant investment experience in vertical software, and data and analytics. Advent's previous technology investments in the insurance vertical include CCC, a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy and Transunion, a leading global provider of credit information and risk management solutions to businesses and individual consumers.

About Shift Technology

Shift Technology delivers the only AI-native decision automation and optimization solutions built specifically for the global insurance industry. Addressing several critical processes across the insurance policy lifecycle, the Shift Insurance Suite helps insurers achieve faster, more accurate claims and policy resolutions. Shift has analyzed billions of insurance transactions to date and was presented Frost & Sullivan's 2020 Global Claims Solutions for Insurance Market Leadership Award. For more information, please visit www.shift-technology.com. About Advent International

Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. The firm has invested in over 370 private equity transactions in 41 countries, and as of December 31, 2020, had $76 billion in assets under management. With 15 offices in 12 countries, Advent has established a globally integrated team of 240 investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The firm focuses on investments in five core sectors, including business and financial services; health care; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology. Advent has a long history of growth investments dating back to its founding in 1984, and in 2019 launched Advent Tech, a dedicated technology-focused fund focused on growth investments and buyouts of leading technology companies globally. After 35 years dedicated to international investing, Advent remains committed to partnering with management teams to deliver sustained revenue and earnings growth for its portfolio companies. For more information, visit www.adventinternational.com or www.linkedin.com/company/advent-international Media contacts Shift Technology

Rob Morton

Corporate Communications

+1.617.416.9216

rob.morton@shift-technology.com Advent International

Sophia Templin or Amanda Muccio

+1 646 805 2000

Adventinternational-us@finsbury.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shift-technology-secures-220-million-in-a-series-d-investment-round-led-by-advent-international-301285308.html SOURCE Shift Technology

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Chamber Breakfast Celebrates Small Businesses

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce May Power in Partnership Breakfast will celebrate small businesses.The virtual breakfast on May 13 at 7:30 a.m. will recognize small business owners and entrepreneurs as part of a small business celebration.The program will feature a panel of small business owners who will discuss coping with the changes and impact of COVID-19. Panelists will include Dawn Arnold of Arnold Realty Group, Jeff Pierce of Atomic City Family Fun Center, Katie Englert of Compass Counseling, and Ed White of Big Ed's Restaurant.Swift & Staley is sponsoring the event.You can register to attend via Zoom at the link below. It will also be carried live on the Chamber's Facebook page."There is nothing small about the impact small businesses have on the American economy and our local economy. We are going to celebrate and show our appreciation for our small businesses," said Sandra Wilson, Chamber President. "Small businesses make up the majority of the Chamber's membership, and we know how important it is to provide a variety of services and benefits to them, emphasize buy local and help promote their products and services."During the Small Business Celebration, virtual seminars will be held each week beginning Wednesday, May 12, and continuing through June 2 at 8 a.m.
[May 06, 2021] Deluxe Reports First Quarter 2021 Results; Declares Regular Dividend and Reaffirms 2021 Outlook

Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Business Technology company, today reported operating results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021. "We had a solid start to 2021, consistent with our expectations. We achieved significant year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA and sequential improvement in the total revenue decline rate," said Barry McCarthy, President and CEO of Deluxe. "Our Payments segment again delivered healthy growth, demonstrating its resiliency in the face of the continued pandemic and severe weather impacts, and despite a tough comparable with the impact of several large-scale wins in the same period a year ago. We also saw acceleration in data-driven marketing, a component of Cloud Solutions." McCarthy continued, "Upon the closing of our recently announced acquisition of First American Payment Systems, we expect to achieve even greater transformative acceleration by doubling the size of our Payments segment. We plan to leverage First American's scaled payments platform and impressive distribution channels, allowing us to provide merchant services to our millions of small business customers and thousands of financial institution clients, while also offering new services, such as payroll, receivables and digital disbursements, to First American's significant customer base. Upon closing, Deluxe will be firmly established as a payments and Trusted Business Technology company." "Our business continues to recover well, particularly in our higher growth focus areas. Our 'One Deluxe' go-to-market strategy is delivering impressive results, as evidenced by the signing of the two largest deals in company history in the last six months, and nine of the 13 largest wins of the last decade in the last seven quarters. Healthy customer demand in payments and data is driving the positive momentum we are seeing, and we expect it to continue in 2021," concluded McCarthy. First Quarter 2021 Financial and Segment Highlights







1st Quarter

2021 1st Quarter

2020 % Change Revenue $441.3 million $486.4 million (9.3%) Net Income (Loss) $24.3 million ($60.1 million) n/m Adjusted EBITDA $90.5 million $83.3 million 8.6% Diluted EPS - GAAP $0.57 ($1.45) n/m Adjusted Diluted EPS $1.26 $1.08 16.7% n/m - not meaningful

Revenue was $45.1 million lower than the previous year. 2021 results reflect a full quarter of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while prior year results were not affected until late in the first quarter. The impact is reflected primarily in the Promotional Solutions, Cloud Solutions and Checks segments.

The Payments segment delivered revenue growth of 3.2 percent over the previous year, lapping the impact of two large wins in the same period a year ago.

Net income of $24.3 million was impacted by COVID-19 but benefitted from various cost saving and efficiency programs across the company.

Adjusted EBITDA margin remained strong at 20.5 percent, as management continues to refine the company's cost structure.

Cash flow from operations for the first quarter of 2021 was $39.6 million and capital expenditures were $21.7 million. Free cash flow, defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was $17.9 million, an increase of $5.7 million as compared to 2020, largely attributable to working capital improvements.

$840.0 million remained outstanding on the revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2021, the same amount that was outstanding at the beginning of the year. Net debt of $714.6 million was the lowest since June 30, 2018 and liquidity was $427.7 million as of March 31, 2021. Outlook for Stand-Alone Deluxe Based on our first quarter results, the outlook remains unchanged and the company continues to expect the following for the full year 2021: Revenue growth in the range of 0% to 2% primarily due to the combination of sales transformation and related wins, as well as a steady macro-economic recovery from COVID-19

Adjusted EBITDA margin in a range between 20% to 21%

To exit the year with a growth rate in mid-single digits, without benefit of acquisitions, a significant transformation milestone

Tax rate to continue to be approximately 25%

Capital expenditures to be approximately $90 million In second quarter 2021, we expect to deliver continued improvement in revenue performance, with solid margins. This includes the impact of headwinds from temporary COVID-related salary and benefit reductions implemented in April 2020. These actions benefited the full second quarter of 2020 and were substantially restored in third quarter 2020. First American and Combined Outlook We will provide more insight into First American financials after the transaction closes which is expected to be later this quarter, and we plan to update full year guidance, including First American, during our second quarter 2021 earnings call in early August. Capital Allocation and Dividend The Board of Directors recently approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share. The dividend will be payable on June 7, 2021 to shareholders of record as of market closing on May 24, 2021. Earnings Call Information A live conference call will be held today at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT) to review the financial results. Listeners can access the call by dialing 1-866-393-4306 (access code 8787131). A presentation also will be available via a webcast on the investor relations website at www.deluxe.com/investor. Alternatively, an audio replay of the call will be available after 11:30 a.m. ET and through midnight on May 13, 2021 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (access code 8787131). About Deluxe Corporation Deluxe, a Trusted Business Technology company, champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay and get paid, accelerate growth and operate more efficiently. For more than 100 years, Deluxe customers have relied on our solutions and platforms at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions and hundreds of the world's largest consumer brands, while processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume. Our reach, scale and distribution channels position Deluxe to be our customers' most trusted business partner. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxe. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this release concerning Deluxe, the company's or management's intentions, expectations, outlook or predictions about future results or events are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management's current intentions or beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to vary from stated expectations, which variations could be material and adverse. Factors that could produce such a variation include, but are not limited to, the following: potential continuing negative impacts from pandemic health issues, such as the coronavirus / COVID-19, along with the impact of government restrictions or similar directives on our future results of operations, our future financial condition and our ability to continue business activities in affected regions; the impact that further deterioration or prolonged softness in the economy may have on demand for the company's products and services; the company's ability to execute its transformational strategy and to realize the intended benefits; the inherent unreliability of earnings, revenue and cash flow predictions due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the company's control; declining demand for the company's checks, check-related products and services and business forms; risks that the company's strategies intended to drive sustained revenue and earnings growth, despite the continuing decline in checks and forms, are delayed or unsuccessful; intense competition; continued consolidation of financial institutions and/or additional bank failures, thereby reducing the number of potential customers and referral sources and increasing downward pressure on the company's revenue and gross profit; the risk that the acquisition of First American Payment Systems and/or other future acquisitions will not be consummated; risks that any such acquisitions do not produce the anticipated results or synergies; risks that the company's cost reduction initiatives will be delayed or unsuccessful; performance shortfalls by one or more of the company's major suppliers, licensors or service providers; unanticipated delays, costs and expenses in the development and marketing of products and services, including web services and financial technology and treasury management solutions; the failure of such products and services to deliver the expected revenues and other financial targets; risks related to security breaches, computer malware or other cyber-attacks; risks of interruptions to the company's website operations or information technology systems; risks of unfavorable outcomes and the costs to defend litigation and other disputes; and the impact of governmental laws, regulations or investigations. The company's forward-looking statements speak only as of the time made, and management assumes no obligation to publicly update any such statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the company's current expectations are contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings made with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances. DELUXE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Product revenue $299.1 $330.7 Service revenue 142.2 155.7 Total revenue 441.3 486.4 Cost of products (107.3 ) (121.5 ) Cost of services (71.2 ) (80.5 ) Total cost of revenue (178.5 ) (202.0 ) Gross profit 262.8 284.4 Selling, general and administrative expense (212.5 ) (237.2 ) Restructuring and integration expense (14.3 ) (17.7 ) Asset impairment charges - (90.3 ) Operating income (loss) 36.0 (60.8 ) Interest expense (4.5 ) (7.0 ) Other income 2.0 4.5 Income (loss) before income taxes 33.5 (63.3 ) Income tax (provision) benefit (9.2 ) 3.2 Net income (loss) $24.3 ($60.1 ) Weighted-average dilutive shares 42.5 42.1 Diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.57 ($1.45 ) Adjusted diluted earnings per share 1.26 1.08 Capital expenditures 21.7 14.3 Depreciation and amortization expense 27.8 28.4 EBITDA 65.8 (27.9 ) Adjusted EBITDA 90.5 83.3 DELUXE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (dollars and shares in millions) (Unaudited) March 31,

2021 December 31,

2020 March 31,

2020 Cash and cash equivalents $125.4 $123.1 $310.1 Other current assets 379.1 383.5 376.1 Property, plant & equipment 87.8 88.7 94.3 Operating lease assets 41.3 35.9 43.9 Intangibles 254.2 246.8 240.0 Goodwill 736.9 736.8 736.7 Other non-current assets 268.6 260.1 243.4 Total assets $1,893.3 $1,874.9 $2,044.5 Total current liabilities $404.6 $411.8 $358.7 Long-term debt 840.0 840.0 1,140.0 Non-current operating lease liabilities 34.3 28.4 32.7 Other non-current liabilities 55.6 53.9 39.1 Shareholders' equity 558.8 540.8 474.0 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,893.3 $1,874.9 $2,044.5 Net debt $714.6 $716.9 $829.9 Shares outstanding 42.1 42.0 41.7 Number of employees 5,893 6,185 6,739 DELUXE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions) (Unaudited) Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020(1) Cash provided (used) by: Operating activities: Net income (loss) $24.3 ($60.1 ) Depreciation and amortization of intangibles 27.8 28.4 Asset impairment charges - 90.3 Prepaid product discount payments (9.6 ) (7.3 ) Other (2.9 ) (24.8 ) Total operating activities 39.6 26.5 Investing activities: Purchases of capital assets (21.7 ) (14.3 ) Other (0.2 ) 0.4 Total investing activities (21.9 ) (13.9 ) Financing activities: Net change in debt - 256.5 Dividends (12.9 ) (12.7 ) Share repurchases - (14.0 ) Net change in customer funds obligations 1.7 (19.4 ) Other (3.0 ) 0.7 Total financing activities (14.2 ) 211.1 Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents 1.6 (12.7 ) Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents 5.1 211.0 Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of year 229.4 174.8 Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of year $234.5 $385.8 Free cash flow $17.9 $12.2 (1) The 2020 statement of cash flows has been revised from amounts reported in the prior year to correct the presentation of purchases of capital assets and other operating cash flows. DELUXE CORPORATION SEGMENT INFORMATION (In millions) (Unaudited) Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Revenue: Payments $79.5 $77.0 Cloud Solutions 62.2 76.0 Promotional Solutions 124.5 142.8 Checks 175.1 190.6 Total $441.3 $486.4 Adjusted EBITDA: Payments $18.3 $18.0 Cloud Solutions 17.2 14.9 Promotional Solutions 17.7 11.2 Checks 83.6 90.7 Corporate (46.3 ) (51.5 ) Total $90.5 $83.3 Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Payments 23.0 % 23.4 % Cloud Solutions 27.7 % 19.6 % Promotional Solutions 14.2 % 7.8 % Checks 47.7 % 47.6 % Total 20.5 % 17.1 % The segment information reported here was calculated utilizing the methodology outlined in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(in millions)

(Unaudited) Note that the company has not reconciled adjusted EBITDA for full year 2021 to the directly comparable GAAP financial measure because the company does not provide outlook guidance for net income or the reconciling items between net income and adjusted EBITDA. Because of the substantial uncertainty and variability surrounding certain of these forward-looking reconciling items, including asset impairment charges, restructuring, integration and other costs, and certain legal-related expenses, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. The probable significance of certain of these reconciling items is high and, based on historical experience, could be material. EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA Management discloses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because it believes they are useful in evaluating the company's operating performance, as the calculations eliminate the effect of interest expense, income taxes, the accounting effects of capital investments (i.e., depreciation and amortization) and in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, certain items, as presented below, that may not be indicative of current period operating performance. In addition, management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA to assess the operating results and performance of the business, to perform analytical comparisons and to identify strategies to improve performance. Management also believes that an increasing EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA depict an increase in the value of the company. Management does not consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be measures of cash flow, as they do not consider certain cash requirements, such as interest, income taxes, debt service payments or capital investments. Management does not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA to be substitutes for operating income or net income. Instead, management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful performance measures that should be considered in addition to GAAP performance measures. Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income (loss) $24.3 ($60.1 ) Interest expense 4.5 7.0 Income tax provision (benefit) 9.2 (3.2 ) Depreciation and amortization expense 27.8 28.4 EBITDA 65.8 (27.9 ) Asset impairment charges - 90.3 Restructuring, integration and other costs 15.2 19.7 CEO transition costs - (0.2 ) Share-based compensation expense 6.7 3.6 Acquisition transaction costs 2.8 - Certain legal-related benefit - (2.2 ) Adjusted EBITDA $90.5 $83.3 DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (continued)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited) ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS By excluding the impact of non-cash items or items that may not be indicative of ongoing operations, management believes that Adjusted Diluted EPS provides useful comparable information to assist in analyzing the company's current and future operating performance. As such, Adjusted Diluted EPS is one of the key financial performance metrics used to assess the operating results and performance of the business and to identify strategies to improve performance. It is reasonable to expect that one or more of the excluded items will occur in future periods, but the amounts recognized may vary significantly. Management does not consider Adjusted Diluted EPS to be a substitute for GAAP performance measures, but believes that it is a useful performance measure that should be considered in addition to GAAP performance measures. Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income (loss) $24.3 ($60.1 ) Asset impairment charges - 90.3 Acquisition amortization 13.2 14.8 Restructuring, integration and other costs 15.2 19.7 CEO transition costs - (0.2 ) Share-based compensation expense 6.7 3.6 Acquisition transaction costs 2.8 - Certain legal-related benefit - (2.2 ) Adjustments, pre-tax 37.9 126.0 Income tax provision impact of pre-tax adjustments(1) (8.5 ) (19.2 ) Adjustments, net of tax 29.4 106.8 Adjusted net income 53.7 46.7 Income allocated to participating securities - (0.1 ) Re-measurement of share-based awards classified as liabilities - (0.8 ) Adjusted income available to common shareholders $53.7 $45.8 Weighted-average dilutive shares 42.5 42.1 Adjustment(2) - 0.1 Adjusted weighted-average dilutive shares 42.5 42.2 GAAP Diluted EPS $0.57 ($1.45 ) Adjustments, net of tax 0.69 2.53 Adjusted Diluted EPS $1.26 $1.08 (1) The tax effect of the pretax adjustments considers the tax treatment and related tax rate(s) that apply to each adjustment in the applicable tax jurisdiction(s). Generally, this results in a tax impact that approximates the U.S. effective tax rate for each adjustment. However, the tax impact of certain adjustments, such as asset impairment charges and share-based compensation expense, depends on whether the amounts are deductible in the respective tax jurisdictions and the applicable effective tax rate(s) in those jurisdictions. (2) The adjustment to total weighted-average dilutive shares for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 is due to the net loss reported for the period. The GAAP EPS calculation for this period excluded a higher number of share-based compensation awards because their effect was antidilutive. DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (continued)

(in millions)

(Unaudited) NET DEBT Management believes that net debt is an important measure to monitor leverage and to evaluate the balance sheet. In calculating net debt, cash and cash equivalents are subtracted from total debt because they could be used to reduce the company's debt obligations. A limitation associated with using net debt is that it subtracts cash and cash equivalents, and therefore, may imply that management intends to use cash and cash equivalents to reduce outstanding debt. In addition, net debt suggests that our debt obligations are less than the most comparable GAAP measure indicates. March 31,

2021 December 31,

2020 Total debt $840.0 $840.0 Cash and cash equivalents (125.4 ) (123.1 ) Net debt $714.6 $716.9 FREE CASH FLOW Management defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of capital assets. Management believes that free cash flow is an important indicator of cash available for debt service and for shareholders, after making capital investments to maintain or expand the company's asset base. Free cash flow is limited and not all of the company's free cash flow is available for discretionary spending, as the company may have mandatory debt payments and other cash requirements that must be deducted from its cash available for future use. Free cash flow is not a substitute for GAAP liquidity measures. Instead, management believes that this measurement provides an additional metric to compare cash generated by operations on a consistent basis and to provide insight into the cash flow available to fund items such as share repurchases, dividends, mandatory and discretionary debt reduction, and acquisitions or other strategic investments. Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net cash provided by operating activities $39.6 $26.5 Purchases of capital assets (21.7 ) (14.3 ) Free cash flow $17.9 $12.2 DELUXE CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (continued)

(in millions)

(Unaudited) LIQUIDITY Management defines liquidity as cash and cash equivalents plus the amount available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility. Management considers liquidity to be an important metric for demonstrating the amount of cash that is available or that could be readily available to the company on short notice. This financial measure is not a substitute for GAAP liquidity measures. Instead, management believes that this measurement enhances investors' understanding of the funds that are currently available to the company. March 31,

2021 December 31,

2020 Cash and cash equivalents $125.4 $123.1 Amounts available for borrowing under revolving credit facility 302.3 302.3 Liquidity $427.7 $425.4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005138/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Vontier Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Vontier Corporation ("Vontier") (NYSE: VNT) today announced results for the first quarter 2021. For the first quarter ended April 2, 2021, net earnings were $91.0 million and adjusted net earnings were $107.7 million. For the first quarter ended April 2, 2021, diluted net earnings per share were $0.54 and adjusted diluted net earnings per share were $0.63. For the first quarter of 2021, revenue increased 16.1% year-over-year to $707.4 million, which reflected an increase in core revenue of 14.3%. Mark D. Morelli, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Strong execution by our teams drove double-digit core revenue and earnings growth, margin expansion, and free cash flow that exceeded our expectations. I am extremely proud of our team's ability to rigorously navigate supply chain challenges and drive growth with unprecedented working capital efficiency. Given our robust outperformance in the first quarter coupled with profitable growth initiatives momentum and expectations for improved demand, we are raising our full-year 2021 adjusted EPS guidance." For the second quarter of 2021, Vontier anticipates diluted net earnings per share to be in the range of $0.43 to $0.47 and adjusted diluted net earnings per share to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.54. For the full year 2021, Vontier anticipates diluted net earnings per share to be in the range of $2.25 to $2.35 and adjusted diluted net earnings per share to be in the range of $2.55 to $2.65. Mr. Morelli added, "A greater focus and deeper deployment of the Vontier Business System is the driving force behind our success today and tomorrow. We are confident in our organic and inorganic opportunities and are fully committed to delivering compounding growth and long-term value creation for our customers, communities, and shareholders." Vontier will discuss results and outlook during its quarterly investor conference call today starting at 8:00 a.m. ET. The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the "Investors" section of Vontier's website, www.vontier.com, under "Events & Presentations." A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location shortly after the conclusion of the presentation. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 833-614-1510 within the U.S. or by dialing 918-922-6514 outside the U.S. a few minutes before 8:00 a.m. ET and notifying the operator that you are dialing in for Vontier's earnings conference call (access code 1076906). A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call. Once available, you can access the conference call replay by dialing 855-859-2056 within the U.S. or 404-537-3406 outside the U.S. (access code 1076906) or visit the "Investors" section of the website under "Events & Presentations." ABOUT VONTIER Vontier is a global industrial technology company focused on transportation and mobility solutions. The company's portfolio of trusted brands includes market-leading expertise in mobility technologies, retail and commercial fueling, fleet management, telematics, vehicle diagnostics and repair, and smart cities end-markets. Vontier's innovative products, services, and software advance efficiency, safety, security, and environmental compliance worldwide. Guided by the proven Vontier Business System and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and customer success, Vontier keeps traffic flowing through more than 90,000 intersections, serves more than 260,000 customer fueling sites, monitors more than 480,000 commercial vehicles, and equips over 600,000 auto technicians worldwide. Vontier is mobilizing the future to create a better world. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this earnings release also references "adjusted net earnings," "adjusted diluted net earnings per share," and "core revenue" which are non-GAAP financial measures. The reasons why we believe these measures, when used in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures, provide useful information to investors, how management uses such non-GAAP financial measures, a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures and other information relating to these measures are included in the supplemental reconciliation schedule attached. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the GAAP financial measures, but should instead be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures used by Vontier in this release may be different from similarly-titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding Vontier Corporation's (the "Company's") business and acquisition opportunities and anticipated earnings, and any other statements identified by their use of words like "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "outlook," "guidance," or "will" or other words of similar meaning. There are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, deterioration of or instability in the economy, the markets we serve, international trade policies and the financial markets, contractions or lower growth rates and cyclicality of markets we serve, competition, changes in industry standards and governmental regulations that may adversely impact demand for our products or our costs, our ability to successfully identify, consummate, integrate and realize the anticipated value of appropriate acquisitions and successfully complete divestitures and other dispositions, our ability to develop and successfully market new products, software, and services and expand into new markets, the potential for improper conduct by our employees, agents or business partners, impact of divestitures, contingent liabilities relating to acquisitions and divestitures, impact of changes to tax laws, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations and changes in applicable laws and regulations, risks relating to international economic, political, legal, compliance and business factors, risks relating to potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, currency exchange rates, tax audits and changes in our tax rate and income tax liabilities, the impact of our debt obligations on our operations, litigation and other contingent liabilities including intellectual property and environmental, health and safety matters, our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, risks relating to product, service or software defects, product liability and recalls, risks relating to product manufacturing, our relationships with and the performance of our channel partners, commodity costs and surcharges, our ability to adjust purchases and manufacturing capacity to reflect market conditions, reliance on sole sources of supply, security breaches or other disruptions of our information technology systems, adverse effects of restructuring activities, impact of changes to U.S. GAAP, labor matters, and disruptions relating to man-made and natural disasters. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. These forward-looking statements represent Vontier's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this release and Vontier does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise.







VONTIER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions, except share and per share amounts) April 2, 2021 December 31, 2020 (unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 670.3 $ 380.5 Accounts receivable, net 386.5 447.1 Inventories: Finished goods 94.3 90.3 Work in process 25.8 19.9 Raw materials 122.6 123.5 Total inventories 242.7 233.7 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 111.7 120.8 Total current assets 1,411.2 1,182.1 Property, plant and equipment, net 98.1 96.8 Operating lease right-of-use assets 35.8 40.1 Long-term financing receivables, net 237.0 233.5 Other intangible assets, net 241.1 250.5 Goodwill 1,082.9 1,092.1 Other assets 178.0 177.9 Total assets $ 3,284.1 $ 3,073.0 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings $ 6.9 $ 10.9 Trade accounts payable 375.1 367.4 Current operating lease liabilities 11.9 11.9 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 404.3 448.1 Total current liabilities 798.2 838.3 Long-term operating lease liabilities 26.9 30.5 Long-term debt 1,981.8 1,795.3 Other long-term liabilities 209.2 217.2 Equity: Preferred stock, no par value -- 15,000,000 authorized shares; and none issued and outstanding - - Common stock, $0.0001 par value -- 1,985,000,000 shares authorized at April 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020; 168,762,403 and 168,497,098 shares issued and outstanding at April 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively - - Additional paid-in capital 8.7 7.6 Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit) 77.4 (13.6 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 178.2 193.8 Total Vontier stockholders' equity 264.3 187.8 Noncontrolling interests 3.7 3.9 Total stockholders' equity 268.0 191.7 Total liabilities and equity $ 3,284.1 $ 3,073.0

VONTIER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) (in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended April 2, 2021 March 27, 2020 Sales $ 707.4 $ 609.2 Cost of sales (395.6 ) (346.1 ) Gross profit 311.8 263.1 Operating costs: Selling, general and administrative expenses (145.7 ) (123.1 ) Research and development expenses (33.2 ) (32.9 ) Impairment of goodwill - (85.3 ) Operating profit 132.9 21.8 Non-operating expense, net: Interest expense, net (10.4 ) (0.4 ) Write-off of deferred financing costs (3.2 ) - Other non-operating expense, net (0.2 ) (0.1 ) Earnings before income taxes 119.1 21.3 Provision for income taxes (28.1 ) (25.5 ) Net earnings (loss) $ 91.0 $ (4.2 ) Net earnings (loss) per share: Basic $ 0.54 $ (0.02 ) Diluted $ 0.54 $ (0.02 ) Average common stock and common equivalent shares outstanding: Basic 168.7 168.4 Diluted 169.7 168.4 VONTIER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ($ in millions) (unaudited) Three Months Ended April 2, 2021 March 27, 2020 Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings (loss) $ 91.0 $ (4.2 ) Non-cash items: Depreciation and amortization expense 19.8 19.3 Stock-based compensation expense 6.6 3.6 Impairment of goodwill - 85.3 Write-off of deferred financing costs 3.2 - Amortization of debt issuance costs 0.8 - Change in deferred income taxes (1.0 ) (7.0 ) Change in accounts receivable and long-term financing receivables, net 61.5 30.5 Change in other operating assets and liabilities (18.6 ) (71.9 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 163.3 55.6 Cash flows from investing activities: Payments for additions to property, plant and equipment (11.0 ) (7.5 ) Proceeds from sale of property - 0.1 Cash paid for equity investments (4.6 ) (9.5 ) Net cash used in investing activities (15.6 ) (16.9 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 1,586.5 - Repayment of long-term debt (1,400.0 ) - Payment for debt issuance costs (1.2 ) - Net repayments of related-party borrowings - (23.6 ) Net (repayments of) proceeds from short-term borrowings (4.0 ) 0.1 Net transfers to Former Parent (31.5 ) (9.5 ) Proceeds from stock option exercises 1.5 - Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (1.9 ) - Other financing activities (3.9 ) (1.0 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 145.5 (34.0 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (3.4 ) (4.7 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 289.8 - Beginning balance of cash and cash equivalents 380.5 - Ending balance of cash and cash equivalents $ 670.3 $ - VONTIER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND OTHER INFORMATION Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings per Share We disclose the non-GAAP measures of adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted net earnings per share which, to the extent applicable, make the following adjustments to GAAP net earnings and GAAP diluted net earnings per share: Excluding on a pretax basis amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets;

Excluding on a pretax basis restructuring costs;

Excluding on a pretax basis (to the extent tax deductible) charges for goodwill impairment;

Excluding on a pretax basis transaction- and deal-related costs;

Excluding on a pretax basis gains and losses from the sale of property;

Excluding on a pretax basis earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests;

Excluding on a pretax basis one-time costs related to the separation;

Excluding on a pretax basis non-cash write-offs of deferred financing costs:

Including on a pretax basis pro-forma interest expense on debt entered into subsequent to period end;

Including on a pretax basis normalization and other adjustments which represent adjustments for standalone public company costs; and

Excluding and including the tax effect of the adjustments noted above and other tax adjustments. The tax effect of such adjustments was calculated by applying our overall estimated effective tax rate to the pretax amount of each adjustment (unless the nature of the item and/or the tax jurisdiction in which the item has been recorded requires application of a specific tax rate or tax treatment, in which case the tax effect of such item is estimated by applying such specific tax rate or tax treatment). Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by reflecting additional ways of viewing aspects of our operations that, when reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measure, help our investors to understand the long-term profitability trends of our business, and facilitate comparisons of our profitability to prior and future periods and to our peers. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for or superior to, the comparable GAAP measures, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Core Revenue We define sales from existing businesses ("Core Revenue") as total sales excluding (i) sales from acquired and divested businesses; (ii) the impact of currency translation; and (iii) certain other items. References to sales attributable to acquisitions or acquired businesses refer to GAAP sales from acquired businesses recorded prior to the first anniversary of the acquisition less the amount of sales attributable to certain divested businesses or product lines not considered discontinued operations.

The portion of sales attributable to the impact of currency translation is calculated as the difference between (a) the period-to-period change in sales (excluding sales from acquired businesses) and (b) the period-to-period change in sales, including foreign operations, (excluding sales from acquired businesses) after applying the current period foreign exchange rates to the prior year period.

The portion of sales attributable to other items is calculated as the impact of those items which are not directly correlated to sales from existing businesses which do not have an impact on the current or comparable period. Management believes that reporting the non-GAAP financial measure of sales from existing businesses provides useful information to investors by helping identify underlying growth trends in our business and facilitating easier comparisons of our sales performance with our performance in prior and future periods and to our peers. We exclude the effect of acquisitions and divestiture-related items because the nature, size and number of such transactions can vary dramatically from period to period and between us and our peers. We exclude the effect of currency translation and certain other items from sales from existing businesses because these items are either not under management's control or relate to items not directly correlated to sales from existing businesses. Management believes the exclusion of these items from sales from existing businesses may facilitate assessment of underlying business trends and may assist in comparisons of long-term performance. Sales from existing businesses should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for or superior to, total sales, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Net Earnings Three Months Ended ($ in millions) April 2, 2021 March 27, 2020 Net Earnings (GAAP) $ 91.0 $ (4.2 ) Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 7.6 7.3 Restructuring costs 4.0 0.1 Goodwill impairment charges - 85.3 Transaction- and deal-related costs 1.8 - Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 0.1 1.3 Pro-forma interest expense on debt, net of interest income - (9.6 ) Non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs 3.2 - One-time costs related to separation 6.4 5.5 Normalization and other adjustments (a) (1.3 ) (12.7 ) Tax effect of the Non-GAAP adjustments (b) (5.1 ) 1.9 Adjusted Net Earnings (Non-GAAP) $ 107.7 $ 74.9 (a) Adjustment for standalone public company costs (b) Tax effect calculated using an estimated effective rate for each respective period. The goodwill impairment charge is not tax deductible and therefore the tax effect of the adjustments includes only the other adjustments noted. Reconciliation of Diluted Net Earnings per Share to Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings per Share Three Months Ended April 2, 2021 March 27, 2020 Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (GAAP) $ 0.54 $ (0.02 ) Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 0.04 0.04 Restructuring costs 0.02 - Goodwill impairment charges - 0.51 Transaction- and deal-related costs 0.01 - Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - 0.01 Pro-forma interest expense on debt, net of interest income - (0.06 ) Non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs 0.02 - One-time costs related to separation 0.04 0.03 Normalization and other adjustments (a) (0.01 ) (0.08 ) Tax effect of the Non-GAAP adjustments (b) (0.03 ) 0.01 Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) $ 0.63 $ 0.44 (a) Adjustment for standalone public company costs (b) Tax effect calculated using an estimated effective rate for each respective period. The goodwill impairment charge is not tax deductible and therefore the tax effect of the adjustments includes only the other adjustments noted. Note: The sum of the components of adjusted diluted net earnings per share may not equal due to rounding. Forecasted Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share Three Months Ended Year Ended July 2, 2021 December 31, 2021 Low End High End Low End High End Forecasted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share $ 0.43 $ 0.47 $ 2.25 $ 2.35 Anticipated amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 0.04 0.04 0.18 0.18 Anticipated restructuring costs 0.03 0.03 0.12 0.12 Transaction- and deal-related costs - - 0.01 0.01 Anticipated earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - - (0.01 ) (0.01 ) Non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs - - 0.02 0.02 Anticipated one-time costs, net of normalization (a) 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.07 Tax effect of the Non-GAAP adjustments (b) (0.02 ) (0.02 ) (0.09 ) (0.09 ) Forecasted Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) $ 0.50 $ 0.54 $ 2.55 $ 2.65 (a) Adjustment for standalone public company costs (b) Tax effect calculated using an estimated effective rate for each respective period. Note: The sum of the components of forecasted adjusted diluted net earnings per share may not equal due to rounding. Components of Revenue Growth % Change Three Months

Ended April 2, 2021 vs.

Comparable 2020 Period Total Revenue Growth (GAAP) 16.1 % Core revenue growth (Non-GAAP) 14.3 % Impact of currency exchange rates (Non-GAAP) 1.8 % View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005450/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Garry Kasparov, Leading cyber expert and former world chess champion at IMPROVATE Homeland Security and Cyber: "The bad guys are using AI, and we have to be one step ahead"

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global experts, government officials, and leading Israeli technology companies took part in IMPROVATE's Homeland Security and Cyber conference where participants discussed multiple threat scenarios and presented technological solutions to counter them. Representatives from several countries including Bulgaria, Greece and Romania took part in the conference. Former world chess champion and leading artificial intelligence expert Garry Kasparov, the keynote speaker at the conference, and a member of the IMPROVATE advisory board, said: "AI is being used by bad guys We have to be one step ahead of those using AI in a malicious way." IMPROVATE founder Irina Nevzlin said: "We live in a world of deep fake, where a country can bully its neighbors and suppress its citizens using digital technology, we live in a very difficult time for democracy. In Israel, which by necessity has become a world leader in HLS and cyber, we are in a situation to bring solutions to these problems where they are needed." Andreana Atanasova, Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria said: "All EU governments and stakeholders must cooperate on the issue of the security of 5G networks. Joint efforts and close cooperation with strategic partners such as Israel, which is a leader in cyber security, would also be particularly useful to predict and deal with cyber risks and guarantee the cybersecurity of 5G networks." Yair Maor, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at IAI-ELTA Systems, a leading technology company developing and providing innovative Defense, Cyber and Homeland Security solutions said: "our systems are not only tested in the lab, but are field proven in a combat environment." Bluebird Aero Systems is a dominant player in the Tactical Unmnned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry. The company specializes in the design, development, and production of Mini & Tactical UAS, and delivers unprecedented field-proven HTOL & VTOL solutions. Bluebird's products and services meet the challenges of the Military, HLS, and civilian UAS markets.



Bluebird founder and CEO Ronen Nadir said: "Good protection against terrorism and other threats starts with efficient tactical information gathering, and that is the main role of UAVs in HLS." Arnon Bram, General Manager of Magal Integrated Solutions Division, part of Magal Security Systems Group, a leading international provider of solutions, services and products for security, safety and site management, said Magal has vast experience providing HLS solutions in key verticals all over the world in the HLS market: borders, airports, seaports, oil and gas.

"We have a unique position in the sense that on the one hand we are an OEM and we manufacture sensors, products, technology, and on the other hand we are a system integrator, which means that we are in direct contact with our customer on a continuous basis, understanding their issues and their problems and trying to implement them into our systems." Omer Sharar, co-founder and CEO of InfiniDome, which develops GPS protection solutions tailored to defend drones and other unmanned systems, vehicle fleets and other defense applications from GPS jamming said it deploys the same kind of electronic warfare principles as military solutions but in a much smaller box making them a lot more applicable to smaller applications. "We plan to bring the same kind of protection level to any critical GNSS, GPS application out there," he said. Smart Shooter is a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems proven to significantly increase the accuracy and lethality of existing small arms. Sharone Aloni, VP R&D at Smart Shooter said: "We provide what we call a "one-shot one-hit" capability based on highly sophisticated computer algorithms as an add-on to a rifle, without any changes." Shay Geva, founder and CEO of Capture Systems specializes in design, development and production of advanced modular multi-axial positioners that can be used for a wide range of fields and applications, said: "We have a solution for every vertical, this is the idea behind Capture Systems." Oddetect is an innovator in the video analytics world enabling CCTV operators to monitor unlimited amounts of videos in real time. Gaining actionable Intelligence for real time decision making. "The human factor is limited so Oddetect is a tool to assist decision makers in real time," said Maj. Gen. (Ret) David Tsur, a member of the Oddetect Advisory Board. A former member of the Israeli Parliament, former police commander of the Tel Aviv District and the former commander of the Israeli police counter terrorism unit ("Yamam"). "Oddetect discovers unusual and suspicious behavior by leveraging cutting edge technology. It turns every camera into a smart incident detector," added Jonathan Ben Dov, VP Sales & Marketing. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/garry-kasparov-leading-cyber-expert-and-former-world-chess-champion-at-improvate-homeland-security-and-cyber-the-bad-guys-are-using-ai-and-we-have-to-be-one-step-ahead-301285472.html SOURCE IMPROVATE

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[May 06, 2021] KKR Acquisition Holdings I Corp. Announces the Separate Trading of its Shares of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants Commencing May 7, 2021

KKR Acquisition Holdings I Corp. (NYSE: KAHC.U) (the "Company") announced that, commencing May 7, 2021, holders of the units sold in the Company's initial public offering of 138,000,000 units, may elect to separately trade the shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants included in the units. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "KAHC.U," and the shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants that are separated will trade on the NYSE under the symbols "KAHC" and "KAHC WS," respectively. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Holders of units will need to have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company's transfer agent, in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Although the Company's efforts to identify a prospective business combination opportunity will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, the Company's acquisition and value creation strategy is to identify, acquire and build a company in the consumer or retail industries. The Company seeks to capitalize on the relationships, knowledge and experiences of its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Glenn Murphy, and the KKR platform. The units were initially offered by the Company in an underwritten offering. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as sole book-running manager of the offering. Academy Securities, Inc., AmeriVet Securites, Blaylock Van, LLC, Cabrera Capital Markets LLC, CastleOak Securities, L.P., C.L. King & Associates, Inc., Guzman & Company, Loop Capital Markets LLC, Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc., Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC and Telsey Advisory Group LLC acted as co-managers. A registration statement relating to the securities, as well as a related registration statement on Form S-1MEF filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, became effective on March 16, 2021.



This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained for free from the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by contacting Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: (800) 831-9146.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005114/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Kingston Technology DDR5 Overclockable Modules One Step Closer to Reaching Market

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it has sent overclockable DDR5 modules to its motherboard partners to begin qualification on the next-generation memory platform. Kingston engineered its DDR5 modules with a preset XMP profile, but also enabled our motherboard partners to manually adjust the power management integrated circuit (PMIC) beyond the 1.1V DDR5 spec, thus allowing maximum flexibility to overclock. Kingston expects to ship its DDR5 solutions in Q3. Memory validation requires cooperation of the entire computing ecosystem, and Kingston has forged close ties with the leading motherboard manufacturers and chipset makers throughout its 33-year history. This step continues the critical process of bringing leading high-performance and overclockable memory solutions to market later this year. For over three decades, Kingston has meticulously engineered and has 100% tested every cell on every chip on every module. The methodical testing combined with a lifetime warranty and unmatched customer service has made Kingston the largest third-party memory manufacturer in the world, with over 80% market share. Kingston has also been a longtime member of JEDEC, the governing entity for the microelectronics industry. For over a decade, Kingston has held a seat on the JEDEC board as well, helping set the standards for which all manufacturers follow.



For more information visit kingston.com. Kingston can be found on:

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Kingston Is With You About Kingston Technology Company, Inc. From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world's largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com. Editor's Note: For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact David Leong, Kingston Technology Company, Inc. 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA (News - Alert) USA 92708, 714-438-1817 (Voice). Press images can be found in Kingston's press room here. Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey (News - Alert) is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005178/en/

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[May 06, 2021] FedEx Delivering Critical COVID-19 Aid to India

As India and its healthcare systems face a surge in COVID-19 infections across the country, FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world's largest express transportation company, is working with organizations around the world to deliver critical medical supplies and equipment during this crisis. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005392/en/ Critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment departing Santa Barbara, Calf., USA, bound for healthcare facilities in Kolkata, India via FedEx. (Photo: Business Wire) FedEx is currently supporting the transportation of more than 25,000 oxygen concentrators and converters through an initiative with the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum and other multinational companies. An initial shipment of 1,000 critical oxygen concentrators was delivered by FedEx to New Delhi on April 30 as part of this collective. On May 8, FedEx is donating a FedEx Boeing (News - Alert) 777F charter flight to move more than 3,400 oxygen concentrators, converters and nearly 265,000 KN95 masks for Direct Relief from Newark, New Jersey to Mumbai, India. The supplies will ultimately be delivered to healthcare facilities in Mumbai. In addition, FedEx is working with customers and non-profit organizations to deliver hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and aid into India in the days and weeks ahead. FedEx also is a founding member of the Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, a public-private partnership organize by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Business Roundtable to provide a unified platform for businesses to mobilize and deliver resources to assist COVID-19 efforts in areas of the highest need around the world. FedEx President and COO Raj Subramaniam is one of 17 business leaders serving on the steering committee for the task force.



"The devastating humanitarian crisis in India requires relief from around the world, and it is our mission to deliver critical aid needed to help alleviate suffering," Subramaniam said. "We have been on the frontlines delivering relief since the start of the pandemic, and are responding to the urgent situation in India now. FedEx will continue to deliver lifesaving medicine, personal protective equipment, and other critical supplies until this pandemic is over." FedEx has moved more than 10,000 COVID-19 humanitarian aid shipments since January 2020. The company has also committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to help nonprofits including Direct Relief and International Medical Corps distribute COVID-19 vaccines to under-resourced communities around the world.

FedEx has a long history of moving critical items across the globe. Since the start of the pandemic, FedEx Express has shipped more than 80 kilotons of personal protective equipment, including more than 2.2 billion masks worldwide. An integral part of the global vaccine supply chain, FedEx is currently delivering COVID-19 vaccines, related ingredients, and supplies to more than 25 countries around the world. "Direct Relief is thankful beyond words for FedEx enabling scaled-up assistance that's critically needed by people in India, where growing COVID-19 cases present such severe threats to their health," said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. "As it has on so many other occasions, FedEx devoting its unique logistics capacity and the skills and energies of its global team is a perfect example of the type of leadership and commitment that is needed now to combat this historic pandemic and the risks to people everywhere." The delivery of the lifesaving supplies is consistent with the company's FedEx Cares 50 by 50 goal to positively impact 50 million people around the world by the company's 50th anniversary in 2023. Learn more about the FedEx Cares "Delivering for Good" initiative here. About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $79 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 570,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit about.fedex.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005392/en/

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[May 06, 2021] KKR to Invest in Charter Next Generation to Grow Specialty Films Leader

KKR today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to invest in Charter Next Generation ("CNG"), a leading producer of specialty films used in flexible packaging, industrial, healthcare, and consumer applications. KKR will be joining Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. as an equal co-owner of the business, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will also be investing in the transaction to become a minority owner. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005421/en/ With more than 30% of all food produced globally wasted due to spoilage, Charter Next Generation offers solutions for keeping food fresh longer, while maintaining the lowest carbon footprint of any major packaging substrate given its optimized size and lighter weight. These attributes are imperative at a time when in the U.S., for example, 54 million Americans are food insecure, up significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, with landfills being the third-largest industrial emitter of methane, food waste alone represents 8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. CNG manufactures high performance specialty films focused especially on the critical inner lining of packaging, protecting foods and other goods by creating heat resistance, sterility, oxygen and odor barriers, UV shields, moisture protection, and more. These specialty films also allow for recyclability, compostability, and the use of post-consumer resin. In addition, CNG's high-performance, specialty films are used in a variety of other industrial, healthcare, and consumer applications. "Charter Next Generation offers the gold standard when it comes to materials science, product quality, innovation, and technical expertise in specialty films," said Josh Weisenbeck, KKR Partner who leads KKR's Industrials investment team. "We are looking forward to investing in the company's growth as they continue to raise the bar in innovation and sustainability." "Continuous investment in our film technologies and in our team is mission critical for us, which is why we are excited to partner with these exceptional, forward-thinking firms - particularly for their steadfast approach to employee engagement and ownership," said Kathy Bolhous,CEO of Charter Next Generation. "Offering all employees ownership in the company aligns everyone around our objectives while providing financial rewards for their efforts, fitting well with our employee first culture."



For over a decade, KKR's Industrials team has focused on employee engagement as a key driver in building stronger businesses. The strategy's cornerstone has been to allow all employees to take part in the benefits of ownership by granting them the opportunity to participate in the equity return alongside KKR. Beyond sharing ownership, KKR also supports employee engagement by investing in training across multiple functional areas and by partnering with the workforce to give back to the community. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to invest in Charter Next Generation not only because they are an industry leader on many fronts, but also because Kathy and her team are completely aligned with how we approach building stronger manufacturing companies: by building stronger company cultures through a robust employee engagement and ownership program," said Pete Stavros, KKR Partner and Co-Head of Americas Private Equity at KKR.

Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as advisors to CNG, while Kirkland & Ellis and Deloitte (News - Alert) served as advisors to KKR. KKR is making the investment in CNG through its Americas XII Fund. Further terms were not disclosed. About Charter Next Generation Charter Next Generation is North America's leading independent producer of high-performance, specialty films used in flexible packaging and other end-use markets. Known for sustainable, innovative products and world-class manufacturing capabilities, the company's quality and expertise are unsurpassed. Its sustainability first mindset, and relentless pursuit of excellence, make it an ideal partner to help brand owners reach their long-term sustainability goals. Visit Charter Next Generation at: https://cnginc.com About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management and capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter (News - Alert) @KKR_Co. About LGP Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. ("LGP") is a leading private equity investment firm founded in 1989 and based in Los Angeles. The firm partners with experienced management teams and often with founders to invest in market-leading companies. Since inception, LGP has invested in over 100 companies in the form of traditional buyouts, going-private transactions, recapitalizations, growth equity, and selective public equity and debt positions. The firm primarily focuses on companies providing services, including consumer, business, and healthcare services, as well as retail, distribution, and industrials. For more information, please visit www.leonardgreen.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005421/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Catchpoint Announces Integration with Google Cloud, Provides User Visibility Across Applications

NEW YORK, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catchpoint , the global leader in Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM), announces integration with Google Cloud. This allows IT teams to gain user-centric visibility into the performance, availability, and health of applications and infrastructure running on Google Cloud. Catchpoint is also available on Google Cloud Marketplace enabling a simplified billing process.

Catchpoint Integration with Google Cloud for comprehensive network performance visibility

Google Clouds Network Intelligence Center offers real-time network performance visibility into packet loss and latency at a per-project level and correlates with all of Googles performance to quickly troubleshoot network issues. What has been missing until today was visibility into what is happening between the user and the applications and services hosted on Google Cloud, as well as visibility into Google Cloud to various SaaS applications. There has been a lack of single monitoring solutions that can collect and analyze telemetry on all aspects of application delivery, said Mehdi Daoudi, CEO at Catchpoint. This integration between Google Cloud and Catchpoint fixes that. Gaining Visibility into the Digital Wilderness

Catchpoint provides comprehensive visibility into what happens between the user and the cloud or the data center. For most enterprises, this expanse is a highly complex, unpredictable, and virtually invisible digital wilderness. Catchpoint, leveraging more than 1,300 vantage points staged at strategic locations all around the globe, is able to rapidly spot and quantify problems as they occur, allowing enterprises to take action before users notice any issues. Adding Catchpoints unique global digital experience insights enabled by the largest global monitoringnetwork in the world, to the existing visibility provided by Google Clouds partner ecosystem, eliminates the visibility gaps that have long plagued enterprises. No other cloud platform has true Blackbox data as a part of their observability stack.



With this integration, network observability and performance monitoring teams can instantly visualize Catchpoint data alongside Network Intelligence Centers data and insights in the Google Cloud Monitoring platform. For extra flexibility, the Catchpoint data can also be visualized using Grafana, an open-source analytics and interactive visualization web application. This is a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts, said Lakshmi Sharma, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud. Organizations can now visualize Catchpoint data alongside Googles real-time performance metrics offered by Network Intelligence Center in Google Cloud Monitoring, in order to fix issues before they impact users.

Integrations Benefits

This integration eliminates visibility gaps and allows organizations to amplify application observability, which optimizes user experience and enables better management of digital business performance. Ultimately, this leads to better business outcomes. The integration is available immediately. Connect with Catchpoint

Twitter: @Catchpoint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catchpoint/ About Catchpoint

Catchpoint, the global leader in Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM), empowers business and IT leaders to protect and advance the experience of their customers and employees. In a digital economy, enabled by cloud, SaaS and IoT, applications and users are everywhere. Catchpoint offers the largest and most geographically distributed monitoring network in the industry  its the only DEM platform that can scale and support todays customer and employee location diversity and application distribution. It helps enterprises proactively detect, identify and validate user and application reachability, availability, performance and reliability, across an increasingly complex digital delivery chain. Industry leaders like Google, L'Oreal, Verizon, Oracle, LinkedIn, Honeywell, and Priceline trust Catchpoints out-of-the box monitoring platform, to proactively detect, repair, and optimize customer and employee experiences. Learn more at www.catchpoint.com Press Contact:

Holly Hagerman

Connect Marketing

801.373.7888

hollyh@connectmarketing.com

pr@catchpoint.com



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[May 06, 2021] Q2 Releases Inaugural Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Report

Q2 Holdings Inc. (NYSE: QTWO), a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for banking and lending, today released its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. The report highlights how the company is addressing the top ESG priorities that matter to its employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders. For more than 16 years, Q2 has been defined by and recognized for its mission-driven and award-winning culture of collaboration, inclusion, and transparency. The report underscores Q2's commitment to build strong and diverse communities by strengthening their financial institutions - from assisting employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic to the company's commitment to ethics, compliance and governance; ensuring security and privacy; and promoting diversity and inclusion, along with efforts to protect the environment. Today, more than 18.3 million account holders and more than 50,000 financial services employees utilize Q2's digital banking and lending solutions. As we serve the needs of our customers and communities, the ESG report exemplifies the company's ongoing commitment to support environmental, social and governance issues. "At Q2, we have always operated our business with a clear set of guiding principles that have shaped every aspect of our growth," said Matt Flake, chief executive officer at Q2. "We are confident our initiatives related to environmental, social and governance issues will at as additional fuel for growth and positive change. These initiatives will open our minds, unlock our creativity and enable our diverse talent to care for and positively impact our customers, partners and communities in ways we have yet to imagine."



Among the priority areas addressed in this report include the following: When COVID-19 hit, Q2 was prepared with its Business Continuity Plan, which allowed Q2 and its operations to respond to pandemic lockdown measures quickly and effectively. Q2 provided financial assistance, enhanced health benefits, and a COVID-19 day-off program to its employees.

In response to the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program), Q2 quickly developed a solution over a two-week period to allow its customers to rapidly process PPP loans. To date, Q2's PPP solution has now processed more than 24,000 PPP loans.

For the second year in a row, Q2 has been named a winner of the CSO50 award, which recognizes organizations for security projects that demonstrate outstanding business value.

Q2 has been named one of Austin's Best Places to Work for 10 years in a row, with similar honors in Lincoln, Nebraska and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In fiscal 2020, Q2 created and launched a diversity-focused council of 11 employees of color, sponsored by our Chief Executive Officer, to help inform our diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy.

Q2 is also supporting community-based diversity, equity and inclusion-focused causes and organizations, such as the Austin's African American Leadership Institute (AALI) development program, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing civic awareness and leadership opportunities to make an innovative community impact on Central Texas. To learn more about Q2's ESG efforts and to view the full report, please visit Q2 ESG Report.

About Q2 Holdings, Inc. Q2 is a financial experience company dedicated to providing digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance, and fintech companies in the U.S. and internationally. With comprehensive end-to-end solution sets, Q2 enables its partners to provide cohesive, secure, data-driven experiences to every account holder - from consumer to small business and corporate. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Q2 has offices throughout the world and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the stock symbol QTWO. To learn more, please visit Q2.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005180/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Desktop Metal Develops New Additive Manufacturing Process for Volume Production of Sustainable, End-Use Wood Parts

Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM), a leader in mass production additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, today announced the launch of Forust, a new process to sustainably produce functional end-use wood parts using its patented single pass binder jetting AM technology. The Forust process upcycles waste byproducts from wood manufacturing (cellulose dust) and the paper industry (lignin) and re-materializes functional wood parts through high-speed 3D printing including digital grain throughout the part. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005551/en/ Forust is the world's first manufacturing process to use additive manufacturing to upcycle wood byproducts for the production of custom and luxury wood designs. Unlike particle board or laminate, Forust produces a wooden part with a digital grain that flows throughout the entire part which can then be sanded or finished. Software has the ability to digitally reproduce nearly any wooden grain, including rosewood, ash, zebrine, ebony and mahogany. (Photo: Business Wire) Desktop Metal's high-speed 3D printing technology offers architects, designers and manufacturers a new path to produce luxurious custom wood pieces for home decor, interiors, transportation, and architectural design with a superior environmental footprint, new geometries and quality unavailable from subtractive wood manufacturing technology. Starting today, businesses and consumers can visit the Forust website, www.forust.com, to order samples and custom wood designs, and manufacturers can engage with Forust to develop unique wood parts for their end-use products. According to William McDonough, architect, globally-recognized leader in sustainable development and design, and pioneer of the concepts of Cradle to Cradle, the Circular Economy, and the Circular Carbon Economy, "The Forust technology allows us to take something that was previously wood waste and re-materialize it into exquisitely beautiful and useful things. We are honoring the cellulose and lignin of the trees by rearticulating them into assets for present and future generations. By allowing millions of trees to remain in place in their forests, Forust is launching a highly evolved technology for the circular technosphere that supports and celebrates stewardship of the natural, regenerative, and diverse biosphere, making it not only smart, but wise. This is a historic and material opportunity in the history of design and the making of things that reminds me of Arthur C. Clarke's famous quote, 'Any technology that is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic.' As a lover of wood and forests, I find Forust indistinguishable from magic. The 3D printing of wood using waste natural materials is a gamechanger. We have only begun to explore its beneficial potentials, but it is clear they are immense." Transforming a Subtractive Industry That Began with Trees into an Additive Industry That Begins with Upcycled Wood Byproducts Forust began with a vision to transform wood byproducts, including sawdust and lignin, into finished wood products, combining both stunning design and functionality. Led by industry veteran and ceramics 3D printing pioneer, Andrew Jeffery, who previously served as President of Boston Ceramics, the Forust team brings decades of collective experience in additive manufacturing, materials research, and computer aided design to solve the challenge of sustainability in finished wood parts. Jeffery is joined by co-inventors and creative consultants in industrial design, Virginia San Fratello, Chair of the Department of Design at San Jose State University, and Ronald Rael, Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of California Berkeley, both of whom are also founding partners of 3D printing company, Emerging Objects. "The inspiration for Forust was to begin with sawdust and end with forests," said Jeffery. "Our process is based on extensive research conducted over the past decade in the field of hardwood lumber, leading to complex and elegant finished structures. Through advanced CAD software, proprietary materials and Desktop Metal binder jetting mass production platforms, we can now manufacture beautiful, functional and innovative wood products for a variety of architectural, interior, and home goods applications from upcycled wood byproducts." Building a Greener Future with Additive Manufacturing for Wood At the core of this innovation is the Forust process, which combines two waste streams from traditional wood production, sawdust and lignin, to sustainably produce isotropic, high-strength wood parts. Depending on the size of the parts, Forust can manufacture wood products using either the Shop SystemTM or a custom version of the new RAM (News - Alert) 336TM 3D printer, which supports prints up to two cubic meters in volume at speeds in excess of 100 liters of parts per hour. During the printing process, layers of specially treated sawdust are spread and selectively joined by a non-toxic and biodegradable binder. Digital grain is printed on every layer and parts can then be sanded, stained, polished, dyed, coated and refinished in the same manner as traditionally manufactured wood components. "Forust offers nearly unlimited design flexibility," said Jeffery. "From exotic grain structures to grainless wood, we can digitally reproduce wood textures and a myriad of grain types. And, because they are made from a wood and bioresin compound, these parts exhibit the functionality and stiffness in line with conventional wood. Our finished pieces are indistinguishable from traditionally manufactured wood products you would find in a store. The additive manufacturing process literally becomes invisible." Forust is set to revolutionize volume production of wood parts through a completely digital manufacturing process: Streamlined Production of Complex Wood Designs

Because Forust produces parts additively layer by layer without the need for supports, designers have the freedom to create complex features and iconic designs that would be difficult or impossible to produce with traditional woodworking methods. High-Quality Materials and Finishes

Unlike particle board or laminate, Forust produces a wooden part with a digital grain that flows throughout the entire part that can be sanded and refinished. Software has the ability to digitally reproduce nearly any wood grain, including rosewood, ash, zebrano, ebony and mahogany, among others. Parts will also support a variety of wood stains at launch, including natural, oak, ash, and walnut. Cost-Effective Carbon Footprint Reduction with On-Demand Manufacturing

Forust's process and materials are designed to offer easy access to an end-to-end sustainable manufacturing solution. Manufacturers and designers can submit their own custom designs for printing, order samples or pursue high-volume partnerships to produce custom, 3D printed wood pieces in volume for use in their products. Additive manufacturing enables digital on-demand production, which minimizes material waste, on-the-shelf inventory, and shipping pollution while offering hand-crafted quality at an accessible price. "We want to make it easy for designers to explore complex new geometries for a wide variety of products and applications using an age-old material," said Jeffery. "At the end of the wood product's life, we would like to see customers have two choices - dispose of it and it will biodegrade over time as any wood product would, or shred it and repurpose the material into future parts through Forust. Our vision is a true circular manufacturing process." Unlimited Design Applications for Wood Parts, Including Exclusive Collection by Designer Yves Behar The global finished wood products market is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 20272. From everyday home goods to high-end, architectural detailing, Forust can create functional parts for virtually any wood application with a greatly improved environmental footprint than conventional manufacturing. Architects, interior and industrial designers, manufacturers and even consumers can visit www.forust.com to upload and order custom designed wood pieces, such as: Architectural accents , including one-of-a-kind decorative panels, custom wood inlays and panels, tiles, hardware and more;

, including one-of-a-kind decorative panels, custom wood inlays and panels, tiles, hardware and more; Luxury interior components in a wide range of finishes and materials, including rare and exotic grain structures, for vehicles, yachts and high-end homes;

in a wide range of finishes and materials, including rare and exotic grain structures, for vehicles, yachts and high-end homes; Furniture pieces , including cabinetry doors, chairs, accents, tables and designs with 3D geometry previously difficult or impossible to manufacture through conventional woodworking methods; and

, including cabinetry doors, chairs, accents, tables and designs with 3D geometry previously difficult or impossible to manufacture through conventional woodworking methods; and Home goods products ranging from flowerpots, bowls and picture frames, to textured blocks, bathroom accessories, desk accessories, sculptures, tiles and more. An array of consumer home goods pieces designed by Forust and others in collaboration with talented independent designers and brands, is now available for purchase at www.forust.com/store. Among the first designer products available on the Forust webstore is a collection created by industrial designer and founder of fuseproject, Yves Behar. The Vine collection, which includes a vessel, bowl, basket, and tray, honors the warmth and familiarity of the wood material with curving, organic forms that extrude from a singular point and twist up into a repeating pattern. "As a designer, I use a lot of wood and being able to use a product made from sawdust and lignin is an amazing resource," said Behar. "The future of design and production really hinges on new technologies coming on and allowing designers to approach materials and manufacturing in ways that are sustainable, in ways that are low carbon footprint, in ways that we are using waste instead of cutting down more trees or extracting more oil out of the soil. Design isn't just something that remains the same all the time. This new technology allows us to really address some of the critical problems around the environment and global warming that we are facing." "Applications for Forust's wood parts are really limitless," said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. "There are many applications where polymers and plastics are used today where you can now cost-effectively replace with sustainably manufactured wood parts - luxurious, high-end components in interiors, consumer electronics, instruments, aviation, boats, home goods and eventually in flooring and exterior roofing applications. For the first time, we can produce beautiful parts with the same durability and characteristics you would have in traditionally manufactured wood, but printed using upcycled materials which does not require cutting down or harvesting trees. With Forust, we have the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on sustainability, climate change and waste issues that we as a humanity have brought to the planet. For each tree saved, we are reducing the carbon footprint by a metric ton over its lifetime." About Forust Forust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Desktop Metal, makes high-volume additive manufacturing of end-use wood parts possible with stunning designs that are affordable and sustainable. The Forust process applies the speed, precision and quality of binder jet additive manufacturing technology to produce strong, lightweight wood parts created from wood waste streams such as wood sawdust and lignin. The mission is to develop responsible material value chains that are critical to achieving net-zero carbon emissions and building a sustainable future. Led by industry veteran and 3D printing pioneer, Andrew Jeffery, co-founder and CEO, Forust is based in Burlington, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.forust.com. About Desktop Metal Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world's 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum and named to MIT (News - Alert) Technology Review's list of 50 Smartest Companies. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com. Forward Looking Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statement generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks, uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.







(1) Nature "Mapping Tree Density at a Global Scale" vol. 532, April 14, 2016 (2) Research and Markets; Global Finished Wood Products Industry (2020 to 2027) - Market Trajectory & Analytics September 16, 2020

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Clinton Road Reopens after Culvert Repair

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - Clinton Road/KY 339 has reopened to normal traffic flow at the Mayfield Creek Culvert just north of the McCracken-Graves County Line.Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1 engineers closed the road late Tuesday after finding floodwaters had caused erosion around the culvert. Engineers examined the damage during daylight hours on Wednesday and developed a repair plan.Concrete for the repair effort was delivered Wednesday afternoon. After allowing the concrete to cure overnight, the culvert was reopened around 9 a.m. Thursday.About 500 vehicles travel this section of Clinton Road in an average day.
[May 06, 2021] Sheesha Finance and DRIFE Partner to Improve DeFi and Decentralized Ride-Hailing Accessibility

Dubai, UAE, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (via Blockchain Wire) - Sheesha Finance (https://sheesha.finance/), the first comprehensive DeFi solution for investors to easily access a variety of projects while solving issues surrounding locked crypto assets, and DRIFE (https://www.drife.io/), the first decentralized ride-sharing project built on taking zero-commission from drivers, today announced a partnership to improve accessibility to decentralized services. The partnership will focus on providing global communities easy access to decentralized products and ecosystems that support transparency and fair value distribution.

As the cryptocurrency market reaches all-time highs and the blockchain industry matures in technology and regulatory clarity, businesses and consumers are exploring utilizing decentralized services. These services must meet the organization or users custom needs, be simple to use and ideally offer additional incentives such as earning loyalty rewards.

Using Sheesha Finance, investors of all levels have easy access to a diverse DeFi portfolio of projects, ensuring participants fully benefit by maximizing their exposure to various DeFi rewards. DRIFE offers a first-of-its-kind decentralized ride-sharing project (Taxi 3.0) giving power back to the drivers and riders by offering exclusive discounts, staking rewards, open governance and a franchise ecosystem.

DRIFE empowers the value creators and extractors within its ecosystem. Our partnership with DRIFE is a strategic step towards our goal of market transparency and integrity, said Saeed Hareb Al Darmaki, founder of Sheesha Finance.

DRIFE aspires to create a fairer, more efficient and transparent ride-hailin economy and transportation marketplace, said Firdosh Sheikh, Founder of DRIFE. We see that same passion for fairness and accessibility in Sheesha Finance and are thrilled to partner with them.





DRIFEs decentralized ride-hailing platform is the first platform empowering the ecosystems value creators instead of the centralized corporation or entity. The platforms innovative economic model incentivizes and redistributes value back to the community in equitable terms, while also aiming to eliminate excessive transaction fees, reduce censorship, and enhance the quality of ride.



Sheesha Finance is the first DeFi mutual fund that rewards investors of any size, from small to large holders, allowing them to earn unlimited DeFi tokens from a diversified portfolio of high-quality projects. Sheesha Finance plans to maintain market transparency and integrity by giving control to the native token ($SHEESHA) holders through a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO).

For more information about the Sheesha Finance and DRIFE partnership, join the Sheesha Finance official Telegram group.



About Sheesha Finance

Sheesha Finance (https://sheesha.finance/) is a one-stop-shop for DeFi projects, similar to a DeFi mutual fund. Sheesha aims to solve locked cryptocurrency inaccessibility issues in DeFi by creating easily convertible assets that can be freely utilized to maximize participant rewards and gain exposure to existing and upcoming DeFi projects. After launch, Sheesha Finance plans to maintain market transparency and integrity by giving control to the native token holders through a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO).

Twitter - Medium - Telegram - Gitbook - LinkedIn

About DRIFE

DRIFE (https://www.drife.io/) is a decentralized ride-hailing platform with the intent of empowering the value creators and extractors within its ecosystem  the platform drivers and riders. Drife aspires to disrupt the existing business model and to create a fairer, more efficient and transparent ride-hailing economy and transportation marketplace.

Twitter - Medium - Telegram - LinkedIn



Media contact: Sheesha@transformgroup.com

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[May 06, 2021] WordPerfect Office 2021 Boosts Productivity with Updates to User-Favorite Features

OTTAWA, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delivering complete office suite power, WordPerfect Office 2021 advances its legendary document creation with enhanced file format support, a streamlined workflow and more, enabling users to be more productive and access essential tools and functions quicker and easier than before.

Building on the features our customers depend on, WordPerfect Office 2021 solidifies its longstanding reputation as an essential office suite for creating impressive documents. The latest version is designed to support our users everyday work needs with updates to many of our most-used tools, including file compatibility, PDF publishing and access to vital document stats, that make it simpler to get work done, said John Falsetto, Senior Director of Products, Graphics and Productivity at Corel. Over the years, our passionate customer base has been key in shaping our product enhancements. To make this direct communication with the WordPerfect team even better, weve now added the new ability to send us feedback directly within the products themselves. We encourage our users to reach out, submit suggestions and play a direct role in helping shape the future of this legendary suite. A popular choice with users in legal, government and business, WordPerfect Office 2021 is ideal for creating impressive documents, presentations and spreadsheets. The suite comes complete with PDF functionality; legal-specific features and tools; a built-in Oxford Concise Dictionary; a powerful Macro Manager; Reveal Codes for full document formatting control; and support for over 60 file types. Network deployment for corporate accounts makes WordPerfect Office 2021 ideal for any office environment. Work more efficiently with user-requested features Responding to top customer requests, WordPerfect now makes it simple to access vital document statistics, such as word count, character, line count and more with just a click. Quickly pinpoint data in sheets and across documents in Quattro Pro thanks to a newly redesigned search-and-replace workflow and the ability to reuse recently used search criteria. Clear active search criteria in WordPerfect in a click, making it easier and faster to perform multiple find-and-replace actions. Plus, to ensure that our customers top requess help shape future development, users can give feedback, vote and make suggestions about WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Presentations from directly within the application.



Enjoy improved file compatibility, helpful resources and enhanced performance Experience enhanced compatibility with the latest Microsoft Office file formats, along with new JBIG file support that makes importing PDFs made up of multiple scanned images smoother than before. Get access to phrases, phonetic spellings, scientific and specialist words in WordPerfect Office 2021 using the built-in Oxford Concise Dictionary. Enterprise customers can now take advantage of improved performance and file stability when opening or saving files directly to a server.

WordPerfect Office Standard 2021 includes: WordPerfect word processor

Quattro Pro spreadsheet application

Presentations slideshow creator

WordPerfect Lightning digital notebook

eBook Publisher

NEW! Oxford Concise Dictionary

AfterShot 3 photo-editing and management

900 TrueType fonts; over 10,000 clipart images; over 300 templates; over 175 digital photos; the WordPerfect Address Book; the Presentations Graphics bitmap editor and drawing application; the WordPerfect XML Project Designer; and much more. Pricing and Availability WordPerfect Office 2021 is available in English and French. Suggested retail pricing (SRP) for WordPerfect Office Standard 2021 is $249.99 USD. SRP for WordPerfect Office Home & Student 2021 is $99.99 USD. SRP for WordPerfect Office Professional 2021 is $399.99 USD. To learn more about WordPerfect Office licensing options for business, government and education, including volume licensing and network deployment, visit www.wordperfect.com/licensing/. For more information and to download a free trial, please visit www.wordperfect.com. About Corel Corel products enable millions of connected knowledge workers around the world to do great work faster. Offering some of the industry's best-known software brands, we give individuals and teams the power to create, collaborate and deliver impressive results. Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative applications  including CorelDRAW, MindManager, Parallels and WinZip  to inspire users and help them achieve their goals. To learn more about Corel, please visit www.corel.com. 2021 Corel Corporation. All rights reserved. Corel, the Corel logo, the Corel Balloon logo, WordPerfect, AfterShot, CorelDRAW, Lightning, MindManager, Presentations, Quattro Pro, and WinZip are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation in Canada, the U.S., and/or elsewhere. Parallels is a trademark or registered trademark of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands, and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Use of any brands, names, logos, or any other information, imagery, or materials pertaining to a third party does not imply endorsement. We disclaim any proprietary interest in such third-party information, imagery, materials, marks, and names of others. For all notices and information about patents, please visit www.corel.com/patent. Media Contact:

Ashley Ruess

Public Relations Manager

ashley.ruess@corel.com

www.corel.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25f0f9fa-37f3-43df-bde1-4f2b665374d3



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[May 06, 2021] PCS Software Unveils New Asset Tracking & Management Capabilities

PCS Software (PCS), the leading AI-powered transportation management platform provider for shippers, carriers and brokerages in North America, has announced the release of a new Asset Tracking & Management (AT&M) module to our AI TMS platform. The new capabilities give PCS customers greater fleet-wide management & visibility - without the need for a third-party software - for more cost efficient, effective management from any mobile or desktop device. With AT&M on the PCS AI Platform, both carriers and shippers can harness the power of real-time visibility into the location and status of every tractor, trailer and load. The intuitive user interface uses simple color code to identify asset status and location on an adjustable map and captures immediate, relevant insights from a single screen. Logistics professionals can also stay in constant contact with drivers using in-app communications features like one-click calling and SMS messaging. "Visibility is critical for today's operators to deliver quick planning and superior customer service, but operators couldn't get the level of transparency and insight needed without integrating a third-party tool," said Paul Beavers, CTO at PCS Software. "Now with PCS' comprehensive platform, customers can get a single iew into fleet activity and immediate intelligence to drive more efficiency and reduce cost - without the hassle of integration."



Users can access the AT&M capabilities from any device through PCS' Mobile Express app, whether at their desk, in the distribution center (DC) or in the field. Companies can also use the app to minimize maintenance disruptions with automated driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR). Mobile Express DVIR reporting supports 3D image uploads and provides instant visibility into outstanding DVIRs to reduce downtime and manual process with advanced awareness of equipment issues and automatic importation of DVIR issues into the TMS platform. For more information on PCS Software and its comprehensive platform solutions, visit www.pcssoft.com.

About PCS Software PCS Software is an AI-driven transportation management platform leader fielding disruptive innovation for mid-to-large sized enterprise shippers, carriers, and brokers in the United States and Canada. Cloud-based, API-integrated, PCS Software automates the entire transportation logistics operation via a single, comprehensive solution. Accessible via the web or the companion mobile app, the PCS platform delivers powerful functionality to manage rate and route optimization, mode selection, dispatch/tendering, carrier and fleet management, safety & compliance, freight yard management, settlement/accounting and more. For more information, please visit www.PCSSoft.com. About The CapStreet Group The CapStreet Group is a Houston, Texas-based private equity firm that invests in owner-managed, lower middle market companies. CapStreet targets companies operating in the value-added distribution, industrial services and manufacturing, and business to business service sectors. CapStreet's approach is to partner with excellent management teams to build out corporate infrastructure, accelerate growth and profitability, and create long term sustainable businesses. For more information, visit The CapStreet Group website, www.capstreet.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005159/en/

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[May 06, 2021] First Bankcard Partners with WebstaurantStore to Provide Business Credit Card Services

First Bankcard, a division of First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), has partnered with the WebstaurantStore to offer three new credit card options for consumers and small businesses: the Webstaurant Rewards Visa Card, the Webstaurant Rewards Visa Business Card, and The Restaurant Store Visa Business Card. WebstaurantStore is a privately held, online kitchen and restaurant supply company based in Lancaster, Penn., offering kitchen supplies, commercial grade equipment, and related products. "With the consumer and small business card offerings, we are able to reward our loyal customers with more added benefits than ever before," said Paige Diehm, Director of Financial Reporting, WebstaurantStore. "We are excited to partner with FNBO to lead the industry in customer-focused solutions in the credit card market." First Bankcard is one of the nation's largest and most experienced credit card issuers, serving approximately 200 financial institutions, co-brand, and affinity partners nationwide. This is its first partnership with a company in the cooking/kitchen industry. "We are thrilled to have this opportunity to support WebstaurantStore in providing its individual and business customers with valuable new credit card options," said Jerry J. O'Flanagan, executive vice president, Partner Customer Segment, FNBO. "At the same time, we welcome the chance to work with a recognized leader in this vibrant online retail segment." WebstaurantStore is offering two credit card options to its customers: The Webstaurant Rewards Visa Card and the Webstaurant Rewards Visa Business Card. Both options give cardholders: Rewards on every purchase, including 3% back per $1 spent at WebstaurantStore 1

Special financing offer for larger purchases made at WebstaurantStore

A bonus for new cardholders of 2,500 points - a $25 value - after their first purchase with the card1 The difference between the two options is whether the card will be used to support a business. With the Webstaurant Rewards Visa Business Card, cardholders will also earn 2% back per $1 spent on office supplies and gas and 1% back per $1 spent on all other purchases. 1 With the Webstaurant Rewards Visa Card, cardholders earn 2% back per $1 spent on dining and groceries and 1% back per $1 spent on all other purchases.1 Also included in this new partnership is WebstaurantStore affiliate The Restaurant Store, the premier source for restaurant supplies and equipment, with 11 locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and onlineat www.therestaurantstore.com. The Restaurant Store Visa Business Card offers cardholders:



Rewards on every purchase, including 3% back per $1 spent at The Restaurant Store, 2 2% back per $1 spent on office supplies and gas, 2 and 1% back on all other purchases

2% back per $1 spent on office supplies and gas, and 1% back on all other purchases A bonus for new cardholders of 2,500 points - a $25 value - after their first purchase with the card2 About WebstaurantStore

Based in Lancaster, PA WebstaurantStore is the largest online restaurant supply store servicing professionals and individual customers worldwide. With hundreds of thousands of products available and millions of orders shipped, we have everything your business needs to function at its best. Over the years we have expanded our selection of commercial equipment and wholesale supplies to include healthcare, educational, food, beverage, office, parts, and hotel supplies. About The Restaurant Store

The Restaurant Store utilizes technology, purchasing power, and great employees to provide excellent hospitality, quality, and value to restaurants and foodservice businesses. We offer the superior service you expect from your local restaurant supply store, with the product variety and convenient shopping experience you get from a large online dealer.

Great prices, online ordering with free in-store pickup, and an array of more than 340,000 items make The Restaurant Store the premier source for restaurant supplies and equipment. Our intuitive restaurant supply search allows you to easily search through all of our products, from janitorial and disposable supplies to consumables, dinnerware, equipment, and more. About First Bankcard

First Bankcard, a division of First National Bank of Omaha, is a leader in the credit card partnership arena, serving approximately 200 financial institutions, co-brand, and affinity partners nationwide. For 60 years, First Bankcard has offered quality products and superior service to help its customers achieve their goals. Visit http://partners.firstbankcard.com for more information. About First National Bank of Omaha

First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $24 billion in assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas. 1 See the Visa Credit Card rewards terms and conditions in the Summary of Credit Terms provided at the time of application for details. Your % back rewards are earned as points. Please see the WebstaurantStore Rewards Program terms and conditions at www. https://www.webstaurantstore.com/policies.html#Webstaurant_Rewards for information regarding expiration, redemption, forfeiture, and other limitations on WebstaurantStore Rewards Points. 2 See the Visa Credit Card rewards terms and conditions in the Summary of Credit Terms provided at the time of application for details. Your % back rewards are earned as points. Please see The Restaurant Store Business Rewards Program terms and conditions at www.therestaurantstore.com/policies for information regarding expiration, redemption, forfeiture, and other limitations on Business Rewards Points. Cards are issued by First Bankcard, a division of First National Bank of Omaha, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circle design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005003/en/

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[May 06, 2021] FTK Awarded LIHTC Rehabilitation of the Largest Privately Owned Affordable Housing Community in Charleston, SC

FTK Construction Services, LLC, (FTK) a full-service nationwide General Contractor specializing in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rehabilitation projects, is pleased to announce a contract award for the rehabilitation of Bridgeview Village Apartments in Charleston, SC. The amount of the contract award is approximately $19 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005743/en/ FTK Construction Services was awarded the LIHTC rehabilitation contract for Bridgeview Village Apartments in Charleston, SC. Pictured: Mark Frazier, COO of FTK Construction Services. (Photo: Business Wire Bridgeview Village, built in 1971, is 100% affordable housing and the largest privately-owned affordable housing community on the Charleston peninsula. The property consists of 300 apartment homes in 26 two-story buildings on 22 acres. Located at 108 N. Romney Street in Charleston, Bridgeview Village is being developed by a partnership led by Standard Communities. The architect for this project is Hooker DeJong Architects. The lender for the project is Citi Community Capital.



FTK will complete extensive interior and exterior renovations at Bridgeview Village over a 23-month time frame. Exterior renovations will include new parking lot pavement, sidewalk repair, new LED lighting, new perimeter fencing, energy-efficient enhancements, new roofs, paint, carpentry, windows, and extensive landscaping. The interior renovation will consist of new central heating and air conditioning, major plumbing and electrical upgrades, flooring, and new interior doors. Additional interior updates will include updated kitchens with new appliances, cabinets, and countertops, new bathroom vanities, toilets, and tub surrounds. Also included in the project is the construction of a new ground-up Community Center to house resident amenities such as a fitness center, a business center, and an additional community space. "Access to safe and affordable housing was a priority prior to COVID-19, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the need in Charleston. Standard Communities is excited to expand our partnership with FTK Construction Services to ensure the creation and preservation of affordable housing in this critical time," said Tommy Attridge, Director of Southeast Production for Standard Communities.

FTK, a leader in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Affordable Housing Project Management sector, has recently completed or has in-process over $145,000,000 in LIHTC projects with zero compliance citations, and has completed 100% of all LIHTC projects on or ahead of schedule. In February of this year, because of FTK's demonstrated expertise, financial strength, completed LIHTC project portfolio and upcoming pipeline of projects, The Great American Insurance Company increased FTK's bonding capacity from their previous $350,000,000 bonding capacity to $500,000,000. COO Mark Frazier shared, "We're excited about this project and working with Standard Communities. Both the rehab of the existing apartments and the construction of the new Community Center will transform Bridgeview Village for the residents and the City of Charleston, and we're happy to be a part of it." FTK continues to ensure that all our project protocols comply with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for preventing person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 as well as all emergency state and federal executive orders. Based in Los Angeles and New York, Standard Companies has a portfolio of over 14,700 apartment units, including more than 11,000 affordable units, and has completed more than $2.6 billion of affordable housing acquisitions and rehabilitations nationwide. The affordable housing division of Standard Companies is Standard Communities, which strives to cultivate long-term public and private partnerships to produce and preserve high-quality affordable and environmentally sustainable housing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005743/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Hood Milk and Museum of Science, Boston Partner to Celebrate the Science of Light

Hood, a leading provider of quality dairy and non-dairy products, today announced a partnership with the Museum of Science, Boston, to offer family-friendly science experiments that focus on the Science of Light. Known for a 175-year history of dairy innovation and a commitment to quality, Hood introduced a new look this year to its LightBlock Bottle to protect milk from light, which can cause milk to oxidize, changing the taste of the milk. The recently repackaged LightBlock Bottle blocks more light, which protects milk and helps maintain its fresh taste. Hood is also partnering with mom and actress Melissa Rauch, best known for her role as beloved scientist Bernadette on the sitcom The Big Bang (News - Alert) Theory, to highlight the benefits of Hood's LightBlock Bottle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005266/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) "Hood is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, and enhancing our LightBlock Bottle technology to provide even greater protection of our milk is a great way to mark Hood's long-standing commitment to quality and innovation," said Chris Ross, Senior Vice President of Marketing and R&D at Hood. "Hood has seen increased demand for white milk and will continue to invest in maintaining the highest standards for our products." Hood Milk is sponsoring at-home experiments, in-person demonstrations at the Museum of Science, and virtual livestreams created by the Museum of Science to demonstrate the effects of both natural and artificial light on various materials. The experiments can be found on Hood's website at https://www.hoodmilk.hood.com and can be conducted at home using common household items. On Saturday, May 15, the Museum of Science will offer live demonstrations of the "Science of Light" experiments, and Hood will be on-site to give away kits with all the materials needed to conduct the experiments at home. Additionall, the demonstrations will be live streamed via the Museum of Science's Facebook (News - Alert) account (@museumofscience) and on YouTube (News - Alert) at http://youtube.com/user/BostonMOS/ to make this exciting content broadly accessible.



"What better way to spark interest in how science and technology impact our daily lives than with fun, accessible science experiments developed in partnership by the Museum of Science and Hood, two iconic Boston household names," said Tim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science. "The 'Science of Light' experiments engage audiences - at home or online - to explore the properties of light and how it affects our food. At-home science experiments like these are critical for young minds and make science accessible, educational, and fun for all. " The Museum of Science will offer two live demonstrations of the "Science of Light" experiments on Saturday, May 15th. Demonstration tickets may be secured online and are free of charge with the purchase of a Museum Exhibit Halls timed ticket. For more information, please visit https://www.mos.org/visit/admission. To find the Science of Light experiment instructions to conduct with your family, visit www.hoodmilk.hood.com.

Mom, actress and former TV scientist Melissa Rauch is working with Hood to help spread the word about the benefits of Hood's LightBlock Bottle and encourage families to try the Hood/Museum of Science, Boston experiments at home. "As a mom of young children, I want to nourish my kids with food and beverages that help them thrive, and also taste delicious," said Melissa Rauch, actress and Hood science program ambassador. "Hood knows that every glass and every drop of milk matters to families, so they protect their milk from the moment it leaves their hands to the moment it enters the fridge. The LightBlock Bottle is a signal of quality for me, and now it's a fun way to help my kids learn a little bit about science together." ABOUT HP HOOD LLC Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest food and beverage manufacturers in the United States. For 175 years, the name Hood has been synonymous with fresh, quality products that taste great. Hood's portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood, Simply Smart Milk, Heluva Good!, Planet Oat, LACTAID, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes, and more. For more information, please visit Hood.com. ABOUT MOS Among the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages over one million people per year to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through online and place-based interactive exhibits and programs. Nearly an additional 2 million people experience the Museum annually through touring exhibitions, traveling programs, planetarium productions and preK-8 EiE STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg (News - Alert) Science Education Center. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic exhibits as the Thompson Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. The Museum influences formal and informal STEM education through research and national advocacy, as a strong community partner and loyal educator resource, and as a leader in universal design, developing exhibits and programming accessible to all. Learn more at https://www.mos.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005266/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Robotic Research Announced as Finalist for AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards

Robotic Research, LLC (rr.ai), a global leader in autonomous technology, announced today it was named by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International ( AUVSI (News - Alert) ) as a finalist for an XCELLENCE Award in the category of Innovation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005350/en/ AUVSI selected Robotic Research for its Pegasus Mini, a lightweight, compact unmanned system that can fold out of a backpack and transform from a tracked ground robot to quadcopter-type drone, and then back again. "Pegasus Mini, as well as our whole Pegasus family of systems, was designed with the user in mind, as a way to overcome the challenges faced by legacy systems," said Alberto Lacaze, co-founder and president of Robotic Research. "So, it's very gratifying to be nominated as a finalist for an AUVSI XCELLENCE Award." AUVSI represents the unmanned industry. The XCELLENCE Awards are, therefore, the industry honoring peers-individuals and organizations-that have demonstrated a commitment to advancing autonomy, leading and promoting safe adoption of unmanned systems, and developing programs that use these technologies to save lives and improve society. "During the last year, the unmanned systems industry rose to meet urgent new challenges posed by the pandemic. It is inspiring to see organizations and companies that led this charge among the XCELLENCE Awards finalists," said Brian Wyne, President and CEO of AUVSI. "As unmanned systems become increasingly integrated within our society, AUVSI is pleased to recognize this distinguished group for their innovative work that will accelerate our industry forward toward assured autonomy."



Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL trade show, held on August 16-19, at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), in Atlanta, Georgia. About Robotic Research

Robotic Research is a U.S.-based global leader in localization, autonomy, and robotic technology transforming the way we move. Founded in 2002, the company has been a trusted technology partner to the public and private sector for nearly twenty years. From people to platforms, at home or overseas, Robotic Research is driven to make the way you move smarter, safer, and more efficient. To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About AUVSI The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)-the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics-represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org. About XPONENTIAL AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the largest, most significant event for the unmanned systems industry. The 2021 exhibit hall will showcase hundreds of cutting-edge companies from around the world and the conference will feature educational programming by unmanned systems experts, providing information about the future of policy, technology and business solutions and trending topics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005350/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Lafayette Square Continues Build-Out of Distribution Team with Appointment of Fernando Lamas as Managing Director

NEW YORK, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square, an impact-driven, minority-owned investment platform, today announced that it has hired Fernando Lamas as a Managing Director on the firm's Distribution team. In this newly created role, Mr. Lamas will work on business development and capital formation activities across Lafayette Square's investment strategies. Fernando Lamas joins Lafayette Square as a Managing Director on the firm's Distribution team. Mr. Lamas joins Lafayette Square from Ohana Real Estate Investors, a private equity firm focused on investing in equity an credit opportunities within the hospitality space, where he was Partner. Before Ohana, Mr. Lamas was a Managing Partner at BTG Pactual, a diversified global investment platform, where he served as the Global Head of Distribution for the firm's asset management division. In that capacity, he led all business development activities, resided on the firm's Asset Management Committee, managed key strategic relationships globally, and oversaw the launch of numerous investment verticals.



"We're pleased to welcome Fernando to our growing firm and look forward to his contributions as we continue to meet the needs of investors with our impact-driven strategies," said Damien Dwin, Founder & CEO of Lafayette Square. "His extensive experience in business development and distribution makes him a great addition to the Lafayette team." Earlier in his career, Mr. Lamas was a Senior Managing Director and Partner at BSE Management where he was in charge of business development and marketing. He has also previously worked as Executive Director in the Prime Services Division at UBS Investment Bank and as a Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tulane University and an MBA from Columbia University.

"I am very proud to be joining the Lafayette Square team," said Mr. Lamas. "The firm's model presents an endless array of opportunities to help our current and prospective investors have an impact within the communities around us. I'm looking forward to serve as the bridge between the projects we're actively undertaking and investors' growing desire to generate returns as well as impact." About Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square is an impact investment platform working locally to create an inclusive American economy. Through capital and services, we confront critical societal challenges in three core areas: housing, jobs, and financial inclusion. For more information about Lafayette Square, please visit lafayettesquare.com. Media Contact:

Shree Dhond/Zach Kouwe/Doug Allen

Dukas Linden Public Relations

646-722-6531

lafayettesquare@dlpr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lafayette-square-continues-build-out-of-distribution-team-with-appointment-of-fernando-lamas-as-managing-director-301285768.html SOURCE Lafayette Square

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[May 06, 2021] Improvements to Free-Space Optical Networks Enable Wireless Transmission in Urban Settings

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Free-space optical (FSO) communications has the potential for wide use in the license-free, interference-free transmission of data in unenclosed areas. By using laser beams to propagate through an open-air medium, FSO transmission eliminates the need for wire links. Previous work on terrestrial FSO transmissions focused on either indoors or areas with little atmospheric effects, like between two mountain peaks. Twenty years ago, there were nascent activities in FSO communications for urban settings, which faded because of technical challenges and competing RF wireless and wireline solutions. Interest in FSO communications is growing again with improved technologies and the drive for higher bandwidth services where wireline solutions are difficult. At the forefront of these new developments, Yueying Zhan and her team of researchers achieved the real-time FSO transmission of 1,000 seconds of an ultrahigh-definition video stream between two buildings in Beijing. Zhan will report the results of their demonstration during a session at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC), being held virtually from 06 - 11 June 2021. "In urban [settings], due to the influence of factories, automobile exhaust, and other factors, there are more particles, molecules, dust, and so on in the atmospheric channel than in other places, such as mountains," said Zhan. "These factors lead to serious attenuation of optical signals, resulting in very low received power." The group used standard single-mode optical fibers on the transmitter side of the system to launch 16 ultrahigh-definition video streams as free-space optical signals. The key upgrade they made to the system for it to work was at the receiver, where they used an OM4 multimode fiber rather than single-mode fiber, resulting in a 10-decibel improvement to the signal coupling efficiency. Video transmission with few errors was demonstrated in different parts of the day, different seasons, and different weather conditions. The test range was limited to 2.1 kilometers because of obstructions in the high-density rban setting. From the high power margin in the 2.1 km link demonstration, the researchers expect to be able to easily extend this distance.



"Free optical communication can be regarded as the supplement of optical fiber communication," Zhan said. For example, FSO communication can be used to extend communication access to areas where bandwidth is insufficient or where complex terrain limits the use of wired communications, providing a fast and flexible solution for broadband access. Additionally, a large-scale implementation of this technique can help eliminate dark zones between adjacent networks. FSO communication can also be crucial in a pinch, when backup or temporary emergency links may be necessary.

"In the unexpected natural or manmade disasters, when the original communication lines are damaged and it is difficult to recover immediately, emergency communication is needed," said Zhan. "Wireless laser communications can be rapidly deployed." Furthermore, Zhan anticipates laser communications will soon be the primary method of intersatellite and deep space communications, augmenting RF and microwave communications. Currently, the group is focusing on improving the performance of their system using channel coding for error correction and applying it in both terrestrial and space communications. Hear from the Research Team

"Demonstration of 100Gbit/s Real-Time Ultra High Definition Video Transmission Over Free Space Optical Communication Links," Yueying Zhan, Yang Sun, Ziyuan Shi, Ning Yang, Lei Yang, Wednesday, 09 June 2021, 19:30 to 19:45 PDT (UTC  07:00). Session ID -W7E.3 Registration Information

Credentialed media and analysts who wish to cover OFC 2021 can find registration and other essential information in the OFC media room. View the OFC website for upcoming announcements on registration, schedule updates and more. About OFC

The 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach, and learn, make connections and move business forward. OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of global companies and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is co-sponsored by IEEE Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc), IEEE Photonics Society, The Optical Society (OSA) and managed by OSA. OFC 2021, an all-virtual event, will take place 06  11 June 2021. Follow @OFCConference, learn more at OFC Community LinkedIn, and watch highlights on OFC YouTube. About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students, and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications, and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings, and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions, and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org. Media Contact

media@ofcconference.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/improvements-to-free-space-optical-networks-enable-wireless-transmission-in-urban-settings-301285772.html SOURCE The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC)

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Altria to Host Webcast of 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE: MO) will host a live audio webcast of its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be conducted virtually via webcast. Shareholders as of the Annual Meeting record date (March 29, 2021) will be able to vote their shares electronically and will be able to ask questions as time permits. If you are not a shareholder you may still access and listen to the meeting as a guest, using the Guest Login. You will not, however, be able to submit questions or vote during the meeting.







The virtual meeting platform is fully supported by all current web browsers and devices if running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Participants should ensure that they have a strong Internet connection from wherever they intend to participate in the meeting.

An archived copy of the webcast will be available on altria.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005801/en/
Local Non-profits Share in $15 Million WKCTC Gift

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - At a virtual meeting Thursday morning, West Kentucky Community and Technical College announced $27,000 in donations and scholarships to local community organizations, funded by the recent $15 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Scott's donation in December was the largest in the college's history.The college said it will use the gift to focus on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. A total of 30 awards were presented to area non-profit organizations over the past two weeks.Lotus Children's Advocacy & Sexual Violence Resource Center. The center received $1,000 in direct support and two possible scholarships valued at a total of $1,000.Heartland Equality received $1,000 in direct supportThe Interracial Women's Group also received $1,000 in direct support from the college, which will be used for its 'Calling all Colors' program.Other recipients announced Thursday included:Child Watch Counseling & Advocacy Center ($1,000 direct support); Paducah Community Kitchen ($1,000 direct support); Family Service Society ($1,000 direct support); Housing Authority of Hickman ($2,000 in scholarships); Massac County Housing Authority($2,000 in scholarships); Housing Authority of Mayfield ($2,000 in scholarships); Housing Authority of Paducah ($2,000 in scholarships); Hotel Metropolitan ($1,000 in direct support); Marcella's Kitchen ($1,000 in direct support); Martha's Vineyard ($1,000 in direct support); McCracken County Community Career Endowment ($5,000 in scholarships); Paducah Cooperative Ministry ($1,000 in direct support) and W.C. Young Community Center ($1,000 in direct support)."The work of these organizations is in keeping with MacKenzie Scott's vision of assisting under-represented minorities, low-income individuals, and others facing barriers to education," WKCTC President Anton Reece said. "The WKCTC Guarantee reflects our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion not only through these direct one-time donations and scholarships."The scholarship will pay tuition and mandatory fees remaining after other grants and scholarships are applied, or provide funding for additional needs such as books and supplies.More than 120 scholarships have been committed through WKCTC Guarantee Community Connections Awards, ranging from two to 30 per organization, with Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club receiving the largest allotment of 30 last week.Students provided a WKCTC Guarantee Scholarship will be required to be admitted and enroll in classes at WKCTC and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
[May 06, 2021] New High School for At-risk Students Coming to San Antonio

Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit high schools for at-risk students, recently received approval to open a school in San Antonio's Edgewood Independent School District (EISD). Beginning in August 2021, Learn4Life will open to serve existing EISD students who are credit deficient or at risk of dropping out. Enrollment will be open for all students in the community who would benefit from personalized, one-on-one instruction to be successful in high school. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005289/en/ A Learn4Life student interacts with her supervising teacher while holding her baby. (Photo: Business Wire) Texas has approximately 3.6 million students, or 67 percent of its student population, who are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch, a measure of poverty within a school district. Within the EISD, 91 percent of students get free or reduced-price lunch, which is significantly higher than the statewide average. Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, Superintendent of Edgewood ISD, explained that, "Our main district outcome is to graduate all students to be college, career and military ready at their expected date of graduation. We want to ensure as many opportunities as possible are available to our students, so they can accomplish the goal of graduating high school and building a better future for themselves. This partnership allows us to connect with students who may feel graduation is not a possibility, but we are here to tell them it is!" Click to tweet: Opportunity Youth in San Antonio will have a new option this summer for a flexible and personalized high school education. #Learn4LifeSchools #OpportunityYouth.



For 20 years, Learn4Life has committed to breaking the dropout cycle by creating classrooms of one for at-risk students who have struggled in traditional schools and fallen so far behind, they lose the opportunity to graduate with their classmates. Through a personalized learning model, students receive one-on-one support, a flexible schedule, wrap-around services and job skills training - all with trauma-informed practices. "This partnership is extremely important to ensure we are serving students who have become disenfranchised or feel left behind. We intend to reach out to these students and get them re-enrolled so they can complete their high school education which will, in turn, open up significantly more opportunities for them," stated Chad J. Humphrey, Chairman of the Board, Learn4Life-Edgewood.

Learn4Life's network of schools annually serve more than 47,000 at-risk students in Texas, California, Michigan and Ohio. These students have endured traumas such as foster care, homelessness, hunger, abuse, bullying, illness, political/religious refuge and even human trafficking. Seventy-four percent are from low-income households, many are pregnant or parenting, and most enroll after dropping out, more than a year behind in credits. Its trauma-informed approach helps teens develop resilience to support a positive transition to adulthood after they earn their diplomas. Learn4Life is successful with 90 percent of its students - reengaging them in their education, helping them graduate, and preparing them for a life beyond high school with job training and placement. Nearly half enroll in post-secondary education after graduating from Learn4Life. Understanding even small interruptions to a student's momentum can derail their educational progress, Learn4Life kept students engaged during the pandemic - first by providing more than 20,000 laptops and hotspots, and then ensuring one-on-one meetings with teachers and tutors continued online. Each Learn4Life teacher is responsible for about 35 students - unlike most high school teachers who have as many as 180 students. Putting students back into schools means putting money back into the state. Instead of creating a lifelong drain on public resources, the thousands of dropouts saved go on to become productive, contributing members of society. Every dropout who earns their diploma is six times more likely to vote1; 67 percent less likely to be unemployed2 and six times less likely to be incarcerated3. Watch this video to learn more about Learn4Life's model to change students' stories. The school is located at 1922 S. General McMullen Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78226. Enrollment is now open at Learn4Life.org/edgewood. About Learn4Life Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 47,000 students - including full-time and intersession students - we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org. About Edgewood ISD Edgewood ISD provides an exceptional learning experience that engages, empowers, and prepares students to compete and reach their highest potential in an ever-changing world. 1 CIRCLE. Young Voters in the 2012 Presidential Election: The Educational Gap Remains, 2012.

2 Cassidy, Mike. No One is 5.8 Percent Unemployed. U.S. News & World Report, December 10, 2014.

3 Keeping Kids in School - Dropout Prevention & School Discipline. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California. February 2015. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005289/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Exchange Bank Announces First Quarter 2021 Earnings

Exchange Bank (OTC: EXSR) today announced results for the first quarter of 2021, reporting net income after taxes of $8.49 million, compared with $8.63 million for the same quarter in 2020, a decrease of 1.60%. The decrease in earnings in the first quarter of 2021 can be directly attributed to declines in net interest income, non-interest income and the resumption of provisioning for loan losses. "In response to the pandemic and the resulting societal and economic disruptions, the Bank began provisioning for loan losses in the third quarter of 2020 in a defensive posture," said Troy Sanderson, president and CEO. "If not for the provision of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, year-over-year first quarter income would actually be up 12.28%." The Bank's net interest income declined slightly from $23.90 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 to $23.27 million the same period in 2021. During a period of time when treasury yields remained anchored near historic lows, the Bank's margin was negatively impacted by declines in yields on loans and investments that surpassed the Bank's ability to affect a similar decline in interest expense through a lower cost of funds. The loss of interest income was somewhat offset by the PPP loans booked in both 2020 and 2021. As of March 31, 2021, the Bank had a total of $227 million in PPP loans. Other liquid investments increased approximately $226 million between March 31, 2020 and 2021. The Bank's net interest margin decreased from 3.89% in 2020 to 3.08% in 2021. The Bank expects net interest margin challenges to continue into 2021 with the expectation that treasury yields will remain low. The Bank's results continue to be influenced by the changing patterns of behavior by both business and consumer clients as well as the fiscal and monetary response of the U.S. Government to the coronavirus pandemic. Non-interest income declined from $5.87 million in the first quarter of 2020 to $5.41 million in the similar period in 2021. This decline can be attributed to three main factors: lower account service fees due to higher than normal compensating balances across both business and consumer deposit accounts; a decline in interchange fees as a result of dramatically reduced consumer spending; and lower SBA fee income due to diminished business activities during this period. The previously discussed declines in revenue were somewhat offset by the Bank's focus on controlling operating expenses. The Bank was successful in reducing operating expenses during the three months ending March 31, 2021 by approximately $2.07 million or 11.62% in comparison to the three months ended March 31, 2020. In 2020, the Bank had one-time expenses related to its core operating system conversion. The quality of the Bank's loan portfolio remains strong; however, due to the economic uncertainty that exists today, the Bank elected to strengthen its reserve for potential future losses with a provision for loan loss totaling $1.2 million during the first quarter of 2021. The Bank did not take a provision for loan loss during the similar period in 2020. The Bank experienced a dramatic increase in deposit balances which were up year-over-year by approximately $624 million or 27%. This increase in deposits started during the second quarter of 2020, resulting from business deposits relating to the deposit of PPP loan funds received by Bank clients. The PPP loans issued in 2021 have added to the increase in deposits. Additional sources of the increase in deposits are the economic stimulus received by our customers and both business and consumer customers who chose to hold more liquid assets during this period of great uncertainty. The increase in deposits led to a material decline in deposit service fee income as a result of the waiver of fees associated with higher customer compensating balances. It is possible the Bank could experience a significant runoff of the excess deposits due to their unusual and short-term nature as they are used to support small business and consumer-related expenses over the next year. Overall, the Bank's balance sheet growth for the year ending December 31, 2020 was bolstered by the PPP loans and deposit growth as previously noted. Total assets increased to $3.29 billion as of March 31, 2021 up from $2.64 billion in 2020, an increase of 24.76%. Gross loans increased from $1.59 billion in 2020 to $1.72 billion in 2021. The Bank's capital ratios remain well in excess of the regulatory definitions of "well capitalized." As of March 31, 2021, the Bank reported total risk-based capital of 19.09%. "The Bank again posted solid earnings in the first quarter of 2021 while maintaining strong capital, liquidity and credit quality," said Mr. Sanderson. "As we look forward to the promise of post-pandemic days ahead, we continue to stand ready to serve as our community's cornerstone financial institution, assisting our customers, friends and neighbors as only a locally-run and independent community bank can do." 50.44% of the Bank's cash dividend goes to the Doyle Trust which funds the Doyle Scholarships at the Santa Rosa Junior College. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: The following appears in accordance with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company, including descriptions of plans or objectives of its management for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other measures of economic performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. A number of factors - many of which are beyond the Company's control - could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date forward looking statements are made. About Exchange Bank Headquartered in Sonoma County and founded in 1890, Exchange Bank is a premier community bank with assets of $3.1 billion. Exchange Bank provides a wide range of personal, commercial and trust and investment services with 18 branches in Sonoma County and a commercial branch in Roseville, California. The Bank's legacy of financial leadership and community support is grounded in its core values of Commitment, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork. Exchange Bank is a 15-time winner of the North Bay Business Journal's (NBBJ) Best Places to Work survey, a recipient of the 2020 North Bay Community Philanthropy Award and the 2019 Healthiest Companies in the North Bay Award. NorthBay biz magazine named Exchange Bank the 2020 Best Consumer Bank and Best Business Bank. The Petaluma People's Choice Awards named Exchange Bank the Best Local Bank and the North Bay Bohemian's Best of 2019 Readers Poll named Exchange Bank the Best Business Bank and Best Consumer Bank. Exchange Bank can also be found in the NBBJ's Book of Lists as a leading lender and wealth management advisor-claiming the #1 position in SBA 7(a) lending in Sonoma County for 2020. www.exchangebank.com. Member FDIC - Equal Housing Lender - Equal Opportunity Employer







EXCHANGE BANK and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) March 31, 2021 and 2020 (In Thousands) Change % Change ASSETS 2021 2020 21/20 21/20 Cash and due from banks $ 26,093 $ 32,385 $ (6,292 ) -19.43 % Federal Reserve Bank 401,696 108,659 293,037 269.68 % Total Cash and cash equivalents 427,789 141,044 286,745 203.30 % Investments Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions 31,000 51,000 (20,000 ) -39.22 % Securities available for sale 1,002,417 756,453 245,964 32.52 % FHLB Stock 13,483 13,483 - 0.00 % Loans and leases Real estate 1,088,199 1,127,525 (39,326 ) -3.49 % Consumer 134,223 132,641 1,582 1.19 % Commercial 496,178 328,527 167,651 51.03 % 1,718,600 1,588,693 129,907 8.18 % Less allowance for loan and lease losses (42,724 ) (39,959 ) (2,765 ) 6.92 % Net loans and leases 1,675,876 1,548,734 127,142 8.21 % Bank premises and equipment 19,987 18,181 1,806 9.93 % Other assets 123,658 111,593 12,065 10.81 % Total Assets $ 3,294,210 $ 2,640,488 $ 653,722 24.76 % LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Deposits Non-Interest Bearing Demand $ 1,188,364 $ 871,011 $ 317,353 36.44 % Interest Bearing Transaction 566,228 470,210 96,018 20.42 % Money market 358,731 277,523 81,208 29.26 % Savings 641,057 504,231 136,826 27.14 % Time 186,267 194,092 (7,825 ) -4.03 % Total Deposits 2,940,647 2,317,067 623,580 26.91 % Other liabilities 49,239 42,510 6,729 15.83 % Total liabilities 2,989,886 2,359,577 630,309 26.71 % Stockholders' equity 304,324 280,911 23,413 8.33 % Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity $ 3,294,210 $ 2,640,488 $ 653,722 24.76 %

EXCHANGE BANK and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) For the Period Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (In Thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Quarter Ended Three Months Ended Change % Change 2021 2020 2021 2020 21/20 21/20 Interest Income Interest and fees on loans $ 19,906 $ 19,790 $ 19,906 $ 19,790 $ 116 0.59 % Interest on investments securities 3,849 5,222 3,849 5,222 (1,373 ) -26.29 % Total interest income 23,755 25,012 23,755 25,012 (1,257 ) -5.03 % Interest expense Interest on deposits 481 1,109 481 1,109 (628 ) -56.63 % Total interest expense 481 1,109 481 1,109 (628 ) -56.63 % Net interest income 23,274 23,903 23,274 23,903 (629 ) -2.63 % Provision (reversal of) for losses on loans 1,200 - 1,200 - 1,200 0.00 % Net interest income after provision for loan and leases 22,074 23,903 22,074 23,903 (1,829 ) -7.65 % Non-interest income 5,408 5,870 5,408 5,870 (462 ) -7.87 % Non interest expense Salary and benefit costs 8,674 10,026 8,674 10,026 (1,352 ) -13.48 % Other expenses 7,045 7,759 7,045 7,759 (714 ) -9.20 % Total non-interest expense 15,719 17,785 15,719 17,785 (2,066 ) -11.62 % Income before income taxes 11,763 11,988 11,763 11,988 (225 ) -1.88 % Provision for income taxes 3,269 3,356 3,269 3,356 (87 ) -2.59 % Net income $ 8,494 $ 8,632 $ 8,494 $ 8,632 $ (138 ) -1.60 % Basic earnings per common share $ 4.95 $ 5.04 $ 4.95 $ 5.04 $ (0.09 ) -1.60 % Dividends per share $ 1.20 $ 1.20 $ 1.20 $ 1.20 $ - 0.00 % Earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, by the weighted averaged number of shares outstanding during the year. Total average shares outstanding for both 2021 and 2020 was 1,714,344 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005320/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Aerobiotix Raises $25M Growth Equity Financing Led by Global Healthcare Investment Firm Vivo Capital

Founded in 2013, Aerobiotix, a rapidly growing global medical company has raised a $25 million of growth equity financing. The round was led by Vivo Capital with participation by Asahi Kasei Ventures. The new funding will be used to accelerate sales, marketing, and new product development. The Company's infection control products have been used to support thousands of procedures across multiple surgical specialty disciplines and in over 175 hospitals and multiple long-term care facilities. Aerobiotix has developed a novel suite of FDA 510(k) cleared hospital-based air decontamination products and its devices are supported by multiple peer-reviewed research studies. Aerobiotix devices, such as the operating-room based ILLUVIA system, are used by leading healthcare centers to reduce bacterial and viral contamination, including SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging pathogens. Aerobiotix products provide mechanical and ultraviolet filtration to remove airborne threats with high efficiency to protect healthcare staff and visitors, and to reduce surgery-related infection risk for patients. "Healthcare doesn't stop at the patient, it encompasses an environment which is as important to outcomes as direct interventions. As we transition to a post-pandemic world, we are reminded of the long-term need for better environmental stewardship in healthcare and other critical settings. Aerobiotix is on the vanguard of this approach with direct decontamination, real-time air quality monitoring and internet of medical things connectivity," states Dr. David Kirschman, founder and CEO of Aerobiotix. Joseph Siletto, Managing Director at Vivo Capital noted, "Infection control has been an increasingly important area of focus for healthcare institutions. In particular, finding ways to reduce surgical site infections is a key priority since SSIs are extrmely costly to patients, caregivers and healthcare systems. The Aerobiotix line of products provide healthcare institutions an effective, clinically proven way to improve safety and improve quality of care."



"We have been very impressed by the Aerobiotix team and their ability to rapidly rollout a suite of innovative infection control products. The strong commercial traction Aerobiotix has achieved with limited outside capital attests to the value of the Aerobiotix solution. We are excited to partner with Aerobiotix to accelerate growth both domestically and internationally," added Nathan Dau, Executive Director at Vivo Capital. About Aerobiotix

Aerobiotix is a pioneer in airborne infection control products that provide real-time, in room solutions for hospitals, ASCs, long term care and office based settings. Recognizing that healthcare doesn't stop at the patient, we drive novel technologies to optimize environments of care for patients and healthcare stakeholders. Aerobiotix's mission is to provide airborne infection control solutions leveraging peer-reviewed science and providing its customers both daily protection as well as robust monitoring data to further inform and assist their infection control programs. More information can be found at www.aerobiotix.com. About Vivo Capital Founded in 1996, Vivo Capital is a leading global healthcare investment firm with a diverse, multi-fund investment platform in venture capital, growth equity, buyout, and public equities. Vivo has approximately $5.8 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 290 public and private companies worldwide. Headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , California, with additional offices in Asia, the Vivo team consists of over 50 multi-disciplinary professionals including physicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, operating executives, and industry experts. Vivo invests broadly in healthcare across all fund strategies, including in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, life science tools, diagnostics, health tech and healthcare services. About Asahi Kasei The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 40,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005880/en/

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[May 06, 2021] DSM announces results of 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

HEERLEN, Netherlands, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal DSM today held its fully virtual Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders approved all resolutions on the agenda. The following resolutions were approved at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders: An amendment of the Articles of Association

The Remuneration Report received a positive advisory vote

Adoption of the Financial Statements for 2020

Adoption of the dividend on ordinary shares for 2020 (see also separate press release)

Release from liability of the members of the Managing Board in respect of their managerial activities

Release from liability of the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of their supervisory role

Reappointment of Dimitri de Vreeze as a member of the Managing Board

as a member of the Managing Board Reappointment of Frits van Paasschen and John Ramsay as members of the Supervisory Board

as members of the Supervisory Board Appointment of Carla Mahieu and Corien M. Wortmann-Kool as members of the Supervisory Board

and as members of the Supervisory Board Reappointment of the external auditor

Authorization of the Managing Board to issue up to 10% ordinary shares and to exclude pre-emptive rights

Authorization of the Managing Board to issue an additional 10% ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue

Authorization of the Managing Board to have the company repurchase shares

Reduction of the issued capital by canceling shares DSM  Bright Science. Brighter Living.

Royal DSM is a global, purpose-led, science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM's purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world's biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders  customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about 10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com. Or find us on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DSMcompany

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DSM

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/3108

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dsmcompany For more information:







DSM Media Relations Lieke de Jong tel. +31 (0) 45 5782420 e-mail media.contacts@dsm.com DSM Investor Relations Dave Huizing tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864 e-mail investor.relations@dsm.com

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/329419/dsm_logo.jpg

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[May 06, 2021] LenderClose Hires Industry Veteran to Lead Engineering, Expands Tech Team

LenderClose, a real estate and home equity lending technology platform, has hired industry veteran Felix Dominguez to continue the expansion of its engineering division and has added seven additional team members to its technology department. The additions showcase the company's commitment to streamlining and enhancing the real estate and home equity lending process through automation. As head of engineering, Dominguez will take on a mentorship role to key engineering personnel, constantly promoting the growth of their professional skills and supporting the vision, design, and strategy of the systems and platforms. Before joining LenderClose, Dominguez was an IT architect and director of technology at Equifax. He has extensive technical experience and is skilled in providing process improvement solutions. Most notably, Dominguez saved the company $100,000 a year by moving a platform in its verification services division to an Equifax data center. LenderClose is investing in talent such as Dominguez to continue the push to provide sophisticated technology to the industry. "At LenderClose we aren't approaching hiring with a 'butts in seats' outlook. Rather, we are hiring people like Felix, who are passionate about innovation and change in financial institutions," said Martina Schubert, CTO of LenderClose. "We want to put smart, talented people in an environment that doesn't limit their abilty or willingness to bring forth new solutions. No one person can corner the market on great ideas, and we are excited to welcome all of our new team members."



In addition to Dominguez LenderClose also added seven additional hires to the team; Priya Balakrishnan, QA engineer; Tracy Hodson, delivery lead; Guy Sinarinzi-Hay, QA engineer; Peter Leap, business intelligence analyst; Aidan Kelderman, technical specialist; Wendy Bear, cyber security manager and Ryan Javelosa, product designer. The growth in LenderClose's technology team is due to the recent completion of its Series B funding round of $10 million in new capital. "We are always asking 'what's next?' and with a rapidly growing tech team we have an influx of many great ideas and forward-thinking people," said Dominguez. "It's exciting to look around and see so many people pushing the envelope and dedicating themselves to providing the absolute best user experience in this industry."

About LenderClose, Inc. LenderClose is a technology-focused home equity and real estate lending platform which injects speed and efficiencies into the lending process, greatly enhancing the borrowing experience. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the rapidly growing financial technology company is focused on providing credit unions and community banks innovative lending solutions and automated workflows. To learn more, visit lenderclose.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005894/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Worldwide Government and Industrial/Financial Blockchain Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts Report 2021-2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "Government and Industrial/Financial Blockchain: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2021 to 2027" report from Wintergreen Research, Inc has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. A $4.47 million market worldwide in 2020, it is anticipated to grow rapidly to $83.3 billion in 2027 as central banks figure out how to use blockchain in their digital currency initiatives. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve continuing growth as blockchain proves its value by managing digital transactions in real time across national boundaries, encouraging collaborative business efforts. Lowering transaction management costs is a key benefit. Blockchain can be implemented in an IBM (News - Alert) mainframe that is already a core technology for virtually every bank. Blockchain updates the security in transaction processing, implementing end to end encryption. Government blockchain is used to implement Web 3.0. the ability to transfer money as easily as people send an email. The question becomes, what does Web 3.0 look like? It looks like a distributed ledger system providing immediate currency exchange worldwide that mimics how the Internet is used to exchange e-mail. Web 3.0 features enhanced security added to a real time digital economic process. The government blockchain market does not include what has been the biggest use of blockchain - to hide the money of criminals and terrorists - perform money laundering. After an inauspicious beginning, government blockchain has moved to digital currency, government blockchain is on the cusp of phenomenal growth, ready to reach $83 billion worldwide by 2027 as it creates new digital economic infrastructure. ConsenSys acquired Quorum, the blockchain platform belonging to JPMorgan in a move that will solidify an ongoing relationship between the JPMC and ConsenSys. The-Quorum-blockchain is a premier transaction management system, settling $5 trillion in transactions per day. The government blockchain market moves into rapid growth mode as the digital economy takes hold. As the banks and finance industry move into the modern age of real time transaction processing, blockchain is a core enabling technology for central banks. This market segment previously has been held back in part by the outdated aspects of the mainframe computing technology. IBM Blockchain and others are spurred by more modern ways to manage global transactions across national borders from IBM, Microsoft, and Accenture. IBM,ConsenSys, and Microsoft are driving blockchain as their clients are making the transition to cloud services. Accenture has measurable market share as well.



Key Topics Covered: 1. Government Blockchain: Stable Value Currency Market Description and Market Dynamics

1.1 Government Blockchain Market Description and Market Dynamics 1.1.1 Blockchain and Cyber Attacks 1.1.2 Central Banks Seek to Master Stable Value Digital Currency 1.1.3 Digital Virtual Currencies Goal: Stable-Coins that Have a Consistent Value 1.2 Blockchains: Cryptographically Secured Distributed Ledgers 1.2.1 Central Bank Currencies: Wholesale and Retail 1.2.2 Advantages of Central Bank Digital Currency 1.2.3 Blockchain Companies Initial Coin Offerings - ICOs 1.2.4 Transfer of Social Trust: From Institutions to Systems Using Well-Tested Computer Code 1.3 Central Banks Exploring Creation of Digital Currency Issued by Government -Accepted as a Method of Payment 1.3.1 Fed System as It Exists Now 1.3.2 Digital Currency Approach Uses Blockchain To Verify and Track Transactions 1.3.3 Individuals Would Hold Accounts Directly at The Central Bank 1.3.4 Sovereign Digital Currencies 1.3.5 Digital Currencies as Payment Methods 1.3.6 Enterprises to Speed Up Digital Transformation 1.3.7 Role of Central Banks in Digital Currency Interoperability 2. Government Blockchain Stable Value Digital Currency: Market Shares and Forecasts 2.1 Government Blockchain Stable Value Digital Currency Market Driving Forces 2.1.1 Replacing Client Server Data Center Architecture with Blockchain Brings New Digital Efficiencies 2.1.2 Blockchain Leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) 2.1.3 Governments Use Blockchain Distributed Ledgers to Achieve Business and Fiscal Transparency 2.2 Government Blockchain Market Shares 2.3 Government and Industrial/Finance Blockchain Market Forecasts 2.4 Blockchain Market Forecasts: Banking, Finance, and Insurance, Healthcare, Cybercurrency, Supply Chain, and Internet of Things (IoT) 2.4.1 Rapid Adoption of Technology 2.5 Government and Financial Blockchain Applications 2.6 Blockchain Pricing 2.6.1 Microsoft Blockchain Pricing 2.7 Central Bank Digital Currency Blockchain Regional Market Segments 3. Government and Industrial/Financial Blockchain Central Bank and Vendor Activities 3.1 Government and Central Bank Planning for Digital Coins and Tokens 3.2 Boston Fed Looking at 30 to 40 Blockchain Networks for Digital Dollar 3.2.1 US Fed and Digital Currency 3.3 EU and Digital Currency 3.3.1 Sweden's Central Bank, Riksbank 3.3.2 Germany and Italy 3.3.3 Bank of Spain 3.4 China's Retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) 4. Blockchain Research and Technology 4.1 On a Blockchain, a Node Replicates Data for All Nodes 4.2 Blockchain Electricity Usage - Moving to Asynchronous Process 4.3 Accenture Patent Tied To "Editable Blockchain" 4.4 Digital Currency Models 4.4.1 Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) 4.5 Facebook (News - Alert) Libra - Diem Association 5. Blockchain Company Profiles 360 Blockchain Inc

Abra

Accenture

Amazon

Axoni

Batavia

Binance Exchange

BitFury Group

BlockCypher

BMW

BofA

BTL Group

Chain

ConsenSys

Corda R3

Deloitte (News - Alert)

Digital Asset Holdings

Eris Industries

Ethereum

EzyRemit

Facebook

Fidelity Investments

Global Arena Holding

Goldman Sachs

Government Blockchain Association (GBA)

Hitachi

HIVE Blockchain Technologies

HSBC

IBM

Intel

JP Morgan (News - Alert) Chase

Kube MQ

Lenovo

Luno

Microsoft

Oracle

Overstock

PokitDok

Provenance

Quorum

R3

Red Hat

Ripple

Samsung (News - Alert) Nexledger

SAP

Scorechain

Slock.It

TATA Consultancy Services

TON

Visa

Wishknish For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gqpo0h View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005896/en/

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[May 06, 2021]

Capital Impact Partners Awarded $1 million to Manage the Newly Created Nourish D.C. Fund by Mayor Muriel Bowser

ARLINGTON, Va., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded Capital Impact Partners $1 million to manage the newly announced Nourish D.C. Fund. This fund, part of the $5.2 million D.C. Local Equity, Access, and Preservation Funds (D.C. LEAF) program, aims to support a robust ecosystem of locally owned food businesses in District neighborhoods by investing in BIPOC-owned businesses that otherwise struggle to access capital and also promotes health equity in the city.

The Nourish D.C. Fund is an excellent catalyst to support disinvested neighborhoods across Washington, D.C. - Ellis Carr

"We invest in local businesses because they are the backbone of our economy, they are trusted and valued community partners, and they represent the dreams and aspirations of our residents," said Mayor Bowser. "We are proud to support entrepreneurs that step up to help us build a more inclusive and diverse economy, and these LEAF grants represent a $5 million investment in our D.C. values."

Through the Nourish D.C. Fund, Capital Impact will work with a coordinated collaborative of technical assistance providers and lenders with deep roots in the District to support an equitable D.C. food system. The goal is to foster an inclusive food system that provides economic opportunities and access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food, particularly in communities impacted by historic disinvestment and structural racism.

Capital Impact and partners will leverage this $1 million award to attract an additional $2 million to the fund, expanding its ability to support District food businesses including:

Deploying at least $3 million of financing

of financing Supporting food entrepreneurs' success with robust technical assistance

Awarding at least $200,000 of catalytic grants

of catalytic grants Launching the first Food Policy Innovation Award

"Inclusive food systems are critical to the health of communities, and to their economic prospects. Food businesses provide opportunities for improved health and wealth building for many people in the District. Now is the time to expand those opportunities to earn a good wage, work with dignity, and pass down wealth to the next generation, and the Nourish D.C. Fund is an excellent catalyst for that vision for all D.C. residents, particularly those in disinvested neighborhoods in the city," said Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance.

Through the Nourish D.C. Fund, Capital Impact will work with a number of key partners including Dreaming Out Loud (DOL), EatsPlace, the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif).







The Fund also represents another effort by Capital Impact and CDC Small Business Finance, which recently joined their operations and launched a transformative new enterprise to innovate how capital and investments flow into historically disinvested communities. Washington, D.C. is a pilot area of operations along with Detroit and Los Angeles.

"We are proud to be part of the Nourish D.C Fund. The combination of our small business lending expertise alongside Capital Impact's longtime local community development work will help us drive greater change within D.C. communities. This effort showcases the magnified impact we are capable of through our new enterprise with Capital Impact and our joint commitment to supporting the D.C. community and beyond," said CDC Small Business Finance's Chief External Affairs Officer Robert Villarreal.

How Nourish D.C. Invest Will in Local Food Entrepreneurs

Nourish D.C. will increase technical assistance, provide catalytic grants, and lending products to enterprises throughout the District, with a focus on programmatic and financial products for BIPOC-owned small businesses which have encountered historical barriers to accessing the technical assistance and capital needed for their businesses to grow and thrive.

These ranges will allow the Nourish D.C. Fund to meet the needs of food enterprises across the value chain (i.e. from small-batch processing where needs might be smaller to retail grocery where needs might be larger) and across life cycles of a business (i.e. from start-up where needs might be smaller to expansion where needs might be larger). Technical assistance delivery models may include one-on-one consulting; short-format seminars/webinars; access to a kitchen incubator; mentoring; and multi-day, cohort-based intensive training.

Through these tools, Nourish D.C. will increase entrepreneurs' business acumen and capital readiness and will compliment other District programs providing grants and resources such as the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund (NPF), the Great Streets Program, and the D.C. Capital Connector.

"We're at a moment where nourishing D.C. must be a comprehensive effort, driving holistic repair of our communities; supporting locally-owned food businesses is a vehicle for economic opportunity for Black and other marginalized folks and a lens into examining and dismantling the policies and practices of structural racism which have led to the racial wealth gap and unequal, racialized life outcomes," said Christopher Bradshaw, executive director of Dreaming Out Loud.

"The food industry provides a path to jobs and entrepreneurship for many people. EatsPlace is excited to be working with Capital Impact Partners to provide technical and financial assistance to this hard-hit industry," said Katy Chang, chef and founder of EatsPlace.

"We are excited to partner with Capital Impact Partners as they launch the Nourish D.C. Fund. Food businesses that promote access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods are needed in the District. This Fund is a major step forward in creating healthy, thriving communities in D.C.'s most underinvested areas," stated Marjorie Nemes-Galarza, interim executive director & CEO, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC).

"Driving access to healthy food in underserved communities is a key strategy of Wacif's commitment to an equitable economic recovery," said Wacif CEO Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. "We thank Mayor Bowser for her leadership on this issue and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Capital Impact Partners through the Nourish DC Fund."

Creating an Ecosystem of Impact

D.C. LEAF incorporates three separate programs to support local entrepreneurs including: the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, the Nourish DC Fund, and the Locally Made Manufacturing Grant Program.

A number of graduates of Capital Impact's Equitable Development Initiative were named as awardees during this announcement:

Thomas Houston's Medici Road, Inc. received a $500,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for his development at 4726 Sheriff Road, NE, which includes?a?community operated grocery store, coworking offices, and headquarters for Medici Road.???

Medici Road, Inc. received a Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for his development at 4726 Sheriff Road, NE, which includes?a?community operated grocery store, coworking offices, and headquarters for Medici Road.??? Babatunde Oloyede's Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc. received a $300 ,000?Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development?of the?Prosperity HUB. This project consists of a community culinary kitchen including catering and event space, retail Grab-N-Go Cafe, market, and makerspace showroom, and a small business incubator and service center with optional back-office support services.

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc. received a ,000?Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development?of the?Prosperity HUB. This project consists of a community culinary kitchen including catering and event space, retail Grab-N-Go Cafe, market, and makerspace showroom, and a small business incubator and service center with optional back-office support services. D.C. Central Kitchen, Inc., which is being supported by graduates Diarra and Alexis McKinney of Rosewood Strategies, received a $340,000 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Grant for the development of a?36,000 sq. ft. commercial facility on Buzzard Point?that?will play a catalytic role in the completion and opening of?a?retail cafe, production kitchen, and related office space.

To learn more about these funds and programs, read the D.C. government press release.

Capital Impact's Long-standing Investments in the Washington Metro Area

Capital Impact has extensive experience supporting businesses that improve local food systems, including more than ten years of experience managing good food funds in California and Michigan. Our inclusive food systems work has been specifically designed to build and support equitable food systems in communities in need of healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food and economic opportunities. Initiatives we have supported include the Michigan Good Food Fund, the California Freshworks Fund, the California Community Grocers Fund, and the DMV Good Food Fund Innovative Response Fund.

In addition to supporting local businesses, Capital Impact has played an integral role in expanding and preserving affordable housing in Washington, D.C. as the fund manager of the DHCD Preservation Fund. First selected to manage the fund in 2018, Capital Impact has leveraged funding from the D.C. government to deploy low-cost and flexible financing to private nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit developers that are working with D.C. residents to preserve their housing. A unique aspect of the fund is how it supports the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). TOPA gives residents of for-sale, multifamily, residential properties the right of first refusal to buy their properties, allowing them to work with mission-driven developers to purchase the buildings, maintaining affordable rents and preventing displacement and gentrification.

ABOUT CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS

Through capital and commitment, Capital Impact Partners helps people build communities of opportunity that break barriers to success. Through mission-driven financing, social innovation programs, capacity building, and impact investing, we work to champion key issues of equity and social and economic justice. Our commitment to community focuses on ensuring that individuals have access to quality health care and education, healthy foods, affordable housing, cooperative development, and the ability to age with dignity.

A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, Capital Impact has disbursed more than $2.5 billion since 1982. Our leadership in delivering financial and social impact has resulted in Capital Impact being rated by S&P Global and recognized by Aeris for our performance. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Capital Impact Partners operates nationally, with local offices in Austin, TX; Detroit, MI; New York, NY; and Oakland, CA. Learn more at www.capitalimpact.org.

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SOURCE Capital Impact Partners
[May 06, 2021] Polysack Fully Recyclable Packaging Films Joins Forces With HP Indigo Digital Printing

Polysack, a green-tech manufacturer of plastic film products for flexible packaging and high-shrink labels, has collaborated with HP Indigo to validate its innovative, fully recyclable packaging films for printing on HP Indigo digital presses. Polysack enables brands to produce fully recyclable plastic packaging including stand-up pouches, films, and shrink labels by providing its fully recyclable Pack'N'Cycle plastic film to packaging manufacturers. Plastic waste is a global concern uniting more than 500 organizations under the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Now, many businesses have agreed to move to 100-percent recyclable plastic packaging by 2025. Only nine percent of all plastic is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, rivers, sewer systems, and alike. Eight million tons of plastic end up in our oceans, making up 80 percent of all marine waste. Even most "recyclable" plastic is not actually recycled or fully recyclable. Polysack's plastic film is 100 percent recyclable and helps reduce plastic waste.



Today, Pack'N'Cycle recyclable films are sold to companies serving 45 percent of the European plastic flexible packaging market, chosen by more than 130 recyclable packaging projects. Recyclable packing produced with Pack'N'Cycle recyclable films can also be found on supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas station shelves worldwide. "The ability to combine our 100-percent recyclable film with HP Indigo's printing capabilities allows businesses to create packaging that fits their brand while remaining environmentally conscious," says Yanir Aharonson, CEO of Polysack. "Plastic waste is a major environmental problem, and we're glad to help make the world a bit more green."

Polysack's unique film can replace 70 to 80 percent of unrecyclable plastic to fully recyclable packaging without increasing costs, modifying people's habits, or needing to rebuild the infrastructure for the package production, according to Aharonson. Printela, a flexible packaging converter based in Lithuania, has chosen Polysack's recyclable film combined with HP Indigo's digital printing press to create customized, eco-friendly packaging. "By using Polysack's Pack'N'Cycle films, Printela's HP Indigo Digital Pouch Factory efficiently produces different recyclable pouches consistently, says Valdas Buksnys, General Manager of Printela. "Pack'N'Cycle by Polysack is an efficient Polyester replacement film." "We are excited to help brands find new packaging options for their products to continue to improve their sustainability profile," said Yair Gellis, Head of Flexible Packaging Development at HP Indigo, "The HP Indigo digital printing solution for flexible packaging offers brands sustainability advantages including lower waste." About Polysack Polysack is a green-tech company and world leader in the manufacturing of plastic flexible packaging film products for a variety of applications, including high-shrink labels, candy wrappers, and more. The company provides its line of eco-friendly films to converters and other third parties who apply them within multiple industries such as beverages, food, confectionery, agriculture and others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005972/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Deutsche Bank Appointed as Depositary Bank for the Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V.

Deutsche Bank announced today its appointment as depositary bank for the American Depositary Receipt program of Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. (the "Company"). Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. (OTC: JETKY) is a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Company is focused on connecting consumers and restaurants through its platforms. The Company mainly partners with delivery restaurants and provides restaurant delivery services for restaurants that do not deliver themselves.* In addition to specializing in administering cross-border equity structures such as New York Shares and American and Global Depositary Receipts, Deutsche Bank provides corporates, financial institutions, hedge funds and supranational agencies around the world with trustee, agency, escrow and related services. Deutsche Bank offers a very broad range of services for diverse products, from complex securitizations and project finance to syndicated loans, debt exchanges and restructurings. * This information was provided by Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. (May 2021).







Depositary Receipt Information Country Netherlands Custodian Bank Deutsche Bank AG, Amsterdam branch Effective Date May 4, 2021 Level III ADR CUSIP 48214T206 ISIN US48214T2069 Symbol JETKY Exchange OTC Current Ratio 10 ADS: 1 ordinary shares Eligibility DTC

Depositary Receipt Contacts Head of Depositary Receipts Daniel Clark Tel: +1 212 250-3547 www.adr.db.com Markets Distribution adr@db.com London Tel: +44 (0) 20 7547 6500 gtb.db.com New York Tel: +1 212 250 9100 Hong Kong Tel: +852 2203 7854 Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germany's leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific. The Depositary Receipts have been registered pursuant to the US Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The investment or investment service which is the subject of this notice is not available to retail clients as defined by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. This notice has been approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG New York. The services described in this notice are provided by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Deutsche Bank) or by its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in accordance with appropriate local registration and regulation. Deutsche Bank is providing the attached notice strictly for information purposes and makes no claims or statement, nor does it warrant or in any way represent, as to the accuracy or completeness of the details contained herein or therein. This announcement appears as a matter of record only. Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by Deutsche Bank or any other issuer or entity for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. No part of this notice may be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank. Past results are not an indication of future performance. CopyrightMay 2021 Deutsche Bank AG. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506005985/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Harris Williams Advises Two Sigma Impact and Avance Investment Management on Their Investment in Wholesale Supplies Plus

Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it advised Two Sigma Impact and Avance Investment Management (Avance) on their investment in Wholesale Supplies Plus (WSP). WSP is a leading e-commerce provider of ingredients and supplies to commercial artisans who create personal care, beauty and home fragrance products. The transaction was led by Kelly McPhilliamy and Beau Pierce of the Harris Williams Consumer Group. "Commercial artisans rely on WSP for the high-quality ingredients and supplies they need to create skincare, candles and soap. It is a leader in a vibrant and growing sector within beauty and personal care," said Kelly McPhilliamy, a managing director at Harris Williams. "It was a pleasure working with the teams at Two Sigma Impact, Avance and WSP on this transaction, and we are excited to see WSP continue to thrive under its new ownership." "We look forward to partnering with Avance and the WSP management team as the company continues its mission of empowering artisans and small businesses to find success in their trade," said Amar Doshi, senior principal at Two Sigma Impact. "We enjoyed the collaboration with Harris Williams in makng our fund's inaugural investment, and we are excited to support the pursuit of our shared vision for WSP with the management team and Two Sigma Impact," said Luis Zaldivar, co-founder and managing partner of Avance.



Two Sigma Impact is a business of Two Sigma. Its mission is to combine active, principled ownership and data science with the goal of achieving superior returns and positive social outcomes. The Two Sigma Impact team is focused on workforce impact - where they anticipate innovative and thoughtful investments in humans will lead to an enhanced employee experience, productivity and long-term financial returns. As part of Two Sigma, Two Sigma Impact has access to expertise in data science, technology, and a range of corporate specialties, and seeks to support its portfolio companies with those resources. Avance is a private equity firm with a passion for building great businesses in partnership with talented management teams. Avance focuses primarily on thematic investments within the services and consumer areas in the U.S., seeking attractive opportunities with catalysts for growth and fragmented spaces with consolidation opportunities. Avance's team has a long history of partnering with founder-owned businesses, industry executives, and management teams and aims to add value to each investment through the application of its STAGE value creation framework. Avance has offices in New York and Miami.

WSP is an industry-leading provider of high-quality raw materials, supplies and packaging for soap, skincare and candle artisans. The company's broad product assortment and complementary support enable an expanding artisan community to meet growing consumer demand for authentic, local and clean label personal products. Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The Harris Williams Consumer Group has completed transactions across a variety of verticals, including branded consumer products; consumer services; food, beverage and agribusiness; and restaurant and retail. For more information on the Harris Williams Consumer Group and recent transactions, visit the Consumer Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006045/en/

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Paducah Man Jailed for Inappropriate Photos

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Paducah man was arrested this week after police say he took inappropriate photos of a juvenile.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said 35-year-old Joshua Hunt was arrested Tuesday and charged with use of a minor in a sexual performance, a Class C felony.Hunt allegedly took photos of an underage victim that were of a sexual nature. Detectives began investigating Hunt a few days prior to his arrest.Police say more charges are possible.
[May 06, 2021] Merck, illycaffe, REI Co-op and AMN Healthcare CEO Susan Salka Named 2021 Visionary Award Honorees by Women Corporate Directors

Recognizing companies and CEOs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing diversity, inclusion, and other governance best practices, the Women Corporate Directors Foundation (WCD) has announced its 2021 Visionary Award honorees. The recipients include Merck & Co., Inc., led by chairman and CEO Kenneth C. Frazier; outdoor retailer REI Co-op, headed by President and CEO Eric Artz; the family-created global premium coffee brand illycaffe S.p.A, led by CEO Massimiliano Pogliani; and Susan Salka, CEO of AMN Healthcare, the largest healthcare staffing company in the United States. WCD will also be presenting the Susan S. Stautberg WCD Member Leadership Award to Susan Remmer Ryzewic. The awards will be presented at the WCD Virtual Visionary Awards Celebration on June 9, 2021, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., U.S. EDT. Mellody Hobson - co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, chair of the board of Ariel Investment Trust, chair of the board of Starbucks Corporation, and a director of JPMorgan Chase - will be interviewed by Becky Quick, co-anchor of CNBC's Squawk Box (News - Alert) on advancing diversity and inclusion in boardrooms and corporations globally. The Awards program, in its eleventh year, is part of WCD's annual Global Institute, which runs June 9-11, 2021. The theme for the Virtual Global Institute is Agile (News - Alert) Leadership in the Boardroom: Prioritizing People, Purpose & Profitability. "What has been required of corporate leaders over the past year has been extraordinary in the face of existential threats and true uncertainty about the future," said Susan C. Keating, CEO of WCD. "Our Visionary Award honorees leveraged strong governance models that were established prior to the crisis and continued to meet their challenges with a commitment to diversity and the talent necessary to steer them into recovery." "There is a growing recognition of the need for inclusive leadership in the board and C-suite in order to make an impact not only in companies but in the communities those companies serve," said Visionary Awards committee co-chair Deborah E. Kelly. Izumi Kobayashi, co-chair of the committee with Kelly, remarked: "These honorees clearly stood out through their industry leadership and continuing commitment to ESG - environmental, social and governance. They have also emerged as important leaders more broadly as we have faced challenges in social justice, the environment, and healthcare." Visionary Award selection committee members Mary Beth Vitale and Christie Hefner remarked, "We had a much broader range of nominees this year from all over the world, and it was interesting to learn about the outstanding efforts of each of the companies." Awards include: Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company: One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Merck & Co., Inc. is led by chairman and chief executive officer Kenneth C. Frazier, one of only four Black CEOs in the Fortune 500 and the only Black CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. On its 14-person board, six are women, including one woman of color. 43% of senior management roles are held by women.



Merck is recognized globally for championing diversity with its Economic Inclusion and Supplier Diversity Program, which has been investing in diverse-owned businesses for more than 35 years.



"Merck's commitment to population health and to the social, environmental, and economic impact on people around the world reflects the soundness of their governance and a true inclusiveness in their leadership," said Barbara Bowles, Visionary Awards selection committee member. "Additionally, Ken Frazier has used his influence to take a stand on issues of injustice and inequality, setting an important tone at the top at Merck, in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and among the broader global business community."



"We cannot achieve sustainable business success without a diverse workforce that mirrors the patients we serve," said Ken Frazier, Merck chairman and CEO. "Equity and inclusion for all people are not only moral imperatives, but diversity across a variety of dimensions fosters the innovation that allows Merck to help save and improve lives. We are proud of our company's longstanding commitment to dversity and inclusion and will continue to stand up for the importance of an equitable society." Award for Innovation in Shared Value: An Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933, the mission of illycaffe has always been to offer the greatest coffee to the world.illycaffe produces a unique 100% Arabica blend, combining nine of the best varieties in the world. Every day 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the best cafes, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafes and shops, and at home. As a result of its innovations, illycaffe contributes to the coffee technology progress at a global level. Today, 40% of illycaffe's board members are women.







"While illycaffe is steeped in tradition, it has throughout its history been a very modern business," said Cristina Finocchi Mahne, Visionary Awards selection committee member. "For decades, illy has used cutting-edge technology to drive improvement across its operations - from creating more sustainable agricultural practices to better HR and hiring initiatives to improve diversity in its workforce." illy is consistently named one of the "most ethical" companies and receives kudos for its ESG initiatives. In 2021, illycaffe was the first Italian company in the coffee sector to obtain the international certification as a B Corp as a result of its commitment to comply with the highest standards of social and environmental performance.



"The main driver of our business model is the creation of value for all the stakeholders involved along the entire length of our value chain - explains Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of illycaffe. We pursue the goal of improving quality of life of our stakeholders by sharing the value we generate, fostering personal growth and respecting the ecosystem. Our supply chain starts upon a system of direct relations with our coffee producers that we select and work with, we transfer them knowledge to produce high-quality products while respecting the environment, we compensate them for the quality they achieve by paying over the market price in order to foster ongoing improvement and ensure sustainable production." Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company: REI Co-op, founded in 1938, is a specialty outdoor retailer headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. It is the nation's largest consumer cooperative, with more than 20 million members and 168 locations in 39 states and Washington, D.C. As a co-op, REI operates differently than other companies, putting purpose before profits and acting in the long-term interests of its employees, members, and community.





In 2020, Forbes listed REI as the #1 Best Employer for Women. REI's board of directors is 38% women, and women comprise 47% of the C-suite.



"REI's work across a number of areas - from expanding accessibility and diversity in the outdoors to developing product impact standards to fight against climate change and advance equity in the industry - demonstrates its visionary leadership in the field," said Joan Steel, Visionary Awards selection committee member.



"REI was founded by individuals coming together for the greater good, and today, the spirit of our founders is engrained in everything we do. We believe we have a responsibility to create positive change both within REI and the communities we serve," said REI President and CEO Eric Artz. "While we are proud of the work we've done to build a more equitable and sustainable future for the planet, we remain deeply committed to continuing this journey with our employees, members, partners and broader community." Award for Strategic Leadership: Chief Executive Officer of AMN Healthcare, Susan Salka is a visionary leader who is admired, respected, and emulated in the healthcare industry and beyond. She was named by Modern Healthcare as one of 2020's 100 Most Influential People who shaped the course of healthcare during the 2020 global COVID-19 pandemic. Salka led AMN through a strategic evolution from a small travel nursing agency to the largest total talent solutions provider in the nation. The AMN Healthcare board of directors is 50% women.



"Susan understands that being socially responsible starts from within, by optimizing the corporate culture for AMN team members and empowering them to give back to their communities," said Lucy Pamboukdjian, Visionary Awards selection committee member. "Serving as a role model for diversity, equality, and inclusion, she has nurtured a company culture where every team member is welcomed, supported, and respected - regardless of gender, race, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Susan is an inspiration to female leaders and WCD members across the globe and empowers them to be Strategic Leaders."



"Salka has been recognized nationally for her work to advance the role of women in companies and boardrooms. In 2021, AMN achieved top ranking in the Bloomberg (News - Alert) Gender Equality Index and Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index."



"It's critically important to honor and encourage progress in women's representation on corporate boards," said Susan Salka, President and CEO of AMN Healthcare. "Women's leadership skills in promoting inclusiveness in decision-making and communication are vital to healing the divisiveness affecting our society today. Corporations can be powerful forces for positive social change, and women leaders on corporate boards can drive that change." The Susan S. Stautberg WCD Member Leadership Award - Presented to Susan Remmer Ryzewic



The Susan S. Stautberg WCD Member Leadership Award, named in honor of WCD's visionary co-founder and chairman emeritus, is given by Susan C. Keating, CEO of Women Corporate Directors to a member who has exhibited extraordinary service and significant contributions on behalf of advancing WCD's mission.



"Susan Remmer Ryzewic, co-chair, WCD's North Florida Chapter, and co-chair, WCD's Private Company and Family Business Peer Group, has been a true leader within our organization." said Susan C. Keating, CEO, WCD.



"The percentage of WCD members serving on the boards of family and private companies have grown over the years, due in part to the innovative and important educational programming delivered during Family Business Institutes, which Susan helped to develop."



"My childhood included both traditional and progressive female role models coupled with a parental belief that I could do whatever I pursued. From an early age, it was clear to me that the traditional female roles bestowed relatively little authority and that I would not find them acceptable. I wanted to be making decisions, not have decisions made for me. I was surprised when I encountered a professional world with more limited access and less potential for women. WCD provided a perfect avenue for me to focus on increasing the role of women in corporate decision making," said Susan Remmer Ryzewic. "During this virtual celebration, we will be treated to brief interviews with each honoree - providing insights into the strategies that led to their achievements," said Dr. Cheemin Bo-Linn, Visionary Awards Celebration chair. 2021 WCD Visionary Awards Selection Committee The honorees were determined by an independent committee comprised of WCD members. Selection Committee Co-chairs: Deborah E. Kelly , partner, Genesis, Inc.; director, Perdue Farms; WCD member, Colorado

, partner, Genesis, Inc.; director, Perdue Farms; WCD member, Colorado Izumi Kobayashi, chair, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.; director, ANA Holdings, Inc., Mitsui & Co. Ltd, and OMTON Corp; WCD member, Japan Committee Members: Barbara Bowles, Agenia Clark, Noel Harwerth, Christie Hefner, Ashley Duchossois Joyce, Anastassia Lauterbach, Cristina Finocchi Mahne, Lucy Pamboukdjian, Theo Schwabacher, Susan S. Stautberg, Joan E. Steel, and Mary Beth Vitale. Visionary Awards Celebration Chair:

Dr. Cheemin Bo-Linn, CEO, Peritus Partners, Inc.; director, Blackline Safety Corp. About Women Corporate Directors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. The Women Corporate Directors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, WCD has 76 chapters around the world. In addition to publicly traded company boards, WCD members serve on numerous boards of large private and family-run companies globally. For more information visit www.womencorporatedirectors.org or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @WomenCorpDirs, #WCDboards. #WCDGlobal2021. For media inquiries, please contact Megan Mollan of the Dalton Agency at 954-600-2473 or mmollan@daltonagency.com. A variety of sessions will be open to media planning to attend and cover the event. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006085/en/

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[May 06, 2021] ONTransfer.ca Launches the Ontario Student Transfer Fair 2021

Cette information est disponible en francais ici. This first-ever, all-digital event  held on May 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST  will allow students to explore their transfer options and speak with transfer advisors from publicly funded universities, colleges, and Indigenous Institutes across the province. TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Brought to you by ONTransfer.ca, the Ontario Student Transfer Fair 2021 invites all current and prospective students to learn more about their transfer options in Ontario  whether they're interested in transfer opportunities in the future, have already applied to transfer, or have been admitted and now have additional questions. As an all-digital fair, the Ontario Student Transfer Fair 2021 means no travel and no public gatherings are required. Accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile phone  thanks to vFairs' sophisticated Virtual Event Platform  registered students will have the chance for break-out sessions and the ability to learn and network with students and transfer representatives. Attendees are encouraged to:



listen to live institution presentations;

download transfer-related content;

chat and video-conference with a transfer expert; and

browse exhibits from publicly funded postsecondary institutions from across Ontario in the Exhibitor Hall. For students unable to attend all desired presentations, recordings will be accessible for a full 30 days after the live event! As of today, participating Ontario institutions include:

Algoma University ,

, Algonquin College ,

, Brock University ,

, Canadore College,

Carleton University ,

, College Boreal,

College La Cite,

Durham College,

College, Fanshawe College,

Fleming College,

College, George Brown College ,

, Humber College ,

, King's University College,

Lakehead University ,

, McMaster University ,

, Mohawk College ,

, Nipissing University ,

, Ontario Tech University,

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute,

Queen's University,

Ryerson University ,

, Saint-Paul University,

University, Sault College,

Seneca College ,

, University of Guelph (and University of Guelph -Humber),

(and -Humber), Universite de Hearst ,

, University of Toronto , (and UofT Mississauga),

, (and UofT Mississauga), University of Waterloo ,

, Western University ,

, Wilfrid Laurier University , and

, and York University . Head to ONTransferFair.ca as more institutions sign-on and for updates to the day's agenda of events. Then join us on May 20, 2021 for The Ontario Student Transfer Fair: Where your transfer opportunities are (virtually!) endless  ONTransfer.ca is an online service offered by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) that provides searching functionality for students and stakeholders to explore program pathways and course equivalencies across postsecondary institutions. As a not-for-profit, ONCAT was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer in Ontario. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario. SOURCE ONCAT

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[May 06, 2021] Oshkosh Corporation to present at the Goldman Sachs Industrials and Materials Conference 2021

Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading innovator of mission-critical vehicles and essential equipment, announced today that it will present at the Goldman Sachs Industrials and Materials Conference 2021 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The virtual presentation is scheduled to start at 2:40 p.m. EDT and will be webcast. To access the webcast, please visit www.oshkoshcorp.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event. About Oshkosh Corporation At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs more than 14,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common cause: to make a difference in people's lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG, Pierce, Oshkosh Defense, McNeilus, IMT, Jerr-Dan, Frontline, Oshkosh Airport Products, London and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.



,  All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies. Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "project" or "plan" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities and others to address or otherwise mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies and the Company's customers, suppliers and employees; and the cyclical nature of the Company's Access Equipment, Commercial and Fire & Emergency markets, which are particularly impacted by the strength of U.S. and European economies and construction seasons. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006128/en/

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[May 06, 2021] Local Motors receives investment from GameAbove Mobility to scale American-made autonomous vehicle, Olli

CHANDLER, Ariz., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Local Motors, a leader in the design, manufacturing, and deployment of autonomous vehicles, announced today, it has received funding to help scale the production of Olli, the company's electric autonomous vehicle. The investment from GameAbove Mobility, a division of CapStone Holdings Inc., demonstrates a continued interest in partnering with established, innovative companies to create next-generation mobility solutions. The investment allows Local Motors to scale AV production as demand for level 3 autonomous vehicles continues to grow. The investment will allow Local Motors to scale AV production as demand for level 3 autonomous vehicles continues to grow within campuses, city centers, and municipalities. Local Motors manufactures Ollis from a microfactory in Knoxville, Tennessee. The build floor's production capacity will increase as a result of GameAbove Mobility's investment.

Olli 2.0's autonomy system provides safe autonomous operation and unmatched rider xperience. Capabilities like dynamic obstacle avoidance help meet the diverse needs of public and private deployments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. GameAbove Mobility's investment will allow Local Motors to pursue additional software and sensor partnerships to continue improving Olli capabilities.





Jay Rogers, Local Motors CEO, sees the partnership as a critical step in bringing autonomy to today's communities. "GameAbove's investment and strategic partnership are important to fulfill the near-term demands for further deployment of Olli, our autonomous electric vehicle. It will also enable us to continue advancing our technologies and microfactory processes," he said.



Keith J. Stone, CEO and founder of CapStone Holdings said, "Our focus will be on companies like Local Motors to utilize their technology and advanced manufacturing methods, and leverage our experiences to establish an international model of commercialized deployment." About Local Motors

Local Motors designs, manufactures, and deploys next-generation vehicles. Founded in 2007 with a belief in open collaboration, Local Motors began low-volume vehicle manufacturing of open-source designs utilizing a microfactory model. Since its inception, Local Motors has debuted no less than three world firsts; the world's first co-created vehicle, the world's first 3D-printed car, and the world's first co-created, autonomous, electric vehicle, Olli. We believe that Olli is the answer to a sustainable, accessible mobility solution for all. Learn more - localmotors.com GameAbove Mobility is a CapStone Holdings Inc. company that provides capital and strategic guidance to companies delivering innovative mobility solutions. Investments are made with established companies propelling technology and deploying products through public-private collaboration, research and development. https://www.gameabove.com/ Contact:

Matthew Bourland

920-257-9590

mbourland@local-motors.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-motors-receives-investment-from-gameabove-mobility-to-scale-american-made-autonomous-vehicle-olli-301286093.html SOURCE Local Motors

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[May 06, 2021] Planet Fitness and iFIT Strengthen Partnership

HAMPTON, N.H., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. with more members than any other fitness brand, today announced a minority investment in iFIT, a leading global health and fitness technology company that develops and sells interactive software, content, and equipment. This investment builds upon Planet Fitness and iFIT's existing collaboration announced in April 2020, in which Planet Fitness partnered with iFIT to accelerate Planet Fitness' digital offerings with expanded and enhanced content. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to invest in iFIT, a leader in streaming interactive fitness technology," said Chris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness. "Given our size and scale as a leader in brick and mortar fitness with more than 2,100 locations, this relationship between both companies deepens our current partnership and unlocks powerful opportunities to further accelerate our digital content strategy, and explore future complementary mind and body wellness offerings, creating additional value for our members." Rondeau continued, "Our differentiated content is geared toward breaking down the barriers to fitness for the approximately 80 percent of the population that does not belong to a gym, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). We view our digital membership as another way to introduce more people to the Judgement Free Zone and to further democratize fitness. I believe that the future of the fitness industry is truly about bricks with clicks  the powerful combination of providing people with a high quality, community focused in-person fitness experience coupled with the ability to engage with them outside our four walls, leveraging differentiated, premium content, wherever they are." "We are excited to welcome Planet Fitness as an iFIT investor and expand our existing partnership," said Scott Watterson, founder, chairman and CEO of iFIT. "Chris and the Planet Fitness team are leaders in brick and mortarfitness and share iFIT's mission: to make interactive fitness accessible for all. This investment and Planet Fitness' continued partnership will accelerate iFIT's decades-long legacy of innovating immersive, engaging fitness experiences for everyone, everywhere. We look forward to furthering our work with Planet Fitness and innovating together to bring the best training experience to our members wherever they choose to work out."



The current partnership between both brands has created new iFIT trainer-led workouts that stream on the Planet Fitness mobile app for people of all fitness levels and interests that are fun, motivating and judgement free. The exclusive content brings iFIT's most popular trainers to the Planet Fitness family, with workouts for beginner and intermediate levels to help people progress through their fitness journey. Many of these workouts are available for free  to both Planet Fitness members and non-members  and span a broad range of fitness and wellness categories, including at-home cardio, at-home strength-training, stretching and more. These iFIT trainer-led workouts have been some of the most popular to-date, and together with the workout library already available on the Planet Fitness App, more than 500 workouts are available for free. Jefferies LLC served as sole financial advisor to Planet Fitness and iFIT Health & Fitness. Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal advisor to Planet Fitness and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor to iFIT Health & Fitness.

About Planet Fitness Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of March 31, 2021, Planet Fitness had more than 14.1 million members and 2,146 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. About iFIT iFIT Health & Fitness is a global health and fitness technology company that provides unmatched connected fitness experiences and solutions to its growing community of millions of engaged members across 120 countries. IFIT's industry-leading brands  NordicTrack, ProForm and Freemotion  are powered by the iFIT integrated health and fitness platform, which seamlessly connects the company's proprietary software, experiential content and interactive hardware. Based in Logan, Utah, the company offers immersive, adaptive, personalized workout experiences for every fitness level and interest. As the original pioneer of connected health and fitness technology, iFIT is fueled by a passion to innovate, with a portfolio of more than 400 active and pending patents in areas ranging from interactive streaming to adaptive fitness technology. iFIT delivers these patented interactive experiences through an extensive offering of live and on-demand content across a full range of fitness modalities. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planet-fitness-and-ifit-strengthen-partnership-301285947.html SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

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[May 06, 2021] Unisys Announces 1Q21 Results

BLUE BELL, Pa., May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Operating profit up 470 bps YoY to 8.6%; non-GAAP operating profit (4) up 440 bps YoY to 10.1%

Cash from operations improved $335.0M YoY; Adjusted free cash flow (8) improved $51.8M YoY

Cloud & Infrastructure ("C&I") revenue growth of 18.6% YoY, supported by 24.2% YoY growth in C&I revenue in the U.S. & Canada

No future required cash contributions to U.S. qualified defined-benefit pension plans projected based on year-end data and assumptions and the American Rescue Plan Act Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) today reported first-quarter 2021 financial results. "During the first quarter, we made progress on our key strategic and financial goals that we laid out at the beginning of the year," said Unisys Chair and CEO Peter A. Altabef. "Profitability and cash flow improved year over year, we expected relatively flat revenue year over year, we implemented our new organizational structure, further improved our balance sheet, made important leadership hires and took key steps toward enhancing and expanding our solution portfolio to address changing client needs." In January 2021, the company changed its organizational structure to more effectively address evolving client needs. With these changes, the company recast its reportable segments, but this did not impact the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020. The company's reportable segments are Digital Workplace Services (DWS), Cloud & Infrastructure Solutions (C&I), and ClearPath Forward (CPF). Summary of First-Quarter 2021 Results Revenue:

Revenue of $509.8M vs. $515.4M in 1Q20 (1.1% YoY decline; 2.9% YoY decline in constant currency (1) )

vs. in 1Q20 (1.1% YoY decline; 2.9% YoY decline in constant currency )

The company had expected profitability to be the key driver of improvement in the first quarter, as the YoY revenue decline was anticipated and was driven by a decline of approximately $16 million in Field Services, Travel and Transportation and BPO processing activities.

in Field Services, Travel and Transportation and BPO processing activities.



C&I revenue increased 18.6% YoY, supported by 24.2% YoY growth in C&I revenue in the U.S. & Canada .

. Operating Profit:

Operating profit of $43.6M vs. $20.1M in 1Q20 (116.9% YoY increase)

vs. in 1Q20 (116.9% YoY increase)

Non-GAAP operating profit (4) of $51.4M vs. $29.4M in 1Q20 (74.8% YoY increase)

of vs. in 1Q20 (74.8% YoY increase)

Operating profit margin of 8.6% vs. 3.9% in 1Q20 (470 bps improvement)



Non-GAAP operating profit margin of 10.1% vs. 5.7% in 1Q20 (440 bps improvement)



YoY operating profit margin increases driven by year-over-year increases in gross margin for DWS, C&I and CPF, and other improvements to efficiency and related cost-reduction initiatives.

Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income:

Adjusted EBITDA (5) of $93.9M vs. $72.3M in 1Q20 (29.9% YoY increase)

of vs. in 1Q20 (29.9% YoY increase)

Adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.4% vs. 14.0% in 1Q20 (440 bps improvement)



Net loss from continuing operations of $157.8M vs. $53.2M in 1Q20

vs. in 1Q20

Net income margin of (31.0)% vs. (10.3)% in 1Q20 (2070 bps decline)





The company made additional progress toward its goal of $1.2B in gross pension liability reductions in the quarter, and a required $158.0M settlement charge related to these pension liability reduction initiatives drove the entirety of the YoY net loss.

in gross pension liability reductions in the quarter, and a required settlement charge related to these pension liability reduction initiatives drove the entirety of the YoY net loss.

Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations (6) of $29.8M vs. $1.2M in 1Q20

of vs. in 1Q20

Non-GAAP net income margin of 5.8% vs. 0.2% in 1Q20 (560 bps improvement)

Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations:

Loss per share from continuing operations of $2.45 vs. $0.85 in 1Q20

vs. in 1Q20

The company made additional progress toward its goal of $1.2B in gross pension liability reductions, and a required $158.0M settlement charge ( $2.45 per share) related to these pension liability reduction initiatives drove the entirety of the net loss per share.

in gross pension liability reductions, and a required settlement charge ( per share) related to these pension liability reduction initiatives drove the entirety of the net loss per share.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (6) was $0.46 vs. $0.02 in 1Q20

was vs. in 1Q20 Cash Flow:

Cash used in operations of $42.9M vs. $377.9M in 1Q20, an improvement of $335.0M , helped by $306.1M lower postretirement contributions in 1Q21

vs. in 1Q20, an improvement of , helped by lower postretirement contributions in 1Q21

Free cash flow (7) of $(70.4)M vs. $(405.6)M in 1Q20, an improvement of $335.2M , helped by $306.1M lower postretirement contributions in 1Q21

of vs. in 1Q20, an improvement of , helped by lower postretirement contributions in 1Q21

Adjusted free cash flow (8) of $(24.4)M vs. $(76.2)M in 1Q20, an improvement of $51.8M

of vs. in 1Q20, an improvement of

No future-required cash contributions to U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plans projected based on year-end data and assumptions and the American Rescue Plan Act

Backlog:

Total company backlog (which includes license backlog due to new segment structure) of $3.4B vs. $3.6B as of 4Q20

vs. as of 4Q20

The company's legacy BPO business and the ClearPath Forward renewal schedule were the largest contributors to the sequential decline in backlog. Financial Highlights by Segment: DWS: DWS revenue of $141.1M vs. $160.2M in 1Q20 (11.9% YoY decline; 13.5% YoY decline in constant currency)

vs. in 1Q20 (11.9% YoY decline; 13.5% YoY decline in constant currency) YoY revenue decline was expected and was largely driven by lower revenues in Field Services, one of the company's legacy solutions that has been impacted by COVID-19.

DWS gross profit of $18.5M vs. $7.2M in 1Q20 (156.9% YoY improvement)

vs. in 1Q20 (156.9% YoY improvement) DWS gross margin of 13.1% vs. 4.5% in 1Q20 (860 bps YoY improvement)

During 1Q21, the company signed a contract with a global publishing company in EMEA for service desk support, field services and asset management to automate and streamline global user support to help improve the user experience for the client's associates. C&I: C&I revenue of $123.3M vs. $104.0M in 1Q20 (18.6% YoY growth; 15.1% YoY growth in constant currency)

vs. in 1Q20 (18.6% YoY growth; 15.1% YoY growth in constant currency) Supported by 24.2% YoY growth in C&I revenue in the U.S. & Canada

C&I gross profit of $12.0M vs. $(2.8)M in 1Q20

vs. in 1Q20 C&I gross margin of 9.7% vs. (2.7)% in 1Q20 (1240 bps YoY improvement)

During 1Q21 the company signed a new-scope contract with existing client, California State University ( CSU ), the nation's largest higher-education system. As part of the new contract, Unisys will provide Financial Operations, Security Operations and Cloud Operations services that will offer the client greater agility to execute digital cloud strategies that better serve the campuses and improve the student experience for nearly 500,000 students. CPF: CPF revenue of $167.6M vs. $171.7M in 1Q20 (2.4% YoY decline; 1.7% YoY decline in constant currency)

vs. in 1Q20 (2.4% YoY decline; 1.7% YoY decline in constant currency) The YoY constant-currency decline was driven in part by loss of low-margin third-party contracts

CPF gross profit of $103.1M vs. $100.1M in 1Q20 (3.0% YoY increase)

vs. in 1Q20 (3.0% YoY increase) CPF gross margin of 61.2% vs. 58.3% in 1Q20 (290 bps YoY increase)

During 1Q21, the Company began work on a new-scope contract with a European national government agency that manages processing and payment of public pension for 2 million people. Under the contract, Unisys will provide the client with ClearPath Forward consulting services to make their ClearPath Forward system more scalable and more interoperable with other systems. Conference Call

Unisys will hold a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results. The listen-only webcast, as well as the accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed on the Unisys Investor website at www.unisys.com/investor. Following the call, an audio replay of the webcast, and accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed through the same link. (1) Constant currency  The company refers to growth rates in constant currency or on a constant currency basis so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates to facilitate comparisons of the company's business performance from one period to another. Constant currency is calculated by retranslating current and prior period results at a consistent rate. (2) Pipeline  Pipeline represents prospective sale opportunities being pursued or for which bids have been submitted. There is no assurance that pipeline will translate into recorded revenue. (3) Total Contract Value  TCV is the estimated total contractual revenue related to contracts signed in the period without regard for cancellation terms. New business TCV represents TCV attributable to new scope for existing clients and new logo contracts. Non-GAAP and Other Information

Although appropriate under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the company's results reflect charges that the company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operations and that can make its profitability and liquidity results difficult to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, or to its competitors' results. These items consist of certain portions of post-retirement, debt exchange and extinguishment and cost-reduction and other expenses. Management believes each of these items can distort the visibility of trends associated with the company's ongoing performance. Management also believes that the evaluation of the company's financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of its results that exclude the impact of these items in order to enhance consistency and comparativeness with prior or future period results. The following measures are often provided and utilized by the company's management, analysts, and investors to enhance comparability of year-over-year results, as well as to compare results to other companies in our industry. (4) Non-GAAP operating profit  The company recorded pretax post-retirement expense and pretax charges in connection with cost-reduction activities, debt exchange/extinguishment and other expenses. For the company, non-GAAP operating profit excluded these items. The company believes that this profitability measure is more indicative of the company's operating results and aligns those results to the company's external guidance, which is used by the company's management to allocate resources and may be used by analysts and investors to gauge the company's ongoing performance. (5) EBITDA & adjusted EBITDA  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is calculated by starting with net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation common shareholders and adding or subtracting the following items: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, interest expense (net of interest income), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further excludes post-retirement, debt exchange/extinguishment, and cost-reduction and other expenses, non-cash share-based expense, and other (income) expense adjustment. In order to provide investors with additional understanding of the company's operating results, these charges are excluded from the adjusted EBITDA calculation. (6) Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share  The company has recorded post-retirement expense and charges in connection with debt exchange/extinguishment and cost-reduction activities and other expenses. Management believes that investors may have a better understanding of the company's performance and return to shareholders by excluding these charges from the GAAP diluted earnings/loss per share calculations. The tax amounts presented for these items for the calculation of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share include the current and deferred tax expense and benefits recognized under GAAP for these amounts. (7) Free cash flow  The company defines free cash flow as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. Management believes this liquidity measure gives investors an additional perspective on cash flow from on-going operating activities in excess of amounts used for reinvestment. (8) Adjusted free cash flow  Because inclusion of the company's post-retirement contributions, discontinued operations and cost-reduction charges/reimbursements and other payments in free cash flow may distort the visibility of the company's ability to generate cash flow from its operations without the impact of these non-operational costs, management believes that investors may be interested in adjusted free cash flow, which provides free cash flow before these payments. This liquidity measure was provided to analysts and investors in the form of external guidance and is used by management to measure operating liquidity. About Unisys

Unisys is a global IT services company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include digital workplace services, cloud and infrastructure services and software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing. Unisys integrates security into all of its solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the government, financial services and commercial markets, visit www.unisys.com. Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any projections or expectations of earnings, revenues, annual contract value, total contract value, new business ACV or TCV, backlog or other financial items; any statements of the company's plans, strategies or objectives for future operations; statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and any statements of belief or expectation. All forward-looking statements rely on assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. In particular, statements concerning annual and total contract value are based, in part, on the assumption that each of those contracts will continue for their full contracted term. Risks and uncertainties that could affect the company's future results include, but are not limited to, the following: uncertainty of the magnitude, duration and spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 and governments' responses to it on the global economy and our business, growth, reputation, projections, prospects, financial condition, operations, cash flows and liquidity, our ability to attract, motivate and retain experienced personnel in key positions; our ability to grow revenue and expand margin in our Digital Workplace Services and Cloud and Infrastructure businesses; our ability to maintain our installed base and sell new solutions; the potential adverse effects of aggressive competition in the information services and technology marketplace; our ability to effectively anticipate and respond to volatility and rapid technological innovation in our industry; our ability to retain significant clients; our contracts may not be as profitable as expected or provide the expected level of revenues; our ability to develop or acquire the capabilities to enhance the company's solutions; the potential adverse effects of the concentration of the company's business in the global commercial sector of the information technology industry; our significant pension obligations and required cash contributions and the possibility that we may be required to make additional significant cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plans; our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited; the risks of doing business internationally when a significant portion of our revenue is derived from international operations; the business and financial risk in implementing future acquisitions or dispositions; cybersecurity breaches could result in significant costs and could harm our business and reputation; the performance and capabilities of third parties with whom we have commercial relationships; a failure to meet standards or expectations with respect to the company's environmental, social and governance practices; our ability to access financing markets; a reduction in our credit rating; the adverse effects of global economic conditions, acts of war, terrorism, natural disasters or the widespread outbreak of infectious diseases; the impact of Brexit could adversely affect the company's operations in the United Kingdom as well as the funded status of the company's U.K. pension plans; a significant disruption in our IT systems could adversely affect our business and reputation; we may face damage to our reputation or legal liability if our clients are not satisfied with our services or products; the potential for intellectual property infringement claims to be asserted against us or our clients; the possibility that legal proceedings could affect our results of operations or cash flow or may adversely affect our business or reputation; and the company's consideration of all available information following the end of the quarter and before the filing of the Form 10-Q and the possible impact of this subsequent event information on its financial statements for the reporting period. Additional discussion of factors that could affect the company's future results is contained in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. RELEASE NO.: 0506/9832 Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder. UIS-Q







UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited) (Millions, except per share data)









Three Months Ended

March 31,



2021

2020 Revenue







Services

$ 420.4

$ 425.9 Technology

89.4

89.5



509.8

515.4 Costs and expenses







Cost of revenue:







Services

338.7

375.7 Technology

31.9

26.6



370.6

402.3 Selling, general and administrative

90.0

86.8 Research and development

5.6

6.2



466.2

495.3 Operating income

43.6

20.1 Interest expense

10.1

13.9 Other (expense), net

(182.6)

(48.1) Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

(149.1)

(41.9) Provision for income taxes

8.4

10.8 Consolidated net loss from continuing operations

(157.5)

(52.7) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

0.3

0.5 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation

(157.8)

(53.2) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

1,068.5 Net income (loss) attributable to Unisys Corporation

$(157.8)

$1,015.3 Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Unisys Corporation







Basic







Continuing Operations

$ (2.45)

$ (0.85) Discontinued Operations

-

17.06 Total

$ (2.45)

$ 16.21 Diluted







Continuing Operations

$ (2.45)

$ (0.85) Discontinued Operations

-

17.06 Total

$ (2.45)

$ 16.21

UNISYS CORPORATION SEGMENT RESULTS (Unaudited) (Millions)

























Total

DWS

C&I

CPF

Other Three Months Ended March 31, 2021



















Customer revenue

$509.8

$141.1

$123.3

$167.6

$77.8 Intersegment

-

-

-

1.0

(1.0) Total revenue

$509.8

$141.1

$123.3

$168.6

$76.8 Gross profit percent

27.3 %

13.1 %

9.7 %

61.2 %

























Three Months Ended March 31, 2020



















Customer revenue

$515.4

$160.2

$104.0

$171.7

$79.5 Intersegment

-

-

-

0.1

(0.1) Total revenue

$515.4

$160.2

$104.0

$171.8

$79.4 Gross profit percent

21.9 %

4.5 %

(2.7)%

58.3 %



UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Millions)











March 31,

2021

December 31,

2020

Assets







Current assets:







Cash and cash equivalents $ 716.6

$ 898.5

Accounts receivable, net 410.3

460.5

Contract assets 45.1

44.3

Inventories 9.6

13.4

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 99.0

89.3

Total current assets 1,280.6

1,506.0

Properties 704.6

727.0

Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization 597.7

616.5

Properties, net 106.9

110.5

Outsourcing assets, net 163.6

173.9

Marketable software, net 195.5

193.6

Operating lease right-of-use assets 70.8

79.3

Prepaid postretirement assets 188.2

187.5

Deferred income taxes 134.1

136.2

Goodwill 108.6

108.6

Restricted cash 9.9

8.2

Other long-term assets 198.5

204.1

Total assets $ 2,456.7

$ 2,707.9

Liabilities and deficit







Current liabilities:







Current maturities of long-term-debt $ 19.9

$ 102.8

Accounts payable 172.7

223.2

Deferred revenue 248.0

257.1

Other accrued liabilities 289.3

352.0

Total current liabilities 729.9

935.1

Long-term debt 521.2

527.1

Long-term postretirement liabilities 1,230.0

1,286.1

Long-term deferred revenue 138.3

137.9

Long-term operating lease liabilities 57.5

62.4

Other long-term liabilities 65.6

71.4

Commitments and contingencies







Total Unisys Corporation stockholders' deficit (331.6)

(356.8)

Noncontrolling interests 45.8

44.7

Total deficit (285.8)

(312.1)

Total liabilities and deficit $ 2,456.7

$ 2,707.9

UNISYS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Millions)













Three Months Ended

March 31,



2021

2020 Cash flows from operating activities







Consolidated net loss from continuing operations

$ (157.5)

$ (52.7) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

1,068.5 Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash used for operating activities:







Gain on sale of U.S. Federal business

-

(1,059.5) Foreign currency translation losses

2.9

15.8 Non-cash interest expense

0.9

1.5 Employee stock compensation

3.3

5.1 Depreciation and amortization of properties

7.6

8.2 Depreciation and amortization of outsourcing assets

16.1

16.0 Amortization of marketable software

15.5

13.6 Other non-cash operating activities

(0.6)

0.2 Loss on disposal of capital assets

0.8

0.8 Postretirement contributions

(21.6)

(327.7) Postretirement expense

169.0

23.5 Deferred income taxes, net

(2.0)

(5.6) Changes in operating assets and liabilities:







Receivables, net and contract assets

48.8

(18.6) Inventories

3.7

5.6 Other assets

(15.2)

(14.2) Accounts payable and current liabilities

(124.8)

(58.0) Other liabilities

10.2

(0.4) Net cash used for operating activities

(42.9)

(377.9) Cash flows from investing activities







Net proceeds from sale of U.S. Federal business

-

1,164.7 Proceeds from investments

1,229.5

828.8 Purchases of investments

(1,235.5)

(870.5) Investments in marketable software

(17.4)

(17.3) Capital additions of properties

(5.1)

(5.6) Capital additions of outsourcing assets

(5.0)

(4.8) Other

(0.4)

(1.5) Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities

(33.9)

1,093.8 Cash flows from financing activities







Net proceeds from short-term borrowings

-

59.5 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

1.5

2.1 Payments of long-term debt

(91.6)

(6.1) Proceeds from exercise of stock options

2.7

- Other

(7.4)

(4.7) Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

(94.8)

50.8 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(8.6)

(31.0) Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(180.2)

735.7 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

906.7

551.8 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year

$ 726.5

$ 1,287.5 UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (Unaudited) (Millions, except per share data)

















Three Months Ended





March 31,





2021

2020 GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation

$(157.8)

$(53.2)











Postretirement expense: pretax

169.0

23.5

tax

0.4

0.3

net of tax

168.6

23.2











Cost reduction and other expenses: pretax

19.1

31.8

tax

0.1

0.6

net of tax

19.0

31.2

minority interest

-

-

net of minority interest

19.0

31.2











Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation

29.8

1.2 Add interest expense on convertible notes

-

- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share

$ 29.8

$ 1.2











Weighted average shares (thousands)

64,423

62,650 Plus incremental shares from assumed conversion:









Employee stock plans

1,067

522

Convertible notes

-

- Non-GAAP adjusted weighted average shares

65,490

63,172











Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations







GAAP basis







GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share

$(157.8)

$(53.2) Divided by weighted average shares

64,423

62,650 GAAP diluted loss per share

$ (2.45)

$(0.85)











Non-GAAP basis







Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation for diluted earnings per share

$ 29.8

$ 1.2 Divided by Non-GAAP adjusted weighted average shares

65,490

63,172 Non-GAAP diluted loss per share

$ 0.46

$ 0.02 UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP (Unaudited) (Millions)











FREE CASH FLOW

















Three Months Ended





March 31,





2021

2020 Cash provided by (used for) operations

$(42.9)

$(377.9) Additions to marketable software

(17.4)

(17.3) Additions to properties

(5.1)

(5.6) Additions to outsourcing assets

(5.0)

(4.8) Free cash flow

(70.4)

(405.6) Postretirement funding

21.6

327.7 Discontinued operations



-

(9.0) Cost reduction and other payments

24.4

10.7 Adjusted free cash flow

$(24.4)

$ (76.2) UNISYS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP (Unaudited) (Millions)











EBITDA

















Three Months Ended





March 31,





2021

2020 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation

$(157.8)

$ (53.2) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

0.3

0.5 Interest expense, net of interest income of $1.6, $2.4 respectively*

8.5

11.5 Provision for income taxes

8.4

10.8 Depreciation

23.7

24.2 Amortization

15.5

13.6 EBITDA

$(101.4)

$ 7.4









Postretirement expense

$ 169.0

$ 23.5 Cost reduction and other expenses**

19.1

31.8 Non-cash share based expense

3.3

5.1 Other expense, net adjustment***

3.9

4.5 Adjusted EBITDA

$ 93.9

$ 72.3











*Included in other expense, net on the consolidated statements of income **Reduced for depreciation and amortization included above ***Other (income) expense, net as reported on the consolidated statements of income less postretirement expense, interest income and items included in cost reduction and other expenses





Three Months Ended





March 31,





2021

2020 Revenue



$ 509.8

$ 515.4 Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Unisys Corporation as a percentage of revenue

(31.0)%

(10.3)% Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue

18.4 %

14.0 % View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unisys-announces-1q21-results-301286031.html SOURCE Unisys Corporation

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[May 06, 2021] Fortive Announces Leadership Appointments

Fortive Corporation ("Fortive") (NYSE: FTV) announced today that both Justin McElhattan and Tami Newcombe have been promoted to Group President within Fortive. Mr. McElhattan joined Fortive in connection with Fortive's acquisition of Industrial Scientific Corporation (ISC) in 2017, where he has served as President since 2007. As President of ISC, Mr. McElhattan has led the growth and profitability of Fortive's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) businesses with the acquisitions of Intelex, SAFER Systems, and ehsAI, and the expansion of ISC's iNet offerings to promote the safety of both customers and the community. As Group President, Mr. McElhattan will drive the results, innovation, and growth of our EHS businesses. Ms. Newcombe has served in a series of progressive roles, including most recently as President of Tektronix (News - Alert) , where she leverages her deep understanding of customer workflows and her passionate commitment to the Fortive Business System (FBS) to deliver results and drive significant improvements across all aspects of Fortive's business at Tektronix. As part of her expanded responsibilities within Fortive, Ms. Newcombe will oversee Fortive's business operations in India. She will also serve as Chair of the Fortive Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Council, demonstrating her commitment to deepening Fortive's strong and inclusive culture. Mr. Lico stated, "Justin's leadership in our enterprise-wide, connected worker strategy has been critical to taking us beyond gas detection to accelerate our strategy in EHS. His commitment to FBS has been critical to driving results, innovation, and continuous improvement across our HS businesses."



"Tami personifies one of our core leadership competencies, Building Extraordinary Teams, demonstrating the ability to inspire, develop, and drive engagement across our global team while accelerating innovation and growth within Tektronix," Mr. Lico added. The appointments highlight these leaders' continued focus on shaping the strategy and investment areas for their businesses, championing the Fortive Business System (FBS) to drive strong operating results and foster a growth mindset, while building extraordinary teams by recruiting and developing exceptional talent.

Fortive will be holding an Investor Conference on May 19th where they will highlight key segment growth strategies, the way they are expanding the impact from FBS across the portfolio, and their commitment to sustainability. Learn more here. ABOUT FORTIVE Fortive is a provider of essential technologies for connected workflow solutions across a range of attractive end-markets. Fortive's strategic segments - Intelligent Operating Solutions, Precision Technologies, and Advanced Healthcare Solutions - include well-known brands with leading positions in their markets. The company's businesses design, develop, service, manufacture, and market professional and engineered products, software, and services, building upon leading brand names, innovative technologies, and significant market positions. Fortive is headquartered in Everett, Washington and employs a team of more than 17,000 research and development, manufacturing, sales, distribution, service and administrative employees in more than 50 countries around the world. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement, the core of our company's operating model is the Fortive Business System. For more information please visit: www.fortive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006154/en/

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[May 06, 2021]

Globant to Announce First Quarter 2021 Financial Results on May 13th

LUXEMBOURG, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native technology services company, today announced it will release results for the first quarter ended March 31st, 2021 on Thursday May 13th, 2021 after the close of regular market hours.

Following the release, Martin Migoya, Globant's CEO & co-founder, and Juan Urthiague, Globant's CFO, will discuss the results in a video conference call beginning at 4:30pm ET.

Video conference call access information is:

https://more.globant.com/F1Q21EarningsCall







About Globant (NYSE:GLOB)

We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves to create a way forward and unleash their potential. We are the place where innovation, design and engineering meet scale.

We have more than 16,250 employees and we are present in 18 countries working for companies like Google, Rockwell Automation, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others.

We were named a Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services by IDC MarketScape report. We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. We are a member of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord.

For more information, please visit www.globant.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Paula Conde & Amit Singh, Globant

investors@globant.com

+1 (877) 215-5230

Media Contact:

Wanda Weigert, Globant

pr@globant.com

+1 (877) 215-5230

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/globant-to-announce-first-quarter-2021-financial-results-on-may-13th-301285859.html

SOURCE Globant
[May 06, 2021] Coursera Announces Partial Early Lock-up Release

Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR) today announced a partial early lock-up release with respect to Coursera's common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the "shares"), pursuant to the terms of the lock-up agreements ("lock-up agreements") entered into by Coursera's equityholders, including current executive officers and directors, with the underwriters of Coursera's initial public offering. Pursuant to the terms of the lock-up agreements, the lock-up restrictions will end with respect to 25% of the shares (including shares underlying vested RSUs and stock options) owned by the applicable holder as of the date of the lock-up agreement on May 11, 2021, provided that in the case of the lock-up agreements with Coursera's current executive officers, directors and certain other equityholders, only if certain share price and other conditions are met. Th conditions for early release were satisfied on May 4, 2021. Accordingly, Coursera estimates that up to 34.0 million shares will become eligible for sale in the public market at the open of trading on May 11, 2021, subject to applicable restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including Rule 144 and Rule 701.



The lock-up restrictions will continue to apply with respect to all remaining securities subject to the lock-up agreements. About Coursera

Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 82 million registered learners as of March 31, 2021. Coursera partners with over 200 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including Guided Projects, courses, Specializations, certificates, and bachelor's and master's degrees. More than 6,000 institutions have used Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students, including in high-demand fields such as data science, technology, and business. Source (News - Alert) Code: COUR-IR View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006254/en/

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[May 06, 2021] DiamondRock Hospitality Company and Fortress Investment Group LLC Announce a Transaction for the Frenchman's Reef Marriott Resort & Spa and Noni Beach, Autograph Collection Project in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

DiamondRock Hospitality Company ("DiamondRock") (NYSE: DRH), announced today that it sold the 478-room Frenchman's Reef Marriott Resort & Spa and Noni Beach, Autograph Collection project in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. (collectively, "Frenchman's Reef") to an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress"). As consideration, DiamondRock has received an upfront cash payment as well as a participation right in the future profits of the hotel once certain return metrics are achieved. The resort has been closed since it experienced devastating impact from sequential hurricanes in 2017. Under Fortress ownership, the Frenchman's Reef will complete a major rebuilding project and reopen as a global destination resort. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006255/en/ "We are extremely excited to steward this important property through the completion of its ambitious rebuilding and, ultimately, to its reopening as a global destination with unrivaled facilities and amenities," said Thomas W. Pulley, Global Head of the Fortress Credit Real Estate business. "This is a remakable property-an irreplaceable asset that we are thrilled to add to our portfolio. We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the long-term vibrancy of the St. Thomas economy, and look forward to working closely with U.S.V.I. officials and engaging with the people of St. Thomas as an important employer."



"We are delighted to consummate a transaction that enables DiamondRock to retain a financial interest in the future success of Frenchman's Reef while advancing our strategy of increasing our portfolio focus on experiential drive-to resorts and lifestyle hotels," said Mark W. Brugger, President and Chief Executive Officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. "We are confident Fortress will bring a dynamic and exciting vision to Frenchman's Reef". About Fortress

Fortress Investment Group LLC is a leading, highly diversified global investment manager. Founded in 1998, Fortress manages $52.7 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2020, on behalf of approximately 1,800 institutional clients and private investors worldwide across a range of credit and real estate, private equity and permanent capital investment strategies. About DiamondRock DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in top gateway markets and destination resort locations. The Company owns 30 premium quality hotels with over 9,600 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its hotels to be operated both under leading global brand families as well as unique boutique hotels in the lifestyle segment. For further information on the Company and its portfolio, please visit DiamondRock Hospitality Company's website at www.drhc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210506006255/en/

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Paducah Middle to Begin Search for New Principal

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The search process for a new principal at Paducah Middle School is set to begin.The school's Site-Based Decision Making Council will meet Thursday evening, and will choose someone to serve as secretary during the search. They are also scheduled to discuss the hiring process and establish a tentative timeline.Allene Houston Jones has served as PMS principal since 2017, but was recently named District Instructional Specialist.
Manufacturer will invest $30 million in Maury County

Company will create more than 200 new jobs

COLUMBIA, Tenn.  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and JC Ford Company officials announced today that the company will locate new manufacturing operations in Columbia, Tenn.

The automated equipment manufacturer will invest $30 million to renovate two existing facilities and create 210 new jobs in Maury County over the next five years.

Family-owned and operated, JC Ford was founded nearly 80 years ago. The company is a leading manufacturer in high-speed corn tortilla production equipment with production ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 dozen per hour.

JC Ford also manufactures tortilla chip production lines, ranging from 250 pounds per hour to a completely automated 4,000 pounds per hour system. The company works with clients offering customized options for layout, design, equipment, product development and service to fit each clients needs while maximizing resources and product quality.

Hiring is underway. Interested applicants can go to www.jcford.com to learn more and are encouraged to attend all future job fairs, coming soon.

Over the last five years, TNECD has supported more than 20 economic development projects in Maury County, resulting in more than 5,300 job commitments and $5.3 billion in capital investment.

QUOTES

As the fifth fastest growing county in Tennessee, Maury County has positioned itself as an ideal place for companies to do business. Were grateful that JC Ford has chosen to invest in Maury County. The 210 new jobs will provide wonderful opportunities for residents in middle Tennessee.  Gov. Bill Lee

We are pleased to welcome JC Ford to Tennessee as it joins a growing list of West Coast, California-based companies setting up manufacturing operations in our state. JC Ford will be geographically well-positioned for distribution and will benefit from our low cost of doing business and strong manufacturing workforce. We thank JC Ford for choosing Columbia, and we look forward to building a partnership with the company in the years ahead.  TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe

JC Ford has been very impressed with the strong support that we have received from the local and regional communities to expand our operations to Columbia, Tennessee. We look forward to working with this high growth region and attracting the very best talent from the areas strong manufacturing workforce. We are committed to accelerating our business over the next few years, providing high quality jobs to the region, and investing in the community.  Scott Ruhe, President of JC Ford Company

It is exciting to see a company from California open new facilities in Maury County. With its strategic location, Maury County is quickly becoming a top choice for out-of-state companies looking to manufacture in a business-friendly environment. I welcome JC Ford and thank them for both their investment and the new job opportunities they are creating.  Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles

Todays announcement is another incredible win for Columbia a well-established, and highly respected company creating over 200 new jobs and investing $30 million our region. On behalf of all of us at the City of Columbia, I welcome JC Ford and look forward to working with them as they further expand their company in our community. I would also like to thank Governor Lee, TNECD, TVA, our regional economic development partners and the Maury Alliance for their good work in bringing yet another economic development project to our city. Columbia is well positioned thanks to a robust economy, a skilled workforce and partnerships enjoyed at the state and regional levels. This project is a prime example.  Columbia City Mayor Chaz Molder

TVA and Columbia Power & Water Systems congratulate JC Ford, Co. on its decision to locate operations in Maury County. Helping to foster new job creation in the Valley is fundamental to TVAs mission of service and we are proud to partner with Maury Alliance and Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association to help further that mission and celebrate this announcement.  John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development

JC Fords investment in Columbia is great news for our area. We continue to see the job market strengthening in Maury County which is a tremendous boost to our local economy. I congratulate Governor Lee and all state and local officials for their efforts in bringing these jobs home to our area.  Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald)

"JC Ford's $30 million investment is huge news for Maury County. Our community has experienced, and is continuing to experience, great economic growth because of Tennessee's commitment to being a business-friendly state. I appreciate our state and local partners for working to bring these high-quality jobs to our community."  Rep. Michael Curcio (R-Dickson)

TNECD Media Contact

Molly Hair, Public Information Officer

(615) 878-0063

Molly.Hair@tn.gov

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.

###
The local carnage continues this morning.



KANSAS CITY COUNTS THREE HOMICIDES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS!!!



Police seem to be working at a frantic pace to keep up with violence. This incident makes for three death investigations in the span of 10 hours. UNOFFICIALLY, this is the 55th homicide so far this year compared to 53 at this time laster year and amid KCMO's record breaking homicide count.

UPDATE: HERE'S BETTER REPORTING . . .

This morning just before 6am, officers were dispatched to meet the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department in the 8100 block of Indiana in regard to a car fire. Upon arrival, officers were advised by KCFD there was a deceased victim inside the vehicle. Our homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses in the area. This is currently being investigated as a suspicious death as we do not know the circumstances leading up to this death. Detectives are asking if you have any information in regard to this, please call the Homicide Unit at 816-234-5043 or if you would like to remain anonymous, contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.



Additionally, as we indicated this morning, we are currently investigating a shooting which occurred in the area of 8500 block of Euclid. Officers were dispatched just before 5am to the area on a sound of gunshots call for service which was updated to a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located the victim, an adult male, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. EMS responded and transported the victim to the hospital and his condition is stable at this time.



Due to the close proximity and time frame, investigators will be looking to determine if these two incidents could be related.



Here are the first reports from the scene:

Fox4: Body found inside burning vehicle near 81st and Indiana in Kansas City

KSHB: KCPD investigates death of person found in burned car

KCTV5: Deadly night in KC: 3 dead, several others hurt in 6 shootings

KMBC: 1 dead after shooting near 85th and Euclid, deadly night in KC

Developing . . .
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.
Jeff Edelstein is a columnist for The Trentonian. He can be reached at jedelstein@trentonian.com, facebook.com/jeffreyedelstein and @jeffedelstein on Twitter.
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Paducah Pair Arrested on Robbery, Drug Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A report of a man with a gun Thursday led to the arrest of two people on robbery and drug charges.Paducah police officers went to an apartment on Trimble Street and found 22-year-old Darrell D. Houston sitting in a car. After hearing a woman screaming, officers also located a 17-year-old girl and a man in a stairwell along with a handgun.The man reportedly told police the girl tried to rob him, and he took the gun from her. Officers determined Houston had brought the girl to the apartment complex to rob the man. Houston allegedly admitted to owning the handgun, although he is a convicted felon.Houston was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and possession of marijuana.The girl was taken to the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Center, charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of a handgun by a minor, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Terre Haute, IN (47803)

Today

A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Sheriff Requests More Body Cameras In Budget

By Bill Hughes

PADUCAH - Next year's county budget will likely include funding for the McCracken County Sheriff's Department to get eight additional body cameras.Sheriff Matt Carter brought information to the McCracken Fiscal Court during a budget hearing on Tuesday. He requested they include $15,000 over the next three years for the new Axon Body 2 cameras, all related accessories and chargers, plus online storage for their data. The Axon system uses redundant storage at multiple sites to ensure any needed footage isn't lost.The first year is the most expensive - just over $7,000 - since it includes the hardware, and the next two years would carry an expense of around $4,000.Carter was quick to thank the Paducah Moose Lodge #285, which volunteered to cover the first year's expense for the new cameras.Deputy County Judge-Executive Steve Doolittle said he began discussing the issue with Carter after a couple of incidents involving detectives that were not wearing cameras, including one officer-involved shooting.Doolittle said, "He brought that to our attention, and said, 'well, we're getting close to next budget year, let's program that in,' and we're doing that, and they (Fiscal Court) agreed that they would put those funds in."Just after he took office in 2018, Carter worked with county officials to amend the budget in the middle of the year to get new 43 cameras under a 5-year contract because current cameras were old and unreliable. He said all officers were provided a camera, with one designated for detectives and one for the drug division. When the new ones arrive, every member of the department will have a body camera.He said the department has used cameras since the early years of his predecessor, Jon Hayden."The Sheriff's Office, historically, was way in front of the whole body cam thing. We've been wearing body cams since give or take 2009," Carter said, "So, this is 12 to 13 years in the making, as a matter of fact, we're on our third type of body cam."Last month, someone posted a video on social media and accused a deputy of making a racist remark during a March arrest. Carter responded, saying he analyzed the video and did not agree with the claims, and said officers didn't activate their body cameras prior to the incident. That choice did not sit well with some, who have criticized the department.Carter said he's comfortable with their policy for officers to turn their cameras on or off, saying, "It is very much so in line with (KACo Kentucky Association of Counties), which is our insurance provider. It's kind of a model policy of what KACo recommends."Carter said if all cameras were recording every moment, the data storage plan with Axon would have an astronomical cost, at taxpayer expense.Carter and Doolittle said all county officials are on board with budgeting for the new cameras.
Canton, GA (30114)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Canton, GA (30114)

Today

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Surveillance Leads to Paducah Man's Arrest

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - A Paducah man was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he violated an emergency protective order.Detectives conducted surveillance at a home on Clements Street, and reportedly saw 38-year-old Woody Blair on the front porch.Detectives said Blair was known to have a Kentucky Domestic Violence Order barring him from being within 500 feet of the home.During a search of the home, he was reportedly found hiding in a bedroom.Blair was arrested and charged with violating a domestic violence order.He was lodged in the McCracken County Jail.Authorities said Blair has 13 previous arrests for violating Kentucky Domestic Violence Orders.
Southern IL Man Faces Child Sex Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARION, IL - A Marion, Illinois man was arrested Wednesday on several charges related to child sexual exploitation.The Illinois State Police says investigators arrested 19-year-old Joshua Bloodworth on Wednesday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, grooming, and production of child pornography.As part of an internet crimes against children investigation, troopers and agents from the Illinois Attorney General's Office executed a search warrant at a home in Williamson County. Bloodworth was charged with sexually exploiting multiple female juvenile victims from California, South Dakota, and Illinois.Bloodworth was taken to Williamson County Jail where he awaits a bond hearing.
Comer: No Budget Cuts For LBL

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY - Congressman James Comer told a Cadiz radio station Wednesday that no budget cuts are planned for programs at Land Between the Lakes.In an interview with WKDZ's News Edge, Comer said news of cuts was a miscommunication between the U.S. Forest Service and local government leaders.He said, "A federal employee with the Forest Service had a meeting with local elected officials without my or Senator Mitch McConnell's knowledge, and laid down a budget that they were not supposed to release because it wasn't finalized. It had a bunch of blanks in there. The blanks were for salaries."According to Comer, the federal employee didn't realize that the Biden administration is reconstructing the budget and changing where salary information is placed.Comer said he was surprised when he saw news of budget cuts for Land Between the Lakes and immediately began investigating."I was suspicious when I heard the news story that there were cuts because I don't think the Biden administration has cut anything in the first 100 days," Comer said. "I communicated with (Senate Leader) McConnell, and we started looking into it."Comer reiterated that there would not be any cuts and said he thinks it's likely that LBL may see an increase instead.Due to the confusion, Comer says they have put measures in place to avoid this kind of trouble in the future.On the Net:
Car Leasing Market to grow at a CAGR of over 18% during 2021-2025, ALD SA and Arval Service Lease emerge as Key Contributors to growth| Technavio
NEW HAVEN  Get ready for things to start happening at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.

And stay tuned; there may be more on the way, according to federal documents Hearst Connecticut Newspapers has obtained.

Look this summer for new commercial service at Tweed by startup airline Avelo Airlines  the first new American mainline airline in nearly 15 years  which wants to make New Haven a focus city for its East Coast operations, company, Tweed and government officials plan to announce later today.

Get ready for a longer runway  1,035 feet longer, up from the current 5,600 feet to 6,635 feet, as approved earlier this year in Tweeds 20-year master plan update.

2 1 of 2 Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Avports Show More Show Less



But Avelo doesnt plan to wait for a longer runway before beginning its service from Tweed to multiple destinations yet to be announced. Its going to start later this year, marking the return of updated Boeing 737 commercial jets to Tweed for the first time since United Airlines ceased flights between Tweed and Chicago in 1996.

Avelo, which began flying April 28 with flights from Burbank, Calif., to Santa Rosa, Calif.  and one-way fares beginning at $19  plans to base three 147-seat 737-700 aircraft at Tweed by years end as part of a $60 million investment in the market, according to officials familiar with the deal.

The company also plans to locally employ more than 100 crew members, including pilots, flight attendants, technicians and customer support personnel, they said.

Look for a new four-gate, 74,000-square-foot terminal  roughly three times the size of the existing terminal  near where a new entrance would be on the East Haven side of Tweed, expandable to six gates, though Avelo wont wait for that, either, and will spend $1.2 million to help upgrade the current terminal in the meantime.

And look for a long-term arrangement between the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and longtime airport manager Avports, which will pay for the new terminal as well as cover Tweeds operating costs going forward, eliminating the need for $1.8 million in state and city subsides.

Avports initially plans to pay $70 million toward the new terminal and runway extension, with a plan to ultimately invest $100 million or more in Tweed, according to officials with knowledge of the deal.

The combined developments represent a major turnaround for Tweed.

Over the past year it has gone from having three American Eagle flights per day to Philadelphia and one weekly flight to Charlotte, N.C.  pre-pandemic  to having twice-daily service to Charlotte and no service to Philadelphia to seeing its service suspended  and then having American pull out entirely  to seeing five flights per week restored to Philadelphia, but not Charlotte, this past Jan. 5.

Now, all sort of things are happening, seemingly at once.

Thats a mouthful for one announcement  scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. today at Tweed.

But it just may be the start of new life for New Havens long-struggling regional airport  and that new life may not be limited to just that one or two airlines.

Thats according to a federal Small Community Air Service Development, or SCASD, grant application Tweed filed earlier this year with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Avelo surfaced earlier this year in relation to Tweed when an executive for what then was Xtra Airlines submitted a letter of support for Tweeds pending application for an $800,000 federal DOT grant.

The grants purpose is to provide revenue guarantees and marketing funds to recruit, initiate and support new service between HVN and Chicago, DC, Charlotte, and Florida, or startup costs mitigation to establish HVN as a focus city of a new airline.

The second half of that clearly applies to Avelo, but what about the rest of it?

The application actually names three potential new airlines as well as the possibility of additional service from American Airlines, which already serves Tweed with American Eagle flights to Philadelphia: Xtra Airlines, Breeze Airways and Allegiant Air.

Avelo, with an operations base at Hollywood Burbank Airport in southern California, first operated in 1987 as Casino Express Airlines and changed its name to Xtra Airlines in 2005. It recently rebranded itself as Avelo Airlines under new ownership led by Andrew Levy, a former chief financial officer for United Continental Holdings and founding president, CFO and chief operations officer of Allegiant Air.

Prior to today, it had announced no service plans on the East Coast.

Allegiant previously has stated its intention (in federal court papers) to serve Tweed once a longer runway was in place. Breeze Airways is another startup thats also expected to begin operations this year. It was founded by David Neeleman, who previously co-founded JetBlue and several other airlines, including Morris Air, Canadas WestJet and Brazils Azul Linhas Aereas.

According to the grant application, filed in late January, Breeze and XTRA (Avelo) Airways ... have expressed considerable interest in serving the market.

XTRA Airways is evaluating HVN as a potential focus city for their Northeast operation, the application reads. They have provided a letter confirming this to support HVNs grant application which can be found in the attachment.

Tweed Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said the information, including about Allegiant and Breeze being interested in Tweed in addition to Avelo, while not widely advertised, is not entirely new.

Thats what Ive said publicly for a long time. Ive met with all the major airlines and there are several that are interested in Tweed, Scanlon said.

He also said that the recent visit to New Haven and West Haven by Vice President Kamala Harris, who came in on Air Force 2  a modified Boeing 757  on March 26 shows that you can land any plane you want here. Its just a matter of how profitable its going to be.

Airport officials long have said that a longer runway was necessary to allow planes to carry full loads, particularly in the summer when planes burn more fuel, and still have plenty in reserve to get to more distant destinations such as Chicago, Florida and Atlanta.

Asked what he thinks todays announcement means for the previously-reported competition between Tweed and Bridgeports Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford with regard to which the state will support for future investment, Scanlon said, I think we have never really seen this as a competition between us and them because we are light years ahead of where theyre at.

I dont think theres any doubt about the fact that this is going to be the south-central airport of Connecticut, Scanlon said of Tweed.

A federal appeals court ruling that federal law supercedes a state statute limiting the length of Tweeds runway, followed by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision not to hear an appeal requested by state Attorney General William Tong, cleared the way for runway extension last year.

Avelo is coming in here because they want to get a toe-hold in the market and be established in New Haven before other airlines start coming in, Scanlon said.

But I think you will see more announcements, said Scanlon also a Democratic state representative for Guilford and Branford who is House chairman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

While Tweed officials have said, including in the grant application, that Americans commitment to Tweed only extends through September, when requirements tied to the federal CARES 2 stimulus funding it received from the federal government sunset, American has increased service in some cases to airports Avelo plans to serve.

They hope the same happens in New Haven.

Scanlon said the 43-year lease the authority plans to enter into with Avports makes sense.

Theyve been our partner for 22 years, Scanlon said. We know them. They know us. They know this community and we feel weve found a good partner to take a good and long-awaited next step together with.

Avports has been a committed partner to the airport, said Avports CEO Jorge Roberts. We are committed to making this airport financially and environmentally sustainable, and we are not dependent on the states money.

... What we see here is a catchment area that is underserved, Roberts said.

Both the runway extension and any plans to build a new terminal can only happen after completion of an FAA-mandated environmental assessment, which recently began, Scanlon said.

Under the new arrangement, Avports will act as an agent, provide working capital and get paid a management fee, while also paying the Airport Authority to lease the land on which it will build the terminal, officials knowledgeable of the agreement said.

Avports, which began as a division of Pan American Airways in 1927  and once managed the Kennedy Space Center  also manages eight other airports, including Westchester County, Stewart International and Albany International airports in New York and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

In its SCASD grant application, Tweed  which last won a SCASD grant 14 years ago, in 2007  said, the last 12 months at HVN have been a roller coaster ride  even more so than the rest of the country.

With several airlines showing interest, HVN has developed a strategic plan to seek service on XTRA Airways / American Airlines to Chicago or Charlotte; or Skywest / American Airlines to Washington, DC, as well as nonstop service to Florida, the application reads.

Additionally, HVN has been in negotiations with the new airline start-ups to become one of the northeastern focus cities. If awarded a grant, HVN would utilize it for startup cost abatement, revenue guarantee and marketing.

Tweed has secured $236,400 in local cash and $214,250 in in-kind marketing support to match its federal grant request of $800,000 the application says.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
Southern AZ COVID-19 AM Roundup for Thursday, May 6: No vax appointment necessary at CVS, same-day appointments at Walgreens; New mobile clinics hit the road this weekend; Other ways to get vaccinations
Tucson, AZ (85741)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 103F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 70F. WNW winds shifting to ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Groups Team Up to Assist Senior Citizens

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY - Independence Bank has partnered with the Purchase Area Development District and local schools to expand a group designed to assist senior citizens.The Area Students Caring for Elders in Need Directive, or ASCEND for short, is an expansion of a group that originated at Mayfield/Graves County Vocational School as part of their Health Occupations Students of America Club.One of the club's functions is reaching out to area senior citizens to check on their well-being.For the last four months, students from the school have contacted senior citizens to help with things such as medication reminders, arranging transportation, identifying needs, or providing a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.Independence Bank plans to work with the students and the Purchase Area Development District to identify needs that may arise that are outside of the scope of services that the organization provides. The bank plans to work with partners throughout the community to meet those needs, whether purchasing a new working appliance or paying for a utility bill.On Monday and Tuesday, students delivered non-perishable food, puzzles, and other self-care items to each participating senior citizen, as well as others from the waitlist. Approximately 200 seniors in total have received goods and will now be receiving calls from students.Organizers are hopeful that the community will want to be involved and share the students' enthusiasm for the elderly.To assist with donations, contact Jennifer Brooks at 270-251-6137 or jennifer.brooks@purchaseadd.org. Mailed donations can be made payable to The Independence Bank Foundation directed to ASCEND and sent to P.O. Box, 588, Mayfield, KY 42066.
At the United National Congress' usual Monday Night meeting, Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad called for a Commission of Enquiry into the Government's handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic and any related matters.
Over the past day, May 5, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine 19 times.

"In particular, the Russian occupation forces fired 152mm and 122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars, and grenade launchers of various systems at Ukrainian positions near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk); 122mm artillery and 120mm mortars  outside Pivdenne (40km north-east of Donetsk); 82mm mortars  not far from Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk); antitank missile systems and easel antitank grenade launchers  near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk)," the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports.

The invaders also opened fire from 82mm mortars, hand-held antitank grenade launchers, and small arms  near Mayorske (45km north of Donetsk); grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns  outside Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk); small arms  in the area of Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk) and Kamyanka (62km south of Donetsk); heavy machine guns, small arms, hand-held antitank and under-barrel grenade launchers  near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk); grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms  in the suburbs of Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk) and Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol).

Two Ukrainian defenders were wounded in the enemy shelling. The soldiers were promptly given first aid and evacuated to a medical facility. Their health condition is satisfactory.

Ukrainian soldiers returned fire in response to the enemy's shelling.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informed the OSCE SMM about the violations committed by the armed formations of the Russian Federation.

As of 07:00 on May 6, one ceasefire violation was recorded. In particular, the enemy opened fire from 82mm mortars near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk).

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba "to underscore unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression," according to a fact sheet entitled "The United States and Ukraine: Strategic Partners" released by the U.S. Department of State.

Blinken will also encourage progress on Ukraine's reform agenda, "which is key to securing Ukraine's democratic institutions, economic prosperity, and Euro-Atlantic future," the statement said.

The Department of State stressed that the United States strongly supports Ukraine's efforts to achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and build a prosperous, secure, and democratic future for all Ukrainians.

"The United States is deeply concerned about Russia's ongoing aggressive actions and rhetoric targeting Ukraine, including the increased Russian troop presence in occupied Crimea and around Ukraine's borders," the statement reads.

The Department of State recalled that "Crimea is Ukraine" and added that "the United States does not, nor will we ever, recognize Russia's purported annexation of the Crimean Peninsula." The U.S. also called on Russia to return full control of the peninsula to Ukraine.

"Donbas is Ukraine. Russia must uphold its commitments under the Minsk agreements and work in good faith to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine and restore Ukrainian sovereignty," the statement reads.

The statement also says that the United States supports Ukraine in ensuring accountable governance in both state institutions and in the corporate sector, continuing the fight against corruption, and carrying out judicial reform.

The State Department recalled that since 2014, the United States has provided Ukraine more than $4.6 billion in total assistance, $1 billion sovereign loan guarantees, and over $306 million to support assistance to persons displaced or otherwise affected by Russia's aggressive actions in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. The United States has also provided over $49 million in COVID-related assistance, including funding directed toward health and humanitarian needs.

Photo: Bloomberg Finance LP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited U.S. President Joseph Biden to visit Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, he said this at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kyiv on Thursday, May 6.

"I invited the president and vice president of the United States of America [to Ukraine]. We believe that this year, which is so symbolic for Ukraine, the United States will definitely be with us and will visit us on official and unofficial visits," Zelensky said.

He also added that he did not know yet in what format the meeting could take place.

"I don't know in what format this meeting can take place. It depends on the two countries. Now the president of the United States has received this invitation from our country. I believe that this meeting will take place. It is important to both countries," Zelensky said.

Blinken, in turn, said he would pass on the invitation to Biden.

He added that due to the coronavirus it was quite difficult to make visits, but he expressed hope that Biden would visit Ukraine in the near future.

Zelensky, in turn, added that reforms in Ukraine were among the issues discussed with Blinken. "The United States knows the details very well  where we have succeeded and where we still [have to succeed] in these complex but important reforms for our country," he said.

"The meeting was meaningful and we believe that this will be a fundamental year in relations between Ukraine and the United States," Zelensky added.

He also stated that the U.S. delegation led by Blinken was well-versed in the current situation in Ukraine, particularly in the east of the country.

He thanked the United States for its support - not in words, but in deeds - for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zelensky also invited the U.S. side to join the Crimean Platform initiative, which will meet on August 23.

"Crimean Platform is the first platform for helping Crimea, for the de-occupation of our peninsula. I invited the President of the United States of America and the Vice President [to join the initiative]," Zelensky said.

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NATO needs to stay vigilant, as Russia keeps a large military presence in and around Ukraine even after the announcement that it will withdraw its troops from Ukraine's borders, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

He said this before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on defense issues, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We will also discuss Russia, and the pattern of aggressive Russian behavior, from dangerous intelligence operations in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, but also the significant military build-up in and around Ukraine. We have seen some reduction in the number of Russian troops, but tens of thousands remain, and we are also seeing that Russia has kept a lot of weaponsand equipment, and they're also imposing restrictions in the Black Sea, including restricting access to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, and therefore NATO needs to stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments," Stoltenberg said.

He stressed that Russia had the largest number of troops in and around Ukraine since the recent increase in tensions in 2014.

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Published May 6, 2021

The University of Louisiana Monroe recognizes the month of May as Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Month. ULM celebrates the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose rich heritage has shaped the history of the United States.

Asian/Pacific is a broad term that encompasses all of the Asian continent, though focusing on East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands of Melanesia.

The commemorative month started as a week-long celebration when in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution between the House and the Senate proclaiming "the seven day period beginning on May 4, 1979, as 'Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.'"

Subsequent U.S. presidents passed annual proclamations for a week-long commemoration until 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed federal legislation to expand the observance to a month.

Public Law 102-450 states, "That the President may issue a proclamation designating May 1990 as 'Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month' and calling on the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities."

May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion on May 10, 1869. Up to 20,000 Chinese worked on the construction of the railroad.
Voters Select City, School Leadership In Area Elections Several local entities held elections Saturday, May 1, to fill available city leadership and school board positions.



Mayor Mary Alderman was re-elected as mayor of Hubbard after defeating challenger Steve Czapski by a vote of 117-80.



Serving as Hubbard council members will be Marty Kimbrough with 125 votes and Roger "Scooter" Lynch with 89 votes. Others running for council seats in Hubbard were Simone Johnson, who received 85 votes; Audrey Johnson, with 51 votes; and Walter Hill, with 16 votes.



Whitney voters selected a mayor and three school board members.



Reverend Brad Slaten came out ahead in the close race for Whitney mayor. Slaten received 40 votes, followed by Jerry Barker with 38 and Ken Scales with 32.



Ronie Lerma, who was not eligible to hold the office due to the requirement that candidates be registered voters by the filing deadline, received nine votes. Although the issue was discovered before the election, it was reportedly too late to remove Lerma's name from the ballot.



On the Whitney school board, incumbent Jason Sneed secured his seat for another three years with 342 votes. He will be joined on the board by newcomers Charles Buzan (260 votes) and Ray Watson (255 votes).



The new board members will replace Jill Hall and Annette Ayers, who did not seek re-election.



Other school board candidates on the Whitney ISD ballot and votes received included: Anne Green - 159 votes; Stephen Hunt - 113 votes; Matthew Copeland - 60 votes; Ramey Branscum - 49 votes; and Donna Brunson - 43 votes.



Mount Calm Mayor Jimmy Tucker will continue serving in his position after he defeated challenger Nikki Rondeau by a vote of 52-21.



Two council seats were also filled in Mount Calm, with Charlotte Tisdale-Latham receiving 32 votes and Gary Garner coming in second with 29 votes. Others running were Sue Ann Butler, who received 25 votes, and Matt Childre, with 23 votes.



Three school board seats were also decided in Mount Calm. Winners were incumbents Keith McCaghren with 72 votes, Janice Andrews with 57 votes and Brian Dunlap with 41 votes. Others on the ballot were Latricia Hill, who received 26 votes, and Larry Hirsch, who received 25 votes.



Three school board positions were available in Covington with four candidates seeking a three-year position.



Incumbent Kevin Ray won a seat with 63 votes and will be joined on the board by Cody Nickell, who received 56 votes.



The remaining two candidatesJoe Reitz and David Shane Johnsoneach received 36 votes. The Texas Election Code allows ties to be handled in one of several ways, including a second election, casting lots or one candidate voluntarily withdrawing from the race.



The district had not determined how to proceed to fill the third spot as of The Reporter Newspaper's press time.



All election results are unofficial until canvassed by local city councils and school boards.


Nelson Enters Plea in Murray School Threat Case

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - The Wisconsin 19-year-old who is charged with making threats against Murray High School appeared in court on Tuesday.The Calloway Circuit Court Clerk says Kya Nelson appeared virtually, where he waived arraignment and entered a not guilty plea.Judge James Jameson set a status hearing for June 17.Nelson was arrested January 29 by the Racine County Sheriff's Department after the execution of a search warrant at his home. The investigation began four days earlier, after police got a call about shots fired at Murray High School, and the school was locked down for about an hour before students and faculty could resume their schedule. A bomb threat was received the next morning, leading to another lockdown and eventual dismissal of students for the rest of the that day and the week.Nelson waived extradition in February and was transferred to Calloway County Jail. He faces one count of first-degree terroristic threatening and two counts of second-degree terroristic threatening.On the Net:
Today, UMass Dartmouth and the College of Visual and Performing Arts announced a $45,000 award from the Henry Luce Foundations American Art Program for the exhibition Nancy Holt: Massachusetts. The exhibition celebrating the Massachusetts-born artist Nancy Holt will feature scholarly research, public programming, and the post-humous American premiere of Holts room-sized installation Electrical System (1982).

A leader in art funding since 1982, the Luce Foundation's American Art Program supports innovative museum projects nationwide that advance the role of visual arts of the United States in an open and equitable society, and the potential of museums to serve as forums for art-centered conversations that celebrate creativity, explore difference, and seek common ground. The Foundation aims to empower museums and arts organizations to reconsider accepted histories, foreground the voices and experiences of underrepresented artists and cultures, and welcome diverse collaborators and communities into dialogue.

UMass Dartmouth is honored to receive the support of the Henry Luce Foundation to bolster our efforts to reinvigorate the study of artists with links to the region, through exciting research and fresh approaches, said Dr. A. Lawrence Jenkens, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). I applaud Dr. Rebecca Uchills scholarship and vision for this ambitious initiative and commend the considerable efforts of Gallery Director Viera Levitt and other CVPA contributors in support of its broad reach."

The initiative, led by CVPA faculty member Dr. Rebecca K. Uchill, is centered on Holts Spinwinder, a 1991 public sculpture that sits prominently at the entrance to the UMass Dartmouth campus that is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Holt designed this site-specific artwork to include references to the regions industrial history, including an homage to her grandfather, Samuel Holt, who was a faculty member at the New Bedford Textile School, one of the Universitys predecessor institutions. Spinwinder contains artifacts from area textile mills embedded in the foundation, which have since been the subject of myth and curiosity on campus.

The artwork was intended to evoke stories of social histories of labor, said Dr. Rebecca K. Uchill, the exhibition curator. It was not known what was placed underneath the sculpture, or whether the artifacts were meant to be recovered like a time capsule. My recent research does not support the time capsule theory  but Holt always intended for the artwork to include a plaque explaining her ideas and information about the artifacts. The Henry Luce Foundation grant, along with the generosity of partners like the Holt/Smithson Foundation, will allow the University to fulfill that vision and expand the interpretation of Holts work.

Part of Nancy Holt: Massachusetts is the display of items from Holts personal collection, donated by Holt/Smithson Foundation, an artist-endowed foundation dedicated to furthering the study of Nancy Holt and her husband, the artist Robert Smithson. The Foundation selected UMass Dartmouth to be the recipient of the gift of a model of Spinwinder and a landscape painting by Samuel Holt, titled Holts Hope. Both will be included in the exhibition, along with artworks about Nancy Holts relationship with her Aunt Ethel, a New Bedford resident, that prominently feature documentation of Aunt Ethels Locust Street home.

At Holt/Smithson Foundation we are delighted to be growing our partnership with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, said Lisa Le Feuvre, Executive Director of the Holt/Smithson Foundation. This exhibition and conference will make a significant contribution to the understanding of Nancy Holts rich contributions to the world of art and ideas. Holt recalibrated the limits of art, changing what art can be and where art can be found, embracing the new media of her time. Across five decades she asked questions about how we might understand our place in the world, investigating perception, systems, and place. Holts Massachusetts history makes this a unique partnership, and we are honored to be thinking together with the academics, staff, and students at the University.

Holt/Smithson Foundation will also lend the installation Electrical System (1982) to the exhibition. This dynamic, large-scale illuminated artwork exposes the electrical infrastructures surrounding its display, responding to the specifics of each exhibition space. Over the past year, three senior UMass Dartmouth electrical engineering students, Shedricke Mulbah, Derrick Manu, and Matthew LaVoie, worked closely with the Foundation on designing this immersive room of bent circuits.

This was my first time doing something like this  creating a structural piece and coming up with designs based on the historical specifications. When we finally got to the end of the project, the finished project will look just as it was in the pictures. Seeing the results of how everything turned out was marvelous  just knowing that we, as a team, completed the project, said Shedricke Mulbah, an Electrical Engineering senior from Worcester, MA.

The future of Nancy Holt: Massachusetts will include a symposium convening scholars from across the country to discuss themes of labor, systems, and artifacts in Nancy Holts work on November 11, the date of the exhibition opening. The exhibition will take place in the CVPA Campus Gallery on the UMass Dartmouth main campus and the University Art Gallery on the Star Store campus in historic downtown New Bedford.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Viera Levitt, Gallery Director, gallery@umassd.edu / 508-999-8555 / www.umassd.edu/cvpa
Kristin Riis Halvorsen, UNHCR's head of office in Tapachula, Mexico, at a shelter for asylum-seekers.  UNHCR/Pierre-Marc Rene

Name: Kristin Riis Halvorsen, 43, from Norway.

Why did you become an aid worker?

For as long as I can remember Ive cared about justice, or rather, injustice in the world. I was lucky to grow up in a country where theres a lot of emphasis placed on civil society engagement, and you get involved early. In high school, I raised funds for projects in Afghanistan and South Africa and ensured that visitors from these countries could travel around the region, talk to schools and meet with people. One thing leads to another. When I was studying for my Masters degree in Colombia, I came across a recruitment page for UNHCR. I read it and thought this is interesting and meaningful and I applied. A few months later, I got my first job.

What is the most rewarding / challenging thing about your job?

The most rewarding thing about my job is, its quite remarkable, a gift, to be able to wake up every day and go to work and feel that what you do is meaningful. In the past 13 years Ive never had a day when I woke up and thought why am I doing this again?, because the work to me is always meaningful. Were close enough to people to see the tangible results of what we do.

I currently supervise four different teams covering the whole of southern Mexico. My job is making sure that the office can operate. The team has grown from 20 staff when I started in 2018. This year we are set to grow to 150 staff, to respond to a huge growth in the numbers of asylum-seekers, mainly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. People are running for their lives. Ten or 15 years ago it used to be single, able-bodied young men doing this trek across Mexico. Now its large family groups. When you see a grandmother, or a seven-months pregnant woman crossing the border, theres something indicating that the situation back home has just left them really no hope.

For me, the hardest thing is being the person who has to live with the decisions about what we can and cannot do. Sometimes were faced with complex, protracted situations where donors at some point start looking elsewhere. In Uganda, it meant sometimes having to stand in front of a woman with four or five children and explain that youve been in the country so long, youre not going to get food anymore. For those of us who are close to the people and know their needs so well, to understand that we wont be able to do everything thats needed, thats really heartbreaking. It would have been amazing to live in a world where no one was forced to leave their home. Its a wonderful job, but Id love not to do it.

Kristin gives school kits to an elementary school student in Tapachula.  UNHCR/Carlos Colmenares

What was your best day at work?

About a month after I arrived in Tapachula we were able to present a play at the town theatre here. It holds about 1,000 people. With the help of local authorities we were able to fill it with young students from around Tapachula, and we presented a play written by two young women whose parents arrived in Mexico as refugees from Brazil and Argentina, fleeing from dictatorships. When the play ended, the children didnt know they should applaud. But then they started to clap and cheer. It was so rewarding to reach out to a part of the community we dont usually reach, with a message of inclusion and understanding.

What was your worst day at work?

The face of this one girl keeps haunting me. It was in Rakhine State, in Myanmar, where we would work very hard to reach the more remote camps for internally displaced people. We would move around by boat to reach these remote locations. There was one camp where the people had been displaced by just a few hundred meters and could see their village, and also the school, although they couldnt return there. There was this one visit when the children had decided that they would wear their school uniforms. And there was this girl who I already knew, who was sitting in the front row with an impeccable school uniform and she was very well groomed. She was just looking at us with this hope in her eyes, and I just felt incredibly useless. Their school was just 200 metres away and we could not get them back there. We have to look for every possible opportunity to make a difference for that little girl. For every little girl, seeing the years pass and their dreams fade. We should always be looking for ways to do more.

The UN Refugee Agency works in 135 countries helping men, women and children driven from their homes by wars and persecution. Our headquarters are in Geneva, but 90 per cent of our staff are based in the field, helping refugees. This profile is part of a series highlighting our staff and their work.

Your support is urgently needed to help the children, women and men refugees from the North of Central America. Please give now.
Verona, WI (53593)

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Melanie Robbins, mom of a kindergartner and a child in pre-K in Montclair, New Jersey, joined a campaign of concerned parents who tried to raise concerns with the Montclair Board of Education over the use of Global Plasma Solutions ionizing devices in their childrenas public school classrooms. (Jackie Molloy for KHN/TNS)
Western Kentucky University Proposing Tuition Hike

By The Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN - Western Kentucky University is proposing a 2% tuition increase and proposing cuts to offset a budget shortfall of nearly $8 million.The universitys board of regents will review the proposal on Friday.Budget materials provided by the university said enrollment for the fall of 2021 is difficult to forecast"That's mostly due to the pandemic.
Katie Guehl, a fourth-grade teacher at Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, looks in on Daphne Phyllis, a red-eared slider turtle, inside her classroom earlier this month. Guehl has had to increase her hands-on care of the turtle, because of not having kids in the classroom during the pandemic to help. (Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch/TNS)
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Beshear Updates Kentuckians on COVID-19

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - On Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on the latest coronavirus information.The governor said 1,837,229 Kentuckians had received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine."Because so many Kentuckians have rolled up their sleeves for these vaccines, these shots of hope, we've been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes," said Gov. Beshear. "We've been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements. We've been able to lift the mask mandate for smaller outdoor events. That's all because of you. And as more Kentuckians get vaccinated, it will be safer to lift even more restrictions."Beshear reported 710 new cases and a positivity rate of 3.57 percent.
Plaistow Police Chief Douglas Mullin has been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into an alleged assault on one of his polic
Education Officials Seek Input for Federal Aid

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky Department of Education is seeking opinions from various people and groups as it drafts a plan for how to spend federal aid.A statement from the agency says officials are gathering input from stakeholders as it develops plans to use about $2 billion of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.The Education Department is asking students, families, educators, civil rights organizations and others to take an eight-question survey that will be offered through May 7.The survey asks about top issues students are facing and needs they have that are related to impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.
Lee Emmons is a nature writer who lives in Newcastle, Maine. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: www.nhcf.org.
In the history of the world there have been some very bad ideas: Screen doors on submarines. New Coke. Eliminating nearly 22 child protective social worker positions at the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families. While the first idea is a joke and the second idea a marketing failure, t
How to Make a Good Impression at a Job Interview

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(Photo : How to Make a Good Impression at a Job Interview)

From the moment you walk through the door at an interview for a prospective job, the employer or panel of representatives will be keen to assess your suitability for the role. Not only that, but they will be trying to figure out what it would be like to work with you and whether you're the best fit for their company.

When thinking about how to make a good impression at a job interview, consider the issue from the interviewer's point of view. If you were the person meeting each candidate, what would you be hoping to see?

Physical Appearance Speaks Volumes

It may seem superficial, but the way a person presents themselves communicates several key things to a potential employer. A candidate who dresses smartly with clean, ironed, appropriate attire communicates confidence and professionalism as well as respect for the company's image.

As you plan for your upcoming interview, it can be helpful to browse the company's website and reach out to a current employee if possible. Viewing photos of company events and staff will give you a good idea of how to dress.

Depending on the position that you are being interviewed for, there might be some specific considerations as far as how you present yourself.

For example, someone who will have a very public role in a media and communications company might consider investing in a set of porcelain veneers and grooming their eyebrows before the interview. Similarly, candidates for a preschool-teaching position might want to skip the stilettos and ensure that their outfit is suitably modest.

Have You Done Your Homework?

The next set of interview tips relates to your knowledge and familiarity with the job. There is nothing more off-putting to employers than a candidate who is unprepared.

Know the Company

When a prospective employer selects you as a candidate, they are keen to know how you would fit into their company-an organization founded on someone's dream, with unique values, goals, and company culture.

If you'd like to know how to make a good impression at a job interview, find out all you can about the company before you go: when it was founded, why it was founded, and what the company has achieved over time. As you immerse yourself in the company's ideals, your answers about how you see yourself in the job will flow much more easily. The interviewers will also better be able to picture you working there as part of the company's current team.

Be Familiar with Your Story

It might seem extremely basic, but being able to share your story (as relevant) is an essential part of making a good impression. Your qualifications, life experience, and pertinent work stories all contribute to the package you offer.

In the days and hours leading up to your interview, be sure to read through the resume you sent in your application, along with your cover letter and the job description provided by the company. The interviewers may be interested in hearing more about an experience from your life that you've long forgotten but that they think could offer further insight.

Tailor your stories and examples to the specific skills and job that you're interviewing for and use only those examples that are relevant to the questions.

What Would You Be Like to Work With?

Showing your interviewers that your skills and experience match what they need is the first hurdle you must pass to be considered for the job. However, beyond this basic minimum, the panel will be looking for someone who they'll enjoy working with day in and day out.

Exhibit Emotional Intelligence

As a 2011 survey revealed, 71% of hiring managers said that they valued emotional intelligence (or emotional quotient, EQ) over intellectual brainpower (IQ)-and this spills over into hiring decisions as well. You can improve your emotional intelligence through practice, so start working on this as soon as you can!

Be a Team Player

If you really want to know how to make a good impression at a job interview, be kind and polite from the moment you arrive, show respect for the current employees and management of the company, and use your previous examples to show you'll be a team player who can adapt, accept feedback, solve problems, and stay cool under pressure.

Demonstrate the Ability to Grow

No one is perfect, but an employee who shows they can continue to grow is a much better investment than a know-it-all who's already perfect. Use work stories to highlight that while you might have had a weakness in the past, you've worked on this weakness and made it a strength.

Stay Clear of These Interview Turn-Offs

Through behavioral interview questions (how did you deal with... how would you respond...), interviewers hope to see signs of emotional intelligence and an ability to be flexible and adapt in the workplace. There are, however, several immediate red flags that a candidate is emotionally immature and would make a high-maintenance employee:

Blaming other people for past problems at work

Complaining about anything, including a long wait for the interview

Sending multiple emails with questions before the day

Laying out a plan to "fix" the company

Implying that you are "too good" for the job

Making disrespectful or sitcom-style jokes

Losing your cool during the interview itself (crying, yelling, laughing uncontrollably, etc.)

Of course, it's okay to be a little bit nervous. Employers expect that and take it into account. However, it's important to remember that you're an adult and that employers will expect a high degree of emotional maturity from the successful candidate both during the interview and when working in the job.

Would You Hire You?

As you prepare to put yourself out there and take the world by storm, you ultimately need to answer the question: As the employer, would you hire you?

All of the previous interview tips and insights about how to make a good impression at a job interview are really summed up in this one idea. If you wouldn't hire yourself, why should anyone else?

Think about it. If you were the interviewer, would you be impressed by your presentation, body language, and smile? Would you feel confident that you really understood the job and offered the appropriate skills and experience? Would you be keen to have you as part of the team, to share the ups and downs of each day?

If you would, congratulations! You're well on your way to a satisfying career. If not, you've just stumbled on the thing that's holding you back and can now take the steps necessary to succeed. Great people make great companies, and great companies can change the world!

See Now: Facebook will use AI to detect users with suicidal thoughts and prevent suicide

 2017 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :United States (US) e-commerce giant 'Amazon' will add Pakistan to its sellers' list within a few days, Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said on Thursday.

An important milestone of the e-Commerce policy has been achieved through teamwork by many people across the globe, the Adviser Commerce said on his official twitter account.

Adviser said "We have been engaged with Amazon since last year and now it's happening." He said that it is an excellent opportunity for our youth, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurs.

Previously it was confirmed that Pakistan would be listed among the approved countries of Amazon by end April 2021, but it was delayed for few days. But now the big news of the approval is only a few days away.

According to informed sources, the ministry of commerce and Pakistan Consulate General Los Angeles were pushing to give this good news to the whole Pakistan naion before Eid-ul-Fitre.

Meanwhile Economic Counsellor, Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the WTO and Additional Secretary Ministry of Commerce Aisha Moriani told APP that the approval would benefit the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), small investors and individual free lancers.

She said with landmark decision, the new era of e-commerce boom for Pakistan was about to start.

Aisha Moriani has been actively engaged in the process of getting approval for Pakistan in Amazon sellers list.

She said now the small investors and SMEs would be able to sell their products across the globe by using the platform of Amazon.

However, she advised the people involved in the the e-commerce business to maintain the international standard of their products otherwise their accounts could be banned permanently.

She said the women skilled workers and domestic manufactures would also get an opportunity to sell their products internationally without leaving their homes.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Brussels was ready discuss a US-backed proposal to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines

Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Brussels was ready discuss a US-backed proposal to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines.

But she stressed that Europe's priority would be to boost global supplies, and implicitly criticized the US and the UK for limiting vaccine exports.

"The European Union is also ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner," she told an online conference.

"And that's why we are ready to discuss how the US proposal for waiver on intellectual property protection for covered vaccines could help achieve that objective." On Wednesday, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Washington now supports calls for a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines while the pandemic rages.

US President Joe Biden had been under pressure to back the move, which could help poorer nations produce cheaper generic versions of the latest jabs.

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hailed Biden's "historic" decision, which Europe has up to now resisted.

Von der Leyen's commission has taken charge of procuring vaccines for the EU's 450 million inhabitants, and was criticised for a slow start.

But she told the online audience hosted by the European University institute, based in Florence, that the bloc is now getting up to speed.

"Some might say... countries like the US and the United Kingdom have been fast at the beginning. But I say Europe achieved this success while remaining open to the world, while others keep their vaccine production for themselves," she said.

"Europe is the main exporter of vaccines worldwide. So far, more than 200 million doses of vaccines produced in Europe have been shipped to the rest of the world," von der Leyen said.

"Europe exports as much vaccine as it delivers to its own citizens. And to be clear, Europe is the only democratic region in the world that exports vaccines on a large scale."
Kiev, May 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Ukraine's leadership Thursday in a visible show of support following a massive troop buildup by Russia even as he also pushes for action against corruption.

The one-day visit is the first to Kiev by a senior US official under President Joe Biden, who has vowed a firmer line on Russia but is also preparing for a summit with his counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Blinken arrived late Thursday from London where he joined other foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in condemning Russia's "irresponsible and destabilising behaviour" in Ukraine and elsewhere.

The G7 renewed its call "for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders including its territorial waters." "It is critical that Moscow now fully withdraws its forces and takes the necessary steps to help alleviate tensions," a G7 statement said.

Russia last month amassed 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, the biggest mobilisation since Moscow seized the majority-Russian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and war broke out in eastern Ukraine.

Clashes in eastern Ukraine between the government and pro-Russian separatists have been intensifying since January, a bloody new phase in Europe's only ongoing military conflict which has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

Russia quickly announced a pullback after the latest buildup, leading some experts to believe Putin was testing the will of Biden while seeking to intensify pressure on Ukraine.

Blinken will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has renewed calls to speed up Ukraine's entry into the NATO alliance in the face of fears about Russia.

Western European nations, mindful of Russia's response, have opposed Ukraine's accession and the idea has met a cool response in Washington.

The United States has, however, earmarked $408 million in security aid for Ukraine this fiscal year.

Blinken will also join Metropolitan Yepifaniy -- head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has split from Russian domination -- in laying flowers at a memorial to soldiers killed in the eastern Donbas region
(@FahadShabbir)

The Hague, May 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :The International Criminal Court will on Thursday sentence a child soldier turned Lord's Resistance Army commander for a litany of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Uganda.

Dominic Ongwen, 45, was found guilty in February of 61 charges including murders, rapes and sexual enslavement during a reign of terror in the early 2000s by the LRA, led by the fugitive Joseph Kony.

Prosecutors have asked for a 20-year prison term, saying Ongwen's own history as a schoolboy abducted by the LRA justifies a lower sentence than the maximum 30 years to life allowed by the ICC.

"This is one circumstance that sets this case apart from all the others tried at this court," ICC prosecution lawyer Colin Black told a sentencing hearing at the Hague-based court in April.

The defence is seeking a 10-year prison term for Ongwen, who went by the nom de guerre "White Ant" during attacks by his soldiers on refugee camps in northern Uganda.

Victims of his crimes have asked the court to impose the full life sentence.

Ongwen told the court that the LRA forced him to eat beans soaked with the blood of the first people he was made to kill as part of a brutal initiation following his own abduction aged nine.

"I am before this international court with so many charges, and yet I am the first victim of child abduction. What happened to me I do not even believe happened to Jesus Christ," Ongwen said.
Geneva, May 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday hailed the United States' support for a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines, describing it as a "historic decision".

The WHO chief wrote on Twitter that the move was a step towards vaccine equity, "prioritizing the well-being of all people everywhere at a critical time".

"Now let's all move together swiftly, in solidarity, building on the ingenuity and commitment of scientists who produced life-saving Covid-19 vaccines," he added.

Tedros has for months pleaded for such a patent waiver -- an idea backed by India and South Africa -- arguing this would help to ramp up production and make Covid-19 vaccines much more accessible for poorer nations.

"If not now, when?" has become a frequent refrain from the WHO chief, who has lashed out repeatedly against perceived vaccine-hoarding by richer nations.

Tedros clashed repeatedly with former US president Donald Trump, who began withdrawing his country from the WHO before President Joe Biden immediately rescinded the move upon taking office in January.

A later tweet from the WHO chief on Tuesday appeared to confirm that things had got off to a better start with Biden.

"This is a monumental moment in the fight against #COVID19," he said of US support for the patent waiver, describing Biden's commitment as "a powerful example of leadership to address global health challenges".
Job Search Requirement Restored for KY Unemployed

By Kentucky News Network

FRANKFORT - Most of Kentucky's workers who are receiving unemployment will soon be required to prove they are searching for work at least once a week.

Governor Andy Beshear recently announced that the change will take effect Sunday.

Groups exempt from the job search requirement are members of unions that find work for them, students in training programs, and those laid off with a recall date within 12 weeks of their initial claim date.

Those on temporary leave of absence and people who are part of a mass electronically filed claim are also exempt from the reporting requirement.
(@fidahassanain)

The Official figures show that 4,198 new positive cases of Coronavirus infection have surfaced in different parts of the country during the same period.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 6th, 2021) Pakistan reported 108 more deaths due to COVID-19 during last 24 hours.

The Official figures showed that 4,198 new positive cases of Coronavirus infection surfaced in different parts of the country during the same period.

According to the fresh statistics issued by National Command and Operation Centre, 46,467 tests were conducted and positivity ratio remained nine point zero three percent.

Director General Health Rana Safdar said that anti Covid vaccine was available in sufficient quantity in the country.

Briefing the media persons in Islamabad on Thursday, he said the government was taking all possible steps to acquire more vaccine from all possible sources.

The DG Health said a mechanism was developed to ensure that only quality vaccine was administered to the people. He said no compromise would be made on the quality of the vaccine.

Rana Safdar asked the people aged over forty years to get themselves registered for the vaccination. He said vaccination centers were open even after Iftari from eight pm to twelve midnight.

Chief Executive Officer Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Asim Rauf said the private sector is also being encouraged to import the vaccine. He said under a mechanism the private hospitals can also import vaccine for the vaccination of their employees.
China on Thursday said it "strongly condemns" a closing statement by the Group of Seven nations, which accused Beijing of rights abuses from Xinjiang and Tibet to Hong Kong

Beijing (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :China on Thursday said it "strongly condemns" a closing statement by the Group of Seven nations, which accused Beijing of rights abuses from Xinjiang and Tibet to Hong Kong.

The G7 made "unfounded accusations against China and openly intervened in China's internal affairs," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, asserting that "China strongly condemns" the "wanton destruction of the norms of international relations".
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday said he hoped to send a military training mission to Mozambique "as soon as possible" to help authorities facing a jihadist insurgency

Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday said he hoped to send a military training mission to Mozambique "as soon as possible" to help authorities facing a jihadist insurgency.

Mozambique has seen a surge in jihadist violence that has displaced tens of thousands in the north of the country.

Jihadists waging a three-year-old insurgency swooped on the coastal town of Palma on March 24, killing dozens of people and triggering an exodus that included workers on a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project.

"We are considering a potential European Union training mission," Borrell said after a meeting of EU defence ministers.

"We have a few steps ahead of us but I hope it will be launched as soon as possible." He said that Mozambique's former colonial ruler Portugal had committed to providing half of the troops and "already sent in advance military instructors" who could be incorporated into an eventual EU mission.

"The political will is there and with a strong contribution from Portugal I hope that the other member states will be able to complement the whole force," Borrell said.

The push for a military mission to assist Mozambique came as defence ministers launched a debate on bolstering the bloc's capabilities to respond quickly to crises, including a preliminary proposal to create a 5,000-strong rapid reaction force.

Borrell argued that the initiative could bolster the EU's global clout, but said that it had been met with reluctance by some member states.

"I think that it's good to have the capacity to intervene immediately if you really want to be a geopolitical power," Borrell said.

"We should be able to act as quick as needed." Borrell said the plan was not "cast in stone" and was a proposal being put forward as the bloc conducts a review of its overall security strategy that is expected to be completed next year.

"Some member states were a little bit reluctant," he said.

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer appeared to pour cold water on the concept as she said it was just "one of the thousands of ideas that are currently being discussed" "It has not yet really been discussed in depth," she said.

The effort is not the first by the bloc to create a rapid reaction force.

The EU set up a system of "battle groups" in 2007, but none of the 1,500-strong forces were ever deployed amid political and funding wrangling within the bloc.

Debate has raged for decades over what role Brussels should play on defence, and EU member nations -- most of which are also NATO allies -- have often been reluctant to agree moves to integrate military capabilities.
(@FahadShabbir)

The G7 countries on Wednesday called on Belarus to release all of its political prisoners and hold new elections

LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th May, 2021) The G7 countries on Wednesday called on Belarus to release all of its political prisoners and hold new elections.

"We are deeply concerned about the political and human rights crisis following the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election in Belarus. We call on the regime to implement the recommendations resulting from the OSCE's independent expert mission, release all those who have been unjustly incarcerated for expressing their democratic aspirations, and end the ongoing repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the group said in a statement.

The countries also condemned alleged repression of journalists and human rights advocates in the country and urged the authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, as well as to enter into dialogue with all parts of society.

"We call on the regime to hold new, free and fair elections conducted under international observation. We are committed to supporting the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and to holding those responsible for human rights violations to account," the statement concluded.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Thousands of Greeks on Thursday demonstrated against a controversial new labour law, police said, as strikes crippled transport and public services

Athens (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :Thousands of Greeks on Thursday demonstrated against a controversial new labour law, police said, as strikes crippled transport and public services.

Some 6,000 people marched in separate protests in Athens, a police source said. Demonstrations are also held in other major cities.

The strike wave -- the second this week after a nationwide walkout on Tuesday -- shut down the civil service, sidelined ferries and halted most public transport in Athens except buses.

Several flights are also being cancelled or rescheduled owing to a work stoppage by air controllers.

According to the government, the reform introduces optional working hour flexibility, sets rules on remote work and includes safeguards against workplace sex harassment.

Government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni on Wednesday said the overhaul "updates legislation to the present century, to the real needs of employees today." Labour Minister Costis Hatzidakis has said the new rules allow staff to negotiate with management the option of working more hours during part of the year, and subsequently take more time off.

But opposition parties have labelled the reform a "painful backtracking" on labour rights -- and critics say it formalises overtime exploitation by unscrupulous business owners which has already been going on for years.

"Unpaid overtime is a core problem in the Greek labour market..(and) labour inspection mechanisms have been dismantled," Nassos Iliopoulos, spokesman for the main opposition Syriza party, told Skai tv.

He also noted that under the new system, workers would negotiate without collective bargaining and would therefore be at the mercy of employers.

"This is a proposal for poorly-paid, flexible labour, a proposal from the past," Iliopoulos said.

Unions also oppose planned changes to how strikes are decided, with the government seeking to allow their members to vote remotely.

Greece in 2018 exited from a disastrous decade of debt crisis, international bailouts, tax hikes and spending cuts that wiped out thousands of jobs and created an exodus by many of the country's best-educated professionals.
Moscow will not leave any new Western anti-Russia sanctions unanswered, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday

YEREVAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2021) Moscow will not leave any new Western anti-Russia sanctions unanswered, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"This series of sanctions launched by members of the European Union and other Western countries including the United States, of course, continues. We will not leave this kind of attacks against Russia  against representatives of the Russian leadership, parliamentarians of the Russian Federation, our companies, which are guilty of only being registered in a country that the European Union decided to declare an aggressor, without any valid grounds and absolutely illegitimate," the minister said at a press conference after talks with his Armenian counterpart, Ara Aivazian.

Lavrov added that the European Union's threats of new sanctions and claims of illegitimacy of possible Russian countermeasures showed that Brussels was obsessed with impunity and it was a road to nowhere.

"The fact that the European Union has declared that out actions lack legitimacy and international legal justification means only one thing  that the European Union believes that it can do anything. And when the European Union begins to threaten us with new sanctions, I start to think that in addition to this feeling of permissiveness and infallibility, the EU is beginning to be overwhelmed by another mania  I mean complete impunity," Lavrov said.

"This is a dead end road ... Aggressive Russophobic lobby in the EU is doing its job... We cannot leave this hostility unanswered," the minister added.
Tajikistan on Thursday said 19 of its nationals died in last week's border clashes with Kyrgyzstan, the first time it has reported its toll of the violence

Dushanbe (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :Tajikistan on Thursday said 19 of its nationals died in last week's border clashes with Kyrgyzstan, the first time it has reported its toll of the violence.

Clashes between the two Central Asian countries erupted last Thursday, but a ceasefire brokered the same day saw a gradual halt to the fighting.

The press service of the northern region of Sughd bordering Kyrgyzstan said 19 people were killed including six soldiers, while 87 people were injured.

The statement brings to 55 the total number of dead, with another 270 people wounded.

The Tajik figures on Thursday were the first detailed assessment of fatalities given by the closed authoritarian state that had largely remained silent after fighting broke out.

The Sughd press service added that the Tajik government had allocated 3 million Tajik somoni ($263,000) to provide assistance to the families of the victims.

On Monday, Tajikistan had conceded deaths in the border clashes between the ex-Soviet republics, but did not provide figures.

Kyrgyzstan has previously said the violence left 36 dead on its side with another 183 injured.

Its leader Sadyr Japarov on Thursday will visit the Batken region where the violence erupted.

Clashes between communities over land and water along the long-contested frontier occur regularly, with border guards often getting involved.

But the violence that erupted last week was by far the most serious during the ex-Soviet nations' 30 years of independence and sparked fears of a wider escalation.
Turkey's foreign minister plans to visit Saudi Arabia next week, his first such trip since dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Riyadh's Istanbul consulate, an official told AFP on Thursday

Istanbul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :Turkey's foreign minister plans to visit Saudi Arabia next week, his first such trip since dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Riyadh's Istanbul consulate, an official told AFP on Thursday.

The exact dates have not yet been set for Mevlut Cavusoglu's first official visit to the oil-rich kingdom since 2017, said the official, who requested anonymity.

The trip comes as Turkey tries to mend fences with its regional rivals, including Egypt, where Cavusoglu's deputy Sedat Onal began a two-day visit on Wednesday.

Ankara's relations with Riyadh deteriorated sharply after the October 2018 murder of Khashoggi, 59, a Saudi insider-turned-critic who wrote columns for The Washington Post.

Khashoggi was dismembered inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul after walking into the diplomatic compound to get documents for his wedding to Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz.

His death and the subsequent disappearance of his body has tarnished Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's image and plunged Riyadh into a diplomatic crisis.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the time that the order to kill Khashoggi had come from senior Saudi officials.

Turkey has also put on trial in absentia two close former aides of Prince Mohammed, along with 24 other suspects.

But Turkey has been taking steps to fix its relations with Saudi Arabia, which remains an important trading partner.

On Tuesday, Erdogan spoke by phone with Saudi King Salman, although no details of those talks were released.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is still under Russian military threat during a press briefing with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday

Kiev (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is still under Russian military threat during a press briefing with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.

"We think that the decrease (of Russian troops near the border) is slow, therefore, perhaps, there still may be a threat. Nobody wants these surprises," he told journalists in Kiev.
BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2021) Peru has signed a contract with Pfizer to supply 12 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the country, President Francisco Sagasti said.

"We have signed a new contract with Pfizer for 12 million additional doses of the vaccine," Sagasti tweeted.

The vaccine is to reach Peru by the end of the year.

Thus, by that time, the country will receive 60 million doses of medicines from various manufacturers.

In addition, with the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine, Peru will be able to begin vaccinating people under 18.

A total of 1,818,689 cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been registered in Peru since the start of the pandemic, with 62,674 deaths and 1,766,872 recoveries, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
A tourist takes photos of an ice cream in the shape of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Ju Huanzong]

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua)  China saw a total of 230 million domestic tourist trips during the five-day May Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Wednesday.

Tourism revenue reached 113.23 billion yuan (about 17.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 138.1 percent from last year, according to the ministry.

The May Day holiday lasts from May 1 to 5 this year.

Tourists visit the site of the Zunyi Meeting, a watershed event in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Zunyi City of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 3, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Tao Liang]

Children learn the technique of porcelain carving in Mengzhuang Town of Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua /Sun Zhongzhe]

Tourists visit Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped lake in Dunhuang City, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoliang]

Tourists try transplanting rice seedlings at a scenic spot in Jiangjin District of southwest China's Chongqing, May 4, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Tang Yi]

In this aerial photo, tourists visit Qinhu Lake national wetland park in Taizhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 2, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Gu Jihong]

A martial artist performs in Suning County of Cangzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, May 2, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Zhu Xudong]

Vehicles proceed slowly on the expressway around Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, May 1, 2021. Official data showed 230 million domestic tourist trips were made during the five-day Labor Day holiday, up 119.7 percent from last year. [Xinhua/Lu Hanxin]

(Source: Xinhua)
Bryce Ethridge | The Valdosta Daily Times

Mayor Scott James Matheson said he was glad to have Sen. Jon Ossoff in Valdosta, showing him the result of the city's hard work in debuting the new micro-transit system, Valdosta On-Demand.
Pope Francis has sent a message to Cardinal Oswald Gracias expressing his closeness with the people severely hit by record infections and deaths.

By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis has expressed his solidarity and closeness to the people of India, ravaged by the second wave of Covid-19 infections that has overwhelmed its healthcare system. At this time when so many in India are suffering as a result of the present health emergency, I am writing to convey my heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people, together with the assurance of my prayers that God will grant healing and consolation to everyone affected by this grave pandemic, the Pope wrote in a message to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI).



The Holy Father particularly expressed his closeness to the sick and their families, to those who care for them, and in particular to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

I think too of the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those working tirelessly to respond to the immediate needs of their brothers and sisters. With deep appreciation, I invoke upon all of them Gods gifts of perseverance, strength and peace.

Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the Catholic Church of India for its works of charity and fraternal solidarity carried out in the service of all.

I think especially of the generosity shown by so many committed young people. I join you in commending to the Lords infinite mercy the faithful who have lost their lives, not least the great numbers of priests and men and women religious.

In these days of immense grief, may we all be consoled in the hope born of Easter and our unshakeable faith in Christs promise of resurrection and new life, the Pope concluded, imparting his blessing.

India's battle

The message of Pope Francis comes as the coronavirus continues to take record tolls in the country, including in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, the number of new infections crossed the 400,000 mark for the second time since the devastating surge began last month. The 412,262 new cases pushed India's official tally to more than 21 million. The Health Ministry also reported 3,980 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 230,168. However, experts say the scale of the disaster is much higher as official government reports are undercounted.

Demand for hospital oxygen has increased sevenfold since last month, while the government denies reports that it is slow in distributing life-saving supplies from abroad. There is also an acute shortage of hospital beds, medicines, vaccines and cremation facilities, severely straining the countrys fragile healthcare system.

The World Health Organization said in a weekly report that India accounted for nearly half the coronavirus cases reported worldwide last week and a quarter of the deaths. The country has 3.45 million active cases.

The Catholic Church in India that has made many of its facilities available in the fight against the pandemic, is no exception. The virus has claimed numerous victims among its clergy, religious and lay people, who are engaged in its vast network of schools, healthcare services and social service programmes, even amid the crisis. Before the Pope's message arrived on Thursday, Bishop Basil Bhuriya of Jhabua in the central India state of Madhya Pradesh had succumbed to the virus. Retired Archbishop Antony Anandarayar of Pondicherry-Cuddalore in southern India passed away the previous day. A tally last month by Matters India reported that at least 20 priests had died in a span of one month. Many more are also infected and dying.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, National Council of Churches in India, and Evangelical Fellowship of India are coming together in observing May 7, Friday, as a Day of prayer and fasting for healing and an end to the pandemic in the country.
At a private audience on Thursday morning, Pope Francis welcomed the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, where both expressed appreciation for the good relations and the desire to continue working together on international issues.

On the day of the swearing-in of new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, Pope Francis and President Parmelin recalled "the generous service" of the Swiss Guards. A Holy See Press Office communique noted appreciation expressed for "the good relations and fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and the Swiss Confederation". It mentioned the recent centenary of the resumption of diplomatic relations with both parties underscoring "their wish to strengthen this reciprocal collaboration" over key international issues of our day.

After a customary exchange of gifts, the president of the Swiss Confederation met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.


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Kojima Kazunobu* Daiwa Institute of Research (left), Sakakibara Takashi* Japan Vietnam Economic Forum

In particular, the high proportion banks (FOL: 30 per cent) and former state-owned enterprises contributing to the total equity market capitalisation is possibly one of the reasons why FOL is evaluated as a serious obstacle for Vietnam. For foreign investors, technical obstacles such as the language of information, accounting standards, and market inefficiencies can be overcome but holding restrictions is a more fundamental issue.

We see some improvements in the new laws on securities, investment, and enterprises, such as a reduction in the number of industries with a statutory FOL and the provision of a non-voting depositary receipt that allows foreigners to have all shareholder rights other than voting rights without holding underlying shares.

However, the impact of FOL is still strong and it may once again emerge as a point of concern when Vietnam will be applying for the developed market status after becoming an emerging market.

Since 2019, our team has been engaged in the JICAs 3-year Technical Assistance Project for improving fairness and transparency of the Vietnamese equity market. We have been providing advisory and working with the State Securities Commission (SSC) as well as the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) and the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX).

From our experience in the field, we would like to make two suggestions to promote the entry of foreign investors. The first is to create a blue chip market and a growth market in the future market restructuring under the Vietnam Stock Exchange (VNX). This would help Vietnam to meet foreign investors strong need to invest in either large-capitalisation stocks with high liquidity (blue chip) or emerging-growth stocks with large upsides (growth market). For the blue chip market, we propose to have listing requirements that include liquidity-based criteria such as tradable market capitalisation and higher quality-based criteria such as corporate governance and disclosure. These criteria should be basically applied to all stocks, including ex-state-owned enterprises. In the blue chip market, it would also be desirable to have a criterion that does not allow articles of incorporation with restrictions on the transfer of shares to foreigners.

The second suggestion would be to realise an integrated process of public offering and listing in line with international standards. To this end, it is important to develop an operational flow in which the securities companies underwrite the initial public offering (IPO) and execute it by book building to determine and agree the underwriting conditions with the issuer.

This practice is regarded as the international de facto standard and the prerequisite for IPOs in which many foreign investors and domestic retail investors can participate.

We believe the new Law on Securities incorporates provisions for integrating the public offering and listing processes. The next challenge is to develop the capability of underwriting securities companies to provide advisory, to perform due diligence, and to execute IPOs by book building.

The underwriting business requires high expertise and rich capital, but on the other hand it is quite an attractive business for major securities companies with high fees. In Japan, the IPO fee rate is around 5-8 per cent of the underwriting amount.

From the perspective of improving the international reputation for fairness and transparency of the Vietnamese equity market, it is important to strengthen the capability of the authorities and stock exchanges to monitor and detect unfair trade and promote preventive measures.

The new securities law has some desirable amendments, including stricter penalties on market manipulation and insider trading, and extended inspection authority for the SSC. We expect that the SSC and the exchanges will continue their ongoing system development, capacity building, and close cooperation involving securities companies.

Previously, media reported that the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) proposed to quickly equitise the VNX and the Vietnam Securities Depository so that these subsidiaries would be better facilitated with international standards.

Echoing the VAFI, we regard that future privatisation and share listing on the VNX  the parent company of HSX and HNX  is an option worth considering. Becoming a listed company will allow VNX to monitor the development of the whole Vietnamese market through dialogues with investors, while strengthening profitability through efficiency will enable capital mobilisation.

On the other hand, VNX, as an institution that operates highly public exchanges, must have strong self-regulatory function in order to maintain fairness and transparency in the market. The aspects of a profit-making entity and those of a regulatory organisation inevitably lead to a conflict of interests.

To assuage these concerns, Japan Exchange Group, which is the listed parent company of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Exchange, concentrates its self-regulatory functions such as market monitoring, member management, and listing examination on the Japan Exchange Self-Regulatory Corporation (JPX-R) under its umbrella, and makes JPX-R independent.

We believe that the Vietnamese stock market has made a good start towards its development as an international market with the new Law on Securities and expected market reforms by VNX, HSX, and HNX. We are confident that it is one of the worlds most attractive potential markets for foreign investors, benefiting from Vietnams remarkable economic growth, a hardworking and educated labour force, and political and social stability.n

(*) Consultants from the Japan International Cooperation Agencys Technical Assistance project to improve the fairness and transparency of the Vietnamese equity market.
Branch libraries across Wrexham now open on an appointment basis

Branch libraries across Wrexham are now open on an appointment only basis.

Since Tuesday 4 May Brynteg, Chirk, Gwersyllt and Rhos branch libraries reopened open to browse, borrow and return books.

Over the past few months Wrexhams libraries have been operating on a click and collect service due to the level four restrictions in place.

However the Welsh Government recently gave the green light for libraries to reopen, and the booking-system is part of a phased approach being taken in Wrexham.





A spokesperson for Wrexham Council saidl: If you would like the opportunity to visit these libraries and choose your own books then please call them to arrange an appointment.

The Order and Collect system will continue to operate for customers who do not wish to visit the library at the moment.

The safety of our staff and customers is our priority and we are following Welsh Government guidance on how to manage visits.

All books returned to the library will continue to be quarantined for 72 hours.

More branch libraries will re-open to browse, borrow and return over the coming weeks.
To foster a successful timber export industry, experts advise a strong cooperation between FIEs and domestic businesses. Photo: Le Toan

Kuka Home, a fully Chinese-invested company has started construction of a wood-furniture processing factory after only six months of signing a lease contract for more than 12 hectares of land in Dong Xoai Industrial Park III in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. According to Li Binh, in charge of the factorys construction, the company has invested in a system of factories in industrial zones in many provinces of Vietnam, including in the southern province of Dong Nai, to produce wood for export.

Exports of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) last year continued to show their superiority over domestic ones. By the end of 2020, Vietnam had more than 3,600 enterprises directly involved in exporting timber products, with an export value of $12.31 billion in 2020.

Among these, 653 FIEs account for 18 per cent of the total number of export enterprises. The export value of these companies reached $6.07 billion, accounting for 51 per cent of the total export value from timber products.

No competitive position

FIEs continue to play an important role in Vietnams timber and wood product exports as more of them invest in the industry, thus becoming an important component of Vietnams exports from this sector. Last year, the export turnover of the entire wood industry increased by 16.2 per cent compared to 2019.

The export value of these FIEs is especially high in southern localities like Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City. Binh Duong is the leading province in terms of last years export value in the wood industry, reaching $5.68 billion and accounting for 47 per cent of the total export value of the country.

In which, FIEs reached $3.85 billion, accounting for 68 per cent. Meanwhile, domestic businesses only raked in $1.8 billion, holding 32 per cent. Dong Nai ranked second and hit $1.62 billion, or 13 per cent of the total.

The increase of FIEs participation in the wood industry is a direct result of preferential policies and investment attraction measures by the government and partly the result of new-generation free trade agreements, as well as the favourable geographical position of the Asia-Pacific economic region. The tensions within US-China trade also created opportunities for Vietnam to receive capital flows from China in this industry.

The export growth of Chinese wood processors also shows that the financial scale and production capacity of FIEs are far ahead of domestic players.

Capital and production capacity are both important factors that drive growth for FIEs in the wood processing industry, said Nguyen Liem, general director of wood product exporter Lam Viet JSC.

For instance, investments of $5 million are huge for Vietnamese companies, but $10 million, or even $15 million, are still small for an FIE.

A contract for 100 containers will be produced in 15 days, explained Liem when talking about the production capacity of Chinese players.

They carry out all operations very quickly, install equipment, and import raw materials before they produce around the clock, he added.

According to Liem, Chinese enterprises investing in Vietnams wood processing sector are mostly manufacturers with decades of experience, who produce goods of medium quality but in large quantities for export.

Compared to FIEs, Vietnamese businesses are not in a competitive position, said Liem, who has worked more than 10 years at an FIE within the industry.

Before Chinese wood manufacturers were investing in Vietnam, US buyers already knew them. As the US-China trade war broke out, many Chinese wood processors invested in Vietnam to open factories. They dragged American buyers to their new location and signed large quantity contracts. Even the leaders of some large corporations in the US noted that their representative offices in Vietnam are now often bought by from Chinese-owned companies.

One unified system

The wood industry is witnessing a common phenomenon: the more developed, the higher the risks. Currently, Vietnam ranks second in Asia in the export of wood and timber products, with a rapid growth rate of about 17 per cent per year.

Businesses exporting wood products to the US market are under pressure from an investigation by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding allegations of using illegally harvested or traded timber.

The Vietnamese government is trying to create an open policy mechanism to attract investment. But on the other hand, the government is also trying to control under- and shadow investments.

Tran Le Huy, vice chairman of the Forest Products Association of the central province of Binh Dinh, noticed that the wood industry is lacking an appropriate mechanism to spread the strengths of FIEs. Meanwhile, the spillover effect only occurs when there is a suitable mechanism allowing domestic businesses and FIEs to exchange information and experiences.

Huy believed that allowing FIEs to be official members of wood associations will create a unified system between both sides. This will contribute to better positioning and mitigating risks in foreign investment activities, while at the same time, building a sustainable Vietnamese wood industry in the future and helping to bring domestic players closer to the market, Huy explained.

However, in the middle of the pandemic, the business environment of Vietnam remains highly appreciated by foreign investors. Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Vietnam has become the first choice for FIEs in the region, with 136 economies investing in the country with the total investment capital of over $400 billion.

According to Loc, with over 70 per cent of Vietnams export value coming from FIEs, these enterprises are also the main driver of export growth, bringing Vietnamese-made goods into global supply chains.

If local and overseas companies are not symbiotically linked, it will be difficult to bring pervasive value, Loc said, adding that the government should create a symbiotic environment between foreign and Vietnamese enterprises, and must encourage domestic ones to participate in the supply chain besides FIEs.

At this point, there are basic conditions to connect FIEs with their domestic counterparts effectively. The countrys Strategy for Socioeconomic Development 2021-2030 stated that foreign direct investment will continue playing an important role in national development.

The total registered capital within the 2011-2020 period reached over $278 billion, an average increase of nearly 6.9 per cent per year, accounting for 22.8 per cent of the total social investment capital.

Therefore, the economy backed by foreign investment capital develops rapidly, according to the strategys report. Meanwhile, the 10-year socioeconomic development strategy and the 5-year plan emphasise the strengthening of the links between FIEs  especially multinational corporations  with local suppliers.
The strategic move will solidify Fusion Hotels & Resorts standing as a leading hotel brand and management company and position it well for future growth in the highly dynamic and fast-growing Southeast Asian tourism markets.

The newly-merged group will operate under the Fusion brand with up to 4,000 combined rooms under management

Fusion is Vietnams most-recognised domestic hotel brand and management company. Meanwhile, Thailand-based GLOW is operating hotels in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The newly-merged group will operate under the Fusion brand with up to 4,000 combined rooms under management.

The strategic move will solidify Fusion Hotels & Resorts standing as a leading hotel brand and management company and position it well for future growth.

As CEO of Fusion, Kevin Beauvais is expected to bring extensive experience in hotel operation and executive management, most recently as founder and CEO of InVision Hospitality and GLOW Hotels & Resorts, to ensure non-stop development for the newly-merged group.

Previously, he also held senior executive positions at Minor Group PLC and Marriott International for 25 years.

Following the merger, Fusion will continue to focus on deepening its presence in Vietnam as well as capitalising on its new Thailand foothold seeking other attractive growth opportunities in Southeast Asia through both post-pandemic consolidation and organic growth.

Kevin Beauvais, CEO of Fusion

The union marks a new chapter for both Fusion and GLOW, allowing them to continue enhancing services to their customers, driving future growth, and delivering value to shareholders, said Kevin Beauvais.

Lodgis Hospitality Holdings, a fully-integrated lodging investment platform and owner of Fusion, will continue to provide substantial financial resources to support the growth of Fusion.

Peter Meyer, CEO of Lodgis Hospitality Holdings said, We are pleased to welcome Kevin to the leadership role of Fusion and integrate GLOW into the broader platform. The high calibre of the leadership team and the strong resiliency of Fusion in the face of the most unprecedented challenges for the industry bolsters the business in Asias most attractive tourist destinations.

Christopher Hur, CIO for Lodgis Hospitality Holdings commented, Through this investment, we significantly grow our management company and brand portfolio while creating a framework for future growth opportunities in our target investment markets.
At the meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in London, the UK. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on May 5 voiced grave concerns over Chinas unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the East Sea, during a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in London, the UK.

Earlier, during a sideline meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the two ministers shared their concerns over Chinas new Coast Guard Law that took effect last February, saying it would harm security in regional waters.

Japan released the 2021 Diplomatic Bluebook on April 27, which states that Chinas covert military expansion and increasing unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the East Sea raise strong security concerns in the region and the international community.

China has recently continued to take action that triggers tensions in the East Sea, including the announcement that it would guarantee the enforcement of the fishing ban that took effect on May 1, 2021, on the sea area covering part of the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and continue to deploy ships to Bai Ba Dau in Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Speaking at a press conference on April 29, Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet said that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as its legal rights and interests towards sea areas identified in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He again declared that any act harming Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as the countrys sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over its sea areas, is valueless and not recognised.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNG)

Tokyo - Over the past decade and a half, VNG has diversified into cloud computing, ads, digital payments and media, and built up one of the biggest digital user bases in Vietnam, said an article recently published on the Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia.

VNG is a gaming startup-turned-tech conglomerate that has become Vietnam's first unicorn.

According to the article, which discussed the firms bet on AI and overseas growth, VNGs Zalo chat app has 62 million users, putting it behind only Facebook and YouTube in terms of popularity in the country, according to We Are Social. This makes it a rare example of a local player that has bested foreign rivals  in the rest of Southeast Asia, the most popular messaging apps are imports, such as Line or WhatsApp.

Zalo boasts 39 functions (when combined with the pay feature) that allow users to do everything from make in-store purchases and buy flight tickets to pay school fees and access government services. The app is also a gateway for numerous brands to connect with customers.

The article cited Vuong Quang Khai, executive vice president at VNG, as saying:

"The next wave is AI. And we should invest."

In December, Zalo AI introduced Kiki for smart speakers, saying it was built on technology similar to Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri, but in Vietnamese.

Zalo AI work ranges from facial recognition, used by Viet Capital Bank to verify clients, to Kiki's playlist, which was trained via the massive song library of another VNG business, Zing Music. A service to transcribe audio messages on Zalo chat is also under beta testing.

Meanwhile, Zalo is in talks with a leading dashboard company to unveil Kiki for the mass car market by the third quarter of 2021.

Zalo's reach has helped VNG attract international backers, including two Singapore state funds, Temasek and GIC, Goldman Sachs, and two funds believed to be owned by China's Tencent Holdings, valuing it worth of 2 billion USD, said the article.

Informing that VNG reported 8.3 million in after-tax profit last year, the paper considered the companys evolvement be in parallel with Vietnam. In 2004, it was Vinagame, a small startup capitalizing on the rise of computer games and internet cafes. Back then Vietnam, which had not yet joined the World Trade Organisation, was known less for trade.

In the interim the company became VNG and added a host of services vital to Vietnam's modern economy - payments, streaming, cloud computing - while the speed, stability and stickers of its chat app won over locals. In the same period, the country signed a bevy of trade deals and its factories moved from shirts and purses to phones and chips.
Vietnams overseas companies have been gaining momentum in moving international capital, investing across a broad spectrum of sectors ranging from natural resources and manufacturing to telecommunications and many others.

Fresh data from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) reveals that in the first four months of 2021, Vietnams total newly- and additionally-granted overseas investment capital reached $545.9 million, up nearly eight-fold on-year.

Some 18 projects were granted new investment registration certificates, with the total registered capital of $142.8 million, an increase of 2.7 times on-year. Furthermore, there were nine projects with adjusted investment capital of $403.2 million, up 25.5 times on-year.

The countrys largest dairy producer Vinamilk was in February granted a certificate of offshore investment by the MPI to establish a joint venture in the Philippines with the initial fund of $6 million.

Vinamilk and its partner will hold 50 per cent of the joint venture which will import and distribute the groups dairy products in the Philippines market.

The company has reported stellar financials in recent times thanks to the upbeat performance of its overseas subsidiaries. Angkormilk enjoyed a 20-per-cent increase in 2020, while its joint venture with Kido Food, Vibev, is capitalising on Vinamilks export network of 30 countries and territories.

Leading the way

In another case, Military Bank (MB), one of Vietnams major lenders, is leveraging its tremendous potential and financial might to increase its foothold in the Southeast Asian market, especially Cambodia, where last month it converted its branch into a wholly-owned bank.

In addition, MB plans to transfer 36-49 per cent of its subsidiarys charter capital to a foreign strategic partner. The bank believes that its customers will benefit as they are well-served by a professional multinational financial group with a wide range of services, especially in money transfer, investment activities, and supporting cross-border business transactions.

We firmly believe that the establishment of MBs subsidiary in Cambodia will significantly increase the banks footprint there, as well as enhance our financial capacity, said CEO Luu Trung Thai.

The banking arm will lay a concrete foundation for us to explore vast potential of the Cambodian market, especially in the insurance and securities sectors. Along with IT infrastructure and digital banking services, MB is ramping up efforts to become the leading digital bank in Cambodia by 2025 and be among the top lenders in the micro finance sector of this country, Thai added.

When it comes to telecommunications in Laos, people often think of Unitel  a Star Telecom brand, which is a joint venture between Viettel Group and a Lao company. Unitel now garners more than 3.3 million subscribers, and accounts for 56 per cent of the telecoms market share in Laos.

Viettel Global JSC  the overseas subsidiary of Viettel  has just announced its 2020 consolidated results with net revenue from operating activities of approximately VND19 trillion ($826 million) and pre-tax profit of approximately VND1.201 trillion ($52.2 million).

Viettels major growth driver is its solid business in foreign markets, including significant contributions from Mytel in Myanmar and Natcom in Haiti.

Viettel Global is one of the most exemplary cases of Vietnamese business overseas, with its affiliates dominating their respective markets. Last year, the company earned VND9.14 trillion ($397.4 million) in revenue from Southeast Asia and VND3.2 trillion ($139.13 million) from Latin America, separately.

In February, Asian media was in a stir over the rumoured takeover deal between Vingroup and LG Electronics, the fourth-biggest chaebol in South Korea. Vingroup has emerged as the most potential bidder to acquire LG Electronics smartphone production line as an important milestone for the Vietnamese group to penetrate the United States. However, LG Electronics discussions to sell its mobile phone factories to Vingroup fell through as the Vietnamese leading private conglomerates bid did not match expectations.

Satisfying the rules

On the same note, last month, VinFast - the automobile arm of Vingroup - and Bamboo Airways revealed fundraising activity plans that involved possible listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

According to Bloomberg, VinFast could be valued at around $50 billion after a successful initial public offering (IPO), while Bamboo Airways aims to raise up to $200 million in an overseas IPO in the third quarter of this year. The FLC Group airline subsidiary expects to secure market capitalisation of up to $4 billion.

On the other hand, challenges still colour the landscape, because not all Vietnamese corporations can satisfy the strict regulations of international stock exchanges.

Kent Wong, partner and head of Capital Markets at VCI Legal, shared some of the issues which could pose challenges for a Vietnamese company hoping to attain an IPO overseas. Overseas exchanges require a high level of transparency, corporate governance, and strong internal controls, and most Vietnamese companies are not ready for this, Wong told VIR.

Furthermore, the lack of resources to ensure regulatory compliance with rules and regulations after listing on the overseas stock exchange is also a major issue hampering the IPO process. Compliance with the overseas exchange rules would mean the disclosure of information which materially affects the companys share price, and including internal company information, such as the appointment of officers, acquisition of assets, winding up or judicial proceedings, he added.
A Director for the National institute of Health (NIH) says officials are investigating more than 500 scientists of concern working on federally funded research institutes and at academia who have troubling connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Dr. Michael Lauer, made the revelations on April 29 in testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which focused on the issue of protecting American biomedical research from foreign actors.

Lauers statements come as the nation is grappling with Chinese espionage that seeks to steal American research and technology for the benefit of the CCP. He revealed several scientists had lied to their respective American institutions and the NIH in declarations stating they spend 100 percent of their time in the United States. Lauers team found that in reality, almost 50 to 60 percent of their time was spent in China.

I think one big problem, Senators, is that the threat is significantWe have identified over 500 scientists of concernEach of these require a tremendous amount of work to figure out what exactly has been happening and to work carefully with the institution to figure out whats going onAs of April 2021, we have contacted more than 90 awardee institutions regarding concerns involving over 200 scientists, Lauer said at the hearing.

He added that more than 100 scientists have been removed from the NIH ecosystem. He also cites three major areas of concern where foreign governments might seek to unduly influence U.S.-supported researchers and exploit collaborative biomedical research.

Some researchers at institutions funded by the NIH have not disclosed contributions received from other organizations, such as businesses and foreign governments;

Proprietary information produced by NIH-supported biomedical research or in grant applications is being diverted to other nations and entities; and

Some peer reviewers have failed to maintain confidentiality of grant application information, including disclosure to foreign entities or other attempts to influence funding decisions.

The hearing was also attended by Lisa Aguirre, Acting Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of National Security. Aguirre testified that foreign actors were seeking to steal and co-opt U.S. research to promote their own national interests. Such actors include foreign researchers, foreign students, hackers, and so on. The Director stated that her office had conducted a foreign visitor vetting program, which vetted 13,138 foreign national visitors who were authorized to access government data and systems last year.

Recently, Qin Shuren, a Chinese businessman pleaded guilty in a Boston federal court for illegally exporting hydrophones to China through his company that sells oceanographic instruments. In total, $100,000 worth of goods were transported to the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), a Chinese military-backed university that closely works with the PLA to boost military capabilities. The hydrophones intended use was for anti-submarine warfare.

The Peoples Republic of China has an insatiable appetite for our countrys most sensitive products and technologies  particularly those with military applications, Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell for the District of Massachusetts, said in a statement regarding the case.

By exporting key anti-submarine warfare products to a Chinese military university, Mr. Qin created a threat to our national security and broke the law. That warrants federal prosecution, without a doubt,

Taiwan tech war

The Taiwanese government recently accused the Chinese regime of engaging in economic warfare. The island nations economy ministry pointed out that Beijing is trying to improve its semiconductor industry by stealing Taiwanese industry secrets as well as poaching top talent. The Parliament is considering strengthening legislation to block such activities. Four lawmakers affiliated with the ruling DPP party have proposed an amendment to the Commercial Secrets Law so as to widen the scope of what is classified as a trade secret and toughen penalties.

Taiwans National Security Bureau has named Beijing as responsible for most of the industrial espionage activities conducted by foreign actors in the country, The Chinese Communists orchestrated theft of technology from other countries poses a major threat to democracies, read a report from the Bureau.

The aim of the Chinese Communists infiltration into our technology is not only about economic interests, but also has a political intention to make Taiwan poorer and weaker,

Controlling global tech

Jeremy Fleming, the head of British intelligence agency GCHQ, recently warned that key technologies the world will be dependent on may no longer be developed by the West.

Citing a growing threat posed by the CCP, Fleming stressed the need to keep evolving our approach if the UK is to keep a leg up on the communist regime. He pointed out that there was much to learn about the debate on whether to give Huawei the license to install its equipment as the UKs 5G network. The British government eventually excluded Huawei.

The risk, as I see it today, is that we lose control of the standards that shape our technology environment. The things that make sure that our liberal Western democratic views are baked into our technology, Fleming said to BBC. The conversation about 5G was really lost a decade ago, when Western nations decided that they werent going to invest in the underpinning infrastructuresand the result was we just didnt have the choices,

Flemming is also worried about Chinas potential dominance in the development of smart cities, which involve a large number of cameras and sensors built into the infrastructure to control every aspect of the city, such as power, water, and traffic.

Smart cities raise significant concerns about privacy. Fleming warns that if the British government does not control the technology involved in the projects, third parties will end up controlling them and using the tech will be used to track citizens.

Fleming also stated that if the UK wishes to remain a global cyber power, it needs to build capabilities in fields like quantum technologies, including cryptography, in order to protect sensitive information.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued orders that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting and deporting illegal aliens unless they have recently been convicted of an aggravated felony, are known to be gang members, or are classified as terrorists. A slew of internal documents obtained by Arizona Attorney General Republican Mark Brnovich reveals that DHS was fully aware that their orders would free criminal illegal aliens into the country; yet they still went ahead with the decision.

Top officials from DHS conducted an analysis of illegal aliens booked under federal custody last fiscal year in order to determine how many would be able to avoid deportation and detention due to the orders. It found that the following illegal aliens were likely to be released back into the United States.

More than 13,400 convicted of violating immigration laws;

3,371 convicted of assault;

Almost 900 convicted of larceny;

225 convicted of sexual offenses;

211 convicted of burglary;

143 convicted of vehicular theft;

85 convicted of homicide;

73 convicted of sexual assault;

46 convicted of kidnapping;

40 convicted of obscenity.

DHS officials were also aware that the orders would lead to a reduction in the number of criminal illegal aliens arrested by law enforcement agencies. Back in January, one ICE official had warned that book-ins would be cut by 50 percent of historical numbers and that most of the book-ins would come as part of transfers from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Since the orders were issued, the number of illegal aliens at ICE detention has hit the lowest ever in history. The number of arrested illegal aliens has fallen by 80 percent while the number of criminal illegal aliens who are kept under federal custody has dropped by 70 percent.

The DHS internal documents were obtained through a court order during the discovery process in lawsuits challenging government policies that limited deportations in Arizona and Montana. According to Brnovich, these states are the first in the country to uncover such information. In total, around 5,000 pages of records were submitted by the DHS, of which only 170 were unredacted. The DHS records we have obtained convey a shocking disregard for the safety of American communities by the Biden Administration The Biden Administration and its radical allies are effectively abolishing ICE through administrative acts, Brnovich said in a press release.

Brnovich is suing the Biden administration for not taking into account the negative environmental effects of its immigration policies. Filed in early April, the lawsuit turns the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to assess potential environmental impact of its policies before implementing them, against the Democratic administration. In an interview with Fox News, the Attorney General called the fact that the administration positions itself as pro-environmental while ignoring laws that were established to fulfill such purposes the pinnacle of hypocrisy. He added that every single migrant who crosses into the United States leaves behind around six to eight pounds of trash.

Washington has been flying thousands of immigrants into the interiors of the country without having tested them for COVID-19 or asking such people for proof of identity. According to Breitbart, the office of Republican Representative August Pfluger (Texas) said that between Feb. 19 and April 22, the Biden administration transported around 7,200 border crosses via air into the U.S. interiors. The fact that COVID-19 tests were not conducted has come as a shock to many, given that DHS has admitted that many border crossers taken into custody have tested positive for the virus. In a tweet, Pfluger accused the Biden administration of knowingly endangering the lives of American citizens.

Border wall

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has announced that it will soon be canceling all southern border wall construction projects that were being paid for with funds approved for military construction projects. Any unobligated military construction funds will now be used for other deferred projects. The construction of the border wall began under the Trump administration. On his first day in office, Biden had announced that he would end the use of taxpayer funds to build the wall.

Consistent with the Presidents proclamation, the Department of Defense is proceeding with canceling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions and functions such as schools for military children, overseas military construction projects in partner nations, and the National Guard and Reserve equipment account DoD has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects and to coordinate with interagency partners, Jamal Brown, deputy Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement.

The Pentagon decision comes as lawyer Mark Paoletta recently accused the Biden administration of having violated the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) by restraining funds kept aside for the border wall project. Enacted in 1974, the ICA prevents government officials, including the president, from unilaterally substituting their own funding decisions for those of the Congress. Republican Representative Lloyd Smucker said that the present migrant crisis has partly been triggered due to Bidens cancellation of border wall funding.

Dipping approval

A new poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has shown that Bidens immigration policies do not sit well with a significant portion of Americans. 59 percent of poll respondents admitted that ensuring the safe treatment of apprehended children should be a top priority for the administration. Around 40 percent of Americans expressed disapproval of the governments handling of unaccompanied minors who reach the borders.

Just 42% of Americans say they approve of how the president is handling immigration in general, and a similar share, 44%, say they approve of how hes handling border security. Both are significantly lower than the 61% of Americans who say they approve of how Biden is handling his job overall and fall short of the presidents rating on some other issues, including his response to the coronavirus pandemic and managing of the economy, according to AP News.
Leading industrial nations came out in support of Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), leading into this year's annual meeting May 24 to June 1.

It is the first time the Group of Seven as a whole has backed Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA.

"We support Taiwan's meaningful participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assembly. The international community should be able to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan's successful contribution to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic," the G-7 said in a joint communique Wednesday after foreign ministers gathered this week in London.

Taiwan said it is grateful for the G-7's strong support.

"#Taiwan thanks all G7 FMs and the EU for voicing such a strong support in the Communique for our meaningful participation in #WHO & #WHA. #LetTaiwanHelp and contribute to the global health system," Taiwan's main representative office in the U.S. said in a tweet.

#Taiwan thanks all G7 FMs and the EU for voicing such a strong support in the Communique for our meaningful participation in #WHO & #WHA. #LetTaiwanHelp and contribute to the global health system.https://t.co/vsfTEY6PSm  Taiwan in the US (@TECRO_USA) May 5, 2021

Officials from Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei are also joining the G-7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting as guests in London.

"We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order, and express serious concerns about reports of militarization, coercion and intimidation in the region," said the communique, which was released after the meeting.

The statement comes as China steps up military activities, sending aircraft into Taiwan's air space.

"It is very consequential that democracies are speaking with one voice on an important occasion like the G-7 to underscore their support for Taiwan's participation" in the World Health Organization, said Bonnie Glaser, Asian program director at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

The move is seen as an open rebuke to China. The Beijing government has been blocking Taiwan's representation at WHO meetings after the self-ruled democracy elected Tsai Ing-wen, a China skeptic, as Taiwan's president in 2016 and again in 2020.

Delegates from Taiwan had attended the World Health Assembly as nonvoting observers from 2009 to 2016, during a period of relatively warm ties between Beijing and Taipei.

Non-member states and territories can participate in the WHA as observers.

On Monday, China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, repeated Beijing's opposition to invite Taiwan to the WHA sessions later this month.

"It is our clear position and firm position that the U.N. is an organization composed of sovereign member states, and Taiwan is not qualified for any participation in these organizations," Zhang said when he was asked if Taiwan should be allowed at the WHA as an observer.

"Beijing's actions to block Taiwan from participating in the WHO are counterproductive" and do not serve the interests of the broader international community, Glaser told VOA on Wednesday.

A senior U.S. official told reporters that Taiwan has "a lot of experience" in fighting the spread of the coronavirus, which "can help all of us, and it just seems really self-defeating to exclude them."

In Washington, Democratic and Republican members of Congress have spoken up in recent weeks to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly.

Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez, a Democrat, said in a tweet that "Beijing's efforts to shut Taiwan out of the international community hinder pandemic recovery & response." Menendez called on the Senate to pass a bipartisan bill "championing Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly."

Beijing's efforts to shut Taiwan out of the international community hinder pandemic recovery & response. The Senate must pass my bill with Sen. @JimInhofe championing Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly. #LetTaiwanHelphttps://t.co/jAitel0Iih  Senate Foreign Relations Committee (@SFRCdems) April 27, 2021

Republican Senator Jim Risch, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, denounced WHO for sidelining Taiwan in the last four years "despite its vast expertise & successful handling of #COVID19."

"I hope that in 2021, this will not be the fifth. #LetTaiwanHelp, & we will all be better for it," Risch said in a tweet.
A Cambodian court sentenced five environmental activists for up to 20 months in jail on Wednesday for incitement to commit crimes, over their attempts to organize a march to the prime minister's residence to protest the filling-in of a city lake.

The activists, all members of the conservation group Mother Nature, were jailed for between 18 and 20 months for incitement to commit a felony or disturb social order, court spokesman Y Rin said.

Two of the defendants were sentenced in absentia, one of them Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, the group's Spanish founder, who was also charged with conspiracy to incite crimes.

Three Mother Nature members were arrested in September 2020 over the planned march to Prime Minister Hun Sen's house to show concern about the filling-in and development of Boeung Tamok lake, the largest lake in the capital Phnom Penh, according to the local human rights group Licadho.

Licadho said the trial was based largely on publicly available comments and material on Mother Nature's Facebook account, none of which constituted incitement.

Activists say environmental campaigners have been targeted in Cambodia for speaking up about issues like illegal logging and alleged collusion between politicians and businesses to exploit the country's natural resources.

Eerlynne Gil, deputy regional director for research at Amnesty International, called the verdict an "outrageous conviction" aimed at silencing human rights defenders who were trying to protect environmental resources.

"It serves as a threat to any young person who dares to stand up for human rights and environmental justice in Cambodia," Gil said.

Gonzalez-Davidson, who is not in Cambodia, said the verdict was "utterly unjust and shocking" and said Hun Sen's government was fighting to maintain its grip on power.

"The last tool they have now is terror, which includes sentencing completely innocent young Cambodians to lengthy jail sentences," Gonzalez-Davidson told Reuters in a text message.

U.S. Ambassador Patrick Murphy in a Tweet expressed deep concern.

"Speaking up to protect #Cambodia's environment, threatened by illegal logging & exploitation, is admirable," he said.

Justice Ministry spokesman Chin Malin rejected concerns about the conviction, and said: "This is normal as the opinions are based on individuals with political affiliations."
Amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in India and other parts of the world, the United States remains noncommittal on an October 2020 proposal by India and South Africa to waive certain provisions of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

The proposal would loosen patent restrictions so that countries can manufacture generic versions of the coronavirus vaccines.

"We are working with our global partners to explore pragmatic and effective steps to surge production and equitable distribution of vaccines," a United States Trade Representative (USTR) official told VOA.

The administration is still weighing arguments from waiver proponents, including members of the progressive wing of President Joe Biden's own party who say that it could be a game changer in the global fight against the pandemic, and opponents, Republican senators as well as the pharmaceutical industry, who insist that strong intellectual property protection is key to innovation. They say waiving it could backfire, creating further backlog for limited vaccine ingredients and revealing trade secrets to international rivals.

"Our overall objective is to provide as much supply to the global community and do that in a cost-effective manner," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki, adding that USTR has not made a final recommendation on the issue.

U.S. indecision was met with disappointment by many WTO members convening in a working level meeting on TRIPS on Friday.

More than 80 members of the consensus-driven body support the proposal, but it has been blocked by some, including the European Union and the U.S. under the Trump administration.

Under the People's Vaccine campaign, humanitarian organizations, 60 former heads of state and 100 Nobel Prize winners have urged Biden to look seriously at the humanitarian cost of protecting intellectual property rights.

"The TRIPS waiver is one of the critical tools that can empower government to address the current situation of the scarcity of supply," said Yuanqiong Hu, senior legal and policy adviser of Doctors Without Borders, one of the organizations who support the campaign.

Lawmakers from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have urged the Biden administration to stand up against intense pressure from the powerful pharmaceutical industry. In recent days, heads of pharmaceutical companies including Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have met with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to lobby against the waiver.

In March, the trade group PhRMA sent a letter to Biden, warning that undermining intellectual property would impede response to COVID-19 and emerging variants.

"An intellectual property waiver would not help accelerate COVID-19 vaccine access or address the very real supply chain and logistical constraints," a spokesperson for PhRMA told VOA via an email statement. "What can continue to help is global collaboration, partnerships and licensing agreements, which vaccine makers will continue pursuing."

But waiver proponents say that's simply not true.

"We know there is a lot of unused capacity in developing countries," Hu, of Doctors Without Borders, said. "Lifting the waiver can provide transformative and substantive help for companies who are ready and competent but worried about being sued."

Bill Gates

Last week, USTR's Tai also spoke with Bill Gates who, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, sponsored Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private global health partnership aiming to increase low-income countries' access to immunization. Gavi is the driving force behind COVAX, the United Nations' mechanism to improve low- and middle-income countries access to vaccines.

Despite more than two decades of philanthropic work on vaccines, Gates is a fierce defender of intellectual property protections and has spoken publicly against waiving vaccine patents. Responding to VOA's query, a Gates Foundation spokesperson said they are "focused on the policy and process barriers that stand in the way of equitable access to vaccines," but the TRIPS waiver is a decision for members of the WTO.

A spokesperson for Gavi said the best way to address the need for greater, more equitable global supply is through technology transfer in which the private sector invests in new manufacturing capacity and shares know-how with emerging economies. Such a partnership-based approach, the spokesperson said, "represents the quickest way to boost production as it brings together those that know how to make vaccines with those that need them most."

"It makes very little sense," said Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Global Health Policy and Politics Initiative at Georgetown University. "Sometimes we should listen to billionaires when it comes to things like global health, but sometimes we really shouldn't. And this is one where we don't want to listen to him."

With the World Health Organization reporting on Tuesday 5.7 million new global cases in the last week, an 8% weekly jump and the highest level on record, Kavanagh said now is the time for the administration to be decisive on the TRIPS waiver. "The fact that we haven't seen that is disappointing so far."

Doha declaration



There is precedent in the global effort to loosen medical patent restrictions during a health crisis. The Doha Declaration, adopted in 2001, clarified flexibilities within the 1994 TRIPS Agreement. It has been used by countries, including Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil, to issue compulsory licenses for HIV/AIDS drugs, which means that these governments can waive intellectual property rights without the license owners' consent.

Proponents of the COVID-19 vaccine waiver are hoping to apply the same principle of the Doha Declaration, but opponents say that unlike the simpler HIV/AIDS drugs, vaccines are much more complex and encompass multiple layers of intellectual property protection, from their ingredients and manufacturing to delivery.

That is why Moderna's recent announcement that it will not enforce the intellectual property rights of its COVID-19 vaccine may not mean much. Moderna can change its mind at any time, and it is also not the sole holder of the mRNA technology used in its vaccines. In fact, hundreds of patents, held by various entities, are related to the mRNA technology, meaning that even if Moderna does not enforce its patent, the legal risk remains because other companies, such as Pfizer, could.



Waiving vaccine patents will again be in focus at the WTO General Council meeting on May 5.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 17:39:18|Editor: huaxia

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Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in south China's Macao, on May 3, 2021, the third day of China's five-day May Day holiday. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

As China's early recovery is gaining momentum, observers believe that China holds promise for global businesses.

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.

A staff member presents the goods to be sold during a live video stream during the 14th China Shijiazhuang (Zhengding) International Commodities Fair 2021 in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, April 30, 2021. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

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."

A delivery sorter of ZTO Express works during her shift in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

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.

File photo taken on Aug. 30, 2019 shows a Blackmores exhibition zone during the Alibaba E-commerce Expo in Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

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.

Undated photo provided by Weleda, a natural organic health, wellbeing and beauty company based in Switzerland, shows one of its production line near Stuttgart in Germany. (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. 
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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.
State and federal health leaders see some optimism in the fight against coronavirus.

Thats because the CDC says we could see a sharp decline in coronavirus cases by July.

Getting cases down and keeping them there will largely be dependent on continuing to vaccinate people in Alabama, according to Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Around 1.5 million people in the state have gotten one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, including Daquan Jackson.

"It's a Russian roulette dealing with this disease, and I did not want to contribute to this viral outbreak, so I decided to do my part," said Jackson.

Seeing people around him get the virus also made him want to get vaccinated.

"I have had friends and family who have caught it. I've lost a niece to COVID-19 a couple months ago," said Jackson.

Thousands more are getting vaccinated, but Dr. Karen Landers says we have a ways to go.

"Right now, if we look at North Alabama, we see for example that Madison County is about 42% of people have received a single dose, so that's good," said Landers.

Madison County is one of just two counties in North Alabama where 40% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

"So, we've got a way to go. It's May and we've got a way to go to get where we need to be in Alabama. Can we do it? Yes," said Dr. Landers.

The more people that get vaccinated, the closer Alabama will be to seeing cases rapidly decline.

"I do look forward to...for things to get back to normal, no matter how long it takes," said Jackson.

Landers is urging people to get vaccinated so we can all stay healthy and have fewer coronavirus cases in our community.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville Alabama has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Colbert and Lauderdale counties until 5:45 p.m.

* At 455 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 8 miles southwest of Hohenwald to near Walnut Grove to 6 miles east of Ripley, moving southeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include... Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Cherokee, St. Florian, Underwood-Petersville, Waterloo and Green Hill. HAIL...0.75IN WIND...60MPH

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Turn to WAAY 31 for everything you need to know to stay safe during severe weather. Chief Meteorologist Kate McKenna, Meteorologist Rob Elvington, Meteorologist Carson Meredith and Ashley Carter will provide you with the most accurate information on storms by using our StormTracker Early Warning Radar Network.

Stationed in Muscle Shoals, Decatur and Guntersville, the radars provide the best data for all of North Alabama by scanning EVERY community in North Alabama.

See all the radars HERE

Access the Muscle Shoals radar HERE

Access the Decatur radar HERE

Access the Guntersville radar HERE

And download our news and weather apps HERE
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 22:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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A farmer in ethnic Qiang costume sells local products via livestream in Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Online retailing is changing the supply structure of goods and services in China's rural areas and accelerating rural consumption upgrade, an industry report said.

As rural infrastructure continues to improve and big e-commerce platforms start targeting rural customers, more high-quality products are available for consumers in rural areas, the Academy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said in the report.

Data showed rural residents are nowadays more inclined to buy home appliances and digital products online, said the report.

Rural residents expand the sales channel of agricultural products through online retailing and earn more money, thus leading to robust growth of rural consumption, said the report.

In the January-March period, rural online retail sales reached 439.79 billion yuan (about 68 billion U.S. dollars), increasing 35.3 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.

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. 
To The Eagle:

Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. What are the biggest threats to democracy? The answer: Complacency and the Big Lie currently being perpetrated upon us by 70% of the Republicans.

Not comparing the two people, but Hitler gained his power, by way of the Big Lie, eliminating all voices against him. What is happening to Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney, prominent Republicans who voiced their opinions against 45? Now the Rs rally with Boebert, Marjorie Greene, Hawley and others, doing their damndest to destroy our faith in our democracy. See any similarities to Germany in the 30s, or to many countries now influenced by 45s arrogance and asserting that only "he" can fix anything?

Right now, a third recount is underway in Arizona, created by the most radicals of radicals, hoping to move the Big Lie forward. A court order was needed to be able to keep an eye on it, the same thing Rs complained about--transparency! The head of Cyber Ninjas, the Florida-based firm that Republican senators hired to oversee the audit, has embraced 45s baseless theories of election theft and has suggested, contrary to available evidence, that 45 actually won Arizona by 200,000 votes. The pro-45 cable channel OAN (further right than Fox) has started a fund-raiser to finance the venture.

For the People and American Jobs Plan, are in my opinion, appropriately named. Of course the elected R officials--not so much R voters--are totally against this: God forbid, poor people may get on their feet. All of a sudden, the deficit is once again a priority for the Rs? Please take a look at how many corporations bought back their own stocks, enriching themselves, not innovating or expanding jobs. The 2017 tax cut and the 2018 spending bill cost $2.2 trillion combined, or one-sixth of the total 2018-2029 deficits in CBO's projection. However, both pieces of legislation contain temporary elements. If permanently extended, the two laws would cost $5.5 trillion. That would have been a time to pay down deficit!

Poul Toftemark

Rosburg
Mikey Hoeven is the spouse of Senator John Hoeven. Statistics provided by the American Cancer Society.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
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
Two Americans have been handed Italy's toughest punishment possible for the murder of a policeman in 2019 in a case that shook the nation.

An Italian court has sentenced two American students to life in prison for the murder of a policeman in Rome in 2019.

The verdict, handed down late on 5 May, saw the conviction of Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, for the fatal stabbing 35-year-old carabinere Mario Cerciello Rega.

The killing of Cerciello Rega, who had just returned from honeymoon, shocked Italy and led to a massive outpouring of public sympathy for his widow.

Huge crowds turned out for his funeral at the same church where he had been married 43 days before.

Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth in court. Photo LaPresse.

Elder, who was 19 at the time, admitted to stabbing Rega, apologising in court last September, but has insisted that he and Natale-Hjorth did not know that Rega and his carabiniere colleague were police officers.

Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with an 18-cm serrated-edge combat knife, while Natale-Hjorth, then aged 18, fought with the other police officer, Andrea Varriale.

However the Americans insist they acted in self defence because they thought the two officers, both unarmed and dressed in plain-clothes at the time, were thugs sent to beat them up after a botched attempt to buy drugs earlier that night.

The pair's testimony was rejected by the court which handed down the toughest penalty possible in Italy after 13 hours of deliberation, in a trial that has seen more than 50 hearings.

Cerciello Rega's widow Rosa Maria Esilio on hearing the verdict. Photo Reuters.

Under Italy's penal code, criminals serving life terms can be eligible for parole after 21 years, if they have a good behaviour record, according to Reuters.

The defence lawyers immediately said they would appeal, Reuters reports, and the two Americans have the right to two appeals before their sentence becomes definitive.

A severe sentence but corresponding to the atrocious crime that was committed," said the lawyer representing Cerciello Rega's family, while the lawyer defending Natale-Hjorth described the verdict as "an unjust and incomprehensible sentence," reports Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Cerciello Rega's widow Rosa Maria Esilio, clutching a photograph of her dead husband, was in the courtroom and broke down in tears on hearing the verdict, reports The Guardian.

Time line of events leading to the fatal attack

Elder and Natale-Hjorth, both from California, were tourists in Italy in the summer of 2019 and met up in Rome on 26 July 2019.

That night the two Americans had been trying to buy cocaine in the popular night-life area of Trastevere.

A man described as an "intermediary," subsequently identified as Sergio Brugiatelli, helped them find a dealer who allegedly sold them crushed aspirin instead of drugs.

In retaliation the students stole Brugiatelli's rucksack, demanding the return of their money plus a gram of cocaine in exchange.

However Brugiatelli informed the police of the situation, with undercover officers Cerciello Rega and Varriale going to the designated meeting place in the upmarket Prati district, in place of Brugiatelli.

Elder claims that they were jumped from behind by the officers who they believed were criminal associates of Brugiatelli.

Varriale has said that he and Cerciello Rega, both unarmed, told the young men they were police, but that Elder pulled out a knife and attacked Cerciello Rega, while Natale-Hjorth wrestled with Varriale.

Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega. Photo Il Mattino.

In the ensuing 32-second brawl Cerciello Rega was stabbed 11 times, later dying from his wounds in nearby S. Spirito hospital.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth fled the scene but were tracked down the next day to a hotel, in the same area as the attack, where police found the military knife hidden behind a ceiling panel.

Last September Elder apologised to Cerciello Rega's family in court, saying: "I took a person's life, I took a husband from his wife, I broke a bond between brothers. And I took a son from his mother. I will never be able to forgive myself for all this."

Cover photo AFP
The Italian Aperitivo is a cultural tradition that usually takes place between 18:00 and 20:00.

It is an event that serves as an appetizer to dinner with the purpose of socializing with friends while drinking sunset-hued cocktails and snacking on a selection of cheeses and salami, bruschetta and sometimes fried foods. It is so embedded in the Italian lifestyle that bars all over the Italian peninsula host aperitivi with various drink and food options every day.

How did this tradition become so popular in Italy and what are some of the best drinks to consider ordering when going to an Aperitivo?

The story of Aperitivo originates in Turin in 1786, when Italian distiller and inventor Antonio Benedetto Carpano develops a mixture of muscat wine, herbs and spices, creating the drink now known as Vermouth. Once the drink started selling in his shop, people from all social classes could enjoy a glass of Vermouth after work while socializing with friends.

The concept of Aperitivo appears in the book Torino 1880 by Edmondo De Amicis, in which the notion Vermouth Hour is used to describe a moment in which liquorists shops were crowded and people would socialize in groups after work.

The accessibility of this event to all social classes allowed for this tradition to grow and extend to the rest of the country. This success incentivized the creation of a variety of drinks to enjoy during Aperitivo, raising the competition in the market with brands such as Ramazzotti, Campari, Martini, Cinzano, Gancia and Cocchi.

The birth of Aperol Spritz, which is considered to be one of the most famous drinks consumed during Aperitivo, dates back to 1919 when the Aperol house was founded in Padua.

The history of Aperitivo outlines the importance of a break from work in the Italian lifestyle, which serves as a way to find a time of day in which it is possible to catch up or socialize with friends or family.

Here is a list of some of the most famous drinks that characterize Aperitivo:

Aperol Spritz : It is considered to be the most favourite drink by Italians, especially during the summer thanks to its vibrant colours as well as its moderate alcohol content. Ingredients: 1/3 of Aperol Campari, 1/3 Prosecco, 1/3 Soda. (It is usually served with a slice of orange).



Negroni : It was created in the 1920s when Count Camillo Negroni, tired of the usual Americano aperitivo, asked the bartender to add some gin. Ingredients: 3/8 of Gin, 3/8 of Red Bitter and 2/8 of Red Vermouth.



Americano (Milano Torino) : In spite of the name, its ingredients are Italian, and it is no coincidence that it is also known as Milano Torino, which are the two cities where bitter and Vermouth were born. Ingredients: 1/2 of Bitter and 1/2 of Vermouth.



Garibaldi : It is a cocktail suitable for any season of the year. It is thirst-quenching, tasty and light, in regard to the alcohol content. Ingredients: 3/10 of Campari, 7/10 of orange juice, some ice and a slice of orange.



Gin Tonic : This cocktail was born in India during the colonial era as British soldiers used to defend themselves from heat and tropical diseases by taking a quinine tonic. It was then made sweeter throughout the years as it became a drink usually consumed during Aperitivo mainly by British people. Ingredients: 1/3 of Gin and 2/3 of tonic water.



Moscow Mule : It is a long drink without too much alcohol content that recently became popular due to the presence of ginger, which adds a pungent flavour and presents beneficial properties. Ingredients: 45ml of Vodka, 120ml of Ginger Beer, 5ml of fresh lime juice and a slice of lime.

Also read: Italian food recipes

The variety of drinks is also enriched by the vast choice of snacks that often differ from each bar. Unfortunately, the current regulations imposed by the government with the purpose of stopping the diffusion of the Covid-19 virus have made it difficult for everyone to meet for the traditional Aperitivo.

However, it is during this time that people could start experimenting with different drinks and create cocktails at home in order to never miss out on Aperitivo.
PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL COHESION - Town Moderator Alan Foulds (above) guided the discussion earlier this week around a Town Meeting funding request for a new director of equity and social justice. Library Director Amy Lannon, below, outlined how the new hire would work with the general public. Town Meeting members this week also amended the FY22 budget to also add a mental health specialist.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 02:35:49|Editor: huaxia

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President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Volkan Bozkir (L) chairs the UNGA Interactive Dialogue to Commemorate and Promote the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 5, 2021. President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Volkan Bozkir said on Wednesday that the world body remains irreplaceable since its establishment more than 75 years ago with its primacy and relevance remaining unmatched. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Volkan Bozkir, said on Wednesday that the world body remains irreplaceable since its establishment more than 75 years ago with its primacy and relevance remaining unmatched.

"The counter-factual is hard to establish - what the world might have been like without the United Nations - the conflicts not averted, the human suffering not eased. In any case, imperfect as it may be, the primacy and relevance of the United Nations remains unmatched after more than 75 years," the UNGA president, or the PGA, said in his opening remarks in the UNGA Interactive Dialogue to Commemorate and Promote the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

"At a time of distrust and suffering in the aftermath of World War II, the founders of the United Nations demonstrated foresight in recognizing that real peace could not be achieved through the absence of conflict alone," said the PGA.

"Peace would only be possible through the pursuit of shared goals and objectives. Thus, they set about pursuing diplomacy for peace," he stressed.

Turning to the importance of the world body, the PGA recalled that during the General Debate in September last year, "more heads of state and government participated in the General Debate than ever before, proving that when the world is in crisis, leaders turn to one another here in the United Nations to promote solutions."

"Indeed, every day, I see the impact of the framework and resources of the United Nations on work in pursuit of peace, universal human rights, and sustainable development," he added.

"At a time of deepening inequalities within and between countries, multilateral actors and partners are working tirelessly to address the multiplicity of threats facing the people we serve," said Bozkir, a veteran Turkish diplomat.

"Through constructive debate and negotiations, ideas develop into norms, which in turn drive policy development and implementation, with a view to advancing the course of humanity," the PGA noted.

"It was in the General Assembly that the notion of universal human rights was first imagined, and it was here, in 2015, that the world pledged to leave no one behind in achieving Sustainable Development by 2030," he continued.

"For some, the first introduction of multilateralism comes at the most difficult moments in life," said the PGA.

"On the frontlines of the most challenging contexts, fractured communities recognize the blue helmets of peacekeepers as a sign that the world has not forgotten them. That the United Nations is working to support their efforts to bring about peace," he added.

The PGA said emotionally that "for people on the move, it is the shelter of a UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) tent that allows them to sleep through the night," adding that "for those who have known hunger, it is a World Food Programme convoy that provides life-saving nourishment."

"For a child who has endured unimaginable horrors, a blue UNICEF backpack promises education, and hope for a better future," he added.

The PGA expressed the hope that "the insights shared here today" will inspire relevant people to accelerate their work "towards creating a better world for all."

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was established on Dec. 12, 2018 through a UN resolution and was first observed on April 24, 2019.

Preserving the values of multilateralism and international cooperation, which underpin the UN Charter and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is fundamental for promoting and supporting the three pillars of the UN - peace and security, development and human rights. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 04:57:29|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Conflicts, economic crises and extreme weather conditions pushed the number of people who faced acute food insecurity to 155 million in 2020, the highest figure in five years, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other agencies said here on Wednesday.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu has called for "addressing the root causes of acute hunger, and for making agri-food systems more efficient, resilient, sustainable and inclusive."

The situation was described in the "2021 Global Report on Food Crises" issued by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international alliance bringing together the UN's FAO and World Food Program (WFP), the European Union (EU), governmental agencies and no-profit organizations.

Presented at a virtual event, the report highlighted that acute food insecurity -- the condition in which the inability to find adequate food puts the life and livelihood of a person in immediate danger -- was spread across at least 55 countries and territories in 2020.

Among these, the most severe conditions were reported in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Yemen, where at least 133,000 people overall were in need of "urgent action to avert widespread death and a collapse of livelihood."

Since the first such report was issued in 2017, acute food insecurity has been on a constant rise. Specific key factors were behind the levels seen last year, namely conflicts, economic shocks, and extreme weather conditions, the FAO explained in a joint statement with WFP and EU.

Wars represented the "main driver pushing almost 100 million people in acute food insecurity in 2020," up from 77 million in the previous year.

In the second place came economic crises, which were "due to COVID-19" last year and replaced weather hazards as the second pulling factor, with more than 40 million people affected against 24 million in 2019.

The adverse weather events ranked third, which last year threatened over 15 million people, down from 34 million in 2019.

Overall, the context in which all these three factors had their effects was worsened by the pandemic, the global network's founding members said in their joint statement.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, and the need for more equitable, sustainable, and resilient systems to nutritiously and consistently feed 8.5 billion people by 2030," they said.

They also noted that prolonged food crises were proving how environmental, social, and economic trends combined with conflicts and insecurity "are eroding the resilience of agri-food systems."

"If current trends are not reversed, food crises will increase in frequency and severity," they said.

In the foreword of this year's report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for "addressing hunger and conflict together" because these two conditions were mutually reinforcing.

"Addressing hunger is a foundation for stability and peace," Guterres said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:23:40|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday it appears the Republican Party is going through a "mini-revolution" as the rift between GOP members loyal to former President Donald Trump and those like Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney who are critical of him has grown to a boiling point.

"It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for. And they're in the midst of significant sort of mini-revolution going on in the Republican Party," Biden told reporters at the White House after addressing his administration's implementation of the American Rescue Plan - a law passed in the early days of the Biden presidency to buttress the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've been a Democrat for a long time. We've gone through periods where we've had internal fights, disagreements. I don't remember any like this," he said. "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."

Biden's comments came as rank-and-file House Republicans became increasingly furious about Cheney over her repeated denunciation of Trump's unsubstantiated claims that his defeat in the 2020 election was the result of widespread voter fraud.

The possibility of Cheney being removed from her leadership post - ranking third in the House Republican hierarchy - is looming large as those opposing her fear that the deviation from a "single message" within the GOP caused by Cheney will harm the prospect of the party regaining House majority in the upcoming midterm elections in 2022.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the top two House Republicans ranking ahead of Cheney, have both supported New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik for replacing the Wyoming congresswoman as House Republican Conference chair.

Trump also endorsed Stefanik, saying in a statement that his staunch ally who vigorously supported him during his two impeachments "is a far superior choice" for the job Cheney is currently undertaking.

A vote on whether to expel Cheney is expected as soon as next week. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:32:40|Editor: huaxia

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Mourners and relatives carry the body of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy during his funeral in the village of Odala, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on May 6, 2021. The Palestinian teenager was shot dead on Wednesday night by Israeli soldiers in the village, medics and eyewitnesses said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A 16-year-old Palestinian teenager was shot dead on Wednesday night by Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, medics and eyewitnesses said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the teenager was killed during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in the village of Oudla, south of Nablus.

The ministry said another Palestinian young man was shot and wounded by the soldiers during the same clashes, adding that he is in moderate condition.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses provided similar information of the incident, saying Nablus and several surrounding villages have been witnessing daily protests and clashes following the Israeli army's raids on Palestinian homes in the area.

The Israeli army has been searching for Palestinian gunmen who opened fire three days ago at an Israeli vehicle and wounded three Israelis. No one has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack. Enditem
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:54:26|Editor: huaxia

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Children receive food from a charity group in Hajjah province, Yemen, March 4, 2021. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)

"The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, and the need for more equitable, sustainable, and resilient systems to nutritiously and consistently feed 8.5 billion people by 2030," said founding members of the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC).



ROME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Conflicts, economic crises and extreme weather conditions pushed the number of people who faced acute food insecurity to 155 million in 2020, the highest figure in five years, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other agencies said here on Wednesday.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu has called for "addressing the root causes of acute hunger, and for making agri-food systems more efficient, resilient, sustainable and inclusive."

The situation was described in the "2021 Global Report on Food Crises" issued by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international alliance bringing together the UN's FAO and World Food Program (WFP), the European Union (EU), governmental agencies and no-profit organizations.

Presented at a virtual event, the report highlighted that acute food insecurity -- the condition in which the inability to find adequate food puts the life and livelihood of a person in immediate danger -- was spread across at least 55 countries and territories in 2020.

Among these, the most severe conditions were reported in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Yemen, where at least 133,000 people overall were in need of "urgent action to avert widespread death and a collapse of livelihood."

Photo taken on June 9, 2020 shows trucks carrying emergency food at the Nadapal border point, south west of Kapoeta East County, South Sudan. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)

Since the first such report was issued in 2017, acute food insecurity has been on a constant rise. Specific key factors were behind the levels seen last year, namely conflicts, economic shocks, and extreme weather conditions, the FAO explained in a joint statement with WFP and EU.

Wars represented the "main driver pushing almost 100 million people in acute food insecurity in 2020," up from 77 million in the previous year.

In the second place came economic crises, which were "due to COVID-19" last year and replaced weather hazards as the second pulling factor, with more than 40 million people affected against 24 million in 2019.

The adverse weather events ranked third, which last year threatened over 15 million people, down from 34 million in 2019.

Overall, the context in which all these three factors had their effects was worsened by the pandemic, the global network's founding members said in their joint statement.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, and the need for more equitable, sustainable, and resilient systems to nutritiously and consistently feed 8.5 billion people by 2030," they said.

They also noted that prolonged food crises were proving how environmental, social, and economic trends combined with conflicts and insecurity "are eroding the resilience of agri-food systems."

"If current trends are not reversed, food crises will increase in frequency and severity," they said.

In the foreword of this year's report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for "addressing hunger and conflict together" because these two conditions were mutually reinforcing.

"Addressing hunger is a foundation for stability and peace," Guterres said.

People walk through flood water due to high intensity of rainfall and the overflow of Citarum River at Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Feb. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jefri Tarigan/Xinhua)
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.
Australia isnt paying the price for being a climate laggard. At least not yet.

Some of the worlds biggest investors continue to hold Australian debt even as they pledge to shift money away from countries and assets that dont align with a low-carbon world.

More than half of Australias $906 billion in government bonds were owned by foreign investors at the end of last year, up from a 16-year low in June, according to government figures. Thats helping make the countrys debt among the top performers in Asia this year, while its dollar is one of the gainers among Group of 10 currencies.

Australia looks set to pay a high price for its failure to create a credible carbon emissions policy, but so far it seems its getting away with it. Credit:PA

You dont want to throw the baby out with the bath water, said Bhanu Singh, head of Asia Pacific portfolio management at Austin, Texas-based Dimensional Fund Advisors. The firm holds Australian debt among its $US637 billion ($822 billion) in assets, including in its global sustainable fixed-income fund. Ultimately, youre trying to meet both the ESG and investment objective.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Washington: Australia has welcomed the Biden administrations decision to support the waiving of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines  a move that will make it easy for developing countries to manufacture their own vaccines  while refusing to commit to follow suit.

India and South Africa have led a push at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a suspension on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics, a stance backed by 118 countries worldwide and more than 100 members of the US Congress.

The Biden administration will support a waiver of patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines. Credit:AP

Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Bidens top trade official, announced the US would actively participate in WTO negotiations to secure a waiver for the patents.

This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for emergency measures, Tai said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 09:36:58|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported five new COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday.

Of the cases, two each were reported in Sichuan and Yunnan, and one in Guangdong, the commission said.

One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai, with no new deaths related to COVID-19 reported Wednesday, the commission said.

A total of 5,728 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Wednesday. Among them, 5,444 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 284 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,726 by Wednesday, including 314 patients still receiving treatment, three of whom were in severe condition.

A total of 85,776 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There were 12 suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Wednesday.

Seven asymptomatic cases were newly reported, all arriving from outside the mainland. There were a total of 312 asymptomatic cases, of whom 305 were imported, under medical observation by Wednesday.

By the end of Wednesday, 11,796 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 1,160 cases, including 12 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,462 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 1,074 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
Loading Do I need to? Do I want to? The act of taking a shower became less a matter of function and more of a matter of doing something for myself that I enjoyed, she said. Harper, who still uses deodorant and does a daily wash of the parts that need to be done at the sink, said she was confident she was not offending anyone. Her 22-year-old daughter, who is fastidious about bathing and showers twice a day, has not made any comments regarding her new hygiene habit. Nor have the children at her school. The kids will tell you if you dont smell good, Harper said. Three, four and five-year-old children will tell you the truth.

Plumbing and upward mobility changed everything Loading Daily showers are a fairly new phenomenon, said Donnachadh McCarthy, an environmentalist and writer in London who grew up taking weekly baths. We had a bath once a week and we washed under at the sink the rest of the week  under our armpits and our privates  and that was it, McCarthy, 61, said. As he grew older, he showered every day. But after a visit to the Amazon jungle in 1992 revealed the ravages of overdevelopment, McCarthy said he began reconsidering how his daily habits were affecting the environment and his own body.

Its not really good to be washing with soap every day, said McCarthy, who showers once a week. Loading Doctors and health experts have said that daily showers are unnecessary, and even counterproductive. Washing with soap every day can strip the skin of its natural oils and leave it feeling dry, though doctors still recommend frequent hand-washing. The American obsession with cleaning began around the turn of the 20th century, when people began moving into cities after the Industrial Revolution, said Dr James Hamblin, a lecturer at Yale University and the author of Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less. Cities were dirtier so residents felt they had to wash more frequently, Hamblin said, and soap manufacturing became more common. Indoor plumbing also began to improve, giving the middle class more access to running water.

To set themselves apart from the masses, wealthy people began investing in fancier soaps and shampoos and started bathing more frequently, he said. It became a sort of arms race, Hamblin said. It was a signifier of wealth if you looked like you could bathe every day. Bathing less equals better skin, cleaner planet Kelly Mieloch, 42, said that since the pandemic began she had showered only every couple of days. What is the point of daily showers, she said, when she rarely leaves the house except to run errands like taking her six-year-old daughter to school?

Theyre not smelling me  they dont know whats happening, Mieloch said. Most of the time, Im not even wearing a bra. Whats more, she said her decision to stop daily showers had helped her appearance. I just feel like my hair is better, my skin is better and my face is not so dry, said Mieloch, a mortgage loan closer in Asheville, North Carolina. Andrea Armstrong, an assistant professor of environmental science and studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, said she was encouraged as more people rethink the daily shower. An eight-minute shower uses up to 64 litres of water, according to the Water Research Fund.

Running water for even five minutes uses as much energy as running a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And frequent washing means going through more plastic bottles and using more soap, which is often made with petroleum. The individual choice to stop showering or bathing daily is a critical one to make at a time when environmentalists are calling on countries to take more action against climate change, McCarthy, the environmentalist, said. There is nothing like soaking in a deep, warm bath, he said. There is pleasure there that I absolutely accept and understand. But I keep those pleasures as treat. Despite the compelling science, it is difficult to imagine Americans as a whole embracing infrequent showers and baths, said Lori Brown, a professor of sociology at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Weve been told so much about not smelling and buying products, she said. Youre dealing with culture. Youre not dealing with biology. You can tell people all day that this is not doing any good for them, and there are still going to be people who say: I dont care. Im going to take a shower. Nina Arthur, who owns Ninas Hair Care in Flint, Michigan, said she had many clients who were going through menopause and were so uncomfortable that they felt they needed to shower twice a day. Ive had women who are having hot flashes in my chair, she said. One client was sweating so much, she asked Arthur to come up with a hairstyle that could withstand constant perspiration. The pandemic has not swayed the bathing habits of such clients, Arthur said.
"This is a really big deal," Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings told WDEL Thursday. "HB 195, this legislation will make Delaware a national leader in equipping every police officer in our state with a body-worn camera."

Discussing the legislation set to be filed Thursday, Jennings said statewide enactment of such a program has been a "top priority," and the murder of George Floyd drove Delaware's law enforcement leadership together to make sure positive changes came to fruition.

"[It's] certainly been my top priority to get all the stakeholders together to create a statewide body-worn camera program, and to make sure that every officer in the state who interacts with the public will be equipped with that camera," Jennings said. "It's taken nearly a year to do all the background work that was necessary, and to carry it forward to the point where the legislators who are the prime sponsors have introduced the bill today."

State Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker "has done a great deal of work on this," Jennings said, and the representative was expected to file House Bill 195 on May 6, 2021. The program already has $3.6 million allocated in Governor John Carney's recommended budget, and provides for not only hardware acquisition, but the more costly cloud storage solutions.

"It's actually not the cameras that costs most of the money. It's the storage of the data that those cameras take in," Jennings said. "And so this enables all police officers, agencies in the state, to utilize one data storage program, which is efficient."

The legislation establishes statewide uniformity for the disparate programs already scattered across the state. The Wilmington Police Department announced last week its plans to establish a city-mandated program, and Jennings noted in her time with New Castle County Police, they had already adopted body-worn cameras.

The entire Wilmington Police Department will have body-worn cameras by June By the first week in June, the entire Wilmington Police Department will be outfitted with bo

"We commend the police departments that have done it on their own. Many have started those programs either with help from their towns in the budget and-or through grants, federal grants, that have been available to police agencies. Those grants are timed so that gradually the amount of money that comes to that agency has to be taken up in their general budget," Jennings said. "So how this all fits together is that eventually, agencies that have relied upon federal grants would segue into state budgetary appropriations."

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Jennings noted agencies who already have their own programs would be encouraged to advance the statewide program in any way they saw fit, but would be required to meet whatever minimum requirements established in the statewide proposal.

There will be a Request for Proposal process based off the amount of money involved from the state, said Chief Deputy Attorney General Alexander Mackler, and weeding through the numerous companies that offer these services. But all of the state's departments will feed their footage into a unified storage system, where it will remain theirs--"The DOJ is not the keeper of the footage," Mackler said--until it's flagged as evidence.

"The hold up for the last several years--and this is not unique to Delaware, this is nationwide--to making body camera usage more widespread has been the cost of the of the storage, not the cost of the hardware. The cameras aren't that expensive. They're a one-time cost. The annual software cost is really where the state has stepped in to do this," Mackler said. "The vision is that, when their contracts run out--because the ones who already have body cameras obviously have their own independent contracts--that when their contracts expire, they are able to seamlessly enter the states to the statewide storage program."

There shouldn't be many hurdles to the legislation passing, Jennings said, as the bill has already found significant support from even the typically most reluctant of adopters.

"This legislation has universal support. It has universal support among police unions, among the rank-and-file, among police chiefs who very much want to implement their own body-worn camera programs in their agencies, and it has really uniform support of community advocates who've been telling us, 'let's get them on every police officer and increase transparency,' which is what this does," Jennings said. "And it does. It works."

+2 Moses family files a lawsuit against New Castle County, police The family of Lymond Moses has filed a federal lawsuit against New Castle County, the New Ca

Even if the legislation passes, Jennings said there's more for Delaware to do. As the Law Enforcement Accountability Task Force gets close to wrapping up its work on recommendations to sent to the General Assembly to advance police-community relations, the state is facing its own controversies.

New Castle County Police are being sued by the family of Lamond Moses even with his fatal police-involved shooting being caught on body-worn camera and released to the public. So just having video is not a catch-all to resolving either community trust or problematic behavior. Jennings said it's a process.

"What I will say is that there has to be a comprehensive set of reforms that we can all come to common ground with, many of which require legislation--such as the change in our Use of Force laws--to go from a subjective state of mind to an objective," she said. "So each piece of legislation, each reform measure, supplements the other. No one reform measure is perfect. But taken together, they will all make a substantial difference in Delaware, and how we approach our relationship with the people we serve."
Wilmington, DE (19810)

Today

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Authorities identify 62-year-old weeks after he was shot to death in Louisville's California neighborhood
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks before the signing of a bill creating a partial ban on no-knock warrants at the Center for African American Heritage in Louisville, Ky., Friday, April 9, 2021. The bill signing comes after months of demonstrations set off by the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her home during a botched police raid. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
A man crashed a car into a wooded area off Interstate 64 in southern Indiana on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, after leading Indiana State Police troopers on a chase. (Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police)
Reporter

I cover a range of stories for WDRB, but really enjoy tracking what's going on at our State Capitol. I grew up on military bases all over the world, but am a Kentuckian at heart. I'm an EKU alum, and have lived in Louisville for 30 years.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 09:57:35|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 28, 2020 shows the secondary road section from Mansehra to Thakot under the Karakoram Highway (KKH) Phase Two project, in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

Several roads under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are in their final phase which are expected to be inaugurated in 2021 and after their completion, locals will experience a better connectivity, and business opportunities in the country will increase, said Chairman of Pakistan's CPEC Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa.

ISLAMABAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will start reaping the benefits of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the form of industrial and agricultural development and a better road connectivity, Chairman of Pakistan's CPEC Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

Several roads under CPEC are in their final phase which are expected to be inaugurated in 2021 and after their completion, locals will experience a better connectivity, and business opportunities in the country will increase, Bajwa said while talking to media on Tuesday night.

Talking about the special economic zones (SEZs) being established under the framework of CPEC, the official said that they are receiving many applications from local and foreign enterprises to invest in the SEZs where the government is providing a one-window operation to facilitate the investors.

In Allama Iqbal SEZ of Punjab province's Faisalabad city, investors from Canada, Britain and Germany have applied to set up industry in the form of joint ventures with local partners in the SEZ. "Apart from them, Pakistani-American doctors along with some U.S. doctors have approached to establish a pharmaceutical sector in the SEZ," Bajwa said.

The aerial photo taken on Aug. 6, 2019 shows the Sahiwal Coal Power plant in Sahiwal, Punjab Province, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

He added that efficient and corporate farming are going to be introduced for the first time in the country in cooperation with China under CPEC.

"Model farms are going to be started on vast areas of land under CPEC from the next crop, and a 25-percent enhancement in local yields is expected under the guidance of Chinese experts on the farms," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, addressing a ceremony at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bajwa said that the second phase of CPEC will contribute to poverty alleviation and GDP growth in Pakistan.

Launched in 2013, CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwest Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation. 
New homes cost $36,000 more nationwide because of an epic shortage of lumber
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 11:18:24|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has decided to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Thursday.

The dialogue is jointly held by the NDRC and relevant ministries of the Australian Commonwealth Government. Enditem


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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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 11:30:30|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Wednesday that its head Jan Kubis has discussed recent political and security development in the country with Speaker of the House of Representatives Agila Saleh in the eastern Libyan city of al-Qubba.

"During the meeting (UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres') Special Envoy (on Libya) briefed on key elements of UN Security Council Resolutions 2570 (2021) and 2571 (2021), particularly in relation to the political process and the call for holding elections on 24 December this year, as well as the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries," UNSMIL said in a statement.

"In this regard, Special Envoy Kubis and Speaker Saleh discussed ways to expedite the process of clarifying a constitutional and legal framework for the elections," the statement added.

The meeting also touched upon the importance of the early adoption of the budget and of moving forward in the unification of military and security institutions in order to protect Libya's territorial integrity and maintain its stability, on the need to start the DDR (disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration) and SSR (security sector reform) process, as well as on the process regarding sovereign positions, the statement said.

The UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) recently selected a new executive authority of a presidency council and a unity government, ending years of political division in the country.

The new executive authority's main task is to prepare for the general elections to be held on Dec. 24, 2021, as approved by the LPDF. Enditem
Weber State Hosts Anti-Racism Event

May 5, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University will host a virtual presentation for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month titled Mobilizing Around Anti-Asian Racism, May 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom video conferencing.

I am thrilled we have an opportunity to elevate and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, history and culture at Weber State this May, said Adrienne Andrews, assistant vice president for diversity and chief diversity officer. I am hopeful our keynote speaker, Dr. Helen Zia, will spark a new conversation throughout the campus and community as we seek first to understand each other and then be understood by each other.

Activist, author and former journalist, Zia is the daughter of immigrants from China. She has spoken on issues ranging from human rights and peace to womens rights and countering hate violence and homophobia. She is featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? and was profiled in Bill Moyers PBS series, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of Princeton Universitys first co-educational class.

The event is free and open to the public, but participants are required to register at this link. Attendees can submit questions for the speaker at this link.

The presentation is part of Weber States efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive campus environment. The university has been working since last fall on a series of presentations and discussions to coincide with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations, aimed at providing resources for Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander students, as well as the general campus population.

We cannot continue to allow the myth of the model minority to absolve us of seeing the overt and covert racism being experienced by members of our Asian and Pacific Islander communities today or any other day moving forward, Andrews said. Additionally, we cannot let a racist frame undermine our ability to learn with and from each other as we celebrate the identities that make up our world. I am hopeful that the kickoff for this annual keynote series will help us move forward to honoring and celebrating a part of the circle that makes us whole.

For a photo, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
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Households across the US may soon qualify for a $50 deduction on their broadband internet bill each month thanks to the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program from the Federal Communications Commission.

Another option includes a one-time discount of up to $100 off laptops, tablets, or desktops. Households on Tribal lands can get a discount of up to $75.

With increased pressure on home internet due to remote school and work-from-home set-ups, the state has been focused on helping households stay connected. Local advertisements for the federal program have started coming through organizations like New Milford Schools and the Brookfield Senior Center informing residents about the discount.

Applications open on May 12, and can be completed online, sent by mail, or obtained through a call to a households existing broadband provider. The benefit will run until funds are depleted or six months after the federal government announces the end of the COVID-19 emergency, according to instructions on the FCC website.

Qualifying households include those with an income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, those that participate in Medicaid, SNAP, food stamps, public housing assistance, or Tribal specific programs, those who experienced a significant loss of income since February of 2020 or those who meet the criteria for a providers FCC-approved low-income or COVID-19 program, among other qualifying criteria.

Students who participate in free or reduced lunch programs at schools also make a household eligible for the discount.

Those who are already part of the federal phone and internet discount program, Lifeline, do not have to re-apply for the benefit.

Online guidelines state that only one monthly discount for one device is available per household.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 12:33:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has decided to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue starting from Thursday.

The dialogue is jointly held by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant ministries of the Australian Commonwealth Government.

The decision was made based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth Government toward China-Australia cooperation, the NDRC said in a proclamation on its website Thursday.

Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination, according to the NDRC. Enditem
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Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 13:49:35|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally surpassed 21 million on Thursday as 412,262 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, said federal health ministry.

This is the second time this month that over 400,000 cases have been registered in a single day. (India-COVID-19 Cases-Record)

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MALE -- Maldives' Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) has declared that the country is experiencing the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections as daily infections broke the local record for four consecutive days, local media reported on Thursday.

HEOC member Mohammed Ali said Wednesday a recent surge in infections has increased the chances for a spread of new variants. Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency data showed the record for new daily cases was broken for the fourth day. (Maldives-COVID-19-Fourth Wave)

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SANAA -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said Wednesday a recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce any agreement.

The recently-concluded negotiation, which took place in Saudi Arabia and Oman, aimed to install a ceasefire across Yemen, including in the central province of Marib, where the Houthi rebels have been launching massive offensives on the governmental forces since February. (Yemen-Warring Sides-UN-brokered Negotiation)

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DUBLIN -- A member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland on Wednesday called on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with China instead of being "led along by the nose by the Americans" into confrontation with China.

Mick Wallace, an incumbent MEP from the south constituency of Ireland, made the calls by tweeting a video speech he made at an April meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, a legislative body of the EU. (European Parliament-China-Cooperation)

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BRAZZAVILLE -- Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo Clement Mouamba on Wednesday handed in his resignation letter and that of his government to President Denis Sassou Nguesso, according to a source close to the presidency.

The resignation was accepted by the president, who thanked all the ministers for their work during the past five years of collaboration, the cabinet said in an announcement. (Republic of the Congo-PM-Resignation) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 14:12:14|Editor: huaxia

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Secretary General of Jordan's Communist Party Faraj Itmeiza speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Amman, Jordan, April 6, 2021. Upholding the people-centered philosophy, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has kept the Chinese people as the top priority and striven to serve them wholeheartedly, Itmeiza has said. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

AMMAN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Upholding the people-centered philosophy, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has kept the Chinese people as the top priority and striven to serve them wholeheartedly, Secretary General of Jordan's Communist Party Faraj Itmeiza has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the 100th founding anniversary of the CPC, Itmeiza praised China's comprehensive achievement under the CPC's leadership, noting that he could feel that the CPC and the Chinese people have been engaged in unceasing endeavors for a better future.

"What struck me the most was that some projects that usually take several years in other countries can be finished only in a few months or weeks in China," he said.

"It seems that China is in a race against time for realizing the best future for the Chinese people and humanity," he added.

Itmeiza, who has visited China twice in the past years, said that though some Western media slandered and misrepresented the facts about China, the reality he has witnessed is that "China is a large productive country and open to other civilizations and international dialogues."

The Jordanian party chief said that his party publishes a biweekly newspaper, including local, regional, and international reports, with China's latest development often available in the international section.

During the interview, Itmeiza highlighted the distinguished leadership of the CPC, the support of the Chinese people for the party, and the country's sustainable development plans as the pillars to China's achievement "miracle."

"It was apparent that the Chinese people were united under the CPC's leadership in eradicating extreme poverty as well as combating the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

Notably, he spoke highly of China's contribution to the global fight against the pandemic, adding that China has also made its vaccines accessible as a global public good and provided humanitarian assistance to other countries, especially developing countries.

In terms of bilateral relations, Itmeiza said he looked forward to closer cooperation between the two countries and the two parties, and appreciated China's support and assistance to Jordan, especially in the fields of technology and education.

Suggesting other countries learn from the CPC's governance experience, he said that "it is not to fully copy it, but we have to act like China by first studying issues, and then adopting the positive sides to serve our country and people." Enditem
RSC's Matilda the Musical will reopen at the Cambridge Theatre this autumn, it has been confirmed

Based on the 1988 book by Roald Dahl, the piece follows a young girl who discovers she has magical powers. It first opened in Stratford Upon Avon in November 2010, before its West End premiere a year later. This November it will mark ten years in London.

Written by Dennis Kelly, the show has music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

A film version of Matilda is also in the works, with casting revealed recently. It too is directed by Warchus, with a screenplay by Kelly. Sony Pictures/TriStar Pictures will release the film theatrically in the UK and Netflix will release the film in the rest of the world.

The stage production Matilda will recommence performances on 16 September 2021, and is currently booking until 13 February 2022. Tickets go on sale on Monday 10 May, while casting is to be revealed.

RSC's executive director Catherine Mallyon said: "It is fantastic to see London's West End re-opening and for our company, freelance colleagues and creative team to be back at the Cambridge Theatre, preparing for performances in the autumn. We all know how challenging the past year has been, and that makes this moment even more special and important. We will not only celebrate ten brilliant years of Matilda The Musical in the West End, but also that our audiences can join us once again to experience the power of live theatre."
The You Are Here gave WhatsOnStage a look inside the rehearsal room!

Neil Bartram and Brian Hill's show, which is set on the night of the moon landing, will star the previously revealed Wendi Peters alongside Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen), Phil Adele (Our Town) and Jordan Frazier (who was in rehearsals for the Bat Out of Hell tour before lockdown).

The piece has musical direction by Laura Bangay, with movement direction by Amie Hibbert, set and costume design by Libby Todd, lighting by Alex Musgrave, casting by Laura Loutit and sound design by Charles Parry.

The show, produced by Grey Area Theatre, will play for live socially distanced audiences throughout its four-week run from 17 May to 12 June, with two live-streamed shows on 22 May. Captions will be available for the matinee show that day.

The venue has stated that if socially distanced performances are not permitted due to a change in the government's scheduled roadmap, then all show dates will be broadcast.

Video is by Callum Heinrich, with tickets on sale now via Southwark Playhouse.
Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Today

An isolated thunderstorm possible this evening, then occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tonight

An isolated thunderstorm possible this evening, then occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tomorrow

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 14:43:25|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The first China International Consumer Products Expo scheduled for May 7 to 10 in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, will be a magnet for international brands, according to the organizers on Thursday.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, the expo has registered 2,628 consumer brands, including 1,365 international 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 30,000 buyers and over 200,000 visitors.

To cater to the demand for high-end leisure products among the country's new rich, the city of Haikou will hold a yacht show during the event, which will feature 107 yachts of 58 brands from 12 countries and regions.

Switzerland, as the guest of honor for the expo, has planned to launch 81 activities of consumer product debuts releasing new products.

The event will be the first international expo to be held in Hainan since China released a master plan in June 2020 to build the island province into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

It is also the first-ever expo focused on consumer products organized by the world's second-largest economy. It is expected to showcase the country's consumption power, facilitate the construction of the free trade port, and contribute to the new development paradigm of dual circulation.

Han Shengjian, director of the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau, said that the expo serves as a global platform for displaying and trading fine consumer products.

The expo will be more focused on product displaying and brand promotion than on on-site sales, according to the organizers.

"Most exhibitors hope to get access to more buyers and look for more business cooperation opportunities through the expo instead of on-site retails," Han said. Enditem
For this month I would like to take you back in time thousands of years, when Connecticut was so cold there was a mile of ice on top of it.

Back in the last Ice Age, which ended about 12,000 years ago, Connecticut was covered by the glaciers that spanned over most of northern North America. Those glaciers danced and slid across our landscape to carve our hills and valleys,. Theyre even responsible for the creation of Long Island.

Not only did these glaciers form the large features of our landscapes, they also tore off chunks of rocks to make smaller stones. Over time, these rocks were buried by sediment and soil.

Fast forward to when farming accelerated in Connecticut during Colonial times. While tilling and loosening the soil to plant seeds, farmers uncovered the stones. There were too many stones to pile, so the farmers formed them into lines. Pretty soon those lines were long enough to form walls. This continued year after year as continuous tilling and rain eroded away the soil and revealed more stones. The farmers started to believe that the devil was putting the stones in the ground to challenge them, leading to the stones being called the Devils Potatoes.

Today you may find miles of stone walls sectioning off parts of the forest along trails here in Connecticut. It is estimated that we have over 100,000 miles of stone walls in New England. Thats enough to circle the earth four times! We even have many right here at Woodcock Nature Center.

A fun activity to do with stone walls is to calculate their age by measuring the radius of lichen on the stones. Lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a plant that grows very slowly on the surface of objects that dont move. To calculate the age of a stone wall, find the largest lichen circles (choose distinct, separate circles, not blob-shaped lichens formed by several circles growing together) and measure the radius in centimeters. Lichen grows approximately 1 centimeter every 10 years. Multiple the radius by 10 to find out how old the lichen is. There are many variables that can affect the lichen growth so be sure to measure several and average them.

How old are the stone walls near you?


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:06:56|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As the first in-person meeting in two years of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers ended here on Wednesday, officials vowed to tackle economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and various regional security issues.

Experts, however, have said the club of rich countries may prove to be inadequate to address global challenges if they fail to be more inclusive and seek exclusion of certain countries for reasons like ideological or political differences.

LIKE-MINDED OR NARROW-MINDED

To forge an alliance of "like-minded" countries, the G7 has invited representatives from the European Union, Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa, and this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, for the three-day meeting.

Experts, however, have said divisions among the countries and groups might not be easy to overcome, especially those regarding China, and therefore shutting out China by an expanded alliance is not possible.

"For many, China is an indispensable trading partner," Khairy Tourk, professor of economics at Chicago-based Illinois Institute of Technology, said Wednesday on the Financial Times.

"For example, industrial associations such as the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in Germany and Keidanren in Japan, as well as the chaebol in South Korea, are all eager to participate with China in building projects in third (BRI) countries," he added. "India, the largest beneficiary of the (China-led) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank loans, is also reluctant to join an anti-China alliance."

Robin Niblett, director and chief executive of London-based think tank Chatham House, pointed out that the motive to contain China is doomed.

"This more inclusive G7 should have positive core objectives this year. ... not to seek to contain China or oppose Russia, on which there would not be agreement," he said.

Niblett called on the group to focus on such a positive agenda as strengthening the countries' economic and technological resilience as well as agreeing on common positions in the World Trade Organization on upgrading world trade rules.

Agreement in these areas could provide the platform for cooperation on sharing digital health data or building smart grids, thus tackling two of the biggest global challenges of the present day, resilience to the next pandemic and a successful energy transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, he added.

ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT UNHELPFUL

What came visible during the G7 ministers' meeting and in the flurry of bilateral meetings was that China remained high on the agenda.

In a joint communique issued after the G7 meeting, the ministers said they "look for opportunities to work with China to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity."

However, the communique did not fail to mention such issues as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong in the name of "human rights."

The anti-China sensation purportedly hyped up by certain countries is not only utterly irresponsible but unhelpful to achieve the global unity much needed amid the most grave pandemic in living history, experts have said.

"Why blame China?" tweeted Martin Jacques, a renowned British scholar and political commentator, on Tuesday. "The West is failing because of huge inequality, miserable growth and disastrous handling of COVID. While Trump was by far the biggest threat to the international order."

"Governance is not about nice-sounding words and phrases," Jacques, also senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, said in another tweet. "It is about delivery. The Western nations are failing to deliver for their people. China is delivering. That is why the West is in deep trouble."

"Treat China with respect. Regard it as your equal. Honour the achievement of 1.4 bn people," Jacques added.

In an earlier interview, Astrid Nordin, founding director of Lancaster University China Center, told Xinhua that she believes that now is not the time for confrontation.

"Frank and open discussions" are much needed from all sides to enable cooperation in various areas, she said.

IRREPLACEABLE ROLE OF CHINA

David Phinnemore, professor of European politics at Queen's University Belfast, has told Xinhua that for the G7 to stay relevant and tackle global challenges, it needs to engage with China.

"I think it (G7) has always served as a forum where you bring together some of the most powerful economists in the world," he said. "But increasingly, it's only some, it's not all of them as they used to be the case. So we're obviously missing quite significant power, economic powers there ... China most obviously."

"I think we're not in the position, we were a couple of decades back where the G7 was seen by some people as the key to how the world was going to be economically, it doesn't hold that same power and position that it did back then," he said.

"We shouldn't overstate its influence or importance," he added. "We shouldn't be over exaggerating our expectations from what's going to come out of it in the coming years."

Meanwhile, Phinnemore urged the G7 to welcome "healthy competition," including with China, while avoiding competitions where certain countries are shun out.

"While competition can be healthy, you want to have that competition managed in a way such that the detrimental impacts of it are minimized and that arguably everybody ideally can benefit from the cooperation," he said.

John Vogler, professor of international relations at Keele University, also agreed that the concept of the G7 "is beginning to look a little bit dated" in the current global context.

"If I was thinking in terms of steering the global economy after the pandemic, and indeed, of talking about climate change, you can't avoid having China in the room," he added. Enditem
Getting a play produced at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is a tough nut to crack for a local playwright. Four playwrights getting four RMTC debuts simultaneously feels like nothing less than a game-changer.

Getting a play produced at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is a tough nut to crack for a local playwright. Four playwrights getting four RMTC debuts simultaneously feels like nothing less than a game-changer.

But that became a reality for four local artists behind Tiny Plays, Big Ideas, a set of four short works available online Friday via RMTCs website. The show was originally set to be performed in person, promenade-style at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in November, before rising COVID-19 numbers in Manitoba scuttled those plans. The shows were moved to the RMTC mainstage where they could be safely filmed for home consumption.

Hugh Conacher photo Jordan Sangalang in A Piece of Me

The theme of human rights remains in this four-show program.

THEATRE PREVIEW Click to Expand Tiny Plays, Big Ideas Tickets (includes all four plays) are $20 at tickets.royalmtc.ca

Available from May 7 at 7:30 p.m. to May 23.

Where.Are.You.From. is a 14-minute piece by local playwright Primrose Madayag Knazan examining an exchange between a busker and a Filipina-Canadian woman centred on the loaded question of the title.

Actor-dancer-playwright Waawaate Fobister, an Anishinaabe from Grassy Narrows First Nation now residing in Winnipeg, presents Ode to RED Auntie, a 19-minute work inspired by the museums exhibit devoted to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

A Piece of Me by deaf artist Jordan Sangalang, explores in 10 minutes the feelings of a deaf man who fathers a deaf son and resolves to prepare his child for a world not designed for them.

The Show by Liam Zarrillo is an 18-minute piece that centres on what happens when a performance art piece explodes in controversy, compelling an arts institution to try to mitigate the damage by placing one board member in the line of fire.

Liam Zarrillo and Kristian Jordan in The Show.

Primrose Madayag Knazan, 46, can speak to the excitement of having RMTC produce one of her works after spending years at the fringe festival and being showcased under the auspices of smaller companies such as Sarasvati or Winnipeg Jewish Theatre.

Supplied photo. Primrose Madayag Knazan is one of four artists behind Tiny Plays, Big Ideas.

"Im very excited," she says. "I wouldve been happy to do it at the CMHR, but I was also glad to have done it at MTC.

"Because that was the stage that I thought would never see one of my works. To actually be there as a commissioned playwright, it was just an honour to be able to be on that stage, which I thought was unreachable."

Her show Where.Are.You.From. is "based on a real-life interaction I had with a busker just outside of a store.

"He asked me where I was from. I said Winnipeg. He said No, no, no, where are you really from?

"Basically that question has always bothered me," Knazan says. "My parents are from the Philippines and I am Filipino, but thats not where Im from. Im from here.

"So I started to talk about it with my husband and my kids and with other people about what happened and what that question means. It means something very different when youre a person of colour.

"It was a subject that Ive always wanted to write about it and I finally got the chance."

Hugh Conacher photo Robb Paterson and Rochelle Kives in Where.Are.You.From.

Though it wasnt performed at CMHR, the place left an imprint on her.

"Walking through the space and actually feeling the gravitas of the place, I wondered (will) the story fit there?" she says. "And really, it does. Because the question Where are you from? is not just about human rights, its about existence and being equal to other people and feeling that inequality."

Two-spirited Waawaate Fobister, originally from Grassy Narrows First Nation, moved from Toronto to Winnipeg a few years ago, and despite being a Dora Award recipient for outstanding actor and play for 2009s Agokwe, seemed to be flying under the radar of the local theatre scene.

SUPPLIED Waawaate Fobister

A solo performance of Fobisters dance piece Omaagomaanin in September of 2019 at the Gas Station Performing Arts Centre was to have led to wider visibility  and a national tour in 2020  before COVID-19 shattered that plan.

Fortunately, RMTCs associate artistic director Audrey Dwyer had seen Omaagomaanin.

"I just got a call out of the blue from Audrey and (artistic director Kelly Thornton), Fobister says.

"I didnt know if that they were aware I was here. And they asked me if I would be interested in having a meeting with them."

Waawaate Fobister in Ode to RED Auntie.

That meeting took them to the museum, where Fobister found inspiration at an exhibit dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It hit close to home.

"It really spoke to me," Fobister says. "I am a survivor of MMIWG because one of my aunties was one of those women. She helped raised me and everything, so I just wanted to do a tribute to her and to MMIW."

Fobister says the story remains difficult.

"She died a violent death. Its hard to talk about," Fobister says. "But Ive been wanting to do some sort of tribute to her for a long time, like for 10 years."

The 19-minute show was satisfying to create, but it wont necessarily be the final word.

"Id love to explore it more," Fobister says.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @FreepKing
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A federal judge on Wednesday allowed former reality TV star Josh Duggar to be released as he awaits trial on charges that he downloaded and possessed child pornography.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A federal judge on Wednesday allowed former reality TV star Josh Duggar to be released as he awaits trial on charges that he downloaded and possessed child pornography.

Magistrate Judge Christy Comstock ordered Duggar, 33, confined to the home of family friends who have agreed to be his custodian during his release and prohibited Duggar from any Internet-accessible devices pending his July 6 trial on the child pornography charges.

FILE - This photo provided by the Washington County (Ark.) Jail shows Joshua Duggar. On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, a judge ordered that former reality TV star Duggar be released as he awaits trial on charges that he downloaded and possessed child pornography. District Judge Christy Comstock ordered Duggar confined to the home of family friends who have agreed to serve as custodians during his release. (Washington County Arkansas Jail via AP, File)

Duggar was indicted on the federal child pornography charges on Friday, a day after U.S. Marshals arrested him. He has pleaded not guilty.

"I have full confidence in the United States Marshal Service to find you if you decide not to comply with these conditions of release, so dont make me regret this decision," Comstock said after a four-hour hearing conducted over Zoom.

"You wont, your honour, thank you very much," responded Duggar.

Duggar starred on TLCs "19 Kids and Counting" until it was pulled from the network in 2015 following revelations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. Duggars parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologized.

Duggar previously apologized for a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife.

Federal prosecutors cited Duggar's admitted molestation as a sign that he was a danger to the community.

"He has shown the court he has a history dating back 20 years that shows a sexual attraction to children and the deviousness of his activity," Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall said.

Comstock said that, during his release, Duggar could have contact with his children only with his wife present. But the judge said Duggar could not be around any other minors, including other family members.

Federal authorities said they began investigating after a Little Rock police detective found child pornography files were being shared by a computer investigators traced to Duggar. A federal Homeland Security agent testified pornographic images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, had been downloaded in May 2019 by a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.

Agent Gerald Faulkner said multiple child pornography files were found on the computer and that more than 200 images had been found on the computer that had been deleted.

Faulkner said the images downloaded were among "top five of the worst of the worst that I've ever had to examine."

A monitoring program that sent reports to Duggars wife about his activity had been installed on the computer, but the images and videos were downloaded after software had been installed that allowed him to download them without being monitored, Faulkner said.

Duggar's attorneys had argued that he wasn't a danger to the community and has not tried to flee since authorities began their investigation two years ago.

"He has not left the jurisdiction, he has not left the country, he has not done anything at all other than continue to live his life in this judicial district where he has deep roots," Justin Gelfand, an attorney for Duggar said.
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, attorney Jose Baez arrives at New York Supreme Court in New York. Harvey Weinstein is suing his one-time lawyer, Baez, for breach of contract and is seeking a refund on $1 million in legal fees he says he paid the high-profile attorney for a short stint on his legal team. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

NEW YORK - Harvey Weinstein wants his money back.

The convicted rapist is suing his one-time lawyer Jose Baez for breach of contract and is seeking a refund on $1 million in legal fees he says he paid the high-profile attorney for a short stint on his legal team.

Weinstein alleges Baez was regularly preoccupied with other matters, pawned off important work on other lawyers, was often unavailable to speak with him about his New York City rape case and later provided fraudulent billing records.

Baez, a Florida-based lawyer best known for representing Casey Anthony, joined Weinsteins defence in January 2019 and left six months later, saying the former movie mogul had tarnished their relationship by communicating only through other lawyers and by failing to abide by a fee agreement.

Weinstein, in the lawsuit filed Tuesday, claims he agreed to pay Baez and another lawyer $2 million in $200,000 monthly payments for their defence work on the landmark #MeToo case but that Baez violated New York law by stating in his agreement that his retainer was non-refundable and non-negotiable.

FILE  In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, Harvey Weinstein, left, enters court with attorneys Ron Sullivan, center, and Jose Baez, in New York. Weinstein is suing his one-time lawyer, Baez, for breach of contract and is seeking a refund on $1 million in legal fees he says he paid the high-profile attorney for a short stint on his legal team. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Messages seeking comment were left for Baez.

Weinstein, 69, was convicted in February 2020 of raping an aspiring actress in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant in 2006. He is serving a 23-year sentence in state prison. Last month, his lawyers filed appeal paperwork demanding a new trial.

Weinstein also faces a likely extradition to California, where he is charged with assaulting five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013.

Details of Weinsteins lawsuit against Baez were reported by Law 360.

Weinstein hired Baez, Harvard Law professor Ronald Sullivan and two other lawyers after splitting with Benjamin Brafman, the pugnacious New York City defence lawyer whod been with him since his arrest in 2018.

Baez first gained fame for representing Anthony, the Florida mom whose televised trial in 2011 ended in an acquittal on charges accusing her of killing her young daughter. Baez and Sullivan successfully defended New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez against murder charges in 2017. Hernandez, in prison for a 2015 murder conviction, killed himself five days later.

Sullivan left Weinsteins case in May amid backlash about his involvement.

Weinstein then asked Baez for an accounting of his work but Baez refused and threatened to leave the case unless he was immediately paid $1 million to cover the remainder of the agreed upon fee, according to Weinsteins lawsuit.

A few weeks later, Baez wrote the judge presiding over the case that Weinstein made representing him unreasonably difficult and insisted on taking actions with which I have fundamental disagreements.

In July 2019, Judge James Burke approved Baezs departure from the case. As he left the courtroom, Baez said: I feel like I won the lottery. Just kidding.

Weinstein continued to press the issue of legal fees with Baez, and last September his lawyer demanded a full accounting of Baezs work on the case.

Baezs office responded with a spreadsheet tallying $1,028,227 in fees, the lawsuit said.

__

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
HALIFAX - With Atlantic Canada's worst COVID-19 outbreak showing no signs of letting up, Nova Scotia's premier warned Thursday he might impose tougher restrictions to reduce the rapid spread of the deadly virus.

Nova Scotia's new premier, Iain Rankin, leaves after holding his first COVID-19 news conference, in Halifax on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tim Krochak  POOL

HALIFAX - With Atlantic Canada's worst COVID-19 outbreak showing no signs of letting up, Nova Scotia's premier warned Thursday he might impose tougher restrictions to reduce the rapid spread of the deadly virus.

Premier Iain Rankin told a virtual news conference he has grown frustrated with residents and visitors who aren't taking the pandemic seriously, despite the fact the number of active cases has jumped from 111 two weeks ago to 1,309 on Thursday.

"I don't know what more I could say to Nova Scotians to make sure they take this issue seriously," he said after a cabinet meeting. "If  public health (officials) have other restrictions that they think will help, I won't hesitate to put them in."

Health officials reported 182 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday  another record daily high. They said 45 people were in hospital with the disease, including nine in intensive care.

Continuing a trend that started a month ago, almost all of the new cases  155  were reported in the province's central zone, which includes Halifax.

"It's widespread in the Halifax area," Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Nova Scotia marked a dubious milestone when its per capita rate of active infections eclipsed that of Quebec for the first time. According to Ottawa's daily online epidemiology update, Nova Scotia's infection rate as of Wednesday was 123 cases per 100,000 people and Quebec's stood at 104 per 100,000.

Aside from the other Atlantic provinces and the territories, Quebec's per capita active infection rate is now the lowest in Canada.

In Halifax, Rankin said the restrictions imposed last week when the province went into a two-week lockdown were harsher than the measures taken during the first wave of the pandemic last year.

On April 27, the province ordered the closure of schools, malls, gyms, bars, restaurants and most retail stores  and it closed its borders to all non-essential travel.

Rankin also doubled the maximum fine for those caught violating the province's public health rules, which include a ban on travel between municipalities. "People need to co-operate for those restrictions to work," the premier said, adding that the coming weekend could prove to be a turning point.

"I know that Mother's Day is this Sunday, and I know that's going to be difficult. But people, please stay home. Use your virtual apps to say hello, or your phones."

Police in two Nova Scotia communities confirmed Thursday they had laid charges in connection with COVID-19 restrictions.

In New Glasgow, N.S., police said a 32-year-old driver on his way to New Brunswick was charged under the Emergency Management Act for travelling for non-essential business and for leaving his home municipality.

And in Cape Breton, police charged a 56-year-old New Waterford, N.S., man Wednesday for violating a provision of the Health Protection Act that says anyone arriving from outside Nova Scotia, P.E.I. or Newfoundland and Labrador must self-isolate for 14 days.

He was handed a $2,000 fine.

Asked if the latest Nova Scotia outbreak could be linked to the province's decision last month to loosen restrictions, Rankin said that wasn't the case. The premier said the sudden surge was the result of people coming to the province from outside Atlantic Canada and ignoring the 14-day isolation requirements.

"I can't help it if people don't listen to the 14-day isolation, which is why we went further this time, and we actually closed the borders down," he said. "We're going to continue to turn people away unless they have an essential reason to come here."

Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Health Minister Zach Churchill said his department and the various health authorities are working on a worst-case-scenario plan.

"We're seeing a high level of hospitalization with this third wave," he told the news conference. "Younger, healthier people are being hospitalized  at a higher rate than the first two waves."

Churchill said the province's health-care system can withstand the surge in cases, based on the latest computer modelling and accounting for the cancellation of elective procedures.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.
OTTAWA - Alberta's legislature may have been silenced but its partisan warfare relocated Wednesday to the House of Commons as MPs held an emergency debate on the province's soaring number of COVID-19 cases.

NDP MP Heather McPherson pictured in Edmonton on Friday, March 6, 2020. Alberta's legislature may have been silenced but its partisan warfare has relocated to the House of Commons as MPs hold an emergency debate tonight on the province's soaring COVID-19 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

OTTAWA - Alberta's legislature may have been silenced but its partisan warfare relocated Wednesday to the House of Commons as MPs held an emergency debate on the province's soaring number of COVID-19 cases.

Edmonton New Democrat MP Heather McPherson requested the debate and used it to blast Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's handling of the health crisis, which she said has resulted in the highest infection rate in North America and left the province's health-care system on the "verge of collapse."

"If you want to know why it is so bad in Alberta, why other provinces have withstood the third wave better than my province, the answer is clear: It is Jason Kenney," McPherson said in a speech launching the late-night debate.

Kenney, in McPherson's estimation, has failed every step of the way, taking a "Donald Trump-like" approach to the pandemic.

He ignored the evidence of science and the pleas of doctors, downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19, "belittled" efforts to control the spread and, even as the crisis deepened, took only "half measures" to impose public health restrictions while blaming everyone but himself for the problem, she said.

"Thanks to the bumbling, stumbling joke that our provincial government has become, we have the single, greatest health crisis that Alberta has ever seen," McPherson said, her voice breaking at times with emotion.

"Jason Kenney has been an unmitigated disaster for Alberta."

She argued that Alberta has become a "Petri dish" for more deadly and contagious mutations of the COVID-19 virus that will spread across the country if nothing is done to stamp out the fire in the province.

McPherson appealed to the federal Liberal government to step in and help Albertans by directing more vaccines to the province's hot zones, enhancing sick leave benefits and introducing national pharmacare.

But she didn't spare Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from criticism.

"He has watched this happening in Alberta and he has done nothing because he would rather watch Alberta burn than help Jason Kenney."

She later agreed to "rephrase" that accusation, after being chided by a Liberal MP, saying that the federal government has been "missing in action" during Alberta's crisis.

As the debate was raging, Trudeau was talking to Kenney. The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement about the phone call that Trudeau "offered the federal governments support to assist Alberta in responding to the rising number of COVID-19 cases" as well as the "partnership between both governments to quickly deliver safe and effective vaccines to Albertans."

Alberta Conservative MPs, some of whom used to serve with Kenney when he was in federal politics, pushed back against McPherson's accusations of the premier's incompetence.

"Let's talk about the federal failures and we can leave the provincial debates to the provincial legislatures instead of using this seat to attack provincial politicians who aren't even here to defend themselves," said Garnett Genuis.

Kenney's government abruptly suspended Alberta's legislature earlier this week.

Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservatives' health critic, said other Canadians need to understand that Alberta was in a severe economic downturn before the pandemic hit and that lockdowns made matters much worse.

It's not that Albertans don't want to follow public health orders, she argued, it's that "people need to eat."

"It's very paternalistic to say just that people who might not be following restrictions are doing so from a place of just sort of like bourgeois contempt for the law ... Lockdown is a luxury for a lot of people in my community. That's just the reality."

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said she shares McPherson's worry about what's happening in Alberta. She said Ottawa has been offering Kenney support, as it has done in other provinces, and will be there for Albertans.

Still, she pointed out that 80 per cent of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on pandemic relief measures have come from the federal government.

Alberta Conservative MPs laid the blame for their province's woes squarely on the federal government's failure to provide a stable supply of vaccines back in February and March, when production problems repeatedly delayed anticipated deliveries.

But Hajdu noted that 17.2 million doses of vaccines have now been delivered across the country, putting Canada third in the G20 in terms of vaccination rates, and deliveries of vaccines are steadily increasing.

As for directing more vaccines to hot zones within the province, Hajdu said it's strictly within Alberta's jurisdiction to decide how to allocate its share of vaccines. It could, as Ontario has done, choose to give priority access to people in the hardest-hit areas, she said.

Conservative MPs repeatedly referenced the fact that the United Kingdom, which led the world in vaccinations during the winter, is now reopening whereas Canada is struggling to cope with a third wave of COVID-19.

But Hajdu said vaccines are only part of the answer. She noted that the U.K. imposed public health restrictions that were much more stringent than those imposed in Alberta and some other provinces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Some shared agonizing stories of frustration and loss. Others prayed and performed ceremonies. All called for action.

Red skirts are on display at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Phoenix Indian Center Executive Director Patricia Hibbeler said the skirts are a huge part of the lives of Native American women and girls. These skirts were created by volunteers at the center in the last few weeks. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Some shared agonizing stories of frustration and loss. Others prayed and performed ceremonies. All called for action.

Across the U.S. on Wednesday, family members, advocates and government leaders commemorated a day of awareness for the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children. They met at virtual events, vigils and rallies at state capitols, and raised their voices on social media.

In Washington, a gathering hosted by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and other federal officials started with a prayer asking for guidance and grace for the Indigenous families who have lost relatives and those who have been victims of violence.

Before and after a moment of silence, officials from various agencies vowed to continue working with tribes to address the problem.

As part of the ceremony, a red memorial shawl with the names of missing and slain Indigenous women was draped across a long table to remember the lives behind what Haaland called alarming and unacceptable statistics. More names were added to the shawl Wednesday.

Haaland, the first Native American U.S. Cabinet secretary and a former Democratic U.S. representative from New Mexico, recalled hearing families testify about searching for loved ones on their own and bringing a red ribbon skirt to a congressional hearing that represented missing and slain Native Americans.

She believes the nation has reached an inflection point, and said its time to solve the crisis.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities, but the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis is one that Native communities have faced since the dawn of colonization, Haaland said as she joined the event virtually.

In Montana, a few dozen members of the state's eight federally recognized tribes gathered in front of the Capitol in Helena, including many relatives of missing and slain Indigenous women. Some wore red or had handprints painted over their mouths, symbolizing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens movement.

In this image provided by the Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker, Dottie Lizer, the wife of Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, addresses a crowd gathered, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Window Rock, Ariz., during an event to commemorate a day of awareness for the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and children. (Byron C. Shorty, Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker via AP)

Marvin Weatherwax, a Democratic state representative and member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, said legislative initiatives to address the issue have given tribal citizens hope. The Blackfeet tribe has two ongoing searches for missing members.

The event ended with a ceremony called the Wiping Away of Tears, where victims' family members were given colorful shawls. The gifts marked the coming out of mourning, said Jean Bearcrane, a citizen of the Crow tribe and executive director of Montana Native Womens Coalition.

Among the tribes, when people are grieving, they wear black, she said.

The sisters, mothers and aunts of missing women shed tears as they received their shawls.

Indigenous women have been victimized at astonishing rates, with federal figures showing that they  along with non-Hispanic Black women  have experienced the highest homicide rates.

Yet a 2018 Associated Press investigation found nobody knows the precise number of cases of missing and murdered Native Americans nationwide because many go unreported, others arent well documented, and no government database specifically tracks them.

In New Mexico, members of the states task force on Wednesday shared some of the findings of their work over the past year, which included combing through public records and requesting data from nearly two dozen law enforcement agencies to better understand the scope of the problem. Only five agencies responded.

Even with such limited data, they pointed to an estimated 660 cases involving missing Indigenous people between 2014 and 2019 in the states largest urban centre, putting Albuquerque among U.S. cities with the highest number of cases.

New Mexicos task force will be expanded and its work extended into 2022, with the goal of recommending policy changes and legislation.

Other states also have established task forces or commissions to focus on the problem, with Hawaii becoming the latest through legislation that points to land dispossession, incarceration and harmful stereotypes as reasons for Native Hawaiians increased vulnerability to violence.

In Arizona, people marched with signs reading MMIW and No More Stolen Sisters, and listened to speakers in Window Rock, on the Navajo Nation. As night fell, they lit candles in honour of victims.

Earlier, a couple of dozen people wearing red shirts and skirts gathered in front of the state capitol in Phoenix. They included several state lawmakers, along with representatives of the Phoenix Indian Center and the motorcycle group Medicine Wheel Ride, which has been carrying a message of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Shelly Denny, a citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and member of Medicine Wheel Ride, noted support for the cause has been growing as more members of Native communities share their stories.

This movement was started by Indigenous women, many of whom their names will probably never be known. But theyve been inching the movement forward," she said. Now, she said, well need to move into prevention, protection and prosecution.

President Joe Biden has promised to bolster resources to address the crisis and better consult with tribes to hold perpetrators accountable and keep communities safe.

Haaland said that includes more staffing in a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs unit dedicated to solving cold cases and co-ordinating with Mexico and Canada to combat human trafficking.

The administrations work will build on some of the initiatives started during former President Donald Trumps tenure. That included a task force made up of the Interior Department, the Justice Department and other federal agencies to address violent crime in Indian Country.

Advocates have said a lack of resources, language barriers and complex jurisdictional issues have exacerbated efforts to locate those who are missing and solve other crimes in Indian Country. They also have pointed to the need for more culturally appropriate services and training for how to handle such cases.

Over the past year, advocacy groups also have reported that cases of domestic violence against Indigenous women and children and sexual assault increased as non-profit groups and social workers scrambled to meet the added challenges that stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic.

Bryan Newland, principal assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department, said staffing at the Bureau of Indian Affairs unit will go from a team of 10 to more than 20 officers and special agents with administrative and support staff it previously didnt have.

He also said the federal government has started distributing funding under the American Rescue Plan Act, including $60 million for public safety and law enforcement in Indian Country.

Were really looking to build upon many of the things that have been done, to expand them and bring focus to them, Newland said.

Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Ariz. Associated Press/Report for America writer Iris Samuels in Helena, Mont., and AP writer Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix contributed to this report.
CALGARY - Higher oil and gas prices, record production and a restrained capital spending budget will result in bountiful free cash flow for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. this year, the oilsands company said Thursday.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. logo is shown at the company's annual meeting in Calgary on May 3, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - Higher oil and gas prices, record production and a restrained capital spending budget will result in bountiful free cash flow for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. this year, the oilsands company said Thursday.

In its first-quarter results, the Calgary-based company said it expects to generate between $5.7 billion and $6.2 billion of positive cash flow in 2021 after paying for a $3.2-billion capital budget and about $2.2 billion in dividends.

In keeping with other big oilsands producers, however, Canadian Natural says it plans to spend the money mainly on reducing debt, not taking on big projects to increase oil and gas production.

"If we do anything, I suspect it will be very small, we'll leverage off of our facilities. We're doing drill-to-fill (processing plants) on the gas side, you know; with the oil side, it would be essentially brownfield, small developments," president Tim McKay told a conference call with analysts.

"I just don't really see  anybody in the industry really getting aggressive on any kind of major capital program."

Most of its capital budget for 2021 is aimed at sustaining operations, but about $200 million is considered growth capital and is expected to result in a five per cent increase in output, McKay said.

The plan echoes recent messages by oilsands rivals Imperial Oil Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc. to emphasize balance sheet restoration and returning funds to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends after the pandemic-related energy market volatility of 2020.

After paying off about $1.4 billion of net debt in the first quarter, Canadian Natural estimates it could drive its debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) ratio to about 1.1 times by the end of the year, lower than its pre-pandemic targets.

In a note to investors, analyst Manav Gupta of Credit Suisse estimated the company could reduce total net debt from about $19.8 billion at the end of the quarter to between $16 billion and $16.5 billion by year-end, close to its long-term net debt target of $15 billion.

"The pace of deleveraging is impressive, underpinned by the fact that CNQ remains the lowest cost operator in the oilsands in both mining and upgrading as well as thermal in-situ projects," he said.

Canadian Natural has one of the largest carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) portfolios in Canada thanks to its interests in the Shell Quest project and the Sturgeon Refinery near Edmonton as well as its Horizon oilsands mine upgrader near Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, together sequestering about 2.7 million tonnes per year.

The company is encouraged by the federal government's budget 2021 recognition of the role of CCUS in achieving its greenhouse gas emission targets, but disagrees with its position that captured carbon used in enhanced oil recovery won't qualify for a proposed investment tax credit, said McKay in an interview.

"It only makes sense that if you have wells and infrastructure there and you can recover more oil from those reservoirs, it's a benefit to Alberta and Canada," he said.

"To me, it didn't make much sense that it was excluded but, hopefully, through the consultation period, different parties can have that discussion."

He said the company is waiting for detail from the federal government before considering any additions to its CCUS assets.

Canadian Natural reported a record 1.246 million barrels of oil equivalent per day of production in the first three months of 2021, up from 1.179 million boe/d in the first quarter of 2020. Its production of oil and other petroleum liquids was 979,000 barrels per day, also a record.

The $111-million purchase of Painted Pony Energy Ltd., which closed in October, helped boost Canadian Natural's natural gas production to just under 1.6 billion cubic feet per day in the first quarter, up from 1.44 billion cf/d in the year-earlier period, it reported.

Gas made up 22 per cent of production, it said, while light oil and upgraded synthetic crude from the oilsands made up 48 per cent and heavy oil was about 30 per cent.

The company reported a first-quarter profit of nearly $1.38 billion or $1.16 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, compared with a loss of $1.28 billion or $1.08 per diluted share a year ago.

Revenue totalled $6.6 billion, up from $4.5 billion in the first three months of 2020.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CNQ, TSX:SU, TSX:IMO)
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth was the only Manitoba company to make it onto the list of new winners of Canadas Best Managed Companies this year.

Opinion

Wellington-Altus Private Wealth was the only Manitoba company to make it onto the list of new winners of Canadas Best Managed Companies this year.

There have been more Manitoba companies that have won in the past and there are a number of them who re-qualify. (I counted 15 Manitoba companies who are part of the Platinum Club designation which are winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more.)

The "winners" are chosen from those who apply, so its not to say there are not many others who are deserving of such a designation. But having said that, Peter Brown a partner at Deloitte and one of the co-leads in the Best Managed Companies program, said there were about 20 per cent more applicants than normal.

The only criteria for eligibility is to be a Canadian-based private company with at least $25 million in annual revenue.

Brown said he was inspired by the stories of companies whose first priority was the safety of their employees during the pandemic. Many had to pivot, many invested in technology, and Brown said there was an increasing number of companies who said they were there to do good as well as to make money.

Its no doubt a badge of honour for companies to earn the designation.

One company had the program logo on its website home page only hours after the winners were announced.

Charlie Spiring, executive chairman and founder of Wellington-Altus, said, "It feels good to be back in the winners circle again. It was one of the things that helped launch our success in round one."

His former company, Wellington West Capital, also made it on the list.

But Wellington-Altus has only been around four years, a tight time frame for a company to be able to achieve the kind of progress Deloitte looks for in four areas: strategy; culture and commitment; capabilities and innovation; and governance and financials.

Wellington-Altus Private Wealth has assets under administration of $15 billion and 420 employees, many of whom are partners in the Winnipeg-based firm and is now officially one of the countrys best managed companies.

Wellington-Altus gets to join a club that includes the likes of Friesens Corp., Johnston Group Inc., Paterson GlobalFoods Inc., Richardson International and The Dufresne Group Inc., all great names in Manitoba Business who are among the Platinum Club members.

Theres no doubt the companies get bragging rights, but the community does as well when it is well represented in a "club" that acknowledges both financial and community support success.

It also comes on the heels of Winnipeggers alleged unethical involvement in the high profile receivership of Toronto-based private debt manager Bridging Finance Inc.

The Winnipeggers (or ex-Winnipeggers) that were involved, Gary Ng and Sean McCoshen, might give some the false impression that a principled approach to business is not something that is practised in Winnipeg.

"The fact that two Winnipeggers were involved in that leaves a little smell on all of us," Spiring said.

Whether or not the allegations made in an Ontario Securities Commission investigation are true, their connection with unseemly business practices likely lets some people elsewhere in the country dust off negative notions they may have about Winnipeg.

Spiring did a lot of the heavy lifting to quiet those misconceptions when he built Wellington West into one of the largest independent financial services firms in the country. That happened at the same time another Winnipeg firm, Marty Weinbergs Assante Capital, invented a new way to do wealth management. (Assante was sold to CI Fund Management Inc. in 2003. Wellington West was sold to National Bank Financial Group in 2011.)

In their heyday, the success of those companies created a lot of buzz about the financial services bona fides of Winnipeg that had long featured the headquarters of Great-West Life (now called Canada Life) and Investors Group (now called IG Wealth Management).

The return of the Richardson family to the financial services business with its newly named Richardson Wealth operation will help to polish the citys credibility in the money business.

Those companies are the epitome of Canadian decorum, well-known for their community involvement as well as being highly successful enterprises with thousands of content employees.

Most of us would agree that operations like Richardson and Spirings Wellington-Altus and Canada Life and IG Wealth are aspirational for what wed like the city to be known for.

As for Ng or McCoshen, neither seem to be based in Winnipeg these days in any case.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the average home price could rise by as much as 14 per cent this year, but the pace of sales could moderate by the end of 2023 if broad immunity to COVID-19 is soon achieved.

A real estate sign is shown in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, June 1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the average home price could rise by as much as 14 per cent this year, but the pace of sales could moderate by the end of 2023 if broad immunity to COVID-19 is soon achieved.

Prices across the country could soar to as much as $649,400 by the end of the year and reach as high as $704,900 in 2023, the federal housing agency predicted Thursday as it unveiled its annual outlook.

However, the report showed CMHC's lower-end estimates place the average price at $628,400 by the end of the year and $669,500 by the end of 2023.

CMHC foresees sales and prices slowing from the heated pace triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in the next two years, but only if the country manages to quell COVID-19 this year and economic conditions return to pre-pandemic levels.

CMHC predicts sales in 2021 will be as low as 584,000 or as high as 602,300, but will slow to as little as 539,600 or as much as 561,100 in 2023.

Last year ended with sales amounting to 551,392 and an average price of $567,699.

"Low mortgage rates, high savings rates and the resilience of income and earnings for more affluent households will continue to support sales for more expensive housing types in 2021," said Bob Dugan, CMHC's chief economist, on a call with media.

"In 2022 and 2023, existing home sales will gradually moderate as rising mortgage rates and high prices begin to restrain demand."

The pandemic trend that saw people flock to cottage country and spacious rural homes will also dissipate.

"The pandemic-induced surge in demand for lower density homes in suburban and smaller communities will have run its course, adding to the downtrend in existing home sales to more sustainable levels," Dugan said.

But many of these predictions are subject to significant risk, Dugan warned.

COVID-19 remains volatile, economic recovery in major markets is still highly uncertain and a slower-than-expected vaccine rollout would prolong the pandemic and lead to higher mortgage rates, CMHC said.

How employers address remote work could also upend the outlook, Dugan added.

"This is a big question and one that is very difficult to answer, quite frankly," said Dugan.

"Will employers want their staff back in the office after the pandemic is over or will remote working arrangements continue to some degrees?"

If remote work arrangements continue, he said price differentials between major metropolitan centres and rural counterparts could erode or even reverse.

As Canada pulls itself out of the pandemic, CMHC expects housing starts to stabilize by the end of 2023.

It predicts that rental demand will rebound as immigration recovers, but vacancy rates will likely remain elevated.

In the Greater Toronto Area, where market conditions have heated significantly during the pandemic, CMHC's highest estimates show prices rising to $1,087,600 this year and $1,205,400 by the end of 2023.

Sales in the city could amount to as much as 113,500 by the end of 2021 and 123,800 by the time 2023 concludes.

They sat at 95,577 in 2020, while average prices totalled $929,673.

Vancouver, another hot market during the health crisis, may see prices climb to as much as $1,129,000 later this year and $1,395,000 by the end of 2023, CMHC said.

The agency added that sales in the city may increase to as much as 50,000 in 2021 and 44,700 in 2023.

Sales amounted to 43,063 last year and the average price was $1,008,688.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.
WASHINGTON - Canada agreed Thursday to join World Trade Organization talks on waiving the rules that protect vaccine trade secrets  a measure drug companies and a number of world leaders say would only slow down production.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to speakers appearing by video during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday May 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

WASHINGTON - Canada agreed Thursday to join World Trade Organization talks on waiving the rules that protect vaccine trade secrets  a measure drug companies and a number of world leaders say would only slow down production.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng broke the news during question period in the House of Commons, putting Canada more squarely onside with the United States, which made a similar commitment Wednesday.

But it followed a confusing 24-hour window that left unclear whether Canada, despite full-throated expressions of support for the U.S. decision, would be willing to sit down at the negotiating table.

In theory, a waiver to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS, would make it easier for developing countries to import the expertise, equipment and ingredients necessary to make their own COVID-19 vaccines.

Critics, however, call the idea wrong-headed, citing the glacial pace of WTO talks, the need for a broad consensus, the complexities of vaccine manufacturing and the pharmaceutical business model that helped develop the vaccines in the first place.

"We will actively participate in negotiations to waive intellectual property protection particular to COVID-19 vaccines under the WTO agreement on TRIPS," Ng said in response to a question from New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh.

Ng did not elaborate on whether Canada supports the specific idea of a waiver. She tweeted Wednesday that Canada is "actively supporting the WTOs efforts to accelerate global vaccine production and distribution."

"We look forward to working with the US on finding solutions to ensure a just and speedy global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The One Campaign, a progressive anti-poverty group that has had kind words for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the past, initially called Canada "oddly absent" from the discussion.

But they changed their tune after Ng confirmed plans to take part in the talks.

"I think it caught everybody by surprise, the announcement (Wednesday) in the U.S. ... but it's gratifying and encouraging to see this step," said Stuart Hickox, director of the group's Canadian branch.

But Canada could be doing a lot more, Hickox said, including spelling out how it intends to share what will eventually be a surplus of doses.

"No other country has secured as many doses per capita as Canada has; we're going to be sitting on tens of millions of surplus doses in no time at all," he said.

"We could be saying right now how we plan to share those back, and it won't affect our domestic vaccine rollout at all ... we've ordered more than we can ever use."

Whether a waiver would have the desired impact also remains an open question, as does whether it will ever see the light of day, given the WTO's need for a 164-country consensus around the negotiating table.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes a waiver would slow down existing production and undermine the incentives that spur the development of new drug treatments.

Britain and Switzerland are also opposed.

Intellectual property protection "is a crucial element for a thriving life sciences sector," the pharmaceutical lobby group Innovative Medicines Canada said in a statement.

"The proposed waiver ... would be a disappointing step that will create greater uncertainty and unpredictability in the production, quality and availability of COVID-19 vaccines."

Other medical experts say a waiver would take too long, and the developed world should focus instead on ramping up existing production.

"I think it's modest compared to the other big things that we need," Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the school of tropical medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told MSNBC.

"Loosening the patents is maybe a long-term issue, but it's not going to address how we vaccinate the world's low and middle-income countries over the next year or so."

But Hickox said there's value in the signal sent by the U.S. and Canada, which drives home one of the universal truths of the COVID-19 pandemic: that it won't end anywhere until it ends everywhere.

"I really think that the most important part of what happened Wednesday in the U.S., and now we're seeing in Canada, is that a tone has been set," he said.

"It was important to say that this isn't working out the way that it should, that something needed to be done to make sure that more people had access to these doses."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:46:22|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Australia's medical regulator has linked five new cases of blood clotting to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

John Skerritt, head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, on Thursday announced that five recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine have developed clotting and low platelets.

The patients included two men in their 70s, one in 60s, and two women in their 50s and 60s.

"You'll notice that all of those people... are over 50, but if you step back and think about who is now getting the AstraZeneca vaccine, it is only with a few rare exceptions it is only people over 50," Skerritt told reporters.

"So it is obvious that future cases will be in the over 50s."

It takes the number of confirmed cases of the rare clotting disorder in Australia to 11 since the start of the country's vaccine rollout.

Skerritt said that for every 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered in Australia the TGA receives between six and seven reports of adverse reactions.

"These are people who have felt unwell or have presented to a doctor or hospital after being vaccinated," he said.

As of Thursday afternoon there had been 2.47 million vaccine doses administered in Australia.

The government endorsed a new vaccine rollout plan in April that will fast-track vaccinations for over 50s "by better utilizing the available stock of AstraZeneca doses" and offer the Pfizer vaccine to people under 50 years. Enditem
The province just west of Manitoba, with equivalent if not higher COVID-19 case counts per capita, has come up with a detailed reopening roadmap for businesses and residents.

The province just west of Manitoba, with equivalent if not higher COVID-19 case counts per capita, has come up with a detailed reopening roadmap for businesses and residents.

Saskatchewan is using a three-pronged approach that hinges on vaccination levels for different age groups, which would allow that province to lift public-health restrictions using a targeted timeline this summer.

Saskatchewan announces COVID-19 reopening plan Click to Expand 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 Posted: 6:38 PM May. 4, 2021 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. Read Full Story

So, why isnt Manitoba following suit?

In interviews with the Free Press, business leaders and stakeholders across the province said thats something theyve been asking for months. But the Manitoba government has yet to deliver, they said.

"So far into this pandemic, no one has had any idea or opportunity to prepare for what comes next," said Chuck Davidson, president and chief executive officer of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, on Wednesday. "Especially for businesses, weve found it to be an uncomfortable position of just being constantly frustrated.

"What Saskatchewan is doing is exactly what needs to be done now, because it shows everyone when there might be light at the end of this... Or, if anything, its a carrot dangled in front of people who are hesitant to get vaccines or waiting on it to say, look, these businesses will open if you go get your shot and help your neighbour get one."

In a statement on Wednesday, the province was quickly defensive about its coronavirus roadmap.

"Any re-opening plan consists of more than just an one-page infographic (sic)," a Manitoba government spokeswoman said pointedly about Saskatchewan.

"In August of 2020, Manitoba launched the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System  the first of its kind in Canada  an online public health toolkit to provide detailed, timely and localized information about the current risk of COVID-19 and the specific measures being taken to reduce its spread and protect Manitobans.

"This system provides a guideline as to what can be open, and in... In January 2021, Manitoba began its cautious and careful reopening process  which was covered by your paper."

The spokeswoman touted Manitobas "most generous" emergency support programs, which have yet to be extended or expanded, and said the Tories are in constant talks with the business community about "creating an environment for a sustained reopening of our economy."

She also lauded the "$2 million in traditional and digital advertising, daily media bulletins, almost daily press conferences with elected officials and/or public health leaders, telephone town halls, stakeholder and industry roundtable discussions and multiple public surveys on EngageMB."

However, leaders from that very business community said it couldnt be a better time to actually apply their suggestions to Manitobas pandemic protocols.

"The strength of the Saskatchewan approach is that it actually provides a path forward," said Loren Remillard, CEO and president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. "It doesnt provide certainty, and we dont expect that of our government when things are constantly shifting.

"But its a solid document which gives people a sense of control that cannot be overstated when so much fatigue and mental health burnout is happening right now. And its powerful because it enables a framework for recovery, while giving rise to consumer confidence."

"But its a solid document which gives people a sense of control that cannot be overstated when so much fatigue and mental health burnout is happening right now."  Loren Remillard, CEO and president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Under Saskatchewans roadmap, three steps are dedicated to meeting the benchmark of 70 per cent people vaccinated for different age groups: people 40 and older (for Step 1, expected to be met by the last week of May); 30 and older (Step 2 by third week in June); and 18 and older (Step 3 by the second week of July).

That approach would allow capacity limits for restaurants, bars, fitness centres, bingo halls, theatres, libraries and retail or personal services to gradually lift under each step. It would also slowly increase indoor and outdoor gathering sizes and change masking guidance.

"Its the biggest encouragement and peace of mind Manitoba could offer to businesses," said Jonathan Alward, Prairies director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. "But more than that, it also allows them to anticipate hiring and anything else they need to be prepared for during the summer."

The average Manitoba business is currently $180,000 in debt, according to the CFIB. "Theres a lot that goes into paying back any of that money," said Alward.

"Businesses have been under the stress of closures or stringent capacity limits for more than a year now, so certainly anything to help them should be top of the list for the government."

Barry Cooper, vice-president of the Brandon Chamber, agreed.

"At the end of the day, weve all consistently asked for something like this," he said. "And if Manitoba has the opportunity to steal a good idea, I say, why not do it?"

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
CALGARY - The company proposing the Woodfibre LNG export project near Squamish, B.C., says it has struck a second sales contract with BP Gas Marketing Ltd. that allows it to account for over 70 per cent of future production from the plant.

CALGARY - The company proposing the Woodfibre LNG export project near Squamish, B.C., says it has struck a second sales contract with BP Gas Marketing Ltd. that allows it to account for over 70 per cent of future production from the plant.

The 15-year contract to supply 750,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year doubles the initial commitment by BP Gas announced in 2019 and is an important step for the $1.8-billion project as it faces a third-quarter decision by its owner, Pacific Oil & Gas Ltd., on whether to proceed.

Woodfibre spokeswoman Rebecca Scott says the company is trying to sign contracts for the remaining 29 per cent of the 2.1-million-tonne annual capacity of the project but doesn't require those to go ahead with construction, which is expected to take about four years.

She says Woodfibre LNG is currently undergoing final engineering work while attempting to amend its environmental permit to allow floating accommodation for up to 600 workers during construction.

Scott says housing workers on barges is being considered after consultations with the community, as a partial solution to the high prices and low availability of housing on land near the site, a former pulp and paper mill located halfway between Vancouver and Whistler.

At one time, about 20 LNG terminals were proposed for the West Coast but the $40-billion LNG Canada project headed by Shell Canada is the only one to reach the construction stage so far.

Forward-looking companies like BP are turning to projects like ours for sustainable, stable gas that will supply a clean energy mix, said Pacific Oil & Gas president Ratnesh Bedi in a release.

We look forward to working with BPGM to deliver Canadian natural gas from one of the lowest carbon footprint LNG facilities in the world, and help advance the climate goals of growing economies as they phase away from coal, lower their emissions, and meet net-zero targets.

Work on the LNG project was delayed more than a year ago after the main engineering, procurement and construction contractor, McDermott, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, and because of delays in procuring components in Asia during the pandemic.

McDermott has since emerged from the court process to continue its contract with Woodfibre, Scott said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.
OTTAWA - G7 countries have agreed that resuming international travel once the pandemic recedes will require a co-ordinated approach to COVID-19 testing and recognizing whether passengers have been vaccinated, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Wednesday.

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

OTTAWA - G7 countries have agreed that resuming international travel once the pandemic recedes will require a co-ordinated approach to COVID-19 testing and recognizing whether passengers have been vaccinated, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Wednesday.

"We have committed to working on a common set of principles to guide the resumption of international travel when it's safe to do so," Alghabra said in a statement following his virtual participation in the G7 transport ministers' meeting.

"At the centre of this effort must be a co-ordinated approach for testing and a common platform for recognizing the vaccinated status of travellers," Alghabra said.

"As we work to build back better, the establishment of a system that will protect our privacy and personal information, and that will be accessible, fair, and equitable is imperative," he continued in the statement.

"We must apply lessons learned from innovative technologies to identify long-term, sustainable solutions and expand upon them globally."

Alghabra said the transport ministers of G7 countries have a leading role to play in advancing a new global framework for international travel that will be key to safely resuming the free movement of both people and goods around the world.

The G7 includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, along with the European Union.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said his department is involved in discussions with the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization around setting a universal standard to promote the safe travel of those who have been vaccinated.

Speaking to a virtual news conference Wednesday, Mendicino said the government is working to put in place a system to recognize people who have been vaccinated.

"We're continuing to work towards a world in which there will be a system in place to recognize passports," he said. "We are certainly advancing that work both domestically as well as abroad."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Tuesday that Canada may require international travellers to prove they were vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can enter the country.

Trudeau said the federal government hopes to align its policy on the issue with its international allies, but he also said Canada might require American visitors to prove they were vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering the country regardless of whether the United States will require Canadians to do so or not.

"Our responsibility is to do everything necessary to protect Canadians, and we are going to do that, even if there isn't automatically symmetry with other countries,'' Trudeau told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said he and his G7 counterparts discussed global issues that threaten to undermine democracy, freedoms and human rights.

Garneau said the G7 foreign ministers' meeting was an opportunity to breathe new life into some of Canada's priorities, including ending arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations.

Canada and a coalition of 57 other countries offered support in February for a new international declaration denouncing state-sponsored arbitrary detention of foreign nationals for political purposes.

"We're very, very pleased with the very strong support that we received from the G7," Garneau told a virtual news conference, saying that "global momentum continues to build" on the declaration.

China detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, in December 2018, a few days after Meng Wanzhou, an executive of the Chinese tech company Huawei, was detained in Vancouver at the request of the United States.

Garneau said the G7 foreign 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.

Garneau said the ministers also discussed the need to fight the growing problem of misinformation around the world.

The G7 foreign ministers' meeting, which took place in London is the first major in-person diplomatic gathering since the pandemic began. It is also the first gathering of G7 foreign ministers since 2019.

Garneau said the delegation from India didn't participate in face-to-face meetings after two of its members tested positive for COVID-19.

"I have been tested five times in the last two and a half days, so testing is extremely rigorous," Garneau said.

"We are essentially living within a bubble, very restricted in terms of movement, going from the hotel to the meetings and then returning."

He said he will go through the normal protocol for all returning Canadians when he returns home later Wednesday, including doing PCR COVID-19 tests before and after boarding his flight and staying in a quarantine hotel for three days.

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.
OTTAWA - The federal government is being asked to give new and soon-to-be moms a Mother's Day gift by closing a hole in the safety net preventing some from having their maternity leave fully covered.

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal government is being asked to give new and soon-to-be moms a Mother's Day gift by closing a hole in the safety net preventing some from having their maternity leave fully covered.

As is, eligible workers need a minimum number of hours on the job to qualify for employment insurance benefits, including maternity and parental leave.

But many moms have been unable to work because of pandemic-related job losses, and been caught by the EI safety net.

When a new mother receiving regular benefits gives birth, they have to file a new claim for maternity and parental benefits, meaning they need to meet the hours requirement anew, even though they have been unable to work because of the pandemic.

Opposition critics say they worry new parents might be forced to stay home without income support, or potentially be forced to look for work before they're ready and able.

The Conservatives are asking the Liberals to allow expecting mothers to qualify for their full employment insurance parental leave, even if they are currently receiving federal unemployment aid.

The call follows a similar request made by the federal New Democrats to Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough that said a current workaround to allow unemployed mothers to qualify for EI wasn't working.

Qualtrough told the House of Commons on Thursday that she would look at how to improve the EI system for workers, and mothers in particular.

"Women, of course as we know, they've been hit the hardest through this pandemic," Qualtrough said in question period.

"We are there for all Canadian workers, women in particular, and we are committed to modernizing our EI system to be even more there for them."

It was just ahead of Mother's Day last year that the Liberals dealt with another unexpected flaw in the pandemic safety net where women who identified as pregnant on their EI applications weren't automatically moved over to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Since the EI system kicked back up in late September, just over 298,000 parents have received maternity and parental leave benefits for a combined value of nearly $2.7 billion, according to the latest federal data.

A handful of mothers-to-be worried they won't be able to qualify for their full benefits told Conservative critic Raquel Dancho their stories during a virtual roundtable on Thursday morning.

Some spoke about not knowing how they would pay the bills, expressed frustrations at ongoing parental leave issues, and highlighted how they're now scrambling to make the hours hoping that they can work enough.

"These are real situations with women and men ... trying to figure out how to do this at a very uncertain time," Dancho said at the end of the roundtable.

"It's an overwhelming time as it is, let alone now, and I think a lot of you really nailed it when you said, you know, parents have dealt with so much this year and now this is just one more thing and deeply unfair."

Federal officials had come up with a workaround to the hours issue, giving a blanket, one-time credit to applicants who weren't able to work because of the pandemic and needed federal aid.

In a letter last month to Qualtrough, NDP critic Daniel Blaikie noted some expectant mothers had the credit applied to their EI claims even though they had enough hours, which then made it impossible for them to have enough hours to access their maternity leave once their baby comes.

He suggested the government consider giving expecting parents an option to set aside their one-time credit of insurable hours to use instead for qualifying for maternity and parental leave.

"It's so frustrating to not see any kind of co-ordinated and systematic policy response on the part of the government," Blaikie said in an interview.

"There's more than one way to solve this problem. What you need is that will and the volition on the part of government to make it a priority, and I can't figure out why that's not something that they're willing to focus in on."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.
A former church minister in Morden is pushing back on churches arguing for freedom from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

A former church minister in Morden is pushing back on churches arguing for freedom from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

In a series of tweets sent out Monday, Michael Pahl, executive minister for Mennonite Church Manitoba, called on Christians in his southern Manitoba community to continue to follow public health orders, as a way to show love for their neighbours.

Unlike what some churches are claiming in a Winnipeg courtroom this week, about how their freedoms are being restricted through limits on in-person gatherings, "I can freely proclaim and live out the good news of Jesus, of Gods reign of love and justice and peace come near," Pahl posted on Twitter.

"I can freely love God and love my neighbours in the way of Jesus and I can freely gather with like-minded Jesus-followers for worship and building up in love, which also means not gathering together in person when love of neighbour demands it."

As for those churches which are part of the court challenge, including the Christian Church of Morden, "No, I am not being persecuted," Pahl said. "And my Christian siblings in Manitoba, neither are you."

Pahl, who was lead pastor at Morden Mennonite Church until January, issued the messages out of a sense of personal frustration at seeing some Christians flouting mask mandates and churches defying gathering restrictions.

"This is not the way of Jesus," he said in an interview.

"Our highest act of worship, greater even than gathering together in worship, is to love God by loving our neighbours. Following mask mandates, adhering to gathering restrictions, and getting vaccinated are all part of our Christian call to love our neighbours, especially those who are most vulnerable among us and around us."

Far from being persecuted, he added, "This is the moment when we are most clearly able to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ through our very actions."

Noting the vast majority of churches in southern Manitoba are following public health orders, including in Morden itself, the court challenge is only making it more difficult for those where some members are chafing against the restrictions.

"It is difficult enough for churches to hold the line with following public health orders without having the voices of anti-public health order churches amplified around you, especially when they use Christian justifications for their actions," he said.

He is hoping to encourage those "who may be on the fence about the public health orders and their Christian freedoms, and even more so those who are carefully following restrictions but need some encouragement that what they are doing is in fact the right thing to do as a Christian."

So far, the responses Pahl has received have all been positive, including from ministers from other local churches and the mayor of Morden.

faith@freepress.mb.ca
Immunization providers say they arent concerned about being able to use Manitobas remaining supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite negative and confusing messaging about it.

Immunization providers say they arent concerned about being able to use Manitobas remaining supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite negative and confusing messaging about it.

One Winnipeg pharmacist, who requested anonymity, told the Free Press a number of appointments for AstraZeneca had been cancelled in recent days, and the pharmacist chalked it up to people being concerned about reports of blood clots.

A rare blood clot has been reported in about one in 100,000 people immunized with the AstraZeneca vaccine, with a mortality rate of about 40 per cent. The information was reported by Canadas National Advisory Committee on Immunization. On Monday, the committee said people who are less likely to contract the virus might want to wait until they can get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, which are mRNA vaccines that dont have the same risk.

Federal and provincial officials responded by advising the public to take the first shot that is offered to them. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted he felt safe receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, and encouraged eligible Canadians not to hold out for another vaccine.

Of the 84,100 AstraZeneca doses shipped to Manitoba, 71,640 have been administered at pharmacies and medical clinics, a provincial spokesman said, and "many appointments" for the remaining 12,640 doses have been booked. All doses administered to date have been the first of two shots, while the spokesman said no further shipments of the vaccine had been confirmed by the federal government as of Wednesday.

Other pharmacists who spoke to the Free Press Wednesday said cancellations arent an issue.

Bhargav Desai, the manager of Peguis Pharmacy on Portage Avenue, said he doesnt believe hell have trouble filling appointments when he gets his next AstraZeneca dose allocation.

"I would say maybe one-in-50 or one-in-100 go for the Pfizer (or Moderna) if they are eligible at the super sites," he said. "Mostly, they have no issue."

Desais last shipment of AstraZeneca was on April 20. All of the doses were used and no appointments were cancelled.

Barret Procyshyns Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy has given out more than 400 AstraZeneca doses. No more doses were scheduled to arrive as of Wednesday.

"We ran out before this latest recommendation (from the national committee). I havent seen cancellations, per se, but Ive seen hesitancy... There is a lot of concern and there is a lot of confusion. Theres mixed messaging coming from (the committee) and Health Canada," said Procyshyn, a former president of Pharmacists Manitoba.

He noted the association and province are looking to get mRNA vaccines into pharmacies and medical clinics.

The messaging about AstraZeneca has been confusing. In March, the national committee, which is independent from government, suggested provinces hold back on administering AstraZeneca to younger people, due to the rare blood clots. Health Canada eventually added a warning label.

By mid-April, pharmacies in Ontario had reported low uptake of the AstraZeneca shots, prompting that province to vastly expand its age criteria to protect people in their 40s from more contagious variants, while federal officials urged Canadians to take whatever shot theyre offered first.

But the independent panel doubled-down on April 23 when it said anyone aged 30 and older should only get the AstraZeneca shot if an mRNA option (Pfizer or Moderna) isnt available.

Manitoba officials dont have the same take as the independent panel.

On Wednesday, Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead of Manitobas vaccine task force, insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine is less risky than being unprotected from COVID-19.

"We open up eligibility to those groups where the data tells us that theres a very clear benefit for them to receive the vaccine, and that choosing to wait does put them at higher risk  of being exposed to the virus, at higher risk of ending up in hospital  than the risk associated with the vaccines," Reimer said.

Doctors Manitoba backs Reimers view.

Health Canadas top scientist, Dr. Supriya Sharma, struck a similar note to Reimer on Wednesday, saying the risk of blood clots is far below the chance of a severe COVID-19 outcome.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca

Erik Pindera

Multimedia producer Erik Pindera is a multimedia producer at the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography
All students in Grade 7 and up  as well as sixth-graders with early birthdays  will be eligible to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the 2021-22 school year, under Manitobas immunization projections.

All students in Grade 7 and up  as well as sixth-graders with early birthdays  will be eligible to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the 2021-22 school year, under Manitobas immunization projections.

But it's uncertain whether those pupils will be able to attend in-person classes on a full-time basis in the fall.

"I am very pleased, as I am sure parents are, that adolescents are being included in the vaccine rollout," said Dr. Sergio Fanella, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Manitoba, in an email Wednesday.

"This is another huge step in the right direction overall for achieving herd (or) community immunity, and in terms of resuming in-class learning."

All students at Isaac Newton School in Winnipeg could be vaccinated before the next school year. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Shortly after Health Canada approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on patients who are 12 and older Wednesday, Manitoba officials announced plans to expand immunization criteria to include anyone who is in this age group or older by May 21.

(Ottawa had approved the Pfizer jab for teenagers aged 16 and up, as well as youth who are high-risk and between the ages of 12 and 15, prior to Wednesday, but Manitobas initial rollout only targeted adults.)

The medical lead for Manitobas vaccine implementation task force welcomed Wednesday's development, noting the expansion  to include approximately 100,000 youth  speeds up the timeline when it comes to reaching herd immunity.

"The more Manitobans we have eligible, the faster we can get to 70 per cent of us being immunized. If only 50 per cent of us are eligible, even if all of us got the vaccine, we cant possibly have 70 per cent of all of Manitoba immunized," said Dr. Joss Reimer.

The rollout among youth will likely follow suit with the age-based approach, but officials are waiting on national recommendations, Reimer said.

Archie Casilan wants to schedule an appointment for his 14-year-old daughter as soon as possible. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

She added the province will rely on established practices related to mature minor consent when it comes to vaccinating youth against COVID-19. In Manitoba, 16-year-olds have the legal ability to make health-care decisions for themselves.

The province plans to inoculate youth at supersites and pop-ups, citing the ability to quickly administer doses via these models. Those who receive their first dose of vaccine before June 15, no matter their age, are expected to receive a second dose by the end of July.

During an after school pick-up outside Isaac Newton School Wednesday, father Archie Casilan  who has received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine  said hes happy to schedule an appointment for his 14-year-old as soon as possible, if she wants one.

Casilan said he plans to educate his Grade 9 daughter on the benefits of the vaccine and hopes other parents will do the same with their children. "If she does feel comfortable getting the vaccine, Ill encourage her," he said. "The sooner we can make it to a point of herd immunity, the better for us."

Another parent at the junior high school in Winnipeg's North End is unsure whether her children will be vaccinated just yet, owing to concerns about potential side-effects.

Khristina Flamiano has concerns about potential side-effects and is unsure whether her children will be vaccinated. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"We dont know how its going to be, the side-effects, for kids, so I really dont know," she said. "But I want it (for myself), for the safety of my kids no parent wants their children to get COVID," said Khristine Flamiano, who is set to get a jab later this month.

Dr. Terry Klassen, CEO and scientific director of the Childrens Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, said both teachers and family doctors will play key roles in providing accurate information to youth and caregivers about the vaccine.

"Schools are a very important venue to look at scientific literacy," said Klassen, a professor of pediatrics and child health at the U of M.

As youth start to get vaccinated, the researcher will monitor uptake levels, real-world effectiveness and potential side-effects.

A spokesperson for Manitoba Public Health said Wednesday the ability for youth to receive the Pfizer vaccine is a step forward, but it is too early to speculate on what the upcoming school year will look like.

Among the many factors that will determine whether restrictions will be loosened are: virus case numbers and rates, increases seen over time, transmission sources, health system capacity, test positivity rates, and vaccine uptake.

 with files from Danielle Da Silva and Malak Abas

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Winnipeggers concerned about family and friends under siege in India's staggering COVID-19 battle are pooling funds for desperately needed medical equipment and food relief.

Winnipeggers concerned about family and friends under siege in India's staggering COVID-19 battle are pooling funds for desperately needed medical equipment and food relief.

A GoFundMe campaign started by Winnipeg businessman Anil Sedha had raised more than $41,000 as of Wednesday  well on the way to its $50,000 goal  with support from individual donors, restaurants and the India Association of Manitoba.

"We thought its a good idea to join all the hands in one corner and start from there," association president Ramandeep Grewal said.

The funds have so far been used to send 12 oxygen concentrator machines, purchased from a Colorado-based distributor, to hospitals in New Delhi, Mumbai and rural areas. Organizers also hope to send touch-free thermometers.

A lack of manufacturing power and governmental organization has left hospitals in the country without access to dependable oxygen supplies. Each machine costs roughly US$1,500 before shipping and other fees, the GoFundMe page explains.

Grewal said the crisis has had touched anyone with family and friends in India. He said his immediate family, most of whom still live in the country, are safe, but the virus killed a childhood friend and his familys next-door neighbour.

"In Winnipeg, pretty much if you talk to anybody they know somebody who has passed away from COVID (in India)," he said. "Everybody is affected at this point."

The Indo-Manitoban community is motivated to help, he said, but with travel bans and an ocean in the way, many feel "helpless."

"Lots of young people are coming into Manitoba and their parents are back home and theyre worried for them," he said. "Hospitals are overstretched at this point, no more beds are left... its just basically fingers crossed."

Despite the financial strain on the hospitality industry this year, two Winnipeg restaurants  Charisma of India on Sherbrook Street and the East India Company chain  are participating.

Charisma plans to make a donation at the end of the month that will be used to support food-relief efforts after the current COVID wave subsides, Grewal said.

East India Company owner Sachit Mehra said he's been overwhelmed by Manitobans' generosity.

The restaurant donated $5,000 initially and is hoping to add another $2,000 soon with proceeds from takeout and delivery meals, he said.

"The community has been huge," he said. "Its heartwarming, its touching; youre trying to do what you can but at the same time any reasonable person will recognize the scope of what is going on: what is happening there right now is a crisis of humanity."

Mehra's sister and cousin have kept him updated on the grim situation on the ground in Delhi. His family doesn't venture outside their homes unless it's absolutely necessary. He's told it's eerily quiet.

"This is a city of 30 million people and the streets are empty," he said, adding commerce has ground to a halt there.

And all that's left to see is "dots of smoke all over" from makeshift funeral pyres popping up to cremate the endless stream of corpses around the clock.

To access the campaign's GoFundMe page: http://wfp.to/GWy

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
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
Manitobans waiting for their second shot of a COVID-19 vaccine could book their appointments as soon as May 22, marking the midway point of the provinces vaccine rollout and the start of an intense summer immunization campaign.

Manitobans waiting for their second shot of a COVID-19 vaccine could book their appointments as soon as May 22, marking the midway point of the provinces vaccine rollout and the start of an intense summer immunization campaign.

Johanu Botha, operations, planning and logistics lead for the province's COVID-19 vaccine task force, said all Manitobans who receive a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna by June 15, will be fully vaccinated with their second dose by the end of July.

"The most common question we hear when people come for their first dose is, 'When will I get my second dose?'" Botha said Wednesday during a news conference. "We're aiming to have the first group of people call or book online starting May 22, to make appointments for their second doses."

All Manitobans 12 and older will be eligible to book a first vaccine shot by May 21. Botha said immunizations for people 18 or older are expected to be completed by June 4 (assuming a 70 per cent uptake), adding it will take another week to deliver doses to the approximately 100,000 Manitobans between the ages of 12 and 17.

After that, the province can begin administering second doses of Moderna and Pfizer, starting with those who have select health conditions, Botha said. Second-dose appointments will then be opened up to Manitobans based on the date they received their first shot, he added.

"If we have contact information for people, and we have for many of you, we will be reaching out to you directly by text or email or phone to let you know when you can book your second dose," Botha said. "The second doses will begin going into arms no later than mid-June."

The task force will need to give more than 650,000 second doses to people over a period of about seven weeks to fully vaccinate Manitobans by the end of July, or about 13,000 doses a day through the summer, at least.

"Summer will be busy... for our second-dose campaign," Botha said. "We will be, by all accounts, fully flush with supply in a way that we won't even be in May."

Botha said Moderna deliveries will arrive weekly through the summer and will be "robust", while the federal government has confirmed that Manitoba will receive 351,000 doses of Pfizer in June. Vaccine allocations for July have yet to be made public by the federal government.

"Summer will be busy... for our second-dose campaign. We will be, by all accounts, fully flush with supply in a way that we won't even be in May."  Johanu Botha, operations, planning and logistics lead for the province's COVID-19 vaccine task force

However, as of Wednesday, the province had not received an updated delivery schedule for AstraZeneca. Second doses of that vaccine are recommended 12 weeks after the first dose, and will be administered by pharmacists and doctors.

Earlier Wednesday, a provincial official, who can't be named but spoke on behalf of the Manitoba government, said efforts to ramp up and retain vaccination staff for the summer is ongoing.

The official said the province has received close to 3,000 applications from people to work as immunizers or navigators at provincial clinics.

The province, with the help of city staff and Shared Health, has started reaching out to candidates to fill positions as vaccinations ramp up. As of Wednesday, the province had hired or assigned 3,781 people to support the vaccine rollout, with a roster of 3,052 clinical staff.

The government official said about 200 immunizer jobs will be offered over the coming days, with the expectation those people will be available throughout the summer.

"What we've seen so far (is) that people are really willing to step up and they're committed to the cause ultimately," the official said.

The official said the province does not expect to need external support, such as the Canadian Armed Forces, to carry out the campaign. Instead, the government would tap into resources available through regional health authorities, if they were unable to fill positions.

As of Wednesday, at least 357,374 Manitobans had received a first shot of either Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca. Another 74,056 Manitobans had received two doses of a vaccine.

During the First Nations-led rollout on reserves, residents were offered their second shot of Moderna as close as possible to the recommended 28-day mark. All second doses are to be given on reserves by July 1.

The Manitoba government had also been providing second doses to some people in congregate living settings.

Botha said despite uncertainty surrounding future deliveries of Moderna and AstraZeneca, Manitobans will get the same vaccine for their second doses, unless there's a clinical reason to make a switch.

In cases where people were immunized at pop-up clinics, Botha said they can expect to see a clinic return to their community. New mass immunization clinics will also be up and running in Dauphin, Steinbach, Gimli (all set to open in May) and at least one other location in the Northern health region.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:54:45|Editor: huaxia

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Representatives pose for a group photo during the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers at Lancaster House in London, Britain, on May 4, 2021. (Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

"Why blame China?" tweeted Martin Jacques, a renowned British scholar and political commentator. "The Western nations are failing to deliver for their people. China is delivering. That is why the West is in deep trouble."

"Treat China with respect. Regard it as your equal. Honour the achievement of 1.4 bn people," he added.



LONDON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- As the first in-person meeting in two years of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers ended here on Wednesday, officials vowed to tackle economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and various regional security issues.

Experts, however, have said the club of rich countries may prove to be inadequate to address global challenges if they fail to be more inclusive and seek exclusion of certain countries for reasons like ideological or political differences.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers in London, Britain, on May 3, 2021. (Tim Hammond/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

LIKE-MINDED OR NARROW-MINDED

To forge an alliance of "like-minded" countries, the G7 has invited representatives from the European Union, Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa, and this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, for the three-day meeting.

Experts, however, have said divisions among the countries and groups might not be easy to overcome, especially those regarding China, and therefore shutting out China by an expanded alliance is not possible.

"For many, China is an indispensable trading partner," Khairy Tourk, professor of economics at Chicago-based Illinois Institute of Technology, said Wednesday on the Financial Times.

"For example, industrial associations such as the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in Germany and Keidanren in Japan, as well as the chaebol in South Korea, are all eager to participate with China in building projects in third (BRI) countries," he added. "India, the largest beneficiary of the (China-led) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank loans, is also reluctant to join an anti-China alliance."

Robin Niblett, director and chief executive of London-based think tank Chatham House, pointed out that the motive to contain China is doomed.

"This more inclusive G7 should have positive core objectives this year. ... not to seek to contain China or oppose Russia, on which there would not be agreement," he said.

Niblett called on the group to focus on such a positive agenda as strengthening the countries' economic and technological resilience as well as agreeing on common positions in the World Trade Organization on upgrading world trade rules.

Agreement in these areas could provide the platform for cooperation on sharing digital health data or building smart grids, thus tackling two of the biggest global challenges of the present day, resilience to the next pandemic and a successful energy transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, he added.

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)

ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT UNHELPFUL

What came visible during the G7 ministers' meeting and in the flurry of bilateral meetings was that China remained high on the agenda.

In a joint communique issued after the G7 meeting, the ministers said they "look for opportunities to work with China to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity."

However, the communique did not fail to mention such issues as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong in the name of "human rights."

The anti-China sensation purportedly hyped up by certain countries is not only utterly irresponsible but unhelpful to achieve the global unity much needed amid the most grave pandemic in living history, experts have said.

"Why blame China?" tweeted Martin Jacques, a renowned British scholar and political commentator, on Tuesday. "The West is failing because of huge inequality, miserable growth and disastrous handling of COVID. While Trump was by far the biggest threat to the international order."

"Governance is not about nice-sounding words and phrases," Jacques, also senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, said in another tweet. "It is about delivery. The Western nations are failing to deliver for their people. China is delivering. That is why the West is in deep trouble."

"Treat China with respect. Regard it as your equal. Honour the achievement of 1.4 bn people," Jacques added.

In an earlier interview, Astrid Nordin, founding director of Lancaster University China Center, told Xinhua that she believes that now is not the time for confrontation.

"Frank and open discussions" are much needed from all sides to enable cooperation in various areas, she said.

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of the Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua)

IRREPLACEABLE ROLE OF CHINA

David Phinnemore, professor of European politics at Queen's University Belfast, has told Xinhua that for the G7 to stay relevant and tackle global challenges, it needs to engage with China.

"I think it (G7) has always served as a forum where you bring together some of the most powerful economists in the world," he said. "But increasingly, it's only some, it's not all of them as they used to be the case. So we're obviously missing quite significant power, economic powers there ... China most obviously."

"I think we're not in the position, we were a couple of decades back where the G7 was seen by some people as the key to how the world was going to be economically, it doesn't hold that same power and position that it did back then," he said.

"We shouldn't overstate its influence or importance," he added. "We shouldn't be over exaggerating our expectations from what's going to come out of it in the coming years."

Meanwhile, Phinnemore urged the G7 to welcome "healthy competition," including with China, while avoiding competitions where certain countries are shunned out.

"While competition can be healthy, you want to have that competition managed in a way such that the detrimental impacts of it are minimized and that arguably everybody ideally can benefit from the cooperation," he said.

John Vogler, professor of international relations at Keele University, also agreed that the concept of the G7 "is beginning to look a little bit dated" in the current global context.

"If I was thinking in terms of steering the global economy after the pandemic, and indeed, of talking about climate change, you can't avoid having China in the room," he added. 
The solution to the sexual-misconduct scandal that has long enveloped Canadas military, according to the current federal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is an independent review led by a former Supreme Court justice.

The solution to the sexual-misconduct scandal that has long enveloped Canadas military, according to the current federal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is an independent review led by a former Supreme Court justice.

Oh, wait  make that another independent review led by another former Supreme Court justice.

As the controversy  which most recently has involved allegations of misconduct by the very military leaders tasked with stamping it out, and questions regarding how long senior members of the Liberal government were aware of those allegations  continues its downward spiral, its difficult to imagine a more inept and bald-facedly cynical next step than the one announced last week by Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan.

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan has ordered a study to chart a path for the Armed Forces to deal with sexual misconduct within its ranks. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

Six years after former justice Marie Deschamps outlined the findings of her review of sexual misconduct within Canadas Forces  including recommendations that clearly have not been followed in a manner that effectively addressed the stated concerns  Mr. Sajjan has appointed former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour to conduct a study that will chart a path for the Forces to deal with sexual misconduct within its ranks.

Meanwhile, tensions run high in Ottawa this week after the government suddenly cancelled a defence committee meeting at which Mr. Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford, was expected to appear. Earlier testimony before the committee had indicated Ms. Telford, as well as Mr. Sajjan, was aware in 2018 of serious complaints against former chief of defence Gen. Jonathan Vance, who resigned his post last year, months before allegations of sexual misconduct were made public.

The shifting storyline most recently asserts that Ms. Telford and Mr. Sajjan were aware in 2018 that there were allegations against Mr. Vance, but did not know they involved sexual misconduct. The Prime Ministers Office also maintains that Mr. Trudeau was not informed of the allegations by his chief of staff.

Rather than directly addressing issues of accountability, the Liberals this week tried to redirect blame by questioning how much former prime minister Stephen Harper knew about allegations against Mr. Vance in 2015 before appointing him to the role of defence chief.

CP The questions are, what did Justin Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford know and when did she know it? (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files)

Its all so dishearteningly predictable.

It goes without saying that in the heat of battle, the fate of the armed personnel involved in the fight very much depends on decisive leadership and sound decision-making. So, too, is the peacetime well-being of a nations military dependent on the effectiveness and integrity of those at the top. And as this still-unfolding scandal continues to reveal, the failures of leadership in both the military and political realms are numerous and profound.

This much, however, is clear: no matter how much they bob and weave and duck and dive, Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Sajjan are directly responsible for the current state of affairs and must take direct action  something considerably more decisive than the creation of a review that turns addressing military misconduct into a perverse kind of Groundhog Day for its victims  to set things right in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Chinese philosopher and military strategist Sun Tzu offered this bit of wisdom in his still-influential ancient treatise The Art of War: "The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation."

Add evasion and misdirection into the mix, as Mr. Sajjan and Mr. Trudeau seem so deliberately to have done, and you will surely have created a mess that leaves an armed force embarrassed, distrusted and disempowered. Canadas military woes will not easily be repaired, but the earnest effort to do so must start now.
BOISE, Idaho - A sixth-grade girl brought a gun to her Idaho middle school, shot and wounded two students and a custodian and then was disarmed by a teacher Thursday, authorities said.

People embrace after a school shooting at Rigby Middle School in Rigby, Idaho, Thursday, May 6, 2021. A shooting at the eastern Idaho middle school Thursday injured two students and a custodian, and a male student has been taken into custody, authorities said. (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP)

BOISE, Idaho - A sixth-grade girl brought a gun to her Idaho middle school, shot and wounded two students and a custodian and then was disarmed by a teacher Thursday, authorities said.

The three victims were shot in their limbs and expected to survive, officials said at a news conference. Jefferson County Sheriff Steve Anderson says the girl pulled a handgun from her backpack and fired multiple rounds inside and outside Rigby Middle School in the small city of Rigby, about 95 miles (145 kilometres) southwest of Yellowstone National Park.

A female teacher disarmed the girl and held her until law enforcement arrived and took her into custody, authorities said, without giving other details. Authorities say they're investigating the motive for the attack and where the girl got the gun.

We don't have a lot of details at this time of why'  that is being investigated, Anderson said. We're following all leads.

The girl is from the nearby city of Idaho Falls, Anderson said. He didn't release her name.

Police were called to the school around 9:15 a.m. after students and staffers heard gunfire. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded, and students were evacuated to a nearby high school to be reunited with their parents.

Police tape marks a line outside Rigby Middle School following a shooting there earlier Thursday, May 6, 2021, in Rigby, Idaho. Authorities said that two students and a custodian were injured, and a male student has been taken into custody. (AP Photo/Natalie Behring)

Me and my classmate were just in class with our teacher  we were doing work  and then all of a sudden, here was a loud noise and then there were two more loud noises. Then there was screaming, 12-year-old Yandel Rodriguez said. Our teacher went to check it out, and he found blood.

Yandels mom, Adela Rodriguez, said they were OK but still a little shaky from the shooting as they left the campus.

Both of the students who were shot were being held at the hospital, and one of them might need surgery, said Dr. Michael Lemon, trauma medical director at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Still, both students were in fair condition and could be released as early as Friday. One of the students had wounds in two limbs and might have been shot twice, he said.

Its an absolute blessing that they werent hurt worse, Lemon said. The adult was treated and released for a bullet wound that went through an extremity, the doctor said.

Schools would be closed districtwide to give students time to be with their families, and counsellors would be available starting Friday, said Jefferson School District Superintendent Chad Martin.

This is the worst nightmare a school district could ever face. We prepare for it," Martin said, but you're never truly prepared.

Police tape surrounded the school, which has about 1,500 students in sixth through eighth grades, and small evidence markers were placed next to spots of blood on the ground.

I am praying for the lives and safety of those involved in todays tragic events, Gov. Brad Little said in a statement. Thank you to our law enforcement agencies and school leaders for their efforts in responding to the incident.

Lucy Long, a sixth-grader at Rigby Middle School, told the Post Register newspaper in Idaho Falls that her classroom went into lockdown after they heard gunshots, with lights and computers turned off and students lined up against the wall.

Lucy comforted her friends and began recording on her phone, so police would know what happened if the shooter came in. The audio contained mostly whispers, with one sentence audible: Its real, one student said.

Lucy said she saw blood on the hallway floor when police escorted them out of the classroom.

Jefferson County Prosecutor Mark Taylor said decisions about criminal charges wouldn't be made until the investigation is complete but that they might include three counts of attempted murder.

The attack appears to be Idahos second school shooting. In 1999, a student at a high school in Notus fired a shotgun several times. No one was struck by the gunfire, but one student was injured by ricocheting debris from the first shell.

In 1989, a student at Rigby Junior High pulled a gun, threatened a teacher and students, and took a 14-year-old girl hostage, according to a Deseret News report. Police safely rescued the hostage from a nearby church about an hour later and took the teen into custody. No one was shot in that incident.

Associated Press writers Keith Ridler in Boise and Emily Wilder in Phoenix contributed. Photographer Natalie Behring contributed from Rigby.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Yandel Rodriguez's first name and his pronouns.
Members of the Winona Human Rights Commission commented Wednesday on the Winona City Council rejecting their request to support a zero-youth incarceration policy, which wouldve also seen them urge the county commissioners not to build a juvenile detention facility in any way.

Similar to his statement from Tuesday, HRC chairperson Jacob Grippen took issue with the council not having a discussion on the content of the resolution, which was denied in a 5-1 motion.

Member Jocylyn Poehler specifically addressed the councils argument that it would be inappropriate for them to take a stance on an issue that they are not responsible for.

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Its exactly that kind of short-sighted thinking that results in a lack of community awareness and understanding, Poehler said. Its very scary and concerning for me that people representing our city are openly saying they dont want to think about that.

They should be thinking about that, Poehler added. These are very important issues for a lot of people.

In the resolution presented to the council, the commission argued that the use of juvenile detention centers is declining locally and nationally, pointing to the recent closure of the Olmsted County Juvenile Detention Center as evidence.
Fought Under Sherman.

In 1863 I enlisted in the 30th Wisconsin Regiment and was mustered out October 1865. Our regiment was part of the 17th Army Corps, under Sherman. We hung 17 guerillas on the Commons of Louisville and captured their leader, the notorious outlaw Quantrell with two other officers in a tobacco shed near Bowling Green, Kentucky. Quantrell was wounded at the time. I was one of the guards over him while there and at Louisville. I waited on him and often conversed with him. My brother Oliver was fatally wounded in the battle of Nashville at the time the 7th Minnesota captured a battery, one of the guns being the cannon that exploded at a Fourth of July celebration at Trempealeau. It is now an exhibition at the Levee Park in Winona.

Shortly after the war while on a hunting trip in the Arkansas River country, we stopped at a log cabin. A woman came to the door  I asked her if we could get a dozen or so of eggs. The woman laughed and spit tobacco juice, kept on laughing and spitting. Finally, she said, Eggs! Why we never see eggs here, except in the spring when the wild turkeys build their nests.

Found Giant Skeletons.

In 1866 I started to run the river and in 1867 was made pilot on floating rafts, afterward was second pilot on the Latrone, Kit Carson, Frank and other boats.
USGS Howard Reeves said the model includes water measurements from more than 400 wells and state pumping records for municipal and high-capacity irrigation wells, as well as those for remediation systems. It will track how the water is moving, compared to where the plumes come out, he said, noting that new hourly data will be added to the map every three months.

Developers emphasized that knowing what exactly is present in the soil and groundwater and how its moving will help determine what cleanup measures need to be taken.

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Joel Janssen of SpecPro Professional Services, which monitors groundwater for the Army, said landfills located on the far eastern side of the property need upgrades and repairs due to decay. That work is expected to be done over the summer. The Army discarded materials including demolished buildings, contaminated soil and asbestos into the landfills for more than three decades until 2013, he said.

Not soon enough

But board and community members said they wanted the Army to be more proactive in addressing the problem sooner rather than later. More than 40 people watched the virtual meeting.
JUNEAU  A 35-year-old Randolph man made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday with charges of possession of child pornography.

Thomas Bryant is charged with three counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of felony bail jumping. He could face up to 87 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.

Bryant appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Commissioner Steven Seim and was given a $5,000 signature bond with conditions that he may not have any direct or indirect contact or communication with minors or use the internet except for employment or court.

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According to the criminal complaint, officials received a CyberTip on Jan. 22 that a Kik messenger user uploaded six videos of suspected child pornography. The videos were shared with other users or group of users.

The IP address for the user was at a residence in Randolph which led to authorities to Bryant after learning that Madison Police previously investigated Bryant for similar charges, and that he used the same email address that was used to obtain the videos. Bryant also faces charges of possession of child pornography in Dane County.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:58:31|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, May 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 Afghan security forces members were killed in militants' attacks in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday night, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

In Ghazni province, four Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel and two national intelligence officers were killed after Taliban militants stormed three security checkpoints in Khwaja Omari district, district chief Ahmad Zia Yaqoubi told Xinhua.

Four Taliban militants were also killed during the clashes, he said.

In neighboring Logar province, five ANP officers were killed after armed militants attacked their security post near the provincial police station in provincial capital Pul-e-Alam, local TV channel Tolo News reported.

Besides, four civilians were wounded and a sedan and a minibus were destroyed in a bomb attack in Kunduz city, capital of northern Kunduz province earlier on Thursday, a provincial source told Xinhua.

Violence lingers in war-torn Afghanistan as the U.S. and NATO troops have been pulling out of the country.

About 3,500 U.S. forces and 7,000 NATO troops will be withdrawn before Sept. 11, the day which is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into the war in Afghanistan. Enditem
Columbus and Dodgeland school districts received the grants from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Voters in both districts approved referendums in 2020. Columbus approved a $30 million referendum for district buildings and Dodgeland School District approved a $17 million referendum for district-wife improvements. Both districts are upgrading their fabrication labs and have started with construction.

WEDC has invested over $3.4 million for the past six years to provide 95 school districts across the state with the equipment necessary to help students learn high-demand skills, including technology, manufacturing and engineering, said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. Fab labs benefit not only the students themselves with important technology and career skills, but they also benefit Wisconsin employers, who will be able to find workers with the right skills to allow their companies to grow and thrive.
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.
A Chicago astronomers lawsuit against Wisconsin-based dollmaker American Girl, which claims the company created a doll that appropriated the astronomers likeness, was dismissed Wednesday after the two sides came to an unspecified agreement.

A stipulation filed late Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court states that the lawsuit filed in April 2020 by Lucianne Walkowicz, an astronomer and science presenter based at Chicagos Adler Planetarium, has been resolved to both sides satisfaction and without any monetary considerations. But it contains no details about whats contained in the settlement.

The litigation has been resolved pursuant to a mutual release in which no monetary payment has been exchanged, the stipulation states.

An attorney for Walkowicz and an American Girl spokeswoman did not respond to messages seeking details and comment.
Another playful telemarketer got into a debate with me about the birth of the Model T. This conversation started when he asked me for the year of my car to provide a quote for an extended warranty. I told him my car was really out of warranty as it was a 1908 Ford Model T. He said that was not possible because the Model T didnt come out until 1912. I expressed my disappointment that an automobile professional of his caliber didnt know the Model T was first invented in 1908. I asked him if he had a Masters Degree in Automotive History, as I would only speak to someone that did. He chuckled and then hung up on me, which had to feel good for him to do considering how many times he must get hung up on in a day.

A polite, sweet sounding lady named Ann wanted to ask me about debt consolidation. I told Ann it was smart that she was pretending to be a telemarketer as the feds were probably monitoring my phones right now. She persisted in asking me about my Visa account, which I said the DEA knows that Visa is a code word for cocaine, and asked her to use American Express instead. She said that was not an authorized debt consolidation provider, to which I asked if that was code that our shipment from Juarez was going to be late? Ann terminated the conversation when I reminded her that if I go down for this, I am taking her with me.
Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial results show efficacy against the B.1.351 variant in SA study

Results from the initial primary analysis of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial conducted by Wits VIDA in SA have been published.

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) today published findings of the Phase 2b clinical trial conducted in South Africa.

NEJM is recognised as the worlds leading medical journal.

Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology, co-author of the study, and the Director of the Vaccines & Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA), led the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa.

The published data provide additional detail of an initial analysis conducted in January, while more robust data from a complete analysis of the study was subsequently shared in March 2021.

Publication of initial primary analysis highlights cross-protection by the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine against the B.1.351 variant prevalent in South Africa during the study.

This is the first published study to show protection against mild Covid-19 caused by the B.1.351 variant circulating in South Africa.

An updated analysis of the study indicated 100% protection against severe Covid-19 due to the B.1.351 variant.

An efficacy of 50% is sufficient to meet the World Health Organization criteria for regulatory approval of the vaccine, says Madhi.

The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine, known as NVX-CoV2373, is made by Novavax, Inc., a US-based biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases.

Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research and Development, Novavax, says: This data publication reinforces the encouraging safety profile and cross-protective effect across variants seen in studies of our vaccine to-date.

About the study

The Phase 2b randomised, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted in South Africa evaluated efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults, and in a small cohort of medically stable adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The study met its primary endpoint  i.e., the Novavax vaccine demonstrated an overall efficacy of 49% in the initial analysis (published in NEJM), and 49% in the subsequent complete analysis (unpublished).

Among healthy adults without HIV, the Novavax vaccine demonstrated efficacy of 60% in the initial analysis, and 55% in the subsequent complete analysis.

In the initial analysis, cases were predominantly mild-to-moderate and due to the B.1.351 variant that dominates in South Africa, and increasingly in southern Africa.

In the subsequent complete analysis, circulation of the B.1.351 variant continued to dominate, and all five cases of severe disease observed in the trial occurred in the placebo group.

The initial analysis, now being published in NEJM, suggested that prior infection with the original Covid-19 strain did not protect against subsequent infection by the variant predominantly circulating in South Africa through 60 days of follow-up.

However, with additional follow-up, the complete analysis of the South Africa trial indicates that there may be a modest protective effect of prior exposure with the original Covid-19 strain.

Among placebo recipients, at 90 days of follow-up, the illness rate was 8.0% in baseline seronegative participants and 5.9% in baseline seropositive participants.

The data make a compelling case for use of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine in settings where the B.1.351 variant dominates  which is most of southern Africa  to reduce the risk of mild disease and also to maximise the opportunity for protection against severe Covid, says Madhi. Further work is required for Novavax and all other Covid-19 vaccines, particularly in people living with HIV.

The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial is one of two Covid-19 vaccine trials in South Africa led by Madhi and Wits VIDA, with the other being the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial.

In addition to directing Wits VIDA, Madhi is Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits), and co-Director of African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE).

About the Wits Vaccines & Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit

Formerly known as the Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU) and founded in 1995, the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is an internationally recognised, African-led research unit in the field of epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, and clinical development of life-saving vaccines.

Under the guidance of Professor Shabir Madhi, a global leader in the field of paediatric infectious diseases and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University, Wits VIDA is conducting translational research on vaccine preventable diseases and training the next generation of clinician scientists.

Combining clinical, microbiological and epidemiological expertise in an African setting, Wits VIDAs cutting-edge scientific research informs local and global policy recommendations on the use of next-generation and novel vaccines today.

In addition to various other studies on Covid-19, Wits VIDA championed and led the first two Covid-19 vaccine trials in Africa in 2020, for the Oxford and Novavax vaccine candidates.

About the Novavax vaccine known as NVX-CoV2373

NVX-CoV2373 is a protein-based vaccine candidate engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease.

NVX-CoV2373 was created using Novavax' recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein and is with Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

NVX-CoV2373 contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause Covid-19. In pre-clinical studies, NVX-CoV2373 induced antibodies that blocked the binding of spike protein to cellular receptors and provided protection from infection and disease.

It was generally well-tolerated and elicited robust antibody response in Phase 1/2 clinical testing.

NVX-CoV2373 is stored and stable at two degrees Celsius to eight degrees Celsius, allowing the use of existing vaccine supply chain channels for its distribution. It is packaged in a ready-to-use liquid formulation in 10-dose vials.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday morning signed into law a controversial voting bill aimed at curbing access to mail-in voting in the state, joining a host of other GOP-led states pushing new limits in connection with former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

In signing the bill during an appearance on 'Fox & Friends,' the Florida Republican highlighted provisions of the bill including stricter voter ID requirements for voting by mail, creating limits on who can pick up and return a voter's ballot, and banning private funding for elections.

'Me signing this bill says: Florida, your vote counts, your vote is going to be cast with integrity and transparency and this is a great place for democracy,' DeSantis said after signing the bill.

Local media outlets told CNN that they were not allowed to go inside the morning signing event and that it was a Fox News exclusive.

Some of the restrictions created by the bill, Senate Bill 90, also include expanding partisan observation power during ballot tabulation and creating additional restrictions for drop box use.

The new Florida voting law faces immediate legal challenges.

A coalition that includes the League of Women Voters of Florida and the Black Voters Matter Fund announced it had filed a lawsuit within minutes of DeSantis signing the law. It challenges several provisions, including its new restrictions on ballot drop boxes and the prohibition on organizations and volunteers returning ballots on behalf of voters.

A separate lawsuit filed Thursday morning by Common Cause, Florida branches of the NAACP and a disabilities rights group describes the new law as 'the latest in a long line of voter suppression laws targeting Florida's Black voters, Latino voters, and voters with disabilities.'

Last week, after days of contentious debate and last-minute amendments bouncing between chambers, the Florida Republican-controlled state House and Senate came to an agreement and approved SB90 along party-line votes on the eve of the state's final day of the legislative session.

The bill is part of a Republican-led effort nationwide to restrict voting access at the state level in the wake of record turnout in last November's elections. A tally by the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice at New York University found that 361 bills with provisions that restrict voting had been introduced in 47 states as of March 24.

In the past month, the effort to restrict voting has intensified as state legislatures begin to head into the final months of their respective sessions.

Democrats frequently mentioned the continued public fallout from Georgia's recent election overhaul bill during debate on the Florida measure, which they called a 'revival of Jim Crow in this state.'

'That bill that was passed in the state just north of us sent us a message, and the response to that bill should let us know we should not be doing this,' Democratic state Rep. Michael Grieco said during House debate, pleading, 'Please do not Georgia my Florida.'

Florida Republicans, who have repeatedly acknowledged that their state ran a successful and secure 2020 election, said the bill would provide 'guardrails' to prevent anyone from 'gaming the system' in the future.

'We've had voter ID. It works. It's the right thing to do,' DeSantis said on Fox News last week, adding that the state's 2020 election was 'fair and transparent, and the reforms we have coming will make it even better.'

DeSantis' signature comes as former President Trump continues to cement his hold on the Republican Party.

On Monday, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, publicly rejected Trump's most recent false charge that he would've won the 2020 election if not for 'fraudulent' votes, her latest rebuke of the former president that has put her at odds with many members of her own party.

'The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,' Cheney tweeted on Monday. 'Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.'

Cheney is now facing backlash from her fellow Republicans and is expected to be removed from her leadership position.
Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is being returned to federal prison after federal authorities denied him home confinement. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press.

The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Silver was released Tuesday from a federal prison on furlough while he awaited potential placement to home confinement.

The 77-year-old Silver had been in prison since August, where he was serving more than six-year sentence at a prison in Otisville.
ROME, N.Y.  A Rome woman was scammed out of $9,000 after receiving a phony call about her granddaughter needing bail money.

According to Rome police, the victim was contacted on Tuesday, May 4, by a young girl claiming to be her granddaughter, using the granddaughters real name. The girl said she had just been in a car crash, and was arrested by troopers. She told the woman she was calling from a holding facility.

A man then got on the phone, identifying himself as Mr. Bateman, saying he was the girls attorney. This man said he needed $9,000 in cash to give to a bail bondsman to get the girl out of jail. He also told the victim there was a gag order in place, and advised her not to talk to anyone about the case.

The scammer told the victim a courier would come to her house to pick up the money, so she gave the man her address.

The victim went and withdrew the money from the bank and returned home. Then around 3:30 p.m., a Black man who appeared to be in his 20s arrived in a newer-model black Honda Accord with tinted windows and dark rims. The suspect had his hair in braids, and was wearing a brown track suit with tan boots. He took the money and left.

The victim was informed her granddaughters court appearance was at 4:30 p.m., but when she went to the courthouse, she was told no such case existed. She then contacted her real granddaughter, who said she had no knowledge of any of the alleged events the scammer had described to the woman earlier that day.

The incident was then reported to Rome police, who are now investigating.

Police are looking for any home security video from residents who live in the area of Laurel Street, Union Street and Massena Avenue between the hours of 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., that may help them identify the suspect or vehicle.

Anyone with information should call Officer James Richardson at 315-838-1902 or the Rome police tip line at 315-339-7744.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-730-8477 or online at mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 17:03:25|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGSHA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Heated competition among Chinese tourist sites amid the post-pandemic May Day holiday has left a cool taste in tourists' mouths.

Though summer is still a month away, travelers at tourist hotspots are snatching up ice pops shaped like local landmarks or iconic treasures as a novel way to mark their visits.

The sweet-tooth trend was ignited when some tourists flocked to social media to post pictures of ice cream bars in the shape of two millennia-old bronze masks unearthed from the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins on Saturday, the first day of the May Day holiday.

The ice cream, rolled out by the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan Province, boasts two flavors -- "bronze" and "excavation" -- which are matcha and chocolate.

Other tourist destinations in China soon joined the social media carnival with their own offerings, from Wuhan's Yellow Crane Tower to the catholic church in Qingdao, attracting tourists to take pictures of the ice pops in front of their prototypes.

"I would visit these scenic sites just for these ice cream bars," a netizen remarked on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, under a flurry of photos of multitudinous ice cream.

Yueyang Tower, a tourist magnet perching along the Dongting Lake in Hunan Province, said it sold more than 22,000 ice pops, priced at 18 yuan (2.8 U.S. dollars), in the shape of the ancient building during the five-day holiday.

"We hope the ice cream can give visitors a better taste of the ancient wisdom and life philosophy the building has stood for," said Li Caixia, a director of the tourist site's management.

Chinese tourist sites and cultural institutes have invested heavily into the development of creative cultural products, which is believed to contribute to the boom in cultural tourism in recent years.

"The trendy, unique and creative cultural products like the ice cream have won over many younger-generation consumers," said Zhou Yunqing, a sociology professor at Wuhan University. "It is also a manifestation of China's growing cultural confidence."

China's tourism market has seen a strong comeback during the May Day holiday thanks to the effective control of COVID-19. Total passenger trips made during China's May Day holiday are expected to reach 267 million, representing a significant increase compared with the same period last year, according to official data.

Nearly 18.83 million railway passenger trips were made on Saturday, the first day of the holiday, marking an increase of 9.2 percent from the 2019 level and hitting a new single-day high. Enditem
UTICA, N.Y. -- State pandemic guidelines are restricting the number of people that are able to attend in-person graduation ceremonies, so this year Utica College will have 3 separate graduation ceremonies all taking place on Saturday May 15. There will be ceremonies at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. Anyone attending in person will be required to show proof of a negative COVID test, or proof of completed vaccinations.

The college is also foregoing a procession, so students will be seated individually prior to the start of commencement. Utica Colleges Provost/Senior Vice President Academic Affairs Todd Pfannestiel talked about who can attend.

"We have strict limitations on the number of people as well as who can attend, so as a result at each commencement ceremony the only people who will attend will be the students who are graduating, the faculty from the respective school, and the minimal staff required from the college and from the Bank Center to be able to pull this all together," said Pfannestiel.

There are also a number of people who cant attend.

"Sadly there will be no parents or family members permitted in the arena during these commencement ceremonies, although we are livestreaming all three of the ceremonies for those family members or friends to be able to see," said Pfannestiel.

Herkimer College will commence their graduation ceremonies on Friday May 14 at 4 p.m. The college has 397 students eligible for this years graduation, but Herkimer College Director of Public Relations Rebecca Ruffing says their ceremony is going to happen without students in attendance.

"We follow SUNY, State, New York State Department of Health, and CDC. We follow all of the guidance that comes out from those agencies, and so based on the best information we had at the time, and all of the various options available, we had to make a decision to go with the livestream," said Ruffing.

Anyone wishing to watch their ceremony can log on to Herkimer.edu/commencement, and it will also be streaming through facebook live.
Its Teacher Appreciation Week, and each day five educators throughout the region will be featured in recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Teacher Appreciation Week is presented through a partnership between NEWSChannel 2, The Genesis Group and First Source Credit Union.

Here are Wednesdays honorees and the messages submitted by those who nominated them:

Robyn Kulik

Robyn Kulik is a first-grade teacher at Westmoreland Road Elementary School in the Whitesboro School District. This school year is Ms. Kulik's 20th year teaching 1st grade in the Whitesboro School District. She is the very inspiration as an educator who inspired me to become an elementary teacher myself.

In the classroom, Ms. Kulik has a genuinely warm and kind-hearted presence. Her loving personality and passion for teaching are clear when she is interacting with her students. Ms. Kulik's dedication to her students and district is admirable after so many years of teaching. She is very deserving of recognition as a wonderful educator this week.

Heather Gray

Heather Gray is an exceptional teacher with a heart of gold and always puts her students first. She is a first grade teacher at Oriskany School, who not only goes above and beyond to help her students, but for parents as well. She has always made sure her students had the materials they needed. She would not hesitate to purchase them herself.

She also went out of her way to help a special family who was struggling due to medical issues. Ms. Gray even took up a collection to help purchase gifts to ensure the family could focus on themselves without worrying about the cost of Christmas. Heather Gray is definitely one of the best teachers I know. Thank you Heather, for just being you!

Mark Polkosnik, Ph.D.

Mark Polkosnik is a professor of legal and paralegal studies at Herkimer County Community College and an attorney. This past year, Dr. Polkosnik served as the Colleges liaison for the College/Community Partnership for Racial Justice Reform, a coalition of area colleges taking a deep dive into our regional response to law enforcement, criminal justice, and racial justice. In this role, he presented a webinar titled Understand the Use of Force alongside Utica Colleges Bernard Hyman and Plaintiff Attorney Steve Lockwood.

In the classroom, Mark uses current events as a springboard for his class discussions, giving all students a common base regardless of how much prior experience they have. Mark received the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017.

Susan Kahn

Susan Kahn is a Social Studies teacher to the ESL (English as a second language) kids at Proctor. Before the start of the school year in the fall, she visited the homes of each student (some 75 in total), bringing them a packet of information, and reassuring them with a friendly face that she would be there for them. She did this on her own time, maintaining all covid protocols, by driving throughout the city going from home to home. Susan has a real connection with her students with close to 100% participation in her classes online. Susan also handles after school instruction. Susan is fluent in spanish and speaks Turkish, which puts the kids at ease and comfortable.

She goes the extra mile for her kids helping them with issues that might not be related to her history class. She is currently tutoring a Rohingya Muslim student from Burma who wants to learn Spanish on her own time. The young woman, whose family has escaped ethnic persecution to come to the United States two years ago, excells in all her classes and wants to be a doctor. Recently the school was having trouble reaching a student who had moved. The student was still coming to Susan's class via internet, so she volunteered to go to the student's new apartment, and get her parents to fill out documents the school needed. She is always available to these kids, many of whom struggle with elements of school that the American kids take for granted.

Susan Kahn is the kind of teacher who cares about her students and embodies what a true educator is. Not only does she teach, but she communicates and her students are benefitting from her dedication. She's an individual who embodies what we all should be to our immigrant neighbors.

Mark Bunce

Mark Bunce is a Music Teacher and the Chair of the Fine Arts program at Central Valley Academy. As a teacher he uses social emotional learning as the framework for music education with an understanding that for many, music helps students to connect with others and to cope with difficulty situations. This was especially important this year with many students experiencing stress and feeling isolated with virtual and hybrid learning.

In planning for the year Mr. Bunce thought creatively, not only on how to deliver NYS required music education remotely; but how to safely bring music ensembles together to rehearse and perform. At a time where students had lost so much of their normal high school experience, his focus was on creating opportunities for students to connect with one another through rehearsals and to enrich their experience by producing virtual performances.

Despite the high school remaining 100% virtual the first half of the year, the CVA auditorium was transformed into a safe rehearsal space where members of small select ensembles, positioned more than 12 feet apart and wearing masks could rehearse. The auditorium stage was outfitted with plexiglass partitions to allow vocal ensembles to record their performances together on stage.

Through collaboration with other music educators within the district and leveraging technology, a monologue play and four concerts were professionally produced and released to the public. Mr. Bunce has worked tirelessly this year to ensure that students remained connected and had opportunities, during a very challenging year, to do what they love, perform.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, artist Faith Ringgold receive honorary degrees from W&M

William & Mary will honor Anthony Kennedy, retired associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Faith Ringgold, renowned artist, writer, teacher and lecturer, during its Commencement weekend May 21-23.

The university recently awarded the two with honorary degrees. Due to COVID precautions, both received their degrees during private events ahead of Commencement weekend and recorded brief remarks for graduates and families. Their remarks will be shared at the universitys six outdoor ceremonies at Zable Stadium.

Kennedy retired from the Supreme Court in 2018 after serving 30 years on the nations highest court. Kennedy took senior status on the Supreme Court. In that capacity, he continues to work in his chambers on many matters. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and took his seat on Feb. 18, 1988. Ringgold is renowned for her mixed media work in painting, sculpture, fabric and performance.

It was a privilege to present honorary degrees on Justice Kennedy and Faith Ringgold earlier this month, said President Katherine A. Rowe. Each has advanced the values of pluralistic democracy, via transformative jurisprudence and transformative art. Each has persevered in their vision of a better world, empowering voices that have not been heard. The pandemic changes the rhythms of our ceremony this year but not our joyfulness and gratitude that they are joining us to share their wisdom with our graduates.

Justice Anthony Kennedy

Born in Sacramento, California, Kennedy received his bachelors degree from Stanford University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He was in private practice in San Francisco and Sacramento in the 1960s and 1970s and taught as a professor of constitutional law at the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. Kennedy continues to teach at McGeorge School of Law, where he is the longest-serving active faculty member.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford nominated Kennedy to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, making him the youngest federal appellate judge in the country at age 38. A decade later, he succeeded Lewis F. Powell Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court, confirmed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support in a 97-to-zero vote.

During his career, Kennedy also served as a member of the California Army National Guard, on the board of the Federal Judicial Center and on two committees of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

He is currently a member of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Board of Trustees, and spoke at William & Mary Law School in 2014.

Faith Ringgold

Ringgold created her first paintings, the American People series, in the 1960s. During the next decade, she traveled to Europe, Nigeria and Ghana to study masks, which have served as her greatest influence. In the 1970s, she also began making soft sculptures and working on a Tibetan art form framed in fabric.

Perhaps best known for her exceptional story-quilts, Ringgold began her work in fabric in the 1980s with the quilt, Echoes of Harlem, in collaboration with her mother. She created her first story quilt  Whos Afraid of Aunt Jemima?  in 1983 as a way to publish her unedited words.

Ringgold has published myriad childrens books. Tar Beach has won more than 20 awards, including the Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King award for best-illustrated childrens book. The book is based on a story quilt of the same name, now in the permanent collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. In 2010, HBO created an animated version of Tar Beach, narrated by Natalie Cole.

Ringgolds autobiography, We Flew Over the Bridge: The Memoirs of Faith Ringgold, was released in 1995.

Ringgold received her undergraduate and masters degrees from the City College of New York. She is a professor emeritus of art at the University of California in San Diego and has received more than 20 honorary degrees.
'100% of my focus is on stopping' the Biden administration, McConnell tells reporters in Kentucky
Man arrested after investigators say he violated a domestic violence order for the 14th time
The following report was delivered by Alex Lantier 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. Lantier is the national secretary of the Parti de legalite socialiste (Socialist Equality Party) in France.

Speech delivered by Alex Lantier to the 2021 International May Day Online Rally

Dear comrades and friends, I bring fraternal greetings of the Parti de legalite socialiste of France to this International May Day rally.

The ICFIs call to build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees is of historic significance. Events since our last May Day rally have starkly shown that the task of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic requires coordinated international action by the working class.

Last month, the COVID-19 death toll surpassed 1 million in Europe and 100,000 in France, as coronavirus variants drive a new surge of infections. Anger is mounting among workers as hospitals overflow across Europe and medical staff demand scientifically guided, shelter-at-home policies. However, the financial aristocracy is fanatically opposed to any policy to halt the contagion.

Governments in Madrid, Rome, Paris and beyond have pledged to end social distancing over the coming month, even as tens of thousands are still infected each day. Italian scientists calculate that by July, even taking the impact of initial vaccinations into account, between 600 and 1,200 people will die each day in Italy if social distancing is ended. This means several thousand deaths in Europe every day, and hundreds of thousands every month.

Nonetheless, European governments are pressing ahead, with contempt for human life. As reports emerged that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanded that his fellow ministers let the bodies pile high in their thousands, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that no health indicators could change his decision to fully reopen schools.

French ministers have confirmed that restaurants and cultural venues will finally reopen this month, though at this point, they would reopen only to accelerate a surge of death.

Capitalist governments are pursuing a policy of social murder in the interests of the financial aristocracy. Its wealth surged over the last year, as European institutions distributed trillions of euros in bailouts of banks and major corporations. One million people died, as youth stayed at schools so workers could stay on the job to pump out profits for the banks, and Europes billionaires collectively increased their holdings by over 1 trillion.

Responsibility for mass deaths does not lie, however, solely with the political criminals who hold high office. Herd immunity policies were not implemented by a handful of heads of state alone.

They received the assistance of union bureaucracies and pseudo-left political parties representing affluent layers of the middle class. This is very clear in France, where five union confederations, including the Stalinist General Confederation of Labor, issued a joint statement endorsing European bailouts. A broad layer of pseudo-left parties allied to the unions, such as the New Anti-capitalist Party, criticized lockdowns as a tool of dictatorship.

They worked to tie workers to the political disaster produced by Europes capitalist governments. Denouncing lockdowns while issuing a few empty and impotent proposals for more spending on education, they campaigned for a return to work and in-person schooling.

When teachers invoked their right to withdraw from dangerous working conditions last autumn and went on strike, the union federations isolated their struggles, allowing riot police to assault them.

The disaster this has produced is now clear. Since last autumn, over 800,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Europe, including 70,000 in France. In contrast, the very few countries that employed lockdowns and track-and-trace policies controlled the virus: Taiwan saw 11 deaths, Vietnam 35, and China managed to limit the number of COVID-19 deaths to under 5,000.

This shattering experience contains key political lessons. The corporatist framework of social dialog in Francein which workers are supposedly represented by union bureaucracies in talks with management and the capitalist statehas been exposed as a murderous fraud.

Workers cannot rely on the empty shells of the old national labor bureaucracies of Europe, deserted decades ago by workers and now funded by the state and big business.

Powerful forces are building in the international working class against herd immunity policies and the obscene social inequality imposed by the financial aristocracy.

The ICFIs call to build the IWA-RFC is the great alternative to the empty shells of the old national labor bureaucracies. It opens a path for countless millions of workers around the world who want to mobilize to save lives and oppose the reactionary policies of an entrenched ruling class.

Against a global pandemic, only an organized, global movement of the working class, independent of the union bureaucracies and their political allies, can impose a scientific policy to save the millions of lives that now hang in the balance.

The emergence of such an international workers movement, in organizations independent of the national bureaucracies, will pose the question of socialismthat is, the transfer of state power to the working class, the large majority of the population, around the world.

Since Trumps January 6 coup attempt on the Capitol building in Washington, it is ever clearer that halting the pandemic requires a determined struggle against the threat of military dictatorship. This danger is mounting across Europe. In Germany, cells of neo-Nazi officers are drawing up kill lists and hoarding weapons under the political cover of the federal government and the military leadership.

For months, Spains neo-fascist Vox party has backed coup threats by army officers angered by the wave of strikes across Europe last March that imposed a lockdown in Europe in the spring of 2020.

A week ago, 23 retired French generals issued a statement in a neo-fascist magazine stating that the army could soon be forced to intervene in a civil war and kill thousands on French soil. President Emmanuel Macron, having relied on the security forces to assault yellow vest protests, students and striking rail workers, has remained silent on the threat.

This year, 2021, marks the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune, the first time in history that the working class built its own state and took power, though only in the French capital. One hundred and fifty years ago this month, the French Republic under liberal historian Adolphe Thiers sent its army into Paris. In a Bloody Week of slaughter, from May 21 to 28, it killed 20,000 Parisian workers and crushed the Commune.

As the working class enters into struggle against herd immunity policies and the political descendants of Thiers, the critical question is the independent organization of the working class and the construction of the ICFI as its revolutionary vanguard.
The birth rate in the United States continued its long-term decline in 2020, according to figures released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed a 4 percent drop.

Even more alarmingly, the decline doubled to 8 percent in the month of December, the first month that births were affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which came to widespread public attention in the US during the month of March 2020.

Number of live births and general fertility rates:United States, 2008 - 2020

A separate Associated Press report found that the plunge in December continued in January 2021 and February 2021, with births down 9.3 percent and 10 percent respectively, compared to the same month in 2020.

The CDC gave a provisional figure of 3.6 million for the total number of US births in 2020, just slightly ahead of the 3.4 million estimated deaths. It was the lowest total number of births for the United States since 1979.

In 2019, by contrast, 3.747 million people were born and 2.854 million died in the US, for a net gain, not counting immigration, of 907,000 people. The net gain in 2020 was barely 200,000. At the birth rates shown in December 2020 and the first two months of 2021, the US population will actually be declining, not counting immigration.

The Associated Press report found that 25 American states had more deaths than births last year, compared to only five states in 2019.

The general fertility rate in 2020 was 55.8 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44, also down 4 percent from 2019 and marking a new record low for the country. The comparable figures were 59.1 in 2018 and 58.2 in 2019, so the decline is accelerating sharply. The drop in 2020 was more than twice the decline in 2019. Last years rate was the lowest since the federal government began tracking it more than a century ago.

The birth rate has been declining steadily in the United States since the Wall Street crash of 2008 and the subsequent deep recession. Whereas in previous crises, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s, the birth rate fell sharply for several years and then rose again, there has been no such rebound from 2008.

This decline has been particularly sharp among younger women, those aged 20-24, where the birth rate has declined by an astonishing 40 percent since 2007. Over the same period, the birth rate for all women has dropped by 19 percent. The result is that the average age of women at their first time giving birth has risen from 23 in 2010 to 27 in 2020, a substantial increase in only a decade.

The birth rate declined across every race and ethnicity, demonstrating that it is a response to broader economic and societal pressures, particularly the impact of the 2008 crash and the subsequent protracted economic crisis on the working class as a whole.

There are complex social interconnections and processes underlying this decline in childbearing, related to advances in contraception which make having a child much more of a conscious decision on the part of women and their partners.

Women have been able to attend college in much greater numbers and enter into careers in the workplace, and thus have delayed childbearing, or opted out altogether. But the more recent drop is clearly the consequence of overriding economic factors.

For a protracted period, from the 1980s on, the lifetime reproductive rate for American women oscillated around the figure of 2.1 children, roughly corresponding to the number required to keep the existing population stable, known as replacement-level fertility. This has dropped since 2008 to only 1.6 children per woman in a lifetime, well below the level of replacement.

This latest decline is a damning indictment of American capitalism, under which wages have stagnated and conditions of life for working people have worsened, to the point that tens of millions of families struggle to provide a decent life for children, and therefore feel themselves compelled to have fewer of them or none at all.

Figures provided by Statista.com illuminate the relation between declining birth rate and socioeconomic status, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The birth rate for those at the poverty level or below hit its recent peak in 2008, at 96 per 1,000 women of child-bearing age. This figure has declined steadily since then, to 74 in 2019, and is doubtless even lower in 2020.

For women living between the poverty level and 200 percent of the poverty level, the sections of the working class closest to poverty, there was a similar decline, although not as pronounced, from 72 per 1,000 women to 61 per 1,000 women.

But for women living at 200 percent of the poverty level and above, the financial crash had effectively no impact on their decisions to have children. Their reproductive rate fell slightly, from 48 per 1,000 in 2008 to 43 per 1,000 in 2013, and remained at that level, rising slightly to 44 in 2019.

The coronavirus pandemic thus exacerbates trends already embedded in the development of American capitalism. The preliminary figures for December 2020, and January and February 2021 suggest its colossal impact, not only on those who have died or fallen grievously ill, but on the entire population.

It is not surprising that women and men would not wish to bring a child into the world under grim conditions of mass death, economic privation and great uncertainty. To say nothing of the natural reluctance to make repeated visits to doctors offices and hospitals that are overrun with the dying and desperately ill.

These figures demonstrate once again that the only rational and humane policy for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is a complete shutdown of non-essential production, schools and other venues where people gather, until the entire population is vaccinated, including children, and the virus is exterminated.
Foreign ministers from the G7 nationsthe United States, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canadamet in London this week ahead of the full G7 summit this June. The event made clear that the meeting next month will be used to strengthen an anti-Russia and anti-China axis, led by the US.

Britain is using its position as host this year to confirm its wholehearted commitment to President Joe Bidens aggressive foreign policy and push other nations, especially the European powers, to adopt the same stance.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab held a joint press conference. Raab declared that the two countries stand shoulder to shoulder and Blinken hailed their special relationship, saying the US had no closer ally, no closer partner. Blinken met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday and discussed the close alignment between UK and US foreign policy, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab poses for a photo alongside G7 Foreign Ministers in Lancaster House, London, United Kingdom. May 5, 2021 (Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street-FlickR)

In a statement ahead of the talks, Raab said, The UKs presidency of the G7 is an opportunity to bring together open, democratic societies and demonstrate unity at a time when it is much needed to tackle shared challenges and rising threats. At his press conference with Blinken, he called for agile clusters of like-minded countries that share the same values and want to protect the multilateral system and the international rules-based orderthat is, based on US hegemony.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 10 Downing Street. May 4, 2021, London, United Kingdom. (Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street-FlickR)

Both emphasised that the purpose of such an alliance would be a confrontation with Russia and China. Raab demanded Russian President Vladimir Putin end his brinkmanship sabre-rattling on the border of Ukraine, the cyber-attacks and misinformation and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, that was not just a human rights abuse but a use of chemical weapons on Russian soil. Blinken warned that if Russia chooses to act recklessly or aggressively, well respond, while claiming the US was not looking to escalate.

It is the US orchestrating provocations against Russia through NATO and the right-wing, nationalist government in Ukraine, which has endorsed a strategy to recover Crimeaterritory now held by Russia. Blinken travelled to Ukraine from the UK yesterday to reaffirm Americas unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The G7 communique accuses Russia of irresponsible and destabilising behaviour, including the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraines borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea, its malign activities aimed at undermining other countries democratic systems, its malicious cyber activity, and use of disinformation. It states threateningly, with reference to allegedly poisoned Putin critic and imperialist stooge Alexei Navalny, There must be accountability for those that use chemical weapons.

To help counter popular opposition to the imperialist powers warmongering, Raab encouraged the G7 to come together with a rapid rebuttal mechanism to shut down media coverage and discussion which cuts across the groups objectives, labelled lies and propaganda or fake news. The communique commits to deterring those who target our democratic institutions and processes, seek to undermine public confidence in the integrity of our democracies, and attempt to interfere in the information space.

China was the main focus of the foreign ministers meeting, allotted a two-hour slot for discussion, versus 90 minutes for Russia and 30 minutes for Myanmar and Syria, according to the South China Morning Post. A working dinner was held on the Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken claimed, It is not our purpose to try to contain China or to hold China down. What we are trying to do is to uphold the international rules-based order And when any countryChina or otherwisetakes actions that challenge or undermine or seek to erode that rules-based order and not make good on the commitments that theyve made to that order, we will stand up and defend the order.

The order referred to by Blinken is one in which the US and its allies seek to isolate China internationally and stage repeated provocations in the South China Sea and Taiwan, while deploying ever larger military forces to the region. The US is moving forward with plans to deploy missiles previously banned by the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. The UK is increasing its number of nuclear warheads and sending a strike group, including an aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine, to the South China Sea.

Both countries had the gall to sign a communique which claims, We are committed to the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons and lauds the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

According to a European Union statement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell held a private meeting with Blinken during the week to discuss relations with China. Key European powers, notably Germany and France, have been reluctant to fully embrace Bidens hardline anti-China strategy, which would mean sacrificing significant economic interests. On Tuesday, in an indication of the ongoing dispute in Europe over this issue and a clear concession to the US, the EU announced that it had halted progress on an investment deal with China. The deal was pushed by Germany, which has substantial commercial interests in China, but faced opposition from the European nations most closely aligned with the US.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass alluded to these divisions in a statement before the meeting, saying it was high time for the G7 to counter authoritarian states trying to play us off against each other and breaching the rules is becoming the norm.

The G7 communique struck a less belligerent tone than against Russia, but still registered concern over human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet, Chinas decision fundamentally to erode democratic elements of the electoral system in Hong Kong and practices that undermine such free and fair economic systems, including on trade, investment and development finance. It called on China to uphold its commitments to act responsibly in cyber space, including refraining from conducting or supporting cyber-enabled intellectual property theft.

To broaden the anti-China axis, the UK invited the foreign ministers of Australia, India, South Africa and South Korea to the talks, along with the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Raab explained the invitation reflected the growing significance of the Indo-Pacific region for the G7. The expanded list of foreign ministers included all four members of the Quad, an alliance of the US, Japan, Australia and India, directed against China.

The invitation of the Indian foreign minister underscored the utter disregard for the effects of the pandemic shared by the G7 powers. Representing close to half the world economy, with a combined GDP of around $40 trillion, their representatives barely even mentioned the coronavirus and offered only empty words when they did, under conditions in which at least 13,000 are being killed by the virus every day. India, the epicentre of this global humanitarian catastrophe, was not invited to discuss emergency measures to save millions of lives, but war plans threatening countless millions more.

The G7s commitment to the murderous policy of herd immunity, or learning to live with the virus, was highlighted by the intervention of UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The government minister chaired a meeting of his G7 counterparts and the EU Commission to organise the reopening of international travel. Just a few hours before, the entire Indian delegation to the UK had been forced to self-isolate after several tested positive for Covid-19.

As for the economic catastrophe looming over billions of people across the world, the sum total of the G7s new commitments towards a sustainable recovery was a $15 billion fund to provide women in developing countries with improved economic opportunities and to agree to a target of getting 40 million more girls into school by 2026. In a year when trillions have been looted from the working class and handed over to the corporations and the super-rich, this barely qualifies as window dressing.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 18:29:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday exchanged congratulatory messages with Gian Carlo Venturini and Marco Nicolini, captains regent of San Marino, on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Xi noted that over the past half century, China-San Marino relations have developed smoothly, setting a good example of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit between countries with different systems and cultures.

Xi said he is willing to work with the captains regent to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen bilateral and international cooperation and ensure that China-San Marino friendship be carried on from generation to generation.

In their congratulatory message, Venturini and Nicolini noted that since the two countries established diplomatic ties, the people in the two countries have shared the same mind and cooperated closely, and the two sides have treated each other with sincerity, laying a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

They said they are confident that commemorating the anniversary will bring new opportunities for the two countries to develop bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. Enditem
On May 1, the New York Times carried an article by critic and biographer Ruth Franklin headlined What We Lose When Only Men Write About Men (in the print edition, Literary Biographys Man Problem).

The article was provoked by the recent controversy surrounding the decision by publisher W.W. Norton, in response to unsubstantiated allegations of sexual misconduct, to remove Blake Baileys biography of novelist Philip Roth from print, essentially to pulp the book.

Blake Bailey, 2011 (Photo- David Shankbone)

Far from protesting this egregious act of censorship, Franklin clearly solidarizes herself with it. She gives new and intensely vivid meaning to the phrase to kick someone while he or she is down. Moreover, appallingly, the Times editors have cynically provided Franklin the opportunity to revenge herself on Bailey, who wrote in 2016 a somewhat critical review in the Wall Street Journal of her biography of American writer Shirley Jackson (Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life). Bailey, as we will discuss below, took the job seriously.

The Times's action is staggeringly unethical. The editors have assigned Franklin to write a lengthy opinion piece about an individual who once raised issues about her work. She is not a disinterested party; she has no moral or intellectual right to be commenting on Baileys situation.

However, this is the underhanded, duplicitous manner in which the Times functions. One of the factors no doubt motivating Nortons precipitous action was the implied threat that if the publisher did not fall into line with the destruction of Bailey, the newspaper would take it out on the firms authors and books. In other words, Cross us, and you will pay a price. Norton got the message.

Franklin, a former editor at the New Republic, comes out with a number of extraordinary statements in her column. She writes, for example: There has been no investigation as yet into the allegations against Mr. Bailey. But if they prove to be true, they give readers reason to doubt Mr. Baileys ability to objectively evaluate materials relating to the women in Mr. Roths life. This is an admission, to begin with, that Baileys book has been disappeared and its author turned into a non-person prior to any investigation of the facts, before anyone could determine if there were anything at all to the claims. Franklin is not perturbed by this in the least. Again, this is business as usual in #MeToo America.

And what does if they prove true actually mean? There is almost nothing to investigate. The unfortunate Bailey has been brought down by a series of scurrilous rumors and allegations, generated, as the Times has previously half-admitted, by the resentment of his accusers over the success of his Roth biography and its failure to be sufficiently tough on its subjects supposed misogyny.

Franklins column also sheds light on one of the factors behind the attack on Baileythe contentious issue as to who will have access to Roths papers, and those of other literary figures. The question, she writes, of accessto materials, to family members and sometimes to the subjecthas major repercussions for the work of scholars. Authorized biographers tend to be fiercely protective of their privileged status, which is often the basis for a book contract. Considerable sums of money are involved here.

Franklin is bitter that Roth gave Bailey exclusive access to his papers. She complains that Mr. Bailey had in his possession hundreds of manila folders stuffed with archival material, according to a journalist.

She then goes on to argue: Biographers arent stenographers; were more akin to novelists, constructing a narrative of a persons life and making editorial choices at every turn. Is that the case, that a biography is fictional like a novel? Didnt Roth have the right to expect, in selecting his biographer, that the writer would produce a scholarly work, extracting the truth about his life, not constructing itaccording to which preconception?

Of course, the work of the literary biographer is not a transparent sheet through which the facts of his or her subject stream with no distortion whatsoever. However, the important biographer more than makes up for any inevitable limitation by the insights derived from study and experience he or she brings. The primary goal remains fidelity to the reality of another life. Richard Ellmann, renowned for exhaustively researched studies of W.B. Yeats, James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, argued that the biography cannot be so mobile as the novel or the poem, because it is associated with history, with objective patterns and facts.

Ellmann acknowledged the impossibility of knowing completely the intricacies with which any mind negotiates its surroundings to produce literature. The controlled seething out of which great works come is not likely to yield all its secrets. Yet, he went on, at moments and in glimpses, biographers seem to come close to it, and the effort to come close, to make out of apparently haphazard circumstances a plotted circle, to know another person who has lived as well as we know a character in fiction, and better than we know ourselves, is not frivolous. It may even be, for reader as for writer, an essential part of the experience.

The worst passage in Franklins May 1 Times article comes later: Just as female critics have noticed instances of misogyny in Mr. Baileys writing, a female biographer would likely have a more critical perspective on Mr. Roths relationships with women. A Black biographer or, for that matter, a Jewish one could have more to say about race in Mr. Roths fiction.

The implications of Franklins argument are sinister. Whether she has thought it through or not hardly matters. This is an appeal for the Balkanization or ethno-gender communalization of literary criticism. Each major figure will need to pack his or her own sizable set of commentators: a Race biographer, a Gender biographer, a Sexual Orientation biographer, a National/Geographical biographerand why not distinct critics who study the subjects relation with or to Children, Nature, Animals, Food, Clothing and more?

In any case, turned around, this race-gender-ethnic argument can be used to encourage truly Nazi-like conclusions. How can a Jew possibly write with any degree of depth about Shakespeare, or Wagner? Of course, can any male write valuably about a female? Farewell Madame Bovary, Anna Karenina and Effi Briest, among many others.

The unstated assumption of Franklins pieceand it is an assumption shared by a significant portion of academia and mediais that one of the most profound means (if not the most profound means) of knowing an artist, or of defining an artists relationship to the world, lies through gender, along with race. She advocates improving representation, meaning more women writing and more women written about, as though the addition of women in general or the treatment of womens universal experiences as such would help matters. Why should that be the case? How would the inclusion, for example, of more critics with Franklins narrow, petty bourgeois standpoint advance the cultural situation?

Gender is hardly an incidental or unimportant matter. The serious obstacles confronting Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot in the 19th century, and even Shirley Jackson in the middle of the 20th, were very real. In so far as social pressures and maltreatment helped nourish the hostility of these writers toward oppression of every kind, they resulted in work that corresponded more closely to the general human situation, the need for liberation from the existing social and moral order.

But none of the great women writers of the past began from the position of self-pity and entitlement adopted by Franklin and the present-day association of affluent female professionals striving for more wealth and privileges. They kept their eyes on critical matters.

Along these lines, Franklin, in her informative but uninspired biography of Shirley Jackson (famed for her 1948 short story The Lottery, along with novels such as The Road Through the Wall, The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle), placed too much emphasis on Jacksons unhappiness and frustration with her role of housewife and the failings of her husband, critic-academic Stanley Hyman.

In his Wall Street Journal review of Franklins book, Blake Bailey took issue with the authors characterization of Jackson as a kind of feminist prophet who anticipated the findings of Betty FriedanI lost count of how many times that name was invokedby two decades [in fact, more than 10 times]. Franklin, as Bailey noted, asserted in her introduction that Jacksons body of work constitutes nothing less than the secret history of American women of her era.

Bailey added that the story of a pioneering feminist needs a male heavy, and in this book the role falls hard on Stanley Hyman, although Franklin had earlier indicated her husbands role of encouraging his wife to write more and to write better.

Bailey further pointed out that Jacksons writings indicated that a housewifes life, and specifically her life with Hyman and their four children in Vermont, was a mixed blessing, to be sure, but a blessing nonetheless, at least for Jackson.

Franklin now rewards Bailey in the Times for the sin of pointing out her ideological biases by observing that his review was perceived by many, including myself, as sexistand therefore Bailey, presumably, is potentially guilty of rape!

The worst approach to biography is the one that begins with moralizing preconceptions. The task in every instance, even in a study of one of historys genuinely monstrous figures, is to place the man or womanwith the necessary complexity!in his or her era, as the product of objective processes, to mine the psychological and social reality from the hard rock of actual history, to explain how the given individual arrived at his or her social or intellectual destination.

Philip RothThe Biography

In the case of an artist too, such as Philip Roth, there may be elements that people may not find pleasant, including perhaps his attitude toward women. He set out quite deliberately at times, for reasons that have personal and social roots, in his own phrase, to let the repellent in. But here again, the biographers task is to let the facts and documents speak for themselves, enabling the reader to render his or her own judgment.

Franklin proceeds differently. Her book contains few revelations in relation to Shirley Jacksons artistic development, because the author set out with the notions that (a) the writer was a victim like every other American woman of her time of sexist limitations and stereotypes and (b) Jacksons husband must have been to blame, in one fashion or another, for imposing those conditions on herthat he is, in the end, the villain of the piece.

Franklin proceeds backward from this vision to find confirmation for it, despite, as Bailey correctly notes, various contradictory facts about Jacksons attitude toward her lot as a housewife and indications that Hyman was strongly encouraging of Jacksons work and that, at the very least, his influence on her was contradictory. Ultimately, for ideological reasons, Franklin misrepresents the marital relationship.

An objective grasp of the social dynamics of the epoch would provide a better grasp of the dilemmas Jackson and Hyman confronted.

Hyman joined the Young Communist League while in university and vigorously pursued what he imagined to be Marxism for a number of years in the late 1930s. Although Jackson was more skeptical, perhaps to her credit, about the Stalinist regime in the USSR, she also followed events such as the Spanish Civil War with great interest. They belonged, as a New Yorker profile observed, to a social set that included [poet] Howard Nemerov, [novelist] Ralph Ellison, [novelist] Bernard Malamud, and [blacklisted screenwriter] Walter Bernstein.

In regard to the couple and their discontents, as we argued in a recent review of a film about Jackson, one senses the disappointment, disillusionment and even depression that the Eisenhower years generated within a generation of left, bohemian intellectuals. They felt at odds with the American population, isolated from and betrayed by it.

Jacksons life and fate, in other words, were bound up with big historical processes and problems, the Great Depression, the Second World War, Stalinism in the Soviet Union, fascism and anti-Semitism, the Cold War and McCarthyism, the climate of the 1950s. No serious consideration of this is to be found in Franklins biography, which follows the current identity politics line of least resistance.

The Times, Norton, Franklin and company have ganged up on Bailey and his biography of Roth in an unprincipled and cowardly manner. They fully deserve the shame their actions will ultimately bring them.
Howard University in Washington D.C. has declared its intention to liquidate the universitys Department of Classicsthe program dealing with the study of ancient Greco-Roman history, literature and philosophyby the fall. Students, alumni and educators at the college have denounced the move, drawing widespread support from around the world.

The classics department at Howard University, established at the colleges founding in 1867, is the only classical studies program at a historically black college in the US. The department currently includes courses in Mythology, Latin, Love in Antiquity, and Ideas in Antiquity among others.

Last fall, the university board of trustees made the decision to dissolve the department. A few of the courses that are taught in the program are to be dispersed throughout other departments.

Howard University

University officials rationalize slashing the classics by citing low enrollment numbers, an alleged lack of student interest, and claims of financial scarcity, voiced in the lingo peculiar to the philistine college administrator. Provost Anthony K. Wutoh told the Washington Post, We obviously believe that the content that we offer in classics is important, but we also must contemporize that teaching with practical application. University spokeswoman Alonda Thomas told the Post that the move would allow the university to function more effectively and efficiently.

The announcement has provoked an outpouring of support for saving the Department of Classics from students and educators from all over the country and internationally. An online petition entitled Save HU Classics has garnered more than 5,000 signatures. The petition reads, in part: Words in English, Latin, nor Ancient Greek cannot adequately express the impact the Classics Department and its professors have had on so many of our careers and lives, but we make this final plea in a hope of conveying just how passionately we disagree with the plans Howard University has set forth to dissolve the Classics Department.

Student comments in the media have been hostile to the move to eliminate the classics. We didnt want the department to essentially fade away as though it had never been there, Howard University student Alexandra Frank told the New York Times. We wanted to put up at least some sort of rallying cries so that the provost knew that we cared deeply about this department, and we werent the only ones who did.

Another student, 19-year-old Tiye Williamson, told the Times that she suspected the classics department would not be the last to go. I feel like the classics department is just the beginning, she said. Other smaller departments could be on the chopping block next.

The liquidation of the classics department would result in the termination of all staff in the program who are without tenure or contract, including four nontenured professors. One of them is Anika Prather, an adjunct professor of humanities. Speaking to the Post, Prather noted that abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who taught himself to read as a slave, had studied the classics. He learned as an enslaved child through reading the speeches of Cicero and all the different dialogues and classic texts to practice rhetorical skills, so that he could know how to exercise his mind to use logic, Prather said.

Frederick Douglass

The move has also been condemned by intellectuals, including Harvard University Professor Cornel West, who in an op-ed at the Washington Post denounced the destruction of the classics at Howard as a spiritual catastrophe. He also stressed the role the classics had played in the education not only of Douglass but of Martin Luther King, Jr. Academias continual campaign to disregard or neglect the classics is a sign of spiritual decay, moral decline and a deep intellectual narrowness running amok in American culture, West said. Those who commit this terrible act treat Western civilization as either irrelevant and not worthy of prioritization or as harmful and worthy only of condemnation.

Given the outcry raised by students and staff at Howard and beyond, the claims made by the university that there is a lack of interest do not hold water. As for the alleged lack of funds, this is patent nonsense and a deflection. Howard University has an endowment of more than $712 million. According to the Department of Education, the university received more than $221 million in federal funds in 2020. In addition, the university was granted $8.72 million in additional federal aid as part of the 2020 CARES Act. According to the website nonprofitlite, 13 administrators at Howard University pocket more than $200,000 annually. College President Wayne Frederick takes home more than $1 million.

The planned destruction of the classics department at Howard, though not unprecedented even at this universitythe Anthropology Department was dissolved in 2013is not taking place in a vacuum. It is an expression of an ongoing attack on the humanities, art and culture, taking place at educational institutions across the US. This, in turn, is a reflection of the deep and terminal crisis of capitalism, which manifests itself in the realm of education as a repudiation of everything that is progressive and enlightening in human history.

The study of classical antiquity was once a staple of higher education. In an earlier period, all learned individuals were expected as a matter of course to be familiar with ancient Greek or Roman literature and philosophy. While there was certainly an aspect of pretentiousness and elitism to this, it nevertheless reflected the ideal that the purpose of education was not merely to train the younger generation in their chosen field of expertise but to raise them as cultured individuals with a nuanced, critical understanding of the world.

More than that, as the references to Douglass and King make clear, access to the summits of human culture has always been a demand of the oppressed. In this vein, Howard Universitys own history warrants mention. It was founded in 1867, two years after the Civil War by the anti-slavery Union General Oliver Otis Howard, after whom it is named. It contributed to the education of 150,000 former slaves by 1872. A document celebrating Howards founding, written in 1916, explained that the college founders aimed higher education for

those who had never had the privilege of getting any education, much less of getting higher education. They set about the task as if there could never be any question as to the right or expediency of the undertaking. They wished to provide for all men and women the privileges which they themselves had enjoyed. No institution was ever founded with purer, loftier motives.

Oliver Otis Howard, founder of Howard University

Among the privileges Howard offered was an education in the classics. The systematic devaluing of the humanities in favor of what Provost Wutoh, without a hint of shame, calls practical applications is an attack on the cultural heritage of the working class, aimed ultimately at stultifying the intellectual and spiritual growth of the population. The ruling class has little need for individuals who think critically about history and culture. It is in its interests to have a docile workforce, just capable enough to carry out their duties and keep the machines running, but not much more than that.

To this development must be added the noxious influence of reactionary ideologies such as critical race theory and intersectionality. From the perspective of the peddlers of this racialist poison, classical studies are worse than useless. They are actively harmful as expressions of whiteness. To the racialists, modern students, especially students of color, have nothing to learn from these dead white men. Such ignorant rhetoric was once the hallmark of the most right-wing black nationalists. But now it is a staple of American liberalism, and a major focus of the New York Times. Recently, the Times gave prominent voice to the demand that the study of classics be eliminated entirely .

The response of Howard students, which has won support throughout the world, indicates that the great majority of students and youth do not share this backward perspective. Whatever their present state of political confusion, they understand that there is something precious and invaluable contained in the study of classical antiquity, and moreover, that it applies to their present-day lives and should not be merely thrown into the garbage. The classics department at Howard must be defended as part of the broader fight of the working class to defend true culture and the best traditions of education.
As popular anger mounts across India over the authorities utter failure to curb the tsunami of COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his far-right, Hindu-supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government are granting more powers to the military in the name of controlling the disease. The BJPs principal concern, however, is not suppressing the virus. It is strengthening the military and boosting its public image in preparation for suppressing social opposition to its criminal mishandling of the pandemic and push to revive Indias economy through a battery of pro-investor reforms.

Yesterday, India officially recorded 3,780 deaths from COVID-19, setting a new one-day record, while the total number of recorded infections since the start of the pandemic crossed the 20 million mark. Of these, more than 7.75 million or close to 40 percent have been recorded since April 1. However, due to a chronic lack of testing and the ramshackle state of Indias health care system, both the official death and infection numbers are widely seen as gross underestimates of the true scale of the calamity.

Family members of COVID-19 victims leave as their funeral pyres burn at an open crematorium set up at a granite quarry on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

On April 30, the BJP government granted the Armed Forces emergency access to funds in order to enable them to set up and operate quarantine and treatment facilities and hospitals for COVID-19 patients. According to officials, the Vice Chiefs of the Armed Forces, including the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), Officer Commanding-in-Chiefs (GOC-in-Cs) and equivalents of all three services have been granted these procurement powers from May 1. Under this arrangement, Corps/Area Commanders will now be able to get Rs 50 lakh ($US 67,675) per case and Division/ Sub-Area Commanders Rs 20 lakh per case to set up COVID quarantine and treatment facilities, India Today reported.

While refusing to spend additional resources on Indias desperately underfunded hospitals, the government is handing over funds intended for fighting the pandemic to the armed forces.

Working class anger towards the BJP government and the entire ruling elite began building prior to the pandemic. Last year, two general strikes in January and November drew tens of millions of workers onto to the streets to protest against the economic restructuring and onslaught on workers wages and conditions spearheaded by Modi. In recent months, a series of militant strikes have been waged, including by transport workers and Toyota autoworkers in Karnataka, and hundreds of thousands of farmers have mounted a months-long agitation against the Modi governments pro-agribusiness reform laws.

The BJP government and ruling elite are concerned that the upsurge of workers struggles over speed-up, poverty wages, privatisation and precarious contract employment could intersect with and be further fuelled by outrage over the collapse of the health care system. Yogi Adityanath, the fascistic BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Indias most populous state with 225 million residents, told a video conference attended by select journalists on April 25 that he had asked senior administrative and police officials to crack down on hospitals that discharge patients citing an oxygen shortage or complain to the media about the crisis. Following this meeting, UPs Additional Director General (Law and Order), Prashant Kumr, issued a letter to all police officials in the state saying, misleading information is being shared on social media to create panic. He demanded they take strong action against unruly elements of society.

According to the Hindu, as of April 25, the UP police had already arrested 42 people on such charges. Among them is 26-year-old Shashank Yadav, who posted a desperate appeal on Twitter for oxygen to be given to his dying grandfather. He was charged by the UP police with spreading rumors over oxygen shortages. His supposed offence is intent to causefear or alarm.

Far from being rumours, reports of oxygen shortages are all too real for millions of people across India. Hundreds of patients have died in hospital wards in recent weeks due to the expiration of oxygen supplies.

The BJP government is attempting to prohibit media outlets from reporting on these horrifying developments and their bitter outcomeoverflowing crematoriums and the piling up of dead bodies in the streets.

The district magistrate of Kanpur, UPs largest city, sent a letter to a local Hindi-language newspaper, Amar Ujala , that denounced its April 23 report on excess deaths in the city as misleading. The authorities demanded the issuing of a clarification for this story. The Wire news site explained that Amar Ujala had reported that there had been 476 cremations across different cremation grounds in the district on April 22. However, the state governments figures for the day showed only nine COVID deaths.

Reports from numerous cities and towns of rows of burning pyres, crammed crematoriums and huge crowds of the bereaved, as well as a significant and growing number of statistical studies by health experts and journalists, make clear that the official death count is a grotesque understatement. An analysis for the Financial Times suggested deaths during Indias second wave may be eight times the official tally. Last month, India officially recorded 45,862 deaths, which accounted for 22 percent of Indias overall deaths throughout the pandemic as of April 30.

Late on April 28, Facebook temporarily prevented its users around the world from searching for content through the ResignModi hashtag. Amid mounting criticism from Facebook users, the social media giant lifted the ban. Spokesperson Andy Stone claimed it had been a mistake and had not been carried out in coordination with the Modi government. Given Facebooks notorious role in censorship in collaboration with capitalist governments around the world, this denial stretches credulity.

Facebooks move coincided with reports that the Modi government asked Twitter to remove all tweets critical of the Prime Ministers handling of the Kumbh Mela, the worlds largest religious festival, which attracts millions of devotees to Haridwar. Despite warnings from medical experts, Modi allowed the festival to go ahead, resulting in major virus outbreaks.

The increased role granted to the military by the BJP government is in keeping with the vast expansion of Indias armed forces undertaken by successive governments, including those led by the opposition Congress Party. The main Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI)have also endorsed the boosting of Indias militarys prowess to counter its geo-political rivals, Pakistan and, above all, China.

With a massive military budget of $72.9 billion, India was the worlds third largest defence spender in 2020, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Even as tens of thousands fell victim to COVID-19 and hundreds of millions were left destitute due to a lack of financial support from the government during last springs lockdown, India increased its defence spending by 2.1 percent.

All establishment parties are agreed that increased military spending is essential to bolster Indias predatory regional and global power ambitions, including its anti-China military-strategic alliance with Washington. By contrast, they view spending on health care as a drain on resources that could be used to purchase weapons of war or enrich the financial elite. This is why the Indian statethe national and all state governments combinedhave spent no more than a meagre 1.5 percent of GDP on health over recent decades.

Millions of people in India are increasingly realising that the Modi government and Indian ruling elite have totally abandoned them to their own fates. With hospitals shutting their gates due to a lack of oxygen, ventilators, beds and medicines, and desperate relatives finding nowhere to bury or cremate their dead loved ones, social anger towards Modi and the entire ruling class is reaching a boiling point.

It is increasingly understood that Modi and the BJP government deliberately ignored the warnings of epidemiologists about the risk of a devastating pandemic surge so they could keep Indias economy open and boost corporate profits and the fortunes of the countrys 130-plus billionaires.

At the World Economic Forum in late January, Modi asserted, India has saved humanity from a big disaster by containing corona effectively. Even as infection rates began to surge from mid-February on, and as warnings of disaster from health experts on the governments own advisory committees grew, the BJP government persisted in its refusal to impose any new public health restrictions.

On April 20, by which time the daily death toll was well over 2,000 and daily infections were approaching 300,000, Modi declared in an address to the nation that it was necessary to save India from lockdown, not from COVID-19. Two weeks on, after millions of further infections, and with reports of multiple new, more-infectious and potentially lethal Indian strains of the virus, the government remains adamantly opposed to shutting down non-essential businesses.

As part of its homicidal strategy of prioritising the profits of Indias industrialists and financial elite over the protection of human lives, the Modi government has largely abandoned even some of the limited improvements made in health care during the pandemics early stages. Analysing the governments data on the number of oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds and ventilators in a May 4 report, India Today noted a drastic decrease of these medical facilities between September of last year (when India saw the peak of its first wave) and the end of January (just before the second wave started).
New forensic testing has revealed that an unknown person was responsible for the murder of Debra Reese, for which Ledell Lee was executed by the State of Arkansas four years ago.

The new evidence was found on objects at the murder sceneincluding a bloody shirt and a club used to bludgeon 26-year-old Reese to death in 1993after testing was demanded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Innocence Project.

Ledell Lee (Source: the Innocence Project/Courtesy the Young Family)

Lee was executed on April 20, 2017, the first of four inmates put to death by the Arkansas government as it rushed to carry them out before one of the drugs used in the states lethal injection protocol was about to expire. He maintained his innocence from the time of his arrest, throughout his trial and conviction, and after he was placed on death row in 1995.

At the time of Lees execution, Amnesty International noted, Today is a shameful day for Arkansas, which is callously rushing the judicial process by treating human beings as though they have a sell-by date.

Reese was found dead on February 9, 1993 in her home in Jacksonville, Arkansas after she was sexually assaulted, strangled and beaten 36 times with a small wooden club. Lee was convicted for the murder of Reese after two trialsthe first ended in a hung juryin which no physical evidence directly connected him to the crime and no alibi witnesses were called to testify by the defense.

Other failures of the justice system that have also been pointed out by the Innocence Project in their campaign to exonerate Lee include the facts that, Fingerprints from key areas of the crime scene were determined not to be Ledell Lees and to this day have never been identified. None of Lees lawyers ever had the crime scene fingerprints independently examined before his execution. It turns out that there are at least five fingerprints eligible to be searched in the national Automated Fingerprint Identification System databasewhich could identify the source in a matter of hours.

These facts were repeatedly dismissed by the corporate media and the Arkansas political establishment with references to Lees previous criminal offenses. Responding to media reports of the new DNA evidence in the case, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, defending Lees execution, declared, The courts consistently rejected Ledell Lees frivolous claims because the evidence demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt that he murdered Debra Reese.

Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchinsonwho signed off on Lees executionsaid, "The DNA findings released today do not present any conclusive evidence to undermine the findings of those high courts.

The ACLU and the Innocence Project filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit on behalf of Lees sister, Patricia Young, on January 23, 2020, demanding release of the fingerprints and DNA evidence found at the scene of the crime so that it could be tested. One week later the City of Jacksonville agreed to conduct the testing of the evidence from the crime scene.

As the World Socialist Web Site explained at the time, The execution came after a flurry of legal challenges and rulings Thursday, which finally resulted in an 11:30 p.m. decision by the US Supreme Court allowing the lethal injection procedure to begin just 14 minutes before Lees death warrant expired at midnight. He was initially set to be executed at 7 p.m. local time.

Nina Morrison, Innocence Project senior litigation counsel, said of the unusual post-mortem effort to exonerate Lee, While the results obtained 29 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 and post-conviction proceedings in Mr. Lees case. We are hopeful that one or more of these forensic law enforcement databases will generate additional information in the future.

Lee was originally scheduled to be the first of eight death row inmates to be put to death within ten days by Arkansas in April 2017, all approved by Governor Hutchinson. In the end, four men were executedincluding the double-execution of Jack Jones Jr., 52, and Marcell Williams, 46, on April 24while the four other executions were stayed by court orders.

These executions by assembly line were a particularly grisly manifestation of the brutality in America society, given the fact that they were carried out by the means of a three-drug cocktail that substantial evidence has shown can cause excruciating and prolonged pain during the process.

The Innocence Project estimates that 4 percent of defendants sentenced to death are wrongfully convicted. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 185 innocent people have been exonerated from death row over the past 44 years. For every 8.3 people executed since 1977, one person sentenced to death has been exonerated. More than 20 of these former death row inmates were freed using DNA testing similar to that performed on Lees behalf.
Days after ExxonMobil locked out more than 600 employees from its Beaumont, Texas refinery and packaging plant, United Steelworkers (USW) union leadership and the company have not met to negotiate a contract since Friday. ExxonMobil and the USW have been negotiating since January, but ExxonMobil claimed workers health and safety demands would significantly increase costs.

The company released a statement stating it had been bargaining in good faith, but negotiations have yet to resume.

Locked out ExxonMobil workers (Source: USW)

The oil company escorted USW Local 13-243 members from the plant on Saturday after union officials organized an orderly transfer of the workers off of the premises. ExxonMobil said it barred workers from entering because of the unions refusal to call for a vote on a contract proposal and fear that workers might go on strike. Days before the lockout, the company brought in managers from other facilities and hired temporary workers as replacements to keep the facility running.

After the USW handed over the plant to corporate management, workers formed a picket line at a lot adjacent to the plant. USW District 13 Representative Richard Hoot Landry told the Beaumont Enterprise Monday that the union scheduled picket activities outside the refineries and he had been meeting with district leadership. Landry said talks had been focused on workers benefits.

Workers will receive at least one more check from (ExxonMobil), but we are doing everything we can right now to secure resources from our international union and local communities within the state of Texas to provide benefits to our membership.

Union officials at the plant said they sent a request to the USW international leadership to help striking workers by tapping into the strike and defense fund, financed by union dues to support workers during strike activity. Landry also stated the local union reached out to the Texas Workforce Commission to secure approval for unemployment benefits for locked out workers.

Landry claimed ExxonMobil locked out workers because the company wanted to maintain control of the situation. However, he admitted the union never wanted a work stoppage and actively worked to avoid one. By preventing a strike the USW has given all the initiative in the situation to the energy giant.

Neither the USW nor ExxonMobil has publicly revealed specific details in the conflict over a new contract, but company officials said there was strong disagreement between the two sides.

We remain far apart on many important items and we do not publicly comment on the details of our discussions, unless warranted, the company said in a statement. We can share that the provisions that are being sought are not new or unique within ExxonMobil or the industry. However, many provisions sought by the union are not part of other existing contracts the company has with the USW.

On Wednesday, local journalists reported the USW requested federal mediation in the labor dispute. The USW asked the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to become involved, but ExxonMobil has not. Both parties must request mediation for federal involvement. ExxonMobil has not indicated if it will ask for mediation.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings on April 30, marking the companys third consecutive quarter of beating predictions. ExxonMobil had a reported revenue of $59.15 billion and net income of $2.73 billion for the first quarter of 2021. The company generated $9.3 billion in cash flow from its operations during the same period. In the last year, the companys market shares appreciated by 37 percent.

In the aftermath of mass layoffs in the oil and gas industry, the biggest US oil producer said it was considering cutting up to 14,000 employees globally, or up to 15 percent, to reduce costs. ExxonMobil reported its first annual loss last year as the COVID-19 pandemic battered energy demand.

Workers at the Beaumont refinery are engaged in a struggle against both the company and the union. If they are to be successful, control cannot be left in the hands of the pro-company and nationalist unions. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties around the world have called for the formation of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to unify and coordinate the growing, global opposition of the working class.
The right-wing Popular Party (PP) defeated the ruling Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and Podemos in the May 4 Madrid regional election, running a filthy, anti-communist campaign opposing all social distancing measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus. It was a debacle for the Podemos party, whose general secretary Pablo Iglesias announced his decision to retire from politics.

The PP won 65 seats, four short of a majority in the 136-seat legislature, on 44.7 percent of the vote. The More Madrid party, a Podemos split-off, won 24 seats on 17 percent of the vote and the PSOE another 24 seats on 16.9 percent. The far-right Vox party took 13 seats and 9.1 percent. Podemos fell to last place, with 10 seats on 7.2 percent, and the right-wing Citizens party collapsed. The PP carried 175 of Madrids 179 localities, including working class red surburbs that long voted for the PSOE and its allies.

Pablo Iglesias, former Podemos general secretary (Image credit: PODEMOS/YouTube)

Incumbent PP regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who ran based on the slogan Communism or freedom, declared on Twitter: Madrid has chosen freedom, concord and a government for all. From Ground Zero we will recover unity, social peace and liberty that all of Spain needs. Vox national party leader Santiago Abascal and Madrid regional lead candidate Rocio Monasterio are negotiating with Ayuso on whether Vox will join a PP-led Madrid regional government.

This vote is the toxic product of the fascistic policies pursued by Podemos, which strengthen the right. Podemos, which Ayuso demagogically attacked as communists, has in fact implemented fascistic policies of herd immunity, social austerity and military build-up pursued by right-wing capitalist governments across Europe. Presented with the choice between openly right-wing parties and a cynical pseudo-left party which is also implementing a policy of social murder, voters chose the former over the latter.

In March, Iglesias stepped down as deputy prime minister to run an anti-fascist campaign in the Madrid regional elections. He claimed that his goal was to prevent the far right from taking over the institutions in Madrid. This was a cynical political fraud, however. He aimed to work out a political framework to continue imposing herd immunity and police-state rule on the workers.

During the campaign, the PSOE-Podemos government pledged to end the state of alarmwhich allowed it to impose measures like lockdowns, mask mandates, curfews, or other social distancing measuresso the virus could spread freely. Its herd immunity policy kept workers at work and youth at school despite mass circulation of the virus. This had already led to over 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, Spains National Institute of Statistics reported in February.

Committed to a fascistic herd immunity policy that has claimed over 1 million lives across Europe, the PSOE and Podemos were incapable of making any effective criticism of Ayuso. Terrified of opposition on their left, they worked rather to reinforce the far right as a tool to suppress the working class. It is a stark warning that the working class cannot fight either the virus or the drive to fascistic-authoritarian rule under the diktat of pseudo-left parties like Podemos.

A striking sign of the duplicity of Iglesias anti-fascist rhetoric was his governments decision to send heavily-armed riot police squads to guard provocative rallies Vox held in working class districts of Madrid. Riot police worked to intimidate counter-demonstrators, whom right-wing legislators publicly denounced in the Spanish Congress.

This handed the initiative to Vox and Ayuso. In a campaign marked by fascistic death threats mailed to Iglesias and other candidates, Vox and Ayuso made far-right appeals to disgust with the PSOE and Podemos. Given the murderous record of the PSOE-Podemos government, this was sufficient for Vox and Ayuso to carry the election despite their own politically-criminal record.

Far-right generals who support Vox, who have pledged loyalty to fascism, have called for a coup that would murder 26 million Spaniards, 55 percent of Spains population, whom they view as impossible to win to fascism. Ayuso, for her part, displayed open contempt for human life that provoked protests in working class districts of Madrid last year.

It is likely that practically all children, one way or another, will be infected with coronavirus.  Perhaps they will become infected over the weekend at a family meeting, or in the afternoon in the park or catch it from a classmate. We just dont know, Ayuso had declared. Nevertheless, she added, they must return to school and be socialized. Ayuso also demanded that there be no strikes or threats from teachers against her policy of infecting children, as, This is not the time for me, me, me from workers.

Ayusos policies have led to Madrid becoming the Spanish region with the most deaths, at around 24,000. Home to 14 percent of Spains 47 million population, it has seen 19 percent of Spains 3.5 million COVID-19 infections. A scandal erupted, moreover, after internal documents emerged showing that Madrid regional officials issued protocols that barred nursing home residents from being transferred to hospitals for life-saving treatment at the peak of the pandemic.

During the regional election, however, Ayuso was allowed to demagogically portray her murderous herd immunity policy as a broader assertion of individual freedoms than the PSOE-Podemos governments own move to end social distancing.

Iglesias reaction to the election result Tuesday was a monument of cynicism and cowardice. While noting that it consolidated the Trump-ist right, against which he was supposedly devoting himself entirely to fighting, he announced he would abandon politics.

He advanced a reactionary justification: the claim that his empty criticisms of fascism are now too divisive for Spanish politics. Being useful to Podemos is my greatest aspiration, he said, but beyond affection for comrades, it is clear that I am not a uniting figure. I am not a figure that can contribute to consolidating this political force, above all when they have converted you into a scapegoat until your role to improve democracy in your country is limited and mobilizes the worst haters of democracy.

We have failed, we fell far short of the mark, he said, projecting a mood of utter demoralization. He concluded, I am abandoning all my positions, I am leaving politics, if one means by that professional politics. I will continue serving my country.

Similarly, the PSOE-linked daily El Pais editorialized that the election proved that workers support far-right policies. It wrote: The result of the Madrid regional elections constitutes a genuine political earthquake full of immediate consequences for the community, but also indirectly on the state of national politics. Madrids citizens have given powerful support to the platform led by the PPs representative, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, her model of handling the pandemic, her ultra-free-market economic position, and her polarizing political attitude with strong demagogic tints.

There is an urgent danger of both mass COVID-19 deaths and fascistic rule, in Spain and across Europe. However, the arguments of Iglesias and El Pais blaming the workers leave out one thing: the reactionary role they themselves play. In fact, there is deep opposition among workers to calls for military coups, fascist mass murder, mass infections of children, and denying health care to the elderly. This opposition cannot be mobilized, however, under the discredited banner of Podemos.

The critical question is the independent, international mobilization of the working class against the pandemic and the danger of authoritarian rule. This entails building sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in Spain and internationally in opposition to pseudo-left parties like Podemos.
Families of those who have died as a result of Covid-19 in Britain have painted a defiant and moving 500-metre-long wall of 150,000 hearts opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. The names of their loved ones are gradually being added to the hearts.

The National Covid Memorial Wall was started by Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice UK Movementa group of family members who have come together to seek justice in the names of our loved ones gone too soon from Covid-19.

Defiant memorial opposite Parliament marks 150,000 COVID-19 deaths in Britain

The group says, We firmly believe that had the government approached the pandemic differently, truly followed the science and taken the right actions at the right times that many of our loved ones would still be here today.

As time goes on, more evidence emerges about government failings in relation to the timing of lockdown, provision of PPE and testing in health and care settings, isolation of cases within care homes and hospitals and much more.

The National Covid Memorial Wall (credit: WSWS media)

Despite this and the fact that the UK has one of the highest death tolls in the world, the government continues to speak of its apparent success. For the hundreds and thousands of people in mourning in the country, this is a failure to recognise the facts and an insult to the memory of our loved ones.

Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to meet with the Covid-19 Bereaved Families campaign. He visited the wall with his security officers late in the evening, under cover of darkness on April 27, in a cynical damage limitation exercise, amid allegations, leaked as part of an ongoing factional war in the Tory party, that he had demanded last October no more f***ing lockdowns, let the bodies pile high in their thousands!

People adding to the National Covid Memorial Wall (credit: WSWS media)

After Italy and Brazil, Britain has the third highest death toll globally per million populationamong countries with a population above 12 millioneven based on the governments own underestimated death toll figure of 127,570.

The outburst exemplified the herd immunity discussions being held behind closed doors, with it reported that Johnson also said around the same time of the virus that he would rather let it rip through the population than implement another lockdown.

In the centre of these hearts are two message NHS workers still suffering" and NHS workers are for lifenot just for CovidNo to 1%. This is in reference to the Johnson government's derisory 1 percent pay offer for over 1 million National Health Service workers (credit: WSWS media)

Covid-19 Bereaved Families co-founder Matt Fowler told reporters that Johnson would not meet them or discuss their calls for a statutory public inquiry. For weeks weve asked him to come to the wall and meet bereaved families. Hes refused to even acknowledge our request Then, the day after its [alleged] he said hed let bodies pile high he makes a late evening visit under cover of darkness.

It constantly feels like the prime minister views us as nothing more than an annoyance, an inconvenience on his doorstep. It hurts that he wont even offer us the respect of engaging with us to learn the lessons from our lost loved ones.

Hearts signed by the loved ones of a Covid-19 victim (credit: WSWS media)

Earlier in the day, Jackie, visiting the memorial wall with husband Dave to write the name of her brother Bernard in one of the hearts told the WSWS, I have come here because I hate Boris Johnson and the Tories for what they did to my Bernard. Recalling the BMJ (formerly, British Medical Journal editorial in February that accused the worlds governments of social murder in their collective response to the pandemic, Jackie labelled Johnson a mass murderer.

Not only did I lose Bernard well before his time, but it has been impossible to find out the circumstances of his death. There has been a cover-up thats impossible to penetrate. The authorities are trying to prevent any legal action and Johnson and his ministers will get away with it. [Labour Party leader Sir Keir] Starmer has been useless.

A heart reading "For all the people in the world who died from Covid-19" (credit: WSWS media)

Sita had come to record the name of her sister Raksha, who had visited her doctors surgery early in the pandemic and contracted Covid-19 from another patient. She rapidly became ill and died a horrible death.

I blame Boris Johnson for what happened. He treated the whole thing as a joke at first before reluctantly ordering a lockdown. Then when the second wave hit, he is even supposed to have said let the bodies pile up high. I think that has always been their attitude. Now Johnson talks about a third wave being inevitable.

The government has also given huge amounts of money to their cronies. I still cant believe something like 35 billion has been spent on the Test and Trace system, which has been a fiasco. When my sister got ill, I was phoned up several times and asked the same questions by people who didnt know any more than the simple script they had been told to read out.

At the same time, the government only gave the doctors and nurses a one percent pay rise this year. I cant bear to watch the politicians and TV talk about our National Health Service heroes and how we are all in this together.

Sita said that she has family members in India. As you can imagine they are really scared. Its a catastrophe there. All the Conservative government here has done is offer a few hundred bits of medical equipment, probably a lorry load. Johnson is refusing to send vaccines. All the talk about how every country would co-operate to stop the pandemic when it first started has vanished into thin air. It is a dog-eat-dog situation which can only lead to more new variants of the virus appearing. There must be a way of running the world in a more just and co-operative way.

A heart signed by Milton Keyes hospital reading, For everyone who look after, who we looked after, who we care for, forever and always, Milton Keynes Hospital (credit: WSWS media)

Flora, a trainee social worker, explained how there was now a lot of pressure to stop home working and get everyone back into the office. Up to now about 90 percent of the time we have been able to do our work remotely. Occasionally, there was no option but to go out to help people thrown into vulnerable situations. We were always very careful with PPE [personal protective equipment] and social distancing. We were given vaccines although that was only recently. We were praised for all our efforts.

Now all that is changing. The safety attitude is disappearing. People dont wear masks, dont keep their distance. No ones being tested. Managers are saying we have to be in the office five days a week, that were under-performing and they are going to carry out a re-organisation. Thats the thanks we get.

The corner of the National Covid Memorial Wall with Parliament across the river, where the political parties responsible for the social murder of over 150,000 gather (credit: WSWS media)

I agree with what you said about the trade unions and the Labour Party and how they have co-operated with the government to get everyone back to work as soon as possible and stop us rebelling against all those rich bastards who seemed to have continued making a lot of money whilst we have got nothing.

The unions are nowhere to be seen at my workplace. Thats probably not the way to say it. They are probably in an office somewhere conniving with management.

I also agree with your May Day meeting and the idea of having committees of workers set up around the world to do things for ourselves. The pandemic has shown that you cant sort it out with each country doing its own thing. I guess that goes for most of the worlds problems.

People look at the 500 metre long National Covid Memorial Wall (WSWS media)
Nine Media newspapers, the Age and Sydney Morning Herald, on Monday published an exclusive interview with recently-installed Defence Minister Peter Dutton, in which he vowed to conduct a more frank discussion with the public about the prospect of war against China.

Duttons front-page interview is part of a synchronised campaign by the Liberal-National government, and the political establishment as whole, to condition public opinion to prepare for what would be a catastrophic war involving nuclear weapons, launched by the US against China in order to reassert the global hegemony that American imperialism secured in World War II.

Dutton speaking to soldiers at the Lavarack Barracks earlier this month (Credit: Twitter, @PeterDutton_MP)

Duttons intervention shows that the political and military-intelligence elites, which are closely integrated with their US counterparts, are fully aware of definite US preparations for such a terrible war.

Declaring its intent to win the 21st century, the Biden administration has quickly ramped up Washingtons confrontation with China, which was initiated by the Obama administration and escalated under Trump, accusing Beijing of committing military aggression and human rights abuses throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Increasingly, these accusations have taken on the frenzied character of the big lie of weapons of mass destruction that became the pretext for the criminal and disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq, through which the Bush administration and its allies, including Australia, sought to seize control of the strategic and resource-rich Middle East and Central Asia.

Duttons remarks betray concerns in ruling circles about the widespread anti-war sentiment in Australia, which was intensified by the Iraq invasion. As tens of millions of people worldwide rallied and marched against that illegal invasion, Australia saw some of the biggest protests of all, per capita.

Despite the largest-ever global anti-war demonstrations, however, the Bush White House, the Blair Labour government in the UK and the Howard Liberal-National government in Australia went ahead, laying waste to Iraq and causing the deaths of more than two million people.

Now the unindicted war criminals and their successors in Washington and allied governments are planning similar devastation, but on a much larger scale, in China and across the Indo-Pacific.

Dutton was a member of the government in 2003, and became a government minister a year later. He said in his interview: The views that matter to me are Australians who are living across cities, towns and suburbs across the country. He claimed the public was frankly ahead of the public debate because of information available online.

If the population were actually already willing to support placing Australia on the frontline of a barbaric US-led war against China, there would be no need for the frank discussion that Dutton is seeking to launch.

In fact, a survey conducted last June by an Australian big business think tank, the Lowy Institute, cautioned that only a third of respondents agreed with Australian support for military action in Asia, for example, in a conflict between China and Taiwan. Just 40 percent agreed with the statement that Australia should act in accordance with our security alliance with the United States if it means supporting military action in the Middle East, for example, against Iran.

Elevated to defence minister by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in March amid a deepening series of government crises, Dutton has become increasingly prominent. In his interview, he declared that the country was already under attack via cyber warfare and boasted that the military was ready for actioneven tomorrowin the Indo-Pacific region after being engaged in Afghanistan for 20 years.

Last week, Dutton said a conflict over Taiwan, which historically is part of China, could not be discounted. Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo, who has worked closely with Dutton, then declared the drums of war were beating in the region and said the country must be prepared to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight, as in World Wars I and II.

A day after publishing Duttons interview, the same newspaper outlets reported on a candid and confidential briefing of troops in April 2020 by Major-General Adam Findlay, who was then commander of Australias special forces, on the high likelihood of military conflict with China.

Findlays briefing indicated the level of war preparations that were already underway more than a year ago. OK, so if China is a threat, how many special forces brigades in China? You should know there are 26,000 Chinese SOF [Special Operations Forces] personnel, the general told his elite commandos.

Findlay also said it was the first time since World War II that Australia faced a peer enemyChina. He said Australias special forces must deal with this challenge while simultaneously going through hell as a result of the military Inspector Generals much-delayed report last November, confirming that special forces units committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

The generals briefing, given seven months before the war crimes report was officially released, foreshadowed the efforts being made by the political establishment to bury the evidence of civilian murders, torture and other atrocities perpetrated during the US-led Afghan war in order to prepare for new crimes.

Dutton and other government ministers are now making public the warnings of war that were being made within the military high command at least a year earlier.

Dutton and Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, a former special forces officer who was promoted into his post at the same time as Dutton, both recently made public statements that the military must move on from the war crimes scandal and focus on its core businessthe application of lethal violence.

Another key figure, government Senator Jim Molan, a former chief of operations for coalition forces in occupied Iraq, joined the frank discussion on Monday. In an op-ed column published by the Australian, Molan further pointed to the accelerating preparations being made inside the military and political establishment for war.

Many estimate that we have 3-5 years before conflict begins, Molan wrote, echoing similar time frames given in March by the incoming and outgoing commanders of the US Indo-Pacific Command, admirals John Aquilino and Phil Davidson.

Molan also revealed anxiety about the public response. Many ordinary Australians, not just those who have personally experienced global conflict, are awakening to the sombre reality that war is not just possible in our region, but likely, he stated. He claimed that complacency could leave the countryand the current crop of 18-19-year-olds who would have to fight the warunprepared for combat.

Molan referred to the underlying fight for global capitalist supremacy, while blaming China for it. The second-most powerful nation (China) wants to overtake the most powerful nation (the US), he wrote. This has happened 16 times in the past 500 years and war has resulted on 12 of those occasions.

Thus Molanlike Dutton and Findlay, and the Biden administrationdepicted China as the aggressor, when it is the US that is militarily encircling China. It is also forging new quasi-military alliances against China, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, involving the US, Japan, India and Australia, while maintaining the tariffs and economic sanctions imposed on China under Trump.

Molan agitated for far greater military spending and restructuring of the economy for war. He declared insufficient the Morrison governments additional $270 billion investment in military hardware over 10 years, which takes total planned military spending to around $575 billion for the decade.

The Australian Defence Force could not win a war, he stated. It will not be strong enough, big enough nor able to fight for long enough against a peer opponent. The rest of the nation was in even worse shape: We lack self-reliance in strategic industry, spare parts and reserves, and we lack resilience if things dont immediately go our way.

Such calls are a warning that the turn toward war will be accompanied by the suppression of dissent and demands that workers sacrifice their pay and conditions for the war effort.

As in every imperialist war, the war preparations are being conducted under the banner of bolstering the armed forces as a supposed means of averting war. But the very talk of winning a war heightens the danger of triggering one, whether over Taiwan, the South China Sea or another flashpoint.

This war drive is bipartisan. The Labor Partys response, displayed at its national conference in March, has been to present itself as the party that forged the US alliance, and the party best able to extract from the working class the sacrifices necessary for war, working closely with the trade unions.

As shown in 2003, among the masses of working people throughout the world, there is an overwhelming desire to prevent war. But the anti-war movement was channelled behind the Democrats in the US and social democratic governments, which only continued the militarism. Obama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, became the first American president to conduct war for his entire eight years in office.

Lessons must be drawn from this bitter experience. Whether in the US, China, Australia or any other country, workers have a common interest in preventing World War III. To succeed, however, the anti-war sentiment has to be translated into a conscious movement of the global working class against imperialism and all its political agencies.

To fight for that, in 2016, the International Committee of the Fourth International issued a decisive statement, Socialism and the Fight Against War: Build an International Movement of the Working Class and Youth Against Imperialism!

As that statement explained: The new anti-war movement must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of militarism and war.
The US Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its highest fines to a series of construction companies and contractors during the first quarter of 2021, according to a report by the industry website Construction Dive.

Federal OSHA issues penalties to employers found in violation of its workplace safety standards, which include violations that cause injury and death to workers. In states that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health agencies, they are required to adopt maximum penalty levels at least as high as the federal level.

The construction industry report found that OSHA fined contractors for fall protection, excavation and trenching violations but also for fatalities involving the use of aerial lifts. Of the three fatal injuries that OSHA cited, all involved aerial lifts, which require training and inspections before operating, by OSHAs standards.

Construction workers in Detroit (Source: WSWS Media)

According to OSHAs fact sheet, an aerial lift is any vehicle-mounted device used to elevate personnel, including: extendable boom platforms, aerial ladders, articulating (jointed) boom platforms and vertical towers or any combination of these. They are dangerous to work with, and workers who work with them regularly face the risks of fall from elevated level, objects falling from lifts, tip-overs, ejections from the lift platform, structural failures (collapses), electric shock (electrocutions), entanglement hazards, and more.

The top seven fines cited in the report went to construction contractors around the US:

Carework Construction in Newark, New Jersey , was fined $404,811. Carework was cited for one willful and two repeat violations related to violations of fall protection standards. The contractor came under scrutiny by OSHA in March 2020 for eight serious and two repeat violations related to fall protection, scaffolds, and protective equipment for workers.

Carework was cited for one willful and two repeat violations related to violations of fall protection standards. The contractor came under scrutiny by OSHA in March 2020 for eight serious and two repeat violations related to fall protection, scaffolds, and protective equipment for workers. Arrow Plumbing in Blue Springs, Missouri , was fined $299,950. The fines were issued for two serious and two repeat violations. The company repeatedly violated excavation and trenching standards, even after supposedly committing to a trench safety program after a worker died at one of its sites in 2016 in an unprotected trench collapse.

The fines were issued for two serious and two repeat violations. The company repeatedly violated excavation and trenching standards, even after supposedly committing to a trench safety program after a worker died at one of its sites in 2016 in an unprotected trench collapse. Boak & Sons in Youngstown, Ohio , was fined $218,197. The contractor violated ladder safety and scaffolding and fall protection standards. It has repeatedly been found by OSHA to have violated fall protection standards in the past.

The contractor violated ladder safety and scaffolding and fall protection standards. It has repeatedly been found by OSHA to have violated fall protection standards in the past. Cunyas Roofing in Bismarck, North Dakota , was fined $207,802 . OSHA found that the company failed to provide workers with guardrails, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems and failed to pay for personal protective equipment (PPE).

. OSHA found that the company failed to provide workers with guardrails, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems and failed to pay for personal protective equipment (PPE). Lifetime Contractor Corp. in Trenton, New Jersey , was fined $201,090 after OSHA completed two inspections, one of which was triggered by a workers injury after a multi-car garage collapsed at a project site in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. The contractor violated OSHAs standards for fall protection, hard hat and eye safety, and ladder use standards.

after OSHA completed two inspections, one of which was triggered by a workers injury after a multi-car garage collapsed at a project site in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. The contractor violated OSHAs standards for fall protection, hard hat and eye safety, and ladder use standards. Eastern Constructors in Geismar, Louisiana , was fined $170,534. Two workers were killed on the job while performing structural steel work for the contractor at a new Amazon fulfillment center being built in Suffolk, Virginia. According to the report, Eastern Constructors was cited for one willful and three serious violations after both workers fell approximately 54 feet after falling materials from the collapse struck the aerial lifts they were working on.

Two workers were killed on the job while performing structural steel work for the contractor at a new Amazon fulfillment center being built in Suffolk, Virginia. According to the report, Eastern Constructors was cited for one willful and three serious violations after both workers fell approximately 54 feet after falling materials from the collapse struck the aerial lifts they were working on. Marfi Contracting Corp. in Staten Island, New York , has been fined $148,643 in total. OSHA issued five citations to Marfi, two serious, one willful, one repeat, and one other after a worker climbed from an aerial lift onto a roof to work, which collapsed, leading the worker to fall 25 feet to their death.

The maximum penalties for serious violations are only $13,653 per violation, and $136,532 per violation for willful and repeat violations, according to an agency memo released January 8, 2021. These fines are pitifully low, given the terrible toll workers and their families suffer, and are often challenged and reduced.

Construction workers are particularly at risk for suffering death on the job. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes data on recorded workplace fatalities annually in its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report. Data for 2020 has not been released. For 2019, the year for which the most current data is available, the BLS reported a total of 1,061 construction workers died on the job in the US in 2019, the highest of any sector of industry. Construction workers are the fourth-highest group at risk for dying at work, according to the 2019 report, which found a fatality rate of 9.7 per 100,000 full-time workers in the industry.

These dangerous conditions are by no means limited to the US. Globally, construction work is one of the deadliest industries. The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that in 2019, Moldova reported a fatality rate of 44.7 per 100,000 construction workers, Sri Lanka had a rate of 41.7, Ukraine had a rate of 31 and Israel a rate of 12.7. According to the UN ILO, falls were found to be the most common cause of fatality for construction workers worldwide during that year.

The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on global markets in March 2020. As state governments in the US moved to implement limited lockdown measures that halted some business activities, in response to independent actions by workers to stop production worldwide, this coupled with economic factors led construction projects in the US to grind to a halt. Governments offered little to no assistance to workers and small business owners who were unable to work during the lockdowns.

Demand for new non-residential building starts declined 24 percent and non-building infrastructure projects declined 13 percent in the following months, and the US saw a loss of 220,000 construction jobs, or 2.9 percent, in 2020 compared to 2019, according to BLS reports.

No strangers to dangerous working conditions before the pandemic took hold, construction workers faced even more dangerous conditions upon returning to work. As states rushed to reopen in mid-2020, some demand was regained, mainly in the residential building sector. Overall fewer starts compelled contractors to shore up lost profits, meaning cuts to jobs and safety measures, forcing workers to perform more dangerous tasks with sparser crews.

Construction workers themselves are at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 on the job. Last August, the CDC reported results of a study from Utah that showed that construction work had the second-highest rate of workplace outbreaks next to the manufacturing industry. Another study by the University of Texas at Austin COVID-19 Modeling Consortium found that Austin-area construction workers with COVID-19 were five times more likely to be hospitalized than those in other occupations. The study cited the inability to stay home, lack of ability to social distance, and employer practices as top contributors.

Rather than protecting the interests of the working class whose lives are put at risk for the profits of the financial oligarchy, OSHA has worked in favor of businesses and state governments that have demanded the reopening of the economy during the pandemic. On its federal website, OSHA has reported only 468 known workplace-related fatalities from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, a grotesque underestimation. Its data on COVID-19related workplace deaths is more than six months out of date, with the most recent recorded for October 16, 2020.

OSHA, along with the trade unions, corporations and state governments, is working consciously to cover up the true spread of the disease throughout workplaces in the US. In one example uncovered by the World Socialist Web Site, OSHA turned a blind eye toward the blatant falsification by Stellantis of COVID-19-related deaths at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant north of Detroit throughout 2020.

As a regulating agency, OSHA has little power to enforce its own regulations. It allows businesses found in violation of safety standards to appeal or contest the violations, often resulting in a lowering of penalties, even for those that result in a workers death. This often comes as a slap in the face to the loved ones and co-workers of workers who suffer untimely and tragic deaths for the sake of profits.

The Obama administration cut funding for inspection staff at federal OSHA, further crippling its ability to issue citations for violations, paving the way for even deeper cuts to the agency under the Trump administration. The Biden administration has made no mention of improvements, either. Bidens American Jobs Plan, aimed primarily at aggressively undermining Chinas economic position on the world scale for the benefit of US imperialist interests, makes no mention of workplace safety.

The incentive for businesses to place profit interests above worker health and safety is abetted by the policies of the administration. Five of the seven construction companies being fined the highest by OSHA are currently pending abatement of the penalties or contesting the violations issued.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has tabled a resolution in the parliament to end court cases against political supporters of the government and alleged war criminals.

This resolution is based on a paper submitted by the President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and approved by the cabinet. It was based on the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), appointed in January last year.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

This commission was tasked with investigating political victimisations during the previous government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, covering the period from January 16, 2015 to November 16, 2019. The commission submitted its final report to the president last December.

The resolution was presented to the parliament on April 9, debated once, and has been scheduled for further debate. If it were to be rammed through parliament, the government could order the withdrawal of judicial punishments and also terminate several ongoing court cases.

The commission also recommended taking action against those responsible for the allegations against the supposedly politically victimised. These include several political leaders from the previous government, and supporting parties that are now in opposition, as well as officers involved in investigating the cases.

The commission has advised the president to appoint another panel, as it has no judicial powers to take action. Rajapakse has appointed such a body and its report is due. If these recommendations are acted on, it would lead to a witch-hunt of political opponents that could include stripping them of their civil rights.

President Rajapakses moves, which further undermine the constitution, are another step towards autocratic rule, in the face of the countrys deep social and political crisis.

This infamous presidential commission consisted of three membersa retired supreme court judge Upali Abeyratne, retired appeals court judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatilleka and a former inspector general of police, Chandra Fernando.

Its reports introductory remarks demonstrate a blatant political bias. Commissioners have glorified the final phase of the bloody war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which was waged by the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse. At the time, the current president, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, was defence secretary. Both were hailed in the report as the heroic leaders who made Sri Lanka a unitary state again by defeating the LTTE in May 2009.

The Commission report criticizes court cases, filed during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government, against military personnel and Rajapakse allies, using the baseless allegations made against real war heroes by pro-western leaders, inspired by the Tamil Diaspora. This is a bald-faced lie. By UN estimates, in the final months of the war alone, the militarys indiscriminate attacks killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians.

The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government came to power in January 2015, promising to address the suppression of democratic rights, war crimes and human rights violations, and investigate the rampant corruption during Mahinda Rajapakses rule. It also promised to improve the social conditions of working people in order to exploit widespread opposition to the Rajapakses.

The election of Sirisena as president was part of a US-sponsored regime-change operation. Washington had backed the war against the LTTE and turned a blind eye to the governments war crimes. However, the US was hostile to Mahinda Rajapakses ties with Beijing, under conditions where the Obama administration was determined to encircle and undermine China.

After coming to power, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government had no real interest in taking any action over war crimes, not least because the parties that made up the government were also responsible for the brutal 30-year communal war and its many atrocities. Limited legal action was taken in response to public opposition.

Cases were filed over some abductions by military-aligned death squads, the killing and harassment of journalists, and corruption. Virtually all these cases are still dragging on.

Now, on the pretext of ending political victimization, the current Rajapakse government is proposing to terminate these cases, including:

* The high court trial against former navy commander retired Rear Admiral, Wasantha Karannagoda, Lt. Colonel, H.M.P. Chandana Kumara Hettiarachchi and several high-ranking navy officers, over the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youth in Colombo and suburban areas during 2008-2009.

* The indictment of navy intelligence officer Gamini Seneviratne in the high court over the killing of Jaffna district MP Nadarajah Raviraj in 2006.

* Those accused of the high-profile murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge in January 2009, and those charged for abduction and torture of journalist Keith Noyahr are to be released.

* Duminda Silva, an MP in the Mahinda Rajapakse government, is to be freed, as his death sentence has been finally approved by the Supreme Court. He was found guilty of the murder of political rival Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra in 2011.

* Significantly, corruption charges will be dropped against the presidents younger brother Basil Rajapakse, the prime ministers son Yoshitha Rajapakse and current ministers Udaya Gammanpila and Nalaka Godahewa.

The commission has recommended that those politically victimized should be compensated, reinstated in their former posts, and given promotions that they would have received.

According to its recommendations, the charges should be brought against former prime minister Wickremesinghe and several of his government ministers, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. A. Sumanthiran, opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as well as senior police officers, lawyers and government officials. They are accused of making false allegations.

Sajith Premadasa, leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, demagogically declared at a press conference last week: With this report, the government has planned the political assassination of its opponents. What Hitler did in one night, the government is trying to do through one report. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake rhetorically challenged the government to take action against him.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka passed a resolution condemning the governments moves as an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers, the Rule of Law and the independence of the judiciary. A Sunday Times editorial on April 25 declared that the governments decision to proceed on the blatantly biased recommendations of the commission betrays a dangerous mindset prevailing among the countrys political leadership.

These limited criticisms obscure the far-reaching implications of the governments determination to overturn charges and dismiss cases against military figures and political allies. It further ensures that an already pliant judiciary will act according to the political wishes of the government and, in particular, that no further investigation of war crimes, let alone charges, will take place.

While the immediate targets are the political leaders of the bourgeois opposition in Colombo, the moves are aimed above all against the working class, under conditions of an upsurge in the class struggle. The ruling class as a whole is terrified of the growing opposition of workers and will not fight the moves towards autocratic rule. The working class has to take up the fight to defend basic democratic rights and legal norms as part of the fight for socialism.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 18:42:47|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows the Wanlyuyuan park and high buildings in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. Haikou, an important city of China's "Belt and Road" initiative and also a core city for the construction of free trade port in Hainan Province, will greet the first China International Consumer Products Expo. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
An online summit organised by the Casualised, Unemployed and Precarious University Workers (CUPUW) on April 910 was a reactionary exercise in splitting university workers and funnelling their rising discontent back behind the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

Staff and students protesting cuts at Macquarie University in Sydney late 2019

University employees, both full-time and casual, have been among the hardest hit in Australia amid the wholesale offensive against workers conditions by governments and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. University managements, faced by drops in enrolments of international students whom they have used as cash cows to offset government funding cuts, have imposed tens of thousands of job cuts, assisted by the NTEU.

By the NTEUs own estimate last year, the total job losses could be as high as 90,000, including casuals, but universities refuse to provide the relevant statistics on casuals and fixed-term staff.

The CUPUW event attracted around 60 people at its peak, many of whom were event organisers, union delegates and officials. From the outset, CUPUW attempted to create a rift between casual and permanent university workers. It barred full-time staff from participating and insinuated that they were responsible for the destruction of casual jobs.

Chairing the meeting, Bianca Hennessy from the Australian National University (ANU) stated: This event is autonomous to university precarious workers If youre permanently employed by the university, were sorry but this isnt the space for you.

Hennessy declared: In our sector, permanently employed staff often hold the keys to a casual staff members next contract. Weve learned that precarious workers often feel much more comfortable sharing their experiences when theyre around just other precarious members.

Later, the poisonous and twisted logic of this divisiveness was more explicitly displayed. During report backs from breakout group discussions, one group suggested that casuals confront permanent staff and ask them to justify their higher salaries as a provocation and asking the hard question.

Such a line blames fellow workers, rather than the employers and governments, for the assault on public education. It pits workers against each other and opposes the necessity for a unified struggle against the slashing of jobs and courses. Exactly the opposite fight is needed, to demand the basic right of all casuals to full-time work.

In the words of the resolution adopted by a joint public meeting hosted by the Committee for Public Education and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality: Demand that, instead of big business being bailed out with billions of dollars, and billions more being handed into the military, resources be poured into healthcare and education funding, to protect the population from COVID-19 and guarantee the basic social right to free, first-class education for all students, including international students, and full-time jobs for all university workers.

That demand means challenging and overthrowing the dictates of the financial markets, instead of keeping workers straitjacketed within the bankrupt capitalist framework, with the unions acting as industrial police forces.

Organisations such as CUPUW are seeking to block such a political struggle. They have a dual purpose: 1) to divert opposition among workers back into the hands of the trade union apparatuses that, over decades, have enforced the dictates of managements and governments, and 2) to elevate their own members into privileged posts inside the union bureaucracy.

The main speaker at the summit was Anastasia Kanjere from Melbournes Monash University. Kanjere noted that CUPUW held its first national meeting last year amid growing anger among university workers over secretive discussions between the NTEU and university managements.

On May 13, 2020, after weeks of backroom negotiations with management representatives, the NTEU announced a fraudulently-named Jobs Protection Framework that allowed employers to cut wages by up to 15 percent and still destroy at least 12,000 jobs nationally. After outraged opposition from university workers, most employers abandoned the deal, fearing that the NTEU could not enforce it.

Nevertheless, NTEU branches at individual universities proceeded to work with managements to strike similar pacts to enforce wage cuts, job losses and the gutting of conditions.

Kanjere totally distorted this record in order to justify CUPUWs divisive stance. She said precarious and unemployed workers needed to be included in the union leadership rather than relegated to a bargaining chip that can be traded away at the negotiations table for better conditions for ongoing staff.

This stands reality on its head. The NTEUs deals with the employers throughout the pandemic have typified and intensified the unions role in undercutting the conditions for all staff, not just casuals, for decades.

While criticising some actions of the NTEU leadership, CUPUW is trying to funnel rank-and-file discontent back behind the unions and capitalist parties like the Greens and Labor.

Kanjere said CUPUW had hosted guest speakers from radical organisations. Among them were unions such as the United Workers Union, which earlier this year sold out 350 workers at Coless Smeaton Grange warehouse after they had courageously rejected one union-company deal after another, defying a 14-week lockout.

The speaker also mentioned roundtable discussions with Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who has falsely postured as a defender of tertiary education. In fact, the Greens-backed Labor government of Julia Gillard introduced the market-based education revolution that provided the platform for the deepening attack on university staff and inflicted the largest ever cut$2.3 billionto university funding.

Both the National Higher Education Action Network (NHEAN)formed by fake left groupsand NTEU Fightbackclosely tied to the pseudo-left Socialist Alternativehave also been involved in CUPUW discussions. Kanjere said that, despite comradely disagreements, CUPUW, NHEAN and Fightback have shared goals of building a democratic, lively and fighting union.

CUPUW wants to join the union machines, not oppose them. In its online magazine, the Fox, CUPUW published an editorial on February 18 titled, Reflecting on the NTEU in 2020. It stated: We try to be the union we want to see Still, theres space for some constructive criticism of the NTEU, as elections come up. We deserve and will demand much better from our union leadership. The editorial criticised the NTEU for stagnant leadership and a lack of casual representation in executive positions.

Kanjere reported CUPUW had lobbied for casuals to be appointed to NTEU branch committees at ANU, Monash University, La Trobe University and the University of Sydney. CUPUW has held events encouraging casuals to run for posts in upcoming union elections.

Kanjere declared: We are also pro-union. We believe that unions driven by the will and agency of rank-and-file members are the way forward for workers to gain control of their workplaces.

But the latest betrayals by the NTEU are not an aberration. Through one enterprise agreement after another, the NTEU has presided over the decimation of jobs and conditions, including the vast casualisation of universities, for decades. This is a universal experience. Unions everywhere have transformed into thoroughly pro-capitalist apparatuses, presiding over their own investments and superannuation funds.

In opposition to the corporatist unions, what is required is the formation of rank-and-file committees of university workers and students to conduct a unified counter-offensive by university workers across Australia and internationally against the assault on jobs, conditions, and courses, and for permanent positions for all.

This is the perspective of the Committee For Public Education and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, as part of the fight for the formation of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.
Just over a week ago, 46-year-old Daniela Cavallo took over as the influential chairperson of the joint works council at Volkswagen, which has 670,000 employees worldwide. Nothing will change regarding the policy of the works council. Cavallo follows in the footsteps of her predecessor Bernd Osterloh and, like him, will faithfully defend the interests of the company and its shareholders.

Daniela Cavallo and Bernd Osterloh (Photo: Volkswagen)

The 64-year-old Osterloh is gilding his retirement with a highly paid three-year contract as personnel director at the VW truck subsidiary Traton. His aim in his new post is to turn Traton into a global champion in the commercial vehicle industry. For his services, this longstanding leader of the IG Metall trade union will pocket an annual salary of 2 million euros.

The German media writes in chorus that Cavallos appointment opens the way for a new and different approach at VW Group and the entire auto industry. But even if the public is spared Osterlohs macho appearance and his sham battles with the head of VW, Herbert Diess, this will do nothing to alter the orientation of the works council and IG Metall.

Cavallo was chosen by Osterloh. He made her his deputy two years ago and introduced her to his most important contacts in and around VW. Osterloh regularly took her to meetings with members of the two families which own VW, namely the Porsche and Piech dynasties. At meetings with the family clans in Salzburg and Zell am See, the two union bureaucrats discreetly sounded out strategies and personnel plans, reports Der Spiegel in its current issue.

Now, Cavallo has been unanimously elected Osterlohs successor on all works council bodiesthe joint and company works councils, and the European and global company works councils. She will also take over his mandates on the VW supervisory board and presidium as soon as possible.

It is therefore safe to assume that Cavallo may bring a different style but not a different policy to the VW works council. She herself emphasised in a joint press statement with Osterloh that she wanted to build on his achievements  The challenges in the transformation of our company and our industry remain great ... With the timing and process of this change at the top, we are demonstrating our reliability: we thus stand for continuity and predictability.

Cavallo, Osterloh and an entire army of works councillors and union officials are united in the goal of turning VW into a global champion and strengthening the company against international competition at the expense of the workforce.

The new works council chairwoman commenced an apprenticeship and her trade union career at VW after leaving school in 1994. Already as a trainee, she worked as a representative for youth and apprentices. She quickly caught the attention of the IG Metall and works council leaders and was promoted accordingly.

In 2002, aged 27, she became a shop steward and advocate of Auto 5000 in Hanover. The contract 5000 times 5000, introduced in 2001 by the then VW personnel manager Peter Hartz in cooperation with IG Metall, established a low-wage sector inside the company for the first time.

Hartz was the author of the federal anti-welfare laws which bear his name, which created a huge low-wage sector in Germany. In his function inside VW, Hartz and the union took advantage of high unemployment levels at the time to slash wages and introduce poorer working conditions. Under 5,000 times 5,000, 5,000 former unemployed persons were to receive a monthly fixed wage of DM 4,500 and a performance-related bonus of DM 500.

According to its own admission, VW saved more than 20 percent on personnel costs with the new scheme. Whereas the trade unions had previously warned against dumping wages, they are now responsible for dividing the pay structure and establishing a collectively agreed low-wage sector, which leads in turn to an ever accelerating downward spiral, commented the WSWS 20 years ago.

During her time as a full-time shop steward, Cavallo studied business administration part-time. In 2013, she joined the joint works council. In 2016, she played a leading role in the negotiations on the infamous Pact for the Future with Karlheinz Blessing, who was then head of human resources at VW. Blessing had also been a long-time IG Metall and SPD functionary.

Now, Der Spiegel praises Cavallo for insisting at the time that jobs should only be eliminated if the work involved was clearly no longer necessary. Blessing is said to have almost despaired of her attitude. She is good at the business of bureaucracy and formalities, the magazine quotes one VW manager, she is quite prepared to conduct a war of attrition.

This portrayal shows above all how remote the union, management (and Der Spiegel ) are from the concerns and needs of the VW workforce. The Pact for the Future agreed by VW, IG Metall and the works council cleared the way for the slashing of 30,000 jobs, combined with a massive deterioration of working conditions.

Osterloh has described his successor as follows: Strong in leadership, empathetic and capable of strategic thinking that will surprise many. Cavallo presented her perspective on February 11 at a so-called perspective dialogue on Industry and climate protection based on the example of the auto industry. The dialogue was initiated by the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who invited leaders of German industry and trade unions.

Cavallo advocated a close alliance between trade unions, companies and government and cooperation between German auto companies in global markets. One is forced to rely on electric mobility because of politically determined climate targets, she said, and called upon German auto companies not to get caught up in petty conflicts.

If the auto industry does not manage to change, this would have immense effects on entire regions. Close cooperation between all relevant players was needed, Cavallo told the assembled trade union, industry and government representatives. Germany as a business haven needed consensus at all levels, otherwise well-paid industrial jobs would be lost.

Her perspective is in line with the concept for a National Industrial Strategy 2030 presented by the German economics minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) at the beginning of 2019. It reads: Industrial policy strategies are experiencing a renaissance in many parts of the world; there is hardly a successful country that relies exclusively and without exception on market forces. And further: There are quite evidently strategies for rapid expansion with the clear aim of conquering new markets for ones own economy andwherever possiblemonopolising them.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, the initial reservations of the business elite against state intervention have been dropped. Currently, billions of taxpayers money is being used to finance mass layoffs, infrastructure programmes and key technologies. This suits the trade unions, which have long called upon the government to provide subsidies, protective tariffs and protectionist measures for German companies to prop up the national economy.

The merging of the unions with the state and business is characteristic of times of crisis, trade war and war. Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International, wrote in 1940 in the unfinished article The Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decline:

Monopoly capitalism does not rest on competition and free private initiative but on centralized command. The capitalist cliques at the head of mighty trusts, syndicates, banking consortiums, etcetera, view economic life from the very same heights as does state power; and they require at every step the collaboration of the latter. In their turn the trade unions in the most important branches of industry find themselves deprived of the possibility of profiting by the competition between the different enterprises. They have to confront a centralized capitalist adversary, intimately bound up with state power. Hence flows the need of the trade unionsinsofar as they remain on reformist positions, i.e., on positions of adapting themselves to private propertyto adapt themselves to the capitalist state and to contend for its cooperation.

This is aimed directly against workers who pay with their wages and jobs. The unions policy of defending specific locations divides workers from their colleagues in other factories and countries who are being exploited by the same corporations. At the same time, the fierce struggle for markets and profits threatens to lead to catastrophic wars.

Investors and owners expect Cavallo to join VW boss Diess in pursuing this course. She met Diess officially for the first time in her new function in the middle of last week.

She had already made clear at the end of November what she regards as her task. At that time, the works council was celebrating 75 years of co-determination (i.e., intimate collaboration between unions and management) and Cavallo gave the keynote speech. She said that climate change was not only calling petrol and diesel engines into question, but the auto industrys core businessindividual mobility. VW workers, especially those in the component plants, were currently experiencing a discussion about a final deadline for the content of their daily work, she explained.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the line in the auto industry in the coming months and years. Cavallo sees her job as facilitating this upheaval, or shaping it, as she would say.

VW workers not only confront the corporation, its board and shareholders, but also IG Metall and its works council. They must organise independently of the union and take the fight against job cuts, for higher wages, health protection and better working conditions into their own hands.

The way forward in this struggle was signalled on May 1, when the International Committee of the Fourth International and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties worldwide led the call for the formation of an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).
BRAZIL, Ind. (WTHI) - Our next Golden Apple award winner teaches her students a saying she tries to emulate. "Find a career you love, and you will never work a day in your life."

Michelle Ruhe at Northview High School has been doing a job she loves for the last 24 years.

Ruhe teaches 9th thru 12th grade Famly and Consumer Sciences.

On the day we stopped in, we found the students in her class prepping for job interviews. The students were learning how to sell themselves, controlling their body language, and focusing on the positive.

Each student is paired with a partner. One is the company's CEO, and the other is getting interviewed.

The teenagers are role-playing important life lessons.

The kids in her class also learn entrepreneurship. They have to come with their own business - complete with logo and pricing.

Ruhe is also in charge of the class 'Introduction to Teaching.' Students earn college credit and even get hands-on experience in front of the classroom.

"They tell me what grade level or what discipline they're interested in. Then I pair them with a host teacher so they get to be out in the field working. They do over 200 hours for the academic year out on-site with teachers," Ruhe said. "I love going out and seeing my students interact with their students."

Her third curriculum focus is interior design. She worked professionally in interior design and architecture before pivoting to education. She's able to give the students real-world insight.

In the project-based class, students learn to design their dream home and then bring it to life by building a house model.

"They learn about real-life things like what it takes to rent an apartment, ya know how to purchase a home," Ruhe told us.

Her class literally shapes lives. Senior Cassidy Atkinson loved her interior design course so much; she's been accepted into the program at ISU after her graduation.

"She does a lot for students...even those she doesn't have. Because of masks now, you can't see it, but in the hallways, she smiles at everyone, and that can really change someone's day," Atkinson said.

"She is just kind, caring, and friendly, and that translates very well for our students," Northview Principal Chris Mauk told us.

Ruhe told us winning a Golden Apple was her ultimate career goal. She says she's lucky enough to be doing what she loves - teaching young people what's out in the world - so they can find their passion too.
VIGO COUNTY (WTHI) - The demand for COVID-19 vaccines has dropped drastically nationwide. In Vigo County, vaccine rates are dropping much faster than the national average.

According to data from the CDC, the vaccine administration 7-day average has dropped over 30% since mid-April. In Vigo County, the decline has reached up to 90%.

This recent drastic slowdown of vaccines is a concern for many health officials. In Vigo County, vaccination rates have dropped 50% from last month. Next week, they are expected to drop nearly 90%.

"We were vaccinating around 300 people a day a month and a half ago," Ashlee Stewart with the Vigo County Health Department said. "Now we are doing second doses on most people, and we only have about 150 people a day. And next week, it's a total decline where we are only vaccinating around 30 or 40 people per day."

Stewart says the recent decline is because most of the people who wanted the vaccine already got it. Now we are reaching a point where fewer people are actively seeking the vaccination.

"I think the reluctance in getting the vaccination is everyones' personal choice," she said. "People have made up their minds if they are going to get the vaccine or not. It seems like it was given to us very quickly and, ultimately, people are scared."

Because of the decreased demand, many vaccination sites are closing. But, at the same time, many locations are allowing walk-ins to make it easier for people to get the shot without the hassle of scheduling an appointment. As demand continues to decline, health officials are still urging community members to get the vaccine.

"We have had one heck of a year," Stewart said. "We have all been trapped at home, and it's not fun. I do not want to see this happen again, and there is potential it could. We are not seeing those numbers right now, but you never know when we are going to have a surge."

If you are concerned about getting the vaccine or you have questions, contact your local health department. Additionally, health officials say vaccines are still widely available. To sign up click here for Indiana residents and click here for Illinois residents.
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - The Columbus Police Overview Committee met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss new developments with the police department.

During the meeting, Columbus police chief Fred Shelton reported that the department currently has 59 officers.

Of those, five are in the academy preparing to join the group in Columbus.

It costs the department about $3,600 to send each officer to the academy.

Shelton also mentioned they are in the process of interviewing two applications for the CPD.
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - A video caught the eyes of folks across Mississippi that showed what some felt was excessive force by local officers against a mentally ill man.

The video shows three Columbus Police officers taking down a man with mental illness.

The person who caught the incident on camera was Deforest Davis.

It was like crazy. Like in that moment you want to do something, but you cant do anything because of the consequences coming behind that.

Police Chief Fred Shelton said the officers received a call complaining of the man exposing himself to drivers.

Davis said he could hear the man's body hit the ground from a few hundred feet away.

Steven L. James Sr. is the chairman of the Police Overview Committee in Columbus.

He got the chance to see the body camera footage off of the officers.

He feels the officers used excessive force and should have used less harsh techniques to take the man down.

Although Chief Shelton was unable to speak on camera on Wednesday, he did say the police department will release the body camera footage on Thursday.
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - The Mississippi Supreme Court will not rehear an Itawamba County depraved heart murder conviction.

The court voted 2 to 1 not to rehear the case of Joshua Eric Hawk Clark, 38, in the death of his 4-month-old daughter Kylie Clark in 2008.

Clark's conviction was overturned by the Mississippi Court of Appeals in March of last year, but the Mississippi Supreme Court reinstated the verdict and 40-year sentence.

The February decision was made on a 5-4 vote of the justices.

Clark's attorney, Jim Waide of Tupelo, argued prosecutors relied on the shaken baby syndrome to gain Clark's conviction, but the science has since changed and no longer supports the conviction.

Clark is currently serving his sentence in the Marshall County Correctional Facility.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson says the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a man whom deputies arrested on Tuesday.

According to the sheriffs department, deputies responded Tuesday to a domestic violence report at an unnamed location.

Deputies arrived and arrested an irate male suspect, the sheriff says. The sheriff did not identify the man.

The man became ill and deputies performed life-saving measures and called for an ambulance, the sheriff says.

The man later died at the hospital in Tupelo.

The sheriff did not provide any further details about the arrest.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 67F. 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 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
La ricorrenza del 4 maggio e celebrata in Cina come Giornata della gioventu. Per loccasione, e stato lanciato ufficialmente il concorso di cortometraggi intitolato "La gioventu europea in Cina", organizzato dalla Missione cinese nell'Unione europea.

Looking for European Youth at 2021 Youth Day

European Youth in China Short Video Contest Announcement

Hi, young European friends! Come with your own shows! To show your school life beside Weiming Lake, your charm on the Great Wall, your gathering with Chinese friends and your team work with Chinese colleagues. As the host of the European Youth in China short video contest, the Chinese Mission to the EU looks forward to watching your stories!

You are most welcome to take part if you are below the age of 35 years old, come from 27 EU member states and does or did study, work or live in China now or in the past!

Requirements

I. Content: The video needs to share the applicants experience and feelings when he/she studies, works and lives in China, the changes and development of China, or stories about China or China-EU cooperation.

II. Length: The video shall last for no more than three minutes.

III. Format: MP4, 1080p, accurate Chinese and English subtitles, no watermark, clear and smooth video footage without obvious background noise.

IV. Deadline of application: June 30, 2021. Please take note and dont miss it!

V. Notice: The video must be created by the applicant. Videos using other peoples materials or copyright will not be accepted. The video needs to have a clear focus on the theme. It shall not contain contents that violate social ethics, personal privacy, others intellectual property rights, or national laws and regulations of China. The host has the right to use submitted videos without payment or consideration.

Awards

I. China-EU Cultural Exchange Ambassador Award: 5, each with a prize worth about RMB 2,000

II. Best Story Award: 5, each with a prize worth about RMB 1,500

III. Creative Video Award: 5, each with a prize worth about RMB 1,500

IV. Best Editing Award: 5, each with a prize worth about RMB 1,500

V. Most Liked Video Award: 5, each with a prize worth about RMB 1,500

VI. Recognition Award: 25, each with a prize worth about RMB 1,200

Selection & Presentation

I. On June 1, 2021, the platform will be available for uploading videos. You may learn more information in this page. Stay tuned.

II. Starting from July 1, 2021, good videos will be selected and presented.

III. On October 2021, award-winning videos will be announced.

This event is supported by CMG European and Latin American Language Program Center.




Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 19:42:18|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- As Turkey is going through the strictest coronavirus lockdown so far to curb the COVID-19, teachers and students hope that it will have a positive effect on the normalization of the education system.

"The education system has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and students are tired with online education which was initially supposed to last just for a couple of months," Belgin Sezer, the head mistress of an Ankara private high school, told Xinhua.

This veteran education specialist said that the psychological health of students have been affected by prolonged remote and hybrid education.

"Students are struggling to focus on the curriculum. I believe unfortunately that this year a lot of time has been lost for them and it will not be easy to make up for it," Sezer remarked.

She hoped that the latest coronavirus restrictions will pave the way for safe education and a return to in-person schooling in the coming weeks. "We are all making a sacrifice and I hope it will pay off."

Hit by a record re-surge in infections after it eased health restrictions in March, Turkey imposed on April 29 a nearly three-week "full lockdown" until May 17 to curb the spread of infections and deaths ahead of the tourism season.

Daily cases have dropped to around 25,000 from record figures of over 60,000 in the last two weeks.

"Admissions to hospitals have decreased by 50 percent," Health minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters on Monday, confirming the positive trend.

Some 24 million vaccinations have been carried out, with nearly 10 million people having completed a two-doses course in the country of 83 million.

Teachers have also begun to receive jabs in order for schools to fully reopen in the new school year in early September.

"This year was chaotic, I hope the new year will be better, I'm not sure if I can cope with distance education again," Berk Altan, an 18-year-old at his senior year of high school, told Xinhua.

Berk is also preparing for the university admission exam. "My only wish for the moment is to start university under normal conditions and at least be able to gather with other students on a campus and physically be present in a class with professors," he said.

Selcuk Pehlivanoglu, the head of the Turkish Education Association (TED), called on citizens to respect the current safety measures in order for schools to reopen.

He also called on the government to vaccinate "a reasonable number of teachers" until September for the new academic year to be uninterrupted.

Around 420,000 teachers are in line in the mass vaccination drive launched by Turkey in mid-January.

Meanwhile, Zeynep Akinci, an education specialist from Ankara, voiced concern about the children's excessive use of technology like phone and tablets during the pandemic.

"Technology is certainly a must nowadays and should be used, however children's mental health has taken a dive. Anxiety, sadness, and weight gain have been reported by parents and other mental health professionals," she said.

"Many children, mine included, are showing signs of addiction and we have to set boundaries for networking and especially gaming," she warned, believing that if schools reopened in the fall, this problem would improve. Enditem
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.
Weather Alert

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Lower elevations of Carbon and Albany counties. This includes but is not limited to Rawlins, Saratoga, Elk Mountain, Laramie, and Shirley Basin. * WHEN...10 AM MDT Thursday until Midnight MDT Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong crosswinds will be hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including campers and tractor trailers. In addition, high winds combined with hot and dry conditions will lead to extremely critical fire weather conditions. Any new fires could spread rapidly. Burning of any kind of strongly discouraged! PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage. &&
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 19:46:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

BANGKOK -- Thailand registered 1,911 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths over the last 24 hours, the country's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said Thursday.

Of the new infections, 1,902 were domestic transmissions and nine others were quarantined arrivals, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin told a briefing.

- - - -

KABUL -- An additional nine people died from COVID-19 in Afghanistan in the last 24 hours, bringing th death toll to 2,673, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday.

The ministry also reported 293 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected people in the Asian country to 61,455, including 4,821 active cases.

- - - -

NAIROBI -- Kenya on Thursday welcomed the United States position to temporarily waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines in a bid to increase global supplies of desperately needed doses.

Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Tourism and Wildlife said the international community should now lobby the big pharmaceutical companies to accept and support this move to facilitate the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in Africa.

- - - -

COLOMBO -- The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) on Thursday announced a temporary ban taking immediate effect on the arrival of Indian air passengers.

CAASL Additional Director General P. A. Jayakantha said this decision was made in order to prevent the COVID-19 virus variant found in India from entering Sri Lanka.

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia confirmed 7,639 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the lowest daily number since Sept. 26, taking the nationwide tally to 4,855,128, the official monitoring and response center said Thursday.

The national COVID-19 death toll rose by 351 to 112,246 in the past day, while the number of recoveries grew by 7,788 to 4,472,338.

- - - -

MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday 6,637 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,080,172.

The death toll climbed to 17,991 after 191 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

- - - -

CANBERRA -- Australia's medical regulator has linked five new cases of blood clotting to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

John Skerritt, head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, on Thursday announced that five recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine have developed clotting and low platelets. Enditem
Weather Alert

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Southeast Wyoming along and east of the Laramie Range. This includes but is not limited to Douglas, Esterbrook, Lusk, Wheatland, Torrington, Cheyenne and Vedauwoo. * WHEN...6 PM MDT Thursday until 6 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong crosswinds will be hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including campers and tractor trailers. In addition, high winds combined with hot and dry conditions will lead to extremely critical fire weather conditions. Any new fires could spread rapidly. Burning of any kind of strongly discouraged! 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. &&
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 20:50:16|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Despite the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, China has always delivered on its commitments to open up further and share opportunities with the world.

The first China International Consumer Products Expo is scheduled to be held in the southern province of Hainan from May 7 to 10. It is China's latest major sincere move to promote trade liberalization and facilitation, and it is a key measure toward the construction of the Hainan free trade port as well as the largest free trade zone (FTZ) nationwide.

A total of 648 international enterprises from 69 countries and regions, and 1,365 international brands will participate in the expo -- a demonstration of multinationals' enthusiasm for and confidence in China, which has a population of 1.4 billion and a middle-income group that exceeds 400 million.

Over the past decade or so, China has taken a series of solid steps to continuously expand its high-level opening-up, ranging from FTZs across the country to new major fairs such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, and the consumer products expo in Hainan. These events have become the country's major fair platforms for opening-up, together with the China Import and Export Fair -- known as the Canton Fair, which was launched in 1957 in Guangdong Province.

China has also lowered tariffs, shortened its negative list for foreign investment, and eased market access in a number of sectors such as automobiles and financing for global investors.

Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the high number of participants demonstrates that more foreign-funded companies are eyeing the great potential of the Chinese market.

The first consumer products expo is set to inject new impetus into the transformation of the island province into an international tourism consumption center. The event not only serves as a new window into China's huge consumption market but also provides more opportunities for cooperation among countries, and contributes to the recovery and growth of the world economy.

"The policies of the Hainan free trade port and its international business environment have created unprecedented opportunities for multinational enterprises," said Kitty Liu, managing director of Blackmores Group in China, which has already confirmed its participation in the expo.

Openness brings development and progress. The world is becoming more interconnected and interdependent. In the face of the ongoing trend of economic globalization that features openness and integration, acts of unilateralism and protectionism flout the laws of economic development and will result in nothing but harming of the interests of others, and will bring no benefits for their initiators.

China will never close its doors to the world but will open even wider. With the China International Consumer Products Expo, China will continue to honor its commitments to further opening-up, build an open world economy, and achieve shared growth with other countries. Enditem
Weather Alert

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 35 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected. * WHERE...Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range, Upper Green River Basin, South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River, Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County. * WHEN...From 10 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The dry air mass will lead to low afternoon RH values in the single digits, leading to critical fire weather conditions. Any fire could spread extremely rapidly. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive. &&
COLUMBIA, S.C.  As Mike Pence discussed his tenure as vice president with about 500 religious Republicans, some listeners couldn't help but wonder if they were seeing a preview of coming attractions.

I said to my husband, Did you think this was a trial run for a campaign speech? said Beth Atwater, an attorney from Lexington, South Carolina, who attended Pence's speech before the Palmetto Family Council last week.

Republicans across the country are pondering Pence's chances of becoming president  thanks in part to the man who remains at the heart of GOP politics and made Pence vice president: Donald Trump.

Trump and some allies criticize Pence for refusing Trump's demands that he help overturn his election loss of Joe Biden. The insurrection by pro-Trump rioters Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol put Pence's life in danger.

Republicans who want the party to move on from Trump see the former vice president as part of the problem  a loyalist who too often enabled the president.

Pence hasn't said he's running for president, but he raised eyebrows with his reemergence in public in South Carolina, home of a key GOP primary in 2024. He has a lineup of events in the coming months that looks like an attempt to appeal to Trump voters without alienating their leader.

Building a base for a presidential run is always challenging, Republicans said, but Pence's predicament is unique.

"I just don't see the path," said Denver Riggleman, a former GOP congressman from Virginia and an outspoken critic of Trump.

Praise for Trump, attacks on Biden, silence on Jan. 6: Mike Pence makes first speech since leaving office in pivotal SC

More: Mike Pence faces biggest loyalty test in announcing Trump's loss during a special session of Congress

Some attendees at a dinner April 29 hosted by the Palmetto Family Council in Columbia, S.C., wondered if former Vice President Mike Pence's first public speech since leaving office might signal a presidential run.

Making the moves

Pence is one of several Republicans making the kind of moves one does when exploring a presidential run.

The former vice president has created a political committee, Advancing American Freedom, to promote and defend the policies of the Trump-Pence administration. It has run web ads featuring Pence on issues such as border security.

Story continues

Young America's Foundation, a conservative group, announced that Pence will give the keynote address at its National Conservative Student Conference in August in Houston. Pence plans to campaign for Republican candidates in the 2022 congressional races.

The former vice president is writing an autobiography scheduled to be published in 2023, a year before the presidential election.

In deciding where to make his first first speech since leaving office, Pence picked South Carolina  home of the first-in-the-South primary that has been pivotal in Republican nomination battles.

Friday, Pence will attend an early cattle call of eight potential Republican candidates not named Trump. Texas Republicans organized a private meeting of donors to hear from Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and Rick Scott.

Sarah Longwell, a GOP strategist who ran a group called Republican Voters Against Trump in 2020, said Pence's challenges in a 2024 race are many.

"No. 1, Trump is going to attack him as insufficiently loyal," she said, and Trump voters who believe the election was stolen will blame Pence.

Republicans who want to shed Trump see Pence as complicit in the administration's actions, including the drawn-out protests of the election.

Longwell said, "People who love Trump don't like him, and people who hate Trump don't like him."

'A Christian, a Conservative, a Republican  in that order'

During his half-hour speech in a downtown Columbia ballroom last week, Pence said that serving alongside Trump was "the greatest honor of my life," though he didn't mention the ex-president's name that much. He spoke more about the administration's record and criticized the Biden administration over immigration, spending, taxes, abortion and religious freedom.

In his opening, Pence recited a standard self-description: "I'm a Christian, a conservative and a Republican  in that order."

Though vice presidents often find it hard to emerge from the shadow of the presidents they served, the job has become a stepping stone toward the Oval Office. Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush and Joe Biden were elected to the presidency as former vice presidents. Hubert Humphrey (1968), Walter Mondale (1984) and Al Gore (2000) won the Democratic nominations but fell short in the general elections.

None of those former veeps faced the kind of obstacle within their own party that Pence has in Trump.

Pence has to answer one question first: Will he run if Trump does? The former president said he is considering another race in 2024 but won't make an announcement until after the 2022 congressional races.

Normally, a former vice president would be in "the top spot" for the next election, but "in a Trump GOP, it is more complicated," said Mike DuHaime, former political director for the Republican National Committee.

Despite Pence's "fealty over the four years," DuHaime said, "Trump may have forever damaged (Pence's) reputation with Trump supporters by calling him out during the election lie and the Capitol riot on Jan. 6."

Pence, who frequently talks about his religious faith, does have support from at least one important Republican constituency: evangelical voters such as the ones who saw him speak at the Palmetto Family Council.

Tim Miller, a former Republican political strategist who saw Pence in Columbia, said he has "a base of support with evangelicals, which is better than most have, but can he expand out of that?"

Members of Trump's "Make America Great Again" caucus may remain suspicious.

"Hard to imagine the MAGA voters are ever going to love him," Miller said.

Vice President Mike Pence presides over a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 intending to confirm Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election before a mob of Donald Trump's supporters invaded the Capitol and lawmakers fled for safety.

'He did the right thing ... And it's going to cost him'

One of Pence's biggest hurdles to a potential run isn't just his association with Trump but Trump's own criticisms of him.

At a Republican donor conference last month at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he was still "disappointed" that Pence did not move to block the counting of electoral votes from states that went for Biden.

Republican unity? Not so much. Donald Trump goes off-script, hits McConnell, Pence, others

Former Vice President Mike Pence signs double book deal: First release will be autobiography

In a statement this week attacking Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Trump said the election result would have been different "had Mike Pence referred the information on six states (only need two) back to State Legislatures."

Trump denounced his vice president at a rally Jan. 6 that preceded the insurrection at the Capitol, where some Trump supporters roamed the halls looking for Pence and calling him a traitor.

Riggleman, the former congressman from Virginia, said he has seen Trump-Pence yard signs in his district with the vice president's name painted over or otherwise vandalized.

He said he likes Pence and believes the vice president acted honorably in refusing to interfere Jan. 6 when Congress met to confirm Biden's victory. "He did the right thing for the country that day," Riggleman said. "And it's going to cost him."

One thing potentially working in Pence's favor: Few people are paying attention to the Republican presidential race.

Jenny Beth Martin, honorary chairman of Tea Party Patriots Action, said reporters and political activists are interested in the early jockeying, but most Americans are worried and frustrated about things such as reviving the economy and re-opening schools once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

When the time for attention comes, she said, "the grassroots would want to know first and foremost whether Trump is going to want to run."

'A long time away'

At the Columbia Convention Center, South Carolina Republicans said they believe compatriots in their state and elsewhere  places such as Iowa and New Hampshire  will judge Pence on his merits. They are intrigued by how Pence might navigate the issue of Trump.

Kelly Ross, who works for a nonprofit company in Greenville, said Pence's base of voters is different from Trump's, and the election "is a long time away" in any event.

Others said the Pence-Trump dispute over Jan. 6 will mean little to Republicans in 2024.

"I think people forget things and get over them and move on to what's best for the country," said Cathy Wells, a housewife from Lexington.

In short, many said, they'll wait and see.

"It's kind of hard to tell," said Atwater, the attorney from Lexington. "You know, politics changes so quickly."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Pence running for president? He'll have to contend with Trump.
Australia, which has been closed to much of the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began, may not open its borders until later into 2022, the country's finance minister said this week, citing the uncertainty of vaccine rollouts and outbreaks around the world.

"We recognize 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 considerations that mean we won't be seeing borders flung open at the start of next year with great ease," Finance Minister Simon Birmingham told The Australian, according to news.com.au.

"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 added.

Australia has remained closed to travel from most countries around the world (and requires mandatory two-week hotel quarantines for those who do enter), but last month the country expanded a travel bubble with New Zealand, eliminating the need to quarantine and allowing families to reunite.

Sydney, Australia

Xinhua/Hu Jingchen via Getty Images

However, on Thursday, New Zealand paused the quarantine-free travel to Australia's New South Wales to investigate new cases in Sydney, Reuters reported.

While Birmingham's views of open borders are grim, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has different plans. Morrison has said he is pushing for the possibility that vaccinated Australians could travel abroad without the need to quarantine when they return, news.com.au noted.

"This is what I've tasked the medical experts with, is ensuring that we can know when an Australian is vaccinated here with their two doses, is able to travel overseas and return without having to go through hotel quarantine," Morrison told a radio station in April. "I think we're still some time away from that But what we need to know from the health advisers is what does make that safe and what does make that possible."

Story continues

So far, Australia has administered more than 2.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Reuters, which is tracking the vaccine effort around the world. That would be enough to have vaccinated about 4.7% of the population, assuming each person needs two doses.

Australia isn't alone in exploring a travel bubble. Later this month, Hong Kong and Singapore plan to open up quarantine-free travel between the two cities with testing or vaccination requirements in place. Each has expressed interest in a similar arrangement with Australia.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
Rutgers Health

A renowned infectious disease expert and Rutgers University professor has died after contracting COVID-19 in India.

Dr. Rajendra Kapila was visiting the country to help his family in New Delhi as India experiences a public health crisis due to recent surges in new COVID cases, according to ABC7.

His colleagues confirmed his death on Twitter Wednesday, expressing their grief and applauding Kapila's work.

"We have lost a giant in infection disease," wrote Nancy Connell, who is a professor and vice-chair for research in the Division of Infectious Disease in the Department of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Connell added that Kapila "served as a leader in global infectious diseases" at Rutgers and the department "will be forever grateful for his contribution to global ID and remember his extraordinary diagnostic talent."

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RELATED: India's COVID-19 Death Toll Surpasses 200,000 People as Other Countries Send Help

Kapila, 81, fell into an age group that is especially vulnerable to complications from the virus. He also had diabetes and heart complications, his ex-wife Dr. Bina Kapila told ABC7.

He'd decided he would stay in New Delhi for one week to help his family and provide his expertise.

"What can go wrong in one week? So he was only going to go for one week," his ex-wife said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dr. Bina Kapila, who was married to the professor for 40 years before they divorced a decade ago, said that her ex-husband was a uniquely gifted medical professional.

"He was so brilliant when we were in college, in medical school, that the professors of medicine after they gave a lecture, they would come to him and ask him, 'did I cover everything?'" she told ABC7.

Kapila had been practicing medicine in New Jersey for 50 years after receiving his medical degree from the University of Delhi, India, according to his Rutgers Health biography.

He served as the assistant chief of medicine for the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam War. After receiving his university and hospital appointments at Rutgers in the 1970s, he became a founding member of the New Jersey Infectious Disease Society.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the CDC, WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
SWEET MAGNOLIAS

ELIZA MORSE/NETFLIX

Don't hold your breath for the return of Sweet Magnolias.

This week Deadline confirmed that season two of the popular series is in production for a 2022 premiere.

While Netflix has yet to announce an exact release date, the streamer did reveal that Jamie Lynn Spears (Noreen Fitzgibbons), Dion Johnstone (Erik Whitley), and Brandon Quinn (Ronnie Sullivan) have all been promoted to series regulars for the upcoming season.

And no: there's still no word on who was in that car.

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Series lead JoAnna Garcia Swisher celebrated her return to the feel-good show on Instagram in March. While she wasn't able to share any spoilers, she did promise that "it will be worth the wait."

The show, which is based on the books of the same name by Sherryl Woods, is a tale of friendship, family, and romance set in the fictional South Carolina town of Serenity. The soapy drama centers around three best friends, Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) as they navigate life, love, and business in their charming small town with a little help from a long-standing margarita night.

WATCH: JoAnna Garcia Swisher Shares Her Thoughts on Season Two of Sweet Magnolias

The first season of Sweet Magnolias was primarily shot in the real-world town of Covington, Georgia, located less than an hour east of Atlanta. All signs post to the show's sophomore season also being shot in the popular filming location.

Well, you know what they say: you can't rush perfection!
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 20:52:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China said Thursday that Australia has been for some time abusing the so-called "national security" reasons to further restrict and suppress China-Australia cooperation, which has gravely damaged the mutual trust between the two countries and undermined the foundation of normal exchanges and cooperation.

China has to make a necessary and legitimate response, and Australia must take full responsibilities for this, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

Wang made the remarks in response to a query on the decision of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue starting from Thursday.

The decision was made based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth Government toward China-Australia cooperation, the NDRC said in a proclamation on its website Thursday.

"China has always been of the view that a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of both countries," Wang said, adding that China-Australia cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. Meanwhile, mutual respect and trust are the prerequisites for dialogue and pragmatic cooperation between countries," said Wang.

For some time, Australia, in disregard of China's solemn position and repeated representations, has been abusing the so-called "national security" reasons and intensified restrictions and suppression of China-Australia cooperation projects and existing achievements in the fields of economy, trade and humanities, Wang said. "This has seriously damaged the mutual trust between China and Australia, and undermined the foundation of normal exchanges and cooperation."

"China has to make a necessary and legitimate response, and Australia must bear all the responsibilities for this," the spokesperson said.

"We urge Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias; take an objective view of China's development and China-Australia cooperation; immediately return to rationality, correct its mistakes and change course; stop the irrational suppression of China-Australia cooperation; stop politicizing and stigmatizing normal exchanges between the two countries; and refrain from going further down the wrong path," he said. Enditem
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 21:00:34|Editor: huaxia

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South African tourist guides sing a Chinese song at the graduation ceremony for a Mandarin training program offered by the University of Johannesburg-Nanjing Technology University Confucius Institute in Pretoria, South Africa, March 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

China is the largest developing country, and has gained great experience in poverty reduction. It is willing to share its development experience with its African friends and other developing countries that uphold the same aspiration to let their people live better lives. A recent survey conducted in 18 African countries by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research organization, showed that up to 60 percent of Africans believe China's economic and political influence in Africa is positive.



NAIROBI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent virtual trip to Africa turned out to be another Washington's political trick to drive a wedge between China and Africa.

What is quite interesting about the virtual trip is that Blinken, never stop telling the cliches of so-called China threat or debt trap to smear China, said that the United States is not asking anyone to choose between the United States and China.

The real intention behind Washington's words and deeds is too obvious. It is attempting to put on a zero-sum game, disrupt China-Africa cooperation, and exclusively advance American interests in Africa. However, China and Africa would not fall into that trap of zero-sum thinking.

A train arrives at the Maai Mahiu Station of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, Oct. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yan)

History tells the most trustworthy facts that China and Africa enjoy a long-lasting friendship. Historical records have shown that renowned ancient Chinese navigator Zheng He had travelled to Africa around 600 years ago. The fleet he led had traded porcelain, tea, and silk with locals' ivory and ambergris, in a fair and friendly manner.

Zheng's voyages were an open chapter of the friendly exchanges between China and Africa. The China-aided Tanzania-Zambia Railway built more than half a century ago, and today's growing China-Africa cooperation are also good results of China-Africa friendly relationship.

However, in stark contrast, the exchange history between the Western countries and Africa is full of misdeeds of invasion and colonization. Therefore, those groundless accusations that attempted to provoke anti-China sentiment are merely futile.

Moreover, China-Africa relations continue to develop strongly. Over the past 20 more years since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Africa trade has increased by 20 times. Meanwhile, China's investment in Africa surged by more than 100 times in value from 2000 to 2017.

Flagship projects constructed with China's support have largely promoted Africa's prosperity and development, and have created an enormous number of jobs for local people while also guaranteeing their access to basic services such as water, electricity, transport, and skill learning.

China is the largest developing country, and has gained great experience in poverty reduction. It is willing to share its development experience with its African friends and other developing countries that uphold the same aspiration to let their people live better lives. A recent survey conducted in 18 African countries by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research organization, showed that up to 60 percent of Africans believe China's economic and political influence in Africa is positive.

A Chinese medical expert is welcomed by locals upon her arrival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua)

Nowadays, China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchanges are booming. Many young Africans dream of going to China for further study and then coming back to help build their home countries. As more African people come to China, they get the chance to see the real China with their own eyes, and get to know what the Western world has portrayed is untrue and distorted.

In Africa, numerous words of wisdom tell how mankind should cooperate rather than going against each other. "Wisdom is like a baobab tree, one individual cannot embrace it." Such words are ringing truer in today's world as no single country alone can tackle global crises such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and terrorism.

In this fast changing world, China and Africa will surely continue to work together and stride forward along the path of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

Those who have been addicting to the zero-sum game and attempting to drive a wedge between China and Africa could well save their strength. 
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 21:19:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese spokesperson on Thursday said any attempt to meddle in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty, or tarnish China's image under various excuses is doomed to fail. It was in response to a recent statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) concerning China.

The joint statement was issued by the G7 foreign ministers' meeting Wednesday. It expressed concerns over Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It also voiced support for Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily press briefing the G7 meeting made groundless accusations against China. They openly meddled in China's internal affairs and resorted to bloc politics that turned back the wheels of history, said Wang.

"This constitutes a gross interference in China's national sovereignty and wanton destruction of the norms governing international relations, which goes against the trend of peace, development, and cooperation for win-win results," said Wang, adding China condemns such practice.

Issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong are all China's internal affairs, Wang noted. He added that China enjoys sufficient factual and legal basis for sovereignty and rights claimed in the Diaoyu and affiliated islands, the South China Sea islands, and the adjacent waters.

He also said Taiwan's participation in international organizations must be dealt with under the one-China principle.

As a group composed of developed countries, Wang said the G7 should contribute more to helping developing countries accelerate their development rather than drive conflicts and divergences to disrupt the process of global economic recovery.

As the G7 includes the countries hit hardest by COVID-19 and those with the most advanced medical technologies, the spokesperson said they should focus on international cooperation on anti-pandemic responses. They should also focus on the equitable distribution of vaccines instead of hoarding vaccines, and stop accusing other countries, interfering in their affairs, and disrupting the top priority of international cooperation on pandemic responses.

"We urge relevant countries to face their own problems, rectify their selfish behavior over pandemic responses, and stop abusing the concept of national security," Wang said. He added any attempt to meddle in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty, or tarnish China's image in disregard of basic norms of international relations is doomed to fail. Enditem
Hungary is the first country in Europe where enough vaccine is available for everyone who asks for it, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after talks with Pfizers Hungarian director.

This is a great achievement, and it would not have been possible without Pfizers supplies, Szijjarto said.



Hungary has signed up for 10.8 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, and the 20th shipment of 334,000 doses were scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, he said.



As a result, Hungary will have received a total of 2.8 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, the largest amount of vaccine received from any vaccine manufacturer, he added.



Szijjarto said that thanks to these supplies and the fact that Hungary does not consider vaccine procurement to be an ideological issue, having purchased vaccines from both the Eastern and the Western points of the compass, the country is the first where the vaccine market of is turning from supply-driven to demand-driven, he said.



It is also planned that Pfizer will play a big role in the vaccination of young people, Szijjarto said.



He noted that he had paid a visit to the companys Hungarian office as a sign of respect and to thank its employees.



Since December 26, 2020, they have all been working extremely hard to ensure the supply of large amounts of vaccines to Hungary, he added.



Sufficient reserves are now being accumulated in order to be able to inoculate people aged between 16 and 18, and the vaccination of under 16s could follow depending on the advice of medical experts, he said.





MTI Photo: Gyorgy Varga
Spas and baths in Hungary are now receiving visitors in possession of a vaccination certificate, the chief medical officer said.

The spread of the virus is unlikely in such an environment, Cecilia Muller said.



The public health authority and the Hungarian Spa Association have set up a list of requirements to ensure the safety of patrons, Muller said.



Besides technological, security, environmental and health-care requirements for reopening, the document also contains regulations on disinfection and cleaning, staffing, as well as on the chemical balance of the pool water, Muller said.



Guests are asked to stay away if they experience fever or any sickness, and to use the showers before entering the pools.



They should also keep a distance from each other as far as that is possible, Muller said.
Be timely and dependable. Respond quickly and follow through.

Do hard things. Its a great opportunity for you to shine to grow to demonstrate that you are a great team player.

Be kind. You never know at what point what kind act or kind word you do or say today may come back in the future.

Focus on whats important. You are about to become very, very busy with your lives so focus on whats important  on your faith, on your friends, and on your family.

After Garretts address, York College Provost Dr. Shane Mountjoy recognized some of the academic achievements of the graduating seniors, calling attention to those who were wearing honor medallions inscribed with the college seal. Asking each group to stand, Mountjoy had the audience applaud for those who graduated Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude. He also recognized four students who graduated with perfect 4.0 grade point averages: Kellie Fredendall, Amalia Magner, Taylor O'Brien and Cole Satterfield.

A special faculty honor this year was given to Mrs. Gail Miller, associate professor of biology.
PATNA: In view of the COVID crisis, the Bihar government has suspended leaves of all officers and employees as amid COVID-19 lockdown continues in the state till May 15.

Leaves to be granted in special circumstances on a case-to-case basis, the Bihar Police said in a statement.

In view of the COVID crisis, leaves of all officers and employees have been suspended. Leaves to be granted in special circumstances on a case-to-case basis: Headquarters, Bihar Police  ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

Bihar Police officials have been instructed to monitor the COVID-19 lockdown strictly throughout the state. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged the people of the state to defer wedding ceremonies in their families in the wake of surging cases of corona pandemic across the state.



This will help to break the chain of infection in the state. The state government has imposed a complete lockdown in Bihar till the 15th of this month to contain the spread of Coronavirus.



Meanwhile, the number of fresh Corona cases continues to rise rapidly. A record number of 14 thousand 836 cases were reported yesterday.

One hundred and sixty people died during the last 24 hours. With this, the number of casualties due to the pandemic has gone up to two thousand 987.



The positivity rate has gone up to about 16 percent. Patna reported two thousand 420 positive cases, the highest in the state, followed by 857 in the Vaishali district. The active cases have crossed one lakh thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy-nine.



The recovery rate is decreasing and now stands at 78.38 percent. Four lakh twenty-two thousand two hundred and ten people have recovered from the infection so far.



One lakh two thousand 152 people took the vaccine yesterday. Over 76 lakh 60 thousand five hundred seventy-one people have been vaccinated in the state so far.

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NEW DELHI: At a time when there is an acute shortage of medical supplies, beds and medical oxygen in hospitals across the country, a leading NGO named Seva Bharti has launched a noble initiative to help the COVID-19 patients in Delhi.

According to reports, the NGO involved in social service for decades has decided to provide life-saving Oxygen gas to those COVID-19 patients who urgently need it but are helpless due to the supply crunch.

For those patients, Seva Bharti has launched an "oxygen van" service in the national Capital. This entire campaign has been named ''Oxygen Service, Pranavayu Aapke Dwar''.

Each oxygen van launched by the NGO is equipped with four beds along with oxygen cylinders, masks and other essential goods to take care of COVID patients.

On the first day of its launch, the NGO has provided two such vans to Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Seva Bharti has plans to launch as many as 100 such oxygen vans soon outside all major hospitals of the national capital.

The organisation aims to provide oxygen to needy patients as Delhi is facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen due to which many patients lost their lives.

Interestingly, in a big boost to COVID-19 infected people in home isolation, the Delhi government has also begun the home delivery of medical oxygen from Thursday.

As per the plan, the Delhi government will ensure the delivery of medical oxygen cylinder at the doorstep of the Covid-19 patients who are under home isolation.

The decision in this regard was taken amid raging Covid-19 cases and acute shortage of beds in the hospitals in the national capital. This decision is likely to help a lot of Covid-19 patients in Delhi, who are unable to find a bed in hospitals and are undergoing treatment at home.

Patients who need oxygen support will now be able to get the life-saving gas at their place at a reasonable price. Those who urgently need medical oxygen can make a formal request online by visiting - delhi.gov. in.

They will have to provide a photo identity card, Aadhar card and Covid-19 report.

Amid all this, the two medical oxygen plants have been installed at AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in the national capital with PM-CARES fund which will start supplying oxygen to these medical facilities by this evening, the Union Health Ministry said.

The plants were airlifted from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and installed here on a war footing, it added.

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New Delhi: The spiralling crisis from resurgence of COVID-19 cases in India has dented support for the ruling BJP but voter support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party will remain strong over the coming quarters and through this humanitarian crisis, Fitch Solutions said Thursday.

The sudden and steep surge in the number of coronavirus cases the highest-ever 4,12,262 new infections and a record 3,980 daily death toll in a day has swamped the health system, which seemed to have collapsed.

While containment measures will weigh on India's ongoing economic recovery, the localised nature of restrictions means that the actual impact is likely to be much less severe relative to April-June 2020 when a strict nationwide lockdown was imposed, Fitch Solutions said.

It forecasted real GDP to grow 9.5 per cent in 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022).

Risks to this forecast are to the downside, as the surge in new daily COVID-19 caseloads will most likely see an extension and expansion of lockdowns, it said adding that the resurgence of COVID-19 cases exposed cracks in the Indian healthcare system.

"While there appears to be signs that the spiralling COVID-19 crisis in India has dented support for the ruling BJP, we maintain our view that voter support for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP will remain strong over the coming quarters and through this humanitarian crisis," Fitch Solutions said.

This second wave in India has been widely attributed to the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK which had ramped up cases in Punjab. Another possible culprit is a homegrown variant, B.1.617, with two worrying mutations that originated in Maharashtra, the worst affected state.

"In addition to this, in India, a year of COVID-19 fatigue gave way to an ill-advised euphoria over herd immunity as cases began to dip in January 2021.

"Inadequate government measures and people not adhering to public health guidelines, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, are also the main reasons for India's upward tick in infections," it said.

It added that a number of political, social and religious events and elections for local bodies in multiple states and preparation for Assembly elections in others also created an opportunity for the virus to move fast.

Fitch Solutions said that in March this year, a few weeks before the new surge, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is also a physician, asserted that India was in the "endgame" of the COVID-19 pandemic, justifying the government's decision to export medical resources to other countries.

India exported around 193 million doses of vaccines.

Fitch Solutions said "the perception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has considerably mismanaged the COVID-19 crisis will weigh on his and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) popularity somewhat. Some of this erosion in popularity is evidenced in the state elections".

"A less-than-stellar performance at these polls adds to the political challenges the BJP had been facing in recent months, which include the anti-farm reform protests by farmers and anti-BJP government sentiment on social media platform Twitter amid the resurgence in COVID-19 cases, which the government has sought to suppress.

"For now, however, we are cautious against concluding that the BJP's support has weakened across the country, given Modi's strong personality-led support across the country, which we believe can still sustain through this humanitarian crisis," it said.

With 8.5 hospital beds per 10,000 population and eight physicians per 10,000, the country's healthcare sector is not equipped for such a crisis. Hospitals across the country have filled to capacity and in addition to oxygen running out, intensive care units are operating at full capacity and nearly all in the country ventilators are in use.

"Despite surging infections, an overburdened healthcare system, and non-stop burial and crematorium activity, the Modi administration remains resistant to imposing a stringent sweeping nationwide lockdown the likes of Q1FY21 (April 2020-March 2021).

"This was due to considerations around the economic damage another such lockdown would cause," it said.

The onus of the pandemic containment has hence been shifted to the state governments, Fitch added.

As of early May 2021, at least 11 states and Union Territories have imposed some level of lockdowns in localised high-risk areas, ranging from night curfews, weekend lockdowns and strict lockdowns over a multi-week period, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

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New Delhi: As Uttar Pradesh government extended the lockdown in state due to the ongoing second wave of coronavirus, it is being speculated that the upcoming Class 10, Class 12 board exams maybe postponed.

The board exams have come under the scanner as Uttar Pradesh has reported an alarming ris eof COVID-19 cases. Adding to the woes was the news of the deputy Chief Minister and state Education Minister Dinesh Sharma testing positive for COVID-19.

While the move to postpone the exam is expected to come soon there has been no official confirmation in this regard yet.

On April 15, UPMSP had extended the UP Board exam date till May 20 which were scheduled to begin from May 8. The revised schedule for Class 10, 12 board exams have not been released yet. Students are advised to check the UPMSP website  upmsp.edu.in for updates.

Nearly 56 lakh registered students will sit for the Matric and Senior Secondary examinations in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 29,94,312 students registered for the UP Board Class 10 exam 2021 and 26,09,501 students for Class 12 exams are now waiting for UP board's decision.
Its great to see Indias leadership in scientific innovation and vaccine manufacturing capability as the world works to end the COVID-19 pandemic, is a statement by Bill Gates which lies in stark contrast to the sentiments espoused by the pseudo-intellectual elite in India, who find it in themselves to only shine light on the ugly rather than building on the strengths that have been in clear display. As the country battles unprecedented rise in the number of COVID cases in the country, the efforts of the government in handling the crisis have been nothing short of herculean.

As an active Member of Parliament and a practicing Doctor, this past year in the midst of the raging pandemic has been a challenging time in terms of balancing these two roles. Even during these trying times, I have been able to balance my responsibility as a medical professional and a public representative thanks to the proactive role of the Central and the State Governments in managing the crisis.

Right from the start, the decisiveness of the government in ensuring the reduction in the spread of the coronavirus has been pretty evident. Be it its, investments in repurposing the government buildings like schools and others like hotels into isolation centres for the inflicted, the government has shown tremendous foresight in its handling of the pandemic. That the Narendra Modi government has also been able to systematically improve its capacities in the development of PPE kits, testing equipment, ventilators and other related accoutrement shows fruits that were borne of the strategic direction that had been laid early on by the government.

Being part of the decision making body in Assam, it has been a source of great pride for me to witness the degree of success that the state has had in managing the crisis. From a proactive approach to management of the crisis, 8 new Oxygen Plants in the state have been created following the first wave of the pandemic. I am also proud to state that we have been able to facilitate the development of oxygen plants in Bhutan as well, at the completion of which, Assam is set to receive 50 MT of oxygen from Bhutan. Medical colleges across the state have been gearing up to supply oxygen. The management model displayed in Assam is such that patients are being flown in from Delhi to Guwahati as the dearth of oxygen and ICU beds in hospitals at the national capital increases.

The social messaging, the structural initiatives and the impeccable leadership helped an underprepared nation to ride the first wave of the virus with relatively lower casualty than even the more developed countries. The financial woes that the country went through following the COVID related pandemic in 2020 were also addressed by the current government through the announcement of the  20 trillion which goes mostly unremarked. Earlier in 2020, the Finance Minister made an announcement of several packages of 1.70 lakh crore for the people living in poverty. All these packages fall under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana where 19.86 crore women across the nation with Jan Dhan account would receive 500 each. 8 crore poor families were provided with free LPG cylinders for three months and senior citizens would be provided with 1000as a way to mitigate the burden for the COVID pandemic induced lockdowns imposed in March 2020. For the returnee migrant workers 50,000 crore were disbursed through Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan.

In recognition and dutiful performance of my role as a public representative and a standing member of the Ministry of External Affairs, I have been able to contribute towards the homecoming of the stranded NRIs back to India. Our focus has not been just to bring our constituents home safely, but also to allow them healthy lives in the country. The Government, in its proactive approach has ensured that the indigenously developed Covaxin and the foreign vaccines like Sputnik V and Covishield, have also been rolled out and tested in recognition of the need for developing manufacturing capability in house. To boost the need arising out of the recent uptick in cases in the whole country, the government has also fast-tracked the approval for other variants as well which have been approved regulators in the US, the UK, European Union and Japan has also begun. More recently, orders have been sanctioned to start the production of the Remdesivir vaccine, to be produced by Sun Pharmaceuticals at their Palashbari Plant in Assam, which will have the capacity to produce 80K vials per week. This is a major achievement, that being a representative from Assam I can be proud of. In addition to that, according to the Government reports, Assam has already received a stock of 2 lakh vaccines with more set to arrive from the 1st of May.

India and Indian leadership at the government have also been cognisant of their role in the community of nations. Right from the start, it has played its part as a responsible nation being the leading manufacturers of the Hydroxychloroquine, which was then believed to be a viable treatment for the corona virus infection. Even following that, in terms of export of PPEs and other relevant medical equipment, the countrys leadership has never shied away from its responsibilities in the global arena. In terms of collaboration with regards to the vaccine development as well, the country always kept its arms and options open.

In conclusion, I would be remiss if I were to ignore the contribution of the civil society during this crisis. From my personal experience in my constituency of Silchar, I can proudly cite the example of the Silchar Boys group who took it upon themselves to safely cremate the remains of patients who perished under the effect of COVID.

There are certainly many more, that slips my recollection that equally deserve of similar adulation. The fact that I have been able to participate in, contribute towards and inspire such acts of selflessness is the epitome of success as a public personality. I, Dr Rajdeep Roy, hope that the hardships that we as a people are having to go through would bear sweeter fruit at the other end and help to bring us together as a community of people.

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Madrid: Spain's health minister has confirmed that the European country has detected 11 cases of the new strain of the coronavirus first identified in India.

Minister Carolina Darias said the cases were two separate outbreaks discovered by health officials in recent days.

Earlier, France had confirmed three cases of Indian COVID-19 variants in the country.

She added a plane carrying medical supplies, including oxygen and breathing machines, for hard-hit India will leave on Thursday.

Last week, Spain's government approved a shipment of seven tons of medical supplies to help India combat the surging wave of COVID-19 infections.

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New Delhi: The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to pass any order on former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh's request for interim protection from coercive action in connection with an FIR lodged against him by the CBI on corruption charges.

A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its affidavit within a period of four weeks in response to the petition filed by Deshmukh seeking to quash the FIR.

Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for Deshmukh, sought for an interim order granting protection from any coercive action to the NCP leader.

"The CBI can file its affidavit to the petition, but till then the petitioner should be protected," Desai said.

CBI counsel Anil Singh, however, opposed it and said the agency was given a copy of the petition only on Wednesday and hence, it requires time to file its affidavit.

The court then said the respondent (CBI) should be given an opportunity to respond to the petition.

"We cannot pass any orders without hearing the parties concerned. If there is extreme urgency, then you (Deshmukh) can move the vacation bench of the HC. You (Deshmukh) have that liberty," the court said.

The bench said if Deshmukh moved the vacation bench, then he shall give 48-hour notice to the CBI.

Deshmukh filed the petition in the HC on May 3, challenging the FIR lodged by the CBI on April 21 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, dealing with illegal gratification obtained by a public servant, and section 120(b)(criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the petition, Deshmukh claimed the FIR could not have been registered without the state government's consent.

The plea said the FIR was filed with a "biased, dubious and ulterior motive at the behest of those having political or other vendetta" against him.

It further said the FIR makes vague allegations and there is no case made out for illegal gratification.

The CBI had initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Deshmukh on the HC's order on April 5, based on petitions filed by advocate Jayshri Patil and former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who levelled allegations of corruption and malpractices against the NCP leader.

Singh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in March, alleging that Deshmukh had asked API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore as bribe from bars and restaurants in Mumbai every month.

Waze, currently under suspension, was arrested in March in connection with the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) probe into the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai and the subsequent murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.

Param Bir Singh wrote the letter to the CM after he was shifted from the post of Mumbai police commissioner and appointed as the director general, home guards.

The CBI had questioned Deshmukh and conducted searches at his premises. The probe agency had also questioned Singh and others.

Deshmukh, who has rejected the allegations levelled against him, resigned as state home minister on April 5 after the HC ordered the preliminary enquiry against him.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 21:40:05|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Thursday that Hong Kong's uniqueness under "one country, two systems" makes it an ideal gateway for businesses and investment between the Chinese mainland and New Zealand.

Lam made the remarks when addressing more than 200 participants from the business community in New Zealand in a webinar organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney.

Hong Kong has been enjoying close ties with New Zealand over the years, with New Zealand in 2010 becoming the first foreign economy to enter into a free trade agreement with Hong Kong, Lam said.

Lam said that, driven by strong recovery in trade and the HKSAR government's continued investment, Hong Kong's economy in the first quarter of 2021 has rebounded strongly, recording year-on-year real growth of 7.8 percent and an increase of 5.3 percent over the preceding quarter.

As the epidemic situation is easing in Hong Kong, she said it is now an opportune time for New Zealand enterprises to establish a presence or expand their existing businesses in Hong Kong.

She said that with the relatively stable epidemic situation in New Zealand, the compulsory quarantine period for persons arriving in Hong Kong from New Zealand has been reduced from 21 days to 14 days since last month. She expressed hope that with the continued efforts of both places, facilitation of cross-border travel between the two places, such as through a travel bubble, can be further explored. Enditem
NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president and former Union Minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh passed away on Thursday due to COVID-19. The shocking news of his demise was confirmed by his son and former Member of Parliament Jayant Chaudhary. He was 82.

Ajit Singh, a prominent leader from western Uttar Pradesh, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Gurgaon after he tested positive for the coronavirus on April 20.

"Chaudhary Ajit Singh Ji was diagnosed as COVID positive on April 20. He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning on May 6," Jayant, the RJD Vice President, said in a tweet.

Jayant also shared a note on Twitter on behalf of the family members which read, "Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn, cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare."

As our nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible. We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us. We pray for solace for all those families that have been ravaged by this brutal disease," the note added.

"Saddened by the news of the demise of RJD chief and former Union Minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh. He always raised his voice in the interest of the farmers. As a public representative and minister, he left a different impression on the politics of the country. My condolences to his family and well-wishers," President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while expressing grief on the demise of the former union minister, said that Singh was always devoted to the interests of the farmers."Deeply saddened by the passing away of former Union Minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh ji. He was always devoted to the interests of the farmers. He efficiently discharged the responsibilities of several departments at the Centre. My condolences to his family in this hour of mourning," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Ajit Singh: A suave politician and formidable farmer leader

Ajit Singh, a seven-time MP from Uttar Pradesh`s Baghpat, was the son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. He founded the RLD in 1996. Ajit Singh served as a Member of Parliament for eight terms, including one term as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He also served as the Union Minister four times.

He inherited the rich legacy of his father Charan Singh  a popular farmer leader himself and the Prime Minister of India for six months between 1979-1980.

Before entering the murky world of politics, Ajit Singh worked for 15 years in the United States as a computer engineer. A computer scientist by profession, Singh was also one of the first Indians to work with IBM in the 1960s.

Singh decided to quit his lucrative job in the United States to fill the vacuum created by the demise of his father, who wielded a considerable influence in the prosperous western Uttar Pradesh.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ajit Singh was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1986.

The seven-time member of Lok Sabha, Ajit Singh, represented the family's pocket borough of Baghpat in the Lower House of Parliament. His party, RLD, wields influence in the Jat-dominated western Uttar Pradesh.

Ajit Singh began his illustrious political career with Lok Dal and later allied with Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.

Perceived as a fair-weather friend and sometimes as an opportunist by his critics, Ajit Singh switched alliances in an effort to remain on the winning side.

He always raised his voice in the interest of the farmers of the country. As a public representative and minister, he left an unforgettable impression on the politics of the country. Ajit Singh served as the Union Minister of Industry in the then VP Singh government.

Later, he joined the PV Narasimha Rao government as Union Food Minister but resigned from the Congress in 1996. Ajit Singh formed RLD and joined the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government as Union Agriculture Minister in 2001.

He was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government till May 2003. Singh later joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) after forging an alliance with the Congress for assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

He will be remembered as one of the tallest farmer leaders the country has ever produced and a suave gentleman politician, who was highly educated, approachable, and always willing to help.

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New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 6, 2021) after the national capital reportedly received 730 metric tonnes of oxygen on May 5. He requested that the same quantity be supplied to the national capital everyday.

In a letter to the PM, Kejriwal said that it was for the first time that Delhi had received the desired supply of the life-saving gas.

Delhi has a consumption of 700 metric tonnes of oxygen on a daily basis. We have been urging the Centre on a regular basis to give us 700 metric tonnes. It was for the first time yesterday that Delhi received 730 metric tonnes," he said in the letter.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of Delhiites. I request you that Delhi should be given at least this much of oxygen on a daily basis and there should not be any reduction in this quantity. The whole of Delhi will be grateful to you," he said.

The letter from Kejriwal comes amid escalating tensions between the Centre and the Kejriwal-led government over oxygen supply.

The Supreme Court, which is now presiding over at the matter, told the centre that its formula for oxygen allocation for Delhi has been an exercise in gross undercounting and that it requires a complete revamp.

Several hospitals across Delhi and its suburbs have been sending out SOS messages about their depleting oxygen supplies.
New Delhi: In relief from piercing summer heat, Delhi witnessed a sudden change in weather on Thursday (May 6) afternoon as the skies turned cloudy which is likely to be followed by rain and thunderstorms.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain with gusty wind to blow over the next two hours.

Thunderstorm/ Duststorm with Light to moderate intensity rain with gusty wind speed 30-60 kmph would occur over of many places of Delhi, IMD said in a tweet.

It added that the pattern would be observed in the adjoining areas as well over the next 2 hours.

06/05/2021: 15:15 IST; Thunderstorm/ Duststorm with Light to moderate intensity rain with gusty wind speed 30-60 kmph would occur over of many places of Entire Delhi, Nagar, Lacchmanngarh, Deeg, Sadulpur, Bharatpur, Bhadra, Adampur (Rajasthan), Nuh, Sohna, Aurangabad, Palwal,  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 6, 2021

According to the IMD forecast, no heat wave is likely over any part of the country during the next 4-5 days.

 No heat wave is likely over any part of the country during next 4-5 days. pic.twitter.com/tjno1UQ46o  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 6, 2021

The extended forecast suggests that monsoon will arrive in Kerala around June 1, its normal onset date, said M Rajeevan, the secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will issue an official monsoon forecast on May 15, he said.

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New Delhi: Even as the people are struggling to cope up with the second wave of COVID-19 in the country, the fear of the third wave has made things worse. People are worried about when the next wave will strike and how they will survive it.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday (May 6) discussed the threat of the third COVID wave and busted myths about certain home remedies people are employing these days to fight against the deadly virus.

The Supreme Court today asked the central government about the preparations it is making to deal with the next wave. It asked what the government would do if children were infected. The court sought answers from the Central Government regarding the vaccination of children.

But the fact is that in the current circumstances, there is little hope of any vaccine for children soon. Most vaccines are still in the trial stages.

When will the third COVID wave strike?

According to scientists, it cannot be estimated when the third wave will strike. But we can definitely prepare by assessing the situation of other countries.

For example, in the US, there was a difference of only two and a half months in the second and third wave of coronavirus. Notably, there were more deaths in the third wave than in the second wave.

In India, the third wave has been around for one and a half months. If the virus behaved in the same way as in America, then the third wave can be expeceted to hit in the next two and a half months. It is also possible that there would not be much difference between the second and the third wave.

The second wave of coronavirus in the US lasted 45 days, whereas in India it has been more than 60 days. And still, according to scientists, the peak of this wave has not come yet.

Myths about home remedies for treatment of COVID-19:

1. The Nebulizer therapy  Many believe that this home remedy improves oxygen level in the body. This claim is completely false. Experts say that this technique is not effective in giving extra oxygen to the body. Its misuse can even lead to death. So, one must consult a doctor before using this technique.

2. Some believe that putting two drops of lemon in the nose increases the oxygen level. But according to the World Health Organization, there is no evidence for this. The vitamin C present in lemon is important for the body, but the claim that it improves oxygen level in the body, is completely false.

3. Using Paracetamol round the clock  Doctors say that taking more than 2 to 3 grams of Paracetamol a day can be dangerous. This can worsen the patients health. It must be kept in mind that Paracetamol should not be taken too often.

4. Antibiotics: Some claim that using antibiotics help fight COVID-19 virus. This claim is also wrong. The fact is that antibiotic medicines are given in diseases caused by bacteria. But this disease is caused due to a virus. However, during infection, it has been observed in many patients that they are also suffering from certain bacterial diseases, and in that case, doctors recommend the patient to take antibiotics.

5. A mixture of camphor, celery and eucalyptus oil  Some believe this helps improve oxygen level in the body. But according to the US health agency CDC, this claim is completely false.

Apart from these, a large number of people are currently demanding blood plasma for patients on social media. But does this actually help?

ICMR says No. It has said that plasma therapy is not effective in treating serious or in reducing chances of mortality.

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New Delhi: Setting yet another grim milestone, India reported over 4.12 (4,12,262) lakh new daily cases in the last 24 hours.

With 3,980 fatalities, the nation registered its highest casualties in a single day, as per the Union Health Ministry data on Thursday (May 6). The death toll breached the 2.3-lakh mark (2, 30,168). The active count has climbed to 35,66,398 while with 3,29,113 discharges in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries stand at 1,72,80,844.

This is the second time that India breached the 4-lakh margin of fresh cases in a single day. On May 1, India had recorded 4,01,993 cases of daily infection in 24 hours.

India recorded 3.82 lakh new COVID-19 cases and 3,780 deaths on May 5. Today is the 15th straight day that India has recorded over 3 lakh fresh cases.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 29,67,75,209 samples have been tested till Wednesday (May 5), out of which 19,23,131 samples were tested yesterday.

Twelve states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana contribute the highest for India's total active coronavirus cases.

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New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday (May 6) extend the statewide 'janata curfew' lockdown until May 15. Announcing the decision, CM Chouhan directed officials to ensure that the 'corona curfew' is enforced without any laxity. "Madhya Pradesh was seventh in terms of transmission till April 21 and we have brought it down to the fourteenth place with your support," CM Chouhan said in a statement.

CM appeals people to defer wedding events

The Chief Minister also appealed to people to defer all wedding plans since such gatherings can prove to be super-spreaders. All districts must review measures to reduce gatherings and no weddings should be allowed in the month of May, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. CM Chouhan also appealed to all political parties, civil society, and volunteers to rise above differences and work together to tide over this problem looming over humanity.

"I want your support. Everyone knows that our country, state and the whole world is fighting a battle against corona. I am indebted to the people, elected representatives, volunteers and civil society outfits who have extended absolute support to the government," said the Chief Minister.

Positivity rate in Madhya Pradesh has dropped to 18 per cent

He went on to say that the positivity rate in Madhya Pradesh has dropped to 18 per cent from 25 per cent earlier. Similarly, the recovery rate among Covid-19 patients is now 85.13 per cent, added CM Chouhan.

"I request you to halt all activities till May 15. Strict adherence to Janata curfew is must. I want normal life to resume in the coming days which is why we must take stringent action for some days," the MP Chief Minister appealed to the public.

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New Delhi: The West Bengal government on Thursday (May 6) announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for all those killed in post-poll violence. Announcing the ex-gratia for the kin of those killed in the violence after the declaration of the assembly election result in the state, the Bengal Chief Minister said, "We are going to compensate everyone who was killed without seeing party colours or religion or cast".

Mamata accuses BJP of harassing TMC, doing violence

CM Mamata had earlier appealed her party to main peace and calm and not indulge in any sort of violence. Accusing the BJP of harassing her government in West Bengal ever since Trinamool Congress emerged as the winner in the assembly election, she said, "It's not been 24 hrs since this govt has taken charge, they are sending letters & teams & ministers. I would request BJP to maintain peace and accept the peoples mandate. BJP is doing violence wherever they have got seats. In Coochbehar, they have broken the hand of our leader Udayan Guha. I want to tell my boys also from the party. If you indulge in violence, we are not going to spare you also."

14 BJP workers killed in Bengal violence, Union Minister V Muraleedharan's car vandalised

BJP chief JP Nadda had yesterday alleged that at least 14 BJP workers have so far been killed in the violence in the state. Earlier in teh day, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan's car was vandalised at Panchkuri village in West Midnapore district while he was visiting the area in connection with alleged post-poll violence on saffron party workers. Muraleedharan alleged in a tweet that the 'TMC goons' were behind the attack on his convoy.

"I went to West Midnapore to meet party workers who have been attacked and their homes were vandalised. I was moving from one house to another with my convoy and then all of a sudden a group of people started charging towards us and attacked," Muraleedharan said. "I am safe, but my driver was injured, few car windows were also smashed," the minister told PTI.

Taking a serious view of violence after the Assembly poll results in West Bengal, the Union Home Ministry has deputed a four-member team, led by an Additional Secretary level official, to visit the state and assess the ground situation. The team reached the state today.

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the 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.

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Puducherry: AINRC Chief N Rangasamy will be Sworn in as Chief Minister of Union Territory of Puducherry at a brief ceremony here on Friday.

Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan would induct Rangasamy as Chief Minister at a brief session on the precincts of Rajnivas.

Official sources said Rangasamy alone would be inducted as Chief Minister tomorrow although he would be heading an NDA dispensation which has the BJP as the other constituent.

According to party sources, the swearing in of other ministers, including those from BJP willtake place in the next few days.

Usually, the strength of a ministry in Puducherry would be six including Chief Minister.

There is however a reported move to have one Deputy Chief Minister now although there is no precedent in this regard.

A Namassivayam, who joined the BJP in January after quitting the Congress is tipped for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

The concurrence of the Centre is awaited for the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister, BJP sources said.

The AINRC bagged 10 seats out of the 16 it contested in the April 6 polls while the BJP garnered six out of the nine seats it contested.

The total strength of the Assembly is 30 and sixteen is the magic number for formation of a ministry.

The AINRC and BJP has a combined strength of 16.

There are six independents elected to the House and they are by and large supporters of Rangasamy.

The DMK has emerged victorious from six segments out of 13 seats it contested.

The Congress fared poorly by annexing only two out of the 14 seats it contested.
New Delhi: While India is gripped with the second COVID-19 wave, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday (May 5) highlighted that the UK strain (B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS CoV-2) of COVID-19 is more dominant in north India, whereas the double mutant COVID-19 variant (B.1.617) is more dominant in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.

While making this observation, the director of the National Centre for Disease Control, Sujeet Singh, also added that the proportion of UK strain is declining in the country from the past few months.

Sujeet Singh revealed that, as per the study, the UK strain is majorly found in parts of Punjab (482 samples), Delhi (516), followed by Telangana (192), Maharashtra (83) and Karnataka (82).

The NCDC director also said that over top ten major government laboratories and institutions have been studying the genomes of COVID-19 since last December, adding that over 18,053 samples have been sequenced till May.

The NCDC director further revealed that the outcome of the research was shared with the states twice in February and four times in March and April via video conference. He also added that the health ministry, in COVID-19 review meetings, informed the state representatives and authorities of the current status and concerns surrounding COVID-19 variants.

Third COVID-19 wave inevitable

With active cases climbing to 34.87 lakh in India, the top scientific officer said it was not expected that the second wave would hit the country with such ferocity.

"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 be prepared for new waves," he said.

The Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan added that the virus has now adopted a hit and run lifestyle.

Also, a combination of less cautionary measures and low immunity in the population from the first wave is driving the second wave, which has killed thousands and infected lakhs of people across India.

K Vijay Raghvan also said although vaccines are efficacious against new mutations like the UK one and the double mutant, surveillance and vaccine updates are needed as the virus mutates further.

COVID-19 tsunami in southern Indian states

The number of cases in the southern Indian states are at an all time high. Kerala, on Wednesday (May 5) logged 41,953 new COVID-19 cases which is the highest single-day spike since the pandemic started. Following which Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, the state is going through a serious situation with COVID spreading rapidly and hence the situation calls for imposing more stringent restrictions.

On the other hand, Karnataka also reported the highest ever single-day spike with over 50,000 new COVID-19 infections. Followed by Tamil Nadu with 23,310 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: At least 280 prisoners in Uttar Pradesh`s Meerut will be released on either bail or parole in view of the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.

The Senior Jail Superintendent, District Jail, Meerut, BD Panday told ANI that regular sanitisation is being conducted in the jail premises and claimed that all inmates aged above 45 and 60 years have been inoculated.

"Around 280 jail inmates to be released on bail or parole, in view of COVID. Regular sanitisation conducted in jail premises. The jail inmates are served immunity boosting `kadha`. Inmates above 45 and 60 years of age have been vaccinated." Panday was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Around 280 jail inmates to be released on bail or parole, in view of COVID. Regular sanitisation conducted in jail premises. The jail inmates are served immunity boosting 'kadha'. Inmates above 45&60 years of age have been vaccinated: Senior Jail Superintendent, Dist Jail, Meerut pic.twitter.com/2JyA6O0cI5  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 6, 2021

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh BJP Joint general secretary (organisation) Bhavani Singh died of Covid-19 on Wednesday, party leaders informed. He was 54. Singh, a resident of Farrukhabad, was made in charge of Varanasi for the UP panchayat polls.

Uttar Pradesh reported 31,165 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (May 5), with the highest single-day jump of 357 fatalities that pushed the death toll to 14,151. The active cases reached 2,62,474, while the infection tally climbed to 13,99,294, as per the state Health Ministry data.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:14:29|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday said it only received 51 percent of the 107.9 million U.S. dollars it wants to meet the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected Ethiopians and Eritrean refugees.

The UNHCR is working to meet the needs of Eritrean refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia's conflict-affected northern Tigray region, the UN agency said in its latest Ethiopia Situation Report.

The UNHCR also said it's giving health services, shelter items and food items for the IDPs, Eritrean refugees in Tigray as well as Ethiopians who have crossed to neighboring Sudan to escape conflict.

The UNHCR has registered 63,100 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in Sudan as of April 30, 2021.

The UNHCR also said it along with partners are continuing to conduct temperature screenings, distribute soap at entry points, and sensitization of refugees on COVID-19 mitigation measures in the local Tigrayan language.

Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 260,139 Thursday morning, according to the Ethiopia Ministry of Health.

Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, sheltering 805,164 registered refugees and asylum-seekers as of March 31, 2021, according to the Ethiopian government data. Enditem
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a comprehensive review of the public health response to the COVID-19 crisis during which he said that states should be given help and guidance for ramping up healthcare infrastructure.

The PM also called for holistic containment measures in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. During the review, the Prime Minister also stressed the need to sensitise states so that the speed of vaccination against COVID-19 doesn't come down and was briefed that around 31 per cent of the eligible population over the age of 45 has been given at least one dose, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

PM today undertook a comprehensive review of the #COVID19 situation in the country. He was given a detailed picture of COVID outbreak in various states.He was informed about the 12 states with over 1 lakh active cases. PM was apprised about districts with high disease burden: PMO pic.twitter.com/njoVyCT8FI  ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2021

The Prime Minister was given a detailed picture of the COVID-19 outbreak in various states and districts, and was informed about the 12 states which have more than 1 lakh active cases, the PMO said.

He was also apprised about the districts with a high burden of the disease, the statement said. PM Modi reviewed the progress of vaccination and the roadmap for scaling up the production of vaccines in the next few months.

During the comprehensive review of the COVID-19 related situation in the country, the prime minister was informed that around 17.7 crore vaccines have been supplied to the states.

PM Modi also reviewed state-wise trends on vaccine wastage, the statement said. Citizens should be facilitated for vaccination despite lockdowns and healthcare workers involved in inoculation must not be diverted for other duties, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi was also briefed about the ramping up of healthcare infrastructure by the states. He directed that states should be given help and guidance about leading indicators to ramp up healthcare infrastructure, the PMO said.

The need to ensure quick and holistic containment measures was also discussed, it said. PM Modi noted that an advisory was sent to the states to identify districts of concern where case positivity is 10 per cent or more and bed occupancy is more than 60 per cent on either oxygen-supported or ICU beds.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the availability of medicines and was briefed about the rapid augmenting of production of medicines including Remdesivir, according to the PMO.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Commerce and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya, among other ministers and top officials, were present at the meeting.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadus Chief Minister-designate and DMK Chief MK Stalin will be functioning with the support of a 33-member cabinet. The names have been revealed by the party.

Stalins oath-taking will be held at 9 am on Friday (7th May) in a small ceremony at the Raj Bhavan (Governors residence) in the city.

The list of ministers released by the party does not feature Chepauk MLA and Stalins son Udhayanidhi, who has been at the receiving end of criticism regarding nepotism. The list includes only two women - Geetha Jeevan and Kayalvizhi Selvaraj.

The list of ministers largely consists of senior DMK leaders, successors of veteran leaders and includes only few members of the younger generation. Stalin holds the all-important Chief Minister post that encompasses Public, General administration, IAS, IPS, Home etc. He will be assisted by Duraimurugan, Water resources Minister, K.N. Nehru, Municipal administration minister, K. Ponmudi Higher Education Minister, Ev.V. Velu, Public Works Minister, Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Medical and Family welfare and Palanivel thiagarajan, Minister for Finance and Human Resources among others.

Earlier in the day, Stalin urged his party men and cadre to watch the swearing-in ceremony on television from within the confines of the safety of their respective homes, amid the devastating second wave of COVID-19.

In a statement, Stalin said that he had hoped for a swearing-in where he could take oath in the presence of their party cadre that led their party to victory, but how it had become impossible owing to the pandemic.

This is the sixth time that a DMK government will be sworn in to govern Tamil Nadu. DMK founder CN Annadurai was the first leader from the party to be elected as the Chief Minister in 1967. Following the demise of Annadurai in 1969 to cancer, M.Karunanidhi took over the reins of the party and was elected the Chief Minister five times.

MK Stalin will be taking over his fathers legacy and will be serving as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time, in his nearly 50-year political career.

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Hyderabad: At a time when most of the states are imposing lockdown during to rising numbers in covid-19 cases, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) has emphatically said that lockdown would not be imposed in the state. He added that imposition of lockdown would bring hardships to many and lead to total collapse of the financial system.

"There is no use of imposing lockdown. Since Telangana is the most happening state in the country, 25 to 30 Lakh workers from other states are here working. We have seen how their lives were adversely impacted by the lockdown we imposed during the first wave. If they are dislocated, they will not come back. Moreover, there is bumper yield of the Paddy in the State. Paddy is stocked in 6144 procurement centres in the state and they are weighing the Paddy. However, we will identify the areas where the cases are more and declare them as Micro level Containment zones and take the required measures," the CM said at the high-level review meeting on COVID-19 held at his residence in Hyderabad today late in the evening.

This was the first major decision taken by KCR after he recovered from COVID-19 infection. Also, the Chief Minister himself is holding the Health Ministry currently after he sacked former minister Etala Rajender.

KCR also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone about the supply of the required vaccines, Oxygen and Remdesivir and urged him to supply the same immediately. The CM also brought to the notice of the PM that the Oxygen supplies allocated to the state from Sriperambadur in Tamil Nadu and Bellary in Karnataka have not been supplied so far.

Since Hyderabad became a medical hub, people from the bordering states are also depending on Hyderabad for medical treatment. The CM said as on date there is availability of 440 MT of Oxygen per day and added that it should be increased to 500 MT per day. The availability of Remdesivir is only 4900 and it should be increased to 25000. He said the Centre so far provided only 50 Lakh doses of vaccine and it should also be increased based on the needs of the state. The CM requested the PM to ensure the supply of 2 to 2.5 Lakh doses of vaccine per day and it should be supplied immediately.

Meanwhile, on the request made by the CM and instructions from the PM, Union Minister Sri Piyush Goyal spoke to the CM. Piyush Goyal assured the CM that all the requests made by the CM would be fulfilled and action would be taken to supply adequate quantities of vaccine, Oxygen and Remdesivir would be supplied to the State. The union minister said Oxygen would be supplied from the Eastern states instead of TN and Karnataka states.

Earlier, the CM held a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan here on Thursday on the situation arising out of the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

As on date 9500 beds with Oxygen are available in Government hospitals and 5000 more will be be added within a week all over the state.

The CM also instructed the Chief Secretary to make arrangements to airlift 12 Cryogenic tankers from China for the better Oxygen supply at a cost of Rs one crore each.

5980 Covid outpatient centres are created all over Telangana in PHCs, community hospitals, area hospitals. The officials disclosed that so far 1.56 Lakh positive cases were reported and of this 1.30 Lakh 85 per cent have recovered.

COVID medical Kits for every household

The Telangana government is also supplying Covid Kits all over the said. The COVID Kits would be provided through Asha workers and ANMs. Along with the medicines, there will be pamphlet on the precautions to be taken for the curtailment of Corona.
New Delhi: As Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) MK Stalin is set to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 7, he has a Gandhi as well as a Nehru as ministers. Of the 34-members named for the new cabinet announced by Stalin, some unusual and unique names, as far as the nations politics is concerned, have come forth.

Stalin, has proposed KN Nehrus name as Minister for Municipal Administration and he will be in charge of Urban and Water Supply. While another minister R Gandhi has been named for Handlooms and Textiles, Khadi and Village Industries Board, and Boodhan and Gramadhan.

A party veteran, KN Nehru is DMKs principal secretary and is the sitting MLA from Tiruchi West constituency. He has been a strongman of the party since he won his first election in 1989. The leader was named after Jawaharlal Nehru by his father, who was a staunch Congressman. The family later shifted allegiance to the DMK in the late 1960s.

While, R Gandhi is a sitting MLA from Ranipet constituency. He was embroiled in a disproportionate asset case alongwith his wife and son but the charges were later quashed by the courts due to lack of evidence.

The Stalin-led DMK was unanimously elected as legislature party leader in Tamil Nadu 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.
New Delhi: Principal Scientific Adviser K Vijay Raghavan has cautioned that people should be prepared to face new waves as the SARS-CoV2 evolves and mutates further. He said although vaccines are efficacious against new mutations like the UK one and the double mutant, surveillance and vaccine updates are needed as the virus mutates further.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, the country's top scientific officer said a combination of less cautionary measures, less immunity in the population from the first wave is driving the second wave, which has killed thousands and infected lakhs of people across the country. He, therefore, said that it is necessary to be prepared with changes in strategy in terms of vaccine and other kinds of situation.

Elaborating on the evolution of SARS-CoV2 and its increasing lethality, Raghavan said the virus emerged in 2019 in Wuhan and at that time it was generalist that could infect many mammal species. The first phase saw two mutations every month, he said.

The second phase which started in October 2020 saw dramatic changes and new variants like the UK variant coming to the fore, he said, adding "In early 2021, a very large number of people all over the world had been infected. As the immunity increases, the virus does not have the opportunity to grow."

"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 be prepared for new waves," he said, adding that distancing can exponentially bring down the spread.

"The virus can only go from human to human," he said, stressing on following COVID-appropriate behaviour.

Raghavan said that many factors contributed to this second wave and variants are one of the factors. The first wave peaked in September last year and cases started falling substantially, he said, adding that the first wave declined because of two factors.

He further said, "As infections rose, so did immunity among those infected. As cautionary steps at everyone at this level, there was less opportunity for the infections to spread. A combination of the standing level of immunity in the population and cautionary steps halted the spread of the first wave."

But as the cautionary steps declined, new opportunities for infection arose and the level of immunity among the population is often not enough to stop the infection spread.

"Many people get infected until they reach a new immunity threshold. Such a second wave is typically smaller than the first. Such a second wave was expected. However, multiple parameters can change and add up to the second wave, much larger than the first. "(But) Such a larger second wave with the ferocity we are seeing was not predicted," he said.

As many as 12 states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh, have more than 1 lakh active COVID cases, while Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Bihar are among the states that show an increasing trend in daily cases, said Lav Agarwal, the joint secretary in the Health Ministry, during the media briefing.

On vaccination, he said the total doses administered till now was 16.05 crore, adding that while 12.31 crore people above the age of 45 years have been vaccinated, the number is at 1.58 crore among healthcare workers. Around 2.09 crore frontline workers have also been vaccinated, while 6.71 lakh people between 18 years to 44 years have got their jabs so far, he added.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal said that the party`s performances must be looked into as it could not secure a single seat in West Bengal and also failed in Assam and Kerala.

"Congress has not performed well in the recently held Assembly polls. It failed in Assam and Kerala. The party could not secure a single seat in West Bengal," Sibal told ANI, days after Assembly poll results in the four states and a Union Territory.

Kapil Sibal said, "Now when voices are being raised from the party, this debacle should be looked into," adding that he will not comment further on the issue of Congress` performance and will speak on the issue at the appropriate time.

Former Union Minister said, "We`ll present our views. Today everyone from all parties should work together to save people`s lives amid COVID-19."

Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the COVID-19 situation in the country, Sibal said that PM should say that we will win this struggle against the pandemic, adding that elections are a different matter but this is a battle of life and death.

When questioned why Congress leaders are calling Mamata "Jhansi ki Rani", he said, "When PM won 2019 polls, I congratulated him, could not have called him Jhansi ki Rani, he was Goliath. We must congratulate leaders who win. Centre did everything and Election Commission helped. Despite that, if Mamata ji gets 2/3rd majority, she should be called Jhansi ki Rani."

The veteran Congress leader, who was part of the rebel G-23 camp in the Congress that had asked for an organisational revamp in a letter to Sonia Gandhi last August, said that the latest poll results were a matter of concern but dealing with the pandemic was a priority.

He and other leaders from the G-23 like Manish Tiwari, Gulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma have congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal.

Notably, Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 213 seats in the just concluded West Bengal assembly elections, while the BJP could win only 77 seats in the 294-seat state Assembly.
Kolkata: Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday (May 6, 2021) said that his convoy was attacked in the West Midnapore area, West Bengal by TMC goons.

Minister of State for External Affairs took it to his Twitter handle to share a video in which some miscreants were seen attacking his car with sticks, along with the caption which read, TMC goons attacked my convoy in West Midnapore, broken windows, attacked personal staff. Cutting short my trip.

The incident comes to light, a few days after senior leaders alleged that many of the BJP party workers have been tortured, thrashed and even raped in West Bengal after the results were announced on May 2.

The social media is overwhelmed with the images and footage of after poll violence in West Bengal. While many visuals show some houses or vehicles on fire, others narrate the horror of violence in the state.

Meanwhile, following various reports on the incidents, the Centre has sought a detailed report from the newly-elected West Bengal government on post-poll violence in the State.

Earlier, PM Narendra Modi also called West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to enquire about the situation.

PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at the alarmingly worrisome law & 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, Dhankhar tweeted.

PM called and expressed his serious anguish and concern at alarmingly worrisome law & 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.  Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 4, 2021

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Washington: The United States has reissued its travel advisory on India, urging the American citizens not to travel to the country due to an unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 cases.

India is struggling with a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Do not travel to India due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism, the US State Department said on Wednesday in its latest travel advisory that looked identical to the one issued on April 28.

Both the travel advisory has been marked 'Level 4' which is the highest warning level. On April 28, the Department approved the voluntary departure of family members of US government employees.

On May 5, the US Department approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees. US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options, it said.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.

Setting yet another grim milestone, India reported over 4.12 (4,12,262) lakh new daily cases in the last 24 hours, on Thursday.

With 3,980 fatalities, the nation registered its highest casualties in a single day, as per the Union Health Ministry data on Thursday (May 6). The death toll breached the 2.3-lakh mark (2, 30,168). The active count has climbed to 35,66,398 while with 3,29,113 discharges in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries stand at 1,72,80,844.

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New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has asked West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to give a report on the law and order situation in the state, said a PTI report. The state has witnessed violence following the announcement of Assembly election results last weekend.

"The Home Ministry had earlier asked the state government to submit a report but has not yet received it," the report said quoting officials. "The governor has been asked to assess the situation and submit his report to the ministry at the earliest," officials added.

The ministry has reportedly formed a four-member, headed by an Additional Secretary ranked officer, to investigate the post-poll violence.

The four-member team including -- Additional Secretary Home Ministry Govind Mohan, Additional Secretary Education Ministry Vinit Joshi, Joint Director of Intelligence Bureau Janardan Singh, and IB Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) IB, Nalin -- has arrived in Kolkata to assess the ground situation, said an ANI report.

On Wednesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary reminding him of the letter written on May 3 to check the post-poll violence and also to provide a report on the incidents.

Violence has been reported in several parts of West Bengal after the results of the assembly elections were declared on May 2. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that nine of its party workers have been killed in the post-poll violence, but the allegations have been denied by the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Newly elected MLAs of West Bengal sworn in

The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected legislators in West Bengal got underway on Thursday morning, with pro-tem speaker Subrata Mukherjee administering the oath of office and secrecy to the MLAs.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the ceremony for a short while before leaving for the state secretariat. The entire programme was held following COVID-19 protocols, an official said.

At least 143 MLAs -- most of them from the assembly constituencies of Kolkata, North- and South-24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Hooghly and Jhargram -- are set to take oath on Thursday. Seventy-four of them would be sworn-in during the first half of the day, and the rest in the second half.

No BJP representative, however, took part on Thursday. The oath-taking ceremony will continue till Saturday.

The TMC has bagged 213 seats in the just-concluded West Bengal assembly elections, while its rival, the BJP, managed to pocket 77 constituencies.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Post-poll violence and vandalism continue unabated in West Bengal ever since Trinamool Congress emerged as the winner in the assembly election 2021. Violence has been reported in several parts of West Bengal after the results of the assembly elections were declared on May 2. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that nine of its party workers have been killed in the post-poll violence. However, the TMC is denying the allegations.

Meanwhile, a video showing Trinamool Congress Panchayat member Mita Das forced a woman to do a sit-up in full publc view. According to reports, the woman was punished as her elder brother PrashantWest Bengal violence, Burdwan, West Bengal, Trinamool Congress, BJP, Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal assembly election, assembly election Babu is a BJP supporter and worked at the party booth agent. The woman is also a BJP supporter and hence was forced to take the punishment by the woman Trinamool member.

However, when confronted, Mita Gas denied the allegation of punishing the woman and claimed that locals in the area were behind the act. She said that upon receiving the information, she reached the spot and saved the woman from being attacked by Trinamool Congress men.

In the pictures, you can see how a woman wearing saree in a market filled Priyanka Devi is holding her ear and holding a meeting. Her daughter is standing next to them. So the woman is constantly being threatened on the opposite side By female Trinamool Panchayat member Khita Das.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has accused BJP behind the violence in Bengal and said that total 16 people have so far been killed in post-poll violence. Earlier in the day, she announced a compensation of Rs two lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the post-poll violence.

Mamata, during a press meet at the state secretariat, also said that her government will provide job of a home guard to one family member each of the five persons who were killed in CISF firing in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi area during fourth phase of voting on April 10.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:21:25|Editor: huaxia

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A member of a Chinese medical expert team (L) inspects a temporary hospital treating COVID-19 patients in Vientiane, Laos, on May 6, 2021. The medical expert team sent by the Chinese government inspected the Lao designated-hospitals for treating COVID-19 infected patients on Wednesday and Thursday. (Photo by Yang Lunjiao/Xinhua)
New Delhi: The central government on Thursday (May 6) moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court order asking it to provide 1200 MT liquid medical oxygen (LMO) to the state.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah to stay the high court order, saying it would result in the total collapse of the system.

He argued that the high court passed directions which, if fulfilled, will have a cascading effect and result in the total collapse of the system in its fight against the ongoing second wave of COVID-19, Bar and Bench reported.

The plea said that the order "would ultimately lead to mismanagement of resources and create a further chaotic environment in an already overburdened system".

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress in Karnataka hit out at the Centre and the state government on the issue.

President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee D K Shivakumar questioned the silence of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and other BJP MPs in the matter.

Shocked to see the Central Govt moving the SC challenging the Karnataka HC order to supply 1200 MT of Oxygen to the state. Projected demand is 1471 MT but central allocation is only 865 MT. Will CM @BSYBJP & BJP MPs remain mute spectators when people are dying of Oxygen shortage? he tweeted.

Shocked to see the Central Govt moving the SC challenging the Karnataka HC order to supply 1200 MT of Oxygen to the state Projected demand is 1471 MT but central allocation is only 865 MT Will CM @BSYBJP & BJP MPs remain mute spectators when people are dying of Oxygen shortage?  DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 6, 2021

Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to increase the quota of oxygen for the state to 1200 metric tonnes for the next four days amid rising demand due to COVID-19 surge.

It has also asked the state government to submit a projected estimate of oxygen required for the next week.

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Bengaluru: Drugmakers assured the Karnataka government to collectively supply 20,000 vials of anti-viral drug Remdesivir injection daily from May 9 for treating COVID-19 patients in the state, Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwath Narayan said on Wednesday (May 5).

"Four drug firms have agreed to collectively double the supply of Remdesivir to 20,000 vials daily from 10,000 vials per day presently to the state government for treating COVID-19 patients," Narayan told reporters here.

The drug firms are Cipla, Mylan, Syngene and Jubilaint, which have been supplying Remdesivir to the state government since the pandemic broke out across the state in mid-March a year ago.

"The state health department will record names of patients given the drug and share the data in the public domain to ensure transparency and curb its black marketing in the state," said Narayan, who heads the revamped task force.

Noting that the triage of COVID-19 patients would be strengthened from primary health centres, the minister said that additional staff would be deployed to treat the growing number of COVID-19 cases.

"Internees, final year medical and paramedical students will be roped to treat the growing number of the virus cases," Narayan said.

The primary health centres will be equipped with masks, personal production equipment (PPE) kits, pulse oximeters and masks for use by patients to contain the virus spread.

Narayan, a medical doctor by profession, directed the Bengaluru city body to generate COVID-19 test results and Bengaluru Urban number within 7 hours of turning positive to admit patients for treatment.

"Early detection of the infection will enable doctors to start treatment before the virus advances inside the body," asserted Narayan.

The health department is also mulling to do blood tests of asymptomatic patients in home isolation.

"Blood test will help us to know the condition of the infected patient and to find out the inflammatory markers," he reiterated.

According to the state health bulletin, 50,112 new cases were registered on Tuesday (May 4), taking the state`s COVID-19 tally shot up to 17,41,046.

As epi-centre of the pandemic, Bengaluru registered 23,106 fresh cases on Tuesday (May 4), taking its COVID-19 tally to 8,63,380, including 3,13,314 active cases.

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Mumbai: A writ petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking Z plus security for Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla and his family.

The petitioner, filed by advocate Datta Shrirang Mane, said that Adar Poonawalla and his family should be given Z plus security, and his assets should be protected keeping the threats that were being made to Poonawallah as per media reports.

The plea requested the high court to give an order to the Maharashtra government and Pune Police Commissioner to file an FIR in the matter based on the petitioner`s complaint which he has already submitted.

He also requested that by the time the order on his petition comes, Poonawalla and his family should be given ample police protection and there should be police deployment at Serum institute and other properties of Poonawalla.

On May 2, in an interview to a London newspaper, Poonawalla had complained of receiving threats from politicians and "powerful men" demanding quick delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine that his firm has been producing.

Poonawalla had also complained of being "vilified and blamed", and hinted at starting a new vaccine production unit in the United Kingdom.

He had said he had received calls from "some of the most powerful men in India", including "Chief Ministers, heads of business conglomerates and others."

Based on his complaint, the Ministry of Home Affairs had recently issued orders to provide 'Y' category security on an all-India basis to Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla. The CRPF was instructed to provide security to him.

The Union government's decision came after the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 16 requesting security for Adar Poonawalla..

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Mumbai: Market benchmark Sensex rose over 150 points in early trade on Thursday, tracking gains in index majors HDFC twins, ITC and Bajaj Finance amid largely positive cues from Asian peers.

The 30-share BSE index was trading 174.54 points or 0.36 per cent higher at 48,852.09 in initial deals.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 69.05 points or 0.47 per cent to 14,686.90.

Bajaj Auto was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, gaining over 2 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance, ITC, HDFC, Titan, Maruti and M&M.

On the other hand, HCL Tech, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel and PowerGrid were among laggards.

In the previous session, Sensex jumped 424.04 points or 0.88 per cent to close at 48,677.55, while Nifty surged 121.35 points or 0.84 per cent to 14,617.85.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,110.50 crore on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth Rs 240.61 crore, according to provisional exchange data.

The trend of positive news alternating with negative news continues, said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

"US President Joe Biden's decision to back waiving intellectual property rights on vaccines is a big positive. This will quicken the vaccination process enabling countries like India to come out of the pandemic faster. But data on daily infections indicate a rise, though mild, after five days of decline. Also, lockdowns and restrictions on mobility are increasing, impacting the economic recovery," he noted.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul were trading on a positive note in mid-session deals, while Shanghai was in the red.

Equities on Wall Street ended on a mixed note in overnight trade.

Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.10 per cent higher at USD 69.03 per barrel.

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested Dhruv Tahil, model and aspiring actor and son of Bollywood veteran Dalip Tahil, in connection with a drugs case, an official said here on Wednesday (May 5).

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 that 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.
New Delhi: Renowned Bollywood actress Shree Pradha, who worked in Bhojpuri films and television shows succumbed to COVID-19 related complications. Cine And TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) mourned her sudden and untimely demise.

#CINTAA expresses its deepest condolence on the demise of #SriPrada (Member since March 1989)

CINTAA General Secretary Amit Behl told The Times of India, "The second wave of covid has taken too many precious lives. What has already been written in the media about the people who have passed away don't need to reiterate but yes Sripada was a senior member of our fraternity."

"She has done incredible work down South and as well as in Hindi cinema. It is very unfortunate that we have lost a very senior actress. We pray that her soul rests in peace. We also pray that the second wave of the pandemic doesn't snatch too many precious lives especially from our trade."

Shree Pradha, who is also known as Sripada, worked in almost 68 films spanning her illustrious career.

In Bhojpuri films, she worked with superstar turned politician Ravi Kishan, who mourning her demise, told The Times of India, "Very sad. She was my co-artist. She had a great nature, very humble and decent. May God give her family the courage to bear her loss every day".

Shree Pradha and Ravi Kishan worked together in Hum Toh Ho Gayi Ni Tohar which released in 2015.

Shree Pradha worked in television shows as well and one of her most noteworthy performance was seen in Doordarshan's Sansar, Aparajita, Waqt Ki Raftar among others.

May her soul rest in peace!
New Delhi: Jasmin Bhasin is missing better times, when one could step out of their homes without worrying about the coronavirus.

The former Bigg Boss 14 contestant shared a throwback photo of herself with boyfriend Aly Goni enjoying a scrumptious dinner date on Instagram on Wednesday (May 5).

The actress captioned her post as, When we could step out for dinner date #throwback #jasly #youaskedforit, Aly got all emotional looking at the post and commented with two teary-eyed emojis.

Earlier, Aly revealed that most of his family has tested positive for COVID-19, including his mother, sister and her kids. My mom, my sister, her kids are fighters -- the way they are fighting with this virus, especially my baby munchkins... Allah reham take care," said the actor in an interview with IANS.

Jasmin Bhasin's family also had to face their own set of ordeal in these testing COVID times when hospitals are running out of capacity to take in patients. The actress took to Twitter to ask has our system failed us after his old father had to run from pillar to post to get medical care for her sick mother.

Disappointed and heartbroken.Everyday deaths, people on streets trying to find beds and oxygen. My own mother was in the same situation two days back where finding a bed was a task. My old father was running around to find medical care for her, many are going through same, read Jasmins tweet.

Jasmin and Aly, who have been best friends for sometime now, realized their romantic feelings for each other during their stint in Bigg Boss 14 together. After the show, the couple has been spotted multiple times together around the city.

On the work front, the much in-love couple has collaborated together for two music videos - Tony Kakkars Tera Suit and Vishal Mishras Tu Bhi Sataya Jayega.
New Delhi: Crypto investors can breathe a sigh of relief, as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has clearly refused to block crypto trades in the country. The umbrella body for digital retail payments in India has left the decision of banning crypto trade on banks risk and compliance team.

NPCIs decision has come at a time when a few banks in India have decided to pull the plug on crypto trading platforms, fearing that the government could announce a complete ban on buying/selling of digital coins. It is important to note that banks have started taking down on some cryptocurrency exchanges and investments in India.

According to a report by Economic Times, NPCI has refused to take a central decision to disable the use of UPI and RuPay cards as payment modes for crypto investments. The move, if taken, would have been applied uniformly to all banks, leaving investors with a handful of investment options such as MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, etc.

As many banks are allowing crypto trade, its yet not clear how long will trading platforms get the support of formalised banking institutions of the country. Recently, in inter-ministerial discussions, lawmakers reportedly discussed granting investors an exit window of 3-6 months before completely banning the trading, mining and issuing of cryptocurrencies in India with the upcoming Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021.

The proposed legislation that is yet to be tabled in the Parliament might only legalise the cryptocurrency currently mooted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) while banning all others. Reports suggest that Indian owns digital coins worth over $1.5 billion or Rs 10,000 crore.

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New Delhi: Taking note of the current Covid-19 situation in the country, the State Bank of India (SBI) has issued two customer care numbers to provide emergency banking services to its customers from the comfort and safety of their homes.

The completely contactless service is provided to all SBI customers. Both the emergency contact numbers are toll-free and will strive to keep the bank customers away from visiting any of its branches.

With Covid-19 cases resign exponentially across the country, many state governments have announced curfews to control the spread. As a result, SBI customers are unable to visit bank branches.

In this scenario, SBI customers can avail banking facilities by dialling toll-free numbers 1800 112 211 and 1800 425 3800. The bank is encouraging its customers to stay safe indoors amid the pandemic, and therefore it has launched these helpline numbers.

Stay safe at home, we are there to serve you. SBI provides you a contactless service that will help you with your urgent banking needs. Call our toll free number 1800 112 211 or 1800 425 3800, State Bank of India said in a tweet.

SBI customers can call toll-free numbers to check their account balance, check the last five transactions at IVR, request for blocking and re-issuance of ATM card, generate ATM or Green PIN, apply for issue of new ATM card after blocking of old ATM card. They can also use the same number to check the account balance and last 5 transactions through SMS.

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New Delhi, May 6 (PTI): The government should regulate and control cryptocurrencies instead of prohibiting them, former finance secretary S C Garg said on Thursday. Addressing a virtual event organised by industry body Assocham, Garg also said there is undue emphasis on cryptocurrencies and these digital assets will require standard frameworks.

"I don't think we still have full clarity and understanding about how to regulate cryptocurrencies...Regulate, control cryptocurrencies but allow the crypto assets, encourage the crypto services," he said.

Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual currencies in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of their units and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.

The RBI had virtually banned cryptocurrency trading in 2018 and had directed all entities regulated by the central bank to cease dealing in virtual currencies. The Supreme Court had asked the Centre in 2019 to frame policies for crypto, and in 2020, struck down the curbs imposed by the RBI.

All Indian companies should only be keeping digital accounts in the next three to five years, Garg said, adding "it is possible to integrate national accounts with company accounts."

In the times to come, the entire system of accounting, auditing and reporting can be automated, he added.

"At present, we have this quarterly accounting system whereby companies have to show their books of accounts after every three months.

"We need to set higher accounting standards and move out to automatic accounting system which would be relevant to present needs of the business," he noted.

According to Garg, the current financial reporting standards are for the bygone industrial era and there is an urgent need for a complete digitalisation of accounting, financial reporting and auditing for companies.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:20:49|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Thursday that as of April 30, a total of 2,394 jobs were provided under the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme which was more than expected.

Lam made the remarks when delivering a speech at a youth forum. She said that Hong Kong has seen rapid development in fintech in recent years and young people can find plenty of opportunities in this area by relying on the mainland and combining advantages with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Lam said that the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme launched by the HKSAR government earlier this year encourages enterprises with operations in Hong Kong and mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area to recruit university graduates from Hong Kong.

As of April 30, there were 2,394 jobs provided by 321 enterprises, which was higher than the original expectation of 2,000. Among these jobs, 1,267 were related to innovative and technology, nearly double the original estimate, Lam said.

Lam said that with the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR and the improvement of the HKSAR's electoral system, Hong Kong will once again enter a period of stable development and accelerate its integration into the overall development of the country, which is beneficial to the development of all walks of life.

Moreover, she said, with the development of science and technology and the acceleration of the pace of digitization in various industries, the potential for future development of fintech will be even higher. Enditem
New Delhi: As the number of coronavirus infections is on the rise in Rajasthan, the state government announced on Thursday (May 6) a complete lockdown in the state. The lockdown will come to force from 5:00 am of May 10 till 5:00 am of May 24. All activities except essential services, have been completely banned. Weddings have been prohibited.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made the announcment after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

On Wednesday, Gehlot had formed a group of five ministers to deliberate on measures to break the chain of COVID-19 transition in the state. They submitted a report to Gehlot on Thursday.

The report, suggested imposing lockdown. After this, in the meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday evening, the committee brainstormed on the recommendations of and the announcment was made.

Among the group of ministers who suggested lockdown include Urban Development Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Jalade Minister Dr. BD Kalla, Medical Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma, Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasara and Minister of State for Medicine, Dr. Subhash Garg.
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Gurugram district administration launched a dedicated WhatsApp Covid-19 helpline to provide citizens access to critical information and a central repository of all Coronavirus resources.

The newly launched service provides updated information about critical resources in the user`s proximity such as RT-PCR centres and camps, online doctor consultations, status of availability of beds, registering oneself as a Covid-19 patient, care centres and more. The helpline is free to use and is available in Hindi and English.

Heres how you can use the WhatsApp Covid helpline

1. Citizens can send `Hi` to the number +91 9643277788 on WhatsApp

2. They can also click on https://wa.me/919643277788 to directly connect to the helpline.

3. You will now have to select your preferred language, which can be either Hindi or English, according to the options provided.

4. You can then select the help that youre seeking. Option 1 is for Covid-19 positive patients, Option 2 is for people who are looking for services for Covid-19 positive patients and Option 3 is the general option to search for the services.

"This is a service for our citizens in Gurugram. Using this Covid patients and their families can reach out to us for help. We will try and provide the best possible care at home. I also thank partners like WhatsApp for stepping forward and supporting us in building this platform. Any organisation that wants to use this to deliver care to our citizens are most welcome to join us," said Yash Garg, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson, District Disaster Management, Gurugram, Government of Haryana, in a statement.

The helpline has been developed by a group of volunteers, private sector organisations and with the support of various departments within the Gurugram district administration. It is an integrated offering built on the WhatsApp Business API and will directly connect citizens to official and verified sources of information and medical services, thus enabling quick access and helping the administration streamline its relief efforts.

"We remain committed towards ensuring that people have access to verified sources of information through our platform. We are thankful to the Govt. of Haryana and the District Administration of Gurugram for giving us the opportunity to support their efforts. We encourage people to access the helpline for latest Covid-19 related information in their city", said Abhijit Bose, Head of India for WhatsApp, in the statement.

The helpline also has services of MyUpchar, Meddo and Dunzo integrated for the benefit of users. It has been developed by Infobip and Day Technologies are the technology providers, and is enabled by WhatsApp. The initiative has also been supported by The Dialogue and Deepstrat who are providing critical support to DC Gurugram in triaging citizen requests.
Bangalore: Facebook`s oversight board, a body set up by the social network to give independent verdicts on a small number of thorny content decisions, has ruled Facebook was right to bar former US President Donald Trump after the Jan 6. riot but wrong in placing an indefinite suspension.

Here are five takeaways from the board`s case decision:

1. Facebook`s oversight board said the company was correct to block Trump - the first current president, prime minister or head of state it has banned.

The board`s verdict sends a message that the world`s largest social media company may act on other rule-breaking political and influential leaders in the United States and globally, backing Facebook on a major decision that has both been praised for cracking down the violations of an influential account and criticized for abusing a private companies` power to censor elected leaders.

It also puts a burden on Facebook to be clearer about how it enforces its rules on world leaders. Some human rights advocates have called for the platform to be more consistent in its approach to violations of international leaders and invest more in localized content moderation and expertise.

2. The board passed decision on Trump`s fate to Facebook

The board, which said Facebook should have used the rules on its books rather than an "arbitrary penalty" without an end-date, told the company to come up with a response consistent with its rules within six months.

In punting the case back to Facebook, the board sends the dilemma of how to police one of its most controversial users back to the company and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. It said Facebook must decide whether to restore Trump, suspend him for a definite period or restore his account.

Some civil rights groups and Facebook critics blasted the board for passing the buck, which it denied doing. Board members said they were not there to lift responsibility from Facebook but to make sure it follows the rules it has on the books.

The board also recommended Facebook come up with a policy to govern its response to crises where its normal processes would not prevent imminent harm.

3. Trump`s representatives told board outside forces to blame for Capitol riot

The board said that a statement was submitted on Trump`s behalf, through the American Center for Law and Justice and a Trump page administrator, requesting that the board reverse the decision.

The statement said Trump`s Jan. 6 posts did not threaten public safety or incite violence and said there was no serious linkage between Trump`s speech, in which he said the election was stolen and urged protesters "to fight," and what the statement called "the Capitol building incursion."

It said the riot was "certainly influenced, and most probably ignited by outside forces" and described a federal complaint against members of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group, which it said were not associated with Trump.

Trump representatives declined to share the full statement made to the board with Reuters.

4. Board members disagreed on criteria for Trump to return to Facebook

The board said Facebook must decide Trump`s penalty "based on the gravity of the violation and the prospect of future harm."

A minority of the board thought the criteria should include Facebook being satisfied that Trump had stopped making unfounded election fraud claims and withdrawn praise or support for those involved in the riots.

The board also disagreed on how narrowly it needed to assess Trump`s posts in deciding if Facebook`s ban was correct. A minority thought that while the ban was justified on Jan. 6 events, it was important to look at posts before the November election, including Trump`s post during racial justice protests that said "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," and multiple posts referencing the "China Virus."

5. The board says Facebook needs to tell users about its newsworthiness rules

The board said Facebook needs to be less opaque and address the confusion it has caused around how it makes decisions on influential users, though this recommendation is not binding.

Facebook`s newsworthiness allowance allows violating posts to stay up where the public interest outweighs the harm. Facebook told the board it did not apply the exemption to the posts in the Trump case, even though the company has previously said it treats politicians` speech as newsworthy.

The basic principle of giving world leaders greater latitude than average users has been criticized by some researchers and human rights advocates, who argue these posts should instead be more strictly policed.

The board said all users should be held to the same content rules, but it emphasized Facebook should take quick action when posts by influential users pose a high probability of imminent harm and that this should take priority over other values of political communication.

The board noted it does not see a useful distinction between political leaders and other influential users on the site.

It also said Facebook`s penalty system, in general, was not clear and it should tell users more about the "strikes" it imposes, how penalties are calculated and give warnings before restricting accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
New Delhi: Part two of the France solidarity mission to India of sending anti-COVID assistance will begin at the end of May. Under this, a second air shipment of medical equipment and oxygen generator plants will be sent to New Delhi.

France is also going to send liquid oxygen from French company Air Liquide's plants in the region to India via sea including with help of Indian armed forces. The first shipment of liquid O2 will arrive in the coming days.

Informed sources told media that the Indian Airforce might also be involved in getting supplies from France. Indian Air force is already playing a key role and in the last few days airlifted 900 empty Oxygen cylinders from the UK, four cryogenic oxygen containers from Perth, Australia.

As a part of its solidarity mission, France had sent eight medical oxygen generators last week. Each generator can make an Indian hospital autonomous in oxygen supply for approximately 10 years. The country also sent specialized medical equipment which included 28 ventilators as well as 200 electric syringe pumps.

France is supporting India under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (MPCU). Under the mechanism, more than 10 members of the European Union are sending assistance to New Delhi. Meanwhile, the European Commission has announced that it will allocate an initial 2.2 million in emergency funding to respond to the ongoing COVID crisis in 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 the 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 European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic.

EU Member States that have already mobilised supplies of urgently needed oxygen, ventilators, and medicines are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.

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Islamabad: Drawing a comparison between the Indian and Pakistan embassies abroad, Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the countrys ambassadors serving abroad to abandon colonial-era attitudes and treat their diaspora with compassion.

PM Khan on Wednesday (May 5) rebuked his diplomats while addressing his envoys posted around the world virtually, for their failure to serve overseas Pakistanis and bring in investment into the country, Dawn reported.

"We cannot continue like this. The way our embassies are running, this could work in an old colonial system but not in todays Pakistan. Embassies foremost work is to service the diaspora and then they should work to bring investment into the country that is going through very bad financial conditions right now," the Pakistan PM said and noting that Indian embassies abroad were "very proactive" in bringing investment to India as compared to Pakistan.

This statement comes as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government initiated a formal inquiry into the matter pertaining to the workers complaints filed in Riyadh about their mistreatment by embassy staff in the Saudi capital, Arab News reports.

This follows the government's decision to recall their ambassador and six other officers over complaints by the Pakistani labour community in the kingdom.

An adviser to the Pakistan PM told the media that the complaints had been made by a number of expat labourers over recent months.

"The former ambassador to (the) KSA, Raja Ali Ejaz, has been suspended, while all staff who dealt with the public at the Pakistani Embassy and consulates in (the) KSA, (are) to be recalled and the process for their replacement initiated immediately by the concerned ministries," the letter from the PM's office read.

Last Thursday, the Foreign Offices statement had said the six officers who were issued recall orders worked in the diplomatic, community welfare, and consular wings of the embassy.

The statement added that Imran Khan had tasked the Prime Minister's Inspection Commission to inquire into the matter and submit its report within 15 days.

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New Delhi: The Myanmar junta has banned satellite television after imposing severe restrictions on the internet and media, provoking global rights groups to protest the military`s tightening grip over information flow in the country.

The ruling State Administration Council announced this week that anyone using satellite dishes to watch television will face up to one year in prison or a fine of 500,000 kyat ($320).

The military junta claimed that "illegal organisations and news agencies" were broadcasting programs via satellite that threaten state security.

The ban appears targeted at independent Burmese language broadcasters such as the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and Mizzima, which have continued broadcasting via satellite since the junta revoked their operating licenses in March.

The ban will also affect foreign news channels broadcast via satellite into Myanmar.

"The satellite TV ban is a blatant attempt to deny access to independent news broadcasts and further isolate Myanmar`s people," said Linda Lakhdhir, Asia legal advisor at Human Rights Watch.

"The junta should immediately withdraw its outrageous blanket censorship and end its relentless assault on news reporting."

The ban on satellite television is part of the military`s full-scale attack on the country`s media, alleged Mizzima chief editor Soe Myint.

He told IANS the military crackdown now extends from ground to air in an unprecedented way and Myanmarese people can only look forward to the global community to redress their plight.

On May 4, the junta also announced that it was banning two more media outlets, Kachin-based 74 Media and Shan-based Tachileik News Agency, increasing the number to eight.

Many of those outlets, including 74 Media and Tachileik News, have responded with defiance to the junta`s bans, vowing to continue their reporting.

In addition to banning media outlets, the security forces have aggressively targeted journalists for arrest.

At least 71 journalists have been arrested since the February 1 coup, of whom at least 48 remain in detention.

The authorities have charged many of those detained, including Japanese freelance reporter Yuki Kitazumi, with violating a new provision in the penal code adopted by the junta that makes it a crime to publish or circulate comments that "cause fear" or spread "false news".

Those convicted face up to three years in prison.

The authorities have imposed severe restrictions on the internet, making it very difficult for people to access or to share information.

Mobile internet data and wireless broadband have been turned off for more than six weeks, and Facebook and other social media platforms popular in Myanmar have been blocked since the coup.

"The Myanmar junta`s increasingly desperate efforts to block those inside the country from accessing independent news and information won`t hide the truth about its ongoing violations of rights," HRW`s Lakhdhir said.

"Concerned governments should use their wide array of tools, including arms embargos and targeted sanctions, to pressure the junta to end its rights abuses and bring those responsible to account."

Live TV
Houston: The US India Chamber of Commerce (USICOC) Foundation has shipped another 32 portable ventilators to help India battle the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The foundation is likely to send a third shipment of 25 ventilators in addition to several oxygen concentrators in the next few days.

The US India Chamber of Commerce of Dallas-Fort Worth and Indo-American Chamber of Greater Houston (IACCGH) have joined hands to unite the entire Texas Indian-American diaspora in this effort.

Jagdip Ahluwalia, executive /founding director of the IACCGH, credited many community organisations and individual business owners for these efforts.

Ahluwalia also acknowledged the contributions made by the logistics and cargo teams at Perimeter Global Logistics, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

IACCGH president Tarush Anand said, "While what is happening in India is heartbreaking, it is encouraging to see the Indian-American community rally together to support the people of India in their time of need. Dozens of private donors and various organisations have supported these efforts wholeheartedly."

Houston-based entrepreneur Abeezer Tyebji, who also represents the Dawoodi Bohra community, donated over USD 100,000.

"Islam teaches us to aid all humanity, and as such to help India in this time of need is both a matter of faith as it is one of kinship for the Dawoodi Bohras," he said.

Neel Gonuguntla, the USICOC president, said, "This collective community effort is the result of hundreds of helping hearts."

President of the IT Serve Alliance Raghu Chittimala partnered with the USICOC Foundation and donated over USD 100,000.

"We want India to know that the ITSERVE Alliance community has your back to provide the help in any way we can."

Live TV
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:55:47|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The delays in supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses to Africa linked to the crisis in India could reignite new waves of infections in the continent, the World Health Organization (WHO) official said Thursday.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa said during weekly virtual briefings that the COVID-19 vaccine supply crunch combined with new variants could undermine efforts to contain the pandemic in the continent.

"While we call for vaccine equity, Africa must also knuckle down and make the best of what we have. We must get all the doses we have into people's arms," Moeti said in a statement.

According to WHO, Africa currently accounts for 1 percent of COVID-19 vaccines administered globally, down from 2 percent a few weeks ago amid supply bottlenecks.

Moeti said that low vaccination coverage in Africa where eight doses per 1,000 people have been administered compared to 150 doses per 1,000 people globally, bodes ill for the continent's quest to flatten the curve.

Statistics from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate that 37.6 million doses had been acquired in the continent while 20.2 million had been administered as of May 4.

The pan African health agency said that the top five countries in Africa in terms of administering the highest number of doses include Morocco, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Kenya.

Moeti said WHO has rallied behind efforts to mitigate the harmful impact of the COVID-19 vaccine supply crunch in Africa that includes appealing for a donation of excess doses from wealthy nations and fast-tracking establishment of structures to boost local manufacturing of the life-saving commodity.

She said meticulous planning, training of health workers, and investments in cold chain infrastructure are key to ensure the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Africa is seamless.

Richard Mihigo, an immunization and vaccine development program coordinator, WHO regional office for Africa said that diversifying sources of COVID jab could offer some respite to the supply crunch that has stalled inoculation drives in the continent. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 23:02:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to the first China International Consumer Products Expo.

The expo, which opened on Thursday in Haikou, Hainan Province, will see the participation of nearly 1,500 enterprises from around 70 countries and regions.

Xi said the expo, serving as a global platform of displaying and trading high-end consumer products, is conducive to all countries sharing opportunities provided by the Chinese market and conducive to global economic recovery and growth. It will also enable China to offer the world more quality consumer products, Xi added.

It is hoped guests and participants of various sectors would have in-depth communications regarding cooperation to better benefit peoples of all countries, Xi said in the message.

China is ready to give play to the advantages brought by the Hainan free trade port in comprehensively deepening reforms and putting up the highest-level opening-up policies on a trial basis. China is also ready to deepen bilateral, multilateral, and regional cooperation and work with all sides in building a better future for humanity, Xi added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 23:06:36|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Another employee at the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport hotel tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the number of cases in a cluster linked to the hotel and Taiwan-based China Airlines to 29, said the local disease monitoring agency.

So far, 11 China Airlines cargo pilots, eight relatives of the pilots, a flight attendant, six Novotel employees, and three of their family members have tested positive for the virus.

In response to the cluster outbreak, authorities strengthened quarantine requirements for China Airlines flight crews with immediate effect, said the agency.

To further curb the spread of the disease, the island will expand its COVID-19 vaccination program, with effect from May 10, to include all military personnel and residents aged 65 or above.

Taiwan reported 12 new imported COVID-19 cases from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, also on Thursday.

The total number of confirmed cases on the island has risen to 1,173, including 12 deaths, the agency said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 23:14:29|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Nepal is witnessing new record highs of COVID-19 infections and deaths with each passing day, making it harder for the government and the patients to survive the pandemic.

Nepal reported on Thursday a new record of 9,070 coronavirus infections, with 54 patients losing their lives in the last 24 hours.

A day earlier, 58 people succumbed to the global pandemic and 8,605 new cases were reported. While on Tuesday, Nepal recorded 55 COVID-19-related fatalities and 7,587 new infections. On Monday, the figures were 37 and 7,388 respectively.

All were new highs at the time.

The first case of COVID-19 was detected in the country in January 2020, and now the outbreak of the second wave is leaving the country in dire struggle to manage the pandemic.

"The surge in the new infections and deaths is worrying," Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson with the Ministry of Health and Population, told Xinhua. "We are struggling hard to deal with the present situation."

On April 30, the ministry issued a statement saying the hospitals were running out of beds and there was not an adequate supply of oxygen.

Due to the lack of hospital beds, the patients are being treated in open space in different parts of the country, and there are reports of people losing their lives over the acute shortage of treatment facilities.

According to officials at the Health Ministry and public health experts, there are primarily three reasons behind the latest spike.

First, they referred to political rallies launched by different parties and social gatherings such as marriages and other occasions. Different parties, mainly the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), had been organizing mass rallies in different parts of the country until last month to show their political strength. Meanwhile, dozens of people gathered together across the country as April and May mark the marriage season.

Second, the porous border with India is a major factor for the COVID-19 spread in Nepal. Officials say Nepali citizens are returning home as the pandemic is crippling the southern neighbour.

Nepal shares a 1,800-km-long open border with India, where the COVID-19 tally surpassed 21 million on Thursday as 412,262 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours.

Gautam said checking the entry of people from India has been a problem as they tend to enter from other places even when the control of official border points is tightened.

Lastly, a new variant of the coronavirus knowns as B117 spreads faster than the previous ones, and it is hurting Nepal as well.

Most parts of Nepal, which has a population of around 30 million, has been under a two-week prohibitory order since April 29 as part of the efforts to break the chain of the spread.

"The prohibitory orders alone don't control the spread," Dr. GD Thakur, former director general at the Department of Health, told Xinhua. "The government should expand the tests and expedite contact tracing."

He said as around 40 percent of the tests have turned out to be positive, there are certainly hundreds of people at the community level who are infected.

Government officials say currently they are in dire need of ventilators, monitors and oxygen cylinders. "The Chinese government has pledged to grant 20,000 oxygen cylinders. We are in the process to bring them," Gautam said. "We have requested other countries for support but no pledge has been made so far."

Under a work plan unveiled by the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday, the government plans to receive the cylinders gifted by the Chinese government by May 14.

In a video conference on April 27, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to deepen cooperation as South Asian countries were facing a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 00:12:49|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, May 6, 2021. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday discussed the security situation and reforms with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev, the president's press service said. (Ukrainian Presidential Office/Handout via Xinhua)

KIEV, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday discussed the security situation and reforms with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev, the president's press service said.

At the talks, Zelensky said that Blinken's visit is a signal to Europe and Russia of U.S. support for Kiev in the wake of the massive military buildup by Russia in recent weeks along its border with Ukraine.

Zelensky has informed that currently Ukraine's conflict-hit region of Donbas is witnessing a decrease in sniper fire and the number of casualties, while the tensions on the Ukrainian-Russian borders have eased after the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from the frontier.

During the conversation, Zelensky voiced his government's commitment to bring sustainable peace to Ukraine.

"The issue of ending the war for Ukraine is a priority, and a priority for each of us," Zelensky was quoted as saying by his press service.

For his part, Blinken said that Washington supports Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence and stands ready to continue its assistance for Kiev.

"We are actively considering the possibility of increasing cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in terms of security," Blinken was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency.

The U.S. secretary of state praised the progress Ukraine has made on its reform path, urging continued efforts to deepen the land market, judiciary system and anti-corruption reforms.

At the talks, Zelensky invited U.S. President Joe Biden to visit Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian media, Blinken arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for a working visit. During his trip, Blinken also held talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and other officials.

The visit comes in the aftermath of a massive military buildup by Russia in recent weeks along its border with Ukraine. The United States and its NATO allies expressed concerns about the movements of Russian troops, while Moscow said the maneuvers were purely defensive.

The ongoing conflict in Donbas, which began in April 2014, has claimed some 14,000 lives and left as many as 40,000 wounded. Kiev has repeatedly blamed Moscow for inciting the conflict. Russia, however, has denied the charges, saying the accusations are groundless. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 00:30:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that under the new circumstances, he is ready to work with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to strengthen the guidance of the development direction of China-Cuba relations.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told Diaz-Canel, also the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, in a telephone conversation that he is willing to consolidate and develop friendly relations between the two countries, and jointly open up new horizons and make new contributions to the cause of socialism. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 01:28:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi vowed on Thursday to facilitate Syrian refugees' participation in the upcoming Syrian presidential election.

Fahmi made the pledge during his meeting with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Al, the National News Agency reported.

The minister said Lebanon will take all necessary measures to facilitate the arrival of the Syrian refugees at the Syrian embassy in Beirut to cast their votes on May 20.

The Syrian envoy said after the meeting that the Lebanese side promised to coordinate with the Syrian embassy in Lebanon to ensure a smooth electoral process.

The United Nations estimated that over 1 million Syrians have fled their country to Lebanon since a brutal civil war broke out in Syria in 2011.

On April 18, the Syrian parliament announced the Syrian presidential election will be held in May. The election day for the Syrians abroad is set on May 20, while for the Syrians interiorly on May 26. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 01:35:13|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Ali Al-Khalfouni, a 56-year-old Libyan elementary school teacher, used to make about 700 U.S. dollars per month 10 years ago, an income high enough to cover the expenses of his entire family.

Nowadays, he makes less than 200 U.S. dollars per month. In order to secure the basic needs of the family, he uses his spare time teaching private lessons to make more money.

"Actually, so many negative things happened over the past 10 years," Al-Khalfouni said. "A large number of the Libyan people became unemployed and hungry."

Besides economic degradation, the security situation has also been worsening. According to Al-Khalfouni, the quality of life today is "tens of times worse" than 10 years ago.

"At least, most of the Libyans lived in an acceptable life and in an good security situation to the point that we did not hear the sounds of bullets in our daily life 10 years ago. Today, we hear the sounds of warplanes, gun firing and various weapons," he explained.

In February 2011, many Libyans demonstrated against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. The demonstrations then turned into an armed conflict between Gaddafi's forces and West-backed rebels.

In March 2011, NATO forces intervened in Libya's civil war with promises to liberate the country. The operation helped overthrow Gaddafi but left the country deeply unstable.

During the past 10 years, the Libyans have been plagued by political and economic collapse, inter-militia and intertribal warfare, as well as humanitarian crisis. In 2010, Libya's GDP per capita exceeded 12,000 U.S. dollars. However, in 2011 it dropped to about 5,500 U.S. dollars.

Khairiah Bouazoum, 67, is a retired employee at the Ministry of Economy. Now, she struggles to receive her pension due to the financial crisis and the country's delay in paying the salaries of retirees or current employees.

"We have lost the sense of life in Libya. Our suffering has become summarized in the power blackouts and the lack of money in the banks, in addition to the high prices of goods that have made the middle and poor classes struggle," Bouazoum told Xinhua.

"We do not want anything except security and economic stability, because these are conditions for the country to recover from its crisis," she said.

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) recently selected a new executive authority for the North African country, which was welcomed by all the Libyan parties. The new authority's main task is to prepare Libya for the general elections on Dec. 24, as agreed by the LPDF.

However, the situation in Libya cannot be described as stable yet, and the future of the North African nation still faces a high degree of uncertainty. Foreign forces have not yet completely withdrawn.

Asma Haggaj, a Libyan journalist, says the social instability has changed her life and restricted her career development during the past decade.

"I want to tell the United States: stop interfering in the lives of the Arab peoples!" she said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 01:51:41|Editor: huaxia

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-- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the expo. He said the expo, serving as a global platform of displaying and trading high-end consumer products, is conducive to all countries sharing opportunities provided by the Chinese market and conducive to global economic recovery and growth.

-- The CICPE will also enable China to offer the world more quality consumer products, Xi said.

-- China is ready to give play to the advantages brought by the Hainan free trade port in comprehensively deepening reforms and putting up the highest-level opening-up policies on a trial basis, he added.

by Xinhua writer Xie Jiang

HAIKOU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The inaugural China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off on Thursday in Haikou, capital of the southern island province of Hainan, pooling global high-end consumer brands to tap into the second-largest economy's market potential.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the expo. He said the expo, serving as a global platform of displaying and trading high-end consumer products, is conducive to all countries sharing opportunities provided by the Chinese market and conducive to global economic recovery and growth.

The CICPE will also enable China to offer the world more quality consumer products, Xi said.

Staff do preparation work at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 6, 2021. The first China International Consumer Products Expo will be held here from May 7 to 10. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

China is ready to give play to the advantages brought by the Hainan free trade port in comprehensively deepening reforms and putting up the highest-level opening-up policies on a trial basis, he added.

From the Canton Fair in Guangdong, the import-themed expo in Shanghai, the fair on trade in services in Beijing, to the CICPE, China has taken holding high-end international expos as one of the most effective ways to share its development opportunities with the rest of the world.

The CICPE, the first-ever expo focusing on consumer goods held by China, is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors from home and abroad.

A CHORD OF FREE TRADE

Listed as a new annual expo at the national level, the CICPE has attracted 648 overseas companies and 1,365 brands from 69 countries and regions.

Slated for May 7-10, the expo covers 80,000 square meters, including 60,000 square meters of international exhibition space featuring products including cosmetics, automobiles, yachts, and garments.

Photo taken on May 6, 2021 shows a drone performance for the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. The expo will be held in Haikou from May 7 to 10. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

The event is the first international expo held in Hainan since China released a master plan last June to build the island province into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

The master plan also blueprinted that Hainan should strive to build itself into an international tourism and consumption center. The hosting of the CICPE is a practical move to achieve this goal, according to vice commerce minister Wang Bingnan.

Over the years, China has made consistent efforts to share its market opportunities with the rest of the world by holding such business matching expos, honoring its commitment to open cooperation.

Coming at a time when anti-globalization, unilateralism, and protectionism sentiments are rising, the very first China International Import Expo (CIIE) is witnessing the strengthening of business ties and increasing support for free trade.

Held in 2018 in Shanghai, the first CIIE attracted the participation of more than 3,600 companies from 172 countries and regions, with intended deals worth 57.8 billion U.S. dollars.

At the expo, China announced a slew of opening-up measures, including further cutting import duties, relaxing market access for foreign investment, and implementing the system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list, which have all taken place.

Despite disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the third CIIE was held as scheduled and sealed higher deals than the previous events, with the intended one-year purchases of goods and services totaling 72.62 billion dollars.

Also, in 2020, the country hosted the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, sending another clear signal of its unwavering determination to open up wider to the world.

Authorities announced at the CIFTIS that the country would develop open platforms for the pilot program of innovative development of the services sector, further ease market access for the sector, and take improved initiatives to increase quality services imports.

As the first major international economic and trade event held by China since the outbreak of COVID-19, last year's CIFTIS attracted 22,000 firms and institutions from 148 countries and regions, including 199 Fortune 500 companies.

On April 25, the 129th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, concluded online. It is the third time the fair occurred online.

A total of 26,000 participating companies submitted more than 2.76 million exhibits, which is 290,000 more than that of the previous session.

Photo taken on May 6, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. The expo, which opened on Thursday in Haikou, will see the participation of nearly 1,500 enterprises from around 70 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A SEA OF OPPORTUNITIES

From Canton Fair, CIIE, and CIFTIS to CICPE, China aims to turn its market into a global market, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all.

With a total population of over 1.4 billion and more than 400 million middle-income residents, China has become the world's most promising consumer market.

Official data showed that despite impacts from COVID-19 last year, China's imports of consumer products rose by 8.2 percent year on year to 1.57 trillion yuan (about 241.9 billion U.S. dollars).

As the broader economy continues to recover on a firm footing, China's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of consumption strength, picked up further. In the first quarter, its retail sales increased by 33.9 percent year on year to 10.5 trillion yuan.

In the next 15 years, the country expects to import 30 trillion U.S. dollars worth of goods and 10 trillion U.S. dollars worth of services.

(Video reporters: Zhu Cong, Cao Sicheng, Wang Junfeng, Li Duojiang. Video editor: Hong Yan)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 02:32:56|Editor: huaxia

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THE HAGUE, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday sentenced Dominic Ongwen, a former commander of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), to 25 years of imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The decision by the trial chamber of the Hague-based ICC followed a judgment at the beginning of February, in which Ongwen was found guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the long-lasting civil war in Uganda.

The crimes are related to attacks against the civilian population in the northern part of the country between July 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005.

Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt on Thursday called Ongwen "a perpetrator who willfully and lucidly brought tremendous suffering upon his victims," but also stated that Ongwen, who had been a child soldier, "had previously endured extreme suffering himself at the hands of the group of which he later became a prominent member and leader."

Ongwen was arrested in the Central African Republic in January 2015 and transferred to the ICC's custody later that month. The Court had issued an arrest warrant against Ongwen already in July 2005.

The period of his detention between January 4, 2015 and May 6, 2021, will be deducted from the total time of imprisonment imposed on him. The sentence may be appealed before the ICC appeals chamber by either party to the proceedings. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 02:41:26|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) have officially acknowledged an explosion in the capital Male on Thursday where Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was injured.

Maldives Police said that an explosion in Neeloafaru Magu in Male had injured Nasheed, who has been admitted to the ADK Hospital for treatment.

"Police are currently active on the scene and we urge the public to refrain from going to that area for the time being," the Maldives Police said on their official Twitter account.

Meanwhile, the MNDF said in an official statement that they had increased security and raised the alert level following the explosion in which Nasheed was injured. Local media reported that President Ibrahim Solih has traveled to the ADK Hospital where Nasheed is being treated.

The president's spokesperson Mabrook Azeez has said that President Solih will have an emergency meeting with the National Security Council tonight. Parliament spokesperson Hassan Ziyau said that a special session of Parliament will be held tonight to discuss recent events. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 02:45:10|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, in his first official statement since an attack on parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed earlier Thursday, said that an investigation into the attack is underway.

"We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness and the investigation is currently underway," Solih said on his official Twitter account. Solih said that Nasheed was receiving treatment for his injuries in the ADK Hospital in Male.

The ADK Hospital said that Nasheed was admitted with injuries at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. "He is currently being treated by a multi-specialty medical team. His vitals are currently stable," the hospital's official Twitter account said.

Meanwhile, state-owned PSM News reported that four people including Nasheed were reportedly injured in the explosion.

Nasheed was injured in an explosion as he was entering his car near his residence on Thursday. The explosion reportedly originated from a motorcycle parked near Nasheed's car. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 03:11:39|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- After a two-day "exploratory round of consultations" in Cairo, Egypt and Turkey said on Thursday that they will evaluate the outcome of the talks in a bid to normalize ties after eight years of rift.

"The two sides will evaluate the outcome of this round of consultations and agree on the next steps," said a joint statement issued after the talks were concluded on Thursday.

The two-day talks started on Wednesday with a meeting between Egyptian and Turkish delegations co-chaired by Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Sanad Loza and his Turkish counterpart Sadat Onal, respectively.

Tension rose between Egypt and Turkey following the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to the mass protests against his controversial rule and his currently-blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group. Morsi and the Brotherhood were backed by Ankara.

Cairo and Ankara also have conflicting positions over the conflict in Libya and the maritime borders in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

"The discussions were frank and in-depth. They addressed bilateral issues as well as a number of regional issues, in particular the situation in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and the need to achieve peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region," said the joint statement on Thursday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 03:32:43|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Thursday that Iran "has proudly stood with the Palestinian people who resist the brutality of an apartheid regime."

With the notion of "apartheid regime," Zarif was referring to Israel, Iran's arch rival in the region.

"Palestine is a yardstick for justice. Few measure up," the Iranian top diplomat tweeted ahead of the Quds Day.

The Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), initiated by Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians, is an annual event held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, which falls on May 7 this year.

Protests have since been held on the day every year in Iran and some Arab countries to protest against Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem since the 1967 war.

"Quds Day is a yearly reminder of the moral imperative of global solidarity for Palestine," Zarif added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 03:33:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.

Noting that the United Nations (UN) has gone through rare and complicated situations in recent years, Xi said multilateralism has received more and more support as a result.

Pursuing multilateralism is inseparable from the United Nations, international law and cooperation among countries, Xi said.

The world needs genuine multilateralism, Xi said, adding that all countries should act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, refrain from pursuing unilateralism and hegemonism, and should not use multilateralism as a pretext to form small circles or stir up ideological confrontation.

China will continue to support the work of the United Nations and that of Secretary-General Guterres, and uphold genuine multilateralism, Xi said.

Xi stressed that the most important task for the international community remains fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the world should strengthen cooperation and reject political manipulation.

Noting that major countries should set an example by providing more public goods, Xi said that China has provided vaccine assistance for more than 80 developing countries and exported vaccines to more than 50 countries.

China has decided to offer vaccines to the UN peacekeeping operations and the International Olympic Committee, and will continue to actively support COVAX and make continuous efforts to eliminate the "vaccine divide," Xi added.

Noting that the global campaign to tackle climate change is of great importance, Xi said China has announced that it will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which is a much shorter time span than many developed countries would spend.

China has taken the initiative to do that, instead of doing it passively, Xi said, adding that action speaks louder than words.

China will make its utmost efforts and contribution to addressing climate change in light of actual possibilities, and will continue to actively promote international cooperation in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, Xi said.

He stressed that China has done its best to promote South-South cooperation and provide assistance for developing countries, adding that this is China's consistent practice as well as its moral responsibility.

Many of the initiatives put forward by China, especially the joint Belt and Road construction, are based on such considerations, Xi said, adding that the Chinese always keep their words and do what they say.

Noting that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, Xi said China has scored a complete victory in poverty alleviation, achieved significant strategic results in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarked on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country.

As this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) lawful seat in the United Nations, China will hold grand commemorative activities, Xi said.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations, and continue to push forward the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Xi added.

For his part, Guterres congratulated the CPC on its centenary, and the PRC on the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations.

The United Nations, he said, highly appreciates China's great achievements in the country's poverty alleviation, as well as its firm support for multilateralism and the work of the United Nations, speaks highly of the targets for the intended nationally determined contributions and major measures announced by China to tackle global climate change, and thanks China for its important contributions to the international cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to achieving fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries and promoting the recovery and growth of the world economy.

Guterres said he fully agrees that all countries should practice genuine multilateralism on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, adding that China is vital to the international multilateral system.

The United Nations, Guterres said, looks forward to closer cooperation with China in such fields as world peace and security, biodiversity protection, climate change response, and assistance for developing countries to achieve sustainable development, so as to take the UN-China relationship to a new height. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 03:45:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that under the new circumstances, he is ready to work with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to strengthen the guidance of the development direction of China-Cuba relations.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told Diaz-Canel, also first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee, in a telephone conversation that he is willing to consolidate and develop friendly relations between the two countries, and jointly open up new horizons and make new contributions to the cause of socialism.

On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese people, Xi once again congratulated the successful convening of the Eighth Congress of the PCC, and Miguel Diaz-Canel's election as first secretary of the PCC Central Committee.

The Eighth Congress of the PCC has made strategic deployment and planning for the development of the cause of the PCC and the country at present and for a time to come, which is of great significance to Cuba's socialist cause, Xi said.

Xi said he believes that under the leadership of the new PCC Central Committee led by Diaz-Canel, the PCC and the Cuban government will lead the Cuban people to forge ahead in unity and steer the cause of socialism with Cuban characteristics towards new achievements.

Xi also asked Diaz-Canel to convey his cordial greetings to Comrade Raul Castro.

China and Cuba are good friends, comrades and brothers, bound closely together by their common ideals and beliefs, Xi said.

The Chinese leader said that in recent years, he and Diaz-Canel have reached many consensuses on developing China-Cuba relations in the new era, which have helped push forward the development of bilateral relations.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, and is the first year for China to implement its 14th Five-Year Plan and embark on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, Xi said, adding that this year also marks the 60th anniversary of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro's announcement that the Cuban Revolution had socialist characteristics.

This year is also a year in which Cuba continuously promotes the renewal of its economic and social model and makes important strides in building a prosperous and sustainable socialist country, Xi said.

The CPC stands ready to strengthen communication and discussion with the PCC on major theoretical and practical issues, Xi said, adding that China is willing to take the joint building of the Belt and Road as an opportunity to steadily push forward practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields.

China will maintain close communication and coordination with Cuba on important international and regional issues, and firmly safeguard world peace, fairness and justice, Xi said.

China will, as always, support Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and independence and following a socialist path that suits its national situation, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

For his part, Diaz-Canel conveyed Raul Castro's best wishes to Xi, and briefed the Chinese leader on the Eighth Congress of the PCC.

He said the congress focused on Cuba's economic development, the Party building and the policies towards cadres, which has formulated new plans and policies for updating Cuba's economic and social model, and strengthened the country's belief in sticking to the path of socialism.

Diaz-Canel spoke highly of the historic achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC in the past 100 years.

He underlined China's great achievements in building a modern socialist country under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, expressing his firm belief that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, China will eventually achieve greater progress.

Diaz-Canel said he appreciates China's long-term and firm support for Cuba's just cause, including its timely assistance to Cuba's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Cuba firmly supports the one-China policy and opposes all acts of interference in China's internal affairs, he said.

The PCC is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience with the CPC in running a country, make good use of mechanisms such as the Cuba-China intergovernmental commission for economic and trade relations, and promote practical cooperation in such areas as jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to push forward the relations between the two parties and the two countries. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 03:55:50|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Cuba reported on Thursday more than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections for the third consecutive day, with 1,060 cases, to total 112,714, the Ministry of Public Health said, adding that there were another seven deaths reported, bringing the total to 701.

The ministry's director of hygiene and epidemiology Francisco Duran reported during his daily broadcast that of the new cases, 35 were imported ones.

Havana registered 636 cases in the last day, recording the highest rate of infection on the island, with 454.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Cuba is currently battling a new wave of infections, with authorities reapplying preventive health measures, closing many public spaces and placing restrictions on arriving international travelers.

In the capital, the ministry is getting ready for a mass vaccination campaign this month with two Cuban vaccine candidates, Soberana-02 and Abdala.

Meanwhile, Phase III clinical trials and an intervention trial for Abdala are being carried out in the eastern part of the country, while Phase II clinical trials for another vaccine candidate Soberana Plus continue in the capital and two other candidates, Soberana-01 and Mambisa, are at different stages of research.

The ministry is also preparing a pediatric clinical trial with Soberana-01, 02 and Plus vaccine candidates. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 04:02:48|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Scan, a Finnish manufacturer of meat foods and products, reported improved first quarter (Q1) results on Thursday.

In a press release, HKScan, which is based in Turku, the oldest city in Finland, said year-on-year the company's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 2.8 million euros (3.37 million U.S. dollars) to minus 1.1 million euros. The company's net sales totaled 427.5 million euros compared to 428.9 million euros in Q1 2020.

Clear sales growth of the branded products continued in company's retail channel. Food service sales decreased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the fall started to level off at the end of Q1, it noted.

Tero Hemmila, chief executive officer (CEO) of HKScan, underlined in the press release that the company had already improved its comparable business results for ten consecutive quarters year-on-year.

HKScan said earlier this year that "the Chinese market balances the domestic demand and supply changes." In 2019, HKScan exported six million kilograms of meat to China. (1 euro = 1.21 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 05:53:23|Editor: huaxia

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BOGOTA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Ivan Duque rejected on Thursday the "acts of violence" that have taken place in the past week during a national strike, including looting of and damage to state and private property.

"We have to categorically reject violence and all manifestations and expressions that threaten the life, honor and property, rights and liberties of citizens," Duque said after meeting with high court representatives.

On April 15, Duque sent a tax law initiative to the Congress that would reform the national tax system, which will raise taxes on the middle class, who took to the streets in protest throughout the country.

For the last eight days, there have been heavy clashes in several cities between authorities and protestors, as well as damage to state and private property.

The president stressed that all acts against citizens and public servants in the last few days must be investigated and punished.

Meanwhile, the president and Vice President Marta Lucia Ramirez announced on Thursday they hope to meet with strike organizers to negotiate their demands.

"We want to announce that the president and vice president are willing to meet with all social actors in the country, including members of the strike committee, to meet urgently," Labor Minister Angel Custodio Cabrera said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 06:29:23|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior State Department official said on Thursday that the United States and Iran could achieve a mutual return to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal in the coming weeks if Tehran makes a "political decision."

The senior official said in a phone briefing that the last three rounds of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Vienna "helped crystallize the choices," but noting "nothing has been agreed" on how to revive the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"If Iran makes the political decision that it genuinely wants to return to the JCPOA as the JCPOA was negotiated, then it could be done relatively quickly and implementation could be relatively swift," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "But we don't know if Iran has made that decision."

"There's still a lot of work to do in terms of agreeing on the sanctions, nuclear steps, but also the sequencing and the timetable for implementation of the steps that both sides are going to need to take," he said.

The official suggested that it is possible for Washington and Tehran to achieve a mutual return to compliance in the next few weeks, while stressing "this is ultimately a matter of a political decision that needs to be made in Iran."

U.S. delegation will return to Vienna this week for a new round of indirect talks with Iran. "We just have to see whether the next round actually moves things forward, or whether we still are faced with unrealistic demands by Iran," said the official.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran's senior negotiator in Vienna talks, said last week that negotiating parties have reached "common ground in many cases," but there are still differences.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the United States knows that it has to return to law and assume its obligations pertaining to the nuclear deal.

The JCPOA was reached in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France, China, plus Germany) together with the EU. Tehran agreed to roll back parts of its nuclear weapons program in exchange for decreased economic sanctions.

Iran gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments in May 2019, one year after the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the agreement and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. Enditem
KOKOMO, Ind.  Indiana University Kokomos Commencement will be extra special for one mother and daughter, as they celebrate their accomplishments together.

Michele Simms and her daughter, Brooke Castleberry, will both cross the stage on Tuesday, May 11, as Castleberry earns her Bachelor of Science in Education, and Simms completes her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).

Its just a really cool experience to graduate together because I was not expecting that. I thought she would either be a year ahead or behind me, Castleberry said. I will always remember that because its my mom. She always talked about going back to college and did it. Its really neat to see her succeed with me.

Castleberry has dreamed of being a teacher since being inspired by her second-grade teacher. Shes spent the past semester student teaching at Western Primary School where she had the opportunity to work with both a special education kindergarten and a second-grade classes.

When a kid is struggling and then they start getting it after youve taught them and you just kept encouraging them  seeing them succeed is what really keeps me going, she said.

Simms, whose M.B.A. includes a concentration in finance, set a goal for herself long ago to return to school for a graduate degree. When Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) partnered with IU Kokomo to start a cohort program for its employees, she jumped at the chance.

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She is currently an administrator at the plant and hopes to use her M.B.A. to further her career or possibly start her own business.

Simms said she was fortunate to have many caring professors during her time at IU Kokomo.

Throughout their educational journey, the two were able to rely and lean on each other through all the rigors of being a student.

Its great because we both understand when the other is overwhelmed and we go to each other like, How do you do this? or just give each other different methods or encourage other and say, Youre going to finish, when we get overwhelmed, Castleberry said. We can be there for each other and encourage each other.

Castleberry has also enjoyed the bonding experience with her mother now that shes married and moved out of her childhood home. If anything, this has allowed the two to bond in a new way and be more understanding.

We cheer each other on all the time and encourage each other, Simms said. You also understand when one or the other says, I absolutely have to do my homework and cant participate in that family function, or they need to leave early. We were very understanding because we were going through very similar journeys.

Whatever shes going through, Im going through it at the same time.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 04:44:34|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police confirmed on Wednesday more than 20 students abducted from a college in the country's northwestern state of Kaduna have been released.

Mohammed Jalige, a police spokesperson in Kaduna, who confirmed this to reporters in a statement, said the abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization regained their freedom after spending 55 days in captivity.

The students were abducted on March 11 by a group of unknown gunmen who attacked the college located in the town of Afaka in Igabi local government area of the state, and 39 students were declared missing by the state government on the following day.

Two separate statements from the state government in early April confirmed 10 students of the college have been set free.

Jalige said the newly freed students are currently undergoing medical examination at a health facility in Kaduna.

Meanwhile, the state government has rejoiced with the parents of the students for their safe release.

"The government rejoices with the freed students, their families, and the management of the institution over this development," Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs said in a statement.

A series of gunmen attacks recently happened in the northern part of the most populous African country, including attacks on schools and kidnapping of students. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:07:42|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty held talks on Wednesday with U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River, said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The Egyptian ministry said the meeting was held "in order to discuss the developments of the GERD file and the Egyptian position in this regard" without adding further details.

Recent tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD.

Ethiopia, an upstream Nile basin country, carried out the first phase of filling the dam unilaterally in July 2020 and is planning to go ahead with the second phase in July this year despite the concerns of Egypt and Sudan.

Ethiopia started building the GERD in 2011, while Egypt is concerned the dam might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile water. Sudan has also raised similar concerns over the dam. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:50:41|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A unit of the Tunisian Maritime Guard has rescued 38 illegal immigrants of different African nationalities off the coastal city of Sfax in southeastern Tunisia, according to a statement released by the Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

"The rescue operation took place this afternoon, when a unit of the naval guard managed to rescue the illegal immigrants from a sinking boat sailing to the Italian coasts," said the statement.

"These illegal immigrants aged between 20 and 35, included six women," it added.

They were transferred to the Sfax naval base and handed over to the National Guard in the region to receive legal procedures.

Tunisia, located in the central Mediterranean, is one of the main points of access to the Europe through irregular channels.

The attempts of illegal immigration from the Tunisian coasts toward Italy have been increasing despite the strict measures by the Tunisian authorities to combat the problem. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 17:23:15|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people died instantly following a road accident in the central Ugandan district of Masaka on Thursday, a humanitarian agency has said.

The Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson, Irene Nakasiita, in a text message to reporters said the accident involved a trailer, a taxi and a motorcycle.

Nakasiita said the cause of the accident is not yet known saying police is yet to issue a statement.

According to police statistics, some 20,000 road accidents occur nationwide each year, causing more than 2,000 deaths and thus making Uganda among the countries with the highest traffic fatality rates. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 17:32:49|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday welcomed the United States position to temporarily waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines in a bid to increase global supplies of desperately needed doses.

Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Tourism and Wildlife said the international community should now lobby the big pharmaceutical companies to accept and support this move to facilitate the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in Africa.

Balala said the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines in as many countries as possible are vital to keep everyone safe in this interconnected global village.

"No one is safe until everyone is vaccinated and a waiver of patents on COVID-19 vaccines will make the supply chain more efficient. I am glad U.S. President Joe Biden's administration understands and supports this position," Balala said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The proposal which was first introduced before the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2020 by South Africa and India would cover patents, industrial designs, copyrights, and protection of trade secrets.

Officials said a waiver would make it easier for countries that permit compulsory licensing to allow a manufacturer to export vaccines.

The U.S. on Wednesday agreed to support waiving intellectual property (IP) restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines at the WTO, a breakthrough in the global fight against the pandemic.

"Africa needs to safeguard lives and livelihoods in the tourism and hospitality industry and fully supports the U.S. move to waive COVID-19 vaccines patents because we do not want the continent to be left behind in the rolling out of the vaccines under the new dispensation," Balala said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 17:39:39|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Somali government and opposition leaders have resolved to reestablish peace and demilitarize the restive capital, Mogadishu, following days of anxiety over the delayed elections in the country.

An 11-member technical committee that released a ten-point deal on Wednesday evening said the troops who were involved in the recent skirmishes in Mogadishu will retain ranks, salaries, and other benefits.

The committee which was appointed by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble on Tuesday to resolve the recent armed clashes between government and pro-opposition forces in Mogadishu agreed on the withdrawal of army mutineers from Mogadishu by Friday.

Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala who read the committee statement also called on warring parties to refrain from issuing inflammatory statements that may incite violence and hatred at a time when the country is preparing to hold elections.

The committee members were six ministers, three senators and two lawmakers.

The prime minister welcomed the historic agreement by the technical committee which he said will pave the way to a consensus-based and transparent electoral process.

Roble also commended efforts to demilitarize Mogadishu and to end the conflict, describing it as a good step towards peace and stability.

"We must all work towards achieving this goal. It is another pleasure for the people of Somalia that we have resolved the demilitarization of Mogadishu. We need the support of the people and politicians," Roble said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.

He encouraged the Somali National Army (SNA) who had vacated their bases in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions to return.

President Mohamed Farmajo has tasked the prime minister with spearheading the process of preparations and the implementation of the electoral process including key election security arrangements to ensure elections take place in a peaceful and stable atmosphere.

Fighting erupted in the Somali capital Mogadishu on April 25 between government and pro-opposition forces over the decision by Lower House on April 12 to extend the mandate of the executive and the legislative arms of government by two years.

However, Farmajo reached out to Parliament which annulled the controversial bill on May 1 and reverted to the September 17, 2020, pre-election model. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 18:19:51|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has expanded its school feeding program that is benefiting 431,500 learners up from 78,000 at its inception in 1996, said Anna Nghipondoka, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, on Thursday.

"We have made tremendous progress in scaling up school feeding in Namibia over the years. It has quadrupled in size, reaching 431,500 learners in 1,496 schools in all 14 regions of Namibia," Nghipondoka said.

The program, launched in 1996, aims to address inequalities and expand access to educational opportunities to disadvantaged children, particularly orphans and vulnerable learners.

Meanwhile, to expand the program, the government introduced a school feeding policy to refine approaches and quality of education delivered by a decentralized feeding program.

Furthermore, according to Nghipondoka, Namibia is looking to diversify the school feeding program. The ministry, along with the United Nations World Food Programme, is designing a home-grown school feeding program to diversify school meals with locally available food by linking schools to smallholder farmers.

"This will serve a dual purpose; to increase the intake of diversified nutritious food by learners while simultaneously also increase income for smallholder farmers," she said.

The program is supported by United Nations Children's Fund and the World Food Programme. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 20:16:22|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health has issued new travel restrictions to limit the importation of COVID-19 cases as the east African country experiences a surge in cases, signaling what experts call the start of the second wave of the pandemic.

Ruth Aceng, minister of health told reporters here late on Wednesday that travelers arriving in Uganda have been categorized into three groups, category one, two and three depending on presence and trend of the variant of concern, high transmission rate and the number of deaths registered in the last three months.

Aceng said travelers and passenger flights from category one countries, that is India, were banned from traveling into the country starting May 1.

She said the only exception applies to cargo crews who do not disembark from the aircraft, aircraft in state of emergency, technical stops where travelers do not disembark, and operations related to humanitarian aid and medical evacuation.

Countries in category two include Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, South Africa, United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.

The third category includes all travelers who are not among the listed countries.

The minister advised all travelers from category two countries to suspend their non-essential travels to Uganda.

She said those who opt to travel to Uganda will be subjected to COVID-19 test at their own cost as soon as they arrive at the country's border posts including Entebbe International Airport.

Those who are found to be positive, would be taken to an isolation center while those who are negative will be let free to continue with their journey.

She said children arriving into the country from category two countries will also be subjected to a test, and if found positive, they will be taken to an isolation center under the company of their parent or guardian. Those who test negative will be let free.

According to the ministry, people traveling from category 2 and 3 countries who have received their full COVID-19 vaccination doses and are asymptomatic will be allowed to enter the country without need for testing.

According to the ministry of health, the COVID-19 situation in Uganda has started to worsen, noting that cases have increased by 81 percent in the last six weeks.

Ministry of health figures show that the country on Thursday reported 50 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 42,152 and 345 deaths, since the first index case was reported last year on March 22.

Minister Aceng said the surge in numbers is a signal that the country is starting the second wave of the pandemic.

Despite the increase in numbers, the public, according to health experts is complacent. On the streets in the capital Kampala, people have stopped wearing face masks and are not following the social distancing measures as instructed by the ministry of health.

"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 said.

The country is currently facing five COVID-19 variants, including those first found in India, South Africa and Britain.

On the preventive side, Uganda is continuing to push for increased vaccination. Some 375,283 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca vaccine since the vaccination campaign was launched on March 10, according to the ministry.

The country was this month scheduled to receive 5 million doses but the supply was interrupted by the increased number of COVID-19 cases in India where the AstraZeneca vaccine is made. There is concern that India may not supply the vaccine as it focuses on controlling the rapid spread of the pandemic internally.

Minister Aceng said the new consignment of the AstraZeneca vaccine is expected in the country next month.

Aceng advised those who are due for their second dose of the vaccine to wait for the 12-week period from the time of receipt of the first dose. She said focus is now on having more people get the vaccine. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 20:35:43|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Nurses and midwives in Uganda on Thursday started their sit-down strike after they failed to reach a consensus with government over payment of their lunch allowance.

Justus Cherop Kiplangat, president of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, told Xinhua by telephone that only critical personnel have been left to work in the emergency section and intensive care units.

Kiplangat said the country's President Yoweri Museveni on May 12, 2018 promised to increase the lunch allowance of the nurses and midwives but up to now nothing has been effected.

Robinah Nabbanja, minister of state for health in charge of general duties, told Xinhua by telephone that government will continue to negotiate with the nurses and midwives to call off the strike, saying the promises made by the president will be fulfilled in due course.

The government had already allocated the money but the COVID-19 pandemic changed the priority, the minister explained, noting once the pandemic slows down, the medical workers would be priority.

"My advice to nurses and midwives is to remain working as the government looks for funds to fulfill its promise," she said.

Over 8,000 nurses and midwives have heeded the union call and stayed at home as they wait for the government to come up with a solution for their payments, according to Kiplangat.

Uganda has about 70,167 nurses and midwives registered with the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:30:35|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Somalia said Thursday it has resumed diplomatic relations with Kenya following fruitful talks between leaders of the two countries.

Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala said the two governments agreed to keep friendly relations on the basis of principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.

Yusuf told journalists in Mogadishu that the decision to restore diplomatic ties with neighboring Kenya which were cut on December 15, 2020, was made in the interest of good neighborliness.

He said Kenyan and Somali presidents are grateful and thankful to the Emir of the State of Qatar for the mediation efforts which resulted in the restoration of diplomatic ties.

There was no immediate comment from Kenya but the move comes after Kenya's State House said President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday received a special message from the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Amir's message was delivered to the President by Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, who is the Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar for counterterrorism and mediation of conflict resolution.

Somalia in December 2020 cut ties with Kenya, accusing it of violating the country's sovereignty and interfering in the country's political affairs. Enditem
News Around the Republic of Mexico



Mexico's Agricultural Exports Increased 5% in March



The most important export increases were fresh strawberries with almost 70 percent, citrus with 50%, raw coffee beans at 31 percent, pepper and edible fruits and nuts with 28% and 19 percent, respectively.



The most important export increases were fresh strawberries with almost 70 percent, citrus with 50%, raw coffee beans at 31 percent, pepper and edible fruits and nuts with 28% and 19 percent, respectively.



However, reductions were seen as avocados decreased 15 percent and tomatoes with almost a 13 percent decrease compared to last year.



The association said during the first quarter of 2021, agricultural exports totaled over US$5.5 billion, which is similar to last year which was more than US$5.4 billion.



According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography's Global Indicator of Economic Activity (IGAE), agriculture, livestock and fishing showed a 6.3 percent increase in February year-on-year.



Agri-food balance surplus



During the first two months of 2021, the country's agricultural and agro-industrial balance (agri-food balance) showed a surplus of over $1.7 billion.



Agri-food exports grew over 2.6 percent year-on-year by adding more than $6.7 billion, while agricultural and agribusiness imports increased 7.3 percent, increasing $5 billion year-on-year.



Mexico's total agri-food trade reached over $11.7 billion in the first two months of 2021.



In the agroindustrial sector, exports totaled $3.4 billion, showing annual growth of 9.5%.



Original article Mexico's agricultural and fishing exports grew five percent year-on-year in March, totaling over US$2.1 billion according to data obtained by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mexico. The most important export increases were fresh strawberries with almost 70 percent, citrus with 50%, raw coffee beans at 31 percent, pepper and edible fruits and nuts with 28% and 19 percent, respectively.However, reductions were seen as avocados decreased 15 percent and tomatoes with almost a 13 percent decrease compared to last year.The association said during the first quarter of 2021, agricultural exports totaled over US$5.5 billion, which is similar to last year which was more than US$5.4 billion.According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography's Global Indicator of Economic Activity (IGAE), agriculture, livestock and fishing showed a 6.3 percent increase in February year-on-year.During the first two months of 2021, the country's agricultural and agro-industrial balance (agri-food balance) showed a surplus of over $1.7 billion.Agri-food exports grew over 2.6 percent year-on-year by adding more than $6.7 billion, while agricultural and agribusiness imports increased 7.3 percent, increasing $5 billion year-on-year.Mexico's total agri-food trade reached over $11.7 billion in the first two months of 2021.In the agroindustrial sector, exports totaled $3.4 billion, showing annual growth of 9.5%.



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Below are the arrests for May 5. All listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Jaime Arnold, 60, was arrested on May 5 at 11:04 p.m. at East Markland Avenue and South Apperson Way. He was charged with operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more (class A misdemeanor) and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (class A misdemeanor).

Alexander Canova, 20, was arrested on May 5 at 8:24 p.m. at East Jefferson Street and North Union Street. He was charged with manufacturing/dealing methamphetamine (level 5 felony), possession of methamphetamine (level 5 felony), and a warrant for petition to revoke.

Misty Galbraith, 40, was arrested on May 5 at 4:28 p.m. at 2150 N. Ohio St. She was charged with a warrant for pretrial release violation.

Michael Sadler, 49, was arrested on May 5 at 9:29 p.m. at West Markland Avenue and North Washington Street. He was charged with driving while suspended- prior (class A misdemeanor) and a warrant from Hamilton County.

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Patrick Steps, 34, was arrested on May 5 at 10:24 p.m. at East Gano Street and North Reed Road. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle without ever obtaining a license (class C misdemeanor) and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (class A misdemeanor).

Shyla Bergesen, 25, was arrested on May 5 at 2:31 a.m. at East Markland Avenue and South Cooper Street. She was charged with possession of a hypodermic syringe or needle (level 6 felony), obstruction of justice (level 6 felony), and possession of methamphetamine (level 6 felony).

Sandra Dean, 57, was arrested on May 5 at IN 931 and East Alto Road. She was charged with possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), possession of cocaine (level 6 felony), and possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).

Cynthia Jackson, 40, was arrested on May 5 at 12:35 a.m. at 1036 Home Ave. She was charged with possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), possession of methamphetamine (level 6 felony), and possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).

Charles Jones Jr., 53, was arrested on May 5 at 3:48 a.m. at East Alto Road and South Reed Road. He was charged with possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), possession of cocaine or narcotic drug (level 6 felony), possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor), being a habitual traffic violator- lifetime (level 5 felony), and a warrant from Hamilton County.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 00:14:51|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian authorities on Thursday issued an alert to 28 out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in the country, warning of severe flooding this year.

Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu said at the public presentation of Nigeria's 2021 Annual Flood Outlook in Abuja that the latest flood projections show varying severity across parts of the country.

Adamu said the newly released annual forecast by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency shows states close to the major rivers in the country are likely to be worst hit by the impending disaster.

The Federal Capital Territory and Lagos, the nation's commercial hub, are among the states to experience heavy flooding, Adamu said.

The official said some 302 local government areas out of a total of 774 in the country would likely be affected by the floods.

"The states surrounding Rivers Niger and Benue are, without doubt, going to experience severe flooding," Adamu said.

Noting that floods come with attendant health risks through the contamination of potable water sources, the minister said the 2021 flooding will be exacerbated by the continuing ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this light, Adamu said the government was controlling water flow in streams through the construction of dams, reservoirs and artificial lakes with a view to making it less destructive. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 08:37:59|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Two terrorists and three Pakistani security forces personnel were killed during a clash in Pakistan's northwestern North Waziristan tribal district, the Pakistani army said.

The army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Wednesday night that the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan on reported presence of terrorists.

The statement said that two terrorists were killed, and in exchange of fire a military officer and two soldiers were also killed.

Located along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, North Waziristan used to be a hotbed of militancy a few years ago, but the security forces have successfully flushed out the terrorists from the area in separate armed offensives.

Though the area has been purged from the militancy to a great extent, sporadic attacks continue in the area by the militants who are at flee but come back to the area to launch attacks at security personnel whenever they find a chance to breach the security of the highly guarded area. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 10:17:43|Editor: huaxia

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A checkpoint is set up on the road to Lautoka Hospital, in Lautoka, Fiji, May 6, 2021. Fiji reported the third death due to COVID-19 on Thursday, also the first patient who died due to local transmission of the virus. According to a statement by Fiji's Health Ministry, the 53-year-old man had been admitted to Lautoka Hospital, about 24 km north of Fiji's third largest city of Nadi since April 19, when he was hospitalized for a surgical procedure. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) on Wednesday afternoon and tested positive for COVID-19, before he died on Wednesday night. (FIJI SUN/Handout via Xinhua)

SUVA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Fiji reported the third death due to COVID-19 on Thursday, also the first patient who died due to local transmission of the virus.

According to a statement by Fiji's Health Ministry, the 53-year-old man had been admitted to Lautoka Hospital, about 24 km north of Fiji's third largest city of Nadi since April 19, when he was hospitalized for a surgical procedure. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) on Wednesday afternoon and tested positive for COVID-19, before he died on Wednesday night.

The health ministry said that this is Fiji's third death due to COVID-19. And this is also the island nation's first death for a person who had contracted the virus locally.

While stressing that as this case has shown, the virus can attack anyone and with devastating consequences, the heath ministry urged the public once again to get tested if there is even a small chance they may have been exposed to the virus, to cooperate fully with the contact tracing teams and observe the practices that will keep Fijians all safe.

It was believed that the man also passed the virus to the two doctors from Lautoka Hospital, who had tested positive earlier this week and the fear is now that the virus could be spreading. This has also resulted in the Lautoka Hospital being a full-time COVID-19 quarantine facility.

Currently, Fiji has had 125 COVID-19 cases, with 84 recoveries, 38 active cases and three deaths since the island nation reported its first COVID-19 case in March last year.

Fiji has also maintained a nationwide curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time since March last year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 14:02:01|Editor: huaxia

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Three militants were killed Thursday in a gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight erupted at village Kanigam in Shopian district, about 55 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today early morning a gunfight broke out in Nathipora village here in which three militants were killed," a senior police official posted in Shopian said.

"Gunfight in the area started after joint contingents of police and army cordoned off the area. No sooner they reached the suspected area, they came under a grenade attack, evoking a retaliation."

The slain militants were the local cadres and newly recruits.

A senior police official said after the locality was cordoned off, the four trapped militants were asked to lay down arms and surrender.

"Only one of them surrendered, while as three turned down the offer and got killed," the police official said.

According to police, the government forces have not suffered any damage in the stand-off.

An Indian army official said they recovered three pistols from the spot.

On Tuesday two militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the region's Sopore of Baramulla district.

Gunfights between militants and government forces take place intermittently in the region.

Meanwhile, police on Thursday morning said the burial of senior separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Khan (Sehrai) was completed as per COVID-19 protocol in presence of family members at his native place in Kupwara.

Sehrai chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (freedom movement) was undergoing detention at a jail in Jammu, the region's winter capital, since July last year. He was admitted on Tuesday evening to the government medical college (GMC) hospital Jammu after he complained of breathing problems in the jail.

On Wednesday Sehrai passed away in the hospital and authorities said he had COVID-19 symptoms. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 14:16:30|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has recorded 12 new COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the first double-digit increase since the pandemic hit the country, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Thursday.

The nationwide death toll stands at 153, according to the NCCD. Meanwhile, 940 more locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 1,601 recoveries were reported across the country in this period, bringing the respective national tallies to 42,464 and 27,242.

The number of cases in Mongolia has risen sharply since the beginning of April, with over 33,600 of all confirmed cases detected since April 1.

Those cases were found mostly in the capital of Ulan Bator, home to over half of the country's total population of 3.3 million.

The Asian country launched a national vaccination campaign in late February, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its total population.

According to the country's health ministry, more than 1,208,900 people have received their first dose while over 547,500 have got two shots. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 14:22:38|Editor: huaxia

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Workers wait to go back to their hometowns at a bus terminus in Patna, India, May 5, 2021. India's COVID-19 tally surpassed 21 million on Thursday as 412,262 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, said federal health ministry. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- India's COVID-19 tally surpassed 21 million on Thursday as 412,262 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.

This is the second time this month that over 400,000 cases have been registered in a single day.

Besides, as many as 3,980 deaths, maximum so far, took place in the country since Wednesday morning, taking the total death toll to 230,168, added the health ministry.

There are still 3,566,398 active cases in the country, with an increase of 79,169 active cases through Wednesday. A total of 17,280,844 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country.

The COVID-19 figures continue to peak in the country every day, as the federal government has ruled out a complete lockdown to contain the worsening situation. Though some states have imposed night curfews or partial lockdowns.

Only on Wednesday Principal Scientific Advisor to India's Federal Government K. Vijay Raghavan stated that a third COVID-19 wave was inevitable in the country.

Delhi has been put under a third successive lockdown till May 10. While some school examinations stand cancelled, others have been postponed in the wake of COVID-19 situation.

The number of daily active cases has been on the rise over the past few weeks. In January the number of daily cases in the country had come down to below-10,000.

India kick off the nationwide vaccination drive was kicked off on Jan. 16. So far over 162 million vaccination doses have been administered to the people across the country.

Online registration began last Wednesday for vaccinating people aged above 18. This is the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination, which began on May 1.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has ramped up COVID-19 testing facilities across the country, as over 296 million tests have been conducted so far.

As many as 296,775,209 tests were conducted till Wednesday, out of which 1,923,131 tests were conducted on Wednesday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday.

The national capital Delhi, which has been one of the most COVID-19 affected places in the country, witnessed 20,960 new cases and 311 deaths through Wednesday.

So far as many as 18,063 people have died in the national capital due to COVID-19, confirmed the Delhi's health department.

Two types of vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - are being administered to the people in India.

India received its first doses of Sputnik V, the Russian-made vaccine, on Saturday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:22:27|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian economy is expected to return to positive growth in 2021 after experiencing a contraction last year, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said in a press statement on Thursday.

"Despite disruptions in domestic activity due to the recent lockdown, the Cambodian economy is projected to grow by 4 percent in 2021, led by a robust recovery in manufacturing and supported by continued fiscal stimulus," AMRO lead specialist Seung Hyun Hong said in the statement.

"The recent spike in community cases underscores the need for the government's strong response to contain the pandemic and speed up the vaccination rollout to achieve herd immunity," he said.

In 2020, growth was estimated to contract by 3 percent as containment measures in Cambodia and its major trading partners and tourist markets weakened the country's key growth drivers, he added.

The statement was issued after Hong, along with AMRO director Toshinori Doi and chief economist Hoe Ee Khor, made virtual annual consultation with the Cambodian authorities from April 19 to May 4.

Cambodia logged 650 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, pushing the national case tally to 17,621 with 114 deaths, the Ministry of Health said.

The Southeast Asian nation launched an anti-COVID-19 inoculation drive on Feb 10. To date, more than 1.56 million out of the kingdom's 16-million population have been vaccinated against the virus, a government report said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 17:39:39|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Fiji reported on Thursday four new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 129 in the island nation.

According to Fiji's Health Ministry, the first case is an imported case, who is a Tongan national and arrived from Guyana on April 22. This was the last inbound passenger flight from Auckland, New Zealand before flights were halted. The patient is a traveling partner of a previously confirmed imported case.

The second one is a 47-year-old nurse at the Raiwaqa Health Center in the capital city of Suva while her 51-year-old husband has also tested positive on Thursday. The Raiwaqa Health Center has been closed to the public now.

The fourth infection is a 25-year-old nurse working in Lautoka Hospital, about 24 km north of Nadi.

Pointing out that COVID-19 has never posed a graver risk to Fijian people than it does now, the health ministry said that it is now heavily restricting visiting hours at all hospitals and health centers across the island nation to limit mixing between patients, medical personnel, and the general public.

The health ministry also urged Fijians to stay at home.

Fiji now has 42 active cases in isolation, including nine imported cases, 29 locally transmitted cases and four under investigation for their sources.

Currently, Fiji has recorded 84 recoveries and three deaths.

Fiji has also maintained a nationwide curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time since March last year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 18:23:57|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's natural rubber production in March decreased by 27.6 percent to 36,068 tonnes as compared to 49,840 tonnes in the previous month, official data showed Thursday.

On a year-on-year basis, the natural rubber production increased by 4.5 percent in March, according to Malaysian Statistics Department.

Exports of Malaysia's natural rubber rose 7.7 percent to 58,852 tonnes in March, up from 54,632 tonnes in February.

China remained the main destination for the Southeast Asian country's natural rubber exports, with 51.8 percent of the total in March, followed by Germany with 6.4 percent, Finland with 5.3 percent, the United States with 4.8 percent and Brazil, 2.3 percent.

Rubber gloves was the main export item with an export value of 6.4 billion ringgit (about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars) in March, an increase of 9.4 percent from February.

The United States was biggest importer of the rubber gloves, followed by Germany and China.

Meanwhile, the stocks of natural rubber decreased by 1.6 percent in March to 281,672 tonnes as compared to 286,117 tonnes in February. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 18:40:33|Editor: huaxia

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Relatives and friends carry the coffin of Nemat Rawan, a media official, who was shot dead by gunmen in Kandahar, Afghanistan, May 6, 2021. Gunmen shot and killed a senior government media official in Kandahar city on Thursday, local police confirmed. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen shot and killed a senior government media official in Kandahar city, capital of Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Thursday, local police confirmed.

"Director of Public Relation Office of Ministry of Finance, Nemat Rawan, was shot dead by gunmen in Police District of 14 of Kandahar city Thursday morning," Jamal Barakzai from provincial police told Xinhua.

Rawan was a renowned journalist who previously worked as an anchor in local TV channel Tolo News TV's political programs, and was well-known for his profession in the political field.

Two armed men involved in the shooting escaped as soon as they found Rawan died inside his sedan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Afghan journalists regarded the killing as a targeted attack.

Meanwhile, a son of a former administrative chief of Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province was shot dead by Taliban militants in Hakeem Sahib Ada area of Kandahar on Wednesday, provincial police confirmed. Enditem
(The Center Square)  A federal judge Wednesday vacated a national moratorium on evictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, following a trend of rulings issued by other federal judges in other states.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled in an Alabama case that the CDC exceeded its authority by issuing a moratorium on evictions, first implemented in March 2020 and recently extended through June 30. The CDC claims the moratorium has helped millions of renters who lost their jobs due to state and economic shutdowns. Those who have filed suit argue the moratorium is unconstitutional and judges across the country agree.

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, Friedrich wrote in his 20-page ruling. 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.

The Biden administration has announced it is appealing the cases in which the judges ruled against the moratorium and seeking a stay on the most recent decision, saying more than a million Americans could be forced out of their homes.

A recent study estimates that there were 1.55 million fewer evictions filed during 2020 than would be expected due to the eviction moratorium, so it clearly has had a huge benefit, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said at a Wednesday news briefing.

Under the moratorium first put in place under former President Donald Trump, private property owners were required to allow non-paying renters to live rent-free until the CDC lifted the moratorium, which may end June 30 or be extended. Since last March, landlords have lost billions of dollars in unpaid rent while also remaining responsible for paying property taxes, mortgages and the costs of maintaining their property. Property owners attempting to evict tenants could be fined up to $100,000 and face jail time, according to the moratorium.

In February 2021, U.S. District Judge John Barker ruled the moratorium was unconstitutional in a case filed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Southeastern Legal Foundation on behalf of East Texas landlords.

The governments argument would thus allow a nationwide eviction moratorium long after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, he wrote in his 21-page ruling. The eviction remedy could be suspended at any time based on fairness as perceived by Congress or perhaps an agency official delegated that judgment. Such broad authority over state remedies begins to resemble, in operation, a prohibited federal police power Although the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution

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TPPF General Counsel Robert Henneke argues that the federal government cannot interfere with private property owners rights or access to the courts. In an op-ed published by the Daily Caller, Henneke argues that the federal government claimed to have the authority to suspend residential evictions for any reason, including its own views on fairness.

But if this were true, he argues, and the Constitution gave it the power to base decisions on the vagaries of a subjective fairness standard, we would have no Constitution at all. Instead, wed have a government that could (and would!) cancel anyone and their rights for any reason  a government that can suspend the rights to worship, assembly, and free speech in the name of fairness.

Henneke challenges all Americans to recall how 14 days to flatten the curve turned into potential jail time for private property owners who dont provide free housing, despite their own ongoing cost burdens that were never addressed in the $4 trillion doled out during the pandemic. If the government can cancel property rights, what else can it cancel?

Two weeks after Barkers ruling in March 2021, U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese also ruled in a 31-page order that the CDC exceeded its authority as defined by the Public Health Service Act. But he did not grant the plaintiffs request for an injunction.

Also in March, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled that evictions could resume, arguing that the CDC did not have the authority to enforce the order in the Western District of Tennessee.

When the rulings started coming out in March, Luke Wake, an attorney with the California-based Pacific Legal Foundation, which has filed lawsuits on behalf of landlords in several states, told One News Now that the CDC is forcing landlords to shoulder costs alone  and they should be paid for their work because they are providing housing."

"A very large portion of the American housing rental market is made up of small mom-and-pop landlords, people who maybe just own a property or two to fund their retirement or to put their kids through college, he adds. "I talked to one woman in New Orleans [who] said she was going without prescription medication for a while because she had a non-paying tenant she could not evict."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 19:53:16|Editor: huaxia

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Brunei reported no local COVID-19 infection cases on Thursday, marking one year without local COVID-19 transmission.

After the first COVID-19 case were reported on March 9, 2020, Brunei, with a population of about 450,000, has maintained strict border control and travel regulations to contain the spread of the virus from overseas travellers despite experiencing a sharp drop in international tourists.

The country has also imposed strict mass-gathering ban, carried out technology-based contact tracing and rigorous quarantine measures to keep locally-transmitted cases at bay.

The Brunei government kicked off the National Vaccination Program on April 3 this year, with 17,776 people having received COVID-19 vaccines by May 5.

The country granted emergency use authorization for several COVID-19 vaccines, including the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Sinopharm vaccine.

"At present, the administration of COVID-19 vaccine is still being implemented for Phase One, consisting of frontliners, students studying abroad and senior citizens aged 60 and above," Brunei's Ministry of Health said.

"Priority is given to frontliners and especially the elderly because frontliners have a higher risk of being infected with COVID-19 and the elderly have a higher risk of getting more severe complications of COVID-19 infection," the ministry added.

The health ministry continues to encourage the public to join the national vaccination program, saying that although it is not mandatory to obtain the vaccine, the people and residents of Brunei are still exposed to the risk of infection.

"Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective measure to protect oneself, our family and the society from the harmful effects of COVID-19," the ministry said.

"In the medium and long term, the more people are vaccinated, the higher the level of immunity of the population in this country against the disease becomes. This in turn will be able to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on public and community health," the ministry added.

Despite 365 days free of local confirmed cases, the Brunei government has been finding infections among limited travellers arriving in the country.

The country reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the national tally to 229. With the detection of this case, a total of 88 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, Case 229 is a 20-year-old woman who arrived in the country from Europe via Singapore on April 23. She has symptoms of high fever, cough and losing the sense of smell and taste since April 30. Investigation and contact tracing have confirmed no close contacts for this case as she was quarantined upon arrival in the country.

The new case is being treated and monitored at the National Isolation Center with the other six active cases, who are all in a stable condition.

There have been three deaths and 219 recovered patients reported from COVID-19 so far in Brunei. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 03:59:44|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the EU-China investment treaty was an "important undertaking" despite "all the difficulties that will certainly arise in the ratification process."

"It is a very important undertaking because it gives us more reciprocity in market access, because we have decided to comply with the labor standards of the International Labor Organization and other things with which trade can be developed to the benefit of both parties," said Merkel at a digital conference of the Union Party parliamentary group.

China and the European Union have in late December reached a major investment agreement, wrapping up seven years of negotiations. Germany made a final push from the EU side as Berlin held the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2020.

"We will neither be able to cope with climate change nor solve WTO (World Trade Organization) issues or other global issues without or against China," said Merkel.

"The Chinese commitment to climate protection goals and carbon dioxide neutrality in 2060 and the achievement of a peak before 2030 are encouraging signals in terms of multilateralism," she said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 10:57:55|Editor: huaxia

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DUBLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland on Wednesday called on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with China instead of being "led along by the nose by the Americans" into confrontation with China.

Mick Wallace, an incumbent MEP from the south constituency of Ireland, made the calls by tweeting a video speech he made at an April meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, a legislative body of the EU.

In the speech, Wallace spoke highly of the rapid development of China and urged the EU to cooperate with China instead of choosing an aggressive position with it.

In the tweet attached to the video speech, Wallace said "#China has completed greatest poverty reduction programme in human history, while #Homelessness in the West is at record levels. In last 40 years China bombed nobody or isn't Sanctioning any countries to death - Why is #EU allowing #US to drag us into confrontation with China..?"

"China is a normal country that has worked miracles for its people...China is a world leader on climate change mitigation strategies. China has had one of the best COVID strategies on Earth, at home and helping others. China is building all kinds of infrastructure and public services projects that we could only dream about here," he said in the video speech.

In his opinion, China has made remarkable human progress "while not invading, or bombing or sanctioning any countries to death," and its experiences offer inspiration for other countries.

"Why are we choosing an aggressive position with China? Why are we not choosing cooperation instead of aggression? Why are we not respecting the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference? We should be working for peace with China. It's in our interest," he noted.

"But you know what? I can't help feeling that we are being led along by the nose by the Americans who have a vested interest in challenging China at the moment not because China is a threat to the security of the American people... But China is a threat to their financial supremacy," he said.

The short video speech that Wallace posted on his Twitter account has drawn mixed reactions from readers. While some may not agree with Wallace, many others showed support for him. Over 1,000 readers re-tweeted or expressed "likes" for his speech shortly after it was released.

One reader named JoJo said that "Thank you Mick for offering a more rational and thoughtful perspective. Peace can be achieved only if the truth is unveiled."

Another reader called Rajen Limbu said "He stated the facts about China. China doesn't attack or sanction other countries but always follows non-intervention policy. War and sanctions always have negative results. China learnt lesson from the past histories."

A third reader named Analog commented that "Very few politicians value principles and justice enough to be willing to speak the unpopular truth against a backdrop of popular geopolitical disinformation. You have my utmost respect."

Wallace, 65, served in the lower house of the Irish parliament from 2011 to 2019 and became an MEP in July 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 15:58:10|Editor: huaxia

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LUXEMBOURG, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Luxembourg-based steel giant ArcelorMittal announced Thursday that its earnings in the first quarter of this year "has been the strongest in a decade" thanks to demand recovery and a commodities price hike.

The company's net profit recorded 2.3 billion dollars in the first three months of this year, up from 1.2 billion dollars in the previous quarter, according to its earnings statement.

Its operating revenue totaled 2.6 billion dollars, compared to 2 billion dollars in the final quarter of 2020.

ArcelorMittal Chief Executive Officer Aditya Mittal called the first quarter the "strongest in a decade," and said the company has been "steadily bringing back production in line with the demand recovery."

Mittal also emphasized the company's commitment to sustainability by launching a decarbonization initiative to "create a market for low-carbon steel."

Market analysis says higher steel prices could also benefit decarbonization initiatives in the industry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 19:46:25|Editor: huaxia

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Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou speaks at a press conference in Nicosia, Cyprus, on May 6, 2021. Cyprus is to reopen most businesses next week after a two-week lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the government said Thursday. The government also announced in a statement that a so-called "coronapass" will be introduced to enable people to enter hospitality venues, shopping malls and retail shops. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)

NICOSIA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus is to reopen most businesses next week after a two-week lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the government said Thursday.

The government also announced in a statement that a so-called "coronapass" will be introduced to enable people to enter hospitality venues, shopping malls and retail shops.

The pass means that the holder has received at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, or has contracted the virus in the past six months or has a valid 72-hour old negative PCR or rapid test.

The statement, issued after a cabinet meeting, said people will be free to move without having to request permission via SMS, but a curfew will remain in force between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. after the end of the current lockdown at midnight on Sunday.

Students of all grades will also return to class as of Monday after a 15-day holiday recess, provided that they and their teachers will have a negative coronavirus test.

People will also be able to go to the beaches and meet in groups of up to 10 in public places and in private houses.

Further relaxations of virus restrictions will come into force as of May 17, when weddings and other gatherings of up to 200 people outdoors will be allowed, while casinos will be permitted to operate at 30 percent of their capacity.

Cinemas and theaters can operate with a maximum attendance of 50 people until May 17, and after that at 30 percent of their capacity -- provided that people attending will have a "coronapass."

Private businesses will continue to run with 30 percent of their staff present, but as of May 17, 50 percent of staff can be physically present.

Cyprus is counting on vaccination as a means of returning to normality. The Health Ministry has said that up to 60 percent of the population will have received at least one vaccine dose by the end of June, when the tourism business, which provides about 25 percent to the Cypriot economy, is expected to come back to life. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 21:28:48|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- German consumer goods company Henkel said Thursday its sales increased by 0.8 percent year-on-year to almost 5 billion euros (6 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021.

Sales in Western Europe increased by 1.9 percent year-on-year to around 1.53 billion euros during the period, while sales in North America declined by 5.3 percent to 1.23 billion euros, according to Henkel.

Sales growth in the Asia-Pacific region was in double digits -- up by 20.1 percent to 837 million euros, it said.

"We achieved a very good business performance in the first quarter, to which all our business units contributed," said chief executive officer (CEO) Carsten Knobel in a statement. In particular, the company's adhesive technologies business "saw a strong recovery."

Sales in the adhesive technologies business increased by 6.7 percent in Q1. The development was "driven by significant ongoing recovery in industrial production" as volume growth was in the double-digit range, with price trends on a "slightly positive upward curve," Henkel noted.

The company's beauty care business saw sales decline slightly by 1.1 percent. However, organic sales in emerging markets grew in the double-digit percentage range as China in particular "contributed to this performance."

"With industrial demand recovering at a stronger rate than originally expected, we are optimistic about business development over the rest of the year, despite the continued uncertainty in our markets," said the company.

For fiscal 2021, Henkel raised its forecast, expecting to generate organic sales growth of between 4 and 6 percent with an EBIT margin between 14 and 15 percent. (1 euro=1.21 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 21:40:36|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Britain's navy vessels would remain in place to monitor the situation in British Channel island of Jersey's waters as both sides are involved in a post-Brexit fishing dispute.

The prime minister reiterated his unequivocal support for Jersey and confirmed that the two royal navy offshore patrol vessels "would remain in place to monitor the situation as a precautionary measure", according to a statement from 10 Downing Street.

Last week, the Jersey government introduced a new licensing system under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), requiring French boats to show they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters to obtain permits for operation in the area.

French fishermen complained about the difficulties in obtaining the fishing licenses and France even warned it could cut electricity supplies to Jersey. As the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey imported 95 percent of its electricity from France.

"It's really important that we are able to work with those fishermen to help them provide the necessary evidence so that, if required, their licenses can be amended," Senator Ian Gorst, Jersey's external relations minister, told the BBC.

On Dec. 30, 2020, British lawmakers approved the post-Brexit trade deal signed between Britain and the European Union (EU). Last month, the European Parliament also gave its seal of approval to the deal.

The deal, which came after nine months of arduous negotiations between Britain and the EU, is the biggest bilateral trade deal signed by either side, covering trade worth around 668 billion pounds (about 929 billion U.S. dollars).

The EU is Britain's largest trading partner. Britain is the EU's third largest trading partner in goods, following the United States and China.

Britain joined the regional bloc in 1973 but announced to withdrawal in 2016 after a referendum. The two sides reached an agreement on their post-Brexit trade relations on Dec. 24, 2020. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 22:02:41|Editor: huaxia

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A man walks past a polling station at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, Britain, on May 6, 2021. Millions of voters in Britain are going to polling stations for local elections in what political commentators have dubbed as the Super Thursday, which is seen as a major test for Britain's main political party leaders. More than 5,000 seats are up for grabs in city hall and town hall elections, with the mayor of London and 12 provincial mayors along with police and crime commissioners also being elected. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

LONDON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Millions of voters in Britain are going to polling stations for local elections in what political commentators have dubbed as the Super Thursday, which is seen as a major test for Britain's main political party leaders.

More than 5,000 seats are up for grabs in city hall and town hall elections, with the mayor of London and 12 provincial mayors along with police and crime commissioners also being elected.

People in Scotland and Wales will also decide the shape of their devolved parliaments, and in the northern English town of Hartlepool there will be a by-election to choose a new lawmaker for the Westminster parliament.

Eagerly awaiting the results when the votes are counted Friday and Saturday will be the British prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson, and the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, as well as Scotland's first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, among others.

"In a sense Johnson starts ahead, but this will be the first big test for Starmer because he needs to demonstrate an improvement on his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn," elections expert Matt Cole from the University of Birmingham told Xinhua.

In a commentary published Tuesday, the London-based Daily Telegraph newspaper said: "With so many different electoral layers piled on top of each other, it's harder than ever to predict what the impact of Thursday will be."

Elections due last year were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until now, resulting in multiple elections in most towns and cities.

Cole said the real questions are what is the election really about.

"Is it optimism about coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown, or longer term anxieties about the economy when the measures of support taken by the government need to be paid for?"

Cole said it will also be a real test of whether the impact of the so-called "Red Wall" successes of Johnson's Conservative Party in the 2019 snap general election has remained or gone away.

Johnson's party made spectacular gains in traditional Labour seats in that election, in what were mainly pro-Brexit seats.

"In that respect Hartlepool will be a litmus test, showing whether the successes were a result of Brexit being agreed and signed, or will it have echoes that determine future politics. It's about a style of politics rather than getting Brexit done," Cole added.

"How long the ripples of Brexit will last in the political pond is the question."

Meanwhile, Labour's Sadiq Khan faces an election for Britain's top job in local government as mayor of London, with polls giving him a comfortable lead over the Conservative candidate and other challengers. Most political commentators expect Khan to remain as mayor of London.

In Scotland, Sturgeon hopes to win seats in the devolved Scottish parliament.

Currently, the SNP holds 61 of the 129 seats. Sturgeon is hoping some gains will give her an overall majority at Holyrood to boost her calls for a new referendum on independence for Scotland from Britain.

The Conservatives, with 30 members, have second most number of seats, ahead of Labour's 23.

Meanwhile, in Wales, the Conservatives are pushing hard to challenge the governing Labour Party in the Welsh Parliament.

According to observers, a Conservative victory would be a huge approval for Johnson's twin-track campaign focusing on the massive opportunities of Brexit and the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

On the other hand, defeat for Starmer, especially in Hartlepool, held by Labour since 1974 when the constituency was created, would be a significant blow and set the tone for other results.

Johnson and the Conservatives are currently enjoying a lead in popularity according to a number of opinion polls in recent days. The latest by pollsters Survation gives the Conservatives a 17-point lead over Labour.

However, given the unpredictability of polls, it remains to be seen how the remake-up of council chambers as well as devolved governments will impact the political landscape in Britain, said analysts. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 23:23:14|Editor: huaxia

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BUDAPEST, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The organizers of "Sziget," one of Europe's largest festivals, canceled the event for 2021, citing uncertainties linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With a heavy heart, but acting with responsibility, taking into account all the uncertainty regarding travel, the catering industry, and the national and international role of immunity cards, we have decided that we would focus our efforts on organizing next year's Sziget Festival," Tamas Kadar, the main organizer of Sziget Festival, said in a statement Thursday.

The Sziget Festival was organized for the last time in 2019, when it welcomed over 530,000 people from more than 100 countries and regions for seven days.

Sziget's program consists of several forms of art. The site features a great number of stages and workshops with performance art, cabaret, comedy, acrobatics and dancing.

Earlier this year, the other two major music festivals in Hungary, the Sopron Volt Festival and the Balaton Sound Festival, were also canceled. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 04:09:45|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The growing demand for handcrafted luxury goods in China presents a great opportunity for Glashuette Original, the German watchmaker's chief executive officer (CEO) Roland von Keith told Xinhua on Thursday.

Glashuette Original takes part in the first China International Consumer Products Expo, which kicked off on Thursday in south China's Hainan Province and will last until May 10.

"As a German brand with a global reputation, it is of course important for us to be present on the Chinese market," von Keith said in a written interview.

"China is an important and relevant market and so we want to use the opportunity to present the brand and our manufactured products," he continued.

In his opinion, China is one of the company's main markets, as Chinese customers particularly appreciate products "Made in Germany" and attach great importance to high quality, perfect workmanship, durability, functional design and genuine luxury.

"It is not only the size of China that makes the market so interesting for Glashuette Original, but also the growing connoisseurship among watch buyers and the curiosity of young people for new products and international brands," said von Keith.

Referring to his expectation of the expo, von Keith said that his company is looking forward to numerous visitors and hopes to engage in conversation with many guests and give them an understanding of the Glashuette art of watchmaking.

"Of course, the aim is always to become more visible, better known and more desirable by participating in such trade fairs, to present new products and to make new contacts," von Keith said.

Looking into the future, von Keith said that Glashuette Original will continue to invest a great deal of energy and resources in further expanding its brand presence in China.

"In addition, we have a solid network of our own boutiques and retail partners that we want to further expand. We also want to increase our brand awareness, especially among young potential customers who have not yet had any contact with the brand," he said. Enditem
Press Release

May 6, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into data breach of court documents from OSG Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is alarmed over reports of serious data breach of sensitive court documents from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) which has the dangerous potential of causing severe consequences to ongoing judicial proceedings involving key government agencies. De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 713 urging the appropriate Senate Committee to investigate the recent data breach and the continuous proliferation and alarming trend of cyber-attacks against the government and private firms in the country to end the abuse and misuse of pertinent information of the public. "The far-reaching ramifications of this breach could lead to greatly influencing ongoing court cases, and may even lead to the information being used to identify witnesses or attempt to intimidate victims. Therefore, such cyber-attacks demand a thorough investigation and a swift recalibration of government policy on cyber-security," she said. "There is a need to urgently address the persisting vulnerabilities of our cyber-security infrastructures and expeditiously put in place policies and safeguards to protect our citizens and institutions from assaults and exploitation of hackers and criminals," she added. Recently, UK Security company TurgenSec reportedly disclosed that some 345,000 sensitive court documents from the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines related to ongoing legal cases were made publicly available online and could have been accessed by anyone who knew where to look for at least two months. TurgenSec said that the nature of these documents is alarming because it "may have the potential to disrupt [or] undermine ongoing judicial proceedings," revealing that documents exposed were said to have contained sensitive keywords such as "Private", "Confidential", "Password" and "Witness." The security company likewise said that the breach also included topics on intelligence, terrorism, drugs, execution, the opposition, the military, on COVID-19, and even on President Rodrigo Duterte. The security firm said that given the "particularly alarming" nature of the incident, it emailed the OSG and the Philippine government twice in March, but it did not get responses on both occasions. De Lima, a former justice secretary, said the OSG should inform the Senate of the extent of damage caused by the cybersecurity breach, as well as the litigants whose information were compromised. "The OSG must 'publicly outline the extent of the information exposed and breached, and what steps are being taken to ensure this cannot happen again,'" she said. "The exposure of information of a particularly highly sensitive nature must not be ignored." Before using their resources in private cases, the lady Senator from Bicol stressed that the OSG must first ensure that their core functions are properly done, including protecting the interest and private information of their clients, which are agencies of the national government. "The OSG must be as swift as it has been in going after its declared enemies, in tracking down the perpetrators of the continued cyber-attacks against it which jeopardizes not only matters of State concern, but as well as pertinent information relating to government agencies and private individuals which could have also been likely leaked," said De Lima. This is neither the first attack against the OSG, nor an isolated incident. It may be recalled that hackers which identified themselves as the Phantom Troupe were able to deface the OSG website in December 2016. Last December 2020, the vulnerability of the country to cyber-attacks was confirmed by no less than National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. when he admitted in a Senate hearing that the country has no "operations center" to defend against cyber-attacks on a national level.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 06:47:25|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican representative in the U.S. House, hit back Wednesday as calls for her to be removed from party leadership gained momentum, saying she would continue to speak out against former President Donald Trump's "cult of personality" regardless of the political consequences she might face.

In a signed op-ed in The Washington Post, the Wyoming congresswoman indicated she would stand by her critical stance on Trump, urging the Republican Party to "choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution" and back away from the former president's unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

"Trump is seeking to unravel critical elements of our constitutional structure that make democracy work - confidence in the result of elections and the rule of law. No other American president has ever done this," wrote the House Republican Conference chair.

"The Republican Party is at a turning point," wrote Cheney, who was among the 10 Republicans having voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. "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... 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."

Cheney said that Republicans "need to stand for genuinely conservative principles, and steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality."

"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," she wrote in conclusion.

Cheney's article was published at a time when her fellow party members loyal to Trump sought to kick her out of the House Republican leadership, citing her inability to align herself with a coherent message within the party ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans are fighting to regain control of Congress.

Elise Stefanik, congresswoman from New York, has emerged as the most likely replacement for Cheney, gaining endorsement from not only top Republicans in the House, but also Trump. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 04:57:48|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan Taliban had not launched any attack against U.S. and coalition forces since the drawdown began, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on Thursday.

"There have been no attacks against U.S. and coalition forces since the retrograde began on or about May 1, and that is also consistent for the past year," Milley said during a joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Meanwhile, he noted that the Taliban continued its attacks against the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

At least 11 Afghan security forces members were killed in militants' attacks in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday night, Afghan authorities confirmed on Thursday.

Both Milley and Austin reaffirmed that U.S. assistance for the ANSF would continue after the withdrawal. "We hope through our continued support, the Afghan security forces can be effective ... but we expect that this will be a challenge for them," said Austin.

Milley told reporters that the primary objective for the U.S. military in Afghanistan at this point is to complete a safe and coordinated withdrawal no later than September.

According to Milley, a military base in Helmand, Afghanistan had been closed, and approximately 60 C-17 transport aircraft had departed with various equipment. "Over 1,300 pieces of equipment have been transferred either to the Defense Logistics Agency for destruction or to the ANSF for their use."

The top general said the U.S. military would deploy six additional B-52 bombers and 12 F-18 fighters to offer contingency support during the withdrawal.

The military earlier had sent B-52 bombers and extended the deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to the region to increase force protection. The White House said last week that elements of an Army Ranger Task Force would also temporarily deploy to Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden in April announced the withdrawal would begin on May 1, the deadline date for a full U.S. withdrawal under an agreement reached between the former Donald Trump administration and the Afghan Taliban.

The Taliban had warned of consequences if the Biden administration fails to follow through that deadline.

About 3,500 U.S. forces and 7,000 NATO troops will be withdrawn before Sept. 11, the day which is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into the war in Afghanistan. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-07 05:11:14|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said on Thursday that the U.S. federal government is likely to run out of borrowing room and breach the debt limit after Oct. 1.

"Treasury's updated guidance means that the 'X Date' will likely arrive after the start of fiscal year 2022," Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at BPC, said in a statement, referring to the date when the federal government will no longer be able to pay its bills in full and on time.

"That would realistically allow Congress to address the debt limit as part of an appropriations package and potentially pair that move with a longer-term reform of the statute to eliminate financial risk from these recurring episodes," he said.

Akabas also cautioned that the unique fiscal environment of a pandemic adds unprecedented uncertainty to any debt limit forecast.

"While uncertainty is perhaps greater than ever before, the way to minimize short-term financial risk remains the same: acting on the debt limit soon," he said.

Akabas's updated forecast came after the U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday that it may take certain "extraordinary measures" to continue to finance the government on a temporary basis if the debt limit is reinstated on Aug. 1.

"In light of the substantial COVID-related uncertainty about receipts and outlays in the coming months, it is very difficult to predict how long extraordinary measures might last," the department said, noting extraordinary measures could be exhausted much more quickly than in prior debt limit episodes.

As part of a two-year budget deal passed by U.S. Congress in August 2019, the federal debt limit was suspended through July 31, 2021. If lawmakers can't reach another agreement before then, the ceiling would automatically be reinstated on Aug. 1 and the U.S. Treasury wouldn't be able to raise additional cash from the sale of government securities.

As of today, the U.S. national debt has exceeded 28.25 trillion U.S. dollars. Enditem
Sergio Guzman in The Global Americans:

The past weeks demonstrations in Colombia have shown that popular dissatisfaction is surging after a year of COVID-19 lockdowns. Although the governments tax reform proposal may have been the immediate trigger for the unrest, pent-up anger has been building since 2019 over social inequality, unemployment, the murder of social leaders, and the conspicuous absence of the state in peripheral regions far from Bogota. All of these problems have only been aggravated by the pandemic.

If the proposed tax reform was the spark, police brutality was the flame that set fire to the protests. Videos shared widely on social media show security forces clubbing, tear gassing, and even killing demonstratorsover 19 people have been killed by police since April 28in cities such as Bogota, Cali, and Manizales. International human rights organizations, the United Nations, and foreign governments have all called on the Colombian government to de-escalate the situation, convene a dialogue, and investigate incidents of wrongdoing by police. Nevertheless, the government has refused to acknowledge the role that police brutality played in escalating the protests and continues to defend all police actions, no matter how egregious, as having been necessary to restore law and order.

More here.
Kelsey Houston-Edwards in Scientific American:

When you hit send on a text message, it is easy to imagine that the note will travel directly from your phone to your friends. In fact, it typically goes on a long journey through a cellular network or the Internet, both of which rely on centralized infrastructure that can be damaged by natural disasters or shut down by repressive governments. For fear of state surveillance or interference, tech-savvy protesters in Hong Kong avoided the Internet by using software such as FireChat and Bridgefy to send messages directly between nearby phones.

These apps let a missive hop silently from one phone to the next, eventually connecting the sender to the receiverthe only users capable of viewing the message. The collections of linked phones, known as mesh networks or mobile ad hoc networks, enable a flexible and decentralized mode of communication. But for any two phones to communicate, they need to be linked via a chain of other phones. How many people scattered throughout Hong Kong need to be connected via the same mesh network before we can be confident that crosstown communication is possible?

More here.
Bilal Qureshi at Film Quarterly:

The term churails is Pakistans c-word, translated literally as witches, but more accurately understood as a loaded epithet for a demonic, unstable, uncontrollable species of woman, the so-called bitch/witch. Filmmaker Asim Abbasis uber-stylish series embraces the insult, celebrating the difficult women of Pakistan and reveling in their power through ten hours of exceptional television. The four central women of Churails (Asim Abbasi, 2020) are drawn from across social classes and life experiences but come together with a mission: to form a detective agency that hunts down the terrible men of Karachi. They work under cover, literally, as their front is a clothing business called Halal Designs, where they meet in a subterranean control room that looks straight out of The Avengers to plot their missions. In a kind of extrajudicial feminist fantasy, they traverse the streets of Karachi in burkas, opening up basements and hidden corners of Pakistani homes in the dark of night, uncovering prostitution rings, secrets, and misogynistic murderers.

more here.
Press Release

May 6, 2021 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER "BONG" GO DURING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH HEARING Good afternoon to everyone! I just want to give a short statement in support of the measures for discussion. First of all, I would like to thank Senator Pia Cayetano, Vice Chair of this Committee, for graciously accepting to preside over this hearing. As Chair of the Committee on Health, one of my priorities is to make our health system better prepared to respond to future health crises. Kaya po full support ako sa mga bills for discussion today. I am glad this is also one of the priorities of Senator Cayetano who is also the Chair of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking. Certainly, we must learn from this experience and employ futures thinking so that we can address the gaps and weaknesses to transform our health system. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the need to capacitate and improve our government health facilities. Ngayong pandemya, problema natin ang kakulangan natin sa hospital beds, particularly ICU beds. Kinakailangan po natin magtayo ng temporary facilities and modular hospitals for COVID-19 cases. But aside from these facilities, equally important is the service of our healthcare workers. Gusto ko pong pasalamatan ang ating mga healthcare workers at mga volunteers sa serbisyo ninyo sa bayan sa panahon ng COVID-19. Walang katumbas ang sakripisyo ninyo para malampasan natin ang pandemyang ito. The entire nation owes you a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid. But the reality is, our health personnel are strained by the surge of COVID-19 cases which hinders our capacity to combat the disease immediately and effectively. As hospitals in the NCR Plus areas are overburdened, its medical frontliners are exhausted because of the number of patients. Some health workers in the Visayas expressed willingness to be deployed to NCR Plus areas. I am very thankful to them. They are one of the reasons for making us believe that the spirit of bayanihan continues to live within the hearts of Filipinos. As we try to assess the situation, we see the need for a Medical Reserve Corps which is why I filed Senate Bill 1451, ito po yung Medical Reserve Corps. Even the President, in his recent State of the Nation Address, has acknowledged the need for this measure. We need a Medical Reserve Corps that may be called upon and mobilized to assist the national government and the local government units in their functions related to addressing the medical needs of the public in times of national emergencies. Those who are deployed should be properly compensated. The establishment of the Medical Reserve Corps will uphold the role of health workers in nation-building and promote in them patriotism and nationalism. The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease sparked the need to have a comprehensive approach and multi-disciplinary preparedness for the emergence and re-emergence of pandemic and epidemic diseases. Dealing with the diseases promptly and appropriately requires a reorganization and strengthening of the country's health units committed to prevent and control communicable diseases. It is for this reason that I filed Senate Bill 2158 which seeks to establish a Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC which shall be the principal agency tasked with developing and implementing communicable disease control and prevention initiatives. It shall be responsible for controlling the spread of infectious diseases. In other countries, Centers for Disease Control have been instrumental in this pandemic. As experts in the field of infectious diseases, they are at the forefront of the health battle against COVID-19. It is high time for us to strengthen our health units and have our own CDC. President Duterte also acknowledges this and has urged Congress to pass this important measure. Again, let me reiterate, this is a learning experience for all of us. But then as we move forward, we need better foresight to successfully re-assess what institutional practices we need to change, institutions we need to further strengthen, and make long-lasting plans not only for our recovery but also for our sustainable future. Bigyan po natin ang ating mga kababayan ng bagong pag-asa at mas maayos na kinabukasan. Meron lang po akong idadagdag, isisingit ko lang po ito... I welcome the expected arrival of additional doses of vaccines against COVID-19. This means that more people, particularly our frontliners and vulnerable sectors, will be given the necessary protection. Bukas ay inaasahan nating darating na ang 1.5 milyong doses ng Sinovac. Pinaghahandaan na rin ang posibleng pagdating ng dalawang milyong doses ng bakunang AstraZeneca mula sa COVAX facility ngayong darating na Sabado ng hapon. Ayon kay Vaccine Czar Secretary Galvez, patuloy ang pagdating ng mga bakunang inaasahan natin sa susunod na linggo at buwan. Malaking tulong lalo na ang AstraZeneca dahil marami sa ating mga medical frontliners, senior citizens at 'yung merong comorbidities ang nabigyan na po ng first dose nito at naghihintay na lang maturukan ng kanilang second dose. Tuloy-tuloy ang roll-out ng ating COVID-19 vaccination program ayon sa ating priority list. Pakiusap ko lang po, sumunod tayo sa priority list, walang magpapa-importante, walang magpapa-VIP, dahil lahat naman tayo ay nangangailangan mabakunahan. Kung madagdagan natin ang ating daily vaccination rate mula sa kasalukuyang 133,000 daily rate, mas maraming mga Pilipino ang mababakunahan, mas mabilis nating ma-attain ang herd immunity sa community. At bilang mensahe ko naman sa ating mga kababayan, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot ho kayo sa COVID-19. Magtiwala tayo sa bakuna, na ang bakuna lang ang tanging susi o solusyon para makabalik tayo unti-unti sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Wag tayong maging kampante. Importante po dito, disiplina po sa bawat isa. Ulitin ko, magtulungan tayo at magmalasakit po tayo sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Maraming salamat po.
Press Release

May 6, 2021 Lacson to AFP, Coast Guard: Keep Up the Good Work at WPS

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/05/06/lacson-to-afp-coast-guard-keep-up-the-good-work-at-wps/ After driving away Chinese ships off Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard should keep up the good work of watching over the area, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday. But Lacson stressed our forces must keep alert over our territory and maintain such an approach to intruders, lest they sneak in when our guard is down. "We must not let our guard down. Since the 1990s, China has already made three incursions into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ): Mischief Reef, Scarborough Shoal, and now, Julian Felipe Reef. They are likely to do so again if we relax," said Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense. Citing reports coming from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, Lacson noted seven Chinese militia vessels were spotted late April at the vicinity of Sabina Shoal some 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The Chinese vessels dispersed after a series of challenges from the PCG. "The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command and the PCG must continue to watch over the shoal," Lacson stressed in his commentary published in The Manila Times on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated that in the case of the WPS, Filipinos must speak their minds "of what we and our future generations will lose if we allow the situation there to continue." He added independent-minded Filipinos, who comprise the majority, must speak out independently and not be intimidated by the DDS or Yellows. "All these Filipinos have formed their own opinion on various important issues, including the WPS, based on their own experiences and backgrounds. Maybe their voices, like mine and of many others, are being 'drowned' by the DDS and Yellows and their respective troll farms  but still, there they are. And more importantly, they may have something to contribute to our national interest," he said.
Deputy President William Ruto has reiterated that his hustlers economic blueprint will transform the lives of Kenyans.

Ruto pledged to implement to the letter his bottom-up economic model should he form the next government in 2022.

Speaking in an interview with the Star on Monday, Ruto expressed confidence he will succeed President Kenyatta. He also assured Kenyans that his promise to change Kenya will come to pass.

Ruto also said he would prove critics of his Hustler movement wrong.

I will work hard to implement every aspect of what I am pledging. The bottom-up economy will work and must work, this I can assure Kenyans and I will be accountable to them, he told the Star at his Nairobi office.

Ruto added that many Kenyans have put their hopes on him, saying he will not let them down in the creation of jobs and refocusing the country from the Jubilee agenda, which he said has been derailed.

The conversation has changed, out there Kenyans are discussing issues, they yearn for real change. Were it not for politics that came with the handshake, as Jubilee government, we would have done better, he said.

We have laid the foundation in the Big Four agenda and we will build on that to ensure the 10 million Kenyans excluded from our national workforce also board. When we say we want to transform this country, we mean it.

Ruto said leaders and professionals from all the 47 counties have been invited to make proposals for his hustlers economic blueprint set to be unveiled in December.

We are having comprehensive discussions that are people-centered. It is not about tribe, religion or your status in society, but about all of us as a country.

We are keen to tap into the huge reservoir of knowledge, talent and expertise available to inform our policy process with knowledge that is grounded in our economic reality, the DP said.
Evans Karani, the Kiambu-based businessman accused of killing his lover, Catherine Nyokabi, has denied involvement in Nyokabis murder.

Karani, who had earlier confessed to killing Ms Nyokabi on April 13, was arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

This after the court warned him that he would be sentenced to death if he pleads guilty to murder. Karani had earlier asked the court to expedite his sentencing over Nyokabis death.

The 38-year-old appeared before Justice Mary Kasango in a virtual session on Wednesday, May 5, a day after he had failed to take a plea because he did not have a lawyer to represent him.

His lawyer, M. Njehu, asked the Prosecution to furnish him with witness statements and documentary evidence that the State wishes to rely on in the case.

Njehu also requested the court to grant his client reasonable bail terms.

Justice Kasango ordered the accused to remain in custody at the Nairobi Remand Prison until June 2, 2021, when a ruling on his bail will be made.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday announced a raft of incentives aimed at wooing Tanzanian investors to Kenya including the lifting of work permit and visa requirements.

The President said his administration will do all in its power to eliminate all non-tariff barriers for Tanzanian investors coming to do business in Kenya.

President Kenyatta spoke in Nairobi during the Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum, also addressed by visiting Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

President Kenyatta cautioned Tanzanians and Kenyans against competing with each other, and instead focus on creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

We would like to see many investors from Tanzania coming to do business in Kenya. And I want to say this, Tanzanian investors are free to come and do business in Kenya without being required to have business visas or work permits. The only thing you will be required to do is to follow the laid down regulations and the laws that are in place, President Kenyatta said.

At the same time, President Kenyatta gave an ultimatum of two weeks to concerned state agencies to clear the jam of trucks at Namanga and Holili border crossings to allow free flow of trade.

He 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.

I want to announce two directives and I want them done this week and next week. All concerned ministers please move with speed and unlock the jam in Holili, Taveta, and Namanga border points. On Covid-19 certificates, please let the health ministers sit and agree on modalities. If the certificate is issued in Tanzania let those people be allowed to come to Kenya and vice versa, President Kenyatta said.

President Kenyatta challenged the private sector to explore and seize opportunities accorded by bilateral and multilateral agreements available to East Africans such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to grow their investments.

The private sector should look beyond our borders and seize opportunities accorded by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, which came into effect on 1st January this year, and the older, but still important EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The East African Community, through the East African Customs Union and East African Community Common Market Protocol, has opened our borders and unlocked opportunities for the free movement of goods, services, and investments across the EAC borders. This has paved the way for trade to thrive, new opportunities to emerge and trade to increase, President Kenyatta said.

He observed that although the two countries boast of a vibrant and entrepreneurial private sector, trade between the two countries has not thrived to the expected levels going by the decline in volumes of trade in recent years.

Total trade was valued at Ksh. 60.4 billion in 2012 and Ksh. 58 billion in 2020, indicating a slight decline. In the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, total trade was valued at Ksh. 47.5 billion, Ksh. 45.6 billion and Ksh. 47.5 billion, respectively. This reflects challenges in the trade regime, which we should urgently address, President Kenyatta said.

On her part, President Suluhu 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 labour market, open up opportunities and unleash entrepreneurial spirit, President Suluhu said.
President Samia Suluhu says Uhurus words of encouragement motivated her to rebuild the strained relations between Kenya and Tanzania.

Speaking during a State banquet at State House Nairobi, the Tanzanian Head of State said the decision by President Uhuru to attend the State funeral of the late President Magufuli was a sign of true brotherhood.

President Suluhu also said immediately she was sworn in as President, Uhuru contacted her telling her that she had no reason to fear.

When my brother attended the State funeral he told me, Samia you have no reason to fear to lead this nation because you have been mentored well by Magufuli and theres nothing that you dont know, she recalled.

According to Suluhu, it is Uhurus words of encouragement that reminded her of the strong bond of comradeship that exists between Kenya and Tanzania.

From the onset, I had the desire to visit Kenya, in order to strengthen our brotherhood and neighbourhood for the improvement of our citizens. Tanzania and Kenya are neighbours but our neighbourliness and brotherhood is not as a result of the waters of the Indian Ocean or Lake Victoria, rather we are also blood brothers. Its no wonder that we have various communities sharing similar cultures and languages residing inside these two countries, she said.

Suluhu said during her tenure as Tanzania President, she will strive to strengthen Dar-Nairobi relations, especially in economic cooperation.

As you are aware in the current world, relations between nations are based on economics. All other issues will naturally fall in place because of our blood relations but economically we need to lay out sound policies to build strong economies, she said.

Investments from Kenya to Tanzania are largely good. We have about 513 Kenyan companies in Tanzania but from Tanzania to Kenya we have only 30 companies. Now when I go back I will urge more Tanzanian investors to come in and set shop in Kenya so that we can improve on our economies, Suluhu added.

President Suluhu returned home Wednesday evening after a successful two-day maiden State visit to Kenya during which she held talks with President Kenyatta, attended a Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum, and addressed a joint session of Parliament among other official engagements.
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Farmers from the Georgia Korean-American Farmers Association are among those collaborating with The Working Farms Fund to acquire land to grow their businesses. Photo by Stacy Funderburke/The Conservation Fund.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $4.8 million to the Working Farms Fund to boost support for next-generation farmers in Georgia and create a more resilient food system across metro Atlanta. The Working Farms Fund, an initiative supported by a first-of-its-kind partnership between The Conservation Fund and Emory University, acquires and permanently protects farmland, helping farmers who would not have the means to purchase the land at full market price.

Building on a previous USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service grant, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award will provide easement funding and technical assistance for the Working Farms Funds program over the next five years.

Many small to mid-sized farms in the metro Atlanta area are at risk of being lost to development. The Working Farms Fund is an innovative, sustainable finance solution that addresses the rapid loss of critical farmlands in the region by acquiring farmland within 100 miles of Atlanta and placing conservation easements on the land to permanently protect it from development and environmentally harmful practices.

The fund then leases the land to farmers, offering a 5- to 10-year path to ownership, targeting especially Black, Indigenous, people of color, and female farmers  who have all faced historic barriers to farmland ownership.

To support the Working Farms Fund, Emory has committed to purchase the locally sourced, fresh food grown from farmers entering the program, which provides the stability these farmers need to make long-term, strategic investments in their business. The partnership also allows Emory faculty and students the opportunity to conduct research on Working Farms Fund farms.

We are delighted by the USDAs grant creating support for diverse farmers access to affordable farmland near Atlanta, says Ciannat Howatt, associate vice president for sustainability, resilience and economic inclusion at Emory. We look forward to continuing our work with The Conservation Fund and Working Farms Fund to grow our local food system in a way that can be a model across the country.

The grant follows a briefing in March on the Working Farms Fund that Emory University and the Resilience and Sustainability Collaboratory (RSC) faculty gave for staff members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

The RSC is a think and do tank that brings together expert thought leaders from corporate, community, non-governmental, governmental and academic groups from Emory and elsewhere to address complex challenges of climate change, health and racial justice. The Working Farms Fund is a current RSC project.

The partnership drew praise from U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).

"Im delighted to hear about the $330 million investment in public-private partnerships through our farm bills conservation title, said Chairman Scott. In particular, I would like to congratulate Emory University, The Conservation Fund and their partners for leveraging a Conservation Innovation Grant into a multiyear RCPP award. This award will help to permanently protect farmland in the greater Atlanta area, provide pathways for minority farmers to access that land, and discover new market opportunities for those farmers.
With the COVID-19 wave II severely impacting India, Bengaluru-based food tech platform Swiggy has stated that it will prioritise deliveries through its hyperlocal pick-up and drop service, Genie.

Swiggy, in the last 15 days, has witnessed a 350 per cent increase in the delivery of over the counter (OTC) medicines through Genie services, compared to the same period last month. Almost half a million home-cooked meals and tiffins have been ferried to friends and family in the same period, it claimed.

The company, in a statement, said that it was overwhelmed with messages from consumers saying how Genie has been a lifeline for those recovering at home.

Swiggy's Chief Operating Officer Vivek Sunder, while announcing the move, said "with several cities under lockdown, Swiggy Genie has delivered even test reports to the doorsteps. Considering the criticality of the service, we are now prioritising Genie deliveries," and urged users to stay indoors.

Swiggy stated it will be focussing on necessities such as delivering OTC medicines, oximeters, home-cooked meals, grocery and care packages.

Other food and Instamart deliveries won't be delayed, this just means that the Genie orders will be assigned first, it added. Genie orders will also have dedicated customer support.

Meanwhile, Swiggy has also decided to move to a 4-day work week during May due to the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. Not just this, Swiggy has also allowed its employees the flexibility to pick the days they would want to work.

Swiggy is also directly working with hundreds of COVID Heroes who are providing meals to affected families and will prioritise these deliveries as well.

(Edited by Vivek Dubey)

Also Read: Budget tax provisions haunt COVID-19 donations, relief as pandemic surges

Also Read: Supreme Court asks Centre to prepare for third wave of COVID-19

Also Read: PM Modi holds review meeting on COVID-19 situation in country
Within days of the finance ministry drawing flak for Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) provisions holding up COVID-19 relief materials donated to India by the global community at domestic airports, it has now come to the fore that several tax provisions contained in Budget 2020 are impacting the donations and relief measures amid the second wave.

The provisions pertain to tax exemptions claimed by an assessee who makes a donation to a trust, institution, hospital, or a fund.

A number of requisite compliance applications made by trusts and relief organisations post April 1 this year, as per amendments brought about by the Finance Act 2020, have been pending due to COVID-19 surge. Beginning April 1 this year, the amendments require organisations to file statement of receipts to the tax authorities to be able to issue exemption certificates to donors. This is essentially jeopardising relief and donations at a time when the nation is dependent on such resources as, for taxpayer, the exemption serves as an incentive for the purpose of donation.

The Finance Act of 2020 made the deductions under the sections 80G and 80GGA conditional. The explanatory memorandum to the Finance Bill 2020, said, "Deduction under section 80G/ 80GGA to a donor shall be allowed only if a statement is furnished by the donee who shall be required to furnish a statement in respect of donations received and in the event of failure to do so, fee and penalty shall be levied."

"The Budget 2020 reintroduced the concept of renewal of registration under section 80G which earlier used to be granted for perpetuity to institutions, NGOs or funds. Under it the donor gets the tax benefits for the donation made to them," said Gaurav Mohan, CEO, AMRG and Associates -- a Chartered Accountant firm.

The amendments were to come into effect on June 1 last year. However, the government extended the provisions to April 1 this year in September 2020. This has resulted in piling up of statements as well as applications for exemption certificates from the trusts with the IT department.

The net result being that welfare trusts and other organisations involved in arranging relief materials are facing difficulty in raising funds from the donors for oxygen cylinders, concentrators as they lack power to issue tax exemption certificates to them.

"Due to the ongoing pandemic and state lockdowns, income tax offices are closed or are working with minimal staff. The approvals for 80G are not being received by the institutions timely. This has led to confusion in the minds of donors on the status of exemptions. The charitable institutions are also not clear on where they stand on the tax treatment of the money received or to be received by them," Mohan added.

Kamal Hak, President, Kashmiri Migrants Welfare Association told BusinessToday.In, "What is the urgency of such provisions at a time like this? We wanted to raise funds for procuring oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators and other COVID-19 relief material. But now tax rebate has been withdrawn till the time additional compliance is not done. How do we raise funds?"

"We are getting thousands of calls for help. We are following up on them and ensuring help reaches the needy. Leaving those aside, we have to deal with the filing of the statements and compliance related issues," Hak added.

A possible way out would be extending the provision for the time being. "In the current challenging times, many trusts and NGOs are coming to the forefront to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The government should make sure that procedures are intact to ease all such efforts. The government can defer the applicability of this rule or set up an express mechanism to provide provisional registrations. Any help to battle the pandemic shall be given a smooth path rather than entangling them in protocols," Mohan added.

Also read: COVID-19 first wave pushed 23 crore Indians into poverty: Azim Premji University

Also read: Bank of Baroda sanctions Rs 500 cr to Serum Institute under RBI's Rs 50,000 cr liquidity facility
Credit Suisse has sharply lowered its real GDP growth forecast for this fiscal year to around 8.5-9 per cent, citing economic disruptions in the country due to the raging second wave that is likely to shave 100-150 bps growth off the economy.

The Swiss brokerage has also warned that it will delay the economy reaching potential growth rate by an additional two-three years beyond 2022-23.

The consensus forecast for FY22 growth is between 10 and 11 per cent by most analysts, including international raters like S&P, Fitch and Moody's, and so is their domestic counterparts, with the lowest among them being nine per cent by Brickword Ratings.

Similarly, the consensus potential annual growth rate is 6.5 per cent for many years from 2022-23, which many had predicted after the first wave and the sharper-than-expected-recovery the economy had logged in last year.

Analysts were also expecting a rapid turnaround for the economy this fiscal following an at least 8 per cent contraction in 2020-21 after being ravaged by the pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown last year.

Given the impact of the raging second wave, Credit Suisse expects a GDP impact of 100-150 basis points, even though considers the second wave is much more intense than the first in terms of daily cases and deaths, yet the economic impact is lower.

The country recorded coronavirus infections of over 4.12 lakh in the last 24 hours.

"We may revise downwards the FY22 real GDP growth forecast by 100-150 bps from our earlier forecast of 7 per cent over 2019-20. Yet, our forecast is meaningfully higher than the consensus forecast, as it was before the second wave.

"We now expect 2021-22 real GDP to be 5 per cent more than 2019-20 (when it stood at a 4 per cent)," Neelkanth Mishra, co-head of equity strategy for Asia Pacific and India equity strategist at Credit Suisse, told PTI in an interaction.

He expects that economic activity restrictions this time should last a few weeks and not months as in the case of last year, and are also less intense than last year, and more localised.

On the long-term impact of the second wave on growth, Mishra feels the economy may not reach the pre-pandemic projected levels for at least two-three years after 2022-23.

A year before the pandemic scuppered every plan, the government had set its eyes on ambitious USD 5-trillion GDP target by FY25, becoming the fourth largest after the US, China and Japan and the third largest by 2029-30.

On growth normalisation, Mishra said it would depend on how soon the infections peak, how long the second wave lasts, and the intensity of activity restrictions by governments.

As of now, it looks like the case and death numbers should start to ease by mid-May as our current expectation is that lockdowns are likely to be localised and not very intense and will mostly be short-lived, he said.

Also Read: COVID-19 crisis: Nearly 1,450% jump in containment zones in Delhi in 1 month

Also Read: Nationwide lockdown option 'being discussed', says Centre amid COVID crisis in India
India recorded a new high of 4,12,262 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and 3,980 deaths, taking the country's tally to 2,10,77,410, as per the latest update by the Union Health Ministry.

Top five states which reported maximum cases comprise Maharashtra with 57,640 cases, followed by Karnataka with 50,112 cases, Kerala with 41,953 cases, Uttar Pradesh with 31,111 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 23,310 COVID-19 cases.

Approx. 49.52% of the fresh cases have been reported from these five states, with Maharashtra alone contributing to 13.98% of the new COVID-19 case tally.

Also Read: COVID-19 in India: Maharashtra, Delhi, UP, 7 other states account for 75% of new cases

The death toll of 3,980 was recorded in the last 24 hours, with maximum casualties being reported from Maharashtra (920), followed by UP with 353 deaths. The overall death toll in the country stands at 23,01,68.

India was seeing a slight drop in daily COVID-19 cases after it hit a global record on May 1.

As many as 3,29,113 discharges were made in the past one day, taking the total count of recovered cases in the country to 1,71,80,844. The active caseload stands at 35,66,398.

Also Read: India could suffer world's highest COVID-19 death toll: report

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20, and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4.

According to the ICMR, 29,67,75,209 samples have been tested up to May 5 with 19,23,131 samples being tested on Wednesday.
There are numerous cases in which policyholders have received only about 50 per cent of the total medical bill. For example, if your hospital bill amounts to Rs 8 lakh, the insurer may cover you for Rs 4-4.5 lakh

The second wave of COVID-19 has burdened the healthcare ecosystem with insurance claims facing huge delays, among other issues. Out of Rs 15,700 crore COVID-19 claims filed with the insurance companies, only 57 per cent or Rs 9,000 crore has been settled so far as of April 2021, informs an industry source. The pending claims stand at Rs 6,700 crore compared to Rs 6,660 as of March 2021.

"Pending cases may include cashless claims for which company is in the process of releasing the amount payable to hospitals and claims for which insured is claiming reimbursement from Insurers," says the industry source.

April recorded a 22 per cent jump in the number of COVID-19 insurance claims filed with insurers at 11,18,500 compared to 9,17,000 cases as of March 2021.

Besides delays, customers are facing issues in getting approval for cashless claims. "Some hospitals will tell you upfront that beds are not available. From the backdoor you'll be informed that if you pay cash, you'll be admitted right then," says a Delhi-based insurance agent who didn't wish to be named.

Another major challenge is insured receiving only a small portion of claims amount. There are numerous cases in which policyholders have received only about 50 per cent of the total medical bill. For example, if your hospital bill amounts to Rs 8 lakh, the insurer may cover you for Rs 4-4.5 lakh.

"There were four heads in my hospital bill apart from consumables - room rent, Covid ward charges, special Covid care and doctor visits. When you are already charging me for the room rent, why are you slapping extra charges for Covid ward and Covid care? My mother told me that one doctor was available all the time. No other Covid specialist visited ever. But they charged me extra for visits by a Covid specialist," says a Mumbai-based stock analyst whose mother was hospitalised.

"I don't blame insurance companies because they were following a pre-defined contract, but hospitals are making their own rules, flouting government guidelines," he adds.

Consumables are another challenge. The hospitals continue to charge individually for consumables such as PPE kits (that too twice or thrice a day) even as a doctor may examine all patients in a ward wearing the same kit. The GIC has fixed a limit of about Rs 1,200 for PPE kit charges per day. Patients are being charged for it at much higher prices, which insurance policies do not cover.

"Consumables form a large chunk of the claim amount. I know a case in which nearly Rs 4 lakh of Rs 7 lakh was charged for consumables and special COVID-19 care, while room rent, medicines and active line of treatment comprised just Rs 3 lakh," says Jayesh Gadekar, Head, Health & Benefits, Innovative Solutions, Global Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd.

"Room rent due to special Covid care, cost of medicines and bed charges have shot up. Insurance companies will not pay for it. They are not wrong. They will settle it as per GIC guidelines," he adds.

Also read: Attention! Covid-19 recovered patients not eligible for insurance for now

Also read: How to claim Rs 2 lakh govt insurance against unfortunate Covid death
Moderna Inc raised its 2021 sales forecast for its COVID-19 vaccine by 4.3% to $19.2 billion on Thursday, reflecting demand from countries looking to return to normalcy through rapid inoculation.

Earlier this week, larger rival Pfizer Inc said it expects $26 billion in sales of its COVID-19 vaccine this year.

Moderna had in February forecast vaccine sales of $18.4 billion.

Since then, wealthy nations have been stocking up shots from Moderna and Pfizer Inc/BioNTech SE after safety concerns and production problems temporarily sidelined AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

In the first quarter ended March 31, Moderna's vaccine brought in sales of $1.7 billion.

The company said it plans to file for full approval of the vaccine in the United States this month.

Also read: Pfizer share falls over 3% after US agrees to support patent waivers on Covid vaccines
ALL INDIA BANK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION

Central Office: PRABHAT NIVAS Regn. No.2037 Singapore Plaza, 164, Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai-600001

Phone: 2535 1522 Fax: 2535 8853 M- 984 00 899 20 Web: www.aibea.in

e-mail chv.aibea[at]gmail.com 9840089920

PRESS RELEASE

By C.H. Venkatachalam, Gen Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association

5-5-2021

Decision to privatise IDBI Bank and selling it to corporate houses is retrograde. Govt. should control minimum 51% of Share Capital of the Bank

Recover bad loans due by corporate houses to IDBI Bank, not sell to them

Our attention has been drawn to the decision taken today in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on approval for strategic disinvestment and transferring the management control of IDBI Bank thus paving the way for the sale of this important bank to a private corporate company.

As on date, Government and LIC, put together have 96% of the share capital of IDBI Bank and the decision to hand over these shares and their control means outright sale of IDBI Bank, obviously to a private corporate company.

IDBI was started as a Development Financial Institution (DFI) and later converted as IDBI Bank much against the statute approved by the Parliament earlier. IDBI played a leading role in financing industrial development in our country. Because some private corporate houses have cheated the Bank by not repaying the loans, IDBI Bank came into problem.

The need is to take action on the defaulters and recover the money. Unfortunately, now the decision has been taken to sell the Bank to a private company. IDBI Bank is a national asset and should not sold away in this fashion. It is a retrograde move.

Further, once the Bank is sold to private company, the existing reservation in jobs for SC/ST category will be withdrawn. This is social injustice to the unemployed youth of this country.

The only major problem of the Bank is its huge bad loans of Rs. 36,000 crores as on March, 2021 (22 %). Out of the Operating Profit of Rs 1900 crores for the year ended March, 2021, Rs. 1500 crores have been set off for provision for bad loans.

Now to camouflage these ills of the Bank, the Bank is being sold away. We express our strong protest against this decision and urge upon the Government not to proceed with the sale of IDBI Bank.

The Banks Deposit of Rs. 2,30,000 crores is peoples money. Peoples money for peoples welfare and national development, not for private corporate loot.

C.H. Venkatachalam General Secretary
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 6, 2021

2021/05/06

CCTV: On May 5, the G7 foreign ministers' meeting issued a communique, expressing concern over issues concerning Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong as well as the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and voicing support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly. Does China have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The G7 foreign ministers' meeting launched groundless accusations against China, blatantly interfered in China's internal affairs and engaged in anachronistic bloc politics. This is gross interference in China's sovereignty, flagrant trampling on norms of international relations and violation of the trend for peace, development and win-win cooperation of our times. China strongly condemns it.

Issues concerning Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong are all China's domestic affairs. China's sovereignty, rights and interests over the Diaoyu Dao, its affiliated islands, islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters are rooted in ample factual and legal basis. The participation of China's Taiwan region in activities of international organizations, including the WHO, which consists of sovereign nations, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. This is an important principle established by UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.

The G7, as a grouping of developed nations, should take more concrete actions to boost world economic recovery and help accelerate developing countries' growth, rather than stoking confrontation and difference and disrupting global economic recovery.

In the context of COVID-19, G7 finds within its membership the worst-stricken and the most medically-advanced nations. As such, it is naturally expected to focus on international cooperation in fighting the virus and promoting the equitable distribution of vaccines, instead of hoarding vaccines at home while offering merely superficial lip service when it comes to helping other countries in need. Still less should it blame others or meddle in their efforts in a condescending manner to undermine the top international priority of jointly fighting the pandemic.

The G7 claims to be a grouping of democracies, but as a latest poll suggests respondents in 53 countries and regions see the US as the top threat to global democracy, we haven't seen any comment or action from the G7.

We urge relevant countries to take a hard look at their own problems, redress their self-serving approach in fighting COVID-19 and stop the wrong practice of stretching national security concept. Attempts to concoct all sorts of excuses to meddle in China's internal affairs, harm Chinese sovereignty and tarnish China's image in disregard of basic norms of international relations are doomed to fail.

RIA Novosti: I have two questions. First, the Pentagon said Wednesday it is following the trajectory of Long March 5B rocket expected to make an uncontrolled entry into the atmosphere this weekend. I wonder if you could provide any details? Second, the National Development and Reform Commission announced today its decision to indefinitely suspend all activities within the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. Could you give more details? Will it have effect on bilateral economic cooperation?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, as a matter of principle, I would like to reiterate that China is always committed to the peaceful use of outer space and stands for international cooperation in this regard. China is ready to work with all relevant parties to make joint efforts for the peaceful use of outer space and safeguarding space security.

On your second question, we always believe that a sound and steady China-Australia relationship is in the fundamental interests of both countries and that bilateral cooperation is mutually-beneficial in nature. That said, mutual respect and mutual trust is the prerequisite of dialogue and practical cooperation between countries. For some time, the Australian side, in disregard of China's solemn position and repeated representations, doubled down on restriction and suppression of China-Australia cooperation projects in trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges by falsely citing "national security" reasons. This has severely damaged mutual trust and undermined the foundation for normal exchange and cooperation. China has no other choice but to make necessary and legitimate responses. The Australian side must take all responsibility for this.

We urge the Australian side to cast aside the Cold-War mentality and ideological bias, view China's development and China-Australia cooperation in a truly objective light, return to the rational track without further delay and correct its mistakes. It should stop the insane suppression targeting China-Australia cooperation, stop politicizing and stigmatizing normal exchange, and stop going further down the wrong path.

Shenzhen TV: In a recent speech to the China Business Summit in Auckland, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that ties with China are among her country's most important bilateral relations and that New Zealand stays committed to the one-China policy. She also noted the two countries have differences on some issues and need to work to effectively manage and control them. Do you have a comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports. The New Zealand leader said that she attaches importance to developing relations with China and reiterated her country's commitment to the one-China policy. We appreciate the statement. China and New Zealand are each other's important cooperative partner, with bilateral relations and cooperation registering many "firsts". The 49-year-long journey since establishment of diplomatic ties proves that as long as we show each other mutual respect, seek common ground and shelve differences, treat one another as equals and pursue win-win cooperation, we should be able to and can achieve sound progress in bilateral relations. China stands ready to work together with New Zealand to forge ahead and break new ground, strengthen dialogue, deepen cooperation, rise above disturbances and work for greater progress in our comprehensive strategic partnership.

China is committed to an independent foreign policy of peace. We believe in the equality of all countries regardless of size. We firmly uphold international law, basic norms governing international relations, international fairness and justice. We are committed to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China does not intend to engage in systemic competition or ideological confrontation with Western countries. Our development does not come at the expense of other countries' interests. On the contrary, it presents immense development opportunities for all. We are ready to enhance cooperation with all sides including New Zealand to contribute to world peace and development.

FSN: A follow-up on China's decision to suspend economic dialogue with Australia. Is there any impact on trade between the two countries specifically?

Wang Wenbin: As I said, for some time, the Australian side doubled down on restriction and suppression of China-Australia cooperation projects in trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges by falsely citing "national security" reasons. This has severely damaged mutual trust and undermined the foundation for normal exchange and cooperation. China has no other choice but to make necessary and legitimate responses. The Australian side must take all responsibility for this.

AFP: What measures will China take to make sure that debris from the Long March 5B rocket will not crash down in inhabited areas?

Wang Wenbin: I have just stated China's principled position on the issue. For specific questions, please refer to the competent authorities.

CGTN: In its capacity as the Security Council president for May, how will China fulfill its duty and plays its role? What will be China's priorities in this month?

Wang Wenbin: China has already taken the rotating presidency of the Security Council for May. In this month, the Security Council will review such regional hotspots as the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sahel, the DPRK and Bosnia and Herzegovina. China will convene a high-level briefing on May 7, with the theme of "Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding multilateralism and the UN-centered international system" and a high-level open debate on May 19, with the theme of "Peace and security in Africa: Addressing root causes of conflict while promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa". State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meetings via video link. Besides, China's Permanent Mission to the UN will organize open debates on issues including safeguarding safety and security of peacekeepers, and the impact of emerging technologies on international peace and security at the Council.

As we speak, the world is undergoing once-in-a-century changes and the impact of COVID-19. Facing rising instability and uncertainty, more and more people are calling for upholding multilateralism and advancing solidarity in fighting the coronavirus. This year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China and the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China at the UN. Standing at a new historical starting point, China will earnestly perform its duty as the Security Council president, work for greater unity and cooperation at the Council, and make more contributions to world peace and security. China will have closer interactions with countries that are not members of the Council, host countries of hotspot issues, the UN Secretary-General and president of the UN General Assembly, listen to opinions and suggestions from all sides and perform the duty as the president of the Council in a more effective and transparent way.

Beijing Youth Daily: According to media reports, a report by the disinformation unit of European External Action Service (EEAS) accuses Russian and Chinese for conducting vaccine diplomacy that follows a zero-sum game logic, making unfounded links between jabs and deaths in Europe and promoting Russian and Chinese vaccines as superior, seeking to sow mistrust in Western COVID-19 vaccines. What is China's comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We find the conclusion of this report absurd.

China is a firm believer in making COVID vaccines a public good, and has worked in real earnest to improve vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. We have provided vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations, exported vaccines to over 40 countries, and carried out vaccine research and production cooperation with more than 10 countries. We have actively participated in the WHO-initiated COVAX and pledged a first batch of 10 million doses to meet the urgent need of developing countries. We have also offered vaccines to UN peacekeeping missions and the International Olympic Committee. China is turning into reality the vision of making vaccines a public good with concrete actions.

And what has the EU done? The WHO has repeatedly urged some developed countries to stop excessive procurement and lift export restrictions, which will not help curb virus transmission and mutation. UN Secretary-General Guterres has, for many times, criticized some developed countries for practicing "vaccine nationalism", hoarding vaccines and privately entering into transactions with vaccine suppliers. He pointed out that unfair distribution of vaccines is "immoral" and called for vaccine equity for all. However, what we see is that the EU has been tightening restrictions on vaccine exports, and some countries have hoarded vaccines far in excess of their population's needs. Isn't this "vaccine nationalism"? Isn't this creating a "vaccine divide"? How many vaccines has the EU given to developing countries?

This report by relevant EU authorities is filled with arrogance and hypocrisy. China calls on the European side to respect the basic facts, take practical actions to promote equitable distribution of vaccines around the world, and take credible steps to help developing countries combat the epidemic, instead of trying to diverting attention by attacking and discrediting other countries in an attempt to confuse right and wrong, deceive and mislead the public.

AFP: I've got a question on the investment deal between China and the EU. The EU Commission said on Tuesday that efforts to win approval of the deal were suspended given the regulations between China and the EU. Do you have any comment on that?

Wang Wenbin: I've noted reports on that. I've also seen that an EU spokesperson has since denied the statement. The China-EU investment agreement is essentially mutually-beneficial. It serves the interests of both sides and the whole world. China stands ready to maintain communication and coordination with the EU and work together for the early entry into force of the deal for the benefit of the people and to send out a positive signal of China and the EU supporting an open world economy.

People's Daily: On April 30, China, the United States, Russia and Pakistan met in Doha, Qatar to discuss ways to support intra-Afghan negotiations and help the parties reach a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. The four countries also issued a joint statement on the peaceful settlement of the Afghan issue. Could you give us more details?

Wang Wenbin: On April 30, representatives of China, the US, Russia and Pakistan held a meeting on the Afghan issue in Doha, where they had in-depth exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan and promoting the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. The meeting concluded with a joint statement.

The four sides agreed that a negotiated political solution is the only right way to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan. Foreign troops should withdraw from Afghanistan in a responsible way to ensure a smooth transition. The four parties unanimously called on all parties to the Afghan peace talks to reach an agreement on fundamental issues at an early date, promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, form an inclusive government and achieve a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire.

The Chinese side stressed that the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan is at a critical juncture in history. Like sailing upstream, one will be pushed back if they don't move forward. It is the common aspiration of the Afghan people and the international community to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan as soon as possible. The four sides of China, the US, Russia and Pakistan should step up their mediation efforts, pool strength together, and play a more constructive role in promoting peace talks.

YTN: A question on North Korea issue. U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said they are definitely going to have discussions with China on North Korean issues and nuclear development program. I'd like to know when this process is starting, do you have any information about this? One more thing, last week, the US government, the Biden administration said they've finished reviewing new policy on North Korea. They are focusing on complete denuclearization and diplomatic resolution, and I think these two things are very similar to that of your country. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is at a critical juncture. Parties concerned should do more things conducive to peace and stability on the peninsula, respect each other's legitimate concerns, refrain from provocation, work to maintain the hard-won detente, and continue to move forward the political settlement process. China stands ready to work with relevant parties to continue upholding the dual-track approach and the phased and synchronized principle to make relentless efforts for the denuclearization of the peninsula and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the peninsula.

On your second question, we have taken note of this. China has all along been committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, realizing denuclearization, and resolving problems through dialogue and consultation. We support positive interaction between the DPRK and the US, the improvement of relations between the DPRK and the ROK, and any efforts conducive to promoting dialogue, easing tensions, and promoting cooperation.

To settle the Peninsula issue requires a balanced solution to the legitimate concerns of all parties. Parties concerned should actively work for the two major goals of denuclearization of the Peninsula and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the Peninsula by following the dual-track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized actions. China will continue to work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue and achieve stability on the Peninsula in the long run.

Bloomberg: The US announced it will support a proposal to waive intellectual-property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The EU also has suggested it backs a proposal to discuss waiving vaccine patent protection. I wonder whether the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: All countries share the responsibility to fight the epidemic, and everyone should have equal access to vaccines. China supports efforts devoted to the issue of vaccine accessibility and looks forward to active and constructive discussions among all parties within the framework of the WTO in a bid to achieve an effective and balanced result.

Upholding the vision of building a global community of health for all, China actively supports and participates in international vaccine cooperation, and is providing vaccines in different ways to countries in urgent need, especially developing countries. China will unswervingly continue its efforts in making COVID vaccines a public good, and make contributions to improving vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

China Daily: Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced the appointment of four WTO Deputy Directors-General, including Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of China Zhang Xiangchen. What's your comment? How will China support WTO in its work in the future?

Wang Wenbin: The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce expressed appreciation and welcome to the appointment of four WTO Deputy Directors-General by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and said the appointment testifies to WTO's full recognition of China's positive and constructive role over the years.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO. Over the past two decades, China has been fulfilling its obligations and honoring its commitment, abiding by WTO rules and firmly upholding WTO-centered multilateral trading system. Looking ahead, we are ready to work with all countries to support the work of the Director-General and the WTO Secretariat, to support the Organization in playing a bigger role in global governance, to firmly uphold multilateralism and multilateral trading regime, to safeguard core values and basic principles of the WTO. We'd like to jointly uphold development interests and space for growth for all WTO members especially developing ones, and contribute positively to the steady recovery of international trade and the balanced, strong, sustainable and inclusive growth of the world economy.

AFP: Will China consider waiving its vaccine patent?

Wang Wenbin: I appreciate your effort to raise questions in Chinese. China supports efforts devoted to the issue of vaccine accessibility and looks forward to active and constructive discussions among all parties within the framework of the WTO in a bid to achieve an effective and balanced result.

China will continue to make contributions to improving vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

SCMP: United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai says that she expects to meet Chinese trade officials in the near term. Does China have any response to this? Has there been any contact between the two sides for this meeting?

Wang Wenbin: Please refer to the competent authority for specific questions on China-US economic and trade relations. As a principled response, I want to stress that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. There are broad common interests between the two sides and huge space for cooperation. Some problems arising in bilateral economic and trade relations should be properly resolved in the spirit of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing.

AFP: Another question on EU and China. The EU Commission proposed on Wednesday to give itself new powers to block foreign companies especially Chinese companies in the EU market. These proposed regulations could block them from buying European companies or access of public contract. Does China have any reaction to this?

Wang Wenbin: I am not aware of what you said. I suggest you refer it to the competent authority. I want to say that the EU is an important force in building an open world economy and the beneficiary of free trade. We hope that the EU will continue to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, reduce market barriers, avoid adding new barriers in particular, and provide open, transparent and non-discriminatory investment business environment for companies from all countries, including Chinese ones.

Reuters: Michael Bloomberg said the Bloomberg New Economy Forum this year will move from China to Singapore, in part because of concerns about journalists in the country. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: I'm not aware of what you mentioned. I can assure you that in China, foreign journalists' lawful rights concerning press coverage are fully guaranteed.

Phoenix TV: US Secretary of State Blinken said in a recent interview and during the G7 foreign ministers' meeting that "Our purpose is not to contain China, to hold it back, to keep it down. It is to uphold this rules-based order that China is posing a challenge to. Anyone who poses a challenge to that order, we're going to stand up and defend it." Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: The "rules-based order" claimed by the US is too foggy a concept to gain wide endorsement. If it refers to rules set by the US alone, then it cannot be called international rules, but rather "hegemonic rules", which will only be rejected by the whole world. If it refers to rules set by the US and a handful of other countries, then it cannot be called international rules either, but rather "clique rules", which run counter to the principle of democracy and won't be accepted by the majority of countries in the world.

The only international order that serves the common interests of the international community is the one based on the UN Charter and international law. We would welcome it if the US can subscribe to, accept and abide by this order.

I need to stress that issues relating to Xinjiang and Hong Kong are purely China's internal affairs. The US, by slapping illegal sanctions on China under the pretext of human rights, in particular, by suppressing Xinjiang companies based on nothing but rumors and lies, is grossly interfering in China's domestic affairs and blatantly undermining international order. The US should practice what it preaches by translating its rhetoric of not seeking to contain or hold back China into concrete actions instead of violating international law and order under the cover of defending them.

Bloomberg: Could you clarify if China supports discussions on removing vaccine patents under the WHO or the WTO frameworks? And two questions on the USTR. The USTR Katherine Tai said the U.S. would build from the trade deal with China reached under Donald Trump and that the Biden administration respects the continuity of the phase-one agreement. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this? The USTR office also noted that China's patent, copyright and criminal law has been amended in the past year, but said they "fall short of the full range of fundamental changes". I wonder whether the foreign ministry have any comment on this report from the USTR office?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, China supports efforts devoted to the issue of vaccine accessibility and looks forward to active and constructive discussions among all parties within the framework of the WTO in a bid to achieve an effective and balanced result.

On your second question, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

On your third question, you may also refer this question to the competent authorities. I want to stress that China has always attached great importance to IPR protection. The achievements we've made in IPR protection in recent years are there for all to see. The US side should view relevant issues in an objective way and properly handle them.

AFP: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro made some comments on Wednesday on the novel coronavirus. He said the virus might have been made in a laboratory to wage a "biological warfare." He then appeared to say that China may have launched this "biological war". Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Virus is the common enemy of mankind. The pressing task now is for all countries to join hands in anti-epidemic cooperation and strive for an early and complete victory over the epidemic. We firmly oppose any attempt to politicize and stigmatize the virus.
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
Presidente @FSagasti: Propiciamos las condiciones para una cooperacion internacional en la lucha contra las drogas. Dejaremos al proximo gobierno una ruta marcada contra este delito. pic.twitter.com/kFYXRvkXit
Nos dirigimos a la region Junin para atender temas de seguridad y accion social en esta parte de la selva central del pais. Supervisaremos las acciones de lucha contra las drogas y nos reuniremos con los lideres de las organizaciones indigenas. #AccionesEnLasRegiones pic.twitter.com/IYTWR0rQmU
Cardinal Pell's Prison Journal, Vol. 2, Details Crushing Rejection of Appeal

NEWS PROVIDED BYMay 6, 2021SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2021 / Standard Newswire / -- In the second volume of Cardinal George Pell's prison journal trilogy, PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 2: THE STATE COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL (Ignatius Press), the incarcerated Cardinal learns that his appeal was rejected and he must remain in prison. The unprecedented work chronicles Cardinal Pell's life in an Australian prison as he continues to prove his innocence against unjust accusations of sex abuse. The first volume, PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 1: THE CARDINAL MAKES HIS APPEAL, was released last year.PRISON JOURNAL, VOLUME 2: THE STATE COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL covers the time period of July 14, 2019, through November 30, 2019. In this second of three volumes, Cardinal Pell receives the terrible news that his first appeal is rejected. With the same grace, wisdom and calm perseverance displayed in Volume 1, he continues his quest for justice by appealing to the Australian High Court. Glimmers of hope emerge as more legal experts, including non-Catholics, join the chorus of those demanding that this miscarriage of justice be reversed.Cardinal George Pell, as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, which had been newly created by Pope Francis to manage the finances of the Vatican, was accused of sexually assaulting choir boys in his former cathedral during the 1990s. So sure that the charges were false, the cardinal voluntarily left Rome for Australia to stand trial. The trial ended in a hung jury, but when the case was retried, Cardinal Pell was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. He spent 404 days in solitary confinement until his appeal was unanimously overturned by the Australian High Court."Two lessons emerge from this astonishing work. The first lesson is the length to which a hate-filled judicial process will go against an innocent man  a process redeemed ultimately by Australia's High Court, but not before soiling the credibility of a nation's legal system," said Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia. "The second is the power of a good man's endurance in the face of humiliation and poisonous deceit. Cardinal Pell is a superb writer and an articulate witness to an inexcusable abuse of law, but also to the triumph of God's grace. His journal is a marvel."For more information, to request a media review copy or to schedule an interview with Cardinal George Pell, please contact Lisa Wheeler (866-777-2313, ext. 700 or LWheeler@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.SOURCE Carmel CommunicationsCONTACT: Lisa Wheeler, 866-777-2313 ext 700, LWheeler@CarmelCommunications.com
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. The government-backed bill on granting pardon to draft evaders was adopted by parliament at the second reading with 83 votes in favor.

The pardon will be granted to those who evaded service before September 27, 2020  the day when the 2020 Artsakh War began, and who are above the age of 27 (35 for reserve officers).

Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan had earlier said the government made the decision in order to enable draft evaders to contribute to the economic, social, spiritual and cultural development of the country. He said the decision was made upon the principle of solidarity.

Those who are fugitives under the respective article of the penal code will also be granted pardon.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. The tax revenues in April 2021, including the stamp payments, comprised about 180 billion drams, which is a historic record for Armenia, Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the Cabinet meeting today.

This is a historic record of tax revenues for Armenia within a month. True, there is a little trick here in a sense that last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we allowed not to pay the profit tax prepayments. This decision also had a certain impact on the collections, which is not bad, but is good, as our decision made in the past has been justified and during the difficult periods we enabled the money which the business had to pay to stay in circulation and help to be in more favorable situation during the crisis, Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. During an extended-format meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Yerevan, Armenias caretaker foreign minister Ara Aivazian has raised the issue of ensuring the return of all prisoners of war and hostage-taken civilians from Azerbaijan, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

Armenpress presents Mr. Aivazians remarks at the meeting:

Dear Mr. Lavrov,

Dear friends,

I am happy to welcome you in Yerevan. Your visit is a good occasion to continue discussing broad range of issues relating to the Armenian-Russian inter-state dialogue. I hope we will discuss more relevant issues of the bilateral agenda, which are of strategic direction.

The allied nature of mutual partnership between Armenia and Russia predicts the framework of matters which we address jointly for the benefit of further strengthening of the friendship between our peoples and the development of our countries under the conditions of security, peace and stability.

The active political dialogue and the broad foreign political coordination, the large-scale legal framework, which regulates the partnership of our countries in all areas, including in the defense field, create all the necessary conditions for the success of joint efforts. We are interested in promoting the bilateral relations through the comprehensive activity of mechanisms such as the inter-governmental commission for economic cooperation, the inter-parliamentary committee and the military-technical cooperation commission.

During your visit we started the discussions on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and will continue those discussions during the day. In this context the creation of conditions for the resumption of the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, in the person of Russia, France and the US, which have a mediation mandate, is important.

The most important issue is to ensure the return of all prisoners of war and hostage-taken civilians by Azerbaijan. And this issue must be solved as quickly as possible, which is evidenced by numerous facts of continuous mass violations of international humanitarian law. The creation of elementary conditions for the return of displaced persons to their settlements, the provision of humanitarian aid to the population and the restoration of Artsakhs economy are also an urgent matter. The preservation of the historical and cultural heritage which has come under the Azerbaijani control is also a very relevant issue. I am sure today we will exchange views on our future actions, including the unblocking of transportation communications as envisaged by the January 11 statement.

We will also touch upon the latest regional developments, also in the context of pushing forward the interests and countering the common threats.

We will also discuss the cooperation in the format of multilateral and integration unions. Being a key sector for inter-state cooperation, it also includes additional opportunities and advantages for the development of the Armenian-Russian relations. As you see, the topics for discussions are quite broad and substantial. Therefore, I once again welcome you in Yerevan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. In the last three years the government returned 200 billion drams to businesses, according to caretaker PM Nikol Pashinyan.

The process of VAT return has always been historically problematic in Armenia. Hundreds of billions of drams in debts were accumulated and I want to say that as of April we have a historic minimum in terms of tax returns to businesses, meaning as of April the debt stood at 67,4 billion drams, and moreover weve surpassed our own record, he said at the Cabinet meeting.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Latvia has officially recognized and condemned the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Armenias Ambassador to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia Tigran Mkrtchyan, who is completing his mission, said on Facebook.

Latvia has finally officially recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide. 58 out of 100 members of the Saeima voted in favor of the resolution. What was difficult to imagine years before today has become a reality. This is a result of the hard work of the past years, where the intensive political contacts, the parliamentary diplomacy, the cultural diplomacy have played a key role, the Ambassador said.

I bow before all political forces and lawmakers of the Latvian Parliament who have voted in favor of giving a solution to this very important issue for the Armenian people in Latvia. A statement about the Armenian Genocide committed under the era of the Ottoman Empire, he said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia signed an intergovernmental memorandum on ensuring biological security.

Today we signed an intergovernmental memorandum regarding issues of ensuring biological security, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Armenian caretaker FM Ara Aivazian. With its implementation a goal is set to contribute significant effort in the development of future cooperation over this delicate topic which is becoming more actual. It will help to strengthen our common area of biosecurity, Lavrov said.

Lavrov said this issue will be advanced in multilateral formats as well, such as the CSTO and the CIS.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. The World Bank will provide a 3,7 million grant to the Armenian government for the implementation of 4 relief projects aimed at supporting the citizens of Artsakh who've moved to Armenia.

Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan said the 4 projects are part of the rehabilitation roadmap unveiled in November 2020 by the prime minister.

The funds will be used to co-finance social assistance and employment projects.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is discussing with Russia the issue of starting a production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Armenias caretaker FM Ara Aivazian in Yerevan.

We have discussed our joint efforts in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Russia has provided Armenia with several tens of thousands of doses of Sputnik V vaccine and currently the issue of acquiring another 1 million doses by Yerevan, as well as organizing its production in the territory of Armenia is being discussed, Lavrov said.

The first batch of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in 15,000 doses has been delivered to Armenia on April 8. A new batch for 14,000 people has been imported to Armenia on April 26.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on May 5 on a two-day visit.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Russian FM Sergey Lavrov says Moscow keeps making all efforts for the repatriation of all detainees of the Nagorno Karabakh war.

Weve addressed in detail the existing situation around Nagorno Karabakh, we underscored the achieved progress and stabilization of the situation, Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Armenian FM Ara Aivazian in Yerevan.

We are not reducing the efforts aimed at the repatriation of all detained persons, de-mining and preservation of cultural and religious heritage.

Lavrov said that the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan deputy-prime ministerial working group tasked with unblocking has a big role in the stabilization of situation in the region.

Our relations have big importance in peace and stability in South Caucasus.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker FM Ara Aivazian reiterated the Armenian stance that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is far from being resolved.

I once again reiterated our clear stance that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is far from being resolved. Only through peaceful negotiations it is possible to reach a comprehensive political resolution which will take into account the rights of all and will bring peace and stability to South Caucasus, Aivazian said at a joint press conference with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in Yerevan. And the basis of such resolution should first of all be the determination of Artsakhs status within the borders where the people of Artsakh have self-determined, he added.

Aivazian said Armenia is interested in the further strengthening and bolstering of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship format.

Aivazian said Armenia fully agrees with the OSCE MG Co-Chairing countries stance which was presented in the April 13 statement noting that special attention should be paid to the achievement of a final comprehensive and sustainable settlement on the basis of the elements and principles well-known to the sides.

The Armenian FM emphasized that nearly 6 months after the war Azerbaijan  in violation of international humanitarian law  is disrupting the implementation of the terms of the ceasefire statement and is refusing to return all prisoners of war, including civilians.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Shuaa Capital, a leading asset management and investment banking platform in the region, has divested its 20% equity stake in Abu Dhabi-based Mirfa International Power and Water Company (Mipco), to leading Japanese group Sojitz Corporation.



Mipco was set up seven years back in the UAE capital as the 10th project in the private power and water sector launched under the Department of Energy's privatisation programme.

The company developed and operates a power generation and seawater desalination plant in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, with a net power capacity of 1600MW and a net water capacity of 52.5 MIGD, contracted under the Power and Water Purchase Agreement (PWPA).



Having originally invested in Mipco in 2015 to support the development phase of the project, this divestment is in line with Shuaa's planned exit strategy.

Mipco's shareholders include the Abu Dhabi National Energy Group (Taqa) and Engie, the French low carbon energy and services group, both of which will remain shareholders (with 60% and 20% stakes respectively).



Sojitz is a multinational trading and investment group, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with assets of $21 billion across a number of sectors. In particular, it has over 40 power projects in more than 14 countries globally, making it an ideal partner for Mipco going forward.



Fawad Tariq Khan, MD, Head of Investment Banking at Shuaa Capital, said: "With its experience in international power, Sojitz represents an ideal partner for Mipco going forward, bringing operational expertise as a strategic investor. So, we are delighted to be able to divest our stake to Sojitz, in line with our planned exit horizon, having supported the development of the Mipco plant which will deliver power and water security across the UAE."



Masakazu Hashimoto, COO of Sojitz's Infrastructure & Healthcare Division, said: "We are delighted that Sojitz has become a co-sponsor of the project which plays an important role in providing a stable source of power and water in Abu Dhabi and contributes to the economic growth of the region. In addition to acquiring shares in the project which has successfully achieved commercial operation, this transaction is also important for us from the perspective of establishing a business relationship with Shuaa which has a large presence in the financial sector in the Middle East where Sojitz is aiming to continue and further expand its business."



Standard Chartered Bank is acting as financial adviser on the transaction for Shuaa, with Linklaters appointed as Shuaa's legal adviser.  TradeArabia News Service
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenias caretaker foreign minister Ara Aivazian and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the humanitarian problems facing Artsakh during their meeting in Yerevan.

In the context of ongoing actions aimed at restoring living conditions in Artsakh I would like to once again highlight the efforts of the Russian side with gratitude. Solving peoples return to their homes, restoring infrastructure, normal life ad solving the healthcare problems are very important for the Artsakh residents more than ever today, Ara Aivazian said during a joint press conference with the Russian FM in Yerevan.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on May 5 on a two-day visit.

He is scheduled to meet with Armenias caretaker prime minister Nikol Pashinyan on May 6.

Lavrov will also pay a working visit to Baku on May 9-10.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 6 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 6 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.41 drams to 521.45 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.73 drams to 628.19 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.99 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.72 drams to 725.65 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 236.16 drams to 29879.43 drams. Silver price down by 8.53 drams to 440.84 drams. Platinum price down by 436.21 drams to 20470.07 drams.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. France is concerned over the opening of the ''trophy park'' by Azerbaijan in Baku, where Armenian military equipment taken as trophy and wax mannequins depicting Armenian soldiers are exhibited, a diplomatic source of ARMENPRESS at the Foreign Ministry of France said.

As a Minsk Group Co-chair country, France is committed to the establishment of sustainable peace and prosperity in the region. France is concerned over the public exhibition during the opening of the park on dedicated to the military victory in the last war of Nagorno Karabakh. This deadly conflict has caused much grief and disaster in many families both in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and that opening ceremony goes against the reconciliation desire which in numerous occasions has been supported also by the Azerbaijani authorities, the diplomatic source said.

France will continue working together with the other Co-chairs for reaching the goals defined by the April 13 statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. This is the demand of the President and Minister of the Republic, the source at the French Foreign Ministry said.

The April 13 statement runs as follows,

 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) released the following statement today:

The Co-Chairs note with satisfaction the consolidation of the ceasefire, and are closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement reached by the parties on 9 November 2020. The Co-Chairs welcome the significant achievements with regard to the return of the remains of the deceased, and the ongoing progress with regard to the resettlement of those displaced by the conflict, provision of humanitarian assistance and adequate living conditions, as well as constructive discussions aimed at unblocking transportation and communication lines throughout the region.

The Co-Chairs remind the sides that additional efforts are required to resolve remaining areas of concern and to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace. These include issues related to, inter alia: the return of all POWs and other detainees in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, the exchange of all data necessary to conduct effective demining of conflict regions; the lifting of restrictions on access to Nagorno-Karabakh, including for representatives of international humanitarian organizations; the preservation and protection of religious and cultural heritage; and the fostering of direct contacts and co-operation between communities affected by the conflict as well as other people-to-people confidence building measures.

Having in mind the terms of their OSCE mandate and the aspirations of all the people of the region for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future, the Co-Chairs stress that special attention should be paid to the achievement of a final comprehensive and sustainable settlement on the basis of the elements and principles well-known to the sides.

In this respect, the Co-Chairs call on the parties to resume high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity. They reiterate their proposal to organize direct bilateral consultations under their auspices, in order for the sides to review and agree jointly upon a structured agenda, reflecting their priorities, without preconditions.

The Co-Chairs also express their strong support for the continuing activities and possible expansion of the mission of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office (PRCiO) and call on the sides to provide full access and support to its efforts. The Co-Chairs underscore their readiness to resume working visits to the region, including Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, to carry out their assessment and mediation roles. In this regard, the Co-Chairs remind the sides of the requirement to provide unimpeded access and maximum flexibility of movement with regard to the Co-Chairs travel itineraries, in accordance with their mandate and previous practice'.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov is confident that in the near future it will be possible to solve the issue of the repatriation of all war prisoners and detainees of the second Artsakh war, ARMENPRESS reports Lavrov said in a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

''We, together with the other Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group continue making efforts for the solution of all humanitarian issues, including the return of all the detainees. We understand the symbolism and emotional nature of this issue and are confident that in the near future we will be able to solve that issue'', Lavrov said.

He added that it will create a positive, constructive atmosphere for pushing forward other issues of the settlement of the conflict.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime MInister, greeting the guests, Nikol Pashinyan said



Dear Sergey Viktorovich,

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to welcome you to the Government of Armenia. The relations between our countries are of allied nature; they are structured around the principle of strategic partnership and underpinned by our peoples fraternal relations.

It is my pleasure to emphasize that our bilateral relations have become even stronger in recent months as they stood another test of viability.

At this difficult time for Armenia, the Russian Federation reached out to help us solve the problems that had emerged due to the global pandemic and Azerbaijans aggression against Karabakh. Thanks to Russias efforts, we managed to halt the hostilities and achieve a tangible reduction in regional tensions. The presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh is a powerful pledge of security in Nagorno-Karabakh.

I wish to make special mention of the role played by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in reinstating peace in the region, as well as for his efforts to provide favorable conditions for the functioning of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this regard, I would like to assure you that Armenia will continue to take all necessary measures to implement the agreements reached through the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021.

We are also ready to make every effort to foster a constructive dialogue between the parties on a tripartite scale. However, I must say that Azerbaijans demarches may jeopardize the ongoing dialogue. I mean Bakus actions aimed at manipulating the clause of return of prisoners of war, fomenting Armenophobia, setting forth territorial claims to Armenia, destroying the cultural and religious heritage of the Armenian people, which tend to escalate the regional situation and break the tripartite agreements.

In this context, I would like to note with satisfaction the steps taken by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, whose latest statement came as a strong response to Azerbaijans non-constructive stance. The Co-Chairs position, as reflected in the April 13 statement, goes in tune with Armenias approaches to todays primary challenges. In this context, I would like to reaffirm our position that the peace process needs to be resumed in order to reach a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the principles proposed by the Co-Chairs.

Sergey Viktorivich,

I once again welcome you to Armenia, I am confident that we will have constructive and effective talks.

RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said:

Dear Nikol Vovayevich, thank you very much. Since the very first moment of our visit to Yerevan, we have felt the warm attitude of our friends, the Armenian people. Thank you for the attention you are personally paying to our delegation.

Amid our developing contacts with you, today we held in-depth, substantive and confidence-based talks on all issues of bilateral relations, on regional issues and on cooperation in international organizations. We reaffirmed the particular importance of our allied ties and strategic partnership in all areas of interaction.

You have been engaged in extensive political dialogue with the President of the Russian Federation even in this pandemic year. You had detailed conversations twice during meetings held in Moscow and talked over the phone many times. President Putin conveys to you his warmest wishes of success in your efforts to develop your country and implement the agreements reached on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

Next year marks 30 years of our diplomatic relations, and 25 years of the basic and fundamental Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. This is a key document, which defines our relations for many years ahead and is being consistently implemented in all areas of mutual interest - economy, political ties, military and military-technical cooperation.

We are committed to ensuring the security of our ally, the Republic of Armenia. This was discussed during your contacts with President Putin, and as part of regular interaction between our defense agencies. There can be no doubt about this either.

We appreciate the agreements on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. We are grateful to you for noting the role played by Russia and President Putin personally in halting the hostilities and establishing a sustainable framework for further action by all sides.

We strongly support the activities of the Trilateral Working Group at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, who are engaged in important and perhaps the most significant at this stage issues of unblocking economic and transport communications, which will make it possible to end the blockade of Armenia and ensure mutually beneficial interaction of all countries in the region for the common benefit in practice (not only at the political level, as this has already been done).



Of course, our peacekeeping contingent will continue its efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Trilateral Agreement determines the peacekeepers powers in terms of ensuring the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the functioning of the Lachin corridor.

Our peacekeepers will do their best to resolve the remaining issues related to determining the exact line of contact, achieving mutually beneficial agreements on its passage. Delimitation, demarcation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be possible as soon as all these steps are implemented.

Together with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, we continue to advocate for the resolution of humanitarian issues, including the repatriation of persons held in detention. We understand the symbolic and emotional significance of this step.

We are confident that we will be able to resolve this problem in the near future. This will create a positive, constructive atmosphere for moving forward on all issues leading to a final settlement. We will help you address these problems in all formats by implementing the trilateral statements.

We will in every possible way stimulate the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in order to build the most favorable atmosphere conducive to the settlement of the remaining issues.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be hosted by you. I am convinced that the results of todays talks held at the Foreign Ministry and with you will help us advance our allied relations in all areas. Thank you.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the current agenda and the prospects of the Armenian-Russian allied relations, to the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and the settlement of humanitarian issues. The sides discussed the steps to take in the directions specified by the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Nikol Pashinyan drew Sergey Lavrovs attention to Azerbaijans continued anti-Armenian rhetoric, and in this context, referred to the so-called Trophy Park, recently opened in Baku, which features Armenian-phobic exhibits. Pashinyan called unacceptable the participation of children and schoolchildren in this process.



The Russian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of joint efforts towards creating a constructive atmosphere and dialogue in the region. Sergey Lavrov described the talks held with his Armenian counterpart as quite effective and shared his impressions of todays visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial, stressing that Russia will always stand by the friendly Armenian people.

The sides exchanged views on the regional situation and security challenges''.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. ARMENPRESS state news agency of Armenia and Nova agency of Italy have signed a cooperation agreement. The document has been signed remotely by director of ARMENPRESS Aram Ananyan and executive director of Nova agency Fabio Squillante

Ambassador of Armenia to Italy Tsovinar Hambardzumyan has had a great contribution to the establishment of new Armenian-Italian media bridges.

''The agreement signed between the news agencies of Armenia and Italy is a good opportunity for strengthening professional cooperation, as well as promote exchange of information. We think that the signing of the agreement will open a new page for partnership between the agencies'', Aram Ananyan said.

According to the agreement, the sides have agreed to develop bilateral professional cooperation, aiming to strengthen the partnership between Armenia and Italy.

Nova news agency is the largest Italian-language media in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the largest Italian agency covering international politics and economy.

Armenpress news agency was established on December 18, 1918 when by the decision of the National Council of the first Armenian Republic an unprecedented state-run news agency, Armenian Telegraph Agency, was created. Currently, Armenpress news agency operates as a Closed Joint-Stock Company the stocks of which are owned by the Republic of Armenia. The agency is the oldest in Armenia.

The agency publishes 300 articles daily in Armenian, Russian, English and Arabic languages.

Armenpress is a member to 4 international media organizations. The agency presents Armenia in CIS Information Council, Black Sea Association of National News Agencies, Council of national news agencies of Southeastern Europe and the Balkan countries (observer) and News Agencies World Congress. Armenpress chaired over the Black Sea Association of National News Agencies in 2014-2016, the sessions of which and the CIS Information Council were held in Yerevan in 2014.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasizes that Russia is committed to ensuring the security of its allied Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Lavrov said in a conversation with caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

''We are committed to the ensuring the security of our ally, the Republic of Armenia. This has been confirmed in your talks with President Putin, as well as during the intensive and regular iteractions between our Ministries. There can be no doubts here'', Lavrov said.

The Russian FM noted that next year Armenia and Russia will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

''That's a key document that defines our long-term relations and which is already consistently being implemented in all directions  economy, politics, military and military-technical cooperation', Sergey Lavrov said.

Lavrov is in Armenia on a two-day visit. He will pay a working visit to Baku on May 9-10.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, 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 5-6, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, the situation has also not changed 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 control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks.
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide is one of the key security guarantees for the Armenian people, ARMENPRESS reports, reads the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia saluting the declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Latvian parliament.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry assessed the declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide a step towards the universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

This declaration is important not only from the perspective of justice and truth, but also for the prevention of similar crimes in the future. The universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide is one of the key security guarantees for the Armenian people, reads the statement.
The National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) in Bahrain has been chosen the Silver winner of the SAP Quality Awards in the Business Transformation category in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The award is for the successful implementation of a new Tax and Revenue Management system by Invenio. NBR and Invenio worked together to deliver a comprehensive tax system for the tax authority based on SAPs Tax & Revenue Management (TRM) platform.

The prestigious SAP Quality Awards acknowledges and distinguishes customers who have excelled in the implementation of SAP software solutions, using SAPs ten quality principles. Customers must effectively plan, execute and manage their implementations. They need to achieve them quickly and at a lower cost by meeting todays demand for rapid time-to-value. Lastly, customers need to simplify business processes and deliver significant benefits to their organisation to be recognised with such an impressive award.

The SAP TRM solution is a robust and fully integrated tax administration platform, architected to meet all existing VAT requirements in the Kingdom of Bahrain. But crucially, the system has also been built with flexibility and scalability at its core, to cater to any future VAT requirements.

The rapid pace of implementation helped the NBR to meet all necessary regulatory guidelines and enabled taxpayers to comply with the registration deadline of 1 st May 2019  a period of just five months since project kick-off. Invenio played a significant role in delivering this complex transformational project, leveraging its global experience in delivering successful large-scale tax system implementation projects.

Rana Ebrahim Faqihi, the NBRs Chief Executive commented: The award is a great honour for the project team, particularly as it comes after a year of diligent work on the project. It emphasises the importance of continuing to integrate innovation and excellence across different work streams, to ensure the highest standard of service delivery to all stakeholders. We are delighted to work with Invenio, who has contributed with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), in the implementation of the VAT system for the NBR, in accordance with the requirements and standards applied by the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Arun Bala, Group CEO of Invenio commented: I am delighted that our customer The National Bureau for Revenue, has been awarded with the prestigious SAP Quality Award. My congratulations to the management and staff of the authority as well as to the other agencies and partners associated with the project and in particular the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) in The Kingdom of Bahrain. Public Sector has been one of only three focus sectors for Invenio and is the biggest of our three focus sectors. Within that, were proud of our unique experience and expertise in the area of Tax and Revenue Management systems for Tax Authorities. This award for NBR is indeed an endorsement of our belief in our core philosophy of succeeding together with our Customers and we are glad to have partnered with The NBR on this prestigious and transformational project.

We look forward to continuing to work with The NBR to further help the authority deliver changes to the platform. Changes that will help them keep pace with the regulatory and legislative changes that are so common and to keep the scalable and flexible platform relevant to the latest trends in digital technologies. -- TradeArabia News Service
Through a new system for securing earmarks and a separate process for transportation projects, U.S. Rep. John Katko hopes to bring home tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to central New York.

Katko, R-Camillus, has posted the $65.3 million wish list on his website  a requirement for members seeking funds through the House Appropriations Committee's Community Project Funding Requests program. It's a long title, but it's a new way of distributing earmarks, which the House banned in 2011. That ban was lifted earlier this year.

For community project funding, members may submit up to 10 requests. Katko filed the maximum number allowed, with projects in each of the four counties (Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego and Wayne) in his congressional district.

There is no guarantee all of the projects will be funded. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote a letter explaining the process to her colleagues in March. She mentioned the 10-request limit and noted that "only a handful may actually be funded."
In the first week of Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Rep. John Katko is reintroducing a bill to increase funding for suicide crisis centers.

The legislation, which the House passed last year, would provide $50 million for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a $38 million increase over its current funding levels. The lifeline is a network of more than 180 crisis centers in the U.S., according to its website.

The bill would also require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan that improves the lifeline. The plan would include the elimination of call wait times, the adoption of follow-up and other practices, and guidelines for testing the lifeline. There is also a provision in the measure that would require the Government Accountability Office and HHS to study the plan.

Lawmakers also want to improve coordination and data sharing between the lifeline and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And they support the creation of a pilot program to examine the use of "innovative technologies" in preventing suicides.

Katko, R-Camillus, reintroduced the bill with Democratic U.S. Reps. Grace Napolitano and Donald Beyer. Napolitano and Katko co-chair the Mental Health Caucus.
Dygert said it's possible that the street could be widened and the curve near O'Toole's Tavern would be adjusted.

"I think anybody that travels that street wishes that curve was dealt with somehow," he said. "We would give consideration to trying to better engineer the curve on Osborne Street to make it safer."

The State Street project, Katko explained, would include milling and paving of 127,720 square feet of roadway and the installation of "enhanced safety features for multi-modal users." Dygert added that the street from the new bridge near Auburn Correctional Facility to the city line would be repaved.

"It's getting to be in pretty poor shape," Dygert said. "It definitely gets some traffic and could use some reconstruction."

For both projects, Katko wrote that it's an "appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and is anticipated to have significant benefits for my constituents in Auburn and the surrounding region."
For people who express concern about growing government, it's important to remember this structure is actually cheaper than what the county had in 2019 with the full-time administrator's office and it will in all likelihood be less expensive than whatever long-term format is decided upon.

Most importantly, legislators and the public need to understand that taxpayers have already paid for this operations officer position. It was in the 2021 budget and tax bills went out. Delaying the implementation of this office is actually not saving taxpayers a dime; instead, they have paid for a level of professional management that the county so far has failed to deliver.

One concern that was raised is that the job description is somewhat vague in its present form, so that might need to be rewritten to clarify the duties under the position. If that is what needs to be done at this point, then the solution may be as simple as getting a couple of the "no" voters who have indicated support for this concept into the same room with Legislature Chair Aileen McNabb-Coleman and Government Operations Chair Ryan Foley and hash out the details of the job description.
As a former elected official, I know its difficult to deliberate controversial matters. So, for consideration to connect Harriet Tubmans name to our high school, I offer perspective that views her legacy through the lens of her good friends, William Seward, and Frances Miller Seward, his wife who was born here. The Sewards were such good friends and supporters of Harriets accomplishments and dedication to justice, that Tubman chose Auburn as her permanent home after escaping an enslaved life in Maryland and escorting several dozen enslaved family and friends to freedom. Given this remarkably unusual friendship between a formerly enslaved Black woman and a prominently-placed white family in the North, how would William Seward advise todays AECSD board? I believe he would say:
There seems to be no respite for consumers as the price of petrol and diesel have gone up for the third straight day across the country. After two nominal hikes in the last two days, the oil companies have increase petrol price by 25 paise per litre and diesel by 30 paise per litre on Thursday.

The scale of hike has been bigger each day. On Tuesday, petrol and diesel prices were increased by 15 paise and 18 paise per litre. Yesterday, oil companies increased price of a litre petrol by 19 paise, while the price of diesel went up by 21 paise for every litre.

Today's hike has taken petrol price in Mumbai closer to the Rs-100-per-litre mark. Diesel price too is inching closer to the Rs-90-per litre mark in the city. From today, Mumbai will have to pay  97.34 for a litre of petrol and a similar amount of diesel will cost 88.49.

In Delhi, the latest hike has taken petrol price to almost 91 per litre. The revised price of petrol in the national capital today is 90.99 per litre and the new price for diesel will be 81.42 per litre.

Among other metro cities, Chennai will need to pay 92.90 for a litre of petrol and 86.35 for a litre of diesel. In Kolkata, the revised price stands 91.14 per litre for petrol and 84.26 per litre for diesel.

Fuel prices have largely remained constant since March 24, barring a couple of marginal reductions, till May 3. Incidentally, on May 2, India saw the end of assembly elections in five states which had begun in the last week of March. In fact, the fuel price revision was put on hold by oil companies for about 18 days before the first hike a day after the poll results were announced.

However, the scenario was completely different prior to March 24. India saw a spate of hikes in fuel prices since the beginning of the year. Since January, fuel prices had shot up to record level after it was hiked on 26 occasions. These hikes had shot up petrol price by 7.46 per litre and diesel price by 7.60 a litre.
LOS ANGELESAdult industry mental health nonprofit Pineapple Support on Thursday announced plans to provide a free, six-week online support group with a focus on trauma and PTSD.

Titled Steps on a Healing Path: Support for Trauma and PTSD, the group will be guided by therapist Russell Stagg, with the first session taking place May 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

"By joining this group, youre taking an important step along the path to healing," says Stagg. "Ill avoid trendy techniques in offering support and guidance, and focus instead on what experts strongly recommend. Ive helped hundreds of trauma and PTSD sufferers with an approach that integrates gold standard cognitive-behavioural techniques."

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 2,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

"Russell is a fantastic therapist and has been helping people with life problems since 2006," says Tanit. "His research on trauma has been published in major psychology journals, including a recent publication on trauma in the prestigious Self & Society. We're grateful to have such an esteemed therapist leading this support group."

The Steps on a Healing Path: Support for Trauma and PTSD support group will gather online each Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET until June 16. For more information and to secure a place, visit pineapplesupport.org/support-groups.
LOS ANGELESM.D. Science Lab, makers of the Swiss Navy brand, have partnered with Eldorado Trading Company for its next scheduled episode of the sexual health and wellness education series, Eldorado Presents.

Entitled Sensations & Solutions, this Facebook event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th, at 1 p.m. MDT, and will be hosted by Dr. Sunny Rodgers. It will focus on the many benefits of engaging the five senses with sensation play in helping to relieve bedroom boredom.

Im thrilled that were partnering with the wonderful team at Eldorado to share some fun, educational content, said event host Rodgers, Swiss Navys intimate health advisor. Were hearing from so many people that the lingering effects of the pandemic are still affecting them and their relationships. A lot of people feel stuck in their sex patterns. Hopefully, this event will be able to provide retailers and consumers with some helpful ways to bring fun back into their bedrooms.

The one-hour event will take place live, allowing for lots of interactive participation between attendees, Dr. Rodgers, and Cheryl Flangel, Swiss Navys senior sales executive.

I love Eldorados commitment to intimate education, said Flangel. Swiss Navys mission has always been to create top-quality products dedicated to making consumers lives healthier and more fun. And through this event with Eldorado, we will be able to share valuable insights and information with retailers and consumers. Sunny and I invite everyone to join us!

Attendees will be eligible to win several Swiss Navy custom prizes that will be given away during the one-hour livestreaming event.

To access this event, please join Eldorado on Facebook here.

To learn more about Swiss Navy and to view their latest product range, please visit swissnavy.com.
After growing up in South America, Margarita Maggie Gil, 18 years old at the time, packed up her belongings and moved with her mother from Medellin, Colombia, to Flagstaff. She is now a graduate of Coconino Community College.

The winter weather and ponderosa pines were quite the culture shock, she said. So was transitioning to life in a different country and learning to speak a new language.

Five years and a college degree later, Gil has mastered the new language and is an essential member of the Flagstaff community -- volunteering her spare time at a local preschool and acting as a role model for her peers.

I love this little town, she said. And that is why I cannot be selfish. It has brought so many gifts into my life.

After receiving her degree earlier this year, Gil was selected to speak at CCCs Spring 2021 Commencement Ceremony for graduates. And while her academic success speaks for itself, Gil is looking to use what she learned at the college to give back to her community, the country and the world.

Graduation was always the goal, Gil said. But to her, education signifies more than just an accomplishment. At commencement, she plans to tell her classmates just that before they venture into post-grad life.
The block is 1.2 meters wide, about 1.8 meters long and almost a meter thick. Part of the unwieldiness in the move and placement stemmed from the fact the rock is not a rectangle (more like a triangle) and is significantly heavier on one side.

After its road trip down Highway 180, the block hung suspended from the loader outside the museums west entrance for nearly an hour while workers figured out how to place it on the pallet to move it through the doors and on its way. Once that was accomplished, a second pallet was employed and two pallet jacks were put on each end.

Now came the brute force part of the move. All nine workers, like pallbearers, surrounded the slab and, depending on their positions, pushed or pulled. It was all rather low-tech, the workers counting, one, two, three and then putting their shoulders into it and groaning with impunity. Once beyond the threshold, one worker paused and cracked, Well, no going back now.

That first left-hand turn was negotiated fairly smoothly but halfway down the ramp, there was a tearing sound, then a thud and the rock listed to the right.

We busted a wheel off the jack, Darger shouted, showing great restraint in not adding a profanity. Lets get some burgers (for lunch) and Ill get a new jack.
Especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic, general aviation is helping to support public health in rural communities. Organizations like Angel Flight West have partnered with groups like With Love From Strangers to deliver personal protection equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies by small aircraft to rural communities and Native American reservations in the Four Corners Region. These flights have delivered 8,300 gowns, 154,000 gloves, 8,500 N95 masks for the hospitals, 493 gallons of water, 88,000 masks, and 749 gallons of hand sanitizer to the tribal communities. Flights for Life transports blood regularly between Flagstaff, Yuma and Phoenix.

The next Congress needs to keep in mind the importance of small airports and general aviation, as this infrastructure is critical to rural communities and Arizonas agricultural industry. This means not only ensuring that we continue to support funding for these operators and airports but that we invest in the future workforce of aviation personnel and critical areas such as sustainable fuel and new and emerging technologies. For example, our North America will need 208,000 new pilots over the next 20 years, according to Boeing. These small aircraft and airports may not be as well-known as our large commercial airports, but they are critical to our local and national economy, food supply and way of life.
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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
The Gage County Board of Supervisors recognized a Word War II veteran during its meeting this week.

Norbert White was selected as this months veteran honor award recipient, and was presented with a gift during Wednesdays boar meeting.

I want to thank everybody, White said. I didnt expect this and its sort of new to me all I would like to say is I was proud to serve and I have been treated well by the VA. I wanted to let people to know that Im being well treated. I get a little emotional sometimes thinking about these things, but I guess thats part of it.

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White completed a variety of training, including air crew training school in Norman, Okla. and an air gunner course in Miami, Fla.

In the Navy, every squadron has an aerial photographer to go back in and take pictures, White explained. Why I was selected for the schooling I dont know, but they sent me to school in Hawaii and I became the aerial photographer for our squadron.

I also had a number of training in a number of different categories that pertained to bombing. I was in aviation ordnance school. To become a gunner you had to have some experience ahead of time.
A shooting on the 1400 block of Avenue B Thursday sent one person to the hospital.

Sgt. Matt Chaney said the extent of the persons injuries was unknown, and that he had no additional information on the victim at the time.

Neighbors and employees of nearby businesses came out to watch as police cordoned off an area outside one of the homes on the end of the block with crime scene tape.

Chaney said no one was yet in custody but that people had been detained for questioning.

Blake Alexander, who works just across 14th Street West for U-Haul, said he heard the incident while he was outside the business on a ladder doing cable work in the ceiling. He said he heard arguing, then the sound of glass breaking, followed by more arguing and then multiple gunshots.

Alexander ran inside at the sound of the gunfire and warned his co-workers, one of whom called 911.

The shooting Tuesday is at least the 11th since the start of the year.
The three incumbents running to keep their seats on the Heights water district board lost their elections this week to newcomers who had campaigned on the need to change how the district conducts business.

"The Heights is open for business," Ming Cabrara, a Heights business owner and president of the Billings Heights Business Association, said in reaction to his win.

Cabrera was the top vote-getter with 20.2% of the vote Tuesday night, followed by Laura Drager, a Realtor with RE/MAX, who won 19.1% of the vote and Dennis Cook, treasurer with the Billings Association of Realtors, who won 16.2%. It was enough to beat out the four other candidates.

Incumbents Roger Ostermiller received 14.7% of the vote, Donna Dinsmore won 10.7% of the vote and Steve Blood earned 8.1%. Candidate Janet Carson earned 10% of the vote.

"This election is really a watershed moment for the Heights," said Jennifer Owen, vice chair, Billings Heights Business Association. "The ratepayers have finally been given a voice in how the water district operates, and they have shouted that they are ready for a change. With new leadership, I am confident that we are on the verge of huge opportunities for the Heights."
Boeing has partnered with a Costa Rica-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider to create additional conversion capacity for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter over strong customer demand.



Boeing will open two 737-800BCF conversion lines with Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (Coopesa) in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The first of the new conversion lines is expected to open in early 2022, with the second anticipated later that year. Boeing forecasts 1,500 freighter conversions will be needed over the next 20 years to meet growing demand. Of those, 1,080 will be standard-body conversions, with nearly 30% of that demand coming from North America and Latin America.



Coopesa has demonstrated the technical expertise and commitment to quality and execution necessary to help us meet the growing customer demand for the 737-800BCF, including in the Americas, said Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing freighter conversions. Boeing is pleased to have Coopesa join our team of MRO partners as we deliver our market-leading converted freighters to customers around the world.



We are honoured that Boeing has chosen Coopesa as a strategic partner to provide conversion services for the 737-800BCF, said Kenneth Waugh, CEO of Coopesa. We look forward to helping Boeing meet market demand with the technical quality and skilled workforce that has characterized Coopesa in its 58 years of operation.



Currently, Boeing converts 737-800 passenger airplanes to freighters at three locations: Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS) in Shanghai, China; Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) in Guangzhou, China; and Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (STAECO) in Jinan, China.



To date, the 737-800BCF has won more than 180 orders and commitments from 15 customers on four continents. In March, Boeing re-delivered the 50th 737-800BCF since entering into service in 2018.  TradeArabia News Service










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.
Dozens of state and local officials and judges from both parties have found no evidence to support Trump's assertions that he was cheated out of an election victory.

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 summer's 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."

Biden weighed in at the White House on Wednesday.

"I think 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 told reporters.

Cheney, a daughter of Dick Cheney, who was George W. Bush's vice president and before that a Wyoming congressman, seemed to have almost unlimited potential until this year. Her career began listing after she was among just 10 House Republicans to back Trump's impeachment for inciting supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6, when five died.

Stefanik, who represents a mammoth upstate New York district, began her House career in 2015 as a moderate Republican.
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 her article, agreed with Democrats that a bipartisan investigation should focus solely on the riot and not on disturbances at some of last summer's 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 Trump's 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."
Club For Growth, a national conservative political action committee, confirmed to the Casper 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.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., called her a "giant."

"Pat's passion for her family, her community, and her music filled many Montana hearts with joy," he said on social media. "She will be missed."

Republican Sen. Steve Daines said Sponheim was a "Great Falls icon."

"Her spirit lit up the room and her music brought joy to everyone who listened," he said. "She will forever be a Montana legend!"

Sponheim celebrated 50 years at the Sip 'n Dip, which is in the O'Haire Motor Inn, in 2013. In 2003, GQ magazine named the Sip 'n Dip as the No. 1 bar on the planet worth flying for. The New York Times called it the "campiest bar in America."

In January 2020, she told Punch magazine that her mother started her with piano lessons and she had 12 years of instruction, including classical music.

She said there used to be dances every Saturday night in small towns.

"... a bunch of us got together and had a little orchestra and we played every Saturday night in a dance hall  I was only about 13 years old then," she said.

She said she came to Great Falls and played with orchestras.
Quicks motion to withdraw would include all the attorneys at Vogel Law Firm, who were acting as secondary counsel. Thats something Isaak said wasnt clear to him when he filed the complaint. He told South Central District Judge David Reich he would consider representing himself but wanted the return of all the documents hed shared with attorneys since he was charged.

Isaak has the right to represent himself, Reich said, but the judge added that it would be a very risky proposition.

The complaint would still be pending even if Isaak were to state on the record that he wanted to withdraw it. Proceeding with the trial could raise post-conviction issues, according to Assistant Morton County States Attorney Gabrielle Goter.

Either way you turn there are grave possible consequences, she said.

The Inquiry Committee West -- the board that considers such complaints -- wont meet until September.

Reich said he would rule on the matter by the end of the week.

I havent seen anything that would cause me to not grant your motion, the judge told Quick.

Quick said an attorney taking on the case could need three or four months to prepare for trial.
All but four of North Dakota's 53 counties have some form of outdoors burning restrictions in place. Much of central and eastern North Dakota was in the "very high" fire danger category on Thursday, with the eastern half of the state under a red flag warning from the National Weather Service for "critical" fire weather conditions -- warm temperatures, low humidity and wind gusting to 40 mph.

The forecast for western and central North Dakota does call for some weekend showers, but there could be an abrupt northern edge to the band of wet weather, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.

"Near the northern edge of the rain, some people may be drenched, while areas 50 miles farther to the north may not have a drop of rain the entire weekend," he said.

The overly dry conditions are likely to persist or worsen through the summer, according to the National Weather Service. The agency's precipitation outlook for the May-July period shows a low probability of even normal precipitation in North Dakota, and the three-month outlook for late summer shows a high probability of below-normal precipitation for the entire state.

"At this point it would take an extended period of above-normal rainfall to bring the region back to near-normal hydrologic conditions," the weather service said. "Crops across the region face greater-than-normal uncertainty as normal to below-normal rains may still see crops struggle, as there is not enough soil moisture to allow crops to thrive in the absence of regular rainfall."

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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Anyone who follows North Dakota politics knows there are two distinct caucuses of NDGOP legislators (and with mounting tensions between them). However, Im going to make the case that theres an even more important distinction between two types of North Dakota Republicans. The distinction I make is particularly relevant to protecting the initiated measure process in North Dakota.

When it comes to safeguarding the initiated measure process, we cant generally count on elected Republicans in either caucus. As I previously explained in my column, 2020s Measure 2 relating to initiated constitutional amendments came from 2019s Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001. The resolution (and Measure 2) sought to give the Legislature veto power over constitutional amendments that the people pass. Plenty of Republicans in both the Bastiat Caucus and the establishment wing of the NDGOP voted in favor of the resolution. In fact, the list of the resolutions Republican opponents -- themselves a mix of both Bastiat-leaning and establishment-leaning folks -- is so short that its worth sharing here: T. Beadle, J. Bell, G. Bosch, K. Davison, J. Elkin, S. Ertelt, C. Fegley, R. Fors, M. Howe, G. Keiser, B. Martinson, N. Poolman, T. Porter, B. Pyle, S. Roers Jones, M. Sanford, A. Schauer, V. Steiner, N. Toman and S. Vetter.
Aramex, a leading global provider of logistics solutions, has appointed Othman Aljeda as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Company, replacing Bashar Obeid who submitted his resignation to the Board on April29



Obeid will work closely with Aljeda to support a smooth transition of responsibilities, an Aramex statement said.



Aljeda joined Aramex 1994, and over the last two decades, he has stepped up in several leadership roles to strengthen the Companys business in the GCC, Asia, and North America & Europe. From 2007 to 2017, Aljeda set up Aramexs first regional office in Asia and spearheaded its expansion plans in the region, establishing major hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore.



Captain Mohamed Juma Alshamsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aramex, said: We congratulate Othman and welcome him as the new CEO of Aramex. Othmans knowledge and wealth of experience in the industry, coupled with his deep understanding of what drives Aramex and its people will help further progress our journey and reinforce our leading position in our core markets. In his new role, Othman will continue to focus on driving our ambitious growth strategy, build on our global partnerships and guide Aramex through this new and exciting chapter.



Bashar Obeid, outgoing CEO of Aramex, said:It has been my pleasure and privilege to be part of the Aramex family for the past 28 years, and I am honoured to pass the reins to Othman. He has been with Aramex for over 27 years, and we have worked closely together on strengthening Aramexs network and presence in Asia and Europe.



Othman is a well-respected leader with a proven track record of driving change and constantly innovating to consistently deliver results year after year. He is deeply committed to the Aramex vision, and its values, and I am confident his extensive experience, coupled with the support of the Aramex team of exceptional leaders and talented employees will ensure Aramex is on course to deliver on its promise to its people, customers, and shareholders.



Othman Aljeda said: I am honoured and excited to be appointed as the CEO of Aramex and look forward to working closely with the rest of our team to continue to develop the business and create stakeholder value over the coming years. I would like to thank the Board of Directors and the leadership team for this opportunity, and show my gratitude to Bashar as well as the inspirational legacy he leaves behind, notably the digitally transformed and people empowered business he helped take to new heights.



Aramex is a trusted market leader with a powerful growth story and is well-positioned to navigate and thrive in these unprecedented times. Along with the rest of the management team, we will continue to build on our solid foundation, capitalize on our strengths, grow our industry verticals, and take the lessons we learned from the pandemic to find the most innovative solutions and create greater value for our customers.  TradeArabia News Service
Penn WhartonMoody Psaki

Psaki brief: Trump, Teacher's Union, Chinese Rocket, Penn Wharton or Moody 5/5/2021 "Facebook has decided to keep former President Trump off of its platform for now. Senator Ted Cruz tweeted the following: For every liberal celebrating Trumps social media ban, if the Big Tech oligarchs can muzzle the former President, whats to stop them from silencing you? What do you make of that comment? Does he have a point?"

more details or full transcript can be found here

some user comments can be found here

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Two things happened in 1976 and we dont think its a coincidence.

The United States celebrated its bicentennial and Bagel Bros. was born.

Dont believe us? Check out the 1776 Betsy Ross flag with its circle of 13 stars that looks like a big bagel. (Were just sayin.)

So it was 1976, when owner Jay Gershberg and his brother brought New York bagels to Buffalo.

Back then it was called Bagel Bros., which served the area until 24 stores were sold to Manhattan Bagel in 2000.

Then in 2001, Gershberg couldnt keep his hands out of the bagel dough. So they started what is now Bagel Jays, which has since grown into three locations.

If youve never had a real bagel, treat yourself to Bagel Jays, which bakes its bagels throughout the day to ensure freshness.

Bagel Jays has a dazzling array of flavors too, from savory like onion, garlic, tomato pesto, vegetable and jalapeno cheddar to the sweeter versions of cinnamon raisin, blueberry, cranberry orange and chocolate chip.
Now the 20 CAC staff members will move to the new building, which will also have dedicated offices for partner agencies, such as police, district attorneys and Child Protective Services, as well as a medical suite for the hospital.

We are thrilled to have secured a location in downtown Buffalo to serve as our corporate headquarters and new location for our expanded Child Advocacy Center, said BestSelf President and CEO Elizabeth Woike-Ganga. We are committed to maintaining our administrative offices in the City of Buffalo, and proximity to the Buffalo Medical Campus and Allentown makes this site very attractive.

The expansion comes as BestSelf has more than doubled in size since its creation, when it had 530 employees and a $35 million budget. Today, it employs nearly 1,200, with a budget of $81 million. And it serves more than 35,000 children and adults with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

"This will be important for our growth and our continued commitment to the community," said President and CEO Elizabeth Woike-Ganga. "Theres so much need for mental health services in the community."
Mehaffy said that wholesale element was key to ensuring the market could be financially successful, by diversifying the business. He also noted that the opening will be well-timed, since there is now a bigger population living in downtown Buffalo, on top of those who work downtown and "want a place to pick up the essentials" on their way home.

"People who live down here want a place like Braymiller," Mehaffy said. "This is going to be a tremendous service for the entire community and the entire region, so the timing on this for Stuart couldnt be better."

Construction by Ciminelli and Arc Building Partners is largely complete on the store, which is two stories in height in some areas, including a second-floor office. It already has several refrigerated and other display cases set up in its brightly lit and wide open retail space, but is still awaiting shelving for dry-goods and other products, as well as cash registers and checkout counters.

Green is also building out a heavy timber-framed loft or mezzanine area above the entrance for sit-down eating. "There's some construction that still needs to happen here, and some electrical work," Green said. "A lot of that heavy lifting is clearly out of the way, but there's still quite a bit to go."
Bestar-Bush tries to persuade workers that they can move up to higher-paying jobs with benefits if they stay, instead of jumping to a job with a different employer that might pay a dollar an hour more, but lacking in benefits or a career path.

You can get up to $15, $16, $18 an hour in a short period, Turner said. A lot of it is showing up and attitude. Superintendents say they can do a lot with someone who shows up and has a good attitude.

Rather than just gripe about the churn rate, Bestar-Bush is trying to do something about it.

The company contracted with Kranky Plate Productions to produce videos of its manufacturing operations. That way, applicants can see for themselves what the manufacturing operations look like before ever stepping on to the production floor. They can also see the safety protections in place.

Bestar-Bush is also trying to engage its new workers more. The company connects them with a workplace buddy, a more-experienced employee who can act as a guide and a confidant. After 30 days on the job, human resources invites the new hires in to talk about what they like and dont like.

Those are all conscious things we did because of the problem, Turner said.
Supervising nurses noticed the connection and often assigned Pordum as one of her patients.

The two new friends laughed over reality TV. Florek sometime brought in doughnuts, and began to braid Pordums hair, which grew to her shoulders because stylists were prohibited during her hospital stay.

After physical therapy  and braiding  sessions, the hospital floor became a kind of runway for patients as Pordum gained strength and started regular walks.

People would say, Miranda did a nice job on your hair today,  she recalled.

It was part of the recipe of caring Florek believes comes partly from her DNA, and mostly through lessons learned from family, friends and co-workers.

She viewed caring for patients during a pandemic as a privilege.

People are essentially being locked within four walls, she said, and for a person with cancer, it takes them longer to fight off the virus. It could take months. They don't get any visitors. All they get is FaceTime or phone calls. And you have to go in and completely strip them down and wash them, so they're losing a little bit of their dignity. You just try to do whatever you can just to make them feel a little bit more at peace.
The City of Lockport never can bring any disciplinary charges against the four officers who were at the scene of Troy A. Hodge's death because it waited too long to do so.

That was the ruling Thursday from State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso, who emphasized that he was not judging the merits of the four officers' actions, but only ruling on whether the city followed the provisions of the police union contract.

It didn't, Caruso said after more than 80 minutes of argument.

"This is a hard decision for the court," Caruso said. But he granted the union's request for a permanent injunction barring any disciplinary action against the officers.

Corporation Counsel Laura Miskell Benedict said the city will appeal Caruso's ruling.

"This is an absolutely heartbreaking situation. This court does sympathize with the family of the deceased and the trauma they must be going under, but also what the police officers had to go through that evening," Caruso said. "But I'm not here to make a determination what was appropriate or not during that evening. The question is, were the proper procedures followed by the City of Lockport with regards to bringing a disciplinary action, and when was the commencement of the action?"
U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrands ideas are gaining attention. Some of the ideas are easy to support, while others are still up for debate. But she is being heard, not a small triumph for New Yorks junior senator.

Gillibrand has made a goal of wresting the prosecution of military sexual assaults from the chain of command. Its the centerpiece of her service. Now, after eight years of effort, a bill the Democrat of New York has promoted is gathering support from scores of key members of Congress, including: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and a retired National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst has spoken of her own harrowing experience of being raped while in college.

The measure, which has the votes to pass in the Senate, would move sexual assault cases out of the chain of command to trained, military prosecutors with relevant expertise, as opposed to commanders who often lack legal training.
Statement at Arria on Drivers of Conflict in Ukraine

Statement

Thank you, Chair

Ireland remains saddened by the tragic loss of lives in Odessa on the second of May 2014.

Let me take the opportunity of this meeting to briefly set out once again Ireland's clear views on this situation.

I want to restate at the outset that Ireland strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally-recognised borders and Ukraine's legitimate authorities.

In line with our respect for the fundamental principles of international law, Ireland does not recognize the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol nor any political structure created on the basis of this attempted annexation.

I wish to reaffirm Ireland's full support to the endeavours of the Normandy format, the OSCE, the Trilateral Contact Group and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

Ireland underlines that full, secure and unimpeded access for the OSCE SMM throughout Ukraine, as well as ensuring the safety of its monitors and equipment, is of paramount importance.

Ireland commends the constructive approach of Ukraine in the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group and calls on Russia to reciprocate and to cooperate with the legitimate Government of Ukraine.

Ireland supports Ukraine's inclusive approach towards its citizens in the non-Government controlled areas including in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ireland reiterates that the ceasefire in force since 27 July 2020 must be used to move forward with the negotiations and calls on Russia to contribute to efforts to improve humanitarian conditions in eastern Ukraine.

We reiterate our call on Russia to allow unhindered access of international organisations and human rights actors to the non-Government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula, and to respect international humanitarian law. We also continue to call on Russia to ensure unhindered and free passage to and from the Sea of Azov, in accordance with international law.

Finally, we recall the importance of avoiding propaganda, hate speech and intentionally divisive language, which may further aggravate the conflict.

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Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, overcast overnight with occasional rain likely. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Finding solutions to the opioid epidemic at the intersection of religious faith and science.

By Lindsay Smith Rogers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, faith leaders and public health officials have come together to reach communities most at risk. Faith leaders became credible sources for COVID-19 information, and places of worship became trusted access points for testing and vaccinations. This partnership of faith and science offers opportunities for addressing another public health emergency: the opioid epidemic.

The CDC estimates that nearly 841,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses since 1999. The COVID-19 pandemic has only inflamed the crisis: 88,000 people died from overdoses between August 2019 and August 2020 alone.

Like COVID-19, the urgency of the opioid crisis must be met with creative, cross-sector solutions. Toward that end, the Clinton Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Centre for Responsible Leadership are partnering to convene national leaders from science and faith for quarterly discussions about how to work collaboratively to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction; educate about prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery; and advance policies and programs that save lives and help people move to recovery.

President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation kicked off the series May 4 with a virtual discussion exploring the promise of a relationship between science and faith. The conversation featured Bishop Vashti McKenzie, the 17th bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and David Satcher, the 16th surgeon general of the U.S. The conversation was moderated by Sanjay Gupta, CNNs chief medical correspondent.

In recorded opening remarks, President Clinton noted that a life is lost to opioids every six minutes. Faith leaders are uniquely positioned to help destigmatize substance use disorder and connect congregants with care, he said, adding that faith and science share a common goal: We want our friends, family, and neighbors to stop dying of a treatable disease.

Too often, we hear of faith and science as separate realms that can never intersect, or, at worse, are at odds, Clinton said. But both faith and science illuminate what it means to be human and can help us see a little more clearly.

In live opening remarks, Dean Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD 79, ScM 75, committed to providing a space for ambassadors in science and faith to gather. Working together, shoulder to shoulder, [we can harness] the tremendous power of our institutions, our communities, and ourselves, including the power of faith.

H.E. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, chairman of the Centre for Responsible Leadership, followed with recorded remarks extolling the connection between faith and medicine.

In Islam, we believe there is no society without the individual and no individual without society.  We cannot see drug abuse as only an individual failure; it is a societal failure too. Only by working across society can we rebuild the lives of the individual and advance a more merciful and tolerant society.

During the live conversation, moderated by Sanjay Gupta, Surgeon General Satcher and Bishop McKenzie talked through the intersection of faith and science.

Noting the historical distrust of health care among Black and brown communities, McKenzie pointed out the potential for the faith community to be a trusted resource. They can help people understand that science [is the] hinge on the door of which health and wellness swings, she said.

The faith community can also forge relationships with science and health care leaders, McKenzie said. Faith leaders are often the first place people turn for help, so they need to know when to refer congregants to a mental health professional. They must also help to dispel mistrust and stigma around seeking treatment.

We see people at their worst and at their best; we celebrate victories and cry over defeats, McKenzie said. We need to be on the same team and working together instead of being put in our individual silos.

Satcher emphasized the scientific communitys responsibility to educate within the systemin this case, to ensure that the scope of substance use and mental health issues within the Black community is well understood.

The stigma surrounding mental health and substance use issues in the Black community is compounded by generations of structural racism and violence, Satcher explained. As an example, he cited longstanding disparities between the Black and white communities in drug law enforcementresulting in mass incarceration of Black people.

We used to say the largest mental institution in the country is the L.A. County jail, Satcher said. So many were there for punishment when they needed treatment.

The scientific community, including health care providers, must be cognizant of these biases and disparities in treatment, Gupta said. He cited President Bidens recent loosening of regulations on prescribing buprenorphine, a drug that can be taken at home and, when coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy, is a gold standard of drug treatment. But Black people are far more likely to be prescribed methadone, which can only be administered only at a clinic and has a shaky record of success.

The scientific community must acknowledge this pervasive bias, Gupta said. We cant do away with it overnight, but we have to address the fact that this is harmful.

In closing, McKenzie and Satcher offered action items for working collaboratively to address the opioid epidemic.

Invite us to the table, McKenzie said. Decisions and policies are made without a diverse population at the table. Help decrease criminalization and politicization so [we] can elevate solution-based health issues.

Satcher agreed that more ongoing communication is needed and that bringing together leaders in faith and science is a start.

Were sitting on the sidelines as things are going on around us in our communities. [We have to] become involved in making communities safer and stronger as we try to live together as people.

Following the conversation in his remarks, Bawa Jain, founder of the Centre for Responsible Leadership, announced that the Centre has launched an Addiction and Overdose Crisis Action Center.

[We have] a mandate and a road map, and we cannot be complacent, Jain said.

Todays event was made possible by a partnership with the Clinton Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Centre for Responsible Leadership. Quarterly events like these will convene leaders from across the faith and public health communities to take action on the opioid crisis.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast and the associate director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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A Wild West-themed cat hotel in the corner of a kitchen and a chic retro camping pod were the judges chosen projects at the end of the first episode of The Big DIY Challenge.

And they were just two imaginative entries in the opening show: A baby-proofed speedboat, walk-in wardrobe showcasing a wedding dress, and family skate ramp also featured in the programme, hosted by comedian PJ Gallagher.

This is the second series, and judging by the first episode, it's living up to the funnyman's promises that it would be very different to its pre-pandemic predecessor.

Pre-lockdown, DIY projects meant people working on normal jobs, the bathroom, and so on, says PJ.

This year it was just nuts. The projects are justoff the wall! It was so not what we would have had before.

Back in February, RTE issued a callout to which hundreds applied, and the top 50 completed a DIY project over 10 days in March.

Providing advice for the viewers  and casting a critical eye on the projects  are two judges, Jennifer Byrne, a lecturer in construction at Technological University, Dublin, and Jimmy Englezos, Ronseals decking dynamo.

GETAWAY CAMPING POD

Grainne Wilson in her travel pod.

In Thursday night's show, we saw how Grainne Wilson in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, started early on plans for a post-pandemic staycation by creating her travel pod.

She enlisted the help of her dad Daithi when it came to construction, her mum Elke in sewing soft furnishings, and her sister Sally for painting.

I went home to my parents for Christmas for two weeks and I ended up staying four months, in Tipperary, in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere, she said on The Late Late Show.

So, she seized the opportunity to create what looks like a tiny version of a tiny house  on wheels.

The nifty invention will be her means to execute her escape plan, to do some wild camping in the west of Ireland as soon as travel restrictions ease, adds fashion designer Grainne.

"It's not much different to dressmaking," muses her dad at one point.

Judge Jennifer is impressed with the creativity and attention to detail. "The perfectionism and high quality of finish is really what sets her apart," she adds.

HOTEL FOR OUTLAW CATS

Lucy Ross with her cat hotel and 'outlaw' cats.

Lucy Ross in Rhode, Co Offaly, decided to create her Western-themed multi-level cat hotel in the corner of her kitchen when she realised: Cats want to be everywhere you dont want them to be  so where better than a county jail and a sheriffs office?

Of her four believed pets, she jokes: I dont like any of them and they dont like me.

"We just live in this spiteful relationship together.

Lucy's project and personality stand out for Jimmy for its "clever and personal approach" as well as its finish which he deems "really up to scratch".

She had a clear plan from the start and she delivered on it," he says. "And the shelves are class."

WALK-IN WEDDING-DRESS WARDROBE

Niki O'Connor in her walk-in wardrobe.

We also met Niki OConnor from Cahir, Co Tipperary, who showed off the fabulous walk-in wardrobe she built.

Niki, a DIY expert, had big dreams to showcase her wedding dress in this purpose-built space.

So this is my wedding dress; this is the main feature in the walk-in wardrobe so I dont have to hide it away, she says.

I get to remember every single day how I married my dream man.

With help from her children and, as PJ describes him, her DIY-challenged husband, Fintan, Niki gets the job done.

SKATE RAMP

Michael McGovern with his skate ramp.

PJ also visited Michael McGovern and his son Darragh in Galway City as they created every childs dream  a modular skate ramp.

Daragh put his own stamp on it with graffiti.

The whole experience has been rewarding, its good for all the family  some of them dont know it yet, says his dad.

SPEEDBOAT SUPREME

Shirley Mullins and Tom Mulcahy in their baby-proofed speedboat.

An heirloom carving knife was pressed into power-tool duty when PJ visited Terryglass, Co Tipperary, where Shirley Mullins and Tom Mulcahy were baby-proofing an old speedboat.

We visit them in Terryglass  but they could be in Portumna, Banagher or Boyle, because the 100-year old barge they call home moves on the Shannon, says PJ.

Shirley and Tom have been renovating the barge for years but the arrival of baby Charlotte meant they needed to change tack and baby-proof their speedboat.

Because we move around on the barge the speedboat has lots of uses so if were moored here, we use the speedboat to get chips in Portumna at night, says Shirley.

They refurbished the speedboats shell and installed a new seat to make it fit for purpose, adds Tom, who created a new fibreglass base.

For me, the star of this part of the show was Great Granny Ritas electric carving knife, used by Shirley to cut the foam for the speedboat's new seats.

While grateful to the kitchen implement's original owner, Shirley is also philosophical.

"Im sure she would have preferred us cutting a ham with it but its going cutting foam now.

Cut to a scene of the happy trio of Shirley, Charlotte and Tom sailing into the sunset in pursuit of sustenance once they pronounce the boat to be ready for chipper duty.
In brief: Epic Games presented documents in its lawsuit against Apple showing that the Cupertino tech giant went to great lengths to prevent Netflix from dropping in-app payment (IAP) subscriptions from its iOS app. Efforts included special favors and the consideration of punitive measures. Epic hopes to portray Apple as "anything goes" when it comes to retaining its App Store commissions.

In 2018, Netflix was debating whether it should remove in-app subscriptions for new customers in its iPhone app. It planned to run tests that summer in select markets to see its effect on subscription numbers. When Apple learned this, it called all-hands-on-deck to prevent the streaming service from going through with it.

In an email thread (Exhibit A below), several Apple execs, including Vice President of the App Store Matt Fischer, Vice President of Marketing Pete Distad, Vice President of Service Peter Stern, and others, expressed their concerns over Netflix conducting the tests and the possibility of it removing IAPs from its app. Apple did not want Netflix to eliminate subscription options from the software for obvious reasons, but it also didn't like the company even conducting its own tests.

Netflix Exhibits in Epic Ga... by MacRumors

"Outside of the voluntary churn issue, Netflix is concerned with understanding the incremental value of offering subscription via IAP on iOS," wrote VP Fischer. "We expressed our concern that running this test would create a bad customer experience for app users in those markets and limit co-marketing opportunities, including on-store featuring."

The email also discussed taking punitive measures against the movie streaming service. "Pulling all global featuring" was suggested as an example.

They conducted several meetings with leaders at Netflix, including a face-to-face between Apple's Eddy Cue, senior vice president of internet software and services, and Netflix's CEO Reed Hastings. During the meetings, Apple more or less begged Netflix not to perform the tests, even going so far as to offer promotions in its brick-and-mortar stores in a slide presentation (Exhibit B below).

Exhibit B by Chance Miller

Netflix ultimately ran the tests and found that "voluntary churn" was higher for those subscribing via in-app payments than through the Netflix website or other means. It subsequently removed IAPs at the end of December 2018.

By presenting this evidence, Epic wanted to show a couple of things. One is that Apple is not above providing special treatment to big customers when it stands to benefit. This favoritism creates an unlevel playing field for smaller iOS developers. Second, that Apple has previously considered taking punitive action against companies not willing to pay the so-called "Apple tax"a point it contends is what happened with the Fortnite removal.

We'll see in the coming weeks whether Judge Rogers has a sympathetic ear on the matter.

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Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 52F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
YEREVAN.  It is easier to solve political issues when people live as normal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this at Thursdays joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart, in Yerevan, and answering the question on unblocking transport and economic communications in South Caucasus.

"The peace process, which began on November 9 with the aim of ending the [recent] war [in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)] and passing to peacekeeping operation and unblocking all economic and transport communications, has been going on for almost half a year; that is why talking about passing to a peace process is a distortion of reality.

You mentioned a tripartite group, and my [Armenian] colleague talked about it. It deals with the resolution of issues that are directly related to the peace process.

When people are freed from the blockade and embargo, then they will move on to reap the benefits of this region with strategic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic importance.

Through our efforts, a ceasefire was established and a [Russian] peacekeeping contingent was deployed, as agreed by the Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan, and the Prime Minister of Armenia.

And I'm convinced that when people start to feel the benefits of a peaceful life, they will start to take a different approach to the issues that some of our partners are now trying to bring to the fore.

There is no need to politicize the process now; it is quite complicated. Those who try to leave these issues to later and deal with political issues first, in my opinion, turn the whole process from head to toe.

It is easier to resolve political issues when people live as normal, on a land where both Azerbaijanis and Armenians have lived side by side for many decades and centuries," said the Russian FM.
Digital revenue growth is outpacing the loss of performance rights income

In the music publishing sector, digital revenue growth is outpacing the loss of performance rights income, which bodes well for music royalty funds.

Liberum Capital Markets, in a research note on the burgeoning sector that includes in the UK Hipgnosis Songs Fund Ltd ( ) and PLC ( ), said competition for assets remains fierce with several investors announcing their intention to deploy significant capital in the coming years.

We believe this will contribute to valuation gains over the medium term. Rising acquisition multiples on new acquisitions remains the key risk, but the managers of the listed funds have demonstrated an ability to access transactions, the Liberum team said.

Liberum noted that big players in the sector Hipgnosis and Round Hill have yet to publish revenue data for the first quarter but the portents are promising, based on figures recently released by the Warner Music Group that showed publishing revenues rose by 12% on a constant currency basis in the first quarter from a year earlier.

Digital revenues rose by 33%, offsetting the impact on performance revenues. This was a result of continued growth in streaming and new deals with other digital providers such as TikTok and Peloton, Liberum noted.

Synchronisation revenue increased year-on-year due to growth in motion picture and commercial income. The overall 12% growth is not strictly like-for-like as acquisitions did have an impact but the company indicated that acquisitions only contributed US$11mln of the US$268mln of adjusted EBITDA [underlying earnings] generated in the quarter, Liberum added.

Universal Music Group, meanwhile, saw 6.9% organic year-on-year growth in publishing revenues in the first quarter while s publishing revenues grew by 11% in dollar terms during the quarter.
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For Dr. Kauser Jahan, professor and head of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, working in leadership and outreach becomes part of who you are.

The New Jersey STEM Pathways Network honored Jahan with the 2021 NJ STEM Civic Leadership Award in March. In addition to founding Engineers on Wheels, which in 2013 received national recognition from the WEPAN Outstanding Women in Engineering Program Initiative, Jahan also founded Rowans Attracting Women into Engineering outreach program in 1999.

"For those of us who are passionate about the future of STEM education, our job is not only getting students excited about engineering careers, but also reaching out to underrepresented populations," Jahan said.

Since its founding in 2010, Engineers on Wheels has sent teams of Rowan students into local elementary and middle schools to discuss and demonstrate to some of the youngest students what engineering is.

"No matter how many technical innovations there are, a lot of social pieces go into developing passion for engineering," Jahan said.

In the early days, many of the children Rowan teams met associated engineers with operating trains. "Kids now understand better what an engineer is," Jahan noted, "but many are still clueless about what kinds of work an engineer can do."

Although getting children excited about engineering is "demanding," Jahan said, shes not undertaking this work alone. Each semester, a new team of junior and senior engineering students takes over leading the project, reaching out to teachers and coming up with lesson topics and demonstrations, all under Jahans guidance. In the process, the Engineers on Wheels students develop their own leadership skills.

"Dr. Jahan has taught me so much about being a leader and has guided me to become one," said Elizabeth "Lilly" McWeeney, a 20-year-old junior civil and environmental engineering major from Belmar. "Engineers on Wheels gives me the opportunity to teach others what Dr. Jahan has taught me."

Being part of the Engineers on Wheels team also offers students the chance to share their own passion for the field of engineering.

"Having the opportunity to introduce young students to the world of engineering through Engineers on Wheels allows me to help students gravitate to a specific career just as I did," said Kara Natoli, a 21-year-old from Sicklerville who is graduating this spring with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. "Most of our life is spent working as an adult. Our childhood is our chance to discover what sparks our interest and fills our purpose."

The Engineers on Wheels team spent the fall 2020 semester planning and preparing videos while safely social distancing. Rowan students worked virtually to implement those plans and lessons with local schools in Glassboro, Pitman and Washington Township in spring 2021.

"This fall, we might have two teams, one for virtual and one for physical classroom visits," said Jahan. "Virtual outreach may be better for some situations, including bringing the program to schools farther away that have a lot of underrepresented students."

"I feel very fortunate that I was able to establish really strong engineering outreach programs, but the award really is a recognition of all the work the students do," said Jahan. "Engineers on Wheels is not the only way to be a mentor, and many of our students are active in mentoring and outreach. I think each of us, every person, should be a mentor in whatever capacity we can."
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  The latest report card on the citys efforts to reform the Albuquerque Police Department is in, and its not good.

It says APD has taken several steps backward in training officers on court-mandated policies and holding them accountable when they mess up.

In fact, in some ways the department is further from completing the process than it was two years ago, according to the report.

So why is APD even in this process?

In 2014  after a lengthy investigation spurred by years of controversial police shootings and use of force  the Department of Justice found that APD officers had a pattern and practice of using excessive force and of violating citizens constitutional rights.

The city and the DOJ entered into a Court Approved Settlement Agreement (colloquially referred to as the CASA) that lays out 276 requirements for APD to follow.

The requirements range from creating the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee of community partners to advise APD to a wide ranging re-vamp of how officers can use force against citizens and how theyll be disciplined if they use it excessively.

Who tracks whether APD is following the reforms?

The city pays an Independent Monitor  Dr. James Ginger, a former police officer and longtime consultant on similar endeavors  and his team who meet with APD, city officials and stakeholders periodically to assess how the police department is doing. The team puts out 300-plus page reports about twice a year assessing compliance.

APD is judged on whether it has the necessary policies in place, whether its training officers and whether officers are being held accountable for not following policies. After years of making progress in each level, APD backslid in the two most recent reports.

Report 12 covered February 2020 through July 2020 and was released in November. The most recent report, 13, covered August 2020 through January 2021 and was released on Monday.

The DOJ and federal Judge James Browning use those reports to determine what steps need to be taken.

For example, after the last scathing report, the DOJ and the city agreed to hire an external investigation team to oversee the work of the Internal Affairs Force Division.

So what did Ginger and his team say in this report?

On controlling Use of Force: Over the years, the monitoring team has made hundreds of recommendations designed to assist APD in its efforts to reform its use-of-force practices, and, in truth, APD has implemented numerous reform processes. Despite that, however, we continue to see out-of-policy uses of force at APD. More importantly, it continues to be apparent that APD has not had and currently does not have an appetite for taking serious approaches to control excessive or unwarranted uses of force during its police operations in the field.

On discipline: In short, APD is willing to go through almost any machination to avoid disciplining officers who violate policy or supervisors who fail to note policy violations or fail to act on them in a timely manner.

How does APD Chief Harold Medina respond?

I know everyone wants us  the monitor and the DOJ  they want us to move faster and theres a frustration. Its just were a huge aircraft carrier in terms of police departments and you just dont make a turn with the aircraft carrier and immediately turn. It takes us time to be able to navigate these changes and put all the processes in place.

Medina took over APD on an interim basis in mid-September, a month into the reporting period, and was confirmed to be the chief in March, after the period had ended.

And what do the stakeholders say to that?

I would buy that argument if you had a staff that was willing and ready and able to turn the aircraft carrier around, said Robby Heckman, of the police advocacy group APD Forward. I get it, its a big organization but when you add the culture to it  the cultures just eating the reforms for lunch again.

So where is APD backsliding the most?

One of APDs biggest problems over the past year had been training officers on policies related to use of force, crisis intervention and more.

In short, APD failed to perform its training responsibilities in any reasonable and meaningful way despite warnings from the monitor, Ginger wrote. There is no subtle way to express the significance of APDs failure other than to document here that they have again self-inflicted a loss of compliance because of their lack of attention to basic organizational training needs  it is incomprehensible that the leadership of APD would allow such a lapse of momentum.

How did this happen?

APD Chief Medina tells the Journal many of the trainings were hampered by COVID-19 and the states public health orders, which made gathering and contact scenarios difficult.

He said trainings were initially pushed back a month or so in March 2020 but of course the pandemic stretched on and just as things started to stabilize over the summer there was another big spike in virus cases in the fall, shutting down the state again.

Its not an excuse, its a fact, that needs to be taken into consideration, because there are some things that werent feasible, he said.

Is there anything good in the report?

APDs Force Review Board  made up of command staff and members of the citys administration  was harshly criticized in Gingers previous report for signing off on inadequate force investigations.

This time, he was much more complimentary, saying it was transitioning to a more self-actualizing stance, with some members increasingly willing to question the departments pattern and practice issues.

Basically, it was clear most members were doing their homework and thinking about how to make changes in the department.

Hasnt the city hired someone else to get the reform effort back on track?

In early March, Mayor Tim Keller appointed a superintendent of police reform to work on bringing APD into compliance.

Sylvester Stanley, a four-time police chief in New Mexico, oversees the reform effort, internal affairs and the academy, therefore freeing Medina to focus on crime-fighting and recruiting. Stanley was hired after this reporting period had ended.

Medina said he expects by the time the next report is out they will both be answering questions on it.

More: To explore data on the reform effort visit APD Forwards tools: To explore data on the reform effort visit APD Forwards tools: smart CASA and compliance history

Coming Sunday: The Journal dives into specific issues independent monitor James Ginger raises.


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Based on Atos BullSequana XH2000, the Vega supercomputer was inaugurated at the Institute of Information Science (IZUM) in Slovenia

Maribor (Slovenia), Paris (France) April 21, 2021  Atos and the Institute of Information Science (IZUM) in Maribor, Slovenia, today announce that the first EuroHPC supercomputer is now operational. This is the Vega supercomputer, based on Atos BullSequana XH2000 architecture , which is now installed following a start-up ceremony hosted by IZUM with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Jansa, in attendance, together with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager, the Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr. Simona Kustec and the Executive Director of EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Anders Dam Jensen.

Vega, the largest supercomputer in the country, is based at IZUM, a public infrastructural institution and research organization established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. It will be used to support the development of leading scientific, public sector and industrial applications in many domains, including personalized medicine, bio-engineering, weather forecasting, fight against climate change and discovering new materials and drugs.

It will provide researchers from Slovenia and the EuroHPC network with a modern infrastructure delivering maximum performance for computing, data processing, high-performance data analysis (HPDA), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning model development with fast network connectivity to other computing centers in Slovenia and Europe.

Dr. Ales Bosnjak, Director of IZUM: Were delighted to announce the start-up of the first EuroHPC supercomputer here in Slovenia. Now we can drive forward our research and innovation projects, in particular our HPC RIVR project design goals, supporting Slovenian and European researchers and users from the public and industry sectors, to meet new challenges and further contribute to the regional and European HPC initiatives.

Named Vega, after Slovenian mathematician Jurij Vega, the new petascale supercomputer will be co-owned and jointly operated by the EuroHPC JU (The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking). Capable of executing more than 6,8 petaflops (6,8 million billion calculations per second), the system will be amongst the world's top 50 supercomputers.

Agnes Boudot, Senior Vice President, Head of HPC & Quantum at Atos concluded As the leading European supercomputer manufacturer, we are proud to be contributing towards advancing research and innovation in Slovenia and in Europe. Vega, as part of the EuroHPC program and network, is part of a European worldclass supercomputing ecosystem and will help Europe compete globally in strategic domains such as artificial intelligence, bio-engineering and the fight against climate change."

Atos was awarded a 5-year 17.3 million euro contract to supply, install and maintain the BullSequana XH2000 Vega supercomputer.

###

Technical Information

12 x BullSequana XH2000 Direct Liquid cooling racks

6.8PF Linpack Performance (Rmax)

960 CPU nodes with AMD EPYC 7H12 processors

60 GPU nodes with 4 x NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs each

Total 325TB of memory

1PB of usable storage for High Performace storage

18PB of usable storage for Large Capacity Storage

Infiniband HDR Interconnect

38 x Atos Sequana x400 series service node

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. www.atos.net



Press contact:

Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau



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Xiaomi finally launched its Mi 11 series, which includes Mi 11 X, Mi 11X Pro and the ultra-premium Mi 11 Ultra, in the Indian market last month. The Mi 11 Ultra came with a 67 W fast charging support. But to customers surprise, the company decided not to provide the charger with the box.

At the launch, Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain had clarified that the in-box adapter will only support 55 W fast charging due to certification constraints. He also notified that Xiaomi is working on bringing the 67 W charger to India soon.

Catching up on the development, Xiaomi has now confirmed that its going to launch a 67 W fast charger in India, according to a report by MySmartPrice. However, the catch here is that the company will be selling the fast charger as a separate accessory, meaning youll have to pay a few extra bucks to get the superfast charging experience.

The date of launch of the upcoming 67 W adapter is yet to be announced by Xiaomi. Until then customers will have to use the in-box 55 W adapter, which is said to charge the smartphone from 0% to 100% in just an hour. Xiaomi claims that the 67 W charge can fully charge an empty battery in just 36 minutes.

The newly released smartphones of the Chinese company are some of its most expensive devices being sold globally. Mi 11 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, but what makes it special is its secondary display at the back. The display allows users to preview selfies and more.

Xiaomi claims that the smartphone comes with cameras that are equivalent to DSLRs in terms of quality. The smartphone has a 6.81-inch AMOLED WQHD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels) display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 480Hz touch sampling rate.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Despite approving an expedited briefing schedule, the New Mexico Supreme Court has yet to schedule oral arguments in a case alleging inmates faced cruel and unusual confinement conditions during the pandemic.

That has attorneys for the inmate plaintiffs concerned.

The time-sensitive case  spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and others on behalf of incarcerated people statewide  was expedited to the Supreme Court by the New Mexico Court of Appeals in November, just as the pandemic was peaking in New Mexico.

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Lalita Moskowitz, staff attorney with the ACLU, said plaintiff attorneys were expecting the arguments to be scheduled shortly after the last briefing in the case in February.

Were just sort of in this limbo and waiting period, Moskowitz said. We were granted this expedited briefing schedule, but then we sort of screeched to a halt, and are just waiting now for the court to take the next action.

By comparison, Moskowitz cited a pretrial detention order appeal that is also following an expedited briefing schedule. In that case, oral arguments were scheduled about two weeks after the briefings were filed, she said.

It was sort of our understanding that we would be following much closer to that kind of schedule, given the urgent nature of the situation, she said.

Barry Massey, communications officer for the Administrative Office of the Courts, declined to comment on the courts briefing schedule.

The original case was filed against the state Corrections Department over whether inmate conditions in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. But 1st Judicial District Judge Matthew Wilson dismissed the case Oct. 20, saying inmates have to exhaust administrative remedies before going to court.

Now, the plaintiffs attorneys are appealing whether inmates have to exhaust these remedies before filing a lawsuit. If the high court sides with the plaintiffs, the case will go back to district court to play out.

Moskowitz said the issue of exhausting administrative remedies is significant because it has the potential to come up again in other situations.

Plaintiff attorneys filed a motion March 24, asking for expediency again. The motion cited a COVID-19 outbreak in the Lea County Correctional Facility.

At the time, the facility reported 191 new cases, with at least three deaths from COVID-19 at the facility, according to the motion.

To date, there have been 2,980 COVID cases statewide in correctional facilities, according to the state Department of Health. The total number of deaths is unknown.

Theres maybe this idea in peoples minds that the pandemic is kind of over, and that just isnt the case, Moskowitz said. The vast majority of incarcerated people are still not vaccinated  and people are still sort of living with this very real serious risk of more major outbreaks in the prisons.
A recent corporate tax policy proposal in the US made the front pages of Irish newspapers. What does it mean for Irelands economy?

The Irish Examiner spoke to University College Cork (UCC) lecturer, former chair of the Irish fiscal advisory council, and economist, Seamus Coffey, to assess the significance of the new tax policies of the Biden Administration for Ireland.

What new policy is the Biden Administration proposing for corporation tax?

US President Joe Biden wants to raise the US corporation tax to 28% from 21% set by Donald Trump. It is part of a $2trn infrastructure investment plan for Americas recovery. Coupled with this is a proposal to set a global minimum corporation rate of tax.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has suggested a rate of 21% in line with the 21% figure the administration wants to set for the minimum tax rate on earnings generated overseas by US companies.

Ireland has been one of the most successful countries in the world at attracting investment from American multinational corporations (MNCs). The significance of these proposals are enormous.

From tech companies in Dublin to pharmaceutical companies in Cork, foreign direct investment (FDI) has been a huge contribution to Irelands economy, and the countrys corporation tax of 12.5% has been a key factor.

How did Ireland develop this 12.5% tax rate policy and why is it important for the economy?

It is not so much the 12.5% rate as the contribution FDI makes to the economy. For Ireland, the 12.5% rate is used as a signal of stability, said economist Seamus Coffey.

The rate was announced in the mid-1990s and has been unchanged since it was formally introduced in 2003. After three decades of inward orientation and trying to develop indigenous industry with trade barriers and semi-state companies, Ireland began the process of opening up the economy in the 1950s.

Ireland was an economy with a labour surplus and a capital shortage. This was abated through very significant emigration. In the decades since, FDI has been used to fill the capital deficit and this has been very successful with Ireland even moving to a labour shortage on occasion.

The model has proved so successful that there are significant risks to Ireland. If FDI was not making a very significant contribution to the Irish economy, then there would not be significant risks, said Mr Coffey.

Did this approach focus on attracting employment or collecting taxes from MNCs?

The UCC economist said when the economy opened up Ireland sought to achieve two things: investment from foreign companies and jobs for Irish residents.

The investment in some of the sectors, most notably manufacturing, are incredibly large. It is not unusual to hear of multi-billion euro investment projects from US pharmaceutical or computer processor companies. The scale of these in an economy as small as Ireland's is immense.

Ireland's strategy was not based around collecting corporate taxes. The tax benefits would arise via personal income taxes and the broader contribution of FDI to the economy. Ireland's first tax incentive which evolved in the early 1960s was the Export Profits Tax Relief which offered a zero percent effective tax rate on the profits of export sales.

This was queried on a competition basis on Ireland's entry to the EU (why should one company making the same product pay less tax than another just because its customers are abroad?) and was replaced by a special 10% rate on all manufacturing activity in 1980 with the standard rate of around 40% applying to other sectors.

This dual structure was also assessed under EU competition rules in the 1990s and Ireland was forced to move to a single rate with the calculators in the Department of Finance showing that the average of 10% and 40% was 12.5%, said Mr Coffey.

Isnt Ireland reporting huge returns from corporate tax receipts though the last few years?

Although not the original intention, this tax rate is now generating very significant amounts of tax revenue, said Mr Coffey.

In 2014, Ireland's corporation tax revenues were around 4bn - last year they were almost 12bn.

US Multinational Corporations (MNCs), in particular, have significant substance in Ireland and that has seen their tax payments here rise significantly, said Mr Coffey.

Ireland has now reached a position where FDI is responsible for significant amounts of investment, employment, and corporate tax revenue.

It is this reason that even proposed changes, such as those published by the Biden administration, are front-page news, he said.

How much corporation tax do multinational corporations headquartered in Ireland pay?

The largest FDI MNCs operating in Ireland are headquartered in the US, not Ireland, said Mr Coffey.

Irish-headquartered MNCs include Glanbia, Ryanair, and CRH etc. Around 80% of Irish corporate tax revenues are paid by foreign-owned companies. Some of those are here to serve the domestic market, for example retailers, but most are FDI MNCs with operations in Ireland to serve international markets.

Around 60% of Irish corporate tax is paid by US MNCs. Figures from the US tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), show that US MNCs paid $7.9bn of corporate income tax in Ireland in 2018. It is likely to be even higher again now.

The IRS data shows that unsurprisingly the largest recipient of corporate taxes from US MNCs was the US itself which received $140bn in 2018. Next was the UK which received $10.9bn. Incredibly Ireland was next. Ireland is the third-largest recipient in the world of corporate income taxes from US MNCs.

The corporate income tax payments contribute around 3% of Ireland's national income.

To what extent does FDI provide employment and revenue for the Exchequer?

Figures from the IRS show that in 2018 US MNCs had around 150,000 employees in Ireland, said Mr Coffey. Of countries with a population over 1 million and excluding the US, Ireland has the highest share of its population working with US MNCs.

The employment of US MNCs in Ireland is equivalent to 3% of the population and around 7% of employment. These are the highest shares in this group of countries. Figures from Eurostat show that Ireland has the highest share of employment arising in US MNCs across all EU countries.

Eurostat figures show that US MNCs incurred personnel costs of 9.5bn in Ireland in 2018.

In Eurostat's figures this is equal to 70,000 per employee. The pay bill of US MNCs was equivalent to almost 5% of Ireland's gross national income in 2018.

Next highest was Luxembourg with 3% of its national income coming from the pay bill of US MNCs to the 14,000 employees they have there.

It is likely that around one-third of this pay bill makes its way to the Exchequer. US MNCs would also pay significant amounts of other taxes including commercial rates and possibly also some Vat and excise duty. There would also be indirect revenues from these sources as the employees of US MNCs spend their money in the economy.

All told, it is possible that the presence of US MNCs contributes something north of 15bn to the Exchequer every year, said Mr Coffey.

What is driving the latest moves in international cooperation on global corporation tax regulation?

Countries are looking for tax revenues, said Mr Coffey. The OECD BEPS project was initiated as the G7 economies emerged from the Global Financial Crisis and they wanted additional tax revenues to repair their public finances.

It is worth noting, though, that the "race to the bottom" in corporate tax rates shows up everywhere except in corporate tax revenues.

It is true that corporate tax rates have been falling in recent decades but governments have also been changing the rules so that the lower rates apply to a broader base - exemptions, deductions and allowances have been curtailed as the rates have come down.

In the 1970s, the 12 EU15 countries which would join the euro collected the equivalent of 2% of their GDP in corporate income taxes. The most recent figures show that this has increased to 2.5% of GDP. Corporate income taxes as a share of total tax have also not declined and Eurostat figures show that across the EU, the effective tax rate on the profits of non-financial companies has hovered around 20%.

The exception to this is the US. The US has seen a decline in all of these measures. In the 1970s corporate tax revenues were equivalent to 3% of US GDP. This has fallen, most notably after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of the Trump administration and the latest figures put US corporate tax revenues at just 1% of GDP, one of the lowest in the OECD.

Figures from the IRS show that US MNCs had an effective tax rate of 8% in the US. This is lower than the rate they reported for Ireland which was 11.4% in 2018.

As well as effective rates there is a parallel process to update the rules for taxing companies for the digital age. This is because ICT companies can have a digital presence in a country without having a physical presence and the rules governing taxation largely evolved around the physical location of companies.

Do the US/OECD proposals differ from previous European Commission/European Court of Justice anti-competition attempts to get multinationals to pay higher rates of corporation tax?

They are different things - albeit possibly with the same end in mind. The US and OECD proposals should also not be considered similar. Many parts of them are different, said Mr Coffey.

A large reason why the US has come back to the table for the OECD negotiations is to try and ensure the tax increases that President Biden has proposed are not out of line with the taxation of companies in other countries - the US is trying to ensure that it does not put its own companies at a competitive disadvantage which might encourage companies to move their headquarters out of the US, he said.

Do the Biden Administrations proposals for a minimum global corporation tax of 21% pose a threat to Irelands foreign direct investment model?

The direct effect of these proposals for Irelands economy is not clear, said Mr Coffey who emphasised the recent increases in corporation tax collected in the country. He added the US will attempt to protect its own international economic attractiveness and to avoid isolation on the issue.

It is hard to know how this will play out, he said. Back in 2013 it was suggested that the OECD's BEPS project would be a significant threat to Ireland but we have seen an increase in investment, an increase in employment and, most notably, a trebling of corporate tax revenues.

"The proposal for a 21% rate is just a proposal by the US for its own MNCs. The US already has such a minimum tax but at a rate of 10.5%. The Biden administration proposes to increase this to 21%. But more crucially they propose to apply it on a country-by-country basis.

If done on a country-by-country basis the benefits of having profit in a low-tax jurisdiction will be reduced. Companies will no longer be able to blend in higher-taxed profits into lower-taxed profits. If introduced, and that is far from certain, this will narrow, but not eliminate, the tax advantage Ireland has over countries like France and Germany."
Access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is extremely crucial for young people. It provides medical care and comprehensive sexuality education, which gives them vital information about their sexualities, sensuality and gender identities and expression. It also allows them bodily autonomy and power over their lives, said Poppy Stanbury.

Stanbury is an intersectional feminist activist working as Advocacy Coordinator at CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, an NGO based in the Netherlands that advocates for young peoples sexual and reproductive health and rights and for their meaningful participation in the decisions made about their lives.

Having access to sexual and reproductive health and rights can decrease child marriage, decrease teenage pregnancies and prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections. It is a topic that affects so many different realms of people's lives however, it is often not seen to matter as much because it is assumed to not necessarily outright affect food, shelter or health, but it really does.

Social norms potentially hindering young peoples rights

According to recent figures from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), 1.8 billion adolescents - people aged 10-19 years old - make up more than 16 per cent of the worlds population. Many young people see their potential hindered by social norms, cultural attitudes, institutional and structural barriers and violations of their fundamental rights by virtue of their age, as highlighted by a report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on youth and human rights.

Stanbury pointed out that, even when they require sexual and reproductive health services, young people often face discrimination and stigma because of societal norms in countries around the world.

As a result, that judgement feeds back into health services where young people fear that their confidentiality is not secure or that they will be discriminated against. This is particularly true for young LGBTI persons, especially in countries where same-sex relationships or trans people are criminalized, where access to recognition of gender identity is not available, or where rights to bodily and mental integrity of LGBTI youth are violated, she added.

At the national level, Stanbury said, discriminatory laws or policies prevent young people from accessing sexual and reproductive services without parental consent, or even allow healthcare workers to deny services based of their own religious beliefs.

In April 2021, Stanbury participated in a seminar convened by High Commissioner at the request of the Human Rights Council, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for young people in the field of human rights. For Stanbury, barriers to them enjoying their sexual and reproductive health and rights remain even at the intergovernmental level because many Member States at the Council are yet to recognize sexual and reproductive health as a human rights issue.

The need for a societal shift

Yet, judging by estimates from UNFPA and the World Health Organization from 2016 and 2018, the need for a collective shift is urgent. Girls aged 1519 years old account for 11 per cent of all births and around 14 per cent of all maternal deaths, with some 50,000 girls dying from maternal causes annually; 1 in 4 adolescent girls in that same age bracket have an unmet need for contraception; and, every year, about 3.9 million girls aged 15-19 years undergo unsafe abortions, which contributes substantially to increased maternal deaths and lasting health problems.

The more young people learn about these issues, the more they learn that it is to do with human rights. It is so important for places like the Human Rights Council to meaningfully include and encourage youth participation, because almost every human rights discussion affects young people, Stanbury said.

A global survey on youth and COVID-19 found that the impacts of the pandemic on young people, particularly among women, younger youth and youth in lower-income countries, are systematic, deep and disproportionate. Further, the crisis has exacerbated existing inequalities.

Abortion services have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes it ten times harder in countries where abortion is illegal. But even in places where abortion is legal, funding has been cut or services have been closed because they are deemed as non-essential, Stanbury said. However, some countries have been implementing telemedicine, which means that people can have medication abortions at home.

She further highlighted that the pandemic has left many young people without the economic means to pay for products or services such as menstrual pads, contraceptives, sexual health testing and hormone replacement therapy in countries where they are not free of charge.

Comprehensive sexuality education is often not seen as a necessity, and many schools that have moved online and do see it as a necessity have not always found a way to provide that education in a safe space, Stanbury said. As a result, a whole generation of young people are missing out on vital information that they need to develop healthy relationships.

At the end of 2020, Argentinas senate voted to legalise abortion, making Argentina only the third country in South America to legalise abortion, after decades of campaigning by pro-choice activists and lawmakers. Two years prior, Irelands seminal referendum that led to the repeal of its eighth amendment that criminalised abortions unless the pregnancy was life-threatening for the mother, showed a societal shift in support for safe, legal abortion.

The more young people are empowered and emboldened to speak on these issues, especially young women, the more these topics become normalised in societal discussions and Governments start listening, Stanbury said.

6 May 2021
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SANTA FE  New Mexico reported 281 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as infections remain just above the states goal of 210 or fewer a day.

The Department of Health also announced four more coronavirus-related deaths, pushing the statewide total to 4,089 fatalities during the pandemic.

Vaccinations, meanwhile, continued to tick upward: The state now estimates that 46% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated and 59% have received at least one dose.

State health officials say New Mexico is on track to reach its goal of 60% of adults fully vaccinated by June 30, a move that would result in lifting capacity restrictions on businesses.

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In the meantime, the state is using a four-tiered system to determine the level of public health restrictions in each county, based on the number of new cases, the share of tests that come back positive and the percentage of adults fully vaccinated.

Most of the state  including Bernalillo County  are now in the least-restrictive level, allowing bars to reopen indoor operations.

In Thursdays daily update, state health officials reported:

 281 new cases of the disease, 79 of which were in Bernalillo County.

 The virus-related fatalities of four adults, including the death of a man in his 50s from Bernalillo County.

 The hospitalization of 149 coronavirus patients, an 82% increase over the last month.
QUINCY, Mass., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stop & Shop, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Rhode Island Department of Health, announced that all 14 of its Rhode Island pharmacy locations are now accepting walk-ins for the COVID-19 vaccine. Customers can still schedule appointments on Stop & Shops website, but appointments are no longer required to receive an immunization.



Stop & Shop operates 14 pharmacies across Rhode Island, each offering either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. Customers can walk in and receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any of the following locations, though walk-ins will be determined by supply levels.

Cranston (Atwood Ave)

Cranston (Garfield Ave)

Cumberland (Mendon Road)

East Providence (Pawtucket Avenue)

Greenville (Putnam Pike)

Lincoln (George Washington Highway)

Middletown (West Main Road)

North Providence (Mineral Spring Avenue)

North Smithfield (Smithfield Road)

Narragansett (Point Judith Road)

Pawtucket (Cottage Street)

Providence (Manton Avenue)

Warwick (Quaker Lane)

Warwick (Warwick Ave)

Stop & Shop has been proud to support Rhode Islanders throughout the pandemic, most recently by administering the COVID-19 vaccine, said Katie Thornell, Director of Pharmacy Operations at Stop & Shop. We are prepared to continue helping members of the community protect themselves against COVID-19 by allowing all Rhode Islanders the convenience of walking into any of our Rhode Island pharmacies to receive their immunization without needing an appointment.

In December, Stop & Shop announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to be among the first COVID-19 vaccine providers, making the shot available to its customers across the Northeast. The coronavirus vaccine is being administered at no out-of-pocket cost.

During immunization, customers will be required to wear PPE and pharmacists will be equipped with masks, gloves, and face shields. The pharmacy team utilizes the same thorough disinfection protocols for all patients, disinfecting and sanitizing between each patient to ensure the health & safety for all patients.

Flu, pneumonia, shingles and other immunizations are currently available to customers at all Stop & Shop Pharmacy locations. To find your nearest Stop & Shop pharmacy, visit www.stopandshop.com/pharmacy. For more information on Stop & Shops rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

About Stop & Shop:

A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop is focused on delivering a wide assortment of fresh, healthy options at a great value through strong weekly sales and everyday low prices. Its new GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose however they want to shop - whether it's in-store or online, which offers both delivery and same day pickup. The company is committed to making an impact in its communities by fighting against hunger, supporting our troops and through overall incredible acts of care. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs 58,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.

Media Contact:

Maria Fruci, maria.fruci@stopandshop.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Virgin Pulse, the leading global provider of digital health and wellbeing solutions, is highlighting native mental health support capabilities and new partner solutions delivered through its Homebase for Health  platform. To help organizations address and normalize conversations around mental health, the company has also launched a free Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit, featuring tip sheets, reports, webinars and a calendar of daily tasks for prioritizing mental health.



Costing more than $200 billion per year, mental health disorders are among the most expensive medical conditions in the United States.1 The lost productivity resulting from anxiety and depressive disorder conditions alone is estimated to cost the global economy $1 trillion each year.2 Yet, less than half of the 51.5 million adults with mental illness received treatment in the past year. 3

The enduring aftermath of COVID-19 clearly demonstrates the value of investing in employee wellbeing beyond just physical health, said Dr. Jessica Isom, MPH, a board-certified community psychiatrist and Virgin Pulse Science Advisory Board Member. Remote access to health experts, social support and digital therapeutics promotes members holistic wellbeing and helps them proactively avoid mental health conditions that impact their quality of life.

Left unchecked, mental and behavioral health issues can have profound long-term consequences on individuals, their families, their communities and their workplaces, said David Osborne, CEO of Virgin Pulse. I cant emphasize enough how important it is to ensure employees feel heard and supported during challenging times. Virgin Pulse does just that by bringing together all the resources employees need to take control of their unique and often complex mental health needs.

How Virgin Pulse Solutions Support Mental Health

Mental health plays a vital role in Virgin Pulses whole-person approach to health and wellbeing. Virgin Pulses digital, live and partner solutions work together to support five key areas of mental health including stress, depression and anxiety, sleep, substance use and resilience. These issues were exacerbated over the past 15 months as employees and their families dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, financial distress, and social unrest. Homebase for Health supports members across these areas by orchestrating a continuous digital engagement experience, guiding them to clinically validated mental health screenings, professional health coaches, social connectivity tools and targeted third-party solutions in ways no stand-alone vendor can match.



Homebase for Health Platform

Through high-engagement delivery channels, the Virgin Pulse platform offers an extensive library of content and activities designed to help members achieve their mental health goals. Homebase for Health delivers actionable mental health tips, habit trackers encouraging small behavior changes and step-by-step programs that drive consistent mental health habits to support members at every stage of their journey. Using data from comprehensive screenings within the platform, interactive dashboards help members understand their behavioral health risks. Recognizing the increasingly critical role social connection plays in mental health, the platform also promotes peer forums to help members build relationships, recognition tools for boosting member self-esteem and activity challenges that foster camaraderie.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31f13480-f94a-4457-960f-b62e90de623b

VP Live: High-Availability Coaching

Homebase for Health facilitates a seamless high-tech, high-touch experience by making it easy for members to access and schedule live coaching interactions directly from the Virgin Pulse platform. Virgin Pulse is expanding its VP Live capabilities, launching high-availability mental health coaching that will provide more immediate access to appointments and personalized care plans. VP Live coaches are certified and bring significant mental health experience and advanced degrees in counseling, social work and other related fields to help members harness their intrinsic motivation and achieve their mental health goals. Dedicated anxiety and depression coaches are experienced in de-escalating mental health crises and trained to refer members to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) or other appropriate forms of care.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5074546d-fdd6-44db-b60d-696670e56efa

Comprehensive Partner Ecosystem

In addition to native digital tools, robust content and access to lifestyle and behavioral coaching, Virgin Pulses Homebase for Health features a growing ecosystem of mental health partners, offering clients a broad range of third-party point solutions for addressing specific needs of their members. These solutions span the mental health continuumfrom preventative screenings and mindfulness trainings to hands-on expert support for managing anxiety and depression. Clients can also bring their own partners into the Virgin Pulse ecosystem. In addition to certified and authorized partners, the company has delivered more than 2,000 custom partner integrations.

New Mental Health Partners

Virgin Pulse recently added ALAViDA, Pack Health, Spring Health and Vida Health to its portfolio of mental health partners as part of its Summer 21 Launch. These providers join a growing list of mental health partners which also includes Headspace, meQuilibrium, myStrength, SilverCloud and Whil, and further bolster Virgin Pulses partner ecosystem.

ALAViDA provides a digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program designed to give members the tools and support they need for reducing or quitting alcohol and other substance use.

provides a digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program designed to give members the tools and support they need for reducing or quitting alcohol and other substance use. Pack Health is an evidence-based solution that combines near-daily person-to-person support, simple engagement, and an empathy-based approach to improve mental and physical health outcomes.

is an evidence-based solution that combines near-daily person-to-person support, simple engagement, and an empathy-based approach to improve mental and physical health outcomes. Spring Health offers personalized mental health benefits. Springs mental health assessment technology recommends the right care for each member, and pairs them with a dedicated Care Navigator to guide them through their entire mental health journey.

offers personalized mental health benefits. Springs mental health assessment technology recommends the right care for each member, and pairs them with a dedicated Care Navigator to guide them through their entire mental health journey. Vida Health is a virtual care platform intentionally designed to treat a persons whole health by treating mental and physical conditions together. The Vida Health mindfulness program reduced stress scores for 83 percent of participants who started with moderate to high stress levels.

Mental health will be a focus of Virgin Pulses THRIVEx 2021 virtual conference May 11-13th, with workshops and sessions focused on promoting health during times of unrest, building a culture of resilience, and improving addiction outcomes. During this years event, themed Connecting for Good, medical experts, thought leaders and Virgin Pulse clients will share insights and advice for addressing the top health and wellbeing challenges impacting organizations today. To register for the event, please visit: https://thrivex.virginpulse.com/thrivex.

About Virgin Pulse

Virgin Pulse is the global leader and premier provider of digital health and wellbeing SaaS solutions and services focused on driving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Featuring the industrys only true Homebase for Health  that unifies and simplifies the health journey, Virgin Pulse fuses high-tech, high-touch, AI and data to support clients and members across the entire health, wellbeing and benefits lifecycleincluding screening and assessment, activation, behavior change, adoption of sustainable, healthy habits, benefits navigation, condition management, gaps in care closure and digital therapeutics. Today, 14 million+ users in more than 190 countries rely on Virgin Pulses digital and live solutions to change their livesand businessesfor good. To learn more, visit VirginPulse.com and follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Inquiries, please contact: Press@virginpulse.com

1 Roehrig C. Mental disorders top the list of the most costly conditions in the United States: $201 billion. Health Aff. 2016:101377.

2 Kestel, D. (2019, January 22). Mental health in the workplace. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/mental-health-in-the-workplace

3 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/

About Virgin Pulses New Partners

ALAViDA is Canadas first virtual care provider focused on the science of substance use management. It is a one-stop-shop approach for any level of substance use disorder  alcohol and drugs  mild, moderate and severe. ALAViDA connects patients with behavioral coaches, therapists and physicians who work as a team to deliver personalized care right to their smartphones. ALAViDA is an employee benefit with varying plans and personalized therapeutic programs, which has proven to minimize time out of the workplace. More than 79 percent of those signed on reported increased control, 86 percent reduced substance use and 91 percent continued to work.

Pack Health is a digital health coaching platform for chronic disease management. Pack Health matches members with their own personal Health Advisor who provides weekly coaching sessions and personalized follow-up online and over the phone according to the member's communication preferences. In addition to being a virtual partner in problem-solving, coaches share videos, activities and resources to support the member's specific health needs. Pack Health covers more than 25 conditions and supports members on everything from exercise and nutrition, to budgeting and logistics, to stress, sleep and social support. Pack Healths translation service accommodates more than 190 languages, and the solution can be billed as a medical claim.

Spring Health helps employers modernize their behavioral health benefits with the most comprehensive solution for employee mental wellbeing. Spring Health provides a single front door to any type of carefrom digital exercises to coaching, therapy or medicationleading to faster outcomes, higher engagement and healthier, happier employees.

Vida Health is a virtual care platform intentionally designed to treat a persons whole health by treating mental and physical conditions together. Vida offers evidence-based chronic condition management, mental health and lifestyle programs including weight management, nutrition, fitness, tobacco cessation, stress and sleep solutions. Vida's entire platform and coach experiences are available in both English and Spanish with licensed practitioners in all 50 states. Members can earn rewards in Virgin Pulse for engaging with Vida Healths program content.

Additional Mental Health Resources




BRATTLEBORO  Koffee Kup Bakery and its assets may soon be in the hands of a New Brunswick husband and wife who own the largest family-owned a
(by Cristoforo Spinella) (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, 06 MAG - For nearly a decade, they were the great enemies of the southern shore of the Mediterranean.



Amidst accusations of "coupism" and "terrorism", Turkey and Egypt aligned themselves on opposite fronts in the reorganisation following the Arab Spring.



On the one side, the support of Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Muslim Brothers after the removal of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in 2013; on the other, the iron fist of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi against political Islam.



This divergence of interests led to the two giants clashing in the major regional challenges, from Libya to energy resources.



Now, amidst the worries of the post-Covid economy and the search for new alliances, Ankara and Cairo are meeting again, opening the way for a possible geopolitical turnaround.



The first Turkish government delegation arrived in Egypt for "exploratory disccusions" that "will focus on the necessary steps that can lead to normalisation of relations between the two countries on a bilateral level and in the regional context".



The mission is being carried out at the level of deputy foreign ministers, which could turn into a subsequent face-to-face between the foreign ministers themselves, something that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has already said he is willing to do.



To prepare the way for these "political consultations", there were a series of outstretched hands in recent months.



Public and behind-the-scenes gestures included the resumption of diplomatic contacts in March and the increasing pressure on Egyptian media in exile in Istanbul.



Two of the most famous anchormen stepped aside, accepting the change of course without much protest, given the alternative of prison that would await them at home in Egypt, where they are considered "terrorists" as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been banned in Egypt since 2013.



This thaw in bilateral relations could have possible repercussions on regional equilibrium, starting with Libya, where Ankara and Cairo have been the main military sponsors of the parties in conflict but now say they are willing to support a ceasefire needed for reconstruction.



There is also the challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Erdogan has been making waves with controversial energy exploration, finding himself isolated, however, against a vast front running from Greece and Cyprus, with EU backing, to Egypt, the Emirates and Israel. Peace with Cairo also passes through the critical detente with Arab countries in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia.



By setting aside the clash on the killing in Istanbul of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in this case as well Erdogan - who spoke with King Salman on Wednesday - is heading straight to a new season. (ANSAmed).


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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A new $200 million state grant program designed to help businesses cover mortgage and rent expenses coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic is slated to open Tuesday.

The LEDA Recovery Grants Program will provide COVID-impacted employers with grants of up to $100,000 per business location, according to information provided by the New Mexico Economic Development Department and New Mexico Finance Authority in a webinar Thursday.

Marquita Russel, CEO of the New Mexico Finance Authority, said funds will be allocated by need rather than on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be targeting businesses looking to add employees back as restrictions continue to loosen.

The purpose of the program is to bring you back to pre-pandemic levels, Russel said.

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The program was one of several pandemic relief programs signed into law during the 2021 Regular Session. House Bill 11 temporarily modifies the Local Economic Development Act to allow for grant funding designed to help struggling businesses with rent, mortgage or lease obligations.

Russel said funding will be distributed based on a formula looking at the percentage of revenue lost from 2019 to 2020, the number of full-time workers who are slated to be added after April and the wages they will be paid.

Russel said businesses must be prepared to create jobs to receive grant funding.

If youre not going to be in a position to hire employees or to add more hours for your existing employees, this isnt a program thats going to work for you, she said.

Funds may be used to reimburse businesses for rent, lease or mortgage payments theyve made. Russel said businesses operating out of a house cannot use the funds toward home mortgages.

To qualify, businesses must demonstrate a decline in revenue during at least one comparable quarter from 2019 to 2020. Russel said the program is open to businesses and nonprofits, provided they have fewer than 75 employees.

Russel said organizations have a variety of ways to demonstrate eligibility, from CRS reports filed with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department to bank and billing statements.

We want to make sure that all businesses are given the opportunity to apply, Russel said.

At least $150 million will be available in the initial round, with the opportunity to add funding depending on the success of the program. Russel said the initial pool of money will be split, with $50 million set aside for organizations in rural parts of New Mexico, while the remaining $100 million goes toward urban areas.

Russel added that fraud has been a challenge for grant and loan programs in other states, and said New Mexico will require applicants to verify their identities.

In order to protect the states investment, we want to make certain that the people that are accessing the funds are indeed New Mexico businesses, she said.

Because the applications wont be reviewed in the order theyre received, Russel encouraged businesses to take their time with the application. Organizations will have until June 15 to submit applications.

For more information on the program and rules on how to apply, visit www.nmfinance.com.
Indianapolis, IN (46208)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso holds a glass of water in this poster created by professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University, who launched an online campaign to counter Aso's claim that the wastewater from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant is safe to drink. Courtesy of Seo Kyung-duk



By Nam Hyun-woo



Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University said Thursday he has launched an online campaign urging Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso to drink wastewater from the disabled Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, in an attempt to counter Aso's repeated claims that the water is safe to drink.



Seo launched the campaign on social media platforms, uploading a poster of Aso holding a glass of water with text reading "You drink first!"



"Aso has said it is okay to drink the contaminated water from the Fukushima plant so he should demonstrate first," Seo said. "If he made the remark without the courage to do that, it would be improper behavior."






The most important task is for Azerbaijan to return all POWs and forcibly detained persons. Ara Aivazian, the Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia, said this during Thursdays extended meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Foreign Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.

"The allied nature of cooperation between Armenia and Russia predetermines the scope of the issues we jointly address ().

We [Armenia] are interested in promoting bilateral relations ().

Within the framework of your visit, we started discussions on the matter of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] conflict, and will continue the discussions during the day. In this context, it is important to create the conditions for the resumption of the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairsrepresented by Russia, France, and the USendowed with a mediation mandate.

The most important issue is to ensure that Azerbaijan returns of all prisoners of war and civilians being held captive. ().

No less urgent is the creation of basic conditions for the displaced persons to return to their settlements, the provision of humanitarian assistance to the population, and the restoration of the economy of Artsakh.

The issue of preserving the [Armenian] historical and cultural heritage that has passed under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces is very urgent," Aivazian said, in particular, in his remarks at this meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on a two-day visit.

And on May 9 and 10, Lavrov will pay a working visit to Azerbaijan.




The wife of Belgian Ambassador to South Korea Peter Lescouhier was questioned by police on Thursday over assault allegations, officials said, amid public criticism over "insincerity" in the embassy's handling of the matter.







The wife appeared at the Yongsan Police Station in central Seoul in the afternoon to undergo questioning and she has returned, an official at the precinct said, without providing more details.







Police have been looking into allegations that Lescouhier's wife slapped a clothing store employee in the face and another staff in the back of her head early last month.







The assaults allegedly happened when the employees claim to have asked the wife if she paid for the clothes she was wearing because the shop was selling the same kinds of apparel.







The Belgian Embassy in Seoul issued an apology under the ambassador's name. The ambassador revealed that his wife had been hospitalized after having a stroke and promised she will comply with police investigation as soon as she recovers.







But the apology stirred angry online comments criticizing the ambassador for not being sincere, because the embassy opted to post the apology on its Facebook page, instead of delivering it in person, as well as the language that they said was improper for a formal statement expressing regret. (Yonhap)






Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today received the delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

Greeting the guests, Pashinyan stated that the relations between Armenia and Russia are allied relations and that he is glad to state that the relations have become stronger over the past few months.

At a difficult moment, the Russian Federation extended a helping hand to Armenia and helped the country solve the problems that had emerged as a result of the pandemic and the aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. The efforts of the Russian Federation helped stop the hostilities and achieve essential reduction of the escalation in our region. Today, the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh serves as a strong guarantee for security in Nagorno-Karabakh.

I would especially like to highlight the role that President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin played in achieving peace in the region and his efforts to create conditions for living and working in Nagorno-Karabakh. In this regard, I would like to assure that Armenia will continue to take all the measures to implement the agreements that were reached through the trilateral statements signed on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021.

Armenia is also ready to make maximum efforts to ensure constructive dialogue between the sides in the trilateral format. However, I must say that Azerbaijans actions dont contribute to progress of the dialogue at all. The actions of Baku, which is manipulating the return of Armenian POWs, stating its territorial ambitions against Armenia and has now started destroying the cultural and religious heritage of the Armenian people, are aimed at escalating the situation in the region and leading implementation of the agreements to failure.

In this context, I would like to mention, with satisfaction, the actions of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, the recent statement of which is, in essence, a response to Azerbaijans destructive stance.

The position expressed in the April 13 statement by the Co-Chairs is in line with Armenias position on the main issues that exist today. In this regard, I would like to emphasize Armenias position according to which it is necessary to restore the peace process in order to reach a final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the principles proposed by the Co-Chairs.

In closing, Pashinyan welcomed Sergey Lavrov once again and added that he is certain that they will hold constructive and fruitful talks.
Large-tiers were the best performing subset of the market, up an average of 13.2%.

April 2021 has been a huge month for the mining royalty and streaming sector with the average share price up a massive 9.5%. An incredible 78% of mining royalty and streaming companies saw positive share price movement this month, as the market rallied behind the sector.

Large-tiers were the best performing subset of the market, up an average of 13.2%. ( ) (14.8% 1-month & 12.9% 3-months) and (TSE:SVC) (14.7% 1-month & 20.7% 3-months) were the best performing large-tier companies.

Osiskos preliminary first quarter of 2021 (Q121) results were strong, with 19,960 attributable gold equivalent ounces produced during the first quarter. The company generated revenues of C$66.9mln (US$54.3mln) during the first quarter with a cash operating margin of around C$46.5mln (US$37.8mln). The company also acquired six royalties for US$26mln, four of the royalties are on claims over the 4-million-ounce Spring Valley Gold Project, located in Nevada. Spring Valley is 100%-owned by mining-focused private equity firm, Waterton Global Resource Management.

Sandstorm also published its preliminary Q121 results, which reached record levels with 17,444 attributable gold equivalent ounces produced during the first quarter. The company generated revenues of US$31.0mln during the first quarter with a cash operating margin of around US$25.6mln.

The mid-tiers were the second-best performing subset of the market, up an average of 12.1%. Company Ltd ( ) went from being the worst-performing mid-tier last month to the best performer this month, up 14.7% (1.9% 3-months). Production of 5,575 attributable gold equivalent ounces during the first quarter resulted in revenues of US$9.7mln, with a cash operating margin of roughly US$7.9mln.

( ) also had a good month up 14.1% (16.0% 3-months), following the publication of its prelims for the first quarter of the year, posting revenues of C$17.7mln (US$14.4 mln) during the first quarter, up 8.5% from C$16.3mln during the same period last year.

The majors were up an average of 11.5%, with ( ) being the best performing major for a second week in a row, up 13.9% on the month (19.6% 3-months). This strong performance was on the back of the US$538mln acquisition of 14.7% of Vale SAs (ADR) ( ) outstanding royalty debentures from the Brazilian Development Bank and the Government of Brazil. These royalty debentures provide Franco-Nevada with a life of mine net sales royalties on Vales Northern and Southeastern Iron Ore Systems and certain copper and gold operations.

(TSE:WPM, ) also performed strongly, up 12.8% on the month (4.9% 3-months) despite no news flow.

The junior end of the mining royalty and streaming market was up the lowest of all the sub-sets but with an average increase in share prices of 7.5%, its still been an impressive month for royalty juniors.

Ely Gold Royalties ( ) was the best performing junior up 33.8% on the month (21.2% 3-months) following the publication of its full-year results for 2020 (FY20). Elys revenue for the period increased by 60.8% to C$3.3mln, compared to revenue of C$2.1mln in FY19, resulting in a gross profit of C$1.2mln down 30.5% from C$1.7mln in FY19.

( ) also had a strong month, up 31.8% (50.0% 3-months) after it entered into a letter of intent with Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty to help fund the acquisition of the Middle Tennessee Mine royalty.

( ) was one of only a handful of mining royalty and streaming companies with negative share prices this month, down 10.2% (11.9% 3-months) despite a significant increase in indicated mineral resources at s ( ) Lake Rebecca Gold Project, located in Western Australia, where Trident holds a 1.5% net smelter royalty (NSR). This was alongside a positive Q121 update on developments at the companys other interests and a 55% increase in royalty payments for the quarter, totalling US$0.45mln.

(NYSEAMERICAN:GROY) booked its first full month of trading, finishing the month up 5.8%. Gold Royalty Corp is a precious metals-focused royalty and streaming company with a portfolio of 18 net smelter return (NSR) royalties ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% covering 12 projects located in the Americas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. and NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MorganFranklin Consulting, a leading finance and technology advisory firm that specializes in solving complex transformational challenges for its clients, has announced the opening of offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Raleigh, North Carolina. MorganFranklin is the global consulting platform of Vaco, a talent and solutions firm that provides consulting, contract and direct hire solutions to more than 40 markets around the globe.

The growth in these key markets continues the expansion of MorganFranklins geographic reach, and leverages Vacos success in these cities. MorganFranklin, headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, also has regional offices and presence across the United States. The company supports clients across the globe.

Even as we seamlessly serve clients remotely amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our team is fully committed to cementing our presence in the markets and communities we serve, said Chris Mann, MorganFranklins managing partner and chief executive officer. We continue to execute on our vision to be the premier finance, technology, and business services platform and bring peace of mind to our clients.

MorganFranklin works with leading businesses to address complex, transformational finance, technology and business objectives. Areas of expertise include on-demand technical accounting, financial reporting, assistance with IPO, M&A, and SPAC transactions, finance transformation, and the implementation of enterprise & cloud applications including NetSuite, Microsoft ERP, OneStream, and more.

The momentum and growth of MorganFranklin since joining the Vaco platform has been so amazing and there are many reasons to be excited about this expansion said Brian Waller, founder and chief strategy officer of Vaco. Most importantly, it strengthens our ability to offer MorganFranklins expanded services through our long-standing relationships in these two markets allowing us to solve more complex and technical business challenges in partnership with our clients.

Vaco acquired MorganFranklin in 2019, creating a combined professional services innovator capable of delivering executive placement, methodology-driven consulting, critical project resources, comprehensive strategic staffing and permanent placement solutions. The partnership advances a true end-to-end business solution that stretches across all industries and offers critical complementary services capable of immediately adding value to Vaco and MorganFranklin clients.

About MorganFranklin Consulting

MorganFranklin Consulting is a management advisory firm that works with leading businesses to address critical finance, technology and business objectives. MorganFranklin is headquartered in the Washington D.C. area with regional offices in New York, Atlanta, Raleigh, Nashville, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The firm supports clients across the globe.

MorganFranklin Consulting is the brand name referring to the global organization of MorganFranklin, Inc. and its subsidiary MorganFranklin Consulting, LLC.

About Vaco

Vaco provides boutique level service with global reach in the areas of consulting, consultative project resources, executive search, permanent placement and strategic staffing. Areas of expertise include c-suite search, accounting, finance, technology, health care IT, operations, administration and international managed services. Since its founding in 2002, Vaco has grown to serve more than 40 markets across the globe, 9,800 employees and $700 million in revenue. Vaco has been named to Inc. magazines list of the fastest-growing private companies for the past 14 years and was named to Forbes 2018 & 2019 lists of Americas Best Recruiting Firms.

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COMPANIES

Maximus, PAE share integration updates

The two companies have made four deals in five months

Two publicly-traded government contractors are either digesting or getting ready to digest the second in pair of acquisitions they made to expand into new markets or grow footprints among current customers.

Here is how Maximus and PAE updated the investment community on their integrations, and some other important items, in quarterly earnings calls Thursday morning.

Maximus

One deal is done with the former Attain federal practice now in the fold of Maximus, which paid $430 million for that business. In its second deal, it is paying a company-record $1.4 billion for a Veterans Evaluation Services.

The acquisition of VES should close by the end of June, which coincides with the completion of Maximus third fiscal quarter. But the VES business has more than plenty on its to-do list after that happens and work to identify revenue synergy opportunities will be a longer process.

Likely, those pipeline opportunities will be more like two-to-four years out and not immediate, because we are absolutely 100-percent focused as we come together with VES in working with the (Veterans Affairs Department) on the inventory thats built up during the COVID pandemic period, Maximus CEO Bruce Caswell said in the companys second quarter call with analysts.

VES reported $535 million in revenue during its most recent fiscal year. Maximus sees that business contributing $160 million-to-$175 million in sales for its current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

Attain Federal being absorbed into Maximus is a slightly different matter and did create a meaningful uptick in the acquirers overall pipeline as Caswell characterized it, though that is just the beginning.

Were still only getting started with Attain and really understanding what the combined capabilities now mean in terms of larger deals we can bid and competitors we can go against, Caswell said.

But overlaps are now out of the combined pipeline and which of the two teams they feel is the best-positioned with a certain agency to bid for an opportunity will do so, Caswell added.

Reston, Virginia-headquartered Maximus sees Attain Federal adding $120 million-to-$140 million in revenue for the current fiscal year.

Second quarter revenue for Maximus federal segment fell 16.1 percent year-over-year to $330.1 million, a decline mostly attributed to the end of the companys 2020 Census work. The company said organic growth in the quarter was 13 percent when excluding the Census contract.

Maximus raised its full fiscal year revenue outlook to $4 billion-to-$4.2 billion from the prior range of $3.4 billion-to-$3.525 billion on the acquired sales and increase in COVID-19 response efforts the company is supporting.

PAE

PAE closed a pair of acquisitions in quick succession during the late fall of last year and those transactions came nine months after the government services companys public listing.

One win is already on the board that PAE is directly crediting to its additions of Metis Solutions and Centra Technology, albeit one that is cryptic.

During PAEs first quarter call, Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO Charlie Peiffer said the company secured a new $65 million task order at the end of the quarter for counterintelligence and human intelligence support services to a national security customer.

That award represents new business for PAE, which sought a greater intelligence community presence through its nearly $300 million combined purchases of Metis and Centra. New contract vehicles also came to PAE so they could pursue task orders such as the one Peiffer vaguely described.

Falls Church-headquartered PAE does believe most of the sizeable award decisions under that category will be more of a second half activity this year versus in the first given ongoing procurement delays because of the pandemic. But the company also sees early traction as evidenced by the award.

Where the value creation is going to be coming from is what were calling phase one, which is the utilization and capitalizing of the (multiple-award contract) vehicles that really were of interest to us, Peiffer said.

We will also be pursuing some of the single-award opportunities, not just the IDIQs, those are back-end loaded, but we see excellent opportunities we can pursue together.

Centra and Metis contributed $89 million in revenue for the first quarter, which saw revenue climb 21.3-percent year-over-year to $748.6 million overall and grow organically by around 7 percent.

Opportunity would also be an apt description of how PAE sees the landscape for its pursuit of more work with civilian agencies, which the Biden administration sought significant increases for in its April budget blueprint.

Peiffer highlighted the Justice, State and Health and Human Services departments as customers through which PAE could seek additional business surrounding its work in global health, logistics, international development and other areas.

Regarding the process to find a new CEO, Peiffer said PAEs board of directors is working with an executive search firm. Then-CEO John Heller departed the company in March after seven years.

PAEs financial outlook for this year remains the same: $3.05 billion-to-$3.15 billion in revenue and $205 million-to-$215 million in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).
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You have questions. I have some answers.

Q: I was a big fan of the original Equalizer. I recently saw part of an episode of another version that featured a largely Black cast, including the title character, and was set in Europe. Can you tell me anything about this? Was it a series, and where can I find it?

A: For those of you tuning in late, The Equalizer was originally a series on CBS from 1985 to 1989. Edward Woodward starred as the title character, named Robert McCall, for most of the run. Richard Jordan played another character helping with the equalizing for a time when Woodward had to lighten his schedule after a heart attack.

In 2014, the series concept was reworked for an Equalizer movie starring Denzel Washington, with the new character again called Robert McCall. A sequel, The Equalizer 2, followed in 2018; that movie was set partly in Europe, and I suspect that is what you saw. Both of those movies have been released on DVD and Blu-ray and other formats. In February of this year, a new television series with the Equalizer title premiered on CBS. It stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall. You can find episodes streaming on the Paramount+ subscription service, on demand and on CBS on Sunday nights.

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Q: Do you know why Mina left The Resident?

A: Fans were surprised when Dr. Mina Okafor left the shows Atlanta setting to return to Nigeria. But it is what Shaunette Renee Wilson, who played Mina on Foxs medical drama, wanted. Her widely reported statement said: After deeply thoughtful reflection, I approached the producers some time ago asking to leave the show and they agreed  and gave my character a wonderful sendoff. I am appreciative of them for allowing me to embody as beautiful of a soul as Dr. Mina Okafor. I would also like to thank the studio, network, cast, crew and, most of all, the wonderfully dedicated fans of The Resident for their support over the last four seasons. And, as TVLIne reported, the show has left the door open if Wilson wants to return sometime.

Q: Do you have any news on whether The Blacklist and Greys Anatomy will be returning next season? Both shows seem to be winding down this season (but I hope not!).

A: The Blacklist has already been renewed for another season. As of this writing, Greys Anatomy has not been renewed, but ABC wants it as long as star Ellen Pompeo is there. However, Pompeo is reportedly at the end of her current contract and has not signed off on a new one. That has led to off-camera challenges, with Greys showrunner Krista Vernoff telling The Hollywood Reporter in March that she has been structuring this entire season so it can serve as a series ender if the show does not go on. That may explain why you felt the show was winding down.

Q: In the old Two and a Half Men series there is a woman called Chelsea. Could you tell me her name and if she played in any other shows?

A: Jennifer Taylor played Chelsea Melini, one of the girlfriends of Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) on the CBS sitcom. She guest-starred in an array of TV series before and after Men, as well as some movie appearances. Most recently, according to her Twitter account (@JenniferBTaylor), she released a book of poetry, Heart on Your Sleeve Girl. She has also been cast in a planned new thriller, A Deadly Deed. You can find out more about her at the website http://jennifertaylor.me.

Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. Letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, leave the Elysee Palace after they received the French Legion of Honour medal in Paris on April 21, 2017. EPA





On Monday, Bill and Melinda Gates, one of the world's richest couples, shocked the world with the announcement that their 27-year marriage was coming to an end, raising questions about the impact on the couple's philanthropy, which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars poured into China over the last couple of decades.



The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the world's richest non-profit organisations with 1,600 employees globally. It is known for its work in areas of public health, education and climate change. There are currently no planned changes for the foundation and the couple will remain co-chairs, the organisation said in a statement.



"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," the couple said in a joint statement posted to Twitter.



The divorce settlement is expected to be one of the largest ever made, possibly topping the $38 billion that MacKenzie Scott got when in 2019 she separated from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man with a current net worth of $193 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Bill Gates, co-founder of tech behemoth Microsoft, is the world's fourth-richest person with a net worth of $145 billion.



Bill and Melinda Gates have spent years looking for new ways to give away their fortune. They started the foundation in 1994, when it was known as the William H. Gates Foundation. In 2000, it was merged with the Gates Learning Foundation under its current name.



In 2002, the foundation made its first grant in China, giving $100,000 to the China Academy of Health Policy in Beijing, according to data published on its website. In the 19 years since, the organisation has given more than $377.6 million through 271 grants in the country. That represents 0.5 per cent of the $67.8 billion the foundation has spent since it started.



In 2007, the foundation opened an office in Beijing, aiming to help the country address major domestic challenges such as preventing infectious diseases and poverty. Its donations in the country have mostly been in the area of public health, with funds marked for helping with numerous diseases, including HIV, polio, malaria and, more recently, Covid-19.



During the pandemic, the foundation committed $5 million to help with China's Covid-19 response and worked with Chinese government agencies and private companies to slow and control the spread of the outbreak inside the country. It also provided technical support to accelerate the development of appropriate diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics for the disease.





Bill Gates gives a child a rotavirus vaccine against diarrhoea at the Ahentia Health Centre in Ghana on March 26, 2013. Much of Gates' philanthropy has focused on health care and fighting preventable diseases. Photo: AFP



The foundation's funds have also supported the expansion of China's National Immunisation Programme, which launched in 1978 with the goal of controlling vaccine-preventable diseases, and it has worked to enhance primary health care, improve child nutrition, and promote philanthropy in the country, according to its website.



Other areas of its work in China include bringing high-quality, low-cost Chinese-made tools and treatments to market, transferring agricultural innovations to other parts of the world, making affordable drugs and health products available to developing countries, and helping to develop sanitation technologies.



The foundation's biggest grant in China came in 2016, when it gave $35 million to the Beijing Huayi Health and Drug Research Institute to help translate fundamental research into practical applications.



Much of the Seattle-based foundation's money has come from the founding couple, who put $36 billion into it between 1994 and 2018, according to the website. By the end of 2019, it had $43.3 billion in assets, spending more than $5 billion for the year, financial filings show.



No organisation can give away money indefinitely, though, without a healthy portfolio of investments. The vast majority of the foundation's investments are in the US, where it has made 109 of them. Outside its home country, the Gates Foundation has made more investments in China than anywhere else.



Between 2007 and 2012, the foundation made eight investments in mainland China and two in Hong Kong, covering the retail, biotech, software, automotive manufacturing, steel, containers and wholesale industries.





Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Microsoft founder Bill Gates during the annual Boao Forum on the southern Chinese resort island of Hainan on April 8, 2013. Gates stepped down as Chairman of Microsoft the following year to focus on philanthropy. AFP
(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, 06 MAG - A much-needed and urgent project was recently completed at the Teaching Hospital in Zawiya Central, a city of about 250,000 residents on the Mediterranean coast of Libya, about 48 km west of the capital Tripoli.



The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Tunis announced the news, and said it was a project "that gave more efficient and better equipped pediatrics and ob-gyn departments back to the community of Zawiya, ready to respond to about a million patients who, according to estimates, come from all the surrounding areas to use the services of the main public hospital in the region".



"Together with Libyan authorities, the Teaching Hospital is among the priority structures of the local health system, and, as such, it is supported by AICS thanks to the cooperation programme 'Recovery, Stability and Socio Economic Development in Libya - Baladiyati', financed by the European Union through the EU Emergency Trust Fund - North Africa Window".



The intervention was carried out in the field by the Italian NGOs CEFA and Fondazione Albero della Vita (FADV).



They worked non-stop for 14 months from March 2020 to now under the coordination of the regional AICS headquarters in Tunis, which is also responsible for Libya.



They renovated the hospital's pediatrics and ob-gyn departments, provided 20 new beds and essential medical equipment including four neonatal incubators.



They also offered specialised training courses for the hospital's medical and paramedic staff.



At the project's closing ceremony, held at the Medical Research Centre in Zawiya Central, hospital director Dr. Salah Betro and his staff expressed enthusiasm for the results of the project and highlighted the importance of continual and long-term collaboration for the good of the community of Zawiya.



The Teaching Hospital was an avant-garde facility for the specialist training of doctors from regions across Libya until 2011, after which it saw its capacity for timely, quality medical care reduced by about 50%.



AICS Tunis Director Andrea Senatori said the conclusion of this project is the first important milestone in a path of strengthening basic services in Libya through the Baladyiati programme.



"This challenge involves the commitment of AICS in support of 55 health facilities, 19 schools and four public hygiene projects (Wash) in 22 particularly vulnerable Libyan municipalities, for a total investment of 22 million euros of EU funds," Senatori said.



"The 'Recovery, Stability and Socio-economic Development in Libya - Baladiyati' programme foresees the allocation of 50 million euros from the EU Trust Fund to carry out more than 100 interventions aimed at strengthening basic services in the health, education and hydro-hygienic (Wash) fields in 24 Libyan municipalities along the main migratory routes. In this framework, AICS manages 22 million euros and carries out a leadership role in programme coordination, which is implemented alongside the UN agencies UNDP (18 million) and UNICEF (10 million)". (ANSAmed).
The Moorepark Technology Centre in Cork is designed to facilitate the real-time detection of dangerous pathogens in water and wastewater systems

( ) said it is expanding its data and technology division, Rinocloud, into the Moorepark Technology Centre (MTC) in Fermoy, Cork, Ireland, to create a European centre of excellence for the real-time detection of dangerous pathogens such as Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in water and wastewater systems.

The AIM-listed group said the artificial intelligence (AI) MTC will also facilitate research, development and the assembly of Rinoclouds patent-pending optofluidic rigs to meet immediate and local demand for infrastructural installations of real-time SARS-CoV-2 detection in Ireland and across Europe in wastewater.

The firm said the MTC project represented an exciting initiative for community control of the current global health crisis and early warning of future pandemics.

DeepVerge added that its Irish headcount is also expected to triple in 2021 in response to growing demand for its services, with the group expecting to add up to 60 new hires for roles in data science, physics and epidemiology.

"For 5 years, Rinocloud has been a driving innovator in real-time detection of dangerous pathogens such as E.Coli, in drinking water through its RAWTest program, partly funded by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland. Following on from the recent MoU signed with China Resources and the York, UK laboratories, this EU facility expands DeepVerge's capability to design, produce and assemble instruments on two continents, playing a key role in Ireland, UK and Europe, detecting and monitoring current and future outbreaks of COVID-19", DeepVerge chief executive Gerry Brandon said in a statement.
Miami, FL, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elitium, the future of blockchain wealth management, has partnered with GDA Capital, the influential digital asset investment firm, to host NFT BAZL, the first-ever NFT Art Exhibition. NFT BAZL is set to take place at The Temple Houses tech-enabled interiors in South Beach, Miami.

On June 2nd, attendees will join one of the first on-site displays from some of the top NFT artists. The event will be the first to host a physical NFT gallery that will showcase both digital and physical art from our curated collection of artists. These will be hand-selected by the prestigious secondary art market specialist and curator Estelle Ohayon.

Our team is composed of names such as Daniel Mazzone, Paul Rousso, Super Buddha, and Tom Bates. We will be showcasing over 100 of their physical and digital masterpieces that will be auctioned live during the event.

In times of globalization, the world is turning digital. Borderless transfer of ownership between people without a middle man will be a key factor when it comes to mass adoption of blockchain technology. Thats where I see huge value that can be created by making NFTs simple and tangible. By bringing amazing artists to our events and creating a platform that will benefit both buyers and sellers, we can build the bridge between the physical and digital world.  Elitium Founder and CEO Raoul Milhado.

As the market for NFTs continues to grow over the next few years, were focusing on building the platforms and events that will lead the space. NFT BAZL is just the start of what we believe will be the future of art exhibitions.  GDA Capital Co-founder and CEO Michael Gord.

The event will also feature the launch of Elitiums in-app marketplace. Collectors will be able to purchase exclusive artworks by simply scanning the QR code for their favorites and placing their bids via an online auction. The app then keeps track of the provenance and ownership of the art leveraging a purpose-built blockchain. As the Elitium platform is targeted to high net worth individuals, the event is sure to bring quality buyers to the Artists whilst incentivizing artists with royalties when using the Elitium NFT marketplace.

The Elitium platform treats the NFT infrastructure as a method of transferring ownership of highly collectible physical and digital masterpieces. By leveraging the blockchain we can pay a royalty to the artists and provide additional security around authentication and storage.  Elitium Founder and CTO Jean-Pierre Morand.

NFT BAZL comes at a time when Miami is becoming one of the most crypto-friendly cities in the world. Mayor Francis Suarez has expressed positive attitudes towards the industry, saying that he wants the city to be on the next wave of innovation. The event also dovetails Elitiums recent partnership with Haute Living Media.

Tickets for the NFT BAZL event will be available through: https://nftbazl.com.

About Elitium

Elitium helps investors access digital assets via a trusted, compliant, and secure wealth management platform. It focuses on ease-of-use with low barriers to entry to help lead the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry to mass adoption. For more information visit www.elitium.io



About GDA Capital

GDA Capital is the capital markets arm of the GDA Group, one of the most established blockchain firms in North America. It provides vertically integrated financial technology services to institutional investors and disruptive technology companies. For more information visit www.gda.capital





Media Contact

Robert Penington

Robert@thronepr.com

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New York, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market  Analysis By Disease Indication, Drug Class, Distribution Channel, By Region, By Country : Market Insights, Covid-19 Pandemic, Competition and Forecast" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06067731/?utm_source=GNW

Moreover, factors such as the irregular food habits, unhealthy lifestyle of people, increased level of pollution and increase in alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are likely to contribute towards the growth of the IBD market. Additionally, rise in investments in building a robust pipeline for IBD, increase in lifestyle-related risk factors and growing popularity of prebiotic and probiotic foods are likely to boost the growth of the global Inflammatory Bowel Disease market during the forecast period.



The North America region dominates the inflammatory bowel disease market. In North America, rising prevalence and incidence of IBD across the region is the major driving factor for Inflammatory Bowel Disease market. Moreover, an increasing number of cigarette-smokers in United States and significant funding in the IBD field in Canada is further estimated to boost the growth of the IBD market in the region. The IBD market in North America has remained at the forefront in terms of growth opportunities as well as developments in the field of Crohns Disease over the years. The region is likely to continue to account for a significant piece of the revenue pie over the next few years as well, thanks to the presence of several pharmaceutical and biosciences companies and the presence of numerous leading players in the field of Crohns Disease.



Additionally, increasing geriatric population base and prevalence of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns disease and also well-developed healthcare expenditure coupled with increased per capita healthcare expenditure across regions would enhance the growth of the inflammatory Bowel Disease market during the forecast period.



Scope of the Report

 The report analyses Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market By Value.



 The report analyses Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market By Disease Indication (Crohns Disease, Ulcerative Colitis.)



 The report further assesses the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market By Drug Class (TNF Inhibitors, Aminosalicylates, Integrin Antagonists, Others.)



 The report further assesses the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies.)



 The Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease has been analysed By Region (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific) and By Country (United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, China, Japan, India)



 The key insights of the report have been presented through the frameworks of Major Mergers & Acquisitions, Recent Industry Developments. Also, the attractiveness of the market has been presented By Region, By Disease Indication, By Drug Class and By Distribution Channel. Additionally, trends, drivers and challenges of the industry has been analysed in the report.



 The companies analysed in the report include Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie Inc., Takeda, Pfizer, Roche, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, UCB and Eli Lilly & Company.



 The report presents the analysis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Market for the historical period of 2016-2020 and the forecast period of 2021-2026.



Key Target Audience



 Pharmaceutical Companies



 Diagnostics Companies



 Pharma R&D Organizations



 Research and Consulting Firms



 Government and Research Organisations

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06067731/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Dhaka subtly sent out a message to the Bharatiya Janata Partys government in New Delhi as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government lauded the Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for upholding the principle of religious harmony in the state.

After her landslide victory in the state assembly elections, Banerjee received a congratulatory letter from Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen, who lauded her for upholding Bengals long-cherished values  principle of religious harmony and brotherhood, which Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the neighbouring nation espoused.

Momens congratulatory letter to Banerjee apparently came with a subtle dig for the BJP, which the Trinamool Congress defeated in the just-concluded assembly elections in West Bengal. Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress had accused the BJP of pursuing a communal and divisive campaign to win the elections and come to power in the state.

Read | 'Bangladeshis, Rohingyas are Mamata's biggest strength'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the BJPs poll-campaign in West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress on several occasions blamed the BJP of making attempts for religious polarisation in the state in order to reap electoral dividends.

Shahs remark on infiltration from Bangladesh to India during electioneering in West Bengal emerged as the latest irritant in the relation between the two neighbours, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government in Dhaka conveying to New Delhi its displeasure over the statement. He told a news portal of West Bengal that poor people from Bangladesh infiltrated into India as they found not enough food for them in their own country. The union Home Minister made the statement amid his extensive campaigning for the BJP in West Bengal, where the saffron party made alleged influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh to India a major poll-plank.

Read | Amit Shah's remark on infiltration emerges as irritant in India-Bangladesh relations

His comment, however, triggered sharp reaction from Momen. I would say his (Shahs) knowledge about Bangladesh is very limited, said the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.

This is not the first time that the remarks made by Home Minister of India upset the Bangladesh Government. His December 2019 statement about religious persecution of minority Hindus in Bangladesh had also irked Dhaka. He had made the statement while piloting the controversial; Citizenship (Amendment) Act through the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Hasina had then tacitly conveyed her displeasure to New Delhi as two of her ministers had cancelled proposed visits to India Momen had then termed Shahs remarks as unwarranted and untrue. Shah had in 2018 also compared people allegedly infiltrating from Bangladesh to India as termites.

Even as he was on a visit to Bangladesh on March 26-27, Modi left no stone unturned to woo the Matuas  a community that holds sway in several assembly constituencies in West Bengal. He not only visited and paid obeisance at a sacred shrine of the Matuas at Orakandi in Bangladesh, but also pledged to upgrade a local middle school for girls and build a new primary school. He eulogized the Hindu Vaishnavite sects founder Harichand Thakur, who was born in a nearby village in 1812, but spent most of his life and died at Orakandi in 1878. He also recalled his meeting with the communitys late matriarch, Boro Ma Bina Pani Devi, at Thakur Nagar in West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
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A powerful Indian-American doctors group has initiated talks with the Canadian government to urgently donate to India as many as 5,000 ventilators that it had purchased last year at the peak of their Covid-19 wave and are now unused.

Dr Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, said: We're working with Canada and the government. They have about 5,000 ventilators."

"It is with the Red Cross of Canada. We are urging the Canadian Government to donate this to India through the Red Cross to address the current Covid-19 crisis, he told PTI in an interview.

Jonnalagadda, said AAPI doctors working on this are hoping that the Canadian Government would agree to their request to donate it free to address the major health crisis in India.

Also read: Indian-American doctors for removal of hurdles to provide services to Covid-19 patients in India

Describing the current situation in India as horrible, he said that thousands of Indian-American doctors have come forward to help their motherland. It ranges from raising funds to providing voluntary counselling services.

Dr Anupama Gotiumukula, AAPIs president-elect, said they had a call with the Canadian Government over the matter on Wednesday.

They have 5,000 ventilators which they want to send to India in collaboration with AAPI, she said, hoping that these lives saving ventilators would soon be shipped to India.

Indian-American doctors, she said, are very motivated to help India.

According to Dr Gotiumukula, AAPI doctors are now working with the Indian Government to urgently develop a platform through which Indian-American doctors can provide free health care services and tele-health to patients in India.

A meeting over the matter was held on Tuesday.

Also read: US reissues travel advisory, urges Americans not to travel to India

The meeting was attended by Dr Anurag Mairal, an Adjunct Professor of Medicine and the Director, Global Outreach Programmes at Stanford Byers Center for Bio design, Stanford University; Ayesha Choudhury Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and Dr Vijay Raghavan, Principal scientific adviser for the government of India and Dr Prasad Garimella from Atlanta.

So, we had a very productive teleconference last night to discuss the development of a tele-health platform for the Indian government with the help of US technology. Hopefully, that will become live pretty soon, Dr Gotiumukula said.

During this crisis, two telehealth platforms  eglobaldoctirs.com and MdTok.Com -- have been offered free to AAPI doctors for the short term.

But the one being developed by the Indian Government in association with US technology would be permanent in nature and would include liability coverage and clear them of all legal hurdles, she said.

Such a platform would address the crisis of the severe shortage of doctors in India. AAPI is also conducting zoom sessions for Indian doctors.

New coronavirus cases and deaths in India on Thursday hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported, taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 2,10,77,410 and the death toll to 2,30,168.

The active cases have increased to 35,66,398.
What just happened? Fitness giant Peloton has announced a voluntary recall of two treadmills in the US and UK over safety concerns after a six-year-old child died and dozens of people were injured. The company had insisted its Tread and Tread+ machines were safe, despite calls from users, but is now recalling over 125,000 machines.

The move follows weeks of discussions with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), whose concerns Peloton had called inaccurate and misleading.

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+, Pelotons chief executive, John Foley, said in a statement. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.

Peloton is asking customers to stop using the treadmills, which are no longer for sale in the US. Repairs will be offered over the coming weeks. Alternatively, owners can contact the company for a full refund.

Peloton advised parents to keep children away from its Tread+ machine after a six-year-old who was pulled and pinned underneath the rear rollers died. The equipment requires a higher ground clearance than other treadmills due to the type of motor it uses. There have been 72 reports of adults, children, and pets being dragged under the treadmills, resulting in fractures, third-degree abrasions, lacerations, and scrapes.

The CPSC released a disturbing video showing a child getting trapped beneath one of the treadmills while it was operating. Peloton responded at the time by saying it knows that the Tread+ is safe for the home when used in accordance with warnings and safety instructions.

CPSC was unwilling to engage in any meaningful discussions with Peloton before issuing its inaccurate and misleading press release, it added.

The Tread is also being recalled in the UKthe Tread+ is only sold in the USbecause the touchscreen console can detach and fall off.

Peloton is also dealing with reports that a bug in its API allowed anyone to access user data, though the vulnerability has now been fixed. The companys shares were down almost 15% yesterday, wiping around $4.1 billion off its market value.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

With mounting homelessness that Albuquerques new shelter alone is unlikely to resolve, some local leaders say it is time to follow the lead of other communities by expanding services to include sanctioned encampments.

Such camps, sometimes called safe outdoor spaces, are managed sites with tents or low-cost structures where people without homes can sleep and access bathrooms and showers. Unlike unauthorized versions, authorities do not break them up. They have become increasingly common around the U.S.; Seattle, for example, has a series of such villages, while at least one New Mexico community, Las Cruces, has embraced the model with its Camp Hope.

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Albuquerque City Councilor Diane Gibson and Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie OMalley are interested in pursuing something similar locally, saying it could be a better alternative for those who might now be sleeping on sidewalks, in doorways, arroyos or other places unfit for human habitation.

Albuquerque has seen a sharp rise in such unsheltered homelessness, which accounted for 37% of all those identified as homeless in an official 2019 count, up from 14% in 2015.

I think the big thing is it really addresses the need of folks who dont want to be in a shelter, OMalley said of safe outdoor spaces.

While she acknowledged it is nobodys ideal living situation, she said the camps would offer a level of safety, consistency and sanitation that can help residents better tap into other resources and achieve stability.

Gibson said she has contemplated the idea since she and OMalley began working years ago on what is now the communitys first Tiny Home Village  a 30-unit transitional housing development featuring 120-square-foot homes with beds, desks and porches. Sanctioned encampments would provide a somewhat similar environment, she said, but a lower capital investment than the nearly $5 million for Tiny Home Village.

She sees the sites as a nimble complement to places like the Gateway Center  a former hospital in Southeast Albuquerque that the city recently bought for $15 million and will use as an emergency shelter and services hub. The city, Gibson said, needs a range of support options for people who are homeless, including those who fear traditional shelters because of negative past experiences.

People are not saying no to what were offering because they want to sleep on the cold or on a hard sidewalk; thats not true, Gibson said. Its because they dont like the options being offered to them, and for good reasons.

The local Homeless Coordinating Council  which includes leaders from the city, Bernalillo County and the University of New Mexico  has identified sanctioned encampments as a high-impact strategy for addressing homelessness.

The city of Albuquerques Family and Community Services Department is in the very early stages of exploring the idea by looking at examples in other cities to see what worked best in terms of safety, security, sanitation and more, according to a spokeswoman. Department Director Carol Pierce said in a recent HCC meeting that there is some local enthusiasm around the model, and conversations are already happening with potential partners in the local faith-based community.

The citys 2021 bond program  a $140 million infrastructure package going to voters this fall  includes $500,000 for encampments.

Danny Whatley of The Rock at NoonDay, an Albuquerque day shelter for people who are homeless, said he is not a fan of sanctioned encampments as a solution. He did not particularly like the Tiny Home Village concept either because he thought the units lack of individual bathrooms made them insufficient. (Residents of the village share restrooms.)

But Whatley said authorized outdoor camps may now be a necessary evil given the circumstances. The Rocks executive director said he fears a new surge of homelessness when current pandemic-related eviction moratoriums and resources expire  and thats in a city that already has a significant homeless population. An official one-night count in 2019 identified about 1,500 people as homeless in Albuquerque, and the citys pre-pandemic estimates were that about 5,000 households experience homelessness at some point in a given year.

Could a sanctioned tent city assist that number and help some folks? Yeah, it probably could, Whatley said. Unfortunately, thats the world we live in now  trying to find a safe, secure place or site for folks to live in a tent.

Such camps may provide more than tents, OMalley and Gibson said. They cited options like Pallet-branded shelters, which are enclosed aluminum 64-square-foot structures designed specifically to house people who are homeless. The units have lockable doors and windows and are designed to accommodate electricity, heating and air conditioning. Prices start at $4,900 apiece. They are used in a few dozen communities around the U.S. already, according to the companys website, largely on the West Coast, though there are projects in development in the Midwest and East Coast as well.

Steve Berg with the National Alliance to End Homelessness said the organization does not have an official stance on sanctioned encampments, only that they are implemented the right way. Organizers, he said, must think through day-to-day issues like who is responsible for emptying the trash cans, while also keeping in mind the bigger picture.

Success always (depends) on whether theres a clear and actual plan to get people out of that space and into housing as quickly as possible, said Berg, the alliances vice president of programs and policy. If you dont have that, youre not going to get what you want out of it.

Gibson said she sees that as the underlying aim of any sanctioned encampment initiative.

Thats the goal: permanent housing. Thats the one thing we can agree on.  (But) we have to start with where people are, she said. And the people who are suffering greatly are the ones who are having to sleep outside in the cold, in the heat, on sidewalks and underpasses.
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TUNIS, TUNISIA (May 6, 2021)  While the 2019 elections were successful in ensuring a peaceful transfer of power, the countrys newly elected officials have failed to address the countrys significant political, economic, and social challenges.

Yesterdays vote to override the presidents veto and pass amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court was a promising step to reinvigorate the countrys democratic reform process. Now that the law establishing the voting mechanisms for the Constitutional Court has been passed, the parliament and the Supreme Judicial Council should move forward quickly to appoint the four members of the court allocated to each under the constitution. The new court will play a vital role in considering the constitutionality of laws and realigning the countrys legal framework with the 2014 Constitution, and it should begin its work as soon as possible.

Since the elections, political disputes in parliament and among the branches of government have hindered the countrys democratic transition, resulting in a political stalemate that has blocked progress on finding solutions to the countrys ongoing social and economic challenges that were at the root of Tunisias 2011 unrest.

Time is of the essence, and it is incumbent on all political forces to compromise and address urgent priorities. In addition to appointing the Constitutional Court members, The Carter Center urges Tunisian political leaders to cooperate in the appointment of ministers and immediately begin negotiations on the proposed national dialogue. Each of these priorities will require leaders to overcome their ideological and political differences for the good of the country and to engage in a meaningful dialogue in the spirit of finding a compromise.

Because of an inability to compromise, the parliament has failed to move forward not only on the appointment of members of the Constitutional Court but also on permanently establishing other constitutionally mandated independent bodies. These include the High Independent Authority for the Elections, the Audiovisual Communication Authority, the National Authority on Good Governance and Fight Against Corruption, the Authority on Human Rights, and the Authority for Sustainable Development and the Rights of Future Generations.

The need for the Constitutional Court has been highlighted by the current political dispute between the speaker of parliament, the president, and the prime minister over the presidents refusal to administer the oath of office to newly appointed ministers. The Temporary Authority on the Constitutionality of Laws rejected a request from the prime minister to give its opinion on the dispute, citing a lack of jurisdiction. The Temporary Authority said that the Constitutional Court is the only body with the mandate to rule on the dispute. This standoff has kept the newly appointed ministers from taking up their positions.

The essence of the dispute is the interpretation of Article 89 of the constitution, which concerns the procedure by which the government is nominated and approved. The prime minister nominated 11 new ministers, who were approved by parliament in separate votes on Jan. 26. Each of the newly nominated ministers received more than the required 109 votes. Article 89(5) states that once the government gains the confidence of the parliament, the president shall appoint the head of government and the members of the government and administer the oath of office. The president has refused to do so, as he objects to several of the nominated ministers because of allegations of conflicts of interest.

The prime minister and the speaker of parliament interpret Article 89(5) to mean that the president has no choice but to swear in the ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by parliament. The president insists that the language of the constitution does not mandate that he swear in the new ministers and has asked the prime minister to make new nominations to replace those ministers to whom he objects. Without a functioning court, such disputes among the branches of government remain unresolved, resulting in a political stalemate that further delays progress in addressing the pressing issues facing the country. In addition, the lack of a functioning court impedes the process of aligning Tunisian law with the constitution, thus denying citizens of the rights outlined therein.

More broadly, the failure of elected officials to compromise through meaningful discussion has led to a renewed call for a national dialogue as a way forward. However, because of the ongoing political disputes, talks have not begun on the agenda and modalities of any dialogue. Any structured dialogue should operate under a strict mandate with an expedited timeline and be inclusive, as the issues facing the country are urgent. It should involve all key stakeholders, including civil society.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays and disruptions to the normal functions of governments around the world. In Tunisia, it has contributed to an increasing social and economic crisis and highlighted the need for leadership, compromise, and political stability. Pursuing the common good in a pluralist democracy is not possible without compromise. Both individual members of parliament and the president took an oath to serve the nation and pursue the common good. This means changing their mindset from one of campaigning for office to one of governing in the best interest of the country and its citizens. The ultimate responsibility for finding common ground to move the country forward should lie with elected members of parliament.

Translation

              

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, associate communications director, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

In Tunis, Don Bisson, mission director, don.bisson@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
FORT WORTH, TX, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) announced today that our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been awarded a new contract with Round Rock ISD for Screen Printing and Embroidery Services.



Round Rock Independent School District is a school district headquartered in the city of Round Rock, Texas. As of Fall 2019, the school district is serving more than 51,000 students, pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Round Rock ISD includes 55 schools that serve students in southern Williamson County, northwest Travis County, the city of Round Rock and portions of the cities of Austin and Cedar Park.

Round Rock Independent School District - https://roundrockisd.org/

CEO Marc Johnson said, David Kirk, our Vice President of Marketing, will take the lead on developing this new opportunity. Round Rock is a wonderful area and we look forward to working with the amazing people in the Round Rock ISD.

About ADMQ: Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing sales, with sales topping $5.1 million in 2020. The Company sells Anything With A Logo on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms.

Forward Looking Statement:

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as strategy, expects, continues, plans, anticipates, believes, would, will, estimates, intends, projects, goals, targets and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: ADM Endeavors, Inc. | 817.840.6271

Paul Knopick | pknopick@eandecommunications.com| 940.262.3584

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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. &&
A CORK GP has witnessed an increase in alcohol-related patient visits to the practice

Dr John Sheehan of Blackpool Bridge Surgery there was certainly more alcohol use during the pandemic and that people being home meant they didnt have to drive to drop or collect people and were therefore inclined to drink more.

He said that people also began to drink more during the pandemic out of a sense of frustration and boredom and to cope with anxiety and stress.

Dr. John Sheehan. Picture Dan Linehan

Dr Sheehan was speaking following the announcement of the introduction of minimum alcohol prices under section 11 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 which will be signed later this week by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly for commencement in the first week of January next year.

Minister Donnelly, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar announced the decision to increase the prices of low-cost, high-alcohol at a briefing yesterday.

Speaking to The Echo, Dr Sheehan said that he welcomed the Governments announcement of the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol.

I welcome the minimum pricing as a public health measure.

Cost has shown to be one of the most effective deterrents in terms of changing behaviour so whether its smoking and the cost of cigarettes or alcohol and the cost of alcohol, it does have an effect, its been shown internationally to make a difference.

Dr Sheehan said while it is not a total solution by any stretch of the imagination, that it is a way to stop supermarkets and larger retailers from using alcohol to attract people into their premises.

Unfortunately, people who have alcohol addiction issues will tend to buy the cheapest alcohol that is the most concentrated so thats where the minimum unit pricing will have some element of an effect in terms of reducing the capacity for people to buy that volume of alcohol so its a welcome initiative and its long overdue, he said.

Reaction from publicans

Publican Michael O'Donovan.Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Meanwhile, Michael ODonovan, owner of the Castle Inn on South Main Street and Cork city chair of the VFI, said that minimum unit pricing wont have an effect on publicans on the on-trade and is more directed at the off-trade.

It will give people a more realistic view of a price point to what alcohol is because in many of the multiples they sell alcohol on promotions cheaper than what we can even buy it so it probably makes it a more level playing field, he said.

TD and Sinn Feins spokesman on Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing, Thomas Gould said that action was badly needed.

Thomas Gould TD Picture: Andy Gibson.

25% of non-Covid ICU beds are taken with alcohol-related issues. That is a stark and shocking figure and shows just how badly action is needed.

The Minister must now use the time until January to put intense pressure on his counterpart in the North because at the end of the day, an all-Island approach is the best approach, he said.

Deputy Gould said that minimum unit pricing should be only the beginning of our journey to protecting vulnerable people from alcohol-related harm in this state.

Concerns

Cllr. Ken O'Flynn. Picture Denis Minihane.

Independent councillor Kenneth OFlynn said that the Governments introduction of MUP comes from a place of misunderstanding and ignorance and that the same approach taken in Scotland has driven more people into poverty and also opened up avenues for criminality.

Mainland Europe, France, Spain dont have a problem with alcohol and its significantly cheaper to go and buy a bottle of vodka in a supermarket in Spain or France, equally with wine.

The reality is that our relationship with alcohol, yes must be discussed in a mature adult way but I think it has to be discussed in an adult way when it comes to educating people about alcohol, he said.

Minister Donnelly also acknowledged that minimum unit pricing is not enough.

He said pathways must be put in place to help people with addiction and to ensure addiction services are properly funded and there are strong education and awareness programmes put in place.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau have seized a Mercedes, cash and frozen more than 110,000 in a number of bank accounts following raids in Dublin and Kildare this morning.

CAB says the searches targeted two organised crime gangs who are "actively involved" in drug trafficking nationally.
New Delhi: Actress and Bigg Boss fame Mahekk Chahal, who was one of the most talked-about contestants in season 5 of the reality show is now gearing up to participate in yet another adventure show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 11'.

The stunning star in her recent interview with ETimes TV opened up on her split with actor Ashmit Patel. She said, "I chose to walk off. When you start living together and spending more time with a particular person, you get to know the real him/her. I don't think that Ashmit was the right person for me."

Adding on her post-break-up journey, Mahekk said, "My friends and family stood by me. I shared my issues with them. I was in Goa for a year. Owing to the lockdown, I would come down to Mumbai only if required. I spent a lot of time with nature in Goa; nature has a calming, soothing and healing influence on me. Time heals everything and this time was no exception. It was not easy as there was no work during COVID; so your mind tends to keep thinking the same thing. But I have finally healed myself."

She also reacted to her break-up with Danish Khan. The actress revealed, "I like love, one is lucky if he/she falls in love. I am sorry for those people who are depressed and don't get love. I am looking for love again."

Mahekk and Ashmit dated for over five years reportedly before announcing an engagement in August 2017. But they called it quits last year.

Both Ashmit and Maheck have featured in different seasons of the reality show 'Bigg Boss'. The former was a part of season 4 whereas the latter was seen in season 5 respectively.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A new $350,000 investment could help two northern New Mexico ski bums feed a lot more outdoor enthusiasts with tasty, healthy snacks made by their Questa-based company Taos Bakes.

The New Mexico Angels contributed $220,000 in late April to help close out a new capital raise that existing investors began last fall to reach a $350,000 target, said Tim Wegener of Carouth Capital Partners, a Texas-based private equity firm that previously invested about $4 million in Taos Bakes. The new investment will help the firm expand its line of products and ramp up marketing efforts to broaden its consumer base.

Taos Bakes, which co-founders Kyle Hawari and Brooks Thostenson launched in 2014, has grown exponentially in recent years, more than tripling its sales from about $1 million in 2018 to a projected $3.5 million this year, said Wegener, who serves on the board.

They have some great products that have become pretty popular, Wegener told the Journal. The co-founders are both from Dallas. They finished college and they love to ski, but they learned there are no good choices on the market to ski and eat energy bars outdoors, so they started making their own.

The partners began baking in their own kitchen, then moved to a commercial kitchen in Taos, where they sold energy bars direct to consumers at markets. Then, in 2016, they moved the operation to a 10,000-square-foot facility at the Questa Business Park, which the town built with funding from Chevron Mining after that company closed its molybdenum operation there in 2014.

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Funding from Carouth Capital helped the bakers  who originally called their company Taos Mountain Energy Bars  to fully equip the facility for commercial-scale production. In 2018, they rebranded to Taos Bakes. And in 2020, they expanded their products to offer a broader line of snacks, such as cilantro lime pistachios, sweet chile cashews and apple-spiced walnuts, which they package up as CosmoNuts.

The company prides itself on all-natural, oven-baked ingredients and preparation processes designed to maximize taste alongside healthy, nutritional content. It currently employs 20 people, with sales in major retail outlets like Whole Foods, King Soopers  a Kroger grocery store  and Natural Grocers. It also offers an online subscription service for regularly scheduled delivery to customers.

All natural and baked are their distinguishing factors, Wegener said. Its healthy, good for you and tastes great.

NM Angels President Drew Tulchin said two ski bums who wanted a healthy energy bar have built their business into a successful, bustling operation, capturing investor enthusiasm.

Weve watched them grow over many years, Tulchin told the Journal. Weve eaten their product and we like it. And we trust the entrepreneurs behind it.
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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.
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The use of a secure communications app by the Children, Youth and Families Department that routinely encrypts and deletes communications between staffers is more than troubling. One child advocacy organization calls it outrageous. The attorney general says its highly concerning. And an open government organization likens it to shredding public documents, raising the possibility it constitutes a crime.

In contrast to standard texts or emails, which can be accessed by attorneys, lawmakers, reporters and the public under the states Inspection of Public Records Act or discovery in a court case, messages sent via Signal are all but impossible to retrieve once deleted, leaving virtually no trace of a conversation. Use of Signal by CYFD was disclosed by Searchlight New Mexico, an investigative news organization.

Records of employee communications are central to journalists covering state agencies and lawyers advocating for clients. By law were supposed to have access to all of these records, says Bette Fleishman, executive director of Pegasus Legal Services for Children, a nonprofit law firm representing children in CYFD custody. Our job and our obligation is to investigate and do whats best for the children.  We need to have access to all the information.  To have the state routinely deleting any sort of communications is outrageous.

Melanie Majors, executive director of New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, told Searchlight that agencies cant just encrypt and automatically delete communications between state employees. Thats no different than putting official documents in the shredder at the end of every day. Improper destruction of public records is a fourth-degree felony.

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CYFD Secretary Brian Blalock, an appointee of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, says the move to Signal came during the pandemic to protect confidential records of children in custody and facilitate secure, remote communications. He says agency lawyers signed off on the practice and records being deleted are not subject to IPRA.

That doesnt wash. The definition of a public record is very broad under state law, with carefully crafted exceptions for things like medical information and mental health evaluations. Searchlights report of employees, including Blalock, using Signal to discuss issues ranging from problems with private contractors to coordination during the 2021 legislative session would almost certainly be public records. That those conversations occurred is based on screenshots provided to Searchlight. The content of those discussions is likely gone forever. And thats a problem.

The screenshots show Blalock has set at least some messages to delete after only 24 hours.

Attorney General Hector Balderas has confirmed his office is looking into CYFDs use of Signal  as it should. It is highly concerning that public employees are potentially deleting public information without a thorough legal process, and we are reviewing the matter, he said in a statement.

CYFD has long been a troubled agency entrusted with very difficult responsibilities. Oversight by reporters and advocates is a good thing  unless youre running the agency, in which case selectively deleting information can make life a lot easier. Moving to a communications format right out of a Mission Impossible script is terrible public policy that does a lot more to protect state bureaucrats by hiding their conversations than it does to protect children whose advocates are deprived of important information.

Legislative Republicans have joined the fray, asking the AG to investigate and calling on the governor to provide a report detailing whether her office staff and/or Cabinet level staff have been using data encryption and data dumping.

And what was the response from the Governors Office to Searchlights questions? Deafening silence. A spokesman didnt even respond to questions about whether the governor was aware of the practice at CYFD and whether it was being done in other agencies.

The governor should move quickly to end this practice, and the AG needs to move aggressively. Every day CYFD encryption and data dumping go on, information important to the well-being of children in the agencys care is being lost.

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.
Vietnam seeks to secure more Covid-19 vaccine sources

Vietnam will try to arrange Covid-19 vaccines from different sources as the Covid-19 pandemic is becoming more complicated in the country.

Deputy Minister Health Tran Van Thuan said during the press conference on May 5 that Vietnam would try to import Covid-19 vaccines from Russia, Japan, and the UK via international programmes, embassies and organisations. They will also start the process to receive the newest Covid-19 vaccine production technologies.



Deputy Minister Health Tran Van Thuan speaks at the conference


DENVER, Colo. (AP)  First lady Jill Biden extended her gratitude to military spouses for their service on Thursday at an Army base in Colorado.

Biden spoke at Fort Carson military base near Colorado Springs at an event hosted by the United Service Organization Spouse Connection ahead of Military Spouse Appreciation Day on Friday. The USO is a nonprofit established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt before WWII that provides domestic and overseas help to service members and their families.

"Thank you for your service. Thank you for all that you've done for our nation. And for me as well, as a military mom and a military daughter," Biden said.

In her speech, Biden empathized with the loneliness and anxiety that comes with being married to a service member overseas and commended the spouses' perseverance and ability to push through the hard times.

We need to do more. Your service to this country has earned nothing less, Biden said. Giving you the support you need to thrive, matters to me and to the president.

Krista Cole, 37, who's husband serves as a major in the National Guard said she and the other military spouses were grateful to be recognized and feel supported by the first lady.

It definitely raises morale when the people that you look up to, that you may or may not have voted for take notice and come to events like this. Politics aside, they want to help everyone, Cole said. The spouses really appreciate that and appreciate that people are looking out for them.

Biden also touted a revived White House initiative, Joining Forces, which prioritizes employment opportunities for military spouses, education for children of enlisted parents and veterans, and military families health and well-being.

The initiative's revival was announced last month but the program was first rolled out in 2011 under President Barack Obama. Joining Forces was led by then-first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden when Joe Biden was vice president. Under former President Donald Trump, the White Houses web page for the initiative was taken down and archived.

In her remarks, Biden also recognized several of the wives individually  one who's working to adopt two foster children while her husband is in Afghanistan and another who runs a Facebook support group for thousands of military spouses.

There's a saying  If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it. But after getting to know so many of you ... I think we should change that saying to, 'If you want to get something done, ask a military spouse," she said.

Following her speech, the first lady made rounds of the tables to speak with dozens of military spouses who came to the event. Several spouses spoke with Biden about their troubles finding affordable child care and building relationships with a mobile lifestyle.

The relationships I find and the stories I hear always stay with me because really this community is unlike any other, Biden said. "It's bound together by love, love for our country, love for our service members and love for our communities that you all build together."

U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennett, Rep. Doug Lambourn and Colorados Lt Gov. Dianne Primavera were also in attendance.

There are more than 1.3 million active-duty service members, 52% of whom are married, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And 642,000 children under 18 are living in those households.

Joining Forces aims to create flexible, transferable and remote job opportunities for military spouses due to the frequent travel lifestyle of active-duty families. According to the Department of Defenses 2019 Active-Duty Spouses Survey, the military spouse unemployment rate was nearly 22%.

A White House statement about the initiative says there are an estimated 2 million children in families with active-duty service members, reservists or veterans. Joining Forces aims to create programs to support military children's education and help ease the burdens created by the highly mobile military lifestyle."

Joining Forces also addresses health and well-being for military families. That includes improving mental health resources, eliminating food insecurity and supporting the health and economic tolls of wounded, ill or injured service members.

The first lady named Rory Brosius as Joining Force's executive director. She had previously served as the programs deputy director under Obama.

Jill Bidens father, Donald Jacobs, was a Navy signalman in World War II who went to college on the GI Bill. Her late son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at 46, served in the Delaware Army National Guard, including a year in Iraq.

Bidens other causes are education and cancer research. She is a longtime English professor at community colleges.

Her appearance came a day after Biden visited a school and vaccination clinic in Utah. She started Thursday in Las Vegas, where she visited an elementary school to surprise a teacher who was named the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.

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This story has been updated to correct that the USO was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, not President Theodore Roosevelt.

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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas contributed to this report. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Today

A mix of clouds and sun, with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 98F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph, becoming W and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low around 65F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Generally sunny. High 98F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Mental Health Specialist, Geneva, Switzerland

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Country: Switzerland

City: Geneva, Switzerland

Office: WHO Geneva, Switzerland

Grade: P-4

Closing date: Monday, 24 May 2021

Mental Health Specialist

( 2101805 )

Grade : P4

Contractual Arrangement : Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 12 months

Job Posting: May 3, 2021, 9:12:25 AM

The Departments mission is to promote mental health, and human rights for all across the lifespan; to prevent harmful use of alcohol and other substances, to prevent mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders; and to reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with MNS disorders and associated psychosocial, cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Objectives (a) To promote care, recovery and the human rights of people with mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders andassociated disabilities, (b) To increase access to affordable, good quality services and supports for people with MNS disorders and associated disabilities, their families and communities within the context of UHC and across the life-course, (c) To include care for people with MNS disorders and associated disabilities in emergency responses for immediate relief and to build back better, (d) To prevent suicide, MNS disorders, harm due to alcohol and other substances, and addictive behaviours, across the life course.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Provide technical specialist expertise support and guidance to the work programme in the area of brain health and neurological disorders, specifically focusing on implementation of the global action plan on public health response to dementia.2.Conduct the development of new guidelines, policies and other normative technical products, and provide expertise in in-country activities in the field of dementia.3.Support Member States, relevant WHO Offices and others, as requested, and serve as a technical resource at the counterpart level concerning brain health and neurological disorders including dementia; and respond to Member States and others inquiries concerning brain health and neurological disorders policies, guidance, measures, techniques and procedures. 4.Support WHO senior staff in providing leadership in brain health and neurological disorders with Member States, UN agencies and Non-State Actors and support WHOs efforts to advocate for brain health and neurological disorders.5.Promote and conduct the implementation of research in brain health and neurological disorders. 6.Synthesize data on brain health and neurological disorders including their determinants, risk and protective factors, and on treatment and care for neurological disorders, and prepare and disseminate data-based information.7.Maintain liaison with counterparts in technical departments at HQ and in Regional and Country Offices, and with donor and development partners (UN and bilateral) on the coordination and application of policies and strategies related to brain health and neurological disorders.8.Support, if requested, WHOs response to brain health and neurological disorders in emergencies.9.Conduct and support the monitoring of work plans and budgets including resource mobilization for the work programme and follow up on the implementation of planned activities.10.Propose and follow-up on contractual engagements with partners and institutions.11.Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree and specialization in neurological disorders, public mental health, psychology, psychiatry, mental health or neurology nursing.

Desirable: A doctorate in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing brain health or neurological disorders focusing on care and services, prevention and promotion, epidemiology and research coordination. Experience in coordinating regional and global initiatives in brain health. Experience in developing monitoring systems, data collection and analysis including use of statistical programmes for mental or brain health. Experience in resource management and resource mobilization. Experience at country level in the management of neurological disorders such as dementia with good understanding of country needs, priorities and policies.

Desirable: Experience with WHO or another United Nations agency in managing brain health or neurological disorders or mental health. Experience working in low- or middle-income countries.

Skills

* Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations.*Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program and activities.*Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.*Public speaking techniques.*Excellent drafting and communication skills.*Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. *Team spirit and time management skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Producing results

Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 74,913 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 4951 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHOs workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1620067540003
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Thunder possible. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Thunder possible. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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SANTA FE  Mayor Alan Webber will have more competition in his bid for reelection.

Alexis Martinez Johnson, who ran as the Republican Party candidate in the race for the 3rd Congressional District, said she plans to file paperwork to register as a mayoral candidate on Thursday. Shell also begin the process of collecting enough nominating signatures and $5 contributions to meet the citys candidate qualifying requirement.

I believe in the potential of this city, but only if we abandon the divisive rhetoric and join under common goals like having safe infrastructure, she said in a statement. As the next Santa Fe Mayor, I will prioritize safety, responsible modernization, and cultural heritage.

Martinez Johnson is the second person to announce a run against Webber, who defeated four mayoral candidates in 2018. Earlier this year, City Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler said she would forgo a reelection bid in District 4 to pursue the Mayors Office.

While Johnson is a Republican, candidates in city elections dont run under party affiliations.

Johnson, who declined to give her age, was an underdog candidate throughout her bid for the seat in the 3rd Congressional District vacated by Ben Ray Lujan, who successfully ran for U.S. Senate. Despite receiving only 11% of the delegate vote at the state party convention, Johnson prevailed in the June primary. Though she lost to Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez in November, she garnered 41.4% of the vote  the third-highest percentage of the vote by a Republican in the general election in the 38-year history of the congressional district.

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Born in Portales and raised in Roswell, Martinez Johnson attended New Mexico Tech, graduating with a degree in environmental engineering. She spent most of her career working in the oil-rich Permian Basin.

Martinez Johnson said her career experience will allow her to jump into the mayors seat with a transparent, cost-effective and science-based approach.

Now retired, she and her husband own homes in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico, where they also operate a ranch. They have three children  all under the age of 8.

While she advocated for responsible mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson was cited by Santa Fe police in July for not wearing a mask while campaigning on Santa Fes downtown Plaza.
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SANTA FE  The four candidates on the ballot for a vacant Albuquerque-area congressional seat will participate in a televised debate that will air Sunday.

Democrat Melanie Stansbury, Republican Mark Moores, Libertarian Chris Manning and independent Aubrey Dunn are running for the 1st Congressional District seat previously held by Deb Haaland.

The seat was vacated when Haaland, a Democrat, resigned in March after being confirmed as U.S. interior secretary.

That prompted Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver to schedule a special election for June 1 that will be the first election to fill a vacant New Mexico congressional seat since 1998.

The hourlong Sunday debate hosted by KOAT-TV will air at 4 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. The debate stream will also be posted on the Journals website  ABQjournal.com  and will be broadcast on KKOB radio.

The prerecorded debate will be moderated by KOAT anchor Doug Fernandez. The panelists for the debate will be KOAT anchor Shelly Ribando, Journal senior editor Kent Walz and KKOB morning show host Bob Clark.

The candidates also appeared in a KOB-TV debate this week, although Dunn was not invited to participate.

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Early and absentee voting for the race began Tuesday.
Story Highlights Black workers are more likely to stay in unwanted job for benefits

Half concerned that the rising cost of care will outpace ability to pay

Most Americans support government role in some cost-containment measures

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- One out of every six adult workers whose primary health insurance comes from an employer are staying in jobs they might otherwise leave out of fear of losing their health benefits. The fear is even more pronounced among Black workers and those making less than $48,000 a year. These results are based on a new study conducted by West Health and Gallup.

Staying in Unwanted Job for Health Insurance Benefits, by Race/Ethnicity and Annual Household Income Are you currently in a job that you want to leave but don't because you are afraid of losing your health insurance benefits? (% Yes) Yes % All U.S. workers 16 RACE/ETHNICITY: Black workers 21 Hispanic workers 16 White workers 14 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME: <$48,000 28 $48,000-<$90,000 19 $90,000-<$120,000 12 $120,000-<$180,000 10 $180,000+ 10 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, March 15-21, 2021 (n=3,870) Gallup Panel

Overall, Black workers (21%) are more likely to say they would stay in an unwanted job for purposes of keeping their health benefits than White workers (14%), a statistically significant difference. As such, Black workers are an estimated 50% more likely to be staying in their current job for this reason than are their White counterparts. Hispanic workers (16%) are not statistically different from either of the two groups. And workers in households earning under $48,000 per year are nearly three times more likely to stay in an unwanted job for the health benefits than are workers living in households earning at least $120,000 per year (28% to 10%, respectively).

This survey was conducted by web from Mar. 15-21, 2021, with 3,870 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia via the Gallup Panel, a probability-based, non-opt-in panel of about 120,000 adults nationwide.

Concerns Run High That Rising Cost of Care Will Outpace Ability to Pay

With millions of workers staying in unwanted jobs for the health benefits, concerns run high among all adults that the rising cost of care will persist to the point of being unaffordable. Recent research showed that 18% of U.S. adults -- an estimated 46 million persons -- could not afford quality healthcare if they needed it today. New results estimate that around 135 million adults are worried that they will eventually reach this point -- if they haven't already.

Over half of survey respondents are either "concerned" or "very concerned" that the cost of healthcare services (53%) and the cost of prescription drugs (52%) will continue to rise in the future to the point that they will no longer be able to afford them. Black and Hispanic adults have modestly elevated concerns about the rising costs of healthcare compared with White adults. Forty-two percent of respondents, in turn, report concern that they would not be able to pay for a major health event, including 49% of Hispanic adults and 47% of Black adults.

In comparison, 25% are concerned about losing their home, and 29% of workers are worried about losing their jobs.

Concerns Over Potential Life-Changing Events, by Race and Ethnicity How concerned are you with each of the following? Very concerned, concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned? (% Very concerned/Concerned) U.S. total White adults Black adults Hispanic adults % % % % The cost of healthcare rising until you can no longer afford it 53 50 59 59 The cost of prescription drugs rising until you can no longer afford them 52 51 59 53 Not being able to pay for a major health event 42 40 47 49 Losing your job (workers only) 29 26 40 37 Losing your home due to your inability to pay for it 25 20 37 32 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, March 15-21, 2021 (n=3,870) Gallup Panel

Majorities Support Government-Led Cost Control Measures

The survey found substantial support for the federal government to play a bigger role in reducing the financial burden of healthcare on individuals and families via selected approaches. Such support is nearly indistinguishable among those with government-run or private insurance plans or those with no insurance.

About three-quarters favor setting limits on prescription drug price increases (77%), capping hospital prices in areas with few or no other hospitals from which to choose (76%) and negotiating lower prices for some high-cost drugs without lower-priced alternatives (74%). Another 65% support placing government limits on prices charged by out-of-network care. Those with private insurance were just as likely as those on public health plans (including Medicare and Medicaid) to favor government intervention.

Public Support for Proposed Government Cost Control Measures in Healthcare, by Insurance Status To what extent do you agree or disagree that a stronger role for government is needed to contain costs in the following situations? (% Strongly agree/Somewhat agree) U.S. total Insured by private plan Insured by government-run plan All insured Uninsured % % % % % Allowing the federal government to set limits on drug price increases 77 77 77 77 72 Capping prices for hospitals in certain markets with limited or no competition 76 76 75 76 71 Allowing the government to negotiate prices for certain high cost drugs that have no competitors 74 73 76 76 71 Establishing limits on prices charged by out-of-network care 65 66 63 65 60 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Study, March 15-21, 2021 (n=3,870) Gallup Panel

The proposals generally have bipartisan support, even though Republicans are less likely than Democrats and independents to support a stronger government role. This includes majority support among Republicans for all proposals except for establishing limits on prices charged by out-of-network care, for which 81% of Democrats, 64% of Independents and 43% of Republicans strongly or somewhat agree with government action.

Agreement levels for the remaining proposals are:

Allowing the federal government to set limits on drug price increases:

Democrats: 91%

Independents: 74%

Republicans: 63%

Capping prices for hospitals in certain markets with limited or no competition:

Democrats: 89%

Independents: 76%

Republicans: 59%

Allowing the federal government to negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs that have no competitors:

Democrats: 88%

Independents: 73%

Republicans: 58%

Overall disagreement with the proposals is comparatively low, ranging from 11% who report that they strongly or somewhat disagree with capping prices for hospitals to 15% for establishing limits on out-of-network care.

Implications

Approximately 158 million people, or more than half of the U.S. adult population, receive health insurance via their own employer or the employer of a household member. As such, the 16% of workers who are remaining in their jobs for the sake of their benefits will frequently extend to other individuals other than themselves, bolstering their reluctance to seek out other work. The higher levels of these sentiments among Black workers and those in lower-income households underscores the disproportionate role that employment plays in needed health coverage for some Americans.

High healthcare prices are likely fueling the problem. In the past five years, the average insurance premium for a family of four has increased 22% , and in 2020, premiums increased more than wages. The generally high agreement with several proposals for government action designed to contain the cost of various forms of care is understandable, particularly so as those with insurance are voicing support at levels that match those without it. Such sentiment could bolster the Biden Administration politically as it prepares to release a number of health policies intended to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid, and allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
Dynamics of Caste and Law: Dalits, Oppression and Constitutional Democracy in India by Dag-Erik Berg, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2020; pp 243, 795.

On the one hand, majoritarian upper-caste discourse has dominated in democratic institutions, such as Parliament, executive and judiciary, and on the other, the idea of Hindu law resounds in everyday social lives. The dynamics of law in India are contrasting in two major ways. First, the ancient law that is known as Manus law (Manusmriti) comprises Hindu religious codes/rules, rituals and customs that predominate the modern constitutional law. And second, the modern law is adopted by the democratic state. The modern democratic state is a political contract and agreement among the citizens through the Constitution to secure rights, liberty, and equality as a matter of inalienable fundamental rights. Yet, in the last seven decades, despite having modern constitutional law, the lawlessness of the established Hindu social order sanctifies and validates the persistence of caste, atrocities against Dalits, and subjugation of women that is prescribed in Manus law in accordance with Hindu religion.

Dag-Erik Berg, a political theorist, scrupulously brings out the complexity of the social inequalities and exclusion in the constitutional democracy. B R Ambedkar, in one of his Constituent Assembly speeches, said that the Indian democracy is going to have a life of contradictions in its social and economic life. Interestingly, Berg employs Ernesto Laclaus concept of antagonism to understand the contradictions in Indian democracy. He calls it mechanism of oppression in the context of Dalit situation in postcolonial democracy. Berg showcases the protest against the dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989, and in that context how two Dalit women went to smear black paint on Manus statue in the Rajasthan High Court in 2018. In particular, the book Dynamics of Caste and Law: Dalits, Oppression and Constitutional Democracy in India construes caste and law in the context of Dalits intricacy with constitutional democracy and the state machinery. Berg explores the concept of political ontology in Ambedkars philosophy to comprehend Indian society and polity. In this regard, the scholarship on Ambedkar is well articulated as a theorist of democracy and constitutionalism, who fathoms to unravel the social political problem of his time that is explicated in postcolonial democratic state. While building a narrative, Berg locates the historical trajectory of caste atrocity in the purview of law, revealing the ambiguous relationship between caste, untouchability, and equality in the enhancement of law against caste practice in relation to Dalits, such as Article 17, and PoA Act, 1989. He mainly deliberates over two massacres against Dalits, namely the Karamchedu and Tsunduru and the landmark judgment in the related court case, while discussing the Khairlanji episode on the same plane. Berg further demonstrates the caste discrimination in the university campuses and reservations in the context of the movement that emerged after the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula. He names it the modernity of caste in

a democracy.
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English Lithuanian

Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator LITGRID AB (company code 302564383, registered office address Virsuliskiu skg. 99B, Vilnius, Lithuania) is publishing results of the Company for the three months of 2021.

Key financial indicators for the 3 months of 2021:

Revenue  61,8 million euros (2020  53,4 million euros);

EBITDA  19,4 million euros (2020  15,9 million euros);

Net profit  11,5 million euros (2020 - 9,1 million euros).

Key performance indicators for the 3 months of 2021:

Transmitted electricity  2,897 TWh (2020  2,647 TWh);

Average interruption time (AIT) for which the operator is responsible  0,035 min. (2020  0,111 min.);

Amount of energy not supplied (ENS) for which the operator is responsible  1,104 MWh (2020  3,303 MWh);

Attached:

Financial results of the Company; Press release.

More information:

Jurga Eivaite,

Communications Project Manager

+370 613 19977

jurga.eivaite@litgrid.eu

Attachments
A look at the major movers on the London market on Thursday

Shares in ( ) are in fashion after a positive trading update.

The group said growth in online sales had helped take some of the pain out of its stores having to close during lockdown.

Overall, full year revenues fell 21% to 555.6m but within that, the fourth quarter saw a 0.8% increase.

Thanks to the pandemic, full year store revenues fell 50.9% but ecommerce sales rose by 33.8%.

It said trade had been encouraging since its shops re-opened in the UK, but the European business continues to be hit by restrictions.

Its Neymar Jr organic cotton campaign has begun well since its launch, with record engagement rates.

Chief executive Julian Dunkerton said: "Our strengthened ecommerce presence has helped mitigate the impact from enforced closures of our stores. We returned to revenue growth in the fourth quarter, and our commitment to a full price stance over the period has seen significant online margin improvement. Our liquidity remains strong, with closing net cash ahead of last year and our facilities remain undrawn...

"The early signs following the reopening of our UK stores are encouraging, as lockdown restrictions start to lift, and we can clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel. In short, we are on track with our reset of the brand and there's a lot to look forward to."

Superdry's shares are up 19.57% or 54p at 330p.

2.54pm: Legal business to restart dividend payments

Law firm ( ) looks like it has acquitted itself well last year.

After a strong finish to the year, it expects full year revenues to be well ahead of market forecasts of 111.7mln and profits to be significantly higher than the expected 14.7mln.

Cash should also be much better than expectations of 8.4mln.

With the promise of restarting dividend payments, the shares are up 6.32% or 11.78p to 198.28p.

Chief executive Rod Waldie said: "I am delighted to report this outperformance, which demonstrates the group's well balanced and resilient business model and provides further validation of our strategy to continue to build a substantial and well-diversified professional services group."

1.14pm: Energy group upbeat on key project

The charmingly named ( ) has attracted attention after a positive update from its operations in Morocco.

The company, which also has projects in Trinidad and Ireland, said its MOU-1 well was on track to begin drilling in June for around 20 days.

Chief executive Paul Griffiths, said: "This is an exciting and exceptionally busy time operationally for the company dominated by making preparations on the ground in Morocco for the imminent drilling of the MOU-1 well.

"Completion of the well will establish Predator as an operator in Morocco and opens up the potential not only for further drilling on a licence covering 7,269 km and containing multiple prospects, but also to assess additional opportunities where a proven operator can add value.

"There are a range of development options for gas in Morocco and results from MOU-1 will potentially determine which of these options can be progressed in the near-term and which parties may be the most appropriate candidate partners for a gas development."

The upbeat tone has seen its shares jump 11.67% or 1.55p to 15.05p.

11.09am: Meat producer sees strong growth

PLC ( ) is in demand after forecasting better than expected profits for the year.

The company - which as the name implies is one of the largest suppliers of beef in Zambia but also retails the likes of chicken, pork and dairy - said earnings and adjusted proftis would be 20% - 30% ahead of current market expectations. Productioin efficiences and managing costs have contributed to the improved performance.

It said: "Despite the difficult operating environment resulting from the 2020 economic and Covid-19 related uncertainties, the encouraging first half period performance has been driven by a focus on revenue optimisation. The macroeconomic relative stability witnessed in the first half year period is expected to continue during the second half. The exchange rate has depreciated at a much slower rate while monetary supply in the economy has steadily improved. The good rainfall season and the commissioning of power projects is expected to help alleviate the load shedding situation and positively impact on performance in the second half of the financial year."

The company's shares have climbed 12.16% or 0.78p to 7.15p.

10.27am: Photographic equipment firm upbeat

PLC ( ) has given shareholders a bright picture of the outlook at its annual meeting.

The company, a specialist in premium photographic and videographic equipment, said its trading performance had improved faster than expected as so full year profits would be "materially above current market expectations" of 30.7mln.

This performance comes despite some of its markets - particularly production sets in the US - not yet being not fully open as well as the company facing some electronic component shortages and capacity constraints.

It also expects good things from recent acquisitions Lightstream, which develops production software to enable content creators, particularly gamers, to enrich their live video streams, Quasar, which designs LED lighting.

Analyst Tom Fraine at Shore Capital issued a buy recommendation, saying: "We see scope for further upgrades given that first revenue and orders were in line with 2019, despite the cine market shutdown in the US. Limited travel/tourism has also been impacting sales of photographic equipment...We expect these to recover as travel restrictions ease.

"We believe investing in Vitec represents a good opportunity to benefit from the trend of increasing independent video content creation, which is being driven by TikTok, , YouTube, Instagram, Disney, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Facebook. We expect significant increases in funding for independent production companies (e.g. from Great Point, which has been planning to float a 200m+ film & TV production investment trust) to the benefit of Vitec through sales of premium videographic equipment."

Vitec has added 130p or 9.35% to 1520p.

9.05am: Oil firm upbeat on outlook

( ) is making some noise after announcing a fourfold increase in revenues.

The Latin American focused energy company has jumped 14.68% or 0.15p to 1.18p after revenues rose from US$2. mln to US 11.1mln.

In the first full year of production from its flagship Santa Cruz Sur asset in Argentina , where it owns 70%, it produced 720,000 barrels of oil equivalent in line with expectations, despite a planned temporary shutdown a year ago due to a slump in the oil price

Since the year end it has refinanced 25mln of debt giving it more financial flexibility, as well as entering into a cooperation agreement with GTL International to seek future opportunities in Bolivia.

Chief executive Martin Hull said: "Echo's resilience during a very challenging year has ensured that we have been able to continue our operations efficiently and build firm foundations commercially and operationally despite the difficult external conditions.

"Not only have we made significant cost-saving efforts across the company and rebalanced our financial position to provide increased flexibility, but we have also achieved tremendous operational progress across our Santa Cruz Sur assets where we currently benefit from a favourable fiscal environment and attractive gas sales agreements with key customers

Moving forward, we are excited by the continuing expansion opportunities at our Santa Cruz Sur assets, where we aim to maximise production potential, and we are also encouraged by the potential for new hydrocarbon and/or renewable energy prospects in neighbouring Bolivia and elsewhere in the Region. The framework for 2021 and beyond has now been set in place, and we look forward to capitalising on our various growth catalysts.

Analyst Craig Howie at house broker Shore Capital said: Echos Santa Cruz Sur package of assets remains a key attraction to the investment case, in our opinion  with various reactivation and optimisation opportunities providing a strong balance of risk and reward, along with excellent scope to realise upside potential at modest cost.

With the company successfully achieving market leading pricing for its products in a strengthening commodity price environment, strong production growth being achieved with infrastructure upgrades, and Echos debt obligations now successfully restructured, we continue to see an active operational period ahead.

Also heading higher is Somero Enterprises Inc ( ), up 12.44% or 52.5p at 474.5p.

The laser equipment specialist said it would beat forecasts for the year after stronger than expected trading in the US in the first four months, as well as signs of improving activity levels in Europe and Australia.

At the start of March it said revenues were expected to grow in the single mid-digit percentage range from the US$88.6mln reported for 2020, adjusted EBITDA would grow modestly from the US$ 26.1mln previously and ending net cash would approximate US$ 27.4mln. Now it believes revenues will reach around US$ 100.0mln, adjusted EBITDA will be US$ 31.0mln, and the year-end net cash position will be higher.

Proactive news headlines

( ) said initial results were encouraging from the maiden drilling programme on its Hancock iron ore project, part of the Hamersley iron ore project in Western Australia.

(LON:APF, ), a natural resources royalty and streaming company, said all of the producing assets in its portfolio are now back in operation, following the resumption of activities at the McClean Lake Mill after a period of COVID-19 related care and maintenance.

( ) said it is expanding its data and technology division, Rinocloud, into the Moorepark Technology Centre (MTC) in Fermoy, Cork, Ireland, to create a European centre of excellence for the real-time detection of dangerous pathogens such as coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in water and wastewater systems.

( ) said it has completed the treatment of all patients taking part in an exploratory field study of short-course inoculation against grass pollen induced hay fever.

( ), in its results statement, said it is delivering on its growth strategy with the Greater Buchan Area project in the North Sea.

( ) chief executive Bill Higgs is expecting the company will end the year with a material cash position.

( ) is counting down to the start of drilling for the Saffron-2 appraisal well in Trinidad, with rig mobilisation starting this weekend.

( ) announced the development of a Corporate Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) to help deliver its Corporate Sustainability Policy and support the implementation of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments.

( ) said The Vaccine Group, one of the companies in its investment portfolio, has appointed Dr Jeremy Salt as its chief executive officer. He joins The Vaccine Group from GALVmed, a not-for-profit organisation that develops and makes available livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for small-scale livestock producers, where he was the chief scientific officer.

( ) announced the appointment of Anesh Patel as chief financial officer of its trading subsidiary, Feedback Medical Limited.

( ) notified that it will today be presenting to international institutional investors as part of ' 14th European Small & Mid Cap Symposium.

( ) confirmed its annual general meeting is scheduled for 27 May, with investors invited to submit any questions and complete a proxy voting form in advance as they will be unable to attend due to coronavirus regulations.

Jersey Oil & Gas PLC ( ) will hold its annual general meeting on 2 June in St Helier, Jersey. As it will be a closed meeting, shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote by proxy.

PLC ( ) announced that on this week Trevor Brown, a director of the company, sold a total of 1,447,385 shares at an average price of 57.161p per share, leaving him with 1,976,714 ordinary shares or a 5.16% stake.

( ) reported that an allocation of unit awards has been made to the company's executive directors and other eligible employees under its value creation plan of September 2020.

(LON:THR, ASX: THR, ) advised that an updated investor presentation is available on the company website https://www.thormining.com/sites/thormining/media/pdf/asx-announcements/20210506-riu-round-up-resources-presentation.pdf.



( ) announced that it has granted certain warrants over ordinary shares to new members of staff and has agreed to extend the exercise period of certain previously granted warrants.
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Monday proposed cracking down on accessories that can be used to convert pistols into rifles and released model legislation to help states prevent guns from getting into the hands of the mentally ill, as part of a broader push to reduce gun violence. In 2021 alone, the country has had 254 mass shootings, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive. The Justice Department is determined to take concrete steps to reduce the tragic toll of gun violence in our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
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KYIV, Ukraine  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washingtons support for Ukraine at a meeting Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of Kyivs heightened tensions with Russia, fueled by Moscows recent troop buildup near their border.

The top American diplomat met with Zelenskyy during his one-day visit and reiterated the U.S. commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, while also underscoring the importance of Ukrainian efforts to tackle widespread corruption and carry out reforms.

Ukraine is facing two challenges: aggression from outside, coming from Russia, and in effect aggression from within, coming from corruption, oligarchs and others who are putting their interests ahead of those of the Ukrainian people, Blinken told a news conference after meeting with Zelenskyy.

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By visiting so early in his tenure, before any trip to Russia, Blinken signaled that Ukraine is a high priority for President Joe Bidens foreign policy. His visit was highly anticipated in Ukraine, with hopes for increased military aid and strong support for NATO membership being voiced on the front lines of the battle against Russia-backed separatists in the east and in the halls of government in Kyiv.

Ukraine has seen an increase in hostilities in the east in recent months. Ukraines military says 35 of its soldiers have been killed by rebel attacks this year, a significant rise from the latter part of 2020. Russia, which claims it has no soldiers in eastern Ukraine, fueled the tensions this year by massing troops and conducting large-scale military exercises near the border.

Zelenskyy has made it clear that he wants significant action  a clear signal about the European and Euro-Atlantic prospect, as he said Monday on Twitter, referring to Ukraines aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. Postponing these issues for later, some day, (in) 10 years has to end.

Blinken said Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations were discussed with Zelenskyy and that the U.S. was actively looking at strengthening its security assistance to Ukraine, but didnt give details.

Zelenskyy also said the military support and the financial support from the U.S. is increasing, but didnt elaborate.

Both noted that while Russia has pulled back some of its forces from the border, a significant number of troops and equipment is still there. Blinken said Washington was watching the situation very, very closely, as Russia has the capacity, on fairly short notice, to take aggressive action if it so chooses.

I can tell you, Mr. President, that we stand strongly with you, Blinken said.

In Brussels on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said the 30-nation military alliance needs to stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments in and around Ukraine. We have seen some reduction in the number of Russian troops, but tens of thousands remain, and we also see that Russia has kept a lot of weapons, prepositioned equipment, and theyre also imposing restrictions in the Black Sea, Stoltenberg told reporters.

Efforts have stalled to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 14,000 people since it broke out in 2014. Zelenskyy has called for the U.S. to try to push these efforts forward by joining the negotiations of the Normandy Format that consists of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. Russia is almost certain to oppose any U.S. involvement in the negotiations.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine also was worried about Russias announcement last month that it was redeploying warships from its Caspian flotilla to the Sea of Azov, an extension of the Black Sea that borders Ukraine and Russia. There is now a big threat in the Sea of Azov; it is unprecedentedly large, Kuleba said.

Zelenskyy said he discussed security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov with Blinken, but wouldnt reveal any details.

He also said he invited Biden to visit Ukraine this year, and Blinken said the U.S. president would welcome the opportunity at the right time.

Earlier in the day, Blinken met with Kuleba, and they both joined Metropolitan Epiphaniy  head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which split from Russias Orthodox Church. They laid flowers at a memorial to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict in the east and toured St. Michaels Monastery.

Blinken also met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who tweeted that his visit to Kyiv was a manifestation of firm support and a high level of relations of two states, and with Ukrainian lawmakers.

Blinkens visit to Kyiv comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine, imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and accusations of hacking and election interference.

Last month, Biden suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for talks in a third country in an effort to defuse tensions. The Kremlin has been considering the proposal.

Asked by the Russian state news agency Tass on Thursday whether there was a list of possible places for the meeting, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had still nothing to tell about the possible meeting.

Kyiv-based political analyst Vadym Karasev said Washington was trying to avoid sharp and loud statements in order not to thwart the (possible) meeting of Putin and Biden, during which the issue of de-escalation near Ukrainian borders should be resolved for good.

Thats why Blinken used the whole arsenal of a sophisticated diplomat in order to becalm Kyiv on one hand by promising to increase military and financial support, and on other had not to force the question of Ukraines NATO membership, Karasev said.

Both Washington and Kyiv need one thing today  to avoid a hot war with Russia and to make Russian troops pull back from the Ukrainian border, Karasev said. If diplomatic methods are exhausted, only then one should expect vivid metaphors and loud accusations from loudspeakers.
Sudden US backing for a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines offers hope to poor nations struggling for doses -- but the big pharma industry thinks the notion misguided.

Some countries see the temporary intellectual property rights waiver as a shortcut to ending the coronavirus pandemic.

But the pharmaceutical industry thinks an IP waiver will not help produce a single dose more this year, and could actually hamper the rush for vaccines by diverting scarce resources to newcomers.

There will undoubtedly be months of negotiations ahead before a consensus can be found at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

The IP plan was filed at the WTO by India and South Africa on October 2 last year and garnered support from a host of developing countries that correctly anticipated being left behind in the vaccination race.

Also read: Research models predict India's Covid-19 toll may double in the coming weeks

The original text proposed a temporary exemption from certain obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), so that any country can produce vaccines without worrying about patents.

The waiver would also cover "industrial designs, copyright and protection of undisclosed information", and would last "until widespread vaccination is in place globally, and the majority of the world's population has developed immunity".

The WTO's General Council, its highest-level decision-making body, debated the issue earlier on Wednesday before Washington's dramatic about-turn.

India and South Africa pledged to present an amended text, and had indicated they could be open to some compromise, said the WTO.

Also read: EU ready to discuss waiving Covid-19 vaccines patent, says von der Leyen

Spokesman Keith Rockwell said the debates had been "very constructive" -- more so than in previous sessions -- even if the 164 member states remain divided.

WTO members are expected to meet to discuss the text revisions by the end of May, ahead of a formal TRIPS Council meeting on June 8 and 9.

More than 80 countries support the proposal, including Argentina, Bangladesh, the DR Congo, Kenya, Nigeria and Venezuela.

Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco and Pakistan are among a host of countries that have indicated they have production capacity available if the patents are waived.

A number of NGOs including the medical charity Doctors Without Borders back the waiver, saying it would facilitate timely access to affordable medical products for all countries in need.

The idea also has the support of World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who hailed the US move as a "monumental moment" in the pandemic fight.

"Ultimately, the solution to the vaccine crisis is for the countries and companies that control the global supply to share... technology, know-how and to waive intellectual property rights," he said Wednesday.

Also read: US reverses stance, backs Covid vaccine patent waiver

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations is strongly against the proposal.

"A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem," the IFPMA big pharma lobby group said, branding the US volte-face "disappointing".

"Waiving patents of Covid-19 vaccines will not increase production nor provide practical solutions."

The IFPMA believes the real challenge in scaling up production is eliminating trade barriers, and addressing the supply chain bottlenecks and scarcity of raw materials -- and reckons introducing new manufacturers will not help.

Big players also suggest that vaccine confidence could be undermined by a free-for-all on production.

Wealthy nations that are home to major pharmaceutical firms, like Switzerland and Britain, have long opposed the IP waiver idea.

The European Union, also a major pharma hub, has until now been opposed, but following the US announcement, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Brussels was at least ready to discuss the idea.

Also read: Asia-listed pharma firms take a hit on vaccine waiver talk

Opponents of the waiver underline the vast financial investment made by laboratories to develop vaccines in record time, and believe they are best placed to produce them on the global scale required.

They fear investment could dry up if companies cannot see a return.

They also say the existing WTO IP rules already contain provision for so-called compulsory licences, intended specifically for emergency situations.

Compulsory licences give companies other than the patent holder authorisation to make a product, subject to certain procedures and conditions being respected.

Around 275 manufacturing deals, including on technology transfer among staunch competitors, have helped the industry go from zero towards their target of 10 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses this year.

In the late 1990s, antiretroviral drugs revolutionised the treatment of HIV/AIDS. However, the cost of such treatments was beyond the reach of most sufferers.

It was not until the early 2000s that several agreements were signed to facilitate the manufacture and distribution of generic antiretroviral drugs at low prices for poor countries.

A temporary agreement in 2003, later confirmed in 2005, allowed an exemption from IP rights allowing poor countries affected by serious infectious diseases -- malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS -- to import generic drugs if they could not make them themselves.
Kansas City, Missouri, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the incidence of COVID remaining low on campus and more and more people getting vaccinated, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is #RooReady to return to full-capacity, in-person classes and activities for the Fall 2021 semester.

We are excited to reach the point of being able to plan for a normal fall, said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. Of course, we will continue to consult with the health experts on the UMKC Health Sciences Campus and our citys health partners and follow their advice. But as long as COVID cases continue to fall and the public continues to get vaccinated, we are confident that we will be able to safely resume in-person, full-capacity classes and campus life.

Agrawal praised the campus community for its diligence and resilience after COVID-19 prompted a pivot to online classes in March 2020. Since then, thousands of UMKC faculty and staff have worked to make the campus safe while continuing in-person classes and activities following stringent safety measures. That work and compliance with precautions  including mask wearing, social distancing, free COVID testing and multiple campus vaccination events  have helped the university prevent further spread of the disease among the campus community. As of May 5, the university had a seven-day day rolling average of zero cases.

Starting in June, UMKC will begin to increase in-person activities and opportunities for students, faculty and staff. Campus tours for orientation will be offered in person in July.

In August, health guidelines permitting:

Residence halls and food service will resume normal operations. Lounge areas and common spaces will be reopened so students, faculty and staff can meet in person. Dining halls and other food venues will resume a full array of offerings and return to normal hours. A new monthly pop-up restaurant will be at the Student Union.

Classes, events and activities including the nearly 300 student organizations will meet in person.

Convocation, the official start to the academic year, will be in person and will kick off a few weeks of special in-person student activities and events known as RooWelcome.

Our Division I Kansas City Roos are planning a full slate of regular season contests in the fall.

Although this has been an unprecedented semester, I have no doubt in my mind that the UMKC community will persevere, said UMKC Student Government Association President Tim Nguyen. As UMKC Roos, kangaroos cannot move backwards; only forward. We will take it one step at a time as we transition and continue towards the post-pandemic and fall semester soon upon us.

Provost Jenny Lundgren said faculty and staff at UMKC are ready to welcome students back.

As our campus remains safe, we are excited to prepare for a return to in-person learning and activities, said Lundgren. No matter what the fall brings, we will ensure that we are ready to give our students a unique and rewarding experience.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 16,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on its mission: placing student success at the center; leading in life and health sciences; advancing urban engagement; excelling in visual and performing arts; embracing diversity; and promoting research and economic development. For more information about UMKC, visit umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, see us on Instagram and watch us on YouTube. Read stories about our students and alumni at We Are UMKC.

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Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High 84F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Why it matters: Android tablets have seen huge improvements over the years, but even the best slates from the likes of Samsung struggle to compete against the iPads and their excellent iPadOS. However, Lenovos next tablet, presumably the Yoga X, has a trick up its sleeve: it doubles as a portable monitor.

XDA spotted a Lenovo post on Chinese social media site Weibo showing an Android tablet with an HDMI input. The device is hooked up to a docked Nintendo switch running Mario Kart Deluxe 8, though it would work with other consoles and compatible machines, including laptops.

There were rumors of a Yoga X capable of being used a second monitor last year. It appears that the tablet in the picture is the same one.

While there are several Android tablets with HDMI outputs, HDMI inputs are scarce. There are slate-sized external monitors available, but the Lenovo Yoga X appears to offer the best of both worlds.

Theres no word yet on the Yoga Xs price, release date, or if it will be available outside of China.

While Samsung dominates the Android tablet space in the same way it does with phones, Lenovo offers some viable alternatives to the Galaxy lineup. The excellent Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is one of our top picks in the tablet buying guide thanks to its 1600 x 2560 (263 PPI) OLED screen and $399 starting price. The company also makes the Smart Tab M10 HD (2nd-gen), a great choice for kids.
A member of Liechtenstein's Royal family, Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein, has been placed under investigation for allegedly killing Romania's largest known brown bear, authorities said on May 5. As reported by The Associated Press citing official hunting documents, the Austrian prince was granted a four-day hunting permit in March in Romania's Covasna County and he "wrongly" killed a massive 17-year-old brown bear, who was called Arthur. Romania's National Environment Guard (NEG) started the investigation on April 29 and poaching is one of the suspicions.

The Guardian reported citing NGOs that the prince had been given special approval by the Romanian environment ministry to shoot a female bear that had been causing damage to farms in Ojdula, however, he ended up killing a male bear which is now considered as a trophy hunt. The prince, who is a resident of Riegersburg in Austria has allegedly paid the princely sum of $8,400. It is worth mentioning that brown bears are a protected species under international and Romanian laws and Romania officially banned trophy hunting in 2016.

"All of the papers from National Environmental Guard will go to the police," said a senior official from Romanias environmental ministry, Octavian Berceanu. "The local environment agency should inform the Environmental Guard after the shooting, but this didnt happen," Berceanu added.

An environmental nongovernmental organisation Agent Green, that monitored the large male bear for nine years said that the giant had no contact with human settlements. Agent Green has claimed that the hunting permit was issued based on a complaint about a "problematic" female bear. "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's large size, it was considered a "Golden" trophy, prized specimens that can fetch nearly $25,000. In one of Switzerland's newspapers, Blick quoted the prince as saying he wouldn't comment on the matter. The Associated Press has reported that repeated attempts to contact the prince's estate were unsuccessful.

"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.

IMAGE: AP
Atlanta, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute (ENI) of Georgia State Universitys Robinson College of Business has won two awards for supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds at the 35th annual International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI35) of the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).

InBIA is the largest member-based entrepreneurial support network in the world with more than 1,200 members in 30 countries representing incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship centers.

The ICBI35 conference, held April 25-30, included a showcase in which attendees heard awards finalists present their entries in the fast-paced PechaKucha format in which slides advance every 20 seconds. ENI associate director Jackie Davis was a presenting finalist.

Georgia States ENI was the only entrepreneurship center to take home two awards, both of which focused on the institutes work supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship Center of the Year Award: Sector Focused Category

Specialty Award for Most Innovative Program for the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund  a business accelerator program supporting underrepresented students, recent alumni, and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship

Receiving these prestigious awards is a testament to the commitment of Georgia State University and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute to eliminating achievement gaps for all entrepreneurs and serving as a national model for inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation, Davis said.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute of Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business fulfills a university-wide mandate to strengthen the entrepreneurial and innovation culture across campus. ENI aims to be a national model for inclusive entrepreneurial education and innovation. Its activities span academics, co-curricular activities, and community and industry partnerships.

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CENTENNIAL, Colo.  Arrow Electronics Inc. (ARW) on Thursday reported first-quarter profit of $206.3 million.

On a per-share basis, the Centennial, Colorado-based company said it had profit of $2.72. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $2.84 per share.

The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.27 per share.

The electronics maker posted revenue of $8.39 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $7.98 billion.

For the current quarter ending in July, Arrow Electronics expects its per-share earnings to range from $2.82 to $2.98.

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The company said it expects revenue in the range of $8.1 billion to $8.7 billion for the fiscal second quarter.

Arrow Electronics shares have climbed 16% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 84% in the last 12 months.

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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ARW at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ARW
Harness racing returns to New Brunswick on Saturday afternoon (May 8), as Exhibition Park Raceway, in Saint John, will raise the curtain on its 18-day 2021 meeting.

The five-race program is highlighted by a $1,600 winners-over pace, carded as the finale. Black-type performer Blood Money brings impressive credentials into his New Brunswick debut, and will start from the outside post in the field of five with Mitchell Downey at the helm for trainer Ellen Stevenson. The son of Sweet Lou won the 2018 Matron Stakes as a rookie, along with stakes races in the Pennsylvania and Kentucky programs, took his mark of 1:50 last summer at Harrah's Philadelphia, and has amassed over $430,000 in his career.

Woodmere Ideal Art (Robert Laffin, post four) has been installed the 5-2 morning line favourite after hitting the board in 17 of 23 races last year, all in the Maritimes. The six-year-old Articulator gelding has campaigned exclusively for the Ultimate Stable and trainer Sifroi Melanson. A trio of Prince Edward Island invaders complete the field: Paris Beau (Mark Haig), Montrose Hope (John Davidson) and K D Overdrive (Kyle Mason).

Stevenson, who took top training honours at Exhibition Park in 2020 with 13 wins, will also start Umpire Hanover (race two, Michael Downey), Whiskey To Wine (race three, Mitchell Downey) and Fall Bliss (race four, Mitchell Downey) on the abbreviated Opening Day program.

Exhibition Park will host racing most Saturday afternoons through Oct. 23. Post time for all 18 programs is 1 p.m. Atlantic.

To view Saturday's entries at Exhibition Park Raceway, along with program pages courtesy TrackIT, click the following links: Entries | Program Pages.
A biology student has raised some 15,000 to plant native trees in Ireland after a wildfire ravaged the Killarney National Park, destroying precious habitats.

Gearoid Mc Evoy, 22, raised enough money to plant 15,000 trees in Killarney in just three days through his social enterprise, Reforest Nation, which he established during the pandemic to help restore Ireland's native woodlands.

Following the devastating fire at Ireland's oldest national park and Unesco biosphere reserve last month, he has committed to immediately focusing resources on that area.

Although he cannot plant in the park, much of which must be allowed to regenerate without human interference, two local landowners have agreed to have some 25 species of native trees planted on their land around the park.

At least 10,000 trees can be planted on this land and Mr McEvoy is in talks with other landowners about further planting projects in Killarney.

"I studied in Tralee IT for four years and we went to Killarney for field trips so I wanted to focus our efforts there after the fire," Mr McEvoy said.

"People have an emotional attachment to Killarney.

"Killarney national park has suffered a significant loss of forest due to the recent fires and our initiative Reforest Nation are on a mission to replant as many native trees as possible in the surrounding area," Mr McEvoy said.

"Killarney is our largest and last shining example of the ancient forests which once extended unbroken across our island. Through planting a diverse mix of at least 25 native species we hope to help restore local biodiversity and sequester excess carbon from the atmosphere released by the fires."

"The response to our campaign has been amazing and we have raised 15,000 trees in just 3 days thanks to people across Ireland and the world."

Gearoid Mc Evoy, 22, raised enough money to plant 15,000 trees in Killarney in just three days through his social enterprise, Reforest Nation, which he established during the pandemic to help restore Ireland's native woodlands.

Mr McEvoy, originally from Louth, said that donations have flooded in from Ireland and all over the world following appeals on social media which were amplified by influencers like model and cook Rozanna Purcell.

"We've had donations from Jamaica, Buffalo New York, Indonesia, places that would surprise you," Mr McEvoy said.

"And we had a few donations from New South Wales in Australia. Other countries went to their aid after the wildfires there so when they saw another country was hit by a fire, they reached out to help us."

Mr McEvoy said that Reforest Nation was one positive product of the pandemic.

"I never would have thought of doing this if we hadn't been in lockdown. I had planned to go abroad on conservation projects, but because I was at home, my dad suggested I start tree planting in our local area. It grew from there.

"People really want to contribute to tree planting but not everyone has the time or can physically do it. Reforest Nation helps people to get involved, they can sign up for a monthly package for just 6.99 a month or you can adopt one tree for as little as 1.49. Adopting trees costs less than a Netflix subscription.

The aim is to make climate action accessible to everyone by putting nature before profit.

"We show people how much of their carbon footprint they offset by planting X number of trees and we sent GPS locations to people to show them where we planted them.

"We've raised enough to plant 40,000 trees so far. We're partnering with landowners, nature reserves, charities, nature sanctuaries and planting on their land. Because we don't have to buy the land we can keep costs of sponsoring trees really low for people."

To donate, go to https://www.reforestationnation.ie/
14 April, 2021, 16:15 CET

ArcelorMittal Italia to be renamed Acciaierie dItalia

ArcelorMittal announces that it has today completed an investment agreement (the Investment Agreement) with Invitalia, an Italian state-owned company, forming a public-private partnership between the parties.

Invitalia has injected 400 million new equity into AM InvestCo Italy, ArcelorMittals subsidiary which signed the lease and purchase agreement for the Ilva business, providing Invitalia with a 38% shareholding and equal voting rights with joint control over the company. Going forward the joint company AM InvestCo Italy is being re-named Acciaierie dItalia Holding, and its main operating subsidiary ArcelorMittal Italia will be renamed Acciaierie dItalia.

The Investment Agreement stipulates a second equity injection by Invitalia, of up to 680 million, to fund the completion of the purchase of Ilvas business by Acciaierie dItalia, which is expected by May 2022 subject to certain conditions precedent*. At this point, Invitalias shareholding in Acciaierie dItalia would increase to 60%, with ArcelorMittal to invest up to 70 million to retain a 40% shareholding and joint control over the company.

Going forward, Acciaierie dItalia Holding will operate independently, and as such will have its own funding plans without reliance on ArcelorMittal. As a result, ArcelorMittal will deconsolidate the assets and liabilities (including the remaining lease and purchase liability) of Acciaierie dItalia Holding (formerly AM InvestCo Italy) from its consolidated statement of financial position and will account its interest in the company under the equity method.

*The conditions precedent include: the amendment of the existing environmental plan to account for changes in the new industrial plan; the lifting of all criminal seizures on the Taranto plant; and the absence of restrictive measures  in the context of criminal proceedings where Ilva is a defendant  being imposed against Acciaierie dItalia Holding or its subsidiaries. In case conditions precedent are not met, then the Acciaierie dItalia Holding would not be required to complete the purchase of Ilvas assets and its capital invested would be returned.




Published on:

6 May 2021



Arbitration is viewed as the favoured form of international dispute resolution Arbitration is viewed as the favoured form of international dispute resolution

The School of International Arbitration has launched the results of its twelfth major empirical International Arbitration Survey and the fifth edition in partnership with international law firm White and Case LLP.

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges for the entire world - the arbitration sector was no exception. The 2021 International Arbitration Survey, Adapting Arbitration to a Changing World, explores how international arbitration adapted to these changing demands and circumstances. More than 1,200 respondents participated in the survey, the widest pool of respondents to date.

Arbitration favoured in times of pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges for world of arbitration, but has failed to dampen its popularity when it comes to dispute resolution choices. For 90 per cent of respondents, international arbitration was the favoured option, either on a stand-alone basis (31 per cent) or in conjunction with ADR (59 per cent).

The five most preferred seats for arbitration are London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. Technology continues to be widely used in international arbitration, particularly the use of videoconferencing and digital hearing room technologies, and this has increased during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. 79 per cent of respondents would choose a virtual hearing over postponement with only 16 per cent opting for this.

The results also show that respondents welcomed adaptations to the world of arbitration including greater support for the process by local courts and judiciary as well as increased neutrality and impartiality of the local legal system. Respondents chose administrative/logistical support for virtual hearings as their top choice adaptation that would make other sets of arbitration rules or arbitral institutions more attractive, followed by commitment to a more diverse pool of arbitrators.

Arbitration users would be most willing to do without unlimited length of written submissions, oral hearings on procedural issues and document production if this would make their arbitrations cheaper or faster.

Progress on diversity

More than half of respondents agree that progress has been made in terms of gender diversity on arbitral tribunals over the past three years. However, less than a third of respondents believe there has been progress in respect of geographic, age, cultural and, particularly, ethnic diversity.

Whilst respondents recognised the environmental benefits of remote participation rather than in-person activity, this is not the primary motivation behind the decision as to whether interactions should be conducted remotely.

Norah Gallagher, Deputy Director School of International Arbitration said: We are delighted to present the findings of the 2021 International Arbitration Survey on Adapting arbitration to a changing world. It was not easy to conduct a survey during a global pandemic. The results are an interesting snapshot of some rapid changes implemented in challenging times.

"It was a pleasure to work so closely with Dr Maria Fanou White & Case Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and the White & Case team to draft this survey to best reflect the data collected. We hope it will be useful to the arbitration community when considering potential changes to arbitral practice.

Abby Cohen Smutny, Global Head of the International Arbitration Practice Group, White & Case, said: The field of international arbitration is dynamic by nature. Its hallmarks of flexibility and party autonomy allow it to develop and adapt in response to the needs of its users. Recent times have seen an increased focus on drivers of change such as diversity, technology, environmental considerations and information security.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also presented challenges to the way in which the international arbitration community interacts, with virtual hearings, conferences and meetings with counsel, clients and teams becoming the norm almost overnight.

About Queen Mary's School of International Arbitration

The School of International Arbitration (SIA) was established in 1985 within the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) at Queen Mary University of London. The School is the global leading postgraduate teaching and research centre in international dispute resolution.

As a centre of excellence for research and teaching of international dispute resolution, it attracts some of the best students globally with an interest in arbitration each year. Many of its graduates are now successfully practicing arbitration around the world as advocates, in-house counsel, academics and arbitrators. Others serve international organisations, including UNCITRAL, the World Bank and UNCTAD, or work for major arbitration institutions. To learn more about SIA, visit the website.

More information

The research for this study was conducted from October 2020 to March 2021 by the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London and was conducted in two phases, first quantitative and the second qualitative.

Phase one comprised an online questionnaire of 31 questions completed by 1218 between 8 October 2020 and 21 December 2020.

Read the report on the website of the School of International Arbitration.
Beverly Hills , May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bill Poston was interviewed on the latest episode of the Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam Torres. Poston is the founder of The Launch Box, a business incubator that supports the launch and growth of new professional services ventures. Prior to starting The Launch Box, he was the founding partner of Kalypso, a management consulting firm acquired by Rockwell Automation in 2020.

In this episode, Poston discusses the unexpected problems that founders encounter when they start a professional services business, why he formed The Launch Box, and the qualities he looks for in founders.

Listen to the full interview of Bill Poston with Adam Torres on the Mission Matters Business Podcast.

Unexpected Problems that Surprise New Founders

Poston tells Torres that when he left his position at Deloitte in 2004 to start the management consultancy Kalypso with his partner, he worried about finding clients and employees.

Turns out, Poston says, those werent problems.

Kalypso grew month-over-month for sixteen years and attracted top talent.

The problems that Poston and his partner did encounter took them by surprise: administrative problems (like learning how to hire employees in other states) and problems that required skills that they did not have in house (like designing a website).

In the early days of Kalypso, Poston found himself doing everythingfrom brewing the coffee in the morning to building the technical infrastructure to support growth. It was quite a challenge, he says.

His experience building Kalypso inspired him to help founders spend more focusing on their areas of expertise, like creating value for clients and nurturing the growth of their employees, and less time on administrative tasks, like fielding IT requests. So, in 2020, Poston founded The Launch Box, an Austin, Texas-based incubator that helps launch professional services firms by providing them with capital, strategic advice, software systems, and management services.

I dont want founders worried about payroll systems or state taxes or IT infrastructure or legal, Poston says. Well take care of all of that.

Essential Characteristics of Successful Founders

Its no different than hiring a partner into a firm, Poston says to Torres when discussing bringing on a new founder to The Launch Box. The hiring profile is the same.

Poston seeks out founders who have a strong work ethic and intellectual horsepower. He also says that he appreciates founders with a state school attitude about lifethat is, men and women who have something to prove but remain humble and refuse to take themselves too seriously.

Poston also reviews potential founders track record before signing them on. If youre successfully managing a practice today, if you have value that youre adding to the marketplace and are serving clients well, if you have repeat business and a team thats loyal to you, he states, then I think youre prepared to be a successful entrepreneur.

About

The Launch Box is a platform for starting and growing professional service firms that enables founders to focus exclusively on selling, serving clients, nurturing talent, and growing the business. The Launch Box offers strategic advice, investment capital, and a comprehensive set of turnkey services that sets founders up for success with income support and growth capital while eliminating the burdens of establishing and managing complex business systems. Learn more at https://www.thelaunchbox.com/

Media Communications

Inquiries: adamtorres@missionmatters.com

Publicist for Adam Torres and Mission Matters Media KISS PR Brand Story PressWire

Brand Publicity Partners KissPR.com

For more details, visit Kisspr.com [PR Distribution for Podcasters]. KISS PR Digital PR & Marketing powers the Mission Matters Business podcast with brand storytelling. T: 972.437.8942

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Pre-tax profits at an Irish-based Apple business last year decreased by 19pc cent to $33.8bn (28bn).

Apple Operations International Ltd (AOI)'s daily pre-tax profits of $92.6m (76.9m) for the 12 months to the end of September 26th last are revealed in new accounts filed with the Companies Office.

The drop in pre-tax profit came in spite of revenues increasing by 5pc from $140.99bn to $148.16bn for the 12 month period.

A chief factor in the drop in pre-tax profit was the companys Research & Development spend more than doubling from $7.59bn to $15.48bn.

AOI is registered at the companys Holyhill campus in Cork and covers most of Apples non-US subsidiaries.

The company acts as a holding company for a number of Apple subsidiaries. It manufactures and develops everything from the companys iPhone and iPad products to Mac computers.

The company last year paid dividends of $81.5bn that was down sharply on the 2019 dividend payout of $196.7bn to Apple Inc.

The accounts state that the dividends are fully subject to US tax and in a post balance sheet event, the company has paid a further dividend of $17.9bn.

AOI incurred a tax charge of $6.14bn last year across a number of countries where Apple operates and that the figure excludes US-based taxes.

The accounts dont disclose corporate tax paid in Ireland but state that Ireland's 12.5pc corporate tax charge would have resulted in corporation taxes of $4.22bn.

The accounts refer to the Apple and Irish Government's successful appeals against the European Commission decision five years ago that the iPhone maker owed Revenue 13.1bn in back taxes, plus interest of 1.2bn.

Last July Europe's second-highest court ruled that the Government didnt give Apple any State Aid and the accounts refer to the European Commission appealing that decision to the European Court of Justice.

A note attached to the accounts states that Apple may request approval from the Irish Minister for Finance to reduce the recovery amount for certain taxes paid to other countries.

The note states that as of September 26th, the adjusted recovery amount was 12.9bn, excluding interest.

AOI last year recorded post-tax profits of $27.65bn.

On the impact of Covid-19, the directors state that following the initial outbreak of the virus, the group experienced disruptions to its manufacturing and supply chain provided by outsourcing partners that resulted in temporary iPhone supply shortages that affected sales worldwide.

They state that the full extent of the pandemic on the group's operational and financial performance is currently uncertain. However, in Apple's latest quarterly results, the group globally reported record sales of $90bn for the first three months of this year.

Numbers employed at AOI and subsidiaries last year totalled 51,255 - a 3,918 increase on the 47,337 employed in 2019. Some 6,000 of those employees are based in Ireland.

Staff costs for the 51,255 last year totalled $4.84bn and that included share-based compensation of $941m.

AOIs selling, general and administrative expenses last year totalled $9.1bn.

AOIs shareholder funds at the end of September last amounted to $26.36bn with its cash funds totalling 8.6bn.

This is only the third time in several years that AOI has filed accounts with the Irish Companies Registration Office.

Under previous rules, AOI wasnt required to file accounts and the businesss accounts were beyond public scrutiny, but an EU directive that came into force for the companys fiscal year 2018 has resulted in AOI filing accounts for last year and 2018.
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TEXARKANA, Texas  A Texas man charged with the attempted capital murder of a peace officer is set for trial next month in Bowie County.

Aaron Caleb Swenson, 37, appeared for a final pretrial hearing Tuesday before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison, according to the Texarkana Gazette.

Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle said the state is ready to present the case to a jury June 1.

Swenson is accused of streaming on Facebook Live as he drove the streets of Texarkana, Texas, searching for a police officer to kill, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Swenson was arrested in April 2020. He is believed to have ties to the boogaloo movement, a network of gun enthusiasts who often express support for overthrowing the U.S. government, according to police and the Tech Transparency Project, which tracks technology companies.

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A grand jury indicted Swenson two months after his arrest and also charged him with attempted murder, and making a terroristic threat against a peace officer or judge.

He was allegedly wearing body armor and a large cache of weapons was reportedly recovered from his 2018 Chevy Silverado.

If convicted of attempted murder of a peace officer  the most serious charge  Swenson could face up to life in prison.

Swenson is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $1 million.
English Estonian

COMMENTARY FROM MANAGEMENT

In Q1 2021, Merko Ehitus posted revenue of EUR 60 million and net profit of EUR 3.4 million, increasing by 7% and 67%, respectively, compared to the previous year. In three months, Merko sold 90 apartments and started construction of more than 560 apartments. The volume of the new construction contracts and secured order book also increased in the first quarter.

The management of Merko Ehitus is satisfied with the financial results of the first quarter. Despite the lack of new commercial real estate projects, the construction market in the Baltic Republics is currently quite active. At the same time, prospects remain unclear due to the continuing pandemic and the global rise in material prices.

In the first quarter, Merko sold 90 apartments in Tallinn, Tartu, Riga and Vilnius. The apartment market is relatively active in all three Baltic capitals. In the first quarter Merko group launched construction work on six development projects with a total of 567 apartments and 20 commercial premises. Most of the apartments under construction and for sale today will be completed in 2022. Merkos largest apartment development projects were Noblessner, Uus-Veerenni, Metsatuka, Lahekalda and Pikaliiva, in Tallinn; Gailezers and Viesturdarzs, in Riga; and Vilneles Skverai, in Vilnius.

In Q1 2021, Merko entered into new contracts worth 97 million euros, the largest of which were for the construction of the second development phase of Noblessner and the Liivalaia Quarter, in Estonia, and for the construction of Tondiraba Park. The groups companies signed in Latvia a contract for the construction of Kauguri City Park and Youth House, as well as in Lithuania a production building in Kaunas and a car maintenance centre in Vilnius. As at the end of the first quarter, the secured order book increased by 45% year-on-year to 281 million euros.



In the first quarter, the largest objects in Estonia were the third development phase of the Mustamae medical campus of the North-Estonia Medical Centre, the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet, the renovation of the Nordic Hotel Forum and Tallink City Hotel, and the design and construction of infrastructure of the Republic of Estonias southeast land border. In Latvia, the construction of the Orkla waffle and biscuit factory, in Adazi, and the reconstruction of the Riga University of Technology faculty building were in progress; in Lithuania, construction of wind farm infrastructure facilities in the Telsiai district, the Kaunas district police headquarters building, and NATO barracks were in progress.

OVERVIEW OF THE 3 MONTHS RESULTS

PROFITABILITY

2021 3 months profit before tax was EUR 3.7 million (3M 2020: EUR 2.1 million), which brought the profit before tax margin to 6.2% (3M 2020: 3.7%).

Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent in 3 months 2021 was EUR 3.4 million (3M 2020: EUR 2.0 million) and 3 months net profit margin was 5.6% (3M 2020: 3.6%).

REVENUE

2021 3 months revenue was EUR 60.1 million (3M 2020: EUR 55.9 million). 3 months revenue increased by 7.6% compared to same period last year. The share of revenue earned outside Estonia in 3 months 2021 was 36.9% (3M 2020: 53.5%).

SECURED ORDER BOOK

As at 31 March 2021, the groups secured order book was EUR 281.2 million (31 March 2020: EUR 193.0 million). In 3 months 2021, group companies signed new contracts in the amount of EUR 97.4 million (3M 2020: EUR 87.2 million).

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

In 3 months 2021, the group sold a total of 90 apartments (incl. 1 apartments in a joint venture); in 3 months 2020, the group sold 133 apartments (incl. 2 apartments in a joint venture). The group earned a revenue of EUR 14.8 million from sale of own developed apartments in 3 months 2021 and EUR 18.6 million in 3 months 2020.

CASH POSITION

At the end of the reporting period, the group had EUR 54.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, and equity of EUR 156.6 million (58.1% of total assets). Comparable figures as at 31 March 2020 were EUR 37.1 million and EUR 132.2 million (45.7% of total assets), respectively. As at 31 March 2021, the groups net debt was EUR -22.4 million (negative) (31 March 2020: EUR 29.8 million).

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

unaudited

in thousand euros

2021

3 months 2020

3 months 2020

12 months Revenue 60,107 55,872 315,918 Cost of goods sold (53,133) (50,398) (272,169) Gross profit 6,974 5,474 43,749 Marketing expenses (947) (948) (4,212) General and administrative expenses (2,715) (2,805) (13,412) Other operating income 675 508 2,320 Other operating expenses (54) (63) (2,979) Operating profit 3,933 2,166 25,466 Finance income/costs (184) (99) (1,009) incl. finance income/costs from joint venture 7 90 (144) interest expense (146) (172) (719) foreign exchange gain (loss) - - (7) other financial income (expenses) (45) (17) (139) Profit before tax 3,749 2,067 24,457 Corporate income tax expense (429) (138) (1,954) Net profit for financial year 3,320 1,929 22,503 incl. net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent 3,368 2,019 22,994 net profit attributable to non-controlling interest (48) (90) (491) Other comprehensive income, which can subsequently be classified in the income statement Currency translation differences of foreign entities 23 (188) (115) Comprehensive income for the period 3,343 1,741 22,388 incl. net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent 3,392 1,823 22,890 net profit attributable to non-controlling interest (49) (82) (502) Earnings per share for profit attributable to equity holders of the parent (basic and diluted, in EUR) 0.19 0.11 1.30

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

unaudited

in thousand euros

31.03.2021 31.03.2020 31.12.2020 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 54,792 37,056 47,480 Trade and other receivables 35,362 42,133 32,657 Prepaid corporate income tax 320 91 306 Inventories 126,748 168,833 126,332 217,222 248,113 206,775 Non-current assets Investments in joint venture 2,361 2,588 2,354 Other long-term loans and receivables 20,457 11,991 17,979 Deferred income tax assets 623 - 653 Investment property 13,897 14,021 13,922 Property, plant and equipment 14,484 11,699 14,521 Intangible assets 721 724 711 52,543 41,023 50,140 TOTAL ASSETS 269,765 289,136 256,915 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Borrowings 13,626 21,496 13,649 Payables and prepayments 63,196 73,488 55,846 Income tax liability 1,429 816 1,202 Short-term provisions 5,366 6,866 6,347 83,617 102,666 77,044 Non-current liabilities Long-term borrowings 18,767 45,355 15,409 Deferred income tax liability 3,032 1,655 3,001 Other long-term payables 3,570 3,164 4,026 25,369 50,174 22,436 TOTAL LIABILITIES 108,986 152,840 99,480 EQUITY Non-controlling interests 4,159 4,135 4,207 Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent Share capital 7,929 7,929 7,929 Statutory reserve capital 793 793 793 Currency translation differences (790) (906) (814) Retained earnings 148,688 124,345 145,320 156,620 132,161 153,228 TOTAL EQUITY 160,779 136,296 157,435 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 269,765 289,136 256,915

Interim report is attached to the announcement and is also published on NASDAQ Tallinn and Merkos web page ( group.merko.ee ).

Priit Roosimagi

Head of Group Finance Unit

AS Merko Ehitus

+372 650 1250

priit.roosimagi@merko.ee

AS Merko Ehitus ( group.merko.ee ) group consists of AS Merko Ehitus Eesti in Estonia, SIA Merks in Latvia, UAB Merko Statyba in Lithuania and Peritus Entreprenr AS in Norway. Besides providing construction service as a main contractor, the groups other major area of activity is apartment development. As at the end of 2020, the group employed 666 people, and the groups revenue for 2020 was EUR 316 million.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/06/2021



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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.

alum Rachel Lindsay admits she has a "love-hate relationship" with The Bachelor franchise.During Tuesday's episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast -- which marked Rachel's 100th episode -- Rachel and her co-host Becca Kufrin reflected on their time together, shortly after Rachel announced she's leaving the podcast."You know, I talk about why I'm leaving, but I'm not saying 'thank you' enough, so I want to say thank you to you, [Becca], and I want to thank Warner Bros.," Rachel, 36, said."I talk about the franchise -- we know I have this love-hate relationship, but I am thankful for the opportunity to do this podcast, and it has been so great and so much fun."Rachel added, "And I feel like you and I have made an impact in Bachelor Nation, which is something we both stand for and we always want to do."Rachel also thanked all of the listeners and the fans of the show for their "support.""Sometimes, you hear the negativity louder than the support, but there is so much overwhelming support," Rachel noted."And so, I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you... I want you to know how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate you."Rachel began the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast in July 2019 with sixth-season star Ali Fedotowsky , who eventually stepped down as co-host and was replaced by 31-year-old Becca, who starred on 's fourteenth edition.Becca couldn't help but get emotional while recording her last podcast episode with Rachel given the women are close friends."I'm sad that you are leaving me, Rachel! I truly can't imagine doing this without you. I'm not only losing just an incredible co-host but also such a great friend and sidekick... But our door is always open to have you back in any way, shape or form," Becca shared.Becca said doing the podcast with Rachel "never felt like work.""I just feel so honored and grateful... and blessed, not only to have had this opportunity but to do it alongside you," Becca told Rachel.Becca continued, "You've not only inspired me and helped me in so many ways, but you've been such a pivotal force in Bachelor Nation for so many contestants. Whether you fully recognize the power and the change that you've had in this franchise, it's there... and it's so meaningful."But Becca and Rachel agreed the end of their work relationship on the podcast doesn't signify the end of their friendship."I literally have been crying all day today!" Rachel responded, before telling Becca, "I adore you.""You might be the only person who makes me come back to this podcast as a guest," Rachel gushed to her co-host. "I'm so proud of you and I can't wait to see what you continue to do with this podcast.""It's sad for me to leave, but I feel comfortable leaving knowing that you're going to be the one who's going to be taking this on and leading Bachelor Happy Hour to all of its greatness," Rachel concluded, adding that she'd like to participate in a live show down the road.Rachel just announced her Bachelor Happy Hour exit last week for the sake of her mental and emotional health and well-being."I'm going to make this short and sweet: All good things must come to an end and I feel like certain things run their course and for me I have run my course when it comes to the podcast," Rachel said on the podcast's 99th episode.She shared at the time, " I've been struggling , that's no secret. And it's been really, really hard for me lately, and a lot of the things that we talk about on this podcast are also about taking care of yourself and finding your peace and protecting that peace and protecting your mental health.""It's just I have to, for me, walk away," Rachel noted.Two months ago, Rachel took a temporary leave of absence from Bachelor Happy Hour and deleted her Instagram account after receiving hate and harassment on social media in the wake of The Bachelor host Chris Harrison "stepping aside" from his hosting duties due to a racism scandal.In February, Rachel, reporting for Extra, conducted an interview with Chris in which he defended The Bachelor Season 25 contestant Rachael Kirkconnell 's racially-ignorant and racially-insensitive actions in the last several years.Chris came under fire for asking for "grace" and "compassion" for Rachael -- who posed for photos at an antebellum-themed "Old South" fraternity party at her Georgia college in 2018, for example -- and criticizing the "woke police" and "unbelievably alarming" response to Matt James ' eventual winner's history of racist behavior.Members of Bachelor Nation rallied and petitioned for Chris to be fired from his position permanently, and Rachel said Chris had made "the right decision." Many fans who remained loyal and supportive of Chris, who apologized multiple times , blamed Rachel for Chris' departure.Rachel has suggested on multiple occasions she's "had enough" with the franchise and its lack of diversity over the years and lack of change."I can't take it anymore," Rachel recently said on her other podcast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay , according to People."I'm contractually bound in some ways, but when it's up, I am, too. I can't. I can't do it anymore."When co-host Lathan asked where the current controversy puts her within the franchise, Lindsay acknowledged that while her experience with the show benefited her in ways and introduced her to now-husband Bryan Abasolo , she has "had enough" and is "f-cking tired."Rachel was the first Black star in 13 seasons, and Matt just starred as the first Black Bachelor in 25 seasons.'s upcoming seventeenth season, which reportedly wrapped production in late April in New Mexico, will be co-hosted by Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams when it premieres Monday, June 7 on ABC.It's unclear when or if Chris will resume his position and lead the show again, but he revealed on a March episode of Good Morning America he plans to be back Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
By Alex Gratzek





Last month America really did show the world it was back. As more Americans have received the vaccination, a feeling of normalcy has returned. So have mass shootings.



As I watched coverage of the King Sooper shooting in March, I asked my uncle, "Is this the first mass shooting of the Biden presidency?" He thought for a moment and then said "No, there was a shooting in Atlanta a couple of days ago."



According to the New York Times, as of April 20, there have been nearly 50 shootings involving four or more people shot in the last 30 days. It seems we are over-compensating for the dearth of mass shootings we had while in lockdown. Never mind that domestic shootings increased during that time.



After seeing so many shootings, I can't help but feel like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day." Proposals to address the scourge of gun violence are continually put forward then shot down because there is only one appropriate three-pronged solution:



Personal responsibility with no means of determining if an individual is responsible; increased gun ownership despite not knowing if guns are going into the hands of responsible individuals; and finally, thoughts and prayers for when personal responsibility inevitably fails.



At this point, whoever thinks personal responsibility is sufficient to stop America's gun problem is outright delusional or bought and paid for. Personal responsibility means you'd be dealing with a well-rounded individual. I assure you a large minority of Americans are far from being well-rounded individuals.



Despite all the previous futile efforts, this time I have hope.



President Biden's big move on the corona and infrastructure packages gives me faith that he will continue to push policies a majority of Americans support even if their elected representatives do not. To make gun control, not gun confiscation, more palatable, I have a few suggestions.



Insurance should be required for gun ownership. If you want to own a gun, then have some liability insurance to deal with any accidental discharge or any other possible contingency involving your gun.



Gun gets stolen and used in a crime because you didn't have it locked up? Gun laying around and a kid accidentally shoots himself or another? It's your negligence so you're liable. If car owners must have insurance, then it is only appropriate to require insurance for a tool whose sole purpose is death. Insurance companies, motivated by the allure of profit, would do a good job in determining risks and other factors.



Next is the idea of character references. There are red flag laws which allow for law enforcement to take guns from individuals who are deemed dangerous. The shooter at the FedEx facility had been reported to the police as a danger by his own mother. His shotgun was confiscated but that didn't prevent him from buying more guns legally.



How about requiring positive character references before guns can be purchased instead of using negative character references to seize guns from nuts after they have been procured. It seems the opposite of the way it should be. I would like to see any aspiring gun owner to have to get four character references from co-workers, friends or other members of the community.



From there, check these individuals' characters and trace their contacts and references. The process may take longer but that's the point. Only dedicated responsible gun owners would be willing to jump through the necessary hoops and expose themselves to public scrutiny.



A lot of responsibility goes into gun ownership and the ease at which guns can be acquired certainly plays a role in the volume of violence we face. Some individuals, who although legally able to purchase at 18, just don't have the temperament and self-control for firearms. At 18, the mind is still developing, finally stopping around 25. Frankly speaking, even past 25, some people will never have the self-control and discipline for owning firearms.



And to my last point, providing money to study gun deaths. Republicans like to argue that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention should not be looking into gun deaths at all since the deaths are not caused by disease. Since the 1990s, money allocated to the CDC states that "none of the funds  may be used to advocate or promote gun control." Only in 2020 was money specifically allocated to the CDC for studying gun violence.



As a betting man, I would wager heavily that lessons learned from combating viruses would carry over well to battle against gun violence. It isn't hard to imagine links between the way gun violence spreads and the way viruses spread. I would even anticipate you could find predictors for gun violence. What's more, if it proves to be a dud then at least we can scratch that off the list of potential remedies. But when has data ever proven to be useless when tackling a problem?



With the recent downfall of the NRA and President Biden's pursuit of popular legislation, the days of unfettered ability to buy guns may be coming to an end. For gun lovers and owners, it's time to read the writing on the wall and contemplate compromise.



It's ironic that with all the right-wing hysteria about the government coming to take their guns, it was actually President Trump who opened Pandora's box by musing aloud about seizing guns and then letting the courts figure it out.



And the thing is his instincts were probably in line with most Americans who want something done if not such a drastic action. Americans are changing their views on guns the way they did on gay marriage and Obamacare. Slowly at first, before reversing in quick fashion. It's just a matter of how far the pendulum swings.





Alex Gratzek (ajgratzek@gmail.com) is an American who has lived, studied and worked in South Korea. Check his website at alexfromabroad.com. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.




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Gaithersburg, Md., May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sodexo, a leader in food services and facilities management, announced today awarded contracts and extensions with the U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCa), and Guam Department of Education. Specifically, Sodexo extended the companys long-term partnership with the U.S. Army MEDCOM and Guam Department of Education in addition to retaining and winning additional business with DeCA.



As the nations largest foodservice provider to the Federal Government, Sodexo is keenly aware of the way our services support the missions of government agencies and the military, explained Brett Ladd, CEO, Government North America, Sodexo. Working in tandem with important organizations like U.S. Army MEDCOM, Defense Commissary Agency and Guam Department of Education, we have the privilege of improving life for a broad range of patrons  everyone from active military members and their families to veterans and folks working for government agency buildings throughout the country. Its quite a responsibility, but one Sodexo takes on proudly.



U.S. Army MEDCOM



Sodexo was awarded a contract extension with the U.S. Army MEDCOM where Sodexo has been the prime food services contractor since 2008. Through this extension, Sodexo will continue to serve five premier military treatment facilities located at West Point, NY; Ft. Stewart, GA; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Ft. Riley, KS; and Ft. Irwin, CA. This contract extension was awarded for tremendous performance exhibited by onsite teams, especially while managing the COVID-19 pandemic.



DeCA Commissaries



Sodexo was awarded both a contract extension and additional sites at multiple commissary locations. Through this partnership, Sodexo will work to improve patron experience at 22 sites, 10 of which are new development sites. This contract is to provide all personnel, supervision, and any items and services necessary to perform the deli and bakery operations. Both the contract win and extension were awarded based on Sodexos consumer insight-driven solutions, consistency in operations, and high client satisfaction.



Guam Department of Education



Sodexo was awarded a contract extension with the Guam Department of Education where Sodexo has supported the GDOE Food Service Management Program for the past 10 years through the preparation and distribution of breakfast and lunch for 38 schools in accordance with the GDOE regulations, requirements, policies, and procedures. This partnership has been extended and retained based on supply chain reliability and commitment to community involvement among other factors.



About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 64 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 160,000 people at 13,500 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $17B in goods and services from small to large businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., in 2019, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation mobilized 37,000 Sodexo volunteers to distribute 3.2 million meals to help 2.3 million children and adults meet their immediate food needs. Since 1996, the Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed $34.5 million to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit us.sodexo.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
By Jeff Murphy, May 5, 2021





WARRENSBURG, MO  Demonstrating the University of Central Missouris commitment to providing opportunities for individuals to gain a worldly perspective, three students have been named semifinalists in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

UCM students who were notified recently that they have been selected as semi-finalists are Moeryae Sunny Smith, Brittani Slinkard, and Jaggard Williams.

Smith is a professional photography major, graphics minor, and international studies minor from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, who applied to Malaysia for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program (ETA). Slinkard is a modern languages major from Fenton, Missouri, who applied to Germany for the Fulbright ETA. Williams, a UCM student from Centerview, Missouri, is majoring in political science and theatre and also has a communication minor. He applied to Israel for the Fulbright Study/Research Grant.

The English Teaching Assistant Program enables individuals to experience working as a teaching assistant for English teachers in participating foreign countries. While they help teach English language, they serve as U.S. cultural ambassadors working with students in classrooms that range from kindergarten to the university level.

Students who apply for Study research award soften work with advisers at foreign universities, and they design their own projects. Approximately 140 different countries participate in this awards program, which also includes opportunities for applicants who are interested in creative and performing arts.

Michael Makara, assistant professor of political science at UCM, said Fulbright will notify semi-finalists of their status. Those selected as finalists will receive grants.

He noted that if a college or university has at least three finalists, Fulbright identifies the institution as a top-producing institution.

Learn more about the Fulbright Program by checking out eca.state.gov/fulbright.
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Pedigo exhibit at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona

Sara Pedigo, professor of Fine Art and chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, will have an exhibition of paintings titled, "Home," at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach from May 8 to July 25.

The exhibition highlights Pedigos preference for painting the daily life around her, and in particular, her home. The paintings focus on intimate, everyday scenes, often caught in "lived-in" states. This has taken on renewed relevance due to the increased time spent in domestic settings due to COVID-19.

My artistic practice focuses on a search for contentment and pleasure in undramatic everyday surroundings, emanating from a desire to generate gratitude for living, Pedigo said.

Pedigos seemingly unpretentious views of her home and immediate personal environments have brought her recognition and awards nationally and internationally.

She has exhibited nationally, with solo exhibitions at Western Illinois University, Furman University, College of Southern Nevada, Barton College and Arts on Douglas, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Wynn Bone gallery in Annapolis, Maryland. Her numerous exhibitions, including Drawing Discourse at the University of North Carolina, Asheville and Root to Bloom at Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA. Additionally, her paintings were featured in the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2020 and at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. in 2006.

Pedigo was honored with a Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant in 2006 and a Community Foundation of Northeast Florida Grant in 2016. Her artwork has been the cover art for the following publications: Ivory Tower: A Journal of poetry published by the University of Delhi, Play Button: Poems by Liz Robbins published by Cider Press Review, and Minetta Review: a literary and arts publication at New York University.

A Flagler College graduate, she went on to get her MFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 2007.

She will give an artist talk on June 28 from 5-7 p.m. as part of the museum's After-Hours programming.

For more on the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, visit www.moas.org.

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France joined the United States on Thursday in supporting an easing of patent and other protections on Covid-19 vaccines that could help poorer countries get more doses and speed the end of the pandemic. While the backing from two countries with major drugmakers is important, many obstacles remain.

The move to support waiving intellectual property protections on vaccines under World Trade Organisation rules marked a dramatic shift for the United States  and drew cheers from activists, complaints from Big Pharma, and a lot of questions about what comes next. Washington had previously lined up with many other developed nations opposed to the idea floated by India and South Africa in October.

Attention is now turning to those richer nations, notably in the European Union  and France was the first to voice its support.

"I completely favour this opening up of the intellectual property, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday on a visit to a vaccine centre.

Also Read: Explained | How the US waiving IP rights could pave way for a 'peoples vaccine'

But he also expressed doubt  as the pharmaceutical companies have  that the measure would be the panacea some hope. Even if patents are waived, he said, drug makers in places like Africa currently are not equipped to make Covid-19 vaccines  so donations of doses should be prioritized instead.

Another key hurdle remains: Any single country could block a decision at the WTO, a Geneva-based trade body of 164 member states, to agree to a waiver.

The EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the 27-nation bloc was ready to talk about the US proposal  but cagily remained noncommittal for now.

"We are ready to discuss how the US proposal for waiver on intellectual property protection for Covid vaccines could help end the crisis, she said in a video address. In the short run, however, we call upon all vaccine producing countries to allow exports and to avoid measures that disrupt supply chains."

That echoed the position of the global pharmaceutical industry, which insists a faster solution would be for rich countries that have vaccine stockpiles to start sharing them with poorer ones.

The industry insists that production of coronavirus vaccines is complicated and can't be ramped up by easing intellectual property protections. Instead, it insists that reducing bottlenecks in supply chains and a scarcity of ingredients that go into vaccines are the more pressing issues for now.

"A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem, said the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. "Waiving patents of Covid-19 vaccines will not increase production nor provide practical solutions needed to battle this global health crisis."

Also Read | US reverses stance, backs Covid vaccine patent waiver

The industry also says an IP waiver will do more harm than good in the long run by reducing the incentives that push innovators to make tremendous leaps, as they did with the vaccines that have been churned out in a blistering, unprecedented speed to help fight Covid-19.

Supporters say a waiver would be important because it would allow manufacturers around the world to get access to the recipes for making the life-saving vaccines as well as the ingredients. They point to unused capacity  factories that could churn out vaccines but can't because of the intellectual property protections.

Some critics say developing countries have been seeking to water down those protections for years - long before the pandemic - and say it's not clear that there are any manufacturers standing by that are ready or able to produce Covid-19 vaccines. They note that the vaccines currently on the market can be incredibly difficult to make, and the know-how is a bigger obstacle to ramping up manufacturing.

Many experts and advocacy groups say any such waiver would need to be followed up by transferring the required technology to developing countries, too.

Intellectual property expert Shyam Balganesh, a professor at Columbia Law School, said a waiver would remove a lot of the bureaucracy around WTO rules, but it would only go so far because of other bottlenecks in the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines.

In closed-door WTO talks last month, the EU, Britain and Switzerland said upending or undermining IP rights was a "no-go" because those rights helped contribute to expanding production of Covid-19 vaccines, according to a Geneva trade official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Norway's Foreign Minister, Ine Eriksen Soereide, last month warned against this type of experimental trade policy during the pandemic when we should rather be concerned with practical solutions that give us more vaccines.

After the Biden announcement, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International's EU Office, called on Europe now to put everyone's health and human rights before private profit and add its support to the waiver idea.

"Today, Europe wakes up to a new political reality that its position on hoarding the rights to make Covid-19 vaccines is now untenable, she said.

She was but one voice among civil society, progressive groups and international institutions that were euphoric about the Biden administration's stance, which marks a nearly complete reversal in US policy under the Trump administration that was critical of both the WTO and the World Health Organization.
FastForward Innovations Limited believes that attractive investment returns can be generated from investing in emerging technologies that will shape the future.

The company invests in what it says are "visionary entrepreneurs developing innovative technologies that solve problems in their industries" and is "dedicated to the success of each of our portfolio companies and believe that their products and/or services will be transformative".

The firm is principally focused on early stage investments and aims to bring investment opportunities often reserved for the private market of venture capital firms to the public market.
Foxconn to Set Up Chipmaking Joint Venture with Yageo

Ding Yi / May 06, 2021 06:25 PM / Business & Tech

Apple supplier Foxconn has announced it is establishing a semiconductor joint venture with electronic-component maker Yageo to strengthen its presence in an industry vital to producers of goods ranging from smart vehicles to consumer electronics.

The joint venture named XSemi, which will be based in Hsinchu, Taiwan, will focus on manufacturing small integrated circuits costing less than $2, Foxconn said in a statement on Wednesday.

Foxconn and Yageo are also in talks with several global semiconductor companies and will unveil further plans in the near future, the statement said, without providing further details.

Foxconn has previously said that it has discussed the joint production of chips for electric vehicles with foundries.

Wednesdays announcement comes as Taiwans chip foundries are ramping up their production capacities amid global semiconductor shortages that have disrupted the supply chains of many manufacturers.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has urged TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, to prioritize supplies to American automakers given a lack of car chips.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)

Related: U.S. Urges TSMC to Prioritize Supplies to American Carmakers Grappling with Global Chip Shortage
Those employed in the local manufacturing export sector were among the first to receive their first Covid 19 vaccination jabs on Sunday as part of a new public/private partnership aimed at the mass vaccination of specific sectors of the economy in the first instance.